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Wang Yi meets with Brazilian counterpart

Xinhua) 08:54, June 11, 2024

NIZHNY NOVGOROD, Russia, June 10 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Monday met with Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira in the Russian city of Nizhny Novgorod.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, noted that this year marks the 50th anniversary of China-Brazil diplomatic relations, a significant year for the development of bilateral relations.

Both sides should grasp the strategic importance of the China-Brazil relationship, enhance its mutually beneficial nature, and highlight its comprehensiveness, Wang said.

He added that both sides should work together towards building a China-Brazil community with a shared future, promote the further alignment of the development strategies of both countries and send a positive expectation for the healthy and stable development of China-Brazil relations.

China has always prioritized Brazil in its diplomacy and is willing to work with Brazil to systematically summarize the successful experiences of the past half-century and elevate the comprehensive strategic partnership to a new level, Wang said, adding that this conforms to the wishes of both peoples and the expectations of the international community, and contributes to global peace and development.

China values Brazil's significant influence in the Latin American region and is willing to jointly promote cooperation between China, the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), and the Southern Common Market, Wang said.

He added that as the China-Latin America Forum approaches its 10th anniversary, showing a trend of comprehensive advancement, both sides can work together to start an even more fruitful decade for the forum.

Wang noted that China and Brazil, as major developing countries, need to make just, balanced, and constructive voices on international hot issues. Recently, the two countries jointly issued six common understandings on the political settlement of the Ukraine issue, which has gained understanding and recognition from more and more countries.

Noting that this year marks the inaugural year of the "greater BRICS cooperation," Wang said China is willing to work with Brazil to actively promote BRICS cooperation, enabling the BRICS mechanism to play a greater role in global governance and in safeguarding the interests of developing countries.

Vieira noted Brazilian Vice President Geraldo Alckmin's recent successful visit to China and the seventh meeting of the Brazil-China High-Level Coordination and Cooperation Committee, stressing that Brazil highly values its relationship with China, is ready to closely engage in high-level exchanges with China, strengthen cooperation in various fields including trade and economy, and define a new positioning for bilateral relations to open new prospects for the next 50 years.

Brazil appreciates China's active role in promoting BRICS cooperation, values China's influence in international affairs, and supports the major initiatives proposed by China, Vieira said.

He added that Brazil and China share similar stances on many issues, and the joint statement on the six common understandings on the political settlement of the Ukraine issue is of significant importance.

Brazil is willing to continue strengthening cooperation with China on multilateral platforms such as the United Nations, G20, and BRICS, he said.

Noting that Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva firmly believes that dialogue and cooperation between China and CELAC are of great significance, Vieira said the China-Latin America Forum is a beneficial platform, and Brazil is willing to work with China to arrange forum activities and promote its new development.

The two sides also exchanged views on the Gaza situation and other issues of common concern.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Bharatiya Janata Party leader Kiren Rijiju urged the opposition parties to "cooperate" in Parliament as he took charge as the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs on Tuesday. He was accompanied by his colleagues, Minister of State Arjun Ram Meghwal and Dr L Murugan, along with other top officials of the ministry. After taking charge, Rijiju extended his gratitude to the media persons and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Addressing the media persons, Kiren Rijiju said, "First up of all I want to thank media persons who have arrived at the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs to witness the official charge-taking ceremony. I want to thank PM Narendra Modi Ji for entrusting me with such a huge responsibility." "I, along with Arjun Ram Meghwal Ji and Dr L Murugan Ji are committed to our job to fulfill the PM's wish to run the parliamentary affairs smoothly while taking everybody along successfully. We will reach out to everyone in every possible manner," he added. He also urged the opposition parties for "kind cooperation" in the Parliament and said contribution is needed by everyone in the Parliament. "I would also like to urge all the political parties, all the members of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha for their kind cooperation. Parliament is a place where we discuss about future and developmental prospects of the country. Each member of parliament is committed towards only one motive, i.e., development. That's why we need everyone's contribution in administering parliament. As PM voice the spirit of 'Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas', we would like to start this spirit with parliament only," Rijiju said. Kiren Rijiju is one of the Bharatiya Janata Party's strong leaders representing the state of Arunachal Pradesh. Kiren Rijiju who held the portfolios of the Ministry of Food Processing Industries and Ministry of Earth Sciences earlier served as the Union Minister of Law and Justice from July 2021 to May 2023. Rijiju got the charge of Food Processing Industries in March 2024 and the Earth Sciences Ministry in May 2023. From May 2019 to July 2021, Rijiju was the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports; and the Minister of State in the Ministry of Minority Affairs. In the first term of the Narendra Modi government, he was the Union Minister of State in Home Affairs from May 2014 to May 2019. Earlier in 2007, he was a Member of the Standing Committee on Energy as well as a Member of the Consultative Committee in the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and Development of North Eastern Region. In the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, Rijiju defeated Congress state president Nabam Tuki from Arunachal West constituency by a margin of 100738 votes. He has been holding the Arunachal West seat since 2004. The BJP won both the seats in Arunachal Pradesh in the 2022 Lok Sabha polls. (ANI)
After assuming charge, he said, "I extend thanks to PM Narendra Modi. PM Modi told me that this is a ministry of his vision. The ministry of micro, small and medium enterprises will play a huge role in the upliftment of the poor section of society."

Manjhi, the founder of Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular), won the Gaya Lok Sabha constituency in Bihar in the 2024 election. He served as Bihar chief minister from May 2014 to February 2015.

Manjhi has been associated with various political parties, including the Congress, the erstwhile Janata Dal, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), and the Janata Dal (United).

Manjhi was born in Khijrasarai, Gaya, and became Congress MLA in 1980. He became Bihar Chief Minister in 2014 when Nitish Kumar stepped down to strengthen the Janata Dal (United).

After falling out with Nitish Kumar, in the 2015 Assembly elections, Manjhi faced a setback as his party managed to secure just one seat. Before the 2019 Lok Sabha elections his party joined with the grand alliance with the RJD and Congress. But in that election, the alliance got a drubbing in the strong Modi wave.

Earlier he was minister for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Welfare in Nitish Kumar's Cabinet. Between 1996 and 2005, he served in the RJD government under Lalu Prasad and Rabri Devi. (ANI)
The presidential office and cabinet announced in a statement that Chilima and other passengers were on the Malawi Defence Force Aircraft that took off from Lilongwe at 9:17 a.m. local time (3.17 a.m. ET).

According to authorities, the plane was supposed to land at Mzuzu International Airport, which is located approximately 380 km (240 miles) north of Lilongwe, reported CNN.

However, it never made it there and is no longer in the zone of the radar.

"All efforts by aviation authorities to make contact with the aircraft since it went off the radar have failed thus far," the presidential statement read.

"As such, the commander of the Malawi Defense Force, General Valentino Phiri, has since informed His Excellency Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera of the incident, and the president has since canceled his scheduled departure for the Bahamas and ordered all regional and national agencies to conduct an immediate search and rescue operation to locate the whereabouts of the aircraft," the statement added.

The search operation to locate the aircraft is underway. Further details are awaited. (ANI)
Amid rising tensions in West Asia due to the Israel-Hamas war, which is in its eighth month now, the United Nations Security Council passed a resolution vote on the US proposal for a permanent ceasefire and release of the hostages in Gaza on Monday (local time). The US-drafted text calls for Hamas to accept a ceasefire proposal announced on May 31 by President Joe Biden that has already been accepted by Israel. The resolution was notably adopted with 14 votes in favor, zero against, and one abstention by Russia, as the country chose not to exercise its veto power. The resolution that is adopted aims at reaching a comprehensive ceasefire deal in three phases, according to UN News. The first phase calls for an "immediate, full, and complete ceasefire with the release of hostages, including women, the elderly and the wounded, the return of the remains of some hostages who have been killed, and the exchange of Palestinian prisoners." It demands that Israeli soldiers leave Gaza's "populated areas," that Palestinians be allowed to return to their homes and communities anywhere in the territory, including the north, and that humanitarian aid be distributed widely and safely. Whereas Phase Two would see a permanent end to hostilities "in exchange for the release of all other hostages still in Gaza, and a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza," according to UN News. Phase three, on the other hand, would have a "major multi-year reconstruction plan for Gaza" and the remains of any deceased hostages still in the Strip would be returned to Israel. President Biden had described the deal as "not just a ceasefire that would inevitably be fragile and temporary" but one that would provide a "durable end to the war". More importantly, he had said that the terms of the deal had been transmitted by Qatar to the leadership of Hamas. Meanwhile, the US Ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, said that the fighting could stop today if Hamas agrees to the deal now endorsed by the Security Council. She asserted that Hamas should now see clearly that the international community is united, "united behind a deal that will save lives and help Palestinian civilians in Gaza start to rebuild and heal. United behind a deal that will reunite hostages with their families after eight months in captivity." Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield stated that there is now a chance to steer clear of the current situation and that the US will assist in making sure Israel fulfils its responsibilities, however, it would all be done "assuming that Hamas accepts the deal." In the resolution, the UN Security Council do not allow any attempt at demographic or territorial change in the Gaza Strip, including any actions that reduce the territory of the enclave. It also reiterates the Council's "unwavering commitment" to the vision of the two-state solution. "In this regard stresses the importance of unifying the Gaza Strip with the West Bank under the Palestinian Authority," the resolution added. The conflict in Gaza escalated after the October 7 attack by Hamas, where about 2,500 terrorists breached the border into Israel from the Gaza Strip, leading to casualties and the seizure of hostages. Israel has since, characterised its Gaza offensive as targeting Hamas' infrastructure with the goal of eliminating the entire terror group while making efforts to minimize civilian casualties. (ANI)
The United States Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, who is on a visit to the Middle East, held discussions regarding the hostage proposal, and distribution of humanitarian assistance throughout Gaza in a meeting with Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday. "Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken met today with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem. The Secretary reiterated that the United States and other world leaders will stand behind the comprehensive proposal outlined by President Biden that would lead to an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the release of all hostages, and a significant and sustained increase in humanitarian assistance for distribution throughout Gaza," the US State Department said in an official release. Blinken will travel to Egypt, Israel, Jordan, and Qatar from June 10-12. "The Secretary underscored the United States' ironclad commitment to Israel's security, including through ensuring October 7 can never be repeated," according to the State Department. However, he reiterated that the proposal on the table would unlock the possibility of calm along Israel's northern border. "The Secretary updated the prime minister on ongoing diplomatic efforts to plan for the post-conflict period, emphasizing the importance of those efforts to providing long-term peace, security, and stability to Israelis and Palestinians alike. Secretary Blinken also emphasized the importance of preventing the conflict from spreading," the State Department added. Last week, Blinken spoke with Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant and Israeli Minister Benny Gantz about Israel's proposal to achieve a full and complete ceasefire in Gaza. The US Secretary reiterated that, in addition to reuniting hostages with their loved ones, the proposal would advance Israel's long-term security interests, including by unlocking the possibility of calm along Israel's border with Lebanon that would allow Israelis to return to their home. Direct talks between Israel and Hamas regarding the release of hostages were paused a while ago due to disagreements over certain terms. A statement from the group said that it had shown "flexibility and positivity in dealing with the efforts of the mediators throughout all previous rounds of indirect negotiations." Israel, Hamas said, had used the months of ongoing talks as a cover to continue its war in Gaza. The conflict in Gaza escalated after the October 7 attack by Hamas, where about 2,500 terrorists breached the border into Israel from the Gaza Strip, leading to casualties and the seizure of hostages. Israel has since, characterised its Gaza offensive as targeting Hamas' infrastructure with the goal of eliminating the entire terror group while making efforts to minimize civilian casualties. In a recent move, the United Nations Security Council passed a resolution vote on the US proposal for a permanent ceasefire and release of the hostages in Gaza on Monday (local time). The US-drafted text calls for Hamas to accept a ceasefire proposal announced on May 31 by President Joe Biden that has already been accepted by Israel. The resolution was notably adopted with 14 votes in favour, zero against, and one abstention by Russia, as the country chose not to exercise its veto power. The resolution that is adopted aims at reaching a comprehensive ceasefire deal in three phases. (ANI)
Four American instructors from Iowa College who were on a visit to their partner university in China, sustained injuries after being attacked in a stabbing incident in a public park, CNN reported citing a school spokesperson. The instructors from Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa, were at a public park on Monday (local time) with a faculty member of their partner institution when they were injured "in a serious incident," school President Jonathan Brand said in a statement to the college community. "We have been in contact with all four instructors and are assisting them during this time," Brand said. School spokesperson Jen Visser told CNN the stabbing incident happened in Jilin City and the partner school is Beihua University. The US State Department is aware of reports of a stabbing incident in China and is monitoring the situation, according to a spokesperson. No students were participating in the program, according to the school. Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds said he is in touch with Iowa's federal delegation and the state department. "I am in touch with Iowa's federal delegation and the state department in response to this horrifying attack. Please pray for their full recovery, safe return, and their families here at home," he said. Iowa Senator Joni Ernst also said her team is "closely following reports that personnel from Cornell College in Mt. Vernon were stabbed in China." "We are in touch with the college and the State Department and stand ready to further assist these Iowans. Praying for a speedy recovery for all," she said on X. New York Times cited a video posted on Chinese social media, purportedly taken after the attack, which showed three people lying on the ground, surrounded by onlookers. One was soaked in blood, while another appeared to be using his hand to apply pressure to his wound. All three were using their cell phones. Cornell College is a private four-year school where the enrolment for the 2022-2023 academic year was 1,074 students and the student-to-faculty ratio was 13:1. The top majors at the school that year were biochemistry, kinesiology, engineering, computer science, and politics. The college's academic calendar is divided into 18-day blocks where students take one course at a time. China and the United States have recently sought to bolster their educational ties to help stabilize their tense relationship. Last November, China's top leader, Xi Jinping, announced a plan to invite 50,000 young Americans to participate in exchange and study programs over a period of five years. President Xi has a personal connection to Iowa, having lived there with a host family in 1985 as part of an agricultural exchange. (ANI)
The Ministry of External Affairs thanked US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron and Luxembourg Foreign Minister Xavier Bettel for their greetings to Prime Minister Narendra Modi after assuming office for the third consecutive term. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, while thanking Secretary Blinken affirmed that the India-USA partnership is among the most consequential in the world and New Delhi looks forward to building on its momentum. "Thank @SecBlinken for the warm greetings extended to PM @narendramodi on his election victory. India-USA partnership is among the most consequential in the world. India looks forward to build upon the positive momentum in bilateral relations to take our Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership to new heights," he stated on X. https://x.com/MEAIndia/status/1800363281133027459 Thanking David Cameron, he said that India looks forward to working with the UK to unlock the full potential of the "multi-faceted partnership" between the two nations. "Thank @David_Cameron for the warm wishes extended to PM @narendramodion his election victory. India looks forward to working with the UK to unlock full potential of our multi-faceted partnership," Jaiswal stated. https://x.com/MEAIndia/status/1800362891499143309 Jaiswal said India looks forward to further deepening of its bilateral partnership with Luxembourg. "Thank FM @Xavier_Bettel for the greetings extended to PM@narendramodion his election victory. India looks forward to further deepening of its bilateral partnership with Luxembourg," the MEA spokesperson said while thanking the Luxembourg FM. https://x.com/MEAIndia/status/1800363546389471600 Prime Minister Narendra Modi took oath for the third consecutive time on Sunday. President Droupadi Mumu administered oath to him, as well as other ministers of his cabinet in a grand ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. The event was attended by leaders and dignitaries from neighbouring countries and Indian Ocean Region, reaffirming India's commitment to the region. BJP-led NDA won a majority for the third time in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, winning 293 seats. BJP won 240 seats on its own, in the 543-member lower house, where the majority mark stands at 272. Notably, PM Modi is only the third leader after Jawaharlal Nehru to take oath as PM for a third consecutive time. (ANI)
The BRICS Foreign Ministers expressed "grave concern" regarding the escalating violence in the Gaza Strip that has led to mass civilian displacement, death and casualties, and destruction of civilian infrastructure. The ministers also called for the effective implementation of the UNSC resolution for an "immediate, durable, and sustained ceasefire" and the relevant UNGA resolutions and UNSC resolution for immediate safe and unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance in Gaza. The conflict escalated on October 7 after Hamas launched a massive terror attack on Israel killing over 1200 people and holding around 250 as hostages. Following this, Israel launched a strong counteroffensive, carrying out military operations against Hamas in the Gaza Strip with the aim of "completely eliminating" Hamas. However, the operations have led to massive civilian casualties with over 37,000 Palestinians have been killed. "The Ministers expressed grave concern at the deterioration of the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, in particular the unprecedented escalation of violence in the Gaza Strip as a result of the Israeli military operation that led to mass civilian displacement, death and casualties, and destruction of civilian infrastructure," the joint statement of BRICS foreign ministers meeting read. "In this regard, they called for the effective implementation of the relevant UNGA resolutions and UNSC resolution 2720 and for immediate safe and unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance at scale directly to the Palestinian civilian population throughout the Gaza Strip. They also called for the effective implementation of the UNSC resolution 2728 for an immediate, durable, and sustained ceasefire," it added. The Foreign Ministers met at the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Russia's Nizhny Novgorod on Monday. Dammu Ravi, Secretary (Economic Relations), at the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), led the Indian side at the meeting, in what was the first foreign assignment for India's foreign policy under the historic third consecutive term of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The ministers also called for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages and civilians who are being illegally held captive, the joint statement read. They further expressed grave concern by the increasing attacks by Israel on Rafah, which would compound the dire humanitarian situation. The ministers condemned the Israeli military operation in Rafah and its ramifications that directly impact civilian lives, especially in view of the "high density of Palestinian civilians in this location", and the "humanitarian catastrophic" results due to the suspension of the Rafah crossing from the Palestinian side. The ministers also reaffirmed their rejection of any attempt aiming at forcefully displacing, expelling, or transferring the Palestinian people from their land. Furthermore, they cautioned against the spillover effects of the escalation of tensions to the rest of the Middle East region. They acknowledged the provisional measures of the International Court of Justice in the legal proceedings instituted by South Africa against Israel. The Ministers expressed serious concern at "Israel's continued blatant disregard" of international law, the UN Charter, UN resolutions and Court orders. "The Ministers reaffirmed their support for Palestine's full membership in the United Nations and reiterated their unwavering commitment to the vision of the two-state solution based on international law including relevant UNSC and UNGA resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative that includes the establishment of a sovereign, independent and viable State of Palestine in line with internationally recognized borders of June 1967 with East Jerusalem as its capital living side by side in peace and security with Israel," the statement read. The ministers expressed serious concern over the prevailing conflicts and the continuing threats posed by terrorist organizations in various sub-regions of Africa and over remaining conflict potential in the Sahel region, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the Great Lakes Region, and in the Horn of Africa, particularly in Sudan as well as growing activity of numerous terrorist groups and insurgents. The Ministers reiterated their call for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire and peaceful resolution of the conflict in Sudan and unimpeded access of the Sudanese population to humanitarian assistance, and the scaling up of humanitarian assistance to Sudan and neighboring states. The Foreign Ministers expressed serious concern with the ongoing deterioration of the security, humanitarian, political and economic situation in Haiti. "They stressed that the current crisis requires a Haitian-led solution that encompasses national dialogue and consensus building among local political forces, institutions and the society and called on the international community to support the Haitian endeavours to dismantle the gangs, enhance the security situation and put in place the foundations for long-lasting social and economic development in the country," the statement read. The Ministers also emphasized the need for an urgent peaceful settlement in Afghanistan in order to strengthen regional security and stability. They advocated for Afghanistan as an independent, united and peaceful state free from terrorism, war and drugs. They urged for more visible and verifiable measures in Afghanistan to ensure that the territory of Afghanistan is not used by terrorists. "They further stressed the need to provide urgent and uninterrupted humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people and to safeguard the fundamental rights of all Afghans including women, girls, and different ethnic groups. They emphasized the primary and effective role of regional platforms and neighbouring countries of Afghanistan and welcomed the efforts of such regional platforms and initiatives to facilitate the Afghan settlement," the statement added. This is the first meeting of foreign ministers since the expansion of BRICS in 2023. The 10 full members of the association include Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa with new members Egypt, Iran, UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Ethiopia joining the grouping in 2023. Russia took over the chairmanship of BRICS on January 1, 2024. (ANI)
The Foreign Ministers of the BRICS nations reaffirmed the crucial role of G20 as the premier forum for international economic cooperation and said the grouping should continue to function in a productive manner. Welcoming the inclusion of the African Union in G20 during the New Delhi Summit last year, the ministers said the G20 presidencies of India, Brazil, and South Africa lay a solid ground for addressing inequalities, imbalances, and shortcomings in the world economy. Notably, India held the G20 presidency in 2023. Currently, the presidency lies with Brazil, following which it will go to South Africa in 2025. The Foreign Ministers met at the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Russia's Nizhny Novgorod on Monday. Dammu Ravi, Secretary (Economic Relations), at the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), led the Indian side at the meeting, in what was the first foreign assignment for India's foreign policy under the historic third consecutive term of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "The Ministers reaffirmed the important role of the G20 as the premier forum for international economic cooperation that comprises both developed and developing countries on an equal and mutually beneficial footing where major economies jointly seek solutions to global challenges to the achievement of universally beneficial and inclusive global economic growth," the joint statement of foreign minister's meeting stated. The foreign ministers expressed their firm view that the G20 should continue to function in a productive manner, focusing on the delivery of concrete outcomes, taking decisions by consensus. They reiterated their commitment to a balanced approach by continuing to amplify and further enhance inclusiveness of the G20 process through the effective integration of the voice of the Global South in the G20 agenda. They welcomed and supported the inclusion of the African Union as a member of the G20 at the G20 New Delhi Summit. "The Ministers reiterated that the consecutive G20 presidencies of India, Brazil and South Africa in 2023-2025 lay a solid ground for addressing inequalities, imbalances and shortcomings in the world economy, expressed support for continuity and collaboration in their G20 presidencies and wished them all success in their endeavours," the statement added. In this regard they endorsed the three priorities of Brazil as the G20 Presidency: fighting hunger, poverty and inequality; sustainable development in its three dimensions; and global governance reform, and looked forward to the successful hosting of the 19th G20 Summit under the Brazilian G20 Presidency. They reaffirmed their willingness to coordinate positions on the G20 agenda. The Ministers noted the increasing relevance of the interface between sustainable development and global health issues while recognizing that international health cooperation shall be inclusive, based on equity, and result-oriented for the benefit of all people. They further reaffirmed that the global health architecture should be open, inclusive, science-based, depoliticized, and based on the principles of equity and transparency, equality, and mutual respect, in line with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, and with due respect to the sovereignty and interests of all countries. They also supported enhancing BRICS coordination on global health. The ministers recognized the importance of ensuring food security and nutrition and promoting rural development. They encouraged further cooperation in agriculture and food security. "The Ministers expressed the intention to promote energy cooperation among the BRICS countries. They emphasized that guaranteeing universal access to affordable and reliable energy and ensuring energy security is a crucial foundation for economic development, social stability, national security, and the welfare of all nations worldwide," the statement read. This is the first meeting of foreign ministers since the expansion of BRICS in 2023. The 10 full members of the association include Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa with new members Egypt, Iran, UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Ethiopia joining the grouping in 2023. Russia took over the chairmanship of BRICS on January 1, 2024. (ANI)
Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence issued a statement on Tuesday, revealing heightened tensions in the region as Chinese aircraft and vessels were detected around the island nation's territory on Tuesday. As many as 11 People's Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft and 8 People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) vessels were detected operating around Taiwan's territory up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. According to the statement, seven PLA aircraft crossed the median line, breaching Taiwan's northern and southwestern Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ). This provocative action underscores the ongoing geopolitical tensions between Taiwan and China, with Taiwan asserting its sovereignty while Beijing continues to assert its claims over the island. Taiwan's Armed Forces (ROCArmedForces) have been closely monitoring the situation and have responded promptly and appropriately to ensure the safety and security of Taiwan's airspace and territorial waters. The presence of PLA military assets in such proximity to Taiwan's borders has raised concerns regarding potential escalations and the risk of inadvertent conflict. This latest incident adds to a series of similar provocations by China in recent months, as Beijing continues to flex its military muscles and assert its dominance in the region. Taiwan, officially known as the Republic of China, has long been a contentious issue in China's foreign policy, with Beijing considering the island as a renegade province that must be reunified with the mainland, if necessary by force. As the situation in the Taiwan Strait continues to unfold, regional stability hangs in the balance, with any escalation posing significant risks not only to Taiwan and China but also to the broader Asia-Pacific region. Since September 2020, China has increased its use of gray zone tactics by incrementally increasing the number of military aircraft and naval ships operating around Taiwan. Gray zone tactics are defined as "an effort or series of efforts beyond steady-state deterrence and assurance that attempts to achieve one's security objectives without resort to direct and sizable use of force." This comes at a time when the tensions between China and Taiwan are at an all-time high. Despite never having governed Taiwan, China's governing Communist Party considers it part of its territory and has threatened to conquer it by force if necessary. (ANI)
The Islamabad High Court's (IHC) Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani on Monday ordered that Kashmiri poet Ahmed Farhad be declared a case of "enforced disappearance or missing person" until he returns home safely, Pakistan-based Dawn reported. A written order of court hearing on Friday stated, "Syed Farhad Ali Shah is declared an enforced disappearance/missing person until he reaches his home safely," according to Dawn report. In the written order, Justice Kayani noted that when Farhad will reach his residence, the investigation officer of Islamabad's Lohi Bher police station was bound to record his statement "under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) before a judicial magistrate and proceed with the investigation as a result". On the matters of combining all such cases of enforced disappearance sub judice before the IHC and forming a larger bench to hear them, Justice Kayani directed that the cases be presented before IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq "so he, using his administrative powers, may form a larger bench so that this matter of public interest can be dealt with in a better way," DAwn reported. Ahmed Farhad was allegedly abducted from his home on May 15. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan has called for the immediate release of the poet. A petition filed by the Pakistani poet's wife on the same day, requested the court that Farhad be produced before the court and action be taken against the culprits. Justice Kayani had also framed 12 questions, the majority of them regarding the functions and obligations of spy agencies -- the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Military Intelligence (MI) and the Intelligence Bureau (IB). After multiple orders were issued by the Islamabad High Court, Farhad's case resurfaced on May 29, when the government told the court that the poet was in the custody of Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir police under the case registered the same day for obstructing public servant's duties. Previously, a special court an anti-terrorism court in Pakistan-Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) rejected the plea for bail of forcefully abducted Ahmed Farhad Shah. While rejecting the plea, the court said that the legal points stated by his counsel did not apply to the case at hand, according to a previous report by Dawn. Previously, the poet and journalist Shah had recited poetry of resistance against Pakistani oppression in IHC despite being in chains during his transport. The footage which surfaced on social media showed him reciting his own couplet in court. Shah was reportedly abducted by Pakistan's intelligence services ISI and subjected to forced disappearance. The 38-year-old Ahmed Farhad who belongs to the Bagh district of Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, is well-known for openly criticizing both the influential establishment and military of Pakistan. Recently, he reported on the protests and violence in Muzaffarabad. For decades, countless journalists, activists, and civil society members in Pakistan and its occupied regions have been vocal against the oppression of the establishment. Journalists particularly have encountered numerous obstacles, including censorship and restrictions on travel within the country. Ahmad Farhad's abduction and subsequent court appearance are emblematic of the broader challenges faced by journalists and activists in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, an area rife with political tensions and human rights concerns. Pakistan's intelligence agencies have been accused of involvement in forced disappearances and suppression of dissenting voices in the occupied regions. Such actions are part of a broader strategy to maintain control over the occupied territories and silence opposition. (ANI)
Tel Aviv [Israel], June 11 (ANI/TPS): Four terrorists were killed during a raid carried out overnight by Israel Defence Forces (IDF) and Border Police special forces. The terrorists were killed during an operation in Kafr Ni'man - located near Ramallah - to arrest a single member of a terror squad that Monday night came to carry out an attack against Jews and set fires at the Sde Efraim farm, located east of Modi'in Illit, between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. That terrorist was one of the four killed. During the activity, a Police special forces fighter was slightly injured in his leg and was referred for medical treatment. Upon the arrival of the security forces to the compound where the suspects were hiding, they closed in on the building. The terrorist from the attack and three others tried to escape in a vehicle and even attempted to run over undercover agents who were operating in the area. The forces opened fire on the vehicle and killed the terrorists. In the search they carried out in the vehicle, a Carlo-type weapon, a vest and explosive charges were found. (ANI/TPS)
The Sindhi Foundation, a Washington-based human rights body focusing on the human rights of Sindhis in Pakistan and elsewhere, on Tuesday announced it would organise a long march on the streets of London to commemorate the abduction of Priya Kumari, a young Hindu girl, on June 14. The long march will stretch from 10 Downing Street to Pakistan's High Commission, a statement by the social organization stated. The long march has been organised in remembrance of the enforced disappearance of a young girl, Priya Kumari who was forcibly abducted in Pakistan three years ago, the statement read. Sufi Munawar Laghari, the executive director of the Sindhi Foundation said, "We the Sindhis living in London and elsewhere over the globe have taken to the streets of London along with humanist people, women, and men, with conscience, to seek justice for Priya Kumari and bring her back to home. Priya Kumari had been abducted three years ago when she was only seven years old." The statement further claimed that the girl was abducted near her home in her village Sangrar near Sukkur in Sindh province. "A Hindu girl who was abducted near her home when she was serving water to the thirsty mourners on the day of lamentation in commemoration of Imam Hussain and his companions on the 10th day of Muharram, at her village Sangrar near Sukkur in Sindh province," it read. The statement further claimed that since then, Priya Kumari has been missing but the highly politicized Police in Sindh have miserably failed to recover her, despite being fully aware of the whereabouts of the abducted minor Sindhi Hindu girl. Pakistan is a signatory of the UN General Assembly's Declaration of the Rights of Children and other international instruments for the protection of children's rights. Yet, numerous children including Priya Kumari are under the captivity of their captors in Sindh a province of Pakistan, Munawar Laghari said, according to the statement. Laghari further in the statement alleged that "the abductors of Priya Kumari belong to the political power corridors, secondly, Priya Kumari hails from the community of Sindhi Hindus whose daughters are victims of forced conversions to Islam." The executive director of the Sindhi Foundation added that there are hundreds of Sindhi-Hindu young women and girls who are forcibly converted on an everyday basis in Sindh which goes unabated, Laghari said. "That is why we are out to the streets and knocking at the doors of power in London to apprise the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and his government to persuade Pakistan to bring the abducted Priya Kumari to her home" the statement mentioned. Sufi Munawar Laghari further declared that they will present the memorandums to the staff of the Prime Minister of the UK and the Pakistani High Commissioner about the plight of Priya Kumari and her parents. (ANI)
To thwart President Xi Jinping's plan of invasion of Taiwan which China's President has asked the People's Liberation Army to do by 2027, the US military is ready with its strategy of turning the Taiwan Strait into an unmanned hellscape using a number of classified capabilities, a Washington Post columnist said. "I want to turn the Taiwan Strait into an unmanned hellscape using a number of classified capabilities," Adm. Samuel Paparo, the commander of US Indo-Pacific Command, told The Washington Post at the International Institute for Strategic Studies' Shangri-La Dialogue Summit. The key to thwarting Xi's assumed strategy is a U.S. strategy called "Hellscape," Paparo told me. The idea is that as soon as China's invasion fleet begins moving across the 100-mile waterway that separates China and Taiwan, the U.S. military would deploy thousands of unmanned submarines, unmanned surface ships and aerial drones to flood the area and give Taiwanese, U.S. and partner forces time to mount a full response. In doing so, he said, "I can make their lives utterly miserable for a month, which buys me the time for the rest of everything." According to the top US military official, That plan hinges on quickly building and deploying thousands of new drones that would swarm the Taiwan Strait and keep China's military busy until more help can arrive. This type of strategy would require heavy investments in cheap, reliable drones, which the US has been doing with its Replicator initiative. Last year, the Department of Defense officially announced the program, which is a long-term plan to field thousands of autonomous systems. Moreover in an Interview with Washington Post, Adm. Samuel Paparo, the new head of US Indo-Pacific Command said, "For any US president, to send American men and women to defend a small democracy on the other side of the world would be a very tough call." "That's why Plan A is to deter Xi from ever attempting an invasion, by making sure that he never looks across the Taiwan Strait and sees an easy victory." he added. Back in March, Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks said the Pentagon aims to spend $1 billion this fiscal year on Replicator. A few capabilities have been highlighted as necessary for the first drones in the program, and the Pentagon is working with defense partners to develop and acquire these systems. Last summer, Hicks said Replicator aimed to counter China's "biggest advantage," which is its mass: "More ships. More missiles. More people." She said that "we'll counter the [People's Liberation Army's] mass with mass of our own, but ours will be harder to plan for, harder to hit, harder to beat." The previous INDOPACOM commander said last year that US unmanned capabilities "will be an asymmetric advantage." He said "operational concepts that we are working through are going to help amplify our advantages in this theater," adding, "There's a term, hellscape, that we use." Paparo's remarks on the "Hellscape" strategy come on the heels of a massive Chinese military drill around Taiwan, during which it effectively surrounded the island and showed off joint force capabilities. While the exercise showed Taiwan and the US how quickly and easily China could employ a blockade, it was also a learning opportunity for the US military. After the drills concluded, Paparo said they "looked like a rehearsal" for an invasion, telling Japan's Nikkei newspaper: "We watched it. We took note. We learned from it. And they helped us prepare for the future." Even if "Hellscape" comes together in time, drone swarms alone will not match Beijing's massive military buildup on its side of the Strait. The PLA is expanding its nuclear, naval, air force, cyber, intelligence and electronic warfare capabilities at record speeds. According to Paparo, China's military budget is likely three times what Beijing publicly claims, which would put it at about $700 billion annually. Meanwhile, Indo-Pacific Command's budget is short $11 billion of what it needs this year alone, according to a letter sent to Congress in March by Paparo's predecessor, it aded. (ANI)
Florida Power and Light held a storm season expo at its Panama City service center to showcase its preparations for hurricane season.

PANAMA CITY  Florida Power and Light recently hosted the Storm Season Expo at the Panama City Service Center on June 6th.

FPL previously have made it known that they are making improvements in Bay County to upgrade the energy grid to prepare for hurricane season.

In Bay County and other Northwest Florida counties, FPL has installed more than 2,500 intelligent devices along the energy grid to prevent outages. FPL has strengthened more than 70 power lines, replacing wooden poles with concrete or steel structures.

According to a news release, FPL says the upgrades will hopefully improve the speed of restoration and reduce outage times should power be cut by severe weather.

The expo showcased and demonstrated tools and technology FPL uses to prepare for hurricanes and other forms of severe weather.

Previous FPL Coverage: Florida Power and Light is making upgrades for the upcoming hurricane season

Demonstrations included a lineworker training demonstration, a tour of the FPL Panama City Storm Center, information about the FPL Storm Secure Underground Program, and drone technology that the company uses during post-storm situations to aid crews in the field.

"At FPL, we know it only takes one hurricane to severely impact our customers and the communities we serve," J.T. Young, FPL Northwest Region vice president and general manager said in the release. "Thats why we prepare year-round and make smart investments that increase the resiliency of the electric grid here in Northwest Florida, helping us restore power faster following storms.

"While no electric grid is stormproof, we are prepared to respond to the challenges that may arise during this hurricane season, and we ask our customers to also share our commitment as they prepare their own emergency plans."

This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Florida Power and Light hosts expo to showcase storm season prep
It was nearly a century ago that William Meade Smith was killed in a hit-and-run crash.

Then his name was lost to history.

Smith was a 45-year-old night watchman for the Town of Westfield. He was found in the roadway in the modern-day 100 block of South Union Street by an undertaker driving home to Kokomo.

At some point after the mans death in the early morning hours of Nov. 2, 1928, he was forgotten about in Westfields history. It was a common belief that Deputy Marshal David Brown, who was shot in 1969, was the only Westfield law enforcement officer killed in the line of duty.

A plaque remembers the death of Deputy Marshal David K. Brown who was killed in the line of duty in 1969. Photo taken Tuesday, June 4, 2024 at the Westfield Police Department.

But now, 96 years later, Smith's name is engraved on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C., thanks to Lt. Rory Gentry of the Westfield Police Department.

It's good to remember," Gentry said, "but it's better to never forget."

Last year, Diana Peyton, of the Westfield Washington Historical Society, passed along a tip to Gentry about the forgotten night watchman. Gentry then embarked on a months-long research project, learning more about Smith and ensuring he was properly honored.

(Smith) was a guy protecting our community," Gentry said, "and learning about him changes the whole history of the Westfield area."

Who was William Meade Smith?

Dozens of Indiana newspapers reported on Smiths 1928 death at the time. Now the articles and other documents are compiled in Gentrys three-ring binder.

The night he was killed, the watchmans hat and flashlight were found about 150 feet away from where his body lay in the road, according to the newspaper reports. Smith was pronounced dead shortly after a doctor arrived, and the driver who killed him was never brought to justice.

"It's amazing how many different newspapers were reporting on what happened to him, Gentry said. When you go back to a 1928 newspaper, the news was different. It was more gossipy than today.

Gentry learned that Smiths father was the towns postmaster and that his mother received his monthly salary of $15.50 from the town for the month he was killed. Smith had at least one brother and one sister. He was single with no children.

Westfield Police Departments Lt. Rory Gentry received info from the citys historical society and also gathered lots of information as he researched the death of Night Watchman William Meade Smith, a Westfield officer killed in the line of duty in 1928 but not properly memorialized. This was a 1927 Town Board meeting approving $1 to Smith for shoveling ice and snow from two residential sidewalks. Photo taken Tuesday, June 4, 2024.

From February: Two Indiana troopers were killed by fleeing vehicles. Could their deaths prompt change?

There's an interesting story where he was working as a night watchman at the bank downtown, Gentry said. Someone thought he was robbing the place and started shooting at the front door.

From the newspapers, Gentry also learned more mundane facts about the man's life: Smith was the backup mail carrier in town and his family once sold their stove.

All the family members went out into the community, and it turns out every single one found a buyer, so all these people showed up thinking they bought the stove, Gentry said. It made the newspaper.

Gentry worked with the Hamilton County Prosecutors Office, Health Department and Coroners Office to see if any additional information could be found in old records. He found Smiths military registration card and certificates of death.

We're losing Westfield's history every day, said Peyton, of the historical society. The change that's going on in Westfield is unbelievably quick, so its more important than ever to preserve our history.

The most important information Gentry found was in the official Town of Westfield records maintained by the historical society. There was the proof he needed that Smith was indeed a law enforcement officer, who had been killed in the line of duty.

Smiths story became personal for Gentry

With the backing of his department, Gentry submitted a 19-page report to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. Late last year, Gentry found out Smiths name was going to be added to the memorial because of his research.

In May, the lieutenant went to the nation's capital for a candle-light vigil, during which the names of the fallen officers added to the memorial were read aloud. He took with him remembrance coins he designed in honor of Westfields two fallen officers.

From 2013: Indianapolis officer Rod Bradway remembered as silent hero

It was an emotional trip for Gentry, whose nephew was killed in the line of duty in 2013. Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officer Rod Bradway was shot and killed after rushing to the scene of a domestic disturbance.

It brought back the memories of Rod, so it was a heavy week, Gentry said. You realize everyone there is connected by the same type of loss.

William Meade Smiths grave located at Westfield cemetery

After some conflicting reports on where the man was buried, Gentry found Smith next to his mother and father at Little Eagle Creek Cemetery. Theres a simple headstone with the mans middle name and the years he was born and killed.

Westfield Police Departments Lt. Rory Gentry gathered lots of information as he researched the death of Night Watchman William Meade Smith, a Westfield officer killed in the line of duty in 1928 but not properly memorialized. He found Smiths headstone on the family plot in Eagle Creek Cemetery. Photo taken Tuesday, June 4, 2024 in Westfield.

So much has changed in Westfield and for law enforcement officers since Smiths time, Gentry points out.

He hopes Smiths story hasnt yet ended as hes still trying to find a photo of the night watchman. Gentry also hopes to connect with any living relatives of Smith.

Its important to remember where we came from, Gentry said. As different as it was back then, there was still somebody making a sacrifice.

Anyone with information on William Meade Smith can contact Gentry at rgentry@westfield.in.gov.

Contact Jake Allen at jake.allen@indystar.com. Follow him on Twitter @Jake_Allen19.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: This Westfield officer died 96 years ago. He's finally being honored.
Inside a 5-star hotel in Panama City's richest neighborhood, complete with 2 infinity pools and a Louis Vuitton-inspired speakeasy

I spent a night at the JW Marriott in Panama City's richest neighborhood.

The five-star hotel is in a building formerly known as the Trump Ocean Club.

Amenities include infinity pools, a spa, a gym, restaurants, and spacious rooms.

Moises Munoz, the international sales manager at the JW Marriott Panama, put it perfectly when he said I wouldn't need to leave once I arrived at the five-star hotel.

The JW Marriott Panama is located in The Ocean Club building in the heart of Punta Pacifica, Panama City's richest neighborhood. Between the building's attached businesses and the hotel's amenities, I had everything I needed.

I could access infinity pools, a spa, a gym, and a handful of restaurants without leaving the Marriott property.

Without stepping outside the 70-story building  where the hotel is located  I had even more dining options, salons ready to cut hair, manicurists waiting for clients, cigar shops, and a casino taking up the top two floors of the high rise.

After one night, it was clear that the JW Marriott Panama was unlike any hotel I've visited. Take a look.

The 70-story building is located in Panama's rich Punta Pacifica neighborhood.

An aerial view of the manmade islands in Panama City. Didier Marti/Getty Images

When it comes to Panama City and luxury, it's hard not to mention Punta Pacifica.

The neighborhood is home to popular restaurants and luxury condominiums. Duncan McGowan, the president of Punta Pacifica Realty , told Business Insider that Punta Pacifica has the most expensive real estate across Panama City.

A quick search shows single-bedroom apartments costing $200,000 and luxury penthouses for $5 million .

From the skyline, the building is hard to miss.

Panama's Punta Pacifica skyline. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

Punta Pacifica sits on the coast of the Pacific Ocean, and just a few decades ago, the neighborhood's skyline didn't exist.

Originally, the area was marshland, but in the early 2000s, it was developed into the neighborhood it is today.

More than a dozen high-rises line the coast, but one building with its oval-shaped walls stands out: The Ocean Club.

Inside is the JW Marriott Panama, the neighborhood's only five-star hotel.

I told locals I was staying at the JW Marriott, but to them, the building is better known as the Trump Ocean Club.

The exterior of the JW Marriott Panama, a five-star hotel in Panama City's Punta Pacifica neighborhood. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

Before the building was called The Ocean Club, it was the Trump Ocean Club International Hotel and Tower.

As Punta Pacifica was being built in the early 2000s, a developer named Roger Khafif took on the task of building the 70-story high-rise.

To up the building's credibility and notoriety, it licensed the Trump name, the Associated Press reported .

The building made headlines, but not for something positive. Instead, an NBC and Reuters investigation found that many of the property's brokers, customers, and investors were tied to drug trafficking and international crime.

In 2018, Marriott International took over management and renamed it The Ocean Club, the AP reported .

But even with the rebrand, the original name seemed to stick. Everyone I spoke with during my Panama trip knew it as the Trump building or Trump tower.

On my second night in Panama City, I headed to Punta Pacifica for a night at the JW Marriott.

A view from a balcony at the JW Marriott Panama. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

I made it to the entrance of the building, where valet drivers were waiting to whisk away cars, and impressive statues filled a lobby.

While the building is 70 stories, 24 make up the Marriott. The rest are businesses, condominiums, and a casino.

The Punta Pacifica neighborhood in Panama City. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

McGowan said that TOC is one of the country's largest mixed-use buildings. The first floor is home to two hallways of businesses. The majority of the floors are condominiums and apartments. Twenty-four floors are the Marriott, and the top two levels house a casino.

I arrived at the building and headed to Marriott's lobby on floor 12.

The lobby of Punta Pacifica's TOC building. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

The hotel lobby is on the 12th floor, where guests can check-in.

There, I was handed a key to my executive suite.

The hallway leading to the author's hotel room. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

The JW Marriott is home to 320 hotel rooms and suites. For my one-night stay, I was in an executive suite.

According to TripAdvisor, standard rooms typically cost between $193 and $290 for a night. BI received a media rate for the room.

I was taken aback by the suite's size as I stepped inside.

A view of an executive suite at the JW Marriott Panama. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

I rarely find hotel rooms this large in major cities.

The open-concept room had an area with a stunning bathroom.

The open-concept bathroom in the author's hotel room. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

The suite was open concept, with spaces naturally flowing into the next.

A partial wall with a vanity and two sinks separated the bathroom from the rest of the suite.

A tub faced Panama's horizon and sunset.

The room's large tub. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

A bathtub big enough for two was perfectly positioned to look out to Panama's skyline.

The bathroom also had a closed-off area with a toilet and another glass room for the rainfall shower.

Adjacent to the bathroom was a living area with a loveseat and desk.

A living area with a loveseat and desk in the author's hotel suite. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

Here, there was plenty of space to unpack my suitcase, spend an evening writing at the desk, and relax on the loveseat.

Nearby was a table, minibar, and balcony.

The suite had room for a dining table and minibar. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

While the table was small, it had ocean views, and the minibar was stocked with drinks and snacks.

The balcony offered a bird's-eye view of the neighborhood.

A bird's-eye view from the author's balcony. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

Floors below, there was a bright blue pool, playground, and car garage. Across from me were a handful of condominiums, and I had a partial view of the nearby ocean.

Back inside was a king-sized bed.

A view of the open-concept bedroom and bathroom at the JW Marriott Panama. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

The final area of the suite was the bedroom area. A bed faced a television, and two nightstands bookmarked the bed.

I was settling in during golden hour, which meant the entire room was lit in warm sunlight.

The views from the author's hotel room. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

The room feels modern with its marble flooring, white interiors, and abstract art. Thanks to an entire wall of windows, the golden sunset warmed up the space.

After dropping off my bags, I joined Munoz for a property tour. We started by exploring the businesses in the downstairs area of the building.

A real-estate business at the bottom of the building. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

Munoz said to fully understand the hotel's appeal, you have to start at the bottom of the building.

Here, two long hallways are filled with businesses of all types. Walking around, I spotted real-estate offices, salons, restaurants, convenience stores, and cigar shops.

Then, we headed back upstairs to the Marriott. Here, a bar is the first thing that greets guests.

A bar at the JW Marriott Panama. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

Between the first floor and the hotel are condominiums and apartments.

The first thing guests see when they arrive is the hotel bar.

Also on this floor are the hotel's lobby and a speakeasy.

Cava 15 in the JW Marriott Panama. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

Bold red curtains lead to Cava 15, a speakeasy at the JW Marriott Panama. Munoz said the bar was designed in conjunction with Louis Vuitton.

I could see the parallels. The room was full of leather and brass embellishments.

A floor away was the hotel's spa and gym, accessed by the entire building.

The gym in the building. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

I typically picture a treadmill or two and a stationary bike when I think of hotel gyms. If I'm lucky, there might also be a weight rack and room for stretching.

But at the JW Marriott, the gym was bigger than the one I go to back in Denver. The only caveat, Munoz said, is that the building's permanent residents also have access to the space.

From what I could see, that wasn't an issue  the gym had only a few people exercising when I stopped by.

Also on the floor was a spa where guests and residents could book treatments and massages.

The hotel is also home to a few restaurants, including one serving Panamanian cuisine.

The Masi restaurant in the JW Marriott Panama. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

The hotel has two restaurants. The first, Masi, is located on the 14th floor. It has an incredible outdoor terrace filled with plants and greenery, and chefs serve Latin American and Panamanian dishes.

A floor below is a poolside restaurant called Azul.

On the 13th floor, guests can take a dip in one of the hotel's two infinity pools.

The pool at the JW Marriott Panama. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

Munoz said a visit to the JW Marriott wouldn't be complete without a swim in the hotel's pools.

As soon as the pools came into view, I understood why. The infinity pools seamlessly blended with the Pacific Ocean, and one of them offered stunning views of the city's skyline.

The floor was also home to two smaller pools.

Near the pools, Marriott's elite members can accessive an executive lounge.

The executive lounge at the hotel. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

Platinum Elite, Titanium Elite, and Ambassador Elite Marriott Bonvoy Members can also visit the hotel's executive lounge, which serves coffee, sodas, and appetizers each evening.

After our tour, I headed back to the infinity pool to catch the last few minutes of the sunset.

The Punta Pacifica neighborhood in Panama City. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

The infinity pool was easily one of the most stunning pools I've seen. Before the sun sank beneath the horizon, I hopped in.

It was an ideal lap pool, plus a submerged level had lounge chairs suitable for relaxing and soaking in the pool's warm waters.

Then, I spent the rest of my evening dining at Masi.

The outdoor area of the Masi restaurant. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

Good food is one of the main reasons I love to travel, so when I learned the hotel had a restaurant serving Panamanian food, I took Munoz's advice and decided not to leave the property for dinner.

At Masi, I dined on three types of ceviche  some of the freshest ceviche I had during my trip. I also enjoyed a pumpkin dish and a mezcal cocktail.

By the time the meal was over, I was stuffed and relieved I had only an elevator ride to my hotel room.

Finally, it was time to sleep. I hopped into the large king-sized bed, and before I knew it, the morning sun was creeping through the room's curtains.

Only a handful of condos have lights on across from the author's hotel room. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

Full of fresh seafood and smelling of chlorine, I hopped in the hotel's bed and quickly drifted off to sleep.

After packing my bags and checking out, I said goodbye to the Marriott and one of the prettiest pools I've swam in.

The Punta Pacifica neighborhood in Panama City. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

The infinity pools and ceviche were the highlights of my short stay at the JW Marriott. But even after one night, I understood how the hotel and neighborhood got its reputation for luxury.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Some Jackson-based lawmakers in the Mississippi Legislature are upset with the Democratic Party for attempting to boycott the Mississippi State Fair later this year.

On Monday, the Mississippi Democratic Party issued a press release stating it intends to boycott the event, known for providing a large economic impact to Jackon, the state's capital city, as well as to the state.

In the release, the party wrote that a recent event held by Agriculture Commissioner Andy Gipson to support former President and now-convicted felon Donald Trump spurred its decision to boycott the festivities. Trump was convicted of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to hush money payments made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 election.

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"By boycotting the state fair, we aim to send a clear message that the citizens of Mississippi will not support or tolerate the actions of leaders who stand with a convicted criminal," the statement read.

According to the MDAC and Visit Jackson figures last year, the event drew about 500,000 people and generates about $30 million per year in tourism revenues within Jackson.

Mississippi Democratic Party Chair Cheikh Taylor, who represents Starkville in the House of Representatives, said in the release that Gipson's and other Republicans' statewide officials support of Trump is a blatant disregard of justice.

It is deeply concerning and frankly alarming to see our state leaders, including Attorney General Lynn Fitch and Governor Tate Reeves, supporting a convicted felon," he said. "The time for action is now. We must take a stand against those who would undermine our democracy and the values we hold dear.

Local Democratic Reps. Chris Bell and Fabian Nelson have both said they were not informed of the party's decision to boycott the fair.

On the morning after the last day of the 164th Mississippi State Fair, workers break down the event at the state fairgrounds in Jackson on Monday, Oct. 16, 2023. On Monday, the Mississippi Democratic Party issued a statement that it intends to boycott the Mississippi State Fair this year.

Nelson said in a statement Monday evening that he will make the people of his district a priority, and may end up supporting the party's decision or come out against it.

"I have the utmost respect for our leadership and our party; however, my constituents and District 66 will always come first," Nelson said.

Bell told the Clarion Ledger Tuesday morning that he thinks the party should refocus its energies toward other pursuits, such as finding a candidate in the near future to unseat Gipson or another Republican candidate running for Ag Commissioner.

"Find someone who actually knows what his role is as the Agriculture Commissioner, and stop focusing on politics," Bell said. "Stop focusing on national politics, as he should be focusing on trying to find ways to provide food for the hungry that reside within the state of Mississippi find ways to provide agricultural grants and opportunities for our farmers in the Delta, as well as provide opportunities for young adults to be involved in the agricultural process."

Rep. Shanda Yates, an independent representing North Jackson, said she did not agree with boycott, and she was perplexed at the correlation made from Democrats to boycott a state event based on a nationally political issue.

"I don't understand why because being upset about something that's occurring outside of Mississippi, we would choose to boycott one of the largest events that occurs in Mississippi and in the capital city," she said. "But again, I was not part of the decision-making process."

Rep. Zakiya Summers, D-Jackson, declined to comment on the party's decision.

Rep. Justis Gibbs did not return phone calls or messages seeking comment.

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Grant McLaughlin covers state government for the Clarion Ledger. He can be reached at gmclaughlin@gannett.com or 972-571-2335.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Mississippi State Fair boycotted by state Democratic Party
Kentucky woman found dead by family had injuries consistent with an animal attack

A Letcher County woman found dead this week had been attacked by animals, according to authorities.

Trina Sandlin, 57, had planned to walk from her house to a neighbors house but didnt return, according to a release from Kentucky State Police.

Family members found her body over an embankment. She had injuries consistent with an animal attack, state police said.

Letcher County Coroner Perry Fowler said Sandlin was attacked by canines, but could not say if they were dogs or coyotes.

Sandlin had rented a house at Doty Creek and was fixing it up.

Fowler said the landlord told him Sandlin had set out on the evening of the attack to walk to another house and get some paint.

Her body was found near the path from the rental house.

State police received the call to investigate just before 1 a.m. Sunday.
Malawis Vice President Saulos Chilima has been killed in a plane crash along with nine other passengers, the countrys President Lazarus Chakwera announced Tuesday.

The aircraft went missing after it failed to land at the Mzuzu International Airport, about 380 km (240 miles) to the north of the capital Lilongwe. The wreckage of the plane has been located, Chakwera said in an address to the nation.

The search and rescue operation I ordered to find the missing plane that carried our vice president and nine others has been completed. The plane has been found. And I am deeply saddened and sorry to inform you that it has turned out to be a terrible tragedy, Chakwera said.

The Malawian leader disclosed that the aircraft was found completely destroyed near a hill in the Chikangawa Forest in northern Malawi, adding that words cannot describe how heartbreaking this is.

Chakwera paid tribute to his deputy, describing him as a good man, a devoted father and husband, (and) a patriotic citizen who served his country with distinction.

His passing is a terrible loss to his wife, Mary, his family, his friends, his colleagues in the cabinet and to all of us as a nation, Chakwera said in his address from the Malawian capital. The president also mourned the loss of the other passengers onboard.

The Malawian leader highlighted the tragic nature of the accident, telling journalists that he had himself previously traveled on the same aircraft.

Yet despite the track record of the aircraft and the experience of the crew, something terrible went wrong with that aircraft on its flight back to Lilongwe, he added.

On Monday evening, the president had told journalists that air traffic control had advised the vice presidents plane against trying to land, and recommended turning back to the capital due to poor visibility. Not long after, the authorities lost contact with the aircraft, and started a search operation.

Malawi Vice President Saulos Chilima is seen campaigning in 2019. - Gianluigi Gurcia/AFP/Getty Images

Earlier on Tuesday, the Malawi Defence Force said it had deployed drones and at least 200 soldiers to search for the plane at the Chikangawa Forest reserve where signals of its whereabouts were last received.

The Force Commander Paul Valentino Phiri said rescue operations had been delayed by bad weather conditions.

The vice president and nine other victims will all be laid to rest in a dignified manner, Chakwera said.

Their remains arrived in the capital Tuesday evening and were received by Chakwera, live visuals showed.

The country will observe a 21-day national mourning for Chilima and the other officials killed in the crash. The mourning period will start on June 11 and last until July 1, according to a statement from the presidents office.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was very saddened to hear of the plane crash. We offer condolences to their families and we stand with the people of Malawi at this sad time, he said.

Chilima, 51, had arrived back in Malawi on June 6 after attending the Korea-Africa Summit in Seoul last week. He first served as deputy to former President Peter Mutharika between 2014 and 2019 before being sworn in as vice president for a second time in 2020. An economist, Chilima previously headed Airtel Malawi, the first Malawian to lead the telecommunications company.

I consider it one of the greatest honors of my life to have had him as my deputy and counsellor for the past four years, President Chakwera said.

Chilima is survived by his wife Mary and two children.

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BEIRUT, June 11 (Xinhua) -- Three people were killed, and five others were injured on Tuesday in an Israeli airstrike that targeted a convoy of tankers transporting diesel in eastern Lebanon, Lebanese military sources told Xinhua.

The sources, who spoke anonymously, said that an Israeli warplane fired four air-to-surface missiles at an unspecified convoy of tankers that was transporting diesel from Syria to Lebanon.

"After the convoy crossed the Syrian border and arrived at a garage at the Hosh al-Sayyid Ali point inside Lebanese territory, it was attacked with heavy missiles, each weighing a thousand pounds."

They continued that the missiles completely burned the tanks, killing three people and wounding five others. The condition of some of them was described as critical, and a house under construction was destroyed.

Meanwhile, Hezbollah said its fighters fired a surface-to-air missile on Tuesday at dawn at an Israeli plane that violated Lebanese airspace and also attacked Israeli sites using several missiles.

Tensions along the Lebanon-Israel border escalated on Oct. 8, 2023, following a barrage of rockets launched by the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah toward Israel in solidarity with Hamas' attack on Israel the day before. Israel then retaliated by firing heavy artillery toward southeastern Lebanon. 
Oyster numbers see big rebound in Chesapeake bay as Maryland harvest also hits new record

Oysters across Maryland and Virginia waters are experiencing a rebound thanks to ongoing conservation efforts in specific locations.

The Chesapeake Bay Program has announced that efforts to restore healthy oyster reefs in 10 Chesapeake Bay tributaries by 2025 are on track to be achieved. In the 2014 Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement, Chesapeake Bay Program partners, including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Virginia Marine Resources Commission, as well as several nonprofit organizations and academic institutions, committed to restore native oyster habitat and populations in 10 tributaries by 2025 and ensure their protection.

The achievement of this large-scale oyster restoration work over the past decade has become the global model for restoring oyster populations and reef habitat," said Allison Colden, Chesapeake Bay Foundation Maryland executive director. "The success of this work reflects the importance of strong partnerships and innovation in meeting a long-term goal in the larger effort to restore the Chesapeake Bay. Its critically important to build on the success of these oyster restoration projects and maintain momentum by expanding these initiatives to more tributaries."

Currently, eight of the 10 original tributaries selected for large-scale restoration are considered to be complete. The remaining two  the Manokin River in Maryland and the Lynnhaven River in Virginia  have 222 and 38 more acres to go, respectively. As of the end of 2023, 1,572 acres of oyster reefs have been restored across the Chesapeake Bay, which is equal to 2,075 football fields.

More on Maryland education numbers Find out where Maryland ranks in national report with four key education areas

After each tributary was selected for restoration, scientists developed a strategy to guide the process of constructing and seeding reefs, as well as monitoring and evaluating their progress. Monitoring and evaluation take place at three- and six-year intervals, which will continue beyond 2025.

'Numerous economic opportunities' in oyster conservation efforts

The Oyster Restoration Partnership conducts a slate of programs to create and manage healthy oyster beds to both create a cleaner Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries and help sustain a vital component to the watermen economy in the state.

"Restored oyster reefs support a healthy Chesapeake Bay, numerous economic opportunitiesand strengthen our resilience to climate change for communities across the Bay watershed," Colden said.

These activities are critical to determine the overall success of the restoration by tracking the recruitment of new oysters, how many survived in the early stages of planting, natural mortality, disease status, growth, reproduction and shell accumulation.

The monitoring and evaluation phase is underway for the following tributaries: Little Choptank (Md.), Tred Avon (Md.), upper St. Marys (Md.), Piankatank (Va.), lower York (Va.), Lafayette (Va.) and Great Wicomico (Va.). Large-scale oyster restoration in Harris Creek (Md.) is considered to be achieved as its monitoring and evaluation phase has been completed.

In April 2024, the lower York River in Virginia was celebrated as the eighth oyster restoration site to be completed. More than 200 acres of reef was constructed as part of this project.

With positive numbers across the region, Virginia groups echoed support for such programs.

"I am immensely proud of the partnership between the Virginia Marine Resources Commission Shellfish Management Division and the NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office for their crucial role in advancing oyster restoration across these five Chesapeake Bay tributaries," said Jamie L. Green, Commissioner, Virginia Marine Resources Commission.

Green added there was also a successful completion of the Lower York River Oyster Restoration project. The latest program was aimed at "fortifying Virginia's vital commercial fisher" and sets a national standard for sustainable coastal conservation.

More on state candidate debates Alsobrooks, Hogan agree to debate in the fall. What comes next? History may have clues.

Oyster harvesting hits record high for Maryland

Volunteers from the Nature Conservancy empsty oyster shells into a bin for re-seeding oyster beds.

The foundation's announcement came on the heels of a recent report by the Maryland Department of Resources showing that state aquaculture leases have produced a record yield of oysters in 2023.

According to the department, Marylands growing shellfish aquaculture operations harvested a record 94,286 bushels of oysters in 2023, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources reported. In Maryland, shellfish farming businesses can hold submerged land leases and water column leases, which are for growing shellfish in cages or other containers in the water.

The state currently leases 7,478 acres of state waters to 466 commercial shellfish operations. Of that total, 6,964.32 acres is for submerged land leases and 514.16 acres for water column leases.

Though the shellfish aquaculture harvest is small in comparison to the public fishery, it is growing steadily and the farmers product is available throughout the year, said Brian R. Callam, Ph.D., director of DNRs Aquaculture and Industry Enhancement Division.

More on county homicide investigations Homicide investigation launched into shooting death of Florida man in Wicomico County

The states farmed oyster harvest total for 2023 surpassed the 2022 total of 94,257 bushels. By comparison, the states public oyster fishery by harvested 548,558 bushels during its 2021-2022 season and 722,850 bushels in the 2022-2023 season.

"It's exciting to see the progress that has been made toward the goal to restore oyster reef habitat in 10 Chesapeake tributaries by 2025," said Kevin Schabow, acting director of the Chesapeake Bay Office of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. "All this work is possible thanks to the strong partnership of federal and state agencies, local governments, nonprofit organizations and academic institutions who are committed to restoring the tremendous ecosystem and economic benefits that healthy oyster reefs provide.

This article originally appeared on Salisbury Daily Times: Chesapeake Bay oysters experience big rebound. Here's why.
The storm was not visible on the weather radar, Austrian Airlines confirmed to PEOPLE

exithamster/Instagram The Austrian Airlines plane's nose and cockpit windows were destroyed after the storm

An Austrian Airlines passenger plane was seriously damaged after flying through an unexpected hailstorm on Sunday, June 9.

Flight OS434 was traveling from Palma de Mallorca, Spain, to Vienna, Austria, when it encountered a thunderstorm cell, the airline confirmed to PEOPLE.

The aircraft encountered a thunderstorm cell during approach to Vienna, which according to the cockpit crew, was not visible on the weather radar. As of now, the hail has damaged the two front cockpit windows, the aircraft nose (radome), and some coverings, the airlines stated.

They added that a Mayday distress call was made due to the severe damage.

Related: 1 Dead and Several Injured After Flight from London to Singapore Hit by Severe Turbulence

exithamster/Instagram Photo of the damage to the plane's nose and cockpit windows

Photos posted on Instagram by user @exithamster show almost the entire nose of the Airbus 1320 broken off in the aftermath of the storm. The cockpits front windows appear to be completely cracked as well.

The aircraft was carrying 173 passengers and six crew members in total.

Despite the damage, the aircraft was able to land safely at Vienna-Schwechat Airport and all passengers on the flight were unharmed, per the airline.

The Austrian Airlines technical team is already tasked with assessing the specific damage to the aircraft, they added. The safety of our passengers and crews is the top priority for Austrian Airlines.

Related: Passengers on Singapore Airlines Flight Describe Being 'Launched' into Ceiling When Turbulence Hit: 'Very Scary'

exithamster/Instagram Passengers disembarking the plane

Passenger Emmeley Oakley opened up to ABC News about the terrifying experience.

"I think we were about 20 minutes from landing when we got into a cloud of hail and thunderstorm, and the turbulence started," the passenger told the outlet via text message on June 9.

"We could definitely feel the hail coming down on the plane and it was quite loud and ofc super rocky for a minute," Oakley added.

exithamster/Instagram Another view of the damage following the hailstorm

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The turbulent flight comes weeks after one passenger died and nearly 70 were injured aboard Singapore Airlines Flight SQ321 from London to Singapore on May 21. The Boeing 777-300ER was cruising at an altitude of 37,000 feet when it fell nearly 6,000 feet due to unexpected turbulence.

In a statement shared on social media, the airline said, Singapore Airlines offers its deepest condolences to the family of the deceased. Our priority is to provide all possible assistance to all passengers and crew on board the aircraft.

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Read the original article on People.
Malawi's President Lazarus Chakwera remotely addresses the U.N. General Assembly's 76th session in September 2021 at the United Nations' headquarters in New York City. Chakwera on Monday canceled a Bahamas trip in the wake of a likely aircraft crash carrying Malawi's vice president. File Photo by Eduardo Munoz/UPI

June 10 (UPI) -- An aircraft carrying 10 people including the vice president of the African nation of Malawi, and its former first lady, was reported missing after it failed to make a scheduled landing and search-and-rescue efforts are underway, the government confirmed Monday.

"All efforts by aviation authorities to make contact with the aircraft since it went off the radar have failed thus far," according to an official statement by a Malawi government spokesperson before 6 p.m. local time Monday in the capital of Lilongwe.

In televised remarks to the country Monday evening local time, Malawian President Lazarus Chakwera said the MAF-T03 military aircraft carrying Vice President Saulos Chilima included Lukas Kapheni, Chisomo Chimaneni, Gloria Mtukule, Shanil Dzimbiri, Dan Kanyemba and Abdul Lapukeni.

Also aboard were a military colonel and two majors, who were the Malawian Defense Force officers assigned to operate the aircraft.

The MDF aircraft carrying Chilima, 51, and the nine other individuals -- and which earlier had been reported to possibly be a twin turbo-prop Dornier 228 -- took off from the capital Lilongwe at 9:17 a.m. local time Monday.

Hopewell Chin'ono, an African-sourced journalist, likewise confirmed the ex-wife of former Malawian President Bakili Muluzi, former first lady Shanil Dzimbiri, also was on board.

Chin'ono wrote on social media that the former president told him that the area being searched "is a huge forest in a very cold part of Malawi, which sadly reduces the chances of survival." Chin'ono, a Harvard University Nieman fellow, posted the information on X.

Local eyewitnesses earlier reported seeing a crash in the Chikangawa forest in central Malawi thought to be the aircraft carrying Chilima, according to The Zimbabwe Mail.

The aircraft was reported as missing after it failed to make a scheduled landing at Mzuzu International Airport in northern Malawi, where the flight occupants were to attend the funeral of former Malawi attorney general and minister of justice Ralph Kasambara.

The president said in his televised remarks at Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe the aircraft could not land at its destination "due to poor visibility" and "bad weather."

"I know this is a heartbreaking situation. I know we are all frightened and concerned. I too am concerned," Chakwera said. "But I want to assure you that I am sparing no available resource to find that plane. And I am holding onto every fiber of hope that we will find survivors."

Chakwera canceled a planned trip to the Bahamas and ordered all regional and national agencies to assist in the search for the aircraft.

He said the flight was advised by aviation officials to turn back to the capital "when authorities soon lost contact with the aircraft," at which point, Chakwera said, he was then alerted of the situation and advised government officials to give an update to him every four hours.

Chakwera added that officials identified a search-and-rescue area in a specific 10-kilometer radius area as a possible crash site. He pushed back against alleged rumors that rescue efforts had been suspended and said the search will continue until the aircraft is found.

This latest incident involving a government leader on a flight comes weeks after Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi, 63, died with eight others in a helicopter crash.
Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows delivers donuts to poll workers in Portland during Maine's June 11 primary election. (Evan Popp/Maine Morning Star)

Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows said turnout is looking light for Tuesdays primary election and also sought to remind voters of the security processes in places to protect the legitimacy of the contest.

Bellows, who is criss-crossing the state Tuesday, with visits to polling places ranging from Biddeford to Bangor, said one indication of the light turnout is early voting numbers. Nearly 34,000 absentee ballots were requested across the state and more than 26,000 had been returned as of Monday. Given that Maine has over 900,000 enrolled voters, that is a very small percentage, Bellows said in an interview at a polling place in Portland.

Tuesdays election features contested races for 17 seats in the state Legislature and Republican primaries for Maines two seats in the U.S. House. Still, people across the state turned out to vote regardless of whether there were contested races on their ballot. You cant complain if you dont vote, said Nanette Kent, a Durham voter.

The Secretary of State reminded voters who have requested an absentee ballot that the deadline to return it is 8 p.m. on Election Day. Bellows added that people can also take advantage of same-day voter registration but that voters who have already registered with a political party cant switch to another party on primary day itself.

As of Tuesday morning, Bellows said the election is running smoothly, with adequate staffing levels across the state.

Clerks are always recruiting poll workers because you never know in an era of potential COVID or cancelations, its always good to have backups, she said. So if youre thinking about volunteering, its a great way to see how our elections work.

One challenge is that across the country, election workers and officials have reported over 2,000 instances of alleged threats and harassment to the FBI over the past several years, leading to concerns about keeping people safe as the U.S. approaches the 2024 presidential election. To that end, Bellows said the Secretary of States Office last week held virtual training sessions, including on deescalation and threat analysis and reporting.

Threats to election workers have proliferated since the 2020 election, when then-President Donald Trump falsely claimed the contest was stolen from him. Bellows  who unsuccessfully sought to disqualify Trump from the states March presidential primary ballot, finding that he engaged in insurrection with his actions on and leading up to the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol  said lies and disinformation about election integrity have continued to spread online. However, she emphasized that Maines elections are safe and secure.

We always like to remind Maine voters that our elections are extraordinarily transparent and participatory, Bellows said, noting that every polling location has a roughly equal number of Democratic and Republican poll workers and that ballots are counted in full view of observers from campaigns and parties.

Those are some of the procedures that ensure elections are free and fair and accurate, she said, adding that the best way to find out how the process works is to volunteer at the polls.

During her visit to the Portland Exposition Center, Bellows also discussed a proposed ballot initiative that seeks to require voters to show identification at the polls and would also rescind provisions that allow voters to apply for an absentee ballot over the phone and register to automatically receive an absentee ballot for each election.

Volunteers for that initiative were at polling places collecting signatures Tuesday, including in Portland. Lori Bozeman, who was gathering signatures for the initiative, said voter ID should be required at the polls, just as it is for a variety of activities, like buying alcohol, cigarettes or getting on a bus.

In Durham, voters also expressed support for the ballot initiative, including Mark Small, who said signing the petition was a main reason he showed up to the polls Tuesday.

However, Bellows said its a misconception that voters dont need identification to participate in elections, noting that such documentation is required at the time of registration. Still, Bellows emphasized that the referendum process is part of Maines constitution and allows voters to make their voices heard, although she reminded people to read the fine print of anything they sign.

Maine Morning Star reporter Emma Davis contributed reporting to this story.

The post Sec. Bellows: Maines primary contest looks smooth and secure but turnout appears low appeared first on Maine Morning Star.
Why the balloon war between North Korea and South Korea could spiral out of control

The North Korean leadership has vowed retaliation after South Korea resumed loudspeaker broadcasts and activists floated propaganda leaflets over the border, escalating the ongoing balloon war and damaging their already fraught bilateral relationship.

In a statement carried by the state-run Korean Central News Agency on Sunday, Kim Yo-jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, denounced the South for creating a new crisis.

This is a prelude to a very dangerous situation, Ms Kim, an influential member of the regime, said. I sternly warn Seoul to immediately cease its dangerous activities that would further provoke a crisis of confrontation.

Not long after Ms Kims warning, the South Korean military reported on Monday morning that North Korea had sent over 300 balloons across the border overnight. They carried mostly scrap paper and plastic and not any toxic material, according to the Yonhap News Agency.

The neighbours have been sporadically flying balloons filled with propaganda material across their shared border since the Korean war in the early 1950s. They have also used radio broadcasts, loudspeakers and leaflets to influence each others citizens, promoting their ideologies and social systems and encouraging soldiers to defect.

The latest exchange began last month when North Korea floated 200 balloons filled with trash in a tit-for-tat response to activists in the South, sending balloons carrying propaganda material about their democratic society and memory devices with K-pop music videos.

The psychological warfare has since tipped over into real escalation, with Seoul last week suspending a 2018 non-hostility pact aimed at lowering military tensions.

Lee Sung-joon, spokesperson for South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Ms Kims comments marked an increase in verbal threats from North Korea. Mr Lee claimed that the South was conducting broadcasts in locations where soldiers were well protected and prepared to respond swiftly if attacked.

We dont think that they could provoke us that easily, he said at a briefing on Monday.

Strategic experts said North Koreas failure to comprehend democracy meant the balloon war could spiral out of control.

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, Leif-Eric Easley, professor at Ewha University, Seoul, said. For both sides, escalating to deescalate is a risky proposition. North Korea may have already miscalculated, as South Koreas democracy cannot simply turn off NGO balloon launches the way an autocracy would expect.

South Korean soldier wearing protective gears checks the trash from a balloon presumably sent by North Korea, in Incheon, South Korea (AP)

Mr Easley said the previous South Korean government had amended a law to prohibit its citizens from flying balloons into North Korea. During the current conservative administration, that restriction was found to be unconstitutional, he told The Independent. So the freedom of South Korean NGOs to launch anti-Kim regime leaflets is not yet legally settled by the National Assembly and the courts.

The experts also suggested that North Koreas balloon campaign was aimed at creating discord in South Korea, particularly regarding the conservative governments stringent stance towards Pyongyang.

The balloon launches arent weak action at all. Its like North Korea sending a message that next time, it can send balloons carrying powder forms of biological and chemical weapons, Kim Tae-woo, former president of South Koreas Institute for National Unification, told the Associated Press.

A cigarette butt found from a balloon believed to have been sent by North Korea (Reuters)

While South Korean liberal lawmakers, many civil society groups and people near the border have advocated for the government to intervene and dissuade activists from leafleting to prevent tensions with North Korea, authorities have cited a constitutional court ruling from last year invalidating relevant legislation to wash their hands off.

Amid rising tensions, the US, the chief ally of South Korea, last week flew a long-range bomber aircraft over the peninsula and conducted the first precision-guided bombing drill with Seoul in seven years as a warning against North Korea.

A balloon believed to have been sent by North Korea, carrying various objects including what appeared to be trash (Reuters)

North Korea tends to strike at unexpected times and in unexpected ways to politically divide South Korea, complicate attribution, and make it more difficult for Seoul to retaliate, Mr Easley said.

As Pyongyang faces material and ideological disadvantages in exchanging propaganda over the border, it may resort to provocations such as firing weapons, cyberhacking, or even a maritime attack.

But the Kim regime would be unwise to test South Koreas political will and military capability to respond.

Pyongyang is used to employing asymmetric tactics to its advantage, but in todays information space, it is outgunned by messages of freedom, economic success, and K-pop, Mr Easley said.

An officer wearing protective gear collects the trash from a balloon presumably sent by North Korea (AP)

Yang Moo-jin, president of the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul, criticised the use of balloons as a means of communication with North, calling them an anachronistic remnant of the Cold War.

He told The New York Times that the balloons had failed to significantly impact human rights conditions in North and the trash-laden balloons from North present a threat within the airspace of South Korea, where international air traffic is common.

From Pyongyangs perspective, this is a tit-for-tat and even restrained action to get Seoul to stop anti-Kim regime leaflets from being sent north, Mr Easley said.

However, it will be difficult for democratic South Korea to comply, given ongoing legal disputes over the freedom of citizens and NGOs to send information into North Korea.

Although the immediate danger of military escalation is not high, he said, recent developments show how sensitive and potentially vulnerable the Kim regime is to information operations.

South Korean president Yoon Suk-yeol last week called North Korea the darkest place on earth and its trash balloons despicable provocation.
The Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority is trying to get back on track to profitability and stability after a reckoning with declining liquor sales that dealt a big blow to the profit margins it had promised to the state in this fiscal year and the two-year budget that takes effect on July 1.

The General Assembly lowered its expectation for ABC profits by almost $5 million in the current fiscal year and $44 million in the next one, as the state-owned liquor monopoly faced a drop in retail sales of almost $40 million in the first 10 months of the current year  through April 30.

The revenue shortfall is based on the budget that the authority adopted in August and the revenue forecast used by Gov. Glenn Youngkin last fall to build his proposed two-year state budget.

But ABC officials said Friday that the authoritys profit margin is tracking slightly ahead of the revised forecast for this year, as it makes up for some lost revenue by reducing expenses.

Our objective is to generate greater profit, so were not going to stop, Chief Administrative Officer David Alfano told the authority board of directors.

Federal suit dismissed

The authority is also moving beyond a $1 million federal lawsuit that its then-director of retail operations, Jennifer Burke, filed against it last year. U.S. District Court Judge Robert Payne dismissed the lawsuit on Thursday, based on a settlement reached last month. ABC did not disclose the terms of the settlement, and Burkes attorney did not respond to a request for comment on Friday.

Burke resigned her position on June 3, ABC officials said. Lori Murphy, a 28-year ABC employee, became director of retail operations on Thursday, after serving in an interim capacity since late April.

Im just really excited to help us move forward, Murphy told the board.

The authority, established in 2018 after a transition from a state agency created 84 years earlier at the end of Prohibition, has a new CEO, Dale Farino, a former alcoholic beverage distribution executive. Farino will lead the authority on another transition, as it becomes fully independent of the executive branch of government in the new state budget on July 1. Youngkin had initially appointed Farino to the board, but then named him as CEO in late April.

Officials welcomed signs of progress after a tumultuous year in which four of its top executives  including CEO Travis Hill  departed as the Youngkin administration pushed for lower operating costs and higher profit margins.

The administrations effort to transform the authority backfired after the board adopted a delayed budget in August that assumed revenue growth of 5.1%, the same as Youngkin proposed in his five-year forecast for the Governors Advisory Committee on Revenue Estimates in November.

Instead, revenues grew by 1.4%, as industry predictions of declining liquor sales and shifting consumer preferences proved true. The budget cut operating expenses to boost the expected profit margin by $21 million, but ABC fell $4.9 million short, despite making an additional $11 million in cuts to operating costs.

The spirits market changed, Alfano said in an interview.

$110M shortfall projected

Earlier this year, ABC officials estimated that the authority would fall $110 million short in profits for the new two-year budget. The assembly lowered its revenue forecast for ABC by $44.1 million for the first year of the new budget, but did not act on the $66 million shortfall predicted in the second year.

The authority board expects to adopt a new budget on June 27 for the next fiscal year, beginning four days later. As of Friday, the new budget assumes net profits of $233.2 million, which would be slightly better than under the revised budget, but about $11 million less than the net profit that the Youngkin administration predicted in the budget adopted last year.

Progress has come largely through cuts in operating costs, especially for labor, as the Virginia ABC continues to leave many vacant jobs unfilled.

Were looking at every position, Alfano said. If its critical to the operation of the business, we fill it. If its not, were making the decision to forgo some of the jobs.
TOKYO, Jun 11 (News On Japan) - Sumire Nakamura, a 15-year-old Go professional, has clinched her first victory since transferring to South Korea, expressing her joy in Korean.

On June 10th, the final match took place in the southwestern part of South Korea.

Nakamura, ranked 10th and wearing traditional Korean hanbok, triumphed over 4th-ranked Oh Yu-jin, securing her first win in Korea since her transfer. The tournament featured 32 female professional players.

The Korea Baduk Association praised Nakamuras victory, noting it came after repeated comebacks.

Sumire Nakamura: "I am very happy. I was lucky."

"(Q. How did it feel to play in hanbok?) ...It felt good."

Nakamura transferred to the Korea Baduk Association in March this year and has been active as a guest player.

Source: ANN
TOKYO, Jun 11 (News On Japan) - Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism (MLIT) has announced plans to establish an emergency council to address the ongoing aviation fuel shortage. This council, set to convene in mid-June, will include representatives from the aviation and petroleum industries.

The shortage, caused by issues such as aging refinery infrastructure and a surge in inbound travel demand, has led to several international airlines canceling new routes and increasing flights to Japanese airports.

In response, MLIT and the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI) will collaborate with airlines and oil companies to discuss immediate measures. The council will also address the so-called "2024 problem," which involves a shortage of tankers and personnel needed to transport aviation fuel from refineries to airports.

The government aims to implement swift solutions ahead of the busy summer travel season.

Source: ANN
TOKYO, Jun 11 (News On Japan) - A large swarm of bees was found gathering on the sidewalk in front of Tokyo's Shinjuku Station on Tuesday afternoon, with authorities urging people to avoid creating a disturbance.

Reporter: 'I am here at the sidewalk in front of Shinjuku West Exit. There is a massive swarm of bees.'

The bees were found on a tree right in front of Shinjuku Station's west exit.

At around 12:30 PM on June 11, an emergency call was made reporting 'countless bees flying around' and estimating the number to be around 2,000.

The sidewalk, usually crowded with pedestrians, has been partially restricted to keep people away from the bees.

Pedestrian: '(Q. Have you ever seen this many bees in Shinjuku?) No, this is the first time. (Q. How do you feel about this number of bees?) Is it safe? It's really scary.'

Nearby store employee: '(Some bees) came into the store a little. (Q. Were there any injuries?) No, there weren't any. The number of bees was quite surprising.'

According to Shinjuku Ward, during this season, queen bees and worker bees move to create new nests, making large gatherings more likely.

A ward representative stated, 'The risk is low as long as they are clustered together. Please watch out to disturb them.'

Source: TBS
MOGADISHU, June 11 (Xinhua) -- Relative peace has been restored in central Somalia's Galmudug State after inter-clan skirmishes over the weekend that claimed more than 60 lives, officials confirmed on Tuesday.

Abshir Abdi Shikhow, Galmudug's minister of information, linked the fighting between militias from the two rival clans to a dispute over grazing land and water.

Shikhow added that the deadly fighting between the Dir and Marihan clans, which began on Saturday, has left more than 70 people injured.

"As the Galmudug government, we have successfully ended the fighting and separated the militias," Shikhow told Xinhua over the phone, adding that security has been beefed up in the conflict zone.

He said the severely injured have been transferred to Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, for specialized treatment, while blaming the al-Shabab militants for instigating the inter-clan violence in the Galmudug area.

Ahmed Abdi Karie, president of Galmudug State, has appointed a five-member committee comprising senior officials from the ministries of interior, finance, religious affairs, and information to negotiate for peace between the fighting clans. 
NAGOYA, Jun 12 (News On Japan) - A remarkable elementary school student has achieved an astonishing score of 985 on the TOEIC, the globally recognized test of English proficiency. This success is the result of a unique study method developed by a mother-daughter duo.

Currently living in Nagoya, 11-year-old sixth-grader Uchida returns home from school to enjoy her favorite snack, cream sweets. To a casual observer, she appears to be an ordinary girl, but Uchida possesses an extraordinary talent: her exceptional English proficiency.

Uchida's impressive scores on the TOEIC, a test designed to measure English ability, began when she was in the fourth grade. She scored 985 out of a possible 990 points last year and achieved 970 points the previous year. Her outstanding performance earned her recognition as one of the top scorers for two consecutive years, a rare achievement for someone her age. Additionally, she passed the Grade 1 Eiken exam, known for its 10% pass rate at the university level, when she was just in the third grade.

Despite having no experience living or studying abroad, Uchida has developed a significant command of English. Her journey began at 10 months old when her parents enrolled her in an English class. This marked the start of her English education.

Uchida's study method, developed with her mother, involves creating handmade English notebooks. This method started when she was preparing for the Grade 3 Eiken exam at age five. Her mother would pick out unfamiliar words and phrases and organize them into easy-to-understand notes, complete with illustrations. Over time, these notebooks have grown to six volumes, totaling over 450 pages.

The notebooks feature conversations written in English, often inspired by family interactions, making the learning process relatable and engaging. For instance, one dialogue involves a conversation between Uchida's parents about missing a train, with humorous contributions from Uchida herself. The texts are entirely in English, allowing Uchida to immerse herself in the language without relying on translations.

Uchida's mother emphasizes the importance of making learning enjoyable. She incorporates illustrations and engaging exercises to maintain her daughter's interest. The duo studies together, creating a supportive and enjoyable learning environment. This collaborative effort extends to Eiken test preparation, with Uchida's mother role-playing interview scenarios and grading her daughter's work.

The dedication and creativity of Uchida and her mother have not only fostered a remarkable level of English proficiency but have also cultivated a broader intellectual capacity. Uchida's dream is to study animal brains at an American university, driven by a desire to contribute to society.

Source: TBS
Wakayama, Jun 12 (News On Japan) - The umeboshi industry is in crisis! The cause is the amendment of the Food Sanitation Law following the 2012 food poisoning incident. Facility renovations required by the law have led some farmers to cease umeboshi sales, citing unprofitability. In response, young people in Wakayama Prefecture have taken action.

The simple taste of umeboshi, made from ume and salt per traditional recipes handed down through generations, has long been loved in Japan. Wakayama, renowned for its ume production, attracts customers nationwide to its direct sales outlets, seeking these unique umeboshi.

A visitor at a local direct sales store said, I love umeboshi. I can't do without them. This one is so sour!

However, there is a looming crisis that could reduce the number of traditional umeboshi producers. The president of a direct sales store lamented, Wakayama is known for umeboshi. If we can't handle umeboshi products, it will be tough for us.

The 2012 food poisoning incident in Sapporo, Hokkaido, which resulted in eight deaths, was caused by lightly pickled Chinese cabbage. This incident led to the amendment of the Food Sanitation Law, changing the manufacturing and sale of pickles from a notification system to a permit system starting this June. Umeboshi are no exception.

Previously, five individual producers sold their homemade umeboshi at this direct sales store, but starting this month, only two remain. Those who make umeboshi by hand are withdrawing. Although they follow proper procedures to prevent foreign matter contamination, the legal barriers seem too high, said a store representative.

We visited one of the producers, Izumi, a fourth-generation ume farmer. He takes pride in the health benefits of Wakayama's rich food culture, which he attributes to his good health. For over 20 years, Izumi has sold his homemade umeboshi at local direct sales outlets. However, the new law requires significant modifications to his facility, such as separate sinks for washing ume and other items, and installing lever-type faucets operable by elbows.

Izumi estimated that the required renovations would cost several million yen. It's just not viable for me. Im ready to give up. Even if I invest the money, I don't know what will happen.

Izumi's decision to stop selling his umeboshi, despite having loyal customers who seek his products, is a tough one. In this crisis, the Ume Boys, young people active mainly in Minami-Town, Wakayama Prefecture, have stepped up. The leader, Masao Yamamoto, aims to rejuvenate the ume industry, gathering young people nationwide to manage orchards and produce umeboshi.

Born into a family of five generations of ume farmers, Yamamoto founded his company at the age of 25. He studied pharmacy at Hokkaido University Graduate School but left during his second year to pursue his passion for umeboshi. I couldn't find the traditional sour umeboshi I grew up eating, so I decided to make them myself. Initially, it was just for fun, but I soon became passionate about umeboshi production and wanted to rejuvenate the aging industry with young energy.

Yamamoto's factory underwent renovations to comply with the new law. He devised cost-effective solutions, such as using waterproof paint up to waist height and covering walls with plastic sheets instead of full waterproofing. Yamamoto shares his know-how freely and offers consultations to ume producers nationwide. His efforts have enabled some to meet the new requirements and continue their business.

A couple from Okayama visited Yamamoto's factory. They inherited an ume orchard three years ago and began making umeboshi. The recent law amendment made them rethink food safety and genuine taste. They appreciated Yamamotos cost-effective compliance ideas, which included using a double curtain instead of double doors to separate the workspace.

The Ume Boys receive consultations from across Japan, including remote support. By May, some producers had successfully renovated their facilities and obtained sales permits. The Ume Boys are committed to maintaining food safety while preserving the traditional sour taste of umeboshi. The harvest season is now in full swing.

Source: MBS
TOKYO, Jun 12 (News On Japan) - Concerns about water shortages are spreading across Japan due to declining dam reservoir levels caused by low snowfall in winter and insufficient spring rain.

Meteorologist Ryoko Imamura explains that the water shortage is affecting various regions, particularly in Tohoku, where many dams now have reservoir levels below average.

The situation is worsening in various areas, including Niigata Prefecture in the Tohoku region. On June 11th, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism released the latest dam reservoir levels.

There are 17 main dams supplying agricultural water in Tohoku, from the southern to the northern regions. As of the 11th, more than half of these dams have reservoir levels below average. Ten dams have lower reservoir levels than usual.

In particular, Naruko Dam (Miyagi Prefecture), Isawa Dam (Iwate Prefecture), and Nagai Dam (Yamagata Prefecture) have 20-30 percentage points less water compared to average levels. The situation at Nagai Dam is unprecedented.

The causes are the lack of snow in winter and the overall shortage of rainfall in spring, affecting the entire region.

Signs of the rainy season are beginning to appear. In the southern part of Tohoku, the average start date for the rainy season is the 12th. Although it might be delayed, looking at the movement of the rainy season front, it will remain in the southern seas until the 15th. However, it is expected to gradually move northward and approach land over the weekend.

There is a possibility of the rainy season starting in Western Japan and the Kanto region as early as the weekend. The rainy season front is likely to continue approaching land into next week, increasing the possibility of the rainy season beginning in Hokuriku and Tohoku around the middle of next week.

Source: ANN
The government of the Central African Republic accused Chinese mining company Daqing SARL of backing rebels and suspended its operations in the country.

Daqing is a gold and diamond mining company operating in the Mingala area south of the country where the government is battling the Coalition of Patriots for Change.

The CAR government issued a statement accusing Daqing of intelligence with armed groups, illegal exploitation, illegal introduction of foreign subjects into mining areas, non-payment of taxes, and lack of activity reports.

Infighting worsened in CAR in 2013 where at least 14 armed groups are vying for power in the landlocked and resource-rich country.

Chinese companies have secured concession agreements to extract critical minerals in the war-torn country.

Last month, four workers were killed in an attack blamed by the government on the Coalition of Patriots for Change, a Christian group that was formed after the failure of a peace deal in 2019.

Last year, nine Chinese workers were killed in a gold mine in an attack which the government said was also perpetrated by the Christian rebels.
Nearly 20,000 millionaires fled Africa in the past decade due to currency depreciations that eroded their wealth, according to Henley and Partners, a global citizenship and residence consultancy.

The number of individuals with a wealth of $1 million in Africa dropped 8% to 135,200, while the number of billionaires was limited to 21 with a combined wealth of $2.5 trillion, the consultancy said in a report dubbed Africas Wealth Landscape: Navigating Challenges, Seizing Opportunities.

The consultancy notes that the number of millionaires could still grow by 65% in the next decade, thrust by growth in fintech, tourism, and rare metals, but depreciation is pushing an increasing number of them to relocate their wealth.

Currency depreciation and underperforming stock markets have chipped away at Africas wealth compared to global benchmarks, Henley and Partners said.

South Africa, which has the highest number of African millionaires, saw its currency fall 43% against the US dollar from 2013 to 2023.

Currencies in most other African countries also performed poorly compared to the USD over the past 10 years, with dramatic depreciations of over 75% recorded in Nigeria, Egypt, Angola, and Zambia.
Benin accused Niger of sending secret agents to spy in its Seme port where a Chinese-built pipeline was supposed to begin exporting Nigerien gas, before it was blocked by Beninese authorities last month.

The arrest of five Nigerien nationals marks a new escalatory move in the standoff between the two ECOWAS neighbors.

Benin said the arrested individuals were agents of the military junta in Niger who were on a spying mission, while Niger denied a kidnapping attempt of its oil specialists who were inspecting the pipeline at the port.

Benin had conditioned any resumption of Nigers oil exports through its ports by the reopening of land borders, which Niger closed in retaliation for ECOWAS sanctions following the military coup in the oil and uranium rich country.

China said it would intercede to ease tensions between the two neighbors. But no inroads have been made.

China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) invested $4.6 billion in Nigers petroleum industry, and its subsidiary PetroChina owns two-thirds of the countrys Agadem oilfield.

Niger has obtained a $400 million loan from China that it plans to pay by shipping oil. The loan is seen as one of the first steps to wean financial dependence on the West, with whom the military rulers are increasingly at odds going as far as breaking military cooperation partnerships.

The pipeline would help Niger increase production to 100,000 barrels, offering the landlocked country an export route.
The UN refugee agency UNHCR urged concrete actions to avert forced displacement in the war-ravaged Sahel, warning of a deteriorating humanitarian crisis.

Nearly 3.3 million people were forced to flee their homes in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger due to increasing terrorist activity, exacerbated by drought, the UNHCR said in a statement.

The security situation in the central Sahel is volatile, forcing people to flee their homes in search of safety and protection, UNHCR said, adding it is deeply concerned about the fast-growing humanitarian crisis in the Sahel region.

Groups such as Islamic State (IS) continue to wage a violent campaign in the region, with annual deaths due to terrorist activity growing more than 2,000 percent between 2007 and 2022.

The Sahel now accounts for 43 percent of the worlds terrorism deathsmore than South Asia and the MENA region combined.

Meanwhile, the lack of adequate shelter, clean water and sanitation was exacerbating the poor conditions faced by displaced people, while persistent insecurity prevented many from returning home.

The UNHCR said it needs $443.5 million to cover urgent humanitarian needs in Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Mauritania and the Gulf of Guinea countries.
Suspected Fulani herdsmen killed a pastor, his wife and three other Christians at about midnight on June 2 in Plateau state, central Nigeria, sources said.

The raiders with heavy weaponry attacked a predominantly Christian village in Kwall District, Bassa County, killing Pastor Dauda Dalyop, 63, of the Assemblies of God Church; his wife Chummy Dauda, 57; Chwe Ajuhs, 26; Joshua Kusa, 45; and Rikwe Doro, 43, said Sam Jugo, spokesman for the Irigwe Development Association, an umbrella group of the predominantly Christian ethnic group in Plateau state.

In the middle of the night of June 2, Fulani herdsmen invaders attacked and killed five of our residents in cold blood at Ari Songo hamlet in Kimakpa area of Kwall District, Jugo said in a press statement. Two other Christians were severely injured and are currently undergoing treatment at a hospital in Jos.

In his original statement to Nigerian media, Jugo identified the assailants only as criminal invaders. Questioned by Christian Daily International-Morning Star News, he revised his statement to identify them as Fulani herdsmen invaders.

Two days prior, a band of herdsmen ambushed and attacked two Christians in the same Kwall area, he said.

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This sad incident is coming just two days after some herdsmen ambushed two other Christians, killing one of them, Mr. Irmiya Musa Timbi, while the second victim was injured, Jugo said.

The Rev. Ronku Aka, a pastor in the area, confirmed the attack in a message to Morning Star News. Fidelis Adara, a Bassa council official, corroborated the information.

The Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) called on the Nigerian government to investigate continued killings and bring them to an end. The Rev. Akus Odoh of ECWA, Miango District Church Council, condemned the most recent attack in strong terms called for a thorough investigation.

Nigeria has lost its values, and the government doesnt respect the right to life, Odoh said.

Alfred Alabo, spokesman for the Plateau State Police Command, confirmed that five persons were killed, including the pastor.

The commissioner of police went there and saw the scene of the incident, and he has posted men to that place to ensure that it doesn't happen again, Alabo said. We are working with the community to get more information concerning the incident.

Nigeria remained the deadliest place in the world to follow Christ, with 4,118 people killed for their faith from Oct. 1, 2022 to Sept. 30, 2023, according to Open Doors 2024 World Watch List (WWL) report. More kidnappings of Christians than in any other country also took place in Nigeria, with 3,300.

Nigeria was also the third highest country in number of attacks on churches and other Christian buildings such as hospitals, schools, and cemeteries, with 750, according to the report.

In the 2024 WWL of the countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian, Nigeria was ranked No. 6, as it was in the previous year.

Numbering in the millions across Nigeria and the Sahel, predominantly Muslim Fulani comprise hundreds of clans of many different lineages who do not hold extremist views, but some Fulani do adhere to radical Islamist ideology, the United Kingdoms All-Party Parliamentary Group for International Freedom or Belief (APPG) noted in a 2020 report.

They adopt a comparable strategy to Boko Haram and ISWAP and demonstrate a clear intent to target Christians and potent symbols of Christian identity, the APPG report states.

Christian leaders in Nigeria have said they believe herdsmen attacks on Christian communities in Nigerias Middle Belt are inspired by their desire to forcefully take over Christians lands and impose Islam as desertification has made it difficult for them to sustain their herds.
Moroccos Tanger Med is expected to outpace its nominal container capacity this year, as the port strengthens its foothold as a major transshipment hub, a port official told Reuters.

The port is poised to handle more than 9 million containers after 8.6 million containers last year, that is a growth of 13.4% compared to the previous year, Rachid Houari deputy managing director told Reuters.

He said the port is functioning to its best capacity, while building on its geographic location on the Strait of Gibraltar, its partnership with renowned shipowners and port operators, and the quality of services it offers.

The port has posted double digit growth since its launch about a decade ago. In 2020, container traffic grew 20%.

Since 2021, the port has outperformed all Mediterranean peers ranking 19th globally. A recent index issued by the World Bank and Standard and Poors ranked the port in the fourth position in terms of container handling performance.

Houari said the port will exceed its nominal capacity, noting that some terminals like TC1 had already registered container traffic of 2.5 million, compared with its nominal capacity of 1.5 million.

The port also plans to expand its industrial zone from 2500 hectares to 5000 hectares as more manufacturers seek to have plants near the port, Reuters said.
Foreign minister of Central African Republic, Mrs. Sylvie Baipo-Temon, has reiterated her countrys unwavering support for Moroccos territorial integrity, describing the autonomy plan proposed by the Kingdom for the Sahara under its sovereignty as the ONLY credible and realistic solution for resolving this regional conflict in line with UN Charter.

The top diplomat of the landlocked central African country made the remarks in Rabat following talks she held Monday with Moroccan peer Nasser Bourita.

The Central African Republic always stands with Morocco and supports its efforts to find an enduring peaceful solution to the Sahara issue, she told the press, hailing the excellent ties existing between Rabat and Bangui.

During her visit, Mrs. Sylvie Baipo-Temon handed over to Bourita a written message addressed to King Mohammed VI from Central African Republic President Faustin-Archange Touadera.
The high-level international conference on the urgent humanitarian response for Gaza kicked off on Tuesday in Jordan, in the Dead Sea region, with the participation of Morocco.

King Mohammed VI is represented at this Conference, which is being held at the joint initiative of Jordan, Egypt and the United Nations, by Head of Government, Aziz Akhannouch.

The conference, held under the theme The Call for Action: Urgent Humanitarian Response for Gaza, aims to identify ways of strengthening the international communitys response to the humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip.

Participants will also identify effective mechanisms and measures to achieve a collective and coordinated response to the humanitarian situation in Gaza, and a consensus on practical measures to meet immediate needs on the ground, while seeking commitment for a collective coordinated response to address the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

The conference is attended by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, heads of State and government representing over 75 countries, and representatives of humanitarian organizations and international financial institutions, according to the organizers.

The war in Gaza, which erupted on October 7, is causing extreme suffering for the entire population of over 2.3 million Palestinians across the Strip. People in war-torn Gaza face threat of famine, widespread trauma and suffer from lack of access to food, water, shelter or medicine due to the Israeli blockade on the tiny Palestinian territory.

UN Chief Antonio Guterres had warned that the Gaza Strip was in the midst of an epic humanitarian catastrophe, while the World Food Programme and other international relief organisations said that parts of Gaza are now gripped by a full-blown famine.

Israels ensuing air and ground war on Gaza has killed over 37,000 Palestinians, the health ministry in the territory said, adding that thousands more dead are feared buried under the rubble.

Morocco takes part at international conference on urgent humanitarian response for Gaza

The high-level international conference on the urgent humanitarian response for Gaza kicked off on Tuesday in Jordan, in the Dead Sea region, with the participation of Morocco.

King Mohammed VI is represented at this Conference, which is being held at the joint initiative of Jordan, Egypt and the United Nations, by Head of Government, Aziz Akhannouch.

The conference, held under the theme The Call for Action: Urgent Humanitarian Response for Gaza, aims to identify ways of strengthening the international communitys response to the humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip.

Participants will also seek to identify effective mechanisms and measures to achieve a collective and coordinated response to the humanitarian disaster in Gaza, and a consensus on practical measures to meet immediate needs on the ground, while seeking commitment for a collective coordinated response to address the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken who is taking part in the conference announced that an additional $404 million in US assistance has been allocated to Palestinians in Gaza, and called on other nations to contribute to addressing the humanitarian crisis in the war-torn strip.

In his address before the conference, Blinken highlighted the dire situation on the ground, and stressed the urgent need for aid. We need to ensure more aid is delivered to Gaza, he said, noting that hospitals in the region are struggling to function. Hospitals in Gaza are unable to operate and provide assistance, he added.

Moreover, in a series of urgent statements, Blinken underscored the broad international support for a ceasefire in Gaza and emphasized the necessity of further humanitarian efforts.

The conference is attended by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, heads of State and government representing over 75 countries, and representatives of humanitarian organizations and international financial institutions.

The war in Gaza, which erupted on October 7, is causing extreme suffering for over 2.3 million Palestinians across the Strip. People in war-torn Gaza face widespread famine and psychological trauma and suffer from lack of access to food, water, shelter or medicine due to the Israeli blockade on the tiny Palestinian territory.

UN Chief Antonio Guterres had warned that the Gaza Strip was in the midst of an epic humanitarian catastrophe, while the World Food Programme and other international relief organisations said that parts of Gaza are now gripped by a full-blown famine.

Israels ensuing air and ground war on Gaza has killed over 37,000 Palestinians, and thousands more dead are feared buried under the rubble, the health ministry in the territory had said.
Neither Gary Gensler nor Elizabeth Warren is a fan of crypto. Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

On a warm evening in late September 2023, Mike Novogratz, the billionaire hedge funder turned crypto investor, walked into a restaurant in Washington, D.C. In town from New York, the CEO of Galaxy Digital had spent the day on Capitol Hill visiting with Congress as part of a contingent of crypto entrepreneurs  most of them young people of color  organized by industry giant Coinbase to send a message to Democrats at a moment when crypto was increasingly seen as a Republican cause. Some key lawmakers hadnt even shown up to the meetings. Im a Democrat, and its incredibly frustrating that they dont see crypto as progressive, Novogratz, an outspoken progressive who has donated millions of dollars to the party, including to Joe Biden in 2020, told me.

One Democrat was causing more frustration than any other: Gary Gensler, the chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission. He had spent the bulk of his tenure in the Biden administration attacking crypto, rejecting the need for new industry regulations, suing or threatening a wide swath of crypto companies, and blocking new products like crypto ETFs. And much of the party seemed to be taking their cues from him.

Gensler is becoming a real problem for our industry, lamented Novogratz of his former Goldman Sachs colleague. Part of me wants to take him by the neck and crack it. And I probably would, but I dont want to get blood on my nice suit. He gestured to his cream-colored attire.

Now, nine months later, many elected Democrats have done a legislative version of what Novogratz had in mind and offered a meaningful (if partial and hardly unanimous) rebuke of Gensler and the faction of the party  led by Senator Elizabeth Warren  that has been fiercely anti-crypto. In May, the Senate voted 60-38, including 11 Democrats and independent Kyrsten Sinema, to roll back an SEC accounting rule for digital assets, defying a veto threat by President Biden. (The bill would have allowed financial institutions to hold crypto on behalf of customers without having to account for it on their balance sheets, treating it the same way as traditional assets.) Chuck Schumer voted for it, an unusual move by the Democrat and Senate majority leader in that he effectively bucked the will of his partys leader. So did Senators Cory Booker, Kirsten Gillibrand, and Ron Wyden. Then, a week later, 71 Democrats, including former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, helped pass the Financial Innovation and Technology for the 21st Century Act, or FIT21, in the House, against the opposition of Genslers SEC and the White House  a historic event in that it was the first successful vote for a bill that sets out to regulate cryptocurrency at all. Both measures were actively supported by crypto-industry lobbying groups. Late in the evening on the last Friday in May, Biden followed through on vetoing the Senate measure, but the parallel actions by both houses of Congress on two separate pieces of legislation unmistakably signified the moment when the Democrats ceased to be a straightforwardly anti-crypto party.

In terms of the public policy, Gary Gensler is just wrong about this, Congressman Wiley Nickel, a North Carolina Democrat who co-sponsored the House bill, told me. He hoped the vote (regardless of the bills fate in the Senate) would signal that many Democrats do not share the beliefs of Gensler and Warren. If Biden allowed Gary Gensler to be the only voice on this, he definitely would lose a significant number of votes, Nickel added. If the Democratic Party were the party opposed to web3, to blockchain and crypto, we would only lose votes.

Then on May 23, another surprise twist complicated the picture even more. After initially signaling that it would block a slate of new financial products (called ETFs, or exchange-traded funds) that would allow average investors a much easier route to purchase ethereum, the second-largest cryptocurrency, the SEC suddenly  and, to many observers, shockingly  flipped and approved eight of them, including one from Novogratzs company. The sense is that the tone from the SEC has just changed literally overnight, Emilie Choi, the president and COO of Coinbase, said at a conference just before the approval. Probably the administration sensing some panic, I guess.

There were signs that in the weeks leading up to these developments, Democrats had indeed begun to panic about the political implications of being pegged as hostile to crypto. Probably not coincidentally, this occurred after Donald Trump announced that his campaign would accept donations in crypto and that he would build a crypto army moving the campaign to victory on November 5th! At a campaign event for holders of Trumps NFTs at Mar-a-Lago in May, the former president called up Ryan Selkis, an influential crypto entrepreneur who had previously voted for Biden, to speak at the podium, and Selkis threw his weight behind Trump.

Well



I didnt expect to share that I was in Mar-a-Lago tonight, but President Trump spoke very highly about crypto and theninvited me and @MihailoBjelic on stage to say a few words.



Fight for crypto.



Support President Trump. pic.twitter.com/bPAnvFlxMp  Ryan Selkis (d/acc)  (@twobitidiot) May 9, 2024

All of a sudden, the Democrats in crypto, the tenor of their conversation on the Hill and their friends in the White House, changed. It went from Guys, you really should pay attention to this to Oh my God, were going to lose, says a person close to the industry. Youve listened to Gary Gensler and Elizabeth Warren for so long, and now were backed into a corner. Warren, of course, has been a chief enemy of crypto for years, making her belief that the industry is primarily a scam a core part of her platform. In a campaign ad last year, she included the Politico headline Elizabeth Warren Is Building an Anti-Crypto Army.

Pressure had been building on Democrats to extend an olive branch to crypto supporters for months. A Coinbase-backed pro-crypto super-PAC called FairShake, which has raised nearly $100 million this election cycle, helped defeat Katie Porter in the California Senate primary in March, running attack ads against her for being an ally of Warrens. Recent polls showed that 20 percent of registered voters have owned crypto, amounting to some 35 million Americans, disproportionately made up of young Black men  an important cohort to Democrats. Thats a very sizable group, and a lot of them are single-issue voters, says Nickel. And they were being organized, and real money, material money, was going into it, says a veteran Democratic strategist.

This is one of those issues that theres no one really against it. Youre not going to pick up any new votes for being against crypto, says the strategist. Theres only upside politically and policywise to be for it, and only downside politically and policywise to be against it.

The crypto landscape has also changed recently. While many in Washington had believed  or hoped  crypto would simply die and disappear after the collapse of FTX and the incarceration of Sam Bankman-Fried, the opposite proved true: Bitcoin recently traded at all-time highs thanks in part to new bitcoin ETFs, approved by Genslers SEC in January, that made the cryptocurrency more accessible to regular Americans. Yet the SEC and Congress had yet to lay out a regulatory path for the industry to operate legally, nor had they enacted much in the way of practical protections for consumers. Frustration was growing among Democrats that they had fumbled the issue in a way that might even cost them a meaningful number of votes in 2024. The approach that both Gary Gensler and Elizabeth Warren have advocated, refusing to regulate the technology on the grounds that that will be the best way to kill the technology, no longer makes any sense  its a failed policy, says a person who has worked in prior Democratic administrations. Based on our polling, there are millions of voters who are going to vote against Joe Biden on the basis of Gary Genslers approach on this issue. With democracy on the line, thats just a phenomenally irresponsible approach to take.

While Congressional Democrats were reluctant to admit that Trumps pivot from a not particularly crypto-friendly first term had played a role in how they got a higher-than-expected number of their peers to vote for legislation favored by the crypto industry, Washington lobbyists and crypto advocates said it seemed to break the dam. The shift is due to a long-term engagement effort by industry with congressional Democrats. The landslide is due to one person: President Trump, Selkis told me. The president broke Elizabeth Warrens evil spell over the Democrats in the Senate, House, and White House.

Whether the White House will adopt a friendlier crypto stance before the election is still something of a mystery. There are signs that a shift is in progress, though. Notably, Biden did not threaten to veto the House legislation the way he did the Senate measure, saying instead that while he opposed it, he was eager to work with Congress to ensure a comprehensive and balanced regulatory framework for digital assets. (Justin Slaughter, the policy director for Paradigm, a crypto VC firm that has been one of the most active industry players in Washington, called it the most positive statement by this or any White House on crypto, ever.)

This is the most positive statement by this or any White House on crypto, ever.



The key phrase is The Administration is eager to work with Congress to ensure a comprehensive and balanced regulatory framework for digital assets & also states importance of developing them in US. https://t.co/zrG6X8Hzjy  Justin Slaughter (@JBSDC) May 22, 2024

Bidens late-Friday veto of the Senate bill followed a flurry of efforts by Democrats in Congress to talk him out of it, including coming up with alternative paths to give Biden an out without going back on his word. Nickel, for one, told me he hoped Gensler would just withdraw the rule altogether. There is significant skepticism within the party about whether Bidens action was the right move. With its anti-crypto tenor, the veto amounts to political malpractice, says the Democratic strategist, using a term I heard from other Democrats about the White Houses crypto approach. I do think the White House, sooner rather than later, is going to make the decision that they dont want Gary Gensler to potentially impact their ability to win the election. And he has, full stop  he has. Millions of crypto voters are going to vote up or down on this.

Biden just lost the crypto vote.



What a stupid, stupid mistake. pic.twitter.com/4pk6nTczTl  Avichal - Electric  Capital (@avichal) May 31, 2024

Even for pro-crypto Democratic voters, though, flipping pro-Trump on this single issue is a huge leap. Theres a lot of soul-searching happening in the industry, and it is quite complicated for a lot of folks who grew up voting Democrat to think on some level, Why does this guy that I voted for, and this party that I voted for, want to put my industry out of business? says the person close to the crypto industry. Ive seen colleagues wrestle with this.
Photo-Illustration: Intelligencer; Photo: Getty Images

At an Apple event on October 4, 2011, the day before Steve Jobs died, Apple VP Scott Forstall took the stage to share details about Siri, Apples new voice assistant. The exact words I say arent important, he said as he asked Siri about the weather in multiple different ways. He asked it about stocks and great Greek restaurants in Palo Alto. He asked it to set a timer, give him driving directions, and create calendar events. He emphasized how it could follow along in a conversation, just like a human does, remembering what youve told it as it moves on to the next task. When it didnt know answers, he said, it could search Wikipedia or tap into answer engines like Wolfram Alpha. Ive been in the AI field for a long time, and this still blows me away, he said at one point during the presentation.

At the time, the demo was incredibly slick, suggesting wild and fantastic futures in which devices listened to us, understood what we were saying, and could handle a wide range of tasks on our behalf; earlier demos, released when Siri was still a DARPA-funded start-up, were even more optimistic, promising to make dinner reservations and call cars for drunk users. Upon wide release with the iPhone 4s, though, Siri was kind of a flop, and Forstall left the company within two years. Its interface and voice suggested human-style assistance, but what it delivered in practice was rigid, limited, and error-prone. Interactions beyond the first step tended to fall apart. Thirteen years later, the most notable thing about Apples early Siri demos is how little progress beyond them the company made over the next decade. It got a bit better in a wide range of quantifiable ways, but the companys first ads for Siri remain basically accurate today. In 2024, for many users, Siri is still a kitchen timer, a weather app, and a tool for narration and transcription. Even the Siri parodies are the same.

On Monday, at its big yearly software event, Apple showed off the next generation of Siri, powered by a new AI technology. The presentation was strikingly familiar. Even if I stumble over my words, Siri will understand me, the presenter said, echoing the original Siri pitch. She asked about the weather for an upcoming hike and talked about how the app could maintain conversational context to schedule it on her calendar. She asked it to bring up an article about cicadas from her reading list; she asked it to show her photos of a specific child in New York City wearing her pink coat. In 2011, Forstall asked Siri to pull up a stock index price; in 2024, Apples Siri presentation promised that users would be able to command Siri to, for example, Show me the price of AAPL. The presentation felt a bit like an apology. Apples new pitch was Siri, but this time it works.

Photo: Apple

After Apples event, AAPL briefly dipped  in part, perhaps, because Apples rumored big push into AI seemed relatively insignificant compared to some of its peers, feeding the industry perception that the new generation of AI tools exemplified by ChatGPT had taken Apple by surprise and that it was struggling to catch up. In truth, as Apple revealed to developers later that day, iOS 18s integration of tools that might be described as AI  a loose and decreasingly useful marketing term  is fairly extensive and reflects intensive investment in a different vision of the technology under the banner of Apple Intelligence. Systemwide writing tools will offer to rewrite, proofread, and summarize text in most contexts; emails and notifications will be sorted and summarized; calls can be recorded, transcribed, and outlined; photos will be processed in such a way that they can be searched with plain-language requests; and users can remove entire people from photos with a few motions.

There were some constrained features for generating media, including an Image Playground text-to-image generator and a Genmoji tool. Apples rumored partnership with OpenAI turned out to be constrained as well: In some contexts, users will be able to ask ChatGPT to generate text; when Siri is unable to answer certain sorts of questions, users will be asked if they want to pass the request along to OpenAI through a system that Apple says will be open to other models as well, keeping the leading AI firm of the current generation at arms length.

i thought this pic was a shitpost at first pic.twitter.com/dRjbw3tfbu  anpaure (@anpaure) June 10, 2024

In the superheated corners of the internet where AGI is imminent  or, in an increasingly common rhetorical shift, already here  this was underwhelming. OpenAI leadership is talking about the end of human labor and emerging superhuman intelligence, countless AI start-ups are promising agentic super-Siri assistants, and Googles CEO is comparing AI to the discovery of fire. Meanwhile, Apple is relegating ChatGPT to a plug-in and giving its users a bunch of little utilities and widgets.

Another view is that Apple is merely being cautious, and with good reason. In 2011, it was easy to get excited about AI as it was defined and known then. Voice recognition alone felt magical, and Siris ability to parse a small range of spoken questions made extrapolation tempting and intuitive: If it can understand some things now, it will be able to understand many things soon; if it can usefully talk to some parts of my phone, which can interact with some real things in the world, soon it really will be a personal assistant. The fact that it had a voice, communicated in a conversational format, and told occasional jokes encouraged this line of thinking  a truly versatile Siri was just a short matter of time. In 2011, Apple was in a position not entirely unlike Microsoft is today, hitching the future of one of its most important products to a dazzling AI tool created by another company. There have been legitimate and huge advances in the field in recent years, and the range of tasks that software can assist with or accomplish on its own is expanding in every direction. But for those who were paying attention at the time, its worth remembering how magical it felt to talk naturally to a smartphone for the first time, the wild possibilities that it evoked  and what actually happened next.

Many of the largest companies in technology are indicating that theyre all in on AI, whatever they mean by the term, for which theyre being rewarded by investors. In the context of actual advances in the state of the art, Apples rhetoric is getting cooler. Its 2024 Siri presentation was, in context, far less ambitious than its 2011 debut. The closest the company has come to talking about AI like OpenAI, Microsoft, and Google are today was all the way back in 1987, in a marketing video about a theoretical Knowledge Navigator.

Its worth watching this video in full for a few reasons. When it comes to hardware, it was fairly prescient: The video is set in 2007, the same year Apple ultimately introduced the touchscreen iPhone, soon followed by the iPad. It was likewise correct, directionally, about networked computers and the web. The virtual assistant promised here, however, is still struggling into existence. In the video, a bow-tied avatar helps deal with a busy schedule, reading the professors calendar and parsing his messages. This part is uncannily familiar  its how Siri was marketed the first time around. (In this scenario, as in 2011 demos, as in Mondays demo, the assistant is helping to deal with a scheduled trip to the airport.) What happens next is familiar, too: The professor asks for an increasingly specific trove of information to plan a lecture about deforestation, drawing from the latest literature, narrowing down his data to specific regions, visualizing data, combining data in collaboration with another scholar, and summarizing a missed call from Mom. Avoiding calls from Mom is another recurring theme, here. In 2024, Siri is still saving us from talking to her:

This is the best example of Apples new AI in everyday life. This could honestly be a gamechanger.#wwdc24 pic.twitter.com/txhxMcb9pM  Adrian Weckler (@adrianweckler) June 10, 2024

The pitch for Knowledge Navigator is, and was, generic but enticingly intuitive. This is how personified computers had been represented in fiction for decades, as synthetic people, but at the time, the rapid pace of development in computing and networking encouraged forward extrapolation. AI, of a sort, had been a buzzy technology for years. After a period of massive government and private investment in promising AI technology, 1987 also marked the beginning of a long AI winter, a period of slowed investment and disillusionment that often follows periods of rapid development and heightened expectations in the field. Knowledge Navigator still doesnt exist, but its fictional presentation matches, almost beat for beat, the marketing pitches for scores of LLM-powered tools that tech giants and start-ups are promising to bring to market soon. The ability of current AI chatbots to carry on something like conversations, and to generate a wide range of humanlike outputs, makes true personal assistants feel closer than ever  but then again, so did technology that allowed us to speak to software and for it to speak back. Maybe Apple really is just lagging behind, and what we saw on Monday is the best the company can do. Or maybe theres some institutional memory there about the last time such things seemed closer and more inevitable than they actually were.

Apple Intelligence isnt Knowledge Navigator, and Apple was relatively cautious about promising that it ever would be. For now, the company is leaving that dream to other companies, which are working on products that Apple customers can use through their phones, tablets, watches, and headsets. In another decade, perhaps these firms will have realized one of the tech industrys oldest visions, bringing about societal transformation and untold riches. Or maybe, theyll make a great deal of progress before their AI agents and personal assistants collide, once again, with the vexing messiness of reality. Its a cautious approach by Apple, in the context of companies like Microsoft and Google. But its also a reminder that these companies are competitors but not quite peers. Whether AI development keeps accelerating or it slows down and fails to deliver, Apple can still expect to sell a lot of hardware.
Hunter Biden, son of U.S. President Joe Biden, joined by his wife Melissa Cohen Biden, arrive to the J. Caleb Boggs Federal Building on June 11, 2024 in Wilmington, Delaware. Photo: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Hunter Biden was found guilty on all federal gun charges brought by his fathers Justice Department on Tuesday. A jury in Wilmington, Delaware, deliberated for just three hours after a weeklong trial that saw searing testimony from Bidens own family about his crack-cocaine addiction. Bidens legal team has previously indicated that they will appeal the verdict, which is punishable by time in prison.

The verdict is the culmination of a long, messy legal and personal drama for Biden, 54, and his family resulting from a sprawling investigation that originally looked into Bidens financial dealings overseas. (He is set to stand trial in the fall over separate financial crimes related to tax evasion.) Biden was indicted last year for making false statements while purchasing a firearm and for possession of a firearm by a drug addict or user, totaling three felony charges. Biden was accused of lying about his history of drug use on paperwork in October 2018 when he purchased a revolver from a Wilmington gun store.

During the trial, prosecutors painted a portrait of Biden at the height of his addiction and presented as their key witness Hallie Biden, the widow of Hunters brother, Beau. She testified about how she and Hunter fell into a short-lived romantic relationship following Beaus death from brain cancer in 2015. She testified that Hunter introduced her to crack cocaine and she began using the drug, but later broke the habit. It was a terrible experience that I went through, she said. Im embarrassed and Im ashamed, and I regret that period of my life. Critically, they were together when Hunter purchased the gun at the center of the case while allegedly using drugs. Hallie discovered the weapon and later disposed of it. I panicked, she said, according to the Washington Post. I didnt want him to hurt himself and I didnt want my kids to find it and hurt themselves.

The defense has sought to argue that it cant be proven that Biden was using drugs at the time of his purchase of the gun in 2018. Bidens eldest daughter, Naomi, testified for the defense, saying that she never saw her father use drugs and that he appeared to be in a good place during a 2018 meeting at a coffee shop. He seemed like the clearest that I had seen him since my uncle died, and he just seemed really great, she said.

But texts between the two during that same time period suggested that Biden was sometimes unresponsive and hard to reach, prompting concerns from Naomi. Im really sorry, dad, I cant take this, she said in one text read aloud in court. I dont know what to say. I just want to hang out with you. The two embraced after she left the stand.

Biden nearly avoided a trial altogether after striking a plea deal with federal prosecutors in 2023 that wouldve had him plead guilty to two misdemeanor tax charges in exchange for sidestepping a felony gun charge from the 2018 gun-store purchase. However, the deal fell apart during a July hearing after attorneys on both sides failed to come to an agreement on what was covered under the immunity portion of the terms.

Biden has been a constant target of fruitless investigations led by congressional Republicans who have attempted to find a connection between him, President Joe Biden, and illicit dealings with foreign business  forming the basis for a brief, failed push to impeach the president. Though he refrains from commenting on the specifics of his sons legal troubles, Joe Biden has consistently stood by Hunter, praising him for his resilience and his work toward his sobriety. First Lady Jill Biden attended most of her stepsons trial, only missing one day to travel to France with the president for events commemorating the 80th anniversary of D-Day.

In a statement released after the verdict came down, President Biden reiterated his support for his son. I will accept the outcome of this case and will continue to respect the judicial process as Hunter considers an appeal. Jill and I will always be there for Hunter and the rest of our family with our love and support. Nothing will ever change that, he said.
Photo: Getty Images

Martha-Ann Alitos husband  the Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito  can attest to the fact that she really likes flags. My wife is fond of flying flags, he wrote last month in a strange letter blaming her for a controversy over his households choice of flags associated with the Capitol Riot. However, Martha-Ann does not like flags if they are gay.

On Monday, documentary filmmaker Lauren Windsor posted a recording she took at a black-tie event last week at the Supreme Court in which she complained about a neighbors Pride flag. You know what I want? Martha-Ann says on the recording. I want a Sacred Heart of Jesus flag because I have to look across the lagoon at the Pride flag for the next month. Instead of the religious banner, she proposed another idea  a sort of anti-Pride flag with a white background and yellow and orange flames that reads shame in Italian.

Unaware that she was being recorded, Martha-Ann Alito said more. Windsor, pretending to be an ally, offered words of support to Alito, who said that if reporters come back to me, Ill get them. Im gonna get liberated, and Im going to be okay. Windsor then said that the whole Appeal to Heaven flag thing was bullshit  referring to the flag with far-right associations the Alitos flew over their home. Look at me; look at me, Martha-Ann Alito said. Im German, from Germany. My heritage is German. You come after me, Im going to give it back to you.

Alito already made it quite clear in a letter last month that he is not thrilled by his wifes flag-flying behavior and the inconvenience it has created in his life. (He has also made it pretty clear that he will not defend his wife when a neighbor calls her a cunt.) In the recording, Alitos makes his opinion clear again. Oh, please dont put up a flag, he says in response to his wifes plan to counterprogram the Pride flag. Later, Martha-Ann stands her ground. He never controls me, she says.
Photo: Eric Lee/Bloomberg via Getty Images

You either die a hero or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain is a Harvey Dent line from The Dark Knight. This doesnt really apply to most peoples lives, but nerds like to quote it because its sounds cool as hell. However, there is one actual human who embodies this quote to an uncanny degree: Americas Mayor turned indicted co-conspirator Rudy Giuliani.

Its taken Giuliani some time to fully embrace his identity as a real-life Batman villain. Heres his first mug shot from August 2023, when he was charged in Georgia along with Donald Trump and 17 other people for allegedly being part of a criminal enterprise aimed at overturning the 2020 election results. He looks like a normal guy whos plastered a resolute look on his face, though his election lies are finally catching up with him.

Photo: Fulton County Sheriffs Office

Now take a look at Giulianis second mug shot from Monday, when he was booked in the Arizona fake-electors case (he pleaded not guilty to nine felony charges last month):

Photo: AP

The smile! The downcast leer! The cartoonish star tie! Its saying, Waitll they get a load of me.

After posting a $10,000 bond and getting fingerprinted, Giuliani even capped off his Phoenix court appearance by declaring he has no remorse about his alleged misdeeds.

Do you have any regrets about what you did in Arizona after the election? a reporter asked.

Oh my goodness, no, Giuliani replied, chuckling. Im very, very proud of it!

Reporter: Do you have any regrets about what you did in Arizona after the election?



Giuliani: No. Im very very proud of it. pic.twitter.com/PFUZrDApPj  Acyn (@Acyn) June 11, 2024

They can try to lock Giuliani up, but I have a feeling it will only result in him breaking out of Arkham Asylum with a crew of supervillain buddies and finding new ways to terrorize Gotham.
I wish Selina Meyer was president

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Edited at 2024-06-11 12:34 pm (UTC) she had so many iconic lines lmao

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Veep was one of the most "politically incorrect" shows in history, which just shows how full of shit Seinfeld is. He's using "PC" as a way of saying we should let men (mostly but not entirely white men) punch down at anyone they want, while we just smile and take it.

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the axis of dick is a legitimate political theory that needs to be taught at every level of education imo

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and this. SO. MUCH. THIS.

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I guess she saw his Pop Tart movie.

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i couldn't get through 30 minutes of that movie, and it was just on for background noise while i was working.

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We did not roast this movie enough!

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what pop tart movie what

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I hated everyone on Seinfeld except for Elaine. Julia's impact.

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And this is coming from the woman who played one of the most politically incorrect characters of all time. Love her.

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and that's why she is one of the GOATs. Veep is one of the most politically incorrect shows ever made...and not a soul ever had issue with it...if your delivery and intent is correct, no one cares.

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Shows like Veep and Always Sunny understand the concept of punching up. You're watching bad people doing offensive things and the joke is always on them.

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Ding ding ding

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exactly. its not endorsing them, its holding them up to ridicule.

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Always Sunny - didn't they do blackface?

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If you're funny, you're always funny no matter how times change. If you can't make it work once times change, that's a skill issue.

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lol i was just watching the "he took...it out" scene in Seinfeld and her delivery is absolute art. ditto Veep. she knows exactly how to get the most out of whatever she's given, she's always going to be funny.

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the comments in this post are bangers, damn

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there was never a seinfeld curse, she was always just the most talented cast member

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There's a reason why her career has flourished while the others are bitter bastards.

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The only actually talented Seinfeld main cast member (Jason Alexander can stay too, hes decently good)

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He invented the word Cankles, he can choke IMO lol

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ugh slay

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yeah that's right

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so true Julia so true

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Im rewatching Veep so this is timely. Its wild the amount of shit they pull off bc they understand how comedy works.

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She's right. There are tangible threats to creatives in all fields right now that are being ignored in favor of elevating culture war nonsense and "anti-woke" bs from lazy past-their-prime losers and grifters.

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Bill fucking Maher.

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The Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) secured a slender majority in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, yet a striking trend has emerged  the ruling coalition failed to win a single parliamentary seat from India's three largest religious minorities: Muslims, Christians and Sikhs. However, compared to the 2019 polls, voting preferences among these groups have undergone notable shifts.

Data published by Lokniti-CSDS in The Hindu highlights substantial gains for the NDA among Christian voters, rising from 16% in 2019 to 28% in 2024, a 12-percentage point increase. Crucially, nine points of this gain accrued to the BJP's allies, likely attributable to alliances forged with parties like the Telugu Desam Party and Jana Sena Party in Andhra Pradesh.

Conversely, the NDA suffered a steep decline in support from the Sikh community. Their preference for the NDA plummeted from 31% in 2019 to a mere 10% in 2024, a massive 21 percentage point drop. The exit of the Shiromani Akali Dal from the NDA coalition accounts for 19 points of this decline, while the BJP itself witnessed a significant dip in Sikh backing despite concerted efforts to expand its base in Punjab.

For the Congress-led opposition alliance, the trend among Muslims proved favourable. According to the survey, Muslim support for the Congress rose from 33% in 2019 to 38% in 2024. However, the most substantial gains were reaped by Congress allies, soaring from 12% to 27% over the same period. This surge can be largely attributed to the inclusion of the Samajwadi Party in the alliance, albeit the survey's exclusion of parties like the Trinamool Congress in West Bengal implies even higher overall support for the opposition among Muslims.

Notably, the Congress suffered a setback among Christian voters, with their backing declining from 39% in 2019 to 25% in 2024.

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A. C. Michael, coordinator of the United Christian Forum, speaking to Christian Today expressed uncertainty to the genuineness of the report until thoroughly verified. He said that there have been areas where Christians must have supported the NDA alliance like in Kerala Bishops had given open calls to support BJP.

Highlighting Goa and Andra Pradesh, he said, it is not a secret that BJP has good followings of Christians in Goa as they have been winning state assembly elections and in Andhra Pradesh too BJP may have got indirect support as Chandrababu Naidu has good Christian followings, said Michael.

Among Sikhs, while the Congress maintained a lead over the BJP at 30%, this represented a 9-percentage point decrease from the previous election.

Contrary to speculation, the BJP failed to make significant inroads among Muslim women, despite the ban on triple talaq. According to the survey, only 7% of Muslim women voted for the BJP, compared to 8% among the overall Muslim population.

In Uttar Pradesh, the opposition alliance's performance exceeded expectations, capturing 43 of the 80 seats contested. The BJP, contesting 75 seats, managed to win only 33, with its allies securing one seat. The Lokniti-CSDS data reveals that upper-caste voters favoured the BJP, while Other Backward Classes (OBCs), Scheduled Castes (SCs), and Muslims consolidated behind the opposition.

Factors contributing to the BJP's underwhelming performance included effective social engineering by the Samajwadi Party, voter apprehensions over potential constitutional changes affecting reservations, unsuccessful polarisation attempts by the BJP, waning "Modi magic", and public frustration over unemployment and examination irregularities.

Significantly, when asked about their preferred prime ministerial candidate, 36% of respondents favoured Rahul Gandhi, compared to only 32% backing Narendra Modi  a remarkable shift from the BJP's dominance in previous elections.



Originally published by Christian Today India
What You Don't Know Can Hurt You

Employees must be trained on the hazardous chemicals in their work area. What do employers need to know to comply with standards and protect their employees effectively?

The potential for accidents, incidents, and injuries is always present when people work with, or are in the vicinity of, hazardous chemicals. OSHA estimates that 43 million workers produce or handle hazardous chemicals in more than five million workplaces across the country. Thats a lot of potential! The good news, though, is that Hazard Communication (HazCom) training can help ensure chemical safety in the workplace.

When employees know and understand the hazards of the chemicals they work with and how to safely use them, they can greatly decrease any risk that might be present. OSHAs HazCom Standard at 29 CFR 1910.1200 requires you to communicate this information.

All employees exposed to hazardous chemicals in the workplace must be provided with information and training on the hazardous chemicals in their work area. Exposure or exposed is defined in the standard to mean that an employee is subjected in the course of employment to a chemical that is a physical or health hazard, and includes potential (e.g., accidental or possible) exposure. Subjected in terms of health hazards includes any route of entry (e.g., inhalation, ingestion, skin contact or absorption).

How Does OSHA Define Hazardous Chemical?

Under HazCom, a hazardous chemical is defined as any chemical which is classified as a physical hazard or a health hazard, a simple asphyxiant, combustible dust, pyrophoric gas, or hazard not otherwise classified (HNOC). A physical hazard or health hazard may pose any of the hazardous effects listed below:

Physical Hazard:

Flammable (gases, aerosols, liquids, or solids)

Oxidizer (liquid, solid, or gas)

Self-reactive

This article originally appeared in the June 2024 issue of Occupational Health & Safety.
Afghanistan has sold 150,000 tons (1.1 million barrels) of crude oil from the Amu Darya basin for more than $80 million over the past 10 days, with Beijings investment in the country beginning to bear fruit.

On Sunday, Humayun Afghan, the spokesperson for the Taliban's Ministry of Mines and Petroleum, revealed that the group had sold 130,000 tons of crude oil for $71.6 million before it successfully put up another 20,000 tons (146,000 barrels) of crude worth $10.5 million for bidding on the same day. This marks a reversal of fortunes for one of the Middle Easts most volatile regions with the country previously importing the 50,000 barrels of oil it consumes daily from neighboring countries such as Iran and Uzbekistan.

It all began a year ago when Chinas Xinjiang Central Asia Petroleum and Gas Co, or CAPEIC, signed a 25-year contract with Taliban authorities in Afghanistan. That contract requires CAPEIC to invest $150 million by the first year and a total of $540 million by 2026. So far, CAPEICs investment of $49 million in Afghanistan has helped boost the country's daily crude oil output to more than 1,100 metric tons (8,000 barrels per day), a volume that could increase significantly if the company is to fulfill its contract. According to a top Taliban official, CAPEIC fell short of its investment target due to inaccurate estimates of material and labor costs coupled with a three-month delay in the approval of its financial plan by Afghan authorities.

Related: Europe's Shift from Russian Gas to Pricey LNG

The investments will add up as the contract stipulates, the Taliban official told VOA on condition of anonymity, adding that the Talibans treasury earned about $26 million from the project last year.

Spanning Afghanistan and Tajikistan, the Amu Darya basin is estimated to contain 962 million barrels of crude oil and 52,025 billion cubic feet of natural gas, according to a 2011 assessment by the U.S. Geological Survey. To tap into this potential, CAPEIC plans to dig 22 additional wells in 2024, aiming to increase daily production to more than 2,000 tons, or~15,000 barrels.

Beijing has been cozying up to Kabul ever since the United States withdrew from Afghanistan in 2021 after a 20-year presence. Chinese diplomats have been meeting their Afghan counterparts almost weekly since the establishment of a Taliban government in Kabul, with western analysts alluding to some sort of emerging cooperation. Back in January, Chinese President Xi Jinping received the diplomatic credentials of the Taliban's ambassador to Beijing. The move confounded foe and friend alike because no country has formally declared its recognition of the Taliban government. However, it's not clear if Beijings action constitutes diplomatic recognition.

Although the attraction of [Afghanistans] mining and energy resources is strong, there is considerable Chinese wariness about the internal security situation, the reliability of Taliban assurances regarding foreign investments, and Afghanistans poor infrastructure, Andrew Scobell, distinguished fellow for China at the United States Institute of Peace, told VOA.

Meanwhile, other geopolitical analysts have hypothesized that Beijings main motivation in its dealings with Afghanistan is risk mitigation amid a potential security vacuum, a viable reason considering that the two countries share a 92 kilometer-long border. Last year, Beijing and Islamabad agreed to include Afghanistan in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. CPEC provides a blueprint for civil-military cooperation aiming to enhance the participants connectivity.

Theres little doubt that China wants to project power over Central Asia for several reasons. First, the region is a core component of the Belt and Road Initiative, a global infrastructure development strategy adopted by the Chinese government in 2013 to invest in more than 150 countries and international organizations. Second, on a regional level, Beijing would want Kabul to consider it a top ally over competing powers such as Russia and India, both of which have some influence over Afghanistan.

On its part, the U.S. government and other lawmakers are more concerned about the possibility of China taking over the Bagram airfield in the north of Kabul that its military used as its main base throughout the Afghan war.

We dont see Afghanistan as a place where we need to compete with the Chinese and the Russians, Thomas West, the U.S. special representative for Afghanistan, has declared.

The United States and China have adopted very different diplomatic approaches toward Afghanistan. Whereas Beijing has chosen the investment/security cooperation route, the U.S. remains the leading humanitarian donor to Afghanistan, providing more than $2 billion in humanitarian assistance since the Taliban takeover.

By Alex Kimani for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Bullish sentiment appears to be building in oil markets as summer demand for fuel kicks in, pushing Brent back above the $81 per barrel mark.

- Supply disruptions have ratcheted up pressure on gas prices globally, with prices across Europe, Asia and the United States simultaneously edging higher to their highest in 2024 so far.

- European TTF gas futures soared 13% in one day after cracks were found in Equinors Sleipner platform and even though the repairs concluded already, the regional benchmark continues to hover around 35 per MWh ($11 per mmBtu).

- A string of Australian force majeure events, the latest of them coming from Chevrons Wheatstone facility which was forced to halt production after an outage this Monday, has pushed the regional LNG prices to $12 per mmBtu already.

- Sentiment around natural gas in the US has improved markedly, too, with Henry Hub closing above $3 per mmBtu for the first time since early January 2024 and hedge funds positioning turning sustainably net long after two years of suffering.

Market Movers

- Global trading major Glencore (LON:GLEN) has won a crude supply tender to Praxs 113,000 b/d Lindsay refinery in the UK, dealing a painful blow to trading competitor Trafigura which used to be Praxs main supplier.

- Warren Buffetts Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE:BRK) bought some 2.57 million shares of common stock in Occidental Petroleum (NYSE:OXY), further increasing its ownership of the oil majors from the 28% stake it had up until now.

- French major TotalEnergies (NYSE:TTE) agreed to purchase the UK power generator West Burton Energy from EIG for a total of $576 million, boosting its gas capacity by 1.3 GW and renewables by 1.1 GW.

Tuesday, June 11, 2024

Following weeks of lukewarm demand statistics, we might finally be on the brink of seeing summer demand kicking in. A reported jet fuel shortage in Japan, Goldman Sachs relatively bullish view on transportation fuel demand over the summer, and the prospect of a US SPR replenishment boost have lifted Brent futures above the $81 per barrel mark.

Return of OPEC+ Barrels Triggers Huge Sell-Off. Portfolio investors exited a record amount of long positions in the week ending June 4 as the prospect of OPEC+ bringing back production into 2025 soured the bullish sentiment, selling a total of 194 million barrels in the six leading futures contracts.

Iraq Eyes Restart of Idled Kurdish Pipeline. Iraqs oil minister Hayan Abdel-Ghani noted progress in negotiations with Kurdistan regional officials on a potential deal to resume oil exports via the idled 450,000 b/d capacity Kirkuk-Ceyhan oil pipeline, halted since March 2023.

Saudi Aramco SPO Exceeds Expectations. The shares of Saudi national oil company Saudi Aramco (TADAWUL:2222) gained this week after the company raised $11.2 billion in its secondary share offering, with at least half of sales reportedly going towards international investors.

New Zealand Makes U-Turn on Oil Exploration. The government of New Zealand vowed to introduce legislation that would remove a disputed ban on offshore oil exploration, in place since 2018, by the end of this year, reversing the oil policy of the previous center-left Labour government.

Niger-Benin Spat Turns Ugly Again. Having just loaded the first-ever Meleck cargo last month, exports could halt again as the Benin-Niger geopolitical spat took another turn this week, with the former arresting 5 people it believes to be Nigerien soldiers working undercover at the port of Seme.

Japan to Fund New Nuclear Plants with Bonds. Japans Kansai Electric Power is planning to issue transition bonds to finance future nuclear power projects, aiming for some 30 billion ($190 million), the second Japanese firm in two months to turn to bonds as a nuclear financing tool.

Russia Seeks Iran Corridor to India. Russia has announced it plans to export coal to India via Irans railway network system as Moscow seeks to ramp up supplies to the worlds second-largest coal consumer, to be ultimately shipped from the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas.

Houthis Strike Two Western-Owned Container Ships. Houthi militias have targeted two container ships this week, the Swiss-owned Tavvish and the German-owned Norderney, damaging both with anti-ship ballistic missiles some 70 nautical miles southwest of Aden.

Suncor Triggers the Ire of Environmentalists. Environmentalist groups sued Canadas leading oil firm Suncor Energy (TSO:SU) for alleged air pollution violations at its 98,000 b/d Commerce City refinery in Colorado, claiming theyve recorded more than 1,000 emission violations in 2019-2023.

IEA Sees Upstream Investment Growth Slowing Down. The International Energy Agency forecasts that global upstream spending would increase by 7% this year to $570 billion, slightly lower than the 9% year-on-year pace of 2023, insisting that its much more than is needed.

Chinese Demand for Saudi Crude Weakens. Saudi crude exports to China are expected to bottom out in July as Chinese refiners nominated only 36 million barrels for next month, opting for other sources of crude as Middle Eastern barrels get more expensive as margins flatten out.

Port of Baltimore Fully Reopens After Tanker Crash. Less than three months after the Dali tanker crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge the port of Baltimore has fully reopened as the operating dimensions of the navigation channel were lifted to 700 feet wide and 50 feet deep.

Oil Sands Producers Riot Against Emissions Cap. Canadas leading oil producers have objected to the governments plan to cap emissions, saying that a carbon tax would be the preferred way of climate impact mitigation, as limiting emissions would also impact future production growth.

By Michael Kern for Oilprice.com

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Saudi Arabias oil giant Aramco looks caught between a rock and a hard place. It seeks to win over new investors, especially foreign ones, while at the same time  as the worlds top crude oil exporter and the biggest OPEC producer  not allowing oil prices to crash.

Aramco has just priced its secondary share offering at the lower end of the previously set range, in a sign that it is now focused on winning over international investors.

But as the most influential member of OPEC, Saudi Arabia  which controls 97.62% of the oil giant either directly or via the sovereign wealth fund  seeks to keep oil prices stable and in a relatively high range in the $80s per barrel. This means that Saudi Aramco needs to follow government orders and pump as much oil as the Kingdom says.

A conflict between rewarding shareholders and keeping oil prices elevated arises, Avi Salzman at Barrons argues.

On Friday, Aramco priced 1.545 billion shares on offer in its latest share sale at $7.27 (27.25 Saudi riyals) apiece, based on the results of the bookbuilding process.

Thats a discount of 6% compared to the closing price of Aramcos shares on the Saudi stock exchange, Tadawul, on the day before the secondary offering was announced at the end of May.

Saudi Aramcos top executives faced a hard sell to win over international investors in the giants new share offering due to concerns about the future of oil and the oil industry, sources familiar with the companys efforts to place more shares with foreign investors told the Financial Times.

Related: 4 Questions About the Future of Electricity

It looks like the secondary offering was more successful in attracting foreign shareholders than the IPO of 2019, which went mostly to domestic investors.

With the offer priced at the lower end of the range, Saudi Arabia will be raising $11.2 billion, which will be funneled into the ambitious projects of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to diversify the economy from oil.

The orders for the new shares in Aramco exceeded $60 billion, while 60% of the newly allotted stock is set to go to international investors, sources involved in the share sale told FT.

Demand from foreign investors is being carefully gauged by market analysts to see if the Saudi oil giant has managed to draw interest from abroad this time, after the few enthusiastic foreign investors during the IPO in 2019.

Aramcos massive dividend could be attractive for foreign investors despite the lack of share buybacks at the worlds largest oil company and top crude exporter, Bloomberg notes.

Aramcos dividend yield is estimated at 6.6% for 2024, one of the highest compared with the international supermajors, according to Bloomberg Intelligence. Aramco and Enis dividend yields for 2024 are the highest, at 6.6%, followed by BPs 4.7%, TotalEnergies 4.6%, and Shells 3.9% dividend yield.

ExxonMobils dividend yield is 3.37%--half of Aramcos.

Yet, despite greater foreign interest in the Saudi oil giants secondary share offering, many investors are wary of the fact that Aramcos oil production levels are not driven by the market. The Kingdom, being the top OPEC producer, the worlds largest crude oil exporter, and a shareholder of more than 97% in Aramco, decides how much oil the company should produce.

Thats because Saudi Arabia leads the OPEC and OPEC+ efforts to stabilize the oil market, i.e., keeping prices relatively higher so these producers can haul in generous oil revenues for their governments.

Even a hint of OPEC+ easing some of the current oil production cuts this year sent Brent prices tumbling below $80 per barrel last week, highlighting Saudi Aramcos dilemma of balancing investor needs against stable oil prices.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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Despite all the headlines about the surge of the populist right, the main takeaway from the European Parliament elections is that the three biggest political groups in the chamber are unchanged.

After EU citizens went to vote across the 27 EU member states between June 6 and 9, the center-right European People's Party (EPP) came in first -- as they have done in every European parliamentary election since 1999 -- with a projected 185 lawmakers in the 720-seat chamber.

(The results are still provisional and being updated throughout the day. For the latest numbers, check the European Parliament website.)

The Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D) came in second with a projected 137 members of the European Parliament (MEPs). And the liberal-centrist Renew Europe has come in third with an expected 79 MEPs.

Together, those three leading parties have an estimated 401 MEPs, a majority, albeit a small and shrinking one, down from 417 MEPs in the smaller 705-seat parliament. (The chamber is gaining 15 more seats in these elections, held every five years, distributing some but not all of the seats vacated when the United Kingdom Brexited in 2020.)

The EPP was actually the only major political group that gained in popularity; all others lost support compared to the previous elections in 2019. So, the center holds -- just.

The Greens/European Free Alliance (Greens/EFA) made big gains in the 2019 elections, and in the outgoing parliament they held 71 seats. In these elections the party has seen its support drop, now with only 52 seats, making it the second-smallest group in parliament. The smallest group is the far-left group in the European Parliament (GUE/NGL), which got 36 seats.

The Populist Right Gains, But Are They Winners?

The populist right has certainly made gains. The European Conservatives And Reformists (ECR) group -- home to Giorgia Meloni's Brothers of Italy, the Polish Law and Justice (PIS) party, the Sweden Democrats, and the Spanish Vox party -- has gained four seats and now has 73.

And the political group even further to the right, Identity and Democracy (ID) of Marine Le Pen and the Austrian Freedom Party (FPO), would have likely increased their share as well if it wasn't for the fact that they had kicked out Alternative for Germany (AFD) a few weeks earlier after a leading member of the far-right German party had downplayed the role of the SS during the Nazi period.

In some individual member states, the populists did really well. Le Pen's National Rally party triumphed in France, finishing over 15 percentage points ahead of French President Emmanuel Macron's coalition of centrist/liberal parties. FPO also topped the polls in Austria.

Yet, here's the thing: Combined, the ECR and ID will have around 130 parliamentarians, which is around what they had in 2019. There is always the possibility the two groups could merge and form a populist-right supergroup that potentially would be the second largest in the chamber and give them dibs on several important committee chairs and rapporteur positions. In that regard, there have been talks behind the scenes and out in the open for years, but nothing has come of it so far.

As seen with the ejection of AFD from the ID group, collaboration is not always easy. The parties making up the populist right certainly agree that Brussels has too much power, but that is where the similarities end. For example, the ECR tends to be very hawkish on Russia, led especially by the Polish PIS but also surprisingly Meloni, who has been pivoting to the center, leading to speculation that she wants to join the EPP.

On the other hand, the ID group is openly pro-Russian and doesn't tend to be keen on compromise in the European Parliament. (The ECR will quite often vote with the mainstream groups, notably on foreign policy issues.)

The Great Unknown

The wild card is the approximately 100 nonattached members in the new European Parliament who don't belong to a political group -- at least not yet. In fact, in terms of electoral gains, the nonattached MEPs saw the biggest increase, gaining nearly 40 seats. (For some of these MEPS, being nonattached might just be a temporary state of affairs, as joining a group significantly increases their influence.)

The question then is which, if any, groups are willing to mop up some of the nonattached -- or if a new group of these political strays can be formed. (A minimum of 23 MEPs from at least seven EU countries is needed to form an official parliamentary group in the European Parliament.)

Some of the nonattached members and their domestic political parties have already burnt their bridges. For example, Viktor Orban's right-wing Fidesz party parted ways with the EPP; Robert Fico's populist leftist Smer party was suspended from the Socialists and Democrats; and, as mentioned above, Germany's AFD were recently pushed out of ID.

These nonattached members will now start horse-trading. For political groups open to take in new members, it is not an easy choice. On the one hand, every political group wants to grow, but, on the other, letting a controversial national party under its wing can end up tainting the entire group.

The Conference of Presidents, a key decision-making body that consists of the president of the European Parliament and the leaders of all the political groups in the chamber, will convene on June 12 in Brussels to take stock of the situation and set out a road map. Members have until July 16 to negotiate the composition of the political groups, when the new European Parliament meets for its inaugural legislative session in Strasbourg.

Beyond Brussels

Emmanuel Macron did not have a good night. His drubbing at the hands of Le Pen has already prompted him to call for snap parliamentary elections, with the first round expected to take place by the end of June. The result was an embarrassment for the French president, with the far-right winning in every region in the country.

Yet there are some mitigating factors. First, this is hardly a surprise. Polls have for months predicted such a result. It is not uncommon that European Parliament elections, which see lower turnout than national elections, are used to punish those in power. Macron has been in power since 2017, so a certain fatigue is understandable.

The decision to call for national elections in France could be a rather smart gamble for Macron to move the conversation away from his humiliation and Le Pen's triumph. His alliance has 249 seats out of 577 in the National Assembly, France's lower house of parliament, compared to Le Pen's 88. He already lost his majority there back in 2022 and risks losing more now.

France has a presidential system, however, so even if Macron does have to cohabit with the opposition, he still gets to call the shots.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is also under pressure. The main opposition party, the Christian Democratic Union of Germany/Christian Social Union in Bavaria, received 31 percent of the vote, twice as much as Scholz's Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD). As votes were being counted, Scholz's party was neck-and-neck with AFD for second place.

The next federal election in Germany is due in the fall of 2025, but there will likely be political pressure to hold them earlier. Either way, the leaders of the EU's two biggest and most important member states have been politically undermined by this vote.

What Impact Will The New Chamber Have In Brussels?

It is likely that the tilt to the right will have an impact on some areas of policy going forward. For example, the European Parliament might become less ambitious on environmental issues and stricter on questions of migration.

It is worth bearing in mind that the European Parliament is different to national parliaments in that MEPs don't propose laws themselves. In the EU, it is the executive branch, the European Commission, that has the right of initiative and starts the initial drafting of a potential new law. The European Council, which consists of EU heads of state or government, is also involved with amending proposed laws.

In terms of lawmaking, the European Parliament is the weakest of these three institutions, rarely getting much of what it wants. Haggling over laws between the parliament, the commission, and the council in so-called trialogues can take months or even years before anything is actually agreed and becomes law.

On foreign policy, it is not expected that the newly elected European Parliament will change much. Support for Ukraine and further EU enlargement will still be the majority positions. And while there might be MEPs holding pro-Kremlin positions, they are more likely to use the chamber as a platform to parrot Kremlin talking points rather than doing significant legislative work.

Besides, the European Parliament does not dictate EU foreign policy. This is the exclusive domain of EU member states. So, while MEPs consider and write plenty of foreign policy reports and resolutions, all of these are nonbinding.

What Happens Now?

One cautious winner is European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. As the lead candidate for the first-place EPP group, she is now expected to get another five years in charge of the EU's executive arm. Even though she was triumphant on the night, von der Leyen still needs the leaders of the 27 EU member states and a simple majority in the European Parliament to secure her nomination.

The leaders will assemble in Brussels on June 17 to have an initial discussion about the three top EU jobs: the president of the European Commission, the president of the European Council, and EU foreign policy chief. They will then meet again in Brussels on June 27-28 to finalize the candidates.

Under the "lead candidate" system, von der Leyen would take the presidency, as she is the candidate from the party that got the most votes. This is what happened in 2014, when Jean-Claude Juncker was selected. However, EU leaders went against the "lead candidate" system in 2019 when they ignored the German center-right candidate from the EPP, Manfred Weber, and opted instead for von der Leyen, then a little-known German defense minister.

But with the EPP's especially good results on election night, it will be hard to overlook von der Leyen. Macron was reportedly considering the idea of putting forward former Italian Prime Minister and European Central Bank President Mario Draghi as an alternative, but with the French president taking a drubbing, that idea is unlikely to gain much ground.

"It was a good day for the EPP. We won the elections," von der Leyen told journalists late on June 9, adding that she was confident that member states would back her. "We are by far the strongest party. We are the anchor of stability."

The question is what will happen in the European Parliament when they are due to confirm her nomination, most likely in July.

Speaking to the press, she mentioned the word "responsibility" several times and added that she hopes to strike a deal with the S&D and Renew Europe groups, with whom she said she had worked well with in the last five years to form a "pro-European, pro-Ukraine, pro-rule-of-law center."

The incumbent needs a majority of 361 votes and, taken together, the EPP, the S&D, and Renew would have 401 MEPs.

However, it wouldn't take much to blow her off course. In 2019, after some social-democrat and liberal MEPs decided to vote against her, she survived by just nine votes. She could try to get the Greens or even the ECR on board this time, but working with the latter -- the populist right -- would risk alienating leftists and liberals alike.

By RFE/RL

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Californias Attorney General this week added a so-called disgorgement remedy to a lawsuit filed against Big Oil majors last year, demanding that they gave up profits made on allegedly illegal business practices.

The original lawsuit accused Big Oil of downplaying the risks associated with the use of oil and gas, and climate change. It targeted Exxon, Chevron, BP, and ConocoPhillips.

Big Oil has been lying to us  covering up the fact that theyve long known how dangerous the fossil fuels they produce are for our planet. It has been decades of damage & deception. California is taking action to hold big polluters accountable, Governor Gavin Newsom said in a Tweet at the time.

Now, Attorney General Rob Bonta who is leading the charge against Big Oil has added a clause that requires a party who profits from illegal or wrongful acts to give up any profits they made as a result of that illegal or wrongful conduct. The purpose of this remedy is to prevent unjust enrichment and make illegal conduct unprofitable.

In other words, California claims that the oil and gas industry selling oil and gas it extracts and refines amounts to illegal activity or a wrongful act. It also claims, in the original lawsuit, that Big Oil made billions in profits while causing billions in damages resulting from climate change. The companies named in the suit were also accused of deceiving the public about their business and climate change.

The American Petroleum Institute was quick to react to the news.

This ongoing, coordinated campaign to wage meritless, politicized lawsuits against a foundational American industry and its workers is nothing more than a distraction from important national conversations and an enormous waste of taxpayer resources, said API General Counsel Ryan Meyers. Climate policy is for Congress to debate and decide, not a patchwork of courts, he added.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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A district court in New Mexico has allowed a lawsuit to proceed against the states governor, legislature, and agencies for failing to uphold their state constitutional duty to protect against pollution from oil and gas drilling.

The lawsuit, Atencio v. State, was filed by indigenous and environmental groups in 2023, claiming that the state of New Mexico and other state defendants violated the plaintiffs rights under the New Mexico Constitution by continuing to authorize and promote oil and gas production without assuring protection of the environment.

The state and the oil industry submitted a motion to dismiss, but Judge Matthew Wilson denied such a motion on Monday, paving the way for the lawsuit to proceed.

The judge motivated the decision with the need for a more detailed review of the states responsibilities under the New Mexico constitution while granting the motion to dismiss would discard a more thorough review.

The states administration is still reviewing the decision of Judge Wilson, a spokesperson for New Mexicos Democratic Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham told AP late on Monday.

The lawsuit is the first to challenge the state for violating the pollution control clause of the New Mexico Constitution. Article 20, Section 21 requires the state to prevent the despoilment of air, water, and other natural resources and protect New Mexicos beautiful and healthful environment. Plaintiffs are also challenging the state for violating the constitutions equal protection and fundamental rights clauses.

The plaintiffs say that oil production in New Mexicos Permian Basin has jumped nearly tenfold since 2010, leading to a surge of devastating air, water and climate pollution.

The Permian shale boom has made New Mexico the second-largest U.S.-producing state, second only to Texas.

The court soundly rejected the state and oil industrys attempts to prevent the plaintiffs from having their day in court, allowing us to continue to fight for our constitutional rights to a clean environment, said Gail Evans, an attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity and lead counsel for the plaintiffs.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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Heavy rains that followed a severe and extended drought two years ago have pushed Chinese hydropower output higher this year, with the strong performance of the segment seen extending over the summer as more rainfall is forecast.

Hydropower generation rose by 8.4% in the first four months of the year, Bloomberg reported, noting that the increase led to a surge in hydropower company stocks on the Chinese market. The biggest dam operator in the country, Yangtze Power Co. is on track to reach a market capitalization of $100 billion as a result.

China has the biggest hydropower capacity in the world, at a total of 425 GW, including the worlds biggest dam, the Three Gorges. Even in 2022, when the drought shrank hydropower output, the country sourced 15% of its electricity from that segment, according to BloombergNEF. This was more than the share of wind and solar in Chinas energy mix, the report noted.

Earlier this year, Reuters noted in a report on the topic that due to the 2022 drought, Chinas hydropower output had remained flat over the past three years thanks to the construction of new dams even as river flow diminished because of the lower rains. Between 2019 and 2023, installed hydropower capacity rose from 358 GW to 422 GW, which was an 18% increase. Output during the same period, however, was down by 1% because of insufficient water flows.

The return of the rain means that new capacity will finally get a chance to boost the countrys overall hydropower output and, as Bloomberg points out, bring it closer to its peak emissions targetwell ahead of schedule, too.

Researchers from the Sinopec Economics and Development Research Institute said recently that hydropower will continue playing a major role in Chinas transition as a source of reliable power supply.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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According to the report, shipments of Saudi oil to Chinese buyers in July will come in at some 36 million barrels, down from 39 million barrels in June, which was in turn a decline on the 45 million barrels Saudi exported to China in May. The lower purchases will be driven by refinery maintenance and cheaper alternatives to Saudi crude.

The news about lower expected Saudi oil shipments to China comes after the Kingdom said it would cut its official selling price for Asia for July deliveries. The cut amounted to $0.50 per barrel from June prices.

The price cut suggested Saudi Arabia was focusing on market share rather than price, even after international benchmarks slid following the latest OPEC+ meeting. With maintenance season in China, however, the market share gain will have to wait.

Saudi Arabia used to be Chinas biggest supplier of oil but last year Russia replaced it at the number-one spot. In 2023, Russia shipped 107.02 million metric tons of crude to China, which was a 24% increase on 2022. Saudi Arabia, on the other hand, exported 85.96 million tons to Chinese buyers last year, which was a 2% decline on 2022.

Overall Saudi exports, however, rose earlier this year. In March, these hit a nine-month high of 6.41 million barrels daily, according to data from the Joint Organizations Data Initiative reported in late May.

Saudi Arabia remains the largest oil supplier to Asia as a whole even if it dropped from the top spot in China. Even so, Asian buyers are diversifying away from Middle Eastern oil in favor of crude from the United States and Brazil amid shrinking margins and Saudi Arabias price hikes earlier this year.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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Major car manufacturers Volkswagen and Isuzu Motors do not have immediate plans to make electric or hybrid vehicles in South Africa despite generous tax breaks the country introduced earlier this year.

South Africa said in February that companies that invest in the production of electric vehicles (EVs) in the country would be able to claim a 150% tax deduction on these investments, beginning in 2026. The country aims to attract EV manufacturing and incentivize its EV and hydrogen industries, which are relatively small and underdeveloped.

However, Volkswagen and Isuzu plan to remain focused on vehicles with internal combustion engines in South Africa, the respective regional heads of the two auto manufacturers told Bloomberg.

While Volkswagen and Isuzu dont have plans for EV or hybrid vehicle manufacturing in South Africa, another major carmaker, Stellantis, is weighing the possibility of expanding its South African production into the new-energy vehicles (NEVs), as EVs, plug-in hybrids, and traditional hybrids are known.

Stellantiss decision would depend on whether a market for these vehicles emerges in South Africa, the managing director of the companys South African unit, Mike Whitfield, told Bloomberg in an interview last week.

In five years its a high probability but theres no final decision, said Whitfield of Stellantis, the manufacturer of Jeep.

South Africas NEV market is rising, but from a very small base, and sales are not in numbers that would currently warrant mass EV manufacturing in the country.

Sales of NEVs in South Africa jumped by 65% last year, but the overall number was just 7,693 units of hybrids and EVs sold. NEVs accounted for only 1.45% of all new cars sold in the country in 2023.

NEV sales in the first quarter of 2024 jumped by nearly 83%, to 3,042 NEVs, compared to 1,665 vehicles sold during the same period in 2023, according to the Q1 2024 quarterly review of the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (NAAMSA).

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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As widely expected, the results of the European Parliament elections held on Sunday, June 9, led to an overall shift towards the right. But it fell short of some of the more extreme predictions that anticipated a significantly stronger win for candidates on the far right, much to the relief of some of the evangelical voices in Europe who had called for prayer and reflection on Europe's values in the lead up to the vote.

More than 400 million citizens of 27 European Union member countries voted for lawmakers that would fill the 720 seats in the EU Parliament.

Among the countries that have seen the most significant shifts to the right is France where President Emmanuel Macron in a surprise move dissolved the parliament and called a two-round snap election for June 30 after his rival Marine Le Pens far-right National Rally party achieved 32 percent of votes with French voters, more than double the 15 percent won by Macrons Renaissance party.

Right wing political groups also made their mark in other countries such as Germany and Italy.

The European Evangelical Alliance (EEA) had published a resources pack before the elections, to help Christians consider how to vote and pray, with issues at stake such as the war in Ukraine, migration issues and financial woes.

Stay informed with The Christian Daily Newsletter Sign up

The center did not get the battering many commentators feared, Arie de Pater, Brussels representative for the EEA said in an exclusive comment for Christian Daily International. The center, being the Christian Democrats, the Social Democrats, and the Liberals, still form a solid majority in the European Parliament. Right wing parties won some seats, but not as many as some people expected, hoped, or feared.

Having said that, there are still about 90 members of the European Parliament who dont belong to a political group or who are non-affiliated. That might change in the next few weeks and change the power balance in the Parliament.

De Pater referenced the Biblical example of the apostle Pauls relationship to his mentee Timothy, in advising how evangelicals can pray about the political situation in Europe, now that the European parliamentary results are in.

When Paul exhorted Timothy to pray for those in authority, his priority was to have a space to live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. The most vulnerable are usually the first victims of major instability in society.

A drastic shift to the left or the right could have affected our societies more than the current outcome of the European elections. As such, the outcome could be regarded as an outcome to prayer for stability and peace.

At the same time, De Pater expressed sorrow for would-be committed and principled politicians who did not make it to the new parliament.

Theyll be missed. Lets pray for them and for all those who now bear the responsibility to serve the European Union as a parliamentarian. May God grant them all wisdom they need to build and protect a Union of unity in diversity.

Meanwhile, I hope that God will grant us, common Christians, the passion and wisdom to serve our neighborhoods and nations in all opportunities and responsibilities we have.

Jeff Fountain, co-founder of the Schuman Centre for European Studies and frequent commentator on Europe in general and the EU in particular, also expressed relief.

In an interview with Christian Daily ahead of the elections, the former director of Youth With A Mission (YWAM) spoke about the Christian roots of Europe Day, highlighted the Jesus story in Europe's story, and urged Christians to see the big picture in the context of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. Following the elections, he renewed his call on followers of Christ to remember history and reflect on who they voted for.

For those evangelicals who, like myself, believe stronger European partnership and mutual accountability is essential for Europes security and flourishing, the election outcome was something of a relief that the center ground held and that the predicted sharp right turn did not fully eventuate, said Fountain.

While the extreme-right grew in some lands, most concerningly in France and Austria, and to a lesser degree in Germany, they did not succeed in Spain and Belgium as they had hoped.

Some of their success is due to Russian influence in social media, as has been demonstrated in Austria, as Putins aim is to undermine European cooperation. Wilders, Orban, Le Pen and friends have stated they aim to hollow out the EU from within, much to Putins delight. One consolation is that the radical right is not a unified stream.

Yet what worries Fountain the most is the predicament of those Christians who may have been fooled into giving support for political parties, whose slogans may have appealed to them but in reality stand in opposition to the ethics of the faith in Jesus.

Of great concern is that many Christians are taken in by parties claiming to uphold the Judeo-Christian heritage and sometimes support for Israel, yet are anti-democratic, authoritarian, nationalistic, isolationist and sometimes even anti-semitic, said Fountain.

The lessons overwhelmingly concluded by leading Christians after World War Two, that forgiveness, reconciliation, mutual accountability and collaboration were essential to 'rebuild Europe on Christian foundations' (as Konrad Adenauer articulated it) seem to have been forgotten by a new generation of believers with little historical awareness of the foundations of the long post-war era of stability that came to a close on February 24, 2022 [when Russia invaded Ukraine].
The crisis rocking the Imo State House of Assembly few weeks to the end of its tenure deepened, Thursday, with the resignation of the Deputy Speaker, Ugonna Ozurigbo.

The resignation of the Deputy Speaker followed the Wednesdays suspension of the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon Acho Ihim and the Majority leader, Hon Lugard Osuji and subsequent issuance of impeachment notice to the Speaker.

Meanwhile, the resignation letter dated May 15, was received by the office of the Clerk of the state House of on May 16.

The letter of resignation which Ozurigbo personally signed was addressed to the Speaker and members of the state House of Assembly.

The Deputy Speaker in the eight paragraph letter attributed his resignation to his new responsibilities as a member-elect of the House of representatives.

He was in March, elected to represent Nwangele-Nkwerre-Isu-Njaba Federal constituency under the Platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Read Also: Imo lawmakers serve Speaker impeachment notice

The resignation letter read in part, as you already know, I have been sent to another four years mission by my federal constituency, nay Imo state, at the Federal House of Representatives, Abuja.

It continued, this new task has come with its own challenges and expectations, especially need to play key roles in the formation of the National Assembly leadership, and time to strategically position, to pursue the greater interests of Imo state, South East and Nigeria, at the federal legislature. Currently, these will make my availability in Imo state irregular.

Hence, I seek your undertaking as I either save the office of Imo state Deputy speaker by resigning or allow my new engagements to suffer the office of Imo state Deputy speaker by holding same tenaciously.

Thus, for your efficiency and good of Imo people, I hereby resign as the Rt Hon. deputy speaker of Imo state House of Assembly (8th House), effective from the date written above.
President Muhammadu Buhari, governors and royal fathers were yesterday accused of not doing enough to curb killings, kidnapping and banditry.

Giving a wake-up call, the Presiding Bishop of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM), Dr. Mike Okonkwo, blamed the worsening security situation in the land on laxity and lack of concern on the part of the Presidency, governors and traditional rulers.

According to the former Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) President, nothing would happen until every level of leadership takes ownership of the problem of insecurity in the land.

Okonkwo spoke yesterday after the conclusion of this years Leading Edge Conference at TREM (Vision House) Utako, Abuja.

He alleged that leaders have been living in denial and that the level of insecurity in the country requires a concerted effort to tackle.

Okonkwo said: We must rid our country of these people who are perpetuating this evil; then, well come to a headway.

Its a situation that is staring every Nigerian in the face. The situation is grinding everyone to a halt.

When the problem of this country is handled from tribal, religious, political or personal sentiment, we miss the whole point and we go nowhere.

Anyone who says there are no issues in Nigeria is either blind, deaf, or dishonest. Were having a security situation which seems as if no one has an answer to.

These people didnt drop from the sky; they came from somewhere. They will shoot people on the highway and run back into the bush in a state where somebody is governing?

If we are not up and doing and stop saying it does not concern me, all of us would be in trouble.

The cleric noted that governors and traditional rulers should own up to the problem and stop crying foul.

Every day, theyre crying and Im tired of their crying. Do something. Thats why theyre leaders, he said.

Okonkwo, who described the situation in the country as scary, said its disturbing that the President could be hearing about all the kidnappings and killings and still be silent.

Ive also been wondering, because if Im the one, Ill be talking, he said.

On the rising wave of kidnapping, the cleric said: Im wondering in my mind: could it be that some people, who are not herdsmen, have hijacked this thing to make money?
Popular Abuja-based pastor, Joshua Iginla, has admitted that he and his wife, Yemisi, both had children out of wedlock. Iginla, who is the Senior Pastor of Champions Royal Assembly, who spoke to his congregation during a Sunday service, said when his wife brought an illegitimate child into their home, he forgave her, but that she refused to forgive him when he had his own child with another woman.

The cleric, in a video that has since gone viral, stated that though he had tried for seven years to stable the vehicle, it had resulted in a battle with his family members and disciples.

He told his followers, I and your mother in the Lord met and we had a wonderful marriage; before we got married, we started by checking our genotypes. She was AA and I was AS. We had our first daughter, a wonderful child, and eventually we discovered she had sickle cell anaemia. I receive healing for people here with sickle cell and God has been doing miracles.

I saw it as a battle and a challenge for me as your father which is a trial of faith for me; it is not a problem for me. I embraced my daughter and we had a good relationship. I may have been the first man of God to do it in this fashion but that is how I was led to do it. I want you to throw your stones at me, abuse me, insult me and I will take it but I want to stay alive, if not for you, for my destiny.

We later discovered in the course of time that she (Yemisi) was actually AS and I was AS. No problem. It was not a battle but one thing led to another. What happened was what would make a man divorce his wife scripturally and I had the backing for that. But I had to cover it up to be sure that my marriage moved with your mother and that led to so many things.

He stated that because he was a man of God, he could not divorce his wife to prevent his followers from saying a man of God had parted ways with his wife.

Iginla said, So, I chewed it as a pill and so this battle has become a big one which some men of God are taking advantage of, and sons who are under me, who are very bad, have fed on this battle. I have tried for seven years. She brought an unholy child into the marriage which was difficult for me to chew. I dont want you to judge my wife or anything. I just want you to know.

We had serious battles here and there; family interventions and everything. We covered it. We would have not got to this point today if my wife had listened to me when we had the battle. I also went to have a child outside wedlock and then it became a battle in the family.

He asked his congregants to put the blame on him, saying it had become pains for me because when your wife begins to fight you everywhere and insult you  I have told her dont fight me, lets solve this problem in secret and if we cannot solve it, I will come to the world, confess my sins to the world, receive the insults and end this marriage.

The cleric added, And that is what I am doing today because the battle is bad; it has pushed me to this point. I want the world to know; I want you to insult me. This battle didnt start from Papa. I am not sleeping and then children who dont know my story are insulting me unnecessarily. I felt I wanted to end the struggle. I want it to be in the media; insult me.

I knelt down; I begged her but she chose to make me the laughing stock before people and I said the day I come on air and say this to the people, it marks the end of our union. I covered her and I didnt divorce her, but when mine came, she threw me to the world, calling people to send me pictures.

Iginla told his congregation that when a father had battles and challenges in life, he needed to confide in his children so that they could pray for him, adding that some children had taken advantage of his challenges and battles.

He, however, said he forgave them and had left them to God to help them not to see what he had gone through in life.

According to Iginla, he is a father who loves his kids and loves everything about his family but when one becomes a leader, a lot of people play politics with ones life because one is a star.

He added, Your mama is doing well; she is in America with my children and they are doing well. You need to understand that I bought a duplex worth about $1m for them in America and they attend the best schools in America.

Assuming I was like some of you, I wouldnt be under these attacks. So many pastors in Nigeria and outside want to play politics with Joshua Iginla because Joshua Iginla is a big man of God so you hear all manner of talk. It is good. I leave them to God.

My daughter, Sharon, forgive me but I have to talk because I hardly sleep; my blood pressure is going up and I dont want to leave this world before my time and I know you know I am a gift to you and the body of Christ.

It is so painful that when men of God go through strife, you are quick to throw stones at them and abuse them. It is good. We will receive it as our cross because it is part of our battle in life.

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NORMAL  The Illinois Community College Trustees Association is awarding scholarships to two Heartland Community College students.

Parker Newton of Bloomington is the 2024 awardee of the Gregg Chadwick Student Service Scholarship of $500 for passion of service volunteering.

According to a statement from Heartland, he volunteered 200 hours at the Eastview Food Pantry, the Boys and Girls Club and the Jule Foundation.

Annastaja Buffington of Hartsburg is receiving the Gandhi/King Peace Award, which includes a $1,000 scholarship. It's given to a student that best expresses the messages of Mahatma Gandhi and the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

The college stated Buffington proposed a series of campus workshops on the history of nonviolent movements, following a week-long "Kindness Rally" for students to share acts of kindness they saw or provided.

FAFSA complications impact college-related decisions for 79% of first-gen applicants FAFSA complications impact college-related decisions for 79% of first-gen applicants
BLOOMINGTON  A 34-acre site in south Bloomington formerly occupied by Owen Nursery will be the new location of the city's public works department.

On Monday, the Bloomington City Council authorized a purchase agreement and budget amendment to acquire the site for about $5.4 million.

Bloomington City Manager Jeff Jurgens said the need for a new public works campus has been under discussion since he first joined the city as corporation counsel in 2014.

In 2019, a study performed by BKV Group determine that a new public works facility would need to be at least 20 acres with 60,000 to 100,000 square feet of office and shop space.

The acquisition of a 25- to 30-acre site, which was determined to be the ideal size for future planning, and construction of a new campus was projected to cost between $68 million and $80 million at the time. On the high side of today's market, the project was estimated to cost $93 million.

Jurgens said in early 2023, then-City Manager Tim Gleason saw to acquiring the Owen Nursery property in anticipation of its closure.

The 34-acre site on Morrissey Drive was offering 130,000 square foot, including 30,000 square feet of potential office space. Staff eventually negotiated a purchase price of $5.425 million for the property.

"That's not going to be the end of the investment in this property," Jurgens said. "We will need to do improvements, we'll need to build a fleet building and we'll need to upgrade some of the office space and make some changes and secure the site and do some other things."

All in, Jurgens estimates the city would spend under $24 million over the next few budget cycles.

The City Council unanimously approved the purchase agreement.

However, Alderwoman Sheila Montney said the one piece of the proposal she disagrees with is the decision to retain commercial real estate assistance from Vieweg Real Estate out of Decatur.

The 5% broker's commission for the transaction amounts to more than $271,000 that would not be going to a local real estate agency.

"That conveys to me a lack of trust and confidence in our local Realty community and I hope in the future that we will really look about procurement of services locally when those services are available," Montney said. "And in this case, I feel they were available and that that commission should have stayed within this community."

Jurgens said he understands the concern and the desire to use local realtors. There has been discussion about establishing a formal request for qualifications process to evaluate local realtors for future projects, he added.

"The administration wanted someone with anonymity and had distance form the city and accordingly, we looked to Tim Vieweg," Jurgens said. "That isn't to say someone local couldn't have done it but at the time, the focus was on anonymity."

Photos: Keeping warm with city of Bloomington Public Works crews INSIDE 011922-blm-loc-4cold DOMINANT 011922-blm-loc-3cold 011922-blm-loc-7cold 011922-blm-loc-5cold 011922-blm-loc-2cold SECONDARY
How Time Flies is a daily feature looking back at Pantagraph archives to revisit what was happening in our community and region.

100 years ago

June 11, 1924: A total 106 degrees will be conferred today on graduating seniors from Illinois Wesleyan University. Edward A. Steiner of Grinnell College will be the commencement speaker of the ceremony to be held in Amie Chapel. At 9:30 a.m., the Academic Parade will be formed in front of the Science Hall and proceed to the chapel. After the ceremony, the annual luncheon will be held on campus, served at noon by the Woman's University Guild.

75 years ago

June 11, 1949: Installation of a siren has doomed Wapella's fire bell. One blast of the siren sounds curfew at 9 p.m. each evening. Two blasts mean there's a fire in the south of town, three signify fire in the north end. The switch that controls the siren is inside the village hall on the sill of the west window.

50 years ago

June 11, 1974: A plan for an exchange of land ownership which would increase Bloomington's parking facilities and allow Millers True Value Hardware store to relocate has been set in motion. The Bloomington City Council voted to purchase the south half of a block bound by Front, Roosevelt, Grove and Madison streets, and the entire block bound by Grove, Roosevelt, Olive and Center streets. The city will purchase the land as agent for the urban renewal department. Once cleared, the land will be resold to the city for parking.

25 years ago

June 11, 1999: Postal carriers in Bloomington-Normal have reported an average of eight to 10 dog bites per year, but that figure has decreased over the past decade. Most attacks occur when carriers work unfamiliar routes or when pet owners fail to confine their dogs. More than 2,700 mail carriers in America suffered dog bites last year.

Vintage Pantagraph newspaper ads for medicine, 'magic' remedies Clover Blossom Extract - Nov. 15, 1883 St. Jacobs Oil - July 14, 1887 Castoria - July 26, 1892 Rheumatic Ring - May 29, 1894 Beefmalt - May 29, 1894 Wakefield's Cough Syrup - Feb. 13, 1908 S.S.S. - April 23, 1908 Olive Tablets - Nov. 20, 1911 Cold-go - Dec. 11, 1911 Dr. Danby - Dec. 11, 1911 Allcock Plasters - March 2, 1917 Olive Tablets - Feb. 23, 1918 Laxative Bromo Quinine - Oct. 16, 1918 Bayer Tablets of Aspirin - April 24, 1919 Bayer Tablets of Aspirin - April 29, 1919 Snake Oil - Nov. 22, 1919 Beecham's Pills - Nov. 22, 1919 Snake Oil - Nov. 29, 1919 Doan's Kidney Pills - March 8, 1920 Bayer Tablets of Aspirin - Sept. 21, 1920 J.C. Hutzell's Eczema Treatment - Nov. 11, 1922 Gude's Pepto-Mangan - April 2, 1923 O-Joy Corn Wafers - March 4, 1930 Dr. Pierce's Favorite Prescription - March 19, 1930 666 Tablets - March 25, 1930 Cuticura - March 25, 1930 Geo-Mineral - Dec. 8, 1948 Anacin - Jan. 16, 1963 Liquiprin - Aug. 27, 1970 Icy Hot - Nov. 20, 1977
Stories of Israeli babies being saved from abortion are surfacing amid the loathsome agony of death and destruction in the ongoing Israel-Hamas War, as soldiers experience a change in perspective.

For the past 23 years, Ruth Tidhar has worked for EFRAT, a pro-life organization in Israel, named after the prophetess sister of Moses in the Bible, which saves babies from abortion and supports parents.

Founded in 1977 by the late Dr. Eli Schussheim, EFRAT has saved at least 87,000 lives to date, according to Tidhar, a social worker by profession, who serves as the Director of the Assistance Department.

She noticed a remarkable change in attitudes that has emerged among some soldiers on the frontline of the conflict, who have pleaded with EFRAT to support their wives in giving birth whilst they are away fighting.

In an exclusive interview with Christian Daily International from Jerusalem, Tidhar revealed she has received phone calls from soldiers aghast at the suffering experienced in the conflict and wanting their little boys and girls to be saved in the womb.

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She said this was a significant change since pregnant women are often left to make their own choices without support.

It is a terrible time we are dealing with here. Its just been so horrible since Oct. 7 [when Hamas attacked Israel and took hostages]. We have so much pain and so much fear, its just so horrible. And anti-semitism is on the rise all over the world  that's scary as well.

The normal story heard by workers at EFRAT is that most women are being pressured by the man in their lives to have an abortion, said Tidhar.

That is what we hear 90 percent of the time. Its very unusual to hear of anything else. At the beginning of the war though, there was a cluster of cases where a husband, fiancee or boyfriend called and begged us to convince their wives, fiance or girlfriend to continue the pregnancy and not have an abortion.

The woman may be terrified that the husband is fighting and thinking, How am I going to do this? I didnt mean to get pregnant. But the husband has a totally different viewpoint and says to us, please offer help and explain how important it is. I want my child.

Tidhar felt the reason for the Israeli soldiers wanting their children has to do with the war. She recalled a soldier, in the second week of the war, saying: Theyre killing us, how can we possibly do that? That referred to abortion and Tidhar called it very moving and surprising.

She pointed out that Israel is a small country: I could drive an hour and be at the Gaza border. These brave soldiers are fighting to keep us safe here. The soldiers are fighting off hordes of people who want to kill us.

Tidhar said that many of the moms did not want to have abortions and EFRAT provided robust support.

They are looking for someone to save them from doing this, its not really something they really want to do. Were there to give them the ability to make a real choice with a gift of life and we are with them all the way.

The program offered at EFRAT is inclusive, explained Tidhar. When a woman begins her pregnancy, in general the story we hear over and over again is that the husband or boyfriend is pressuring her to have an abortion, and she feels inside thats not the thing for her.

We try to give strength with befrienders who listen to her, and give emotional support, but also very meaningful concrete assistance as well, such as a new crib, stroller, baby bath, baby clothing, diapers, bottles, pacifiers  all kinds of things. We give them two years worth of diapers, wipes and formula when needed.

EFRAT employs a Rise up! program to really help people get back on their feet after a baby is born. It involves occupational counseling with a social worker and financial support to help pay for daycare until the Israeli Governments subsidy starts three months after the mother goes back to work. Until these subsidies begin, daycare is prohibitively expensive.

The organization helps the new mother finance daycare in order to encourage her to return to work and support her family on her own. This way, EFRAT helps the new mother break the cycle of poverty and need.

It can be difficult for the moms to pay for daycare, so we built this program, which has helped hundreds of women and that department also gives assistance for things like finishing degrees, paying for tuition.

The funding comes, every dollar of it, from private donations. From people who understand the importance of it. And because all the work in the field is done by volunteers and the baby equipment is bought in bulk, we have low overheads.

A typical $1,500 USD donation provides a support package for a pregnant woman in need and helps her to decide to continue her pregnancy. A generous donor who gives that money gets a certificate from EFRAT with the date of birth of the saved baby.

The day before the interview with Christian Daily International, Tidhar spoke to a woman in her mid 30s who had an unplanned pregnancy and she was not in a relationship. The woman had been trying to get the young man responsible to support her and the pregnancy.

I listened to her for a long time and we spoke about it, and she started crying in the conversation and by the end she was telling me her pregnancy stories, about getting ice cream in the middle of the night.

When we get into the story of the pregnancy and the woman receives that promise of assistance from us the whole way, she looks at this as something she can smile about and feels glad.

Not so long ago, another woman was referred to us who worked as a secretary at the Rambam Hospital in Haifa. She decided to have an abortion and was so devastated afterwards that she didnt know what to do with herself. She was depressed and anguished.

Then, at her workplace, another woman knocked on the door and asked for directions to the hospital abortion clinic. And the first woman asked her to sit down and told her experience of having an abortion. Then she paid for this pregnant woman to take a taxi and come to us for help and the pregnancy is now going ahead. She had the opportunity, I guess, to make amends from the pain.

Tidhar recalled another story about twin babies being saved from death.

There was a young man serving as a soldier on the frontlines who recently turned to us and he said his girlfriend was pregnant and they were really scared, and didnt know what to do. She was pregnant with twins, so we linked her to a wonderful volunteer to get emotional support and they are going ahead with the birth.

Tidhar herself worked as a social worker for 12 years before getting involved in the charity. I was looking for a job and I thought thats what I want to do. Its been a huge privilege. I was always uncomfortable with abortion but I had no tools to offer these women, so I came to EFRAT and found this amazing program whereby you can say to the woman: You can do this. Its going to be ok. It will be a challenge because life is challenging but its going to be ok.

Tidhar said that online and readily accessible visuals means people are more informed about the development of babies in the womb. But the information which is not available is how you are going to feel after having an abortion. Every day I speak with women who have such anguish and grief from abortions. It doesnt go away. It just doesnt go away.

One of the questions we ask these women is: did you have an abortion in the past? If she says she did have an abortion, I will always ask: How was the experience for you? And I hear terrible things. Often women turn to us to avoid another abortion and say they will do anything not to go through that again.

Tidhar hopes that the cluster of men fighting in the Israeli army, who understand that babies are a gift of life, will grow. She also wants every woman in Israel to know that there are people and ministries like EFRAT to support them, to help and be part of it.

I hope fewer women stand in front of us having made that terrible decision to abort and if they did, they should know they are not alone because we are there for them. We enter a womans life at such a stormy point. She has to make a decision quickly, at a crossroads, and its so important to be there and give a hand and help.
The Acting Head of Corporate and Investment Banking at Stanbic Bank Ghana, Musah Abdallah, has pledged the banks support for Ghanas mining and power sectors due to the importance of those sectors to driving economic growth.



Mr. Abdallah said this at the West African Mining Power Conference and Exhibition (WAMPOC/WAMPEX) in Accra.



During his presentation as part of a panel discussion on the topic Investment in Practice: Innovative Financial Solutions for Entrepreneurs in the Mining and Energy Sectors, Musah Abdallah, said the banks support to the sectors is in line with its commitment to supporting the countrys growth. He noted that At Stanbic Bank, our purpose is that Africa is our home, and we drive her growth.



This means that in any of the 21 African countries that we operate in, we are committed to driving growth.



This purpose requires us to pay attention to the sectors that are critical for spurring growth and that is why we are pledging our continued support for the mining and power sectors.



In line with this, we have advanced over USD1.1 billion to Ghanaian mining, metals and energy sectors over the last 5 years. In the power sector, Stanbic Bank acted as the lead bank in a USD325 million syndicated term loan facility for a local independent power producer to set up a power plant within a mine, resulting in significant power cost savings for the mining company.



We were also the joint mandated lead arrangers for the states power producer, providing a USD120 million syndicated term loan facility.



These examples demonstrate our ability to provide comprehensive financial solutions that cater to the specific needs of the mining and power sectors, he added.



Musah Abdallah further mentioned Stanbic Banks support for SMEs in the mining sector through their ecosystem banking initiative.



He said, Beyond the big companies in the sector, we also provide support to SMEs providing critical services to the sector. Our ecosystem banking initiative ensures that all companies, whether big or small, in the sector are catered for.



According to Musah Abdallah, there exists other innovative solutions such as sustainable financing, green bonds, royalties and streaming (R&S) as well as the possibility of leveraging on crowdfunding in partnership with Fintechs. These solutions support both the large corporates and SMEs in their quest for funding.



The WAMPOC/WAMPEX is a sub-regional platform that brings together key stakeholders in West Africas mining and power sectors to deliberate on issues critical to the development of the sectors.



The event showcases and features the latest innovations and solutions for the mining sector and is the most important meeting place for senior mining and power professionals, government representatives and stakeholders, allowing them to keep abreast of the latest industry developments, discuss key challenges and understand future opportunities.







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Stanbic Bank Ghana, as part of its ongoing efforts to drive economic growth in the country, has invested USD1.1 billion in Ghanas mining, metals and energy sectors over the past five years. This was made known during a presentation Lorraine Mac-Pods, Senior Vice President, Mining and Metals, Stanbic Bank at the West African Mining Power Conference and Exhibition (WAMPOC/WAMPEX) in Accra.



Recounting some of the banks interventions in the countrys mining and power sector, Ms. Mac-Pods said, Over the past five years, Stanbic Bank has advanced USD800 million to the Ghanaian mining and metals sectors. Eleven of the 13 large-scale mines in the country utilize our transactional banking services and have acted as the sole arranger and lender for a USD100m million term loan facility to a local surface mining contractor, aiding in executing their contract.



She added that We have also provided USD100 million in loans to small local contractors and vendors of mining companies in 2024. Additionally, we arranged a USD90 million term loan and hedging solution to a gold mining company for their expansion drive and an USD80 million environmental bond guarantee for six gold mines over the past five years.



Ms. Mac-Pods also mentioned some interventions the bank has made in the power sector that are having positive impacts in the economy. She said, Within the power sector, we acted as the lead bank in a USD325 million syndicated term loan facility for a local independent power producer to set up a power plant within a mine, resulting in significant power cost savings for the mining companyWe were also the joint mandated lead arrangers for the states power producer, providing a USD120 million syndicated term loan facility.



Lorraine Mac-Pods further urged government to put measures in place to ensure that both the country and citizens enjoy the benefits of the countrys mineral resources. She noted that, for the mining and power sectors to truly thrive and attract sustainable investments, the role of the government is crucial. Firstly, the government could facilitate the creation of a stable regulatory framework. A predictable regulatory environment helps reduce uncertainty and risk for investors, making the sector more attractive for investment.



Engaging financial institutions in the drafting of regulations ensures that these policies are practical and conducive to business operations. Resource nationalism, while aiming to increase local benefits from natural resources, can sometimes deter investment if not managed carefully. It is important for the government to strike a balance between maximizing local benefits and maintaining an attractive investment climate. A stable regulatory environment, transparent processes, and fair competition will foster investor confidence and encourage long-term investments, Ms. Mac-Pods added.



The WAMPOC/WAMPEX is a sub-regional platform that brings together key stakeholders in West Africas mining and power sectors to deliberate on issues critical to the development of the sectors. The event showcases and features the latest innovations and solutions for the mining sector and is the most important meeting place for senior mining and power professionals, government representatives and stakeholders, allowing them to keep abreast of the latest industry developments, discuss key challenges and understand future opportunities.







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

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Stanbic Bank Ghana, as part of its commitment to enhance and grow the capacities of Ghanaian SMEs, has engaged with members of the Greater Accra Region Hotel Association.



This regional forum, which convened over 100 hotels, took place at the Erata Hotel in Accra.



Richmond Kwabena Aboagye, Manager of Ecosystems at Stanbic Bank Ghana, discussed the importance of the hospitality industry and shared various interventions the bank offers to businesses in the hospitality industry.



He stated, The Ghanaian tourism sector presents a dynamic landscape with abundant opportunities for growth. As a bank committed to driving the country's development, the hospitality industry is vital due to its potential to spur economic growth.



Recognizing this, we have crafted tailored solutions to meet the specific needs of this sector.



Mr. Aboagye spoke about access to finance for businesses aiming to expand their infrastructure or build new facilities. Secondly, he addressed the provision of working capital finance for businesses needing to bolster their capital for expansion.



Additionally, Stanbic Bank offers equipment financing through its Vehicle and Asset Financing (VAF) program, enabling businesses to acquire essential equipment to scale their operations.



Beyond financial assistance, Mr. Aboagye emphasized the importance of essential services crucial for business growth. He explained, Financial support is not the only assistance we provide. We help businesses access different markets to facilitate growth. For instance, we leverage our partnership with the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) to support clients interested in doing business in China or accessing that trade corridor.



He also added that Stanbic Bank has the Trade Club platform through which the bank connects businesses with partners from across the world.



Finally, Mr. Aboagye mentioned the banks incubator programme designed to nurture business growth. Over the years, Stanbic Bank has been at the forefront of supporting SME growth in line with its commitment to driving the countrys development. Through its incubator and other structured programs, the bank has supported over 7,288 entrepreneurs, 682 businesses, and 1,639 women-owned start-ups.













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Ghanas foreign affairs minister Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey has held talks with her Singaporean counterpart, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, in a move to further bolster diplomatic and economic ties.



In the meeting, held at the Singaporean foreign affairs ministry headquarters, the two ministers engaged extensively on ways in which the two countries can collaborate even further at both bilateral and multilateral levels.



Dr. Balakrishnan reiterated Singapores commitment to strengthening its ties with Ghana, viewing it as a key partner in West Africa.



He emphasized the potential for mutual cooperation, particularly in areas such as trade, energy and climate change.



Two weeks ago, Ghana and Singapore signed a cooperative agreement under the Paris Agreement, following cabinet and Parliamentary approval in Ghana.



The agreement paves the way for Singaporean private sector companies with carbon tax obligations to undertake or sponsor forestry projects in Ghana to offset their emissions, and reduce their tax obligations while boosting Ghanas forest cover and green credentials.



Consequently, the Government of Singapore is planning a field mission to Ghana to discuss potential projects under this agreement in July.



Ms. Botchwey pointed out that Ghana has a favourable business climate, with the establishment of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) headquarters in Accra as major attractions for foreign investment.



The two also discussed global and regional issues of mutual concern and established that Ghana and Singapore share common positions on several issues of current international concern.



Ms. Botchwey, one of Africas leading diplomats, and former ECOWAS legislator, has listed climate change, trade, and education and skills development for young people among the pillars of her Commonwealth vision, as she seeks to take up the role of Commonwealth Secretary-General.



Heads of Government of the 56-member organization will vote for a new Secretary-General in October at their regular summit in Samoa.

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The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has issued a statement in a response to a viral video of a New Patriotic Partys (NPP) Parliamentary Candidate for Amenfi East, Ernest Frimpong urging alleged galamseyers to attack any military personnel or any member of the security service who tries to foil their illegal activities.



In the press release signed by the Director General, Public Relations, Brigadier General Aggrey-Quashie, the military high command stated that, calls made by people in power against the military poses a significant threat to the internal security of the country.



The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has taken note of viral videos on social media calling for attacks on soldiers and other security personnel. We strongly, wish to caution the public against such utterances.



"It is instructive to note that such calls are not only unlawful but also pose a significant threat to the security and stability of our nation. We therefore condemn any form of incitement or encouragement of violence against our soldiers, excerpts of the statement read.



The GAF assured the general public that the force is committed to performing their duties of safeguarding the country as well as protecting its citizens, upholding the tenets of discipline, professionalism, and observing the fundamental human rights of all and sundry.



We wish to assure all and sundry GAF will continue to perform its duties of safeguarding the security of the state and protection of civilians. It is also crucial to understand that personnel of GAF and sister security agencies are committed to upholding the highest standards of professionalism, discipline, and respect for human rights in the execution of their duties. In a situation where a soldier misconducts him/herself, the soldier should be reported to the nearest police station or military barracks for the appropriate disciplinary action to be taken.



The GAF added that, any attack on any military officer is a grave offense which is punishable by law, thus, cautioning the public to desist from deliberately attacking officers, as it is becoming the normal practice amongst Ghanaians.



It is against this premise that GAF wishes to remind and caution the public that assaulting or attacking soldiers is a grave offense punishable by law. It implores all citizens to respect, cooperate and support our soldiers and to refrain from engaging in acts of violence or incitement against them. Once again, GAF wishes to reiterate its commitment to upholding the values of professionalism, integrity and service to the nation, the statement said.





READ BELOW THE FULL PRESS RELEASE



Issued by the Department of Public Relations, General Headquarters, Burma Camp Accra



GAF CAUTIONS AGAINST CALLS FOR ATTACKS ON SOLDIERS



The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has taken note of viral videos on social media calling for attacks on soldiers and other security personnel. We strongly, wish to caution the public against such utterances.



It is instructive to note that such calls are not only unlawful but also pose a significant threat to the security and stability of our nation. We therefore condemn any form of incitement or encouragement of violence against our soldiers.



We wish to assure all and sundry GAF will continue to perform its duties of safeguarding the security of the state and protection of civilians. It is also crucial to understand that personnel of GAF and sister security agencies are committed to upholding the highest standards of professionalism, discipline, and respect for human rights in the execution of their duties. In a situation where a soldier misconducts him/herself, the soldier should be reported to the nearest police station or military barracks for the appropriate disciplinary action to be taken.



It is important to note, soldiers like any individuals, have the right to self-defense when faced with imminent threats or attacks that pose a danger to their lives or the lives of others. In situations where soldiers are confronted with immediate threats or acts of violence, they are allowed to use necessary and proportionate force to protect themselves and others. It must be noted that the outcome of such avoidable confrontations may be unpleasant and dire.



It is against this premise that GAF wishes to remind and caution the public that assaulting or attacking soldiers is a grave offense punishable by law. It implores all citizens to respect, cooperate and support our soldiers and to refrain from engaging in acts of violence or incitement against them. Once again, GAF wishes to reiterate its commitment to upholding the values of professionalism, integrity and service to the nation.



We will continue to cooperate with sister security agencies to protect and defend Ghanas interests while respecting the rights and dignity of all citizens. GAF operates an open-door policy and therefore wishes to encourage the public to channel their concerns or grievances through the Department of Public Relations of the Ghana Armed Forces.



E AGGREY-QUASHIE

Brigadier General

Director General Public Relations

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The wreck of a plane carrying Malawi's vice-president has been found with no survivors, President Lazarus Chakwera has said.



Saulos Chilima and nine others were flying within the country on Monday morning when their aircraft disappeared from airport radars.



The plane, a military aircraft, was flying in bad weather.



Soldiers were searching Chikangawa Forest in an effort to find the plane.



In a news briefing on Tuesday, President Chakwera said the Malawi Defence Force commander informed him that the search and rescue operation has been completed and the plane was found.



Mr Chakwera said he was "deeply saddened and sorry" to inform Malawians of the terrible tragedy.



He said the rescue team found the aircraft completely destroyed.



The vice-president and president come from different parties but the two teamed up to form an alliance during the 2020 elections.



Dr Chilima, 51, was on his way to represent the government at the burial of former government minister Ralph Kasambara, who died four days ago.



Former First Lady Shanil Dzimbiri was also on the flight, which took off from the capital, Lilongwe, on Monday morning.



It was meant to land at the airport in the northern city of Mzuzu, but was turned back because of poor visibility.



Dr Chilima had been vice-president of Malawi since 2014.



He was widely loved in Malawi, particularly among the youth, AFP news agency reports.



However, Dr Chilima was arrested and charged in 2022 on allegations that he accepted money in exchange for awarding government contracts.



Last month, the court dropped the charges, giving no reasons for the decision.



Dr Chilima is married with two children.

Source: BBC









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Ghanas Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Andrew Egyapa Mercer has said, that Ghanas Tourism space is open for more developmental collaboration and tourist patronage.



He made these profound remarks when he addressed the 121st Executive Council meeting of the United Nations Tourism in Barcelona, Spain on Tuesday 11th June 2024. While assuring the gathering of Ghanas resolve to continue supporting UN Tourisms efforts, the Minister noted the latest data shows a strong recovery in international tourism, with Africa surpassing pre-pandemic arrivals.



He also underscored, that Ghanas tourism industry has also shown resilience with a 25% increase in arrivals in 2023 compared to the previous year, and a 2% rise in pre-pandemic figures indicating a strong recovery trend in African destinations.



On the lines of sustainable practices, Hon. Mercer shared Ghanas commitment to promoting sustainable practices that benefit local communities and preserve the environment. Initiatives such as eco-tourism, cultural and heritage tourism and community-based tourism are being implemented to attract responsible tourists.



He was also quick to add the successful Year of Return and the Beyond the Return initiative; a sequel to the Year of

Return that aims to sustain dialogue among people of African descent and foster economic relations and investments from the diaspora.



Domestic tourism is also being promoted through the EXPERIENCEGHANA, SHAREGHANA campaign to increase domestic tourism visits and accelerate tourism recovery, the Minister said. Ghana is also working frantically at enhancing its tourism infrastructure - the Accra Marine Drive project; a 241-acre redevelopment scheme of Accras waterfront, is currently ongoing and will establish an iconic skyline for Accra and transform that part of the Accra into a world-class tourism enclave, he added.



On matters regarding travel, Hon. Mercer noted with importance, the Government of Ghanas steps to restructure the visa regime, including a proposal to introduce an e-visa system that will make it easier for visitors to travel to Ghana and promote tourism growth.



These initiatives demonstrate a commitment to enhancing accessibility and promoting Ghana as a desirable destination for both domestic and international travellers.



The Minister reiterated Ghanas commitment to sustainable tourism development that benefits her people, culture, and environment. He used the opportunity to invite the gathering to visit Ghana and experience her warm hospitality, rich culture, and natural beauty.

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Security Analyst Adam Bona has alleged that the Executive Director of the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) Maame Tiwaa Addo-Danquah told him on record that she would have 'killed' the Cecilia Dapaa stash money saga if she were in charge of the Criminal Investigation Department of the Police Service (CID).



According to him, documents available to him from EOCO suggest staff of the anti-graft agency are unhappy with their bosss handling of the Cecilia Dapaah issue and many others.



"If you had said to me that you would have killed the case if you were CID boss; granted at the time you were not CID boss, I didnt say anything, but she had said it to me on record. She said she would kill the case if she were CID boss, Mr Bona told Neat FM's morning show, 'Ghana Montie' on June 7, 2024.



Asked by host McJerry Osei Agyemang why she told him to say such a thing, Mr Bona retorted Thats why there is perjury, so we will get there as we go along.



He noted he is now compelled to speak up following EOCOs handling of the matter after it was referred to them by the Special Prosecutor.



"After telling me that you would have killed the case if you were the CID boss and after how this matter has turned up, you still expect me to continue behaving like a spectator when I know whats going on? No, I cant."



Mr. Bona and some other prominent Ghanaians have petitioned parliament to probe EOCOs conduct in the Cecilia Dapaah money Saga after the former Ministers seized cash was handed over to her by EOCO.



EOCO says there is nothing to investigate in the matter despite the Special Prosecutors claim that it gave enough supporting evidence to the Maame Tiwaa-led anti-graft agency to investigate and prosecute the former Sanitation Minister.





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The President and the Commander-in-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces, President Nana Akufo-Addo has reiterated his unflinching belief in the rule of law, stating that any politician who breaches the constitution will be dealt with within the confines of law.



According to President Nana Akufo-Addo, he will ensure that any political party or presidential candidate who decides to go against the tenets of the constitution ahead of the December elections will face the appropriate consequences.



President Akufo-Addo made this assertion at the official unveiling of The Law House in Accra on Monday, June 10. This landmark occasion signifies the culmination of a vision that began over two decades ago during President Akufo-Addos tenure as Attorney-General in the government headed by former President John Agyekum Kufour, the second President of the fourth republic.



President Akufo-Addo recalled how the vision for the Law House was conceived during his tenure as Attorney-General and expressed his greatest satisfaction in seeing his vision transformed into a tangible reality under his presidency.



He said, Today is a day of great pride and accomplishment, he declared. This building stands as a testament to our governments commitment to addressing the long-standing office accommodation challenges faced by the Attorney-General's Office and the Ministry of Justice.



President Akufo-Addo assured Ghanaians that in his tenure as president, he will not tolerate any legal violations by any political party or its presidential candidate.



He reaffirmed his commitment to upholding the rule of law and maintaining order in Ghana, especially as the country approaches the December polls.



President Akufo-Addo emphasised that the law will be applied consistently to ensure that the hard earned peace, security, and stability of the nation are not compromised by the ambitions of any political party or presidential candidate.



I want to use the opportunity on this platform to reassure the Ghanaian people that a law enforcement agency of the state, including the office of the Attorney General, will do all within their power to ensure that law and order prevail in the country at all time, especially at this critical election year.



He added, We will not allow the peace, security and stability of the nation that makes Ghana a beacon on the African continent, to be compromised on the altar of the ambitions of any political party or presidential candidate. It will not happen.



The President seized the opportunity to pay his special tribute to the Attorney General and minister of Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame for the dedication and resilience displayed bin his field of work leading to the realization of the project.



Akufo-Addo said, His efforts ensured that this initiative, which could have easily ended up as another abandoned government project, was implemented to become the magnificent structure we celebrate today, ayekoo.

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The tragic news of the death of Malawis Vice President, the Right Hon. Dr. Saulos Klaus Chilima, and nine other officials in a plane crash on Tuesday has reverberated across Africa, drawing heartfelt condolences and prayers from evangelical leaders.

President Lazarus Chakwera announced on Tuesday that the wreck of the plane carrying Malawi's vice-president was found with no survivors. Saulos Chilima and nine others were flying within the country on Monday morning when their aircraft disappeared from airport radars.

The military aircraft, flying in bad weather, prompted soldiers to conduct a search in Chikangawa Forest overnight and into the morning, a rescue effort that concluded with the discovery of the crashed aircraft. The U.S., the U.K., Norway and Israel had offered assistance in the search and rescue operation.

Im deeply saddened, Im sorry to inform you all that it has turned out to be a terrible tragedy. The search and rescue team has found the aircraft near a hill. They have found it completely destroyed with no survivors, Chakwera said in an address to the nation.

Despite the track record of the aircraft and the experience of the crew, something terrible went wrong with that aircraft on its flight back to Lilongwe, sending it crashing down and leaving us all devastated, he added.

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President Chakwera, an evangelical theologian who previously served as the President of the Evangelical Alliance in Malawi (EAM), expressed deep sorrow as he addressed the nation.

"Dr. Saulos Klaus Chilima was a good man, a devoted father and husband, a patriotic citizen who served his country with distinction, and a formidable vice president," Chakwera said, adding, "I consider it one of the great honours of my life to have had him as a deputy and as a counsellor."

Rev. Francis Mkandawire, General Secretary of the Evangelical Association of Malawi said the President has declared days of mourning until the burial asking believers to continue praying for the affected families and the nation.

The Association of Evangelicals in Africa (AEA) conveyed its condolences to President Chakwera, the government of Malawi, and the entire Malawian nation. Dr. Master Oboletswe Matlhaope, Secretary General of the AEA, quoted 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 and Matthew 5:4, offering prayers for comfort and strength to the bereaved families and committing the nation of Malawi to the God of all comfort.

Condolences also poured in from Evangelical Alliance representatives from several countries across Africa.

"Lesotho extends its sincerest condolences to the family, government, and people of Malawi," expressed Dr. John Maphephe, General Secretary of the Evangelical Alliance of Lesotho.

Similarly, Rafat Samir, General Secretary of the Sudan Evangelical Alliance, conveyed heartfelt condolences to the people of Malawi. "May the Lord God grant them grace and comfort in a time like this," he said.

Pastor Tsadiku Abdo Alema, representing the Evangelical Churches Fellowship of Ethiopia, said, "On behalf of the Evangelical Churches Fellowship of Ethiopia, I express my heartfelt condolences to the president and people of Malawi on the loss of their beloved ones."

"I wish to express our heartfelt condolences to the people of Malawi on the loss of their beloved leaders. May the Lord God grant them grace and comfort in a time like this. We mourn with them," said Bishop Andrew Mwenda, General Secretary of the Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia, as he conveyed his sympathies.

Bishop Esron Manigaraba from Rwanda also extended his condolences, stating, "So sorry to hear this sad news. May God comfort the families of the deceased and the entire nation of Malawi. Our deepest condolences from Rwanda."
Former General Secretary of the ruling New Patriotic Party(NPP) and currently a stanch leader for the Movement for Change led by Alan Kyerematen, Nana Ohene Ntow has fired shots at the New Patriotic Party (NPP).



According to him, the incumbent government has corrupted a number of institutions in the country since its inception.



Nana Ohene Ntow, contributing to Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" discussion show, stated emphatically that the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government has corrupted the media and Judiciary saying "a lot of people have the feeling or the perception that the media today has been corrupted by this government more than any other government in our history...The perception is that the judicial system has been corrupted".



He added; "Major institutions of governance, under this particular government, has been more compromised than ever before in our history."



The Movement for Change leading member submitted to Ghanaians the need to vote for the former Trade Minister and founder of the movement, Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, stressing he is the best candidate to transform the nation.



"If you couldn't do nothing in eight years, what can you do if we give you another four years?", Mr. Ohene Ntow blasted the presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.



Watch video below





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Former President and flagbearer of the largest opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama has stated that the upcoming December 7 general elections is a contest between Ghana and the New Patriotic Party(NPP).



In a live telecast on Sunday, 9th June, John Mahama mentioned that, there is a need to rescue the country from the snares of the NPP government.



According to him, the change Ghanaians need is to have a glorious comeback of the former President to steer the affairs of the nation.



John Mahama said, This election is like no other. It is an election between Ghana and the New Patriotic Party administration. It is an election for change to reset Ghanas narrative and effect a course correction from our disastrous trajectory.



"This change is ordained by God. It is a change to relieve our people from the hardship and poverty inflicted by President Akufo-Addo and Dr. Bawumia's reckless administration. That change will put Ghana back on a path of progress and prosperity, enabling us to build the Ghana we want and create well-paying jobs for the youth through the 24-hour economy initiative and many other novel policies to be outdoored in the NDC manifesto.



The leader of the NDC expressed grave concern over the looming impact of corruption on the Ghanaian economy, hence, it is imperative that the NPP is ousted in order to redeem the country from the economic quagmire.



He said, "This change will also see the most far-reaching and detailed investigation of the many allegations of corruption and scandals levelled against public officials and their families and friends. This change will help to abort this administration's plan to impose a pliant Vice President to cover up for them, thereby escaping the searing scrutiny of accountability."



"However, as I have stated, this hot spotlight of accountability is reserved not only for this administration's appointees. It will also be available to sanction persons in my administration who engage in similar conduct. The same anti-corruption strategies and instruments I shall deploy to measure and punish the NPP government will also apply to my appointees.



My dear youth, the best of Ghana is yet to come. I have hope for the future, particularly as I return to the presidency as the experienced, visionary, and decisive leader ready to build the Ghana we want together with you."

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All the banks that were collapsed by the Akufo-Addo government under the ministerial leadership and supervision of former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta would be given back to their owners after an "unbiased assessment," former President John Mahama has promised.



From 2017 to 2020, 10 banks owned by Ghanaian businesspeople were collapsed by the Bank of Ghana.



UT Bank and Capital Bank were first taken over by GCB Bank in a purchase and assumption agreement.



Seven others: The Sovereign Bank, The Beige Bank, Premium Bank, The Royal Bank, Heritage Bank, Construction Bank, and UniBank had their licences revoked and placed under the Consolidated Bank Ghana.



Former presidential candidate Paa Kwesi Nduom's GN Bank also got degraded to a savings and loans firm and later collapsed.



As a result of the banking sector reforms, the Bank of Baroda willingly folded up and exited.



Also, six banks merged.



First Atlantic Merchant Bank Limited and Energy Commercial Bank merged into one; OmniBank Ghana Limited and Bank Sahel Sahara Ghana merged; and First National Bank and GHL Bank Limited also merged.



Ghana now has 23 functional universal banks in the country.



Also, 347 microfinance institutions, 39 finance houses and 53 fund management companies collapsed in that same financial sector clean-up exercise.



Urging the youth to vote out the Akufo-Addo government and make him the next president in the upcoming elections, Mr Mahama, in a recent Facebook Live conversation, urged Ghanaians to "exercise your franchise by voting for me, John Mahama, on 7th December and for the National Democratic Congress parliamentary candidate in your constituency," noting: "As your selfless, truthful, experienced, and visionary leader, I need your vote to reset Ghana. I assure you I will work with you to build a country of shared growth and prosperity.



Explaining what he meant by resetting Ghana, Mr Mahana said I will repair the dangerous damage to our countrys economy and people."



He then promised: "Businessmen and women who government apparatchiks have given raw deals will have their say and can be assured of restoration."



Specifically, Mr Mahama indicated: "After a thorough and unbiased assessment, collapsed banks and financial institutions shall be restored."



He also promised to "provide decent and well-paying jobs through my 24-hour economy initiative."



Let me be clear: I am utterly appalled and disappointed by the unprecedented unemployment rate we are seeing today," Mr Mahama stressed.



To the youth, the NDC flagbearer said: "While I agree with your justifiable anger and disappointments, I urge you to keep hope alive. Have faith in God and the power of your thumb. Ghanaians are in search of hope, hope they can believe in! Hope with the assurance that Ghana will be reset onto the path of progress and prosperity."



Hope, knowing they can live in safe neighbourhoods and earn a living if they study hard, work hard, and live as law-abiding citizens. This is what Ghanaians are yearning for, and this is precisely what the NDC and I are presenting to you in this election of 2024."







Source: Classfmonline.com









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Member of Parliament(MP) of Effutu constituency in the Central Region and the Majority Leader in Parliament, Hon. Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin has admonished the media, which is the fourth estate, to focus on matters of national interest as the country approaches the December 7 general elections instead of engaging in partisan politics targeted towards dividing people.



The majority leader implored journalists to engage in impactful journalism, more especially as Ghanaians prepare to elect a new President and parliamentarians.



Hon. Afenyo-Markin posited that, with the country heading to the polls in December, it is crucial that the press highlight topics that will impact the well-being of the Ghanaian people.



The Minority leader added that, the media has what it takes to ensure a refined reportage while seeking to have a political discourse.



He said this on Monday, June 10, 2024 on the floor of Parliament where he advised against confrontational and unproductive debates.



He said, When we come on your airwaves and we are shouting, yelling at each other, and insulting, stop us. Remind us that, honourable, this is not the way to go.



He emphasised the medias duty to the public, urging them to act as a check on political rhetoric and ensure that the conversation remains focused on tangible outcomes and community needs.



He said, What are the issues? Your people need schools. Your teachers need laptops. There is poverty in your backyard. What are you doing to promote industry? So that we dont come and be doing the name-calling, and we think that we can take the people for granted. We should help.



In line of ensuring accountability and probity, Afenyo-Markin called on journalists to maintain their watchdog role by holding the government accountable while also acknowledging its achievements.



He added, Its an election year, nothing stops you from commending government on its major breakthroughs. Whereas you also point to us the challenges in the various communities. For me, we need this. We need this so that we can attend to the people.

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This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

To many people around the world bicycles are a crucial means of transport, especially for carrying loads in rural areas. While their benefits are huge and many organizations are working on making access to bicycles a reality, a range of barriers still prevent them from being more widely available in low-income communitiesnot least of these being their cost.

A team of researchers has produced a new report called Access to Affordable Bicycles in Africa. We asked team leader Daniel Frey about their study and its findings.

What did you set out to study?

Low-income households in low-income countries face transportation service gaps, especially in rural areas. Public transport does not always exist and motorized transport is often unaffordable, forcing people to walk long distances to reach schools, markets, health care and other basic services. Bicycles have the potential to fill that gap as a more affordable means of transport.

Studies have shown that bicycle use can result in health, economic and social benefits such as improved gender dynamics. For example, women in a household can be more independent if they can afford their own conveyance, so the low cost of bike ownership can be critical to women's education and employment. But challenges related to bicycle access and adoption persist, calling for continued research and development.

Our study sought to understand the background, current state and opportunities for bicycles to benefit underserved communities in sub-Saharan Africa.

How did you go about the research?

The choice of Ghana and Malawi for our study was based on a set of criteria including, but not limited to, bicycle ownership rates, geography, and capacity of local research partners. It is fair to say that the decision was at least partly determined by the fact that the Village Bicycle Project was already active in Ghana.

We relied strongly on the efforts of partners at the University of Malawi and the University of Cape Coast in Ghana. Ghana and Malawi provide some insight into differences in a number of dimensionsbetween west and east Africa, between nations with a coastline and landlocked nations, between relatively flat terrain and hilly areas.

Two overarching research questions guided the study:

What factors enable or inhibit adoption of bicycles among low-income and other disadvantaged or underserved populations?

To what extent do existing bicycle solutions perform as expected and meet users' needs?

The study consisted of three phases over a two-year period from 2020 to 2022. An initial scoping phase included a literature review and key informant interviews. Phase one consisted of 182 interviews with bicycle users, non-users and other stakeholders95 in Ghana and 87 in Malawi.

Phase two included data collection through surveys, observation and in-depth interviews with bicycle-owning households. Data were also collected through sensors attached to bicycles. A sensor set and data loggers were developed by an MIT team. As described in his Ph.D. thesis, MIT scholar Amit Gandhi helped to develop a compact, battery-powered suite of sensors that electronically measured distance and time traveled. Wheel rotations and trip durations were measured with a precision real-time clock.

What did you find?

These are the key findings:

Household dynamics, especially gender dynamics, influence who gets to own and use the bicyclewhich is, in most cases, male heads of households.

Over the course of a day, a single bicycle is often used by different members of the family for different purposes.

Sensor data revealed that frequency, duration and distance of bicycle trips varied widely across the sample groups. Longer and more frequent trips were taken by rural and older riders with load-carrying bicycles.

The transport needs of a household can't always be met by one bicycle. This leaves other members of the family, especially women, with no option but to walk long distances.

Prohibitive cost, frequent parts failure, and a desire to own a motorized vehicle were often cited as the top barriers to bicycle use. The aspiration to own a motorcycle was an unexpected challenge. It was surprising to us how often a hope for something more expensive could inhibit a person from investing in a more practical, affordable solution.

Load carrying was reported to be the most desired bicycle feature. For example, many workers need to bring their own tools to work sites.

A majority of non-users were women who did not know how to ride a bicycle.

The study did not reveal gender-specific bicycle design preferences. This trend might not persist when a community becomes more familiar with bicycle design options. In locations where bicycle use is common, manufacturers often find that configurations that better accommodate skirts are preferred by female bicycle customers with an intent to commute to work or school.

Why does this study matter?

I see this research as a first step in a longer-term effort to improve mobility and equity. Bicycles have, for over a century, provided remarkable advantages over walkingincreasing the range and efficiency of travel.

But there is an extremely wide range in level of bicycle adoption by different countries. There must be some barriers particular to specific regions and/or cultures that at least partly account for observed differences.

This study adds to our emerging understanding of the ways that appropriate technologies are developed and adopted, or else how they may fail to be widely used.

If we discover that some places have terrain that causes certain mechanical failures, we can re-design bicycle components to be more resilient. If learning to ride is a barrier, then training programs may help.

This study revealed that a desire to own a motorized vehicle is a barrier to wider use of bicycles. That might deserve some focused attention. Electric power assisted conveyances (such as e-bikes and scooters) have improved a great deal recently. Nevertheless, electric bikes are currently much more expensive than traditional, human-powered bikes, so this continues to present a challenge.

This study has provided several avenues that appear to me as highly promising for work on engineering paired with social science in the interest of environmentally responsible economic development.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

China on Tuesday announced the first astronaut candidates from its special administrative regions of Macau and Hong Kong, with the latter calling it a "glorious page" in the city's history.

Beijing has invested billions of dollars in its military-run space program as it pursues ambitious plans for a manned lunar landing by 2030.

The China Manned Space Agency said Tuesday that a payload specialist from Hong Kong and another from Macau were among 10 candidates for the country's fourth batch of astronauts.

Hong Kong leader John Lee called it "a glorious page in Hong Kong's history".

"This is... the first time that a Hong Kong citizen was selected as a payload specialist in China's manned space program, with a chance to become an astronaut to go to space in person, to participate in research and to contribute the country's space program," Lee said.

Sun Dong, Hong Kong's tech and innovation secretary, said the winning candidate was selected out of a pool of 120 applicants through a multi-round process that has been going on since 2022.

"We accepted a rather wide range of professional backgrounds including natural sciences, engineering, biology and medical science, because the space is a brand new area for scientific exploration," he told reporters, declining to name the Hong Konger selected.

Macau's government also issued a statement Tuesday, calling the selection of one of its own "an honor" that sent "a strong inspirational message to the young people of Macau".

The China Manned Space Agency said the decision to select astronauts from the two territories "has garnered strong support and enthusiastic participation from local communities".

Plans for China's "space dream" have been put into overdrive under Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Beijing has heavily invested in its space program over the past decade, trying to catch up with the United States and Russia after years of belatedly matching their milestones.

The country notched a win this month after its probe carrying samples from the far side of the moon started its journey back to Earth.

Other achievements included building a space station called Tiangong, or "heavenly palace", as well as landing robotic rovers on Mars and the moon.

China aims to send a crewed mission to the moon by 2030 and plans to build a base on the lunar surface.

 2024 AFP
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Researchers have provided the best modeling to date of the growth of the supermassive black holes found in the centers of galaxies by combining X-ray observations from the most powerful X-ray facilities ever launched into space with supercomputer simulations of the buildup of galaxies over cosmic history. On the left is an image combining X-ray (blue) and optical (red, green, and blue) observations and on the right is simulated gas column density from cosmological simulations using IllustrisTNG. The observed X-ray emission is mainly from accreting supermassive black holes, as depicted in the artist's illustration (inset). The length of the short-side of the figure covers the same apparent size as the full Moon in the sky. Credit: F. Zou (Penn State) et al.; Observations: The XMM-SERVS Collaboration; Simulations: The TNG Collaboration;Illustration: Nahks TrEhnl (Penn State)

By combining forefront X-ray observations with state-of-the-art supercomputer simulations of the buildup of galaxies over cosmic history, researchers have provided the best modeling to date of the growth of the supermassive black holes found in the centers of galaxies. Using this hybrid approach, a research team led by Penn State astronomers has derived a complete picture of black-hole growth over 12 billion years, from the universe's infancy at around 1.8 billion years old to now at 13.8 billion years old.

Two papers comprise the research, one published in The Astrophysical Journal, and one as yet unpublished that will be submitted to the same journal. The results will be presented at the 244th meeting of the American Astronomical Society, held June 9 through June 13 at the Monona Terrace Convention Center in Madison, Wisconsin.

"Supermassive black holes in galaxy centers have millions-to-billions of times the mass of the sun," said Fan Zou, a graduate student at Penn State and first author of the papers. "How do they become such monsters? This is a question that astronomers have been studying for decades, but it has been difficult to track all the ways black holes can grow reliably."

Supermassive black holes grow through a combination of two main channels. They consume cold gas from their host galaxya process called accretionand they can merge with other supermassive black holes when galaxies collide.

"During the process of consuming gas from their hosting galaxies, black holes radiate strong X-rays, and this is the key to tracking their growth by accretion," said W. Niel Brandt, Eberly Family Chair Professor of Astronomy and Astrophysics and professor of physics at Penn State and a leader of the research team. "We measured the accretion-driven growth using X-ray sky survey data accumulated over more than 20 years from three of the most powerful X-ray facilities ever launched into space."

The research team used complementary data from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory, the European Space Agency's X-ray Multi-Mirror Mission-Newton (XMM-Newton), and the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics' eROSITA telescope. In total, they measured the accretion-driven growth in a sample of 1.3 million galaxies that contained over 8,000 rapidly growing black holes.

"All of the galaxies and black holes in our sample are very well characterized at multiple wavelengths, with superb measurements in the infrared, optical, ultraviolet, and X-ray bands," Zou said. "This allows for robust conclusions, and the data show that, at all cosmic epochs, more massive galaxies grew their black holes by accretion faster. With the quality of the data, we were able to quantify this important phenomenon much better than in past works."

The second way that supermassive black holes grow is through mergers, where two supermassive black holes collide and merge together to form a single, even more massive, black hole. To track growth by mergers, the team used IllustrisTNG, a set of supercomputer simulations that model galaxy formation, evolution, and merging from shortly after the Big Bang until the present.

"In our hybrid approach, we combine the observed growth by accretion with the simulated growth through mergers to reproduce the growth history of supermassive black holes," Brandt said. "With this new approach, we believe we have produced the most realistic picture of the growth of supermassive black holes up to the present day."

The researchers found that in most cases, accretion dominated black-hole growth. Mergers made notable secondary contributions, especially over the past 5 billion years of cosmic time for the most-massive black holes. Overall, supermassive black holes of all masses grew much more rapidly when the universe was younger. Because of this, the total number of supermassive black holes was almost settled by 7 billion years ago, while earlier in the universe many new ones kept emerging.

"With our approach, we can track how central black holes in the local universe most likely grew over cosmic time," Zou said. "As an example, we considered the growth of the supermassive black hole in the center of our Milky Way galaxy, which has a mass of 4 million solar masses. Our results indicate that our galaxy's black hole most likely grew relatively late in cosmic time."

In addition to Zou and Brandt, the research team includes Zhibo Yu, graduate student at Penn State; Hyungsuk Tak, assistant professor of statistics and of astronomy and astrophysics at Penn State; Elena Gallo at the University of Michigan; Bin Luo at Nanjing University in China; Qingling Ni at the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics in Germany; Yongquan Xue at the University of Science and Technology of China; and Guang Yang at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands.

More information: Fan Zou et al, Mapping the Growth of Supermassive Black Holes as a Function of Galaxy Stellar Mass and Redshift, The Astrophysical Journal (2024). DOI: 10.3847/1538-4357/ad27cc Journal information: Astrophysical Journal
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Just four years ago, following the murder of George Floyd, almost every college and university in the U.S. had at least one diversity, equity and inclusionor DEIprogram. Many had existed long before. These programs ranged from DEI-related degrees and professional training to resources for culturally, linguistically and neurologically diverse students.But in the last year and a half in almost every state, 159 institutions have reduced or eliminated these programs.

New legislation in states like Texas and Florida has banned DEI programs outright. In other states, institutions are shuttering programs preemptively to avoid political pressure. This will have lasting effects.

In Texas, dozens of professional faculty and staff have already been fired. Minority students have lost access to community groups, cultural centers and resources. Furthermore, following the Supreme Court ruling in 2023 that race could not be considered in admissions decisions, scholarships for students with diverse racial identities have disappeared.

Eliminating DEI programs could have serious consequences for teaching and learning. As a scholar who researches the relationship between identity and learning, my work has shown that inclusivity is a prerequisite for how students form their identities in relation to the content they learn. For example, learning math becomes especially difficult, if not impossible, if a student does not identify positively with the subject. Math identity isn't just based on competency. It's also based on societal expectations, such as stereotypes of who is most likely to become a mathematician based on demographicsincluding racial, ethnic and gender identities.

Why identity matters in learning

Research shows that Black students are more likely to stay in college and earn a degree if they attend a historically Black institution versus a predominantly white one. Why? Because learning isn't just about the curriculum offered. It's also about students feeling connected to and supported by their institutions. When institutions represent a single cultural identity, students with minority identities can feel excluded and are less likely to thrive.

In general, how we view ourselves relies heavily on external validation. In fact, child psychologists strongly caution parents from labeling children by their character traits or behavior so that their identities do not become prematurely limited. For learning to take place, students need to identify with the content, which becomes especially difficult when they feel like their identities are not welcomed in the learning environment.

Effective teaching emphasizes students' identities in order to make important connections with learning. For example, we know that fewer women graduate in STEM fields than men. This is not because they can't succeed in STEMscience, technology, engineering and mathbut because they aren't as likely to identify with the field. Many studies demonstrate that targeting students with certain identities for support increases their academic performance as well as the performance of other students.

More evidence of the link between identity and learning comes from the Gallup-Purdue Index. The large survey of more than 30,000 college graduates measured the academic experiences that most prepared them for life. Near the top of the results: "My professors cared about me as a person." The goal of DEI programs is to make sure everyone feels cared about as a person. Eliminating these programs means further marginalization of students with specific identities who have historically faced discrimination.

How DEI programs ensure everyone gets to learn

Through my research, I have found that DEI training increases teachers' awareness of diverse identities, helping them to design courses that are interesting and relevant to everyone. DEI programs also often include the creation of dedicated spaces and initiatives so that students can experience connection and support from other students like them, even when it feels like their identities are not otherwise welcome on campus.

A Gallup and Lumina Foundation report found that Black students are more likely to feel discriminated against than other students, and Black and Hispanic students are the most likely to have thought about leaving. If all students do not feel safe and welcomed, they cannot learn.

Lawmakers can roll back DEI programs, but they cannot remove identity from the learning context. Colleges and universities continue to admit increasingly diverse student populations. Without programs of support, I believe these students are more likely to be harmed rather than helped by college.

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A common type of ocean algae plays a significant role in producing a massively abundant compound that helps cool the Earth's climate, new research has discovered.

The findings of the study by the University of East Anglia (UEA) and Ocean University of China (OUC) could change our understanding of how these tiny marine organisms impact our planet.

The work appears in Nature Microbiology.

The team identified the bloom-forming Pelagophyceae algae as potentially abundant and important producers of a compound called dimethylsulfoniopropionate, or DMSP.

Co-lead author Professor Jonathan Todd, of UEA's School of Biological Sciences, said, "The Pelagophyceae are among the most abundant algae on Earth, yet they were not previously known as important producers of DMSP. This discovery is exciting because DMSP is an abundant antistress compound, food source for other microorganisms and major source of climate-cooling gases."

Dr. Jinyan Wang, OUC/UEA Ph.D. student and first author, said, "Understanding the role of Pelagophyceae in DMSP production means we need to rethink how much of this compound is being produced and how it impacts our climate."

Every year, billions of tons of DMSP are produced in the Earth's oceans by marine microorganisms, helping them to survive by protecting against various stresses like changes in salinity, cold, high pressure, and oxidative stress. Importantly, DMSP is the main source of a climate active gas called dimethylsulfide (DMS), which is known as the smell of the seaside.

This study suggests that DMSP production, and consequently DMS release, is likely higher than previously predicted and emphasizes the key role of microbes in regulating global climate. DMS also acts as a signaling molecule, guiding marine organisms to their food and deterring predators.

When DMS is released into the atmosphere, DMS oxidation products help form clouds which reflect sunlight away from the Earth, effectively cooling the planet. This natural process is essential for regulating the Earth's climate and is also hugely important for the global sulfur cycle, representing the main route by which sulfur from the oceans is returned to land.

UEA and OUC established the Sino-UK Joint Research Centre to promote cutting-edge research and teaching in marine and ocean science. UEA's Dr. Andrew Curson was a key member of the team that identified the novel enzymes responsible for the synthesis of DMSP in diverse bacteria, photosynthetic cyanobacteria and algae. Dr. Curson said, "The identity of these enzymes allowed our team to identify Pelagophyceae as potentially abundant and important DMSP producers."

Co-lead author Professor Xiao-Hua Zhang, of OUC's College of Marine Life Science, added, "By identifying the enzymes involved in DMSP production, scientists can better understand and predict the behavior of these ecosystem-disruptive, brown-tide-forming algae and their impact on global climate change. This study has also raised questions about other unidentified versions of the enzymes needed to make DMSP, or entirely different pathways for making it that are currently unknown."

The researchers say further study of Pelagophyceae algae in their natural environment is needed, as well as more detailed studies on other marine organisms. Better measurements of environmental DMSP levels, production and breakdown rates, and the abundance of the enzymes involved in making DMSP are also critical to further advance the field.

The research was a collaboration between UEA and OUC, with contributions from Qingdao Agricultural University, the University of Porto, Shandong University and the Laoshan Laboratory in Qingdao, China.

More information: Jinyan Wang et al, Alternative dimethylsulfoniopropionate biosynthesis enzymes in diverse and abundant microorganisms, Nature Microbiology (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41564-024-01715-9 Journal information: Nature Microbiology
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An adult Mexican spotted owl (Strix occidentalis lucida) on the Lincoln National Forest in southern New Mexico, USA. Credit: USDA Forest Service / Fire Ecology (2024). DOI: 10.1186/s42408-024-00271-1

Walking through the dappled light of a southwestern forest at dusk, scientists focus their eyes aloft. Their quarry? A Mexican spotted owl perched high in the overstory. New research from a collaborative group of scientists from the USDA Forest Service, Bird Conservancy of the Rockies, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service found that frequent, low-severity fire supported owl habitat, but high-severity fire was detrimental.

The study is published in the journal Fire Ecology.

This finding suggests a potential win-win: forest management activities that can help to return historic low-frequency fires to the landscape and reduce risk of more severe wildfires will likely benefit Mexican spotted owls too.

The Mexican spotted owl is a Threatened species that inhabits forests and canyonlands in the southwestern United States. These owls often live in forests that are at high risk of stand-replacing fireand yet at the same time, there is concern that forest management projects that can reduce wildfire risk, like thinning or prescribed fire, could remove or alter important habitat characteristics that owls depend on for their survival.

Understanding how these owl populations respond to different fire regimes and how climate is altering fire regimes is helping wildlife and forest managers develop more robust conservation strategies that include these short-term and long-term tradeoffs.

Lead author Gavin Jones, a research ecologist with the Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station, began studying spotted owls over a decade ago. "We have very little hard data showing us how Mexican spotted owls respond to fire, which is a need-to-know piece of information for managers in the Southwest. This study is the first to do it with long-term, robust population monitoring data."

As part of this long-term, collaborative study, Jones and his co-authors collected and analyzed eight years of monitoring data from Mexican spotted owl breeding pairs. They found owl pairs occupied sites at higher rates when these sites experienced more frequent fires in the previous three decades to the study. In contrast, they found owl pairs persisted at lower rates at sites that experienced more extensive high-severity fire.

Rebecca Kirby, regional wildlife ecologist with the Forest Service Southwestern Region, sees this project as an opportunity to support knowledge transfer between scientists and land managers.

"We really value this long-term partnership with Bird Conservancy of the Rockies and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. It's enabled us to track the trends of these Threatened owls over time," Kirby said.

"Our collaboration with the Rocky Mountain Research Station leverages this long-term, ongoing dataset to generate new information about owls and fire, which is crucial to making management decisions on our national forests and grasslands."

Overall, this research implies that management activities that are intended to reduce megafire risklike prescribed burning and mechanical thinningwill likely promote both Mexican spotted owl conservation and more resilient forest landscapes.

Jones concludes, "What we found is almost exactly what we expected: Mexican spotted owls appear to be well-adapted to historical frequent-fire regimes. If we can get that type of fire back on the landscape, it should bode well for the species and its recovery."

More information: Gavin M. Jones et al, Frequent burning and limited stand-replacing fire supports Mexican spotted owl pair occupancy, Fire Ecology (2024). DOI: 10.1186/s42408-024-00271-1
Suspected Islamic extremist militants on Wednesday (June 5) killed three Christians and kidnapped another after intercepting them on a highway in northeast Nigeria, Christian leaders said.

The suspected Boko Haram terrorists stopped a commercial passenger vehicle along the Damaturu-Biu Highway in Yobe state and separated out four Christians, killing three of them and taking the fourth hostage, said the Rev. Ibrahim Abako, secretary of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Yobe State Chapter.

The terrorists had mounted a checkpoint near Kumaya village, near Yobe states border with Borno state, Abako said in a press statement.

The Boko Haram terrorists targeted Christians and abducted four passengers who were Christians, releasing the Muslims, Abako said.

The four Christians were traveling from Biu town to Damaturu, he said.

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The terrorists dragged the four Christians out of the vehicle they were traveling in and took them to a bush, where they killed three of them and took the fourth at gunpoint to an unknown place, Abako said. Christian relations of the victims have recovered three corpses out of the four Christians abducted.

He called on the Nigerian government and security agencies, especially the military and police, to take proactive measures to protect Nigerian citizens regardless of their religion.

We condemn in totality the killing of these three Christians and the abduction of one other Christian, Abako said. These incidents have been happening frequently without Nigerian authorities doing anything to prevent them from happening.

The Rev. David Ayuba Azzaman, a pastor in northern Nigeria, confirmed the killing in a message seeking prayer.

Three Christians were killed by Allahs soldiers on Wednesday, 6 June, along Biu-Damaturu road in Yobe state, Pastor Azzaman said.

He said he had received information denoting that Muslim extremists had singled out the Christians.

These Christians died for Jesus. Boko Haram members that committed this gruesome act, Father forgive them, for they dont know what they are doing, he said, praying that these Boko Haram members will not die until they profess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, and His name glorified.

Nigeria remained the deadliest place in the world to follow Christ, with 4,118 people killed for their faith from Oct. 1, 2022 to Sept. 30, 2023, according to Open Doors 2024 World Watch List (WWL) report. More kidnappings of Christians than in any other country also took place in Nigeria, with 3,300.

Nigeria was also the third highest country in number of attacks on churches and other Christian buildings such as hospitals, schools, and cemeteries, with 750, according to the report.

In the 2024 WWL of the countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian, Nigeria was ranked No. 6, as it was in the previous year.
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CaSSIS image of a clear, slightly bluish area due to frost in the volcanic crater (caldera) of Olympus Mons. Credit: ESA/TGO/CaSSIS, Fourni par l'auteur

The formation of water frost is common on Earth, especially in winter when atmospheric water vapor condenses and freezes on the surface. On Mars, the atmosphere is about 100 times less dense than on Earth, but it too contains water vapor. The atmosphere on Mars contains 10,000 times less water vapor than on our planet, however, so icing is less likely.

The exchange of water between the surface and atmosphere of Mars is currently not well understood. The formation of frost would not only be an important clue for helping us understand the water cycle, but also for identifying key resources for potential future human exploration. Water is a necessary for life and could also be used as rocket fuel.

Journey to the top of Mars's volcanoes

Our new study, published today in Nature Geoscience, reports the existence of large deposits of transient morning frost at the top of volcanoes in a region of Mars called Tharsis, which includes the volcanoes Olympus, Arsia and Ascraeus Montes, and Ceraunius Tholus. These were detected through analysis of high-resolution color images gathered by the European Space Agency's Exomars Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) (ESA) probe. This discovery was confirmed by independent observations made by the ESA's Mars Express probe and the NOMAD spectrometer onboard the TGO.

Numerical simulations of Mars's climate show that the surface temperatures of the volcanoes are compatible with the existence of frozen water. In fact, the results show that morning frost deposits are correlated with the coldest Martian seasons (yes, there are seasons on Mars, just as there are on Earth). On Martian peaks, however, the temperatures are much lower, ranging between -130C and -30C. What's more, volcanoes on the planet's equator are highly exposed to the sun's energy, explaining the rapid disappearance of frost in the morning.

It all began with the observation of lighter, slightly bluish areas on the summits of Martian volcanoes by the CaSSIS camera. After several months of investigation, these unexpected light areas appear to be present only in the early morning observations and during the cold seasons on Mars. The HRSC camera was able to confirm these observations, but what remained was to find the origin of this phenomenon.

Frost has been detected on Olympus Mons, the highest volcano not only on Mars but in the entire solar system. Credit: ESA/DLR/FU Berlin, Fourni par l'auteur

There are two types of volatile compounds on Mars: water (H 2 0) and carbon dioxide (CO 2 ). These two compounds can easily change phase between gas and solid under Martian conditions. Unfortunately, in their solid form, they both appear white or bright in the visible light range (also observable by our eyes) of the CaSSIS instrument. So it's difficult to distinguish them with a simple image. We therefore had to carry out a real investigation of these slightly blueish areas. We were able to establish two major types of argument, one based on spectroscopy and the other on numerical simulation of the microclimate of Martian volcanoes.

Thanks to the decomposition of the colors or wavelengths of the light coming from the surface, it is possible to distinguish between H 2 O and CO 2 . This is the spectroscopy technique, enabled by the NOMAD instrument. We attempted to identify these two compounds on measurements taken in extreme conditions, early in the morning, with little sunlight. As the instrument is optimized to observe the sun directly, these observations are difficult and not easy to read. The results show no CO 2 signature and a possible water signature.

However, if CO 2 is present over a thin layer, we would not expect to see any spectral signatures. This argument is therefore not definitive. The Belgian members of the team then carried out a numerical simulation of the microclimate of the volcanoes on Mars. This is the same type of tool used to predict the weather on Earth, but here it was adapted to Mars. The simulations conclude that at the time of acquisition of the images containing the clear zones, the conditions were right for the condensation of water, but not of CO 2 . These two pieces of evidence combined therefore support the hypothesis of water icing .

A thin layer of frost

Using information from the available instruments, we were able to estimate the thickness of this layer of frost. It's very thin, just 10 micrometers (1/100th of a millimeter). This amount of frost is dictated by the amount of water vapor available in the planet's atmosphere, just 1/10,000th of that on Earth.

As condensation has to start a few hours before sunrise, atmospheric circulation has allowed water to accumulate from the surrounding atmosphere. Given the surface area covered by the frost, the total quantity of water is on the order of 60 Olympic-sized swimming pools. If it could be harvested, this could cover the water needs of astronauts for several years, but on the scale of the planet Mars, this quantity remains very small. The amount of water available on Mars, mainly in the form of ice in the poles, is estimated at 1 trillion Olympic-sized swimming pools. Bear in mind that there is around 100 times more water on Earth than on Mars.

This discovery of ice on the highest peaks in the solar system will enable us to refine our understanding of the current water cycle on Mars. In this way, it will be possible to better predict the weather on Mars, with a view to future exploration, but also to better understand the past climate of Mars and its potential for habitability.

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The community of Geismar is seen in the shadow of a chemical and petroleum industrial corridor, that is a known source of ethylene oxide emissions, in Ascension Parish, La., Friday, June 7, 2024. Credit: AP Photo/Gerald Herbert

Researchers using high-tech air monitoring equipment rolled through an industrialized stretch of southeast Louisiana in mobile labs and found levels of a carcinogen in concentrations as much as 20 times higher than previously estimated, according to a paper published Tuesday in the journal Environmental Science & Technology.

The study by researchers at Johns Hopkins University raises new health concerns for communities that sit among the chemical plants lining a stretch of the Mississippi River between Baton Rouge and New Orleansdubbed "cancer alley" by environmentalists.

The Environmental Protection Agency considers long-term exposure to inhaled ethylene oxide gas a cancer riska stance challenged by the chemical industry. The state of California, which has its own environmental health agency, also lists the chemical as "known to cause cancer and reproductive toxicity" in men and women.

The study also heralds newer technologies that enable better, more accurate measurements of ethylene oxide and other chemicals.

"The instrumentation technology that we have available to us is just much more sensitive and can be put on vans and driven around in ways that you don't get with regulatory instruments," said Pete DeCarlo, one of the researchers on the study.

Ethylene oxide is produced in large amounts and used to make a main ingredient in antifreeze and polyester. It's also used to sterilize food, cosmetics and medical equipment and as a pesticide.

Dangerous levels of a carcinogen were found in neighborhoods near chemical plants in Louisiana. Credit: AP Digital Embed

The report comes as the Biden administration has taken steps to lessen people's exposure to the gas. Earlier this year, EPA announced plans to limit the use of the chemical. And ethylene oxide also figures in a broad order issued in April requiring more than 200 plants nationwide to reduce toxic emissions.

The EPA noted those actions in a statement reacting to Tuesday's report and touting the efforts of the agency's administrator, Michael Regan.

"EPA looks forward to reviewing the study," the statement said. "Under the leadership of Administrator Regan, EPA has made important strides to protect the residents of Cancer Alley from dangerous toxic pollution including taking local enforcement action and finalizing national standards to reduce cancer risk in affected communities."

Traditionally, measurements of ethylene oxide have been made by gathering and storing air samples in stainless steel cannisters for later lab analyses. The problem, DeCarlo said, is that storage in the cannisters appears to alter the concentration of the gas.

A chemical and petroleum industrial corridor, that is a known source of ethylene oxide emissions, is seen along the Mississippi River from this aerial photo, in Ascension Parish, La., Friday, June 7, 2024. Credit: AP Photo/Gerald Herbert

DeCarlo said that current regulatory figures on ethylene oxide levels are based on samples self-reported by the industry. Those numbers, he said, are "anywhere from two to 10 times lower than the values that we measured with our mobile laboratory in Louisiana." And, in some areas tested, the new results were up to 20 times higher than the regulatory figures.

The Johns Hopkins study involved two vans that drove the same routes repeatedly over the course of a month last year. Researchers used instruments that measure gases in real time as they flow through a high-intensity light. The vans used two different instruments, yet they measured similar results, bolstering researchers' confidence in the testing.

DeCarlo said nearly all the readings were higher than 11 parts of ethylene oxide per 1 trillion parts of aira level that translates to a one in 10,000 cancer risk for long-term exposure to the gas. That's the upper threshold of what the EPA considers acceptable for many air toxics and carcinogens.

Sometimes levels were a thousand times highermeasured in parts per billion rather than per trillion. And, notes Keeve Nachman, another of the Johns Hopkins researchers, ethylene oxide is only one of the pollutants emitted in the area.

An Aerodyne Mobile Laboratory staffed by researchers from Johns Hopkins University drives through St. James Parish, La., Feb. 9, 2023, to monitor air quality near industrial sites. Credit: Peter DeCarlo via AP

"When you think about all the other chemicals that are in play and all of the other concerns that we may have about people who live in Cancer Alley and the other life stressors they have to deal with, they may be less resilient to an exposure to ethylene oxide than someone in the general population," Nachman said. "So, you know, if if you were to say, what's the appropriate level or what should the acceptable risk be? It should probably be lower than 1 in 10,000 people out there."

Short-term exposure to the levels poses little risk to the vast majority of people, said Rustin Reed, a professor at Tulane University's School of Public Health, who was not involved in the study.

"My concern would be for at-risk individuals who are exposed over a lifetime, which is difficult to estimate, but should be a concern to investigate further," Reed said.

The American Chemistry Council, a trade organization, didn't offer comment on the Johns Hopkins research Tuesday but noted its past criticisms of the EPA's methods of assessing the risks of ethylene oxide.

A chemical and petroleum industrial corridor, that is a known source of ethylene oxide emissions, is seen from this aerial photo, in Ascension Parish, La., Friday, June 7, 2024. Credit: AP Photo/Gerald Herbert

A chemical and petroleum industrial corridor, that is a known source of ethylene oxide emissions, is seen along the Mississippi River from this aerial photo, in Ascension Parish, La., Friday, June 7, 2024. Credit: AP Photo/Gerald Herbert

Tuesday's report is likely to feed into ongoing political and legal battles over the array of chemical plants among small, often predominantly Black communities between Baton Rouge and New Orleans.

Amid such debates, improving measurements of pollutants is important, DeCarlo said, noting there is little high quality measurement around industrial plants, so it's not well understood what residents are actually exposed to.

"We wanted to start to do a better job of assessing what those hazardous air pollutant concentrations look like for communities who live in and around industrial facilities," he said.

___

The text of this story has been corrected to be consistent with its graphic, to reflect that concentrations of ethylene oxide in some areas were measured at as much as 20 times higher than previously estimated, not 10 times higher.

More information: Ethylene Oxide in Southeastern Louisiana's Petrochemical Corridor: High Spatial Resolution Mobile Monitoring during HAP-MAP, Environmental Science & Technology (2024). pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.est.3c10579 Journal information: Environmental Science & Technology

 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, it sent shock waves across global supply chains. But manufacturers and other businesses weren't the only ones hit hard: local and international aid organizations, tasked with providing humanitarian assistance during times of crisis, suddenly had a major crisis of their own. How would they get the supplies they needed to carry out their crucial work?

According to a new study by the UBC Sauder School of Business, the organizations showed remarkable nimbleness and ingenuityand while the pandemic was an unusual event, their approaches can provide powerful insights for businesses and non-profits facing adversity.

The research is published in the International Journal of Operations & Production Management.

For the study, the research team interviewed 15 supply chain and logistics managers, field coordinators and supply chain specialists working in large humanitarian organizations including the World Health Organization, UNICEF, Doctors Without Borders and CARE International, as well as smaller, more local, non-profits. Some were focused on emergency response, while others prioritized long-term aid. The team also gathered data from secondary sources such as company websites, news databases and standard operating procedures.

The researchers found that when COVID arrived, the non-profits experienced the same spike in demand for medications, PPE and other pandemic-related supplies as for-profit operations while working in already highly challenging environments.

"Suddenly humanitarian organizations needed PPE for all of their employees instead of just nurses and doctors," explains UBC Sauder School lecturer and study co-author Samuel Roscoe, who previously worked in the aid sector. The provision of mental health support also abruptly ended in many areas, and supply to feeding centers was disrupted.

"If you're delivering aid to an internally displaced persons camp where you already have malaria, cholera and all of these other communicable diseases, and then all of a sudden COVID comes along, it becomes almost impossible to operate or deliver medical assistance."

The different types of organizations responded differently to supply chain shocks. Long-term development organizationsespecially those with ties to international bodies such as the UN, the World Bank and the IMFwere able to source from multiple suppliers and create backup arrangements. And rather than send bids out to tender, they focused on the handful of suppliers that were capable of fulfilling orders and secured long-term contracts.

"So if they contacted a supplier of PPE they would say, 'We plan to purchase X amount of products from you, and we want you to commit that you'll provide them,'" says Roscoe. "It meant they were locked into these suppliers, and they had a regular supply even during 2020 and 2021 when a lot of organizations didn't. So that was a big advantage."

Some organizations found themselves tangled in donor contracts, where private donors or governments had earmarked funds to a particular disaster, so they couldn't allocate those funds to their COVID response. "All of a sudden they had to go back to donors and say, 'Are you ok if we use 20 or 30% of your budget to buy PPE or administer vaccines?'" says Roscoe. "So that created a lot of delays in their response. Some even had to renegotiate contracts."

Air travel was disrupted and the price of shipping containers and other forms of long-distance transport skyrocketed, so instead of purchasing items in Europe and then shipping to the Middle East or Africa, many organizations began buying from local grocery stores or regional warehouses or distributors.

"There were many logistical challenges, but they found they could continue to deliver aid by using local suppliersand that worked as an emergency response because they could find the products they needed," explains Roscoe. "It wasn't always enough, so it did create some shortages. But that was one of their big pivots."

Non-profits that were the most flexible in their organizational structures and had more decentralized decision-making fared better, adds Roscoe, because employees could make important decisions without going through layers of management. Similarly, groups that were in communication with volunteers and communities on the ground were better able to meet the needs of those they were serving.

Organizations that had good relationships with national or regional governments were also better able to function during the pandemic. For example, UN organizations were able to continue delivering aid during lockdowns, whereas Doctors Without Borders, which purposefully distances itself from authorities, had more trouble getting permission to travel or go into displaced person camps.

The study is the first of its kind to look at how aid organizations operate during co-occurring crises, such as wars, natural disasters and a pandemic.

While the findings are instructive for the non-profit sector, Roscoe says they're also relevant to for-profit businesses. The study provides a roadmap on how to build the dynamic capabilities that business leaders need to compete in uncertain operating environments.

"These organizations are designed around providing aid in difficult situations, and when their situation got even more difficult, they still found ways to cope, whereas a lot of businesses that aren't designed for flexibility and responsiveness struggled," says Roscoe.

"If your organization is built around responsiveness and flexibility, it will be better able to withstand any degree of crisis, whether it's a low-level crisis like a supplier shutting down or a major crisis like a pandemic, and your people will find a way to adapt and adjust much more quickly."

More information: Byung-Gak Son et al, Dynamic capabilities of global and local humanitarian organizations with emergency response and long-term development missions, International Journal of Operations & Production Management (2024). DOI: 10.1108/IJOPM-12-2022-0778

Provided by University of British Columbia - Sauder School of Business
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Whale meat for sale at a market in Shimonoseki, Japan -- the country has sharply reduced its imports from Iceland.

Iceland's government said Tuesday that it had granted a license to hunt 128 fin whales for the country's sole whaling company amid widespread criticism of the practice.

Iceland, Norway and Japan are the only three countries that allow commercial whaling despite fierce opposition from animal rights activists.

In January, Hvalur, the only whaling group left in Iceland, applied for a five-year permit to hunt whales after its license expired.

Another company hung up its harpoons for good in 2020, saying it was no longer profitable.

The government said in a statement that the new license would be valid for the 2024 season and permitted the hunting of 128 fin whalesthe second-longest marine mammal after the blue whaledown from 161 whales the previous year.

"This decision aligns with the Marine and Freshwater Research Institute's 2017 advice and considers the conservative ecosystem factors of the International Whaling Commission," the government said.

"It is based on a precautionary approach and reflects the government's increased emphasis on the sustainable use of resources," it added.

Whaling in Iceland generally takes place between mid-June and September.

With the new license, 99 whales can be hunted in the Greenland/West Iceland region and 29 whales in the East Iceland/Faroe Island region, the government said.

On June 20, 2023, the country suspended whaling for two months following a government-commissioned inquiry that concluded the methods used did not comply with animal welfare laws.

Monitoring by the government's veterinary agency showed that the explosive harpoons used by hunters to catch whales were causing them prolonged agony, with the hunt lasting up to five hours after they had been harpooned.

'Shameful'

In October, Hvalur said the shortened 2023 season, which lasted only three weeks, had ended with 24 whales killed.

Whalers had already struggled in the past to meet the quotas.

It had been unclear whether the food and agriculture minister, Bjarkey Olsen Gunnarsdottir, would grant a license for the 2024 season, and the Humane Society International charity had urged Iceland "to put an end to this needless cruelty for good."

"It is devastatingly disappointing that Minister Gunnarsdottir has set aside unequivocal scientific evidence demonstrating the brutality and cruelty of commercial whale killing and allowed whales to be killed for another year," Adam Peyman from Humane Society International told AFP, calling the decision a "new shameful entry in the conservation history books".

"Whales already face myriad threats in the oceans from pollution, climate change, entanglement in fish nets and ship strikes, and fin whale victims of Iceland's whaling fleet are considered globally vulnerable to extinction," Peyman added.

The CEO of Hvalur, Kristjan Loftsson, did not respond to a request by AFP for comment.

According to a survey last June by the Maskina institute, 51 percent of Icelanders are opposed to whaling, an increase from 42 percent in a poll four years earlier.

Iceland has depended heavily on fishing and whaling for centuries.

But in the past two decades its tourism industry, including whale watching tours, has blossomed.

Japan, by far the biggest market for whale meat, resumed commercial whaling in 2019 after a three-decade hiatus, drastically reducing the need for imports from Iceland.

 2024 AFP
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Credit: Inzmam Khan from Pexels

In Canada, when someone is about to complete serving their prison sentence, they are typically assessed for risk of violence by the prison. If they are deemed to pose a significant threat to the community, a package is prepared and shared with the police, who are notified about the release.

Police may then apply to the courts for a judicial order and the individual is told they must enter an agreement to be supervised. These orders might include conditions that forbid drinking or staying out past a curfew, for example. Courts can also require community notifications.

These notifications are meant to let the public know that an individual is being released in their community. People convicted of crimes are released from prison every day, either after completing their full sentence or while being supervised under parole.

Members of the public might often react negatively to community notifications about people released from prison, especially if the individual has a violent past. Research has shown that the public is most outraged and misperceives the risk of reoffending when the individual has committed a violent or sexual crime, and it's even worse when it's a sexual crime against children.

Community notifications

Community notifications are intended to be helpful by informing the public. However, they can also make reintegrating back into the community challenging for released individuals.

Notifications to the public are seen as the "least draconian" option by some when it comes to dealing with repeat offenders compared to a lifetime or lengthy period of supervision, such as being designated a dangerous or long-term offender.

However, you can only imagine what an incarcerated individual might think when they are told: "You've done your time and you will be released, but now we're going to supervise you for another year or two, and this time it will be under the watchful eye of a police officerand everyone in the community will know your name, your face and what you did. Good luck with keeping your nose clean and avoiding another arrest."

People who have completed their prison sentences and are released are no longer in the provincial or federal correctional system, and bodies like the National Parole Board have no jurisdiction over them. So, police are then expected to manage any public safety risk that released individuals may pose.

Yet, police are primarily trained in enforcing the law, investigating criminal activity and addressing emergency situations as they arise. There is little training on managing offenders and engaging in rehabilitation to lower their risk to themselves or others.

Helping offenders reintegrate

If police integrate certain principles in their practices, they can effectively address and reduce the risk of harm. These evidence-based principles, which are called risk, need and responsivity principles, tell us that police should direct more attention to higher risk individuals, spend more time targeting risk factors that cause criminal behavior and learn to build better relationships and rapport with offenders. This would be further effective using a multi-agency approach to help offenders reintegrate into society.

Research has shown that police do quite well when they use risk assessments. When they focus their attention on risk factors like substance abuse, marital conflicts and monitoring criminal associations, and when they are compassionate and use trauma-informed approaches, the risk for violent and sexual offending is more likely reduced.

Of course, risk management and reintegration pose many challenges. Police have to help stabilize people's lives by effectively helping them find sustainable work and positive activities.

People with convictions may face difficulty finding suitable housing or getting into treatment programs that help with substance abuse and mental health. The pressure to ensure stability is most critical within the first few months after release.

Supervising and supporting violent offenders is not an easy task or an easy sell to the public. Our research has shown that it doesn't matter how we present information, the public is less inclined to see any merit in reintegration or rehabilitation.

However, with specialized training, police can be instrumental in reducing risk. And with the support of the community, released offenders are more likely to gain stability and live a productive crime-free life. These are goals that we all share as members of our community.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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Atlantic bluefin tuna. Credit: Public Domain

A new study led by Irish scientists has found giant Atlantic bluefin tuna are moving further north in response to marine heat waves off the Irish coast.

These tuna are normally seasonal visitors to Ireland during the summer months, but electronic tags deployed by the scientists have confirmed they are spending more time towards higher latitudes as the region experiences ocean warming events.

Grace McNicholas, Ph.D. candidate in the School of Natural Sciences at Trinity College Dublin, was lead author of the study that has been published in the journal Diversity and Distributions.

She said, "These fish swim thousands of kilometers on their annual migrations, visiting the coast of Ireland in the summer and autumn. Understanding how climate change may alter the conditions they encounter along their journey is really important as it helps us to predict future migration routes and ultimately guide management decisions for this ecologically and economically important species.

"Our results provide early indications that the fish are moving further north than would be expected, and we believe this is due to warming seas."

Although historically abundant in Irish waters, over-exploitation of this species throughout the Atlantic led to global population crashes and their disappearance from Ireland in the 2000s. Thankfully, due to improved management over the last decade, fish have been re-establishing themselves in historic feeding grounds around Ireland. However, the suitability of these areas for the visiting tuna may be threatened as our climate continues to change.

In the study, satellite tags were deployed on over 50 tuna by the Irish Marine Institute, working with Irish anglers. This allowed the team to track the route of the fish for up to 12 months once they left Irish waters. Some fish traveled to the Mid-Atlantic while others traveled to the Mediterranean Sea, possibly to spawn. Several tagged tuna returned to Ireland the following year.

Working with collaborators from Stanford University and The University of California, Santa Cruz in the US, the team modeled the oceanographic conditions experienced by the tagged tuna, to better understand their preferred marine habitats. As things got warmer, the fish tended to prefer more northerly seas.

Dr. Nick Payne, Assistant Professor in Trinity's School of Natural Sciences, said, "This study is yet another clear example of the massive impact climate change is having on marine habitats. Atlantic bluefin are a hugely important species for lots of reasons, and it's looking like they might move further north in the near future. This could have significant impact on various coastal communities, including some of those in Ireland."

The team plans to extend the research to other important marine species to gain a fuller picture of how the marine ecosystem surrounding the Irish coast is likely to change in the coming years, so we can better adapt to those changes.

More information: Grace E. McNicholas et al, Seasonal variability of highlatitude foraging grounds for Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus), Diversity and Distributions (2024). DOI: 10.1111/ddi.13865 Journal information: Diversity and Distributions
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Northeastern University historian Kabria Baumgartner, left, and University of New Hampshire archaeologist Meghan Howey at the dig site. Credit: Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University

At first glance, it may not look like much more than a hole.

But the 4-foot-deep excavation of a rock foundation behind a chain-link-fenced backyard transports Northeastern University historian Kabria Baumgartner back 275 yearsto a unique colonial New England tradition in which a formerly enslaved Black man named Pompey was elected "king."

On the shores of the Saugus River about 10 miles north of Boston, she is surrounded by small, smooth stonesunearthed by a team of archaeologistsbelieved to be the remains of Pompey's former home.

"It really comes to life," says Baumgartner, a dean's associate professor of history and Africana studies at Northeastern. "I spend a lot of time in archives looking at written materials. It feels different to come to a site."

Between about 1750 and 1850, New England had at least 31 elected Black kings and governors, most of whom were enslaved, according to the New England Historical Society. Black kings were elected in colonies such as Massachusetts and New Hampshire where the white governor was appointed; Black governors were elected in colonies where the white governor was elected.

The elections on "Negro's Hallowday," as colonist Benjamin Lynde Jr. called it, or "Negro Election Day" were the most important day of the year for Black people, and were held on the same day white men in New England gathered to vote for their leaders, according to NEHS.

"It was kind of a very lively, joyful celebration," Baumgartner says, noting accounts of Black Election Days in other colonies. "We know that there was talking, dancing, and singing and drumming, which relates to west African tradition."

But Baumgartner sees the celebrations as more than mimicking elections held by white colonials.

"It was absolutely an assertion of civic rights," Baumgartner continues. "That (the Black community) too had a voice, that they too had opinions about the government and how it was run. And this was their opportunity to voice it."

The celebrations continue today at an annual event in Salem, and Negro Election Day is commemorated in Massachusetts on the third Saturday in July.

Pompey was one such elected king, living in what was then part of the city of Lynn. He is portrayed in historical accounts as an esteemed leader who hosted free and enslaved Blacks from the region on Black Election Days at his property along the Saugus River.

But Baumgartner says that most of the information about Pompey is from historians who lived several decades after Pompey died, particularly the early 19th-century Lynn historian Alonzo Lewis. Those accounts are difficult to confirm since such historians didn't use footnotes and often compiled oral histories that lacked documentation, Baumgartner says.

"We think Pompey was born in West Africa and, at some point, was trafficked across the Atlantic Ocean, a horrific journey often referred to as the Middle Passage," Baumgartner says.

Baumgartner also says Pompey claimed royal African ancestry, which a few enslaved people did at the time.

So, historians have to do some diggingboth figuratively and literallyto confirm these accounts.

That's where Meghan Howey, Alyssa Moreau and Diane Fiske of the University of New Hampshire's Great Bay Archaeological Survey join in.

Fiske conducted a "forensic deed analysis," as Howey called ittracing public documents through the Essex County Registry of Deeds and genealogical records.

The deed analysis, coupled with Baumgartner's research using maps, probate records and historical newspapers, gives us a more complete picture of Pompey.

For instance, research confirmed Pompey's 1745 marriage to a woman named Phyllis or Phebe,and that he was enslaved by a man named Daniel Mansfield II.

Kabria Baumgartner, deans associate professor of history and Africana studies,works on the site of what archeologists believe is the home of King Pompey. Credit: Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University

Historians believe Pompey was manumitted, or freed, by the 1750s, but apparently notas legend holdsin Mansfield's 1757 will.

"It's not in the will, and we haven't found any manumission papers," Baumgartner says. But she notes that manumission papers are rare to find.

Upon securing his freedom, Pompey borrowed money from another Black man named Isaac Hower to purchase two acres along the Saugus River in 1762. The deed was not recorded until 1787, however, at which time Pompey signed the property over to Hower's widow, Flora.

But many questions remain unanswered. For instance, if not freed in Mansfield's will, did Pompey free himself?

Fiske noted that the Mansfield family were clothiers. Might Pompey have used side work to save up money to purchase his freedom or continued that trade upon manumission?

But perhaps the biggest question is where exactly Pompey lived and hosted these Black Election Days.

Last week, it's likely to have been answered.

"I have extreme confidence this is a 1700s foundation and the connection to King Pompey is very compelling," Howey said, standing on the edge of the backyard hole on the banks of the Saugus River. "This is very promising."

Howey explained that the foundation demonstrates several eras of local building techniques.

At the top, there is concrete laid over cut stones, which Howey suggested was probably a 20th-century attempt to shore up the falling wall.

Below that layer, cut stones are loosely held together with mortar, which suggests a date around the late 19th century, Howey says.

But below that layer are smaller, smooth stones from the nearby tidal river.

"It's a pretty labor intensive way to build a foundation," Howey says.

"But if you don't have many resources, this is how you'd do it," Baumgartner adds.

Moreover, the deed references an oak tree and a colonial-era road bordered by a stone wallall of which are just steps away.

As for the hole, Howey says that she would like to clean and map the full foundation of the home, and also expand the dig to see whether they can find artifacts related to the Black Election Day activitiesfor example "middens" or heaps of trash from feasting.

"People edit what they write down, not what they throw away," Howey says, noting that the team has found some late 18th-century pottery around the site. "It's the verificationwe like to say 'trash doesn't lie.'"

But standing by the hole and looking across a bend in the meandering Saugus River to a field and wooded hillside, one can imagine dozens upon dozens of free and enslaved Black people gathering, enjoying a feast and celebrating.

"Historians described this site just as it feels now and, although they were often accused of being overly romantic, it is a peaceful, calm and picturesque site," Baumgartner says. "It gives a new appreciation for King Pompey and the celebration electing Black kings and governors in New England."
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Pseudomagic quantum states are computationally indistinguishable from random quantum states. Credit: Andi Gu et al/PRL. 10.1103/PhysRevLett.132.210602.

A new study in Physical Review Letters (PRL) introduces the concept of pseudomagic quantum states, which appear to have high stabilizerness (or complexity) and can move us closer to achieving quantum supremacy.

Quantum supremacy or quantum advantage is the ability of quantum computers to simulate or run computations that classical computers can't (due to their limited computational abilities).

Achieving universal quantum computation is the ability of quantum computers to be able to perform any arbitrary quantum computation, and quantum supremacy is at the heart of this.

The new PRL study explores nonstabilizer states or magic states. These are quantum states that allow quantum computations that cannot be efficiently simulated on classical computers. This complexity is what gives quantum computers their potential power.

Phys.org spoke to co-authors of the paper Andi Gu, a Ph.D. student at Harvard University, and Dr. Lorenzo Leone, a postdoctoral researcher at Freie Universitat, Berlin.

"The starting point to understand our research is that quantum computation is more powerful than classical computation. In quantum computing, the term nonstabilizerness or magic refers to a measure of the non-classical resources possessed by a quantum state," explained Gu.

Stabilizer vs. nonstabilizer quantum states

Every quantum system can be represented as a quantum state, a mathematical equation containing all the information about the system.

A stabilizer state is a type of quantum state that can be efficiently simulated (or executed) on a classical computer.

"These statesalong with a restricted set of quantum operations called stabilizer operationsform a classically simulable framework. However, stabilizer states and operations alone are not sufficient for achieving universal quantum computation," explained Dr. Leone.

To perform computations that are truly quantum and beyond classical capabilities, nonstabilizer states are required. These states can enable quantum computers to perform tasks infeasible for classical computers. However, one of the main challenges is constructing these magic states.

Nonstabilizer states are inherently challenging to construct as they require more complex quantum operations.

"In this context, nonstabilizerness is best viewed as a resource because it is essential for achieving quantum advantage. The more nonstabilizerness a quantum state possesses, the more powerful it is as a resource for quantum computation," explained Gu.

Pseudomagic states

The researchers found a way around this challenge by introducing the concept of pseudomagic quantum states.

Pseudomagic quantum states appear to have the properties of nonstabilizer states (complexity and non-classical operations) but are computationally indistinguishable from random quantum states, at least to an observer with limited computational resources.

In simple terms, this means that pseudomagic quantum states appear like magic states but are far less complex to construct. Especially to someone with a not-so-powerful computer, pseudomagic quantum states are indistinguishable from random quantum states.

"This indistinguishability arises from the fact that efficiently distinguishing between pseudomagic states and truly magical states would require an exponential amount of computational resources, making it infeasible for any realistic observer," said Dr. Leone.

Gu added, "Just as pseudorandom number generators produce sequences that appear random to computationally limited classical observers, pseudomagic states are engineered to appear highly nonstabilizer to computationally bounded quantum observers."

Laying down the foundations

Over the course of six theorems, the researchers laid out the theoretical foundation for pseudomagic states as well as their implications for quantum computing applications.

They constructed the pseudomagic states in a way that the gap between their actual and apparent nonstabilizerness was tunable.

"This means that we can create states that may seem to be powerful resources for quantum computation, even though they are not as resource-intensive as they appear," explained Dr. Leone.

The core of this framework revolved around the concept of stabilizer entropy. This is a measure of the nonstabilizerness (or complexity) of a quantum system.

What is unique about the stabilizer entropy is that, unlike other measurements of nonstabilizerness, it is computationally less draining.

Implications for quantum computing applications

The researchers focused on three areas where pseudomagic states could have implications, beginning with quantum cryptography.

According to the study, pseudomagic states introduce a new protocol for quantum cryptography based on EFI (or Efficiently preparable, statistically Far, but computationally Indistinguishable) pairs.

These pairs can improve the security of data communication and can be constructed using pseudomagic states.

The researchers also show that pseudomagic states can provide new insights into quantum chaos and scrambling, which are important for understanding the behavior of complex quantum systems and the spread of quantum information.

"By demonstrating that the apparent magic of a quantum state can differ from its actual magic, our work highlights the need to consider the limitations of realistic, computationally limited observers when studying quantum systems and their applications," explained Gu.

Finally, they also demonstrate that pseudomagic states can be used to build more efficient fault-tolerant quantum computers using a process called magic state distillation.

Magic state distillation is essentially a purification process that improves the fidelity of the magic states, making them more suitable for use in quantum algorithms and error-correction schemes.

The researchers wish to explore the relationship between pseudomagic states and concepts in quantum information theory in the future. Additionally, they want to explore the experimental realization of pseudomagic states with existing and near-term quantum devices.

"This could lead to the development of practical applications that harness the unique properties of these states," concluded Dr. Leone.

 2024 Science X Network
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Schematic illustration for the mechanism of photochromic enhanced hydrogen production process over HC-C 3 N 5 nanosheets. Credit: Shen, Yu, et al.

Photocatalytic water splitting, a sustainable energy strategy, utilizes solar energy to produce clean hydrogen fuel. While it offers a promising solution to the global energy crisis and environmental pollution, the slow kinetics of photogenerated electron-hole pairs result in low activity for most semiconductor materials, even with sacrificial agents. To that end, integrating electron traps and reactive centers could be a feasible strategy to enhance charge separation and catalytic performance.

In a new study, researchers at Jiangsu University of Science and Technology and Zhejiang Ocean University synthesized high-crystallinity nitrogen-rich carbon nitride nanosheet photocatalysts via an alkali potassium salt-assisted molten salt method, promoting photocatalytic hydrogen evolution. The researchers published their findings in Advanced Powder Materials.

"We elucidated the role of bound-state electrons in broadening the absorption spectrum and generating photogenerated charges and verified the electron migration pathway induced by cyanide groups, coordinating the transition of photoexcited electrons from an unbound to a bound state," says co-corresponding author Shijie Li.

The team synthesized the exceptional performance of highly crystalline C 3 N 5 (HCC 3 N 5 ) nanosheet as a photocatalyst, demonstrating a hydrogen evolution rate of 3.01 mmol h1 g1, which surpasses that of bulk C 3 N 5 (B C 3 N 5 ) by a factor of 3.27.

"Experimental and theoretical analyses reveal that HC-C 3 N 5 nanosheets exhibit macroscopic photoinduced color changes, effectively broadening the absorption spectrum and significantly enhancing the generation of excitons," explains Weilong Shi.

Notably, the team discovered potential electron capture sites, which contributed to understanding complex reaction kinetics, strengthening charge separation dynamics during photocatalytic hydrogen production.

More information: Yu Shen et al, Bound-state electrons synergy over photochromic high-crystalline C 3 N 5 nanosheets in enhancing charge separation for photocatalytic H 2 production, Advanced Powder Materials (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.apmate.2024.100202

Provided by KeAi Communications Co.
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Credit: ESA/Gaia/DPAC

Crater 2, located approximately 380,000 light years from Earth, is one of the largest satellite galaxies of the Milky Way. Extremely cold and with slow-moving stars, Crater 2 has low surface brightness. How this galaxy originated remains unclear.

"Since its discovery in 2016, there have been many attempts to reproduce Crater 2's unusual properties, but it has proved very challenging," said Hai-Bo Yu, a professor of physics and astronomy at the University of California, Riverside, whose team now offers an explanation for Crater 2's origin in a paper titled "Self-interacting dark matter interpretation of Crater II" published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters.

A satellite galaxy is a smaller galaxy that orbits a larger host galaxy. Dark matter makes up 85% of the universe's matter, and it can form a spherical structure under the influence of gravity called a dark matter halo. Invisible, the halo permeates and surrounds a galaxy like Crater 2. The fact that Crater 2 is extremely cold indicates its halo has a low density.

Yu explained that Crater 2 evolved in the tidal field of the Milky Way and experienced tidal interactions with the host galaxy, similar to how Earth's oceans experience tidal forces due to the gravity of the moon. In theory, the tidal interactions can reduce the density of the dark matter halo.

However, the latest measurements of the orbit of Crater 2 around the Milky Way suggest the strength of the tidal interactions is too weak to lower the satellite galaxy's dark matter density to be consistent with its measurementsif dark matter is made of cold, collisionless particles, as expected from the prevailing cold dark matter theory, or CDM.

"Another puzzle is how Crater 2 could have a large size, as the tidal interactions would reduce the size when the satellite galaxy evolves in the tidal field of the Milky Way," Yu said.

Yu and his team invoke a different theory to explain Crater 2's properties and origin. Called self-interacting dark matter, or SIDM, it can compellingly explain diverse dark matter distributions. It proposes that dark matter particles self-interact through a dark force, strongly colliding with one another close to the center of a galaxy.

"Our work shows that SIDM can explain the unusual properties of Crater 2," Yu said. "The key mechanism is that dark matter self-interactions thermalize the halo of Crater 2 and produce a shallow density core, that is, the dark matter density is flattened at small radii. In contrast, in a CDM halo, the density would increase sharply toward the center of the galaxy."

According to Yu, in SIDM, a relatively small strength of tidal interactions, consistent with what can be expected from measurements of Crater 2's orbit, is sufficient to lower Crater 2's dark matter density, consistent with observations.

"Importantly, the galaxy size also expands in a SIDM halo, which explains Crater 2's large size," Yu said. "Dark matter particles are just more loosely bound in a cored SIDM halo than in a 'cuspy' CDM halo. Our work shows that SIDM is better than CDM at explaining how Crater 2 originated."

Yu was joined in the study by Daneng Yang of UCR, and Xingyu Zhang and Haipeng An of Tsinghua University in China.

More information: Xingyu Zhang et al, Self-interacting Dark Matter Interpretation of Crater II, The Astrophysical Journal Letters (2024). DOI: 10.3847/2041-8213/ad50cd Journal information: Astrophysical Journal Letters
Commentary: Int'l Day for Dialogue among Civilizations brings vigor to cultural exchanges

Xinhua) 09:01, June 11, 2024

BEIJING, June 10 (Xinhua) -- According to a China-proposed resolution unanimously adopted by the 78th session of the UN General Assembly on Friday, June 10 was designated as the International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations.

The aim of China's proposal was to fully leverage the important role of dialogue among civilizations in eliminating discrimination and prejudice, enhancing understanding and trust, promoting people-to-people connectivity, and strengthening unity and cooperation, said Fu Cong, China's permanent representative to the UN.

It is against the following backdrop that China made the proposal: In the current context of multiple interlocking crises and challenges, the world has entered a new period of instability and change, placing human society at the crossroads of history once again.

The proposal demonstrates China's firm support for multilateralism and the work of the United Nations, highlighting China's responsibility as a major country in a century of unprecedented changes.

In recent years, China has been building platforms for dialogue and exchanges between various civilizations, creating opportunities for the common prosperity and development of different cultures through its strong economic vitality.

The exchange and integration of cultures serve as important prerequisites for creating a better life for people and a harmonious and peaceful world.

A vivid example in this regard is this year's Dragon Boat Festival, which coincides the newly established International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations.

When the Chinese people are celebrating the Dragon Boat Festival on Monday, dragon boat races are not only being held in China, but also in other parts of the world.

In Frankfurt, Germany, the first International Dragon Boat Friendship Race was held, featuring dragon boat teams from China, Germany and other countries. In the Netherlands, people were eager to watch a lion dance, dragon boat races and other cultural activities and immersed themselves in the fest.

The festival embodies the increasing popularity of Chinese tradition and culture worldwide, and China's concept of peaceful coexistence, living in harmony with nature, and agreeing to accept differences has been gradually recognized by the international community for its value in addressing today's problems.

Cultural connectivity promotes people-to-people bond. Along with other civilizations, the Chinese civilization will build culture bridge to link the world.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Following Mexico's presidential elections, Claudia Sheinbaum (61), a leftist scientist and the first woman ever to become President of the 129 million-strong nation, will take office on October 1. With the country facing numerous challenges internally and externally, some evangelicals express hope and pray for God's wisdom to address issues, while pro-life groups have raised concerns about the promotion of a culture of death and values that are contrary to the Bible.

As Mexicos leader, Sheinbaum will be tasked with fighting the violence that left almost 190,000 dead during the administration of Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (AMLO), the last President. she has promised "zero impunity". But the challenge her government will face is to rule a country where approximately 80 people are killed daily by criminal groups that control territories with the complicity of some of the authorities.

The new President must also reduce the poverty rate that afflicts a third of the population, mitigate the growing impact of climate change in a country plagued with drought and water shortages, and navigate the nation's complex relationship with the U.S., which is expected to be tense.

Sheinbaum graduated from the School of Sciences of the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico (UNAM), with a major in Physics in 1989. She obtained a Masters in Electrical Engineering from the main center of studies of that country and was the first woman ever to start the doctoral program in Engineering in 1994, during which she did research in the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California. She held her first public office in 2000, as Secretary of Environment, invited by the then elected-chief of government of the DF (now called Mexico City), Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. In 2015, she was elected as delegate for Tlalpan, a district of the countrys capital. By 2018, she became the first woman to be chief of government of Mexico City.

Despite being promoted during her campaign team as a progressive woman, she held some meetings with representatives of over 30,000 evangelical churches registered with the Government Secretary of Mexico at the start of her presidential campaign in September last year. Sheinbaum made a pact with the Encuentro Solidario party (PES), the main means of parliamentary representation for the Evangelical right in Mexico.

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Paradoxically, Encuentro Solidario which lost its political registration in 2021 and was part of Morena, a coalition supporting the governing party for the 2018 election is openly against abortion, same-sex marriage and adoption by same-sex couples. Yet, both then and during this new election, Evangelical groups supported Morena, which in only ten years not only won the Presidency of the country two times first, with Lopez Obrador, now with Sheinbaum but is consolidating itself as the main political force in Mexico.

Pastor Gilberto Rocha Margain, of the Centro Cristiano Calacoaya, explained to Christian Daily Internaitonal that Morena, though it is a name that stands for Movimiento de Regeneracion Nacional (National Regeneration Movement), was intended as an allusion to the Virgin of Guadalupe, the morena (dark skinned), mother of Mexico for the Catholic world. So Morena is a brand, an image intended to reach all Mexicans. Claudia Sheinbaum had to follow the line of discourse of the last President, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. So much so, that at some point, she wore a skirt with the image of the Virgin of Guadalupe printed on it; though she has publicly said that she does not believe in God, and is not a Catholic, nor a Christian, nor a Jew.

Margain added that Morena, as a party, promotes death. Some months or maybe even weeks ago, they published an image known as Saint Death with a menacing warning message not to oppose President Lopez Obrador. [And that] in an Aztec culture, where these beliefs carry much more weight than in other Latin American cultures.

Besides, Morena has performed Satanic rituals inside the Senate and the Chamber of Representatives, which violates the premises of a secular state and not supporting any specific faith, the pastor said.

All of these incidents are starting to cause unease in pro-life organizations that foresee a future of politics that they believe will neither defend life nor be positive for the Mexican people.

The first to express this concern was Aaron Lara, chairman of the Ibero-American Congress for Life and Family, who said, There are many things to consider in order to understand what happened, but the fact is that President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador won; his C plan won, and they will have a majority in Congress, with which he will be able to make constitutional changes without opposition.

Lara noted as remarkable that Xiomara Castro, President of Honduras, was the first leader to send her greetings to Mexicos president-elect. The first one to congratulate her was madam President of Honduras, Xiomara Castro, a staunch leftist. Morena won, that is the reality we are living. A party that promotes the cult of death, that is pro-abortion, pro-gender ideology, anti-Christian, has received from the majority of the country (including a vast sector of Evangelical churches) the endorsement to govern following that philosophy, he said.

Christian Daily also spoke with the chairman of the Confraternidad Evangelica de Mexico (CONEMEX), Julian Hernandez Moreno, who struck a different tone and said that the president-elect is a person who prepared herself for this and who, with Gods help, with the Mexicans help and the support of the Christian churches, will move forward.

Sheinbaum has sometimes agreed with Evangelical churches, he points out, and said Mexicans should placing everything in Gods hands with strong trust.

Evangelical churches have always prayed for our government leaders, that they be tools used by God, so that, through them, the country may prosper. Evangelical churches play an important role in health, politics, education and peace, he said.

We hope to continue to cultivate that relationship as government and Evangelical churches, he added and expressed hope for a prosperous relationship in the future.

"What CONEMEX expects from the authorities is to provide care to all people, and especially, to Christian churches. Far from fear, to team up for the good of our country, cultivating spiritual and universal values, promoting life, family and religious freedom, he said.

While Sheinbaums presidency has not started yet, the expectations about how her administration will govern is cause for much speculation. What is certain is that Morena has consolidated power that will be difficult for any opposition to challenge.

As Sofia Collington, a Mexican political analyst and lecturer at the Queen Mary University of London, said to BBC Mundo: What happened [during the election] shows that Morena is here to stay and goes beyond AMLOs popularity. Today, it is posed as the majority party in Mexico with no other political force that can even come close in terms of votes.





Originally published on Diario Cristiano, Christian Daily International's Spanish edition.
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

A large scale survey which examines UK employee engagement has found that a third of people are distracted at work due to their personal finances; they were also more likely to report unmanageable job stress.

The Engage for Success (EfS) UK Employee Engagement Survey 2023 received responses from more than 3,000 people. The annual survey, run in partnership with Nottingham Business School, part of Nottingham Trent University, began in 2022 to measure UK employee engagement levels following the pandemic. The results of the survey are translated into an EFS Engagement Index score, which is calculated using three questions that assess satisfaction, advocacy, and loyalty. The latest results show a stagnation in engagement, with the score remaining at 62%. This suggests that UK employees are showing up but not fully engaged. However, these scores were impacted by the actions of organizations. Respondents who agreed that senior leaders and managers adequately prioritized people's issues showed significantly higher engagement scores. They were more likely to hold positive views about their organization's culture, ethics, honesty, openness, and change management capabilities. Additionally, they felt their well-being, professional development, and psychological safety were valued.

In contrast, two in five respondents did not feel this way, leading to negative views of the organization and higher levels of unmanageable job stress. This stress was notably seen among those experiencing issues due to cost of living, people with long term health issues and workers from the LGB+ community.

This was reflected in an EFS Engagement Index score of 55% from respondents who reported having no access to well-being resources, compared to those who reported having five or more well-being resources available achieving a score of 73%.

The survey also examined four key aspects of organizational practiceswell-being, voice, learning and development, and social engagementand revealed that the greater the number of practices offered in each aspect, the higher the EFS Engagement Index score. For example, respondents with no learning and development opportunities had an EFS Engagement Index score of 47%, while those with five or more opportunities scored 75%.

Dr. Sarah Pass, senior lecturer in Human Resources Management at Nottingham Business School and Engage for Success advisory board member, said, "Along with emphasizing the importance of employers offering their workers a full package of support, our findings revealed the critical role of line managers and workplace relationships in fostering and nurturing engagement levels.

"Line managers are the primary link between the employee and the employer, significantly influencing how employees perceive their work environment and their overall engagement.

"However, there are ongoing issues of training, accountability, and responsibility that are hindering the positive impact of line managers. Addressing these issues can help line managers better support their teams, leading to higher engagement levels and a more positive workplace culture."

The report recommends that organizations must prioritize individual well-being, adopt a human-centered approach to employee experience, and re-evaluate organizational purpose.

Dr. Pass added, "Investing in their workforce will help businesses build resilience during economic uncertainty and promote sustainable growth."

David MacLeod OBE, co-founder of Engage for Success, said, "Given the challenges the UK now faces we must harness much more of the untapped potential in all our employees both in the public and private sectors. This research makes clear that we have much to do, but also that best practice already exists, offering us all a way forward to significantly improve organizational outcomes in all sectors of our economy."

Nita Clarke OBE, director of the Involvement and Participation Association and co-founder Engage for Success, said, "Positive employee engagement must underpin every national effort to improve our productivity. This immensely valuable survey points to what worksbut also indicates we have a long way to go."

James Court-Smith, director at business analytics firm, Stillae, NTU Visiting Fellow, and Engage for Success board member, said, "How we feel about work affects how we show up there. The job itself, the wider career, our boss and colleagues all impact our self-worth and our health, either positively or negatively.

"It should be no surprise that this has a direct impact on how productive we are, how much ownership we take and what discretionary effort we apply at work.

"Engagement offers an opportunity to measure and manage this dynamic, in order to boost organizational performance. The impact on performance is there regardless, employers can choose to seize the opportunity by working on engagement, or choose to ignore it, and leave attainable performance gains on the table."
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:

Fig. 1. (A) Location of our marine and terrestrial study sites within the context of regional oceanic and atmospheric circulation in the southwest Pacific and Southern Oceans; (B) relative positions of marine and terrestrial sites; (C) topographic situation of our terrestrial site in the Spenser Mountains. Credit: Earth and Planetary Science Letters (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.epsl.2024.118802

Recent assessments suggest the ocean current known as Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) is slowing down, with collapse a real possibility this century.

The AMOC is a globally important current in the Atlantic Ocean, where surface water moves northward as part of the Gulf Stream and transports warm water towards the Arctic. There it cools and sinks to return southward as a deep ocean current.

Collapse of the AMOC would have a devastating effect on the climate in Europe. Temperatures in the UK and Scandinavia could drop by 515C in a matter of decades.

However, because Earth's climate system is interconnected, these impacts could have a global reach. Our new research shows past changes in AMOC have had a significant impact on temperatures in New Zealand and across the southern hemisphere. These results imply that future collapse of AMOC may accelerate ongoing warming trends.

Lessons from the past

Between 20,000 and 10,000 years ago, Earth transitioned from peak ice-age conditions to a climate more like today's. This interval featured rising global temperatures, melting ice sheets and climbing sea levelsall phenomena associated with present-day climate change.

Evidence from ice cores in Greenland and marine sediments in the North Atlantic suggests this natural warming event featured several abrupt changes associated with AMOC variability.

Using this interval as a natural experiment, we have undertaken research to learn more about how AMOC variability can affect climate in New Zealand.

To reconstruct how air temperature changed in New Zealand, we examined the past extent of mountain glaciers using evidence preserved in the landscape. Glaciers grow and shrink primarily in response to changing air temperature, which affects the annual balance of snowfall and snow or ice melt. As glaciers change in size, they deposit moraines (rock debris) in the landscape, which can persist for tens of thousands of years.

We combined these land-based observations with reconstructions of sea-surface temperature in the Tasman Sea, which we derived from microfossils (smaller than one millimeter in size) known as foraminifera. These microfossils come in a wide range of species and each has a preferred water temperature.

We quantified changes in foraminifera species in a core of marine sediment to trace how local temperature in the Tasman Sea has varied through time.

Global climate connections

Our results show that changes in air and sea-surface temperature followed a similar pattern in the New Zealand region as Earth warmed following the last ice age.

Warming began in both air and sea about 18,000 years ago, followed by a cooling event about 14,500 years agothe Antarctic Cold Reversal. The timing of these changes matches past changes in the AMOC, as recorded in geological climate records from the North Atlantic region.

We examined computer simulations to test the physical connection between changes in the AMOC and New Zealand's climate. These simulations used a physics-based climate model that captures atmospheric and ocean circulation and their interaction.

The model simulations support our geological evidence, showing air and sea surface temperatures in New Zealand respond sensitively to changes in AMOC intensity. When the AMOC weakens and Europe cools, New Zealand and the southern mid-latitudes undergo warming, and vice versa.

The models also indicate changes in the AMOC are transported rapidly, within decades, to New Zealand via shifting global wind systems. Changes in the AMOC disrupt the temperature gradient between the hemispheres, which is a key control for the strength of westerly wind belts in the southern hemisphere, between the latitudes of 40S and 60S where New Zealand is.

The westerly winds are important for New Zealand's climate. They control the path of atmospheric storms and regional ocean currents.

Stronger winds over New Zealand bring regional cooling, as more storms track over the country and warm ocean currents are diverted away from the Tasman Sea into the south Pacific. In contrast, when the AMOC weakens, New Zealand has clearer skies and the Tasman Sea receives more tropical water masses, causing regional warming.

Future implications

Scientists have identified several "tipping points" in Earth's climate system that may be triggered by human-caused climate change. Once these thresholds are crossed, the consequences cannot be easily undone.

Climbing greenhouse gas concentrations have raised air temperatures in New Zealand, and globally, by about 1.1C since the late 19th century. Projections suggest New Zealand may end this century 1C to 3C warmer than now. However, these estimates do not include the potential impacts of a future AMOC collapse.

Our insights from the recent geological past show this AMOC tipping point has global reach, and could accelerate future warming in New Zealand.

More information: Shaun R. Eaves et al, Coupled atmosphere-ocean response of the southwest Pacific to deglacial changes in Atlantic meridional overturning circulation, Earth and Planetary Science Letters (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.epsl.2024.118802 Journal information: Earth and Planetary Science Letters

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
WILDWOOD  New limits to the possession of backpacks on the beach and Boardwalk could be in the works, under an ordinance on the agenda for the Board of Commissioners meeting at 5 p.m. Wednesday at City Hall, 4400 New Jersey Ave.

The amendment to city code is one of several ordinances set for introduction. Before taking effect, an ordinance must be formally introduced in a vote of the governing body, be published and be approved in a final vote after a mandatory public hearing.

It also includes an amendment to penalties for curfew violations.

Were trying to help the cops police the Boardwalk, said Deputy Mayor Steve Mikulski, the citys public safety commissioner.

He said backpacks will be banned in an effort to prevent juveniles from bringing alcohol or possibly weapons onto the Boardwalk.

The ordinance is aimed at juveniles but will impact everyone, he said.

Its for everybody. A backpack is a backpack, he said. An ordinance applying to only some people would be unlikely to hold up in court. There are some exceptions, Mikulski said, such as for items that are of a medical necessity or for journalists who could argue a First Amendment right to carry camera equipment or other gear in a backpack.

Mikulski said the Wildwood ordinance is similar to backpack bans enacted in other communities.

Wildwood police video shows chaotic scenes on the Boardwalk Wildwood police Chief Joseph Murphy says closing the Boardwalk after midnight over Memorial Day weekend prevented more crimes. "The truth of it is, is that it worked," he said Monday.

In April, Wildwood amended its curfew for those under 18, setting an earlier time to match North Wildwoods timing after the neighboring community set its own 10 p.m. curfew this spring.

At the time, Mayor Ernie Troiano Jr. said there could be significant problems with having a curfew later than that of a neighboring community.

In 2023, in response to that years problems with juveniles, Wildwood set a midnight curfew for those under 18, moved an hour earlier than the previous 1 a.m. curfew.

In previous interviews, police Chief Joseph Murphy indicated he planned to present recommendations for changes to the rules on the Boardwalk in hopes of limiting problems with juveniles.

According to Mikulski, there will be a police representative at the meeting to answer questions.

Wildwood was among the communities that reported significant disruptions from a large number of teens and older young people on the Boardwalk over Memorial Day weekend. The city declared a state of emergency after midnight Sunday and closed the Boardwalk after a series of fights and other problems.

Last year, Ocean City enacted a ban on backpacks and other bags on its Boardwalk after 8 p.m., at which point the community also restricted access to its beaches. Part of the stated reason for the ban was to prevent underage people from bringing alcohol to the Boardwalk, which officials say contributes heavily to problems experienced in recent summers.

Under current state guidance, police are not allowed to search juveniles based on the suspicion that they are in possession of marijuana or alcohol.

Ocean City officials call for more restrictions for teens but say city is safe The city is safe, local and county officials said Thursday during a news conference on the Boardwalk  safe for families, safe for teens and safe for visitors. But it could be safer with tighter restrictions on the underage use of alcohol and marijuana.

Wildwood has sought to step up the police presence on the Boardwalk, and on Tuesday announced the hiring of three new patrol officers. Murphy has said the city also hired additional summer officers, and is looking for more.

Police presence on the Boardwalk has led to an unusual exchange between Wildwood police and New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin, who said after Memorial Day weekend that Wildwood did not have sufficient officers on the Boardwalk to head off incidents.

Soon after, Murphy posted a statement that the city had 40 officers assigned to the Boardwalk that weekend, and an agreement with the Cape May County Sheriffs Office to provide additional officers to support the city.

In the weekends following Memorial Day, shore towns have not reported similar levels of disruption, but there have been issues. This week, North Wildwood police released images of two young men wanted in an alleged aggravated assault at 26th Avenue and the Boardwalk on Saturday.

Wildwood and North Wildwood share a Boardwalk, and Wildwood police shared the North Wildwood news release on its social media page.

Also on the agenda are ordinances for introduction requiring licenses and registration of businesses selling electronic smoking devices, governing animals on the Boardwalk and other rules.

At a May meeting, the city Board of Commissioners discussed the use of service animals at businesses and on the Boardwalk, after complaints from some residents about dogs and other animals. In some cases, the residents alleged, the animals are not trained to help the owner, but there are significant limits on what can be asked about service animals.

Service dogs have more rights than we do, to be honest with you, Troiano said at the meeting. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, service animals must be allowed the same access to public areas as members of the public.

Unruly weekend brings new concerns to Ocean City, Wildwood and other shore towns Despite serious problems with juveniles in beach communities, businesses and local officials say the turnout for Memorial Day weekend marks a solid start for the summer of 2024.

As of 2011, only dogs are recognized as service animals, although speakers at the Wildwood meeting spoke of emotional support parrots and other animals being brought to businesses and other areas where pets would otherwise be banned.
OCEAN CITY  Community members are set to gather Saturday afternoon to celebrate Juneteenth, a holiday marking the end of slavery in the United States.

Plans are for an outdoor celebration from 1 to 5 p.m. on Haven Avenue between Seventh and Eighth streets, part of the citys historically Black neighborhood. The event is free.

Juneteenth has been described as Americas second independence day, marking the end of slavery in a remote outpost of the former Confederacy, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation took effect.

On June 19, 1865, Union Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger ordered the enforcement of Abraham Lincolns proclamation in Texas after arriving in Galveston. The holiday is often celebrated on the third Saturday in June.

There had been Juneteenth celebrations in Ocean City in the 1990s, which were brought back several years ago only to be interrupted again by the COVID-19 pandemic and the limits placed on public gatherings.

This years event is set to include music, stand-up comedy performances, speakers, vendors and food trucks, according to details released by city officials.

Cape May church celebrates freedom on Juneteenth CAPE MAY  Its been more than 20 years since members of Macedonia Baptist Church organized 

On Sunday, the Juneteenth commemoration continues at the Chris Maloney Lecture Hall in the Ocean City Free Public Library, 1735 Simpson Ave., with a program by storyteller and folklorist Karen Queen Nur Abdul-Malik, including a history of Elmina Castle in Ghana. The event begins at 3 p.m.

Abdul-Malik, of Willingboro, Burlington County, is one of five South Jersey recipients of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts inaugural New Jersey Heritage Fellowships. Organizers describe her as a nationally renowned teaching artist who has traveled throughout the United States and beyond.

Visit oceancityartscenter.org for more information or to reserve a seat, or call 609-399-7628.

Also this weekend, the city has a health and fitness expo from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday at the Music Pier, Moorlyn Terrace and the Boardwalk. The free event includes demonstrations of yoga and jiu jitsu, an athleisure fashion show, health food, blood pressure screenings, speakers and vendors.

Close Young members of the Macedonia Baptist Church in Cape May participated in a Juneteenth event on Monday. Shown are Nicholas Beaman, Ethyn Williams, Mila Cruz, Adlihanna Beamon and Sherry Hazel, the youth ministry leader at the church. Theodore Bryan, a retired teacher of African American History, welcomes participants to the Macedonia Baptist Church in Cape May for a Juneteenth celebration. Young members of the Macedonia Baptist Church in Cape May participated in a Juneteenth event on Monday. The Macedonia Baptist Church in Cape May celebrated Juneteenth on Monday, marking the end of slavery in the United States. Young members of the Macedonia Baptist Church in Cape May participated in a Juneteenth event on Monday. Young members of the Macedonia Baptist Church in Cape May participated in a Juneteenth event on Monday. Young members of the Macedonia Baptist Church in Cape May participated in a Juneteenth event on Monday. Peyton Facey was one of the youth speakers at a Juneteenth event in Cape May on Monday, at the Macedonia Baptist Church. Young members of the Macedonia Baptist Church in Cape May participated in a Juneteenth event on Monday. Bonnie Evans serves up the punch at Mondays Juneteenth event at Macedonia Baptist Church in Cape May. Bonnie Evans serves up the punch at Mondays Juneteenth event at Macedonia Baptist Church in Cape May. Young members of the Macedonia Baptist Church in Cape May participated in a Juneteenth event on Monday. Young members of the Macedonia Baptist Church in Cape May participated in a Juneteenth event on Monday. GALLERY: Cape May church celebrates freedom on Juneteenth Young members of the Macedonia Baptist Church in Cape May participated in a Juneteenth event on Monday. Shown are Nicholas Beaman, Ethyn Williams, Mila Cruz, Adlihanna Beamon and Sherry Hazel, the youth ministry leader at the church. Theodore Bryan, a retired teacher of African American History, welcomes participants to the Macedonia Baptist Church in Cape May for a Juneteenth celebration. Young members of the Macedonia Baptist Church in Cape May participated in a Juneteenth event on Monday. The Macedonia Baptist Church in Cape May celebrated Juneteenth on Monday, marking the end of slavery in the United States. Young members of the Macedonia Baptist Church in Cape May participated in a Juneteenth event on Monday. Young members of the Macedonia Baptist Church in Cape May participated in a Juneteenth event on Monday. Young members of the Macedonia Baptist Church in Cape May participated in a Juneteenth event on Monday. Peyton Facey was one of the youth speakers at a Juneteenth event in Cape May on Monday, at the Macedonia Baptist Church. Young members of the Macedonia Baptist Church in Cape May participated in a Juneteenth event on Monday. Bonnie Evans serves up the punch at Mondays Juneteenth event at Macedonia Baptist Church in Cape May. Bonnie Evans serves up the punch at Mondays Juneteenth event at Macedonia Baptist Church in Cape May. Young members of the Macedonia Baptist Church in Cape May participated in a Juneteenth event on Monday. Young members of the Macedonia Baptist Church in Cape May participated in a Juneteenth event on Monday.
TRENTON  State Sen. Michael Testa, R-Cape May, Cumberland, Atlantic, is hosting a virtual public meeting Wednesday morning on safety concerns at the Jersey shore, citing disturbances over Memorial Day weekend.

The past two weekends have been relatively quiet, but shore towns reported significant disruptions over the holiday weekend kicking off the tourism season for 2024, including multiple fights involving young people on the boardwalks of Wildwood and Ocean City.

In one instance in Ocean City, a 15-year-old boy was hospitalized after being stabbed in the stomach, and in Wildwood, officials declared a state of emergency and cleared the Boardwalk on Sunday night.

A Pleasantville juvenile was later charged in the Ocean City incident. Because of the age of the accused, the juveniles name was not released.

Testa has invited business owners, elected officials and law enforcement representatives to testify at the virtual hearing, which will be streamed live on the Facebook page of the New Jersey Senate Republicans.

The event is scheduled to start at 10 a.m. Wednesday, June 12.
A Muslim factory owner in Pakistan on Thursday (June 6) tortured to death an 18-year-old Catholic worker for leaving the job against his wishes, family members said.

Waqas Salamat had started working at the plastic bottle manufacturing factory owned by Haji Muhammad Saleem in Lahores Islampura area two months ago. Salamat died when Saleem, his son Umar Saleem and three Muslim workers forcibly took him to the factory and tortured him for hours with electric shocks, the victims mother said.

After Waqas Salamat had stopped going to the factory on June 1 because he believed he could find better work, Saleem on June 4 summoned his parents to the factory and pressured them to make him return, said his mother, Rubina Salamat.

When we told him that he didnt want to come back, Saleem suddenly accused Waqas of committing a theft worth millions of rupees, she told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News. We told Saleem that our son was not a thief, but Saleem refused to listen. We even asked him to show us any evidence that incriminated Waqas, but nothing was produced before us.

When Saleem threatened to have Waqas Salamat arrested on a fake theft charge, Rubina Salamat told him that, although her son was innocent, they were willing to compensate Saleem the alleged damages in installments, she said.

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She offered to pay the installments by deducting 7,000 rupees (US$25) per month from the salary of another son who worked at the factory, 13-year-old Awais Salamat, in exchange for Saleem releasing Waqas Salamat, she said.

Saleem rejected the offer and insisted that Waqas Salamat must resume work at the factory, and the parents agreed to talk with him.

On Thursday (June 6), Waqas Salamat went to meet a potential employer near Saleems factory, and Umar Saleem spotted him.

He informed his father, and they sent some workers to bring Waqas to the factory, where they bound his hands and feet, Rubina Salamat said.

Factory workers Shahzad, Bilal and Shani and the two owners started beating my son mercilessly with plastic pipes and other objects, she told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News. My son Awais was also present in the factory and witnessed the entire episode, but there was nothing he could do to save his elder brother.

The assailants also gave Waqas Salamat electric shocks, she said.

The torture was so excruciating that my son collapsed. Seeing the situation, Saleem told my son Awais to clean Waqass body with water and then run home and bring us to the factory, Rubina Salamat said. As soon as Awais informed me, I ran towards the factory, but my son had succumbed to the torture by that time. There was nothing I could do to save his life.

The factory owners and workers fled before police arrived, she said. Islampura police registered a First Information Report against Saleem, his son, and the three workers and sent Waqas Salamats body for autopsy.

Our financial condition is such that we didnt even have enough money to arrange for his burial, Rubina Salamat said, sobbing. I literally begged my relatives to loan me money so that I could put my sons body to rest.

Her oldest son Kashif Salamat, a sweeper for the Lahore Waste Management Company, said police arrested one worker while the remaining four, including the owner and his son, obtained pre-arrest bail.

The factory is locked, and the owner Saleem and his son are absconding, Kashif Salamat told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News. We are extremely poor people and do not have the means to pursue the legal case against them.

Muslim employers commonly exploit impoverished Christian workers, believing they do not have the resources or status in the 96-percent Muslim country to obtain justice. Kashif Salamat and his mother appealed to Christians for help.

Waqas was my beloved son and my biggest support, Rubina Salamat said. He would often tell me that hell work very hard to make life easier for us, but I never imagined that he would be taken from me like this. Im very poor, and with Waqas gone, my familys financial situation has further deteriorated. I humbly ask my Christian brothers and sisters to support us in getting justice for my innocent son.

Her husband, Salamat Masih, has long been ill and unable to work, while she works as a maid in two houses, earning 7,000 rupees (US$25) per month, she said. The couple has five children, three of whom are married and live separately.

Pakistan ranked seventh on Open Doors 2024 World Watch List of the most difficult places to be a Christian, as it was the previous year.
On the second floor of the Figge Art Museum, there will be new exhibits for locals to check out, thanks to a hefty donation from two local art collectors.

Pieces from the collection will be shown this summer in the Linda and J. Randolph Lewis Wing on the second floor, the museum announced Tuesday, after the Lewises donated 44 art pieces to the museum. In total, the art in the donation is valued over $14 million, the museum said.

The Lewises, of Davenport, have been long-time art collectors. Their collection has pieces from artists like Romare Bearden, Milton Avery, Marsden Hartley, Helen Frankenthaler and Alice Neel.

"We are deeply grateful to Dr. Randy and Linda Lewis for their visionary contribution, Melissa Mohr, interim executive director at the Figge, said in the announcement. The impact of this gift on our museum and community cannot be overstated.

"The Linda and J. Randolph Lewis Wing will stand as a cornerstone of the Figges mission to bring art and people together."

The museum said the artwork will fill "crucial gaps" in the Figge galleries.

Joshua Johnson and Vanessa Sage, co-senior curators at the Figge, said in the announcement that, while the museum already has a wide array of regionalist, Spanish colonial and Haitian art, this donation will help expand on the museum's collection of influential 20th and 21st century American artists.

The Lewises were raised in Ontario, Canada, and have lived in Davenport for 36 years. They have long been supporters of the museum.

In a statement in the release, the Lewises said they hope the donation will encourage others to consider using their art collections to benefit the community.

"It just seems easy to do this, and to know that people will enjoy it, and that it will be here for a long time," they said. "When you are nearing the end of your life  and we are  you start to think about what youre leaving behind, what of value you have to leave future generations.

"It makes us feel good to give back to the community."

Photos: Rock Island QC Art Alley Murals
The Pennington County Commission certified the results from the June 4 primary election on Monday in a meeting lasting about an hour and 10 minutes.

Other than a one-vote discrepancy in a school board race, the official results reflected the unofficial results reported immediately after the election. The county auditor corrected the discrepancy during the meeting.

Votes must be canvassed within six calendar days after the close of any election, according to state law. Pennington County Auditor Cindy Mohler read the results to the commissioners, all of whom attended the meeting and voted unanimously in favor of certification.

"We always canvass every year," said District 3 Commissioner Deb Hadcock. "That's just to trust but verify that the auditor has done her job and done it correctly with her workers and her team of people on the votes this year."

The completion of the certification started a three-day deadline for candidates to request recounts. A local or legislative race is eligible for a recount if the margin between candidates is 2% or less of the total vote.

Three races in Pennington County are eligible for a recount  the District 4 Pennington County Commission Republican primary, the state Senate Republican primary in District 34, and the Ward 1 Hill City Council election.

One-vote discrepancy in school board election corrected

The canvass revealed a one-vote discrepancy in the Rapid City Area Schools board election, which Mohler corrected during the meeting.

Katy Urban won Area 7 with 1,088 votes, ousting incumbent Kate Thomas, who received 736 votes.

The canvass report presented to the commission Monday showed a total of 1,087 votes for Urban. As Mohler read from her documents, commissioners noticed the report showed for Thomas was 225 votes in Precinct 1-4 while the auditor's results showed 226.

After checking the votes, Mohler said the discrepancy stemmed from a provisional ballot that was not included in the original canvass print-out. A staff member reprinted the report to properly include the vote before the commission voted to certify the election.

Pennington County Commission races

Ron Weifenbach won Pennington County Commission District 2 with 867 votes over current board president Lloyd LaCroix who received 410 votes.

Jerry Wayne Derr won District 4 with 790 votes, followed by 767 votes for Todd Trask and 503 for Eric Hansen.

Trask could request a recount. However, he told the Journal on Monday he does not have plans to ask for a recount.

State legislative districts

The Republican primary Senate race in District 34 could also be subject to a recount. The district consists entirely of Pennington County voters. Taffy Howard won the election with 1,598 votes. Jason Green gathered 1,564 votes  34 less than Howard.

The Journal reached out to Green through his campaign website to ask if he intends to ask for a recount but did not hear back by the time this article was published.

The commission also certified the Republican primary votes for state senator in Legislative Districts 27, 30, 33, and 35 and Republican primary votes for state representative in Legislative Districts 30, 32, and 34.

Districts 32, 34, 35 are located solely in Pennington County. The other districts involve surrounding counties as well as Pennington County.

The official results in the Pennington County districts reflected the results initially reported after the election.

District 32  Republican primary, House of Representatives, two seats

Winner: Steve Duffy (I)  870 votes  40%

John Robert James  596 votes  28%

Winner: Brook Kaufman  699 votes  32%

District 34  Republican primary, Senate, one seat

Jason Green  1,564 votes  49%

Winner: Taffy Howard  1,598 votes  51%

District 34  Republican primary, House of Representatives, two seats

Winner: Heather Baxter  1,766 votes  35%

Winner: Mike Derby (I)  1,864 votes  37%

Becky Drury (I)  1,415 votes  28%

District 35  Republican primary, Senate, one seat

Winner: Greg Blanc  973 votes  55%

Curtis Nupen  112 votes  6%

Michael A. Walsh (I)  692 votes  39%

Southern Hills

Jacob Rapp won the Hill City School Board race for District 51-2 with 441 votes. Carmen Ronish claimed 343 votes, and Karen Street received 235.

Justin Thiry narrowly won the race to represent Ward 1 on the Hill City County with 74 votes. Steven Jarvis brought in 72 votes. Jarvis could request a recount due to the tight margin.

Debbis Siebert won Ward 2 for Hill City Council with 60 votes. John Johnson received 35 votes.

The Pennington County Commission also verified its 69 votes in the Custer School Board District 16-1 election. According to the South Dakota Secretary of State, Heath Reindl and Jeff Barnes won the two seats with 1,122 and 991 votes respectively. Jeffery Prior lost with 895 votes. The vast majority of the votes came from Custer County voters.

Custer also held an election for Ward 1 on their city council. Custer County was in charge of the vote. The South Dakota Secretary of State shows Dixie Whittaker won with 97 votes against Bruce Miller, who received 67 votes.

Presidential primary

Democratic Pennington County voters supported President Joe Biden in the primary. About a fifth of the total 2,799 votes were split between his three competitors.

Biden received 2,266 votes  80.9%. Marianne Williamson received 267 votes  9.5%. Dean Phillips received 165 votes  5.9%. Armando Perez-Serrato received 101 votes  3.6%.

Additionally, the commission certified results for Republican delegates to the state convention and party committeemen and committeewomen.

Pennington County 2024 primary election canvass This is the packet attached to the agenda for a special Pennington County Commission meeting held on June 10 to canvass the primary election r
It happened when a speeding police car jumped a curb and hit Kevin Hoffmann  a police officer who was chasing a suspect on foot. Hoffmann bounced onto the windshield, shattering it. The crash resulted in a traumatic brain injury, a long-term hospital stay and a cloak of anxiety that has affected Hoffmann throughout the 28 years since that fateful day.

As Hoffmann describes it, the crash contributed to his anxiety. When youre a police officer in a high-crime area, you have to be hypervigilant 12 hours each day on the job just to stay alive, he said.

The residual effects of the accident continued to build. Several months ago, an anxiety attack left him feeling partially paralyzed. He couldnt drive, his balance was off and he needed assistance walking.

The attack was triggered by a series of ongoing traumatic events that exacerbated my pre-existing PTSD from my line-of-duty injuries, Hoffmann said. But after being sent in an ambulance to the emergency room and spending an entire day undergoing tests to determine a diagnosis, the doctors were at a loss. They couldnt find anything physically wrong with me.

But Hoffmann knew it was related to the anxiety from his years of serving as a police officer. A healthcare worker referred Hoffmann to the outpatient behavioral health partial hospitalization program at Bon Secours Richmond Community Hospital, one of three locations within Bon Secours Richmond market that offer the program. In addition to the Richmond facility is a location at Bon Secours Southside Medical Center in Petersburg, as well as an adolescent clinic at Bon Secours St. Marys Hospital in Henrico.

The program, the only one of its kind in the East End and Petersburg areas, provides intensive outpatient care and serves as an important step between traditional outpatient care and hospitalized inpatient care. As May was Mental Health Awareness Month, its important to celebrate the difference these programs make in the lives of the people who need them and how they help to improve the overall mental health of the community.

Hoffmann said the intensive group therapy setting of the program is administered by an integrated team of physicians and clinical social workers.

I love this program, Hoffmann said. I used all I learned daily and put it into practice in my daily life until I was able to regroup mentally and physically.

Participants in the program meet from 9 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. Monday through Friday for two weeks. Throughout the day, the group learns about coping methods through art and scream therapy exercises, meditation, muscle refraction and group discussions. Guest speakers present their personal experiences that run the gamut from substance and alcohol issues to depression and anxiety.

I never knew before that there were so many different types of behavior that could help me in such a positive way, Hoffmann said. This program was a game changer for me. And you couldnt pick a more diversified group of individuals who all are experiencing debilitating behavior and mental health issues. That was a connecting point for all of us. We all realized that you dont have to be a police officer or first responder to experience a life-changing event that results in PTSD.

Kevin is a great example of someone who got so overwhelmed with everything life was throwing his way, and what he needed was a supportive environment where he could decompress and get actively involved in his healing process. And that goes for most of our patients as well, said Leigh Shaffer, clinical social worker with the Bon Secours behavioral health partial hospitalization program. We see a lot of people who have so many thoughts, feelings and experiences that they just don't know what to do with. Having a safe place to seek care where trained professionals can walk you through the process of finding a new balance can make a world of difference in understanding how to navigate the world.

Counselors evaluate progress throughout the two-week period and determine whether additional sessions are necessary. Participants can miss no more than three days of any one two-week session, though they can opt out of the program at any time along the way.

Hoffmann, who spent seven weeks enrolled in the program at Richmond, feels incredibly blessed to have had the opportunity to learn more about his anxiety and how to cope with it.

Prior to becoming a police officer, Hoffmann, had received his bachelors degree in photography. When he retired from the force, he began selling real estate before picking up photography again. He said the artform is truly a soothing salve for his pain.

As for the staff of the behavioral health partial hospitalization program, they find much joy in seeing their patients take what theyve learned and incorporate it into their lives, knowing they might have made a small impact. It's an honor to walk beside the members of my community in their journey to healing and wellness, said Meera Doshi, clinical social worker with the Bon Secours behavioral health partial hospitalization program.

Individuals who have experienced a change in behavior, chronic depression, ongoing anxiety or need assessment can call the referral line at 804.270.8468 or visit bonsecours.com for more information.

This content is provided for informational purposes only by the advertiser and is not a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment. Please consult your healthcare provider for medical advice. Any views, thoughts or opinions in this paid post belong solely to the advertiser and do not represent the views of Brand Ave. Studios or its parent company.
The release of The Great Gatsby's cast album has been postponed from June 21 to June 28. All is not lost, however, as Sony Masterworks has published three tracks early: Roaring On, featuring Nick Carraway; Gatsby's heartfelt Past is Catching Up to Me, and his duet with Daisy, My Green Light, are now available on all major streaming platforms.

The musical stars Jeremy Jordans as Jay Gatsby, Eva Noblezeda as Daisy Buchanan, and Noah Ricketts as Nick Carraway. Its music and lyrics were written by Tony nominees Nathan Tysen and Jason Howland, and its book comes from Jonathan Larson Grant winner Kait Kerrigan.

The show premiered in New Jersey in 2023, and officially came to Broadway in April 2024. Its extravagant set and atmosphere were repeatedly lauded in reviews. Also praised were the cast's multidimensional performances and the period costumes. The latter earned Linda Cho her third Tony nomination for Best Costume Design in a Musical.

Producer Chunsoo Shin says the musical "provides a modern audience with the true essence of idealism that is expressed eloquently in the novel and now on stage. The Great Gatsby is a masterpiece that grows and changes as it's experienced by each new generation, in every culture, and people-and yet, still maintains its uniqueness, with its fascinating characters that burst with vitality."

The plot is based on F. Scott Fitzgerald's seminal novel about the mysterious, eccentric millionaire Jay Gatsby, and his pursuit of his past romance, Daisy Buchanan. The story is set in the extravagance of the Roaring Twenties, and features a score blending pop and jazz influences. Following the release of the digital album, the physical CD set will be released on Aug. 2.
Chesterfield County authorities on Tuesday announced the arrest of a man who they say lit multiple brush fires along Iron Bridge Road on Monday evening.

Authorities said Yahaya Kamyuka, 26, admitted to lighting both fires, which spread about two to three acres and required significant resources to extinguish.

Firefighters initially responded to Iron Bridge Road near Kingsland Road at around 5 p.m. Monday for the reports of the fires, authorities said. Witnesses told authorities they had seen a man with a lighter near the flames.

At the scene, emergency crews found fires burning on either side of the road. Firefighters battled the fires for over an hour, authorities said, and requested assistance from the Virginia Department of Forestry, which dispatched a bulldozer to the scene.

Kamyuka was then tracked down by investigators, authorities said. He has been charged with two counts of intentionally setting fire to wood or grass, court records show. He is being held without bond at the Chesterfield County Jail and is next scheduled to appear in court on Sep. 10.

The incident remains under investigation.
12-28-1975 (cutline): Local vegetables are beginning to come in a serious way. The 17th Street market stalls are filling up.

07-09-1981 (cutline): Country delicacies of all sorts, from cantaloupes to green beans, are on sale at the 17th Street Market in Richmond.

08-01-1986 (cutline): The hoedown celebrating the reopening of the Farmers' Market at 17th and Main streets gets under way at noon Saturday with arts, crafts, music by six bands--and farmers, of course.

06-25-1986 (cutline): One of two antique terra cotta bulls' heads is prepared for mounting by Ron Kingery yesterday at the 17th Street Market. The heads, originally in place at a public market at Sixth and Marshall streets, were discovered in the Richmond Surplus Property warehouse. They have been restored by the virginia Commonwealth University art history professor Laurence Pace and a student, Linda Blackwell.

06-21-1969 (cutline): Summer's arrival at 9:55 a.m. today found Elmore Tucker and Arthur Hermann at the 17th Street Market, displaying produce from Hermann's farm at Quinton, New Kent County.

From the Archives: 17th Street Market

The 17th Street Market on the corner on Main and 17th Streets has a long history in Richmond. The site had been a public gathering place since the 1700s and due to its closeness to the James River and Main Street, which was the connection between Richmond and Williamsburg; it was an ideal place for commerce.

In 1779, the Virginia General Assembly officially declared the site as a public market. Decades later, in the 1850s, a larger market building was constructed. The First Market House was constructed during the Civil War in 1856 and originally served as a gathering place for soldiers on both sides of the warfirst Confederates, and later Union troops.

Further renovations came in the mid twentieth century. The First Market building was razed in 1961, and the market was reconstructed as an open air space for vendors, as many of us know it today.
Even the well-intentioned goals of helping new neighbors can be lost in translation.

Chesterfield County, the largest locality in the greater Richmond area, has seen a rise in Hispanic and Latino residents in the past ten years. The Richmond region itself has seen a 143% rise in Latino population since 2013, according to a study done by the Virginia Department of Health.

With these changes comes another barrier that local agencies must navigate as well: language.

As many Spanish-speakers move to the area who dont speak English, local agencies strive to fill the service gap left by the language barrier.

Dalila Medrano, multicultural community engagement coordinator for Chesterfield Countys Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion said Chester is a resource desert within Chesterfield County due to the lack of nonprofits and agencies operating in the area.

There are a lot of challenges because even accessing the Chesterfield food bank is quite a drive, Medrano said. If you dont have transportation, there might be challenges there. Were lucky to have our mobility access program, but still, our residents dont have as many nonprofit partners within that part of the county.

Medrano, who has lived in Chesterfield County her whole life, works with agencies, nonprofits, businesses and places of worship to connect members of the community to services they may need, especially in Chester.

One partner she has worked with in is ProjectHOMES, a housing nonprofit. In conjunction with ProjectHOMES, the county held a community meeting in the majority-Latino neighborhood Bermuda Estates, where residents could bring their concerns forward.

The county also hosted a group called Leap Suenos, which connected Latino youth with Latino entrepreneurs, academics and professionals. It was a one-day event hosted at the Perkinson Center for the Arts in Chester.

You walk away feeling really inspired, in a really innovative mindset, Medrano said. So, we wanted to create that for these youth.

Daniel Alvarado, community development navigator for the YMCA of Greater Richmond, said his agency sees refugees and migrants from countries all over Latin America as well as places in the Middle East come to Chesterfield. He said the language barrier is only the first hurdle non-English speakers must navigate after coming to the United States.

You find out that theres a whole new system you need to go through he said. Jobs, I think thats the biggest issue in our area. I know Richmond is the second highest evicted city in the country, but I think thats because we dont have jobs.

He said lack of proper documentation and English language skills prevent many who are willing and able to work from finding employment.

They all come together, its like a big circle, Alvarado said. Rent, so if cant get a job, you cant pay for your rent, if you cant pay for your rent, you get evicted. If you cant find a place to stay, you cant work. And the circle just goes on and on.

But, Alvarado said, the YMCA in conjunction with other local organizations are trying to bridge these gaps.

The YMCA plans to start English as a second language classes by fall of this year. Plans for financial literacy classes in conjunction with local banks, and reading and writing classes have been made, Alvarado said.

I think in the last two years, through the welcome center that has been happening, weve covered a lot of the physical needs, you know, food, diapers, clothing, he said. But I think we want to get a little bit deeper into the learning access of things.

The YMCA has worked with the Chesterfield County Public Library to host childrens story times in its facilities. But the library has initiatives of its own designed to reach out to Chesterfields Latino community.

Outreach is one of our four goals, said Carolyn Jensen, assistant director of library services for Chesterfield County Public Library. We are always looking to make the library part of everybodys lives.

One of the ways the library has done this is by developing a World Language collection, where readers can find materials in other languages. Library staff from all library branches in Chesterfield County expressed interest in learning Spanish to better assist community members, Jensen said, and started an internal Spanish-language learning group.

Theyre going to be spending some time just getting some basic Spanish language skills so they can communicate a little bit easier, she said. And that wasnt a dictate, that was them on their own seeing the need and wanting to communicate better with people.

Transportation, Jensen said, is something else that can prevent people in the community from accessing the library. Because of this, the library has made plans to convert an ambulance into a mobile library that will go out into underserved parts of the community.

That model is already in place for Citizen and Information Resources, she said. And theyre going to be doing that with a bunch of county services. Were going out to people, so they dont have to try to overcome that transportation barrier.

Medrano recalled one student she met  a young bilingual recent graduate. Medrano said she told her that she tried to apply for college after graduation but couldnt figure out the process. Instead, she worked in a coffee shop.

I asked her, what has been the toughest part?, Medrano said. What she said to me was, Im the oldest in my family, and I just thought that I was going be the one that took us out of this, that took us to the next level, and I cant even figure out how to get into community college.

She said this encounter inspired her to want to make change.

I thought, theres a lot of work to be done, she said.

Despite considerable barriers that effect Richmonds Latino community, though, Medrano said they are defined by so much more.

She said new Latino spaces, like the Latino Farmers Market, highlight the success and community that Latinos find in Chesterfield.
If money talks, the volume is getting loud a week before Virginia primaries for the U.S. Senate and a handful of competitive House districts.

U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., has raised more than $14.6 million for his reelection campaign and had $8.6 million in the bank on May 29. Kaine has more money on hand than all five Republicans vying in the June 18 primary have collected.

Hung Cao, who ran for Congress in the 10th District two years ago, losing by 6 percentage points, has raised $2.5 million and had $202,638 on hand. His closest rivals, Fairfax County attorney Jonathan Emord and Club for Growth executive Scott Parkinson, each has raised more than $930,000, but Parkinson had much more money left to spend: $329,151, compared with about $35,000 for Emord.

5th District GOP

Money is also shouting in the Republican primary in the sprawling 5th Congressional District, which includes part of Hanover County and all of Louisa, Powhatan and Goochland counties in Richmonds outer suburbs.

Rep. Bob Good, R-5th, is trying to survive a high-dollar assault by state Sen. John McGuire, R-Goochland, and a gut punch by former President Donald Trump. Trump not only has endorsed McGuire but also appears in a television ad aimed squarely at Good for initially endorsing Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in the Republican presidential race. The former president also endorsed Cao in the Republican Senate primary.

That is an intensely personal fight, not an ideological fight at all, said Bob Holsworth, a veteran political scientist in Richmond who gives much of the credit to Trump senior adviser Chris LaCivita, a veteran of Virginia Republican politics.

That Trump ad is the equivalent of the Swift Boat ad that LaCivita helped produce to sink the presidential campaign of Sen. John Kerry in 2004, Holsworth said. Well see whether Good can withstand it.

McGuire has raised more than $1.2 million and had about $520,000 to spend in the final week, while Good is not far behind with more than $1.1 million raised but only $168,000 in the bank on May 29, according to the latest financial reports filed with the Federal Elections Commission.

But the outside spending is even higher, with more than $8.5 million in outside expenditures on advertising either for or against one of the candidates. Six political action committees have spent $5 million to attack Good or promote McGuire, led by the American Patriots PAC. Nine outside PACs have spent more than $3.4 million to attack McGuire or promote Good, led by the Conservative Outsider and Protect Freedom, a super PAC associated with Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky.

1st District Dems

Two Democrats are vying for the nomination in the 1st District, which includes parts of Hanover, Henrico and Chesterfield counties in the Richmond area. Leslie Mehta, an attorney from Chesterfield who is running for office for the first time, has raised $188,000, with $65,384 in hand. Former New Kent County Treasurer Herb Jones, who is seeking to challenge Rep. Rob Wittman, R-1st, for the second time, raised $140,867 and reported having $266,278 on hand, including money left over from his campaign in 2022.

In comparison, Wittman, first elected in 2007, raised more than $1.9 million and had more than $1.6 million available to spend.

7th District GOP

Sen. Rand Pauls Protect Freedom PAC has also been a big player in the Republican primary in the 7th Congressional District, a swing district currently represented by Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-7th, who is stepping down after this year to run for governor.

Pauls PAC has spent more than $1 million on behalf of Cameron Hamilton, a former U.S. Navy SEAL who also has the endorsement of Good and other members of the House Freedom Caucus. Hamilton, who lives in Orange, is trying to catch front-runner Derrick Anderson, a Spotsylvania County native and former U.S. Army Green Beret backed by House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and other House Republican leaders. Anderson finished a strong second in the Republican primary in the 7th in 2022.

Anderson is also getting help from outside groups, especially the American Patriots PAC, which has spent almost $813,000 on the race.

The five-way primary has gotten nastier, with Hamilton alleging that Anderson, who practices for a law firm in Washington, D.C., is under investigation for using a federal loan to buy a town house in Alexandria while registering to vote in Spotsylvania. Anderson has denied the allegation. He has tried to tie Hamilton, who resigned from the Department of Homeland Security to run for the seat, to the administration of President Joe Biden and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, whom House Republicans impeached this year. (The Senate dismissed the accusations.)

Anderson has the advantage in name recognition and fundraising, with $1.1 million raised and almost $422,000 in hand on May 29. Hamilton has raised $721,659 and had $177,601 in the bank. Jon Myers, a retired U.S. Marine Corps officer who lives in Stafford County, has raised the most of the three other GOP candidates: about $125,000 through May 29, with less than $25,000 in hand.

Anderson comes in with an advantage, Holsworth said. Its a question of whether Hamilton can make it up in the last week.

7th District Dems

On the Democratic side, Eugene Vindman has raised $5 million for the 7th District primary, in large part because he has national recognition from the role that he and his twin brother, Alexander, played in the first impeachment of Trump. Vindman, who lives in Prince William County near Dale City, entered June with $876,000 in the bank, far outpacing six other contenders.

But four of those contenders have the advantage of having won races before in eastern Prince William, where most voters in the congressional district live.

Prince William Supervisor Andrea Bailey has raised $338,772, with $100,000 in the bank on May 29.

Former Del. Elizabeth Guzman, D-Prince William, who barely lost a state Senate Democratic primary last year and sought the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor in 2021, raised $286,000 and had $104,428 in hand. Prince William Supervisor Margaret Franklin raised $284,000 and had $67,000 in hand. Del. Briana Sewell, D-Prince William, raised $246,691 and had $60,000 in the bank.

Theres a bunch of people in that race, Holsworth said. Without the money, its hard to establish yourself as the sole alternative to the guy who has the most money.

10th District Dems

The field is even larger in the 10th District Democratic primary, with 12 candidates, including six current or former legislators, a former state secretary of education and a well-financed newcomer.

Del. Dan Helmer, D-Fairfax, has the most money, with more than $1.5 million raised and $536,350 in hand, but Sen. Suhas Subramanyam, D-Loudoun, has raised $1 million, with $285,807 in the bank, and has the endorsement of Rep. Jennifer Wexton, D-10th, who is stepping down because of a serious medical condition.

The money helps Helmer, but you have to say Subramanyams endorsement (by Wexton) helps a lot, too, Holsworth said.

Political newcomer Krystle Kaul, based in eastern Loudoun, has raised more than $1 million, more than half of it from loans to her campaign, and had $372,509 for the final push. Former House Speaker Eileen Filler-Corn, D-Fairfax, has raised $971,797 and had $219,000 in the bank. Sen. Jennifer Boysko, D-Fairfax, has raised $541,589, with $95,103 on hand.

Former Secretary of Education Atif Qarni, of Manassas, has raised $363,301, with $80,430 on hand. Del. David Reid, D-Loudoun, raised $279,490 and had $16,219 in the bank.

10th District GOP

Two former U.S. House candidates are battling for the Republican nomination in the 10th District.

Mike Clancy, an eastern Loudoun businessman who ran two years ago, has the fundraising lead with $379,473 and $110,727 in hand. Aliscia Andrews, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran from southern Loudoun who lost to Wexton in 2020, raised $204,332 and had $26,970 to spend. Alex Isaac, a retired U.S. Army officer who lives near Leesburg, raised $163,051 and had $22,997 in hand.

PHOTOS: Lee statue arrives in Richmond after being removed from U.S. Capitol
Electoral Institute announces official mayor winners for Quintana Roo municipalities

Riviera Maya, Q.R.  More than a week after Mexico votes were cast for new political positions around the country, the Electoral Institute of Quintana Roo (Ieqroo) has announced official winners.

The 11 mayor positions for the municipalities of Quintana Roo were part of the official announcements with the presentation of IEQROO certificates that will keep them in position until 2027.

Diego Castanon Trejo will continue with his position as mayor of Tulum after winning a majority of the votes cast June 2. Castanon Trejo received 14,979 votes against 11,847 for his closest opponent, Jorge Portilla.

Mary Hernandez will also keep her mayor position in Felipe Carrillo Puerto after winning reelection. However, the island of Cozumel will see a new mayor in the Fall. Mayor-elect Jose Luis Chacon will take over from current Cozumel mayor Juanita Alonso Marrufo after winning more than 20,000 votes.

Isla Mujeres will continue to move forward with its current mayor who has won reelection. Atenea Gomez will remain in power for another term after INE counted more than 12,300 votes or 80 percent of those cast in her favor.

Eric Borges Yam will also continue to be the mayor of Jose Maria Morelos after winning the position for a second term. Nivardo Mena is another reelected mayor who will continue in the municipality of Lazaro Cardenas.

Playa del Carmen, in the municipality of Solidaridad, will swear in a new mayor this Fall. Estefania Mercado beat out current Playa del Carmen mayor Lili Campos with 77,000 votes. IEQROO announced a 28,425 vote difference between the two candidates.

Jose Alfredo Contreras won his job again with reelection after receiving more than 50 percent of the votes in Bacalar. Current Puerto Morelos mayor Blanca Merari Tziu Munoz will also stay in power for another term. Blanca Merari received a total of 8,984 votes to achieve her reelection as mayor.

The states capital city of Chetumal in the municipality of Othon P. Blanco wont see any changes. After a 30-hour announcement delay due to at least one recount, Ieqroo has announced Yensunni Martinez Hernandez the winner.

In an extremely close vote, Ieqroo has reported Yensunni Martinez with a total of 42,468 votes against her competitor Lidia Rojas Fabro who won 41,870 votes. Lidia Rojas Fabro says she will contest the results.

The city of Cancun will also carry on as it has with its current mayor Ana Paty Peralta. Peralta walked away with more than 242,000 votes or 71 percent cast in the municipality of Benito Juarez on June 2.

She too, will remain in power for another term, taking her into 2027.

I thank each of you for your dedication, support, affection, for walking with me and for knocking on doors. Today, 71 percent of the population voted, 242,000 Cancun residents are in favor of us working as a team, she said during the presentation of her official certificate Monday afternoon.

Thank you to all the people of Cancun who gave us their vote and trust. That is why we are here today. This triumph belongs to everyone, she said.
INM returns two illegal Kazakhstan families to home country

Jaumave, Tamaulipas  Two families making up a total of 10 people have been returned to their home country of Kazakhstan. The National Migration Institute (INM) recently carried out the assisted return of two family units originating from Kazakhstan, Central Asia.

The families were identified as being in Mexico illegally during verification actions at the point known as Jaumave, in the state of Tamaulipas.

The first family unit was made up of two adults and two minors, and the second was made up of two adults and four minors, ten in total.

All 10 were transferred for care and safeguarding to facilities of the Comprehensive Family Development System (DIF) of Ciudad Victoria, Tamaulipas, where they awaited their return.

The INM carried out the procedure for their air transfer to Kazakhstan with the accompaniment of immigration agents in order to ensure their full safety.

The rescued people were in communication with relatives in their country through telephone calls to inform them about their situation and transfer. Likewise, consular authorities of Kazakhstan were present throughout the documentation process.

The INM reiterates its commitment to work within the framework of unrestricted respect for the human rights of migrants in the context of mobility and with adherence to the legal norms that govern the actions of the institution.
Tony Awards announced that Broadway veteran Skylar Astin will host the American Express 'Broadway Fanfare' simulcast event on Sunday, June 16, in Damrosch Park at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.

The event will begin at 6:30 pm, with a pre-show beginning at 7:30 pm. The simulcast will start at 8 pm.

"As someone who has a special place in their heart for theater and the arts - with my roots as a Broadway performer - the opportunity to host the American Express simulcast is truly meaningful," Astin said. "Theater has always been about community, and this event will bring people closer to the incredible talent and magic of Broadway for an unforgettable experience."

Astin played Georg in the original 2006 Broadway production of 'Spring Awakening.' He also played the title role in the CBS series 'So Help Me Todd,' Max in the NBC musical drama series 'Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist,' and Jesse in the 'Pitch Perfect' film franchise.

In 2022, Astin replaced Seymour in the Off-Broadway production of 'Little Shop of Horrors.'

In a joint statement, Heather Hitchens, president and CEO of the American Theatre Wing, and Jason Laks, interim president of the Broadway League, said they are delighted to welcome Astin to host the American Express simulcast event at the 77th annual Tony Awards.

They continued that they were certain Astin would cultivate an evening of excitement among theater fans on Broadway's biggest night.

'Broadway Fanfare' will be available to the public for free. In addition to the awards ceremony livestream, special pre-show performances will be by to-be-announced Broadway actors, a Broadway trivia challenge, and a 'See Your Name in Lights' photo opportunity.

Furthermore, refreshments will be available for purchase. A QR code to digitally access the 2024 Tony Awards program will be sent to each simulcast attendees.
Mexico recovers heritage assets through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Mexico City, Mexico  The Government of Mexico, through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, has received 35 archaeological pieces from a private collection.

According to the opinion made by specialists from the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), the heritage assets, recovered from a private collection during a real estate sale last year, are property of the Mexican nation.

The pieces are originally from the Cintalapa region, Chiapas, where they were made in the Classic Mesoamerican period (100  600 AD).

At the delivery ceremony held June 5, 2024, the consul of Mexico in Seattle, Hector Ivan Godoy Priske, highlighted the importance of the archaeological pieces and their return to the country.

They are not only a testimony to our glorious past, but also a living reminder of the continuity of our cultural identity over time, a bridge that connects our past with our present and future.

We are proud to facilitate the return of these important artifacts to Mexico. This act underlines our commitment to cultural heritage and international cooperation, he said.

The restitution of these pieces is the result of cooperation between the governments of Mexico and the United States, and efforts by the Mexican Consulate in Seattle, headed by the Consul for Protection and Legal Affairs, Jorge Lopez, in collaboration with Homeland Security.

Mexico has implemented a series of legal actions and strategies that have led to the restitution of Mexican cultural heritage located abroad thanks to the joint efforts of the Secretariats of Foreign Affairs and Culture.

Photo: SRE June 5, 2024

The Government of Mexico reaffirms its commitment to recovering Mexican cultural heritage that is found abroad illegally.
On May 19, we published a column about Cox Communications and the email service it has offered for decades to its internet customers. There are many of those in the Roanoke Valley, where Cox is a dominant cable-TV and internet service.

Their Cox email addresses end with the suffix @cox.net. Many use those addresses for banking, online connection with utility providers, or to sign into websites such as Medicare, Social Security or Amazon.com.

But in April, Cox got out of the email support business. It transferred all the remaining @cox.net email addresses to Yahoo email, which is now handling addresses ending in @cox.net. The suffix did not change, though the email provider did.

A chief concern for three customers I spoke to was their @cox.net email contacts didnt transfer during the migration. And now they cant recall all their former contacts.

Chris Duncan, who owns Vinton Computer and Brambleton Computer, said his stores had experienced many visits from frustrated Cox customers seeking a solution. And after the column appeared, I heard from a bunch more.

This issue isnt merely local. Its happening in other states, too  Cox operates in at least 18. In some of those, such as Nevada, Arizona and Georgia, Cox dominates the market. And that may explain why The Washington Post carried an article about Cox-Yahoo email migration problems in the June 7 issue.

The headline was, How a 92-year-old woman beat the cable company (with some help). The customer was Loretta Huckabone, who lives independently in San Diego, California. Shira Ovide, who covers technology for the Post, authored the story.

Huckabone and her son said they worked for days to decipher instructions, juggle passwords and tinker with settings to access Huckabones new Yahoo account. They struggled to get help from Cox or Yahoo.

It was so frustrating that Huckabone considered giving up email. Ive felt like I can handle my life, but technology is an area that I just cannot manage, the article quoted Huckabone.

Her son worked on Huckabones problem for days, remotely from Northern California. Eventually he was able to get his moms email working on her Apple computer. But he couldnt get it working on Huckabones iPad.

After Ovide informed Cox of Huckabones issue, Coxs chief operating officer and a Cox technician personally visited Huckabones home. The executive apologized, while the technician succeeded in straightening out Huckabones email issues, Ovide wrote.

The article ended with Huckabone saying she was grateful for the Cox housecall. But she worried about people who dont have a resolute son or The Washington Post for backup.

Here in Roanoke  where Cox Communications has declined to answer my questions  Im quickly developing a list of those other folks.

We once had 3 Cox accounts: 2 home and 1 business, wrote Butch Johnstone, who lives in the Hollins area of Roanoke County.

After watching much of the hood switch to Glo [Fiber] and listening to Cox put me off on their switch to fiber, we went with Glo beginning of 2023. Cox canceled our email addresses then, despite having 2 other accounts including business. Yes, it will take until Christmas (at least) to switch over all of ones life associated with those email addresses.

Another is Lynn Bryant of Roanoke County.

You can add me to your list of VERY unhappy users, she wrote. I have been a Cox customer for over 20 years and am not eager to change my email address so I transferred to Yahoo. Like with others that you interviewed, my list of contacts did not transfer.

That wasnt a big issue for regular correspondence with Bryants friends, whose email addresses are stored separately on her phone and/or an iPad.

However, I only used my desktop computer for corresponding with the 60 or so people in a mission group that I co-lead.

Even after spending about 3 hours on the phone with the Cox computer experts, I no longer have that contact list and I have no way of recreating it. I am beyond upset.  Shame on Cox for doing this to us.

Monday on the phone, Bryant told me she had been able to find her old Cox.net contacts for the mission group on her desktop computer by opening its Outlook program. The process to move those contacts into Yahoo was painstaking, she added.

One by one, by hand, I copied them all, and entered them in my new Yahoo email contacts list. She added that took a long time, probably all day, one day. Very irritating.

Paul Willard said he kept his @cox.net email address when he moved from Roanoke to New Kent County, east of Richmond.

I did make the transition, but I am now flooded with spam and ads. Its a pure mess, Willard wrote.

While people can still contact me with the Cox email, I am very unhappy with Cox. The internet and cable is expensive and I am looking at other options.  Maybe the solution is to advise our local governments to conduct more due diligence when signing long term contracts for cable.

Harry Surratt of Roanoke County started off his email to yours truly with, I was happy to read your article about the [Cox email migration] mess. But Surratts not too happy about his new email through Yahoo.

Everything your contributors to the article said is true and then some, Surratt added. There were some features on my previous email service that are non-existent on Yahoo. Please keep hounding these corporate idiots and help hold them accountable.

Karen Vietmeier of Roanoke County launched her email message about the Cox-Yahoo email migration with three words: What a mess.

She added: At the least Cox should have told customers how to save their address books to a data file. Most of us would not and didnt think of that, even if you used a program on your computer like Microsoft Outlook to handle your email.

Needless to say, I like others wasted hours trying to recover my email address. I gave up and started using my little used gmail account. Decided to only contact my critical accounts, and made the switch, Vietmeier wrote.

She also offered this advice: As a senior if you have trouble making those changes, get a family member or closely trusted friend to assist you, she added. If you want to be sure your security is maintained, change your passwords after the helper has finished assisting you.

I did not realize the reason I was getting so many emails a day in the last few years was because Cox had removed their spam filters, Vietmeier added. I was getting 50 to 100 a day and I am retired so no work-related type email. Now I dont get any!

Vietmeier concluded: My encouragement to seniors: Ditch Cox or Yahoo and go to gmail. Its worth the effort to make the change.

Thank you, readers, for all the emails, phone calls and other feedback. Please keep it coming.
Pulaski Countys water park, closed after a fire last year, should be reopening Memorial Day of 2025 after insurance granted the county $2.3 million for the rebuild.

Construction will begin late summer or early fall of 2024.

In June 2023, Dublins Evelyn Alexander Water Park was closed after part of its burned down after a cigarette was haphazardly discarded into the mulch. Amanda Hitt was convicted on a misdemeanor charge last September for the incident.

It was heartbreaking that this carelessness has cost the community so much, but its also a teachable moment, Pulaski County Administrator Jonathan Sweet said. It teaches us to value and appreciate the things that are important to us that we may take for granted.

The county plans to build the facility back even better, Sweet said. The shelter will double in size and be extended to the pool deck. Previously, the shelter had been outside of the pool and disconnected from the deck.

Restrooms will be accessible from the inside and outside of the pool to create a safer environment, Sweet said. They are also adding a food truck pad so that they can come and serve those at the park.

The offices for park and recreation will no longer be at Randolph Park, which will create even more community space, Sweet said. The county is unsure where the offices will be relocated to, but there are several potential locations being considered.

Although the loss of the pool was incredibly disappointing, it brought the community even closer together, and they were able to raise over $19,000 during the countys fundraising efforts in 2023, said Shay Dunnigan, the countys director of parks and recreation.

The community rallied and supported not only financially, but in any way they could, Dunnigan said. Were a tight-knit community.

Community members Carli Dotson and Ryan Dean say the park was vital to their experience growing up in Pulaski County and they are sad their children are going two summers without it.

It is so much more than just a body of water, Sweet said. It is a place where roots and heartstrings grow, memories are made and relationships are fostered.

Randolph Park and its pool are a primary asset for the community, especially those with children.

One of the things were most disappointed about is that a lot of our families use this as a healthy outlet for their children and a safe place for their kids to spend their summer days, Sweet said.

Hundreds of children attend the Randolph Park Summer Camp each year, and the pool served as one of the camps primary assets. In the meantime, the campers take field trips to nearby pools, including Dublin Swim Club, Christiansburg Aquatic Center, Wytheville Recreation Center and Claytor Lake State Park.

Claytor Lake State Parks assistant manager and conservation officer, Brody Havens, says the elementary school back-to-school gatherings, which normally take place at Randolph Park, are being hosted at the state park instead.

Its been a pleasure to be able to help the community out in a time of need, said Havens. Its a good partnership to try and maintain whats best for the community.

Hunter Hill is a camp counselor at the park and used to be a camper when the pool was functioning. He says the kids still have a lot of fun and they love the field trips, but they ask about the now-closed pool each time they walk by.

The biggest issue is keeping them cool, summer camp Director Rachel Parker said.

Even though the pool is not operational, the number of summer campers continues to increase. In the first week of the 2024 Summer Camp season, Randolph Park had 226 campers, which is an 18 percent increase from last year. Dunnigan thinks the numbers will continue to increase with the return of the pool.

Deans children attend the summer camp, and while they are sad without the pool, theyre even more excited for it to be back bigger and better, Dean said.

Dotsons children are too young to attend summer camp, but she was a camp counselor when she said she was a teenager and spent every day at the pool.

I have a lot of fond memories there from my teenage years, Dotson said. I hope my kids get to experience that as well.

She says shes excited to see the use of modern technology to upgrade the pool and hopes it will make it even more fun for the next generation.

Its so much more than a pool, but its part of peoples history here and part of peoples lives, Sweet said. Its going to continue to be. Its just taken a two-year pause, but its going to be restored as a community asset thats part of peoples legacy here in Pulaski County.
The Orcutt Union School District has been accepted into the League of Innovative Schools, a national network organized by Digital Promise that connects and supports forward-thinking leaders in education.
Proclamations commending a security guard and four law enforcement officers for their courage and quick response when a man set off a bomb in the Santa Barbara County Courthouse in Santa Maria were presented to the individuals Tuesday by the Board of Supervisors.
LAMAR, S.C.  Darlington County School District celebrated eight schools and their wellness efforts recently as part of Healthy Me  Healthy SC, a partnership between Clemson University and the Medical University of South Carolina.

During the 2023-2024 school year, eight Darlington County schools earned wellness awards because of their participation in MUSC Boeing Center for Childrens Wellness school-based wellness initiative. Since 2010, the Boeing Center has supported schools in creating healthy learning environments through participation in the school-based wellness initiative across the state.

The Initiative works with schools to create a culture of wellness by providing direct support and motivation for K-12 schools and districts as they implement evidence-based policy, system, and environmental strategies targeting improved nutrition, increased physical activity, enhanced social emotional wellness for both students and staff.

Participating schools that meet the minimum requirements received a wellness award that can be used to help grow and sustain their wellness initiatives. In total, $10,500 went to Darlington County Schools for the 2023-2024 school year. The grand prize winner was Lamar-Spaulding Elementary and was awarded $3,000.

With support from our community and the work of our partnering schools, we are achieving our vision, a South Carolina where all children are healthy, succeed in school, and thrive in life, said Dr. Janice Key, MUSC BCCW founder and director.
How to Do It is Slates sex advice column. Have a question? Send it to Jessica and Rich here. Its anonymous!

Dear How to Do It,

Im a bisexual cis female in my 30s married to a (mostly) heterosexual, cis male also in his 30s for over 10 years. We have one toddler together. My entire life I have known I was bisexual and have dated women in the past.

However, I have never had sexual relations with another woman. I married my spouse young and it became very difficult to find a female open to being involved with a married couple. My husband insists he wouldnt need to be included but I would prefer a full partner in a relationship terms or a one-night full threesome situation compared to just me having an additional relationship. Unfortunately, we often fall into whats unpleasantly labeled as unicorn hunters although weve always hoped to just meet someone open to having a real relationship in harmony with the one we already have.

About four years ago in a random college class, I met a beautiful, bisexual girl who would go on to be my absolute best friend. She is inconceivably invaluable to me and I cherish her deeply. I believe she feels exactly the same about me and to an extent, my husband (we are all very close and they often do things together without me with zero concern on my part). She and I share a love of life and music, and we often travel together alone. We share a bed on trips but its never sexual. For the most part, Ive never thought she had any interest in me even that way even though we are both bisexual. And honestly, I dont know if I would WANT her to. We have a great relationship and she is a huge part of our family life. But sometimes she jokes that people think we are a threesome couple in public or has done things that I thought might be flirtatious toward me but never overt.

My husband thinks we are girlfriends who just dont see it. I struggle with this. I love her truly and think shes objectively very beautiful but Ive never felt that sexual chemistry spark between us. But at the same time, Ive never really examined if it could be there because I didnt want to mess with our friendship or presume she likes me in that way. But I worry that what I might be doing is trying to force a sexual feeling for her because everything else checks the boxes of a perfect fit. Im scared to talk to her about it and risk making our friendship awkward. My husband is fully supportive of any situation that may or may not occur. Really, the questions are: Do I feel something for her that I dont want to accept, or am I just trying to put feelings where there arent any because I want a womans companionship in our life?

In Love or Lonely?

Dear In Love or Lonely,

Sometimes we expect one thing (close friendship, or objectively finding someone beautiful) to lead to other things (like sex). This might be showing up in your husbands belief that the two of you are girlfriends who just dont see it, and in your own questioning of whether youre attracted to your friend. On the other hand, we sometimes expect sexual chemistry to develop in a certain wayimmediate, reciprocated lustwhen it can sometimes be a real slow burn.

You seem super in your head about something that really stems from feeling. I dont have an answer to your question, but I have an idea about how you might get more information from yourself. If youre into meditation, some of this may be familiar to you. Get comfortable and tune into your breath. Feel gravity pulling you towards whatever is underneath you. Focus on the sensations youre feeling. From there, focus on your emotions and consider this friend of yours. Im almost certain that thoughts will pop upAm I missing something?, Am I overthinking this?, My husband has these ideasand, when they do, acknowledge them and let them go. Turn your mind back to your emotions. This person is really important to you and a big part of your life. Youll probably have many different emotions about her. Sort through them. Maybe you want to write them down, take a walk or a long shower, or voice them out loud. Since your husband is supportive of any outcome, he might be a good person to talk this through with afterward.

If you decide you want to explore the idea of sexual interaction with your friend, know that you absolutely might make things awkward, but also know that many of the best friendships have been through at least one very awkward patch and still made it through.

How to Get Advice From How to Do It

Submit your questions anonymously here. (Questions may be edited for publication.)

Dear How to Do It,

My husband has been going through a period of lower interest in sex. Hes always had a hotwife kink but it seems like recently hes not up for much sex, but if he is, it has to be about that fantasy. After six months of constant hints and discussion and bringing it up during sex every time, I finally agreed to find a guy and try it out. I didnt enjoy it much. The guy was attractive, considerate, experienced, and made me come, which is hard to do. But I felt like my husband wanted to see me play a part like an actress instead of actually have a sexual experience and so I felt really stressed the whole time. He was more focused on what looked hot to him than what felt good, and I felt like the guy was unexpectedly having to play traffic cop with my husband so he could do the less dramatic but better things to get me off, like oral and gentler angles. He was generous about it but I doubt it ranked as a great experience for him either.

I hadnt had sex with anyone else since we got married eight years ago so everything from using condoms to the size of his dick was unfamiliar. I feel gross after even though I know it wasnt cheating. Meanwhile, my husband has been complaining constantly about the experience because he felt like the guy was paying too much attention to me, and he feels jealous. He asked for this! I feel like I dont have it in me to be patient about his jealousy when I didnt want this in the first place. I would be cool if we took a break from sex right now and just let the weirdness settle but thats not happening. What do I do?

Reluctant Hotwife

Dear Reluctant Hotwife,

Tell your husband that youve got a lot of intense feelings of your own going on after his cuckolding experience and you need some time. Ask for a break from sex right now to let the weirdness settle. And set a boundary around hearing about his complaints for a little while to get a break from that, too.

Help us keep giving the advice you crave every week. Sign up for Slate Plus now.

Dear How to Do It,

My wife and I (both mid-40s, cis-het) have been together for just shy of 20 years (married 18). She has always dealt with depression/anxiety, and in the last couple of years, has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Neither of us could imagine our lives with anyone else. The problem is sex/intimacy. As can be expected with someone whos bipolar, how compatible we are highly depends on where shes at in her mental cycles. When shes on the manic side, I have a hard time keeping up. When shes level, we stay compatible through conversation/compromise. The problem is when shes on the low side, which like other trends, can last months. We become so far apart on anything involving intimacy/sex that Im left wanting for a lot. Logically, I know its a phase. Our time always comes again but for the months shes down, it feels like an eternity.

Shes constantly talking with her doctors and counselor, and the consensus is that shes living as well as could be expected under the circumstances. Non-monogamy isnt in the cards for us. Weve dealt with infidelity in our past and having dealt with that, I know I could never handle this kind of situation. So are there resources or advice out there for someone in my situation? How can I handle my business when its necessary but still be in this relationship as I have always been, and want to continue to be?

Time-Delayed Compatability

Dear Time-Delayed Compatability,

Your wifes treatment team might be able to connect you to a support group for loved ones of people who experience significant mental health difficulties, or even, specifically, spouses of people with bipolar disorder. (Even a search for local groups in your area might turn up something.) If youre not able to engage with other people who are navigating the same issues, you can still talk with a trusted friend. The idea is to get you linked up with supportive, platonic relationships where you can process and vent about the situation.

As for handling your business when your wife isnt interested in sex, masturbation seems like your best bet. I imagine that youve worked out the basics and are hoping for ways to enhance your experience and make it more fulfilling. If youre interested in homework, Annie Sprinkles The Explorers Guide to Planet Orgasm is my top book recommendation for this. One way you can make masturbation more robust is to slow down and focus on the sensations your body is giving you. Give yourself foreplay in the same way you and your partner would give that to each other. Take your time. Another way you might increase your enjoyment is by using toys. There are all sorts of products out there that work for people with penises. Some people like vibrators on their frenulum or the base of their penis (behind the balls). Other people enjoy cock rings. Ive heard an immense amount of positive feedback about Fleshlightwhich produces whats called a masturbation sleeveover the years that Ive been working with them. Enjoy the opportunity to focus solely on you and what makes you feel good.

Dear How to Do It,

I am a menopausal woman with grown children who has been happily married for a long time. When we at last became empty-nesters, our sex life, which had always been fine but definitely impacted by kids, amped up. I was more interested in sex than ever and we were enjoying a second honeymoon if you will. It was fun and fantastic. Our sex was better than it had ever beenand I do mean even better than when we were young. About three years ago, I entered menopause and I have noticed a distinct drop off in my sexual desire. We are still having sex regularly and the sex is good, but I want to want it more. Not necessarily more sex, but more desire for sexthe way I used to. Is there some way to train myself to desire sex again?

The Thrill Is Gone

Dear the Thrill Is Gone,

Given that youre in menopause, my first guess would be that your hormonal shifts are affecting your desire. Id start with either your general physician or gynecologist and ask about menopausal hormone therapy (MHT). Dr. Jen Gunter wrote The Menopause Manifesto in 2021so I expect the bulk of the information is still valid which can give you a great overview of whats happening to your body and what all of your options are.

You might find that some version of sensate focus helps stoke desire. The idea would be to take certain kinds of stimulation off the proverbial table for a bit, and give you space to really yearn for it. And you might try asking your spouse to change their approach, and switch up the kinds of foreplay youre engaging in, to see if something differentor merely novelgets you going.

At the end of the day, though, our desire for sex and specific sexual interests do often change over the course of our lifetimes. So its worth trying things, but if nothing is working, acceptance of those shifts will serve you well. Do give yourself time and space to process what youre losing, and, if you feel like grieving, do so.

Jessica

More Advice From Slate

Im a single woman in my 40s coming up on a year of Tinder. I had a lot of great experiencesit was a lot of sex and a lot of good sex. But it was basically all unprotected sex. I take oral contraceptives. I found almost all of my partners didnt want to use condoms and I didnt either, so we didnt. It was a lot of partners. At the end of the year, I met someone who freaked out when I suggested not using them, and it got me thinking.
Rep. Elise Stefanik has positioned herself in the months since Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7 as a champion in the fight against antisemitism. After going viral for asking university presidents whether calling for genocide against Jewish students was against their codes of conduct last December (an exchange her office helpfully packaged), the Republican from New York was hailed even by some liberal Jews as an ally.

Since then, she has questioned more university presidents and leaders of public schools on antisemitism. Per Politico, she raked in more than $7 million during the first quarter of the year, fueled by her support from prominent Jewish Republicans in the wake of her grilling of university presidents over campus antisemitism. Last month, she went to Israel to address the Knesset Caucus for Jewish and Pro-Israel Students on Campuses Around the World, where she chastised U.S. President Joe Biden and praised former President Donald Trump, whose support for Israel she described as historic. On the same trip, she met with Israels President Isaac Herzog. Her political star is on the rise, too: Trump is reportedly considering her to be his running mate.

I would love to be able to write a piece detailing the ways in which this is the culmination of a career spent dedicated to Jewish safety, or a reflection of her deep concern for Americas religious minorities. Sadly, I cannot do that, as Stefanik has, for years now, consistently pushed and defended antisemitic rhetoric. This is to say that though she presents herself as a champion against antisemitism, in reality, Stefanik is spreading it.

To be clear: I am not saying Stefanik is an antisemite. I do not know, and do not care, what is in her heart and mind. I only know her words and deeds, which include boosting antisemitic conspiracy theories and smears. Presumably, given that she is a politician, she has done this because it serves her political ends.

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Most egregious, to my mind, is her embrace of rhetoric similar to great replacement theory. This is the white supremacist, antisemitic conspiracy that alleges that there is a plot by shadowy elites to bring immigrants into the country to change its demographic makeup. This change, the story goes, would redound to those elites and the lefts political advantage. In 2017, that theory was behind the chant of Jews Will Not Replace Us as neo-Nazis marched in Charlottesville, Virginia. In the 2018 Tree of Life mass shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue, before carrying out the deadliest attack against Jews ever in the history of the United States while yelling, All Jews must die, the shooter reportedly posted a screed against HIAS, a Jewish nonprofit that resettles refugees, alleging, HIAS likes to bring invaders that kill our people.

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One might thus imagine that anyone concerned about antisemitism in the United States would, at minimum, stay as far away from this conspiracy theory as possible. And yet, in 2021, Stefanik adapted this despicable tactic for campaign ads, as her regional paper, the Times Union, put it at the time. The ads referred to radical Democrats granting amnesty to illegal immigrants to create a permanent liberal majority.

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Similar rhetoric was espoused by the person who carried out a mass shooting that killed 10 people in Buffalo, New York, in the spring of 2022, bringing attention back to Stefaniks use of it. But evidently, this was not enough to convince Stefanik that such language was harmful, or that whatever political gains might come from it were not worth the potential harm to Jews and other minorities living in this country; she neither renounced nor apologized for the language, and has continued to use antisemitic political rhetoric.

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For example, in April of this year, the same month that she grilled Columbia University President Nemat Shafik about antisemitism and the safety of the Jewish students for whom she is purportedly so concerned, Stefanik tweeted, George Soros is trying to fund the downfall of America by buying elections for radical Far Left politicians and corrupting the next generation to support terror groups, implying that the Hungarian-born Jewish billionaire philanthropist is attempting to secretly control American democracy.

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There will be some who argue that criticizing Soros is not antisemitic. And they are correct! It isnt antisemitic to criticize what Soros is saying and doing. In this tweet, however, Stefanik is not offering criticism, but conspiracy: wildly overstating what Soros is saying and doing, and implying that a lone Jewish person is, through money and power, trying to corrode the American nation. A cartoon depicting a Jewish person pulling puppet strings with dollar signs over the United States would have been just as subtle.

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Related From Slate The Antisemitism Bill That Passed the House Would Endanger American Jews Read More

There is also an added irony in all of this, which is that Stefanik has, in some moments, spoken over Jews about antisemitism, erasing actual Jews from the conversation on Jewish safety. (Stefanik is Catholic.) For example, in March, after Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, the highest-ranking Jewish elected official in the United States, called for new elections in Israel, Stefanik put out a statement that read, Israel is not only fighting for its right to exist, its fighting for the rights of Jewish people everywhere. Instead of meddling in Israeli sovereign elections, Chuck Schumer should follow House Republicans lead in supporting our most precious ally in their darkest hour. Evidently, Jewish people everywhere did not include Chuck Schumer.

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In all this, she is joined by Trump himself, who regularly denounces Jews who dont vote for him (to date, thats a group that includes most American Jews), and who, along with others in his campaign, likewise espouses antisemitic conspiracy theories. Trump also famously downplayed the white supremacist march on Charlottesville, dined with white supremacist Holocaust denier Nick Fuentes, and hired Steve Bannona man crucial to bringing online white-supremacist and neo-Nazi support to Republicansto be his senior adviser in the White House. Stefanik was nevertheless an early backer of Trumps 2024 campaign and has become a top ally of the former president.

Her office did not respond to my request for comment.

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Stefanik is, of course, not alone in her party in using this rhetoric and pushing these conspiracies while defending Israel. Still, perhaps it is worth stating plainly that all the viral moments and Knesset caucuses together cannot take out what she has helped put into our political water. Antisemitic conspiracy theories and smearslike, for example, that shadowy forces are trying to change U.S. demographics, or that a Jewish billionaire is attempting to fund the downfall of the countryerode trust in democracy, in our institutions and between Americans. But beyond that, they endanger Jewish people. And yet, even with ample evidence of this, Stefanik has repeatedly returned to those smears.

One might think all this would damage Stefaniks credibility as a soldier in the fight against antisemitism. But the fight against antisemitism has evidently helped Stefanik raise money. It has helped raise her political profile. It may soon help make her the vice president. It only seems fair to ask that she, in turn, finally help the fight against antisemitism. Not siding with antisemitism in that fight might be a start.
This week, in a Delaware courtroom, a jury was handed Hunter Bidens fate. The presidents son had been on trial for a week, accused of purchasing a gun while addicted to drugs, back in 2018. The problem is that when Hunter filled out ATF paperwork to get the gun, he got asked if he was a user of narcotics or controlled substances? And, he checked the no box.

I talked to Politicos Ankush Khardori before there was a verdict, but he already knew how this case was going to play out. I think its quite likely hell be found guilty, he said.

And Tuesday morning, thats exactly what happened. Hunter Biden became a convicted felon. Khardori had been in Wilmington as this case got its start. What went down in the courtroom stuck with him, and not in a good way.

The first exhibit that they introduced in the case was his book, and then they proceeded to play 70 minutes of clips from the audiobook, which was Hunter Biden himself reading about his years of addiction and relapse, Khardori said. It was very awkward. Youre listening to someone describe one of the lowest moments of their live in very raw, evocative terms. On a personal level, I found that to be a little difficult. But then as a prosecutorial matter, honestly, I found it quite distasteful and a little unseemly. I would never have done that.

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On the one hand, Khardori says, this Hunter Biden case was open and shut. Simple as can be.

But Ive never seen a comparable case, he said. Ive never seen a stand-alone case charging someone with lying on a form about drug use and thats the only charge. Never. These prosecutors are just airing out the Biden familys dirty laundry and humiliating the presidents son. Thats basically what I think has happened.

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On Tuesday mornings episode of What Next, we talked about how it may have seemed like Hunter Bidens trial had a predictable ending. But it also had a cost. Our conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity.

Mary Harris: Lets remind people how Hunter Biden ended up in a Delaware courtroom facing gun charges in the first place. Because until, like, a year ago, there was a pretty real chance that this prosecution simply was not going to happen, right? What changed?

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Ankush Khardori: About a year ago, there was a global plea agreement in place.

You say global because it involves multiple charges?

Exactly. The deal that Hunter Bidens lawyers had worked out with the government would have required him to plead guilty to misdemeanor tax fraud counts. And then to agree to enter a pretrial diversion program to resolve potential gun charges, without having to take a guilty plea on those charges. That was the proposal.

Howd it fall apart?

They present it to the judge, Judge Maryellen Noreika, who is a Trump appointee in the district of Delaware

The same person whos overseeing this trial now?

Correct. And she bristles at this agreement. She has a question, which was a legitimate question about the structure of the agreement. It was a little unusual the way that they papered it. Not anything that needed to preclude this deal from going through but something that a conscientious judge would work through with the parties, which happens from time to time. She raised a question about the immunity provision.

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Because Hunter would have been immune from future prosecution with this deal, right?

Not necessarily. That was the point of disagreement that emerged. That is what Hunter Bidens lawyers thought, which is absolutely what I would have expected if I were Hunter Bidens lawyers. Thats how these things work. And then the government said, Well, no, we are going to maintain our ability to bring some charges, potentially at another later date. An investigation is ongoing. Honestly, it sounded like BS, because I dont see why they would have even entered into this agreement and tried to get it approved if they really had other streams of investigative work going.

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The judgeand this is where I think she really crossed a linewas like, Well, what about potential charges under the Foreign Agents Registration Act? This law that in the post-Trump years has emerged in significance in this area where people are taking money from foreign interests to potentially influence American politics.

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This is a whole other issue. This gets into Hunter Biden working in Ukraine, right? Years and years ago.

Correct. Also, its very telling that she was attuned to it because what was happening at the time was Republicans in Congress were all over these facts as a potential way to impeach Joe Biden. So that was why it was in the news, and it was quite telling that she latched on to it. Ive not seen that happen before. And it seemed apparent to me, particularly in hindsight, that she just was not keen to see that deal go through. And so it fell apart as a result.

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Lets talk about whats gone down in the courtroom over the last week or so. This case, as we said, its about a gun Hunter Biden possessed for a couple weeksnot even. What does the prosecution argue here?

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He had it for 11 days. But, two of the charges stemmed from his alleged misrepresentation on a form that he had to fill out to get the gun, in which he was asked whether he was an unlawful user of or addicted to drugs or controlled substances. He allegedly checked no. And that forms the basis for two of the charges. And then a third charge is for unlawfully possessing the gun as an unlawful user of or an addict to a controlled substance.

Whats Hunter Bidens defense attorneys approach been here? Because theyre dealing with a load of evidence. And you say, in some ways, its an open-and-shut case. So, how do you even fight that?

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They have two principal strategies. One, at the trial level itself, is to argue that Hunter Biden is not guilty of the offenses charged because he did not knowingly make the misrepresentation on that form, because he may have thought honestly that he was not actually addicted to drugs at the time. He had just finished a stint in rehab not too much prior. Thats one argument. I dont think thats a particularly compelling argument because if it were, then any charge like this could be successfully defended by just having the defendant take the stand and say, I really thought I was clean, even though I might not have been.

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The second is a bit of a longer play, which is this argument that Hunter Biden should be protected under the Second Amendment, that the charges are invalid under the Second Amendment, particularly the Supreme Courts recent very pro-gun jurisprudence in this area.

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Basically, the Founding Fathers didnt have to fill out a form like this, so this doesnt count.

Something to that effect. Basically, if we adopt the Supreme Courts originalist Second Amendment jurisprudence, then this prosecution and these laws that prohibit drug users from obtaining firearms may in fact be unconstitutional. Thats a real viable argument at this point.

In addition to those audiobook excerpts, the prosecution has called a number of Hunters past romantic partners to testify to the depths of his addiction over years and years.

Theyve been filling in different points of time, answering, Was he on drugs at this period of time? What was he like? And theyre all basically saying at these various points of time that he always essentially had a very serious drug problem.

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To me, what theyve been saying totally underlines the heartbreak of dealing with addiction in your family. At some point, they entered into the record text messages from Hunter Bidens daughter, and she was like, Please come visit me at school. Its just very sad stuff.

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It is very sad stuff. A lot of people can see elements of their own experience, or friends or familys experience, in this story. And I want to be clear: Even though I have been quite critical of the case, its not like this is the worlds greatest injustice in the criminal justice system that people need to be all up in arms about. Its an episode that I think is unfortunate.

You mean the bringing of this case is being unfortunate?

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Yeah, but I dont want to oversell it. Hes an adult. And, some points along the way, in the course of life, he made some bad choices. And then, of course, became addicted at which point things get much more difficult and arent entirely necessarily your choices.

I can see why a casual Trump supporter would look at whats happening with Hunter Biden and think of it as analogous to what took place in New York City with Donald Trump, where Trump was just found guilty. Both cases are about paperwork that went sideways. Both seem like a stretch to prosecute. But to you as a former prosecutor, is there a difference?

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Yeah. Certainly there are some elements that are similar. And that reaction is a very common one among people. The question is always, when you peek under the hood, did these facts merit that level of attention and investment? And is there a serious public purpose being served by the prosecutionor very specific purpose being sought, meaning, I have to deter this specific person from doing this particular thing again? So, some obvious distinctions arise: First, Trump was the president, Hunter Biden not so much.

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You mean hes more powerful so doing something wrong is worse.

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Yeah. For prosecutors, one thing that they want to do is to deter similar misconduct in the future. There is a much stronger argument for deterrence in the Trump prosecution case than in the Hunter Biden case. In the Trump prosecution case, they did have an argument that that case was really about election interference, or at least had electoral implications that made it more relevant to the public at large. This involves more serious stakes than just Trump having this affair and then paying someone off.

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Trump has said publicly that he plans to prosecute his political enemies if he gets elected this fall. And Trump made a point of going after Hunter for years. I think its fair to say that without Trumps long-standing grievance here, this case might not have moved forward at all. Do you think thats fair?

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I agree. It wasnt even just Trump. Around the plea deal, it was Republicans in Congress who were lobbying for more punishment of Hunter Biden. It was quite a remarkable thing.

How much prison time is Hunter Biden potentially looking at here?

His recommended sentence would be, like, over a year. But in practice, for a situation like thisfirst-time offender who hasnt been convicted before; hes got a pretty good story to tell about his life and the changes that hes made since the offense conducthe would have a very compelling case for probation.

President Biden could potentially pardon his son, right?

He could. He said recently that he will not, but he could.

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As hard as this trial has likely been on the president, theres a potential opportunity here, too.

One thing that Biden himself can do is tell this story about this country and what the rule of law ought to mean in this country, meaning not just that it ought to apply to our former presidents, including Donald Trumpand Biden cannot and should not weigh in on Trumps guilt. But also, we have a set of processes that Biden has decided to follow and his attorney generals have decided to follow that has produced a result that is personally very painful to him. It must be. Theres something admirable about that, about a president believing in something so strongly that he would actually be willing to expose his son and his family to serious potential long-term reputational harm, embarrassment, pain, in order to pursue that broader objective of reinstating a sense that the law applies to everyonegood, bad, powerful, not powerful, Democrat, Republican, this, that, or the other. And you just have to deal with it. Its the cost of living in this country if we want to have a country with a real, mature, workable legal system.
Hunter Biden, in a first for a child of a president, has been found guilty of felony charges related to purchasing a firearm while addicted to drugs. And that news has been met with a surprisingly muted response from the right.

Donald Trump, in a comment, called the trial a distraction. Rep. Matt Gaetz called it kinda dumb. And Rep. Jim Jordan, the House Judiciary chairman who has made painting Hunter Biden as a criminal one of his signature political efforts, has said nothing. There have been few triumphant celebrations. For a party that has spent endless hours vilifying the presidents son, the GOP has been suspiciously quiet.

Why isnt there more jubilation? Well, there is the obviously awkward fact that Hunter Biden was prosecuted for a firearm-related crime: The three charges were related to the fact that he claimed he was not a drug user in paperwork he signed to purchase a gun. Republicans wont want to risk looking opposed to gun access; in a strange reversal of standard dynamics, the Democratic presidents sons legal defense cited the conservative Supreme Courts decision on Second Amendment rights to try to fight the charges.

But there may be something else going on here: Hunter Bidens struggle with addiction may have proved too sad and, for so many Americans, too relatable to be politically useful.

Over the previous week, 12 Delaware jurors heard two narratives: one of a struggling addict who had, if just for a moment, pulled his life together, just long enough to legitimately purchase a firearm; another of a struggling addict who never found control. Either way, the story told in the courtroom through texts and testimonies from the various women in Hunter Bidens lifehis ex-wife, his sister-in-law, his ex-girlfriend, his daughtershowed a family deeply wounded by Hunters addiction.

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The trial was a remarkable airing of intimate difficulties for a sitting presidents family. Witnesses spoke of affairs, of nights in strip clubs, of sleeping in cars, of all-night roaming in search of drugs.

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But beyond the sordid detailsthe kind that led Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene to share Hunter Bidens near-nude photos at a public House committee hearing, and that caused some misguided liberals to make a dirtbag hero out of the presidents sonthe picture of grief and suffering was more humanizing than humiliating.

The prosecution laid out plenty of evidence of the defendant speaking about his drug use around the time of the gun purchase. Prosecutors showed Hunter Biden texting his then-girlfriend Hallie Biden about a drug deal around the time in questionan exchange the defense feebly tried to wave off as a ruse to avoid seeing Hallie.

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The defense couldnt dispute the drug abuseHunter has been open about his struggles with addiction, writing of it in his memoir, Beautiful Things. But the defense did argue that the specific crime of lying on the form for a firearm would require Biden to have been regularly using drugs at the time he signed it. And the younger Biden, his lawyers said, had recently come out of rehab, clean for the time being, and convinced, too optimistically, that he was no longer addicted. It was a bleak defense.

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In the courthouse, first lady Jill Biden sat in the front, there to provide emotional support for her stepson. Hunters half sister, Ashley, and his wife, Melissa, sat nearby.* On the stand, Kathleen Buhle, who was married to Hunter for 24 years, spoke of trying to shield their children from their fathers addiction after his brother Beaus death in 2015, and of the collapse of their marriage in the years that followed.

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Hallie Biden, Beaus widow and, later, Hunters romantic partner, spoke of the depths of their shared grief. She described Hunter in the throes of his addiction, of her own use of crack cocaine after they started dating, of his pattern of lashing out and disappearing for weeks at a time. She worried he would kill himself; it was this fear that caused her to throw his gun in a grocery store trash can, ultimately leading to Hunters criminal charges.

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And Naomi Biden, Hunters daughter with Kathleen, spoke of seeing her father less and less, because after my uncle died, things got bad.

Im really sorry, dad, I cant take this, one text of hers from the time, introduced as evidence, read. I dont know what to say, I just miss you so much.

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Im sorry Ive been so unreachable, Hunter Biden said in another exchange. Its not fair to you.

The three felony chargesthat he lied on paperwork to purchase a gun in October 2018 by saying he was not addicted to drugs; that he lied when he affirmed that statement; and that he illegally owned the gun for a little under two weekscarry penalties of up to 25 years in prison and $750,000 in fines. Its not likely that the judge will come down harshly, given that Hunter has no previous convictions. (President Joe Biden has also said that he will not pardon his son.) And the American public, so many of whom have been touched by addiction, will likely agree that Hunter shouldnt be punished too harshly.

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Even Sen. Lindsey Graham, a Republican, told reporters on June 3, the day the trial began, that he didnt see any good coming from Hunters charges. I dont think the average American would have been charged with the gun thing, he said.

That defense likely related to his political obligation to support less firearm policing in general. But it also seemed to come from the everyman nature of the crimes. Struggling with drugs, buying gunsthose arent the crimes of nefarious elites. Nor did the trials mention of Hunters own mental health struggles or the concerns of suicide remind Americans of the image Republicans are trying to portray: that of a man whose abuse of family power has allowed him to live a high life at the publics expense.

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Thats why, as Graham noted, Hunters tax troubles are where Republicans can see real promise. Hunters trial on tax-related charges is scheduled to start in September in Los Angeles.

And its why Donald Trumps statement dwelled on the real crimes of the Biden Crime Family, whichwe can inferare the unsupported allegations right-wingers level about Hunters and his uncle James profits from overseas business.

Similarly, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene posted on social media during the trial that Hunter should be prosecuted for his work with foreign businesses, not for the guns. She implied that the charges were a ruse, that the Justice Department was trying to create sympathy for Joe Biden. (The charges were brought by special counsel David Weiss, a Republican appointed by Donald Trump.)

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Related From Slate What Made Hunter Bidens Trial So Uniqueand So Unseemly Read More

Greenes conspiratorial thinking aside, she may be on to something about the results: Joe Biden, a deeply unpopular candidate, has often been most appealing in times of national mourning, given his own image as a family man and man of faith whose life has been defined by grief. In his statement after the ruling, Biden said he stands by his son even as he accepts the outcome.

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As I said last week, I am the President, but I am also a Dad. Jill and I love our son, and we are so proud of the man he is today. So many families who have had loved ones battle addiction understand the feeling of pride seeing someone you love come out the other side and be so strong and resilient in recovery. As I also said last week, I will accept the outcome of this case and will continue to respect the judicial process as Hunter considers an appeal. Jill and I will always be there for Hunter and the rest of our family with our love and support. Nothing will ever change that.

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Had the outcome been different, Republicans could have used it to try to argue about a two-tiered justice system, one that victimized Republicans and let Democrats off the hook. But that didnt happen, and so the only remaining move is to accuse the case of being a distraction from the real crimes, to redirect.

Rep. James Comer, chair of the House Oversight Committee, had perhaps the most positive statement about the verdict, calling it a step toward accountabilitybut even then, he focused on the need to keep going after the Bidens corrupt influence-peddling schemes.

Hunter Biden still faces tax-fraud charges. Republicans are urging the DOJ to charge him with making false statements to Congress. But its remarkable that for a felony conviction for one of their partys greatest villains, Republicans could not figure out a way to celebrate the victory. Hunter Bidens tragedy was, simply, too all-American.
Legal clashes between free speech and equality are on the rise, producing judicial decisions that will shape our society for decades. A year ago, the Supreme Court used the principle of freedom of speech protected under the First Amendment to significantly limit the reach of antidiscrimination laws. In 303 Creative v. Elenis, a conservative supermajority allowed a web-designing business to refuse to serve same-sex couples seeking wedding websites. Raining on last years Pride parades, it broadly stated: When a state public accommodations law and the Constitution collide, there can be no question which must prevail.

Responses to the unprecedented decision followed ideological lines. Conservatives celebrated the decision and immediately started to try to expand its impact beyond web designing, outside of the wedding industry, and to more than same-sex couples. Liberals, by contrast, attempted to control the damage by claiming the decision should be read narrowly and have minimal effect on the general application of antidiscrimination laws to market activities.

Last week, however, a new decision of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit, American Alliance for Equal Rights v. Fearless Fund Management, broke this pattern of responses. A conservative majority of two Trump appointees seemingly crossed the ideological conventional lines, showing far less zeal to follow 303 Creative. This reluctance exposes the emptiness of the Supreme Courts declaration only a year ago that all persons are free to think and speak as they wish, while a commitment to speech for only some messages and some persons is no commitment at all (emphasis by Justice Neil Gorsuch).

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In a 21 decision, the 11th Circuit offered a shockingly narrow read of 303 Creative. It disallowed the Fearless Fund, a venture capital fund, to limit applications to its competitive grant program to only Black businesswomen. Despite the funds statement that the program expresses the need to bridge the gap in venture capital funding for women of color, and therefore should enjoy the promise made in 303 Creative to protect all expressive projects, the court ordered a preliminary injunction against the fund. It reasoned that while the First Amendment broadly prohibits the government from abridging a private partys freedom of speech,  it does not protect the very act of discriminating on the basis of race. Accepting the funds free speech claim, the court forewarnedmuch like Justice Sonia Sotomayor cautioned in 303 Creativerisks sowing the seeds of antidiscrimination laws demise.

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Does this warning reflect more carefulness regarding speech rights on the conservative side, which can assist in carefully applying 303 Creative in the future? Unfortunately, the answer seems to depend on the content of the message that seeks free speech protection. While the 11th Circuit attempted unconvincingly to distinguish 303 Creative, the only significant difference that could explain unleashing the power of free speech in 303 Creative but restraining it in Fearless Fund is the ideological profile of the reviewed speech.

When the speech leans red, such as in 303 Creatives effort to express opposition to marriage equality, it has the power to legitimize a business behavior that discriminates on the basis of sexual orientation even when such discrimination is explicitly forbidden under antidiscrimination law. By contrast, when the speech leans blue, such as in the Fearless Funds effort to empower Black businesswomen, it loses its superiority, and antidiscrimination law is used to serve the interests of white men and others the fund did not wish to support. Another way to put it is to highlight the ideological affiliation of the business alleging speech rights: red wins, blue loses.

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Related From Slate The People Who Dismantled Affirmative Action Have a New Strategy to Crush Racial Justice Read More

Such ideologically charged application of the freedom of speech to market activities is indefensible. It also represents a risky judicial intervention in the so-called market for ideas.

Instead, any impartial effort to balance speech rights with a commitment to equality should have yielded the opposite results in both 303 Creative and Fearless Fund. The leading reason is rooted in the unifying rationale of our various antidiscrimination laws, their history, and the tradition of their application in the decades preceding 303 Creative. These were first enacted under the Reconstruction Amendments to respond to blatant discrimination against freed Black people whose survival and integration into society was understood to hinge on their ability to make and enforce contracts. They continued to be necessary to cope with the brutal reality of a segregated marketplace, further teaching us the importance of a market open for all, including additional disenfranchised groups.

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At their core, antidiscrimination laws aim to minimize the humiliation suffered by those who too often are found unworthy of engaging in the same market activities that are readily available to most others. Therefore, not only liberal judges but also conservative ones, with their commitment to history, tradition, and originalist interpretive approach, should have prioritized antidiscrimination laws whenever speech is used to undermine the dignity of a protected group. Conversely, speech should be given priority when it focuses on uplifting those who have long been mistreated (like Black women) and does not risk the dignity of others who regularly face no difficulty engaging in market activities (like white men).

While it is too late to undo 303 Creative, revealing its selective application should help prevent decisions like Fearless Fund from hurting minorities and becoming the law of the land. It is indeed a goal worth fighting for if the Supreme Court decides to review the case.
CDC Enterprises LP, the owner of the Phipps Building at 102 Ninth St., is accused of breaking into the offices of Martin Phipps' law firm and changing the locks after it allegedly failed to pay rent. The law firm and others are now seeking a temporary restraining order. The Phipps Building is shown in 2017. John Davenport/San Antonio Express-News Attorney Martin Phipps says CDC Enterprises LP's actions cost his cocktail bar Paramour as much as $30,000 in revenue Saturday. JOHN DAVENPORT/San Antonio Express-News The 8,000-square-foot rooftop craft cocktail bar Paramour. John Davenport/San Antonio Express-News The 8,000-square-foot rooftop craft cocktail bar Paramour opened in 2015 atop the Phipps Building at 102 Ninth St. Staff photographer file photo

In the latest twist in an escalating feud, San Antonio attorney Martin Phipps is accusing the owner of the building where he has both his law offices and Paramour cocktail bar of breaking in and forcibly locking them out.

Phipps law firm and Paramours operator say in a court filing that, just before 8 a.m. Saturday, Dean Bass, president of building owner CDC Enterprises LP, hacked into the buildings security system, changed the locks and chained the doors over the tenants failure to pay rent.

It comes after CDCs earlier moves to evict the law firm and Phipps Paramour, the swanky watering hole atop the Phipps Building at 102 Ninth St.

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On Monday, the two sides filed dueling emergency motions for temporary restraining orders.

Phipps Ortiz Talafuse PLLC, Parmaour and three other businesses owned by Phipps want an order to prevent CDC from entering the businesses and changing the locks. They asked a federal judge in San Antonio to issue the order without a hearing and without giving CDC the opportunity to respond.

Phipps spokesman said the lawyers businesses are confident that theres going to be a ruling in their favor.

CDC, meanwhile, wants a state District Court judge to issue a restraining order preventing the law firm and Paramours representatives from entering the property until all rent has been paid. CDC also requested a court order declaring it had the right to change the locks and exclude the tenants from the property until the rent is paid.

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Amanda Crouch, a San Antonio attorney for CDC, said her client disputes the allegations made by Phipps businesses.

CDC Enterprises had the contractual and legal right to conduct the lockout, she said in an emailed statement.

The tenants owe more than $1 million in rent combined, CDC says in its filing. The law firm stopped paying rent after February 2023, while Holy Spirits LLC, which does business as Paramour, hasnt paid rent since August, CDC adds.

Police dispatched

The Phipps law firm is now working out of another office, according to a spokesman.

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Phipps said in a declaration attached to the motion that Holy Spirits could not open for business Saturday. It also alleges Phipps commercial businesses were effectively shut down by the lockout but the spokesman wasnt aware of any other businesses affected.

San Antonio police were called twice Saturday morning to the Phipps Building.

According to a department spokesman, an officer was dispatched first at 7:10 a.m. to assist the public. Upon arrival, the officer observed a security guard changing a lock on the building. The guard said he had eviction paperwork for a renter, who was not present.

About two hours later, officers were called because the renter was causing a disturbance after being locked out, the police spokesman said in an email. When officers arrived, they advised both parties that this was a civil manner that needed to be handled in court.

Phipps has represented Bexar County in litigation against opioid manufacturers and distributors to recover damages caused by addiction to their products.

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Eviction cases

Its hard to fathom, after all the litigation thats erupted over the Phipps Building this year, that Phipps and CDC official Daren Connel were pals for 40 years.

CDC bought the building in 2022 from Phipps Emet LLC for $11 million. Phipps has alleged that Emet paid CDC $2.75 million in prepaid rent.

The building owner says that as part of the sale, it acquired Emets interest in the lease agreements with Phipps law and Holy Spirits. Emet says any funds remaining after the monthly mortgage payments were supposed to go to it to finance building and business operations.

CDC first sued Holy Spirits in January in an effort to collect more than $260,000 in alleged overdue rent, late fees and interest. Holy Spirits later had the case, which was filed in state district court, removed to federal court.

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But U.S. District Judge Orlando Garcia on Thursday ruled the removal was neither meritorious nor objectively reasonable and awarded CDC up to $2,500 in attorney fees and costs. He sent the case back to state court.

A few days after suing to collect rent, CDC moved to evict Paramour. A judge granted CDC possession of Paramour in February but Holy Spirits appealed the eviction. The appeal is pending.

Then, in April, CDC moved to evict Phipps law firm when it was allegedly nearly $400,000 in arrears.

The Phipps firm last month removed the case to federal court. CDC wants the case sent back to the Justice of the Peace Court. The case is pending before U.S. District Judge Fred Biery.

Saturdays events

Phipps gave his account of Saturday mornings events in a declaration filed with the emergency motion for a temporary restraining order.

Security camera footage shows that CDCs agents broke in through a side door that leads to our accounting office, he said. Security footage also shows CDC attempting to hack into the building security system.

In addition, Phipps said, CDC drilled into and damaged his law firms office door. The landlord then changed all the locks and put chains on the front entry doors.

Phipps said he took a photograph of a lockout notice that falsely states the firm is locked out for nonpayment of rent. The photograph, included with the motion, said tenants may acquire a new key after paying all past-due rent. Phipps called the sign defamatory.

CDC offered to let Phipps businesses regain access to the building but only if they agreed to an extortionate demand, the motion says. That included paying higher rents, forgiving more than $700,000 in building expenses paid by Phipps businesses and dropping all claims against CDC, the court filing adds.

As a result of CDCs alleged action in preventing Paramour from opening, Phipps said about 25 employees lost their weekend paychecks and tips. It had to cancel dozens of reservations, costing the business as much as $30,000 in revenue for weekend, he added.

In addition, Phipps said his law firm has been cut off from its own files, databases and legal resources, which seriously impedes the firms ability to meet deadlines and practice law in this case, and in other matters.
Donald Trumps Department of Justice was a nightmare. Jeff Sessions, Trumps first attorney general, dismantled civil rights and civil liberties protections, instituted heinously cruel border policies, and vociferously attacked the right to vote. William Barr, Sessions ignominious successor, then used his time at the DOJs helm to overtly weaponize the department against voters and Trumps political opponents.

Corruption and cruelty defined the former presidents DOJ and his approach to public service overall, and he has now identified someone who could immediately make a second Trump DOJ even worse: Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.

Paxtons stewardship of the Texas AG office shows that he holds little regard for the public interest or for strictures of law or the Constitution.

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His politicization of state agencies is unmatched. Paxton has routinely refused to represent or defend other parts of the Texas government, despite an unambiguous mandate that the AG do so. Even as Paxton has directed public resources to support his friends at right-wing influence shops, he has forced Texas agencies to direct taxpayer dollars toward outside counsel to defend themselves against litigious firms, some of which also number among Paxtons own biggest donors.

Paxton has also fought to establish a dubious culture at the Texas AG aimed to slant legal work, reward loyalists and drum out dissent, as the Associated Press reported last year, while functionally pushing out the offices most experienced lawyers. Hallmarks of this culture include Paxtons interference with investigations into his friends and political allies, bogus investigations of the political enemies of his donors, and retaliatory firings of whistleblowers within his office.

The firings prompted a multimillion-dollar settlement that Paxton then tried to force taxpayers to finance. Whats more, the revelations led 121 Texas State House members (including 60 Republicans) to vote for his impeachment, though he was later acquitted by the state Senate. Far from a vindication, the acquittal can be at least partially attributed to Paxtons billionaire allies pressure campaign on state senators amid the proceedings. Earlier this year, Paxton settled a long-running set of securities fraud charges brought by state prosecutors. Even still, he remains under investigation by the FBI for similar charges, including wire fraud, witness retaliation, and bribery. He continues to face, too, the threat of disciplinary measuresincluding potential disbarmentfor his role in attempting to overturn the 2020 presidential election.

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Paxtons enthusiastic wielding of the Texas AGs office as a political weapon provides a chilling foreshadowing of a second-term Trump DOJ. Indeed, the Paxton playbook for attorney general is already accessible thanks to the Heritage Foundations now-infamous Project 2025. Riddled with right-wing conspiracies, the DOJ section is explicit in its calls to gut the department, install partisan agents to implement highly politicized agendas, take aim at marginalized communities, and instill a punishing standard of unquestioned fealty to the president.

Also included in the chapter are proposals to shield state and local law-enforcement bureaus from federal oversight for abuses of power; enact callous, unconstitutional immigration policies; and prioritize the DOJs investigation of violent crime by sabotaging the departments white-collar, corporate, and environmental crime units. Unsurprisingly, Project 2025s architects plan to turn the FBI into (even more of) a hyperpartisan shop dedicated to protecting white supremacists and far-right agitators while targeting and intimidating popular protest movements and activists from the left, e.g., the climate movement, Black Lives Matter, and the Palestinian solidarity movement.

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Paxton has his own clear motivations for remaking the FBI, given its yearslong probe into his misdeeds, but there are other reasons to believe that he would be the implementer of choice for many of these priorities. One is his close relationship with Gene Hamilton, who authored Project 2025s DOJ section. The pair have shared Heritage Foundation panels, and Hamilton even reported having multiple conversations with Paxton while crafting some of Trumps most hateful immigration policies, including the memo that gutted the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, legislation that was ultimately overturned by the Supreme Court. More recently, theyve interacted through America First Legal, for which Hamilton serves as executive director, executive vice president, and general counsel. The AFL and Paxton have been partners on a number of suits since the groups founding in 2021, including several seeking enforcement of the Trump-era immigration ban known as Title 42 and others seeking to end (or severely limit) legal immigration pathways.

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Paxton has also spent years courting Trumps favor and flaunting the depths of the allegiance he is eager to offer the former president. Sessions was famously fired for being insufficiently loyal (i.e., not interfering in investigations into Trump). Trump similarly conspired to axe Barr after he refused to peddle election conspiracies and aid in Trumps coup attempt, but Paxton has demonstrated continuously that he has no such ethical, political, or constitutional qualms.

Related From Slate I Thought the Trump Conviction Would Never Hold Up. But a Huge Problem Just Got Fixed. Read More

By contrast, Paxton led a coalition of Republican attorneys general in a 2020 lawsuit attempting to disenfranchise voters in Pennsylvania, Georgia, Michigan, and Wisconsin to overturn the election. In 2021 he was among the speakers at the Jan. 6 rally that preceded the Capitol riot. He then spread baseless conspiracies denying the realities of the insurrection that he helped goad. This year, Paxton was seated front and center in support of Trump during the Manhattan hush money criminal trial that ultimately found the former president guilty of all 34 felony counts.

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Paxtons defense of Texas brazenly unconstitutional S.B. 4, which aims to overturn 150 years of federal immigration law, is another obvious example of his desire to impress Trump. S.B. 4 has essentially sought to vest local and state-level police (and other officers) with novel criminal border-enforcement authorities that encourage racial profiling and entirely ignore the rights of migrants as enshrined in federal law. The unmitigated cruelty of the policy is part of this audition, to be sure, but so too is Paxtons invention, and full-throated defense, of blatantly unfounded legal theories to accomplish it. Even Texas own solicitor general acknowledged that Texas may have gone too far with the bill, statements that Paxton quickly and vehemently denied and rejected.

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What Paxton is demonstrating here, in no small way, is that he requires not even a mirage of legitimacynor of legalityto institute and enforce political agendas and their policy priorities; hell just do it and see what sticks. That willingness continues to have deadly consequences for those in Texas, including the migrants being murdered by the Texas National Guards inaction or by Greg Abbotts illegal razor wire in the Rio Grande.

Nationally, it bears noting that Donald Trump had substantial, rather than blanket, cover from the DOJ last time around, and the potential of what he might do with the departments complete subservienceif given the chanceis grim indeed.
The Bratislava Tiles and the Art of Material Mimesis exhibition is a continuation of a successful book project about historical tile floors and walls in Bratislava.

Ceremonial opening of the Bratislava Tiles and Art of Material Mimesis exhibtion. (Source: Courtesy of MMB )

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When the Titanic set off for its first, and sole, voyage in 1912, its luxurious interiors had flooring very similar to that of the tiles used in the legendary Salvator pharmacy in Bratislava. However, this was nothing special as at the time various companies offered tiles with the same or similar decor.

At that era trademarks were not observed as strictly as today. Also, these companies operated in different countries, so it was more difficult to protect a trademark, Stefan Cipar, co-author of the book about tiles and floorings in Bratislava, told The Slovak Spectator. Up to this, this specific pattern was older, inspired by ancient Roman mosaics.

The flooring in the Salvator pharmacy. (Source: Sme)

Those tiles used in Titanic were supplied by the German company Villeroy and Boch. Eugen von Boch was an archaeological enthusiast, and the decor he rediscovered became very popular and was used in several places in Europe. The company was the competitor of the Czech manufacturer Rako, the tile supplier for Salvator.

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Related article Bratislava's iconic Salvator pharmacy is being revived: Restorers are now at work Read more

The floor of the Salvator pharmacy kicked off the cooperation between historian Julia Itin and photographer Stefan Cipar, which eventually led to publishing Mosaic of Bratislava: Hidden Tile Floors and Walls by the Cierne Diery (Black Holes) association. After the book became a bestseller, its authors and the Bratislava City Museum took another step, interconnecting the history of Bratislava tile floors and walls with objects in their collections in an exhibition.

When I was looking at the photos of the floors and interiors, works of applied art suddenly flashed before my eyes, said Jana Svantnerova, curator of the exhibition Bratislava Tiles and Art of Material Mimesis. She adds that while one tile reminded her of decorative items made from tortoiseshell, the other recalled Art Nouveau iridescent glass or embroidery. Bratislava floors perfectly match the rich collections of the Bratislava City Museum.
Billions of euros from the EU at stake due to purges.

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Zuzana Petkova and Jaroslav Reich of Nadacia Zastavme korupciu (Stop Corruption Foundation) wrote the story.

Environment Minister Tomas Taraba (SNS) has reportedly conducted the most extensive purges among the ministers in Robert Ficos government.

In the span of eight months, nearly 50 experts have left. Their positions have often been filled by unqualified individuals, often members of the Slovak National Party (SNS) or Tarabas previous party, Life.

Among the dismissed experts at the Environment Ministry is Katarina Butkovska. She had served as the director of the department of nature protection and biodiversity since 2017 and became the deputy environment minister in the caretaker government of Ludovit Odor in 2023. Over the past five years, she contributed to the declaration of dozens of protected areas, nature reserves, and the reform of Slovakias national parks.

Lucia Szabova from the Climate Coalition organisation acknowledges that every government has the right to appoint its own nominees. However, she points out that long-serving experts have left the ministry.

In Slovakia, we have long struggled to attract specialists to the public sector, not just at the Environment Ministry, but it is particularly noticeable there, she says, noting that the experts were dismissed without explanation.

When we weaken environmental protection at this level, there is no one qualified to perform this work, which clearly paralyses the system, she emphasises.

SNS district chair replaces expert

Eva Kolesarova had been leading the Bodrog River Basin Administration since 2010 and is considered a leading Slovak expert in water management. Minister Taraba replaced her with Jaroslav Valo, the district chair of the SNS party. According to Taraba and SNS chair Andrej Danko, Valo is equally qualified and has been working in the company for 17 years.

However, according to information from the Dennik N daily, Valo did not engage in water management. Instead, he was responsible for overseeing a single workshop in the company, where he was in charge of maintaining lorries, construction equipment, and lawnmowers.

The Stop Corruption Foundation requested a statement from the ministry, which referred to the law: The senior employees were dismissed from their positions in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Civil Service Act.

The law was amended by Igor Matovics government (2020-2021) to allow the dismissal of senior officials without providing a reason. This change was intended to make it easier for OLaNO to remove the appointees of political opponents. The ministry claims that it has announced selection procedures for several positions but did not provide further specifics.

Selection procedures only for show

The selection procedures at the Environment Ministry appear peculiar. An example is Bojnice Zoo, where the interim director was the regional chair of the SNS, Emil Diveky. He later also won the formal selection process.

Szabova notes that in many cases, party affiliations but zero experience in management or the specific field the new directors are supposed to supervise can be seen: How can we expect these institutions to function when these people dont even know what they are supposed to do?

According to her, this is also evident within the ministry itself, where, for example, the head of the climate and air protection section was dismissed. We had hoped that they would recognise his expertise because this section manages a huge amount of negotiations with the European Union.

Following his departure, some international matters that Slovakia needs to address, even at the legislative level, have come to a halt. This includes fulfilling the recovery plan and the climate law.

Opposition: Acting in the interest of lobbyists

Former deputy environment minister Michal Kica (Democrats) views the ministers actions as controversial, accusing him of acting in the interest of lobbyists.

His conduct is evident in the personnel policies of the ministry. It involves unprecedented nepotism and the allocation of positions purely along party lines, bordering on political corruption. This is reflected in the fact that not only top positions, but also routine managerial roles in lower and middle management are being filled by incompetent individuals linked to the SNS or the Life party, he added.

According to Kica, Tarabas dismissal of competent individuals is also aimed at avoiding substantive opposition. For instance, the director of the Mining Museum is now a district chair of SNS, the head of Tatras National Park (TANAP) ran in the elections as a candidate for the Life party, and in the Slovak Water Management Company, the general director and middle management positions are again held by people who were either secretaries or candidates from the Life party.

In contrast, the ministry has lost individuals such as Katarina Holubova, head of the Water Research Institute, who had worked in the field for 40 years and participated in expert groups preparing European legislation for the entire European Union.

Jan Kornan, head of the Kysuce Protected Landscape Area, who saved the Slovak population of the golden eagle from extinction, had to leave just before retirement. Oddly, the golden eagle is the emblem of the SNS.

Purely loyal party appointments with zero managerial performance can only serve one goal  to decimate nature protection in Slovakia. And I think it is currently well on way to achieving that, Kica remarked.

The low expertise of managers can also have a direct financial impact on the country. Regions may lose funding that Slovakia is supposed to draw on for green measures by 2030, totalling 5 billion.

The management of protected areas and caves affects not only the quality of nature conservation, but also the development of tourism and support for local residents.

The Stop Corruption Foundation has long been assisting whistleblowers. They also offer help to environmentalists if their dismissal is unlawful.
Scholz and Orban to attend Germany v Hungary at Euro 2024

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz speaks at a joint press conference with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky, during the International Ukraine Reconstruction conference in Berlin. Britta Pedersen/dpa

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban will attend the Euro 2024 group match between Germany and Hungary in Stuttgart on June 19.

The State Ministry in Baden-Wurttemberg, where Stuttgart is located, confirmed their travel plans on Tuesday.

Orban will also attend Hungary's last group stage game against Scotland in Stuttgart on June 23.

According to Baden-Wurttemberg Premier Winfried Kretschmann, high-ranking guests from the team's respective countries are also expected to attend other matches and receptions.

Germany start the tournament on Friday against Scotland, while Hungary first face Switzerland on Saturday.

Hungary's two matches against Germany and Scotland are considered high-risk games by security forces because the Hungarian hooligan scene is a particular concern.
Theres lots to love about this story: a multi-roaster cafe in East Williamsburg named for an adorable cat. Whats not to like? With some killer pro gear and dedication to serving cool coffee roasted near and far, this is one to watch for Brooklyns world-renowned indie cafe scene. Lets visit Three Legged Cat!

The 2024 Build-Outs of Coffee is presented by Ceado and Dona. The 2024 Build-outs of Coffee is sponsored by Pacific Barista Series, La Marzocco, Acaia and Ghirardelli.

As told to Sprudge by Adelaide Cope.

For those who arent familiar, will you tell us about your company?

Three Legged Cat (stylized as three legged cat) is a new, small multi-roaster in industrial East Williamsburg, off of Grand St. L stop. Its two founders are Leeor Waisbrod and Adelaide Cope, best friends who met a few years ago while working in coffee on the Jersey Shore. The shops namesake is a real three-legged cat called Pirate, who Leeor adopted in 2018.

Can you tell us a bit about the new space?

According to the neighbors, our 900-square-foot space was once an upholstery shop. Since then its been used as a warehouse or vacant until we took over in February 2024. Our concept for the build is very barista-forward: our bar is the centerpiece of the shop. The espresso machine looks out over a living room style seating area that provides a comfy contrast to the overall industrial vibe. Passersby will look in our big front window and see the barista running bar and customers working or relaxing on the couch. In the back well have a big communal table and smaller tables and benches will line the wall opposite the bar. Well seat 20+ in a combination of comfortable and work-friendly furniture. Three Legged Cat is designed to be a welcoming, accommodating community space with something for everyone.

Whats your approach to coffee?

We take an ever-learning approach to coffee. We love how much there is to discover about the world, geography, culture, chemistry, community, and more, through coffee. Brewing excellent coffee is our priority, and we get very excited about gear and technique. But we also try not to take ourselves too seriously! At the end of the day were a couple of friends who love to make coffee together, and were gonna have as much fun as we can while were at it. We aim to be a welcoming environment both the coffee nerd and the casual drinker. Whatever your relationship with coffee, we hope youll find some joy in our space.

Any machines, coffees, special equipment lined up?

Our espresso machine is a La Marzocco Strada thats been retrofitted with conical valves. Were super excited to use its flow control capabilities. We also have a Decent espresso machine that we take with us to pop-up events. It will live on the bar too when not otherwise in use and might help us with sprovers and other fun experiments.

Our house roaster is Onyx, and their Geometry blend will always be available for espresso and drip. Well also have a rotation of other featured roasters. Our first lineup includes Loveless Coffees, DAK Coffee Roasters, and Obscurea local nano-roaster. These coffees will be available for espresso and on our pour over bar, which is equipped with V60 and AeroPress.

How is your project considering sustainability?

Three Legged Cats mission is to contribute to a sustainable coffee industry. From farmers to baristas, we believe that centering worker livelihood is the key to sustainability environmentally, economically, and culturally. Three Legged Cat chooses roasters that are transparent about their relationships with farmers and the prices they pay for green coffee. We also plan to expand our staff through worker-ownership. Three Legged Cat team members will all earn a living wage and a piece of the business.

Whats your hopeful target opening date/month?

Early June! June 1st if everything goes exactly to plan. (And we all know how that goes ;))

Are you working with craftspeople, architects, and/or creatives that youd like to mention?

So as not to embarrass him horribly, Ill refrain from gushing about my cofounder Leeor too much, but he certainly deserves a nod in the creative category. He used his background in architecture to design and create beautiful 3D renderings of our space. Hes something of a jack-of-all-trades, pulling from his experience in multiple fields to cover all of our bases.

Thank you!

Thanks so much!
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240610/an-endless-cycle-of-brutality-four-rescued-as-274-killed-in-gaza-1118898400.html

'An Endless Cycle of Brutality': Four Rescued as 274 Killed in Gaza

'An Endless Cycle of Brutality': Four Rescued as 274 Killed in Gaza

Sputnik International

Esteban Carrillo, a Beirut-based Ecuadorian journalist and crime editor for The Cradle, joined Sputniks Fault Lines on Monday.

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On Saturday the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) announced that they had rescued four of their hostages, including a Russian national, who had been kidnapped from the Nova music festival on October 7. While news of the rescue was welcomed by the US - who helped aid the mission - many condemned Israels actions after the Gaza Health Ministry said that at least 274 Palestinians had been killed as a result.Esteban Carrillo, a Beirut-based Ecuadorian journalist and crime editor for The Cradle, joined Sputniks Fault Lines on Monday. Carrillo commented that the Nuseirat refugee camp is one of the last few remaining places in Gaza where Palestinians have managed to find a modicum of shelter.On Saturday morning, as there were crowds of hundreds of Palestinians in the camp, at a marketplace waiting for the delivery of humanitarian aid, Israeli ground troops infiltrated the camp, hiding in the back of what Israeli media describes as a furniture delivery truck. Right. Because in the middle of a genocide, is it common practice to get furniture deliveries? Carrillo commented.Carrillo added that the West expressed jubilation on Saturday following Israels rescue efforts, which included praise from French President Emmanuel Macron and US President Joe Biden. However, Macron has criticized the humanitarian crisis in the southern city of Rafah, and said the number of those killed following nine months of war is unacceptable.Benny Gantz, who is often described as a moderate - never mind the fact that he was behind some of the most bloody operations in the Gaza Strip between 2012 and 2021 - he [has pulled] from the coalition, Carrillo reported. He had already warned that he was going to withdraw from Netanyahu's war cabinet. And in his speech, he apologized to the families of the captives who remain in Gaza, of which there are more than 100, not all of them alive. I believe a small number of them remain alive and he apologized to them, saying we have failed, and says that Netanyahu is standing in the way of total victory.Sputniks Melik Abdul then asked Carrillo what Gantzs resignation will mean for Israels war strategy in Gaza, and if it will affect Netanyahus policy and strategy.I will say that in the short term it's undoubtedly going to be business as usual. Now, this is not really going to hurt the way the war has been fought or the lack of a plan, right? There's not even a plan currently, much less for after the war. So in that sense, I think we're just going to continue to see more of the same, said Carrillo of the situation in Gaza.If you were in Hamas's shoes, why would you trust the Israelis? Why would you trust the US who allowed their pier to be used in this way? Because there's videos of the captives being taken out of Gaza via the US-built pier and, like I said, eyewitness accounts that say that these trucks that were carrying the Israeli commandos came from the US pier," he said. "CENTCOM has denied this, but as we know from history, the US loves to deny the things that they're actually plotting.Last week, US President Joe Biden announced that Israel had accepted a ceasefire deal that would lead to the release of all hostages. But even as the president announced the new ceasefire deal, he acknowledged that Israel had not fully agreed to the plan. Since then, Israeli officials have said that US description of the ceasefire proposal was not accurate and claimed that Biden had only announced a partial version of the plan in his speech.The UN Security Council announced on Monday their plans to adopt the US-drafted resolution and called on Hamas to accept the deal.Hamas welcomes what was included in the Security Council resolution regarding a permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, a complete withdrawal [of military forces] from the Gaza Strip, prisoner exchange, reconstruction, the return of displaced persons to their places of residence, the rejection of any demographic change in the Gaza Strip or reduction of its territory, and the provision of the necessary assistance to our people in the strip, the movement said in a statement.Israel has been very clear. They are saying, we cannot allow a stop to the war. And this is something that even the Israeli opposition is not looking for, they're not looking to actually stop the war, Carrillo explained. They are completely on board with this idea of eradicating Hamas, despite the fact that this is impossible. You cannot eradicate the idea of resistance. And, as far as Hamas goes, they have been willing to play ball for months now as long as any deal calls for the immediate cessation of hostilities, for the withdrawal of the Israeli army and for the entry of humanitarian aid, for the reconstruction of the Strip, etc.Describing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Carrillo reported that there is a famine spreading across the Gaza Strip. He added that just yesterday, the UN World Food Programme said they would stop the delivery of aid via the US-built pier due to security reasons following the piers use for the IDF's military operation on Saturday. The programs announcement is tragically ironic, as the US-built pier was first announced by the Biden administration as a use for humanitarian aid. On Saturday, the Gaza Health Ministry reported that the total death toll in Gaza is now at 37,084 people."It's just on an endless cycle of brutality, of violence, of bloodbath that is being sponsored by the US government, that is being sponsored by NATO and the West."

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240608/israeli-army-says-rescued-4-hostages-held-in-gaza---idf-1118872149.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240611/bets-and-threats-macron-weighs-voters-distaste-for-his-party-against-fear-of-the-right-1118899933.html

Bets and Threats: Macron Weighs Voters' Distaste for His Party Against Fear of the Right

Bets and Threats: Macron Weighs Voters' Distaste for His Party Against Fear of the Right

Sputnik International

Sputniks Ted Rall, a political cartoonist and syndicated columnist as well as co-host of The Final Countdown, joined The Critical Hour on Monday to discuss the possibility of a French presidency under Le Pen.

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French President Emmanuel Macron has dissolved the French National Assembly and called for snap parliamentary elections later this month following a major victory for his right-wing rival, Marine Le Pens National Rally in the European Parliament vote. Le Pens party is slated to win 32% of the vote, according to exit polls which is more than twice the amount of Macrons Renaissance party.Macron is essentially betting against his voters as his decision sends a message that, though they may be angry at him and his government, they are not so angry that they will turn to the right-wing pick of Le Pen - known for her nationalist ideology, Euro-skepticism, and anti-immigration policies - as their new head of state, the Washington Post reported.Sputniks Ted Rall, a political cartoonist and syndicated columnist as well as co-host of The Final Countdown, joined The Critical Hour on Monday to discuss the possibility of a French presidency under Le Pen.A few months ago I said there was a strong chance [Macron] would not be the president of the republic by September. I think we are looking at that possibility and basically he sees that he's powerless at this stage, said Rall. He had no political or legal requirement to call an election.The French president told his voters that he has heard [their] message and that he will not let it go without a response." He added that "France needs a clear majority in serenity and harmony," but said that he could not resign himself to the right-wing's progress "everywhere in the continent".Sputniks Garland Nixon prompted Rall, and asked him what his prediction was for Frances political future.The one detail out of yesterday's election results is that the left-wing party, La France Insoumise - which basically means France in uprising or rebellious France, led by Jean-Luc Melenchon who is also a left-winger but [is] a populist like Le Pen - they picked up seats, too, Rall explained. Only the populist parties picked up seats in the EU elections. So, we'll see what happens, but my instinct tells me it's going to probably be Le Pen, which would be absolutely earth shattering.Her party, by American standards, would not really be considered that conservative. It would be sort of a centrist party in the US. The French right-wing, including her party, accept the welfare state. They accept climate change and science, he added. And so, if she comes to power, yeah, she'll be pushing an agenda, but - and definitely France will move to the right - but the friendship of state takes a long time to turn around. It has an inertia of its own.Nixon then asked Rall how a Le Pen presidency could affect the Ukraine conflict.And I think fundamentally, most people who support the Rassemblement National are people who are isolationist, they don't want to see French tax dollars going overseas when the French standard of living is shrinking and the welfare state is imperiled. So most Frenchmen these days would like to see the money directed more toward their own domestic needs.Sputnik reported on Sunday that during US President Joe Bidens trip to France to mark the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landing of Allied troops, Macron had been playing host to the US leader with all the pomp and circumstance befitting a state visit.However, the performance of peace between the two could not conceal the underlying tensions felt by both leaders. While the French are frustrated by the Biden administration's overbearing approach to trans-Atlantic leadership, the US is equally as exasperated by Macrons increasingly warmongering thirst for asserting his countrys independence from the US.It's weird because you're looking at a president who came in with the biggest, basically, National Assembly coalition in postwar parliamentary history. And yet, he never really somehow clicked with the average French voter, said Rall of Macron.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240609/tensions-lurk-behind-biden-macron-toasts--backslapping-1118880327.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240611/jurors-in-hunter-biden-drug-gun-law-trial-have-begun-deliberations---report-1118901001.html

Jurors in Hunter Biden Drug, Gun Law Trial Have Begun Deliberations - Report

Jurors in Hunter Biden Drug, Gun Law Trial Have Begun Deliberations - Report

Sputnik International

As his father faces an uphill battle in a presidential campaign, HUnter Biden is scheduled to face another trial for which he has been charged with failing to pay at least $1.4 million in taxes.

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Jurors in Delaware have begun deliberating on Hunter Bidens criminal trial on felony charges related to his efforts to obtain a .38 revolver from a gun shop in 2018 while allegedly battling addiction to crack cocaine. This is the first time that the son of a sitting president has faced a criminal trial.The first son faces three felonies including: false statement in purchasing of a firearm, false statement related to information required to be kept by federal firearms licensed dealer, and possession of a firearm by a person who is an unlawful user of or addicted to a controlled substance.According to a recent report from The Guardian, the jurors have heard emotional testimonies from Hunter Bidens former romantic partners, read personal text messages and seen photos of him with drug paraphernalia or partially clothed.One woman who said she met Hunter Biden at a strip club where she worked in 2017 described him smoking crack every 20 minutes or so while she stayed with him at a hotel.The defense for the presidents son tried to show that he did not consider himself an addict when he filled out a form to purchase a revolver. His defense attorney - Abbe Lowell, who represented the daughter of former President Donald Trump, Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner in 2018 - also suggested that having a famous last name does not change the fact that he is presumed innocent until proven guilty.His lawyers have also suggested that he was trying to turn his life around when he purchased the gun, and that he had completed a detoxification and rehabilitation program at the end of August 2018.Hallie Biden - Beau Biden's widow whom Hunter Biden reportedly had a romantic relationship with following his brothers death - told jurors she panicked when she found a Colt Cobra revolver in Hunter Bidens vehicle on October 23, 2018. She said she threw it away in a trash can as a result. She also claims that Biden smoked crack on a daily basis or frequently during her testimony. However, she told the jury that she did not see Biden abusing drugs or alcohol for most of the month of October.But the prosecution has shown texts that Biden sent to his brother Beaus widow. They have argued that the texts show drug use and drug deals in the days following the first sons gun purchase. Bidens attorney, Lowell, has suggested that Biden was lying to his brothers widow.The jurors are made up of six men and six women. During the jury selection, a majority of potential jurors told the court they have personally experienced addiction issues through their friends and family.Bidens family members, including the first lady, have been present throughout the trial since hearings first began a week ago. The attorney and businessman has pleaded not guilty to all three charges and has accused the justice department of political sway from Trump and other Republicans after his plea deal with prosecutors fell through last year.If convicted, Biden could receive up to a maximum of 25 years in prison. The president told reporters last week that he would not pardon his son.The trial comes on the heels of Trumps own criminal trial, the conclusion of which found the former president guilty of 34 felonies in New York City, making him the first president in US history to be criminally convicted. The Manhattan case focused on a hush money payment Trump made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels with whom the former president allegedly had an affair.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240607/some-dads-dont-pardon-1118824105.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240611/neoliberalism-being-crushed-in-eu-elections-provides-opportunity-for-the-real-left-1118899642.html

Neoliberalism Being Crushed in EU Elections Provides Opportunity For The Real Left

Neoliberalism Being Crushed in EU Elections Provides Opportunity For The Real Left

Sputnik International

With Neoliberalism being soundly rejected by European voters and conservative parties gaining ground, what is next for the left in Europe?

2024-06-11T01:16+0000

2024-06-11T01:16+0000

2024-06-11T01:16+0000

analysis

emmanuel macron

germany

france

ukraine

european union (eu)

national assembly

alternative fuer deutschland (afd)

christian democratic union/christian social union (cdu/csu)

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The problem with the Left is that there are 10,000 socialist scholars in this country and not one ****** socialist. - Abbie Hoffman.The fall of Neoliberalism in Europe is typically interpreted as the right-wing being on the march, calling to mind images of Neo-Nazi skinheads marching through European capitals like their idolized, long-dead Fuhrer.But the elections in Europe can be interpreted differently: Europeans rejecting neoliberal imperialism, neocolonialism and neocapitalism. That should be seen as an opportunity, not a defeat, for those who truly subscribe to leftist values.Yes, anti-immigrant groups with nationalistic rhetoric and symbology won big during the elections. Alternative for Germany became the second largest political group in the country, trailing only the more traditional conservative CDU/CSU.In France, the National Rally party smashed the centrist coalition so thoroughly that French President Emmanuel Macron dissolved the National Assembly and called for a new election in a comeback bid that carries with it significant risk.However, it is more important to look at who lost, not won, the elections. In France, most of the gains made by the National Rally party came at the expense of Macrons Renaissance party, a trend replicated in Spain, Romania, Denmark and Estonia. In Germany, the AfDs gains came from losses of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) and the Greens, both center/left parties.The centrist and so-called leftist parties in Europe were not advancing the needs of the working class. They were not fighting to end imperialism. They were not advancing any of the causes that launched worker movements at the turn of the last century. Instead, they asked workers to give up more so that the military machine could continue churning, and worse, they acted smug about it.[The Greens] offer people no material solutions to the crisis that they see forming in their societies, activist and political commentator Phil Kelly told Sputniks Political Misfits. The big problem for Europe at the minute is there is no coherent, left-wing movement thats effectively rooted in the labor movement and the working class that can counter this kind of rise of the right.Kelly says that the centrist left and more extreme right feeds off the other ultimately keeping each other in power. Its kind of like in US elections where things are framed around you have to vote for the lesser evil, You know, the liberals will tell you, Yes, [US President Joe] Biden is awful. Yes, he is supporting genocide but Trump will be worse.The Greens in Europe, who pushed for the Green Deal to be Brussels signature issue for the past half a decade, saw their biggest losses in France and Germany, where farmers have been protesting what they see as overly stringent environmental regulations.The neoliberal elites in Europe have been cannibalizing Western societies since the 2008 financial crash, Kelly argues, which has resulted in them having nothing left to give.And then you have these moralistic Greens telling you that you need to pay more to save the environment, Kelly explained.That call to action falls on deaf ears however, not only because it hurts workers economically, but because their imperialistic actions put the lie to their moral grandstanding and the working class in Europe sees that plainly.Its good to see them rejected, Kelly continued. As Ive long said, especially the European Green Movement is not a leftist project. It is a distraction and it is a contagion within the body of the true kind of workers movement, the true movement you need to really challenge these failing elites, not only in Europe, but across the world.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240610/russian-roulette-why-macrons-snap-elections-may-not-end-well-for-him-1118896978.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240610/eurosceptic-party-wins-exposes-growing-rift-between-eu-public-and-governments-1118895122.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240611/russian-military-ships-to-visit-cuba-on-june-12--1118903096.html

Russian Military Ships to Visit Cuba on June 12

Russian Military Ships to Visit Cuba on June 12

Sputnik International

The squadron of Russian military ships will enter Cubas ports as a part of the international partnership program, commander-in-chief of the Russian Navy Alexander Moiseyev told Sputnik.

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A squadron of Russian military ships will enter Cubas ports as a part of an international partnership program, commander-in-chief of the Russian Navy Alexander Moiseyev has told Sputnik.On [June] 12, the squadron of military ships of the Northern Fleet [will enter Cuban ports], it is public information, it is true, I confirm. It is done under the auspice of the international partnership program between Russia and Cuba," Moiseyev said.He clarified that visiting Cuba was only one of the tasks of the naval expedition. The commander-in-chief added that the squadron's flagship is a frigate with modern weaponry, and it will be accompanied by a nuclear submarine.

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A Southwest Airlines jet arrives at Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix in 2022. Activist shareholder Elliott Investment Management has taken a $1.9 billion stake in the airline, saying it failed to keep up with other airlines and suffers from outdated technology and operations. Associated Press file photo

DALLAS  Activist shareholder Elliott Investment Management has bought a $1.9 billion stake in Southwest Airlines and is seeking to force out the CEO of the airline, which has struggled with operational and financial problems.

Shares in the airline rose 7% Monday, their second-best day since 2020.

In a letter to Southwests board, the investment firm complained that Southwests stock price has dropped more than 50% in the past three years.

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Elliott said Southwest  the largest carrier at San Antonio International Airport  has failed to evolve, hurting its ability to compete with other carriers. The firm blamed the Dallas-based carriers massive flight cancellations in December 2022 on what it described as the airlines outdated software and operational processes.

Poor execution and leaderships stubborn unwillingness to evolve the Companys strategy have led to deeply disappointing results for shareholders, employees and customers alike, the investment firm said in the letter, dated Monday. It was first reported by the Wall Street Journal.

Southwest CEO Robert Jordan has delivered unacceptable financial and operational performance quarter after quarter, the letter read. It said Jordan and former CEO Gary Kelly, now the airlines executive chairman, are not up to the task of modernizing Southwest.

Elliott is calling for executives from outside the company to replace Jordan and Kelly, and for significant changes on the board, including new independent directors with experience at other airlines.

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Southwest said it was contacted by Elliott on Sunday and looked forward to better understanding their views on our company.

The Southwest Board of Directors is confident in our CEO and managements ability to execute against the companys strategic plan to drive long-term value for all shareholders, safely and reliably serve our customers and deliver on our commitments to all of our stakeholders, a spokesperson said in a statement.

For years, Southwest appealed to cost-conscious flyers by not charging fees for a checked bag or changing a reservation. Its planes dont have a premium cabin. Its closest rivals dropped change fees during the pandemic, however, and they are winning over upscale travelers with better seats and amenities.

In April, when Southwest reported a $231 million first-quarter loss, Jordan seemed to bend to those market pressures by announcing that Southwest was considering changes to its boarding and seating policies. The airline even took the rare step of dropping four cities from its map.

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Savanthi Syth, an airline analyst for Raymond James Financial, said Elliott was likely attracted by Southwests well-known brand, leading position at many airports and strong balance sheet, among other attributes. She suggested that necessary changes shouldnt be that hard to achieve.

Southwest grew rapidly coming out of the pandemic, adding service to 18 more cities. Syth said Southwest has recognized the need to scale back growth, although six or eight months too late, resulting in higher costs.

The airline had little choice in trimming its growth: It cant get all the jets it ordered because of production cutbacks at Boeing since a door plug blew out of a 737 Max during an Alaska Airlines flight in January.

Southwest carries the most passengers within the United States, but Delta, United and American  all of which have more extensive international routes  are much larger by revenue. Southwest earned a profit for 47 straight years  an unmatched record in the airline business  until the coronavirus pandemic hit in 2020.

Southwest reported record revenue of $26.1 billion last year, but its $465 million profit was down from the previous two years and about one-tenth of Deltas profit.

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Delta and United have emerged from the pandemic as by far the most profitable U.S. airlines, and that shows up in their relative stock performance. At the close of trading Friday, Southwest shares were down 52% from three years earlier  about the same as American. But Delta shares gained more than 9% in that span, while United shares dipped but only around 7%.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240611/russian-scientists-identify-genes-predisposing-to-peptic-ulcer-disease-1118860964.html

Russian Scientists Identify Genes Predisposing to Peptic Ulcer Disease

Russian Scientists Identify Genes Predisposing to Peptic Ulcer Disease

Sputnik International

Geneticists from Russia's Belgorod State National Research University have proposed using DNA analysis to identify hereditary predisposition to peptic ulcer disease of the stomach and duodenum.

2024-06-11T10:09+0000

2024-06-11T10:09+0000

2024-06-11T10:09+0000

beyond politics

russia

medicine

disease

dna

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According to the researchers, their method of analyzing DNA fragments allows for the high-accuracy identification of at-risk groups among healthy individuals and can help prevent the development of the disease. This was reported by the university's press service.Scientists from Belgorod State University (NRU BelSU) explained that peptic ulcer disease of the stomach and duodenum is often associated with the bacterium Helicobacter pylori. Once in the gastrointestinal tract, Helicobacter causes inflammation of the mucous membrane, which can lead to ulcer development. The disease occurs in 5-10% of the adult population worldwide.The symptoms cause significant discomfort to patients: reduced appetite, heartburn, and painful sensations. Potential complications, which affect 10-20% of patients, can be life-threatening.One such complication is perforation, a deep tissue damage that leads to a full-thickness perforation, causing stomach or intestinal contents to leak into the abdominal cavity. Bleeding occurs six times more frequently than perforations, and bleeding is the cause of death in 40% of cases. Additionally, chronic ulcers can lead to the development of malignant tumors.Serious complications of peptic ulcer disease can only be treated surgically. Recovery from such operations depends on many factors but generally takes at least three months. The peak incidence is among people of working age30 to 45 years. This underscores the importance of expanding methods for early risk prediction of peptic ulcer disease.According to Mikhail Churnosov, head of the Department of Biomedical Sciences at the NRU BelSU Medical Institute, the disease typically develops from a combination of three factors: bacterial infection, unhealthy lifestyle, and hereditary predisposition. The hereditary contribution to the disease ranges from 5.5% to 50%, making it crucial to consider individual genetic characteristics for determining the probability of disease development and effectively identifying risk groups among healthy individuals.The Belgorod State University research team proposed methods for identifying hereditary predisposition to peptic ulcer disease development based on molecular genetic analysis of several DNA regions.The professor stated that current approaches to predicting the risk of peptic ulcer disease development generally do not consider patients' genetic characteristics, hindering improvements in prediction quality.The first proposed prediction method from the Belgorod geneticists is based on identifying various alleles (forms of the same gene) located at polymorphic loci (identical DNA regions), which can determine the likelihood of disease development in both males and females.According to Churnosov, the combination of genotypes at loci rs2294008 PSCA CC and rs6136 SELP AA indicates a high probability that a patient will develop peptic ulcer disease in the future.The second DNA analysis method involves determining genotypes at polymorphic loci rs2294008 PSCA CC and rs2519093 ABO CC. Like the first method, it also enables high-probability identification of disease risk in both men and women.Analysis of polymorphic regions rs2294008 PSCA and rs649129 ABO/RF00019 can identify hereditary predisposition to peptic ulcer disease of the stomach and duodenum only in women.The university, which implements the "Scientific Belgorod" project with the support of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation, reported that over 700 patients from the gastroenterology department of the Belgorod Regional Clinical Hospital of St. Ioasaf participated in the study.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240611/ukraine-loses-over-740-soldiers-in-battles-with-russian-southern-troops-1118904498.html

Ukraine Loses Over 740 Soldiers in Battles With Russian Southern Troops

Ukraine Loses Over 740 Soldiers in Battles With Russian Southern Troops

Sputnik International

Russia's Yug (South) grouping of the Russian armed forces has taken better positions in the past 24 hours, while Ukraine has lost more than 740 soldiers in clashes,

2024-06-11T11:32+0000

2024-06-11T11:32+0000

2024-06-11T11:32+0000

russia's special operation in ukraine

russian army

russian armed forces

ministry of defense

ukrainian crisis

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Russia's Yug (South) grouping of the Russian armed forces has taken better positions in the past 24 hours, while Ukraine has lost more than 740 soldiers in clashes, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Tuesday. The central group has repelled five counterattacks by Ukrainian troops in the Donetsk People's Republic and Kiev has lost up to 350 soldiers, while Kiev has lost up to 135 soldiers in battles with the eastern group of the Rusisan forces. The western group of forces has taken control of the settlement of Artemovka in the Lugansk People's Republic and a village of Timkovka in the Kharkov region, while Kiev has lost over 560 soldiers in battles. The northern group has repelled two counterattacks and Ukraine has lost more than 265 soldiers, the ministry added.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240608/prospect-of-ukraine-child-soldiers-shows-us-desperate-will-set-public-against-zelensky-1118858395.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240611/ukrainian-troops-caught-in-endless-mini-pockets-around-kharkov--pow-1118902267.html

Ukrainian Troops Caught In Endless Mini-Pockets Around Kharkov  PoW

Ukrainian Troops Caught In Endless Mini-Pockets Around Kharkov  PoW

Sputnik International

Ukrainian army detachments got into numerous mini-pockets under Kharkov, during Russian offensive this spring, told Kirill Docenko, former Ukrainian soldier, now POW.

2024-06-11T10:53+0000

2024-06-11T10:53+0000

2024-06-11T10:53+0000

russia's special operation in ukraine

russian armed forces

ukrainian crisis

kharkov

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Ukrainian Army detachments have been caught in numerous mini-pockets around Kharkov during the Russian offensive this spring, former Ukrainian soldier and current PoW Kirill Docenko has said.He added that Ukrainian troops ignored orders to establish perimeter defenses and started to retreat, being caught in the mini-pockets by the Russian army.Docenko was wounded and his peers used a pit as a shelter against shelling. They reported the situation and their officers ordered them to hold positions despite all odds. There was shooting nearby and they heard pleas for help on the radio frequency from other Ukrainian soldiers who were encircled in the very same manner. Soon his walkie-talkie went silent and Docenko blacked out. He spent up to five days in the pit that was earlier used by the Ukrainian Army for organic waste. When he regained consciousness, he was already behind Russian lines. He realized that fact because Ukrainian artillery was shelling the location where he was hiding  their old positions with their wounded peers left.Earlier, Sputnik published an interview with another Ukrainian soldier who chose life over death and surrendered to the Russian Armed Forces. He admitted that the Ukrainian top brass does not care about the lives of their people, instead sending troops to a guaranteed death - and thanked Russian soldiers for their respectful treatment.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240608/prospect-of-ukraine-child-soldiers-shows-us-desperate-will-set-public-against-zelensky-1118858395.html

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Woodmere Rollnpop won in a career best 1:51.2 in the featured $11,000 Preferred 2 Pace at Grand River Raceway in a 33-1 upset on Monday, June 10.

Travis Henry and the Garry Merner student started as the lone starter in the second tier from post nine. As the car pulled away, favoured Larry Karr (Austin Sorrie) set up as the pacesetter for the mile while Woodmere Rollnpop got away fifth. Woodmere Rollnpop maintained position through fractions in :26.1 and :53.4 before pulling second over en route to the three quarters in 1:22.1, following the cover of It Takes Two (Jason Ryan). Woodmere Rollnpop achieved the lead down the stretch and kept going to a two length score in 1:51.2. It Takes Two took second and I Ama Rocket (J Harris) completed the triactor.

Woodmere Rollnpop is a seven-year-old Rollwithitharry - Shadow Dancer gelding owned by Andrea Leon. In 130 career starts, he has won 30 times with a bankroll reading $177,702. This year, he has made six trips to the winner's circle in 15 starts. He returned $68.30 as the upset victor. The 1:51.2 mark was not only a lifetime mark for Woodmere Rollnpop, but also the swiftest mile over the five-eighths mile surface at Grand River thus far.

To view Monday's harness racing results, click the following link: Monday Results - Grand River Raceway.

(Standardbred Canada)
The $28,000 conditioned trot topped the Monday (June 10) evening card at Woodbine Mohawk Park as the featured race and Perfetto zoomed home to win by a narrow margin.

Walk On The Moon (Jonathan Drury) took over as the pacesetter for the mile after the quarter in :26.1 and kept going to dictate the tempo through marks in :55.2 and 1:23.4. Perfetto (Dagfin Henriksen) got away third through the opening quarter, but closed the gap to second through the half. Southwind Coors (Chris Christoforou) pressed forward to take over second at the three-quarters, but Henriksen and his student continued strong to take on Walkonthemoon down the lane. The pair battled for the win through the stretch, but in a photo finish Perfetto prevailed by a neck in 1:53.2. Walkonthemoon had to settle for second and Kevin Anthony (Trevor Henry) grabbed third.

Perfetto (Majestic Son - Perfect Prelude) is a nine-year-old gelding owned by Gerald Haggerty. He won his third race in 13 starts this year and 31st race from 133 career starts, moving his lifetime sum to a whopping $900,481. The veteran trotter returned $9.90 to win from 4-1 odds.

Tokyo Seelster suffered a catastrophic injury during tonight's seventh race and was humanely euthanized.

Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the connections of Tokyo Seelster.

To view Monday's harness racing results, click the following link: Monday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.

(Standardbred Canada)
The team of driver Devon Tharps and trainer Ron Burke snagged victories in the pair of $54,795 Open Paces at Oak Grove Racing, Gaming & Hotel on Monday (June 10).

In the Open Pace, Tharps powered from off the speed with Rocks Shining Star to grab a closing-stride win in 1:51.1.

Getting away sixth through a :27 first quarter, Tharps bided his time as Hezzz A Wise Sky (driven by Kyle Wilfong) forged forward to the lead from Robert Again (Lewayne Miller) with Western Era (Cordarius Stewart) settling into third. Hezzz A Wise Sky then had no time to breathe past a :55.1 half as Odds On Blockchain (Atlee Bender), who abandoned his leave attempt at the start, got rolling again with a first-over push to the backside.

Odds On Blockchain and Hezzz A Wise Sky dueled through a third-quarter sprint to click past the third station in 1:22.4. But as the two stayed locked in battle spinning for home, Robert Again had a seam to swing from the pocket to the center of the track while Tharps got rolling with Rocks Shining Star. Robert Again darted to the lead in midstretch but Rocks Shining Star overhauled him with ease in the final yards to post a half-length win at the beam. Hezzz A Wise Sky held third from Western Era in fourth.

A five-year-old gelding by Rockin Image, Rocks Shining Star has now won 15 races from 70 starts and earned $268,325 for owners Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi and Phil Collura. He paid $10.16 to win.

Earlier in the card, Tharps persisted through a first-over grind with Southwind Bella to grab another closing-stride win in the $54,795 Fillies & Mares Open Pace.

Tharps landed in fifth out of the second tier with Southwind Bella as Marloe Hanover (Marvin Luna) worked forward to the lead after a :27 first quarter. Once positions settled on the front, Tharps sent Southwind Bella off the pegs and after Marloe Hanover as she maintained her speed through a :55.4 half.

Southwind Bella continued to gain up the backside and hooked to match strides with Marloe Hanover through three-quarters in 1:24. The two moved as one through the final turn and stayed in a stalemate coming home. Marloe Hanover edged back to the front by cutting the corner but Southwind Bella made one final lunge in the closing strides to put a head in front at the end of a 1:52.1 mile. Rock It Out (Lewayne Miller) gave chase in third off a ground-saving trip and Yankee B Something (Joey Putnam) rallied for fourth.

A four-year-old mare by Huntsville, Southwind Bella has now won 11 races from 33 starts and earned $332,695 for owners Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, Bridgette Jablonsky and Lombardo / Green Racing. She paid $13.54 to win.

Ron Burke totalled three winners on the 12-race card. Aside from his sweep of the features, he and Tharps also teamed with Tip Top Cat to win in the third race in 1:50.4 and become just the third horse this meet to win out of post 10. He paid $5.92 to win in the speed mission.

Live racing resumes at Oak Grove on Tuesday (June 11) at 3 p.m. (CDT) and features a pair of carryovers -- a $420.29 carryover in the Early Pick 4 (starting in Race 3) and a $324.10 carryover in the Late Pick 5 (starting in Race 6). Free program pages for every race day, courtesy of TrackMaster, are available on the Oak Grove Racing website.

(Oak Grove Racing Publicity)
Tavel Bristol-Joseph and Karla Espinosa will run the kitchen at Nicosi. Robert Lerma

In 2024, the camera eats first. Countless diners ignore their tablemates as they snap photos of every plate while hot and cold ingredients wither under the spotlight.

Well, you can check that mess at the door at San Antonio's newest sweet spot.

Nicosi, a multicourse dessert-tasting bar at Pullman Market, has set an opening date for June 26. The high-flying confectionery under the leadership of noted chef Tavel Bristol-Joseph will regale guests with a battery of nuanced desserts that explore a range of flavors beyond sweetness.

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Just keep that phone out of sight.

According to a media release, a "key component of the Nicosi experience is the element of surprise."

"Photos and details of the menu will not be revealed until the new menu is in place," it said. "Due to this, Nicosi will have a no-phone policy to encourage conversation, and connection and for guests to be present in the experience."

It'll be worth it to forget about Instagram and TikTok for an evening.

Nicosi will serve dishes like this one representing bitter flavor with avocado, chocolate, peach leaf, water buffalo milk and cocoa nibs. Robert Lerma

FIRST LOOK: Pullman Market impresses in Pearl debut

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Tavel Bristol-Joseph and Karla Espinosa will run the kitchen at Nicosi. MARK GREMILLION, Robert Lerma Karla Espinosa will serve as chef de cuisine at Nicosi. MARK GREMILLION, Robert Lerma Tavel Bristol-Joseph is the executive chef and partner at Nicosi. Robert Lerma Nicosi will serve dishes like this one representing bitter flavor with avocado, chocolate, peach leaf, water buffalo milk and cocoa nibs. Robert Lerma

In 2020, Bristol-Joseph was named to Food & Wine's Best New Chefs list, just one of his accolades. He'll be joined by seasoned chef de cuisine Karla Espinosa in the kitchen. And that kitchen will be on full display in the 20-seat Nicosi, which is set up like an omakase sushi bar so diners can experience the culinary wizardry firsthand. The menu will change quarterly, featuring a lineup of four smaller bites and four larger plates each time.

"It has been a dream of mine since I was 17 to be in a space that celebrates desserts and the artistry behind it. I am excited to finally see Nicosi come to life," Bristol-Joseph said in the release. "Nicosi is a space that will allow chefs like our chef de cuisine, Karla Espinosa, and guests to explore what desserts are and how different they can be to each of us. Nicosi will be a dessert bar unlike any of its kind as we explore and push the boundaries on the thresholds of acid, umami, bitter and sweet in desserts."

You'll want to set aside some cabbage for all that sugar. The eight-course tasting menu runs $100 per person without alcohol or $120 with booze.

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This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Early in May, King Philippe of Belgium was on the edge of the Namib desert to inaugurate a project that aims to help decarbonize European industry, and which might just enable one of Africa's smallest economies to hit the clean-energy big time.

It was a humble start for such grand designs, as Namibian President Nangolo Mbumba hosted the king at an unfinished site near the port of Walvis Bay on the southern Atlantic Ocean, the baking rust-colored dunescape silent except for an occasional truck passing on the new roadway.

But Philippe was just the latest in a string of European dignitaries to buy into Namibia's grandiose plans to become a hub for what's known as green hydrogen. It's a technology whose critics say is a commercial illusion, but whose political and corporate backers believe may be the answer to cleaner shipping and heavy industry.

"We are really very committed in this hydrogen and green hydrogen journey," Belgian Energy Minister Tinne Van der Straeten said in an interview at the site of the project, known as Cleanergy Solutions.

From modest beginnings, Namibia is banking on a whole new supply chain taking shapefrom the production of hydrogen that's turned into ammonia for transportation, to associated "green" productsthat would place it at the forefront of a developing clean technology, and finally put it on the map.

Europe, for its part, sees a means of furthering its green transition and bolstering energy security after it lost natural gas from Russia. The European Investment Bank has pledged a 500 million ($544 million) loan toward developing green hydrogen in Namibia, with the Netherlands' Invest International contributing to a planned $1 billion Namibian hydrogen fund.

Cleanergy, a venture between Antwerp-based shipping company Compagnie Maritime Belge SA (CMB) and local firm Ohlthaver & List Group, will be Namibia's first commercial green hydrogen plant. Built at a cost of $30 million partly funded by a $10 million loan from the German government, it's just the start: CMB intends to raise $3.5 billion to build an ammonia plant that would connect to a new storage and export facility planned by the Port of Antwerp-Bruges.

"Our customers are asking us to clean up our act to make sure that we don't emit CO 2 anymore, so we need to find an alternative for diesel," said Alexander Saverys, CMB's chief executive officer, explaining the nearly 130-year-old company's decision to get into green hydrogen.

Five years ago, CMB reached out to producers about green hydrogen and ammonia. "They all laughed and they all said 'no, it doesn't exist,'" Saverys recalled. So CMB developed its own production and is now scaling up: CMB, which runs 200 ships worldwide, has ordered 45 ammonia-fueled vessels from China. That requires investing "in a country where there's an abundance of cheap renewable energy, and Namibia is that country," he said.

It's a prospect that could transform the nation of 2.8 million with a gross domestic product of some $13 billion, or around one third that of Vermont, the smallest economy of any US state.

If at all, Namibia is known for its desolationhome to one of the world's most arid deserts, the Namib, it's among the least densely populated countries on Earth. It's that ready availability of land, allied to lots of sun and wind, that offers such possibilities even in the face of competition from the likes of Chile, Saudi Arabia and Namibia's neighbor, South Africa.

The southwest African nation has the world's best solar potential, according to a World Bank study, and its abundant land is largely owned by the government, which backs the industry's development. The South West Africa People's Organization has ruled the country since it won independence from South Africa in 1990, giving investors the reassurance of political stability.

The plan is to tap solar power from the Namib by erecting a vast array of panels channeling the energy to electrolyzers that split water into its constituent molecules, hydrogen and oxygen, without climate-warming emissions. The product will then be turned into green ammonia, loaded onto tankers at new harbors planned by the companies that run the ports of Rotterdam and AntwerpEurope's No. 1 and No. 2 ports respectivelyand transported north to Europe.

While a sparse landscape is a bonus for clean-energy production, it's historically proved a challenge to turn a profit from the moon-like emptiness of Namibia, a nation largely reliant on metals, diamonds, tourism and fishing. The government's gamble is that costs of producing hydrogen will fall at the same time as the European Union imposes stricter rules on the use of fossil fuels that power industries such as the chemical cluster around Antwerp and the Ruhr area of Germany.

The government in Windhoek does have other opportunities, notably a number of offshore crude finds that may be developed by TotalEnergies SE and Shell Plc with other oil majors keen to participate as the fields are assessed. Early estimates have reached billions of barrels and any projects will race to beat declining demand for fossil fuels. That still compels Namibia to find a new impetus for growth in the face of the country's limited skills base and a worrying vulnerability to climate change.

"Either we sit back and we let you guys try to decarbonize your factories, or we also use the natural resources at our disposal, our great wind or great sun or minerals, to proactively contribute to reducing this existential threat to our people," said James Mnyupe, Namibia's Green Hydrogen Commissioner, who is on first-name terms with EU energy ministers courtesy of a whirlwind of visits to drum up funds.

The government estimates that the size of the economy could double as a result. What's more, "excess electrons" can be exported, alleviating regional energy insecurity, Energy Minister Tom Alweendo told the World Hydrogen Summit in Rotterdam.

The planned location of CMB's main facility some 50 miles northeast of Walvis Bay speaks to the race for Africa's resources by the world's economic powers.

Situated on the desert plains that make up much of the central Namib, the site is close to Arandis, a near derelict settlement whose name means "the place where people cry" in the ancient Khoekhoe language. Arandis lies between Husab and Rossing, the world's No. 2 and No. 6 uranium mines, both of which are owned by Chinese companies. Chinese investors have also snapped up Namibian gold assets.

Europe's bid to benefit from Namibian resources is not without sensitivity given its colonial past: Former colonizer Germany has acknowledged that it carried out a genocide of the Herero and Nama peoples in the early 20th century, and questions of redress are still under discussion.

That's not standing in the way of a development that could radically change Namibia's outlookthe $10 billion Hyphen project in which Germany's Enertrag SE is invested. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock hailed it as giving "further impetus to our cooperation on hydrogen, the fuel of the future." In March, the government said it plans to award Hyphen strategically significant status, paving the way for more state support.

In its first phase, the Hyphen facility will be powered by 3.5 gigawatts of wind and solar projectsequal to more than half the capacity of large renewable plants built across South Africa, the continent's most industrialized nation.

An entire vertically integrated industry is set to rise in Luderitz, a remote coastal outpost south of Walvis Bay at the end of a decommissioned rail line, where businesses until recently included the processing of seal skins, while a nearby ghost town is testament to the rise and fall of the diamond trade.

It's here that Hyphen expects to employ 15,000 workers for at least four years to build a plant that yields enough hydrogen to make one million tons of ammonia a yearthen doubling it in a second phase. That would represent a significant chunk of the up to 15 million tons of "green ammonia" the International Energy Agency forecasts will be produced globally by 2030.

The Port of Rotterdam is providing support to Hyphen and state-owned Namport to determine the infrastructure needed in Luderitz that will allow the import of massive wind turbine blades and other equipment. It's also pledged to assist in finding the needed financing.

Namibia is taking a 24% equity stake, and has still grander plans. With help from McKinsey & Co., it's developed a strategy that envisions three hydrogen production zones along the coast in a blueprint that spans mineral refining and the manufacturing of renewable energy hardware along with pilot programs for hydrogen-powered trains and utilities.

Hyphen, says CEO Marco Raffinetti, will be "the catalyst of the first hydrogen valley."

But none of this will leave the drawing board without secure funding, which means lining up customers who agree with binding contracts to buy the green hydrogen produced. A high level of concessional financing could play a role, according to Raffinetti, who said that the Belgians, Dutch, Japanese and South Koreans have all shown interest.

"It's not a full fantasy, there is some merit to what Namibia is doing," said Martin Tengler, a BloombergNEF analyst. "What is going to matter most to them is to find an offtaker for the hydrogen that they will produce."

Germany is pushing hard to bring a hydrogen market to the world, paying 3 billion in direct subsidies to help green its steelmakers and launching a massive funding program to spur demand in Europe's biggest economy. On May 29, the cabinet passed a draft law under the aegis of Economy Minister Robert Habeckanother visitor to Namibiato accelerate hydrogen projects, including making it easier to set up infrastructure for import and storage.

Even as the technology is still being developed, there may be few other choices for European industry facing stringent climate regulations.

"You cannot electrify those industries," said Port of Antwerp-Bruges CEO Jacques Vandermeiren. "You'll have to bring in the green molecules."

If Namibia's green hydrogen gambit does pay off, it could foster decades of development. And Namibia needs development wherever it can get it, according to Trevino Forbes, the mayor of Walvis Bay. The goal has to be "to capitalize on this resource of ours," he said.

2024 Bloomberg News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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Credit: AI-generated image

Earlier this year, thousands of Democratic voters in New Hampshire received a telephone call ahead of the state primary, urging them to stay home rather than vote.

The call supposedly came from none other than President Joe Biden. But the message was a "deepfake". This term covers videos, pictures, or audio made with artificial intelligence (AI) to appear real, when they are not. The fake Biden call is one of the most high profile examples to date of the critical threat that deepfakes could pose to the democratic process during the current UK election and the upcoming US election.

Deepfake adverts impersonating Prime Minister Rishi Sunak have reportedly reached more than 400,000 people on Facebook, while young voters in key election battlegrounds are being recommended fake videos created by political activists.

But there may be help coming from technology that conforms to a set of principles known as "responsible AI". This tech could detect and filter out fakes in much the same way a spam filter does.

Misinformation has long been an issue during election campaigns, with many media outlets now carrying out "fact checking" exercises on the claims made by rival candidates. But rapid developments of AIand in particular generative AImean the line between true and false, fact and fiction has become increasingly blurred.

This can cause devastating consequences, sowing the seeds of distrust in the political process and swaying election outcomes. If this continues unaddressed, we can forget about a free and fair democratic process. Instead, we will be faced with a new era of AI-influenced elections.

Seeds of distrust

One reason for the rampant spread of these deepfakes is the fact that they are inexpensive and easy to create, requiring literally no prior knowledge of artificial intelligence. All you need is a determination to influence the outcome of an election.

Paid advertising can be used to propagate deepfakes and other sources of misinformation. The Online Safety Act may make it mandatory to remove illegal disinformation once it has been identified (regardless of whether it is AI-generated or not).

But by the time that happens, the seed of distrust has already been sown in the minds of voters, corrupting the information they use to form opinions and make decisions.

Removing deepfakes once they have already been seen by thousands of voters is like applying a sticking plaster to a gaping woundtoo little, too late. The purpose of any technology or law aimed at tackling deepfakes should be to prevent the harm altogether.

With this in mind, the US has launched an AI taskforce to delve deeper into ways to regulate AI and deepfakes. Meanwhile, India plans to introduce penalties both for those who create deepfakes and other forms of disinformation, and for platforms that spread it.

Alongside this are regulations imposed by tech firms such as Google and Meta, which require politicians to disclose the use of AI in election adverts. Finally, there are technological solutions to the threat of deepfakes. Seven major tech companiesincluding OpenAI, Amazon, and Googlewill incorporate "watermarks" into their AI content to identify deepfakes.

However, there are several caveats. There is no standard watermark, allowing each company to design their own watermarking technology and making it harder to track deepfakes. The use of watermarks is only a voluntary commitment by tech firms and failure to comply carries no penalty. There are also smart and simple ways to remove the watermark. Take the case of DALL-E, where a quick search reveals the process for removing its watermark.

On top of this, platforms are not the only means of online communication these days. Anyone who is intent on spreading misinformation can easily email deepfakes direct to voters or use less restrictive platforms, such as encrypted messaging apps, as a preferable outlet for dissemination.

Given these limitations, how can we protect our democracies from the threat posed by AI deepfakes? The answer is to use technology to combat a problem that technology has created, by harnessing it to break the transmission cycle of misinformation across the internet, emails, and online chat platforms.

One way to do this is to design and develop a new "responsible AI" mechanism to detect deepfake audio and video at the point of inception. Much like a spam filter, it would remove them from social media feeds and inboxes.

Some 20 leading technology companies, including Adobe, Amazon, Google, IBM, Meta, Microsoft, OpenAI, TikTok, and X have pledged to work together to detect and counter harmful AI content. This combined effort to combat the deceptive use of AI in the 2024 elections is known as the Tech Accord.

But these are first steps. Moving forward, we need responsible AI solutions, which go beyond simply identifying and eliminating deepfakes to finding methods for tracing their origins and ensuring transparency and trust in the news users read.

Developing these solutions is a race against time, with the UK and US already preparing for elections. Every effort should be made to develop and deploy effective counter measures to guard against political deepfakes in time for the US Presidential election later this year.

Given the rate at which AI is progressing, and the tensions that are likely to surround the campaign, it is hard to imagine that we will be able to hold a truly fair and impartial election without them.

Until effective regulations and responsible AI technology are in place to uphold the integrity of information, the old adage that "seeing is believing" no longer holds true. That leaves the current general election in the UK vulnerable to being influenced by AI deepfakes.

Voters must exercise extra caution when viewing any advertisement, text, speech, audio, or video with a political connection to avoid being duped by deepfakes that seek to undermine our democracy.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Intel is halting the expansion of a major factory project in Israel, which was going to pump an extra $15 billion towards a chip plant.

The chip giant in December said it was going to expand an ongoing $10 billion plan at the Kiryat Gat site, in the south of the country, currently under construction.

Solicited by AFP, Intel on Monday gave no reason for the pause for the next phase and made no link to the ongoing conflict with Hamas in Gaza.

"Israel continues to be one of our key global manufacturing and R&D sites and we remain fully committed to the region," the company said in a statement.

It added that "managing large-scale projects, especially in our industry, often involves adapting to changing timelines."

"Decisions are based on business conditions, market dynamics and responsible capital management."

Israel is Intel's third-largest country of operation by asset size, according to its annual report, after the United States and Ireland.

The semiconductor giant has been present in Israel for fifty years, with the opening of a research center in Haifa.

During the 2010s, Intel became the leading employer in Israel's thriving tech sector, according to the company's website.

In 2017, the American company paid $15.3 billion to take control of Israeli start-up Mobileye, which specializes in assistance and autonomous driving.

Intel floated part of Mobileye's capital on the New York Stock Exchange in October 2022, but retains control of the company.

 2024 AFP
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A collage of the pet photos sent over laser links from Earth to LCRD (Laser Communications Relay Demonstration) to ILLUMA-T (Integrated LCRD Low Earth Orbit User Modem and Amplifier Terminal) on the space station. Animals submitted include cats, dogs, birds, chickens, cows, snakes, pigs, and more. Credit: NASA/Dave Ryan

Using NASA's first two-way, end-to-end laser relay system, pictures and videos of cherished pets flew through space over laser communications links at a rate of 1.2 gigabits per secondfaster than most home internet speeds.

NASA astronauts Randy Bresnik, Christina Koch, and Kjell Lindgren, along with other agency employees, submitted photos and videos of their pets to take a trip to and from the International Space Station.

The transmissions allowed NASA's SCaN (Space Communications and Navigation) program to showcase the power of laser communications while simultaneously testing out a new networking technique.

"The pet imagery campaign has been rewarding on multiple fronts for the ILLUMA-T, LCRD, and HDTN teams," said Kevin Coggins, deputy associate administrator and SCaN program manager at NASA Headquarters in Washington. "Not only have they demonstrated how these technologies can play an essential role in enabling NASA's future science and exploration missions, it also provided a fun opportunity for the teams to 'picture' their pets assisting with this innovative demonstration."

This demonstration was inspired by "Taters the Cat"an orange cat whose video was transmitted 19 million miles over laser links to the DSOC (Deep Space Optical Communications) payload on the Psyche mission. LCRD, DSOC, and ILLUMA-T are three of NASA's ongoing laser communications demonstrations to prove out the technology's viability.

NASA sends pet photos and videos to space over laser links during a May 2024 demonstration. Credit: NASA/Dave Ryan

The images and videos started on a computer at a mission operations center in Las Cruces, New Mexico. From there, NASA routed the data to optical ground stations in California and Hawaii. Teams modulated the data onto infrared light signals, or lasers, and sent the signals to NASA's LCRD (Laser Communications Relay Demonstration) located 22,000 miles above Earth in geosynchronous orbit. LCRD then relayed the data to ILLUMA-T (Integrated LCRD Low Earth Orbit User Modem and Amplifier Terminal), a payload currently mounted on the outside of the space station.

Since the beginning of space exploration, NASA missions have relied on radio frequency communications to send data to and from space. Laser communications, also known as optical communications, employ infrared light instead of radio waves to send and receive information.

While both infrared and radio travel at the speed of light, infrared light can transfer more data in a single link, making it more efficient for science data transfer. This is due to infrared light's tighter wavelength, which can pack more information onto a signal than radio communications.

A graphical representation of NASA communicating in space using High-Rate Delay Tolerant Networking. Credit: NASA/Morgan Johnson

This demonstration also allowed NASA to test out another networking technique. When data is transmitted across thousands and even millions of miles in space, the delay and potential for disruption or data loss is significant. To overcome this, NASA developed a suite of communications networking protocols called Delay/Disruption Tolerant Networking, or DTN. The "store-and-forward" process used by DTN allows data to be forwarded as it is received or stored for future transmission if signals become disrupted in space.

To enable DTN at higher data rates, a team at NASA's Glenn Research Center in Cleveland developed an advanced implementation, HDTN (High-Rate Delay Tolerant Networking). This networking technology acts as a high-speed path for moving data between spacecraft and across communication systems, enabling data transfer at a speed of up to four times faster than current DTN technologyallowing high-speed laser communication systems to utilize the "store-and-forward" capability of DTN.

The HDTN implementation aggregates data from a variety of different sources, like discoveries from the scientific instrumentation on the space station, and prepares the data for transmission back to Earth. For the pet photo and video experiment, the content was routed using DTN protocols as they traveled from Earth to LCRD, to ILLUMA-T on the space station. Once they arrived, an onboard HDTN payload demonstrated its ability to receive and reassemble the data into files.

A collage of the pet photos sent over laser links from Earth to LCRD (Laser Communications Relay Demonstration) to ILLUMA-T (Integrated LCRD Low Earth Orbit User Modem and Amplifier Terminal) on the space station. Animals submitted include cats, dogs, birds, chickens, cows, snakes, pigs, and more. Credit: NASA/Molly Kearns

The benefits of laser communications: more efficient, lighter systems, increased security, and more flexible ground systems. Credit: NASA/Dave Ryan

This optimized implementation of DTN technology aims to enable a variety of communications services for NASA, from improving security through encryption and authentication to providing network routing of 4K high-definition multimedia and more. All of these capabilities are being tested on the space station with ILLUMA-T and LCRD.

As NASA's Artemis campaign prepares to establish a sustainable presence on and around the moon, SCaN will continue to develop ground-breaking communications technology to bring the scalability, reliability, and performance of the Earth-based internet to space.
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An example of the scans that can be made using Bossema's method. Left: Python Killing a Gnu, Antoine-Louis Barye (J. Paul Getty Museum, 85.SE.48). Middle: X-ray of Python Killing a Gnu, with ball bearings visible as black dots. Right: Cross-section through the CT reconstruction, showing the structure of the object and various materials used. Credit: Leiden University

An X-ray scanner, some small metal balls, and a newly developed algorithm. That is all you need to make a 3D model that enables you to look inside art objects without dismantling them. Thanks to the research of Francien Bossema (Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica and Leiden Institute of Advanced Computer Science), museums can now use existing X-ray equipment as CT scanners, without having to buy such a costly and complicated device.

What is on the inside of an art object? To answer that question, art experts can use an X-ray machine. Some museums own one for inspecting their objects. They use the machine to see whether an object has woodworm, for example, and to what extent. But such X-rays have drawbacks.

You see everything on top of each other with no depth, so you can never really make a cross-section of the object. A CT scanner can do that but not many museums can afford one. Bossema and her supervisor Joost Batenburg wondered: can we make better use of what we already have?

X-ray machine becomes aspiring CT scanner

A CT scanner is actually an X-ray scanner that captures the object from all angles. So you take hundreds or thousands of X-rays in a row. You then use a reconstruction algorithm to use those photos to create a 3D model of the object, which you can digitally slice in different directions.

With a professional CT scanner, as in a hospital, the knowledge of the exact position of all parts is automated. Bossema has now developed an algorithm to gather that knowledge after the scan has been made. Thus, a simple X-ray scanner becomes an aspiring CT scanner.

Metal balls as placeholders

We've heard about the X-ray scanner and the algorithm, but what about those small metal balls? Bossema said, "To make a CT scan, you need to be able to move the X-ray machine around the object. When you do that, you have to know exactly where everything was during the scan. Where is the source in relation to the turntable? How many degrees are we rotated between two X-rays? Where is the detector located? All these places you need to know very precisely. That's why we put small metal balls next to the object."

These balls have a very high density and become thick black dots on the X-ray photo. "We look for black dots on those X-rays, which naturally move when you turn the object. With these reference points, you can calculate how much the object has been rotated. If you know that for all the photos, you can construct a 3D image of the object," she added.

Building bridges between the beta and art world

Bossema tested the algorithm at four different locations, including three museums. At the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam and the British Museum in London, she did the measurements herself. At the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles, she provided instructions only via e-mail and Zoom. With this, Bossema concludes that the method could be generally applicable.

She said, "If you know the Python programming language, you can basically use my software. But for art experts, it might be a bridge too far." A more accessible user interface could help, but that is beyond Bossema's research. She hopes someone will have the time and space to take the project further.

Building bridges between science and art research really attracts Bossema. "My research also really has a practical application. I have not only written my own articles about the algorithm and the technique behind it, but I also co-wrote articles by colleagues, because I have collaborated with my technique on projects by other researchers at the museum. I really like that, that my research in turn also facilitates the work of my colleagues," she explained.

For now, Bossema is not ready to leave the museum world. This summer, she will spend ten weeks working with CT scans at the Getty in Los Angeles, and she is also a postdoc fellow at the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam.

Besides mathematics, Bossema studied science communication. This helped her a lot during her Ph.D. research, she says. "This project involves a lot of communication because I work with people at the museum who have a very different background from mine. They often don't know what an algorithm is, or what a CT scanner can do for their work. I find it very much fun and important to understand what they need. Not everyone in mathematics finds this communication aspect interesting. So that does make me unique as a researcher."
A man walks his dog along the Guadalupe River at Louise Hays Park on Thursday, March 14, 2024, in Kerrville, Texas. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News An aerial photo taken in Hays County in 2022 shows part of downtown Kyle. More than 700 moved into Hays County from another Hill Country county from 2020 to 2021, according to IRS data. But the traffic wasn't just incoming, as during that same time frame nearly 1,600 people moved out of Hays County and into another Hill Country county. William Luther, Staff Photographer / Staff photographer

As population growth has boomed across parts of the Texas Hill Country in recent years, you might have wondered: Where are all those new people coming from? Are they  as some residents fear  Californians moving in and messing up our Texas vibe?

Turns out, most of the newcomers to Hill Country counties are already Texans. They are just moving from elsewhere in the Lone Star State  some of them even moving around within the Hill Country, according to data from the federal government.

Theres no doubt the Hill Country is seeing rapid population growth. Of the 10 Texas counties that have seen the largest net migration in recent years  as expressed by percentage of population  three are in the Hill Country.

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Internal Revenue Service migration data for eight Hill Country counties  Bandera, Comal, Hays, Kendall, Medina, Gillespie, Kerr and Blanco  shows that about 85% of the 62,700 people who moved into the Hill Country in 2021 came from non-Hill Country counties in Texas or other states. The numbers are from 2021 because that is the most recent year for which full data is available.

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Of those new Hill Country residents, the majority  between 60% and 70%  moved in from another Texas county, according to the IRS data. Another 16,000 people moved into the Hill Country from outside Texas.

To determine how people migrated between counties, the data looks at how an individuals address changed on tax returns filed in 2020 and 2021.

The data are then aggregated to determine county-to-county pairings  how many people moved from Comal County to Bexar County, for example.

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In cases where fewer than 10 returns were filed for a county-to-county pairing, the IRS grouped returns into other in-state move and other out-of-state move categories. That makes it difficult to know the exact number of people who flowed into the Hill Country from non-Hill Country Texas counties.

When we look at urban/rural migration, those moving out of the Hill Country into other parts of Texas most often moved to large central metro or large fringe metro counties. Large central metro counties contain major cities like San Antonio and Austin. Large fringe metro counties are the suburbs of those cities. Those who migrated within the Hill Country were most likely to move into one of the large fringe metro counties, such as Comal and Hays counties.

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Even if we dont account for different county population sizes, two Hill Country counties appear in the list of top 10 largest net migrations: Comal and Hays. Bexar County, with nearly 2 million residents, had a smaller net migration than both Comal and Hays between 2020 and 2021.

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Where are they coming from?

Most of the people who moved into those eight Hill Country counties came from a larger-population county in Texas, such as Bexar and Travis counties.

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These Texas counties had the most residents leave to move to a Hill Country county:

Bexar  11,594

Travis  11,448

Guadalupe  3,389

Harris  2,035

Hays  1,581.

These counties from outside of Texas sent the most transplants to the Hill Country:

Los Angeles, Calif.  628

San Diego, Calif.  492

Orange, Calif.  421

Santa Clara, Calif.  268

Riverside County, Calif.  249.

At least 4,500 other people moved around within the Hill Country, from one county to another. When Hill Country residents moved around to different Hill Country counties, heres where they came from most often:

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Hays  1,581

Comal  1,062

Kendall  612

Kerr  528

Gillespie  320.

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Where are they going when they leave?

Of course, even as people move into the Hill Country, other folks are moving out. At least 28,800 people migrated out of one of these eight Hill Country counties. Nearly 75% of them moved somewhere else in Texas and only about 7,800 people left for another state, according to the IRS data.

The Hill Country residents were most likely to move into these five Texas counties:

Bexar  6,194

Travis  4,427

Guadalupe  3,591

Williamson  1,060

Harris  880.

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When Hill Country residents moved around to different Hill Country counties, heres where they chose to go most often:
The city of New Braunfels is reviewing a proposal to purchase the New Braunfels Utilities main office. The utility plans to move to a new headquarters building. Google Earth

New Braunfels will spend $4.55 million from sales tax revenue to purchase its city-owned utilitys headquarters on Main Plaza.

The City Council voted 5-0 on Monday night to approve the funding from the New Braunfels Economic Development Corporation. Mayor Neal Linnartz and recently elected District 3 representative D. Lee Edwards were absent from the meeting.

New Braunfels Utilities, which provides water, sewer and electricity services, plans to build a new headquarters at Interstate 35 and Engel Road, and will vacate its current location downtown at 263 Main Plaza.

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In 2022, NBU entered an agreement with Seals Family Properties for the purchase and redevelopment of the 1.3-acre site. The company planned to turn the property into a 71-room hotel with a restaurant and bar called The Mainzer.

But negotiations with the developer were unsuccessful, NBU said, and trustees voted in April to terminate the agreement. The utilitys leadership declined to discuss why the deal fell apart.

The board of the New Braunfels Economic Development Corporation voted in May to approve funding for the city to purchase the property. The seven-member volunteer board is appointed by the City Council and governs the use of some of the citys sales tax revenue.

Under the proposed agreement, which will come back to the City Council for final approval, the city will pay $500,000 at the time of the purchase, $500,000 on Oct. 1 for the next three years and $2.55 million when NBU leaves the facility, which is expected to be in 2027. After the initial payment, NBU would lease the property back from the city for a total of $10 until 120 days after a certificate of occupancy is issued for the new headquarters, according to documents from the utilitys board.

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The utility is owned by the city, and its board members are the mayor and four trustees appointed by the City Council. The council also governs the utilitys rates and has authority to set regulations for the utility under the citys charter.

HILL COUNTRY HEADLINES: Top stories from the booming region

Deputy City Manager Jordan Matney told the council Monday that the purchase of the property is an incredible opportunity. If the purchase agreement is approved, the city will then relaunch negotiations for a private redevelopment of the site, according to her presentation.

The council, planning commission, historic landmark commission and NBU board previously worked to create an overlay district for that area of Main Plaza that would limit the use of buildings to protect the character and integrity of the site. Permitted uses include retail, restaurants, bars, offices, apartments and hotels, with requirements for building materials and facades.

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Matney said city staff could return to council for more discussion on those restrictions after resuming negotiations.
Arm is warning of a security vulnerability impacting Mali GPU Kernel Driver that it said has been actively exploited in the wild.

Tracked as CVE-2024-4610, the use-after-free issue impacts the following products -

Bifrost GPU Kernel Driver (all versions from r34p0 to r40p0)

Valhall GPU Kernel Driver (all versions from r34p0 to r40p0)

"A local non-privileged user can make improper GPU memory processing operations to gain access to already freed memory," the company said in an advisory last week.

The vulnerability has been addressed in Bifrost and Valhall GPU Kernel Driver r41p0. It's worth noting that this version was released on November 24, 2022. The current version of the drivers is r49p0, which was shipped in April 2024.

When reached for comment, Arm told The Hacker News that while it was addressed in 2022, it was provided additional information that reclassified the problem as a security vulnerability.

"In 2022 Arm fixed a weakness in the r41p0 release for the Bifrost and Valhall Mali GPU kernel driver," a spokesperson for the company said. "An external researcher recently provided new information which reclassifies this weakness as a vulnerability. After Arm assessed this issue as a vulnerability, a CVE was published."

The British semiconductor company further acknowledged reports of the shortcoming being exploited in real-world attacks, but did not disclose any additional specifics to prevent further abuse.

That said, previously disclosed zero-day flaws in Arm Mali GPU  CVE-2022-22706, CVE-2022-38181 and CVE-2023-4211  have been weaponized by commercial spyware vendors for highly targeted attacks aimed at Android devices, with the exploitation of the latter linked to an Italian company named Cy4Gate.

Users of affected products are recommended to update to the appropriate version to secure against potential threats.

(The story was updated after publication on June 17, 2024, to include a response from Arm.)
The Nebraska State Fair said Tuesday Courtney Glock is the new marketing director for the Nebraska State Fair and Aksarben Stock Show.

As marketing director, Glock will be responsible for developing and implementing comprehensive marketing campaigns to enhance the visibility and reach of the Fair and Stock Show, driving attendance and engagement from audiences across the state and beyond, the fair said in a release.

We are thrilled to have Courtney joining our State Fair team, Nebraska State Fair Executive Director Jaime Parr said in the release. She has a great understanding of and passion for the Nebraska State Fair, as well as connections in the community.

Glock holds a Bachelor of Science degree in advertising and public relations with a minor in marketing from the University of Nebraska at Kearney. She brings years of experience in marketing and communications, the fair said, noting she previously served as vice president of the Grand Island Chamber of Commerce. She is the youngest person to serve in the vice president role for the chamber.

Glock was also recently honored as the Connecting Young Nebraskans Community Involvement and Impact winner as well as being named the Inspire Award  Young Professional of the Year in 2023 by The Independent. Glock serves on a number of nonprofit boards and spends much of her time volunteering in the community.

Her robust connection to the state will undoubtedly strengthen the marketing efforts of the Nebraska State Fair for years to come, the fair said in the release.
Youths hail importance of protecting role of diverse cultural heritage

09:04, June 11, 2024 By Xing Wen ( China Daily

Guest speakers receive souvenir portraits after sharing their insights on exploring and protecting Chinese culture at a Vision China event in Jinzhou, Liaoning province, on Sunday. FENG YONGBIN/CHINA DAILY

The youth dialogue segment of Vision China invited young representatives from various countries, who had just completed a two-day tour of historical attractions and scenic areas across Liaoning, to share their insights on exploring Chinese culture and protecting cultural heritage.

Reflecting on the tour, Aleksandra Antonenko, a Russian youth representative who holds a master's degree in Chinese politics from Shanghai Jiao Tong University, said that Liaoning made her feel at home.

"With its vast farmland and coastline, the food here is exceptionally fresh and delicious. I believe many tourists from Russia will love Liaoning," she said.

The young woman began a social media channel with her boyfriend, a native of Shanghai, last year.

"Through the channel, we can tell China's stories, share our personal perspectives, and create a more understandable image for our fellows from other countries," she said.

Similarly, Bence Lengyel, a postgraduate student from Renmin University of China, has traveled to more than 30 cities across China. Since 2022, he has been sharing his travel logs and photos in a monthly online column for The China Cultural Center in Budapest, Hungary.

"Throughout my stay in China, one of my main goals should be to represent this beautiful country to my people back home as much as possible," he said.

When asked about the most important factors in telling China's story, he said, "The most important thing is to stay trustworthy and be open, to communicate with people, especially those whose opinions differ from ours."

Throughout the two-day trip, Lengyel was impressed by the strong sense of pride the local people in Liaoning have for their cultural heritage and history.

"Our tour guide at the Wunyushan Mountain scenic area was a woman from the Manchu ethnic group. As we hiked, she not only talked about the history of the mountain but also shared her own life stories with us. I think it's very important for us to understand how important it is to protect our cultural heritage. It represents not just our country, but also who we really are," he said.

Young guests share their thoughts on exploring Chinese culture and protecting cultural heritage. FENG YONGBIN/CHINA DAILY

He emphasized the need for international students in China to understand not only their own cultural heritage but also that of other countries. He believes that in the future, they might have the chance to positively influence the cultural heritage of others, fostering greater understanding and collaboration through partnerships.

Hryshayeva Katsiaryna, a Belorussian doctoral student from the School of Chinese Language and Literature at Beijing Foreign Studies University, agreed. "I think that cultural heritage serves as a link between the past, present, and future and connects people to their roots," she said.

While discussing the impact of artificial intelligence and other advanced technologies on heritage protection, she expressed a positive viewpoint.

She said that the emergence of AI technologies has opened up new opportunities for cultural preservation. For example, VR can create exact replicas of cultural artifacts, which educators, the public, researchers, and conservationists can use. AI algorithms can identify damage and plan for restoration. Additionally, AI can aid in protecting cultural heritage sites through environmental monitoring and data analytics, detecting potential risks like temperature and humidity changes.

"Of course, AI can have some disadvantages. But if we balance AI technologies with concerns, we can curate our heritage in a sustainable and inclusive way for future generations," she added.

Clara Puspita Kusuma, an Indonesian student at the University of International Business and Economics who has been living in Beijing for a year, said she learned more about the diversity of Chinese culture during her trip to Liaoning.

She believes such activities help boost cross-cultural understanding and exchange. "Through firsthand experience, mutual respect can be fostered. As a foreigner in China, I see myself as representing my country, Indonesia, and Southeast Asia. During my time here in Liaoning and my stay in China, I've met many people interested in my country. We share our cultures and have meaningful cultural experiences together," she said.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
Ricardo Delgado covers the Hill Country for the San Antonio Express-News. He can be reached at ricardo.delgado@express-news.net.

He previously worked for The University Star at Texas State University.
Vietnam considers pass-through price mechanism for LNG-fueled power

By Tri Duc Tue, June 11, 2024 | 3:12 pm GMT+7

Vietnams Ministry of Industry and Trade has proposed a pass-through mechanism that will allow LNG purchase prices to directly impact the retail selling prices of LNG-fueled power, starting August 1.

The proposal is part of a draft decree and other documents being prepared by the ministry on management of LNG-fired power plants.

The decree and documents have been sent for appraisal to the Ministry of Justice with the aim of submitting to the government later this month.

An LNG tank owned by PV Gas in Ba Ria-Vung Tau province, southern Vietnam. Photo courtesy of the government's news portal.

The decree is also part of implementing the national power development plan VIII (PDP VIII) and attracting investment for producing LNG-fired power.

This, in turn, is part of efforts to ensure stable and diverse energy sources, the ministry has said.

Under the PDP VIII, Vietnam targets having 23 gas-fired power plants with a combined capacity of 30,424 MW by 2039. This will include 10 plants of 7,900 MW capacity using domestic gas and 13 others of 22,524 MW using LNG.

The ministry has said that it is seeking a legal framework similar to what has been approved for the Nhon Trach 3 and Nhon Trach 4 LNG-fired power plants and those using gas extracted from the nations Block B and Blue Whale gas fields.

The ministry has clarified that there are two options with the mechanism it is proposing. The first one will have power generation units purchase gas on their own and authorities would consider the pass-through mechanism case by case.

The second option is a general pass-through mechanism for all power plants. It has said that the second choice is the optimal one because it would have more positive impacts on the society, economy and environment.

In May, the ministry fixed the base price for LNG-fired power produced by combined cycle gas turbine thermal power plants at VND0-2,590.85 per kWh (10.56 U.S. cents).

It clarified that the figure does not include VAT, and that VND2,590.85 is the ceiling price. Based on this figure, state utility Vietnam Electricity (EVN) and power generation units will negotiate power prices further, it said.
(TBTCO) - Gia xang dau trong nuoc hom nay (10/10) uoc du bao co the uoc ieu chinh tang manh. Theo o, gia xang trong nuoc co the tang tu 950 - 1.250 ong/lit; gia dau diesel co kha nang tang khoang 820 - 1.050 ong/lit. Tren thi truong the gioi, gia dau giam sau khi du lieu cua Hoa Ky cho thay luong dau tho du tru tang, nhung muc giam bi han che boi rui ro gian oan nguon cung cua Iran do xung ot Trung ong va con bao Milton o Hoa Ky.
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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
IWG, the worlds largest provider of hybrid working solutions, with brands including Spaces and Regus, has opened a state-of-the-art flexible workspace in Muscat to meet the increasing adoption of hybrid working across Oman.

The opening of IWGs latest location at Al Fardan Heights comes on the heels of the business posting its highest-ever revenue in its 35-year history and achieving rapid network growth, adding 867 new locations over the course of 2023.

The spread of hybrid working has led to extraordinary growth in the number of IWG centres, with 100 new locations signed in the region within the last 12 months. IWGs Middle East and Africa network now aims to operate 1,000 locations across the region within the next three years.

Situated in Ghala, this new Regus location is part of a drive by IWG to meet the sharply rising demand for top class flexible working space in the area. The recently opened workplace provides space for established firms and start-ups across a range of industries, with facilities including private offices, meeting rooms, co-working and creative spaces.

The building owner decided to invest in the IWG platform to maximise the return on their real estate space by capitalising on the rapidly expanding demand for hybrid working.

With an annual investment of around 50m ($64m) into its technology platform, IWG provides partners with access to all the companys expertise as well as design and fit-out support and sales and marketing capabilities.

With explosive market growth as companies of all sizes adopt hybrid working for the long-term, it is predicted that 30% of all commercial real estate will be flexible workspace by 2030. With IWG, partners are able to capitalise on this fast-growing sector, while being supported by IWGs unparalleled experience.

Hybrid working offers companies a significantly lower cost base with an average saving of 9,000 ($11,000) per employee.

IWG is the worlds leading provider of flexible workspace  featuring more than 4,000 locations in more than 120 countries with members able to access all of the locations and business services via the IWG app.

As the ongoing shift towards hybrid working accelerates, the potential for further growth is exponential with an estimated 1.2 billion white collar workers globally and a total addressable market of more than $2 trillion (1.57 trillion).

Conventional office occupancy will continue to fall as businesses require less traditional space and turn to flexible workspace instead. In 2023, IWG welcomed over 800 new partner locations and counts 83 per cent of Fortune 500 companies among its customer base.

Mark Dixon, CEO & Founder of IWG, said: We are establishing a stronger and much-needed footprint in Oman with this latest opening. As an important business hub, Muscat is a fantastic place for us to boost our expansion plans.

The need for high-quality flexible workspaces continues to soar as hybrid working becomes the new normal. We are very pleased to work in partnership to develop the Regus brand under a management agreement that will add a cutting-edge workspace to the building.

Our opening in Al Fardan Heights comes at a time when more and more companies are discovering that flexible working boosts employee happiness and satisfaction, while helping the environment. Our workplace model is also proven to increase productivity and allows for a business to scale up or down at significantly reduced costs.

IWG said its multi-brand expansion strategy is designed to appeal to every type of business and entrepreneur.

IWG creates personal, financial, and strategic value for businesses of every size, from some of the most exciting companies and well-known organisations on the planet, to individuals and the next generation of industry leaders.

All of them harness the power of flexible working to increase their productivity, efficiency, agility, and market proximity.  TradeArabia News Service
Building on a record-breaking year in the Middle East, East and North Africa (Meena) region, UD Trucks, a leading Japanese commercial vehicle solutions provider, recently hosted the Brand Day events in Kenya and Egypt successfully.

These gatherings brought together marketing representatives from across East Africa and the Middle East, fostering collaboration, innovation, and strategic planning for the brand's future direction.

These events are beneficial for partners and customers as they lead to the development of more tailored and efficient solutions, improved service quality, and enhanced product offerings, ultimately ensuring a better and more responsive customer experience, said the statement from UD Trucks.

Additionally, by driving brand growth, these initiatives are set to expand UD Trucks presence and influence in the regional markets, it stated.

UD Trucks entered the Brand Day events with strong momentum, fresh off a record-breaking 2023 in the Meena region.

The brand achieved impressive sales growth across all segments, solidifying its position as an industry leader. Its commitment to excellence was further underscored by involvement in prestigious projects like those at Neom and the Red Sea, said a spokesman for the company.

This robust foundation positions UD Trucks for continued success as they expand their presence in East Africa and Egypt, he stated.

The Kenya event, held in Nairobi to celebrate the brands relaunch in the country, saw participation from a broad range of stakeholders.

This included marketing communications teams from Singapore, Japan, and the Meena region, along with marketing agencies and key partners like Victoria Motors in Uganda and Nyala Motors in Ethiopia.

A total of 55 participants came together for insightful discussions, strategic workshops, and interactive sessions aimed at unifying marketing efforts.

These activities directly benefit customers and partners by fostering a cohesive strategy that enhances product offerings and ensures consistent and high-quality support throughout the region, said the statement.

The second Brand Day event, held in Cairo, Egypt, brought together 45 participants. This included the UD Trucks commercial crew alongside marketing representatives from neighbouring GCC countries - Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, UAE and Kuwait.

The focus of this event was on regional collaboration and strategic alignment to ensure a consistent and impactful UD Trucks brand presence across the Middle East, it stated.

UD Trucks' entry into the Egyptian market and relaunch in Kenya were focal points of both events, which featured in-depth sessions exploring the company's rich heritage.

Participants also delved into innovative approaches to market penetration and brand positioning, tailored to the unique dynamics of each region, said the spokesman.

Additionally, hands-on workshops equipped attendees with valuable strategies for all phases of commercial activities.

These sessions highlighted the importance of adapting to evolving market trends. Ultimately, the events provided a platform for collaboration, sharing best practices, and strengthening the brand's regional strategy, he added.-TradeArabia News Service
Following the launch of the initiative to revamp the aesthetics of Roshn Waterfront in Jeddah, Roshn, a key developer powered by Saudi wealth fund PIF, yesterday (June 10) inaugurated the artistic painting adorning the new waterfront pavement.

The initiative was taken in collaboration with the Volunteering and Community Partnership Program 'Lenobadir' and the Social Responsibility Association.

This tableau, brought to life by the creative efforts of artists and volunteers and captured by the vibrant spirit and culture of Jeddah and Roshns elements, covers the entirety of the walkway, totalling 16,000 sq m.

The 16,000-sq-m attraction, that captures the vibrant spirit and culture of Jeddah, has set a new Guinness World Record for the longest painting on pavement.

According to Roshn, several hundred volunteers painted the design over the course of one week. The total design measures 3,200 m in length and over 5 m in width.

The initiative of enhancing the aesthetic appearance of Roshn Waterfront is part of the Saudi developer's commitment to raising the quality of life for Jeddah and its residents and represents its empowerment for Saudi artists and the companys belief in the importance of art to peoples wellbeing, said Roshn in a statement.

Opened in 2017 and named the Roshn Waterfront in 2022, the area has become a leading destination for Jeddah; over 55 million people visit it every year to exercise and enjoy the view of Jeddahs corniche and the Red Sea.

With kilometres of walkways, jogging tracks, and cycle corridors that are shaded by trees, it is one of the most popular places to visit in Jeddah, it added.

"We are incredibly grateful to all the participating entities and every volunteer who helped bring this idea to life," said Ghada AlRumayan, Roshn Groups Chief Marketing Officer, expressing her delight at the accomplishment.

"We wanted the Roshn Waterfront to make its mark globally, and this new Guinness World Record title is a testament to our commitment to Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to make Jeddah one of the worlds most liveable cities," stated Al Rumayan.

"I hope all our visitors will enjoy seeing this new design for Roshn Waterfront, and that this initiative paves the way for more projects that enhance the quality of life around our communities," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
Annasofia Scheve covers trending news for the Express-News. She can be reached at Annasofia.Scheve@express-news.net.

Annasofia has bachelor's degrees in journalism and political science from the University of Missouri. She is an Ohio native, and wrote for Cincinnati Magazine and the Cincinnati Enquirer before joining the Express-News in 2023.
The Diriyah Company has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) to enhance the training and development of Saudi talent.

This partnership is set to bolster the transfer of knowledge and expertise by creating comprehensive learning and development plans, and fostering collaboration across several professional fields within the built environment, governed by RICS standards.

The MoU, signed by Abdullah Al-Othman, Chief Human Capital Officer at Diriyah Company, and Belinda Howell, Executive Director of Regulation & Assurance Operations at RICS, will promote and support the growth of Diriyahs skilled workforce.

Training of 15 Saudis

The agreement initially targets the training of 15 Saudis from the Diriyah Company team, with the potential to expand beyond that, based on the needs of the organisation.

The partnership will exclusively target employees of Diriyah Company, providing necessary training for young Saudi talent, mid-management professionals (both Saudi and non-Saudi), and potentially senior staff. The training programme will primarily be conducted in Riyadh through webinars and in-person sessions, minimising disruption to business operations. There are also opportunities for international training, based on the needs of the organisation.

Key areas of collaboration will include training and guidance, facilitating the transfer of knowledge to young Saudi professionals in the fields of cost and commercial management, project management, asset and facilities management, real estate advisory, procurement, and tendering, highlighting essential business, budgeting, and cost control skills.

Professionals within Diriyah Company will also receive advice on the most suitable membership routes, from preparing development plans to overseeing the membership journey of young local talent to support their career development.

A joint working team, comprising representatives from both Diriyah Company and RICS, will be formed to activate areas of collaboration, and will prepare and submit progress reports to both organisations to enable continuous development of the agreed upon programmes.

Awareness sessions

Awareness sessions will demonstrate the advantages of RICS membership and the comprehensive courses covering RICS pathway competencies. The MoU will also include a track for building conservation and collaboration on achieving sustainability goals, ensuring that historic buildings are effectively managed, certified, and preserved.

Jerry Inzerillo, Group CEO of Diriyah Company, said: We are thrilled to collaborate with RICS to bring the immense benefits of their programmes to our employees and projects by adopting global standards in training and development. It is a significant step towards enhancing our professional capabilities and ensuring the preservation of Diriyahs rich heritage.

Justin Young, Global CEO of RICS, said: Our collaboration with the Diriyah Company underscores our commitment to promoting cultural, economic, and professional growth within Saudi Arabia. By supporting Diriyah Company, we aim to highlight the roots of this ancient city and its history across various fields, including culture, arts and knowledge.--TradeArabia News Service
Pfizer has commemorated its 175-year anniversary in Dubai on June 11, by reflecting on the significant contributions made in the global and regional medical landscape while looking ahead at what is yet to come.

In 2023, Pfizer touched the lives of more than 45 million patients and completed 32 successful launches across the Middle East, Russia and Africa (Mera). The pharmaceutical leader also reached out to around 15,000 patients through 30 patient access programmes available in 11 countries across the region.

Several industry advancements through government collaborations were also acknowledged. These include the partnership with Haya Karima in Egypt, collaborations with MOH in Morocco to achieve universal health coverage (UHC) and enhance the antimicrobial resistance (AMR) landscape in Morocco, and more recently, a collaboration with the Department of Health in Abu Dhabi to advance research through the generation and analysis of real-world data focusing on rare diseases such as Sickle Cell Disease.

Global breakthroughs

Patrick van der Loo, Regional President of Pfizer Mera, commented: As we come together to mark this momentous milestone, today is an opportunity to acknowledge the endless global breakthroughs we have led over the past 175 years and the immense contributions that we have made to the regional medical landscape over the last 65 years.

We are incredibly honoured to partner with public sector leaders and to be strategic contributors in driving national healthcare agendas forward, bringing innovative treatments to those who need them wherever they are. As we look back at all our great accomplishments, we are simultaneously looking ahead with the same momentum and renewed commitment to further paving the way for medical excellence. I am confident that the best is yet to come from Pfizer, and I am excited to see how our scientists, researchers and employees will continue to deliver breakthroughs that will change patients lives in the region and beyond.

Pfizers recent acquisition of global biotech company Seagen marked the beginning of a strategic focal shift towards oncology with cancer continuing to be a leading cause of death around the world. The acquisition boosted Pfizers oncology capabilities, with a portfolio now comprising 50+ programmes in development.

The company has dedicated 40% of total Research and Development investments towards oncology while also partnering across the oncology community to maximise accessibility of cancer treatments.

Yasser El Dershaby, Vice President and Regional Medical Lead at Pfizer Mera expressed pride in Pfizer's contributions to modern medicine and its ongoing commitment to pioneering breakthroughs that positively impact patients lives.

Clinical trials

He said: Pfizer has spearheaded clinical trials on a global level to bring the most advanced and effective treatments to the market. Recently, we saw phenoMenal results during the third phase of our CROWN trial evaluating Lorlatinib; a lung cancer treatment in people with previously untreated, anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-positive advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

As we embark on a new chapter, we look forward to driving even more innovations in the pharmaceutical industry to benefit more people across the region and beyond. Our focus is on clinical excellence and medical innovation through continued research and development efforts. We are eager to strengthen our partnership network, leverage cutting-edge technologies, and introduce new products to push the boundaries of whats possible in the field of health and wellness and ensure our offerings reach all those who need them.

Looking ahead, Pfizer is poised to leverage the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance patient outcomes, further expand its oncology offerings and increase vaccine accessibility across the region and beyond. The company aims to have 35 launches across Mera in 2024 and remains committed to enhancing patient access through various access programmes and partnerships to improve patient care and foster economic growth.

Furthermore, Pfizer remains dedicated to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts to gain better insights of the regional market. These efforts include building a more inclusive colleague experience through different programmes such as Pfizers Leadership Aspiring Future Talents (LAFTA) programme, advancing equitable health outcome and ongoing collaborations with organisations like the Arab International Womens Forum (AIWF) to amplify Pfizers DEI vision and drive positive change within the industry and the broader community.--TradeArabia News Service
Arabian Automobiles Company (AAC) has claunched construction of a parts distribution centre that will serve as a hub for industry innovation and excellence at Dubai Industrial City.

The projects groundbreaking ceremony at Dubai Industrial City, part of TECOM Group PJSC, was attended by Saud Abu Alshawareb, Executive Vice President of Industrial at TECOM Group; Hussam Baghdad, Senior Director, Automotive at AW Rostamani; and Thierry Sabbagh, Divisional Vice President, President KSA, Middle East at Nissan and INFINITI.

Located on a land plot spanning more than 700,000 sq ft, the logistics storage and distribution centre marks an expansion of AACs presence at Dubai Industrial City, where it already operates a central logistics centre, and reflects its commitment to providing enhanced customer services by strengthening its parts value chain for Nissan, INFINITI, Renault and AWR Trading entities in the UAE.

State-of-the-art centre

The state-of-the-art centre will have a built-up area of more than 350,000 sq ft and upon completion in 2025, will house 150 employees to deliver enhanced safety, productivity and commercial efficiencies in line with international operating standards.

Prompt and seamless customer service will be the hallmark of excellence as global automotive demand continues to surge, said Alshawareb.

Carmakers around the world are pursuing operational efficiencies to enhance their competitiveness, and intelligent warehousing solutions have a crucial role to play in securing the automotive sectors business continuity and future growth.

AACs new advanced and automated facility in Dubai Industrial City's automotive cluster will support the vision of Dubai Economic Agenda D33 to strengthen the value chains for domestic goods and services. Logistics facilities that leverage automation and advanced technologies will not only deliver improved efficiencies and capacity, but also contribute to the UAE's trade activity, helping to reinforce its position as a global trading hub.

Key milestone

Baghdad said: "Our investment in the new parts distribution centre marks a significant milestone in our journey towards automotive excellence  this state-of-the-art facility underscores our commitment to delivering unparalleled quality and service to our customers. By setting new benchmarks in logistics and distribution services, we're enhancing operational efficiency and redefining the customer experience in the automotive industry, in line with the visionary leadership of the UAE that continues to nurture an environment conducive to innovation and progress."

Sabbagh said: "The ground-breaking of this cutting-edge facility underscores Nissan's unwavering commitment to ensuring the availability of Nissan Genuine Parts in the region. The expansive facility and its substantial storage capacity not only strengthen Nissan's business operations but, more importantly, benefits our customers. This strategic investment is a pivotal advancement in our partnership with AAC, and we look forward to continuing to drive our vision of innovation and excellence to significantly enhance customer satisfaction."

UAE Headquartered, Group Amana is the construction partner for this project. Amana's strategy for redesigning the pre-engineered steel building (PEB) structure involves implementing a modular methodology for assembly and erection, utilising off-site precast works for concrete elements, and integrating BIM for enhanced project coordination to enhance the projects value by optimising efficiency and maintaining quality.

Amanas proficiency in design and ability to oversee logistics and automation led to its selection as the projects contractor, and with a commitment to delivering certainty, quality, and safety, Amana aims to exceed expectations in every aspect of the project.

With the new facility, AAC joins an impressive roster of UAE-based business giants that are part of Dubai Industrial City, home to more than 1,000 local, regional, and international customers, in addition to over 300 operational factories.--TradeArabia News Service
In a significant milestone for Bahrains logistics sector, DHL Express has unveiled a 218-million expansion of its Middle East and North Africa (MENA) hub at the Bahrain International Airport.

Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, Bahrains Minister of Finance and National Economy, inaugurated the expansion, marking a crucial step in solidifying the Kingdoms position as a leading regional logistics gateway.

According to a report from Bahrain News Agency, the finance minister was received by John Pearson, CEO of DHL Express; Ahmed bin Ali Al Khalifa, Chairman of the board of directors of DHL Express Bahrain; and Noor Suliman, CEO of DHL Express MENA.

Mohammed bin Thamer Al Kaabi, Minister of Transportation and Communications; Abdullah bin Adel Fakhro, Minister of Industry and Commerce; and Shaikh Ahmed bin Hamad Al Khalifa, President of Customs, were present at the opening ceremony.

Shaikh Salman toured the new facilities, where he was briefed on the expansions objectives and the latest services offered by DHL Express.

The new facilities span an area of 54,000 sq m, accommodate 12 DHL aircraft, and process over 2 million shipments annually. This investment underscores DHL Expresss unwavering confidence in the local and regional markets, as well as its commitment to offer cutting-edge logistics solutions that empower businesses to thrive in the global arena.

The Finance Minister lauded the projects importance, emphasising Bahrains commitment in supporting the logistics sector, which plays a pivotal role in driving economic growth and enhancing the Kingdoms competitiveness on both regional and international fronts.

He further highlighted the sectors significance in contributing to the development agenda led by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister.

Noor Suliman, CEO of DHL Express MENA, described the expansion as one of the companys most substantial recent investments, underscoring DHL Expresss confidence in the local and regional markets, as well as its commitment to offer cutting-edge logistics solutions that empower businesses to thrive in the global arena.

With a near five-decade presence in Bahrain, DHL Express has established the largest regional logistics centre in the Middle East, reinforcing the Kingdoms reputation as a strategic logistics hub.
Bayanat, a leading provider of AI-powered geospatial and smart mobility solutions, has joined hands with Abu Dhabi-based Imkan Properties for the development of a smart mobility infrastructure project on SHA Island Emirates at AlJurf within the UAE capital.

The groundbreaking project will feature an integrated and AI-enabled transportation ecosystem that allows for fully autonomous driving on the worlds first healthy living island.

Located in AlJurf, approximately halfway between Abu Dhabi and Dubai, the health- and wellness-focused island, which will also be home to the SHA Wellness Clinic, aims to be highly autonomous with minimal reliance on manned vehicles.

As per the deal, Imkan Properties will be developing the projects physical infrastructure, while Bayanat will provide the critical digital infrastructure for the operation of autonomous vehicles and unmanned systems, such as HD maps and HD positioning, as well as deploy its smart mobility solutions (SMOS) in the form of its digital twin solutions, which makes vehicle autonomy on the island possible.

Bayanat's digital twin technology will play a pivotal role in supporting Imkan Properties' vision for SHA Island Emirates by providing an advanced virtual replica of the island's entire infrastructure.

This technology will enable real-time monitoring and management of autonomous transportation systems, ensuring seamless and efficient operations without human intervention.

Bayanat's digital twin will facilitate predictive maintenance, optimize traffic flow, and enhance the safety and reliability of the autonomous vehicles, said the developer.

This integration not only supports the creation of a sustainable and autonomous transport network but also aligns with the island's commitment to health and wellness by promoting an autonomous vehicle environment, it added.

On the new project, Bayanat Chief Operating Officer Abdulla Al Shamsi said: "We are excited about this joint project with Imkan Properties, which will combine our expertise to create a unique concept globally  a healthy-living island featuring autonomous vehicles."

Bayanat has long been a pioneer of autonomous driving and unmanned systems in the Middle East, with a proven track record of technological capability and know-how including Autonomous Solutions, Cloud Infrastructure, Digital Twins, Charging Infrastructure, Transportation Super Apps, and Testing and Simulation, stated Al Shamsi after signing the agreement with Suwadain AlDhaheri, the CEO at Imkan Properties in the presence of senior officials.

"Were confident that this partnership will revolutionize the way we live, work and thrive in our communities," he added.

Announced earlier in the year, SHA Island Emirates at AlJurf offers an entirely new residential model for the region centered on wellness, ensuring that every resident enjoys the highest standard of well-being and tranquility.

The exclusive island integrates a range of beachfront residences, a health resort, as well as multiple pavilions dedicated to health and wellbeing which will position AlJurf as the leading destination in health and wellness tourism.

Al Shamsi said: "We believe that the islands transport infrastructure will play an integral role in enabling this objective. Our long-standing expertise in developing smart mobility solutions, which includes EV infrastructure, will allow us to create a quiet, clean and reliable transportation infrastructure on the island."

"Our commitment to sustainable development aligns seamlessly with Imkan Properties' strategy of crafting destinations that prioritise environmental stewardship and holistic well-being," he stated.

"Together, we are poised to transform this island into a symbol of sustainable living, where cutting-edge technology and eco-conscious design converge to create a thriving community for generations to come," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
Sunset Hospitality Group (SHG) has appointed Philipp Knuepfer as the new Chief Operating Officer of Sunset Hotels & Resorts.

Philipp joins SHG with over 20 years of international experience in the luxury hospitality sector and will support the growth of Sunset Hotels & Resorts, while overseeing global operations, solidifying the groups reputation as a leader in hospitality, said a statement.

The strategic hire follows SHGs recent announcement of the new Sunset Hotels & Resorts, along with an expansion plan of developing, opening, and operating 20 new hotels by the end of 2025.

The start of 2024 saw SHGs acceleration of its hotel portfolio expansion by taking over the renowned Gran Hotel La Florida in Barcelona, which will be renovated in time for the hotel celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2025. Sunset Hotels & Resorts currently operates a portfolio of five hotels, with a strong pipeline of projects in Europe, Middle East, and Asia.

Philipp joins SHG from Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group where in his previous capacity as Area Vice President and General Manager, he successfully managed the groups portfolio across Singapore, Taiwan, Vietnam, and the Philippines. His tenure with Mandarin Oriental also included senior management positions in Hawaii, Malaysia, Thailand, Taiwan, Washington DC, and Boston. Philipps strategic capabilities and commercial expertise in both developed and developing markets, will prove essential for contributing to SHGs growth and long-term success.

A German national, Philipp attained his Hotel Management degree at the International School for Hotel Business in Germany and holds an MBA from RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia. He is a graduate of the Cornell Hotel School in Ithaca, New York and completed advanced leadership education at the London Business School and Columbia University.

Philipp will be based out of SHGs Singapore office, adding value for the groups investors and stakeholders in Asia.

SHG has already established a solid presence in South Asia with homegrown brands Attiko, Azure Beach, and Hanu coming soon to Vietnam, and the multi-acclaimed hotspot Sushisamba which just opened in the Capital Tower building in Singapore. Asia is a key market for SHG and promises an exciting pipeline of extraordinary lifestyle hospitality experiences in Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Im excited to be joining a talented team in a company with such an impressive global footprint and an enviable reputation as a leader in the hospitality industry. My focus is to support the growth of Sunset Hotels & Resorts, further cementing its reputation as one of the leading luxury hotel providers committed to delivering pioneering hotel concepts and extraordinary lifestyle hospitality experiences around the world. I cant wait to continue and develop the incredible work that SHG has been doing, Philipp said.

Jaime Buxo Clos, CEO of Sunset Hotels & Resorts, SHG, welcomed Philipp on board, saying: Its my pleasure to have Philipp join our growing team - he is a values-driven business leader with a diverse background of experiences and an excellent track record of delivering results in the hospitality industry. Our new COO will play a fundamental role in driving the growth of Sunset Hotels & Resorts, while further elevating the Groups presence in Asia.  TradeArabia News Service
The summer is offering a chance to discover the most popular new names in fashion across Italy, the UK, and Nigeria at Fidenza Village, part of The Bicester Collection, with the latest edition of The Creative Spot pop-up boutique, open for a limited time from June 8 to 23.

Guests can discover the Creative Spot boutique alongside Fidenza Villages world-class curation of brands, signature hospitality and services such as hands-free shopping, culinary offerings, and summer programmes.

The boutique will also benefit from the ambassadorship of notable fashion industry talent Tamu McPherson, who serves as the Corporate Social Responsibility Ambassador for Bulgari, as well as the CNMI Diversity, Equity and Inclusion ambassador.

Tamu is the official ambassador for The Bicester Collection in 2024 and is involved in the curation of the designers participating in The Creative Spot, as well as hosting the launch of the pop-up boutique on June 7.

This iteration of the boutique will champion sustainable fashions rising stars, featuring the winners and finalists of The Bicester Collection Award for Emerging Designers at the 2022 and 2023 editions of Camera Nazionale della Moda Italianas Sustainable Fashion Awards.  TradeArabia News Service
Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group said it has set a goal of installing Winnows food waste technology across all its hotels by the end of 2025, reiterating its commitment to setting a new standard for sustainability in the luxury hospitality sector.

Winnows AI technology has already seen a remarkable 36% reduction in food waste in four pilot hotels: Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong; Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London; Mandarin Oriental, Miami; and Mandarin Oriental Jumeirah, Dubai.

In the knowledge that food waste accounts for up to 10% of the world's greenhouse gas emissions and that between 5-15% of the food purchased by kitchens is typically wasted, the technology aims to contribute to the groups efforts to reduce waste intensity by 50% by 2030.

This commitment is aligned with the United Nations SDG 12.3, which aims to halve global per capita food waste by 2030.

Winnows data will enable hotel teams to make informed decisions that positively impact both the environment and their bottom line, with kitchens typically saving between 2-8% on food costs.

Initiatives to manage food waste will expand upon existing ones, including colleague educational campaigns, overhauling buffet operations, donating excess edible food, and innovative composting programmes to improve soil condition and support efficient absorption of rainwater.

With Mandarin Oriental restaurants holding 26 Michelin Stars around the world including Michelins Green-star recognition at Amber, the signature French fine-dining restaurant at The Landmark Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong, the Group also looks forward to leveraging the creative platform of their chefs to raise awareness on the importance of tackling food waste.

Looking ahead, chefs will be able to use insights from Winnows data to inform zero waste menus and recipes.

Torsten van Dullemen, Group Director of Sustainability and Area Vice President Operations, said: Our commitment to sustainability goes hand in hand with our promise to deliver exceptional guest experiences. The integration of Winnows technology across our global portfolio is a bold step towards reducing our ecological impact and reinforcing our position as an industry leader.

Marc Zornes, CEO & Co-founder of Winnow, said: Mandarin Oriental is at the forefront of sustainability in luxury hospitality. Our collaboration is already demonstrating the powerful impact of technology and data in reducing food waste.

Were honoured to support Mandarin Oriental in their ambitious goals, and together, were not only setting new industry standards but also making a tangible difference for our planet.

Successful pilot programmes at Mandarin Oriental hotels in Miami, Dubai, London and Hong Kong resulted in annualised net savings of $207,000, 66 tonnes of food waste, and 289 tonnes in CO2e emissions.

The group will be building on this success by rolling out Winnows technology to all 40 hotels by the end of 2025.  TradeArabia News Service
ECONOMIST Marla Dukharan has called for an independent and objective assessment of all countries worldwide to determine which ones are truly tax havens.

Dukharan stated that this approach would help combat the stigma often associated with the Caribbean region.
New York-based soca artiste Yankey Boy (Kevon Heath) has issued a musical call to action: Only Soca should be played at Caribbean carnival parades in the diaspora.

The catchy Cdonia-produced track, which features on the newly released Carnival 2025 Radio Active Riddim, is already sparking debate among Caribbean music stakeholders. The riddim also features Rayzor, Leonce, Spine and Kerry John.
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.
Maj. Gen. Phillip A. Stewart, right, former commander of the 19th Air Force, walks to his car Jan. 18 with one of his military attorneys after a hearing at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston. Stewarts court-martial on a sexual assault charge begins Monday. William Luther/San Antonio Express-News

When jury selection starts this week in an Air Force rape trial in San Antonio, the military lawyers involved might have to deal with a rarely-seen problem.

Maj. Gen. Phillip Stewart is only the second general in Air Force history to go on trial. Military law requires his guilt or innocence be decided by either a judge or eight officers who hold the same or higher rank.

His lawyers are opting for a jury. So when proceedings begin Monday at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, the judge, Col. Matthew Stoffel, will preside over a selection process the likes of which have been seen only once  when Maj. Gen. William T. Cooley, commander of the Air Force Research Laboratory at Wright-Patterson AFB in Ohio, was convicted in 2022 of abusive sexual conduct. He was busted to colonel and retired.

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The quandary for attorneys working to seat the jury, which is called a panel in the military, is that plenty of potential panelists might have met Stewart at some point, served with him or even befriended him.

Its a lot easier picking a panel for an airman or non-commissioned officer from the Air Forces 256,829 enlisted personnel.

Given the relatively small population of senior leaders in the Department of the Air Force, many prospective panel members will most likely know Maj. Gen. Stewart either personally or professionally, his senior defense lawyer, Sherilyn Bunn, told the San Antonio Express-News. There may also be some senior leaders who know the complaining witness or other witnesses in this case.

Maj. Gen. Phillip A. Stewart, right, former commander of the 19th Air Force, after a hearing Jan. 18 at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston. Stewart's court-martial on a sexual assault charge begins Monday. William Luther/San Antonio Express-News

The Air Force has 289 generals. The Air Force said it has 78 two-star commanders, 45 three-stars and just 13 with four stars.

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But Stewart, the Air Force said, is senior to most other two-star generals. Those who got their second star after he did cant serve on the panel.

His exact rank in seniority isnt clear, but hes thought to be among the top 10. The Air Education and Training Command said several two-star generals senior to Stewart will be considered, which would nudge the total eligible beyond the 58 who have more stars.

That pool might not be large enough to seat eight jurors. The Air Force could ask the Army, Navy and Marines for potential panelists, though AETC spokeswoman Marilyn Holliday said no generals from other services were in the pool.

The Air Force also could use retirees, said Eugene Fidell, a visiting lecturer and senior research scholar at Yale Law School.

They would have to be recalled from retirement to sit, he said. That could be a really good thing because they would be independent.

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That question of independence likely will be placed before the generals called for possible jury service, said retired Army Lt. Col. Dru Brenner-Beck, a former professor at South Texas College of Law in Houston.

A good defense counsel will ask if the potential panel member will be able to decide the issue on the basis of the evidence, not on the potential effect of their own career, she said. But regardless of the answer the possibility lurks that personal interests will intrude.

Bunn, the defense attorney, expressed confidence in the panelists.

We have faith that this pool of prospective panel members will have the fortitude and sound judgment that the (Article 32 examiner) had in this case  the courage to assess this case on the merits, not on the optics, she said, referring to an official who had recommended the rape charge be dropped.

Other observers wonder how committed Bunn and her team actually are to a jury trial.

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The more complicated and expensive you make the case for the government, the greater the incentive is for the government to figure out a way to make it go away. Im not saying that it will lead to a plea bargain, but its a common tactic, said Geoffrey Corn, the George R. Killam Jr. chair of criminal law and director of the Center for Military Law and Policy at Texas Tech University School of Law.

Retired Col. Don Christensen, a former Air Force judge who once served as the services chief prosecutor, agreed.

This could be a tactical move purely to see if the Air Force can actually find eight (general officers) senior to Stewart who can survive challenges, Christensen said. If it becomes incredibly difficult to seat the members, the defense could seek to have an alternative resolution like retirement at a lower grade instead of a court martial.

Stewart can change his mind and opt for a judge to try the case, though the defense team declined to say what might prompt that. Assuming the case stays with a jury, the prosecutions job will be to convince six of the eight generals to find him guilty.

If youre the defense, its not like a civilian trial. You dont have to convince all the jurors hes not guilty, Corn said.

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The AETC warned the media that the trial could go into the weekend. Several observers interviewed for this story agreed it was one more quirk of a jury consisting of top generals  they all want the trial to go as fast as possible so they can get back to their jobs.

Judges were less likely to acquit 20 years ago but in todays Air Force, there is not much of a statistical difference in rate acquittals between judge-alone cases versus a (panel) members case, Christensen said.

All litigation is a risk, he said. It is possible that the generals will be swayed by sympathy for the alleged victim in a way that the judge wouldnt. Most people, even generals, have never actually heard a victim describe a rape or sexual assault. It can be very moving.

The stakes are high for Stewart, former commander of the 19th Air Force at JBSA-Randolph. He faces 63 years in prison if found guilty of four violations of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, including sexual assault, conduct unbecoming an officer, dereliction of duty and extramarital sexual conduct.

The Air Force alleges that Stewart sexually assaulted a female officer at or near Altus AFB in southwestern Oklahoma in April 2023. He has maintained that it was a consensual affair. Prosecutors say she had no choice but to submit to his advances given his rank and power.

Stewart also is accused of flying an aircraft within 12 hours of consuming alcohol, a throttle-to-bottle violation. An Air Force charge sheet said that incident occurred at Altus the same month as the alleged assault.

The AETC said he was stripped of his command a few weeks later due to a loss of confidence in his ability to lead.

Stewarts lawyers have argued in court that the woman joked and kissed during their affair. Prosecutors said comments she made before, during and after the encounter suggested she was uncomfortable.

Lt. Col. Pete Havern, special trial counsel for the Air Force, has said it speaks volumes that when investigators interviewed her, she repeatedly referred to Stewart as boss.

Evidence was presented last fall at an Article 32 hearing in JBSA-Randolph, similar to a civilian grand jury proceeding held to determine if there is enough evidence of a crime to warrant a trial. The hearing examiner issues a non-binding recommendation to the court-martial convening authority.

In this case it was Col. Brian Thompson, who recommended against a court-martial on the sexual assault charge.

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

But the convening authority, Lt. Gen. Brian Robinson, head of the San Antonio-based training command, ordered a trial.

Prosecutors have repeatedly suggested the woman could not give consent to the sexual encounters because of the power disparity between them, but no one has disclosed her rank.

If were talking about a captain or major or lieutenant colonel, she knows she can refuse sex. She is not incompetent, unless they are arguing that she was too drunk to consent, Brenner-Beck said.

A disparity in rank likely wouldnt be enough by itself to prove a rape, Christensen said.

Where it would be a possibility, perhaps, would be a young recruit in a basic training environment who did not understand she could refuse an order for sex from a drill sergeant, he said. I think it would be a challenge for an officer, especially an experienced officer, to successfully claim she could not consent because Stewart was a general officer.

Retired Army Col. Michael Mulligan, one of the few lawyers in the U.S. military to have prosecuted a general, said Stewart was likely the womans senior rater, which would mean he signed off on her officer evaluation.

Mulligan declined to speculate if she could give consent because he didnt know the facts of the case. But Stewarts career is over because he committed adultery and fraternized with a subordinate, he said.

Brenner-Beck took a similar view and predicted the affair wouldnt play well with a jury that might punish Stewart strongly on the other charges even if it acquits him on the rape charge.

I dont think the panel will be sympathetic to Stewart, she said. Lots of poor judgment being demonstrated.

Stewart, whose command was under AETC, asked to retire to avoid a trial but Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall III denied the request.

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

At the 19th Air Force, which is responsible for virtually all of the services flight training, he oversaw 32,000 employees.

Now he is in a deep hole, one that could run the 854 miles from Fort Sam to the U.S. Disciplinary Barracks at Fort Leavenworth, Kan.

If convicted of rape, then a (dishonorable discharge) is mandatory. The judge and the jury will know this, Brenner-Beck said. In my experience, which is Army, not Air Force, panels apply the burden of proof rigorously.

If the generals on Stewarts jury do find that he committed sexual assault, I think he could get hammered, because theyll be comparing it with their own high standard of conduct, Mulligan said.

Mulligan prosecuted Maj. Gen. David Hale, who was demoted in a plea bargain to a one-star general in 1999 for having affairs with the spouses of four Army subordinates while estranged, but not divorced, from his wife.

Hales defense attorney was Frank Spinner, who sees a different reason Stewart might be convicted: the militarys political climate has changed with the times.
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%.
A new lower-cost housing complex for seniors being built in downtown Tucson got a $22.6 million investment from CVS Health, officials announced Monday.

Gov. Katie Hobbs joined officials from CVS Health, as well as Dan Ranieri, president and CEO of La Frontera Center, to announce the construction of the new West Point II Apartments, near East Broadway and South Stone Avenue. It is the latest in a statewide push to create new, affordable, housing options for Arizonans.

Housing is the thread that weaves through every aspect of our lives, Hobbs said. Whether its finding and keeping a job, staying healthy, or starting a family, having stable housing makes all the difference.

Hobbs, who has a background in social work, said that the need for stable housing is even more pressing for seniors and those with disabilities, who make up a disproportionate share of the unhoused population.

It is critical that in our efforts to build more affordable housing, we prioritize the most vulnerable populations, Hobbs said.

According to Joel Helle, vice president of physician services at CVS Health, the company purchased the tax credits from La Frontera through the federal governments Low Income Housing Tax Credit program, as part of their commitment to community health in Arizona.

Were really excited about our investment, Helle said. We want to make it equally equitable for patients regardless of how much money they have, how old they are, who they are, to have access to healthcare, and housing is the first step.

The partnership, which also includes Red Stone Equity Partners, has been a pleasant surprise, said Ranieri.

This is the first time weve actually had an equity partner whos wanted to be involved in the project, Ranieri said. That has never happened before. And in fact, not only did they purchase tax credits, but they gave us a sizable grant to be used for supportive services for the residents.

The extra $100,000 grant will go to funding the support programs offered to residents including mental health services, food pantries and medical assistance.

We really want to work together with La Frontera, understand what theyre doing, understand the suite of services, delivery efforts and programs that they have, and invest in those too, Helle said.

Since 2008, La Frontera has developed 11 affordable housing projects using low-income tax credits, totaling over 1,000 apartments and other dwellings, the majority of which, Ranieri said, were built as housing for low income seniors.

The new West Point II Apartments, which Ranieri said he expects will open in late spring or early summer of next year, will contribute 85 of those units.

A portion of the units will be available to individuals 55 and up, who earn 40% or below of the median area income, or below $25,000 a year, and another percentage of the units will be given to people who earn 60% or less of the median area income, or less than $37,500 a year, according to Ranieri.

In addition to that, about 30% of the units, so around 26 units, have rental subsidies that go with them, and theyre specifically reserved for eligible seniors who have a defined disability, Ranieri said.

Within the new apartments, a certain number of units will be fully accessible, but Ranieri said that every unit can be adapted to an accessible format within 24 hours as necessary.

The new apartment complex will be nearly identical to the original West Point Apartments, offering all the same services and amenities, including clean, modern design, a full service gym, a warming kitchen, meeting rooms, a classroom area, and other lounge spaces. Other highlights in West Point I include a pool table, card table, computer rooms and coordinated social activities.

One of the things thats important to us is that we try to develop a sense of community, Ranieri said. People are happier, they stay longer, they take better care of the properties, so thats really a goal of ours.

Rose Cain, a 5-year resident of West Point Apartments spoke at the event Monday afternoon. Through tears, she expressed how much the community at West Point meant to her.

I was led to West Point when it was most needed, Cain said. Being without a safe, stable home can happen to anyone at any time in life.

West Point isnt only a place to live, its an extended family, she said.
The following is the opinion and analysis of the writer:

As a supporter of Governor Hobbs  99% of the time  Im going to suggest that her recent comments regarding the proposed I-11 in the Tucson vicinity, where she declined to rule out ADOTs preferred Avra Valley route, represented poor preparation by her staff.

ADOTs proposed new Interstate-11 has many questions, beginning with the concept of enhancing US/Mexican commercial traffic through the U.S. to Canada and extending to many of their specific route recommendations. This all assumes that funding might someday exist and said interstate ever actually exist.

Firstly, US roads, and even AZ roadways, are not the main bottleneck to increased US/Mex traffic. Look at the commercial backups at the border crossings for both trucks and rail. If the border crossing delays arent dealt with, no amount of new roads will make a difference.

Secondly, by ADOTs own admission at the stakeholder meetings, their traffic models are old and do not take into account either rail improvements or autonomous driving (which is expected to ultimately ease traffic congestion). As new roads are supposed to last for well over 50 years, ADOTs models should be much more forward-looking.

Thirdly, the taxpayer cost of carving new roads through open lands, such as Avra Valley near Tucson, is financially wasteful (think in terms of many billions $$) compared to adding lanes to existing interstate corridors.

Finally, sorry, but ADOT apparently has enough trouble expanding and maintaining the roadways that already exist. I-19 from Nogales to Tucson is only two lanes each way. I-10 east of Tucson is only two lanes each way. And then theres Casa Grande to Phoenix. Oh, and one more thing: An interstate will barely even fit in Avra Valley. To attempt to squeeze one in there would likely ruin one national park, one national monument, one county park, one federal mitigation land, and essentially cutoff necessary wildlife connectivity between the Tucson Mountains and the Ironwood Forest Mountains.

And, lest we forget, there is Tucsons water supply. Yes, the CAP canal, with its precious supply of Colorado River water and Tucsons innovative water recharge ponds are located, you guessed it, in Avra Valley. Aside from the logistics of ADOT not putting their preferred route directly through any of these resources, there is the risk of accidents and toxic spills. Perhaps there are good reasons why the Pima County Board of Supervisors, the Tohono Oodham Nation, the City of Tucson and Town of Sahuarita having gone on record as being against placing an interstate highway in Avra Valley.

Might the state apparatus listen to the locals on this? I humbly request the Governor to ask her staff to revisit this topic in light of the above. Thank you.
American Airlines planes are seen at the gates of Terminal C at DFW Airport on Friday, Jan. 7, 2022. (Smiley N. Pool/Dallas Morning News/TNS) Smiley N. Pool/Dallas Morning News/TNS

The federal government is suing a San Antonio woman who allegedly caused chaos on a passenger plane mid-flight three years ago and was then handcuffed and duct-taped to a seat.

Images of the woman  wearing a purple blouse, her hair dyed green and her mouth covered with tape  went viral on social media in July 2021. Until now, she had not been identified by name.

The suit, filed in San Antonios federal court by U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza on behalf of the Federal Aviation Administration, seeks to collect $81,950 in civil penalties from Heather E. Wells, 34.

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The FAA fined her that amount in 2022, a record penalty against an individual passenger. At the time, airlines and regulators were struggling with a surge of unruly passengers disrupting flights.

According to the lawsuit, Wells was a business-class passenger aboard American Airlines flight 1774, en route late at night from Dallas to Charlotte, N.C., between July 6 and 7, 2021.

Over an hour into the flight, and after ordering a Jack Daniels (neat) during the beverage service, Defendant became increasingly agitated and wanted out of the plane, the suit said. She left her seat and began moving and/or running toward the rear of the aircraft, before going to her knees in the aisle. She remained there shortly, talking incoherently to passengers, before crawling back toward the main cabin.

When a flight attendant tried to intervene, Wells told the flight attendant she would hurt him if he didnt get out of her way, the suit said. She then pushed the flight attendant aside and moved to the front of the aircraft. There, she attempted to grab the handle of the front cabin door as she screamed and yelled profanities, the lawsuit said.

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Two flight attendants and a passenger physically restrained her. During the struggle, she struck a flight attendant in the head multiple times, the suit said.

Ultimately, the flight attendants and passenger were able to restrain Defendant with duct tape and flex cuffs and get her seated, the suit said. After she was seated, Defendant continued to kick and spit and attempted to bite and head-butt a flight attendant and passengers. This necessitated Defendant to be further restrained to her seat by tape, along with her mouth, but even this was ineffective to stop her from screaming and cursing throughout the remainder of the flight.

The pilots radioed Charlotte, directing airport personnel to notify the police. Law enforcement officers were waiting when the plane arrived in North Carolina.

As the plane taxied to its gate, Wells worked her feet free and began kicking, the suit said. A flight attendant and passenger again restrained her, the suit said. Law officers boarded the plane and decided to unload the rest of the passengers first.

Defendant continued to violently kick and broke the seat in front of her, the suit said. Ultimately, Defendant had to be sedated to be removed from the aircraft by law enforcement and medical responders.

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News reports at the time said she was taken to a hospital for examination but did not say if she was charged. The San Antonio Express-News was unable to find any criminal charges filed against Wells over the incident.

Wells could not be reached for comment.

She has been summoned to answer the lawsuit, which alleges she violated federal aviation rules by trying to access the flight cabin, interfered with the duties of the flight crew, threatened them and posed an imminent threat to the safety of the aircraft or individuals on the aircraft.

Fort Worth-based American Airlines said at the time that she had been banned from its flights but did not say for how long.
Lenzy Krehbiel-Burton Tulsa World Staff Writer Follow Lenzy Krehbiel-Burton Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today

The Oklahoma State Department of Education announced Monday afternoon that it is offering a one-time five-figure signing bonus for secondary math and science teachers who meet certain stipulations.

Citing the high rate of emergency certified teachers statewide, the program offers $15,000 to in-state educators and $25,000 to out-of-state educators who have a standard or alternative teacher certificate in secondary math or science and did not teach in an Oklahoma public school during the 2023-24 school year.

Additionally, in order to be eligible for the one-time bonus, those educators must be hired to teach in a rural school district for the 2024-25 school year, defined as having at least 75% of its campuses located in a Census-defined rural area as per the National Center for Education Statistics.

The list of 384 districts and charter schools listed as eligible participants on OSDEs website includes an Oklahoma City-area charter school, Sovereign Community School, that closed at the end of the 2022-23 school year.

Tulsa-area districts that meet the rural district definition used by the Education Department for the program include Allen-Bowden, Anderson, Barnsdall, Bowring, Caney Valley, Inola, Kellyville, Keystone, Mounds, Liberty, Olive, Oologah-Talala, Pawnee, Perkins-Tryon, Porter Consolidated, Preston, Pretty Water, Prue, Shidler, Sperry, Twin Hills, Wagoner, Woodland, Wynona and Yale.

According to agency spokesman Dan Isett, about $4 million in federal COVID-19 relief money is being used to pay for the program.

The programs application window closes Sept. 1, and the bonuses will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. Along with teaching for the full school year, recipients will be required to participate in monthly professional development sessions from the Education Department.

Between the start of the fiscal year on July 1 and its most recent meeting in May, the Oklahoma State Board of Education has approved 4,142 emergency teacher certificate requests, including a combined 834 for middle and high school level math and science. That figure includes certifications for specific applicable academic areas under those subjects, such as physics, chemistry and biology.

Among the districts and charter schools listed on the OSDEs website as eligible for the new sign-on bonus program, Newcastle had the most emergency certification requests approved since July 1, with 33 across all subjects and grade levels.

The 20 school districts statewide with the highest number of emergency certification requests this fiscal year are all ineligible to participate in the new signing bonus program, as none meet the definition of a rural district. Along with multiple Oklahoma City-area districts, Lawton, Enid, Ardmore and Shawnee, that list includes Tulsa, Broken Arrow, Union, Muskogee, Bartlesville, Tahlequah and Claremore.

Historically, the rural areas have been the most impacted, Isett said. I wish we could do everything for everyone, but historically, thats where the greatest needs have been.

This is the second teacher signing bonus program launched by the Education Department since State Superintendent Ryan Walters took office in January 2023. The first program, which provided up to $50,000 for elementary and special education teachers in exchange for a five-year commitment, attracted more than 500 certified teachers to Oklahoma classrooms.

The program is at the center of litigation from a pair of recipients who were subject to repayment demands from the Education Department. That case is still pending in Oklahoma County District Court.

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Steve Metzer Tulsa World Capitol Bureau Staff Writer Follow Steve Metzer Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today

Two Republicans, both with lengthy local histories and roots in the business community, are running to represent Senate District 37, which includes much of the west Tulsa metro area and Sand Springs.

Cody Rogers, who owns a paving contracting business, is the incumbent. He recently completed his first term in the Oklahoma Senate.

Aaron Reinhardt is challenging Rogers on the primary ballot June 18 for the opportunity to face independent candidate Andrew Nutter in the November general election.

Reinhardt, a local commercial insurance agent and guidance counselor at Metro Christian Academy, is a Leadership Tulsa graduate and an upcoming member of Leadership Jenks. He is also vice president of the Bixby Educational Endowment Foundation.

Reinhardt said running for elected office wasnt always on his radar but that he has tried to lead a life of service to people, especially through ministry. He decided to run for the state Senate after being asked by local leaders, giving it some thought and concluding that a fresh voice was needed at the Capitol.

We need faith-guided leaders to step into these roles, Reinhardt said.

He said his campaign  and life  have been anchored in conservative values. He is pro-life and pro-family and would be a staunch defender of the Second Amendment.

Reinhardt said he would work hard as a state senator to lower taxes and put a stop to out-of-control government spending. He pledged to fight not only for Oklahomas children, teachers and schools but also for parents and their right to be involved in the education of their children.

He pledged to remain accessible and accountable to people if hes fortunate enough to be elected and would expect to be held to a high standard.

I would be present for our local community and stand and fight for our values, he said.

On his website, Rogers lists his support for Oklahomas business community as both an accomplishment and a continuing priority. Small-business ownership fuels the states economy but is too often held back by heavy-handed government regulation, he said.

I witness it every day in my own construction business relating to Oklahomas struggling infrastructure, Rogers said.

State government would benefit from more representation by small-business owners, who would bring unique perspectives and expertise to the table in reviewing regulations that can inhibit economic growth.

Rogers lists other priorities, including legislating responsibly to strengthen education in the state.

Our economy could see a ten-fold return on investment by treating our childrens education as a top priority, he said.

In the Tulsa metro area, he said, he has met with many people who are vitally interested in local highway and infrastructure needs. He said he has worked hard to address those needs and will continue to do so if hes reelected.

He also pledged to continue to defend family values and advocate on behalf of the states senior population.

On the campaign trail, Rogers said he has encountered many people who share those same priorities. Constituents also are interested in tax reform, including the potential elimination of the states personal income tax.

All of thats important, and I understand the responsibility I have, Rogers said. I also understand how to get things done and know who I can call on for help.

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Randy Krehbiel Tulsa World Staff Writer Follow Randy Krehbiel Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today

The June 18 Republican primary between state Rep. Jeff Boatman, R-Tulsa, and Bixby Mayor Brian Guthrie wont be the final word on Senate District 25, but it will have a lot to say.

SD 25 is 57% Republican by voter registration, so the winner between Guthrie, 45, and Boatman, 56, will be the opening line favorite for a Nov. 5 general election match with Democrat Karen Gaddis.

The district encompasses south Tulsa County, including Bixby, and runs into Tulsa as far north as 51st Street between Memorial Drive and U.S. 169.

The primary has drawn considerable interest: Senate leaders and several business groups are backing Boatman, while Guthrie supporters include Gov. Kevin Stitt, former state Sen. Mike Mazzei and groups such as OK2A and Oklahomans for Health & Parental Rights, which opposes vaccination mandates.

As with much campaigning these days, the advertising has gotten personal.

Some digital ads paid for by an Edmond group show Guthrie atop a pile of gold and label him a big spender. This apparently stems from measures during his tenure as Bixby mayor to improve ambulance services and build a performing arts center in conjunction with Bixby Public Schools.

Mailers from Guthries campaign suggest that Boatman supports grooming because hes backed a teen suicide hotline.

Guthrie shrugged off the ads against him but complained about Boatman benefiting from dark money and the campaign contributions of lobbyists.

Boatman said the lives of vulnerable kids should not be political campaign points.

According to his pre-primary campaign finance report, Guthrie has raised about $170,000 through June 3. Of that, $100,000 was a loan from himself.

Boatmans report lists $135,000 in revenue, including $40,000 from his previous campaigns. Another $12,400 in contributions has been reported since the June 3 cutoff for the pre-primary filing.

Boatman was unopposed in 2020 and 2022 as the House District 67 incumbent and likely could have easily won the seat again this year, but he decided to run for the contested Senate seat, instead.

You cant stay where you feel safe if youre trying to get things done, Boatman said when asked why.

Ive tried to get some things done with tax reform the last few years that have stalled out in the Senate, Boatman said. Ive been working on some mental health bills. I just feel like I can get more done in the Senate.

Boatman has a somewhat unusual background, with a 30-year career as a telecommunications and information systems entrepreneur and a masters degree in Christian counseling from Southwest Theological Seminary.

As a representative, Boatman is best known for his work on technology, mental health, human trafficking and tax issues.

He said his main goal with taxes is to make them simpler and more efficient.

We have a comfortable level of resources, he said, referring to the states recent cash flows and reserves. At the same time, we have to be careful.

Boatman has worked on legislation to bolster the ranks of the states mental health professionals and to address issues such as artificial intelligence, but his greatest passion seems to be in confronting human trafficking.

Its hard to admit we have a human trafficking problem in a state with people as good as we have in Oklahoma, but we do, Boatman said.

And the biggest problem, he said, is not through-traffic on the interstate corridors. Its homegrown exploitation.

We talked to the service agencies. We talked to local law enforcement. They said thats not what were seeing, Boatman said.

Guthrie said he would not come to the Senate with an agenda, but he does want the bipartisan Judicial Nominating Commission junked in favor of something similar to the federal system.

I just dont know that (the current system) represents the values of most Oklahomans, Guthrie said.

Eliminating the JNC, as its called, is popular among some conservatives, including Stitt.

Mostly, though, Guthrie said he would approach the Senate as a conservative coming from the worlds of business and municipal government.

Guthrie is in his sixth one-year term as Bixby mayor after six years as a city councilor. He is a Bixby native who renovated and sold houses until getting into real estate full time with wife, Wendi Guthrie, in 2015.

During his years on the City Council, he has seen Bixby grow exponentially, which has been mostly a good thing but not without a few pains.

Im very calm. Calm and collected, Guthrie said when asked to describe his leadership style. I always keep my head. I never show anger. I never burst out. But also straight and to the point.

His experience as a real estate broker and a mayor have prepared him for the give and take of the Senate, Guthrie said.

I negotiate deals every single day, he said. Thats a gift that I have. As long as it doesnt discredit my values,  Ill try to get the deals done the best way we can.

Like Boatman, Guthrie is in a safe political position but says its time to move on.

Im at a good time in my life to serve in the Legislature, he said. Im in a position I can do that.

I could stay here and make a lot more money in my real estate business, he said. It will be a sacrifice. But I think (the Legislature) is something Ill enjoy, and I want to represent the people.

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Bella Casey Staff Writer Follow Bella Casey Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today

Oklahoma received below-average rankings in 14 of 16 categories in a national report on child well-being released Monday.

The 2024 Kids Count Data Book, published by the The Annie E. Casey Foundation, is a 50-state report analyzing child well-being in post-pandemic America. The Data Book presents national and state data each year from 16 indicators in four domains: economic well-being, education, health, and family and community factors. It ranks the states based on how well children are doing overall.

Oklahoma was ranked 46th overall for child well-being, with Nevada, Mississippi, Louisiana and New Mexico ranking below it. Last year, the state also ranked 46th in the Kids Count report.

This year the state ranked 49th in education, ahead of only New Mexico. It ranked 39th in economic well-being, 40th in family and community context and 45th in health.

Oklahomas rankings decreased in economic well-being and in health since 2023. Oklahoma ranked 38th in economic well-being and 37th in health last year. The states ranking in education remained the same. Its family and community context ranking increased from 43rd to 40th.

The findings are not surprising, said Shiloh Kantz, executive director of the Oklahoma Policy Institute, the Oklahoma affiliate of the Kids Count network. For us, (it) seems like a broken record almost. But this, the report, really tells us that Oklahoma is not doing everything we can do to serve our health, well-being of our children, our families, to support them.

Among the 16 components of the report, Oklahoma ranked among the top half of all states in only two indicators: percent of children in single-parent families, 34%; and percent of low-birth-weight babies, 8.5%.

State leaders have sometimes pointed to the need for conservative values in helping Oklahoma families get ahead, Carly Putnam, Oklahoma Policy Institute policy director and Kids Count coordinator, said in a press release. While Oklahoma ranks among the top half of states for children in two-parent households, our states overall results show that this factor alone isnt enough to help our kids get ahead. From math and reading scores to health insurance coverage to the teen birth rate, these results demonstrate Oklahoma is not doing enough to position our children for success.

The key findings from the most recent school year available, 2021-22, include that 76% of Oklahoma fourth graders scored below the proficient reading level and that 84% of eighth graders scored below the proficient math level, ranking Oklahoma 48th in both categories. Oklahoma saw a significant drop in test scores during the pandemic, similar to most states. The share of high school students not graduating on time in Oklahoma increased five percentage points between 2019 and 2022, going from 15% to 20%.

Up to $31 trillion in U.S. economic activity relies on helping young people overcome learning loss caused by the pandemic, according to the Oklahoma Policy Institute, adding that students who dont advance beyond lower levels of math are more likely to be unemployed after high school. One analysis cited by the Oklahoma Policy Institute calculated that the drop in math scores between 2019 and 2022 will reduce lifetime earnings by 1.6% for 48 million pandemic-era students, for a total of $900 billion in lost income.

Kantz said Oklahomans need to do more to prioritize childrens health and well-being and that a change in state policy involving child well-being could initiate change. She said poverty and unemployment rates, which affect Oklahoma children, are a result of policies that fail to account for people first, rather than companies or businesses.

We have to have policies that boost affordable and attainable housing, including subsidies, incentives, reversing restrictive zoning requirements, (making) rental assistance more available, and weve got to support child care and early childhood development so that the people who need to work can work and that the children are so cared for that theyre not having to make a choice between putting food on the table or their job, Kantz said.

The Oklahoma Policy Institute recommends making sure children arrive at school ready to learn by ensuring access to low- or no-cost meals, a reliable internet connection, a place to study, and time with friends, teachers and counselors.

It also recommends that Oklahoma expand access to intensive tutoring; take advantage of pandemic relief funding to prioritize the social, emotional, academic and physical well-being of students; address chronic absences; and invest in community schools.

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Tourism Malaysia has announced the launch of the Malaysia Mega Sale 2024, a major initiative to lure more international tourists to the country, including 470,000 Vietnamese travelers.

The Malaysia Mega Sale 2024 campaign will last from June 15 to July 31.

This initiative not only promotes Malaysia as a premier shopping destination but aims to revitalize the national economy which includes the accommodation, gastronomy, and tourism sectors.

Vietnamese tourists will have a chance to buy air tickets and book hotel rooms in Malaysian cities with a discount of up to 30 percent if they make bookings between June 15 and July 31 for tours from June 15 to March 31 next year.

Tourism Malaysia expects to attract Vietnamese tourists and those from other markets to shop in and explore its country.

Nor Hayati Zainuddin, director of Tourism Malaysia in Vietnam, said shopping is an indispensable part of tours.

With unique and attractive promotion programs, Malaysia wants to upgrade it into a leading destination for shopping amid the global tourism recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2023, Malaysia welcomed 344,361 Vietnamese visitors, while 470,105 Malaysian tourists visited Vietnam, Voice of Vietnam reported.

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Rhyma Castillo is a trending reporter for the Express-News and a member of its Digital Go Team. She can be reached at rhyma.castillo@express-news.net.

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

In her free time, she enjoys painting, drawing, cooking, hiking, climbing, gardening, playing video games, cuddling with her cats, and making music with her band.
Ho Chi Minh City will be one of some localities in Vietnam to start teaching elementary school students digital citizenship in the next school year, which is set to formally begin in early September.

The move follows a pilot program on digital citizenship teaching having been carried out in some cities and provinces over the past year.

Kids, equipped with digital citizenship skills, will be able to stay safe in the digital era.

The official application of the digital education program was announced by the Primary Education Department under the Ministry of Education and Training at a training course on instructions for teaching digital citizenship to elementary students at the Ho Chi Minh City University of Education on Monday.

Thai Van Tai, head of the department, told the training session that it is vital to teach digital citizenship to elementary students.

The fundamentals of digital citizenship will help kids use technology and media in safe and effective ways to avoid threats in cyberspace, he underlined.

Besides, digital citizenship skills will boost creativity in such students.

Therefore, after one year of successfully piloting the digital education program in some localities, the primary education sector decided to allow these provinces and cities, including Ho Chi Minh City, to teach elementary school students digital citizenship this year.

The digital education program must play a pivotal role in enhancing computing skills for students, according to the Primary Education Department.

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Laundry and dishwashing detergent made by a student from the Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology under the Vietnam National University-Ho Chi Minh City has been sold to several groceries in some Mekong Delta provinces, Ho Chi Minh City, and Binh Dinh Province in south-central Vietnam.

After making laundry detergent for his family and relatives, the junior was determined to start up its commercialization.

Ngo Tran Bao Viet, who majors in chemical engineering technology, recounted that he had initially faced multiple difficulties studying the detergent products.

It took him much time to learn about ingredients at home and abroad.

Undergoing failure several times, Viet built a perfect formula for laundry and dishwashing detergent products.

According to Viet, to help his mother reduce expenditure on laundry detergent, he decided to create detergent products by himself.

Viet said that in early 2024, he worked out a perfect formula, designed a logo for his products, selected suitable containers, and began mass production.

My aunt owns a grocery, so I sent my laundry and dishwashing detergent to her for sale, while asking my family members for help to market the products.

Besides, I introduced these products to my neighbors for use, and they eagerly supported me, he shared.

The laundry detergent contains surfactants, which are safe and effective at removing dirt from clothes, along with a pleasant fragrance. Viet ensures his products have skin-friendly pH levels.

My product is capable of cleaning dirt and maintaining scent," he elaborated.

I have sold 600 bottles of detergent products to groceries in the Mekong Delta region, Ho Chi Minh City, and Binh Dinh Province.

Viet is selling lemon-scented dishwashing detergent and flower-scented laundry detergent contained in bottles with different volumes ranging from 750 ml to 3.8 liters.

Each bottle of laundry detergent is priced from VND99,000 (US$3.9) to VND110,000 ($4.3), while each bottle of dishwashing detergent sells for VND20,000 ($0.8).

Viet said that he applied his knowledge and skills learned from various subjects such as economics, chemical engineering, cosmetic chemistry, and manufacturing administration to the process of creating detergent products.

I chose to sell products, but I did not pay much attention to profits, he stressed.

My monthly revenue standing at some VND7-8 million [$275-314] is used to pay my tuition and for daily expenses.

I hope that customers will favor my products."

Associate Prof. Dr. Nguyen Dinh Quan at the Ho Chi Minh University of Technology said that Viets products have multiple strengths.

Viet successfully applied his knowledge to his production, he said.

Ngo Tran Bao Viet (L), a junior at the Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, introduces his detergent products to Associate Prof. Dr. Nguyen Dinh Quan. Photo: Ngoc Phuong / Tuoi Tre

Associate Prof. Dr. Quan expects universities and lecturers to offer incentives to students who challenge themselves to create their own products as Viet, apart from supporting them in research.

Viets products were deemed safe for use by his teachers and lecturers.

In addition, he aims to copyright his products.

He divulged that he would improve the quality of his products and diversify them to serve customers in the future.

Tran Thi Nga, who runs a grocery store in Binh Dinh, said that she has been Viets loyal customer since he launched his products.

She said that she was introduced to his products by one of her acquaintances.

"Initially, I bought a small amount of his detergent to sell, but his products are fragrant, effectively clean dirty clothes, and, most importantly, are affordable," Nga said.

"Therefore, I decided to purchase more for sale. "Every five to ten days, I ask Viet to send me two to four boxes of detergent bottles to Binh Dinh."

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The management board of the Con Dao National Park in Con Dao Archipelago off Ba Ria  Vung Tau Province, southern Vietnam has proposed restricting socio-economic growth activities such as seafood exploitation, swimming, and diving services for three months amidst coral bleaching, reported the Vietnam News Agency.

Wastewater release from the mainland into the coral reef areas off the sea in the archipelago should be controlled strictly during the period, said Nguyen Khac Pho, head of the board.

These efforts are meant to restore the coral reefs there.

The board said on Monday that it had cooperated with the Institute of Oceanography under the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology to survey the status of corals in the waters off Con Dao as they are experiencing severe bleaching.

Coral bleaching happens when corals become white due to loss of symbiotic algae and photosynthetic pigments, which provide them with both color and energy.

Officials and scientists conduct a survey on coral bleaching at eight locations on Con Son Island, a part of Con Dao Archipelago, Ba Ria - Vung Tau Province, southern Vietnam. Photo: Vietnam News Agency

The survey results showed that at several locations in the eastern region of Con Dao, the coral bleaching rate reached from 80 percent to 100 percent.

As many as 20 percent of corals there have died.

In the western region, up to 70 percent of corals have been bleached, while nearly 10 percent of corals have died of bleaching.

Coral bleaching in Con Dao Archipelago, Ba Ria - Vung Tau Province, southern Vietnam results from high ocean temperatures. Photo: Vietnam News Agency

Meanwhile, many coral reefs are being affected by crown-of-thorns starfish and sediments, according to the survey.

The starfish, which feed on corals, were found in coral reefs of Hon Cau, Hon Tai, and Ong Cuong Islands by scientists.

Some scientists participating in the survey attributed mass coral bleaching on Con Dao to increasing sea temperatures that were measured at over 30 degrees Celsius.

The United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in April said that coral reefs around the world were experiencing a mass bleaching event as the climate crisis was driving ocean heat, and the global bleaching could last until October this year.

The waters off Vietnams southern region in general and around Con Dao in particular were forecast to witness coral bleaching from May 10 to June 20.

The survey also indicated that the coral bleaching around Con Dao started in mid-May.

The bleaching peaked when the survey was conducted from June 2 to 5, said the scientists.

Therefore, the management board proposed launching the second survey of coral reefs around Con Dao to carefully assess the impact of the bleaching and the capability of coral recovery.

Multiple coral restoration programs slated for July should be postponed. As corals have been bleached, their ability to recover is weak.

Apart from restrictions on sea-based socio-economic development activities, the collection of crown-of-thorns starfish should be taken into account to speed up the restoration of corals.

The world recorded the worst global coral bleaching events in 1998, 2010, and 2016, while Con Dao Archipelago experienced massive coral bleaching in 1998, 2000, 2002, 2010, 2016, and 2019, demonstrating that the natural process has happened there frequently.

Hon Tre Nho Island of Con Dao Archipelago, Ba Ria - Vung Tau Province, southern Vietnam sees some 60 - 70 percent of corals bleached. Photo: Vietnam News Agency

Scientists survey coral reefs in Con Dao Archipelago, Ba Ria - Vung Tau Province, southern Vietnam. Photo: Vietnam News Agency

At the depths of 8.6 meters and 14.2 meters in the waters of Hon Tai Island of Con Dao Archipelago, Ba Ria - Vung Tau Province, southern Vietnam, the temperature is measured at 32 degrees Celsius. Photo: Vietnam News Agency

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The administration in Dong Nai Province, southern Vietnam on Monday established an examiner council for an international contest for the planning of the Long Thanh airport urban area and adjacent zones.

The contest offers one first-place prize valued at VND2 billion (US$78,700), one second-place prize at VND1 billion ($39,300), and one third-place prize at VND500 million ($19,700).

The council, led by acting chairman of the province Vo Tan Duc, will help assess and rank planning ideas and choose the best one for submission to the Dong Nai administration.

The council consists of many prestigious Vietnamese and foreign architects, construction engineers, and experts.

The province previously issued a plan to organize the contest for the planning of the Long Thanh airport urban area to exploit the potential of the mammoth airport under construction and adjacent zones.

The contest organizer aimed to attract innovative planning ideas from both domestic and international experts and planners, and then select the best proposals that meet the requirements for planning, architecture, culture, socio-economic effectiveness, national defense, security, and environmental protection.

Contestants will include prestigious domestic and international companies, organizations, and consortiums specializing in planning, design, architecture, and consulting.

The Dong Nai authorities will give priority to those experienced in strategy consulting and urban planning and have conducted similar projects.

The Long Thanh airport urban area was planned to cover 57,000 hectares, including the adjacent areas of Long Thanh International Airport in Long Thanh, Nhon Trach, Cam My, Thong Nhat, and Trang Bom Districts.

Once the contests results are produced in August this year, the province will choose breakthrough ideas for the Long Thanh airport urban area planning until 2045.

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Vast swathes of northern Vietnam were warned of another heavy downpour between Friday and Sunday, with rainfall mostly expected in the mountainous areas, according to the countrys national weather agency.

Nguyen Van Huong, head of the Weather Forecasting Department under the National Center for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting, on Monday afternoon made statements about heavy flooding induced by extreme rainfall in many northern provinces over the past few days and released the agencys forecast about upcoming weather conditions in the region.

Torrential rains lashed multiple northern provinces and cities from Saturday night last week through Monday.

In the northeastern part, Quang Ninh Province and Hai Phong City recorded 200-300m of rainfall, with two locales in Quang Ninh, namely Quang Ha and Mong Cai, even enduring precipitation of nearly 400mm.

In the northwestern part, especially in the northern mountainous province of Ha Giang, rainfall in Vi Xuyen and Bac Quang Districts varied between 350mm and 450mm.

The extreme rainfall caused serious flooding across Quang Ninh, Hai Phong, Ha Giang, and some other northern mountainous locations, Huong said.

He elaborated that heavy precipitation is normal in June, during which the northern region is undergoing a seasonal transition and is still impacted by cold fronts which can cause extreme rainfall.

The weather forecaster said rain in the northern region could become less intense from Monday afternoon, but the northern mountainous provinces should keep watching out for possible flash floods and landslides.

This weekend, extreme rainfall will likely make a comeback in the region and could linger on well into Monday next week, with the northern mountainous locales expected to receive heavy precipitation, Huong warned.

Over the past few days, three people died after being swept away in floodwaters or buried in landslides in the northern region.

In Ha Giang, extreme rainfall began battering the province on Saturday, leaving thousands of homes partially submerged and many roads damaged.

In related news, the national weather agency said that water levels in the Lo River downstream areas in Tuyen Quang Province, northern Vietnam could rise rapidly on Tuesday, posing threats of inundation and flooding-induced natural disasters.

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Barbara Stephen, Laila Sleiman Sanz & Ramon Giraldez

Flying Bark Productions has opened a new studio in Madrid, Spain, adding to its presence in Sydney and Los Angeles, now at over 600 creative, technical and production professionals.

Flying Bark Productions is renowned for producing premium CGI and traditional 2D animated series and feature films, as both an independent producer and servicing international studios and platforms including Disney, Marvel, Nickelodeon and Netflix.

The companys prolific catalogue includes Emmy-award winning Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur (Disney TVA), What If? (Marvel), Monkie Kid (LEGO) and Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Nickelodeon), and currently partnering with Netflix on the animated adaptation of its global hit series Stranger Things.

In addition, Flying Barks team is behind independent productions Maya the Bee Movie, FriendZspace, 100% Wolf (series and feature films) and the recently announced limited animated series based on Shaun Tans illustrated novel Tales from Outer Suburbia (ABC).

The Australian-Spanish co-production of 200% Wolf, the sequel to 100% Wolf, will be released theatrically in the second half of 2024 in all major territories, supported by Viva Kids (USA), StudioCanal (Australia), and Signature (UK) and many major territories across EMEA, Asia and LAM.

We have always enjoyed collaborating with European storytellers and creative talent over the years, with many successful co-productions for our independent projects. We are now thrilled to establish an even stronger presence in Europe with the opening of our Madrid studio, said Barbara Stephen, CEO of Flying Bark Productions.

Spain was a natural next step for us due to the globally recognised creative and technical talent, attractive local incentives and the allure of one of the best cities in Europe. The studio will initially focus on hiring CG talent, but we plan to grow a traditional 2D talent pool in the near future and be involved with developing and producing a slate of original content with international appeal.

To set up the studio, Flying Bark is partnering with Ramon Giraldez, an experienced Studio Supervisor, who is a key figure in the Spanish animation industry.

Flying Bark is currently recruiting several positions for the new studio at www.flyingbark.com.au. Laila Sleiman Sanz, is appointed as Senior Recruiter.
Given its been 35 years since Presumed Innocent screened with Harrison Ford youll forgive me for not having a great recall on the film, other than it was a solid legal flick based on the book by Scott Turow.

So I entered the new Apple TV+ series Presumed Innocent, starring Jake Gyllenhaal with a high degree of scepticism. Why are we remaking this and for goodness sake why as an 8 part series of all things.

Turns out, it sucked me in enough to look beyond the original and embark on a new case where the hero again stands accused of murder.

Rusty Sabich (Gyllenhaal) is a top Chicago prosecutor, livin the dream with his picture-perfect wife Barbara (Ruth Negga) and family of two teens.

But life takes a major detour when fellow prosecutor Carolyn (Renate Reinsve) is found bludgeoned to death in her home.

District Attorney Raymond Horgan (Bill Camp) initially assigns him the case until the former is usurped by the unwelcome new DA Nico Della Guardia (O-T Fagbenle) after a state election who replaces Rusty with a new chief prosecutor, Tommy Molto (Peter Sarsgaard).

None are privy to the history of Rusty and Carolyn, who were getting hot and steamy in the office, prior to her death. Rustys infatuation even went further, leading to plenty of after-hours meetings, all behind his wifes back.

It isnt long before the new DAs office is pointing the finger at its own star performer, and Rusty is soon arrested.

Thats as much set-up as you need to know for this engaging legal thriller which puts its flawed hero firmly in the cross hairs. Did Rusty do it? Can he get to the bottom of what happened and solve the case before time runs out? Who do you believe?

When writer David E. Kelley nails his thrillers its a joy to behold (until those occasions he veers into melodrama) and this is one of them. Kelley loves a cliffhanger and each of these episodes will drop a bomb that compels you to dive into the next episode. But all roads lead to the courtroom for Kelley. He really hits his strides, of course, with the legal argument towards the back of the series. Chew the scenery, time.

Gyllenhaal is fantastic as Rusty Sabich, winning over your empathy despite all his failings as a parent. You want to believe he is an innocent man, you want to follow the story subterfuge to get to the truth. Even the excess of shirtless, beefy Gyllenhaal (when he isnt diving into a pool, he seems to be showering and getting dressed a lot) is a distraction from what is clearly a bloody, violent crime.

Bill Camp (The Night Of, The Queens Gambit, 12 Years a Slave) is a brilliant casting inclusion, bringing plenty of gravitas as Rustys key confidante. But its a tempestuous relationship and they fight like dogs in the yard, railing against the politics of the case.

Ruth Negga is a stand-out as the wronged wife Barbara, who holds it together for family, although I could have done without one sub-plot which feels like a time-filler in the 8 part serialisation.

Kelley also dabbles in dream sequences (wait for the exploding head), which are there to tease the audience -Im not sure they are necessary when the story fundamentals hold up so well on their own.

Im yet to see the final episode which will directly impact whether this take on Turows book stands alongside the Harrison Ford telling, or lands with some distance. But until then, its been an unexpectedly enjoyable ride.

Presumed Innocent screens Wednesdays on Apple TV+
British broadcaster Channel 5 is yet to make a decision on whether it will screen an unaired new series by the late Dr. Michael Mosley.

Wonders of the Human Body is an exploration of how our bodies work.

The series sees Mosley put his own body to the test to track incredible medical breakthroughs, from a new scan that promises to predict a heart attack years in advance to undergoing hypnosis and following pioneering brain surgery to cure tremors.

Parent company Paramount said it was too early to say whether the series will broadcast.

The founder of the shows production company Storyboard, Natalie Humphreys, wrote on LinkedIn: Many of us had the joyful experience of working with Michael regularly over the years and we recently finished collaborating on a new series together. The whole team is heartbroken.

Mosley had also been working on a new series based on his podcast Just One Thing for BBC. Each episode explores a single action a person can take to improve their health, from a hot bath in the evening to Nordic walking.

In April, Mosley wrote on social media: Ive just begun filming a new series for BBC Two based on my popular podcast series Just One Thing. It is surprisingly challenging going from a radio format into a TV one, but so far its looking good

Mosleys last aired series was Australias Sleep Revolution by Artemis Media for SBS.

Celia Tait CEO of Artemis Media said, We are so shocked and sad at the tragic news of Michael Mosely.

Michael was one of the few people in the TV world who had an energy, spirit and intelligence that reached millions of people around the globe, affecting real change in their lives. We feel privileged to have worked with him over many years. The TV series we made together helped to amplify the health messages he was so excited to share  and to effect changes in Australia. Collaborating with top scientists, he shared cutting edge health advice, and through his own demonstrations, he encouraged all of to change our views and habits, and take more control of our own health.

We will miss his wit, wonderful laugh, energy and ideas.

His legacy will live on  and on.

Our thoughts are with Clare and the Mosely young. We hope they can take some comfort in knowing just how much Michael inspired people around the globe .

SBS said in a statement, SBS is shocked and deeply saddened by the news of Dr Michael Mosleys passing.

His work with SBS was not only ground-breaking but also a true reflection of his dedication and passion to health and science and commitment to affecting real change that improves the health of many Australians.

His contributions to his field and his remarkable work with SBS and many others in the industry, touched countless lives and brought vital health information to the forefront.

Collaborating with Dr. Mosley on Australias Health Revolution and Australias Sleep Revolution was an extraordinary privilege; his generosity, warmth, and willingness to share his knowledge has made a lasting impact on all of us.

SBS passes on its deepest sympathies to his family, friends and all who loved him.

Source: Independent
M I Khan, TwoCircles.net

Patna: In politics, a week can make all the difference, and the results of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in Bihar are a testament to this. Despite high expectations, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD)-Congress-Lefts INDIA alliance failed to secure seats in double digits in the state. Leaders of the Opposition bloc had confidently claimed that they would win 20-25 of the 40 seats and stop Prime Minister Narendra Modis momentum.

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However, these claims did not materialize. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) won 30 seats, while the INDIA coalition managed to bag only nine seats, with one constituency going to an independent candidate.

This disappointing outcome for the Opposition parties, led by the RJD, raises significant questions  especially when compared to the better-than-expected performances of the Samajwadi Party-Congress combine in Uttar Pradesh and the Trinamool Congress (TMC) in West Bengal.

Campaign Strength Vs. Ground Strategies

Many believe that while the INDIA alliances election campaign was strong, their strategies to connect with voters on the ground and maintain their social support base were ineffective.

Despite securing 22.14 percent of the votes, the highest for any political party in the state in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the RJD won only four out of the 23 seats it contested. This poor performance came despite an aggressive campaign led by Tejashwi Yadav, who had high expectations from his partys leaders, workers and supporters.

Impact on the Oppositions Goals

This not only disrupted the RJDs calculations but also affected the INDIA blocs goal to unseat the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led BJP government  disappointing thousands across Bihar and beyond.

Of the total nine seats the Opposition won, the Congress contribution stood at three and Communist Party of India (MarxistLeninist) Liberation or CPI(ML) two. The grand old party had contested nine seats, while the CPI(ML) three.

One independent, Pappu Yadav, who is close to Congress, also emerged victorious, taking the Oppositions tally to 10.

Rise in Vote Share

Although the RJD improved from zero seats in the last Lok Sabha polls (2019) to four this time, it was not enough to meet expectations.

Official data reveals that the RJDs vote share increased from 15.68 percent in the last elections to 22.14 percent this time, while Congresss vote share rose from 7.85 percent to 9.20 percent. Despite this increase, the NDA managed to win 30 seats, 10 less than the previous election, with the BJP securing 12 out of 17 seats, the Janata Dal (United) or JD(U) winning 12 out of 16 and LJP(Ram Vilas) sweeping all 5 seats it contested.

JD(U)s Increased Influence

Interestingly, the JD(U), with 12 seats, has become more influential in the new government formation, with the party president and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar playing a significant role.

Although the Opposition alliances vote share rose, compared to the NDAs, from 36.47 percent to 45.52 percent, it did not translate into seats. This discrepancy has sparked discussions from streets to tea stalls and drawing rooms about why Tejashwis RJD, despite a vigorous campaign addressing 251 election meetings, managed to win only four seats.

Tejashwis Focus on Core Issues

His campaign focused on critical issues like employment, price rise and poverty, which resonated with the youth and overshadowed other topics. However, political observers noted that while Tejashwis efforts to expand the RJDs traditional social support base from the Muslim-Yadav (MY) to a broader demographic showed promise, it did not fully materialize in this election. Moreover, internal party decisions and candidate selections also affected the RJDs performance.

Despite these challenges, Tejashwis high vote share is seen as a strength, potentially reflecting in the 2025 Bihar Assembly polls. His efforts to address fundamental issues and mobilize voters could still yield significant results in future elections.

Campaign Strategy Vs. Opposition Tactics

Unlike the ruling NDA leaders, who focused on polarising Hindu-Muslim issues and personal attacks against RJD chief Lalu Prasad and his wife, former Chief Minister Rabri Devi, accusing them of fostering a jungle raj (misrule), Tejashwi concentrated on rozgar, naukri, manhgai aur garibi (employment, jobs, price rise and poverty). These core issues overshadowed all others in Bihar, drawing large crowds, particularly of youths, to his campaign rallies.

Expanding Social Support Base

Political observers noted that Tejashwi has been trying to expand the RJDs traditional Muslim-Yadav (MY) support base to a broader coalition. However, this effort has not yet fully translated into electoral success.

RJD chief Lalu Prasad attempted to gain support from the Kushawaha community, a traditional JD-U base, by fielding candidates from this caste. This strategy showed some success, with Abhay Kushwaha winning the Aurangabad seat. Yet, in other constituencies, Kushwaha candidates fell short despite garnering significant votes from their community.

Tejashwi has also sought to attract support from the Mallah (fishermen) community, traditionally loyal to the NDA. During the campaign, Mukesh Sahni, leader of the Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) and a prominent Mallah figure, joined Tejashwi, signaling a potential shift in support.

Despite these efforts, Kamlesh Kumar, a teacher in a government school in Patna, observed that while the RJD-led INDIA alliance managed to limit the BJP-led NDA from replicating its previous success and won more than half a dozen seats, the RJDs overall performance was disappointing.

Tejashwis efforts, although significant, did not meet the high expectations set for him, he said.

The latest poll results clearly indicate that the social support base of the Nitish Kumar and Narendra Modi alliance remains largely intact on the ground. While the Nitish magic and Modi factor might not be as visible, both leaders still maintain a strong grip over their respective constituents, said Suresh Singh, a shopkeeper.

The Role of Social Chemistry

A noted political commentator, who did not wish to be named, noted that Tejashwi worked hard, raised basic issues during the campaign and garnered a high percentage of votes.

Credit for this goes to him, but the vote share has not translated into seats. Sometimes, social chemistry affects outcomes differently in various constituencies. Tejashwi has successfully mobilized people, and while it might not be reflected in the Lok Sabha results, his high vote share is a strength that will be evident in the 2025 Bihar Assembly polls, said the educationist.

He also pointed out the role of social chemistry in poll outcomes. For instance, RJD candidate Rohini Acharya lost the Saran seat to BJPs incumbent MP Rajeev Pratap Rudy by just 12,000 votes. Rohini, Lalus second daughter, contested polls for the first time.

Two independent candidates garnered more than 36,000 votes, damaging her support base and resulting in her defeat. A similar scenario occurred in at least four or five other seats, including Araria.

Caste Equations in Bihar Politics

Another analyst, who too refused to be named, noted that Bihars politics remains entrenched in a vicious cycle of caste equations.

The RJD continues to struggle in gaining support from non-Yadav OBCs and EBC voters. While the party does attract some Dalit support, Nitish Kumar, by default, continues to secure backing from non-Yadav OBCs and a significant portion of EBCs. This alignment bolsters the BJPs core support base among upper castes, OBC Vaishyas, Dalits and others. Consequently, the NDAs vote share exceeds that of the RJD-led INDIA alliance by nine percent, a difference clearly reflected in the number of seats won, he pointed out.

Dalit Support for NDA

He said the NDA has a strong base of Dalit voters. Two of its allies, LJP(Ram Vilas) headed by Chirag Paswan and HAM led by former Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, are key Dalit leaders. Of the six reserved seats in Bihar, LJP (Ram Vilas) won three, including Hajipur, while JD-U and HAM each secured one seat. The Congress won only one reserved seat, Sasaram.

In contrast, the NDAs strong support base among various social groups, including Other Backward Castes (OBCs) and Extremely Backward Castes (EBCs), remained intact, contributing to their electoral success. Nitish Kumar and Narendra Modis combined appeal continued to resonate with their constituents, ensuring the NDAs dominance in Bihar.

Strategic Missteps

The RJD also made some decisions that negatively impacted their performance in the Lok Sabha polls. One such decision was preventing Congress from fielding Pappu Yadav in the Purnea seat. As a result, Pappu Yadav contested as an independent and defeated JD-Us incumbent MP Santosh Kushwaha, while the RJD candidate, Bima Bharti, came in third.

In another instance, the RJD failed to persuade Hena Shahab, the widow of former party MP Mohammad Shahabuddin, a notorious figure known as Bahubali (muscleman) to run as the partys candidate from Siwan. Hena allegedly felt that the RJD had ignored her family after Shahabuddins death and refused Lalu Prasads offer.

She had previously contested the Lok Sabha polls from Siwan unsuccessfully three times since her husbands imprisonment in 2005. This time, she ran as an independent and lost, but her candidacy also led to the defeat of the RJD candidate, senior party leader and former Bihar Assembly Speaker Awadh Bihari Choudhary.

Campaign Challenges

Additionally, the RJDs campaign was less effective, largely due to being single-handedly led by the 34-year-old Tejashwi, who had to counter seasoned politicians such as Modi, Nitish Kumar, Rajnath Singh, Nitin Gadkari and J P Nadda. Modi visited Bihar nine times to campaign for NDA candidates and even held a roadshow in Patna on May 12, a first for a sitting prime minister.

Besides Modi, Nitish Kumar and numerous Union ministers and chief ministers from UP, Assam and Madhya Pradesh also campaigned extensively.
Snobar Khan, TwoCircles.net

New Delhi: Amid widespread dissatisfaction following the release of the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (Undergraduate) or NEET-UG 2024 results on June 4, hundreds of students staged a protest in front of the Ministry of Education on June 10 against the suspected irregularities surrounding the pre-medical entrance examination.

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Emerging at around 11 am, a unified cohort of students displayed banners emblazoned with grievances related to the alleged NEET scandal, bravely voicing their demands for justice in the face of a heightened police presence.

Beyond decrying the NEET scam itself, the demonstrators also expressed discontent with the current education system  citing concerns over the centralization of education through initiatives like the Common University Entrance Test (CUET) for undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, the compulsory University Grants CommissionNational Eligibility Test (UGC-NET) criteria for Ph.D. admissions and alleged encroachments on universities autonomy to conduct its own entrance examinations.

They called for an immediate and impartial inquiry into the alleged widespread corruption plaguing the NEET examination process.

Highlighting purported statistical anomalies in this years NEET results, including an unusually high number of candidates scoring 720 out of 720, the protesters pointed to instances such as eight toppers from one examination center in Haryana as potential evidence of a paper leak.

Additionally, the alleged dubious validity of scores such as 718 and 719 out of 720, attributed by the National Testing Agency (NTA) to grace marks, was vehemently contested.

Navjot Singh, who has recently completed masters in philosophy and is member of the All India Students Association (AISA), a Left wing student organisation, underscored the implausibility of certain scores, emphasizing the critical need for transparency in the evaluation process.

We stand before the Education Ministry today to denounce the inconsistencies evident in the NEET results. This years staggering surge in the number of top scorers, from merely two last year to an astonishing 67 this year, raises profound concerns. Moreover, the arithmetic impossibility of attaining scores such as 718 or 719 out of 720, given the exams grading system, begs a critical inquiry into the evaluation process, remarked Singh.

He said those who have qualified are poised to become our future physicians; and therefore, it is their (the agitators) prerogative to demand transparency regarding the criteria behind the unprecedented scores.

Furthermore, the alarming reports of paper leaks and discrepancies across various language versions of the exam in Rajasthan cast a shadow of doubt over the integrity of the entire examination process. As students who dedicate ourselves to rigorous preparation, we deserve equitable treatment and fair evaluation. We are compelled to question the authorities on why these discrepancies have arisen. Despite ideological differences, our collective unity underscores our shared commitment to holding the government accountable, he told TwoCircles.net.

Amit Anand, a geography honours student at the Delhi University, shared poignant accounts of friends deeply affected by the alleged scandal, illustrating the devastating impact on aspirants prospects of securing admission to prestigious institutions.

I had several friends who aspired to crack the NEET examination. One of them achieved a score of 630 out of 720 this year, but his demeanor has drastically changed. Despite being with his family, he has withdrawn into silence, refusing to engage with anyone. His despondency stems from the realization that a score of 630, which was previously sufficient for admission to government colleges, now appears inadequate due to this scandal. Similarly, another friend of mine, a female candidate, obtained 600 marks. Determined to pursue her dreams, she has resolved to restart her preparations and attempt the examination again next year, he recounted.

Sumit, another geography student, launched a scathing critique against the NTA, holding it accountable for the alleged malpractices and advocating for substantial reforms within the organization.

Whether its the issue of paper leaks or compromised examination centers, accountability ultimately falls on the shoulders of the NTA. Despite its denial of any paper leak, what about the students who invested countless hours preparing diligently for the examination? Their efforts have been squandered, and their academic year jeopardized. It is the NTAs responsibility to answer for these injustices. We demand a reevaluation of the current examination system, advocating for either the transfer of examination-conducting responsibilities from the NTA back to universities or comprehensive reforms within the NTA itself, he said.

Bilal, a student rights activist, emphasized the profound repercussions of the alleged examination scam on students and their families, lamenting the disparity between their toil and the nefarious gains of purported unscrupulous actors within the education system.

The NEET examination witnessed participation of 24 lakh students this year, representing the aspirations of countless individuals who strive tirelessly for academic excellence. Families make significant financial sacrifices to support their childrens aspirations, as students dedicate years of rigorous preparation to excel in this crucial test. However, the revelation of paper leaks undermines their hard work and dedication. While unscrupulous entities profit from these illicit activities, the dreams and efforts of sincere students are rendered futile, he stated.

Referring to the suicide case of a NEET aspirant, he concluded, The ramifications of this systemic failure extend far beyond academic disappointment, profoundly impacting the lives of aspirants. Tragically, instances of suicides underscore the devastating toll of these controversies. While previous instances may have gone unnoticed, the current wave of protests has thrust the issue into the spotlight. It is imperative that the government acknowledges these grievances and takes decisive action to rectify this grave injustice. We are committed to ensuring that stringent measures are implemented to address this scandal.
Alamo Colleges District Chancellor Mike Flores at Tuesdays announcement of a partnership between the community college district and Texas A&M University-San Antonio. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Among the first to attend Texas A&M University-San Antonio under the Promise to Promise Partnership announced Tuesday will be recent Palo Alto College graduate Aubri Lalinde, who met the university's president, Salvador Hector Ochoa, left, after she spoke. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Texas A&M University-San Antonio President Salvador Hector Ochoa shows 3-year-old Andre Tover, center, how to hold up three fingers at Tuesdays announcement of a partnership that will ease the path to a university degree for his mother, Aubri Lalinde, left, a recent Palo Alto College graduate. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Alamo Colleges District Chancellor Mike Flores, left, shakes hands with Texas A&M University-San Antonio President Salvador Hector Ochoa at Tuesday's announcement of a new pathway to a four-year degree under a partnership that covers costs at both institutions. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Alamo Colleges District Chancellor Mike Flores speaks at Tuesdays announcement of a new partnership with Texas A&M University-San Antonio that will cover tuition at both institutions to create a new pathway to a four-year degree. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Attendees applaud during the announcement of a new partnership Tuesday between the Alamo Colleges District and Texas A&M University-San Antonio that will cover costs at both institutions for students pursuing a four-year degree. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Texas A&M-San Antonio President Salvador Hector Ochoa speaks during the announcement of a new partnership Tuesday between the Alamo Colleges District and the university that will cover costs at both institutions for students pursuing a four-year degree. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Texas A&M-San Antonio President Salvador Hector Ochoa speaks at the Alamo Colleges District headquarters on Tuesday, June 11, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. Alamo Colleges District and Texas A&M University-San Antonio announced a new affordable pathway for a four-year degree: an expanded partnership that allows eligible students to start at any Alamo College and then transfer to TAMU-SA, while having educational costs covered at both institutions. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Texas A&M-San Antonio President Salvador Hector Ochoa speaks during the announcement of a new partnership Tuesday between the Alamo Colleges District and the university that will cover costs at both institutions for students pursuing a four-year degree. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Alamo Colleges Trustee Lorena Lorraine Pulido, from left, joins A&M-San Antonio President Salvador Hector Ochoa and Alamo Colleges Board Chair Clint Kingsbury in celebrating Jaguar pride at Tuesdays announcement of a new partnership between the community college district and the university to cover costs for students pursuing a four-year degree. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Palo Alto College graduate Aubri Lalinde holds her son Andre Tover, 3, while talking with A&M-San Antonio President Salvador Hector Ochoa, left, at Tuesdays announcement of a new partnership between the Alamo Colleges and the university to cover costs for students like Lalinde who are pursuing a four-year degree. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Andre Tover, 3, explores an illuminated letter during Tuesdays event announcing a new partnership between the Alamo Colleges District and Texas A&M University-San Antonio. Andres mom will be among the first to benefit from the tuition-free path to a four-year degree. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News

Alamo Colleges District officials announced a partnership with Texas A&M University-San Antonio as their newest tool to break racial and economic barriers to higher education, pledging to open an affordable pathway to the middle class.

Under the Promise to Promise Partnership, students attending the districts five colleges or high school dual enrollment programs through its five-year-old AlamoPROMISE initiative can transfer to TAMU-SAs Jaguar Promise, extending a tuition-free route to a four-year bachelors degree.

Among the first to use it will be Aubri Lalinde, a McCollum High School graduate, first-generation college student in a family that owns a restaurant and the mother of a 3-year-old son named Andre. She earned an associate degree in business administration last month from Palo Alto College, and will pursue a bachelors in marketing or human resources.

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Hard work is something Ive always known, Lalinde said. This has been a life-changing opportunity for me and Andre because it made college attainable for a student parent like me.

Alamo Colleges typically transfers about 2,000 students annually to A&M-San Antonio, along with some 4,000 to the University of Texas at San Antonio, which reached its own partnership with the college district in 2022 for a tuition-free transfer pipeline.

The state-supported universities are the top two institutions that draw from the community college district, which currently has about 18,000 students going on to four-year schools.

The district announced a three-year, nearly $500,000 grant in March thats helping create a student-friendly transfer portal, with a focus initially on UTSA that will widen to TAMU-SA and others in its top five transfer destinations  Texas State University, A&M-College Station and the University of the Incarnate Word.

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Compared with UTSA, which just turned 55 years old, A&M-San Antonio is a relatively young 15 years but quickly becoming another major partner in filling high-demand, high-wage jobs, said Mike Flores, the Alamo Colleges chancellor. Texas A&M System Chancellor John Sharp recently called the fast-growing South Side campus a rocket ship with potential to become the second-largest among the systemss 11 universities.

As they begin to mature as an institution, then that 2,000, I think in several years will be 3 (thousand), and then 4. At the same time, that 4,000 going off to UTSA will expand as well, Flores said. It not only changes the students life, but it changes their familys trajectory.

In the fall, the Alamo Colleges had 9,500 AlamoPROMISE scholars, including its largest freshman class of 6,500. Nearly half are in STEM-related fields, up from 33% five years ago, Flores said.

These are students that are coming from some of the highest poverty rates within our community, he said.

Salvador Hector Ochoa, the A&M-San Antonio president, said he saw many classmates while growing up in the Rio Grande Valley who possessed great potential for success but never had that access to go to school. Jaguar Promise, which launches in the fall, includes a $300 book stipend to help eliminate cost barriers.

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Its so important that we build bridges, we build pathways and as many points of entry as possible, said Ochoa, whose mantra is that the students are collectively the universitys north star.

At his South Side campus, 80% of the arriving transfer students are from the Alamo Colleges, he said. Seventy percent of the universitys students are first-generation, and 98% receive some form of financial assistance.

The need is real, and it prevents many of our students from completing their degrees, Ochoa said.

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Flores said the partnership underscores a commitment from both institutions to a common cause.
VANCOUVER, BC, June 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - WELL Health Technologies Corp. (TSX: WELL) (OTCQX: WHTCF) ("WELL" or the "Company"), a digital health company focused on positively impacting health outcomes by leveraging technology to empower healthcare practitioners and their patients globally, is pleased to announce that its Notice of Intention to Make a Normal Course Issuer Bid ("NCIB") filed with the Toronto Stock Exchange ("TSX") has been approved. The NCIB is a renewal of its NCIB that expired on June 4, 2024.

WELL Health Technologies Corp. Logo (CNW Group/WELL Health Technologies Corp.)

WELL believes that purchases of its common shares (the "Shares") pursuant to the NCIB may contribute to the facilitation of an orderly market and is in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders. In the event that WELL believes that its Shares begin trading in a price range that does not adequately reflect their underlying value based on WELL's business prospects and financial position, WELL may purchase Shares pursuant to the NCIB. Depending upon future price movements and other factors, WELL believes that its outstanding Shares may represent an attractive investment and a desirable use of a portion of its corporate funds.

As of May 31, 2024, the Company had 246,180,060 Shares issued and outstanding. Under the NCIB, the Company may acquire up to an aggregate of 6,154,501 Shares over the next 12-month period, representing approximately 2.5% of the issued and outstanding Shares of the Company. In accordance with TSX rules, daily purchases made by the Company on the TSX will not exceed 209,016 Shares, subject to certain prescribed exemptions, being 25% of the average daily trading volume over the preceding six calendar months of 836,067 Shares. The NCIB will be effective from June 10, 2024 to June 9, 2025. Purchases subject to this NCIB will be made on the open market through the facilities of the TSX and any Canadian alternative trading systems in Canada by a broker on behalf of the Company in accordance with applicable regulatory requirements. All Shares purchased under the NCIB will be returned to treasury for cancellation.

Under the previous NCIB, as of May 31, 2024, the Company's purchased 119,400 Shares through the facilities of the TSX with an average weighted price of $3.70 per Share. Although the Company was eligible to purchase up to 5,884,589 Shares, instead of purchasing the maximum permitted amount, the Company allocated funds to alternative capital opportunities to provide greater returns to shareholders. All Shares purchased under the NCIB were returned to treasury for cancellation.

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To the knowledge of the Company, no director, senior officer, or other insider of the Company or any of their associates currently intends to sell any Shares under the NCIB. However, sales by such persons through the facilities of the TSX or any other available market or alternative trading system in Canada may occur if the personal circumstances of any such person change or if any such person makes a decision unrelated to these normal course purchases. The benefits to any such person whose Shares are purchased would be the same as the benefits available to all other holders whose Shares are purchased.

WELL HEALTH TECHNOLOGIES CORP.

Per: "Hamed Shahbazi"

Hamed Shahbazi

Chief Executive Officer, Chairman and Director

Cision

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/well-health-announces-approval-of-normal-course-issuer-bid-302165990.html

SOURCE WELL Health Technologies Corp.
BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - Argentine President Javier Milei will participate in the Ukraine peace summit to be held in Switzerland over the weekend, a spokesperson for the leader said on Tuesday.

The libertarian president will first participate in the Group of Seven (G7) summit in Italy this week before heading to Switzerland. Milei has a good relationship with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskiy and has sought to forge closer ties with Western nations since taking office last December.

The Argentine leader's attendance had been in doubt, with the right-wing president facing challenges at home pushing his key economic reform bill through Congress where he faces pushback from lawmakers.

Switzerland agreed to host the summit at Zelenskiy's behest, and has tried to drum up support for it among countries that have better relations with Moscow than leading Western powers. Russia, which invaded Ukraine in 2022, will not participate.

(Reporting by Nicolas ; Editing by Sandra Maler)
COPENHAGEN (Reuters) - Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said on Tuesday she was still recovering both physically and mentally from an assault in central Copenhagen last week and warned about more aggression in the public.

A 39-year old Polish man was remanded in custody over the assault which caused her to suffer a minor neck injury. The attacker was under the influence of alcohol and drugs at the time, and nothing indicated a political motive, authorities said.

"I'm not quite myself yet," Frederiksen said in an interview with broadcaster DR. "I look after my work as prime minister, and I always will. I was also able to do so over the weekend, but not in the same way as I normally do."

The assault happened just three weeks after Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico was seriously injured in an assassination attempt.

Frederiksen said she has witnessed a shift in the public domain in recent years.

"We all experience across (political) parties that the boundaries are shifting wildly," she said.

"There's been threats over a long period of time, a very harsh tone on social media, which has gotten worse, and especially after the war in the Middle East, a lot of shouting in public, people behaving very, very aggressively," she said.

The small bicycle-friendly country ranks in surveys as one of the happiest in the world, and Danes pride themselves on their inclusiveness, equality and generous welfare model.

"We have been proud of a country where the prime minister cycles to work," she said.

"But a shift has occurred. I've always made myself available, but the street scene has changed, and there are places where we can no longer go, at least some of us politicians," she said.

(Reporting by Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen; Editing by Tomasz Janowski)
AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Political parties in the Netherlands have reached a final agreement on the formation of their incoming right-wing government, election winner Geert Wilders said on Tuesday.

After almost six months of negotiations, Wilders' nationalist PVV party reached an agreement last month to form a coalition with three other conservative parties but they had not agreed on cabinet posts.

"We have reached an agreement," Wilders told reporters after almost four weeks of talks on the distribution of jobs over the four parties.

The coalition last month already said political outsider Dick Schoof, who is not affiliated to any party, would become prime minister of the new government.

Schoof, 67, was the senior official at the Dutch justice ministry until last month after having led the Dutch intelligence agency AIVD and anti-terrorism agency NCTV for years. He was the head of the Dutch immigration service in the early 2000s.

He will head a cabinet that the four parties have said would have looser ties to parliament. No details on who would fill the other posts in cabinet have been announced yet.

(Reporting by Bart Meijer,; Editing by Peter Graff and Angus MacSwan)
BERLIN (Reuters) - The finance ministries of Ukraine and Germany signed on Tuesday a joint Declaration of Intent to bolster bilateral cooperation to support Ukraines reconstruction after the war with Russia.

"We are not limiting ourselves to the form of support that Ukraine needs to win the war," said German Finance Minister Christian Lindner. "We want to contribute now so that Ukraine can set the course for future growth through its reconstruction."

This is not just about financial resources, but also about building institutional capacities to support private companies in Ukraine and promote investment, Lindner added.

Germany's finance ministry has tasked the KfW Development Bank with assessing the feasibility of a project involving financing consultancy to support Ukraine's finance ministry. The project could also support the Business Development Fund, to make it an independent state financing institution focused on Ukrainian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

The capacity development project will be financed by the German finance ministry and the KfW will oversee implementation.

The partners expect to sign the underlying agreements by the end of the year from which point it will take effect. The declaration does not constitute a treaty and does not create rights or obligations under international law.

(Reporting by Maria Martinez; Editing by Madeline Chambers)
Scott Huddleston is a veteran staff writer, covering education, local history, preservation and the Alamo. He can be reached at shuddleston@express-news.net.

He has been reporting for the Express-News since 1985, covering local government, public safety, criminal justice, flooding, transportation, military, water and the environment. He is a native Texan and a longtime San Antonian.
(Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin will keep demoted ally Nikolai Patrushev, a Cold War warrior who crafted the Kremlin's national security strategy, on Russia's top consulting security body, according to a decree published on Tuesday.

In one of the most surprising moves in the May reshuffle of his entourage and the government, Putin moved Patrushev from his 16-year stint as the country's security chief to a position with virtually no power - to oversee shipbuilding as a Kremlin aide.

With no explanation given for the demotion, Putin stirred weeks of media and diplomatic speculations on what would happen to Patrushev, viewed for years as one of Russia's most powerful figures, and what it means for Russia's course.

The 72-year-old Patrushev, a former director of Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) from St Petersburg where Putin was born, once delivered sensitive Kremlin signals to both the Chinese and the Americans.

He is also credited with helping to root out the ideological foundations of Russia's biggest confrontation with the West since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis.

"Considering Patrushev's reported personal importance to Putin's regime stability and Putin's longtime tendency to balance Russian siloviki (strongmen with political influence) such as Patrushev within the power vertical, Patrushev's next position will be an important reflection of Putin's intent," analysts at the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War, said in a May report.

Russia's Security Council, chaired by Putin, is a Kremlin consultative body responsible for managing and integrating national security policy. It does not have direct authority over Russia's security agencies and ministries.

In its decree published on a government website Putin also named the new Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov as a permanent member of the Security Council.

(This story has been refiled to change the date of publication of the decree to Tuesday, not Monday, in paragraph 1)

(Reporting by Lidia Kelly in Melbourne; Editing by Lincoln Feast.)
By Michel Rose

PARIS (Reuters) - When French President Emmanuel Macron told his young prime minister of his decision to call a snap election just hours before announcing it on television, Gabriel Attal tried to dissuade his boss, asking him to accept his resignation instead, two sources told Reuters.

"I can be the fall guy," Attal implored Macron, after his efforts at dissuasion went nowhere, according to a minister and another government source who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Macron declined Attal's offer, and a few hours later, as exit polls showed Marine Le Pen's National Rally (RN) trouncing his ticket, he dissolved parliament.

The resignation bid by Attal, initialy reported by Le Monde newspaper and other French media, underlines how Macron's shock decision to bet the house on snap elections was not universally applauded by his camp and threatened to prematurely curtail their political project. Attal's office did not respond to a request for comment.

The 34-year-old Attal, France's youngest ever prime minister when he took office in January, has been mooted as a potential Macron successor in 2027, but now risks losing his job to the RN's 28-year-old party president Jordan Bardella.

Attal was unaware of Macron's plans, which he had kept from all but a tiny circle of advisors, the sources said.

Among them was Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin, another potential successor and snap vote advocate, and Bruno Roger-Petit, an ex-journalist-turned-strategist who has masterminded Macron's rightward shift over the last few years.

Macron's calculation, which he had arrived at with close advisors over several weeks before Sunday's announcement, was that it was better to blindside his opponents with an immediate election than wait for inevitable conservative no-confidence motions later in the year when he would be weaker.

At a hastily convened cabinet meeting on Sunday night, shortly after announcing the snap vote, stunned ministers listened in silence as Macron said he wanted to give the French people a chance to "take back control" of their parliament, and reinstate order in an increasingly chaotic chamber, sources said.

"There was surprise, a bit of perplexity, some combativeness from those who were favourable to the option, such as Gerald," one source present at the Elysee palace meeting said.

Attal, meanwhile, has been tasked by Macron with leading his ticket in the lightening, three-week campaign, the two sources said.

Attal has yet to make any public comment since tendering his resignation, although he told lawmakers behind closed doors on Tuesday that the "die was not cast" and that he would do everything to "avoid the worst."

There was also wide concern across Europe.

"The problem is what his decision will mean for the rest of us," one EU diplomat said.

NO CERTAINTY

Macron has long been frustrated by the fractious lower house that resulted from the previous parliamentary elections in 2022, when he lost his governing majority, with hard-left lawmakers in particular often using spectacular filibustering tactics.

His entourage said the president made his decision after last week's 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy, when he met people out and about who said they were tired of endless political infighting in parliament. But the plan came into sharper focus as it became clear Le Pen would inflict a humiliating defeat in Sunday's vote.

One source with knowledge of Macron's battle plan said he is convinced he can win, betting that the short campaign - the minimum allowed by the constitution - will wrongfoot his foes.

The source said Macron also expects the left to fail to unite this time round, unlike in 2022 when Greens, Socialists and the radical left France Unbowed agreed on a common platform that did well in the two-round voting system.

Another source close to Macron said the possibility of giving the RN a platform to display incompetence ahead of the 2027 presidential election for which Le Pen is the frontrunner was also on his mind.

"He has no certainty, but he looks at probabilities," the source said. "The top one is that the RN doesn't win. And there is also the possibility the RN wins a simple majority, in which case yes...a show of incompetence."

However, among the Macronistas in the empty corridors of the now-dissolved National Assembly, there was little excitement.

"It's never pleasant to campaign," said Emmanuel Pellerin, a lawmaker in Macron's camp. "The times are tough. I can't say we're having fun."

(Reporting by Michel Rose; additional reporting by Elizabeth Pineau and John Irish; Editing by Angus MacSwan)
LONDON (Reuters) - Nigel Farage, the leader of Britain's right-wing Reform Party, was assaulted on Tuesday for the second time since he began campaigning for next month's election when a man hurled objects at him during an open-top bus tour.

Farage was travelling through Barnsley in northern England, waving to crowds from the bus, when a man threw what appeared to be large pieces of broken stone at him, footage on social media showed. The objects missed him and he appeared unharmed.

Police said they had arrested a 28-year-old man on suspicion of public order offences, adding that they believed he had thrown objects from a construction site.

"I'm not a softie - you can say what you bloomin' like to me - but if you start chucking cement at me or chucking stones at me it's very, very different," Farage told Sky News.

He described the attack as "a wilful attempt to stop me taking part in this general election".

As the figurehead of euroscepticism and anti-immigration sentiment, Farage has been a divisive figure in Britain for decades. He is best known for the leading role he played in encouraging Britons to vote in 2016 to leave the European Union. He is standing for a parliamentary seat on July 4.

"I will not be bullied or cowed by a violent left-wing mob who hate our country," he said on X.

Last week, a 25-year-old woman was charged with assault for throwing a drink in his face from close range as he left a pub.

Farage stepped up as Reform's new leader last week, heaping pressure on the ruling Conservative Party, which is far behind the main opposition Labour Party in surveys and has been losing support to Reform.

He has long been a thorn in the side of the Conservatives, arguing they need to do more to cut immigration.

He has in the past made comments that his opponents have accused of being racist. During the Brexit campaign, Farage appeared in front of a poster showing lines of migrants under the slogan "Breaking Point", while last month he said Muslims did not share British values.

He also regularly angered many politicians in the European Parliament during his two decades as a lawmaker there.

(Reporting by Sarah Young; editing by Michael Holden, Angus MacSwan and Kevin Liffey)
US will announce new Russian sanctions and export controls at G7 summit, White House says

(Reuters) - The U.S. will announce new sanctions and export controls against Russia during the G7 summit in southern Italy later this week, White House spokesman John Kirby said on Tuesday.

The U.S. and leaders of the nation's largest economies have imposed sweeping sanctions on Russia for its 2022 invasion of Ukraine, and Kirby said they would add a new set of "impactful" sanctions and export controls that target entities and networks helping Russia to fight its war.

"We're going to continue to drive up costs for the Russian war machine," Kirby said.

(Reporting by Jarrett Renshaw; editing by Jonathan Oatis and Chizu Nomiyama)
Courtesy PMRDA, Greater Pune poised to be a model city for future

Under the administration of PMRDA, Greater Punes urban expansion has emerged as one of the most impressive success stories of planned growth, economic prosperity, and sustainable development.

Tuesday June 11, 2024 3:29 PM , Akash Pharande

The Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) oversees an extensive and strategically significant territory now collectively referred to as Greater Pune. It covers both urban and rural regions.

The two key territories under Greater Pune are the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC). PMRDA also governs the pivotal Talegaon Dabhade and Lonavala Municipal Councils  the former a strong and growing industrial hub, and the latter arguably Maharashtras favourite tourist destination.

Beyond these municipalities, PMRDA also administers numerous suburban and rural areas which are vital for Greater Punes expansion and development. These include the rapidly developing industrial hotspots Chakan and Pirangut, as well as Punes pre-eminent and pioneering IT hub Hinjawadi.

Among the rural areas are Mulshi, Maval, Khed, Haveli, and Junnar, which are important for their agricultural contributions and potential for future development. Known for their scenic landscapes, Mulshi and Maval are already attracting considerable real estate development.

As can be seen, Greater Pune is vast and diverse and showcases PMRDA's governance across many major urban centres, IT hubs, industrial zones, and rural areas.

Over the past decade, Greater Punes exponential growth stands as a strong testament to PMRDA's strategic planning and robust implementation of development initiatives. But is this pace of growth really necessary? Lets look at the facts.

Population Growth and Urbanization

As of 2024, Pune's population is estimated to be around 7.35 million in the metropolitan area and approximately 4.44 million within the city limits. Its vast talent pool across all employment categories is Greater Punes greatest asset, and this population needs to be accommodated.

It stands to reason that the regions real estate sector has been booming. According to data from MahaRERA (Maharashtra Real Estate Regulatory Authority), there has been a consistent rise in the launch of new housing projects. In 2023 alone, Pune saw over 50,000 new homes launched, while Pimpri-Chinchwad added 20,000.

Prominent real estate developers have been having a field day  or rather, a field epoch  launching massive projects to aid this expansion. Given that home seekers in Greater Pune are looking for options across categories, a large number of these projects offer modern amenities that cater to the middle and upper-middle-class homebuyer segments.

While the supply of affordable housing projects has been more muted due to decreased demand, the market is replete with options even in this category.

Infrastructure Development

Across the length and breadth of Greater Pune, PMRDA has consistently focused on infrastructure development as a cornerstone of the region's urban growth. One prime example is the Pune Metro which, in just the first phase, will connect key areas like Hinjewadi, Shivajinagar, and Pimpri. The reduced commute time creates more housing demand across all areas.

Additionally, the 128 km Ring Road will decongest city traffic by giving Greater Pune an alternative road travel route and connecting various parts of the region across major highways and economic zones. For Punes economic triple engine of IT, manufacturing, and the services sector, this spells gold and will massively boost trade and commerce. According to recent reports, absorption in Pune's commercial office space reached 6.5 million square feet in 2023.

Sustainable Urbanization

PMRDA's commitment to Greater Pune includes a strong focus on sustainable urbanization. It has now made it mandatory that green spaces and energy-efficient designs be included in all new projects. Also, digital infrastructure, smart transportation, and efficient waste management have been prioritized.

Social Infrastructure

The growth of Greater Pune extends beyond just economic and infrastructural development. PMRDA is keenly aware that for overall quality of life and livability, adequate social infrastructure to support its growing population is of paramount importance. Not surprisingly, the region under its aegis boasts top-grade schools and colleges, hospitals, and recreational amenities.

To summarize...

Under the administration of PMRDA, Greater Punes urban expansion has emerged as one of the most impressive success stories of planned growth, economic prosperity, and sustainable development. It sets a new benchmark for urban and urbanizing India, demonstrating how strategic governance and innovative planning can create a thriving, modern metropolis.

With continued focus on infrastructure, sustainable development, and quality of life, Greater Pune is poised to be a model city for the future, embodying the aspirations of a rapidly urbanizing nation.

[The writer, Akash Pharande, is Managing Director - Pharande Spaces, a leading real estate construction and development firm famous for its township projects in Greater Pune and beyond.]





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NEET UG 2024 Counselling likely to be delayed

The counselling for admission in various medical courses including MBBS, BDS, BUMS, BHMS, Paramedical and others based on the NEET UG 2024 score is likely to be delayed because of the circumstances surrounding the conduct of the entrance exam.

Tuesday June 11, 2024 1:05 PM , Aleem Faizee, ummid.com

NEET UG 2024: The counselling for admission in various medical courses including MBBS, BDS, BUMS, BHMS, Paramedical and others based on the NEET UG 2024 score is likely to be delayed because of the circumstances surrounding the conduct of the entrance exam.

The National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (Undergraduate) or NEET was held on May 05, 2024. Close to 24 lakh students from India and abroad appeared for the mandatory medical entrance exams.

The National Testing Agency (NTA) which conducted NEET UG declared the result on June 04, 2024  ten days before the scheduled date and time. It released the list of NEET UG toppers two days after the result was declared.

Row over NEET UG 2024 Score

As per the NEET UG 2024 result data, a total of 67 students from different parts of India scored a perfect 100% i.e. bagged 720 out of the total 720 marks to jointly share the All India Rank 1 (AIR 1). Overall too most of the students bagged marks more than they had expected.

The NTA on its part said changes in the NCERT textbooks and grace marks for losing time at the examination centres were some of the reasons behind the students scoring higher marks.

But what amazed the students was six students from a same centre in Haryana scoring 720 out of the total 720 marks.

The NEET UG 2024 result and toppers list released by the NTA re-ignited the allegations that the medical entrance was rigged and marred by malpractice.

On the very day of the exam, it was alleged that NEET UG 2024 paper was leaked. The NTA however refuted all such claims .

However after the announcement of the NEETUG 2024 result in haste the allegations of paper leak and malpractice re-surfaced.

SC Petition on NEET UG 2024

Even as the Maharashtra government said it was considering to seek legal help on the matter as the NEET UG 2024 scores were injustice to the students of the state, a petition was filed by the SIO in the Supreme Court of India.

The petitioner alleged that the grant of grace marks by the National Testing Agency, purportedly due to delay during the exam, was a mala fide exercise to give backdoor entry to certain students. The petitioner also sought stay on the medical admission counselling 2024 based on the NEET UG score.

The SC vacation bench comprising Justices Vikran Nath and Ahsanuddin Amanullah admitted the petition for hearing but refused to grant a stay on the NEET UG 2024 medical counselling.

It is not that simple that because you have done it, it is sacrosanct. Sanctity has been affected, so we need answers, the SC bench said to the National Testing Agency (NTA) and deferred the matter till July 08, 2024.

The row over NEET UG 2024 score went to the court even as the Ministry of Education formed a committee to probe the allegations of irregularities in the medical exams.

The ministry formed the committee after a huge demand by the students, who were also supported by various political parties , seeking cancellation and re-examination of the NEET UG 2024.

NEET UG 2024 Counselling

The counselling for admission in undergraduate courses MBBS, BUMS, BHMS, Paramedical and other medical courses is done nation-wide and by different states.

The NEET UG 2024 Counselling nationwide is done for 15% quota by Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) headquartered in New Delhi.

The MCC publishes the NEET UG Counselling Schedule on its website mcc.nic.in after the results are announced. It has so far not done so.

Similarly, NEET UG counselling in Maharashtra is done by Maharashtra CET Cell, by Admission Committee for Professional Undergraduate Medical Educational Courses (ACPUGMEC) in Gujarat, by Directorate General of Medical Education and Training Uttar Pradesh (DGME UP) in Uttar Pradesh, by Commissioner for Entrance Examinations (CEE) in Kerala, by Department of Medical Education (DME) in Madhya Pradesh, by Bihar Combined Entrance Competitive Examination Board (BCECE) in Bihar, by Tamil Nadu Medical Selection Committee in Tamil Nadu, by Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA) in Karnataka, NEET UG Medical and Dental Admission and Counseling Board in Rajasthan and other concerned government bodies in other states.

These government bodies in various states start NEET UG medical counselling along with the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC). But, they publish schedule of the counselling rounds after the MCC NEET UG counselling schedule is published.

The MCC and medical counselling bodies in various states have dedicated websites for MBBS, BDS, BHMS and BUMS counselling along with paramedical and other candidates.

Candidates are required to keep visiting the official websites for the authentic updates on NEET UG 2024 Admission Couneselling.





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HA NOI  Viet Nam remains the world's leading motorbike market, with over two-thirds of adults owning two-wheeled vehicles.

However, motorbike sales have been declining and manufacturers need to be nimble in order to respond to new demands, according to industry insiders.

The Vietnam Association of Motorcycle Manufacturers (VAMM), which includes major brands like Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, Piaggio and SYM, dominates the market.

Motorcycle sales in Viet Nam peaked at 3.25 million vehicles in 2019, but declined to 2.71 million in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Last year, the decline in VAMM's motorbike sales had slowed, but only reached 2.51 million vehicles, about 16 per cent lower than the previous year.

Motorbike sales volumes in the first quarter of 2024 reached 603,745 units, down 4.88 per cent from the previous quarter and 11.5 per cent lower compared to Q1/2023. This sales level is equivalent to around 15 years ago, indicating a prolonged gloomy period for the industry.

All major segments, including scooters and manual motorcycles, saw significant declines, with the under 50cc category decreasing by 28.4 per cent. Market leader Honda, despite gaining slight market share (now 82.5 per cent), still saw a 23.1 per cent drop in April 2024 sales compared to the same period last year, at 160,009 units.

Second place Yamaha also recorded a decrease in sales of 25-30 per cent in the first months of 2024 compared to the previous year's.

According to VAMM experts, the local motorbike market has reached a point of saturation.

People are now more cautious with their spending and a limited introduction of new motorbike models makes it challenging to attract younger customers.

Convenient and affordable ride-hailing options are reducing the need for personal vehicle ownership and the comparatively lower costs of entry-level cars are making them an attractive option.

Additionally, consumers are increasingly opting for electric two-wheeled vehicles over traditional motorbikes. This combination of market saturation, changes in consumer preferences, technological advancements and pricing dynamics appears to be driving the decrease in motorbike consumption.

A boom in e-motorcycles

According to Motorcycles Data, VinFast and Yadea are the leading two brands of electric motorbikes in Viet Nam.

Last year, VinFast's electric two-wheeled vehicle sales accounted for around 3 per cent of the total market. In the first quarter of 2024, VinFast delivered 6,632 electric motorbikes.

Electric versions are attractive to customers in Viet Nam due to their youthful designs, higher standard specifications and improved batteries, allowing rapid charging and a longer travel range.

For traditional motorbikes under 50cc, there are very few options available, while in the same price range, the variety of electric vehicles is much richer. Most electric vehicles with a capacity less than 2kW do not require a driver's licence, making them more popular among young people and students.

According to a survey from media company Vero, the rate of online searches for electric motorbikes in Viet Nam continues to increase rapidly each year, indicating strong potential demand.

Although the overall two-wheeled vehicle market in Viet Nam is under pressure, it is still expected to reach a value of US$5.93 billion by the end of 2024 (according to the research firm Statista).

This growth potential is driven by Viet Nam's rapidly expanding economy and the desire to reduce urban emissions. As consumption trends are forecast to change significantly and rapidly, businesses in the electric two-wheeler space will need to adapt quickly to these new market dynamics in order to succeed. - VNS
HA NOI The Vietnam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL), the sole representative of Vietnamese worker's interests and unified trade union organisation in the country, has, for the second time this year, called on the Government to reduce the weekly working hours for private sector workers from 48 to 44, and eventually to 40 hours per week.

Dr Nguyen Thi Lien, head of the Department of Business Human Resource Management at the Vietnam University of Commerce in Ha Noi said the shorter working week proposal was scientifically researched, practical and in line with global norms.

Extensive research has shown that reducing working hours allows workers to rest, rejuvenate, spend more time with their families, providing a wide range of well-being and social benefits. Businesses also benefit when workers come back fully rested and more committed to their jobs, fewer mistakes are made and productivity increases.

Lien, however, said reducing working hours should be implemented gradually to allow room for adjustments and allow proper assessment from both businesses and workers.

It must be properly communicated that reducing working hours does not necessary mean lower incomes.

She said the key to the challenge of maintaining national competitiveness and investment while giving workers more time to rest, is increased labour productivity.

"Businesses must invest more in technologies and automation, improve workflow and the working environment. Workers should be geared toward being adaptive, creative and producing advanced products," Lien said.

She advised the Government to implement additional policies to stimulate creativity and innovation while raising the nation's minimum wage and workers' living standards. As incomes increase, reduced working hours allow more time for family, rest and recreational activities, which aligns with global development trends.

She added that reducing working hours will inevitably happen in the future, but the timing and implementation need careful planning and execution.

Dr Cao Van Sam, chairman of the Advisory Council at the Institute for Human Resources Training and Development said the proposal to reduce working hours was brought to and approved by the 2019 National Assembly's Resolution 101. However, policymakers must strike a balance between labour productivity and the ability to ensure minimum living conditions for workers and meet various conditions for implementation.

"There should be thorough research based on scientific principles and practical approaches to build a roadmap that allows for reduced working hours and increased labour productivity," he said.

Sam said tests should be carried out in businesses that meet all the conditions for implementation before the country's labour authorities implement national-scale policies.

"There have to be solutions to ensure workers that reducing their working hours will not hurt their income significantly, as well as their employers' competitiveness and investment. Workers must be encouraged to improve their crafts, contributing to improved labour productivity," he said.

Businesswoman Nancy Ngo Thi Bich Quyen, VP of BNI Vietnam and a human resource management expert, said that while better regulations for workers are necessary, the impact on businesses must be considered.

"Viet Nam remains among the countries with low labour productivity while wages are no longer exceptionally low in comparison to its regional average. The mindset of the young generation is to try out new fields and constantly seek for better employment opportunities," she said.

She said, to be practical and sustainable, the proposal must balance the interests of employers and workers. VNS
Delegates and guests cheers on Democratic gubernatorial challenger Beto O'Rourke as he delivers his speech during the 2022 Texas Democratic Convention general session at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas, July 15, 2022. Tom Fox/Staff Photographer

Beto! Beto! Beto! the crowd chanted as former Democratic Rep. Beto ORourke told a room of Democrats that they have the power to defeat Republican Sen. Ted Cruz in November.

If this sounds like 2018, perhaps it was by design.

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But it was the kickoff for the 2024 Texas Democratic Party convention, hosted in ORourkes hometown of El Paso. Clad in the dark jeans and dress shirt with rolled up sleeves that has become a trademark, the man who nearly unseated Cruz six years ago was like an aging rock star on a reunion tour  he played the hits.

That extraordinary campaign that we were all a part of in 2018  a campaign not about the candidate, not even about the political party, but about the people of Texas  it got within 215,000 votes of Cancun Cruz, ORourke said. Do you think that you can find 215,000 votes over the next five months to make sure that Colin Allred is the next United States senator from the state of Texas?

ORourke shot to fame in the 2018 contest. But even with a celebrity candidate, record-breaking political contributions and a political environment where Democratic candidates surged across the country, it wasnt enough to put a Democrat over the top statewide.

Six years later, the party looks back on 2018 as its high-water mark. And Democrats are facing another tough election cycle this year with internal divisions over immigration and the Israel-Gaza conflict, as well as sluggish voter enthusiasm for President Joe Biden.

Party conventions are a delicate balance of exciting political speeches and the more rote, behind-the-scenes work of party building and maintenance. Despite the energy surrounding ORourke and other party leaders, many Democrats in attendance acknowledged that it was time to shift the partys focus toward the latter.

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In other words, celebrity Democratic candidates wont be enough to win the state on their own. To win in the long term, attendees said in interviews and speeches, the party needs to build out its network to recruit and support candidates, including turnout operations, voter and volunteer databases, and skilled political staffers. It also needs to register more likely Democratic voters.

The partys standard-bearer this year is U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, a more outwardly measured figure than ORourke who touts his moderate positions and willingness to buck national Democrats on immigration, the Israel-Hamas war and energy policy. Early polling shows Allred trailing Cruz by about 8 percentage points.

Reflecting on her 2014 run for the governors mansion, former state Sen. Wendy Davis said there wasnt really a lot going on underneath me on the ballot, there was really no infrastructure on the ground.

When you dont have it, it feels like the biggest, loneliest, hardest job imaginable to try to turn the state, she said in an interview.

For years, Texas Democrats have pointed to the rapid pace of demographic change in their state, believing that growth in nonwhite populations could eventually drown out the ruby red GOP margins in white, rural areas and carry them to statewide victory.

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But after the party failed to make gains in 2020, it commissioned a report that found it had fallen short on identifying and turning out persuadable voters. With more investment and turnout efforts, the 2021 report said, Democrats could win statewide by 2024 and Texas can be a reliably Democratic state in the next decade.

It still isnt what it needs to be. Theres no question about it, Davis said of the partys progress to date. The investments that Republicans are making in their own ground infrastructure is still significantly greater than what weve been able to employ, but we are working to change that, and I believe that we are changing it.

In an interview, ORourke said more time and attention needs to be spent on registering likely Democrats.

We cannot just rely on candidates and campaigns and their fundraising ability in a given cycle because sometimes it comes in, and sometimes it doesnt, he said.

Although his 2022 loss to Abbott by 11 percentage points took much of the shine off, Democrats now look back on ORourkes 2018 efforts with nostalgia.Throughout the weekend, ORourke hosted volunteers and party donors at his home. And his organization hosted a booth in the convention hall, where ORourke spent several hours Friday morning with delegates and convention attendees lined up to snap photos with him.

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The former El Paso member of Congress and City Council member has spent the last year and a half running a statewide voter registration and turnout group called Powered By People. The groups website boasts that its 20,000 volunteers have registered 250,000 to vote in the state since late 2019.

The top sponsor of the convention was a new political group called the Agave Fund, which is aimed at bolstering the partys infrastructure and data operations. The group is headed up by Luke Warford, a former state party staffer and statewide candidate for the Railroad Commission in 2022.

Warford said the group is not focused on an individual election cycle, but instead on doing the work over the long term.

I can say, as a former candidate myself, that winning is going to be about more than just candidates, Warford said.

Agave is paying for campaign managers at five competitive House races across the state and hiring data experts to work at the state party. The fund hopes to raise $3 million this year and an additional $10 million to $12 million per election cycle through 2030.

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Lets just face it, working on political talent and infrastructure, thats not sexy, said Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer, who chairs the partys caucus in the state House.
HA NOI  The State Bank of Viet Nam (SBV) has urged the Ministry of Public Security to verify and strictly handle violations related to spreading false news, speculating, profiteering or manipulating the gold market.

In a document sent to the Ministry of Public Security on gold market management, the SBV urges strong security at gold selling points  namely, State-owned commercial banks and Saigon Jewelry Company Ltd. (SJC)  to prevent people with bad intentions from hiring others to line up to collect gold, causing disorder.

The SBV said that false information that it does not have enough gold to sell to the market is spreading, causing chaos. At several gold selling points, people are being hired to line up to buy gold, with an aim of pushing up prices and pocketing the difference, resulting in market instability and damage to the economy.

The central bank has sold SJC-banded gold bars on the market through four State-owned commercial banks  Agribank, BIDV, Vietcombank and Vietinbank  as well as the SJC since June 3. The four commercial banks only sell gold bars to individual buyers, while the SJC can sell and buy.

This measure has helped cool down gold prices domestically and narrow the gap with the price of gold worldwide.

SJC prices have dropped a total of VN4 million per tael to VN74.98 million (US$2,948) for buying and VN76.98 million for selling since the measure was implemented.

The price of SJC gold has fallen more than VN15 million per tael from a record high of VN92.4 million in May.

The gap between domestic and global prices of gold has narrowed to more than VN5 million from around VN17 million last month.

Vietcombank on Monday opened four more locations to sell SJC gold bars. The bank now has 10 gold bar selling points in Ha Noi and HCM City.

Agribank has also opened additional two locations in HCM City and three in Ha Noi, bringing the banks total number of selling points to nine.  VNS
BAC GIANG  Organic farming areas are often fragmented and lack sufficient barriers to prevent chemical contamination from neighbouring conventional farms, a conference recently organised at the National Agricultural Extension Centre, under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, heard.

Organised in collaboration with the Bac Giang Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the regional Agricultural Extension Forum heard that sustainable agricultural development was potentially highly lucrative in this part of Viet Nam.

The Northern Midlands and Mountainous regions are considered to have significant potential and advantages for developing organic agriculture, thanks to abundant soil, water and climate resources, supportive policies and increasing local expertise. The region is focused on integrated multi-value and sustainable agricultural development.

However, organic and circular farming areas are often fragmented and lack sufficient barriers to prevent chemical contamination from neighbouring conventional farms, particularly through irrigation channels. Additionally, small and scattered farming operations in this region must be transformed into concentrated production areas, ensuring water and environmental standards meet organic certification criteria.

In response to these challenges, the 2024 Agricultural Extension Forum aims to find policy solutions for organic and circular agriculture, strategies for production links and market expansion and methods to enhance capacity and communication for sustainable, value-driven organic farming.

At the forum, Le Ba Thanh, Deputy Director of the Bac Giang Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, shared that Bac Giang province has implemented various policies to promote organic and circular agriculture. These include linking production with consumption, supporting agriculture, forestry, and fisheries, providing seed support and encouraging OCOP product development.

Currently, the province has six certified organic farming models and several circular agriculture models, such as integrated pig and duck farming with vermiculture, combined poultry and organic fertiliser production, rice-fish systems and rice-mushroom-organic fertiliser production. These models have increased economic value by 12-300 per cent and reduced input costs by 10-30 per cent.

However, challenges remain, such as limited market differentiation for organic products, small-scale operations, a lack of diverse organic inputs, limited participation from businesses and residents and insufficient incentive policies.

Duong Thi Luyen, Chairwoman and Director of the Luc Truc Bamboo Shoot Cooperative in Tan Yen District, Bac Giang, shared that the cooperative has been actively building and developing its brand. They have registered the trademark 'Luc Truc Bamboo Shoot' with the Intellectual Property Office under the Ministry of Science and Technology.

The cooperative has also signed contracts with reputable firms to protect their brand, including a recent contract with the Anti-Counterfeiting Technology Centre in Bac Ninh in 2023. With these brand protection measures in place, the cooperative has participated in trade promotion conferences, engaged in e-commerce and collaborated with clean food stores. They are currently negotiating with several companies to export their products to Japan, the USA, and South Korea.

ao Thanh Van, Vice President of the Vietnam Organic Agriculture Association, shared international development experiences. He emphasised that developing organic agriculture requires linking production, processing and consumption chains to build markets, establish trust, and create high value for organic products.

Deputy Director of the National Agricultural Extension Centre Hoang Van Hong collected feedback for the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to adjust policies. He also urged provincial Agricultural Extension Centres to advise local leaders on promoting organic agriculture.

The forum underscored the importance of overcoming the current challenges faced by organic and circular farming in the Northern Midlands and Mountainous regions. By consolidating fragmented farming areas, enhancing market differentiation, increasing the participation of businesses and improving incentive policies, the region can fully harness its potential for sustainable agricultural development.

The active participation and shared experiences of various stakeholders at the forum highlight the collaborative effort needed to advance organic agriculture. As the region continues to develop its organic farming models and policies, the insights and strategies discussed at the forum will play a crucial role in shaping the future of sustainable agriculture in Bac Giang and beyond.  VNS
In recent years, Viet Nam's livestock industry has faced significant challenges due to disease outbreaks, global political and economic turmoil and volatile feed prices.

But it has undergone outstanding changes in its structure towards the development of large, modern farming chains, and high growth in the first quarter of 2024 signals positive trends for the sector.

Clemens Tan, General Director of Japfa Comfeed Vietnam, speaks to Viet Nam News about the prospects of the livestock industry and his company's strategies to adapt and develop in the evolving market landscape.

While the livestock industry faces many challenges, its growth in the first quarter of this year was solid. How do you see the opportunities and challenges for industry?

The livestock industry in Viet Nam holds immense potential and offers significant growth opportunities. In recent years, the sector has seen impressive development marked by modern infrastructure and improvements in both quantity and quality. Livestock now accounts for 27 per cent of the agriculture sector. Notably, animal feed production has grown by 13-15 per cent annually, reflecting the sector's robust expansion.

Viet Nam's livestock infrastructure is also evolving towards modernisation.

Moreover, Viet Nam is forecast to maintain a high economic growth rate this year and in the coming years. Government policies encouraging businesses to invest in modern technology and sustainable practices further support the livestock industry's growth. This creates promising opportunities for foreign investors such as Japfa.

However, the industry faces several challenges. Disease outbreaks and fluctuating feed prices are big hurdles. Viet Nam's dependence on imported raw materials for animal feed makes it vulnerable to global political and economic fluctuations, which heavily impact feed prices  accounting for up to 70 per cent of costs in livestock farming.

A second major challenge is dealing with disease outbreaks. Recently we have suffered losses due to diseases affecting pigs and poultry, necessitating substantial investments in biosecurity. We have invested impressively in building facilities, establishing protocols, using disinfectants and conducting tests to prevent diseases.

Thirdly, consumers today are increasingly concerned about safe, high-quality products but also demand lower prices. This presents another challenge for us.

In every opportunity lies a challenge. At Japfa, we are implementing effective transformation strategies to overcome difficulties, explore opportunities and grow in Viet Nam.

Viet Nam's livestock industry is on a journey towards becoming a large-scale, industrialised and modernised sector. How do you assess the opportunities for livestock companies like Japfa in the Vietnamese market? What strategies does Japfa have to seize these opportunities?

In recent years, Viet Nam's livestock industry has undergone a remarkable transformation, with technology and environmental sustainability becoming the pillars of its development. In my view, this aligns with the global trend in modern livestock farming, and Viet Nam is moving towards sustainable growth in this sector.

This is why, over the past three years, Japfa has made substantial investments in building large factories and applying modern technologies to complete the feed-farm-food supply chain in the Vietnamese market. Concurrently, we are also upgrading farms in various localities to comply with Viet Nam's increasingly strict regulations on environmental standards and animal welfare.

The trend of modernising farms to meet these new requirements is quite costly. This presents a significant opportunity for large companies with strong financial capabilities looking to enter the Vietnamese market, but it also creates barriers for average companies due to the substantial investment needed.

However, these new policies will drive Viet Nams livestock industry towards sustainable development in line with global trends, providing clean and safe food for customers in the Vietnamese market and supporting export demands.

Almost all livestock companies are adapting to thrive in a changing market landscape. What is Japfa doing to stay competitive and grow sustainably?

To overcome these challenges and continue sustainable growth in a volatile market, we have developed a comprehensive restructuring plan this year. This plan will shape the direction of Japfa Comfeed Vietnam for years to come.

Specifically, we aim to improve performance, optimise costs and establish a dynamic business model. Our focus on integrating AI technology and a data-driven approach is enabling us to make informed strategic choices, enhancing efficiency, safeguarding poultry health, and minimising expenses.

These strategic initiatives are paving the way for sustained and prosperous growth.

In the short term, the company will establish a new structure and evaluate operational processes to provide effective solutions, maximising support for Japfa Vietnam's activities.

In the following years, projects of digital transformation to simplify processes and develop a cohesive working environment will be implemented. We will continuously innovate and improve operations, fostering a culture of continuous learning throughout the company's development and for each individual at Japfa Vietnam.

In the long term, we aim for sustainable production and business. The use of advanced production technologies, the creation of a cohesive work environment and a focus on shared prosperity for the community where Japfa Vietnam operates will be our guiding principles.

With the advantage of a nearly 30-year presence in the Vietnamese market and a highly skilled, dedicated workforce, including many management personnel who have been with the company for 15-20 years, we believe Japfa will continue to enhance its competitive edge and establish a stronger position in the market.

One of the key goals of the Vietnamese livestock industry in the coming years is to enhance the export of livestock products to foreign markets. We know that Viet Nam is a strategic market for Japfa, and the group has invested heavily to complete a closed process in the feed-farm-food value chain.

What are your plans to export livestock products to other countries where Japfa operates?

Last year we opened the Binh Phuoc slaughterhouse, marking a significant milestone in completing the feed-farm-food supply chain, enabling Japfa Vietnam to export livestock products to foreign markets in future.

Regarding the export markets for Japfa Viet Nams livestock products, we are exploring potential opportunities in the Middle East, Asia and other markets.

In Southeast Asia, we have the opportunity to export to Singapore, a market to which our parent company in Indonesia is also striving to export Japfa products.

I believe there is great potential for exporting Japfa Vietnam's livestock products to foreign markets.

This potential is clearly reflected in the Vietnamese Government's commitment to developing a sustainable and disease-free livestock industry, and its substantial support for export activities. Currently we are in the process of completing the necessary procedures and are ready to implement our livestock export plans in the near future.  VNS
ONG THAP  A major fire broke out in the forest of Tram Chim National Park in the Mekong Delta province of ong Thap, known as the haven for several rare, protected bird species.

The blaze, which started around noon on Tuesday, raged under the melaleuca canopy, in dry grasslands and across orchards (mostly jackfruit) cultivated by residents near the park, with smoke billowing several metres high.

Due to the hot weather and strong winds, the fire spread quickly and the full extent of the damage is not yet clear, according to the park's management board.

The blaze was only a few hundreds metres away from the provincial road T-843 and smoke meant many drivers were unable to see and had to stop their journey due to poor visibility.

ong Nai Province's authorities mobilised firefighters and military personnel, along with local fire rescue units, to try and contain the blaze.

As of 4pm, the fire is not yet under control.

Recently, the Forest Protection Sub-Department of ong Thap Province has put the fire risk at the park at level V (extremely dangerous), indicating the potential for large and rapidly spreading fires. Despite proactive prevention measures, a fire still occurred.

The park is 7,313ha wide, home to 130 flora species, 130 species of fish and 231 species of birds (including 32 rare breeds) including the red-crowned cranes (sarus crane), a species listed on the IUCN Red List, which is designated as already extinct in most of its former habitats, aside from India.  VNS
SINGAPORE Four designers and eight models represented Viet Nam at the ASEAN International Fashion Week held at ArtScience Museum in Singapore last weekend.

The event gathered over 50 designers from member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Australia, the US, Italy, and the Netherlands, along with more than 40 models of the ASEAN states.

The week delivered a message of illuminating close relationships not only among the ASEAN member countries but also between the bloc and those outside the region through fashion. It also aimed to promote outstanding creations from fashion designers and connect ASEAN and the world in the field, helping to develop a prosperous and cohesive fashion industry.

Founder of the event Hayden Ng said the week was to encourage promising fashion designers in Asia, along with models and creators, to join the international stage, and connect the ASEAN fashion community to advance onto the global arena.

The common goal was to strive for sustainability and work together to build a peaceful world, he added.

This was the first-ever ASEAN International Fashion Week. Organisers said it may be held annually in the future. VNA/VNS
PARIS An art programme was held in Paris last weekend to mark the 15th founding anniversary of Que Huong (Homeland) Choir, the largest and only Vietnamese-languague singing choir overseas.

Born in April 2009, the choir aims to gather Vietnamese people with the same passion for singing and loving revolutionary songs. It now has 250 members of different age groups.

Nguyen Thi Ngan Ha, the founder of the choir, said: "Choral singing is an art form that features people who enjoy singing revolutionary songs and yearning for the country.

"While the singing technique may not be professional or perfect, everyone finds those songs appealing and touching when singing them. When raising their voices, people all think about their homeland, and that is also the reason why we chose the name Homeland Choir."

After 15 years, the Homeland Choir is the only Vietnamese-language choral ensemble abroad that regularly takes part in international choral festivals and cultural events of the Vietnamese community in France as well as Europe.

Appreciating the Homeland Choirs contributions to promoting Vietnamese culture at the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), Vietnamese Ambassador to UNESCO Nguyen Thi Van Anh affirmed that it is a typical example of multicultural exchange, helping promote the culture, country, and people of Viet Nam to international friends and the Vietnamese community in France.

On this occasion, Vietnamese Ambassador inh Toan Thang presented the ambassadors Certificate of merit to the choir in recognition of its contributions. VNA/VNS
Thanh Viet Production  the producer of Monsoon Music Festival, Viet Nams biggest annual music festival - introduced their newest music project  Timeless Resonance, aiming to present top classical music artists of Viet Nam and the world. The series debuted with two concerts in Ha Noi and HCM City featuring world-famous pianist ang Thai Son and three of his students.

Established music producer and composer Quoc Trung  founder and director of Thanh Viet Production talked with Thuy Hang about his companys new direction.

Can you share with us the idea of Timeless Resonance?

It was nurtured about three years ago when we established contact with representatives and agencies of famous classical music artists. I have connected those artists with some Vietnamese promoters, bringing them in to perform.

However, whether booking an artist for such events is successful or not depends entirely on their tour programme. If those specific events are not matching with their tour, most agencies and artists would refuse. From this, we have thought about building up a professional performance organisation industry, including the organisation of classical music concerts, in an efficient manner with long-term planning.

We should even create performance season like the countries where they have a developed music industry. This will better connect the music market in the region and Viet Nam, thus reducing artist fees and creating more opportunities to introduce international artists to a wider local audience.

By presenting leading classical music artists of the world, I hope to cultivate the publics habit of enjoying classical music, at the same time offering them chance to enjoy top quality performances.

Besides, through those performances, Vietnamese artists in the country can have self-assessment, from that to set new goals for themselves. Pianist ang Thai Son is a typical example of the effort and desire to reach the international level in one of the most difficult music genres.

In Viet Nam, most classical music concerts featuring famous artists and orchestras need the financial support of sponsors. With Timeless Resonance, do you have any?

When I started the project, I didnt have a sponsor. Some people said that I am reckless, and I think I am. Pianist Son asked me if I could hold the concert, and I responded firmly "yes" to him. To support me, he even recommended a minimum artist fee in case I cant sell the tickets.

However, it was lucky when Japanese Group Idemitsu, which has been organising concerts in Japan for more than 60 years, decided to sponsor the concert in Ha Noi. I was also blessed to have some supportive friends who offered a small amount to keep me going.

I hope once the series is established, it will receive more support that can help us invite the best artists in the world. Honestly, my wish is that all the tickets can be sold out without any sponsorship. This means the publics enjoyment of classical music becomes an indispensable need and they are willing to pay for that demand.

In Viet Nam, the concerts with world-famous artists have always been considered as very special cultural events. In my opinion, we should regard them as an obvious and indispensable 'food for soul'  a kind of necessity and listening to classical music should become a daily habit.

From a business perspective, were the two concerts successful?

As mentioned earlier, we have received much luck in terms of pianist Son. His performances in Viet Nam coincided with his performing schedule in some other Asian countries in the region, so the production costs were significantly reduced and we could cover all the costs.

In comparison with many other countries, the cost of organizing a concert of equivalent quality in Viet Nam is quite high, which creates a barrier for a great number of audience.

Currently, the ticket price is much higher than the average income of most classical music lovers. More importantly, most concerts in Viet Nam are not of high quality and so the demand has not been so great.

Another reason is that there is not any concert tour for our own Vietnamese market, so Viet Nam also lacks connections with the live performance industry in other countries, including classical music performances, to bring more foreign artists in.

Thanh Viet Production has chosen classical music as its new direction. What is next after the Timeless Resonance series?

For the moment, our goal is to organise a Timeless Resonance concert at least once a year. We will arrange other concerts if we find other suitable artists and they can get Viet Nam in their performance schedules. Another important condition is that we need to get the financial side right.

In addition to concerts, Timeless Resonance will include other projects relating to classical music and in October, we will bring a world-famous symphony orchestra with more than 100 musicians to perform in Viet Nam.

Alongside the performance of pianist Son at the opening concert of the Timeless Resonance series, I have been thinking of how to get him back to Viet Nam. I connected with a prominent theatre in Ha Noi to have him on their stage for the 70th ien Bien Phu Battle Victory celebration recently. I also planned to bring him back to perform with the Viet Nam National Symphony Orchestra. As a result of what we have been doing for him, Son has decided to choose us as his only representative in Viet Nam.

We are also the official representative in Viet Nam for the London Symphony Orchestra during 2025-2026.

It can be said for the time being, choosing classical music is a risky and lonely step. However, I am the one who always wants to walk on my own path. If I get success with this new direction, maybe there will be more people to jump in and help. But to get involved in any field, it requires both know-how and knowledge and especially, a long-term strategy. VNS

https://vietnamnews.vn/life-style/1656140/world-renowned-pianist-to-open-new-classical-concert-series.html

https://vietnamnews.vn/life-style/1656885/idemitsu-vietnam-introduces-timeless-resonance-featuring-world-class-pianist-dang-thai-son-and-his-pupils.html
MOSCOW  A Vietnamese delegation led by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Hang attended the BRICS Dialogue with Developing Countries in Russias Nizhny Novgorod on Tuesday (local time).

The dialogue, part of the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Summit hosted by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, drew foreign ministers from 10 BRICS member countries, ministers and deputy foreign ministers from 12 guest countries.

In her speech, Deputy FM Hang emphasised the importance of BRICS collaborating with developing countries to promote three key focuses, including enhancing multilateral cooperation by reinforcing the central role of the United Nations (UN) in coordinating global efforts for peace, security and sustainable development, and building trust and resolving disputes by peaceful means based on respect for the principles of the UN Charter and international law.

Another focus was on improving the role of developing countries in governance and fulfillment of global development agendas. She urged BRICS to contribute to accelerating sustainable development goals, ensuring that developing countries have access to breakthrough technological achievements, deep economic integration, and an open, fair, inclusive and non-discriminatory multilateral trading system.

The final focus was on strengthening the resilience, adaptability, and capacity of developing countries in addressing global challenges. BRICS should collaborate closely with partners, especially developing countries, in promoting global climate actions, ensuring food and energy security, disaster preparedness and epidemic prevention.

Affirming Viet Nams consistent foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralisation and diversification of external relations; being a friend, a reliable partner, and an active and responsible member of the international community, she highlighted Viet Nam's commitment to high-quality growth, prioritising green growth, sustainable development, innovation, and resilience with people at the centre of its development strategy.

Viet Nam is ready to actively contribute to the activities of global, inter-regional and regional cooperation organisations and mechanisms for peace, cooperation and development, she said.

As Viet Nam will host the Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030 (P4G) Summit in 2025, she expressed Viet Nams desire to join hands with other countries to advance global efforts for green growth and sustainable development.

On the occasion, the Vietnamese official held working sessions with her counterparts from Brazil, Venezuela and Bahrain.

Brazilian Deputy Foreign Minister Eduardo Paes Saboia proposed joint work to effectively realise the outcomes of the Viet Nam visit by Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Viera in April.

As the President of the G20, Brazil hopes for Viet Nam's active participation and contribution to the G20, he said, expressing willingness to work with Viet Nam at multilateral forums in 2025 when it hosts P4G and Brazil assumes the presidency of the 30th UN Conference on Climate Change (COP 30).

Venezuelan Deputy Foreign Minister Tatiana Pugh Moreno agreed on the need to facilitate delegation exchanges and further strengthen close coordination to effectively realise the recently-reached agreements.

Bahraini Deputy Foreign Minister Isa Nasser Al Nuaimi and Deputy FM Hang affirmed their desire to further reinforce bilateral collaboration, especially through high-level delegation exchanges and increase cooperation in economy, trade and investment while working closely together within multilateral cooperation mechanisms.  VNS
HA NOI  Cambodian Minister of Inspection Huot Hak held a working session in Ha Noi on Tuesday with staff of the Inspector Training College under the Government Inspectorate of Vietnam (GIV).

Vice Rector Nguyen Tuan Khanh said since its establishment in 1977, the public institution is responsible for training inspectors in skills in inspection, citizen reception, complaint settlement, prevention of corruption and negative phenomena, all crucial for the GIVs State management function.

To date, the college has organised 981 training courses benefiting over 94,800 students, including those from Laos and Cambodia.

Huot Hak thanked the college for its effective and quality training of Cambodian inspection officials, saying that the 270 officials trained at the college constitute a significant human resource for Cambodia. However, he noted that given Cambodias actual needs, there is still a shortage of trained personnel. Therefore, he expressed a desire for the college to continue training Cambodian inspection officials in the future.

The same day, the Cambodian delegation paid working visits to the Viet Nam Oil and Gas Group (Petrovietnam) and the Bank for Investment and Development of Viet Nam (BIDV). A day earlier, they had visited the military-run telecom provider Viettel.  VNS
HA NOI  To have the yellow card that the European Commission (EC) has imposed on Vietnamese seafood regarding illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing lifted has been considered an urgent task of the fishery sector.

This is not only a matter of strictly implementing the 2017 Fisheries Law but also protecting coastal security and the safety of the marine ecosystem. Over the past seven years since being imposed the warning, Viet Nam has been working hard to step by step fulfil the European Union's standards and hopefully have the "yellow card" removed in the upcoming examination.

Recently, 28 coastal provinces and centrally-run cities of Viet Nam have strictly complied with the Governments directions on thoroughly handling violations on IUU fishing prevention and control regulations, and geared up for the last examination.

"Combating IUU fishing is a condition we must meet so as for Vietnamese seafood products to have a better market share in Europe in the future, said Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.

Statistics from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development showed that currently, there are three difficulties and problems that Viet Nam must deal with to implement the ECs recommendations.

The first one is fishing vessels violations of foreign waters, the second is the situation of vessels deactivation of the Vessel Monitoring System (VMS), and the last one is that Viet Nam still has boats that are not registered and checked and, has no exploitation licences.

These are the three major causes behind fishermens legal violations. The issue of vessels turning off the VMS is among the ECs concerns as it asserts that there is no reason that Viet Nam cannot deal with this problem, said Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan.

As a coastal locality, the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau and its Vung Tau City in particular have rolled out various measures to cope with the existing problems following the recommendations given by the EC delegation in 2023.

Tran Thi Thu Huong, Head of the Division for Economic Affairs of the Vung Tau Peoples Committee, said that currently, 98.4 per cent of local fishing vessels with a length of 15m and above had installed VMSs, and the remainders were not operating.

In the south-central province of Ninh Thuan, Vice Chairman of the provincial Peoples Committee Trinh Minh Hoang said that the locality had issued a plan to implement urgent tasks and solutions to combat IUU fishing, which comprises five major tasks and three groups of solutions to ensure that all fishing activities are legal.

Coastal localities in the south have also held many meetings with fishermen to enhance their awareness of IUU fishing prevention and control with the hope of completing all criteria for the upcoming decisive examination.

In Ba Ria-Vung Tau, the border guard force has also organised meetings with more than 200 offshore fishermen to encourage them to sign commitments with the administration and leaders of the provincial fisheries sector to strictly implement IUU prevention and control regulations in 2024.

The border guard force has inspected and closely controlled the movement of fishing vessels at ports. Vessels that fail to show enough documents will not be allowed to go to the sea for fishing, said Sen. Lieut. Col. Nguyen Van Khanh, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Border Guard Command of Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province.

Meanwhile, in the south-central province of Ninh Thuan, offshore fishermen have actively gathered together to share knowledge on IUU fishing prevention and control regulations, and formed groups of offshore fishing vessels to support each other in unexpected circumstances at sea.

Huynh Quoc Viet, Chairman of the Peoples Committee of southern Ca Mau Province, said that over the years, the locality had stepped up the application of information technology and digital transformation achievements into verifying and certifying the origins of exploited seafood.

Thanks to these efforts, Ca Mau had controlled 100 per cent of fishing vessels going in and out of ports through 10 existing border control stations in the province, while establishing nine additional inspection and mobile control posts at seaports without border control stations.

At the same time, violations had been detected and handled with the joint efforts of the whole political system, striving for a sustainable fishery sector.

Governments high determination to complete legal framework for IUU fishing combat

As part of the efforts to prepare for the final examination, the Government has issued Decree No. 37/2024/N-CP on adjustments and supplements to a number of articles of Decree No. 26/2019/N-CP detailing a number of regulations in the Fisheries Law and Decree No. 38/2021/N-CP on administrative punishments in the field of fisheries, which replaced Decree No. 42/2019/N-CP on regulations on administrative sanctions in the field of fisheries.

This demonstrated the Governments high determination to complete the legal framework regarding IUU fishing prevention and control following the ECs recommendations.

According to Duong Van Cuong, Deputy Director of the Vietnam Fisheries Surveillance, Decree No. 37/2024/N-CP and Decree No. 38/2021/N-CP have amended and supplemented many legal regulations to ensure that they are more suitable and meet the recommendations and requirements of the EC in the fourth inspection.

For Decree 37/2024/N-CP, the most important point is the addition of Article 70a after Article 70. The Government has stipulated contents to manage exploited seafood imported into Viet Nam and provided for processing factories and then exported to markets, including the European market.

Viet Nam is determined to control aquatic raw materials imported into Viet Nam to ensure that all products entering Viet Nam do not violate IUU fishing regulations. Any product entering processing factories and provided for other markets must be certified that its origin is transparent and it is not an IUU-violating product.

In Decree 38/2021/N-CP, the Government adjusted fines and increased additional sanctions against serious violations of IUU fishing regulations. The fines are higher than those in Decree 42/2019/N-CP.

Decree 37/2024/N-CP took effect on May 19, and Decree 38/2021/N-CP came into force on May 20.

Currently, the border guard force is coordinating closely with the coast guard and naval forces as well as the local fishery control forces and fishery sectors to increase the frequency, duration, and forces for registration, inspection and control and ensure that 100 per cent of fishing vessels operating at sea are strictly inspected, controlled and managed," said Vu Van Hung, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Border Guard Command under the Ministry of National Defence.

On April 10, 2024, the Party Central Committees Secretariat issued Directive No. 32-CT/TW on strengthening the Partys leadership over IUU fishing prevention and control and promoting the sustainable development of the fisheries sector. The document mobilises the engagement of the whole political system in the process of leading and directing the IUU fishing prevention and control. As a result, the IUU fishing combat has received thorough direction from the Party and State. The current problem is how Viet Nam can show the inspection team from the EC that the countrys efforts do not stop at the promulgated institutions but the actions of localities in reality.  VNS
A shooting near a college in Los Angeles on Friday night has left one man dead and four others injured.

Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department revealed homicide detectives are investigating a shooting death reported around 8:00 p.m. on Greenleaf Boulevard in Compton.

Law enforcement disclosed that the shooting happened near Compton College but was not connected to the school.

One man was pronounced dead at the scene. Another man and three females injured were transported to a local hospital in unknown condition.

No information was immediately available on the suspect.
Xam tau ien or tram Xam is a type of folk music that used to be performed on the trams, a popular means of public transport in Ha Noi at the beginning of the 20th century. Now it has been brought back to life, with musicians entertaining visitors on board tour buses in the capital city.
In celebration of the 99th anniversary of Vietnam Journalists' Day, VIR is hosting a talk show themed "Embracing AI for the Modern Media" on June 12 to discuss the rapid and powerful digital transformation in the press and media that is being driven by AI.

The discussion promises to be informative and engaging, featuring insights from various speakers who will explore whether AI will push international and domestic press agencies to transform and upgrade themselves to create new values and offer new services, or if it will lead to artificial media dominating traditional forms.

One of the primary tasks assigned by the government to the Ministry of Information and Communications is to lead the development of a digital transformation strategy for the press. This strategy will have a profound impact on the entire Vietnamese press system, affecting professional operations, state management, as well as journalism training and research.

This transformation is necessary for the survival of press agencies. As media entities, they also generate value for businesses that utilise their communications services.

Discussing and analysing theoretical and practical perspectives on the issue of digital transformation in journalism will contribute to shaping a vision, goals, and key tasks and solutions that are appropriate for the entire industry as well as for individual agencies and organisations.

Since the advent of AI, expanding the reach of newspapers while generating revenue has become increasingly complex. Despite these challenges, press agencies today remain focused on enhancing the customer experience and attracting and retaining readers. They must deliver accurate, transparent, and timely information to their audiences.

VIRs talk show on June 12 will feature representatives from press management agencies, international media organisations, and both domestic and international entities involved in the AI-driven media landscape. Speakers will include Do Anh Duc, dean of the Multimedia Department at the School of Journalism and Communication, University of Social Sciences and Humanities; Tran Dinh, head of the Fintech Committee at the Vietnam Blockchain Association; Nguyen Thanh Son, chairman of MVV Group; and Dr. Long Nguyen, associate programme manager for Professional Communication at RMIT Vietnam.

The talk show, curated by VIR and its Vietnamese sister publication Bao Dau Tu/Vietnam Investment Review will be broadcast live at 9:30 am on June 12 through various channels:

https://www.facebook.com/baodautu.vn

https://www.facebook.com/www.vir.com.vn

Get ready for a massive AI shift There is no doubt 2023 was the year of AI. We are no longer just talking about AI innovation in the abstract, we are instead seeing real product-making, deployment, and productivity gains. And as 2023 has ended, I am proud to see how Microsoft empowers individuals and organisations in Vietnam by applying AI to make a real difference in every aspect of our daily life.

AI changing teaching and learning During a panel discussion themed "Innovative Teaching for Accounting and Finance: Technology and Beyond" held by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) on May 29, experts from various universities in the region discussed and recommended ways of using AI in teaching and studying.

Increasing safety in the era of AI boom The Vietnam Security Summit 2024 opened on May 30, attracting 1,000 participants that included policymakers, business leaders, and experts.
Bidders interested in buying Thai government's 10-year rice (Photo: Thailand's Ministry of Commerce)

Bangkok  A total of eight companies have shown their interests in participating in the governments 10-year rice auction, according to the Thai Ministry of Commerce's spokesmen Wittayakorn Maneenetr.

He quoted a report of the Public Warehouse Organisation (PWO) on progress regarding the release of the final stocks of 15,000 tonnes of 100% Thai hom mali jasmine rice left over from the controversial rice pledging scheme from the Kittichai and Poolphol warehouses.

Wittayakorn said the PWO invited interested companies to submit documents to certify their qualifications on June 10, with eight exporters filing bid papers from various provinces including Kamphaeng Phet, Chai Nat, Nakhon Sawan, Suphan Buri and Ubon Ratchathani.

The list of qualified bidders is scheduled to be released on June 13, with qualified bidders allowed to submit bids on June 17 from 9am to noon. Winners are slated to be announced on June 21.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce Phumtham Wechayachai said the bidding is expected to generate revenue of about 270 million THB (7.35 million USD) and reduce storage costs, which are as high as 380,000 THB per month.

According to Customs Department data, Thai rice exports during the first four months of the year amounted to 3.4 million tonnes with a value of 78.5 billion THB, up 29.1% and 60.7% year-on-year, respectively.

The Thai Rice Exporters Association anticipated rice export volumes of more than 900,000 tonnes in May 2024, as exporters have contracts to deliver large amounts of rice, particularly white rice, with government-to-government contracts to Indonesia and private sales to markets in Asia such as the Philippines, Malaysia and Japan. Sales are also slated to countries in Africa, the Middle East and Central America.

Phumtham revealed that Thailands key rice export markets include the US, Canada, Hong Kong (China) , Singapore, France and the UK.

Thai Government plans to seek 14 billion USD loan to boost economic growth Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin on November 11 said that Thailand will seek 500 billion baht (14 billion USD) in loans to finance its 10,000-baht digital money handout scheme.
This strategic investment worth VND400 billion ($16.66 million) aligns with the company's objective to advance its livestock farming capabilities towards modern industrial standards.

The project, which commenced construction in 2022, has now completed key infrastructure including bulk warehouses, machine towers, silos, conveyors, and truck weighing systems. When put into operation, the factorys total capacity is estimated to reach 444,000 tonnes per year, ensuring the supply of swine and poultry feed products compliant with European quality benchmarks.

Clemens Tan, general director of Japfa Vietnam said, This project will address the needs of the northern and north central markets, while also generating employment opportunities for many local workers. Combined with our existing facilities in Hoa Binh and Thai Binh, we aim to achieve a total animal feed production capacity of one million tons in the north.

As a key strategic investment, Japfa Vietnam has equipped the factory with advanced production lines and cutting-edge technologies. These include automatic drying systems, extrusion machines, pellet machines, and robotic arms. Expander machines are applied to improve operating efficiency by up to 20 per cent.

This technique involves the complete cooking of starches at high temperatures, then combines with moisture to enhance protein conversion and product digestibility. Furthermore, the company has integrated environmental protection solutions to reduce carbon emissions at the factory.

This project incorporates state-of-the-art technologies to simultaneously increase capacity and perfect product quality to the highest and most consistent levels. With these investments, we continue to cultivate a sustainable business system and foster the development of Vietnamese agriculture, Clemens remarked.

Japfa Group has participated in Vietnam's animal feed market since 1996. Currently, the company operates eight factories with a widespread distribution network across the country's provinces and cities.

The company provides nearly 300 products catered to the various stages of livestock development, ensuring high productivity using quality raw materials, advanced production technology, and strict control systems. Being the company's first feed mill in Vietnam, Vinh Phuc factory plays a crucial role in consolidating and expanding its market presence, reinforcing its position as a leading provider of animal protein-based nutritional solutions.

Agricultural businesses in dire need of workers Difficulty in recruiting workers, including both unskilled and trained workers, has led to labour shortages and major headaches for many agricultural enterprises.

Japfa and partners join hands to support children in Binh Phuoc On September 14 and 16, Japfa Vietnam and its stakeholders presented gifts and outdoor playground equipment to four preschools in Dak Nhau and Long Ha communes in Binh Phuoc province.

Japfa Vietnam accompanies children to schools Japfa Vietnam has collaborated with livestock feed agents to organise gift-giving activities for preschool and elementary school students at seven schools in Yen Bai, Hoa Binh, and Tuyen Quang provinces in early September.
With 12 years of reliability, safety, and trust under its belt, the company has earned a leading place in the industry. And now, as the team celebrates another anniversary, there is no better time to present the new trading features they recently released, reflect on the companys winnings, and recall how all this began.

How it started

Having more than 2 million clients onboard, JustMarkets is confident in leading the market for years to come, providing customers with the best tools, resources, and support to achieve their trading goals and dreams.

The company's journey began in 2012. As time passed, the team's mission became clear: to create a convenient and transparent trading environment so everyone could reach their full investment potential. At the outset, JustMarkets directed its attention solely to forex. Over time, the company conquered all financial markets, including commodities, stocks, indices, precious metals, and cryptocurrencies.

New trading features

On its 12th birthday, the JustMarkets team rolled out some major product updates. Let's see what each of them is about and how they change everything.

Minimalistic web design

The newly redesigned website offers a simpler, more efficient, and user-friendly trading experience. Every detail of the design serves a purpose, ensuring accessibility and personalisation across all devices. This design aligns with the company's growth, becoming more modern and user-friendly, which helps clients from all over the world stay on the same page and effortlessly utilise the company's services.

Integrated help centre

JustMarkets has launched a new, extremely detailed help centre, where information on any topic is structured and easily accessible. According to JustMarkets, it will be regularly updated to keep all visitors informed about the latest platform updates and features. With personalised assistance tailored to specific needs, clients can easily find quick solutions to queries and not get lost.

Expanded functionality

In celebration of its anniversary, the JustMarkets mobile app has finally received the long-awaited update  in-app trading. Previously, users were only able to manage open orders, but now the entire market's potential is accessible within the app. This feature also allows for being ahead of market movements and seizing opportunities on the fly, no matter where or when.

What now?

JustMarkets constantly delivers top-notch opportunities for its clients worldwide. Aligned with the team's goal to become the most client-oriented global broker, it allows trading with high and flexible leverage. Low and stable spreads and swap-free trading are available for all JustMarkets clients. Additionally, the company offers fast order execution conditions with low slippage probability and a gap protection feature.

Every milestone, challenge, and triumph has shaped JustMarkets into a trusted partner in online trading, dedicated to providing everyone with the opportunity to succeed. But numbers can speak for JustMarkets more than any words:

Winner of 50+ industry awards

Clients from 160+ countries

Offering more than 260 trading instruments

Serving a community of 2+ million clients

Excellent Trustpilot rating based on 2,400+ reviews

What to say about the numerous global awards the company earned, including Best Forex Trading Platform 2022, Best Broker in Asia 2023, Best IB/Affiliate Program 2023, Best Broker in Africa 2023, Best CFD Broker Latam 2024, Best CFD Broker MEA 2024.

It didn't just participate but organised various trading contests - Trading Triumph Contests 2023, Trading Triumph Contest 2024, Ramadan Trading Contest 2024, and many more.

In 2024, the team arranged special events for its partners and clients, including the Grand Gala Dinner and Grand Seminar in Malaysia. These events resonate with the company's core values and empower individuals from diverse regions to unleash their trading potential to the fullest and beyond.

Achievements and milestones inspire JustMarkets to aim for even more victories. With such unwavering support (because the company's audience is really loyal and dedicated to the broker!), the sky's the only limit. Or is there a limit at all?

For more insights about our website and mobile updates, visit JustMarkets or follow on social media channels.

Fintech groups boost tie-up credentials An increasing number of foreign fintech companies are gravitating towards Vietnam, emphasising their enthusiasm through strategic alliances with local partners.

Cambodia launches new fintech development policy Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Aun Pornmoniroth on October 4 announced the Cambodia Financial Technology Development Policy 2023-2028, which aims to boost the development of fintech in the Southeast Asian country.
Ruben Flores, general director of Nokia Vietnam

Under the partnership, Foxconn will manufacture Nokia's 5G AirScale equipment, including the latest AirScale Massive MIMO radio products. Production is scheduled to begin in July, with a plan to increase production in September 2024. Products will be sold in both the domestic and international markets.

The move is expected to generate more employment and bring new economic opportunities to Vietnamese companies, while the project is also aimed at slashing carbon emissions.

A Foxconn representative said, "We are very excited to expand our partnership with Nokia to make its latest 5G products in Vietnam. It also highlights the role of Vietnam as a favourite manufacturing destination. We have been operating in Vietnam for more than 17 years. In light of the partnership with Nokia, we hope to enhance our contribution to the country's economy. We also expect a strong long-term partnership with Nokia in Vietnam."

Ruben Flores, general director of Nokia Vietnam, said, The partnership with Foxconn to make the AirScale product portfolio in Vietnam will meet customer demand and improve cost efficiency. It also underlines our commitment to continuously optimise our manufacturing, distribution, and supplier networks in the region. Nokia has been a part of Vietnam's growth over the past three decades, and this initiative will continue to strengthen our bond with the country."

Nokia has engaged in 5G deployment projects with Vietnamese telecom service providers. As Nokia's global manufacturing partner, Foxconn will expand its capacity to produce Nokia's 5G products in Vietnam. The tie-up is expected to contribute to accelerating the pace of 5G deployment in Vietnam.

Foxconn continues to expand production in Vietnam Apple's main supplier, Foxconn, continues to expand its production in Vietnam with a focus on computing products.

Nokia laying groundwork for Vietnams digital economy With over three decades of experience in ICT spanning across different countries, Nokia Vietnam general manager Ruben Moron Flores shared his insights with VIRs Hong Giang regarding Nokias plan to bolster the data centre market and ICT infrastructure in Vietnam.
Flooding in the northern province of Ha Giang. (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi  Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on June 10 signed an official dispatch asking relevant agencies and localities to focus on overcoming the consequences of floods and actively respond to natural disasters in northern mountainous and midland areas.

In the official dispatch, the PM noted that from June 8-10, due to the influence of the tropical depression combined with the low vortex, heavy rain ranging from 40-120mm has fallen in some localities in the northern region.

Particularly, rainfall of 150-300mm was recorded in Quang Ninh province and Hai Phong city, 100-250mm in Ha Giang province, and even up to 428mm in some localities of Ha Giang such as Quang Ngan commune of Vi Xuyen district.

Torrential rain has caused flooding on the upstream Lo River in Ha Giang and Gam River in Cao Bang, killing three people and leaving others missing. Water levels on Lai Chau, Hoa Binh and Tuyen Quang hydropower reservoirs has been higher than those in the same period last year. Some areas in Ha Giang, Uong Bi, Ha Long and Hai Phong city have suffered serious flooding, hindering transport and affecting peoples production and daily activities. PM Chinh extended his deep condolences to the victims' families.

According to the National Centre for Hydrometeorological Forecasting, in the next few days, torrential rain will continue in the northern mountainous and midland areas with a high risk of flash floods and landslides. Flood waters are also forecast to rise in Thao, Da and Lo river basins.

In the face of this situation, PM Chinh asked the Standing Office of the National Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control, the National Committee for Incident, Disaster Response, and Search and Rescue, Ministers and the Chairpersons of the Peoples Committees of localities to focus on dealing with the consequences of the recent flooding as fast as possible, stabilising peoples lives, while actively rolling out measures to respond to natural disasters.

The Chairpersons of the Peoples Committee of Ha Giang and centrally-run cities and provinces in northern mountainous and midland regions were urged to mobilise forces to search for the missing and provide treatment for the injured, and support affected families. They were asked to keep a close watch on the flooding developments for timely response, while evacuating people from risky areas to safer places, thus ensuring safety for the people.

The PM directed the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to provide full and timely forecasts and warnings to relevant agencies, while asking the Ministry of Transport to ensure smooth traffic in affected areas.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Ministry of Industry and Trade were asked to coordinate closely with localities to direct the Vietnam Electricity Group and relevant agencies to ensure safety of dams and reservoirs to minimise floods.

Meanwhile, the Ministries of Public Security and National Defence, as well as the National Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control and the National Committee for Incident, Disaster Response, and Search and Rescue were directed to support localities in search and rescue activities.

The Government leader assigned Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang to to be in charge of following and directing the work.

Laos warns of heavy-rain-induced landslide, flooding risks Rain has been falling steadily in recent days, inundating hundreds of hectares of farmland and affecting thousands of families in the central Lao province of Savannnakhet, the Lao Meteorology and Hydrology Department has announced.

PM urges preparedness as tropical depression strengthens into storm Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has recently issued an official dispatch requesting preparations in response to a tropical depression which is likely to strengthen into a storm and cause flooding.
Workers take a break to exercise during a shift at a textile company in the northern province of Thai Binh. (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi - The Vietnam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL), the sole representative of Vietnamese worker's interests and unified trade union organisation in the country, has for the second time this year called on the Government to reduce the weekly working hours for the private sector workers from 48 to 44, and eventually to 40 hours per week.

Dr Nguyen Thi Lien, Head of the Department of Business Human Resource Management at the Vietnam University of Commerce in Hanoi, said the shorter working week proposal was scientifically researched, practical and in line with global norms.

Extensive research has shown that reducing working hours allows workers to rest, rejuvenate, spend more time with their families, providing a wide range of well-being and social benefits. Businesses also benefit when workers come back fully rested and more committed to their jobs, fewer mistakes are made and productivity increases.

Lien, however, said reducing working hours should be implemented gradually to allow room for adjustments and allow proper assessment from both businesses and workers.

It must be properly communicated that reducing working hours does not necessary mean lower incomes.

She said the key to the challenge of maintaining national competitiveness and investment while giving workers more time to rest, is increased labour productivity.

"Businesses must invest more in technologies and automation, improve workflow and the working environment. Workers should be geared toward being adaptive, creative and producing advanced products," Lien said.

She advised the Government to implement additional policies to stimulate creativity and innovation while raising the nation's minimum wage and workers' living standards. As incomes increase, reduced working hours allow more time for family, rest and recreational activities, which aligns with global development trends.

She added that reducing working hours will inevitably happen in the future, but the timing and implementation need careful planning and execution.

Dr Cao Van Sam, Chairman of the Advisory Council at the Institute for Human Resources Training and Development, said the proposal to reduce working hours was brought to and approved by the 2019 National Assembly's Resolution 101. However, policymakers must strike a balance between labour productivity and the ability to ensure minimum living conditions for workers and meet various conditions for implementation.

"There should be thorough research based on scientific principles and practical approaches to build a roadmap that allows for reduced working hours and increased labour productivity," he said.

Sam said tests should be carried out in businesses that meet all the conditions for implementation before the country's labour authorities implement national-scale policies.

"There have to be solutions to ensure workers that reducing their working hours will not hurt their income significantly, as well as their employers' competitiveness and investment. Workers must be encouraged to improve their crafts, contributing to improved labour productivity," he said.

Businesswoman Nancy Ngo Thi Bich Quyen, VP of BNI Vietnam and a human resource management expert, said that while better regulations for workers are necessary, the impact on businesses must be considered.

"Vietnam remains among the countries with low labour productivity while wages are no longer exceptionally low in comparison to its regional average. The mindset of the young generation is to try out new fields and constantly seek for better employment opportunities," she said.

She said, to be practical and sustainable, the proposal must balance the interests of employers and workers.
A workshop of a FDI company in Giang Dien industrial park in Dong Nai province. (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi  New foreign direct investment (FDI) projects in southeastern localities in the first five months of 2024 are not large but friendly to the environment and apply high technologies.

Specifically, new projects in Ba Ria-Vung Tau province operate in the sectors of biology, electronics and high technology. Meanwhile, projects in Ho Chi Minh City and the nearby provinces of Binh Duong and Dong Nai, despite of their small or medium sizes, use advanced and environmentally friendly technologies while being less labour intensive and having high productivity.

Nguyen Tri Phuong, Head of the Dong Nai Industrial Zones Authority, said that the newly-licensed projects in his province are mainly in the semiconductor, electrical component, electronics, and mechanical engineering industries. There are no polluting or labour intensive projects, he noted.

Outstanding examples include the Silicon Carbide Vietnam Co. Ltd. and the Advanced Optics projects of the US-based Coherent Group with a total investment of 83 million USD.

In the first five months of this year, Ba Ria-Vung Tau lead the country in FDI attraction with over 1.5 billion USD, exceeding the number of the whole 2023  1.4 billion USD, according to the provincial Department of Planning and Investment.

Another bright spot is Dong Nai, which attracted 834 million USD to local industrial parks during the period, 19% higher than this year's target, Phuong said.

FDI projects are poured into Dong Nai and Ba Ria-Vung Tau thanks to their great infrastructure advantages. Dong Nai is home to Long Thanh International Airport, which is expected to become operational in 2026. Meanwhile, Ba Ria-Vung Tau boasts a deep-water port system that can handle big cargo vessels destined for around the world.

Enticing FDI legal framework for dual transformation Vietnam is preparing for future foreign direct investment (FDI) shifts to ensure funding reaches the right areas and embraces green and digital goals.

FDI attraction in five months tops 11 billion USD More than 11.07 billion USD in foreign direct investment (FDI) was funneled into Vietnam during January-May, up 2 per cent against the same time last year, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT)s Foreign Investment Agency.
These are two of the recommendations submitted by speakers at the international scientific conference Sustainable development of the Mekong sub-region on June 7 at the Ho Chi Minh City University of Law.

The recommendations came in the presentation Applying policies and laws to transform farmers livelihoods in the Mekong delta to adapt to climate change  from the practice of Hau Giang province by Luu Thi Thanh Mau, vice chairwoman of Vietnam Young Entrepreneurs Association, and CEO of southern developer Phuc Khang Corporation.

Luu Thi Thanh Mau, CEO of Phuc Khang Corporation

The conference was host to 14 different presentations on topics ranging from international policies on climate change solutions, natural resource exploitation, and sustainable development, to international investment and human rights in the Mekong delta region.

Mau has reportedly spent a lot of time and effort studying sustainable development approaches that could limit the impact of climate change, and she made four important recommendations.

The first is to quickly apply new regulations of the 2024 Land Law on agricultural land use to transform farmers' livelihoods in the Mekong Delta.

Secondly, the government needs to be ready to assess the impact and implement flexible policies for the region regarding the exploitation and use of the Mekong River.

Mau also recommended localities in the delta region work together to develop appropriate and practical approaches to develop the region, and finally, she spoke of the need to raise awareness and output capacity for farmers based in the delta.

Mau noted that the government has already issued several resolutions guiding the use of agricultural land to propel socioeconomic development in the delta. "New regulations in the Land Law can now help businesses access funds to form large-scale clean agricultural production models," said Mau.

The new law encourages converting crop cultivation, livestock rearing, and aquaculture from small-scale individual households to large-scale farms powered by modern technology that use high-quality plant and animal varieties and operate with greater economic efficiency. The goal is to make agriculture as clean as possible and also allow the use of agricultural land for ecotourism.

CEO Thanh Mau (standing, right) giving a presentation at the conference

Climate change is also one of the concerns affecting livelihoods in the region, and the topic did not escape attention at the conference. The delta regions water resources are becoming increasingly scarce, leading to freshwater shortages while saltwater intrusion encroaches deeper inland, particularly during the long dry season.

This situation has had a critical impact on the lives of people in the delta, but farmers have undoubtedly born the brunt. The recent shortage of freshwater in Tien Giang province is a typical example. Agricultural land has also been severely affected by saline intrusion and soil contamination, making it impossible to grow rice and other crops in many areas.

Rising water levels and prolonged droughts also greatly affect aquaculture.

"We need to adapt to the inevitable impacts of climate change and rising sea levels and turn challenges into opportunities. Growth in the region must leverage the ecosystem and be compatible with its biodiversity, culture, and people, and combine advanced technology with traditional knowledge," Mau said.

"The process needs a long-term vision. We need to prioritise climate change adaptation but also take advantage of the opportunity to develop a low-carbon, 'green' economy that can protect the local ecosystem," she added.

CEO Thanh Mau (bottom row, sixth from left), Le Truong Son- rector of Ho Chi Minh City University of Law (bottom row, seventh from left) and speakers at the conference

Climate change requires initiative from the government and responsible engagement from individuals, businesses, and organisations. Phuc Khang Corporation, as a pioneering 'green-buildings' developer, has taken specific action to promote climate change adaption, such as funding the Centre for Vietnamese and Southeast Asian Studies at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities.

The company is also supporting the research team of a project in Hau Giang that helps farmers adapt to the impacts of climate change, with renowned scientist Vo Tong Xuan as the advisor.

Digital solutions to bring sustainable growth to Ba Ria-Vung Tau Digital transformation marks a significant step in narrowing the economic gap and geographical distance between Ba Ria-Vung Tau and other localities, but the province is still facing a rough path to success.

Vinamilk invests in sustainable development solutions Investing money in implementing sustainable solutions is the long-term direction, responsibility and benefit of many businesses, including Vinamilk.
Naval coast-defense troops in multi-subject training exercise

China Military Online) 09:29, June 11, 2024

Soldiers assigned to a coast-defense missile regiment of the PLA Navy rush to their positions during a multi-subject training exercise on May 23, 2024. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Wu Zhanghui)

Soldiers assigned to a coast-defense missile regiment of the PLA Navy rush to their positions during a multi-subject training exercise on May 23, 2024. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Wu Zhanghui)

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
The father of missing teen Sebastian Rogers has ordered a private investigator to stop looking for his son more than three months after he mysteriously vanished from his bedroom.

Sebastian, a 15-year-old with autism, was last seen the night of Feb. 25, at the Hendersonville, Tennessee, home he shared with his mother, Katie Proudfoot, and his stepfather, Chris Proudfoot, authorities said.

In April, Sebastian's biological dad, Seth Rogers, hired two private investigators to look into the case after local authorities couldn't locate his son.

Rogers is now demanding a PI stop searching for the teen.

In a cease-and-desist letter obtained by former FBI agent Jennifer Coffindaffer, Rogers' attorney Tara Carter directed an investigator  referred to only as "Ms. Smith"  to stop "any and all activity of dissemination of information" related to Sebastian's disappearance.

This private investigator has been asked not to search for #SebastianRogers.



I don't know the full story, but to pay for an attorney to draft this letter...



I hope Sebastian is found soon. pic.twitter.com/3cScD40GfB  Jennifer Coffindaffer (@CoffindafferFBI) June 9, 2024

The letter accuses Smith of "engaging in such behavior without his (Rogers') express written or oral consent" and threatens to pursue legal action if she does not stop.

The cease-and-desist, dated May 29, was issued more than a week after Rogers said he'd like his son's case to be turned over to the FBI.

The father has been critical of the Sumner County Sheriff's Office and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation's failure to locate Sebastian.

"I don't sense a state of urgency from them; it's not their kid, it's mine," Rogers said, according to WKRN-TV. "You know, this is a child of Sumner County."

"I tell people when you see something, say something, and then they turn around and they tell me that they see something and they never get a response. They call the sheriff's department, and a lady called me, she got my number, she was like, 'I waited over four hours and nobody showed up,'" he said.

Anyone with information on Sebastian's whereabouts is urged to contact the Sumner County Sheriff's Office at 615-451-3838 or TBI at 1-800-TBI-FIND.
The loan will be used for the design, equipment procurement, construction, and operation of the long-delayed project.

The Song Hau 2 Thermal Power Plant Project is implemented under the build-operate-transfer (BOT) model in Chau Thanh district, Hau Giang province.

Invested in by Toyo Ink Group Berhad, the plant features two 1,060 MW generators. With an estimated cost of approximately $3 billion, the 2.12GW thermal power plant is considered one of the important projects in Vietnams National Power Development Plan VIII.

Once put into operation, the project will contribute to diversifying power generation sources, ensuring energy security, bringing abundant revenue to the local budget, and creating jobs. The project is expected to play a role in the socioeconomic development of Hau Giang province and the Mekong Delta region in general.

According to a report by Vietcap released in April, Toyo Ventures Holdings Berhad (TVHB) provided an update that they have received a letter from the Ministry of Industry & Trade, maintaining the strict deadline for the Song Hau 2 Thermal Power Plant Project to have a financial remedy and commence construction by June 30, 2024.

The MoIT letter serves as a reminder of the developer-side default. However, TVHB announced that all the lenders are actively working with Eximbank of Malaysia (the projects mandated lead arranger) to finalise the financing procedures.

Vietcap expects there will be no further extension of the deadline, which also aligns with the implementation plan for the PDP 8.

Malaysia's Toyo Ventures inks power plant deal with Sunway-PECC2 Toyo Ventures Holdings Bhd's subsidiaries have entered into an interim engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) agreement with a consortium led by Sunway Construction Group Bhd in relation to the Song Hau 2 Thermal Power Plant Project in Vietnam.

Three billion-dollar thermal power plants running behind schedule Failure to discuss between investors and contractors as well as the weakness in management and inadequate operation capacity of contractors are two of the major reasons delaying the construction of three billion-dollar thermal power plants.
The government last week submitted a report to the National Assembly (NA) on maintaining the VAT rate at 8 per cent, but also extending it to cover all items in the economy until at least the end of the year.

The VAT rate of 8 per cent could be extended to apply to new areas, photo Le Toan

Expected to be passed this month and take effect on July 1, this proposal has received the thumbs-up from many NA deputies, who said that the policy will help enterprises lower their difficulties and improve their competitiveness.

Deputy Nguyen Ngoc Son, representing the northern province of Hai Duong, stated that domestic consumption is increasing at a very slow pace, and it needs to be promoted.

The NA should soon set out a clear roadmap for the VAT reduction for a long enough period, at least a year, so that the effectiveness of demand stimulation can be ensured, Son said.

The policy to drop the 10 per cent VAT rate to 8 per cent has only been re-applied for periods of approximately six months, and first came into effect in February 2022.

At present, all indexes related to public debts remain at a low and safe level. It is suggested that the NA and the government soon consider policies on exempting, extending, and reducing assorted taxes and fees for the public and enterprises as they have been doing since 2022, said NA deputy Tran Thi Hong Thanh, representing the northern province of Ninh Binh.

This will also need to include a 2 per cent VAT reduction until at least the end of 2024; and a decrease for registration fees for domestically manufactured automobiles. This will help boost consumption and increase sale revenues, then helping to increase tax revenues, Thanh added.

In November 2023, the NA, for the third time, passed a resolution which embraced a VAT decrease of 2 per cent until late June 2024 for goods and services subject to a 10 per cent rate, with a view to contributing to reducing prices of goods and services to fuel production and business activities, generating more employment.

The existing application of an 8 per cent VAT rate is not applied to many goods and services such as telecommunications, IT, financial activities, banking activities, securities, insurance, trading of real estate, metals, precast metal products, mining products (excluding coal mining), coke mining, refined oil, chemical products, and goods and services subject to excise taxes.

The Supervision Team of the NA told the legislature that the VAT decreases since 2022, together with other measures on fee and tax assistance for businesses and the public, have been helping them to save production costs and raise profits, while also helping expand domestic consumption.

It is reported that total VAT reduction in 2022 reached $1.85 billion in 2022 and about nearly $2 billion last year.

The Ministry of Finance (MoF) reported that in 2023, the total values of all policies on exempting, reducing, and extending payment of assorted taxes, fees, and charges, as well as rental for land and water surface reached about $8.33 billion, including exemption and reduction of $3.3 billion and extension of $5.04 billion.

Last year, extending payment of VAT, corporate income tax, personal income tax, and land rental led to a reduction in the state budget revenue of an estimated sum of as much as $4.58 billion.

The 2 per cent VAT reduction has had direct and positive impacts on peoples life and businesses performance, then helping to decrease prices of products which include the majority of indispensable consumer goods. This also helped ensure social security, said NA deputy Duong Khac Mai, representing the Central Highlands province of Dak Nong.

The government has announced that until at least the end of 2024, it will provide more practical support in a fiscal policy for the public and businesses. This support, estimated to be valued at around $4.08 billion, also includes a 2 per cent reduction of VAT. The State Bank of Vietnam will also increase the preferential credit packages value for the forestry and fishery sector to $1.25 billion, and it is also formulating a similar package for the rice sector.

At present, the MoF is conducting a comprehensive review on the governments policies on extending and reducing a number of taxes and fees for enterprises and the public applied since 2022, before deciding on new similar solutions. The taxes reviewed and to be extended in payment include VAT currently applied at a rate of 8 per cent, corporate income tax, personal income tax, and special consumption tax for domestically-produced automobiles.

The fees reviewed and to be reduced consist of registration fees for domestically-produced and domestically-assembled automobiles; and reduction of rental for land and water surface.

Le Minh Khai, deputy Prime Minister Many NA deputies are saying that enterprises are now facing great difficulties, and the government will continue exempting and reducing taxes, fees, charges, and land rental to help businesses out of difficulties. The total value of fiscal support for the economy reached $29.3 billion during 2020 and 2023. The government also asked the NA to approve the continued reduction of taxes in the first six months of 2024, and is also doing the same for the second half of the year. If the tax reduction and exemption policy is adopted by the NA for the second half of 2024, the total value will be $1 billion, meaning $7.91 billion for the whole year  including extension of $3.83 billion and exemption and reduction covering the remainder. Many NA deputies have also assessed the Programme on Socioeconomic Recovery and Development for 2022-2023, which has made many achievements. However, some issues would need to be solved. For example, the $1.66 billion credit package implemented through a 2 per cent lending rate reduction has been unsuccessful. The government has reported fully the implementation of this package to the NA.

Currently, the average VAT rate is 12 per cent in Asia, 14 per cent in Latin America, 16 per cent in Africa, 19 per cent in the nations of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, and 22 per cent in the EU. The current global average VAT rate is 15 per cent. This comparison shows that Vietnam has room to increase VAT rates in the future, especially in the context of the country needing to expand its revenue bases. Some countries, including those in the Southeast Asian region, have been increasing VAT rates as a solution to improve budget revenue collection efficiency. Indonesia raised the VAT rate from 10 to 11 per cent in April 2022. Singapore followed suit under a two-year roadmap, from 7 to 8 per cent in January 2023 and 9 per cent in January 2024. Vietnams tax system reform strategy towards 2030 has also identified the orientation of considering an increase in VAT rates according to roadmaps. This orientation is consistent with the general trend of the region and wider world, and with the current state budget needs of Vietnam. Therefore, it is recommended that the government evaluate the impact of a number of VAT rate increase options according to the roadmap so that it can consider the possibility of stipulating an increase roadmap in the revised law on VAT appropriately, possibly by the end of the decade. Source: National Assembly Finance and Budget Committee

Fiscal policy is disciplined and a follows a conservative approach, with a view on its impact over the medium- to long-term horizon. Fiscal consolidation is undertaken gradually and prudently, as reflected in the phasing out of pandemic-related measures and transitioning to more targeted policies while considering their implications on economic recovery. Public debt has decreased to 35 per cent of GDP, supported by an improved fiscal balance and strong nominal GDP growth. Government-guaranteed debt continues to decrease as more state-owned enterprises gain access to market financing without government guarantees. To mitigate the risks of potential economic slowdown, fiscal policy will play a counter-cyclical role through more expansionary measures, aligning with monetary policy. There is ample room for additional fiscal support if circumstances require it, given the successful prior fiscal consolidation efforts and debt reduction.The fiscal position has improved, and there is considerable room to utilise debt securities. Current public debt (including debt of affiliated institutions guaranteed by the government) remains below the NAs 50 per cent debt threshold. Nonetheless, the authorities will exercise prudence and opt for a conservative approach, considering the variability in revenue collection. The authorities are confident that the expenditure measures in 2023 will support demand. Public wages have been raised by 20.8 per cent after being frozen since 2019, with a well-contained budget impact. Efforts to better target and expand social safety nets continue, particularly focusing on the most vulnerable groups, with technical assistance from the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. Initiatives to expedite the realisation of public investments are alsoongoing, to be accomplished through enhanced capacity of implementing officials and streamlined bureaucracy while upholding good governance practices. Source: International Monetary Fund

VAT overhaul to boost agriculture prospects Vietnam is set to revise its existing Law on Value-Added Tax with a reclassification of products in areas like agriculture and fisheries, with the hopes of making them more favourable in performance.

Current VAT rate may remain for foreseeable future The government is to ask the National Assembly to continue with its current VAT rate of 8 per cent until the years end as part of the countrys efforts to assist enterprises currently facing operating obstacles.
The father of an Israeli man held hostage by Hamas "died of grief" the day before his son and three others were rescued during a deadly military raid in Gaza.

Yossi Jan, 57, apparently suffered a heart attack on Friday, his sister told Israel's public broadcaster Kan, the Times of Israel reported Sunday.

"My brother died of grief and didn't get to see his son return. The night before Almog's return, my brother's heart stopped. He didn't get to see his son return," Dina Jan said.

Dina Jan said she got a call Saturday from the army saying that her nephew, Almog Meir Jan, 21, had been rescued and that authorities were unable to reach his father.

"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," she said. "I screamed 'Yossi!' to him and he didn't answer me. I saw the color of his skin, I touched him, but he was dead."

Before his death, Yossi Jan "was glued to the television for the whole eight months, clinging to every piece of information" after his son was kidnapped on Oct. 7, Dina Jan said.

The anguished father "couldn't bear" the strain and lost about 45 pounds, his sister said.

"He closed himself off, didn't want to see people. Everyone was worried about Yossi, but he wasn't able to communicate with anyone," she said.

Dina Jan also said that every potential hostage deal "that exploded in his face broke his heart."

Almog Meir Jan and the three other rescued hostages -- Noa Argamani, 26, Andrey Kozlov, 27, and Shlomo Ziv -- were all taken captive when Hamas attacked the Nova music festival in the desert near Gaza.

Israel has said its forces came under heavy fire from all sides during the operation to free them from Nuseirat in Gaza and responded from the ground and air.

The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry, which doesn't distinguish between civilian and combatant casualties, said at least 274 Palestinians were killed and more than 700 were wounded.

On Sunday, the Israeli military, which diputes the death toll, alleged that a Palestinian journalist, Abdallah Aljamal, held Almog Meir Jan, Kozlov and Ziv captive in his family's home in Nuseirat.

That assertion came after Ramy Abdul, chairman of the Geneva-based Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor, said on social media that Israeli commandos "executed" Aljamal, 36, his wife and father after using a ladder to break into the older man's home.

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan acknowledged Sunday that "innocent people were tragically killed" by the rescue operation but blamed Hamas for holding hostages and placing military encampments "right in the heart of crowded civilian areas."
On supporting Israel

To all U.S university and college presidents and boards who tolerate the violent student mobs on your campuses because you refused to call the police immediately: Wheres the punishment for student rioters?

You reap what you sow. You cannot have some socialist-communist professors and expect law-abiding students. Violence and destruction is their method. Then communists will be in total control and the people will be their slaves.

You students dont even know how to choose good (Israel) over evil (Hamas who attacked Israel), so how can you call yourselves the elite institutions of higher learning when you allow violent student mobs to threaten the lives of the Jews, the police and others. Youre allowing the destruction of campus property and the loss of classroom time.

If Hamas is someone to honor, wheres the release of 130 hostages including two small children? Dont forget three or four are American hostages.

Would you like to be forced to accept Hamas hospitality, where you live in a hell hole and are frequently being beaten or raped as the hostages are?

Isnt this treason when you are supporting evil Hamas, and enemy of the USA who wants to destroy America?

Marcella Gruver, Waterloo

Proud of protesters

Throughout history in lethal conflicts there have been protests.

Now, recently as in Vietnam college students have taken to their campuses to protest the slaughter of women, children, innocent civilians by the state of Israel in the Gaza strip.

We as a nation should be proud knowing the young of our country have the moral fiber to abhor this slaughter.

Bob Black, Waterloo

Donald Trumps a felon

May 30, 2024, will go down in history as did the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the assassination of JFK, Nixons resignation, the 9-11 attacks, and the Jan. 6 insurrection caused by Donald Trump. After being judged by a jury of his peers, a unanimous verdict on all 34 felony charges: Guilty! Anyone old enough will remember exactly what they were doing when when Trump once again disgraced the nation.

Fifty years ago Richard Nixon resigned in shame after being told by GOP Sen. Barry Goldwater that he would be lucky to get 10 votes in the Senate against impeachment. Compare that to todays so-called party of law and order. First reactions from GOPers: Blame the judge, the prosecutor, the jury, Biden, anyone but the shameless, corrupt, lying convict who payed money to a porn star to influence an election.

Even Iowa Gov. Clueless Kim Reynolds jumped off the rule-of-law/Constitution bandwagon to march in lock step with her convicted felon fuhrer, as did many other sycophants and sock puppets. Maybe Clueless Kim is auditioning to be running mate for a shameless, disgraceful man who doesnt have the moral integrity to run for dog catcher of Palm Beach.

Russell Broadway,

Waterloo

Safe driving

The May 6 Courier reports Iowa Republican lawmakers resist efforts to pass a lifesaving law to ban the use of texting and phones while driving. They also weakened the effectiveness of speed cameras. This reveals how phony those so-called pro-life religious lawmakers really are. The sanctity of life and Thou shalt not kill dont apply when speed, convenience, election funding from big money/big business and votes are more important. Also, they might get zapped when driving their personal vehicle. They claim to be so Christian, but gave big tax reductions to the ultra-rich. In Mark 10:21, Jesus Christ told the rich man to sell what you have, and give it to the poor. The poor dont give them any election funding.

Herman Lenz, Sumner

Freedom from religion

In the Letters to the Editor section published June 1, Dave Smith showed how far down the Evangeliban path he and fellow Christians have traversed in the last 40 years, especially in the Trump era of conservative politics.

For one, in the USA, marriage is not a religious concept, but a legal one. You need to get a license from your county recorder to get married.

As far as the term non-binary, yes, it is made up, but, Mr. Smith, those who cant quite describe themselves as male or female need a term where they can feel comfortable. There are also other cultures that do have third-gender definitions, like in Hinduism.

Bottom line, Christians shouldnt try to pigeonhole everyone into your beliefs. The First Amendment guarantees freedom of religion, but that doesnt give you the right to use your religion to determine the fate of everyone else in this country. The government of the United States is not ... founded on the Christian religion.  Treaty of Tripoli, 1797.

Eric Van Sickle,

Cedar Falls
WATERLOO  Two people jumped from a second-story window to escape a fire that destroyed their home early Tuesday.

Its sad, said Kenny Williams, who lives down the street. Im just happy they survived. We are a real tight-knit neighborhood. We help each other out.

The blaze at 222 Randall St. broke out shortly before 12:30 a.m. Tuesday. The wife was home upstairs and phoned her husband, who had traveled to the store.

The husband returned and knocked in the front door in an effort to remove her and another resident from the house, said Battalion Chief Ben Petersen. Flames were blocking the stairway, trapping the two on the second floor. The two leaped from a window with the help of the husband, Petersen said.

When crews with Waterloo Fire Rescue arrived, they found heavy flames and smoke coming from the front of the single-family home.

We gained control of it fairly quickly, Petersen said. He said lingering flames in the roof kept firefighters at the scene for hours.

The wife was taken to a local hospital for treatment and two family dogs perished in the fire, Petersen said.

Heat from the fire melted the vinyl siding on a home next door.

The American Red Cross is assisting the family with emergency shelter. Four people lived at the home.

The city fire marshal is investigating the cause of the blaze.

The house is owned by Kremer Properties LLC of Cedar Falls, according to property records.
David Knezevich, the estranged husband of missing woman Ana Knezevich, has denied any wrongdoing in connection with her alleged kidnapping in Spain.

Knezevich, 36, pleaded not guilty in a Miami court Monday.

David Ingber, the attorney representing Ana's family, said the defendant's not guilty plea is "par for the course, denying responsibility."

"His jovial appearance doesn't fit with his predicament," Ingber told HNGN in a statement, in part. "At some point, he should be struck by the strength of the evidence against him, changing his countenance."

Ana, 40, was first reported missing around Feb. 4, in the midst of a reportedly rocky divorce from her husband of 13 years.

Loved ones became concerned after allegedly receiving suspicious text messages from her phone stating she was going away with a man she had just met, and requested a welfare check.



Spanish firefighters were unable to locate Ana at her Madrid apartment, where she had been living in December since separating from Knezevich. Her cell phone, laptop and chargers were also missing, according to the FBI's criminal complaint.

Surveillance footage made public last week allegedly shows Knezevich buying spray paint and duct tape at a Madrid hardware store around the time Ana went missing, according to WPLG-TV and NewsNation.

Prosecutors allege Knezevich was also captured on video wearing a motorcycle helmet and mask, spray painting the lens of a security camera at Ana's apartment the day she vanished.

Investigators believe Knezevich was motivated by money in connection with his wife's disappearance and "did not want to split the marital assets evenly with the victim," the criminal complaint stated.

Knezevich was arrested at the Miami International Airport in May. Authorities have not commented on whether or not they believe Ana is still alive.

The search for Ana in Spain continues.
A decade ago, we were celebrating: As University of Northern Iowa student leaders who had organized for years to convince our fellow students and the UNI administration of the need for an LGBT+ Center on campus, the Center was finally opening.

Most of us who worked toward this moment would not personally benefit. By the time of the opening, we had graduated  but it was never about us. It had always been about easing the path for students to come.

We were grateful to the dean of students and other UNI leaders for taking this crucial step. A big part of their agreement to establish the LGBT+ Center was that it was a win-win for the entire UNI community.

LGBT+ students would have a place where they knew they could seek resources and safely address issues like discrimination and harassment. Having resources like the Center felt especially timely because of the anti-LGBT violence that had been occurring in the surrounding Cedar Valley in recent years, as well as some homophobic incidents on UNIs campus.

Safety would be enough to justify the Center, yet it would benefit more than the LGBT+ community. It would benefit UNI as an institution. UNI would attract higher enrollment than without the Center, all else being equal, because many prospective students would feel safer attending. UNI would benefit from higher retention rates, all else being equal, because students who are safe and can access resources on campus are more likely to stay.

In fighting for the Center, we hoped to give back to the UNI we loved. We wanted to contribute to what made UNI so special in a more lasting way than our four years on campus could.

Today? Its Pride Month, 2024, and as alumni, were mourning the recent passage of Iowas Senate File 2435, a so-called DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) ban, which was slipped into the budget at the last minute. This draconian overstep by the Iowa Legislature and Gov. Kim Reynolds will force the closure of UNIs LGBT+ Center and end the services it has provided for the last 10 years.

Without the consent of the UNI administration, faculty, or students, the state of Iowa is striking a blow against all that we worked so diligently to build a decade ago. Closing the center sends a dangerous message that Iowas state universities are unsafe and unwelcoming for LGBT+ students.

Over the years, we have heard from numerous students that UNIs LGBT+ Center was a deciding factor in their choice to attend. With enrollment numbers dwindling across the board, we can only assume that this decision will make UNI less competitive going forward, as more students from diverse backgrounds decide theyd rather study out of state, and out-of-state students feel less welcome in Iowa.

Iowa already struggles with many young people moving out of state rather than building their lives and raising their families in their home state. In fact, in 2022, a Washington Post analysis found that Iowa ranked 10th worst in the U.S. in retaining college graduates. We fear this DEI ban will only make living in Iowa less attractive to many young people.

This is bad for LGBT+ students, bad for our universities ability to sustain enrollment numbers, and bad for the state of Iowas future.

Our efforts back in 2014 did not go unnoticed: One of us was even awarded UNIs Lux Service Award, the highest award recognizing service to the UNI Community, specifically for our efforts to establish the Center. It is unfathomable that a decade after UNI recognized our grassroots, people-powered effort to establish the LGBT+ Center from the ground up, UNI will be forced to dismantle the Center because of the top-down actions of Reynolds and the Legislature.

We still believe in UNIs promise, in the value of respecting and protecting each other in all of our diversity, and in the power of higher education to expand our senses of ourselves and the world around us.

We wish Governor Reynolds and the Iowa State Legislature could say the same.
Because the Russians are waging a Special Military Operation rather than a war, the Ukrainian people are not rising up in large numbers against Kiev. They dont actually experience any disruptions in their regular lives in Kiev, Ukraine and other major cities that matter to the people. There are occasionally surgical strikes on military installations in the rear. Yet, because Zelensky controls the mainstream media in Ukraine, the narrative is We are Winning! Although not currently deadly serious, power disruptions could be next winter. Food is available in the marketplaces, cellphones are functional, and salaries are basically through western money paid on schedule. The Russians are not randomly bombing cities, destroying all government buildings, electricity grids, water facilities, and communication nodes while killing hundreds of thousands of civilians in the process, unlike the USA-NATO-STAN soldiers in Yugoslavia, Libya, or Iraq. The majority of Ukrainian (Kivian) citizens just do not feel the pain yet. For it is not de-civilization, but demilitarization and denazification are the goals. Thats why Im always saying that if the West continues to spout lies & fabricate about what they havent seen yet, they will eventually see something that they can never unsee.  kKEETON
Russia is reportedly dangling a lucrative deal to hire mercenaries in Africa  after apparently running out of prison inmates it can send to fight in Ukraine.

In an "intelligence update" posted Monday on social media, Britain's Ministry of Defence said Russia has "intensified attempts to recruit Africans" for its nearly 2 1/2-year war against Ukraine.

"Russia is reportedly offering a sign-up bonus of $2,000, monthly pay of $2,200 and the promise of a Russian passport," the Defence Ministry said, citing recent information from Ukrainian military intelligence.

The recruitment efforts are concentrated on the central African countries of Rwanda, Burundi, Congo and Uganda, according to the ministry's post on X, formerly Twitter.

In Rwanda, the median monthly salary is just $43 a month, according to Britain's Llloyds Bank.

The Russian move is needed to replace its "significant" battlefield losses and to "sustain offensive activities" on the frontlines of the war, the Defence Ministry said.

"With Russia's finite pool of convict recruitment likely culminated, Russia is likely expanding its recruitment across the global south, to avoid additional mobilizations within Russia itself," the ministry said.

Russia's most recent military call-up proved "domestically unpopular" for President Vladimir Putin and also led to a record labor shortage and an exodus of skilled workers including doctors in information technology professionals, the ministry said.
A former cop-turned-drug dealer who once shared a cell with notorious pedophile Jeffrey Epstein was sentenced Monday to four consecutive life terms for a gruesome quadruple murder in New York.

Nicholas Tartaglione, 56, received the maximum punishment from Judge Kenneth Karas, who called him a remorseless "monster" during a proceeding in U.S. District Court in suburban White Plains, New York, the U.S. attorney's office said.

In 2023, a jury convicted Tartaglione of orchestrating the 2016 kidnapping and murders of four men over his belief that one of them, 41-year-old Martin Luna, had stolen $250,000 that was supposed to be used to buy cocaine.

After luring Luna to a bar in Chester, New York, Tartaglione beat him for more than an hour while demanding to know where the money was, then strangled him with a zip tie.

Three men who accompanied Luna  nephew Miguel Luna, 25, Urbano Santiago, 35, and Hector Gutierrez, 43  were then each killed, execution-style, with a single gunshot to the back of the head because they witnessed the slaying.

The FBI found the bodies buried in a mass grave on Tartaglione's remote property in Otisville, New York, later that year.

While locked up in New York City awaiting trial, Tartaglione, formerly a cop in Briarcliff Manor, New York, was sharing a cell with Epstein when the wealthy financier died by suicide in 2019 rather than face prosecution on child sex-trafficking charges.

Epstein's former girlfriend and accomplice, British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell, was convicted on related charges and sentenced in 2022 to 20 years in prison.

If you or someone you know needs help, the national suicide and crisis lifeline in the U.S. is available by calling or texting 988. There is also an online chat at 988lifeline.org.
CARENTAN-LES-MARAIS, France  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  hes 100, shes a youngster of just 96  made their nuptials an almost double-century celebration.

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Terens called it the best day of my life.

On her way in to the nuptials, the bubbly bride-to-be said: Its not just for young people, love, you know? We get butterflies. And we get a little action, also.

The location was the elegant stonework 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.

Like other towns and villages across the Normandy coast where nearly 160,000 Allied troops came ashore under fire on five code-named beaches, its 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 rock stars.

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 Carentans 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 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 President Emmanuel Macron and U.S. President Joe Biden.
Criminals increasingly use cryptocurrency ATMs in schemes to steal peoples money, but some states have passed laws to regulate the machines and safeguard consumers.



Last month, governors in Minnesota and Vermont enacted AARP-backed legislation to strengthen regulation of these machines, also known as cryptocurrency kiosks or bitcoin ATMs, to prevent fraud. AARP is working to pass similar legislation in Rhode Island, and we are ramping up to advocate for tighter crypto ATM oversight in additional states in the coming year.

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Crypto ATMs are favored by criminals for their anonymity and general lack of oversight, said Greg Marchildon, state director for AARP Vermont. Vermont is taking a step in the right direction by requiring registration and regulation of these kiosks.

Crypto ATMs look and operate like banks automatic teller machines, but theyre not connected to any bank. They can be found in grocery markets, convenience stores, gas stations, restaurants and other spots across the U.S.

The machines are used for legitimate purposes to convert dollars into digital currency. But criminals rely on them as a fast, easy and often untraceable way to get access to victims cash.

Vermonts bill, which Gov. Phil Scott signed into law on May 20, requires cryptocurrency kiosk operators to register in the state, sets a daily transaction limit of $1,000 and regulates fees, among other measures. It prohibits the installation of new crypto kiosks until July 1, 2025.

Under Minnesotas legislation, which Gov. Tim Walz signed into law on May 20, new ATM users can get a refund for losses due to fraud if they report it within 14 days of the transaction. Transactions for new customers are limited to $2,000 a day, and kiosk operators must post warnings about potential fraud.
Martin OMalley likes data. Sitting down for an interview with AARP at Social Security headquarters just outside Baltimore, he pulls out oversized flash cards showing how the agencys workforce has shrunk even as its workload has increased. Afterward, he turns to a monitor to click through color-coded maps used to ferret out customer service trouble spots.

Now in his sixth month as commissioner of the Social Security Administration (SSA), OMalley comes by this stuff naturally. As mayor of Baltimore and governor of Maryland, he made his name as a number cruncher. Hes carried that approach to the SSA, where he and his top staff meet biweekly to review real-time data on customer service priorities, like reducing hold times for people calling the Social Security helpline and speeding up decisions on disability applications. Much of the data is available to the public on the SSA website.

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Weve really snapped out of the sleepy annual review to something much more akin to software development, OMalley says. Its agile two-week sprints, with all of the components sharing data and information openly and transparently.

Urgency comes with the territory. OMalley took office in December with Social Security under unprecedented fire from consumers, Congress and advocacy groups such as AARP over deteriorating service, and his abbreviated term as commissioner expires in January. In this May 31 interview (which has been edited for length and clarity), he outlines steps hes already taking and pressed his case  in numbers, naturally  that Congress, which controls SSA spending on customer service and hiring, holds the key to long-term success.

Social Security Administration Commissioner Martin OMalley spoke with AARP in Woodlawn, Maryland, on May 31, 2024. Stephen Voss

Youve identified three key customer service priorities: long wait times for callers on the 800 number, growing wait times for people making disability claims, and collection of overpayments. Tell us one thing that you and the agency have done for each of those priorities.

Weve installed a callback assist to our 800 number. Really clunky, underperforming system. That was kind of a technological fix. But theres [also] communicating honestly and clearly with our customers about what their expectations as customers should be on any given line of service, so that they dont feel like they have to call the 800 number when they were given, say, a two-week time frame within which to expect something, when the reality is it takes 40 days.

Moving on to the overpayments, we implemented sub-regulatory changes right away so that instead of clawing back, cruelly, 100 percent of a retirees monthly check if they dont respond to our notice of an overpayment, we only allow that default to be 10 percent.

Probably the biggest fire-breathing dragon we confront right now is the growing numbers of people applying for disability determinations. Given the fact that Congress has reduced our staff to a 25-year low, theres a huge backlog with now more people dying  30,000 [in 2023], according to our actuary  as they await their initial disability determination. Were doing a couple of things on that front. One is better use of technology to identify early those cases that are very likely going to be allowable cases. The other thing is to expand the use of technology so that the people making those initial disability determinations can more quickly get to the heart of the medical record, instead of flipping through a thousand pages.

Are you seeing results?

Were seeing some promising results right off the bat. The overpayment changes, its almost as if that were ancient history. On the 800 number, at the end of the last calendar year, when I was confirmed, the wait time, average, was 41.2 minutes. Weve wrestled that bad boy down on a rolling 30-day average to 17.8 minutes. Now, depending on when you call, some people will get longer, some people shorter. But if we can do that again in the next 100 days, that would be something worth cheering about.

On the disability claims, I wish I could tell you were seeing objective progress in bringing down that backlog. Were not there yet.
Choosing a summer vacation spot used to be as simple as donning a bathing suit, packing a cooler and heading to the nearest beach. But with many destinations growing unbearably hot, travelers are seeking out coolcations, places where they can take refuge from searing temperatures. Google Trends has tracked a 300 percent increase in searches for cooler holidays compared to last year.

Hospitality marketing expert Andrew Freeman believes that adults 50-plus are driving the trend. Once the kids are out of the house and on their own, the 50-plus traveler is ready to explore the world via trips to Europe and beyond, he says. With families  especially with young children  warm weather trips like Disney World and hotels with pools or beach vacations tend to satisfy the needs of the kids. The 50-plus travelers are eager to seek out popular, or soon to be popular, destinations, and these could be in cooler places.

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These lower-mercury locales are beneficial for the health of older adults, says California-based geriatrician Elizabeth Landsverk, M.D., and not just because they reduce the risk of heatstroke. Its much more comfortable [for] exercising, she says, especially if you take antihypertensives and diuretics, which can cause blood pressure to plummet when the body overheats. Physical activity in cooler temperatures also activates brown fat, which improves metabolism. And because cooler weather helps you sleep and gives you more energy, Landsverk says that you might even feel more focused or clear minded.

By 2050, more than 200 million more older adults worldwide are expected to be exposed to dangerous heat, compared with now, research published in Nature Communications suggests.

You dont have to spend thousands of dollars or travel to famously icy destinations such as Iceland, Norway and Antarctica. In North America, we have plenty of chillier cities that cater to a variety of interests, from outdoor recreation and wildlife watching to cultural attractions and craft beverage makers. Here are 10 coolcation suggestions for summer.

High Falls Gorge in Lake Placid, New York, is one of the many waterways in the Adirondacks. Courtesy Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism

The Adirondacks, New York

The birthplace of the American vacation, the Adirondacks are home to more than 2,000 miles of shady hiking trails and waterfall routes. Go kayaking, canoeing or river walking, a unique mindfulness experience conducted in flowing water, in the regions 3,000 ponds and lakes and 30,000 miles of rivers and streams.

Board the Skyride Experience gondola or Cliffside Coaster, the longest coaster in North America, in Lake Placid (check with your physician before attempting any strenuous, new-for-you activities). In Wilmington, go fishing on the Ausable River or explore a hidden granite tunnel off Whiteface Veterans Memorial Highway. The small but captivating village of Saranac Lake, one of the coldest spots in the contiguous United States, is packed with historic architecture, galleries and shops.

Cannery Pier Hotel & Spa is located along the Columbia River in Astoria, Oregon. Courtesy Cannery Pier Hotel & Spa

Astoria, Oregon

Along the northwestern edge of Oregon, Astoria boasts daytime temperatures in the mid- to high 60s, moderated by refreshing coastal breezes. The oldest settlement west of the Rockies, the city  sometimes dubbed Little San Francisco for its abundance of Victorian architecture  has historic gems around nearly every corner.

Head to the Astoria Riverwalk trail for a scenic stroll or climb a portion of the spiral staircase in the 125-foot Astoria Column for 360-degree views. Sample local craft beer or learn about nautical history at the Columbia River Maritime Museum. At the Oregon Film Museum, pick up a map of filming locations for movies including The Goonies, Short Circuit and Kindergarten Cop.
Missouri Gov. Mike Parson confirmed David Hosier's execution will be carried out Tuesday, despite several eleventh hour pleas from loved ones and lawmakers to spare the convicted killer's life.

In 2013, Hosier, 69, was found guilty of fatally shooting Angela Gilpin and her husband, Rodney Gilpin, in the hallway of their apartment building in Jefferson City, Missouri, in September 2009, shortly after Angela ended her affair with him.

Hosier was arrested after a police chase in Oklahoma, where authorities seized 400 rounds of ammunition and 15 firearms, including a submachine gun made from a kit that was later linked to the killings. He was sentenced to death, however he has maintained his innocence.

His lawyers have argued his mental health struggles, triggered by the murder of his father, and coupled with his prior military service should save him from death row.

"Saying we are disappointed with Governor Parson's decision to deny clemency to David Hosier minimizes the true depth of our disappointment. David Hosier deserved mercy, and his request for mercy was not a request for freedom, but a request to spend the rest of his natural life in prison," Hosier's attorney, Jeremy Weis, said in a statement to HNGN.

"David Hosier was worthy of mercy based on his service to our country, serving honorably in the United States Navy, and our community, serving as a Jefferson City, Missouri firefighter. This service emulated the life of the man David Hosier admired most, his father Glen Hosier, a Navy veteran and an Indiana State Police Officer murdered in the line of duty while trying to arrest a fugitive when David was just 16 years old. "

"Many people know of David's professed innocence," the statement continued. "His insistence on innocence caused him to reject a plea offer to life in prison without parole. Although the jury heard evidence that no witness placed David at the scene of the Gilpin murders and DNA did not connect him to the crime, after the jury's guilty verdict, no new evidence offered a path to exoneration, and clemency was David's only hope to avoid execution. Our thoughts are now with David's sister's, Kay and Barb, and other family and friends who loved David dearly."

"He displays no remorse for his senseless violence," Parson remarked, adding that this makes Hosier deserving of the death sentence and denied him clemency.

"For these heinous acts, Hosier earned maximum punishment under the law. I cannot imagine the pain experienced by Angela's and Rodney's loved ones but hope that carrying out Hosier's sentence according to the Court's order brings closure."
More Assays Support the Strategy for a DSO Operation at Simandou North Iron Project



Encouraging Drilling Results Simandou North Iron Project

Perth, June 11, 2024 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Arrow Minerals Limited ( ASX:AMD ) is pleased to announce more assays which support its strategy to establish Direct Shipping Ore (DSO) operations at its Simandou North Iron Project (SNIP) in Guinea, West Africa.



Highlights



- Second batch of assays from Arrow's drilling at the Simandou North Iron Project reinforce the prospectivity of the project to host DSO close to the Simandou multiuser railway.



- This report relates to 36 holes, a further 331 holes are pending.



- Early stage work has defined three styles of iron mineralisation and numerous targets with substantial exploration potential



- Latest drilling results include:



o 3.5m at 60.8% Fe from 16m is included in 9.5m at 57.6% Fe from 10m in hole DALDDH018 at Dalabatini, targeting Enriched Hematite BIF. Results pending for a further 8 holes.



o 4.8m at 56.7% Fe from 42.2m in DALDDH018, representing hydrothermally enriched BIF at Dalabatini.



o 3m at 61.7% Fe from 7m is included in 9m at 56.7% Fe from 2m in hole DALRC013 at Dalabatini, targeting Hematite Canga. Results pending for a further 108 holes.



These results are from 36 holes drilled for 1,608 metres completed at Dalabatini (29 holes) and Kalako (7 holes).



Arrow is extremely encouraged by the results, which confirm the presence of three styles of mineralisation as follows, each with potential to produce DSO iron products (refer also Figure 2* and Figure 3*):



1. Near-surface hematite mineralisation derived from Hematite Enriched BIF;



2. Hydrothermal mineralisation encountered in fresh BIF; and



3. Hematite Canga (Canga), a type of detrital iron ore deposit that forms by the accumulation of the iron rich tropical weathering products of BIF.



Arrow Managing Director David Flanagan said: "Our team has made a very strong start and delivered terrific results in a very short period. Each of the three styles of mineralisation has delivered very encouraging results which present us with multiple targets across a very large system."



"Off the back of these results and more to come, we remain committed to building DSO operations right near existing multi-user transport infrastructure. Yes it's early days, but as we put the pieces of the geology jigsaw together, the styles of mineralisation and the scale of the system and the upside is becoming clear. We look forward to delivering more terrific results, more value for shareholders and a project that delivers lasting benefit for the people of Guinea."



Drilling Detail



In February this year, the Company commenced systematic exploration along strike from the world's largest high-grade iron project at Simandou, which is currently under construction by the SimFer JV (led by Rio Tinto) and Winning Consortium Simandou (WCS).



Since commencing field work in February, Arrow has drilled 372 holes for 7,465 metres. This release describes results for 36 holes. Excluding these and previous results received to date in 2024, a further 331 holes are being processed, transported and analysed. Drilling is ongoing and with additional holes being drilled every day we expect to provide further results over the weeks and months to come.



Dalabatini Hematite BIF Iron Prospect



The Company previously reported highly encouraging results in the first 5 holes completed at Dalabatini. This summary represents the next 12 holes for 874 metres drilling at Dalabatini testing in-situ enriched hematite BIF targets. Assays for the remaining holes are expected to be available from the laboratory in late June and will be reported on receipt.



Best intersections received in this batch of 12 holes include;



- DALDDH011, 4.1 metres at 55.8% Fe from 16.65 metres including

o 2.25 metres at 59.7% Fe from 18.5 metres



- DALDDH016, 2 metres at 55.3% Fe from surface



- DALDDH018,

o 3.2 metres at 55.3% Fe from 2 metres; and

o 12.5 metres at 56.5% Fe from 10 metres including:

-- 3.5 metres at 60.8% Fe from 16m; and

o 9.7 metres at 52.3% Fe from 40.2m including:

-- 4.8 metres at 56.4% Fe from 40.2 metres; and

o 1.9 metres at 55.9% Fe from 48 metres



Drill collar information and a full transcript of all assays for iron and commonly reported deleterious oxides and elements for all 12 holes are given in Appendix 1. Definition criteria and cut-off grades for all significant intervals presented are given in the JORC Table 1* appended to this report.



In addition to hole DALDDH006, hole DALDDH018 also intersected hydrothermal magnetite mineralisation in fresh BIF (4.8 metres at 56.4% Fe from 42.2 metres within 9.7m at 52.3% Fe from 40.2m). The structure interpreted to host the mineralisation appears to be trending north to northwest, where it is also intersected in drillhole DALDDH029 (some 330 metres along strike to the north-west from DALDDH006 refer Figure 5*). The assay results for hole DALDDH029 are yet to be received. The style of the mineralisation is important because along strike and down dip it has the potential to produce large zones of high-grade mineralisation.



Furthermore, it is noted that the hematite enriched near surface weathering zone adjacent to both DALDDH006 and DALDDH018 sections are enriched with intercepts highlighting potential for DSO in proximity to the hydrothermal mineralisation.



The Company will continue to test the trend, hosting the hydrothermal mineralisation (shown in Figure 5*) and explore for substantial repetitions and analogs along strike and at depth. Within the Dalabatini area, this feature will be further drill tested and be subject to geophysical characterisation in June and July.



Hematite Detrital Canga Iron Prospects (Canga)



In May, the Company mapped regional Canga targets on the SNIP including Dalabatini, Komodou, Kalako-Kowouleni Canga (KKC), Diassa, and Central. The combined surface area of these named targets mapped in this programme is approximately 10km2. Other areas in Guinea with similar BIF stratigraphy including Simandou and Mont Nimba host substantial accumulations of DSO grade Canga mineralisation. The Company therefore elected to drill test the Canga and has completed preliminary drill testing of 349 holes across all 5 targets.



Dalabatini Canga Prospect



The thickness of Canga intersected is variable between and within targets, but average thickness overall is between 5.5 and 6.0 metres. These latest results indicate new mineralisation both in the Canga and into the bedrock below. The Company is highly encouraged by these results and has redeployed a drill rig to further test this mineralisation in coming days. Arrow has completed 108 RC drill holes for 1,762 metres, testing the Dalabatini Canga Prospect. Results have been received for just 17 holes, of which 4 holes have intercepts greater than 50% Fe, including;



- DALRC010, 3 metres at 52.2% Fe, from 3 metres



- DALRC012, 2 metres at 53.1% Fe, from surface



- DALRC013, 9 metres at 56.7% Fe, from 2 metres including:

o 2 metres at 54.8% Fe, from 3 metres and

o 5 metres at 59.6% Fe from 6 metres and

o 3 metres at 61.7% Fe from 7 metres



- DALRC017, 2 metres at 52.1% Fe from 3 metres including:

o 1 metre at 54.0% Fe from 3 metres



Drill collar information and a full transcript of all assays for iron and commonly reported deleterious oxides and elements for all 17 holes reported are given in Appendix 2*.



There is currently insufficient exploration data to estimate a Mineral Resource and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in the estimation of a Mineral Resource.



Kowouleni Kalako Canga (KKC) Iron Prospect



Arrow has completed 91 holes at the KKC prospect and received results for a single scout diamond hole that was drilled in the southern part of KKC. KALDDH004 achieved 3.7 metres at 51.4% Fe from 2 metres. The Company previously reported the size of the surface expression of the KKC Canga at 6km2. Importantly this hole confirms the presence of mineralisation in the Canga. In addition to receiving pending results for the 164 holes already drilled, a further 36 holes are planned to be drilled on this prospect during June.



Kalako Hematite BIF Iron Prospect



The Company has now completed 6 holes (KALDDH001 to KALDDH003, KALDDH005 to KALDDH007) at Kalako for a total of 314.5 metres, targeting iron enrichment at surface within the Simandou Formation along strike from the Simandou Iron Project (SimFer JV and WCS). Drilling intercepts achieved were predominantly within soft to compact oxidised BIF units that are partially enriched, partially de-silicified, and heavily weathered. Preliminary metallurgical test-work (Reported to ASX May 7th) suggests the oxide BIF is amenable to gravity based concentration for the potential production of DSO grade (>58% Fe) concentrates without grinding. Arrow has had preliminary discussions with parties interested in jointly advancing a development strategy for a beneficiation product for delivery of this product to market. The Company will keep the market informed on any material developments.



The intercepts confirm the SNIP is part of a large mineralised system with sufficient iron enrichment to make the weathered BIF a potential host DSO mineralisation analogous to the fine grained disaggregated DSO powder ores noted at the SimFer JV, Simandou, and historically at Marampa in Sierra Leone. Ongoing work will focus on identifying targets with advanced levels of de-silicification and iron enrichment.



Better intercepts from Kalako include;



- KALDDH002 25.2 metres @ 40.9% Fe from surface

- KALDDH003 19.0 metres @ 37.0% Fe from surface

- KALDDH005 40.5 metres @ 39.9% Fe from surface

- KALDDH006 43.0 metres @ 39.4% Fe from surface

- KALDDH007 42.7 metres @ 40.0% Fe from surface



Drill collar information and a full transcript of all assays for iron and commonly reported deleterious oxides and elements for all Kalako holes reported are given in Appendix 1*.



Next Steps



As at the date of this release the company has 2910 samples in the laboratory to provide assays, to inform our exploration strategy and advance us on a path to develop a mining operation. Our geologists are in the field identifying new prospects and targets on a daily basis. We expect the next weeks and months to continue to deliver exciting results across the project.



*To view tables and figures, please visit:

https://abnnewswire.net/lnk/3F97Q72Y





About Arrow Minerals Ltd





Arrow Minerals Ltd (ASX:AMD) is an exploration and development company focused on delivering long-term shareholder value through the discovery of economic mineral deposits in West Africa. The Company has implemented a systematic science-based exploration philosophy whilst remaining commercially nimble to ensure we capture and retain value.

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A California man faces federal charges after he allegedly repeatedly fired a rifle at a police helicopter after his birthday party ended "acrimoniously."

Justin Derek Jennings, 39, is charged with attempting to damage, destroy or disable an aircraft.

Federal prosecutors with the Central District of California say Jennings and his family were celebrating his birthday party at his Laguna Niguel home on March 9. Jennings allegedly had been drinking and became enraged.

An indicted states that as his outburst escalated, family members left the home. Jennings then allegedly removed a rifle from his gun safe and fired an entire magazine worth of ammunition inside the home. The rest of Jennings' family fled and called police.

The Orange County Sheriff's Department responded with several deputies and a police helicopter flew around the area.

Jennings allegedly went upstairs and began shooting in the air when the helicopter was visible. He eventually surrendered.

Police seized six guns and ammunition from the home. Bullet casings were scattered throughout the floor and law enforcement also seized two magazines and a box of ammunition that was on a couch beneath the window from where Jennings allegedly fired.

Jennings was arraigned Monday in Santa Ana and pleaded not guilty. A federal magistrate judge ordered him jailed without bond and scheduled an August 5 trial.

If convicted, Jennings would face up to 20 years in federal prison.

The Orange County District Attorney's Office charged Jennings in connection with this incident, but dismissed the case so the federal case against him could proceed.
The Department of Justice sharply rebuked House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan's assertion that the federal agency colluded with the New York Attorney General's office in the criminal prosecution of former President Donald Trump in a Tuesday letter - arguing that the congressman's statements amounted to a conspiracy theory that would damge the public's trust in the criminal justice system.

"The Department does not generally make extensive efforts to rebut conspiratorial speculation, including to avoid the risk of lending it credibility," the letter read. "However, consistent with the Attorney General's commitment to transparency, the Department has taken extraordinary steps to confirm what was already clear: there is no basis for these false claims."

Trump was found guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records after he illegally reimbursed his one-time attorney Michael Cohen for hush money payments to Stormy Daniels, an adult film actress who alleges that she had an affair with the former president. Trump maintains that he did not have a relationship with Daniels - instead claiming that the criminal prosecution was politically motivated. The former president's Republican allies has also pushed this theory - going as far as asking Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg to appear before Congress, due to the "perception" of corruption.

"The self-justifying 'perception' asserted by the Committee is completely baseless, but the Committee continues to traffic it widely. As the Attorney General stated at his hearing, the conspiracy theory that the recent jury verdict in New York state court was somehow controlled by the Department is not only false, it is irresponsible," the letter continued.

Indeed, accusations of wrongdoing made without-and in fact contrary to evidence undermine confidence in the justice system and have contributed to increased threats of violence and attacks on career law enforcement officials and prosecutors."

The letter, authored by Assistant Attorney General Carlos Uriarte, detailed steps taken by the DOJ to ensure there was no collusion. Uriarte wrote that the Department searched correspondence from the Office of the Attorney General, Office of the Deputy Attorney General and Office of the Associate Attorney General - uncovering zero evidence of contact between the federal officials and the Manhattan District Attorney's office.

Uriarte also specifically detailed steps taken to ensure that there was no improper communication involving Matthew Colangelo, a former DOJ employee who subsequently worked with the Manhattan District Attorney's office.

"The Department did not identify any instances of Mr. Colangelo having email communications with the District Attorney's office during his time at the Department. This is also unsurprising," the letter read. Department leadership did not dispatch Mr. Colangelo to the District Attorney's office, and Department leadership was unaware of his work on the investigation and prosecution involving the former President until it was reported in the news."
In the dynamic world of digital information, Googles search algorithms stand as gatekeepers, guiding billions of queries to their respective answers each day. As Google rolls out its latest AI-driven updates, the tech giant aims to refine the relevance and quality of search results, ensuring users find exactly what they need with unprecedented accuracy. But as these changes take hold, they spark a vital conversation about fairness and balance in the digital ecosystem.

In the second part of this series, Adgully delves into the core objectives behind Googles algorithm updates, examining the promise of enhanced search experiences. Yet, these advancements come with concerns, especially from smaller, high-quality online publishers who fear being overshadowed in a landscape dominated by major players. In the US, this anxiety has fueled debates over the equitable treatment of diverse voices in the vast expanse of the internet.

Also read:

The Great Google Search Shakeup: Can It Adapt to the AI Age? - Part 1

We also explore whether Google wields too much power over the content ecosystem. Does the companys dominance stifle diversity and quality of information, or does it steer the internet towards a more streamlined and efficient future? With the backdrop of ongoing anti-trust suits in the US, let us unpack the complex interplay between technological progress and the imperative for a fair, vibrant online community.

Search ads are Googles biggest source of revenue, says Darshil Shah, Director, ChtrSocial. However, with the rise of AI, Google faces a significant threat as more users might turn to AI for their answers instead of traditional search. To mitigate this, its crucial for Google to integrate AI into its search engine and address this challenge directly. This integration puts search-optimized content at risk, as it may lose visibility on the search engine results page (SERP) and, consequently, traffic. Nevertheless, this is part of the natural evolution of technology, and adapting to these changes is necessary to remain competitive and relevant, says Shah.

Googles core objectives with search algorithm changes and AI Overviews are to prioritize user experience by providing direct answers to user queries and completing tasks through AI, points out Siddharth Devnani, Co-Founder & Director, SoCheers.

Google organises the worlds information and gets users to experience this for free. Chat-based UI platforms are giving a better user experience to access this information in many cases. Google sees this as a threat. This is why the quick turnaround in implementing AI across its search experience, he adds.

For Google, publishers are not the end game, users are. Ensuring fairness to publishers is honestly a lower priority for Google, as compared to giving the best experience to its users and fighting the competition from the likes of ChatGPT, Copilot, Anthropic; they might not be competition in terms of a search engine, but they are potentially superior alternatives. In all this, ensuring fairness for publishers, especially smaller ones, remains

a concern. I think answer to this is through content licensing deals with publishers. These deals have the potential to allow AI training using high-quality publisher content, and creating a new revenue stream for publishers while ensuring the AI has access to trustworthy information. This approach could address the concern of smaller publishers being unfairly disadvantaged. OpenAI is doing it aggressively. We will wait to see if Google goes down this route, Devnani adds.

The main objectives behind the changes to Google search algorithms seem to be elevating search quality, relevance and directional answering by leveraging AI to better grasp query context and intent, says Russhabh R Thakkar, Founder and CEO, Frodoh World. However, he adds, Google will need to carefully balance this evolution to avoid systematically disadvantaging quality content from smaller publishers, as has been a concern raised in the US antitrust lawsuits.

According to Ranjit Thind, Director of Media and Tech, Asymmetrique, the main objectives behind changes to Google Search algorithms are:

Enhancing User Experience: Googles primary goal with algorithm updates is to improve the overall user experience. This involves providing the most relevant, accurate, and timely results to search queries. By understanding user intent more accurately, Google aims to deliver content that best meets the needs of its users. Prioritizing High-Quality Content: Another key objective is to elevate high-quality content. Googles algorithms are designed to identify and rank content that is authoritative, well-researched, and valuable to users. This reduces the prevalence of low-quality, spammy, or misleading content in search results. Adapting to Changing Search Behaviours: As search behaviours evolve, Google updates its algorithms to better accommodate new trends and technologies. This includes the increasing use of voice search, mobile search, and visual search, all of which require different types of optimization and understanding from the search engine. Combating Misinformation and Spam: Algorithm changes also aim to reduce the spread of misinformation and spam. By continuously refining their ability to detect and penalize deceptive practices, Google seeks to maintain the integrity and trustworthiness of its search results.

According to Thind, ensuring AI Updates improve search experience without unfair disadvantages:

Transparency and Communication: Google frequently communicates changes and updates to its algorithms through official channels like the Google Search Central Blog and Twitter. By providing guidance and insights into the nature of updates, Google helps publishers understand how to adapt their strategies. Focus on Content Quality Over Scale: To prevent larger entities from having an unfair advantage solely due to their size, Googles updates often emphasize content quality and relevance. This means that even smaller publishers can rank well if their content is deemed valuable, authoritative, and aligned with user intent. Support for Small and Independent Publishers: Google has initiatives aimed at supporting small and independent publishers, such as Google News Showcase and the Google News Initiative. These programmes offer training, resources, and funding to help smaller publishers enhance their online presence and navigate changes in the digital landscape. Algorithm Fairness and Testing: Google rigorously tests its algorithm changes through a combination of human evaluations and machine learning models to ensure fairness and effectiveness. This includes diverse representation in testing processes to mitigate biases and ensure that updates do not disproportionately affect certain types of publishers. Best Practices and Guidelines: Google provides extensive best practices and guidelines through its Search Central platform. These resources help publishers understand how to create content that meets Googles quality standards, ensuring that they can compete fairly regardless of their size. AI Tools and Resources: Google offers tools and resources that leverage AI to assist publishers in optimizing their content. For example, Google Analytics, Search Console, and Lighthouse provide insights and recommendations that can help publishers of all sizes improve their SEO and user experience.

In conclusion, says Thind, Googles algorithm changes and AI updates are fundamentally aimed at improving the search experience by prioritizing high-quality, relevant content and adapting to evolving user behaviours. To ensure these updates do not unfairly disadvantage smaller publishers, Google emphasizes transparency, quality content, support programmes, fair testing practices, and providing useful tools and guidelines. By doing so, Google strives to create a balanced and equitable digital ecosystem where publishers of all sizes can thrive.

(Stay tuned for Part 3 of this report tomorrow which will dwell on the long-term impacts and potential solutions)
Cheil is expanding its operations in the financial capital of India with the launch of its new Cheil X office in Mumbai. The Mumbai office heralds the beginning of a new chapter for Cheil, as the agency looks to expand its business activities beyond Samsung operations through its specialised agency Cheil X. Cheil India was setup exclusively to manage the Samsung business in India. Cheil X on the other hand, works as an independent full-service agency under the Cheil SWA group to manage the fast growing new client mandates in India.

This new office will allow Cheil X to tap into the Mumbai market, which is the business and financial capital of India and home to several big-name companies in the country.

Taihai Kim, Global COO, Cheil Worldwide, inaugurated the premises and, commenting on the launch, said, India is one of the key markets for Cheil Worldwide, and this new office demonstrates our commitment and aspirations for the country. With this office, we want to make a play for the best creative work that can come our way since Mumbai has an unequivocal reputation as the advertising capital of India.

Cheil Xs new state-of-the art office is spread across 7330sqft and has been designed keeping in mind the ever evolving need to foster a spirit of collaboration among group companies.

We're thrilled to unveil our brand new office in Mumbai, a city with a rich legacy of advertising, said Limseob Chung, President and CEO, Cheil SWA . The new office of Cheil X will act as a strategic hub for our clients and offer a wide range of services like creative, media, digital, influencer marketing, content production, technology, retail, and brand experiences all integrated together, making it an ideal hub for creating gold standard campaigns, he added.
DeHaat, Indias largest Agri-tech company, has launched its latest brand campaign featuring renowned Bollywood actor Pankaj Tripathi. The campaign, 'Ek Dukaan Sampoorna Samadhaan', showcases an extensive range of products and services from DeHaat, designed to create a positive impact on the lives of farmers by providing tech enabled 360-degree solutions throughout the crop lifecycle. The organization operates on the Farmers First principle that enables it to work towards the enhancement of farmers, helping them improve their agricultural practices and produce at the same time. Given its specialist rural advertising expertise, Eggfirst was the natural first choice to craft the positioning strategy and campaign for the brand.

Shyam Sundar Singh, Executive Director & Co-founder at DeHaat, said, We are happy to have such a renowned actor onboard. His influence and credibility will undoubtedly help us further drive our Farmers First vision to empower millions of farmers across the country.

DeHaat today offers its full-stack service offerings to over 2.5M farmers across the country through its expansive network of 14,000 franchise retail stores across 12 Indian States, empowering them to ensure quality & quantity of the crop yields. The company has also entered exclusive distribution tie-ups for 10+ global bio agri-input innovators to support sustainable agriculture while also upgrading its AI enabled digital tools for personalized crop advisory.

Ravikant Banka, the Founder and CEO of Eggfirst, said, Im amazed to be a part of this agri-revolution journey. Having successfully crafted many rural campaigns, DeHaat is one of a kind, as it evolves farmers' lives with cutting-edge innovation. Talking about the campaign, I feel Pankaj Tripathi is the right and impactful personality who resonates with farmers effortlessly."

Eggfirst is a Specialist Rural Advertising Agency with extreme digital prowess. Its true-blue advertising strategies provide a solid foundation for brands, and its digital expertise drives powerful connections with consumers while being cost-effective. Having worked with a large number of rural brands across FMCG, BFSI, Agri-inputs, building construction materials, and more, they have a deep understanding of the consumers and markets of Bharat.
FCB Ulka, part of FCB Group India, has been awarded the creative mandate for Provident Housing, Bengaluru's leading real estate brand. Provident Housing boasts an impressive portfolio of residential projects spanning across major cities such as Bengaluru, Kochi, Mumbai, Goa, Hyderabad, Mangalore, Chennai, Coimbatore, and Pune, showcasing their extensive reach and commitment to quality housing. The agency's Bengaluru office will manage the account.

On the partnership, Dhruba Jyoti Ghosh, Executive Vice President & Head of Marketing - Provident Housing Ltd. & Purva Land, said, "Extremely delighted to onboard FCB Ulka in our journey to create a national brand for Provident Housing Limited. The ever-changing environment of Real Estate and Consumer Behavior tosses greater challenges for every brand in the industry. The team at FCB Ulka has always demonstrated path-breaking creative and brand-strategic approaches across industries to stand out from the crowd. I am sure that we at Provident will benefit from this alliance in fostering the brand to deliver more for our customers and positively disrupt the industry."

Expressing his excitement about the partnership, Kulvinder Ahluwalia, CEO of FCB Ulka, said, "We are thrilled to join forces with Provident Housing as their creative agency. The chemistry that the teams shared as well as the strategic approach is what set us apart. The sheer vision and scale of Provident Housing and their ambitious plans is what truly excites us at FCB Ulka, and led by Damodaran from our Bengaluru office we are all geared up to deliver on their plans."
The Indian Gems and Jewellery market is pegged at $89.65 billion in 2024 and is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 5.7% between 2024 and 2030, according to Grand View Research. The gems and jewellery market in India is a reflection of artistry, innovation and the cultural nuances of each state as well as the emotions attached to them, contributing around 7% to the GDP of the country.

While national brands in India focus on fast-moving jewellery, regional brands offer products tailored to the tastes and preferences of local consumers. Jewellery brands such as Kalyan Jewellers have led its expansion plans beyond the South market.

Starting from handcrafted traditional jewellery to modern, contemporary, daily wear jewellery, the jewellery industry in India is flourishing and has been evolving with the changing times, speaking of the transitioning tastes, preferences, and lifestyle changes in the lives of the consumers. Moreover, with the rise in disposable incomes, a booming wedding season, a surge in e-commerce, the growing number of fashion conscious consumers and an emphasis on the celebration of cultural festivities, the jewellery industry is predicted to reach the mark of $124.70 billion by 2030.

The West Bengal market, specifically Kolkata, has emerged as an important center for the gemstone and gold trade, playing an instrumental role in propelling the jewellery industry to reach greater heights.

In an exclusive interview with Adgully, Ramesh Kalyanaraman, Executive Director, Kalyan Jewellers, shares his observations about the current market trends, challenges, and opportunities in the jewellery industry in the East, as well as the evolution of consumer behaviour.

Kalyan Jewellers was founded by T.S. Kalyanaraman in the year 1993 in Kerala. Initially, it bolstered its presence in Southern India, and in 2012, it led to the foundation of a showroom in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. In the next year, it expanded to the Middle East, and on the same day, it established as many as six showrooms in the UAE, gradually increasing to 30 showrooms in the Middle East.

At present, the brand has about 235 showrooms in India and the Middle East. It has set up nearly 71 showrooms in 2024, with plans to open 6 showrooms in the USA, and the Middle East and around 130 showrooms in India by 2025.

In Q4 of FY2024, the revenue of Kalyan Jewellers has grown by 34%. It has amalgamated with Candere.com as its digital platform, signing an agreement to make the acquisition of the remaining stake in Candere at Rs 42 crore.

On the current market trends, challenges, opportunities in the jewellery industry in the East market and the evolution of consumer behaviour, Ramesh Kalyanaraman said, In recent years, we have been consistently expanding our geographic presence in East India, with a revamped focus on states such as Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, and Odisha. Traditionally, consumers across these markets prefer yellow gold jewellery. While these styles continue to be popular choices across various consumer groups, we have been witnessing renewed interest from millennial and Gen-Z consumers towards jewellery buying, with a focus on trendy polki and diamond jewellery. In the menswear category, platinum as well as white gold and rose gold jewellery is fast gaining popularity, over the yellow gold products. The cosmopolitan nature of these colour tones makes it office as well as function-appropriate. From cufflinks to buttons to kadas and more, the menswear line is gaining significant traction within the Eastern market. With Jamai Shashti and Fathers Day this month, Senhor, our mens line of jewellery, is seeing many takers. To meet these changing preferences, we have been strategically realigning our offerings through deliberate retail expansion. This approach aims to keep our jewellery in sync with current trends and authentically reflective of cultural significance during the wedding and festive season.

Commenting on what forms the core of the creative communication process of Kalyan Jewellers and how it is catering to the requirements of the East market, Ramesh Kalyanaraman said, The hyperlocal strategy has been an integral aspect to the brand, be it our product offering across showrooms or our marketing campaigns championing the brand. We aspire to appeal to a wide audience by attempting to understand the local market preferences and trends in various geographies, which has been one of the key reasons behind the brands success across the country. Time and again, we have leveraged regional festivals like Jamai Sashti, Durga Pujo, Kali Pujo, Chhath Puja, Rajo, and more to appeal to the wider consumer base in the East India market, which is one of the most critical regions for us. We have also introduced some all-new product offerings that resonate with the market. The jewellery line takes inspiration from the cultural ethos, tailored to cater to local tastes while celebrating the vibrant Bangla spirit.

Discussing the focus areas of Kalyan Jewellers in 2024 in the East market and the medium in which it is investing more, Ramesh Kalyanaraman shared, In recent years, we have witnessed a phenomenal increase in screen-time spent by Indians towards digital, social media, and OTT platforms. Keeping up with changing times, it has become imperative for brands to align their marketing budget towards new-age mediums. At Kalyan Jewellers, we have introduced changes to our media mix with a more digital-centric approach, which has played a key role in targeting next-gen consumers. We are now focusing on developing content in various shorter formats to amplify across digital platforms, especially for our vernacular campaigns. We believe this strategy is helping us achieve higher penetration in newer markets, leading to an uptick in our market share.

Elaborating how Kalyan Jewellers is leveraging digital media, technology as well as influencer, and social media marketing as well as the ad campaigns launched by it this year, Ramesh Kalyanaraman noted, This year, we have executed a diverse array of hyperlocal campaigns, strategically tailored to resonate with patrons across the country. The brand has highlighted its remarkable commitment to engaging with its audience on both region-specific and nationwide occasions. From the launch of the Womens Day #SimplyMe campaign featuring Wamiqa Gabbi to the Gudi Padwa campaign headlined by Pooja Sawant, our campaigns have gained widespread popularity. Apart from these, the product-specific campaign for Nimah (temple jewellery line) featured brand ambassadors Rashmika Mandanna and Kalyani Priyadarshan in a distinctive avatar, sharing screen space for the first time. This campaign was followed by another unique campaign ad promoting the Antara jewellery line campaign, which brought together Jahnvi Kapoor and Kriti Sanon for the first time. Both campaign ads went viral across social media platforms.

Delving into the performance of Kalyan Jewellers in 2023 in the East market and the growth projections, and expansion plans for 2024, Ramesh Kalyanaraman said, At Kalyan Jewellers, we have been witnessing a multi-fold increase in revenue and footfalls across East India market. Following an aggressive expansion strategy, we aim to establish a stronger presence across states such as Jharkhand, Bihar, Odisha, and West Bengal. In the previous financial year, we doubled our presence in West Bengal, whereas increased four-fold our geographical footprint in Bihar and Odisha. By opening new showrooms and enhancing our distribution network, Kalyan Jewellers is taking our service-backed shopping experience to patrons across the country. This strategic expansion is a testament to our dedication to serving customers across India.
With the growing media clutter in the digital space, consumers have more media choices than ever before. In such a competitive environment, it is pivotal for brands, creators and platforms, for keeping their narrative fresh. Next Narrative is the new age Media Company that is committed to doing so by helping creators scale their reach and grow revenue while steering business outcomes for brands. Helmed by Mohit Jagtiani, award-winning brand storyteller, ex-Google (YouTube) and Viacom18, in collaboration with Simran Hoon, ex-QYOU Media and Viacom18, the branded content company intends to solve these brand objectives with relevant and captivating long and short form branded content and IPs.

Next Narrative touches on the ABCs of Digital Storytelling:

Audience : Next Narrative understands consumer preferences and motivations, and aims to help brands as well as creators connect with them meaningfully.

Brands: It serves brands seeking meaningful connections through storytelling.

Creators: It aims to support authentic creators with a passion for crafting emotional narratives.

Mohit Jagtiani, Founder and CEO, Next Narrative, says, There are too many brands vying for the same audience. This has inadvertently led to an obsession with performance marketing and immediate outcomes. A very few are focussing on building brand loyalty. Next Narrative believes that in todays cluttered environment, a compelling attraction to a brand, brand loyalty and consistent business outcomes has to be created with the right story, the right content and the right creator(s). With the 3Cs of creator, content and commerce converging, I could not have asked for a better time to take the entrepreneurial leap and add the 4th C of connection with Next Narrative.

About partnering with another industry veteran, Simran Hoon, Mohit adds, They say when you start on your own, you should tag team with someone who can complement your strengths and vision. I couldnt be more excited about partnering with Simran who is also my ex-colleague from my time at Viacom18.

Simran Hoon, Partner, Next Narrative, adds, Storytelling has always been in my DNA. While working at Viacom18 together, Mohit and I experienced first-hand impact of the right story, in the right hands, told to the right audience. With our industry knowledge and the right partnerships, we always knew we wanted to create something creative and drive impact. I have had a rewarding career spanning 30+ years working with the broadcast media in its golden age and with the digital media which is today a tour de force. What remains unchanged across the years and types of media is the ability of tell great stories to solve brand challenges. 

Whatever the medium- episodic series, creator collaboration campaigns or podcasts-Next Narrative aims to focus on building brand loyalty. Under Mohit and Simrans leadership, the company will drive results for brands by developing compelling content. Today, creators are media powerhouses with loyal communities. Next Narrative aims to partner with these influencers and creators- niche, big and small, who can authentically bring brand stories to life.
Urbanic, the UK based premium fashion brand is thrilled to announce the launch of Savana, its latest venture tailored exclusively for Generation Z women. Savana by Urbanic aims to redefine fashion for the discerning young woman of today, offering a curated collection that effortlessly blends style, quality, and affordability. With a finger firmly on the pulse of contemporary trends, Savana is poised to become the go-to destination for those who crave fashion that reflects their individuality and spirit. Savana boasts of end-to-end proprietary AI production that ensures less inventory waste.

Urbanic recognized the need to address emerging consumer needs across different age demographics. Traditionally targeting youth, Urbanic identified two key segments: those seeking premium quality products and those with a keen sense of fashion but limited budgets. With the launch of Savana, Urbanic stays attuned to evolving consumer preferences, ensuring their demands are met. This fosters stronger connections with audiences and demonstrates their commitment to adapting to their changing needs.

The launch event took place at The British High Commissioner's residence in Delhi on June 7, 2024, promising an evening of elegance and sophistication. This highly anticipated event featured the official unveiling by the Founding Partner Mr. James Wellwood. The event was embraced by Lindy Cameron, the first female British High Commissioner for India and Anna Shotbolt, Deputy Trade Commissioner South Asia, Department for Business & Trade.

The launch event was a celebration of style and culture, featuring the official unveiling ceremony of Savana by Urbanic. Guests embraced an evening filled with glamour, exclusive previews of the Savana collection, and networking opportunities with industry insiders and fashion enthusiasts alike. Few prominent names were Nancy Tyagi, Ayesha Kanga, Andrea Kevichusa, Arushi Mehra and Sanjana Batra.

"We are delighted to introduce Savana by Urbanic, a brand that embodies the essence of contemporary fashion while staying true to our commitment to quality and innovation," said Mr. James Wellwood, Founder of Urbanic. "With Savana, we aim to empower young women to express themselves through their style, offering them a diverse range of fashion-forward choices that resonate with their lifestyle."

Savana's debut collection features a variety of styles designed to cater to every aspect of a young womans life, from casual daywear to sophisticated evening attire. Each piece is crafted with attention to detail, ensuring that it not only looks good but also feels great to wear. This new venture by Urbanic is set to make waves in the fashion industry, emphasizing sustainability and ethical production practices as core values.
The First Chapter: An Exhilarating Expedition to Ladakh: Volkswagen India flags off the first chapter of Volkswagen Experiences (VWe) on 9th June 2024 from Chandigarh with customers and fans of the Brand undertaking an exhilarating expedition across the Himalayas.

Curated customer engagement and experience activity enabling a breathtaking and picturesque journey from Chandigarh across the Himalayas to Ladakh - Driven by safety with the Tiguan, Virtus and Taigun products across the expedition.

Driven by safety, the customers will be driving the Tiguan, Virtus and Taigun, experiencing the comfort, funto-drive and premium-ness of a Volkswagen.

Volkswagen Passenger Cars India today flags off the highly anticipated "Volkswagen Experiences (VWe)," called The First Chapter: An Exhilarating Expedition to Ladakh designed to deliver an enriching community-driven experiences for customers and fans of the brand. Starting from Chandigarh, the expedition covers the breathtaking and picturesque Himalayas all the way to Ladakh.

Mr. Ashish Gupta, Brand Director, Volkswagen Passenger Cars India said, With Volkswagen Experiences (VWe), we have introduced the much awaited customer engagement program that brings the ethos of togetherness through various curated experiences. As we flag off the First Chapter from Chandigarh, we look forward to customers having a superlative experience of owning and driving a Volkswagen. Driving steadily across the different terrains keeping the occupants safe providing our customers peace of mind.

Customers participating from all over India will be driving in a convoy of 25+ Volkswagen cars from Chandigarh to Ladakh taking on the tough and challenging terrain of the Himalayas. Plunging into the world of offbeat, rustic hamlets, ancient monasteries, high altitude mountain passes, whistling valleys, and tall Himalayan peaks. The journey enables the customers to experience different landscapes as they drive from Manali, all the way to Jispa with the end destination being Leh, Ladakh. Providing a curated and authentic lifestyle experience, the customers will also indulge in local cuisines, bond over the outdoor survival training sessions, and experience the Palchan Apple orchards. Celebrating togetherness as were styled to wander by the banks of the Indus in Leh.
Federal Laboratory for Materials Testing and Research

Dubendorf, St. Gallen und Thun, 11.06.2024 - A new study by an international team of researchers, published today in Nature Climate Change, has revealed significant progress in the drive to reduce atmospheric levels of chemicals that destroy the Earths protective ozone layer, confirming the success of historic regulations limiting their production and use. Empa scientists contributed to this study with measurements from the high-alpine research station at Jungfraujoch.

The study, led by researchers at the University of Bristol and published today in Nature Climate Change, show for the first time a notable decline in the atmospheric levels of potent ozone-depleting substances (ODS), called hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs). These HCFCs are also harmful greenhouse gases (GHGs), so their reduction should also lessen global warming.



The Montreal Protocol was agreed to internationally in 1987 to introduce controls on the production and use of ODS, which were once widely used in the manufacturing of hundreds of products, including refrigerators, aerosol sprays, foams and packaging. HCFCs were developed as replacements for chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). While production of CFCs has been banned globally since 2010, HCFC production and use is currently still being phased out globally, with a completion date slated for 2040. They will be replaced by non-ozone-depleting hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and other compounds.



The results are very encouraging. They underscore the great importance of establishing and sticking to international protocols", says lead author Luke Western from the University of Bristols School of Chemistry. Without the Montreal Protocol, this success would not have been possible. So its a resounding endorsement of multilateral commitments to combat stratospheric ozone depletion, with additional benefits in tackling human-induced climate change.

Decline faster than anticipated

The international study shows the total amount of ozone-depleting chlorine contained in all HCFCs combined peaked in 2021. Because these compounds are also potent GHGs, their contribution to climate change also peaked in that year. This maximum occurred five years earlier than predicted in the last ozone assessment report published in 2022. Although the drop between 2021 and 2023 was less than 1%, it still shows HCFC emissions are heading in the right direction. For Empa scientist and co-author Stefan Reimann, the study represents a "milestone in the history of measures to contain the ozone hole, in which we were able to show for the first time that even the replacement products for the even more ozone-depleting CFCs are now decreasing  and this even five years earlier than expected." According to the Empa researcher, this was only possible thanks to the continuous tightening of international protocols and their verification with the help of atmospheric measurements, for instance on Jungfraujoch.



The results rely on high-precision measurements at globally distributed atmospheric observatories, using data from the Advanced Global Atmospheric Gases Experiment (AGAGE) and the National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration (NOAA) in the US, including the high-alpine research station on Jungfraujoch, where Empa scientists carried out their atmospheric measurements. "We use highly sensitive measurement techniques and thorough protocols to ensure the reliability of these observations," said co-author Martin Vollmer, an atmospheric scientist at Empa.



Co-author and NOAA scientist Isaac Vimont added: This study highlights the critical need to be vigilant and proactive in our environmental monitoring, ensuring other controlled ozone-depleting and greenhouse gases follow a similar trend, which will help to protect the planet for future generations.

Literature

LM Western, JS Daniel, MK Vollmer, S Clingan, M Crotwell, PJ. Fraser, AL Ganesan, B Hall, CM Harth, PB Krummel, J Muhle, S ODoherty, PK Salameh, KM Stanley, S Reimann, I Vimont, D Young, M Rigby, RF Weiss, RG Prinn, SA Montzka; Global Reduction in Harmful Greenhouse Gases and Ozone-Depleting Substances: Success of Montreal Protocol Confirmed; Nature Climate Change (2024); DOI: 10.1038/s41558-024-02038-7

Address for enquiries

Dr. Martin Vollmer

Air Pollution / Environmental Technology

Phone +41 58 765 4242

martin.vollmer@empa.ch

Publisher

Federal Laboratory for Materials Testing and Research

http://www.empa.ch




Hijab Controversy at Kolkata College: Teacher Resigns, Returns Amid Public Uproar 2

A teacher at a private law college affiliated with the University of Calcutta resigned after the institute allegedly asked her to refrain from wearing a hijab at the workplace.

Following public outrage, the college authorities clarified it was a miscommunication. The teacher, Sanjida Qadar, plans to return on Tuesday after withdrawing her resignation.

Sanjida Qadar, who has been at LJD Law College for three years, initially resigned on June 5, alleging that the authorities had instructed her not to wear a hijab after May 31. The diktat from the college governing body offended my values and religious sentiments, she said.

West Bengal minister and Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind president Siddiqullah Chowdhury expressed solidarity with Qadar and called for an apology from the college governing body president. The minister also questioned whether the authorities were influenced by the RSS and BJP.

The college governing body chairman Gopal Das stated there was no directive and that the incident resulted from miscommunication. There was no directive or prohibition, and the college authorities respect the religious sentiments of everyone. She will resume classes on Tuesday. Now, there is no misunderstanding, Das told PTI.

Despite receiving an email stating she could use a dupatta or scarf to cover her head, Qadar said she would analyze her next steps before deciding to return. The minister alleged the management is instilling regressive values and questioned their secular and pluralistic values.
The founder of a New York charity meant to serve low-income families has been charged with embezzling some $2.5 million in donations which included more than $100,000 on food delivery services, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York announced Tuesday.

Keith Taylor, 56, founded the Modest Needs Foundation in 2002, using a crowd-funding model to provide short-term financial assistance to low-income workers for unexpected expenses, such as medical bills or broken appliances, and was profiled by publications such as Forbes, CNN and the New York Times for his work. According to the criminal complaint, from at least 2016 through May 2024, Taylor embezzled more than $2.5 million from the charity to fund his "lavish" lifestyle.

"As alleged, Keith Taylor falsely claimed that donations to his charity would help working families with unexpected expenses that put them at risk of homelessness. Instead, Taylor allegedly took those donations to pay for his meals at upscale restaurants, rent for a luxury apartment in a Manhattan skyscraper, and even cosmetic surgery," U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said in a statement. "Taylor allegedly defrauded the charity's donors and unconscionably took money from the pockets of those most in need, and he is now facing federal charges for his alleged crimes."

Taylor allegedly spent more than $320,000 at luxury New York City restaurants and steakhouses including Per Se, Jean-Georges, Masa, and Marea in Midtown Manhattan, where he dined "sometimes as often as twice a day," as well as more than $100,000 on food delivery services. He allegedly spent more than $300,000 in charity funds on rent for his luxury apartment on the 30th floor of a midtown Manhattan high-rise.

Taylor also allegedly spent charity funds on expensive electronics and his own personal cosmetic surgery. He allegedly transferred more than $270,000 in charity funds into his personal brokerage account, and used charity accounts to pay his personal expenses.

In order to hide the embezzlement, Taylor allegedly created a fake board of directors, using the names of his acquaintances, to "approve" his personal spending. The names of the fake board members included "a bartender from Jean-Georges, a friend, and his house-cleaner, none of whom ever attended a board meeting or even knew that they had been listed on the charity's website as board members."

From 2017 through 2022, Taylor also allegedly failed to file personal income tax returns or pay taxes on the income he received from the charity.

"Taylor acted like a do-gooder, founding a charity meant to help underserved communities. But it's alleged he later took this as an opportunity to victimize both his donors and his own charity by pocketing millions in donations to live a luxurious lifestyle," said Thomas Fattorusso, the Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation. "Today's arrest means that Taylor can no longer allegedly exploit the kindness of others for his own gain, and he now faces the consequences of his alleged greed."

Taylor is charged with one count of wire fraud, punishable by up to 20 years in prison; one count of aggravated identity theft, which carries a mandatory consecutive sentence of two years in prison; and six counts of tax evasion, each punishable by up to five years in prison.

--with reporting by TMX
Pell Citys Allied Mineral Products today announced a $23.5 million expansion of its plant that produces industrial heat containment refractory products.

The company plans to add a 200,000-square-foot production facility on the companys site at 308 Truss Ferry Road in Pell City, and create 13 new jobs.

The companys workforce there now totals 81 full-time employees. Construction is expected to be completed by late 2025.

Allied also has U.S. locations in Brownsville, Texas and its headquarters in Columbus, Ohio. The company has facilities in Canada, South America, Europe, India, China and South Africa.

Since its founding over 60 years ago, Allied Mineral Products has grown into a global company, serving multiple industries and registering sales to more than 100 countries, Commerce Secretary Ellen McNair said. With a worldwide presence, the company could have selected another location for this investment, so this expansion in Pell City is truly a testament to the workforce there.

In addition to the new building, the expansion will include installation of new manufacturing equipment including cranes, drying ovens and mixers. This will increase the Pell City facilitys production capacity and prepare it for growth.

Our partnership with Alabama is strengthened yet again with the expansion of this plant which we built in 2019, Allied CEO and President Paul Jamieson said. Our theme for this event is Growth Propels Us. This is true for Allied globally, but nowhere more apparent than here in Pell City.

Locating our facility in Alabama was part of a long-term strategy to expand our manufacturing presence in the South to be closer to our customers. Because of the quality of this workforce and the local support here, our growth in Alabama has been faster than we planned.

The Pell City Industrial Development Board supported the project. Workforce development agency AIDT will provide services, including skills training on automation technologies for company workers.

We are happy that Allied Mineral chose its Pell City facility for this new investment. It is always good to see our growth in our industrial base and is a reflection of the quality of the workforce in St. Clair County, Stan Batemon, chairman of the St. Clair County Commission, said.
For the last five years, Alabama has embarked on an effort to dramatically reshape how it teaches reading to young students.

And recently, it appeared to have paid off. Social media posts and news releases across the state this spring praised test results.

91% of third graders are on grade level, state Superintendent Eric Mackey told APTs Capitol Journal on May 17. Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin posted a graph on social media. Multiple school districts congratulated students.

The problem? They read the information incorrectly [Editors note: AL.com reporter Trisha Powell Crain tweeted in error as well.].

Actually, the percentage of third graders reading on grade level isnt 91%. Its 77%, according to test results the state department of education provided to AL.com.

Real progress has been made on reading, but confusion over Alabamas literacy numbers and terms is rampant.

That confusion has caused some experts and educators to raise questions about whether Alabama is being honest about its improvements. Even social media jumped on the question. More importantly, confusion may also impact which students, in K-3 and beyond, get access to support.

We have made it not only complicated, but deceptive in the fact that weve used all of this terminology; it is a widespread [belief that] our kids are on grade level, said Shelley Vail-Smith, a literacy expert helping to oversee the states efforts.

The biggest danger in all of this is for parents to think, okay, they made this, theyre fine.

Where to set the bar

Martin Nalls, head of school of i3 Academy, a public charter school in Birmingham, said the Alabama Literacy Act, passed in 2019, has paved the way to improve students reading skills.

The great part about it, he said, is that as educators, we dont necessarily have a lot of levers to pull to create a sense of urgency. So when the legislature passes a law that says students will be retained if they do not score a certain score on a test, that creates a sense of urgency, not only for school administrators and educators, but also families.

Among many other adjustments to literacy instruction, Alabama gave students a new test to measure reading in 2023. And officials had to decide what cut score -- essentially, what standard students needed to meet -- on the test.

Experts said third graders would need to score at least a 473 to show they are reading on grade level.

But as educators considered the results of the 2023 test, they became nervous about the possibility of retaining as many as 17,000 students if the cut score was set at 473. The state Board of Education instead chose to use a cut score of 435, two standard errors below 473, a statistically sound, but lower, bar.

Mackey told state board members in August that the updated score would help make sure that we are not retaining children that are in that gray area and should not be retained. So were trying to give the greatest benefit to the students.

The 435 score became the measure for sufficiency, which is what the law requires, but does not spell out clearly.

Sufficiency represents minimum grade level reading performance necessary to matriculate to fourth grade, a spokesperson for the state department of education told AL.com.

The percentage of children scoring below sufficiency dropped substantially - from 17% in 2023 to 9% in 2024 and the percentage of children reaching grade level - scoring 473 or above - rose dramatically - from 68% in 2023 to 77% in 2024.

But there are still thousands of children in the gray area between sufficiency and grade-level who still need help. Click here if youre unable to see the chart.

Here are the same results, but this time showing the number of third graders scoring at each level. Click here if you are unable to see the table.

The terms dont just measure success: They also impact which students get access to support.

According to 2024 test results, nearly 5,000 third graders are at risk of being held back because they are not reading sufficiently.

But thats just a fraction of the students who are not reading well, according to state department data reviewed by AL.com.

An additional 7,400 students arent reading on grade level, but will advance to fourth grade because they scored above 435 and are reading sufficiently.

They may have a false sense of success about their reading skills, experts say. And without interventions to support those students, they may enter higher grades without the skills to understand what theyre reading. That can have long-term impacts on a students ability to do well on all subjects.

Vail-Smith, president of the Alabama Campaign on Grade Level Reading, a committee overseeing the implementation of the Literacy Act, said using multiple similar terms such as sufficient, on grade level, and proficient confuses parents (and many other people).

Consistent messaging was key to Mississippis recent effort to boost literacy, according to Kymyona Burk. She oversaw the implementation of that states third grade reading law, passed in 2013, and now serves on Alabamas Literacy Task Force and directs early literacy efforts for Excel In Ed.

In Mississippi, Burk said reports to parents about test results stated that there was a difference between reaching the cut score - which meant their child would move on to fourth grade - and proficiency.

We did not want to mislead parents, Burk said of Mississippis notifications. We did not want to mislead fourth grade teachers.

Alabama schools are required to notify parents of students scoring below 435; the law doesnt require notification for students scoring above 435.

Raising the bar

Like Alabama, Mississippi also started with a relatively low bar for success. Then the state slowly increased the rigor expected of students and teachers.

Alabama plans to raise expectations, too, but hasnt set a specific timeline.

Some officials think its time.

Raise that bar just a little bit at a time, but raise it every year, Rep. Terri Collins, R-Decatur, an original sponsor of the Literacy Act, said. Thats how we get where we want to go if we want to move up.

The law gives the board the authority to set new cut scores at any time, but Mackey recommended changing the score no more than every other year. He told board members in August the earliest they should consider changing the score would be summer 2025.

When the board voted in September to set the cut score at 435, Jackie Zeigler, R-Mobile, was one of three board members who voted no, expressing concern about sending kids to fourth grade unprepared and with little support.

Zeigler told AL.com she plans to bring up the topic at the June 13 work session, where school-level reading test results will be made public.

I came away [from board discussions] with the understanding that there was a need for a time frame to pass between the adoption of the new state standards and the implementation of the ACAP, Zeigler said, referring to the new state test. That time has now passed.

Mark Dixon, president of the A+ Education Partnership, a nonprofit helping to implement the Literacy Act, said he is looking to the board to raise the score.

The expectation has always been to raise the cut score over time like other states have done, Dixon said, and we fully support the State Board taking that action.

Consequences for students

This is the first year that the cut score and messaging around it really matters, because of the consequences: 2024 is the first year children could actually be held back under the law if they arent reading sufficiently.

A sample letter from the state Department of Education to parents whose children did not score well enough on the spring ACAP test and need help with reading skills. Thousands of families should have received similar letters this spring.The Alabama state Department of Education

During the onramp to fully implementing the Literacy Act, the state has improved how it teaches children to read, experts say. Early grade educators statewide got new training in the science of reading, new reading standards were put in place and new textbooks were vetted. And test scores show signs of improvement statewide in many schools and districts.

Acknowledging improvement in Alabamas overall reading results, Burk said students who are struggling to read on grade level will need support in the fourth grade. And its important for fourth grade teachers to know which students are in that gray area.

The question becomes how will those students [in between sufficient and on grade level] be flagged to receive the additional supports that we know they need, she said.

Theres going to have to be an intentional effort to support those students who are checking the box as meeting the cut score, but not being on grade level reading.

Vail-Smith said she worries that the true cost is that schools may not offer  or parents may not ask for  additional support. Parents of children who are reading sufficiently but not on grade level might think, she said, we dont have to go to summer camps. We dont have to do any of the other things.

State education officials have made it clear that they expect schools to offer additional reading support if needed.

But the full funding needed to help older students hasnt materialized. Funds that are part of the Alabama Reading Initiative - which supports the Literacy Acts implementation - cannot be used on students beyond third grade, Mackey said.

The board requested $22 million to support struggling readers in the fourth grade and beyond. The legislature funded the request with $5 million from a $681 million supplemental appropriation. The board will be back at the table, requesting more funding for those efforts in next years budget, according to a department spokesperson.
Two men were killed, and another seriously injured when they were hit by a vehicle while they were cutting grass on Interstate 85 in Chambers County.

The crash happened at 6:19 p.m. Monday on I-85 northbound near Valley.

Valley Police Chief Mike Reynolds said the crew was cutting grass in the median when a northbound vehicle left the road and struck the workers.

The driver, 44-year-old Randall Shane Lankford, told officers he was traveling in the left lane when a semi-truck driving on the right tried to merge into his lane. He lost control of his vehicle and hit the men.

Pablo Gutierrez Cruz, 44, and Reuben Lopez Perez, age unknown, were pronounced dead on the scene.

Rumaldo Lopez Perez, age unknown, was airlifted to a Columbus hospital. His condition was not immediately available, Reynolds said.

ALEA State Troopers and the Lee County Coroners office are assisting in the investigation.

Anyone who witnessed the crash is asked to call the Valley Police Department at 334-756-5200 or the Valley Area Crime Stoppers at 334-215-STOP, 1-833-AL1-STOP, or email at www.215stop.com.
An Enterprise man is behind bars, accused of stalking his ex-wife and putting a tracking device on her vehicle.

Jeremie Michael Spencer, 43, is charged with second-degree domestic violence/stalking and first-degree electronic stalking.

Alabama passed a new law last year that makes it illegal to put a tracking device on the property of another person.

Spencer was taken into custody Monday.

The investigation began in late May when Dothan police were made aware of alleged threats made to Spencers ex-wife. The couple divorced several years ago, court records show.

The victim on May 29 reported that she was being harassed by Spencer via text messages and phone calls.

In the victims successful request for a protection from abuse order against Spencer, she wrote that he made threats in front of their adolescent son that he was going to (expletive) me up and brandished a rifle.

She stated he was making threats and using diminishing words against her.

Dothan police Lt. Scott Owens said investigators found Spencer had sent threatening texts or made phone calls to the victim more than 50 times during an eight-day period.

The victim said Spencer was acting like he knew her every move, so she checked her home surveillance cameras. On the footage, she saw him emerging from underneath her vehicle and then she found a tracking device.

Spencer is being held without bond in the Houston County Jail.

Everyone deserves relationships free from domestic violence, Owens said.

Anyone dealing with domestic violence can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233 or the House of Ruth Dothan at 334-793-2232.
State officials in early April announced a 60-day review of the finances and cost-saving potentials in order to build the $3.5 billion Interstate 10 Mobile River and Bridge project.

Those 60 days are now up. And ALDOT, along with representatives from the Mobile and Eastern Shore Metropolitan Planning Organizations, announced Monday that they intend to seek more federal support and remain committed to the project.
This is an opinion column.

Ive been watching too many detective shows from England and New Zealand.

The death rates in fictional places there are as stunning as the scenery. And the means of death?

They really know how to cark it  as they say in New Zealand  over there, mate.

Unwitting victims in the Brokenwood Mysteries 10 seasons have died by acid burns, an arrow to the forehead, and a stiletto heel to the chest. Theyve been forced to drink gasoline, electrocuted by electric guitar, poisoned during Shakespeare plays and drowned, more than once, in giant vats of wine.

Vicious, these people.

Midsomer, the English version, is a death trap. Hapless victims die by giant cheeses, are drowned in tubs of eels and crushed by stacks of falling newspapers.

A guy figured out that the top way to die on Midsomer Murders 24 seasons was to be stabbed or beheaded, though its still pretty likely youd be crushed, suffocated, pushed off something, poisoned, electrocuted or tied up in some strange ritual if you found a way to visit.

Nothing so simple as gunshots, though. Whats the drama in that? It lacks creativity. Its just too easy, too cowardly some would say, to simply point and shoot.

Of course, things are a little different in those places, where you need some imagination to comprehend the killing.

The U.S. murder rate, after all, is 7 times that of England and New Zealand -- especially if you dont count their fictional parts. And Alabamas murder rate is almost twice as high as the U.S. in total and 13 times that of those other countries. Birminghams murder rate is off the charts.

I was curious how many stiletto killings or pitchforks in the back or Samurai sword slayings occurred in Alabama in recent years. After all, Alabama is one of the top three most murderous states in America  thank God for Mississippi and Louisiana  according to the CDC.

But alas, there is nothing dramatic about it. Nothing but hundreds of lives lost, that is.

In 2021 and 2022, the last two years available, the FBI counted 809 murders in Alabama. There are likely more, because all agencies dont report. If you remove the 53 killings that listed the cause of death as unknown it leaves 756 deaths.

In two years. Thats more than the 34 combined seasons of Brokenwood and Midsomer. And Ive been talking smack about their dangerous fantasy lands.

I would give you a top 10 list, but there arent really 10 standard causes of murder in Alabama. There were no incidents of homicide by spider or serpent, no strangulations, hangings or killings by club, blackjack or brass knuckles. There were no explosions or occasions where a victim was pushed off anything. Here are Alabamas methods of death. I will give you the top nine, because thats all there is.

9. Poison. There was one death by poison in the two year period. Life does not always imitate fiction. That comes to 0.1% of Alabama deaths.

8. Asphyxiation. There were two homicides by asphyxiation in Alabama in 2021 and 2022, according to the FBI. Thats 0.3% of killings.

7. Fire. Four intentional deaths were attributed to fire in the two-year period. That makes fire or some incendiary device responsible for 0.5% of murders.

6. Drugs/narcotics/sleepings pills. Just 10 homicides were attributed to drugs in the FBI data. Thats 1.3% of the deaths.

5. Blunt object. At least 16 people died by this cause in Alabama in 2021 and 2022. It seems like an awful lot, but it is just 2.1% of the killings. It is much more common in foreign fiction.

4. Personal Weapons. It is unclear what this means, but is listed as the cause for 23 deaths, or 3% of them.

3. Other. This category is also a mystery, but accounts for 28 killings, or 3.7%.

2. Knife/cutting instrument. Knives or sharp things were responsible for 38 killings in Alabama in the time period, or 5% of them all. Thats one in every 20 murders, which was high enough to rank them second overall.

And the No. 1 method of murder in Alabama is 

1. Guns. Thats handguns and automatic guns and rifles and shotguns and undescribed firearms. They accounted for 634 of the 756 known homicides in Alabama in 2021 and 2022, according to the FBI. Thats 83.9% percent of killings with known causes.

Its a lot. In a state that is among the nations most deadly. In a nation that is among the most deadly. In a world that is all too deadly.

Kinda makes you long for death by wine vat. At least thats a little harder to pull off.

John Archibald is a two-time Pulitzer winner.
A Bessemer man is under arrest, accused of pistol-whipping a woman who was giving him a ride, stealing her car and then leading police on a chase through multiple cities.

Michael King, 30, is charged with first-degree robbery, second-degree assault, criminal mischief, attempting to elude, and unlawful possession of a pistol.

Alabaster police responded at 5:30 a.m. to a call for service at a closed gas station. The initial information indicated a car had been stolen from that location.

Det. Andrew Rowan said when officers arrived, hey found a woman who had been struck repeatedly in the head with a gun. She told police she had met King that night and was giving him a ride home when the assault took place.

She said King then took her car and left, heading northbound on Interstate 65.

Pelham officers then spotted the vehicle still northbound on I-65 and tried to stop the driver. Officers from Hoover and Vestavia Hills joined in the pursuit. Homewood police also assisted.

Rowan said King was finally taken into custody on Oxmoor Road in Birmingham.

King remains held without bond in the Shelby County Jail.
The Rev. James Lawson Jr., an apostle of nonviolent protest who schooled activists to withstand brutal reactions from white authorities as the Civil Rights Movement gained traction, has died, his family said Monday. He was 95.

His family said Monday that Lawson died on Sunday after a short illness in Los Angeles, where he spent decades working as a pastor, labor movement organizer and university professor.

Lawson was a close adviser to the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., who called him the leading theorist and strategist of nonviolence in the world.

Lawson met King in 1957, after spending three years in India soaking up knowledge about Mohandas K. Ghandis independence movement. King would travel to India himself two years later, but at the time, he had only read about Ghandi in books.

The two Black pastors -- both 28 years old -- quickly bonded over their enthusiasm for the Indian leaders ideas, and King urged Lawson to put them into action in the American South.

Lawson soon led workshops in church basements in Nashville, Tennessee, that prepared John Lewis, Diane Nash, Bernard Lafayette, Marion Barry, the Freedom Riders and many others to peacefully withstand vicious responses to their challenges of racist laws and policies.

Lawsons lessons led Nashville to become the first major city in the South to desegregate its downtown, on May 10, 1960, after hundreds of well-organized students staged lunch-counter sit-ins and boycotts of discriminatory businesses.

Lawsons particular contribution was to introduce Ghandian principles to people more familiar with biblical teachings, showing how direct action could expose the immorality and fragility of racist white power structures.

Ghandi said that we persons have the power to resist the racism in our own lives and souls, Lawson told the AP. We have the power to make choices and to say no to that wrong. Thats also Jesus.

Years later, in 1968, it was Lawson who organized the sanitation workers strike that fatefully drew King to Memphis. Lawson said he was at first paralyzed and forever saddened by Kings assassination.

I thought I would not live beyond 40, myself, Lawson said. The imminence of death was a part of the discipline we lived with, but no one as much as King.

Still, Lawson made it his lifes mission to preach the power of nonviolent direct action.

Im still anxious and frustrated, Lawson said as he marked the 50th anniversary of Kings death with a march in Memphis. The task is unfinished.

James Morris Lawson Jr., was born on Sept. 22, 1928, the son and grandson of ministers, and grew up in Massillon, Ohio, where he became ordained himself as a high school senior.

He told The Tennessean that his commitment to nonviolence began in elementary school, when he told his mother that he had slapped a boy who had used a racial slur against him.

What good did that do, Jimmy? his mother asked.

That simple question forever changed his life, Lawson said. He became a pacifist, refusing to serve when drafted for the Korean War, and spent a year in prison as a conscientious objector. The Fellowship of Reconciliation, a pacifist group, sponsored his trip to India after he finished a sociology degree.

Gandhi had been assassinated by then, but Lawson met people who had worked with him and explained Ghandis concept of satyagraha, a relentless pursuit of Truth, which encouraged Indians to peacefully reject British rule. Lawson then saw how the Christian concept of turning the other cheek could be applied in collective actions to challenge morally indefensible laws.

Lawson was a divinity student at Oberlin College in Ohio when King spoke on campus about the Montgomery bus boycott. King told him, You cant wait, you need to come on South now, Lawson recalled in an Associated Press interview.

Lawson soon enrolled in theology classes at Vanderbilt University, while leading younger activists through mock protests in which they practiced taking insults without reacting.

The technique swiftly proved its power at lunch counters and movie theaters in Nashville, where on May 10, 1960, businesses agreed to take down the No Colored signs that enforced white supremacy.

It was the first major successful campaign to pull the signs down, and it created a template for the sit-ins that began spreading across the South, Lawson said.

Lawson was called on to organize what became the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, which sought to organize the spontaneous efforts of tens of thousands of students who began challenging Jim Crow laws across the South.

Angry segregationists got Lawson expelled from Vanderbilt, but he said he never harbored hard feelings about the university, where he returned as a distinguished visiting professor in 2006, and eventually donated a significant portion of his papers.

Lawson earned that theology degree at Boston University and became a Methodist pastor in Memphis, where his wife Dorothy Wood Lawson worked as an NAACP organizer. They moved several years later to Los Angeles, where Lawson led the Holman United Methodist Church and taught at California State University, Northridge and the University of California. They raised three sons, John, Morris and Seth.

Lawson remained active into his 90s, urging younger generations to leverage their power. Eulogizing the late Rep. John Lewis last year, he recalled how the young man he trained in Nashville grew lonely marches into multitudes, paving the way for major civil rights legislation.

If we would honor and celebrate John Lewis life, let us then re-commit our souls, our hearts, our minds, our bodies and our strength to the continuing journey to dismantle the wrong in our midst, Lawson said.
Even to one of Alabamas top marine scientists, back-to-back shark attacks off the Florida Panhandle are startling.

But, despite the horror of the serious injuries to three victims, including two Alabama teens, the incident does not appear to represent an alarming trend.

On Friday, two attacks occurred along the shore of Walton County, Fla.

They happened about four miles apart, within about an hour and a half of each other.

In one, a 45-year-old woman lost her left hand and suffered significant trauma to her midsection and pelvis, according to a local fire chief. In the other, Mountain Brook teenager Lulu Gribbin lost a hand and a leg and a friend suffered relatively minor injuries.

Sean Powers is the director of the University of South Alabamas Stokes School of Marine and Environmental Sciences and a senior marine scientist at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab.

Among the 150-plus published papers he has co-authored are some dealing with sharks, such as a 2013 study on decreases in the size of coastal sharks reported by fishermen, a 2010 paper on the distribution of sharks across a continental shelf in the northern Gulf of Mexico, and a 2007 report on Cascading effects of the loss of apex predatory sharks from the coastal ocean.

Even to him, its eye-catching to hear reports of two attacks so close together.

I would totally agree, its very unusual, he said. I havent heard of this kind of situation with attacks back-to-back, let alone on the same day within an area that arguably the shark could have transitioned to.

Thats a reference to speculation that it could have been the same shark, but Powers said theres no way to know and its more likely that the conditions were just similar for feeding between the two areas.

It is extremely, extremely rare that this event happened and obviously its rare that shark attacks happen at all, he said.

17 1 / 17 Walton County, Florida shark attacks

Powers said the University of Florida maintains an international shark attack database that he uses as a resource.

And the fact is, Alabama, Florida Panhandle, the Gulf, has a very rich shark and stingray population.

But most of those sharks are small, he said. Theyre less than four feet long and are rarely more than a nuisance for fishermen.

Sometimes larger sharks do venture in close to the beaches favored by people. Thats often because of the presence of prey.

This time of year, that end-of-April to kind of mid-June period, we have a lot of bait close to the beach, he said. Theyre just chasing the bait.

Florida is, right now, the capital of shark attacks, he said. But its interesting. Its not the Panhandle, its the Daytona Beach area.

Indeed, Florida racked up 16 confirmed bites (none fatal) in 2023, more by far than any other state, and eight of those were in Volusia County, Fla., which lies along the East Coast of Florida north of Orlando.

The big-picture view is this, Powers said: The long-term pattern is that every year there tend to be somewhere around 65 documented shark attacks worldwide that are classed as unprovoked.

The Florida Museums International Shark Attack File defines unprovoked as incidents in which a bite on a live human occurs in the sharks natural habitat with no human provocation of the shark.

When you consider that were actively trying to rebuild shark populations, the federal and state governments are trying to rebuild them after decades of overfishing, and theres more and more people coming to the beach, its surprising in some ways it hasnt increased proportionally, Powers said.

The rate has stayed, just creeping up just a little bit, even though we have more and more sharks and more and more people in the ocean.

For some, he said, that will beg the question: Why are governments trying to rebuild shark populations?

For one thing, he said, When the big sharks are gone, stingray populations explode .... Cownose rays feed on oysters, shrimp, clams. Plus stingrays themselves are dangerous. So we dont want an exploding stingray population, and think about it, what else is gonna eat a big stingray besides a shark? They have a role, the apex predator role, its an important one. If you asked people, what do you want? A bunch of stingrays and less oysters or would you put up with some sharks? Most would say they would put up with some sharks.

And most of these big sharks, the other thing they do besides stingrays is, they eat other sharks, he added.

Historically, Powers said, sharks were heavily fished by international fleets, driven mainly by demand for shark fins as a food item in some Asian countries.

But the Federal MagnusonStevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1976, and its later updates, helped push international longline fishing vessels out of waters defined as the United States Economic Exclusion Zone.

That did much to help Gulf shark populations, Powers said.

Bull shark and tiger shark populations are very healthy, he said. Great Hammerheads havent fully recovered, he said, and there are some offshore species such as silky and dusky sharks that are still in pretty bad shape.

Those were the ones that really had big fins and really were the target for the international long liners, he said. Same thing with great hammerheads.

Bulls, tigers and great whites are responsible for the most shark attacks, and great whites are extremely rare in coastal Gulf waters, Powers said. More than likely, from what Ive read and the severity of the injuries to these ladies, more than likely it was probably bull sharks, he said.

Powers said hes well aware that saying shark attacks are rare does little to comfort victims.

But the attacks are so rare, and so random, that if people want to swim at beaches theres not much they can do to reduce the risk further.

Powers said it may help to stay in shallow water, to watch for official warnings and not to swim past coastal sandbars. But solid warnings are rare, and the Alabama teens injured in Florida reportedly were in water that was only waist-deep.

Im not dismissing what happened to these ladies, he said. Its a horrible, life-changing event for them.
A California police chief was reportedly caught carrying on a nearly 2 1/2-year affair with the wife of one of his cops  leading the department's union to say its members felt "betrayed" and had lost their trust in him.

The scandal forced Fresno Police Chief Paco Balderrama, a married father of three, to send officers an email that said his actions "did not meet the standards of who I am as a man of faith, husband, or father," local TV station KFSN reported Tuesday.

City officials last week revealed that Balderrama, 47, was under internal investigation after telling Mayor Jerry Dyer and City Manager Georgeanne White in February about what was described as an alleged "inappropriate off-duty relationship he was involved in with a non-city employee."

The Fresno Police Officers' Association responded with a statement that said the department's cops "feel betrayed, and trust has been lost" between them and the chief, according to local TV stations KSEE and KGPE.

The statement also said the city's acknowledgment of the situation left out "the most critical component of the investigation, and that is the nature of the relationship itself."

The union didn't elaborate but the San Joaquin Valley Sun reported Monday that the affair involved the wife of a Fresno cop and began in August 2021, citing a statement it received from the officer, who it didn't identify.

The affair didn't end until the cop learned about it in late 2023, the Sun said, adding that the officer and his lawyers reported it to the city attorney in February.

The next day, Balderrama acknowledged the relationship to city officials but allegedly downplayed it as comprising a single encounter, the Sun said, citing law enforcement sources.

The investigation into the chief centers on a decision he made to keep the officer assigned to patrol duties so the cop would have to work on weekends, which is when Balderrama typically engaged in the affair with his wife, the Sun said.

In his Monday email, Balderrama said, "I own my mistakes, they are mine and mine alone to bear, and I will pay for those mistakes for the rest of my life," according to KFSN.

The police union has reportedly scheduled an emergency board meeting on Wednesday to discuss the matter.
A former doctor who practiced at three clinics in north Alabama pleaded guilty in federal court today, along with her wife, to drug distribution, wire fraud and healthcare conspiracy.

Francene Aretha Gayle, 50, and Schara Monique Davis, 48, both of Apopka, Fla., were before U.S. District Judge Liles Burke.

Gayle pleaded guilty to five counts of unlawful drug distribution, one count of health care fraud conspiracy, and one count of wire fraud conspiracy.

Davis pleaded guilty to one count of health care fraud conspiracy and one count of wire fraud conspiracy. Gayle faces up to 50 years in prison, while Davis could receive up to 30 years in prison.

Gayle former operated clinics in Huntsville, Athens and Killen. Davis owned the practice and operated as business manager. The clinics were shut down after Gayles license was revoked.

According to prosecutors, Gayle admitted to distributing drugs, including oxycodone, hydrocodone, and methadone. Both Gayle and Davis said for several years they billed insurers for office visits even when she did not see the patients.

In 2015, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama audited the practice and discovered that Gayle was absent, other staff were seeing patients, and yet all office visits were being billed under Gayles name. Gayle promised it would stop, but the practice continued for another four years.

Prosecutors say over five years, Medicare, Medicaid, and Blue Cross paid more than $2.3 million for office visits billed under Gayles name.

Gayle lost her license in 2020. Months later, the two applied for and obtained more than $450,000 in COVID-19 disaster relief funds through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program. In their applications, Gayle and Davis certified that their medical practice needed the money because of economic uncertainty or injury caused by the pandemic, according to prosecutors.

The FBI, DEA, and HHS-OIG investigated the case. The Medicaid Fraud Control Unit of the Alabama Attorney Generals Office provided investigative assistance after the Alabama Medicaid Agencys Program Integrity Division initiated the case.
Authorities are searching for family members of five people who died in Jefferson County, including a man whose remains were found earlier this year off Grandview Parkway and another man who was found dead in a pond.

Their bodies are ready to be released for burial, but the Jefferson County Coroners Office has not yet been able to find family members for the four men and one woman.

On Saturday, Feb. 17, a man walking his dog found skeletal remains in a wooded area in the 3500 block of Grandview Parkway.

Coroner officials at the time said the remains were those of an adult but could not yet determine the race or gender.

Chief Deputy Coroner Bill Yates said investigators used DNA to identify the remains as 59-year-old Scott Kenneth Vaughn. He lived in Montgomery.

Yates said the cause of Vaughns cause of death has not been determined.

Vaughn was last known to be living in Montgomery in August 2023. He had past addresses in Athens, Higdon, Hazel Green and Flintstone, Ga.

Ying Redman, a 75-year-old Asian woman, died May 3 of natural causes while she was a tenant at South Health and Rehabilitation Nursing home. Redman was under the care of Affinity Hospice.

Yates said all efforts to locate family have failed. Redmans husband is reportedly dead, and there is no other known information regarding family.

Eddie D. Head, a 68-year-old Black male, died May 27.

Head was found unresponsive in his bed at the boarding home where he lived in the 6100 block of Avenue K in Lipscomb.

There is little known about Head, Yates said, except that he was a military veteran.

Mike Anthony Shelton(Jefferson County Coroner's Office)

Mike Anthony Shelton, a 64-year-old white male, died June 1 in Bessemer.

Shelton was a patient of Aveanna Hospice and died of natural causes.

Authorities believed Shelton lived in Phenix City, Alabama for several years. In 2020, he listed a Birmingham homeless shelter as a home address.

Sam Woodrow Westbrook(Jefferson County Coroner's Office)

Samuel Woodrow Westbrook, a 58-year-old white male, died June 5.

Just before 5 p.m. on June 5, Shelton was found unresponsive floating in a pond behind a home in the 4500 block of Brookforest Lane in Irondale.

Yates said Westbrook had been living in a tent behind the home for more than a year. His cause of death has not yet been determined.

Westbrook listed past home addresses in Odenville, Pell City, Moody, Branchville, Columbiana, and most recently in Trussville.

Family members are asked to call the coroners office at 205-930-3603.
A juvenile was killed in an afternoon shooting in Eufaula on Monday.

Eufaula police were dispatched just before 2:30 p.m. to a report of shots fired in the area of Spruce Circle, said Chief Danny Christ.

The young victim was taken to Medical Center Barbour and was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.

The juveniles name, age and gender has not yet been released.

Christ said the shooting appears to be an isolated incident.

Anyone with information is asked to call investigators at 334-687-1200 or the anonymous tip line at 334-687-7100.
Matthew Lidle was playing in the sand at the waters edge with his 8-year-son when he heard screams.

His wife and his in-laws were in the water at Seacrest Beach on Floridas Gulf Coast when the chaos erupted Friday afternoon  two separate shark attacks left a 45-year-old Virginia woman and 15-year-old Lulu Gribbin of Mountain Brook critically injured.

Lulus friend, 16-year-old McCray Faust, also a Mountain Brook High School student, was bitten also, but is OK.

The attacks happened less than two hours and four miles apart along the popular vacation stretch known as 30A.

Lidle was where the two teens were attacked.

You just heard people screaming and I wasnt sure why. And everybody on the shore was screaming too, Lidle said. They started yelling, Shark, shark, shark, so I stood up right at the water break.

I saw this big pool of blood, about 50 yards out there, and everyone was just kind of standing there, he said. So, I ran out there. I didnt think about anything, I just ran out.

Lidle said he got to a man who was holding Lulu by her arm. She had been attacked by a shark while looking for sand dollars with friends near the sandbar.

It looked like he was fighting off the shark or keeping her away from the shark, he said. He was right there where everything went down.

Matthew Lidle, pictured with his wife Rachel, helped save a Mountain Brook teen who was attacked by a shark at a Florida beach.(Contributed)

Lidle yelled for the man to give Lulu to him.

I just started screaming, Give me the girl, give me the girl. Weve got to get her back to the beach, he said.

The man passed Lulu to Lidle. She was alert and conscious.

She said, I cant walk, and thats when I noticed all of her injuries, Lidel said. I was talking to her saying, Stay with me, talk to me.'

I was concerned because when I got to her, she wasnt bleeding anymore, he said. Thats whats scary about that  she had lost that much blood.

Lidle got Lulu to shore where there were two doctors  Dr. Ryan Forbess and Dr. Mohammed Ali - and at least one nurse happened to also be vacationing that day and sprang into action.

I was just part of the chain, Lidle said. I got her from where the attack happened to the beach.

As soon as I got to the beach, the professionals took over, he said. The two doctors there getting ready with blankets and tourniquets and towels.

We made sure we got her down to the sand properly, Lidle said. I hope I did the right thing.

Lidles wife ushered him and their son away from the immediate scene, where everyone was crowded around Lulu and McCray, who was bitten in the foot.

Thats when everything got hysterical, he said.

The Lidle family waited until both girls were transported to the hospital.

We felt horrible for their family, for those girls, Lidle said. We hunkered down and packed up.

Lidle and his family returned to Memphis the following day. Through multiple channels, they were finally able to get in touch with the Gribbin family at her hospital on Monday.

Lulu was airlifted to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola, immediately undergoing surgery.

Surgeons told the family that the shark had bitten off Lulus left hand and that they had to amputate her right leg halfway up from her knee to her hip. She also had lost two-thirds of her bodys blood.

Her mother, Ann Blair Gribbin, on Monday provided an update on Lulus condition.

Nothing about her personality or funny, smart loving self has changed one bit. She may have lost her hand and her leg, but she is here, and we are truly grateful for that., Gribbin wrote.

Lulu underwent surgery to clean out her wounds, flush out any bacteria, and to begin closing up the sites of her two amputations.

They told us was that they were looking for shark teeth. They did not find any, but Lulu said if they found any, she wanted them., the post stated.

Because Lulu wants to be a doctor, she asked to watch as a central line that was put in below her right shoulder was removed, Gribbin wrote. The nurses brought in a big mirror so she could see exactly what they were doing and how everything worked.

Lulu has been alert and talking to visitors and two of the people who helped save her from the shark, including Lidle.

It was great to express to both of them how eternally grateful we are for being so brave to go into waters with a shark to save our sweet girl. Lulu was able to tell them Thank you for saving my life, Gribbin wrote.

I was so glad to hear she was alive because after seeing that, I wasnt sure, Lidle said.

She sounds great, considering what shes been through, Lidle said.

Lulu talked with him about what happened that day.

She said it bit her friend first and then bit her hand, took her hand, he said. Thats when they started fighting off. It then came back and bit her in the leg and did all the damage there.

Lidle said hes so thankful he got to speak with her.

I feel bad because I feel like her life got stolen from her, he said, but she seems to be in good spirits about it.

She made it, Lidle said. Thats the most important thing.

Purple bows are being posted on mailboxes to show support for 15-year-old Lulu Gribbin.(Facebook)

Lidles wife, Rachel, posted about the attack on Facebook.

Without giving it a second thought, Matt ran into the huge amount of blood in the ocean and carried her to shore putting his life in great danger, she wrote. I cant express how much admiration I have for him.

I absolutely know God put there for a reason and it was Matts selfless sacrifice to help save her.

Lidle said hes no hero. I was part of multiple people that were helping, he said.

He described the ordeal as terrifying.

Ive thought about it every minute, all day long, since it happened Friday, he said.

Lidle said he hopes to stay in touch with Lulu.

For everything shes gone through, she was very thankful and appreciative, he said. She had more energy than I thought she would.

She seemed very sweet and said she wanted to send me something, Lidle said. I plan to continue to follow her recovery. I would love to see her progress.
U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Georgia, spent the weekend in Las Vegas, warming up the crowd on Sunday for a rally in the desert heat held by former President Donald Trump. In those remarks, Greene compared Trump to Jesus.

The Democrats and the fake news media want to constantly talk about, Oh, President Trump is a convicted felon, Greene told the Trump rally.

Well, you want to know something? The man that I worship is also a convicted felon, Greene said to cheers. And he was murdered on a Roman cross.

Over the weekend, Greene also joined Trump in calling for members of the House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the U.S. Capitol to be jailed  all part of GOP demands for retribution against Democrats for the 34 guilty verdicts against Trump in the New York hush money trial.

2024 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Visit at ajc.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
A prehistoric megalodon tooth the size of a soup bowl was found buried at a fossil-rich site in South Carolinas Lowcountry, according to a tour group leading the excursion.

The tooth  measured at 6.5 inches  was uncovered June 8 by a Florida family that went fossil hunting in Summerville to celebrate their sons high school graduation, according to Palmetto Fossil Excursions.

The average size of megalodon teeth is 3 to 5 inches, which suggests the tooth came from a truly massive specimen.

Can you say monster?! Palmetto Fossil Excursions wrote in a June 10 Facebook post.

I think its safe to say that this graduation celebration was a hit. The guide said that the family was overjoyed and there were a few shouts of excitement for sure! company officials told McClatchy News.

By coincidence, it was the recent high school grad who first saw the tooth, the company said.

The fragile tooth was removed from the clay as part of a block to prevent it from breaking, the company said. The family is having it professionally cleaned, stabilized and realigned.

It was located 6 feet below the surface, in a fossil-rich clay deposit that was once the floor of an ancient sea, Palmetto Fossil Excursions said.

Megalodon ruled that ocean, routinely shedding teeth eventually covered by sand and frozen in time. The apex predators grew to 60 feet in length and could weigh as much as 75 tons, experts say.

The earliest known megalodon fossils date to 20 million years ago, according to the National History Museum, and the enormous shark dominated the oceans until becoming extinct just 3.6 million years ago.

Palmetto Fossil Excursions notes the 6.5-inch tooth is the second largest found at one of its clay deposits.

Last fall, company President Skye Basak discovered a 7.22-inch tooth just feet away from where the 6.5-inch tooth was recovered, officials said.

Summerville is about a 25-mile drive northwest of Charleston.

2024 The Charlotte Observer. Visit charlotteobserver.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Alabama lags the nation in election access, voter participation and competitive elections according to a first-ever report that examines the states democratic practices.

The 33-page report from the Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama notes that Alabama continues to lag far behind other states when it comes to voter participation. The report examines voter turnout during the 2022 general election, and noted how poor participation rates could be linked to a lack of early in-person voting options, and easier absentee voting requirements.

Alabama has not adopted measures other states have to encourage citizen participation in our democratic process, said Thomas Spencer, PARCAs senior research associate and author of the report entitled, How Alabama Democracy Compares.

The vast majority of states allow people to vote early in person or by absentee if they choose to. Ballot security is important and should be protected but making it easier to cast a ballot should also be a priority. We all know Alabama had a history of discriminatory voting restrictions. We should be a national leader in access and voter participation.

The report offers up suggestions, such as allowing automatic voter registration which is permitted in 24 states and the District of Columbia. Early, mail-in voting is allowed in some form within 36 states, but not in Alabama, the report notes.

But politically, efforts to reduce the early in-person absentee voting obstacles listed within the report have not gone far in a Legislature that is a supermajority Republican.

Past legislation to provide mail-in voting options have stalled, while state lawmakers have preemptively banned election reform measures liked ranked choice voting (RCV) which have seen a rise in popularity elsewhere in recent years.

Related: Voter suppression or election security? Alabama lawmakers squabble over election reforms

Reaction

FILE - Alabama Secretary of State, Wes Allen speaks during the inauguration ceremony on the steps of the Alabama State Capital, Jan. 16, 2023, in Montgomery, Ala. A day after being sworn in last month, Allen sent a letter informing the Electronic Registration Information Center, a voluntary system known as ERIC, of the states exit after criticizing the program during his campaign. (AP Photo/Butch Dill, File)AP

Republican Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen touted the states efforts in ensuring its elections are the fairest and most secure in the country. He also denounced some of the reform measures listed within the PARCA report, while touting some recent legislation that was signed into law.

Among the examples was a new law that criminalizes payment for collecting absentee ballot application, often referred to as ballot harvesting.

The measure was adopted by GOP lawmakers as an election integrity measure despite repeated insistence from Democrats that there was no proof anything illegal was occurring that warranted a new state law. They also claimed that Republican state lawmakers were adopting measures as a direct response to former President Donald Trumps baseless claims of voter fraud in the 2020 election.

From Alabamas bans on absentee ballot harvesting and ranked choice voting to codifying the use of paper ballots in every Alabama election, Alabama is a national leader in election integrity, Allen said in a statement to AL.com. I believe in election day, not election month. Unsolicited mass-mail, no-excuse absentee voting, automatic voter registration, and same day voter registration undermine the fundamental principles of election security and have no place in Alabama elections.

Rep. Adline Clark, D-Mobile, speaks at a hearing for HB209, which would prohibit people from assisting an individual with their absentee ballot, on April 19. Sarah Swetlik/AL.com

State Rep. Adline Clark, D-Mobile, who has led legislative efforts before to push for election reform and ease access to early voting, said the vision of the House Democratic Caucus continues to be increasing voter participation by implementing mail-in voting, guaranteed absentee voting, and automatic voter registration upon the age of 18.

Clarke sponsored legislation this session that would allow disabled voters, including voters who are bedbound, to designate someone to mail or hand-deliver their absentee ballot application and ballot to an absentee election managers office.

As the PARCA report suggests, Alabama is 1 of only 6 states that does not automatically allow voters 65 or older to request an absentee ballot.

Regardless of political affiliation, we all benefit when more people vote, Clarke said. We must support efforts to educate voters and to ensure that the elderly, disabled, and infirm can also exercise their right to vote without undue obstacles or constraint. Also, we must expedite the restoration of voting rights to those who have paid their debt to society by removing fee, fines, or other obstacles as a condition to the restoration of their sacred right to vote.

Spencer said the analysis timing is notable, given the election year and a wider discussion of democracy and participation that is ongoing nationally.

Its release also comes less than two years after voters, in 2022, adopted changes to the State Constitution to scrub racist language from the 1901 document.

But the 2022 revisions, PARCA points out, includes language that is hesitant to embrace free and equal voting rights like most U.S. state constitutions do. It still describes voting as a privilege rather than a right, PARCA notes.

Highlights

The reports analysis on the state of Alabamas democracy highlights the following statistics:
The bodies of a missing female and a young child were recovered from a submerged vehicle in Eufaula.

Police received a call Sunday on a possible location for two missing females and a 4-year-old child, said Eufaula Police Chief Danny Christ.

Officers began searching the water around Old Creek Town Park about 8:30 p.m. They found a vehicle submerged in about 12 feet of water, the chief said.

Houston County rescue divers were called in to verify. After verifying the vehicle, divers hooked up the vehicle for extraction.

Once the vehicle was recovered, Christ said, a young female and small male child were discovered dead inside. Their identities have not been released.

Houston County investigators and Eufaula police are continuing to search the area for a possible third person.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 334-687-1200 or the anonymous tip line at 334-687-7100.
Lauderdale County authorities say a Wilson, N.C. man sent obscene images of himself to a 15-year-old girl and attempted to get her to meet him.

According to court documents, Dylan Smith, 20, has been charged with 11 counts of transmitting obscene material and one count of electronic solicitation of a child.

The investigation began following a cybertip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

Smith was arrested Monday in North Carolina.

He has been booked into the Lauderdale County Detention Center.
This is an opinion column.

Like Donald Trump, Hunter Biden is the victim of a politicized prosecution that shouldnt have gone to trial. While the son of President Joe Biden should answer for any crimes he has committed, the pageantry of his gun trial is a political stunt to bolster the reputation of the Department of Justice as an unbiased institution. To do so, the DOJ is selectively enforcing a federal gun law based on the name of the defendant.

The Department of Justice is prosecuting Biden, accusing him of possessing a Colt Cobra 38SPL revolver while being a drug addict, under 18 USC 922. This law targets unlawful users of or those addicted to any controlled substance, and can lead to up to ten years in prison. The charges against Biden are eerily similar to those levied against Trump because they represent a relatively rare application of the law in question.

The DOJ hasnt claimed Biden committed any other crime with the revolver. The gun charge in question is rarely charged alone. In truth, the law used against Biden isnt applied consistently and may not even be constitutional.

Imagine Biden was recovering from addiction, hadnt used drugs for a few weeks, and then bought the revolver. If he stayed sober after the purchase, when does he stop being an addict? Again, were left with the arguments of prosecutors and interpretations of judges to shape the contours of the vague law.

Marijuana also remains a controlled substance under federal law, yet many Americans use it for medical or recreational reasons. If users purchase a gun, theyre either unlawful users or fall under the rather vague definition of addict subject to the same charges as Biden. By one estimate, the number of Americans actively engaging in the same alleged conduct as Biden could be as high as 20 million people.

Obviously, the overwhelming majority are not being prosecuted. In fairness, most are smart enough to avoid writing about their illegal drug use in a book.

In 2022, the Supreme Court struck down a century-old New York law that required gun owners to show proper cause to carry a firearm outside their home. Justice Clarence Thomass opinion set a new standard for lower courts reviewing gun regulations. To be constitutional, gun laws must be consistent with this nations historical tradition of firearm regulation.

America does have a fairly robust tradition of regulating firearm possession by someone in an altered mental state. With the exception of felons, we dont tell otherwise sober people that they cant possess firearms because of their past struggles. For what its worth, the laws applying to past felons are about to fall as well, especially with respect to nonviolent offenders.

To sum all this up, Biden is being selectively prosecuted under a law of dubious constitutionality.

Why? Because the Department of Justice is putting on a show. By virtue signaling that the law is blind, theyre clearly demonstrating that it isnt.

Hunter Biden is clearly a bad seed with a troubled history and dubious business practices who appears to have traded on his fathers name. There are any number of legal pathways to hold him accountable for his conduct. This shouldnt be one of them.

Conservatives who railed against District Attorney Alvin Braggs selective prosecution of Trump in New York shouldnt be silent when the same thing happens to the son of a political opponent. While the younger Biden may not engender much sympathy, we should at least stand up for the Second Amendment.

We must end the dangerous practice of mixing politics and prosecution. While nobody is above the law, high profile defendants must be treated like all the rest. Unless the DOJ is going to charge about 20 million of Hunter Bidens contemporaries, theyre proving that justice isnt blind and politics reigns supreme.

Smith is a recovering political attorney with four boys, two dogs, a bearded dragon, and an extremely patient wife. Hes a partner in a media company, a business strategy wonk, and a regular on talk radio. Please direct outrage or agreement to csmith@al.com or @DCameronSmith on X or @davidcameronsmith on Threads.
Overseas warehouses bring more business opportunities

People's Daily Online) 09:30, June 11, 2024

An increasing number of Chinese foreign trade companies are building overseas warehouses, shortening the distance between goods and their target markets.

Guangdong Eagle Gifts Co., Ltd. based in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, has long been devoted to producing various kinds of ceramics, Christmas balls, decorative paintings, and other handicrafts.

Officers of Haizhu Customs under Guangzhou Customs learn about the development of overseas warehouses of Guangdong Eagle Gifts Co., Ltd. (Photo/Guo Yingyi)

Overseas warehouses have greatly helped the company's exports in recent years, said Li Xin'er, deputy general manager of the company's logistics center.

"As of May 28, the total value of goods distributed and sold through B2B cross-border e-commerce export to our overseas warehouses this year had reached 49.43 million yuan ($6.82 million), nearly triple that of the same period last year. We expect the growth in export value to continue expanding in the second half of the year," Li said.

The main target markets for the company's products are Europe and the U.S. Overseas warehouses enable the company to prepare goods in advance and customers to pick them up locally, while reducing logistics costs, Li noted.

Relying on its overseas warehouse business model, the company can enjoy preferential policies, such as priority in inspection, integrated customs clearance, and the convenient return of goods, from Haizhu Customs under Guangzhou Customs.

China has more than 120,000 cross-border e-commerce entities, over 1,000 cross-border e-commerce industrial parks, and over 2,500 overseas warehouses covering a total area of over 30 million square meters, said He Yadong, spokesperson for the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM). Among them are more than 1,800 overseas warehouses covering 22 million square meters for cross-border e-commerce trade.

Many logistics and trade service companies have also seized business opportunities brought by overseas warehouses to accelerate the construction of overseas warehouses.

Aside from China, Chinese courier company J&T Express' warehouse network had spanned 11 countries, including Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, and the U.S., as of May 2024, said Gao Junbo, an executive of J&T Express.

A worker operates at the Csepel Freeport Logistics Park of the Central European Trade and Logistics Cooperation Zone in Budapest, Hungary. The logistics park provides custom services, bonded warehouse and overseas warehouse service. (Xinhua/Zhang Fan)

The overseas warehouses of J&T Express have adopted automated equipment such as small automated production lines, packaging facilities, and forklifts to improve operational efficiency and service quality, Gao noted.

"In recent years, favorable policies for cross-border e-commerce overseas warehouses have helped Chinese companies better participate in international competition. We are also continuously improving the layout of our overseas warehouses and empowering our capacity to operate by building new overseas warehouses in countries like the Philippines and Mexico," Gao added.

Guo Tingting, vice-minister of commerce, said that the MOFCOM will support foreign trade companies and logistics companies in making good use of overseas warehouse resources, and make them smarter and more specialized on a larger scale, so that high-quality Chinese products can reach overseas consumers more conveniently.

According to Qichacha, a leading platform offering company information inquiry services, since the beginning of this year, 3,038 new companies related to cross-border e-commerce have been registered, an increase of 26.85 percent compared to the same period last year. The growth of cross-border e-commerce entities presents a broader stage for overseas warehouses.

No. Wang is a company that mainly exports Luosifen, a unique local snack in Liuzhou, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and its derivative products. Since the beginning of this year, the company's export volume through cross-border e-commerce platforms has seen significant growth, and its export value has also increased compared to the same period last year.

Yao Hanlin, chairman of the company, said overseas warehouses have played a crucial role in its success.

"Thanks to overseas warehouses, we ensure that customers can receive their purchases in the shortest time possible," Yao noted.

By monitoring the inventory status in overseas warehouses in real time, the company can promptly replenish stocks, avoiding sales losses due to stock-outs. Overseas warehouses can also handle returns and exchanges, improving after-sales services and boosting customers' trust.

"Currently, we are planning to further increase investment to build more overseas warehouses, so that more overseas consumers can quickly enjoy high-quality Luosifen," Yao added.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
A California man is calling for gun reform after two of his cousins were shot and killed outside their Los Angeles home - in what appears to be a completely random attack.

Family members say that Sergio Rios, 33, and Ricardo Rios, 19, were about to leave and get food for their family, on June 1, when both were shot at multiple times in their parked car. Sergio was married and the father of toddler twins, while Ricardo was "just beginning to carve out his path in life," according to a GoFundMe post.

"How many innocent men and women need to die before change happens in our gun laws," the pair's cousin Ivan Robles said during a Monday press conference.

"How many Rickys and Sergios need to leave us too soon? How many mothers need to live with broken hearts? How many children need to live and never see their parents again before we all decide enough is enough?"

The Los Angeles District Attorney announced Monday that Marcos Navarro, 33, was charged with two counts of murder in connection to the shootings. Investigators believe there is no connection between the brothers and Navarro, KABC reported.

"This person took away our future," Sergio's widow, Mabel, said during the Monday press conference. "We have two twins who are 2 years old, and we he had plans for them, to raise them."

Navarro is currently being held in lieu of $5 million bail. His arraignment is scheduled for July 3. If convicted he could face a life sentence.

"We extend our heartfelt sympathy to the brothers' loved ones who lost two members of their family to senseless gun violence," District Attorney George Gascon said in a statement. "These tragic deaths underscore the urgency of keeping guns out of the hands of the wrong individuals. Our office is dedicated to seeking justice for the victims and their loved ones."
Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall and the attorneys general of two neighboring states led a 23-state amicus brief on Monday calling on a federal appeals court to overturn a decision last month finding that employers are liable if the health insurance they provide does not cover gender-affirming care.

A panel of the 11th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals, which covers Alabama, Florida and Georgia, last month upheld a Georgia courts ruling that employers can be held liable under Title VII, which forbids employers from discriminating on the basis of race, religion, sex or national origin.

The case involved Sgt. Anna Lange, a transgender sheriffs deputy in Georgia who sued Houston County, Georgia when her gender-affirming surgery was denied.

Marshall, who described the panels decision as radical, said the full 11th Circuit should hear and overturn the ruling.

He and the attorneys general of Georgia and Florida led the 23-state amicus brief.

This case calls out for correction by the full Eleventh Circuit, Marshall said in a statement. It is hard to overstate how radical the panels decision is. With its interpretation of a federal statute meant to require equal treatment in the workplace, the court fundamentally transformed Title VII to require favored treatment for employees who identify as transgender by mandating coverage for any number of treatments or operations such an employee could want. The courts rewrite of Title VII will produce wide-ranging consequences for employers, who now face both greater liability and diminished clarity over how far the law extends. The Court must correct this decision.

Besides Alabama, Georgia and Florida, 20 other states signed on to the amicus brief: Alaska; Arkansas; Idaho; Indiana; Iowa; Kansas; Louisiana; Mississippi; Montana; Missouri; Nebraska; North Dakota; Ohio; South Carolina; South Dakota; Texas; Tennessee; Utah; Virginia; and West Virginia.
There was a knock on the door. A voice said, Its the IDF. Weve come to take you home.

This is how former hostage Noa Argamani described her rescue from Hamas on the Sabbath  Saturday, June 8  which also happened to be her fathers birthday. Israelis spent the weekend cheering her rescue, along with the rescues of three other former hostages  Almog Meir Jan, Andrey Kozlov, and Shlomi Ziv.

All four, ranging in age from 22 to 41, were kidnapped from the Nova music festival on October 7, Hamass notorious day of atrocities. Israeli intelligence recently determined with certainty that they were being held in two separate buildings in Nuseirat, in the Gaza Strip.

Israeli command  which rose to the level of the prime minister and the war cabinet itself  decided to conduct two raids simultaneously, at 11:25 a.m. Both buildings were heavily guarded by Hamas fighters, though the buildings looked, to all appearances, like regular civilian apartments. It took the intelligence work of Shin Bet  an apparatus of the Israeli intelligence service  to identify the difference: these civilian apartments were in fact military locations in which Hamas was illegally holding several innocent hostages they had kidnapped 245 days earlier.

One Israeli commando  Chief Inspector Arnon Zmora  was killed in the shootout that freed the three men. There were no Israeli losses in freeing Miss Argamani. Prime Minister Netanyahu named the operation after him; it will be recorded in the history books as Operation Zmora, a fitting tribute to a heroic counter-terrorist who grew up revering Prime Minister Netanyahus brother Yoni, the hero who died at Entebbe in 1976.

The weekend has been full of revelations.

Those of us who have constantly focused on the lack of a clear dividing line between Hamas terrorists and the innocent civilians that the Gazans wail about were proven correct again, as these four hostages were found to have been held in civilian apartments, registered to Gazan civilians, but under 24-hour guard by Hamas militants, clearly making a mockery of the innocence of such civilians.

The weekend reinforced the position that the IDF has remained true to their policy of trying as hard as possible to only target genuine military targets, in contradiction to the way that Hamas has always targeted civilians. The weekends attacks looked at first glance to be on civilian locations, and thats how the pro-Hamas press always reports such actions, but the gunfights and rescues of hostages held at those locations conclusively proved that the sites were in fact legitimate military targets, terrorist cells in disguise.

While early reports had some of the details mixed up, the fascinating  and shameful  news is that the three male hostages were held in the apartment of a journalist. Not just any journalist, mind you, but Abdallah Aljamal, a writer for the Palestine Chronicle and occasional contributor to other Arab publications like Al Jazeera.

Now, the Palestine Chronicle is a terribly biased mouthpiece of the anti-Israel, pro-Hamas left. Its a U.S. nonprofit, based in Washington state, a publication devoted to spinning the news of the war to make Israel look like the aggressors, constantly blurring the definitions of civilians and noncombatants, routinely parroting the falsified casualty numbers published by Hamas, to warp global understanding of the ongoing war.

Similarly, Al Jazeera  the Qatar-based global Arab news outlet  has been outed over the past eight months as being even more deeply involved with Hamas than most previously suspected. We have learned that the outlet doesnt limit its support of terrorism to spinning the news; numerous Al Jazeera correspondents have been found to participate in terrorist acts, before, during, and since October 7. The discovery of three hostages in the home of Aljamal has now rightly brought this important issue back to the worlds attention.

How do some outlets know where to show up to take video? How do some outlets know to put reporters on the scene, seemingly as soon as nightmares begin, sometimes even before? Is it really just anonymous tips, hunches, or dumb luck  or is it more? Well, a Tel Aviv court released a finding just before last weekends hostage rescue, listing numerous findings of collaboration between Al Jazeera and Hamas, making them more accessories or co-conspirators, not independent, unbiased reporters, as we in the West like to imagine journalists to be.

As the weeks and months go on, Israel continues to impress with their steadfast resolve, aiming for the destruction of Hamas and the goal of finding some future in which the innocent people of Gaza, whatever percentage of them that might be, can get a fresh chance at life without serving the political goals of Iranian/Qatari/Lebanese jihadists from cradle to grave.

City by city, house by house, the Israelis continue to focus on cutting through the Hamas veil of civilian garb and non-military sites, to find out whats really going on, to destroy the jihadists and protect the true innocent refugees from our mutual foes.

And interestingly enough, of all weekends to choose, so-called moderate liberal politician Benny Gantz chose this one to announce his departure from the War Cabinet of Israel. Gantz withdrew from the government, ostensibly over Netanyahus refusal to capitulate to the latest ceasefire proposal.

Timing is everything in politics; there have likely been times in recent months when Gantzs admonishments and self-righteous withdrawal from the government would have had some political sting. But now?

He chose the very weekend when so many of Netanyahus instincts have been proven correct, a weekend when Israeli forces heroically freed four hostages, a weekend when both uninvolved Gaza civilians and Arab reporters were proven to be active hostile combatants, and a weekend when the foreign sponsor of the latest sham agreement  Americas pretender-in-chief Joe Biden  embarrassed himself even more than usual on the world stage, demolishing what little moral high ground his administration ought to be able to boast in such peace talks.

This was a good weekend for the Netanyahu government, and any good weekend for Israel is a very bad week for the global Left.

With courage, tenacity, talent, and an incontestable moral high ground, Israel knows how to behave as a leader of the free world. If only these United States, which used to own that title, still remembered how.

John F. Di Leo is a Chicagoland-based international transportation manager, trade compliance trainer, and speaker. A one-time Milwaukee County Republican Party chairman, he has been writing a regular column for Illinois Review since 2009. Read his book on vote fraud (The Tales of Little Pavel) and his political satires on the current administration (Evening Soup with Basement Joe, Volumes I, II, and III).

Image: Free image via Pexels.
Im sitting here thinking about our liberal friends, and wondering: are they smart, or not so smart? They must be smart-ish, else they would not have been the ruling class in America for the last century and more. They are good at handing out the loot, at hounding Republican presidents from office. But not much else.

What with liberals on Trumps tail I thought about fighter pilot Col. John Boyd, who lived from 1927 to 1997. I wrote about him back in 2005. Boyd was responsible for the F-16 and F-15 fighters, because science. Boyd is also the inventor of the OODA loop.

To paraphrase the philosopher Joseph Biden: if you dont know about Boyd, you aint Murican.

There is now a colonelboyd.com for the benefit of fans and researchers. If you want to get all philosophical, you can read Boyds monograph Destruction and Creation which gets deep into Godel and Heisenberg.

But if you just want the slide deck, there is Conceptual Spiral waiting for you.

Basically Boyd says that if you want to descend into death and disorder, then keep on keeping on with your closed system that explains everything, dear liberal friends. But thats not the way the world works. The way you get out of the spiral dive and the increasing entropy of the closed system is with novelty. So on the 38th slide in the slide deck Boyd says:

Since survival and growth are directly connected with the uncertain, ever-changing, unpredictable world of winning and losing we will exploit this whirling (conceptual) spiral of orientation , mismatches , analysis/synthesis , reorientation , mismatches , analysis/synthesis  so that we can comprehend, cope with, and shape, as well as be shaped by that world and the novelty that arises out of it.

Got it? Just like Elon Musk and SpaceX. Its the same concept that George Gilder calls surprise using Claude Shannons notion that information is most essentially news or surprise.

Do you see the point? I interpret Boyd and Gilder to say that if you legislate welfare state government programs that, according to Chantrills Law, cannot be reformed, it means you are going down the road to rising entropy and eventual social death. And thats where our liberal friends are going. They believe in lifetime jobs for liberals in regulatory agencies that just sit there and add restrictions and mandates. They believe in funding their supporters with lifetime jobs and lifetime entitlements. They believe in peaceful protests for the kiddies. And they believe in the eternal rule of the educated class, peasant.

The last thing our liberal friends want is novelty or surprise -- for themselves. But there is nothing more glorious than to spring a surprise on an insurrectionist grandmother or President Trump with the FBI at Mar-a-Lago.

All this is, of course, very male and patriarchal. Whatabout women? Im glad you asked.

Women are very much into the novelty and surprise game. Its called babies. See, every new baby is a new combination of DNA, a surprise that reverses the descent into same-old-same-old and entropy and death. Scientists at the Catholic Church figured this out centuries ago when they banned cousin marriage.

But notice how committed our liberal friends are to stopping novelty and surprise for women. Take the vitally important careers-for-women. You know, of course, that career comes from the French carriere or race track: round and round in circles. You know that childlessness -- for incels, soy boys, feminists, careerists, LGBT, is also the road to entropy and death.

I just dont think that liberals are good for women.

Well, bless my buttons. Heres Instapundit linking to a piece on exactly the same subject: dynamism vs. stasis. Talk about a far-right hive mind!

Dynamism? It is learning,

a decentralized process of trial and error with feedback provided through competition and criticism.

Stasis? Its either stability, as in dont rock the boat, or technocracy, as in Bill Clintons bridge to the future.

Technocrats often praise the idea of progress but define it as moving toward a single, known goal.

After trudging through all this, trying to understand surprise and stasis and dynamism, Im feeling a bit depressed. Because it all makes me realize how utterly clueless our liberal rulers are. They are fabulous at peaceful protest, indefatigable at lawfare, endlessly churning out rules and regulations for thee, but not for me. They can rig elections and demand that nobody notice.

They had workers voting for them for decades, because Robber Barons. They have owned the votes of blacks for decades, because racists. They have single women voting for them, because abortion.

All I know is that the next decade or two is going to be really hard for ordinary people. Between sky-high energy prices, sky-high housing prices, green energy regulation, and Get Trump, Americans are facing a dark future.

And liberals did it.

Christopher Chantrill @chrischantrill runs the go-to site on US government finances, usgovernmentspending.com. Also get his American Manifesto and his Road to the Middle Class.

Image: Gaudencio Garcinuno via Flickr
As a former radio talk show host on WMCANew York, I had the opportunity to discuss the Middle East with numerous public figures and, in particular, with members of the U.S. Congress. The issue most germane to our discussions was Israeli-Palestinian peace.

I would present the Israeli narrative and point out that Israel had made significant sacrifices for peace. Citing the Camp David Accords of 1979, I noted that Israel gave up the strategic depth of the Sinai Peninsula, the oil fields of Abu Rudeis, and Yamit  a beautiful community Israel had built in the Sinai that bordered Gaza  in order to reach the agreement with Egypt.

Egypt, for its part, gave Israel a cold peace  the kind of peace that more resembled a cold war without actual military engagements. This agreement followed the 1973 Yom Kippur War, in which Egypt attacked Israel, without any provocation, on the holiest day for the Jewish people.

Nevertheless, for Israel, the sacrifice was worth it. The dream of the leaders and people of the Jewish state, since its founding in May 1948, was to make peace with its neighbors, and especially with the Arabs of Palestine.

Since the inception of the Zionist movement, the leading proponents, from Leo Pinsker and Theodore Herzl to Zeev Jabotinsky, sought to effect a compromise with the Arabs in Palestine (later to be known as Palestinians).

The Jews of Palestine, led by Ben-Gurion, accepted the recommendation of the 1937 British Peel Commission, which would have allotted 72% of Palestine to the Arabs.

Hajj Amin al-Husseini, the mufti of Jerusalem and leader of the Arabs in Palestine, rejected compromise. The Arab revolt against the British Mandatory government, and the Jewish community (the Yishuv), ensued.

Repeated offers to the Palestinians of statehood made in the November 1947 U.N. Partition Plan, the July 2000 Camp David Summit, and the 2008 Mahmoud AbbasEhud Olmert Summit were all rejected, despite considerable Israeli concessions. For the Palestinians, it has always been a zero-sum deal, and no compromise.

I could just as easily present the Palestinian narrative.

With Jewish sovereignty having ended after the Romans defeated the Jews of Judea led by Bar Kokhba (132-135) and Byzantine oppression further reducing the Jewish majority, the Arab conquest of Palestine (so named by the Romans) followed.

Following the conquest of the Holy Land in 638 by the Muslim caliph Omar, most of the remaining Christians and some of the Jewish population were eventually converted to Islam. It was a choice between poverty and dhimmitude (oppressed and subjected to a protection tax) and Islam.

The Arabs of Palestine were on the land for hundreds of years and constituted, at one time, the majority. Islam and Muslims dominated the Middle East until WWI, when the British seized Palestine from the Ottoman Turks.

Many Arab Palestinians would later become refugees as a result of the 1948 War, which was waged against the Jewish community (previously Jewish Palestinians) when they declared the establishment of the Jewish State of Israel.

The Zionist leaders, and Herzl in particular, were adamant that the renewed Jewish presence in Palestine be not just historical, but legal as well. The 1920 San Remo conference gave the Balfour Declaration legal status. The Jews, moreover, unlike the European pilgrims who settled in America, had an ancient connection to the land of Israel.

Now that I have laid out the historical background, it is time to deal with the here and now. The Palestinians (Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, Mahmoud Abbas, and the Palestinian Authority) all use terror and, when pressured with the incentives of Western aid, will occasionally negotiate with Israel while indirectly supporting terror against Israel. The oft-repeated condition Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) places for a deal with Israel is the return of millions of Palestinian refugees to Israel. He knows that this will never be accepted  primarily because that will mean the end of the Jewish state  but he thinks he will be seen as negotiating.

Olmert, the Israeli prime minister negotiating with Abu Mazen, offered to allow a few thousand Palestinian refugees to come to Israel as a compromise, but that too was rejected. The zero-sum mentality of Palestinian leaders, stretching from Hajj Amin al-Husseini through Yasser Arafat and Mahmoud Abbas, will never bring peace between Israel and the Palestinians. Their intransigence has cost the loss of lives and hope.

The Saudi plan for a two-state solution, though acceptable in principle, isnt practical at this time for a number of reasons. First and foremost, Hamas is now the dominant force in Palestinian society. Abbas is unpopular, as is his Fatah party, known for corruption and incompetence. More important, however, is the fact that the Palestinians have not accepted the existence of a sovereign Jewish state. Any sign of Israeli military or social weakness would unleash an all-out campaign of terror to liquidate the Jewish state.

The Zionist visionary Zeev Jabotinsky wrote a manifesto called The Iron Wall. In it he expressed respect for the Arab Palestinian commitment to their cause. He argued, however, that if the Jewish state is to survive, it must erect a strong military wall until such a day when the Palestinians will be ready to compromise.

The cultural and religious upbringing of young Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza is deeply influenced by their educational system, the media, and the mosque. Compromise with the Jewish usurpers is unacceptable, haram. Islam is the solution is now the dominant ideological feature. And since Islam is taught to be the prevailing power of the future, and since the Crusaders came and were eventually expelled, so they believe that the Jews of Israel will disappear. Muslim triumphalism dictates that Islam will eventually win; therefore, compromise is not in their vocabulary, and genuine peace can hardly be made without compromise.

Image via Pexels.
In another example of Joe Biden's mismanagement of U.S. foreign policy, the Russians have decided to case our coast, sending their quitest submarine along with three warships, not to attack us or anything, but to get a message across: that they're here and they can get close to us and our rockets any time they like. The Navy is watching them.

According to Florida Today:

Three Russian Navy ships and a nuclear-powered submarine seem to be passing the Florida coast Tuesday, June 11, on the way to Cuba for a military exercise, according to open-source intelligence analysts on social media. A tweet on X, formerly known as Twitter, said that the US Coast Guard Cutter Stone may be shadowing the Russian flotilla off the east coast of Florida abeam of Cape Canaveral. On Wednesday, June 5, a U.S. official told the media that Russia planned to conduct naval exercises with combat vessels in the Caribbean region. The United States did not see the expected arrival of the flotilla to the Western Hemisphere to be threatening, but the official told Reuters the U.S. Navy will monitor the exercises. The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity to provide details that had not been made public yet. Cuba said in a release last week the ships carried no nuclear weapons and did not represent a threat.

Sure, they say it was just military exercises with Cuba. And yes, they have done this before -- as far back as the moonshot in the 1960s. My father worked for the space program back then in Florida and said they were aware of Russian vessels spying on them at the time.

In recent years, they've been doing it more often. According to World Politics Review:

Prior to the war in Ukraine, the current visit would have gotten a small amount of media attention, some of it hyperbolic, but would still have been largely seen as no big deal. Russia made visits to the Caribbean an almost annual ritual in the 2010s, with at least six similar exercises and several smaller trips throughout that decade. In 2015, 2017 and 2019, the Viktor Leonov spy ship, capable of intercepting radio communications, lingered in international waters off the U.S. coast and also visited Cuba. In 2019, the U.S. military warned the ship that it was operating in an unsafe manner that could affect nearby vessels. Several times, including in 2019, the Admiral Gorshkov visited Cuba another ports of call in the Caribbean.

They don't seem to think it's so "hyperbolic" this time.

Based on this tweet, it appears that the Russians went out of their way to pay us a visit, taking a detour to Florida, adding thousands of miles to their voyage and raising its costs.

US Coast Guard Cutter Stone may be shadowing the Russian Flotilla which may be off the east coast of Florida abeam of Cape Canaveral. https://t.co/23Crv7XuEc  TheIntelFrog (@TheIntelFrog) June 10, 2024

Even with allowances for topographical issues that affect shipping, it's obvious they weren't just passing through by geographical happenstance on the way to their military exercises with Cuba. If they had wanted to just go to Cuba as they claimed, that line would have gone straight down or down more sharply. They didn't need to pass Florida's coast to get there.

The Eurasian Times, and others, point out that this overly familiar visit by the Russians to Florida's coast coincides with Biden's approval of weaponry for Ukraine that can strike inside Russia, which was a dramatic shift.

But, the timing of the port call right under the US nose comes as the Ukraine-Russia war is escalating, with NATO countries increasing their stakes in the war. Also, Cuba and the US being just 145 kilometers apart from their closest point doesnt help the situation.

And this time, the Russians wheeled out their fanciest hardware:

But, the main part of the flotilla is one of the most modern nuclear submarines of Russia  Kazan. Cuba has assured that the submarine will not be carrying any nuclear weapons and poses no regional threat. The Yasen-class are a series of nuclear-powered cruise missile submarines designed by the Malakhit Engineering Bureau and built at the Sevmash Shipyard (JSC PO/Joint Stock Company Sevmash), part of the USC (United Shipbuilding Corporation). The Kazan is capable of launching a range of anti-ship and land attack missiles. It is one of the quietest submarines in the Russian underwater fleet.

Sound like a nice submarine to be casing the Florida coast?

Obviously, Russia's president, Vladimir Putin, is sending us a message. If we deliver weapons to Ukraine to expand its war onto Russian soil, we should not be surprised to see the Russians casing our coast.

Biden's decision to do this was puzzling, given that the Russians were quite likely to retaliate. Did no one consider that when the decision was made to enrage the Russians? Did no one expect that they might think up something like this, just as we are escalating military involvement in many places? Now the Russians have shown us how they can retaliate -- by taking out a Florida city or two -- with that quiet and hard to track submarine and the next time they send that submarine, it may not be accompanied by the easy-to-surveil warships.

Eurasia News points out that the voyage will probably give U.S. analysts a chance to study the military weaponry, which may be true, but could be a little pollyannaish, too.

What the Russians want to do is menace us, at a time when our military materiel is deblitated by its involvement in Ukraine and wokester rot is sapping military morale. It comes as the U.S. military has too many things going on already.

It seems to be getting attention that the Russians are a bit more serious with this activity than in the past, and that is not good news for the U.S., which could have avoided this whole thing by staying at arm's distance from Ukraine and keeping that war from expanding. Now the Navy is scrambling to keep track of what they are up to as they get close.

Russia is sending a predictable message, and Joe Biden either knew it and didn't care, or didn't know it and got surprised. Either way is not a good look.

Image: U.S. National Archives, via Picryl // no known copyright restrictions
They voted last week in Mexico and everyone is talking about making history.

Yes, Mexicans elected their first woman as president but history continues to be made because another politician was killed.

This is the story:

A local councilwoman was gunned down Friday as she was leaving her home in the southern state of Guerrero, authorities and local media said, marking the second female politician to be killed in Mexico after Claudia Sheinbaum became the first woman to win the country's presidency last week. Esmeralda Garzon, a councilwoman in the municipality of Tixtla, was shot dead as she was leaving her house, local media reported.

There you go. Mexicans making history by turning the elections into a killing field. What a sad statement.

The other big story south of the border is how the "presidenta electa" is going to work with the incumbent who leaves in a few months.

A few days ago, Arturo McFields Yecas, a former Nicaraguan diplomat and columnist with PanAm Post , wrote in Spanish that Mexico is headed for some tumultuous times. He believes AMLO will be an underground president or sort of like Raul Castro pulling the strings from his ranch in Cuba.

McFields-Yescas believes that AMLO will use the remainder of his term and Sheinbaum's presidency to push through his "reforms." In other words, he is not going away and will force "la presidenta" to finish what he started.

AMLO knows better than anybody that she owes her massive victory to his national political machine.

Or as a Mexican friend told me on the phone: No AMLO, no Claudia.

So far, Sheinbaum has vowed to continue AMLO's work. However, the stock market and peso stumbled a bit last week showing that some investors are concerned with a government with supermajorities and no control over presidential excesses.

I don't know whether she will. On the other hand, she can't run the country and keep investors happy if they think that AMLO is the master puppeteer.

My friends in Mexico say that Sheinbaum was a pragmatic mayor of Mexico City. That was then, and this is now. Its up to La Presidenta to show that shes her own woman. She can start by telling AMLO to hit the road and come back no more.
U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz downplayed a jury's quick decision to find Hunter Biden guilty of federal gun charges on Tuesday  despite his history of animosity toward President Joe Biden and his embattled son.

"The Hunter Biden gun conviction is kinda dumb tbh," the firebrand Florida Republican wrote on social media, using internet shorthand for "to be honest."

Gaetz's dismissal of the case, in which Hunter Biden was convicted on all counts for lying on a gun-purchase form by claiming he wasn't addicted to drugs, clashed with his treatment of the first son during a February 28 deposition in Washington.

During the closed-door grilling, tied to the impeachment inquiry against President Biden by House Republicans, Gaetz engaged in a particularly harsh exchange with Hunter Biden over his former job as a board member of the Ukrainian energy company Burisma.

"Were you on drugs when you were on the Burisma board?" Gaetz asked, the Associated Press reported, citing a transcript of the seven-hour proceeding.

Hunter Biden responded, "Mr. Gaetz, look me in the eye. You really think that's appropriate to ask me?"

"Absolutely," Gaetz said.

Defense lawyer Abbe Lowell told Hunter Biden he didn't need to answer, but the first son did.

"I will answer it this way: I have been absolutely transparent about my drug use," he said. "I'm sorry; I'm an addict. I was an addict."

Gaetz didn't elaborate on why he thought the trial's outcome was "kinda dumb" but he's been an outspoken advocate for gun owners and last year called for the elimination of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Fox News reported at the time.

"The ATF cannot be trusted to protect our right to keep and bear arms," Gaetz said during a Feb. 22, 2023, speech on the House floor. "There is no timeline where the ATF, under any administration, would become an ally. It needs to go, we need to abolish the ATF before they abolish our Second Amendment rights."

Hunter Biden, 54, faces a maximum of 25 years in prison for Tuesday's convictions and is awaiting another trial on federal tax charges.

It's set to begin Sept. 5 in Los Angeles.
Amy Reichert, a local Republican political leader who lost her last election, but didn't let that stop her exposing the seedy underbelly of San Diego politics, got her car deliberately damaged while traveling on a highway. Here's her tweet:

I was going 55 miles per hour in a section of 94 East where it slows down. I noticed a white truck traveling the same speed and the passengers arm hanging out when there was a loud crash. My drivers side vehicle has been completely smashed. My son was in my car, we were heading pic.twitter.com/NOwDNhdTFK  Amy Reichert (@amyforsandiego) June 10, 2024

It looks like someone deliberately targeted her car with a pellet gun, as one commentator noted.

Reichert's not a drama queen. And she's pretty level-headed as to what it could have been -- a random act of violence, or, political violence:

It was deliberate. Either random act of violence or targeted but definitely deliberate  Amy Reichert (@amyforsandiego) June 10, 2024

The latter is not as farfetched as it sounds.

As she noted in her video, this attack coincides with a spate of freakish emails, strange mail and packages, and screaming phone calls she's already gotten.

Reichert, whose scoops about various levels of corruption and stupidity in one-party blue San Diego, is someone whose work we have frequently featured on American Thinker.

Gavin Newsom weakened California's anti-pedophile law and now perverts were advertising for "clients" in front of schoolyards -- here.

San Diego's ruling city council turns into a Mexican telenovela -- here.

Illegals land a speedboat through the surf and run through the beach balls, surfer dudes, and party coolers at Ocean Beach -- here.

City officials neglect storm drains and bums fill them with rubbish, triggering flooding -- here.

She's had many, many more. Her Twitter feed is loaded with exposes of corruption and idiocy of blue-run San Diego.

Is thuggery of this kind unknown in San Diego? Probably not, now that the cartels have gotten the hooks in and seemingly operate with impunity here, and Big Labor, particularly the public employee unions, have been known to use violence. An Obama-era aide and her partner were mysteriously killed in a highway accident on a remote highway up in the north part of the county, prompting what Newsweek called 'conspiracy theories.'

The person Reichert most resembles is Alexey Navalny, who used to revel the stupidity, cupidity, and venality of Kremlin officials. Amy's the San Diego Navalny, which makes me a little concerned.

She has reported it the California Highway Patrol which is a pretty honest organization and not that deeply linked to politics, so far as I know.

The thug who did this got away without a license tag noted, and I hope there are speed cams further up the highway that might find him.

We can also keep watch to see if this is just a psychopath who gets his jollies hitting windshields with pellet guns in a random way by targeting other people, or if it was a targeted act of political violence at Reichert, who exposed too much.

More knowledge of this is more protection. And where the heck are this city's political leaders who ought to be speaking out against this Putin-style, Castro-style crime against dissidents? Where are the national-profile Republicans?

Who did this to Amy Reichert? It needs an answer pretty soon, or these thugs will be back.

Image: Twitter screen shot
I studied abroad for a year in England during the very early 1980s. One of my flatmates was a Welsh woman. By that, I dont mean that she came from Wales. I mean that, as she said of her heritage, My ancestors have been here since Caesars time.

My friend, a pure Celt, was lily white, which all Welsh people were until recently. As late as 1981, when I traveled with my friend to Cardiff or up north to her familys ancestral farm, it was 99% white. Nevertheless, the government now insists that the Welsh National Coal Museum must decolonize itself by presenting the history of the Welsh coal-mining industry through the lens of black, Asian and minority ethnic people.

The story comes from GBN, the conservative alternative to the BBC:

The Welsh Government has told its National Coal Museum to teach decolonised history through the lens of ethnic minorities. Wales, which is 93.8 per cent white, is calling on the former Blaenavon pit to play its part in making the principality anti-racist. [snip] Under these plans, museums must provide an authentic and decolonised account of the past, one that recognises both historical injustices and the positive impact of ethnic minority communities.

Whats important to note is that the reference in that quote to Wales being 93.8 percent white refers to its current population. At the peak of Welsh mining, the miners were white and, like my friend, of Celtic stock:

Image: Striking Welsh coal miners in 1914. Public domain.

However, Wales, like the rest of the United Kingdom, is changing. The First Minister of Wales (that is, the leader of the Welsh government), who is pushing for this initiative is a member of the essentially communist Labour Party. Hes also half-Zambian and was, in fact, born in Zambia to a Welsh father and a Zambian mother:

Image by Senedd Cymru (the Welsh Parliament). CC BY 4.0.

According to GBN, the way to prove that the Welsh coalminers, as beleaguered a group of entirely white people who ever lived, were in fact colonizers, the Museum will point that the coal they dug out of the mines affected the world economy:

Group for Education in Museums, an advisory body, claimed in its official guidance that while such connections might not be initially obvious all Welsh museums will have some evidence of colonial and imperial trade and wealth.

I assume that the theory behind this is that the coal provided energy for the British Empire as a whole, and the British Empire was the ultimate, evil white colonizer. Everythings connected, just like the hip bone connected from the thigh bone. Funnily enough, this connectivity always stops right at the point that were about to learn about African and Muslim complicity in the slave trade, but thats a story for another post.

However, because its going to be a tough road to decolonize the coal mining system, I have a suggested shortcut to focus on the black aspect of mining. Enjoy:

Image: Miners digging for coal in South Wales, 1931.

Image: Welsh miners. Unknown provenance.

Image: A minor coal miner in Wales.

Image: Welsh adult and child miners.

The number of black faces in those photographs should go a long way to allaying concerns about black representation in the museum.

Image by Senedd Cymru (the Welsh Parliament). CC BY 4.0.
The smug EU is losing ground as its member nations turn increasingly conservative and, oh dear, nationalist. So-called climate change is rumored to soon take a backseat to the daily survival needs of the European citizenry and its huge illegal/legal migrant populations. Centuries (see the Protestant Reformation and the destruction of a Europe built by the Benedictines) of persecution of the old moralityinvolving a Judeo-Christian way of life and in support of the familyhave long gone unacknowledged in European intellectual circles, but now we see some karma coming for that unapologetic stance.

The destruction of rural lifeespecially farming across the board in England and the continenthas forced the hand of the migration advocates on the end-times price of illegal migration as being soon, starvation, and chaos. Britain has not yet discovered the cojones to throw the EUs Court to the curb and still labors under its exacting, woke, greedy tyranny, years post-Brexit.

The old, tired, and overwhelmingly quaintly useless cliches of protesting liberalism and now radicalism (that have been and are almost universally adopted by the European and British press) are feeling the strain of grotesque failures in the fabric of so-called Western society abroad. Mostly white, youngish, and some brown, people roam the night streets of London barely clad and drunk/stoned. Knife violence in London is an everyday reality and effectively sanctioned by its awful Muslim mayor. There have been hugely popular riots against the highly tenacious Emmanuel Macron for years, though mostly ignored by him, but now he has been forced to call elections and dismiss the Parliament. Rishi Sunak, PM of Great Britain, has likewise been forced to call for new elections, today. The BBCs coverage of everything is a woke joke, and a very expensive, taxed one for the British public.

Long-term national western military alliances, involving the U.S. and Europe, teeter on the brink of dissolution and/or irrelevancy while the laughable UN, WHO, EU, NGOs, etc. (bureaucratic/elite) mutter about Russian nuclear aggression, sympathize with Palestinian terrorists, and applaud terrorist nations as they attain final nuclear capability.

The Biden Ukraine effect (one of new citizen-poverty for those taxed to underwrite Zelenskys feverand, more furtively, the expansion of Arab and Chinese dominanceis applauded and nurtured in a weak and frightened Europe. These Western nations, centuries ago, lost their moral compass, as their monastic communities, and thus village agricultural culture and churches, were put to death and burnt to the ground by a King of Empire who lusted after a new wife.

Does the United States want to continue to emulate this hideous social disaffection across the pond? Have we forgotten why we came to America in the first place? Both climate change and illegal immigration started over there; why must we devolve with them?

Biden, this past week in France, called that nation our oldest friend. Quite an admissionread historical liefor an Irish guy. He also said, while in London, that the past Queen of England, the ineluctable war heroine Elizabeth, reminded him exactly of his own mother. Who knew?

My father was in Paris for its liberation. From our tanks, he saw the children in the streetsbegging for American chocolates and cigarettes. He was also among those landing in Normandy on D-Day. Almost all his friends in the Army died in WWII. He never talked about the war, ever, after he came home. I think he would say that America was the greatest friend that France has ever had; clearly not vice versa.

But then, Biden never gets it rightpast or present. Ever.

Image from X.
Any collision between Islam pride and gay pride will have a victor, and its never going to be the effeminate men wearing prosthetic boobs and fairy wings, or the burka-less heifers with blue hair, so consider the following story a reminder of what the religion of peace brings to the world, but especially the queer world; from Oliver JJ Lane at Breitbart News:

A liberal, women-led Berlin mosque known as a haven for gay Muslims was a target for an Islamic State terror cell in Germany, prosecutors say as the group goes to court. A group of seven immigrants arrested in 2023 across Germany and the Netherlands will soon see their day in court, and German prosecutors allege before their incarceration the men prepared to build bombs and researched targets including a liberal mosque, Jewish citizens, and a fair.

Okay, the Jewish citizens and the fair were a given because non-Muslims and crowds are always the first targets, but Muslims attacking a Muslim mosque? Whaaaa? How can this be?

Oh thats right, because Islam and Western homosexuality dont mixmen are apparently allowed to have sex with males, just as long as these males are prepubescent and dressed in little girls clothing (this practice is common throughout Afghanistan, and is known as bacha bazi).

I hate to beat a dead horse, but there are hordes of people who cant seem to get this very evident reality through their apparently solid skulls; case in point, below.

By now, weve probably all seen the video of an exchange between the character known as Lady MAGA, and the sparkly leftist in the rainbow skirt, the latter of whom was very confused as she began to discuss her nonexistent understanding of the Middle East and the cultures thereof.

To get up to speed, watch below:

Conservative Drag Queen educates Queers for Palestine activist.



As a gay man I would be punished and or put in prison or killed if I was openly gay in Palestine. How would you react to that?



Activist:



I didnt know that.



 @LadyMagaUSA



pic.twitter.com/iOJlp8r9mK  Oli London (@OliLondonTV) June 4, 2024

I mean, that level of ignorance is profoundshe knows shes anti-Jew and pro-Palestine, because thats what MSNBC and her college professors said was the virtuous stance, but then doesnt even know which is which? I began to try to organize her conflicting beliefs, but it was getting so utterly messy just trying to unravel her that I had to erase it all and leave it at this: these people are the definition of walking contradictions. Its both hilarious and tragic, and entirely mystifying: how can a person make it into adulthood, and allegedly participate in a study abroad program to learn all about the Middle East, but then not have a firm grasp on one of the most established storylines in all of human history, which has been going on for at least 1,400 years, when Islam entered the picture. Seriously, where has this woman been?

Back to Berlin.

Not only were the suspected terrorists Muslim, but theyre Muslim migrants, all of whom came to Germany throughUkraine. From Lane:

The men, who originated in Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan came to Germany from Ukraine as part of the refugee flow that immediately followed the Russian invasion in 2022. One of the group is alleged to have led an Islamic State terrorist cell in Kyiv, Ukraine, and some of the group are said to have already killed in Ukraine, including by beating. Members of the group have allegedly had contact with Islamic State figures elsewhere in the world who launched successful terror attacks, or who were arrested while in the planning phase.

(This is yet another reason why taking Ukrainian refugees should be off the table.)

Islam about domination, and not voluntary but involuntary submissionand if its adherents have to throw a bunch of gays off the roof, or go on stabbing sprees against peaceful people to get there, by golly thats what theyre going to do.

Image generated by AI.
You cant follow news about healthcare without seeing daily headlines about inequities in medical outcomes. Minority groups, whether divided by skin color, place of origin, religion, or legality of residence, are reported as having inferior health status and medical outcomes compared to majority white populations. There is an entire agency, Health Equity Education Center, devoted to studying these minority disparities.

Yet, there is a greater inequity in medical outcomes that gets little play in the press: the urban-rural disparity. NPR recently called this a crisis. And it is, just not acceptable headline material for most Washington-complicit media.

In 1960, the state of Texas had 325 rural hospitals, most were quite small with 2550 beds. All had emergency rooms. Despite a population growth from 9.6 million in 1960 to 30.5 million today, Texas has fewer than 150 rural hospitals. Most have limited emergency facilities; many have none. Nationally, 136 rural hospitals closed from 2010 to 2021 adding these towns to the increasing number of medical deserts. Sporadically, there are solo physicians or nurse practitioners in these areas but no emergency facilities.

In Dallas, Texas, the average maximum wait time for a new patient appointment with a primary care physician in 2017 was 12 days. In a small city like Albany, NY, the maximum wait then was a medically unacceptable 122 days. Obviously in rural medical deserts, the wait time is, well, forever.

Washington and the complicit media dont expend much airtime on the urban-rural inequity, probably because the federal government is largely responsible.

This unsung inequity stems from federal payments, what are called allowable reimbursement schedules. While these directly determine payments for Medicaid, Medicare, and Tricare enrollees, private insurance companies tend to follow these payment schedules or face the wrath of Washington and/or their shareholders. So, Washington effectively dictates all U.S. medical payments.

The payment for delivering care is generally less than the cost of doing business. With rural hospital annual financial losses of 9% to more than 20%, closures are inevitable and ongoing. Those that remain open despite ongoing losses of at least 5% do so through supplemental revenue from local taxes, bond issues, or state grants.

There are also the financial losses mandated by EMTALA (Emergency Medical Transport and Labor Act of 1986). Any person who enters a hospital that receives funds from Washington  virtually all U.S. hospitals, both rural and urban  and who needs urgent medical services must be given medical care, even if the hospital never gets paid for said care. Such persons are daily occurrences in U.S. hospitals.

The influx of more than seven million illegal migrants during the Biden administration has had an additional massive negative financial impact on communities located on or near the southern border. First, these individuals are usually in ill health and needing urgent care, exacerbating hospital losses. Second, they need social services such as food, housing, and education for children. This takes money from the tax base leaving no funds to supplement the hospitals.

Urban hospitals, especially large university medical centers, can survive the losses incurred by low payments for direct care while rural hospitals cannot, for two reasons. The large institutions have many expensive technologies such as MRI scanners and ultrasound machines where payment is considerably greater than cost. Without such advantages, rural hospitals have no profits from tests to make up for losses from care delivery.

Large urban hospitals have a second funding source unavailable to small rural institutions: research grants. Such grants are in the millions, even billions of dollars. NIH grants typically have a 40% overhead expense (sometimes higher) built into the grant. While some of this amount is necessary to pay for research lab overhead, much of it can be diverted to defray losses from care delivery. Washington never sees a report that shows a hospital did this.

The solution is obvious and politically radioactive given the power of numerous special interests through lobbyists with their campaign contributions.

Pay more for care delivery and less for fancy tests. Like that is going to happen!

So, rural Americans, in their millions, suffer death by queue  dying while waiting for technically possible care that never comes  while their urban brethren have general doctors, specialists, and subspecialists (like this pediatric cardiologist author) at their beck and call.

Deane Waldman, M.D., MBA is Professor Emeritus of Pediatrics, Pathology, and Decision Science; former Director of the Center for Healthcare Policy at Texas Public Policy Foundation; former Director, New Mexico Health Insurance Exchange; and author of 12 books including multi-award winning, Curing the Cancer in U.S. Healthcare: StatesCare and Market-Based Medicine.

Image: Free image, Pixabay license.
Joe Biden has a way of giving ceasefires a bad name.

So when he first proposed his ceasefire bill for Israel and the Hamas terrorists, Hamas and its crummy little ally, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, didn't have much problem signing on.

The ceasefire would be great for them, allowing the to regroup for the next round against Israel. Israel, which by now is winning its war with its hostage rescue, is supposed to forget about that success and just give the terrorists a mulligan.

Now the United Nations Security Council, with the exception of Russia, has signed on, too. (Russia said it didn't have enough information as to what the heck this thing was about.)

Here's what little is known about the bill, according to the Associated Press:

Bidens May 31 announcement of the new proposal said it would begin with an initial six-week cease-fire and the release of hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from populated areas in Gaza and the return of Palestinian civilians to all areas in the territory. Phase one also requires the safe distribution of humanitarian assistance at scale throughout the Gaza Strip, which Biden said would lead to 600 trucks with aid entering Gaza every day. In phase two, the resolution says that with the agreement of Israel and Hamas, a permanent end to hostilities, in exchange for the release of all other hostages still in Gaza, and a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza will take place. Phase three would launch a major multi-year reconstruction plan for Gaza and the return of the remains of any deceased hostages still in Gaza to their families.

The Guardian has a more detailed version of the plan:

The UN security council has adopted a resolution calling for Hamas to agree to a three-phase hostage-for-ceasefire proposal outlined by Joe Biden, the first time the body has endorsed a comprehensive peace deal to end the Gaza war.



The plan calls for an initial exchange of elderly, sick or female hostages for Palestinian detainees held by Israel during an initial six-week ceasefire. That would evolve into a permanent end to hostilities and the release of all hostages in a second phase that would be negotiated by the two parties and US, Qatari and Egyptian mediators.



A third phase would involve a major reconstruction effort. The UN has estimated that half of all buildings in Gaza have been destroyed by Israeli bombar[da]ment.

Why Israel, which just won back some of its hostages through military strength, should sign onto this makes no sense whatsoever.

There's not a word about security guarantees for Israel in it to start. If Hamas attacks again, well, Hamas attacks again. The U.N. will issue a stern warning

As for the hostage exchange, that's nonsense, the Israeli hostages are innocent civilians. The Hamas militants sitting in jails are there for terrorism offenses. Releasing thousands of Palestinian terrorists would just free them up to strike again at Israelis and Israeli targets, which they have already said they would do. No promises to remain peaceful from them? Not even that much, no promises at all, not that they understand the honor system in any case. Color it done that they will engage in more terrorism.

And Hamas has already shown what it's about -- rape, torture, and murder. Should Israel be out freeing rapists to rape again? Killers and torturers to do again what they said they would do again? Rapists, killers, torturers, and losers with 'woman issues' belong in jail, not out on the streets. These weren't just war crimes, these were crime crimes. Those who commit rape and kidnapping and looting and baby murder shouldn't come crying to anyone with civilized values that they don't like the punishment. Guys like this have to be in jail or civilization itself is in danger.

Nobody should be forced to agree to letting these monsters out.

What's more, the thugs still in Gaza need to be rubbed out for what they did. There needs to be some kind of punishment for this kind of behavior or They Will Do It Again.

This agreement would leave the rapists and murderers of Israelis fully ensconced in power, proud of their perverse and sickening deeds, respected citizens on the world stage, as if they even wanted to be that. 'No justice, no peace,' as the lefties like to say otherwise. All they will do is plot new ways to kill Israelis.

There shouldn't be any agreement at all until we hear Hamas's apology and promise to not Do It Again, just for starters, along with acknowledging Israel's right to exist, which isn't part of that deal at all and needs to be point one.

That Hamas would be allowed to remain in place and in power at all is an outrage all by itself.

But with billions and billions coming in as aid from the West, they'll have even more money and resources to rebuild their war machine for another go. The deal makes no mention of the fact that Hamas steals all the aid and either sells it at inflated prices to Palestinians for gun money or eats it itself as the sea of beer guts from captured Hamas fighters indicates.

The West is uniquely inept at distributing aid, as the COVID fraud shows us, and now it will be even more inept as large amounts of money roll in.

That's the story of the ridiculous Joe Biden pier which fell apart and all the tunnels to Egypt discovered -- that all the aid had been stolen -- and it will be even worse if mass quantities of aid and Western dollars, along with corrupt money-filled UN agencies and NGOs employing Hamas terrorist hostage holders empowers Hamas with fresh Western billions.

Haven't we seen this movie before? What is this agreement going to do to stop it?

Gaza should be offered zero aid and told to free its markets as a condition for a ceasefire. If they want money, they will need to work for it, which will change that culture fast. A vast aid empire will only corrupt the people and accumulate to Hamas to be used to fuel its war machine, as it did in the past.

It's as if Biden has never learned from the recent past about all the previous ceasefires and where they led, and now just wants to force Israel to keep repeating the same mistakes over and over again the way he does on the U.S. political front, ultimately insisting that Israel not win its war against terrorism.

Israeli is winning its war, and its focus is rightly on destroying Hamas. That's the only possible solution at this point, Hamas blew all of its other chances.

Why is it in anyone's interest to allow these brutes to remain in power, or for that matter, out of jail? Hamas created a 9/11 in Israel with its murder of 1,200 people and when this happened in the U.S. on 9/11, the U.S. rightly responded with a vow to destroy al-Qaida. After a wretched decade of fighting, it finally did. ISIS did the same, and went off the lemming cliff after them. Now it's Hamas's turn. Let these ogres meet the same fate as al-Qaida and ISIS. There doesn't seem to be any other way of getting rid of this kind of scourge and Israel knows it.

Joe Biden, who tried to stop the bin Laden raid, and the Ruritanian satraps at the United Nations, do not. Israel should say to hell with this ceasefire and invite the fools to talk after they have taken care of business with Hamas and gotten all of their hostages back with lots of dead Hamas thugs laying around to rot.

Image: Screen shot from Sky News video, via YouTube
A short time ago, the jury returned its verdict in the Hunter Biden trial: Guilty on all counts. What we can expect now is that Democrats will say that the guilty verdict proves justice is alive in America, so Trump supporters need to stop complaining that he was railroaded in a politically driven show trial. Thats not true. There is no comparison between Hunters blatant violation of an explicit law and the cooked-up charges brought against Donald Trump.

Heres the Daily Mail:

Hunter Biden has been found guilty of three felonies today in his Delaware gun crimes trial. The Wilmington, Delaware jury unanimously voted to convict Joe Biden s son of two counts of lying on a federal form to buy a gun, and one count of possessing the firearm while abusing drugs. [snip] He will now await Judge Maryellen Noreika to decide on a sentence for the crimes, which could be as high as 25 years in prison and a $250,000 fine  though the typical sentence is much lower.

Before going further, let me remind you how the indictment describes the federal form Biden lied on:

Question 11.e. of the Form 4473 requires that the prospective purchaser certify truthfully that he or she is not an unlawful user of, or addicted to, any stimulant, narcotic drug, or any other controlled substance. In the certification section of the Form 4473, the actual buyer must certify that his or her answers to the questions on the form are true, correct, and complete. The actual buyer must also acknowledge by his or her signature that I understand that a person who answers yes to [Question ll.e j is prohibited from purchasing or receiving a firearm" and "making any false oral or written statement...is a crime punishable as a felony under Federal law, and may also violate State and/or local law.

The evidence was overwhelming that Hunter was both a user of and addicted to illegal drugs at the very moment he answered no to that question. As a separate matter, one of the evidentiary items used against him was the laptop from Hell.

The fact that the FBI knew the laptop was real and allowed everyone, from Joe Biden on downand Biden also knew it was real, of courseto lie during the 2020 campaign about the laptop being a Russian fake means that there must be some serious indictments for election fraud moving forward. But back to the main point...

Hunters defense was that, as an addict, he didnt know what he was doing. However, intent is not a recognized defense to the charges against him, just as you cant avoid drunk driving charges by claiming you didnt know you were drunk.

On the facts before them, the jury concluded as follows:

For Count One, the jurors agreed that Hunter made a false statement in connection with the acquisition of a firearm. For Count Two, they agreed that Hunter made a false statement with respect to information required to be kept in records. And for Count Three, they agreed that Hunter was in possession of a firearm despite being a person who is an unlawful user of or addicted to a controlled substance.

The jurors really had no other option. They could have found Hunter innocent only if they had engaged in blatant nullification. Even if the jurors werent models of rectitude (and well assume that they were), it would have been hard for them to justify nullifying those indisputable and undisputed facts.

We know that the Democrats and other leftists will now use the verdict to prove that Trumps trial was above board. If the presidents son can be found guilty of a crime carrying a prison sentence varying from 1 year to 25 years, then a former president can be found guilty, too. But the cases are very different.

As noted, Hunter was found guilty of a cut-and-dried crime, where his guilt was impossible to deny, and his only defense was that he was so messed up on drugs he didnt even realize he was lying about drug use.

Meanwhile, Trump was charged with a bookkeeping classification he didnt make himself, which is, at best, a time-barred misdemeanor. However, Bragg elevated it to a felony by claiming that the bookkeeping lie was intended to hide a felony. At the indictment level, contrary to the Sixth Amendment requirement that defendants know the charges against them, Alvin Bragg failed to identify the alleged underlying felony.

Only near the end of the trial did Bragg reveal the alleged felony...or, rather, three possible alleged felonies. One was that Trump violated a federal campaign law that the feds refused to bring; the second was that Trump committed tax fraud in a way that actually increased Michael Cohens taxes; and the third was that Trump, by falsifying records, feloniously mischaracterized other records.

The charges made no sense whatsoever, of course. They involved matters in which New York has no jurisdiction, tax matters that occurred after the election (so they couldnt have constituted campaign fraud), and non-existent injuries to the public. Additionally, Judge Merchan gave the worst jury instruction in American history when he told the jurors that the alleged underlying felonies were a grab bag and that, as long as all agreed that something bad happened, it didnt matter if they were unanimous in agreeing about which bad thing happened.

As the Supreme Court said in Richardson v. United States, this Court has indicated that the Constitution itself limits a State's power to define crimes in ways that would permit juries to convict while disagreeing about means, at least where that definition risks serious unfairness and lacks support in history or tradition. It quoted Justice Scalia: We would not permit...an indictment charging that the defendant assaulted either X on Tuesday or Y on Wednesday...

On the way to the verdict, Merchan allowed the defective indictment; seated an anti-Trump jury; violated Trumps First Amendment rights; made Wednesday the court day off, which made it hard for pro-Trump Orthodox Jews to serve lest Fridays proceedings run into the Sabbath and precluded Trumps easily flying to weekend campaign activities; refused factual testimony about the FECs approach to the regulation Trump was alleged to have violated; aggressively limited a witness who would have testified to Michael Cohens lies; and generally did everything he could to ensure Trumps conviction.

The two cases and their two outcomes are not the same. Anything Democrats say to the contrary is a lie. Hunter Biden received due process of the law; Trump received the full Soviet treatment. Help Trump (and America) by donating here.

Image by Andrea Widburg using a YouTube screen grab and an image that has effectively entered the public domain or that meets fair use standards.
Scattered throughout the old neighborhoods of Istanbul, particularly in an area known as Okmeydan, are several stone steles erected in the 18th and 19th centuries during the Ottoman era. These stone memorials, known as nisan tas or "aiming stones," were established to commemorate remarkable feats in archery and later, records in rifle shooting.

During the Ottoman Empire, archery was a highly developed sport. The Turks were renowned for their ability to conduct warfare on horseback using bows and arrows. The Turkish bow, despite its slender appearance, was one of the most feared weapons until the age of gunpowder, capable of sending arrows over distances of more than 400 meters.

An archer in the garb of an ancient Ottoman Empire archer soldier shoots at archery competition while riding horse in Istanbul. Photo credit: Depositphotos

One of the first archery fields was established in Bursa in the 14th century, after it became the capital of the early Ottoman Empire following its capture from the Byzantines in 1326. A similar target area was later set up by Sultan Bayezid I in Gallipoli.

After the conquest of Constantinople in 1453, a lodge was set up in Okmeydan for equestrian and archery sports, and for six months every year, participants were taught the skills of horse riding and archery. At some point, the Okmeydan area was also used for military exercises and even as an army camp. It is thought that Fatih Sultan Mehmed may have established his army headquarters here and even constructed the ships that he launched on the Golden Horn during the siege of Constantinople. Over time, Okmeydan also became the preferred location for festivities and celebrations. In 1720, Sultan Ahmed III threw a lavish party at Okmeydan to celebrate the circumcisions of his four sons.

However, Okmeydan was foremost an archery range, as evidenced by its nameok means arrow, and meydan means open space. After the founding of this shooting range, the popularity of this sport, which was particularly prestigious among the military, increased, especially during the reigns of Sultans Bayezid II and Suleiman the Magnificent.

Photo credit: SALT Research, Ali Saim Ulgen Archive

Under the Ottomans, there were two main types of sporting archeryfield archery and range archery. The goal of the latter was to shoot an arrow as far as possible. This activity was practiced in specially designated shooting ranges, such as Okmeydan, which were administered by a foundation called waqf.

A person who wished to try their hand at this discipline first had to become the apprentice of a master archer. The purpose of the training was to learn how to shoot arrows of the pisrev type at 900 gez (547 m) and arrows of the azmayis type at 800 gez (486 m) distance. Only when an archer had passed these hurdles was he allowed to attempt a distance record in the range, a record that would be commemorated with a nisan tas.

Archers who sought permission for a record attempt would shoot arrows on a set day, using a specified uneven number of arrows. The shots were taken in the direction of the prevailing wind that day. However, the archer was not free to shoot wherever he wanted; the lodge administration would decide whether shooting in that direction could be permitted. The presence of an old nisan tas in the same direction, the proximity to the boundaries of the ground, and the possibility of confusion with other records were all conditions that could cause the attempt to be prohibited.

Photo credit: SALT Research, Ali Saim Ulgen Archive

Once permission was obtained, the archer would gather a low pile of stones called ayak tas, or "foot stone," on the spot from where he would shoot the arrow. At this point, he first had to shoot beyond the minimum distances of 800 and 900 gez with the two types of arrows allowed. Once this was done, an ana tas was erected at the place where one of the arrows had landed, and that was the direction in which the archer would shoot to seek the record. For the record to be validated, the presence of four people was required: two witnesses at the ayak tas and two observers at the ana tas. To be valid, the arrow that was shot was not to digress more than 30 gez (18 m) further to the right or left from the ana tas. If all these conditions were met, and the distance traveled set a record for that direction, a pile of stones would be erected at the site of the arrow drop, which would be replaced within six months by a new nisan tas.

Nisan tas were mostly made of marble and shaped like pillars. The archers identity, occupation, the distance of the shot, and the date of the shot were inscribed on the tablet, facing the range direction. Over time, archery competitions were joined by rifle shooting competitions. In these events, chicken eggs, ostrich eggs, and jars filled with water were used as targets. Nisan tas were also erected to celebrate records obtained with the rifle. By the end of the Ottoman era, there were 300 nisan tas in Istanbul's shooting range, but only 40 have survived.

One of the two archery stones in the courtyard of Tesvikiye Mosque in Tesvikiye neighbourhood of Sisli district in Istanbul, Turkey. Photo credit: Chapultepec/Wikimedia Commons

A notable nisan tas still preserved today is in the Kececipiri mahalle of the Beyoglu district. It was erected by Sultan Mahmud II. The foot stone of this shooting stone also remains and is located in the Piyalepasa mahalle. The distance between the two stones is 1,215.5 gez, or 738.31 meters.

Another nisan tas in Cephane Square was erected to commemorate a rifle shot by Sultan Selim III, which hit a hen's egg 264 meters (434 gez) away. This aiming stone is topped by a large stone cauliflower carved on a tray, earning it the nickname "Cabbage Monument."

These nisan tas serve as historical artifacts, reflecting the rich tradition of archery and the high level of skill achieved by Ottoman archers. Each nisan tas represents a story of dedication, precision, and achievement, preserving the legacy of a sport that was both a crucial military skill and a respected art form. The surviving nisan tas continue to be a testament to the cultural and historical significance of archery in Ottoman society, marking the feats of individuals who mastered this ancient discipline.

Aiming Stone of Sultan Mahmud II at Okmeydani, Istanbul. Photo credit: Nicolas Andriomenos/Wikimedia Commons

Nisan Tas of Mahmud II, Doganc Street, Acbadem, Uskudar, Istanbul. Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

References:

# Istanbuls nisan tas, History of Istanbul

# Right on target in Okmeydan, the field of archery, Hurriyet Daily News
People in Pittsburgh hoping to attend a hot air balloon glow festival were scammed into buying tickets to the fake event, and authorities say Chicago residents are the organizers' next target.

Allegheny County police confirmed they were investigating a phony "Pittsburgh Balloon Glow" event advertised to lift off at an area park over the weekend.

"It appears this event is part of an ongoing nationwide scam and has no connection with Allegheny County Parks," police said in a Facebook post warning residents Monday.

Spectator tickets were priced at $25 to $50, while food vendor fees were listed at $500, according to the online festival description.

Event organizers, Hot Air America, Inc., are promoting an identical event in the Chicago area, followed by one in Porter County, Indiana, on the Eventbrite ticketing platform, dated for later this month.

In May, park officials in Madison, Wisconsin, confirmed a Hot Air America, Inc., hot air balloon glow festival advertised on a local radio station, Facebook, and Eventbrite was illegitimate.

Eventbrite and Hot Air America, Inc., did not immediately respond to HNGN's requests for comment.

Similarly, in 2019, balloon event organizer Richard Garvie canceled an Atlanta balloon glow festival and was accused of staging 10 other balloon events around the country, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Microsoft has announced three new models of the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S consoles and the company plans to release them all later this year. In total there are two new models of the Xbox Series X and one new model of the Xbox Series S. The company revealed these new versions of its latest console series during the Xbox Showcase event it held on June 9.

One of those new models is the rumored all-digital White version of the Xbox Series X. Up until now, Microsoft has only officially offered the Xbox Series X with a disc drive. Those who wanted an all-digital console had to go with the Xbox Series S. This not only meant less performance power, it also meant less storage as the Xbox Series S initially came with a 512GB SSD, whereas the Xbox Series offered 1TB. Microsoft later released a 1TB Xbox Series in Carbon Black. Naturally, this also impacted the price points. The Xbox Series X was significantly more expensive.

But things are changing. You can now get the Xbox Series X in an all-digital model that comes in the Robot White color. It still has 1TB of storage, but it comes in at a new lower price of $450. That being said, Microsoft is also lowering the price of the Carbon Black model with a disc drive to the same price. If youre looking to save money, the Xbox Series S with 1TB of storage will cost you $350. You can also get this in Carbon Black or Robot White.

The Xbox Series X will come in a new limited-edition Galaxy Black model with 2TB of storage

1TB of storage fills up fast with games these days. Starfield for example is around 135GB. And Call of Duty has consistently been one of the larger games for the past few years. Black Ops 6 will surely be a huge game. It is possible to put more storage into your console with the expansion cards. However, its still nice to have as much internal storage as possible. To that end, Microsoft has confirmed a new Galaxy Black model of the Xbox Series X that will come with 2TB of internal storage. It will still have the disc drive as well, and support for expansion cards if 2TB isnt enough.

Itll also cost quite a bit more money. When the new console releases, itll set customers back $600. Keep in mind, that youre not only getting more internal storage. Youre also getting a limited edition color.

Microsoft doesnt mention anything about limited quantities. But its usually safer to assume that there arent going to be a ton made and make the purchase as soon as possible.

All three new models will be released this holiday

It will be a while yet before you can pick up one of these new Xbox models, as Microsoft plans to launch them for the holiday 2024 season. So expect them to show up sometime around October or November. Theres no official date yet but Microsoft will no doubt share additional information closer to launch.

Microsoft also says pre-orders are coming soon and to check back in the coming months for more details.
PS5 is poised to get even more Xbox games according to Xbox Chief Phil Spencer. Microsoft held its big Xbox Showcase on June 9 where it revealed a metric ton of new games coming out. This included reveals for an upcoming Perfect Dark game, a turn-based RPG called Expedition 33, details for Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, and a closer look at Fable.

Beyond all the trailers though, Spencer elaborated on Microsofts plans for Xbox with the release of games and its strategy for allowing players more choice in where to play them. Speaking to IGN (via The Verge) Spencer said Xbox would continue to allow players the choice to either subscribe or buy to access newly released games. On top of that, more Xbox games would be coming to other screens like the PS5 and Nintendo Switch.

Earlier this year, Microsoft revealed that four of its exclusive games would be making their way to PS5. This included Grounded, Sea of Thieves, Pentiment, and Hi-Fi Rush. Grounded and Pentiment were also released for Nintendo Switch.

More Xbox games are coming to PS5, but which ones are still a mystery

It isnt clear which games are coming to other screens, but they are coming. Spencer does confirm that Microsoft will continue to look at launching its games for other platforms. Spencer does also avoid mentioning PS5 and Nintendo Switch (or its successor) by name. But its pretty clear what platforms Microsoft is looking at. Considering that PlayStation and Nintendo are the only other two that make sense.

As The Verge points out, a number of games coming from Microsofts first-party Xbox studios also dont mention anything about exclusivity. This isnt a confirmation that certain games will jump to PS5. Indiana Jones and The Great Circle for example may live exclusively on Xbox, but Spencer has never said as much. The same goes for the upcoming DOOM: The Dark Ages that was announced on Sunday.

Games could still have timed exclusivity

While some upcoming games may come to rival platforms, they may not do so right away. If Microsoft is considering the idea of launching some of its bigger titles on other consoles, this may happen further down the line. Similar to how Sony has been releasing its games for PC a while after their PS4/PS5 release.

This would ultimately let the Xbox platform have some time with each release before making the jump to other screens.
Back in March, Ross Young, a well-known display analyst, revealed the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6 colors that will be on offer. Well, Evan Blass has just reconfirmed those color options via X. He also added some additional info.

The Galaxy Z Fold 6 & Flip 6 colors have been confirmed yet again, by another reliable tipster

When it comes to the Galaxy Z Fold 6, the phone is coming in Navy, Pink, and Silver Shadow colors. The Galaxy Z Flip 6 will launch in Blue, Mint, Silver Shadow, and Yellow colors.

The tipster also mentioned that both models will be offered online in white and crafted black colors. The Galaxy Z Flip 6 will also be on offer in a peach color online, by the way.

Now, we dont know if all of these will be official names for the color options. Ross Young did mention the light blue color, while Evan Blass simply says blue for the Galaxy Z Flip 6. Were not sure which one is accurate.

The colors with special names such as Silver Shadow and Navy, are probably set in stone, though. Chances are that Evan Blass is entirely accurate here, just keep in mind some color options could have different official names.

Samsung is allegedly planning its second Unpacked event of the year for July 10

As many of you already know, both of these smartphones are expected to arrive next month. Samsung is rumored to host an event on July 10 in Paris, even though nothing has been confirmed just yet.

These two foldables are not the only devices that will launch during that press event, though. The Galaxy Ring is also expected, the companys very first smart ring. Two new smartwatches are coming, and possibly even a set of earbuds.

It will be a packed event either way you slice it. The Galaxy Ring could even take the spotlight, as the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Flip 6 wont be much different compared to current-gen models.
The judge overseeing former President Donald Trump's classified documents case ruled that a paragraph should be deleted from the indictment on grounds that it could prejudice jurors against him.

U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon issued the decision in a 14-page order Monday that denied a defense motion to dismiss the indictment against Trump and two codefendants for allegedly stashing boxes of government papers at his Florida resort and obstructing official efforts to retrieve them.

Cannon said special counsel Jack Smith improperly included references to an incident during which Trump allegedly showed a classified military map to a political ally, identified by news outlets as Republican operative Susie Wiles, during a meeting at his New Jersey country club.

The paragraph read as follows:



"In August or September 2021, when he was no longer president, TRUMP met in his office at The Bedminster Club with a representative of his political action committee (the 'PAC Representative'). During the meeting, TRUMP commented that an ongoing military operation in Country B was not going well. TRUMP showed the PAC Representative a classified map of Country B and told the PAC Representative that he should not be showing the map to the PAC Representative and to not go too close. The PAC Representative did not have a security clearance or any need-to-know classified information about the military operation."

Smith argued in court papers that the information was included in the indictment under terms of section 404(b) of the Federal Rules of Evidence.

It allows prosecutors to introduce allegations of related but uncharged "crimes, wrongs or acts" committed by a defendant.

But Cannon said Smith's move was "not appropriate" because Smith didn't first provide "supporting reasons" and allow the defense to respond.

"And, even then, the permissibility of Rule 404(b) evidence is not always self-evident except until trial when the contours of defenses are crystallized and when the Court can assess the potential probative value and/or prejudicial impact of such evidence in light of the full evidentiary picture," she wrote.

A trial date hasn't yet been set in the case, one of four filed against Trump in various jurisdictions since March 2023, making him the first former U.S. president to face criminal charges.

The only case that has gone to trial resulted in Trump's May 30 conviction on all 34 counts of falsifying business records in the Stormy Daniels "hush money" case.

Trump faces a maximum of 20 years in prison at his scheduled July 11 sentencing, just days before Republicans are set to nominate him to challenge President Joe Biden in November.
Amy Poehler and Lewis Black say new emotions add so much to Inside Out sequel

Inside Out stars Amy Poehler and Lewis Black have agreed it was vital to introduce new emotions to the sequel of the hit film.

The original 2015 film saw 11-year-old Riley Andersen deal with five core emotions as she struggled to adjust to a move from Minnesota to San Francisco.

Poehler, Phyllis Smith and Black reprise their roles in the sequel as Joy, Sadness and Anger, while Tony Hale replaces Bill Hader as Fear and Liza Lapira stars as Disgust in place of Mindy Kaling.

The sequel will see five new emotions enter the brain as Riley becomes a teenager.

Anxiety, Envy, Embarrassment, Ennui and Nostalgia are voiced by Maya Hawke, Ayo Edebiri, Paul Walter Hauser, Adele Exarchopoulos and June Squibb, respectively.

At the films world premiere in Los Angeles, Black told the PA news agency that it was the right time and place for a sequel  almost a decade after the original was released to critical acclaim.

Lewis Black, a cast member in Inside Out 2 (Chris Pizzello/AP)

Anxiety is really huge, its important, he said on the purple carpet of the El Capitan Theatre.

Were living in the age of anxiety, and everybody is worried about something.

I think it was really vital to bring these other emotions into it, starting with Anxiety, like Paul (Walter Hauser), who plays Embarrassment, said, its like seasoning. It made the (Inside Out) world better.

Maya Hawke, a cast member in Inside Out 2 (Chris Pizzello/AP)

Poehler agreed, telling PA: I love that Pixar waited until they felt they had a really good idea, they were really ready to make another one.

I think that using that moment, the teenage moment, to remind us that our emotions keep surprising us just when we think we have it down, literally a wrecking ball comes in and changes everything.

So I think thats a really heightened time, theres a lot going on in our head and Pixar are really good at not patronising what people are going through.

Ayo Edebiri, a cast member in Inside Out 2 (Chris Pizzello/AP)

On her new castmates, Poehler added: Ayo, Tony Hale, who I have known and loved forever, Lisa, theyre all so great and they add so much to this franchise.

And Im happy that me, Phyllis (Smith) and Lewis (Black) are back as the old guard.

Filmmaker Kelsey Mann took over from Pete Doctor and Ronaldo Del Carmen to direct the sequel.

Mann told PA about the importance of the teenage storyline: This was a really hard time in my life and I think a lot of our lives.

We really remember that time when youre a teenager and I really couldve used a movie like this, I really felt self conscious at this time.

And you think youre the only one thinking and feeling what youre thinking and feeling so we really wanted to make a movie that told people they arent alone.

Tony Hale, a cast member in Inside Out 2 (Chris Pizzello/AP)

While Hale spoke about stepping into the shoes of US actor and comedian Hader as Fear.

I was and am a huge Bill Hader fan; you cant match that kind of brilliance. I just know I have a lot of fear in my own life and a lot of flavours of it, so I just tried to bring that to the table, he told PA.

I kind of wish that I could act like Fear, we all try and keep it together when we want to freak out. I was given the opportunity to walk into the audio booth and freak out.

In the film, Kensington Tallman replaces Kaitlyn Dias as the teenage version of Riley.

Kensington Tallman, a cast member in Inside Out 2 (Chris Pizzello/AP)

The teenage actress, who is about to turn 16, said the process had been a long journey, having first auditioned at the age of 13.

I started recording at 14 and I was entering adolescence at the exact same time Riley was, and so we were experiencing the same emotions, Tallman told PA.

Riley is such a fun character. She is joyful, loves her friends, and is kind.

But as she is going through adolescence, shes experiencing challenges, and with that comes these new emotions, and so she is really trying to navigate these new emotions.

As youll see, her personality and sense of self is really going to start changing and she kind of has to navigate that.

Tallman added that the film teaches us that we dont have to be anybody but ourselves, were beautiful inside and out.

Inside Out 2 will be released in the UK on June 14.
The shock death of TV doctor Michael Mosley has been felt by millions of people all around the world who regarded him as their doctor, according to his BBC co-stars.

The BBC will be airing a special tribute on Friday at 8pm on BBC One to Mosley, who died of natural causes last week after he went missing on the Greek island of Symi.

The 67-year-olds body was found on Sunday in a rocky area near Agia Marina beach.

A direction sign on a rocky path in the hills of Pedi, a small fishing village in Symi, Greece, pointing towards Agia Marina, where the body of Michael Mosley was discovered (Yui Mok/PA)

Mosley first trained as a doctor before moving into the world of broadcasting, presenting a host of science programmes and films on the BBC including the series Trust Me, Im A Doctor, which looked at healthcare in Britain.

In 2002, he was nominated for an Emmy for his executive producer role on BBC science documentary The Human Face, and he also ingested tapeworms for six weeks for a 2014 documentary called Infested! Living With Parasites on BBC Four.

Dr Sarah Jarvis, who had worked with Mosley over the years including on The One Show which he joined in 2007 as part of the original line-up, explained how Mosley had transformed peoples lives through his work.

Michael was absolutely charming, she said during a tribute on The One Show.

He was funny, he was clever, but what really came across was that he had this ability to communicate and he wanted to get important messages out.

That man touched so many lives.

Dr Michael Mosley (John Rogers/BBC)

He took really complicated science, then he turned it into something that resonated with everybody.

And he said that by using himself as a guinea pig, he could make more difference than many doctors make in a lifetime

The ideas that he first brought out, he helped bring into the mainstream of health are now there and they continue to make a difference to the quality of peoples lives.

Trust Me, Im A Doctor co-star Dr Chris van Tulleken said Mosley is one of the most important broadcasters of the last few decades, perhaps ever.

The One Show co-presenter Alex Jones said on the BBC programme: His death has been felt by millions of people all around the world who regarded him as their doctor.

Its still very hard to grasp whats happened, I think everybody feels that Its an absolute shock.

The BBC One Show presenter Alex Jones (Yui Mok/PA)

Dr Hannah Fry recalled a time when Mosley had saved the life of a BBC colleague.

She said: Somebody collapsed in the BBC offices in the corridors, and he saw them collapse.

He went over, he performed CPR on them for almost half an hour until the emergency services arrived.

(He) saved her life, shes gone on to have two children.

It comes after Greek police spokeswoman Konstantia Dimoglidou told the BBC that an initial post-mortem examination had been carried out, confirming there were no injuries on the body of Mosley.

It also estimated that the time of death was around 4pm local time on Wednesday.

Mosley had left friends on the islands Agios Nikolaos beach at around 1.30pm to go for a walk.

Ms Dimoglidou said that the position of his body means he died of natural causes.

She also said toxicology and histology reports will take place.

Footage reportedly found by a beach bar at Agia Marina shows what appears to be the TV doctor making his way down a rocky slope close to a fence before he falls out of view.
The Conservatives have pledged to abolish stamp duty permanently for homes up to 425,000 for first-time buyers and to introduce a new and improved Help to Buy scheme.

Stamp duty applies in England and Northern Ireland, with different property taxes applying in Wales and Scotland.

The nil stamp duty band for first-time buyers was previously raised from 300,000 to 425,000 and this was due to end in March next year.

Buyers can currently claim relief if the property is their first home.

This means paying no stamp duty up to 425,000 and 5% on any portion from 425,001 to 625,000.

If the property price is more than 625,000, buyers cannot claim the relief.

Zoopla recently analysed first-time buyer inquiries about homes for sale over the past six months.

It found eight in 10 first-time buyers searching for a home on Zoopla were looking for homes priced at under 425,000, while 7% were looking over the 625,000 threshold and would still have to pay full stamp duty.

First-time buyers searching to purchase in southern England are generally having to look for higher-value homes and face paying the most stamp duty, Zoopla said.

According to customer data from Santander, in the first quarter of 2024 a fifth of people taking their first step on the property ladder are over the age of 40.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak after launching the Conservative Party General Election manifesto at Silverstone in Towcester, Northamptonshire on Tuesday (James Manning/PA)

The new Help to Buy scheme being proposed by the Conservatives, should they win the General Election in July, would provide first-time buyers with an equity loan of up to 20% towards the cost of a new-build home.

First-time buyers would be able to get onto the housing ladder with a 5% deposit under the scheme. The initiative would in part be funded by contributions from house builders.

The party also plans to continue with an existing Mortgage Guarantee Scheme.

Sarah Coles, head of personal finance, Hargreaves Lansdown, said of Help to Buy: This scheme has made a demonstrable difference to buyers ability to stretch to a deposit.

However, theres also a real risk it pushes up the cost of new-builds  unwinding many of the benefits. Currently, the average price of a new-build is 388,789, which is up an eye-watering 17% in a year.

Compare this to the average price of resales at 276,194  which is down 1.8% in a year.

The Conservatives also pledged two years of temporary capital gains tax relief for landlords selling up to their existing tenants.

Ms Coles added: The manifesto suggests a temporary two-year capital gains tax holiday for landlords who sell to tenants, to incentivise them to sell to those who already live there.

We will have to see whether they are prepared to do this, or whether in an environment where prices remain robust, they chance their arm with a sale on the open market.

Ben Beadle, chief executive of the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA), said: Tenants who want to become homeowners should be supported to do so.

While incentivising landlords to sell to existing tenants has the potential to help, it will not reverse the damage to the rental market caused by tax hikes under recent Conservative governments.

Tim Bannister, Rightmoves property expert said: Some of the proposals announced this morning sound like a start, but theres still scope to go further in helping the majority of first-time buyers or removing barriers to movement.

He added: The focus should be on long-term solutions in addition to short-term support, and any new policy needs to consider the potential knock-on effects of that policy on the wider housing market.

Its an interesting area to consider how renters may be supported in purchasing the home that they live in from their landlord, in the event that they wish to sell.

One barrier to this is that many renters live in properties that they would be unable to afford to purchase, as the typical affordability criteria to rent a property can be more accessible than the requirements to buy.

The manifesto document also said that in England over the next Parliament, the party would deliver 1.6 million homes while protecting our countryside.

This would partly be delivered by abolishing the legacy EU rules, as well as providing a fast track route through the planning system for new homes on previously developed land in major cities.

Strong design codes will ensure this enables the gentle densification of urban areas, with housing on tree-lined streets built in the local character, the manifesto document said.

It also committed the party to raising density levels in inner London to those of European cities like Paris and Barcelona while also retaining our cast-iron commitment to protect the Green Belt from uncontrolled development.

The document stated said that the party would make sure local authorities use the new infrastructure levy to deliver the GP surgeries, roads and other local infrastructure needed to support homes.

Housebuilding targets  and the ability of governments to meet them  have frequently come under scrutiny and been the subject of political rows.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak last year dropped compulsory housing targets to ward off a potential backbench Tory rebellion.

He chose instead to make the commitment to build 300,000 homes a year in England advisory after construction repeatedly fell short.

In February, accusing ministers of previously ignoring calls for greater investment in brownfield development, a spokeswoman for London Mayor Sadiq Khan said he would not take lectures from a government that has scrapped housing targets nationally and sent peoples rents and mortgages soaring.

Nathan Emerson, chief executive at property professionals body Propertymark said: Ultimately, we need a fully robust supply of new sustainable housing that is keeping pace with an ever-growing demand.

The Conservatives manifesto document said: We have delivered over 2.5 million homes since 2010.

Justin Young, CEO of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Rics), said: Having delivered only 2.5 million homes over the last 14 years, the Conservative Party has made an ambitious pledge to build 1.6 million homes over the next five years.

That is over 300,000 new homes a year  which hasnt been achieved since the 60s, a period during which the public sector and SME housebuilders had a far greater role in housing delivery.

While its encouraging to see the Conservatives committing themselves to supporting small builders, this will not address the quagmire of laws that make up Britains restrictive and politically permeated planning system.

We welcome any initiative that helps first-time buyers, but demand-side solutions must be combined with workable supply-side solutions. To begin improving affordability levels the UK must build more housing; there is currently a shortfall of 4.3 million homes in the UK by some estimates.

While a stamp duty cut would help in the short-term by enabling more buyers onto the first rung of the property ladder, its vital that we learn lessons from the past and introduce policies that address the plethora of structural issues that exist within house building.

Supply must be addressed across all tenures, otherwise with Help to Buy 2.0 we risk a repeat of the negatives of the first scheme.
Rishi Sunak has launched the Tories General Election manifesto with a 10 billion headline pledge to cut employees national insurance contributions.

Here are the key moments from day 20 of the General Election campaign:

 Sunaks big ideas

The Prime Minister sought to present himself as the tax-cutting heir of Margaret Thatcher and Nigel Lawson as he finally unveiled his blueprint for the next five years if he makes it back to No 10.

Confirmation of the pledge to take 2p off national insurance contributions (heavily trailed overnight) was the nearest thing to a rabbit-out-of-the-hat moment at the famed Silverstone motor racing circuit where the launch took place.

Rishi Sunak with his wife Akshata Murty at the Tory manifesto launch (James Manning/PA)

Other policy commitments  from regular deportation fights to Rwanda for illegal migrants to the return of national service for 18-year-olds  had already been well aired on the campaign trail.

Labour described the national insurance cut as the most expensive panic attack in history  warning it had not been properly funded and risked a return to the chaos of Liz Truss, a claim rejected by the Tories.

After the bruising backlash over his early departure last week from the D-Day 80th anniversary commemorations, Mr Sunak acknowledged that some voters were not entirely happy with him.

Im not blind to the fact that people are frustrated with our party and frustrated with me, he said.

He nevertheless insisted: We are the only party in this election with the big ideas to make our country a better place to live.

 Quote of the day

 Suella erased

Soviet dictator Josef Stalin famously had his rival Leon Trotsky erased from photographs of Lenin addressing the Bolshevik masses.

Now Suella Braverman has suffered something of a similar fate at the hands of Mr Sunak at the Conservative manifesto launch.

In his address to supporters, he praised the record of Tory former home secretaries Theresa May and Priti Patel as well as the present incumbent, James Cleverly.

There was no mention of Suella Braverman in the Prime Ministers speech (Justin Tallis/PA)

However, there was, pointedly, no namecheck for Ms Braverman whom he restored to the post when he became Prime Minister after she helped him secure the leadership over Boris Johnson.

The two subsequently fell out spectacularly  resulting in her sacking last year. She has since emerged as one of his most strident critics from within the Tory ranks, particularly over the failure to get deportation flights to Rwanda off the ground.

Ultimately, Stalin had his rival bumped off by an assassin wielding an ice axe. Such drastic remedies are, presumably, not available to the occupant of No 10.

 Leave us out of it, says Civil Service chief

Whitehalls most senior mandarin has issued a plea to the countrys warring politicians not to drag civil servants into their election battles.

Simon Case, the Cabinet Secretary, said all parties had a duty to uphold the political impartiality of the Civil Service amid the heat of the election debate.

Cabinet Secretary Simon Case (Victoria Jones/PA)

His warning follows the controversial claim by Rishi Sunak that Labour is planning a 2,000 tax hike for every household, a figure he said was based on costings carried out by independent officials.

That has drawn a furious response from Labour who produced a letter from the top official at the Treasury saying it was wrong for politicians to say the figure emanated from his department.

In a letter to Tory Party chairman Richard Holden, Mr Case said: Upholding the impartiality of the Civil Service is a duty rightly shared by both the Civil Service itself and all political parties.

I would therefore be grateful for your ongoing assistance, and that of your counterparts in other parties, in protecting our impartiality during the election period.

 Picture of the day

Sir Keir Starmer and shadow health secretary Wes Streeting, during a visit to Whale Hill Primary School, Middlesbrough, where pupils have been demonstrating their teeth-cleaning exercises (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

 Labours Monster ban

Sir Keir Starmer has said he is prepared to brave accusations of nanny state interference to protect childrens health.

As Labour set out plans to ban the sale of high-energy drinks such as Monster to under-16s, Sir Keir said he had been genuinely shocked to learn that more six to 10-year-olds are admitted to hospital to have their teeth taken out than for any other operation.

Visiting a primary school in Middlesbrough, he said: I dont really care what people call it. If the price for a child of not taking action is losing your teeth, thats a price thats too high.

Labours plans have been welcomed by the TV chef and healthy eating campaigner Jamie Oliver who said there were children bouncing off the walls after being sent to school with an energy drink for breakfast.

Child health hasnt been put central to any manifesto in the last 20 years, ever, ever, ever, he said. This is really exciting for me. It means theyre looking at the detail, it means theyre looking at the science.

 Social media moment

The Conservative manifesto launch provoked both humorous and shocking reactions from other political parties.

We now cross live to the Conservative manifesto launch at Silverstone: pic.twitter.com/Lx0hWuqdsI  Liberal Democrats (@LibDems) June 11, 2024

The Lib Dems posted the words: We now cross live to the Conservative manifesto launch at Silverstone to X, formerly Twitter, alongside a video of the front wheels of an F1 car flying off.

The money isn't there for Rishi Sunak's plan. Just like it wasn't there for Liz Truss'. And you'll pay the price. Don't risk it on Thursday 4 July. pic.twitter.com/jPwCCLV9RX  The Labour Party (@UKLabour) June 11, 2024

Labour appeared to leave X users aghast when it posted a picture of Rishi Sunak and Liz Trusss faces edited together, alongside the words: The money isnt there for Rishi Sunaks plan. Just like it wasnt there for Liz Truss.

One person commented under the post with the words: That image should come with a warning.

 What the polls are saying

Two nationwide opinion polls have been published in the past 24 hours, both showing Labour still well ahead of the Tories.

(PA Graphics)

A poll by JL Partners gives Labour a lead of 17 percentage points, while Redfield & Wilton puts Labour 26 points ahead.

An average of all polls that were carried out wholly or partly during the seven days to June 11 puts Labour on 44%, 22 points ahead of the Conservatives on 22%, followed by Reform UK on 14%, the Lib Dems on 10% and the Greens on 5%.

Reforms average is up two percentage points on the previous week while Labour is unchanged and the Tories are down two points

 Whats happening tomorrow

The Green Party of England and Wales launches its manifesto in Hove.
Euro 2024 fitness boost for England as Luke Shaw and John Stones train

Luke Shaw and John Stones trained as Englands Euro 2024 preparations stepped up on Tuesday.

Gareth Southgate has been dealing with fitness issues and absentees in the build-up to this summers tournament.

But all 26 players trained on Tuesday as England went through their paces for the first time since arriving in Germany the previous night.

A couple of hundred people watched on at Ernst-Abbe-Sportfeld in Jena, where defenders Shaw and Stones took part in the session.

The former went off with a knock halfway through Fridays 1-0 friendly loss to Iceland but has seemingly shaken off that potential issue.

Shaw also trained as he steps up rehabilitation from the hamstring issues he has been dealing with since mid-February.

England kick off their Group C campaign on Sunday against Serbia in Gelsenkirchen before taking on Denmark and Slovenia.

John Stones was fit enough to train (Adam Davy/PA)

Southgate expects Shaw to be available in time to face the Danes and he was wearing a different coloured bib to team-mates in a small-sided game at the end of the session.

Englands players spent time after the session signing autographs for youngsters, who provided an excitable backdrop in Jena, where Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane proved popular.

Jude Bellingham, who starred in the Bundesliga for Borussia Dortmund before joining Real Madrid last summer, also received a lot of love at the home of Carl Zeiss Jena.

Luke Shaw wore a different bib to his team-mates (Adam Davy/PA)

The 20-year-old only joined up with the squad on Sunday having been given time off following Madrids Champions League triumph at Wembley the previous weekend.

Tom Heaton is another to have recently joined up with the camp after the Manchester United shot-stopper was called in as a training goalkeeper for the tournament.

England flew from Birmingham to their central Germany base on Monday evening, which they spent exploring their luxurious Spa and Golf Resort Weimarer Land base.

Tuesday morning was spent doing UEFA media activity, from TikTok videos to goal celebrations, before blowing off the cobwebs down the road from their Blankenhain base in Jena.
A grieving father has called for urgent e-bike safety measures one year after losing his partner and two children in a fire.

Scott Peden, 30, from Cambridge, lost his partner Gemma, 31, and their children Lilly, eight, and Oliver, four, during a fire caused by an e-bike battery bought online.

The familys two dogs also died in the blaze, which left Scott in a coma for a month and with prolonged injuries.

Mr Peden, backed by the charity Electrical Safety First, is calling on all political parties to commit to introducing safety laws to prevent further tragedies.

He said: June marks one year since I lost my partner and two children in an e-bike fire at my home last summer and life hasnt been the same since. I feel like my life has ended and I dont know how to move on.

Before the fire, I had no idea about the dangers of these lithium-ion batteries. I bought my battery online and just assumed it would be safe, I never imagined it could be so dangerous.

The battery exploded under my stairs, whilst my family was asleep. Flames were coming up the stairs like a flamethrower. The fire and smoke filled the house up in seconds. I told them to jump but they couldnt get out. Ive lost everything from that one night and my heart has been left broken.

If my story doesnt show the desperate need for a change in regulation, then I dont know what will. Im urging all the political parties to come together to tackle the issue of e-bike fires so that no one has to go through what I did. My life has been ruined but I can help to save someone elses.

Electrical Safety First has called for the introduction of independent third-party certification for e-bikes, e-scooters and their batteries.

At present, manufacturers can self-declare their e-bikes and batteries are safe.

The recommendations were first outlined last year in the charitys report Battery Breakdown, the first report of its kind to assess the growing risk of e-bike and e-scooter fires and propose solutions to reduce the risk to lives.

Similar requirements are already in place for other high-risk products, such as fireworks and heavy machinery.

Electrical Safety First chief executive Lesley Rudd said: Right across the country people are dying because of these fires, and people like Scott are left living with the grief and devastation.

Legislation is desperately needed and time is of the essence. We owe it to those who have lost their lives to ensure we do all we can to prevent further tragedies.

All political parties must to come together to tackle this issue and we want to work with any future government to address the problem as a priority. They will have the power to save lives and prevent future heartache.

Last year, 11 people lost their lives to fires involving e-bikes and e-scooters, with hundreds injured as a result of the fires caused by the lithium-ion batteries.

Other victims include Sofia Duarte, who died in London on New Years Day 2023 at the age of 21, when a converted e-bike caught fire during the night. Sofia was unable to escape the building with the fire blocking her escape route.

Alda Simoes, a friend of Ms Duarte, said: We are out of time to save our beautiful Sofia and everyone that has passed away like her. But we will do everything in our power to prevent others going through what Sofias mum, me, family and friends are going through.

This problem is a public safety issue that needs action from all political parties to introduce new measures to tackle the increasingly problem of e-bike battery fires. The number of these fires caused by these batteries keeps rising and we urgently need intervention to protect the public.

Change needs to happen. There are people dying, what are we waiting for? Sofias death must have a purpose. If nothing changes, her death will be in vain. I am urging the next Government and all political parties to please, help us create change.

We're asking businesses, including rail operators, to consider their risk assessments after crews attended an e-bike fire on a #Sutton train station platform. Crews were called just as rush hour was underway last month, fortunately no one was injured. https://t.co/qhndjMt23d pic.twitter.com/EO51orc6Gi  London Fire Brigade (@LondonFire) April 5, 2024

On March 21, fire crews were called to an exploding e-bike on a train platform in Sutton, London, with dramatic footage showing flaming battery cells being projected from the battery across the platform.

Fire crews in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, were called to a property fire on April 6 following a severe fire that resulted in one person being taken to hospital with serious injuries. The cause was deemed to be a charging e-bike. Five others suffered minor injuries.

Four children were among six people taken to hospital due to smoke inhalation following an e-bike fire near Croydon at the beginning of April that caused serious damage to their maisonette, destroying the staircase between the first and second floor.
Kevin Spacey has said his home is being sold at auction to settle legal bills following allegations of sexual misconduct made against him.

The two-time Oscar winner, known for the US adaptation of House of Cards along with American Beauty, was found not guilty during a London trial after being accused of sexual offences.

Spacey was asked on YouTube channel Piers Morgan Uncensored, in an episode uploaded on Tuesday, about how he is living at the moment.

He replied saying: This week, where I have been living in Baltimore is being foreclosed on, my house is being sold at auction.

So I have to go back to to Baltimore and put all my things in storage. So the answer to that question is Im not quite sure where Im going to live now, but Ive been in Baltimore since we started shooting House of Cards there I moved there (to the city) in 2012.

Actor Kevin Spacey (James Manning/PA)

When asked why, he replied saying: I cant pay the bills that I owe.

A couple of times when I thought I was going to file (for bankruptcy), but weve managed to sort of dodge it, at least as of today.

Spacey said he owed many millions of dollars due to legal bills, and seemed emotional at several points during the lengthy interview, which was conducted in person.

He was sacked from Netflixs House of Cards when the 2017 allegations emerged during the shows sixth season, and later edited out of the movie All The Money In The World and replaced by Christopher Plummer, who had to reshoot scenes at the last minute.

Spacey won a US civil lawsuit after being accused of an unwanted sexual advance at a party in 1986, and last year was acquitted at Southwark Crown Court after being accused of sexually assaulting four men in the period between 2001 and 2013.

He has always denied any criminal wrongdoing, and misconduct allegations.

Spacey admitted to British journalist Morgan he had been pushing the boundaries.

When asked how, he said: Being too handsy, touching someone sexually in a way that I didnt know at the time they didnt want.

I have caressed people, I have been gentle with people, that is the way that I am, he added in response to accusations.

Youre making a pass at someone, you dont want to be aggressive. You want to be gentle. You want to see if theyre going to respond positively.

He added: They should let you know they dont want to do it so that you can understand its non-consensual and stop.

Spacey has always denied any criminal wrongdoing, and misconduct allegations (Matt Crossick/PA)

The actor also denied fresh claims of inappropriate behaviour that were aired in a Channel 4 documentary titled Spacey Unmasked, which he criticised.

A spokesperson for Channel 4 previously said: Spacey Unmasked is an important film exploring the balance of power and inappropriate behaviour in a work environment, aiming to give a voice to those who have previously been unable to speak out.

In 2022, Spacey was sued at the High Court in London by a man who claimed he had been sexually assaulted by Spacey and suffered psychiatric damage.

The case was paused during his criminal trial, but has since restarted following a hearing in May.

Famous faces including Sharon Stone, Liam Neeson and Stephen Fry have been campaigning for his return to acting in statements to the Telegraph newspaper in May.

Spaceys two Academy Awards were for best supporting actor for The Usual Suspects in 1996 and best actor in 2000 for American Beauty, which also secured him a Bafta for leading actor.
The Israeli prime minister is committing war crimes in Gaza, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has said.

The Israeli government led by Benjamin Netanyahu has been under international pressure due to its actions in the region following the October 7 Hamas attacks.

Speaking at a BBC debate in Glasgow on Tuesday, Mr Sarwar hit out at Mr Netanyahus actions after being challenged by a member of the audience.

Anas Sarwars comments came during a BBC debate on Tuesday (Jane Barlow/PA)

Asked what a Labour government would do about Gaza if it wins the General Election on July 4, Mr Sarwar said: Ive been to the Gaza Strip myself to deliver aid into the Gaza Strip before I became a politician, my views are well known.

I believe in a two-state solution, I believe Benjamin Netanyahu is committing war crimes, I believe Hamas should be separated from the Palestinian people, I believe that we need an immediate ceasefire and immediate access to humanitarian aid.

There also needs to be a change of situation on the ground for the benefit of the Palestinian and Israeli people, the Scottish Labour leader added.

Mr Sarwars comments about the Israeli prime minister drew applause from sections of the audience.

The comments come 24 hours after the UN Security Council endorsed a ceasefire plan for the region, which the US said had been accepted by Israel and which Hamas has welcomed, saying it was ready to work with mediators to implement the plan.

Last week, Labour pledged to recognise a Palestinian state if the party wins on July 4.

Ahead of a meeting where the party sealed its manifesto, leader Sir Keir Starmer said: That needs to be part of the process, its very important we have a viable Palestinian state alongside a safe and secure Israel.

Asked whether this will be in the manifesto, he told the BBC: It will be.

Palestinians had an inalienable right to be recognised, he added.
Tourists visit a temple in northeastern China's Jilin province where four lecturers were attacked - Zhu Wanchang/CNS Photos via AP/CNS Photos

Four American university tutors have been brutally stabbed in a rare attack as they visited a temple in a public park in China.

The instructors from Cornell College, a private liberal arts college in Mount Vernon, Iowa, were taken to hospital after the incident in Chinas northern province of Jilin on Monday.

Photos and videos that circulated on social media on Monday appear to show several people lying on the ground, soaked in blood.

Representative Ashley Hinson (R-Ia) on Monday wrote on X, Horrified that multiple Cornell College faculty members were brutally stabbed in China. My team has been in communication with Cornell College & will do everything in our power to bring these Iowans home safely. Join me in praying for their health & safety.

Governor Kim Reynolds (R-Ia) wrote on X on Monday that she is in touch with Iowas federal delegation and the State Department in response to this horrifying attack. Please pray for their full recovery, safe return, and their families here at home.

Representative Adam Zabner (D-Ia) said that his brother was one of the victims.

My brother, David, was wounded in the arm during a stabbing attack while visiting a temple in Jilin City, China, he told the Reuters news agency.

I spoke to David... He is recovering from his injuries and doing well. My family is incredibly grateful that David survived this attack.

The group had been visiting a temple in Beishan Park when they were attacked by a man with a knife, he added.

Horrified that multiple Cornell College faculty members were brutally stabbed in China.



My team has been in communication with Cornell College & will do everything in our power to bring these Iowans home safely. Join me in praying for their health & safety.  Ashley Hinson (@RepAshleyHinson) June 10, 2024

Chinese police said a suspect, a 55-year-old man surnamed Cui, had been arrested on Monday.

A US State Department spokesman confirmed that it was aware of reports of a stabbing incident in Jilin, but did not provide further details.

The US embassy in Beijing did not immediately return The Telegraphs requests for information on Tuesday, and added that the assailants motive remains unclear.

Heavily censored

News of the incident has been heavily censored in China, but some Chinese X users jokingly made comparisons to the Boxer Rebellion, an uprising in 1900 aimed at pushing foreigners out of the country.

The teachers were in China as part of a long-standing partnership program with Beihua University in Jilin, northeast China.

Cornell College said that no students were involved in the program.

The police have preliminarily judged that this was a random incident but an investigation is ongoing, Chinas foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian told reporters at a daily briefing on Tuesday.

All the injured individuals were immediately taken to the hospital and were given appropriate critical care, no ones life is in danger, Mr Lin said.

The incident comes as Washington attempts to rekindle ties between American and Chinese citizens, with educational exchanges struggling to recover from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Xi Jinping, the Chinese President, has proposed a plan to invite 50,000 American students to China in the next five years, but a State Department travel warning has discouraged some students and universities from continuing exchanges.

According to Nicholas Burns, the US Ambassador to China, there are only some 880 American students currently studying in China, down from more than 11,000 in the 2018-2019 academic year.
Chief Constable Stephen Watson was appointed in 2021 and has taken a no-nonsense approach to policing - Heathcliff O'Malley for The Telegraph

In three years, Stephen Watson, the Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police (GMP), has turned a failing force that was on its knees into the one rated most improved by the official police watchdog.

However, Watson, 55, is clear that he is not finished. In the two years he has left on his contract, he is aiming to transform GMP into the best force in the country. That means being rated by HM Chief Inspector of Constabulary as good in all things and outstanding in some, he says.

His back-to-basics approach has been hailed by the former Conservative home secretaries Priti Patel and Suella Braverman  as well as James Cleverly, the present Home Secretary  as a model for restoring the publics faith in policing even though he was appointed by Labours Andy Burnham, the Greater Manchester mayor who sacked his predecessor.

Watsons strategy of getting bobbies back on the beat has seen him courted as much by the Tories as Labour, sparking speculation within police circles that he could, once his term in Manchester is complete, be in line to become Britains most senior officer: the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police.

In recent months, he has adroitly steered GMP through the tricky waters of an investigation into Angela Rayner, the deputy Labour leader, and the fall-out from GMPs wrongful conviction of Andrew Malkinson who served 17 years in prison for a crime he did not commit.

We meet in Watsons airy fourth floor office where a portrait of Elizabeth II hangs between two windows looking out towards the city centre skyline. The forces crest is pinned to the wall between a Union Jack and GMP flag alongside sailing pictures that reflect his favourite way to relax off-duty.

Wearing his full police uniform, he has the bearing of a military man and would have followed his father and grandfather into the Navy had he not chosen policing. As he sits at his offices pine conference table, he rattles off statistics to explain how his back-to-fundamentals, anti-woke approach has transformed the second biggest force in England and Wales.

Watson with the former home secretary Suella Braverman in 2023 - Peter Byrne/PA Wire

When he arrived in the summer of 2021, GMP had been placed in special measures after failing to record 80,000 crimes  a fifth of that years total. Emergency 999 response times were the worst in the country, with serial warnings that it was failing domestic abuse and sexual assault victims.

Now, says Watson, every crime is investigated, emergency response times are among the best in England and Wales, arrests of domestic abuse perpetrators have doubled in a year and overall crime is down by 7.7 per cent. Since he took over, stop and searches have quadrupled to 46,029 in a year, a key reason, he believes, behind sharp falls in robberies, firearms offences and people presenting at hospitals with knife injuries. It is about leadership and having an effective plan, he says.

Reading from his notes, Watson reels off the forces successes: In 12 months, neighbourhood crime is down 15.4 per cent, burglary is down 24 points, vehicle crime is down 16.2 per cent, robbery is down 11.2 per cent, theft from the person is down 3.9 per cent, he says.

His plan was to shift the entire force from being reactive to crime to proactively pursuing and preventing it. We pick up the phone, we get to people quickly, we make accurate records, we investigate all reasonable lines of inquiry. We bring people to justice, he says.

He is clear it is not about going down all manner of contemporary rabbit holes, responding to woke causes or being distracted by the fluff and nonsense of social media.

Whether it be through adulterating the uniform with pins and badges and having all manner of florid social media accounts  these are all things that I dont think have a place in policing, he says.

He summed up this approach three years ago when, in reference to the controversy over the police kowtowing to Black Lives Matter, I asked him if he would ever take the knee in uniform. No, I absolutely would not. I would probably kneel before the Queen, God and Mrs Watson, thats it, he replied.

Instead, he believes it is about investigating every crime no matter how minor and thinking about crime through the prism of the victims experience rather than the prism of some sort of Home Office classification.

It echoes the US-inspired broken windows philosophy on tackling crime. I expect my officers to enforce moving traffic offences, litter and graffiti, right the way up through the spectrum. Its as much about the small stuff as it is about the big stuff, says Watson.

Theres no doubt in my mind that if you dont tend to anti-social behaviour, which is symptomatic of crime, eventually things will deteriorate to the point where you get embedded endemic, deep-rooted crime and anti-social behaviour.

He cites Manchesters Cheetham Hill district as an example of this decline. Half a mile from the city centre, it earned a reputation as the counterfeit capital of the UK, where you could find fake Apple airpods sold for 20 rather than 250 and counterfeit Nike Air Max 95 trainers for 30, instead of 165.

Once home to a thriving rag trade, it had become a hub for organised crime and illegal migrant workers, and an enormous generator of illicit money, largely because of police turning a blind eye. Cheetham Hill literally was allowed to decline over a period of 30 years, says Watson.

The GMP has turned that around in eight months. It seems to me to be a great example of the power of what can be done.

Through multiple raids and putting officers back on the beat, 218 premises selling illegal goods have been shut; nearly 240 suspected criminals arrested; and officers have seized over 1,000 tonnes of counterfeit goods, 560,000 in cash and over 100 vehicles. It was the counterfeit capital of Europe, it now just no longer exists, he says.

Watson and his deputy chief constable Terry Woods have just completed their annual round of face-to-face strategy briefings with more than 5,000 of their staff to set out their vision for the next year.

When they launched these briefings three years ago, they called them giants, a nod to the fact that GMP was a sleeping giant. This year they have dropped the sleeping part because, says Woods, we have woken them up.

Part of the reason for their success in driving through reforms is that they have brought the workforce with them. Woods says the staff know they have not forgotten what it is like to be on the front line dealing with a violent incident. They get a sense that we are still connected to what happens at three oclock in the morning, he says.

Nothing symbolises that connection better than one of Watsons first acts: replacing officers scruffy, cheap kit from which they had even removed the force insignia to save money. He invested in a new uniform with the GMP logo and introduced a strict dress code.

If you turn up to work, if youre a female officer, you tie your hair up, if youre a man youve had a shave, you press your clothing, you polish your boots, you look smart, and you look professional. Were very uncompromising on that, says Watson.

When you see the Grenadier Guards outside Buckingham Palace, theres never a problem with smartness or with uniform standards. I think we can take a leaf out of that book.

Watson being sworn in as Chief Constable by Mayor Andy Burnham in 2021 - Greater Manchester Police

Watson says he would have followed family tradition and joined the Royal Navy had it not been for a chance meeting in a Manchester street with two cheery GMP officers when he was considering his career options.

They just put it into my head that it might be good, it might be fun. I thought it was an honourable calling. I joined almost by accident. I enjoyed it and I was reasonably good at it. And Im very proud to be a police officer, he says.

Warrington-born Watson grew up in Rhodesia where his father was a naval officer before he and other British families had to leave in 1981 when Robert Mugabe came to power. He completed his education in South Africa before returning to Britain at the age of 18 with a view to pursuing a career in the Navy.

Instead, in 1988, he joined Lancashire Constabulary as a probationer, telling his cousin at the time that his ambition was to be GMPs Chief Constable. His determination served him well, as he rose through the ranks to become staff officer to Pauline Clare, then Lancashires chief constable and the first woman in Britain to hold such a senior post.

This key job at the heart of the force gave Watson an insight into how to run a constabulary, from ensuring Clare was fully briefed for every meeting, to liaising with senior officers and writing speeches. He was very good as a staff officer because of his work ethic, recalls Woods, then a sergeant working alongside Watson. Wed be in at 5am in the morning and wed be there until 11pm at night.

What he learned from Watson has remained with him through his 25 years of policing, he says. Now reunited as chief and deputy at GMP, Woods recalls: His sense of vocation and values resonated with me for the rest of my career. It is the idea that policing is bigger than a job. Its public first, but Stephens duty is to the Crown.

The pair are very different. Watson is well-spoken, middle-class and privately educated; Woods, in his own words a broad Boltoner. But, he says: The sense of why we were put on earth is the same. Everything is about keeping people safe and if you dont think that, dont be in policing.

Early beginnings: Watson, pictured in 2021, said from the beginning of his career that his goal was to be GMP's Chief Constable - Heathcliff O'Malley

In 2006, Watson left Lancashire after being appointed the chief superintendent of Merseyside police, in charge of one of the toughest areas of the city. Five years later, he moved to a similar job as a commander in the Met Police.

A qualified firearms and public order commander, he worked on high-profile operations including the Vauxhall helicopter crash in which two people died after an aircraft clipped a construction crane. He had a key role also in restoring public confidence after the 2011 riots. A year later, he was awarded a Commissioners Commendation for his role in the successful delivery of a peaceful London Olympics.

He was then promoted to deputy chief constable in Durham Police, rated the best performing force in England and Wales, before taking over as chief constable for the then failing South Yorkshire force.

Here he applied the same principles that he has at GMP: prioritising neighbourhood policing, pursuing every lead and enforcing a smart dress code with no visible tattoos. I have nothing against tattoos, but Im absolutely sure the public are not ready for a police officer to have a tattoo on their face or neck, he says.

Where there were police failings, he was honest about admitting them. On his arrival at South Yorkshire in 2016, he had to deal with the fall-out of the Rotherham child sex abuse scandal, which happened before he took on the role. He said at the time that the failure of the police to help victims was totally inexplicable and unforgivable.

Yet, by the time he left South Yorkshire, it had been rated the most improved police force three years in a row. His success made him an obvious fit when he applied in 2021 to work for GMP, then a force in crisis after the removal of its chief constable over a failure to get a grip on crime.

An avowed family man, with an adult son and daughter, Watson has always kept a base in neighbouring Lancashire where he met his wife, Jane, a former traffic officer in the county who now runs her familys firm which provides equipment and supplies for ships.

Despite his posh background, colleagues say he has no pretensions. He doesnt try to be something hes not, says Woods.

To those officers, he is seen as a faithful boss. Hes very loyal and by that I dont mean blindly loyal, says one senior officer. Policing can be choppy waters. Weve all made big calls. If I do the right thing, even if it creates a storm, he will back me. And if I do the wrong thing and Im honest, he wont cast me out.

When he took over the force, Watson admits GMP was propping up the bottom of the league table at 43rd out of 43 forces in England and Wales, with all their performance ratings from independent watchdogs set at inadequate or requiring improvement  the bottom two grades used by HM inspectors.

Today GMP has among the fastest response times for 999 calls, down from 25 seconds when Watson arrived to just four seconds now. The number of burglaries solved has doubled after he became a beacon force for the country by guaranteeing to send an officer to the scene of every break-in.

We are midway through a journey. We aspire to be outstandingly good at serious and organised crime, neighbourhood policing and child protection, says Watson.

And we want to be outstandingly efficient, because money is likely to tighten up and, given the macro economic situation, we have to drive inefficiencies out of our organisation to sustain our momentum.

Ultimately, we want to see ourselves as the most improved force in the country for the third year running.
Atlanta authorities are warning residents to avoid a local food court after a shooting incident that left four people, including the suspect, wounded on Tuesday afternoon.

"Four people shot at Peachtree Center Food Court. Building is now on lockdown," Mayor Andre Dickens post to X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.

"One is the alleged original shooter and he was shot. All involved are still alive. [The Atlanta Fire and Rescue Department] are on the scene rendering aid alongside [the Atlanta Police Department.]"

The Atlanta Police Department can confirm that officers are investigating multiple people shot at 235 Peachtree St NW. Please avoid the area. pic.twitter.com/iaIlZyt75t  Atlanta Police Department (@Atlanta_Police) June 11, 2024

The shooting reportedly unfolded near a Hard Rock Cafe. The crime scene is still considered active. Law enforcement have not yet released the names of the victims or the suspect. Dickens and Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum were at the city's Public Safety headquarters, as of 3 p.m. on Tuesday, responding to the incident.

This is a developing story.
Barrister Michaela Danso was described as a 'bubbly person who lived life to the fullest'

A barrister died on Christmas Day in a jet ski accident during her honeymoon in Dubai, an inquest has heard.

Michaela Danso, 46, hit a wall while using the jet ski on the third day of her trip in December 2022 while her husband Joseph looked on.

The couple were given only basic instructions on how to operate the powerful jet skis - despite neither of them having used one before, Walthamstow Coroners Court heard on Tuesday.

After the instructor had left, Mrs Danso pressed the accelerator and hurtled towards the sea wall.

The jet ski hit the wall, causing her to catapult on to the ground in front of her.

A post-mortem examination found her cause of death was a head injury caused by blunt force trauma.

Mr Danso told the inquest: Michaela was a bubbly person who lived life to the fullest. She was a gorgeous person and well liked by many members of the community. She adored music and danced to it even if it was coming from a passing car.

He also said the company, called Aquablue, told them they were too big to fit on one jet ski  which he now believes was a ploy to make them rent two.

Michaela Danso and her husband Joseph were on their honeymoon in Dubai when the accident happened

Mr Danso said: It was never her intention to operate a jet ski alone. She had only reserved one for me and she wanted to sit behind me.

She would be here if that claim hadnt been made.

He also told the inquest they were only wearing life jackets and not helmets, adding: I think if she had she still would be here.

Mr Danso also told the inquest it took an hour for an ambulance to reach the port  in which his wife had died.

Speaking after the inquest, Mr Danso said he had heard from police in Dubai that the boss of the jet ski operator had been arrested.

He said: I was told if I said I forgave him that he would be released. I didnt reply. I never want to hear anything more from that country again.

Husband thrown into police van

Mr Danso also claims after witnessing the death of his wife, officers threw him into a police van to take him to the station to give his statement.

He said: I was crying, screaming. I couldnt believe what I had seen. I was traumatised and the officers kept telling me to shut up.

Mrs Danso, from Holloway in north London, was a barrister with Charterhouse Chambers in Chancery Lane, and first practised criminal law before moving into family law.

Senior coroner Graeme Irvine said: On arrival at the jet ski operator, it was explained to Mr and Mrs Danso they were not allowed to share a single jet ski and therefore something of a surprise and a change to the plan envisaged by Michaela was that they had to hire a second jet ski.

The evidence I heard from Mr Danso was that Michaela didnt plan to pilot a jet ski; she intended for her husband to pilot the jet ski and she would be a passenger for this pleasure ride.

Mr Irvine described the jet ski as a powerful piece of marine equipment.

He said their briefing on how to use the jet skis was very short and perfunctory and the only safety equipment they were given was a flotation vest.

He said: When she started the jet ski she lost control of it and she accelerated very speedily out of control.

Her very short but fast journey stopped suddenly when she struck the sea wall and was catapulted on to the hard surface in front of her and she sustained fatal injuries to the base of her skull.

Mercifully Mrs Dansos injuries had left her unresponsive and unconscious from the outset.

He said if the death had occurred in the UK he would be writing to the jet ski rental company about their safety procedures and equipment, and the local authority.

But he told the court: Unfortunately I cant do that because it is outside this courts jurisdiction. I make it abundantly clear that if it were not, thats what I would be doing.

The court heard Mr Irvine contacted the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office to request information from Dubai but after months of waiting no information was handed over.

Mrs Dansos family agreed to go ahead with the inquest regardless.

The coroner recorded a conclusion of accidental death due to injuries sustained in an accidental jet ski collision.
Charles Michel has a bitter rivalry with Ursula von der Leyen - ANDRE PAIN/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Charles Michel, the president of the European Council, is seeking to ban Ursula von der Leyen from high-level talks to decide whether she remains president of the European Commission.

It is the latest twist in their bitter rivalry which has overshadowed the pairs five-year tenure at the helm of the European Union.

Mr Michel has suggested excluding Mrs von der Leyen, the European Commission chief, from summit discussions between EU leaders and heads of state next week to decide on who should take the blocs top jobs after the European elections.

He said Mrs von der Leyen should not be allowed to attend because she is vying for a second term in office as the centre-Right European Peoples Party lead candidate in discussions with aides.

It is normal convention that the commissions president is included in talks at the European Council.

Ursula von der Leyen is vying for a second term in office - Anadolu Agency

But the current situation is unprecedented given that a sitting commission president has never attempted to secure a second stint in the role.

Theres some irritation

Despite the unusual nature of the talks, Mr Michel has still faced accusations of meddling in the politics of the decision.

If he wants to eliminate her from the room, he should eliminate himself as well, an EU diplomat told the Politico news website.

A second source added: Theres some irritation.

The ill-feeling between Mr Michel and Mrs von der Leyen has been mounting since the sofagate scandal during a joint visit to Turkey in 2021.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkeys president, offered the council president a seat, while his fellow EU chief was relegated to a distant sofa.

It happened because I am a woman, Mrs von der Leyen said at the time.

EU leaders will meet for the first time on June 17 to discuss the fall-out from the European parliamentary elections, which resulted in hard-Right gains across the bloc, most notably in France and Germany.

They will also start looking at nominations for the EUs three presidents  Council, Commission and Parliament  and its de facto foreign minister.

Mrs von der Leyen is favourite to retain her position, while Antonio Costa, Portugals scandal-hit prime minister, is expected to become the councils president.

Kaja Kallas, the Estonian prime minister, has signalled that she wants to become the blocs High Representative, the blocs top foreign diplomat.

And Roberta Metsola looks set to keep her job as the European Parliaments president.
The opposition leader, Peter Dutton, says the Coalition will make decisions on a 2030 emissions targets if it forms government. Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAP

The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, has accused Peter Dutton of being afraid of the future and risking chasing away investment in clean energy in Australia, after the opposition leader confirmed the Coalition will not set a 2030 emissions reduction target unless it wins the next election.

Albanese called Duttons stance absurd, highlighting confused messages from the Coalition about its climate policy, and saying any backtrack on Australias emissions reductions commitments would be walking away from the Paris agreement.

After foreshadowing on Saturday that the Coalition could walk away from the Paris agreement and scrap Labors legislated target to cut emissions by 43% by 2030, Dutton said the Coalition remained committed to net zero by 2050, but would not reveal its interim targets in opposition.

Related: Peter Duttons plans will breach the Paris agreement on climate  that much is clear | Adam Morton

We need to make sure that we dont harm Australian families and businesses in the interim and that is what Labor is doing, Dutton said on Tuesday.

And in terms of the targets otherwise, well make those decisions when we are in government.

The Liberal leader told 2GB later on Tuesday: Its very hard in opposition  without all the modelling and the advice from government  to put an exact figure on the table.

The Coalition has delayed releasing its own energy policy, despite raising nuclear as a solution. Albanese on Tuesday afternoon called the repeatedly delayed nuclear announcement a fantasy, claiming it would lead to higher energy prices and emissions.

We know that the consequences of that for our relationships in our region and around the world with our closest allies will be ones that are regrettable, to say the least, Albanese told a press conference in Canberra.

Instead of chasing investment in new industries with new opportunities in new jobs, he is chasing them away. No action until 2040 means energy shortfalls. It is something that Australia should not pursue.

Albanese claimed there hasnt been any proper process to determine the Coalitions policy, noting that Liberal senator Andrew Bragg had said moments after Duttons press conference that he believed the Coalition would set its own 2030 target before the election.

Dutton told the Weekend Australian he would oppose the legislated 2030 target  a 43% cut compared with 2005 levels  at the next election, declaring there was no sense in signing up to targets you dont have any prospect of achieving.

Government department projections last year suggested Australia was on track for a 42% reduction in emissions by 2030. The government said it showed the 43% target was within reach. Albanese said on Tuesday they were very much on track to meet the target.

On Tuesday, Dutton doubled down, claiming Labors targets would trash the economy.

I think its very clear that we have absolute commitment to Paris and our commitment for net zero by 2050, he said.

Its important it doesnt need to be linear, as weve pointed out, and were not going to send the economy into freefall and families bankrupt through an ideologically based approach, which is what Anthony Albanese is doing at the moment.

Dutton later clarified on 2GB Albanese needed to be realistic about the cost of living.

When the prime minister made the commitment of 43%, the economy wasnt in a state that it is now ... Its a very different environment, he said.

Dutton also took aim at the teal independents who won inner-city blue-ribbon seats from the Liberals at the last election, accusing them of being out of touch.

Do I think that theyre in touch with average families who are struggling to pay their power bills at the moment? No, I dont. I think Monique Ryan is in a very rarefied air thats quite distinct from the people of Kooyong.

And I dont think that shes got, frankly, a handle on the reality of what families are going through at the moment and I put Anthony Albanese in the same category.

The North Sydney independent MP, Kylea Tink, said Dutton risked taking Australia backward.

We cannot fall for Peter Duttons fairytale thinking, she said.

The climate wars must be put to bed and if the Liberal and National parties do not wish to be part of that future, it is their own extinction they are guaranteeing.

Dutton claimed on Tuesday that Labors energy policy was designed so Albanese can rub shoulders with leaders in Paris.

Related: We may not have snow: Australian ski season opens with a whimper

The Paris agreement is a global agreement under which more than 190 countries said they would aim to limit global heating to well below 2C and attempt to limit it to 1.5C above preindustrial levels.

The deal says countries will progressively increase their commitments every five years and that pledges will reflect a nations highest possible ambition. Experts say this means countries committed not to backslide on targets.

Dutton had previously told the ABCs Four Corners that the Coalition would take a more ambitious 2030 target to the next election than the Morrison governments pledge of a 26-28% cut below 2005 levels. Theres no doubt about that, Dutton told the program in September 2022.

The Coalition signed Australia up to the Paris agreement in 2015, with the then environment minister, Greg Hunt, calling it a profoundly important milestone and a turning point in the transition to a lower-emissions economy.

Labors climate targets  43% by 2030 and net zero by 2050  were legislated in 2022 and submitted as a pledge to the UN.

Australia has committed under the Paris agreement to announce an emissions reduction target for 2035 by February.

An initial assessment by the Climate Change Authority, the governments advisory body, found Australia could meet an ambitious target to cut greenhouse gases by at least 65% and up to 75% by then. The authoritys final advice is due later this year.
Lord Cameron said Russia was trying to destroy the energy system - Odd Andersen/AFP via Getty Images

David Cameron called for Europe to halt all imports of Russian gas on Tuesday in a veiled jab at France, Belgium and Spain.

The Foreign Secretary said the West had to be as equally tough and precise in targeting Vladimir Putins revenue streams as Russians were being with strikes on Ukraines energy infrastructure.

We know what Russia has tried to do. They are trying to destroy the energy system, theyre trying to take coking coal that is crucial for Ukraines iron and steel industry and theyre trying to destroy the gas storages in Ukraine, Lord Cameron told a donor conference for the reconstruction of Ukraine.

Theyre going with toughness and precision after Ukraines key assets, and we have to ask ourselves are we being equally tough and precise ourselves?

We have rightly switched off a lot of Russian oil, but its time to make sure we totally switch off Russian gas into Europe as well.

In 2023 The Telegraph revealed that European Union countries had quietly channelled more than 6.1 billion (5.4 billion) into Russias coffers through the purchase of liquefied natural gas (LNG) over 11 months.

Lord Cameron attends a discussion at the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Berlin with his counterparts Radoslaw Sikorski, from Poland, left, and Antonio Tajani of Italy - Ebrahim Noroozi/AP

The bloc was responsible for importing up to half of Moscows LNG with Spain and France being the second and third largest buyers behind China.

Brussels has pledged to end its use of Russian fossil fuels by 2027, and has introduced sanctions against imports of oil and coal.

But it has been unable to agree on a plan to introduce punitive measures against gas exports from Moscow because of member state opposition.

The European Commission has drawn up plans to ban EU ports from reselling Russian LNG as part of a 14th package of sanctions.

The move would come as a serious blow to Russia because European ports act as a convenient layover. Without them, Moscow would have to use icebreaker vessels to cut new shipping routes through the Arctic ice to get to Asia.

Lord Cameron also confirmed that Britain would hand Ukraine at least 3 billion in military support next year and every year in the future for as long as it takes until Putin is defeated.

Rebuild after the war

He said Rishi Sunak, the Prime Minister, would set out plans for the UKs next donation to rebuild Ukraine after the war at a meeting of G7 leaders at the weekend.

And in a warning to allies not willing to follow suit, he added: Were here with a lot of numbers being thrown about... I just tell you this one thing, the numbers we are talking about compared to the number we would have to invest if Ukraine isnt successful.

What you spend now we will save later and will see a successful Ukraine as a result.

Ukraine used the two-day conference in Berlin to plead for more air defence systems to defend against Russians attacks that are crippling the countrys energy sector.

Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukraine president, said Russia had destroyed or captured more than half of Ukraines power generation.

Once Russias ability to terrorise its neighbours is limited, Russia will finally be forced to seek a path to real peace,he said.

Its because this is Putins key advantage  missile strikes, guided aerial bombs, attack drones. Together we must ensure the blackout of Russian terror in order to bring out of the blackout the possibility of real peace.
A man cools off by Lady Bird Lake in Austin, Texas. Photograph: Suzanne Cordeiro/AFP/Getty Images

A dangerous heatwave is threatening large parts of the US south-west, with millions of people under a heat advisory for the second week in a row. On Tuesday, temperatures were forecast to rise to 102F in Sacramento, California, and on Wednesday to 111F in Phoenix, Arizona. The sweltering heat is expected to reach the east coast by Friday.

Related: El Nino: how the weather event is affecting global heating in 2023

Health experts and climate scientists described the effects of extreme heat on the human body, which populations are most at risk and ways to mitigate it.

What is heat stress and what causes it?

It occurs when the body experiences a buildup of heat, at a level that is more than what it can release. The human body has this fantastic ability to cool through sweat evaporation, said Uwe Reischl, professor in the school of public and population health at Boise State University. But even when the body is producing sweat, the evaporation can be limited due to humidity in the air.

Another factor that causes body temperature to increase is when a person wears clothing that prevents sweat from being released from skin. And when the body doesnt have enough water, it becomes dehydrated to the point that it isnt able to produce sweat any more.

How is it connected to the ongoing heat dome phenomenon?

Warm air is able to hold more moisture than cold air. So the warmer the heat dome, the higher humidity levels, said Reischl. Urban environments with lots of buildings, paved roadways and parking lots exacerbate the likelihood of heat stress, as they absorb heat from the sun (and release it) throughout the day.

What are some signs of heat stress?

Heat stress is a spectrum, said Kristie Ebi, professor of environmental and occupational health at the University of Washington. Symptoms can range from small, reddish blisters on ones hands to fainting. In extreme cases, if the body temperature rises above 103F (39C), it can result in a heatstroke, which can cause the brain and other internal organs to swell, and can be fatal.

Who is most affected by heat stress?

Children, the elderly and pregnant people are among the most vulnerable to heat stress. Athletes and outdoor workers can be at much higher risk for heat stress, Ebi said, as the more people move or work, the more heat their bodies have to get rid of. These circumstances are more fraught for people like farm workers, who need to be protected against physical or chemical hazards, such as pesticides. They must wear protective clothing, which can interfere with their bodies ability to evaporate sweat.

How do human bodies recuperate from heat stress?

When we are exposed to high temperatures, we need time for our bodies to cool down, and night-time is normally when that happens, Ebi said. (But since 1970, overnight summer temperatures have increased by 3F on average, meaning that people are getting less reprieve at night.)

In addition to resting, the body needs to rehydrate, Reischl said, adding that people should drink more water than they normally would.

What can people do to mitigate heat stress?

Avoid strenuous outdoor activities, drink fluids, stay away from the sun and spend more time in air-conditioned places like cooling centers.

What are some ways to stay cool without an AC?

Putting your feet in cold water, placing cool towels around your neck, sitting in front of an electric fan and sprinkling water on yourself are effective ways to cool down. As are pulling down shades at home during the day and opening windows at night.
Sam Hallam served seven years and seven months before his murder conviction was quashed - Victoria Jones/PA

The European Court of Human Rights has backed the Governments decision to refuse compensation for victims of miscarriages of justice.

Judges rejected claims that the Governments refusal to pay out compensation breached the human rights of two men who were wrongly convicted and subsequently freed from jail by the Court of Appeal.

The case was brought by two men, one accused of attempted rape and a second charged with murder, who had served a combined total of more than 24 years in jail before being cleared of their offences.

The Government argued that the law only allowed payouts if they could show beyond reasonable doubt that they were innocent and had not committed the crimes for which they had been convicted.

But the men argued there had been a breach of their human rights under article six of the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR) which says that everyone charged with a criminal offence shall be presumed innocent until proven guilty according to law.

The Ministry of Justice maintained that the evidence that cleared the two men of their crimes was not sufficient to show they were fully innocent and refused to grant them compensation.

Victor Nealon was convicted of attempted rape in 1996 and served more than 17 years before he was released when new evidence came to light - Dave Evitts/SWNS

In its judgment, the court ruled by a majority of 12 to five that there had been no violation of the ECHR.

Finding that it could not be shown beyond reasonable doubt that an applicant had not committed an offence  by reference to a new or newly discovered fact or otherwise  was not tantamount to finding that he or she had committed the offence, it said.

Therefore, it could not be said that the refusal of compensation by the Justice Secretary attributed criminal guilt to the applicants. The Court concluded that the refusal of the applicants claims for compensation under section 133(1ZA) of the 1988 [Criminal Justice] Act had not breached the presumption of innocence.

Sam Hallam was 17 when he was found guilty of the murder of Essayas Kassahun, 21, who died after being attacked by a group of youths on the St Lukes estate in Clerkenwell, London, in October 2004.

He served seven years and seven months before his convictions were quashed in 2012. The Court of Appeal found there was scope for mistaken identity and that his alibi was faulty recollection rather than a lie.

Supporters included actor Ray Winstone

He has always insisted he was never at the scene and his family and friends waged a high-profile campaign insisting he is innocent, with supporters including the actor Ray Winstone.

Victor Nealon was convicted of attempted rape in 1996 and served 17 years three months before his conviction was quashed. Further forensic analysis of the victims clothes found evidence of DNA belonging to an unknown male.

However, neither were declared fully innocent by the Ministry of Justice {MoJ). Nealon was told by the MoJ that the DNA from the unknown male might have had nothing to do with the attack on the victim. Hallam was told that the fresh evidence in his case did not establish positively that he was not at the murder scene.

The judgment means there are no further legal avenues for the pair to seek to overturn the MoJs decision.

The ruling comes amid heightened concerns over the plight of those cleared in miscarriages of justice following the case of Andrew Malkinson, who served 17 years in jail for a rape he did not commit. He has not yet received a penny in compensation for his wrongful conviction.

Declared innocent by the Court of Appeal in July 2023, his supporters say he is now reliant on food banks.
Dress up your quick noodles with a tasty sauce, such as in Thomasina Miers hangover noodles featuring root veg and crispy fried eggs Photograph: Yuki Sugiura/The Guardian. Food stylist: Aya Nishimura. Prop stylist: Louie Waller. Food assistant: SongSoo Kim.

What sauces can you make in the time it takes to boil noodles?

You can bash together a decent yakisoba sauce from soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, a little mirin and oyster sauce, says noodle connoisseur Tim Anderson, author of Microwave Meals. But it does beg the question: why not just buy yakisoba sauce? Most Japanese noodle sauces come ready-made and are as good as or better than anything youd ever make at home. Much the same goes for mentsuyu, a concentrated, dashi-based sauce that can be used as a dip for chilled noodles (soba, udon, somen) or diluted with hot water for a broth. Make that from soy sauce, mirin, sugar and dashi, though the bottled versions are good, so you may as well buy one of them.

If the goal is to reduce the number of bottles in your cupboard, however, Yui Miles, author of Thai Made Easy, would knock up a not too heavy, not too light honey-soy number: Mix them in a 1:1 ratio, then add sesame oil and sesame seeds, if you want. Toss that through rice or egg noodles, and, if its the latter, youd be wise to add some peanut butter, too, for a bit of body. Miles lemon and basil dressing will also take noodles from basic to brilliant  crush fresh basil, add lemon juice, brown sugar or honey, plus a little soy  as will Andersons goma-dar or goma dressing. Thats often used in chilled hiyashi chuka [ramen salads], he says, making it ideal for this time of year. Toast white sesame seeds, then grind them to a coarse, sandy consistency and blend with soy sauce, rice vinegar, sugar and sesame oil until thick-ish. You could also incorporate the likes of miso, garlic and ginger, then pour over cooked and chilled noodles, along with some julienned veg.

All that said, different noodles have different cooking times. If, like Erchen Chang, chef and co-founder of Bao in London, thats a white wheat noodle, youre looking at about three minutes, which is tight to make a dressing, she says. Cooking the noodles is so important and you need to focus, so Id make the dressing first. This is not to say you cant keep things simple: Chang heats two generous tablespoons of rapeseed oil, then adds a diced knob of ginger, two diced spring onions (both green and white parts), and seasons generously with salt and sugar. Take off the heat, season with soy sauce and vinegar, and thats it. Similarly, Ping Coombes, author of Malaysia, leans on aromatics, getting garlic and spring onion in some hot vegetable oil, then adding equal amounts of light and dark soy sauce, plus a little brown sugar. Cook until the sugar melts, and the sauce is then ready to dress your noodles as you please.

Another shortcut to flavour is Changs crispy shallot goose fat dressing: Its super-savoury, but also simple. Heat 100g goose or duck fat (or lard) to about 120C, then chuck in 100g thinly sliced shallots and some salt and pull the pan off the heat just before the shallots turn golden. Take a good tablespoon of the onions, and add soy sauce and a drop of rice vinegar to combat the fattiness.

Finally, theres ponzu, the tart citrus- and soy-based sauce, which Anderson says is always a good idea. Start with something sour  lime, lemon and yuzu are classic choices  and add soy sauce, mirin, sugar, vinegar and maybe dashi to taste. The soy and citrus should dominate, though, Anderson says. It should be pretty sour!
A&E units in England will be told to offer detailed health assessments for older people who appear frail. Photograph: izusek/Getty Images

People aged 65 and over arriving at A&E in England who appear frail will soon receive a health MOT at the front door, the head of the NHS will pledge.

A&E units must start giving everyone that age a battery of tests to see if they are frail or have any other underlying condition and then arrange whatever care they may need.

NHS England hopes the initiative will reduce the number of older people being admitted to hospital, and cut overcrowding, trolley waits and corridor care.

Amanda Pritchard, the organisations chief executive, will tell an audience of health service heads on Wednesday they must ensure by next April that all A&E units start offering detailed assessments of older peoples health. However, the service will only operate for 10 hours a day.

Health MOTs at the front door of A&Es for older people could be a lifeline for many. From blood pressure tests to a review of their falls history, these checks mean patients can be assessed quickly and directed to the right support for their needs, Pritchard will say.

While some people do need to be admitted, it isnt always the most suitable place for older patients needs, and they can also rapidly lose mobility while in hospital.

The initiative is an effort by the NHS to change the way care is given to relieve the pressure on hospitals and adapt to the increasing demands of an ageing population.

Assessing frailty is important because falls and the resulting injuries, such as broken bones, are one of the most common reasons for many older people to spend time in hospital.

Half of hospital inpatients aged over 65 are affected by frailty, and the growing number of people with frailty will have a significant impact on future health and care services, said Sir Julian Hartley, the chief executive of NHS Providers.

Despite some hospital and community services providing innovative care for such people, too many frail people who need well-planned, joined-up care still arent getting the support they need, Hartley added.

The checks will also involve tests of older patients heart health, mobility, risk of malnutrition and of any history of breathing problems. Anyone deemed at risk of a fall will be referred to the hospitals falls service while those with other needs will receive care from specialist teams, such as those looking after people with dementia.

More than a million people over 75 are admitted to hospital every year in England and about one in five are severely frail. Doctors are worried that older patients undergo deconditioning while they are an inpatient and lose muscle mass, which can heighten their risk of falling and being readmitted to hospital soon afterwards.

Some hospitals are already giving older patients the MOTs that will become standard by next spring.

For example, the acute frailty assessment unit at the Princess Royal hospital in Orpington, Kent, now gives a frailty score to more than nine out of 10 patients it admits aged 65 or over. That has helped the hospital get more patients home early and has doubled the proportion of those discharged home within a week.

A clinical nurse specialist based in its A&E identifies frail older people while the frailty team works closely with the London ambulance service, community health services and local GPs.

However, A&E doctors cautioned that the checks could obscure what they believe are the real reasons so many people end up in A&E and often have to wait a long time to be treated.

Focusing on interventions such as this distracts from the root causes of long waits in emergency departments. These include a lack of staffed beds, and difficulties discharging patients because social care and community-based services are in such difficulty, said Dr Ian Higginson, the vice-president of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine.

Unless these fundamental problems are addressed, we will continue to see long waits in our EDs [emergency departments], with patients continuing to come to harm as a result. There was no evidence that frail patients contributed to A&E overcrowding, he added.
Carola Rackete, a sailor, activist and conservation scientist, is one of the new intake for Germanys Die Linke (the Left). Photograph: Nicolo Lanfranchi/The Guardian

While attention has focused on gains made by far-right and centrist parties in the European parliament elections, this terms intake includes an assorted  and often contrasting  mix of lawmakers. They include a social media influencer, a racing driver, and a former Italian army general. Here are a few to watch:

Germany

Related: Will we leave things to the fascists?: the activist aiming to revive Germanys far-left party

Carola Rackete, Die Linke (the Left)

Sailor, activist and conservation scientist Carola Rackete, 35, is one of the most prominent new faces of the Left to sit on the European parliaments benches.



Rackete spent much of her early adulthood staffing research voyages to the Antarctic and protesting against deforestation, but she came to political prominence captaining the Sea-Watch 3, defying Italys then-interior minister, Matteo Salvini, by rescuing Libyan refugees from drowning in the Mediterranean and landing them at Lampedusa.



That landed her briefly under house arrest and earned her the ire of rightwing politicians even as it made her a hero for many on the left, leading to her being chosen as the joint lead candidate of Germanys Left party for the European election.



Although she is best known for rescue work, Rackete says she wants to focus in parliament on environmental and climate issues, including climate adaptation in nature.

Cyprus

Fidias Panayiotou, 24, YouTube prankster

A popular YouTuber and TikToker, Panayiotou has stunned the political establishment in the island nation by taking one of the countrys six MEP seats, snatching 19.4% of the vote.

He describes himself as a professional mistake-maker and admits he knows little about politics or the parliament, but has tens of millions of subscribers to his videos such as I travelled to India with only $10.

It was a shock what happened, a miracle, he told the state broadcaster CyBC. The parties should take it as a warning that they must modernise and listen to the people.

Italy

Roberto Vannacci, the League

Vannacci is an Italian army general who last year published a book disparaging LGBTQ+ people, migrants, minorities and feminists, to widespread criticism.

His ideas drew outrage from many quarters but they resonated with the leader of the far-right League, Matteo Salvini, who signed him up to be a top candidate for his party. Now Vannacci is on his way to Brussels.

In his best-selling book, Vannacci questioned whether people of colour could ever be Italian, even if they were born in the country, and defended a persons right to hate.

A 55-year-old former paratroop commander, Vannacci was a military attache at Italys embassy in Moscow. He is under investigation for embezzlement during his time in Russia, something he denies. He has also been suspended from the military, accused of discrediting the army with his book.

Czech Republic

Filip Turek, Motorists Alliance

A former racing driver, Filip Turek is part of a Eurosceptic group not represented in the Czech parliament that says it defends the rights of drivers against EU climate policies. It formed a coalition with the protest party Oath, together coming third in the EU election in the country with a 10.3% share of the vote.

Turek, 38, has seen his popularity grow through social networks with his petrolhead image and calls to reshape Europe.

But police have also been investigating pictures from some years ago in which he used the Nazi salute, and other activities possibly suggesting sympathy for the Nazis. He has not been charged and has brushed off the accusations as misunderstanding of a past bad taste in humour.

Spain

Teresa Ribera. Socialist party

The energetic and outspoken Spanish energy minister, Teresa Ribera, will lead the contingent of 20 MEPs the Socialist party retained after opinion polls initially indicated the ruling party was heading towards a severe defeat.

The technocratic Ribera, 55, has held the ministrys job for six years and is already influential in Brussels where she has been a proponent of the blocs energy market reform.

In Spain, she has shepherded an ambitious green agenda since 2018, championing a harder, faster transition to a zero-carbon economy.

Ribera is also highly likely to be Spains pick for a European commissioner with the environment portfolio  in which case, she will not be taking up her seat.

Poland

Grzegorz Braun , Confederation

Grzegorz Braun, of the Polish far-right Confederation party, caused international outrage in December when he took a fire extinguisher from a wall in the lobby of the parliament to put out candles lit as part of Hanukah celebrations.

Afterwards, he took to the podium in the chamber, describing the Jewish holiday as satanic and saying he was restoring normality.

Braun, 57, had already gained notoriety with stunts such as dumping a Christmas tree decorated in the colours of the European Union and Ukraine in the bin, and damaging a microphone during a talk by a Holocaust historian.

Spain

Alvise Perez, The Party is Over

The 34-year-old from Seville, who once worked for the Liberal Democrats in the UK, has shocked the Spanish establishment by becoming an MEP for a party that has no electoral programme, rails against immigrants, and wants to build the largest prison in Europe.

Even a person who has a gang tattoo: youre going to fucking jail. If we have to put 40,000 guys in there, we will put them in there  And if the UN shows up, Ill laugh in their face, he was reported to have said in El Pais.

Perez, who promised to renounce his salary as an MEP if elected, won almost 800,000 votes and has almost 1 million followers on Instagram despite having very little profile in traditional media.

Another one of his specialties is harassing the press, says the Spanish newspaper. He points out journalists so that his followers can attack them on social media.
Kevin Spacey speaking at the National Museum of Cinema in Turin in 2023 - Luca Bruno/AP

Kevin Spacey has admitted that he was handsy with other men and his behaviour was pushing the boundaries.

In an interview for Piers Morgan Uncensored, the actor denied that he had groped people, and instead preferred the term caressed.

Spacey was acquitted on sexual offence charges against four men last year at a trial in London, which covered the period 2001 and 2013.

He has denied allegations from several other men made in a recent Channel 4 documentary.

The Oscar-winning star said he had been guilty of pushing the boundaries with his past behaviour.

In what way? Morgan asked.

Being too handsy. Touching someone sexually in a way that I didnt know at the time they didnt want, Spacey replied.

When Morgan told him that some people would say that is criminal, that if you grope people in a sexual way against their wishes, that is a crime, Spacey said: I agree that the word grope is a very odd word. I personally I have caressed people. I have been gentle with people.

That is the way I am. Youre making a pass at someone, you dont want to be aggressive. You want to be gentle. You want to see if theyre going to respond positively.

I think the word itself [grope] is not a word that I associate with my experience.

Told by Morgan that sexual advances by definition become non-consensual if they are repelled, Spacey replied: Then they should let you know they dont want you to do it, so that you can understand its non-consensual and stop.

Spaceys use of the term handsy echoes comments made by Guy Pearce, who acted with him in the 1997 film LA Confidential.

Asked in a 2018 interview what Spacey had been like to work with, Pearce replied: Amazing actor. Incredible actor. Slightly difficult time with Kevin, yeah. Hes a handsy guy. Thankfully, I was 29 and not 14.

Pearce clarified some days later: I very much understand that its too sensitive a topic to be brushed off. Although I wasnt sexually assaulted or molested, I was made to feel uncomfortable. I addressed and handled the situation when it took place, hence my regret at making it public now.

Elsewhere in the interview with Morgan, broadcast on YouTube, Spacey discussed his financial woes. He owes millions in legal bills.

This week, where I have been living in Baltimore is being foreclosed on. My house is being sold at auction, he said.

Im not quite sure where Im going to live now, but I have been in Baltimore since we started shooting House of Cards.

Spacey said he had not heard from Robin Wright, his co-star in House of Cards, since he was dropped from the Netflix drama.

He added: My goal is now to prove that Im a man of good character, and to get back on the horse with his acting career.
Pamela Smart was charged with plotting her husband's murder in 1990 and has been in prison since her conviction in 1991.

Now, over 30 years later, she's requesting a meeting with Gov. Chris Sununu to ask for his consideration for a commutation hearing to address her life-without-parole sentence.

Smart, now 56, said she wants to express repentance, take responsibility for her husband's death, and explain how she has improved her life during her time in prison.

"I'm respectfully asking for the opportunity to come before you, the New Hampshire Executive Council, and have an honest conversation with you about my incarceration, my acceptance of responsibility, and any concerns you might have or any questions," Smart voiced In a video sent to WMUR.

Smart previously wrote to Sununu earlier this year, in March, revealing that it took her decades to admit to herself that she was responsible for the death of her husband.

"I am deeply sorry that my selfish choices set into motion the chain of events that ended in Gregg's murder," she stated.

She is currently seeking a sentence reduction as she begs for compassion and mercy.

While detailing the hardships she's faced in prison, including being beaten to a point that required plastic surgery and sexually assaulted by a prison guard, she asked,

"When will enough be enough? My sentence appears to be a punishment without end, a vengeance that can never be stated."

In a statement sent to WMUR, the governor highlighted that New Hampshire's process for commutation or pardon requests is fair and thorough; however, her petition was denied last year by the New Hampshire Supreme Court, making it her third unsuccessful request.

In the video message, Smart continued to say that now that she's older, she can look back at her mistakes, claiming she was immature and her judgment was skewed back then.

She also added that she's less impulsive and more responsible now.

"I mean it's-- 34 years is a very long time, and during that time, I've done a lot of work on myself and a lot of spiritual work and just had a big growth in who I am and how I deal with things and people."

All four accomplices involved in Gregg Smart's murder were released from prison by June 2015, as three of them were minors at the time of the crime.

Patrick Randall, 17, held Gregg down as Billy Flynn, 16, shot him in the head, while two other men, Raymond Fowler, 18, and Vance Lattime, 17, waited outside in the getaway car.

Fowler and Lattime were paroled in 2005.

Smart was 22 when she was convicted of conspiracy to commit murder in the death of her husband, Gregg, who was found shot to death in the couple's Derry condominium on May 1, 1990.
Shawn Seesahai, 19, was attacked as he discussed plans for Christmas with a friend - UNPIXS

A 12-year-old machete killer was inspired by a jailed drill musician who rapped about swinging a blade and ripping through guts.

A jury on Monday unanimously found two boys, both aged 12, guilty of murdering 19-year-old Shawn Seesahai in a park in Wolverhampton.

Nottingham Crown Court heard that the boy who owned the machete used to kill Seesahai idolised a drill rapper serving a life sentence for a fatal machete attack.

The rapper SJ, whose real name is Jayden ONeill-Crichlow, was convicted of murdering a young father in a north London hair salon in 2019.

He had been a major part of the drill music scene, a form of hip-hop which has been accused of glorifying violence, and his lyrics made frequent references to carrying knives and stabbing people.

Such lyrics included: Swing my shank [UK slang for knife] aim straight for your head and my rambo [another slang for knife] gon rip through guts.

The machete found by police under one of the boy's beds - West Midlands Police

The violent lyrics were referenced in court as one of the boys had mentioned the drill artist before the murder of Seesahai.

The boy, who bought the machete for 40 online, sent an image of himself with the weapon inside the leg of his tracksuit bottoms to his co-defendant and a schoolgirl.

The picture was captioned Prison Freestyle, a song created and published online by ONeill-Crichlow from behind bars.

Addressing the court, the boy claimed he didnt listen to loads of ONeill-Crichlows music and was unaware of his conviction.

Yet he admitted that music videos had inspired him to clean the machete with bleach, and one of ONeill-Crichlows songs includes the lyric got my Rambz [knife] all bleached up.

Shortly before murdering Seesahai, the boys were passing the machete between them at Stowlawn playing fields in East Park, Wolverhampton.

They attacked Seesahai, who had only been in the country six months and was originally from Anguilla in the Caribbean, as he discussed plans for Christmas with a friend in a Wolverhampton park in November last year.

The fatal wound to his back was more than 20 centimetres (7.8in) deep, with the blade going through the victims heart and almost out of his chest.

He died at the scene after being hacked by the nearly 17in-long blade and beaten by his attackers, who are believed to be the youngest boys to have committed a knife-related murder in the UK.
The report suggests that interest in media and communications at degree level has held up despite the flak the subjects have attracted. Photograph: Sturti/Getty Images

Media and communications studies, often derided as soft, low-value or Mickey Mouse subjects, are in fact popular, dynamic and have profound impact, according to a report.

The British Academy study says that rather than being low value, such courses play a vital role in the UKs 108bn creative industries and have become increasingly relevant in a world grappling with new technologies, artificial intelligence and the dangers of disinformation.

Over the years, the media studies degree has been described variously as little more than a state-funded, three-year equivalent of pub chat, puffed-up nonsense masquerading as academic discipline and an instant turn-off to employers.

However, the report published on Tuesday highlights groundbreaking research that has emerged from these study areas, including research looking into musics influence on maternal mental health, and the development of an evidence-based framework on childrens rights and digital technologies in collaboration with Unicef.

The report suggests that interest in media and communications at degree level has held up despite the flak the subjects have attracted. The number of undergraduates on media, screen, journalism and communication courses dipped 2% overall between 2019 and 2021, after 7% growth in the preceding six years.

Undergraduate enrolments for media studies specifically grew by 5% 2019-21, and at postgraduate level, taught student numbers across media, screen, journalism and communication increased by 72% over the same period, many of whom are international students.

Rather than being the preserve of low-tariff higher education institutions, the report found that students were increasingly drawn to research-intensive Russell Group universities and London-based institutions.

And far from being an instant turn-off to employers, the report said media, screen, journalism and communication studies graduates were highly literate in media and digital skills that are transferable to a broad range of industries, not least the creative industries sector which has grown 1.5 times the rate of the wider UK economy over the past decade.

Robin Mansell, a professor emeritus at the London School of Economics and Political Sciences media and communications department and a member of the reports advisory group, said: Media, screen, journalism and communication studies subjects are sometimes dismissed as low-value or Mickey Mouse subjects.

Our report provides very substantial evidence to counter these claims. These subjects are highly popular among young people. They play an essential role in the creative industries which contribute 108bn annually to the economy, and education in these subjects supports a globally leading cultural sector.

They are crucial in addressing global issues, from developing media and information literacy and combating disinformation to guiding the future adoption and use of AI tools.

She added: At this crucial juncture when we face challenges like course closures and shifts in international student dynamics, recognising and supporting these subjects is vital for the continued prosperity of our creativity and for the UKs political economy.

The British Academy is the UKs national academy for the humanities and social sciences and the report is part of its state of the discipline series, which monitors and reports on different areas of study.
David Hosier at Potosi correctional center in Potosi, Missouri, last week. He was executed on Tuesday. Photograph: AP

Missouri executed a man on death row on Tuesday night, the states second lethal injection carried out this year.

David Hosier, 69, was pronounced dead at 6.11pm following a single-dose injection of the sedative pentobarbital at the state prison in Bonne Terre, said Missouri corrections department spokeswoman Karen Pojmann via text message.

Hosier has maintained his innocence in the 2009 murders of a couple, Angela and Rodney Gilpin, and two Missouri Congress members called for the execution to be halted earlier this week.

Ive been able to speak the truth of my innocence, Hosier said in a written statement before his execution, NBC News reported. Ive been able to reminisce with family and friends new and old. Ive been able to learn to be the fullest version of me  I leave you all with love.

Hosier has acknowledged that he had an affair with Angela Gilpin, telling the Associated Press that she ended the relationship and got back together with her husband. The couple was fatally shot near the doorway of their apartment in Jefferson City, the state capital, in September 2009.

Police said Hosier had made comments threatening to kill Angela Gilpin prior to the shooting and that authorities later found in the womans purse an application for a protective order that referenced fears Hosier could harm her and her husband.

Hosier was arrested in Oklahoma and had weapons in his car, though ballistic tests on the weapons were inconclusive.

Lawyers for Hosier focused on the defendants traumatic childhood in his clemency petition, which Missouri governor Mike Parson rejected on Monday. The petition noted that Hosiers father, Glen Hosier, was murdered when he was 16 years old. His father was a detective sergeant with the Indiana state police and was fatally shot on the job by a man he was trying to arrest.

Hosier previously served in the US Navy and worked as a firefighter and EMT. His lawyers noted that prosecutors had at one point offered a plea deal for life in prison without parole: It seems that if the prosecutor thought such a sentence was appropriate given all the facts, such a sentence should now be seriously considered, the clemency petition said.

In recent interviews with the AP and NBC News, Hosier has criticized his lawyers for focusing on his childhood, saying he had asked them to prioritize his innocence claim, including the lack of DNA evidence at the crime scene: I will maintain that till the day they stick a needle in my arm and kill me. Ill still be innocent, even though Im dead, he told the news station.

Larry Komp, one of Hosiers federal public defenders, criticized the governors decision to allow the execution to move forward, saying in a statement: It sends the wrong message to execute and marginalize a veteran and an individual harmed by the tragedy of his father being killed in the line of duty, which spun his life into a different direction. The context of his life history with the paucity of evidence related to his guilt makes this a compounding of tragedies, nothing is gained by killing him.

The Republican governor, a former sheriff, has overseen ten executions since 2018. In a statement on Monday, Parson said Hosier displays no remorse for his senseless violence, adding: For these heinous acts, Hosier earned maximum punishment under the law.

The execution follows the widely criticized lethal injection of Brian Dorsey in Missouri in April. Dorsey was sentenced to death for murdering his cousin and her husband in 2006, but his clemency petition was supported by more than 70 current and former prison staff, Republican lawmakers, jurors and an appeals judge who had upheld the death sentence. That judge said he regretted his decision.

A total of 24 people were executed in the US last year, with capital punishments carried out in Texas, Florida, Missouri, Oklahoma and Alabama. A Gallup poll last year found that half of Americans now believe the death penalty is carried out unfairly in the US.

The Associated Press contributed reporting
A neighbour who lived downstairs from Wolverhampton killer barricaded his home with barbed wire and metal bars in a bid to keep him out - JAY WILLIAMS

A neighbour of one of the 12-year-old machete killers barricaded his home with barbed wire and metal bars in an attempt to keep the scum out, it can be revealed.

Two 12-year-old boys are thought to have become the youngest knife murderers in the UK after being found guilty of a brutal machete attack on loving and protective Shawn Seesahai, who was stabbed through the heart in a Wolverhampton park.

Jurors on Monday unanimously convicted the youths, who are also believed to be the youngest defendants convicted of murder in Britain since Robert Thompson and Jon Venables  at age 11  were found guilty in 1993 of killing two-year-old James Bulger.

Residents close to where the two 12-year-olds carried out the brutal machete attack told on Tuesday of how one of the boys, who cannot be named for legal reasons, plagued the local area.

They painted a picture of a nasty piece of work, whom they accused of damaging street lights, pinching scooters and posting fireworks through letterboxes.

Regularly skipping school, he would ride across the local playing fields on a mountain bike and loiter outside shops and alleyways long into the night as part of a gang of youngsters of similar age, they said.

One neighbour was so scared of the youngsters behaviour that he barricaded his home with barbed wire and metal bars.

The neighbour's CCTV warning on his fence - Jay Williams

He told The Telegraph: He was coming back at four oclock in the morning. I thought why was a 12-year-old coming back at four oclock in the morning?

You could see he was carrying a knife. I told the police he was carrying and I told the social services he was carrying a knife.

He was out every night of the week. He was in gangs. Gang members would be in that alley waiting for him.

I dont want him breaking into my house when Im out. I barbed-wired it all. I screened the window.

His friend was always with him. They were always together, pinching, night after night. Scum, thats all he was.

Another added: I cant believe that the force that was used would have come from someone so tiny. He was a thoroughly nasty piece of work.

The boy, who is thought to have lived with his grandmother, is also said to have been a horrible neighbour.

Mr Seesahai, who had only been in the country for six months and was originally from the British Overseas Territory of Anguilla in the Caribbean, was attacked as he discussed plans for Christmas with a friend in a park in Wolverhampton last November.

Victim Shawn Seesahai - WEST MIDLANDS POLICE/SWNS

The fatal wound to his back was more than 20cm deep and the blade went through his heart and almost came out of his chest.

He died at the scene after the attack, in which the boys used a nearly 17in-long (42.5cm) blade.

Shortly before the fatal encounter, his attackers, who often carried a machete, were passing it between one another at Stowlawn playing fields in East Park, Wolverhampton.

The victims friend told the trial he was forced to run for his life but Mr Seesahai stumbled as he tried to flee from the boys.

After refusing to answer police questions in the aftermath of the murder, the boys both gave evidence to jurors, blaming each other for inflicting the fatal blow.

As well as failing to summon help for Mr Seesahai, the youths showed no remorse for what they had done in the 24 hours before their arrest  with one cleaning the machete with bleach and hiding it under his bed.

They told the court they both played video games in the hours after the killing, claiming they did not know Mr Seesahai had died until the following day.

Jurors heard one of the defendants posed, wearing a mask, with the murder weapon for a picture hours before the killing, and was found to have 11 areas of blood staining on his clothing.

The boy was also seen with blood on his hands in the aftermath of the murder, while his friend had a small area of blood staining on his right trainer.

The youth who owned the black-bladed machete was incriminated by his heavily blood-stained clothing and man-bag. He said he bought the machete for 40 from a friend of a friend who he refused to name but police said there was evidence he had searched for knives online.

His hoodie, found by police inside out and mixed in with other clothes in a washing basket, was bloodstained on the front of the right sleeve, the front and back of the left sleeve, the right chest and the lower left front.

Officers searched a storage space under a bed and recovered a machete. A tracksuit with apparent blood stains on it was also seized from a laundry basket at one of the schoolboys homes.

In an interview released after the verdicts, Mr Seesahais parents Suresh and Maneshwary have said they will never be able to get over the loss of their 19-year-old son who always told them he would shine and take care of them.

Suresh Seesahai said: This world is a different world, kids are dangerous now. If we dont pay attention to them, this will keep happening.

Mrs Seesahai added: Twelve-year-old kids should be at home doing school work and then going to bed. I have two children and at 7.30pm they had to go to bed because they have to follow the rules of the house.

Before that they do their school work and have a little rest.

Last month, police chiefs said that illegal dealers were selling weapons to under-18s via social media channels, including TikTok, Snapchat and those run by Meta.

Some teenagers, often those involved in drug dealing, want to buy large-status weapons like zombie knives or machetes.
Nigel Farage on the election campaign trail on Tuesday - Danny Lawson/PA

What bribes or blandishments is the Conservative Party offering us today, brought out and hastily dusted down from the Cabinet of Broken Promises? It really doesnt matter. However cynical they are, Tory voters are more cynical still. The manifesto could have vowed to give every man, woman and child free pizza, a Labrador puppy, 30 billion in tax cuts, zero potholes and at least 17 illegal migrants on a flight to Rwanda in July (well, OK, July 2031) and the response would have been the same eye-roll: Yeah, right, thats never happening.

We look enviously across the Channel at the French, who are somehow able to arrange a general election in three weeks without Sir Ed Davey bungee-jumping like a loon from the Eiffel Tower. Our ponderous process will take double that, and was a foregone conclusion from the start. I said the Conservatives would be lucky to save 100 seats, and have placed a bet on 80. Latest polls put Reform just a single point behind the Conservatives. Delay is only giving more time for the anti-Tory rebellion to build. My friend Nicky, a lifelong Conservative, is a prime example.

Last week, after our Prime Minister decided he had a better offer so would not be attending the climax of the commemoration of the most heroic and heartbreaking episode in our nations history, Nicky told her family she had made up her mind: she was voting for Reform.

I always thought you were a bit of a racist, Mum, said her son Jack with a wolfish grin.

Nicky was hurt, but she stood her ground. She said she couldnt stop thinking about the young soldier whose story she had heard on the news, a boy the same age as Jack. D-Day was the first time that boy had seen the sea. For many ordinary British lads like him it was also the last time they saw the sea, a sea red with blood (the multitudinous seas incarnadine, Macbeth says, and that nightmarish vision came true on June 6 1944).

Is there anyone  Spreadsheet Sunak aside  who doesnt well up thinking of the sacrifice they made for this country, hurling their young lives into the maw of one of the greatest evils the world has ever known? If we still believe in something, we believe that they died for us, so that, 80 years later, grumpy 22-year-olds (the great-grandchildren those boys would never have) can take their freedom entirely for granted, and call their mothers racist.

I am not racist, Nicky told her son. I am voting for you and your friends to live in a country that doesnt discriminate against you, that helps and supports you to make a good life. Im voting for all the things I love about Britain that I would like to continue after Ive gone. And a vote for Reform is the best way I can find to make my point.

Millions feel as Nicky does  and that sense is growing, I think. Mainstream Conservatives are disgusted with a party that stole our votes on false pretences. We are no longer going to put up with being stigmatised as far-Right when our young adult children cant afford a place to live or endure finger-wagging lectures by One Nation centrists  aka supercilious, semi-skimmed Lib Dems who make Tony Blair look like Margaret Thatcher.

The great immigration betrayal must rank as one of the most unforgivable things any political party has ever done to its supporters. Its at the root of so many problems: housing, hospital queues, welfare benefits, crime. Having broken their promise in every Conservative manifesto since 2010 (David Cameron said numbers would come down to the tens of thousands), a self-soothing globalist elite set about limiting the topics it was permissible to discuss. A bit of a dog whistle could swiftly shut down anyone who demurred.

Now that same lofty cabal informs us that it is all our fault the Tories are heading for a historic defeat. We are the stupid, short-sighted peasants who are going to usher in a Labour government because, strangely, we refuse to vote again for the party that has kicked us in the teeth  while simultaneously flooding the country with so many people we cant find a dentist to get those teeth fixed.

The Tory wets warn that the dangerous demagogue Nigel Farage lacks nuance and cannot grasp the complexity of the modern world they control. Note that they offer no explanation for failing to use an 80-seat majority to reform the NHS, which is causing thousands of avoidable deaths, or for faffing with irrelevancies like the International Baccalaureate when military veterans say our once world-class Armed Forces are now too weak to take on Turkey let alone Russia.

Oh, and these are the same strategic masterminds who told us to stick with Rishi when it was already clear last autumn, when I called for a new leader, that the PM had all the political nous of a mini Battenberg (my apologies to Mr Kipling, Im sure your exceedingly good cakes would have stuck around for the world leaders team photo at Omaha Beach).

Where is what Angela Rayner would call the abstract apology (its abject, Ange, love) the British people deserve for more than two million people being added to our population during the course of the last Parliament alone, when public services were already struggling to cope?

Perhaps I am too thick to understand the complexity that William Hague and other Tory grandees urge on us, but I can read ONS projections which show a UK population increase of 6.6 million by 2036, of which 6.1 million will be due to immigration. Annual net migration of 315,000 (half what it is now under a fake Conservative government) will lead to a projected population increase of nine million people by 2046. Thats eight cities the size of Birmingham. Perhaps the Sunaks could buy a couple of islands to put them on as a parting gift?

If we continue at this rate, according to Migration Watch, the independent think tank, a child born today to an indigenous British couple would be in a minority in the country of his or her parents by the time they reach their 40s. Did anyone vote for that? Is anyone busy figuring out how multiculturalism is going to fare under that kind of strain? Problems with the education system or the economy can be corrected or reversed in one generation. Mistakes with immigration can endanger a culture it took a thousand years to create.

In his interview on Monday night with Nick Robinson, a rattled Sunak protested that immigration was coming down. But net migration of 500,000-plus is not sensible, centrist, One Nation Conservatism; its a national suicide note. And if pointing that out is far-Right, go ahead and call me Marine Le Pen.

Suella Braverman, an actual Conservative forsooth (good people of Fareham, please do vote for her), told me she was massively alarmed by the numbers when she was home secretary, but Rishi Sunak was not interested, preferring to abide by the Treasury orthodoxy that more migrants were great for the economy. Rishi and Jeremy [Hunt] would say to me that if I wanted to cut legal migration, that would take 3 billion off GDP, which would mean they wouldnt be able to cut taxes, Braverman recalls.

It is that attitude  selling our birthright on the QT for short-term brownie points  and not anything that Nigel Farage has said or done which has led the Tory faithful to abandon their party in vast numbers and with huge and justifiable anger.

The Europeans, so adored by Tory Remainers, have given up saying our poor country and this week did something about it. Millions voted against the globalist consensus, enforced by the media, whereby anyone who steps outside the centrist position  on gender, immigration, welfare, leaving the European Convention on Human Rights  is hung out to dry as a fascist or racist. How long do you think the BBCs affronted Katya Adler will be able to keep calling Le Pen hard Right when shes had such a crushing victory across French constituencies? Are they all fascists, or did they simply opt to put their own people first?

I expect that, sooner or later, we will see a similar I agree with Nigel moment here, much to the horror of the establishment. Farage was the clear winner of Fridays BBC Debate  coming top of a snap YouGov poll as well as being miles ahead in The Telegraph one. I agreed with virtually everything he said  on the NHS, net zero, Armed Forces and immigration  as did one former Cabinet minister who texted me ruefully: Lots of Tories tonight will be thinking, I wish he was our leader.

You know, I think Nigel Farage is already the leader of the Conservatives. He certainly makes a better, more convincing Tory than Rishi Sunak. The polls bear that out. According to the latest findings from strategic consultancy Redfield & Wilton, Reform is in second place (behind Labour) with voters aged 45-54 and 55-64 (thats the age group of the Tory base) and is even second among 18-24s. The Conservatives are in a miserable fifth place with that younger age bracket.

Its not hard to see why. On the same day my friend Nicky told Jack she was voting Reform, my own son went to look at a rental property for him and his girlfriend in London. The market is so crazy he had no time to lose. There were snails in the hallway and my boys trainers made squelchy imprints on the tropically damp staircase carpet as he ascended to the top floor. The one-bedroom attic flat was cramped and the ceiling hung low in parts as if people in hammocks were encased in the plaster. He neednt have bothered. The agent said a previous viewer had just offered 200 over the asking price: 1,700 a month.

Why is everything so expensive, Mum?

Im sorry, my darling boy. A Conservative government I voted for has shafted your generation by allowing shocking levels of immigration.

These are the facts. Last year, we built 171,000 houses in England and about 204,000 in Britain, well short of the Governments target of 300,000 homes  a target that was based on the assumption that the UK has a net migration rate of 170,000 a year. Thats a figure we havent seen for more than a decade. Today, Britain needs to build at least 515,000 new homes each year just to keep up with the extra demand.

On Tuesday, instead of saying he would drastically increase the housing supply, which would bring prices down, Sunak announced tax breaks for landlords, which might encourage them to sell and make more houses available. What good is that for my son, for Nickys Jack and millions like them who will never be able to save for a deposit? They cant afford to go out  not at nine quid a drink  so they play board games and inhabit fantasy worlds where the monsters arent landlords. Increasingly, as I know, those young people, running short on hope, a commodity that comes as a free gift with youth, turn to their elders and ask, Where can we go?

Why should they have to consider leaving this country, the green and pleasant land all those young men died for on D-Day? They were fighting the real far-Right, and their victory was for all time. Not to be squandered and sold out. So, yes, vote Reform on July 4  or vote for any party or any individual who cares about our culture, who puts British people first, who wants our young to have hope. Whatever you do, dont blame us for a landslide Labour victory. If we Conservative voters have found ourselves politically homeless, its because the Conservative Party has trashed our home.
The president, Cyril Ramaphosa (centre), proposed a government of national unity last week. He is pictured beside members of the National Executive Committee (NEC), deputy president Paul Mashatile (R) and Gwede Mantashe. Photograph: Siphiwe Sibeko/Reuters

As South Africas biggest political parties remain locked in coalition talks the countrys voters have mixed views about what could await them, from hope that politicians will work across ideological divides to bring positive change, to pessimism that any cooperation will rapidly fall apart.

The African National Congress party lost its parliamentary majority in the 29 May elections for the first time since it came to power in 1994 at the end of apartheid. Amid high unemployment and degrading public services and infrastructure, it secured just 40.2% of the vote and now needs to reach a deal with at least one of the largest opposition parties by Friday, when parliament has to elect the countrys president.

The current president, Cyril Ramaphosa, proposed a government of national unity last week, invoking the 1994-1996 period, when the ANC, the former liberation movement, governed with partners including the National party, which ruled South Africa during apartheid, and the Zulu nationalist Inkatha Freedom party.

Since the vote, the ANC has held talks with parties including the pro-business Democratic Alliance (DA) and the far-left Economist Freedom Fighters (EFF), both of which have ruled out working with one another. The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party, which got the third highest vote share having only been launched in December by former president Jacob Zuma, has said it wont work with the ANC while it is led by Ramaphosa.

On Tuesday, the MK party asked South Africas top court to stop parliament sitting on Friday, on the grounds that the election was not free or fair. The election commission has defended the results, and they have been accepted by other large parties.

ANC voter Benson Dube, 47, said his preference was for an ANC-DA coalition. The DA, they are completely different from the ANC in terms of views. But the MK and EFF, its still the same thing, because those guys, they are former members of the ANC, said Dube, a driving instructor, as he sat outside a small restaurant in a market in the Randburg area of Johannesburg.

I think the DA will come out with something new, he said, adding that he thought the DAs white members were a benefit. We need to be one, a nation, not to divide  black peoples side, white peoples side.

Many black voters, though, distrust the DA, which is often accused of favouring the interests of white people. Its leaders deny this, saying the party is multi-racial.

Cape Town, theyre in government  they only work in the suburbs. You go to [the township] Khayelitsha, they do nothing, said Silas Radzilani, 46, a tree surgeon. He said the ANC would lose his lifelong vote if they worked with the DA: I will stop, right away.

Radzilanis preference was for the ANC to work with the EFF, which was founded by former ANC youth leader Julius Malema after he was expelled from the ANC. Theyve got the same ideology, Radzilani said.

There is no perfect combination, its simply about whether [the ANC] can manage the fallout in expectations from their core voters, said TK Pooe, a senior lecturer at the University of the Witwatersrands school of governance.

A smaller combination of the ANC with no more than three parties is preferred owing to the need to address serious and urgent policy issues, Pooe said. The more actors in this coalition, the harder it will be to resolve problems and for parties to claim political victories.

Before the election, 45% of voters said they approved of the idea of a coalition government, while 28% disapproved of it and 23% neither approved or disapproved, according to a telephone survey by Afrobarometer and the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation.

After the vote, some South Africans said they had low expectations of any government of national unity.

Its going to work for a few months and then its not going to work, said Lynette, a 62-year-old DA voter, who declined to give her second name as she shopped in Cresta Shopping Centre, a mall about four miles from the Randburg market filled with international brands such as Le Creuset and H&M.

I think they should try, she added. They [the DA] have to go into coalition with someone, to have some say.

I would like to see service delivery in all areas. The Western Cape at the moment has been quite good, said Lynette, a law firm personal assistant, referring to the only South African province governed by the DA. I would like less crime in the country.

The coalition negotiations are taking place in an environment of growing mistrust of politics and the state, said Ebrahim Fakir, an analyst at the Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa, pointing to the fall in turnout to 58.6% from 66% at the 2019 elections.

People have major mistrust in public institutions and thats whats driven lower voter turnout in my view, he said.

He added that while parliament could elect the president on Friday, negotiations to form a government may stretch on for longer after that.




Nancy Mace speaks during the House armed services committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, on 29 February 2024. Photograph: Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters

The South Carolina congresswoman Nancy Mace easily survived a primary challenge on Tuesday, against Kevin McCarthy-backed Catherine Templeton, while a much closer than expected special election in Ohio offered warning signs for Republicans ahead of November.

In Ohios sixth district, candidate Michael Rulli prevailed in the special election to replace fellow Republican Bill Johnson, who resigned from Congress in January. Rullis victory will help expand his partys razor-thin majority in the House, but his nine-point win over Democratic contender Michael Kripchak may unnerve Republicans, given that Donald Trump carried the district by 29 points in 2020.

In South Carolina, McCarthy, the former House speaker, attempted to oust Mace by backing her rival, but the the two-term incumbent received a crucial endorsement from Trump. The grudge match was personal for McCarthy, as Mace was one of the eight Republicans who voted to oust the then speaker last year.

The high stakes made the race a costly one, with outside groups dumping millions of dollars into the district. The South Carolina Patriots Pac spent nearly $4m backing Templetons primary bid, while the Win It Back Pac and Club for Growth Action collectively invested roughly $2.5m supporting Mace. Despite Templetons external support, Mace led by 29 points when the Associated Press called the first congressional district race about an hour and a half after polls closed in South Carolina.

Mace was not the only South Carolina Republican facing a primary threat on Tuesday. Over in the fourth district, the Republican congressman William Timmons was running neck and neck with state representative Adam Morgan, who leads the South Carolina legislatures freedom caucus. Like Mace, Timmons had the benefit of Trumps endorsement, but the race was still too close to call three hours after polls closed.

And at least one of South Carolinas House Republican primaries will advance to a runoff later this month. In the reliably Republican third district, Trump-backed pastor Mark Burns and Air National Guard Lt Col Sheri Biggs will compete again on 25 June to determine who will have the opportunity to succeed Jeff Duncan, the retiring representative.

Meanwhile, the fate of South Carolinas abortion laws rests in part on the results of three Republican primaries in state senate races. State senators Katrina Shealy, Margie Bright Matthews, Mia McLeod, Sandy Senn and Penry Gustafson collectively blocked a near-total abortion ban in South Carolina earlier this year. The Sister Senators were feted as a profile in courage by the Kennedy Center, but the three Republicans among them  Shealy, Senn and Gustafson  face primary challengers from their right on abortion. If two of the three lose to challengers, abortion foes will have the votes to restrict abortion beyond the current six-week ban.

In addition to South Carolina, three other states held primaries on Tuesday. In Maines second congressional district, the former Nascar driver turned state representative Austin Theriault resoundingly defeated fellow state representative Michael Soboleski in the Republican primary. Theriault will advance to the general election against Democratic congressman Jared Golden, who faces yet another difficult re-election campaign.

Republicans are hopeful that Theriault has the resume to defeat Golden, but the Democrat has proven politically resilient since he was first elected to Congress in 2018, when he narrowly defeated the Republican incumbent, Bruce Poliquin, thanks to Maines ranked-choice voting system. In 2022, Golden again defeated Poliquin by six points in the second round of voting, even though Trump had carried the second district by seven points two years earlier.

The Cook Political Report rates Goldens seat as a toss-up, so Theriaults victory will kick off what is expected to be a heated and closely contested race in the general election. Just minutes after the AP made Theriaults primary win official, the left-leaning Pac American Bridge 21st Century began attacking him over his views on abortion access.

In Nevada, a dozen Republicans are vying for their partys Senate nomination, but the primary appears to have become a two-person race between the retired army captain Sam Brown and former US ambassador to Iceland Jeff Gunter. Polling indicates Brown has a significant lead over Gunter, and Brown has received a last-minute boost from Trump, who made a much-awaited endorsement in the race on Sunday.

The winner of the Republican primary will go on to face the Democratic incumbent, Jackie Rosen, in one of the most closely watched Senate races this year, as the Cook Political Report rates the seat as a toss-up.

Related: Trump vows to drill, baby, drill despite rally attendees wilting in extreme heat

Further down the ballot, the Democratic congresswoman Susie Lee faces a tough re-election campaign in Nevadas third congressional district. Seven Republicans  including video game music composer Marty ODonnell and former state treasurer Dan Schwartz  are running for the chance to face off against Lee, but Trump has stayed out of the primary so far. The former presidents only House primary endorsement in Nevada went to the former North Las Vegas mayor John Lee in the fourth district, but the winner of that race will face a much steeper climb to defeat the Democratic incumbent, Steven Horsford, in the general election.

Over in North Dakota, five Republicans and two Democrats are running to replace the Republican congressman Kelly Armstrong representing the states at-large congressional district, but no Democrat has won the seat since 2008. Rather than seeking re-election, Armstrong has launched a gubernatorial bid, and he won his primary on Tuesday. Armstrong is widely favored to replace the outgoing governor, Doug Burgum, who has been named as a potential running mate for Trump.

North Dakota voters also weighed in on a ballot measure regarding age limits for congressional candidates. If approved by a majority of North Dakota voters, the measure would prevent candidates from running for Congress if they would turn 81 during their term. Although the policy would only apply to congressional candidates, the age cutoff is noteworthy considering Joe Biden, who is four years older than Trump, turned 81 in November.
Rishi Sunak has said that he went without lots of things as a child growing up in the UK, citing Sky TV as an example.

In an interview with ITV to be broadcast on Wednesday, the prime minister said a lot of sacrifices were made by his parents as education was their priority.

Pressed to give an example of something that he grew up without, Sunak said: Therell be all sorts of things that I wouldve wanted as a kid that I couldnt have. Famously, Sky TV, so that was something that we never had growing up actually.

Sunak, who was educated at the private boarding school Winchester College in Hampshire, said: What is more important is my values and how I was raised. And I was raised in a household where hard work was really important  service to your community was important. And my parents worked very hard for what they had and they wanted their kids to have a better life.

The interview with ITVs Paul Brand created a big election headache for Sunak last week, with the prime minister forced to apologise for missing part of the D-day commemorations in France to record it.

The prime minister was heavily criticised for leaving the 80th anniversary events early for a pre-recorded programme, with opposition parties calling it crass and a dereliction of duty.

During the interview, the Conservative leader apologised to Brand for his lateness and told him the incredible commemorations in Normandy all just ran over.

When asked if he had the opportunity to meet any of the veterans, the prime minister replied: Gosh, lots over yesterday and today. Yeah. Ive already spoke to almost everyone that was there, I hope.

The Tory leader also gave his view on Nigel Farage, the Reform leader, who claimed the prime minister did not care about British history after his decision to leave the D-day events.

When asked what are Farages best qualities, Sunak replied: I really dont know him, Paul. I think Ive met him maybe once in my life.

Sunak also brushed off suggestions that Reform would lure voters away from the Conservative party, adding: At the end of the day, as I said, one of two people is going to be prime minister on 5 July. Its either Keir Starmer or me.

A vote for anyone whos not a Conservative candidate is a vote to put Keir Starmer in office.

The Leader Interviews: Rishi Sunak will be broadcast on ITV1 at 7pm.
Explicit fake AI photos of female students at Bacchus Marsh Grammar were allegedly circulated online. Photograph: Diego Fedele/AAP

A teenage boy has been arrested and then released after fake explicit images, described as mutilated and incredibly graphic, were allegedly circulated on social media using the likenesses of about 50 female students from a private school in regional Victoria.

The principal of Bacchus Marsh Grammar, Andrew Neal, told the ABC about 50 girls had been targeted.

The nude images appeared to have been created using artificial intelligence and photos of the girls faces taken from social media sites, and were then circulated online.

[The girls] should be able to learn and go about their business without this kind of nonsense, Neal told the ABC.

Related: Making deepfake images is increasingly easy  controlling their use is proving all but impossible

A woman named Emily, the parent of one Bacchus Marsh Grammar student and a trauma therapist, said she saw the photos when she picked up her 16-year-old daughter from a sleepover on Saturday night.

Emily had a bucket in the car for her daughter who was sick to her stomach on the drive home, she told ABC Radio Melbourne on Wednesday.

She was very upset, and she was throwing up. It was incredibly graphic.

Emilys immediate reaction was also to be sick.

I mean they are children  The photos were mutilated, and so graphic. I almost threw up when I saw it.

Fifty girls is a lot. It is really disturbing.

The victims Instagram accounts were private, Emily said. Though her daughter did not appear in the deepfake images, theres just that feeling of ... will this happen again? Its very traumatising.

How can we reassure them that once measures are in place, it wont happen again?

Acting principal Kevin Richardson said in a statement: Bacchus Marsh Grammar is taking this matter very seriously and has contacted Victoria police.

The wellbeing of Bacchus Marsh Grammar students and their families is of paramount importance to the school and is being addressed. All students affected are being offered support from our wellbeing staff.

Richardson said the school had not been contacted by police regarding anyone arrested in relation to the matter.

Victoria police said officers were informed that a number of images were sent to a person in the Melton area, which is about a 15-minute drive from Bacchus Marsh, via an online platform on Friday 7 June.

Police said the teenage boy was arrested in relation to the incident, but had been released pending further inquiries.

The investigation remains ongoing, police said.

It comes after a student from Salesian College, a Catholic boys school in Chadstone in Melbourne, was expelled after he used artificial intelligence to produce explicit images of a female teacher.

In June the federal government introduced legislation to ban the creation and sharing of deepfake pornography as part of measures to combat violence against women.

But the Nationals senator Matt Canavan said there was a broader cultural problem that needed to be addressed.

It is a cultural issue across our society that, for whatever reason, the standards of behaviour are not being taught to young boys, he told Nine on Wednesday morning.

I wish I had the answers  I dont  but I dont necessarily think its something a government or a law can change.

Weve all got to chip in to try and make sure that young boys understand what it means to grow up to be a man and live by the standards that society expects.

Technology had supercharged boys bad behaviour, Canavan said.

Victorias health minister, Mary-Anne Thomas, said she was deeply distressed to read of the incident.

This type of behaviour is absolutely abhorrent. Schools should be safe places for children and young people to learn, she said on Wednesday.

While Thomas said she did not want to comment specifically on the incident, she said she hoped it would be a wake up call to the dangers of AI-generated sexually explicit images and social media.

We need to be having direct and real conversations with young people about respect, she said.

Because quite clearly, young people are accessing material on the internet, and through social media, that is influencing their behaviours in ways that I think we all agree are out of step with community expectations  and indeed are beyond that, [and are] actually causing real harm to other young people.

Image-based abuse, including deepfakes, can be reported to eSafety, which claims a 90% success rate in getting this distressing material down.
Corporal Rhys Gooding now faces a court martial - CAVENDISH PRESS

A soldier who misled police over a car crash has been spared jail after a judge said that lying was a common human response.

Father-of-two Corporal Rhys Gooding, 32, who has served in the Army for 14 years, falsely reported his car as stolen when in fact he was seen running away from the vehicle after he crashed it while on home leave.

Police matched Goodings DNA to the cars air bag, which inflated in the crash.

Sentencing him at Minshull Street Crown Court, Manchester, Recorder Geoffrey Lowe admitted that it was difficult to turn back once someone had embarked on a series of lies.

Addressing Gooding, he said: You are someone who presents in normal circumstances as an impeccable citizen and an exemplary and well-respected soldier.

The primary mischief in your behaviour was that police resources, at a time when they are scarce, were diverted and wasted.

But it seems to me once you tell a lie, you then embark on a series of lies because its difficult to avoid the consequences. That is a fairly common human response to situations.

This offence covers many areas of conduct relating to the whole series of offences in the criminal calendar.

But its common sense to say that to lie because of a relatively minor road traffic offence or the fear of being breathalysed is towards the bottom end of the criminality of this offence.

Once engaged on a track, its difficult to turn back.

Gooding receives an Operational Service Medal for his work in the Middle East - CAVENDISH PRESS

Gooding, who is stationed with the Royal Lancers at Catterick Garrison in North Yorkshire, was ordered to complete 240 hours unpaid work and pay 340 costs.

Gooding, who has been on tours to Afghanistan, Turkey, Cyprus and Kenya, will now face a court martial.

Earlier the court heard the crash took place in Rochdale in April 2022 when he was visiting friends.

Betsy Hindle, prosecuting, said: He rang the police to say his car was stolen and he had found it damaged whilst walking down the street.

She added that police discovered he was lying when DNA tests on the airbags matched his saliva, showing he was driving the car when it crashed.

Gooding then admitted at a police station that he was the driver and had panicked and run off. He claimed his friends advised him to report the car as stolen.

A witness at the scene said he had appeared intoxicated as he ran off but Gooding told the court he was not drunk.

Gooding pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice.

Huw Edwards, defending, said: This is not a sophisticated offence. This was an extremely foolish number of actions which occurred at a difficult time in his life. He wants to apologise to the court and the police, His remorse is heartfelt and genuine.

Gooding was said to be suffering from depression after breaking up with his girlfriend of 13 years.
Drag performer Brigitte Bandit gives testimony in the Senate Chamber at the Texas State Capitol in 2023, in Austin. Brandon Bell/TNS Drag performer Cheri Lake, who performs under the name Brigitte Bandit on stage at Cheer Up Charlies bar and nightclub in 2023 in Austin. Brigitte advocates for the rights of LGBTQ and drag communities in Texas. Brandon Bell/Getty Images Texas Democratic Party Chairman Gilberto Hinojosa at his party's state convention in 2022. Tom Fox/TNS U.S. Senate hopeful Colin Allred, D-Texas, center, and his wife, Aly Eber, leave the stage after addressing supporters during an election night gathering in March. Julio Cortez/Associated Press

The most widely distributed photo from the Texas Democratic Party convention showed drag performer Brigite Bandit making a keynote speech about protecting civil liberties and human rights.

Gov. Greg Abbott and other Republicans were jubilant at the opportunity to leverage anti-LGBTQ bigotry and portray liberals as perverts because Brigite was in character. Never mind that she is biologically female and not transgender; her costume makes people assume otherwise. Anyone remember Julie Andrews in the 1982 film Victor/Victoria?

Abbotts anti-LGBTQ hatemongering is fascistic. Brigites politics are courageous. But, the episode helps explain why Texas Democrats have not won a statewide election since 1994.

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The Republican brand is strong, and the Democratic brand remains diluted. By focusing so much on marginalized people, including low-income families, the party often alienates independent voters focused on economic issues.

Democratic leaders argue their stances on abortion, school vouchers and marijuana reflect the popular will, but the platforms promises to increase government spending, restrict gun rights and crack down on oil and gas production will worry many.

Texas Democrats want higher spending on education, especially pay for teachers, a key constituency. However, school property taxes are already too high, and Texans are not in the mood to pay more.

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The party faithful also want to improve the health care system by expanding Medicaid, the taxpayer-funded insurance program for the poor and disabled. Their platform also calls for Medicaid to pay higher rates to health care providers.

Expanding Medicaid makes economic sense but allows Republicans to heckle them with tax-and-spend liberals at a time when Texans are stressed about money.

The call for a universal, single-payer health care system will also put off independent voters who fear socialized medicine.

When it comes to persuading Texans who own guns to join their party, Democrats shoot themselves in the foot. They call for restoring the assault weapons ban and requiring gun owners to carry liability insurance in the event of negligent or willful acts causing harm to others in order to reimburse victims and public entities for medical, police, court, and/or incarceration costs.

The party also wants to allow local governments, school districts, churches, and proprietors to control the use and possession of firearms on their premises or in their public spaces.

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Lastly, Democrats are leading the fight against climate change and promise to support the transition from fossil fuels to clean energy. Part of their strategy is to eliminate extensive subsidies and tax incentives that make oil and gas production profitable.

The party would offer financial incentives for the manufacturing of American-made equipment for alternative energy, storage, grid, transportation, and conservation to achieve the goal of measurably reducing coal and oil consumption for electricity and transportation in Texas.

Not to mention calls for even stricter air, water and land regulations that would sap the profit from producing oil and gas in Texas. If the Democratic platform became law in full, its hard to imagine the fossil fuel industry remaining in business.

Only the most faithful of the true believers support every plank in a party platform drafted by the most committed cadre. However, voters must rank their political priorities and choose the party that best reflects those views.

Some Democrats will be angry that Ive cherrypicked some of their most extreme positions. But I did the same recently with the Republican platform, too. Words matter, and party platforms provide insight into what the faithful feel.

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As much as I would prefer voters to pay the most attention to economic issues, I suspect the culture war will take center stage.

Abortion rights have long motivated Texas voters, and Democrats promise to roll back the GOPs near-total ban. Republicans also think theyve found a rich vein in the bigotry against transgender people.

Democrats have made LGBTQ civil rights a key talking point as Republicans try to jam non-heterosexuals back into the closet. Though a drag performer providing a keynote in business wear might have denied Republicans a talking point.

Texas voters will share their priorities in the U.S. Senate race between Colin Allred and incumbent Ted Cruz. While statehouse and congressional seats are gerrymandered to the point that the November election is meaningless, statewide races are about voter turnout, which in Texas is dismal.

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Manifesto pledges 'relentless, continual process of permanently removing illegal migrants to Rwanda'

The Conservatives have pledged to deport all 90,000 migrants who have arrived illegally since last year to Rwanda or their home country.

The partys manifesto, unveiled Tuesday by Rishi Sunak, commits to bringing its Illegal Migration Act into force, giving ministers powers to detain and deport arrivals to a safe third country such as Rwanda or their home nation.

Party officials made clear there would be no changes to the Act despite claims by refugee charities and Labour that the Government would not be able to deliver the flights needed for such a large number of deportations.

The move came as the manifesto set out plans to abolish National Insurance for almost all self-employed people, axe stamp duty for first-time buyers on properties worth up to 425,000 and cut the cost of green levies on energy.

However, it stopped short of threatening to walk away from the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) despite pressure from Right-wing MPs to go further.

There are some 90,000 migrants covered by the Illegal Migration Act whose right to claim asylum will become inadmissible as soon as it takes effect and therefore subject to removal to Rwanda or their home country. The Refugee Council suggested it could reach 115,000 by the end of the year.

They have yet to be detained ready for deportation and, until now, have been in limbo, denied the right to claim asylum but unable to be removed before the flights. Instead, the Home Office has initially targeted more than 3,000 migrants who arrived before the Act came into force and have been detained.

The manifesto pledged a relentless, continual process of permanently removing illegal migrants to Rwanda with a regular rhythm of flights every month, starting this July, until the boats are stopped.

Asked if the Government would be able to deport all 90,000, officials said the Rwanda scheme was uncapped but refused to put a timescale on the removals.

It is the first time the Tories have publicly put a figure on deportations although leaked documents originally suggested only 30,000 would be removed over the five years of the agreement with Rwanda.

It was combined with a pledge to ensure all asylum claims were processed in six months and end the use of hotels. No timescale was put on meeting the target but officials noted 150 of the 400 had been closed and pledged to complete it as quickly as possible.

The manifesto also announced new health checks on legal migrants before they came to the UK so that any likely to be a burden on the NHS would have to pay a top-up on the standard 1,035 health surcharge or take out health insurance.

The manifesto made no explicit threat to leave the ECHR, stating only that if we are forced to choose between our security and the jurisdiction of a foreign court, including the European Court of Human Rights, we will always choose our security.

It has been seen as leaving the door open to quitting the ECHR if Strasbourg fails to reform its procedures. The manifesto said the party would work with other countries to rewrite asylum treaties to make them fit for the challenges of illegal migration.
Ukrainian servicemen patrol an area heavily damaged by Russian military strikes in Zaporizhzhia - REUTERS/Stringer

A Ukrainian official has been shot dead in Zaporizhzhia, near Ukraines southern front line, police said as they launched a murder probe.

In the city of Zaporizhzhia, the police are searching for a man who shot a local official, police said. The injured man died. The police are conducting urgent investigative and operational measures.

The attacker fired four shots at the official outside a high-rise apartment building. Video posted online shows the suspect running from the area in a blue jumper and hat.

Zaporizhzhia is around 12 miles from the front line.

There have been several assassinations of Russian-installed officials in occupied areas of Ukraine  blamed by Moscow on Ukrainian security services - but similar attacks behind Ukrainian lines are more rare.

03:30 PM BST

Thats all for today

Thank you for following our live blog coverage. On Tuesday 11 June, the Biden administration lifted restrictions on the transfer of American weapons and training to the Azov Brigade, a controversial Ukrainian military unit. The move will help the Azov Brigade, among Ukraines most effective and popular fighting units, move beyond its reputation as a far-right movement.

Meanwhile Volodymyr Zelensky attended a conference on Ukrainian reconstruction in Germany, where he said Russian strikes on Ukraines energy facilities have destroyed half of its electricity generation capacity since winter.

Other key developments from the day were:

A Ukrainian official was shot dead in Zaporizhzhia, near Ukraines southern front line, police said as they launched a murder probe.

Finland made its first deployment for Nato since joining the alliance in April 2023, sending seven F-18 fighter jets to a military base in southeastern Romania where they will conduct air shielding missions with Romanian and British jets.

Mr Zelensky warned of growing pro-Russian rhetoric in Europe, after far-right parties  some sympathetic to the Kremlin  made gains in European Union elections. He also said Ukraine has done everything it needs to start accession negotiations with the European Union.

A Russian military jet crashed during a training flight in North Ossetia, killing two people on board.

Russian and Belarusian troops started the second stage of tactical nuclear drills in Russia.

Voters in the European Union showed clear support for parties who back Ukraine in the blocs parliamentary elections, German chancellor Olaf Scholz said.

China urged the BRICS bloc of nations to take on greater responsibilities and establish itself as being inclusive to the world, foreign minister Wang Yi said, in the wake of Western sanctions and trade restrictions imposed on the country.

Sri Lankas foreign ministry said it had received assurances from Russia that it would stop recruiting the island nations citizens to fight in Ukraine following allegations thousands had been duped into combat roles.

03:18 PM BST

Ukraine appeals for help rebuilding shattered cities

Ukraine and its allies drummed up support to protect Ukrainian cities from Russian missiles today and urged international businesses to put their faith, and billions of dollars, into post-war reconstruction.

Kyiv hopes the recovery conference will cement its credentials as a future member of the European Union that is worthy of huge injections of reconstruction financing  even as Russian forces continue to make slow advances in Ukraines east.

Speaking alongside German chancellor Olaf Scholz, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia had already wiped out enough energy infrastructure to power the cities of Berlin and Munich combined.

Volodymyr Zelensky addresses the lower house of parliament Bundestag in Berlin - REUTERS/Lisi Niesner

He was hoping to come away from the conference with pledges of billions of euros for defence and agreements on building a new and more modern energy system.

Ukraine is suffering from the most destructive form of the Russian view of energy as a weapon, Mr Zelensky said.

Citing World Bank estimates that Ukraine could need $500 billion over a decade, Mr Scholz said companies had to be offered a business case for investing, and talked up Ukraines potential in sectors including renewables, IT and pharmaceuticals.

02:53 PM BST

US drops ban on arming Ukraines controversial Azov battalion

The Biden administration has lifted restrictions on the transfer of American weapons and training to the Azov Brigade, a controversial Ukrainian military unit.

The move will help the Azov Brigade, among Ukraines most effective and popular fighting units, move beyond its reputation as a far-right movement.

US laws prohibit providing equipment and training to foreign military units or individuals suspected of committing gross human rights violations, but the State Department said it found no evidence of Gross Violations of Human Rights committed by the force.

Soldiers of 12th Special Forces Brigade Azov of the National Guard - AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky

The brigade has tried to move away from its ultranationalist origins since the start of the war. Its soldiers played a key part in the defence of Mariupol.

This is a new page in our units history, the Azov Brigade wrote in a statement. Azov is becoming even more powerful, even more professional and even more dangerous for occupiers.

Obtaining western weapons and training from the United States will not only increase the combat ability of Azov, but most importantly, contribute to the preservation of the lives and the health of personnel, the statement said.

Moscow has repeatedly portrayed the Azov as a Nazi group and accused it of atrocities  without providing evidence. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the US move was extremely negative.

02:39 PM BST

Finland sees first Nato deployment as its jets join mission in Romania

Finland has made its first deployment for Nato since joining the alliance in April 2023, sending seven F-18 fighter jets to a military base in southeastern Romania where they will conduct air shielding missions with Romanian and British jets.

A Finnish Air Force commander said the mission would help speed up Finlands integration into Nato.

Im sure that during this enhanced air policing air shielding mission our integration into NATO will take a big leap forward, Johan Anttila, commander of Finlands Karelia Air Wing told soldiers on the tarmac at the Mihail Kogalniceanu base.

We as a team will have learned a lot and all this will boost Nato deterrence and defence.

Finlands accession, ending seven decades of military non-alignment, roughly doubled the length of the border the North Atlantic Treaty Organization shares with Russia and bolstered its eastern flank amid Moscows ongoing war in Ukraine.

02:34 PM BST

Zelensky, in Berlin, says must prevent Ukraine being divided by wall

Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine must not be divided, drawing parallels with the Berlin Wall in an address to the German parliament.

You can understand why we are fighting so hard against Russias attempts to divide us, to divide Ukraine. Why we are doing absolutely everything to prevent a wall between parts of our country, Mr Zelensky told German lawmakers.

01:59 PM BST

Zelensky warns pro-Russian rhetoric dangerous for EU countries

Volodymyr Zelensky during a joint press conference with German chancellor Scholz - CLEMENS BILAN/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Volodymyr Zelensky has warned of growing pro-Russian rhetoric in Europe, after far-right parties  some sympathetic to the Kremlin  made gains in European Union elections.

It seems to me that the most important thing is that people did not choose pro-Russian populist rhetoric. But radical pro-Russian rhetoric is dangerous for your countries, Mr Zelensky said in Berlin.

01:41 PM BST

Russian hybrid operations very concerning, say Romania, Poland and Latvia

Russias malign hybrid activities in Nato countries are a source of deep concern, the presidents of Romania, Poland and Latvia said on Tuesday in a statement released to coincide with a meeting of eastern members of the alliance.

Countries on Natos eastern flank say that Russia is using tactics ranging from sabotage and cyberattacks to illegal migration to destabilise them due to their support for Ukraine. Russia has repeatedly denied accusations that it is behind such activities.

We are deeply concerned about Russias recent malignant hybrid activities on Allied territory, which constitute a threat to Allied security, the presidents said in the statement.

We will act individually and collectively to address these actions, boost our resilience and continue to coordinate closely to ensure that the Alliance and Allies are prepared to deter and defend against hybrid actions or attacks.

Polish prime minister Donald Tusk said on Tuesday that 10 people had been arrested in Poland in recent weeks for acts of sabotage.

Czech prime minister Petr Fiala said on Monday that Russia may have been behind an attempted arson attack on Prague city buses last week.

01:22 PM BST

EU voters showed clear support for pro-Ukraine parties, Scholz says

Voters in the European Union showed clear support for parties who back Ukraine in the blocs parliamentary elections, German chancellor Olaf Scholz has said.

The European elections have brought clear results. An overwhelming majority of citizens support parties that also agree that Ukraine must be supported, Mr Scholz said, standing alongside Volodymyr Zelensky.

12:58 PM BST

Turkish foreign minister discusses economic issues with Lavrov in Russia

Russia's foreign minister Sergei Lavrov attends a press conference on the sidelines of a meeting of foreign ministers of the BRICS group of nations - REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov

Turkish foreign minister Hakan Fidan raised economic issues that are important for Turkey with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov on Tuesday and they also discussed the war in Gaza, a Turkish diplomatic source said.

The source gave no details on the talks, which took place in the Russian city of Nizhny Novgorod where Fidan was attending a meeting of the BRICS group. Fidan said last week that Turkey, a Nato ally, may consider joining the group, which Moscow hopes will one day challenge US domination of the global economy.

12:40 PM BST

Zelensky says Kyiv has done everything needed to start EU accession negotiations

Ukraine has done everything it needs to start accession negotiations with the European Union, Volodymyr Zelensky said in Berlin.

He made the remark during a joint news conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

12:32 PM BST

In pictures

Olena Zelenska, First Lady of Ukraine, talks with an injured Ukrainian soldier in Berlin - Hannes Albert/dpa via AP

Volunteers donate blood for the army in the art space of a book shop in Kyiv - AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky

Team Ukraine competes in the women's 4 x 400m relay heat during the European Athletics Championships at the Olympic stadium in Rome - ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT/AFP via Getty Images

12:22 PM BST

China urges greater BRICS role as Western sanctions mount

China has urged the BRICS bloc of nations to take on greater responsibilities and establish itself as being inclusive to the world, foreign minister Wang Yi said on Tuesday, in the wake of Western sanctions and trade restrictions imposed on the country.

Many Chinese companies have faced Western sanctions over their support for Russias war in Ukraine, and the European Commission is set to announce tariffs this week on Chinese EVs in a bid to protect European carmakers.

This week, the G7 wealthy democracies is expected to send a tough warning to smaller Chinese banks to stop helping Russia evade Western sanctions, Reuters reported.

The politicisation of economic issues had grown along with unilateral sanctions and technological barriers, Mr Wang said at a BRICS foreign ministers meeting in Russias Nizhny Novgorod, without naming any countries. His remarks were published by his ministry.

12:13 PM BST

Russia says captured two more eastern Ukrainian villages

Russia said Tuesday it had captured two more villages in eastern Ukraine, in the latest in a string of gains for Moscow on the battlefield.

Moscows defence ministry said Russian forces took Timkovka in the northeastern Kharkiv region and Miasozharivka, calling it by its Russian name of Artemovka, in the eastern Lugansk region.

The reports could not be immediately verified.

11:26 AM BST

Sri Lanka says Russia to stop recruiting fighters from the island

Sri Lankas foreign ministry said it had received assurances from Russia that it would stop recruiting the island nations citizens to fight in Ukraine following allegations thousands had been duped into combat roles.

Relatives have urged Colombo to bring back the Sri Lankans, mostly retired soldiers, at least 16 of whom have been reported killed and 37 wounded in the fighting, according to parliament, with around a dozen others reportedly held as prisoners of war in Ukraine.

Sri Lankan foreign minister Ali Sabry raised the issue with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov on the sidelines of the BRICS ministerial meeting in Moscow on Monday, the ministry said.

At the request of minister Ali Sabry, it was also agreed that no further recruitment from Sri Lanka will be done, the ministry said.

11:09 AM BST

Russian fighter-bomber crashes after technical fault

A Russian military jet crashed during a training flight in North Ossetia, killing two people on board, the defence ministry said Tuesday.

The Sukhoi SU-34 jet crashed in a mountainous zone and there was no damage on the ground, the ministry said, adding that a technical problem appeared to have caused the crash.

It comes amid an increase in aircraft accidents in Russia, attributed to sanctions imposed on Russia leading to a shortage of necessary parts.

North Ossetia, which borders ex-Soviet Georgia, is about 500 miles from the front line in Ukraine.

On June 8, regional authorities said Ukraine targeted a military airfield near the town of Mozdok with drones but three of them were shot down. It was the first such attack in North Ossetia since the war launched by Russia against Ukraine in February 2022.

11:06 AM BST

Kharkiv mayor says striking Russia helped calm embattled city

Ukraines army has struck missile launch positions in Russia, helping to reduce the number of attacks on the embattled city of Kharkiv, its mayor told Reuters on Tuesday.

His comments came after the US approved the use of American weapons to strike targets inside Russia that were being used to attack Kharkiv, Ukraines second city located close to the Russian border.

Rescue workers carry an injured person from a building destroyed bya Russian airstrike in Kharkiv - AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka

While missile and drone strikes continue, Ihor Terekhov said the change had helped bring relative calm.

This has helped, Terekhov said in an interview in Berlin. That is why maybe Kharkiv has ... this period of ... calm the last couple of weeks ... that there were no great strikes as it was, for example, in May. He was speaking through a translator.

10:55 AM BST

Italian minister announces packages to boost Ukrainian military

The Italian government has agreed to a package of 140 million euros for Ukrainian infrastructure and stands ready to send a further package to support air defence, Italian foreign minister Antonio Tajani has said.

10:40 AM BST

Russia destroyed half of Ukraines power generation capacity, says Zelensky

Russian strikes on Ukraines energy facilities have destroyed half of its electricity generation capacity since winter, Volodymyr Zelensky said on Tuesday.

As a result of the strikes of Russian missiles and drones, nine gigawatts of capacity have already been destroyed. The peak of electricity consumption last winter was 18 gigawatts. So half now doesnt exist, Mr Zelensky told a conference in Berlin.

10:29 AM BST

Kremlin: Lifting of ban on weapons to Azov extremely negative

The decision by the US to lift a ban on arms supplies to Ukraines Azov unit is extremely negative, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has said.

The move shows that Washington will not stop at anything in its attempts to hurt Russia, Mr Peskov told a briefing.

10:27 AM BST

Ukraine has re-captured 50% of territory seized by Russia, says MoD

Since the start of the war, Ukraine has re-captured approximately 50% of territory illegally seized by Russia and destroyed 50% of their land combat power.



Learn more about Ukraine's successes 

#StandWithUkraine  pic.twitter.com/n7zY2zZCn8  Ministry of Defence  (@DefenceHQ) June 10, 2024

10:03 AM BST

Scholz urges allies to boost Ukraine air defence

Olaf Scholz has urged allies to dig deeper in their military stocks to help Ukraine bolster its air defence against Russian attacks.

I would like to make a heartfelt plea to everyone here today: please support our initiative to strengthen Ukraines air defence with everything that is possible, Mr Scholz told delegates gathered in Berlin for the Ukraine Recovery Conference.

Germany is leading an effort called Immediate Action on Air Defence for Ukraine, and has itself contributed three Patriot systems to Kyiv.

09:51 AM BST

Putin will not win in Ukraine, says Scholz

German chancellor Olaf Scholz has vowed Russia would not win its war in Ukraine as he welcomed president Volodymyr Zelensky at a reconstruction conference in Berlin.

There will be no military victory and no dictated peace, Mr Scholz said, calling on Russian president Vladimir Putin to end his brutal campaign and withdraw his troops.

09:49 AM BST

Russia says West may force it to amend nuclear doctrine

The actions of the West are making Russia think about amending its nuclear deterrence framework, the TASS news agency cited deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov as saying on Tuesday.

Russian president Vladimir Putin spoke about Russias nuclear doctrine last week, saying that it was a living instrument which could be changed. On Tuesday, Ryabkov declined to say what exactly could change in the documents.

09:33 AM BST

Russia begins second stage of tactical nuclear weapon drills with Belarus

Russian and Belarusian troops have started the second stage of tactical nuclear drills in Russia, Russias defence ministry said on Tuesday.

In the first stage of the drills, Russian troops trained how to arm and deploy Iskander missiles, while the air force trained how to arm Kinzhal hypersonic missiles. The second stage involved working out joint training of Russian and Belarusian units for the combat use of non-strategic nuclear weapons, the defence ministry said.

The exercises are aimed at maintaining the readiness of personnel and equipment of units for the combat use of non-strategic nuclear weapons of Russia and Belarus in order to unconditionally ensure the sovereignty and territorial integrity, the ministry added.

Russian troops prepare a missile launcher for joint Russian-Belarusian drills - Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP

A Russian MiG-31 fighter jet equipped with a Kinzhal hypersonic missile flies during the second stage of tactical nuclear drills of the armed forces of Russia and Belarus - Russian Defence Ministry

In footage released by the defence ministry, an Iskander missile system was shown being driven into a field and the missiles was raised. Also shown were MiG-31 supersonic interceptors carrying Kinzhal missiles, and Tupolev Tu-22M3 long-range supersonic bombers.

Russia has said the United States and its European allies are pushing the world to the brink of confrontation between nuclear powers by giving Ukraine billions of dollars of weapons.

President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly said Russia could use nuclear weapons to defend itself in extreme situations, however on Friday he also said that Russia had no need to use nuclear weapons to secure victory in Ukraine.

09:05 AM BST

In pictures: Leaders arrive at Ukraine Recovery Conference

David Cameron arrives to attend the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Berlin - ODD ANDERSEN/AFP via Getty Images

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz greets Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky. The conference will run over two days - ODD ANDERSEN/AFP via Getty Images

Estonian prime minister Kaja Kallas. The conference is bringing together international representatives from politics, business and civil society working towards the recovery, reconstruction and modernization of Ukraine - Sean Gallup/Getty Images

08:58 AM BST

China says it will oppose all unilateral sanctions after G7 warning on its Russia links

China will resolutely oppose all unilateral sanctions following new warnings from G7 countries on small Chinese banks about their links to Russia, the Chinese foreign ministry said on Tuesday.

China will take all necessary measures to firmly safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises, spokesperson Lin Jin said.

08:35 AM BST

Ukrainian and Japanese companies sign economic cooperation memorand

Ukrainian and Japanese companies will deepen economic cooperation, including in infrastructure recovery, energy, the development of drones for mine clearance and funding affordable houses, according to Ukraines economy ministry.

Ahead of the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2024, a Japanese-Ukrainian round table was held in Berlin, during which 23 memorandums on cooperation between Ukrainian and Japanese organisations were signed, the ministry said.

Cooperation between Ukraine and Japan is systematically deepening, said Ukraines minister of economy Yuliya Svyridenko. I especially thank you for the grant for 100 prostheses through the licensing of their production in Ukraine. Equally important is the joint study of the possibilities of building a new pediatric hospital in Ukraine.

Japan also plans to introduce the latest technologies in Ukraine, provide training and develop the potential of Ukrainian specialists. The Japanese External Trade Organisation (JETRO) has decided to open an office in Kyiv.

08:14 AM BST

Germany hosts recovery conference for Ukraine

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy shakes hands with German president Frank-Walter Steinmeier - REUTERS/Axel Schmidt

Germany is hosting a conference to gather support for Ukraines recovery from the destruction wreaked by Russias war, sending a new signal of solidarity with Kyiv at the start of a week of intense diplomacy.

The two-day Ukraine Recovery Conference in Berlin, following up on a similar gathering in London a year ago, comes before the Group of Seven summit of Ukraines leading Western allies in Italy and a global peace summit in Switzerland this coming weekend.

Even during the current times of war, Ukraine needs to continually rebuild houses, water pipelines, hospitals and power grids, German development minister Svenja Schulze said in a statement. People want to keep on living in their country, and to do so they need electricity, water and a roof over their heads.

08:00 AM BST

ICYMI: Ukrainian fighter jet gets first direct hit on Russian soil

A Ukrainian fighter jet has struck a target inside Russia for the first time, destroying a command node and a suspected ammunition dump.

The strike, on Sunday, occurred across the border north of the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, where Russia has been amassing troops and equipment as part of a new axis that opened up last month.

The attack comes after the West gave the green light for missiles to be fired into Russia, and Ukraine destroyed an advanced Russian anti-aircraft system placed near the border.

Vyacheslav Gladkov, the governor for the Russian region of Belgorod, said a non-residential building had been struck in the village of Rakitnoye.

Footage of the area showed a huge fire in what appeared to be a warehouse. Other footage from the area showed a remote-controlled drone placing a Ukrainian flag on a nearby mobile phone tower.

A Ukrainian military source told Sky News: A Ukrainian Air Force (UAF) mission has struck a Russian command node in Belgorod.

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.

Read more

07:38 AM BST

In pictures

A Ukrainian national guard servicemen fires a D-20 cannon towards Russian positions at the frontline near Kharkiv - AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka

Ukrainian Army soldiers prepare LELEKA 100 military intelligence drone for flight in the direction of Chasiv Yar - Jose Colon/Anadolu via Getty Images

Healthcare workers evacuate senior Ukrainian citizens - Vincenzo Circosta/Anadolu via Getty Images

07:31 AM BST

US envoy calls for Japans help to quickly replenish US missile inventory

The United States needs Japans help to quickly replenish missile inventory and repair warships as conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine continue and Washington seeks to keep its deterrence credible in the Indo-Pacific, the US ambassador to Japan said.

It is clear that the United States military industrial base cannot meet all the strategic challenges that we have and obligations we have, said ambassador Rahm Emanuel.

He spoke as Japan and the US held their first talks to accelerate military industrial cooperation, two months after an April agreement.

The two countries have agreed to establish working groups for missile co-production and for maintenance and repair of US Navy ships and Air Force aircraft in the region, the Japanese Defense Ministry said in a statement. There will also be a group to discuss a stronger supply chain.

07:27 AM BST

Biden to lift ban on Ukrainian unit using US weapons

The Biden administration will lift its ban on allowing a controversial Ukrainian military unit to use US weapons, the Washington Post reported on Monday, citing State Department officials.

The State Department reversed a decade-old prohibition on the Azov Brigade from using American training and weapons after a new analysis found no evidence of human rights violations by the unit, the Post reported.

Servicemen of the 12th Special Forces Brigade Azov of the National Guard of Ukraine fire a howitzer towards Russian troops - Sofiia Gatilova/Reuters

After thorough review, Ukraines 12th Special Forces Azov Brigade passed Leahy vetting as carried out by the US Department of State, the State Department said in a statement obtained by the newspaper. The Leahy Law bars US military assistance to foreign units found to have committed such violations.

The Azov Regiment, which has far-right and ultra-nationalist roots, is part of Ukraines National Guard and evolved out of a battalion that was formed in 2014 and fought against Russian-backed separatists who carved out breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine.

07:23 AM BST

Zelensky arrives in Germany to meet Scholz

Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday night announced his arrival in Germany for talks with chancellor Olaf Scholz and to participate in a conference on Ukrainian reconstruction.

Chancellor Scholz and I will discuss further defence assistance, the expansion of Ukraines air defence system, and joint arms production, Mr Zelensky wrote on X.

Berlin recently authorised Ukraine to use German weapons to strike targets in Russia, having long refused to do so for fear of provoking an escalation of the war with Russia. After Russias invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Germany abandoned its traditional position of pacifism and became the second largest supplier of military equipment to Kyiv after the United States.

Mr Zelensky is due to participate on Tuesday and Wednesday in a conference on reconstructing Ukraine, which will be attended by 10 prime ministers, other government representatives and the private sector.

In the face of Russias air terror, urgent solutions for Ukraines energy sector will be our top priority, said Mr Zelensky.

I will also meet with Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Bundestag President Barbel Bas, as well as visit a military base where our servicemen are training, he added.
Research suggests that exercise reduces the risk of all forms of dementia

A satisfying nights sleep has long been branded as the cure to all ills, particularly when clearing damaging toxins from the brain.

Neuroscientists have long believed that deep sleep helps the clearance of problematic debris from the brain, flushing away many of the proteins and metabolites thought to be involved in the development of Alzheimers and other dementias.

This is hardly reassuring for the insomniacs amongst us. However definitive proof has always been hard to come by, and a new study in the journal Nature Neuroscience has poured cold water on the theory. While sleep is still vital for many aspects of health, Bill Wisden, a professor at the UK Dementia Research Institute who was involved in leading the study, says that being active may actually play a far bigger role in toxin clearance.

We have shown that brain clearance is highly efficient during the waking state, he says. In general, being awake, active, and exercising may more efficiently clean the brain of toxins.

This is undoubtedly good news for anyone who struggles to get a solid seven hours a night. After all, a brisk half-hour walk is something most of us can manage even after a night of tossing and turning.

Wisdens suggestion fits in with a growing number of research breakthroughs in recent years that indicate the sheer importance of exercise for all aspects of the brain.

Toxin clearance

Exercises role in removing waste from the brain is currently an area of active investigation in research labs across the globe. The working theory relates to certain shape-shifting brain cells known as microglial cells which can take on different personas depending on your state of health.

In some psychiatric conditions such as schizophrenia and even Long Covid, the disease process causes microglia to take on a visibly spiky form, generating inflammation and interfering with the brains natural workings.

However, researchers suspect that exercise may actively induce microglia to take on a healthier anti-inflammatory guise. This means they would act as helpful scavengers, clearing detritus and ensuring that the synaptic connections between neurons are clean and functioning properly.

Microglia are there to survey everything, says Dr Rebecca MacPherson, associate professor at Brock University in Canada where she runs a lab studying how exercise benefits the brain. Were exploring this idea that exercise activates them in a way that enhances the way they clear the products of metabolism.

The brain fertiliser

Research has repeatedly shown that being physically active reduces the risk of all forms of dementia by 28%, and Alzheimers disease in particular by 45%.

Over the years scientists have conducted various experiments in which participants have been randomised into two different groups, with one group following an exercise program and the other remaining sedentary. Almost all of them have reported that the exercise program group performed better on cognitive tests, with the same trend found in healthy participants, stroke survivors, and even Alzheimers patients.

Much of this is thought to be down to a molecule called brain-derived neurotrophic factor or BDNF. This molecule has gained a reputation among neuroscientists as the brain fertiliser for its remarkable ability to stimulate the growth of new neurons and strengthen the connections between them.

Muscle contractions increase BDNF while your platelets in the blood actually store a lot of BDNF, says MacPherson. So with increased blood flow due to exercise, your platelets can release more of it into the circulation.

Through studies carried out in cells and animals, MacPhersons lab has even shown that BDNF prevents the accumulation of tiny beta-amyloid protein fragments in the brain by altering the activity of different enzymes, which could explain why exercise helps to diminish the risk of Alzheimers.

But BDNF is not the only beneficial molecule released when you exercise. Last year, a study in the journal Neuron showed that exercise causes the production of a hormone called irisin which is capable of clearing amyloid plaques.

Christiane Wrann, an assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, who was involved in the study, has been so fascinated by irisin that she is now looking to develop an artificial form of it as a therapeutic for various neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimers and Parkinsons.

Its a small hormone which works on neuroinflammation and plaque clearance which makes it very relevant for Alzheimers disease, she says. I think theres three or four properties of irisin that make it a really promising drug target.

How much exercise and which intensity is best?

MacPherson gives a wry smile when this question is broached. Everyone wants to know exactly what they need to do, and thats a difficult one to answer, she says.

The NHS guidelines advise you to do some sort of aerobic exercise, or physical activity which raises your heart rate, for at least 30 minutes per day, five days per week.

MacPherson says that BDNF production correlates with exercise intensity, so your body will produce more when doing higher-intensity forms of activity such as interval training. However, she says it is important for people to do what they feel capable of, and any form of exercise, no matter how mild, will still hold some benefit for the body and the brain.

I think as an individual, you need to think, how much time do I have and what do I enjoy? she says. Even if youre only able to do moderate intensity exercise, you still get an increase in BDNF, and theres also the increased blood flow which delivers more oxygen and nutrients to the brain which will also enhance brain cell growth.

The scientific reason exercise boosts your mood

Exercise has also been known to have the capacity to provide relief to people struggling with symptoms of depression, such as low mood or anhedonia, which refers to a loss of pleasure in previously rewarding activities.

At University College London, cognitive neuroscientist Professor Jonathan Roiser is currently leading a Wellcome-funded clinical trial to try and understand more about why exercise is so beneficial for mental health.

Ive long been interested in the information processing aspects which go wrong in depression and how they contribute to symptoms, he says. There are other symptoms that tend to cluster together with anhedonia such as fatigue and difficulty with decision-making, and there are some hints that exercise is specifically targeting these kinds of symptoms.

Roisers trial will examine the greater benefits of aerobic exercise, where participants get out of breath and break sweat, compared to mild stretching and relaxation, in people with depression.

The aim is to get further proof for some of the major theories behind how exercise benefits mental health, such as stimulating the production of dopamine, which is involved in motivation, as well as dampening down inflammation.

A lot of depressed people experience what we call chronic inflammation which prevents dopamine neurons from firing and perhaps contributes to their symptoms, he says. So the anti-inflammatory effects of exercise are a core part of how we think its working.

As we discover more and more about how exercise protects the body, it could even lead to a new class of drugs, known as exercise mimetics which could provide some of the benefits of physical activity to the disabled and frail.

But for the rest of us, researchers have one simple message - whether its the gym or playing sports, making time to stay active will keep your mind healthier for longer.

Whether its improving mood or cognitive function, exercise is one of the best things you can do for your brain, says Wrann.
Current polling suggests Richard Holden could be in for a close race - PA

If Richard Holden thought he could parachute into a safe southern seat unharmed he may have misjudged the situation. The Conservative Party chairman, whose North West Durham seat has been dissolved, is heading to Essex to take up the vacant Tory candidacy in Basildon and Billericay. Notwithstanding the consternation of local activists who feel overlooked and unconsulted, Holden will discover a constituency browbeaten and angry  and perhaps even in outright rebellion.

It doesnt matter to the town whos in power in Basildon, says local business owner and Conservative voter Daniel Lethbridge, 37. Ive worked here for 12 years and the town has just got worse. His sentiments echo the concerns of many other local residents, reflecting a widespread sense of frustration that has left this previously True Blue seat up for grabs come July 4.

YouGov polling data suggests the Conservatives currently lead Labour by just two percentage points here despite trouncing their rivals in every general election in the constituency since it was created in 2010  winning a 20,412-strong majority under Boris Johnson the last time out.

Its not so much that voters are now itching to embrace Sir Keir Starmers party when their MP of 14 years, John Baron, steps down this summer, but rather that apathy and mistrust appear to have peaked.

Central Basildon is eerily quiet, with tens and tens of boarded-up businesses and shops and empty pedestrianised shopping areas. It wont make a blind bit of difference whos sitting on that seat, says Lethbridge, who runs the Ministry of Hair London salon in the half-abandoned central shopping area. Its a bit foolish to send someone down who doesnt know the area or the town. Basildon is a very unique place. Having an outsider come down is going to be silly because you need someone who knows the background and the history. Weve got someone coming down who doesnt know any of that.

Daniel Lethbridge, 37, from Basildon, typifies the disillusion of the electorate - Jamie Lorriman

That anger isnt just felt among the electorate. Richard Moore, the chairman of the local Conservative association, last week said his constituency people hadnt met Holden in a stinging rebuke of the latters credentials.

We dont know him. We dont know what hes done. Yes, hes chairman of the party, but so what? What has he done for Basildon and Billericay? Nothing, Moore said.

Andrew Baggott, the leader of the Conservative group in the Basildon and Billericay council, meanwhile called the process a slap in the face to local councillors, volunteers and the membership.

Holden himself has been accused of repeatedly dodging questions on the furore, including during a television interview with a Sky News reporter on Sunday in which he instead tried to talk about Emily Thornberrys comments on Labours plans for education. Asked by Channel 4 News last week whether he had been involved in a stitch-up, Mr Holden denied the accusation and claimed to have been backed unanimously by local Conservatives in Basildon and Billericay.

Still, the row is adding to the sense that this apparently impregnable Tory stronghold may be breached by Labour next month. Electorally, the internal dividing lines are already clear. The old constituency of Basildon was held by Labour during the 1970s, before switching to the Conservatives under Margaret Thatchers leadership. It was won again by Labour in 1997 as Tony Blair swept to a landslide victory and held by the party until 2010, when it was merged with the more staunchly Conservative Billericay to the north. Some in Basildon call the A127 that divides their working-class town from their more bucolic partners the river  a sign of the underlying political and cultural divide that will inform the vote in a few weeks time.

The county of Essex in general has often taken on a disproportionate significance in the minds of pundits and politicians looking for signs that the political wind is changing. In 2024, the Conservatives are facing more of a hurricane than a cool breeze, especially if the Reform vote continues to grow. An MRP projection published by YouGov last week put the Conservatives on 36 per cent, Labour on 34 per cent and Reform as potential kingmakers on 16 per cent  and declared the result a toss-up.

One person I spoke to anonymously said: Look at our schools, the local environment and services, hospitals. You cant get a doctor or dentist appointment. What have they done for the past 14 years? Ive always voted for the Conservatives. Ill never vote for them again.

Traditional Labour voters, for their part, did not speak well of Starmer but rather expressed their frustration at what they said were so few points of difference between the main parties.

Basildon used to be very Left-wing, says retired Basildon fire worker and Labour voter John Murphy, 69. Moscow down the Thames we called it. And weve had Conservatives imposed on us before  Harvey Proctor and David Amess  so its nothing unusual. The bigger issue is that I dont think many people here care who represents them because they dont feel they are getting a fair chance.

John Murphy, 69, a retired firefighter, says Basildon used to be known as 'Moscow down the Thames' - Jamie Lorriman

Their sense of the town itself as abandoned and run down matched the views held by Conservative voters.

It doesnt particularly bother me if an MP candidate comes down here from somewhere else, says Richard Glover, a retired, 76-year-old Conservative voter from Laindon. The one whos been here for all these years hasnt done much anyway. Basildons been going downhill for ages.

Voter Richard Glover does not care that Holden has been parachuted into a 'safe' constituency - Jamie Lorriman

Holden, who infamously said in February Im bloody loyal to the North East, seems to have only added to the deep-seated disillusionment felt here with his last-minute intervention  branded a chicken run by critics.

Local councillors are openly hostile and the polls are narrowing. But come what may, voters here seem to have lost all sense that politics has value. To them, its all just more of the same.

I wont even think about this new Conservative candidate, says Lethbridge, who admits he will vote for the party come July 4 regardless.
Volodymyr Zelenskiy appealed for support from the business leaders, NGOs and politicians at the Ukraine Recovery conference in Berlin. Photograph: Nadja Wohlleben/Reuters

The Ukrainian president and his allies have used a major conference in Berlin to lobby international business for support in the countrys reconstruction and recovery efforts even as it continues to be bombarded by Russia.

Speaking at the Ukraine recovery conference, hosted by the German government, at which the topic of Ukraines survival was centre stage, Volodymyr Zelenskiy warned that Europes peace was also at stake if his country was not able to protect and rebuild itself as it stood up to Russia.

Related: Ukraine recovery conference urged to focus on preventing energy blackouts

With Russias military having destroyed enough energy infrastructure to power the cities of Berlin and Munich, Zelenskiy appealed to the 2,000 participants, including business leaders, politicians and NGOs, to trust in Ukraine and its future by investing in it.

Ukraine is suffering from the most destructive form of the Russian view of energy as a weapon, he said.

The World Bank estimates that the damage and destruction caused by Russia in Ukraine amounts to at least $486bn (380bn).

Zelenskiy said he expected the conference to produce a range of solid agreements valued at billions of euros.

We will leave this conference with agreements for billions of euros for our defence, regarding the production of military equipment and weapons in Ukraine, and for our energy, for repairing and building a new and more modern energy system, he said.

Funding would also go towards education, rebuilding homes and supplying medical equipment, he added.

Later on Tuesday, Zelenskiy addressed the Bundestag in person for the first time, drawing on historical parallels between the conflict and the division of Germany.

A divided Europe was never peaceful. And a divided Germany was never happy. You dont need me to tell you this, you know it from your own experience. Thats why you can understand why we Ukrainians are fighting against attempts to divide us  why we are doing everything, everything, absolutely everything so that we do not allow a wall to be erected in our country.

But the event was boycotted by the far-right populist Alternative fur Deutschland party, an opponent of supporting Ukraines war effort, whose leadership said they refused to listen to a speech given by someone dressed in military fatigues, and the far-left BSW bloc of Sahra Wagenknecht. She said the government should make more effort to negotiate with the Russian president, Vladimir Putin.

Mayors from Ukrainian cities including Kharkiv, Irpin, Lviv and Kyiv also travelled to Berlin, alongside several members of the Ukrainian cabinet, to appeal for support.

Ihor Terekhov, the mayor of Ukraines second biggest city, Kharkiv, which has recently been the focus of a brutal onslaught by Russian forces seeking to lengthen the frontline in the war, said contrary to the views of those who thought recovery could only happen once the conflict was over, it was vital for it to take place now, not least to give citizens hope.

We cannot wait. People need reconstruction as quickly as possible, he told the conference, explaining how 150,000 people had lost their homes in the city.

If you just take the issue of housing  a very strong emotional component  people see that reconstruction is under way, that houses are being built, that people are going to work. That is a motivation for people. It is emotional support, he said.

Seeing reconstruction take place was what gave those who had left Ukraine the faith to return, and might prevent those who were thinking of leaving from doing so, Terekhov said.

The mayor of Kharkiv joined Zelenskiy in appealing to the international community to boost Ukraines air defence systems to enable it to better fend off Russian missiles.

The German chancellor, Olaf Scholz, also called for an improvement in Ukraines air defence capabilities, saying in an opening speech: The best reconstruction is that which doesnt have to take place.

Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, also stressed the importance of giving Ukrainians a long-term perspective, announcing that having fulfilled the conditions to join the EU, Ukraine would be able to begin accession talks with Brussels to become a full member by the end of this month.

The Berlin conference, with representatives from 60 countries but excluding Russia and China, is seen as a run-up to a widely anticipated Ukraine peace summit in Switzerland to be held this weekend, to which 100 countries are invited. Russia has not been invited but said it would not have attended anyway.
The next Westminster government has been urged to scrap the Legacy Act and listen to the victims of the Northern Ireland Troubles.

Victims spoke out as a Government challenge to a ruling that part of the controversial legislation is unlawful began at the Court of Appeal in Belfast.

Earlier this year, a High Court judge ruled that one of the central elements of the Act, the provision for conditional immunity from prosecution for Troubles offences, should be struck out.

The Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act passed into law in September.

From May 1, all civil cases and inquests that were not at their findings stage were halted.

Grainne Teggart called on the next government to scrap the Legacy Act (Liam McBurney/PA)

Responsibility for investigating all legacy cases has since been transferred to a new truth recovery body, the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR).

The new arrangements have been controversial with victims groups and organisations, and are opposed by all of the main political parties in Northern Ireland.

Opening the appeal on Tuesday, barrister for the Government Tony McGleenan KC began his submissions by summarising a number of previous unsuccessful attempts to deal with the legacy of the Troubles since the Good Friday Agreement was signed in 1998.

Labour has previously said if it formed the next government it would restore legacy inquests and the ability for Troubles victims to bring civil cases.

However, it has said it would not immediately scrap the ICRIR, but wanted to see if it could command the confidence of victims families.

Speaking outside court, Grainne Teggart, from Amnesty International, said the Court of Appeal hearing was the crucial next step in the fight for justice for Troubles victims.

She said: Victims are here once again to fight for those rights.

The next UK government has the chance to right this historic wrong. It must immediately, as an urgent legislative priority, repeal the Troubles Act and put in place victims centred processes that prioritise victims and not perpetrators.

The first 100 days of this government must show that rights and the rule of law will be respected, protected and upheld.

We urge the next government to listen to the calls from victims, to do the right thing and overturn this law as a priority.

Martina Dillon, whose husband, Seamus Dillon, was gunned down by the Loyalist Volunteer Force (Liam McBurney/PA)

Martina Dillon, whose husband Seamus was shot dead by loyalists in 1997, said victims had no choice but to put their faith in the next government.

She said: We will continue to fight on until we get inquests.

I am not fighting for me, I am fighting for everybody here. Every victim is entitled to an inquest.

A number of families of Troubles victims have launched a cross-appeal to the human rights compliance of the ICRIR.

The High Court judgment in February ruled that the ICRIR is able to carry out human rights-compliant investigations and is independent.

Ms Teggart said: Our significant concerns with that body remain.

We need Article 2 compliant investigations so that victims can finally get truth and justice for their loved ones.

They shouldnt have to fight through the courts, but they will and will continue until such times as their rights are vindicated.
In February a very special dog won over all of our hearts when U.S. Coast Guard officer Ryan McMahon and his team rescued Connie the Container Dog from a shipping container she was trapped in for over a week.

Not only was poor Connie all alone in the shipping container with no food or water, this sweet pup was also expecting puppies! Forever Changed Animal Rescue out of Maryland stepped in to care for Connie and her litter of eight puppies, and then pet food brand Pedigree stepped in to do something truly special.

Pedigree was so touched by Connie and her rescue story, that the Pedigree Pet Food brand stepped in to cover all of the adoption fees for Connie and her puppies that found their forever homes!

One of Connie's puppies. Pedigree

Here's the adorable update when Forever Changed Animal Rescue announced in April that these puppies would be available to find their happily-ever-afters.

Before these precious puppies were born, Penny Edwards, who volunteers with Maryland-based animal rescue team Forever Changed Animal Rescue, drove to Virginia to pick up Connie but first, a vet visit was in order. They took Connie for an immediate checkup, knowing she had heart worms and was likely malnourished, having spent at least eight days inside that container. During her checkup, it was discovered that Connie's mammary glands were swollen, and because no puppies were found in the container, they examined her further and discovered that Connie is expecting puppies! Forever Changed Animal Rescue shared on Facebook that Connie had a very rough time when her puppies were first born. Connie had not been eating well and had been having a lot of gastrointestinal issues (vomiting, diarrhea, lots of regurgitation). Also, she had not been producing enough milk so her pups werent gaining weight quite like they should have been. As a result, they had been monitoring very closely and doing supplemental feedings for Connie and babies every couple of hours. Connie has also had 2 trips to the ER that had resulted in IV medications and IV fluids in hospital, followed by continuing subcutaneous fluids and injectable and oral medications at home. They were happy to see that this sweet little family seemed to be showing improvement.

All of these pups obviously thrived under the care of the rescue because look how they looked when they found their homes!

So cute. Pedigree

You may notice the bandana on the pup above and Proceeds from the sale of DOGS RULE. gear help more dogs find loving homes through PEDIGREE Foundation, a 501(c)(3) private organization which supports shelters and rescue organizations through its annual grant programs. You can find information on the amazing Pedigree Dogs Rule foundation here.

What an incredible happy ending for Connie and her puppies! If you would like to make a donation to Forever Changed Animal Rescue you can visit their 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.
Pete Townshend from rock group The Who was so blown away when he heard a CD by a two-piece band from Wigtown that he recorded, produced and played on their latest album.

The Bookshop Band was formed in 2010 by musicians Ben Please and Beth Porter, who write songs inspired by books and perform them to audiences in small bookshops across the UK, USA and Europe.

The duo, who are said to occupy a creative space between the book and music worlds, have worked with a number of celebrated writers, with some specifically asking them to write songs for their book launches.

The two-piece, originally from Bath but now based in Scotlands National Book Town, had released 13 albums when Townshend heard them and decided he wanted to work with them on their next one.

The Who guitarist, himself a former bookshop owner, said: I listened to the CDs in my car as I was travelling. I was blown away, completely blown away.

I got into the whole Bookshop Band technique, which is just two people making this sound like a symphony orchestra. Its quite extraordinary. Each song was special in its own way. So, I reached out.

The bands new album Emerge, Return comprises 13 songs responding to themes including the oppression of bodies, free will and free speech, and is due to be released on June 28.

New music video out today  inspired by The Testaments, by Margaret Atwood. EVE IN YOUR GARDEN. Watch the full video here: https://t.co/cpdsgKt4uE pic.twitter.com/FnPML8D5MV  The Bookshop Band (@TheBookshopBand) June 5, 2024

The books credited with inspiring songs on the album include Margaret Atwoods The Testaments, Aldous Huxleys Brave New World and Philip Pullmans The Book Of Dust.

Ben Please said of the experience of working with Townshend on the album: Its been a rollercoaster working with Pete Townshend, really exciting and not something we could ever have predicted happening.

He brought his great musicality and experience to the recording process, doing things wed never have thought of ourselves, offering a different perspective on the songs. Thats the value of working with a great producer.

And the fact that he ended up playing on every track added an extra dimension  I think that fans will hear his influence woven right the way through the album.

Beth said: Ben and I are really excited to be touring this album. Playing these songs live and getting to share stories in bookshops is what this band is all about.

The Bookshop Band comprises musicians Ben Please and Beth Porter (The Bookshop Band)

The bands 14th album, the name if which was inspired by nature writer Robert Macfarlanes book Underland, is the bands most commercial offering to date, and has attracted praise from the likes of BBC radio presenters Shaun Keaveny and Zoe Ball.

Its release will take place alongside a podcast series of conversations with the authors of some of the books which inspired its tracks, which will be released between June 15 and 22.

The album will be supported with a 71-date UK tour by the band, mostly in independent bookshops, starting at this years Glastonbury Festival with a set at Toad Hall.

Emerge, Return will be released on June 28.
The Metropolitan Police have been accused of seeking to use human rights legislation to block anti-monarchy protests at this weekends Trooping the Colour.

The anti-monarchy group Republic said police had written to them citing the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) as justification for closing down nearby protest.

Republic claimed this was based on the spurious grounds that a protest would deny spectators the right to enjoy the parade, adding that human rights legislation does not provide a right to enjoy a day out.

The pressure group said no final decision had been made, but accused the police of insisting protest is moved to a place that is out of sight of the parade and media.

The King will make a high-profile appearance on Saturday to mark the monarchs official birthday during Trooping the Colour, which takes place at Horse Guards Parade near Buckingham Palace in central London.

Republic, which campaigns for the abolition of the monarchy and its replacement with a directly elected head of state, said the move by the police was Kafkaesque.

The group claimed it was told at the start of the month by the Metropolitan Police that the force was relaxed and had no issue with the location of the protest.

The Met was criticised last year after six Republic members were detained ahead of a pre-agreed coronation protest on May 6.

Republic chief executive Graham Smith accused the police of appearing willing to enforce the wishes of Royal Parks, whom he claimed want to ban all protest outside Buckingham Palace.

He added that this would be a serious affront to democratic rights in this country.

Pledging to challenge the police and Royal Parks, Mr Smith said: Human rights laws protect the right to meaningfully protest. To see those same laws used to effectively ban protest is a very worrying development.

The police want us to protest well away from Buckingham Palace and away from the parade, where we will not be seen or heard. This is on the spurious grounds that a protest would deny spectators the right to enjoy the parade.

The Human Rights Act and ECHR does not provide a right to enjoy a day out, and the experience of all our protests is that we successfully protest alongside spectators without incident.

The argument that a protest is infringing on the rights of others to enjoy an event is particularly dangerous, opening up the possibility of banning any number of political protests on the most spurious grounds.

Mr Smith added that he was calling on all parties fighting the election to guarantee protection of meaningful peaceful protest.

The Metropolitan Police have been approached for comment.
Politicians have condemned violence towards Nigel Farage after objects were thrown at the Reform UK leader on the General Election campaign trail.

Mr Farage was on top of a party battle bus in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, on Tuesday morning when a cup was thrown, narrowly missing him.

A man in a red hoodie could be seen shouting from a construction area below, before reaching into a bucket and throwing something else, which also missed.

Workmen appeared to then haul the man from the site and he ran off, before police officers tackled him.

South Yorkshire Police said they had arrested a 28-year-old man, who remained in police custody.

Mr Farage, speaking later while campaigning in Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, said the attack was pretty nasty.

He said police tipped them off early that it was not a very good idea to leave the battle bus.

Mr Farage added: Protest is allowed.

Protest is part of our democratic process.

But protest needs to be within certain bounds.

Protest does not involve chucking cement towards me, or even stones.

I dont mind if someone shouts something rude at me, I would probably shout it back.

But when it comes to violence that actually poses a real threat.

He called the attack violent and said he would be in hospital now if he had got off the bus.

Mr Farage said he agrees that people who throw objects during campaigns should absolutely go to jail.

Home Secretary James Cleverly said: There must be no place for violence and intimidation in our politics and these actions should be condemned by everyone.

Thanks to the police for their quick action to detain the suspect.

Stephanie Peacock, Labours parliamentary candidate for Barnsley South, said: Intimidation has no place in our politics.

I condemn the violence we saw in Barnsley town centre today.

All candidates in this election should be free to campaign without being subject to violence or intimidation.

It comes after Victoria Thomas Bowen, 25, was charged with assault by beating and criminal damage when a milkshake was thrown over Mr Farage as he left the Moon and Starfish Wetherspoons pub in Clacton-on-Sea in Essex on Tuesday last week.

Mr Farage was seen with the yellow drink splattered across his dark blue suit as he boarded his campaign bus.

Thomas Bowen is due to appear before Colchester Magistrates Court on July 2.

During a campaign walkabout in Newcastle in 2019, Mr Farage had a 5.25 Five Guys banana and salted caramel milkshake thrown at him.
Deepwater terminals allow tankers to unload their cargo dozens of miles off shore. Louisiana Offshore Oil Port

WASHINGTON  The U.S. Coast Guard said Tuesday it was committed to addressing safety concerns raised by maritime experts about Enterprise Products offshore oil export terminal being developed 30 miles off the Texas coast.

A number of experts and former Coast Guard officials have said the designers of the Sea Port Oil Terminal had not allowed enough distance between it and the moorings where supertankers would be tied, creating the potential for a cataclysmic accident were a storm to knock a tanker loose.

A spokesman said the agency was aware of the concerns, and is committed to addressing those risks once the service receives and assesses SPOTs design and operational plans.

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A spokesperson for Houston-based Enterprise Products said it would be working through the Coast Guards approval process and following established (Coast Guard) policies. That includes, Enterprise said, working with a maritime standards organization to have the terminals design and operational plans certified.

The statement by the Coast Guard on Tuesday follows a 2022 decision by the Department of Transportations Maritime Administration approving the SPOT project, explaining that the Coast Guard had conducted its own risk analysis of potential vessel collision scenarios, including vessel strike of the manned platform.

That decision came despite a warning from the American Bureau of Shipping, which sets maritime standards in U.S. waters, that it was preparing to adjust its rules to require port developers to create a greater buffer between moorings and stationary objects to reduce risk of collision during a storm.

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While Enterprise has received the majority of its state and federal approvals for SPOT, the terminals operations still need to be certified by the Coast Guard or a standards organization it works with, like ABS or Lloyds Register in London, before construction can begin.

For years a small group of maritime consultants, some of whom are connected to rival deep-water oil export projects, has campaigned to force Enterprise to adjust its design, enlisting prominent ship captains and former Coast Guard leadership to make their case.

Lincoln Stroh, a former deputy director with the Coast Guard who serves as chairman of the National Offshore Safety Advisory Committee wrote a letter last week to Coast Guard Commandant Linda Fagan, urging her to apply leadership and pressure to address this risk now.

The worst case is the vessel is weather-vaning close to the (SPOT) platform and then a squall comes through and blows the vessel against the platform and knocks it over, he said in an interview. Itll not only endanger the people, but itll break the pipe carrying the oil. That platform is a very soft target.
The average quoted price of home insurance jumped by 41.6% in the 12 months to April, according to an index.

This is the biggest jump since Consumer Intelligence started tracking prices in 2014.

Premiums are most commonly being quoted at between 150 and 199, Consumer Intelligence said.

Matthew McMaster, senior insight analyst at the firm, said: The increase in building and contents insurance new business quoted premiums is the largest yearly increase we have seen since tracking began in 2014.

Consumer Intelligence analyses quotes on price comparison websites to compile the data, using averages taken from the cheapest premiums for common risks.

Louise Clark, the Association of British Insurers policy adviser for general insurance, said: Insurers appreciate the strain many household budgets are currently facing.

Despite the rising cost of raw building materials and labour, insurers remain committed to continuing to offer competitively priced home insurance.

She said the ABIs own data, which is based on prices paid rather than quotes, shows that the average combined home and buildings insurance premium for the first quarter of this year was 375  a 19% increase on the same period in 2023.

Ms Clark continued: The market remains competitive so wed encourage anyone looking for insurance to shop around but be sure to get the policy that meets your needs.

In the last year weve seen a succession of storms sweep across the UK, and insurers paid out 352 million to support customers whose homes were damaged by Storms Babet, Ciaran and Debi alone.

As such events become more common, its vital more is done to protect people and their property from the impact of these storms.

She added: Properties also need to be more resilient to climate change and weve called for changes to the planning system to discourage building where flooding might be more likely.

Here are increases in quoted premiums in the 12 months to April 2024, according to the research:

 London, 49.9%

 South East, 45.8%

 Eastern England, 41.9%

 Yorkshire and the Humber, 41.9%

 Scotland, 41.3%

 South West, 40.6%

 Wales, 40.6%

 East Midlands, 38.9%

 West Midlands, 37.9%

 North East, 37.8%

 North West, 37.6%
Tata Steel will continue with plans to shut off its blast furnaces in the coming months, costing thousands of jobs in South Wales, despite the Labour Party urging it to delay the decision until after the General Election, the company said on Tuesday.

The steelmaking giant said it is apprehensive reading media reports that its restructuring plans may be put in peril due to policy differences expressed by the Conservative and Labour Parties, during the ongoing election period.

We wish to inform that (Tata Steel) confirms that it will continue with the announced closure of the heavy end assets and restructuring programme at Port Talbot in the coming months, it said in a statement.

Shadow Welsh secretary Jo Stevens urged Tata Steel to adopt a union plan for one furnace to be left on while a transition to green production takes place (Ben Birchall/PA)

Tata is moving to a greener form of production, using an electric arc furnace  which needs fewer workers, leaving jobs at risk. The plan involves investing 1.25 billion in greener technology.

Over the last three years (Tata Steel has) worked hard to develop a sustainable future for Tata Steel UK and the Port Talbot Plant, the statement said.

The company urged political parties to adhere to and safeguard the agreed terms of its plan to restructure its UK operations.

This project has been developed to ensure production of low-emission high-quality steel in Port Talbot, preserving primary steelmaking in Britain and creating the potential for a future green manufacturing cluster in South Wales, it said.

The company also called for safeguards for a 500 million grant which the Government has agreed to pay towards the electric arc furnace project.

Further political uncertainty on the timing and form of the grant will place the (electric arc furnace) project and the long-term future of steelmaking at Port Talbot at significant risk, it said.

Tata has insisted the reduction in roles, which was first announced in January, is necessary to stop the company from making 1 million a day in losses.

The company also insisted it is not safe or financially practicable to build an electric arc furnace while old blast furnaces are still operational.

On Monday, senior Labour figures including shadow Welsh secretary Jo Stevens urged Tata to wait for a possible Labour government next month so fresh talks can take place.

On a visit to the Port Talbot plant, Ms Stevens called on the company to delay shutting off all the blast furnaces.

Instead, she urged Tata to adopt a union plan for one furnace to be left on while a transition to green steel production takes place.

In Port Talbot today to meet Tata executives, before important meetings with unions, workers and colleagues, to continue to make the case for a just transition for our steel, here and beyond. A Labour government in Westminster, working hand in hand with the Welsh Labour pic.twitter.com/e8iLATqSB9  Vaughan Gething (@vaughangething) June 10, 2024

The visit came after steelworkers said they would ban overtime as part of industrial action in protest at the job loses, starting on June 18.

Ms Stevens said she is convinced that progress can be made.

What we have said to Tata all along is please dont make any irreversible decisions before the General Election, she said.

And that means not switching off the blast furnace, which is due to happen at the end of this month.

We want them to look at the union plan again, we want to talk to them. They know that we have our green steel fund ready to go. That will be there to support Welsh steel workers and steel workers across the United Kingdom to ensure a smooth transition to decarbonised steel.

Alasdair McDiarmid, assistant general secretary at the Community union, said: It would be wrong for Tata to make irreversible decisions before such a consequential election.

Again, we urge the company to engage with Labour and the unions to consider alternatives to protect jobs.
A suspect has been arrested in the stabbing of four US college instructors in a public park in the city of Jilin in northeastern China, police said Tuesday.

Authorities identified the suspect only by his last name, Cui, who was describes as a 55-year-old man from the citys Longtan District. Police said he collided with a foreigner while walking in Beishan Park, a popular green space in the city center.

The suspect then stabbed the instructors, as well as a Chinese tourist who stepped forward and tried to stop him during the incident, police said in a statement.

Police said they received the call around 11:49 a.m. local time Monday, after which they dispatched officers to the scene and transported the injured to the hospital for treatment.

The injured have all received proper medical treatment and are not in danger  police said earlier.

The educators from Cornell College, a private liberal arts college in Mount Vernon, Iowa, were wounded in a serious incident on Monday, while participating in a partnership program with Beihua University in Jilin, according to the college.

We have been in contact with all four instructors and are assisting them during this time, Cornell College President Jonathan Brand said in a statement, adding no students took part in the program.

Victims of a stabbing attack are seen lying on the ground in Beishan Park, Jilin, China, on June 10. CNN has blurred areas of the image to obscure the identities and graphic injuries of the victims. - From Social Media

Footage purportedly showing the aftermath of the daylight attack emerged on Chinese social media on Monday but was swiftly censored. It showed two men and a woman lying on the ground covered in large blood stains, surrounded by onlookers.

They appeared conscious and were talking on their cell phones, the video showed.

CNN geolocated the video to Beishan Park, a popular green space in Jilin city center, less than half an hours drive from Beihua University. Monday was a public holiday in China.

Chinas Foreign Ministry confirmed Tuesday that four foreign teachers at Beihua University were attacked while visiting the park Monday morning  adding they were immediately taken to the hospital and did not suffer life-threatening injuries.

Iowa state Rep. Adam Zabner told CNN his brother, David Zabner, was one of the victims of the stabbing. Zabner said his brother, who was on his second visit to China with Cornell, is doing well and has been stitched up and seems to be recovering, after speaking to him on Tuesday morning Beijing time.

The other three victims survived the attack, Adam Zabner said, adding he could not comment on their health status. Im just extremely grateful that my brother is OK and that he survived this attack, he told CNN.

The hope of my family is to get my brother back home as soon as possible and get them healthy. And we really just want to thank the US State Department for all their help, and also our federal delegation from Iowa who have been particularly helpful.

The US State Department said it was aware of reports of a stabbing incident in China and is monitoring the situation.

Iowa state Rep. Adam Zabner told CNN his brother, David Zabner, pictured, was one of the stabbing victims. - Courtesy Adam Zabner

Horrifying attack

Knife attacks are not uncommon in China, where guns are tightly controlled. The country has faced a spate of stabbing rampages in public places including schools and hospitals. But public attacks against foreigners are rare.

The attack in Jilin comes as China has been seeking to draw back international visitors following three years of stringent Covid-19 border controls. It also comes amid efforts to boost educational exchanges with the United States as the two countries look to stabilize their fraught relationship.

The incident has drawn attention and concern in Iowa from officials and lawmakers. Gov. Kim Reynolds called it a horrifying attack. US Rep. Ashley Hinson, who represents the district where Cornell College is located, said the college employees were brutally stabbed and vowed to do everything in our power to bring these Iowans home safely.

On Chinas heavily censored social media, visuals and discussions about the attack had been swiftly erased since Monday. Censorship appeared to have relaxed somewhat by noon Tuesday to allow some comments to surface.

Some Chinese internet users called it a terrible incident, while others questioned why Chinese media was not reporting on the attack. Some also expressed concerns about its potential impact on Chinas global image and the willingness of foreigners to visit the country, amid a rise in nationalism and anti-American sentiment.

At its news conference Tuesday, Chinas Foreign Ministry sought to dismiss concerns that the attack would affect educational exchanges between China and the US.

Carrying out people-to-people and cultural exchanges between China and the United States is in the common interests of both sides and has received active support and response from various sectors in both countries, said Lin, the spokesperson.

China is widely recognized as one of the safest countries in the world. China has always taken effective measures and will continue to take relevant measures to effectively protect the safety of all foreigners in China.

The campus of Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa - Courtesy Cornell College

Study ties

Cornell College began a partnership with Beihua University in 2018, which would see the Chinese institution provide funding for educators from the Iowa school to travel and live in China and teach a portion of a course in areas of computer science, math and physics over two-week periods, according to information posted on the college website at the time.

China has been trying to boost its educational cooperation with the US, which has suffered considerable setbacks due to the Covid pandemic and bilateral tensions.

During a visit to the US in November, Chinese leader Xi Jinping announced the country would invite 50,000 young Americans to China on exchange and study programs in the next five years to foster personal ties between the two countries.

The Chinese leader noted his own enduring ties to the state of Iowa in his announcement. Xi stayed with a host family in Iowa during his first visit to the US nearly four decades ago, an experience he has described as unforgettable.

Last week, Xi encouraged universities in China and the US to strengthen exchanges and cooperation, in a letter to the president of Kean University in New Jersey, which has a China-based joint venture with Wenzhou University, according to state media.

China has one of the lowest rates of violent crime in the world, partly due to its strict gun controls and powerful mass surveillance.

But it has continued to face mass stabbings in public places. In May, two people were killed and another 21 injured in a knife attack in a hospital in the southwestern province of Yunnan.

Last year, six people were killed and one injured in an early morning stabbing incident outside a kindergarten in southern Guangdong province. And a 2022 stabbing, also at a kindergarten, killed three and injured six in eastern Jiangxi province.

Correction: An earlier version of this story reported the wrong day for the stabbings. The attack happened Monday.

This story has been updated with additional developments. CNNs Steven Jiang, Hassan Tayir, Irene Nasser, Steve Almasy and Rashard Rose contributed reporting.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Tegus, an AI research startup that was valued at $3 billion in 2021, is close to a deal to sell itself to AlphaSense, according to five banking and venture capital executives. The financial terms were not immediately available, but the combined companies will be valued at roughly $4 billion, one of the VC execs said.

Tegus has been up for sale since last fall when it hired advisors, one of the bankers said. Based on the executives comment about the combined value of the firms, the sale price for Tegus is around $1 billionthough this is only an estimate and has not been confirmed.

Its unclear if negotiations to carry out the deal started before or after AlphaSense sued Tegus for patent infringement in September.

In the lawsuit, AlphaSense claimed that the user interface of the Tegus Platform is remarkably similar to the AS Platform in terms of purpose, functionality, and even aesthetics, and accused Tegus of infringing on seven patents related to its AI platform. On May 8, the parties resolved the litigation but gave no reason why, according to a redacted version of the stipulation and [proposed] order staying the case.

Tegus has been in the market for a while, the banker said.

Tegus and AlphaSense could not be reached for comment.

AlphaSense and Tegus are competitors, both serving similar markets. Twin brothers Michael and Thomas Elnick founded Tegus in 2017. The Chicago company provides market intelligence and data to financial services companies, including investment firms, investment banks and consultancies.

Over 2,500 asset management firms use Tegus, which has raised $111.5 million in funding, according to Crunchbase. In 2021, Tegus snagged a $3 billion valuation when it collected $90 million in a funding round led by Oberndorf Enterprises and Willoughby Capital.

AlphaSense is an older firm, founded in 2011 by CEO Jack Kokko along with CTO Raj Neervannan when both were classmates at the Wharton School. Kokko and Neervannan sought to marry the burgeoning technology of artificial intelligence with research about companies, Fortune reported in April. AlphaSense now boasts more than 4,000 corporate customers, including more than 80% of the S&P 100, the story said.

AlphaSense, of New York, has raised $770.1 million in funding, Crunchbase said. Investors include Goldman Sachs, CapitalG and Bond. In September, AlphaSense was valued at $2.5 billion when it raised a $150 million round.

Tegus and AlphaSense both received very silly valuations, said one private equity executive.

The companies operate in the sector called expert network, which was invented by the Gerson Lehrman Group nearly 20 years ago, said one VC, who is a Tegus customer. When an investment firm wants to invest in a new sector, they will often call a firm like GLG or Tegus to speak to an expert in that sector. For example, if a VC wants to invest in medical devices, these companies will usually arrange calls with experts such as doctors or long-time executives in that field.

Customers agree to allow Tegus to record the calls and create transcripts that are kept in an online repository where it can be viewed by other customers. (Tegus does remove the names of the customers and any employees, according to the companys terms of use.) In April, the Tegus library had more than 100,000 expert transcripts available.

"This was [Tegus's] take that spiced it up, the VC said.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
A left-wing activist on Monday released secret recordings of Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito and his wife, as well as Chief Justice John Roberts, discussing a range of politically sensitive topics.

In conversation with the activist, who represented herself as a religious conservative and did not disclose in the recordings she released that she was producing them and would make them public, Justice Alito endorses her suggestion that people in this country who believe in God have got to keep fighting for that  to return our country to a place of Godliness. Well, I agree with you, I agree with you, Alito says.

At another point, the activist represents herself as a devout Catholic, telling the justice, I dont know that we can negotiate with the left in the way that, like, needs to happen for the polarization to end. I think that its a matter of, like, winning.

I think youre probably right, Alito responds. On one side or the other  one side or the other is going to win. I dont know. I mean, there can be a way of working, a way of living together peacefully, but its difficult, you know, because there are differences on fundamental things that really cant be compromised. They really cant be compromised. So, its not like you are going to split the difference.

The recordings were made by Lauren Windsor, a self-described documentary filmmaker who said she made the recordings during a dinner hosted by the Supreme Court Historical Society last week. The subjects appear to be unaware that they were being recorded by Windsor, who called the clips undercover audio on X.

Rolling Stone first reported on the recordings.

During last weeks event, Windsor also secretly recorded a conservation she had with Chief Justice John Roberts. In that exchange, the chief can be heard on tape rebuffing some of Windsors comments, including her position that the Supreme Court should be guiding the US as a Christian nation.

Yeah, I dont know that we live in a Christian nation. I know a lot of Jewish and Muslim friends who would say maybe not, Roberts says in the recording. And its not our job to do that. Its our job to decide the cases as best we can.

CNN has not independently obtained the full audio of the comments made by Alito or his wife, and the portions that were posted by Windsor on X were part of a larger recording she made during the event.

Alito did not respond to questions from CNN about his comments or those of his wife, Martha-Ann. Roberts also did not respond to CNN about the secret recordings.

The Alitos in particular have been embroiled in recent controversy following media reporting about two provocative flags raised at the conservative jurists properties. The incident added to a growing list of ethics controversies that has plagued the court in recent years and drawn scrutiny from politicians and pundits across the aisle.

In a separate clip during which Windsor again represented herself as a religious conservative, Martha-Ann Alito can be heard bemoaning a Washington Post style reporter who wrote critically about her, and goes on to complain about femnazis, who she says believe (Justice Alito) should control her.

The comment came after Windsor brought up the flag controversy, in which Justice Alito said his wife was responsible for raising two provocative flags seen at Alitos properties, an upside-down US flag hoisted at his home in Virginia in early 2021 and an Appeal to Heaven flag at his New Jersey home last summer.

So theyll go to hell, Martha-Ann Alito says in the recording. He never controls me.

Later in her conversation with Windsor, Martha-Ann Alito says she wants to raise a Sacred Heart of Jesus flag because I have to look across the lagoon at the Pride flag for the next month.

And hes like, Oh, please dont put up a flag, she said in apparent reference to the justice. I said, I wont do it, because Im deferring to you. But when you are free of this nonsense, Im putting it up and Im going to send them a message every day, maybe every week Ill be changing the flags.

At another point during their conversation, Windsor says that Martha-Ann Alitos critics are persecuting her and that shes serving as a convenient stand-in for anybody whos religious.

Im German. Im German. My heritage is German. You come after me, Im going to give it back to you, Martha-Ann Alito said. And there will be a way. It doesnt have to be now. But there will be a way  they will know.

James Duff, the executive director of the Supreme Court Historical Society, slammed the recordings in a statement on Monday.

We condemn the surreptitious recording of Justices at the event, which is inconsistent with the entire spirit of the evening, Duff said. Attendees are advised that discussion of current cases, cases decided by current sitting Justices, or a Justices jurisprudence is strictly prohibited and may result in forfeiture of membership in the Society.

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Microsoft and Google will offer free or discounted cybersecurity services to rural hospitals across the United States to make them less vulnerable to cyberattacks that have disrupted patient care and threatened lives, the White House and those tech firms said Monday.

Microsoft said in a statement to CNN that it would provide free security updates for eligible rural hospitals, as well as security assessments and training for hospital staff. Google will provide free cybersecurity advice to rural hospitals and start a pilot program to match the firms cybersecurity services with the needs of rural hospitals.

The nations roughly 1,800 rural community hospitals are among the most vulnerable to dangerous ransomware attacks because they often lack IT security resources and cybersecurity-trained staff. And they may be the only hospitals within dozens of miles, meaning a ransomware attack that prevents a hospital from accepting ambulances can put patients lives at risk.

The new announcement is the result of private discussions between the tech firms and officials at the White House National Security Council who have growing increasingly concerned about cyber threats to hospitals. Its an effort to use the broad reach of Microsoft and Googles software, which is used in hospitals across the United States, to help plug a gap in the defense of the health care sector.

Were in new territory as we see  this wave of attacks against hospitals, Anne Neuberger, the top cyber official at the White House National Security Council, told reporters on Sunday.

The Biden administration is also preparing to issue minimum cybersecurity requirements for US hospitals. The details of that proposal have yet to be finalized. But the American Hospital Association, which represents hospitals across the United States, opposes the proposal, saying it would impose penalties on the victims of cyberattacks after they are hacked.

A growing problem

The number of ransomware attacks against the US healthcare sector increased by 128% in 2023 compared to 2022, according to data released by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. And recent ransomware attacks have brought the sectors vulnerability into sharp relief.

A February ransomware attack on a major health insurance billing firm cut off health providers from billions of dollars and put some health clinics on the brink of bankruptcy. UnitedHealth Group, whose subsidiary was hacked, paid a $22 million ransom to the hackers to try to recover patient data. One third of Americans may have had their data stolen.

Another ransomware attack, in May, on one of Americas largest hospital chains, put patients lives in danger as nurses were forced to manually enter prescription information, multiple nurses at affected hospitals told CNN.

The FBI and its international allies have conducted a series of crackdowns on ransomware gangs, seizing the computers they use and unlocking some of the victim computers that hackers have encrypted. But ransomware remains a flourishing business, in part, US officials say, because many of its perpetrators operate with impunity from Russia.

The health care sector is a particularly enticing target because hospitals under duress to restore patient services are sometimes willing to pay the ransom.

We do see a much more permissive environment in Russia by both hacktivists and criminals, and its of concern, Neuberger, the White House official, told reporters. We also see more and more companies paying ransoms. And every ransom payment feeds the beast and drives further attacks.

Cleveland cyberattack shuts City Hall

Cyberattacks have frequently shut down other vulnerable services.

The City of Cleveland is investigating a cyber incident, according to a statement from mayor Justin Bibb. As a precaution, the city said it closed City Hall Monday, and it will keep City Hall closed Tuesday.

Cleveland also shut down all of its internal systems and software. But city and emergency services like the Department of Public Safety, 911, police, the fire department, ambulances and the Department of Public Utilities, will remain operational, Bibbs office said. However, the mayor said the emergency services are functioning with limited IT capabilities.

Over the weekend, the city identified some abnormalities, Commissioner Kimberly Roy-Wilson, with the citys Division of Information Technology Services, said. We have moved into our protocols and procedures with regards to containment and we are now investigating the nature and scope of those abnormalities.

Bibb would not say how many or which agencies are helping with the investigation.

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President Joe Biden, in his first comment after Hunter Biden was found guilty on all three counts in his federal gun trial, expressed love for his son and vowed to accept the verdict handed down by the jury on Tuesday.

Biden reiterated much of his statement from when the trial kicked off on June 3.

"As I said last week, I am the President, but I am also a Dad," Biden said. "Jill and I love our son, and we are so proud of the man he is today. So many families who have had loved ones battle addiction understand the feeling of pride seeing someone you love come out the other side and be so strong and resilient in recovery."

"As I also said last week, I will accept the outcome of this case and will continue to respect the judicial process as Hunter considers an appeal," the president added. "Jill and I will always be there for Hunter and the rest of our family with our love and support. Nothing will ever change that."

MORE: Timeline: Hunter Biden under legal, political scrutiny

PHOTO: President Joe Biden talks with his son Hunter Biden upon arrival at Delaware Air National Guard Base in New Castle, Del., on June 11, 2024, as he travels to Wilmington, Del. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images)

The president traveled to Delaware later Tuesday. Hunter Biden greeted his father when the president arrived, getting out of the motorcade and embracing on the tarmac. Hunter was joined by his wife, Melissa, and their young son, Beau.

Hunter Biden was indicted in September by special counsel David Weiss on two counts related to false statements in purchasing a firearm and a third count of illegally obtaining a firearm while addicted to drugs.

His indictment and conviction mark a historic first for the child of a sitting U.S. president.

PHOTO: President Joe Biden hugs his son Hunter Biden upon arrival at Delaware Air National Guard Base in New Castle, Del., on June 11, 2024, as he travels to Wilmington, Del. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images)

Biden's statement vowing to respect the trial's outcome stands in contrast with former President Donald Trump's many criticisms of the judicial system following his historic conviction in New York. Trump and his allies continue to call his hush money trial "rigged."

The weeklong trial in Delaware focused heavily on details of Hunter Biden's struggle with drug addiction, his fraught relationships and other emotional aspects of his past.

President Biden did not make an appearance at his son's trial, but first lady Jill Biden was a fixture at the hearings and walked out of the courthouse hand-in-hand with Hunter Biden after the guilty verdict was announced.

Last week, Biden told ABC News "World News Tonight" anchor David Muir he would accept the result of the proceeding and would not pardon his son.

PHOTO: President Joe Biden delivers a speech during the US ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of the World War II 'D-Day' Allied landings in Normandy in northwestern France, on June 6, 2024. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)

MORE: Exclusive: Biden tells Muir he wouldn't pardon son Hunter, says Trump got 'fair trial'

In his first statement after the verdict was handed down, Hunter Biden expressed gratitude for the familial support shown throughout the proceedings.

"I am more grateful today for the love and support I experienced this last week from Melissa, my family, my friends, and my community than I am disappointed by the outcome," Hunter Biden said. "Recovery is possible by the grace of God, and I am blessed to experience that gift one day at a time."

ABC News' Molly Nagle contributed to this report.

Biden shows support for son Hunter after conviction, says he will respect verdict originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
The soap star told PEOPLE how she went through a rollercoaster of emotions after learning her character Sheila Carter had been killed off the show, only to discover she wasnt dead after all

Sonja Flemming/CBS via Getty Kimberlin Brown in Los Angeles, California in December 2023.

Just because a character dies on a soap opera doesnt mean theyre gone for good.

Kimberlin Brown, who plays Sheila Carter on The Bold and The Beautiful, learned that first-hand when her villainous character was killed off the show in February, having been stabbed by her daughter-in-law Steffy Forrester (Jacqueline MacInnes Wood). But in the shows April 29 episode, it was revealed Sheila very much alive.

During an interview with PEOPLE at the Daytime Emmy Awards 2024 on June 7, Brown told PEOPLE she was very surprised to learn Sheilas fate wasnt sealed for good and that she would actually return to the popular soap.

It was upsetting when I found out that I was going to be killed off the show. It's a call you never want to get, she said, adding, You keep a stiff upper lip, and you're very professional, and then you go home, and you kind of pour yourself a drink and think about it.

Related: The Bold and the Beautifuls Kimberlin Brown Opens Up About Her Shocking Return: 'Talk About a Rollercoaster'

Matthew Taplinger/CBS via Getty Kimberlin Brown on 'The Bold and the Beautiful' in January 2024.

Brown previously opened up about having mixed feelings about her character's departure from the series during an interview with TV Insider in February.

Its a tough place for me to be in right now; Im not going to lie about this, Brown told the outlet then. I guess if anyone were going to take Sheila down, Im happy its Steffy. I just wish that no one was taking Sheila down.

Its my happy place where I have been so blessed to be for over 35 years, she continued. But Ive had a good run at it, so Im one of the lucky ones, theres no doubt about it.

Brown also said filming her character's death scene wasn't just emotionally taxing but also physically demanding. Can I just say that the after effects for Sheila, laying on a concrete floor for hours, that really hurts! I was bruised for the week from laying on concrete! she explained.

So getting the call to return to The Bold and the Beautiful proved to be an emotional moment for the 62-year-old actress, she explained to PEOPLE at the Daytime Emmy Awards 2024 on June 7.

Related: Kimberlin Brown Reflects on Her Shocking Bold and the Beautiful Exit: 'Ive Had a Good Run'

Adam Torgerson/CBS via Getty Kimberlin Brown on 'The Bold and the Beautiful' in September 2023.

When I got the call to come back, I was like, Wow,  I didn't have to think long, because like I said, she was my baby. I've been playing her for over 35 years, and to have that phone call meant the world to me, she said, adding, I didn't want to put her [Sheila] to bed yet, and because of the fan base and their outpouring of comments, phone calls, what happened with the ratings, they brought me back.

When her character died earlier this year, Brown truly believed that, after more than 1,150 episodes, it was the end for her on The Bold and The Beautiful. So she bought land in Montana where shes breaking ground and building a home. Brown plans on also keeping her place in Los Angeles and commuting back and forth between the two.

The actress will also start tackling another role come June 26 when her daughter-in-law Kaila, who is married to Browns son Nick Pelzer, is expected to deliver a girl. Thinking about her future granddaughter, Brown said couldnt be more thrilled."

I'm going to have somebody to play with again. Kids grow up and the whole dynamic changes for the better, she says. But, still, it's going to give me that opportunity to spoil somebody rotten, teach them how to go fishing, go hiking and ride horses  do all of that  and then send them home when they're tired.

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

The Bold and the Beautiful airs weekdays at 1:30 p.m. ET on CBS and is available for streaming on Paramount+.

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Sonia Garcia is a trending food reporter for the Houston Chronicle. She can be reached at sonia.garcia@houstonchronicle.com.

A Rio Grande Valley native, she previously was an editor and writer for the Austin digital news startup Austonia after graduating from Texas State University. She enjoys trying new restaurants in Houston, where she lives with her 14-year-old Chihuahua.
Floridas restrictions on medical care for transgender children are unconstitutional, a federal judge ruled Tuesday as he struck down a signature priority of Gov. Ron DeSantis.

U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkles decision invalidates much of a 2023 law and rules approved by state boards prohibiting children from accessing medical treatments for gender dysphoria, such as puberty blockers and hormones.

Florida has adopted a statute and rules that ban gender-affirming care for minors even when medically appropriate, Hinkle wrote in his 105-page order. The ban is unconstitutional.

Attorneys that represented the transgender plaintiffs argued that the law signed by DeSantis was an act of discrimination and animus against transgender people. The state said it was targeting the treatments, not transgender people themselves.

In his ruling, Hinkle, who was appointed to the bench by former President Bill Clinton, said that it was clear that anti-transgender animus motivated bill sponsors and some legislators who approved the law.

Transgender opponents are of course free to hold their beliefs, Hinkle wrote. But they are not free to discriminate against transgender individuals just for being transgender. In time, discrimination against transgender individuals will diminish, just as racism and misogyny have diminished. To paraphrase a civil-rights advocate from an earlier time, the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.

Hinkle pointed to comments from DeSantis and House representatives about young children being castrated or sterilized because of medical treatments for gender dysphoria. Hinkle said that the state admitted during the trial that there was no factual basis for those remarks, and that the record showed no evidence any Florida child had been castrated or mutilated.

Perhaps all this talk about castration and mutilation is just political hyperbole, Hinkle wrote. But it casts at least some doubt on the assertion that these decisionmakers motivation was sound regulation of medical care in the best interest of transgender patients rather than outright disapproval of transgender identity.

Along with striking down the rules banning kids with gender dysphoria from accessing medical treatment, Hinkle also struck down rules that required transgender adults to only get medical treatment from physicians, instead of from other kinds of health providers.

Hinkle last year also struck down Floridas ban on Medicaid covering treatments for gender dysphoria. The state is appealing that ruling, and opponents have argued that the state has been defying Hinkles order and still denying Medicaid coverage.

DeSantis press secretary, Jeremy Redfern, said that the state would appeal Hinkles new ruling, as well.

Through their elected representatives, the people of Florida acted to protect children in this state, and the Court was wrong to override their wishes, Redfern said in an emailed statement. We disagree with the Courts erroneous rulings on the law, on the facts, and on the science. As weve seen here in Florida, the United Kingdom, and across Europe, there is no quality evidence to support the chemical and physical mutilation of children. These procedures do permanent, life-altering damage to children, and history will look back on this fad in horror.

Major medical organizations like the American Academy of Pediatrics support children using treatments like puberty blockers for gender dysphoria. Hinkle said in his ruling that not a single reputable medical association has flatly opposed using puberty blockers and hormone therapy in appropriate circumstances.

If the state truly believed that gender dysphoria was being improperly treated in Florida, despite the absence of complaints and despite the states inability, even now, to find a single adversely affected Florida patient, they could have restricted or regulated care without banning it, Hinkle wrote in his order.

Simone Chriss, an attorney on the case and the director of the transgender rights initiative at the Southern Legal Counsel, said that Hinkles ruling restores some balance in terms of, like, respect and dignity and decency in a state that has never been more in need of those things than right now.

Chriss said that the ruling returns Florida to where it was just a few years ago, where decisions about transgender medical care are in the hands of patients, their families and their doctors.

The U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals allowed a similar Alabama ban on medical treatment for transgender kids to take effect. But Chriss said the Florida case is different because the case out of Alabama didnt argue that the laws were based on anti-transgender bias.

Jane Doe, one of the anonymous plaintiffs representing her transgender daughter, Susan Doe, said in a statement that the ruling means she wont need to watch her daughter needlessly suffer.

Seeing Susans fear about this ban has been one of the hardest experiences weve endured as parents, Doe said in a statement. All weve wanted is to take that fear away and help her continue to be the happy, confident child she is now.
DETROIT (AP)  If Tesla shareholders vote against restoring Elon Musk's $44.9 billion pay package Thursday, the CEO could deliver on threats to take artificial intelligence research to one of his other companies. Or he could even could walk away.

If they approve the all-stock compensation package that was thrown out by a Delaware judge in January, it would almost guarantee he would remain at the company he grew to be the world leader in electric vehicles, shifting to AI and robotics including autonomous vehicles, which Musk says is Tesla's future.

But even with reapproval at Thursday's annual shareholders' meeting, which many analysts say is likely, there would be uncertainty. Musk has threatened on X, his social media platform, to develop AI elsewhere if he doesn't get a 25% stake in Tesla (He owns about 13% now). Musk's xAI recently received $6 billion in funding to develop artificial intelligence.

Wedbush Analyst Dan Ives said he expects the package to be overwhelmingly reapproved, ending a lot of uncertainty with Musk. This issue has been an overhang on Teslas stock, and this will be important to move this distraction in the rearview mirror, Ives wrote in a note to investors.

Shares of Tesla Inc. have slumped more than 30% this year with the company warning of notably lower sales growth in 2024.

Also on the shareholder ballot is the related issue of moving the electric vehicle maker's legal home out of Delaware to Texas.

The move is designed to escape from the Delaware court's oversight and possibly a ruling from Chancellor Kathaleen St. Jude McCormick that invalidated Musk's pay package. In a January opinion on a shareholder lawsuit, the judge determined that Musk controlled the Tesla board and is not entitled to the landmark package once worth nearly $56 billion.

Multiple institutional investors have come out against that sizeable payout, some citing falling vehicle sales, price cuts and the tumbling Tesla stock price. But Tesla's top five institutional shareholders, Vanguard, BlackRock, State Street, Geode Capital, and Capital Research either said they don't announce their votes or wouldn't comment. They control about 17% of the votes.

Erik Gordon, a business and law professor at the University of Michigan, said individual shareholders are likely to vote for the package, and they own more than half of Tesla's shares.

One institutional investor who came out against the package is California's State Teachers Retirement System. The large pension fund said Tuesday that it would vote against Musk's pay "based on its sheer magnitude, and because the award would be extremely dilutive to shareholders. We also have concerns with the lack of focus on profitability for the company.

In May, two big shareholder advisory firms, ISS and Glass Lewis, recommended voting against the package.

But Tesla and Musk have unleashed a furious lobbying effort to get the package approved, in posts on X, television appearances and in proxy filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Only 2 days left to protect & help grow the value of your investment in $TSLA by voting FOR ratification of the 2018 CEO Performance Award, Tesla posted on X early Tuesday.

Tesla Chairwoman Robyn Denholm, in a letter to shareholders, wrote that the package was approved by 73% of the vote six years ago. Because the Delaware Court second-guessed your decision, Elon has not been paid for any of his work for Tesla for the past six years that has helped to generate significant growth and stockholder value. That strikes us  and the many stockholders from whom we already have heard  as fundamentally unfair, and inconsistent with the will of the stockholders who voted for it, she wrote.

Tesla has said the 2018 award incentivized Musk to create over $735 billion in value for shareholders in the six years since it was approved.

If Tesla finalizes the vote on moving the company's legal home to Texas before the vote on Musks pay package, and it manages to file the paperwork in Austin and get approval of the move, then the effect of the Delaware court ruling could be in doubt. Reapproval of the pay package would then be done as a Texas corporation and could fall under the purview of Texas courts.

Anticipating a quick move by Tesla, lawyers for the shareholder who filed the lawsuit seeking to block Musks pay deal, Richard Tornetta, filed motions in Delaware last month seeking an order stopping Tesla from trying to move the case. Tesla responded in letters to the judge that there is no cause for such concerns because they wont seek a move. Besides, Tesla would still be a Delaware corporation at the time of this week's shareholder vote, they wrote.

In an order denying Tornettas motions, Chancellor McCormick wrote that she interprets Teslas letters to mean it has no intention of relocating the case to Texas. The defendants statements give me great comfort, she wrote.

Eric Talley, a Columbia University law professor, said the lawyers are unlikely to try to move the case because their livelihood is handling business cases in Delaware courts.

But its also possible that the unpredictable Musk could change lawyers.

McCormick, Talley said, is telling the lawyers OK, Im going to believe you, but Im going to be really irritated if this is a big send up for these things that you said youre not going to do.

Talley, who also is a Tesla shareholder and said at present he plans to vote against Musks pay, expects Tesla to follow through with appealing McCormicks ruling to the Delaware Supreme Court.
Though Lopez's rep claimed Eagle Mountain Casino was at fault for failing to "eject disruptive individuals," the casino insisted his team never asked them to intervene and "no guests were unruly"

Paras Griffin/Getty George Lopez

George Lopez walked off stage at his latest comedy show after hecklers didnt listen to his warnings.

The comedian, 63, was performing at Eagle Mountain Casino in Porterville, California over the weekend when some audience members grew loud. In a video obtained by TMZ, Lopez can be heard giving three chances for the crowd to quiet down before leaving.

"Now seriously, I seem like an a--hole, I'm the one working, he said after he told the audience they had already been warned twice. Come on, please, just watch the f---ing show, that's all you have to do."

When the hecklers continued, Lopez put the microphone back on the stand and exited the stage 30 minutes early, saying, Thats cool, thanks, and waving goodbye.

In a statement to TMZ, Lopezs rep claimed the casino staff was at fault for the incident.

"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," his rep said.

"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," the rep continued. "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.

Related: George Lopez Sends His Friend Paul Stanley from KISS Flowers on His Birthday Every Year (Exclusive)

However, in a press release on their website, a spokesperson for the casino accused Lopez of not giving them a chance to solve the issue or requesting security escort hecklers out, per protocol.

Casino security and Lopez security team worked together to make sure there was no filming with phones as requested by Lopez, the release read. It was the job of Lopez's private security team to inform casino security if they wanted to escort anyone out which never occurred. Under the casino's discretion, no guests were unruly or providing an unsafe environment.

The spokesperson also said that while the guests were loud, it was not clear that they were disrupting the show, before reiterating that if Lopez asked for assistance in removing certain attendees, the venue security would have done so.

"Mr. Lopez or his private security had every opportunity to inform the casino team if they wanted a guest escorted out and they did not," the release read.

Tim Mosenfelder/Getty George Lopez

While we did see guests yelling out, we see recordings showing those saying  we love you, can we buy you a drink, etc, Assistant General Manager Tiffani Sahagun added in a statement. We also know that at a comedy show, there are also likely some outbursts that casino security would have been happy to address had any issue been made known."

Sahagun continued: "We only want for our guests to have a safe and enjoyable experience, and we want our entertainers to feel safe and enjoy coming to Porterville as well.

The casino spokesperson also noted that there had been two acts before Lopez, and neither comedian had any issues with heckling despite having the same audience.

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The casino is now offering a full reimbursement for guests of the show.

PEOPLE has reached out to Lopez's rep and a spokesperson at Eagle Mountain Casino for additional comment.

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Read the original article on People.
Joey Chestnut, the legendary competitive eater, will not participate in the 2024 Nathan's Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest.

Chestnut, who has won the event 16 times and is the eight-time defending champion, recently signed a deal to represent Impossible Foods, a rival brand to Nathan's.

A statement from Major League Eating said that organizers tried to accommodate Chestnut and his team, but to no avail.

"MLE and Nathan's went to great lengths in recent months to accommodate Joey and his management team, agreeing to the appearance fee and allowing Joey to compete in a rival unbranded hot dog eating contest on Labor Day.

For nearly two decades we have worked under the same basic hot dog exclusivity provisions. However, it seems that Joey and his managers have prioritized a new partnership with a different hot dog brand over our long-time relationship."

Joey Chestnut is an American hero. We would love nothing more than to have him at the Nathans Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest. We hope he returns when he is not representing a rival brand.

Chestnut said he was "gutted" by the decision on social media later on Tuesday night. He also said he didn't have any contract with MLE or Nathan's, and that the decision to ban him was simply an attempt to "change the rules."

Chestnut also said he learned of the decision through the reports on Tuesday.

(1/3)I was gutted to learn from the media that after 19 years Im banned from the Nathan's July 4th Hot Dog Eating Contest. I love competing in that event, I love celebrating America with my fans all over this great country on the 4th and I have been training to defend my title.  Joey Chestnut (@joeyjaws) June 11, 2024

(3/3) Sadly, this is the decision Nathan's and Major League Eating are making, and it will deprive the great fans of the holidays usual joy and entertainment. To my fans, I love you and appreciate you. Rest assured that youll see me eat again soon!! STAY HUNGRY!  Joey Chestnut (@joeyjaws) June 11, 2024

"I was gutted to learn from the media that after 19 years I'm banned from the Nathan's July 4th Hot Dog Eating Contest," Chestnut wrote on social media. "I love competing in that event, I love celebrating America with all my fans over this great country on the 4th and I have been training to defend my title.

"To set the record straight, I do not have a contract with MLE or Nathan's and they are looking to change the rules from past years as it relates to other partners I can work with ... Rest assured that you'll see me eating again soon."

Joey Chestnut, seen here with Miki Sudo at the 2022 competition, will not get the chance to defend his title this summer. (Yuki Iwamura/AFP/Getty Images) (YUKI IWAMURA via Getty Images)

Nathan's has a requirement for competitors that they are not to endorse any rival brands.

Coney Island, New York, has hosted the event every Fourth of July since 1979.

According to the New York Post, Chestnut received $200,000 to take part in the 2023 hot dog eating competition and he was offered a four-year, $1.2 million deal.

The 40-year-old Chestnut is the world record holder for most hot dogs and buns eaten when he consumed 76 in 10 minutes in 2021.

Last year, Chestnut won for the 16th time after taking down 62 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes, 14 more than the second-place finisher.
By Brendan Pierson

(Reuters) -GSK and other drugmakers on Monday asked a Delaware court for permission to appeal a ruling allowing more than 70,000 lawsuits claiming that heartburn drug Zantac causes cancer to go forward.

If Judge Vivian Medinilla of Delaware Superior Court grants the petition, which is also joined by Pfizer, Sanofi and Boehringer Ingelheim, the appeal will go directly to the Delaware Supreme Court. If she denies it, GSK said, the companies will ask the Supreme Court directly to hear the case.

The companies, which all sold Zantac at different times, argue that Medinilla should have granted their motion to block plaintiffs from presenting expert testimony that Zantac causes cancer. That would have effectively ended all of the lawsuits in Delaware, where the vast majority of Zantac lawsuits nationwide are pending.

Also on Monday, GSK announced that a woman who alleged that she developed breast cancer as a result of taking Zantac dropped her case shortly before it was set for trial.

GSK said in a statement that it did not settle with the woman, Eugenia Kasza. A lawyer for Kasza did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Kasza's case would have been the second over Zantac to go to trial, after the first ended last month with a victory for GSK and Boehringer Ingelheim. Another case was dismissed by a judge shortly before a trial was set to begin on May 23.

Sanofi has settled about 4,000 Zantac cases, and the Financial Times reported last month that Pfizer had settled more than 10,000 cases.

First approved in 1983, Zantac became the world's best-selling medicine in 1988 and one of the first to top $1 billion in annual sales. It was originally marketed by a forerunner of GSK and later sold successively to other companies.

In 2019, some manufacturers and pharmacies halted Zantac sales after a chemical called NDMA, which is known to cause cancer, was detected in some pills. Some tests showed that Zantac's active ingredient, ranitidine, could degrade into NDMA over time or when exposed to heat.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration asked manufacturers to pull the drug off the market in 2020. In the face of mounting lawsuits, the drugmakers have maintained that there is no evidence Zantac exposed users to harmful levels of NDMA.

The companies notched a significant win in 2022, when another judge rejected about 50,000 lawsuits making similar claims that had been consolidated in federal court in Florida. Some plaintiffs are appealing that ruling.

(Reporting vy Brendan Pierson in New York; Editing by Alexia Garamfalvi, Bill Berkrot and Leslie Adler))
Death row inmate David Hosier is set to be executed in Missouri on Tuesday, which would make him the state's second execution of the year and the nation's seventh.

Hosier, 69, is set to be executed by lethal injection for 2009 murder of his former lover, Angela Gilpin, a mother of two sons who was working to repair her marriage and escape Hosier, according to court records.

Hosier has maintained his innocence since his conviction and recently told the Kansas City Star: "You cannot show remorse for something you did not do."

Republican Missouri Gov. Michael Parson rejected Hosier's last petition for clemency on Monday, saying that "he displays no remorse for his senseless violence."

Here's what you need to know.

What is David Hosier convicted of?

Sometime between 2008 and 2009, Hosier got involved romantically with Angela Gilpin, who had separated from her husband. When Gilpin decided to end the affair and reconcile with her husband, Hosier got angry.

Two weeks before she was killed, Gilpin applied for a restraining order against Hosier and was looking to move apartments, writing to her landlord that she could no longer live next to Hosier.

"He scares me. I don't know he will do next," she wrote, according to court records.

The day before the killings, Hosier left a voicemail for a friend saying that he was going to "finish it" and called another friend to say that he was going to "eliminate his problems," court records show.

The next morning, a neighbor found Gilpin's and her husband Rodney's bodies at the threshold of their Jefferson City apartment. They had been shot to death.

In Gilpin's purse was an application for a protective order from Hosier that said "he knows everywhere I go, who I go with, who comes to my home," adding that he was stalking and harassing her every day.

Hosier was arrested in Oklahoma later that day following a pursuit and a standoff, after which Hosier told police: "Shoot me and get it over with," according to court documents.

Handout photo of David Hosier, 69, at Potosi Correctional Center, in Potosi, Missouri about 70 miles south of St. Louis. Hosier is set to be executed on June 11.

Has David Hosier appealed?

Attorneys for Hosier have argued that the trial attorneys failed to call a medical professional to explain to jurors how a 2007 stroke had affected Hosier's mental state. The attorneys have also argued that the judge that presided over the trial and sentencing had a conflict of interest, having prosecuted Hosier in 1998 for not paying child support.

The Missouri State Supreme Court rejected Hosier's appeals and the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear the case in August 2023.

The Federal Public Defender's office produced a video pleading for clemency for Hosier. In the video, multiple family members point to the death of Hosier's father when he was 16 years old as the beginning of a downward spiral.

"He's been angry with all the women in his life, including me and my mother and it was not like that for him before my dad died," Hosier's sister, Kay Schardien, says in the clemency video. "My dad's death was just like a crater and David fell into that crater."

In denying Hosier's clemency petition on Monday, Parson said in a statement that Gilpin "had her life stolen by David Hosier because he could not accept it when she ended their romantic involvement."

"For these heinous acts, Hosier earned maximum punishment under the law," he said. "I cannot imagine the pain experienced by Angelas and Rodneys loved ones but hope that carrying out Hosiers sentence according to the courts order brings closure."

When will David Hosier be executed?

Hosier is scheduled to be executed shortly after 6 p.m. CT on Tuesday, June 11. The window for the execution runs for 24 hours, according to the Missouri Department of Corrections.

The execution will be carried out at the Eastern Reception, Diagnostic and Correctional Center in Bonne Terre, about an hour south of St. Louis.

How will David Hosier be executed?

Hosier will be administered a five-gram dose of pentobarbital in accordance with the state of Missouri's lethal injection protocol.

Lethal injection is considered a "primary method" of execution in all jurisdictions that use the death penalty in the United States, though Alabama has executed one inmate with nitrogen gas this year and plans another one in September.

Who will witness the execution?

The Attorney General of Missouri declined to provide the state's execution witness list or comment on the execution.

Hosier's attorney, Jeremy Weis, is set to be among the execution's witnesses, as well as reporters for the Associated Press, Missourinet and the Kansas City Star.

Hosier's spiritual advisor, the Rev. Jeff Hood, will in the chamber during the execution. Hosier has developed a close relationship with Hood as the execution day approaches.

We talk, just trying to get prepared for the state wanting to murder you," Hosier told the Kansas City Star, adding that though he may have supported the death penalty following his fathers death, he no longer does so after having gone through the system.

I cant see by any justification, the death penalty as being anything but cruel and inhumane, Hosier told the newspaper. The state says its illegal for us to kill somebody, but they can sanction a murder and its A-OK, no big deal.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Missouri set to execute death row inmate Tuesday. Here's what to know
Nevada Republican Senate candidate Jeff Gunter accused the National Republican Senate Committee (NRSC) of sabotaging his campaign shortly after former President Trump endorsed his opponent.

Gunter, who served as a U.S. Ambassador to Iceland during the Trump administration, initially alleged on Monday that the NRSC, the committee tasked with electing Republicans to the Senate, had stymied his run for the Nevada seat currently held by Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.).

His initial jabs at the committee, posted Monday on social media platform X, alleged that a pay-for-play scheme was orchestrated between the Trump World and the NRSC.

Gunter asserted that his main primary contender, Retired Army Capt. Sam Brown, was lined up for a Trump endorsement to take place during the former president Presidents rally in Las Vegas.

Scam is told by his handlers hes getting endorsed at the rally, Gunter wrote Monday on X, referring to Brown.

He then went after the NRSC and Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.), the committees chair, accusing them in a Monday night call with Politico of dissuading some entities from supporting his upper chamber run.

Gunter, a dermatologist, told Politico that NRSC pressured a Republican consulting firm, The Strategy Group, to rescind their work with him, something the firm denied. He also said that Daines attempted to intimidate him from running.

The NRSC repudiated Gunters assertions, saying that he was making defamatory accusations.

Jeff Gunter has become totally unglued and is making false, defamatory accusations against NRSC and President Trump, NRSC Communications Director Mike Berg said in a statement to The Hill. Gunters insane rant made him sound like Adam Schiff on a witch hunt, which makes sense, because Gunter is also a California Democrat.

The Trump campaign also fired back, saying Gunters accusations were evidence of why the former president could not back the businessman running for Senate.

Proof Point as to why @DrJeffGunter didnt earn the endorsement of @realDonaldTrump you have a habit of making up crap, Trumps Senior Advisor Chris LaCivitia said on X. President Trump makes his own decisions and this is another example of him choosing wisely.

The former president did not weigh into the states competitive Senate GOP primary until this past weekend, when he attended a fundraiser on Saturday and held a rally on Sunday.

During the rally, attended by both Gunter and Brown, Trump called Brown a good man but did not offer his full-fledged support of the Army veteran. Hours later, however, the presumptive GOP presidential nominee made a surprise last-minute endorsement on TruthSocial, calling Brown a FEARLESS AMERICAN PATRIOT, a Purple Heart Recipient, who has proven he has the PURE GRIT and COURAGE to take on our Enemies, both Foreign and Domestic.

The NRSC has already rallied around Brown during the primary contest.

Gunter told Politico that he spoke with Trump Saturday night, the day before the rally and that the former president said It really doesnt seem to me like youre losing.

The Nevada GOP primary is scheduled for Tuesday. The Silver State is one of the few battlegrounds that could determine who will win the White House and control the Senate.

The Hill has reached out to Browns campaign for comment.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
A worker frames a home in 2023 in The Woodlands. Houston-based Airia Development Co., has started construction on the first phase of a new 5,700-acre master-planned community in Montgomery County that will eventually expand into Waller and Grimes counties. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer

Houston-based Airia Development Co., has started construction on the first phase of a new 5,700-acre master-planned community in Montgomery County that will eventually expand into Waller and Grimes counties.

Dubbed Colton, the community will straddle both sides of a 4-mile stretch of Texas 249. According to the company, it is its largest development with a build-out value estimated at $9.9 billion.

Colton embodies quintessential Texas living with a distinct design inspired by the states historical, cultural and architectural influences, said Airia President Travis Stone. It will represent a reimagined master-planned community grounded by a unique and friendly Texas spirit.

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Travis said Colton denotes the communitys location as the midway destination between College Station and Houston.

Houston-based Airia Development Co., has started construction on the first phase of a new 5,700-acre master-planned community in Montgomery County that will eventually expand into Waller and Grimes counties. AIRIA Development Company

According to the company, over the next 20 years, the project will bring many single-family homes and expand development to the area.

The overall master plan includes approximately 500 acres of mixed-use parcels planned for multifamily, retail and medical which will bring various employment and business opportunities.

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Students living in the first phase of Colton will attend Magnolia ISD, and the community will be designed to include proposed future on-site schools.

Colton is Airia Developments third and largest community. Its other projects include Aliana in Richmond and Artavia in the Conroe area.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Four more U.S. states on Tuesday joined the Justice Department's lawsuit against Apple Inc alleging the iPhone maker is monopolizing smartphone markets, the department said in a statement.

The four states are Indiana, Massachusetts, Nevada and Washington, the Justice Department said. The original lawsuit was filed in March, and 15 states and the District of Columbia joined the lawsuit at the time.

The lawsuit alleges that Apple uses its market power to get more money from consumers, developers, content creators, artists, publishers, small businesses and merchants. The civil lawsuit accuses Apple of an illegal monopoly on smartphones, maintained by imposing contractual restrictions on, and withholding critical access from, developers.

The Justice Department has previously said Apple charges as much as $1,599 for an iPhone and makes a larger profit than any rival. Officials also said Apple imposes hidden charges on various business partners - from software developers to credit card companies and even rivals such as Alphabet's, Google, in ways that ultimately raise prices for consumers.

Apple has said it plans to ask a federal judge in New Jersey to throw the case out, arguing that it "faces fierce competition from well-established rivals."

A spokesperson for Apple did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

(Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington and Jody Godoy in New York; editing by Jonathan Oatis and Leslie Adler)
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP)  Royals outfielder Hunter Renfroe fractured his left big toe when he fouled off two pitches from New York Yankees left-hander Carlos Rodon in the third inning on Monday night.

"Hes got it in the cold tub trying to take away some of the pain," manager Matt Quatraro said after Kansas City's 4-2 loss.

Renfroe fouled off seven pitches in all before striking out in a 12-pitch at-bat. He fouled the fourth pitch, a curveball, off the toe and fell to one knee and grimaced. He walked around in foul territory by the backstop, then stepped back into the batter's box after about 45 seconds.

Two pitches later, Renfroe fouled another curveball off his foot and hopped away from the box. He felt the toe and got back in the box about 40 seconds later.

Quatraro said Renfroe told him he thought the first foul caused the break.

After striking out, Renfroe went to right field in the fourth inning but was removed at the start of the fifth.

He went down in the cage and tried to move around a little bit, Quatraro said. When he was out there and he came back in and then they got to take his shoe off and check it out, and he said he couldnt keep going."

Renfroe, 32, is hitting .200 with six homers and 26 RBIs but is batting .363 with two homers and eight RBIs in his last 10 games. A veteran of nine major league seasons, he agreed in December to a $13 million, two-year contract.

Renfroe is a .237 career hitter with 183 homers and 480 RBIs for San Diego (2016-19), Toronto (2020), Boston (2021), Milwaukee (2022), the Los Angeles Angels (2023), Cincinnati (2023) and Kansas City.

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB
As summer nears, schools across the country have ended for the year or will soon let out for a lengthy break. Most adults work through the summer, but thanks to outdated medical beliefs, a convergence of rural and city calendars, and educational reforms, kids today enjoy summer vacations.

Schools didn't always have such a long summer break, Ken Gold, dean of education at the College of Staten Island, City University of New York, said. In the early 19th century, schools in cities were typically open year round while schools in rural areas typically had two terms, one in the winter and another in the summer.

"By the end of the 19th century, it hasn't quite converged on what we have now, but the writing is on the wall," said

Gold, author of "School's In: Summer Education and American Public Schools."

How did school summer vacation start?

School was a year-round event in colonial times, said James Pedersen, school superintendent and author of "Summer versus School: The Possibilities of the Year-Round School." Even as late as 1841, some schools in Boston and Philadelphia were having class 240-250 days a year.

Most K-12 public schools now are in session for only 180 days a year, according to a Pew Research Center analysis.

While the length of the school year is relatively consistent across states today, there were wide variations in the early 19th century. At the time, schools in cities were typically open year round while schools in rural areas typically had two terms, one in the winter and another in the summer, Gold said. Schools in rural areas had far fewer days of class than schools in cities.

Many people incorrectly believe the agrarian myth of summer vacation that children took a break from school during the summer to help their parents in their fields and farms, Gold said. While older students in rural areas did take time off from school in the summer to help their parents out, the most intensive labor was during the spring planting and fall harvesting seasons.

The shift to incorporate a lengthy summer vacation into school calendars began in the late 1800s and early 1900s, Pederson said.

As summer heat hit cities, people with means were leaving cities to summer in the mountains or at beach resorts, Gold said.

"It's not like these families were sending their kids to the public schools in large numbers, but typically they were running them," Gold said. "And so you begin to have kind of a movement away from the summer because people aren't around  some of the folks who matter and are making the decisions about the schools."

Rural schools began to mimic the structure of the city school year  opening for longer periods of time while also eliminating the summer terms, Gold said.

Some of the changes came down to educational reformers, who viewed summer terms as weaker academically and also thought the school year in rural areas was too short. They also wanted teachers to spend time training and developed programs for them in the summer.

Lingering medical notions about overtaxation dating back to the late 18th and early 19th century also played a role, Gold said. Even though science moved away from this by the late 19th century, Gold said that it became ingrained in a lot of people's minds that "too much use of the mind would lead to physical and mental debility.

Why lengthy summer vacations are still around

Schools use summer break to make repairs to buildings. Some school buildings are also not outfitted with the air conditioning that would be needed to keep kids in class over the summer months. Around 36,000 schools nationwide need heating, ventilation and air conditioning updates, the Government Accountability Office found in a 2020 report, the most recent statistics available.

Joseph Allen, director of Harvard University's Healthy Buildings Program, last year explained to CBS News that many schools were built to retain heat.

"The climate's changing fast and our buildings are not. Our buildings are not keeping up," Allen said then.

Teachers also may not be prepared to give up summer breaks. Part of the profession's lure, for some, is the way the schedule is structured each year, said Jennifer Steele, an education policy expert at American University's School of Education.

"So I could imagine that moving toward a year-round model could exacerbate some recruitment and retention problems," she said.

Outside schools, there's also an economic barrier to ending or shortening the summer break.

"Entire industries are around summer breaks  think about teen employment, summer camps, vacations, back-to-school sales, everything is there," said Pederson. "It's really hard to undo that."

Pederson and Gold both attributed the ongoing use of a lengthy spring break to tradition.

"People's practices now of recreation and leisure in the summer are pretty powerful barriers, I think, to change," Gold said.

David Hornak, who's a school superintendent in addition to being the executive director of the National Association for Year-Round Education, said most parents and guardians went to school on a traditional academic calendar, and they want their children to have the same opportunities as they did in the summer.

"So much has changed over the last 130 years except for the school calendar most commonly used across the nation," Hornak said.

Will summer breaks ever get shorter?

Summer break is already shorter in some schools across the country following a balanced calendar. Hornak's district has largely followed the balanced calendar model, which used to be called the year-round model, for the last 30 years.

"The year-round education, or what we're now terming balanced calendar education, is built on the premise that the school year continues to be 180 school days, but that those 180 school days are used more efficiently across the calendar year," Hornak said.

Most balanced schools start in early August, then take some time off mid-fall, at Thanksgiving, around Christmas and New Year's, in the middle of the winter, in the middle of spring and around Memorial Day weekend. The summer break of a traditional school is shortened, with the days reallocated to give time off at other times.

Both of Michigan parent Kellie Flaminio's children go to school in Hornak's district. Flaminio, who also works for the state Department of Education, said she sought out a district with balanced calendar schools, even though she herself went to schools with more traditional academic calendars. Flaminio said that she and her husband both work full time, so the balanced calendar worked better for their schedules.

"Having to pay child care for the weeks that the kids aren't in school, it was a little easier to have it more spread out versus that large chunk at one time," she said.

The mom said it's also been great for her son, now a sophomore in high school, and her daughter, now a sixth grader, who have never commented about feeling like they're missing out by not getting a 12-week summer vacation.

"Honestly, I think they get kind of bored and are ready to go back to school by the time we go," she said.

Around 4,000 schools in the U.S. follow a balanced calendar model, representing about 10% of the total student population, Hornak said. His organization advocates for districts around the county to use their 180 days of school each year more efficiently.

According to Hornak, balanced calendars lead to increases in student achievement and a reduction in summer learning loss. They can also help with staff retention because it gives teachers more frequent breaks.

Those regular breaks also offer opportunities for schools to pre-teach or re-teach concepts to students who might need help. Enrichment can also be offered to advanced students during those intersessions.

Pederson said school year schedules don't need to be one size fits all; they can be individualized based on the student to match their ability level. He also noted that schools are supposed to prepare children for future professions, and that giving them 10-12 weeks off for the summer hinders that preparation.

"If we're trying to get them prepared for what the future holds, it really doesn't fit that, right? Because no other profession has off that amount of time," he said.

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Passengers of Singapore Airlines flight SQ321 from London to Singapore, which made an emergency landing in Bangkok, greet family members upon arrival at Changi Airport in Singapore on May 22, 2024. ROSLAN RAHMAN/AFP via Getty Images

Injured passengers of the turbulence-hit Singapore Airlines flight SQ321 have been offered compensation.

The airline announced on Facebook that it's offering more than $10,000 to passengers with minor injuries.

The flight from London to Singapore was diverted to Bangkok after it dropped 178 feet in 4.6 seconds.

Singapore Airlines has offered injured passengers upwards of $10,000 in compensation after their flight hit severe turbulence and plunged 178 feet in under five seconds.

In a Facebook post on Tuesday, the carrier said that those who had sustained minor injuries on Flight SQ321 from London's Heathrow Airport to Singapore's Changi Airport were entitled to compensation.

It added that passengers with more serious injuries requiring long-term medical care would receive larger offers.

"Passengers medically assessed as having sustained serious injuries, requiring long-term medical care, and requesting financial assistance are offered an advance payment of US$25,000 to address their immediate needs," the carrier wrote in the Facebook post.

The airline also offered a full airfare refund to all passengers on the flight, even those who were completely uninjured.

The Boeing 777-300ER aircraft was cruising at an altitude of 37,000 feet when it was thrust rapidly up and down for 62 seconds some 10 hours into the flight, per Singapore's Transport Safety Investigation Bureau.

The plane was then forced to divert to Bangkok.

The turbulence on board SQ321 was so bad that it also injured over 100 other people  making it one of the worst turbulence incidents in recent history.

One passenger, Geoffrey Kitchen, a 73-year-old British national with a pre-existing heart condition, died of a suspected heart attack.

On June 4, the airline wrote in a Facebook post that 20 passengers were still receiving medical care in the hospitals in Bangkok.

A Singapore Airlines spokesperson told BI that as of 1 p.m. Singapore time on June 11, 11 passengers from the flight were still in Thai hospitals.

Ade Tan and Amos Chan, a Singaporean couple on board the flight, described the chaos and horror on board when the plane plummeted.

"I must have been thrown off because when I next opened my eyes, I was actually on the aisle," Chan, 28, told BI's Kwan Wei Kevin Tan. "I had slammed into another passenger two rows behind us."

"There were a lot of oxygen masks dropped from above where people had crashed into the ceilings. Many were injured, people had blood on their heads, and some were lying in the aisle as well," Tan, also 28, added.

Read the original article on Business Insider
ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos says its very simple what should be the most pressing question posed to former President Trump and President Biden when they take the presidential debate stage this month: Who won the last election?

If you cant pass that fundamental threshold  then I think thats all voters and viewers need to know, he said during a CNN interview this week. If youre willing to lie about something as big as that, why should anything else you want to talk about be given any credence?

Trump and Biden are scheduled to debate in Atlanta on June 27 in an event hosted by CNN. Their second debate, hosted by ABC News, is scheduled for Sept. 10.

After losing to Biden in the 2020 presidential election, Trump has continued to dismiss the election outcome. His unfounded claims of wide-spread fraud in the election prompted his supporters to storm the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 to try to stop the certification of Bidens victory.

Stephanopoulos has frequently pressed Republicans  particularly Trump allies  in the past over their reluctance to accept the 2020 election results.

Ive made it a point, if they will not accept those facts, I dont go on to other issues, he said. Im not going to participate in some kind of sham where you somehow equate the legitimacy of an election or the peaceful transfer of power with a debate over tax cuts or environmental regulations.

Trump said in an interview last month that hell accept the 2024 election results if everythings honest  a condition hes set without elaborating several times. But Stephanopoulos said the debate stage will be a real test if Trump plans to stick with his position that the 2020 election was rigged in front of millions of viewers and his political foe Biden.

Its fundamental the very question of whether or not you accept the election results, the ABC host said. Its absolutely a fundamental issue people should be confronted with.

ABC announced that its anchors David Muir and Linsey Davis will moderate the September debate. Trump has separately also been in a legal clash with the network, filing a lawsuit against ABC and Stephanopoulos earlier this year over defamation claims.

A former Democratic operative and White House aide to then-President Clinton, Stephanopoulos recently penned the historical nonfiction The Situation Room: The Inside Story of Presidents in Crisis.

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Former President Trump will meet Thursday with a group of Senate Republicans in Washington, D.C., sources confirmed to The Hill.

The former president will be in the capital for a discussion hosted by the Business Roundtable. Following that meeting, he will sit down with GOP senators for what officials said will be a policy-focused talk ahead of Novembers election.

A spokesperson for Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), the No. 3 Senate Republican who spearheads the partys messaging, told The Hill that he invited Trump to meet with the Senate GOP conference to discuss the summer and their potential governing agenda for 2025.

I believe it will be helpful to hear directly from former President Trump about his plans for the summer and to also share our ideas for a strategic governing agenda in 2025, Barrasso told Senate GOP members, according to an email obtained by The Hill.

A senior Trump campaign official said the meeting will involve looking ahead at the policies that will save the nation such as Trumps commitment to no impact on seniors with any cuts to Social Security or Medicare, policies that actually secure our borders and make our communities safe again, and an America first foreign policy that reclaims peace through strength and world leadership, and economic policies of lower taxes that reignite the vibrant Trump economy we had just a few years ago.

Most Senate GOP conference meetings take place at the Capitol, but this one will happen off campus.

The former presidents meetings in Washington come on the heels of his conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records. Most Senate Republicans have stood behind him despite the convictions, and several conservative members  including Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio), a possible running mate  traveled to Manhattan to support Trump during the trial.

Trump, however, has a fraught relationship with Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.), who has said he will step down from his leadership post after Novembers elections. Though the two men havent spoken in years, McConnell endorsed Trumps White House bid in March.

The former president has stronger ties to Barrasso and other members of the Republican conference, including Vance and Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.), who is vying to replace McConnell.

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Former President Trump is set to address the House Republican conference on Thursday, multiple sources confirmed to The Hill, a meeting that will come exactly two weeks after Trumps conviction for falsifying business records in the New York hush money case.

House GOP Chair Elise Stefanik (N.Y.) advised members that there will be a special GOP Political Conference meeting on Thursday featuring Trump. It is expected to take place at 9:30 a.m., one source said. Another source said it would take place at the Capital Hill Club.

A Trump adviser confirmed plans for the meeting.

The Speaker and the House GOP Leadership look forward to hosting President Trump on Thursday morning to discuss growing the House Republican majority and the 2025 legislative agenda, a spokesperson for Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said.

Trump is also set to meet with a group of Senate Republicans on Thursday for a policy-focused conversation ahead of the November elections. The former president will be in Washington for a discussion hosted by the Business Roundtable.

Thursdays planned meeting between Trump and House Republicans marks the latest show of support GOP lawmakers have offered the former president after a 12-person jury found him guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records in the case centered on a $130,0000 hush money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels.

Last week, Johnson unveiled a three-pronged approach to go after the justice system in the wake of Trumps conviction, which includes using the appropriations process, legislation brought to the floor and Congresss oversight authority.

Republicans have slammed Trumps conviction, arguing that the case was politically motivated, criticizing the judge who oversaw the trial, and denouncing the prosecutions star witness, Michael Cohen, as untrustworthy. Scores of Republicans  including Johnson  traveled to Manhattan during the trial to stand by the former president amid the proceedings.

The American people are intelligent and they understand intuitively whats happening here and they see a two-tiered system and they see that President Trump is being targeted for who he is and because he is soon to be the official nominee of of the one of the two main parties in the country, Johnson said at a press conference last week.

Top Republicans are already looking to make headway on that blueprint. Earlier this month, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) sent a letter to House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole (R-Okla.) requesting that his panel include a series of reforms in the upcoming government funding process, including eliminating funding for the FBI that is not essential for the agency to execute its mission and nixing federal funding for state prosecutors or state attorneys general involved in lawfare.

Brett Samuels contributed.

Updated at 12:18 p.m.

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A Virginia sheriff's deputy died of a medical emergency after stopping a bleeding man on a moped who became combative and said, "People were after him and trying to kill him."

Sgt. Floyd H. Miles, Jr. was monitoring traffic on Sunday when around 12:30 p.m. an individual on a moped approached his vehicle, the Charles City County Sheriffs Office said in a Facebook post. As the individual proceeded toward Miles, the moped fell onto the deputy's vehicle.

Miles noticed blood on the moped rider and asked if he was OK, according to the Facebook post. The man then repeatedly told the deputy that "people were after him and trying to kill him," the social media post continued.

Miles placed the man in the rear of his vehicle and called EMS so they could observe him further, the sheriff's office said. Once EMS arrived, they put the man in the rear of their ambulance.

After several minutes, Miles returned to the rear of the ambulance and noticed the man becoming combative toward him, according to the sheriff's office. The man struck Miles, causing a struggle to ensue between the two, the department said.

During the struggle, Miles suffered a "medical emergency," which led to him being rushed to a medical center, the sheriff's office said. He succumbed to his medical emergency, according to the Facebook post.

Sgt. Floyd H. Miles, Jr. with the Charles City County Sheriff's Office died of a medical emergency on Sunday, June 9.

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Deputy who died in the line of duty 'had a true genuine passion'

Charles City County Sheriff's Office's memorial to Sgt. Floyd H. Miles, Jr. who died of a medical emergency on Sunday, June 9.

Born and raised in Charles City County, "a county in which he truly loved," Miles worked for the Charles City County Sheriff's Office for 16 years, the social media post said. He joined the sheriff's office after enlisting in the U.S. Army.

Miles was also the supervisor of the sheriff's office's Patrol and Animal Control division, according to the department.

"He had a true genuine passion not only for the residents of Charles City County, but all residents of the Commonwealth of Virginia," the sheriff's office said about Miles. "He constantly excelled in his field most recently graduating from Animal Control School."

Miles is survived by his mother and father, wife, three stepsons, brothers, sister and grandson.

Deputy's death, altercation under investigation

The moped rider was taken to a hospital for further examination, the Facebook post said. Virginia State Police is handling the investigation.

Its unclear if the moped rider will be charged or is being investigated for Miles death.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Virginia deputy dies from 'medial emergency' after struggle with rider
The King County, Washington, Prosecuting Attorney's Office has charged a man with second-degree murder and assault, both felony counts, for allegedly shooting a teen he thought was holding a gun and who he believed was about to rob a sporting goods store.

Aaron Brown Myers, 51, told police he believed the 17-year-old victim had a gun and was going to rob a Big 5 Sporting Goods store in the Seattle suburb of Renton last Wednesday as the teen headed toward the retailer with two others, according to court documents filed by the prosecutor, Leesa Manion.

The boy was holding an airsoft gun, according to a police affidavit. An airsoft gun is a replica firearm that shoots low-power, nonmetallic pellets.

The two teens who were with the victim told police they were going to the sporting goods store to either return or exchange the airsoft gun because it was malfunctioning, the affidavit said.

Myers was charged on Monday with the two felony charges and is scheduled to be arraigned on June 24, according to the King County Prosecutor's Office. Myers is currently being held on a $2 million bond, according to the office.

PHOTO: Renton, Washington police officers investigate the scene where Aaron Brown Myers allegedly shot and killed teen because he mistook his BB gun for a real firearm. (KOMO)

"The investigation revealed that the victim and two other 17-year-olds were walking toward a store to return a handgun-style BB gun when the armed suspect got out of his vehicle and confronted the trio," according to the filing obtained by ABC News. "There was an altercation that turned physical, and the suspect allegedly shot the victim multiple times."

Myers told police he works as an armed security guard elsewhere, and he had just gotten off work and was waiting in his car in a parking lot as his son attended martial arts classes nearby, according to the police affidavit.

"Myers indicated that he conducted 'overwatch' at the location as he has seen numerous crimes occur in the parking lot in the past," the affidavit read.

Reports do not show that Myers was authorized to guard the area.

MORE: Ahmaud Arbery murder case may evoke Georgia's history on race: Experts

Myers saw three teens approach the Big 5 Sporting Goods store with what he thought were handguns and believed they were going to rob the store, according to the affidavit. He further stated that he felt he did not have time to call 911 and that he "had a duty to act to stop the individuals from hurting someone innocent, and to protect his son," per the court filing.

Myers, who was armed with a registered semiautomatic pistol, told police he approached the teens with his gun out and told them to put their hands in the air, but no one complied, the police affidavit said. He then fired multiple rounds at the victim because he thought the teen was reaching into the waistband of his pants for what Myers believed was a gun and that the teen "was going to kill him," according to the filing.

The 17-year-old, whose name was redacted from court records because hes a minor, was pronounced dead at the scene by first responders, the filing said. Myers was immediately detained and taken into custody.

Mr. Myers and his family are devastated by this tragedy and the fact that it resulted in the loss of a young mans life. On the evening in question Mr. Myers sincerely believed that he was witnessing the beginning of an armed robbery, Myers attorney said in a statement to ABC News. Unfortunately, during the confrontation Mr. Myers became in fear for his own life and fired his duty weapon to defend himself.

The two surviving teens said they previously used the airsoft guns to shoot in the woods and wanted help from the store with their replica firearms, which were malfunctioning, according to the affidavit.

MORE: ABC News analysis of police arrests nationwide reveals stark racial disparity

Investigators stated in their report that surveillance footage of the incident appeared to contradict some of Myers' statements.

The surveillance footage also shows Myers quickly approaching the teens in the parking lot, the filing said. After he forces one teen to the ground and straddles him, he points his gun at another, per the affidavit.

The teen with the gun pointed at him had his hands up but lowered one of his hands toward his waist, at which point Myers is seen firing his weapon multiple times, according to the filing.

"Based off these facts I believe there is Probable Cause to charge Aaron B Myers  with the crime of Murder in the second degree," according to the police officer involved, the court filing said. "Myers actions of discharging his firearm, without premeditation, caused the death of another person."

In response to an ABC News request for comment, the deceased boy's father said he was too distraught to speak about the incident.

Renton, Washington, police told ABC News that surveillance footage of the incident will not be publicly available until their investigation is complete.

Washington man allegedly kills teen because he mistook an airsoft gun for a real firearm originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
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Fun fact: Together, all three of these dresses add up to less than $100. Major score. (Walmart) (Walmart)

There's something about stepping outside on a sunny day while wearing a summer dress that just feels, well, right  especially if that dress is new. We have a little shopping tip for you if you're looking to chase that high and update your wardrobe with a few trendy pieces this season. You don't need to blow hundreds of dollars on a viral dress from that It-Girl brand to get a designer look  and Walmart is honestly the best retailer to get some luxe pieces for less.

Love the popular crochet trend? Do it for less than $40 with this flowy, flattering maxi dress. Looking for something new to bring on your upcoming beach vacation? This top-selling dress from Sofia Vergara's Walmart collection is hundreds of dollars less than its designer counterparts. We even found a throw-and-go tank frock that looks so similar to a luxury style that's nearly 100x the price.

So, if you're ready for dozens of "Where did you get that?!?!" questions from friends, family and random people on the street, look no further than these 10 summer dresses at Walmart that could totally pass for designer looks but at a fraction of the cost. Shhh, we won't tell if you won't. Shop them below!

Walmart Free Assembly Belted Utility Dress with Short Sleeves Have you ever seen a happier summer frock? This green and white floral pattern reminds us a lot of this $190 Boden dress that's over 5x the price. The added belt of this v-neck style makes it oh-so-flattering, while the cap sleeves can take you from the office to post-work dinner. $34 at Walmart

Walmart Jessica Simpson Iris Crochet Cami Dress Boho crochet dresses like this Free People number ($118) are having a major moment this summer, and this piece is the best of both worlds. Unlike other crochet dresses, this style is lined and only features the fabric at the top, so you won't feel too exposed. At just $36, you can grab one in white and one in pink. $36 at Walmart

Walmart Cupshe V-Neck Print Maxi Dress Another major designer trend we're seeing all over this summer? V-necks. While scoop and crewnecks are classic, there's nothing more flattering and low-key sexy than a V-neck  like with this flowy bohemian maxi dress. Depending on what shoes you pair it with, it's both elegant and casual. $45 at Walmart

Free Assembly Free Assembly Cotton Tiered Midi Dress with Pockets If we didn't know any better, we'd say this preppy, floral dress jumped right out of a J.Crew catalog. It's ideal for those super hot summer days thanks to the breathable 100% cotton fabric. Plus, the tiered flare skirt will make you feel like garden royalty. $22 at Walmart

Walmart Terra and Sky Cotton Knit Tank Dress Found: A simple black tank dress for $13 that's right at home in the celeb-favorite quiet luxury trend. Crafted from super-soft jersey fabric, you'll be reaching for this dress every day. Throw this on and pretend you're hiding from the paparazzi on a Starbucks run  no one has to know that it's not this $1,290 dress from The Row. $13 at Walmart

Walmart Sofia Jeans Maxi Dress with Ruffle Neck This tropical number from Sofia Vergara's Walmart line looks like an expensive Farm Rio dress and deserves a spot in your vacation wardrobe. The actress knew what she was doing by pairing the flowy skirt and ruffles with a bold summer pattern. Lean into the trendy off-the-shoulder style for a romantic dinner on the beach or pull it up over your shoulders if you want more daytime coverage. (There are pockets, too!) $26 at Walmart

Walmart Free Assembly Cotton Eyelet Midi Dress Dainty eyelet fabric is everywhere you look (get it?) right now  no matter if you're on the city streets or at a resort. This under $40 dress embodies the feminine trend perfectly thanks to the universally flattering fit-and-flare silhouette. It's also super breezy, which is ideal for sunny days. Honestly, you can wear it everywhere (except maybe a wedding!). $36 at Walmart

Walmart Dymade Polka Dot Short Sleeve Ruffle Swing Dress Believe it or not, this isn't that Reformation dress you've seen all over social media that retails for nearly $300. This option  only $6!  comes in a handful of colors and features the sweetest tiered skirt and puff sleeves. We highly suggest throwing it on if you want to feel like you're summering on the Amalfi Coast. $6 at Walmart

Walmart Scoop Ruched Halter Dress Ever since Sofia Richie Grainge wore a Chanel halter dress at her 2023 wedding, you can't escape the flattering style  and we're not complaining about it. Perfect for your next event, this Reformation-inspired dress features soft ruching at the front to streamline everything and a ruffle hem for a fun, flirty vibe. Oh, and did we mention it's $300 less than its designer lookalike? $34 at Walmart

Walmart Time and Tru Tie Sleeve Linen Blend Midi Dress With buttons that run from top to bottom and a removable tie at the waist, this linen style is the perfect way to lean into the utility dress trend. (It's also super lightweight for those humid summer days.) Even though the look is hot right now, it's effortlessly timeless so you can pull it out year after year. And those tie sleeves? So cute. $23 at Walmart

Want to save even more? Make sure youre signed up for Walmart+. Its easy to sign up for your free 30-day trial here. Youll get free shipping and grocery delivery, savings on gas and prescriptions, exclusive access to major deals like the upcoming Walmart+ Week, and more. (And by the way, those without Walmart+ still get free shipping on orders of $35 or more.)
China's top court publishes typical cases of maritime trial

Xinhua) 09:38, June 11, 2024

BEIJING, June 10 (Xinhua) -- The Supreme People's Court (SPC), China's top court, has recently released typical cases of maritime trials in China to underscore the importance of maritime jurisdiction in the country in settling international disputes, maintaining the shipping order and promoting the marine economy.

The cases handled by Chinese courts in 2023 involved disputes related to the purchase and sale of ships, liability for damage to ships, etc., according to the SPC.

Chinese courts emphasize resolving disputes substantively, aiming to establish themselves as preferred venues for maritime dispute resolution, with an increasing number of foreign parties resorting to Chinese courts, the SPC said.

In 2023, Chinese courts, including the SPC, higher people's courts and maritime courts across the country, settled 26,425 maritime trial cases, according to data available on the China Maritime Trial website.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Shakari Briggs is a reporter for the Houston Chronicle. She can be reached at shakari.briggs@houstonchronicle.com.

Before joining the Chronicle in November 2023, she worked for Spectrum News as a digital journalist based in her hometown. Shakari comes to the Houston newsroom with experience in broadcast reporting and producing as a former multimedia journalist and associate producer. The Dallas native has also worked at small to medium-sized newspapers throughout her career.

Her reporting on the rise and fall of a shopping mall won an Arkansas Associated Press Managing Editors Contest award. She also earned an Arkansas Press Association award for freelance reporting.




Woman accepting a delivery of groceries.

Image source: Getty Images

Most stores don't require you to pay an annual membership fee to shop there -- but Costco is a bit different. To access Costco's members-only deals, you'll pay either $60 per year for a Gold Star membership or $120 per year for an Executive membership (with this one, you'll earn 2% back on most Costco purchases). To make a Costco membership worthwhile, you need to save at least as much money as you spend on the membership.

The most obvious way to benefit is to visit a warehouse location and purchase items there, such as bulk groceries with a lower unit price than you'd see at a grocery store. But what if you live far away from a Costco warehouse, or just plain hate big crowds when you shop? (Guilty on both counts.) Here are two good ways to make a Costco membership work for you -- even if you avoid visiting in person.

Costco Travel

Did you know that Costco basically has a built-in travel agency for members? Ever since I learned about it, I've been thinking about joining Costco so I can book a vacation this way. Costco Travel doesn't do flight bookings without other travel, but you can book vacation packages, hotel stays, cruises, and rental cars there (and if your trip requires flights, you'll do that through Costco alongside the rest of your trip).

I decided to explore cruise bookings, and picked out a cruise that interested me to see if Costco Travel was cheaper than a direct booking. In this instance, it was. I found a price of $539 per person for an inside cabin on a seven-night New England and Eastern Canada cruise sailing in October 2024. The price with the cruise line was $649 per person. That savings alone more than covers a basic membership -- and if you take a friend, you'll cover the Executive membership cost, too.

And when you book travel with Costco, you often get a Costco Shop Card as a thank you (it's basically a Costco gift card), and this cruise was no exception. So Costco Travel can be a viable way to earn back your membership fee without shopping in person.

Costco.com

Another good way to capitalize on your Costco membership while avoiding the crowds is to shop online. Plus, you'll actually find a bigger selection of items on the website than you will in stores. It's important to note that Costco.com's prices are often higher than what you'll see in stores, though -- but the convenience factor can't be beat, especially if you live far from a Costco location. It's also easier to comparison shop via the internet. And unlike visiting a warehouse, you're allowed to use Mastercard credit cards at Costco.com, rather than being limited to only Visa for credit card purchases in store.

While you can buy furniture, appliances, and beyond at Costco.com, let's hone in on electronics specifically. I found that I could score a 13" iPad Pro with 512 GB of memory for $50 less at Costco.com than buying it directly from Apple, for example. While $50 off isn't enough to completely cover the cost of a $60 membership (let alone a $120 one), Costco is constantly running deals on all kinds of big-ticket items, and if you make some strategic online purchases over the course of a year (or even all at once), you could easily make your membership fee back and then some.

And when you buy a big-ticket item from Costco, you get some pretty sweet perks besides the money savings. Costco has a stellar return policy -- with a few exceptions (like alcohol and tobacco purchases), it'll take nearly anything back, even if you've just decided you don't like the item, and there's nothing actually wrong with it. Worth mentioning however, electronics (like that iPad) are only eligible for a 90-day return window. But that's still more time than you might get from some vendors, like Amazon. Plus, Costco extends the manufacturer's warranty to give you two years of protection on TVs, computers, and more.

Is it worth joining Costco and then never visiting in person?

Honestly, yes. You might not get to take advantage of that famous $1.50 hot dog combo deal at the food court, but Costco has a lot to offer even if you never set foot inside a warehouse. And if you see yourself making big-ticket purchases and/or booking travel through Costco, it might even be worth springing for the $120 Executive membership -- getting 2% back on electronics, new furniture, or a sweet vacation can be beneficial for your budget.

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We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fools board of directors. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amazon, Apple, Costco Wholesale, Mastercard, and Visa. The Motley Fool recommends the following options: long January 2025 $370 calls on Mastercard and short January 2025 $380 calls on Mastercard. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.


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YEREVAN, JUNE 11, ARMENPRESS. Four US college instructors teaching inChinahave been stabbed while visiting a busy public park, CNN reports. They are in hospital.

The educators from Cornell College, a private liberal arts collegein Mount Vernon, Iowa, were participating in a partnership program with Beihua University in the city of Jilin, in northeastern China.

Footage purportedly showing the aftermath of the daylight attack, which emerged on Chinese social media on Monday but was swiftly censored, showed two men and a woman lying on the ground covered in large blood stains, surrounded by onlookers, CNN adds. They appeared conscious and were talking on their cell phones, the video showed.

CNN geolocated the video of the attack to Beishan Park, a popular green spacein Jilin city center, less than half an hours drive from Beihua University. Monday was a public holiday in China.

Chinas Foreign Ministry confirmed Tuesday that four foreign teachers at Beihua University were attacked while visiting Beishan Park in Jilin on Monday morning, adding they were immediately taken to hospital and did not suffer life-threatening injuries.

According to the ministry spokesperson, the police initially determined that the case was an isolated incident, it is currently under further investigation.

Details of the attack, including the motive and the identity of the assailant or assailants, remained unclear on Tuesday.

Iowa state representative Adam Zabner told CNN his brother, David Zabner, was one of the victims of the stabbing.
Police believe a woman found hanging off a dock in League City may have been placed there after she was already dead and are seeking more information.

Giselle Salazar-Tapia, 30, was found under a marina dock in the 700 block of Davis Road. League City Police Department spokesperson Jose Ortega said that authorities believe that the woman was placed in the water after she died because her arm was above her head as rigor mortis had set in. She likely died while lying down and was moved into the water later, Ortega said. Police have identified two persons of interest as of June 11, though they are not yet sharing their identities, Ortega said.

The date of the woman's death is unclear and autopsy results are pending.

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It can take between four and six weeks to get autopsy results, which involves a toxicology report, a spokesperson for the Medical Examiner's Office said. The toxicology report was requested June 3.

Salazar-Tapia was the mother of four children and she had been living on her boyfriend's boat docked in the Marina since March, KTRK-TV reported. Her body was found roughly between 20 and 30 yards away from the boat, Ortega said.

Officers also spoke with her boyfriend, who "became very distraught and would not come out of his boat," police said in the news release. Authorities were later able to talk with the man.

Family members launched a GoFundMe to raise funds for funeral arrangements and her children. The page has collected more than $2,000 since June 3.

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"Giselle was the most charismatic person you could ever meet, sharing a smile and making a friend of everyone she came across. Giselle always looked for the best in people, even when they didn't deserve her kindness," the GoFundMe read.

Her sister, Esperanza Alegria, told the TV station that she did not believe that Salazar-Tapia would kill herself.

"I just want everyone to know my sister didn't do this to herself. She didn't commit suicide. We just want justice for her. We want whoever is responsible, who did this to my sister, we want them to get charged for what they did to her," Alegria said to KTRK-TV.

Anyone with information should call the League City Police Department at 281-332-2566 or Galveston County Crime Stoppers.
YEREVAN, JUNE 11, ARMENPRESS.The Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan, received U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs James O'Brien.

According to the PMs office, Pashinyan emphasized the importance of holding the concluding session of the Armenia-US strategic dialogue in Yerevan and expressed his belief that it would give new impetus to the further development and strengthening of multi-sectoral cooperation.

The Prime Minister emphasized the importance of consistent U.S. support for the democratic reforms being implemented in Armenia. Nikol Pashinyan highlighted the significance of effectively implementing the agreements reached during the high-level Armenia-EU-U.S. meeting held in Brussels on May 5.

James O'Brien expressed satisfaction with the effectiveness of the session, adding that the U.S. administration will continue to support the Armenian government in promoting reforms in various areas. The parties also discussed the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace treaty, the border delimitation process based on the Alma-Ata Declaration, and the Armenian government's "Crossroads of Peace" project and its principles.

Prime Minister Pashinyan stated that the government has approved a housing provision program for people forcibly displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh and emphasized the need for support from international partners in its implementation.
YEREVAN, 11 JUNE, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs that today, 11 June, USD exchange rate up by 0.04 drams to 387.58 drams. EUR exchange rate up by 0.12 drams to 416.22 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate down by 0.02 drams to 4.35 drams. GBP exchange rate up by 1.84 drams to 493.82 drams.

The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.

Gold price down by 76.78 drams to 28715.09 drams. Silver price down by 7.25 drams to 369.84 drams.
YEREVAN, 11 JUNE, ARMENPRESS. The First Deputy Minister of Defense of the Republic of Armenia- Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Edward Asryan, within the framework of the Conference of Commanders of European Armies held in Germany, met with the Chief of the French Army Staff, General Pierre Schill, the Armenian Defense Ministry said.

Issues related to the further development of cooperation, particularly in the field of exchange of experience and training of personnel, were discussed.

Agreements were reached on the further development of cooperation.
Mumbai: The Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT) are once again at loggerheads over the election for four legislative council members in Maharashtra. The state Congress leaders are miffed over Uddhav Thackeray announcing candidates for all four seats without discussing it with alliance partners. State Congress president Nana Patole said that Uddhav Thackeray did not even attend his phone calls.

Elections for one seat each in the Graduates Constituency of Mumbai and Konkan and one each in the Teachers Constituency in Nashik and Mumbai will be held on June 26. The biennial elections became necessary as the terms of sitting members are expiring in July.

Uddhav Thackeray announced the candidates for the Konkan Graduates and Nashik Teachers constituencies without holding any discussions with us. We expected that the candidates and seats will be finalised only after holding deliberations with (Maha Vikas Aghadi) constituents," Patole said while speaking to reporters, Patole said.

The Congress leader further claimed that he tried to speak to the Shiv Sena (UBT) chief over ;phone, but a telephone operator at the latter's residence kept giving different excuses every time. He said that if the Maha Vikas Aghadi contests the elections as an alliance, it will get the success as it did in Lok Sabha polls. We are trying to make sure that we face the legislative council elections also as an alliance. If we sit across the table for discussions, everything can be sorted, he said.

Patole further alleged that one of the candidates announced by Thackeray was actually a Congress candidate. He said he spoke to Thackeray, when the Shiv Sena UBT chief was in London. I told him (Thackeray ) that Congress should get two of the legislative council seats. He asked me who are our candidates. I gave him names, but he announced candidates without holding any discussions with alliance partners, the Congress leader said.

The Maharashtra Congress president said that his party had finalised the candidature of Sandeep Gulve for the Nashik Teachers constituency and informed Thackeray, but the latter inducted Gulve into Shiv Sena (UBT) without any discussions and fielded him as their candidate.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Ambadas Danve said that there is a system of communication in his party. When we want to talk to Patole, we will ourselves call him, he said.

This is the second major friction between the two parties. During the Lok Sabha election, Thackeray had announced Chandrahas Patil as his partys candidate for the Sangli Lok Sabha seat. The Congress was upset over Thackerays decision, which was announced even before the alliances seat sharing was finalised. Congress leader Vishal Patil contested the Sangli seat as an independent and won by a thumping margin against BJPs sitting MP Sanjaykaka Patil. The Shiv Sena UBT candidate lost his deposit in the election.
New Delhi: External affairs minister S. Jaishankar on Tuesday in a reprimand to Pakistan, in the wake of the Reasi terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, said that the pursuit of cross-border terrorism cannot be the policy of a good neighbour.

He was speaking to reporters following his re-appointment as EAM which he termed a great honour and privilege. While referring to former Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif reaching out to India via social media platform X on Monday evening, the EAM said the remarks had already been welcomed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. But, Jaishankar also made it clear that Pakistani policy of cross-border terrorism is the main issue for India. Cross-border terrorism (by Pakistan)how do we find a solution to it? That cannot be the policy of a good neighbour, the EAM said.

The EAM also said that the governments focus is on handling unresolved issues with China at the border, a reference to the Chinese military mobilisation at the LAC four years ago.

Asserting that the Prime Ministers Bharat first and Vasudhaiva Kutumbukam (the world is one family) would be the two guiding axioms for the MEA, Jaishankar said, The world feels that there is a lot of political stability in India which is a big thing for a government to be elected thrice consecutively in any democracy. He also said that the country is positioned as Vishwabandhu (friend of the world) in a turbulent and divided world.

Meanwhile, asked about reports that the Maldives is reviewing key pacts inked with India by the previous government of the tiny archipelago nation on the grounds that it may have violated the sovereignty of the Maldives, Jaishankar preferred to strike an optimistic note by saying that he had called on Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu in New Delhi (earlier on Monday) and that he (Jaishankar) would be guided by the conversations he had with President Muizzu.

On the MEAs performance during the second term of the Modi government from 2019 to 2024, Jaishankar said his ministry had performed exceptionally well, even as he referred to Indias successful year-long G20 Presidency that ended last year. He also referred to the successful evacuations undertaken by India of its nationals including thousands of students from war-torn regions such as Ukraine in the past five years.

...
SRINAGAR: The J&K police arrested two persons amid public outrage over a group of tourists openly consuming liquor in Srinagar's Dal Lake area. While alcohol has no social sanction in J&K, laws prohibit consuming liquor in public places.

Last week, after a video showing tourists consuming liquor while riding a shikara in the Dal lake had surfaced, various religious and social organisation had urged the government to take stern action against the individuals for hurting the sentiments of Kashmiris. They appealed to the tourists to keep in view local sensibilities while entertaining themselves in the predominantly Muslim Valley.

On Tuesday, the Srinagar police in a post on X, said that it has taken cognisance after the video of unidentified individuals indulging in offensive behaviour in a Shikara in Dal Lake in an inebriated state went viral across social media platforms (sic). It said that an FIR under Section 295A had been registered at Srinagars Ram Munshi Bagh police station and two accused persons had been arrested while more suspects were being questioned.

Section 295A of the Indian Penal Code pertains to Deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs and the offence is punishable with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both.

Following the incident, prominent Shia cleric Aga Syed Mohammad Hadi had while addressing a religious gathering said, Consuming liquor publicly in Kashmir which is a Muslim majority region is not acceptable. Will it be tolerated by our Hindu brethren if we slaughter a cow in Ayodhya?

Muttahida Majlis-e-Ulama (MMU), an amalgam of the heads of Muslim religious organisations and institutions headed by Kashmirs chief Muslim cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, had voiced its serious concern over the incident. MMU strongly condemns this act and the fact that it has been allowed to take place in Kashmirwhile public consumption of alcohol is strictly prohibited under the law, why and how it has been allowed is a matter of worry, it had said in a statement.

It also said, The people of Kashmir are hospitable and respect tourists visiting the Valley as guests. However, such un-Islamic and unethical practices will not be tolerated in the Muslim majority Valley which is the land of saints and Sufis. Consumption of alcohol is strictly prohibited in Islam for its disastrous ill effects and deprivation of society cannot be allowed to go unchecked.

The MMU had appealed to hoteliers, houseboat owners and Shikara operators to keep an eye on such wrong doings and totally stay away from indulging in this of un-Islamic and immoral practice for profit. It also appealed to the tourists to respect the moral and religious ethos of Kashmir. End it
The political dynamics have shifted with the entry of coalition dharma, and as Prime Minister Narendra Modi starts his third term as head of the NDA government, there is hope as well as trepidation among babus about the potential changes within the ministries and departments. Who is in and who is out? All eyes are on the Prime Ministers Office (PMO), which has been an invincible force during Mr Modis two previous tenures.

Now that the Cabinet has been formed and portfolios allocated, with major ministries retained by old trusted hands, it is clear that the big message of the exercise is continuity. This theme will likely be reflected in the composition of the PMO as well. Observers believe that trusted officers from the Gujarat cadre may largely remain intact. These officers, who have served under Mr Modi during his tenure as chief minister in Gujarat, are expected to continue due to the deep trust and familiarity they share with the Prime Minister.

But the recent electoral setback in Uttar Pradesh could prompt a reassessment, some feel. Arvind Sharma, a Gujarat cadre IAS officer who has been Mr Modis key liaison with Yogi Adityanath in Lucknow, might be called back to the PMO during this period of re-evaluation.

Names of trusted aides like P.K. Mishra in the PMO, Cabinet secretary Rajiv Gauba and Comptroller and Auditor General G.C. Murmu are reported to be under scrutiny. Their long tenures in their high offices may soon come to an end as part of a broader strategy to infuse fresh perspectives into the government. The coalition angle has further complicated the scenario, with even the Speakers post now in contention. Any movement will significantly impact the functioning of various key institutions over the new NDA governments tenure.

Still, despite the current uncertainty, most observers expect that the core team handling communications, secretarial work and policy matters will likely remain stable. The expertise of these officers and continuity are crucial factors.

Babus on edge after TDP victory in Andhra Pradesh

As N. Chandrababu Naidu, the TDP national president, is set to become the next chief minister of Andhra Pradesh after an overwhelming win for the TDP-led alliance (including JSP and BJP), several IAS and IPS officers who havent exactly been TDP-friendly are feeling the heat.

Mr Naidu, often hailed for his visionary leadership and technological prowess, is known for his administrative acumen and forward-thinking approach. His return to power is being seen by many as a herald of renewed progress and efficiency. Already, changes are underway.

The first major change is the appointment of special chief secretary Neerabh Kumar Prasad as the new chief secretary, replacing K.S. Jawahar Reddy who was asked to take a leave of absence. And hes not alone  several IPS officers who handled key cases against top TDP leaders are also reportedly on edge. This includes names like P.S.R. Anjaneyulu, P.V. Sunil Kumar, N. Sanjay, Kanthi Rana Tata, Kolli Raghuram Reddy, Y. Ravi Sankar Reddy, and Y. Rishant Reddy, along with another senior IAS officer, S.S. Rawat.

Sources informed DKB that initially, Mr Naidu wasnt too keen on meeting IPS officers like Raghuram Reddy and Anjaneyulu without appointments. It is also almost certain that the new administration is planning to transfer all district collectors, superintendents of police, commissioners of police, and other senior officials. With this looming, officials are reportedly lobbying for favourable postings through Mr Naidu's close contacts.

Meanwhile, senior IAS officers are also eyeing positions in the chief ministers office as secretaries. Principal secretaries, and special chief secretaries. The shake-up is proceeding well.

High voltage drama: Babu ex-couple in power struggle

Theres some high drama unfolding in Thaiyur, Tamil Nadu. Justice Anitha Sumanth has put a hold on the decision regarding former director general of police (DGP) Rajesh Das plea to restore power to a bungalow. This isn't just any bungalow  both Mr Das and his estranged wife, Tamil Nadu energy secretary Beela Venkatesan, are laying claim to it!

Earlier this week, the lawyer representing Venkatesan argued that Mr Das has no right to demand the power be turned back on. After all, it was disconnected at Venkatesans request. He also mentioned that Mr Das had been MIA for two months before suddenly resurfacing and trying to take over the property. To add to the interest, theres even a criminal case against Mr Das for trespassing and allegedly assaulting the security guard.

On the flip side, the lawyer representing the ex-DGP argued that despite the land being in Venkatesans name, Mr Das has been footing the bill for the housing loan and living there all along. When the judge suggested mediation, Venkatesans counsel promptly declined.

So, we've got a missing ex-DGP reappearing, an energy secretary cutting the power, and a bungalow at the centre of it all. Who needs soap operas when real life gives us plots like these?
Narendra Modi has begun his third term as Indias Prime Minister, only the second person to achieve that feat, after Jawaharlal Nehru, the nations first Prime Minister. But the faithful of the Sangh Parivar are still stunned that Mr Modi failed to secure a clear majority for the BJP and is now forced to depend on his partners in the National Democratic Alliance.

The swearing-in on Sunday evening of 72 ministers, including the PM, on the forecourt of the Rashtrapati Bhavan had been neatly planned and executed like the earlier two occasions. The need and eagerness to show that nothing has changed despite the arrival of the NDA government has itself shown that much has changed.

The body language of the leader projected to have a 56-inch chest now looked subdued. He does not want to show it, but all except the gullible know it and feel it.

The induction of affable leaders like Shivraj Singh Chauhan and the continuance of Rajnath Singh and Nitin Gadkari signals that Mr Modi can manage the continuity with change if he depended more on such leaders.

J.P. Nadda being brought into the government means that the BJP will have a new president and perhaps a slightly assertive one. No one would miss the likes of Smriti Irani and Anurag Thakur. People have already forgotten Ravi Shankar Prasad.

One good thing is that, besides Mr Chouhan, there are six other former CMs. They include Manohar Lal Khattar of Haryana, H.D. Kumaraswamy of Karnataka, Sarbananda Sonowal of Assam, Jitan Ram Manjhi of Bihar, who at 78 is the eldest among the members. The PM is also a former CM.

The I&B minister and the parliamentary affairs ministers need to be amiable faces if the NDA government wants to start anew with the media and the Opposition, breaking from the tumultuous past. The INDIA alliance is now in good numbers and business as usual will not do.

Mr Modis over-centralisation of power in the PMO has turned counter-productive and could be a bane in what the Opposition describes as a Naidu/Nitish Dependent Alliance.

Much water has flown down the Ganga and Yamuna in the past decade. The success of Modi 3.0 depends on how the traits and characteristics, whims and fancies, prejudices and the propaganda of the two earlier Modi governments are buried for a common cause. Running a coalition is a fragile business. You have to handle it with care and be always cautious. Its better said than done.

The strangest thing that would be seen in the Three N government headed by Narendra, Naidu and Nitish is that there will be three Mann ki Baat -- which could be quite confusing. Dont take it literally, but the plans and priorities of the trio could clash at some point in time. All coalitions come with an expiry date.

Interestingly, Mr Chandrababu Naidu had played the kingmaker during the third term of Atal Behari Vajpayee, and now he is at hand to enable Mr Modi to do the honours.

History has turned full circle after 25 years, and the country is back in the coalition era after 10 long years.

What is ticklish is that the BJP cant give up on its Hindutva agenda, while Nitish and Naidu are unapologetic about their stand for a better deal for the minorities and communal harmony. Turning a middle roader would save the coalition from accidents, both man-made and natural, but no one likes to give up its USP. Since it is an NDA government, there is a need for a convenor. George Fernandes and Sharad Yadav had held this position during the Vajpayee era.

These are early days for the NDA government and it needs a New Deal to make a mark.

Mr Modi and Amit Shah so far exuded the arrogance of my way or the highway and also an irritating allergy towards the Opposition, which does not go well with parliamentary democracy.

Former Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot has declared that the desert state has the first claim to be granted special status because of its peculiar problems. It has come in the backdrop of reports that Mr Modi could seek to placate Nitish Kumar and Chandrababu Naidu by such a status for Bihar and a special package for Andhra to build a new capital. The moral of the story is that any hasty step will create a row.

Mamata Banerjee has cautioned the PM against any attempts to break the non-BJP parties to gain a majority as she wanted him to realise that there was much latent discontent in the BJP too, which could explode.

The choice of Lok Sabha Speaker would give an ample hint on the road ahead. The Om Birla era, a black spot on parliamentary democracy, needs to be over.

The wages of running a coalition are tricky for a leader like Mr Modi, who is not given to play the sweet and amiable host except to foreign dignitaries. Now Mr Modi will dread the prospect of doing a zoola to Naidu and Nitish as he did once to Xi Jinping in Ahmedabad.

Mr Modis problem is that he is neither Vajpayee nor Sonia Gandhi, who had mastered the art of being a good coalition builder. The PM is neither given to listen to voices from within the BJP nor the Opposition, which he always condemned as corrupt to the core.

The PMs spin doctors are already on overdrive seeking to paint the new set-up at the Centre as the N government. The BJP needs to be patted for its smart public relations, which helps to promote the false feeling that saffron is the paragon of virtue in matters of cooperation, cohesion and co-existence.

After winning the third Lok Sabha elections, one should not compare the Modi 3.0 with Pandit Nehrus government. The Congress had a mandate then, and Mr Modi is now leading a coalition as the BJP failed to get an absolute majority in the 543-member Lok Sabha. There cannot be a comparison between apples and oranges.

Let Mr Modi say: This is a historical moment in Indias history. The proof of the pudding is in the eating.

Narendra Modi has to reinvent himself by turning the crisis into an opportunity. He has entered an era of turmoil and the road ahead is not easy. How he drives in difficult terrain and a hostile environment would ultimately decide how tough he is. Modi hai to mumkin hain is on test.
A 55-year-old man has been taken into custody in connection with the attack, but his motives have not been disclosed. Any reference to the case has been blocked on Chinese social media. Xi Jinping is betting heavily on cultural exchanges to ease geopolitical tensions with the United States, but fewer than 900 Americans are currently studying in China against 290,000 Chinese in the United States.

Beijing (AsiaNews/Agencies)  A 55-year-old man named Cui was arrested in the northeastern Chinese province of Jilin for stabbing four US computer science instructors yesterday in a park.

The four were in China on a cultural exchange programme between Cornell College, in Iowa, and its partner institution, Beihua University.

A Chinese man who tried to defend the four foreigners was also injured in the attack.

A spokesman for China's Foreign Ministry said today that the injured were taken to hospital for treatment and that no one was in critical condition.

Chinese authorities did not provide any information on what motivated the attacker's gesture, except to say this "isolated incident will not disrupt normal cultural and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.

In the meantime, the authorities quickly blocked news of the attack posted on social media coming from foreign sources, since the "incident" had not been reported in the Chinese media.

A hashtag that referred to the incident was also blocked.

Generally, Chinese social media are increasingly filled with nationalist rhetoric nurturing xenophobic attitudes.

The issue of cultural exchanges with the United States is a particularly sensitive issue in China.

In the latest high-level contacts between the two countries, China focused heavily on such exchanges to ease tensions on trade and geopolitical disputes like Taiwan, the South China Sea, or the war in Ukraine.

Recently, Chinese President Xi Jinping unveiled a plan to invite 50,000 young Americans to China over the next five years.

But such a project found an obstacle in the US State Department, which issued a Level 3 travel advisory to China warning of possible arbitrary detention and exit bans.

For this reason, some US universities began scaling back on cooperation with Chinese institutions at the end of the lockdown imposed by the pandemic.

According to data cited by Reuters, fewer than 900 Americans are currently studying in China, compared to more than 290,000 Chinese in the United States.

Still, a spokeswoman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry said that "China is widely considered as one of the safest countries in the world, noting that the authorities will take effective measures to protect the safety of all foreign nationals in China.
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, was the subject of a violent phone threat. Isaac Ambe Nformangum, 24, of Richmond, was convicted of one count of interstate communications with a threat to injure for calling Cruzs Houston office on June 26, 2022, and leaving a 7-minute-long threat, during which he said, You will be found and killed. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer

A federal judge Monday found a Fort Bend County man guilty of making threats to injure U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz.

Isaac Ambe Nformangum, 24, of Richmond, was charged with one count of interstate communications with a threat to injure. Nformangum was accused of calling Cruzs Houston office on June 26, 2022, and leaving a 7-minute-long threat, during which he said Cruz would be found and killed.

According to court records, Nformangum referred to Cruz as Senator Rafael and began his message by referencing the Republican Party of Texas' position in support of repealing the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

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Every last one of your Republican colleagues to have signed off on that platform is to be found and, is to be found and killed, be it by a bullet to the face or by the smashing of a brick in your skull, Nformangum said in the message, according to a federal indictment.

You will be found and killed, he said later, according to the indictment.

Nformangums last name appeared on the office phones caller ID, according to the indictment. He was arrested on June 28. 2022.

In an interview with FBI agents after his arrest, Nformangum said he was upset about the GOP platform and called Cruzs office from a private area at his work.

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Nformangum told the agents he didnt plan to carry out the threats and expected to end up on some sort of watch list.

Nformangum was found guilty following a two-hour bench trial in front of U.S. District Judge Lee H. Rosenthal.

Nformangum called the office of a U.S. senator and made threatening comments. said Alamdar S. Hamdani, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas, in a statement. It was a frightening call. This is never acceptable, and the Southern District of Texas will always seek to hold actors like Nformangum to account for their actions, to deter others like him, to protect the rule of law and to ensure a safe environment for all public servants. Todays guilty verdict demonstrates that dedication.

He will be sentenced Oct. 2 and faces up to five years in prison. He will be held in custody until his sentencing date, according to the U.S. Attorneys office.
by Shafique Khokhar

The forced marriage of a Christian girl in Faisalabad is part of a tide of violence by Islamist groups against minorities in Punjab. After the murder of Nazir Masih, 72, falsely accused of blasphemy, the extremist TLP party wants the release of his attackers, who, it claims, acted out of "love for their faith". Advocacy groups lament that members of minorities now live in fear.

Faisalabad (AsiaNews)  Violence against Punjabs Christian minority continues, a consequence of a rising Islamist tide that is sweeping the province.

After Nazir Masih, a 72-year-old shopkeeper, was lynched on 25 May in Sargodha by an angry mob on false accusations of blasphemy, another story came to light recently, that of Laiba, a 10-year-old Christian girl, daughter of Suhail Masih, from Faisalabad.

Following her abduction, she was raped, forcibly converted to Islam, and married off to her kidnapper, Irfan Masih. The abduction took place months ago, on 11 February, 2024, and her family filed a First Information Report (FIR No. 169/24) at the Roshanwala Police Station, Faisalabad.

This latest case underlines how minorities in Pakistan are under attack, persecuted because of their faith. In Punjab the number of cases of blasphemy and forced conversion is rising almost daily.

After the kidnapping, Laiba was handed over to a Muslim man, Shafaqat Shah, an influential person who favours Irfan. Unwilling to return the child to her parents, he placed her against her will in the case of a Women's Shelter (Dar-ul-aman) in Faisalabad.

The family received a statement, ostensibly from the girl saying that she had voluntarily embraced Islam, that she had not been raped or forced into marriage, and that she had gone to Dar-ul-aman of her own free will.

On 6 March 2024, the girls family received a copy of the marriage contract (nikkah), attesting to the union with Irfan Masih, a document that was patently false.

Masih, 35, also converted to Islam, taking the name of Muhammad; he already has a daughter who was also converted to Islam.

In the contract, to which no government paper is attached, Laiba's age is given as 17. According to the girls birth certificate issued by the National Database & Registration Authority (NADRA), she was born on 15 October 2013 and so is 10 years and 7 months old.

Upon receiving this information, police investigator Babar Sandhu told Suhail Masih that it will be very difficult for Laiba to return home because she accepted Islam.

In Faisalabad, activists have held several sit-ins and press conferences to save Laiba.

Although police eventually arrested Muhammad Irfan, Laiba is still held at the Dar-ul-Aman and Shafaqat Shah is not allowing her parents to meet her, thus helping the kidnappers cause.

Shazia George, a former member of the Punjab Commission on the Status of Women (PCSW), said civil society groups and national human rights organisations must tackle the practice of child and forced marriage. Although it is usually upheld by police and judiciary, such practice still constitutes an offence under the Child Marriage Restraint Act.

The marriage of a 10-year-old girl is above all an act of violence, yet it is widespread in the country, a threat to the rights of young people and source of deep concern for parents, who want protection.

In the meantime, while minorities face several threats and are raising their voice demanding protection and rights, the Islamist party Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) is protesting in Sarogodha for the release of the people who took part in the lynching of Nazir Masih.

A recent speech by a TLP leader has gone viral on social media. Talking to his followers, he said there was no need to worry if a Chuhra (a derogatory term for Christians) died in Sargodha, because he was not innocent and had committed blasphemy.

The TLP leader added that the Muslims jailed in this case are innocent because their violence was committed for the sake of their faith. He called for their immediate release, otherwise the state will see a serious reaction.

These people are openly engaging in hate speech against religious minorities, instigating people to commit violence, challenging the writ of the state and yet the state apparatus is silent, said Samson Salamat, president of the Rwadari Tehreek, an interfaith civic movement, speaking to AsiaNews.

Every member of a religious minority in Punjab lives in fear and terror. Unless there is a crackdown against the TLP and other extremist outfits, the lives of persecuted people, their properties and places of worship are under constant threat, he added.

For Salamat, it would be important for the state to ban the TLP, eliminating it as a political party.

Beyond that, There is a need for grand debate in parliament over the misuse of blasphemy laws along with a judicial inquiry into all the blasphemy incidents from Shanti Nagar to the lynching of Nazir Masih.
by Dario Salvi

On the anniversary of the Iraqi city's fall into the hands of the radical Islamist movement, Omar Mohammed - the blogger who chronicled its brutality - talks to AsiaNews about the importance of remembrance, the pope's visit in 2021 and the challenge of reconstruction based on inclusion. Chaldean Patriarch Sako: the memory of jihadist violence spurs the construction of a civil and democratic state.

Milan (AsiaNews) - These days mark the 10th anniversary of the rise of Isis in Mosul, with its subsequent expansion along the Nineveh plain to conquer half the territories of Syria and Iraq in just two years. An anniversary that, despite the subsequent defeat of the Islamist movement in northern Iraq, for many reasons still represents an open wound, with the fight against radical ideology remaining an unresolved problem. This is what Chaldean Primate Cardinal Louis Raphael Sako says today in a long reflection published on the patriarchate's website. Louis Raphael Sako, who speaks of painful events etched in memory. In order to prevent similar tragedies from happening again in the future, the prelate once again calls for lasting solutions starting with development policies that stop the exodus of Christians. To this the cardinal combines the fight against militias, the study of Christian history and the construction of a State that is truly civilised and democratic. To recall the decade that has passed since one of the darkest pages in the modern history not only of Iraq, but of the entire global community, AsiaNews interviewed Omar Mohammed, author of Mosul Eye. One of the very rare voices who, at the risk of his life, spent himself in those terrible days to witness the abyss of brutality and barbarity of the militiamen.

"Could it have been avoided? Was there a chance to avert the collapse of Mosul and the dramatic impact on its population, on its social structure that has been turned upside down, on its history that has changed forever? These are the questions posed, 10 years after the rise of the Islamic State (IS, formerly Isis), by the scholar, citizen journalist and blogger Omar Mohammed who, through his Mosul Eye page, has recounted the atrocities committed by the jihadists in the city. AsiaNews caught up with him by phone in a location he asked to be kept secret for security reasons, retracing with him the dramatic phases of the fall of the northern metropolis, the reign of terror and the military defeat by the offensive of the Iraqi army with the support of the United States.

The eyes with which the population witnessed, and recounted as much as possible, the tragedy that was unfolding were our form of resistance to Isis, the scholar recounts, so we fought back and resisted, still bearing the mark of suffering on their faces. When I met for almost an hour in private with Pope Francis [on his apostolic journey in March 2021], he recalls, he uttered a phrase that disturbed me: looking at me he said he could put a face to the suffering of a people. The pontiff made it clear how the drama of Mosul, the wounds would forever be part of my face.

Mosul, 10 years later

A decade on, the northern metropolis is a reality that is trying to restart after the jihadist devastation, thanks also to the reconstruction of its most famous monuments - from the al-Nouri mosque to the clock church - and also opening up to tourism. The car bomb against the army headquarters in early June 2014 represented the turning point, because from that moment everything collapsed and our history changed forever, says Omar Mohammed. Just in these days, he adds, I thought back to those moments and fell into a deep depressive crisis, because I will never be able to understand the level of brutality they brought combined with contempt for everything human nature represents.

In the past, the capital of the north, especially in the aftermath of the 2003 US invasion, had already experienced phases of violence and extremist attacks. Bloody events that had also involved Christians, as witnessed by the death of Fr. Ragheed Ganni in 2007 and the kidnapping a year later, which ended with the discovery of his body, of the then Chaldean archbishop Msgr. Paul Faraj Rahho. Those were episodes, explains the blogger and scholar, but after Daesh [Arabic acronym for Islamic State] took control, brutality became systematic, part of the system of government. After the fall of Isis, he continues, I had access to the archives and I could see how their idea of government was precisely aimed at imposing a pattern of brutality on people, a method rooted in the Islamic State.

Eyes to narrate terror

During the years of jihadist rule, Mosul Eye played a leading role in exposing the violence: a long anonymous blog, which only after the liberation of the city in July 2017 had a name and a face. For more than two and a half years, Omar Mohammed proved to be one of the very few reliable sources documenting life under Isis, beheadings, devastation and ethnically and denominationally motivated massacres on Facebook, Twitter and Wordpress when social media were unreachable. The extremist group conquered the metropolis and villages of northern Iraq between 4 and 10 June 2014, triggering a massive exodus of persecuted Christians, Yazidis and other ethnic groups. In the following weeks, he extended his dominance over the Nineveh Plain, triggering a humanitarian emergency with hundreds of thousands of people fleeing. Looking back on that period, he says, the work of Mosul Eye emerges more clearly, without which there would have been no other sources except the official Isis narrative. Today, however, the city has its own story to tell, and this is the most important aspect: the people of Mosul have had eyes to witness, they have not looked away from a tragic reality, making storytelling a form of resistance to Caliph Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and his men. So that this horror of beheadings, executions, mass graves, extermination camps and minors executed for listening to music would not remain hidden and not be lost, forgotten.

A work, reread in retrospect, that is also very important for the future of the city, laying the foundations for a true reconstruction that is not only of infrastructure, churches, mosques, buildings and craft or business activities, but first and foremost social, human. People, he explains, have a tendency to remove, to get on with their lives. That is why I launched a project to collect oral testimonies by meeting Christians, Muslims, Yazidis, recording their personal and collective history, preserving it for future generations. People who want to remember, so that this does not happen again' such as the Killing fields or the Tuol Slegn prison in Cambodia, the concentration camps like Mauthausen that I visited recently. In this regard, he offers two examples: on the one hand, the attempt to protect and preserve the buildings used by Isis for the massacres, preventing them from being destroyed as the government did with the one where the executions took place. Then there is the memory of people who sacrificed themselves, including the Muslim university professor Mahmoud Al Asali who died to save Christians. "Our mission today is to make people remember. This is why his family wanted to donate his texts, books and manuscripts to the Mosul library, inside which there is a corner dedicated to him".

The Pope, memory and inclusion

Ten years after the rise of Isis, the picture in Mosul remains complicated, there is much to be done and for many the wound is still open. We need to work to create a social system in which there is not only diversity, but also inclusion, stresses Omar Mohammed, insisting on the latter element as a key factor for true reconstruction. An inclusion, he adds, whereby religion or ethnicity is no longer an element of fear or a trigger for violence for Christians and Muslims, for Sunnis and Shiites, for Yazidis and other minorities in the area. To this he adds the need to control the Shia militias active in Mosul as well as in the Nineveh plain, which are often the source of or nourish lawlessness and new ethnic-confessional violence, an element already denounced in recent years by Christian leaders.

Among the most significant moments of the post-Isis renaissance phase, the blogger highlights the visit of Pope Francis in March 2021, his personal meeting that lasted almost an hour with the pontiff, and the snapshot that I keep on my desk (in the photo) as a precious memento. His presence [in a historical phase still marked by closures and travel restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic, ed] created a sense of trust between communities, because, he recounts, he wanted to meet Christians, Muslims, Yazidis, sending a message of hope, of healing. Of the hour spent together, he recalls one sentence in particular that disturbed me: after seeing me, the pope said Now I can put a face to the suffering of the people of Mosul. Thanks to his words,' he continued, it became clear to me too how much the suffering [under Daesh] was forever etched on my face. At the same time, the visit left a deep sense of pride.

The scholar has personally initiated and supported four projects in recent years: the library; the oral and written collection of documents, stories and testimonies; the attempt to preserve Mosul's Jewish heritage by reconstructing their presence in the past (those who fled or were expelled between 1948 and 1950 after the birth of Israel); and the reforestation plan to restore a green face to the city. Four initiatives with four different perspectives, he says, and the common goal of bringing society together, creating new bonds. "Even today there are signs of the passage of Isis: radicalisation, extremist ideology in some areas and we must not delude ourselves that it has disappeared. We must start from here and work, he concludes, to strengthen education, nurture the culture of life with special attention to young people, to future generations, according to the principle of inclusiveness.

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by Arundathie Abeysinghe

Sri Lanka and the Maldives are working together to avoid disputes and define their section of the ocean. The goal is to developed the areas renewable sources potential. However, some doubt over Sri Lankas capacity to manage a large area.

Colombo (AsiaNews)  Sri Lanka is carrying out intense lobbying at the UN to expand its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), working with the Maldives to avoid possible territorial disputes and conflicting claims over the continental shelf.

The EEZ is an area of ocean that extends 200 nautical miles (230 miles) beyond a countrys territorial waters, with jurisdiction over living and non-living resources.

The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) was signed in 1982, but it has not always helped to solve disputes, like in the South China Sea where boundaries are disputed.

In May 2009, Sri Lanka submitted technical and scientific data to the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf, to establish the boundaries beyond the EEZ in accordance with the UNCLOS Convention.

In 2016, the Commission set up a sub-committee that engaged with its Sri Lankan counterparts, and then launched 11 rounds of talks.

Sri Lanka has successfully established the outer edge of its continental shelf to the satisfaction of the sub-commission. Yet, it is still pending approval by the UN Commission. In 2023, Foreign Affairs Minister Ali Sabry secured Cabinet approval to set up the National Ocean Affairs Committee under the Ministry to work with the sub-commission, a senior government official told Asia News.

As there are overlapping claims in the extension of the continental shelf with the Maldives, during bilateral talks with Maldivian Foreign Affairs Minister Moosa Zameer, the Sri Lankan delegation discussed the issue and the two sides decided to collaborate with each other to avoid any conflict over areas of overlapping, the senior official added.

A country can have continental shelf right up to 350 nautical miles or 100 nautical miles from the 2,500-metre depth, which is higher, said Australia-based international law experts Supun Alahakoon and Ashoka Withanage.

These zones can contribute significantly in harnessing off-shore wind and ocean based renewable energy establishments. Being an island nation surrounded by the Indian Ocean, ocean based renewable energy potential in the form of wave, tide and salinity gradient is abundant in Sri Lanka. The country, they say, can equally count on geothermal energy.

Sri Lanka has a coastline of 1,340 km. With the contiguous zone reaching 24 nautical miles from the outer edge of the territorial zone, territorial waters cover 21,500 km2. The EEZ covers about 510,000 km2 and provides Sri Lanka with "a potential for ocean energy," the experts add.

Ocean energy can be harnessed using five different technologies such as tidal/ocean currents, waves, tidal rise and fall (barrages), temperature gradients, and salinity gradients.

The large ocean zone is approximately 6.7 times the country's land area and could be well-suited for locating off-shore wind and ocean-based establishments, Supun and Ashoka.

For analysts Sampath Tennakoon and Nishantha Galagoda, Sri Lankas attempt to increase its EEZ is of immense benefit to the island nation. Nevertheless, the issue is, can Sri Lanka as a small nation state manage an expanded ocean territory?
The Digital Yurt app created in Almay by entrepreneur Said Maksimov is bringing young people from this minority closer to their identity. The challenge of the 12 million Uyghurs living in Xinjang and facing the Sinicisation imposed by Xi Jinping.

Almaty (AsiaNews) - A 36-year-old entrepreneur from Almaty, Said Maksimov, founded the app Digital Yurt (the Yurt or Digital Tent) to bring together the Uyghur minority community in Kazakhstan, at least on an IT level on Instagram, and in a short time the initiative has expanded far beyond his expectations. It is a start-up built in the spirit of Silicon Valley, which could really open up new horizons for the salvation of Uyghur culture and traditions in Central Asia.

Maksimov already has considerable experience in public relations and marketing, and has already been developing this project for two years, which is now becoming more and more established.

The stated aim is to preserve traditions, to raise levels of knowledge of the Uyghur language and to facilitate relations between members of the Uyghur ethnic group, putting behind them their long history of repression that continues to this day, especially in China. It all started with the typical millennial gesture of opening an Instagram account.

He himself told the Unlock 2024 conference, held at the end of May in Prague: I wanted to start with something simple, addressing mainly young people through social networks, which are usually only used for fun, and not for solving problems. He then started to disseminate reels, the short dynamic videos recognised by Instagram's algorithm, soon attracting hundreds of people and bringing together more than 50 stable authors who upload material to the platform, increasingly spreading their presence on the internet.

The online format then debuted in a series of in-person meetings, fundraising events to finance Uyghur business in Kazakhstan, and a Montessori kindergarten was even opened in Almaty for Uyghur literacy for children. These are just a few steps in an increasingly elaborate strategy to adapt and modernise the practices already in use, according to Digital Yurt's aims.

Maksimov explains that young people have always wanted to learn about their own history and become part of it, but they are often not attracted to initiatives or places where the older generation dominates.

This is why the decision was made to switch to digital technology, a very interesting experience, but also a complicated one, because it is difficult to foresee all the difficulties that our community can come up against in today's society.

Obviously, the main problems come from the other side of the border, in China's Xinjiang where 12 million Uyghurs have been increasingly persecuted since leader Xi Jinping imposed by decree in 2017 that all religions must be Chinese-oriented, leading to the total eradication of Uyghur culture.

All Muslim minorities in the region, where Kazakhs, Kyrgyz and other ethnic groups also live, have been subjected to severe repression, with more than a million people held in camps and prisons. Religious practice is also prevented by the destruction of mosques and cemeteries, and even the denunciations and appeals of the UN Human Rights Commissioner's Office have been to no avail.

Many members of the Uyghur community in Kazakhstan believe that it is better to keep quiet and not expose oneself, even reprimanding Maksimov for his risky initiative, but he replies that we cannot ignore reality.

In addition to Xinjiang, which Turkish speakers call East Turkestan, Kazakhstan itself is one of the main homes of the Uyghurs, where more than 200,000 of them live, but the diaspora spreads to Turkey, Europe and North America.

Maksimov denounces the negative effect of the Kazakh government's rapprochement with China in recent years, and we must make sure that they do not see us as terrorists, as they accuse us of from Beijing, we want our people to set an example of peaceful coexistence for everyone else as well.

Photo taken from the Digital Yurt Instagram profile
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A student walks across the campus of Houston Christian University past Hinton Center on Friday, June 7, 2024 in Houston. Close to 1 in 5 incoming freshmen at Houston Christian University this fall will attend without having submitted a traditional application. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer Graduate student Eduardo Miranda waits for a ride while standing near the The Morris Family Center for Law & Liberty building on the campus of Houston Christian University on Friday, June 7, 2024 in Houston. Close to 1 in 5 incoming freshmen at Houston Christian University this fall will attend without having submitted a traditional application. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer Graduate student Eduardo Miranda works on his laptop on the campus of Houston Christian University on Friday, June 7, 2024 in Houston. Close to 1 in 5 incoming freshmen at Houston Christian University this fall will attend without having submitted a traditional application. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer Graduate student Eduardo Miranda waits for a ride while standing near the The Morris Family Center for Law & Liberty building on the campus of Houston Christian University on Friday, June 7, 2024 in Houston. Close to 1 in 5 incoming freshmen at Houston Christian University this fall will attend without having submitted a traditional application. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer

Adithya Bhaskar learned via email that he had been admitted into Houston Christian University with a scholarship  a surprise given he never submitted an application to the private school.

HCU obtained Bhaskar's GPA from Niche, a website that held the information from a profile he had created to aid in his college search. The resulting acceptance prompted him to look into the university when it was previously off his radar, and he enrolled there in fall 2023 as one of 45 students to accept a so-called "direct admissions" offer.

The number of people matriculating through the program has since tripled, with 1 in 5 students securing their spots through direct admissions for the coming fall, according to data provided by the university.

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HIGHER ED: Pro tips from college admissions leaders Texas seniors should know

I'm trying to get in front of really good, solid bread-and-butter students that might not realize that they're leaving money on the table, said James Steen, the universitys vice president for enrollment management and marketing. (Direct admissions) gets more eyeballs on offers that we wouldn't normally have the option to put out.

Direct admissions is essentially an application in reverse, where students are screened and notified that a university is holding space for them if they meet certain metrics. The students then express their interest, accept the offer and fill out a simplified form.

The Belin Tower is shown on the campus of Houston Christian University on Friday, June 7, 2024 in Houston. Close to 1 in 5 incoming freshmen at Houston Christian University this fall will attend without having submitted a traditional application. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer

The programs have gained relevance across the country as colleges and universities stare down an enrollment cliff that already has many less selective schools competing for students. Many higher education leaders view the programs as obvious methods to get more people in the door, boosting access for students who might otherwise be deterred by an arduous and complicated admissions process.

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The newer system typically promises none of the standard application fees, and it is meant to remove the legwork for the student, putting them in front of colleges that only look at limited information. While many students hear of an increasingly competitive admissions process, the majority of colleges and universities in the U.S. admit most of the people who apply, including HCU, where 85% of applicants are accepted.

STRESS TO SUCCESS: Read our occasional series on college admissions.

Those schools tend to make it optional for students to submit standardized test scores, so a minimum GPA is the main measure that admissions offices review, said Luke Skurman, founder and CEO of Niche. As one of the major players in direct admissions, the company serves as a go-between for the student and participating admissions offices, which attach an institutional financial aid offer to each students acceptance  all accessible through a designated section on a persons Niche profile.

The result is an admissions process that places more students in the drivers seat, Skurman said.

For a long time, the colleges frankly had more leverage, he said. There's a lot more empty beds and desks than there are students, and I think that there's now a moment where the families, frankly, have more leverage and can be more discerning right now.

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Expansion to come

HCU has a similar desire for more students, although it hasnt experienced the same declines as other small universities. Enrollment rose to more than 4,200 in fall 2022, and administrators hope to more than double the population with 4,200 in-person students and 5,800 online students.

As a smaller private Christian institution, we're never not going to be competing against somebody with a bigger brand, with a stronger academic reputation, with other institutions that are significantly less expensive than we are, Steen said. We have to do things differently.

HCU is one of only a handful of schools that use direct admissions in Texas, but the system is expected to grow in the state  especially as private organizations such as Niche expand their reach and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board develops its own program.

MORE FROM SAMANTHA KETTERER: Students must find 'sense of belonging' on college campuses after DEI ban

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More and more states are signing onto direct admissions, essentially running programs where school-reported data goes directly to public institutions before the admissions offers land in students mailboxes, said Taylor Odle, assistant professor of educational policy studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

The Sadie and Doug Hodo Residence College is shown on the campus of Houston Christian University on Friday, June 7, 2024 in Houston. Close to 1 in 5 incoming freshmen at Houston Christian University this fall will attend without having submitted a traditional application. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer

The state Higher Education Coordinating Board is working toward something similar, using a $250,000 award from the Lumina Foundation to develop the design and development of a direct admissions program.

For now, however, private groups are the sole managers of direct admissions for Texas universities that opt in. Niche and Common App are among the most well-known in the space, and universities usually pay to boost their presence and market themselves better to students on direct admissions sites.

Steen said HCU has seen the most success with Niche in its second year using the service. Out of roughly 700 incoming freshmen, the university already has 120 students who made deposits through Niches program and 20 students through the Common Apps program, Steen said.

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Of the 91 colleges and universities participating with Niche, three are in Texas: HCU, University of Texas at Arlington and Hardin-Simmons University. Common App has roughly 70 partners, with HCU, Austin College and St. Edwards University being the only Texas participants.

Moving the needle

Existing research makes it clear that direct admissions wont be the silver bullet for equity in admissions or enrollment woes, although Odle said it can make a difference. He co-led one study that found the greatest impacts occur for low-income, first-generation and underrepresented students, and he also pointed to some increases in enrollment in states that used the programs.

Politically divergent states even agree that the programs can work, possibly because they are common sense, he said.

It is completely unnecessary for you to run this gauntlet of these different deadlines, of doing these different forms of asking for these letters of rec, Odle said. It just exacerbates inequality and is a waste of time.

But as the programs spread, questions remain on how to make the new system more effective, especially with room left to pair students with advising or more financial aid resources, Odle said. Even with schools that provide scholarships up front, students likely have to fill out the TASFA or FAFSA for state or federal financial aid. With Niche, the average scholarship amount offered is $18,500 per year, far below required tuition for private schools.

It's great to get into college, but you got to be able to pay to go to college as well, Odle said. You're not going to see a huge change in your state if you implement direct admissions and you also don't address other barriers to enrollment."

The Hinton Center is shown on the campus of Houston Christian University on Friday, June 7, 2024 in Houston. Close to 1 in 5 incoming freshmen at Houston Christian University this fall will attend without having submitted a traditional application. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer

Private groups also require students to create a profile through their websites, so the process isnt as simple as it could be, the admissions expert added. The questionnaires for those profiles are much less extensive than a college application, though, and in the case of Niche, about 50% of college-bound seniors each year make accounts.

Niche also responds to questions about accuracy of students' self-reported data often, as they get their admissions offers before they upload their transcripts. The company estimates that more than 90% of what students share is honest and accurate. (Steen said HCU limits direct admits to 3.0 GPAs and higher, to give a cushion for the self-reported number.)

For Bhaskar, the HCU student said he only wishes he would have learned about direct admissions sooner: He might not have spent so much time on his other applications.
Houston ISD Superintendent Mike Miles speaks before the districts first public budget workshop for the 2024-2025 school year at the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center, Thursday, May 15, 2024, in Houston. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer

State-appointed Superintendent Mike Miles said social work services for students will be provided by a trimmer team of wraparound specialists who will each serve multiple campuses and refer students to off-campus support centers.

Houston ISD is cutting more than 200 wrap-around specialists  who help the neediest students access food, clothing, hygienic products and other basics  as part of the proposed budget that started with a $528 million deficit. The 48 remaining wraparound workers split their time among four and seven schools each.

In the 24-25 school year, we will still have wraparound specialists but they will be able to refer kids (to HISD support centers and health care providers) much more efficiently and effectively, Miles said, noting that the specialists would maintain clothing and food banks at every school.

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MILES, 1 YEAR LATER: How HISD Superintendent Mike Miles went from Army Ranger to the most polarizing figure in Houston

Miles said the cuts were an unfortunate necessity as wraparound services has been funded with grants and federal COVID relief money, known as Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds, which expired this year. He said the program had cost HISD about $20 million this year, though the districts ESSER dashboard indicates HISD spent only about $3.3 million on wraparound specialists. District officials did not immediately return a request for comment about the discrepancy.

Next year, HISD will rely more heavily on its seven Sunrise Centers, which are located throughout the city and offer many of the same services that wraparound specialists provided, in partnership with community organizations that offer a variety of resources for families facing poverty, homelessness, violence and other challenges. Some community members, however, have raised concerns about the Sunrise Centers, which cost $8 million, arguing that their location at off-campus sites may pose a challenge to families seeking assistance.

Christy Brewster, a retired HISD nurse who worked closely with wraparound specialists, said that the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated the inherent value of the program, which she said had hit its stride in recent years after a rocky launch in 2017. HISD Chief Academic Officer Kristen Hole said the district plans to partner with METRO to provide free bus passes to families that need to use Sunrise Centers, but Brewster worries it may not be enough to make up for the loss of a wraparound specialist at a students home campus.

Im concerned that whatever families were receiving services will not get it at all, Brewster said. Youre just adding one more layer to the 'have-nots' that they have now got to do, when they could have just gone to (a room at school) and talked to somebody who could have provided direct service.

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Miles said that an internal review of the efficacy of HISDs wraparound services indicated that 76% of specialists were assigned to 200 schools with the least need, and that basic needs such as food insecurity and clothing did not require a full-time employee based on their campus. He said that about 27% of wraparound workers completed at least twice as many support actions as the other 73%.

Ruth Kravetz, co-founder of the advocacy group Community Voices for Public Education, pointed to a Houston Public Media report that HISD had already instructed wraparound workers to focus on truancy and dropout prevention in January, rather than meeting basic needs. The Houston Education Research Consortium at Rice Universitys Kinder Institute for Urban Research is conducting its own study in partnership with the district about the efficacy of HISDs new Sunrise Centers.

The appointed members of HISDs Board of Managers also questioned the superintendent about his plans for next years budget, which will be up for approval at the boards next meeting on Thursday. Board members Michelle Cruz Arnold and Jeanette Garza Lindner asked the superintendent why he hadnt considered pausing or reducing the expansion of his New Education System to 130 schools next year, which would account for about $732 million of the districts $2.1 billion budget.

A responsible thing to do moving forward would be to consider postponing (the expansion at) some of the campuses, especially when were talking about belt-tightening, Cruz Arnold said.

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Miles said that his budget reflected the boards goals of boosting academic achievement. Expanding the New Education System was also at the top of the districts action plan presented to the board in March. Non NES campuses are expected to face budget cuts of up to 12%.

Board Vice President Ric Campo defended the superintendent, saying it was not Miles' responsibility to present the board with a menu of budgets for the budget. Previous HISD Superintendent Millard House II went through multiple iterations of his proposed budget for the 2023-24 school year after several months of workshops with the board.

Our team, led by Superintendent Miles, his job is to present us with a budget that meets our goals and focuses on sustainable and reasonable budgeting, Campo said.

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The Defense Ministry in Yerevan said Lieutenant-General Eduard Asrian, the chief of the Armenian armys General Staff, and French General Pierre Schill held the talks on the sidelines of a conference of European army chiefs. It indicated that they focused on experience sharing and personnel training

Understandings were reached to further develop cooperation, the ministry added in a statement. It did not shed light on those understandings.

France pledged last fall to sell weapons and provide other military assistance to Armenia part of a broader deepening of bilateral relations cemented by the existence of an influential Armenian community in France. Those include sophisticated radars, short-range air-defense systems, armored personnel carriers and night-vision equipment.

Some of that hardware was delivered by the time French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu visited Yerevan in February this year. Lecornu announced during the trip that a French military adviser specializing in air defense will be deployed in Armenia to help it neutralize possible strikes by potential aggressors. He emphasized the defensive character of the French-Armenian military cooperation condemned by Azerbaijan.

Paris is also due to train Armenian military personnel. The French military will reportedly hold three mountain combat training courses for them this year.

Russia has long been the Armenian armys principal source of weapons and ammunition. But with Russian-Armenian relations worsening and Russia embroiled in the large-scale war with Ukraine, Yerevan is increasingly looking for other arms suppliers.
11 June 2024 12:58 (UTC+04:00)

By Abdul Kerimkhanov, Editor-in-chief, Day.Az

Relations between Azerbaijan and Turkiye are at their peak and have no analogues in the world. Such a high level of interaction is built on friendship, brotherhood and solidarity between the two countries and is a guideline for the peoples of Azerbaijan and Turkiye. The recent visit of President Ilham Aliyev to Turkiye confirms the unshakable unity of the fraternal countries and is the cornerstone of the future.

Through the joint efforts of the leaders of the two countries, relations between Azerbaijan and Turkiye have today reached the highest level of strategic partnership and alliance. This was officially confirmed by the Shusha Declaration, signed on June 15, 2021 in the city of Shusha. The brotherhood of Azerbaijan and Turkiye is determined by historical traditions, common national and moral values, as well as the decisive political will of the leaders of the two countries. It is no coincidence that the words of the founder of the Turkish Republic, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, Azerbaijans joy is our joy, its sorrow is our sorrow, as well as Heydar Aliyevs saying One nation, two states, are the guarantee of the inviolability of Turkish-Azerbaijani ties.

Azerbaijan and Turkiye are quite successfully developing trade and economic relations. At the end of 2023, the volume of bilateral trade exceeded 7.5 billion dollars, of which approximately 3 billion were imports from Turkiye and 4.5 billion were exports to Turkiye. Let us recall that in February 2024, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said at a joint press conference with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in Ankara that Turkiye would make every effort to increase trade turnover with Azerbaijan to $15 billion.

At the international level, Azerbaijan and Turkiye clearly support each other. Coordinated activities within international and regional organizations, including the UN, ECO, OIC and UTG are bearing fruit. The interaction between the two countries at such a high level makes an important contribution to overall progress and the establishment of stability in the region. These relations also determine the further strengthening of unity and cooperation between Turkic-speaking countries and peoples. The fact that our peoples have the same origin, similar language, culture and many other mutual ties has always made Azerbaijan and Turkiye close countries to each other, which are close in both joy and sorrow.

Turkiye has always supported Azerbaijan in the Garabagh conflict, which has already become history. In 2020, the Azerbaijani people witnessed Turkiye's strong support during the Second Garabagh War. From the first days of the war, most high-ranking officials, including the President of the brotherly country Recep Tayyip Erdogan, made statements that Turkiye was on the side of Azerbaijan. This spiritual and political support from Turkiye has given strength to Azerbaijan and increased its self-confidence. As a result, the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan won a historic Victory in the 44-day war and restored the territorial integrity of the country. At the post-war stage, fraternal Turkiye actively participates in large-scale restoration work initiated by the Azerbaijani government in the territories liberated from occupation.

In turn, Azerbaijan also provided Turkiye with fraternal support in the most difficult times of its history. In February 2024, Turkiye was rocked by a terrible earthquake that killed hundreds of people. Azerbaijan was the country that was the first to extend a helping hand to the brotherly country in such a difficult period. On the first day of the earthquake, according to the order of President Ilham Aliyev, all facilities were mobilized to provide the necessary assistance to Turkiye. In addition, on the instructions of First Vice President Mehriban Aliyeva, the Heydar Aliyev Foundation also provided humanitarian assistance to the earthquake-stricken region of the country. All citizens of Azerbaijan showed solidarity with the Turkish people, helping as best they could. At the same time, Azerbaijan continues to provide support in eliminating the consequences of the earthquake in Turkiye.

The importance of the unity of the Turkic world has always been the focus of attention of the leaders of Azerbaijan and Turkiye. The unification of the Turkic world, the unity of peoples with common roots, will strengthen each member of the Organization of Turkic States. From this point of view, the upcoming informal summit of the Organization of Turkic States in Shusha in July of this year will play a special role. Holding this summit in Shusha, the symbol of Garabagh, is of great importance. Thus, a signal will once again be sent to the international community that Garabagh is historically an Azerbaijani, Turkic land.

Azerbaijan aims to continue cooperation with Turkiye in the field of energy transformation ahead of the 29th international Conference COP29, which will be held in Baku in November 2024. Turkiye is also showing great interest in the event, as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated today during a one-on-one meeting with President Ilham Aliyev. In turn, the head of our state invited the President of Turkiye to COP29, to which the Turkish leader responded in the affirmative.

In general, the factor of Turkish-Azerbaijani unity is very important, including from the point of view of development, stability and security of the region. The agenda for interaction is quite broad, and it is based on a unity of opinions and positions. And without any doubt, the allied relations between Azerbaijan and Turkiye will continue to successfully develop upward.

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11 June 2024 20:14 (UTC+04:00)

Fatima Latifova Read more

In the period after 2020, many political and economic changes are noticeable in the South Caucasus. The most important event of the region is undoubtedly the liberation of Azerbaijani lands, which were under Armenian occupation for nearly 30 years. The long-standing tension between Azerbaijan and Armenia is finally coming to an end recently. Thus, Armenia's agreement to return 4 villages of the Gazakh region to Azerbaijan, Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan's leaning toward peace, and the meeting of the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia in Almaty in May, give promising predictions about the signing of a peace treaty between the two states soon.

However, there are still some obstacles on the way to the normalisation of relations between Baku and Yerevan. Thus, although not directly, the Armenian constitution makes territorial claims against both Azerbaijan and Turkiye in the Declaration of Independence it refers to. Therefore, President Ilham Aliyev said that it is impossible to conclude a peace agreement if the current constitution of Armenia remains unchanged at the meeting with the parliament chairmen of TURKPA member countries. Even the Prime Minister of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan, made statements about the necessity of adopting a new constitution many times in his speech in the Armenian Parliament.

But the question is: why is Armenia so reluctant about changing its constitution?

It should be noted as a clear example that changing the constitution after long wars is a sound policy implemented by many countries in the world.

Recall that in 1947, the Japanese government adopted a new constitution with significant changes, including renouncing war and guaranteeing fundamental human rights. With this, the Japanese once again determined the establishment of democratic and non-militaristic foundations in the country.

Also, Germany took responsibility for the disasters in the second world war and adopted a new constitution in 1949. By adopting a new constitution, the Germans once and for all said "no" to their embarrassing past in WWII.

In addition, Great Britain also passed the Northern Ireland Act in 1998. According to that law, articles providing for territorial claims to Northern Ireland were removed from the Constitution of the Republic of Ireland. Even Italy, South Korea, France, and South Africa are among the countries that have changed their constitutions for similar reasons.

But there are still allegations against the territories of Azerbaijan and Turkiye in the constitution of Armenia. This reality is the biggest threat to achieving lasting peace. Therefore, Baku constantly calls Armenia to change the existing constitution for final peace.

It is true that rallies and protests organized by the church and revanchists are continuing in Armenia. But willingly or unwillingly, the Yerevan government should make this decision.

What claims against Azerbaijan and Turkiye are reflected in the constitution of Armenia?

In the preamble of Armenia's declaration of independence, it was clearly stated that Azerbaijan's "Nagorno-Karabakh" territory should be annexed to Armenia.

In the second part of the declaration, citing the so-called Armenian Genocide, it was reflected that the border areas of Turkiye called "Western Armenia" should be returned to Armenia. This is putting forward territorial claims against the Republic of Turkiye.

It should be noted that Azerbaijan also proposed to Armenia the cancellation of the Minsk Group of the OSCE.

Because there is no need for the Minsk group, it is not functioning anymore, and as a matter of fact, it never functioned properly. However, Armenia has not yet taken a step towards the dissolution of the Minsk Group and the removal of territorial claims from the constitution. This is considered a direct obstacle to peace.

Undoubtedly, the Armenian side has been taking effective steps for peace for some time. It is desirable and expected that the unrest in the country will end and that Yerevan will sign a change in the constitution.

As for the OSCE Minsk group, there is no longer any need for their continuation in the Garabagh issue, even in the Caucasus region. The OSCE co-chairs know very well that Azerbaijan resolved the most crucial problem in 44 days that they could not solve in three consecutive decades.

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11 June 2024 08:30 (UTC+04:00)

Nazrin Abdul Read more

In recent years, Azerbaijan has increasingly focused on diversifying its economy and promoting sustainable development. The country has invested in renewable energy projects, such as wind and solar power, to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels and mitigate environmental impacts.

In a significant milestone for Azerbaijan's renewable energy journey, the President of Azerbaijan spearheaded the groundbreaking ceremony for the Masdar 1GW Solar and Wind Projects. This pivotal event, held in conjunction with the commencement of Baku Energy Week and in the presence of COP28 President, marks a momentous step towards the nation's sustainable energy goals.

Developed through a strategic partnership with SOCAR, the projects boast a combined capacity of 1 gigawatt, comprising both solar and wind installations. This ambitious endeavor underscores Azerbaijan's commitment to accelerating its energy transition and reducing reliance on conventional energy sources.

Part of Masdar's extensive 10GW pipeline, these projects align closely with Azerbaijan's ambitious target of generating 30 percent of its energy capacity from renewable sources by 2030. By harnessing the abundant renewable resources available in the region, Azerbaijan aims to bolster its energy security, mitigate environmental impacts, and pave the way for a more sustainable future.

The groundbreaking of the Masdar 1GW Solar and Wind Projects symbolizes a collaborative effort towards a greener, more resilient energy landscape, demonstrating Azerbaijan's proactive approach to addressing the challenges of climate change while embracing the opportunities of renewable energy innovation.

In an exclusive interview with Azernews, Maryam Al Mazrouei, Head of Development and Investment at Masdar, offers insights into the company's vision and strategic initiatives in Azerbaijan.

Q:With Masdar set to begin constructing three new renewable energy facilities totaling 1,000 MW in Azerbaijan this November, can you share more details about these projects and their expected impact on Azerbaijans renewable energy capacity?

The projects collectively amount to one gigawatt, comprising the 445-megawatt Bilesuvar Solar PV project, the 315-megawatt Neftchala Solar PV project, and the 240 MW Absheron-Garadagh onshore wind project. With a combined annual electricity generation of approximately 2.3 billion kilowatt-hours, these projects are projected to save over 500 million cubic meters of natural gas and offset more than 1 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions.

Q: How does Masdar plan to collaborate with Azerbaijan in the development and utilization of hydrogen as an energy source, and what potential benefits do you see for both parties in this partnership?

In terms of exploring the potential for a green partnership, we have initiated a technical visibility assessment which is currently ongoing. We are actively engaging with the Ministry of Energy to evaluate various options for hydrogen offtake and assess potential sources of green energy for hydrogen production. Once this assessment is complete and we reach a conclusion in collaboration with the Ministry of Energy, we will proceed with the implementation of these projects.

Q:Regarding the creation of an energy storage system in Azerbaijan, what types of batteries or energy storage technologies is Masdar considering, and how will they contribute to enhancing the stability and reliability of the country's energy infrastructure?

While we have not yet initiated any battery storage projects in Azerbaijan, we are eager to commence this work in collaboration with the Ministry of Energy. Establishing energy storage capabilities is a priority, and we are committed to closely collaborating with stakeholders, including the Ministry of Energy and Azerenergy, to identify the most suitable solutions for grid stability. We stand ready to provide support as needed, and we are fully committed to enhancing the stability of the grid.

Q: How is Masdar preparing to participate in the upcoming COP29 conference in Baku, and what key messages or initiatives will you be highlighting regarding your cooperation with Azerbaijan in the context of global climate action?

We are actively preparing to engage in the upcoming COP29 conference in Baku. Building on our successful participation in COP28, we are enthusiastic about Azerbaijan's hosting of COP29 and have been closely collaborating with the organizing team to align with the country's vision and objectives for the conference. Our focus remains on supporting Azerbaijan in achieving its renewable energy targets, particularly the goal of tripling renewable energy capacity by 2030. Through our partnership with Azerbaijan, we are dedicated to advancing sustainable initiatives and contributing to the successful outcomes of COP29.

It's worth highlighting that Azerbaijan and the UAE, alongside Brazil, are joining forces as the "Troika" of COP presidents (representing the past, present, and future). This partnership is geared towards bolstering efforts to combat climate change, with a particular focus on advancing the "1.5C mission" while also amplifying initiatives across all key domains outlined in the Paris Agreement. This collaborative alliance not only aims to build upon the successes of previous years but also seeks to extend and enhance the outcomes of COP29 more comprehensively during its tenure in Brazil.

It should be noted that Masdar (Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company) is one of the worlds fastest-growing renewable energy companies. As a global clean energy pioneer, Masdar is advancing the development and deployment of solar, wind, geothermal, battery storage and green hydrogen technologies to accelerate the energy transition and help the world meet its net-zero ambitions. Established in 2006, Masdar has developed and invested in projects in over 40 countries with a combined capacity of over 20 gigawatts (GW), providing affordable clean energy access to those who need it most and helping to power a more sustainable future.

Masdar is jointly owned by TAQA, ADNOC, and Mubadala, and is targeting a renewable energy portfolio capacity of 100GW by 2030 while aiming to be a leading producer of green hydrogen by the same year.

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11 June 2024 11:21 (UTC+04:00)

Nazrin Abdul Read more

As representatives of the Azerbaijani government, we are pleased to foster collaboration with the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The bond between these two fraternal nations continues to strengthen and flourish.

Ulvi Mehdiyev, Chairman of the State Agency for Service to Citizens and Social Innovations under the President of Azerbaijan, emphasised this sentiment during his address at the "Azerbaijan - United Arab Emirates (UAE) Ministers Exchange Forum", Azernews reports.

Mehdiyev highlighted the exceptional level of cooperation achieved between Azerbaijan and the UAE.

He underscored the significance of their relationship, particularly in the realm of environmental cooperation, indicating a shared commitment to sustainability.

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11 June 2024 12:38 (UTC+04:00)

Nazrin Abdul Read more

"The relationship between Azerbaijan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is robustly advancing. It's worth highlighting that the official visit of the President of the UAE to Azerbaijan in 2020 significantly bolstered bilateral ties, resulting in pivotal agreements between the two nations."

These sentiments were expressed by Ohood Khalfan Al Roumi, the UAE Minister of State for Government Development and the Future, during the "Azerbaijan-United Arab Emirates Ministers' Experience Exchange Forum" in Baku, Azernews reports.

Minister Al Rumi emphasised the successful implementation of the signed agreements, stating, "Our objective is to fortify preparations for the future prosperity of both the Azerbaijani and Emirati peoples."

She extended her appreciation for Azerbaijan's hosting of COP29 this November, expressing confidence that the event will leave a lasting impact in history through Azerbaijan's dedicated efforts.

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11 June 2024 13:57 (UTC+04:00)

Ulviyya Shahin Read more

The meeting between Fuad Naghiyev, Chairman of the State Tourism Agency, and Mirela Kumbaro, Minister of Environment and Tourism of the Republic of Albania, focused on discussing the development of tourism relations and opportunities for cooperation, Azernews reports citing the State Tourism Agency.

Discussions included cooperation within international organizations that both countries are members of, particularly the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization (BSEC) and UN-WTO (World Tourism Organization).

Additionally, topics such as tourism education, personnel training in the service sector, and opportunities for collaboration with the private sector through associations and partnerships were addressed during the meeting.

Albania and Azerbaijan, two nations with distinct cultural heritages and natural landscapes, have been exploring avenues for collaboration in various sectors, including tourism. Both countries possess unique attractions that appeal to tourists seeking diverse experiences, from Albania's stunning Adriatic coastline and ancient historical sites to Azerbaijan's modern cities juxtaposed with ancient monuments like the UNESCO-listed Old City of Baku.

In recent years, there has been a concerted effort by both governments to develop their respective tourism industries and to foster international partnerships to promote sustainable tourism growth. Discussions between Albania and Azerbaijan regarding tourism relations reflect a shared commitment to leverage their tourism potential and capitalize on the economic benefits of increased visitor arrivals.

These discussions encompass a wide range of topics, including cooperation within international tourism organizations, exchange of best practices in tourism management, joint marketing initiatives, and opportunities for investment in tourism infrastructure. Moreover, the dialogue extends to areas such as tourism education, training of hospitality professionals, and fostering partnerships with the private sector to enhance the quality of tourist services.

By strengthening tourism relations, Albania and Azerbaijan aim to not only attract more visitors to their countries but also to enhance the overall tourist experience and promote cultural exchange between their peoples. Through collaborative efforts, both nations aspire to unlock the full potential of their tourism sectors, contribute to sustainable development, and position themselves as attractive destinations on the global tourism map.

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11 June 2024 16:38 (UTC+04:00)

Nazrin Abdul Read more

In November, Baku will host a momentous gathering as tens of thousands convene for COP29, united in a shared mission: shaping the destiny of our planet in the face of climate change. COP29 stands as a pivotal platform where nations forge fresh commitments and translate intentions into action to combat the climate crisis.

This forum is poised to invigorate global discourse by amplifying Azerbaijan's perspective on vital issues such as regional security and the imperative shift towards sustainable energy, Azernews reports.

Abdulla Nasser Lootah, Deputy Minister of Cabinet Affairs for Competitiveness and Knowledge Exchange of the UAE, said that "the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) will be held with great success and will be a continuation of COP28 organised in Dubai."

He stated, "We are confident that COP29 will stand out as one of the premier events within the COP series. We extend our best wishes to Azerbaijan for a successful conclusion to the year. Moreover, we eagerly anticipate hosting a delegation from Azerbaijan at the World Government Summit in February 2025, providing an opportunity for your country to showcase its exemplary practices across all public sectors."

Lootah emphasised that the current ministerial forum for knowledge exchange between Azerbaijan and the UAE marks a significant milestone, representing the inaugural gathering where the two nations convene to share insights, experiences, and visions for the future.

"This program underscores the tangible outcomes of the experience exchange agreement inked between the UAE and Azerbaijan in February 2023," he added.

The deputy minister conveyed his country's aspiration for enhanced collaboration with Azerbaijan across all domains.

It's worth highlighting that the United Arab Emirates emerges as a cornerstone investor in Azerbaijan's burgeoning green energy sector, fostering a robust partnership marked by a plethora of collaborative projects. This symbiotic relationship not only underscores the UAE's pivotal role in Azerbaijan's sustainable energy endeavors but also heralds a nexus of expertise, technological innovation, and investment opportunities.

The deepening ties between Azerbaijan and the United Arab Emirates herald a new chapter of dynamic cooperation, poised to yield mutual benefits and propel both nations towards a greener, more sustainable future. This strategic alliance holds immense potential to catalyse impactful initiatives within the framework of COP29, fostering synergy and collective action towards combating climate change on a global scale.

It's noteworthy that Azerbaijan, the UAE, and Brazil stand united as the "Troika" of COP presidents, embodying a continuum of climate leadership spanning the past, present, and future. Together, they are committed to intensifying the fight against climate change, with a sharp focus on advancing the critical "1.5C mission" and bolstering initiatives outlined in the Paris Agreement.

This strategic alliance isn't merely about acknowledging past achievements; it's about propelling COP29 to unprecedented levels of impact. Through collaborative action and resource sharing, these nations aspire to redefine global climate efforts, leaving an enduring legacy of sustainability and progress for generations to come.

It should be noted that the international climate community holds high hopes for Azerbaijan's hosting of COP29. Anticipation is rife that the Baku conference will be among the most successful COPs to date, and for good reason. With discussions on climate finance at the forefront, the primary expectation of nations is the recalibration of the Great Financial Target set in Copenhagen in 2009, with updated figures reflecting the changes observed over the past 15 years.

COP29 signifies more than diplomatic dialogueit represents a global imperative. At its core lies the pressing need for financial mobilisation to combat climate change. Amidst intricate negotiations, nations emphasise the urgency of robust financial backing for climate mitigation, adaptation, and resilience. Reaffirming pledges for a $100 billion fund, both developed and developing nations set the scene for COP29 to drive tangible strides in fulfilling these crucial commitments.

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A shrimper sorts shrimp as he and his father fish in Houston Ship Channel on Thursday, Oct. 27, 2022, in Galveston Bay near Galveston. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer

Texas shrimpers face grueling work during monthlong boat stints in the Gulf of Mexico, and their limited health care access onshore adds to the industrys striking fatality rate, a team of UTHealth researchers found.

For example, research shows that self-medication is an issue among commercial fishermen, said Shannon Guillot-Wright, an environmental and occupational specialist at UTHealth Houston who led the research. Her teams study was published last week in the American Journal of Public Health and looked at how workers dealt with the hazardous conditions, strenuous labor, long hours and harsh weather that feed the industrys increased risks.

Some of the shrimpers told us they couldnt afford medicine and used alcohol to cope with injuries, like back pain, which could then increase their risk of falling overboard, she said.

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For shrimpers, the sequence is often deadly. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that the U.S. fishing industrys occupational fatality rate was about 40 times higher than the national average. From 2000 to 2019 in the Gulf of Mexico alone, 201 fishermen died from traumatic injuries on the job, 51% of whom worked as shrimpers.

In this archival photo from August 1979, Truong Van Nguyen clears nets from the deck of a shrimp boat docked at Kemah where a number of Vietnamese refugees have found a home on Galveston Bay. Texas shrimpers still face dangerous conditions and limited access to health care, according to new research from UTHealth Houston. Mike Robinson/Houston Chronicle A shrimper sorts shrimp as he and his father fish in Houston Ship Channel on Thursday, Oct. 27, 2022, in Galveston Bay near Galveston. Texas shrimpers face dangerous conditions and limited access to healthcare, according to new research from UTHealth Houston. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer

In Texas, the labor is largely left up to migrants and refugees, many with Vietnamese and Mexican origins. While the CDC data shows vessel disasters and overboard falls caused 80% of the Gulf Coast deaths in the past two decades, Guillot-Wright said the regions commercial shrimp fishermen were most worried about how their overall health issues led to the dangerous slips, trips and falls.

At first we thought we might need some type of intervention around personal flotation devices, she said, but the shrimpers kind of just laughed at that starting point, sharing in research interviews that many had not even seen a doctor in decades.

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So the UTHealth team pivoted: It still used interviews and observations for its research, but focused a parallel action plan on bringing health care to the workers. The group opened a monthly dockside clinic in Galveston that has seen more than 300 patients in the past three years, a program it plans to expand.

Still, the study found that shrimpers working along the Gulf Coast were more vulnerable to death and danger because of psychological distress, skewed risk recognition and precarious employment. It said these social inequities were tied to support systems like health care, but will not be eliminated through a mobile clinic alone.
11 June 2024 17:34 (UTC+04:00)

Ulviyya Shahin Read more

Azerbaijan has explored potential cooperation with the Spanish company.

Opportunities for collaboration between Azerbaijan and Spain's "Indra Sistemas" were deliberated upon, as reported by Azernews, citing the Ministry of Economy.

According to the report, Minister Mikayil Jabbarov met with the company's Vice President, Luis Permuy.

During the meeting, discussions revolved around the projects undertaken by "Indra Sistemas" in Azerbaijan, as well as prospective opportunities for localising production in the country. Plans for cooperation in the upcoming period were also addressed.

Specialising in IT and communication services, IT consulting, automated testing equipment, and other domains, Spain's Indra Sistemas has forged business partnerships with over 140 countries and operates in 46 countries.

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11 June 2024 10:57 (UTC+04:00)

Laman Ismayilova Read more

A spectacular concert has been arranged in Tokyo with the participation of Azerbaijanis living in Japan and Japanese artists, Azernews reports.

Chairman of the Azerbaijan State Committee on Work with Diaspora Fuad Muradov, the Azerbaijani Ambassador to Japan Gursel Ismayilzade, members of the Azerbaijani community, and local representatives attended the event.

Azerbaijani and Japanese dancers' performances totally captivated the audience and left a lasting impression.

Relations between Azerbaijan and Japan are built on principles of common interest and mutual understanding.

The diplomatic ties between the two nations were established in 1992.

Since then, the two countries have implemented a number of projects in various areas, especially in the economy.

High-level cultural ties between Azerbaijan and Japan have also contributed to further strengthening bilateral relations.

In 2022, the Japanese Embassy in Azerbaijan organised a festival of Japanese culture. During the festival, the Baku residents and the guests of the city learned more about the Japanese tea ceremony, origami (the art of paper folding), and ikebana, the ancient Japanese art of flower arrangement.

Moreover, Japanese musicians like Keiko Matsui, Nobutaka Yoshizawa, Tempei Nakamura, KUNI-KEN rock band, and TATE Hatoryu NY, a training dojo and production company, had repeatedly performed on the stage of the International Mugham Centre.

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Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @lmntypewriterrr

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11 June 2024 11:43 (UTC+04:00)

Laman Ismayilova Read more

Montenegrin culture and lifestyle will be highlighted at the National Carpet Museum, Azernews reports.

The National Museum of Montenegro will demonstrate the national and cultural features of the Montenegrin people through the exhibition "Beauty of Diversity".

To be held for the first time, the exhibition will showcase over 170 exhibits created by the influence of different cultures.

The exhibition will feature traditional costumes, accessories, jewellery samples, and weapons of the 19th and 20th centuries, reflecting the peculiarities of the ancient Balkan, Roman, Byzantine, Greek, and Slavic heritage.

Among the exhibits, there is a set of traditional costumes decorated with floral, geometric, and zoomorphic motifs that have become an important element and the main attribute of the national identity of the ancient Montenegrin people.

These samples with high taste in virtue of the elements of patterns, harmony of colours, and shape are characterised as everyday and ceremonial apparel of the Christian and Muslim populations of cities and villages.

Men's costumes are mostly simple, while those worn by women are richly embroidered and more colourful.

The project is co-organised by the Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum and the National Museum of Montenegro with the support of the Azerbaijan Culture Ministry and the Ministry of Culture and Media of the Republic of Montenegro.

The exhibition "Beauty of Diversity" will run from June 14 to August 31.

Founded in 1967, the National Carpet Museum holds more than 14,000 exhibits of the finest Azerbaijani carpets.

Initiated by eminent carpet artist Latif Karimov, the museum is beautiful inside and out.

The museum's new building is designed in the form of a rolled carpet. Now, the museum hosts multiple events, including international symposiums, conferences, and various exhibitions.

In 2019, the museum received national status for its significant contribution to promoting Azerbaijani carpet weaving art.

In 2020, the Carpet Museum enriched its collection with a beautiful pile of carpets purchased by the Culture Ministry at the Sartirana Textile Show in Italy.

The 19th-century Guba carpet "Ugakh" was donated to the Carpet Museum, while the Garabagh carpet "Chelebi" enriched the collection of the museum's Shusha branch.

For four years, the Carpet Museum won the Travellers' Choice Awards.

The award proves once again that the professional activity of the National Carpet Museum is highly appreciated by visitors from all over the world.

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Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @lmntypewriterrr

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11 June 2024 14:37 (UTC+04:00)

Laman Ismayilova Read more

Days of Azerbaijani Culture have started in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Azernews reports.

Organized by the Azerbaijan Culture Ministry, the event opens a new page in the history of cultural ties between the two countries.

From musical numbers to theater plays, the Days of Azerbaijani Culture features a large-scale program, which became another celebration of Azerbaijani culture and art in the fraternal country.

On June 11, the Uzbekistan Writers' Union will host a conference themed "Muhammad Fuzuli and Alisher Navoi: our common literary and spiritual values."

On the same day, an Azerbaijani corner will open in the Uzbekistan National Library.

Also, a gala concert with the participation of the Azerbaijani and Uzbek cultural figures will take place at the Uzbekistan Palace of International Forums. Here the guests will have a chance to treat Azerbaijani traditional pastries and sweets.

The Days of Azerbaijani Culture on June 12 will be remembered for an exhibition "Azerbaijani National Heritage in Pearls of Art" at the Uzbekistan Gallery of Fine Arts and the play "I am who I am" to be staged by Azerbaijan State Yugh Theater at the Uzbek State Institute of Art and Culture.

On this day, Uzbek art lovers will also enjoy Uzeyir Hajibayli's operetta "The Cloth Peddler".

The Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater will present this world-famous work at the Uzbekistan State Academic Theater.

On June 13, the Azerbaijan Cultural Center named after Heydar Aliyev in Tashkent will host a presentation of the book "The Sword and the Pen" by well-known author of historical novels Mammad Said Ordubadi.

The Azerbaijani Culture Days will leave an indelible mark in the memory of the fraternal Uzbek people, who are always interested in our literary and cultural riches.

Recall that the last time the Days of Azerbaijani Culture were organized in Uzbekistan was in 2022.

The holding of the Uzbek Culture Days in Baku in 2023 was another step towards strengthening Azerbaijani-Uzbek relations.

The large-scale event featured gala concerts, theatre performances, book presentation, exhibition and other events that aimed to highlight Azerbaijani-Uzbek relations.

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Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @lmntypewriterrr

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11 June 2024 15:20 (UTC+04:00)

Laman Ismayilova Read more

Hollywood star and martial artist Steven Seagal has received a star at the Sea Breeze Walk of Fame, Azernews reports.

Throughout his career, Steven Seagal has starred in over 100 films. The actor is best known for his roles in iconic movies such as "Under Siege," "Above the Law," "Death in Defiance" and many others.

Walking along the red carpet. Steven Seagal and People's Artist of Azerbaijan Emin Agalarov (EMIN) shared their impressions of the event, highlighting their long-standing friendship and collaboration.

This is not the first time Steven Seagal has come to Baku. He performed concerts here and took part in various projects.

The actor expressed his gratitude to Emin Agalarov for their decade of friendship.

"I am grateful for the creativity that Emin brings into my life and for his friendship and support. It is a great joy for me to visit beautiful Baku again and take part in the ceremony of laying a personal star," said Steven Seagal.

The ceremony marked the addition of Seagal's star as the sixth on the Sea Breeze Walk of Fame, a project spearheaded by People's Artist of Azerbaijan Emin Agalarov.

"We are honoured to lay the star of Steven Seagal, who is my great friend. He is a true cinema legend, an amazing musician. Everyone loves him in Azerbaijan. I am honoured to be his friend. I am glad that his star will appear in Baku," said Emin Agalarov.

Steven Seagal's signature star became sixth on the Sea Breeze Walk of Fame. The Alley already features stars Muslim Magomayev, Tamara Sinyavskaya, Nani Bregvadze, Engelbert Humperdinck, and Alessandro Safina.

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Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @lmntypewriterrr

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11 June 2024 19:22 (UTC+04:00)

Fatima Latifova Read more

The 121st session of the UN Tourism Executive Council was held in Barcelona, Spain, Azernews reports.

Representatives of more than 30 member states of the organization participated in the session organized under the chairmanship of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Kanan Gasimov, the head of the Office of the State Tourism Agency, who spoke within the session, in his turn, said that within the framework of the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29), which will be hosted by our country in November of this year, the UN is currently He gave detailed information about the cooperation with tourism.

Emphasizing that the strengthening of the role of tourism in the climate change policy of COP29 has a significant impact, Kanan Gasimov called on the members of the Executive Council to support the initiatives put forward jointly with UN Tourism in the organization of COP29.

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11 June 2024 10:00 (UTC+04:00)

Fatima Latifova Read more

On June 10, the Azerbaijan Defense Minister, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov met with the Minister of Defense of Georgia, Mr. Irakli Chikovani, who is on an official visit to Azerbaijan, Azernews reports.

The delegation first visited the graves of the National Leader Heydar Aliyev and prominent ophthalmologist, academician Zarifa Aliyeva in the Alley of Honor and laid flowers. In the Alley of Shehids (Martyrs) the visitors laid flowers at the graves of Shehids, who sacrificed their lives for the independence and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. Wreath was laid at the Eternal Flame monument.

Then, the Azerbaijan Defense Ministry hosted a solemn welcoming ceremony, the Ministers passed along the guard of honor. The national anthems of Azerbaijan and Georgia were performed. In accordance with the protocol, the Georgian Minister signed the Book of Honor.

Colonel General Z.Hasanov greeted the Georgian delegation and expressed satisfaction with seeing him in Azerbaijan. The Defense Minister noted that there is traditional friendship and mutual trust between the two nations. The Minister emphasized the positive impact of the sincere relations between the two heads of state on joint cooperation.

Speaking about the work in the liberated territories done after the Patriotic War, the Minister stressed that more than 12 percent of Azerbaijans territory is covered with mines. It was noted that as a result of the explosion of mines, 361 civilians and servicemen were wounded, 68 of them died.

Colonel General Z.Hasanov noted that relations established on the basis of strategic partnership with Georgia are developing and rising. The Minister noted that Azerbaijan and Georgia are planning to conduct a total of 21 joint events in the military sphere throughout 2024.

The Defense Minister invited his Georgian counterpart to the 5th Azerbaijan International Defence Exhibition ADEX to be held in Baku in September this year.

Expressing his satisfaction with his first visit to Azerbaijan as the Defense Minister and Vice Prime Minister, Mr. I.Chikovani expressed his gratitude for the sincere reception and hospitality. He noted the importance of holding such meetings in the development of existing relations between Azerbaijan and Georgia and the expansion of relations.

The Minister of Defense of Georgia emphasized that restoration of territorial integrity of Azerbaijan is very important for Georgia as well.

The meeting emphasized importance of increasing the intensity of joint exercises. It was noted that the Eternity computer-assisted Command and Staff Exercises and Caucasian Eagle exercise held in a tripartite format contribute to the development of friendly relations between military personnel, and at the same time provide an opportunity for mutual experience exchange.

The sides expressed confidence that defense cooperation between Azerbaijan and Georgia will contribute to ensuring peace and stability in the region.

The meeting of the Defense Ministers discussed the prospects for the development of cooperation in the military, military-educational fields, regional security and other issues of mutual interest.

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11 June 2024 12:05 (UTC+04:00)

Fatima Latifova Read more

On June 4 of this year, 6 Azerbaijani citizens, including 5 children and 1 woman, detained in camps located in the territory of the Syrian Arab Republic, were repatriated to Azerbaijan, Azernews reports.

Representatives of the Ombudsman met with those repatriates placed in the social service institution of the Social Services Agency under the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of the Population, got acquainted with the social service provided to them on the spot, and investigated the status of their rights.

During the meeting with the repatriates, their socio-psychological condition was evaluated, their problems and needs were studied, and recommendations were made regarding the protection of their rights.

The representatives of the ombudsman were informed about the measures taken and planned for the rehabilitation of repatriates by the head of the enterprise and its employees.

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11 June 2024 14:53 (UTC+04:00)

Fatima Latifova Read more

"The Republic of Belarus will participate in the revival of Azerbaijans liberated territories," Azernews reports, citing President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko as he spoke at a meeting with Chairperson of the Azerbaijani Parliament Sahiba Gafarova.

Belarusian president noted that he warmly recalls his recent trip to Azerbaijan and, in particular, his visit to the liberated territories, a tour of which was conducted by President Ilham Aliyev himself.

In Shusha, I told him: You live in paradise. I have never seen such a place, having visited many places on our planet: clean air, beautiful nature. I am sure you will accomplish another feat, restoring life in these territories. We will be happy to participate in this work; we have determined the directions. There are no obstacles, Lukashenko said.

Note that President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko visited the Republic of Azerbaijan on May 15.

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International Tea Day has been celebrated at UNESCO headquarters with the participation of the permanent representatives of the tea-producing member countries of the organisation, Azernews reports.

International Tea Day is observed annually on May 21. The resolution was adopted on December 21, 2019, and calls on the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) to lead the observance of the day.

International Tea Day draws attention to the long history and deep cultural and economic significance of tea worldwide.

Tea Day promotes and fosters collective actions to implement activities in favour of the sustainable production and consumption of tea and raise awareness of its importance in fighting hunger and poverty.

Azerbaijan's stand at the event was set up by Association Dialogue France-Azerbaidjan and Togrul Narimanbayov Association with the support of the Azerbaijani Embassy in France.

At the event, the UNESCO Deputy Director General Sin Ku and the permanent representatives of the tea-producing countries spoke about tea.

The speakers underlined that tea is considered the most consumed drink after water.

They also stated that tea production and processing are one of the main sources of income for millions of families in developing countries, and the main means of livelihood for the poorest families in less developed countries.

The participants of the event noted that the tea industry is actually the main source of income and export for some poor countries.

Tea parties were organised by permanent missions to UNESCO in accordance with the traditions of each country.

Azerbaijani and Turkish tea stands, which were side by side at the event, attracted great public attention.

The Azerbaijani tea stand decorated with national souvenirs displayed French-language publications of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation on monuments of cultural and historical heritage included in UNESCO's list of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

The stand also showcased pear cups, souvenirs depicting national musical instruments.

Visitors were informed about the Azerbaijan river and were given publications in French.

At the event, art works inspired by Shusha, made by the students of the Natavan school operating in Paris.

In the artistic part of the event, the art representatives of the participating countries presented their national music and dances.

Tea Traditions in Azerbaijan

There is nothing better than to start a day with tea in Azerbaijan. The country has rich tea traditions which are passed from one generation to another.

For Azerbaijanis tea is associated with warmth and hospitality. Tradition says that one should not allow the guest to leave the house without at least one cup of tea.

In Azerbaijan, people drink tea from a special glass called "armudu" (literally pear-like glass).

Tea also occupied a special place in the matchmaking ceremony, which was called "Heri". Everything about this ceremony is very symbolic.

If the tea is served without sugar, that is a sign that the chances for a marriage agreement are very low; conversely, if the tea is served with sugar, it means that there will be a wedding.

Azerbaijani tea lovers can't imagine their lives without visiting traditional tea houses called chaykhana. Here, men usually drink tea, while playing backgammon (nard) and reading the newspaper.

The country also hosts numerous festivals, gathering true tea connoisseurs.

The festival guests have a great opportunity to enjoy tea varieties as well as try traditional dishes and sweets of the participating countries.

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Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @lmntypewriterrr

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Pierce Bush talks about his grandfather during a ceremony kicking off President George H. W. Bushs 100th birthday week celebration on Monday, June 10, 2024 in Houston. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer

Celebrations for George H.W. Bush's 100th birthday began Monday morning with an event hosted by the Bush family and Houston Mayor John Whitmire at the George Bush Monument in Downtown Houston.

The event, sponsored by the George & Barbara Bush Foundation and the Houston First Corporation, began with a performance from the Bushes favorite local music organization, the Theater Under the Stars Musical Theatre Academy Ensemble, a news release detailed. The event also included a program featuring Jim Mattress Mac McIngvale, Linda Lorelle, Houston First CEO Michael Heckman and a tribute from the Houston Police Department.

Theatre Under The Stars Musical Theater Academy Ensemble sing during a ceremony kicking off President George H. W. Bushs 100th birthday week celebration on Monday, June 10, 2024 in Houston. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer

The Houston event kicked off a week of festivities that features a three-day birthday celebration held in College Station June 11-13.

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Here's a look at the upcoming celebrations for the former president's 100th birthday.

Pierce Bush gives a thumbs up as he lands after skydiving to honor his grandfather during the 41@100 celebration, commemorating what would have been President George H.W. Bushs 100th birthday, at the Bush Presidential Library & Museum on Thursday, June 13, 2024 in College Station. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer Andrew Card, CEO of the George and Barbara Bush Foundation, skydives during the 41@100 celebration, commemorating what would have been President George H.W. Bushs 100th birthday, at the Bush Presidential Library & Museum on Thursday, June 13, 2024 in College Station. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer People arrive for the 41@100 celebration, commemorating what would have been President George H.W. Bushs 100th birthday, at the Bush Presidential Library & Museum on Thursday, June 13, 2024 in College Station. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer Lauren VanBuren, center, holds her son, Dietrich, 2, as they wait in line to take photos with Sully the Service Dog and Texas A&M mascot Reveille X during the 41@100 celebration, commemorating what would have been President George H.W. Bushs 100th birthday, at the Bush Presidential Library & Museum on Thursday, June 13, 2024 in College Station. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer Sharon Smith, left, and her sister, Pam Hill pose for photos with Sully the Service Dog and Texas A&M mascot Reveille X during the 41@100 celebration, commemorating what would have been President George H.W. Bushs 100th birthday, at the Bush Presidential Library & Museum on Thursday, June 13, 2024 in College Station. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer Elissa Thomasson and her son, Phineas, take a look at the Marine One exhibit during the 41@100 celebration, commemorating what would have been President George H.W. Bushs 100th birthday, at the Bush Presidential Library & Museum on Thursday, June 13, 2024 in College Station. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer Elissa Thomasson and her son, Phineas, take a look at the Marine One exhibit during the 41@100 celebration, commemorating what would have been President George H.W. Bushs 100th birthday, at the Bush Presidential Library & Museum on Thursday, June 13, 2024 in College Station. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer People take in the Bush 4141 locomotive and Marine One exhibit during the 41@100 celebration, commemorating what would have been President George H.W. Bushs 100th birthday, at the Bush Presidential Library & Museum on Thursday, June 13, 2024 in College Station. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer People take in the exhibits in the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library & Museum during the 41@100 celebration, commemorating what would have been Bushs 100th birthday, on Thursday, June 13, 2024 in College Station. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer Pierce Bush talks about his grandfather during a ceremony kicking off President George H. W. Bushs 100th birthday week celebration on Monday, June 10, 2024 in Houston. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer Pierce Bush talks about his grandfather during a ceremony kicking off President George H. W. Bushs 100th birthday week celebration on Monday, June 10, 2024 in Houston. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer Pierce Bush is embraced by Linda Lorelle after speaking about his grandfather during a ceremony kicking off President George H. W. Bushs 100th birthday week celebration on Monday, June 10, 2024 in Houston. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer Neil Bush stands by a statue of his father during a ceremony kicking off President George H. W. Bushs 100th birthday week celebration on Monday, June 10, 2024 in Houston. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer Pierce Bush stands by a statue of his grandfather during a ceremony kicking off President George H. W. Bushs 100th birthday week celebration on Monday, June 10, 2024 in Houston. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer Pierce Bush laughs with his dad, Neil, as they stand by a statue of his grandfather during a ceremony kicking off President George H. W. Bushs 100th birthday week celebration on Monday, June 10, 2024 in Houston. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer Pierce Bush greets Mayor John Whitmire as he walk to the stage to speak during a ceremony kicking off President George H. W. Bushs 100th birthday week celebration on Monday, June 10, 2024 in Houston. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer Mayor John Whitmire speaks during a ceremony kicking off President George H. W. Bushs 100th birthday week celebration on Monday, June 10, 2024 in Houston. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer Neil Bush, right, listens to speeches during a ceremony kicking off President George H. W. Bushs 100th birthday week celebration on Monday, June 10, 2024 in Houston. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer Mayor John Whitmire speaks during a ceremony kicking off President George H. W. Bushs 100th birthday week celebration on Monday, June 10, 2024 in Houston. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer Mayor John Whitmire speaks during a ceremony kicking off President George H. W. Bushs 100th birthday week celebration on Monday, June 10, 2024 in Houston. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer Jim Mattress Mac McIngvale speaks during a ceremony kicking off President George H. W. Bushs 100th birthday week celebration on Monday, June 10, 2024 in Houston. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer Ray Hunt, executive director, Houston Police Officers Union, speaks during a ceremony kicking off President George H. W. Bushs 100th birthday week celebration on Monday, June 10, 2024 in Houston. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer Andy Card, CEO of the George and Barbara Bush Foundation, speaks during a ceremony kicking off President George H. W. Bushs 100th birthday week celebration on Monday, June 10, 2024 in Houston. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer Neil Bush and his son, Pierce, talk during a ceremony kicking off President George H. W. Bushs 100th birthday week celebration on Monday, June 10, 2024 in Houston. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer A Houston Police Honor Guard lines up near the statue of President George H. W. Bush before a ceremony kicking off Bushs 100th birthday week celebration on Monday, June 10, 2024 in Houston. Bushs 100th birthday is June 12. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer Members of a Houston Police Honor Guard gather near the statue of President George H. W. Bush before a ceremony kicking off Bushs 100th birthday week celebration on Monday, June 10, 2024 in Houston. Bushs 100th birthday is June 12. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer Members of a Houston Police Honor Guard gather near the statue of President George H. W. Bush before a ceremony kicking off Bushs 100th birthday week celebration on Monday, June 10, 2024 in Houston. Bushs 100th birthday is June 12. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer The statue of President George H. W. Bush is shown before a ceremony kicking off Bushs 100th birthday week celebration on Monday, June 10, 2024 in Houston. Bushs 100th birthday is June 12. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer The statue of President George H. W. Bush is shown before a ceremony kicking off Bushs 100th birthday week celebration on Monday, June 10, 2024 in Houston. Bushs 100th birthday is June 12. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer

Tuesday, June 11: Alumni day

To launch the three-day celebration, Secretary Robert M. Gates and Secretary Andrew H. Card, Jr. will participate in a moderated conversation Tuesday afternoon at the Annenberg Presidential Conference Center on the West Campus of Texas A&M University.

Later in the day, alumni of the George H.W. Bush administration will partake in a distinguished moderated conversation and reunion dinner.

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Wednesday, June 12: A day of gratitude

On the late former president's 100th birthday, the George & Barbara Foundation will invite key patrons to participate in special wreath-laying ceremonies.

Members of a Houston Police Honor Guard salute as the national anthem is performed during a ceremony kicking off President George H. W. Bushs 100th birthday week celebration on Monday, June 10, 2024 in Houston. Bushs 100th birthday is June 12. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer

Later in the day, Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer Jon Meacham and former Chief of Staff under Bush Jean Becker will host a book launch event about their books "The Call to Serve: The Life of an American President, George Herbert Walker Bush" and "Character Matters: And Other Life Lessons from George H.W. Bush."

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Thursday, June 13: Community Celebration Day

To honor Bush, the public is invited to participate in a day of family-friendly activities at the George H.W. Bush Presidential Center. All events are free, but require registration except for entry to the Pavilion and Library & Museum, which will have free admission from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The event will include the grand opening of the 29,000-square-foot Marine One/4141 Locomotive Pavilion, which features the retired Marine One helicopter frequently flown by President Bush and his wife. The new facility also houses the Union Pacific 4141 Locomotive, painted to match Marine One, that led the president's funeral train.

Thursday morning Bush's grandchildren will continue the tradition of parachute jumping, just like their grandfather did every five years from the ages of 75 to 90. The group will also participate in a moderated conversation, Looking Forward: Carrying the Mantle of Service into the Future" from 2-3 p.m. in the Annenberg Presidential Conference Center.

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Pierce Bush stands for the national anthem during a ceremony kicking off President George H. W. Bushs 100th birthday week celebration on Monday, June 10, 2024 in Houston. Bushs 100th birthday is June 12. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer

Free birthday cake and ice cream will be available to visitors in the rotunda of the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library & Museum, with a special appearance from Bush's service dog, Sully.
11 June 2024 16:13 (UTC+04:00)

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev sent a congratulatory letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin, Azernews reports.

The letter reads:

"Dear Vladimir Vladimirovich,

On behalf of the people of Azerbaijan and myself, I sincerely congratulate you and through you, the entire people of friendly Russia on your national holiday  Russia Day.

The strong traditions of friendship and good neighborliness between our peoples, formed over many centuries, are a reliable foundation for the successful and consistent development of relations between Azerbaijan and Russia. We highly value the achieved level of Azerbaijani-Russian cooperation, which has an allied character.

Today, our bilateral agenda includes a wide range of issues covering practically all areas of cooperation, the implementation of which will undoubtedly benefit not only our countries and peoples but also the region as a whole.

I am convinced that Azerbaijani-Russian relations and multifaceted cooperation, which serve the interests of our friendly countries, will continue to develop effectively along an upward trajectory, being filled with new content and joint projects.

On this significant day, I wish you, dear Vladimir Vladimirovich, good health and success, and to all citizens of Russia, well-being and prosperity.

Respectfully,

Ilham Aliyev

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

Baku, 10 June 2024"

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11 June 2024 15:17 (UTC+04:00)

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev sent a congratulatory letter to Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos, President of the Republic of the Philippines, Azernews reports.

The letter reads:

"Dear Mr. President,

On my own behalf and on behalf of the people of Azerbaijan, I extend my sincerest congratulations to you and through you, your entire people on the occasion of the national day of the Republic of the Philippines  the Independence Day.

I believe that we will continue to make joint efforts towards the development of Azerbaijan-Philippines relations and the expansion of our mutually beneficial cooperation on both bilateral and multilateral levels in line with the interests of our peoples.

On such a remarkable day, I wish you robust health, happiness, and the friendly people of the Philippines peace and prosperity.

Sincerely,

Ilham Aliyev

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

Baku, 10 June 2024"

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11 June 2024 16:44 (UTC+04:00)

The agenda of the next meeting of the extraordinary session of the Milli Majlis (the Azerbaijani Parliament), which will be held on June 14, has been announced.

Azernews reports that the agenda of the meeting included discussion of 11 issues.

Those issues are:

1. Draft law "On the implementation of the 2023 state budget of the Republic of Azerbaijan" (third reading).

2. Draft amendment to the law "On the state budget of the Republic of Azerbaijan for 2024" (second reading).

3. Draft amendment to the law "On the 2024 budget of the State Social Protection Fund" (second reading).

4. Draft amendment to the law "On the 2024 budget of the unemployment insurance fund" (second reading).

5. Draft amendment to the Family Code (second reading).

6. Draft amendments to the Tax Code, the Laws "On Road Traffic" and "On Motor Vehicle Transport" (second reading).

7. Draft amendment to the law "On Accounting" (second reading).

8. Draft amendment to the Family Code (second reading).

9. Draft amendment to the Code of Administrative Offenses (second reading).

10. To the Tax Code, "On state duty", "On the list of items not allowed to be in civil circulation (excluded from civil circulation)", "List of items that may belong to certain participants of civil circulation and are allowed to circulate (restricted civil circulation) on the basis of a special permit on", "On Customs Tariff" and "On Licenses and Permits" law amendment draft (second reading).

11. Draft amendment to the law "On auditor service" (second reading).

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11 June 2024 23:11 (UTC+04:00)

Azerbaijans Minister of Foreign Affairs Jeyhun Bayramov met Tuesday with his German counterpart Annalena Baerbock as part of his working visit to the country, Azernews reports, citing the Azerbaijani MFA.

The ministers noted they place great importance on Azerbaijan-Germany relations, expressing willingness to further these ties.

The FMs emphasized that there are further opportunities for cooperation between Azerbaijan and Germany within the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP29) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change scheduled to take place in Azerbaijan this year. They pointed out the successful co-organization of the Petersberg Climate Dialogue as well as the importance of the ongoing Bonn Climate Change Conference.

Highlighting the current realities in the region in the post-conflict period, the Azerbaijan-Armenia reconciliation process, Minister Jeyhun Bayramov talked about the challenges and opportunities of the peace process. He described the ongoing claims against Azerbaijans territorial integrity in the Armenian Constitution as an obstacle to signing the peace treaty.

During the meeting, the two exchanged views on other regional issues of mutual concern.

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11 June 2024 18:18 (UTC+04:00)

Ulviyya Shahin Read more

Azerbaijan, a significant player in the global energy market, has witnessed a remarkable surge in its natural gas exports to Europe during the period from January to May of 2024.

Azernews reports, citing operational data from the Ministry of Energy that during the period from January to May of 2024, Azerbaijan exported 5.3 billion cubic meters of natural gas to Europe. This marks an increase of 0.5 billion cubic meters or 10.4% compared to the corresponding period in 2023.

In total, gas sales from Azerbaijan to foreign countries over the past five months amounted to 10.6 billion cubic meters, representing a 3.4% increase compared to the same period last year.

Of this amount, 4.1 billion cubic meters of gas were sold to Turkey and 1.2 billion cubic meters to Georgia during January-May of this year. Gas exports to Turkey decreased by 0.2 billion cubic meters or 4.6%, while the volume of gas transported to Georgia remained unchanged compared to last year's figures.

Notably, approximately 2.3 billion cubic meters of gas were transported to Turkey through the Trans-Anatolian Gas Pipeline (TANAP) during this reporting period, marking a decrease of 0.1 billion cubic meters or 4.2% compared to the previous year.

The Trans-Adriatic Gas Pipeline (TAP), the European segment of the Southern Gas Corridor, which facilitates the transportation of Azerbaijani gas to southern Europe, now boasts a transmission capacity of 12 billion cubic meters per year. TAP's construction was completed in October 2020, with a total length of 878 kilometers traversing northern Greece, Albania, the Adriatic Sea, and Italy. Azerbaijani gas began flowing to consumers in Italy, Greece, and Bulgaria through TAP on December 31, 2020.

Natural gas extracted from Azerbaijan's Shahdeniz field is primarily transported to Turkey. Gas volumes reach the Turkish market via the South Caucasus Pipeline (Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum) and TANAP. Commercial gas transportation to Turkey through TANAP commenced on June 30, 2018, following the first gas delivery via the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum pipeline in 2007.

Azerbaijan's robust performance in natural gas exports to Europe in 2024 highlights the country's pivotal role in meeting the energy needs of European markets. By leveraging its strategic geographical position and investing in infrastructure development, Azerbaijan is poised to sustain its upward trajectory in gas exports, further cementing its status as a key player in the global energy arena.

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11 June 2024 20:38 (UTC+04:00)

By Alimat Aliyeva

Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan have signed a trilateral intergovernmental agreement on the preparation for the implementation of the Kambaratinsk HPP-1 construction and operation project, Azernews reports.

The document was signed by the energy ministers of the three countries within the framework of the international energy investment Forum of Kyrgyzstan held in Vienna on June 10-11.

The capacity of the HPP will be 1,860 MW. The plant will produce an average of 5.6 billion kWh of electricity annually. According to preliminary estimates, the construction of this energy facility will require more than 4 billion US dollars.

According to the Ministry of Energy of Kazakhstan, this HPP should become the largest power plant in Kyrgyzstan and will provide electric energy to the countries of Central Asia, as well as stabilize the water supply of the region.

The forum, organized by the Government of Kyrgyzstan and the World Bank, ended with the creation of a Coordinating Donor Committee for the construction of the Kambarata HPP-1. It includes: the World Bank, the OPEC Fund, the Asian Development Bank, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, the Islamic Development Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, etc.

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11 June 2024 21:20 (UTC+04:00)

By Alimat Aliyeva

The command of the People's Liberation Army of China (PLA) demanded that the Armed Forces of the Netherlands ensure restraint of the air and naval forces of this European country, since the PLA will take decisive measures in response to their provocations.

This statement was made by the official representative of the Ministry of Defense of the People's Republic of China Zhang Xiaogang, Azernews reports.

"We have instructed the Dutch side to strictly restrain the actions of its Air Force and Navy. China will certainly respond with decisive countermeasures to infringement of rights and provocations," the statement posted on the Chinese department's page on the WeChat social network said.

Thus, the official representative commented on the information distributed by the Dutch Ministry of Defense that on June 7, two fighter jets and a PLA helicopter approached a helicopter carrying a Dutch Navy frigate of the Tromp type in international airspace in the East China Sea, and thereby "created an unsafe situation." This ship allegedly carried out a mission to monitor the implementation of the UN Security Council resolution on sanctions against the DPRK.

According to Zhang Xiaogang, the Dutch side distorted the events and hid the fact that its helicopter "infringed on [China's] rights and committed a provocation" east of Shanghai. As a result, the Eastern Zone of the PLA Combat Command sent a voice warning and took action to oust the Dutch flight vehicle.

"This was done reasonably and legally, professionally throughout the entire process," the official representative stressed. "It was the Dutch side that created an unsafe situation by demonstrating force in the sea and airspace under the jurisdiction of another country."

According to Zhang Xiaogang, China expresses strong dissatisfaction with the statement and actions of the Netherlands, and has already made a serious presentation to them. He noted that by doing so, the Dutch side created tension, damaging relations between the two countries. "The Chinese army always maintains a high level of combat readiness, resolutely protects the national sovereignty and security of its country, its rights and interests at sea," the official representative stressed.

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11 June 2024 21:45 (UTC+04:00)

By Alimat Aliyeva

The Presidents of Turkmenistan and the Republic of Korea, Serdar Berdimuhamedov and Yun Seok-el, agreed to expand cooperation in large-scale energy and infrastructure projects, as well as to work conscientiously on Seoul's strategy in Central Asia, Azernews reports.

According to the publication, such agreements were reached following talks between the presidents of the two countries in Ashgabat on June 10.

S. Berdimuhamedov supported the "Initiative for Cooperation between Korea and Central Asia on the Silk Road", the first strategy for Greater Central Asia announced by the South Korean government in June 2024.

"The parties agreed to work together to achieve success in large-scale construction projects implemented by Turkmenistan, including petrochemical, environmentally friendly plants and desulfurization facilities," the statement said.

Following the talks between the two presidents, the state concern Turkmengaz and the Korean Hyundai Engineering Co. Ltd signed a framework agreement on cooperation in the design and construction of turnkey commercial gas treatment facilities with a production capacity of 10 billion cubic meters and wells as part of the IV stage of development of the giant Galkynysh gas field in Turkmenistan.

A cooperation agreement was also signed between the state concern Turkmenhimiya and Hyundai Engineering Co. Ltd. on the implementation of measures and works for the successful commissioning and stable operation of the polymer plant in Kiyanli.

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11 June 2024 22:19 (UTC+04:00)

By Alimat Aliyeva

American entrepreneur Elon Musk has warned that he will ban the use of Apple devices in his companies if artificial intelligence technologies are integrated into them at the operating system level, Azernews repots.

"If Apple integrates OpenAI technologies at the operating system level, then Apple devices will be banned in my companies. This is an unacceptable security breach," Musk said.

The entrepreneur also left a comment of similar content under the publication in the X of Apple CEO Tim Cook, dedicated to Apple Intelligence - Apple's generative artificial intelligence.

"Either stop this creepy spyware, or all Apple devices will be banned from my companies," he wrote.

Recall that on June 10, Apple introduced the new iOS 18 operating system, as well as its generative artificial intelligence - Apple Intelligence. It has features such as a summary of texts, image generation in several styles, emoji generation. The AI can use various information from the smartphone to understand the context of the tasks assigned to it. Representatives of the corporation noted that their AI does not collect information and operates it only on the device.

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11 June 2024 22:50 (UTC+04:00)

By Alimat Aliyeva

About 20 North Korean soldiers briefly crossed the inter-Korean land border and returned to their territory after warning shots by the South Korean military, Azernews reports.

The incident occurred on Sunday, June 9, at 12:30 local time. According to the committee, the DPRK military violated the demarcation line in the central part of the demilitarized zone separating the two Koreas.

The South Korean side announced a warning over a loudspeaker, and then fired warning shots. The North Korean military has returned to its territory. After that, no "unusual activity" was recorded on their part, the JCS clarified.

The official representative of the committee, Lee Song-jung, does not believe that the DPRK military crossed the line intentionally.

According to him, the demilitarized zone is now covered with grass and bushes, which makes it difficult to notice the sign marking the demarcation line.

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The Peach Truck is selling peaches now at various locations across Houston The Peach Truck The Peach Truck is selling peaches now at various locations across Houston The Peach Truck

The Peach Truck is bringing fresh fruit from the orchard to malls, farmers markets, mattress stores and other places across the Houston area this summer, with several opportunities to find the juicy treats this weekend.

The Nashville-based company delivers fresh peaches in over 25 states for local pickup and ships for delivery across the U.S.

It's success formula is simple, according to Rachel England, director of brand marketing.

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"We deliver the freshest peaches available, hand picked, packed and to our customers within days of being on the tree, and they taste the difference," she said.

Fresh, ripe peaches are hard to find in a grocery store, and Peach Truck delivers that experience to its customers.

"They are astounded at the difference when they bite into a fresh peach for the first time," said England. "They share that they never knew a peach could be so juicy and families that have since moved out of peach producing states love getting to share the nostalgic, juice running down their face, experience with their kids."

How did The Peach Truck start?

The Peach Truck was founded by Stephen and Jessica Rose in 2012 when they found the peaches at their local grocery store lacking in freshness and sweetness.

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Stephen Rose was craving the peaches from the Georgia orchards of his upbringing and the couple decided to build a small empire, according to the company website.

The Peach Truck team is busy

The Peach Truck team is on the road seven days a week in season if over 40 markets, according to England.

In a single week, the company serves over 30,000 customers via touring, shipping and home delivery to 46 states across the United States.

The company delivers an average of 15M pounds of peaches between Memorial Day and the end of August.

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RETURN OF JERSEY VILLAGE FARMERS MARKET: Revamped farmers market under new partnership will launch this month

Partnering with a local farm in Roses hometown of Peach County, the Roses loaded up their 68 Jeep with hand-picked peaches and took them back to Nashville.

The Roses sold 10 tons of peaches in the first five weeks and havent looked back since.

Where do the peaches come from and how to they stay fresh?

The company now partners with farms in climates optimal for growing peaches, and each fruit is picked and inspected and delivered them within days of being on a tree.

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The peaches on the truck within 24 hours and in customers' hands within days of being on the tree. The company's care in sourcing its supply chain enables the peaches to stay at peak ripeness all the way to the end consumer, which makes the difference, said England.

When is peach season?

Different varieties can be grown in certain regions through the U.S. year-round, but summer is the peak peach picking season.

BAY AREA INSIDER: Must-read local news from League City, Clear Lake and other Bay Area communities

Where do peaches grow?

Georgia, California, North and South Carolina, Florida, Idaho, New Jersey, Colorado.

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What to look for in a good peach

Color: Its not the reddish blush color, thats just the result of sun exposure. A good peach should be a deep, golden yellow color with no green.

Scent: A good peach smells like a good peach, according to the Peach Truck website. If there is no scent, theres a good chance the peach also lack flavor.

Touch: A good peach should be soft to the touch if given a gentle squeeze.

Skin: The skin on a peach is a reliable indicator of its quality and ripeness. If there are wrinkles around the stem it means water has begun to evaporate from the peach and the sweetness has intensified, and its ready to eat.

The Peach Truck at Baybrook Mall

The truck will be selling peaches from the orchard from 8:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. through August.

Scheduled dates: June 17, July 8, July 29, Aug. 19

Where to find The Peach Truck in the Houston area

The trucks will be selling peaches from the orchard at various times and locations through August. Here are some key spots for this week.

Baybrook Mall, 500 Baybrook Mall, Friendswood, June 17

Bass Pro Shops, 1000 Bass Pro Dr, Houston, June 13

Heights Plaza, 239 W 20th St, Houston, June 13

Northshore Mall, 1122-1258 Uvalde Rd, Houston, June 14

Baytown Shopping Center, 3407-3517 Garth Rd, Baytown, TX. June 14.

American Freight Furniture and Mattress, 11051 East Fwy, Houston, June 14

Old Pearlands Farmer Market, 4141 Bailey Rd, Pearland, June 15

Tractor Supply Co., 4200 Pasadena Blvd, Pasadena, June 16

Tanger Outlets, 5885 Gulf Fwy, Texas City, June 21
Annual Rockaway Beach Kite and Art Festival Returns to Oregon Coast

Published 6/09/24 at 7:05 p.m.

By Andre' Hagestedt, Oregon Coast Beach Connection





(Rockaway Beach, Oregon)  A colorful host of angels? No, not really. They're monstrously gigantic, however. Wriggling, shimmying in the sky, there's perhaps dozens of them in bright hues above, with whimsical, fantastical shapes. One may even be a massive whale floating in the sky above the surf. (Photos courtesy Rockaway Beach Chamber)

You don't see that every day on the Oregon coast.

When you can see it, however, is this coming Father's Day weekend, June 14, 15 and 16 at Rockaway Beach  that long stretch of intermittently-appearing beach town that's nudged between Garibaldi and little Wheeler. The 48th Annual Rockaway Beach Kite and Art Festival is a beloved coastal tradition that brings together kite enthusiasts, artists, and families for a weekend of colorful skies and creative expression.

And it kicks into high gear this weekend at the Ocean's Edge Wayside in the middle of Rockaway Beach. Start and end times of the Annual Rockaway Beach Kite and Art Festival are: Friday 12 pm - 6 pm; Saturday 10 am - 6 pm; Sunday 10 am - 2 pm.

You'll find both professional and amateur kite fliers converging on Rockaway Beach, showcasing an array of magnificent kites. From intricate designs to magical shapes, the skies come alive with color and movement. Participants compete in friendly, unofficial contests, vying for awards like the nicest kite or the longest drag on the ground before takeoff. Children can join in the fun by building and flying their small kites during special classes.

Food and live music  along with artisan vendors  are also a big part of what's going on at this Oregon coast staple. A variety of yummy items will be available from various booths. Expect performers and indie-made artisan goodies to purchase.

Now in its 48th year, the festival got its start back in 1976 (the year Eno and Phil Manzanera released the landmark 801 Live album). It's now a much-cherished part of Oregon's coastal heritage. Put on with the sponsorship of the American Kitefliers Association, the event has become a highlight of the summer season, drawing in hundreds to the little beach burgh. The group is the largest such collection of high-flying enthusiasts in the world, and here it brings the joy of kiting to people of all ages and skill levels.





How this whole spectacle of the Annual Rockaway Beach Kite and Art Festival is achieved is rather interesting. With flying rigs these sizes, kite-flyers have large anchors they have to embed in the sand in order to anchor them. First they dig a hole in the wet sand area of the beach  dry sand will not hold. They then drop the anchor in (often a net of some kind) and cover it with the wet sand.

Having strong gloves is also a requirement as the massive chords that hold them can burn your hands easily.

Designing and constructing these fantastic beasts is no easy feat, either. It's a delicate, intricate process which involves  yes, you guessed it  a lot of sewing. Material used is often stuff that comes under names like Schikarex, Chikara or Skytex.

See the Rockaway Beach site or call (503) 355-8108.

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Andre' GW Hagestedt is editor, owner and primary photographer / videographer of Oregon Coast Beach Connection, an online publication that sees over 1 million pageviews per month. He is also author of several books about the coast.

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The Democrats, their media allies, and the rest of the left has been attacking the Supreme Court and particular conservative justices recently. The reason is all the key cases now in front of the court.

Key cases up for decision at the present term of court include:

1) First Amendment, free speech - Cases challenging Florida and Texas laws against big tech censorship and a case from Missoui's Attorney General challenging the Biden regime's censorship of social media.

2) gun rights - two key gun rights cases are in front of the court

3) abortion - the case involving abortion pills is before the court

4) Trump cases - the presidential immunity case is before the court and there is potential for an expedited appeal of the Manhattan case

5) federal agency power - the court has a case that may overrule the Chevron doctrine, which would create more limits on federal bureaucratic rulemaking, something that is badly needed.

So, this is why there are so many attacks by the Democrats and their media allies on the Supreme Court at this time. It is all about intimidating the court.

https://www.zerohedge.com/political/here-are-5-supreme-court-issues-set-reshape-americas-political-landscape

https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/4709823-supreme-court-decision-season/
Crowds that are worked up over an issue are far too easy for oppoenents to manipulate into a mob. As Benjamin Franklin once observed "a mob has hundreds of arms and legs but no head." All it takes is 1) letting down defenses, and 2) instigators within the crowd to egg them on to extreme actions. Evidence has recently emerged that Nancy Pelosi's fingerprints are all over the first of these requirements.

Pelosi wanted the crowd to attack the Capitol so the Democrats could use it politically. Capitol Police chief Steve Sund has testified that he begged for the National Guard to be made available but was turned down.

President Trump authorized using the National Guard to defend the Capitol on January 6, but Nancy Pelosi turned that offer down. Body cam footage of Capitol Police during the riot shows them complaining to each other of being "set up" and denied the level of force needed to defend the Capitol.

Now, a video tape has emerged of Nancy Pelosi admiting responsibility for the Capitol being left without proper protection on January 6. The video was shot by Pelosi's daughter for a documentary and sold to HBO which never aired it but recently turned the video over to a House committee.

The other shoe that hopefully will drop is figuring out who was really behind major instigator Ray Epps - Pelosi? The Democrats? Some government agency? The ANTIFA instigators, like the one dressed in Trump gear who kept yelling "burn it down", probably came on their own, but Epps and his cohorts are another matter.

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2024/06/pelosi-insurrection-new-video-reveals-pelosi-taking-responsibility/

https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2024/06/10/watch-unaired-video-shows-nancy-pelosi-admitting-responsibility-for-not-having-national-guard-at-capitol/

https://redstate.com/nick-arama/2024/06/11/pelosi-and-sund-reaction-to-the-video-n2175311

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2024/06/pelosi-insurrection-my-story-hasnt-changed-officer-sund/

https://redstate.com/nick-arama/2024/06/12/turley-remarks-about-pelosi-video-n2175402

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2024/06/pelosi-insurrection-my-story-hasnt-changed-officer-sund/
Justin Ballard is the Houston Chronicle's first ever newsroom meteorologist. He can be reached at justin.ballard@houstonchronicle.com.

He brings five years of experience forecasting tropical systems, severe weather outbreaks, and blizzards to the Houston Chronicle. His unique experience in forecasting will serve him well in his role at the Chronicle, as Houston has experienced a number of impactful weather events in recent years.

Justin looks forward to his work with the Houston Chronicle, where he'll be responsible for posting daily weather forecasts. On top of daily forecasts, he is excited to tackle more in-depth weather and climate stories that impact the residents of Southeast Texas.

A North Carolina native, Justin joined the Chronicle in July 2023. He graduated with his bachelor's degree in meteorology from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in December 2017.
Hunter Biden was found guilty on all charges in his gun trial on June 11, becoming the first child of a sitting president to face a federal trial and conviction.

The trial hinged on a Colt Cobra revolver that Mr. Biden bought from a gun store on Oct. 12, 2018, during a time prosecutors say he was in the throes of crack cocaine addiction.

Authorities accused Mr. Biden of lying to the federally licensed gun store by illegally claiming on his application that he was not a drug user at the time of purchase and then unlawfully possessing the gun for 11 days. Mr. Biden was facing three felonies and pled not guilty to the charges.

Jurors deliberated for an hour late in the afternoon on June 10 before resuming the following morning. In total, they spent three hours deliberating the case.

The verdict was handed down after a weeklong trial that saw testimony from Mr. Bidens ex-wife Kathleen Buhle, ex-girlfriend Zoe Kestan, sister-in-law and ex-partner Hallie Biden, daughter Naomi Biden, expert witnesses, the gun store owner and the clerk who sold the gun to Mr. Biden, and the man who found the gun in the trash.

Prosecutors argued that testimony from Mr. Bidens ex-romantic partners, along with text messages and memoir excerpts, proved that Mr. Biden was knowingly an active drug addict in October 2018 when he purchased the firearm.

The defense, on the contrary, argued that since Mr. Biden did not consider himself an addict when he purchased the gun, he did not knowingly lie on the gun application form when he checked no when asked if he was a drug addict.

In his closing arguments on June 10, prosecutor Leo Wise focused on self-admissions of drug addiction in Mr. Bidens memoir and text messages he sent around the time of the gun purchase in which he told Hallie Biden he was either waiting for a drug dealer or actively smoking crack cocaine.

He knew he was using drugs. Thats what the evidence shows. And he knew he was addicted to drugs. Thats what the evidence shows, Mr. Wise said.

While the defense acknowledged Mr. Bidens drug use, they sought to paint a picture of a man struggling but otherwise overcoming a dark period that began with the death of his brother Beau from brain cancer in 2015.

The defense argued that Mr. Biden was receiving sobriety treatment in the months leading up to the gun purchase, pointing to hundreds of thousands of dollars of cash withdrawals in 2018 as evidence.

Prosecutors, however, said there are bank statements for the rehab payments, and they were paid with a card, not cash. Prosecutors alleged that Mr. Biden was withdrawing the cash to pay for drugs, not sobriety programs.

The defense also argued that no one directly witnessed Mr. Biden using drugs around the time of the gun purchase, including the 11 days he owned the gun before Hallie Biden found it in his truck and threw it in a public garbage can.

Prosecutors contended that there was evidence of Mr. Biden using drugs right after he purchased the gun. They showed text messages that he allegedly sent Hallie Biden just days after the gun purchase.

In one message, he mentions waiting for a dealer named Mookie, and in a message the following day, Mr. Biden says he is smoking crack on top of a car.

While many in Mr. Bidens family, including First Lady Jill Biden and his uncle James Biden, were present at the courthouse throughout the trial to show support, prosecutors told jurors to focus on the direct evidence in the case, not familial support.

People sitting in the gallery are not evidence, Mr. Wise told jurors, pointing to Mr. Bidens family members.

Mr. Biden didnt take the stand during the trial and Mr. Lowell asked the judge to instruct the jury not to hold it against his client for choosing not to testify.

The trial, five months out from the 2024 election, comes as Mr. Bidens father faces a rematch with former President Donald Trump, who was also handed a guilty verdict in his Manhattan criminal trial weeks before.

Its also not the last criminal trial for Mr. Biden this year, who faces a September court date in California over tax evasion charges.

Mr. Biden faces up to 25 years in prison with his conviction in the federal gun case, although first-time offenders typically receive less than the maximum sentence.

The judge has not set a date for sentencing, but it usually comes within 120 days of the verdict. At the latest, that would place the hearing a month away from the November election.

It is not clear whether the judge will give Mr. Biden jail time after receiving a guilty verdict.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Correction: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated the year in which Hunter Biden purchased the gun. The Epoch Times regrets the error.
Modesto, Calif.-based Doctors Medical Center has been cited for immediate jeopardy by CMS for using certified registered nurse anesthetists to sedate and monitor surgical patients.

The hospital has been canceling and rescheduling dozens of procedures as the California Department of Public Health investigates complaints, the agency confirmed to Becker's on May 30.

According to an internal update sent to hospital medical staff obtained by The Modesto Bee, the use of CRNAs has been put on hold as they were granted privileges for procedures they had not previously performed at the center. The medical center was found at fault for its credentialing process for CRNAs and will redo the process.

"CDPH teams are on site at Doctors Medical Center in Modesto to investigate practices that may not be compliant with state and federal requirements," a spokesperson for the department told Becker's.

CMS and the state health department will not lift the immediate jeopardy until the hospital's plan for mitigating the problem is approved. Physicians have said the complaints are about anesthesia-related medical errors, according to the Bee.

"We are collaborating with the California Department of Public Health on our action plan to address the items identified by the CDPH and will await a follow-up survey," the hospital said in a statement shared with the newspaper, adding that patient safety is the hospital's top priority.

Doctors Medical Center has a contract with Fresno, Calif.-based Valley Regional Anesthesia Associates for providing anesthesia. The contract has been criticized by anesthesiologists who claim CRNAs are used as a cost-saving measure, according to the Bee.

"No further information will be available until those investigations are complete," the CDPH spokesperson said. "CDPH is monitoring this facility and providing oversight, in collaboration with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, to ensure the facility is in compliance with requirements and practices so it can provide safe, high-quality care to patients that need it."

"California has been a Medicare opt-out state since 2009, meaning that CRNAs do not require physician supervision as a condition of Medicare payment," a spokesperson for the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology said in a statement shared with Becker's. "The more than 3,000 CRNAs who practice in the state are highly qualified healthcare professionals who, through education, licensing, and certification, are recognized as autonomous providers of anesthesia services... Any attempt to denigrate or disregard the education and training that CRNAs undergo to provide such vital patient care not only defies California state laws but also ignores a wealth of research validating the safety and efficacy of CRNA practice."

The AANA added that CRNAs deliver anesthesia throughout all counties in California, and four counties only have CRNAs as anesthesia providers.

Becker's also reached out to CMS and Doctors Medical Center for comment on this story and will update it if new information becomes available.
The Supreme Court has accepted a petition to review a decision on a case that decreased the extra Medicare payments received by hospitals that serve larger populations of low-income patients, Bloomberg Law reported June 10.

The contested case was previously reassessed in June 2022, when the Supreme Court upheld the original decision to decrease payments made in 2005 defining what the phrase "entitled to benefits" means, according to Bloomberg Law. The court backed HHS' statement that "individuals 'entitled to [Medicare Part A] benefits' are all those qualifying for the program, regardless of whether they are receiving Medicare payments for part or all of a hospital stay."

In July 2017, Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, Ill., and more than 200 hospitals had sued the HHS over the department's method of determining their received payments, also known as disproportionate share hospital payment adjustments, Bloomberg Law reported. The hospitals said the payment calculation did not fully account for all care provided to patients eligible for Supplemental Security Income patients. These arguments, as well as the hospitals' request for recalculation of payments for the years of 2006-2009, were rejected by the District Court for the District of Columbia.

In December 2023, attorneys for the hospitals that sued HHS in 2017 petitioned the Supreme Court to revisit its June 2022 decision, claiming it does not answer whether the term "entitled to [SSI] benefits" includes all those who quality for SSI or only those who actually receive those benefits, according to the publication.

"The Court should seize this opportunity to review this question of pressing importance, which affects the survival of safety net hospitals across the country and the health of the Nations most vulnerable communities," the petition said.
Optum, parent company of SCA Health, and Tenet Healthcare, parent company of United Surgical Partners International, have made big moves in the last year, continuing their consolidation of both physicians and ASCs.

Here are eight major acquisition notes to know from the two companies:

Optum:

1. SCA Health acquired at least two cardiovascular providers in 2023. National Cardiovascular Partners comprises 21 cardiac catheterization and vascular labs. Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.-based Pivotal Healthcare has 11 affiliate practices and 14 locations.

2. In March, Optum announced plans to acquire bankrupt Dallas-based Steward Health Care's physician group, Stewardship Health.

3. Also in March, Optum received approval to bypass a state review of its planned purchase of physician-owned Corvallis (Ore.) Clinic.

4. In September, shareholders from Baton Rouge, La.-based Amedisys, a home health and hospice provider, approved a $3.3 billion acquisition by Optum.

Tenet:

1. In the first quarter of 2024, Tenet acquired 45 surgery centers while also selling nine hospitals for proceeds of $4 billion to invest in the ambulatory space.

2. The company also announced plans to invest $450 million into growing its ambulatory business in 2024.

3. Tenet entered into a definitive agreement with Winston-Salem, N.C.-based Novant Health for the sale of three hospitals in South Carolina, but the ASCs in the market will remain under USPI ownership.

4. In December, Tenet purchased 55% ownership interest in NextCare and its affiliates for $75 million, a joint venture to own and operate 41 urgent care centers in Arizona.
Gastroenterologists are taking an increased interest in prescription weight loss medications and their impact on GI care.

In June, the American Journal of Gastroenterology focused an entire issue on obesity in gastroenterology, discussing issues including population trends in obesity, food insecurity, how obesity affects predisposition to diseases and response to therapies, treatment and therapies and a multidisciplinary approach to obesity.

Benjamin Levy III, MD, a gastroenterologist at the University of Chicago Medicine, told Becker's that he has high hopes for the future of weight loss medications and their ability to improve gastroenterology care for patients.

Dr. Levy: During clinic, I always evaluate patients for obesity by calculating their body mass index and then provide guidance and lifestyle modification tips. After documenting their BMI in the chart, I counsel each patient on nutrition recommendations and exercise. Lifestyle modifications should be used before jumping to medications. It's important for gastroenterologists to ask patients about specific food consumption over the past three days, so we can provide helpful nutrition advice. I also ask patients about their exercise habits over the past two weeks. I'm constantly encouraging patients to avoid eating fatty foods, fried foods, excess carbohydrates, sugary drinks and highly processed foods to help with weight loss.

Over the past year, a huge surge of patients have been requesting weight loss medications - especially the GLP-1 receptor agonists. The CDC has estimated that the obesity prevalence in America was 41.9% between 2017 and 2020, so these new weight loss medications are very much needed. GLP-1 receptor agonists work by slowing gastric emptying, which helps patients feel full and consume less calories. As gastroenterologists, we need to keep track of patients on the GLP-1 agonists to help them prepare for colonoscopies, EGDs and other surgical procedures. Notably, the American Society of Anesthesiologists has suggested holding GLP-1 receptor agonists prior to procedures due to case reports of aspiration. It's super important for gastroenterologists, ASCs and hospitals to educate patients about specific recommendations for holding these new medications to prevent endoscopy cancellations.

2024 is an amazing time in medicine because we now have the ability to significantly decrease rates of obesity without the need for invasive procedures - and hopefully prevent complications such as diabetes and heart disease. I encourage gastroenterologists to work with primary care physicians, endocrinologists and weight loss clinics to identify patients who might benefit from Ozempic, Wegovy or Zepbound. Over the next few years, hopefully these amazing new medications will help prevent metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis, liver conditions which are beginning to overwhelm our GI clinics. In addition, we hope that the GLP-1 receptor agonists decrease rates of obstructive sleep apnea nationally - a chronic condition which makes our EGD and colonoscopy procedures more difficult.
Nashville-based Optometric Physicians of Middle Tennessee filed a notice of data breach with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on April 4, according to a June 10 report from JDSupra.

Upon completing an investigation, OPMT determined that the breach resulted in an unauthorized party accessing confidential patient information.

On March 24, OPMT learned about the cyberattack and reviewed the compromised files to determine what information was leaked and which consumers were impacted.

OPMT has yet to confirm the types of patient information compromised.
Lawmakers in California are considering a bill that would create additional oversight for private equity companies attempting to purchase healthcare facilities, including ASCs.

The bill would require private equity firms and hedge funds to provide written notice to the state before purchasing a healthcare facility or provider group.

California's attorney general would then have to approve the transaction, according to the bill text, which was amended in April.

The attorney general could then stop the acquisition if it posed a "substantial likelihood of anticompetitive effects" or if it would affect access of healthcare services delivered to the community.

Buyers would also be required to submit written notice to any federal or state agency as required by law within 90 days of the transaction.

The increased scrutiny comes as private equity has had an expanding role in medicine in the last decade.

Currently, more than 60% of physicians have a negative opinion of private equity's role in healthcare and just 10.5% of physicians said they view private equity as positive, according to VMG Health's "M&A Report" for 2024.

Additionally, more than 20% of the healthcare bankruptcies in 2023 were by private equity-backed companies.

Private equity has also taken an increased interest in outpatient care and ASCs, with outpatient care seeing 195 private equity deals in 2023, the most of any healthcare subsector.

"The way it's heading, only certain specialties will be able to survive what's happening with hospitals, private equity and insurance companies buying everyone up. Unless the government steps in and starts pushing back against payers, our healthcare system will fail," Corey Hunter, MD, executive director of Ainsworth Institute of Pain Management in New York City, told Becker's. "The Medicare Administrative Contractors are supposed to manage Medicare on a regional level, but they aren't even obligated to follow Medicare guidelines when it comes to coverage. If that kind of change happens, then I would encourage medicine as a field.  If it doesn't I won't be telling my kids to follow in my footsteps."








Utica, N.Y.-based Wynn Hospital is no longer allowing physician assistants to perform invasive procedures, the Daily Sentinel reported June 10.

The internal memorandum outlining the change was sent to all medical staff at Utica-based Mohawk Valley Healthcare System June 6. The memorandum reads, in part, "Effective immediately, physician assistant providers are not allowed to perform invasive procedures at the Wynn Hospital. This includes the operating room, all procedural areas, and the bedside. Please note regular PA duties, however, may continue. More information will be provided once it becomes available."

The system is reviewing and updating the credentials of its medical staff, Patricia Charvat, senior vice president of marketing and strategy for MVHS, told the Sentinel. "As part of that review, the ability of physician assistants to perform procedures in the operating room or at the bedside at the Wynn Hospital has been temporarily put on hold until credentialing to perform these procedures has been confirmed. This has not impacted patient care or surgeries."

The announcement comes a month after open-heart surgeries at the hospital were put on hold following a May 7 immediate jeopardy citation. The hospital began its 40-day review period this week and surgeries should resume at the end of that time, a spokesperson confirmed to Becker's. It is not clear if the suspension of PA procedures is related to the review of the open-heart program.
Marietta, Okla.-based Mercy Health Love County is reopening its clinic June 11  more than a month after the clinic and hospital temporarily closed after being struck by a tornado.

In April, tornadoes in Oklahoma injured at least 100 people and killed four, and damaged Mercy Health Love County, forcing it to close all services temporarily.

Three days after the tornado, phone service was back up and some services, such as prescription refills, resumed, according to a June 6 hospital news release. Physicians and nurse practitioners have been seeing patients through home, virtual and phone visits.

Now the clinic is expected to resume normal hours and operations.

"We have worked tirelessly to make sure our clinic building is safe for patients and co-workers," hospital Administrator Scott Callender said in the release.

The hospital remains closed. No timelines of its reopening has yet been released, a hospital spokesperson told Becker's.
Federal authorities are investigating a 2023 data breach at a medical transcription company that may have compromised the personal information of up to 1.2 million patients at Chicago-based Cook County Health, NPR affiliate WBEZ reported June 10.

According to documents obtained by the radio station, in November, a grand jury subpoena was sent to Cook County Health asking the system for "any and all information related to the data security incident" that hit Perry Johnson & Associates in 2023.

The subpoena revealed that acting U.S. Attorney Morris Pasqual and a prosecutor from the Justice Department's fraud section requested Cook County officials provide PJ&A's contract with the county, records of Cook County's background checks on PJ&A and all communications between the health system and the company about the data breach.

Federal authorities also asked the system's department of risk management to provide a "list of affected individuals and the compromised data" along with any documents "related to identifying the unauthorized third party that accessed PJ&A data."

Cook County Health spokesperson Alexandra Normington told the publication the subpoena was the "initial contact" it had with federal investigators regarding the breach. She said the health system has "fully cooperated" with authorities, though it is not aware of the details of the federal investigation.

The breach at Perry Johnson & Associates has affected several hospitals and health systems, including Cincinnati-based Bon Secours Mercy Health and New Hyde Park, N.Y.-based Northwell Health.

PJ&A officials and an attorney representing them did not respond to WBEZ's request for comment.
In response to the rise in cyberattacks targeting U.S. healthcare systems, Google has engaged in a partnership with the White House to help rural hospitals.

The rise in healthcare-related cyberattacks is alarming because there is a human cost involved when the ability of hospital systems to provide care is severely disrupted," Taylor Lehmann, director of the office of the chief information security officer at Google Cloud, told Becker's in an emailed statement. "We have seen hospital systems and physician groups go out of business, face bankruptcy and take months to recover from such damaging attacks. By partnering with the White House and the healthcare sector, we are focused on helping reverse this trend and building safer and more resilient critical infrastructure systems."

As part of the partnership, the tech giant will work to address security weaknesses in healthcare systems by transitioning underserved critical infrastructure organizations to a more modern computing approach.

"Google will provide endpoint security advice to rural hospitals and nonprofit organizations at no cost and a pool of funding to support software migration," Mr. Lehmann said. "In addition, Google is committing to launch a pilot program with 4-5 rural hospitals to develop a packaging of security capabilities that fit their unique needs."

Google's commitment to healthcare cybersecurity extends beyond this new partnership. The tech giant has ongoing projects and collaborations, including its work with the Health Information Sharing and Analysis Center (Health-ISAC). According to Mr. Lehmann, Google is in its third year of this five-year commitment, which involves financial resources tools such as VirusTotal, and advisory services and training for more than 900 members globally.

Furthermore, Google is participating in a working group focused on enhancing the stability of rural, small and underserved health systems, Mr. Lehmann said. He also highlighted a pilot project using Google Maps and related technologies to create a comprehensive view of at-risk health systems.

"The goal of these efforts is to enable proactive identification of communities where disruption in the local health system could have life threatening consequences if any entity were to go on diversion (as has been the case with recent ransomware attacks on hospitals)," Mr. Lehmann said. "The Resilience Mapping project will then be used to feed programs we run with the HSCC, Health ISAC, clinics and other investments in stabilizing our health systems globally."
Dallas-based Steward Health Care has snagged an additional $225 million loan commitment from a group of lenders to keep its 31-hospitals and physician group, Stewardship Health, operational ahead of auction.

Steward, which filed for bankruptcy May 6, will now seek approval from the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas for the financing, according to a June 10 Steward news release obtained by Becker's.

The lenders are a group of "Steward's secured FILO lenders," the release said, and include WhiteHawk Finance, Owl Creek Investments, OneIM, MidOcean and Brigade Capital Management, a spokesperson from Steward confirmed with Becker's.

The health system was forced to seek additional funding after Medical Properties Trust, Steward's landlord, shared in early May that it could not provide Steward more than $75 million in debtor-in-possession financing to help with sustaining patient care while it looked for new hospital operators.

U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Chris Lopez gave the green light for Steward to sell its hospitals and its physician group, Stewardship Health, during a June 3 hearing.

The first round of hospitals  which exclude Steward's Florida facilities and certain Texas hospitals  and Stewardship Health have a June 24 bid deadline and July 11 first sale hearing.

Steward's Florida hospitals and four Texas facilities are part of the second round sale, with an Aug. 12 bid deadline and Aug. 22 sale hearing.

Mr. Lopez also approved Steward's motion to provide a potential financier with incentives, which include a minimum of $6.75 million in a "commitment fee."

Editor's note: This story has been updated as of 10:10 a.m. CT on June 13.




Health system CFOs around the country are working to expand access to care, either organically or through strategic partnerships, and grow their businesses after a financially challenging couple of years.

Yale New Haven (Conn.) Health CFO Gail Kosyla told Becker's the health system's biggest growth opportunities over the next few years include "stronger alignment with our clinical partner, Yale School of Medicine towards improved access for services and population health."

"We recently embarked on a joint strategic plan that better aligns our collective priorities and sets economic funding strategies that better support our initiatives," said Ms. Kosyla, who previously served as executive vice president of system financial operations for West Orange, N.J.-based RWJBarnabas Health. "Included in this is our Access 365 initiative, which standardizes our workflows and enables greater availability of needed care for our patients."

Access 365 aims to create a "world-class experience" for all consumers, including patients, providers, referring providers and employees, according to Yale New Haven. One area this program supports is radiology and expanding access to appointments for imaging procedures.

In October, the health system acquired PhysicianOne Urgent Care, which operates 26 urgent care facilities across Massachusetts, New York and Connecticut. Yale New Haven previously had a clinical affiliation with PhysicianOne that helped provide its patients with access to high-quality primary care providers and specialists in the area.

Fully integrating the urgent care provider into the health system's care continuum was a natural next step.

"This will allow 24/7 urgent and telehealth access for the communities we serve, and continuity into our full system of care," Ms. Kosyla said.

On the hospital front, Yale New Haven had planned to acquire three Connecticut hospitals from Los Angeles-based Prospect Medical Holdings  a for-profit hospital operator  but last month sued to get out of the deal. Yale New Haven alleges that Prospect engaged in irresponsible financial practices and breached its contract by not paying rent and taxes on time, letting the three hospitals deteriorate.

The news comes at a time when private equity firms are coming under increased scrutiny by lawmakers and other stakeholders for reduced care quality and staff conditions at hospitals and other facilities.

Hospital M&A is also rebounding after a lull in recent years, with private equity firms, payers and non-traditional owners  such as General Catalyst's Health Assurance Transformation Corp.  pursuing strategic hospital and health system transactions.

"I expect strong competition and consolidation will continue both horizontally and vertically. Additionally, more non-traditional owners will be present in the market," Ms. Kosyla said. "Developing integrated models that focus on efficiency and improving outcomes will be key to success. Through our investments in population health and Access 365, we will be able to successfully focus on these goals."

Additionally, Yale New Haven is focused on process improvements through its CORE initiative: Achieving a Bold Strategy Through Collaboration, Optimization, Resiliency and Efficiency. "This framework allows us to systematically analyze and implement process solutions to enable more efficiency and better outcomes," she said.

On average, hospital operating margins are rebounding across the U.S., but 40% of hospitals are still losing money, according to Kaufman Hall's most recent report. Ms. Kosyla offered some sound advice for hospitals still struggling to strengthen their margins.

"Organizations should focus on growth initiatives as identified by their strategic plans. Growth initiatives should have targeted ROI  whether financial or mission-based, and where possible, should align pricing strategies in payer relationships," she said.

"Consider optimizing systems of care, including partnering where it makes sense. Systems need to ensure that patients' needs are at the forefront. This may mean they need to stop doing services that are no longer aligned. Systems should also strive to reduce costs through standardization to achieve greater efficiencies and outcomes."

One pain point that continues to challenge CFOs is getting paid appropriately and on time by commercial Medicare Advantage contracts, and a growing number of hospitals and health systems are pushing back and dropping MA contracts with certain commercial payers.

"The biggest challenges we are seeing are the administrative burdens of commercial MA contracts," Ms. Kosyla said. "Additionally, we see instances of required utilization and quality metrics that do not align with our overall population health strategies. Both are burdensome and costly for our organization, and result in lower overall reimbursement than traditional Medicare. Health systems need to better partner with MA plans to ensure alignment, and potentially limit the number of plans with which they contract for better collaboration and contract performance."
Steven Packer, MD, president and CEO of Montage Health in Monterey, Calif., has shared plans to retire next spring after 25 years in his role.

Prior to his time as president and CEO of the nonprofit health system, Dr. Packer served in several roles for Montage Health's Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula, including chief of staff, according to a June 10 Montage Health news release.

During his time at Montage Health, Dr. Packer helped launch initiatives like the Pavilion Project at Community Hospital, which added 120 patient rooms to the facility.

He also helped lead the development of the Carol Hatton Breast Cancer Center in Monterey, the creation of Montage Medical Group and the construction of the Ryan Ranch outpatient campus in Monterey.

A national search will be launched to find a successor for Dr. Packer in the coming days, the release said.
Massachusetts Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey have introduced the Corporate Crimes Against Health Care Act of 2024 in an attempt to remove "corporate greed and private equity abuse" in healthcare.

In a June 11 joint press release, Ms. Warren and Mr. Markey shared how private equity fund assets have more than doubled, hitting $8.2 trillion in 2023 and pointed to how lax corporate transparency and accountability laws have allowed private equity to harm nursing homes, provider practices, hospitals and other healthcare entities.

Dallas-based Steward Health Care's financial woes were also mentioned. The 31-hospital health system, which has facilities in Massachusetts, filed for bankruptcy on May 6 and is attempting to offload its hospitals and physician group, Stewardship Health.

"My Corporate Crimes Against Health Care Act would prevent what happened with Steward from ever happening again," Ms. Warren said in the release. "When private equity gets hold of health care systems, it is literally a matter of life and death, so if you drive a hospital like Steward into bankruptcy, putting patients and communities at risk, you should face real consequences."

Here are seven things to know about the Corporate Crimes Against Health Care Act of 2024:

1. The act would result in criminal penalty of up to six years in prison for executives who loot healthcare organizations like hospitals and nursing homes should that looting result in the death of a patient.

2. The Justice Department and state attorneys general would have the ability to take back all compensation from private equity and portfolio company executives, including salaries, in a 10-year period before or after a healthcare firm they have acquired experiences avoidable financial issues due to their actions.

3. An associated civil penalty could be authorized of up to five times the clawback amount under the act.

4. Federal health program payments to entities that sell assets or use them as REIT loan collateral could be banned, apart from existing arrangements, under the act. The Tax Code rule that allows taxable REIT subsidiaries to sway healthcare operations could also be repealed. The act would also cut 20% pass-through deduction, which was passed in the 2017 Trump tax cuts, for REIT investors.

5. Healthcare providers who receive federal funding would be required to publicly report mergers, acquisitions, financial data, like debt and debt-to-earnings ratio, and changes in control and ownership.

6. An HHS OIG report to Congress would also be mandated on the harms that corporatization causes in healthcare.

7. "They promised to improve health care, but instead traded lives and livelihoods for profit. Private equity firms and their enablers will continue to steal from America's healthcare system to feed their corporate greed unless we stop them. We need guardrails now to guarantee CEO wealth doesn't come before the public's health," Mr. Markey said in the release.
Baltimore-based Johns Hopkins School of Nursing is addressing community needs by taking primary care door to door, NPR reported June 11.

The Neighborhood Nursing pilot program consists of a team of nurses and community health workers that make weekly visits to three apartment buildings in Johnston Square, a predominantly Black disadvantaged neighborhood. The visits are free to patients and are not dependent on health status, income or what type of insurance, if any, they have. Visits are done in people's homes, senior centers, lobbies, libraries and anywhere else people can be found.

In the time it has run, Neighborhood Nursing has successfully helped patients receive care and has expedited physicians appointments as needed. However, the greatest challenge is funding.

The program's goal is to build a program akin to a public utility, serving everyone regardless of insurance. In the past, insurers have collectively funded projects like statewide vaccination programs, giving precedent for pooling resources for a program like Neighborhood Nursing.

By 2025, the program hopes to expand their services to four neighborhoods  two within Baltimore, one in the suburbs and one in a rural area  and visit more than 4,000 people. The program staff are also receiving training on mental-health first aid and simple techniques of cognitive behavioral therapy.

The program is modeled after a similar initiative that has run successfully in Costa Rica for the last 30 years.
Airline easyJet have confirmed the launch of three new winter routes from Belfast International Airport from October.

The collection of new routes for the winter 2024 season includes popular winter sun and city break destinations Fuerteventura, Marrakech, and Prague.

Passengers from Northern Ireland will be able to fly to Fuerteventura from 28 October operating on Mondays and Fridays.

A new year-round city route to Prague will also launch on 2 November and will operate twice a week on Tuesdays and Saturdays from the airport.

Flights to Marrakech from Belfast International will also return for the first time since before the Covid pandemic, on 3 November and operate throughout winter on Wednesdays and Sundays.

The new flights are among 60 new routes now available to book, including 33 routes launching from 11 UK airports.

The airline said flights on the new routes from Belfast International are now available to book at easyJet.com and via their mobile app.

Ali Gayward, easyJet's UK country manager, said: Were delighted to be releasing an incredible range of new routes today for this winter, our largest release.

"With 33 new services now available from 11 UK airports. Our flights and holidays are available for even more and brand new destinations including Fuerteventura, Marrakech, and Prague from Belfast, further strengthening our unrivalled short-haul network and providing customers with even more choice and great value.

Dan Owens, Belfast International Airport, chief executive officer, added: We are delighted that easyJet is adding three new routes to further compliment their growing flight programme from Belfast International Airport.

"The introduction of Marrakech, Prague and Fuerteventura will extend the choice and flexibility of routes now available from Belfast International Airport and will no doubt appeal to travellers from right across the region wanting to fly from their local airport.

News Catch Up: Tuesday 11th June 2024
Richard Gillan, Managing Partner, Grant Thornton NI, welcomes Economy Minister, Conor Murphy MLA, to the breakfast launch event to celebrate the Belfast Telegraph Top 100 Companies, supported by Grant Thornton NI

At the breakfast launch event to celebrate the Belfast Telegraph Top 100 Companies, supported by Grant Thornton NI, are Eoin Rooney, Special Advisor, Department for the Economy, and Angela McGowan, CBI

Pic 17 - At the breakfast launch event to celebrate the Belfast Telegraph Top 100 Companies, supported by Grant Thornton NI, are Paul Roelle, US Consulate, and Bronagh Bourke, Grant Thornton NI.

At the breakfast launch event to celebrate the Belfast Telegraph Top 100 Companies, supported by Grant Thornton NI, are Margaret Canning, Belfast Telegraph, Maureen OReilly, independent economist, and Martin Breen, Belfast Telegraph

At the breakfast launch event to celebrate the Belfast Telegraph Top 100 Companies, supported by Grant Thornton NI, are Kevin Vallelly, CDE Global, Sam McCrea, SAM, Jonathan Megaw, Grant Thornton NI

At the breakfast launch event to celebrate the Belfast Telegraph Top 100 Companies, supported by Grant Thornton NI, are Stephen Cave, Grant Thornton NI, and Chris McKeown, CDE Global

At the breakfast launch event to celebrate the Belfast Telegraph Top 100 Companies, supported by Grant Thornton NI, are Chris Speers, Lidl, Kerry-Ann McGeown, Terex, and Mary Coughlin, Calor Gas

At the breakfast launch to celebrate the Belfast Telegraph Top 100 Companies, supported by Grant Thornton NI, are Karol McGuckin, Macnaughton Blair, Ollie Reel, ASEE Ltd, and Ronan McGuirk, ASEE Ltd

At the breakfast launch to celebrate the Belfast Telegraph Top 100 Companies, supported by Grant Thornton NI, are Sean Og Brennan and Naomhan McCrory, both of Viberoptix

At the breakfast launch to celebrate the Belfast Telegraph Top 100 Companies, supported by Grant Thornton NI, are Margaret Canning, Belfast Telegraph, and event MC Sarah Clarke, UTV, and Maureen OReilly, independent economist

At the breakfast launch to celebrate the Belfast Telegraph Top 100 Companies, supported by Grant Thornton NI, are Mark Bradley, Grant Thornton NI, Neil Gamble, John Henderson Holdings, and Paul Prenter, Grant Thornton NI

At the breakfast launch to celebrate the Belfast Telegraph Top 100 Companies, supported by Grant Thornton NI, are Margaret Canning, Belfast Telegraph, and event MC Sarah Clarke, UTV

At the breakfast launch to celebrate the Belfast Telegraph Top 100 Companies, supported by Grant Thornton NI, are Mark Bradley, Grant Thornton NI, and Paul Prenter, Grant Thornton NI

At the breakfast launch to celebrate the Belfast Telegraph Top 100 Companies, supported by Grant Thornton NI, are Nikita Lynn, Grant Thornton NI, and Ben Scott, Dale Farm

At the breakfast launch to celebrate the Belfast Telegraph Top 100 Companies, supported by Grant Thornton NI, are Peter Legge, Grant Thornton NI, Stephen Cave, Grant Thornton NI, Maureen OReilly, independent economist

At the breakfast launch to celebrate the Belfast Telegraph Top 100 Companies, supported by Grant Thornton NI, are Bronagh Bourke, Grant Thornton NI, and event MC Sarah Clarke, UTV

At the breakfast launch to celebrate the Belfast Telegraph Top 100 Companies, supported by Grant Thornton NI, are Neal Shanks and Victoria Russell, both of Grant Thornton NI

At the breakfast launch to celebrate the Belfast Telegraph Top 100 Companies, supported by Grant Thornton NI, are Richard Gillan, Neal Taylor and Peter Legge, all of Grant Thornton NI

At the breakfast launch to celebrate the Belfast Telegraph Top 100 Companies, supported by Grant Thornton NI, are Charlin Kerlin, Grant Thornton NI, and Maeve Hunt, Grant Thornton NI

At the breakfast launch to celebrate the Belfast Telegraph Top 100 Companies, supported by Grant Thornton NI, are Josh Hannon, Hannon Holdings, Aodh Hannon, Hannon Holdings, and Alan Gourley, Grant Thornton NI

The Belfast Telegraph Top 100 Companies 2024, in partnership with Grant Thornton, has been launched.

The event at Belfasts Titanic Hotel was attended by Economy Minister Conor Murphy and leaders of many of the firms on the list, including the number one business, Randox Holdings.

Compiled by economist Maureen OReilly, the Top 100 lists companies in order of profitability, with Randox, based in Crumlin, securing the top spot with pre-tax profits of 189.8m in the year to June 2022.

Speaking at the event, which was hosted by UTV journalist Sarah Clarke, Mr Murphy said: The Top 100 companies are exemplars of the type of companies we want to grow right across the North, so Im delighted to be here to recognise your contribution to the economy and to celebrate your success.

As Economy Minister, my role is to support you, to build upon your success and to remove any barriers that stand in your way.

With fresh leadership in Invest NI, greater certainty on our trading relationships and considerable international goodwill, we have an opportunity to write a new and more prosperous chapter in our economy.

Richard Gillan, managing partner of Grant Thornton Northern Ireland, said: Each year, the Belfast Telegraphs Top 100 Companies launch event showcases the breadth and depth of our economy and the companies that make it what it is.

There is a real sense of positivity and dynamism in the room when so many successful business leaders come together, and it was palpable once again.

From indigenous firms to established global brands, the Top 100 celebrates the present, as well as the future for business in Northern Ireland. It is evident that they all share the values of setting the highest standards, engendering best practice and driving business growth.

It was a privilege to hear from Economy Minister Conor Murphy MLA, whose vision for the economy set an upbeat tone for the future. Lets make sure we capitalise on the opportunities that are in front of us, while tackling the challenges that exist.

The Economy Minister reiterated the four main objectives of his economic vision of creating good jobs, promoting regional balance, reducing carbon emissions and raising productivity.

He added: Like other Executive departments, the Economy portfolio faces difficult challenges brought on by pressures on the budget.

But I will continue to work constructively with what I have and am developing actions which will move us in the right direction.

Over the coming weeks and months, the department will launch local economic plans backed up by a restructure of Invest NI to strengthen regional offices.

Mr Murphy said he intended to work closely with businesses, because its only by working together that we reach our full economic potential.

Id like to congratulate the businesses recognised in todays list, he continued.

Your success inspires ambition and confidence in others.
Economy Minister Conor Murphy at the Top 100 Companies launch at the Titanic Hotel in Belfast (Pic: Stephen Hamilton)

Economy Minister Conor Murphy has said the presence of former civil servant Sue Gray should mean Northern Ireland has a friend in court in a future Labour government.
Future industries are the way to weather foreign competition, suppression

09:58, June 11, 2024 By Wen Sheng ( Global Times

Illustration: Tang Tengfei/GT

China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) revealed an initiative in early 2024 to promote fast development of the "future industries" or strategically important emerging industries. Recently, the ministry set up a new administrative body named "Department of Future Industries," which indicates that Chinese policymakers have set their eyes on fostering future-oriented drivers of economic growth.

The institutional set-up isn't a small move as China aspires to rapidly develop "new quality productive forces," and lead the world in new technology innovation. China does not want to lag behind others in all important technology domains in the future.

Policymakers are telling the 1.4 billion Chinese people that high technology must be self-developed and secured, because "high-tech cannot be bought." The US government's relentless assault and squeeze on the Chinese high-tech sector in recent years is a testament to this conviction.

The MIIT's new initiative set targets on facilitating future manufacturing, future information technology, future materials, future energy, future aerospace growth, and future healthcare development. The six fields resonate well with the Chinese government's resolve to foster "new quality productive forces" in its bid to replace traditional economic movers with newer, more dynamic, and potent growth drivers.

Whether the new initiative will succeed has a close bearing on the sustainability of China's economic revival in the aftermath of the pandemic-induced downward pressure. To put it more succinctly, the initiative pertains to the competitiveness of China's sprawling manufacturing sector and determines whether the country could prevail in future industrial and technological competition.

Over the past several years, some Western media pundits dangled silly suggestions that China's good days were numbered as its economy, dragged down by the real estate sector, "is walking into a dead end." Some even laughed that the US government's crackdown on Chinese high-tech companies would destroy and obliterate China's ability to compete with the US in the future.

But these pundits have failed to realize the resilience and creativity of Chinese people. The successful endeavors by China to facilitate future-oriented "new quality productive forces" in the past several years are being showcased by the country's meteoric rise in new energy, aerospace, robotics, 5G-led information industry revolution, high-speed commuting and transportation, and more.

Taking battery and electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing for example, China is now clearly leading the world in innovation and market size. Of the world's total EV sales of around 13 million in 2023, China has sold 8.8 million, according to data provided by the China Passenger Car Association. The association has projected that EV sales will likely top 11 million units in China in 2024, with the domestic EV penetration rate reaching 40 percent, which is unrivaled in the world.

The new-energy sector, by all metrics, is one of the prime "future industries" that is shoring up China's technological edge and sustaining the country's advanced manufacturing.

The world's new-energy transition is unstoppable and will only gain pace, because it is a "sunshine" sector, fitting perfectly in the global fight to control carbon dioxide emissions and mitigate climate change. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), EVs are the key technology to decarbonize road transport, which accounts for nearly one-fifth of global emissions. Few areas in the world of clean energy are as dynamic as the EV market, and China, undoubtedly, is the frontrunner of this new burgeoning industry.

Lately, Chinese policymakers have listed the "low-altitude" sector as another strategically important "future industry." Currently, Chinese provinces are ramping up efforts to accelerate the growth of this new sector.

Chinese economic policymakers and analysts agree that the "low-altitude" economic sector refers to a spectrum of business activities occurring within the low-altitude space, from the surface up to 1,000 meters above the ground. The industry will encompass manned and unmanned civilian aircraft and flying vehicle activities, including aerial tourism, cargo delivery, eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) equipment manufacturing, maintenance, and integrated service systems.

Many Chinese cities and provinces are studying how low-altitude activities can complement and facilitate the development of other sectors such as agriculture, tourism, medical care, and new business models. A number of other strategically important emerging sectors like robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) will also be vigorously developed in the course of developing the "low-altitude" economy.

China is endowed with sufficient conditions to develop the "low-altitude" economy. For example, the homegrown C919 jetliner provided the local aviation industrial chains with more knowledge about aircraft engineering, safety, and airworthiness. Meanwhile, the BeiDou Satellite Navigation System and China's expansive 5G network rollout will greatly facilitate the development of the low-altitude sector.

As to the development of eVTOL tools, China's dynamic EV sector will bring rich know-how in making high-density batteries, high-reliability motors, electronics control, and autonomous driving. For example, Shenzhen, a special economic zone in South China's Guangdong Province, has vowed to build more than 600 takeoff and landing platforms for low-flying aircraft and open more than 220 inner-city UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles).

The size of China's low-altitude economy as of the end of 2023 was estimated at more than 500 billion yuan ($70 billion), and that scale is expected to expand to reach 2 trillion yuan by 2030, according to the Civil Aviation Administration of China, the regulator. The emerging industry will also become a motivator and catalyst for the growth of other sectors in China by creating new business patterns, new jobs, and generating new revenue streams.

Clearly, Chinese policymakers have turned to nurturing strategically important future industries as the source to sustain the country's high-quality growth, and the only effective way to weather suppression and obstruction by others. That vision has revealed China's new development paradigm to reshape a new era of global competition.

The author is an editor with the Global Times.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
Greentown Labs, a nonprofit incubator for climate solution startups, is seen, Wednesday, May 15, 2024, in Houston. Jill Karnicki/Staff photographer Fiesta Mart, 4200 San Jacinto St., and Midtown Sears, 4201 Main St.,, photographed before they were converted to the Ion and Greentown Labs. Melissa Phillip, Staff / Houston Chronicle

Right about where the tomatoes and plantains used to be in the Midtown Fiesta, a startup company called GigaDAC is working on a prototype that resembles an old-timey gramophone but, if successful at its full size, would capture gigatons of carbon dioxide from the air.

Down the aisle, so to speak, another startup, Lignium Energy, converts cow manure into odorless fuel pellets. Another, Global ROC, has developed non-chemical water treatment technology for industrial cooling towers.

Above it all  the laser cutter, vented fume hood and hand tools neatly mounted on the wall for the 60-plus high-tech ventures to share  a giant Pepe the parrot flashes a big-beaked grin. Hes just about the only reminder of the former grocery store, and an unlikely totem for species threatened by global climate change.

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Greentown Labs on San Jacinto Street is a place of big secrets and big potential. Some groups work behind screens to protect their intellectual property, and all photography is banned. No visitors are allowed beyond the community event space, though an editorial board member scored a recent tour.

We wanted to see what was going on these days inside the high-profile, high-tech incubator, especially after news broke in May that Greentown Labs CEO, Kevin Knobloch, had stepped down.

His decision came after the Houston Chronicles Amanda Drane reported on tension within the nonprofits board over a partnership with Saudi oil giant Aramco and negotiations with Exxon Mobil. Greentown has laid off employees even as it considers more stringent criteria to vet potential corporate sponsors.

Was Houstons oily embrace of Greentown Labs too much for Boston to handle? When the nonprofit expanded from Boston to Houston in 2021, it had received backing from Chevron, Shell and BP. The headwinds its facing arent from Texas petro barons. Theyre coming from those in the environmentalist community who seem to want to cordon off the desperate race to save the planet from climate disaster from entities that helped get us in this mess.

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Every nonprofit has the right, and the obligation, to vet donors, but now doesnt seem the time to turn away funding or hold back on collaborations. Purity  of motive or of conscience  just isnt a luxury their vital effort can afford right now.

Houston has the talent to accelerate the energy transition  scientists, engineers and geologists galore. We have the industrial infrastructure that needs cleaning up. And we have deep-pocketed companies eager to invest. Consider that it took about a decade for Greentowns original Boston location to host the number of startups Houston drew in its first years.

According to a report by Powerhouse, a climate innovation firm, Texas ranks fourth overall among states for the number of climate tech startups per capita, but it is first for startups focused on industrial processes. In other words, Houston is where ideas can go from cute concepts to proven solutions at a massive scale.

Fervo Energy was incubated at the Houston location. Now it has a 3.5 megawatt geothermal pilot project operating in Nevada and is drilling a second 400-megawatt project in Utah. Another Greentown Houston alum, Syzygy Plasmonics, has secured investments from Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to use light instead of combustion in its all-electric chemical reactors.

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If you just want to work on the next great dating app, you should just move to Austin and do that, Bobby Tudor, the chair of the Houston Energy Transition Initiative told us, but if you want to work on the most vexing problem in human history, you should move to Houston and be in the middle of the energy transition, because this is where the leadership is going to happen.

Maybe the cultural clash between Bostons pristine lab coats and Houstons gritty overalls was inevitable. Environmentalists have plenty of legitimate grievances against oil and gas companies. In a world that needs to pay more attention to rising seas that are already forcing the evacuation of whole communities, its within reason for protesters to temporarily block oil tankers even if their kayaks are made from petroleum.

Bakeyah Nelson, a senior advisor to the Rockefeller Family Funds environment program, argues that oil and gas companies should not be allowed to greenwash their history of climate denial and pollution with relatively minuscule investments in clean energy. Activists are demanding that oil companies pay to clean up their messes, be held liable for years of climate denial, and be held accountable when they violate their permits, she wrote the Chronicle in a letter to the editor.

A partnership between Exxon and Greentown Labs does not by any means absolve the company of sins. Calls for climate justice should continue even as others work with urgency from within or in partnership with Big Oil to move desperately needed technologies from prototype to full-scale reality.

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Somewhere around what was the cereal aisle in the old Fiesta, there are now conference rooms and showers  a necessity as much as the soldering kits and 3D printers. Its not enough for entrepreneurs to dream big or to invent the perfect gadget. Their all-nighters will not be enough unless they spiff up ahead of pitch sessions with investors and corporate leaders, and make the odd-couple coalitions that put the planet before purity of process
John McGrillen says we need more direct flights from Europe to Belfast to help us get more bang for our buck

Tourism is right at the heart of business in Northern Ireland and in Belfast alone, there will be an estimated tourist income of over 130m this year.

NI attracts more than six million air passengers, more than two million ferry passengers and over 330,000 cruise ship passengers every year.

One man at the heart of this industry is John McGrillen, the chief executive of Tourism Northern Ireland.

Read more Belfast Telegraph Top 100 Companies 2024: Full list

The industry John is charged with overseeing is certainly growing, but its not without problems.

A study from Ulster University (UU) and Dublin City University (DCU) has shown that while both jurisdictions on the island are improving their tourism numbers, the Republic is attracting much higher expenditure from travellers.

John is unsurprised by some of these conclusions, and sees external factors as playing a key role.

I think there are two reasons. One, a visitor who may come from the US typically, will do a tour of the whole of the island. And so they may come for somewhere between 10 and 12 days, they might spend three days in the north and nine in the south.

So part of that is simply down to geography. The Republic is four times bigger than the North.

The second factor is probably down to connectivity. People, flying say from France, Germany or Spain, they would tend to spend less time [in NI].

Connectivity in the Republic of Ireland to mainland Europe is far in excess of what we have with Belfast.

I certainly think we need to see a greater level of connectivity between Europe and Belfast directly.

We need to look to see how we can encourage more direct flights from places like Paris, Dusseldorf, Cologne, Munich: some of those larger cities in France and Germany.

One way to encourage those flights is to market individual locations within Northern Ireland, and Visit Belfast launched a new three-year strategy at the end of May to help further build up the citys appeal as a destination.

The Belfast city regions New Horizons plan aims to grow the citys tourism economy by 20%, to get to an annual return of 150m by 2026-27.

Growing tourism is a key goal of Tourism NI, however the UU and DCU study also found that Northern Ireland had struggled to grow tourism within the state when compared to the Republic.

Staycations within the Republic grew from 6.5 million a year to 11 million a year from 2011 to 2021.

In contrast, in NI the numbers remained steady at around 2 million, something the universities said could reflect the Republics stronger economic performance.

John agrees with this suggestion, saying: Part of our challenge is in the past decade that weve really lived through a period of austerity.

Certainly within the public sector and, given the public sector dominance here, people in real terms are probably worse off now than they were 10 years ago. So people are having to make choices as to how to spend their money.

It doesnt surprise me that if, in real terms, their incomes havent increased, that the level of expenditure that theyre making on domestic travel has followed suit.

Whereas, what youve seen in the Republic has been significant year on year growth, salaries increasing.

Weve been on different trajectories in terms of economic performance over the last 10 years. And that probably applies right across the UK, not just Northern Ireland.

Tourism NI has been working hard to tap into the market of tourists from the Republic, and to that end have invested huge time and effort over the last 10 years to change the perception of Northern Ireland.

[In 2016] we did a huge piece of work to establish why people from the south were not coming north.

The findings of that poll were that people thought there wasnt very much to do, people had no idea how they would get there, and they thought it was very far away.

Some people thought it was more expensive than it is in the Republic, and they felt that Northern Ireland wasnt a particularly friendly place for visitors from the south.

Tourism NI launched a new advertising campaign in the Republic to try and challenge these preconceptions.

Our strap line has been a small step to a giant adventure. So thats really connected getting the message across to people that Northern Ireland is not that far away, its on your doorstep and, when you do get there, theres lots to see and do and its a friendly place.

And over the last couple of years weve overlaid that again with the value for money offer, because we are definitely much better value for money than the Republic.

John believes the rise of tourism within the island of Ireland during the pandemic helped people from the South to learn more about NI.

I think that was one thing that people really did discover during Covid, that it was a very friendly place and that Belfast was a very friendly city, and it is really good value for money.

And I think people having that experience, and word of mouth, along with continual promotion, has been hugely instrumental in driving that growth.

The Covid pandemic was a huge challenge to the tourism industry, not least to the hotel trade which saw huge dips in visitor numbers along with prolonged uncertainty. John views the hotel trade as having bounced back from those years.

Theres undoubtedly been a recovery. Were probably back to 90% of where we were in 2018, in terms of hotel occupancy.

The big difference has been the rates that hotels have been able to charge and the prices that people have been prepared to pay.

Hotels tend to measure their performance in what they call their revenue per available room.

That has increased dramatically since 2019.

So, as a result, have you seen people like Hastings Hotels and McKeever Group, very recently publishing their annual reports, and their profits have gone up dramatically in 2023 in comparison to 2022.

So, the hotel sector has done pretty well.

John also believes Tourism NI is doing pretty well with its budget allocation, despite the pressures of budget cuts across government departments.

This feeling is largely down to how the money has been allocated this financial year.

In the past Tourism NI wouldve gotten a budget less than we wouldve liked but the department was always quite generous when it came to monitoring rounds.

What the Minister has agreed to do for us this year is to say, well, rather than give you the same starting budget, and then have you beg for money during the year, he has set our starting budget the same as our closing budget for last year.

So were not getting more money, but were getting all our money available to us upfront.

It allows us to plan more and with more certainty. And it allows us to make choices as to where we spend money and to expend it in a more effective way.

So Im not at all disappointed by the allocation that the Minister has granted us

John is not excited by all of the governments plans. With the post-Brexit visa requirements, in particular hes concerned by the fact that, youre going to have to have an Electronic Travel Authorisation to travel to Northern Ireland, which you dont require if youre travelling in the south.

When it comes to visiting Northern Ireland, you dont want any barriers.

Weve had to work extremely hard to develop the amount of international business that were getting across the border. And the fact that international business has grown faster in the south than in the north is indicative of that.

Any barrier, we could do without.
BBC colleagues say Michael Mosley death has been felt by millions (BBC)

The shock death of TV doctor Michael Mosley has been felt by millions of people all around the world who regarded him as their doctor, according to his BBC co-stars.

The BBC will be airing a special tribute on Friday at 8pm on BBC One to Mosley, who died of natural causes last week after he went missing on the Greek island of Symi.

The 67-year-olds body was found on Sunday in a rocky area near Agia Marina beach.

A direction sign on a rocky path in the hills of Pedi, a small fishing village in Symi, Greece, pointing towards Agia Marina, where the body of Michael Mosley was discovered (Yui Mok/PA)

Mosley first trained as a doctor before moving into the world of broadcasting, presenting a host of science programmes and films on the BBC including the series Trust Me, Im A Doctor, which looked at healthcare in Britain.

In 2002, he was nominated for an Emmy for his executive producer role on BBC science documentary The Human Face, and he also ingested tapeworms for six weeks for a 2014 documentary called Infested! Living With Parasites on BBC Four.

Dr Sarah Jarvis, who had worked with Mosley over the years including on The One Show which he joined in 2007 as part of the original line-up, explained how Mosley had transformed peoples lives through his work.

Michael was absolutely charming, she said during a tribute on The One Show.

He was funny, he was clever, but what really came across was that he had this ability to communicate and he wanted to get important messages out.

That man touched so many lives.

Dr Michael Mosley (John Rogers/BBC)

He took really complicated science, then he turned it into something that resonated with everybody.

And he said that by using himself as a guinea pig, he could make more difference than many doctors make in a lifetime

The ideas that he first brought out, he helped bring into the mainstream of health are now there and they continue to make a difference to the quality of peoples lives.

Trust Me, Im A Doctor co-star Dr Chris van Tulleken said Mosley is one of the most important broadcasters of the last few decades, perhaps ever.

The One Show co-presenter Alex Jones said on the BBC programme: His death has been felt by millions of people all around the world who regarded him as their doctor.

Its still very hard to grasp whats happened, I think everybody feels that Its an absolute shock.

The BBC One Show presenter Alex Jones (Yui Mok/PA)

Dr Hannah Fry recalled a time when Mosley had saved the life of a BBC colleague.

She said: Somebody collapsed in the BBC offices in the corridors, and he saw them collapse.

He went over, he performed CPR on them for almost half an hour until the emergency services arrived.

(He) saved her life, shes gone on to have two children.

It comes after Greek police spokeswoman Konstantia Dimoglidou told the BBC that an initial post-mortem examination had been carried out, confirming there were no injuries on the body of Mosley.

It also estimated that the time of death was around 4pm local time on Wednesday.

Mosley had left friends on the islands Agios Nikolaos beach at around 1.30pm to go for a walk.

Ms Dimoglidou said that the position of his body means he died of natural causes.

She also said toxicology and histology reports will take place.

Footage reportedly found by a beach bar at Agia Marina shows what appears to be the TV doctor making his way down a rocky slope close to a fence before he falls out of view.
Patrick Kielty is among 100 entertainers invited to the Vatican this Friday for an audience with Pope Francis.

Patrick Kielty will join Irish comedians Ardal O'Hanlon and Tommy Tiernan in a group of 100 entertainers who have been invited to the Vatican this Friday for an audience with Pope Francis.

The Co Down native  alongside the Father Ted and Derry Girls stars  will meet with the Pope on Friday morning, before His Holiness heads to Puglia for the G7 leaders' summit.

A Vatican statement says that the event is taking place as the pope "recognises the significant impact that the art of comedy has on the world of contemporary culture.

US A-listers such as Whoopi Goldberg, Jimmy Fallon, Conan O'Brien and Chris Rock are also on the list of invited participants.

"The meeting between Pope Francis and the world's comedians aims to celebrate the beauty of human diversity and to promote a message of peace, love and solidarity," the Vatican said.

The audience has been organised by the Vatican's Dicastery for Culture and Education and Dicastery for Communication.

The invite will be the first for Dundrum-born Kielty, who has hosted RTEs Late Late Show since last year, but might not be as ironic as the meeting could be for OHanlon and Tiernan.

The former famously played Fr Dougal Maguire in Channel 4s cult classic Father Ted, whose character, among other things, questioned the Catholic religion as a whole and at one point forgot he was a priest.

Meanwhile, during Tommy Tiernan's first appearance on The Late Late Show in 1997, his controversial routine based on the crucifixion caused hundreds of complaints to flood in for the Irish state broadcaster.

Some considered the stand-up performance to be blasphemous. He won the Perrier Prize at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 1998 with a routine largely based on his experiences following the broadcast.

This was all, of course, before Patrick Kieltys time as the face of the worlds second longest-running late-night talk show.
"God Id hate to be Nicola Coughlan. An incredibly talented actor who can play straight and comic roles equally well." Photo: Robert Okine/Getty Images

Bridgerton star Nicola Coughlan has been hailed an icon for her quick-thinking response when asked a question about nudity on the show.

The Irish actress, 37, was taking part in a Q&A in Dublin to promote part two of the third series of the hit Netflix period drama, when a female journalist commented that she was very brave to bare all on screen.

Coughlan - who plays the role of Penelope Featherington and features in a fully nude sex scene - took the remark in her stride.

You know, it is hard because I think women with my body type - women with perfect breasts - we dont get to see ourselves onscreen enough, she replied. And Im very proud as a member of the perfect breasts community. I hope you enjoy seeing them.

The body positivity advocates words were met with rapturous laughter, cheers and applauds from the audience.

Coughlan - whose other acting credits includes Derry Girls, plus, last years blockbuster hit Barbie - also won the support of the internet after a clip of the moment began to circulate online.

It must have been one of those insulting, backhanded comments. Nicola's clever! remarked one person on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.

Great response, put in a second, with another agreeing: Brilliant! Next question!

A fourth declared it icon behavior, with a fourth adding she's my queen.

News Catch Up: Tuesday 11th June 2024
Criminal investigation begins into PSNI anti-corruption officers who claimed thousands for illegal informant

Man who worked at PSNIs Newforge Country Club said he never met his handlers in hotels for which they were claiming hundreds of pounds

The office of Police Ombudsman Marie Anderson, right, is investigating the officers who featured in last year's Belfast Telegraph investigation

Sam McBride Mon 10 Jun 2024 at 22:50

A criminal investigation into potential corruption by two former PSNI anti-corruption officers has begun almost a year after a Belfast Telegraph probe revealed strikingly high expenses claims linked to an illegal informant.
Reform UK co-deputy leader Ben Ben Habib said his party was backing the TUV in the General Election (Joe Giddens/PA)

Reform UKs co-deputy leader Ben Habib has insisted his party unequivocally backs Traditional Unionist Voice leader Jim Allister in the General Election  despite Nigel Farage endorsing a rival DUP candidate.

Mr Habib said his party leader Mr Farage had given his personal endorsement to Ian Paisley and Sammy Wilson as they were old beer buddies.

Mr Paisley and Mr Allister are rival unionist candidates in North Antrim in the July 4 poll.

Mr Habib also said Mr Farage had a lot on his plate and had not really thought through the party position.

Leader of Reform UK Nigel Farage delivered his personal backing for two DUP candidates in an interview on Monday (James Manning/PA)

Reforms leader caused confusion on Monday when he said he would be personally endorsing Mr Paisley and Mr Wilson despite his partys alliance with the TUV.

Mr Farage told the PA news agency: As far as the Northern Ireland thing is concerned, I want to make it clear that whilst there have been negotiations going on in previous times, I will personally be endorsing Ian Paisley and Sammy Wilson.

Speaking to the BBC Good Morning Ulster programme, Mr Habib denied that the situation was a mess.

He said: The reality is that Ian Paisley and Sammy Wilson are old beer buddies of Nigels.

Nigel has obviously got a hell of a lot on his plate, taking over as leader, trying to get his legs under the desk and they asked him for a personal endorsement and he said yeah, sure.

It is one buddy to another without having really thought through the party position.

Mr Habib added: Reform UK supports unequivocally Jim Allister.

Ian Paisley and Sammy tapped him on the shoulder at a time when Nigel was obviously busy.

Being friends he gave them his personal endorsement and that is the end of it.

TUV leader Jim Allister is a candidate in North Antrim (Liam McBurney/PA)

Mr Wilson is running in the East Antrim constituency, where the TUV candidate is Matthew Warwick.

The TUV formed an electoral alliance with Reform UK ahead of Julys poll and is standing in 14 constituencies in Northern Ireland.

Reforms pact with the TUV was announced by the partys then-leader Richard Tice in March this year.

While it will only be the TUV name on the ballot paper on July 4, the parties said they would promote a joint message on the campaign trail.

The DUPs Ian Paisley is a candidate in the North Antrim constituency (Liam McBurney/PA)

In a joint statement on Monday, Mr Paisley and Mr Wilson said: Nigel Farage is a household name and we welcome his endorsement as the best pro-union candidate in our constituencies.

Nigel knows us and knows our record of delivering for the people.

This is very embarrassing for Jim Allister as the Reform UK leader has endorsed us rather than him because the Reform UK leader recognised that on the big issues we could be relied upon.

Mr Allister said: TUV entered an electoral arrangement with Reform UK in good faith.

We have kept faith with that agreement.

The comments by Mr Farage are, of course, disappointing and not compatible with the content of a conversation I had with him last week.
Crash on A2



UPDATE: The below incident has now been cleared, although knock-on delays remain back to Big Barn leaving Bangor.





A crash is causing delays in north Down heading towards Belfast. The collision occurred on the A2 Belfast Road around Ballymenoch Park in Holywood, causing knock on delays back to Seahill. The road is down to one lane as police attend the incident.
Over the course of the election campaign our candidates and their canvassing teams will be trying to knock on as many doors as possible in a bid to win over prospective voters.
Jen Rice is a reporter for the Houston Chronicle covering Harris County government. She can be reached at jen.rice@houstonchronicle.com.

A native Houstonian, Jen graduated from Barnard College at Columbia University and earned a master's degree from University of Texas at Austin's LBJ School of Public Affairs.

Before coming to the Chronicle, Jen spent three years covering City Hall for Houston's NPR station. Her reporting has aired nationally on NPR's Morning Edition, All Things Considered and Here & Now.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage chose to back the DUP's Ian Paisley and Sammy Wilson because they're his "old beer buddies" - but the party's support of the TUV still stands, Ben Habib has said.
DUP Leader Gavin Robinson delivers a speech at Cafe Vic-Ryn on the outskirts of Lisburn on May 29th 2024 (Photo by Kevin Scott)

Gavin Robinson has said there are lessons to be learned from the Republic of Ireland, after a dismal performance by Sinn Fein which could see it claim just half the seats it targeted in local council and European elections.
Latest | Reform UK committed to TUV alliance despite Farage endorsement of DUP duo

Leaders support for Paisley and Wilson leaves Allister to admit disappointment

Farage personally endorses two DUP candidates despite TUV alliance

By Niamh Campbell, Jonathan McCambridge and David Lynch Mon 10 Jun 2024 at 23:00







Reform UK has tonight claimed it remains committed to its General Election alliance with the TUV  despite its leader Nigel Farage backing two rival DUP candidates.
Green Party leader Eamon Ryan (left) and Green Party European election candidate Ciaran Cuffe at the Royal Dublin Society during the count for the local and European elections (Damien Storan/PA)

Ciaran Cuffe from the Green Party has become the second MEP in Dublin to lose their seat.

Mr Cuffes elimination after the 18th count came one stage after Independents 4 Change MEP Clare Daly exited the race.

Fianna Fails Barry Andrews and Fine Gaels Regina Doherty remain on course to secure two of the four seats after 18 counts.

Sinn Feins Lynn Boylan also looks set for a seat while Independent Irelands Niall Boylan and Labours Aodhan O Riordain are battling it out for the final spot in Brussels.

Reflecting on the loss of his seat, Mr Cuffe suggested the issue of migration had dominated the European election campaign over concerns about the climate.

I think we have seen the rise of those voices who dont feel the state should be involved in helping the most vulnerable and I think I certainly have campaigned all my life to help the most vulnerable in society. Ill continue to do that and my party will continue to do that, he said.

I think we need a green and a social transition. We need to help, particularly those who are facing difficult circumstances, and I think we need to be building bridges, not erecting walls in Europe.

Mr Cuffe added: I think what characterised the 2019 election was the extraordinary urgency of the need to tackle climate change and biodiversity loss. I dont think those issues have gone away. Its a bit like having a hole in the roof of your house and saying ah, well get around to that in a few years time.

I think we absolutely have to face up to climate breakdown and biodiversity loss, we have to ensure a green transition, but clearly at a European level the issue of migration featured very strongly.

It had to, given that the issue has been on the front page for a long time and that we really have had challenges in accommodating 100,000 Ukrainians and others who have fled persecution and violence, so that did dominate a lot of the campaign.

Earlier, Ms Daly insisted she had no interest in speaking to the media as she left the Dublin count centre after losing her seat as an MEP.

Independents 4 Change candidate Clare Daly on her way out of the count centre at the RDS in Dublin (Gareth Chaney/PA)

The outspoken Independents 4 Change candidate was knocked out of the race after the 17th count.

Several reporters asked Ms Daly to comment as she left the RDS count centre after being eliminated.

She declined.

When approached by RTE, she said: You had no interest in talking to me for five years, so Ive no interest in talking to you.

Ms Daly then walked out of the centre along with a group of supporters.

Brid Smith of People Before Profit  Solidarity was eliminated on the previous count.

Reflecting afterwards, she said left-wing parties in Ireland needed to cop on and encourage more vote transferring between themselves.

European People Before Profit-Solidarity candidate Brid Smith (Gareth Chaney/PA)

Veteran activist Ms Smith said she was encouraged to have secured support from places and voters that would not ordinarily be thought of as sympathetic to the political left.

She said she believed the narrative around the advance of the far right was overstated, albeit still worrying.

I think its worrying that far-right candidates can move in and get council seats, but not that many, she told the PA news agency.

But what we have to do on the left is to be more cohesive and more coherent and transfer more strongly to each other.

Like Fianna Fail and Fine Gael transfer strongly to each other and the left needs to cop on and vote left and transfer left.

We said that right throughout this election campaign, its been one of our slogans, and we think that that needs to happen from here on in. If that happens, it would marginalise the far right as well.
Sean Kelly celebrates with friends, family and supporters after becoming the first MEP to be elected in Irelands European elections at Nemo Rangers GAA club in Cork, Ireland, during the count for the European elections (Jonathan Brady/PA)

Fine Gaels Sean Kelly has become the first MEP to be elected in Irelands European elections.

Mr Kelly won 122,777 votes in the Ireland South constituency, surpassing the quota of 114,761.

This very moment has to be the high point, because you work so hard, the Kerry man said.

Youre never sure how its going to go because every day you go out and meet people who are positive, but you also meet very negative, some very nasty people and you say to yourself Oh my god, will I get any votes?

MEP Sean Kelly (centre) kisses his one-year-old granddaughter Hannah-Rose Kelly (Jonathan Brady/PA)

And then you come here and you get a huge vote, elected on the first count, it makes everything worthwhile, so this is the highlight, it has to be for everybody.

Fianna Fails Billy Kelleher came in second with 91,074 votes, and Independent TD Michael McNamara had 56,339 votes.

In a battle for the fourth and fifth seats are Fianna Fail candidate and 1994 Eurovision host Cynthia Ni Mhurchu on 55,209; outgoing MEP and ex-Co Wexford TD Mick Wallace on 52,803; Sinn Fein TD Kathleen Funchion on 50,580; and the Green Partys Grace OSullivan on 47,661.

Mr Kellys running mate John Mullins is on 33,281 votes; the Social Democrats Susan Doyle got 20,229; Labours Niamh Hourigan is on 21,272 and Aontus Patrick Murphy is on 14,124.

The total electorate for the area is 1.3 million, and there were 713,323 ballots, with 688,564 valid.

Ms Funchion said earlier that she was very hopeful she would be elected and that transfers would be a key part of how the count plays out.

Her running mate Paul Gavan is on 22,392 first preference votes.

The EU election ballot papers at Nemo Rangers GAA Club in Cork went through a lengthy sub-sort before the actual count began.

The announcement of the first count result had been expected by lunchtime on Monday, but was announced after 9.30pm.

Sean Kelly (centre), alongside his wife Juliette Kelly (left) and her sister Linda ODonoghue (right), observe as count staff sort ballots at Nemo Rangers GAA club in Cork during the count for the European elections (Jonathan Brady/PA)

The surplus of Mr Kelly is to be distributed when the count resumes at 9am on Tuesday, but Mr Kelleher is not expected to reach the quota until that evening, after other candidates are eliminated.

Several rounds of further counting and transfers  described repeatedly as erratic and unpredictable  will be needed before the final two seats for the 10-county constituency become clear.

Ms OSullivan said on Sunday the prospect of holding on to her seat feels like its slipping away but appeared to come back into contention on Monday and is considered very transfer-friendly.

Mr Kellys running mate, John Mullins, said that there was an opportunity for the Government to get a third seat in Ireland South.

Ms Funchion said: I have been in several elections and have had really good days and really bad days in count centres.

So Im always very, very cautious when it comes to it. We have to see the first count and unusually there has been no tally because its a European election.

I would be hopeful, very hopeful. But I do think, as weve seen throughout so many of our local councils over the weekend, transfers are a key part of it, and you could think youre doing great and all of a sudden theres a surplus or section of transfers that you didnt foresee.

I think one thing that I have found very interesting just from my own engagement at local level with tallies is transfers, in general, theres no pattern now I will say.

Mick Wallace arrives at Nemo Rangers GAA club in Cork during the count for the European elections (Jonathan Brady/PA)

We have had a really good transfer rate for Sinn Fein and that has gotten some of our people over the line locally. I would expect that well have a really good transfer between myself and Paul. But its still early days in terms of the seat. Hopefully the first count will be soon and well have a little bit of a clearer picture.

Independents4Changes Mr Wallace said life is too short to be worrying when asked how he is feeling about his prospects of being re-elected.

Asked if he is performing better or worse than in the last election, he said: Ah no, I did much better the last time.

I got over 81,000 first preferences, Ill only get about 50,000 this time. But the fact that Sean and Billy and Michael McNamara got such big scores, it means the rest of us are on lower numbers.

Were competing with each other, were not competing with the two lads who are already in. Were really just concerned about whether we can stay ahead of the people that are close to us.

With most of the 949 council seats filled, Fianna Fail and Fine Gael have held steady at 23% of first preference votes, with main opposition party Sinn Fein behind on just 11%.

Billy Kelleher was at Nemo Rangers GAA club in Cork for the count for the European elections (Jonathan Brady/PA)

Of Irelands 14 MEPs, Fianna Fail is expected to increase its number of MEPs from two to three.

Speaking at the count centre at Nemo Rangers GAA Club in Cork on Monday, Mr Kelleher said that Micheal Martins leadership, the strength of the organisation and the critical importance of centrist politics were behind the partys performance.

He said that Irish voters had rejected populist, anti-migrant groupings and moved back to the centre.

There had been concern that a wave of rhetoric around immigration and climate change, seen across the EU, would be repeated in Irelands local and European elections on June 7.

But the coalition government parties  Fine Gael, Fianna Fail and the Green Party  have performed better than expected based on early results.

The public looked at others and rejected them resoundingly, both in terms of the very populist anti-migrant groupings on the right, but equally Sinn Fein as well in terms of their simplistic views to complex problems, Mr Kelleher said.

I think it was a very interesting election because there was a debate around the whole issue of the extremes on left and right and where the centre would reside in modern Irish politics.

I think that was answered emphatically yesterday both in the local elections and also the European elections, where people looked at the alternatives and wanted to go back to the centre.
Honore Kamegni at Nemo Rangers GAA club in Cork, Ireland. He has been elected to Cork City Council and will be its first black councillor. Picture date: Monday June 10, 2024.

The first black man to be elected as a Cork City councillor has said he hopes to pave the way for future generations.

Honore Kamegni was one of several candidates from migrant backgrounds to be successful in Irelands local elections.

The father-of-two, who is originally from Cameroon, has lived in Ireland since 2002.

He said his work as a postman in the Douglas and Rochestown areas for 14 years served him well when out canvassing, which he began more than a year before polling day on June 7.

Thats true, I used to be a postman in my constituency, so I know the people, I know the issues, he told the PA news agency, sporting an Ireland hoodie and a Green Party badge.

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So when I went back to most of them, they remembered me and they were very happy to see me standing and to be able to continue to serve them in a different field this time.

Asked about how he was seen as almost famous in his local area when serving as a postman, he said: Whatever you do in life, you should give 200% if you can.

I was just doing my job properly and correctly. Thanks to my hard work, it has paid off, and I want to say thank you to all of the beautiful people in my constituency who put their trust in me.

He added: The canvassing was tough going, very difficult, very long  Ive been canvassing for 14 months, since April 2023.

So Ive knocked on 15,000 doors because I said to myself the goal is to talk to every single resident in my constituency, to know them and for them to know me.

I believe that to represent people they should know you and you should know them.

Honore Kamegni receives congratulations from a well wisher at Nemo Rangers GAA club in Cork, Ireland (Jonathan Brady/PA)

The Green Party councillor said he was always sympathetic to green policies, and became active in the party in 2022.

Asked if he felt there was a backlash to climate change policies while canvassing, he said: I got people questioning the Green Party policy, thats true, and its their right to.

We live in a democratic society, so if theyre not happy with something, thats why Im there. To get their feedback on any issue that they have and try to find a better solution to the issues that they have.

Mr Kamegni, who has spoken about abuse he received on social media during his election campaign, said the number of candidates from migrant backgrounds who have been elected is a sign that Irish people are rejecting all the hatred online.

Its a good sign, its a sign that Ireland is part of the global world now, Cork is part of the global world as well.

Its a sign that people are rejecting all the hatred, all the hostility thats going on online. We shouldnt divide ourselves, completely the contrary, we need to be a team.

Thank you to all those who put their trust in me, I will continue to work very, very hard to continue to serve you and I want my election to serve as a pathway to the future generation.
John Moran is Elected at Limerick Racecourse in Limericks mayoral election in which citizens voted to directly elect their own mayor for the first time in the history of the State. Picture date: Tuesday June 11, 2024.

An independent candidate has made history by becoming Irelands first-ever directly elected mayor.

John Moran won the race to be Limericks first citizen, beating 14 other candidates to be elected in the landmark contest.

Independent candidate Helen ODonnell came in second place, some 4,622 votes behind Mr Moran.

It is the first time Irish citizens have elected their local first citizen, in what is seen as a test case for the rest of the state.

John Moran beat 14 other candidates to be elected in the landmark contest, the first time Irish citizens have elected their local first citizen (Niall Carson/PA)

The mayor will take over a redesigned local government system, which will see many of the chief executive functions transferred over to the newly elected post.

The changes come following Limericks 2019 plebiscite.

Its an emotional day for everybody. Everybody knows we started this journey more than five years ago, in terms of getting a plebiscite to work, Mr Moran said after his win.

It was obvious to the people of Limerick then, as I think it is more obvious today, that theres a system of government in Ireland that needs to change, to re-establish democracy.

I think that it was amazing to see that this was a campaign  and I would say that about all the other candidates  that we picked up votes right across the county.

I think the vision we all have for Limerick was the same and now its a case of just implementing that vision.

Its about bringing places together. Its not about politics that only speaks to a small group of people or to a particular group in one area of a county or otherwise.

I think weve done a brilliant job and I say fair play to Limerick. They came out in numbers to actually vote for this role.

Ballots for John Moran are stacked (Niall Carson/PA)

Mr Moran, who is a former secretary general in the Department of Finance and qualified solicitor, was elected after the 12th count following the elimination of Fianna Fail candidate Dee Ryan.

Earlier, Fine Gaels Daniel Butler and Sinn Feins Maurice Quinlivan were eliminated from the race.

Surrounded by family members, Mr Moran hugged his partner, Damien Duggan, moments after he was successfully elected Limerick mayor.

His mother, Bridie Moran, wiped away tears as she proudly watched her son become part of the history books.

Count staff had also gathered in the room to watch as returning officer Caroline Curely confirmed the countys new mayor.

Mr Moran continued: (People) didnt just vote on party lines and you could see that happening with the number of votes that were moving around.

I think that spells a lot, not just for the future of Limerick, but frankly for the future of democracy.

We can see across Europe at the moment that there are challenges to the democracy that we have and I think right here in Limerick weve shown how it can be done, and how the people can come together and develop a common vision for their future.

The hard work starts now. Well have to start figuring out budgets. Well have to start figuring out all the money and theres a lot of people asking for lots of things.

The final vote comes after two days of counting at Limerick Racecourse.

Sinn Feins Maurice Quinlivan is eliminated from the count at Limerick Racecourse (Niall Carson/PA)

Mr Moran received a total of 18,308 first preference votes in the first count and was followed in second place by Ms ODonnell who received 12,903 votes.

None of the candidates reached the 39,873 quota.

Earlier, Ms Ryan said: I am very proud of my husband, my friends and everyone who rode in and got involved. We had a ball and couldnt have wished for a better campaign. Im really encouraged by the fantastic welcome that I got from the people of Limerick.

It was an honour to get out and meet people. Fair play to the independent candidates, they ran excellent campaigns.

Ive no doubt that Limerick will choose the right mayor. I look forward to getting behind and supporting the right mayor when they are announced. I am very proud.

Mr Butler said he was disappointed not to win as he had been in it to win it.

There was a lot against us. We came in very late, we came in in the middle of a change of leadership in the Fine Gael party and my director of elections lost his mother during it. Our house was threatened, and the safety of our family was threatened and compromised during the election, he said.

But we fought on and fought a very good campaign, and I think the vote that I got is reflective of the energy and innovation that I fought in the campaign.

I fought a very high-calibre campaign and delivered a lot in a short period of time.

Fianna Fails Dee Ryan thanked her family after being eliminated in an earlier round of votes (Niall Carson/PA)

Earlier, Mr Quinlivan thanked everybody who came out and voted for him.

I really appreciate every single person who took the time to come out, but also, (I want) to thank those people who engaged in the mayoral campaign in the last number of weeks.

I think it was a really positive campaign. One of the most positive campaigns we have been involved in.

All the candidates did themselves good. So I want to wish whoever wins all the best for the role.

Its a really positive thing for Limerick, and they (the winner) will have my full support going forward if they do things that are positive and good and in the best interests of Limerick. If they dont do that, I will be the first person to hold them to account.

I want to thank those who campaigned with me and my family and my wife, who has been brilliant.

A total of 15 candidates ran for the mayors seat.
Fianna Fail election candidate Barry Andrews (left) and Tanaiste Micheal Martin at the Royal Dublin Society during the count for the European elections (Damien Storan/PA)

Counting in the Dublin constituency was paused on Monday night without any candidates yet elected.

After a second long day at the RDS centre, where the process reached the 13th count, Fianna Fails Barry Andrews and Fine Gaels Regina Doherty remained on course to secure two of the four seats in the constituency.

Neither reached the quota required to be deemed elected, so both will have to wait until at least Tuesday for confirmation of their successes.

Counting will resume at 10am.

Clare Daly arrives at the RDS centre (Damien Storan/PA)

In regard to the remaining two seats, Sinn Feins Lynn Boylan; Ciaran Cuffe from the Greens; Labours Aodhan O Riordain; Independent Irelands Niall Boylan; Clare Daly of Independents 4 Change; and Brid Smith of People Before Profit  Solidarity all remain in contention.

Progress was painstakingly slow at times during Monday, as candidates waited for the outcome of each round of counting.

The coffee shop that had provided sustenance throughout the first day of counting on Sunday was closed through Monday, adding to the somewhat subdued nature of proceedings.

Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald, who visited the RDS in the early evening, expressed confidence that former MEP Ms Boylan could be set for a return to Brussels.

Were looking good here in Dublin for Lynn Boylan to return to the parliament, she told reporters.

Fine Gael European election candidate Regina Doherty at the count on Sunday (Damien Storan/PA)

Green Party leader Eamon Ryan said the fight for the third and fourth seats was impossible to call, predicting the outcome would swing all over the place in the later rounds of vote transfers.

Well see, but Im very encouraged, Ciaran is in with a real chance and he has polled really well, he told the PA news agency.

Earlier, Tanaiste and Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin toured the centre with Mr Andrews.

He hailed his party colleagues outstanding performance in topping the poll.

Mr Martin said the feedback on the campaign trail made him confident that the outgoing MEP would retain his seat.

It was evident to us that serious work he did in the European Parliament was recognised and understood and that he was a serious policy-focused European parliamentarian of substance, he said.
Locals in his tight-knit home village in Tipperary are said to be shocked by the news

Tributes have been paid to an Irishman who was killed in a car crash in Australia on Sunday.

Father-of-two Kevin Ivers, who was in his 30s and originally from Pearse Park, Golden in Co Tipperary, died in the incident in Perth on June 9.

It is believed to have happened during torrential rain.

Mr Ivers ran the Golden Plant Hire in Gingin, Perth, Western Australia.

Locals in his tight-knit home village in Tipperary, about five miles from Cashel, are said to be shocked by the news.

Kevin had attended primary school in the village of Golden and secondary school at Cashel Community School.

One local said that Kevin was a gentleman and that many had great memories of him growing up in Pearse Park in Golden.

The Irish Department of Foreign Affairs have been informed of the news and are offering Consular assistance to Kevins fiancee Rhyllie and his sons aged three and five.

Mr Ivers is survived by his fiancee Rhyllie Vine, sons Sonny and Banjo, parents Richie and Ann, brothers Paddy and David, sisters Donna and Aoife, grandmother Bridget, brother-in-law Michael, sisters-in-law Emma and Sheila, nephews, nieces, uncles, aunts, relatives and his many friends in Australia and Golden.

No funeral arrangements have been made as yet and are likely be announced in the coming days.

News Catch Up: Tuesday 11th June 2024
Levels of gonorrhoea in England are at the highest level since records began in 1918 (PA/CDC)

A campaign has been launched to encourage more doctors to specialise in sexual health, amid soaring levels of gonorrhoea and syphilis.

The leading organisation for sexual health and HIV professionals in the UK said genitourinary medicine (GUM) doctors are needed now more than ever.

On Tuesday, the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV (BASHH) launched its LoveGUM campaign to encourage more junior doctors to consider the attractive career path.

It comes amid rising STIs, with levels of gonorrhoea in England now at the highest level since records began in 1918 and new diagnoses of syphilis at levels not seen since 1948.

BASHH said its campaign would highlight the rewarding nature of GUM, adding that the field incorporates clinical skills and knowledge from a wide variety of areas.

A survey conducted by BASHH in November 2023 suggested that over two thirds (68%) of GUM doctors, who investigate, diagnose, and manage STIs and HIV, enjoy the variety of their work and 82% most enjoy that GUM offers a good work-life balance.

The association said a strengthened GUM workforce was vital to meet a rising demand for services and to ensure preparedness for future public health challenges.

BASHH president Professor Matt Phillips said the campaign would champion the crucial and brilliant specialty of genitourinary medicine and encourage junior doctors to consider it when making decisions about their specialty.

Prof Phillips said: We need GUM physicians now more than ever.

With rising STI rates and increasing demand for a range of services from sexual health care settings, we need a robust, highly skilled workforce in place.

Genitourinary medicine is an evolving specialty that truly serves the whole population, including people who are frequently underrepresented in health.

GUM consultant and Channel 4 TV doctor Dr Naomi Sutton said she was proud to endorse the campaign, adding that it champions the GUM specialty and the value it has on individuals and society.

Dr Sutton said: The impact GUM physicians can have on patients lives is immense.

As GUM doctors we are tasked with developing unique connections with our patients, ensuring people are met with non-judgmental, expert care.

GUM doctors make a difference in the everyday, from helping people have safe and good sex to longer-term chronic STIs and HIV management.

The reason I love going to work every day is because I can see the impact I can have on someones sexual and overarching health  because you cannot separate the two.

BASHH said the number of consultations delivered by sexual health services in England in 2023 reached a record 4.61 million, a 5% increase from the year before, and a 44.3% increase from 2019.

It added that GUM physicians were at the frontline of delivering the HIV Action Plan to end new HIV transmissions by 2030, while also supporting an increasing cohort of people growing old with HIV.
The Pappas Bar-B-Q restaurant had a Thank You Houston sign at Hobby Airport last year. In 2023, Houston City Council voted to hand over the reins for Hobby's food and beverage scene to new companies. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer

Travelers who catch flights into or out of Hobby Airport likely have noticed that their dining options have changed in the last year.

Houston City Council awarded concessions contracts in 2023 to new companies, removing 4 Families of Houston, a group led by Pappas Restaurants, after a 20-year run there.

The new deals followed a monthslong feud between Pappas Restaurants and former Mayor Sylvester Turners administration about the contract process  and questions of fairness around it.

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Heres what to know about what transpired, and where that process now stands.

When did Pappas leave?

City Hall awarded the new contracts in early 2023, and Pappas moved out of the airport on May 11 of that year.

What food options are there now?

The new lineup includes Pinks Pizza, The Spot and Velvet Taco, along with several holdovers, including Buffalo Wild Wings, Chick-fil-A and Wendys. Other restaurants, like The Rustic, are under construction. The new operators are running a few temporary restaurants while they build out more permanent concepts.

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Visitors no longer will find Pappadeauxs, Pappas Bar-B-Q and Pappasitos Cantina.

Why did the new companies win?

As City Council weighed the contentious contracts, city officials said the new operators won primarily because they offered the city a higher share of revenue than the Pappas-led group.

Airport officials told council last month that offer has largely borne out according to the numbers in the first year of the contract. The city took in about $11.3 million in revenue from the operators between June 2023 and April 2024, up from $8.7 million the year prior.

How did Pappas officials react to the contract process?

Pappas officials decried the unusually lengthy and cumbersome process the city used, saying it was flawed and full of cancellations, requirement changes, short preparation periods and months-long gaps with no communication.

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The city put out three separate requests for proposals over four years and asked companies for best-and-final offers a total of four times in that span. One of the companies that won the contract, Areas, was not a top finisher in the earlier rounds.

Turner responding by accusing Pappas of running a smear campaign. The former mayor had friends on both sides of the contract process, but said he had no role in deciding who the winners were.

The restaurant group waged a spirited campaign to get City Council to change the result, hiring City Hall lobbyists, changing the marquees on their restaurants and arguing the new group would not be able to match their sale numbers.

Nonetheless, council ultimately approved the new contract by an 11-6 vote, awarding Areas USA, part of a Spanish concessions conglomerate, with a 10-year, $470 million contract.

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What is the status of the ongoing legal battle?

Pappas Restaurants ultimately sued the city, alleging it broke its own code and state law in awarding the contract. In the suit, the company cited a call from a former mayoral aide to CEO Chris Pappas during the blackout period, the time when city officials are barred from talking to prospective contractors about the deal.
A man has been tackled by police after targeting Nigel Farage on the General Election campaign.

The Reform UK leader was on top of a party battle bus in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, on Tuesday morning, when a cup was thrown, narrowly missing him.

A man in a red hoodie could be seen shouting from a work site below, before reaching into a bucket and throwing something else, which also missed.

Workers appeared to then haul the man from the site and he ran off, before police officers tackled him to the ground.

The man was hauled to the ground by police (Danny Lawson/PA)

Mr Farage said he believes the objects were some wet cement and a coffee cup.

He posted the footage on X, saying: My huge thanks to South Yorkshire Police today.

I will not be bullied or cowed by a violent left-wing mob who hate our country.

Mr Farage had been warned by police not to get off the bus.

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It comes after Victoria Thomas Bowen, 25, was charged with assault by beating and criminal damage when a milkshake was thrown over Mr Farage as he left the Moon and Starfish Wetherspoon pub in Clacton-on-Sea in Essex on Tuesday last week.

Mr Farage was seen with the yellow drink splattered across his dark blue suit as he boarded his campaign bus.

During a campaign walkabout in Newcastle in 2019, he had a 5.25 Five Guys banana and salted caramel milkshake thrown at him.
Police have vowed to bring the killer of a mother-of-two to justice on the 40th anniversary of her sexually-motivated murder.

Shelley Morgan, 33, was stabbed multiple times in a frenzied attack after dropping her children off at school in Bristol on June 11 1984.

The US-born art college student was heading towards Leigh Woods near Ashton Court, where she planned to spend the day sketching and taking photographs.

Shelley Morgan was murdered 40 years ago on June 11 1984 in Bristol (Avon and Somerset Police/PA)

When she failed to pick her children up or return home to Dunkerry Road in Bedminster, the police were called and a missing person inquiry was launched.

Four months later, on October 14, children playing in a wooded copse off Long Lane in Backwell Hill discovered her remains.

A post-mortem examination concluded Mrs Morgan, who was married, had suffered multiple stab wounds and there was evidence the attack had been sexually motivated.

Police launched a murder investigation and the case has been reviewed several times but the killer has never been found.

Detective Inspector Dave Marchant said: We will never give up trying to identify the person responsible for Shelleys murder and for leaving her two young children without their mother.

Forty years may have passed but our resolve has not lessened, and we remain committed to providing her family with answers and, if her killer is still alive, to bringing them to justice.

We know after dropping her children off at school on 11 June 1984 Shelley headed towards Leigh Woods where she planned to take photographs and sketch.

While we cant categorically say for certain she made it to Leigh Woods, weve unconfirmed sightings of her on a bus traveling towards the area and near Ashton Court.

We know Shelley was wearing a scarlet-coloured top, a white skirt and marron-coloured tights along with large red circular glasses.

And we know she had with her a homemade patchwork bag and her 35mm Olympus OM20 camera.

Neither her clothing or her camera have ever been recovered but we remain hopeful someone may yet come across the camera as its still popular with collectors.

If you own an Olympus OM20 camera from the 1980s with the serial number 1032853 please get in touch.

Shelley Morgans Olympus OM20 camera has never been found (Avon and Somerset Police/PA)

Speaking five years ago, Mrs Morgans sister Hollie Brian said: Shelleys death had a profound effect on our family and her loss has been felt ever since.

Ive come to believe that people arent really dead until the people who love and remember them have passed also.

As long as we carry Shelley in our hearts shell always be with us but were all getting older and the time is going to come when all those doors are closed.

We beseech you if you know anything about what happened that day back in June of 1984 please come to the police.

Maybe you were afraid to speak out at the time. Maybe your situation has changed.

Out of love and respect for my sister we really want to know what happened and be sure the person who killed her will never hurt anybody ever again.

Mr Marchant added: It may seem difficult to imagine we can still solve this horrendous 40-year-old crime but with the advancement of forensic science and the passage of time we remain positive.

Our public appeals are also effective in generating new lines of inquiry and helping us answer previously unanswered questions.

Five years ago we released images of two postcards which depicted the River Avon in Bristol and St Andrews Church, from the direction of Backwell Hill.

Several members of the public contacted us in response to that appeal and officers were subsequently able to rule out any significance of the postcards to the investigation.

Loyalties and relationships change over time and there may be someone who didnt feel able to speak to us at the time or even five years ago, who may be in a position to do so now.

We believe the locations Shelley was visiting that day hold the key to her killers identity.

Its highly likely her killer was familiar with the Leigh Woods and Backwell areas and could have had links through work or other associations.

Its also more than likely they had access to a vehicle.

If you have any information, no matter how small or irrelevant you think it might be, please come forward.

You could have the missing piece which helps complete this case.
Donald Trumps mandatory pre-sentencing interview has ended after less than half an hour of routine and uneventful questions and answers, a person familiar with the matter told the Associated Press.

The former US president was quizzed by a New York City probation officer for a report that will be compiled and presented to trial judge Juan M Merchan prior to Trumps July 11 sentencing in his hush money criminal case.

Judge Merchan can use the report to help decide Trumps punishment following his May 30 felony conviction for falsifying business records to cover up a potential sex scandal.

The judge has discretion to impose a wide range of punishments, ranging from probation and community service to up to four years in prison.

Trump, who declined to give evidence at the trial, appeared for the probation interview on Monday by video conference from his residence at the Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, with his lawyer Todd Blanche by his side.

The arrangement garnered complaints of special treatment, but city officials contend that is not the case.

Typically, people convicted of crimes in New York must meet with probation officials face-to-face for their required pre-sentence interviews and are not allowed to have their lawyers with them.

After Mr Blanche baulked, Judge Merchan granted him permission to sit in on Trumps interview.

The citys public defenders on Monday criticised what they said were special arrangements for Trump and urged the probation department to ensure that all New Yorkers, regardless of income, status, or class, receive the same pre-sentencing opportunities.

All people convicted of crimes should be allowed counsel in their probation interview, not just billionaires, four of the citys public defender organisations said in a statement.

This is just another example of our two-tiered system of justice.

Pre-sentencing interviews with probation officers influence sentencing, and public defenders are deprived of joining their clients for these meetings. The option of joining these interviews virtually is typically not extended to the people we represent either, said the statement from the Legal Aid Society, Bronx Defenders, New York County Defender Services and Neighbourhood Defender Service of Harlem.

A spokesperson for the city, which runs the probation department, said defendants have had the option of conducting their pre-sentencing interviews by video since before the dawn of social distancing during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020.

Donald Trump has vowed to appeal against his conviction (Rick Scuteri/AP)

A message seeking comment was left with a spokesperson for the state court system.

Pre-sentence reports include a defendants personal history, criminal record and recommendations for sentencing.

They also include information about employment and any obligations to help care for a family member.

The interview is also a chance for a defendant to say why they think they deserve a lighter punishment.

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.

Trump was convicted in May of 34 counts of falsifying business records arising from what prosecutors said was an attempt to hide a hush money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels just before the 2016 presidential election.

She claims she had a sexual encounter with Trump a decade earlier, which he denies.

Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, has vowed to appeal against his conviction  though by law he must wait until after he is sentenced to do so.

He says he is innocent of any crime and says the case was brought to hurt his chances to regain the White House.
Jurors in Hunter Bidens gun trial have begun deliberating on whether the US presidents son is guilty of federal firearms charges over a revolver he bought when prosecutors say he was addicted to crack cocaine.

Hunter Biden is charged with three felonies stemming from the purchase of the gun in 2018. Prosecutors say he lied on a federal form by saying he was not illegally using or addicted to drugs.

Since the trial began last week in Delawares federal court, jurors have heard emotional testimony from Hunter Bidens former romantic partners, read personal text messages and seen photos of him with drug paraphernalia or partially clothed.

He has publicly detailed his struggle with a crack cocaine addiction before getting sober more than five years ago. But the defence sought to show that that he did not consider himself an addict when he filled out the form.

President Joe Biden said that he would accept the jurys verdict (AP)

It is the first of two trials Hunter Biden faces in the midst of his Democratic fathers re-election campaign. The younger Biden is also charged with failing to pay at least 1.4 million dollars in taxes in a case scheduled to go to trial in September.

In closing arguments on Monday, the prosecutor told jurors to focus on the overwhelming evidence against Hunter Biden and pay no mind to members of the presidents family sitting in the courtroom, including first lady Jill Biden.

All of this is not evidence, Leo Wise said, extending his hand and directing the jury to look at the gallery. People sitting in the gallery are not evidence.

Defence lawyer Abbe Lowell countered that prosecutors have failed to prove their case. He told jurors the fact that his client has a famous last name does not change the fact that he is presumed innocent  like any other defendant  until proven guilty.

With my last breath in this case, I ask for the only verdict that will hold the prosecutors to what the law requires of them  a verdict of not guilty, Mr Lowell said.

First lady Jill Biden arriving at court (Matt Slocum)

Hunter Bidens lawyers have suggested he was trying to turn his life around at the time of the gun purchase, having completed a detoxification and rehabilitation programme at the end of August 2018.

Mr Lowell said there is no witness to Hunter Bidens drug use in the 11 days he had the gun. And he suggested his client was lying about where he was in text messages to his brother Beaus widow. The prosecution suggests those texts show drug use and drug deals in the days following the gun purchase.

At any given time, he would lie to her about where he was, Mr Lowell said.

Closing arguments came shortly after the defence rested its case without calling Hunter Biden to the witness stand. He smiled as he chatted with members of his defence team and flashed a thumbs-up to one of his supporters in the gallery after the final witness  an FBI agent called by prosecutors in their rebuttal case.

The first lady, the presidents brother James and other family members sat in the first row of the courtroom in Wilmington, Delaware. At one point, Hunter Biden leaned over a railing to whisper in his mothers ear. She has sat through most of the trial, missing only one day last week to attend D-Day anniversary events with the president in France.

Hunter Biden has pleaded not guilty to three felony charges stemming from the October 2018 purchase of a gun he had for about 11 days. He has accused the Justice Department of bending to political pressure from former president Donald Trump and other Republicans to bring the gun case and separate tax charges after a deal with prosecutors fell apart last year.

Hunter Biden has pleaded not guilty (Matt Slocum/AP)

The case has put a spotlight on a turbulent time in Hunter Bidens life after the death of his brother in 2015.

Joe Biden said last week that he would accept the jurys verdict and has ruled out a pardon for his son.

Last summer, it looked as if Hunter Biden would avoid prosecution in the gun case altogether, but a deal with prosecutors imploded after US District Judge Maryellen Noreika, who was nominated to the bench by Mr Trump, raised concerns about it.

Hunter Biden was subsequently indicted on three felony gun charges. He also faces a trial scheduled for September on felony charges alleging he failed to pay at least 1.4 million dollars in taxes over four years.

If convicted in the gun case, he faces up to 25 years in prison, though first-time offenders do not get anywhere near the maximum, and it is unclear whether the judge would give him time behind bars.

Jurors deliberated for less than an hour before leaving the courthouse for the day. Deliberations will resume on Tuesday morning.
The UN Security Council has approved its first resolution endorsing a ceasefire plan aimed at ending the eight-month war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

The resolution welcomes a ceasefire proposal announced by President Joe Biden that the United States says Israel has accepted.

It calls on militant Palestinian group Hamas, which initially said it viewed the proposal positively, to accept the three-phase plan.

Hamas responded to the adoption by saying it welcomed the resolution and was ready to work with mediators in indirect negotiations with Israel to implement it.

The statement was among the strongest from Hamas to date but stressed the group would continue our struggle to end the Israeli occupation and work on setting up a fully sovereign Palestinian state.

The resolution urges Israel and Hamas to fully implement its terms without delay and without condition (Leo Correa)

The resolution urges Israel and Hamas to fully implement its terms without delay and without condition.

The resolution, which the council voted 14-0 in favour, with Russia abstaining, urges Israel and Hamas to fully implement its terms without delay and without condition.

US ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said after the vote that the council sent a clear message to Hamas to accept the ceasefire deal on the table, reiterating that Israel has accepted the deal which is supported by countries across the world.

The fighting could stop today, if Hamas would do the same, she told the council. I repeat, this fighting could stop today.

US deputy ambassador Robert Wood told reporters earlier on Monday that the United States wanted all 15 Security Council members to support what he described as the best, most realistic opportunity to bring at least a temporary halt to this war.

Whether Israel and Hamas agree to the three-phase ceasefire plan remains in question, but the resolutions strong support in the UNs most powerful body puts added pressure on both parties to approve the proposal.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that Mr Biden presented only parts of the proposal and insisted that any talk of a permanent ceasefire before dismantling Hamasa military and governing capabilities is a nonstarter.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (Jack Guez/Pool Photo via AP)

The leaders of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad met in Qatar on Monday to discuss the proposed ceasefire deal and said in a statement afterwards that any deal must lead to a permanent ceasefire, a full Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, an end to the Israeli siege of Gaza, reconstruction and a serious exchange deal between hostages in Gaza and Palestinians held in Israeli jails.

The war was sparked by Hamass surprise October 7 attack in southern Israel that killed about 1,200 people, mainly Israeli civilians, and saw about 250 others taken hostage. About 120 hostages remain, with 43 pronounced dead.

Israels military offensive has killed more than 36,700 Palestinians and wounded in excess of 83,000 others, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. It has also destroyed about 80% of Gazas buildings, according to the UN.

The Security Council adopted a resolution on March 25 demanding a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan which ended on April 9, with the US abstaining. But there was no halt to the war.

The current draft resolution underscores the importance of the ongoing diplomatic efforts by Egypt, Qatar and the United States aimed at reaching a comprehensive ceasefire deal, consisting of three phases. US secretary of state Antony Blinken is on his eighth trip to the Middle East since October 7 pursuing that goal.

Mr Bidens May 31 announcement of the new ceasefire proposal said it would begin with an initial six-month ceasefire with the release of hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from populated areas in Gaza and the return of Palestinian civilians to all areas in the territory.

Phase one also requires the safe distribution of humanitarian assistance at scale throughout the Gaza Strip, which Mr Biden said would lead to 600 trucks with aid entering Gaza every day.

UN secretary general Antonio Guterres (AP)

In phase two, the draft resolution says that with the agreement of Israel and Hamas, a permanent end to hostilities, in exchange for the release of all other hostages still in Gaza, and a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza will take place.

Phase three would launch a major multi-year reconstruction plan for Gaza and the return of the remains of any deceased hostages still in Gaza to their families.

The resolutions final draft would underline that the proposal says if negotiations take longer than six weeks for the first phase, the ceasefire will still continue as long as negotiations continue.

It would welcome the readiness of the United States, Egypt and Qatar to work to ensure negotiations keep going until all the agreements are reached and phase two is able to begin.

The final draft rejects any attempt to change Gazas territory or demography, or reduce its size, but drops wording that specifically mentioned the reduction by officially or unofficially establishing so-called buffer zones.

It also would reiterate the Security Councils unwavering commitment to achieving the vision of a negotiated two-state solution where two democratic states, Israel and Palestine, live side by side in peace within secure and recognised borders.

And it would stress the importance of unifying the Gaza Strip with the West Bank under the Palestinian Authority. This is something Mr Netanyahus right-wing government has not agreed to.
John Healy says the economic development agency is doing things differently following a critical review

These skills arent just needed by the CEO, or senior leadership team. They should run right through a business. Why?

Because a companys success requires everyone in the business to see the opportunities, have a willingness to make tough decisions and the leadership skills to motivate and inspire those around them.

Read more Belfast Telegraph Top 100 Companies 2024: Full list

There are many businesses in this years Belfast Telegraph Top 100 in association with Grant Thornton that have worked with Invest NI at some stage in their growth, whether thats been to support a capital investment, carry out research and development, grow in new markets or create new jobs.

Northern Ireland has developed real sector strengths in key technologies and clusters. The companies on this Top 100 list represent that, and deliver good jobs, productivity, regional balance and contribute to Northern Irelands sustainability goals, the pillars of the Economy Ministers vision.

What these businesses have undoubtedly also had to do to ensure their continued success is embrace change. There is a truism in business that what got you here, wont get you there,

It sounds such an obvious and simple statement, but recognising the need to change, and the commitment to see it through, can be hard.

This is where Invest NI finds itself right now. The Independent Review of Invest NI made for hard reading. The agency has an excellent track record, delivering against Executive policy for 20 years, with established programmes and processes that supported the focus on creating new jobs, growing exports and supporting innovation.

What businesses and our local economy need from Invest NI now, and in the future, is not what was needed 20 years ago, or even five years ago. Northern Ireland has changed. Our economy has changed. The world in which businesses are operating and trading has changed. Invest NI must also change.

There is an action plan, co-designed with the Department for the Economy, that is Invest NIs public commitment to that change.

It sets out clear actions we are taking to address the profound change called for in the Independent Review, and by when these actions will be implemented.

I am often asked at meetings and events about what progress is being made on the action plan. That tells me that there is more that needs to be done to share progress on work we are doing to reshape Invest NI for the future and communicate better with our stakeholders the change that is being delivered.

Since stepping into the role of chair I have been very clear that ensuring the successful delivery of this action plan is my number one priority.

The board and I get regular updates and we see first-hand the work that is going on right across the business to deliver the outcomes for business that the Independent Review demands.

Last month we held a dedicated action plan workshop with the board, action owners and implementation leads which gave the board and me the opportunity to get into the detail on the progress being made on each action, and what hurdles we need to overcome to ensure successful delivery.

We all know that change is difficult, and it would be wrong to suggest that implementing all the changes is smooth sailing. In some cases, progress is slower that I would like, but we are definitely going in the right direction.

We have worked with the Department for the Economy on a new strategic approach to deliver regional balance in Northern Irelands economy.

The strategy, due for publication this autumn, will have regional economic targets and set out how we can use our support, such as the provision of industrial land and buildings to address bespoke regional challenges.

Stronger and better partnership with our stakeholders in each area is another commitment we have made. We have already put this into action with a new partnership agreement now in place between us and the Department for the Economy to improve the relationship between policy development and operational delivery.

We have also increased engagement with the local councils, stakeholders and companies through more frequent meetings and events attended by our CEO, board and me.

We will communicate more detail on some of the other actions that business is most interested in  such as leadership, programmes and customer model  by the end of summer/early autumn. Our forthcoming three-year business strategy and 2024/25 business plan will also provide more detail and firm targets and actions to support the action plan commitments.

In conclusion, I want to assure everyone that we have heard what they have said, that we understand what is expected of us, and that we are committed to becoming the agency businesses and our economy needs us to be.

This way, we will be able to ensure that we are able to support more businesses here to grow, scale and become future Top 100 companies.

John Healy was appointed chairman of Invest NI in March 2024
If we cant trust kids to decide if they should smoke, why give them a vote?
NI couple on their adoption journey: 'You have to be 100% committed or its not going to work'
About

the

IAAC

The Tenth Edition of the International Awards for Art Criticism (IAAC 10) 2024, is open to candidates from anywhere in the world writing in Chinese or English about any contemporary art exhibition held anywhere in world or on-line between 1st September 2023 and 31st August 2024. Candidates are invited to write a review of 1,500 English words or 2,500 Chinese characters on any exhibition of contemporary art.The First Prize will consist of a cash award of 10,000 Euros(pre-tax) or the RMB equivalent of this amount (currently, around 80,000 RMB). Each of the three Second Prizes will be awarded a cash prize of 3,500 Euros(pre-tax) or the RMB equivalent of this amount (currently, around 30,000 RMB). The level of the Awards is pegged to a fixed amount in Euro, but international Award winners may choose to be paid either in Euro or in RMB at the official exchange rate on the day that the payment is effected.The Organising Committee of the International Awards for Art Criticism aims to support independent critical coverage of contemporary art, away from the immediate pressures of the market, media and private patronage. The Awards are to stimulate good writing, critical thinking and dialogue and research in China, the UK and wider afield.The objectivity of the selection process is underpinned, both by the recognised professionalism of the Chinese and English-speaking jury members and by the strict anonymity of the judging process.
Authorities warned that Bajau Laut houses in Sabah could be used as criminals hideouts.

A defense official overseeing waters off Sabah on Tuesday defended Malaysias demolition of hundreds of wooden homes built on stilts by the stateless Bajau Laut people, saying these could harbor cross-border criminals, damage coral and pollute a marine park.

The Malaysian human rights commission has called for an investigation of the action, carried out by marine park rangers last week, where 237 structures were destroyed and, according to activists, more than 1,000 people were left homeless.

The likelihood of smugglers and criminals using [Bajau Laut] houses for shelter is possible. It will be challenging for the authorities boats to conduct inspections because the houses were built in shallow areas, Victor Sanjos, commander of the Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCOM), told BenarNews.

The Bajau Laut, also known as sea gypsies, lead a nomadic ocean-based life. In the Malaysian section of Borneo island, they live in wooden boats or stilt houses around Semporna, a district in Sabah state. Malaysia does not have official data on the number of Bajau Laut people who live in Sabah, neighboring Sarawak state and smaller islands off Borneo.

For the Bajau Laut community, their homes are actually on boats. So, its not true to say they dont have homes, as their culture and way of life is typically living on boats. We dont interfere with their boats and dont prevent them from settling on land, Sanjos said, adding that the huts on stilts were in a state park where there should have been no construction.

Over a decade ago, Sabahs coastline became the scene of a protracted armed standoff lasting over six weeks between Malaysian security forces and a group of fighters from the Sulu islands in the nearby far southern Philippines.

The borderland in eastern Sabah between the two neighboring countries has long been the focus of a bilateral territorial dispute.

Malaysian authorities have taken steps to crack down on criminal activities such as smuggling and kidnapping in the region. In May 2022, ESSCOM launched a large-scale operation to dismantle illegal sea huts in waters off Sabah to combat such cross-border criminal activities.

Houses that had been built on stilts have been pulled into waters off Semporna, Sabah, Malaysia, June 9, 2024. [Courtesy of Borneo Komrad]

Last week, members of the seafaring Bajau Laut community who lived on Bohey Dulang, Maiga, Bodgaya, Sebangkat and Sibuan islands were forcibly evicted from their homes, according to activists. They said Sabah Parks, a state government conservation body overseeing the marine areas in Semporna, had ordered the action.

An eviction notice issued last month noted that the residents had built their homes in the state park without permits.

Videos and photos shared by Borneo Komrad, a local NGO, showed a group of men, believed to be Sabah Parks enforcement, apparently demolishing and burning the houses. Another video showed a boat pulling down a house.

Currently, most of the community are relocating to nearby islands to seek shelter in places where they can find refuge. Some are also going to other villages around the town, while others are squatting in areas of Semporna town, Mukmin Nantang, president of the group, told BenarNews.

Bajau Laut are accused of being illegal settlers in Sabah Parks, but they lived there long before the parks were established, he said.

Extending help

After critics called the action insensitive, Sabah Chief Minister Hajiji Noor said Tuesday that the state would assist those whose homes were demolished.

We are making plans to help them. But what was done was because it involves the safety of our nations sovereignty, he told reporters without elaborating further.

On Friday, Sabah Tourism Minister Christina Liew said the demolition was justified because the settlements were situated illegally within a protected marine area.

Over the weekend, government spokesman Fahmi Fadzil reiterated that the country would not compromise on security matters.

Human rights groups, on the other hand, urged improved treatment for seafaring communities lacking identification documents or access to education, finance and health care, leaving them vulnerable during enforcement actions.

That request came after U.N Human Rights chief Volker Turk called to end statelessness in all forms, during a visit to Malaysia last week.

A Bajau Laut girl basks on her boat in her neighborhood in the Sulawesi Sea in the Malaysian state of Sabah on Borneo island, Feb. 17, 2009. [Bazuki Muhammad/Reuters file photo]

On Sunday, the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM) said it was monitoring recent actions taken against the Bajau Laut. It urged immediate assistance for those affected by the demolitions.

The Bajau Laut are a unique and historically marginalized community facing significant challenges, including limited access to basic services such as health care and education.

While recognizing the state governments intention to enhance security, we emphasize the importance of a balanced approach that addresses the immediate needs of those affected by the demolitions, it said in a statement.

Rights group Pusat Komas called on the government to engage in dialogue with the community to find humane and just solutions.

The eviction of the Bajau Laut community without adequate consultation or solutions for alternative housing exemplifies a failure to balance development with social justice, it said last week.
Pastor Apollo Quiboloy is wanted in the Philippines and U.S. on child abuse, trafficking charges.

Supporters of Apollo Quiboloy, founder of the Philippines-based Kingdom of Jesus Christ church, hold a prayer rally at a park in Manila, March 4, 2024.

Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte lashed out at the nations police force Tuesday, calling a massive raid to hunt down his spiritual adviser who is wanted for alleged sexual abuse and other crimes overkill.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) said it had deployed about a hundred officers to three compounds owned by Pastor Apollo Quiboloy in southern Davao City on Monday to serve arrest warrants against him and five others issued by two local courts. Police did not find any of the six suspects.

I strongly condemn the use of excessive and unnecessary force in serving the warrant of arrest for Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ [KOJC] by police officers who are not even from Davao City, said Duterte, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.s immediate predecessor.

The ex-leader questioned the Marcos administrations stance when it comes to protecting an individuals constitutional rights and dealing with critics.

Will this overkill be the trademark of this administration when dealing with individuals who are merely accused of committing a crime and have not been proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt? Duterte said.

Will they exhibit the same lack of self-restraint they have shown towards critics of this administration when dealing with their supporters? he added.

Pastor Apollo Quiboloy (right) and other supporters join Rodrigo Duterte (center) at a birthday celebration in Pangasinan province, northern Philippines, during the 2016 presidential campaign, March 27, 2016. [Jojo Rinoza/BenarNews]





The Duterte and Marcos families have fallen out after they formed an alliance in the run-up to the 2022 general election, with Sara Duterte, the former presidents daughter, running as Marcos vice-presidential pick. She is still serving as his VP but has been openly critical of a plan by the administration to engage in Norway-brokered talks with communist rebels.

The PNP defended Mondays operation in Davao, saying it was conducted in strict compliance with legal security protocols and with due respect for all involved parties.

Recognizing the high-profile nature of the subject, the PNP ensured the presence of an appropriate number of officers during the operation to maintain order and prevent any unforeseen incidents, it said in a statement Tuesday.

The national police also urged Quiboloy, the fugitive televangelist, to surrender and face the allegations against him.

On Tuesday, Sen. Risa Hontiveros, who has been investigating alleged abuses in Quiboloys church, called on the pastor to peacefully give up and for Duterte not to cover for him.

For Quiboloy, you should surrender now. Cooperate with our law enforcers for once. Face the cases and accusations against you. You have nowhere to hide, Hontiveros told BenarNews.

She also called on the national police leadership not to be influenced by Duterte's allies on Quiboloy.

Asked whether Quiboloy was still in the Philippines, Col. Jean Fajardo, the PNP spokesperson, told reporters on Tuesday there was no confirmation or validation from the Bureau of Immigration that the pastor had left the country.

Quiboloy had earlier this year denied the allegations against him and accused Marcos of working with the United States in a plot to kidnap and eliminate him.

Charges against Quiboloy

Quiboloy, 73, is wanted in the Philippines for child abuse and sexual abuse and trafficking in the Philippines, while also facing the same charges in the United States.

In November 2021, a U.S. grand jury charged him on suspicion of orchestrating a sex-trafficking operation that coerced girls as young as 12 to have sex with him or risk eternal damnation, federal prosecutors said.

Quiboloy, U.S. prosecutors had said, allegedly recruited girls and young women, ranging from 12 to 25 years old, to work as personal assistants or pastorals at his church. KOJC has branches in California.

Under the charges brought against him by U.S. authorities, Quiboloy faces 15 years to life in prison if convicted of sex-trafficking, and five to 20 years if convicted of fraud and money laundering.

Founded in 1985, KOJC has grown in numbers  about four million in the Philippines and two million abroad, including in the United States  and with it, Quiboloys political clout. The sect, and his name, grew in national prominence when his friend, Duterte, was elected president of the Philippines in 2016.

Last March, Quiboloys church named Duterte as the administrator of its properties, amid the legal woes facing the pastor, according to the Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI).

SMNI, Quiboloys media arm, acted as a propaganda vehicle for Duterte during his term as president.

Duterte once publicly admitted that he had received expensive cars and property from Quiboloy when he was mayor of Davao, although he claimed to have returned them.

Jason Gutierrez and Basilio Sepe contributed to this report from Manila, and Jeoffrey Maitem and Mark Navaels from Davao City, southern Philippines.
Hanoi has created as much new land in six months as the previous two years combined.

Vietnams island building in the South China Sea has reached a record with the total new land created in the first six months of this year nearly equaling that of 2022 and 2023 combined, a U.S. independent think-tank said.

The Washington-based Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative (AMTI) said in its latest report that since November 2023, Vietnam has created 692 new acres of land across 10 features within the Spratly archipelago.

In comparison, it created 404 acres of land in the first 11 months of 2023 and 342 acres in 2022.

Vietnam reclaimed a total area of about half the area that China has built up, with much of Vietnams work on reefs China also claims.

Of the two main island groups in the South China Sea, China occupies the Paracel islands, while the Spratly islands, to the south, are contested by several countries.

Vietnam occupies 27 features and has been carrying out large-scale reclamations over the past year.

Among the 10 largest features in the Spratlys, five are being developed by Hanoi, AMTI said. Vietnams features are much smaller than any of Chinas so-called Big Three  Fiery Cross Reef, Mischief Reef and Subi Reef  artificial islands Beijing developed and fully militarized.

Vietnams overall dredging and landfill totaled about 2,360 acres, roughly half of Chinas 4,650 acres.

The AMTI said Vietnams reclamation was a major change. Just three years ago, the total amount of Vietnamese dredging and landfill was less than a tenth that of Chinas.

Vietnams work includes the Barque Canada Reef, or Bai Thuyen Chai in Vietnamese, where the area nearly doubled over six months, from 238 to 412 acres, the group said.

The Vietnamese government has said little about its work at the features apart from those efforts are to protect them, but not to expand or change structures and did not respond to the AMTI report.

Structures are visible on a Vietnamese South China Sea outpost in the Spratlys, May 2024. [RFA]

Runway potential

Six months ago, Radio Free Asia, a news service affiliated with BenarNews, reported on the rapid expansion of Barque Canada Reef from the end of 2021. Chinese think tank the South China Sea Probing Initiative had said Hanoi may be building a second airfield on the reef but the latest satellite imagery shows no sign of that.

Vietnam has one 1,300-meter runway on the Spratly Island, or Truong Sa Lon in Vietnamese, which can handle medium-sized military aircraft.

The Barque Canada Reef measures 4,318 meters in length, which makes it the only Vietnamese outpost so far with the potential to host a 3,000-meter runway like those that China has, the think-tank said.

Chinas three largest artificial islands are all equipped with runways that can accommodate bigger military transport, surveillance and bomber aircraft.

A satellite image shows Barque Canada Reef, May 11, 2024. [AMTI/Maxar Technologies]

Other features under Hanois control that have undergone significant development since November 2023 are Discovery Great Reef, South Reef, Namyit island and Pearson Reef, according to the report.

Mixed dredging

Vietnam has continued implementing a mix of cutter-suction and clamshell dredging, AMTI researchers said.

A cutter-suction dredger cuts the seabed into fragments with a rotating head. Material is sucked up by dredge pumps and discharged through pipes across sea and land.

Scientists said cutter-suction dredgers are more environmentally destructive and China has been criticized for using them.

The Vietnamese public seems supportive of the island building. Many social media commentators hail the right strategy in the face of Chinas assertiveness in the South China Sea.

Six parties  Brunei, China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam  claim parts of the South China Sea as well as the islands and reefs inside it, but Chinas claims are the most expansive.

A Philippine official, asked about Vietnams dredging and landfill work, said Hanoi was reclaiming features that it occupied before a 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.

Vietnam focuses on minding their own affairs, Philippine Coast Guard spokesman Jay Tarriela told reporters on Sunday.

They do not engage in harassing our fishermen or illegally deploying coast guard vessels and maritime militia in the waters surrounding our occupied maritime features, he said.

The Philippines has accused China of harassing fishermen and law enforcement agencies in Philippine waters, especially near the Scarborough and Second Thomas shoals.

China, meanwhile, said it has indisputable jurisdiction over all the reefs and atolls in the Spratlys.
The blaze started about 4 a.m. inside an area home to 118 pet stores, according to police.

A firefighter holds an injured bird after a fire destroyed hundreds of pet shops at the Chatuchak Weekend Market in Bangkok, June 11, 2024.

A massive fire tore through the pet zone of the famous Chatuchak Weekend Market in the Thai capital on Tuesday, devastating dozens of shops and killing hundreds of caged animals, authorities said.

The blaze started about 4 a.m. inside the Sri Somrat market, an area that contained 118 stores selling a variety of pets and ornamental fish, according to police. It took firefighters about an hour to bring it under control.

There were no reports of human casualties, but fire officials estimated about one thousand animals died.

The victims were all pets, said Bangkok Gov. Chadchart Sittipunt, who visited the scene on Tuesday. The fire is now under control, so we need to take care of the remaining animals and properly compile a list of the affected individuals.

One pet vendor, who owned a reptile shop called Snake Lovers, said she had lost all of her animals.

Our shop had snakes, lizards, turtles and geckos, including rare species, said the woman named Natthanicha, who spoke to BenarNews outside her burned-out store.

The snakes ranged in price from 2,000 baht (U.S. $57) to 60,000 baht ($1,700). We had about 400 snakes in total, with only three surviving but bearing burn marks.

I dont know how we will live after this, she said, adding she estimated damage to be about 5 million baht ($142,000).

Natthanicha (right), the owner of a business named Snake Lovers, inspects her shop after the fire on June 11, 2024. She estimates damage to be 5 million baht ($142,000). [Panumas Sanguanwong-Thai News Pix/BenarNews]

Chatuchak market, home to some 5,000 stalls that sprawl over more than 35 acres (14 hectares), is a huge tourist draw and beloved by locals in Bangkok.

Patkorn Sinsuk, director of the Chatuchak District Office, said initial inspections revealed damage to the market spans more than 900 square meters (9,687 square feet)

It is not advisable to enter the fire-damaged building at this time due to the risk of structural collapse. Relevant agencies are already providing assistance, he told the media.

After filing a police report, Patkorn said, affected shop owners would be eligible for an initial compensation payment of up to 10,400 baht ($295) from the State Railway of Thailand, which owns the land.

Forensic experts from Bang Sue Police Station are still investigating the cause of the fire. Police said they had been told by the markets security team the fire was first reported in a pet shop selling dogs.
Tesla is facing a potential class-action lawsuit in California as regulators accused the automaker of falsely advertising its full self-driving cars.

According to a Bloomberg report on Monday, Tesla failed to dismiss a proposed lawsuit over supposed false statements about its autopilot and self-driving systems.

The court decision was in response to Tesla filing a motion to dismiss the case from the California Department of Motor Vehicles because the advertisements on the autopilot system fall under free speech.

The California DMV, however, argued that Tesla only started refuting claims in 2022 as more lawsuits surface, while its CEO Elon Musk continues to promote Tesla cars with "full self-driving features."

The ruling came amidst federal and regulatory bodies currently investigating Tesla following reports of road accidents involving its "full self-driving" system.

Regulators Crack Down on Tesla's Growing Road Accidents

In a safety report last April, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration disclosed that Tesla's autopilot system has already caused at least 13 deaths and several more injuries since August 2021.

The NHTSA claimed the road accidents were due to a "critical safety gap" in the company's driving system as drivers were led to believe that the "automation has greater capabilities than it does."

The investigation was prompted by increasing safety concerns about Tesla's cars following a road incident in 2018 that killed an Apple engineer.

The report came as the NHTSA launched another probe into Tesla recalling 2 million EVs to fix an autopilot issue.

Also Read : Over 2 Million Teslas in the US Will Get an Update to Fix the Autopilot Issue

Tesla Remains Top Pick Among EVs

Despite ongoing investigations and lawsuits against the company, Tesla remains a top pick among EVs currently dominating the industry.

Its controversial Cybertruck even placed second as the second-best-selling EV pickup last March, according to the latest S&P Global Mobility data via Automotive News.

The company even retained top positions in California despite a continuous decline in new EV registrations in the state.
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BENNINGTON  A Bennington judge accepted a plea deal that sends habitual offender Robert Billings to jail for 3-7 years plus full restitution to all his home improvement fraud victims.

The plea deal, negotiated between prosecutors and defense attorney Jeffrey Rubin, calls for Billings to serve a 3-7-year prison sentence and pay full restitution to four separate victims after he pleaded guilty to three felony counts of home improvement fraud. Billings was facing a possible life sentence as a habitual offender in Vermont. Billings has five prior felony home improvement fraud convictions dating back to 2010, which allowed prosecutors to tag him with habitual offender status. In return for pleading guilty, the state dismissed a fourth felony home improvement fraud charge and an unrelated DUI charge.

In all, Billings will likely serve less than three years behind bars with credit for the time he has already served. Once he is released on parole, Billings will need to steer clear of the criminal justice system for the remainder of his sentence, or he will be automatically forced to serve up to seven years behind bars without the benefit of a criminal hearing. This is just a determination by the Department of Corrections and his Parole.

According to court documents, Billings, owner of 4th Generation Plumbing and Heating, failed to complete  or refund deposits  to four individuals in Bennington, Sandgate, and Winhall between 2021-2023. The fraud totaled over $16,000. According to prosecutors, the dismissed fourth fraud charge had already been settled financially with a $2,850 restitution already paid to the victim.

The three charges that are part of the plea deal are as follows:

In November 2021, Billings allegedly contracted with an 84-year-old Bennington homeowner to replace a furnace on Scott Street. Billings received deposit checks totaling $8,300 for the work, stating that the homeowner needed to replace his entire furnace. Nearly two years later, the work was never completed, and no money was returned. A second opinion was given to the homeowner in 2023, informing him that the old furnace did not need replacement.

In October 2022, Billings allegedly entered into a contract with Winhall homeowners for extensive plumbing work on their Beaver Street home. Several deposit checks totaling $6,000 were written to Billings for the job, which was never completed. Billings returned $600 to the homeowners several months after they threatened to go to the police. $5,400 was never refunded.

In February 2023, Billings allegedly promised to fix a heating problem for a Bennington homeowner, including installing a new oil tank. The homeowner gave Billings four checks totaling $ 10,900 for the work, which was never performed. A heating expert later told the homeowner that a new oil tank was unnecessary.

Billings has a lengthy criminal record in Vermont, including at least five home improvement fraud convictions in Vermont from between 2010 and 2016. A preliminary search online revealed an F-rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) for a company called 4th Gen, a Bennington plumbing business associated with Billings' name with the same listed address as on court records. Several complaints recite familiar circumstances, including up-front monies taken with no work done and none returned and work being cited that was not needed.

A check of Billings on the fraud registry showed at least eight listings for home improvement fraud.

Its not enough, said Marie Bolton, daughter of an 83-year-old victim who was ripped off by Billings in 2022. Its just not enough.

There was some doubt whether Judge Kerry McDonald-Cady was going to accept the deal after she listened to victim impact statements and looked at what was most important to Billings victims, some of whom were elderly and had lost several thousand dollars due to his fraud. After taking a recess, the judge addressed the court.

I believe this sentence gives the victims the best chance at restitution while still having a punitive effect, McDonald-Cady said.

For his part, Billings apologized to the victims gathered in the courtroom but said he was robbing Peter to pay Paul, referring to using up-front money from a new contract to settle the old after not performing the work. It was an argument the judge had a hard time buying.

This wasnt just someone who fell behind and couldnt catch up. This was someone manipulating his victims. There has to be punishment, but sending him to jail for the rest of his life does nothing to address the needs of the victims for restitution. I asked where the money went. It did not go to the homeowners as refunds for the work not being completed. It went somewhere else.

Billings will start his sentence immediately. A separate restitution hearing will be scheduled to determine the exact amounts due to all homeowners. Until then, the homeowners will have to wait, not just for a hearing, but for Billings to serve his sentence and earn enough to start making good on what he owes. Several of the homeowners are elderly. There is no guarantee they will ever see any of the money they paid out in their lifetimes.
PITTSFIELD  Ask Thomas Moody what his favorite thing to smoke is. Hell tell you pork ribs. And his least favorite? That would be brisket, because it takes so long.

Moody wasnt smoking anything at the Pittsfield Farmers Market on Saturday though. The pit master was dancing in front of the grill, putting the finish on wings, dishing out pulled pork and turning individual ribs to achieve a perfect bark.

This is Upstreet Smoke, a pop-up restaurant, which has also been operating nearly a year as a caterer at venues such as Shakespeare & Company and Barrington Stage Company.

Moody and his partner, Erica Shrader, chose Juneteenth to launch the business, starting with the NAACP Berkshires Juneteenth Celebration, on June 18 2023, at Pittsfield's Durant Park. Through customers there, they landed catering gigs.

PITTSFIELD FARMERS MARKET

While Moody tended to the meat on Saturday, Shrader worked the cash register, taking orders and handling cash and plastic. She makes all the sides, food she calls comfort cuisine.

Theyre now at the Pittsfield Farmers Market the second Saturday of the month.

I sneak in Caribbean dishes every once in a while, Shrader said. Those would be ones she learned from her grandmother, Iris Persip, from Saint Kits, and from her mother, Althea (Nolan) Patrick, from Bermuda. She also sometimes fries plantains.

My dad always cooked, she said of her father, Frank Patrick. As a child, she remembers having sit-down dinners every week that she termed soul food Sundays, although the menus sometimes included other cuisines. She served as his sous-chef.

At the Pittsfield Farmers Market Saturday, sides included macaroni and cheese, a kale and chickpea salad (the only vegan option), cornbread and baked beans.

Shrader also makes a slightly spicy coleslaw, which includes horseradish and creole mustard. Then theres her brown rice, also fashioned after her grandmothers cooking.

Is it healthy? No, she said. But it is delicious.

EARLY BEGINNINGS

Shrader and Moody met when they were in high school  she at Taconic, he at Pittsfield High  and they dated. At about that time she had her first job as a cashier at Bradlees and he worked as a laborer for a carpenter. Both left the area, landing separately in Washington, D.C.

We talked on the phone twice but never connected there, Shrader said.

Family brought both of them back to Pittsfield, and the two reconnected on Facebook a few years ago.

And we just had this mad passion, addiction almost, for food, Shrader said. We tried to open up something during COVID but it was just too much. Getting all the legal paperwork and then I got sick during COVID as well. And then we had a date night at one of the local bars.

As the two talked at the bar in 2022, Shrader ordered a smoker.

And then he started smoking," she said.

Moody and Shrader work out of four commercial kitchens in the Berkshires to do their prep.

Its pretty covert, Shrader said of these arrangements, because Moody and Shrader go in late night or on days when the restaurants are closed. She said it took time to land these arrangements and didnt want to reveal the locations.

Their goal is to open a restaurant, but for now, theyre taking catering jobs on weekends.

We just bring the picnic to you," Shrader said.

A carpenter by day, Moody said it was after he bought the smoker and started experimenting with it that the two crafted the idea for Upstreet Smoke.

Shrader is an IT manager and this is her first venture cooking professionally. She said she enjoys all aspects of the business  from handling the website to developing recipes to executing dishes. On Saturday, she clearly enjoyed the customer contact as well.

Moody and Schrader worked easily together, never got in one anothers space, even though each was constantly moving. During Saturdays brief showers, Moody pulled the grill under the tent and the two adjusted to working in a tighter space. Business was brisk, and the line was constant. Neither Moody nor Shrader got flustered, turning out orders quickly and engaging kindly with their customers.

COMFORT CUISINE

Amelia Eichmeier tried the macaroni and cheese on Saturday, and gave it her stamp of approval.

Im from Wisconsin, and she gets it, Eichmeier said.

Others praised the mac and cheese as well. One woman liked the chickpea and kale salad. Customers were generally pleased.

The couple is waiting for some grants before finalizing plans to open in a Pittsfield space, Moody said.

CATERING OFFERED

Over the winter, Moody and Shrader offered catered turkeys and southern sides.

We missed our own Thanksgiving dinner because we were running around all day, Shrader said. My kids did not forgive me.

They did a Christmas dinner for customers and a February event at Barrington Stage.

Catering gets us through the cold months, when we cant actually be outside, Shrader said.

Shrader said she most enjoys making macaroni and cheese, which includes five cheeses and is flavored from the first step until the end. Theres profiles of flavors throughout, so I think that stands out.

Shrader said most of her customers don't cook this type of food themselves.

For comfort cuisine, especially the type of food we have, most of our friends and a lot of people in Black culture, already cook that in their home," she said. "So, all of our customers are pretty new. I kind of love that about it. Its nobody doing you a favor saying, 'Oh this tastes good.'

Shrader said shes having so much fun at this that she has to remind herself its a business venture.

Moody said hes looking forward to opening in a space where people can sit down.

Well see how it really works out, he said.
Two weeks ago, I was in the front seat of a minivan going faster than the speed of light  or so it seemed from my point of view  for a long road trip and graduation parties in Columbus, Ohio.

Now, let me be honest  it wasnt my first road trip to Ohio, my late brother-in-law and his family lived in southeastern Ohio, near West Virginia. Having done it many times over the decades, I knew all the pitfalls and tried to convince my son that flying was the way to go, but to no avail.

AN OHIO ADVENTURE

I did what I could to alleviate everyones pain  especially my 3- and 1-year-old grandsons. I brought snacks and small toys suitable for playing with in the confines of a car seat. I knew my daughter-in-law, Casey, would also have all the bases covered. I even thought about mixing a very large margarita in my water tumbler to get me through the minimal-stop, 8-hour trip.

"The car is leaving at 5 a.m.," my son, David decreed the night before. Anyone who isnt in it gets left behind. Yeah, right  Sigh, we left at 5:15.

Much to my surprise, the trip wasnt that bad. We stopped a few times for potty breaks and food, and the boys were as good as gold. Because we were going to northwestern Ohio, the route was across New York, a bit of Pennsylvania, and Ohio, mostly on interstate highways  straight roads with high speed limits, (70 mph in Ohio, translated to 80 in my sons mind  and he was driving). We arrived in Columbus mid-afternoon with everyone still in one piece and still talking to one another.

MANATEES & DINOSAURS

On Friday, we went to the Columbus Zoo, a must if you ever find yourself in that neck of the woods. We saw every animal imaginable, and sea creatures in the zoos aquarium, including several of my favorites, manatees. There was also a section with life-size dinosaurs, which my older grandson, Guy, loved. I accused my family of trying to kill me  we did over 15,000 steps in under four hours  but I made it, albeit a bit slower as the day progressed.

That night, the whole family came over to our rental for a fun night of pizza, good conversation among the adults, and bonding time for the younger cousins  Guy attached himself to my youngest grandnephew John, who is 12. Kudos  and thanks  to all of the grandnieces and nephews for watching and playing with Guy and Gabe all weekend!

GRADUATION PARTIES

Saturday and Sunday were devoted to graduation parties for my grandnephew, James, who received his high school diploma, and his sister, Sara, who received a college degree. We enjoyed a family brunch at the home of Paul and Jenny, my nephew and niece. How they managed to fit in a brunch, run errands, supply the family with lunch while they were at a close friends grad party, and get ready for James party is a mystery. Because we were leaving on Sunday, we sadly missed Saras party, but our thoughts were with them as we made our way northeast.

There was a major child meltdown on the way home, just west of Albany, N.Y., and we really couldnt complain. The boys had been on the go since we had arrived in Ohio, and it was way overdue. Heck, at that point, we were all totally exhausted!

For James party there was a smores bar, snacks, a live band, more good company and my niece Jennys knock-your-socks-off lemon sangria. I should have filled my tumbler for the ride home 

JENNYS LEMON SANGRIA

(Courtesy of Jennifer Button)

INGREDIENTS

4 liters pinot grigio

52 ounces lemonade

52 ounces pineapple juice

1/2 cup Triple Sec

2 cups vodka

Juice from half a large orange

1 1/2 cups of chopped seasonal fruit.

DIRECTIONS

Mix all the ingredients into a very large drink dispenser and serve.

Jenny added, "I really just eyeball it and taste as I go, but this is pretty close to what I remember!
(Photo : Unsplash/Viktor Avdeev)

A US appeals court rejected Uber's and its subsidiary, Postmates' motion to revive a legal challenge against a California law that could potentially force companies to decide whether gig workers should be classified as employees rather than independent contractors.

Uber's Appeal on Challenging AB5

An 11-judge panel of the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco affirmed a decision by a lower court on Monday, stating Uber had not demonstrated that the 2020 AB5 state law unfairly targeted app-based transportation companies while granting exemptions to other industries.

Uber declared in a statement on Monday that the ruling would not alter the classification of its drivers, who are currently regarded as contractors under a 2020 ballot initiative called Proposition 22, which is currently under consideration in a separate case at the state's highest court.

While arguments were presented by a labor union and four drivers last month, asserting that the ballot measure was unconstitutional, a spokesperson for the California attorney general's office did not provide an immediate comment in response to a request.

Circuit Judge Jacqueline Nguyen noted in an opinion that there are valid justifications for treating transportation and delivery referral companies differently from other types of referral companies. This is especially true since the legislature viewed transportation and delivery companies as major contributors to worker misclassification, an issue it always aims to tackle.

READ ALSO: Uber and Lyft Drivers are Staying in Minnesota as Pay Package Beats Deadline to Win Approval

A Gig Worker Vs. Employee Status

The distinction between being classified as a gig worker and an employee has become a significant point of contention within the industry. Employees are entitled to various benefits such as minimum wage, overtime pay, expense reimbursements, and specific legal protections that independent contractors do not receive. This difference substantially impacts gig companies' financial performance, as hiring independent contractors can be more cost-effective. Numerous studies have indicated that employing contractors can save companies up to 30%.

The Workers' Classification

AB 5, effective in 2020, imposes stricter criteria for companies seeking to classify their workers as independent contractors.

The dispute regarding the extent of AB5 arises within a broader national discourse concerning state and federal laws and other regulations, which might compel more companies to classify their workers as employees. In March, US business groups filed a lawsuit against the Biden administration in federal court, contesting its endeavors to impose stricter criteria for companies to classify certain workers as independent contractors rather than employees.

The highest state court in Massachusetts is currently deliberating on whether voters should have the opportunity to consider ballot measures that would redefine the employment relationship between on-demand drivers and their companies within the state in November.

California's AB5 elevated the standard for demonstrating that workers are genuinely independent contractors, necessitating companies to demonstrate that they operate outside of their direct control, are not engaged in the company's usual business activities, and run independent enterprises.

In December 2019, Uber and two drivers filed a lawsuit challenging the California law, asserting that AB5 was an irrational and unconstitutional statute intended to suppress workers and companies within the on-demand economy. A federal judge in Los Angeles initially dismissed the lawsuit at an early stage but was revived by a three-judge panel from the 9th Circuit last year, stating that the "piecemeal fashion" of exemptions to the law provided sufficient grounds for Uber's lawsuit to proceed. The ruling by the 11-judge circuit court on Monday overturned Uber's previous victory.

RELATED ARTICLE: Lyft, Uber Disappointed with Council Overriding Pay Increase Veto, Retaliates by Ceasing Minneapolis, Twin Cities' Services

 2017 Jobs & Hire All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Lenox native James Brooke has traveled to about 100 countries reporting for The New York Times, Bloomberg and Voice of America. He reported from Russia for eight years and from Ukraine for six years.
Sabine and CX envision affordable and accessible IVF, birthing and neonatal care for all

Sabine Hospital and Research Centre has secured $50 million in funding from CX Partners, a private equity (PE) fund in the Indian mid-market with a long track record of delivering returns through cycles and a consortium of investors.

CX partners works in the healthcare, financial services, consumer products and services and IT/outsourced service. With 29 portfolio companies and $1 billion of assets under management across its funds and co-investors, CX partners is positive about Sabine Hospitals potential to immense growth.

Commenting on the investment, Vivek Chhachhi, Managing Partner, CX Partners said, Sabine Hospital and Research Centre provides accessible healthcare at affordable costs. Their world-class fertility treatments cater to the growing medical needs of people. While upholding the utmost ethical standards and clinical excellence, the organisation has demonstrated remarkable growth, with a CAGR of 25% over the last three years. We see the potential in further expanding Sabine Hospitals to adjacent markets, drawing upon our experience investing in healthcare, attracting high quality professional leadership, and putting in place systems to manage growth."

Singapore-based Tanas Capital, a growth stage private equity firm, is part of the investor consortium.

Sabine Hospital and Research Centre was incorporated in 2016 as a single facility near Kochi. Now it operates 300 beds including 60 NICU beds across 2 facilities in Kerala. Sabine Hospital has an integrated model through which it offers mother and child healthcare services including IVF and other fertility treatments, birthing, newborn care and other gynaecological procedures.

Conducting more than 6,000 IVF cycles and 3,000 deliveries every year, Sabine Hospital attracts patients from Maldives, Oman & Bangladesh besides Kerela. The hospital utilises cutting edge equipment to make high-end procedures like IVF more accessible. Upholding highest ethical standards, Sabine Hospital and Research Centre records the highest success rates.
(Photo : UNSPLASH/Marcos Luiz Photograph )

Each year, before the Berkshire Hathaway shareholders meeting, crowds gather outside the CHI Health Center Arena in Omaha, Nebraska, eager to listen to Warren Buffett's address. Some seek investment insights, while others are interested in Buffett's personal wisdom, as highlighted in a recent report by CNBC Make It.

However, despite his esteemed reputation, Buffett did not always possess natural speaking abilities. The idea of public speaking even made him physically ill, and he deliberately selected college courses to avoid speaking in front of a class, as he revealed during an interview with author Gillian Zoe Segal for her 2015 book, "Getting There: A Book of Mentors."

Following his graduation from Columbia Business School in 1951, Buffett made a firm decision to conquer his fear of public speaking and enrolled in a $100 public speaking course at Dale Carnegie Training, an institute named after the influential speaker and author of How to Win Friends and Influence People and other bestselling books. Buffett shared with Segal that the class significantly impacted his later achievements, emphasizing that even a slight enhancement in communication skills could substantially impact future earning potential and various other facets of life.

Dale Carnegie CEO Joe Hart shared with CNBC in 2019 that professionals can still derive valuable insights from the strategies Buffett acquired during his public speaking course:

You Have to Learn as Much as You Can

Carnegie emphasized the importance of speaking about a topic one is knowledgeable and confident about. He advised against hurriedly preparing a talk, suggesting to invest considerable time, possibly even years, in thorough preparation.

READ ALSO: Personality Over Intelligence: The #1 Thing A Self-Made Millionaire Wished He Knew in His 20s

Being an active learner like Buffett, particularly in the realm of public speaking, can, for several reasons, facilitate the expansion and deepening of knowledge across various subjects. This attribute has been instrumental in Buffett's considerable success.

You Have to Share Your Own Experiences

Personalizing a speech is the most effective method for gaining people's favor. Buffett frequently employs this strategy in his speeches, incorporating anecdotes from his life and career to illustrate key points.

Carnegie advises carrying a sheet of paper with you for a few weeks and jotting down any subjects that come to mind based on personal experiences that you are prepared to speak about.

You Have to Jot Down Notes, Not A Draft

When Buffett delivers a speech, he seldom refers to notes. One of Carnegie's fundamental principles is that a good speech is not fully scripted in advance.

Carnegie recommended using brief notes instead of a script, cautioning that reading from a script could hinder one's presence and that relying on a script might lead to attempts to recall what was written, preventing natural and engaging speech delivery.

You Have to Get Excited About The Topic

Hart emphasized the importance of smiling, maintaining positive energy, and projecting confidence, which can significantly impact communication effectiveness. Buffett developed a passion for investing, wealth, and attaining success from a young age. This lasting enthusiasm is evident in his speeches and interviews.

Carnegie noted that even individuals with average speaking skills can still deliver outstanding speeches if they discuss something that deeply moves them.

RELATED ARTICLE: Berkshire Shareholders' Success Stories: Four Lessons From Buffett and Munger

 2017 Jobs & Hire All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.


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When a company is alleged to have or is discovered to possess a toxic work environment, it risks substantial damage to its reputation and financial losses.

Regardless of whether an employer takes action to address the issues, toxic employee behaviors can adversely affect the mental well-being of other team members and tarnish the workplace's reputation. This can also jeopardize the company's capacity to retain its top talent.

To assist managers in averting such consequences, Forbes Human Resources Council members delve into strategies for effectively confronting and eradicating toxic behaviors to cultivate a healthier and more productive environment for all stakeholders.

1. Reinforcing A "No Brilliant Jerks" Policy

Gustavo Razzetti of Fearless Culture advises implementing and upholding a "no brilliant jerks" policy, similar to practices observed at companies like Netflix and Slack. In many instances, leaders turn a blind eye to disrespectful behavior exhibited by managers solely because they are high-performing employees. It is essential to note that even in elite teams such as the Navy SEALs, preference is given to individuals with moderate performance levels who are highly trusted over high-performing team members lacking trust.

2. Embracing A People-Centric Approach

Leaders can mitigate the effects of workplace toxicity by adopting a people-centric approach to engaging their team members. This involves asking individuals about their well-being and genuinely listening to their responses. It is important to recognize that everyone processes toxicity differently; some team members may have experienced toxic environments in previous workplaces and are still coping with the effects, according to Megan Barbier of Boomi.

READ ALSO: Is Your Team Really Engaged? Here Are Key Strategies for Improving Workplace Morale and Productivity

3. Investing In DEIB Initiatives

According to Jade Nikolaou of SecondMuse, workplace toxicity frequently originates from a deficient investment in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) initiatives. Leaders should prioritize financial investment in DEIB programs and demonstrate these principles through their actions and decisions. Establishing inclusive environments necessitates a cultural transformation wherein DEIB becomes integral to the organization's identity rather than merely a checklist item.

4. Establishing A Leadership Model

Establishing a leadership model is valuable as it transparently outlines expected behaviors, helping employees comprehend what they are expected to achieve and how to achieve it. This model emphasizes motivation, positive influence, and stakeholder engagement. Paaras Parker of Paycor says shared language clarifies expectations, facilitates necessary corrections, and indicates when expectations are unmet.

5. Taking Timely Action

According to Gallup, disengaged and toxic employees inflict more harm on organizations than unengaged employees. Failing to promptly address disengaged and toxic employees can result in more significant harm to the organization. Even if these employees are top performers, taking timely action is crucial for safeguarding the company culture, says Kannan Raghavan of Kemin Industries.

6. Promoting The Right People

A company's culture is shaped by the worst level of behavior that it tolerates. To address employee issues and enhance workplace culture, managers should prioritize promoting the right individuals who demonstrate strong leadership qualities rather than solely focusing on top performers. It is also essential to regularly gauge employee sentiment instead of solely relying on exit interviews to uncover toxicity within the organization, advises Shannon Gabriel of TBM Consulting.

RELATED ARTICLE: Bridging Empathy Gap: How Does it Help with Diversity and Inclusion?

 2017 Jobs & Hire All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
A Tesla shareholder vote on Thursday on whether to reinstate chief executive Elon Musk's $56 billion (52 billion) pay package that was shot down by a Delaware judge will not provide a quick resolution, irrespective of the tally's results.

Tesla's board is hoping shareholder approval will give the electric vehicle maker the legal ammunition it needs to reinstate the package, though that is far from certain. The company has also said if the compensation plan is rejected by shareholders, it expects Mr Musk would only accept a pay package that is similar in size to the voided one.

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Here is what we know about the potential outcomes:

What happens if shareholders vote yes?

Mr Musk's pay package is not reinstated automatically. Tesla has said it will seek to reverse Delaware Judge Kathaleen McCormick's ruling in January that invalidated the compensation package as unfair to the company's shareholders.

Judge McCormick found that the Tesla shareholders who in 2018 voted in favour of granting the pay package were not fully informed on how beholden many directors were to Mr Musk and how this affected the compensation negotiations.

Tesla included Judge McCormick's ruling in its disclosures to shareholders ahead of the vote on Thursday, and has said it plans to argue that an affirmative result would show that shareholders back the package with full knowledge of Judge McCormick's criticisms.

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Zohar Goshen, a professor at Columbia Law School, said it was unclear whether such a move would convince Judge McCormick. "It's hard to estimate how the court will rule because there is too much noise around this decision," Goshen said.

If Tesla fails to convince Judge McCormick to change her ruling, which she has not yet made effective, Tesla plans to appeal all the way to the Delaware Supreme Court, a process that will take many months.

Tesla is also asking for shareholder approval at its annual meeting on Thursday to move its corporate domicile to Texas, outside the reach of Delaware courts. It has said it does not plan to use the move to ignore Judge McCormick's ruling, and she has accepted those assurances.

Tesla could also face more litigation from some shareholders. One of them this month filed a lawsuit challenging the upcoming shareholder vote on Mr Musk's pay package and the change of domicile.

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What happens if shareholders vote no?

Tesla has said it is "determined" to pay Mr Musk for his previous work through the 2018 plan or a new one, to ensure he devotes his time and energy to the company.

It can still try to reverse Judge McCormick's decision in Delaware, but it will have a weaker hand if shareholders reject the package.

Given the appeal could take Tesla beyond next year's annual shareholder meeting, this could give the board some breathing space before it has to negotiate a new pay package with Mr Musk.

Tesla argues that the costs to shareholders will be significantly greater if the pay package is not reinstated. The company booked a $2.3 billion accounting charge to issue it in 2018. It estimates that to give Mr Musk a new package with the same economic benefit, the accounting charge it would have to take would be more than $25 billion because of the rise in Tesla's shares since 2018.

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It has said the new package would have to be less than 10 per cent of the size of the 2018 plan to avoid a new charge.

Tesla has also warned that if Judge McCormick's ruling stands, shareholders would bear the cost of its legal fees. The legal team representing the Tesla investor who challenged Mr Musk's pay is asking for $5.6 billion out of the Tesla stock Mr Musk would have received as a fee, though the company is challenging that request.

Will Tesla lose Musk if he does not get the pay package?

Board chair Robyn Denholm said in a regulatory filing last week that reinstating the pay package was necessary for "retaining Elon's attention and motivating him".

Sceptics say Mr Musk's 13 per cent stake in Tesla, worth some $75 billion and accounting for a big chunk of his wealth, as well as his two decades at chief executive duties.

Samantha Crispin, a corporate attorney at global law firm Baker Botts, said it would be hard to predict how Mr Musk, who draws no salary from Tesla, will respond. "That's the $56 billion question," she said.
Mary Lou McDonald has insisted Sinn Feins poor showing in the local and European elections in the Republic will not dent the momentum of its campaign in Northern Ireland for the UK General Election.

The Sinn Fein president said she believes the party was nailed on for some gains in the North in the vote on July 4th.

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She also rejected any suggestion that the requirement of having to canvass on both sides of the border may have negatively affected Sinn Feins ground-game when it came to the local and European elections in Ireland.

Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald has initiated an internal review after her partys poor showing in elections in the Republic of Ireland. Photo: PA.

Despite registering 30 per cent-plus support in some opinion polls last year, Sinn Fein emerged from the local elections south of the border with 12 per cent of the first preference vote share.

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Ms McDonald, who has apologised for the showing and initiated a review of the partys policy offering to voters, was asked whether the results could have a negative knock-on effect on Sinn Feins campaign north of the border.

I think the momentum that we have developed across the country is very strong, she replied.

And I believe that were going to perform really well in the Westminster elections. I think were nailed on for some gains.

Asked if the Westminster campaign hurt Sinn Feins canvassing south of the border, as it potentially limited the number of activists who could travel down from the north to help out, she insisted the party was perpetually on an election footing.

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Were a national organisation, the other parties are a regional phenomenon, she said.

So were always active across the island.

And if you asked Sinn Fein activists and members and people who live in the north and come up and down, we seem to be permanently on an election.

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DUP leader Gavin Robinson said voters wanted solutions. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA.

DUP leader Gavin Robinson claimed the lesson from Sinn Feins electoral performance south of the border was that people wanted solutions rather than just anger.

Sinn Feins electoral disappointments in the Republic of Ireland are interesting but the vote that matters for Northern Ireland is on 4th July, he said.

That will decide who speaks for Northern Ireland.

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He added: The lesson from the Republic is that people wanted solutions rather than just anger. Any old fool can point out a problem, but it takes a plan and determination to deal with a problem and secure a lasting solution.

Both in Scotland and the Republic, 2024 has demonstrated the fluid nature of polls and electoral success.

The ballot box is what matters. No one should take the people for granted.

Thats why at every election, we stand on our record of delivery and our plan to make progress.
Penelope Tree says being a feminist was completely not a thing back when she worked as a supermodel in the Sixties.

With her otherworldly look, American-born Tree was discovered as a teenager and swiftly became a key face of Londons Swinging Sixties. She crashed out of the fashion industry in her 20s after developing severe late-onset acne, and has largely kept out of the spotlight since then.

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Now 74 years old, Tree is feeling reflective, thinking back to her time in the fashion industry. Feminism was in such early days that it wasnt even widely integrated, she says of the 1960s.

Being a feminist was completely not a thing, whereas now, I think girls have a lot more sense of their own worth.

(David Bailey/PA)

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Tree is revisiting her past through a slightly unusual vehicle  rather than going down the tried and tested route of a memoir, shes written a work of fiction. Piece Of My Heart follows teenager Ari, whose alien-like looks catch the attention of the fashion industry  she becomes a model, has a turbulent relationship with an older photographer, and her career comes to an abrupt end when she develops painful adult acne.

If a lot of that sounds remarkably familiar, there are plenty of strains that echo Trees own life, but shes keen to highlight that its not strictly autobiographical. She grew up in New York, for one  not a stately English home like Ari  and many of the characters are composites of real people rather than being based on individuals.

But still, the similarities are there, with Tree explaining: It was something I really wanted to talk about and write about for a long time. I think it was quite an important thing for me to do, it crystallised a lot of feelings that I had about that whole time  feeling like it had been such a series of losses and failures.

I went up, and then I went plummeting down. It always stuck in my mind as something that was very formative  I lost so much confidence from that whole period, and I wanted to look at it a bit more closely.

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Reliving such a painful time put me through a lot of emotion, Tree admits, while ultimately calling the writing process cathartic.

(Fenton Bailey/PA)

It was really helpful to me. I feel a lot more resolved with things that happened, even though it didnt happen exactly the way it is [in the book]. But somehow, using your imagination to work with the past can be really transformative.

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One character who was plucked straight from reality is Aris boyfriend, clearly inspired by Trees former partner, photographer David Bailey. Its not the most flattering of portrayals  hes depicted as a creative genius who can be controlling and unfaithful  and Tree gave him full warning before the book was published.

I told him that he may or may not like it, but I did it  he said, Oh right, thats alright. Hes pretty cool about it, Tree notes  but shes also doubtful Bailey, now 86, will actually read the novel.

Trees memories of this time in her life are dominated by her relationship with Bailey, which is reflected in the book.

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Penelope Tree pictured with David Bailey in 1970 (PA)

When you fall in love, you think that the person you fall in love with is going to be the answer to your loneliness, to the fact that were all alone in the world  we come in alone, we go out alone. And thats the way it is.

But when you fall in love, you have the illusion that youre wholly bonded  at one with the other person. And as the veil slowly peels away from your eyes, you realise youre back in the same situation, and its really down to you in the end, to be the person that you are.

The relationship flamed out dramatically, with Tree saying she then had to figure out how to survive without depending on this person who was always so sure about everything.

The split and her unceremonious exit from the fashion industry both happened in 1974, causing Tree to lose all my confidence, she remembers. And it wasnt totally Baileys fault, either. I just wasnt emotionally equipped to deal with being a professional. I was really young, but I [also] didnt listen  I was quite stubborn and didnt listen to people who knew better in the industry, and paid the consequences.

She wasnt the only one undergoing changes in the 1970s  Tree says it was happening on a wider societal level too. It really went a lot darker, she says of the end of the Sixties.

Suddenly the consequences of taking drugs and stuff like that started to hit people, and there were no safety valves. Tree herself was arrested in 1972 for possession of cocaine  which is mirrored in the book when Ari finds herself in a similar situation.

Not that the 1960s were as rosy as you might think  something Tree wanted to make clear in Piece Of My Heart. People have an Austin Powers idea of how the Sixties were  and if youre a living human being, a feeling human being, this was a very mixed time, certainly for girls and women.

We often find that all the men have mostly all the power  there were very few women who really took the ball and ran with it. That was my experience  I was very passive, I suppose, and its something I had to learn: how to be independent.

Tree spent decades out of the limelight  moving to Australia, having two children, discovering Buddhism  before returning to the UK in 1998, now living in the southeast of England. Tree has tentatively returned to modelling, returning to the runway for a Fendi show in 2020, and appearing in Vivienne Westwoods spring/summer 2024 campaign alongside Naomi Campbell earlier this year.

For many years, I felt very insecure and like I hadnt finished something properly, because of the whole thing that happened with my skin and having to leave so abruptly, she reflects.

I had a bad feeling  a sort of trauma  and then 40 years passed. I did the odd thing, but 40 years passed. And actually, I had so much distance between what happened and now Ive met so many creative people, which is what I always loved most about the whole thing.

While shes enjoying dipping her toe back into the world of fashion, Tree has always wanted to be a writer  and publishing her first novel is a big step forward for her. If she was going to give a piece of advice to her younger self, it would be this: Get a move on with writing. Dont wait 50 years to write your first novel.

Piece Of My Heart by Penelope Tree is published by Moonflower Publishing. Available now.
US secretary of state Antony Blinken has said the UN Security Councils vote in favour of a US-backed proposal for a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release made it as clear as it possibly could be that the world supports the plan, as he again called on Hamas to accept it.

Everyones vote is in, except for one vote, and thats Hamas, Mr Blinken told reporters in Tel Aviv after meeting Israeli officials.

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He said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had reaffirmed his commitment to the proposal when they met late Monday.

Hamas welcomed US President Joe Bidens initial announcement of the plan as well as the UN resolution endorsing it but has yet to submit its official response.



Antony Blinken speaks to families and supporters of Israelis held hostage by Hamas in Gaza (Jack Guez, Pool Photo via AP)

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Mr Blinken said Hamass response to the UN vote was a hopeful sign but that mediators are still awaiting word from the groups leaders in Gaza.

Thats what counts. And thats what we dont have yet. And thats why I say were waiting to see it. Everyone has said yes, except for Hamas, he said.

In a separate development, the UN human rights office said Israeli forces and Palestinian militants may have committed war crimes during the deadly Israeli raid that rescued four hostages over the weekend. At least 274 Palestinians were killed in the operation, according to Gazas Health Ministry.

Mr Blinkens latest visit to the region  his eighth since Hamass October 7 attack on southern Israel ignited the war  is focused on rallying support for the ceasefire proposal, boosting the entry of humanitarian aid and advancing post-war plans for Gazas governance.

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He met privately with families of the hostages as well as demonstrators outside a hotel calling for a ceasefire deal, and later travelled on to Jordan.

Mr Blinken was also expected to visit Qatar, which along with Egypt has served as a key mediator with Hamas. Mr Blinken was in Cairo earlier on Monday.

The proposal, announced by Mr Biden last month, calls for a three-phased plan in which Hamas would release the rest of the hostages in exchange for a lasting ceasefire and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. The group is still holding around 120 hostages, a third of whom are believed to be dead.



Israeli military officers gather by their vehicles in a refugee camp in the occupied West Bank (Majdi Mohammed/AP)

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Mr Biden presented it as an Israeli proposal, but Mr Netanyahu has publicly disputed key aspects of it, saying Israel will not end the war without destroying Hamas and achieving the return of all the hostages.

Hamas supports the broad outline of the agreement but has demanded assurances it will be implemented. The militant group embraced a similar proposal last month that was rejected by Israel.

Efforts are continuing to study and clarify some matters to ensure implementation by the Israeli side, Hamas spokesman Jihad Taha said on Tuesday. Israel has not given clear approval or commitments to implementation that would lead to ending the aggression, he said.

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On Monday, the UN Security Council voted overwhelmingly to approve the proposal, with 14 of the 15 members voting in favour and Russia abstaining. The resolution calls on Israel and Hamas to fully implement its terms without delay and without condition.

The proposal has raised hopes of ending an eight-month war that has killed more than 37,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health officials, and driven some 80% of the population of 2.3 million from their homes.

Israeli restrictions and ongoing fighting have hindered efforts to bring humanitarian aid to the isolated coastal enclave, fuelling widespread hunger.

Later on Tuesday, Mr Blinken attended a Gaza aid conference in Jordan, where he announced more than 400 million dollars in additional aid for Palestinians in Gaza and the wider region.



US secretary of state Antony Blinken attending a conference in Jordan (Alaa Al Sukhni/Pool Photo via AP)

The war began when Hamas and other militants stormed into Israel on October 7, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking around 250 hostage. More than 100 hostages were released during a ceasefire last year in exchange for Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.

Mr Bidens announcement on May 31 of the new proposal said it would begin with an initial six-week ceasefire and the release of some hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. Israeli forces would withdraw from populated areas and Palestinian civilians would be allowed to return to their homes.

Phase one also requires the safe distribution of humanitarian assistance at scale throughout the Gaza Strip, which Mr Biden said would lead to 600 trucks with aid entering Gaza every day.

In phase two, the resolution says that with the agreement of Israel and Hamas, a permanent end to hostilities, in exchange for the release of all other hostages still in Gaza, and a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza will take place.

Phase three would launch a major multi-year reconstruction plan for Gaza and the return of the remains of any deceased hostages still in Gaza to their families.

The conflicting signals from Mr Netanayahu appear to reflect his political dilemma. His far-right coalition allies have rejected the proposal and have threatened to bring down his government if he ends the war without destroying Hamas.

A lasting ceasefire and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza would likely allow Hamas to retain control of the territory and rebuild its military capabilities.



Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met Antony Blinken (Jack Guez/Pool Photo via AP)

But Mr Netanyahu is also under mounting pressure to accept a deal to bring the hostages back. Thousands of Israelis, including families of the hostages, have demonstrated in favour of the US-backed plan.

The transition from the first to the second phase appears to be a sticking point. Hamas wants assurances that Israel will not resume the war, and Israel wants to ensure that protracted negotiations over the second phase do not prolong the ceasefire indefinitely while leaving hostages in captivity.

Mr Blinken said the proposal would bring an immediate ceasefire and commit the parties to negotiate an enduring one.

The ceasefire that would take place immediately would remain in place, which is manifestly good for for everyone. And then well have to see, Mr Blinken said.
Hamas said it has given mediators its reply to the US-backed proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza, seeking some amendments on the deal.

It appeared the reply was short of an outright acceptance that the United States has been pushing for but kept negotiations alive over an elusive halt to the eight-month war.

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The foreign ministries of Qatar and Egypt  who have been key mediators alongside the US  confirmed that they had received Hamass response and said mediators were studying it.

Were in receipt of this reply that Hamas delivered to Qatar and to Egypt, and we are evaluating it right now, White House national security spokesman John Kirby told reporters in Washington.

Antony Blinken speaks to families and supporters of Israelis held hostage by Hamas in Gaza (Jack Guez, Pool Photo via AP)

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Hamas spokesman Jihad Taha said the response included amendments that confirm the ceasefire, withdrawal, reconstruction and (prisoner) exchange. He did not elaborate.

But while supporting the broad outlines of the deal, Hamas officials have expressed wariness over whether Israel would implement its terms, particularly provisions for an eventual permanent end to fighting and full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza in return for the release of all hostages held by the militants.

Even as the US has said Israel accepted the proposal, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has given conflicting signals, saying Israel will not stop until its goal of destroying Hamas is achieved.

US secretary of state Antony Blinken has been in the region this week trying to push through the deal  his eighth visit since Hamas October 7th attack on southern Israel ignited Israels campaign in Gaza.

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On Tuesday, he continued pressure on Hamas to accept the proposal, saying that the UN Security Councils vote in its favour made it as clear as it possibly could be that the world supports the plan.

Everyones vote is in, except for one vote, and thats Hamas, Mr Blinken told reporters in Tel Aviv after meeting Israeli officials. He said Mr Netanyahu had reaffirmed his commitment to the proposal when they met on Monday.

Israeli military officers gather by their vehicles in a refugee camp in the occupied West Bank (Majdi Mohammed/AP)

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In a joint statement announcing that they had submitted their reply to Qatar and Egypt, Hamas and the smaller Islamic Jihad militant group said they were ready to deal positively to arrive at an agreement and that their priority is to bring a complete stop to the war.

A senior Hamas official, Osama Hamdan, told Lebanons Al-Mayadeen television that the group had submitted some remarks on the proposal to the mediators, without elaborating.

In a separate development, the UN human rights office said Israeli forces and Palestinian militants may have committed war crimes during the deadly Israeli raid that rescued four hostages over the weekend. At least 274 Palestinians were killed in the operation, according to Gazas Health Ministry.

Mr Blinkens latest visit to the region is focused on rallying support for the ceasefire proposal, boosting the entry of humanitarian aid and advancing post-war plans for Gazas governance.

Advertisement

He met privately with families of the hostages as well as demonstrators outside a hotel calling for a ceasefire deal, and later travelled on to Jordan.

The proposal, announced by US president Joe Biden last month, calls for a three-phased plan in which Hamas would release the rest of the hostages in exchange for a lasting ceasefire and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. The group is still holding around 120 hostages, a third of whom are believed to be dead.

Mr Biden presented it as an Israeli proposal, but Mr Netanyahu has publicly disputed key aspects of it, saying Israel will not end the war without destroying Hamas and achieving the return of all the hostages.

US secretary of state Antony Blinken attending a conference in Jordan (Alaa Al Sukhni/Pool Photo via AP)

On Monday, the UN Security Council voted overwhelmingly to approve the proposal, with 14 of the 15 members voting in favour and Russia abstaining. The resolution calls on Israel and Hamas to fully implement its terms without delay and without condition.

The proposal has raised hopes of ending an eight-month war that has killed more than 37,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health officials, and driven some 80% of the population of 2.3 million from their homes. Israeli restrictions and ongoing fighting have hindered efforts to bring humanitarian aid to the isolated coastal enclave, fuelling widespread hunger.

Later on Tuesday, Mr Blinken attended a Gaza aid conference in Jordan, where he announced more than 400 million dollars in additional aid for Palestinians in Gaza and the wider region.

UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres told the gathering that the amount of aid flowing to the United Nations in Gaza for distribution has plummeted by two thirds since Israel launched an offensive in the territorys southern city of Rafah in early May.

Mr Guterres called for all border crossings to be opened, saying, the speed and scale of the carnage and killing in Gaza is beyond anything he has since he took the helm of the UN in 2017.

The war began when Hamas and other militants stormed into Israel on October 7th, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking around 250 hostage. More than 100 hostages were released during a ceasefire last year in exchange for Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.

Antony Blinken waves as he arrives at Ben Gurion airport near Tel Aviv (Jack Guez/Pool via AP)

Mr Bidens announcement on May 31 of the new proposal said it would begin with an initial six-week ceasefire and the release of some hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. Israeli forces would withdraw from populated areas and Palestinian civilians would be allowed to return to their homes.

Phase one also requires the safe distribution of humanitarian assistance at scale throughout the Gaza Strip, which Mr Biden said would lead to 600 trucks with aid entering Gaza every day.

In phase two, the resolution says that with the agreement of Israel and Hamas, a permanent end to hostilities, in exchange for the release of all other hostages still in Gaza, and a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza will take place.

Phase three would launch a major multi-year reconstruction plan for Gaza and the return of the remains of any deceased hostages still in Gaza to their families.

The conflicting signals from Mr Netanayahu appear to reflect his political dilemma. His far-right coalition allies have rejected the proposal and have threatened to bring down his government if he ends the war without destroying Hamas.

A lasting ceasefire and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza would likely allow Hamas to retain control of the territory and rebuild its military capabilities.

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu met Antony Blinken (Jack Guez/Pool Photo via AP)

But Mr Netanyahu is also under mounting pressure to accept a deal to bring the hostages back. Thousands of Israelis, including families of the hostages, have demonstrated in favour of the US-backed plan.

The transition from the first to the second phase appears to be a sticking point. Hamas wants assurances that Israel will not resume the war, and Israel wants to ensure that protracted negotiations over the second phase do not prolong the ceasefire indefinitely while leaving hostages in captivity.

Mr Blinken said the proposal would bring an immediate ceasefire and commit the parties to negotiate an enduring one.

The ceasefire that would take place immediately would remain in place, which is manifestly good for for everyone. And then well have to see, Mr Blinken said.
In her first television interview since she was assaulted last week, Danish prime minister Mette Frederiksen said I am not quite myself, but will continue to work mostly from her office.

Ms Frederiksen, who suffered minor whiplash after a man had assaulted her Friday in central Copenhagen, said in her first reaction the following day that she was ok.

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Ms Frederiksen gave no details of the assault on Tuesday when she spoke in a television interview, but said it was very intimidating when someone crosses the last physical limit you have. There is some shock and surprise in that.

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She said it was probably also an accumulation of many other things. Threats over a long period of time on social media have gotten worse, especially after the war in the Middle East. Shouting in public space. Maybe that was the final straw.

As a human being, it feels like an attack on me, Ms Frederiksen said in the 10-minute-long interview.

But I have no doubt that it was the prime minister that was hit. In this way, it also becomes a kind of attack on all of us.

I would rather have a Denmark where the prime minister can bicycle to work without being worried, she said.

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I am Mette at my core, but I am the countrys prime minister. Thus, an institution that you must not attack like the police.

A 39-year-old Polish man living in Denmark was arrested and held in pre-trial custody until June 20th on preliminary charges of violence against a person in public service.

Danish Premier Mette Frederiksen and her husband Bo Tengberg arrive at the official international ceremony to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day (Jordan Pettitt/AP)

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In Denmark, preliminary charges are one step short of formal ones but allow authorities to keep criminal suspects in custody during an investigation.

The motive for the assault was unclear.

In court, the suspect who was not identified, reportedly praised Ms Frederiksen as a really good prime minister, and investigators suspect he was under the influence of drugs and intoxicated at the time of the incident that happened just before 6pm local time on Friday.

Media reports said the man walked towards Ms Frederiksen and pushed her hard while she was passing one of Copenhagens main squares.

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He hit her upper right arm with a clenched fist.

Ms Frederiksen has not appeared in public since the attack and has not participated in public party events as the results of Sundays European Parliament elections started coming in.

Her party, the Social Democrats, faced a loss in the vote.

Ms Frederiksen (46) has been Denmarks prime minister since 2019.
Jurors resumed deliberations in the criminal case against Hunter Biden over a gun US President Joe Bidens son bought in 2018 when prosecutors say he was in the throes of a crack cocaine addiction.

The jurors had deliberated for less than an hour on Monday afternoon before leaving the federal courthouse in Delaware.

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They are weighing up whether Hunter Biden is guilty of three felonies in the case pitting him against his fathers Justice Department in the middle of the Democratic presidents re-election campaign.



Hunter Biden arrives at federal court with his wife, Melissa Cohen Biden (Matt Slocum/AP)

Prosecutors spent last week using evidence from Hunter Bidens ex-wife and former girlfriends, photos of him with drug paraphernalia and other tawdry evidence to make the case that he lied when he checked no on the form at the gun shop that asked whether he was an unlawful user of, or addicted to drugs.

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He knew he was using drugs. Thats what the evidence shows. And he knew he was addicted to drugs. Thats what the evidence shows, prosecutor Leo Wise told jurors in his closing argument on Monday.

Hunter Bidens substance abuse struggles after the 2015 death of his brother, Beau, are well documented.

But the defence has argued that he did not consider himself an addict when he bought the gun.

Hunter Bidens lawyers have sought to show he was trying to turn his life around at the time, having completed a rehabilitation program at the end of August 2018.

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The defence called three witnesses, including his daughter Naomi, who told jurors that he seemed be improving in the weeks before he bought the gun.

And the defence told jurors that no one witnessed Hunter Biden using drugs during the 11 days he had the gun before Beaus widow, Hallie, found it in Hunters truck and threw it in a trash can.

Defence lawyer Abbe Lowell suggested that prosecutors were presenting circumstantial evidence like a magician might present a card trick, trying to get jurors to focus on one hand and ignore the other.



Hunter Biden, right, departs from federal court (Matt Slocum/AP)

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With my last breath in this case, I ask for the only verdict that will hold the prosecutors to what the law requires of them  a verdict of not guilty, Mr Lowell said in his final pitch to jurors.

But prosecutors have shown jurors text messages sent in the days after the gun purchase in which Hunter Biden told Hallie he was waiting for a dealer and smoking crack.

Hallie and Hunter briefly dated after Beaus death.

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Prosecutors have also said they found cocaine residue on the pouch in which Hallie put the gun before tossing it in a trash can outside an upscale grocery store.

First lady Jill Biden, the presidents brother James and other family members watched from the first row of the courtroom as the defence rested its case on Monday without calling Hunter Biden to the witness stand.

Before the case went to the jury, the prosecutor urged jurors to focus on the overwhelming evidence against Hunter Biden and pay no mind to members of the presidents family sitting in the courtroom.

Hunter Biden had hoped last year to resolve a long-running federal investigation into his business dealings under a deal with prosecutors that would have avoided the spectacle of a trial so close to the 2024 election.

Under the deal, he would have pleaded guilty to misdemeanour tax offenses in California and avoided prosecution in the gun case in Delaware if he stayed out of trouble for two years.

But the deal fell apart after US District Judge Maryellen Noreika, who was nominated by Trump, questioned unusual aspects of the proposed agreement, and the lawyers could not resolve the matter.

Hunter Biden has said he was charged because the Justice Department bowed to pressure from Republicans who argued the Democratic presidents son was getting special treatment.

Under that deal, prosecutors would have recommended two years of probation.

In the gun case, the three counts carry up to 25 years in prison, though the sentence would ultimately be up to the judge and its unclear whether she would put Hunter Biden behind bars if he is convicted.
A suspect has been arrested over the stabbing of four instructors from Iowas Cornell College who were teaching at a Chinese university in the north-east city of Jilin.

Police said a 55-year old man with the surname Cui was walking in a public park when he bumped into a foreigner.

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He then stabbed the foreigner and three other foreigners who were with him and a Chinese person who approached in an attempt to intervene, police said.

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Tuesday that the injured, none of whom were in a critical condition, were taken to hospital for treatment.

Police believe Mondays attack was an isolated incident, based on a preliminary assessment, and the investigation is ongoing, ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said at a daily briefing.





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Cornell College president Jonathan Brand said in a statement that the instructors were attacked while in the park with a faculty member from Beihua, which is in an outlying part of the industrial city of Jilin.

Monday was a public holiday in China.

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Nicholas Burns, the US ambassador to China, posted on social media site X that he was angered and deeply troubled by the stabbing of three US citizens and one non-citizen resident of Iowa.

We are doing all we can to help them and hope for their full & speedy recovery, he wrote.

The attack happened as both Beijing and Washington are seeking to expand people-to-people exchanges to help bolster relations amid tensions over trade and such international issues as Taiwan, the South China Sea and the war in Ukraine.

The US State Department said in a statement it was aware of reports of a stabbing and was monitoring the situation.

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The attack happened as both Beijing and Washington are seeking to expand people-to-people exchanges to help bolster relations amid tensions over trade and such international issues as Taiwan, the South China Sea and the war in Ukraine.

An Iowa state legislator posted a statement on Instagram saying his brother, David Zabner, had been wounded during a stabbing attack in Jilin.

Adam Zabner described his brother as a doctoral student at Tufts University who was in China under the Cornell-Beihua relationship.

I spoke to David a few minutes ago, he is recovering from his injuries and doing well, Mr Zabner wrote, adding that his brother was grateful for the care he received at a hospital.

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News of the incident was suppressed in China, where the government maintains control on information about anything considered sensitive.

News media outlets had not reported it.

Some social media accounts posted foreign media reports about the attack, but a hashtag about it was blocked on a popular portal and photos and video of the incident were quickly taken down.

Cornell spokesperson Jen Visser said in an email that the college was still gathering information about what happened.

Ms Visser said the private college in Mount Vernon, Iowa, partners with Beihua University.
New Zealand authorities have offered a reward to anyone who can help them find three children who have been missing since their father vanished with them from a remote rural community more than two years ago.

The December 2021 disappearance of Tom Phillips and his children  now aged 8, 9 and 10  has confounded investigators.

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They are not believed to have ever travelled far from the remote rural settlement where they lived, but there have been no credible sightings of the family for months.



A general view of Marokopa Township in the North Island of New Zealand, where Tom Phillips and his three children lived before their disappearance (Andrew Warner/AP)

Police officers converged on the township Marokopa, which has a population of just 69, to seek fresh leads in a case that has fascinated the country of five million people.

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Phillips is accused of committing an armed bank robbery while on the run in May 2023.

He allegedly shot at a member of the public and fled on a motorbike with a passenger who investigators believe was one of his children.

Phillips no longer has legal custody rights for his children, acting detective inspector Andrew Saunders said at a news conference in the city of Hamilton, south of Auckland, on Tuesday.

These are not the actions of a good father, said Det Insp Saunders.

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The children have not had access to formal education or healthcare since they went missing, he added, and police have concerns for the welfare of the children who have been living in isolation for the past two and a half years, with no connection to others.

Det Insp Saunders said that a reward of 80,000 New Zealand dollars (38,482)  large by New Zealand standards  and an offer of immunity from prosecution is targeted at people who already know the familys whereabouts.

The authorities have long said they believe that Phillips has had help concealing his family.



Acting detective inspector Andrew Saunders gives a media update on the search for Tom Phillips and his children (Mike Scott/AP)

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The reward, approved by New Zealands Commissioner of Police, expires in two weeks, Det Insp Saunders said.

We dont want them waiting months and months to decide, he said. Come forward and tell us where the children are.

It is not the first time Phillips prompted national news headlines after disappearing with his children.

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The family went missing in September 2021, provoking a three-week land and sea search after Phillips truck was found abandoned on a wild beach near where he lived.

Authorities eventually ended the search, concluding the family might have died, before Phillips and the children emerged from dense forest where he said they had been camping.

He was charged with wasting police resources and was due to appear in court in January 2022, but weeks before the scheduled date, he and the children vanished again.

The police did not immediately launch a search because Phillips, who is experienced in the outdoors, had told family he was taking the children on another trip. He never returned.

Less than a year later, with the trail cold, the authorities said Phillips and the children might have moved elsewhere in New Zealand and changed their names.

But the search began again after several sightings of Phillips in 2023 in the same region where he had vanished, including in the alleged bank robbery.

The childrens mother was happy the reward had been offered, Det Insp Saunders said.

A spokesperson for the family could not be contacted for comment.
A man has been tackled by police after targeting Nigel Farage on the General Election campaign in the UK.

The Reform UK leader was on top of a party battle bus in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, on Tuesday morning, when a cup was thrown, narrowly missing him.

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A man in a red hoodie could be seen shouting from a work site below, before reaching into a bucket and throwing something else, which also missed.

Workers appeared to then haul the man from the site and he ran off, before police officers tackled him to the ground.

The man was hauled to the ground by police (Danny Lawson/PA)

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Mr Farage said he believes the objects were some wet cement and a coffee cup.

He posted the footage on X, saying: My huge thanks to South Yorkshire Police today.

I will not be bullied or cowed by a violent left-wing mob who hate our country.

Mr Farage had been warned by police not to get off the bus.

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My huge thanks to South Yorkshire Police today.



I will not be bullied or cowed by a violent left-wing mob who hate our country. pic.twitter.com/40Zu56KcBL  Nigel Farage (@Nigel_Farage) June 11, 2024

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It comes after Victoria Thomas Bowen (25) was charged with assault by beating and criminal damage when a milkshake was thrown over Mr Farage as he left the Moon and Starfish Wetherspoon pub in Clacton-on-Sea in Essex on Tuesday last week.

Mr Farage was seen with the yellow drink splattered across his dark blue suit as he boarded his campaign bus.

During a campaign walkabout in Newcastle in 2019, he had a milkshake thrown at him.
South Korean soldiers fired warning shots after North Korean troops briefly violated the tense border earlier this week, South Koreas military said on Tuesday.

The rival nations are embroiled in Cold War-style campaigns like balloon launches and propaganda broadcasts.

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Bloodshed and violent confrontations have occasionally occurred at the Koreas heavily fortified border, called the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ).

While Sundays incident happened amid simmering tensions between the two Koreas, observers say it is unlikely to develop into another source of animosity as South Korea believes the North Koreans did not deliberately commit the border intrusion.

North Korea also did not return fire.



A North Korean flag flutters in the wind at a military guard post seen from Paju, South Korea (File/AP)

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At 12.30pm on Sunday, some North Korean soldiers who were engaged in unspecified work on the northern side of the border crossed the military demarcation line that bisects the two countries, South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff said.

Those North Korean soldiers carrying construction tools  some of them armed  immediately returned to their territory after South Koreas military fired warning shots and issued warning broadcasts, the Joint Chiefs of Staff said. It said North Korea had not conducted any other suspicious activities.

South Koreas military has assessed that the North Korean soldiers did not appear to have intentionally crossed the border because the site is a wooded area and armistice signs there were not clearly visible, Joint Chiefs of Staff spokesperson Lee Sung Joon told reporters.

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Mr Lee gave no further details. But South Korean media reports said that about 20-30 North Korean soldiers had entered South Korean territory about 50 metres (165 feet) after they likely lost their way. The reports said most North Korean soldiers carried pickaxes and other construction tools.

The 248-kilometre-long (155-mile), four-kilometre-wide (2.5-mile) DMZ is the worlds most heavily armed border.



FILE  Balloons with trash presumably sent by North Korea, in South Korea (South Korea Defence Ministry/AP)

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An estimated 2 million mines are peppered inside and near the border, which is also guarded by barbed wire fences, tank traps and combat troops on both sides.

It is a legacy of the 1950-53 Korean War, which ended with an armistice, not a peace treaty.

On Sunday, South Korea resumed anti-Pyongyang propaganda broadcasts from its border loudspeakers in response to the Norths recent launches of balloons carrying manure and rubbish across the border.

South Korea said North Korea has installed its own border loudspeakers in response but has not turned them on yet.

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North Korea has said its balloon campaign was in response to South Korean activists launches of their own balloons to drop propaganda leaflets critical of leader Kim Jong Uns authoritarian rule, USB sticks with K-pop songs and South Korean drama shows, and other items in North Korea.



South Korean soldiers wearing protective gears check the trash from a balloon (Im Sun-suk/Yonhap via AP)

North Korea is extremely sensitive to any outside criticism of its political system, as most of its 26 million people have no official access to foreign news.

On Sunday night, Mr Kims sister and senior official, Kim Yo Jong, warned of a new response if South Korea continued its loudspeaker broadcasts and refused to stop civilian leafletting campaigns.

The tit-for-tat over speakers and balloons  both Cold War-style psychological warfare  has deepened tensions between the Koreas as talks over the Norths nuclear ambitions have remained stalled for years.
James Lawson, an apostle of non-violent protest who schooled activists to withstand brutal reactions from white authorities as the Civil Rights Movement gained traction, has died at the age of 95.

Mr Lawsons family said he died on Sunday after a short illness in Los Angeles, where he spent decades working as a pastor, labour movement organiser and university professor.

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Mr Lawson was a close adviser to Martin Luther King Jr, who called him the leading theorist and strategist of non-violence in the world.



James Lawson addresses the crowd at the 13th Annual California Hall of Fame California Museum in downtown Sacramento in 2019 (Daniel Kim/AP)

Mr Lawson met Mr King in 1957, after spending three years in India soaking up knowledge about Gandhis independence movement.

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Mr King would travel to India himself two years later, but at the time, he had only read about Gandhi in books.

The two Black pastors, both 28-years-old, quickly bonded over their enthusiasm for the Indian leaders ideas, and Mr King urged Mr Lawson to put them into action in the American South.

Mr Lawson soon led workshops in church basements in Nashville, Tennessee, that prepared John Lewis, Diane Nash, Bernard Lafayette, Marion Barry, the Freedom Riders and many others to peacefully withstand vicious responses to their challenges of racist laws and policies.

Mr Lawsons lessons led Nashville to become the first major city in the south to desegregate its downtown, on May 10, 1960, after hundreds of well-organised students staged lunch-counter sit-ins and boycotts of discriminatory businesses.

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Mr Lawsons particular contribution was to introduce Gandhian principles to people more familiar with biblical teachings, showing how direct action could expose the immorality and fragility of racist white power structures.

Gandhi said that we persons have the power to resist the racism in our own lives and souls, Mr Lawson told the Associated Press.

We have the power to make choices and to say no to that wrong. Thats also Jesus.



James Lawson gestures during a labour rally in 2003 (Wilfredo Lee/AP)

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Years later, in 1968, it was Mr Lawson who organised the sanitation workers strike that fatefully drew King to Memphis.

Mr Lawson said he was at first paralysed and forever saddened by Mr Kings assassination.

I thought I would not live beyond 40, myself, Mr Lawson said. The imminence of death was a part of the discipline we lived with, but no one as much as King.

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Still, Mr Lawson made it his lifes mission to preach the power of non-violent direct action.

I am still anxious and frustrated, Mr Lawson said as he marked the 50th anniversary of Mr Kings death with a march in Memphis. The task is unfinished.

Civil rights activist Diane Nash was a 21-year-old college student when she began attending Lawsons Nashville workshops, which she called life-changing.

His passing constitutes a very great loss, Ms Nash said.

He bears, I think, more responsibility than any other single person for the civil rights movement of Blacks being nonviolent in this country.

James Morris Lawson Jr, was born on September 22, 1928, the son and grandson of ministers, and grew up in Massillon, Ohio, where he became ordained himself as a high school senior.



James Lawson joins a march in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr (Mark Humphrey/AP)

He told The Tennessean that his commitment to non-violence began in elementary school, when he told his mother that he had slapped a boy who had used a racial slur against him.

What good did that do, Jimmy? his mother asked.

That simple question forever changed his life, Mr Lawson said.

He became a pacifist, refusing to serve when drafted for the Korean War, and spent a year in prison as a conscientious objector.

The Fellowship of Reconciliation, a pacifist group, sponsored his trip to India after he finished a sociology degree.

Gandhi had been assassinated by then, but Mr Lawson met people who had worked with him and explained Gandhis concept of satyagraha, a relentless pursuit of truth, which encouraged Indians to peacefully reject British rule.

Mr Lawson then saw how the Christian concept of turning the other cheek could be applied in collective actions to challenge morally indefensible laws.

Mr Lawson was a divinity student at Oberlin College in Ohio when Mr King spoke on campus about the Montgomery bus boycott.

Mr King told him, You cant wait, you need to come on South now, Mr Lawson recalled in an Associated Press interview.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky appealed for short-term help in repairing his countrys electricity network and long-term investment in its energy system as a conference to gather support for Ukraines recovery from the destruction wreaked by Russias war opened on Tuesday.

Starting a week of intense diplomacy that will also see him travel to the Group of Seven summit of Ukraines leading Western allies in Italy and a global peace summit in Switzerland, Mr Zelensky also renewed his calls for more help in repelling missile attacks by Russian forces.

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The two-day Ukraine Recovery Conference in Berlin follows up on a similar gathering in London a year ago.



German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, left, welcomes Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky, ahead of their talks at Bellevue Palace in Berlin (Bernd von Jutrczenka/AP)

The German hosts say it is bringing together 2,000 people from national and local politics, business and other areas, arguing that the task of supporting Ukraines recovery is too big for governments alone.

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Among other immediate problems, sustained Russian attacks on Ukraines power grid in recent weeks have forced energy companies to institute nationwide rolling blackouts.

Mr Zelensky told the conference that, in the coming month, Ukraine needs equipment for heating and electricity plants that are currently out of action.

This will allow us to respond to the situation here and now, he said.

According to the president, nine gigawatts of electricity generating capacity have been destroyed  including 80% of thermal power and one-third of hydroelectric power  while the peak consumption in Ukraine last winter was 18 gigawatts.

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Energy, he said, continues to be one of (Russian President Vladimir) Putins main targets.



Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, left, puts his hand on German Chancellor Olaf Scholz shoulder as he is welcomed at the start of a conference (Kay Nietfeld/AP)

Looking beyond Ukraines immediate problems, Mr Zelensky said foreign investments in energy would be mutually beneficial.

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Ukraine has all the natural foundations for modern energy, but without your financing and investments, we wont be able to realise this, he said.

This is not about grants, but about high-yield investments for your companies, about a large market for your equipment, about loan programmes for your institutions, all of which could create tens of thousands of new jobs, he added.

That message was echoed by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who said the World Bank has estimated that rebuilding and modernising Ukraine will require investments of nearly 500 billion dollars over the next 10 years.

The reconstruction of Ukraine is and also must be a business case, Mr Scholz told participants.

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He said that is illustrated by Ukraine having exported excess electricity to the European Union since 2022  that makes clear what goes for the reconstruction of Ukraine as a whole: it benefits all concerned.



Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks during the opening ceremony of the recovery conference in Berlin, Germany (Ebrahim Noroozi/AP)

Mr Scholz, whose country has become Ukraines second-biggest weapons supplier after the US, appealed anew to other allies to help strengthen Ukraines air defence, because the best reconstruction is that which doesnt have to take place.

Since Russia launched a spring offensive around Kharkiv, Mr Zelensky has insisted Ukraine urgently needs seven more US-made Patriot air defence systems.

The Berlin conference also focuses on support for reforms that Ukraine has embarked on in its bid to join the EU.

On Monday, the head of the State Agency for Restoration of Ukraine, Mustafa Nayyem, announced his resignation on Facebook.

He cited systemic obstacles that prevent me from exercising my powers effectively and accused the government of bogging his agency down in red tape.

Ukraine hasnt had a minister dedicated to reconstruction since Oleksandr Kubrakov was dismissed in May.



Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky delivers a speech at the German parliament Bundestag at the Reichstag Building in Berlin (Markus Schreiber/AP)

Mr Nayyem complained that Ukraines prime minister barred him from attending the Berlin conference.

Mr Zelensky, making his third visit to Berlin since Russias full-scale invasion started in February 2022, made a speech to the German parliament, or Bundestag.

Looking ahead to the peace summit in Switzerland, Zelensky said that we want to give diplomacy a chance and have gathered around 100 countries for this.

Ukraine has never relied solely on the power of weapons, he added.

All but a handful of legislators from the far-right Alternative for Germany, as well as members of the new BSW party  both of which oppose weapons deliveries to Ukraine  stayed away from Mr Zelenskys speech.

Alternative for Germany co-leaders Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla said in a statement that Ukraine doesnt need a war president now; it needs a peace president who is ready to negotiate so that the dying stops and the country has a future.
Hopeful. | Grace Chaves PR

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  Anxiety. Depression. Suicidal thoughts. Some days can get so dark it feels like theres no light in sight. But a band in Southern California believes the very darkness they face can give birth to light. Its their name and the essence of who they are: theyre Hopeful.

In 2021, lead vocalist Randy James experienced extreme health complications. After battling an autoimmune disease for nearly a decade, things became even more intense. He was constantly sick, which led to anxiety, depression, and panic attacks. Suicidal thoughts tormented his mind, and he was ready to give up on the music he loved to create. Until God gave him a lyricand that lyric changed everything for him.

Formed in Oceanside, California, Randy and guitarist Hunter Jackson started recording music together shortly after God gave Randy the lyric that inspired hope. Joining forces with their friends Eddie Bulena, James Barragan, and producer Gable Price (founder of Gable Price and Friends), Hopeful. was born.

The punctuation in their name isnt an accident. Its essential to their story. Hopeful. strives to be a rebellion against hopelessness, and the period symbolizes that hope is the end of all discussions. God has changed each of the band members' lives, giving them strength in their darkest seasons. And now theyre ready to make music that "kicks hopelessness in the teeth.

Were making music because we want our songs to reach people at their darkest moments, said Randy. My goal for Hopeful. is that we can reach someone whos at their breaking point and bring them back on a path of hope.

Comprised of Randy on lead vocals, Hunter on lead guitar, Eddie on rhythm guitar, and James on drums, Hopeful. is producing alternative slap depression upside the head rock, according to the band. Their sound is reminiscent of other bands like Switchfoot, Colony House, and The Killers, beginning with the release of their debut EP, When The Turbulence Hits.

Each of the five tracks on the EP was written for one purpose: to provide hope. When The Turbulence Hits begins with Oxygen Mask, an alternative rock-driven track encouraging listeners to care for themselves before helping someone else with their metaphorical oxygen mask. The second track, Shipwrecked, turns inward to when God rescued Randy from another bleak season of his life.

I wrote some of the lyrics of Shipwrecked six or seven years ago, said Randy. It was written during a dark timeeven darker than that time in 2021. I was backsliding. But I heard God speaking to me, Randy, you dont close your eyes so you can see or hold your breath so you can breathe.

After working with Gable Price on Shipwrecked, those lyrics found their way into the catchy pop/rock track featuring Randys soaring vocals and the bands booming electric guitars.

Were going to write music about hope, but were going to do it in a fun, unique, fresh-sounding way, said Randy. Gable has been a huge asset to that.

Halfway through the EP, Steady Steadily encourages listeners that everything youre going through is gonna make you strong. With an arrangement reminiscent of a Coldplay song, the song has an emotional build-up and a drum and guitar-heavy finish featuring both Randy and Hunter on vocals.

As the record continues, Pressure is an upbeat song written by Randy, Hunter, and Bryce Suyenaga (drummer of Jettee). The song was inspired by their individual struggles with anxiety, juxtaposed with the hope of Jesus.

The bridge is essentially Psalm 23, said Randy. We wanted to transition the song to how Jesus met us in our darkest moments and carried us through. Because of that, were feeling so much better now.

The EP finishes with Wasting Away, a stripped-down, acoustic-driven song that wrestles with the frustration and negativity the music industry can bring. It was also inspired by Randys struggle with depression, and is a prayer encapsulated with the lyrics, Please save me, Father, from wasting away.

For Hopeful., When The Turbulence Hits is only the beginning. Theyre currently working on a full-length album, with a new single that will be released by the end of summer. In the meantime, Hopeful. will make their debut at Alive Music Festival in Mineral City, Ohio, on July 19. For tickets, click here.

To stay up-to-date on Hopeful. and their upcoming releases, follow their journey on Instagram. Find out more about the band by visiting HopefulTheBand.com.
Old factory morphs into night school in Chongqing

Xinhua) 10:06, June 11, 2024

CHONGQING, June 10 (Xinhua) -- Southwest China's Chongqing Municipality has long been renowned for its bustling and lively nightlife, with restaurants, bars, clubs and shops open until the early hours of the morning. However, a new "quieter" lifestyle has recently emerged in the city, as young people are choosing to head back to school for night classes.

As one of the exemplary urban renewal programs in Chongqing, the "campus" at night, also known as the Cooperation Units, is not a real school. Instead, it is a creative and cultural park renovated from a factory complex built in the 1950s.

The night school works as a great medium to bridge shops in the park with students and customers. This is because shops in the park double as night school classrooms, and some shop owners are even teachers.

In one coffee shop named "city walk," the young barista Wang Haoran is not only an employee in the coffee shop, but also a latte art teacher at the night school.

"Teaching students at night is quite time-consuming and exhausting for sure, but sharing coffee knowledge with people from all walks of life is also meaningful," said Wang. Even though Chongqing has a long-standing tea culture, the coffee culture has also recently been booming here. In addition to having thousands of coffee shops, Chongqing has also held its own coffee festivals for several years.

Just next to the coffee shop, a pottery art shop is also a heated classroom that has received more than 100 night school students to date. The shelf set at the door's entrance displays all kinds of student pottery products, such as vases, plates or figurines.

"After I quit my job, I opened the pottery art shop here because this old factory complex exudes a tranquil, soothing vibe. Then, our shop was among the first to join the night class program," said Yanzi (pseudonym), the shop owner.

She added that to her surprise, many people are interested in this art. She finds it meaningful that this shop is not just a spiritual habitat for her, but also a potential window for young people to learn about traditional culture.

In addition to serving as characteristic classroom settings, other shops in this park also provide a space for external teachers. Chunxiao (pseudonym), a Korean language teacher, works as a college teacher during the day and comes to one shop to teach Korean language, public speaking and other courses at night.

"I can feel night school students have stronger interests in learning. Also, some treat it as a good social opportunity," said Chunxiao. His wife is also a teacher at the night school and his cousin is a student here.

Since October, the Cooperation Units has launched over 100 courses ranging from acting to calligraphy and attracted more than 4,000 students with both favorable prices and quality content.

"Without the night school, I would lie on the sofa and watch the short videos at the end of the day. The night school is a great nutrient in young people's daily lives, making them feel both relaxed and purposeful," said a student participating in the Korean language class. "If I have more time in the future, I will surely sign up for more classes."

Wang Chao, head of Cooperation Units, said that the building complex had been open for more than two years, but before the night school boom, few knew about it. Now, the night school is a good model that not only brings vibrancy to the local community, but also helps deepen genuine connections among young people.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
On Thursday, Elon Musk will find out whether Tesla shareholders will approve his controversial $US53 billion ($80 billion) incentive package, again. If they do, therell be inevitably another court challenge against the largest pay deal in US history.

Tesla has been lobbying shareholders for months to ratify the incentives they had approved in 2018, but which were struck down by a Delaware court in January on the basis that the board was too close to Musk to exercise independent judgment, and that shareholders hadnt been properly informed.

On Thursday, Tesla shareholders will vote on whether to re-approve Musks pay package. Credit: AP

Led by its Australian chair Robyn Denholm, the board is arguing that ratifying the package would restore Teslas stockholder democracy and motivate Musk to focus on achieving the companys ambitions. The directors hope that shareholder approval would convince the Delaware court that shareholders, now better informed, still support the pay deal.

Meanwhile, Musk has threatened to take Teslas artificial intelligence development  the key to the electric carmakers autonomous driving technologies that are in turn the main driver of its perceived value  outside the company if he isnt given a bigger ownership stake.
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 I wasnt aware of David Nicholls reputation as one of the nicest men in publishing, but before we had even spoken, I was thinking it. Neither of us could work our Zoom link, and after panicked texts and 15 minutes of faffing, he insisted we do a video call so we could see each other  its nicer  even offering to continue the interview while walking to his next appointment. It didnt come to that, but it would have been fitting, given walking is a central theme in Nicholls latest novel. You Are Here is told from alternating perspectives of two middle-aged characters, both divorced and, although loath to admit it, lonely: 38-year-old Marnie, a sardonic London copy editor and the more reserved (and more wounded by his loneliness) Michael, a 42-year-old geography teacher from York. The two are introduced by a mutual friend, Cleo, who has rounded up a party for a walking trip across northern England. Michael, the diehard walker among them, and sceptical at the amateurs Cleo has assembled, has decided to secretly keep walking beyond the planned three-day itinerary, and the reluctant Marnie, who has packed dresses and even heels alongside her GORE-TEX accessories, initially plans to drop out after one day. But gradually, as they tramp across hills and dales, past lakes and across moors, occasionally in driving rain, they realise theyre both enjoying themselves, and soon develop feelings for each other. Like all his novels, its full of rapid-fire banter, recognisable characters and pop-culture references  and its very funny; Nicholls thinks its possibly his funniest book yet. I was thinking of screwball comedies and road movies, the way that theres a lot of banter back and forth  that kind of Planes, Trains and Automobiles friction, he says. The idea of having that kind of screwball pace to it was really appealing.

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Nicholls, then, is presumably a funny man? Well, youd think so, wouldnt you? But the joy of writing comic dialogue is that you have three or four years to make it funny, to make a character funny in the moment, he says. Theyre being spontaneous, but Ive thought about it for two years, so its a great opportunity to be  witty in slow motion. As with all of Nicholls books, though, theres more going on than in your standard romcom. In You Are Here  his sixth novel  theres an undercurrent exploring the idea of solitude. Whereas in many romcoms, the idea of being alone is a sign of failure, this book features something of a rumination on the joys of solitude. Something that, for Nicholls, walking brings. I didnt want it to be single life  hell; coupledom  wonderful. I wanted to be a little bit more even-handed, he says. I think time by yourself can be incredibly valuable if its voluntary and deliberate. I walk a long way every day. I walk a lot in London, and if I can get out of the city, I love it. David Nicholls new book is inspired by his own love of walking. As well as eschewing the London Underground, he regularly sets out for multi-day ventures on some of Englands longer walking paths, including the Coast to Coast Walk  a 192-mile (309-kilometre) path from Cumbria and through the Lake District, the Yorkshire Dales and the North York Moors  that Marnie and Michael follow in the book.

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I do at least two a year because I have family responsibilities, so theyre quite short, just three or four days, Nicholls says. Short? I walk all day, so I can cover 80 or 100 miles. I love the ground changing beneath our feet; you can feel the landscape, and the geology change in very gradual ways. My feet hurt just hearing that distance, especially in imperial measurements. Thats why I go alone because Im very boring! When my kids were younger, they used to come with me, but theres nothing in the world that would possess them to do that now, he says. This kind of walking is much more a middle-aged idea of fun  and You Are Heres characters are older than most of Nicholls other protagonists. Ive only ever written (characters) older than myself once, in Us, when the protagonist was 13 years older than me, and that felt like thinking myself into another body  now I am in that body! Ambika Mod and Leo Woodall in the Netflix adaptation of Nicholls One Day. Credit: Netflix And while he says he doesnt feel hugely different, he likes looking at love in different stages of life: How it changes, what it means, and I guess I wanted to keep going  I was writing this when I was working on One Day and I wanted to imagine a kind of continuation of that age, so it kind of begins where One Day ends. Which leads us, of course, into talking about One Day. How could we not? On the back of the recent  and phenomenally successful  Netflix adaptation, his 15-year-old bestseller not only re-entered the public conversation, it also re-entered the bestseller lists, landing at No.1 on The Sunday Times Bestseller List and topping Amazon UKs Best Sellers of 2024 list.

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Even when it was first published, Nicholls was overwhelmed by One Days largely word-of-mouth success. In some ways, its much bigger than it was back then because its international, and TV has a reach that even successful fiction doesnt have, says Nicholls, who has also worked as a successful screenwriter. In other ways, I feel a bit calmer about it; Im still able to think about this book and other work. Its become a really kind of wonderful part of my life, but its also something Ive got a certain amount of distance from. He was, though, a producer on the Netflix series, involved, he says, in every aspect. But I also ceded a lot of control as well to Nicole [Taylor], the brilliant lead writer, and to the other producers. I didnt have any kind of veto, or dominant role. I was very much part of the team, which was really lovely. Loading Like the rhythms of the walk in You Are Here matching the story itself, the streaming format set up a pace that very much lent itself to One Days story. It did! We were really pleased that when it was released, people were starting to watch and be gripped and moved by it because you have these meetings with Netflix where they tell you that you have to accept that the number of people watching the final episode is going to be much, much less, than the people who start watching, he says. Writing something that wasnt, say, a crime thriller or a detective series without a big reveal, then, was concerning. This was just  episodes from life, so we did worry about that. But people really did watch it all the way through, which is testament, I think, to Nicoles brilliant writing, the great actors and the producers. And while Nicholls is too lovely and modest to say, obviously his great story.

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As floodwaters engulf a Yorkshire town during the opening scenes of the six-part crime drama After the Flood (Britbox), visibly pregnant police officer Jo Marshall plunges into a raging river to help rescue a baby. The urgency and life-threatening danger of the situation are apparent, as is Jos bravery and dedication to her duty.

By the end of the episode, the plucky policewoman, played by Sophie Rundle (Peaky Blinders, Happy Valley, Gentleman Jack), has also waded down a street thigh-high in murky water to check on the wellbeing of an elderly couple and been first on the scene at a sewage-contaminated car park to investigate the discovery of a body in a lift.

Sophie Rundle as police officer Jo Marshall in After the Flood. Credit: Britbox

Go Jo, you rock. Thats some day at the office. But really? Its fine, indeed welcome and wonderful, to see a pregnant woman portrayed as a capable and courageous person going about her work with unwavering commitment, refusing to regard the human growing inside her as an impediment. But perhaps this pregnant-woman-as-superwoman thing has gone too far?

There was a time when even uttering the word pregnant was taboo, at least in America. Let alone showing an expectant mother who also had a job. For decades, TVs women were mostly consigned to the margins, as wives and girlfriends, as devoted secretaries, nosy neighbours and difficult mothers-in-law. More recently, as female characters have moved to centre stage, their personalities have been more fully fleshed out and the range of relationships that they can have, at home and at work, has expanded. Meanwhile, the ranks of expectant mothers have also swelled and protruding bellies have become particularly prominent in crime stories, where a pregnancy adds a handy extra element of risk.
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Eating outGood Food events Its time to talk: Leaders tackle future of hospitality at Good Food symposiums (and its free to attend) The inaugural Good Food Hospitality Symposiums aim to find solutions to some of the most pressing issues facing Australian cafes, bars and restaurants in 2024. Good Food June 11, 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

Symposium panellists (clockwise from top left): Palisa Anderson, Almay Jordaan, Leon Kennedy, Kate Reid, Charlie Carrington, Huss Rachid, Alessandro Pavoni and Patrick Ryan-Parker. With Australias hospitality industry facing compounding pressures and increasing costs, a group of restaurant leaders will discuss the most acute challenges and discover solutions at free symposiums in Sydney and Melbourne this month. The inaugural Good Food Hospitality Symposiums follow the overwhelming reader response to a string of cafe, bar and restaurant closures in 2024, among which the story of Sydney cafe Cornersmith resonated most. When co-owner Alex Elliott-Howery told Good Food, Hospitality is a bit broken, ahead of Cornersmiths March closure, it paved the way for other business owners to speak up, show solidarity, and share their own financial struggle. They felt just like we did: that they were the only losers who couldnt figure it out, that the margins are getting tighter, and its so hard to make it work, Elliott-Howery said.

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Blow after blow of rising costs and lower consumer spending have led to record business-to-business payment defaults and a CreditorWatch prediction that one in every 13 hospitality businesses face closure within the next year. Kind of scary: The real reason so many restaurants are closing The industry is desperate to talk about these issues, and now, said head of Good Food, Sarah Norris. Each year, we bring the excellent, creative and hard-working people in the hospitality industry together for a party to launch our Good Food Guides. But this year, we also want to bring them together to discuss massive, industry-wide challenges. How are they responding to the cost-of-living crisis? What clever business solutions are working? And what technological innovations should other businesses know about?

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Margins are getting tighter, and its so hard to make it work. Alex Elliott-Howery In Melbourne, longtime Good Food contributor and reviewer Dani Valent will lead the panel called What restaurant business model works in this challenging economic climate? in discussion with Kate Reid (founder and co-owner of Lune Croissanterie), Charlie Carrington (chef and owner Atlas Dining), Almay Jordaan (owner and executive chef Old Palm Liquor and Neighbourhood Wine) and Leon Kennedy (chief executive of The Mulberry Group). Patrick Ryan-Parker, senior manager at hospitality point-of-sale platform Lightspeed, will also join the conversation at Collingwood Yards on Monday, June 17. The Sydney symposium will gather restaurateurs and chefs Alessandro Pavoni (aMare, Ormeggio), Palisa Anderson (Chat Thai, Boon Luck Farm), Huss Rachid (Self Raised Bread Shoppe, My Mothers Cousin), Rebecca Fanning (Arthur, Jane) and Ryan-Parker the following Monday, June 24, at Machine Hall Precinct for a panel discussion hosted by Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide editor Callan Boys. Panellists will share challenges theyre facing, including whats different now and if theres a business model less susceptible to rising costs, such as staying small and independent or going big with hospitality groups. Other topics include alternative revenue streams, surcharges, regulatory challenges and innovations, such as artificial intelligence. Conversation will be opened up to the audience for questions, comments and suggestions.

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Importantly, we want the industry to walk away from these events with clever ideas and solutions, said Norris. Hosted by Lightspeed, this will be the first in a series of Good Food Hospitality Symposium events conducted throughout the year. The Age Good Food Symposium, presented by Lightspeed, is on Monday, June 17, at Collingwood Yards (35 Johnston Street, Collingwood), 5.30-7.30pm, and is free to attend, but RSVPs are essential. Register here. The Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Symposium, presented by Lightspeed, is on Monday, June 24, at Machine Hall Precinct (183 Clarence Street, Sydney), 5.30-7.30pm and is free to attend, but RSVPs are essential. Register here.


A SMSF member needs to be actively involved due to being the trustee of the fund. They are personally responsible for looking after the funds money and compliance, Barna says. Loading There are many responsibilities trustees need to undertake on an ongoing basis when running a SMSF compliantly. So, unlike being a member of an industry or retail super fund, it is not a set-and-forget exercise. Whats involved in managing an SMSF? Setting up an SMSF is a complex exercise, and its important to engage the right people at the right time. Sydney-based financial planner and SMSF specialist Liam Shorte recommends doing this from the get-go.

You can either seek advice from a SMSF specialist or use a SMSF administration service to set up your fund, says Shorte. I would recommend you get advice first to ensure you are aware of the tips and traps of setting up a fund and moving your super and insurances across. Essentially, trustees need to self-manage or control who does the administration, tax reporting and auditing of the SMSF. Accounting and auditing are a big part of the job. SMSFs are regulated by the ATO and not by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA), which oversees retail and industry superannuation funds, says Barna. Due to the ATO being the regulator, the SMSF accounts will need to be prepared annually. Members can do this themselves or outsource to an accountant. They also must be audited annually by an independent third-party auditor before submitting to the ATO. The other major element is preparing and documenting an investment strategy to meet the funds objectives. You need to consider many factors, from diversification of investments, members risk tolerance, underlined investments risk-return ratio, and the need for insurance for its members to name a few, says Barna.

Many will also work with a financial planner to design their investment portfolio or work out the best contribution, pension and borrowing strategies for their fund. But that is not compulsory, as you ultimately decide how hands-on you want to be in running the fund, says Shorte. What are the benefits? One of the most attractive benefits is being able to decide how super contributions are invested. According to the ATO, there are currently 616,000 SMSFs in Australia with over 1.1 million members. SMSF investors like to buy stocks they know well from companies they use every day, whether in Australia or globally, or use ETFs to target specific sectors like the global tech giants or high dividend payers, says Shorte.

You can also invest in tangible assets such as paintings, classic cars and even the very high-risk crypto assets, the list goes on, says Barna. Loading SMSFs also come with numerous property and tax planning strategies, but access to these depends on individual circumstances and conditions. One of these strategies may allow a businessperson who rents premises for their business to own business real property via their SMSF and pay rent to their SMSF. So, in effect taking money from one pocket and putting it into another one tax efficiently, says Barna. Additionally, Shorte says due to the often fixed or flat admin tax and audit costs, there are savings to be made by having two or more family members in one SMSF.

What are some of the challenges? The main point of issue when it comes to SMSFs is how time-consuming managing one can be. On average, SMSF trustees spend more than eight hours a month managing an SMSF. The other is liability. Members and trustees have obligations and must ensure that the fund is always compliant, says Barna. Even if third-party professionals are contracted to manage the SMSF, members and trustees ignorance cannot be an excuse if Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act rules are breached. Penalties for breaches can be very costly and may include anything from education directions, administrative penalties, the freezing of the funds assets to trustee disqualifications and civil and criminal penalties.

Is a SMSF right for you? According to the ATO, there are currently 616,000 SMSFs in Australia with over 1.1 million members. How happy are they with choosing the SMSF path? Roy Morgans 2024 Superannuation Satisfaction Report says 76 per cent of SMSF members are happy with their fund performance, followed by 69 per cent in industry funds and 60 per cent in retail funds. Satisfaction aside, SMSFs are not for everyone. Shorte says its important not to rush in deciding to set up a SMSF, do plenty of your own research and understand how you could benefit from one. Barna and Shorte both recommend people watch the ATOs SMSF informational videos. These videos might help guide your initial thinking, and they encourage people to ask themselves three key things: Whether theyre financially savvy. If they can understand lengthy and complex Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act rules. If they have the time to manage a SMSF, or have a third party that can manage it for them.
Also included in todays council budget is money for new and improved dog parks.

The council will deliver new and improved dog parks for Toowong, Bellbowrie, Windsor, Greenslopes, Forest Lake and Nudgee Beach.

Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner at a dog park in The Gap. Credit: Lucy Stone

There will be a new off-leash dog area at Windsor Park in Windsor.

These are the dog parks slated for improvements, according to the budget papers:

Anzac Park, Toowong

Booker Place Park, Bellbowrie

Ekibin Park East, Greenslopes

Newbury Place Park, Carindale

Tuckeroo Park, Nudgee Beach

Forest Lake Sports Fields, Forest Lake

Green Hill Reservoir Park, Chapel Hill

Nathan Road Park, Runcorn, and

Paten Park, The Gap.

The council tells us that the refurbishments can entail replacing shelters, installing agility equipment, laying new surfaces and installing irrigation.

Other lifestyle improvements include the 20-year Kedron Brook Revitalisation vision.

There will also be improvements to New Farm Park, Mount Coot-tha and Mt Gravatt lookouts, and Rocks Riverside Park.
Later this year, within 10 days of each other, voters on both sides of the Pacific will decide whether to elect a convicted felon to office.

In Queensland, Katters Australian Party candidate Michael Pugh will be trying to upset Labor incumbent Les Walker and the LNPs Janelle Poole in the Townsville-based seat of Mundingburra, having just publicly disclosed his violent criminal history.

Across the pond, former US president Donald Trump will be trying to reclaim the White House, months after being found guilty of falsifying business records to help cover up an illegal election influence scheme.

(Sadly for American voters, the more serious criminal charges Trump faces for attempting to overthrow the 2020 election and stealing classified material will not be heard before voters go to the polls.)
From the quokkas playground of Rottnest Island, to the Hawkesbury region of Sydney, to the nations capital  forever chemicals have been turning up in tap water in every corner of the country.

A new investigation by this masthead has revealed that perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) have been found in the drinking water of up to 1.8 million Australians since 2010. Many more drinking water supplies have never been tested.

A variety of water filters can remove forever chemicals from tap water. Credit: Sam Mooy

Its cause for concern, given PFOA was recently declared carcinogenic by the World Health Organisation and the United States says theres no safe level of either chemical in tap water.

Australias drinking water guidelines, which are under review, allow 140 times more PFOA in drinking water than the United States.
Landlords in the citys inner north could have their rates doubled, while owner-occupiers and local businesses get a 50 per cent reduction, under a contentious plan to address the housing crisis to be debated by a Melbourne council this week.

Merri-bek Council is being asked by independent councillor James Conlan to investigate how it could introduce a new differential rate for residential property investors aimed at pushing them to sell, making more homes available to first home buyers.

Merri-bek councillor James Conlan (left) and resident Colin Aslin want the council to explore charging landlords higher rates. Credit: Simon Schluter

The council takes in the suburbs of Brunswick, Coburg, Glenroy and Fawkner. Anyone owning two or more properties may in the vast majority of cases have a greater capacity to pay, Conlan outlined in his motion, which will be debated at Wednesdays council meeting.

Unlike owner-occupiers and renters, investors can sell at least one residential property without making themselves homeless.
A growing number of governments have made public transport free in major cities to increase patronage, but Victorian experts warn cutting fares will not get more people out of cars when services remain so poor.

Facing diminished post-COVID passenger numbers, an urgent need to reduce carbon emissions and a cost-of-living crisis, a growing number of governments around the world have slashed public transport fares.

Passenger numbers on Melbournes trams and trains are down 20 per cent since the COVID-19 pandemic. Credit: Penny Stephens

Queensland will become the latest to cut commuting costs on August 5, when it introduces 50 train, bus and tram rides anywhere in the state for six months.

Luxembourg and Malta have both made public transport completely free since the pandemic, while governments in Spain, Germany and Scotland have also introduced free or heavily discounted fares.
Two women who died in a car crash north of Perth last week have been remembered as people who dedicated their lives to their community.

Thelma Clausen and Coral Seinor from Jurien Bay were killed when the car they were in collided with another vehicle, and a road train towing two trailers, on Brand Highway Cooljarloo, about 170 kilometres north of Perth on Friday morning.

Thelma Clausen and Coral Seinor from Jurien Bay were killed in a car crash last Friday that former Collingwood AFL player Shannon Cox has been arrested over. Credit: Country Women's Association

Former Collingwood player Shannon Cox, 38, is charged with two counts of dangerous driving causing death over the incident, which also left a 12-year-old girl with minor injuries.

The Country Womens Association has led tributes to the women, both in their 80s, whom they described as great friends and active members.
From five-star restaurant lunches to exclusive gym access, Mineral Resources boss Chris Ellison has spared no expense enticing staff to the companys $130 million Osborne Park headquarters.

And it seems the billionaire mining magnate is just as eager to get to the office, even if it means taking the chopper.

Ellison has sought the blessing of the City of Stirling to land a helicopter. Credit: COMPOSITE IMAGE: Marija Ercegovac.

WAtoday can confirm Ellison sought the blessing of the City of Stirling to land a helicopter opposite Herdsman Lake Regional Park, 10 kilometres north of Perth and a few hundred metres from his office.

And he has been making it a regular occurrence.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton will not commit to a climate change target for 2030, signalling the next federal election will again be a battle between the major parties over global warming.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese accused Dutton of an extraordinary abandonment of climate change action after the Liberal leader said on Tuesday the Coalition would not announce its revised emissions targets for 2030 until after the next federal election.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton says emission targets wont be set until after the federal election, which is expected next year. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

Climate experts are now warning the federal government will need to redouble its efforts to drive down emissions if it is to ward off the worst effects of global warming.

Dutton on Tuesday indicated that the Coalition would not settle on a 2030 target until well into next year.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has vowed to use a four-day visit by Chinese Premier Li Qiang to raise difficult issues including provocative military actions by Chinas Peoples Liberation Army as hopes grow that Chinese pandas will remain in Australia as a symbol of improved relations between the two nations.

Li  who is second-in-command in the Chinese system to President Xi Jinping  will visit Australia from June 15-18, the first visit by a Chinese premier in seven years and the latest sign of stabilisation in a bilateral relationship that soured dramatically during the Morrison government.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Chinese Premier Li Qiang in November. Albanese will host Li next week. Credit: AAP

Albanese said he would warn China not to put the lives of Australian military personnel at risk, raise the suspended death sentence handed to Chinese-Australian academic Yang Hengjun and push for the resumption of Australian shellfish exports.

After arriving on Saturday evening, Li will first visit Adelaide Zoo, home to the only giant pandas in the southern hemisphere, before travelling to Canberra and Western Australia.
First-home buyers are struggling with a very real supply shortage; however, Western Australia is the only state where housing supply is more or less keeping pace with demand, and on the upside, affordability is so much more appealing if you are looking to enter the market for the first time, Kandic said.
Malawi Vice President and Nine Others Killed in Plane Crash Amid Search for Survivors (Photo: Vice President's Secretariat / Government Open Data License  India)

Malawi is in mourning following the tragic death of Vice President Dr. Saulos Chilima and nine others, including his wife, in a plane crash in the Chikangawa mountain range. The government confirmed the crash on Tuesday, declaring a national day of mourning as search and rescue operations continue.

The ill-fated military aircraft, a Dornier 228-type twin propeller plane, took off from the capital, Lilongwe, on Monday morning. It was en route to Mzuzu for the funeral of the former attorney general but encountered poor visibility conditions. Air traffic controllers advised the pilot to return to Lilongwe, but contact with the plane was lost shortly after.

"Unfortunately, all on board have perished in the crash," stated the Office of the President and Cabinet. The wreckage was located after an extensive search in the mountainous region of northern Malawi. The passengers included seven military officers and another civilian.

President Lazarus Chakwera expressed his deep sorrow in a televised address, emphasizing the ongoing search efforts. "I know this is a heartbreaking situation, and we are all frightened and concerned," he said. The President canceled his planned trip to the Bahamas to oversee the search and rescue operations personally.

The crash has sent shockwaves through the nation, as Dr. Chilima was a significant political figure and considered a potential contender for next year's presidential election. His political career, however, was marred by controversy, including his 2022 arrest on graft allegations. These charges were dropped only last month.

The United States and several other countries, including the United Kingdom, Norway, and Israel, have offered technological support to aid the search efforts. The U.S. Embassy in Lilongwe released a statement expressing deep concern and offering all available assistance, including a Defense C-12 aircraft.

Cornell College President Jonathan Brand confirmed the incident in a statement, noting that the college is in contact with the injured instructors and is assisting them during this difficult time. He emphasized that no students were involved in the program.

Footage of the aftermath, initially posted on Chinese social media but swiftly censored, showed two men and a woman lying on the ground with visible blood stains, surrounded by onlookers. They appeared conscious and were using their cell phones. CNN geolocated the video to Beishan Park.

China's Foreign Ministry confirmed the attack and assured that the incident was isolated. "The police initially determined that the case was an isolated incident and are currently under further investigation," said ministry spokesperson Lin Jian.

Among the injured was David Zabner, a doctoral student at Tufts University in the U.S., who was in China under the Cornell-Beihua relationship. Iowa state representative Adam Zabner, David's brother, expressed relief that his sibling was recovering. "I spoke to David a few minutes ago, he is recovering from his injuries and doing well," Rep. Zabner told CNN.

The U.S. State Department acknowledged the incident and is monitoring the situation. "We are aware of reports of a stabbing incident in China and are closely monitoring the situation," stated a department spokesperson.

The attack comes at a time when China is actively seeking to attract international visitors and boost educational exchanges following three years of stringent COVID-19 border controls. The incident, however, casts a shadow over these efforts, especially given the current geopolitical tensions between China and the U.S.

In response to the attack, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds called it a "horrifying attack," while Rep. Ashley Hinson vowed to ensure the safe return of the injured Iowans. "We will do everything in our power to bring these Iowans home safely," Hinson said.

On China's tightly controlled social media, discussions about the incident were quickly censored, with some users expressing concerns about its potential impact on China's international image. Despite this, the Chinese Foreign Ministry sought to reassure that the incident would not affect educational exchanges between China and the U.S. "China is widely recognized as one of the safest countries in the world," said spokesperson Lin Jian.

Cornell College's partnership with Beihua University, established in 2018, allows U.S. professors to teach in China. This collaboration is part of broader efforts to foster educational ties between the two countries, despite the recent challenges posed by the pandemic and bilateral tensions.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has recently emphasized the importance of such exchanges, announcing plans to invite 50,000 young Americans to China over the next five years. This initiative aims to strengthen personal ties and mutual understanding between the two nations.

While China has one of the lowest rates of violent crime globally, it has experienced a number of public stabbings in recent years. The Jilin incident underscores the importance of ensuring the safety of foreign nationals as China continues to navigate its complex relationship with the international community.
He said that India marked 50 years of Project Tiger and 30 years of Project Elephant last year and initiated the MISHTI programme to protect mangrove ecosystems | Photo: PTI

The Modi government will continue to balance development with environmental protection and conservation, Bhupender Yadav said on Tuesday after taking over as Union Environment minister.

Yadav's role as Environment minister will be crucial as India proposes to host the international climate talks (COP33) in 2028. If accepted, it would be the next major global conference in India after the G20 Summit last year.

Listing the major achievements of the Modi-led government, which enters its third consecutive term, he said, "India met the quantitative and qualitative targets set under its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) - the national climate plan to achieve Paris Agreement goals - nine years ahead of schedule."



"Our achievements in emission reduction and the renewable energy sector are significant milestones of the Modi government over the past decade," Yadav told reporters.

The minister, who also expressed satisfaction with the progress of the cheetah project, said Prime Minister Modi launched Mission Life at COP26 in Glasgow to promote mindful consumption of resources and called upon people to plant one tree each in the name of their mother to address rising temperatures, desertification, and biodiversity challenges.

"Both planting trees and protecting them are important," he said.

He said that India marked 50 years of Project Tiger and 30 years of Project Elephant last year and initiated the MISHTI programme to protect mangrove ecosystems.

According to Yadav, India has implemented crucial reforms in the environment sector and launched several key initiatives such as the International Solar Alliance, Coalition for Disaster Resilience and Infrastructure and International Big Cat Alliance.

India achieved two quantifiable targets under its first NDCs -- reducing GDP emissions intensity by 33 to 35 per cent by 2030 from 2005 levels, and achieving 40 per cent installed power capacity from non-fossil fuels by 2030. Both were ahead of schedule.

The country now aims to reduce emissions intensity of GDP by 45 per cent by 2030 from 2005 levels and achieve 50 per cent cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel-based energy resources by 2030.

It has also committed to becoming a net-zero economy by 2070.

Kirtivardhan Singh, the BJP MP from Gonda and a first-time minister in the Modi government, has been appointed Union minister of state for Environment.

Yadav, who took over as Environment minister from Prakash Javadekar in the second Modi government in July 2021, defended India's dependence on coal at international climate talks in Glasgow and Dubai.

He previously served as the Union Labour and Employment minister, a portfolio now allotted to Mansukh Mandaviya.

Under Yadav's leadership in the Environment ministry, India's climate actions were rated the fourth strongest in an annual performance index released by Germanwatch in 2023, an improvement of one place from the year before.

His accomplishments also include a ban on identified single-use plastic items, and an increase in Ramsar sites wetlands of international importance in India.

The country made significant amendments to forest, wildlife, and environmental laws during his previous term, some of which drew criticism from opposition parties and environmentalists.
Dussehra will be celebrated on Oct 12, 2024. This day witnesses the burning of effigies of Ravana and his brothers for the victory of good over evil. So, here are some of the places to visit in Delhi,
1. What's the Infosys Ltd share price today?

Infosys Ltd share price was Rs 1,935.00 at 04:01 PM IST on 11th Oct 2024 . Infosys Ltd share price was up by 0.83 % over the previous closing price of Rs 1,919.05 . Infosys Ltd share price trend:

Last 1 Month: Infosys Ltd share price moved up by 1.27 % on BSE

Last 3 Months: Infosys Ltd share price moved up by 17.06 % on BSE

Last 12 Months: Infosys Ltd share price moved up by 29.56 % on BSE

Last 3 Years: Infosys Ltd price moved up by 14.37 % on BSE

2. How can I quickly analyse the performance of the Infosys Ltd stock?

The performance of the Infosys Ltd stock can be quickly analysed on the following metrics:

The stock's PE is 30.14

Price to book value ratio is 11.32

Dividend yield of 2.40

The EPS (trailing 12 months) of the Infosys Ltd stock is Rs 64.20

3. What is the market cap of Infosys Ltd ?

Infosys Ltd has a market capitalisation of Rs 8,03,439 crore.



4. What is Infosys Ltd 's 52-week high/low share price?

The Infosys Ltd s 52-week high share price is Rs 1,976.90 and 52-week low share price is Rs 1,352.00 .



5. Is the Infosys Ltd profitable?

On a consolidated basis, Infosys Ltd reported a profit of Rs 5,768.00 crore on a total income of Rs 34,004.00 crore for the quarter ended 2024 . For the year ended Jun 2024 , Infosys Ltd had posted a profit of Rs 6,374.00 crore on a total income of Rs 40,153.00 crore.



6. Which are Infosys Ltd s peers in the IT sector?

Infosys Ltd s top 5 peers in the IT sector are TCS, Infosys, HCL Technologies, Wipro, LTIMindtree .



7. Who owns how much in Infosys Ltd ?

Key changes to the Infosys Ltd shareholding are as follows:
New Delhi: TDP leader Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu takes oath as minister at the swearing-in ceremony of new Union government, at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi, Sunday, June 9, 2024. (PTI Photo/Atul Yadav)(PTI06_09_2024_000435B)

Telugu Desam Partys (TDPs) Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu, the third-time consecutive winner from the Srikakulam Lok Sabha (LS) constituency in Andhra Pradesh, was appointed Union civil aviation minister on Monday.



At 36 years old, Ram Mohan Naidu is the youngest minister in the Union Cabinet. Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp

The son of former Union Minister K Yerran Naidu, he pursued electrical engineering at Purdue University and earned a Masters degree in business administration from Long Island University. Initially considering a career in Singapore, Ram Mohan returned to his hometown following his fathers death in a road accident in 2012.

He fought and won his first election in 2014 at the age of 26, making him the second youngest Member of Parliament (MP) in LS at that time. He won again in 2019. In 2024, he won against the Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Partys Tilak Perada by a margin of 327,901 votes.





ALSO READ: Modi 3.0 Cabinet: No change in top ministries; here's the full list As an MP, he has introduced a private members Bill to draw the attention of the Centre towards the Andhra Pradesh Railway Zone with Visakhapatnam as its headquarters.

When TDP National President Nara Chandrababu Naidu was arrested last year over his alleged involvement in a skill development scam, his son Lokesh along with Ram Mohan played a pivotal role in navigating the political circles of Delhi.

The new aviation minister faces a host of challenges as Indian carriers plan massive expansion with orders for 1,150 aircraft by 2035. A key issue is the demand from the United Arab Emirates and Qatar for more bilateral flying rights, which Indian carriers like Air India oppose, fearing it will undermine their growth plans. However, there is a division among Indian airlines on this.

Developing Indian hubs to rival Dubai/Doha is another priority, but funding expansions at major private airports is a concern.

Rapid airport growth also requires addressing human resource shortages across roles like pilots, engineers, and air traffic controllers.

Aviation consultancy firm CAPA India last week warned of a severe shortage of key aviation employees.

Furthermore, the disinvestment of three major aviation companies  AI Engineering Services (AIESL), AI Airport Services, and regional airline Alliance Air  remains unresolved after being put on hold following the sale of Air India to the Tata Group in 2021.

Air India has shown interest in buying AIESL.

Additionally, the governments plan to lease out 13 airports to private players has been in cold storage for the past four years. The last round of airport privatisation occurred in 2019 when six airports were leased to Adani Group for 50 years after competitive bidding.
Kreston Globals newest interpreneur report reveals that small and medium businesses across the world are bullish about their own global operations and are prepared to harness disruption to drive commercial growth at home and abroad. This comes despite macroeconomic concerns around geopolitical disruption, slowing global GDP, and a gradual decline in international collaboration which are dampening commercial outlooks for many public companies and giving rise to deglobalization concerns.

Now in its second iteration, the Kreston interpreneur report is based on a survey across 14 different countries of 1,400 interpreneurs or business leaders of organizations with revenue up to 300 million (approx. $372 million) who had successfully expanded their business into international markets. The research explores small-to-medium business global mobility trends, and the strategies business leaders are using to navigate the commercial pressures of global entrepreneurship today.

While interpreneurs acknowledge the challenging macro-economic headwinds facing global expansion, it is clear that the reward outweighs the risk. Almost all respondents (96%) agree that global expansion has been of benefit to their business, citing commercial growth across increased sales and revenue (53%) and profitability (46%) as the top benefits.

Evaluating their own international expansion journey, more than half of survey respondents said their business primary motivation was to secure market growth opportunities (52%), followed by a desire to gain a competitive advantage by establishing a foothold in new regions before rivals (36%). The biggest challenges faced were adapting logistics and supply chain issues (41%), finding the right local partners (39%) and managing economic volatility (38%).

Looking ahead, 87% of respondents said they expect an increase in the number of businesses expanding overseas in the next 12 months. The most popular destinations respondents said their business would consider expanding into are Western Europe (52%) and North America (48%). When evaluating what makes a country or region most attractive for international expansion, respondents cited favorable economic prospects (43%), favorable trade agreements (41%), and availability of skills and talent (41%).

Notes to Editors:

About Kreston Global

Kreston Global is one of the worlds largest accounting networks, representing more than 160 independent firms in more than 114 countries worldwide.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240610536296/en/
New York City Stands for the King. The Empire State Building (ESB)  in partnership with Max  today unveiled a House of the Dragon takeover for fans at its world-famous Observatory Experience that includes a photo opportunity with the iconic Iron Throne, a visit from the shows cast, and a one-of-a-kind Game of Thrones universe photo opportunity on the 80th Floor.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240610590542/en/

The cast of "House of the Dragon" on ESB's 86th Floor Observatory; ESB lit in green; the Iron Throne on the Grand Staircase. (Photo: Business Wire)

Our iconic Empire State Building Observatory has transformed into Westeros in an epic House of the Dragon takeover that fans will not want to miss, said ESRT Chairman and CEO Tony Malkin. This limited-time takeover offers fans the once-in-a-lifetime chance to step into the series in the most authentic New York City setting.

TAKE THE THRONE  House of the Dragon fans can sit in the most dangerous seat in the realm and rule from the Iron Throne on the Observatorys Grand Staircase from June 10-18.

 House of the Dragon fans can sit in the most dangerous seat in the realm and rule from the Iron Throne on the Observatorys Grand Staircase from June 10-18. ENTER WESTEROS  Visitors can be among the first to experience Zyngas Game of Thrones: Legends mobile game and transport themselves into the Game of Thrones universe with a personalized video in an interactive photo booth on the 80 th Floor from June 10-18.

 Visitors can be among the first to experience Zyngas Game of Thrones: Legends mobile game and transport themselves into the Game of Thrones universe with a personalized video in an interactive photo booth on the 80 Floor from June 10-18. TEAM GREEN LIGHTS  On Monday, June 10, the Empire State Buildings world-famous tower lights will sparkle green.

 On Monday, June 10, the Empire State Buildings world-famous tower lights will sparkle green. ROYAL VISIT  House of the Dragon stars Olivia Cooke, Fabien Frankel, Tom Glynn-Carney, Ewan Mitchell, and Phia Saban visited the Empire State Building to tour the iconic Observatory Experience and flip the switch in a lighting ceremony.

 House of the Dragon stars Olivia Cooke, Fabien Frankel, Tom Glynn-Carney, Ewan Mitchell, and Phia Saban visited the Empire State Building to tour the iconic Observatory Experience and flip the switch in a lighting ceremony. DRAGON FOOD  From June 10-18, local favorite Tipsy Scoop will offer a booze-infused dragon fruit sorbet garnished with Dragons Breath Rock Candy and a mini dragon toy figure for guests 21 and older in a pop-up on the buildings 86 th Floor.

 From June 10-18, local favorite Tipsy Scoop will offer a booze-infused dragon fruit sorbet garnished with Dragons Breath Rock Candy and a mini dragon toy figure for guests 21 and older in a pop-up on the buildings 86 Floor. WATCH PARTY GIVEAWAY  From June 11-13, fans can enter for a chance to win tickets to join a watch party of the House of the Dragon Season Two premiere with a guest on the Observatorys 80th Floor on June 16. Please check this website tomorrow, June 11, 2024 for more information. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited.



The Empire State Building Observatory recently underwent a $165 million reimagination that included the addition of a dedicated visitor entrance, an immersive museum with nine galleries, brand-new, bespoke Observatory Host uniforms, and a new 102nd Floor Observatory with unmatched views. The reimagined Observatory Experience has been voted the #1 attraction in the U.S. in Tripadvisors Travelers Choice Awards: Best of the Best for two consecutive years.

Tickets to the House of the Dragon takeover at the Empire State Building Observatory can be purchased here. Text CONNECT to 274-16 to receive real-time information about the Empire State Buildings tower lights.

Hi-res imagery and video of all elements of the House of the Dragon takeover can be found here.

About the Empire State Building

The Empire State Building, the World's Most Famous Building," owned by Empire State Realty Trust, Inc. (ESRT: NYSE), soars 1,454 feet above Midtown Manhattan from base to antenna. The $165 million reimagination of the Empire State Building Observatory Experience creates an all-new experience with a dedicated guest entrance, an interactive museum with nine galleries, and a redesigned 102nd Floor Observatory with floor-to-ceiling windows. The journey to the world-famous 86th Floor Observatory, the only 360-degree, open-air observatory with views of New York and beyond, orients visitors for their entire New York City experience and covers everything from the building's iconic history to its current place in pop culture. The Empire State Building Observatory Experience welcomes millions of visitors each year and was declared "America's Favorite Building" by the American Institute of Architects, the world's most popular travel destination by Uber, the #1 attraction in the U.S. in Tripadvisors Travelers Choice Awards: Best of the Best for two consecutive years, and the #1 New York City attraction in Lonely Planets Ultimate Travel List.

Since 2011, the building has been fully powered by renewable wind electricity, and its many floors house a diverse array of office tenants such as LinkedIn and Shutterstock, as well as retail options like STATE Grill and Bar, Tacombi, and Starbucks. For more information and Observatory Experience tickets visit esbnyc.com or follow the building's Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, Weibo, YouTube, or TikTok.

About House of the Dragon

Based on George R.R. Martins Fire & Blood, the series, set 200 years before the events of Game of Thrones, tells the story of House Targaryen. Co-Creator/Executive Producer by George R.R. Martin; Co-Creator/Showrunner/Executive Producer, Ryan Condal; Executive Producers Sara Hess, Alan Taylor, Melissa Bernstein, Kevin de la Noy, Loni Peristere, Vince Gerardis. Based on George R.R. Martins Fire & Blood. Season two returning cast includes Matt Smith, Olivia Cooke, Emma DArcy, Eve Best, Steve Toussaint, Fabien Frankel, Ewan Mitchell, Tom Glynn-Carney, Sonoya Mizuno, and Rhys Ifans. Additional returning cast includes Harry Collett, Bethany Antonia, Phoebe Campbell, Phia Saban, Jefferson Hall, and Matthew Needham. New season two cast are Abubakar Salim as Alyn of Hull, Gayle Rankin as Alys Rivers, Freddie Fox as Ser Gwayne Hightower, Simon Russell Beale as Ser Simon Strong, Clinton Liberty as Addam of Hull, Jamie Kenna as Ser Alfred Broome, Kieran Bew as Hugh, Tom Bennett as Ulf, Tom Taylor as Lord Cregan Stark, and Vincent Regan as Ser Rickard Thorne.

Source: Empire State Realty Trust

Category: Observatory

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240610590542/en/
Vicinity Technologies Limited (Vicinity), a leading provider of innovative wireless communications products and advanced technologies, is thrilled to unveil its pioneering first software-defined 5G user equipment (UE) at the esteemed 5G-ACIA Industrial 5G Day in Austin, Texas, USA, on June 13, 2024, following the 5G-ACIA 30th Plenary Meeting, scheduled for June 11-12 in Austin, Texas. This game-changing 5G UE solution based on the software-defined radio (SDR), boasting unparalleled ultra-low latency, ultra-low jitter, highly synchronised and high-reliability 5G wireless applications, is poised to revolutionise diverse, dynamic industries and set new standards in wireless communications.

Traditional robotic systems have long relied on a complex web of numerous cables to establish a connection with their governing computer, making the setup process needlessly complicated and cumbersome, especially when transitioning between various tasks. By seamlessly replacing these restrictive cabled connections with the power of 5G wireless communications, Vicinity is not just simplifying the setup process, but also enabling significantly more efficient operations.

Ensuring highly reliable and precisely coordinated communications is fundamental for robotic systems seamless and synchronised operation. Vicinitys 5G SDR UE solution is based on NXP i.MX 8 series application processor and NXP Layerscape Access LA9310 baseband device enables tight integration of sensor fusion and 5G communications on a single hardware. Vicinity SDR UE enables highly synchronized clock distributions over the air from the master device. The clock jitter is less than 2 microseconds. The latency is controlled within 1 millisecond, enabling very fast closed-loop feedback between remote sensors and actuators. Benefited by the Ultra-Reliable and Low Latency Communications (URLLC) in 5G, Vicinity SDR UE could also achieve five-9s reliability for industrial automation.

Furthermore, Vicinity has recognised the necessity of transitioning to a wireless communications architecture that uses Ethernet over a time-sensitive network (TSN) instead of using the traditional TCP/IP protocol. The NXP i.MX 8 application processor integrated with a TSN gateway also boasts significant cost and latency advantages in deploying industrial 5G applications.

Dr. Eric Tsang, the esteemed CEO of Vicinity Technologies, is eagerly looking forward to personally demonstrating the companys groundbreaking 5G UE solution at the upcoming event. The company invites all attendees to join them and seize the opportunity to gain first-hand, insightful information about the transformative path towards realising Industrial 5G, a technological revolution poised to reshape the industrial landscape.

An end-to-end demonstration of Vicinitys SDR UE and Vicinity's 5G industrial network will be presented at the 5G-ACIA Industrial 5G Day 2024 hosted at NXPOak Hill Campus. The 5G industrial network is equipped with Quanta 4T4R commercial-ready integrated small cell loaded with Vicinity 5G base-station software. Interested parties can contact Vicinity ([email protected]) to schedule in-person meetings.

About Vicinity

Vicinity Technologies Limited (Vicinity) is a wireless communication products and technologies provider based in Bristol, United Kingdom. Vicinity has full R&D capabilities for designing, developing, verifying, and deploying 5G infrastructure and networking solutions. The team comprises experts with over 20 years of experience in wireless communication product development. Vicinity has a proven track record of providing quick-to-market design win solutions. Vicinitys products and systems have been deployed in real operator networks and can be customised for various purposes in private networks. To learn more about Vicinity, please visit https://www.vicinitysys.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240610774119/en/
China-Russia fishery conference signals promising prospects

10:08, June 11, 2024 By Zhang Yiyi ( Global Times

This photo shows a king crab during the eighth China-Russia Expo in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, May 20, 2024. Over 5,000 overseas buyers registered at the expo and representatives from 44 countries and regions participated in the expo. The exhibition area spans 388,000 square meters, showcasing more than 5,000 products in over 20 major categories from 10 sectors. (Photo: Xinhua)

The inaugural China-Russia fishery industry cooperation conference was held in Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province on Sunday, marking what analysts on Monday said was a significant step forward in bilateral cooperation in the fishery sector.

The meeting was held in Fuyuan city, Heilongjiang on Sunday, with about 100 experts, scholars, and business delegates from both countries attending, the China News Service reported on the day. The event delved into discussions and knowledge-sharing sessions on fish biodiversity conservation, stock enhancement and release, and sustainable fishery development.

The conference underscored the commitment to fostering high-quality, enduring collaboration in the fishery sector between China and Russia.

Fuyuan has rich fish resources and is a vital habitat for rare cold-water species. Dubbed as the hometown of both the chum salmon and the sturgeon, Fuyuan is expected to achieve a fishery output value of 710 million yuan ($97.96 million) in 2024.

Sergey Kravchuk, mayor of Khabarovsk, Russia announced on Sunday that local fishery enterprises offer a diverse range of more than 200 products, including smoked and lightly salted salmon, fresh food, and various semi-finished fish products.

These enterprises are ready to supply fishery products to China, available for purchase either at Khabarovsk's own sales outlets or directly from the factories, with transportation to Fuyuan via water routes, according to the mayor.

A Chinese official highlighted the extensive cooperation between Fuyuan and Khabarovsk across areas such as trade, cultural exchanges, law enforcement in the fishery sector, and resource conservation.

"This conference signals a deepening of China-Russia fishery cooperation. Given China's significant demand for aquatic products and Russia's status as a major exporter with diverse offerings and competitive prices, along with the shared border in Northeast China, trade cooperation is convenient and holds promising prospects," Li Xin, director of the Center for Russian and Central Asia Studies at the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies, told the Global Times on Monday.

"Russian seafood sales have in recent years shifted from Western markets to China due to sanctions and the Russia-Ukraine conflict. China's relatively high level of economic development has created demand for Russian seafood, especially high-value products," Zhang Hong, an associate research fellow at the Institute of Russian, Eastern European and Central Asian Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Monday.

"Apart from trade, China and Russia, as major freshwater fish farming countries, will engage in technological and theoretical cooperation to conserve the precious fish resources of the Heilongjiang River," Zhang said. "Together, we will collaborate and mutually advance in fish and environmental conservation efforts."

In recent years, Russian seafood, particularly from the Far East region, like red caviar and sturgeon roe, has gained traction in the Chinese market for its freshness, quality, and competitive pricing, Zhang noted.

China's imports of Russian seafood surged in 2023, totaling 1.28 million tons, up 37 percent year-on-year and the highest since 2015, according to media reports.

However, China's import volume of Russian aquatic products doesn't constitute a high proportion of its overall agricultural imports, indicating significant room for collaboration, according to Li.

"Broadly speaking, fishery cooperation between the two countries involves ecological conservation in the Heilongjiang region, trade collaboration, as well as energy cooperation in the North Pacific and Arctic areas, which are all key components of the Polar Silk Road," noted Li.

"The Russian government has called for Chinese involvement in the development of the Northern Sea Route several times, and China has also shown a commitment to furthering the joint construction of the Polar Silk Road with Russia," Li said.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
ATLANTA  The Carter Centers partner in Montana, the Montana Election Observation Initiative (MEOI), today issued preliminary findings on its pilot program to observe Missoula Countys June 4 primary election process.

MEOIs nonpartisan election observers monitored the testing of voting equipment, ballot processing, tabulation, and in-person voting on election day in Missoula County and will continue to observe the tabulation of provisional ballots, the post-election audit, and the certification of results. The preliminary statement includes observations from in-person voting on election day, reflecting findings from 19 out of 21 voting locations in the county compiled by 22 MEOI observers. A second statement will be released reflecting findings from all processes observed after results are certified on June 18. The programs goal was to test observation methodologies and approaches ahead of Novembers general election.

The Montana Election Observation Initiative is a nonpartisan effort designed to increase trust and transparency in elections. The Carter Center provided funding and technical assistance to MEOI.

###

Contact: In Atlanta, Maria Cartaya, maria.cartaya@cartercenter.org

The Carter Center

Waging Peace. Fighting Disease. Building Hope.

A not-for-profit, nongovernmental organization, The Carter Center has helped to improve life for people in over 80 countries by resolving conflicts; advancing democracy, human rights, and economic opportunity; preventing diseases; and improving mental health care. The Carter Center was founded in 1982 by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, in partnership with Emory University, to advance peace and health worldwide.
Heidelberg Materials ceases clinker production at Anorga

Muriel Bal By 11 June 2024

Heidelberg Materials will stop clinker production at its Anorga plant in Spain. The company will continue operating the plant as a grinding facility. The step will enable the company to focus on the production of reduced clinker cement, resulting in a broad range of sustainable products for customers in Spain and southwest France.



Heidelberg Materials will focus its clinker production in northern Spain at its Arrigorriaga plant near Bilbao, which is able to produce more efficiently and with lower CO 2 emissions, according to the company.



The company plans an investment of EUR32m for the decarbonisation of both facilities in the 2024-26 period. Halting clinker production at Anorga will result in a 50 per cent immediate reduction in CO 2 emissions when compared with the 2023 level. It will also allow the company to comply with the obligations arising from the Energy Transition and Climate Change Law of Euskadi, approved with the support of 82 per cent of the Basque parliament last February.

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I lost a very close friend to suicide. His death still affects me, as well as his other friends and family. The impact of suicide is widespread and affects many people personally. Those who are suicidal often don't want to die; they just feel like they don't know how to go about living or see a way out of their problems. When life feels unbearable, suicide can seem like the only option.

The old television show M*A*S*H had an opening song called Suicide is Painless. The title song's origin is based on a scene from the movie. Unfortunately, too many people in our world are indeed inflicting harm and end up taking their own lives. The pain they cause goes well beyond the pain inflicted upon themselves. Suicide is not painless. Death leaves survivors.

Mental health issues are real and have been ignored for far too long in our society. I have criticized several of Governor Bill Lees education policies, but his support for mental health has been admirable. We still have more work to do in this area. Governor Lee shared a personal story about his daughter's suicide attempt, emphasizing the need for resources and support. We support those efforts.

Cultural influences shape our views on mental illness. Educators use compassionate language to break down problems and focus on coping skills. We should approach discussing suicide with similar compassion, offering hope as a better option. Hope is a critical ingredient in resilience - it enables you to get back up and keep moving forward.

The stigma attached to mental health encourages people to hide genuine problems that only manifest later, creating further troubles for themselves, their loved ones, and possibly society - if left untreated. We need to learn how to have conversations about mental health and suicide, keep those at risk safe, and connect them with further help.

Public schools have seen a 69 percent increase in students seeking mental health services since the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, 76 percent of schools have observed a rise in staff expressing concerns about students displaying mental health-related symptoms. The state must do better to provide sufficient mental health support for students. Due to high demand and limited resources, counselors, social workers, and psychologists are dealing with overwhelming workloads, inevitably creating additional classroom challenges.

In a well-written editorial, Carolyn Heinrich highlights the increase in depression, anxiety, and suicidal behaviors among children, as evidenced in our research using state administrative data. The latest Vanderbilt Child Health poll shows that half Tennessee parents consider their children's emotional well-being a top concern.

Gender significantly influences many diseases, including depression. According to Dr. Jerrold Rosenbaum, male and female brains have differences. Certain psychiatric disorders, such as autism and schizophrenia, are more prevalent in men, while depression and anxiety are more common in women. Men's reluctance to seek help for mental health issues is well-supported.

Mental health and social work professionals tend to focus on children, women, and older adults, leaving men underrepresented. However, many men suffer from untreated depression. According to the Mayo Clinic, male depression often goes undiagnosed with devastating consequences. In the United States, suicide is the 9th leading cause of death, occurring every 12.3 minutes. In 2021, an estimated 12.3 million American adults contemplated suicide, 3.5 million planned an attempt, and 1.7 million made a suicide attempt. Many have a diagnosable mental health disorder.

Psychology Today notes that people with mental health difficulties are heavily stigmatized. Suicide prevention should be a higher priority. We must eliminate the shame surrounding seeking help and advocate for more school guidance counselors. According to Steven Hinshaw, stigma breeds shame and silence; the solution is to talk about it to let people know they are not alone. Suicide is preventable, and mental health is treatable.

We have to encourage men to seek help when they need it. If you need assistance, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, a national network of local crisis centers that provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, seven days a week, by calling 800-273-8255.

In Tennessee, we also have these resources:

Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988 for 24/7 help. https://988lifeline.org/

Tennessee Statewide Crisis Line: Call 855-274-7471 for confidential support.

Tennessee Behavioral Safety Net: Call 800-560-5767 for uninsured or underinsured assistance. www.tn.gov/behavioral-health/bhsn

The Tennessee Department of Health Suicide Prevention program provides valuable information and resources. You can sign up for alerts and access data at www.preventsuicidetn.com.

In an emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.

JC Bowman

Executive Director of Professional Educators of Tennessee

* * *

I served in Vietnam and have known a lot of vets seeking help for PTSD that saw no solution to their problems and committed suicide, some right outside of the VA hospital in Atlanta. I have been treated for PTSD for 49 years. I am still being treated. I have not considered suicide but it not because of years upon years of psychological therapy. It was that I was married and had a family and in the case of suicide, it would be my family that would suffer, not me. I can handle the suffering. Insofar as PTSD is concerned, when I first started therapy none of the mental health professionals even knew what it was and weighed me down with antidepressants which, of course, did no good.

To successfully treat mental illness, including PTSD, most mental health professionals were treating me with medication and it never worked. To treat a mental health situation, you have to know the root cause, not what the professional can visibly can see. The root cause has to be found and unless you find that egg of a reason, regardless of the credentials of professional, you are only touching the surface.

I will reference what my Chemistry Professor, Dr. Swan, at the University of Chattanooga said one day, Doctors are only practicing.

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, one of the only books that marks the signs of all of the mental disorders, has about 1,100 pages and covers at least 300 disorders and no doctor would know all of them or how to treat them. When I first started therapy for PTSD, I found no doctors outside of the Department of Veterans Affairs that had ever heard of it, much less how to treat it. Few of them do today, but all of them will tell you that they can treat it. They cannot. Psychiatrists are good at throwing medicines at you and the psychologist tries to teach you coping mechanisms. But to make it go away, that is not going to happen. They do not go into attempting to find the core cause. They probably could not find it in a thousand years of therapy. Coping with narcissistic and maybe borderline disorders might be easy, or seem to be, but coping with schizophrenia might be impossible.

My best therapist told me he found me interesting to work with because I read a lot and if something came up with which I was not familiar, I would read a couple of books on it.

My opinion about mental health is that most of the disorders are rooted in the family life that you led. Truthfully, I think that the etiology of my PTSD was because of the physically abusive behavior of my father. Experiences in Vietnam simply exacerbated it.

Raleigh Perry
Mayors Tim Kelly and Weston Wamp joined Councilman Darrin Ledford, other area elected officials, as well as advocate and Chattanooga Fire Department Captain Skyler Phillips on Tuesday to announce that the Harvesting Inclusive Playground has received $450,000 in funding commitments from the City of Chattanooga, Hamilton County, and the State of Tennessee.

In total from all sources, the playground has reached $1.1 million of committed funding, more than halfway to the $2 million target.

The inclusive playground will be at Jack Benson Heritage Park on Jenkins Road.

"Harvesting Inclusive Play is more than just a place for families to gather, said Chattanooga City Councilman Darrin Ledford.

It represents our commitment to each other and what we can achieve when the human spirit is uplifted. The love from our community, volunteers, and the collaboration of our state, county, and city governments demonstrate what we can accomplish together to make a genuine impact."

The city and county have each committed $100,000, with $25,000 of the citys contribution coming from Councilman Ledfords allocation of community programming funds. The state of Tennessee recently announced that our areas legislative delegation had secured $250,000 in state funding for the project.

This is Hamilton County at its bestthe public and private sector coming together to ensure every child, regardless of physical challenges, has a playground to call their own, said Mayor Wamp. Now we need our community to do what it does best and generously support this project to get it across the finish line.

I want to thank Councilman Ledford for his leadership on this project, as well as Mayor Wamp, our county partners, and our state legislative delegation, said Mayor Kelly. Parks and playgrounds should be accessible to everyone. This park will be a symbol of what our community can do when we come together to help our most vulnerable. I hope everyone will consider supporting this project.

I want to say thank you to Councilman Ledford, who has been supportive of this project from the beginning, said Captain Skyler Phillips. As a firefighter, its been great to be able to lean on wonderful partners like Kiwanis, and all our Harvesting Inclusive Playground Committee members. I want to advocate not just for my son, but for children of all ability levels all over this area. We still need help to get this done. Please consider donating by buying a brick. We are so close.

People who want to buy a brick to support the playground can follow the QR code below to go the Harvesting Inclusive Play website, or they can simply go to https://www. harvestinginclusiveplay.com/




Thousands of particles of light can merge into a type of super photon under suitable conditions. Physicists call such a state a photon Bose-Einstein condensate. Researchers at the University of Bonn have now shown that this exotic quantum state obeys a fundamental theorem of physics. This finding now allows one to measure properties of photon Bose-Einstein condensates which are usually difficult to access. The study has been published in the journal Nature Communications.

If many atoms are cooled to a very low temperature confined in a small volume, they can become indistinguishable and behave like a single super particle. Physicists also call this a Bose-Einstein condensate or quantum gas. Photons condense based on a similar principle and can be cooled using dye molecules. These molecules act like small refrigerators and swallow the hot light particles before spitting them out again at the right temperature.

In our experiments we filled a tiny container with a dye solution, explains Dr. Julian Schmitt from the Institute of Applied Physics at the University of Bonn. The walls of the container were highly reflective. The researchers then excited the dye molecules with a laser. This produced photons that bounced back and forth between the reflective surfaces. As the particles of light repeatedly collided with dye molecules, they cooled down and finally condensed into a quantum gas.

Super photons flicker like a candle This process still continues afterwards, however, and the particles of the super photon repeatedly collide with the dye molecules, being swallowed up before being spat out again. Therefore, the quantum gas sometimes contains more and sometimes less photons, making it flicker like a candle. We used this flickering to investigate whether an important theorem of physics is valid in a quantum gas system, says Schmitt.

This so-called regression theorem can be illustrated by a simple analogy: Let us assume that the super photon is a campfire that sometimes randomly flares up very strongly. After the fire blazes particularly brightly, the flames slowly die down and the fire returns to its original state. Interestingly, one can also cause the fire to flare up intentionally by blowing air into the embers. In simple terms, the regression theorem predicts that the fire will then continue to burn down in the same way as if the flare up had occurred at random. This means that it responds to the perturbation in exactly the same way as it fluctuates on its own without any perturbation.

Blowing air into a photon fire We wanted to find out whether this behavior also applies to quantum gases, explains Schmitt, who is also a member of the transdisciplinary research area (TRA) Building Blocks of Matter and the Matter and Light for Quantum Computing Cluster of Excellence at the University of Bonn. For this purpose, the researchers first measured the flickering of the super photons to quantify the statistical fluctuations. They then  figuratively speaking  blew air into the fire by briefly firing another laser at the super photon. This perturbation caused it to briefly flare up before it slowly returned to its initial state.

We were able to observe that the response to this gentle perturbation follows precisely the same dynamics as the random fluctuations without a perturbation, says the physicist. In this way we were able to demonstrate for the first time that this theorem also applies to exotic forms of matter as quantum gases. Interestingly, this is also the case for strong perturbations. Systems usually respond differently to stronger perturbations than they do to weaker ones  an extreme example is a layer of ice that will suddenly break when the load placed on it becomes too heavy. This is called nonlinear behavior, says Schmitt. However, the theorem remains valid in these cases, as we have now been able to demonstrate together with our colleagues from the University of Antwerp.

The findings are of huge relevance for fundamental research with photonic quantum gases because one often does not know precisely how they will flicker in their brightness. It is much easier to determine how the super photon responds to a controlled perturbation. This allows us to learn about unknown properties under very controlled conditions, explains Schmitt. It will enable us, for example, to find out how novel photonic materials consisting of many super photons behave at their core.
According to theWorld Wildlife Fund (WWF), the pulp and paper industry is one of the largest industrial sectors in the world and has an enormous influence on global forests. This sector accounts for 1315% of total wood consumption and uses between 3340% of all industrial wood traded globally. In search of more sustainable solutions for paper production, 23-year-old Ukrainian inventor Valentyn Frechka developed a method for recycling leaf litter into paper. Frechka is a finalist for the Young Inventors Prize of the European Inventor Award 2024, in recognition of his promising work towards a circular economy and addressing one of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He was selected from over 550 candidates for this years edition.

Using new technology to recycle fallen leaves into paper The global loss of trees is known to significantly exacerbate climate change, increasing air pollution levels, causing the loss of biodiversity, and disrupting the water cycle. Global warming also leads to issues such as soil erosion and reduced freshwater availability. It also increases costs for managing environmental problems such as flooding.

In 2021, Valentyn Frechka founded Releaf Paper to commercialise his process. The company sources its leaves from city councils and uses this would-be-waste to produce biodegradable and recyclable paper products. It presents a convenient and cost-effective means of managing organic waste in urban areas, preserving trees, avoiding greenhouse gas emissions generated during the decomposition of the leaves and offering eco-friendly packaging alternatives to reduce waste. Notably, Releaf Paper can produce one tonne of cellulose from 2.3 tonnes of fallen leaves, which is the same amount of cellulose that would otherwise require cutting down 17 trees.

Releaf Paper uses advanced technology to process these fallen leaves into sustainable paper without sulphates, sulphites, or chlorine. Leaves undergo thorough cleaning and chemical-mechanical treatment involving grinding and softening with high pressure and steam. This process efficiently isolates fibres, yielding a pulp akin to wood pulp, which is then combined with bio-fillers to create paper rolls for various products like paper bags, cardboard, and corrugated boxes.

The company, with offices in Paris and Kyiv, also converts some waste into fertiliser and returns it to the cities. In the future, Frechkas company aspires to work with fruit bio-waste such as tropical leaves, like pineapple, banana, and yucca leaves, as well as with agricultural bio-waste.

Inspired by a desire to protect nature Born and raised in the rural village of Sokyrnytsia, where he was raised by his grandparents, Frechka demonstrated a restless curiosity about nature and life. At the age of 16, while hiking in the Carpathians, the idea emerged to tackling deforestation by repurposing dead leaves, making them a valuable resource in paper production while also reducing carbon emissions that occur during decomposition. He became a member of the Junior Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and that is where his journey for his own invention began.

Releaf is a great example of what happens when experience, inspiration, knowledge and the right moment in the right place meet, Frechka said. Using leaves for paper production was an option which did not exist before, and it was our key to do something great, knowing that this technology can help future generations, while keeping the Ukrainian technology ecosystem alive, he added.

Releaf Paper received support from the WWF and Canopy Planet in 2021. After Russias invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Frechka relocated to France and together with his partner found new strategy to expand the companys opportunities. Currently, the production of paper from leaves is outsourced from Ukraine, and Releaf sells its product in many European countries, having multiple renowned clients among international brands and consumer goods.

By using new technology to solve the problem of plant waste in cities and preventing deforestation, Releaf Paper contributes to both the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 9, industry, innovation and infrastructure, and 12, responsible consumption and production.
Over a span of 10 months, a Welsh couple racked up around $1,400 in unpaid restaurant bills after dining in for expensive meals and dashing when it was time to pay.

They even used their children to further their scheme. A judge sentenced them to prison for fraud, stating that their actions were fueled by pure and utter greed.

The couple was a 41-year-old man named Bernard McDonagh and his 39-year-old wife, Ann, from Port Talbot.

They have six children together. During their dine-and-dash spree, they targeted four restaurants and a Chinese takeout business.

At an Italian restaurant called Bella Ciao in Swansea, they ordered T-bone steaks and double portions of dessert.

After eating, they left without paying the check, which came out to a total of about $410. Additionally, the Golden Fortune Chinese Takeaway lost $124 to the couple.

Another restaurant in Swansea, the River House, claimed that the pair had run up a bill of roughly $338.

To make matters worse, whenever their card was declined for insufficient funds, Bernard and Ann would leave some of their children behind in the restaurant while they supposedly went to retrieve more money.

However, they never came back to pay for the meal, and eventually, the kids would have to run out.

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My theology is squarely orthodox. Now I need fellow Christians to help me work out a sustainable vision of day-to-day life with my children.

Illustration by Elizabeth Kaye / Source Images: Getty / Unsplash

For evangelical parents who hold to the churchs long-standing doctrines on gender and sex, waking up to the reality of LGBTQ children in our homes frequently marks the beginning of a difficult journey.

Often blindsided by the development, many parents feel ill-prepared for the work of discernment required to move forward. They hunger for instruction and understanding. Above all, they yearn for relief from the burdensome fear of getting it wrong as they navigate uncharted waters requiring many choices, day after day, year after year.

This is the context that produces high turnout for events that try to help Christian parents find responses, beyond fight or flight, to their LGBTQ childrenevents like last years Unconditional Conference hosted by the church of influential pastor Andy Stanley.

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The conference was controversial because it featured several speakers who dont hold orthodox evangelical views on sex and gender. To prominent evangelical critics, the whole affair amounted to a clear and tragic departure from Biblical Christianity (Albert Mohler) and a profound failure of pastoral responsibility (Sam Allberry).

Similarly, in a more recent dustup, pastor and author Alistair Begg, who holds to the historical doctrine on marriage, saw his popular radio show dropped by a conservative Christian network. It came to light that hed counseled a woman that she could attend her grandchilds wedding to a transgender person, though she opposed the union on doctrinal grounds. Writing for First Things, theologian Carl Trueman argued that attending such a wedding is itself a doctrinal drift and a very high price tag for avoiding hurting someones feelings. And if Christians still think it worth paying, the future of the Church is bleak indeed.

As an evangelical parent of adult LGBTQ children myself, I followed both controversies with interest. I share some of the detractors concerns, but I also believe that we American evangelicals who hold fast to Christianitys historical doctrines on sex and genderthe traditional or non-affirming position, per current lexical shorthandneed more, not less, conversation about the intensely practical questions of how to be good neighbors to the LGBTQ people in our lives, be they in our homes, workplaces, or congregations.

There are some resources available for Christians in my circumstance, like Allberrys Is God Anti-Gay? and the course for parents from The Center for Faith, Sexuality & Gender. But beyond books or online courses, we need real-life conversations about specific circumstances. Christian parents of LGBTQ kids, like me, thirst for a sustainable vision of day-to-day life with our children. Theres certainly grounds to criticize the vision offered by Stanley and Begg, but simply restating right doctrine, while necessary, isnt alone enough to answer those questions of practice, of how to live with our children.

As parents, were already rooted in the understanding that God created humanity in two distinct forms that we call male and female, and that sexual intimacy is reserved for monogamous marriage between a man and a woman. Our question is how to relate to our children, especially adult children, when they choose lives not rooted in that understanding.

Weve made clear to them what we believe. Now what?

I suspect that much of the reaction to Unconditional and Begg is the result of worry that open consideration of these prudential questions will inevitably result in significant theological drift with dire consequences for the church and for those to whom it ministers. Its a fear amplified by a culture war mentality, which has been present in evangelicalism since the fundamentalist-modernist controversies of the early 20th century. This mentality tends to cast LGBTQ people as our enemies in that fight, enemies to be constantly confronted with statements of truth.

It is good to speak truth, yet adopting a permanently confrontational posture makes it impossible for us to heed the apostle Pauls exhortation to the Roman Christians: So far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all (Rom. 12:18, ESV). And while searching for answers to these practical questions of relationship has, for many, been but a stop on a journey away from orthodoxy, thats not the only possible outcome.

The task at hand is one of correct practice (orthopraxy), which requires discernment, and discernment is a naturally fraught enterprise. What makes it fraught, of course, is our fallibility. For while Gods Word is wholly trustworthy, our application of it may not be. Sometimes we choose to be lenient when we should be firm, or severe when we should be flexible. Regardless of our spiritual diligence and good intentions, theres always a chance we will make the wrong choice. Add to this the sobering awareness that even correct choices can result in pain for those we love, and discernment becomes downright daunting.

But ignoring the reality that discernment is necessary is not an option. The presence of risk does not exempt us from doing the work of loving our neighbors. People need help, and decisions need to be made: Should Christians use preferred pronouns? Should we attend the same-sex weddings of our children or coworkers? Should we allow our adult children in same-sex marriages to sleep in the same bed when they come to visit?

For many of us, these are not mere academic exercises but real situations with real people demanding answers, often without much lead time. These are the circumstances in which we must practice discernment, applying what we know from Gods Word to the best of our ability, with great care and humility. These are the kinds of questions Christian parents like me (and grandparents, as in the case Begg addressed) long to have in-person help answering in conversations with our pastors and friends at church.

Sometimes we will get it wrong. Sometimes, as J. I. Packer put it in his seminal work, Knowing God, a Christian wakes up to the fact that he has missed Gods guidance and taken the wrong way. But even then, the damage is not irrevocable, Packer assured, and God is gracious enough to protect his sheepincluding usfrom our own fallible thinking. Thus, Packer concluded, it appears that the right context for discussing [divine] guidance is one of confidence in the God who will not let us ruin our souls.

Discernment requires hard work, much prayer, biblical reflection, and testing of spirits (1 John 4:16). Doing this in a culture with a rapidly shifting Overton window is incredibly difficult. But having to do so in isolation because fellow orthodox evangelicals are unwilling to talk through the practical questions is even worse.

Victor Clemente is a freelance writer on faith and culture issues. His work has appeared in Christ and Pop Culture and Faithfully Magazine. Find him on X at @The_Wait_Room or Threads at @the_wait_rm.
Update (6/13/24): The Presbyterian Church in America voted not to require background checks on church leaders. Multiple presbyteries had submitted legislation for mandatory background checks on church leaders, and the denomination amended the legislation to say that churches would instead be encouraged to adopt policies for background checks. The assembly approved that amendment by voice vote.

For years, Jimmy G was seen as great guy and a leading member at his local community churchhe was the go-to volunteer for all the ministries others avoided. On most Sunday mornings, you would see him serving alongside his wife in childrens ministry. But then something happened. Jimmy was suddenly arrested for multiple counts of aggravated sexual assaultsome of them involving a minor. Surely, Jimmy was framed, thought everyone who knew him.

But then reports started showing up in local newspapers. This was not the first time Jimmy had been charged with such crimes. This had happened in another state years before, and his mode of operation was the same. It didnt take long for new visitors to stop coming to this churchand as reports kept appearing on the front pages of local newspapers, even the faithful started peeling away from the congregation. The churchs reputation will take decades to recover in that close-knit small town.

I wish this account was fictional, but it isnt. These events took place at a church in a neighboring community when I was a police officer. And although Ive changed his name, the facts of his case, which I was privy to, are as stated. Sadly, this situation is repeated far too often in Christian churches today. During my time in law enforcement, I learned all too well how people with predatory proclivities can camouflage their activities behind church walls. And now, as the executive director of a large PCA church, I am personally aware of pastors immense responsibility to protect their flocks from harm.

Our churches are supposed to be sanctuaries of grace and peace, but the last few years have witnessed an explosion of abuse reports showing this calling routinely violated. This issue extends far beyond the Catholic church and has impacted many well-known evangelical denominations like the Southern Baptist Convention and the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA).

Sadly, no Christian community is immune to the shadows lurking within the human heart, whether these take the form of abuse or its cover-ups. And now that the devastating prevalence of such abuse and its outcomes are more apparent than ever before, we should be ever more vigilant to ensure the safety of every member in our congregations.

Thats why Ive always considered mandatory background checks for all pastors, church officers, staff, and volunteers to be one simple step that congregations can and should take to nurture an environment that is inhospitable to abusive predators who would prey on the trust of our members. Thats also why I have been surprised by the resistance Ive encountered to proposing mandatory background checks for all member congregations in my own denomination.

At last years General Assembly of the PCA, commissioners did not accept an overture to require mandatory background checks but sent it back for further consideration and perfecting. While I dont object to making every effort to be clear when it comes to such matters, I was disappointed by some of the reasons listed for rejecting this initiativeincluding apprehension about government oversight, deterring volunteer retention, and damaging communal trustwhich I will address shortly.

My primary concern is that many well-intentioned leaders may be naive about how common it is for people in their congregations to carry dark secrets which threaten the safety of their church members. My time in law enforcement taught me that abusive individuals, irrespective of their church involvement, often conceal their true selves behind a veneer of respectability and personal piety. In fact, those with nefarious intentions can be even more gifted at weaving false narratives and personas than others.

In her book Predators: Pedophiles, Rapists, and Other Sex Offenders, Anna Salter quotes a convicted child molester as saying, I considered church people easy to fool  they have a trust that comes from being Christians.  They tend to be better folks all around. And they seem to want to believe in the good that exists in all people. And as Kimi Harris wrote in a previous piece for CT, The predators that are statistically likely to be in the pews, volunteering, and even behind the pulpit arent just grooming their victims, they are grooming their community to view them as trustworthy and even as spiritual leaders.

This realization underscores the necessity of informed trust, which must be complemented by proactive measures to safeguard our communities. Yes, we should trust our members; but we should also take steps to validate that trust, especially in those who lead and serve. Naive trust is also incongruent with the witness of Scripture. Given our theological commitments to the doctrine of total depravity, the power of indwelling sin, and our penchant for self-deception, Christians ought to know better than anyone.

As Cornelius Plantinga Jr. wrote, The story of the fall tells us that sin corrupts Like some devastating twister, corruption both explodes and implodes creation, pushing it back toward the formless void from which it came. This pervasive corruption distorts our highest ideals and masks our darkest impulses. Knowing this means we take seriously the possibility that dreadful acts will arise in the most improbable of places and from the least likely persons. In Matthew 7:15, Jesus himself warns about duplicitous individuals in our midst who come to us in sheeps clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves (Matt. 7:15).

Especially as Presbyterians committed to the Westminster Confession of Faith and Catechisms, we believe we are not only born in sin but that every aspect of our humanity is fallen. This is why our polity demands examination of all nominated officer candidates and sets up a system of accountability and appealprecisely because we know that even at our best, we are still sinful. Given our robust doctrine of sin, we rejoice at Gods amazing grace and, at the same time, do everything we can to resist sin and prevent its pervasive presence in people and structures, especially those in our communities.

One commonly cited argument against rigorous vetting processes that I have repeatedly heard is a deep-seated trust in communal bondsalong with the belief that such intimate familiarity breeds transparency.

It is a great gift to have around us those we love and trust, and its understandable why many believe such community bonds would protect them and those they love from predators. Yet we cannot ignore the well-documented fact that violence often erupts at the hands of those closest to a victim. Studies show that 93 percent of juvenile victims of sexual abuse offenses know their perpetrator. And while those in rural areas may wrongly imagine the folks in their familiar circles are implicitly trustworthy, those in large urban centers should know firsthand the uncomfortable truth that proximity doesnt always equal community.

Other critics point out that background checks have limitations and fail to catch those who have managed to avoid legal consequences for previous misdeeds. Given the relentless demands of church ministry, implementing a background check policy can feel daunting, especially when so many wrongdoers seem to slip through the cracks. Why stir up controversy for something that might offer minimal results?

While we can acknowledge that every system has its flaws, dismissing background checks on these grounds is unwise, especially given the statistics. According to RAINN, more than half of all alleged rapists have had at least one prior criminal conviction before they were arrested for rape. Background checks represent a single but vital step in a multilayered defense strategy, serving as a tangible expression of our commitment to protect the church that Christ entrusted to our care.

An especially disappointing argument Ive heard centers on apprehension that requiring background checks invites undue government oversight into private affairs. But the true risk of governmental intervention arises not from taking such precautionary measures but from failing to catch perpetratorswhich can lead to preventable tragedies that would rightfully attract both public and legal engagement.

Others suggest implementing background checks might deter long-standing volunteers from continuing to serve. This can be detrimental especially to smaller congregations who already struggle to attract and retain enough volunteer workers to staff their various ministries.

To be sure, introducing a new policy like this could be uncomfortable for such churches at first. Modern ministry is complex, and adding extra hoops for potential volunteers to jump through can make it more so. Perhaps the sweet grandmother who has been serving in nursery for decades will feel hurt by your request to fill out a background check. She might wonder whether this signals a lack of trust, especially after so many years. Yet this is precisely why it is important for pastors and church leaders to frame this as a universal expectation for everyone on staffincluding themselves.

The vetting policy and process should be framed as a reflection of the entire congregations commitment to cultivating a fearless peace in the church. And this, ultimately, should lead to the recruitment of healthy volunteers who can serve the whole congregation well.

As Proverbs 22:3 reads, The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty. Navigating potential dangers requires adopting a comprehensive approach to safety. This involves not only implementing background checks but also cultivating an environment in which concerns can be voiced without any fear of reprisal and where the signs of potential harm are recognized by trained staff and volunteersand acted upon.

For pastors, the glory of Jesus Christ and the safety of every individual entrusted to our care are held together as our chief concern. Our congregations most vulnerable members hold a central place in our ministry, and we are charged not only with feeding the flock (John 21) but also guarding it (Acts 20:28). Thus, we must joyfully embrace the necessary precautions that, in the end, will help us make sure the church is a safe and healthy place. This is not a sign of fear, but a demonstration of faith in action.

At this years General Assembly, the PCA will consider acting on a new overture to include a policy for mandatory background checks in the Book of Church Order, which some believe to be better formulated than the previous one which was rejected at last years assembly. And once again, as a former police officer and current PCA elder, I believe all churches should require this of their workersstarting with those in my own denomination. This basic step is worthy of our commitment to love and protect the most vulnerable among us as we serve all with the gospel.

Michael Veitz is a former Tennessee police officer, a ruling elder in the PCA, and a parent of three children who serves as the executive director of Spanish River Church in Boca Raton, Florida.
Illustration by Tim McDonagh

Charisma has fallen on hard times in the church. Or at least some of us have become suspicious of it. The cracks have been showing for a while. Nine years ago, long before Oxford University Press crowned rizz (slang for the kind of charisma that inspires romantic attraction) its 2023 word of the year, Rick Warren observed, Charisma has absolutely nothing to do with leadership.

But we all know that it does, dont we?

We like leaders with dynamic personalities. We are drawn to them, in the church and in politics. For good or ill, charisma is a factor. The charismatic leader is a common feature of the origin stories of many Christian (and non-Christian) organizations and denominations. Many movements trace their beginnings to a larger-than-life personality with a great ambition for God whose effectiveness seems to be due as much to personality as to Gods call.

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For example, Scripture says that Saul, Israels first king, was as handsome a young man as could be found anywhere in Israel, and he was a head taller than anyone else (1 Sam. 9:2). The impression made by Sauls physical appearance suggested that he would be an ideal king.

Subsequent experience proved otherwise. When the prophet Samuel looked for Sauls successor among the sons of Jesse, the Lord warned him not to be swayed by such things. The Lord does not look at the things people look at, he said. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart (1 Sam. 16:7).

However, when David was brought before him, 1 Samuel 16:12 notes that he was glowing with health and had a fine appearance and handsome features.

Charisma, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. So there is a cultural dimension to charisma. One reason 1 Samuel emphasized the physical appearance of Saul and David is because the king was also a warrior. People saw the king as a deliverer (1 Sam. 8:1920). Sauls height and Davids health contributed to their prowess in battle and made them seem kingly.

Yet Scripture is clear: Any success they experienced was due to more than their natural gifts. It was ultimately a function of charisma in the truest theological sense. They succeeded because the Holy Spirit came upon them in power (1 Sam. 10:10; 11:6; 16:13).

And then they each sinned very publicly. The similar failures of todays charismatic leaders have made national headlines and become fodder for podcasts and documentaries. Their stories are a blunt reminder that sometimes charisma, like beauty, is only skin deep.

But the familiar trajectory of their story lines also proves that charisma gives a kind of power, whether we want it to or not. Were just not sure what kind. Is it an authority that comes from God? Or merely a work of the flesh?

Charismatic leaders have been present throughout history. But the ideal of the charismatic leader was brought to the forefront by the 20th-century sociologist Max Weber.

Drawing on the biblical idea of leadership as a gift from God (Rom. 12:8), Weber defined charisma as a certain quality of an individual person by virtue of which he is set apart from ordinary men and treated as endowed with supernatural, super-human, or at least specifically exceptional powers or qualities. For Weber, the essence of charisma was a leaders forceful personality that compelled others to follow.

A strong personality, however, was not the only thing that made such leaders charismatic, according to Weber. Charisma is the result of a collection of traits, including sanctity of character. By Webers definition, the combination that makes up charisma is rare.

If a sociological definition of charisma is power through personality, the biblical idea of charisma locates the power elsewhere. Charisma, Scripture suggests, is the power of the Holy Spirit granted by the grace of Christ. This God-given power is displayed through (and sometimes in spite of) personality. In this biblical definition, personality is a medium by which Gods power is displayed, not the source of that power.

In this respect, all leadership is charismatic because leadership is a gift from God (the etymology of charisma denotes a gift from God). Not only is the ability to exercise leadership a gift granted to certain individuals, but the individuals are themselves gifts given to the church (Eph. 4:713).

This spiritual charisma is not for only a handful of people in the church. God gives the Spirit to each one  for the common good (1 Cor. 12:7). The church does have leaders, but its health and success do not depend upon them alone.

The churchs leadersthose who exercise spiritual gifts in its midst as well as those who perform the necessary functions and tasks that enable it to fulfill its missionall contribute to the Holy Spirits charismatic leadership of the church.

The public failure of many dynamic leaders is a reminder of the danger of relying too much on any individualincluding ourselves.

When Moses father-in-law Jethro saw Moses surrounded by the people as he judged their disputes from morning until evening, he quickly saw the folly of such a leadership model. What you are doing is not good, Jethro said.

You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone (Ex. 18:1718). Jethros solution was to disperse the load by sharing the responsibility of judgment with others.

God seems to have confirmed Jethros counsel with a similar dispersal of the Holy Spirit when he took some of the power of the Spirit that was on Moses and placed it on the elders of Israel (Num. 11:17).

Not only did this action anticipate the shared burden of leadership that we find in the New Testament church; it also foreshadowed the broader outpouring of the Spirit on the Day of Pentecost. Not everyone in the church is called to be a leader. But we all have been granted the gift of the indwelling Spirit (Rom. 8:9).

If the power to lead is ultimately traced to the Holy Spirit, what role does personality play? Is it an asset or an encumbrance?

A common view says that the best leadership style is one where personality disappears. As I wrote in Preaching Today, we hear an echo of this reservation in a prayer I have often heard uttered before a sermon. It goes something like this: Let my words be forgotten, so that only what comes from you is remembered. Such prayers mean well but miss the point, not least because it hardly requires an act of God to forget what the preacher says.

In a series of lectures delivered to students at Yale, 19th-century pulpit master Phillips Brooks famously defined preaching as the communication of truth through personality. Brooks understood personality to be something more than personal style. It includes the preachers character, affections, intellect, and moral being. This is a matter of God working through the whole person.

Leadership is mediated the same way. The qualifications for leadership outlined in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1 concentrate on the kind of person being considered more than on the tasks they ought to perform.

Personality matters in leadership. A study of Americas largest churches by Warren Bird and Scott Thumma asserts that, by and large, megachurch pastors are long-time servants of their churchesnot the abusers or criminals recent headlines have trained us to watch for. They keep the churchs focus on spiritual vitality, having a clear purpose, and living out that mission.

The majority of these churches have experienced significant growth through the ministry of a charismatic pastor who served the church for an average of 22 years.

Other research suggests that certain personality factorsthe ability to inspire, assertiveness, and agreeablenessenhance the work of church planting.

God works through the nature of people just as he does through natural processes. He can send bread from heaven but mostly provides food through planting and growing. He can heal instantly through a miracle but more often heals through the ministration of doctors and medicine. Christ has provided the church with gifted personalities who teach, lead, and administrate, and this is the usual way he works.

Yet it cannot be denied that personal charisma can be a liability as well as an asset. One 2018 study has shown that the more charisma leaders possess, the more effective they are perceived to be by their followers. But this is only true to a certain point. The difficulty is in determining how much charisma is too much.

How can leaders know when they have moved from self-confidence to overconfidence? Unfortunately, this seems to be a lesson usually learned through failure.

Charismatic personalities can be egotistical and narcissistic. Yet no church looking for a pastor says to itself, Lets hire a conceited jerk! In the same way, nobody looking for a church thinks, Where can I find an abusive pastor today? We are drawn to narcissistic leaders because they are attractive.

Narcissistic leaders have a presence. They are exciting. They hold out the promise of great things. Many produce impressive results, at least for a while. Churches hoping for a messianic leader can find the narcissistic style that often attends charismatic leadership very appealing. They tolerate abuse, hoping that the pastor will lead them into the promised land of ministry success.

As is true of every codependent relationship, this one is built upon a dysfunctional system of rewards. Congregations enable narcissistic behavior because they get something from the leaders. Perhaps it is the adrenaline rush of a magnified personality expressed through preaching. Often, it is an ability to attract a crowd.

Churches that tolerate abuse from narcissistic leaders often fear that no one else will be able to produce similar results. Or they worry that the pastors departure will hurt attendance. The larger the church, the more difficult it can be to disengage because there seems to be so much at stake. They too often end up developing social systems that reinforce abuse.

Narcissists surround themselves with people who make them feel special. This inner circle experiences a vicarious thrill by being associated with the leader. This association often comes with perks or special treatment, even if that is only access to a perceived celebrity. The result is a codependent loop that blinds those responsible for holding the narcissist accountable, leading them to be complicit in the abuse.

Narcissistic leaders are usually bullies. Such leaders develop organizational cultures marked by fear and punishment. They use the power of their spiritual position to shut down anybody who challenges them. They create a culture that silences objections and penalizes objectors.

There is always a cost to those who challenge narcissistic leaders. Church members who question their agendas or practices are accused of being divisive and undermining Gods plan. In a misapplication of 1 Samuel 26:9 and 11, some warn those who criticize the pastor not to lay a hand on the Lords anointed. Threats and retaliation are explained away as church discipline.

Weber described the process in this way: The people choose a leader in whom they trust. Then the chosen leader says, Now shut up and obey me. This approach sounds uncomfortably like the philosophy of many high-profile church leaders whose strong personalities made them prominent but whose bullying style subsequently brought them into disgrace.

Where, then, should we look to find the ideal leadership personality? This seems like one of those Sunday school questions where the answer is always Jesus. Although the Bible outlines standards of character for church leaders, we do not find a single personality type held up as the ideal, either by narrated example or explicit command.

The Bibles depictions of great (but of course faulty) leaders offer a varied portrait. Moses is not like David, who is not like Paul. One does not get a sense that the Spirit shapes those God uses as leaders into or out of a single personality type. Extroverts, introverts, detailed planners, intuitive responders, dynamic personalities, and retiring types all seem to have a place.

Likewise, Jesus choice of apostles hardly reveals a single apostolic type. Taken together, his disciples seem an unlikely group coming from radically different backgrounds with conflicting values and idealsexcept perhaps for a shared penchant for missing the point. They were fishermen, Zealots, separatists, and collaborators with the Romans. This belies the uniformity we often see in profiles that describe the ideal leadership personality.

Even if there is a common personality profile for charismatic leaders, most leaders in the Bible do not fall into this category.

Consider Paul and Apollos. Today, we know Pauls work much better than Apolloss. But when they were alive, the star power seems to have been on Apolloss side. By all accounts, he had charisma. A native of the great city of Alexandria, Apollos was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures, as well as someone who spoke with great fervor (Acts 18:2425). These traits garnered Apollos a following in the church of Corinth (1 Cor. 3:4).

Paul also had followers in Corinth. But to some there, Pauls charisma was limited to his letters. According to 2 Corinthians 10:10, they complained, His letters are weighty and forceful, but in person he is unimpressive and his speaking amounts to nothing.

Those who are called to the same task may not perform it in the same way. The examples of leaders like Moses, Peter, and Paul indicate that God prepares leaders distinct personalities for the tasks to which they are called. I am convinced that this preparation includes deficits as well as strengths. God calls the foolish, the weak, the brash, and the timid (1 Cor. 1:2629).

Successful leadership depends upon charisma in the larger, biblical sense of the word. It is a gift that God grants through his Spirit. Leadership abilities, as well as the leaders themselves, are given by God today, just as they were in the Bible. They are as varied in their personalities as any of the leaders we read about in the Bible and just as imperfect.

We would probably prefer to have Jesus alone as our leader. We are longing, I think, for a movement whose only impetus comes from the Spirit rather than as a response to someones personality.

Such a thing is certainly possible, but it is not the norm. Most of the time, God works through people. Where there are people, personality is always a factor. The Word who didst not abhor the Virgins womb, as the ancient hymn declares, does not shrink from revealing himself through the personality of his servants.

The spectacular failure of so many high-profile leaders should make us Christians wary of placing too much stock in the personality of any single individual. The church has no room for personality cults. There is only one Messiah for Gods people, and his name is Jesus.

But that should not make us afraid of personality itself. Personality can be distorted by sin, but it is also Gods primary medium for displaying his image in our lives. Personality is not a liability in leadership. It is the face of the soul.

John Koessler is a writer, podcaster, and retired faculty emeritus at Moody Bible Institute. His latest book is When God Is Silent, published by Lexham Press.
Home News SBC President Bart Barber warns against 'toxic' churches that 'empower critics'

Southern Baptist Convention President Bart Barber warned the United States largest Protestant denomination against toxic churches that empower critics rather than buildup struggling believers.

Barber, who was elected in 2022 and then reelected last year, is stepping down as president, as the convention only permits individuals to serve up to two consecutive terms.

In the official presidents address, delivered Tuesday morning, Barber read from Romans 15:1-6, a passage which reads in part that we who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves, adding that Christ did not please Himself, but as it is written, The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.

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Barber explained to those gathered in Indianapolis, Indiana, for the annual meeting that even when we need to deliver to people news that they dont like, we can deliver it to them in a way where they unmistakably know that we love them.

I dont know if we always have that going on in our churches, Barber said. Its not weakness for us to be loving in dispute. It is godliness, it is obedience. Confronting and challenging one another in a prophetic tone is not the only way to sanctify people.

Barber went on to state that churches shouldn't build our brother up by tearing him down, but rather the godly aim that we have is that we should edify brothers in Christ and call them to greater service.

Edification talks with brothers and sisters about the problem, while disobedience talks about them, without seeking to edify them or build them up, he continued.

Barber then warned about how toxic our churches can become when we empower critics who do not want to disciple people. They just want to destroy them; they want to dominate them.

My church and your church [will] be healthier when we can get the people in our church to see their mission as building people up and growing people in the faith that has been delivered to us, he said.

Barber also discussed the importance of unity within the faith, highlighting the tremendous diversity of voices within the SBC and contrasting a supernatural unity with a worldly notion.

People we push out the door and shut it behind them will no longer be influenced by us at all, cautioned the outgoing president. Theres the unity that man achieves by carnal means. Comes by just running off everyone who disagrees.

Theres another kind of unity. Its the unity that the Spirit of God achieves through spiritual means, where you look and see that God has given a gift  its supernatural.

Barber considered the multilingual and multiracial nature of the SBC to be a beautiful thing given to us by God, noting that they can be of one mind while disagreeing on mundane things.

The most important things are the things we agree on, he stated. Starting with our common affirmation that Jesus is Lord."

Our disagreements are largely the mundane relics of our incomplete sanctification, but the things that we agree on, every one of them are supernatural feats, accomplished by our God. They are, far and away, the most important things.

Barbers remarks were part of the SBC's Annual Meeting, the two-day denomination-wide gathering of thousands of Southern Baptists in Indianapolis for churchwide business matters.
Home News Israeli tour guide reveals how Oct. 7 massacre changed her views, talks Israel's tourism decline

EIN GEDI, Israel  An Israeli tour guide highlighted the dramatic drop in the number of tourists she has led through the Holy Land since Hamas Oct. 7 massacre and the ensuing war, a tragedy that the guide says changed her views about the Israeli military and how she believes the country should handle security issues.

Sharon Pelleg has escorted various groups and families through Israel in her 15 years as a tour guide. Before the Oct. 7 attacks, Pelleg said her schedule was booked through the end of 2024. In an interview with The Christian Post, the guide said she typically leads tours around 200 days a year.

I always thought I wanted to do something with extra meaning, not only for myself, Pelleg said about the reason she became a tour guide, noting that she's a people person so it was a natural fit. As a guide, Pelleg added that she's able to share her knowledge and recount stories to those who visit.

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I felt that Im doing something for my country, Pelleg said, listing another reason why she became a guide. And I always wanted to do something for my country.

Since Hamas' attacks, however, Pelleg said she's only spent nine days guiding a tour within the last six months. The rapid decline in the number of tourists visiting Israel is a result of Hamas' attacks, which resulted in the murders of at least 1,200 people and the abduction of over 240 others, followed by Israel's war against the terrorist group in Gaza. Threatening activity from the Iran-backed group Hezbollah and Iran itself may also be a reason for the tourism drop.

Citing data from the Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics, The Jerusalem Post reported in May that some foreign airlines have resumed flights to Israel; however, tourism in the country hasn't fully recovered. According to the data, 206,700 tourists entered the country between January and March, a notable decline compared to the 966,200 tourists who visited during the same time last year.

While the Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics reported that tourist entries went from 68,100 in February to 79,500 in March, this number is significantly lower than the 375,600 tourist entries in March 2023.

Pelleg urged prospective tourists not to fear traveling to Israel, stating that life is basically normal, and most of the dangers are to the North or near the Gaza border. According to the guide, Israelis residing in the center of the country have continued to live their lives with almost no changes.

Dont forget that this is a very stable society, very warm and very protective, and very well-organized, she said. People here live their everyday lives regularly.

On Saturday, the Israel Defense Forces worked in collaboration with the Israel Security Agency and Israel Police to rescue four Israeli hostages from Hamas captivity. The operation resulted in the successful retrieval of hostages Noa Argamani, Almog Meir, Andrei Kozlov and Shlomi Ziv, who were kidnapped by Hamas on Oct. 7 during the Supernova music festival near Reim, Israel.

After the announcement of the hostages rescue, Pelleg recalled that she cried [her] eyes out, but many people in her neighborhood went outside to dance in celebration. She explained that many in Israel have become invested in the hostages stories, particularly Argamani. A video of the young woman on the back of a motorcycle being forcibly taken to Gaza on Oct. 7 had circulated widely on social media.

Prior to Oct. 7, the Israeli tour guide said she believed her countrys military should be a volunteer force similar to the U.S. armed forces. She also thought the country could settle for a smaller military force and rely more on technology instead. After Hamas attacks on Oct. 7, however, Pelleg said she no longer holds those beliefs.

On the morning of Oct. 7, Pelleg recalled driving to Haifa to lead a tour of about 20 people on a cruise ship. She remembered panicking when she first heard the news over the radio, as it was unclear if the Hamas militants would enter Haifa.

After learning that the terror attacks were farther away, Pelleg said she continued her tour, not realizing the immense scale of the attacks. When her tour concluded that afternoon, Pelleg said she received a phone call from her eldest daughter alerting her that the Israeli military was drafting Pellegs 20-year-old son that afternoon. He has since been relieved of his duties and is back home.

It was so difficult, she said. If something happens, you have three officers coming and knocking on your door. So I used to see those three officers knocking on my door every other day in my nightmares.
Home News John MacArthur, Ben Shapiro talk Christian nationalism, Jesus, decline of the American Church

Daily Wire Editor Emeritus Ben Shapiro sat down with Pastor John MacArthur for a Sunday edition of "The Ben Shapiro Show," during which the two discussed issues such as the degradation of American churches, the alleged rise of Christian nationalism, the war on American children and the reason for believing the Gospel.

Here are 5 highlights from their hour-long exchange.

Join @benshapiro and @johnmacarthur as they discuss the decline of religious life and the power of faith.



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Home News Pastor Tony Evans sin confession stuns Christian community, sparks questions and prayers

Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship has declined to elaborate on the stunning decision of its influential leader, Pastor Tony Evans, to temporarily step down from his pastoral duties "due to sin" as followers of his massive public ministry offered prayers while wondering about the nature of the unnamed sin he confessed.

"There will be no one to speak to about that statement. It's true; he announced it at both services [on Sunday], and that's it," a representative of the church told The Christian Post Tuesday.

"The person who's taking over for him is stated in that little paragraph, and that's about it. There will be nothing anyone else will be able to tell you. It's over."

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Evans, 74, confessed in a written statement Sunday that though he did not commit any crimes, he fell short of the biblical standards espoused by his ministry "a number of years ago," suggesting it was "due to sin."

"The foundation of our ministry has always been our commitment to the Word of God as the absolute supreme standard of truth to which we are to conform our lives. When we fall short of that standard due to sin, we are required to repent and restore our relationship with God," Evans stated.

"A number of years ago, I fell short of that standard. I am, therefore, required to apply the same biblical standard of repentance and restoration to myself that I have applied to others. I have shared this with my wife, my children, and our church elders, and they have lovingly placed their arms of grace around me," he added. "While I have committed no crime, I did not use righteous judgment in my actions. In light of this, I am stepping away from my pastoral duties and am submitting to a healing and restoration process established by the elders."

While many people offered prayers for Evans, others like Roy E. Ciampa, Armstrong Chair of Religion and Chair of the Department of Biblical and Religious Studies at Samford University in Alabama, are disappointed with his statement and believe the decision to confess may have been forced.

"This is very disappointing. If this took place years ago. Is he (temporarily) stepping back now, bc he was just recently exposed? In any case, he covered it up for years & he's supposed to be ready for healing & restoration? Consider me skeptical," Ciampa wrote on X.

Michelle Lesley, a Christian blogger and co-host of "A Word Fitly Spoken Podcast," accused Oak Cliff Bible Church's statement of finessing sin.

"When they euphemize in every way possible without naming the sin, it's usually some form of sexual immorality. If you're truly repentant over your sin, you'll confess it, not finesse it," she wrote on X. "I hate that this happened, but he was already not someone to follow."

Evans, who has authored over 100 books, booklets and Bible studies, has been the senior pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship for over 40 years.

He "is one of the country's most respected leaders in evangelical circles," according to his bio on the church's website.

His radio broadcast "The Alternative" is aired in some 130 countries via more than 1,400 radio outlets. He is the first African American to write and publish a full-Bible commentary and study Bible. He is also the first black American to earn a doctorate in Theology from Dallas Theological Seminary.

Evans, who once served as chaplain of the Dallas Cowboys, was also listed as a member of the Dallas Theological Seminary Board.

Seminary officials did not immediately confirm if Evans is still a board member when contacted by CP Tuesday.

Church planter and lead pastor of Hope Church in Georgia, JC Groves, said the news broke his heart and issued a message for church leaders.

"You. No matter who you are. No matter how long you've been in ministry. No matter how big or small the ministry is You are one decision away from stupid," Groves tweeted. "One decision away from ruining it all. Don't be a statistic. Tony Evans news absolutely breaks my heart."

While admitting that he once "fed" on sermons by Evans and doesn't believe him to be a "wolf in sheep's clothing," Christian podcaster Nick Jones raised concern about Evans continuing in ministry for several years knowing that he was "unfit due to sin."

"To some people it doesn't matter. Some people are saying you know what, this whole time he was preaching knowing that he was unfit due to the sin, due to the transgression that he committed. So why was he on stage? That's some people's perspective," he said in a Monday video.

"I don't want to just gossip for no reason, but I am curious if he was trying to get it ahead of something leaking , so he made a statement first because potentially something was going to come out. I don't know.  But it is interesting that that [so] much time went by, and now he's finally saying that he needs to step away," Jones argued.

While Evans may be stepping down temporarily, he will remain active in his Christian Bible teaching and resource ministry, The Urban Alternative. In partnership with Christian travel management company Inspiration Travel, Evans and The Urban Alternative will host a Mexican Riviera Cruise planned for Nov. 9-16, with tickets starting at $1,198 per traveler.

An agent with Inspiration Travel told CP Tuesday that the cruise is still on because The Urban Alternative is a separate entity from Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship. The agent noted that The Urban Alternative also has a contractual obligation to continue with the cruise.
Home News SBC President Bart Barber apologizes for filing legal brief seeking to limit liability for sex abuse

Southern Baptist Convention President Bart Barber admitted Monday that he approved joining a controversial amicus brief filed on behalf of the SBC Executive Committee, the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and Lifeway Christian Resources challenging the validity of new legislation in Kentucky that allows child sex abuse survivors to sue non-perpetrator third parties such as churches and schools retroactively.

Responding to significant negative feedback from SBC Executive Committee members and other SBC leaders, Barber issued a statement shared on his personal blog Praisegod Barebones, in which he, a vocal supporter of the sexual abuse survivor community, said he was only given three hours to decide on whether the SBC should join the brief after the organizations lawyers had recommended it.

This is my doing. I approved it. I take full responsibility for the SBCs having joined this brief, and this lengthy statement will help to explain the mistakes I think I have made, Barber wrote before explaining the circumstances under which he gave his approval to join the brief some 15 months ago on Aug. 9, 2022, shortly after he began his first term as SBC president.

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In the middle of that day, I now know that I received an email from the SBCs legal team making me aware of this brief and recommending that we join it. It came at 1:30 PM, which was during the EC trustee orientation and a little more than two hours before I needed to lead that other meeting. The filing deadline was that day, the email said, so I had a little more than three hours to reply one way or the other, he explained.

I did not give this decision to file this brief the level of consideration that it deserved. Some of the most important information affecting my decision was information I failed to seek. Knowing what I know now, I know that I should have asked more questions. I should have taken the opportunity to request a meeting between the Interim CEO, myself, and our legal counsel to gather more information. I did not have the power to decide then, but I did have the opportunity to advise. I failed to use that opportunity wisely, and I regret that, he said. Our future decisions likewise lie with the SBC Executive Committee. I hope to do a better job of using my voice to influence those decisions going forward.

Barbers statement comes days after survivors of sexual abuse and their advocates in the SBC expressed outrage and accused the denominations leaders of betraying victims they promised to protect after an independent investigation from Guidepost Solutions found the denominations leadership had mishandled sexual abuse allegations, mistreated victims and advocates, engaged in an abusive pattern of intimidation and repeatedly resisted reforms aimed at making their churches safer largely to avoid liability.

In the amicus brief that was filed on April 5, lawyers for the SBC and its affiliated organizations make it clear that they oppose an effort by childhood sexual abuse survivor Samantha Killary to sue a Louisville police officer and the Louisville Metro Police Department under the 2021 Amendments KRS  413 249 seeking to hold the parties accountable for the abuse she suffered.

In 2017, Kentuckys General Assembly passed KRS  413 249, allowing a child sex abuse victim to sue their abuser 10 years after they turn 18, or 10 years after the abuser is convicted. That law was then amended in 2021, to allow it to be applied retroactively to misconduct before 2017. Victims were also allowed to sue non-perpetrator third parties.

Lawyers for the SBC and its affiliates argue in the amicus brief that the 2021 Amendments to KRS  413 249 do not retroactively revive expired claims against non-perpetrator third parties and that dispute is now pending before the Kentucky Supreme Court.

And the SBC and its affiliates make it clear in their brief that they oppose Killarys case because of the liability it will expose them to if the court allows her action to proceed.

Well-known Christian author and professor, Karen Swallow Prior, who most recently wrote, The Evangelical Imagination: How Stories, Images, and Metaphors Created a Culture in Crisis, suggested that Barber fire the lawyers who only gave him three hours to decide on whether the SBC should join the brief.

Maybe fire the lawyers that gave you three hours to make such a momentous decision, she replied to his statement on X.

Billy Grahams grandson and former child abuse prosecutor, Boz Tchividjian, who now helps abuse survivors through his private practice Boz Law, appeared to endorse on X Monday, a recommendation by other survivor advocates, Christa Brown, David Clohessy, and Dave Pittman, that the SBC Executive Committee withdraw the brief and write a new one supporting the Kentucky law in favor of survivors.

Merely withdrawing the brief is not enough. They still would benefit from it because, once filed, a brief cant be unseen. So, if indeed the Executive Committee is remorseful about the brief, then it needs to affirmatively disavow the brief, the advocates wrote in an op-ed for Baptist News Global.

If the SBC, the Executive Committee, the seminary and Lifeway actually care about justice for #SBCtoo survivors, they need to withdraw their brief and substitute a new brief in support of the extension of limitations for child sex abuse survivors to seek justice against both their perpetrators and enabling institutions, they added. That would be something meaningful. Short of that, its all just posturing, grandstanding and window-dressing.

Last Friday, Tchividjian also released a strong statement on X, criticizing the SBC entities as pious clowns for supporting the brief.
Home News Trump tells conservative Christians they're 'going to make a comeback' if he wins 2024 election

Former President Donald Trump told Christian conservatives on Monday that they will "make a comeback like just about no other group" if he wins the 2024 presidential election.

Trump, the presumptive 2024 Republican nominee for president of the United States, delivered a pre-recorded message to the Danbury Institute's Life & Liberty Forum on Monday. The Life & Liberty Forum was one of several events that took place as part of the Southern Baptist Convention's annual meeting in Indianapolis, Indiana.

In his remarks, which lasted almost two minutes, Trump expressed gratitude to the attendees for their "tremendous devotion to God and to country" and their "tremendous support of me."

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"I hope I've earned it because we've done things that nobody thought were possible to have gotten done," he said.

"These are difficult times for our nation and your work is so important," he added. "We can't afford to have anyone sit on the sidelines. Now is the time for us to all pull together and to stand up for our values and for our freedoms."

Trump told the crowd not to vote Democrat because "they're against religion; they're against your religion in particular."

Reiterating that "you cannot vote for Democrats," he insisted that "you have to get out and vote."

"We have to defend religious liberty, free speech, innocent life and the heritage and tradition that built America into the greatest nation in the history of the world," he said. "I know that each of you is protecting those values every day, and I hope we'll be defending them side-by-side for your next four years."

Trump assured Life & Liberty Forum attendees that "these are going to be your years because you're going to make a comeback like just about no other group."

"I'll be with you side-by-side" he said, urging religious leaders "to get their incredible people that love them so much and respect them so much ... out to vote."

The Danbury Institute was launched earlier this year by a coalition of leading churches, Christians and organizations to revive an effectual Christian worldview in a country increasingly sympathetic to the "sexualization of children, abortion on demand, and the infringement of religious liberty."

The organization describes itself as "committed to truth and virtue in a world that validates absurdity as normal and ridicules what 10 years ago was taken for granted." The organization identifies "the practice of abortion" as "the greatest atrocity facing our generation today" and condemns it as an example of "sacrifice on the altar of self."

After the U.S. Supreme Court's overturn of Roe v. Wade in 2022, Trump has faced criticism from pro-life advocacy groups for suggesting that abortion laws should be left to the states and pushed back against the idea of enacting federal laws to restrict abortions to earlier phases of pregnancy.

Many pro-life organizations have condemned Trump's position as inadequate.

In addition to maintaining a steadfast opposition to abortion, the Danbury Institute has slammed the "rampant efforts to 'trans' our youngest generation." The group highlighted its belief that "God is the author of life and that he alone determines gender."

In a speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference in 2023, Trump vowed to "revoke every Biden policy promoting the chemical castration and sexual [mutilation] of our youth and ask Congress to send me a bill prohibiting child sexual mutilation in all 50 states."

The 2024 presidential election is less than five months away. The RealClearPolitics average of polls asking voters who they plan on supporting in the 2024 presidential election, based on surveys taken from May 28-June 9, shows Trump leading Biden by 0.5% in a two-way race.

In a five-way race in which voters have the option to choose between Trump, Biden, independent candidates Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and Cornel West, and presumptive Green Party nominee Jill Stein, Trump's lead grows to 2 points. The RealClearPolitics "no toss-up" map, which forecasts how each candidate will perform in the Electoral College based on polls conducted in each state, shows Trump would win 312 electoral votes while Biden would capture 226 electoral votes if the election were held today.
Home Opinion The art of war and why Republicans must learn it

A popular trend among self-styled conservative pundits is to mock Democrats and left-wingers as stupid, and it isnt difficult to understand why. Every time that Joe Biden invents a new dialect of gibberish, every time that Kamala Harris cackles like a hyena in public, every time that a White House press secretary has to circle back, every time that a Democrat-nominated Supreme Court pick cant answer basic questions about basic biology, its fodder for Fox Newss alternative to The Tonight Show. But for all the outrageous, logic-defying nonsense that Democrats spout, there is one field of study that they have mastered completely: war.

It was once the case that Democrats and Republicans agreed on representing the best interests of the American people but simply disagreed on how best to represent those best interests. Should we raise taxes to provide more services for those who cant afford them otherwise, or should we lower taxes so that those folks can afford those services on their own? Should we regulate this market or that to ensure that companies are trading fairly, or should we trust the public to make their preferences known through the almighty dollar?

This system no longer exists, and if events continue on their current trajectory  unobstructed, unchallenged, and unchanged  then the very America which could even facilitate such a system will be no more than a distant memory relegated to the realm of impossibility. At this juncture in time, there is no common ground, there is no agreement between Democrats and Republicans on representing the best interests of the American people or even on what those best interests are. Now, there is only war, and Republicans are losing. Worse than that, some Republicans seem to be blithely unaware that they are even involved in a war.

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Democrats have captured and weaponized nearly every single American institution of any significance or consequence. Schools catechize children in LGBTism and secretly transgenderify kids, the FBI targets American Catholics and concerned parents as potential domestic terrorists, and the Democrats chief political opponent has been convicted in a sham trial that would have made even a Soviets jaw drop. What few institutions the Democrats dont completely control are ignored, undermined, and targeted for either retribution or annihilation. The Democratic president openly defies the orders of the Supreme Court while his dogs in corporate media smear the credibility of its most conservative justices. Immigration law is blatantly and repeatedly flouted, leaving the nations borders in a dangerous shamble. The lawful impeachment of Democratic officials is summarily dismissed by the Partys operatives in the Senate.

While Democrats have spent the past several decades infiltrating and slowly capturing and weaponizing everything they could get their hands on, too many Republicans spent that time poring over polling data, looking for consensus and political viability. In other words, Democrats were preparing for war while innumerable naive Republicans were working on marketing campaigns. Unfortunately, there is still a wing of the Republican Party where this apparent blissful unawareness of the raging conflict over Americas soul is the norm.

Just last week, Democrats brutalized the American justice system in a punitive effort to imprison their chief political opponent, Donald Trump. The trial was a sham from the start. A Democratic prosecutor brought misdemeanor charges  that other prosecutors had already decided amounted to nothing  and elevated them to felony charges on the claim that Trump had committed another crime he has never been convicted of. The trial was conducted in a heavily-Democratic venue with a Democrat presiding as judge who devised a novel set of jury instructions  all to keep a political candidate off the campaign trail and put him in prison. Trump now faces a potential maximum of 20 years in prison.

The Trump conviction galvanized Republican voters. Countless conservatives who had expressed doubts about voting for Trump in 2024 now donned MAGA hats, tens of millions of dollars in campaign donations started rolling in, and polling shows that Republican voters are even more likely to back Trump after his conviction. But the naked abuse of the justice system didnt galvanize Republican officials on the same scale. Some were bold enough to pledge to stand up to the Democratic Partys Soviet-style political pogrom, defiantly pledging not to aid and abet this White House in its project to tear this country apart. But some seemingly just shrugged and went back to business as usual.

On Tuesday, for example, seven Republican senators voted with Democrats to confirm a Biden appointee to a federal court. Democrats had all the votes that they needed, no Republican vote was necessary. But instead, seven Republicans  after having witnessed Biden and his Democratic Party cronies subvert, abuse, and weaponize the courts and the justice system in a clear attempt to imprison the presumptive Republican presidential nominee  after having witnessed the Democrats attack and castigate the Supreme Court, the highest court in the land, for years  even after all that, these seven Republicans still felt the need to turn their back on their own party, cross the aisle, and give their seal of approval to a Biden judicial pick.

Democrats arent stupid, but it seems that some Republicans might be. Up until recently, Republicans simply have not understood war. An entire swath of elected Republicans are still under the impression that theyre in high school debate club, that the teacher may stand up any minute now and remind the other team to play by the rules. There are no rules anymore. The prolific William F. Buckley, Jr. once offered his definition of what a conservative is: A conservative is someone who stands athwart history, yelling Stop, at a time when no one is inclined to do so, or to have much patience with those who so urge it. Years ago, Republicans took this definition to heart, resulting in page after page of strongly-worded letters, thousands of tweets, and a nearly-unlimited supply of instances of Republicans crying out, Hypocrisy!

Democrats decided years ago that policy is war: anything that can be fashioned into a weapon will be, and no quarter will be given. Republicans must understand that Democrats do not value bipartisanship, they do not value a Republican senators seal of approval, they do not seek common ground  they eviscerated common ground with a scalpel and sucked up its body parts with a vacuum and now sell its organs on the black market. Democrats seek complete and total dominance. Not a compromise, not a coalition, not a peaceful transition of power, not a treaty, not a return to normalcy, only complete and total social, cultural, financial, political, and even spiritual dominance.

It is necessary now for Republicans to, in the words of William Shakespeare, imitate the action of the tiger; Stiffen the sinews, summon up the blood, Disguise fair nature with hard-favourd rage The blast of war has blown in our ears, and all the compromises in the world will not appease the appetites of Hell, the very appetites fueling the abortion industry, Pride Month and the LGBT agenda, institutionalized child-grooming, and the opening of Americas borders to criminal cartels and millions of unidentified individuals with unknown motives. The majority of Democrats have made the wanton butchering of unborn children the central tenet of their scheme for the nation, they celebrate the sin of sodomy and tell its practitioners that they and their worth are defined by their aberrant sex acts, they condone ripping childrens groins to shreds and call the whole grisly affair lifesaving.

One of the chief reasons, of course, that Trump has been targeted is that he taught Republicans the art of war in a way they had forgotten decades prior. Republicans had been sending their finest debaters and orators to Washington, D.C. for years; Trump came as a pugilist, wearing a pair of rhetorical brass knuckles. Others have had the courage to follow his lead. A new generation of Republicans  both in office and on the ground  have learned that the nation is devoured by war and have determined not to debate, not to discuss, not to compromise, but to fight for the heart and soul of America. Men like Steve Bannon and Peter Navarro had the gall to stand for the American people and are now being sent to prison for their courage. Senators like Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) have the temerity to put Americas interests above their own and are slandered for it.

History, the legendary Winston Churchill once theorized, will be written by the victors. How will this chapter of Americas history be written? Will Trump be vilified as a traitor and a convicted felon, or will he be remembered as a man who put even his freedom on the line for the American people? Will the Democrats be remembered as champions of democracy, or will they go down in history alongside the NKVD and KGB? To determine the answer to these questions, Republican officials must decide whether or not they are willing to fight for the Americans they represent and the principles upon which this nation was founded. And Republican voters must decide who they want representing them  principled pugilists or the authors of strongly-worded letters?

The present chapter of Americas history will be written by those with the will to fight, those with the courage and conviction not to back down in the face of corruption and political persecution. Such men and women are out there, such men and women are even now fighting that fight. The only question is whether the American people will stand behind them as they, like the Bard, cry, Once more unto the breach! or whether the American people will be placated by strongly-worded letters.

Originally published at The Washington Stand.
Home Opinion What exactly is progressive justification?

A Bible verse that is regularly misinterpreted is Philippians 2:12: Continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling. Some religious leaders point to this passage to promote the false doctrine of progressive justification, even though the Apostle Paul clearly addressed this directive to all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi (1:1). In other words, it was sent to those who had already been justified by grace through faith in Christ.

So, what exactly is progressive justification? It is the erroneous idea that a Christian's justification is an ongoing process and not complete at the moment of conversion. The fact of the matter is that a believer is justified, forgiven, born again, redeemed, and saved on the front end of his or her relationship with God.

Spiritual conversion is comparable to physical birth (see John 3:3-8). You only have one birthday rather than several birthdays. Likewise, once you are justified and born again, you don't get converted over and over again.

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Justification is like a concrete foundation for a house. No one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 3:11). Sanctification is like a house built upon a solid foundation. Justification occurs at conversion and is instantaneous, whereas sanctification involves the lifelong spiritual growth of a believer.

Paul wrote, Since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand (Romans 5:1-2). For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith  and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast (Ephesians 2:8-9). Notice that justified and saved are in the past tense. Paul then immediately addresses sanctification: For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do (Ephesians 2:10).

Good works have never saved a single soul. The thing that saves the believer is the work Jesus completed by His death on the cross. When you place your faith in Christ's finished work, you are instantly justified and forgiven. In Christ we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace (Ephesians 1:7). The Bible states that we have redemption. Salvation is not something we work to achieve or earn. Such a feat is impossible. After all, If righteousness could be gained through the Law, Christ died for nothing (Galatians 2:21).

Think of working out your salvation this way. Those who are alive are able to work out at the gym. Dead people obviously do not work out. Likewise, you can only work out your salvation if you are spiritually alive. God's Word instructs believers to do everything in love (1 Corinthians 16:14). We work out our salvation by obeying God's commands and turning away from sin. For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say No to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age (Titus 2:11-12).

We work out our salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12) as we serve the Lord with deep respect and profound reverence. Pastor A.W. Tozer (1897-1963) wrote, When men no longer fear God, they transgress His laws without hesitation. The fear of consequences is no deterrent when the fear of God is gone.

The Apostle Peter wrote, Since you call on a Father who judges each man's work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear (1 Peter 1:17). Oswald Chambers (1874-1917) was a Scottish evangelist and teacher. He wrote, The remarkable thing about God is that when you fear God, you fear nothing else, whereas if you do not fear God, you fear everything else.

The bottom line is that followers of Christ sincerely want to live for the Lord. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit (Galatians 5:24-25). Keeping in step with the Holy Spirit is how we work out our salvation.

Justification occurs the moment you are born again, whereas your Christian life of sanctification is progressive. Believers are a work in progress. If you mingle justification and sanctification, you undermine the Gospel. This serious problem developed among the churches in Galatia 2,000 years ago. Paul reminded them that all who rely on observing the Law are under a curse (Galatians 3:10). You who are trying to be justified by Law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace (Galatians 5:4).

There is no such thing as growth or progress in justification, as I addressed in my CP op-ed, Assessing 'Growth in Justification' with Bishop Robert Barron. A man is not justified by observing the Law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the Law, because by observing the Law no one will be justified (Galatians 2:16).

First, you are justified and saved, and then you begin to work out your salvation as a forgiven child of God.

If you are a believer, then you are a saint, just like those Christians Paul wrote to at Philippi. And a holy fear of the Lord is definitely compatible with the assurance of your salvation. Our citizenship is in Heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ (Philippians 3:20). In His great mercy God has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade  kept in Heaven for you (1 Peter 1:3-4).

Followers of Christ have been justified (past tense) through faith in Jesus and are now in the process of being sanctified and made new in the attitude of your minds (Ephesians 4:23). Thankfully, holy attitudes lead to holy living as Christians work out their salvation by the grace of God.
A prayerful response to pride month

It's June, and that means that everywhere you turn, you'll be confronted with LGBTQ+ flags and banners and memes and displays.

But rather than get frustrated by this constant, in your face display, let's turn it into a call for prayer.

That's why I posted on June 3, "Every time you see a Pride flag or display this month, let it be a reminder to pray for the mercy of God to touch all those who identify as LGBTQ+ and for them to experience the same repentance and forgiveness and transformation that you have received as a follower of Jesus."

Prayer is our greatest spiritual weapon and the most powerful expression of our love. Prayer prevails. As S. D. Gordon said, "Prayer is striking the winning blow. Service is gathering up the results."

It was praying Christians who helped bring me into God's family when I was a 16-year-old, rebellious, proud, heroin-shooting, LSD-using, Jewish, hippie rock drummer.

It was their prayers that brought the conviction of the Spirit into my life, revealing the depths of my sin (I actually thought I was a good person!). And it was their prayers that helped open my eyes to the truth of the Gospel.

God truly answers prayer!

Think back to the early Church.

Saul of Tarsus, a religious Jewish man, was violently persecuting Jewish believers in Yeshua (Jesus). Then he had a radical, life-changing encounter with the risen Savior. Christians worldwide know him as the apostle Paul, writer of almost half of the New Testament books.

What brought about his radical transformation?

The Lord's words in the Sermon on the Mount provide a key:

"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous." (Matthew 5:43-45)

This is how we respond. This is how we fight back.

We overcome evil with good.

We overcome hatred with love.

We overcome lies with truth.

We overcome the power of the flesh with the power of the Spirit.

And rather than engage in a mudslinging battle with our enemies, or, God forbid, a violent response to violence, we love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. (I'm not saying that we don't get involved politically or that, if an invading army attacks us we don't fight back. I'm focusing here on spiritual principles in dealing with our ideological adversaries.)

Surely that's what these early believers did with their arch nemesis Saul, of whom Acts records that he approved of the killing of the Messianic Jew Stephen (Acts 8:1). Acts also states that, "Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison." (Acts 8:3)

Surely Saul became a chief target of their prayers, and surely, as God heard their cries, He answered dramatically. As Saul/Paul later wrote,

"Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. . . . But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life." (1 Timothy 1:13-14, 16)

I encourage you to take the time to watch an amazing documentary produced by American Family Studios titled In His Image. (Trust me on this. You will be really blessed when you watch.)

I had the privilege of hosting this powerful film, which not only features great, practical, theological discussion on the meaning of male and female and of God's plan for humanity. It also features powerful testimonies from ex-gays and ex-trans individuals, two of whom had trans-related surgeries in the past.

That's how committed they were to transitioning, and that's how radically God intervened in their lives.

I would especially draw your attention to the story of Laura Beth Perry (now happily married, and officially Laura Perry Smalts), since prayer played a major role in her own salvation and transformation, as you'll see when you watch In His Image.

Let this also be an encouragement to every family member, friend, and loved one of someone who identifies as somewhere on the LGBTQ+ spectrum. As you continue to show them Christlike love and kindness, never forget the power of prayer.

We really do serve a prayer answering God, and while He will not infringe on our freedom of choice, He really does know how to change hearts and minds.

So, every time you see that Pride flag or a Pride meme, use it as a reminder to pray for an outpouring of God's transforming, saving mercy on all those who fly under that hijacked rainbow.

It is time for a wonderful harvest of souls!

May the churches be ready to receive them with love and truth.
Christianity 'under attack' in the UK - report

Christianity is being "marginalised" in the UK and those who profess the Christian faith are "regarded with contempt", a new report has warned.

Christians whose beliefs contradict the prevailing LGBT ideology are "most likely to be attacked", says Voice for Justice UK (VfJ), which compiled the report.

The report draws on responses to a VfJ's survey from 1,562 UK Christians about their experiences of intolerance or discrimination in the UK.

Only around half of respondents (53%) said they felt free to say what they think about social issues, falling to 38% of under-35s.

Over half (56%) reported experiencing hostility or ridicule for discussing their religious beliefs, rising to 61% among under-35s.

Over three quarters (78%) did not feel that religious discrimination was treated as seriously as other forms of discrimination.

"Often respondents felt that discrimination against other religions was given attention; what was ignored was discrimination against the Christian faith," the report said.

"This was seen recently in the calendar which the National Trust produced for its volunteers. Eid, Ramadan, Diwali, even LGBT+ history month were included. But Christmas and Easter were not.

"Many of our respondents had noticed that efforts were made to accommodate the beliefs of people from other religious backgrounds and avoid offending them, while the same consideration was not given to those of Christian faith."

Despite this, most Christians (78%) were comfortable talking about their faith and beliefs, although a quarter said they felt the need to hide them at work, rising to a third among under-35s.

Half of all respondents said there were negative stereotypes about people of faith in their place of work or study.

A young Catholic student described being "ostracised" by most of his university friends for holding pro-life views.

"When they found out they began to question 'whether it was moral to stay friends with me' and a lot of them decided against it," he said.

One respondent described "a lot of sneering and mockery" when they worked for a local council, while another former local authority worker said their council was "very LGBT supportive but had no support for alternative positions".

A former NHS worker said that "as a Christian I would often be ignored (shunned) or ridiculed for my beliefs" in the workplace, and another respondent described "a measured push from the hierarchy to promote LGBT issues".

The report said, "While there should be no hierarchy in the list of protected characteristics, this appears to be contradicted by the reality. It appears that there is a hierarchy of protected characteristics, with all things LGBT+ at the top and ethnicity slightly below that."

Nick Fletcher MP said: "Christianity is the cornerstone for so many of the values we take for granted. If it were not for Christianity our tolerance, our diversity, freedom of conscience and love for our neighbour would become a thing of the past.

"This report needs to be circulated widely among those working in human resources, those responsible for education, as well as employers, Church leaders, civil servants and those responsible for policy making.

"We all need to wake up to the attack on Christianity in our society, before it turns into something even more sinister. This report is a vital step in sounding the alarm."

Lynda Rose, VfJ director, said the findings made for "alarming reading".

"Christianity lies at the foundation of British society, underpinning our tolerance and acceptance of diversity. But our survey shows Christians in the UK, both in the workplace and socially, are increasingly subjected to discrimination and marginalisation," she said.

"Society has fallen victim to an ideology actively hostile to Christianity. This is a contravention of our law. If we want to safeguard our tolerance and freedom then we need to protect Christianity itself."

The report was compiled in response to research by the Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination Against Christians which ranked the UK among the top five worst countries in Europe for anti-Christian hate crime.

Last month, the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) chided several European governments that had "targeted individuals for their peaceful religious expression", including the UK over the treatment of pro-life volunteer Isabel Vaughan-Spruce who has been charged several times for praying silently near abortion clinics.
Tony Evans steps away from ministry over past sin

Tony Evans has announced he is stepping away from ministry for a time of "spiritual healing and restoration" after saying he had previously fallen short of the standards expected of a pastor.

The 74 year old did not go into specifics but suggested it was "due to sin" and said that his family and church elders had been informed.

Evans, who pastors Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas, Texas, said that although his conduct had not been criminal, it did not reflect "righteous judgment".

He will now undergo a process of "healing and restoration" under the guidance of church elders.

"The foundation of our ministry has always been our commitment to the Word of God as the absolute supreme standard of truth to which we are to conform our lives. When we fall short of that standard due to sin, we are required to repent and restore our relationship with God," he said.

"A number of years ago, I fell short of that standard. I am, therefore, required to apply the same biblical standard of repentance and restoration to myself that I have applied to others. I have shared this with my wife, my children, and our church elders, and they have lovingly placed their arms of grace around me.

"While I have committed no crime, I did not use righteous judgment in my actions. In light of this, I am stepping away from my pastoral duties and am submitting to a healing and restoration process established by the elders. This will afford me a needed time of spiritual recovery and healing."

A statement from the church elders said it was "obligated to govern the church in accordance with the scriptures" and that the decision to step away from pastoral duties had been made "after tremendous prayer" and "multiple" meetings with Dr Evans.

"Dr Evans and the elders agree that when any elder or pastor falls short of the high standards of scripture, the elders are responsible for providing accountability and maintaining integrity in the church," the elders said.

"We serve a God that is merciful to forgive and gracious to restore. In the days ahead, Pastor Bobby Gibson and the elders will provide more information regarding interim leadership and the next steps for the future of our church."

Evans has pastored Oak Cliff for 48 years. He told the congregation that while he is working on his spiritual recovery, "I will be a worshipper like you."

He concluded his announcement, "I have never loved you more than I love you right now, and I'm trusting God to walk me through this valley. Thank you for your love, prayers, support, and forgiveness as I continue my spiritual healing journey. As we walk this journey together, keep your eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith."
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Metro Bank has announced a new small charge that will apply to large cash exchanges made by some account holders including charities, Civil Society has learned.

From 1 October, Metro Bank is introducing a new cash exchange charge for five types of accounts, including its community current account which is used by UK-based clubs, societies and charities with an income of up to 250,000.

In a letter to customers, Metro Bank said the charge will apply when you exchange cash over the till at one of our stores and is 1% of the value exchanged.

This is already a part of your account tariff, but we havent charged it previously, it wrote.

A Metro Bank spokesperson told Civil Society that the charge will only apply to transactions that are greater than 10,000 during a month.

Community accounts will still get up to 10,000 of cash transactions  be that deposit, withdrawal or exchange  free each month, they said.

Over and above this free monthly limit we will be starting to apply a charge from October this year.

CFG: Relatively modest fee increases can negatively impact financial security

Clare Mills, deputy chief executive at Charity Finance Group (CFG), said: Unexpected increases in fees and charges can leave some charities and volunteer-led organisations on the back foot when it comes to managing their finances.

Small charities in particular have found financial stability and planning more difficult during the cost-of-living crisis.

Sometimes even relatively modest fee increases can negatively impact financial security, particularly if income generation is already a challenge.

Mills added that CFG was working with other sector bodies, a group of high street banks and trade association UK Finance to improve the retail banking sectors understanding of how charities operate and the challenges they face.

Well soon be sharing the results of our banking survey, conducted in partnership with NCVO, she said.

We will use the surveys data to progress our discussions with the banks and shine a light on charities experiences of modern banking services.

We anticipate that this work will help banks to consider the needs of charities and community groups when developing and changing their services.

Banking services are absolutely vital if charities are to manage their funds effectively for the benefit of the people and communities they serve.

sign up to receive the free Civil Society daily news bulletin here . For more news, interviews, opinion and analysis about charities and the voluntary sector,
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On July 14, 2017, outside a holy site known to Muslims as Al-Aqsa Mosque and to Jews as the Temple Mount, three Palestinian citizens of Israel opened fire on two Israeli officers, killing them both. For years, Israel had imposed visitor restrictions on the area; after the shooting, in anticipation of mass demonstrations, police announced that Muslim men under the age of fifty would not be allowed at the compound. Palestinians arrived in protest; at least five were killed by Israeli forces. Al Jazeera covered the story. Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister of Israel, condemned the reporting, claiming that it incited violence; he called on law enforcement agencies to shut the network down. Ayoub Kara, who was communications minister at the time, announced a list of actions intended to banish Al Jazeera from the country. But putting the plan into effect required approval from the Knesset, the countrys parliamentary body, as well as the attorney general and the ministry of defense. At the time, the effort failed to gain traction.

Netanyahu has now gotten his wish: In April, the Knesset passed emergency legislation allowing the government to shut down foreign broadcasters who are believed to threaten national security. In May, Netanyahus cabinet voted unanimously to enforce what became known as the Al Jazeera law, halting the networks operations in Israel. This week, the ban was extended. No single offending article or TV segment toppled Al Jazeera, though Netanyahu called it Hamass mouthpiece. (Israeli lawmakers have used that epithet, or similar, in referring to critical coverage elsewhere, too; Itamar Ben-Gvir, a member of Netanyahus cabinet, has referred to Haaretzan Israeli paperas the Hamas daily.) In a hearing ahead of the ouster, Israeli officials argued that Al Jazeera had used reporters to learn of Israeli military preparations and weaknesses in the field; as evidence, the officials shared a video from Al Jazeeras Arabic-language channel, The Israeli Merkava tankHow does it work and how can it be destroyed? Netanyahu claimed that Al Jazeera personnel were guilty of actively participating in the October 7 massacre and inciting against the soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces.

Hours after the cabinets vote in May, Israeli police raided rooms at Jerusalems Ambassador Hotel, where Al Jazeera kept offices, and seized equipment; the broadcast was taken off air. As a wartime measure, the foreign-broadcaster law is temporary; the expulsion was initially set for thirty-five days, and renewed for another forty-five. The Association for Civil Rights in Israel has petitioned against the legislation; Haaretz reported that, at a hearing last week, Justice Yitzhak Amit, the head of a three-judge panel, said there is no doubt that there is a violation of freedom of expression here. That would include, another justice argued, the right of the people of this country to be exposed to all types of materials. Al Jazeera has been accused by other governments of platforming extremists and has been banished from Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emiratesbut its extended ban from Israel, which the network plans to appeal, may have come to many as a disappointment. It should not have been a surprise, however, according to Amit Schejter, a professor of communication studies at Ben-Gurion University, Beersheba. Netanyahu has no respect for freedom of the press, he told me.

Since October 7, Al Jazeeraone of the few international outlets with reporters on the ground in Gazahas broadcast unfiltered images of war: dead children, strewn body parts, mothers crying, bombed universities, dilapidated hospitals, smashed aid trucks. Al Jazeera was one of the first outlets to report that Israel had attacked a refugee camp in Rafah and to challenge the Israeli government after the accidental death of volunteers with World Central Kitchen. If civilians are being killed by tens of thousands and you show it, thats because civilians are being killed by tens of thousands, Abderrahim Foukara, Al Jazeeras Washington DC bureau chief, told me. The coverage takes pains to give equal consideration to Palestinians and Israelis. In an investigation into the events of October 7, Al Jazeera gave significant airtime to defense and security expertsincluding those from Israel, who suggested that Netanyahus government had ample evidence of an incoming Hamas attack and did not take it seriously enough.

For Foukara, the ejection comes with a sense of tragic irony: In 1996, when Al Jazeera debuted, in Doha, Qatar, the network broke a political and economic boycott of Arab nations against Israel by platforming Israeli politicians and perspectivesgiving the enemy airtime. Al Jazeeras Arab audience accused the network of being agents of the Mossad or the CIA. It is in a similar vein, Foukara believes, that Israel now claims the network abets Hamas by including interviews with Hamas leaders. Weve heard it here in the US about Al Jazeera, during the coverage of the US invasion of Afghanistan, he said. We heard it during the invasion of Iraq in 2003. Weve heard it from the US government about various US outletslike the New York Times, for example, when they published things that the US government did not want out in the open. Other outlets have covered the murderous assault on Gazabut perhaps none so well-sourced among Palestinians on the ground, nor headquartered in an Arab country.

In the years since Netanyahu first attempted to oust Al Jazeera, there have been other, sometimes violent, attacks: In 2021, Israel bombed a building in Gaza that housed offices of Al Jazeera and the Associated Press, claiming the site hosted Hamas military assets. (Israeli officials provided no evidence to support that claim.) Journalists received an hours notice to vacate; there were no casualties. In 2022, Shireen Abu Akleha prominent Palestinian American journalist who worked as a reporter for Al Jazeera for twenty-five yearswas killed by Israeli forces while covering a raid on a refugee camp in the West Bank; she was wearing a press vest at the time, and reports suggest that the shooting was targeted. The Committee to Protect Journalists called Abu Aklehs demise part of a deadly, decades-long patternsome twenty members of the press had been killed by Israeli officers in about as many years, the vast majority of them Palestinian. No one has ever been charged or held accountable for these deaths, CPJ observed.

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Various theories have circulated as to why Netanyahu removed Al Jazeera at last: that its part of an attempt to gain leverage over Qatar, which has been negotiating a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas; that he aims to anger the Qatari royal family and force them from the negotiating tablea scheme that would serve to prolong the war and, ultimately, undermine the release of hostages. Schejter instead sees Netanyahus move as a reflection of internal political rivalries within the Israeli government. Until recently, the power to censor foreign networks based on national security belonged to Yoav Gallant, the minister of defense and a political rival to Netanyahu. The new legislation moved oversight to Shlomo Karhi, the communications minister and a Netanyahu ally.

In many ways, the ban is symbolicAl Jazeeras team has been booted from Israel, but Foukara told me that reporters remain in Gaza, filing stories to the website and via the networks subscription broadcast; Israelis with private satellite providers or VPNs can still access that coverage. It does not affect world peace, its not going to make the war worse, Schejter said. It has nevertheless been widely disruptive: at one point, Israeli officials confiscated broadcast equipment belonging to the AP, claiming that it was used to provide images to Al Jazeera. (The AP confirmed that the equipment has since been returned.)

More troubling is the threat to the physical safety of Al Jazeeras journalists, who the network suspects have been targeted by Israel since the fall. In recent months, Al Jazeera has reported that Samer AbuDaqa, a cameraman, and the journalists Moustafa Thuraya and Hamza al-Dahdouh were killed in military attacks, along with other family members. Hamza al-Dahdouh was the son of Wael al-Dahdouh, Al Jazeeras Gaza bureau chief, who said in the aftermath, They are taking revenge on us by killing our childrenbut that will not stop us. The house of Anas Al-Sharif, an Al Jazeera Arabic correspondent, was bombed; his father was killed. Al Jazeera reported that twenty-two family members of Momin Al Sharaf, a Gaza correspondent, were killed while seeking refuge in a camp, and that Hazem Rejab, a reporter, Ahmed Matar, a photojournalist, and Ismail Abu Omarall Al Jazeera Arabic correspondentswere severely injured. Abu Omars leg was amputated.

These cannot be all accidents, Ihtisham Hibatullah, a spokesperson for Al Jazeera, said. (An Israeli spokesperson declined to comment.) Al Jazeera staff and their family members are among many others in the press facing impossible pressure in their coverage of Gazamore than a hundred have been killed. And yet, as Foukara told me, At the end of the day, you have to do what you have to do as a journalist.

Editors Note: This article has been updated to clarify the practical limitations on Al Jazeeras team.



Other notable stories:

For CJRs new Election Issue, Maddy Crowell reports on how, after far-right outlets upended the media landscape around the 2016 election, new liberal ventures are claiming turf of their own online. Recent years have seen the emergence of an orchestra of new left-leaning digital venturesdifferent from one another in approach, but all claiming to have arisen out of a shared discontent: with the country facing the prospect of a second Trump presidency, something about the traditional mechanisms for delivering information to the American electorate was broken, Crowell writes. With one exception, all were established by Democratic strategists, who were perhaps in a special position to appreciate the failures of the mainstream press.

Last week, Antonio Guterres, the secretary-general of the United Nations, urged governments to ban fossil fuel advertisements and media companies to stop running them; many in the fossil-fuel industry have shamelessly greenwashed, even as they have sought to delay climate action, he said. Following Guterress remarks, Dharna Noor of The Guardianwhich, alongside several other news outlets, has stopped running fossil fuel adsasked eleven major news organizations and tech firms that still run such ads for their reaction. The vast majority, Noor reports, did not respond.

Recently, we wrote in this newsletter about Guillaume Meurice, a satirist on French public radio who was suspended after repeating a joke that hed previously made on air calling Netanyahu a sort of Nazi but without a foreskin; Meurice had just been cleared in a legal complaint, and called the comment my first joke authorized by French law. Colleagues went on strike in solidarity with Meurice, calling his suspension a threat to free expression, but he has now been fired. Le Monde has more details (in French).

And, after the liberal pundit Jon Lovett returned from filming the latest season of Survivor, his cohosts on Pod Save America gave him a news quiz to catch him up on what he missed while he was away. Lovett was unsurprised by a New York Times story on a parasite eating part of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s brain, but couldnt seem to believe the Alito flags story. What are you talking about? Lovett exclaimed. Its my wifes flag?

New from CJR: In 2016, far-right outlets upended the media. Now a new brand of liberal ventures is claiming turf online.

Ayodeji Rotinwa was a CJR fellow. He is now Africa editor at openDemocracy.
In early March of this year, the Securities and Exchange Commission adopted rules targeted at enhancing and standardizing climate-related disclosures by public companies and in public offerings.

The new rules mandate the inclusion of climate risk disclosures in a companys SEC filings, including annual reports and registration statements, to increase transparency for investors concerned about climate-related impacts.

The common practice of listing climate risks on the companys website will no longer suffice. In pertinent part, the SEC rules require companies to disclose climate-related risks that have had or are reasonably likely to have a material impact on the companys business strategy, operations, or financial condition; activities to mitigate or adapt to such risks; and managements role in managing material climate-related risks.

Accordingly, directors and officers whose companies fail to comply with applicable environmental regulations or fail to consider climate risks may face personal liability for related financial losses.

In light of these increased disclosure obligations, directors and officers insurance may provide coverage for losses arising from climate-related claims, including defense costs and attorneys fees to respond to SEC investigations and civil cases. Whether the D&O insurer covers such a claim depends on the policys wording, the facts surrounding the climate risk disclosed, the underlying theory of recovery and applicable law.

ESG Investing, Climate Risks and the SECs Response

Environmental, social and governance, or ESG, are the three main factors used to holistically analyze an organizations non-financial risks. While investment decisions have traditionally been based on a companys financial metrics, there has been a rise in ESG-related investments, evidencing the importance of certain non-financial metrics to shareholders and as a driver for directors and officers business decisions.

In a 2023 Directors and Officers Liability Survey, 42% of respondents ranked climate change as the most significant environmental risk for their organization. This is consistent with the rise in government regulations aimed at promoting transparency with respect to climate and sustainability disclosures, including the SECs new disclosure rules.

In 2021, the SEC launched its Climate and ESG Task Force in the Division of Enforcement, with the goal of identifying any material gaps or misstatements in issuers disclosure of climate risks under existing rules as [c]limate risks and sustainability are critical issues for the investing public and our capital markets. As a result of the ESG Task Forces efforts, the SEC targeted several companies and brought claims for potential misstatements regarding climate risks and failure to disclose. For example, in 2022 the SEC charged Vale S.A, a Brazilian mining company with making false and misleading claims about the safety of its dams. In 2019, Vale S.A.s Brumadinho dam collapsed, killing 270 people, causing environmental harm and leading to a loss of more than $4 billion in Vales market capitalization.

In its complaint, the SEC alleged that since 2016, Vale S.A. manipulated multiple dam safety audits, and regularly misled its investors about the safety of the dam through its ESG disclosures. The complaint also alleged that Vale S.A. knew that the dam, which was built to contain potentially toxic byproducts, did not meet internationally recognized standards for dam safety, yet assured its investors that the company adhered to the strictest international practices.

Vale ultimately agreed to pay $55.9 million to settle the dispute in 2023. At the time, Mark Cave, associate director of the SECs Division Enforcement Unit, stated the settlement would demonstrate that public companies can and should be held accountable for material misrepresentations in their ESG-related disclosures, just as they would for any other material misrepresentations.

With the adoption of the new rules, SEC Chair Gary Gensler acknowledged that [i]nvestors representing literally tens of trillions of dollars support climate-related disclosures because they recognize that climate risks can pose significant financial risks to companies, and investors need reliable information about climate risks to make informed investment decisions.

Potential Liability for Directors and Officers

With the adoption of new climate-related disclosure regulations, there is a growing number of corporations becoming the subject of climate-related claims and litigations. Data from the Global Trends in Climate Change Litigation: 2023 Snapshot reports corporations now face a variety of claims alleging damages associated with climate change, including challenges to corporate climate commitments, the boards failure to disclose climate risks, and shareholder lawsuits citing corporate mismanagement of climate changes financial impact.

For example, shareholders commenced In Re Exxon Mobil Corp. Derivative Litigation against Exxon, certain board members and executives alleging breach of fiduciary duty, waste of corporate assets, unjust enrichment and violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

The plaintiffs allege that Exxon made public statements that understated certain climate risks to the business and overstated the quality and profitability of its assets. Specifically, the complaint alleges Exxons management misrepresented the proxy costs of carbon and greenhouse gases and failing to disclose the risk that climate change presented to its business. The case is ongoing.

Coverage considerations for Climate-related Claims under D&O Policies

With new regulations focused on climate change, companies should ensure that there are people and mechanisms in place for compliance with those regulations.

A companys ESG disclosures are now under more stringent review, so policyholders must take steps to adequately consider and oversee ESG risks, as well as keep shareholders and investors apprised of those risks. Risk managers, insurance brokers and other insurance claims professionals should also pay attention to those ESG considerations as the effects from climate change intensify. Here, D&O insurance can serve as a backstop to director and officer liability for climate-related claims in several ways.

First, D&O policies typically require the insurer to advance defense costs incurred by directors and officers to respond to underlying securities class actions and shareholder derivative lawsuits.

This means the insurer must often pay attorneys fees on a contemporary basis as the underlying litigation proceeds. This is true whether the company purchasing insurance has agreed to indemnify the directors and officers for a climate-related securities claim or has refused to indemnify. A D&O policy should cover a directors or officers non-indemnifiable losses (Side A coverage) and the company when it pays defense costs on behalf of directors and officers pursuant to an indemnity obligation (Side B coverage).

Second, many D&O policies might cover a directors or officers legal expenses associated with an SEC investigation of the company into failure to disclose climate risks. Sometimes referred to as interview or pre-claim inquiry coverage, D&O insurance can pay attorneys to assist directors and officers responding to an SEC document subpoena or request to meet with the SEC to discuss the companys business practices. Such coverage may be available whether a formal civil or regulatory proceeding has been commenced against the company claiming specific misconduct.

Third, while D&O policies generally protect directors and officers from potential claims that arise from the execution of their duties, there are exclusions which may limit this coverage. In the climate risk context, some standard exclusions which may apply include, but are not limited to, the conduct exclusion for fraud or criminal acts, property damage or pollution exclusions, and language barring coverage for fines and penalties. Nevertheless, many policies available to publicly traded companies feature exceptions to these exclusions for securities claims against directors and officers, or require a final, non-appealable adjudication before the D&O insurer can attempt to deny coverage or stop paying defense costs.

Finally, D&O insurance covers losses stemming from actual or alleged Wrongful Acts, usually defined to include any act, error, omission, misstatement, or breach of duty by a directors and officers in their roles for the company. A failure to disclose climate risks in compliance with the SECs new rules could support allegations in an underlying complaint that triggers coverage. D&O insurers might also extend coverage to particular types of securities claims with a connection to climate impacts or offer a sub-limit for climate-related damages. When claims arise, D&O policies should be closely reviewed to determine what coverages, exclusions and sub-limits exist with respect to climate-risk and the increased regulations requiring the disclosure of those risks.

Hirsch is a partner in Pasich LLPs Los Angeles office. He represents companies, directors and officers in corporate insurance recovery matters and coverage disputes with insurance companies.

Wah is a managing associate in the New York office. He has litigated in New York and federal courts, representing clients in a wide range of complex coverage disputes.
WASHINGTON, D. C. - The U.S. Department of Justice on Tuesday issued its rebuttal against what it described as the conspiratorial speculation from U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan over his claims that the department was involved in the New York district attorneys prosecution of former President Donald Trump.

A letter to Jordan from Assistant U.S. Attorney General Carlos Felipe Uriarte said the Justice Department had conducted a comprehensive search of its email system that shows its leaders didnt communicate with the New York district attorneys office over its prosecution of Trump.

The department searched for email communications with the District Attorneys office from President Joe Bidens swearing in date through the day when Trump was convicted of 34 felony charges related to hush money payments to porn star Stormy Daniels.

Uriartes letter said that Matthew Colangelo, a former Justice Department official who subsequently worked on the Trump case at the New York District Attorneys office, did not have any email communications with the district attorney while he was at the Justice Department. The letter also said it found no emails between Justice Department leadership officials, including political appointees, and the District Attorneys office regarding any investigation or prosecution of Trump.

The Department does not generally make extensive efforts to rebut conspiratorial speculation, including to avoid the risk of lending it credibility, the letter said. However, consistent with the Attorney Generals commitment to transparency, the Department has taken extraordinary steps to confirm what was already clear: there is no basis for these false claims.

Jordan, a Champaign County Republican and close Trump ally, has repeatedly claimed that Trumps prosecution in New York is an example of government weaponization, and several pending criminal cases against Trump were coordinated.

Justice is no longer blind in America, Jordan said at a hearing of the Judiciary Committee he chairs last week with Attorney General Merrick Garland. Today it is driven by politics. Example number one is President Trump.

The letter reiterated Garlands insistence at the hearing that there was no coordination between New York prosecutors and the Justice Department.

The District Attorneys office is a separate entity from the Department, the letter said. The Department does not supervise the work of the District Attorneys office, does not approve its charging decisions, and does not try its cases. The Department has no control over the District Attorney, just as the District Attorney has no control over the Department. The Committee knows this.

Sabrina Eaton writes about the federal government and politics in Washington, D.C., for cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer.
CLEVELAND, Ohio  I like to pride myself on my travel research, learning as much as I can about a destination before I visit, from its food to culture to politics.

And yet there I was, strolling the beach, drinking by the pool, feasting on jerk chicken and generally having a grand time in Jamaica earlier this spring. It wasnt until the day before I flew back to Cleveland from Montego Bay that I learned what a terrible record Jamaica has regarding LGBTQ+ rights.

The popular Caribbean destination received an F on the most recent LGBTQ+ Safety Index, an annual compilation of destinations in the world that are the most dangerous for non-straight travelers.

Among the reasons why: gay sex is illegal in Jamaica, punishable by up to 10 years in prison and hard labor.

Other countries are even worse  in Tanzania, acts of homosexuality are punishable by 30 years to life in prison. And in the United Arab Emirates, male homosexual activity is punishable by death.

Im a straight traveler and Ive never given much thought to where my gay friends and family are and are not welcome. Maybe I should.

But its a slippery slope  applying progressive Western ideology and ethics to international travel. Should we only visit places with laws and values similar to our own?

If so, were missing out on some culturally rich places to visit -- in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, South America, even Europe. Id like to see the pyramids in Egypt (which earned an F on the safety index) and go on safari in Kenya (also an F).

St. Lucia also gets an F, Poland gets a D, Japan a D+ and Hungary a C-.

As if to underscore the point, last month the U.S. Department of State issued a rare worldwide caution, warning travelers about an increased potential for foreign terrorist organization-inspired violence against LGBTQ+ persons and events.

John Tanzella, president of the International LGBTQ+ Travel Association, called the State Departments caution unlike any weve seen before. The advisory, he noted, comes amidst a worrying rise in anti-LGBTQ+ actions worldwide.

In an email interview, Tanzella said that despite the recent State Department advisory, the world is continuing to progress when it comes to safe LGBTQ+ travel. An increasing number of countries promote LGBTQ+ tourism, he said, and have decriminalized gay relationships and legalized gay marriage.

Progress isnt always linear, he said. Setbacks and legal restrictions still exist in some parts of the world.

Many, in fact.

Despite some countries concerning records on LGBTQ+ issues, he said his organization, founded in 1983, doesnt support destination boycotts or recommend that any places are off-limits.

Open dialogue and education can bridge cultural divides and foster greater inclusivity, he said. Sometimes, a visit, however, cautious, can be a catalyst for progress.

He recommends that LGTBQ+ travelers research their destinations ahead of time, using knowledgeable travel advisors, tour operators and travel guides (including the guides that his organization produces).

We empower travelers with education and resources, allowing them to make informed decisions based on their personal comfort level, Tanzella said.

There are many different kinds of travel, too.

Some vacations are meant to be relaxing, carefree breaks from the stress of daily life. Others can be more educational and culturally illuminating.

In either case, however, if my gay friend isnt comfortable holding hands with his spouse in public, then maybe they should find somewhere else to spend their money?

In addition, a destination isnt always synonymous with its government. In Jamaica, for example, I was told that many resorts and individual businesses are much more welcoming and accepting than the countrys laws might indicate.

Theres value, too, I think, in exposing the citizens of other countries to all kinds of American travelers, in that ongoing effort to bridge cultural and societal divides.

These are tricky topics with no easy answers. Every traveler  gay, straight, male, female, trans, nonbinary, etc. -- has to make their own decisions, based on their own ethics, their own sense of adventure and their own tolerance for risk.

Ranking the countries

Travel journalists and researchers Asher Fergusson and Lyric Fergusson first published their LGBTQ+ Travel Safety Index in 2019 and have updated it numerous times since.

The index ranks 203 countries, using 10 factors to assess traveler safety. Countries are given individual grades (A through F), resulting in a list of destinations from friendly to hostile.

Measurements include: whether same-sex relationships are illegal; whether hate-based violence is against the law; whether there are legal protections against discrimination in the workplace; whether same-sex parent adoption is recognized; whether transgender people are legally able to change their gender identity; transgender murder rates; whether same-sex marriage is legal; and whether a country is considered a good place for LGBTQ people to live (as determined by a Gallup survey).

Heres a selection from the index for 2023:

Seventy-two countries earned an F, including Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Tanzania, Egypt, St Lucia, Morocco, Kenya, Jamaica, Barbados, Belize and numerous others.

Twenty-four countries received an A or A-, including Canada, which earned the No. 1 spot in the ranking, followed by Sweden, Netherlands, Malta, Norway, Portugal and Spain.

The United States, by the way, received a B+, with the study noting: Some states dont offer protections against discrimination or allow for a change of gender. Other states prohibit advocacy of homosexuality in schools.

For the complete list, as well as tips for safe LGBTQ+ travel: asherfergusson.com/lgbtq-travel-safety
The chronicle of a life split between urban Manhattan and rural Montana.
 
Here are Tuesday's biggest calls on Wall Street: Evercore ISI reiterates Alphabet as outperform Evercore raised its price target on the stock to $225 per share from $220. "In the wake of proprietary survey work, we are reiterating our Outperform on GOOGL and modestly raising our PT to $225 (implying almost 30% upside). GOOG remains one of our Top Picks in Large Cap 'Nets." Morgan Stanley reiterates Apple as overweight Morgan Stanley said it's sticking with its overweight rating following the company's Worldwide Developers Conference. "WWDC delivered slightly ahead of our expectations, with important building blocks in-place for Apple to drive a multi-year device refresh starting in FY25." JPMorgan downgrades Cleveland-Cliffs to neutral from overweight JPMorgan said in its downgrade of Cleveland-Cliffs that fundamentals are "weakening" for the mining company. "Downgrading to Neutral ($17 PT) on Weakening Fundamentals, Rising Capex Needs, and Lack of N-T Growth." Oppenheimer reiterates Nvidia as outperform Oppenheimer said it's sticking with its outperform rating on shares of Nvidia and raised its price target to $150 per share from $110 following the stock split. "We see NVDA as best positioned in AI, benefiting from their full stack AI hardware, networking, and software solutions. We're raising our target to $150 from $110 (split-adjusted)." Morgan Stanley reiterates Ford as a top pick Morgan Stanley said the automaker remains a top pick at the firm. "We believe Ford is demonstrating increasing understanding that its current EV strategies have to change materially." Baird reiterates Tesla as outperform Baird said it's sticking with its outperform rating heading into Thursday's shareholder meeting. "The annual meeting of shareholders will be held this Thursday during which we expect Musk's pay package to be ratified by shareholders. While this does not guarantee an end to the saga initiated by the Delaware court's decision in January, we believe reapproval would reduce an overhang on the stock and alleviate some worries about Musk's attention to TSLA." Baird reiterates First Solar as outperform Baird raised its price target on the stock to $344 per share from $246. " FSLR is a backdoor way to play the rise in AI/data centers as hyperscalers seek power away from the grid, and we expect shares to continue recent strength." Evercore ISI initiates Confluent as outperform Evercore said shares of the system software company are attractive. "We believe CFLT is the runaway market leader in the nascent $60bn+ (and growing) data streaming market, and we remain in the early innings of companies leveraging real-time data across their organizations as part of their data modernization and GenAI strategies." Cantor Fitzgerald initiates Bitdeer Technologies as overweight Cantor said the bitcoin mining company has re-rating potential. "We are initiating coverage of Bitdeer Technologies Group (BTDR) with an Overweight rating and $13 PT." Piper Sandler initiates AppFolio as overweight Piper said shares of the software company are attractive. "We are initiating coverage on APPF at Overweight based on confidence in the new leadership team (complete makeover since 2020) that has helped supercharge this vertical SaaS [service-as-a-software] model via new pricing, fintech, and AI monetization levers that appear sustainable." Citi reiterates Broadcom as overweight Citi said it's bullish heading into earnings on Wednesday. "We reiterate our Buy rating on AVGO given upside from AI strength and EPS accretion from the VMware acquisition." JPMorgan initiates Shopify as overweight JPMorgan said it's bullish on the e-commerce company. "SHOP is one of the largest publicly traded payment facilitators with a real competitive moat that warrants a premium valuation, in our view." Barclays initiates Geron as overweight Barclays said in its initiation of the biotech company that it's bullish on the company's blood disorder drug, Rytelo. "We are launching coverage of GERN shares with an Overweight rating and $9 price target, supported by our NPV [net present value] sum-of-parts." Piper Sandler reiterates Trade Desk as overweight Piper said the digital marketing company is a top idea. "We continue to view Trade Desk as our top large cap idea even after the ~30% YTD move in the stock, as we have confidence that the company can sustain its 20%+ year over- year growth rate over a multi-year period." Bernstein initiates On Holding as outperform Bernstein said it's bullish on shares of the shoe company. "Following On's rapid ascent and seemingly ubiquitous presence on feet everywhere, the key question is: Can this brand sustain strong double-digit growth, or is this a trend that has peaked? We argue the former, initiating coverage with an Outperform rating and $50 TP." BTIG upgrades Staar Surgical to buy from neutral BTIG said the company that makes implantable lenses for the eye is seeing a China recovery. "In sum, STAA mgmt. has done what they can to put shares in a position to be successful. Our biggest hang-up has been the Chinese economy; it's no secret that data shows that the Chinese consumer is weak, and this has bled into the Chinese refractive surgery market as LVC prices have come down while competition is high." D.A. Davidson adds Broadridge to its 'Best-of-Breed' list DA added the capital markets company to its top idea list. "We believe Broadridge exhibits the majority of the characteristics (11 of 12) we value in the Best-of- Breed Bison initiative." Citi reiterates Uber as a top pick Citi raised its price target on the stock to $96 per share from $93. " Uber remains one of our top-picks across the Internet sector. We reiterate our Buy rating and raise our TP to $96 given improved visibility, multiple growth levers, and expanding margins." D.A. Davidson upgrades Apple to buy from neutral D.A. said in its upgrade of Apple that it thinks AI will lead to an "iPhone upgrade cycle." "We believe the AI capabilities unveiled at yesterday's WWDC will lead to an iPhone upgrade cycle which leads us to upgrade shares to a BUY from Neutral." Barclays reiterates PepsiCo as overweight Barclays said it's sticking with its overweight rating on the stock despite a bumpy macro in the salty snacks category. "And ultimately we believe PEP intends to ride out this macro storm and wait for the consumer environment to improve, rather than make wholesale strategic changes that could inject some short-term fuel into the category but would ultimately just take dollars out of the category."
Hyoung Chang | Denver Post | Getty Images

The American public as a whole remains on the fence with artificial intelligence, according to many polls, but in education, adoption among teachers and students is rapidly rising. In a little over a year, the percentage of teachers who say they are familiar with ChatGPT  the breakthrough generative AI chatbot from Microsoft-backed OpenAI, which is next headed to the Apple iPhone  rose from 55% to 79%, while among K-12 students, it rose from 37% to 75%, according to a new poll conducted in May by Impact Research for the Walton Family Foundation, in conjunction with the Learning Engineering Virtual Institute's AI Lab. When it comes to actual usage, a similar spike occurred, with 46% of teachers and 48% of students saying they use ChatGPT at least weekly, with student usage up 27 percentage points over last year. Maybe most notable, the reviews from students are broadly positive. Seventy percent of K-12 students had a favorable view of AI chatbots. Among undergraduates, that rises to 75%. And among parents, 68% held favorable views of AI chatbots "It is a lot more positive data than I expected," said Ethan Mollick, professor at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School, and an expert and author on AI who reviewed the polling data.

The polling data lines up with the experience of Khan Academy and its founder Sal Khan, who has been working with Newark, New Jersey's school district, among others, to test the use of a customized ChatGPT for education, Khanmigo, over the past year. Khan recently told CNBC that its AI tool will expand from 65,000 students to one million students next year. It also recently announced that Microsoft is paying so that AI can be offered to teachers across the U.S. free of charge. (School districts pay per student for usage, which has recently been in the range of $35 per user, though Khan says as the technology scales, it will be possible to bring that price down to as low as a $10-$20 range.) "Unlike most things in technology and education in the past where this is a 'nice-to-have,' I think this is a 'must-have' for a lot of teachers," Khan, founder and CEO of Khan Academy, recently told CNBC's "Squawk Box." While Khan Academy is best known for its educational videos, its interactive exercise platform was one which OpenAI's top executives, Sam Altman and Greg Brockman, zeroed in on early when they were looking for a partner to pilot ChatGPT with that offered socially positive use cases. The adoption rates in education are higher than currently occurring in the world of work, and it is students, who have a high incentive to get help, who are "dragging teachers along for the ride," Mollick said. In fact, teachers were the only demographic polled where year-over-year favorability declined, though a majority (59%) still have a positive view of AI chatbots. Older teachers and parents (those over 45) were less likely to have confidence in their ability to use AI effectively, but Khan said one of the reasons why Microsoft and his nonprofit wanted to get AI access to every educator in the U.S. is because of the time its use is saving teachers.

watch now

Khan recently told CNBC that often, in the past, teachers have been told "If only you learned this one extra thing ..." and that becomes a burden for an already overworked educator. "Teachers are already spread thin. Especially with these teacher tools, it is one more thing to learn," he said. But Khan's research with school districts to date has saved teachers 5-10 hours per week. "This is the first time in the journey of tech that we can tell teachers, 'This will be fewer things for you to do. Yes, there's a little bit of a learning curve, but it will save you time.'" Only 25% of teachers polled said they have received any training on AI chatbots, and roughly one-third (32%) say that lack of training and professional development are major reasons why they have not used AI. Teachers said they have used AI to generate ideas for classes (37%); for lesson plans and preparation of teaching materials (32%); for student worksheets or examples (32%); and to create quizzes or tests (31%). Mollick described himself as bullish on AI in education over the long term, but in the short term, he said these results are relatively high compared to past polling related to the introduction of new technology. "I was sort of surprised to see the numbers look as good as they do. I was surprised by how positive the feelings were among every group," he said. "It's not universally loved, but we're not seeing the strong negatives we usually see," he said. It is early. Khan noted in his recent CNBC interview that the prime directive should be to never put technology in front of the use case. He said there are cases over past the 15 years where school districts have been able to "pretty dramatically accelerate outcomes because of technology, but many other cases where they bought the iPads and laptops and they are collecting dust."

The new data also indicates significant equity in AI usage in education. Minority groups are adopting AI for education at higher rates, including the teachers and parents who are using AI to help children. Black and Hispanic K-12 students and undergraduates were more likely to use AI for school. Among parents, 47% of those polled want AI chatbots to be used more in schools, compared to 36% who want it to be used less. Parental support for AI use in education is higher among Black (57%) and Hispanic parents (55%). Mollick said it is too early to attempt to piece together the economic and equity data conclusively  private school students were the most likely to use AI both personally and at school  but he added it's worth taking a deeper dive into the data to ask whether AI could be filling existing gaps in the school system. "Now people have access to an AI tutor and now they don't have to pay for a tutor," he said. Khan said AI for the classroom is a scaling of the personalization that matches the founding story of his organization  when he personally provided tutoring to his cousin Nadia. AI could "get us that much closer to this ideal, in conjunction with everything else we've been doing over the years, of being able to emulate what a great tutor would do," he recently told CNBC. "In my mind, it passes the Turing Test," Khan said, referencing famed British mathematician and AI pioneer Alan Turing's goal of computer intelligence being equal to human intelligence and humans being unable to identify one versus the other. "This is indistinguishable from when I went to text Nadia back in 2004."
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Apple CEO Tim Cook (L); John Giannandrea (C), senior vice president of machine learning and AI strategy; and Craig Federighi (R), senior vice president of software engineering, speak during Apple's annual Worldwide Developers Conference in Cupertino, California, on June 10, 2024. Nic Coury | AFP | Getty Images

Apple fully embraced artificial intelligence on Monday, as company executives explained the features and reasoning behind Apple Intelligence, the company's new AI software suite. But Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference launch event was carefully crafted to distinguish the iPhone maker from current AI leaders, such as Microsoft and Google, at a panel discussion Monday afternoon. Software chief Craig Federighi and AI chief John Giannandrea said during the panel that Apple has a different approach to the technology than its Silicon Valley rivals. Unlike companies that are building AI for a broad range of products, Apple is instead focused only on the devices it sells and the personal data that AI could use. Apple revealed a more limited approach that eschews future-focused thinking about the potential of the technology in favor of small tasks that can be done now without burning up battery life. "We think AI's role is not to replace our users but to empower them," Federighi said. Apple's AI may be the first that its over 2 billion users interact with. If its AI features are favored over cloud-based competition from Microsoft or Google , it could change how billions of dollars in AI infrastructure per year is built and shift the direction of products that use the technology. Much of the AI development that has captured investor and technological interest has focused on building or securing powerful supercomputers equipped with Nvidia chips to develop even more power-hungry AI models. In this scenario, users access the AI software by communicating with equally powerful servers over the web.

Apple's AI is mostly on your device

Apple Intelligence was unveiled during Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference in Cupertino, California, on June 10, 2024. Source: Apple Inc.

Apple's vision for AI isn't about one big model  it's a slew of smaller models that don't require the same amount of computing power and memory, running on Apple's devices and chips themselves. If the AI on the phone can't do it, then Apple, or an app using Apple's tools, reaches out to the cloud to access a larger AI model. Apple partnered with OpenAI, for example, to give users access to ChatGPT if Siri can't provide an answer. These features come into play only if users allow it. Apple executives don't refer to this strategy as using one or multiple models. Instead, they package it as just "Apple Intelligence." "We think that the right approach to this is to have a series of different models and different sizes for different use cases," Giannandrea said. Giannandrea said the company worked to create a 3-billion parameter model as part of Apple Intelligence. ChatGPT's GPT-3 model from 2020, in comparison, is much larger, at 175 billion parameters. The more parameters, the more memory and computing power needed to run the model. Apple's approach is faster than the cloud-based options and has privacy benefits. However, there can be issues when the models are too small to get anything done. Apple is betting that through a user's iPhone, its AI can tap into personal data about appointments, location, and what the user is doing. One example provided by Federighi is that his phone knows who his daughter is. Apple also says it's making sure its small models work only on tasks they can excel at, rather than give users an open-ended chatbot interface. "There's a critical extra step, which is we're not taking this teenager and telling him to go fly an airplane," Federighi said. Many AI features Apple announced on Monday are similar to products already announced this year. Apple's AI can summarize and rewrite documents, generate small images, and translate conversations in real time. One notable feature will enable users to generate new emojis using AI without connecting to the internet. The new features will be released this fall in a beta version.

Apple's approach to privacy

Private Cloud Compute unveiled during Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference in Cupertino, California, on June 10, 2024. Source: Apple Inc.

Privacy will be a challenge for Apple as it embraces AI. It has used privacy as one of its primary marketing tools for years, highlighting that Apple's business model doesn't require ad targeting and that it has the best interests of its users in mind versus data brokers and spammers. Other AI companies collect user data and store it to improve their software, a practice that doesn't fit Apple's current privacy policies. Much of Apple's presentation on Monday pointed to steps the company has taken to prevent the impression that it's hoovering up user data to improve its AI. "We're not going to take that data and go send it to some cloud somewhere," Giannandrea said. "Because we want everything to be very private, whether it's running locally or on a cloud computing service, and that's the way we want it so we can use your most personal data." Apple didn't detail what data was used to train its AI models, beyond that it uses files scraped from the public web in addition to licensed data, such as news archives and stock photography. Apple said it developed its own servers using its Apple chips, called Apple Private Cloud, to prevent user data sent back to an AI server from being stored or re-used. It will allow third parties to inspect the software, a notable move for a secrecy-focused company that usually doesn't provide information about its infrastructure. "Even if a company maybe makes a promise and says, 'Well, hey, look, we're not going to do anything with the data.' You have no way to verify that," Federighi said, explaining why Apple will allow inspection of its AI server software.

More AI to come

ChatGPT integration with Apple iOS 18 announced during Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference in Cupertino, California, on June 10, 2024. Source: Apple Inc.
The vehicle carrier Tosca passes through an open section of the Federal channel as crane barges continue work on clearing the debris from the Francis Scott Key Bridge more than two months after the catastrophic collapse.

The main passageway into the Baltimore port was fully restored after the March 26 collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, which left six people dead and obstructed maritime traffic into the harbor.

The bridge toppled after the cargo ship Dali crashed into the infrastructure, choking a major shipping artery into the U.S.' busiest auto port.

The Port of Baltimore processed a record 1.1 million containers and $80.8 billion in foreign cargo value last year, according to state data. Six highway construction crew members who were carrying out overnight road work plunged to their deaths during the incident.

On Monday evening, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said that the Fort McHenry Federal Channel was reinstated to its original operational dimensions of 700 feet wide and 50 feet deep for commercial transit through the Port of Baltimore.

"We've cleared the Fort McHenry Federal Channel for safe transit. USACE will maintain this critical waterway as we have for the last 107 years," said Col. Estee Pinchasin, Baltimore District commander, in a statement.

The restoration follows a cleanup process that started on March 30 and removed about 50,000 tons of bridge wreckage from the Patapsco River, allowing for the gradual reopening of the channel in the weeks since.
Worldwide ceramic innovators drawn to Jingdezhen, China's porcelain capital

Xinhua) 10:15, June 11, 2024

NANCHANG, June 10 (Xinhua) -- Having graduated from Jingdezhen Ceramic Institute in 2008 and gaining work experience elsewhere, Hao Xiwen never lost his passion for ceramics.

As a result, upon returning to Jingdezhen City, deemed China's "porcelain capital," he wholeheartedly immersed himself in the ceramic sector through continued studies and entrepreneurial pursuits.

"While my arrival in Jingdezhen may have been somewhat accidental, I have come to deeply appreciate the immense charm of ceramics throughout this experience," said Hao, founder of a workshop named Jixiashe. "Now, I want to go a step further and help more people appreciate the beauty of ceramics."

While pursuing his master's and doctoral studies, Hao established this workshop focused on educational tourism. In recent years, ceramic-themed educational tours have gained popularity, which has made it increasingly challenging for him to consider leaving the city.

With a ceramic history spanning over 2,000 years, including more than 1,000 years of official kiln history and over 600 years of imperial kiln tradition, Jingdezhen, situated in eastern China's Jiangxi Province, boasts a distinctive charm and artistic ambiance bestowed by its rich traditional ceramic culture.

In recent years, more than 60,000 non-locals like Hao have moved to Jingdezhen. Among them, over 5,000 are from other countries, including the United States, France, Singapore and the Republic of Korea. They have established studios and organized pottery activities in the city, according to the local government.

Camille Kami from France vividly recalls her initial astonishment upon arriving in Jingdezhen. "How is it possible for a city to specialize in a single industry for a millennium?" she said. With a background in ceramics education spanning France, Britain, Switzerland and the Netherlands, she discovered an unexpected reluctance to depart from Jingdezhen, ultimately choosing to make it her home.

In contrast to cities primarily exporting labor, Jingdezhen has witnessed a reverse population flow in recent years. This phenomenon of "cultural immigration" not only highlights Jingdezhen's openness and inclusiveness but also reflects the local government's efforts to make non-locals in Jingdezhen feel at home by establishing specialized service agencies and optimizing policies to create a supportive environment.

"In the past, foreigners came to Jingdezhen sporadically, but it has become a trend over the past decade," said Chen You, deputy director of the service center for ceramic talent in Jingdezhen. "To ensure that non-locals pursue innovation and start businesses with peace of mind, we provide comprehensive services in areas such as housing, healthcare, children's education and loans."

The Taoxichuan International Art Center in Jingdezhen hosts a three-month residency program each year, inviting overseas artists to reside in the city and explore their creativity, with all expenses covered. In exchange, participants are asked to leave behind one-third of their artworks.

"Through exhibitions or sales of artworks, we can cover most of the costs. The important thing is to establish stronger ties between foreigners and China," said Wu Hao, head of the art center. "This year, we've already received a record number of over 1,000 applications from foreign artists eager to work on-site here."

In today's era, the collision between traditional ceramic-making techniques and modern design concepts in this city is a constant catalyst for innovation in ceramic products. A myriad of inventive creations has captured the interest of young consumers, injecting fresh vigor into this thousand-year-old porcelain capital.

The openness and inclusiveness of Jingdezhen have endowed this small city with a strong cultural vibrancy. Even young people with little money can come to Jingdezhen, buy some clay and use public kilns to create their works, pursuing their dreams at a low cost.

"The entrepreneurial investment in Jingdezhen is low. I can set up a free stall at the night market and live in a youth hostel for 500 yuan (about 69 U.S. dollars) a month," said Ai Fuling, 36, who quit her job at an advertising company in Beijing nine years ago and moved to Jingdezhen to start her own business.

Ai now has her own shop, with monthly sales of nearly 150,000 yuan. Taoxichuan has incubated over 20,000 entrepreneurs like her, resulting in 2,902 business entities.

Currently, about 150,000 people in Jingdezhen are engaged in ceramics and related industries, nearly a quarter of the city's population.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
This report is from today's CNBC Daily Open, our international markets newsletter. CNBC Daily Open brings investors up to speed on everything they need to know, no matter where they are. Like what you see? You can subscribe here .

Fresh records

The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite inched to record highs ahead of the Federal Reserve's interest rate decision. Technology stocks Nvidia, Meta and Microsoft boosted the indexes. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 69 points. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose as investors await guidance from the central bank on the outlook for inflation and the economy. U.S. oil prices jumped 3% after Goldman Sachs predicted a supply deficit as demand for fuel increases during the summer.

Apple Intelligence

Shares of Apple fell 1.9% after the iPhone maker delivered its long-awaited AI strategy. Siri will get an upgrade with Apple Intelligence and access to OpenAI's ChatGPT. But consumers may need to upgrade their phones to run the new AI features. Investors are concerned Apple had fallen behind its rivals, Microsoft and Google, in the race to deliver AI services and tools.

Another no

The California State Teachers' Retirement System will vote against Elon Musk's revised pay package at Tesla, Chief Investment Officer Chris Ailman told CNBC's "Squawk on the Street." Ailman criticized the "ridiculous" compensation, which is 140 times the average worker's pay. Despite opposition from major shareholders, including Norway's sovereign wealth fund, Ailman stated CalSTRS won't sell its Tesla shares but believes the stock's valuation is too high. Ailman suggested Musk should focus on one of his ventures and let professional managers handle Tesla's daily operations.

Elliott targets Southwest

Activist investor Elliott Management has acquired a $1.9 billion stake in Southwest Airlines, sending shares up 7%. Elliott intends to push for leadership changes at the airline, which has faced challenges including delays in Boeing 737 Max deliveries, shifting travel demand, and a holiday meltdown in 2022. Southwest is exploring new revenue strategies but has seen its stock decline by more than 50% in the past three years, compared to smaller drops or gains for rivals.

Combo jab

Moderna said its combination vaccine targeting both Covid-19 and the flu proved more effective than standalone shots in a late-stage trial. The biotech company is the first to release phase three trial data, giving it a potential lead over rivals Pfizer and Novavax. It plans to seek regulatory approval this summer and aims for market entry in 2025. The combination shot produced stronger immune responses against influenza and the omicron variant XBB.1.5 with acceptable safety and tolerability.

[PRO] Tesla to take another hit

Tesla's stock, which has already tumbled almost 30% this year, could face further declines as shareholders look likely to reject Elon Musk's controversial $56 billion compensation package, Bernstein warned investors. Concerns about Musk potentially leaving the electric vehicle maker could put additional pressure on the stock.
Crude oil futures held to gains Tuesday as OPEC stuck to its demand forecasts, counting on steady economic growth this year.

Oil prices rallied more than 2% on Monday with U.S. crude oil booking its best day since Feb. 8. The market has recovered the losses from last week, after selling off to four-month lows in the wake of the decision by OPEC+ to increase crude production in October.

Here are Tuesday's closing energy prices:

OPEC is projecting oil demand growth of 2.2 million barrels per day for 2024 and 1.8 million bpd in 2025, according to the group's monthly report. The oil producers see global economic growth of 2.8% this year and 2.9% in 2025.

OPEC expects the services sector to maintain stable momentum and drive economic growth in the second half of the year, "particularly supported by travel and tourism, with a consequent positive impact on oil demand."
Eli Lilly became the most valuable health-care company in the world on the back of its blockbuster diabetes and obesity drugs. To join the $1 trillion market capitalization club, it will need help from the bench  including an Alzheimer's drug that moved one step closer to market this week. A key advisory panel for the Food and Drug Administration on Monday recommended donanemab, Eli Lilly's treatment for the memory-robbing disease, paving the way for full approval later this year. Donanemab would join Leqembi  co-developed by Biogen and Japanese drugmaker Eisai  as the only two Alzheimer's treatments actively on the U.S. market. Other drugs for people with Alzheimer's only treat the symptoms, not the underlying mechanisms driving the disease. Analysts expect sales of donanemab to total $331 million in 2025 before growing to $705 million in 2026, according to FactSet. Small potatoes, considering the combined revenue from type-2 diabetes therapy Mounjaro and weight-loss treatment Zepbound are projected to be $26.2 billion in 2025 and $33.6 billion in 2026. However, analysts say donanemab helps Eli Lilly diversify beyond the hot GLP-1 class of drugs, helping to offset the risk of more competition in the weight-loss category. For now, Eli Lilly and rival Novo Nordisk, which makes Ozempic for diabetes and Wegovy for obesity, have a duopoly in the GLP-1 market. But the potential for new entrants, even if the bar to entry is high, is always something to watch. To be sure, the market for GLP-1s hasn't dimmed. The billions of dollars in Eli Lilly is investing in manufacturing capacity support the idea that the long-term opportunity is immense. Demand for type-2 diabetes therapy Mounjaro and weight-loss treatment Zepbound has outstripped supply . And recent sales data and other GLP-1 developments have lent further support to Jim Cramer's prediction that the active ingredient behind both Mounjaro and Zepbound, known as tirzepatide, could become the best-selling drug of all time. Buzz around GLP-1s drugs has been the primary fuel for Eli Lilly's blistering stock run, up 59% last year and another 48% so far in 2024 to bring its market capitalization to $817.5 billion. LLY .SPX 5Y mountain Eli Lilly's five-year stock performance compared with the S & P 500. With 951.8 million shares outstanding, Eli Lilly would need to trade slightly above $1,050 a share to reach the vaunted $1 trillion market cap  a milestone anticipated late last year by legendary investor Ken Langone; Morgan Stanley analysts also discussed the possibility in a February note to clients. That implies more than 21% upside from the stock's record close of $865 a share Monday. The new Alzheimer's drug could provide another boost. "Investor focus on donanemab has been greatly diminished since the launch of Zepbound and data that support durable, mega-blockbuster opportunities for LLY in obesity/ cardiometabolic diseases," Cantor Fitzgerald analysts wrote in a note to clients Monday, referencing the benefits to heart health GLP-1s have demonstrated in other trials. "But, a growth opportunity that diversifies sales away from obesity/cardiometabolic diseases is good for LLY." Surprise FDA vote Donanemab slowed cognitive and functional decline by 35% in an early Alzheimer's patient group compared with a placebo group, according to an 18-month trial conducted by Eli Lilly. Meanwhile, Leqembi slowed progression by 28% in its own 18-month study. Leqembi is generally seen as having a better safety profile, though both drugs carry risks around brain swelling and bleeding. Both drugs attempt to slow the progression of Alzheimer's in similar ways by reducing abnormal clumps of the protein amyloid beta that build up on the brain. These amyloid clumps have long been associated with the disease, although their precise role remains up for debate. Leqembi received full FDA clearance in July 2023. Leqembi had a slow launch due in part to health-care system bottlenecks, but Biogen offered encouraging commentary about an acceleration in sales alongside earnings in April. Adding Eli Lilly to the market could help address some of the obstacles that limited Leqembi's sales early on. That includes patients obtaining the MRIs needed to monitor their response to the drugs  part of our thesis in GE Healthcare . The imaging equipment manufacturer also makes a diagnostic agent called Vizamyl, which helps measure amyloid plaque levels. Eli Lilly, which has spent billions in search of a successful Alzheimer's treatment , had hoped for donanemab to be approved by now. But in early March, the FDA surprisingly called the meeting of the advisory panel as it sought clarity on the drug's safety and the impact that its unique trial design had on efficacy. Ultimately, the 11-member FDA advisory panel voted unanimously in favor of donanemab on both of the questions it was tasked to weigh in on. Do the available data show that donanemab is effective for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease in the population enrolled in the clinical trials with mild cognitive impairment and mild dementia? Do the benefits outweigh the risks of donanemab in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease in the population enrolled in the clinical trials with mild cognitive impairment and mild dementia? The 11-0 vote tally came as a surprise to some, with Cantor Fitzgerald analysts describing the results as "better than we anticipated" based on their reading of briefing documents for Monday's meeting released last week. (Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust is long LLY. See here for a full list of the stocks.) As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust's portfolio. If Jim has talked about a stock on CNBC TV, he waits 72 hours after issuing the trade alert before executing the trade. THE ABOVE INVESTING CLUB INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY , TOGETHER WITH OUR DISCLAIMER . NO FIDUCIARY OBLIGATION OR DUTY EXISTS, OR IS CREATED, BY VIRTUE OF YOUR RECEIPT OF ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE INVESTING CLUB. NO SPECIFIC OUTCOME OR PROFIT IS GUARANTEED.

A sign with the company logo sits outside of the headquarters campus of Eli Lilly and Company on March 17, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Scott Olson | Getty Images
In this photo, the logo of OpenAI is displayed on a mobile phone in front of a computer screen displaying the photographs of Elon Musk and Sam Altman, in Ankara, Turkey, on March 14, 2024.

Elon Musk on Tuesday withdrew his lawsuit against OpenAI and two of the company's co-founders, Sam Altman and Greg Brockman, in California state court. Musk's decision to file to dismiss the suit came just one day after he publicly criticized OpenAI and its new partnership with Apple.

The case was dismissed without prejudice, according to a court filing obtained by CNBC.

In February, Musk had filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, Altman and Brockman  the current CEO and president of OpenAI, respectively  for breach of contract and fiduciary duty.

A hearing was scheduled for Wednesday in San Francisco, in which the judge was going to consider whether the case should be dismissed as requested by the defendants.

Experts told CNBC in March that the case was built on a questionable legal foundation, because the contract at the heart of the suit was not a formal written agreement that was signed by all parties involved.

Rather, Musk had alleged that the early OpenAI team had set out to develop artificial general intelligence, or AGI, "for the benefit of humanity," but that the project has been transformed into a for-profit entity that's largely controlled by principal shareholder Microsoft.

Musk had used much of the 35-page complaint (plus attached exhibits) he filed in March to remind the world of his position in the creation of a company that's since become one of the hottest startups on the planet, (OpenAI ranked first on CNBC's Disruptor 50 list in 2023) thanks largely to the viral spread of ChatGPT.

"It's certainly a good advertisement for the benefit of Elon Musk," Kevin O'Brien, partner at Ford O'Brien Landy LLP and former assistant U.S. attorney, told CNBC at the time. "I'm not sure about the legal part though."

Last year, Musk debuted his own AI startup and OpenAI competitor, xAI, which last month announced a $6 billion Series B funding round. Investors included Andreessen Horowitz, Sequoia Capital and Fidelity Management & Research Company.

X.AI seeks to "understand the true nature of the universe," according to its website. Last year, X.AI released a chatbot called Grok, which the company says is modeled after "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy." The chatbot debuted with two months of training and has real-time knowledge of the internet, the company claims.

Representatives for Musk and Altman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

CNBC's Lora Kolodny contributed to this report.

Correction: The lawsuit was filed in February. An earlier version of this story misstated the month.
This photograph taken on April 26, 2024 shows the headquarters of the French multinational information technology company ATOS in Bezons, near Paris. (Photo by Ludovic MARIN / AFP) (Photo by LUDOVIC MARIN/AFP via Getty Images)

Shares in beleaguered French IT company Atos fell around 12% on Tuesday after the firm said it had chosen a rescue deal, which is set to result in a major dilution of existing shareholders.

Shares were last down 11.8% as of 10:51 a.m. London time.

Atos said it would go ahead with a proposal by major shareholder David Layani, whose IT firm Onepoint held around 11% of Atos' share capital and voting rights as of December 2023 according to its website. Atos was also considering a rival offer from Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky.

The deal will nevertheless lead to a "massive dilution" of existing shareholders, who are set to hold less than 0.1% of share capital once it is completed, Atos said.

Atos said Layani's deal included a stronger capital structure and provided the firm with enough financial liquidity to stay in business.

"The proposal submitted by the Onepoint consortium also has the support of a large number of Atos' financial creditors and thus gives greater confidence that a definitive financial restructuring agreement will be reached," the company said.

Layani on Tuesday said the deal partners wanted to improve Atos' balance sheet and ensure that the company becomes a major international player in the tech sector, Reuters reported.

Layani's deal is fronted by Onepoint, as well as investment company Butler Industries, IT company Econocom and some of Atos' financial creditors. It is expected to be implemented by July.
Informatica , a U.S.-listed software developer, is well-positioned to benefit from the rise of artificial intelligence, according to analysts at Scotiabank. The California-headquartered firm last month launched its AI model  CLAIRE GPT  which is designed to help businesses use their data for generative AI applications. Generative AI, or GenAI, is the technology behind the hugely popular chatbot ChatGPT and other similar products. It uses large amounts of data to create new content, like text and images  but relies heavily on well-managed and high-quality inputs to produce reliable results. "Fragmented and poor-quality data create flawed generative AI with unreliable insights, bias, trust issues, hallucination, and risks  such as possible [intellectual property] infringement," said Scotiabank analysts led by Patrick Colville in a note to clients. "Informatica has been helping solve data management problems for customers for 30 years, and we believe the company should be a well-placed partner as businesses embark on generative AI journeys." INFA 1Y line The company says its AI model can answer customer queries about their business by retrieving data from several linked systems such as Salesforce, Tableau, Snowflake, Amazon 's AWS and internal databases  a process that could take engineers or analysts days to complete. However, Scotiabank cautioned that the financial benefits may not materialize immediately, noting that "usage of Informatica for generative artificial intelligence is in its very early innings" and that it will likely not be a significant revenue driver in 2024. The investment bank expects shares to rise to $33 over the next 12 months, indicating a 15% upside. Wall Street's bullish Wall Street analysts elsewhere are significantly more bullish, however. According to FactSet, the average price target of 16 analysts points to a 39% upside for the stock. RBC Capital analysts expect the stock to rise by 43% to $41 a share over the next 12 months. They suggest that while competitors such as Salesforce , Snowflake , and Microsoft also have generative AI models on offer, Informatica has a unique advantage thanks to its flagship Intelligent Data Management Cloud product. "Informatica has access to an enterprise's entire data estate vs. other tools that have a narrow view into just their specific repository," said RBC analysts led by Matthew Hedberg in a note to clients on May 22. "ClaireGPT has broader context and can give a more complete analysis to answer complex questions about an enterprise's data." Earlier in April, the Wall Street Journal reported that Salesforce had expressed an interest in acquiring Informatica, valuing the company at about $10 billion, around 5% higher than its current market capitalization. However, a subsequent report said the potential deal had fizzled out . Informatica's share price has risen around 62% over the past 12 months.
The Italian village is selling homes for low prices for the third year in a row.

Sambuca di Sicilia is hoping to continue years of success with its latest scheme to sell off abandoned homes at a very low cost. The Italian village first went viral in 2019 when it auctioned off old homes with bids starting at 1 euro. The town did it again in 2021 with bids starting at 2 euros and is looking to repeat it for a third time with bids starting at 3 euros or $3. This time around, Sambuca di Sicilia has about a dozen properties set for auction, according to CNN reports. The town's mayor, Giuseppe Cacioppo, told CNN that the first sale helped revamp the local economy with an influx of 20 million euros or $21.5 million. Since Sambuca di Sicilia started its viral scheme, 250 homes have been sold outside of the original auctions. "Our town is now definitely on the map," Cacioppo said. "We just want to make it clear that by numbering these batches, more sales will likely follow in coming years. Foreigners are flocking to buy our homes, it's been a hit so far."

Sambuca di Sicilia announced it had several homes for sale starting at 3 euros. Juan Carlos Fotografia | Istock | Getty Images

For this year's auction, the town is selling two to three-bedroom houses built on one or three floors and approximately 538 to 861 square feet. Some of the properties feature courtyards and iron-wrought balconies, but they are in need of repair. Cacioppo said the current homes for sale are as "structurally stable as those so far sold." The properties will be auctioned and sold to the highest bidder, and the winning bid will be opened in front of a judge. To participate in the auction, bidders are required to pay a 5,000 euro deposit or about $5,399. If you lose the bid, the money will be returned, but if you win, the money will become the initial deposit. CNN reports that part of agreeing to buy the property means that the new owners must complete the renovation work on their homes within three years or risk losing their deposit. However, the town hall has been flexible with deadlines due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Sambuca di Sicilia has yet to announce the start date of the auction.

Sambuca di Sicilia first went viral in 2019 for selling off homes for 1 euro. Deniseserra | Istock | Getty Images

This buyer has no regrets about her '1-euro' home in Sambuca di Sicilia

When Sambuca di Silicia announced the village's first $1 auction, Meredith Tabbone, a self-employed financial advisor, bought one with her winning bid of 5,555 euros. She had never seen the property in person. The 44-year-old Chicago native told CNBC Make It that when she flew to see her new home for the first time that year, she ended up buying the building next door for 22,000 euros, or just over $23,000. Tabbone spent a total of 425,000 euros, or roughly $446,000, on renovations.

Meredith Tabbone is from Chicago and learned about Sambuca di Sicilia's 1-euro home auction in 2019. Mickey Todiwala | CNBC Make It

"From the moment that I sent in the bid and checked my email every day and found out that I won, all the way through this process, there have been 4 million moments of frustration, exhaustion, contemplation of how to move forward," Tabbone said. For Tabbone, her purchase and her journey to make the abandoned house a home has been worth it. "I never felt like this wasn't the right place for me to be, and that this wasn't the right project for me to work on or community to live in." The town also offers Tabbone a lower cost of living and a slower pace of life that makes her want to "have the focus of my life be about just personal fulfillment in general," instead of just work.

Meredith Tabbone says she's never done a renovation project like this before, but she was inspired by the work of her father, who was an architect. Mickey Todiwala | CNBC Make It
There are a number of jobs commonly associated with high salaries, like doctors and lawyers, and jobs known for low or minimum wages, like food service or customer service roles.

But the middle class may be more occupationally ambiguous, especially since a middle class income can range from $49,720 to $149,160 in the U.S., according to Pew Research's definition and based on the latest Census Bureau income data.

Pew defines the middle class as households earning between two-thirds and double the median income, which was $74,580 in 2022, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Since over half of U.S. households were estimated to be in the middle class as of 2022, Pew says, it makes sense the jobs that offer those middle class incomes would vary. But some positions and industries tend to have higher shares of middle class workers.

Armed forces workers are the most likely to be middle earners with 65% of their households in that income band, according to Pew's analysis of the Census Bureau's 2022 American Community Survey data.

Here are the 10 occupations with the largest shares of middle class workers, according to Pew:

Armed forces: 65% Maintenance, repair and production: 64% Protective and building maintenance services: 62% Office and administrative support: 62% Education: 61% Transportation and material moving: 59% Construction extraction and farming: 58% Legal, social services, arts, media and related: 55% Health care: 55% Business and finance operations: 54%

Pew determined workers' income tier based on household incomes adjusted for the number of people living in each household and the local cost of living. Shares have been rounded.

Workers in the armed forces category are most likely active duty military personnel who make up 82% of that workforce, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Pay for these occupations varies by rank and years of service and is determined by the Department of Defense.

All members of the armed forces receive basic pay and may be entitled to other compensation, such as housing and living allowances, depending on their family size, assignment duties and location.

Notably, many of the jobs that are likely to ensure a middle class salary may not require a college education.

A bachelor's degree or higher may help you earn more in nearly any field. But careers that don't require a degree can still earn lucrative salaries. You don't need a degree to join the armed forces, and several jobs in construction, manufacturing and maintenance are in-demand and can pay decently, according to a recent PayScale and ZipRecruiter report.

Plus, salary isn't everything. Careers in the military, education and health care and can help you wipe out student loan debt through Public Service Loan Forgiveness.

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Plus, sign up for CNBC Make It's newsletter to get tips and tricks for success at work, with money and in life.
US President Joe Biden hugs his son Hunter Biden upon arrival at Delaware Air National Guard Base in New Castle, Delaware, on June 11, 2024, as he travels to Wilmington, Delaware.

President Joe Biden said Tuesday he will not challenge the federal jury verdict finding his son Hunter Biden guilty on three criminal gun charges.

"As I said last week, I am the President, but I am also a Dad. Jill and I love our son, and we are so proud of the man he is today," Biden said in his first comment after his sole surviving son was convicted in U.S. District Court in Delaware.

"So many families who have had loved ones battle addiction understand the feeling of pride seeing someone you love come out the other side and be so strong and resilient in recovery," the president said.

"As I also said last week, I will accept the outcome of this case and will continue to respect the judicial process as Hunter considers an appeal," Biden said.

He added that he and first lady Jill Biden "will always be there for Hunter and the rest of our family with our love and support. Nothing will ever change that."

The message of support from the president and his family  for his son and the rule of law  contrasted with how Donald Trump and his own family responded to a New York jury's guilty verdict against the former president less than two weeks earlier.

Trump, after being convicted of falsifying business records, railed against his trial as "very unfair" and asserted it "should never be allowed to happen in the future." His presidential campaign then launched a massive fundraising push falsely claiming he was a "political prisoner" and that his trial was "rigged."

Hunter Biden said in a statement after Tuesday's verdict that he was "disappointed by the outcome" but added that he was grateful for the support he has received from his wife, Melissa Biden, and his family and friends.

"Recovery is possible by the grace of God, and I am blessed to experience that gift one day at a time," he said.

His attorney, Abbe Lowell, said, "We are naturally disappointed by today's verdict."

"We respect the jury process, and as we have done throughout this case, we will continue to vigorously pursue all the legal challenges available to Hunter," Lowell said.

The jury convicted Hunter Biden, 54, on three counts related to his October 2018 purchase and possession of a revolver while using illicit drugs. Federal prosecutors accused the president's son of lying on a form used for a federal background check when he claimed he was not using illegal drugs or addicted to them.

The verdict, delivered after just three hours of deliberation over two days, makes Hunter the first son of a sitting U.S. president ever to be found guilty of crimes. He faces a separate trial on federal tax charges in September.

Later Tuesday, Joe Biden in a speech in Washington, D.C., touted his administration's gun safety record and its efforts to strengthen firearms regulations. He did not mention his son's guilty verdict during the speech.

Biden then traveled to Delaware to meet with his son. Hunter Biden and his wife and child, Beau, showed up to greet the president, who upon his arrival embraced his adult son on the airport tarmac.

Hunter's verdict came less than two weeks after Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, was convicted in New York state court on 34 counts of falsifying business records related to a hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels.

Trump and his allies have continued to spread the claim that the Department of Justice has been weaponized by Biden against Trump, despite the incumbent president's own son being prosecuted in two federal courts.

Trump campaign spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said after Hunter Biden's verdict that the gun trial was "nothing more than a distraction from the real crimes of the Biden Crime Family."

Former Trump national security aide Kash Patel, meanwhile, called the Delaware verdict "a rare example of constitutional justice, one not where individuals receive biased treatment based on their last name."
LONDON  The experience of paying for products and services online could feel a lot different in the coming years.

Starting from 2030, Mastercard will no longer require Europeans to enter their card numbers manually when checking out online  no matter what platform or device they're using.

Mastercard will announce Tuesday in a fireside chat with CNBC that, by 2030, all cards it issues on its network in Europe will be tokenized.

In other words, instead of the 16-digit card number we're all accustomed to using for transactions, this will be replaced with a randomly generated "token."

The firm says it's been working with banks, fintechs, merchants and other partners to phase out manual card entry for e-commerce by 2030 in Europe, in favor of a one-click button across all online platforms.

This will ensure that consumers' cards are secure against fraud attempts, Mastercard says.

Users won't have to keep entering passwords every time they try to make a payment, as Mastercard is introducing passkeys that replace passwords.

It will also enable customers to make one-click payments at checkout using biometric authentication with a thumbprint.

Cards stored in a merchants' page or electronic wallet via tokenization can be automatically updated wherever they're stored when they're replaced or renewed.
Neodymium is displayed at the Inner Mongolia Baotou Steel Rare-Earth Hi-Tech Co. factory in Baotou, Inner Mongolia, China.

Mining firm Rare Earths Norway says it has discovered Europe's largest proven deposit of highly prized rare earth elements, potentially reflecting a watershed moment for both the Nordic country and the broader region.

One of the few deposits not owned or controlled by China, the discovery of continental Europe's largest rare earths deposit is considered a welcome boost in Europe's bid to break China's rare earths dominance.

Demand for rare earths and critical minerals is expected to grow exponentially in the coming years as the clean energy transition picks up pace.

Rare Earths Norway said in a June 6 statement that its Fen Carbonatite Complex in the southeast of the country boasts 8.8 million metric tons of total rare earth oxides (TREOs) with a reasonable prospect for economic extraction.

Within the TREOs, which are considered vital to the global shift away from fossil fuels, the company says there is an estimated 1.5 million metric tons of magnet-related rare earths which can be used in electric vehicles and wind turbines.

The discovery eclipses a massive rare earths deposit found last year in neighboring Sweden.

Alf Reistad, CEO of Rare Earths Norway, told CNBC that the discovery at Fen represents a "great milestone" for the company.

"It is important to state that there is absolutely no extraction of rare earth elements in Europe today," Reistad said via videoconference Monday.

One of the aims of the Critical Raw Materials Act is to extract at least 10% of the European Union's annual demand for rare earths by 2030 and Rare Earths Norway says it hopes to contribute to that goal.

Rare Earths Norway said the rare earths deposit in Telemark, roughly 210 kilometers (130 miles) southwest of Oslo, is likely to underscore Norway's position as an integral part of Europe's rare earth and critical raw material value chain.
Morgan Stanley named a new top pick which it called a "unique Nvidia proxy." That's Aspeed Technology, a Taiwan-listed fabless chip designer which Morgan Stanley pointed out is Nvidia's only supplier of baseboard management controller processors  a key component of the tech giant's artificial intelligence graphics processing unit, GB200. On top of that, the bank added, Aspeed is unlikely to face competition in the near term. "We see Aspeed as a unique NVIDIA-related play, being the sole BMC supplier for GB200 and a key supplier to help realize Omniverse adoption," said Morgan Stanley analysts in a June 7 note. Omniverse is a 3D graphics collaboration platform that Nvidia created. "We now also see more smart city and smart factory customer wins for Aspeed, including government and semiconductor fab projects. Although the current revenue contribution from non-BMC business accounts for only 10% of total revenue, we expect this to aid the overall gross margin trend," the bank added. Morgan Stanley said with an average selling price of $100 per chip, it estimates the company could enjoy gross margins of 90%. The positive outlook for cloud capital expenditure is also set to benefit the data center supply chain, according to Morgan Stanley. BMC processors are used in data center equipment. The bank estimates that cloud capital expenditure growth is set to be 44% year on year in 2024, following earnings reports from the big four hyperscalers  Meta , Microsoft , Amazon and Google . Hyperscalers are large-scale data centers that offer massive computing power and carry out much of the cloud computing for AI applications. That expected growth would be a 42-point acceleration from just 2% year-on-year growth in 2023, Morgan Stanley said. The bank increased its price target for Aspeed to 5,150 Taiwanese dollars ($159), implying upside of around 20%. International investors who want to buy the stock can go through their international broker or gain exposure to the stock through exchange-traded funds. The stock makes up 2.2% of the Global X Emerging Markets ex-China ETF.  CNBC's Michael Bloom contributed to this report.
Individual investors aren't the only ones celebrating Nvidia' s rapid ascent. The stock's rise has been a boon to employees and insiders at the chip company who own shares. In 2024 alone, the stock has jumped more than 140%. Over the past three years, Nvidia's share price has leapt nearly 580%. For long-time holders, parting with some of those holdings is leading to a windfall. Earlier this month, Tench Coxe, a member of Nvidia's board, sold 100,000 shares with an aggregate market value of nearly $120 million, according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. He acquired the shares back in 1997, prior to Nvidia's debut on the public markets, via a "purchase from issuer/option exercise," per a regulatory filing . NVDA YTD mountain Year-to-date performance of Nvidia Though this is an extreme example of the wealth tech insiders can accumulate  and it certainly isn't guaranteed  these sudden wealth events through equity compensation require considerable planning to manage the tax implications and to avoid overexposure to the company issuing shares. The latter suggestion is especially difficult for employees who have accumulated millions of dollars on paper and are tempted to continue taking the ride, even as their portfolio is heavily weighted toward their employer. "I was thinking of Nvidia and its employees and what it must be like to get stock options in companies that are up 570% in the last three years  and I love the idea of selling into strength," said Blair duQuesnay, certified financial planner and financial advisor at Ritholtz Wealth Management in New Orleans. She is also a member of CNBC's Financial Advisor Council . "You're not going to sell your shares on the absolute top day for the stock, so what you have to do is come up with a strategy that allows you some discipline," she said. Varieties of equity comp In the example of Coxe's sale, it's unclear what types of stock he was exercising. However, there are several different ways for employers to offer workers some equity. First, there are restricted stock units. So-called RSUs provide workers with shares at a future date following a vesting period of typically three to five years. Employees are subject to taxes once their holdings vest and they receive the shares. Employers can also offer incentive stock options, which allow employees to buy a specified number of shares at a stated  or strike  price. Though workers don't pay taxes on the ISOs when they're granted, they may be subject to alternative minimum tax the year they exercise the options. This AMT applies to the bargain element  that is, the difference between the strike price on the options and the fair market value of the stock. Workers who exercise their ISOs are also subject to capital gains taxes when they sell the stock they've purchased. If they follow a set of rules , including holding this stock for at least a year, they may get the preferential long-term capital gains treatment upon sale, a rate of 0%, 15% or 20%. Nonqualified stock options are another form of equity compensation. At exercise, recipients are subject to ordinary income taxes  which can have rates as high as 37%  on the "spread" or the difference between the fair market value and the strike price. There is a second tax hit  this time, capital gains  if the shares appreciate and are sold. Finally, companies may also offer employee stock purchase plans, wherein workers can buy shares at a discounted price  typically up to 15%  through a payroll election. Employees in these so-called ESPPs are also subject to certain holding periods before they sell. When to exercise, sell and diversify Though the decision of exercising stock options at work comes down to a case-by-case basis, a good time to exercise and buy might be when the stock is down slightly, according to Albert J. Campo, CPA and president of Campo Financial Group in Freehold, New Jersey. "What most financial advisors should be doing is setting up alerts for when the stock is down a couple of points, so that the bargain element is lower and it's a little cheaper to exercise," he said. "With ISOs, the question is 'How do we expose you to as little AMT tax as possible?'" The timing of share sales is also key, as well as the amount sold. "If you're realizing income, be aware of what tax bracket that will put you in at year-end," said duQuesnay. "Sometimes the gains are so high, you're going to be in the highest tax bracket and that can't be avoidable." Employees holding onto sizable equity compensation also have to consider whether their overexposure to their employer  who also provides their paycheck  subjects them to greater risk. In that case, it helps to coordinate with an accountant and a financial advisor to thin out some of those holdings through periodic sales and diversify their portfolios . Consider that pandemic darling Peloton Interactive saw its shares rise as high as $171.09 in January 2021. The company has been through considerable turmoil in the years that have followed, including slowing sales and layoffs. It ended Monday's session at $3.64. "You hitch your wagon to something you hope is going to skyrocket, but then what if it bottoms?" said Campo. "Planning is key."
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman speaks during the Microsoft Build conference at Microsoft headquarters in Redmond, Washington, on May 21, 2024. Jason Redmond | AFP | Getty Images

OpenAI plans to allow stakeholders to sell a portion of their shares every year, but the company, which has been valued at over $80 billion, is taking a restrictive approach that's raised concerns among current and former employees about the startup's power to determine who participates, CNBC has learned. Due to OpenAI's skyrocketing valuation following the launch of ChatGPT in late 2022, many early employees are sitting on millions of dollars worth of equity. With no IPO on the horizon and a price tag that makes the company too expensive to be acquired, the only way for shareholders to realize any value from their equity in the near term is through secondary stock sales. However, current and former OpenAI employees have been increasingly concerned about access to liquidity, according to interviews and documents shared internally. Those fears have intensified in recent weeks after reports that the company had the power to claw back vested equity, said people familiar with the matter, who asked not to be named because the information they shared is confidential. In an attempt to assuage some of those concerns, OpenAI recently circulated a document, obtained by CNBC, titled, "Overview and Recap of OpenAI's Tender Process," detailing how the company has conducted equity purchases in the past and how it plans to handle them in the future. The issue has become a major topic of conversation at OpenAI and among people who have recently left, according to internal documents, Slack messages and exit agreements viewed by CNBC, as well as conversations with multiple former OpenAI employees. OpenAI has told employees that it will try to hold one tender offer roughly every year, but that depends on how both the company and the market are faring at the time, a person with knowledge of the matter said. It's the latest controversy at OpenAI, which has been at the center of the tech universe for much of the past 18 months, most recently announcing a partnership with Apple on Monday to integrate ChatGPT and Siri. Backed by roughly $13 billion from Microsoft , OpenAI has an atypical "capped-profit" model, with a nonprofit as the governing entity for the for-profit subsidiary. Less than seven months ago, co-founder Sam Altman was suddenly ousted as CEO due to a conflict with the board, before being abruptly reinstated days later after an uproar among investors and loyal staffers.

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The Federal Trade Commission and the Justice Department, meanwhile, are set to open antitrust investigations into Microsoft, OpenAI and Nvidia, examining their influence on the AI industry, a source familiar with the matter confirmed to CNBC last week. And last month, OpenAI disbanded its team focused on the long-term risks of AI just a year after forming the group. That came shortly after OpenAI co-founder Ilya Sutskever and Jan Leike, announced their departures, with Leike writing in a post on X that OpenAI's "safety culture and processes have taken a backseat to shiny products." As OpenAI has grown, the company has used aggressive tactics to get employees to sign exit agreements that affect the future of their stock holdings. "If you have any vested Units and you do not sign the exit documents, including the General Release, as required by company policy, it is important to understand that, among other things, you will not be eligible to participate in future tender events or other liquidity opportunities that we may sponsor or facilitate as a private company," OpenAI wrote in the agreement, which was viewed by CNBC. The paperwork for departing employees says that in order to participate in tender events and liquidity opportunities, the person must be in compliance with "all applicable company policies, as determined by OpenAI." Last month, OpenAI announced it would backtrack on a controversial decision to make former employees choose between signing a non-disparagement agreement that would never expire and keeping their vested equity in the company. An internal memo, viewed by CNBC, was sent to former employees and shared with current staffers. The memo, addressed to each former employee, said that at the time of the person's departure from OpenAI, "you may have been informed that you were required to execute a general release agreement that included a non-disparagement provision in order to retain the Vested Units [of equity]." "We're incredibly sorry that we're only changing this language now," an OpenAI spokesperson told CNBC after the company changed course. "It doesn't reflect our values or the company we want to be." In an email sent to CNBC late Monday, an OpenAI spokesperson said, "All eligible current and former employees have been offered opportunities for liquidity at the same price in the past, regardless of where they work or what they signed at departure." The company doesn't expect that to change, the spokesperson said.

'Further questions to address'

A former employee, who shared his OpenAI correspondence with CNBC, asked the company for additional confirmation that his equity and that of others was secure. "I think there are further questions to address before I and other OpenAl employees can feel safe from retaliation against us via our vested equity," the ex-employee wrote in an email to the company in late May. He added, "Will the company exclude current or former employees from tender events under any circumstances? If so, what are those circumstances?" The person also asked whether the company will "force former employees to sell their units at fair market value under any circumstances" and what those circumstances would be. He asked OpenAI for an estimate on when his questions would be addressed, and said he hasn't yet received a response. OpenAI told CNBC that it is responding to individual inquiries. According to internal messages viewed by CNBC, another employee who resigned last week wrote in OpenAI's "core" Slack channel that "when the news about the vested equity clawbacks provisions in our exit paperwork broke 2.5 weeks ago, I was shocked and angered." Details that came out later "only strengthened those feelings," the person wrote, and "after fully hearing leadership's responses, my trust in them has been completely broken." The person then tagged CEO Sam Altman in the message, highlighting what he described as a paradox in Altman's stated effort to responsibly build artificial general intelligence, or AGI. "You often talk about our responsibility to develop AGI safely and to distribute the benefits broadly," he wrote. "How do you expect to be trusted with that responsibility when you failed at the much more basic task" of not threatening "to screw over departing employees," the person added.

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The company has also, in the past, opened up "donation rounds" to current employees, allowing them to donate a certain amount of their vested equity to charity, which brings with it tax incentives. Former employees could be excluded, as the donation rounds will likely be offered "to active employees only and are not guaranteed to happen," according to messages viewed by CNBC. Much of the discussion around future stock issues will now likely include a new voice, after OpenAI announced on Monday that it hired Sarah Friar, who was previously CEO of Nextdoor and CFO of Square, as its finance chief. OpenAI, which was founded in 2015, has held three tender rounds to date. The first was in mid-2021, the second was between April and June 2023, and the latest was between November 2023 and March 2024. For former employees, the rounds typically took place months after transactions for current staffers, according to an internal document. In at least two tender offers, the sales limit for former employees was $2 million, compared to $10 million for current employees. In addition to current and former employees, OpenAI has a third tier for share sales that consists of ex-employees who now work at competitors. Rather than being an official tender, the third group participates in "direct secondary transactions facilitated directly between the buyer (OpenAI or pre-approved investors) and seller," according to an internal document. OpenAI said in the document that the reason for separating current and former employees is to avoid delaying the sale process for existing workers and to get a sense of how much equity they want to sell before committing to terms for those who have left. OpenAI said the reason for the third category had to do with "safeguarding competitively sensitive information," since "by law, we must share certain information with all sellers and buyers in the same tender offer." "For example, in prior tender offers, we have disclosed detailed financial data, and non-public information about our Microsoft deals, even when the negotiations were still ongoing and unannounced," the company wrote in the internal document. Larry Albukerk, founder of EB Exchange, which helps tech workers with pre-IPO stock sales, told CNBC that while companies have a lot of latitude in how they handle tender offers, as long as it's written in the contract, creating an adversarial relationship with former employees can be damaging for morale. "Ultimately, employees are going to become ex-employees," Albukerk said. "You're sending a signal that, the second you leave, you're not on our team, and we're going to treat you like you're on the other team. You want people to root for you even after they leave."

Stock worth $0?

Of even greater concern, some insiders said, is language in the terms of a corporate document related to Aestas, a company OpenAI set up to manage the offerings. The document suggests ex-employees could be stripped of their equity. For anyone who leaves OpenAI, "the Company may, at any time and in its sole and absolute discretion, redeem (or cause the sale of) the Company interest of any Assignee for cash equal to the Fair Market Value of such interest," the document states. Former OpenAI employees said that anytime they received a unit grant, they had to send a document to the IRS stating that the fair market value of the grant was $0. CNBC viewed a copy of the document. Ex-employees told CNBC they've asked the company if that means they could lose their stock for nothing. OpenAI said it's never canceled a current or former employee's vested equity or required a repurchase at $0. Legal experts said OpenAI's treatment of ex-employees who leave to work at competitors could be problematic, especially in California. In April, the FTC voted to ban non-compete agreements for for-profit companies. A final rule will go into effect in September. The ban not only protects people from punishment for accepting another role, but also covers any agreement that "penalizes a worker" or "functions to prevent" a worker from working at a competitor. An attorney, who asked not to be named due to client conflicts in the space, said that OpenAI's behavior towards those ex-employees leaves a "plausible argument" for future litigation tied to the non-compete issue. Another attorney, who also requested anonymity, called it "undue pressure." "It sounds like they are playing hardball, but they would be far from the only company to act like this in the resale of their private securities," Doug Brayley, a partner at Ropes & Gray, said in an interview. "Private companies generally leave themselves a lot of discretion about how to treat the repurchase of their equity." WATCH: Cult of the founder: who is Sam Altman?
Blockchain firm Ripple has launched a Japan and Korea fund, aimed at driving innovation on the XRP Ledger as it continues to expand its presence in Asia-Pacific.

XRP is a cryptocurrency which is powered by the XRP Ledger, an open-source, public blockchain built for corporations. Ripple uses blockchain and XRP to facilitate real-time, cross-border payments.

The funds will go toward supporting corporate partnerships, developer grants, startup investments and community growth, Ripple said Tuesday in a statement. The XRPL Japan and Korea Fund is part of Ripple's commitment to 1 billion XRP aimed at providing financial, technical, and business support for developers, which was announced in March 2022.

"The launch of this fund is a testament to Ripple's strong belief in the potential of Japan and Korea as pivotal regional hubs for blockchain innovation," said Emi Yoshikawa, vice president of strategic initiatives at Ripple, according to the statement.

The expansion comes as the crypto industry faces a "hostile regulatory environment" in the U.S., Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse told CNBC earlier this month.
Passengers of Singapore Airlines flight SQ321 from London to Singapore, which made an emergency landing in Bangkok, greet family members upon arrival at Changi Airport in Singapore on May 22, 2024.

Singapore Airlines has offered compensation to passengers of the ill-fated flight SQ321, which was hit by extreme turbulence that resulted in the death of one passenger and several injuries.

In a statement on its official Facebook page on Tuesday, SIA confirmed it sent out the offers of compensation on Monday to those affected by the flight on May 21.

"For passengers who sustained minor injuries from the incident, we have offered US$10,000 in compensation. For those who sustained more serious injuries from the incident, we have invited them to discuss a compensation offer," the company said.

Those who sustained serious injuries requiring long-term medical care were offered an advance payment of $25,000 if they requested financial assistance, the airline said adding: "This will be part of the final compensation that these passengers will receive."

The Singapore-bound flight left London on May 20. About 10 hours after takeoff, the Boeing 777-300ER aircraft experienced extreme turbulence after falling into an air pocket over Thai airspace.

According to investigators, the plane plunged 54 meters (178 feet) in less than five seconds, causing injuries amongst the 211 passengers and 18 crew members on board.

The flight was forced to make an emergency landing in Bangkok where a 73-year-old British national was confirmed dead due to a suspected heart attack. Another 104 passengers were injured, a press officer for Bangkok's Samitivej Srinakarin Hospital told the Associated Press in May.
SINGAPORE  Singapore is set to become a leading gold hub as trading shifts east, according to the World Gold Council.

One key reason is that gold consumption in major emerging economies is rising, and a majority of these markets are concentrated in Asia, said Shaokai Fan, head of Asia-Pacific and global head of central banks.

Singapore's proximity to these central banks, which are actively snapping up gold, is another factor, he added.

"The center of gravity of the gold market has shifted east, with Singapore, fortuitously placed as the potential fulcrum of this new balance," Fan said at the Asia Pacific Precious Metals Conference held in Singapore.

China is the world's largest gold consumer, and its central bank is the largest buyer of bullion as the country seeks to boost its gold reserves.

Among central banks, the People's Bank of China was the largest buyer of gold in 2023.
A Palestinian girl climbs over debris a day after an operation by the Israeli Special Forces in the Nuseirat camp, in the central Gaza Strip on June 9, 2024, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas militant group. Eyad Baba | Afp | Getty Images

The United Nations Security Council passed a U.S.-drafted cease-fire deal aimed at halting eight months of bloody fighting between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. The draft of the resolution, which President Joe Biden approved, was finalized Sunday after almost a week of negotiations among members of the 15-member council. For it to pass, the resolution needed at least nine votes in favor and no vetoes by the countries that have the power to send any cease-fire proposal back to the drawing board  the U.S., France, Britain, China or Russia. China made no move to block it, and Russia abstained. "Today, we voted for peace," said the U.S. ambassador to the U.N., Linda Thomas-Greenfield. In March, China and Russia vetoed a Gaza cease-fire resolution, saying it would give Israel a green light to attack the city of Rafah. Before, it was the U.S. that vetoed three draft resolutions, two of which would have demanded an immediate cease-fire.

Biden announced on May 31 that Israel had proposed a three-part plan that would ultimately lead to a permanent cease-fire in Gaza, as well as the release of all hostages who have been held there since Oct. 7, when Hamas launched a bloody surprise attack on Israel. Israeli forces have killed more than 37,000 Palestinians, including thousands of women and children, since then, according to Gaza health authorities. Nate Evans, spokesperson for the U.S. mission to the U.N., said Sunday that it was important for the Security Council to put pressure on Hamas to agree to a proposal that Israel has accepted. "Israel has accepted this proposal and the Security Council has an opportunity to speak with one voice and call on Hamas to do the same," he said. But there already are signs that Israel may not be on board with this proposal. The dramatic rescue of four hostages Saturday strengthened Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's determination to continue the Gaza invasion rather than agreeing to a cease-fire, a senior Biden administration official told NBC News on Sunday. Hamas, on the other hand, said in a statement, in part, that it "welcomes what was included in and confirmed by the Security Council resolution regarding a permanent ceasefire in Gaza." There had been concern that because so many Palestinian civilians perished as a result of the Israeli rescue raid Hamas military leader Yahya Sinwar, who has held out against any deal with Israel despite intense pressure for a deal from Qatar and Egypt, would take an even harder line against the new cease-fire proposal. The European Union also applauded the vote. "We urge both parties to accept and implement the three-phase proposal," it said in a statement.

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Phase one of the resolution, according to the U.N., seeks an "immediate, full, and complete ceasefire with the release of hostages including women, the elderly and the wounded, the return of the remains of some hostages who have been killed, and the exchange of Palestinian prisoners." It also calls for the withdrawal of Israeli forces from "populated areas" of Gaza, the return of Palestinians to their homes, and the "safe and effective" distribution of humanitarian assistance. Phase two includes a permanent end to hostilities "in exchange for the release of all other hostages still in Gaza, and a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza." Phase three would mark the start of "a major multi-year reconstruction plan for Gaza," and the last remains of any of the dead hostages still in Gaza would be returned to Israel. The French president called a snap vote after the far right made some big gains in European "The ceasefire will continue as long as negotiations continue" and the Security Council rejects "any attempt at demographic or territorial change in Gaza." Right around the time the Security Council began voting Monday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken landed in Israel to, among other things, meet with retired Gen. Benny Gantz.

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In today's competitive landscape, attracting and retaining top talent goes beyond offering attractive salaries and benefits. Building a positive and inclusive work environment is essential for fostering employee satisfaction, engagement, and long-term commitment. Here are seven proven strategies for creating a thriving workplace culture:

Promote Diversity and Inclusion

Embrace diversity, equity, and inclusion in your workplace. Encourage respect, empathy, and a sense of psychological safety.

Aim for diversity across all levels of the organization, including leadership roles, decision-making teams, and employee resource groups. Having diverse representation can make employees from underrepresented backgrounds feel acknowledged, respected, and appreciated within the organization.

Invest in Professional Development

Support employees' personal and professional development through training, mentorship, and well-defined career trajectories. Consider establishing mentorship programs that pair individuals from diverse backgrounds with senior leaders. It's worth noting that in a survey, only 40% of respondents felt their employer was investing in their skill development.

Employers can enhance professional growth by implementing reimbursement programs for ongoing education, benefiting both employees and the organization. Creating a workplace dedicated to employees' career development and advancement opportunities is highly valued by staff.

Define Core Values

Management must articulate the core values, principles, and expected behaviors that shape the organizational culture. These values should be consistently communicated and demonstrated from the highest levels of leadership downward.

Encourage Open Communication

Establish environments where employees feel safe to voice their thoughts, concerns, and experiences without fear of reprisal. Cultivate a culture that embraces diverse viewpoints and respects individual authenticity, fostering an atmosphere of mutual respect and acceptance.

Lead by Example

Managers and leaders need to lead by example and embody the organization's values in their actions, decisions, and behavior. They serve as role models for employees, setting the tone for the workplace.

To ensure accountability, leaders should have their performance evaluations and compensation linked to the organization's values.

Recognize and Reward

Establish recognition initiatives that honor employees who demonstrate desired cultural traits and behaviors. As per Psychology Today, research shows that employees who receive regular acknowledgment from their managers for their efforts are significantly happier, underscoring the importance of appreciation in the workplace. Therefore, many companies implement rewards and recognition programs to express gratitude and motivate their employees.

Prioritize Wellness Programs

Wellness programs are initiatives aimed at promoting prevention and discouraging behaviors like inactivity, smoking, and obesity. Research indicates that over 80% of employees in organizations with such programs report high job satisfaction. Additionally, these programs can reduce absenteeism by 14 to 19%.

By implementing these strategies, organizations can create a workplace where employees thrive, leading to improved performance, retention, and overall success.
The utilization of hearing aids shows promise in mitigating the metabolic decline observed in the brains of adults grappling with mild cognitive impairment, as per findings presented at the 2024 Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Annual Meeting.

Individuals who adopted hearing aids displayed a lesser rate of decline in brain metabolism compared to those with untreated hearing loss, particularly evident in the frontal regions of the cortex renowned for their significance in executive functions or susceptibility to age-related decline.

Natalie Quilala, an undergraduate student at the University of California, Los Angeles, said "While the impact of hearing loss and use of hearing aids upon the risk of developing dementia has been studied previously, the cross-comparison between subjects with hearing loss and subjects with hearing aids and changes in brain metabolism over time have not yet been elucidated."

According to Medical Express, the study utilized longitudinal 18F-FDG PET scan data and neuropsychological assessments among subjects diagnosed with hearing loss, with and without the utilization of hearing aids, sourced from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative database. Subjects with amnestic mild cognitive impairment underwent screening for hearing impairments, with annual FDG PET brain scans archived at baseline and subsequent years.

They were then categorized into groups: untreated hearing loss, treated hearing loss by hearing aids, and a demographically matched control group devoid of diagnosed hearing impairment. Analysis of brain metabolism in 47 standardized volumes of interest from each FDG-PET scan was conducted, comparing within- and between-groups in rate-of-change analyses.

Results revealed that the hearing loss group exhibited significant annual metabolic decline in six frontal cortical regions and two superior temporal regions, whereas the control group demonstrated significant decline only in two superior temporal regions. Notably, the hearing aid group did not experience significant annual metabolic decline in any frontal cortical region.

Moreover, comparison of rates of decline indicated that multiple frontal cortical regions declined significantly faster in the untreated hearing loss group than in the hearing aid group, with no significant difference observed between the hearing aid group and the control group.

Quilala noted, "These results suggest that while hearing loss can accelerate the decline in brain metabolism that occurs in people suffering from mild cognitive impairment, this acceleration may be largely mitigated through the use of hearing aids."
Scientists have identified the genetic underpinnings of a disorder associated with intellectual disability, shedding light on a condition that may affect as many as one in 20,000 young individuals.

The disorder, characterized by intellectual disability alongside features such as short stature, small heads, seizures, and low muscle mass, has long puzzled medical experts due to its elusive nature.

Published in Nature Medicine, the findings of the study conducted by researchers led by Ernest Turro, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Genetics and Genomic Sciences at Icahn Mount Sinai and a Visitor at the University of Cambridge, offer a crucial step forward in understanding and diagnosing the disorder.

Lead investigator Ernest Turro expressed astonishment at the prevalence of the disorder compared to other rare diseases tied to a single gene. Turro emphasized the potential of these findings in aiding doctors in the accurate identification of the disorder, which could significantly impact patient care.

"Most people with a neurodevelopmental disorder do not receive a molecular diagnosis following genetic testing. Thanks to this study, tens of thousands of families will now be able to obtain a molecular diagnosis for their affected family members, bringing many diagnostic odysseys to a close," he said, Science Daily reported.

Dr. Charles Billington, a pediatric geneticist at the University of Minnesota who was not involved in the study, underscored the challenges doctors face in diagnosing such disorders, noting the difficulty in recognizing the subtle signs associated with them.

"So certainly this wasn't something that we necessarily had a name for," he said as per ABC News. "We're learning more about these syndromes that we recognize only once we are seeing the cause."

The study revealed that mutations occurred in a "non-coding" gene, which does not encode instructions for protein synthesis. This marks a departure from the conventional focus on protein-coding genes in genetic studies.

Utilizing "whole-genome" data from approximately 77,000 individuals, including 5,500 with intellectual disability from the British government's 100,000 Genomes Project, the researchers identified rare mutations in the gene RNU4-2 strongly linked to the potential for intellectual disability.

Andrew Mumford, research director of the South West England NHS Genomic Medicine Service and a study co-author, hailed the findings as a significant breakthrough, offering hope for thousands of families seeking answers.

However, Mumford stressed the need for further research to elucidate how the mutation leads to the disorder, highlighting the current lack of treatment options.

"It helps them come to terms with the impact," he said, according to NBC News. "Being able to tell someone, 'Yes, we have found the cause of development disorder in your child' is incredibly powerful."
Back in the summer of 1989, Ghostbusters II was pretty much everywhere. There were Ghostbusters II T-shirts, lunchboxes, coloring books and fast-food kids meals, complete with a free ghost in a can.

Yup, nothing goes with a burger and fries quite like a disembodied soul imprisoned by aluminum.

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And you couldnt turn on a TV without catching cast members promoting the movie, such as when Dan Aykroyd and Bill Murray guested on The Tonight Show. Although Aykroyd spent less time talking about Ghostbusters II than he did chatting with Johnny Carson about poltergeists and psychic surgeries.

But the whole Ghostbusters II cast (minus Rick Moranis and the dude from the creepy painting) appeared together on The Oprah Winfrey Show. As far as we know, its the only episode in the shows history in which Oprah shoves her hand into a bucket of psychomagnotheric slime.

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Meanwhile, Murray fielded questions about the nature of his smirk, suggesting that it was genetic, since generations of Irishmen were beaten for pig-stealing and our faces just ended up this way.

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But whats most fascinating about this particular show is the audience  specifically one audience member who appears to be a young, pre-Saturday Night Live Chris Farley. You can see him briefly when the camera pans across the crowd. Hes the one cheering excessively for Sigourney Weavers Oscar nominations.

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Theres never been any official confirmation of this  although IMDb does have him listed in the credits for the episode  but, come on, thats definitely Chris Farley, right? The timing and location certainly make sense. Oprah taped her show in Chicago, and Farley was also in Chicago in 1989. He was promoted to the Second Citys Mainstage that year, where, perhaps not coincidentally, he performed with Murrays brother, Joel.

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Oddly enough, just a few years after he caught the OG Ghostbusters in person, Farleys name was in the mix for a planned third Ghostbusters movie that never came to fruition. Reportedly, Farley was the one who inspired Aykroyd to revisit the Ghostbusters franchise after they worked together in Tommy Boy. Aykroyd envisioned a new crew of Ghostbusters, to be played by Farley, Chris Rock and Ben Stiller. And, quite possibly, this was the same Ghostbusters sequel idea that found them journeying to a Hell dimension version of New York City, and battling a Donald Trump-like character who was also the literal Devil.

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At the time, Aykroyd boasted about his casting plan: I've already talked to Chris about the casting and have told him I'll be drafting the part for him. But the project fell apart even before Farleys untimely passing because, according to Harold Ramis, the studio wouldnt greenlight the film purely due to the high salaries of Aykroyd, Murray and director Ivan Reitman.

That half second clip of Farley cheering is probably better than Ghostbusters 3 would have been anyways.

You (yes, you) should follow JM on Twitter (if it still exists by the time youre reading this).
Not that he has anything against young people

In the latest edition of the I Need To Speak To Your Manager er, Club Random podcast, Bill Maher once again hitched up his slacks and railed against the insolence of todays young people. You gotta love Maher when he channels his inner Paul Lynde.

Guest Ray Romano set Maher off when he explained that he rarely played the college circuit when he started his stand-up career. Yeah, me neither! Maher interrupted. And now, its unthinkable.

Romano agreed that Maher might be, shall we say, divisive on a college campus, optimistically predicting that you would have half this way and half this way.

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Give Maher credit  he knows far fewer than half would be on his side. Students at Just About Any University would protest before I even got on the campus, he said. I was uninvited when I was invited to be the keynote speaker at the Berkeley graduation (in 2014). And then re-invited. But today, are you kidding?

These kids? The first thing they would do is try to get me thrown (out), complained Maher, sounding like a disgruntled dad despite famously opting out of parenthood. They dont want to hear anything they dont already agree with. They dont want their minds pried open. And you know what? Let somebody else do it.

But dont worry, kids, Maher will still pontificate for those of you who want to hear his Privileged White Guy lectures. Ill do it from my perch here in L.A., Maher graciously offered. Ill be a little white tower about this one.

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Well, Maher does moan about young people a lot on his show, Romano reminded him, a nice way of saying that students have a right to be pissed off about Club Randoms dismissive, condescending attitude.

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Maher protested that he has nothing against people in their 20s, despite complaining that they wont listen to their elders 30 seconds earlier. I love kids. Theres a exuberance that you cannot quench. Theres a love of life and of possibility, he gushed before exposing his inevitable but. But Im not going to hold my tongue when they embrace stupid ideas.

From here, Maher built a straw man student with which to argue.

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STRAW MAN STUDENT: Youre old now.

MAHER: Okay. So you put zero amount of thinking into the actual point Im making. You didnt engage with the actual idea. If you did that, I would respect you.

STRAW MAN STUDENT: Youre old. Get off my lawn.

MAHER: Oh, wow. You learned a cliche about age. And you noticed Im a lot older than you, but what about the idea?

STRAW MAN STUDENT: Lets bring back communism.

MAHER: I think its a bad idea. Maybe because I remember what happened the first time, and you dont care to learn. But somehow Im the asshole.

Exactly! When a pompous podcast host makes up ridiculous arguments for imaginary opponents  congrats on winning that one-sided debate, by the way  that makes Maher the asshole.
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SARATOGA SPRINGS  Saratoga Springs saw not only a historic crowd pack Broadway for a kick-off concert to the four-day Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga Race Course but also a record-setting handle at the track.

Here are 10 numbers that summed up the week of festivities:

$125,748,941

The record-setting all-sources betting handle on Saturday, compared to other years in which a Triple Crown quest was not on the line. That was an increase of 6.3% from the previous record of $118,283,455, set last year, when the Belmont was held at Belmont Park.

$50,000,000

Officials estimated it was generated regionally for economic revenue. Many retailers and restaurants saw record business.

$250,000

The cost to put on Belmont on Broadway. The event was headlined for Blues Traveler with opening acts Tops of Trees and The Pat McGee Band.

$120,028

In paid admissions over the four days. That is almost double the amount of paid admissions for the 2023 festival.

25,000

The number of people Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce President Todd Shimkus said police estimate attended the Belmont on Broadway concert Wednesday night.

5,000

People rode the CDTA shuttles between June 5 and June 9. The organization is planning to provide the shuttle when the festival returns next year as well.

800

Between 750 to 800 flowers go into each floral blanket that is draped over champion horses including the Belmont Stakes blanket, which features white carnations. They were made by Wilton floral designer Susan Garrett.

157

Next year will be the 157th running of the Belmont Stakes, which is again expected to take place at Saratoga Race Course as construction continues at Belmont Park.

24

Stakes race made up the four-day event, with purses totaling over $10 million. The Belmont Stakes race had a $2 million purse.

17-1

A longshot competitor Dornoch took home the Belmont Stakes trophy Saturday. The favorite horse going into the race was Sierra Leone.
The surge of the populist Right in Sundays elections to the European Parliament means it must have dawned on even Keir Starmer and his Europhile Labour Party that the EU we voted to leave in 2016 is very different from the one he wants to cosy up to in 2024.

The traditional, mainstream centre-Right/centre-Left consensus which dominated the European Union eight years ago  and into which Starmer saw his reformed Labour Party fitting perfectly  is no more.

Some of Europes chancelleries are now hostile territory for the British Labour Party. Others are unfriendly or, at the very least, unpredictable.

As Labours Harriet Harman, Mother of the House of Commons until she stepped down from running again when the election was called, said to me yesterday, Starmer will have to be very pragmatic now when it comes to dealing with Europe. And that wont please a large chunk of Labour activists (many of them soon to be new MPs) who cant wait for Britain to rejoin the EU.

The tide has turned against Labours vision of a social democratic Europe with which it can comfortably do business. It is likely to be more of a headache for a Starmer government than the safe harbour into which it would like eventually to dock.

The nationalist, populist Right came top in France, Italy and Austria, tied for first place in the Netherlands and came second in Germany and Romania. Not quite a clean sweep  but nevertheless an impressive advance against the more established parties.

Keir Starmer meets Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Union Commission, in February

Teenage girls, draped in German flags, at an election campaign rally of the Right-wing party Alternative for Germany

In Germany, the ruling Social Democrats (SPD) were trounced, coming a poor third behind the hard-Right AfD, in second place.

This matters because the SPD has always been Labours most significant continental ally on the centre-Left. It even convinced Labour to look more kindly on Europe during its rabidly Eurosceptic days.

A Starmer government will find the SPD a much-diminished friend. Its leader, Chancellor Olaf Scholz, is now the walking wounded, presiding over a coalition government whose constituent parts are at war. What was left of its authority has been shot to smithereens by the election results, in which the SPDs Green partners did even worse than Scholzs party.

Labours other important European soulmates, the French Socialists, didnt fare much better. True, they showed some signs of recovery after a long spell in the doldrums  but they still managed only third place, just behind President Macrons centrist party but with fewer than half the votes of Marine Le Pens Right-wing National Rally.

Now that Macron has called a snap election for the French parliament  an unnecessary move which could prove to be a catastrophe of Rishi Sunak proportions  Labours purchase with the French political elite could be even further reduced if National Rally forms the next French government in enforced cohabitation with Macron.

I look forward to David Lammy, on course to be Starmers foreign secretary, charming his way into the good books of Marine Le Pen and a hard-Right National Rally foreign minister, the way hes now trying to curry favour with Donald Trumps foreign policy team after smearing Trump as a Nazi.

God knows what hes said about Le Pen and the NR. But theres still something of the student politician about Lammy, so it cant be good. If Trump carries the day across the Atlantic, for a foreign secretary, Lammy could be distinctly short of foreign friends.

Theres every chance the French elections will leave Macron even more of a busted flush. So the walking wounded in Berlin, and a busted flush in Paris. The Franco-German alliance has always been the driving force behind the EU but it would have all the power of a donkey with a limp.

Thats bad news for Starmer. If hes to worm Britain back into the European Unions good books, even if it doesnt mean immediate re-entry as a member, he needs a powerful Franco-German motor, not a couple of clunkers like Macron and Scholz.

Then there are Labours policies. Starmer has seen them as compliant with the Brussels consensus on everything from his partys zeal for net zero and its soft positions on immigration and free movement, to its enthusiasm for all manner of wokery. That, he hoped, would oil the wheels of a British-EU reconciliation.

But these are precisely the policies that so many Europeans rejected in Sundays elections. Support for net zero is waning fast, demands for a tougher approach to immigration grow ever louder, and resistance to further wokery is on the march.

So, far from being at the heart of the European policy consensus, a Labour Britain under Starmer would be something of an outlier.

The tide has turned against Labours vision of a social democratic Europe with which Sir Keir Starmer can comfortably do business

The populist surge in Europe is a revolt against the kind of policies that Labour so enthusiastically espouse, writes Andrew Neil

This is a particular nightmare for Ed Miliband, who as the climate change minister in a Starmer cabinet cant wait to lumber us with all manner of expensive green stuff to fulfil his net zero ambitions.

But he will be doing so as much of the rest of Europe is going fast in the opposite direction. British voters, struggling to meet the cost of Milibands obsessions, will quickly notice the difference.

Labour, though, can take comfort from the fact that the European political mainstream was not destroyed in the elections. The traditional centre-Right will still be the largest block in the European Parliament, the centre-Left the second biggest  but Labour needs to look carefully at why.

The centre-Right has had to tilt further to the right to survive the populist onslaught. Take the German Christian Democrats, once the epitome of centrist politics under Angela Merkel, who was Chancellor for 16 years and is now widely discredited.

They came first in Germanys European vote but they did so by reneging on much of their previous enthusiasm for net zero and moving to a markedly tougher stance on immigration.

Nothing that is happening in Europe will stop Labour from having its day in the sun on July 4, perhaps famously so.

But Europe is a warning sign nevertheless. The populist surge is a revolt against the kind of policies that Labour so enthusiastically espouses. Somewhere down the road  perhaps one or two or three years in, when the full flush of an historic victory has long dissipated  the same forces which are now undermining the European mainstream could easily turn on Labour.

Keir Starmer poses with Georgia Gould, head of Camden Council, and a EU flag at a rally against Brexit in 2019

Starmer with then party leader Jeremy Corbyn in 2019 after a meeting in Brussels

That is all the more likely if Britain has its own realignment of the Right. Its lethal danger for Labour was illustrated by the 2019 election, in which a combination of Brexit (a populist revolt), Jeremy Corbyn (hated by many working-class Labour voters) and Boris Johnson (who could reach the parts most politicians could not) reconfigured the Right and won a landslide victory.

The irony is that Johnson, a crucial architect of that realignment, then went on to blow it, with the consequences which will be all too obvious on July 4.

But maybe Britain was just a bit ahead of its time  and politics is full of second chances.

Nigel Farage sees that. He decided belatedly to become a player in this election because he concluded the Tories would do so badly that, post-election, they would be vulnerable to a hostile takeover by his Reform UKor a merger with the Tories which would soon turn into a takeover.

Former home secretary Suella Braverman is already saying theres not much difference between Reform and the Conservatives and that they should welcome Farage to the fold.

That will have traditional Home Counties Tories choking on their kedgeree. But there might be too few of them left to call the shots.

A realignment of the Right that produced a more populist, nativist party would undoubtedly have its more unsavoury elements. Some in the centre would be repelled, though many of them are probably no longer voting Tory anyway.

But it might also be the biggest threat to Labour down the road, which could be the catalyst that spurs it on.

The danger signs for Starmer and for Labour are already there, as even a cursory glance across the Channel confirms.
The people of Europe are in revolt. In France, following victories by Marine Le Pen's National Rally in every region, Emmanuel Macron has dissolved the lower house of parliament and called a snap election.

In Belgium, the liberal prime minister, Alexander De Croo, has resigned.

In Germany, the anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany (AfD) has beaten all three parties that form the governing coalition: the Greens, the Liberals and the Social Democrats.

The political structures of the European Union have been shattered. And, as the EU attempts to deal with unprecedented numbers of illegal arrivals on its shores, the cause is obvious.

Its voters have had enough of price rises, political correctness and eco-posturing.

The president of French far-Right party National Rally, Marine Le Pen, celebrates with her political protege Jordan Bardella last week

The only 'Net Zero' they want is Net Zero migration  and it's migration that is fast becoming the No 1 issue across the Continent.

As Rudyard Kipling put it: 'This is the tempest long foretold, slow to make head, but sure to hold.'

True, Sunday's poll was only for membership of the European Parliament. Having spent 21 years as an MEP, I know better than most people that voters tend to treat Euro-elections as a free hit.

But do not underestimate this moment.

The EU population wants action on migration. Without decisive measures, the number of illegal crossings into the continent will only grow. It is inevitable. And responses that once seemed beyond the pale for European governments will in time seem normal and necessary.

An election campaign poster for Germany's centre-Left party SPD is vandalised, with an Adolf Hitler moustache drawn on Chancellor Olaf Scholz's face and the words 'social parasite dirty pigs' and 'warmongers'

We could see the European Convention on Human Rights and the UN Refugee Convention rewritten or junked, for example. Both date from an age before cheap international travel. Both were drawn up with an eye on the monstrous persecutions that had preceded and accompanied World War II. Neither is fit for purpose in an age when billions might move across the oceans. Mass deportations now seem much more likely. There will be far greater readiness to send illicit entrants overseas.

Most of the parties that won Sunday's votes across Europe want some version of Britain's Rwanda scheme. They want to be able to send illegal migrants to safe third countries regardless of whether or not they are claiming asylum.

And we're likely to see tougher action at sea, with boats turned around or occupants dumped back on the North African beaches from which they embarked.

When the Mediterranean boats crisis first began in 2015, I spent part of the summer volunteering in a hostel for unaccompanied minors in southern Italy.

The young men stepping off the coastguard vessels almost all carried smartphones, even if they owned nothing else of value. Smartphones are the key to understanding the whole crisis.

They offer a daily vision of what a Western lifestyle has to offer  and seem to bring it within reach.

In the Netherlands, discontent has led to the rise of Geert Wilders, now the country's leader, who is known for his Right-wing populism, anti-immigration stance and opposition to Islam

They allow young men to transfer information and financial credit, enabling journeys across the Sahara and the Mediterranean that their grandparents could never have contemplated.

I mention this to show how empty is the claim, popular with people who don't want to face the magnitude of what is coming, that the migrant crisis originates solely with the way events have unfolded in Afghanistan or Libya. Or that the answer lies in making these and other countries, in Africa for example, richer.

If, one day, African nations really did catch up or surpass our living standards, that might indeed reduce their people's incentive to move.

In the meantime, the richer these countries become, the more their people will travel. It is important to stress that the election results were a victory for the Right in general rather than just for parties of the so-called 'hard-Right'.

The distinction can sometimes be blurred because, for decades, the BBC and Left-wing newspapers have used the phrase 'hard-Right' to mean 'something I don't like'.

This label has been stuck on entirely democratic and constitutional parties simply because they want to deport illegal entrants or have criticised the EU.

Right-leaning parties of every variety gained ground: Christian Democrats, free marketeers, populists, authoritarians, conservatives.

Leftists of every variety  socialists, Communists, radicals, Greens  lost.

Disgruntled farmers in Poland burn a car tyre outside parliament in protest against the EU's climate policies

This shift was not wholly about immigration, of course. No election is determined solely by one issue. A number of other factors were at play and almost all of them tended to push voters to the Right: the war in Ukraine and concerns about defence and security; the post-lockdown price rises; the cost of decarbonisation  all these things are strong suits for Right-leaning parties.

But immigration was what ultimately counted.

Where does this leave the United Kingdom? In theory, we should be better placed than the EU to cope with what is coming. We are an island. We are outside the EU's free movement rules and outside its so-called 'burden-sharing scheme' on illegal immigrants (which obliges each member state to take a proportion of the total).

Unless we make use of our freedoms, however, those advantages count for nothing  and already we can see the mood changing.

Migration is a key preoccupation for Nigel Farage and his Reform party  and they are polling strongly. Yet, bizarrely, the British electorate is poised to give a mammoth majority to Labour, the party that opened the immigration floodgates in the first place, back in the 1990s.

Sir Keir Starmer has made clear that nothing will make him reconsider our membership of the various human rights charters with which our courts frustrate deportation orders.

Starmer is in favour of rejoining the EU's burden-sharing agreement. He has also promised to scrap the Rwanda scheme, thereby making Britain attractive to migrants. The irony is that we are about to hand a huge victory to Starmer, a human rights lawyer who loves the free movement of people, and all because we are upset with the previous government  not least thanks to its record on immigration.

In fact, illegal immigration is lower here than in the EU, largely because of our unprecedentedly harsh laws.

It will fall further next year, regardless of who wins the election, as more of these laws take effect. But afterwards, as a Labour Britain becomes a haven  a soft touch compared with a tougher EU  things will turn around.

The Right has gone from strength to strength in Italy too, culminating in the election of prime minister Giorgia Meloni

My sense is that we have given little thought to what a Labour government will be like. Yes, after 14 years, we are cross with the incumbents. We are familiar with every Tory blemish.

But do we truly want to be governed by a party that will exacerbate most of the things that annoyed us in the first place? A party that is keener on taxes, codes of human rights and wokery, and less keen on public sector reform, spending restraint and border controls?

Are we really happy to have Britain as the one of the few places in Europe where there is no Rwanda-type scheme?

A country acting as a magnet for the endless numbers of 'sans-papiers' seeking to avoid deportation?

We'll find out soon enough - when we see the reality of what now faces us and the sheer scale of the response that's now required.

Unthinkable or not to our political classes, it is coming.


As two 12-year-old boys are convicted of stabbing innocent bystander Shawn Seesahai, 19, through the heart in a park in Wolverhampton, inevitably there are searching questions as to how two children  the youngest since Robert Thompson and Jon Venables were found guilty of killing two-year-old James Bulger in 1993  could have committed such a vicious and senseless crime.

Both children had a history of violent and anti-social behaviour. One was obsessed with knives and machetes, posing in a balaclava with a weapon down his trousers in classic roadman style just hours before the murder.

He captioned the photo, which he sent to his girlfriend and his co-defendant, Prison Freestyle: a reference to a track by the rapper SJ (real name Jayden ONeill-Crichlow), who, to use the vernacular, spits bars from behind bars, as he is serving time at HMs pleasure.

One of the 12-year-olds who was yesterday found guilty of murdering Shawn Seesahai in Wolverhampton in November

Just 17 at the time, ONeill-Crichlow was offered a 150,000 record deal while he was awaiting trial. In a world where a conviction for murder and life imprisonment is no impediment to a lucrative music career, you can see how an impressionable 12-year-old might conclude, as he told the jury, that owning a machete was cool.

After stabbing Seesahai so violently that the blade went through his ribs and into his heart, the boy took the knife home and washed it with bleach because, as he told the jury: I heard it on music videos when they mention it, bleaching it.

Given all that, it is tempting to blame this tragedy on the toxic culture of gang violence and drill rap that dominates certain sections of todays youth. And theres no doubt that, looking at the details of this case, that its a significant factor.

But if we really want to get to the heart of why children barely out of primary school are committing such heinous acts, we must look beyond the prevailing cultural currents and gaze deeper into the depths of our own consciences.

After all, drill rap  problematic as it may be - cant be blamed for the actions of Venables and Thompson; or those of Sharon Carr, who, also aged 12, stabbed 18-year-old hairdresser Katie Rackliff to death a year earlier, in 1992. The same goes for the internet and smartphones. None of those things existed back then. So what to blame?

Truth is, there have always been child killers, baby-faced anomalies who twist our perception of what childhood should be.

Such individuals test our faith in humanity at a deep, psychological, even spiritual level. They make us wonder about the existence of pure evil, have us questioning whether some people are simply born bad, irredeemable from the moment they first draw breath.

Certainly, when you look at someone like Myra Hindley, its difficult to argue otherwise. But when it comes to a child  thats so much harder to stomach.

Part of the problem is that we have this sentimental notion of childhood as an idyllic time of hope and wonder. And that may be true in many cases. But this notion that all children are naturally kind, sweet beings is misleading.

Children, especially when they get to that age - usually around seven or eight  where they begin to take their cues less from their primary caregivers and more from their own peer group, can be cruel and vicious, and surprisingly inventive in their unpleasantness. Just ask any teacher, or anyone who was ever bullied at school.

Left to their own devices, unschooled in the rules of civilised society or  and this is key  free from the consequences of their actions, things can very quickly descend into Lord-Of-The-Flies-style chaos.

Part of this is down to the way the human brain develops. Young children simply dont have the wherewithal to grasp instinctively that certain behaviours  biting, snatching, throwing a tantrum when they dont get their way  are unacceptable. They need to be taught.

That principle applies to everything, from understanding that stealing is wrong to crossing a road safely to realising that you cant live off energy drinks and Haribos.

That is why it is so important that we teach our children, in school, at home and at church (although these days not so much the latter), the difference between right and wrong. They rely on us to do so. Its our duty, as parents and as a society.

Listen to Sarah Vine & Andrew Pierce react to the latest news stories on The Reaction:

Swords discovered in the bedroom of one of the killers. He claimed he knew to use bleach to clean blood off the lethal blade, having heard about it in drill rap

There is no doubt whatsoever that these two 12-year-olds are to blame for the death of Mr Seesahai. They were the ones who stabbed him, kicked him and left him to die. But these children are minors. Most kids are a product of their upbringing. And who is responsible for that?

The parents.

I know one of the boys was looked after by his grandmother; the others situation is not so clear. But whatever the individual circumstances, the fact remains that these children roamed the streets of Wolverhampton, in the middle of the night, unsupervised and armed with knives. That is not the fault of the police or anyone else. Its the fault of their parents, assuming they allowed this behaviour.

And, yet, even to type those words feels slightly subversive. Weve got so used to blaming everything thats wrong in our lives on someone else  the government, the internet, social media  that to state this blindingly obvious fact feels almost wrong.

Far easier (and more woke) to blame austerity or lack of youth clubs or social services. But this isnt about money (after all, one of them managed to find the cash to buy the knife). Given these children were able to access dangerous weapons and roam at night, its about two young children failed by the very people whose job it is to do whats right for them: their parents.

Being a parent is not easy. It takes a huge amount of effort, sacrifice and hard work. It requires taking the path of most resistance with your child, rather than the easy way out.

It means exercising discipline and restraint, not only in their lives but in your own, too. Its tiresome and repetitive and exhausting, but its necessary. Not everyone is cut out for it. But if you do decide to become a parent, its your duty to take it seriously.

Of course, some youngsters need guidance less than others, which is why not all children of hopeless parents turn out to be wronguns.

But as a general rule, if you allow a child of ten or 11 to play violent video games, or listen to drill rap or watch X-rated movies, if you fail to restrict their access to the internet (and all the hardcore porn and violence that comes with it), if you allow them to roam the streets in the middle of the night armed with knives, then YOU must share the blame for their behaviour.

But we dont do that, as a society. We dont hold parents responsible for their failings towards their children. Take Labour: theyve got this plan to teach kids how to clean their teeth at school. Already weve got five-year-olds turning up in nappies because parents cant be bothered to toilet-train them: now were excusing the same parents from instilling basic oral hygiene, too.

How is that helpful? We should be teaching parents to do better for their children, not running around after them mopping up their messes and making excuses for such failures.

'Loving and protective' 19-year-old Shawn Seesahai was stabbed, kicked and left to die in the random attack

It is often said that, as a society, you get the politicians you deserve. The same is true of our children. Lazy, feckless, amoral parents lead to lazy, feckless, amoral kids.

But it is possible to stop the rot. If parents were to find themselves held even partially responsible for the actions of their offspring, I have a feeling we would see an immediate improvement in levels of underage antisocial behaviour and violence, of which this weeks tragic case is an extreme example.

In America, for example, a couple from Michigan - James and Jennifer Crumbley - were recently sentenced to ten to 15 years each after their son, Ethan, who was 15 at the time, killed four students and injured seven others at a local school.

Prosecutors said the Crumbleys failed to spot warning signs in their son and had bought him the weapon. Ill wager there are a few parents in Michigan who might just now think twice about buying their teenager a gun.

Dangle the prospect of real-life consequences and see how quickly people get a grip on their kids. Either that, or it might make people think twice about whether they are really ready, morally or emotionally, to have children in the first place.

Neither, lets face it, would be a worse outcome.

Listen to Sarah Vine share her views on the biggest stories of the week on The Reaction now, wherever you get your podcasts and on YouTube.
A couple who had planned to settle down in Chicago readily changed course after discovering the idyllic locale of Lake Iseo in Italy, going on to snap up an ultra-affordable home just steps away from the waterfront.

Kristina Knighten, 38, and Paul Cordier, 46, first met in 2014 when the pair were teaching English in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

She was from Chicago, he was from London - and they both wanted to see the world.

But, even on combined salaries as English teachers, they knew they had to be calculated in their travels, including where they ultimately decided to put down roots.

While the two loved Ho Chi Minh City, Kristina, who runs the @worldsyouroystermushroom TikTok page, told DailyMail.com that larger life expenses, like the simple cost of flying back to the United States to see her family, would mean always straining to save up.

Kristina Knighten, 38, and Paul Cordier, 46, first met in 2014 when the pair were teaching English in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam - with both sharing a desire to see the world

While the two were based out of the United Arab Emirates, they planned a 2018 road trip through Europe, which ultimately took them through Lake Iseo in northern Italy

'The salaries were enough to live very, very well in Vietnam because the cost of living is very low,' she explained.

'If you ever want to buy a house, or even just traveling back to Chicago to see my family every year, that's an expensive plane ticket. You have to really save while earning a teacher's wage in Vietnam.'

After spending about three years working in Vietnam, the couple found new, more lucrative gigs in the United Arab Emirates.

While working there, they went about aggressively saving money, with a tentative plan to buy a house in Chicago - Kristina's hometown, which Paul also loved.

Paul's hometown of London, Kristina added, was too expensive to even seriously consider.

But, on looking at options in the greater Chicago area, home prices were well into the six figures.

And the two further struggled to get approved for a mortgage, given that the UAE doesn't issues standard W-2s.

'We were in the process of like, trying to figure this out, how much can we get who would lend to us, when we took a road trip through Europe and found this place,' Kristina said.

After just a short stay on Monte Isola - the island in the middle of Lake Iseo - the couple had fallen head over heels with the area

The following year, the couple returned - with the express intention of finding a house to settle down in for the long haul

They ultimately found a gorgeous home on the northeast side of the lake, just a few minutes on foot away from the waterfront, for a mere $27,000

While the house was still furnished from the late former owner, the structure itself needed extension renovations

The previous tenant had been a 'beloved' member of the community, and locals were thrilled that Kristina and Paul were moving into the home and giving it new 'life'

On the 2018 road trip, which began in England and took them through France and Spain before they crossed into northern Italy, they'd decided to stop in the Italian coastal commune of Sanremo - but were bummed to find it overrun with tourists.

Paul did a quick Google search to find other, less well-known destinations nearby, and proposed they stay at a bed and breakfast on Monte Isola, an island accessible by ferry in the middle of Lake Iseo, only a few hours drive away.

Upon making the drive to the area - which is not on the radar of most international tourists - the two were left amazed at the natural, pristine beauty of Lake Iseo and the towns surrounding its 40 miles of coastline (not counting the island in its center).

Like many do on visiting a beautiful new place, the couple casually looked up local real estate.

'When we go somewhere, we'll just fantasize about if we could buy a property here. Like, "Let's look at what they cost," just have like a little daydream, a little fantasy life,' Kristina said.

They were pleasantly surprised on realizing how affordable the area was - and couldn't help but wonder if their fantasy life could become reality.

'We're like, "Oh, actually, we could buy something in cash right now with what we have saved in the bank, for a fixer-upper for sure,"' Kristina said.

And there was an extra appeal in not having to take on a mortgage, on top of her existing student debt.

The next summer, of 2019, they returned to Lake Iseo to house hunt - and found a gem on the eastern shore of a lake, just a few minutes by foot to both the waterfront and the train station.

Solidifying their commitment to their new home, the couple tied the knot on Monte Isola in 2022, bringing together their families as well as their newfound friend group in Lake Iseo

Of those who traveled in to Lake Iseo for the wedding, 'Everybody was like, "This is incredible. Thank you for bringing me here,''' Kristina recalled

By early May, the roof had been completed - but was still in need of new floors, plastering, plumbing and electricity

Though there are no records documenting the origins of the home, the style of a window the builders discovered plastered into one of the walls pointed to medieval-era origins

They ultimately put down 25,000 euros, roughly $27,000, all in cash for the find - and began taking steps toward a much-needed renovation.

The house spanned nearly 1,100 square feet, and originally came with two bedrooms and one bathroom, though, post-renovation, the plan is to have two bedrooms, each with an en suite bath.

As they eventually learned, the property had been the family summer home of a Belgian woman who'd passed away, whose parents were originally from the town.

She'd been 'beloved' by the community, with many reminiscing to Kristina and Paul how they'd enjoyed many a meal with her in that very home.

'Everyone just speaks about her with such love,' Kristina said.

With that, locals were ecstatic to see her old home go to a younger couple with plans to fix it back up and give it new 'life.'

'They've just been like, "We're so happy you've bought this house and you're breathing life back into it,"' she said.

The furniture and knickknacks of the home were left virtually untouched after the woman's death - and, rather that toss everything, Kristina was moved to try and preserve as much of it as possible.

'It's filled with so many beautiful treasures, lots of really cool vintage things. And, you know, it's someone's life. It felt kind of inappropriate to have it all go to the landfill, ' Kristina said in a TikTok.

As for the house's age, there's really no telling for certain - but a clue they found amidst the construction efforts indicated that at least parts of it could be well over 500 years old.

While the realtor ballparked that it'd first been built in the 1700s, in the midst of the renovations, workers discovered a window that had been plastered over, the architectural style of which pointed to medieval origins.

'We were saying, like, "How many people have looked at this window?"' Kristina pondered.

As for the vibe of the town they've settled in - which, to their relief, doesn't see a lot of tourist foot-traffic come through - Kristina described to DailyMail.com that they've been received with open arms by locals.

That said, hardly anyone speaks English, she added. While she's fluent in Spanish, and doing her best to learn Italian, most of the town's elders speak the regional, endangered dialect of Bresciano - which often leaves her in the dark.

'This word "pota," you hear it, and you hear it a lot. And we've asked our friends to explain it to us. And they're never able to give us an explanation of what it means,' the language teacher described of trying to make sense of a very contextually specific Brescian term.

Nonetheless, the two have been fast to find a new friend group among the English-speaking natives of the area.

'On our first trip here, we were just at this bar, and there was a group of Italians at a table. And my husband, he'll talk to anybody. He's like the most confident in the world,' Kristina recalled of their first time to Lake Iseo.

It sometimes feels like they've 'died and gone to heaven,' Kristina quipped

Eventually, the group invited Kristina and Paul to a boat party, and they all remained friends to this day.

Later, a translator to the architect they've been working with also became a part of their friend group.

'It's been kind of natural meeting people,' Kristina brightly described, adding that, while their 'core group' of friends all do speak English, the two hope that their Italian improves enough to connect more closely with those who only speak the native language.

In a move symbolizing their commitment to and love of the community they'd found on Lake Iseo, Kristina and Paul ultimately ended up tying the knot on Mount Isola in 2022.

For the celebration, both sides of their families flew in from Chicago, London, and beyond, and mingled with the couple's newfound group of friends in Lake Iseo.

Of those who traveled in for the wedding, 'Everybody was like, "This is incredible. Thank you for bringing me here,''' Kristina recalled.

While the two have yet to fully settle down in the house on account of the ongoing renovations, they've been renting nearby and have steady work teaching English out of the major regional city of Brescia.

Currently, it's looking like the renovations - which were more extensive than the two had originally anticipated - are going to come out to close to $100,000.

As of early May, the house had a new roof - but was still in need of new floors, plastering, plumbing and electricity.

They're hoping everything will be done by October, but are bracing themselves for a longer wait.

Regardless of the pains of renovating a centuries-old house, the couple couldn't be happier with their new Italian lifestyle.

Kristina describes mornings with coffees and croissants, and evenings of local, seasonal produce and wine. Because eating out is so cheap, the couple can also go out for a meal or a drink on a regular basis.

And, despite the language barriers, Kristina reported that the welcome they the reception they've seen as new residents of the town has been 'overwhelmingly positive' and warm.

'Our neighbor bought us like a big Italian flag and was like, "Oh, you can hang this now!" Everyone's just been going out of their way to make us feel welcome. We always joke, "Have we died and gone to heaven?"' she said.
A spokesperson for the British supermarket said the signage used in each individual store reflects the different ways they prepare bread

Tesco has been accused of misleading customers with inaccurate claims that its baked goods have been made fresh in store.

The Real Bread Campaign (RBC) has claimed that Tesco falsely claims in some of its stores that its bread is baked fresh onsite on both its signs and packaging - but the goods have actually been baked earlier in a factory and brought in.

The organisation alleges that many Tesco locations receive the bread pre-made from a factory and then defrost the loaves in ovens on-site, or as the RBC call them, 'tanning loaves machines'.

The RBC additionally claimed that Tesco states its bread is 'expertly baked' on packaging - despite branches hiring low-skilled staff with minimum baking expertise to reheat the loaves in stores.

Real Bread Campaign coordinator Chris Young said that instead of having skilled bakers and making bread fresh in store, staff now load 'pre-made products into loaf tanning salons'.

Real Bread Campaign have accused Tesco of misleading customers with the claims that bread is baked fresh everyday

The RBC claims that the supermarket is in breach of consumer protection regulations, and has lodged an official complaint with the local authority that regulates Tesco - Hertfordshire County Council.

Chris Young wrote on the charity website: 'Over a number of years, Tesco has been shutting down in-store bakeries and making skilled baker roles redundant, replacing fresh bread making with staff members loading pre-made products into 'loaf tanning salons'.

'We're saddened by the company's audacity in telling shoppers that things are being expertly, freshly baked and amazed that they've been allowed to continue making such claims.'

'To be clear, this complaint is not that Tesco is making cheap products widely available, it is about how the company is marketing them.'

A spokesperson for Tesco told Femail: 'We're proud of our colleagues who freshly bake great quality, affordable bread in hundreds of our stores - and have done so since we opened our first in-store bakery in 1968.

'In some stores where we don't have the space to bake everything from scratch, we work closely with our bakery suppliers who prepare dough for us that trained colleagues bake every day in store.

'The signage we use in each individual store reflects the different ways we prepare bread, and our approach has been agreed with our Trading Standards Primary Authority.'

Tesco has 400 of 4,942 that contain bakeries where products are made fresh from scratch.

The charity alleges that the British supermarket wrongly claims staff bake bread in store throughout the day

A spokesperson for Hertfordshire County Council told Femail: 'We have recently become aware of the issues raised by the Real Bread Campaign and are looking into the matter.'

It comes after Lidl was forced to rename one of its bread loaves after it was accused of misleading customers by calling it sourdough in a fierce row.

The Sourdough Rye Crusty Bloomer is now called the Crusty Wheat and Rye Bloomer after a customer complained in June that the 'sourfaux' was made from 56 percent wheat flour and just 12 percent rye flour.

Lidl rejected the complaint, but campaign group the Real Bread Campaign then argued the name was misleading because baker's yeast was included in the recipe, in contravention of the traditional sourdough ingredients.

Sourdough is usually made using a live 'starter' - a paste formed from flour and water that grows natural yeast and other bacteria - but Lidl's recipe sees yeast added to speed up the process.

It comes amid a fierce row over the naming of artisan breads as campaigners push for laws which dictate what can be branded as sourdough.

After Lidl initially rejected the group's complaint, the Real Bread Campaign then took their grievances to Trading Standards.

When MailOnline contacted Tesco, a spokesperson said the advertising used in stores 'reflects the different ways' the supermarket prepares bread

According to the Real Bread Campaign, on December 1 Trading Standards confirmed: 'Lidl have taken the comments on board and are changing the name of their 'Sourdough Crusty Rye Bloomer' to 'Crusty Wheat & Rye Bloomer'.'

Real Bread Campaign coordinator Chris Young said: 'We're thankful that Lidl has come up with a more appropriate name for the product but we shouldn't have to be spending our time on individual cases like this.

'Whichever party forms the next government, we urge them to introduce our proposed Honest Crust Act of improved composition, labelling and marketing standards.'

He added: 'In the meantime, we urge all bakeries and retailers to adopt the measures voluntarily, including displaying full ingredients lists of unwrapped products at point of sale, so shoppers can make better-informed buying choices.'

On social media he shared news of the result and dubbed Lidl's loaf 'sourfaux'.

The Real Bread Campaign is also pushing for bakers who sell unwrapped bread to display the loaves' ingredients, in proposed legislation it calls the Honest Crust Act.

The Real Bread Campaign have claimed that Tesco is in breach of consumer protection regulations

The act would include forcing loaves with added raising agents to be termed 'bloomer with sourdough' or 'sourdough flavour'.

A previous investigation by consumer website Which? revealed a loaf can cost up to 4 in a bakery but a fraction of this in the supermarket.

Of the 19 supermarket and branded loaves it looked at, only four got the stamp of approval for authenticity from The Real Bread Campaign in 2018.

Which? said: 'Many supermarket sourdough loaves we investigated contained additional ingredients that make it possible to complete a loaf in a couple of hours, making it cheaper to produce.

'While these ingredients aren't bad for you, or unhealthy, they are not present in traditional sourdough bread. And if you're someone who chooses sourdough because it doesn't contain added yeast, you'll want to avoid those loaves that contain it.'

A spokesperson for Lidl said: 'In a recent survey conducted by YouGov, shoppers named Lidl as their number one in-store supermarket bakery. Their love for Lidl's baked goods was reinforced further last month at the Baking Industry Awards, after being crowned Bakery Retailer of the Year.

'We continuously review and update our bakery range to ensure that we have the best offering for our customers at the lowest possible prices.'
The scandal starts as far back as 2020 - with Taylor Barton, 32, from Oregon

The publishing industry is stirring with yet another controversy - as a white author who 'pretended to be a person of color' after being accused of hurling racist 'abuse' at other writers is suspected to be publishing works under another alias.

It has sparked comparisons to the hit book by RF Kuang on BookTok - where a white author steals an Asian writer's manuscript - a novelist is under suspicion of co-opting a different identity to avoid being linked to their disgraced past.

The scandal goes back as far as 2020, when fantasy author Taylor Barton, 32, from Oregon (who also went by Taylor Brooke) allegedly bullied people on the basis of their race, many of whom came forward on social media, Fanficable reported.

Taylor, who is non-binary and is understood to go by they/she pronouns, had admitted to 'making mistakes' in an online apology, according to the outlet.

'I'm learning, growing and taking steps to interrogate my own internalized racism. Anger has always been my shield, but vulnerability is the only way I will ever learn to grow,' Taylor penned.

The scandal goes back as far as 2020, when fantasy author Taylor Barton (pictured), 32, from Oregon , allegedly bullied people on the basis of their race, many of whom came forward on social media, Fanficable reported

They added that they're 'actively reaching out to those they've hurt with apologies' as well as 'stepping back, listening to critique from their community, and doing the work to become a better person'.

The writer then revealed they would be making a one time $500 donation to The Trevor Project - an LGBT charity - and promised all future royalties earned from their book The Ninth Life will go to the organization as well.

At the time, many were confused by Taylor not specifically targeting a Black-owned initiative as part of their apology message, which was also widely badly received.

Shortly after, their publisher dropped The Ninth Life and Full Moon in Leo - the latter being written under Taylor's other pseudonym, Brooklyn Ray - and their agent also terminated their relationship with the writer.

However, as reported by Fanficable, only days later, Taylor - on their Brooklyn Ray account - appeared to go back on the apology, claiming they only issued the statement because 'their team asked them to' and 'because they wanted to move on' and 'make amends'.

However, they wrote, '"hurt feelings" is not abuse'.

When challenged by posters who said multiple people came forward to claim they were treated poorly, Taylor (as Brooklyn) claimed they 'don't give a f**k' about whether they have 'support' or not.

Brooklyn then said that people should 'show this abuse they're talking about' - while others doubled down that 'victims do not have to prove their abuse to their abusers'.

However, by December of that year, a new fantasy author - by the name of Jupiter Wyse (pictured) - was on the scene

Much like Taylor, they identified as queer - but unlike Taylor, they claimed to be 'Latinx' - and even talked about this in length on social media

In a bid for privacy, the author in June 25, 2020 wrote: 'I'm just trying to pay my bills. I'm just trying to save the substantial income I just lost, so I can stay in my apartment, feed my pets, pay for my medication and survive.

'I'm not asking for anyone to support me. But god damn, please just leave me alone.'

However, by December of that year, a new fantasy author - by the name of Jupiter Wyse - was on the scene.

Much like Taylor, they identified as queer - but unlike Taylor, they claimed to be 'Latinx' - and even talked about this in length on social media.

Furthermore, they also claimed to specifically be a 'person of colour'.

'As a diaspora, monolingual latinx person - this is really important to remember. I use Spanish in my books a lot but I use it in ways I'm used to,' they wrote in one post recounted by YouTuber withcindy.

'Little phrases. Familial words. Stolen pieces of a culture and language I'm still learning and finding.'

And Cindy explained that it went beyond the rhetoric Jupiter co-opted as they leaned into a 'Latinx' identity

In another, Jupiter slammed publishing's treatment of 'Latinx/Hispanic' writers, claiming: 'We're out here fighting an industry where our existence [is] debated at every single turn'.

Jupiter also took part in a social media publishing event aimed at helping Latinx writers find agent representation.

And Cindy explained that it went beyond the rhetoric Jupiter co-opted.

'They also really narrow down on this new identity by using dark skin emojis,' the YouTuber explained.

'Choosing a dark skin avatar and posting content that implied that they were culturally Latinx like a shot of Abuelita hot chocolate and a photo of their face covered by a sugar skull bandana.'

People who knew Taylor have online said that they had never spoken about having Latin American heritage and only claimed to be European.

But as described in Cindy's video, social media users soon began speculating that Jupiter was the same person as Taylor by comparing photos posted on the former's profile - and even comparing their astrological charts (which were identical).

'Jupiter's' agent at the time, Tara Gilbert eventually dropped the author, writing on X in March 2021: 'I recently found out my client Jupiter Wyse lied to me about their identity (see thread below). Long story short, when I offered rep and they didn't want to speak by video because of dysmorphia, I wanted to respect that. I'm a huge advocate for mental health.

'And personal security. I would never violate my clients by forcing them to do something they were uncomfortable with. Unfortunately, that also gave Jupiter/Taylor the perfect opportunity to lie to me. Not only about who they are but about.

'Their publishing history. Never once did the names Taylor Barton or Brooklyn Rae come up when I signed them. I'm heartbroken and shocked by this. Thank you to all the people who reached out to me and brought this to my attention. I have terminated my partnership with them.'

Three years later, yet another queer and 'Latinx'-identifying author is accused of being a creation of Taylor's. As reported by Lit Hub, Freydis Moon emerged on the scene in 2022.

Writer Elle Porter compiled an X thread - and a 69 page Google doc filled with screenshot - to make a case that Freydis is yet another persona of Taylor's.

Three years later, yet another queer and 'Latinx'-identifying author is accused of being a creation of Taylor's. As reported by Lit Hub , Freydis Moon emerged on the scene in 2022

Evidence suggested by the writer includes snippets of works in progress that look near word for word identical to documents shared by Jupiter Wyse's accounts years ago.

Elle also recounted confronting Freydis about the discoveries, which appeared to prompt confused and baffled reactions from the author.

According to Elle and Lit Hub, Freydis has continually denied any association to Taylor.

MailOnline has reached out to Freydis Moon for comment, who refused to directly deny that they are Taylor B. Barton/Taylor Brooke/Brooklyn Ray, stating that their identity is 'irrelevant'.

However, when asked how they feel about the furore and fallout of the controversy, Freydis said they find 'cancel-happy behavior' to be 'dangerous, unnecessary, and toxic trend in the publishing industry'.

'Many, many creatives have been policed, unfairly and unjustly demonized, and have lost careers due to rampant, widespread, and strategic "social justice" takedowns,' they continued.

'In an attempt to "protect" their communities, the facelesstypically namelessaccounts leading these charges and instigating these online dogpiles have done nothing more than attack and destabilize vulnerable people on the basis of exaggerated evidence, entirely false allegations, or petty grievances.

'While this is a setback for me, and Ive certainly lost income and readers, I will still continue to publish, rebuild, and write good stories.'

Freydis's current bio on Instagram does not state they are 'Latinx', but their pronouns are listed as 'they/el/ella'.
It's hard to say this politely, but Nicholas McCarthy really doesn't have pianist fingers.

It comes as a shock. 'People always go on about elegant pianist hands and I think 'wait till you see my sausage fingers',' he admits, holding up a surprisingly squat-looking left hand.

It is not a hand that screams 'concert pianist', he agrees. 'I have quite a small hand, and chubby fingers. But the span is quite good, which helps'.

Nicholas, 35, is indeed a concert pianist. Tomorrow he will perform with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at the prestigious Cadogan Hall in London. It will be a 'pinch-me' moment, he admits. 'A career highlight, absolutely.'

Will the audience be marveling at the leaps up and down the keyboard he is able to execute, even with sausage fingers? Yes.

But those who watch him play will be astounded by something that is impossible for most to compute: Nicholas only has one hand. Those chubby fingers on his left hand are only a minor 'disability'. He was born with the lower portion of his other arm, his right arm, missing entirely. It was not picked up in the womb.

Nicholas McCarthy, 35, has defied the odds by becoming a professional pianist - despite having one hand. He says: 'People are fascinated and I'm happy to tell them... how I manage to play'

'It came as a shock to my parents,' he admits. 'When Mum was pregnant she had all the scans, but none picked up on my hand. I think it was quite traumatic for her. When a baby is born they always say 'beautiful baby boy with ten fingers and ten toes', don't they? But I didn't have the ten fingers.'

The human reaction, in such a circumstance, would have been to assure the parents involved that while there were some avenues in life that would have been off limits to the young Nicholas  a concert pianist obviously being one of them  a fulfilling life would still be possible.

He nods in recognition. 'Yes, and I don't know what it says about me but before I decided I wanted to be a concert pianist, I said I wanted to be a chef. What is it with me and two-handed career choices? I might as well have said I wanted to be a typist.'

Well, hurrah for a psychological make-up that seems to want to make logic-defying life-choices, because he is now the only one-handed professional pianist in the world.

In 2012 Nicholas  who hadn't even had a formal music lesson until he was 14  graduated from the Royal College of Music, the first one-handed pianist in its 130-year history to do so.

In 2018, the then Prince of Wales awarded him an honorary fellowship of the College. 'He was so interested in how I managed to play,' says Nicholas. 'People are fascinated, and I'm happy to tell them.'

Some of the how-on-earth questions about Nicholas's astonishing story are answered simply by watching him in action. His hand flies along the keyboard, making leaps that no regular pianist is ever required to make. 'It's probably more acrobatic to watch,' he agrees. 'If I had my right hand, I'm sure I'd use it to steady myself, but I don't, so I have to be careful not to fall off the piano stool.'

Nicholas started off playing with his left hand and the stump of his right arm. But his professional training has involved the use of only his left hand

Although he started off playing with his left hand and the stump of his right arm ('It doesn't look possible, but I can pick out notes with the fleshy part'), his professional training has involved the use of only his left hand. His repertoire is almost exclusively works that have been written for only the left hand  and they are surprisingly numerous. 'Most people aren't aware, but there are more than 3,000 of them  enough to keep me busy for my lifetime.'

His great hero  and inspiration  is pianist Paul Wittgenstein, who lost an arm while serving in the First World War, and made it his mission to continue to play, commissioning leading composers to write works for him. 'I've never known what it is to have two hands, but can you imagine being a pianist and having to come to terms with that? Wittgenstein's story is epic. There should be a Hollywood film about him.'

Ditto with Nicholas. His life story is incredible, his attitude beyond inspirational.

He agrees that he broke 'every rule in the book' to become a professional musician: 'Not just to do with my hand. I didn't come from a musical background. I didn't come from money. But, in a way, I wonder if that helped. I simply didn't know there were barriers in my way.'

Nicholas grew up in a 'very ordinary' cul-de-sac in Surrey, with both parents in sales. They might have been shocked when he arrived without his right arm, but 'they never made a big deal of it'.

'To this day there really aren't that many things I can't do  apart from tie my shoelaces, which I've never mastered even though I've seen other people with only one hand do.' He laughs at my astonishment that he can show such dexterity, yet can't master a shoelace single-handedly.

'I know. I can play piano concertos but I can't tie my own laces. I'm pretty shameless about just asking other people to do them for me.'

There was no classical music in his house. 'Growing up, I remember my parents singing pop songs while doing the dishes, but classic music? No way. It wasn't our world.'

There was one CD in his parents' collection that acted as a gateway into another world for him, though: violinist Nigel Kennedy's version of Vivaldi's Four Seasons. 'I would listen to it over and over, and that was the gateway really. Then I started to seek out classical music on the radio.'

Nicholas had a toy keyboard as a toddler, but had to wait until he was 12 before he got his first proper instrument

While Nicholas had had a toy keyboard as a toddler, there was no piano (or violin, or trumpet) in the house, but when he was about 12, his parents bought him a 'proper' keyboard. 'We couldn't afford a real piano, and there would have been nowhere to put it anyway,' he recalls.

He started to teach himself, picking out 'tunes' he had heard on the radio. 'I was playing with my hand and my little arm,' he says, waggling the right arm which ends so abruptly. 'I worked out that I could play individual notes, even pick out a scale.'

One day his father yelled up at him to turn the radio down. 'I shouted back: 'The radio isn't on. This is me.' There was a stunned silence, then his parents were at the bedroom door, looking in. 'Then they said: 'Maybe we need to get you piano lessons.'

He cites his parents' can-do attitude as the major factor here. 'They never said to me 'you can't', not for anything. You'd be able to see it in the faces of others that they didn't expect you to be able to do 'ordinary' things.

'I saw it when I was the first in our little group to be able to ride around our street on a bike without stabilisers. Some of the mums had tears in their eyes.'

So, a piano teacher was enlisted. Nicholas says: 'We got in touch with a local who taught someone at my school. She was very young, a music student herself. She reminded me of Alicia Keys. I thought she was cool.'

What on earth must that young teacher have thought  especially given that no one told her before she arrived at the house that her new pupil only had one hand?

Tomorrow Nicholas will perform with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at the prestigious Cadogan Hall in London

'No one mentioned it. The first time she was made aware was when I opened the door to her. Poor thing. But she was amazing. She came in and I played Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata for her  the slow movement.

'When I looked round she had a tear running down her cheek and at the time I thought: 'Oh God. Was I that bad?' But she was obviously moved by what I was doing.'

Over the coming weeks, this young teacher worked with Nicholas and got him ready to sit formal piano exams, which required not only pieces 'which I could work out my own technique to play', but formal scales.

He has vivid memories of his first exam, where the examiner 'looked at my cardigan, where one sleeve was obviously empty, and said: 'Are you in the right room?'

Still, he passed with distinction. So he kept taking the exams. 'I went up to grade 4. The scales got harder to execute, but I was still managing. Then we reached the point where my teacher saw I had something and suggested I apply to a music school.'

He did. And it was here that he experienced a first: a door shutting firmly in his face. His initial request to audition specified that he had only one hand. 'I spoke to the head of that school on the phone myself, and she refused to even let me audition. She didn't want to see me or hear me play because I wasn't right for her school.

'At the time I was so wounded. I had the wind knocked out of my sails. I literally stopped playing. I remember I didn't play for a few weeks. Then something inside me bubbled up, and I thought 'no'. That night I filled in an application to audition for the Guildhall.'

The Guildhall School of Music's Junior School only admits students after a rigorous audition. 'I didn't tick the 'disabled' box on the form because I wanted to actually get in the room to be judged.'

He auditioned, playing Mozart's Fantasia in D Minor. He was 16 years of age, and still didn't even own a piano. 'Yet they said yes. I was in.

'My parents bought a piano and  this shows how little we knew  it had to go in the conservatory because there was nowhere else it could sit. That's usually a no-no because of the temperature extremes.'

Does he still think back to the teacher who refused to even hear him play with anger? 'No. The 34 year-old me is glad she rejected me. It taught me a valuable lesson about overcoming obstacles. And, besides, I went on to a better school.'

It was on to another chapter  and not an easy one.

He admits he felt like a fish out of water at the Guildhall, not so much because of his disability, but because his eyes were opened to how privileged some other children's lives were. 'Every other student there was from a private school. For some of them it literally was that daddy's helicopter was dropping them off on a Saturday morning.'

Over the next two years he made incredible progress, but there was always a sense that there would be a ceiling for him.

The most promising students here would go on to audition for Conservatoires. He says he was not encouraged to do this. 'In fact, I was warned against it. I did have quite a tough time there. I was always aware that there were certain members of staff who thought I should not be there. I admit myself that there were holes in my technique, but that was more because I had not been playing since I was three, like most people had.'

Nicholas recalls that his first proper teacher was reduced to tears when he played her Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata

Without support, he applied for the next stage himself, and was promptly accepted to every music college he auditioned for, including the Royal College of Music.

'I will never forget the moment I received that offer,' Nicholas recalls. 'It was my dream. I was offered scholarships to other Conservatoires, and this one had no scholarship attached, but I still wanted it because the RCM is one of the best music colleges in Europe.

'And it was the best decision because they welcomed me, worked with me and said they were happy for me to educate them, too,. I had to say, from the off: 'I can't give you a Beethoven Sonata, but I can give you this alternative piece, written for the left hand, which is equally challenging.'

Nicholas's parents were among the first recipients of the album he recorded in 2015. They were in the audience when he played at the iconic Queen Elizabeth Hall earlier in the Spring, and they will be there again when he gives another career-defining recital, playing Ravel's Piano Concerto for the Left Hand with the RPO at Cadogan Hall.

There will be perhaps an even more significant moment in the summer, too. The ABRSM  the largest of the UK's music examination boards  will roll out a programme for young pianists who only have one hand. Nicholas has worked on it with them.

'These kids will know from the off that if they want to play the piano, they can,' he says. 'And if seeing me do it helps them, then I am glad.'
Queen Paola appears to have accidentally hinted as to how she voted in Belgium's European Parliament election over the weekend.

On Sunday, the European royal, 86, was seen arriving at the Laeken polling station near her home in Brussels with her husband King Albert.

The mother-of-three looked elegant in a camel jacket, floral silk scarf and grey trousers while the former King - who abdicated in 2013 - was smart in a navy suit and matching cardigan.

As she stepped out of her car, the former Queen was pictured holding a handkerchief to her face.

In pictures published by local news outlet HLN, the royal's handkerchief appears to have 'MR' and '2 Wilmes' written on it in black pen.

Pictured: King Albert and Queen Paola seen arriving at Laeken polling station in Brussels to cast their vote

Politician Sophie Wilmes was the most senior member of the centre-right Reform Movement (MR) party to run in the EU Parliament Elections.

However, it is not known if these were Queen Paola's own notes and whether she did vote as this would suggest.

The politician was the Prime Minister of Belgium from 2019 to 2020 before serving as the minister for Foreign Affairs.

Although the ballots are still being counted, the MR party have secured 12.6 per cent of votes at the time of writing.

King Albert and Queen Paola weren't the only royals to exercise their civic duty on Sunday - as the couple's grandchildren were also seen at the same polling station hours later.

Crown Princess 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.

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.

Pictured: Queen Paola of Belgium seen submitting her ballot paper on Sunday at Laeken polling station in Brussels

Politician Sophie Wilmes' surname appeared to be written on the back of Queen Paola's handkerchief on Sunday

Crown Princess Elisabeth, 22, smiled as she submitted her ballot paper over the weekend in Brussels

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

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.

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.

In 2010, King Albert had to mediate between political leaders on the formation of a government after the election did not result in a clear winner.

Between 2010-2011, the country set a world record for going 589 without a government. 11 political parties were elected to the Chamber of Representatives - but none of them won more than 20 per cent of the seats.

In October 2020, King Albert's love child with Baroness Sybille de Selys Longchamps was officially recognised as his daughter

The statement came after Princess Delphine had had a 'warm meeting' with her half-brother King Philippe (pictured) at the Castle of Laeken

Following their wedding in 1959, King Albert and Queen Paola were plagued with divorce rumours throughout the 60s and 70s.

In 1968, King Albert fathered daughter Delphine with the aristocrat Baroness Sybille de Selys Longchamps, whom he had an 18-year affair with.

In 2020, Princess Delphine was officially recognised as the love child of Belgium's former king, something the aging monarch had fought tooth and nail to avoid ever since paternity rumors became public in 1998.

Delphine had revealed in October 2020 that she last spoke to Albert in 2001 and said at the time she 'expects nothing more'.

A joint statement said: 'On Sunday 25 October a new chapter, rich of emotion, peace of mind, understanding and hope was begun.

'During our meeting in Castle Belvedere each of us, in serenity and empathy, managed to express their feelings and experiences.

'After the uproar, the suffering and the injuries, it is now time for forgiveness, healing and reconciliation.

'Together we have decided on this new path. This will take patience and effort, but we are determined.

'These are the first step in a path that we will walk in peace. Delphine, Paola and Albert.'

The statement came after Princess Delphine had had a 'warm meeting' with her half-brother King Philippe at the Castle of Laeken.
Long Lost Family viewers have slammed the Catholic church for the 'horror inflicted' on children born out of wedlock and given up by their mothers due to fear of being ostracised.

The new series of the ITV1 tear-jerker Long Lost Family: Born Without a Trace followed Thomas Yeo, 59, from Nottingham, who was found in the waiting room of Reading Station on October 15, 1965. He was left well-dressed and tucked under a bench with a spare nappy and bottle.

He enlisted the help of the programme to find out more about his start in life. The team eventually discovered the identity of Thomas' mother Margaret, known as Peggy, from Dublin. In a heartbreaking discovery, Thomas learned that Peggy had given up all four of her babies.

It is now thought that Peggy has died, meaning Thomas will never know the real reason why he is a 'foundling'. However, Ariel Bruce told the show: 'Peggy could have never been allowed to stay in that area. To be an unmarried mother at that time would have been a great disgrace'.

After learning about Thomas' family history, viewers have criticized religion for the impact it may have had on 'foundling children', and one said: 'Religion has so much to answer for.'

Long Lost Family viewers have slammed religion for its impact on 'foundling' children after learning of Thomas and Martina's beginnings (Pictured: Thomas meeting his first cousin Martina for the first time)

Another added: 'Rage inducing thinking about the horror inflicted on so many Irish women by the Catholic church #longlostfamily #mothersndbabyhomes'

A third person said: 'For many of those women, abandoning a baby where they would be found was better than the alternative.' A fourth added: 'Religion really has a lot to answer for doesnt it #longlostfamily'.

'So  no birth control allowed but the women who got pregnant were viewed as fallen and shunned,' another said.

A sixth wrote: 'LLF consistently highlights two points of culpability: One, men, often married; two, the Church, often Catholic. Between them, they've created so much misery, and got away scot free.'

Mothers giving birth out of wedlock was considered a disgrace in Ireland during the 1990s, and by 1998, more than 50,000 women had their babies taken away from them or put up for adoption, according to DW.

In addition to the stigma around sex before marriage, abortion and contraception were also prohibited.

Growing up, Thomas had always known he was happily adopted, but it was only when he became a father himself that Thomas decided to find out more about his start in life - and was shocked discover he had been abandoned as a two-week-old.

He enlisted the help of ITV's Long Lost Family: Born Without Trace, with the team eventually discovering the identity of Thomas' first cousin, Martina Evenden.

Growing up, he had always known he was adopted, but it was only when he became a father himself that Thomas decided to find out more about his start in life - and was shocked discover he had been abandoned as a two-week-old. Pictured, Thomas (right) with his adoptive siblings

He enlisted the help of ITV 's Long Lost Family: Born Without Trace, with the team eventually discovering the identity of Thomas' first cousin, Martina Evenden. Pictured, a young Martina

Astonishingly, Martina explained how she was found on the steps of a church in Dublin two years after Thomas, in 1967, after being left there when she was only a few hours old.

In emotional scenes, the pair met one another for the first time, with Thomas sweetly saying: 'Even if we don't find anything, we've found each other at least.'

Extraordinarily, Thomas started his search with a description of the woman thought to be his mother, with a police report from 1965 saying witnesses saw a woman at around 3pm that day carrying a baby.

She was described as 25-years, five foot eight or nine and wearing a full-length brown coat and a brown hat.

It was reported she had bought a ticket to Bristol, but when police searched the train, she was nowhere to be found. This was all the information Thomas had about the start of his life before asking the Long Lost Family team for help.

Thomas was aware that he was adopted growing up but was clueless to the fact that he was a foundling; it was only when he had his own children that the 59-year-old decided to explore his family tree.

He told the ITV programme: 'A social worker came to see me, and she gave me a sort of sucker-punch that said, "actually, you're a foundling."

'It was just a total shock because, I knew I was adopted, but it almost meant, that's full stop. I have a birth certificate that says, "mother unknown and father unknown." I don't have anything at all.'

Thankfully, the team of researchers eventually found Martina in Dublin, who also knew nothing about her biological family.

She said she was left at only a few hours old, adding: 'I was wrapped in a black mac coat, blood still on my body. Abandoned. There was nothing else, nothing else with me.' Martina was taken inside the church and baptized.

Viewers have taken to X, formerly Twitter, to share their thoughts, and one said: 'religion really has a lot to answer for'

Returning to the church as an adult, Martina revealed: 'I'm actually proud of my birth mother. She left me in a safe place to be found. And that means an awful lot to me. Because I'm here and I'm still alive. Thanks to her.'

Martina was adopted and grew up in Dublin, not far from where she was left. As soon as she could, at 16, she tried to look for her birth parents, and thats when she found out there was no information about them.

Thomas and Martina met in Dublin, with Martina saying: 'I never thought this day would come. This is the closest thing Ive ever had.'

She said: 'I've never met anybody who has been in the same boat as me or who is biologically related to me.'

The pair attempted to work out how their parents were related and continued the search for information.

'Even if we don't find anything, we've found each other at least,' Thomas said, after the cousins shared a hug.

The search for the pair's family continued, with the team revealing that Martinas birth father, Joseph, was the brother of Thomas birth mother, Margaret (Peggy).

Peggy - who never had any other children and moved to Australia - has sadly died and there is no record of Joseph since the early 80s with the family believing that he has also died.

In emotional scenes, the pair met one another for the first time, with Thomas sweetly saying: 'Even if we don't find anything, we've found each other at least.' Pictured, Martina

Extraordinarily, Thomas (pictured) started his search with a description of the woman thought to be his mother, with a police report from 1965 saying witnesses saw a woman at around 3pm that day carrying a baby

The siblings came from a very conservative family, ruled by strict values of the church, according to Maria, the cousin of Thomas and Martina, who was vital in giving information about the family to co-host Nicky Campbell.

The team also discovered Thomas birth father, Stephen, who has sadly died, and so has Martinas birth mother, who was, strangely, also called Peggy.

But both had more children, giving Thomas and Martina half siblings, who were all keen to meet the pair.

Thomas father was married to another woman at the time of his birth, which potentially explains why his birth mother felt she couldnt keep him.

Meanwhile, Martinas birth mother had three other children before her, all born in mother and baby homes.

Martina was shocked and saddened at the news, saying: 'Maybe she thought that by leaving me she thought she was saving me. She didnt want me to go into one of those homes.'

She was given a photo of her mother and the news that her eldest sister was going to meet her, off camera.

The search for the pair's family continued, with the team revealing that Martinas birth father, Joseph, was the brother of Thomas birth mother (pictured), Margaret (Peggy)

Martina (pictured left, with Davina McCall), meanwhile, said: 'Ive been through so many brick walls, but the brick wall got knocked down, found what Ive been looking for. I can actually go and tell people now who I am.

'Mother at last, rest in peace, at least I have a photo of you now. God Ive just wanted this for so long, I cant believe it,' admitted Martina.

Elsewhere, Thomas was told how his birth mother was a nanny and was given photos of his birth parents before heading to Ireland, where he met three of his paternal half siblings.

'It must have been terrible for her if she loved children and not to be able to keep her own child. Its only sadness that Id like to have told her that I've had a really brilliant life,' he said.

On meeting his siblings and cousin, he added: 'It's amazing, really, to have all this family that I never knew about.'

Martina, meanwhile, said: 'Ive been through so many brick walls, but the brick wall got knocked down, found what Ive been looking for. I can actually go and tell people now who I am.

'I need to thank Thomas for this because until he started his search, thats where the link got to me, and I wouldnt be here finding out all Ive found but because of him, I have.'

Long Lost Family: Born Without Trace is on Mon 10th, Tues 11th and Weds 12th June at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX
Queen Letizia of Spain is back to business as she arrived for awards ceremony in Madrid following her trip to Guatemala.

The mother-of-two, 51, looked sophisticated as she donned a lavender suit as she attended the 'Euros de tu nomina' (Euros from your paycheck) event on Tuesday.

The Spanish royal completed her outfit with casual trainers and a white blouse under her stylish oversized blazer.

The former journalist kept things simple when it came to her jewellery, sporting her favourite Coreterno ring, which is engraved with AMOR CHE TUTTO MOVE, meaning Love Moves Everything.

Letizia wore her shiny signature brunette locks down in a straight, sleek blow dry and opted for glamorous makeup, featuring a smoky eye and pink lip gloss.

Queen Letizia of Spain looked sophisticated as she donned a lavender suite as she attended the 'Euros de tu nomina' (Euros from your paycheck) event on Tuesday

'Euros de tu nomina' is a call promoted by Santander Bank workers, who created a fund to help finance different social projects.

It comes after Letizia travelled to Guatemala on a solo three-day trip to learn about various projects where Spanish cooperation works.

It was her ninth trip made to give visibility to the programs that Spanish cooperation develops in areas considered a priority.

She was all smiles as she spent the second day of her trip to the Central American country at the San Jose de Chacaya school.

The royal was unafraid to get stuck in with students and chatted with young children in the classroom while they wrote on white boards.

After visiting the school, the royal took to a water, sanitation, child malnutrition and women empowerment project in the same area.

Her royal trip came after journalist Jaime Penafiel, 91, launched a fresh attack on the European Queen with his new book 'Letizia's Silences', which was was published in Spain last week.

Following his first best-selling book 'Letizia & I' (which alleged that Letizia had an affair with her ex brother-in-law Jamie del Burgo), the veteran royal reporter claims in his latest work that Felipe was 'aware' of his wife's alleged infidelity 'in real time'.

The Spanish royal completed her outfit with casual trainers and a white blouse under her stylish oversized blazer

Letizia wore her shiny signature brunette locks down in a straight, sleek blow dry and opted for glamorous makeup, featuring a smokey eye and pink lip gloss

In January, Jaime Penafiel was sacked by the Spanish newspaper El Mundo after 20 years following a series of damaging allegations made in his first book 'Letizia & I'.

His best-selling book alleged that Queen Letizia had an affair with her ex-brother-in-law Jamie del Burgo. The Spanish Royal Household refused to comment on the claims at the time.

In his latest work, Jamie claims that Felipe was 'aware that Letizia was cheating on him in real time' as her bodyguards have an obligation to report on her whereabouts.

The author alleges that bodyguards joined Queen Letizia on a trip she took to New York in 2011 with her 'lover' Jaime del Burgo, whom she had dated before meeting Felipe.

The author wrote: 'That day [in New York], she was accompanied by her faithful escorts, who, without a doubt, any, they would pass a report to the Ministry of the Interior or [the Palace of] Zarzuela.'

Following this, Jaime claims that Felipe has been left 'crushed and destroyed' by his wife's alleged cheating.

The royal reporter - who worked for Hola! magazine for 20 years - claims that Felipe has been 'plunged into hell' by his wife's supposed 'betrayal' and 'wants to get out'.

Elsewhere in the book, Jamie labels Queen Letizia 'cold, emotionally immature and passive aggressive' and makes unsubstantiated claims she is 'hated' by King Felipe's family.

Jaime Penafiel, 91, was sacked by the Spanish newspaper El Mundo after 20 years earlier this year following the publication of first book on the Queen called 'Letizia & I'.

The Spanish Queen got stuck in with student culture during the visit and sat at a wooden desk with other pupils

The 51-year-old appeared animated as she observed children's clothing at the market stalls in San Jose de Chacaya

Letizia visited Guatemala to learn about various projects in the country where the Spanish cooperation works

The book sent shockwaves through the Spanish Royal Family after the author alleged that the Queen had a romantic relationship with her ex-brother-in-law Jaime del Burgo. The Spanish Royal Household refused to comment on the claims at the time.

Following his dismissal, the veteran journalist has now written another book - called 'Letizia's Silences' - which begins by delving into her early romance with King Felipe.

In the opening chapter, the author sensationally claims that 'everything in Letizia's world has been broken' as a result of alleged 'deceit, adultery and betrayals'.

The author goes on to say Queen Letizia has a 'cold, indestructible and determined' aura about her and that the royal's silence on the recent allegations signify her 'emotional immaturity'.

Jaime claims the royal 'resorts to silence as a way of controlling and punishing other people'.

He then goes on to claim that Letizia's 'passive aggressive' behaviour towards King Felipe is the reason her 'mother-in-law [Queen Sofia] and sisters-in-laws [Infanta Cristina and the Duchess of Lugo] hate her so much'.

In the following chapter, Jaime alleges that King Felipe fell in love with his future wife while watching her present the news.
Eric may have only landed on Netflix less than two weeks ago - but it's already become one of the streaming platform's most popular series.

From May 31 to June 6, the TV drama - starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Gaby Hoffmann - has been watched for over 1bn minutes, beating Bridgerton and Dancing for the Devil to the top spot.

The six-part psychological drama, which is set in 1980s New York, follows a desperate father's search for his missing nine-year-old son Edgar.

As the show progresses, Vincent (who is the creative director of a puppet show seemingly inspired by Sesame Street) convinces himself that getting Edgar's blue monster puppet on the air will result in his son's safe return.

However, the series - which has been dubbed an 'A+' by viewers - appears to share haunting similarities with a real missing child case from this time that only came to a close in 2017.

Pictured: Benedict Cumberbatch and Gaby Hoffmann play parents whose son Edgar goes missing in Netflix's new series Eric

Pictured: six-year-old Etan Paltz, who vanished while on his way to his school bus stop in Soho in May 1979

In May 1975, six-year-old Etan Patz disappeared when he was walking to his school bus stop in Soho, lower Manhattan, alone for the first time.

The heartbreaking case gripped the US and Etan became one of the first missing children to appear on the back of milk cartons.

Speaking to the Radio Times, the show's creator Abi Morgan - who also wrote The Split - explained how she felt 'haunted' by missing children stories as she looked after a young boy in New York only a couple of years later.

She said: 'I dont think it was ever based on one specific case, but I think in choosing to go back to that time, I wanted to go back to that very vivid period in history where, obviously, there were those cases.

'But in many ways, it was more a kind of shout-out to those cities where kids can go missing. At the heart of the show is Vincents belief that "I want to live in a world where a child goes out into the world and can come home safe".'

Here FEMAIL looks back at the tragic case of Etan Patz and how his family spent 38 years looking for answers.

Etan's disappearance

Etan Patz was born in October 1972 to commercial photographer Stanley and his wife Julie, who ran a day-care centre. The couple also had daughter Shira and son Ari, who were eight and two when Etan disappeared.

Pictured: Julie and Stanley Paltz standing on the balcony of their Soho loft, one year after Etan's disappearance

Pictured: six-year-old Etan Paltz before his disappearance in May 1979. He was one of the first children to appear on the back of milk cartons in the US

On 25 May 1979, six-year-old Etan Patz was allowed to walk two blocks to his school bus stop for the first time.

He left his family's loft on Prince Street at 7:50am and was planning on walking two blocks to catch the bus on the corner of West Broadway and Prince Street. Google Maps says this walk takes just one minute.

Speaking to the LA Times in 2015, Julie explained how the Patz household was particularly busy that morning as they'd had a neighbour's child stay over.

Recalling how Etan pressed her to walk alone, Julie explained: 'I capitulated and said OK, you can walk to the school bus.'

The mother-of-three says she accompanied Etan downstairs and watched as he headed up the street. Julie later said in court that she reminded Etan that he needed to come straight home from school too.

On the day he disappeared, Etan was wearing a Future Flight Captain pilot cap, blue cord jacket, jeans and sneakers, with his outfit later being recreated on the missing person posters

Pictured: Ivan Howe plays missing child Edgar in Netflix's new show Eric, which has similarities with the story of Etan Patz

Julie says Etan was holding a $1 note and was going to stop off at a nearby bodega to buy a soda before getting on the bus.

He was wearing a Future Flight Captain pilot cap, blue cord jacket, jeans and sneakers, with his outfit later being recreated on the missing person posters.

The youngster's best friend, Chelsea Altman, later said the store at 448 West Broadway in Soho was a spot where parents felt comfortable letting their children roam unaccompanied, adding that it was a 'friendly place'.

In 2015, residents described how the bodega had been a 'safe haven' and children were told to go in if they needed help or to wait there for bad weather to pass.

In 2017, Pedro Hernandez - who was 18 and working as a clerk at the bodega - was jailed for 25 years for slaying Etan Patz.

Hernandez told police that he offered Etan a soda to get him into the basement of the store where he worked and then choked him before putting him in a box which he left with a pile of curbside trash. Etan was still alive at the time, according to Hernandez.

During Hernadez's trial in 2017, Julie says Etan was 'totally outgoing and trusting of everyone'. She said: 'Everyone that he met once was his friend and was a nice person.'

Although the mother said Etan craved independence, she added: 'At the same time he was very fearful of being lost or left alone by himself.'

Etan is reported missing

Pictured: Stanley Paltz and his son Ari seen holding a picture of Etan in their Soho home in May 1985

When Etan did not return home from school around 3:30, Julie called Chelsea Altman's home.

The six-year-old's best friend - who lived across the street - informed Julie that she had saved a seat for Etan on the bus but he never arrived at school.

After this, Julie called Stanley at work before then reporting Etan's disappearance to police.

Cops and police dogs quickly descended on Lower Manhattan - and Julie recalled during the 2017 trial that their family home resembled a 'police headquarters'.

Speaking to The Guardian in 2009, Julie and Stanley described how some journalists clearly felt 'awkward' asking them how they were feeling.

The mother claims one photographer said to her: 'Would you mind working up a few tears for me now?

'So I don't have to come back and bother you again when they find the body?'

As photographer Stanley had a number of images of Etan, the portraits began appearing on milk cartons to publicise the case and one featured on a Times Square billboard.

Pictured: Julie and Stanley Patz seen arriving at Manhattan Supreme Court on April 18, 2017, for the sentencing of Pedro Hernandez

Julie and Stanley treated as suspects

Initially, detectives treated Julie and Stanley as suspects in the case - but this was quickly ruled out.

During Hernandez's trial, Julie said women in her neighborhood criticised her for playing and laughing with her children just months after Etan vanished - suggesting she was somehow involved.

She also became emotional when she started describing the impact the case which has spanned three decades has had on her children.

'My daughter and my son, this has been almost their entire lives,' she said. 'It's very difficult to continuously try to regain a sense of normalcy in your daily life (while having it) constantly being pulled out from under you with new developments in the case, new leads or whatever.'

Pictured: the bodega on 448 West Broadway in Soho, where Etan went to buy a snack for school on 25 May 1979

Pictured: Stanley Paltz outside New York's Supreme Court. The father-of-three has since moved to Hawaii with his wife

She then spoke about the role she played in pushing the issue of missing children into the spotlight, saying she initially hadn't meant for it to happen.

'This was not my intention, but the opportunity arose as more and more parents of missing children called me and asked me, 'How do you do it? How do you keep going?'' she said.

'I would talk to them. I started doing talk shows around the country, both to encourage political change in how this country addressed missing children.'

After the coverage surrounding her son's disappearance died down in the 1980's she shied away from the spotlight. Her husband Stan started making most of the appearances in public.

Elsewhere in her Guardian interview, Julie recalled how a group of mothers once said to her: 'How terrible you must feel, especially since it was all your fault.'

Jose Ramos

Pictured: Jose Ramos, who was the chief suspect in the disappearance of Etan Paltz. The sex offender had dated Etan's former babysitter

In the 1980s, Jose Ramos became the chief suspect in Etan's disappearance - as he had a link to the Patz family via a former babysitter.

The sex offender - who had previously been jailed for the sexual abuse of two boys - initially told police he attempted to molest Etan but denied killing him.

He dated the six-year-old's babysitter and while imprisoned in 1991, he told officers he knew every stop on the school bus route - and specifically which stop Etan got off at.

In 1982, several boys accused Ramos of attempting to lead them into a drain pipe near his home.

After searching the drain pipe, officers discovered photographs of Ramos with young boys, who bore a resemblance to Etan. However, there was never enough evidence to charge him for kidnap.

When Agent Thomas MacDonald took over the case in 2007, the detective said he wanted to move away from the theory Jose Ramos was responsible as he had a habit of earning children's trust before molesting them.

Pictured: Stanley Paltz in April 2017. The photographer was convinced Jose Ramos was in some way involved in his son's disappearance

The FBI have not been able to find any witness that can establish any form of relationship between him and Etan.

'If you look at that pattern of behavior and apply it to Etan, you have to assume there will be a prior relationship, and its just not there,' the official told the paper.

Ramos served 27 years in a Pennsylvania prison for the rape and molestation of three young boys in the 1980s. Shortly after his release in 2012, he was rearrested for breaking sex offender registration laws, and returned to prison.

While incarcerated, a jailhouse snitch told authorities that Ramos had confessed to him that he knew what happened to Patz. However, it wasn't enough evidence for prosecutors to pursue charges.

Although Ramos was never charged in relation to Etan's disappearance, Stanley Patz was convinced the paedophile was involved in some way.

The father told The Guardian he sent Ramos old missing child posters on the anniversary of Etan's disappearance for years, writing on the back: 'What did you do to my little boy?'

Othniel Miller

Undated photo of Othniel Miller, who was at one point a suspect in the disappearance of Etan Paltz

In April 2012, the FBI turned their attention to carpenter Othniel Miller, whose ex-wife had accused him of raping their 10-year-old niece. Othniel, who lived near the Patz family in Soho, has always denied this allegation.

Julie Patz was said to have told agents to look again at the handyman, who befriended Etan before he vanished and hired Jose Ramos to do odd jobs for him.

Miller's workshop doubled as a children's playroom at the time. There are no parks near SoHo, so parents banded together and installed tile and painted the walls.

During one interview, agents claimed Otheniel grew aroused while he looked through a book of images of children, according to The New York Times.

When authorities told him cadaver dogs picked up the scent of human remains at his basement, he allegedly blurted out: 'What if the body was moved?'

Paper, strands of hair and other 'possible' bits of forensic evidence were unearthed during the excavation of the basement but 'nothing conclusive' emerged.

Pedro Hernandez

One day before the 33rd anniversary of Etan's disappearance in 2012, Pedro Hernandez confessed to killing Etan Patz.

Pictured: Pedro Hernandez around the time he confessed to killing Etan Paltz. He was 18 in 1979 and worked in the bodega

After telling police he had strangled Etan in the basement of the Soho bodega, Pedro said: 'Something just took over me.'

He had been reported to police by his brother-in-law Joe Lopez as he believed Pedro was some way involved in Etan's disappearance.

Hernandez's family claims Pedro confessed to them and their New Jersey church decades before.

His sister Norma Hernandez told CBS News that she reported her brother to Camden Police in New Jersey in the 1980s.

She said: 'As soon as I found out, as soon as I heard what was going on, I went to the police station.'

Even though Hernandez confessed, there was no physical evidence or eyewitnesses linking him to the crime - and Patz's body has never been recovered (it's suspected it was hauled to a landfill).

Despite digging up the former bodega's basement, police were unable to find any remains.

Another challenge prosecutors faced was Hernandez's mental state - according to his attorney, the convicted killer suffers from schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

In August 2014, Pedro pleaded not guilty to the murder of Etan. However, Manhattan state Supreme Court Justice Maxwell Wiley ruled his taped confession from 2012 could be used in the case, finding that he was properly advised of his rights and capable of understanding them - although his attorney insisted that Hernandez was mentally ill.

This case ended in a hung jury after all but one member voted to convict Hernandez after 18 days of deliberations.

In February 2017, Hernandez was convicted of felony murder and acquitted of intentional second-degree murder by the jury, meaning that the jury believed he did mean to kill the boy. He was sentenced to 25 years to life for the killing.

During the trial, the defence team had tried to suggest that Etan's imaginary friend 'Johnny' was actually Jose Ramos.

Pictured: exterior shot of the building the Paltz family lived in until 2019. The property was located on Prince Street in Lower Manhattan

Julie and Stanley Paltz sold their Soho loft for $3.75m in 2019 - two years after Pedro Hernandez was sentenced for killing Etan

Etan's father Stan openly wept in court as the verdict was read aloud, and was comforted by some of the jurors from the last trial who came to hear the verdict.

He said in a statement: 'The Patz family has waited a long time, but we've finally found some measure of justice for our wonderful little boy, Etan.

'That this man, Pedro Hernandez, is guilty of doing something really terrible so many years ago.

'I am truly relieved, and I'll tell you, it's about time. It's about time.'

In 2019, Stanley and Julie Patz sold their Soho loft for $3.75m and moved to Hawaii to be near their son Ari.

'They are moving on... to a beautiful place to share whatever time they have left with their child and their grandchildren,' a neighbour told the New York Post at the time.

In their 2009 Guardian interview, Julie and Stanley said everything they went through brought them closer together.

She explained: 'I know it strengthened our marriage. We were embattled. It was our experience, not anyone else's, and we had to get through it together.'

The disappearance of Etan Patz also improved legislation around missing children - including parents and schools needing to report absences.
A British man has revealed how he was approached by travelling salesman on a rowing boat while on a cruise on a Nile.

The man, who goes by Donny Knight, from Doncaster, was enjoying the view of the Egyptian river from his balcony bedroom when two men approached the side of the boat.

After tendering their boat to the cruise ship, the men began trying to sell him clothing, saying they had a great deal on a Jellabiya - a traditional Egyptian robe.

Posting to TikTok, Donny explained: 'I'm in my room and someone is shouting up a the window. They've hooked up to the cruise ship.

The men on the ship then modelled the clothes they're trying to sell, explaining that there are two pieces and the robe is available in black and white.

'What on earth are you doing?' Donny asked, before the man threw the robe into his room.

The man then threw a bag into the room and asked for 100 for the robe.

Donny countered with an offer of 10, which the sales man eventually agreed to.

Donny then chucked the bag of cash back to the rower, before they travelled across the river to another cruise ship.

It's not unusual for textile traders to travel up the Nile and attempt to sell their goods.

The video quickly racked up four million views and thousands of comments.

'I've seen the movie Captain Phillips.... There's noway I would've opened my door. I'd have ran around the ship shouting 'we're being attacked by pirates,' one wrote.

'I need to know what happens if you don't pay lol,' said another.

The man, who goes by Donny Knight, from Doncaster, was enjoying the view of the Egyptian river from his balcony bedroom when two men approached the side of the boat

Donny then chucked the bag of cash back to the rower, before they travelled across the river to another cruise ship

Donnny then brought the Jellabiya - and negotiated the price down to 10

'OMG, this happened to me on the Nile cruise. They tried to throw me a dress and I didn't catch it, it fell in the water,' added one.

'Respect to the men trying to earn a living,' joked another.

'What's their return policy if it doesn't fit,' questioned one.

'I would've paid 100 for that just for the memory and experience of this,' joked another.

'Chloe I cannot believe the casual conversation going on in such strange circumstances,' said one.

Deemed boat-to-boat salesman, many westerners on cruise ships have been approached and shared videos online.

Donny then modelled his new clothes for his TikTok followers

One travel blogger recently wrote that he was relaxing on the top deck of his cruise ship when he saw travelling saleman appraoch.

Loons, who is based in London, wrote: 'Ahead of our cruise ship was a small blue rowing boat with two men on board. We were heading straight for them. It would be a close call.

'Yet there was no fear on their faces. They said a few words to each other and readied themselves. It was obvious they were used to this and they were up to something.

'I wasn't sure quite what their venture was, but I discounted piracy as this was the Nile, not the Red Sea, and rowing boats are not ideal for a quick getaway.'
Fans of Netflix's psychological thriller Eric have raved over the 'A+' show after it left a mark on them - but many may also be racking their brains to remember where they have seen one of the series' stars before.

Gaby Hoffmann, 42, from New York, impressed viewers with her performance in Eric as Cassie Anderson, a grief-stricken mother searching for her missing child.

The six-episode limited series simultaneously follows Cassie's husband, played by Benedict Cumberbatch, 47, as he battles his demons on the dangerous and intoxicating streets of '80s New York in a race to bring home his missing son.

But the show's plot is not the only thing that has caused a stir, because viewers have just discovered that Gaby was the star of a popular Hollywood film at the age of four.

In 1989, Gaby starred in the hit comedy series Uncle Buck as the youngest daughter of characters Bob and Cindy - Maizy Russell.

Eric actress Gaby Hoffmann (pictured in May) starred in a popular comedy series in 1989 at the age of four, can you guess which?

The film follows a laid-back Uncle Buck (played by John Candy) as he babysits his brother's disobedient daughter and sweet younger brother (played by Macaulay Culkin) and sister (played by Gaby Hoffmann).

After starring in Uncle Buck, Gaby went on to secure several impressive roles, including as Caroline Sackler in HBO's The Girls.

However, it is her role in Eric that has dazzled viewers, with the show coming third in the UK Netflix charts.

While the series is not based on a real-life story, inspiration for the show comes from creator Abi Morgan's own experiences of living in New York and seeing the faces of missing children appearing on milk cartons.

Speaking in an interview with RadioTimes ahead of the show's release, Morgan, 56, cited personal experiences of encountering cases of missing children in the UK and US as something that helped her to write the show.

Morgan said: 'Well, I mean, weirdly actually, I think growing up in the UK in the '80s, I remember being haunted by those stories of children who had gone missing, and then when I went to New York, I looked after a young boy in New York in the mid-'80s.

'While I was out there, I saw the milk carton kids and the missing persons. So that has always been very haunting.'

Gaby plays a grief-stricken mother in the new Netflix limited series alongside Benedict Cumberbatch

Gaby (pictured) made a name for herself as a child actress in the hit comedy series Uncle Buck from 1989

Gaby starred alongside Macaulay Culkin (left), Jean Kelly (back centre), and John Candy (centre) in Uncle Buck

Directed by John Hughes, the Hollywood comedy followed Uncle Buck as he babysat his brother's children

She added that Eric was not based on a real or specific case that she had witnessed herself but that she wanted to explore the time period of 1980s New York.

Morgan also said that she wanted to bring attention to instances of children going missing not just in New York - but in towns and cities across the world.

She continued: 'I guess that's the kind of callout at the centre of the show, is that we all want to live in that world - but unfortunately, there are monsters in the most surprising places.

'I guess that's what's at the heart of Eric, this quest for a father to find his son, but also a man who's then having to explore the monsters in himself and the city he's grown up in.'

In the Netflix production notes for the series, Morgan also informed the platform of research she had undertaken regarding pertinent social issues in the 80s, highlighting the outbreak of AIDS, and topics such as homelessness and institutional racism.

She also drew a comparison between the contemporary struggles faced by citizens living in 1980s New York - such as strikes and corruption within the New York Police Department - as being evident, in her eyes to that of the Metropolitan Police in the UK.

Morgan was also full of praise for Netflix for being open to airing a show that explores the case of a missing person.

When Edgar (Ivan Howe, pictured) disappears on his way to school in the streets of 1980s New York City , his parents are left grieving and hopeless

Edgar's absence forces the father to come face to face with his demons as he trails the dangerous streets of the Big Apple to find him

Desperate to find his son, the self-loathing father believes if he manages to get his son's drawing - Eric - on air, then he may come home

She explained to Netflix: 'When I pitched the idea of a New York puppeteer on a quest to find his missing son, with a seven-foot-tall blue monster in tow, it's to Netflix's eternal credit that they jumped on board.'

Morgan added: 'Eric is a deep dive into the '80s Big Apple, grappling with rising crime rates, internal corruption, endemic racism, a forgotten underclass, and the AIDS epidemic, exposing the divisions rife between parents searching for their child, a detective battling with a system that is broken, and a lost boy who may never come home  and asks where the real monsters lie. With puppets lots of puppets.'

Speaking about the show in an article published on the official Netflix website, Cumberbatch said that he perceived Vincent's journey to be a 'huge odyssey to go on in six episodes.'

Delving into the character of Vincent, he added: 'He starts to bring home his vanity, his idiosyncrasies, his ego, and all kinds of toxic behavior, which affects how he overlooks his kid and how abrasive he is in a marriage which has [already] had 10 years of pretty tumultuous moments of infidelity, arguing, and disconnection'.

Elaborating on the decision to make Benedict unrecognisable from more familiar looks in his previous roles, director Lucy Forbes said: 'That's why his hair is grown out, he's got a beard, and we put glasses on him'.

'Not only for the time period, but also to make him feel like Vincent as much as possible.'
Queen Maxima of the Netherlands looked stylish in an all-red ensemble as she was photographed in Atlanta, Georgia.

The 53-year-old royal and her husband King Willem-Alexander are currently on a four-day trip to America, arriving in the country yesterday.

During the working visit, the royal couple will follow their appearance in Atlanta with trips to Savannah, Albany and New York City.

Arriving in Georgia on Monday, Queen Maxima and King Willem-Alexander were received in the State Capitol by the state's governor Brian Kemp, with whom they spoke about economic cooperation between the Netherlands and Georgia.

They also visited the Martin Luther King Center, where they laid a wreath on the grave of Dr King and his wife Mrs Coretta Scott King.

Queen Maxima of The Netherlands is photographed as she visits Atlanta on the first day of a four-day working trip to the States

The 53-year-old royal looked eye-catching in an all-red ensemble, which she accessorised with her diamond, opal and ruby flower brooch (pictured)

King Willem-Alexander of The Netherlands and Queen Maxima are snapped while visiting the Beltline multifunctional walking path

During their visit to the Martin Luther King Center, the royal couple laid a wreath on the grave of Dr King and his wife Coretta Scott King (pictured)

King Willem-Alexander (pictured, left) and Queen Maxima (pictured, right) are pictured laying their wreath

Mother-of-three Maxima wore an eye-catching ensemble for the day's outing, wearing an all-red outfit, including a knee length fitted dress with a cape.

She paired the frock with a pair of suede heeled pumps in the same hue, as well as coordinating accessories including gloves, a clutch bag, and fascinator.

Her jewellery included her diamond, opal and ruby flower brooch, which was created at the end of the 19th century by jeweller Eduard Schurmann & Co in Frankfurt, after being commissioned by Queen Emma.

Maxima's blonde locks were styled into a classic up do, showing off her earrings that featured a round-shaped centre diamond surrounded by smaller stones.

Meanwhile, she kept her make-up simple, opting for a natural matt base, with peach blush, a pink lip, and brown smokey eye.

Her husband was equally dapper, opting for a two-piece navy suit, with a single-breasted blazer, white shirt, and pale blue tie.

After visiting the King Center, which opened in 1968, and promotes Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.s methods and philosophy of non-violence, the couple went to the adjacent Ebenezer Baptist Church, where Dr. King preached.

There, they met with representatives of the church community and attended a seminar with young people led by Rev. Bronson Woods.

The royal couple (pictured) had a day packed with engagements as they kicked off their four-day visit to the USA in Georgia yesterday (pictured)

The King and Queen also took a walk through Atlanta's BeltLine (pictured), a network of public parks and multi-use trail and transit infrastructure

Among their outings, the couple visited Patchwerk Recording Studios, which has hosted artists like OutKast, 2Pac, Beyonce and Madonna who have all recorded albums there

Also on the agenda was a visit to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (pictured) where the couple were given a guided tour

Queen Maxima is pictured in protective goggles during a tour of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Among their other engagements on Monday, the King and Queen also took a walk through the BeltLine accompanied by Atlantas Mayor, Andre Dickens.

The Atlanta BeltLine is 'a network of public parks and multi-use trail and transit infrastructure, built on the site of a 35-kilometre former railroad corridor', according to the Netherlands Royal Family website.

They received a briefing on the themes of a healthy living climate and affordable housing, and discussed opportunities for partnerships with the Netherlands.

King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima also visited Patchwerk Recording Studios. Hip hop is a major cultural and economic force in Atlanta, and this famous studio has been used by artists such as OutKast, 2Pac, Beyonce and Madonna who have all recorded albums there.

Their afternoon was equally action-packed, with a guided tour of automated cold-storage warehouse NewCold and a trip to the headquarters of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

There, they met with researchers and scientists to discuss health issues relating to the changing climate.

During the evening, Queen Maxima and King Willem-Alexander went to Atlantas High Museum of Art, where they were given a tour of the exhibition Dutch Art in a Global Age.

The exhibition features over 100 paintings, prints, maps and decorative art objects from the 17th century and first half of the 18th century, by key Dutch artists from the period including Rembrandt, Jacob van Ruisdael and Frans Hals.

After a long day of engagements, the royal couple (pictured) made their way to the High Museum of Art for a tour and reception

The royal couple (pictured, left) attend a reception after being given a guided tour of The Dutch Art in A Global Age Exhibition at Atlanta's High Museum of Art

Queen Maxima of The Netherlands, Mayor Andre Dickens and King Willem-Alexander at a reception at the High Museum of Art

Queen Maxima changed into a champagne blouse and matching skirt for her evening appearance at the High Museum of Art

'The works on display are considered in the context of global exchange and colonialism,' says the Netherlands Royal Family website.

Their final appointment of the day was a reception at the museum, where King Willem-Alexander gave a speech.

Here, the royal couple met American companies that have operations in the Netherlands, as well as key local partners.

For the evening engagement, Maxima changed into a different outfit, opting for another single-toned ensemble.

She paired a champagne-toned long-sleeved blouse with a matching-coloured skirt, and accessorised with coordinating heeled pumps and clutch bag.






Gypsy Rose Blanchard's estranged husband Ryan Scott Anderson has opened up about how he helped her adjust to the outside world following her release from prison, revealing the Munchausen by proxy victim didn't even know how to use an iPhone after eight years behind bars.

Gypsy, 32, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for her part in the killing of her abusive mother, Claudine 'Dee Dee' Blanchard, in 2015, and spent nearly a decade locked up before she was granted early parole and released in late December.

While incarcerated, she and Ryan, 38, a special education teacher from Louisiana, grew close after he started sending her letters - and they decided to tie the knot in July 2022, while she was still in prison.

Ryan was by her side when she was freed - but just three months later, news hit the web that they had split.

Now, Ryan has spoken out about what the first few weeks after nearly a decade behind bars was really like for her to the Today show - and how he assisted in getting her accustomed to her newfound freedom.

Gypsy Rose Blanchard's ex Ryan Scott Anderson has opened up about how he helped her adjust to the outside world following her release from prison. They're seen in January

Gypsy, 32, plead guilty to second-degree murder for her part in the killing of her abusive mother Claudine 'Dee Dee' Blanchard in 2015, but was released in late December

He also dished on their sudden and 'hard' divorce, admitting that he was 'blindsided' by 'how fast' things changed between them.

While chatting with the publication, Ryan recalled moving in together after years of managing their relationship while she was in prison, and he explained that it was certainly an adjustment.

'I've known her for a long time... we had been talking for years. May [was] four years that we've known each other,' he dished.

'Living with Gypsy is different than talking to her on the phone - that's definitely different. But what you see is what you get with Gypsy.'

Gypsy's release was documented in the new Lifetime series Gypsy Rose: Life After Lock Up, which premiered last week, and Ryan admitted that 'learning how to be in this world' together while 'being filmed the whole time' was 'definitely a culture shock.'

He recalled helping Gypsy with basic things that she wasn't used to - like using an iPhone.

'Those are some of the things that I love, those moments between me and her. She's trying to figure out her phone and I'm an Android guy,' he said.

'I got her an iPhone and so sometimes, she'd ask some questions I wouldn't know how to answer.

Ryan was by her side when she was freed - but just three months later, news hit the web that they had split. They're seen together on the day of her release

Now, Ryan has spoken out about what the first few weeks after nearly a decade behind bars was really like for her to the Today show - and how he assisted in getting her accustomed

'I cherish moments like that, where she didn't know how to do something and I had to show her how.'

Gypsy spent her childhood posing as a wheelchair-bound invalid after mom Dee Dee shaved her daughter's head, pumped her full of drugs and convinced the world she was suffering from leukemia and muscular dystrophy.

He recalled helping Gypsy with basic things that she wasn't used to - like using an iPhone, explaining, 'I cherish moments like that, where she didn't know how to do something and I had to show her how'

Their 'inseparable' bond ended when Gypsy burst free of her warped mom's control in 2015 by letting her besotted internet boyfriend, Nicholas Godejohn, creep into their Springfield, Missouri, home to stab 48-year-old Dee Dee to death.

When Gypsy was arrested for the murder, the case completely captured the nation. And almost immediately after her release, she became a social media sensation, gaining a legion of followers who wanted to know every detail about her life after prison.

While Ryan said it was 'cool' that she 'got so many followers so fast,' he admitted that it was 'shocking' for him.

'It was definitely eye-opening to see how fast it just blew up. That was a shocking surprise,' he stated. 'I just couldn't believe it.'

He also recalled being 'followed' by photographers for 'hours,' which he described as 'insane.'

Gypsy announced that she and Ryan had separated on her private Facebook page in late March.

It was then reported that she had reconciled with her ex-fiance Ken Urker, who she was briefly engaged to while she was in prison.

Gypsy announced that she and Ryan had separated on her private Facebook page in late March. They're seen together before their split

It was then reported that she had reconciled with her ex-fiance Ken Urker, who she was briefly engaged to while she was in prison. She's seen with Ken in prison

Ryan reflected on the split to Today, explaining, 'It was like, she was here one day and the next she was gone. 'She wanted to be married, and and now she doesn't. It's just crazy'

Ryan reflected on the split to Today, explaining, 'It was like, she was here one day and the next she was gone.

'She wanted to be married, and and now she doesn't. It's just crazy how it all happened like that.

'I probably know her better than anybody else in the world. She was more than just that person to me. I didn't look at her as what she did as who she was.

'I'm still in reflection and processing mode. A lot has happened. It's hard to wrap my head around a lot of things that have happened because I mean, when I say I'm blindsided, I really am blindsided about how fast things progressed.'

He added that the divorce had been 'hard on both of them,' but that he had 'no regrets.'

'I don't have any regrets really, as far as my actions and what I did. I stand by everything I did and said,' he concluded.

'Gypsy's still in the process of finding herself, and I hope she does.'

Ryan previously spoke about it to DailyMail.com, and he said the news of her reuniting with her ex 'came out of the blue.'

'I'm not doing well with it. For me it just came out of the blue. I had no idea she still had such strong feelings for him,' he said.

'I haven't spoken to her, so I just don't know what's going on. I'm at a loss. I'm really not doing well at all.'

During an interview in late May, Gypsy insisted that there was 'no intimacy' between her and Ken and that he was simply being a supportive friend  despite her previously sharing a kissing selfie with him on Instagram.

'People need to understand that Ryan and I had been in a relationship for three years. In those three years we had been through a lot of ups and downs,' she said. 'Sometimes relationships just take [their] course.'

When asked if she 'regretted' marrying Ryan, she added, 'I regret getting married while I was still in prison. I don't regret the relationship.'
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Beauty and skincare lovers are cottoning onto a little-known ancient ingredient that has a multitude of beneficial health and wellness uses.

Well-being and natural beauty retailer Heartwood is embracing the goodness of Indian Sandalwood, an ingredient revered for thousands of years by cultures and religions all over the world for its unique nutritive properties.

Founder Alex Wilson, from Perth, has developed a range of 'clean' beauty products under Heartwood which is loved by celebrities including Megan Gale and Julie Bishop.

Each product utilises the potential benefits of Indian Sandalwood known as 'liquid gold' which has been found to brighten, tighten, cool, protect the skin and calm the mind.

Beauty brand Heartwood is embracing the goodness of a valuable ingredient revered for thousands of years by cultures and religions all over the world for its unique properties

Founder Alex Wilson (pictured), from Perth, has developed a range of 'clean' beauty products under Heartwood loved by celebrities including Megan Gale and Julie Bishop

Out of all the varieties of sandalwood, Indian is the most prized due to its high concentration of alpha santalol which is responsible for its alluring woody scent.

'There are compounds within the oil in the heartwood of sandalwood that have this ability to make you feel really calm and grounded. So they really relax the nervous system,' Alex explained.

'Those compounds are called santalol and Indian sandalwood has about three times the volume of than any other standard wood in the world, making it the most superior of all the species of sandalwood.'

Indian Sandalwood is said to relieve dehydrated skin and treat dry skin conditions such as eczema, to restore moisture and radiance.

It also has properties that can work as an anti-inflammatory to cool, soothe, and soften the skin, bringing down redness and irritation, and alleviating symptoms of rosacea and eczema.

'It's really good for breaking down pigmentation and sunspots. It's very good for acne-prone skin because it's extremely antibacterial, antimicrobial and antiviral. It also works as a spot treatment,' Alex explained.

'It's very stringent as well so it can tighten pores, fine lines and wrinkles. There's nothing it doesn't do. It's a dream ingredient.'

Each product utilises the potential benefits of Indian Sandalwood known as 'liquid gold' which has been found to brighten, tighten, cool, protect the skin and calm the mind

Seven benefits of Indian Sandalwood for the skin Hydrating : Can relieve dehydrated skin and treat dry skin conditions such as eczema, to restore moisture and radiance. Anti-inflammatory : Known to cool, soothe, and soften the skin, bringing down redness and irritation, and clinically proven to alleviate symptoms of rosacea and eczema. Anti-oxidative : Said to out-perform Vitamin-Es antioxidative potency, repelling free-radicals to prevent signs of premature ageing. Anti-proliferative : Stimulates cell-cycle arrest, encouraging the regeneration of healthy skin cells, resulting in more balanced, younger looking skin. Anti-tyrosinase : Found to lighten and brighten the skin by inhibiting the over-production of melanin. Anti-septic : Can defend against bacteria, sandalwood helps to reduce and prevent acne, enlarged pores and congestion. Astringent : Can tighten the look of pores and fine lines. Advertisement

Alex has always had a 'fascination' with the versatile resource as her family started farming it when she was young in the Kimberley, Northern Territory and northern Queensland.

It takes 20 years to grow one tree with Indian Sandalwood which is found in the 'heartwood' of the trunk.

'I've always been surrounded by this beautiful, fragrant wood. It's always been a dream of mine to bring Indian sandalwood to life in a contemporary way to the Australian market,' Alex said.

'My goal with Heartwood was to really educate a modern audience about the beautiful benefits of this sacred wood and create something that was truly meaningful.'

Heartwood's luxurious range of Indian sandalwood products includes serums, oils, candles, face masks, scented pillow slips jewellery and perfumes.

In 2019, Alex opened the Heartwood store in the beachside suburb of Cottesloe where shoppers can browse the range as well as buys from 'some of the best natural beauty brands in the world' carefully selected by her.

In 2019, Alex opened the Heartwood store where shoppers can browse the range as well as buys from 'some of the best natural beauty brands in the world' carefully selected by her

Alex has always had a 'fascination' with the versatile resource as her family started farming it when she was young in the Kimberley, Northern Territory and northern Queensland

Customers can also create their own perfumes and book in for a range of lavish treatments including facials and massages performed by experienced beauty therapists.

Australian politician Julie Bishop paid Heartwood a visit to create a custom perfume and frequents the store to get regular facials.

Model Megan Gale is a supporter of the brand and has been spotted in the Indian sandalwood Mala beads.

Heartwood's Royal Collection is a premium line of Indian Sandalwood products and has made its way into many fans' skincare cabinets.

The $95 Royal Revival Hydration serum has a lightweight formula made to deeply replenish and hydrate the skin, diminish the look of fine lines and wrinkles and instantly plump on the first application.

The Royal Oil for $140 was one of the first products Alex developed for Heartwood and is perfect for those with age spots, sun damage, dullness, uneven skin tone and dryness.

Heartwood's Royal Collection is a premium line of Indian Sandalwood products and has made its way into many fans skincare cabinets

Its benefits for the skin are complemented by the heavenly and calming scent and aided by natural ingredients including frankincense and jojoba which is rich in Vitamin E.

You can smell like a dream with the $95 Royal Oil body and hair nourishing hydrating perfume oil made to de-stress and renew the skin, hair and senses.

You can smell like a dream with the $95 Royal Oil body and hair nourishing hydrating perfume oil made to de-stress and renew the skin, hair and senses

The $95 buy acts as both a perfume and a skin treatment to use on the neck, decolletage, ends of hair, arms, legs and all over to experience the deeply nutritive properties of Indian sandalwood.

Heartwood's Royal Treatment Sheet Mask for $20 can help shoppers test out the benefits of Indian sandalwood on their skin.

The single-use treatment can calm, brighten and hydrate the skin and is formulated to visibly reduce discolouration and redness, smooth uneven texture, and deliver intense moisture.

It's not just the skin that can experience the luxury of sandalwood. Heartwood has a fragrance range to make any home smell like a calming sanctuary.

There is the $95 King of Woods Indian Sandalwood Candle as well as a pack of Indian Sandalwood incense for $40 as well as incense stick holders ranging from $50 up to $500.

To shop the Heartwood range, click here.
Crown Queen Mary of Denmark is known for re-purposing her favourite clothes and accessories - and she was recently brave enough to don one that has been nothing but a nuisance to her in the past.

While at the 175th anniversary of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Denmark on June 5, the Aussie-born royal looked elegant in a wide-brimmed hat which would have triggered some amusing memories.

Mary has worn the coral-coloured hat twice since 2004 and both times struggled to keep it on her head when faced with an unexpected breeze.

This time, however, the 52-year-old managed to keep the bold accessory secure.

The Queen first wore the hat designed by milliner Susanne Juul at a reception the day before she married Frederik.

Queen Mary of Denmark looked elegant in a wide-brimmed which would have triggered some amusing memories

The 52-year-old has worn the coral-coloured hat twice but struggled to keep it on her head when confronted with an unexpected breeze

Mary first wore the hat the day before her wedding in 2004 when a sudden breeze blew the hat off her head. She laughed as a security guard handed it back to her

As she stood on the steps of Parliament a sudden gust of wind blew the hat from her head, much to her surprise.

Mary took the blunder in good humour and laughed as a security guard handed it back to her.

The mum-of-four wore the hat again in 2006 during a visit to the Danish island of Bornholm.

While outside, she had to keep two hands firmly on the brim to stop it from blowing away seemingly learning her lesson from the last time she wore it.

The mum-of-four wore the hat again in 2006 during a visit to the Danish island of Bornholm. While outside, she had to keep two hands firmly on the brim to stop it from blowing away

Almost 20 years on, Mary dared to accessorise with the hat again, this time pairing it with a stunning bright pink Andrew Gn dress. This time, the hat stayed in place

The King and Queen along with Queen Margrethe, and Princess Benedikte first attended a service at Holmen's Church before going to a ceremony at Christianborg Castle

Almost 20 years on, Mary dared to accessorise with the hat again, this time pairing it with a stunning bright pink Andrew Gn dress.

Under the hat, she pinned her hair in a sophisticated updo and wore nude Prada pumps.

The King and Queen along with Queen Margrethe, and Princess Benedikte first attended a service at Holmen's Church with members of parliament before going to a ceremony at Christianborg Castle.

Mary was able to get through both events without losing or having to hold onto her hat.
Locals tend to stay in their own suburbs and only leave for work

Australians have dubbed Sydney the 'snobbiest' city because locals 'always judge others based on where they live'.

While many argued it's a 'huge stigma' that's been around for decades, others said Sydney is massive both geographically and culturally, so locals tend to stay in their own suburbs.

A conversation started on Reddit after a man from regional Queensland who now lives in the NSW capital noticed the trend.

'Why do people in Sydney care so much about what area someone lives in?' he asked.

'I was born and raised in regional Queensland so this goes right over my head. I may be generalising but I've not heard similar lines of questioning from the Melbourne people I've met.

A conversation sparked on Reddit after a man from regional Queensland who now lives in Sydney noticed the trait. 'Why do people in Sydney care so much about what area someone lives in?' the Redditor asked

'Why are some Sydneysiders obsessed with the boundaries and if the suburb they live in? Is it just plain old snobbery?'

More than 300 comments were left and many agreed with his observation.

'Sydneysider here. Sydney is big geographically but also culturally. Different suburbs have very distinct socioeconomic, political, and ethnic identities, and for better or worse people like to stay in areas with other people like them,' one wrote.

'It's definitely a thing... also the perception of entitlement or snobbery around people from wealthier areas,' another said.

A third wrote: 'Yep lots of classism in Sydney.'

Another person who's not from Sydney originally said they 'found it odd'.

'I think it's because many people in Sydney associate your suburb with how well you're doing in life. It's a way of measuring your wealth or living situation without really asking directly,' the Redditor said.

Many argued it's a 'huge stigma' that's been around for decades while others said Sydney is massive both geographically and culturally

Sydney has a population of more than five million and can take 'hours' to travel to different suburbs.

For example, Parramatta is almost 40km west of the beachside suburb of Manly and would take around 50 minutes to travel from these two suburbs by car or one hour and 30 minutes by public transport.

With this in mind, Sydneysiders tend to stay within their home areas in their spare time.

One women wrote: 'Now that I have a toddler and have friends who also have toddlers, I know that if they live more than 30min away I will see them once a month. If they live in my suburb I can catch them multiple times a week.

Another agreed and said: 'This was me on dating apps. I was effectively cutting out half of Sydney because I didn't want to have to drive far.'

Due to the size of the city, many tend to also form friendships with others who are close by - and would likely 'never' cross the opposite side of Sydney Harbour Bridge unless completely necessary.

Though a selected few disagreed and said it's more of a topic of conversation, such as asking which school someone went to.

'I'm sure there are some people who get snobby about it, but in any real-life conversation I've had about it it's just been small talk, like bringing up the weather,' one wrote.
KNDS recently completed a test firing series with the 140mm ASCALON gun, demonstrating the applicability of the new gun design for current and future main combat systems, including the Main Ground Combat System (MGCS). During the tests series company personnel demonstrated an easy and quick gun caliber change, replacing a 120mm barrel with the 140mm in less than one hour.

KNDS presents the ASCALON cannon and its ammunition as a mature solution n. The three-year firing campaign that began in May 2024 has shown the excellent capacities of the ASCALON in the 140 and 120mm barrels, as well as its APFSDS rounds maturity. SInce it began, the system was fired several hundreds of times from gun mounts in 120 and 140mm barrels. These tests are scheduled to continue through 2025. The next important step is firing tests from a Main Battle Tank (MBT) in 2025.

ASCALON delivers performance levels that current technologies do not offer while offering a significant growth potential. The system KNDS designed ASCALON with an open architecture to serve as a basis for cooperative development of a combat gun platform within the framework of the Franco-German MGCS program, laying the foundations

for the future standard of European tank gun and ammunition.
Over 1,600 rowers compete in Guizhou, China dragon boat race

Xinhua) 10:18, June 11, 2024

GUIYANG, China, June 10 (Xinhua) -- A dragon boat race took place in Zhenyuan County, southwest China's Guizhou Province to celebrate China's traditional Dragon Boat Festival on Monday.

From Monday to Wednesday, a dragon boat race and a single bamboo drifting competition will be held in Zhenyuan County, which attracted a total of 53 teams and more than 1,600 athletes from across China.

In Monday's dragon boat race, the competition group competed with standard dragon boats in men's 200m and 500m.

The single bamboo drifting competition, which will take place on Tuesday, consists of men's and women's 100m and 200m races.

According to organizers, Zhenyuan boasts a tradition of holding dragon boat races for more than 2,200 years, and the county's dragon boats are known for their large size and intricate decorations.

In 2011, the dragon boat racing in Zhenyuan was listed into the third batch of China's national intangible cultural heritage list.

The Dragon Boat Festival falls on the fifth day of the fifth month according to the Chinese lunar calendar.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
A train replacement sign intended to direct the public to nearby bus stops has left locals in Melbourne confused.

The orange and white sign spotted in the southeast suburb of Clayton was installed to show travellers how to get to a bus either to or from the city.

But instead, one arrow was upside down and a second was overlapping - leaving passengers questioning the right way to go.

While the sign was intended to be helpful, no one could understand what it meant. Hundreds couldn't help but laugh after an image of the sign was posted on Reddit.

Several also mocked how the bottom of the sign read 'plan ahead' by using the Public Transport Victoria website, which passersby will now be forced to do.

A sign in Victoria (pictured) left passersby scratching their heads after struggling to understand what it meant

Many tried to decode the sign and failed while others dubbed the error as a regular occurrence in Melbourne.

'Oh, good. Whatever bus you get on will get you somewhere,' one Redditor commented.

'It's always better to just guess than follow them,' another said.

'Just Melbourne things,' a third joked.

Someone else added: 'It's Melbourne. You practically live in a state of confusion.'

'I would definitely plan ahead with signs like that,' another wrote.

One more said: 'I'm so tired of this city.'

Several also mocked how the bottom of the sign read 'plan ahead' by using the Public Transport Victoria website, which passersby will be forced to do so thanks to the 'confusing' directions (stock image)

Last week another sign (pictured) that was put up at the Bong Bong Common Park in Bowral, in the NSW Southern Highlands, has caused confusion among dog owners who have labelled it 'stupid'

Last week a council was slammed by locals after erecting a confusing sign instructing visitors where they are allowed to take their dogs at a popular park in the area.

The sign was recently put up at the Bong Bong Common Park in Bowral, in the NSW Southern Highlands, with dog owners branding its instructions as 'stupid'.

A picture of the sign uploaded to Facebook shows its left-hand side features a green arrow pointing left towards a grassy area of the park along with a 'Dogs permitted' message.

The other half of the sign which states 'No dogs' has a red arrow pointing toward the adjacent carpark.

A symbol of a dog circled in red with a line running through it ensures the instruction can't be misunderstood.

Dozens of locals who commented on the Facebook post said the sign was not only confusing but also didn't understand why it was necessary or practical.

Many wondered how people's dogs were meant to be transported between the permitted and not permitted zones.
Rather than baking a cake and holding a party for their daughter Amelias seventh birthday, Michelle and Richard Eldred spent the day at her bedside in Birmingham Childrens Hospital, anxiously waiting for the results of a biopsy which would tell them if the tumour in her thigh was cancer.

Amelia, an only child, was active, sporty, dance-mad and so healthy her parents barely remember her having a cough or a cold.

So when her mild symptoms of a few weeks  pain in her left thigh at night and some swelling  were confirmed later that day as osteosarcoma, or bone cancer, it seemed unfathomable to them.

With Amelias birthday presents, including a new bike which she would never ride, waiting at home in Tamworth, Staffordshire, the family was told she would need chemotherapy to try to shrink the tumour sufficiently so that surgeons could remove the remainder.

Amelia Eldred, 13, was diagnosed with osteoporosis sarcoma, a bone cancer, in her right thigh bone at seven

With her parents, Michelle and Richard, who spent her seventh birthday at her hospital bedside, waiting for the results of a biopsy which would tell them if the tumour in her thigh was cancer

The plan was to perform an operation called limb salvage or limb-sparing, which would save her leg.

This would involve removing the tumour along with the bone and surrounding tissue and inserting a metal implant to strengthen the leg.

However, when two rounds of chemo over ten weeks failed to reduce the 10cm by 1cm tumour, the family was faced with the starkest news.

To stop the cancer spreading, surgeons would need to amputate Amelias femur, or thigh bone, to save her life.

This usually involves an operation called a hip disarticulation, where the limb is amputated through the hip joint. It meant that not only would Amelia never dance again, even with a prosthetic leg she would struggle to walk without crutches.

We thought she could have the bike after chemo, says Michelle, 50, who works for the local council. It never crossed our minds that she would lose her leg.

But Professor Lee Jeys, the surgeon they were referred to at the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital in Birmingham, offered the family another option: a rotationplasty.

This is an operation so rare its only been performed in the UK on a handful of patients.

It was an option he wasnt sure wed take because some people might think the result is weird and kind of freaky, says Michelle.

In rotationplasty, the middle part of the leg, from upper thigh to below the knee, is removed, then the lower part  the ankle and foot  is reattached to the upper thigh using metal plates.

But crucially when it is reattached, it is rotated 180 degrees  so that the foot is on backwards.

This means the ankle joint now functions as if its a new knee joint, with the heel of the foot becoming a new knee cap.

When the transplanted foot flexes, with the help of an adapted prosthesis, patients are able to resume all the activities they were doing before the surgery. The foot is needed to work the prosthesis, so the foot is in essence the shin bone, explains Professor Jeys.

Amelia in hospital after the surgery which turned her foot into a knee - she is now back running, rollerblading, rock climbing and dancing

In September Amelia will take up a place at a mainstream performing arts academy in Birmingham where shell study a BTEC in musical theatre alongside her GCSEs

The longer the shin, the better the function. If I remove part of the foot it would be weaker with worse function.

But partly due to lack of surgical training and experience, the procedure is rare; Professor Jeys is one of the very few surgeons in the UK to offer it and he has performed it just 16 times in his career.

I perform about one a year, he says. Patients have ranged in age from four to 32, but most are aged six to 12.

We only offer it if we cant save the whole leg and do a metal replacement because the blood vessels are involved with the tumour.

If the tumour doesnt involve the major blood vessels, in the UK we tend to cement in a metal prosthesis which can be lengthened  but the problem with these is that metal wears out and they have to be revised as the leg grows, so there are multiple operations through life with the risk of infection increasing each time, which may lead to eventual amputation, he explains.

The advantage to rotationplasty is that its a one-off operation with fewer problems  but to make the ankle work like a knee joint, it has to be attached backwards.

He adds that while its rare here, in some parts of the world  in India and Holland, where I visited to learn the procedure, and in some parts of America  its the most common way of resecting a leg after a bone tumour in small children.

He says: Other than a high amputation, it was the only solution for Amelia because the tumour had invaded some of her blood vessels.

The very obvious downside is that the rotated foot now faces in the opposite direction, which is psychologically difficult for some.

Professor Jeys recalls one occasion when an older patient asked for the rotated foot to be amputated. As he spoke to Amelias parents, Professor Jeys drew some diagrams and then left Michelle and Richard, 47, who works for a parcel delivery company, to think about it.

We went home and searched the internet, says Michelle.

And we quickly realised that there are no downsides to rotationplasty except the way it looks  and we got past that pretty fast because it was so clear that it offered the best chance of getting our sparky little girl back to dancing and the life she loved.

Osteosarcoma is the most common type of bone cancer in children, with about 30 cases diagnosed in the UK every year. Its not known what causes it.

The first symptoms are pain, redness and swelling, but in Amelias case the pain was so mild, Michelle at first assumed it was a muscle strain.

Amelia first started to complain that her left leg was hurting at the start of the summer holidays in 2017, she recalls. She was fine during the day but her thigh hurt when in bed at night.

Amelia after her rotationplasty. The operation is rarely performed because of the unusual appearanceit leaves, although it allows for better movement than a high-leg amputation

The first symptoms of osteoporosis sarcoma are pain, redness and swelling, but in Amelias case the pain was so mild, her mother Michelle assumed it was a muscle strain

When, a few days later, she noticed a slight swelling in her thigh, Michelle took Amelia to minor injuries at the local hospital. But when I told the doctor she hadnt had a bump or a fall, we were sent home, says Michelle.

Over the next 24 hours, Amelia was still mobile but the swelling felt harder and she was in more pain at night.

A week later, Michelle took her back to hospital and asked for an X-ray.

A little while later, she was ushered into a side room.

It was the start of a steep learning curve  bad news is always delivered in small rooms, she says, wryly.

The same doctor whod sent us home the week before without examining Amelia told us that the X-ray showed she had a tumour in her thigh bone and we needed to go to Birmingham Childrens Hospital immediately. Tumour is such a shocking word, says Michelle.

I drove there and called Richard, who came to the hospital straight away. We both sat there in disbelief.

I honestly thought someone else would look at the X-ray and say, theres been a mistake, shes fine.

A consultant explained that Amelias leg was swollen because she had a tumour, 10 cm long and 1 cm wide, which was so big, it had fractured her left femur.

Over the next week, Amelia underwent CT and MRI scans and a biopsy.

On her seventh birthday, on August 16, 2018, she was diagnosed with a high-grade (i.e. aggressive) osteosarcoma.

The good news was that there was no sign that the cancer had spread. We didnt feel lucky at the time, says Michelle. But we met other children whose cancer had spread and very quickly realised we were blessed.

Amelia had two rounds of chemotherapy with three different drugs: methotrexate, doxorubicin and cisplatin, via a central line in her chest.

It was absolutely brutal, says Michelle. Id look around the ward filled with these tiny bald children with wires coming out of them and think: this isnt my life.

In October, as Amelias chemotherapy treatment came to an end, her oncologist led Michelle to a side room and told her that chemotherapy had not reduced the tumour as theyd hoped and there was now no chance of salvaging her limb.

Amelia saw Professor Jeys the following day.

Children are the best candidates for a rotationplasty as 'the reattached leg continues to grow as they grow, so they adapt well physically and psychologically', says Professor Jeys, who performed the procedure

Rotationplasty hadnt been performed in the UK for 23 years before Professor Jeys resumed it in 2009.

Also known as Van Nes rotation, or Borggreve rotation, it was first performed in the 1930s.

Although rotationplasty patients are more mobile than those whove had high leg amputations, its rarely performed due to worries about its unusual appearance.

It was stopped in my department after an older patient asked for the foot and ankle to be removed because she couldnt cope with it, says Professor Jeys. But I lecture abroad a lot and had seen many cases doing well.

Children are the best candidates, as Professor Jeys explains: The reattached leg continues to grow as they grow, so they adapt well physically and psychologically.

But the biggest difference is that we have much more counselling and we have the internet. I always encourage patients to look at others across the world on YouTube for themselves.

Michelles internet search came up with Gabi Shull, now 23, a ballet dancer from Missouri, U.S., who had lost her leg to osteosarcoma at the age of nine.

Rotationplasty had enabled her to carry on dancing and, aged 14, shed posted a cheerful video of herself explaining her new prosthetic pointe foot.

She was so inspirational and so obviously keeping up with her peers, it made the decision so much easier, says Michelle.

Amelias response  Wow, Im going to be like her  was enough to convince Michelle and Richard it was the right path for their active, adventurous daughter.

Now 13, Amelia is one of Professor Jeys most celebrated success stories.

A year after her surgery, she danced with him at a Royal Orthopaedic Hospital event, where he was honoured with an award for surgical excellence. He now shows videos of her to new patients to help them understand that the operation offers the best chance of a normal life.

Now Amelia runs, rollerblades, rock climbs and dances  in September she will take up a place at a mainstream performing arts academy in Birmingham where shell study a BTEC in musical theatre alongside her GCSEs.

While Professor Jeys performs cancer surgery almost every day, none, he says, moves him quite like rotationplasty.

I do much more complicated surgeries but rotationplasty is the only operation where, because the nerve stays intact, patients can move their foot as soon as they wake up, he says.

Amelia says that, though she sometimes feels down at no longer having two normal legs, she tries to 'be happy and positive and always be the bigger person

It always brings a tear to my eye. Its incredible to think that hours earlier that same limb was on my operation table in pieces with a string [the nerve] in between. You put it back together and everything works. When she woke up in the high-dependency unit, Amelia was completely unfazed by her rotated leg.

From the start, she was absolutely incredible, says Michelle. The last thing she said when they put her to sleep was bye, bye tumour, and she waved to her leg.

I must admit before I went in to see her after the surgery, I had this sick feeling  I couldnt look at her foot. But I quickly got past the idea of disfigurement when I realised she could already move it. As soon as she woke up, Professor Jeys told her to wiggle her toes  and she moved this little foot that had just been sewn back on. I thought, Wow!

Two days later, Amelia was out of bed and standing on a walking frame, says Michelle.

She was proud of it and I think thats because she knew when her femur was gone, the cancer was gone.

In 2023, the first long-term study of 20 rotationplasty survivors who had surgery at the Rizzoli Orthopaedic Institute in Bologna, Italy, between 1986 and 2014, was published  the 11 women and nine men, aged between six and 33 at the time of their surgery, found that rather than suffering psychologically, they expressed the same level of contentment with their lives as their healthy peers.

Amelia is more often than not proud of her prosthetic leg.

She says: I wear shorts whenever I can  I wont purposely cover it up. I cant live in shame or hide away. If I did, I wouldnt be living my life.

Two years ago, Amelia finally met another patient whod had a rotationplasty, at a summer camp  Amp Camp  in Tenerife for child amputees.

Some had never taken their prosthetic off in public  you feel targeted and humiliated and very alone when people stare, she says. So it was great to throw our legs off at the side of the pool and hop about having a blast.

There was such a sense of pride in our scars. I could see how everyone had grown from their experience of being different.

But Amelia admits that sometimes she does feel very down.

I can remember having two normal legs, so sometimes I look at my rotated leg and feel sad about how much my life has changed in six years and how different things are now, she says.

But I put pressure on myself to be happy and positive and always be the bigger person.

Shes also acutely conscious that some of the friends she made in hospital never came home; 35 per cent of children with osteosarcoma do not survive more than five years.

After my cancer treatment and surgery, I needed to move on and make the most of my life, she says. And Im still determined to do that.

Shortly after she spoke to Good Health, Michelle joined her fearless daughter in a zip-wire challenge in Snowdonia (1,500 m at 100 mph) to raise funds for her charity, Amelias LEG-ends, which raises awareness of childrens cancers and helps other child amputees attend camps.

There is no challenge that Amelia has not met head on, but I was terrified, Michelle admits.

I am in awe of her courage and resilience, she says of her remarkable girl. Shes my inspiration every single day.
A 'terrified' dad is warning parents about the life-threatening dangers of vaping after his teenage daughter burst a hole in her lung, with her habit equivalent to smoking 400 cigarettes a week.

Mark Blight rushed Kyla Blight to hospital during the early hours of May 11 after receiving a phone call that she had collapsed and turned 'blue' while sleeping over at a friend's house.

After her heart nearly stopped beating, the 17-year-old underwent surgery for five and a half hours to remove part of her lung.

Medics discovered a small air blister, known as a pulmonary bleb, had developed on the top of Kyla's lungs. It is thought her excessive vaping caused this to burst, leading to her lung collapsing.

Kyla, who began vaping at just 15, believed the habit to be 'harmless' and would get through an entire 4,000 puff vape a week, which is the nicotine equivalent of 400 cigarettes.

Kyla Blight suffered a collapsed lung after vaping the equivalent of 400 cigarettes

An air blister known as a pulmonary bleb developed on Kyla's lung which later burst, causing the lung to collapse

Kyla has vowed never to touch vapes again after her life-threatening ordeal

Kyla's dad Mark is warning parents about the dangers of disposable vapes after watching his teenage daughter nearly die from the side effects

After her surgery, Kyla had to spend a two further weeks in hospital before she could return home.

She now says the ordeal has frightened her off disposable vapes for the rest of her life.

Mr Blight, a full-time carer, took to Facebook to spread awareness of his daughter's life-threatening experience, urging young people to throw away their vapes because 'it's not worth it'.

The father-of-nine , who lives in Egremont, Cumbria, said: 'I've been to hell and back with Kyla over the last couple of weeks. I just put it down to vaping, they can't put it down to anything else but vaping that's caused this.

'She was at a friend's house and I got a phone call at 4am that she had collapsed and gone blue. I went round for her. We took her down to the hospital.

'Her lung collapsed this time due to the hole. They put a drain in her. She's a little girl who doesn't like needles. She screamed. She was close to having a cardiac arrest.

'They rushed us into Newcastle and she had the operation on Tuesday. It was a five and a half hour operation. She'd had a seizure on the operating table.

'I was talking to the surgeon and he was saying about these blebs that can form on the lungs. They think it is the throw-away vapes that burst these blebs and puncture a hole in your lungs.

'Apparently it's a big thing now. He's done a lot of operations like this.

Kyla, 17, believed vapes were harmless when she started using them aged 15

Kyla said disposable vapes became popular with her friends at school, and 'everyone' thought they were safe

Kyla ended up smoking the nicotine equivalent of 400 cigarettes a week

'It was terrifying for me. I cried like a baby. It was horrible to watch. I've been with her the whole time.

'It really did threaten her life because she was so close to having a cardiac arrest on that Friday. They said she went blue. They thought she'd gone.'

Mr Blight said the first sign something was untoward with his daughter's health was in November 2023 when Kyla was rushed to hospital after he believed she was having a heart attack.

However, an X-ray revealed she had a hole in her lung after a bleb had formed.

The student was taken to hospital again in February but on this occasion, she was told it had been healed.

But she ended up in hospital again in May after the bleb burst and caused her lung to collapse.

Mr Blight revealed that despite once catching his daughter using an e-cigarette, he hadn't realised she had started vaping at age 15 not the extent she was doing it.

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The 61-year-old admitted he has vaped himself for 13 years to help quit using cigarettes. However, he now urges young people to stop using disposable vapes after seeing the dangers first-hand.

'People underestimate how dangerous they can be. I used them to stop smoking 13 years ago and it's never bothered me at all. Although you think it doesn't bother you, it might do later on after what happened to Kyla. It's scared me,' he said.

'For kids there should definitely be a ban, especially the throw-away ones. These chemicals that they've got in them haven't been tested properly. Until the government does tests on it, people are going to do it.

'The doctor said he sees a lot more of it now than he used to. He did say there are a lot of young ones with holes in their lungs.

Mark Blight says teenagers underestimate the dangers of disposable vapes

'I would say to parents, watching your kid do this, you're going to go through what I went through. It's just not worth it.

'For kids, they don't understand until it happens to them. That's why I wrote on my Facebook. I'm going to have to make young kids aware of this.'

Kyla admitted she began using disposable vapes aged 15 after seeing her friends at school doing it.

This graduated to her using it everyday and culminated in her getting through 4,000 puffs a week all the while thinking it was 'harmless'.

However, she said her recent experience has 'terrified' her and opened her eyes to the dangers of using e-cigarettes which she now 'won't touch'.

'When I was 15 it started becoming a popular thing. All my friends were doing it. I just thought it would be harmless and that I would be fine,' she said.

'Everyday I would use the 4,000 puff ones and I would go through them in about a week.

'I honestly thought they were harmless and wouldn't do anything to anyone, even though I had seen so many things about it. I just feel like everyone has that same view.

'But now I won't touch them. I wouldn't go near them. The situation has really scared me out of them.

'I was terrified. We went in there thinking we were only going to be in there for a few hours but ended up being there for two weeks having surgeries and all this.'

Earlier this year, a shocking study suggested that vaping can trigger cell changes which may go onto cause cancer.

Figures show that one in five children has tried vaping despite it being illegal for under-18s, while the number of children using vapes has tripled in the past three years.

E-cigs allow people to inhale nicotine in a vapour  which is produced by heating a liquid, which typically contains propylene glycol, glycerine, flavourings, and other chemicals.

Unlike traditional cigarettes, they do not contain tobacco, nor do they produce tar or carbon  two of the most dangerous elements.

Although widely viewed as safer than smoking, the long-term effects of vaping still remain a mystery.

Doctors have expressed fear there could be a wave of lung disease, dental issues and even cancer in the coming decades in people who took up the habit at a young age.

Last year leading paediatricians also warned children were being hospitalised with vaping-induced breathing difficulties amid a 'disturbing' youth vaping epidemic.
When Kyla Blight began vaping as a 15-year-old she assumed it was 'harmless'.

After all, none of her friends who puffed on the gadgets  ubiquitous on the high street and sold for as little as 5  had ever fallen ill.

Yet, Kyla is now terrified of the nicotine-laden devices and has vowed never to go 'near them again' after bursting a hole in her lung puffing the equivalent of 400 cigarettes a week.

But the now 17-year-old, from Egremont in Cumbria, is not alone.

Her case, which will undoubtedly alarm parents across the country, is another example of the UK's youth vaping epidemic, which experts have called 'disturbing' and demanded immediate action to stamp out.

Figures show how the proportion of kids using e-cigarettes has exploded amid the decline of traditional smoking, with more than a third of 16 to 18-year-olds now regularly inhaling them.

Campaigners have long blamed predatory manufacturers for the ever-growing crisis, claiming they are intentionally luring kids in with colourful packaging, compared to highlighter pens, and child-friendly flavours such as bubblegum and cotton candy

A shocking MailOnline investigation last year even uncovered vapes resembling sweets and high street stores selling the devices next to chocolate and fruit gummies

When Kyla Blight began vaping as a 15-year-old she assumed it was 'harmless'. After all, none of her friends who puffed on the gadgets  ubiquitous on the high street and sold for as little as 5  had ever fallen ill

Yet, Kyla is now terrified of the nicotine-laden devices and has vowed never to go 'near them again' after bursting a hole in her lung puffing the equivalent of 400 cigarettes a week. But the now 17-year-old, from Egremont in Cumbria, is not alone

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For comparison, less than one in ten were doing so a decade ago.

This is despite sales of vapes to under-18s being banned, with anyone caught flogging them to children threatened with fines and prosecution by Trading Standards.

Campaigners have long blamed predatory manufacturers for the ever-growing crisis, claiming they are intentionally luring kids in with colourful packaging, compared to highlighter pens, and child-friendly flavours such as bubblegum and cotton candy.

A shocking MailOnline investigation last year even uncovered vapes resembling sweets and high street stores selling the devices next to chocolate and fruit gummies.

Two stores on London's Oxford Street has shelves cluttered with much-loved imported sweets and snacks, like Blue Raspberry Jolly Ranchers and Sour Apple Laffy Taffy.

But just metres away were flashing neon light e-cigarette displays, full of similarly sounding flavoured vapes, such as Grape Apple, Blue Fruits and Bubblegum.

MailOnline also discovered 'dupe' vapes mimicking Chupa Chups, Skittles, Jolly Rancher and Calypso, with near identical branding to the popular sweets and drinks in other stores along Oxford Street and online.

It was even possible to purchase these dupe vapes, along with ones not seemingly aimed at kids, on Deliveroo.

In efforts to stamp out the UK's child vaping epidemic, Rishi Sunak last year pledged to ban disposable e-cigs completely.

Such devices - loved by kids - were expected to be outlawed by early 2025.

Under the Prime Minister's wider crackdown, vapes were expected to be limited to four flavours, sold in plain, tobacco-style packaging and displayed out of sight of kids.

But July's general election has now quashed any hopes of the historic bill passing before this Parliament.

Both Germany and Ireland have outlined their own proposals to place restrictions on vapes, with Berlin chiefs currently considering an outright ban on disposable e-cigs.

Separately, Australia has put in place measures to make vapes available only to those who have prescriptions.

Meanwhile, New Zealand has also set out restrictions that ban vape shops from being within 300 metres of a school and which ensure all vapes must have removable batteries.

E-cigs allow people to inhale nicotine in a vapour  which is produced by heating a liquid, which typically contains propylene glycol, glycerine, flavourings, and other chemicals.

Unlike traditional cigarettes, they do not contain tobacco, nor do they produce tar or carbon  two of the most dangerous elements.

Nicotine's effect on the brain is well known  within 20 seconds of inhalation, it triggers the release of chemical messengers such as dopamine, associated with reward and pleasure.

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But it also increases heart rate and blood pressure and makes blood vessels constrict. This is because nicotine triggers the release of the hormone adrenaline.

Some of the most popular vapes on the market, including brands like Elf Bar and Lost Mary, are sold in nicotine strengths of 0mg, 10mg and 20mg/ml.

A 20mg/ml vape typically contains 20 or 40mg of nicotine and allows for between 600 and 800 puffs.

A 20mg/ml vape with 40mg of nicotine, therefore, is equivalent to smoking up to two packs of 20 cigarettes.

But when a vape is illegal, it may contain far more e-liquid, and the strength per millilitre could be far higher than allowed.

This means, in theory, it could offer thousands of puffs and be the equivalent of hundreds of cigarettes.

Although widely viewed as safer than smoking, the long-term effects of vaping still remain a mystery.

Doctors have expressed fear there could be a wave of lung disease, dental issues and even cancer in the coming decades in people who took up the habit at a young age.

In April, one shock study warned that e-cigarettes may raise the risk of heart failure.

Researchers tracked 175,000 adults in the US and found those who vaped were almost a fifth more likely to develop the deadly condition, compared to those who didn't use the devices.

And in March a separate alarming study suggested vaping triggers cell changes which may go on to cause cancer.

Scientists who examined mouth swabs from smokers and e-cigarette users found similar DNA changes in the cell samples taken from both groups.

It indicated vaping is 'not as harmless as originally thought', said researchers from University College London and the University of Innsbruck, Austria.

Other research has highlighted the risk posed by the chemical reactions that occur in the vaping process.

As of February, a total of 1,009 reactions to vapes have been recorded by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency. Here are the 10 most common reports

Prime Candy on Oxford Street, where MailOnline found huge vape displays alongside many different types of American sweets

House of Candy, where a MailOnline investigation found large amounts of vapes advertised in the window, while the shop is packed with sweets

Metal components of the devices which heat the liquid containing the nicotine and flavourings  creating the vapour  can also release of a plume of toxic metals. These include arsenic, chromium, nickel and lead, known carcinogens.

Studies have suggested exposure to these metals could also contribute to dreaded 'popcorn lung'  dangerous inflammation of the respiratory organs which leads to wheezing, coughing and shortness of breath.

Popcorn lung is caused by a build-up of scar tissue in the lungs, which blocks the flow of air.

Earlier this year, MailOnline also discovered the number of adverse side effects linked to vaping reported to UK regulators has now eclipsed 1,000, with five of them fatal.

The extensive list includes everything from headaches to strokes.

These reports are made via the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency's Yellow Card system, for adverse events linked to medical devices or drugs in the UK.

Members of the public and medics can submit them.

All five deaths were linked to respiratory and cardiovascular health problems.

NHS figures also show a rise in the number of children admitted to hospital due to vaping.

Forty children and young people were admitted to hospital in England last year due to 'vaping-related disorders', which could include lung damage or worsening asthma symptoms, up from 11 two years earlier, the NHS said.

Last year, former vaper Ewan Fisher, then 22, told how he had been left with the lungs of an 80-year-old smoker after vaping for just six months.

At just 16 he spent weeks in intensive care after his lungs failed the night before he was due to start his GCSE exams.

Mr Fisher, from Nottingham, had originally picked up vaping in an attempt to give up cigarettes.

But he ended up fighting to survive for 10 weeks in hospital and at one point needed to be put on an artificial lung.

Tom Padley, then 19, from Putney, London, also told MailOnline he had been using vapes since the age of just 13.

Tom, who picked up the habit in boarding school, said 'it's not like cigarettes, where you would have to find a place to go outside and do it  you can just do it non-stop indoors'.

Kyla has vowed never to touch vapes again after her life-threatening ordeal

Tom Padley, then 19, from Putney, London, also told MailOnline he had been using vapes since the age of just 13. Tom, who picked up the habit in boarding school, said 'it's not like cigarettes, where you would have to find a place to go outside and do it  you can just do it non-stop indoors'

In 2019, a 57-year-old British factory worker was named as the first e-cig user in the world feared to have developed a fatal disease directly linked to his vaping habit. Terry Miller (pictured), 57, from Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, died in 2010 after developing lipoid pneumonia, with medics confirming oil from vaping fluid was found in his lungs

But six years into vaping, he has begun to suffer health issues.

'I get ill a lot more. I get ulcers occasionally in my mouth. I have a lot of coughs. I guarantee it's massively increased due to vaping,' he told MailOnline.

Their stories echo that of Kyla's, who burst a hole in her lung and almost suffered a heart attack after collapsing from vaping.

She took up the habit at 15-years-old upon seeing her friends at school doing it and eventually she was using them every day, getting through 4,000 puffs a week.

But in May, her father Mark was forced to rush her to hospital after receiving a phone call that she had collapsed and turned 'blue' while sleeping over at a friend's house.

After her heart nearly stopped beating, the 17-year-old underwent surgery for five and a half hours to remove part of her lung.

Medics discovered a small air blister, known as a pulmonary bleb, had developed on the top of Kyla's lungs. It is thought her excessive vaping caused this to burst, leading to her lung collapsing.

She said: 'Now I won't touch them. I wouldn't go near them. The situation has really scared me out of them.

'I was terrified. We went in there [hospital] thinking we were only going to be in there for a few hours but ended up being there for two weeks having surgeries and all this.'

But the dangers of vaping are not limited to children.

In 2019, a 57-year-old British factory worker was named as the first e-cig user in the world feared to have developed a fatal disease directly linked to his vaping habit.

Terry Miller, 57, from Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, died in 2010 after developing lipoid pneumonia, with medics confirming oil from vaping fluid was found in his lungs.

After smoking around 20 cigarettes a day for 41 years, he decided to give up and bought an e-cigarette from his local pharmacy, believing it was an healthier option.

He began vaping every day and would often buy nicotine liquid refills and new e-cigarettes on the internet from a company based in the South of England.

Around eight months after he switched to vaping in 2010, Terry's lungs began to fail and he was diagnosed with fibrosis.
The state of New York has issued an urgent health alert about a fatal combination of drugs dubbed by officials as, Super Mario'.

The powder consists of fentanyl, which is 100 times more potent than morphine, traces of heroin, carfentanil  a tranquilizer for elephants  and xylazine, a flesh-eating tranquilizer that is becoming increasingly common in the illicit drug supply.

The alert was issued last week after state drug surveillance officials found two bags of Super Mario on the street in central New York last month and tested them last week.

A third sample is currently being tested.

Fentanyl and carfentanil are highly potent and more deadly than heroin, another opioid. Just a few grains of both can be lethal

The above graph shows how drug overdose deaths have risen since 2002, when the report began

New York State Department of Health, in partnership with the ACRHealth lab in Syracuse, said: Two samples were tested from bags labeled 'Super Mario' and were found to have a combination of fentanyl, xylazine, and trace amounts of heroin and carfentanila potent drug considered to be up to 100 times stronger than fentanyl.

New York state has not announced any deaths directly related to Super Mario.

Health Commissioner Dr James McDonald said: Carfentenil is a veterinary drug that is no longer marketed because it is so dangerous.

The Department partners with community programs that provide access to drug checking so these dangerous substances are identified before they are used by a person who uses drugs and risks overdose.

Over 6,300 New Yorkers died of a fentanyl overdose in 2023, and around 80,000 die annually in the US from abusing the drug.

Fentanyl is about 50 times more potent than heroin, and a tiny dose is enough to kill.

Carfentanil has become more and more common as well. The Drug Enforcement Administration warned the public about it over eight years ago.

The above shows a person on the streets of San Francisco, which has seen a surge in drug overdoses

DEA Acting Administrator Chuck Rosenberg said in 2016: Carfentanil is surfacing in more and more communities

We see it on the streets, often disguised as heroin. It is crazy dangerous. Synthetics such as fentanyl and carfentanil can kill you. I hope our first responders - and the public - will read and heed our health and safety warning.

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Xylazine is a tranquilizer that veterinarians use and is not approved for human use.

It has been known to cause blackouts and severe lesions. It eats away at skin tissues because it blocks blood flow through blood vessels.

All of the drugs in 'Super Mario' massively depress the respiratory system, slowing breathing to dangerously low levels or stopping it altogether.

The combination also leads to sedation, in which case the person will be unaware of their breathing trouble, compounding the risk of death.

An estimated 108,000 Americans overdosed and died in 2022, the last year for which data is available.

Deaths involving synthetic opioids other than methadone (primarily fentanyl) continued to rise with 73,838 overdose deaths reported in 2022 over previous years.
A diner has been left dumbfounded after being charged $42.50 for a glass of rose and a pint of beer.

TV personality Andrew Costello, known for his Channel Seven program 'South Aussie with Cosi', had gone out for a drink with his wife on Sunday night.

The pair were dining in an unnamed venue in South Australia when they were charged the exorbitant amount.

'You gotta feel for bars competing with wage increases, product increases and taxes,' Costello wrote in an Instagram post.

'But $42.50? I just told my wife drink slowly cause there's no second round!'

TV personality Andrew Costello, known for his Channel Seven program South Aussie with Cosi, had gone out for a drink with his wife on Sunday night and was charged $42.50 for a beer and glass of rose

Costello chose not to name the venue with the exorbitant prices

While Costello didn't name the venue, some commenters questioned if he was at the airport which may explain the hefty prices.

Others said people were better off dining at home amid the nation's cost of living crisis.

'Ripped off...stay home with friends....bbq and drinks with tunes always will be a better night in....change my mind....' one commented.

'To be fair that looks like the world's biggest glass of rose,' said another.

'You could have bought a six pack and a bottle of wine for that price and enjoyed an afternoon at home,' another wrote.

'I would have said where is the rest of the bottle for that price,' one said.

It comes after an Aussie was forced to fork out $8.18 for a medium almond milk cappuccino on Monday's public holiday in east Melbourne.

The TV personality said he understood retailers had their own costs to keep up with, $42.50 for two drinks was excessive

The Melburnian told Yahoo he was expecting a public holiday surcharge, but had been slugged with a 15 per cent increase - as well as a fee for using his card.

'Don't get me wrong I know almond milk costs extra but I think 15 per cent is excessive,' he said.

'The cafe was full! People were outside. And there weren't that many staff. So whilst I acknowledge they need to pay penalty rates I thought it was excessive.'

Aussies were quick to share their disgust at the public holiday surcharge, with one even saying they paid a whopping '$9.50 in Canberra'.
The boss of South West Waters parent company has raked in 860,000 despite a parasite contamination scandal.

Susan Davys pay soared 58 per cent in the last financial year, the utility firm revealed yesterday, amid anger over the outbreak of a vomiting bug that was traced back to one of its reservoirs.

And as the crisis rumbles on, Pennon  the stock market-listed owner of South West Water and Bristol Water  revealed that pollution incidents climbed 80 per cent last year.

Critics branded Davys inflated take home pay as farcical as some households in Brixham, Devon are still without clean tap water.

Pennons chairman Gill Rider also announced she will step down next month just weeks after the dirty water scandal broke out.

Making a splash: Susan Davy, boss of South West Water parent company Pennon, enjoyed a 58% pay rise despite a parasite contamination scandal

Hundreds of customers became ill and some were hospitalised after drinking water that was contaminated with a parasite.

Some residents still have to boil their tap water around a month after first cases were reported.

Totnes Conservative MP Anthony Mangnall has called for victims to be compensated.

But the wider water sector is also facing fierce backlash over sewage being dumped in Britains rivers and lakes.

Debt-laden Thames Water, the UKs biggest water supplier, is scrambling to raise cash or risks going bust next year.

Davy, 55, was urged to resign last month after shareholders were handed 127million in dividends  while households who were supplied contaminated water will get up to 265 each.

Amid public and political outrage over the companys performance, the chief executive has waived her bonus for the second year in a row, costing her 237,000 for the year ended March 31.

But she made 298,000 from a long-term incentive plan which boosted her total pay to 860,000 compared to 543,000 a year earlier.

The rest of the package was made up of a 492,000 base salary, benefits of 21,000 and pension payments of 49,000.

Crisis: A tap water alert was issued in Brixham after hundreds fell sick from a vomiting bug

It was revealed yesterday that pollution incidents at South West Water soared by 80 per cent to 194 in 2023.

Andrew Speke at think-tank the High Pay Centre said: It seems farcical that the chief executive of a company which has failed in its duties to consumers and the environment in the way Pennon Group has in the past year could be getting a pay rise.

It shows the real disconnect between how executives are rewarded and the actual performance of that individual and their company.

Rider, who has chaired the Pennon board for around four years, will step down at the firms annual general meeting in July and will be replaced by David Sproul, chairman of digital challenger bank Starling Bank. He was previously global deputy chief executive at auditing giant Deloitte.

A spokesman for Pennon said: We understand the strength of feeling from our customers and the public around the issues facing the water sector.

For the second year running, our chief executive, alongside other members of our executive leadership team, have therefore made the personal decision to decline annual bonus for the previous financial year.

Pennon made a loss before tax of 9.1million, compared to 8.5million a year earlier. Net debt increased to 3.8billion during the period, up from 3billion.
With the annual general meeting (AGM) season in full swing, there are bound to be several ding-dongs between companies and their shareholders.

Among them is the bubbling row over the future of The Hut Group (THG)  with pressure mounting on the online beauty and nutrition firm to ditch its chairman.

Kelso Group had led calls for shareholders to vote against the re-election of Charles Allen  the former chief executive of Compass Group (down 1.5 per cent, or 33p, to 2207p) and ITV (down 1.1 per cent, or 0.85p, to 78.2p)  at THGs AGM on June 24.

But the activist investors demand has been backed by Dutch investment firm OVMK, which holds a near-2 per cent stake.

Both shareholders have called for THG to be broken up, arguing management should spin off its beauty, nutrition and e-commerce arms into separate companies.

Investor discontent: Pressure is mounting on online beauty and nutrition firm The Hut Group to ditch its chairman and spin off its beauty, nutrition and e-commerce arms

THG floated at 500p a share in September 2020, valuing the business at 5.4billion.

Kelso believes that the value of the three divisions is significantly higher than the 928million the company is currently worth.

Last week THG founder Matt Moulding has raised his stake in Kelso Group for the third time this year.

Shares edged up 0.6 per cent, or 0.45p, to 70.25p. Kelso Group was unchanged at 3.25p.

The FTSE 100 fell 0.2 per cent, or 16.89 points, to 8228.48 and the FTSE 250 slid 0.5 per cent, or 109.33 points, to 20446.04.

Digital advertising group Brave Bison has abandoned its takeover of Mission Group.

The suitor, which runs the Social Chain agency started by Dragons Den star Steven Bartlett, hit out at its rival for failing to engage in constructive dialogue and extend the offer deadline.

Stock Watch - Clontarf Energy Shares in Clontarf Energy jumped 83.9 per cent, or 0.01p, to 0.03p after it ramped up its lithium business in Bolivia. The company said the EU wants to help the South American nation, which holds more than half of the worlds economic lithium resources, to become an exporter. The update came alongside the companys annual results that showed its losses narrowed to 870,000 last year  down from 4.8million in 2022.

Last week Mission Group rejected Brave Bisons sweetened offer of 32.3million  up from a previous proposal of 27million and yesterday insisted it is confident in its stand-alone prospects.

Shares in Brave Bison dipped 1 per cent, or 0.03p, to 2.43p and Mission Group tumbled 11.1 per cent, or 3p, to 24p.

Shares in FTSE 100 Ashtead barely moved in the first session since reports emerged over the weekend the equipment hire giant is considering a move to the New York stock.

The 24billion group is in the early stages of exploring a switch of its listing from London to Wall Street, the Sunday Telegraph reported.

An Ashtead spokesman said the company reviews its capital structure regularly, including its domicile, recognising the fact that 90 per cent of its business is in the US. The stock inched up 1.5 per cent, or 84p, to 5642p.

Chemring edged up 0.3 per cent, or 1p, to 385p after the defence group won a 65million explosives order from Northrop Grumman.

Aviva fell after JP Morgan downgraded its rating. Shares in the insurer shed 1.7 per cent, or 7.9p, to 470p.

But Just Group made gains following two broker upgrades.

One came from JP Morgan, while Peel Hunt believe shares are undervalued and should increase in the medium term. Shares added 2.6 per cent, or 2.6p, to 103.6p.
Elon Musk has called an investors decision to vote against his 45billion Tesla pay package not cool.

The worlds richest man is facing an investor backlash when his pay at the electric vehicle maker is put to a vote on Thursday.

And Teslas eighth largest shareholder, Norways sovereign wealth fund, became the latest to say it would vote against the pay award.

In a post on X, the social media platform he owns, Musk hit back and said this was not cool.

He added: If they actually surveyed their constituents, they would discover overwhelming support in favour.

Cash plea: Tesla boss Elon Musk is facing an investor backlash when his mammoth 45bn pay package is put to a vote on Thursday

So far, roughly 90 per cent of retail shareholders who have voted have voted in favor of both resolutions. The public sentiment is unequivocally supportive.

In January, a Delaware court ruled Teslas board had not acted in investors interests when agreeing the deal.

Shareholders are voting for the second time on the plan on Thursday. The pay deal, which was set in 2018, was the biggest ever in US corporate history.

Norges Bank Investment Management (NBIM), which operates Norways 1.34billion, said over the weekend that we remain concerned about the total size of the award, the structure given performance triggers, dilution, and lack of mitigation of key person risk.

But it did acknowledge the significant value generated under Musks leadership since the grant date in 2018.

Shares in the electric car company have dropped 40 per cent this year amid concerns about Musks own erratic behaviour.

But investors who are supportive of Musks pay award include Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust
GSKs blockbuster respiratory jab has been approved for a younger age group in a boost for the drugmaker over rival Pfizer.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given the green light for Arexvy to be prescribed to patients between the ages of 50 and 59.

The vaccine protects against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) which causes cold-like symptoms but can be dangerous for the elderly, newborn babies and vulnerable people.

It has the potential to prevent thousands of hospital admissions each year.

Arexvy was the worlds first RSV jab when it launched in the US last year but it faces competition from alternatives made by Pfizer and Moderna.

Approved: The US Food and Drug Administration has given the green light for GSKs respiratory jab Arexvy to be prescribed to patients between the ages of 50 and 59

The success of the shot has been seen as a sign that GSK chief executive Emma Walmsleys turnaround strategy has begun to pay off.

In 2022 Walmsley revealed plans to refocus the pharma giant on vaccines and infectious diseases, which included selling its consumer healthcare division Haleon.

The pivot came after GSK fell behind rival Astrazeneca and US competitor Pfizer to create a Covid vaccination during the pandemic.

Yesterdays announcement makes the 1.2billion vaccine the first RSV jab endorsed for the under-60s by the FDA.

However, GSK will need to wait to see if the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention signs off on the expanded use when it meets later this month.

Arexvy brought in about 1.2billion in sales last year, beating the 699m in revenue that Pfizers rival drug generated.

The jab has been approved in Europe, Canada and Japan for over 60s.

However, it is not available in the UK despite receiving initial approval in July 2023.

GSK has avoided a courtroom showdown in Illinois over its former heartburn drug Zantac after the plaintiff withdrew their claim before the trial was due to start yesterday.

Zantac has come under a wave of scrutiny with around 74,000 cases filed claiming the drug causes cancer.

GSK added that the scientific consensus is that there is no consistent or reliable evidence that Zantac increases the risk of any cancer.
The US owner of Boots has put plans for a float or sale of the chemist on ice.

There had been hopes that the High Street retailer could be listed on the London stock market by the end of 2024.

But it is understood that Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA) has decided not to make any major decisions over the pharmacy chain until 2025.

WBA chief executive Tim Wentworth, who took over last October, is focusing on fixing problems at the companys American pharmacy business.

The turnaround project requires capital from Boots to aid this.

Walgreens Boots Alliance is not expected to make any major decisions over the Boots pharmacy chain until 2025

Last night hopes were dashed that a London listing of Boots could be just around the corner. But the company did not rule out a listing in the Capital altogether and will revisist the prospect next year.

This would be a major boost for the City amid concerns over the health of the London market.

However, a sale to a private equity buyer in 2025 is also a possibility.

A spokesman for Walgreens yesterday said: We do not comment on rumours or speculation.

Walgreens Boots Alliance is conducting a strategic review of our assets to drive sustainable long-term shareholder value. All options are on the table.

At the start of the year, Wentworth said he was evaluating all strategic options to drive sustainable long-term shareholder value.

Back in 2022, Walgreens ditched a sale after blaming an unexpected and dramatic change in market conditions.

Private equity giants Apollo, TDR Capital and Sycamore made pitches but Walgreens later said no one made an adequate offer.

Should Boots, which began as a family herbal medicine shop in Nottingham in 1849, return to the UK markets, it would be a desperately needed vote of confidence.

There have been concerns about the attractiveness of the London market as firms switch their listing to New York or become takeover targets due to their low valuations. Walgreens, which is listed on the US stock market, bought the chemist in 2014.

Boots boss Sebastian James hailed positive momentum across the whole business in March when he posted bumper Christmas sales.

Sales over the three months to the end of February were 3pc higher than a year earlier thanks to celebrity-endorsed skin care products.

Last November, Boots sold its pension scheme to asset management giant Legal & General for 4.8billion, which paved the way for a potential takeover.

The pension scheme deal, which was one of the largest of its kind, means it will be easier to sell.
Sterling rose above 1.18 against the single currency following Emmanuel Macron's shock decision to call a snap election in France.

The euro slumped to a near two-year low against the pound yesterday as markets were stunned by Emmanuel Macrons shock decision to call a snap election in France.

Sterling rose above 1.18 against the single currency to hit its highest level since August 2022 after the French presidents move, which followed a bruising performance for his party in European parliamentary vote.

Stock markets across the continent were rocked too and Frances Cac 40 fell to its lowest level since February.

Macrons decision to call a snap parliamentary election came after his Renaissance party was trounced by Marine Le Pens far-Right National Rally in the European vote.

Vote: The euro slumped to a near two-year low against the pound yesterday as markets were stunned by Emmanuel Macrons shock decision to call a snap election in France

The gamble could leave the president having to work alongside a National Rally prime minister in charge of the domestic agenda, including economic policy.

Pariss Cac 40 ended 1.3 per cent lower, with banks particularly badly hit.

BNP Paribas fell 4.8 per cent, Credit Agricole lost 3.6 per cent and Societe Generale tumbled by 7.5 per cent .

Elsewhere in Europe, Germanys Dax and Italys FTSE MIB each fell by 0.3 per cent. In London, the FTSE 100 slipped 0.2 per cent.

Meanwhile, yields on ten-year French bonds  the returns demanded by investors for lending to the government  hit seven-month highs. Italian bond yields rose to six-month highs.

Le Pens agenda proposes higher public spending despite already-high public debt, threatening increased funding costs for French lenders.

Analysts said a National Rally victory could also mean a tax on bank profits.

A coalition of moderates from across the continent looked set to retain a majority in the European parliament.

However, there were major gains for Eurosceptic parties raising doubts about the ability of major powers to push through major policies.

In Germany, Europes biggest economy, members of the fragile coalition led by Social Democrat Olaf Scholz suffered a mauling with big gains made by the far-Right Alternative for Germany.

Scholz was also subjected to a bruising diatribe by the head of Germanys stock exchange.

Deutsche Boerse boss Theodor Weimer said a lack of leadership by the chancellor was putting international investors off Germany and that the country was economically on the way to becoming a developing country.
Heathrow is gearing up for a record summer, during which it anticipates around 30 million passengers travelling through the airport.

Britain's busiest airport reported a record-breaking 81.5 million passengers travelled in the 12 months to May, up 13.9 per cent year-on-year.

It is also already preparing for the winter trading season with the launch of a new route to Troms in Norway 'for Aurora-seekers and Arctic adventurers'.

Britain's biggest airport reported a record-breaking 81.5 million passengers travelled in the 12 months to May, up 13.9 per cent year-on-year

Passengers exceeded the 7 million mark for the first time in May, with 7.2 million flying through its terminals.

Customers travelling to the Asia-Pacific region saw an increase of a whopping 36.6 per cent year-on-year to 10,448 passengers in the 12 months to May.

The UK, EU and Latin America markets also saw customer traffic increase by double-digit percentage levels.

And Heathrow said it expects to see 'more records broken' this summer with an estimated 30 million passengers travelling.

Thomas Woldbye, Heathrow CEO, said: 'We have a winning team at Heathrow which has proven that we have put Covid firmly behind us.

'Thanks to their extraordinary efforts we are now giving record numbers of people the chance to connect smoothly with the world.

'Supporting 81m journeys doesn't just help families to make wonderful holiday memories, importantly it is about the vital trade and business links a hub like Heathrow creates for the UK's economy.'

In April, the British Airways hub posted a 189million pre-tax profit for the opening three months of 2024, compared to a 60million loss during the same period last year.

Victoria Scholar, head of investment at Interactive Investor said: 'After the pain of the pandemic that wreaked havoc across the travel industry, Heathrow has enjoyed an impressive bounce back while simultaneously successfully navigating headwinds from the cost-of-living crisis.

'International travel continues to gather strength with the popular London airport benefitting from continued demand for family holidays, and weekend mini-breaks as well as an improvement in appetite for business travel post covid.

'It looks like this summer will be another strong period for Heathrow as individuals and families continue to prioritise their summer holidays over other types of discretionary spending.'
Raspberry Pi shares soared by more than 40 per cent yesterday on a bumper debut on the London stock market.

The Cambridge-based computer-maker listed at 280p a share to give it a value of 542million.

But the shares jumped as much as 42 per cent to a high of 399p before closing at 385p.

That marked a highly successful first day of trading and left Raspberry Pi  whose products are popular with amateur coders and hobbyists  with a value of 745million.

The demand for the stock, which is only available to certain institutions but will go on general sale to investors on Friday, is a major boost for the City.

New listing: Cambridge-based computer-maker Raspberry Pi  whose products are popular with amateur coders and hobbyists  jumped as much as 42% on it City debut

Analysts said the bumper listing, or so-called initial public offering, of Raspberry Pi will open the flood gates for other tech companies to join the stock market in London.

It is hoped the tide is starting to turn amid an exodus from the stock market as companies are taken over by foreign buyers or list their shares elsewhere.

Gambling giant Flutter, which owns Paddy Power, quit the FTSE 100 last month for New York, whilst cyber-security group Darktrace and music fund Hipgnosis are leaving imminently.

Raspberry Pi, founded in 2012, makes products used by enthusiasts to make computer servers or retro games consoles.

Profits rose from 16million to 30million in 2023, with its goods sold across 70 countries worldwide.

Co-founder and chief executive Eben Upton said it considered a New York listing but ultimately picked the UK.

He explained this was not a patriotic decision and added that smart money in the US will find you wherever you are.

We realised that, for a company of our scale, the London market is probably a better home, he said.

Dan Coatsworth at broker AJ Bell said the Raspberry Pi listing was still the most significant for the London market for a long time and showed the UK is open for business to technology flotations.
Advertisement

The final polling results are in and after six weeks of campaigning, the UK faces its general election.

The final weeks of the campaign have seen Rishi Sunak and the Conservatives go on the offensive, launching attack adverts across social media to try and dissuade voters from turning to Keir Starmer's Labour.

Despite a final dip in the polls for Labour, Sir Keir Starmer's party remains over 15 points in the clear of the Conservatives.

Nigel Farage's Reform Party appears to have finished the campaign strong, with MailOnline's poll of polls showing the Clacton-on-Sea candidate and his party sitting around five points back on the Conservatives.

Multiple pollsters continue to predict the largest Labour majority since Tony Blair in 1997, with some claiming as many as 250 seats.

Support for the Tories, meanwhile, has continued to slide downwards, with the party having lost more than half of its voter share since the earliest days of the pandemic.

The party's favourability has also been rocked by several recent debacles including the PM leaving D-Day commemorations early for a TV interview and several MPs caught up in the 'Gamble Gate' saga.

Even the re-emergence of former Prime Minister Boris Johnson at a Conservative rally at the National Army Museum earlier this weeks looks powerless to bring a large enough swell to keep the House of Commons blue.

Tory party strategists continue to fear the potential impact of Mr Farage's dramatic and unexpected return to frontline politics.

While it looks unlikely that the veteran Brexiteer can lead his party to a larger vote share than the Conservatives, Reform has the potential to pick up a few seats in what is set to be its most successful election outing.

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VOTING INTENTION BY AGE

Voters aged 65+ appear to have pivoted on backing the Conservatives, with vote share swinging downwards to around 35%.

This one of the Prime Minister's main campaign messages focusing around protecting the pension triple lock and ruling out any taxes on pensions.

The youth vote remains in single figures, as Mr Sunak has come under fire through the campaign for hitting the demographic through policies such as National Service.

Additionally, only one in ten voters between 18-49 are planning to back the ruling party and the demographic hasn't broken the 15% voting intention share for the Tories since mid-February.

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VOTING INTENTION BY BREXIT VOTE

Despite still sitting at first and second position, both Reform and the Conservatives have lost Leave voter support, with intention shifting to the favour of Labour.

Support for the Tories among those who voted for Brexit in 2016 has more than halved over the past four years.

And according to an ongoing YouGov poll, Mr Sunak's party currently sit below 30% with Brexiteers.

Labour support among Remainers has ticked down slightly, but remains within touching distance of 50%.

Sir Keir has insisted that he will not seek to rejoin the EU, despite pushing for a second referendum when Jeremy Corbyn was leader.

Commentators say, however, that the overwhelmingly anti-Brexit views of Labour voters and younger generations means the topic is still at the forefront of Westminster.

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VOTING INTENTION BY GENDER

Polls show that Labour is the still preferred choice for both men and women, having dominated the polls over the past 18 months.

Of this split, the gap between Labour and the Conservatives is more apparent among female voters.

Reform ranks third, just as with the nationwide poll tracker.

However, Mr Farage's party, seeking to attract disenchanted supporters from both parties, scores much higher for men.

Since Mr Farage took the Reform reins at the outset of June, men have flocked to the party's support to the Conservatives detriment and the formerly-known Brexit Party continues to hold higher male vote share than the Tories.

Around one in six men currently support Reform, compared to roughly one in eight women.

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PROJECTED ELECTION RESULTS

Sir Keir's Labour is on course for a more than 200-seat majority, according to the latest mega-poll.

If Survation's latest projection, published on June 15, reflects what will happen on election day, Mr Sunak's party will succumb to its lowest ever number of seats ever, with just 72.

Labour, meanwhile, would win 456 seats, giving it a majority of 262  marking its best ever election result and one of the biggest Commons majorities in history.

The sophisticated poll, involving more than 40,000 voters, analysed results down to constituency level.

It predicted the Lib Dems would quintuple their seats, the SNP would lose nearly a dozen and Reform would gain seven.

Survation's mega-poll had the Tories losing 293 seats, Labour gaining 254, the Lib Dems gaining 45 and the SNP losing 11. This would give Labour a majority of 262 seats  an increase on Sir Tony's 179.

Polls predict several Cabinet ministers are on course to lose their seats to Labour or the Lib Dems, including Commons leader Penny Mordaunt, Education Secretary Gillian Keegan, Chief Whip Simon Hart and minister for common sense Esther McVey.

Other respected pollsters, such as YouGov, More in Common and Best for Britain, have also predicted disaster for the Tories on July 4.

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THE KEY ISSUES THAT VOTERS CARE ABOUT

Britons say that the most important issue facing the country is economic stability, according to the findings of a running YouGov survey.

The economy was said t rank first among the top three most pressing concerns that the next Government needs to sort out by 54 per cent of those polled.

It was followed by health (50 per cent), with the ongoing impact of long NHS waiting times having been felt by millions stuck in the queue for routine treatment.

Around two in every ten voters continue to think the environment is the most pressing issue, while immigration and asylum sits at around four out of every ten people.
Her boyfriend had been living with his other girlfriend for eight years

A dating expert has revealed how she was catfished for six years by a handsome stranger who claimed to be a high-flying property developer who drove a Ferrari and offered to buy her a $4million house.

Professional matchmaker Louanne Ward has exposed her former lover Mitchell* as a penniless chef who was cheating on his long-term girlfriend with two other women and driving a red Hyundai, which he called 'the Ferrari'.

Louanne was living in Perth with her teenage son in 2018 when Mitchell found her professional Facebook profile and sent her a message: 'You're so beautiful. You look familiar, have we met?'

Three days earlier, she had met three men in front of a sandwich maker in the business lounge at Sydney Airport, and asked if he was one of those men.

Mitchell replied: 'Yes, I was.'

They were both in their forties and the relationship progressed quickly; he lived in Sydney so they only saw each other three times in person during their six years together, but Louanne didn't mind.

'I was pursuing dreams and goals and things I want to do, and what actually I preferred was to come to Sydney, have two weeks with him, and go back to Perth,' she told Daily Mail Australia.

Louanne Ward (pictured) is a professional match-maker who was lied to for six years by her ex-boyfriend

Despite seeing each other infrequently, they kept the romance alive with daily declarations of love and all the steamy texts that anyone would expect from lovers on opposite sides of the country.

He sent her so many photos of his penis that she had to ask him to stop. He also insisted he was a wealthy businessman who successfully invested in cryptocurrency and offered to buy her a $4million house, which she refused.

But that all changed in May when Louanne accidentally came across Mitchell's long-term girlfriend's Instagram page and saw a number of photos of them together within the last six years.

There were photos of them on international holidays, and Louanne realised there were items in the woman's Instagram photos that had also appeared in shots Mitchell had sent her.

'I was going through her profiles trying to put links in place, and they fell into place,' she said.

'I found out I was catfished because he made out that he was someone that he was not, and he gaslit me every time I asked him if he was seeing anyone else.'

She confronted him about it and he was forced to come clean that he had actually been with the woman on Instagram for eight years, and he was dating a third woman at the same time.

Louanne felt embarrassed and ashamed that she - as a match-maker and relationship expert - had been sucked into Mitchell's web of lies for six years, but she decided to share her story because she knows her experience is all too common.

'Ever since this has all come out, so many people have said, "Oh god, this happened to me too,"' she said.

'And they're not weak wallflowers - they're strong and resilient. The opposite of being betrayed is being supported, and that's what I want to do for people.'

Louanne Ward's ex had been seeing another woman for eight years - and she was shocked to learn that she was the other woman. Mitchell* sent Louanne this photo of himself with a Ferrari, saying he had bought a new car

In reality, Mitchell drove a red Hyundai which he called 'the Ferrari' (pictured)

'Our love story'

Louanne had thought the start of her love story with Mitchell was when he sent her a message after meeting her at the airport.

'I work in romance, so for me, that was the start of our love story,' she said.

She later found out that Mitchell wasn't one of the men at the airport - his message to her had been unsolicited, but he jumped at the opportunity to forge the connection when she asked.

During that first conversation, he told her he lived in Sydney but owned a house in the elite Perth suburb of Peppermint Grove, where he planned to permanently relocate.

He said he wanted to retire early because he'd made a lot of money and wanted to enjoy it, and had just one more development to finish, which was about three months out.

After that, they FaceTimed and messaged each other about everything - lust turned into love, and he started saying things like, 'You're the girl for me, you're the only girl I'm ever going to marry'.

She liked the fact he seemed to have his own life set up in Sydney and, without much of a physical relationship, they connected on a deep and intellectual level.

Alarm bells started going off after they met in person for the first time in Sydney in 2019: they spent the afternoon together and he promised to return to her hotel that evening, but ghosted her for two days.

Once she was back in Perth, he told her he'd been in hospital and couldn't possibly have messaged her because he was 'focused on healing'.

He stood her up twice more after that, but she said he always talked her around.

Louanne could never prove his excuses were false, and she loved him so it was difficult to be as critical as she would have been if it happened to a friend or a client.

Mitchell continually told Louanne he would move to Perth and marry her (texts pictured)

At one stage, Mitchell offered to buy Louanne a $4million house, even though he wasn't wealthy at all

False promises

Louanne was initially happy with their long-distance arrangement; however, as their relationship progressed, Mitchell continually promised to move to Perth and she wanted him to stay true to his word.

They saw each other in person once more before the Covid pandemic started and the WA borders closed, which meant he didn't have to come up with reasons as to why he couldn't see her for two years.

Throughout the pandemic, he would constantly assure her they would be together and live 'the most beautiful life' once state borders reopened and his developments were finished.

But it never happened.

WhatsApp messages show Louanne asking him why they couldn't be together and asking him if he was seeing someone else.

'I gave him the opportunity to tell me that he has somebody in his life, because I logically looked at the situation and it didn't make sense that we would not be together after Covid,' she said.

'I said to him, "The only thing that makes sense is that you've got a partner, and I want you to know I get it and I understand."'

By 2022 when the pandemic was over, she reached boiling point, telling him: 'Not sure where the truth lies but nothing you promised me turned out to be the truth.'

He replied: 'Well I have never given up on our dream darling Louanne.'

She said: 'This is too painful, enough is enough. You aren't, haven't and won't do anything to bring [this to] fruition... the idea of a happy relationship is outweighed by the reality of one.'

He said: 'I WILL Louanne ... I will endeavor to get to WA to live to I can be with you, love you and hold you xxxxxx.'

Every time she asked him whether he was seeing anyone else, he denied it and quickly steered the conversation to sex.

Every time Louanne tried to ask Mitchell why he wouldn't move to be with her, he would turn the conversation to sex

She sent him a number of messages over the past six years, asking if he was seeing anyone else - he always denied it

Love triangle

Louanne found out Mitchell was cheating on her by accident, when she was looking for a gift for a friend and stumbled upon a shop on Instagram.

The owner of the shop was a woman who was pictured with Mitchell in different locations, and over the course of several years.

'I'm looking at her Instagram photos, and I'm looking back at photos he sent me, and there's her hat in the background, and there's a woman's shoe I never noticed in the background of another picture,' Louanne said.

Louanne realised the intimate photos he had sent her were taken in his girlfriend's bathroom.

She also pieced together messages from another point in their relationship when he hadn't spoken to her for a few weeks. He told her he had flown to New York for business, but Instagram showed he was actually holidaying with his main girlfriend.

Louanne made a video confronting Mitchell, and asked him to explain the situation.

Over the phone, he confessed he did have another love interest and described her as a 'lover of past times'.

She replied: 'How fast are the times?'

He said: 'Well, we've been on and off for 10 years.'

When Mitchell told Louanne he was 'pretty sure' she knew about the other woman, she blew up because he had spent so long denying it, and had previously made her feel bad for asking the question.

Later, she found out Mitchell also had third woman.

Mitchell apologised profusely and told Louanne he was a 'despicable person', but she didn't believe he meant it.

Louanne confronted Mitchell and he asked her to forgive him. He said his behavior was 'despicable'

Louanne has tried to make peace with the fact that Mitchell lied to her for six years

The truth

Louanne eventually decided to approach Mitchell's girlfriend because she knew he was still lying to her, and would likely cheat on her again.

The girlfriend explained she had been with Mitchell for eight years and had caught him cheating before.

He told the last woman he had a lot of money - just like he told Louanne.

She laughed when asked if Mitchell drove a Ferrari, and explained he no money, everything he knew about cryptocurrency came from her, and the 'Ferrari' was actually a red Hyundai.

Louanne realised Mitchell had never intended move to Perth, he didn't own any property, nor did he travel internationally, or intend to marry her.

He was just a serial cheater who stole six years of her life.

'What I'm struggling with is the opportunities I lost seeing men who were genuine and interested,' she said.

'I'm a match-maker and I know the sexual value of a woman in her forties and a woman in her fifties, and he stole those years from me.'

Louanne felt as though she had let Mitchell lie to her, and was ashamed because her friends had tried to tell her he wasn't who he appeared to be.

'If this was happening to a friend or a client, I would have been able to see it straight away, but I couldn't see it happening to me,' she said.

Through her conversations with others, she realised a lot of people - men and women - had similar stories, but didn't speak about them because they felt ashamed.

She decided going public with her own horror story might help others understand what happened to them is not their fault - they were simply lied to.

*Name has been changed.
EXCLUSIVE

A grandmother whose former son-in-law plotted to have a hitman kill her has broken her silence about the terrifying ordeal and explained how his evil plan unravelled.

Cheryl Brewin, who lives in Sydney's western suburbs, is relieved to be alive, two years after her daughter Amanda's ex-husband Maris Galea hatched his murder-for-hire scheme.

'I'm obviously still here, I'm alive... thank God!' she told Daily Mail Australia.

'Frightening? Yes, it was.'

It's understood Galea tried to recruit a hitman online to carry out the contract killing - but the 'hitman' turned out to be an undercover cop.

Galea was swiftly arrested soon after as he tried to hand over the cash. He has been remanded in custody ever since.

Grandmother Cheryl Brewin described the ordeal as 'frightening'

Berkshire Park man Maris Galea has pleaded guilty to soliciting murder and breaching an AVO

Maris Galea (circled on the far right) attended a family function with his ex-wife Amanda (second from right) and his former mother-in-law Cheryl Brewin (circled on the left)

Galea, 35, has pleaded guilty to soliciting, persuading or encouraging another to murder and contravening an apprehended violence order.

The electrician had been ordered by a court not to contact the grandmother.

But he admitted he 'engaged another person' to breach the apprehended violence order that was meant to protect the woman and threatened her safety.

According to Galea's former neighbour in Berkshire Park in Sydney's north-west, the individual hired to 'knock off' Ms Brewin was in fact an undercover police officer.

'I was around the day he [Galea] was arrested, the street swarmed with undercover cops,' the neighbour recalled.

'Once he handed the money over to the undercover copper, police busted him.'

Neighbours recalled Galea having a short temper which could flare up over nothing.

'One minute he was polite and friendly, the next he was your worst enemy,' the neighbour said.

'I'm obviously still here, I'm alive... thank God!' she told Daily Mail Australia

Ms Brewin insisted he is no-longer her son-in-law and her daughter and Maris Galea have since divorced

Daily Mail Australia understands that Galea and his former wife were separated at the time he was planning the hit on his then-mother-in-law.

'He's not my son-in-law anymore... they're divorced,' Ms Brewin revealed, adding that her main concern was her innocent grandchild.

No specific motive for the attempted hitman execution has yet been revealed.

Galea was recently excused from appearing at Penrith District Court where his matters were mentioned.

A set of draft facts, which have not yet been signed by Galea, were tendered to the court on the basis 'they could be subject of dispute', while a date was set for a sentencing hearing estimated to take three hours.

The court ordered a sentence assessment report to be tendered on the next occasion to help determine suitable sentence options.

He will remain in custody and return to Penrith District Court on October 18.
Child sex abusers are continuing to prey on youngsters in Rotherham more than 12 years after the grooming gang scandal was first exposed, locals have claimed.

Although another seven men were this week found guilty of a horrific catalogue of multiple rapes and sexual assaults, many more trials are in the pipeline  casting a continued shadow over the area.

And local people, including victims, say they believe criminals are still grooming and abusing the young  this time involving gangs from a swathe of ethnicities rather than just groups of mainly Pakistani Muslim men.

The latest prosecution follows a five-year investigation by officers from the National Crime Agency's Operation Stovewood, the UK's biggest investigation into child abuse.

A spokesman told the Daily Mail: 'Our caseload so far involves over 200 arrests out of 300 suspects, and 1,150 victims. So far, there have been 33 convictions after 15 trials but there are further trials due to start and we have more than 50 live investigations.'

Locals in Rotherham believe criminals are still grooming and abusing youngsters in Rotherham

Mohammed Amar (left) and Yasser Ajaibe (right) were among seven members of a Rotherham grooming gang convicted last week. They were both found guilty of indecently assaulting a 11-year-old girl

Stovewood was set up in the wake of the Jay Report, which sent a shockwave across the nation in 2014 when it found that at least 1,400 girls were abused, trafficked and groomed by gangs of men of mainly Pakistani heritage in the town between 1997 and 2013.

The report by Professor Alexis Jay - now chairing the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse - prompted a swathe of resignations and further inquiries from public bodies after it emerged how police, social workers and other agencies had done little to tackle the issue.

But while Stovewood has been welcomed, there is concern about it only investigating historic grooming.

Locals say they have received no information about when any prosecutions for more recent allegations of grooming  investigated by South Yorkshire Police  will reach the courts.

And Rotherham abuse survivor and campaigner Sammy Woodhouse, who was just 14 when she was raped and became pregnant, said progress on changes to help victims has stalled.

She said: 'We're never going to be able to stop exploitation but that doesn't mean the authorities can't be determined to stop it. Mountains should be moved in terms of changing the way things operate but this isn't happening.

'People are still more bothered about protecting their reputations and there is still no legal definition of a victim of child exploitation, which would help enable cases to be recognised.

'The sentencings need to be higher. Rape carries a maximum term of life  why is it not being given out more often?

'Children who are being exploited by grooming gangs are still being criminalised rather than recognised as victims - and there's not one support service in this country for a child born of sexual violence.'

The legacy of what Ms Woodhouse, now 38, went through more than two decades ago has continued to affect her life.

Her rapist, Arshid Hussain, who was one of three brothers who groomed and abused over 50 girls, was jailed for 35 years in 2016.

But the following year, it emerged Rotherham Council had contacted Hussain about the boy Ms Woodhouse had given birth to after being raped.

The authority promised to keep him informed about future proceedings, after he was listed as a 'respondent' in a Family Court case.

Mohammed Zameer Sadiq (left) and Mohammed Siyab (right) were found guilty of rape

Abid Saddiq (left) and Tahir Yasin (right) were both convicted of rape

In response, Ms Woodhouse set up a petition backed by 20,000 people and Rotherham MP Sarah Champion for a change in the law to prevent men with a child conceived by rape from access or involvement with them.

Speaking at the time, she said: 'We're constantly being re-victimised and as a rape victim I'm constantly told 'well actually, he's got his human rights'.

'What about my human rights? What about other people's human rights and our children and our right to constantly have to keep our children safe?'

And she is still battling to have a historic criminal conviction for an assault after she got into a fight while being groomed erased from her record.

She also said there isn't sufficient focus by the authorities on criminal gangs' grooming of boys who are lured into joining their activities and becoming abusers themselves.

Lack of resources is one issue, she said. 'There's not enough police officers to deal with the crime that's going on. You report an incident and can't get a call back.

The Rotherham groomers convicted last week

The men, found guilty last Wednesday after a nine-week trial at Sheffield Crown Court and who will be sentenced in September, are: Mohammed Amar, 42, of Elizabeth Way, Rotherham, who was found guilty of two counts of indecently assaulting an 11-year-old girl. Yasser Ajaibe, 39, of Walter Street, Rotherham, who was found guilty of indecently assaulting an 11-year-old girl. Mohammed Zameer Sadiq, 49, of Richard Road, Rotherham, who was found guilty of rape and sexual intercourse with a girl under 13 years old. Mohammed Siyab, 44, of Stevenson Drive, Rotherham, was found guilty of two counts of rape, sexual intercourse with a girl under 13 years and trafficking within the UK for sexual exploitation. Abid Saddiq, 43, formerly of Rotherham, was found guilty of three counts of rape, including one of girl under 13, and indecently assaulting of a 12-year-old girl. Tahir Yasin, 38, of Burngreave Street, Sheffield, was found guilty of eight counts of rape. Ramin Bari, 37, of Derby Street, Sheffield, was found guilty of four counts of rape. Advertisement

'I've taken to reporting things via posts on social media and it tends to be more effective at getting a response because it's then in the public domain and they don't want to be seen to be doing nothing.'

Ms Woodhouse said that while the 'dynamics are changing' about who is involved in Rotherham's criminal gangs, who she said are continuing to abuse youngsters, the authorities remain uncomfortable to talk about the ethnic backgrounds of those involved.

'We are still not allowed to say the majority of perpetrators were Pakistani Muslim men without being branded racist or Islamophobic. But without recognising who is involved you can't talk about it properly.

She urged for there to be a 'national conversation' about grooming gangs 'in every town and every city'.

'Don't think it's just Rotherham or Telford or Rochdale. It's happening absolutely everywhere. If we want to expose the full scale of the problem, you'd have to have an inquiry in every town and city', she added.

Another victim, 'Elizabeth', who was groomed and abused as a teenager, said: 'As much as the NCA are doing an incredible job with the prosecutions, I don't think there have been enough convictions and, secondly, I think Rotherham is thinking it's all gone away. It hasn't  it's just covered up more.

'The 33 convictions are not touching the half of it. Until we've dealt with the past, how can we deal with the future?

'We need to see a strategy, plans in place for how the authorities are going to prevent it happening again. There needs to be more awareness among the general public about what to look out for.

'The police say they haven't the resources and haven't enough funding but other public bodies could be taking action, such as housing officers making spot-checks on properties, which could disrupt what's going on.'

Elizabeth, now in her 30s and still affected psychologically by the ordeal she went through, added: 'It's heartbreaking that while people like myself and the other campaigners keep on shouting, some people haven't a voice.

'South Yorkshire Police say they are in a better position than a few years ago but I'm not sure they are capable of dealing with the problem. We haven't heard anything of their continuing investigations into more recent abuse.'

Her father, who also did not wish to be named, said: 'The grooming is still going on  it seems worse than before. They are still using the same hotspots. The Asian men are still around but there are a lot of other gangs involved now, including from Eastern Europe.

'The perpetrators are not getting long-enough sentences and there is a lack of support for victims.

'My daughter's abuser received two nine-year sentences but they ran concurrently and he was released after 4  years. Every one of these types of convictions should carry a life sentence.

'He's just been recalled to prison after he breached conditions which include not being allowed within five miles of my daughter. He was spotted within a mile of where she now lives.

'Given the number of cases still to come to court and the delays with dealing with the prosecutions, this could still affect the town for the next 20 years.'

Ramin Bari, 37, of Sheffield, was found guilty of four counts of rape

There is still despondency in the town centre  which retains some of the grand architecture from its prosperous industrial past but is these days all but abandoned by chain stores and is now a mix of surviving independent shops plus takeaways, barbers and tattoo studies.

Few people on its streets are comfortable discussing the issue of grooming gangs openly.

One local said: 'It is definitely still casting a shadow and people are obviously uncomfortable about what has happened.

'With the trials still going on, it will be a few years before we can begin to put this behind us but the authorities definitely need to learn lessons in terms of how they treat vulnerable young women in the future.'

'Ghost', a tattooist based in the town centre who did not wish to give her name, said: 'I don't think the issue is being handled adequately at all.

'It's still happening, at Clifton Park where you see these girls and people come along in cars picking them up.

'It's perpetrators of all backgrounds, all kinds of ethnicities who we are seeing now, not only British Asian men.

'There's better lighting and CCTV around Clifton Park but you only see police around there if there's been an event on other than that, nothing.'

Ghost added that she has tried to persuade the council to crack down on rogue tattooists, who ink under-18s in breach of the law and who, she believes, are in some cases using the shops and the new fashion for body art, to lure in and groom victims.

She said: 'Our industry is not regulated. People can open tattoo parlours without a disclosure and barring service check or any inspection  but as far as I know, we only have two environmental health officers to deal with the whole of Rotherham.

'I've been banging on at the council about the need for proper regulation and inspections.

'It's appalling. Tattoo parlours are the latest places which are being used by people to groom children, because tattoos are popular and seen as cool, so youngsters are attracted there.'

Sarah Champion, Rotherham's Labour MP since 2012 and who has previously spoken vociferously in support of grooming victims, said: 'The British Asian model of gangs has been broken up but other gangs are stepping up and are using the same model.

'We would be deluding ourselves if we don't think this is going on across the country. We need to do all we can to protect children.

'In Rotherham, as in other places, the same people who exploit the children are those who run the black market, trading guns and drugs. There have been a lot of cannabis farms raided by the police which are farmed using slave labour.'

She said she had unsuccessfully attempted to persuade the government to add a definition of child exploitation to the recent Victims Bill  which would make it easier for authorities to take action against abuse.

Rotherham abuse survivor and campaigner Sammy Woodhouse, who was just 14 when she was raped and became pregnant, said progress on changes to help victims has stalled

And Ms Champion said progress of the NCA's Operation Stovewood - set up to cover the crimes committed during the period considered by Prof Jay's report - has been slowed due to the complexity of the resulting trials and the need for specialist prosecutors and judges.

'It isn't that nothing's happening. There's an issue of court space for trials with multiple defendants lasting several weeks. They also need to be dealt with by specialist barristers and judges,' she added.

'On top of that, there are ongoing cases post-2013 which are being investigated by South Yorkshire Police.'

Ms Champion, standing again next month in her safe seat, said it is not only the continued fight against child sex grooming gangs giving her 'sleepless nights'  with online grooming now posing a terrible danger.

'We're now seeing peer-on-peer sexual abuse and exploitation, with pressure to provide indecent images which are then exploited for gain by adults who use the pictures.

'There's not anywhere near the resources needed to get close to stopping the online child abuse. It's utterly endemic at the minute and is something that keeps me awake at night.'

Rotherham Council, which was placed in special measures between 2015 and 2017 with its functions overseen by the government in the wake of Prof Jay's report, said it would 'never be complacent' about the threat posed by grooming gangs.

Nicola Curley, the council's strategic director for children and young people's services, said: 'We will never be complacent about the threat from people who wish to sexually abuse children, and those people are still in our community, as they are in every community.

'We have acknowledged that the failings at the time in Rotherham in relation to child protection were unacceptable. The council and partners continue to do all that we can to support victims of these horrific crimes.

'Our Children's Services have been graded as 'Good' consistently by Ofsted since 2017. Dedicated professionals are working tirelessly to understand the experiences of our children and to disrupt offending.

'Ofsted found our multi-agency team responding to the threat of child sexual exploitation as 'proactive'. In 2021, an independent review into our response to child sexual exploitation provided reassurance that Council 'processes are not simply paper-based but active, embedded and protecting children and young people in Rotherham.'

'Any victims of child sexual abuse are urged to come forward and report the crimes committed against them. There is support available and you are not alone.'

The council said all tattooists are inspected and registered, and that it has 'no specific reports' about grooming at tattoo parlours  but that it would contact 'Ghost' to discuss her claims.

In the latest prosecutions, seven men were convicted of raping or sexually abusing girls aged 11-16 in the early 2000, when they were groomed and often plied with alcohol or cannabis.

The NCA said the evidence 'was some of the most harrowing we have come across' and that the offences involved 'some of the most serious yet investigated' by officers on Operation Stovewood.

Officers said the girls would often be collected by their abusers from the children's homes where they lived at the time.

The attacks took place at locations around Rotherham, including in a park, in a car in a supermarket car park, in a cemetery, and even behind a children's nursery.

The NCA said the jury was told how one of the girls was taken to a hotel where she was raped by two men.

The same girl was also locked inside one of her abusers' homes where she was raped on at least two occasions before escaping by climbing out of a window.

South Yorkshire Police said the force is 'progressing thirteen investigations involving six victims' for complaints made post Stovewood.

A spokesperson said: 'Three men have since been interviewed and enquiries are ongoing.

'We know that many victims and survivors report the abuse they suffered years later. We would encourage anyone who is considering reporting their abuse to the police to do so. We have dedicated teams with a wealth of experience ready to listen. It's never too late.'
Mace expensed $12,276 more than what was allowed in 2023

Nancy Mace seemingly overcharged taxpayers by $12,000 for a Washington, D.C. home last year for a home she also listed as a short-term rental.

She's now the subject of a complaint with the Ethics Committee: lawmakers are being asked to probe whether Mace improperly sought reimbursement for costs related to her Capitol Hill row home, the New York Times first reported.

Mace has the $1.6 million Capitol Hill property listed for rent, DailyMail.com can reveal.

A personal website active as of this writing lists it as open to event rentals for 10-24 guests and touts the property as 'perfectly situated a block from the Capitol. Perfect for short events where proximity to the capitol is ideal.'

The home was also listed on VRBO as of April under a host name of 'Ruth M.' Ruth is Mace's middle name.

It's not clear when it was posted on VRBO or for how long - but it's since been taken down.

Nancy Mace overcharged taxpayers by over $12,000 for a Washington, D.C. home last year for a home she also listed as a short-term rental

It's also unclear how many people have rented the property or whether Mace was claiming expenses for the home at the time it was being rented out.

The new rule has a cap of $34,000 for lodging and food per year. Lawmakers are not required to submit receipts - but strongly encouraged to keep them.

Mace co-owns a $1,649,000 Capitol Hill townhouse that she purchased in 2021 with her ex-fiance Patrick Bryant. DailyMail.com reported that they had broken up and were fighting over the home in December.

Documents breaking down Mace's costs seen by DailyMail.com show an estimated total of over $12,000 more than would be allowable for her costs.

Her average monthly reimbursable expenses were $1576 over 2023. She didn't file any expenses in July or August. The average amount claimed on months she did file was $2782. The discrepancy was first highlighted by a Washington Post report.

The home was also listed on VRBO as of April under a host name of 'Ruth M.' Ruth is Mace's middle name

The difference between the expenses she claimed - $27,817 - and the costs she incurred that were eligible for reimbursement -$18,909.39 - is $12,276.40.

The highest month was October 2023 when she declared $4176 in lodging expenses.

A quiet rules change at the start of this Congress allows members to file expenses for food and lodging for the days that they are in Washington, D.C., on official business.

Some 300 members took advantage of the new rules last year and were reimbursed for nearly $6 million.

The members' representational allowance (MRA) allows members to expense hotels and rent within the per diem set by the General Services Administration (GSA) for each day they are in Washington on official business.

It does not, however, allow them to file expenses for mortgage payments or interest on homes they own so that members are not building capital from taxpayer funds.

Only utilities, property taxes and home insurance can be expensed under the program for homeowners. Members and their staff were made expressly aware of this, according to a source who helped usher in the new system.

'We had a lot of questions in the beginning, members saying, 'can we get our lawn care reimbursed, dry cleaning reimbursed, house cleaner reimbursed,' and we've really stuck to, again, insurance, taxes and utilities,' the source said.

But an email sent to staff by Mace in April 2023 and seen by DailyMail.com showed she understood she could only get reimbursed for utilities, insurance and taxes. In the email, she expressly noted she could not file expenses for principal and interest.

Mace's expenses reveal seemingly inconsistent accounting that she has blamed on her staff in an interview with DailyMail.com.

It's not the first time Mace has been under the Ethics' Committee's eye. In early 2024 the committee contacted former staff as part of a probe into her for illegally soliciting campaign donations, two sources who were directly in the probe told DailyMail.com.

Mace's expenses reveal seemingly inconsistent accounting that she has blamed on her staff in an interview with DailyMail.com

It's not the first time Mace has been under the Ethics' Committee's eye. In early 2024 the committee contacted former staff as part of a probe into her for illegally soliciting campaign donations, two sources who were directly in the probe told DailyMail.com

In October Mace urged Fox Business viewers to donate to her campaign website during a TV hit from the Capitol rotunda, violating ethics rules that prohibit fundraising in federal buildings. It was just after she voted to oust Kevin McCarthy from the speakership.

'You're damn right I'm fundraising off of this right now because the establishment is coming after me for taking a principled stand,' Mace boasted to Cavuto. 'And if your viewers want to help out, they can go to NancyMace.org.'

And it isn't the only time she's been accused of mishandling taxpayer money.

'The congresswoman would repeatedly try to get us to use the official account to pay for family travel and business and first class upgrades on international flights, for herself and her family. I had to remind her that was illegal constantly,' a source familiar with the daily operations of the office told DailyMail.com.

Mace declined to comment on the expenses. Her office could not be reached for comment.
Hunter Biden was dramatically found guilty of three criminal charges today in his blockbuster gun and drugs trial.

A jury in Wilmington, Delaware unanimously convicted Joe Bidens son of two counts of lying on a federal government form to buy a gun, and one count of possessing the firearm while abusing drugs.

Jurors deliberated for less than three hours after a trial that had lasted over a week.

The swift and historic conviction marks the first time a sitting U.S. Presidents child has been found guilty of a federal crime. He could now face up to a maximum of 25 years in jail.

Hunter nodded slowly and appeared resigned as the guilty verdicts were read out at the J. Caleb Boggs Federal Building in his father's home town.

President Joe Biden hugs his son Hunter Biden at Delaware Air National Guard Base in New Castle, Delaware, on June 11, 2024, hours after Hunter became the first child of a sitting US president to be convicted of a felony

Hunter Biden, President Joe Biden's son, accompanied by his mother, first lady Jill Biden and his wife, Melissa Cohen Biden, walks out of federal court after hearing the verdict, Tuesday, June 11, 2024, in Wilmington, Del

Hunter Biden's computer hard drive, which was abandoned at a repair shop and leaked to the media, included images of the president's son smoking from a crack pipe

The conviction will put to the test a public promise by Joe Biden that he will not pardon his son.

President Biden issued a statement saying he accepted the outcome of the case and would respect the judicial process as Hunter considers an appeal.

He said: 'I am the President, but I am also a Dad. So many families who have had loved ones battle addiction understand the feeling of pride seeing someone you love come out the other side and be so strong and resilient in recovery.

'I will accept the outcome of this case and will continue to respect the judicial process as Hunter considers an appeal.'

Ironically, the verdict came hours before President Biden was set to give a speech on gun control at the Gun Sense University Conference in Atlanta.

Hunter's former girlfriend Zoe Kestan gave evidence that he smoked crack 'every 20 minutes'

A television monitor shows the verdict in the Hunter Biden trial in the Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House in Washington, DC, June 11, 2024

US President Joe Biden during a Juneteenth concert on the South Lawn of the White House the night before his son was convicted

After the jury left the courtroom Hunter, dressed in a dark suit and tie, hugged his lawyers, kissed his wife Melissa who gave him a tight smile, and left the room a convicted felon.

In a statement he said: 'I am more grateful today for the love and support I experienced this last week from Melissa, my family, my friends, and my community than I am disappointed by the outcome.

'Recovery is possible by the grace of God, and I am blessed to experience that gift one day at a time."

Jill Biden showed up at the courthouse but was too late to sit in the room as the jury gave their verdict.

The First Lady accompanied Hunter and Melissa as they left, accompanied by Secret Service.

Hunter will now await Judge Maryellen Noreika to decide on a sentence for the crimes, which could be as high as 25 years in prison and a $250,000 fine  although the typical sentence is much lower.

The judge said that sentencing dates are usually 120 days out from a conviction.

An image from Hunter Biden's laptop shows the president's son naked and holding a handgun by his side

The Colt Cobra revolver Hunter Biden purchased on October 12, 2018

Photos on Hunter's abandoned laptop dated September 30 2018 show him parading in barely-there white underwear and a red scarf at a party in a rented Hollywood house

During the trial the jury heard that Hunter bought a .38-caliber Colt Cobra revolver from a gun store not far from Joe Biden's home Wilmington, Delaware on October 12, 2018.

In doing so he was required to fill out a form and checked a box saying he was not a drug user.

The prosecution devoted much of the trial to highlighting how Hunter was in fact heavily using crack at the time.

Jurors heard from key witness Hallie Biden, the widow of Hunter's late brother Beau. Hallie and Hunter had a romantic relationship after Beau's death in 2015.

Hallie told the court she had also taken crack, that she had been with Hunter at times when he bought the drug, and that she was 'ashamed' about her own use of it.

Eleven days after Hunter bought the gun Hallie found it in his truck.

She 'panicked' and dumped it in a trash can outside a Wilmington grocery store, the court heard.

Hallie Biden, the widow of Joe Biden's late son Beau, who had a romantic relationship with Hunter, and dumped his gun in the trash

An image submitted as evidence in the trial

An image submitted as evidence by the prosecution in Hunter Biden's trial

It was then retrieved by a military veteran going through the trash for recyclables and eventually tracked down by the FBI.

Jurors also heard from Hunter's former girlfriend Zoe Kestan who said the president's son had been using crack 'every 15 minutes' in 2018.

There were also text messages from Hunter in October 2018 talking about meeting a 'dealer called Mookie' at a 7-Eleven grocery store.

He also sent a text message to Hallie saying he had fallen asleep smoking crack on top of a car.

A picture submitted as evidence submitted against Hunter Biden by the prosecution

The gun store in Wilmington, Delaware where Hunter Biden bought a revolver

Jurors saw images of the president's son bare-chested and disheveled in a filthy room, and half-naked holding crack pipes.

They also watched video of his crack cocaine weighed on a scale.

Hunter did not testify but jurors heard his voice when prosecutors played audio excerpts of his 2021 memoir, 'Beautiful Things,' in which he talks about hitting bottom after the death of his brother, and his descent into drugs before eventually achieving sobriety.

Prosecutors said Hunter was in the throes of crack addiction when he bought the gun and therefore lied when he checked 'no' on the form.

Hunter lawyers argued that he did not consider himself an 'addict' when he bought the gun and had been to rehab in Los Angeles two months earlier, in August 2018.

Jurors deliberated for one hour yesterday and two hours today before reaching their verdict at 11am Tuesday.

According to 'Juror 10' - who spoke anonymously after the verdict - the jury had been split 6-6 when they left court on Monday night.

But they were 11-1 in favor of conviction when they returned on Tuesday morning. Shortly after that they were unanimous.

Juror 10 said he felt 'very sad' about convicting Hunter.

He added: 'In deliberating we were not thinking of the sentencing and I really don't think that Hunter belongs in jail.

'No politics came into play and politics was not even spoken about. The first family was not even spoken about. It was all about Hunter.'

The juror went on: 'When Hallie testified, I mean, that was for me, that was a very sad time because I I did not know that Hallie also got addicted to crack. So I really felt sorry for that.'

Hunter Biden with his father President Joe Biden

The judge said that sentencing dates are usually discussed 20 days out from a conviction.

The smiling prosecutors said they had no comment.

Hunter's attorney Abbe Lowell confirmed in court that he would be pursuing his challenges to the conviction.

These include a Second Amendment challenge, that the charges violate Hunters constitutional right to bear arms.

Donald Trump's campaign called the guilty verdict a 'distraction' from the 'real crimes' of the Biden family.

In a statement the campaign said: 'This trial has been nothing more than a distraction from the real crimes of the Biden Crime Family, which has raked in tens of millions of dollars from China, Russia and Ukraine.

'Crooked Joe Bidens reign over the Biden Family Criminal Empire is all coming to an end on November 5th, and never again will a Biden sell government access for personal profit. As for Hunter, we wish him well in his recovery and legal affairs.

Some defendants convicted of Hunter's offenses do not get any jail time.

But in a recent sentence for similar crimes Judge Noreika gave another defendant one year in federal prison.

Hunter Biden, son of U.S. President Joe Biden and U.S. first lady Jill Biden leave the federal court after the jury finds him guilty on all three counts in his trial on criminal gun charges, in Wilmington, Delaware, U.S., June 11, 2024

Zoe Kestan, a former girlfriend of Hunter Biden, who gave evidence about his use of crack

The courts probation office will now compile a presentence investigation report, which will include information the judge will use to weigh up his sentence.

Judge Noreika is not required to follow sentencing guidelines, but cannot give more than legal maximum sentence.

Hunters attorney, Abbe Lowell, has already filed motions objecting to the case on various grounds, and previously indicated that he will be appealing any conviction.

He argues there the convictions can be challenge under the Second Amendment right to bear arms.

Even convicts who are ultimately incarcerated, can remain out of prison for several months or more while they await sentencing, or with their case tied up in appeals.

Hunters former business partner Devon Archer was convicted of a $60 million fraud on a Native American tribe in 2018, and is yet to step inside a prison cell due to legal wrangling.

If Hunter is in prison during the November 2024 presidential election, he will not be able to vote for his father.

In California, where Hunter lives, felons who are currently incarcerated cannot vote.

The jury began their deliberations on Monday shortly after 3.30pm.

They broke for the day at 4.30pm and resumed weighing the case at 9am on Tuesday.

The felon First Sons legal troubles are far from over.

In September he faces a tax crimes trial from the same prosecutors, Leo Wise and Derek Hines, who are working for Special Counsel David Weiss.

First Lady Jill Biden attended the trial to support her step son

Hunter Biden and Hallie Biden, his brother's widow, with whom Hunter had a romantic relationship

He is accused of nine charges, including three felony counts and six misdemeanors, of tax evasion, failure to file and pay his taxes, and filing a fraudulent tax return.

The charges span the tax years 2016 to 2019, and are considered more severe than his gun crimes.

His financial backer, Hollywood lawyer Kevin Morris, has said he is running out of money to fund Hunters top legal team for the case.

And his defense will be further complicated if he is fighting it from inside a federal prison.

In the gun trial Hunter did not take the stand.

The defense called only one member of the Biden family to give evidence - Naomi Biden, who is the daughter of Hunter Biden and granddaughter of Joe Biden.

Under cross-examination by the prosecution

Legal pundits have pointed to a recent sentencing decision by Judge Noreika as a potential barometer for Hunters sentence.

Naomi Biden, Hunter's daughter, was called as a witness by the defense

U.S. Department of Justice Special Counsel David Weiss (L), who brought the case, and U.S. Attorney Derek Hines, who prosecuted Hunter Biden in court

Lawyer Abbe Lowell represented Hunter Biden in the trial and has suggested he will appeal

On May 2 she sentenced Maryland man Zhi Dong to one year in prison for lying about his address on the same federal gun purchase forms.

Dong pleaded guilty, which often leads to a lesser sentence.

However, sentencing guidelines recommend higher sentences for crimes that involve three or more guns.

And Dongs case also arguably involved more severe conduct.

In their sentencing memo prosecutors said he drove the guns he bought in Delaware to a California gun store, which they said was indicative of trafficking firearms  though they noted he wasnt the brains of the operation.

The government recommended six months, but Judge Noreika gave him double that, Politico first reported earlier this month.
A verdict has been reached in Hunter Biden's gun and drugs trial.

President Joe Biden's scandal-plagued son, 54, has been charged with lying to a federally licensed gun dealer, making a false claim on an application by saying he was not a drug user, and illegally having a gun for 11 days.

He could face up to 25 years in prison if convicted.

Thirteen witnesses testified in total, and the jury was shown bombshell evidence including his infamous laptop and photos of him weighing and using drugs.

Every day, he has been supported by members of his family including First Lady Jill Biden who listened to the emotional testimony.

The jury reached a verdict in the gun and drug case against President Joe Biden's son Hunter Biden, 54

Hunter Biden's trial kicked off with jury selection on June 3  just days after former President Donald Trump was convicted in a Manhattan court of 34 felony charges related to his hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels.

The back-to-back trials exhibit the prevalence of the legal troubles facing both the current and former president with just five months until the 2024 presidential election.

Each day, Hunter was seen entering the courthouse in Wilmington, Delaware hand-in-hand with his wife Melissa Cohen Biden.

Just one week after the trial against the president's son kicked off, closing arguments were presented on Monday and the jury was sent to deliberate a verdict.

Hunter Biden, son of U.S. President Joe Biden, joined by his wife Melissa Cohen Biden, arrive to the J. Caleb Boggs Federal Building on June 11, 2024 in Wilmington, Delaware

The Colt Cobra revolver Hunter Biden purchased on October 12, 2018

If found guilty of all three felony charges, Hunter could face up to 25 years in prison  though first-time offenders don't usually receive the maximum sentence.

The charges stem from a 2018 firearm purchase in Delaware, where Hunter stands accused of lying about his addiction to crack cocaine when filling out a federal form to obtain a gun.

The trial, despite only lasting for a week, had several dramatic moments, including an outburst from the first son's wife.

The second day of trial on Tuesday, Cohen Biden stomped up to former Trump staffer Garrett Ziegler while he was attending the hearing and called him a 'Nazi piece of s***.'

The dramatic outburst outside the Delaware courtroom saw Hunter's wife in a baby blue jacket, pink shirt and heels get just six inches from Ziegler and said: 'You have no right to be here you Nazi piece of s**t.'

Ziegler did not respond.

The former Trump staffer became infamous to the Bidens after publishing extensive material from Hunter's laptop through Marco Polo  his right wing nonprofit.

First Lady Jill Biden also attended the trial for her step son in Delaware

Hunter was charged with lying on a firearm report (above) required for his gun transaction in 2018. A photo of the form shows he answered 'no' when asked if he was an 'unlawful user of, or addicted to, marijuana or any depressant, stimulant, narcotic drug, or any other controlled substance'

Contents of the explosive laptop harddrive were shared with the jury during the trial  including videos, photos and text messages.

Evidence from the device exhibited how the president's son was in the throes of a drug addiction in 2018, which was the same year he purchased the firearm.

Melissa Cohen Biden shook her head as Prosecutor Derek Hines took the Macbook Pro 13 from a plastic sleeve, walked it across the courtroom and held it up to the jury during a dramatic day in court.

The revelation came on a second day of the trial that heard Hunter 'smoked crack every 15 minutes' as prosecution went into detail about his life of 'debauchery'.

Hines' first witness was FBI agent Erika Jensen, who confirmed the device belonged to Hunter  an admission that flew in the face of many who tried to discredit its contents as Russian disinformation.

He then showed the court evidence taken from the 'Laptop from Hell' - including pictures of text messages where Hunter refers to himself as an 'addict' and his conversations with suspected drug dealers.

The laptop, along with admissions in his own memoir Beautiful Things, revealed he was in the depths of addiction during the same time period he said on a federal firearms form that he was not addicted to or a user of illicit substances.

An image from Hunter Biden's laptop shows the president's son naked and holding a handgun by his side

Hunter Biden's hard drive, which was abandoned at a repair shop and leaked to conservative media, also included images of the president's son smoking from a crack pipe

Hunter is also facing a separate trial in California on charges of failing to pay $1.4 million in taxes. It is expected to go to trial in the fall.

Both cases were meant to be resolved through a deal he struck with prosecutors last summer following the yearslong investigation into his business dealings.

If it held up, the deal would guarantee the president's son would avoid jail time.

But the plea deal spectacularly fell apart in court in July 2023, opening Hunter up to new charges and allowing both cases to move forward.

Judge Maryellen Noreika questioned some unusual aspects of the agreement, which included a proposed guilty plea to misdemeanor offenses to resolve the tax crimes and a diversion agreement on the gun charge, which meant as long as he stayed out of trouble for two years the case would be dismissed.

Hunter and Hallie Biden, the widow of his late brother, with whom he had a romantic relationship

Hunter Biden's Aunt Valerie and Uncle James  sister and brother to President Joe Biden  attended the trial in Wilmington, Delaware on Monday

Ashley Biden arrives at federal court in Wilmington, Delaware on Friday, June 7, to support her brother Hunter Biden

Through the trial, multiple Biden family members have shown up to the courthouse at the J. Caleb Boggs Federal Building to support Hunter.

Those who made appearances include his sister Ashley, his uncle and President Biden's brother James and the president's sister and Hunter's aunt Valerie.
Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo was grilled on his COVID blunders in Congress as Republicans continue to zero in on public officials whose conduct during the pandemic has been brought into question.

The ex-chief of the Empire State appeared before the the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic for private interview on Tuesday.

The meeting comes just over a week after Dr. Anthony Fauci testified before the panel that the lab-leak origin of COVID is a real 'possibility' and that the six-foot social distancing and children masking rules were not based on settled science.

Lawmakers later accused Fauci of lying to Congress during his testimony.

According to the committee, Cuomo attempted to to delay the meeting for nine months by repeatedly dodging requests to talk.

Only after subpoenaing the New York Democrat were they able to compel his testimony to learn more about his 'deadly' nursing home policies.

Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo will testify before the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic behind closed doors on Tuesday regarding his handling of the COVID pandemic

'Today, former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo will be held to account in front of Congress for the deadly pandemic-era nursing home policies issued under his watch,' the COVID committee Chairman Brad Wenstrup, R-Ohio, said in a Tuesday statement.

'This transcribed interview before the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic will delve deeper into the March 25th order than any investigation has before and hopefully provide the answers that so many devastated New Yorkers have been desperately seeking since 2020.'

'The victims families deserve accountability  not only for the disastrous must-admit policies, but for the coverup that ensued,' Wesntrup said, adding the 'interview is an opportunity for the former Governor to explain why inking his book deal was a higher priority than safeguarding New Yorks nursing home residents.'

'Mr. Cuomos forthcoming, honest, and transparent testimony is critical for improving our future public health responses and ensuring that deadly policies are never again implemented.'

Republicans on the committee held Cuomo's feet to the flames on his decision to instruct nursing homes to accept COVID positive patients.

During the questioning, Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., asked Cuomo if he regretted his directive, a sources familiar told DailyMail.com.

He said he only regretted that the directive was not communicated to the public effectively, stopping short of saying he was sorry about mandating nursing homes to accept COVID positive patients.

Cuomo went on to smear his Democrat staffers as bizarre conspiracy theorists, the source said.

He laid blame for the order on a New York State Department of Health employee that wrote the order and said he did not know who the author was.

Medical workers attend to a patient outside Harlem Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation in Harlem, New York where at least 20 bodies were removed during coronavirus pandemic and state data only shows five COVID-19 deaths on Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Protestors called on former New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo to reopen New York amidst a shutdown of all non-essential businesses due to the Coronavirus pandemic

Lawmakers asked Cuomo about his pressuring of former state appointees and New York officials to stay quiet on his March 25, 2020, 'must admit' nursing home order.

Further, they probed him on his lucrative book deal detailing his leadership during the pandemic and his involvement and knowledge of manipulating data on tracking New York nursing home deaths.

In preparing for the interview the committee held meetings with families impacted by that decision, which critics say resulted in scores of elderly Americans dying from the virus.

'After Mr. Cuomo issued deadly guidance that forced nursing homes and facilities to admit potentially contagious COVID-19 patients, more than 15,000 New Yorkers died in these healthcare establishments,' Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, a medical doctor, told DailyMail.com in a statement.

Many New Yorkers have grown irate at Cuomo for his 'must admit' order, claiming it led to many deaths in nursing homes

Governor Andrew Cuomo holds a press conference at Radio City Music Hall in New York

Family members of seniors who died in nursing homes of COVID-19 hold a rally and demand Governor Cuomo's resignation or impeachment, March 25, 2021

a patient is loaded into an ambulance by emergency medical workers outside Cobble Hill Health Center in the Brooklyn borough of New York.

'Even Democrat New York Attorney General Letitia James issued a damning report of the Cuomo Administration's mishandling and cover up to hide the true mortality rate.'

'Meanwhile, the Governor had the audacity to publish a self-applauding book on 'leadership lessons' from COVID-19. As a medical doctor and former head of the Iowa Department of Public Health, I look forward to further 'leadership lessons' from Mr. Cuomo's interview to avoid similar disastrous decisions during the next public health crisis.'

Cuomo arrived for his interview around 10 a.m.
Politicians have lined up on both sides to offer an opinion on the controversial decision to award former Victorian premier Daniel Andrews the Companion of the Order of Australia (AC), with one of his predecessors labelling the gong as 'a joke'.

The award - handed out as part of the King's Birthday honours list and one of Australia's highest awards - was given to Mr Andrews for his 'eminent service to the people and Parliament of Victoria, to public health, to policy and regulatory reform, and to infrastructure development'.

The former premier remains a controversial figure after overseeing one of the world's longest lockdowns in Melbourne during the Covid-19 period, a bungled hotel quarantine program that led to soaring infection rates, and lengthy, expensive delays to infrastructure projects.

Former Victorian premier Jeff Kennett described Mr Andrews' AC as 'a joke' and called on the Governor-General to rescind the award.

He pointed to Mr Andrews' controversial Covid leadership and the state's $156.2billion debt, which is expected to rise to $187.8billion by 2027-28.

Ex-Victorian premier Daniel Andrews (pictured) received the Companion of the Order of Australia for his 'eminent service to the people and Parliament of Victoria, to public health, to policy and regulatory reform, and to infrastructure development'

Former Victorian premier Jeff Kennett (pictured) believes Mr Andrews' AC is 'a joke' and has called on the Governor-General to rescind the award

'So we are now giving the highest civilian award to an individual who has failed, we are recognising failure and that is unacceptable,' he told Sky News Australia.

'I have asked the Governor-General to rescind this honour. I'd also like to see how this award was given, made and considered.

'I would like to know why it [happened] so quickly and whether, in fact, there has been political interference in him being granted this award.

'That wouldn't be surprising, because the hallmark of Daniel's premiership was just that: political interference overburdening the system.'

Victorian independent MP David Limbrick agreed with Mr Kennett and highlighted Mr Andrews' infamous mismanagement of the Commonwealth Games.

'We had a situation where before the election there was a promise of a Commonwealth Games, then after the election, of course, "Oh whoops, it's too expensive now, oh, and by the way, it cost $580 million" that just got wasted,' he said.

Former Labor Senator Stephen Conroy also fronted Sky News but when asked about Mr Andrews' award, defended the state's longest-serving premier.

Mr Conroy told Mr Andrews' critics to 'suck it up'.

'The Sydney media bubble, frankly, are morons - you know nothing about Melbourne so get back in your box,' he said.

'No one cares about your views out there in broader Australia. This sort of pathetic attack on the awards secretariat is just mind-blowing.

'Jeff (Kennett), that was just a pathetic dummy spit.'

Former Labor Senator Stephen Conroy (pictured) said of Mr Andrews' critics: 'The Sydney media bubble, frankly, are morons, you know nothing about Melbourne so get back in your box'

Tasmanian senator Jacqui Lambie summarised the feelings of many Australians by describing Mr Andrews' acknowledgement as 'bizarre'.

'I always find it bizarre that we get paid an absurd amount of money as politicians and you want to give us awards?' Senator Lambie told Nine's Today Show.

'I mean, seriously, there's a lot of people out there who do great things, but don't have a lot of money, and they're doing great things around their own community. Why they continue to give politicians awards is beyond me.

'It really gets up my nose, I have to be honest with you. We get paid to do the job for you. We shouldn't be getting awards on top of it.

'It's not for them. It's for people in the community who are out there doing the right thing, and a lot of those people out there in the community helping others, are not loaded with money.

'They do it from the goodness of their heart, and that's the way it should be done.'

Former Western Australian Premier Mark McGowan was also awarded an AC, despite also being known for his hardline Covid-era policies.

Former MP Craig Kelly shared his thoughts on X alongside several of Mr Andrews' critics.

'At first I thought it was a bad joke, but both Dan Andrews and former WA Premier Mark McGowan have received an AC for 'Covid Leadership' in the King's Birthday Honours. They both should be jail serving time,' he said.

Another commenter posted: 'Dan Andrews has been made a Companion of the Order of Australia in the 2024 King's Birthday Honours for being the most authoritarian human rights abuser in Australia's history.'

A third wrote: 'Today, we celebrate the iron-fisted leadership of Dan Andrews and Mark McGowan with the Companion of the Order of Australia.

'Under their reign, ruthless Covid zero benchmarks were set. The destruction of businesses, economy and erosion of freedoms were glorious sacrifices.'

Tasmanian senator Jacqui Lambie (pictured) summarised the feelings of many Australians by describing Mr Andrews' acknowledgement as 'bizarre'

However, others applauded Mr Andrews for keeping Victorians 'safe' through the pandemic.

'Well deserved recognition for Premier Dan Andrews in the King's Birthday Honors! His dedication and strength in guiding Victoria through the toughest time in the last century,' one wrote.

'Congratulations Dan Andrews on your King's birthday honour for your brilliant work throughout the Covid pandemic. We were all so lucky to have you as our premier,' another said.

Former 3AW broadcaster and commentator Neil Mitchell said he wasn't 'happy' with the 'bizarre' call and believes it was 'fast-tracked'.

'Daniel was a divisive leader,' Mitchell told Sunrise.

'He's getting this award in part for his work in public health. He's destroyed the public health system. He had old ladies chased out of parks through the Covid days.

'(There are) a lot of questions around it. It's fast- tracked.'

Mitchell added that Mr Andrews' accolade was a slight on the people adversely affected by his government's 'ring of steel' policy during Covid.

'I can't help but think of these people impacted by those lockdowns, particularly small business. How would they be feeling right now?'

Ben Fordham from Sydney's 2GB also took aim at the controversial political awardees.

'The former premiers are being recognised for their service to public health and the people of their state, but the decision has gone down like a lead balloon,' Fordham said.

'People can't forget the pain they caused during the pandemic. Mr Andrews imposed the longest lockdown in the world.

'Victorians were stuck inside for 262 days. Meanwhile, Mark McGowan closed Western Australia's border for almost two years.

'Families were separated for major milestones. They missed out on births, deaths and marriages.'

While Mr Andrews was criticised for his harsh lockdown restrictions, he remains the longest serving Labor premier in Victoria's history and won three state elections for the ALP.

Stepping down from the job in September 2023, Mr Andrews said 'it is time'.

'Recently, in talking to my kids and Cath (his wife), thoughts of what life will be like after this job has started to creep in,' he said.

'I have always known that the moment that happens it is time to go and to give this privilege, this amazing responsibility to someone else.'

Former Western Australian Premier Mark McGowan (pictured) was also awarded an AC, despite also being known for his hardline Covid-era policies

At the time, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese paid tribute to his longtime friend, calling him a 'man of great conviction, enormous compassion and a fierce determination to make a difference'.

'Daniel Andrews has never been anyone who has shirked his responsibilities,' he said.

'He stood up each and every day during the pandemic, stood up for doing what he believed was absolutely right, to keep Victorian safe.

'Not making easy decisions, making difficult decisions.'

Post-politics, Mr Andrews has moved to the private sector, and is working with mining billionaire Andrew 'Twiggy' Forrest through his consultancy Forty Eight and Partners.
The Ohio woman accused of stabbing three-year-old Julian Wood and his mother as they shopped for groceries was seen smirking in court on Monday as she faced charges for the young boy's murder.

Bionca Ellis, 32, was seen in the Cuyahoga Court of Common Pleas smiling and almost laughing as Judge Nancy Margaret announced that she is charged with murder, aggravated murder, attempted murder, felonious assault, endangering children, tampering with evidence and misdemeanor theft.

She even turned directly towards the camera and grinned, before pleading not guilty to the charges stemming from Wood's murder at the Giant Eagle grocery store in North Olmstead, Cleveland on June 2.

But just moments later, Wood's grieving father, Jared Wood, pleaded for the judge to 'do everything you can to keep this monster behind bars' and prosecutors announced they would seek the death penalty.

Bionca Ellis, 32, was seen smiling as she faced murder charges in the stabbing death of three-year-old Julian Wood on Monday

The young boy was sitting in a grocery cart when Ellis allegedly stabbed him in the face and back

'That day, one week ago, she took everything from us,' he said, apparently fighting off tears.

'There's nothing that could ever replace my son or anything that my wife and I, even our other kids, are going through.'

Police say Ellis first encountered Julian and his mother, Margot, 37, as they were exiting the Giant Eagle grocery store and followed them outside to their car --- brandishing a knife she had allegedly stolen from a nearby Volunteers of America Thrift Store.

She then allegedly stabbed the toddler in the face and the back as he sat in the shopping cart, then slashed his mother as she tried to pull her child to safety, according to Cleveland 19.

Ellis was found just a few minutes later walking down a nearby side street, still holding a bloodied knife, police said.

Wood's grieving father, Jared Wood, pleaded for the judge to 'do everything you can to keep this monster behind bars'

Ellis' defense attorney suggested in court that she has 'notable mental health issues'

Meanwhile, the grocery store descended into chaos as paramedics desperately tried to resuscitate the young boy and transported him and his mother to the nearby St John Medical Center.

But Julian's wounds were too extensive and he did not survive the attack.

His mother, however, is expected to make a full recovery.

It remains unclear why Ellis allegedly attacked the family as they left the grocery store.

Police say Ellis had no previous connection with the Wood family and have called the attack 'entirely a random act of violence.'

'There's no indication as to why she committed this. She wouldn't speak about anything, she lawyered up,' Detective Sergeant Matthew Beck said.

Ellis was allegedly caught on surveillance footage following Julian and his mother out of the grocery store while brandishing a knife

She initially appeared in court on Monday via video conference with her head down

He noted that there was no recorded history of mental illness, but confessed that after her vicious and unexplained alleged crime, he was not so sure that was accurate.

'There is some mental health concerns that we have, but nothing concrete at this point,' he said.

Ellis' defense attorney also suggested in court on Monday that she has 'notable mental health issues' as the suspect initially appeared via video feed with her head down and refused to answer any of the judge's questions about whether or not she had read the indictment.

Judge Russo then ordered an attorney with the pubic defender's office to go to the Cuyahoga County Jail and read the indictment to Ellis.

It was about 45 minutes later that Ellis appeared in court and pleaded not guilty.

Russo then set Ellis' bond at $5 million, and ordered the suspect to return to court next Monday

Julian's family is raising money for his funeral, legal bills, and his for Margot's recovery

In the meantime, Julian's family is raising money for his funeral, legal bills, and his for Margot's recovery.

'Our family is overwhelmed with sadness,' they wrote in a collective statement.

'We have no explanation as to how or why this happened, it was a random act of violence. There was no prior altercation, they did not know each other this was a malicious random act.

'She has devastated our family beyond words, she took something from us we can never get back.'
The younger sister of a woman whose partner bludgeoned her to death using a metal dumbbell has lashed plans to release him from prison early.

Victorian woman Katie Haley, 29, was brutally murdered by her partner Shane Robertson in 2018 while their 11-month-old daughter slept in the room next door.

The mother-of-two had told Robertson she wanted to leave him after he became increasingly jealous over the course of their four-year relationship.

Just minutes after the fatal assault, Robertson called his mother and told her: 'I've done it. I've bashed her brains in. There's brains everywhere.'

He plead guilty to murder and was jailed in March 2019 for 24 years. The judge ruled he must serve at least 19 years before being eligible for release.

Six years later, Katie's family have been dealt another devastating blow.

Katie Haley (left) was violently murdered by her jealous boyfriend Shane Robertson (right)

Bianca Unwin, Katie's younger sister, has expressed her dismay at a decision to reduce Robertson's 24-year prison sentence due to Covid hardships

Robertson will not serve his entire non-parole period and will have more than a year taken off his sentence due to 'hardships' during the Covid lockdown.

Katie's younger sister, Bianca Unwin, a vocal advocate for domestic violence victims, expressed her disappointment at the decision in a TikTok video in May.

Ms Unwin said that Robertson didn't call for help after the assault, sparked a manhunt after fleeing the scene and failed to show any remorse.

'Does that sound like someone who should be eligible for a reduction in their sentence because of the hardships they faced during Covid?' she asked.

'To me that sounds like the worst type of person to be releasing early. He showed no remorse despite pleading guilty and the courts deeming that as remorseful.

'He pleaded guilty to a crime he couldn't deny because he confessed to his mother and he was caught by police. That is not remorse. He didn't call for help.'

She said her sister's killer had committed a 'horrible crime', but was being given a reduction of 'up to 14 months' because of 'mental hardships' prisoners faced from being 'locked in their cells during lockdown'.

'Make that make sense,' Ms Unwin said.

Corrections Victoria use Emergency Management Days (EMDs) to reduce a prisoner's sentence if they are behind bars during an emergency or industrial disputes.

Inmates were automatically considered for EMDs during the Covid pandemic.

Six years after her death, Katie's family have received another devastating blow

Shane Michael Robertson was jailed for 24 years for brutal murder of his girlfriend

Katie's family launched a petition for Corrections Victoria to cancel EMD in May, saying it posed a significant risk to community safety.

'Violent offenders like Shane Robertson should serve their full sentences as decreed by the courts without any reductions or early releases. This ensures a form of justice for victims and their families and protects society from potential harm,' it read.

The Change.org petition has so far received over 16,000 signatures.

It's understood the Victorian government stopped inmates from being automatically considered for EMDs from February 1, 2023.

Meanwhile Ms Unwin, now a mother-of-two herself, and her father have become vocal advocates for victims of coercive control and domestic violence.

She posts regular TikTok videos about Victoria's corrective system, legislation, domestic violence and updates about her sister's case.

If you need help anywhere in Australia contact 1800 RESPECT or 1800 737 732
The trend was seen across the continent as well

Activists were furious that the far-Right made massive gains in the EU elections

French police launched tear gas at protests across the nation

French police across the country have launched tear gas at furious activists protesting the far-Right's massive gains in the European Union elections over the weekend.

Marine Le Pen's hardline National Rally party won a sweeping victory on Sunday night, taking home 32% of the vote during the election, the first time the continent has voted since 2019.

Macron's Renaissance party, meanwhile, took home a paltry 14.6% of the vote. In response, the French president dissolved France's parliament, the national assembly, and called a snap election.

Violent protests broke out across the country overnight, and carried on throughout the day.

One video, taken in Strasbourg, showed police tossing tear gas canisters with their bare hands down a wide boulevard.

Police move past burning trash during an 'antifascist rally' following the European election results, in Toulouse

President Emmanuel Macron said that he was confident French voters would make the 'right choice' in snap elections

Demonstrators shelter from tear gas fired by police during an 'antifascist rally' following the European election results, in Toulouse

Protestors stand in tear gas behind a burning barricade in Nantes, western France, on June 10, 2024

The French president dissolved France 's parliament, the national assembly, and called a snap election

Another, taken in the centre of Bordeaux, showed riot-gear equipped officers marching down a narrow street while firing tear gas at protesters.

In Paris, activists were seen thronging the city's Place de la Republique, a site that hosts a 31ft tall statue of Marianne, the personification of the French Republic.

Many in Paris were seen holding signs in fervent protest against Le Pen and her 28-year-old protege and political 'wunderkind' Jordan Bardella.

One sign read: 'F*** Jordan Bardella.'

Another read: 'France is not Bardella.'

Thousands of people gathered on the Place de la Republique to protest against the electoral gains of the far right

A protestor wearing a mask stands front of French police as he demonstrates against the French far-right Rassemblement National (RN) political party

Activists and demonstrators run from tear gas fired by police during an 'antifascist rally' in Toulouse

Thousands of people took to the streets following the surprise results, announced on Sunday night

A protestor stands next a rubbish bin burning during a demonstration against the French far-right party Rassemblement National

One sign at a protest in Paris on Monday read: 'France is not Bardella' - a reference to Le Pen and her 28-year-old protege and political 'wunderkind' Jordan Bardella

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

Police chase a protester during an 'antifascist rally' following the European election results

With Bardella standing to her left, Le Pen last night appeared on stage to tell her supporters: 'We are ready to take power if the French show trust in us.'

Her statement came on a night where much of the rest of the bloc saw an equally dramatic swing to the Right, with major upsets being witnessed in Belgium, Germany and Austria.

Despite this, European Commission chief Ursula von Der Leyen boldly proclaimed 'the centre is holding', but warned 'the world around us is in turmoil.'

The EU 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.
The water situation is so dire in one Australian city that it may run dry in just two years if something drastic isn't done now.

Residents of Port Lincoln and the broader Eyre Peninsula in South Australia have been drinking water from an underground basin, but over-extraction means 28,000 water users are now at risk.

'We're running out of time, and we need to act,' SA Water Minister Nick Champion told ABC's 7.30 program. 'The aquifers are running salty.

'We've exhausted our capacity to utilise Mother Nature for a water resource. We've just got to get on and look at the solution to it.'

One of the main proposals to address the problem is a desalination plant but many of the town's 15,000 residents disagree about where it should go.

Residents of Port Lincoln (pictured) and the broader Eyre Peninsula in South Australia have been drinking water from an underground basin, but over-extraction means 28,000 water users are now at risk

Eyre Peninsula Seafoods CEO Mark Andrews believes that putting a desalination plant at Billy Lights Point could ruin his multi-million dollar business.

'Why would you want to put a desalination plant in an aquaculture zone,' he said.

'We are the largest processor, farmer, marketer of mussels in Australia representing 65 per cent of the industry, employing 76 people between the factory boats, office and in marketing.'

Mr Andrews said his business relied on the spat or baby mussels in the waters near Port Lincoln, which he fears could be destroyed by a huge pipe that will take seawater into the desalination plant.

'Let's call it a vacuum cleaner and that vacuum cleaner is taking in the water through the desalination plant and my spat goes with it,' he said.

'It gets sucked into the intake into the desalination plant and therefore, it is not out there for me to catch.'

The water minister, though, said following industry feedback, the pipes would now be placed in deeper water than originally planned.

Mr Champion said scientists looked at the potential impact on aquaculture and that there would be no affect on the baby mussels.

'We could examine this forever if we liked, but we don't have the luxury of time,' he said.

'We will run out of water on the Eyre Peninsula.

'It will have catastrophic effects for the people of Eyre Peninsula, including the fishing industry.'

Billy Lights Point is the cheapest option to locate a desalination plant with an estimated bill of $13million.

Another site was initially chosen further away from aquaculture farms but it was abandoned because construction there would cost at least $500million.

'It's just not a practical place to build one,' Mr Champion said.

'It's 20km away from Port Lincoln, you have to pump the water uphill... It's a fool's investment where we'd be throwing good money after bad.'

But Mr Andrews said spending the extra money would be worth it as the region's fishing industry is worth more than $200million annually.

'Everybody on the Eyre Peninsula wants water security  a little bit of money extra spent now for the long-term growth and benefit of a region pays dividends,' he said.

Farmer Jamie Siviour, whose mains water comes from the over-extracted underground basin, said the situation is urgent and needs to be fixed.

Farmer Jamie Siviour, whose mains water comes from the over-extracted underground basin, said the situation is urgent and needs to be fixed. Mr Siviour's farm is pictured

SA Water Minister Nick Champion said: 'We're running out of time, and we need to act'

'Without mains water we can't run sheep,' he said.

'We don't have a river  this area around here is not conducive to dams.'

While Mr Siviour is sympathetic to the aquaculture industry, he is concerned that further delays in building the desalination plant could lead to the aquifer water becoming undrinkable.

'It would mean that we would have to start reducing the number of sheep, even not having sheep at all,' he said.

Mr Champion said the time to act is now.

'I think there's been a lot of wishful thinking around the place, indulgent thinking, frankly, not just in (the) bureaucratic world or political world... but in the community as well, and still goes on to this day,' he said.
Wildlife SOS star Simon Cowell is seen smiling with Gavin and Stacey Joanna Page in the last known picture of the broadcaster - taken just days before his tragic death.

The conservationist died at the weekend surrounded by his family after a 'brave battle' with cancer. He was 72.

In June 2022, Simon was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer which spread to several of his other organs within two years. In May of this year, his doctor told him he had just weeks to live.

Simon leaves behind his two daughters, Louisa and Gemma, his partner Stana, and his two golden retrievers, Toby and Bobby.

The legendary conservationist met with Joanna Page to welcome her in as a member of Wildlife Aid - the animal conservation charity he founded in 1983.

The actress is beginning her training to become an Animal Care Assistant for her new BBC show Joanna Page's Wild Life, due to air next year.

The post from Wildlife Aid said: 'We are delighted to welcome Joanna Page, star of 'Gavin & Stacey' and 'Love Actually', who has joined our ranks, as she embarks on her training to become an Animal Care Assistant for the new BBC Two commission 'Joanna Page's Wild Life' (w/t), due to air 2025. #whatsoccuring'.

A statement on behalf of the Wildlife Aid Foundation said: 'It is with immense sadness that we announce the passing of Simon Cowell MBE, conservationist, founder and CEO of the Wildlife Aid Foundation and presenter of Wildlife SOS.

In the last known picture of Wildlife SOS star Simon Cowell he is seen smiling with Gavin and Stacey actress Joanna Page just days before his tragic death

Wildlife SOS star Simon Cowell has died aged 72 after his 'brave battle' with cancer

In June 2022, Simon was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer which spread to several of his other organs within two years. In May of this year, his doctor told him he had just weeks to live

'Simon passed away peacefully on Sunday (June 9) after a brave battle with cancer, surrounded by his daughters, his partner and his dogs.

'Simon was one of the UK's most respected conservationists and a passionate advocate for wildlife protection and environmental causes.

'He dedicated his life to British wildlife and worked tirelessly to ensure countless injured and orphaned animals were given a second chance in the wild through rescue, clinical treatment, and rehabilitation.

Simon formed the Wildlife Aid Foundation animal rescue and rehabilitation centre with his former wife Jill in 1983

It was Simon's 'dream, his ambition and focused mission to build a better world for wildlife'

He campaigned relentlessly to raise awareness of the plight of wildlife and the importance of all species.'

Simon formed the Wildlife Aid Foundation animal rescue and rehabilitation centre with his former wife Jill in 1983.

The rescue and rehabilitation centre were the subject of the television series Wildlife SOS on Channel 5.

Wildlife Aid launched 'Simon's Last Wish' appeal when he was initially diagnosed in 2022. The charity has so far raised over 500,000 towards a new Wildlife Aid Centre.

It was Simon's 'dream, his ambition and focused mission to build a better world for wildlife'.

The new Wildlife Aid Centre will allow the charity to care for more animals and to educate the next generation about conservation.
Controversial Republican representative Marjorie Taylor Greene confused critics, and possibly some fans, when she said that forcing Americans to drive electric vehicles will raise gas prices.

The congresswoman made the bizarre comment over the weekend while speaking at Donald Trump's rally in Las Vegas, where she delivered an applause line that got the crowd going, but has also attracted ample online criticism - including from Stephen King.

At the scorching hot Sunday rally, Greene, 50, said to the crowd of die-hard MAGA enthusiasts: 'If you think gas prices are high now, just wait until you are forced to drive an electric vehicle. America is sick of it.'

King, an outspoken anti-Trump figure, in addition to being a prolific, best-selling novelist, mocked the Georgia Republican's stance on EVs, writing, 'You can't make this crap up,' in response to her statement.

As the name suggests, electric vehicles are powered by electricity, not gas.

The controversial Georgia congresswoman spoke at Trump's Sunday rally in Las Vegas, Nevada, where she touched on the subject of electric vehicles

Though, a push toward significantly wider EV usage is something the Biden administration has intermittently failed to successfully market, let alone implement, even if they were successful, it's not clear why that would drive up fuel costs for other drivers.

Since he posted it, King's post has received nearly 1 million views. The post is not the first time King has taken aim at Greene.

Earlier this spring, King slammed the lawmaker for opposing an additional funding package for Ukraine worth some $60billion.

Greene described the bill's ultimate passage through the Republican-led House as 'the sellout of America.'

'I think every American in this country should be furious,' she said at the time.

'We had members of Congress in there waving the Ukrainian flag on the United States House of Representatives floor while we're doing nothing to secure our border.'

King, in response, called her 'Moscow Marjorie,' a nickname originally bestowed upon her by fellow GOP caucus members.

Unfathomably successful fiction author and outspoken Trump critic Stephen King took not his first swing at GOP congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene

A push toward significantly wider EV usage is something the Biden administration has intermittently failed to successfully market, let alone implement - but it's not clear why that effort, even if successful, would drive up fuel costs for other drivers

Before Trump went on Sunday at his massive Vegas rally, which occurred during a heatwave that sent temperatures soaring well into the 90s, if not 100s, Greene compared the former president to Jesus.

Other warm up acts were just as enthused. One speak said they were there to 'worship' on behalf of the goal of returning Trump to high office.

Trump took a lap through the American West at the end of last week, stopping in Arizona, California, and Nevada - two of which are battleground states he lost in 2020. Biden, who is trailing just a few points behind Trump in most swing states, won Nevada in 2020 by just 34,000 votes.

The 2022 midterms were more evidence that Nevada will be a tight competition. Voters elected a Republican governor, but locked out a Republican challenger from claiming Senator Catherine Cortez Masto's seat.

Trump claimed winning Nevada would mean winning the entire election at his rally on Sunday. Even if he does win Nevada, the state alone is not enough to win him the Electoral College. The ex-president who lost the state by less than 34,000 votes in 2020 would also have to flip several other battleground state to have a victory in November

Over the major fundraising weekend, Trump's team reported bringing in some $33million - adding to the already huge numbers that poured into the campaign coffers in the immediate aftermath of Trump's 34-count conviction by a Manhattan jury earlier this month.

Trump's Vegas visit comes amid a major launch from his campaign of their effort too court Latino voters away from the Democratic party.

On the same day as his rally, Team Trump announced the launch of 'Latino Americans for Trump,' a coalition of MAGA-minded Latinos of note from across the country.
An adjunct biology professor at DePaul University in Chicago said last week that she was canned for giving an optional assignment about the 'genocide in Gaza.'

Anne d'Aquino taught at the university's Health Sciences Department and was terminated on May 8, just two days after her students were given the chance to write a paper on the impact of the 'genocide in Gaza on human health and biology,' the Chicago Sun Times reported.

As d'Aquino explained her predicament to a gaggle of reporters on the DePaul campus, roughly 50 demonstrators stood behind the freshly fired instructor waving Palestinian flags and holding signs that read 'Academic freedom includes Palestine.'

'My termination was a breach of my academic freedom and another example of this administration's efforts to twist any discussions of Palestine and Palestinian liberation language into false claims of antisemitism,' d'Aquino said at the Thursday morning news conference.

D'Aquino reportedly filed an appeal on May 14, which the university has said will be 'completed soon.'

DePaul University adjunct professor Anne d'Aquino speaks to reporters with pro-Palestinian demonstrators standing behind her outside the North Side university's quad, Thursday, June 6, 2024

About 1,500 students have shown their support for d'Aquino by signing a petition calling for her reinstatement.

The 24-page-long document was hand delivered to a university administrative office.

The offending assignment was given in a class d'Aquino taught that covered topics such as infectious diseases and antibiotics.

Students who took it up were to read articles on 'intersection of biological sciences, health and history in Palestine.' Then, they were to write a paper on the impact of 'genocide in biology.'

D'Aquino insisted that this assignment was related to the course, as scientists have been sounding the alarm about infectious disease spreading in Gaza for months.

Back in February, the World Health Organization said healthcare workers on the ground in the war torn city are reporting 'outbreaks of acute respiratory infections, scabies, lice, diarrhea, skin rash, chickenpox, and hepatitis associated jaundice.'

Unsanitary conditions have become commonplace in Gaza because key infrastructure has been disrupted, according to the WHO. Overcrowding in shelters only contributes to the spread of disease in these conditions, the agency claims.

Anne d'Aquino, pictured, earned her PhD in Biological Sciences at Northwestern University

Sarah Connolly, d'Aquino's boss in the Health Sciences Department, wrote a termination letter claiming that students in the class were concerned about 'the introduction of political matters'

Sarah Connolly, the chair of of the Health Sciences Department, wrote in d'Aquino's termination email that students expressed concern about 'the introduction of political matters into the class,' the Sun Times reported.

D'Aquino had a different recollection of events, saying she received 'no negative feedback on the assignment.'

A freshman in the class, who opted not to be identified, was 'shocked, disappointed and speechless' over the firing. This student hasn't attended lectures since Connolly filled into teach d'Aquino's old class.

Sarah Van Loon, the regional manager of the American Jewish Committee Chicago, doesn't think that d'Aquino's intellectual freedom was violated and that there are limits to what an instructor can teach when politics is involved.

'We've got a biology professor discussing politics in the Middle East or creating a comment about Gaza,' Van Loon said.

'It really isn't in line with what it is that they're there to be teaching on and opens up the university to risk too,' adding, 'It doesnt surprise me that the university felt that this was not something that upheld their standards.'

Sarah Van Loon, left, commented on d'Aquino's firing, saying that a biology professor shouldn't be talking about politics in the Middle East. Meanwhile, Victoria Agunod, another DePaul adjunct professor, claims she was investigated by the university over her alleged pro-Palestine views

Professors around the country have been under greater scrutiny regarding their political views and their activities at the widespread pro-Palestine protests that took college campuses by storm during the spring semester.

A professor at the University of Texas, Austin was fired in May after he was accused of breaking police lines, shouting expletives in cops' faces and destroying police property at an April pro-Palestine demonstration.

And two teachers at a public charter school in a Los Angeles-area synagogue were placed on leave in November after first graders there were given a lesson on 'the genocide in Palestine,' the Los Angeles Times reported.

At DePaul specifically, one other teacher reportedly ran into trouble with university officials over her alleged pro-Palestine views.

Victoria Agunod, an adjunct professor in the Peace, Justice and Conflict Studies Program, told the Sun Times she was investigated over her beliefs on the Gaza war, which she described as 'terrifying' and 'political suppression.'

D'Aquino hopes her appeal is successful, and she's allowed to return to see her students' final projects.
A gang of thieves drilled into the basement of a Rome jewellers and stole 420,000 worth of gems before escaping through the sewers in an 11-minute Hollywood-style heist.

The crooks struck in the dead of night on Saturday as they targeted the Bulgari store on one of the Italian capital's most exclusive shopping streets in Via Condotti.

The masked burglars waded through the sewer's filthy waters at midnight before climbing through a hole they had drilled in the floor of the upmarket jewellery boutique.

The gang of between three and five appeared to know how long they would have to carry out the raid and barricaded a side door police would use to enter the building close to the Spanish Steps.

The trio then snatched their hoard of watches and jewellery from the glass display cabinets. This triggered an alarm that alerted a private security firm, which then contacted police.

A gang of thieves drilled into the basement of a Rome jewellers and stole 420,000 worth of gems before escaping through the sewers in an 11-minute Hollywood-style heist

The crooks struck in the dead of night on Saturday as they targeted the Bulgari store on one of the Italian capital's most exclusive shopping streets in Via Condotti

It took officers seven minutes to arrive, but they then needed another four minutes to break down the blocked door.

'While we were opening the door, we could hear them shouting "Let's go, let's go",' one investigator told the newspaper La Repubblica.

As the police tore through the door, the gang were already jumping through the hole they had dugged before they lost cops in Rome's network of sewer tunnels, reported The Times.

The gang reportedly left behind a crowbar, but it is likely they all wore gloves and did not leave behind any fingerprints.

The ymay have resurfaced

'The centre of Rome is criss-crossed by sewer tunnels that date back to the Roman era and are still in use,' said Marco Placidi, head of Sotterranei di Roma, a group that explores Rome's underground archaeology.

'They are large enough to walk in and, if it's not raining, there is no more than 10cm of water in them. They are not totally mapped so it is hard to know where the robbers went,' said Placidi.

Gianni Battistoni, the head of the local retail association, said the tunnels are like a tube station as he moaned that police had abandoned its monthly checks on the underground network.

It took officers seven minutes to arrive, but they then needed another four minutes to break down the blocked door

Elizabeth Taylor pictured in 1968 in Paris, France, wearing a Bulgari necklace as she attends the A Flea in her Ear premiere

Hollywood actress Catherine Zeta Jones, wearing a diamond necklace from Bulgari, sits with the then Prince Charles in 1999 during a catwalk show at Styon House, in London

Sharon Stone attends the Bulgari BZero1 Aurora Awards during the Milan Fashion Week Fall/Winter in 2022

It is thought the crooks had been scoping out the store for some time and may have posed as customers to get an insight into the layout of the store and its security systems

People walk outside the Bulgari store after the theft was carried out during the dead of night

Romolo Guasco, the head of Confcommercio, an association of retailers, said: 'We express deep concern after the latest theft from a jewellers' in the capital.

'We need better surveillance and greater prevention.'

'The centre of Rome is criss-crossed by sewer tunnels that date back to the Roman era and are still in use,' said Marco Placidi, head of Sotterranei di Roma, a group that explores Rome's underground archaeology.

'They are large enough to walk in and, if it's not raining, there is no more than 10cm of water in them. They are not totally mapped so it is hard to know where the robbers went,' said Placidi.

It is thought the crooks had been scoping out the store for some time, reported The Telegraph, and may have posed as customers to get an insight into the layout of the store and its security systems.

Greek silversmith Sotirio Bulgari opened the luxury Italian jewellers first store in 1884 on Via Sistina in Rome.

Sharon Stone, Catherine Zeta Jones, Elizabeth Taylor, Audrey Hepburn, and Emma Watson have all worn Bulgari jewellery over the years.
Almost two million Australians could have been exposed to cancer-causing chemicals detected in their tap water, a major investigation has uncovered.

It comes amid growing fears about the long-term impact of so-called 'forever chemicals' which can linger for a lifetime in the human body.

In the last six months, the World Health Organisation has concluded that forever chemical perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) is carcinogenic to humans, while the US Environmental Protection Agency found there was no safe level of PFOA or perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) in water.

But PFOA, which experts believe causes cancer, is currently allowed in Australias drinking water at 140 times the maximum level the US will permit.

A major investigation, carried out by the Sydney Morning Herald, discovered the chemicals were found in tap water in every state and territory across the country since 2010 - affecting up to 1.8million people.

Almost two million Aussies could have been exposed to cancer-causing chemicals detected in their tap water, a major investigation has uncovered

A major investigation, carried out by the Sydney Morning Herald , discovered the chemicals were found in tap water in every state and territory across the country - affecting up to 1.8 million people (pictured: North Richmond Water Filtration plant where forever chemicals were detected in January)

The investigation, which analysed the latest publicly available data from 2011 and more recent surveys, found the chemicals were detected in the tap water in the Sydney suburbs of North Richmond, Quakers Hill, Liverpool, Blacktown, Emu Plains and Campbelltown.

They were also found in other parts of NSW including Newcastle, Bathurst, Wagga Wagga and Jervis Bay - the latter as recently as last October.

The pollutants were discovered in Canberra, parts of inner-city Melbourne, inner-city Adelaide, Cairns and Gladstone in Queensland, outer suburbs of Hobart and parts of the Northern Territory.

While the last public surveys were conducted over a decade ago, several water providers have carried out their own tests in recent years.

Alarmingly, these surveys found that the chemicals are still present in some of the same locations, sometimes at even higher concentrations.

One of the most worrying readings came in 2020 at the popular tourist destination Norfolk Island, 1,600km north-east of Sydney, where chemicals were discovered at 635 times Australia's safe limit and thousands of times the US enforceable limit.

The now-decommissioned water bore where the pollutants were found supplied the hospital, fire station and public toilets.

Other concerning readings where water supplies were subsequently decommissioned were the Queensland towns of Ayr, Bundaberg and Macknade.

They were also found in other parts of NSW, including Newcastle, Bathurst, Wagga Wagga and Jervis Bay (pictured) - the latter as recently as last October

In the US, the maximum limits of PFOA and PFOS in drinking water is four parts per trillion, whereas in Australia guidelines allow for 560 parts per trillion of PFOA and 70 parts per trillion of PFOS.

All 23 affected Australian drinking water providers told the Sydney Morning Herald that their water is safe because levels detected fall within Australias drinking water guidelines.

But Dr Nicholas Chartres, a senior research fellow from the University of Sydneys faculty of medicine and health, said people in Australia were just as much at risk as those in the US.

'Were no different, physiologically,' Dr Chartres told the paper.

'We should have the concern we're potentially getting exposed to those health effects.'

Dr Chartes called on the Australian government to bring the country in line with the US's new regulations.

Meanwhile, Dr Mariann Lloyd-Smith, a toxic chemicals campaigner who has served on United Nations expert committees, slammed Australia's forever chemical limits as a 'national disgrace'.

Anthony Amis, from Friends of the Earth, has been analysing the spread of forever chemicals for years.

All 23 affected Australian drinking water providers told the Sydney Morning Herald that their water is safe because levels detected fall within Australias drinking water guidelines (stock image)

Is YOUR suburb affected? The areas where 'forever chemicals' have been detected in tap water NSW: Bathurst Blacktown Campbelltown Emu Plains Gundagai Lithgow Liverpool North Richmond Quakers Hill Wagga Wagga Yass NORTHERN TERRITORY: Larrakeyah Nightcliff QUEENSLAND: Cairns Gladstone ACT: Canberra VICTORIA: Footscray Riddells Creek SOUTH AUSTRALIA: Glenunga WESTERN AUSTRALIA: Marruben Rottnest Island TASMANIA: Kingborough

*None of these areas exceed the current permitted levels of the Australia's Drinking Water Guidelines Advertisement

'Some of the communities would have been drinking PFAS at dangerous levels for years, and possibly decades,' Mr Amis said.

'Why is it that people have been exposed at these levels, without regulatory bodies knowing until very recently?'

PFOS was detected at North Richmond as recently as January. It is the only site where Sydney Water regularly tests for PFOS.

But a Sydney Water spokesperson said there were no known PFAS hotspots in its drinking water catchments.

'Sydney Water regularly consults with WaterNSW, our raw water supplier, and NSW Health to assess any potential risk of PFAS to Sydneys drinking water supply,' they said.

The National Health and Medical Research Council, which develops Australia's Drinking Water Guidelines, is reviewing its recommendations for PFAS in the wake of the US decision to lower its permitted levels.

'The independent review will consider recent guidance and reviews from international and national jurisdictions and determine whether they are suitable to adopt or adapt for Australia,' a Department of Health spokesperson said.

Forever chemicals became ubiquitous since their development in the 1940s, making jackets waterproof, carpets stain-resistant, frying pans non-stick and were used in firefighting foam.

In 2023, manufacturing multinational 3M reached a $10.3bn settlement with US public water bodies in the face of more than 4000 lawsuits filed against 3M and other chemical companies.
A Waitrose boss is encouraging shoppers to pair blue cheese with its caramel dessert for a more adventurous twist on a classic pudding.

One of the supermarket's top chefs has revealed that his favourite way to 'elevate' ice cream is by crumbling Stilton over it.

Will Torrent, senior innovation chef at Waitrose said that while the supermarket's sea salt and caramel ice cream is delicious all on its own, he prefers to add a tangy element.

And the chef likes to go one step further and even add a glass of fruity port for a rich, sharp taste.

And Mr Torrent is hoping his suggestions will catch on and has encouraged customers to experiment with savoury flavours this summer.

Top Waitrose chef, Will Torrent, is encouraging shoppers to pair slated caramel ice cream with blue cheese for a more elevated taste this summer

Waitrose's No.1 Cornish Sea Salted Caramel Brittle Ice Cream can be paired with brie

Brie and white chocolate was also suggested as another exciting new savoury option with tangy and creamy notes

Starting off small, he suggested vanilla ice cream with a drizzle of olive oil and some sea salt before moving on to bolder flavours.

Unusual ice cream flavours: The Ice Cream Project, brainchild of handbag designer Anya Hindmarch, has come out with a series of interesting ice cream flavours. Some of the savoury delights on offer include: Classic pesto

Bird's Custard

Sarson's Malt Vinegar

Kikkoman soy sauce

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For those with a more adventurous palette the innovation chef has suggested pairing Waitrose's No.1 Belgian White Chocolate Ice Cream with the No.1 Rouzaire Brie de Meaux.

He told The Telegraph: 'The Belgian white chocolate is indulgently sweet and creamy which pair brilliantly with the delicate and earthy flavour of the Brie de Meaux.'

Continuing with the cheese theme, the chef also suggested dark 70 per cent chocolate ice cream with soft cheese for a cross between bittersweet and rich buttery flavours that is a 'brilliantly fresh and delicious scoop that is super indulgent and perfect for the summer.'

The move away from sweet deserts comes after Wookey Hole Caves in Wells, Somerset, partnered with Marshfield Farm ice cream and decided to make an April Fools joke a reality by serving cheddar cheese ice cream.

The cheesy ice cream was launched earlier this year and the website said that the unique ice cream was handcrafted in small batches.

The cheese producers hoped it would be 'the perfect combination for everyone who struggles to choose between a dessert and the cheese board for pudding' but it had mixed reviews from the public.

And Wookey Hole Caves is not the only tourist attraction that has come up with some bold new flavours.

English Heritage divided opinion last year when it launched a brown bread ice cream, based on an 18th century Georgian recipe at some of its sights including Stonehenge.

It even considered Parmesan and cucumber-flavoured ice creams before settling on the brown bread concoction.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has rejected the Prime Minister's weekend attack that he's abandoning emissions targets in an exclusive interview with Daily Mail Australia.

'We are committed to the Paris climate agreement and we are the only party with a credible pathway to net zero by 2050', Mr Dutton told Daily Mail Australia.

That plan includes a yet to be released policy of embracing nuclear power - a form of energy used around the world but was recently panned by the CSIRO as not being viable in Australia.

'The difference between Mr Albanese and me is that I am not going to destroy the economy and send families bankrupt in the process', Mr Dutton claimed.

The Opposition Leader zeroed in on rising cost-of-living pressures, in particular energy prices.

The spat over emissions targets came as the PM accused the Opposition (leader Peter Dutton above) of walking away from the Paris Agreement

'Tellingly when the PM is talking about targets he never mentions electricity costs. That's because they are going to go through the roof with a renewables only policy', Mr Dutton said.

As Mr Albanese ponders an early election before summer, Mr Dutton also questioned the ability of renewable energy to meet peak demand times.

'As the energy regulator says - there's an increasing likelihood of blackouts under the Albanese Government's policies,' he said.

The spat over emissions targets came as the PM accused the Opposition of walking away from the Paris Agreement.

'Peter Dutton is walking away from climate action,' Mr Albanese said on the weekend.

'His decision to abandon the 2030 target means he is walking away from the Paris Accord.

'If you walk away from the Paris Accord, you'll be standing with Libya, Yemen and Iran, and against all of our major trading partners, and all of our important allies.

'You can't shape the future if you're afraid of it, and Peter Dutton is afraid of the future, and he's incapable of leading Australia towards the future that we need.'

'The PM (above) looks weak and rattled', Mr Dutton said. 'The Albanese Government is more than two years old but feels and looks like it's 22 years old'

The Paris Agreement includes a 45 per cent emissions reduction target by 2030 and the goal of net zero emissions by 2050. The Coalition has committed to the latter.

Experts warn that Australia's chances of reaching the 2030 target are fading. Grattan Institute Energy Director Tony Wood recently said that 'it's looking fairly tough for the government to achieve that (2030) target'.

'Instead of trying to impress world leaders it's about time Mr Albanese started focusing on Australians,' Mr Dutton told Daily Mail Australia.

The Opposition Leader also took aim at the PM's lack of toughness, feeding into a narrative that Mr Dutton is the alpha prime ministerial candidate while Mr Albanese is a beta personality.

'The PM looks weak and rattled', Mr Dutton said.

'The Albanese Government is more than two years old but feels and looks like it's 22 years old.'

Mr Dutton argued that a pattern of failure is developing the longer Albanese's time in power goes on.

'Outside of the Voice Mr Albanese has no agenda. The Budget sank like a stone and the economy is tanking on his watch and families and small businesses are hurting,' he said.

Last week's GDP numbers revealed that growth for the quarter had slowed to just 0.1 per cent, and an annual rate of just 1.1 per cent, the lowest in nearly 40 years outside of the pandemic.
Rishi Sunak last night vowed to halve net migration and continue slashing it every year of the next Parliament if he wins the General Election.

The Prime Minister for the first time committed to a rough figure on what he pledges to bring the number of legal arrivals down to, as he conceded they were 'too high'.

Net migration jumped to a staggering record of 764,000 in 2022, equivalent to a city the size of Leeds.

It fell back to 685,000 last year but still remains well above the 230,000 level seen at the 2019 election, which the Conservatives pledged to reduce.

Mr Sunak's pledge means numbers dropping to under 350,000 within a year, which he said would be made possible by a string of measures he's already introduced as part of a crackdown.

The Prime Minister spoke to the BBC's Nick Robinson yesterday and promised to bring down the number of legal arrivals

Mr Sunak said his measures so far are enough to bring the number down to under 350,000 within a year

The PM insisted that voters should trust him because he believes his Rwanda deportation scheme will be up and running after the election

Labour vows to oust foreign crooks Sir Keir Starmer will promise to deport more foreign criminals and illegal immigrants in Labours manifesto this week. The party would create an enforcement unit made up of 1,000 extra Home Office staff, designed to fast-track removals held up by in the system, The Daily Telegraph reported. It comes amid a 40 per cent drop in the number of foreign criminals, failed asylum-seekers and visa overstayers sent to their home countries under the Conservatives. Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: Labour will turn the page on this chaos. But a Tory spokesman said: The idea Labour now cares about removing foreign criminals is frankly laughable. Advertisement

Speaking to the BBC's Nick Robinson for the first in a series of interviews with party leaders, Mr Sunak said: 'The numbers are too high.

'I've been very clear about that, but people can judge me as well on what I've done as PM, where I've put in place the biggest, strictest reforms to bring down immigration that we've seen.

'What the forecasts now show is that the levels of net migration are due to halve over the next 12 months or so.

'The number of visas that we issued at the beginning of this year is down already by a quarter, so that shows we're on the right track and if I'm re-elected, what we will introduce is a legal cap on migration that parliamentarians will vote on every year, so that we will not just halve the levels of net migration, we will continue to reduce them year on year.'

But Mr Robinson pointed out that former Tory leaders David Cameron, Theresa May and Boris Johnson all failed to slash the numbers, adding: 'And now Rishi Sunak hasn't done it.'

The PM replied: 'Actually, we've just had the numbers for last year, so the first full year that I was prime minister.

'It showed that net migration was down 10 per cent from the levels that I inherited and this year, so far, the number of visas that we've issued in the main categories is down by a quarter because of the reforms that I've brought in.'

During an at times tetchy 30-minute interview, Mr Robinson also challenged Mr Sunak over small boat Channel crossings.

He pointed out that so far this year, 11,000 people have crossed the Channel. 'You've not stopped the boats.

'Why do you deserve more time to try to do it?' he asked the PM.

Mr Sunak said he deserved to be trusted because numbers dropped by a third last year compared to 2022 crossings

Mr Sunak said he deserved to be trusted because numbers dropped by a third last year compared to 2022 crossings.

However, Mr Robinson pointed out that the numbers so far this year are a record high compared to the same period in previous years.

The PM insisted that voters should trust him because he believes his Rwanda deportation scheme will be up and running after the election.

He said: 'The only way to fully solve this problem is for people to know that if they come to our country illegally, they won't be able to stay and that means we have to have somewhere safe to return them and if I'm prime minister, the flights will go.

'The deterrent will be built ...If you believe, like I do, the only way to solve this problem is to have a deterrent, we're the only party that can deliver that for you and again, Labour have no answer.'

Labour has vowed to scrap the Rwanda scheme and instead focus more resources on tackling criminal smuggling gangs upstream.

Meanwhile, Mr Sunak repeated his apology for his 'mistake' of returning early from last week's D-Day commemorations in Normandy.

He said: 'The last thing that I wanted to do was cause anyone any hurt or offence or upset, which is why I apologised unreservedly for the mistake that I made.

'I hope people can forgive me and also look at my actions as Prime Minister to increase investment in our armed forces, and ensure that veterans have a minister in Cabinet with unprecedented support to make this the best country in the world to be a veteran as a demonstration of how deeply I care about this community.'
Reform UK was yesterday accused of 'taking the public for complete fools' over the scale of its 'unaffordable' tax-cutting pledges.

Party leader Nigel Farage and Richard Tice, its chairman, said Reform's manifesto would include a promise to increase the amount at which workers begin paying the basic rate of income tax to 20,000.

They said the pledge would lift 7million workers out of paying any income tax and hand most employees back 1,500.

At present, workers start paying the 20 per cent basic rate on earnings above 12,571.

Mr Tice and Mr Farage also pledged that the threshold for paying the higher rate of 40 per cent would be raised from 50,271 to 70,000.

Party leader Nigel Farage said Reform's manifesto would include a promise to increase the amount at which workers begin paying the basic rate of income tax to 20,000

Chairman of Reform UK Richard Tice and Leader of Reform UK Nigel Farage at the launch of Reform UK's economic policy yesterday

Mr Farage and Mr Tice dismissed suggestions that the package was 'Trussonomics on steroids' - a reference to former PM Liz Truss

The pair acknowledged that the pledge would cost around 40billion at a press conference unveiling it in Westminster.

They claimed it could largely be paid for by scrapping the interest paid to banks by the Bank of England (BoE), with Mr Tice claiming that taxpayers' money was being used by the BoE 'to enrich the City of London' in an act of 'gross negligence'.

However, the party's draft manifesto also states that it wants to scrap VAT on energy bills, slash fuel duty by 20p a litre, cut stamp duty to zero per cent on properties worth up to 750,000, reduce corporation tax to 15 per cent from 25 per cent, increase the Inheritance Tax threshold to 2million and raise the amount small businesses start paying VAT on turnover from 90,000 to 150,000.

Mr Farage and Mr Tice dismissed suggestions that the package was 'Trussonomics on steroids' - a reference to former Prime Minister Liz Truss, whose tax-slashing mini-budget triggered economic turmoil in September 2022.

Asked about comments by the Tories' Miriam Cates, who branded the package 'unaffordable' and a 'fantasy', Mr Farage said: 'There's a growing level of economic opinion that says we can afford it.

'So with respect, I would ask Miriam Cates to have another look.'

Mr Tice added: 'The draft [manifesto] we've had out there... actually, it does set out the costs, how you pay for it and where you invest it.'

Suggesting cutting waste in the public sector would also help fund the pledges, he said: 'We've got to cut waste in the back office and invest it in the front office, on the frontline.

'That's what you do in business, that's how you become more productive, that's how you succeed and grow.'

But Paul Johnson, director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies, told the Daily Mail: 'It has been suggested by Reform UK that very big personal tax cuts could be paid for by reducing the interest paid on reserves - commercial banks' deposits - held at the Bank of England.

'It might well be possible to raise some money in this way, but it is unlikely to even approach the 40billion annually that has been suggested - much less than half of that sum.

'As ever, there is no simple free lunch: This would operate in much the same way as a tax on banks.

'The amount raised would also fluctuate over time, falling as the Bank of England base rate falls.

'The many tens of billions of pounds of tax cuts proposed would, therefore, need to be funded by definite tax increases or spending cuts elsewhere before long.

'We saw the consequences of very big unfunded tax cuts in September 2022.'

The pair acknowledged that the tax-cutting pledge would cost around 40billion at a press conference unveiling it in Westminster

The party leader and chairman claimed their plan could largely be paid for by scrapping the interest paid to banks by the Bank of England

Former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith said: 'The truth is, Reform knows they're never going to get into Government so they can say anything they like.

'They know it's not deliverable. It's la la land politics.

'Don't get me wrong, I think we need to do more to reduce taxation. But a wishlist like this just wouldn't happen. They're taking the public for complete fools.'

Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, who was Deputy Chair of the Public Accounts Committee before Parliament was dissolved, added: 'These Reform policies are completely barking. It's just absolute nonsense.'

Mr Farage also dismissed comments from former Home Secretary Suella Braverman that there was not much difference between the Tories and Reform and that the latter party should welcome Mr Farage back into the Conservative fold.

He said: 'I had my cup of tea ready for the 5.30am news on the BBC this morning, and I actually spat quite a lot of it down my dressing gown when I heard her saying that.'

He added that he would invite her to join Reform if it wins seats at the election, adding: 'Once we've established the electoral beachhead for Reform, in the House of Commons, then of course I will say to Suella Braverman and Robert Jenrick 'come and join our party, we'd love to have you'.

He also said: 'What they've done, allowing nearly two and a half million people to settle in the country in the last two years, is most certainly not our policy.

'So I do like her, I do admire her, but I'm afraid at the moment all marriage plans are off.'
Two women have died after they were swept off the rocks at a popular Sydney beach while on a picnic.

Emergency services rushed to Cape Solander, a lookout at Kurnell in Sydney's south, about 4.30pm on Monday following reports three women had disappeared off the edge of the rock face into the ocean.

The women were reportedly picnicking with friends and walking along the rock platform when a 'freak wave' hit them and swept them into the sea.

NSW Police said one woman managed to leave the water and climb onto the rocks before she was assisted by members of the public.

A major search was launched for the remaining two women.

Two women have died after being swept off of rocks at a popular Sydney beach and rock-fishing spot (pictured, emergency services at the scene)

A bystander said people were watching for whales when onlookers with binoculars were asked by Parks and Wildlife rangers to watch out for the women.

It is understood three rescue helicopters were searching for the duo before NSW Ambulance vans arrived.

NSW Police said the remaining two women were eventually located with assistance from PolAir helicopters and pulled from the water unconscious.

They were brought to shore where emergency crews conducted CPR, but they were unable to be revived.

They are yet to be formally identified.

It is understood the woman who survived has minor injuries, is breathing and conscious and was rushed to St George Hospital.

It is understood she was treated for hypothermia.

Bystanders who helped with the rescue also had to be treated by paramedics at the scene for hypothermia.

Police have established a crime scene and are commencing an investigation into the incident.

NSW Police Superintendent Joe McNulty, speaking with Nine's Today program, advised beachgoers to always pay attention to the sea when walking on the rocks.

Bystanders revealed groups of people gathered at Cape Solander to watch for whales migrating north to warmer waters

The women were reportedly picnicking with friends and walking along the rock platform when a 'freak wave' hit them and swept them into the sea (police at the scene)

'Never turn your back on the sea, no matter what activity you're doing,' he said.

'It's the golden rule. Don't turn your back on the ocean.'

No suspicious circumstances have been identified at this time, NSW Police have said.

The rockface is a popular among rockfishers, with two men killed after they were washed off the rocks in the same area just weeks ago.

Their bodies were pulled from the water a short time later and they were unable to be revived.
Rishi Sunak last night begged the nation to forgive him for leaving a D-Day event early.

The prime minister has come under huge fire in recent days for his decision to make a swift exit from the commemorative event on the 80th anniversary of D-Day - the day that the Allied forces stormed Normandy during the Second World War.

The Tory leader last night told Nick Robinson on a BBC Panorama special that he hoped people could 'find it in their hearts' to forgive his blunder.

He also promised the Tory manifesto will include tax cuts as he struggled to get his election campaign back on track after the D-Day debacle.

The PM declared he will 'keep cutting people's taxes' if he stays in power, with rumours of bold moves on national insurance and stamp duty.

Rishi Sunak tonight promised the Tory manifesto will include tax cuts as he attempted to get his party's general election campaign back on track

After being shown images of other world leaders and Lord Cameron at D-Day events in Normandy last week, Mr Sunak repeated his grovelling apology for failing to stay until the end

'You'll see that in our manifesto tomorrow,' Mr Sunak told a special BBC Panorama programme.

Denying he was the political equivalent of a 'quinoa salad' to Nigel Farage's 'Sunday roast', Mr Sunak begged voters to remember that the only two politicians who could end up in No10 on July 5 were him and Keir Starmer.

It is expected the Tories will unveil a pledge to slash National Insurance by another 2p if they win the general election.

This will follow previous cuts to the employee rate of the tax by Chancellor Jeremy Hunt in both his Spring Budget in March, and Autumn Statement last year.

The Conservative manifesto is also set to include a promise to permanently abolish Stamp Duty for first-time buyers on the first 425,000 of a property's value.

In other key moments in the interview tonight:

Mr Sunak was told Mr Farage was 'coming for him' as he pleaded with voters to realise that voting for any other party helped Labour;

The premier defended net immigration hitting record levels, arguing he had 'inherited' the situation and numbers were now coming down;

He denied that he had opted to trigger an early general election because he was not confident Rwanda flights would take off;

Mr Sunak admitted it had 'got harder' to afford a home under the Tories.

Mr Sunak was told Nigel Farage was 'coming for him' as he pleaded with voters to realise that voting for any other party helped Labour

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Amid rising Tory alarm about the fallout from the D-Day row, Mr Sunak said: 'Well, the last thing that I wanted to do was cause anyone any hurt or offence or upset, which is why I apologised unreservedly for the mistake that I made.

'And I can only ask that I hope people can find it within their hearts to forgive me and also look at my actions as Prime Minister to increase investment in our armed forces, to support our armed forces, but also to ensure that veterans have a minister sitting around the Cabinet table with unprecedented support to make this the best country in the world to be a veteran as a demonstration of how deeply I care about this community and what they've done for our country.'

After Robinson jibed that Mr Sunak was the political equivalent of a 'quinoa salad' compared to Mr Farage's 'Sunday roast with all the trimmings', the premier argued that 'there's only going to be one of two people who's prime minister'.

'A vote for anyone who's not a Conservative candidate is just making it more likely that Keir Starmer is that person,' he said.

'So if you ask someone, you say, you know, what makes a Conservative, if you are someone who wants lower taxes, if you want your pension protected, if you want migration reduced, if you want a sensible approach to net zero that prioritises our security and reducing people's bills, that's what I will offer you in this election.'

Mr Sunak begged voters to remember that the only two politicians who could end up in No10 on July 5 were him and Keir Starmer

Mr Sunak said he did not want to talk about personalities when challenged further on Mr Farage

The PM also struck a renewed conciliatory tone over his D-Day departure, telling reporters he 'absolutely didn't mean to cause anyone any hurt or upset'

Mr Sunak said he did not want to talk about personalities when challenged further on Mr Farage, adding: 'I'm willing to talk about everything here, but the simple issue here is a vote for anyone else, including Nigel Farage's party  and I would make the same point about anyone's party  is ultimately a vote that makes it more likely that Keir Starmer is in power.'

The premier was also pressed on his response to an alleged 'dog whistle' attack from Mr Farage suggesting that he did not understand 'our culture'.

'Is he playing with fire by bringing your heritage into this argument?' the presenter asked.

Mr Sunak replied: 'Well Nigel Farage can answer what he exactly meant by those comments.

'I'm not going to get involved in that because I don't think it's good for our country or good for our politics. Now obviously I disagree with him and when it comes, specifically, to our Armed Forces, again people can judge me by my actions.'

Mr Sunak fended off criticism that the Tories had raised taxes to near record highs by insisting the country had been 'hit by a once in a century pandemic and then an energy crisis'.

He said: 'I'm not going to shy away from what happened, I did make those difficult decisions because that's right for the financial security of our country. But now, taxes are being cut. The average tax rate faced by a typical person in work is the lowest it has been in over half a century.'

On immigration, Mr Sunak said the 'numbers are too high' but argued that 'people can judge me as well on what I've done as Prime Minister'.

'I've put in place the biggest, strictest reforms to bring down immigration that we've seen,' he said.

'What the forecasts now show is that the levels of net migration are due to halve over the next 12 months or so.

'The number of visas that we issued at the beginning of this year is down already by a quarter, so that shows we're now on the right track and if I'm re-elected, what we will introduce is a legal cap on migration that parliamentarians will vote on every year, so that not just will we halve the levels of net migration, we will continue to reduce them year on year.'

Mr Sunak argued he has a 'clear plan', adding in response to Nick Robinson noting that small boat crossings are increasing this year: 'If we stick to our plan, we will continue to bring them down.

'Why? Because if I'm re-elected as Prime Minister, we will get flights off to Rwanda and establish a deterrent.

Addressing the difficulty for young people wanting to get on the property ladder, Mr Sunak said: 'It has got harder and I want to make sure that it's easier.'

'And what we will do is not just build homes in the right places and do that in a way that is sensitive to local communities, but make sure that we support young people in to great jobs so they can save for that deposit.

'I'm going to go back to tax, because it is important'

Robinson - who is conducting interviews with all party leaders ahead of 4 July - intervened to say most young people are not worried about the deposit or stamp duty or tax cuts, but cannot afford to leave their parents' home.

Mr Sunak replied: 'No, actually when I speak to people it is the deposit that is the biggest challenge because many people earn enough to cover a mortgage payment, but the struggle is saving up for a deposit.

'That has always over the last few years been the number one challenge.'

The premier was also pressed on his response to an alleged 'dog whistle' attack from Mr Farage suggesting that he did not understand 'our culture'

Denying he was the political equivalent of a 'quinoa salad' to Nigel Farage 's 'Sunday roast', Mr Sunak begged voters to remember that the only two politicians who could end up in No10 on July 5 were him and Keir Starmer

The PM had earlier dismissed suggestions he could have resigned amid the outrage over his early departure from last week's D-Day commemorations.

Mr Sunak vowed to carry on 'until the last day of this campaign' as he sought to dampen rumours he might quit ahead of polling day on July 4.

During a campaign visit in Horsham, West Sussex, which has a Tory majority of 21,127, the PM told journalists he would not stop 'fighting for the future of our country'.

Asked whether resigning had crossed his mind, Mr Sunak told broadcasters during a visit to the Dog and Bacon pub in Horsham: 'No, of course not.

'I'm energised about the vision that we're putting forward for the country.

'This campaign is not even halfway through yet, and I'm finding enormous amount of support for the policies that we're putting on the table.'

On the rumours, he also told reporters on the campaign trail: 'People are gonna say what they're gonna say.'

'There are lots of people who want to write me off, write this off, say this campaign or the election is a foregone conclusion.

'They've been saying that, by the way, ever since I've got this job, right? Not since this election campaign.'

Mr Sunak added: 'The reality is I'm not going to stop going, I'm not going to stop fighting for people's votes, I'm not going to stop fighting for the future of our country.'

Mr Sunak begged Brits not to turn to Nigel Farage, insisting the only two politicians who could end up in No10 on July 5 were him and Keir Starmer (pictured today)

The PM also struck a renewed conciliatory tone over his D-Day departure, telling reporters he 'absolutely didn't mean to cause anyone any hurt or upset'.

'I just hope people can find it in their hearts to forgive me,' he added.

'And look at my actions that I have taken as PM, both to support our Armed Forces with an increase in defence spending.

'But also have a minister focused on veterans' affairs around the Cabinet table, making sure this is the best country in the world to be a veteran.'

Responding to the PM's BBC interview tonight, Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner said: 'Rishi Sunak's confession that having a home of your own has got harder under the Tories is a damning indictment of 14 years of housing failure.

'Home ownership is a pipedream for young people in Britain today.

'Never once in 14 years have the Tories met their 300,000 a year housing target, and their recent decision to appease the Tory MPs on their backbenches and abolish mandatory housing targets has seen housebuilding take a nosedive.

'Labour will get Britain building with 1.5 million new homes and the biggest boost to social and affordable housing in a generation.'
Karen Read's murder trial took an unexpected turn on Monday as the Massachusetts State Trooper who led the investigation into her then-boyfriend's death was forced to read his text messages disparaging the suspect.

In the messages, Lt. Michael Proctor called Read, 44, a 'whack job' and a 'c**t' and referred to her as a 'babe' with 'no a**,' while also making light of her 'Fall River accent.'

In other messages, he joked about rummaging through her phone for nude photos during the investigation.

Read's defense attorneys claim these texts support their theory that she was framed by police in a vast conspiracy to blame her for her boyfriend John O'Keefe's death in January 2022.

But Proctor claimed that 'these juvenile, unprofessional comments had zero impact on the facts, the evidence and the integrity of the investigation.'

Massachusetts State Police Trooper Michael Proctor took the stand in Karen Read's murder trial on Monday

Proctor called Read, 44, a 'whack job' and a 'c**t' and referred to her as a 'babe' with 'no a**,' text messages read in court reveal

O'Keefe, 46, was found unconscious in a snowbank with skull fractures, swollen eyes and hypothermia at around 6am on January 29, 2022, outside a house where she dropped him off for an afterparty around 12.45am.

He was then taken to Good Samaritan Hospital in Brockton where he was pronounced dead several hours later.

Police have since alleged that Read hit O'Keefe, a 16-year Boston cop, with her SUV and left him to die after a night of bar-hopping and heavy drinking.

The two had gone out to celebrate the acceptance of his niece into private school, and footage from one of the bars, CR McCarthy's in Boston, showed her embracing O'Keefe - hugging and kissing the man she is accused of killing just hours later.

But prosecutors claim Read and O'Keefe's relationship had been on the rocks amid allegations he was cheating and tensions over the two children in O'Keefe's care - his orphaned niece and nephew.

John O'Keefe, a 16-year Boston cop, was found dead around 6am on January 29, 2022, outside a house where she dropped him off for an afterparty around 12.45am

Prosecutors have claimed Read and O'Keefe's relationship was on the rocks

They allege fragments from her car were found near O'Keefe's body and are proof that Read backed her SUV into O'Keefe

Prosecutors have also claimed that witnesses at the scene heard Read yell 'I hit him!' when she and two friends found his body, along with 'this is my fault. I did this.'

Read's defense, however, was able to get cops to acknowledge they never actually heard her say she hit O'Keefe.

Defense attorneys further refuted the idea there was trouble with the relationship, with O'Keefe's friends at the bar testifying that the couple seemed content that night.

Chilling footage showing a glamorous accused killer Karen Read in a Boston bar on the night she allegedly killed her cop boyfriend has been shown in court

Instead, they claim O'Keefe was beaten up by people at the party and thrown outside where he died on the lawn.

They argue that the police did not then properly investigate O'Keefe's death, and have singled out Proctor for his close relationship with a number of law enforcement connected to the case - including homeowner Brian Albert.

In fact, in one of the text messages read in Norfolk Superior Court, Proctor replied to someone inquiring whether Albert would receive any repercussions by saying, 'Nope, homeowner is a Boston cop, too.'

After Read was charged with O'Keefe's murder, Proctor's sister also texted him to inform him that Albert wanted to buy him a gift.

But Proctor testified that neither he nor his wife received any gifts from Albert or his wife, a friend of Proctor's sister.

Defense attorneys claim O'Keefe was beaten up at the party and thrown outside

Other messages reveal that Proctor texted friends that there will 'be some serious charges brought on the girl,' referring to Read.

He claimed in the messages that Read 'waffled him' and that 'she hit him with her car,' according to the Boston Globe.

'We're going to lock this whack job up,' he said in one of the messages.

On the stand, Proctor repeatedly apologized for the text messages, calling it 'poor language' that had 'no bearing' on the investigation.

Meanwhile, the lieutenant is also facing an internal investigation over a 'potential violation of department policy,' Inside Edition reports.

Proctor opens an evidence box to show the jury a broken tail light while testifying

It is unclear whether the internal investigation is related to the Karen Read case, but lead defense attorney Alan Jackson has suggested it may be related to a text message he sent to his family about having Albert's wife babysit for his young child.

'We should all let that sink in for a second - there's a level of closeness that cannot be overstated,' said Jackson, who successfully got actor Kevin Spacey's acquitted of child sex abuse.

'Michael Proctor is so connected to the Alberts that he was entrusting, and willing to entrust, the Alberts to be caregivers for his toddler child.'

Proctor's attorney, Michael DiStefano, though, said he 'remains steadfast in the integrity of the work he performed investigating the death of Mr. John O'Keefe.'

Testimony in Read's trial is expected to resume on Wednesday.
Rishi Sunak pledged to be 'the party of margaret thatcher' as a wide range of cuts are unveiled today in a manifesto launch the premier hopes will reignite his flagging general election campaign.

Putting the tax divide with Labour at the heart of the Tory campaign, he will invoke the record of Margaret Thatcher and say the Conservatives have a 'moral' mission to cut taxes.

Today's blueprint is expected to include a promise of a further 2p cut in National Insurance, along with a pledge to phase out the 'double tax on jobs' completely when resources allow.

Mr Sunak will also revive the Help to Buy scheme, which offered discounted mortgages for first-time buyers, and vow to axe stamp duty on properties up to 425,000 in a bid to help people get their first foot on the rung of the property ladder.

But Tory right rivals such as Suella Braverman and Robert Jenrick are waiting in the wings and threatening to swoop if the manifesto flops by calling for tougher action on immigration and the human rights law.

It comes after the Prime Minister promised action on housing after last night admitting in a BBC interview that it had 'got harder' to buy a home.

Rishi Sunak's latest pledge is to cut people's taxes and make it easier for them to buy their first home

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Mr Sunak will say today: 'We Conservatives have had to take difficult decisions because of Covid. But we are now cutting taxes for earners, parents and pensioners.

'We are the party of Margaret Thatcher and Nigel Lawson, a party, unlike Labour, that believes in sound money.

'We believe that it is morally right that those who can work do work, and hard work is rewarded with people being able to keep more of their own money.

What to expect in the Tories' manifesto TAX 2p cut in National Insurance, along with ambition to eventually abolish the second tax on jobs. Triple tax lock ensuring no rise in headline rates of income tax, National Insurance or VAT. Family Home Tax Guarantee, pledging no increase in stamp duty or capital gains tax on the family home and no new council tax bands or revaluations. Threshold for first-time buyers paying stamp duty raised to 425,000. HEALTH Pledge to recruit thousands more doctors and nurses. Raise legal smoking age every year to prevent anyone aged under 16 ever being able to legally take up the habit. Increasing the role of pharmacists to free up millions of GP appointments. Building 50 new diagnostic centres and 100 new GP surgeries. A 86,000 cap on social care costs. EDUCATION AND CHILDREN Ban the teaching of contested gender ideology in schools. Double the income threshold at which families start to lose child benefit from 60,000 to 120,000. Scrap Mickey Mouse degrees to release funding for extra 100,000 apprenticeships. IMMIGRATION Introduce a new legal cap on immigration, with MPs voting each year on the total number of visas which should be issued. Press ahead with the plan to send Channel migrants to Rwanda next month. DEFENCE Guarantee that defence spending will rise to 2.5 per cent of GDP by 2030. Introduce National Service. PENSIONS Triple Lock Plus to raise personal allowance for pensioners to ensure the basic state pension is never hit by income tax. POLICE AND CRIME Recruit an extra 8,000 police officers to beef up neighbourhood policing. Increase the minimum tariff for murders in the home from 15 years to 25. Step up stop and search powers to tackle knife crime. Advertisement

'We will ensure that we have lower welfare so we can lower taxes.'

The Prime Minister will add: 'Keir Starmer takes a very different view.

'He says he's a socialist, and we know what socialists always do: take more of your money.'

Ministers hope that today's manifesto launch in the Midlands will turbocharge a Conservative campaign which has so far failed to dent Labour's massive lead in the polls.

Yesterday the PM sought to draw a line under the row about his decision to come home early from last week's D-Day events in Normandy.

He said he 'absolutely didn't mean to cause anyone any hurt or upset' and appealed to people to 'find it in their hearts to forgive me'.

Mr Sunak said critics were wrong to 'write me off' and vowed to fight 'until the last day of the campaign' to keep Sir Keir Starmer out of No 10.

Today he will acknowledge the Government has raised the tax burden to record levels to pay for Covid spending and support payments during the energy crisis.

But he will insist that, with the economy now stabilised, it is time to start cutting taxes again.

The PM will also highlight how his tax cuts will be funded in large part by a 12billion crackdown on welfare and a new drive against worklessness.

Writing in The Telegraph, Mr Sunak said of the housing plans: 'For too many of our young people, no matter how hard they work, home ownership can seem out of reach.

'I remember getting the keys to my first flat - it's a special memory to me. And, like millions before and millions after me, it is a moment I will always treasure. I want as many people as possible to have that opportunity, to feel that sense of ownership.'

The manifesto will also guarantee that the basic state pension will never be taxed.

For Help to Buy, the plans will allow first-time buyers to have a deposit of 5 per cent.

They will need a mortgage for 75 per cent of the outstanding cost, with the Government and developers lending the rest at a discount.

But the likes of Mr Jenrick and Ms Braverman are said to be watching the announcement with bated breath to see how the manifesto goes down with the public before deciding to act, The Guardian reported.

Tory insiders say they could call a press conference next week if it flops, in which they would set out a series of alternative pledges.

Mr Sunak's approval rating fell by 12 percentage points as he became less popular than Mr Farage.

The Reform UK leader saw his rating rise from 12 points to 15 across the same period, putting him ahead of the Prime Minister for the first time with voters.

In a special BBC Panorama interview, Mr Sunak declared he will 'keep cutting people's taxes' if he stays in power, with rumours of bold moves on national insurance and stamp duty.

Tory right rivals such as Suella Braverman are waiting in the wings and threatening to swoop if the manifesto flops

Robert Jenrick is another Tory watching the manifesto closely as insiders suggested an option being discussed is to call a press conference next week, in which they would set out a series of alternative pledges

Mr Sunak has pledged to be 'the party of Margaret Thatcher' - 'a party, unlike Labour, that believes in sound money'

Today Sunak will acknowledge the Government has raised the tax burden to record levels to pay for Covid spending and support payments during the energy crisis

New housing developments like this one on the outskirts of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire aims to solve the housing crisis

Mr Sunak was told Nigel Farage was 'coming for him' as he pleaded with voters to realise that voting for any other party helped Labour

'You'll see that in our manifesto tomorrow,' the PM said.

Denying he was the political equivalent of a 'quinoa salad' to Nigel Farage's 'Sunday roast', Mr Sunak begged voters to remember that the only two politicians who could end up in No10 on July 5 were him and Keir Starmer.

After being shown images of other world leaders and Lord Cameron at D-Day events in Normandy last week, Mr Sunak repeated his grovelling apology for failing to stay until the end.

In tetchy exchanges with presenter Nick Robinson, the premier said he hoped people could 'find it in their hearts' to forgive him.

Amid rising Tory alarm about the fallout from the D-Day row, Mr Sunak said: 'Well, the last thing that I wanted to do was cause anyone any hurt or offence or upset, which is why I apologised unreservedly for the mistake that I made.

'And I can only ask that I hope people can find it within their hearts to forgive me and also look at my actions as Prime Minister to increase investment in our armed forces, to support our armed forces, but also to ensure that veterans have a minister sitting around the Cabinet table with unprecedented support to make this the best country in the world to be a veteran as a demonstration of how deeply I care about this community and what they've done for our country.'

After Robinson jibed that Mr Sunak was the political equivalent of a 'quinoa salad' compared to Mr Farage's 'Sunday roast with all the trimmings', the premier argued that 'there's only going to be one of two people who's prime minister'.

'A vote for anyone who's not a Conservative candidate is just making it more likely that Keir Starmer is that person,' he said.

'So if you ask someone, you say, you know, what makes a Conservative, if you are someone who wants lower taxes, if you want your pension protected, if you want migration reduced, if you want a sensible approach to net zero that prioritises our security and reducing people's bills, that's what I will offer you in this election.'

After being shown images of other world leaders and Lord Cameron at D-Day events in Normandy last week, Mr Sunak repeated his grovelling apology for failing to stay until the end

Mr Sunak is scrambling to get the Tories ' election campaign back on track today after the D-Day shambles and with infighting flaring over the Reform threat

Alarm is rising in Tory circles about a 'crossover' moment in the polls, where support for NIgel Farage's Reform leapfrogs the party

Mr Sunak said he did not want to talk about personalities when challenged further on Mr Farage, adding: 'I'm willing to talk about everything here, but the simple issue here is a vote for anyone else, including Nigel Farage's party  and I would make the same point about anyone's party  is ultimately a vote that makes it more likely that Keir Starmer is in power.'

The premier was also pressed on his response to an alleged 'dog whistle' attack from Mr Farage suggesting that he did not understand 'our culture'.

'Is he playing with fire by bringing your heritage into this argument?' the presenter asked.

Mr Sunak replied: 'Well Nigel Farage can answer what he exactly meant by those comments.

'I'm not going to get involved in that because I don't think it's good for our country or good for our politics. Now obviously I disagree with him and when it comes, specifically, to our Armed Forces, again people can judge me by my actions.'
A Conservative peer was in court yesterday after being charged with driving while more than double the legal alcohol limit.

The 12th Earl of Dundee appeared in the citys sheriff court under the name Alexander Scrymgeour to face a charge of drink-driving.

The Eton-educated accused, who is Chief of the Clan Scrymgeour, is alleged to have driven a Toyota Hilux truck while he was under the influence of alcohol.

Lord Dundee's farming company manages around 2,000 acres across Fife and Angus.

He has spoken in the House of Lords on farming and health issues.

The Earl of Dundee was accused of double standards after he drove while more than double the legal alcohol limit

The charge alleges that the sitting member of the House of Lords drove in St Michaels, Fife, on 12 May this year, when his alcohol reading was 50 microgrammes.

The legal limit is 22 microgrammes.

Scrymgeour, 75, Birkhill House, Balmerino, did not enter a plea to the charge and the case was continued to a case management hearing on 5 July.

He was educated at Ludgrove School and Eton College, before attending the University of St Andrews, and was a Page of Honour to Queen Elizabeth II.

Lord Scrymgeour's first active experience as a Conservative politician was as the party's candidate in the Hamilton by-election in 1978.

He has sat in the House of Lords since his father's death in 1983, and served as a the Conservative Party whip in the House of Lords from 1986 to 1989.

He served as Government Spokesperson for Education (1986-1988), Government Spokesperson for Scottish Affairs (1986-1989), and Government Spokesperson for Home Affairs and for Energy (1987-1989).

In 1999, he was made an elected hereditary peer and took the title Earl of Dundee.

The Chief of the Clan Scrymgeour is alleged to have driven a Toyota Hilux truck while he was under the influence

He has served as the UK delegate to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe from 1992 to 1997.

He was also a member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the Western European parliament from 1992 to 1999.

The Earl is honorary consul for Croatia in Edinburgh, and is involved with a Trust which distributes humanitarian aid to some of the poorest parts of the Balkans.

Lord Dundee is also the Hereditary Royal Standard Bearer of Scotland, Constable of Dundee, and Chief of the Name and Arms of Scrymgeour.

He was one of the peers who carried the Royal Standards at the 2023 Coronation of King Charles.

His father, the 11th Earl of Dundee, spent a period as Deputy Leader of the House of Lords.
The highlight of Sydney's Vivid festival - a drone show running over three nights - has been savaged as 'boring' on social media by spectators who flocked to watch the show at the weekend in massive numbers.

And another major attraction, a 'Tekno Train' experience where commuters can sit and listen to music, has been rubbished as 'paying $30 to ride on a train' around the city.

The Vivid festival is one of the biggest events on the Sydney calendar, drawing millions of visitors every year. It is a major boon to the tourism sector during the quiet winter months.

Indeed, so many spectators crammed into Circular Quay to watch the Love Is In The Air drone show - featuring 700 flying robots - that festivalgoers were almost crushed.

But many of those who crammed in to see the spectacle at the weekend were left unimpressed - with many users claiming there was little to love about the show.

They claimed it was boring, not as good as last years show and had been co-opted by sponsorship and advertising.

The theme of this years drone show is Love Is In The Air, but not everyone was in love with the show

Spectators were caught in a terrifying crowd crush following the Vivid Sydney drone show on Saturday night

One post on X (formerly Twitter) slammed the use of the drones to promote a Netflix show.

The Sydney Vivid Drone show complete with Netflix Logo and Bridgerton Promo - can our city get any tackier?

A reply to the post agreed, Vivid used to be exciting - now its just another corporate wh***fest.

Many agreed, posting similar comments.

The drone show was basically 3 mins of content and the rest was their sponsors. They literally did the netflix, amex and some hotels logo in the bloody drones.

Just an excuse for a Netflix ad. Very disappointing.

Other social media users were also very unimpressed with the drone show.

Is Sydney so boring that's all people have to do on a Saturday night? one commenter asked.

Really people rush to watch that crap makes no sense,' another user wrote.

Gender equality in the sky a waste of time,' one aggrieved attendee wrote.

Other people commented on Saturday nights terrifying incident when spectators were caught in a massive crowd crush near the Overseas Passenger Terminal at Circular Quay after the drone show.

'People were pushing, being aggressive, screaming, I even felt unsafe,' one person posted.

'Shut this s*** down its not worth the mass crowds and inevitable crushing death event that feels closer every year.

'The Sydney Vivid Drone show complete with Netflix Logo and Bridgerton Promo - can our city get any tackier?, wrote an X user

Is Sydney so boring that's all people have to do on a Saturday night?, wrote one social media user about the Vivid drone show

Many attendees didn't find the promised Tekno Train experience that extraordinary

Another of this year's Vivid attractions, the Tekno Train, also came in for criticism.

The Vivid website promotes the Tekno Train as an immersive sound experience, as an everyday commuter train morphs into an extraordinary ride'.

There are two Tekno Train experiences, 'The Scenic route' and the 'Tech Express'.

A lot of social media users didnt find the experience that extraordinary.

In any other major city in the world, events like the techno train would be dancing with a bar. Here you have to stay seated and pay $30 to ride on a train, one attendee posted.

You don't even need to wait for Vivid to get the techno train. Eshays with their boomboxes on the night commute give the experience for free sometimes whether you consent to that or not.

'No drink or dancing???? Sydney party style hahahahah.'

Vivid Sydney is described on the Destination NSW website as the largest festival of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere and the countrys largest celebration of creative industries.

The website states that the last edition of Vivid Sydney drew a record 3.48million attendees and 'delivered $206.1 million in visitor expenditure to the NSW visitor economy'.

One social media user returned from Vivid Sydney with more than good memories.

Two years in a row and i have come back from Vivid with COVID...

On X (formerly Twitter) Vivid Sydney responded to numerous posts criticising the crowd control at the event.

'Were sorry to hear that your experience did not meet your expectations of Vivid Sydney. Vivid Sydney is an incredibly popular event and we work with government partners and agencies to plan and deliver a successful and safe event, including to manage crowds,' Vivid Sydney wrote.

Daily Mail Australia has approached Destination NSW for comment.

Vivid Sydney continues until Saturday night, with the final drone show starting at 9.10pm.
A Missouri death row inmate is outraged at how his attorneys handled his clemency petition, which was rejected Monday by Governor Mike Parson.

David Hosier, 69, is scheduled to die by lethal injection Tuesday, over a decade after he was convicted for the 2009 slayings of Angela Gilpin, 45, and Rodney Gilpin, 61, the Associated Press reported.

He maintains his innocence to this day, and much to his dismay, his defense team wrote a clemency petition that focused on how a 16-year-old Hosier sustained serious trauma from when his father was killed in the line of duty as an Indiana State Police sergeant.

He told the Associated Press in a phone interview that the mercy plea should have focused on the lack of forensic evidence tying him to the Gilpin murders. His lawyers also claimed in a failed 2019 appeal to the Missouri Supreme Court that there were no eyewitnesses to the crime.

'They did exactly the opposite of what I wanted them to do,' Hosier said. 'I told them I didn't want the "boo-hoo, woe is me." All that stuff happened 53 years ago, OK? It has nothing to do with why I'm sitting here right now.'

This photo, provided by Missourians to Abolish the Death Penalty, shows inmate David Hosier, Friday, June 7, 2024, at Potosi Correctional Center in Potosi, Missouri

Angela Gilpin and Rodney Gilpin were shot to death in 2009. David Hosier was in a romantic relationship with Angela while the married couple was on a break and prosecutors say Hosier killed them after they got back together

His father, Glen Hosier, was shot dead by a murder suspect in 1971 when he was entering a house.

Larry Komp, a federal public defender and one of Hosier's attorneys, didn't address his client's dissatisfaction but kept on message in a statement he shared with the Associated Press.

'It sends the wrong message to execute and marginalize a veteran and an individual harmed by the tragedy of his father being killed in the line of duty, which spun his life into a different direction,' Komp wrote in an email.

'The context of his life history with the paucity of evidence related to his guilt makes this a compounding of tragedies, nothing is gained by killing him.'

The Gilpins were found shot to death on September 29, 2009, in the hallway of Angela's Jefferson City apartment.

Hosier's motive for killing them was that he was romantically involved with Angela while she was separated from Rodney sometime in 2008 or 2009, according to court records.

Hosier completely disagrees with the strategy his lawyers took in the clemency plea, telling the Associated Press that his father was killed 53 years ago

When Angela made the decision to get back with her husband in the summer of 2009, Hosier was overheard saying that if she didn't 'come back with him' then he 'would put a stop to it somehow.'

'Ms. Angela Gilpin had her life stolen by David Hosier because he could not accept it when she ended their romantic involvement. He displays no remorse for his senseless violence, Parson said regarding his rejection of Hosier's clemency plea. 'For these heinous acts, Hosier earned maximum punishment under the law.'

The Republican, a former Polk County sheriff for 22 years, has overseen 10 executions since taking the governorship in 2018.

In the days before the Gilpins were killed, Hosier allegedly made comments to others threatening to attack Angela.

And after the shootings, police discovered two crucial pieces of evidence in Angela's purse: an application for a protective order and another document where she wrote about her fears that Hosier would shoot her and her husband.

Republican Governor of Missouri Mike Parson rejected Hosier's clemency plea, which almost guarantees his execution next Tuesday

At that point, Hosier became the prime suspect for police, who tracked him down to Oklahoma using cell phone tower data.

When they caught up with Hosier and stopped his car, court records show he got out and told the officers, 'Shoot me, and get it over with.'

Authorities searched his car, finding 15 firearms, 400 rounds of ammunition and other weapons.

A submachine gun they found is the weapon investigators believe Hosier shot the Gilpins with, though tests on it were inconclusive, the Associated Press reported.

Hosier explained all of this away by saying he wasn't on the run, rather he was on a long drive to clear his mind. The guns were with him because he was an avid hunter, he said.

Hosier has however acknowledged his romantic relationship with Angela.

If Hosier is executed next week, which is likely since his lawyers said they don't have any appeals up their sleeves, he will be the second inmate to be executed in Missouri this year.

Brian Dorsey, 52, was executed by lethal injection in April for killing his cousin and her husband.
A crime gang boss killed three friends in a horror 127mph motorway smash.

Lee Docherty, 38, fell asleep at the wheel of the hired Audi Q7 on the M8 near Bishopton in Renfrewshire in the early hours of September 19, 2021.

Seven of his associates were piled into the powerful 4x4 at the time.

Mark Downie, 31, David Paton and Manveer Benning, both 27, died following the high-speed crash. The four others were badly hurt.

Docherty yesterday appeared at the High Court in Glasgow where he pleaded guilty to causing the deaths by dangerous driving.

It was there in April this year he was jailed for eight years for heading a drugs gang which operated from a heavily barricaded block of flats in Greenock, Inverclyde known as 'the shop'.

Lee Docherty, 38, (pictured) fell asleep at the wheel of the hired Audi Q7 on the M8

Lord Clark yesterday sentenced him to an extra nine years for this latest crime.

Prosecutor Greg Farrell told how Docherty and the others had earlier been at a Glasgow city centre club.

The eight all then went in the Audi - built to hold just seven people - initially to a nearby flat before leaving and eventually travelling on the M8.

Mr Farrell said Docherty went at a 'recorded speed of up to 127mph' described as 'grossly excessive'.

The court heard the Audi ended up drifting into the hard shoulder near junction 31 of the M8 and onto the kerb.

The vehicle soon ended up on an embankment.

Mr Farrell said: 'The Audi continued the path of travel with no apparent input in the form of braking or steering from the driver.'

The 4x4 tumbled down the embankment - knocking down a fence and two trees - before coming to a halt on its roof.

David Paton and Manveer Benning died in the M8 crash

Seven of the eight men in the overloaded Audi were not wearing seat belts.

The three who died were all found lying out side of the vehicle.

Mr Farrell said: 'The crash investigator indicated that Docherty caused the Audi to drift towards the nearside of the motorway in a manner which indicates he was falling asleep.'

The other passengers - Brendan Gillan, Dylan McFadyen, Michael Munro and Brendan Balloch - all needed hospital treatment following the smash.

The court heard Docherty, of Gourock, Inverclyde, was described as being 'in shock'.

His KC Thomas Ross yesterday said: 'I have to acknowledge the emotional pain suffered by the bereaved.

'The knowledge that he has caused all of that would weigh heavily upon him even if it were strangers.

'But, these were all close friends. Whatever the sentence, this is a matter that he will have to live with.

'It must also be said that the mother of Mark Downie and the partner of David Paton - in an extraordinary gesture of compassion - bear him no ill will.

'They take the view it would have been the last thing in the world he would have wanted to happen.

'In the circumstances, they are prepared to forgive him.'

The court heard - as well as the drugs conviction - Docherty had previously been jailed for attempted murder in 2000.

Lord Clark said the latest prison-term would have been 12 years, but for the guilty plea.

It will only begin at the end of the eight years Docherty got in April.

The judge said: 'There is no sentence that can begin to alleviate the impact on the family members of the deceased and the others involved.'

Docherty was also banned from the road for a total of 14 and a half years.
President Joe Biden sparked concerns Monday night when he appeared to freeze for the better part of a minute before his speech became slurred past the point of comprehension during a lively Juneteenth celebration at the White House.

During the event ahead of the national holiday next week, the Commander-in-Chief seemed to short-circuit as the rest of the crowd, including Vice President Kamala Harris and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, grooved along to the lively band.

Philonise Floyd, brother of the late George Floyd, flanked Biden on his left and eventually noticed the concerning pause he was taking and wrapped his arm around him in an apparent effort to help.

Floyd was able to get a response out of Biden when he extended a 'pound it' fist in his direction, which the president met with his own fist.

But Biden would go on to have a further meltdown as he delivered a speech following the musical performance.

Pictured: Joe Biden, Dough Ehmoff, Kamala Harris, Philonise Floyd, Keeta Floyd. Biden sparks concerns as he appears to FREEZE during the Juneteenth celebration concert at the White House alongside a dancing Kamala Harris - before Floyd - brother of the late George Floyd - wraps his arm around him

The president delivered a message about Juneteenth to the audience but suffered another deeply off-putting moment when his speech became slurred beyond comprehension.

'She knows loss.. she know.. (incoherent) our freedom can never be secured,' he said.

During a coherent portion of the address, Biden said: 'The day reminds us that we have a helluva lot more work to do. Let's keep marching. Let's keep the faith.'

Ahead of the attempted speech, the aging leader was seen taking a big swig out of a bottle filled with red liquid that looked to possibly be a Gatorade bottle with the wrapper removed.

The president was visible in the front row for most of the evening. He sat through most of the concert, apparently enjoying himself, but staying in his seat while some in the audience stood and danced for two hours.

US Vice President Kamala Harris dances with singer Kirk Franklin during a Juneteenth Concert on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC on June 10, 2024 - on a night when the embattled president faltered, the also deeply unpopular VP saw a rare moment in the sun

Philonise Floyd (right) - brother of the late George Floyd - was able to get a response out of Biden when he extended a 'pound it' fist in his direction, which the president met with his own fist

The White House welcomed a number of performers for the event, including Gladys Knight, Patti LaBelle, rapper Doug E. Freshand, and Kirk Franklin.

The evening was hosted by the actor Roy Wood Jr., who heaped praise upon Biden and VP Harris for their work with the black community. He delivered brief African American history lessons between musical offerings over the course of the event.

Harris also took a turn at the podium, identifying this year's Juneteenth holiday as a day of action for voting rights ahead of the all-important November election.

In a moment of seamless levity, Harris returned to the stage later for an unplanned dance with gospel singer Kirk Franklin.

In 2021, Biden signed a law making the 19th day of June a federal holiday commemorating the day in 1865 when the last of the American slaves learned they had been emancipated.

On Monday, Biden warned the black community - 90 percent of whom voted for him in 2020 - that 'old ghosts' in new outfits - his Republican competitors - were afoot, working to seize their freedoms and restrict their voting access.

In recent polls, Biden has been struggling to match the historic support Democratic presidential candidates have won from black voters - numbers he will need in order to have a shot at a second term.

A baffled looking President Biden reacts to a performer at the White House's Juneteenth concert

Comedian and actor Roy Wood Jr. speaks on stage during a Juneteenth concert on the South Lawn of the White House

Last week, The Wall Street Journal published a bombshell report about Biden's cognitive decline, which has reportedly become readily apparent to dozens of high-ranking officials in recent months.

More than 45 Republican and Democrat lawmakers and staffers offered insight into the touchy subject, citing recent flubs they've found concerning.

While the White House maintains the 81-year-old is still performing his duties well, the dozens of DC insiders who spoke to the Journal disagreed - describing a president who today speaks so softly that some struggle to even understand what he's saying.

Others pointed POTUS's declining grasp of important policy details, and increasing reliance on notes and impromptu offerings from aides.

This mysterious orange drink is the only thing keeping Crooked Joe Biden from falling into a deep slumber. Yikes! pic.twitter.com/bLworpJuWW  RNC Research (@RNCResearch) June 11, 2024

President Biden looks to singer and songwriter Charlie Wilson, left, as he stands with Patti LaBelle, Anthony Hamilton, and Raheem DeVaughn, right, during a Juneteenth concert on the South Lawn of the White House on June 10, 2024

Ahead of the attempted speech, the aging leader was seen taking a big swig out of a bottle filled with red liquid that looked to possibly be a Gatorade bottle with the wrapper removed

'You couldn't be there and not feel uncomfortable,' one anonymous source said of a meeting with Biden during critical negotiations over congressional funding for Ukraine aid back in January.

During the meeting, the president reportedly moved so slowly, it took him roughly 10 minutes to greet the nearly two dozen negotiators who'd been summoned.

When the meeting did commence, Biden, the oldest-ever US president, began reading from his notes, making broad points about the need to give money to Ukraine.

This struck several lawmakers as odd, sources said - given that everyone who was there was in agreement about the need to direct additional funding to Ukraine.

The meeting was called as a strategy session to hash out a plan to move a funding package through Congress - though Biden did totally seem to understand that, according to sources inside the room.

While the White House maintains the 81-year-old is still performing his duties well, the dozens of DC insiders who spoke to the WSJ disagreed - describing a president who today speaks so softly that some struggle to even understand what he's saying

In 2021, Biden signed a law making the 19th day of June a federal holiday commemorating the day in 1865 when the last of the American slaves learned they had been emancipated

Some said they also had trouble hearing the president, as officials in Ukraine beseeched the US - thought of as a competent key ally - for munitions.

Biden, moreover, deferred most of the talks to other lawmakers, several said - to the point where most of the conversation did not include him. When questions were posed straight to him, he would turn to staffers.

In another instance that month, this one not mentioned by the Journal, Biden mixed up the names of two of his Hispanic cabinet secretaries, sparking more speculation about his mental capabilities.

Within weeks, he publicly forgot the names of Russian dissident Alexei Navalny's widow and a German chancellor who died in 2017, in addition to confusing the leaders of far-flung Egypt and Mexico during a press conference where he was asked specifically about his memory.
An Aussie driver has shared footage of the astonishing moment he discovered a live red fox stuck inside his car grille after hitting the wild animal at 80km/h.

The man said he was travelling along a road in Virginia, on the northern outskirts of Adelaide, on Saturday night when he felt something slam into the front of his Hyundai.

'Y'all thought you had a bad day,' the man said as he filmed the frantic, trapped fox biting the grille in a desperate bid to escape.

He shared a series of videos on social media from a personal account called Ace Side Records, which showed the agitated animal waiting to be rescued.

An Aussie driver has shared footage of the moment he discovered a live red fox stuck inside his car grille after hitting the wild animal at 80km/h

He shared a series of videos on social media while he waited for an emergency vet to rescue the animal

Social media users urged the man to 'prop the lid' to release the animal. The driver explained that he did but 'couldn't even see him through the bonnet'.

Others suggested he 'pull the bumper off'.

He captioned a third video, 'Things get a little bit more intense with the escape plan', as he explained that an emergency vet was on the way.

In the final video he showed a team beginning to sedate the fox.

Afterwards, many people were genuinely curious about the animal's wellbeing.

'The vet sedated him and we got him out safely but I am not sure what happened after that,' the video poster said.

The clips have attracted almost a million views and hundreds of comments.

'How does this even happen?' one person asked.

'Ask him what did the fox say!' another joked.

'Insurance would never believe you if you didn't have that video,' a third person commented.

According to the latest research by insurance provider AAMI, animal collisions have increased by 22 per cent year-on-year.

The report revealed that 54 per cent of Australian drivers have been involved in an animal collision and more than 40 per cent of drivers don't pay attention to wildlife warning signs.

AAMI Motor Claims Manager Leah James urged drivers to slow down.

'To avoid a collision with wildlife, slow down when you see warning signs, scan the road ahead, and use your peripheral vision to keep an eye on the edges for wildlife feeding, or about to cross,' she said.

'Paying attention to wildlife signs may not prevent an animal collision from happening, but it will help you start preparing so you're less likely to swerve in shock.'
CBS News host Margaret Brennan appeared to be completely taken aback on her Sunday morning show, Face The Nation, after a recent poll appeared to suggest that the majority of Americans support the deportation of all illegal immigrants in the country.

Brennan noted how President Joe Biden has deported and repatriated more people in the past year than any year since 2010, noting how such deportations were legally and practically complex.

The CBS News/YouGov poll, conducted between June 5-7, found that 62 percent of registered voters favored a government program to deport all illegal immigrants.

'Homeland Security says that President Biden has already deported or repatriated more people in the past year than any year since 2010. And then, depending on the details of what's talked about on the campaign trail, some of what Mr. Trump talks about could be illegal,' Brennan said.

CBS News host Margaret Brennan appeared to be completely taken aback after a recent poll suggested the majority of Americans support the deportation of all illegal immigrants

Biden's recent executive actions at the southern border aims to manage asylum claims and control border crossings more effectively

There's broad support for President Biden's recent executive order dealing with the border, including from most Republicans, but also among Democrats, a new @CBSNewsPoll finds. Meanwhile, six in 10 voters say they'd favor, in principle, a new government program to deport all pic.twitter.com/NrEWX6bFjZ  Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) June 9, 2024

'It doesn't seem practical, in some sense, to round up children. And then we know that the courts have questioned whether local authorities would have the ability to do it, and federal authorities don't have the resources. So what exactly do people think they're supporting?'

Brennan questioned what people thought they were supporting, given that courts have raised doubts about the feasibility of local authorities to carry out such actions, and federal resources are limited.

The poll also showed that a majority of voters supported Biden's recent executive action at the southern border.

About 180,000 migrants crossed the southern border in April - around 6,000 people each day

Anthony Salvanto, left, CBS Director of elections and surveys, explained that support for deportation was predominantly among Trump supporters, some Democrats also backed it

Anthony Salvanto, CBS Director of elections and surveys, explained that while support for deportation was predominantly among Trump supporters, some Democrats also backed the idea.

Salvanto emphasized that public sentiment captured in polls often reflects broad opinions rather than detailed policy specifics.

'When you measure public sentiment on this or really just about any policy, you're getting a sense of direction. You're getting broad brushstrokes,' Salvanto explained.

He also explained that many voters believe the current system is not working, fueling support for drastic measures to take effect.

'A lot of folks do say "yes." Again, the details of that, the specifics, you're not going to pick that up in an aggregate public opinion,' he said.

Trump has proposed using the National Guard to deport illegal immigrants, planning what he calls 'the largest domestic deportation operation in American history.' He is pictured at the border in February

President Joe Biden listens to border patrol agents on a visit to the US-Mexico border in Brownsville, Texas in February

'We are in a different era in which a lot of folks say the system as a whole is not working. And all of these, if you connect the dots through them, are part of that reaction against it, which explains some of that general sentiment for some of these policies,' Salvanto went on.

Brennan conceded that she believed Americans generally want the government to take decisive actions and 'do something'.

Trump has proposed using the National Guard to deport illegal immigrants, planning what he calls 'the largest domestic deportation operation in American history.'

In contrast, Biden's recent executive actions at the southern border aims to manage asylum claims and control border crossings more effectively.

The Biden administration has introduced measures to suspend the entry of migrants across the southern border once the number of average border encounters in a day hits 2,500 for seven days in a row.

The idea is to make is easier to remove newly arrived migrants should they not have a legal basis to remain in the U.S.
A much-loved South African family have been told they could be kicked out of Australia because their son's diabetes is a 'liability' to taxpayers.

Pump technician Nico Willers, 44, his wife Jane and their children - twins Nico and Esme, 13, and Carla, 8 - moved from Pretoria to Geelong, Victoria, in May 2023.

The family were sponsored by Webster Water Solutions on a four-year temporary skill shortage 482 visa with Mr Willers praised as 'irreplaceable' by his employer.

Last August, the younger Nico was diagnosed with type one diabetes after he was rushed to Geelong Hospital and spent five days in intensive care.

Immigration agents say the teenager's diagnosis could be seen as a 'liability' to the government and impact the family's chances of permanent residency.

Pump technician Nico Willers, 44, his wife Jane and their children - twins Nico and Esme, 13, and Carla, 8 - moved from Pretoria to Geelong in May 2023 (the couple is pictured)

Mr Willers told Channel Seven's Sunrise on Tuesday that the family had been paying all of Nico's hospital bills out of pocket.

'They say it will cost the government money but at the moment we do all the payment ourselves, all the monitoring, all the injections,' he said.

The couple have no plans to move back to South Africa due to the crime rates and the worsening economic conditions there.

The Willers have started a new life in Geelong, where their children can ride their bikes and go to their local park without fear.

'Getting work for us in South Africa it's not good at the moment,' he said.

'It's really important for us to make a living here and for us to stay here. And with the health of my son, he's getting the best healthcare there is at the moment.

'So it's better for him to stay here and for us, to make a better life.'

Sunrise host Nat Barr said it was 'ridiculous' that thousands of 'rapists' and 'foreign-born criminals' were being allowed to stay in Australia.

Before Mr Willers got the job as a pump technician it hadn't been filled for six years despite being advertised in both Australia and New Zealand.

Katrina Harris, the director of Webster Water Solutions, told the Geelong Advertiser the technician had been a 'godsend' amid tradie shortages in Australia.

'He is irreplaceable, he has more than 20 years of experience,' she said.

The Willers family have started a new life in Geelong (pictured) where their children can ride their bikes and go to their local park without fear

It could cost the family up to $15,000 to secure permanent residency if they were deemed eligible at $4,640 per adult and $1,160 for minors.

They have already spent up to $24,000 moving to Australia.

A spokeswoman for the Department of Home Affairs said while it does not comment on individual cases, health waivers were 'available for a number of visa subclasses, where visa processing officers are able to consider the individual personal circumstances of applicants'.

'Just because a person failed to meet the health requirement, does not mean that their visa will be refused,' she said.

'If a health waiver is exercised by the delegated decision maker, a visa may still be granted. Over 99 per cent of visa applicants meet the health requirement.'

It comes after 150 detainees, including murderers and sex offenders, were released from detention after a High Court ruling found it was unlawful to indefinitely detain someone if there was no real prospect of removing them from Australia.

Immigration Minister Andrew Giles (pictured) has come under fire following a series of detainee disasters with the Opposition calling for his resignation

Immigration Minister Andrew Giles has come under fire following a series of detainee disasters with the Opposition calling for his resignation.

It was announced last week that Direction 99, which prioritised a foreigner's ties with Australia when making visa decisions, would be revoked with a new measure.

Direction 101, which will come into effect on June 21, will give greater weight to community safety when appeals tribunals make decisions on visa cancellation.

'We need to give a clear signal to decision makers that decisions should be made based on common sense and the protection of the Australian community. That's what the direction is about,' Mr Giles said.
Elon Musk announced Monday that he'll ban Apple devices from his companies' premises if the iPhone creator goes forward with its planned OpenAI integration.

Apple held its annual Worldwide Developer's Conference Monday, and the biggest takeaway was OpenAI's ChatGPT will be paired with Apple's assistant Siri.

In one example shown, Siri recommended that the iPhone user consult ChatGPT for further dinner recipe ideas, flagging all the way that these new answers were coming from OpenAI's chatbot and advising users to 'check important info for mistakes'.

Musk responded to the partnership on X, saying employees and visitors to his companies would 'have to check their Apple devices at the door' where they will be stored in a 'Faraday cage'  a cage that blocks electromagnetic fields.

He continued: 'If Apple integrates OpenAI at the OS level, then Apple devices will be banned at my companies. That is an unacceptable security violation.'

Elon Musk came out swinging at Apple Monday for partnering with OpenAI, which he cofounded along with Sam Altman in 2015 (Musk pictured at the Viva Technology conference on June 16, 2023)

Musk said employees and visitors to his companies would 'have to check their Apple devices at the door' where they will be stored in a 'Faraday cage'  a cage that blocks electromagnetic fields

Siri will be fitted with GPT-4o, the latest iteration of the famous chatbot that some users say sounds like Scarlett Johansson's character in the movie 'Her.'

Prior to Musk's post criticizing the move, Apple promised its users that unlike ordinary usage of ChatGPT direct from OpenAI's platform, users' private information and their queries will not be logged or stored.

This new, extensive presence of AI across Apple's software  given the brand name 'Apple Intelligence'  includes AI-summarized documents in Mail and Notes and an image-generating AI dubbed 'Image Playground', plus ChatGPT's integration with Siri.

Meanwhile, 'Math Notes' transforms Apple's calculator app into living piece of scratch paper to do complex math problems on.

Apple CEO Tim Cook said that one of the five criteria Apple Intelligence needs to meet is being 'private'.

According to his presentation, Apple Intelligence 'will be keeping users' personal information on their devices rather than uploading it to an Apple-owned cloud' thanks to the company's powerful new M chips.

But Musk made it clear in a subsequent post that he doesn't buy that, saying that Apple is 'selling you down the river'.

Musk wrote: 'It's patently absurd that Apple isn't smart enough to make their own AI, yet is somehow capable of ensuring that OpenAI will protect your security & privacy'

iOS 18 users are asked before any questions are sent to ChatGPT, along with any documents or photos, and Siri then presents the answer

'Apple Intelligence' is the tech giant's new name for its AI-powered personal intelligence system for iPhone, iPad, and Mac

'Apple Intelligence' transforms Apple's calculator app into living piece of scratch paper to do complex math problems on

'It's patently absurd that Apple isn't smart enough to make their own AI, yet is somehow capable of ensuring that OpenAI will protect your security & privacy,' Musk wrote.

'Apple has no clue what's actually going on once they hand your data over to OpenAI. They're selling you down the river.'

Replies to Musk's post were filled with people begging him to release his own phone using either X branding or Tesla branding.

'Honestly at this point we need Tesla or X to come out with a phone powered by Starlink,' right-wing film director Robby Starbuck wrote.

'I would switch in a heartbeat,' he said, adding that he doesn't trust OpenAI CEO Sam Altman.

'I don't want his tech inside my phone, inside my office or near my family,' Starbuck said.

Another user seemed to agree, replying to Musk: 'Help us and develop the X Phone!'

Elon Musk cofounded OpenAI with Sam Altman back in 2015, and the company was supposed to be a non-profit to serve as a check on the potential threats artificial intelligence could pose to humanity.

But their relationship soured when OpenAI executives refused a buyout offer from Tesla in 2018, causing Musk to leave the company.

Altman and Musk's relationship soured when OpenAI executives refused a buyout offer from Tesla in 2018, causing Musk to leave the company (Altman pictured at the APEC CEO Summit on November 16, 2023)

Apple CEO Tim Cook delivers remarks at the start of the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) on June 10, 2024 in Cupertino, California

Sam Altman (centre) once looked up to Elon Musk (left) but the pair have since publicly fallen out over disagreements on the direction OpenAI should be taken in

In March, Musk sued OpenAI and Altman, its current CEO, over an alleged betrayal of the company's founding aims of benefiting humanity rather than pursuing profit.

Sam Altman responded to Musk's lawsuit on an episode of Lex Fridman's podcast, saying that he didn't believe it was about OpenAI being open source or not.

OpenAI's founders published a series of emails from Musk where he supported the company's pivot to a mix between non-profit and for-profit, Business Insider reported.

Musk also joked on X that he would drop the lawsuit if the company changed its name to ClosedAI.

'I think that speaks to the seriousness with which Elon means the lawsuit  and it's an astonishing thing to say,' Altman said.
Gabby Petito had pleaded with boyfriend Brian Laundrie to stop calling her names as she professed her love for him in a heartbreaking love letter sent before their ill-fated trip in 2021.

'Brian, you know how much I love you, so (and I'm writing this with love), just please stop crying and stop calling me names because we are a team and I'm here with you,' Petito wrote in the undated letter included in a trove of documents released by the FBI on Monday.

The 22-year-old travel blogger went on to apologize for getting 'upset over a dumb piece of paper,' though it is unclear what the argument was about.

'Yes, I can be a child sometimes, I know, but it's cause you give me this energy and I just love you too much, like so much it hurts,' Petito wrote.

'So you in pain is killing me,' she said. 'I'm not trying to be negative, but I'm frustrated there's not more I can do.'

Gabby Petito, 22, wrote a heartbreaking letter to her then-boyfriend Brian Laundrie professing her love and pleading with him to stop calling her names

The two took a cross-country van trip in 2021, when Laundrie killed Petito

Petito then promised that when she returned from New York she would work with him on the van they would take to cross the country.

'We can work on the van together and they are OUR dreams now,' she noted.

'So I hope you understand when I'm upset it's cause I love you too much,' Petito concluded.

'Now stop crying!!! And come home and say you love me with a big hug.'

Laundrie would go onto murder Petito as they traveled across the country, leaving her body in Wyoming's Grand Teton National Park, while he returned to Sarasota, Florida alone.

He would later go missing himself, and was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.

Petito apologized for getting 'upset over a dumb piece of paper,' though it is unclear what the argument was about

She promised that when she returned from New York she would work with him on the van they would take to cross the country

As a frantic search for the 22-year-old blogger continued, agents raided Laundrie's parent's house in south Florida - the contents of which they have recently released in a nearly 400-page document on Monday.

Along with the heartbreaking love letter, the newly-released evidence included drawings from Laundrie's notebook.

One appeared to show a skull surrounded by the words 'kill' and in another he repeatedly wrote the words 'trust nobody.'

Laundrie also wrote about his mental health struggles, noting at one point that he was contemplating suicide and kept a revolver under his mattress.

In one journal entry, Laundrie repeatedly wrote 'trust no one'

'About a year ago I went in to a type of mania where I was smashing holes in the wall with my head, kicking throug (sic) paintings, tearing whatever I was working on, pouring gasoline on myself to burn alive but getting the lighter wet, parking out in murderland listening to Mac [unclear, but may be 'DeMarco'] with a gun to my head, wrestling alligators,' Laundrie wrote in his diary on October 26, 2018.

'I wanted to die and the weird thing is nothing's changed, but the [timer's] running down.

'Under the mattress I'm on is a loaded 357 magnum revolver. A pull of the trigger and all my problems will be over,' he wrote.

In another undated diary entry Laundrie described a nightmare he had which appeared to be about Petito leaving him.

'The ocean pours out of her blue eyes and the fire is out. With one word the pain is gone. "Brian?,"' Laundrie wrote.

'Oh how sweet she is to say we should get together, but you know when you walk out that door shell be gone forever again. Your (sic) back in the car, haunted by the eyes youll never look into again.'

'The pain burns fresh because you know its just tonight. You wake up and your (sic) both free,' Laundrie wrote.

Laundrie left Petito's body in Wyoming 's Grand Teton National Park, while he returned to Sarasota, Florida alone, where he would later die of a self-inflicted gunshot wound

Other items the FBI collected include hundreds of bullets, several magazines, and a bill of sale and handbooks for Ruger .380 and Glock 49 mm pistols and a compound bow fitted with a rifle scope.

Reading material found included copies of 'The Watchtower,' an illustrated religious magazine published by New-York based Jehovahs Witnesses, and Chuck Palahniuks novel, 'Choke,' about a scam artist who pretends to choke on food to earn sympathy checks from others.

Near Petito's body, agents also noted in an affidavit supporting a search warrant application for Laundrie's home they found two arrows and a 'revolver speed loader containing ammunition.'

The FBI was subsequently able to find that Laundrie had written in a notebook that he was responsible for the death of Petito.

An attorney representing the Petito family told the New York Post the documents prove Laundrie 'was clearly a narcissist and manipulator capable of violence.'
The latest twist in Young Thug's lengthy racketeering trial was his own defense team being thrown in jail for the next 10 weekends for refusing to tell the presiding judge how he heard about a privileged conversation.

Attorney Brian Steel somehow learned of a conversation that was between Judge Ural Glanville, prosecutors and Kenneth Copeland, one of the state's star witnesses, the Atlanta Journal Constitution reported.

Steel and Glanville got into a heated spat with one another in open court on Monday, starting with Steel confronting the judge about this alleged secret meeting in the judge's chambers on Monday morning.

The judge said the talk was ex parte, which means it was only for the parties involved, but Steel argued that Young Thug and himself had a right to be in that meeting under the Georgia Constitution.

Steel wanted to know what happened in the meeting but the judge quickly redirected the conversation back to how Steel found out about the meeting. To which, Steel refused to tell him.

Young Thug, real name Jeffery Lamar Williams, is seen sitting wearing a gray sweater as his attorney Brian Steel, right, is being detained by a court officer

Steel is escorted out after Judge Ural Glanville ordered he spend the next 10 weekends in jail for contempt of court

'I'm asking you how did you get this information?' Glanville asked Steel, who was standing at the lectern.

'I'm not telling the court,' Steel responded, later requesting a mistrial over this.

The conversation was a dead end from there and Glanville ordered the bailiff to take Steel into custody.

'You got some information you shouldn't have gotten,' Glanville told the rapper's attorney.

'You're not supposed to have communication with a witness who's been sworn,' Steel said, referring to Copeland who was sworn in Friday.

Steel was ordered to report to the Fulton County Jail by 7 p.m. Friday for 10 weekends, totaling 20 days.

Judge Ural Granville told Steel he was to report to the Fulton County Jail by 7 p.m. Friday for 10 weekends, totaling 20 days.

At the opening of the racketeering trial in November 2023, prosecutors said Young Thug, real name Jeffery Lamar Williams, 32, used his record label Young Stoner Life (YSL) as a front for 'Young Slime Life,' a street gang affiliated with the LA-based Bloods gang.

Racketeering refers to acquiring a business illegally, running a business with illegally-derived finances, or using a business to break the law.

Essentially the claim is that Young Stoner Life and Young Slime Life were one in the same.

This YSL gang has allegedly recruited the young people around Young Thug to commit crimes of murder, assault, carjacking, drug dealing and theft as far back as 2013.

Young Thug was arrested in May of last year in upscale Atlanta neighborhood Buckhead and has remained in custody ever since.

The original indictment against the gang members, including Young Thug, is a wide-ranging list of 181 crimes that prosecutors say were committed from as part of the alleged RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations) conspiracy to further the gang's interests.

Copeland, also known as Lil Woody, was signed to Young Stoner Life as a rapper and spent the weekend behind bars after refusing to testify Friday, the Journal Constitution reported.

Young Thug, pictured in a 2021 Facebook post, allegedly oversaw dozens of crimes as leader of his Young Slime Life group

Georgia state prosecutor Adraine Love told the court that the Grammy award winner accumulated drugs, cars, and guns as his followers competed to win favor by murdering, stealing and hijacking in a decade-long spree

Copeland initially didn't want to testify, and keeping with his reluctant attitude, he dodged most of the prosecution's questions before Monday's lunch break, which is when Steel said he learned about the conversation that ultimately got him tossed in jail by Glanville.

Once Steel was removed from the courtroom by court officers, Young Thug's other lawyer, Keith Adams, said he didn't want to continue without him.

'You are removing me against his will, my will, and you're taking away his right to counsel,' Steel said on his way out.

Glanville responded by saying he 'doesn't have that luxury,' ordering him to defend his client without the help of Steel.

'You don't get to extort the court,' Glanville said. 'It doesn't work that way.'

He added that the information leak was a 'violation of the sacrosanctness [sic] of the judge's chambers.'

Steel was eventually let back into the proceedings at the insistence of lead prosecutor Adriane Love.

Then, a lawyer for Shannon Stillwell, one of the six co-defendants in the RICO case, asked the judge to release a transcript of the conversation he had with prosecutors and Copeland.

Max Schardt said everyone should have been included in the conversation, but Glanville said he needed to go through the appeals process.

Cameras caught Williams' arrest in May last year and his admission to Fulton County Jail

Nicole Fegan, the attorney representing a defendant in rapper Young Thug at his sensational racketeering trial, was arrested on gang charges months before Steel's contempt arrest

'All I'm asking for is some sunlight,' Schardt said. 'We'd like the transcript We are trying this case right now to win this case. We are not playing for an appeal. We would like a fair shot at this case right now.'

Schardt added that an appeal could take decades.

Marietta attorney Ashleigh Merchant, who is president of the Georgia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, spoke to the Journal Constitution, revealing that she is representing Steel in his efforts to be released from custody.

Merchant has been representing lawyers found in contempt of court for at least 10 years as part of her legal group's 'strike force' team.

'We're not OK with this,' Merchant said. 'We're not going to let this happen to our brother, who was simply doing his job ... This is not how advocates should be treated. It's hard enough being a criminal defense attorney, and we shouldn't be threatened with jail.'

Young Thug, right, with fellow rapper Gunna in 2019

Upon arriving to the Fulton courthouse alongside two dozen other Atlanta attorneys advocating for Steel, Merchant asked that Glanville recuse himself from Steel's contempt case.

This nightmarish maze of controversy that Steel has fallen into isn't the first and likely won't be the last, as the trial is expected to continue into 2025.

Jury selection began on January 4, 2023 and took 10 months. Monday marked the 88th day of the trial, which has been marred with repeated delays.

Steel isn't even the first of the attorneys representing YSL defendants to face serious legal trouble.

Nicole Fegan, who was representing Tenquarius Mender, was arrested in February on charges of participating 'in criminal street gang activity and criminal solicitation to commit the offence of tampering with evidence,' according to the district attorney's office.

Young Thug faces up to 20 years in jail in front of the same Fulton County team that is also prosecuting ex-president Donald Trump under the same racketeering laws.
A mother-of-two has been put through a rollercoaster of emotions after doctors wrongfully diagnosed her with cancer.

Christchurch woman. Toni Shields, received the horror diagnosis on May 22 after going to the doctor to investigate an issue with her spleen.

The mother immediately thought about her two sons and started to prepare for end-of-life care and even started to organise her funeral.

Just a week later, however, Ms Shields' plans came to a sudden halt after her doctor revealed a mix-up had caused another patient's files to be sent to her.

Ms Shields initially discovered the heartbreaking news through her Patient Portal - equivalent to Australia's My Health Record - and was told to see the doctor immediately.

A mother-of-two from Christchurch, Tony Shields (pictured), has been given a new lease on life after being told a cancer diagnosis was the result of a records mix-up between her and another patient

The record showed the mother had a number of lumps on her liver which were most likely cancerous.

'I went to the doctor and she sat me down and said, 'Unfortunately, it's more than likely you have cancer'. That was a hard pill to swallow,' she told the NZ Herald.

Telling her two sons about the news proved even harder, with her 'broken' eldest child 'glued to the spot and just shrivelling'.

The distraught mother started to look for ways to help her transition into a premature death and threw out her old belongings because she 'wouldn't be needing them'.

'I wanted to get some sort of age-progression pictures of my grandchildren so I could see what they would look like when they were older,' she said.

Then came the call from her doctor.

'She was beside herself on the phone, she couldn't believe this had happened,' Ms Shields said of her doctor.

'I'm just like, 'What? So I'm not dying?' She said, 'No, you're not dying, Toni'.'

Despite being given a new lease on life, the mum has been left conflicted about the news after an 'up and down' week.

While relieved to hear from the doctor that she wasn't riddled with cancer, Ms Sheilds said she felt for the patient on the other side of the mishap.

'I'm angry and I want to know how this happened ... I also feel so bad for the person whose results they were,' she said.

'I really, really feel for them. What I went through, they are going through.

'Sure I got a happy ending, but they're not.'

Ms Shields said she first thought of her two sons (pictured) and grandchildren after receiving the shock diagnosis

A full review of how the mix-up occurred was announced by Joanne Gibbs, Health New Zealand Interim Canterbury group director operations, who extended apologies to Ms Shields.

'We are sincerely sorry that Toni was given an incorrect diagnosis, and we have apologised for the significant stress we have caused both Toni and her family,' Ms Gibbs told the Herald.

'It is extremely unusual for an error like this to be made.

'We will continue to be in contact with Toni as the investigation into this incident continues, and she is welcome to contact our Radiology team with any other questions and comments she may have.'

Daily Mail Australia contacted Health NZ for comment.
John-Paul Miller has shared a video on TikTok promising to present 'over 350 pieces of proof' relating to the death of his wife Mica Miller that will prove who is responsible.

Mica, 30, was found with a gunshot wound in a North Carolina state park on April 27, 2024 with her death deemed a suicide by the Robeson County Sheriff's Department.

Just says days earlier she hit Miller with divorce papers due to an alleged tumultuous relationship, leading to intrigue around the case.

Miller was cleared of her murder, but some internet sleuths scattered across the country remain unconvinced.

'I am looking forward to presenting over 350 pieces of proof. We're going to disprove all the lies that are out there. You're going to be shocked at some of the things that Mica says. We're going to find out who is responsible for my wife's death,' Miller says in the new TikTok.

John-Paul Miller shared a video to TikTok promising to reveal 'over 350 pieces of proof' relating to the death of his wife, Mica Miller, that will prove who is responsible

Miller, 30, was found dead at Lumbee River State Park in North Carolina on April 27 from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, less than two weeks after filing for divorce

'Mica corresponded with me more than anybody else on planet Earth,' Miller said in the video. 'Mica will have justice.'

The evidence is said to consist of videos, audio, text messages, emails, and medical documents.

Mica death has drawn national attention, particularly due to allegations of abuse in her relationship with John-Paul, who was the pastor at Solid Rock Church in Market Common in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, until he was relieved of his duties.

Miller, 44, insists there are lies being spread about he and his wife's relationship and he said he plans to release a series of videos to reveal Mica's true thoughts about her family and lawyer.

He said that the evidence he plans to present 'will disprove everything (Mica's family) and their lawyer is saying.'

Miller said his silence so far 'is nothing more than wisdom and self-control so that we can the war that is up ahead.'

Images taken at a pawn shop prior to her death show Mica purchasing a gun the day of her suicide

Miller has stated how his intent to uncover the truth behind his wife's death, claiming: 'Mica will have justice.'

Miller, a popular pastor with a criminal record that includes multiple counts of aggravated assault and battery, attributes his previous silence to 'wisdom and self-control'.

He stated how his intent to uncover the truth behind his wife's death and claiming, 'Mica will have justice.'

Following a court hearing on June 5, 2024, Mica's family was granted rights to her belongings and called for legislative changes to a domestic violence bill, proposing it be named 'Mica's Law.'

Authorities have previously stated that John-Paul Miller was not present at the scene of Mica's death and released 911 call recordings together with photos and surveillance footage showing Mica purchasing a gun before traveling to North Carolina the day of her suicide.

Miller has consistently denied any abuse, asserting, 'She has never once been abused as long as she has been married to me.'

The Robeson County Sheriff's Office, with assistance from the FBI, has been involved in the investigation.
A massive clean-up of a riverbank campsite by locals has revealed shocking evidence of Australia's crippling cost of living crisis.

Last week the Ocean Crusaders organisation removed 820kg of rubbish from an abandoned homeless camp along Petrie Creek on Queenslands Sunshine Coast.

The haul of rubbish included 14 shopping trolleys, prams, clothes and furniture and took four hours to remove.

The clean-up occurred after the homeless camp had been abandoned.

Ocean Crusaders is a non-profit organisation founded in 2010 which cleans up waterways and beaches.

Our crusade is to educate people of the need to look after our oceans whilst specialising in cleaning it up through commercial and community events, Ocean Crusaders states on its Facebook page.

Ocean Crusaders' founder Ian Thomson said his organisation has been working regularly in the Petrie Creek area since 2017 and he has seen an increase in rubbish along the riverbank.

The haul of rubbish included 14 shopping trolleys, prams, clothes and furniture, and took four hours to remove

Ocean Crusaders removed 820kg of rubbish from the riverbank campsite

The clean-up occurred after the homeless camp had been abandoned

People would spend time down there, but with homeless in the area and the amount of rubbish, it's not that pretty... it's disheartening, he told Yahoo News.

Mr Thomson said the local wildlife has also been impacted by the rubbish.

He said since Ocean Crusaders have been conducting clean-ups, he has noticed an increase in the local platypus population.

To help combat the homelessness crisis, last year the local Sunshine Coast Council launched the Sunshine Coast Housing and Homelessness Action Plan 2023.

In launching the initiative, then Sunshine Coast Council Mayor Mark Jamieson wrote: 'The Sunshine Coast is experiencing significant housing affordability challenges and increased levels of homelessness.'

'The Sunshine Coast Housing and Homelessness Action Plan 2023 will help build on our existing commitments and provide support for our community. '

The action plan stated the number of homeless people on the Sunshine Coast had increased by 54 per cent from 2016 to 2021.

The council states there are currently 1,205 homeless people on the Sunshine Coast.
This video is no longer available

This video is no longer available

An enormous fire has engulfed a car wrecking yard located close to a busy airport in Sydney's south-west.

The blaze, which has been categorised as an 8th alarm emergency, on Fitzpatrick St in Revesby is sending large plumes of black smoke into the sky.

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) first received reports of the fire at 2.10pm on Tuesday afternoon.

There are more than 20 fire crews on the scene, including three multiple specialist Aerial Pumpers with 24metre ladders.

It is not yet known if anyone was hurt, but paramedics were on scene at about 2.30pm.

An enormous fire (pictured) has engulfed a factory on Fitzpatrick Street in Revesby Sydney's south-west

The blaze, which has been categorised as an 8th alarm emergency, on Fitzpatrick St in Revesby is sending large plumes of black smoke into the sky

'That looks bad, I hope everybody got out,' a witness can be heard saying in a video obtained by 7News.

'All that water he just put on there doesn't look like it did anything.'

Firefighters said from the scene their challenge was 'not only knocking the fire down but stopping the spread'.

'Fires at wrecking yards can burn extremely hot and fast,' FRNSW Superintendent Adam Dewberry said.

'The extreme heat and potential to spread rapidly can make these types of fires difficult to contain.

'Our firefighters are working to tackle the fire and ensure that all people are accounted for.'

The fire location is very close to Bankstown Airport and planes are still flying past.

The airport caters for charter and private business flights, freight, aeromedical services, aircraft maintenance businesses, emergency services and flying schools.

A firefighter on a crane is pictured tackling the blaze in Sydney's south-west on Tuesday

There are 20 fire crews on the scene of the fire (pictured) in a car wrecking yard in Sydney

The NSW Police said Fitzpatrick St and Milperra Road are closed due to the fire.

People in the area are urged to stay indoors and keep their windows closed due to the smoke.

The cause of the fire is yet to be determined.

More to come.
A woman who has spent half her life in Australia has made a desperate plea to the immigration minister to let her stay.

Maria Duminica, 20, first came to Australia from Romania with her mother and stepfather, who is an Australian citizen.

She travelled on a tourist visa to Sydney, where her mother and stepfather tied the knot a few months later.

Ms Duminica's mother applied for a partner visa with her daughter as a secondary applicant.

The pair were put on a series of temporary bridging visas while they waited for the permanent visa to be approved.

Maria Duminica, 20, first came to Australia from Romania with her mother and stepfather, who is an Australian citizen

Ms Duminica said she still clearly remembers landing in Sydney as a 10-year-old and going straight to Bondi Beach on a hot summer day.

'I would walk down the street and people would smile at you, it was very nice,' she told 9NEWS.

But as a teenager, things were not so happy and Ms Duminica's relationship with her mother and stepfather deteriorated.

Ms Duminica said she wanted to leave home as a 13-year-old, but waited until she turned 16 and left for good.

She stayed with friends for a while before moving into temporary crisis accommodation.

Stepping Stone House, at Dulwich Hill, in Sydney's inner west, took Ms Duminica in and gave her a safe place to live.

Ms Duminica continued studying at high school while living in the refuge, travelling more than an hour each way from Dulwich Hill to Rose Bay.

She said she always grew up with the mentality that she had to finish school, but her world was rocked by some 'frightening' news while she was sitting her HSC trials.

A few weeks before her 18th birthday, Ms Duminica was told her bridging visa had been cancelled for a month.

Ms Duminica said she was scared and shocked because her whole future in Australia was in doubt and she didn't know what she could do about it

Her mother, who was still waiting on the approval of her partner visa some seven years later, had taken her daughter's name off her application as a dependant.

Ms Duminica said she was scared and shocked because her whole future in Australia was in doubt and she didn't know what she could do about it.

With limited options, her solicitor at the time applied for a protection visa, which was refused in 2022.

An attempt to appeal the decision at the Administrative Appeals Tribunal was also unsuccessful, but the tribunal member overseeing Ms Duminica's appeal decided it could meet the special circumstances required for a ministerial intervention.

Her case went to Immigration Minister Andrew Giles' office in June last year, but she is still waiting to hear whether he will let her stay in Australia permanently.

Ms Duminica said living month-to-month with the threat of being deported was exhausting, explaining that she doesn't feel like Romania is her home country

'I don't know anyone in Romania and I don't know how to speak the language. I don't have any connections there,' she said.

'If I do have to go back, I will be a young woman on the streets. I will be homeless.'

After finishing school, Ms Duminica got a job at a Sydney hotel and moved out independently.

But Ms Duminica said her future still felt precarious.

She was given working rights but she did not have permission to study.

She would also like to get a car or a place to live, but she fears 'that's money gone' if she is deported.

Almost 10,000 people have signed an online petition which Stepping Stone House started, calling on the minister to grant Ms Duminica permanent residency.

Stepping Stone House CEO Jason Juretic described Ms Duminica as a 'genuinely outstanding' young woman who had shown grit and determination to get As and Bs in eight school subjects while working part-time at two florists.

Ms Juretic said it was clear the minister needed to intervene because Ms Duminica doesn't have a support system in her home country, where young women are very vulnerable to human trafficking.

Ms Duminica's immigration lawyer, Sally Jackson, said her client's case was unusual and she wants to bring that to the minister's attention.

A spokesperson for Mr Giles said the minister's office was looking into Ms Duminica's case.
Anthony Albanese will host Chinese Premier Li Qiang next week in a four-day visit, which the Prime Minister says is an opportunity to continue to build relations with Australia's biggest trading partner.

This is the second visit from a senior Chinese official to Australia this year, after China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi's visit in March.

Mr Albanese and Mr Li will have lunch at an Adelaide winery, with Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Trade Minister Don Farrell and wine industry leaders just months after a contentious ban was lifted.

'Premier Li Qiang's visit to Australia is an important opportunity to engage directly on key issues for both our nations,' Mr Albanese said.

'China is Australia's largest trading partner and our economic relationship continues to bring substantial benefits to both our countries.'

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has confirmed that Chinese Premier Li Qiang will arrive in Australia within days. Pictured are the pair meeting in China late last year

The lunch at the winery follows Beijing's decision to lift crippling sanctions on Australian wine in March.

Last week, China also lifted sanctions on exports from five Australian meat processing facilities in NSW and Queensland.

An unofficial ban on live lobster imports is expected to be a key topic of discussion among leaders.

Premier Li will arrive in Australia on Saturday where he first will visit Adelaide Zoo, which homes the only two giant pandas in the southern hemisphere.

Mr Albanese will meet with President Xi Jinping's second-in-command for an official leaders meeting in Canberra next Monday.

When asked if he would use the upcoming meeting to call for the zoo attractions to remain in Australia, Mr Albanese said that his government was 'pro-panda.'

'We like panda bears and so do Australians so... There's been no announcement on that, but I think the presence of those pandas at Adelaide up to now has brought a great deal of joy,' he said.

Premier Li will visit the giant pandas at Adelaide Zoo (pictured) as part of his visit Down Under

Premier Li will then travel to Perth for a business roundtable and visit to a Chinese-owned lithium plant.

Mr Albanese will also raise an incident in which a Chinese fighter dropped flares near an Australian navy helicopter in May

'It was dangerous and should not have happened. It will not happen again. So we will certainly be putting that forward,' he told reporters in Canberra.

During talks Mr Albanese will also press Premier Li over the suspended death sentence China handed to Chinese-Australian writer Yang Hengjun in February.
South Korean troops were forced to fire warning shots after a contingent of 20 North Korean soldiers briefly crossed the border this week, Seoul's military said this morning in the latest escalation of tensions at the line.

The worrying incursion over the line that separates the two militaries took place in an overgrown area of the heavily fortified border area.

Relations between the two Koreas - technically still at war as the 1950-1953 conflict ended in an armistice rather than a peace treaty - are at one of their lowest points in years.

The North has in recent weeks sent hundreds of balloons full of trash and faeces into the South, while Seoul has installed loudspeakers along the border to broadcast anti-Kim Jong Un propaganda in Cold War-style campaigns.

'Some North Korean soldiers working within the DMZ on the central front briefly crossed the Military Demarcation Line (MDL),' the Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement, referring to the line of control between the two Koreas.

'After our military issued warning broadcasts and warning shots, they retreated northward,' it said.

North Korean soldiers stand near their military guard post as a North Korean flag flutters in the wind, seen from Paju, South Korea, Sunday, June 9, 2024

This picture taken on May 30, 2024 and released from North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) via KNS on May 31, 2024 shows the test-firing of 600mm super-large rocket artillery at an unconfirmed location in North Korea

South Korean soldiers wearing protective gears check the trash from a balloon presumably sent by North Korea, in Incheon, South Korea, on June 2, 2024

This picture taken on June 1, 2024 and released from North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) via KNS on June 2, 2024 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong Un speaking as he attends the opening ceremony of the Central Cadre School of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) in Pyongyang

A balloon is seen attached to an object (R) after it landed in a rice field in Seonwon-myeon, Ganghwa County, in the city of Incheon on June 10, 2024

Barricades are placed near the Unification Bridge,which leads to the Panmunjom in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) on June 11, 2024 in Paju, South Korea

The incursion was likely accidental, JCS spokesperson Lee Sung-joon told reporters Tuesday.

'The situation at that time was that the DMZ was now overgrown with trees and the MDL mark was not clearly visible,' Lee said.

'There was no road, and the (North Korean soldiers) were moving through the bushes, and we were observing (them) even before they got close to the MDL.

'We believe that they did not intend to invade, considering that they immediately moved northward after the warning broadcasts and warning shots.'

In recent weeks, North Korea has sent more than a thousand balloons laden with trash including cigarette butts and used toilet paper southward - a response, it says, to balloons carrying anti-Pyongyang propaganda sent north by activists.

In response, the South Korean government has suspended a 2018 tension-reducing military deal and restarted loudspeaker propaganda broadcasts along the border, infuriating the North, which warned Seoul was creating 'a new crisis'.

North Korea could be re-installing its own loudspeakers along the border, Seoul's military said Monday, a tactic it had used since the 1960s but suspended in 2018.

Seoul's spy agency said on Tuesday it had also detected signs that Pyongyang was demolishing sections of the inter-Korean railway.

A South Korean soldier stands guard near a military facility where loudspeakers dismantled in 2018 used to be, near the demilitarized zone separating the two Koreas in Paju on June 11, 2024

An officer wearing protective gear collects the trash from a balloon presumably sent by North Korea, in Siheung, South Korea, Sunday, June 2, 2024

This handout photo taken on June 9, 2024 and provided by the South Korean Defence Ministry shows unidentified objects believed to be North Korean trash from balloons that crossed the inter-Korea border, on a street in Seoul

The incursion of the North Korean soldiers could be a 'small provocation' to test the waters ahead of a bigger move, Ahn Chan-il, a defector-turned-researcher who runs the World Institute for North Korea Studies, told AFP.

'It can also be seen as part of (chief regime spokeswoman and sister of Kim Jong Un) Kim Yo Jong's preparation for what she described as a ''new countermeasures'',' he added.

Pyongyang has previously threatened artillery strikes against the loudspeaker units.

South Korea's loudspeaker broadcast on Sunday included news segments about Seoul's decision to suspend the 2018 military agreement along with a report on the global sales performance of Samsung Electronics smartphones, according to the Yonhap news agency.

It also played songs by K-pop sensation BTS, Yonhap said.

Apart from anti-Kim Jong Un leaflets, North Korea is also extremely sensitive about its people gaining access to South Korea's flourishing popular culture.

According to a United Nations report, Pyongyang enacted a law in 2020 to punish anyone possessing or distributing a large amount of South Korean media content with life imprisonment or even the death penalty.

Experts have warned that the decision to jettison the 2018 deal and restart loudspeaker broadcasts could have serious implications, as previous tit-for-tat propaganda actions have had real-world consequences for inter-Korean relations.

In 2020, Pyongyang, blaming anti-North leaflets, unilaterally cut off all official military and political communication links with the South, and blew up an inter-Korean liaison office on its side of the border.
A close-knit Indian community in Sydney is mourning the deaths of two mums who were swept from the rocks and drowned while enjoying a picnic with their young families.

Indian nationals Marwa Hashim and Nirsha Haris have been identified as the victims of the tragedy, after the pair were washed off the edge of the rock face into the ocean, at Cape Solander, a lookout at Kurnell in Sydney's south, about 4.30pm on Monday.

Ms Hashim, 35 and Ms Haris, 38 were among a group of five who were walking along a rock shelf, when a 'freak wave' hit them and swept them out into the sea.

Marwa's sister, Roshna Hashim was also swept away but managed to scramble back onto rocks and helped to shore by bystanders.

Marwa and Nirsha were not only best friends but were both also mums.

Ms Hashim arrived in Australia in 2017 to work as an architect but in recent years worked as a senior planner at Transport for NSW.

Her friend Ms Haris previously worked in public relations, Nine News reported.

Marwa Hashim (pictured right) and Nirsha Haris (pictured left) have been identified as the victims of the horror incident that happened at Cape Solander, a lookout at Kurnell in Sydney's south, on Monday

Ms Hashim's sister Roshna sustained minor injuries and was treated for hypothermia.

She was taken to St George Hospital, where she remains in a stable condition.

Two other bystanders were also treated for hypothermia.

The Sydney Malaylee Association confirmed the deaths of the two women in a heartbreaking Facebook post on Tuesday afternoon.

The Malayalee are an ethnic group who originate from Kerala, a state in southern India.

'Sydney Malayalee Community is saddened by the horrific and sudden death of two of our members Marwa Hashim and Nirsha Haris,' the post read.

'Sydney Malayalee Association offer our heartfelt condolence to the bereaved families.'

Friends have urged the Australian government to help with visas so their families back home in India can travel there to attend their funerals.

The Sydney Malayalee Association, confirmed the deaths of the two women in a heartbreaking social media post on Tuesday. Pictured is Nirsha Haris

Nirsha's best friend Marwa Hashim (pictured) also drowned in the long weekend tragedy

Emergency services, including paramedics and police officers rushed to the scene and launched a large scale search and rescue operation.

Three rescue helicopters were searching for the duo before paramedics arrived.

The two women were pulled from the water unconscious but they were unable to be revived, despite the best efforts of emergency responders.

Bystander Rabih Yassinne has been hailed a hero after he helped pull Roshna from the water after Marwa's husband approached him asking for help.

'He came to me saying please help, [he said] please there's people drowning down there ,' Yashinne told Nine News.

'I took her out, it was very, very difficult because the wave was so heavy.

'We managed to take her out and she was unconscious.'

NSW Police Marine Area Command Superintendent Joe McNulty expressed his condolences to the families and loved ones of the two women.

'They've gone down there with good intentions to enjoy public holiday on NSW finest coastline, and stepped down to a wet, slippery rock platform, and ended up being swept off the rocks by a freak wave,' Superintendent McNulty said.

He said large waves often crash into the rocks and the water exerts a lot of pressure, that can be dangerous to people visiting the popular lookout.

'When a wave hits that [rock platform], the wave stands up and has a significant amount of extra force that would knock those people from their feet and drag them back into the water,' he said.

Emergency responders rushed to the scene to launch a search and rescue operation. Pictured bystanders comforting each other after two women drowned

He warned people visiting the beach, particularly those who are not confident swimmers to stay the near the edge of the water and to stand at a distance, if they want to catch a glimpse of the waves.

'Never turn your back on the ocean. Always be prepared when you're visiting any rock platform, any beach, any location, where there's large waves are to be careful,' he said.

Cape Solander is a popular spot to catch a glimpse of humpback whales, that swim close to the cost during the winter months.

A crime scene was set up in the area on Monday afternoon as police launched an investigation.

'No suspicious circumstances have been identified at this time,' a statement read.

A report will be prepared for the coroner.
A raging fire has ignited on a Russian anti-submarine ship which has been taking part in war games alongside Vladimir Putin's nuclear submarines in the Barents Sea, Ukraine's navy claimed today.

The destroyer Admiral Levchenko - which has a maximum crew of 300 - was in a 'struggle for survival' after one of its engines 'malfunctioned and caught fire', according to the claims.

The Russian authorities are yet to comment on the reports.

The 535ft Admiral Levchenko, commissioned in 1988, was this week taking part in 'combat training' war games also involving nuclear submarines.

The drills - the first of their kind since 2022 - were ordered by Vladimir Putin amid high tension with the West and involved test firing of Moscow's fearsome Kinzhal missiles.

The destroyer Admiral Levchenko - which has a maximum crew of 300 - was in a 'struggle for survival' after one of its engines 'malfunctioned and caught fire', according to the claims

Admiral Levchenko is pictured diring missiles during 2022 drills

Admiral Levchenko, an Udaloy-class destroyer of Russia's Northern Fleet

The 535ft Admiral Levchenko, commissioned in 1988, was this week taking part in 'combat training' war games also involving nuclear submarines (pictured)

Russia's new nuclear-powered submarine Imperator Alexander III test launches the Bulava ballistic missile, designed to carry nuclear warheads, from the White Sea, in this image taken from video released November 5, 2023

Prior to the outbreak of war, the Admiral Levchenko's engines were serviced in Ukraine as many of Russia's Soviet-era naval vessels were built and maintained in the Ukrainian port city of Mykolaiv.

Russian military jet crashes killing two pilots A Russian military jet crashed during a training flight in the Caucasus region of North Ossetia, killing two people on board, the defence ministry said today. A statement said the Sukhoi-34 jet crashed 'in a mountainous zone' and added that there was 'no damage on the ground'. It said a technical problem appeared to have caused the crash, adding that an investigation had been launched to ascertain the reason behind the accident. North Ossetia, which borders ex-Soviet Georgia, is about 800 kilometres (500 miles) from the front line in Ukraine. On June 8, regional authorities said Ukraine targeted a military airfield near the town of Mozdok with drones but three of them were shot down. It was the first such attack in North Ossetia since the special military operation launched by Russia against Ukraine in February 2022. Advertisement

A spokesperson for Ukraine's Southern Defence Forces, Dmytro Pletenchuk, said that the Admiral Levchenko had not undergone its regularly scheduled maintenance in a Ukrainian shipyard since 2014 after the annexation of Crimea.

He noted that running the ship for an extended period without servicing may have caused the blaze.

'The enemy's equipment is on fire. This is what happens when a 'superpower' receives sanctions from Ukraine and cannot independently service engines produced in Mykolaiv.

'Ten years was not enough to solve this problem. One of the installations caught fire,' he wrote.

The Russian navy described the scale of their exercises in a statement on Monday, declaring: 'The large anti-submarine ships Admiral Levchenko and Rear Admiral Kulakov left the Northern Fleet's main base in Severomorsk to the designated areas as part of a naval search and strike group.

'The anti-submarine ships fired air defence systems to repel an airstrike.

'Kinzhal air defence missile systems hit a simulated target, an illuminated air bomb dropped by an Ilyushin Il-38 aircraft.'

A pair of nuclear submarines are also taking part in the drills, but Russian authorities have not revealed which ones.

One of them - a multi-purpose submarine - is working in coordination with the Admiral Levchenko and Rear Admiral Kulakov vessels as part of the search and strike group.

The other is posing as an enemy NATO submarine to be tracked and eliminated.

Shipborne Kamov Ka-27 helicopters also took part in the drills, the Russian defence ministry reported.

'Ships of the formation operated within a hunter-killer group to practice strikes on the mock enemy's ships, air defence, and artillery fire on coastal targets,' the navy statement read.

The Admiral Levchenko fires missiles during 2022 drills in the Barents Sea

Prior to the outbreak of war, the Admiral Levchenko's engines were serviced in Ukraine as many of Russia's Soviet-era naval vessels were built and maintained in the Ukrainian port city of Mykolaiv

A pair of nuclear submarines are also taking part in the drills, but Russian authorities have not revealed which ones

One of the submarines is working in coordination with the Admiral Levchenko and Rear Admiral Kulakov vessels as part of the search and strike group. The other is posing as an enemy NATO submarine to be tracked and eliminated

The drills in the Barents Sea come as other Russian warships, including a missile cruiser, docked in the Egyptian port of Alexandria this week ahead of planned drills with Cairo's navy close to the Suez Canal.

Russia's defence ministry reported yesterday that a detachment of Navy ships, including the missile cruiser Varyag and the frigate Marshal Shaposhnikov, docked in the port of Alexandria to host Egyptian naval representatives.

The visit was described as a 'business call' - but both navies will later this week flex their muscles in drills off the Egyptian coast in the proximity of the Suez Canal.

These drills come off the back of reports that Russia is pushing to establish a permanent naval base in Tobruk on the coast of Libya to complement its other Mediterranean naval facility in Syria's Tartus.

The prospect of an increased Russian naval presence in the Mediterranean, seen as the 'soft underbelly of Europe', has prompted some analysts to suggest that NATO should establish a permanent operational command to ensure the region's security.

This week's naval exercises also represent a consolidation of relations between Moscow and Cairo, which since Egypt's Abdel Fattah el-Sisi rose to power in 2014 have gone from strength to strength.
A popular TikTok chef who once had than 67,000 followers allegedly attempted to 'seduce' and sexually assaulting teenage girls, a court has heard

Abhishesh Bista, 27, a chef and part-time business owner from Rockhampton in Central Queensland has been charged with a string of offences, including two counts of sexual assault, three of indecent treatment of a child under 16 and two of indecent treatment of a child under 15 (permit).

His lawyers made an application in Rockhampton District Court this week for three separate trials to run testing the allegations of three complainants aged 14-15, The Courier Mail reported.

While handing down his decision about the application, Judge Jeff Clarke said Bista had allegedly kissed, fondled and had 'other sexual contact with girls who all have a similar age...over the same period of time'.

Popular TikTok chef Abhishesh Bista (pictured) has been accused of grooming teenage girls and allegedly sexually assaulting them

'The defendant is alleged to have engaged in similar grooming behaviour,' Judge Clarke told the court.

'To attempt to seduce the girls.

'An unusual feature is the risk the defendant took to (allegedly) offend when there were [others around].'

Judge Clarke dismissed the application to have the allegations in separate trials, saying prejudice issues that could arise from having multiple complainants would be dealt with by appropriate jury direction.

The matter is listed to be next mentioned in court this Wednesday.

A prerecording hearing is scheduled for August 5.

More than 67,000 fans previously followed Bista on TikTok. The popular account has since been taken down.
A suspect is in custody after four visiting college instructors from Iowa were brutally stabbed in an attack in China on Tuesday morning.

The educators from Cornell College, in Mount Vernon, were on a teaching exchange program with a partner university, Beihua, in Jilin City.

The group had been visiting a temple in Beishan Park when they were attacked by a man with a knife. There were no reports of a motive.

Iowa Representative Adam Zabner told Reuters his brother was one of the victims from Cornell College in Iowa. The other victims have not yet been publicly identified.

Police immediately launched manhunt for Cui Dapeng, a Jilin City resident whom they identified as a 'major suspect' in the stabbing, according to the Chinese government.

Four visiting instructors from Cornell College were brutally stabbed in an attack in China on Tuesday morning. The teachers had been on a teaching exchange programme with a partner university, Beihua, in Jilin City

David Zabner, pictured, was wounded in the arm during the stabbing attack, according to his brother Iowa Representative Adam Zabner

Zabner described his brother as a doctoral student at Tufts University who was in China under the Cornell-Beihua relationship.

'My brother, David Zabner, was wounded in the arm during a stabbing attack while visiting a temple in Jilin City, China,' he said.

'I spoke to David...he is recovering from his injuries and doing well. My family is incredibly grateful that David survived this attack.'

A video of people lying on the ground in a park covered in blood was circulating on X on Monday, though no trace of the images could be found on Chinese social media.

Reuters was able to identify the location of the video based on Chinese characters written on a wall, the wall's structure and the layout of the path, but it was not able to confirm when the video was shot.

A US State Department spokesperson said in an emailed statement that they were aware of reports of a 'stabbing incident' in Jilin, China, and were monitoring the situation.

'We are working through proper channels and requesting to speak with the US Embassy on appropriate matters to ensure that the victims first receive quality care for their injuries and then get out of China in a medically feasible manner,' Iowa's Congress representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks wrote on X.

Police have launched a manhunt for Cui Dapeng, (pictured) a Jilin City resident whom they have identified as a 'major suspect' in the stabbing, according to a WeChat alert issued by China's Foreign NGO Management Office of the Ministry of Public Safety

China's Foreign NGO Management Office of the Ministry of Public Safety issued an alert on social media platform WeChat confirming the incident, which they say took place Monday around 11.40am in Beishan Park.

The notice identified Cui Dapeng as the alleged suspect in the case, with the public safety department advising the brief be distributed to all police forces.

Officials encouraged that Cui Dapeng be arrested if found.

The notice also alleged that the victims had suffered 'varying degrees' of injuries and were taken to hospital. Their conditions are non-life threatening, according to the government agency.

'The police have preliminarily judged that this was a random incident but an investigation is ongoing,' China's foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian told reporters at a daily briefing on Tuesday.

'All the injured individuals were immediately taken to the hospital and were given appropriate critical care, no one's life is in danger,' Lin said.

China's foreign ministry said it would continue taking effective measures to ensure the safety of foreigners in China.

News of the incident was suppressed in China, where the government maintains control on information about anything considered sensitive. News media outlets had not reported it.

Some social media accounts posted foreign media reports about the attack, but a hashtag about it was blocked on a popular portal and photos and video of the incident were quickly taken down.

A few remaining posts on the Chinese social media platform Weibo questioned widespread censorship of the incident in official media.

'Do they really think that censoring domestic discussion of the incident impacts whether foreigners choose to visit China or not?' posted one Weibo user.

The educators were from Cornell College, a private college in Mount Vernon, Iowa (pictured). The college has had a partnership program with Beihua, in Jilin City, since 2018

The educators from Cornell College, a private college in Mount Vernon, were on a teaching exchange program with a partner university, Beihua, in Jilin City.

Jen Visser, the spokesperson for Cornell College, said the institution was still gathering information about what happened.

Cornell President Jonathan Brand sent a statement to students, KCCI reported, reading in part: 'We have learned that four Cornell instructors teaching as part of a partnership with a university in China were injured in a serious incident during a daytime visit to a public park while accompanied by a faculty member of the partner institution.

'We have been in contact with all four instructors and are assisting them during this time. There were no students taking part in this program.'

A college news release from 2018, when the partnership program started, says Beihua provides funding for Cornell professors to travel to China to teach a portion of courses in computer science, mathematics and physics over a two-week period.

According to a 2020 post on Beihua's website, the Chinese university uses American teaching methods and resources to give engineering students an international perspective and English-language ability.

About one-third of the core courses in the program use US textbooks and are taught by American professors, according to the post.

Students can apply to study for two years of their four-year education at Cornell College and receive degrees from both institutions.

Xi Jinping, then-Vice President of the People's Republic of China sits, with Sarah and Roger Lande (R) February 15, 2012 in Muscatine, Iowa. In 1985, Lande helped coordinate a visit to Muscatine for a delegation headed by Xi, then an up-and-coming official in a hog-farming region of Hebei province, which was Iowa's 'sister state'

Xi Jinping of the People's Republic of China arrives at the home of Sarah and Roger Lande February 15, 2012 in Muscatine, Iowa

China's President Xi Jinping this year pledged to invite 50,000 young Americans to China for study programs to boost people-to-people ties, but a State Department Level 3 travel advisory - the second-highest warning level - to mainland China.

Citing arbitrary detentions as well as exit bans that could prevent US citizens from leaving the country, the State Department has urged Americans to 'reconsider travel' to China.

Some American universities have suspended their China programs due to the travel advisory.

Lin, the Foreign Ministry spokesperson, said China has taken effective measures to protect the safety of foreigners.

'We believe that the isolated incident will not disrupt normal cultural and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries,' he said.

There are currently fewer than 900 American exchange students studying in China compared to over 290,000 Chinese students in the United States, according to US data.

Then Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad (L), Sarah Lande, Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds, Iowa Mayor Dwayne Hopkins (R) presents Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping with a 'Key' to the City on February 15, 2012 in Muscatine, Iowa

Xi has a longstanding relationship with Iowa after having first travelled to the state in May 1985 as part of an agricultural delegation.

He has since maintained a nearly four-decades long pen pal relationship with native Sarah Lande, who helped coordinate the exchange.

Chinese state media in January published an excerpt from a letter he had recently written 85-year-old Lande, in which he claimed the world's future demanded stability in Sino-US ties.

'China and the United States are the largest developing and developed countries in the world, and the future and destiny of this planet require Sino-US relations to be more stable, to be better,' Xi wrote to Lande.

The two became acquainted when Xi, then 31, led a delegation from China's northern Hebei province to its 'sister state' Iowa to learn about US food production.

In 2012, they reunited in her hometown of Muscatine, and once more in San Francisco in November 2023, when Lande attended a dinner hosted for Xi.

In a previous letter to Lande in 2022, he told her and his 'old friends' in Iowa to 'continue sowing the seeds of friendship and make new contributions to the friendship between the Chinese and American peoples'.
The number of armed conflicts worldwide in 2023 was the highest since the end of WW2, according to a new study.

Last year saw 59 conflicts around the globe, with a total of 28 armed conflicts registered in Africa, followed by Asia with 17, the Middle East with 10, Europe with three and the Americas with one.

But the number of countries which experienced conflicts declined from 39 in 2022 to 34, the Peace Research Institute of Oslo (PRIO) in Norway showed.

The number of deaths in combat also halved to around 122,000 over the previous year, according to data collected by Sweden's Uppsala University from NGOs and international organisations.

That number remained nonetheless the third highest since 1989, against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine and the conflict between Israel and Hamas.

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Ukrainian servicemen from the 59th brigade fire a test round in an undisclosed location in the Donetsk region to check the aim on their T-72 tank on June 9, 2024

An Israeli soldier guards in an army vehicle as it is moving along the border with the Gaza Strip on June 10, 2024 in Southern Israel, Israel

'Violence in the world is at an all-time high since the end of the Cold War,' said Siri Aas Rustad, PRIO researcher and the main author of the report covering trends during the period 1946-2023.

'The figures suggest that the conflict landscape has become increasingly complex, with more conflict actors operating within the same country,' she explained.

According to PRIO, the increase in the number of conflicts can be partially attributed to the Islamic State spreading across Asia, Africa and the Middle East, and the involvement of a growing number of non-state actors such as the Al-Qaeda-affiliated Group to Support Islam and Muslims (JNIM).

'This development makes it increasingly difficult for actors like aid groups and civil society organisations to manoeuvre the conflict landscape and improve the lives of ordinary people,' Rustad said.

While the number of combat deaths decreased last year, the accumulated number for the past three years is the highest for a three-year period in 30 years.

The 122,000 battle deaths n 2023 were only surpassed by 2021 and 2022.

The number of battle deaths in 2023 was driven mainly by two conflicts, the ongoing invasion of Ukraine by Russia, with 71,000 battle deaths, and the devastating war between Israel and Hamas with 23,000 battle deaths incurred in less than three months of the conflict in 2023.

Compared to ten years ago, the number of conflicts in Africa has nearly doubled, from 15 in 2013 to 28 in 2023.

The earlier decrease in the number of conflicts in the Middle East have reversed with an increase from eight to ten from 2022 to 2023.

This comes as the Global Peace Index (GPI) showed that 97 countries deteriorated in peacefulness, with 92 countries being involved in conflicts beyond their borders - more than at any time since the inception of the GPI in 2008.

Ukrainian soldiers of the 22nd Infantry Brigade are seen in tactical trench training with real explosions at the direction of the Chasiv Yar, Donetsk Oblast in Ukraine, June 08, 2024

Smoke rises from the buildings Israeli army raided at the Al-Fara Refugee Camp in Tubas, West Bank on June 10, 2024

The global economic impact of violence increased to $19.1trillion in 2023, representing 13.5 per cent of the global GDP - or $2,380 per person.

This is an increase of $158 billion, driven largely by a 20 per cent increase in GDP losses from conflict.

Expenditure on peacebuilding and peacekeeping totalled $49.6 billion, representing less than 0.6 per cent of total military spending.

The largest number of militarisation since the inception of the GPI has also been recorded, with 108 countries becoming more militarised.

More than 110 million people are either refugees or internally displaced due to violent conflict, with 16 countries now hosting more than half a million refugees.

The rising number of minor conflicts increases the likelihood of more major conflicts in the future. For example, in 2019, Ethiopia, Ukraine, and Gaza were all identified as minor conflicts.

Iceland remains the most peaceful country, a position it has held since 2008, followed by Ireland, Austria, New Zealand, and Singapore - a new entrant in the top five.

Yemen has replaced Afghanistan as the least peaceful country in the world. It is followed by Sudan, South Sudan, Afghanistan, and Ukraine.

The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) remains the least peaceful region. It is home to four of the ten least peaceful countries in the world and the two least peaceful, Sudan and Yemen.

A view of smoke rising over destroyed buildings following the Israeli attacks on Nuseirat refugee camp in Gaza City, Gaza on June 8, 2024

A Ukrainian Army soldier prepares artillery shells at their fighting position in the direction of the Chasiv Yar, Donetsk Oblast in Ukraine, June 9, 2024

A truck, carrying grains to Tigray and belonging to the World Food Programme (WFP), burns out on a route 80 kilometers from the Semera, Ethiopia, on June 10, 2022

Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) soldiers are assembled during military training at Pamir Mountains in Kashgar, northwestern China's Xinjiang region in January 2021

Despite this, the UAE recorded the largest improvement in peacefulness in the region - rising 31 places to position 53 in 2024.

Steve Killelea, Founder and Executive Chairman of the think tank the Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP), said: ' Over the past decade, peacefulness has declined in nine out of the ten years.

'We are witnessing a record number of conflicts, a rise in militarisation, and heightened international strategic competition.

'Conflict negatively affects the global economy, and business risk from conflict has never been higher, compounding the current global economic vulnerabilities.

'It is imperative for governments and businesses worldwide to intensify their efforts to resolve the many minor conflicts before they escalate into larger crises.

'It's been 80 years since the end of WWII, and the current crises underscore the urgency for world leaders to commit to investing in resolving these conflicts.'
British expats in Spain have described the growing anger of there being too many Brits in the country after their car was vandalised with pink spray paint.

The couple - who moved from Horsham, West Sussex to Marbella four years ago - say they were targeted by 'anti-British' locals in the latest sign of the country's growing opposition to mass tourism.

At first, they said, they felt welcomed by 'very friendly' locals. However, they described how more recently, things have felt less friendly.

They were out for breakfast at exclusive restaurant Nobu when their Volvo XC40 - which has a British plate - was targeted by yobs who covered it in pink spray paint.

They claim staff said the same thing happened to a car with a British number previously and that they suspected it was 'anti British vandalism'.

Expats in Spain claim British cars have been targeted by 'anti-British' locals in the latest sign of the country's growing opposition to mass tourism. Pictured: A Volvo with a British number paint is seen having been covered with pink spray paint last year

The couple were out for breakfast at exclusive restaurant Nobu when their Volvo XC40 - which has a British plate - was targeted by yobs who covered it in pink spray paint

The couple - who did not want to be named for fear of being targeted further - said it happened in June 2023, but are speaking out now as they feel anti-British sentiment is growing in Spain

A woman is seen shouting at diners during anti-tourism protests in Majorca, May 2024

The couple - who don't want to be named for fear of being targeted further - say it happened in June 2023 but are speaking out now as they feel anti-British sentiment is growing in the country.

Spain is feeling the backlash of cheap holidays and some visitors are causing problems - with provinces 'hitting back' at tourists with strict rules.

Protesters have taken to the streets in the likes of Tenerife and Majorca, calling on officials to impose limits on how many people can visit.

The anonymous woman said: 'It seems to be that English reg cars are being targeted as part of feeling that there are too many Brits in Spain.

'I think it's quite sad - there is so much building happening now and housing is being sold to tourists but mainly where we are it has been to Russians, not Brits.

'I just think it's sad - Marbella is a lovely place to live and the Spanish are normally very friendly,' she continued. 'I never expected that someone would do something like this to us just because we're British.'

The couple, who work in business consultancy, moved to Marbella four years ago.

Thankfully the couple had a friend who cleaned up the car for 250 euros (around 210), though the job would have cost closer to 1,000 (around 850) had they had to take it to a mechanic, they said.

The graffiti attack on the couple's car appears to be one in a series of similar vandalisms in Marbella targeting cars with British number plates.

MailOnline reported in September 2023 that several cars had been covered in a similar pink spray paint, while some cars had their tyres punctured.

Pictures at the time showed that at least three vehicles were targeted on Marbella's exclusive Golden Mile - including one opposite the Puente Romano hotel, with photos showing a Fiat Punto and a black vehicle emblazoned with bright pink paint.

The latter was pictured being towed away after also having its tyres slashed.

In September last year, photos emerged of other cars with UK plates with pink spray paint

At least three vehicles were targeted on Marbella's exclusive Golden Mile, one opposite the uber-exclusive Puente Romano hotel, with photos showing a Fiat Punto and a black vehicle emblazoned with bright pink spray paint. Pictured: A spray-painted Fiat 500

A black Mercedes was also been pictured with all four tyres punctured.

Anti-tourism sentiment has been growing in recent years as visitor numbers in Spain and other countries return to their pre-pandemic highs.

Spain is the world's second most visited country, recording 85 million tourists in 2023 - second only to France.

The likes of Costa Del Sol (where Marbella is found), Costa Blanca, or Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza in the Balearics and Tenerife, Gran Canaria and Lanzarote in the Canary Islands are all incredibly popular among tourists from the likes of the UK, France and Germany looking for more affordable holiday destinations.

But with locals feeling their way of life is coming increasingly under pressure, discontent has come to a head.

In both Mallorca and Tenerife, there have been several instances of anti-tourism graffiti appearing on walls across the islands.

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

'Tourist Go Home' is seen 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. It is one of many instances of anti-tourism graffiti

The Spanish islands are threatened by sea pollution, traffic gridlock and lack of affordable housing linked to the pushing-up of property prices because of Airbnb-style holiday lets

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'Tourist Go Home' was 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.

Similar messages have appeared in Tenerife, with one message telling tourists that the island had become 'my misery, your paradise'.

A flyer stuck to a wall said: 'Locals are forced to move out and you are responsible for that. Digital nomads are not welcome here.'

In Tenerife's Palm Mar, a hire car was sprayed with 'go home'.

In April, hundreds of protesters took to the streets in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, calling on the government to tackle the issue of mass tourism to the island.

A small group of those protesters took part in a hunger strike, which was called off after 20 days. The strikers said officials showed 'zero interest' in their plight.

While looking visibly gaunt after his 20-day strike, one told supporters at a popular assembly spot in the city: 'We've been amazed at the social response and that's the best thing we'll take away from this. I'm very hopeful for the future.'

The activists and their supporters said they wanted regional governors to adopt a more sustainable model of tourism to combat problems including pollution, traffic gridlock and a lack of affordable housing which they have linked to mass tourism.

They also sought the paralysis of two tourist projects including one which involves the construction of a five-star hotel by one of Tenerife's last virgin beaches.

People on a hunger strike sit in wheelchairs during a protest for a change in the tourism model in the Canary Islands, in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain, April 20, 2024

Protesters flood the streets of Tenerife last month (pictured), calling on local authorities to temporarily limit visitor numbers to alleviate pressure on the islands' environment, infrastructure and housing stock, and put curbs on property purchases by foreigners

Thousands of people demonstrate against tourism policies on the island of Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain on April 20, 2024

Flyers like this slamming holidaymakers are being stuck to buildings all over Tenerife

A rental car is seen sprayed with 'Go Home' in Tenerife

Protests have been organised in Ibiza (pictured, file photo) for later this month. Activist group Prou Eivissa (Enough Ibiza) is calling on residents to take to the streets on May 24 and protest for restrictions on visitor numbers and the island's excessive party tourism

Meanwhile in the Balearic Islands, similar protests have been ongoing.

Over the weekend, more than 1,000 furious locals attended a demonstration 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, 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.'

On Majorca, measures are already being introduced.

The mayor of Magaluf - a popular party destination for young Brits - has said a 9.30pm alcohol curfew is needed to make the island safer.

This is part of the Balearic government's new revised law on responsible tourism which aims to outlaw excessive drinking on the island, as well as Playa de Palma and San Antonio in Ibiza. Penalties for non-compliance with the prohibition of alcohol consumption on public roads will range from 500 to 1,500 (430 to 1,290).

The three party resorts have been divided into zones where the restrictions are in force, and shops that sell alcohol in these areas must also be closed by 9.30pm.

Shops in tourist hotspots like Magaluf have been banned from selling alcohol between 9.30pm and 8am since 2020 as part of legislation that the government claimed was the first of its kind

Crackdowns on over-tourism have been erupting across a series of Spanish islands as they face severe overcrowding and immense spikes in the numbers of boozy holidaymakers

Locals have been coming up with alternatives revolving around the AT signs on the front of holiday apartment blocks, short for Apartamento Turistico in Spanish, in a play on words game

Fake 'closed' signs have been placed at beauty spots by locals to turn back gullible tourists

Although the areas where the booze restrictions are in force have been reduced under revised plans - unveiled by the conservative Partido Popular government - it is now illegal to drink in the street in those areas.

It is now also forbidden to pick up or disembark boat party passengers within the areas affected by the Decree, reports the Majorca Daily Bulletin.

The need for stricter measures have also spread to neighbouring Palma as Marga Prohens, the president of the Balearic government said in a statement last week that 'the Balearic Islands have reached their limit'.

He vowed to demand measures against tourist overcrowding, including 'regulating the number of rental cars, not expanding the Palma airport and committing to a tourism model that reduces the number of visitors and the environmental footprint'.
NATO jets have scrambled to intercept Russian spyplanes as the alliance holds military drills in the Baltic Sea, officials have reported.

Several Russian aircraft have been intercepted in recent days by three separate NATO fighter squadrons of Germany, Italy and Spain, who launched from bases in Latvia, Poland and Lithuania respectively.

Unsettling images shared by NATO Air Command showed how Eurofighter Typhoon and F-18 jets flanked what appeared to be Ilyushin-IL20 spyplanes and Antonov AN-12 cargo aircraft soaring over the Baltic Sea.

'We demonstrate our capabilities, readiness and our steadfast commitment to collective deterrence and defence,' said General James Hecker, Commander Allied Air Command.

'On a daily basis, Allied fighter jets are flying over the Baltic Sea,' he added.

It comes as a NATO source last month said scrambles of the alliance's jets to intercept Russian aircraft approaching allied airspace over the Baltic Sea region went up 20% to 25% in the first quarter of 2024.

F-18 jets of the Spanish air force are seen flying over the Baltic to respond to a Russian aircraft

A Russian aircraft is seen from the cockpit of a NATO fighter jet heading to intercept an Ilyushin-IL20M spyplane

A Eurofighter Typhoon of the German Luftwaffe is seen flanking a Russian Antonov-AN12 cargo aircraft over the Baltic Sea

Sweden has joined the BALTOPS exercises for the first time following its accession to the security bloc - a move which some analysts said turned the Baltic Sea into a 'NATO lake' in a blow for the Kremlin

A statement by NATO Air Command said that an increase in Russian activity in the skies over the Baltic Sea was expected in June, with NATO vessels taking part in planned drills.

Exercise Baltic Operations, or BALTOPS, runs from June 7 - 20 and will see more than 50 naval vessels, 25 aircraft and 9,000 personnel from 20 nations embark on maritime drills.

These exercises are an annual event, but this year's are said to be the largest ever of their kind, owing to the increased security concern in the Baltic region following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

It comes as Sweden joins the exercises for the first time following its accession to the security bloc - a move which some analysts said turned the Baltic Sea into a 'NATO lake' in a blow for the Kremlin.

'Year over year, BALTOPS delivers credible results in building our collective defense capability and the strength, agility and cohesion of the alliance,' Vice Admiral Thomas Ishee, commander of the U.S. 6th Fleet and Naval Striking Support Forces NATO, told reporters in a pre-sail conference at Klaipeda in Lithuania.

BALTOPS 2024 will bring the largest assembly of amphibious and mine-hunting forces in the exercise's history, according to a US Navy release, with Ishee telling reporters: 'If anything that Russia's brutal aggression in Ukraine has shown us is that you have to be able to adapt to the environment in combat, so that's a focus for me and both my US command and NATO command.'

In Russia meanwhile, the large-scale exercises are seen as evidence of more threatening behaviour from NATO.

Ahead of the start of BALTOPS, Head of the FSB Border Service Vladimir Kulishov claimed NATO had increased intelligence activities in member nations bordering Russia and said the alliance was 'working out scenarios for conducting military operations against Russia'.

And one of Russia's leading Baltic experts, Nikolai Mezhevich, gave an alarming interview to Moscow's Tsargrad outlet in which he claimed Western politicians were 'ready to start World War III in the same place where the first and second began' - referencing the possibility of a NATO attack on Russia's Kaliningrad exclave.

'It may well be that the exercises are some form of cover for a real military deployment, which will then go into the stage of an attack on Kaliningrad,' he said.

The Eurofighter Typhoon is among the world's most agile fighter jets and is in service in nine countries

A Russian Su-27 is seen flying off the wing of an RAF aircraft

Pictured: Two Swedish Airforce JAS-39 Gripen fighter aircraft in close formation. Sweden will bring state of the art submarines and a fleet of highly capable Gripen fighter aircraft to NATO's forces (File)

A Swedish air crew prepares a JAS Gripen fighter jet for takeoff at Kallax Air Base, Sweden, March 4, 2024

Last year, NATO said allied fighter jets took off over 300 times to intercept Russian military aircraft, with most of the incidents occurring over the Baltic.

Since then, however, NATO has noticed a change in the mix of Russian aircraft spotted close to allied territory, the source, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters.

Unlike in the past, Western pilots these days rarely detect any Russian fighter jets or strategic bombers approaching allied airspace, and most intercepts now involve surveillance aircraft or sometimes transport planes, the source said.

It is not clear why Russia has changed its behaviour but there is an assumption that Moscow needs its bombers and fighter jets in Ukraine as fighting there has been growing in intensity, the source added.

NATO says Russian military aircraft have a history of not transmitting a transponder code indicating their position and altitude, not filing a flight plan and not communicating with air traffic controllers.

Following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the Western military alliance ramped up its presence along its eastern flank, sending more fighter jets there and setting up ground-based air defences.

NATO also deployed extra fighter jets to Romania after repeated Russian strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure close to the alliance's southeastern border.

At the beginning of the year, NATO launched its largest exercise since the Cold War, involving some 90,000 troops.

The drills are meant to rehearse NATO's execution of its regional plans - the first defence plans the alliance has drawn up in decades - detailing how it would respond to a Russian attack.
A 12-year-old boy convicted of the machete murder of teenager Shawn Seesahai idolised a drill rapper who sang about using a Rambo knife to attack someone and 'rip through guts'.

The boy and an accomplice, also 12, were found guilty yesterday of ambushing the innocent 19-year-old in a park in Wolverhampton last November.

His trial heard how the boy - who owned the murder weapon - was fascinated by knives and followed London drill rapper SJ - real name Jayden O'Neill-Crichlow - who is serving life in prison for a machete murder himself.

SJ (Slim Jim) is serving a life sentence for killing a gang rival. His tracks regularly feature shockingly violent lyrics, including references to blades being 'saucy' - meaning covered in blood.

The boy sentenced yesterday sent his young co-defendant and a schoolgirl an image of himself with the 16-inch zombie knife that they used to kill Mr Seesahai with the caption 'Prison Freestyle' - the name of one of O'Neill-Crichlow's songs.

Tracks by SJ, real name Jayden O'Neill-Crichlow, regularly feature shockingly violent lyrics, including references to using a knife to 'rip through guts'

O'Neill-Crichlow (left, with Tim Westwood) was offered a 150,000 recording deal while in jail for murder

The 12-year-old killer - who was a fan of O'Neill-Crichlow - poses with the machete he and a second boy used to murder innocent teenager Shawn Seesahai

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The pair - who cannot be named due to their age - are believed to be the youngest convicted murderers since Robert Thompson and Jon Venables, who were 11 when they were found guilty of killing two-year-old James Bulger in 1993.

In February 2019, O'Neill-Crichlow was part of a group wielding knives, a Samurai sword and a gun who murdered a 19-year-old father Kamali Gabbidon-Lynck in Wood Green.

A year later, aged 17, he was sentenced alongside four other members of the Tottenham-based NPK gang to a minimum of 21 years behind bars.

O'Neill-Crichlow - a member of drill rap group OFB (Original Farm Boys) performed with Tim Westwood and appeared in a YouTube video with the former BBC Radio 1 DJ, posted online not long after his arrest.

And at his sentencing, it emerged the teen rapper had been offered the 150,000 recording contract while on remand in prison awaiting trial.

The trial of Shawn Seesahai's 12-year-old killer heard how he was a fan of SJ and knew he was a rapper who creates freestyle verses.

But the boy claimed he was unaware of O'Neill-Crichlow's conviction and 'didn't listen to loads' of his music.

Since being jailed, O'Neill-Crichlow has posted tunes on YouTube using an illegal mobile phone glorifying gang murder and describing how he 'went insane' aged 14.

O'Neill-Crichlow's track Youngest In Charge includes lyrics about getting his 'shank' (knife) 'saucy' (bloodied)

Aged 17, the rapper was sentenced alongside four other members of the Tottenham-based NPK gang to a minimum of 21 years behind bars

In the old video, uploaded just hours after his initial trial hearing and which was viewed nearly 50,000 times, he also described how he 'put three opps [gang rivals] on my blade'.

The drill crew he is a member of - the OFB collective - also posted from its YouTube account a video for the teenager's song Youngest In Charge, which includes lyrics about getting his 'shank saucy [knife covered in blood]' and the line, 'I just see an opp [rival], let me take him out' followed by the sound of gunshots.

In 2020, O'Neill-Crichlow posted a new track from inside his cell in which he described how hard prison life is and his regret about the murder.

In the nearly one-minute long track, the killer said he was 'rolling round with little kids' but was now 'locked up with some bigger fish'.

He also spoke about how in prison he has 'crazy fights with guys I don't know' and that 'the life I live is different, riding opposite to prison' now.

Of the day of the murder, O'Neill-Crichlow said, 'I just thought it was a day out' and then 'I got paid and now it played out', alongside snoring emojis.

He also raps about how he misses his family saying, 'my brother and my sisters love me from a distance' and 'yeah my brother seen me cry, I hugged my brother and I kissed him'.

The rap video included broken heart and sad face emojis with captions saying 'miss these days' alongside phone footage of him hanging out with his friends.

In 2020, O'Neill-Crichlow posted a new track from inside his cell in which he described how hard prison life is and his regret about the murder

In the nearly one-minute long track, the killer said he was 'rolling round with little kids' but was now 'locked up with some bigger fish'

His victim, Kamali Gabbidon-Lynck, was stabbed to death at a hair salon in Wood Green, north London, in 2020

In another line he said: 'I'm sitting in a cage, eating dinners I can't take out.' He then added: 'I saw music as a way out. Trouble I can stay out.'

Towards the end of the clip, the teen said, 'I wanna change my life, this life I'm getting sick of', with a broken heart and praying emoji underneath.

Despite Shawn Seesahai's young killer insisting he did not listen to a large amount of O'Neill-Crichlow's music, his conviction will raise fresh questions about the link between drill music and real-life knife crime.

A month-long trial at Nottingham Crown Court was told how the victim was shoulder-barged before being punched, kicked, stamped on and 'chopped' at with a machete.

The court heard that they attacked the victim with such force that in one blow the machete almost passed through his body.

Mr Seesahai, from Anguilla in the Caribbean, was also slashed in the legs, kicked, punched and hit so hard on the skull that a piece of bone came away, prosecutor Michelle Heeley KC said.

WOLVERHAMPTON MURDER VICTIM: Shawn Seesahai, 19, was hacked to death by two 12-year-old boys in a park in November 2023

An image retrieved from the phone of one of the attackers showing long knives and swords on a bed

Officers searched a storage space under one of the youngsters' bed and recovered a machete. He told the jury he bought the blade as he thought it was 'cool'

He died at 9.11pm on November 13 last year after police were called to the scene at 8.37pm.

Evidence on the killer boy's phone showed the youth had searched for machetes online on sites where the deadly weapons were for sale for as little as 20.

The boy, who clutched an anti-fidgeting device/toy on the stand, told jurors he bought the machete because he 'thought it was cool' to have one  and said that following the murder he had cleaned the blade with bleach because 'I heard it on music videos when they mention it, bleaching it.'

He claimed that rather than sourcing the weapon online, he had paid 'a friend of a friend' 40 for the murder weapon two months before he killed Mr Seesahai.

The Snapchat messages the two killers sent to each other after they butchered Mr Seesahai to death
A holidaying pensioner was savagely bitten by a dog and said the rude owners threw his phone into the sea then ran away and hid when he chased them down.

Nick Carter and his partner Louise were out for a pleasant walk along the River Hamble in Warsash, Hampshire when he was attacked.

The retired police inspector was on holiday from Spalding, Lincolnshire when he was bitten by the 'small terrier'.

Mr Carter, 70, tried to take a photo of the dog which was off its lead and get the owners' details, but shockingly said they chucked the phone into the sea.

After he ran into the waves to get it, the pensioner decided to chase them down.

But they were so determined to avoid him that they ran away and hid in Solent Breezes Holiday Park, Mr Carter said.

Nick Carter and his partner Louise were out for a pleasant walk along the River Hamble in Warsash, Hampshire when he was attacked by a dog

He pursued the owners while suffering a thigh injury, which was later dressed at hospital

The tourist said: 'Why are the dog owners trying to hide their identity when their dog bit me? It is outrageous.

'This couple have a dog who is out of control and they do not want to be identified.'

He called the police but they acted like he was in the wrong and were 'dismissive', he claimed.

'What would've happened if the dog had bitten a child on the beach? It is absolute madness.'

He had pursued the owners while suffering a thigh injury, which was dressed at Gosport War Memorial Hospital.

Originally, he thought he had been 'stung by an insect' before he stopped and looked at the cut.

A month on, he wants those who own the terrier to come forward and apologise to him.

He said: 'The dog, a small terrier with light tan fur, was let off the lead as we passed which is when it bit me.

The retired police inspector was on holiday from Spalding, Lincolnshire when he was bitten by the 'small terrier'. Pictured is his ripped shorts from the attack

They were walking along the River Hamble (pictured) when the incident went down

'We tried to get details from the owners of the dog but they refused.

'When Louise went to take a picture of them, they threw her phone into the sea, all because they did not want to provide their details.

'I ran in and grabbed it but it is not waterproof, so the battery has been damaged.'

A spokesperson from Hampshire Constabulary said the case had been closed.

They confirmed officers attended and conducted a' number of enquiries', speaking with both Mr Carter and the owners.

'If we receive further relevant information in future, then the incident may be reviewed at that time.'
Four 'dine and dashers' have been caught on on CCTV sneaking out of a pub without paying.

The unknown individuals gorged themselves on steak sandwiches, chicken tenders and lamb shanks; racking up a huge 60 bill at the Pen Y Bont Farm in Mold, north Wales before waltzing out one-by-one.

The video footage shows the first woman stop and speak to a seemingly pregnant woman behind her before the two walk out of the exit. Followed soon after by a man dressed in shorts and a hoodie then finally a man in a tracksuit and trainers.

Now in a post on Facebook the pub has lashed out that these 'penny-pinching pilferers' will not get away with this and warned other eateries in the area to watch out for the criminals.

Four 'dine and dashers' have been caught on on CCTV sneaking out of a pub without paying

The unknown individuals gorged themselves on steak sandwiches, chicken tenders and lamb shanks; racking up a huge 60 bill at the Pen Y Bont Farm in Mold, north Wales before waltzing out one-by-one

The video footage shows the first woman stop and speak to another woman, who appears to be pregnant, before they both walk out of the exit

Now in a post on Facebook the pub has lashed out that these 'penny-pinching pilferers' will not get away with this

They wrote online: 'Pub Warning Alert. We'd like to bring your attention to a group of individuals who recently visited our fine establishment with the sole intention of dining and dashing.

'That's right, folks - they came, they ate, and they tried to leave without paying their 63 bill!

'But fear not, dear patrons, for we have the evidence to back up our claims. Our trusty CCTV cameras captured the culprits in the act, and we've got a copy of the bill to prove it.

'We're not going to name names (yet), but let's just say these dine-and-dashers won't be getting away with their cheeky antics.

'We're on the lookout for these penny-pinching pilferers, and we'll be sure to keep you updated on our efforts to bring them to justice.'

The pub, which is run by Marston's, posted a reprinted image of their receipt which showed the group ordered three large glasses pepsi to wash down a steak sandwich, chicken tenders and braised lamb shank, with extra peppercorn sauce, extra cheesy garlic bread and two portions of extra chips.

The pub, which is run by Marston's, posted a reprinted image of their receipt showing the huge order

The eatery (above) wrote online: 'Pub Warning Alert. We'd like to bring your attention to a group of individuals who recently visited our fine establishment with the sole intention of dining and dashing.

Bernard McDonagh, 41, and his wife Ann McDonagh, 39 racked up an unpaid 329 bill when they sat at the Bella Ciao Italian restaurant in Swansea earlier this year

Mr McDonagh, dressed in a salmon-coloured polo shirt and a light grey jacket at court where he was sentenced to eight months in prison

Those who saw the pub's appeal said it was a 'disgusting' ruse to get free food.

'Hope you catch them. This is a disgusting thing to do,' one said.

Another added: 'Great camera shots, is there away to get these to all eating houses in a 20 mile radius?

'Outside camera shot on car? Hope police catch them*

The police have been contacted.

The pub did not wish to comment further when contacted.

This comes after Bernard McDonagh, 41, and his wife Ann McDonagh, 39, confessed to racking up 1,168 worth of unpaid restaurant bills and were sentenced to eight months and 12 months respectively for their crimes last month.

Staff at the Bella Ciao Italian restaurant in Swansea say they were the latest victims of this heist when the couple sat with a group of eight in their restaurant and left without paying the 329 bill.

CCTV footage from the restaurant showed Mrs McDonagh attempting to pay the bill with a savings account card, which was declined twice.

She told staff her son would wait inside while she went to get her 'other card', but she did not return and moments later the boy had also vanished from the premises.

Anne Louise Inman who is the manager of the Station Restaurant & Bar in Blaxton, which employs 30 staff, released CCTV images of the suspects who left a 150 bill

The three men are seen sitting at the table on the right before they dash off, apparently without paying

The three men arrived in a pick-up truck and parked in the car park of the Station Restaurant & Bar

Incidents of dining and dashing seem to be on the rise after another business had to appeal on social media for help tracking down men who had left a 150 bill.

Elle Bolland, 32, who has spent more than 1million refurbishing an old hotel and establishing her eatery employing 30 staff, released CCTV images of the suspects.

The three men arrived in a pick-up truck and parked in the car park of the Station Restaurant & Bar in Blaxton, Doncaster.

Mrs Bolland, who is eight months pregnant with her second child, said she had been angered by the brazen bunch who allegedly racked up a 150 bill and polished off their meal by downing cocktails.

'If people like this get away with it, then businesses are going to potentially face closure.

'You have still got to be paying the bills and staff. People walking out without paying, especially when they have ordered steak, can send you under.'
Being Leader of the Free World is one of the most challenging jobs on the planet.

And the phrase 'ageing like a President' has come to define the toll that being Leader of the Free World takes on the incumbent.

The men who have served in America's highest office have very often left with grey hair and plenty of wrinkles.

But when Joe Biden won the 2020 election and entered the White House aged 78, he already had both those signs of ageing.

He also admitted that he was 'a gaffe machine' and he lived up to his reputation as he muddled up wars, forgot names, dozed off in a climate change summit and even mixed up fellow world leaders.

But there are growing concerns about the physical and mental costs for President Biden, who turns 82 on November 20 - 15 days after his election battle with Donald Trump comes to a head.

Last night he appeared frozen for approaching a minute while others danced around him at an event at the White House - and there have an increasing number of muddled speeches, trips, falls and even onstage snoozes in recent years, especially since the pandemic.

Eminent historian Christopher Phelps, an expert on US politics, told MailOnline today that the presidency has clearly taken its toll on Joe Biden. And millions of Americans will have his cognitive abilities on their mind when they vote - but Donald Trump's criminal conviction and controversies will be weighing heavily too.

President Joe Biden appeared to freeze as he attended a Juneteenth concert on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington last night

He said: 'The American presidency is a demanding and taxing job, and it surely must have taken a toll on Joe Biden, just as it has on other presidents. The job is nonstop and stressful.

'Americans vote primarily on the issues that matter in their lives. At the top this year are the economy, immigration, and abortion rights. To the extent that they take into account the personal qualities of the candidates, however, Joe Biden's cognitive fitness to serve will be in their minds, along with Donald Trump's criminal conviction, impeachments, and controversial persona'.

But he added: 'What the campaign will really come down to is policy -- voters' perception of whether the country is headed in the right direction, especially in the key battleground states, and which party's approach will be best for them and their families'.

MailOnline has compiled Bidens biggest gaffes - and how physical problems have hampered him more in recent years.

2019

Former Vice President Joe Biden came out swinging at a campaign relaunch in 2019

Biden took to the stage in Philadelphia while running and wearing aviator sunglasses

Former Vice President Joe Biden came out swinging at a campaign launch in Philadelphia in May 2019 where he vowed that his presidential campaign would not be about 'hate' and 'anger'.

He had run on to stage - belying his age - to embrace his wife Jill before removing his aviators to turn his fire on Donald Trump.

'If the American people want a president to add to our division, to lead with a clenched fist, closed hand and a hard heart, to demonize the opponents and spew hatred  they don't need me. They've got President Donald Trump,' he said.

Biden also blasted the rival politician's 'alternative facts' on the economy and saying the Trump inherited current growth from the previous administration.

'Just like he inherited everything else in his life. Just like everything else he's been given in his life, he's in the process of squandering that, as well,' he said.

Face-off: Merle Gorman, 83, caused Vice President Biden to explode in rage after he said he had got his son Hunter a job and sold access to 'the president.' Biden hit back: 'You're a damn liar, man. That's not true.'

In December that year Joe was fired up again as he was embroiled in an exchange with an elderly Iowa voter and veteran.

Merle Gorman, who previously served in the United States Marine Corp and is also a retired farmer, made international news after he accused Biden of selling access to the Presidency by sending son Hunter to Ukraine to work for a gas company Burisma Holdings.

'I am 83 and I know damn well I don't have the mental faculties I did when I was 30 years old,' Mr Gorman said in the viral clip.

It caused Biden to blow up in rage, labeling the elderly Gorman as 'a damn liar'.

He then went on: 'You want to check my shape man, let's do push-ups together here, man. Let's run. Let's do whatever you want to do. Let's take an IQ test. Ok?'

2020

Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden speaks during a campaign rally Thursday, March 2, 2020, at Texas Southern University in Houston

In March 2020 Joe Biden yesterday told his supporters to vote on 'Super Thursday' and botched a line from the Declaration of Independence in his latest campaign blunder.

The then 77-year-old was speaking at a campaign rally in Houston, Texas ahead of Super Tuesday voting that would decide a third of the Democratic delegates on offer.

Biden told the rally: 'We hold these truths to be self-evident, all men and women created by the... you know, you know the thing!'

They 'are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights,' were the words he was searching for.

Later in his speech he bounded into another blunder as he told his fans, 'Tomorrow is Super Thursday.' He swiftly corrected himself, as the crowd laughed at the gaffe, adding: 'I tell you what I'm rushing ahead aren't I.'

Days later Joe Biden was on the offensive again.

He told a Michigan plant worker he was 'full of s***' and to 'not be such a horse's a**' after the man accused the former vice president of being anti-Second Amendment and wanting to take Americans' guns away.

Joe Biden told a Michigan plant worker he was 'full of s***' and to 'not be such a horse's a**' after the worker accused the former vice president of being anti-Second Amendment and wanting to take away Americans' guns

Biden was visiting a Fiat Chrysler plant in Detroit Tuesday morning before heading to Ohio where he watched results come in.

In video captured by CBS News, a man dressed in a hard hat can be heard telling Biden he's 'actively trying to end our Second Amendment right and take away our guns.'

Biden then responded with an expletive, saying the man was 'full of s**t'.

As another individual jumps in, Biden can be heard telling the person 'shush.'

'I support the Second Amendment,' Biden then said.

He then explained that like yelling 'fire' in a building, like First Amendment freedoms, Second Amendment freedoms are also not absolute.

'I have a shotgun, I have a 20-gauge, a 12-gauge, my sons hunt,' Biden continued. 'Guess what? You're not allowed to own any weapons. I'm not taking your gun away, at all. Do you need 100 rounds?'

In the May Joe Biden apologised to black business leaders for telling popular radio show host Charlamagne tha God that he 'ain't black' if he can't discern the better presidential candidate between Biden and President Trump.

Vice President Joe Biden (right) appeared on 'The Breakfast Club' Friday with popular host Charlamagne tha God (left)

At the conclusion of the interview, Joe Biden told Charlamagne tha God 'if you have a problem figuring out whether youre for me or Trump, then you aint black'

'I should not have been so cavalier. I've never, never, ever taken the African-American community for granted,' Biden said, according to the Associated Press. 'I shouldn't have been such a wise guy.'

Biden added that, 'No one should have to vote for any party based on their race, their religion, their background,' on a conference call with the U.S. Black Chamber of Commerce.

Biden, the Democrats' presumptive presidential nominee, made the controversial comment to Charlamagne tha God at the end of a contentious 18-minute interview.

'I will tell you what, if you have a problem figuring out whether you're for me or Trump, then you ain't black,' Biden said.

Charlamagne replied: 'It has nothing to do with Trump'.

2021

The president looked to be dozing off as one COP26 speaker underscored the importance of taking action to save the climate

He opened his eyes and appeared to liven up when an aide walked up to him to chat

President Biden's whirlwind European tour appeared to be catching up with him, as the 78-year-old was caught resting his eyes during the opening remarks of the COP26 climate conference in Glasgow.

The president looked to be dozing off as one speaker underscored the importance of taking action to save the climate. He opened his eyes and appeared to liven up when an aide walked up to him to chat.

Biden then sat forward and rubbed his eyes as Italy's prime minister took the stage. The latest slip from the president came just hours after he reverted to pre-approved list of reporters when asking questions at the end of the G20 summit in Rome.

The then 78-year-old Biden and his fitness for the job have been scrutinized by critics, including Donald Trump, while his dropping poll numbers have put pressure on his administration and mounting crises he faces.

Later on, Biden himself took the stage as to deliver his own warning on the impending doom of climate change.

In March 2021, Biden, then 78, was boarding the aircraft at Joint Base Andrews just before noon for a flight to Atlanta when he stumbled.

He gripped onto the railing, steadied himself and kept going but lost his footing a second time and then a third.

On the third trip, he fell to his knees. He got back up then carried on up the stairs before giving a salute at the top then disappearing into the aircraft.

Once on the plane, White House Deputy Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters that he was '100 percent fine'.

The White House blamed the wind. But it wasn't the only time he would struggle navigating the steps that have proved tricky for his predecessors, including Gerald Ford.

MARCH 2021: Biden's first stumble as he bounded up the stairs of Air Force One. The White House blamed the wind for his struggles

He was on his way to Atlanta when he hit the steps, just two months after his inauguration

2022

With a midterm election in 2022 shaping up to be a tough hill to climb for his Democratic Party, President Joe Biden was perhaps recalling fonder times when he mistakenly claimed it was 2020 in January 2022.

Biden, then 79, was speaking from the White House during a briefing on the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

The oldest president ever elected was saying that a lot of good could happen in the coming year but that people would have to get vaccinated against the virus.

'There's a lot of reason to be hopeful in 2020. But for God's sake, please take advantage of what is available,' the president said. With 2022 just four days old, the president could be forgiven for getting the year wrong - but most people who do the same usually give the year before, and not the one two years prior.

Biden has been prone to gaffes and misspeaking throughout his decades-long political career. He has multiple times referred to Vice President Kamala Harris as 'President Harris'.

President Joe Biden accidentally stated that Americans have 'a lot of reason to be hopeful in 2020' in a televised Covid briefing from the White House in 2022

In June 2022, Biden was at his beach house with Jill for the weekend when he went out for a bike ride and stopped briefly to answer questions from the press.

He was stopped in front of a group of reporters when he toppled to the side and hit the tarmac.

Gasps could be heard as he lay on the ground for 10 seconds before being helped up by the Secret Service.

The White House later said his foot got caught on a pedal while he was trying to dismount and he wasn't hurt.

Biden, the US oldest-ever president, is pictured sitting on the pavement after the fall, which transpired around 9:30 am Saturday, caught up in the bike's frame

Gasps rang out after the president unexpectedly fell Saturday as he was trying to dismount his bike to chat with a crowd who had gathered along a Rehoboth Beach bike path

In October 2022 Joe Biden apologized in the Oval Office to deceased Indiana Representative Jackie Walorski's family as they met the president just days after he apparently forgot the congresswoman was dead.

The late representative's mother Martha 'Mert' Walorski, 83, told Biden, 79, that her daughter is 'in heaven' at a bill signing where he banned cameras..''

During an event on hunger and food insecurity on Wednesday, the president thanked lawmakers for their work on a plan to end hunger in the US by 2030, when he suddenly tried to locate Jackie Walorski.

'Jackie, are you here?' Biden said, interrupting his own remarks.

'Where's Jackie? She must not be here,' Biden concluded.

The White House engaged in a confusing and nonsensical explanation for why the president was looking for the late representative, as White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre repeatedly claimed that the president did not forget that Walorski was dead.

President Biden asked a crowd at a hunger conference Wednesday to point out Republican Rep. Jackie Walorski - almost two months after she was killed in a car crash in Indiana

She insisted that it's 'not unusual' for people to say the names of deceased individuals when they are 'at top of mind,' a phrase she continued to repeat throughout her briefing Wednesday during questions from multiple outlets including CNN, CBS and The Washington Post.

Jean-Pierre said Walorski was at the forefront of the president's mind because she helped with the hunger plan.

2023

In February 2023 Biden was ending a visit to Europe when he nearly fell on Air Force One's steps.

The 80-year-old was climbing the steps with his customary vigor when he misplaced his footing.

He did not fall, however, and used his hands to support himself.

FEBRUARY 2023: Biden concluded his *trip* to Ukraine and Poland by falling up the stairs of Air Force One as he was headed back to the United States

March 2023 President Joe Biden once again had trouble navigating Air Force One's stairs - briefly stumbling as he boarded the presidential aircraft Sunday as he departed from Selma, Alabama

Another one of Biden's brief wobbles on the stairs came during a trip to Alabama.

He was walking up the Air Force One steps when he appeared to lose his balance, and carried on.

And in the May Biden tripped as he walked down the stairs of the Itsukushima Shrine in his rush to greet Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

The president was running late - all the other G7 leaders had arrived on Miyajima Island and were waiting on him to begin the tour of the holy site - when he stumbled and caught himself before he fell.

He and Kishida continued on as if the slip didn't happen, joining the rest of the heads of state to see the iconic 'floating' torii gate.

The evening on the famous island, known for its wild deer, capped the end of a long first day of the summit.

After the tour, the world leaders - the heads of the United States, Japan, Canada, Italy, France, Germany, the United Kingdom and European Union - had a private dinner on the island.

President Joe Biden tripped as he walked down the stairs of the Itsukushima Shrin

A fall in June 2023 at the Air Force Academy in Colorado, where he had to be helped back up, raised more questions about his balance.

A Washington Post-ABC News poll conducted in May found just one third of Americans believe Biden is in good enough physical health for the job and six in 10 said he does not have the mental sharpness.

Doctors have determined he is healthy, but have said his gait remains 'stiff' and it could get worse as time goes on.

Biden looks back at a sandbag after he fell on the stage at the Air Force Academy Graduation Ceremony in Colorado

In the same month President Joe Biden confused Ukraine for Iraq twice in the span of 24 hours, despite having a cheat sheet when addressing the Wagner uprising against Vladimir Putin.

Biden was asked on the South Lawn how damaged Putin was in the aftermath of the aborted uprising by the Russian mercenary group.

The president said that Putin had 'absolutely' been weakened, but added, 'it's hard to tell really,' when asked to what extent.

'He's clearly losing the war in Iraq. He's losing the war at home and has become a bit of a pariah around the world,' Biden said, clearly meaning to say Ukraine.

The night before, however, the president was speaking at a fundraiser in Chevy Chase, Maryland, when he made the same mistake, according to White House transcripts.

President Joe Biden answered questions on the South Lawn ahead of his trip to Chicago. During the Q&A he referred to the Ukraine conflict as the 'war in Iraq'

President Joe Biden walked to Marine One carrying a cheat sheet

'Think about this: If anybody told you - and my staff wasn't so sure, either - that we'd be able to bring all of Europe together in the onslaught on Iraq and get NATO to be completely united, I think they would have told you it's not likely. The one thing Putin counted on was being able to split NATO.'

The White House's copy of the remarks had Iraq crossed out and put 'Ukraine' in brackets to correct Biden.

Joe Biden seemingly wandered off the UN stage without shaking hands with Brazil's Lula at the end of a joint speech in September 2023.

Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, 77, looked visibly irritated after the two leaders shared a stage to speak about their initiative to improve workers' rights in each country.

But their diplomatic meeting got off to a labored start when Biden, then 80, shuffled into a seven-foot Brazilian flag, leaving it teetering as he approached the podium.

The president made a rambling speech about his 'economic vision to rebuild our economy from the middle out and the bottom up, not the top down' while Lula watched on from his right flank.

Meanwhile, during Lula's speech Biden fumbled with his headset, which he was using to hear a translated version.

Biden appeared to leave Lula hanging at the end of the diplomatic presentation, awkwardly saluting the audience before shuffling off stage

As Biden turned his back on the Brazilian president, Lula looked annoyed and made a swiping gesture with his arm. They departed awkwardly from opposite sides of the stage

'Can you hear me President Biden? This is an historical moment for Brazil, and for the US,' Lula said at the start of his speech.

'President Biden can you hear me?' Lula asked again, appearing to lose patience as Biden grunted in response. 'You can?' he asked, turning to Biden. 'Yes, good.'

Biden continued to look confused as he grappled with the headset while Lula went on with his speech. At one point Biden dropped his earpiece and raised his eyebrows in frustration.

2024

President Joe Biden squatted down during ceremonies commemorating the 80th anniversary of D-Day in France last week, then awkwardly held the position before correcting himself while other dignitaries remained standing.

The odd moment came after Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron greeted surviving heroes of the Normandy invasion, as a military band played somber music.

Biden, 81, then bent his knees as if preparing to sit before momentarily freezing.

The move seemed to prompt First Lady Jill Biden to cover her mouth  raising questions about whether she quietly tried to offer him advice.

Later on he was seen turning around - confusing his wife and the Macrons.

This is Joe Biden during the D-Day ceremony at the American cemetery in Normandy. During Taps, meant to honor the fallen heroes, Biden turns his back on the Bugler, the US flag, the crowd, & the 1,000s of graves of American soldiers laid out in front of him. Hes very confused. pic.twitter.com/ZWlBPFj3C9  Cassandra (@MrsCassandraC) June 7, 2024

President Joe Biden squatted down during ceremonies commemorating the 80th anniversary of D-Day in France on Thursday, then awkwardly held the position before correcting himself while other dignitaries remained standing.

His wife Jill - who sometimes guides her husband off stage during public events - covered her mouth and scratched the area above her upper lip. It was difficult to tell whether she let him know it wasn't yet the right time to sit.

The unusual moment came during a day of moving encounters with some of the last members of the 'Greatest Generation.'

President Joe Biden sparked concerns on Monday night when he appeared to freeze for the better part of a minute before his speech became slurred past the point of comprehension during a lively Juneteenth celebration at the White House.

During the event ahead of the national holiday next week, the Commander-in-Chief seemed to short-circuit as the rest of the crowd, including Vice President Kamala Harris and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, grooved along to the lively band.

Philonise Floyd, brother of the late George Floyd, flanked Biden on his left and eventually noticed the concerning pause he was taking and wrapped his arm around him in an apparent effort to help.

Floyd was able to get a response out of Biden when he extended a 'pound it' fist in his direction, which the president met with his own fist.

But Biden would go on to have a further meltdown as he delivered a speech following the musical performance.

Pictured: Joe Biden, Dough Ehmoff, Kamala Harris, Philonise Floyd, Keeta Floyd. Biden sparks concerns as he appears to FREEZE during the Juneteenth celebration concert at the White House alongside a dancing Kamala Harris - before Floyd - brother of the late George Floyd - wraps his arm around him

The president delivered a message about Juneteenth to the audience but suffered another deeply off-putting moment when his speech became slurred beyond comprehension.
The bar where a shocked television star was slugged sky high prices for two drinks has been revealed.

Channel Seven presenter Andrew Costello, best known for his program 'South Aussie with Cosi', expressed his disbelief after forking out for a round of drinks for himself and wife Samantha in Adelaide over the long weekend.

The couple's $42.50 bill consisted of a pint of Coopers Pacific Ale which cost $18.50 and a 250ml glass of Serofino Rose wine, which set him back a whopping $24.

Mr Costello chose not to name and shame the bar when he publicly expressed his outrage on Monday.

The venue has since been revealed as Coopers Alehouse at Adelaide Airport, which is owned by Delaware North, a multinational food and hospitality company.

Andrew 'Cosi' Costello (pictured with wife Samantha) racked up a whopping $42.50 bill after he purchased two drinks at the Coopers Alehouse at Adelaide Airport on Sunday

Hospitality venues located at airports pay more in rent to airport companies.

Many airport outlets also face limited competition for their services from rival restaurants and bars, meaning the prices for food and drink are more expensive.

The price for the same beer is $4.40 cheaper at $14.10 at The Original Coopers Alehouse in the Adelaide CBD.

A 250ml glass of rose is $16.90 at the same venue.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Delaware North for comment.

Mr Costello uploaded a post to Instagram on Monday, to reveal the astonishing cost for the drinks.

'You gotta feel for bars competing with wage increases, product increases and taxes,' he posted.

'But $42.50? I just told my wife drink slowly cause there's no second round!'

Mr Costello ordered a a pint of Coopers Pacific Ale for $18.50 and a 250ml glass of Serofino Rose for $24 (pictured)

The drinks were purchased at Adelaide Airport's Coopers Alehouse (pictured)

An Adelaide Airport spokesperson said it appreciated Mr Costello's patronage.

The hospitality sector is seeking to manage the tightrope challenge of taking on significant increases in costs while still providing value to consumers who are experiencing a disposable income squeeze,' they told the Adelaide Advertiser.

Owners of pubs and bars in Adelaide pay a tax on alcohol which is one the highest in the world.

The latest tax increase on beer and spirits in February was raised by almost a dollar, to almost $60.12 per litre and $101.85 per litre for pure spirits.
A hipster whisky baron who lived a double life in London for 20 years has lost a bid to be freed from jail for a second time over fears he will flee the country to start another secret life.

Lucasz Ratajewski, 47, left Poland 20 years ago after being handed a three-year jail term for possession of a handgun, and reinvented himself as Dariusz Plazewski, the high-flying boss of Bimber Distillery - one of the capital's first producers of English single malt whisky for over 100 years.

The Polish national began life in London working in property development and construction but launched his trendy whisky production business, aided by his partner Ewelina Chruszczyk, in 2016 and released Bimber's first London single malt in 2019.

But his past returned to haunt him when he was arrested in England in January after Polish prosecutors requested his extradition to serve out the three-year firearms sentence passed on him in 2003 and stand trial for conspiracy to attempt murder and supplying drugs.

In February, he failed in a bid to be released on bail due to the 'risk of flight' posed.

Hipster whisky baron Lucasz Ratajewski (right), who lived a double life in London for 20 years, has lost a bid to be freed from jail for a second time over fears he will flee the country

The 47-year-old fronted Bimber Distillery - one of the capital's first producers of English single malt whisky for over 100 years - under the alias Dariusz Plazewski

Now he has seen a second bid for freedom turned down by Mr Justice Fordham at the High Court - despite having previously offered 200,000 as security - due to the 'very real prospect' he would repeat his disappearing act, 'obtain a false identity document and build a new beginning from scratch in a completely new country.'

The court heard that Polish authorities had initially issued an arrest warrant for Mr Ratajewski 20 years ago, but under his pseudonym he slipped away and built a prosperous life in the UK.

He used his knowledge of traditional moonshine production gleaned from his father and grandfather to launch a career in the English whisky industry.

Bimber currently employs around 40 staff and had recently put into effect plans to open a second distillery, Dunphail, in Speyside, Scotland, when its boss ran into trouble with the law.

The 47-year-old was arrested under a Polish extradition warrant relating to conspiracy to murder and other offences of drugs trafficking, extortion and robbery.

Following the arrest, Mr Ratajewski admitted having lived under a false identity since his arrival in the UK aged 26, but denied the charges brought against him.

A full extradition hearing is scheduled to go ahead before Westminster Magistrates Court in September, but in the meantime his lawyers went to the High Court for a second time, urging his release on bail until that date.

Lawyers for the Polish Judicial Authority resisted the application, with barrister David Ball noting: 'He ran away the last time when his back was against the wall.'

But David Perry KC - for Mr Ratajewski - said the businessman had 'every incentive' to face the extradition charges and stay rooted in his adopted homeland if granted bail.

On top of building up the trendy drinks business, Mr Ratajewski has a partner and teenage daughter who live with him in London, said the lawyer, and to skip bail would be a 'complete catastrophe' for both his family and business.

'With the life that they have created, it's inconceivable that he would destroy it,' Mr Perry told the judge.

'He has worked his way up from nothing, achieving what is an extraordinarily successful business.'

Mr Ratajewski faces a full extradition hearing is scheduled to go ahead before Westminster Magistrates Court in September

Mr Ratajewski faces serious charges - which he denies - if ultimately returned to Poland.

These include conspiracy to commit murder in 1997 by allegedly supplying an AK47 assault rifle and driving the getaway car for use in a hit which was only thwarted by the presence of too many bystanders.

On top of that, he is charged with conspiracy to supply cannabis, LSD and heroin, with the earliest charge dating back to 1998.

He fled Poland in 2004 while awaiting an appeal on his firearms conviction, which was ultimately rejected in his absence.

Mr Ratajewski previously applied for urgent release on bail at the High Court in February, but again had his case turned down by Mrs Justice Farbey due to the 'risk of flight' posed.

His case returned to court as his KC urged his release on bail so he can 'get his affairs in order' and also support his family.

Mr Ratajewski 'lived a life of deceit and subterfuge' in the UK, Mr Perry accepted, but insisted he went under the radar partly to sever his links with former criminal associates in Poland.

Refusing bail, Mr Justice Fordham noted the 200,000 security previously put forward by Mr Ratajewski, but concluded: 'Having assessed the risks, and notwithstanding all of those points put forward on the appellant's behalf, I have come to the conclusion that there are substantial grounds for believing that - if released on bail and notwithstanding the bail conditions - he would fail to surrender.'

The judge referenced the whisky boss escaping from Poland back in 2004 while waiting for his appeal to be heard.

'It was action which involved crossing borders,' he said. 'It involved going to a completely new country with which there was no connection. It involved starting a life from scratch.'

On top of that, he went to ground in London for 20 years, said the judge, adding: 'It's a dishonest deception which has continued for 20 years up to the time of the arrest in January of this year.

'Finally, all of these matters arise unmistakably in the context of an individual who has - on the face of the materials - a resolve and a resourcefulness.

'That is together with the very real prospect of associations which could assist him, just as they did when he was able in 2004 to obtain a false identity document and build a new beginning from scratch in a completely new country.'

When Mr Ratajewski set up the Bimber distillery in London, it became one of the UK's few England-based distilleries, initially producing other spirits such as vodka and gin before going on to specialise in whisky - turning out 50,000 bottles per year for the global market.

His company's Scottish distillery is located on former farmland on the Dunphail estate, near Forres, which Mr Ratajewski spoke of transforming into a plant which would turn out 200,000 bottles per year using traditional distilling methods.

Production launched there last October.

He styles himself as a 'third generation distiller', having learned the art through his father and grandfather, who brewed moonshine spirits without modern industrial equipment but often relying on 'touch, smell and taste'.

In March, Mr Ratajewski's pseudonym was removed from Bimber Distillery Ltd's Companies House information as a person with significant control.

A statement was made on the company website following the initial failed bail application.

It read: 'Dear valued customers, we want to provide you with an important update on the leadership of our distilleries. Dariusz Plazewski has relinquished all his responsibilities for both Bimber and Dunphail Distilleries and is handing over all decision-making and operational matters to the existing, experienced teams.

'Whilst we understand the news of his personal legal issues may well raise questions and concerns, we want to assure you that our businesses remain fully operational and committed to serving you with the same level of excellence and dedication as always.

'Going forward, Bimber co-Founder Ewelina Chruszczyk and Dunphail director of whisky creation Matt McKay will lead the activities of both distilleries together and drawing from their combined experience of both established businesses.

'They will work diligently with our dedicated staff to ensure that there is no disruption to our services or the quality of our products.

'Our management team, along with our staff, are fully capable of steering both companies forward and maintaining our ongoing operations smoothly. Thank you for your continued support and understanding during this time.'
Jamie Oliver today hailed 'exciting' Labour plans to ban under-16s from buying high-caffeine energy drinks like Prime, Red Bull and Monster if they win power.

The restaurateur and chef warned spoke out over plans by Sir keir Starmer to outlaw the sale of drinks containing more than 150mg of caffeine per litre to minors if it wins power on July 4.

Red Bull has 80mg of caffeine in a 250ml can, equivalent to 320mg/l, while brands including Prime, Monster and Rockstar have similar or higher rates.

Mr Oliver, 49, said that schoolchildren are having energy drinks as a substitute breakfast, leading to an 'absolute nightmare' for teachers.

In a video posted on X he said: 'It's a small thing but it is a big thing. When we have got some of the most unhealthy kids in Europe we need to not have one thing, we need many many things that are going to help make our kids fitter, healthier, have better outcomes and just flourish and be more productive as adults and cost the NHS less.'

He added: From my point of view for the past 17 years working in many secondary schools around the country, you would be amazed if you saw how many kids have breakfast in the firm of an energy drink...

'If you've got kids coming to school having energy drinks for breakfast it is not healthy  we are talking three or four shots of espresso in one of these tins, loads of sugar, so an absolute nightmare.'

It came after shadow health secretary Wes Streeting told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that the restriction was a response to 'the outcry from parents and teachers who are seeing the consequences of these high energy drinks on children's concentration, their wellbeing, their sleep, their mental health'.

The restaurateur and chef warned spoke out over plans by Sir keir Starmer to outlaw the sale of drinks containing more than 150mg of caffeine per litre to minors if it wins power on July 4.

Asked on a visit to a school why Labour would not include other high-caffeine drinks such as some coffees in its proposed ban on selling to children, he told reporters: 'Because this is aimed at children and the sort of drinks that at the moment, the energy drinks that they are drinking.'

Several energy drinks which can be bought in UK shops have more than double the caffeine content on an average cup of coffee (80mg)

Shadow health secretary Wes Streeting told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that the restriction was a response to 'the outcry from parents and teachers who are seeing the consequences of these high energy drinks on children's concentration, their wellbeing, their sleep, their mental health'.

The Labour politician added: 'The reason why we're being far more interventionist when it comes to children is because we can see how irresponsible sales and marketing are driving a crisis in children's health.'

Sir Keir Starmer singled out Monster energy drink as a problem in classrooms and for children's health.

Asked on a visit to a school in Middlesbrough why Labour would not include other high-caffeine drinks such as some coffees in its proposed ban on selling to children, he told reporters: 'Because this is aimed at children and the sort of drinks that at the moment, the energy drinks that they are drinking. I mean Monster, I think, is the number one.

'Just to give you a sense of that, the caffeine in that is the equivalent of several espressos, which is why it's having such an effect on children's behaviour. Talk to anyone who's in a school and they'll tell you what the problem is.

'But also it's got a very detrimental effect on their teeth. As I said in some of the clips earlier, I was genuinely shocked and angered to learn that more children go to hospital to have their teeth taken out, six to 10-year-olds, than any other operation.

'I was aghast when I heard that and I say to anyone, I defy anyone who says we'll just walk past that problem because I'm not prepared to walk past it.'

The party said it expects soft drinks such as Coca-Cola to fall below the caffeine per litre limit, but a 500ml can of Monster Energy would exceed it.

National trading standards would be expected to enforce the policy.

Energy drinks including Rockstar, PRIME and Monster all possess between 160-200mg of caffeine per 500ml - double the amounts found in an average cup of coffee, at around 80mg.

The drinks also contain over four times the amount of caffeine as your average 330ml can of coke - a drink which itself is famously best enjoyed in moderation.

PRIME, which is promoted by YouTubers Logan Paul and KSI, has become a worldwide sensation since its launch in 2022. Social media hype around PRIME products led to it quickly selling out in supermarkets, leading to massive queues, rules on how many each customer could buy, scuffles breaking out in the aisles, bottles selling for as much as 100 and muggings and near-riots in shops amid the global frenzy.

However, the popular energy drink has been accused of encouraging children to make unhealthy choices.

Gavin Partington, director general of the British Soft Drinks Association, said: 'In line with and in the spirit of our own long-standing Code of Practice, BSDA members do not market or promote the sale of energy drinks to under 16s and label all high-caffeine beverages as 'not recommended for children', so we welcomed the move by retailers (in 2018) to voluntarily restrict sales to under 16s.

'It's worth remembering that the European Food Safety Authority has confirmed the safety of energy drink ingredients. We remain committed to supporting their responsible sale but it's important that any government policy in this area is evidence based.'
Singapore Airlines passengers will receive $10,000 in compensation for injuries suffered on a flight hit by extreme turbulence last month in which a 73-year-old Brit was killed.

Father-of-two Geoff Kitchen suffered a suspected heart attack on board flight SQ321, while several other passengers and crew from London suffered skull, brain and spine injuries during the terrifying high-altitude ordeal.

The pilots diverted the Singapore-bound Boeing 777-300ER carrying 211 passengers and 18 crew to Bangkok, where the injured were taken to hospitals.

In a statement on Tuesday, Singapore Airlines (SIA) said it had sent out emails offering US$10,000 in compensation to passengers who sustained minor injuries during the incident - with the airline set to discuss higher payouts with individuals who were more severely hurt.

'For those who sustained more serious injuries... we have invited them to discuss a compensation offer to meet each of their specific circumstances when they feel well and ready to do so,' the airline said.

The interior of Singapore Airlines flight SQ321 is pictured after an emergency landing at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport, Thailand, May 21, 2024

Geoff Kitchen, 73, suffered a suspected heart attack on board flight SQ321, while several other passengers and crew from London suffered skull, brain and spine injuries during the terrifying high-altitude ordeal

Singapore Airlines passengers will receive $10,000 in compensation for injuries suffered on a flight hit by extreme turbulence last month

'Passengers medically assessed as having sustained serious injuries, requiring long-term medical care, and requesting financial assistance are offered an advance payment of US$25,000 to address their immediate needs.

'This will be part of the final compensation that these passengers will receive.'

In addition, the carrier said it would refund fares for all passengers who were on board the flight, including those who were not injured.

'All passengers will also receive delay compensation in accordance with the relevant European Union or United Kingdom regulations,' it said.

As of Tuesday, 11 passengers from the flight were still receiving treatment in hospitals in Bangkok, a SIA spokesperson told AFP.

Under the Montreal Convention, airlines are liable for damages for the injury or death of passengers while on an airplane.

'The compensation amounts are determined by the severity of each passenger's injuries, based on the information provided thus far by the respective medical institutions,' the spokesperson said.

'We recognise that passengers with more serious injuries may require further support tailored to their individual circumstances.'

SIA earlier gave Sg$1,000 (580) to each passenger departing Bangkok for their final destination to cover their immediate expenses.

It has also been shouldering the medical expenses of the injured passengers, and had arranged for their family members to fly to Bangkok when requested.

'SIA remains committed to supporting the affected passengers who were on board SQ321,' the airline said.

Singapore's transport ministry has said a sudden 54-metre (177-foot) altitude drop caused unbelted passengers on the flight to be thrown violently inside the cabin.

The aircraft experienced a 'rapid change' in gravitational force, or G-force, while it was passing over the south of Myanmar, the ministry said, citing a preliminary report by Singapore's Transport Safety Investigation Bureau.

The investigation team included experts from the TSIB, the US National Transportation Safety Board, the US Federal Aviation Administration and the plane's manufacturer Boeing.

Following his death, it was revealed that Mr Kitchen had helped fundraise for local businesses during the pandemic with a local musical theatre group, and he and his wife spent the weekend with their grandchildren before jetting off for their 'trip of a lifetime'.

The retired insurance worker and his wife, from Thonbury, near Bristol, were heading abroad on a six-week holiday of a lifetime to South East Asia, Indonesia and Australia when disaster struck around 11 hours into their flight from Heathrow.

A friend of the couple told the BBC they 'loved to travel' and were 'very excited' for the trip, which would see them embark on a cruise in Indonesia before travelling to Australia.

Lizzie Atkins also described him as 'the most wonderful human being that you could ever know'.

Ms Atkins, a fellow member of Bristol-based Thornbury musical theatre group, said: 'He would do anything for you. He was just amazing.'

Singapore's transport ministry has said a sudden 54-metre (177-foot) altitude drop caused unbelted passengers on the flight to be thrown violently inside the cabin

Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, she said: 'He was just a remarkable man, really.

'He was stable and reliable, and you always knew you were in safe hands with Geoff.

'He had a really dry sense of humour and had a twinkle in his eye and every time you saw him you just knew that he was going to make a funny joke.'

She added: 'He was the most wonderful human being that you could ever know, one of the top ones.'
Nigel Farage's BBC Panorama grilling has been delayed from tonight due to a diary mix-up.

The Reform leader had been due to face off with presenter Nick Robinson as part of the election campaign.

The programme was set to air at 10.40pm, but has now been postponed to a later date.

Sources insisted Mr Farage would still be doing the interview. The BBC One schedule now includes Tokyo Vice instead.

The Brexit champion's decision to return to the frontline - and stand as a MP in Clacton - has set fire to the campaign, and threatened to thrown the Tories into a tailspin.

Polls have been showing Reform closing on the Conservatives in terms of support, with fears mounting about a 'crossover moment'.

Mr Farage has already taken part in a BBC seven-way debate where he was seen as having outperformed Penny Mordaunt and Angela Rayner.

The former MEP was the ghost at the feast during Rishi Sunak's own Panorama clash yesterday.

Nigel Farage had been due to face off with presenter Nick Robinson in the coming hours as part of the election campaign

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The former MEP was the ghost at the feast during Rishi Sunak's own Panorama clash yesterday

Robinson jibed that Mr Sunak was the political equivalent of a 'quinoa salad' compared to Mr Farage's 'Sunday roast with all the trimmings'.

But the premier argued that 'there's only going to be one of two people who's prime minister'.

'A vote for anyone who's not a Conservative candidate is just making it more likely that Keir Starmer is that person,' he said.

'So if you ask someone, you say, you know, what makes a Conservative, if you are someone who wants lower taxes, if you want your pension protected, if you want migration reduced, if you want a sensible approach to Net Zero that prioritises our security and reducing people's bills, that's what I will offer you in this election.'

The premier was also pressed on his response to an alleged 'dog whistle' attack from Mr Farage, who suggested the D-Day bungle showed the PM did not understand 'our culture'.

'Is he playing with fire by bringing your heritage into this argument?' Robinson asked.

Mr Sunak replied: 'Well Nigel Farage can answer what he exactly meant by those comments.

'I'm not going to get involved in that because I don't think it's good for our country or good for our politics. Now obviously I disagree with him and when it comes, specifically, to our Armed Forces, again people can judge me by my actions.'
The fire ripped through Chatuchak market, a popular spot in the Thai capital

Up to 1,000 pets including dogs and cats have been burnt alive after a fire struck a popular open-air market in Bangkok.

The fire at Chatuchak market, located in Thailand's capital city, was reported early on Tuesday morning and quickly swept across more than 100 shops in the market's pet section, according to the Bangkok government.

Officials said it took them about an hour to bring the fire under control, but added that no human casualties or injuries have been reported.

However, the fire killed several hundred animals, including puppies, fish, snakes, birds and rabbits, kept in cages and locked inside the shops.

The cause of the fire is being investigated, said Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt, who visited the scene after the fire was put out.

Flames can be seen ripping through Chatuchak market, located in Thailand's capital city, in the early hours of Tuesday morning

The fire tore through the market, leaving a devastating scene on what is a popular spot for tourists and locals

The remains of a Ball Python snake can be seen inside a plastic box that melted during the fire

A dead bird and reptiles are pictured following the blaze - which damaged most of the 118 shops in the pet zone

Officials could be seen at the site, inspecting the charred shops or breaking metal gates to bring out animals that survived the fire.

They added that they are still working on estimating the cost of the damage, and that affected shop owners could register for compensation.

According to an initial inspection, the blaze damaged most of the 118 shops in the pet zone, which covers about 1,400 square metres (15,000 square feet).

The sprawling weekend market is a major tourist draw, bringing in shoppers from all over the world to browse its hundreds of shops and stalls for items ranging from food and drink to clothing, furniture, plants, books and pets.

Despite being a major attraction to visitors, the market has come in for criticism due to the poor conditions that livestock are forced to live in.

Wildlife organisations have often accused some vendors of involvement in the trafficking of rare and endangered species, such as turtles, tortoises and birds.

Speaking to BBC News, Amporn Wannasut, a shop owner who rushed to the market after being alerted to the fire, said: 'When I got here, everything was gone, all burned down'.

'I couldn't do anything because it was dark inside as well. I couldn't help them at all. They were all gone.'

'I don't even know what to do next. I think we have to start all over again but I don't know how,' she adds. 'I froze some of the dead snakes so that we can calculate how much [money] we lost.'

A firefighter is pictured here leaving the inferno, which officials said required nearly an hour to be taken under control

A Thai rescuer can be seen carrying a survived chicken away from the scene of the fire after the blaze was brought under control
This year's Trooping the Colour ceremony will take place on Saturday with King Charles III set to observe the event from a carriage.

Buckingham Palace has had to cancel and review dozens of forthcoming royal engagements as a result of the General Election but the official celebrations of the sovereign's birthday have thankfully been unaffected.

Dating from the 17th century, Trooping the Colour is one the biggest military ceremonial events of the year, involving more than 1,200 soldiers and musicians plus more than 200 horses.

Usually the monarch rides down from Buckingham Palace to Horse Guards Parade via The Mall to inspect the troops.

The sovereign then rides back to the palace for the traditional balcony appearance with the wider Royal Family and flypast by the RAF.

Members of the royal family pictured watching an RAF flypast from the balcony of Buckingham Palace during Trooping the Colour on June 17, 2023 in London. The official celebrations of the sovereign's birthday have thankfully been unaffected by the General Election

King Charles III pictured saluting as he departed Buckingham Palace for the Trooping the Colour ceremony at Horse Guards Parade, central London on June 17, 2023

This year's Trooping the Colour ceremony will take place on Saturday with King Charles III set to observe the event from a carriage (pictured: Charles and Camilla leaving Buckingham Palace by carriage to Westminster Abbey on May 6, 2023 for his coronation)

Can you still get tickets to Trooping the Colour 2024?

Tickets for this year's big event have sadly sold out but you can still head over to one of the public vantage points nearby to watch the grand ceremony unfold.

Each year, members of the public are invited to apply for tickets to watch the show from a seated grandstand through a ballot.

The tickets cost 30 and are limited to just four per person but the window has now closed.

Where are the best viewing spots?

With tickets sold out, royal fans will have to head to public vantage points along the route if they want to catch a glimpse of the grandeur.

The best spots are dotted along the Mall and at St James's Park although those looking to watch from the park are advised to head to the north-westerly side for the clearest view.

The north and east sides of the green space should also offer good vantage points overlooking Horseguard's Parade.

There will be plenty of good spots to witness the procession at the Mall but the north side will be the best bet to ensure a clear view.

Queen Elizabeth II pictured leaving Buckingham Palace in a carriage during the Trooping the Colour parade on June 9, 2018 in London

Prince George of Wales, Prince Louis of Wales, Catherine, Princess of Wales, Princess Charlotte of Wales and Prince William, Prince of Wales pictured watching an RAF flypast from the balcony of Buckingham Palace during Trooping the Colour on June 17, 2023 in London

With tickets sold out, royal fans will have to head to public vantage points along the route if they want to catch a glimpse of the grandeur. The best spots are dotted along the Mall and at St James's Park (pictured: The Colonel's Review rehearsal of Trooping the Colour on June 8)

The Household Division has advised potential spectators, however, that troops may restrict what people can see from these vantage points.

The public are advised to set up shop at around 9am or earlier before the ceremony begins in order to secure the best spot.

Is there a specific dress code for the event?

Those lucky enough to have secured seats at the ticketed grandstand for this year's celebration of the King's official birthday will have to be aware of the strict dress code.

The rigid rules for the ceremony mean spectators will have to wear morning dress, lounge dress, lounge suit or jacket and trousers, and the equivalent for women (no denim).

Military personnel may wear Ceremonial Day or other Service equivalent.

Organisers have warned that failure to comply with the dress code could result in the refusal of entry.

There is no dress code for those looking to watch the event at one of the public vantage points.
But the recipient of the gift insisted it was bought in a 'joking manner'

He said giving his colleague at the Cambridgeshire store a vibrator was wrong

A Tesco manager who was sacked after giving a female colleague a vibrator for Secret Santa has won an unfair dismissal and race discrimination claim.

Shoaib Razaq gifted a female colleague the sex toy as part of the Cambridgeshire store's staff Christmas celebrations, an employment tribunal heard.

The recipient of the 'inappropriate gift' insisted it was bought in a 'joking manner' as other staff members handed out butt plugs and dildos.

But Mr Razaq - a married man who later admitted buying the gift was a 'terrible decision' - was sacked from his role as store manager for gross misconduct after an investigation found he 'abused his position of trust'.

He has now successfully sued for unfair dismissal and race discrimination after an employment judge found 'basic steps were not taken' to look into all the allegations correctly.

Shoaib Razaq won his unfair dismissal and race discrimination claim after being sacked as manager of Hampton Vale Tesco Express in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire

However, his compensation may be reduced after the tribunal found he had contributed to his firing by buying the vibrator.

The hearing in Cambridge heard Mr Razaq started working for Tesco in January 2020.

While he was employed as store manager at the Hampton Vale Express store in Peterborough an employee at the supermarket raised a grievance against him.

Among other issues, they accused the store manager of allowing members of staff to take part in 'sexual endeavours'.

The employee alleged Mr Razaq had staff members on his lap in the office and took money from charity tins.

The following day another employee, Donna Spriggs, raised a grievance against Mr Razaq and made further allegations including that he 'messed about with young girls in the office'.

She said he also bought a female colleague an inappropriate toy for her birthday.

A grievance investigation was then carried out by Tesco and Ms Cliffe - the recipient of the vibrator - was interviewed as a part of this.

'We all had random gifts, butt plugs and dildos were bought but this was done in a joking manner,' she told the investigator.

Ms Cliffe insisted she had experienced this in other stores.

The store manager was also accused of trying to persuade Ms Spriggs to come to work when she was unwell.

The tribunal was shown several messages which he had sent her on WhatsApp - asking her to come in.

One of these read: 'Is there no way you can push yourself to come in as we are stuck for people.'

Mr Razaq complained he felt as if there was a 'witch hunt' against him and that one person who raised a grievance was a racist.

When asked about the Secret Santa present during a hearing, the manager said that he should not have bought the gift and understood it was a wrong gift to buy.

He was asked what his colleagues and his wife would think about this and he said that his wife did not know and she was jealous.

When asked what he would think if someone bought his partner a gift, he said that he would be angry.

He accepted that it was wrong and could cause problems.

In a second disciplinary meeting, he apologised if he had offended the two employees who raised the grievance.

'I understand that I did wrong with the vibrator,' he said.

Mr Razaq later added it was a 'terrible decision buying the gift'.

The store manager was dismissed for harassment and bullying and the investigating officer concluded he had 'abused his position of trust as a manager'.

She said he had subjected colleagues to harassment by 'inappropriate banter' and 'circulating offensive material'.

Mr Razaq sued the supermarket giant for unfair dismissal and race discrimination.

Upholding his claims, Employment Judge Niran de Silva KC concluded that the investigator did not properly investigate the misconduct allegations and had little concern with what the precise allegations were against the store manager.

The tribunal concluded that her decision was based on a general sense that there was misconduct on the part of Mr Razaq and she was considerably influenced by the two grievances.

The judge said - without addressing whether the disciplinary allegations were true - no reasonable employer would have acted in this way.

He said the 'basic steps were not taken' when looking into the grievance and Mr Razaq's allegations that one of the employees who complained about him was racist.

However, the tribunal warned that the level of compensation he will receive could be reduced due to his behaviour.

'The Tribunal finds that the Claimant contributed to the dismissal by the following conduct which was culpable: giving a vibrator to a colleague as a Secret Santa gift and the WhatsApp messages to Ms Spriggs seeking to persuade her to come into work when she was ill,' EJ de Silva added.

A hearing to decide Mr Razaq's compensation will be held at a later date.
Israeli hostage Noa Argamani embraced the mother of her boyfriend in an emotional reunion after she was freed from Hamas captivity by Israeli commandos - while her boyfriend remains a hostage in Gaza.

The 26-year-old was pictured wrapped in the arms of Ditza Or, the mother of Avinatan Or, who is one of several people still being held hostage by the Palestinian terror group.

Together with Argamani, Avinatan was kidnapped by gunmen who attacked the Nova music festival on October 7. Argamani was famously seen in a video begging the terrorists not to kill her as she was dragged away on the back of a motorcycle.

After 245 days in captivity, she was rescued on Saturday in an IDF raid that also freed three male hostages: Almog Meir Jan, 22, Andrey Kozlov, 27, and Shlomi Ziv, 41.

Argamani's rescue also means she was able to return home in time to see her terminally ill mother in hospital.

Noa Argamani, one of the four Israeli hostages rescued from Gaza by the IDF on Saturday, has been pictured embracing the mother of her boyfriend. The 26-year-old was pictured hugging Ditza Or, the mother of Avinatan Or, who is one of several people taken hostage by Hamas on October 7 and into Gaza

After 245 days in captivity, Argamani was rescued on Saturday in an IDF raid that also freed three male captives: Almog Meir Jan, 22, Andrey Kozlov, 27, and Shlomi Ziv, 41. She is seen here hugging her father after they were reunited on Saturday

Argamani was famously seen in a video begging the terrorists not to kill her as she was dragged away on the back of a motorcycle

A picture of Avinatan Or, Argamani's boyfriend, is seen on the side of a tower block in Israel

Hours after being freed from Gaza, Argamani visited Tel Hashomer hospital to see her mother Liora, who is being treated for brain cancer.

Liora had previously pleaded for her daughter's return 'at least to be able to hug her,' she said in a television interview in October.

Hospital CEO Ronni Gamzu said Liora's condition was 'complicated and tough' but that she was able to understand her daughter had come home.

'For the last eight months we are trying to keep her in a status that she can communicate,' Gamzu said, according to The Times Of Israel.

The outlet also reported that Argamani had spoken to Israeli President Isaac Herzog over the phone while she was surrounded by friends and family.

Israel's Channel 12 reported that she had spoken with the Ronen Bar, the chief of Israel's security agency Shin Bet, about her time in captivity.

She is reported to have said: 'I tried to stay strong, but there were difficult moments. At first, I was with Moran Stella Yanai, and when she was released, I told her, 'See you soon.' I never imagined it would take so long.'

'One time, I heard a report on the radio that Israel was against ending the war, and it broke me,' Argamani added, the channel reported.

'On some days, we heard non-stop IDF shelling nearby. What strengthened me in the end was that I tried to stay strong and practiced mindfulness.'

Unbeknown to her, Argamani became an icon of the struggle to free the hostages during her time in captivity after the video of her kidnapping went around the world.

She was finally rescued on Saturday in the Israeli raid.

Argamani (second right) is seen meeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

Noa Argamani speaks on the phone with Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Saturday

Unbeknown to her, Argamani became an icon of the struggle to free the hostages during her time in captivity after the video of her kidnapping went around the world

A screen displays a picture of Noa Argamani who was kidnapped during the deadly October 7 attack and, according to the military, rescued by the Israeli forces, amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza between Israel and Hamas, in Tel Aviv, Israel June 10, 2024

People wave to IDF forces taking off in a helicopter after bringing hostages to Tel HaShomer hospital on June 8, 2024 in Ramat Gan

The rescue operation was Israel's most successful since October 7. It brought home four of the roughly 250 captives seized by Hamas in its cross-border attack.

The rescue was met with elation in Israel which is still reeling from the Hamas October 7 attack - which left 1,200 people in Israel dead, and agonising over the fate of the 80 captives and the remains of over 40 others still held in Gaza.

The raid also killed at least 274 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, deepening the suffering of people in Gaza who have had to endure the brutal war and a humanitarian catastrophe.

The ministry does not distinguish between fighters and civilians in its tallies.

Israeli hard-liners are likely to seize on it as proof that military pressure alone will bring the rest back, and for the government to not accept a deal with Hamas.

But only three other hostages have been freed by military force since the start of the war. Another three were mistakenly killed by Israeli forces after they escaped on their own, and Hamas says others have been killed in Israeli airstrikes.

'If anyone believes that yesterday's operation absolves the government of the need to strike a deal, they are living a fantasy,' Israeli columnist Nahum Barnea wrote in the mass-selling Yediot Aharonot newspaper.

'There are people out there who need to be saved, and the sooner the better.'

Even the Israeli army's spokesman, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, acknowledged the limits of military force. 'What will bring most of the hostages back home alive is a deal,' he told reporters.

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

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

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

Over 100 hostages were released during a weeklong cease-fire last year, in exchange for Palestinians imprisoned by Israel, and reaching a similar agreement is still widely seen as the only way of getting the rest of the hostages back.

Hours after Saturday's rescue, tens of thousands of Israelis attended protests in Tel Aviv calling for such a deal.

US President Joe Biden last week announced a proposal for a phased plan for a cease-fire and hostage release, setting in motion the administration's most concentrated diplomatic push for a truce.

Biden described it as an Israeli proposal, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly questioned some aspects of it, particularly its call for the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and a lasting truce.

His ultranationalist coalition partners have threatened to bring down his government if he ends the war without destroying Hamas.

That appears to have only deepened suspicions on the part of Hamas, which has demanded international guarantees that the war will end.

It's unclear if such guarantees have been offered, and Hamas has not yet officially responded to the plan.

The rescue operation was a rare win for Netanyahu, who many Israelis blame for the security failures leading up to the Oct. 7 attack and the failure to return the hostages despite months of grinding war.

A view of Israeli helicopter, carrying four Israeli hostages that were retrieved after a military operation in the area

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

He has revelled in the operation's success, rushing Saturday to the hospital where the freed hostages were held and meeting with each of them as cameras rolled. The rescue operation will likely help rehabilitate his image.

But as the elation fades, he will still face heavy pressure from an American administration that wants to wind the war down and an ultranationalist base that wants to vanquish Hamas at all costs.

His main political opponent, the retired general Benny Gantz, quit the emergency wartime coalition on Sunday, leaving Netanyahu even more beholden to the hard-liners.

Netanyahu is already facing criticism from some of the families of deceased hostages, who say they received no such visits and accuse him of only taking credit for the war's successes. Israel will also likely face heightened international pressure over the raid's high Palestinian death toll.

'The success in freeing four hostages is a magnificent tactical victory that has not changed our deplorable strategic situation,' columnist Ben Caspit wrote in Israel's Maariv daily.

It all makes for a tough balancing act, even for someone like Netanyahu, who friends and foes alike consider to be a master politician.

The operation could provide the kind of boost with the Israeli public that would allow him to justify making a deal with Hamas.

Or he might conclude that time is on his side, and that he can drive a harder bargain with the militants as they grapple with a major setback.

Hamas has lost four precious bargaining chips it had hoped to trade for high-profile Palestinian prisoners.

Argamani, widely known from a video showing her pleading for her life as militants dragged her away on a motorcycle, was a particularly significant loss for Hamas.

The raid may have also dealt a blow to Hamas' morale. In the Oct. 7 attack, Hamas managed to humiliate a country with a far superior army, and since then it has repeatedly regrouped despite devastating military operations across Gaza.

People walk among debris in the aftermath of Israeli strikes during the rescue raid, June 9

Men walk among the rubble of buildings destroyed in the rescue mission to free Israeli hostages who were taken into Gaza on October 7

The health ministry in the Hamas-run territory said 274 people were killed and 698 wounded, in what it labelled the 'Nuseirat massacre'. Among those were at least 64 children, 57 women and 37 elderly people, the ministry said

But the fact that Israel was able to mount a complex rescue operation in broad daylight in the center of a crowded urban area has at least temporarily restored some of the mystique that Israel's security forces lost on Oct. 7.

The operation also refocused global attention on the hostage crisis at a time when the U.S. is rallying world pressure on Hamas to accept the cease-fire deal.

But Hamas has a long history of withstanding pressure from Israel and others - often at enormous cost to Palestinians.

The militants may conclude that it's best to use the remaining hostages to end the war while they still can - or they might just look for better places to hide them.
A woman was swallowed by quicksand while enjoying a walk with her husband along a popular beach in coastal Maine.

Jamie Acord was walking along the water's edge at Popham Beach State Park in Phippsburg, located in the Portland metropolitan area, earlier this month when she suddenly 'dropped like a rock'.

She sunk to her hips in a split second and let out a stunned scream as the high tide started creeping in.

Acord told her husband Patrick: 'I can't get out!'

But within seconds Patrick came to her rescue, pulling her from the sand trap. The couple then watched as the hole filled back up with sand and disappeared.

Jamie Acord was walking along the water's edge at Popham Beach State Park in Phippsburg with her husband Patrick earlier this month when she got caught in quicksand and suddenly 'dropped like a rock'. The couple are pictured together at the beach

This photo provided by Patrick Acord shows his wife, Jamie Acord, on Popham Beach, in Phippsburg, Maine, where she sunk to her hips in quicksand, Saturday, June 1, 2024

Acord took to social media to warn others after her episode on June 1, when she and Patrick were strolling on the beach.

She had been collecting trash, so her hands were full when she sunk waist-deep into the sand in just a matter of seconds.

WHAT IS QUICKSAND? Quicksand, known as supersaturated sand, can be found around the world. The phenomenon occurs when sand behaves as a liquid because it has been saturated with water. Quicksand has been frequently depicted in Hollywood films ensnaring actors in jungle locations. However, the dramatic portrayal of quicksand in movies is not accurate. People who are caught in supersaturated sand don't sink, but instead remain buoyant. This allows them to float and wriggle themselves to safety. It is also 'basically impossible' to sink and die in quicksand, as depicted in the movies, Encyclopedia Britannica reported. Sources: Encyclopedia Britannica and The Associated Press Advertisement

'I just dropped like a rock,' Acord told WCSH-TV. 'Patrick said I was there and then the next minute I wasn't.'

She shared how she 'couldn't feel the bottom' or 'find my footing' as the sand continued to pull her down.

'I couldn't feel the ground with my feet. I couldn't push myself out,' she recalled.

Patrick managed to pull her to safety. Acord, with the exception of a few scratches, was not injured in the incident.

She then changed her clothes which she described as being covered in 'wet-cement-like sand' and decided to share her experience online as a warning to others.

'The state Park Rangers stated they have had some reports of the sand being like quick sand. I fell in up to my hips, that's 2.5 feet,' she warned in her Facebook post.

'Patrick Acord said one minute I was there and the next I was not. I had to have him pull me out I could not do it on my own. My feet are scratched up as are my knees probably from rocks or sticks in the hole.

'No sooner did Patrick pull me out did the hole disappear.'

Acord said the situation happened so quickly that she didn't have time to be scared, but she worries that it would be frightening for someone who was alone, especially a child who might be traumatized.

'Had I been a small child I would have disappeared into the hole. I'm not kidding they would have been sucked in,' she said, adding that a 'kid would be scared'.

She told People Magazine that she and her family 'go to that beach all the time', but had never experienced quicksand before.

'It was kind of one of those moments where I didn't know what to do,' she said. 'This is a new thing that's never happened before.'

Acord decided to share her experience on Facebook to serve as a warning to other beachgoers

Climate change played a role in the episode at Popham Beach State Park, Maine's busiest state park beach, officials with the state Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry have said. Pictured is a file photo of beachgoers enjoying low tide at Popham Beach State Park

Quicksand, known as supersaturated sand, can be found worldwide, agriculture officials said.

People who are caught in supersaturated sand remain buoyant - people don't sink in quicksand - allowing them to float and wriggle themselves to safety, said Jim Britt, spokesperson for the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry.

'People hear the word quicksand they think jungle movie. The reality with this supersaturated sand is you're not going to go under,' he said.

In Acord's case, climate change played a role in the episode at the state's busiest state park beach, which draws more than 225,000 visitors each year, Britt said.

A series of winter storms rerouted a river that pours into the ocean, softening the sand in area where beachgoers are more apt to walk, necessitating the placement warning signs by park staff, he said.
A father and son are facing life behind bars after the female US assassin they hired to settle the feud botched the contract killing.

Mohammed Nazir, 30, and Mohammed Aslam, 56, recruited American hitwoman Aimee Betro, 44, to kill the head of a rival family after coming off worse in a fight at a boutique clothing shop.

In September 2019, the pair flew Betro over from the States to Birmingham to take out Sikander Ali.

The plan was simple. Betro disguised herself in a hijab and calmly walked over to Mr Ali having arranged a meeting with him on the pretence of buying a car. As she approached her target, she pointed the gun at his head and pulled the trigger - but it jammed, allowing Mr Ali to flee.

Despite missing her best chance to carry out the hit, Betro went to the target's house later and fired three shots at it.

Mohammed Aslam was found guilty of conspiracy to murder after a trial at Birmingham Crown Court

His son Mohammed Nazir was also convicted. The pair fair sentence on August 9 this year

Birmingham Crown Court heard Betro pulled up in a Mercedes before Mr Ali pulled up in an Audi nearby.

Kevin Hegarty KC, prosecuting said: 'As he did the would-be assassin came from the driver's side of the Mercedes. It was a woman.

'As she left the Mercedes she left the driver's door open. She walked quite calmly towards Sikander Ali and was pointing a gun at him at head height.

'As she got closer to Sikander Ali he saw her and he saw the gun and she pulled the trigger to fire the gun at him. Mercifully and luckily for him the gun jammed.'

Betro fled back to America two days after the botched assassination attempt and did not stand trial.

Nazir and Aslam, of Derby, were found guilty of conspiracy to murder following a trial and will be sentenced on 9 August. Nazir was also convicted of possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, illegally importing firearms and perverting the course of justice.

Measham Grove, Acocks Green where the hit was supposed to be carried out by the assassin

Jurors were told the pair held a grudge against the family following a dispute at a boutique clothing store in 2018 which left them both injured.

Mr Hegarty said in the early hours of the morning after the hit Betro called a taxi firm and went to Measham Grove again.

He added: 'She took out a gun, it may have been the same gun. She took aim and fired three shots in the direction of the house before returning to the waiting taxi.'

Jurors heard Betro arrived in Britain on August 22 - 16 days before the attack. In the days leading up to the incident she stayed at a number of hotels in Birmingham, Derby, Brighton and London and left the UK on September 9.

Detective Inspector Matt Marston, from West Midlands Police, said afterwards: 'Aslam and Nazir were determined to take revenge following a fall out where they were injured.

'The lengths they went to in trying to make sure they weren't implicated in pulling the trigger are immense.

'However, thanks to some great police work and support from our Derbyshire colleagues we were able to place them firmly in the middle of the attempted murder plot.'
A British soldier who crashed his car then told police his vehicle had been stolen has been spared jail after a judge called his lies a 'fairly common human response'.

Corporal Rhys Gooding, who has served in the British Army for 14 years, crashed his car during an incident in Rochdale in April 2022 and fled the scene.

The 32-year-old later called police to claim his vehicle had actually been stolen and that he had found it damaged whilst walking down the street, the court heard.

However, police uncovered the truth months later after matching Gooding's DNA to the air bag on his car which inflated at the moment of impact. When confronted by officers, Gooding confessed that he had been driving at the time of the crash. He said he'd 'panicked' and apologised for wasting police time.

Father-of-two Gooding said he had been suffering from severe mental health issues including anxiety and depression following a break up with his former girlfriend of 13 years.

Gooding, who had been stationed with the Royal Lancers at Catterick Garrison in North Yorkshire, faced a possible jail sentence after pleading guilty to perverting the course of justice.

But a judge at Minshull Street Crown Court, Manchester said he would take an 'exceptional' course and ordered him to complete 240 hours of unpaid work as part of a 12 month community order.

Corporal Rhys Gooding, 32 (pictured) who has served in the British Army for 14 years, crashed his car during an incident in Rochdale in April 2022 and fled the scene

Sentencing, Recorder Geoffrey Lowe said it was 'common sense' to say Gooding's offending was an 'indictment of his own folly'

Gooding (pictured) was ordered to complete 240 hours of unpaid work as part of a 12 month community order

Sentencing, Recorder Geoffrey Lowe said it was 'common sense' to say Gooding's offending was an 'indictment of his own folly'.

Judge Lowe said: 'You are someone who presents in normal circumstances as an impeccable citizen and an exemplary and well respected solider.

'The primary mischief in your behaviour was that police resources at a time when they are scarce were diverted and wasted.

'But it seems to me once you tell a lie, you then embark on a series of lies because it's difficult to avoid the consequences. That is a fairly common human response to situations.

'This offence covers many areas of conduct relating to the whole series of offences in the criminal calendar.

'But it's common sense to say that to lie because of a relatively minor road traffic offence or the fear of being breathalysed is towards the bottom end of the criminality of this offence.

'Once engaged on a track it's difficult to turn back.'

He added: 'You have a positive career in the army ahead of you and I'm going to deal with this case on an exceptional basis.

'You did not cover yourself in glory as you now recognise but just remember what it feels like to be in the dock of a crown court if you are tempted to do anything like this in the future.'

The Army said it could not give details of any military disciplinary action Corporal Gooding now faces.

However it is understood he will not face a court martial and will instead be disciplined at the level of his unit.

Serving personnel convicted of a criminal offence can face sanctions up to dismissal from the military.

A spokesman for the Army said: We expect very high standards of behaviour from our personnel, whether they are on or off duty, and take breaches of those standards very seriously.

Father-of-two Gooding (pictured) said he had been suffering from severe mental health issues including anxiety and depression following a break up with his former girlfriend of 13 years

When confronted by officers, Gooding (pictured) confessed that he had been driving at the time of the crash

He said he'd 'panicked' and apologised for wasting police time

Prosecutor Miss Betsy Hindle said: 'He rang the police to say his car was stolen and he had been found it damaged whilst walking down the street.

'He was treated a victim of crime at that stage and police came across two reports from members of the public saying there had been a crash between two vehicles  one belonging to Mr Gooding.'

'The report showed the driver of Mr Gooding's vehicle had made off on foot and that he appeared intoxicated.

'Mr Gooding was questioned as to whether he was driver of the car and that he had been intoxicated at the time but he denied this saying he had been on antibiotics and was not able to drink.

'This contradicts his original report to police when he said his vehicle had been stolen as he stated he couldn't remember where he had left his car keys as he had been intoxicated that night.

'He then continued to provide a statement about his allegedly stolen vehicle and even gave a victim personal statement in which he told how 'inconvenient and annoying' it had been that someone had taken his vehicle as he had no car to drive.

'He later gave a saliva sample for DNA tests to be carried out. The DNA on the airbags then came back with a positive ID hit showing it was Mr Gooding himself who was the driver that night.'

Gooding (pictured) was initially treated as a victim of a crime

The soldier, who had been stationed with the Royal Lancers at Catterick Garrison in North Yorkshire, faced a possible jail sentence after pleading guilty to perverting the course of justice

He will not face a court martial and will instead be disciplined at the level of his unit

Gooding was invited to attend a police station for interview during which he admitted he was the driver and hit two other vehicles.

He said he 'panicked' and ran off and apologised for wasting police time. He claimed his friends advised him to report the car as stolen.

Miss Hindle added: 'The maximum sentence for this indictment is life imprisonment. This is an offence that has higher culpability due to conduct over a sustained period of time.

'He had many opportunity's to come clean even when police were asking whether he was in fact the driver. There has been some impact on the administration of justice.'

In mitigation, defence counsel Huw Edwards said: 'This is not a sophisticated offence. This was an extremely foolish number of actions which occurred at a difficult time in his life.

'He wants to apologise to the court and the police. His remorse is heartfelt and genuine.

'He is a corporal in the British Army and will face disciplinary action as a result of this offence.

'He has served for 14 years in the army and completed tours of Afghanistan, Turkey Cyprus and Kenya and is valued for his trustworthiness and ability.

'His relationship with his partner had ended having been together for 13 years and he had a truly terrible year.

'He suffered with mental health issues and was admitted to a psychiatric unit.

'Whatever transpired that night and caused him to lie about it is serious, but bearing in mind these offences can involve murder and hiding and disposing of a weapon, the impact on the administration of justice in this case was limited.'
A teenage cancer patient who was denied a vital lung transplant has tragically died.

Dazelle Peters, 17, who was diagnosed with leukaemia four years ago, lost her fight for life in hospital on Monday morning.

Her father Josh Peters confirmed the heartbreaking news in an video uploaded to several social media platforms.

He thanked everyone who had sent messages of support to Dazelle during her lengthy cancer fight, sparking an outpouring of tributes.

'Just know that Dazelle knew how much you all loved her,' he said.

Dazelle Peters (pictured), 17, who was diagnosed with leukaemia and required life-saving treatment, died in hospital on Monday

'This kid was something special and she deserved better.'

Hundreds of people took to social media to remember Dazelle and express their sympathy.

'Rest in peace, Dazelle, and my condolences to you and your family,' one person wrote.

'Dazelle, I admired you for your courage, strength and your unconditional love that you shared [with] many,' another person said.

Aussie boxer George Kambosos Jr, who met Dazelle in hospital, shared an emotional post on X.

'RIP, beautiful Dazelle. My deepest condolences to her family. Heaven gained a beautiful angel. Dazelle, you'll never be forgotten, an inspiration to everyone you ever met. God bless your parents, that were by your side when you finally spread your wings. Life can be cruel,' he wrote.

Hundreds of people took to social media, including Aussie boxer George Kambosos Jr (left), to express their sorrow after Dazelle (centre) died in hospital

Dazelle had required a double lung transplant to help treat her leukaemia, which is a type of blood cancer, but she had refused to get the Covid-19 jab.

The hospital said Dazelle's lack of a Covid vaccination was a factor in her not being put on the waiting list, but there are other reasons beside that.

She had received a bone marrow transplant in May 2021 and suffered from Graft-versus-host disease, which causes her immune system to attack donor blood cells.

She also contracted a rare form of pneumonia, which specialists at Sydney's St Vincent's Hospital said made Dazelle a potentially immunocompromised patient who needed to be vaccinated.

A hospital spokesperson previously said their 'policies and guidelines wouldn't support transplantation' of an unvaccinated person.

'Vaccination status against various infections is a critical part of this assessment in order to ensure optimal prospects of survival post-transplant,' a St Vincent's hospital spokesperson said.

Mr Peters previously claimed a doctor at the hospital had told his daughter that if she did not get the vaccine and then caught Covid-19, she would be a 'major threat to everyone [in the hospital] who has done the right thing'.

'The way he made us feel was that they didn't want to give her the lung transplant,' Mr Peters, 45, previously told Daily Mail Australia.

Mr Peters claimed a doctor had also said during a consultation at St Vincent's that the hospital would give the lungs to a better candidate because Dazelle was a 'complex case'.

Josh Peters (right) previously claimed a doctor at Sydney's St Vincent's Hospital had said Dazelle would be a threat to others in the hospital if she was not vaccinated

Dazelle's case was brought to the attention of the Federal Assistant Health Minister Ged Kearney in a letter addressed to her by outspoken Liberal MP Russell Broadbent.

Ms Kearney advised 'the Australian Government is unable to intervene in clinical decisions'.

'The priority and treatment given to an individual is ultimately a clinical decision made by the treating hospital and transplant teams involved,' she stated.

She clarified there was no official mandate barring the unvaccinated from getting transplants.

'The guidelines do not prevent a patient who has not received a Covid-19 vaccination from being placed on a transplant waitlist,' Ms Kearney said.

She also said each state and territory was responsible 'for the delivery of the jurisdictional health services, including hospital and transplantation services'.

Federal Assistant Health Minister Ged Kearney said the government could not 'intervene in clinical decisions' as it pertained to the health condition of Dazelle (pictured)

A St Vincent's hospital spokesperson said their 'policies and guidelines wouldn't support transplantation' of an unvaccinated person

The nightmare for the Peters family began when Dazelle was found collapsed in her bedroom, and she was later in and out of John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle.

Although the severity of her condition reduced while Dazelle was being treated in hospital, the toll her body took from various treatments over several years caused Dazelle's kidney, liver and heart to be impaired.

Mr Peters previously told Daily Mail Australia that Dazelle had made up her own mind to not get the Covid vaccination.

'Dazelle has been clear she doesn't want the jabs,' Mr Peters said.

'We can't force her, and the hospital know they can't force her.'

According to the TGA, Covid-19 vaccines can cause some side effects.

The most frequently reported include injection-site reactions (such as a sore arm) and more general symptoms, like headache, muscle pain, fever and chills.

Australian government health guidelines indicate Covid-19 vaccines are safe for people who have chronic health conditions.

Patients receiving end-of-life care are at high risk of becoming seriously ill from the virus.

Patients in Australia who have cancer can decide whether they want to receive the vaccine or not and they can choose to make that decision with healthcare staff.
An Olympic Committee security guard has been arrested for masturbating into female colleagues' water bottles.

The 67-year-old man from Romania was caught on CCTV ejaculating into the metal water bottles of two fellow guards during his night shifts at the Spanish Olympic Committee (COE) office in Madrid, police confirmed.

He had been working in security there for 16 years alongside his wife, who he said was bullied by two female colleagues, aged 39 and 22, and acted in revenge when he masturbated into their drinks, according to local media.

The two victims deny the bullying accusation.

They told police they had been suspecting something was wrong since last November after their bottles were moved repeatedly and the water had a 'strange taste and smell'.

The 67-year-old man from Romania was caught on CCTV ejaculating into the metal water bottles of two fellow guards during his night shifts at the Spanish Olympic Committee (COE) office in Madrid (pictured), police confirmed

But the man's 'revenge' wasn't discovered until other security guards combed through CCTV footage of the office in a theft investigation weeks later.

The footage reportedly showed the man on a night shift as he was masturbating next to the security room and ejaculating directly into the water bottles his female colleagues had left at work.

The COE swiftly fired the man and informed their two employees of what happened, after which the women reported their 67-year-old colleague to the police in January.

He was arrested shortly after and is accused of crimes against moral integrity as well as sexual assaults.

Police say they have at least six incriminating recordings of the arrested man masturbating into the bottles.

At first the man refused to talk to police, but he later claimed he did it to 'avenge his wife' who was 'mistreated' by the two co-workers who 'made her life impossible'.

But the COE says there was no animosity between the man's wife and the two female colleagues.

A COE employee told El Mundo: 'He made it up. One of the girls had only been here for two months.'

The man's wife reportedly claims she did not know anything about what her husband was doing.

The COE confirmed in a statement that they caught the man during a view of internal CCTV footage.

They added that they were collaborating with authorities as part of the ongoing investigation.
Half of the constituencies visited by Rishi Sunak during the election campaign so far were won by the Conservatives with a majority of more than 10,000 votes in 2019.

A MailOnline analysis of campaign visits by the PM revealed his defensive strategy as he attempts to hold what were previously considered safe Tory seats.

Since calling the general election on 22 May, Mr Sunak has visited 32 different constituencies while campaigning.

Of these, 16 were won by the Conservatives at the last general election with a majority of more than 10,000 votes.

Almost all of the seats (29 out of 32) visited by the PM returned a Tory MP in 2019.

By contrast, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has visited 22 different constituences since the election was called, with only four having been won by his party in 2019.

This includes five constituencies held by the Tories with majorities of more than 10,000 votes, in a sign that Labour believe they can win in true-blue heartlands.

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Half of the constituencies visited by Rishi Sunak during the election campaign so far were won by the Conservatives with a majority of more than 10,000 votes in 2019

Sir Keir kicked off Labour's election campaign on 23 May in Gillingham and Rainham, a constituency won by the Tories with a 15,119-vote majority in 2019

Rishi's rearguard action: PM focuses on Tory-held seats

Since calling the general election, the PM has campaigned in 16 seats won by the Tories in 2019 with a majority of more than 10,000 votes. They are: South Northamptonshire (27,761 majority) Richmond and Northallerton (27,210) Hinckley and Bosworth (26,278) Honiton and Sidmouth* (24,239) Horsham (21,127) South East Cornwall (20,971) Cannock Chase (19,879) Wokingham (18,846) Central Devon (17,721) Chesham and Amersham* (16,223) Swindon North (16,171) Herpenden and Berkhamsted (14,408) Didcot and Wantage (12,653) Melksham and Devizes (11,288) Macclesfield (10,711) Erewash (10,606) *seat won by the Lib Dems at a subsequent by-election Advertisement

The only non-Tory seats visited by Mr Sunak since he called the election are DUP-held Belfast East, SNP-held Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire, and Labour-held West Ham and Beckton, where the PM staged a rally at London's Excel Centre.

He chose South Northamptonshire to launch the Conservative manifesto, a seat won by the Tories in 2019 with a majority of 27,761.

Mr Sunak has also campaigned in his own Tory constituency of Richmond and Northallerton (27,210 majority), as well as Hinckley and Bosworth (Tory majority of 26,278), Horsham (21,127), and South East Cornwall (20,971).

Former Chancellor George Osborne recently noted how the PM was 'on defence' during the election campaign.

The ex-Tory minister told his Political Currency podcast last week: 'If you look at where Rishi Sunak has actually been over the last couple of weeks, that is the clearest indication of where the Conservatives think the battleground is.

'So first of all, he is hardly visiting any seats that are not held by the Conservatives, so he's not even pretending there are going to be some Labour seats the Conservatives are going to be winning.'

He added: 'He's visiting Honinton in Devon. He is visiting Harpenden in Hertfordshire, is visiting Macclesfield in Cheshire.

'Those are traditionally safe, Conservative seats that I don't think a Conservative leader would have visited in the general election in my lifetime.'

Sir Keir kicked off Labour's election campaign on 23 May in Gillingham and Rainham, a constituency won by the Tories with a 15,119-vote majority in 2019.

He has also campaigned in Tory-held Stafford (14,377 majority), Nuneaton (13,144), Thurrock (11,482) and South Ribble (11,199).

In total, the Labour leader has visited 15 constituencies won by the Conservatives in 2019.

The Labour leader campaigned in Brighton Pavilion on 26 May, a constituency won by the Green Party in 2019 with a 19,940-vote majority in 2019.

And he has forayed into the SNP-held constituencies of Inverclyde and Renfrewshire West (7,512-vote majority) and Glasgow East (5.566) as he looks to make gains in Scotland.
The wreckage of the plane carrying Malawi's vice president and former first lady has been found after it crashed into a remote forest, the country's president has said.

The military aircraft carrying Saulos Chilima, 51, as well as Malawi's former first lady Shanil Dzimbiri, and eight others, disappeared on Monday.

The plane had failed to land in the northern city of Mzuzu due to bad weather and was told to return to the capital, Lilongwe, but never arrived.

President Lazarus Chakwera said there had been no survivors in the crash.

'The plane has been found and I am deeply saddened and sorry to inform you all, it has turned out to be a terrible tragedy,' he said, in a televised address.

Photographs showed army personnel standing on a foggy slope near debris bearing the registration number of the Malawi army Dornier 228-202K aircraft.

The military plane carrying Vice President Saulos Chilima (pictured), 51, Malawi's former first lady Shanil Dzimbiri, and eight others, disappeared on Monday.

Photographs showed army personnel standing on a foggy slope near debris bearing the registration number of the Malawi army Dornier 228-202K aircraft

Men are seen at the site of the crash on Tuesday

The United States and neighbouring African nations sent search aircraft to help with the search, with operations focused on a forest south of Mzuzu on Tuesday.

'When the plane went missing, we managed to locate the last tower at which the phones had transmitted, that is why we are concentrating our efforts on that area,' Moses Kunkuyu, a spokesman for President Lazarus Chakwera's government, told a news conference earlier in the day.

Army commander General Paul Valentino Phiri said other countries, including Malawi's neighbours, were aiding the effort with helicopters and drones.

The US Embassy in Lilongwe said it was working with the government to 'offer all available assistance' including the use of a C-12 military aircraft.

But footage shared by members of the search team showed bad weather persisted on Tuesday, with foggy conditions hampering visibility.

The group departed just after 9:00 am (0700 GMT) from Lilongwe to attend the funeral of a former cabinet minister some 230 miles away in Mzuzu.

Chakwera said on Monday that soldiers would continue looking for the plane until it was found and the state would spare no resources to that end.

'I know that this is a heartbreaking situation. I know that we are all frightened and concerned,' he said in an evening address to the nation.

'I too am concerned. But I want to assure you that I am sparing no available resource to find that plane, and I am holding on to every fibre of hope that we will find survivors.'

Phiri said the army has set up an emergency command centre and would provide updates every two hours.

First elected vice president in 2014, the charismatic yet stern-talking Chilima is widely loved in Malawi, particularly among young people.

But in 2022, during his second stint in the job, Chilima was stripped of his powers after being arrested and charged with graft over a bribery scandal involving a British-Malawian businessman.

Last month, a Malawian court dropped the charges and he resumed his official duties.

This is a breaking news story. More to follow...
A 36-year-old Dalit woman has requested permission to be euthanised following claims she was brutally gang-raped by three men in India.

The unnamed victim, from a village near Puranpur in the district of Pilibhit in Uttar Pradesh, wrote to Indian President Droupadi Murmu following the alleged sex crime which took place on May 14.

She claims she was attacked by a man named Mohammad Azim, 35, and two of his colleagues, who are said to have given her a drink laced with a sedative that made her unable to fight back.

Azim, an electrician and repairman, was known to the victim and had allegedly used this familiarity to gain her trust.

She is now seeking permission from authorities to terminate her life, the Times of India reports. The extent of the injuries she suffered in the attack is unclear.

The victim is unlikely to receive permission as Indian law only allows passive or 'right to die' euthanasia via the withdrawal of life support from critically ill patients with no hope of recovery.

Sex crimes remain a grave concern in India, with the country recording alarmingly high rates of sexual violence (Activists protest in New Delhi against the rape and murder of a 9-year-old girl in 2021)

The survivor reportedly approached the local police station to file a complaint in the days following the alleged attack, but her request was initially rejected.

It was only after she submitted a written complaint to Superintendent of Police Avinash Pandey that a First Information Report (FIR) was lodged on May 24 - ten days after she claimed to have suffered the attack.

Following the FIR, a medical examination was conducted, but the survivor fears the delay of over ten days rendered the results inconclusive, according to the Times of India.

The victim also criticised the police for charging the accused under Section 376 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which pertains to rape, instead of Section 376D, which specifically addresses gang rape.

Sex crimes remain a grave concern in India, with the country recording alarmingly high rates of sexual violence.

According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), there were 28,046 cases of rape reported across India in 2020 - an average of 77 rape cases per day that year.

In 2021, this figure rose to 31,677 cases.

Dalit women, in particular, are disproportionately affected due to their marginalised social status in India, often facing discrimination and violence with little recourse to justice.

Despite various legal reforms, many survivors encounter significant barriers in the justice system, including delayed investigations, insensitive handling of cases by authorities, and societal stigma.
Former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani is suffering from a 'possible' lung disease related to 9/11, his lawyers have claimed in a new court filing.

Attorneys Gary C. Fischoff and Joan A. Keely, acting on behalf of Giuliani, alleged in a 17-page court filing that the politician's potential condition could limit his 'future health' and 'future earning capacity'.

It comes after creditors last month requested that a bankruptcy judge immediately appoint a trustee to oversee the ex-mayor's finances after he filed for bankruptcy in December 2023 amid mounting legal issues.

The document, filed on Monday in New York, objected the plans to appoint a trustee to manage his debts and argued that the 80-year-old has not been hiding assets or misleading creditors about his income.

Also on Monday, authorities in Arizona released a mug shot of Giuliani in connection to his indictment in the state's 'fake electors' case, which he is accused of pressuring election officials to change the results of the 2020 election.

Former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani is suffering from a 'possible' lung disease related to 9/11, his lawyers have claimed in a new court filing. Giuliani (center) is pictured touring Ground Zero with then-New York Gov. George Pataki (left) and Sen. Hillary Clinton (right) on September 12, 2001

Authorities in Arizona on Monday released a mug shot of Giuliani (pictured) in connection to his indictment in the state's 'fake electors' case, which he is accused of pressuring election officials to change the results of the 2020 election

Giuliani filed for bankruptcy in New York in December last year with staggering debts of $153million owed to creditors including two Georgia election workers he defamed, lawyers, the IRS, and Hunter Biden.

The NYC leader, who became known as 'America's Mayor' in the wake of 9/11, filed court documents showing he had less than $10million in assets.

His bankruptcy filing came after a jury ordered him to pay $148million in damages to election workers Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss for claiming they tried to rig the vote for Joe Biden.

Lawyers for his creditors on May 28 argued in a court filing that a bankruptcy trustee should take over his assets, alleging Giuliani repeatedly lied and deceived creditors about his finances to avoid paying his debts.

But Giuliani's lawyers hit back on Monday, claiming that there 'there is nothing new or unusual about the manner in which [he] operates.'

Fischoff and Keely, in the court filing obtained by DailyMail.com, argued that adding a trustee to his accounts would 'add a new expensive layer of administration' for Giuliani - which they claim would not improve the prospect of repayment for creditors or expand his income.

They claimed that since he has been barred from practicing law, Giuliani's 'only source of employment income is generated from his personal services'.

Citing business ventures including his brand Rudy Coffee and podcast America's Mayor Live, the attorneys argued that the funds currently coming into his estate are 'modest'.

Rudy Giuliani wears a dust mask after a tour of the damage in Lower Manhattan on September 12, 2001 - one day after a terrorist attack on the World Trade Center

The filing alleged that he is currently employed by his own firm, Giuliani Communications LLC, and that his 'gross income for his services are deposited into the entity'.

It also claimed that in the past, 'when the business revenue was insufficient to cover the business expenses', Giuliani used his 'personal funds' to cover the company's expenses.

'There is nothing new or unusual about the manner in which [Giuliani] operates,' the filing states. 'He has always used the income he generates to pay business expenses and then use any remainder to cover personal expenses.'

His attorneys further argued that, however, at the conclusion of 'most months', his company's gross revenue does not exceed its expenses and therefore he receives 'no personal income'.

They also denied the allegations by the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors, who have sought for a trustee to manage his accounts, that Giuliani 'improperly paid $28,000' for his ex-mother-in-law's nursing home care.

Citing the alleged agreements of his divorce, Fischoff and Keely claimed that Giuliani agreed to 'continue to pay expenses for [his ex's] mother' as he had been doing during the divorce case.

His membership at the Palm Beach Yacht Club, the Metropolitan Club in New York and the Metropolitan Museum of Art were also scrutinized by the Committee.

His lawyers, hitting back once again, claimed the fact that Giuliani 'may frequent from time to time a club he is or was a member of' does not equate to 'dishonesty or fraud'.

Additionally, Fischoff and Keely criticized the Committee's recommendation that Giuliani should 'obtain a "paying job" to help pay more than $150,000,00 of claims'.

They added: 'Maybe the Committee also has a suggestion on who would employ an 80 year old disbarred attorney.'

The court filing claimed that since he has been barred from practicing law, Giuliani's 'only source of employment income is generated from his personal services', including his podcast America's Mayor Live. Giuliani is pictured hosting the show last year

Citing business ventures including the podcast and his brand Rudy Coffee, (pictured) Giuliani's attorneys argued that the funds currently coming into his estate are 'modest'

Fischoff and Keely filed the opposition to the Committee's request for a financial trustee the same day that officials in Maricopa County, Arizona released Giuliani's latest mugshot.

The 80-year-old posed for his booking photo after he was indicted in Maricopa County for allegedly pressuring election officials to change the results of the 2020 election. He is seen smirking and looking down in front of the camera.

It's Giuliani's second mugshot, after he was also indicted in August 2023 on election fraud charges in Fulton County along with Donald Trump.

'America's Mayor' has pleaded not guilty to nine charges against him after he appeared in court virtually for a hearing on May 21, where a judge threatened to mute him.

Giuliani is also facing charges in Fulton County, Georgia  where he is among the 18 co-defendants of former President Trump in the election interference case brought by District Attorney Fani Willis.

He came to global prominence as the mayor of New York City on 9/11, but in recent years he became known as Trump's personal lawyer, and a key adviser on his efforts to hold on to power after the 2020 election.

It's Giuliani's second mugshot, after he was also indicted in August 2023 on election fraud charges in Fulton County along with Donald Trump

Just three days before the headshot in the Arizona case was released, Giuliani sparked furious backlash over his comments at the ReAwaken America Tour where he called Willis a 'ho' at an event at a mega church in Michigan.

Meanwhile, at the hearing in Arizona, the judge gave Giuliani 30 days to turn himself in to be arrested.

She also allowed the cash-strapped defendant who has filed for bankruptcy to provide a secured bond for that amount.

Her admonition came as Giuliani attacked the indictment against him and stressed financial hardships, while noting that he has showed up for repeat court appearances.

'I've been sued about 20 to 25 times by a very similar movement to this one, which is the, let's see what we can do to destroy Donald Trump,' Giuliani complained in his online appearance.

'I do consider this indictment a complete embarrassment to the American legal system, but I've shown no tendency not to comply.'

A spokesman for the Trump ally lamented to DailyMail.com that the indictment is 'yet another example of partisan actors weaponizing the criminal justice system to interfere with the 2024 presidential election.'

'Mayor Rudy Giuliani... will be fully vindicated,' Ted Goodman added.

Giuliani has filed for bankruptcy and has faced mounting legal issues in the last two years

Giuliani was served notice of his indictment in the Arizona 'fake electors' case as he celebrated his 80th birthday with MAGA allies including Roger Stone and Steve Bannon in Palm Beach last month.

'The mayor was completely unfazed and even laughed as he was handed the papers and drove away,' said an outraged attendee.

'Guests were visibly angry as they shouted at the individuals that served the former mayor.'

Some were left in tears, said the source, as if it were all a part of an effort to humiliate and intimidate Giuliani and his friends.

Earlier Giuliani taunted Arizona officials from the party, posting on X that they were running out of time to serve him in the case.

Prosecutors had been trying for weeks to deliver official notice that we he has to appear in court on May 21.

Giuliani spokesman Ted Goodman said the former New York mayor was unfazed by the episode.

'He enjoyed an incredible evening with hundreds of people who love him  from all walks of life  and we look forward to vindication soon,' he said.

Several members of Trump's inner circle have been indicted in the Arizona case.

Giuliani was served notice of his indictment in the Arizona 'fake electors' case as he celebrated his 80th birthday with MAGA allies including Roger Stone and Steve Bannon in Palm Beach last month

The include his former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, legal adviser Boris Epshteyn, and former campaign aide Mike Roman.

Trump himself is not named in the indictment, but he is believed to be 'Unindicted Coconspirator 1.'

'In Arizona, and the United States, the people elected Joseph Biden as President on November 3, 2020,' the indictment reads.

'Unwilling to accept this fact, defendants and unindicted coconspirators schemed to prevent the lawful transfer of the presidency to keep Unindicted Coconspirator 1 in office against the will of Arizona's voters.'
A student at a Catholic boys' high school has been expelled after he made graphic images of a female teacher using artificial intelligence.

The 15-year-old from Salesian College in Chadstone in Melbourne's south-east was expelled for creating the explicit images using an AI app in May.

The school immediately launched an investigation into the matter and took steps to remove the student.

Salesian College continues to provide support to the affected teacher and insisted it hadn't received any complaints from parents.

However, some parents have since told the Herald Sun that they were shocked and angry when they became aware of the student's appalling actions.

The expelled student attended Salesian College in Chadstone, Melbourne. The all-boys school quickly made steps to expel the boy when they were aware of what he had done

'Its very upsetting that this has occurred and we feel for the teacher involved,' one parent said.

Another parent described AI as 'evil' and were concerned about the use of the technology in this type of situation.

The incident comes days after leading consent campaigner Chanel Contos called for all Australian high school students to receive porn literacy classes.

Ms Contos believes the rate of young teens accessing explicit material was a 'public health issue'.

The campaigner said the 'next step' for secondary classrooms was school leaders talking about the dangers of pornography to pupils.

In February, more than 100 explicit private videos and photos of underage school students were found published on social media.

The footage and images were from both public and private schools and had been shared on several Instagram accounts without students' permission.

In a scourge in this type of activity, last year students were caught posting doctored pornographic images of teachers on social media - as well as filming classroom altercations amid an escalation of hatred towards teachers.
An Albanian killer who used a false name to hide from the police for nearly half a decade and set up a new life for himself after punching his boss during a vicious attack has been jailed.

Arjan Balla, 41, managed to slip under the radar using a false identity while was wanted by British authorities for killing his boss Anastassios Delis following a brutal assault after losing his job at a steel company.

He had been working in the UK illegally under the name Tahir Karaj and was given a three year jail term in 2007 for causing GBH, but he was released after a year and deported to Albania.

Balla was wanted for a second time after Mr Delis died from his injuries 11 years later. Astonishingly, the thug managed to return to Britain and settle in Whyteleafe, Surrey where he ran a business for four years before he was finally caught at Stansted Airport following a trip to Albania.

But because Balla was known as Karaj to the British authorities it took an 'intelligence led' investigation with the aid of the National Crime Agency to reveal his true name.

On Monday at Southampton Crown Court Balla was jailed for 12 months after admitting manslaughter.

Arjan Balla was jailed for 12 months for killing Anastassios Delis

Police at the scene of the attack in Queensway, Southampton, in 2006

Mr Delis spent 11 years at a care home in a 'vegetative state' having been punched in head by Balla and then hitting his head on the ground as he fell.

His wife Christine said he faced a 'living death' as he required around the clock care and was in a coma.

Mr Delis, a father three, died from his injuries in December 2017, aged 68, and the CPS authorised manslaughter charges in 2019. However, Balla was not arrested until January 2024.

It emerged that from 2020 he was in Whyteleafe, Surrey, having set up a new life and even a business there.

Judge Christopher Parker KC said: 'The taking of human life should be acknowledged even as late as this. The passage of time does not erase the impact of what you did all those years ago.'

Judge Parker KC said it was a 'planned confrontation in which there was a highly predictable escalation into violence. He said: 'There were two or three blows. When he was on the ground he was kicked unnecessarily as it turned out.'

In a statement read out in the previous court proceedings, Mrs Delis said her life had been 'destroyed', describing her husband as 'a hardworking man who has worked all of his life'.

Shockingly a year later - with an arrest warrant out for him - Balla returned to Britain and settled in Whyteleafe, Surrey where he ran a business

Despite being rushed to hospital and emergency surgery, Mr Delis was left unable to breathe for himself and could only open his eyes. The court was told how he sustained 'serious head injuries' and suffered 'severe impairment of consciousness'. A postmortem found that his death was as a result of the delayed effects of the head injury caused in November 2006.

Prosecutor Sally Howes KC said: 'There is no doubt that the initial head injury was the underlying cause.'

Matthew Farmer, defending, said his client 'expresses his remorse' and takes 'responsibility for what happened'.

He added: 'When he took the decision he made to confront Mr Delis back in 2006 he was 24. What he did is something he is and will always be ashamed of. I cannot maintain that it is a one-punch manslaughter. But it is not far off it.

'He was, reading between the lines, I would submit, essentially trying to get his job back.'

Hampshire Constabulary's Police Staff Investigator Gary Sumner, who led the manslaughter investigation, told of the complications they faced.

He said: 'Initial enquiries following the victim's death were hampered by the fact that Balla had been under a false identity in the UK, even throughout the initial GBH criminal investigation and his imprisonment.

'That meant that initial efforts to locate him under the name Tahir Karaj were unsuccessful, causing us complex difficulties throughout the investigation.

'Following our own enquiries, alongside the support of the National Crime Agency, we were eventually able to determine that Karaj was in fact named Arjan Balla and he was arrested and charged swiftly after that.'

Anthony Johns, Senior Crown Prosecutor with CPS Wessex, said: 'This was an incredibly tragic case, spanning nearly two decades and involving organisations across the criminal justice system and our international partners in Europe.

'Once it became clear that Mr Delis died as a direct result of Balla's actions, we were determined to prosecute him to the fullest extent of the law and demonstrate that neither time nor evasion will prevent justice being served.'
European Council chief Charles Michel is moving to ban Ursula von der Leyen from talks deciding whether she keeps her role as the president of the European Commission.

The two have been bitter rivals ever since 'sofagate', which saw von der Leyen being left without a chair at a meeting between Turkey and the European Union in 2021 to discuss women's rights. She had to sit down on a nearby sofa instead.

Now Michel has proposed to exclude von der Leyen from a meeting between EU leaders and heads of member states next week, in which they will discuss who should take the top jobs at the helm of the EU following the elections.

The European Council president said von der Leyen should be banned from attending the talks as she is hoping for a second term in office, the Telegraph reports.

While the commission's president is usually included in council talks, von der Leyen vying for a second stint in office makes the situation unprecedented as no other sitting commission president has attempted this in the past.

European Council chief Charles Michel (pictured) is moving to ban Ursula von der Leyen from talks deciding whether she keeps her role as the president of the European Commission

Now Michel has proposed to exclude von der Leyen (pictured) from a meeting between EU leaders and heads of member states next week, in which they will discuss who should take the top jobs at the helm of the EU following the elections last week

Ursula von der Leyen was left irritated after being sidelined during talks between the EU and Turkey in Ankara in 2021 after her two male counterparts took the only available seats

But Michel is facing backlash over wanting to exclude von der Leyen.

'If he wants to eliminate her from the room, he should eliminate himself as well,' an EU diplomat told Politico. Another source added: 'There's some irritation.'

The latest twist in their rivalry comes after the 'sofagate' scandal in April 2021, when Turkey's president Erdogan and Michel took the two available chairs, while von der Leyen was left standing awkwardly, before taking a seat on a nearby sofa.

Turkey strongly rejected accusations that it snubbed von der Leyen because of her gender, while Michel blamed Turkey - despite the fact he did not appear to offer his colleague his seat either.

The incident took place in Ankara on April 6, 2021, as von der Leyen met with Erdogan, alongside her European colleague Michel.

Video showed how von der Leyen was left standing to one side and uttered an audible 'ahem' as Michel and Erdogan took the only two available seats - with neither offering her their chair even after she protested.

She was instead left to perch on a nearby sofa, positioned a distance from the two men, as they held the lengthy talks on Turkey's relations with the EU, including Erdogan's decision to withdraw from a treaty protecting women's rights.

The images drew intense criticism on social media and accusations of gender discrimination with a 'sofagate' hashtag trending.

It was quickly pointed out that in previous meetings in Turkey when both EU representatives were male, both were offered seats.

Ankara insisted that the EU's own protocol requests were applied during the meeting at the Turkish presidential palace.

The two have been bitter rivals ever since 'sofagate', which saw von der Leyen being left without a chair at a meeting between Turkey and the European Union to discuss women's rights. Instead she had to sit down on a sofa

But Michel said that the embarrassment was the result of the 'strict interpretation' by Turkish services of protocol rules, and he regretted 'the differentiated, even diminished, treatment of the president of the European Commission'.

He said photographs of the meeting gave the impression that he was 'indifferent' to the situation.

'Nothing could be further from the truth, or from my deeply held feelings  or indeed from the principles of respect which I hold so dear,' he said.

'At the time, while realising the regrettable nature of the situation, we decided not to make matters worse by creating a scene.'

Michel stayed seated in the chair next to Erdogan for the full two-and-a-half hour meeting, while von der Leyen sat on the sofa.

Von der Leyen's spokesman said afterwards that Turkey had breached protocol by failing to offer her a chair, as it has done to other male commission presidents in the past, but that she decided to 'prioritize substance over protocol' by staying.

But, the spokesman added, 'let me stress that the president expects that the institution that she represents to be treated with the required protocol, and she has therefore asked her team to take all appropriate contacts in order to ensure that such an incident does not occur in the future.'

Von der Leyen later said in a speech that it 'happened because I'm a woman'.

Diplomatic protocol dictates that the EU commission president and council president, holding equal rank, should be seated in an equal manner.
Rebecca Grossman's teenage daughter wept as she left court following her mom's sentencing of 15 years to life for the murder of two young brothers she hit with her car.

Alexis Grossman, 19, sobbed as she made her way out of Los Angeles Superior Courthouse on Monday.

She has been present throughout her mom's trial over the hit-and-run killings of Mark, 11, and Jacob Iskander, eight.

Grossman fatally struck the siblings while speeding behind a car driven by her then-lover Scott Erickson, a former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher, before fleeing the scene.

Alexis was in the packed courthouse to hear her sentence being handed down as Judge Joseph Brandolino condemned her mom's 'incredibly selfish behavior'.

Rebecca Grossman's teenage daughter wept as she left court following her mom's sentencing of 15 years to life for the murder of two young brothers she hit with her car

Alexis Grossman, 19, sobbed as she made her way out of Los Angeles Superior Courthouse on Monday

The teen left the proceedings hand in hand with her brother Nick, keeping her gaze to the floor.

The siblings trailed their father Dr Peter Grossman, who has also stuck by his wife during the trial.

Sporting a pair of black pants and a loose black shirt, a devastated Alexis shed tears as they exited the emotional hearing.

Just before the judge handed down the sentence, Grossman addressed the Iskander family directly and was barely coherent because she was talking so loudly and weeping.

The boys' mother, Nancy, got up and was about to leave the court when Grossman begged her to stay, saying she had been wanting to speak to her.

She begged her: 'Please don't leave. I've waited almost four years to reach out to you.'

Nancy sat back in her seat and put her head down in front of her as Grossman continued to speak directly to the grieving mother.

Grossman continued: 'All l've ever wanted to do is to tell you how sorry I am. And I did write. I don't know if the prosecution ever gave them to you. ... They said I would be tampering with witnesses if I reached out to you. ... I'm so sorry I wasn't able to because I was threatened by the prosecutor.

The teen left the proceedings hand in hand with her brother Nick, keeping her gaze to the floor

The siblings trailed their father Dr Peter Grossman, who has also stuck by his wife during the trial

The Iskander boys, Mark and Jacob, 11 and 8, died at the scene of the accident after Grossman's Mercedes hit them at high speed

'I just wanted to be a human being. When I couldn't be a human being and talk to you parent to parent, mother to mother... I wanted to leave this world because I didn't want to be here anymore and you have to believe me. And I believe God is in this room right now, and I believe He knows the truth.

'He knows that if I had seen anyone, I would've thrown myself to the brick wall. I wanted God to take my life. I don't know why God didn't take my life.

'I wish He would take my life. And if I could give my life right now and say to God, 'Could you just please bring Mark and Jacob back,' I would tell God to take my life. I am so, so sorry!'

Struggling to catch her breath, Grossman continued and said she did not flee the scene and instead stayed by her car for 20 minutes and was in a 'state of denial.

'I just had a break with reality and everything was moving in slow motion. My pain is nothing compared to your pain. Not even a fraction. That's why I wish there was something I could do.'

After she spoke, Grossman put her head down on the table and continued to heave and sob loudly.

Karim Iskander listened to Grossman, but did not look at her directly. He stroked his wife's back as she continued to quietly sob into her hands.

The sentencing came after months of moving testimony, including from Jacob's best friend Bodie Wallace, who told the court that the song '10,000 reasons' upsets him now as he thinks of the many reasons why Grossman never apologized right away., the LA Times reports.

Upon hearing his remarks, Grossman lost control again and doubled over with sobs in her chair.

Citing a lack of remorse for her actions, prosecutors had asked for the maximum penalty of two 15 years to life sentences to run consecutively - one for each young boy.

Just before the judge handed down the sentence, Grossman addressed the Iskander family directly and was barely coherent because she was talking so loudly and weeping

Mark and Nancy Iskander leave court after Grossman's sentencing on Monday

Erickson played with the Los Angeles Dodgers from 2005 for a year, then ended his career with the New York Yankees in 2006

However prosecutors noted she could be eligible for parole in six to seven years if she gains credit for good behavior.

Grossman's defense attorney, Samuel Josephs, asked the judge to consider leniency, arguing that the charges are in the 'lowest end' of the malice cases.

'This was an absolutely tragic accident,' Josephs said. 'What Mrs. Grossman did at the scene is consistent with someone in complete shock.'

Josephs also added it was actually the prosecution who told his client not to contact the family, and that the prosecution was now trying to 'weaponize' this.

He said the prosecution and media have unfairly painted Grossman as a socialite and highlighted her work in the community and with female burns' victims.

Her son Nick also pleaded with the court for clemency, telling the judge, 'My mother is not the bad person the media has painted.

'Nothing compares to what the Iskanders are going through, but ever since the accident, it's just felt like the world hates my mom and everyone is against our family.'
Donald Trump completed his pre-sentencing interview with a New York City probation officer from his home in Florida on Monday.

Along with attorney Todd Blanche, Trump sat for the interview on Monday afternoon ahead of his sentencing scheduled for 10 a.m. on July 11 after he was found guilty last month of 34 felony charges in his Manhattan hush money trial.

'The President and his team will continue to fight the lawless Manhattan DA Witch Hunt,' a source familiar with the proceedings claimed.

Pre-sentencing meetings are usually the time when the defense seeks to lighten the potential sentencing. Additionally, the legal team can submit to the judge letters of support from the friends and family of the 2024 Republican presidential candidate.

Trump's legal team is scheduled to submit sentencing recommendations on Thursday, a source familiar with the plan revealed.

Former President Donald Trump completed his pre-sentencing interview virtually with New York City probation officers on Monday afternoon. Pictured: Trump arrives to speak at a campaign rally in Las Vegas, Nevada on June 9, 2024

The virtual interview was 'unusual' because criminals are usually required to attend the procedure in-person and critics claim it exhibits the 'special treatment' the former president is receiving in his felony conviction.

Judge Juan Merchan could sentence the former president to anything from probation to a maximum 20-year sentence in state prison in New York.

A New York City official familiar with the interview with probation officers told CNN that Trump answered all questions posed and was described as 'polite, respectful and accommodating.'

Another source familiar with the proceedings explained: 'Earlier today, President Trump completed a routine interview with [the] New York Probation Office. The interview was uneventful and lasted less than thirty minutes.'

Defendants are typically asked during pre-sentencing interviews about their conviction and basic background information.

While defendants are not required to cooperate with routine pre-sentencing investigations, a judge can view that negatively heading into the sentencing.

The fact that Trump was able to have his pre-sentencing meeting over Zoom angered some critics who claim the presumed GOP presidential nominee is receiving special treatment. Specifically, some pointed to the fact that due to the virtual nature of the interview, Trump was not subjected to drug testing, which is typical at a pre-sentencing interview.

'There's been no explanation whatsoever for why this convicted felon gets to do what would normally be mandatory in-person meetings over Zoom, but we can already see the value in this special treatment for Trump, as it's *essential* that he hide any illicit drug use from voters,' author Seth Abramson said in a post on X.

He continued: 'There is no excuse for Trump not being in NYC. He has a home there. He has a private jet. He's supposedly a billionaire. His private attorney will fly with him anywhere in the world.'

'Yet if this were you or me we would *have* to go to NYC, whereas *he* is asked to do *nothing*,' Abramson concluded.

Trump's attorney Todd Blanche (right) joined the former president for the virtual pre-sentencing interview on Monday. Trump's legal team will submit sentencing recommendations on Thursday

Other users also took issue with the virtual interview.

One user posted to X: 'Can't wait to see how they spin this as not being special treatment,' and another wrote: 'He's definitely getting special treatment.'

'Unfortunately, he still gets special treatment,' another user posted. 'There was no drug test and a Zoom meeting with his lawyer to hold his fragile hand. The American justice system is looking increasingly weak.'

However, Former Commissioner of New York City's Department of Corrections and Probation Martin Horn, told NBC News a virtual interview was likely 'better for the probation officer' because an in-person meeting with Trump could 'be very disruptive to the probation office and unfair to other defendants who might not want to be identified.'

Following the interview on Monday, the probation officer will now report to Judge Merchan ahead of sentencing, which is set just four days before the start of the Republican National Convention.

The convention will take place this year in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Trump is expected to be nominated for a third time as the GOP candidate for president.
King Charles' first official portrait was vandalised by animal rights campaigners today while on display at the Philip Mould gallery in London.

Two protesters from group called Animal Rising climbed over security rope in front of shocked visitors before defacing the painting with Wallace and Gromit-inspired poster.

At around midday, the duo covered the monarch's face with an image of the animated character Wallace and stuck a speech bubble to the painting with a message about 'cruelty' on RSPCA farms.

It read: 'No Cheese, Gromit. Look At All This Cruelty On RSPCA Farms!'

The painting - which was partly inspired by the King's history of environmental work - is understood to be kept behind Perspex, so should not have been damaged.

Animal Rising are calling on King Charles to suspend his support for the charity, of which he is the Royal Patron, until they drop the Assured Scheme - which is there to protect animal welfare standards.

Do you know these activists? Email matthew.cox@mailonline.co.uk

Animal Rising zealots have vandalised the new portrait of King Charles at the Philip Mould gallery in London

At around 12pm two campaigners stuck Wallace and Gromit posters attacking the RSPCA over the face of His Majesty

The King's painting, by renowned artist Jonathan Yeo, was commissioned in 2020 to celebrate the then-Prince of Wales's 50 years as a member of The Drapers' Company

Daniel Juniper, one of those involved, said: 'Even though we hope this is amusing to His Majesty, we also call on him to seriously reconsider if he wants to be associated with the awful suffering across farms being endorsed by the RSPCA'

Daniel Juniper and Ben Thomas put up the stickers and stood in reception until they were asked to leave. They stayed nearby the gallery for around 2 hours, but police never showed.

'With King Charles being such a big fan of Wallace and Gromit, we couldn't think of a better way to draw his attention to the horrific scenes on RSPCA Assured farms,' Mr Juniper said.

'Even though we hope this is amusing to His Majesty, we also call on him to seriously reconsider if he wants to be associated with the awful suffering across farms being endorsed by the RSPCA.

'Charles has made it clear he is sensitive to the suffering of animals in UK farms; now is the perfect time for him to step up and call on the RSPCA to drop the Assured Scheme and tell the truth about animal farming.'

He told the Daily Mail: 'We chose to take part in the action today to directly communicate with King Charles today.

'He is the Royal patron of the RSPCA and we have released the UK's investigation into the RSPCA.

'We are calling on the RSPCA to drop the assured scheme and for King Charles to stand up for the animals and the environment that he loves and start protecting it by getting the RSPCA to drop the assurance scheme.

'We didn't damage the painting at all. The painting is covered in glass.

'The aim of today was to create public discourse and directly communicate with King Charles, the RSPCA and the public, but we were ok with getting arrested because we believe this issue is really important.'

He previously told VegFest: 'I believe in fighting for animals and the climate and will stop at nothing until we have a kind, liveable, sustainable future for all life.'

Mr Thomas added today: 'American tourists who saw the action were laughing and they found it funny and asked to take pictures of us. The reaction was quite positive.

'In this portrait specifically there is a butterfly on King Charles' shoulder to represent how he cares for the environment.

'He takes a lot of pride in caring about the environment and animal farming is a huge contributor to the climate crisis.

'So if he was actually aware of what this scheme which he is a patron of is actively doing then I believe he would be against that and be pro the message we are trying to present.'

Linda, 75, who was visiting the gallery today with her friend said: 'It's a ludicrous way to protest and a stupid thing to do.

'It's just completely juvenile. If we had been here when it had happened, I would have been really upset.'

Lois, 68, and Jim, 73, a married couple who visiting from America, added: 'I don't think they should be defacing property that doesn't belong to them. People don't have the right to deface property that doesn't belong to them.

'They should have been arrested and prosecuted and should have to face the consequences for their actions.'

The action is an attempt by the group to raise awareness for their recent investigation into 45 RSPCA Assured farms where they allegedly found 280 legal breaches and 94 breaches of DEFRA regulations.

Mr Juniper (pictured) previously said: 'I believe in fighting for animals and the climate and will stop at nothing until we have a kind, liveable, sustainable future for all life'

The action is an attempt by the group to raise awareness for their recent investigation into 45 RSPCA Assured farms where they allegedly found 280 legal breaches and 94 breaches of DEFRA regulations

Orla Coghlan, an Animal Rising spokesperson, said: 'Just as Feathers McGraw fooled Wallace into a bank heist, the RSPCA has been fooling the British public into thinking their factory farms are - in any way - an acceptable place for animals to live'

A married couple who visiting from America said: 'They should have been arrested and prosecuted and should have to face the consequences for their actions'

The activists claim to have found animal cruelty and suffering at each farm, including alleged scenes of dead and dying baby chickens, dead pigs left in farm walkways, and salmon being eaten alive by sea lice.

Orla Coghlan, an Animal Rising spokesperson, said: 'Just as Feathers McGraw fooled Wallace into a bank heist, the RSPCA has been fooling the British public into thinking their factory farms are - in any way - an acceptable place for animals to live.

'It's clear from the scenes across 45 RSPCA Assured farms that there's no kind way to farm animals.

'The RSPCA needs to take a bolder stance on the transition to a plant-based food system, beginning with calls for drastic meat reduction. The charity can, once again, lead the way for animals in the UK, rather than keeping them in misery.'

Gallery owner Philip Mould told the PA news agency: 'We had anticipated that there might be these type of responses.

'[The painting] is safely secured in its frame with protective layers.

'One always lives with that thought these days. I wasn't hugely surprised.

'The attack on the picture was not actually of a serious nature. The perpetrators put water on the surface very quickly in a swift manoeuvre and then they added stickers to that.

'No damage was done. The stickers only remained up for about 10 or 15 seconds, and then were taken down by my gallery staff.

'I asked the individuals to leave and they did.'

The group also caused chaos in April 2023 as they stormed the Scottish Grand National. The track at Ayr Racecourse was infiltrated by 24 protestors who were later charged.

Animal Rising is an offshoot of Extinction Rebellion, and posted before the 200,000 race: 'Twenty-five supporters of Animal Rising have made it onto the track at the Scottish Grand National, to put their bodies in the way of harm, and protect animals.

'They're attempting to attach themselves to jumps and gates in order to cancel the big race.

'This afternoon 8-year-old Oscar Elite died on the very same track. We take action today with them in our hearts.

'A horse dies every other day in racing in the UK. We are here to protect horses by saying NO to this barbaric 'sport'.

'There are plenty of other things we can have fun doing on a Saturday afternoon that don't involve watching animals come to harm.

'Last week at Aintree was just the beginning. The Summer of Animal Rising is upon us.'

Animal Rising also caused chaos as they stormed the Scottish Grand National in April 2023. The track at Ayr Racecourse was infiltrated by 24 protestors who were later charged

The group, an offshoot of Extinction Rebellion, promised: 'The Summer of Animal Rising'

Pictured: Animal Rising activists at May 2023's Grand National at Epsom, which was delayed for 15 minutes by the activists

But the disruption didn't delay the event and the 18-horse race and was won by racehorse Kitty's Light.

King Charles became the RSPCA's Royal Patron last month with the charity referencing his 'huge passion for nature and regenerative farming and his continued support for the RSPCA and the future of animal welfare' after the announcement.

It adds that though there is no specific job description for the role, first held by Queen Victoria in 1840, 'they play a vital role in recognising and promoting the contributions and achievements of charitable organisations like the RSPCA'.

The charity's Assured scheme involves six pledges promoting animal welfare. Assured farms should never cage livestock, provide a 'physically and mentally stimulating environment', have their animals slaughtered humanely, give more living space to animals, use antibiotics responsibly and be traceable from food they produce.

Animal Rising's report claims that investigators found a dead and decomposing pig in a walkway of one farm and a shed containing approximately 64,000 chickens on another.

RSPCA President Chris Packham commented on the expose by saying: 'I found [the footage] extraordinarily difficult to watch. I felt sick, frankly. Animal suffering is animal suffering no matter where it is, but when it's happening in your own backyard - when we should be in a position to guard against it - it hurts more.'

According to The Times, he has asked RSPCA executives to suspend the Assured scheme on the back of Animal Rising's report.

The RSPCA have said that they will investigate the allegations but would not scrap the initiative, adding that the majority of farms meet the required standards.

The King unveiled the portrait last month in front of the artist, Queen Camilla and other guests

Yeo spoke of a butterfly on the portrait echoing Charles's 'metamorphosis' from Prince to King during the process - and the monarch joked that it was nice to know he was a chrysalis. But it was also a reflection of his lifelong commitment to the environment

The portrait vandalised today, painted by renowned artist Jonathan Yeo, was in part inspired by the King's history of environmental commitment.

It was commissioned in 2020 to celebrate the then-Prince of Wales's 50 years as a member of The Drapers' Company and depicts His Majesty wearing the uniform of the Welsh Guards, of which he was made Regimental Colonel in 1975.

Yeo spoke of a butterfly on the portrait echoing Charles's 'metamorphosis' from Prince to King during the process - and the monarch joked that it was nice to know he was a chrysalis. But it was also a reflection of his lifelong commitment to the environment.

The canvas size - approximately 8.5ft by 6.5ft framed - was carefully considered to fit within the architecture of Drapers' Hall and the context of the paintings it will eventually hang alongside, but it is currently on display in London's Philip Mould gallery.
A 'pup-play' fetishist in bondage gear and a dog mask bit off more than he could chew when he tried to befriend a little girl's Labrador at the LA Pride parade.

Thousands came out to see the colorfully dressed marchers make their way down Hollywood Boulevard on Sunday, with many wearing the animal masks associated with the BDSM subculture.

But one shirtless activist found his attempt to reach out rebuffed after he ducked down to say hello to a little girl in a pink dress and ponytail, standing alongside a woman wearing a Palestinian flag.

The dog had been bedecked in a rainbow flag but did not seem to welcome the approach, lunging at the canine imposter and sending him scuttling back to the march with his tail between his legs.

'The dog knew what's up and didn't like it,' wrote one viewer on X.

A little girl's Labrador offered no solidarity to a play-pup fan who tried to befriend it at LA Pride

The snubbed fetishist beat a hasty retreat after the rainbow-decked animal lunged at him

'They'll excuse it by saying she's just a kid and doesn't understand,' another added.

'But all the adults around her understand and that's kind of the problem.'

Revelers had gathered for the world's longest-running Pride parade after the celebrations kicked off on Saturday with a concert headed by Ricky Martin at Los Angeles State Historic Park.

Former Star Trek actor and longtime LGBT activist George Takei headed the parade as 'Icon Grand Marshal'.

'As someone who has witnessed the struggles and triumphs of our community over the years, I am filled with gratitude for the progress we have made and inspired to continue the fight for full acceptance and equality for all,' he said in a statement.

LA Mayor Karen Bass waved to the onlookers from the back of a convertible pink Cadillac as she took part in the parade.

'We wrap our arms around you,' Bass told event sponsors ABC7. 'We love everyone in Los Angeles and we lift up the LGBTQ+ community.'

'I'm excited to be here,' added LAPD interim chief Dominic Choi.

'It's a great opportunity to showcase our department and our partners in law enforcement, and our inclusivity and our diversity.'

Takei was joined by veteran wrestler Cassandro, El Exotico and LA Fire Department Chief Kristin Crowley as honorary marshals.

'Power in Pride' was the theme of the LA's Pride parade this year on Hollywood Boulevard

The parade, established in 1970, is the longest-running in the world

LA Mayor Karen Bass was keen to show her support: 'We wrap our arms around you,' she said

Former Star Wars activist George Takei was honored as 'Icon Grand Marshal'

'These individuals epitomize this year's theme of Power in Pride, not just through their own achievements, but through their unwavering commitment to advancing LGBTQ+ rights and visibility,' said sponsor Gerald Garth.

'As this year's grand marshals, they embody the essence of empowerment, showing us that our differences are not obstacles but sources of strength. 'Together, they inspire us to embrace our identities, break barriers.'

The pup-play contingent were also prominently on display, warmly greeting supporters lining the route.

The fetish has exploded in popularity since 2014 and sees players don an array of masks, hoods, muzzles, collars, leashes, mitts and tails, sometimes coupled with brightly-hued knee socks stamped with paw prints.

'The collar is really important symbolically and that is something that most of us tend to wear almost all the time, at least when we're in non-work settings,' Dr Phillip Hammock a psychology professor at University of California, Santa Cruz told DailyMail.com.

'The collar signals our pup identity. It has our tag on it.

'There was sort of this subculture starting to develop and take hold of being a pup or puppy and it appealed to me because it seemed like a more nurturing sort of approach to engaging in some kink play or kink activity.'

But many on social media were appalled to see so many children dressed in rainbow colors cheering on a parade of near-naked men outfitted in sexualized clothing.

Celebrations kicked off on Saturday with a concert headed by Ricky Martin at Los Angeles' State Historic Park

But many on social media were appalled to see so many children dressed in rainbow colors cheering on a parade of near-naked men outfitted in sexualized clothing

The event finished with an LA Pride block party that continued into the evening

'It's all so tiresome,' wrote one. 'How can anyone think this is remotely appropriate for children?'

'Legitimate child abuse to take your child to one of these parades of degeneracy,' added another.

'There was a time when people kept this locked up behind closed doors and enjoyed the secrecy about it,' observed a third.

'Kind of like classic raves. Nobody knew but everybody that wanted to know, knew. We don't care what you do, we just don't want you to blast it in front of the children.'
This is the incredible moment a stranded kite surfer was rescued in California after he used rocks to spell a word in the sand.

Dramatic video captured by the Cal Fire San Mateo-Santa Cruz Unit was posted to X on Sunday as rescuers saved the unidentified man from Davenport Beach, about 50 minutes outside of San Jose.

A private helicopter first spotted the man and called 911 after they noticed his life-saving message drawn in the sand that read 'HELP.'

The helicopter was not able to land on the beach due to safety concerns, so instead, the aircraft hovered over the sand to save the stranded surfer.

The surfer did not require medical attention, the Cal Fire San Mateo-Santa Cruz Unit said in a Facebook post.

A kite surfer (in black) was rescued after a private helicopter noticed his 'HELP' message that he wrote in the sand at Davenport Beach on Sunday

The surfer did not require medical attention, the Cal Fire San Mateo-Santa Cruz Unit said in a Facebook post. (pictured: A rescuer and the surfer landing on the top of a nearby bluff)

The breathtaking encounter starts with a rescuer being lowered to the sand from the chopper.

While the waves crash nearby, the rescuer makes their way to the man standing on the beach with another member of the fire department.

As they stand on land together, one of the rescuers attached a cable to the man as his kite, surfboard and large message is seen in the background.

Once he's attached to the cable, the rescuer motions to the pilot to lift them up.

Seconds later, the two are seen floating in the air as the chopper guides them to the top of the hill above the beach where they land.

'That was a different type of 911 call than we usually get,' California Department of Forestry Fire Captain Skylar Merritt told the Los Angeles Times.

The Cal Fire San Mateo-Santa Cruz Unit posted an incredible video of the moment the crew rescued and brought him to safety

The rescue helicopter was unable to land on the beach due to the weather conditions so it hovered over the beach and picked up the surfer

'At the very least, the helicopter that spotted him made it much quicker, where he didn't have to worry about hypothermia or dehydration.'

When the man was first spotted, California State Park lifeguards were able to swim to the beach to make contact with him. Merritt said it was there that they determined that even though he was not harmed, he was physically stuck.

Merritt added that the surfer was spotted just a couple hours after arriving on the beach.

The team of rescuers conducted a 'static pick' operation to rescue the man by hooking him up to cables and flying him over to the bluffs.

Merritt explained that the man is an experienced windsurfer who happened to face dangerous conditions that day.

'It was a combination of decent size surf and what they call a wind shadow.' Merritt said.

California Department of Forestry Fire Captain Skylar Merritt said that the man is an experienced windsurfer who happened to face dangerous conditions that day

A wind shadow occurs when high bluffs block wind from hitting a nearby ocean, which in turn, makes it hard for kite surfers to control their boards in the water.

The fire captain said that when rescuers touched down on the beach, the surfer was ecstatic that they found him.

'He felt very lucky when he first saw the helicopter, he gave them a thumbs up. He was so happy to see them... [but] he wasnt exactly sure that communicated he needed help,' Merritt told the Los Angeles Times.

The rescue was successfully executed in a joint operation between the Santa Clara and Santa Cruz fir departments, Cal Fire and California State Parks.

'It turned out well and were really lucky we have all our partnering agencies that made it such a quick, successful operation,' Merritt said.
The Wisconsin father who rushed the stage at his daughter's high school graduation to stop her from shaking hands with the superintendent detailed the exchange that left him enraged.

Matt Eddy, 49, interrupted the Baraboo High School ceremony on May 31 as his daughter was about to receive her diploma and pushed superintendent Rainey Briggs aside.

The father was escorted out of the building following the confrontation and arrested for disorderly conduct.

Video of his interview with police obtained by DailyMail.com showed Eddy claimed he felt Briggs slighted his daughter during a meeting and he was unworthy of shaking her hand.

'I didnt want him to be able to shake her f*****g hand because he did not deserve it after all the s**t she went through in this district,' Eddy said.

Matt Eddy, 49, told police he stopped his daughter from shaking superintendent Rainey Briggs hand because he slighted her during a meeting

The father claimed that is was Briggs who initiated the physical contact, however surveillance footage shows he touched the superintendent when he jumped on stage

'The way he acted when my daughter was charged, almost charged, was a bunch of b******t he shook his head and rolled his f*****g eyes.'

'Im not cool with him shaking my daughters hand after he treated her the way he did,' he said.

It is unclear what incident Eddy's daughter was involved in, but he alluded to some trouble with other students that led to her expulsion and a legal battle.

'She was expelled for doing the same thing that was done to her there was a meeting with him,' Eddy said.

'He was rolling his eyes when I brought up the fact that the same thing had been done to her and it p****d me off because were in the middle of a court case.'

The father claimed he just jumped on stage to stop his daughter from shaking the superintendent's hand and that is was Briggs who initiated the physical contact.

'I didn't touch him until he touched me,' he said.

However, surveillance footage shows that when Eddy jumped on stage he grabbed Briggs arm and walked him towards the curtain.

Eddy denied pre-planning the episode and told police he even walked out when Briggs gave his speech.

Eddy said during a meeting his daughter had with Briggs, the superintended rolled his eyes and shook his he when he brought up what another student had done to her

'I didnt want him to be able to shake her f*****g hand because he did not deserve it after all the s**t she went through in this district,' Eddy told police

At the start of the nearly two minute long interaction, Eddy is seen with his arms crossed and pacing by the bleachers.

As his daughter moves through the procession, Eddy rushed in front of the stage, clapping for his daughter, then leapt over the steps to reach Briggs.

After pulling the superintended to the back, the two men exchange words then Briggs pushes Eddy away.

That is when Baraboo High School principal Steve Considine, seen wearing a tan jacket, inserts himself between the two men.

'When I hear Dr. Briggs say something to the effect of "get your hands off of me..." that's when I turned my head and see there was some sort of scuffle,' said Considine.

'That's when I went in front and inserted myself between Dr. Briggs and this guy, Mr. Eddie, I don't know his name, and then he was pushing back against me.'

'If he would have just ran away, I wouldn't need to, but he was definitely pushing back almost like he was trying to get at Dr. Briggs.'

Eddy was escorted out of the building following the confrontation and arrested for disorderly conduct

The father told police his daughter had been involved in trouble at school and felt Briggs reaction was disrespectful as they are in some kind of legal battle

Several others join in on breaking up the confrontation and Eddy goes behind the stage curtain.

'[We] kind of cornered him so he really couldn't go anywhere, so he tried to lift up the curtain, there were gymnastics mats underneath, so he scurried out,' Considine said.

'I was very mad. Its a special ceremony for a special night. Dr. Briggs did not deserve that, the student did not deserve that, we have a lot of people in the gym, I was very frustrated.'

'The guy was very aggressive, it was disgusting behavior,' he said.

Briggs has filed a restraining order against Eddy and Dane County Circuit Court Commissioner J. Alberto Quiroga has since temporarily ordered Eddy to have no contact with Briggs until a hearing on June 14.

In his restraining order, Briggs stated Eddy said he is 'not going to touch my (expletive) daughter' Wisconsin News reports.

The superintendent told police he did not know who the man was at the time.

He said he knew of one instance where Eddy's daughter had been disciplined by the school, but that he had nothing to do with it, insisting he 'has no idea why Eddy reached the way he did.'

Briggs and the school board have been under fire by a group of outraged residents.

They currently trying to recall school board president Kevin Vodak, who was at the graduation.

Vodak has been accused of favoritism and providing inadequate pay and support for teachers.

Briggs (pictured) has filed a restraining order against Eddy and they have been order to have no contact until a hearing on June 14

Baraboo High School principal Steve Considine (pictured) said he was worried for Briggs safety and when he put himself between the two men, Eddy was pushing back

Briggs has been criticized for his salary and those of other administrators, while contracts awarded to his consulting firms have also come under scrutiny.

Critics also pointed to a high turnover of staff during his tenure and student behavior problems.

The school district said in a statement: 'Our primary focus remains on celebrating the achievements of our graduates.

'We want to ensure that the significance of this milestone and the hard work of our students are not overshadowed by this unfortunate event.'

The district added that they are working with law enforcement.

'We would like to emphasize that the safety and well-being of our students, staff, and community members is a top priority... The School District of Baraboo is taking this incident very seriously.'
A Las Vegas mother beat her two-year-old son to death and wheeled his dead body around in a stroller before throwing him in a dumpster, according to police.

Jacoby Robinson Jr. was found dead on Friday, his mom, Diaja Smith, 23, and father, Jacoby Robinson Sr., 24, have been charged with open murder.

Police suspect Smith beat her son to death on Thursday using 'a belt and power cords', as his body was found with 'significant signs of physical injury to [his] head, torso and buttocks,' according to the documents seen by 8NewsNow.

Smith, from Clark County, Nevada, had regained custody of the child - and his two siblings - just weeks prior to his death.

Surveillance footage allegedly shows the parents wheeling their lifeless son out of their apartment complex in a stroller with his twin, who was later found to also have serious injuries.

Jacoby Robinson (pictured) was found deceased in a dumpster in Las Vegas

According to the court documents, Smith called police on Thursday evening to report her son was missing.

She said she had taken them to the park but he had disappeared when she was distracted changing another child's diaper.

Officers arrived at the scene and began searching immediately - and at 12:58 am the next day, the two-year-old's body was found discarded in a dumpster on the 1300 block of Lewis Avenue. He was pronounced at the scene by medical personnel.

Jacoby had 'significant signs of physical injury to the head, torso, and buttocks' consistent with serious physical abuse, according to the court documents.

Police then found surveillance footage showing his parents leaving an apartment complex on Thursday evening with Jacoby and his twin in a stroller.

According to the police report, Jacoby was not moving in the footage, leading police to think he was already dead.

It said: 'She later admitted that in the video of her leaving the apartment with the kids, (redacted) was dead in the stroller.

'She stated she thought about burning his body so she could keep his ashes with her.'

When police and child protective services interviewed the parents they noticed Jacoby's twin also had injuries.

They took him to hospital and discovered he had a bleed on the brain. He has since been placed back in the custody of child protective services.

Pictured: Diaja Smith, 23, in court after being charged with her child's murder

When police searched Smith's apartment they found it was in 'poor condition' with very little food inside.

Police claim that Smith beat the children with 'a belt and power cords' while their father was 'encouraging Diaja to beat them'.

Smith had lost custody of the twins - and a younger child - two years ago, and had only received custody again in May, weeks before the incident.

It is not clear why she was allowed to regain custody. DailyMail.com contacted Clark County Child Protective Services for comment.

Kelvyn Barnet, who lives close to where the child's body was found, told a local station that he saw his mother Diaja searching for him before she was arrested.

The mom was acting hysterical, the onlooker said.

'I saw a lady sitting there with her two other kids, really hysterical saying 'somebody took my kid, somebody took my kid,' Barnett said. 'To find out that she was the one that did this is the most shocking aspect of it all.'

He also said the mother told him that her son disappeared while she was at the park 'and the kid was on the slide and she looked around and the kid was gone.'

The victim's cause of death has not yet been released by the Clark County Coroner's office.

The toddler's father, Jacoby Robinson, 24, was also arrested in connection with his son's murder. He faces two child abuse charges and will be facing a murder charge

Pictured: The dumpsters where the child's lifeless body was found

Both of Jacoby Jr.'s parents appeared in court on Saturday.

Prosecutors allege that Robinson was present in the apartment during the horrific beating and whipping of the child, according to KLAS.

They also claim Robinson remained with the child afterward, even witnessing the child vomit but only helping to clear the vomit out of his mouth and nose before the child went back to sleep.

Prosecutors also said that while Robinson Jr.'s autopsy is ongoing, they have been identified of 'very concerning injuries,' the child's entire body, particularly his genitals, from being whipped with a cord.

It's not clear if either suspect has entered pleas or retained legal counsel.
MSNBC host Rachel Maddow said she fears that Trump will put her in an internment camp in the event he is reelected this upcoming election season.

In an interview with CNN senior media reporter Oliver Darcey published in Monday's Reliable Sources newsletter, Maddow was asked about her concerns about being personally victimized by the Trump administration if he is to be winner of the 2024 presidential election.

'Trump and his allies are openly talking about weaponizing the government to seek revenge against critics in media and politics, with some of his extremist allies even talking about jailing their fellow Americans,' said Darcy. 'You're one of his most notable critics on television. Are you worried that you could be a target?'

Maddow replied: 'I'm worried about the country broadly if we put someone in power who is openly avowing that he plans to build camps to hold millions of people, and to 'root out' what he's described in subhuman terms as his 'enemy from within.'

'Again, history is helpful here. He's not joking when he says this stuff, and we've seen what happens when people take power proclaiming that kind of agenda.'

'I think there's a little bit of head-in-the-sand complacency that Trump only intends to go after individual people he has already singled out. Do you really think he plans to stop at well-known liberals?

MSNBC host Rachel Maddow said she fears that Trump will put her in an internment camp in the event he is reelected this upcoming election season

'When Trump invokes the Insurrection Act to deploy the U.S. military against civilians on his first day in office, do you think he then rescinds the order on day two?' Maddow said in response to Oliver Darcey's question regarding how serious Trump and his allies actually are are about seeking revenge against critics in media and politics

'It also seems pretty clear that some people in politics might think they'll be on the safe side  that they might even benefit from it  if they side with Trump. Ask Mike Pence about how that works out in the end.

'When Trump invokes the Insurrection Act to deploy the U.S. military against civilians on his first day in office, do you think he then rescinds the order on day two?

She continued, 'For that matter, what convinces you that these massive camps he's planning are only for migrants? So, yes, I'm worried about me  but only as much as I'm worried about all of us.'

Maddow, a well-known advocate against Trumps's presidential campaign, said back in August that she fears Trump would become 'president for life,' in other words a dictator, if he clenches a second term in the White House.

'If every election is a new opportunity for him to go to prison, do you think he allows us to have new elections?' she said. 'I mean, if those are the stakes, if winning the election is his plan to stay out of prison, what happens in that election if and when he does not win it?'

In an interview with television personality Dr. Phil McGraw, more widely known as Dr. Phil, Trump said that sometimes getting even takes time.

'Well revenge does take time, I will say that. And sometimes revenge can be justified, Phil. I have to be honest. Sometimes it can,' Trump said.

Maddow has railed against Trump since he was first elected in 2016, with her flabbergasted reaction to his victory over Hillary Clinton one of the defining media moments of that election.
Support can be found through the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling 988

The gorgeous state known as America's 'last best place' has risen to the top of the suicide charts in recent years.

With its picturesque rolling grasslands stretching across sprawling plains beneath a 'Big Sky' and snow-capped mountains, Montana seems like the perfect place to live a peaceful life.

But it also harbors the perfect storm for suicide rates, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

Social isolation, high proportions of gun ownership, a scarcity of access to mental health care, high rates of substance misuse, racial trauma, high altitude, vitamin D deficiency and long winters all combine to make Montana a suicide hotspot.

'It's in the culture,' Ali Mullen, 46, an activist who lost her husband to suicide in 2021 told the New York Times. 'If you don't know someone, you know of someone who has died.'

The gorgeous state known as America's 'last best place' has risen to the top of the suicide charts in recent years

Ali, a mother-of-three who lives in Helena, a beautiful city surrounded by some of Montana's most picturesque national parks, told the newspaper her husband John Mullen was 40 when he shot himself in their backyard January 2021.

John, a handyman, and Ali, who works for the county health department, met while John was working at what is now the Whitefish Resort. Lovers of the country life, they enjoyed an idyllic life with three kids during the first few years of their marriage.

But John struggled with his mental health during the pandemic, and was hit hard by the state of American politics particularly after January 6.

The riot made him question, 'where is the country going for my kids?' John's boss, Jim Smith, told the Times.

Ali said her husband had stopped sleeping. 'Something changed in him after that,' she told the Times.

John would stay in his room with the blinds drawn rather than go out for beers, and he was prone to mood swings.

Seeing the dark clouds descending, Ali hid the keys to their safe where they kept their guns, initially to protect their children from it. But she put it back when she felt safe that John was getting better.

The evening of January 20, 2021, the Mullen family had just enjoyed dinner together when John left the table and walked outside.

'It's in the culture,' Ali Mullen, 46, an activist who lost her husband to suicide in 2021 told the New York Times . 'If you don't know someone, you know of someone who has died'

Ali sensed something was wrong and followed him out to the yard, but by the time paramedics arrived, John had died. Ali was left to pick up the pieces.

The devastated mother still carried a gun wherever she goes - but she also keeps a gun lock in her handbag for anyone who might need one. The small metal device which blocks the trigger can be found on Amazon for as little as $10.

She has channeled her grief into trying to protect others and raising awareness in her community, which is railed by suicides all too often.

Janet Lindow, chief executive of the Rural Behavioral Health Institute in Livingston, Mont., which screens children for suicide risk, told the Times small communities like Helena are often worst hit.

'There is a lot of strength in a small-town structure, but the downside is that if you lose one person to suicide, it can have a large impact on the community,' she said.

In Montana, a state of 1.1 million people, 955 people died by suicide from January 2021 through November 2023, according to the Times.

Other states in the Mountain West, including Wyoming and New Mexico, also experience higher rates.

Ali joined a group called the LOSS team- Local Outreach to Suicide Survivors - which supports those struggling. Support can be found nationwide through the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling 988.
Two female high school teachers have been forced to resign after being accused of trying to set up a foursome with students.

Alexsia Saldaris quit Joseph Craig High School in Janesville, Wisconsin, on April 22 and Jennifer Larson on May 14 after a probe by the school district.

Both teachers were on a school trip with a male student on April 7 to 9 and the investigation found incriminating Snapchat messages they sent him.

Saldaris admitted to sending the student five photos of herself in lingerie and kissing the student during the trip, the district's report summary read.

Alexsia Saldaris quit Joseph Craig High School in Janesville, Wisconsin, on April 22 after a probe by the school district

Larson admitted to exchanging messages with the student 'involving cuddling, flirting, and the implication of alcohol'.

The messages both teachers sent told the student they wanted to cuddle and 'have fun' with him, and asked if another student could join in.

Saldaris then met the student on April 9 and gave him the keys to a school district van used on the trip so he could 'take laps' of the car park.

While she was changing her shoes in the back of the van, the pair kissed, according to the report summary.

That evening is when she sent the racy photos to the student, and made plans in Snapchat messages to meet the next weekend.

Jennifer Larson admitted to exchanging messages with the student 'involving cuddling, flirting, and the implication of alcohol'

Saldaris admitted to sending the student five photos of herself in lingerie and kissing the student during the trip

Nothing more happened between any of the trio that weekend, but the situation began to unravel the day after the trip.

Larson reported her colleague to Craig High Principal Alison Bjoin for letting the student drive the van.

Saldaris responded by sending the student a Snapchat message that morning telling him 'relationship' needed to end, the report summary stated.

Then on the morning of April 11, another teacher confronted a group of students who were laughing around a phone, and saw the photos of Saldaris.

The teacher went straight to Bjoin saying she was '95 per cent sure' the photos they were laughing at were of Saldaris in lingerie.

School officials confronted the teachers as they found out more about what happened, and both admitted what they did.

The teachers were investigated by officials at Joseph Craig High School in Janesville, Wisconsin, and the district, and resigned

They were put on administrative leave on April 12 and the school district began its investigation.

Larson was Craig High's advisor for the Wisconsin DCEA, a program for student future leaders and entrepreneurs, which Saldaris was in as a student.

The reported detailed how a teacher who found out about the Snapchat messages and the teachers' conduct on the trip told some 'prominent' local residents, who then notified the school district.

Larson also admitted she on another occasion told a male student a girl he was seeing wasn't 'good enough' for him.

The Janesville Police Department is investigating to determine if any crime was committed.
Wang Yi meets Lavrov on China-Russia, BRICS cooperation

Xinhua) 10:44, June 11, 2024

NIZHNY NOVGOROD, Russia, June 10 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met here Monday with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on bilateral ties and BRICS cooperation.

Noting that Russian President Vladimir Putin's recent visit to China was a great success, Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said both sides should fully implement the important consensus reached by the top leaders of the two countries and advance cooperation in various fields under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state.

Developing China-Russia relations is a strategic choice made by both sides based on respective fundamental interests, aligning with global trends and the tide of the times, Wang said, adding that it is not targeted at any third party and will not be disturbed by external forces.

China is willing to work with Russia to maintain strategic focus, explore cooperation potential, respond to external pressures, and promote the sound and sustained progress of bilateral relations, he said.

Calling BRICS an important platform for unity and cooperation among emerging markets and developing countries, Wang said the expanded BRICS mechanism will play a crucial role in creating a more just and reasonable global governance system.

Wang stressed that China is ready to fully support Russia's work as the BRICS chair, work together to consolidate the BRICS strategic partnership, promote the unity and self-improvement of the Global South, make a more powerful voice for upholding multilateralism and promoting common development, so that "greater BRICS cooperation" can be well begun.

Lavrov said that during President Putin's visit to China, the two heads of state set the course for developing Russia-China relations, and achieved new strategic cooperation results.

Russia is ready to work with China to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, intensify high-level exchanges, enhance cooperation in various fields, and jointly make the Russia-China Years of Culture a success, Lavrov said.

Russia will also closely cooperate with China on multilateral platforms such as the United Nations Security Council, and enhance diplomatic coordination, he added.

Lavrov noted that the number of like-minded countries is increasing in international and regional arenas while BRICS expansion reflects this positive trend. He expected in-depth discussions on the next stage of cooperation at the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting to make political preparations for the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia.

The two sides also exchanged views on the current international and regional situations, including the Ukraine crisis.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
A barrister died on Christmas Day in a freak jet ski accident during her honeymoon, an inquest heard.

Michaela Danso, 46, flew off the equipment on the third day of her trip to Dubai while her husband Joseph looked on in horror.

Walthamstow Coroner's Court heard today the couple were only given 'basic instructions' on how to operate the powerful jet skis - despite knowing neither of them had used one before.

After the instructor had disembarked, Michaela pressed the accelerator and hurtled towards the sea wall.

The jet ski hit the wall, causing Michaela to 'catapult' onto the concrete ground in front of her.

A post-mortem found Michaela's cause of death was head injury caused by blunt force trauma.

Michaela Danso (pictured), 46, flew off the equipment on the third day of her trip to Dubai while her husband Joseph looked on in horror

Mr Danso told the inquest: 'Michaela was a bubbly person who lived life to the fullest. She was a gorgeous person and well liked by many members of the community. She adored music and danced to it even if it was coming from a passing car.'

He also said the company, called Aquablue, told them they were too big to fit on one jet ski - which he now believes was a ploy to make them rent two.

Mr Danso said: 'It was never her intention to operate a jet ski alone. She had only reserved one for me and she wanted to sit behind me. She would be here if that claim [we wouldn't fit on one] hadn't been made.'

He also told the inquest they were only wearing life jackets and not helmets, adding: 'I think if she had she still would be here'.

Joseph also told the inquest it took an hour for an ambulance to reach the port - in which time Michaela had died.

Speaking after the inquest, Mr Danso said he had heard from police in Dubai that the boss of the jet ski operator had been arrested.

He said: 'I was told if I said I forgave him that he would be released. I didn't reply. I never want to hear anything more from that country again.'

Bizarrely Mr Danso also claims after witnessing the death of his wife, officers threw him into a police van to take him to the station to give his statement.

He said: 'I was crying, screaming. I couldn't believe what I had seen. I was traumatised and the officers kept telling me to 'shut up'.'

A post-mortem found Michaela's cause of death was head injury caused by blunt force trauma

Michaela, from Holloway, north London, was a barrister with Charterhouse Chambers in Chancery Lane, and first practised criminal law before moving into family law.

Senior coroner Graeme Irvine said: 'Ms Danso had gone on holiday to Dubai in December 2022 and on Christmas Day she and her husband had arranged to hire a jet ski.

On arrival at the jet ski operator, it was explained to Mr and Mrs Danso they were not allowed to share a single jet ski and therefore something of a surprise and a change to the plan envisaged by Michaela was that they had to hire a second jet ski.

'The evidence I heard from Mr Danso was that Michaela didn't plan to pilot a jet ski; she intended for her husband to pilot the jet ski and she would be a passenger for this pleasure ride.'

Mr Irvine described the jet ski as a 'powerful piece of marine equipment'.

He said their briefing on how to use the jet skis was 'very short and perfunctory' and the only safety equipment they were given was a 'flotation vest'.

He said 'When she started the jet ski she lost control of it and she accelerated very speedily out of control. Her very short but fast journey stopped suddenly when she struck the sea wall and was catapulted onto the hard surface in front of her and she sustained fatal injuries to the base of her skull.

'Mercifully Mrs Danso's injuries had left her unresponsive and unconscious from the outset.'

He said if the death had occurred in the UK he would be writing to the jet ski rental company about their safety procedures and equipment, and the local authority.

But he told the court: 'Unfortunately I can't do that because it is outside this court's jurisdiction. I make it abundantly clear that if it were not, that's what I would be doing.'

The court heard Mr Irvine contacted the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office to request information from Dubai but after months of waiting no information was handed over.

Michaela's family agreed to go ahead with the inquest regardless.

The coroner recorded a conclusion of 'accidental death due to injuries sustained in an accidental jet ski collision'.
Police have revealed the suspected motive of a Chinese man accused of brutally stabbing four Iowa college instructors in China.

The educators from Cornell College, in Mount Vernon, were on a teaching exchange program with a partner university, Beihua, in Jilin City.

The group had been visiting a temple in Beishan Park when they were attacked by a man with a knife on Tuesday.

Police immediately launched manhunt for Cui Dapeng, a Jilin City resident whom they identified as a 'major suspect' in the stabbing, according to the Chinese government. He has since been arrested.

Officers since confirmed to The Hill that Cui, 55, is thought to have attacked the group after one of them bumped into him in the park.

Four visiting instructors from Cornell College were brutally stabbed in an attack in China on Tuesday morning. The teachers had been on a teaching exchange program with a partner university, Beihua, in Jilin City

David Zabner, pictured, was wounded in the arm during the stabbing attack, according to his brother Iowa Representative Adam Zabner

He then allegedly went on to stab the other three US citizens and a Chinese person who came over to help.

Iowa Representative Adam Zabner told Reuters his brother was one of the victims from Cornell College in Iowa. The other victims have not yet been publicly identified.

Zabner described his brother as a doctoral student at Tufts University who was in China under the Cornell-Beihua relationship.

'My brother, David Zabner, was wounded in the arm during a stabbing attack while visiting a temple in Jilin City, China,' he said.

'I spoke to David...he is recovering from his injuries and doing well. My family is incredibly grateful that David survived this attack.'

A video of people lying on the ground in a park covered in blood was circulating on X on Monday, though no trace of the images could be found on Chinese social media.

Reuters was able to identify the location of the video based on Chinese characters written on a wall, the wall's structure and the layout of the path, but it was not able to confirm when the video was shot.

A US State Department spokesperson said in an emailed statement that they were aware of reports of a 'stabbing incident' in Jilin, China, and were monitoring the situation.

'We are working through proper channels and requesting to speak with the US Embassy on appropriate matters to ensure that the victims first receive quality care for their injuries and then get out of China in a medically feasible manner,' Iowa's Congress representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks wrote on X.

Police launched a manhunt for Cui Dapeng, (pictured) a Jilin City resident whom they have identified as a 'major suspect' in the stabbing, according to a WeChat alert issued by China's Foreign NGO Management Office of the Ministry of Public Safety

China's Foreign NGO Management Office of the Ministry of Public Safety issued an alert on social media platform WeChat confirming the incident, which they say took place Monday around 11.40am in Beishan Park.

The notice identified Cui Dapeng as the alleged suspect in the case, with the public safety department advising the brief be distributed to all police forces.

The notice also alleged that the victims had suffered 'varying degrees' of injuries and were taken to hospital. Their conditions are non-life threatening, according to the government agency.

'The police have preliminarily judged that this was a random incident but an investigation is ongoing,' China's foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian told reporters at a daily briefing on Tuesday.

'All the injured individuals were immediately taken to the hospital and were given appropriate critical care, no one's life is in danger,' Lin said.

China's foreign ministry said it would continue taking effective measures to ensure the safety of foreigners in China.

News of the incident was suppressed in China, where the government maintains control on information about anything considered sensitive. News media outlets had not reported it.

Some social media accounts posted foreign media reports about the attack, but a hashtag about it was blocked on a popular portal and photos and video of the incident were quickly taken down.

A few remaining posts on the Chinese social media platform Weibo questioned widespread censorship of the incident in official media.

'Do they really think that censoring domestic discussion of the incident impacts whether foreigners choose to visit China or not?' posted one Weibo user.

The educators were from Cornell College, a private college in Mount Vernon, Iowa (pictured). The college has had a partnership program with Beihua, in Jilin City, since 2018

The educators from Cornell College, a private college in Mount Vernon, were on a teaching exchange program with a partner university, Beihua, in Jilin City.

Jen Visser, the spokesperson for Cornell College, said the institution was still gathering information about what happened.

Cornell President Jonathan Brand sent a statement to students, KCCI reported, reading in part: 'We have learned that four Cornell instructors teaching as part of a partnership with a university in China were injured in a serious incident during a daytime visit to a public park while accompanied by a faculty member of the partner institution.

'We have been in contact with all four instructors and are assisting them during this time. There were no students taking part in this program.'

A college news release from 2018, when the partnership program started, says Beihua provides funding for Cornell professors to travel to China to teach a portion of courses in computer science, mathematics and physics over a two-week period.

According to a 2020 post on Beihua's website, the Chinese university uses American teaching methods and resources to give engineering students an international perspective and English-language ability.

About one-third of the core courses in the program use US textbooks and are taught by American professors, according to the post.

Students can apply to study for two years of their four-year education at Cornell College and receive degrees from both institutions.

Xi Jinping, then-Vice President of the People's Republic of China sits, with Sarah and Roger Lande (R) February 15, 2012 in Muscatine, Iowa. In 1985, Lande helped coordinate a visit to Muscatine for a delegation headed by Xi, then an up-and-coming official in a hog-farming region of Hebei province, which was Iowa's 'sister state'

Xi Jinping of the People's Republic of China arrives at the home of Sarah and Roger Lande February 15, 2012 in Muscatine, Iowa

China's President Xi Jinping this year pledged to invite 50,000 young Americans to China for study programs to boost people-to-people ties, but a State Department Level 3 travel advisory - the second-highest warning level - to mainland China.

Citing arbitrary detentions as well as exit bans that could prevent US citizens from leaving the country, the State Department has urged Americans to 'reconsider travel' to China.

Some American universities have suspended their China programs due to the travel advisory.

Lin, the Foreign Ministry spokesperson, said China has taken effective measures to protect the safety of foreigners.

'We believe that the isolated incident will not disrupt normal cultural and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries,' he said.

There are currently fewer than 900 American exchange students studying in China compared to over 290,000 Chinese students in the United States, according to US data.

Then Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad (L), Sarah Lande, Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds, Iowa Mayor Dwayne Hopkins (R) presents Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping with a 'Key' to the City on February 15, 2012 in Muscatine, Iowa

Xi has a longstanding relationship with Iowa after having first travelled to the state in May 1985 as part of an agricultural delegation.

He has since maintained a nearly four-decades long pen pal relationship with native Sarah Lande, who helped coordinate the exchange.

Chinese state media in January published an excerpt from a letter he had recently written 85-year-old Lande, in which he claimed the world's future demanded stability in Sino-US ties.

'China and the United States are the largest developing and developed countries in the world, and the future and destiny of this planet require Sino-US relations to be more stable, to be better,' Xi wrote to Lande.

The two became acquainted when Xi, then 31, led a delegation from China's northern Hebei province to its 'sister state' Iowa to learn about US food production.

In 2012, they reunited in her hometown of Muscatine, and once more in San Francisco in November 2023, when Lande attended a dinner hosted for Xi.

In a previous letter to Lande in 2022, he told her and his 'old friends' in Iowa to 'continue sowing the seeds of friendship and make new contributions to the friendship between the Chinese and American peoples'.
Nude images were created using the faces of girls

Another elite school is facing a scandal after explicit images of dozens of female students were circulated online, resulting in the arrest of a teenage boy.

Police are investigating after dozens of girls at Bacchus Marsh Grammar, north-west of Melbourne, reported fake AI nude images had been created and shared on social media.

Up to 50 students in Year 9-12 were affected by the graphic images, which were shared on Instagram and Snapchat.

Faces of the girls had been used to generate the nude images, the school confirmed on Tuesday.

A teenager had been arrested over the incident, but Victoria Police confirmed he had been released pending further inquiries.

Up to 50 students in Year 9 to 12, who attend at Bacchus Marsh Grammar (pictured) in Melbourne's northwest had been created and shared on social media

'Officers have been told a number images were sent to a person in the Melton area via an online platform on Friday, 7 June,' a police statement read.

Police have arrested a teenager in relation to explicit images being circulated online.

He was released pending further inquiries.

Police are continuing to investigate the incident

Bacchus Marsh Grammar, principal Andrew Neal said the girls who were affected had their faces taken from social media before they were manipulated.

He described the incident as 'obscene'.

'It's appalling. It is something that strikes to the heart of students, particularly girls growing up at this age,' Mr Neal said, according to the ABC.

'They should be able to learn and go about their business without this kind of nonsense.'

Dozens of girls in Year 9-12 were affected by the graphic images, which were shared on Instagram and Snapchat (stock image)

Mr Neal said the school is currently working with police to get the images removed.

They are also working to find the person responsible for the release of the images.

Mr Neal said while it is believed the person responsible may be at the school, police are not ruling out other possibilities.

Police confirmed an investigation into the incident is ongoing.

The school was first made aware of the images on Monday and have said the matter is being taken 'very seriously'.

'The wellbeing of our students and their families is paramount,' the school said in a statement.

Bacchus Marsh Grammar is offering support to affected students and their families, with Mr Neal saying the incident was not reflective of the school community.

He said the behaviour should be dealt with in 'as firm a way as possible'.
A controversial indie band which was accused of ripping off easyGroup's name has rebranded on Spotify.

Easy Life received legal letters from the company who accused the band of 'riding on the coat tails of the valuable reputation' of firm.

The airline said the band's t-shirts and branding were similar to that of the company.

A tour poster even featured an orange and white aircraft with the logo Easy Life on the jet's tail plane.

The airline also complained about the band's lyrics which they said could affect their company's reputation because of the use of foul language on several tracks.

Following the battle with the firm the band have rebranded themselves on Spotify as Hard Life.

Indie band Easy Life were forced to change their name to Hard Life following a legal dispute with the firm

The airline accused the band to using their branding to improve the group's profile. The firm said the band's tour poster copied the logo from an easyJet aircraft

The company, founded by Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou, pictured, said: 'Brand theft is profitable because it is the deliberate misleading of the consumer to think that they are part of the easy family in order to increase their own sales'

A trademark lawyer told Far Out Magazine: 'You dont need to worry about whether you will win in court if the other side is going to fold.'

According to Spotify, the band has more than 700,000 monthly listeners.

Following their name change, the band said they are now set to release some new music.

Much of the band's music has been labeled on Spotify as 'explicit'.

Their most popular song, Nightmares has been streamed more than 63m times, followed by Sangria which has more than 35m streams.

In February 2020 the band won the Best New British Artist at the the NME awards.

The band played under the old name for the last time on Friday, October 13 2023 in London.

The band initially dismissed the legal action, claiming that they had devised the name long before the easyGroup registered a trademark for easyLife, a brand selling household products, in 2022 - before the eventual climbdown.

It had joked in an Instagram post: 'For those of you that bought gig tickets and ended up on a budget flight to Tenerife, I apologise'.

easyGroup has not commented on the band's climbdown - but had earlier warned: 'We do not consider this confusing situation some sort of joke.'

It earlier added: 'Brand theft is profitable because it is the deliberate misleading of the consumer to think that they are part of the easy family in order to increase their own sales.

'It is not an innocent mistake, but a deliberate strategy to maximise their profits without being subject to easyGroup Ltd's quality controls and without paying their annual royalties.'

The company is fiercely protective of the brand, regularly going after other companies that use the word 'easy' in their names.

It claims to set aside 4million each year in order to take action against what it calls 'brand thieves'.

Commenting at the time, the firm said: 'easyGroup Ltd has reached resolution with Mr Matravers and the other band members of Easy Life. The band has already announced that it will be changing its name and it will pass all of its rights in the EASY LIFE name, along with the easylifemusic domain name, to easyGroup Ltd.'
A pensioner has denied murdering the 73-year-old uncle of Repair Shop star Jay Blades.

Derrick Brown, 72, allegedly stabbed Richard Brathwaite to death on Cromwell Road, Wembley, northwest London on 21 March.

The devastated TV star, 54, later revealed his beloved uncle had been killed in an Instagram post.

Brown is said to have attacked Mr Brathwaite and his wife Annetta Brathwaite, 71, with a large kitchen knife.

Jay Blades, 54, told of his loss on social media after Richard Brathwaite was stabbed

Richard Brathwaite, 73, was found stabbed at his home address in north London

Cromwell Road, Wembley, northwest London where the murder is said to have happened

Mr Brathwaite died at the scene but fortunately his wifes injuries were not life threatening.

Brown denied murder, wounding with intent and possession of a bladed article in a public place when he appeared at the Old Bailey via video-link from HMP Belmarsh wearing a grey prison tracksuit.

Judge Charles Bourne, KC, remanded Brown in custody ahead of his trial on 27 January next year.

Prosecutor Deanna Heer, KC, earlier said: On 21 March this year Annetta Brathwaite called the police and said her husband had been stabbed.

When police arrived they found the deceased bleeding from a stab wound and although they attempted emergency first aid the efforts were unsuccessful and they pronounced life extinct.
A confrontation between an enraged female McDonald's customer and a male driver has gone viral on social media after she tried to goad him into fighting her.

The driver, who has been identified as Donta Jones, talked to Fox 13 and said he believes the woman was angry because of how slow he parked his car. He captured the entire incident on video.

Jones' lunch break took a turn when another driver angrily honked and yelled at him while he was parking at a McDonald's.

The woman, who has not been identified, is seen hurling curse words, threats, and screaming at the man. He said the fuming woman then whizzed through the drive-thru and then parked her car and darted into the store.

'Come on, come on now. I'm so ready to Fight Club this s--t!,' the woman said unprovoked. 'Get a degree, go to school, go to school. You're eating McDonald's.'

Jones' lunch break took a turn when another driver angrily honked and yelled at him while he was parking at a McDonald's. The woman (pictured), who has not been identified, is seen hurling curse words, threats, and screaming at the man.

'She's in there flailing her arms around. I'm like, 'oh god,' Jones said. 'She comes out and tries to slam the door a couple times.'

Jones said he believes the outraged woman took the opportunity to approach him because she spotted him rolling down his window.

He said he started recording thirty minutes into the altercation out of fear for his own safety.

'She was like sitting on my hood, she wouldn't let me leave at first,' said Jones. 'All I could think about is if the cops come, she's this crazy and she's going to flip the story and I don't want to go to jail over this random person.

But instances like these are not as uncommon as one might think, according to local attorney James Prescott, who specializes in assaults and altercations. He told Fox 13 he has seen more and more interactions like the one between him and Jones.

'I just settled a case where a guy was almost strangled to death over a parking space,' said Prescott. 'My impression is people's patience has gone down a little bit since the pandemic. We all had a couple of years where we weren't interacting with strangers as much as we used to.'

The driver, Donta Jones, said he started recording thirty minutes into the altercation out of fear for his own safety

Prescott stressed the importance of using your phone to record these instances so it is documented. He noted that there are repercussions for those who use abuse tactics to incite others, especially in Washington State.

'We learn in Kindergarten that we're not allowed to use our fist in response to words, we also learn not to use words that will make people hit us,' said Prescott.

It is unknown whether the woman was under the influence during this altercation.

No arrests have been made at this time.
A 19-year-old hiker who tragically drowned in a Utah waterfall and accidentally filmed her own death has been identified.

Cynthia Ann Grimwood of Springville went hiking with her dog around 3 pm on Friday afternoon at Horsetail Falls in Alpine, and was swept away in the fast moving current after falling into the swollen river.

Two hikers found a small dog and her cell phone that captured the teen walking into the water before she disappeared, the Utah County Sheriff Sgt. Spencer Cannon told KSL.com.

The water level was 'abnormally high' that day and officials have called the young woman's death a 'tragic accident.'

Cynthia's body was located on Friday night two hours after the tragedy. Multiple search and rescue crews were involved in locating the teen's remains. On Saturday, her body was recovered before her identity was confirmed on Monday.

Cynthia Ann Grimwood, 19, of Springville, Utah went hiking with her dog around 3pm Friday afternoon at Horsetail Falls in Alpine and was swept away by the fast moving current

A photo of Cynthia holding a daisy

Officials said the stream was swollen with runoff water near Horsetail Falls in the mountains above Alpine in Utah County during Cynthia's fateful hike. Horsetail Falls is approximately 35 miles away south of Salt Lake City.

The two hikers, who found Cynthia's belongings and dog, were concerned that someone may have fallen into the water of Dry Creek and could be in trouble and called the sheriff's office.

Once they viewed the video on the teen's cell phone, showing her near the water before she was carried out by the heavy water flow, officials said in a statement.

Utah County Sheriffs Office Search and Rescue (SAR) responded to the area, along with firefighters from several different agencies in northern Utah County, who specialize in water rescue mission.

A helicopter with the Utah Department of Public Safety also assisted in the search.

Officials said said the water level was 'abnormally high' that day and called the young woman's death a 'tragic accident'

Cynthia's body was recovered about 100 yards below Horsetail Falls stuck under some trees submerged in the water

Cynthia is pictured here with a friend or relative

Her body was recovered about 100 yards below Horsetail Falls stuck under some trees and submerged in the water.

'The area where the victim was stuck in the water was full with heavy snow melt runoff and conditions were treacherous. The steep rock walls around the area made it very difficult to access,' officials said.

Search and rescue crews held off on retrieving Cynthia's body until early Saturday since recovering it sooner posed a great risk.

Volunteers who were then participating in the search and rescue stayed at the scene overnight to watch the body until they were able to transport it to the medical examiner's office.

The autopsy has not yet determined the cause of death.

The blue-eyed, brown-haired teen was a talented athlete, who had played second base, third base and short stop on the Springville High School softball team.

The crews expressed condolences to the young woman's family.
The Animal Rising activists who vandalised King Charles's first official portrait won't be arrested as it is revealed serial disruptors have previously abducted beagles and staged a steakhouse sit-in.

Daniel Juniper, 29, and Ben Thomas, 22, targeted the painting earlier today as it hung the Philip Mould gallery in London.

This latest stunt saw the duo plaster a Wallace and Gromit face over his Majesty's alongside a speech bubble that read: ''No Cheese, Gromit. Look At All This Cruelty On RSPCA Farms!'

However campaigners have been seen at other high profile disruption across the country, all in the name of building 'sustainable future for all life'.

At around 12pm two campaigners stuck Wallace and Gromit posters attacking the RSPCA over the face of His Majesty

Daniel Juniper, 29, targeted the painting earlier today as it hung the Philip Mould gallery

Speaking to MailOnline today he said: 'We chose to take part in the action today to directly communicate with King Charles today.

'He is the Royal patron of the RSPCA and we have released the UK's investigation into the RSPCA.

'We are calling on the RSPCA to drop the assured scheme and for King Charles to stand up for the animals and the environment that he loves and start protecting it by getting the RSPCA to drop the assurance scheme.

'We didn't damage the painting at all. The painting is covered in glass.

'The aim of today was to create public discourse and directly communicate with King Charles, the RSPCA and the public, but we were ok with getting arrested because we believe this issue is really important.'

Last May Daniel led a sit in alongside nine other supporters at The Cow & Sow in Queens Square, Bristol in protest to their use of meat.

They held up placards showing the condition inside UK farms, holding out for an hour before the police were called to remove them.

Mr Juniper said: 'Today [we are] disrupting The Cow & Sow in Bristol - a steakhouse with an extensive selection of meat.

'In a time where the public opinion is changing about how we view animals, this type of restaurant is outdated and destructive.

'So I and eight other supporters of Animal Rising are here to disrupt their Saturday night service. To sound the alarm and call for change. There is an alternative and it is kinder and loving.'

The man was carried away by four police officers after being removed from the racecourse

His co-conspirator, 22-year-old Ben Thomas has also got a colourful past of disrupting major events and being in the crosshairs with the police.

Speaking today to MailOnline he defended his actions claiming it to be 'funny' and receiving a 'positive reaction' from those in the art gallery.

He said: 'American tourists who saw the action were laughing and they found it funny and asked to take pictures of us. The reaction was quite positive.

'In this portrait specifically there is a butterfly on King Charles' shoulder to represent how he cares for the environment.

'He takes a lot of pride in caring about the environment and animal farming is a huge contributor to the climate crisis.

'So if he was actually aware of what this scheme which he is a patron of is actively doing then I believe he would be against that and be pro the message we are trying to present.'

Also just last year he was spotted at Epsom Derby wearing a pink t-shirt that read 'Animal Rising for all life'

head of the event, environmentalists and animal welfare zealots Animal Rising said protesters would attempt to shut down the race in their bid to protect the animals

In 2022 he took part in a 'rescue mission' to save beagles from MBR Acres, a facility that breeds the animals for medical research.

Protesters used bolt cutters to break into a beagle breeding facility and release 18 dogs as police later arrested 14 people in connection.

In photographs released by Animal Rising, protesters appeared to pass a dog over the top of a metal fence.

The protest group said in a statement it was 'not true' that animal testing was necessary, adding 'there are better alternatives.'

Also just last year he was spotted at Epsom Derby wearing a pink t-shirt that read 'Animal Rising for all life'.

At the same event, police had to arrest 31 people over plans to 'cancel or severely delay' the race.

Ahead of the event, environmentalists and animal welfare zealots Animal Rising said protesters would attempt to shut down the race in their bid to protect the animals.

Police have confirmed they will be taking no further action as no damage had been done to the painting and the gallery 'did not wish to report a crime'.

A Met spokesperson said: 'In response to footage circulating on social media, officers attended a central London gallery to carry out enquiries. Police had not been called to the incident.

'Staff at the venue were spoken to. They confirmed no damage had been done to either the painting or the glass that covered it.

'The protestors were asked by staff to leave following the incident, which they did.

'The gallery did not wish to report a crime and as such there is no further action by police.'
A member of a notorious gang who kicked an IT expert to death after snatching his girlfriend's Halloween hat is expected to be released within days.

Jordan Dixon, 18, was given a life sentence in 2010 for the attack on Ben Gardner, who had tried to defend his girlfriend outside a kebab shop.

MailOnline can reveal Dixon, now 31, who was described by the judge as a 'thoroughly nasty piece of work', won a parole appeal earlier in June and has been recommended for release. It was his second hearing.

The Ministry of Justice confirmed that it has not asked the Parole Board to reconsider its decision - which it can do under current parole rules - and Dixon is waiting for his paperwork to be completed before being freed on licence.

A spokesperson for the Parole Board said: 'We can confirm that a panel of the Parole Board has directed the release of Jordan Dixon following an oral hearing.

'Parole Board decisions are solely focused on what risk a prisoner could represent to the public if released and whether that risk is manageable in the community.'

Jordan Dixon, 18, (pictured) was given a life sentence in 2010 for the attack on Ben Gardner

Dixons' fellow gang members who took part in the brutal attack, Daniel Randsome and Ross Collender, both 34, were recommended by the parole board to be moved to an open prison in 2023, MailOnline can reveal.

The pair, who were both 21 when the attack took place, were also given life sentences. All three had been sentenced to minimum terms of between 14 and 16 years in jail. The trio, including soon-to-be-released Dixon, who were described as 'primeval' and 'cowardly' by the judge, have served just 13 years.

A spokesperson for the Parole Board said: 'The Parole Board refused the release of Daniel Ransom but recommended a move to an open conditions prison following an oral hearing.

'This was a recommendation only and the Secretary of State for Justice considers the advice before making the final decision on whether a prisoner is suitable for open conditions.'

The same statement was given for Ross Collender.

The decision of the Parole Board to transition all three men towards freedom at the end of their minimum sentences will raise eyebrows as the case at the Old Bailey caused a national debate about feral and violent gangs.

The court heard horrific evidence that Mr Gardner, 30, was punched to the ground where he lay helpless as one of the men kicked his head 'as if taking a penalty'. He was with his girlfriend, hospital worker Allanna Devine, 28.

The victim, who was an IT worker for insurance firm Legal & General, had been to a club in Sutton, south London, with Ms Devine to celebrate her birthday on the 31st October 2009 - Halloween Night.

Brian Altman QC, prosecuting, said: 'As Miss Devine went to pick up a black witch's hat which had been thrown by someone unconnected into the road, Dixon booted it away.

'Ransom kicked and stamped on it and, in a quite provocative and contemptuous act, spat in it and threw it at her.'

Ben Gardner & Allana Devine (pictured) on the night of the attack on Ben Gardner. Allana is wearing the witches hat later at the centre of an argument between Gardner and his killers

Then Collender 'suddenly and unexpectedly' punched Mr Gardner on the left side of the face, said Mr Altman.

As he recoiled from the blow, Mr Gardner was punched by Dixon and fell on to his back in the road.

Mr Altman said Ransom then kicked an 'utterly defenceless' Mr Gardner.

'This was a completely unjustified attack, an escalation of violence,' he added. 'Ben Gardner never stood a chance. The reaction of Ransom and Collender was to run - big cheesy grins on their faces.'

Sentencing the trio, who all came from Carshalton, Surrey, Judge Richard Hone said: 'The three of you jointly attacked and cowardly murdered a decent, gold standard young man of exceptional character, charm, gentleness and ability, who gave absolutely no provocation His attributes shine and sparkle in contrast to your base metal.'

The judge told the killers: 'Remorse? I find not a trace of it in any of your cases. You seem unable to appreciate the enormity of what you did.'

He said Collender had punched the victim before Ransom kicked him on the ground and Dixon was their 'enthusiastic henchman'.

Dixon's cries of '****ing moose', '****ing whore' and 'I hope you die of cancer' showed him to be a 'thoroughly nasty piece of work', the judge added.

The victim's father, David Gardner, following the verdict said: 'Ben died as a result of the actions of a group of thugs, who decided to attack him for defending his girlfriend after they had physically assaulted her and stolen her Halloween hat.

'I cannot forgive these people for what they have done. They have destroyed me and my family for the rest of our lives.

'I think the people that have done this should pay the ultimate price - death.'

After the verdict, Detective Inspector Bob Campany said: 'Some young men are just hell-bent on violence, usually when under the influence of drink or drugs or a combination of both, and they plague our town centres.'
They asked about his support for Trump, stance on the COVID vaccine and guns

The FBI revoked an employee's clearance after questioning his colleagues

A longtime FBI employee's Top Secret security clearance was revoked after his pro-Trump, pro-gun and personal concerns over COVID vaccines were revealed, says his attorney.

During the background check process to renew his clearance, friends and family confirmed the 12-year FBI employee did support Trump and attended a Second Amendment and the January 6 rally.

His security clearance was later revoked by the FBI, according to his lawyer Tristan Leavitt, who provided internal Department of Justice (DOJ) documents revealing the political questions DailyMail.com.

Leavitt, who has represented multiple government whistleblowers in the past, subsequently sent a letter to the DOJ's inspector general asking why such political questions were necessary for the security clearance - and whether that process has been tainted.

'Instead of limiting its investigation to legitimate issues, [the FBI's security division] acted as if support for President Trump, objecting to COVID-19 vaccinations, or lawfully attending a protest was the equivalent of being a member of Al Qaeda or the Chinese Communist Party,' Leavitt said.

Tristan Leavitt, who represents the former FBI employee, said the agency asked questions about the worker's political beliefs and stance on COVID vaccines and gun rights. The memo above shows the hand-written notes from FBI investigators probing the former employee

The review allegedly came after the former employee told his bosses that he had been at the January 6 rally.

Leavitt runs Empower Oversight, a nonprofit which specializes in whistleblower cases, and he told the outlet that the questions are tantamount to internal FBI political bias against conservatives.

He also claimed that the former FBI employee he represents did nothing illegal on January 6.

Further, memos revealed by Empower Oversight show that FBI Security Division workers conducted multiple interviews to ascertain the politics of the employee who self-disclosed his January 6 attendance.

Those memos show witnesses were asked whether the employee ever vocalized 'support for President Trump' and whether he voiced 'objections to Covid-19 vaccination.'

The documents also show some workers were asked whether the FBI employee 'attended the Richmond Lobby Day event,' which is a gun-rights event.

The memos show the notes taken by FBI investigators during multiple interviews of the former employees colleagues. They all asked about Trump, COVID vaccines and the employee's attendance at gun rallies and the January 6 protest

The former FBI employee proactively told his employers about his attendance at January 6, saying he did not partake in any criminal activity. Still, his clearance was revoked

'The FBl's intentions are made clear by the questions it chose to put in black and white on a government document,' Leavitt said.

He called the revocation of his client's clearance 'shocking' and an 'abuse of authority and a violation of our client's rights under the First Amendment,' in his letter to DOJ Inspector General Michael Horowitz.

Sources familiar with the matter told Just The News that multiple instances of politically motivated clearance reviews have occurred, indicating that Leavitt's client is not the only who has faced repercussions for his stances on Trump, vaccines and guns.

The letter to Horowitz details how the former FBI employee received positive performance reviews and monetary compensation for his work.

The witnesses who were interviewed for this former employee's clearance told investigators that though he expressed Republican views he did not pose a threat.

The former FBI employee was a staunch Donald Trump supporter

The former employee also repeatedly expressed skepticism over the COVID vaccines

One investigator wrote down during an interview the former FBI employee: 'Very significantly supported [Trump], would listen to talk shows. Trump did not lose. Dems stole it. Militant point of view. Never implied would do anything aggressive/physical.'

Another investigator noted in a different witness interview that the former employee 'had right wing views' adding 'nothing extreme.'

Those interviews also noted the FBI employee was against masking and vaccines.

Though, at the time of these interviews in April 2022, mandatory vaccine requirements were facing legal hurdles - and the federal government at the time was not allowed to enforce such requirements on FBI employees.

And other interviews with witnesses revealed that though the former FBI employee was a 'gun nut' that 'went to all 2nd Amendment gatherings' he did not display a 'promotion of violence.'

The FBI revoked the employee's security clearance after discovering he was a Trump supporter and that he had attended the January 6 protest

'I write today to formally disclose to you on our client's behalf shocking documents in [the FBI Security Division's] investigative file that evidence an abuse of authority and a violation of our client's rights under the First Amendment,' Leavitt's letter said.

'The documents appear to demonstrate [the FBI Security Division's] political bias and abuse of the security clearance process to purge the FBI of employees who expressed disfavored political views or concerns about the COVID-19 vaccine requirement.'

Leavitt concluded his letter asking Horowitz to open an investigation into the matter, which would provide insight to the public on whether political preference and personal health decisions play a role in FBI agent's security clearance screenings.
Jimmy Carter's eldest grandchild Jason said that the 99-year-old former president is no longer awake every day.

Nearly a year-and-a-half after entering end-of-life hospice care in February 2023, Carter's loved ones remain by their patriarch's side.

Jason Carter revealed that the latest decline began after the death of the 38th president's beloved wife Rosalynn in November 2023 at the age of 96.

'After 77 years of marriage I just think none of us really understand what it's like for him right now,' Jason told Southern Living during a conversation this month. 'We have to embrace that fact, that there's things about the spirit that you just can't understand.'

'[He's] experiencing the world as best he can as he continues through this process,' Jason, 48, added.

Jimmy Carter's oldest grandchild Jason (left) revealed that the 99-year-old former president is no longer awake every day after 16 months in at-home hospice care

He said Carter is not awake every day, but that his four children frequently visit  although they are unable to predict how alert he will be day to day.

Overall, Jason said that there has 'really been no change' in the Democrat and oldest living former president's health in recent months.

Even into his early 90s, Carter's baseline was very active. He was often seen building homes and teaching Sunday school at his Baptist church as recently as 2020.

The onetime commander-in-chief moved into hospice care 16 months ago at his home in Plains, Georgia that he built with Rosalynn in 1961.

'[Plains] is the place that has given him the greatest support and it is the only place where he would go through this part of his life,' Jason, who lives in Atlanta, said. 'That's his home in every way, and he really cherished that time and that support.'

The Carters deeded their property to the National Park Service  and when he dies they plan to turn their home into a museum.

Carter was last seen publicly at his wife's memorial events in November in a wheelchair and covered by a blanket but has largely remained out of view since deciding to terminate medical intervention.

He will be buried alongside her when he dies.

Jimmy Carter attends the funeral services of his beloved wife Rosalynn Carter in November 2023

'I think the fact that he and my grandmother both came from that small town  it's a 600 person village, really  and it's 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,' Jason said.

'There is no other place in the world that he would be at peace other than Plains.'

'It is such an American story... to go to Plains and see the house that my grandparents built and lived in for all their time and came home to after being president,' the eldest Carter grandson said. 'It is a really incredible story to go from that little town to the White House and back again.'
An NHS Scotland medic who refused to get a Covid jab has won a discrimination case after a boss labelled her an anti-vaxxer.

Senior ultrasound specialist Gail Lauder caused tension with her colleagues who reacted negatively to her stance especially when she discussed it with patients, an employment tribunal heard.

The experienced sonographer said she had declined to be vaccinated because she had suffered from allergic reactions in the past and was very cautious about the drugs and medicines she used.

As a result of her allergies, she also said she could not wear the medical grade masks her hospital required staff to wear during the pandemic.

Her position - and objection to being told to keep quiet about it - led to bosses branding her an anti-vaxxer, a label that the tribunal found to be unfavourable treatment.

Ultrasound expert Gail Lauder has won a discrimination case against NHS Tayside after a boss labelled her an 'anti-vaxxer'

It drew on a stereotypical view that someone who was not vaccinated against Covid must be an anti-vaxxer, the panel - chaired by Employment Judge Sandy Meiklejohn - said.

We found that this was self-evidently unwanted conduct. It was connected with [her] perceived behaviours.

We accepted [Ms Lauders evidence] that her decision not to be vaccinated was a personal one based on her medical history. She was not against vaccination generally.

The ultrasound expert is now in line for compensation after successfully suing NHS Tayside for disability discriminaton and harassment.

The hearing in Dundee heard Ms Lauder started working as a radiographer for NHS Tayside in 2003 and qualified as a sonographer around five years later.

At the time of the pandemic she was a Clinical Specialist Sonographer, based at Ninewells Hospital.

The panel heard her allergies, which the health board accepted amounted to disability, caused her to be careful with the medication she used.

She also struggled with the surgical face masks assigned for staff, opting for a cloth one instead with bosses eventually removing her from clinical duties involving patients in January 2021.

The tribunal was told she refused to get vaccinated to her colleagues dismay with lead sonographer Margaret Taylor asking her not to discuss her decision with others.

In an annual appraisal, Ms Lauder was told there were some concerns that she had been telling patients she was choosing not to have the vaccine with Mrs Taylor suggesting it may not be helpful to say such things as it was not in line with the NHS and public health message.

Four months later, in June 2021, Ms Lauder went on sick leave because of stress and was hospitalised with Covid in November.

Her stance on vaccines was raised again in her next appraisal the following February,

Ms Lauder was branded an 'anti-vaxxer' by NHS chiefs for declining the Covid vaccine and not wearing a mask due to allergies

Ms Lauder told her boss she tried to be respectful of others but added: While I fully understand that being in a minority can provoke intolerance in others, I certainly do not agree that silence is the preferred course of action for minorities generally.

However, going forward, I intend to consciously depersonalise my work in an effort to safeguard any disquiet. I look forward to seeing how this topic of tolerance, respect and kindness will be addressed within the team as a whole.

Mrs Taylor said: It is important that as a team we have tolerance and respect for each other, accepting differing values and beliefs. This has caused an undercurrent of disquiet within the team as a whole and we must all try to be more aware of this as a team going forward.

The tribunal found there was a degree of tension between the pair with Ms Lauder asserting her right to speak out and Mrs Taylor implying that in doing so she had created or at least contributed to the disquiet.

Following a number of disputes over her vaccination status, sick pay and possible return to work, Ms Lauder launched grievance proceedings in October 2022 with the probe into her case hearing evidence from the imaging manager, Michael Conroy, that she had different views on Covid and is an anti-vaxxer, on occasion telling patients they didnt need to wear masks which caused colleagues distress.

She resigned the following month before the oucome of the investigation, claiming she was the victim of bullying and accused the health board of constructrive unfair dismissal, disability discrimination and harassement.

The panel rejected the unfair dismissal claim but found the anti-vaxxer comment was related to Ms Lauders inability to wear as mask and was therefore discriminatory.

Her compensation will be decided at a later date.
The Virginia Department of Health is investigating reports of a group of children who ended up with kidney failure after swimming in Lake Anna.

Many teenagers and young children have been admitted to local hospitals after complaints of being ill after swimming in the lake over Memorial Day weekend.

A Fauquier County mother's 15-year-old daughter is one of the many who have been stricken by the mysterious illness and has already had at least two rounds of dialysis.

Mother Judy Inglet said that the teen had left healthy on Friday but when she returned, she was diagnosed with hemolytic uremic syndrome.

'It's a parent's worst nightmare. She left on that Friday on that weekend, and she was fine. And now she is, like, fighting for her life.

Two eight-year-old twins have also been hospitalized at the Children's National Hospital and one of them, a young girl, is currently undergoing blood and platelet transfusions

'She has been diagnosed with hemolytic uremic syndrome. She's in kidney failure. I wouldn't even let my dogs swim in that lake. There is definitely something going on. It's not safe', the distressed mother told WKYT.

Two eight-year-old twins have also been hospitalized at the Children's National Hospital. One of the two, a young girl, is currently undergoing blood and platelet transfusions.

Father Nate Hiner told the outlet, 'It's terrifying to just go from having a fun day at the lake to potentially needing dialysis in an 8-year-old child. Its just unfathomable to think of as a parent.'

According to the Department of Health, a number of people who visited the lake have been diagnosed with E. Coli.

The bacterial infection is known to cause stomach cramps and diarrhea (often watery or bloody).

Symptoms include vomiting, fever and chills and in severe cases, the infection can damage organs, such as the kidneys - causing hemolytic uremic syndrome.

The Virginia Department of Health is investigating reports of a group of children who ended up with kidney failure after swimming in Lake Anna over Memorial Day weekend

Dr Olugbenga O. Obasanj, Rappahannock Health District Health Director said of the incident: 'We hope that those hospitalized continue to recover and can return home to their families soon.

'This is an ongoing investigation with the health department, and we will likely continue to learn about the situation in the coming day.

'As we head to pools, lakes, and beaches to enjoy the warmer weather and spend time with our families, it is important to remember to take precautions to prevent illness

'Showering before and after swimming, washing your hands before eating, and being sure not to drink the lake water are some of the ways to stay healthy this summer. It is also important not to swim if you have diarrhea. Children may need extra monitoring and reminders to follow these precautions.'

The department is also requesting anyone who was around the lake during that weekend to report any form of sickness they may have to officials.
A sleepy Texan town is set to boom in popularity after Samsung invested $44 billion to build a new high-tech facility.

The tech giant is opening 'the largest semiconductor manufacturing complex in America' in Taylor, near Austin, bringing thousands of jobs and billions in investment to the area.

Taylor is currently a small, quiet city with just 16,000 residents, but that is set to change.

Mayor Brandt Rydell told KVUE: 'From 2020 to 2030, Taylor will be one of the most rapidly growing cities in Texas, if not the nation.'

The average house price is just $298,000, but with the plant expected to open later this year, house prices could rise as more luxury properties are built.

Taylor is a small city with just 16,000 residents located 29 miles northeast of Austin

Samsung is investing $44billion with the new plant and surrounding infrastructure, including the 'Samsung Highway' to connect the plant to the town.

At a ribbon cutting ceremony for part of the highway on Friday, Governor Greg Abbott said: 'Texas is more dedicated than ever to the future of chips and Samsung in our great state.

'With more than $40 billion invested in Texas  and the creation of 1,000s of jobs  Samsung is the leading company in the future success of our great state.'

He added: 'This highway will serve as the gateway to the largest foreign direct investment project in Texas history, and we're proud that the chips that run our future will be 'Made in Texas' by Samsung for generations to come.'

With the new infrastructure and job opportunities, Taylor will be transformed into a technological hub.

Locals are hoping it will replicate the boom in Austin which saw property prices swell during the pandemic.

Samsung is investing $44billion with the new plant and surrounding infrastructure, including the 'Samsung Highway' to connect the plant to the town

With the new infrastructure and job opportunities, Taylor will be transformed into a technological hub

Austin was seen as the epitome of the Sunbelt's real estate boom during the pandemic.

The region proved especially popular with well-paid tech workers, who were left unshackled from their San Francisco offices by lockdown.

Between March 2020 and May 2022, the median sales price of a home in Austin ballooned from $420,000 to $669,000.

But house prices in the town remain low, with only three properties currently listed over $1 million, according to property search site Redfin.

Homebuyers' search data suggest prices may soon rise as many look to move from tech hubs across the US.

Samsung predicts the Taylor facility will create 2,000 jobs

Only three properties in town are currently listed over $1 million, according to property search site Redfin (pictured costs $325,000)

Between March and May this year, over 1,300 people looked to move to Taylor from tech hub San Francisco, according to Redfin.

A further 1,215 were looking to move from Los Angeles and 868 from Dallas.

Samsung predicts the Taylor facility will create 2,000 jobs.

They said: 'In 2023, construction activities at the Taylor site injected $11.6 billion into the local economy and supported a total of 8,897 direct and 9,264 indirect construction jobs.

'In the same year, operations at the Taylor site pumped $115 million into the region while supporting 2,317 jobs in the area.

'These incentives will boost city and county funds, producing long-term benefits for the community and positive implications for Taylor's overall development.'
A groundbreaking artist feted by the Obama White House has hit back at 'unhinged' allegations of sexual assault with screenshots of friendly messages from his accuser sent after the alleged attack.

Kehinde Wiley, whose portrait of the former president sits in the Smithsonian, was accused last month of a 'severe and violent' sexual assault in 2021 by Ghanaian artist Joseph Awuah-Darko.

Black Lives Matter co-founder Derrick Ingram has also stepped forward with allegations that he was raped during an abusive four-month relationship with Wiley in 2021.

But the artist called the claims 'baseless and defamatory' as he posted messages from Awuah-Darko on Instagram.

'What is motivating these individuals to hurl these disgusting allegations? Money? Fame? An insatiable need for attention? Who knows?' he wrote.

Acclaimed artist Kehinde Wiley has angrily denied allegations of sexual assault

Ghanaian artist Joseph Awuah-Darko claims Wiley attacked him after a dinner in 2021

'My accusers wanted far more than I was willing to give them. Does that give them the right to commit character assassination? No it does not.'

The LA-born artist met his first accuser in June 2021 at a dinner held in his honor by Ghana's Creative Art Council in Accra.

Awuah-Darko claimed Wiley repeatedly grabbed his buttocks in a 'categorically unwelcomed and unprovoked' before a more serious assault later than night.

'It almost destroyed me,' Awuah-Darko wrote.

Wiley admitted a 'consensual' encounter and said it marked 'the beginning of years of Joseph aggressively pursuing a relationship with me'.

'Since our first encounter in 2021 he has consistently sent me messages via phone and Instagram professing his love for me, my talent and my work,' he wrote.

'He has mentioned me on his Instagram stories more than 30 times.

'Before he made these unhinged false claims and deleted thousands of Instagram posts that didn't fit his narrative, he celebrated our friendship on his feed.'

Wiley posted messages from Awuah-Darko suggesting they meet and said his accuser flew 4,000 miles from London to Nigeria to attend his birthday party eight months after the alleged assault.

'We live in a world where a single social media post can destroy someone's life, where people are tried and convicted online without regard for truth,' he wrote. 'This is dangerous and wrong.'

Wiley posted messages he claims were from his accuser after the alleged assault which show that Awuah-Darko remained keen to pursue a relationship

His denial came a day after Ingram claimed he was raped at the artist's New York apartment in September 2021.

'During the course of our relationship there were moments of extreme violence which included being punched in an Uber, being slapped along with severe emotional manipulation.

'I informed friends of my assault and abuse while initially too afraid to come forward publicly about my experience, especially when I learned about his significance in the art world.'

Awuah-Darko said on his post that it took him 'several months to reconcile what had actually happened to me'.

'I did not immediately confront the reality of my abuse as such.'

But Wiley accused him of pursuing him for 'years'.

'In his reckless smear campaign he has harassed friends and colleagues, desperately seeking any information to support his ridiculous claims,' he wrote. 'He found nothing.

He finally managed to conspire with a person I had a brief consensual encounter with in 2021; this person also hoped for a more significant relationship.

I have texts from this individual sent after our encounter in which he says I am 'amazing' and he 'wants to see me again'.

Wiley is one of six children born to a Nigerian father and an African-American mother who grew up in South Central Los Angeles in the 1980s.

When he was about 11 years old he enrolled in a small art conservatory, according to his website.

Black Lives Matter co-founder Derrick Ingram has also now stepped forward with allegations that he was raped during an abusive four-month relationship with Wiley in 2021

The 2018 portrait now hangs in the the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery

He went on to earn his BFA from the San Francisco Art Institute in 1999 and his MFA from Yale University, School of Art in 2001.

The New York-based artist is known for his massive canvases that showcase contemporary African Americans in positions of power and strength.

He came under fire in 2018 when it emerged he had painted at least two portraits of black women holding a knife in one hand and the decapitated head of a white woman in the other.

Wiley said the paintings are based on Renaissance works by Caravaggio and Gentileschi depicting the Biblical story of Judith beheading the Assyrian general Holofernes.

Awuah-Darko is raising funds for a legal action against Wiley saying he hopes his 'openness about my painful experience empower others to come forward'.

But Wiley has insisted that he will see off his accusers.

'What is clear is that my accusers wanted far more than I was willing to give them,' he wrote.

'Does that give them the right to commit character assassination? No it does not.'
A social media user has claimed in a video that takeout boxes given to customers by a popular fast-food restaurant chain have gotten smaller.

The TikToker, who goes by JayFamily (@jayasuriyafamily), posted a video on June 6 showing off a white to-go box he received from his local Panda Express.

JayFamily did not clarify what meal size he ordered - but his Panda Express box contained at least two entrees and two sides including rice, meat, and vegetables.

'What we noticed was that it's not much food for what they used to give,' he said.

He and his family were unsure if the food serving or box size had changed - until he stuck his fork in the fried rice and made the alleged revelation.

Panda Express, however, denied altering the size of their containers or portions.

JayFamily posted a TikTok video on June 6 and accused Panda Express of making its boxes shallower. Panda Express, however, denied altering the size of their containers or portions

Panda Express offers its customers, at more than 2,400 US locations, various meal types, including a bowl, a plate, and a bigger plate.

The plate comes with one side and two entrees, while the bigger plate features one side and three entrees.

To-go orders for meals of that size usually come in white or black boxes, like the one that JayFamily received from one of its restaurants.

The social media user was shocked when he put his fork into the fried rice.

'It's not even an inch and a half deep,' said JayFamily.

He then claimed that Panda Express changed its boxes to make them 'even shallower.'

'It looks tall from the side, but when you look underneath, it's not that deep - it's even more shallow,' he said while holding up the Panda Express to-go box.

'I guess this is corporate America. Good job Panda.'

A Panda Express spokesperson said in a statement to DailyMail.com: 'Our top priority is to satisfy our guests.

'We have not changed the size of our containers or portions and remain committed to serving the innovative and quality comfort food our guests have come to expect.'

To-go orders for meals of that size usually come in white or black boxes, like the one that JayFamily received from one of its restaurants

Food served at Panda Express locations is known to be packed with calories.

There are no rules regarding the exact amount of food, but The Daily Meal calculated in September 2023 that multiple entrees weigh between five and nearly 10 ounces per serving.

The Panda Express meal types do come with a certain number of sides and entrees, but customers can add an extra menu item to their order if they wish.

The restaurant chain has remained busy for years, but it has come with a share of social media arguments.

A Reddit user who claimed to be a Panda Express employee even started a discussion in 2021 regarding customers' frustration over portion sizes.

The Reddit user wrote the post on the Panda Express subreddit after she dealt with a moody customer who gave her a hard time.

'A customer wanted to have an attitude with me cause I gave her the standard shrimp for honey walnut shrimp,' she wrote.

'I just stood there because Im not allowed to argue lol but I dont even feel like arguing its just food.'

Panda Express offers its customers at more than 2,400 US locations various meal types, including a bowl, a plate, and a bigger plate

She proceeded to call herself someone who doesn't make the rules about serving portions at the restaurant.

'Im just a regular worker - I dont make the rules for portion sizes, so if I give you the portion size of whatever you want, please dont take out your anger on me,' she wrote.

'I get in trouble if I give too much food so please if you have any inquiries take it up with the higher ups.'

Most commenters supported the Reddit user after the experience she allegedly went through, but commenters on JayFamily's recent TikTok video agreed with his statements or trashed the restaurant chain.

'I like Panda Express but they were never good value for the amount of food even a decade ago,' a TikToker wrote.

One person wrote that the restaurant chain 'used to stuff it so much' while another commented: 'Portions are a lot smaller everywhere you go now.'

'When I went to eat there the other day, I heard the manager say to the employees a little less on my orange chicken. Time to boycott and record like Chipotle,' a TikToker commented.
Six survivors of the Sandy Hook elementary school shooting have recalled the horrors of the massacre 12 years on from the tragedy as they prepare to graduate high school.

The teenagers' lives were indelibly marked by one of America's deadliest school shootings on December 14, 2012, when Adam Lanza, 20, killed 26 people, mostly children, at their Newtown, Connecticut school.

Emma Ehrens was six years old when Lanza smashed down the doors to her classroom while she was reading a book with a circle of young pupils before opening fire.

'I remember being at the front of the classroom, and he came in and stood right next to me. And I watched all my friends drop,' Ehrens told Good Morning America's George Stephanopoulos.

'One of the victims (who) did not make it, he told me and a couple other people to run, and we did.

Six survivors of the Sandy Hook elementary school shooting have recalled the horrors of the massacre 12 years on from the tragedy as they prepare to graduate high school

'We ran out of the classroom, out of the school, and on the way we saw bodies in the hallways and doors blown off the hinges.

'And we just ran and ran and ran, out of the school, out of the parking lot.'

Henry Terifay was only seven when he sprinted out of his classroom after hearing gunshots on December 14, 2012.

He said he'll be wearing a permanent tribute to the friends he lost that day on graduation day.

'I have my friend's name tattooed on my shoulder so he stays with me every day,' Terifay, now 18, told GMA. 'I just try and remember them every day.'

Matt Holden, who was six when the shooting happened, said the most vivid memory of the day for him was seeing his mother break down in a way he has never witnessed since.

'Once we finally got out of the school, I remember we were walking to the firehouse and my mom ran up to me crying, and I didn't know what happened at the time,' he told GMA.

'I didn't understand the gravity of the whole thing, but I knew if my mom was crying, my mom was so, so scared that, you know, something horrible had happened. I'd never seen her like that before and I never have since. I hope I never do.'

Henry Terifay was only seven when he sprinted out of his classroom after hearing gunshots on December 14, 2012

Emma Ehrens was six years old when Lanza smashed down the doors to her classroom while she was reading a book with a circle of young pupils

Matt Holden, who was six when the shooting happened, said the most vivid memory of the day for him was seeing his mother break down in a way he has never witnessed since

Ella Seaver, who was seven at the time of the tragedy, said she struggles to talk about the shooting even now.

'It's still, even over 10 years later, just so difficult to try and dig up those memories because of how traumatic and painful it is,' Seaver told GMA.

'For me personally, when I get to talk to these five other people, it's comforting in a way, because you have this connection that's never gonna go away.'

She added that the experience had sparked in her a desire to become a therapist, to help people heal from trauma.

'I've basically known that I wanted to be a therapist since I was eight, which was really only a year after the shooting,' Seaver said.

'I have been in and out of therapy almost my whole life, especially after the shooting, and it's really just helped me cope and helped me learn about myself, so I want to try and pay that forward and help people who have gone through gun violence, or even people who haven't, who are just struggling in their daily life.'

The teenagers lamented how it feels little has changed since Sandy Hook, and the same tragic story keeps repeating itself in schools across America.

In fact, school shootings have spiraled, with more than 1,600 recorded nationwide since 2012, according to the K-12 School Shooting Database.

Six survivors of the Sandy Hook elementary school shooting have recalled the horrors of the massacre 12 years on from the tragedy as they prepare to graduate high school

Emma Ehrens and Lilly Wasilnak were friends at the elementary school. They spoke about the shooting 12 years on as they prepare to graduate high school

The teenagers lives were indelibly marked by one of America's deadliest school shootings on December 14, 2012, when Adam Lanza, 20, killed 26 people, mostly children, at their Newtown, Connecticut school

'I really thought Sandy Hook would, you know, shock people and wake everybody up,' Terifay told GMA. 'But it just keeps happening over and over and over again.'

Holden added that the situation felt 'hopeless'. 'The friends, family who were lost that day, the smiling faces that should be filling the seats in your classroom, the parents who should be able to watch their kids graduate, get married, the kids will never be able to hug their parents again. It's never over,' he said.

Lilly Wasilnak, who was six at the time of the shooting, said she worries for her own future children.

'As unfortunate as it is, it's going to happen to someone else, and it's going to keep happening to someone else until people like us have to make the change,' Wasilnak, now 17, told GMA.

'We worry about one day when we'll have kids, and I don't want to send my kids to school in the way our world is.'

Adam Lanza (pictured), 20, killed 26 people at the Newtown, Connecticut school in 2012. He then shot himself

Pictured: Responders gather at the scene of a mass school shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14, 2012 in Newtown, Connecticut

Seaver said if she could see one change on gun reform it would be to establish 'regulations on AR-style assault weapons.'

On the morning of December 14, 2012, Adam Lanza gunned down his mother Nancy Lanza, who was then 52, with a .22-caliber Savage Mark II rifle.

Investigators found her with four shots to the head, wearing pajamas at their Newtown home.

Lanza then drove her car to Sandy Hook Elementary School, armed with her Bushmaster XM15-E2S rifle and 300 rounds of bullets.

He killed 20 children, all aged six and seven, and six members of staff.
A holidaymaker has revealed an ingenious hack to help dodge EasyJet's 'ridiculous' excess baggage fines.

Dylan Springer was boarding his flight home from Kos, Greece, on April 12 when he noticed passengers being slapped with 48 fines for carrying an extra tote bag.

The quick-thinking 23-year-old claimed he then emptied his bag and stuffed his Birkenstock sandals under his socks, two books in his trouser pockets and a portable charger in his hoodie.

His viral TikTok video shows him smirking as he pulls the extra items and snacks from under his clothes and stuffs them back into his tote bag before boarding the flight.

Despite being 'nervous' that staff would notice the items sticking out, Dylan says he managed to escape the 'embarrassing' ordeal without being charged.

Dylan Springer (pictured) revealed an ingenious hack to help dodge EasyJet's 'ridiculous' excess baggage fines - by sneakily stuffing sandals, books and snacks under his clothes

The quick-thinking 23-year-old stuffed all the belongings of his tote bag, which he would have needed to pay an additional fee for, into his outfit - even putting his Birkenstock sandals under his socks

Dylan had the perfect trousers for his hack with pockets large enough to fit his books in

The professional dancer already had an under-seat rucksack with him so EasyJet rules state he would need to have paid an additional fee to take another bag.

Dylan insists he snuck the extra bag under his jumper for the outbound flight from London Gatwick Airport but there were stricter checks on the return journey.

His video has been viewed more than 30,000 times with users praising him as a 'genius'.

EasyJet say cabin bags can be added to flights from 5.99 and their website warns of a 48 fine for any non-purchased bag brought to the airport's departure gate.

Dylan, from Leeds, West Yorkshire, said: 'I know sometimes with budget airlines you can sneakily bring a tote bag through.

'I thought I could try and get away with bringing extra but then I saw staff putting bags into the boxes and knew I needed to make some amendments.

'I put my Birkenstock sandals in my socks and my jeans over the top. I put two books in each of the little side pockets I had on my legs which somehow perfectly fit in there.

'Then I had some snacks which I just put inside one of my pockets and I had a portable charger inside my hood. I tied a shirt around my waist too.

'Luckily, the trousers I wore were perfect.

His viral TikTok video shows him smirking as he pulls the extra items and snacks from under his clothes and stuffs them back into his tote bag

Dylan can be seen grabbing a yellow book from his trouser pocket and slyly putting into his bag before boarding the flight

Here are all the items that were in Dylan's tote bag and which he was forced to hid under his clothes at the airport

Dylan insists he snuck the tote bag under his jumper for the outbound flight from London Gatwick Airport but there were stricter checks on the return journey

'I was nervous and as soon as I walked up to them I thought 'I hope they're not staring at my legs and can see everything puffing out'.

'They didn't even check the bag I was holding, I just walked straight through.

'People were getting fined for the extra bags and the fines for the tiniest extra allowance are mad.

'It's so weird. It's ridiculous.

'When I was through the baggage bit I realised I could take everything off so I thought it would be a funny thing to record myself just whipping out all these clothes.

'Lots of people stared at me but I could tell some were thinking 'that's clever' and 'fair enough, I would've done the same'.

'If I can manage to fit all my stuff in the carry-on bag in future then that's fine but if not, I'll have my tote bag at the ready.

'If they start doing bag checks again, I guess things are going in the socks and in my pockets.'

The 23-year-old (pictured) is holidaying in Malta in August and insists he'll be using the same hack again

Dylan had been on a four-day trip to Greece and was boarding his flight home from Kos, on April 12. Dylan is pictured here during a kayak trip on the Greek island

Dylan, who had been on a four-day trip to Greece, is holidaying in Malta in August and insists he'll be using the same hack again.

His video is captioned 'EasyJet, man, stop with the bag checks this is embarrassing' and has more than 500 likes and comments praising Dylan's brazen stunt.

One user said: 'Stuffing things into socks is actually genius.'

Another user said: 'The shoes up the trousers are so good.'

A EasyJet spokesperson said: 'EasyJet's under seat bag is one of the biggest in the industry and all passengers can take one onboard for free and large cabin bags can be booked from just 5.99.'
A group of builders have told how they intervened to stop a man after he threw a coffee cup and a can at Nigel Farage during an open-top bus tour through Barnsley today.

The contractors rushed in to grab the man after he broke into their work site and began grabbing objects to pelt at the Reform leader.

Paul Stott, 52, said the man - who wore a red hoodie - left a nearby pro-refugee protest before running into his work area.

He told the Mail: 'The man in a red hoodie was standing with the protestors at one point and then came over here.

'He grabbed a can and a coffee cup from the bin here and threw them. There was no cement. There was a bottle there but fortunately he didn't get hold of that.

Branding the man a 'moron', he added: 'We turned him out of the compound. He then ran off but the police moved in quickly and grabbed him. There were tools here and our main concern was that the public should not be in this compound.'

It is the second time he has been targeted while campaigning for the general election after earlier being doused with a milkshake by an OnlyFans model in Clacton, Essex, last week.

The protestor, wearing a red hoodie, throws a coffee cup in the direction of the Reform party leader

The man is wrestled by workmen (left) and then led away by police (right) following the shocking incident in South Yorkshire this morning

The moment Mr Farage was targeted today by an attacker, who is not pictured, throwing objects during an open top bus tour in Barnsley

JUNE 4: Mr Farage had milkshake thrown over him during an election rally in Clacton

2019: The politician was also targeted with a milkshake while speaking to voters in Newcastle in the lead-up to the Brexit referendum

Prior to today's incident in Barnsley, around 100 protestors had gathered in Eldon Street, Barnsley, and were attempting to drown out Mr Farage as he spoke to onlookers with a microphone from an open top bus.

The Reform leader said afterwards that he believed the objects were a coffee cup and wet cement.

He told reporters: 'What we've now got is a mob that want to close down all debate, a mob that are prepared to use violence to achieve their goals, and that for a democratic country is very, very worrying indeed.'

Asked how he felt, Mr Farage added: 'Me? I'm used to it. I don't like it, of course not, this is stopping me doing what I want to do.

'I'm at my best going out, meeting people and talking to them, having a debate with them, going around the pubs or whatever I do. And these violent youngsters are stopping me, it's very, very frustrating.'

He posted the footage on X, saying: 'My huge thanks to South Yorkshire Police today.

'I will not be bullied or cowed by a violent left-wing mob who hate our country.'

Mr Farage later said the attack was 'pretty nasty'.

Speaking while campaigning in Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, he said that the police tipped them off early that it was 'not a very good idea' to leave the battlebus.

He said: 'Protest is allowed. Protest is part of our democratic process. But protest needs to be within certain bounds. Protest does not involve chucking cement towards me, or even stones.

'I don't mind if someone shouts something rude at me, I would probably shout it back. But when it comes to violence that actually poses a real threat.'

He called the attack 'violent' and said he would be in hospital now if he had got off the bus.

He said he agrees that people who throw objects during campaigns should 'absolutely' go to jail.

Onlookers cheered as officers in Barnsley arrested the man who had thrown objects at Mr Farage.

South Yorkshire Police confirmed a 28-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of public order.

'We have arrested a 28-year-old man on suspicion of public order offences following disorder in Barnsley town centre today,' the force said.

'It is believed that the man threw objects from a nearby construction area.

'A suspect was quickly detained and remains in police custody.'

Mr Farage had been excitedly greeting Reform Party supporters on the top of the bus

A man hurls objects from a building site towards an open-top bus Mr Farage is standing in

Mr Farage ducked for cover after it became clear items were being thrown in his direction

The man holds a coffee cup in his left hand as workmen look on before rushing to grab him

The man is wrestled by a police officer after walking away from the scene in Barnsley

The man is arrested by officers in Barnsley. Mr Farage later thanked South Yorkshire Police

Mr Farage speaks from the top of the open-top bus before he is attacked (not by anyone pictured)

Anti-Farage protestors in Barnsley today. There is no suggestion anyone pictured attacked him

Earlier the Reform leader had his nails painted at n The Lash beauty salon in Hoyland

The politician was in good spirits when he began the open-top bus ride

Victoria Thomas Bowen, 25, was charged with assault by beating and criminal damage when a milkshake was thrown over Mr Farage as he left the Moon and Starfish Wetherspoon pub in Clacton-on-Sea in Essex on Tuesday last week.

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'.

Essex Police said: 'A woman is due to appear in court following an incident in 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.'

It prompted condemnation from MPs all across the political spectrum including Labour's Yvette Cooper who called it a 'disgrace' and 'completely unacceptable and wrong'.

The Clacton incident had echoes of 2019, when he fell victim to a similar stunt in Newcastle.

His assailant was later ordered to carry out community work and pay 350 in compensation.

Mr Farage has made a dramatic return to the political frontline and also been installed as Reform UK leader in place of Richard Tice.

CLACTON: Mr Farage was hit by a milkshake last week when he stepped out of a Wetherspoons pub

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

Victoria Thomas-Bowen pictured last week after she was charged with criminal damage and assault

Thomas-Bowen will appear at Colchester Magistrates' Court on July 2nd to answer the charges
Ikea has successfully stemmed the tide of staff turnover by taking simple steps to make its workers' lives more pleasant.

Workers were fleeing the company in their droves in 2022, but a series of popular changes including flexible schedules and more generous compensation packages have since helped reverse the trend.

By 2023, voluntary turnover for the Swedish firm's American outfit had dropped from a third of all employees to around a quarter of all.

Globally the quit rate fell to 17.5 percent in April from 22.4 percent in August 2022 - a statistic that represents its parent company's more than 600 stores and warehouses across 63 markets, Bloomberg reported.

It comes as voluntary attrition elsewhere in the retail sector continues to tick up, compared to white-collar sectors where hiring has slowed, keeping it lower.

Ikea has successfully stemmed the tide of staff turnover by taking simple steps to make its workers' lives more pleasant, numbers from last year show. Pictured, staffers protesting outside the Ikea headquarters in Germany this time last year

Recalling the previously high quit-rate, Jon Abrahamsson Ring, chief executive officer of the umbrella entity that oversees Ikea's store franchising, product design and supply chain , told Bloomberg how workers 'suddenly became very scarce' in 2022



Recalling the previously high quit-rate, Jon Abrahamsson Ring, chief executive officer of the umbrella entity that oversees Ikea's store franchising, product design and supply chain, told Bloomberg how workers 'suddenly became very scarce'.

That year, more than 62,000 employees departed for various reasons - half of them leaving before their first anniversary, he said.

The company quickly realized that each departure was costing the company about $5,000.

So the business began paying more, Abrahamsson Ring said, raising starting wages, bonuses, and closing gender pay gaps across the board.

In London, base pay rose from 11 ($14)- an hour to 13.15 ($16.75).

The UK also added a new starting pay for stores outside London, where the cost of living was much higher than other regions, Abrahamsson Ring explained.

Another big problem was that many new hires were quitting within just a few months of starting, with just 60 percent of hires staying for at least three months - compared to its 85 percent target for the UK/Ireland, Bloomberg reported.

At the time, the retailer's onboarding process was in desperate need of a revamp, Abrahamsson Ring said - citing infrequent feedback from managers and new hires being left unclear as to who they were to reach out to for advice.

That year, more than 62,000 employees departed for various reasons - half of them leaving before their first anniversary, he said. Pictured, a check out line at a US Ikea

The company quickly realized that each departure was costing the company about $5,000. By 2023, voluntary turnover for the Swedish firm's American outfit had dropped from a third of all employees to around a quarter of all

Moreover, many professionals felt empowered by the pandemic and had no qualms jumping ship to a firm better prepared for them, explained Country People and Culture Manager of IKEA UK, Darren Taylor.

'Coming out of Covid, people re-evaluated what was important to them, and work-life balance became more important,' he explained.

'So it required a big change in terms of how we positioned ourselves to attract people into retail,' he added.

Meanwhile, In the US, UK and Canada, employee turnover had risen above 30 percent by the time Abrahamsson Ring took the reins in September 2020.

Several left because they deemed the process of swapping shifts too difficult, while other cited slower-than-desired wages.

In India, parents quit due to meager child-related benefits, as well as low pay.

The US hiked its hourly wages to between $16 and $18 depending on the location in 2022.

The firm responsible for staffing Ikea's 53 stores across the country also pivoted to putting its scheduling tool online to help accommodate last minute tweaks.

The US went on to hike its hourly wages to between $16 and $18 depending on the location in 2022

The firm responsible for staffing Ikea's 53 stores across the country also pivoted to putting its scheduling tool online to help accommodate last minute tweaks

'Small things,' on senior staffer said of the sprawling system of changes, many of them slight. '[They] make a big difference.' Pictured, the biggest Ikea in the US, found in Burbank, California

But for one US worker who also spoke to Bloomberg, these changes were not enough, recently quitting after a conflict with a colleague escalated into disciplinary action, she told the paper.

The sales associate, who asked to remain anonymous, quit when managers aligned against her, she said - with rigid scheduling rules forcing her to miss several critical medical appointments.

In other employee surveys, other workers griped that was still more work to do in the US, citing poor communication and micromanaging.

Still, store workers there and across the globe are sticking around longer.

In India, where subsidized daycare is immensely important to citizens, 26 weeks of parental leave for mothers and fathers and a five-day workweek were provided. Six days is typically the norm for Indian retailers.

In the UK, part-time staff who complained they did not get enough hours are now being offered additional remote roles and call answering work.

To retain students, the firm has introduced shifts on weekends only, or just during school breaks.

'Small things,' said Taylor of the sprawling system of changes, many of them slight. '[They] make a big difference.'
A toddler with Down's syndrome died from sepsis after a 'very junior' doctor sent her home with instructions to be given Calpol, her devastated parents said on Tuesday.

Selina Samarina was taken to hospital with tell-tale signs of the killer condition, including symptoms of fever, a rash and irritability, but was discharged the same day.

The two-year-old was brought back by ambulance the following day after her condition deteriorated, but went into cardiac arrest minutes later and died early the following morning.

Her parents accused staff at Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford, Essex, of a catalogue of errors today as a coroner issued a prevention of future deaths report, which highlighted a lack of staff that left Selina in the hands of an inexperienced doctor.

Signe and Stephen Samarina said problems included a nurse misrecording Selina's heart rate, staff wrongly claiming the couple had discharged her themselves, and bungling security taking her father to the wrong part of the hospital, robbing him of the chance to be with her in her final moments.

Selina Samarina died from sepsis after a 'very junior' doctor sent her home with instructions to be given Calpol, her devastated parents said on Tuesday

Her parents have accused staff at Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford, Essex, of a catalogue of errors that led to the youngster's death in April 2023

Selina, pictured as a baby, was taken to hospital with tell-tale signs of the killer condition, including symptoms of fever, a rash and irritability, but was discharged the same day

The family has instructed solicitors to take legal action against Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust. Pictured: Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford, Essex

The couple also said the bereavement team arrived with a memory box the day after Selina's death  only to find it was empty because they brought the wrong one.

They have now instructed solicitors to take legal action against Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust.

Complaining no individuals would be held to account for the tragedy, account manager Mr Samarina, 44, said: 'It's not about the money.

'We want to highlight how poor the service was. That's the only punishment the system allows us to give.'

Mrs Samarina, 42  who is giving birth to another daughter tomorrow by elective caesarean section  added: 'I don't want anyone else to have to go through this because it's been absolutely appalling.'

The Mail has run its End the Sepsis Scandal campaign since 2016 to raise awareness of symptoms among patients and hospital staff.

But the condition  which strikes when an infection such as blood poisoning sparks a violent immune response in which the body attacks its own organs and is known as the 'silent killer'  still caused tens of thousands of avoidable deaths each year.

Selina's parents drove her the short distance from their home to A&E at Broomfield Hospital on April 7 last year, because they were so concerned about her they didn't want to wait for an ambulance.

But they said they waited 40 minutes for a triage nurse and then endured another 90 minute delay  during which Mr Samarina was told off for walking around with Selina in his arms as he tried to soothe her  before the junior doctor arrived.

What are the key symptoms of sepsis? The 'silent killer' that can cause death in minutes Sepsis, known as the silent killer, strikes when an infection such as blood poisoning sparks a violent immune response in which the body attacks its own organs. It is a potentially life-threatening condition, triggered by an infection or injury. Around 245,000 people develop sepsis in the UK each year and 52,000 die, according to the UK Sepsis Trust. Instead of attacking the invading bug, the body turns on itself, shutting down vital organs. If caught early enough, it's easily treated with intravenous antibiotics and fluids, but these must be given as soon as sepsis is suspected - it strikes with frightening speed and, for every hour of delay, a patient's chance of dying increases 8 per cent. Sepsis is a leading cause of avoidable death killing 44,000 people each year The early symptoms of sepsis can be easily confused with more mild conditions, meaning it can be difficult to diagnose. A high temperature (fever), chills and shivering, a fast heartbeat and rapid breathing are also indicators. A patient can rapidly deteriorate if sepsis is missed early on, so quick diagnosis and treatment is vital  yet this rarely happens. In the early stages, sepsis can be mistaken for a chest infection, flu or upset stomach. It is most common and dangerous in older adults, pregnant women, children younger than one, people with chronic conditions or those who have weakened immune systems. The six signs of something potentially deadly can be identified by the acronym 'SEPSIS': Slurred speech or confusion

Extreme shivering or muscle pain

Passing no urine in a day

Severe breathlessness

Skin that's mottled or discoloured Anyone who develops any of these symptoms should seek medical help urgently  and ask doctors: 'Could this be sepsis?' Advertisement

'He just said she had a viral infection, just by looking in her mouth,' said Mrs Samarina, 42, an administrator.

'We asked for antibiotics and he said 'Oh no, she's too young. Just give her Calpol and it will go away.'

The couple were allowed to use a quiet room in the hope Selina's heart rate would slow down, but claimed they were sent home by a nurse who said it was 140bpm, although they claim it was closer to 160bpm.

Selina pictured with her older sister, Scarlett, now eight, who has received counselling following the youngster's tragic death

They also say hospital notes later showed the nurse recorded Selina's heart rate as being 130bpm.

'When we were told it was a viral infection we just wanted to take her home and make her comfortable,' said Mr Samarina.

'We'll always feel terrible for not arguing with them, but if you do they're quite patronising.'

Selina went to sleep after they got back to the home they shared with their other daughter Scarlett, now eight, and she didn't wake up until 10am the following day.

'I was giving her Nurofen and Calpol and water and stuff, but she wasn't getting any better. That's when I called 111 and an ambulance came,' said Mrs Samarina.

'When they saw us at the hospital, they told the paramedic we had discharged ourselves.

'The hospital lied, or maybe it was an error.'

She was met by the same triage nurse and her daughter was suddenly surrounded by 'ten doctors' before she went into cardiac arrest.

'They managed to get her back, but the critical time [to treat her] had passed. It was too late by then,' said Mrs Samarina.

Broomfield told Mrs Samarina  who was on her own as her husband was looking after their other daughter Scarlett at home  that Selina would be transferred to Great Ormond St Hospital in London.

But they claimed there were further delays waiting for someone to intubate her for the journey and she went into septic shock before leaving the premises.

'She was sitting on my lap at the time. They took her into theatre and tried to resuscitate her for 50 minutes,' said Mrs Samarina.

'Then they called me back in and I held her hand as she slipped away.'

He husband was told to get to the hospital as quickly as possible but never got to say goodbye to his daughter.

'Security were going to be waiting for me at reception to take Scarlett off me and let me be with Selina and Signe as quickly as possible,' he said.

'But the security guard took me to the wrong part of the hospital. It was too late by then. My wife had to endure it all on her own.'

The following day the hospital's bereavement team arranged to drop round to the grieving family's home to hand them a lock of Selina's hair and an impression of her hand in a memory box.

But her mother revealed: 'They came round with the wrong box and it was empty.'

An inquest in May concluded Selina died from sepsis and pneumonia, with contributory factors of Down's syndrome and upper respiratory tract infection.

In his prevention of future deaths report, Stephen Simblet KC, the assistant coroner for Essex, said the 'sufficiency of the staffing arrangements' on the day Selina died was of concern.

A sepsis protocol was triggered and this should have led to her being seen by a senior doctor within an hour.

In his prevention of future deaths report, Stephen Simblet KC, the assistant coroner for Essex, said the 'sufficiency of the staffing arrangements' on the day Selina died was of concern, noting that a 'very junior doctor' checked the toddler because of the demand on services

But 'huge demand' on services meant a 'very junior doctor' checked the toddler instead.

Further pressure was caused because there were only seven doctors available across the emergency and paediatric departments instead of the usual 12.

'I was told in evidence that the trust has now consolidated the staffing rotas for the emergency department and paediatrics department, so that it is now easier to see any deficit as one deficit across two departments,' Mr Simblet added.

'That does not, however, address the situation of how and why a situation in which only 60 per cent of the doctors are available for these important services.

Mrs Samarina said it had been 'very difficult' dealing with the bereavement and she had been coming to terms with that while going through another pregnancy in her 40s, because she and her husband had always wanted to have two children.

She added: 'My eight-year-old is receiving counselling - when we told her I was pregnant she was very upset for a long time, because she was afraid that the same thing would happen to her new sister.'

Nicki Abbott, Interim Director Women's and Children's services at Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust, said: 'We again offer our heartfelt condolences to Selina's family.

'We have undertaken an external investigation and implemented an action plan following this very sad case.'
Russian warships are practising the use of high precision weapons in the Atlantic ocean, Russia's defence ministry said on Tuesday, putting the US on alert.

Vladimir Putin's most modern frigate Admiral Gorshkov, a hypersonic missile carrier, is accompanying nuclear submarine Kazan and two other naval vessels.

The drills involve hitting targets from a distance of more than 370 miles, Russia's defence ministry said in a statement, and follow an exercise in anti-aircraft fire.

All four vessels are set to arrive in Havana on Wednesday and will pass 25 miles from the coast of the United States on their journey, according to reports.

The flotilla is seen as sabre rattling by the Russian dictator at a time of deep tension over his war against Ukraine, and is reminiscent of the days of the Cold War and the Cuban missile crisis when the US faced off against Cuba and the USSR.

Russian warships are practising the use of high precision weapons in the Atlantic ocean, Russia 's defence ministry said on Tuesday, putting the US on alert. Pictured: Russia's Kazan Yasen-M submarine, part of the Northern Fleet, which is in-bound for Cuba

Vladimir Putin 's most modern frigate Admiral Gorshkov (pictured), a hypersonic missile carrier, is accompanying nuclear submarine Kazan and two other naval vessels

A US Boeing P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft was highlighted by OSINT analysts monitoring an area of sea roughly equidistant between the US and Bahamas, likely the location of Putin's warships.

Russian pro-war Telegram channels have boasted that nuclear submarine Kazan has 'guided missile weapons' on board as it passes close to the American coastline, around 25 miles east of Florida.

Cuban officials denied the Russian vessels are carrying nuclear missiles.

However, Putin recently threatened to supply his most potent weapons to countries or regions close to his NATO enemies in what he sees as a tit-for-tat for the US, Britain and France supplying Kyiv with missiles for use by Ukraine on his territory.

Despite this, both the Admiral Gorshkov and the Kazan are normally key vessels in Putin's nuclear strike force.

Russia has not stated what firepower is being carried by his flotilla.

The other two vessels are the tanker Pashin and the rescue tug Nikolay Chiker.

Russian frigate Admiral Gorshkov is seen firing its weapons in a Russian naval drill

A Russian sailor looks out of a window as the Russian frigate Admiral Gorshkov first its weapons during a naval drill, in footage released by the Russian MoD

Footage shows a weapon being fired on the frigate Admiral Gorshkov in Russian naval drills

During war-games in the Atlantic the Admiral Gorshkov 'defended Northern Fleet ships from air raids and anti-ship missiles of the conditional enemy'.

These exercises were conducted with the help of computer simulation, said the Russian defence ministry.

Mock targets were hit with the Poliment-Redut SAM system, A-192M shipboard artillery system and Palash anti-aircraft system.

Russia and Cuba previously announced the Russia vessels would be in Cuba from 12 to 17 June.

The two countries have shared close ties since the days of the Soviet Union, first establishing their diplomatic ties after the 1959 Cuban Revolution.

As communist states, Cuba and the USSR were seen as the antithesis to capitalist America at the time, when Washington and Moscow were engaged in the Cold War.

In 1961, the US led a failed attempt to invade Cuba and overthrow its government (known as the Bay of Pigs invasion) - deepening the rift further between the US, the USSR and the Cuban government.

Relations deteriorated further still during the Cuban missile crisis - a 13-day standoff between the US and the Soviet Union in October 1962.

The crisis saw the American deployment of nuclear missiles in Italy and Turkey matched by Soviet deployments of nuclear weapons in Cuba.

A sailor is seen on the Admiral Gorshkov in the Russian naval drills

All four vessels are set to arrive in Havana on Wednesday and will pass 25 miles from the coast of the United States on their journey, according to reports. Pictured: A map released by OSINT analysts showing the suspect location of the Russian vessels as they passed between the United States (to the west) and the Bahamas (to the east)

The crisis is widely seen as the closest the Cold War came to escalating into a full-blown nuclear war, and perhaps the closest the world has come to total nuclear annihilation.

Since then, the relationship between the US and Cuba has softened.

Diplomatic relations, having been cut off in 1961, were restored for the first time on July 20, 2015, and each country has an embassy in their respective capitals.

The US continues to maintain a commercial, economic and financial embargo on Cuba, making it illegal for US corporations to do business with the country.
A breast cancer patient told her family 'nothing is going to stop me from going on holiday' before she contracted sepsis and died in a luxury cruise cabin, an inquest heard.

Lucille Thorne, 68, injured her knee after she slipped on the marble floor at a resort in the Maldives - where she had started her dream holiday - before going on a cruise.

However Ms Thorne, from Hayling Island in Hampshire, had unknowingly contracted sepsis and died four days into her stay on the Azamara Quest Ship.

Childhood friend Ann Thomas, who was on the holiday with her, today said Ms Thorne was 'courageous' and was determined not to complain about any pain she felt.

The inquest today at Portsmouth Coroners Court heard on November 18, 2022, Ms Thorne flew from Gatwick Airport in West Sussex to Male in the Maldives.

Ms Thomas said: 'She really wanted to go on holiday and she had done all the research.'

One family member said when they raised concerns about going away due to her cancer, Ms Thorne said 'nothing is going to stop me from going on holiday'.

Lucille Thorne (pictured), 68, injured her knee after she slipped on the marble floor at a resort in the Maldives before going on a cruise

On November 20 - on the pair's first full day at the unnamed resort in the Maldives - Ms Thorne fell.

'We had been out sunning and we went in to make some coffee and it was when we were doing that Lucy slipped on the floor,' Ms Thomas said.

'Her feet went out from underneath her, it was her right side that she had fallen on.

'She didn't want me to phone reception and get the doctor but because of her situation I thought it was best to.'

Ms Thomas said she phoned reception to get help for her 'shocked' friend and said a nurse and doctor attended before prescribing her antibiotics.

'[Her knee] looked very red and raw,' Ms Thomas said.

'It just didn't look right, it was starting to get blisters down to the ankle.'

Ms Thomas said the blisters were 'big' and 'sore'.

The nurse then burst the blisters and prescribed the 68-year-old antiseptic cream to rub on her knee.

Ms Thomas said her friend was 'uncomfortable' but was not the type to complain or talk about pain.

The pair flew to Dubai days later and stayed in a hotel for a night before boarding the Azamara Quest Ship.

Ms Thomas said: 'She had been on an Azamara cruise before so - from what I gather - she enjoyed that so I think the cruise was probably something she was looking forward to.

'The Maldives was a nice bolt-on for us to start with.'

While they were on the cruise, Ms Thorne started to walk slower.

Ms Thomas, also from Hayling Island, said: 'Every day we were away I was worried about her.

'I knew what I was taking on but I was worried.

'Firstly it was in relation to the knee with the blisters then really, how much she slowed down when we got to the ship.

'She never complained. When I say she was courageous... I would say 'Are you okay?', and she would say 'Yes, yes, I am fine'.

'She didn't moan about pain.

'She never did complain about anything to do with her health at all. [She was] very very stoic, a courageous lady.'

After a few days of reading, listening to music, and laying on the cruises deck, Ms Thomas woke up at 4am on December 3 to find her friend unresponsive.

Henry Charles - Assistant coroner for Hampshire, Portsmouth and Southampton - said Ms Thorne's (pictured) cause of death was 'accidental' and brought on by the fall which caused sepsis

'I got up to go to the toilet and I touched her and she was cold and I went straight to the phone and rang 911.'

After emergency services attended, Ms Thorne was pronounced dead at around 4:30am.

Henry Charles - Assistant coroner for Hampshire, Portsmouth and Southampton - said Ms Thorne's cause of death was 'accidental' and brought on by the fall which caused sepsis.

He told the inquest, which was attended by her family and friends, that Ms Thorne was 'not a frail' lady but had suffered from poor health.

Mr Charles said she was 'determined' to go out and enjoy the 'amazing' holiday with her friend.

Describing the two women embarking the ship, he said while the 'knee was still weeping' - they were able to 'spend a relaxing four days outside on the sun deck'.

'On the third of December at about half past four, Ann got up to find Lucy had passed away.

'She, in response, called 911. The medic team arrived and did what they could but it wasn't successful.'

Mr Charles said there was a 'clear level of deterioration' after Ms Thorne fell on November 29.

'In light of my findings, my conclusion is one of an accidental death.'

He described her as a 'pretty amazing person' which was echoed by her family and friends in room.
A former prison psychologist has revealed how 'transgender' detainee Tremaine Carroll should never have been moved to a women's prison, where two female inmates say he raped them.

Carroll faces a trial for the alleged double rape at Central California Women's Facility (CCWF)  where he was transferred in August 2021, after telling officials he was trans and did not pose a risk to women.

Now, in a sensational interview, one of Carroll's former psychologists has described how the 51-year-old relentlessly games the prison system to his own advantage and should not have been moved.

Dr Jack Miller says Carroll's case exposes deep flaws in a correctional system that puts too much power in the hands of crafty inmates.

The California law that in 2021 allowed men to say they were trans and ask to serve their time in a women's lockup is just another example of a broken system, Miller says.

Trans detainee Tremaine Carroll, 51, allegedly raped two women in a women's prison before being sent back to an all-men lockup.

Female detainees at Central California Women's Facility (CCWF) say life changed after trans inmates were allowed to transfer there.

It's a startling indictment from an insider that raises tough questions for Democratic Gov Gavin Newsom and the progressives who supported Senate Bill 132, as it's known.

Miller's revelations showcase the risks of letting intact, biological males  including sex offenders  live, sleep and shower in dormitories with women.

Carroll was 'one of the top 10 biggest headaches' among the 96,000 people in the custody of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), he says.

He is one of the 'really frequent fliers  constantly going from one institution to another, constantly looking for a higher level of care,' says Miller, using an alias to protect his identity.

Poll Should trans women convicts be allowed to serve their sentences in women's prisons? Yes No Not sure Should trans women convicts be allowed to serve their sentences in women's prisons? Yes 262 votes

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Miller had about a dozen sessions with Carroll, in the years before he came out as trans.

He was never interested in counselling, says Miller. The appointments were always a 'vehicle to do something else.'

Scheming detainees gamed the system seeking better conditions, including transfers to more comfortable prisons with tastier meals and looser rules, he says.

Carroll also feigned disabilities to gain 'preferential or special treatment,' he claims.

'That included pretty much any disability that somebody could put on a vest for, or get a wheelchair for, or get a cane for,' Miller says.

'This person had them all.'

Carroll was soon transferred to a different facility, and his sessions with Miller ended.

Upon learning of the double rape allegations against Carroll last month, Miller says he was not surprised.

His reaction was: 'Sarcastically: 'What a shocker',' he says.

Miller has no knowledge of Carroll's trans transfer request, but says his history of gaming the system was a red flag that was overlooked.

'I'm utterly shocked that some other psychologists approved his transfer to a women's prison,' he told DailyMail.com.

Carroll is due back at Madera Superior Court for a preliminary hearing on July 8.

He's 6ft 2in, 200 lbs, and presents as male, with facial hair, and has not undergone sex-change treatments.

CCWF's sprawling complex in Chowchilla has been dogged by claims of sexual violence in its cells for years.

Detainees and staff at CCWF celebrated a 'day of action' for trans prisoners in January.

He's serving 25-years-to-life under California's three strikes laws for repeat offenders.

One of his early convictions  for two counts of kidnapping  involved Carroll and other men breaking into an apartment occupied by two women.

The victims were sexually assaulted and forced into 'oral copulation,' court papers show.

Despite the incident, he was transferred to the women's lockup in Chowchilla, in central California.

Two inmates of the women's facility have since came forward, saying Carroll overpowered and raped them.

One of them, a small woman in her thirties, says Carroll forcibly penetrated her in the shower of the eight-bedroom dormitory they shared.

She was left traumatized by the attack, and relives the ordeal each time she takes a shower, when her heart pounds in her chest, she says.

The women have not been identified.

Carroll has pleaded not guilty to two counts of rape and one count of dissuading a witness from testifying.

Miller says the double rape claims are a wake-up call for a flawed system.

'If he's guilty of this, who's going to atone for that?' Miller says.

'What are they going to do to change it? And are they going to change the risk-evaluation process? Because now they're creating new victims.'

Miller recalls how California detainees were quick to realize the potential of SB132.

To apply, detainees must only profess their identity.

Taking cross-sex hormones or undergoing surgery is not required.

Requests are reviewed by a warden, guards, medical and mental health staff, and an expert on prison rapes.

Some inmates had identified as trans and taken hormones for years before requesting a transfer, Miller says.

California's Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom signed the transgender prison bill into law in September 2020.

But the law also opened the door to inmates like Carroll who gamed the system, he says.

For them, the gains were obvious  life in women's prisons is cushier than violence-plagued men's facilities.

They also offer dating and sexual encounters with women.

Male detainees often came out as trans for other reasons, says Miller.

Trans inmates in male prisons could request 'pat-down' searches from female guards, rather than male.

Some requested these for sexual gratification, says Miller.

Others wanted to make searches more difficult to organize, so it would be easier to move drugs or other contraband around cellblocks, he adds.

He describes a 'contagion of transgenderism' after SB132 passed, and 'how quickly word spread about the benefits of claiming this trans status.'

Still, it was just the latest case of politicians loading the dice in the favor of inmates, he says.

Rules introduced to make detainees safer often created mechanisms that could be abused, he says.

Mental health protocols introduced in the 1990s empowered crafty detainees to say they were suicidal to kick-start processes that could win them more comfortable digs, says Miller.

Carroll and other detainees could exhaust corrections officers with requests and paperwork until they got their way, he says.

When they were denied, inmates sued the department, which would typically settle, says Miller.

'It's just cheaper that way, less of a headache,' he says.

Throughout the interview, Miller carefully avoided disclosing any of Carroll's medical records, which are private and protected.

He only discussed what is widely known among correctional staff.

After the rape allegations, Carroll was in April moved to Kern Valley State Prison, a notoriously violent all-male facility in central California.

Trans detainee Tremaine Carroll is back in an all-men facility, the maximum security Kern Valley State Prison.

Kern Valley State Prison is plagued by violence, including a stabbing death in a recreational yard in April.

There, Carroll 'lives in fear' of 'retaliation' from guards, says his lawyer Joe Goethals.

Records show he has been transferred 79 times since entering the system in March 1991.

One of his transfer requests was ordered by a federal court, despite objections from CDCR, said department spokeswoman Terri Hardy.

He's been found guilty of 18 serious rules violations while inside.

California state facilities house 1,997 trans and non-binary detainees.

Some 345 inmates in male prisons have requested transfers to women's lockups.

Of them, 46 were approved, 64 were denied, and 87 inmates changed their minds. The rest are under review.

Just 16 inmates of women's prisons have requested transfers; three have been approved.

The CDCR says it vets requests carefully and only approves them when it's 'safe to do so.'

The Transgender Law Center, the ACLU and other groups say trans detainees are most often victims of abuse and deserve protection.

Letting them serve their sentences in lockups matching their gender identity makes them safer, advocates say.

But women's rights groups warn of rising incidents of rape and other horrors in what were once women-only cellblocks.

Sharon Byrne, director of the Women's Liberation Front, says SB 132 makes it too easy for any male convict seeking access to women or a way out of violence-plagued men's prisons.

'Any male serving out any sentence for violent assaults, rapes, crimes in a men's prison, sees an open door to easily get into a woman's prison,' says Byrne.

'Who's not going to take advantage of that?'
Nowadays there seems to be just too much horsing around in Brazil.

A viral video captured the moment a runaway horse attacked a pedestrian on a street in Jaragua, a town in the southeastern state of Sao Paulo.

The footage, which was filmed last Thursday, showed the man walking down the sidewalk while the horse was eating and turned around and lunged at him.

The pedestrian smacked the animal in an attempt to shoo it away.

However, the man was backed into a wall with nowhere to escape and was kicked four times.

A pedestrian approaches a horse in the Brazilian southeastern city of Jaragua before he was repeatedly kicked. Residents told Brazilian news outlet G1 that the same horse had attacked a woman, who required a hospital stay, and also bit another person

The pedestrian had nowhere to go and was backed up into a wall as the horse kicked him at least six time. The extent of his injuries are unknown

The horse paused and delivered two more kicks before the man managed to run off.

The victim tripped and was lying on the pavement for several seconds as the horse stared him down until he was able to get up and walk away.

Residents told Brazilian news outlet G1 that other people have been assaulted by the same horse in the past.

One on occasion, an elderly woman was attacked and suffered a head injury that required a hospital visit. Another person was once bitten by the horse.

Horses are banned from transiting streets in Sao Paulo except if they are with the police or military

One resident told the outlet that the horse can be seen at any moment wandering the streets without its owner.

The same horse was seen in a different video appearing to free itself from a rope that its owner used to tie it to a tree.

Residents have complained that other horses in the area have been seen at times wandering alone, some showing signs of malnutrition.

Local law prohibit horses from transiting public streets in Sao Paulo unless they are used by the military or police.
Republicans largely praised a jury convicting Hunter Biden of three counts related to lying on a gun form after largely claiming the justice system is weaponized when Donald Trump was convicted weeks ago.

A Wilmington, Delaware, jury unanimously voted to convict Joe Bidens son of two counts of lying on a federal form to buy a gun, and one count of possessing the firearm while abusing drugs.

The historic conviction marks the first time a current Presidents child has been found guilty of a felony.

'Timing is everything. This is the veil of fairness in the Justice System under [President Biden],' said Rep. Nancy Mace, R-Fla., a Hunter Biden foe on the Oversight Committee.

'I am glad to see that justice has been served. Nobody is above the law, including the Presidents son,' said Rep. Josh Brecheen, R-Okla.

Oversight Chair James Comer, who has led the Biden impeachment probe, called the verdict a 'step toward accountability.'

Republicans largely praised a jury convicting Hunter Biden of three counts related to lying on a gun form after largely claiming the justice system is weaponized when Donald Trump was convicted weeks ago

But, he added, 'until the Department of Justice investigates everyone involved in the Bidens corrupt influence peddling schemes that generated over $18 million in foreign payments to the Biden family, it will be clear department officials continue to cover for the Big Guy, Joe Biden.'

Hunter will now await Judge Maryellen Noreika to decide on a sentence for the crimes, which could be as high as 25 years in prison and a $250,000 fine  though the typical sentence is much lower.

Hours after the conviction, President Biden is set to speak at an pro-gun control Everytown event.

Biden said of the verdict: 'I will accept the outcome of this case and will continue to respect the judicial process as Hunter considers an appeal. Jill and I will always be there for Hunter and the rest of our family with our love and support. Nothing will ever change that.'

Oversight Chair James Comer, who has led the Biden impeachment probe, called the verdict a 'step toward accountability

Hunter's attorney said they will 'continue to vigorously pursue all the legal challenges available.'

'Today is the first step in delivering accountability for the Biden crime family,' said House GOP conference chair Elise Stefanik, as she praised the judge for throwing out the prior plea deal when Hunter wanted an agreement that he could not be prosecuted for other crimes in the future.

'We will continue as House Republicans to investigate the Biden crime family for the corrupting influence peddling schemes that generated over $18 million in foreign payments to the Biden fund family members. So this is one step but again, it goes back to the corruption of Joe Biden's DOJ that they tried to negotiate a sweetheart plea deal or not for that judge who paid very close attention and expose that we would not have this verdict today.'

The plea deal between Hunter Biden and prosecutors that would have spared him the politically explosive trial during an election year for his father fell apart in spectacular fashion last year.

The case revolved around a 38-caliber Colt Cobra Special Hunter owned for about 11 days in 2018 - during the throes of his drug addiction he has written about in his memoir.

His lawyers say he never fired the weapon. The trial did not touch on foreign business matters that Republicans have seized on as evidence of Biden family corruption.

Last week House GOP leaders referred both Hunter and James Biden to the DOJ for prosecution, claiming they'd lied under oath during Capitol Hill depositions about their business deals and Joe Biden's involvement.

The verdict came less than two weeks after Trump had been found guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records related to his hush money payment of porn star Stormy Daniels.

'Today is a shameful day in American history,' House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said in a statement of that verdict.

'Democrats cheered as they convicted the leader of the opposing party on ridiculous charges, predicated on the testimony of a disbarred, convicted felon. This was a purely political exercise, not a legal one.'
Boeing sales continue to plummet in the wake of the Alaska Airlines catastrophe and other safety scandals.

The beleaguered airline received just four new orders in May and none for its 737 Max jet.

The aircraft has been at the center of several disasters, including an Alaska Airlines flight in January where the door plug of the plane blew out just minutes after take off.

The same model was involved in two crashes just four months apart which killed more than 300 people.

The Lion Air crash in 2018 and the Ethiopian Airlines disaster were both caused by same sensor malfunction.

Boeing sales continue to plummet in the wake of the Alaska Airlines catastrophe (pictured) and other safety scandals

Allegations from whistleblowers over safety shortcuts combined with reports of falsified inspections have only exacerbated Boeing's fortunes.

By comparison, rival manufacturer Airbus recorded 27 orders in May.

Boeing has also had to contend with Aerolineas Argentinas then cancelling its order, meaning its total sales last month were just three.

It follows poor sales in April, where Boeing reported seven sales and none again for its 737 Max.

Much of the aerospace giant's Max fleet was grounded by the Federal Aviation Authority in the aftermath of the Alaska Airlines disaster.

The clampdown comes after a door plug blew out of an Alaska Airlines 737 Max shortly after takeoff from Portland, Oregon, in January.

Pilots were able to land the plane safely, but the incident has cast Boeing into its deepest crisis since the deadly crashes of two Max jets in 2018 and 2019.

Despite a slump in sales, the aerospace giant has a backlog of 5,600 jets and delivered 24 in May, including 19 Max jets.

The beleaguered airline received just four new orders in May and none for its 737 Max jet which was involved in the Ethiopian Airlines crash in 2019

This included three to Alaska Airlines and four to the Irish Ryanair. Airbus reported that it delivered 53 planes in May.

Boeing hopes that the slow pace of orders reflects a lull in sales before next month's Farnborough International Airshow, where aircraft deals are often announced.

However it is unclear if this will be enough to salvage the aerospace giant's reputation.

In April, whistleblowers Sam Salehpour and Ed Pierson gave evidence to a Congress hearing about the company and the ongoing safety crisis.

Salehpour works as a Quality Engineer for the company, and claimed that sections of the 787 Dreamliner jets have not been properly secured.

During the hearing, it was revealed that Salehpour had faced threats from his supervisor after he attempted to discuss issues with the jets.

As well as the threats being made against Salehpour, Senator Richard Blumenthal held up a picture of a large nail through a car tire belonging to Salehpour.

He also said that the safety situation at Boeing was like the company playing 'Russian roulette' with peoples lives, adding: 'We never know exactly when it's going to happen, when or where or how it's going to happen.'

Boeing has also had to contend with Aerolineas Argentinas then cancelling its order, meaning its total sales last month were just three

The same model was also involved in the 2018 Lion Air crash in Indonesia

Pierson said in written testimony that he believes the investigation into the 737 Max that had its door blown out mid flight was being covered up.

In March, whistleblower John Barnett was found dead in his truck in South Carolina while going throwing a whistleblowing suit against his former employer.

Other recent safety fears include a Boeing Air Canada flight which burst into flames seconds after takeoff.

CEO David Calhoun, who will step down at the end of the year, has said many times that Boeing is taking steps to improve its manufacturing quality and safety culture.

He called the blowout on the Alaska jet a 'watershed moment' from which a better Boeing will emerge.
Palma Airport has been brought to a standstill by a massive rain storm that has flooded the island of Majorca.

Airport officials said this evening 100 of the 'more than 900 flights' scheduled to operate today at Palma airport, including many from British travel hubs like Gatwick, Luton and Bristol, had been affected by the storm.

And images from inside Palma Airport reveal the extent of the growing chaos inside.

One video showed rainwater flooding one of the airport's runways, with a member of staff jokingly diving into the water to show how deep it was.

Another showed the ceiling above the duty free shops in the airport severely leaking water.

The severe weather has hampered a holiday of Race Across the World winner Alfie Watts, who took to his Instagram to complain.

He said on his Instagram Story: 'Flew from Luton to Palma, only for the airport to be flooded (and the terminal too)

Queues inside the airport grew longer and longer, as departures and arrivals were massively delayed

The airport's carpark was flooded by the rainwater

One video showed rainwater flooding one of the airport's runways, with a member of staff jokingly diving into the water to show how deep it was

Water is seen gushing down the streets of Murcia on Monday as the south-eastern region of Spain was hit by torrential rain

'Diverted to Mahon to wait, turns out we almost certainly won't be heading onwards and will in fact [be] rediverting to.... Luton!

'What an incredible [sic] fun day in the world of WizzAir UK.'

Delays and cancellations to departures and arrivals to Palma Airport, which saw 31million passengers pass through its doors in 2023, have been confirmed until at least 9pm tonight.

Some passenger planes were able to land before the suspension but passengers left trapped inside on the runway. A number of flights were diverted.

A spokesperson for Aena said around 8.30pm local time: 'Of the more than 900 flights programmed for today, 100 have been affected by way of diversions or cancellations.

'The airport operation was suspended for around two hours, from just after 3pm to around 5.30pm.

'During that timeframe no flight left or landed at Palma de Mallorca airport.'

The severe weather has hampered a holiday of Race Across the World winner Alfie Watts, who took to his Instagram to complain

The ceiling above the duty free shops in the airport severely leaked water

Delays and cancellations to departures and arrivals to Palma Airport, which saw 31million passengers pass through its doors in 2023, have been confirmed until at least 9pm tonight

She added: 'The situation now is one of normality although there are generalised delays. The sky is clear once again and it appears it's not going to rain again.

'It's still too early to say if and how much damage inside the airport the flooding has caused.'

A spokesman for Spanish airport operator AENA said this afternoon just before 6pm local time: 'Palma de Mallorca airport has reactivated its operations after the passing of the storm.

'The first take-offs and landings have occurred and the flights that were diverted are expected to land at the airport during the afternoon.

'We will continue working on normalising the operation.

'AENA recommends passengers consult with their airlines before heading to the airport.'

In a statement earlier in the afternoon AENA said: 'Palma de Mallorca Airport has temporarily suspended operations following the impact of a strong storm, due to the impossibility of operating safely.

Chaos at Palma Airport due to the flooding of several terminals and car parks as a result of the heavy rainstorm this afternoon

Many of the affected flights came from British travel hubs including Gatwick, Bristol and Luton

The floor of the airport was covered in water from the storm

At least 100 flights have been cancelled or delayed by the storm

'According to the weather agency Aemet, 45 litres of rain fell in one hour, with peaks of up to 90 litres, causing flooding both at some of the entrances to the airport and in the terminal building.

'The airport has activated the emergency plan for flooding and is working as quickly as possible to re-establish normality at the airport.'

Much of the Balearics and the Levante area, popular tourist regions that sit on the east of Spain, have been hit with torrential rain that has wrought devastation.

Images from Costa Blanca showed submerged streets, overflowing rivers, and fast-moving water barrelling across dry fields before crashing onto highways.

Hail stones have fallen in some parts of the Valencian community, which includes the provinces of Alicante and Valencia, with more predicted today, while Benidorm is on a yellow storm alert with the possibility of rain put at 100 per cent.

Further south in Murcia roads have been turned into raging torrents. In its capital city locals and tourists were pictured ankle-deep in water in its main street as they tried to negotiate their way past shops while others took refuge inside.

Elsewhere in the province cars were seen and wheelie bins were seen 'swimming' down streets which looked more like rivers. Firefighters were said to be 'working tirelessly' with roads closed in some places.

Much of the Balearics and the Levante area, popular tourist regions that sit on the east of Spain, have been hit with torrential rain that has wrought devastation

Palma de Mallorca faces severe weather as strong rainfall inundates the city

Several regions across south-east Spain 's have been hit with torrential rain, hail and strong winds causing flash floods and forcing the closure of roads. Pictured: A car is seen half submerged in waters in the city of Murcia

Images from Costa Blanca showed submerged streets (pictured), overflowing rivers, and fast-moving water barrelling across dry fields before crashing onto highways

Water is seen flowing down a street in Murcia on Monday amid the rainstorms

Local media reported that emergency response officials had clocked over 320 incidents relating to the weather as of Monday night.

The region most affected has been Spain's eastern Levante area, which includes Valencia, Benidorm, Alicante and Murcia - a popular area for British tourists.

Reports said the Valencian Community and the Region of Murcia had been especially impacted. According to the Eltiempo news outlet, over 60 millimetres of rain had fallen around the city of Murcia, leaving vehicles trapped.

Tree branches were also reported to have fallen on tram tracks in Murcia.

One picture showed a car almost completely submerged on a roundabout.

As of 10pm last night, the Murcia Plaza outlet said there were yet to be any reports of injuries.

There were reports of people having to be rescued from their vehicles.

The storms come at a time when many Brits will be jetting off for holidays to escape what has so-far been a disappointing spring.

Temperatures across the UK on Tuesday were forecast to peak at around 15 degrees, lower than many will have been hoping for at this time of year.

Still, the British weather will be preferable to that being seen in Costa Blanca and other regions along Spain's eastern Mediterranean coast this week.

Towns like Yecla, on Murcia's north-east border with Alicante, are among the places where high temperatures and blue skies have given way to amazing scenes of hailstones and gusting winds in the past few hours.

A Spanish weather website, flagging up large parts of eastern Spain including the Costa Blanca, warned this morning: 'In the next few hours storms will dump dozens of litres of water and hail on these areas in a very short space of time. Be careful.'

It said: 'The forecasts proved to be correct and yesterday storms erupted forcefully in parts of the east and centre of the peninsula.

'In the next few hours intense downpours will gain protagonism in several areas.

The yellow storm and rain alert in place for the Costa Blanca over the next couple of days, as well as the Balearic Islands of Ibiza and Majorca for today only, is not set to be lifted until Thursday.

The region most affected has been Spain's eastern Levante area, which includes Valencia, Benidorm, Alicante and Murcia (pictured) - a popular area for British tourists

Storm clouds are seen over the city of Murcia as the region was battered by rain and floods

Emergency responders work to pump water out of a building in Murcia

Bad sea conditions on the Costa Blanca ahead of this week's flooding were blamed for a string of drownings in the province of Alicante last week and over the weekend.

One of the victims was a 52-year-old British holidaymaker who died on Friday after going to the aid of two children in the water at La Roqueta beach just north of Torrevieja. A 46-year-old Polish man who also tried to help them drowned too.

By contrast British holidaymakers on the Costa del Sol were today basking in glorious sunshine.

In Marbella, where today is a local Bank Holiday coinciding with the resort's annual feria festival, tourists were topping up their tans under blue skies in 26 degrees Celsius temperatures (78 degrees Fahrenheit).

It made a welcome break for those who had just flown in from the UK.

Office worker Sally Jones, 26, said: 'I was in desperate need of sunshine. The weather's been really gloomy back home.

'I've got friends who are on the Costa Blanca right now and are saying they wished they'd come on holiday with me instead.'

Spain is not the first Mediterranean country to have been hit with extreme flooding this year, after Italy was also struck by flash floods at the end of May.

In one heartbreaking incident, three friends were caught in a flash flood and swept away - after sharing a final embrace.

Tragic footage posted on X showed Patrizia Cormos, 20, her friend Bianca Doros, 23, and her boyfriend Cristian Molnar, 25, standing thigh deep in a churning river.

Spain is not the first Mediterranean country to have been hit with extreme flooding this year, after Italy was also struck by flash floods at the end of May. Pictured: The tragic moment three friends were seen hugging each other seconds before being swept away during the floods

Pictured are Patrizia Cormos, 20, Cristian Molnar, 25, and his girlfriend Bianca Doros, 23 - the three friends who were swept away in flood waters in Italy at the end of May

The chief of the provincial firefighters in Udinehe, Giorgio Basile, told The Telegraph he threw them a rope in a desperate attempt to rescue the group.

But tragically they were 'swallowed up by the flood waters' as he watched and he saw them 'disappear' on May 31.

Two bodies, believed to be Ms Cormos and Ms Doros, were discovered 1km from the spot they were last seen. The search is still continuing for Mr Molnar, with the fire service vowing: 'We won't stop until we find the third missing person.'

It was reported on Saturday that the lawyer for the family of Molnar had slammed the emergency services, saying if they had responded when the first emergency call had been put in, the trio could still be alive.
A former GB News presenter's career was 'killed' by Ofcom twice ruling his show breached its broadcasting code, the High Court has heard.

Mark Steyn is taking legal action against the regulator over its decisions in 2023 that two of his shows in 2022, which both related to the Covid vaccine rollout, amounted to breaches of its rules.

The Canadian broadcaster is asking a High Court judge to quash the decisions, with his lawyers claiming they lacked 'clarity and coherence' and risked an 'obvious potential chilling effect'.

However, barristers for Ofcom claim the regulator was free to make its decisions to protect the public from potential harm.

Speaking in a packed courtroom in London on Tuesday, Jonathan Price, for Mr Steyn, said: 'The rulings against his show have killed his career, killed his career in the UK, and given rise to what he describes as crude defamation ... recycled through the London papers as if they had the force of criminal convictions.'

Mark Steyn is taking legal action against the regulator over its decisions in 2023 that two of his shows in 2022, which both related to the Covid vaccine rollout, amounted to breaches of its rules

The decisions related to two separate broadcasts of Mr Steyn's primetime show on GB News, which began with the presenter delivering a monologue known as 'The Steyn Line'.

Mr Price said that the show 'did not adopt an anti-vax approach' but instead 'strongly criticised the purely binary position' on Covid vaccines and featured guests who 'questioned and challenged the official narrative'.

Ofcom's first decision concerned a show broadcast on April 21 2022, which related to Mr Steyn's monologue on the rollout of Covid vaccines, based on UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) data.

The watchdog received four complaints about the broadcast and on March 6 2023 said it breached its rules as it 'presented a materially misleading interpretation' of the figures 'without sufficient challenge or counterweight', which it said risked 'harm to viewers'.

It also said that the programme 'failed to reflect' that the UKHSA had warned that raw data on Covid vaccines 'should not be used to draw conclusions about the effectiveness of the vaccine'.

The second decision concerned Mr Steyn's show on October 4 2022, where he interviewed author Naomi Wolf.

Ofcom said in May last year that during the interview, Dr Wolf likened the vaccine rollout to a 'mass murder' which was comparable to the actions of 'doctors in pre-Nazi Germany'.

The Canadian broadcaster is asking a High Court judge to quash the decisions, with his lawyers claiming they lacked 'clarity and coherence' and risked an 'obvious potential chilling effect'

The regulator received 422 complaints following the interview, ruling on May 9 last year that GB News failed to take 'adequate steps to protect viewers' from 'potentially harmful content', labelling Dr Wolf's comments as promoting 'a serious conspiracy theory'.

No statutory sanction was imposed for either breach, but GB News was requested to attend a meeting to discuss its approach to compliance with the code.

Mr Steyn, who no longer works for the channel, attended the hearing on Tuesday having travelled from the United States, with Dr Wolf also in attendance.

In written submissions, Jessica Boyd KC, representing Ofcom, said there was 'no realistic basis' for the court to rule that the regulator had 'obviously gone wrong' in its decisions, adding that the rights of broadcasters to freedom of expression 'are not unqualified'.

She said: 'Both decisions were correct in concluding that the programmes could cause potential harm to the rights of viewers by distorting their understanding of issues which were likely to have a significant bearing on their health decisions in the context of a continuing pandemic.'

Ms Boyd continued: 'Neither decision sought to prevent the claimant, or his guests, from ventilating controversial views about important public health issues or from challenging the reliability of official medical advice, including in inflammatory or provocative terms.

'He and they remain free to do so, provided they comply with the (Ofcom) code.'

The hearing before Mrs Justice Farbey is due to conclude on Tuesday, with a judgment expected in writing at a later date.
President Joe Biden reacted to Hunter Biden being found guilty on all three federal gun charges by saying that he was 'proud' of his son for surviving drug addiction.

The president sent out a statement through the White House counsel's office shortly after the Delaware-based jury delivered a verdict.

The first son was found guilty on two counts of having completed a form falsely - lying about his sobriety - when he bought a Colt Cobra revolver in October 2018, while the third count established that he possessed a firearm while using narcotics.

'As I said last week, I am the President, but I am also a Dad,' the president reiterated. 'Jill and I love our son, and we are so proud of the man he is today.'

'So many families who have had loved ones battle addiction understand the feeling of pride seeing someone you love come out the other side and be so strong and resilient in recovery,' Biden continued.

President Joe Biden sent out a statement in support of his son Hunter following a Delaware-based jury finding the first son guilty on three federal gun charges. He will address victims of gun violence later Tuesday

First lady Jill Biden (left) holds hands with her stepson Hunter Biden (center) with wife Melissa Cohen (right) as they depart the courthouse in Wilmington Tuesday, after receiving the guilty verdict

'As I also said last week, I will accept the outcome of this case and will continue to respect the judicial process as Hunter considers an appeal,' the president added.

Biden remained in Washington, D.C. while the jury deliberated Tuesday.

But following the verdict, the president's public schedule quickly shifted with him now rushing from an event in D.C.  ironically where he was speaking about gun safety  to Wilmington, Delaware to be with his son.

Other Biden family members gathered at the courthouse in Wilmington throughout the week-long hearing. The verdict came down so quickly, however, that first lady Jill Biden wasn't in the courtroom when it was announced.

'Jill and I will always be there for Hunter and the rest of our family with our love and support. Nothing will ever change that,' the president also said in his statement.

The president is slated to deliver remarks this afternoon to victims and survivors of gun violence at Everytown's Gun Sense University, taking place at the Washington Hilton.

Biden will 'highlight the progress to keep guns out of dangerous hands' the White House said Monday.

He is set to announce that the Department of Justice has charged more than 500 defendants for violating new gun trafficking laws created by the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, the piece of legislation Biden ushered through Congress and signed into law in June 2022.

Biden returned from France's D-Day celebrations Sunday, but will return to Europe - to Italy for the G7 - on Wednesday.
Americans have never been as lonely as they are today, figures show, and it could be because something which used to be a staple feature is now missing from many US homes.

Prompted by changing culinary cultures and the urban housing crisis, the death of the dining room has left many residents without a space to share a meal.

Experts say its led to an increase in the number of people eating alone and spending time in isolation - a crucial driver of America's loneliness epidemic.

Executive director of the Center for Building in North America Stephen Smith said the decline of the dining room is partly down to a growing appetite for other home features at the expense of this once-central space.

'It's not that Americans don't want dining rooms. It's that they want something else, and that takes up space,' he told The Atlantic.

Americans have never been as lonely as they are today, figures show, and it could be because something which used to be a staple feature is now missing from many US homes. (Pictured: the Brady Brunch eating in their dining room during a scene from the iconic sitcom)

Real estate developer and floor-plan expert Bobby Fijan said the priorities of modern homeowners and renters include larger bedroom spaces and walk-in closets.

'For the most part, apartments are built for Netflix and chill,' he told The Atlantic.

Homes have also been shrinking in size. According to the US Census Bureau, the number of one-person households more than tripled from 1940 to 2020, and for these type of apartments the dining room is the first thing to go.

'In a single-family home, that's a great room, and so that's what developers build' Smith said of the walled-off dining space.

'When you can only build small apartments with one wall of windows, rooms will naturally disappear,' he said. 'Nobody wants a dining room without a window.'

An estimated that 37.9million Americans were living alone in 2022, up 4.8million  or 15 percent  from the numbers in 2012, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report published earlier this year.

It also found that the proportion of the adult population living in single-person households had doubled since the 1960s  from 13 percent to more than 29 percent.

The report warned there was an 'increased risk of adverse mental health' for those living alone  adding that people living alone were 64 percent more likely to have symptoms of depression than those who live with others.

Real estate developer and floor-plan expert Bobby Fijan (pictured) said the priorities of modern homeowners and renters include larger bedroom spaces and walk-in closets

Executive director of the Center for Building in North America Stephen Smith (pictured) said the decline of the dining room is partly down to a growing appetite for other home features at the expense of this once-central space

The above graph shows how the number of people living alone in the US has gradually shifted upward since the 1960s. Experts say this is the 'biggest demographic change in a century'

Experts have called the shift the 'biggest demographic change in the last century'  saying it is being driven by surging divorce rates and more economic independence among women.

For the report, researchers analyzed data from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS)  which interviews 100,000 Americans every year on their living standards, including whether they live alone.

They also found that middle-aged adults  aged between 45 and 64 years old  made up the largest proportion of adults living alone, followed by those aged 30 to 44 years.

At the other end of the scale, those aged 18 to 29 years old made up the smallest proportion of people living on their own.

A total of 43.2 percent had an income at about 400 percent or more than the federal poverty level  which is set at $14,580 per year for single-person household.

They were also most likely to be from white ethnic backgrounds.

Results also showed people who lived on their own were more likely to report symptoms of depression.

Among this group, 6.4 percent said they were experiencing depressive emotions  compared to 4.1 percent among those who live with others.

Middle-aged adults  those aged 45 to 64 years old  who lived alone had the highest proportion reporting feelings of depression, at nine percent.

For comparison, among those in this age group who lived with others 3.9 percent said they were experiencing symptoms of depression.
Convicted killer Pamela Smart has accepted responsibility for her husband's murder for the first time - 34 years after instructing her 15-year-old lover to shoot him.

Smart, 56, who is serving life in prison for plotting with her teen student to have her husband killed in 1990, accepted full responsibility in a videotaped statement released Tuesday as part of her latest sentence reduction request.

This comes just four years after Smart doubled down on her claim that she did not mastermind her husband's death.

Smart was a 22-year-old high school media coordinator when she began an affair with a 15-year-old boy, Billy Flynn, who later fatally shot her husband, Gregory Smart, in Derry, New Hampshire.

Flynn was freed in 2015 after serving a 25-year sentence. Though Pamela Smart denied knowledge of the plot, she was convicted of being an accomplice to first-degree murder and other crimes and sentenced to life without parole.

The council rejected her latest request in 2022 and Smart appealed to the state Supreme Court, which dismissed her petition last year

Smart (left), 56, who is serving life in prison for plotting with her teen student to have her husband Greg Smart (right) killed in 1990, accepted full responsibility in a videotaped statement released Tuesday as part of her latest sentence reduction request

Flynn was released from prison in Maine on parole Thursday, June 4, 2015 after serving nearly 25 years

Smart has been incarcerated for nearly 34 years. She said in the statement that she began to 'dig deeper into her own responsibility' through her experience in a writing group that 'encouraged us to go beyond and to spaces that we didn't want to be in.

'For me that was really hard, because going into those places, in those spaces is where I found myself responsible for something I desperately didn't want to be responsible for, my husband's murder,' she said, her voice quavering.

'I had to acknowledge for the first time in my own mind and my own heart how responsible I was, because I had deflected blame all the time, I think, almost as if it was a coping mechanism, because the truth of being so responsible was very difficult for me.'

She asked to have an 'honest conversation' with New Hampshires five-member Executive Council, which approves state contracts and appointees to the courts and state agencies, and with Gov. Chris Sununu.

The council rejected her latest request in 2022 and Smart appealed to the state Supreme Court, which dismissed her petition last year.

Val Fryatt, a cousin of Gregory Smart, told The Associated Press that Smart 'danced around it' and accepted full responsibility 'without admitting the facts around what made her 'fully responsible.'

Smart (pictured in mug shot) was a 22-year-old high school media coordinator when she began an affair with a 15-year-old boy, Billy Flynn, who later fatally shot her husband, Gregory Smart, in Derry, New Hampshire

Pamela Smart gets sworn in before testifying in her own defense in Rockingham County Court

Pamela Smart answers questions from the defense in her murder conspiracy trial, March 1991

Fryatt noted that Smart didnt mention her cousins name in the video, 'not even once.'

Messages seeking comment on the petition and statement were sent to the council members, Sununu, and the attorney generals office.

Smart is serving time at Bedford Hills Correctional Facility in Westchester County, New York. She has earned two master's degrees behind bars and has also tutored fellow inmates, been ordained as a minister and been part of an inmate liaison committee. She said she is remorseful and has been rehabilitated.

The trial was a media circus and one of Americas first high-profile cases about a sexual affair between a school staff member and a student. Joyce Maynard wrote 'To Die For' in 1992, drawing from the Smart case.

That inspired a 1995 film of the same name, starring Nicole Kidman and Joaquin Phoenix. The killer, William Flynn, and three other teens cooperated with prosecutors. They served shorter sentences and have been released.

In March 2022, the infamous killer failed in her last-ditch attempt to have her life sentence reduced after apologizing for her crimes for the first time.

In March 2022, the infamous killer failed in her last-ditch attempt to have her life sentence reduced after apologizing for her crimes for the first time (Pictured: Pamela and Greg young)

Pamela Smart's bid for freedom was unanimously rejected 5-0 by an appellate panel in New Hampshire this week, 31 years after the former high school worker got underage boyfriend William Flynn to shoot and kill her spouse Gregory Smart.

'I offer no excuses for my actions and behavior,' she said in a recorded statement that was sent as a DVD to the attorney generals office in December. 'I'm to blame.'

She continued: 'I regret that it took me so long to apologize to the Smart family, my own family, and everyone else. But I think that I wasn't at a place where I was willing to own that or face that.'

'I was young and selfish and I wasn't thinking about the consequences of what I was doing.'

In the state's response, Jeffery Strelzin, associate attorney general, wrote that Smart has told a false narrative for over 30 years and just because she's decided to change that now 'does not mean that she has truly changed and fully acknowledged all the crimes she committed as an accomplice and conspirator in her husbands murder, and the perpetrator of witness tampering.'
Two-dozen pro-Palestine protesters have been arrested in a day of chaos at UCLA where cops and students scuffled well into the night.

One cop suffered a bleeding cut to his forehead after being whacked in the forehead while activists were pelted with pepper rounds and rubber bullets.

Protesters used homemade wooden shields to form lines of battle against campus cops and later California Highway Patrol troopers in riot gear.

A protest leader was dramatically plucked out of the front of a crowd mid-sentence as she berated the 'racist police' in front of her, and thrown to the ground.

UCLA vice-chancellor Michael Beck was chased and threatened by a mob of protesters as he was escorted across campus by a squad of police.

Two-dozen pro-Palestine protesters have been arrested in a day of chaos at UCLA where cops and students scuffled well into the night

The protest devolved into skirmishes between cops and protesters and police said 25 people were arrested about 8pm for refusing to leave

A protest leader was dramatically plucked out of the front of a crowd mid-sentence as she berated the 'racist police' in front of her, and thrown to the ground

The mob repeatedly yelled 'you are not safe' at Beck and repeatedly moved to attack him, only held back by his police guard.

Other videos from the chaotic protest showed masked protesters harassing a rabbi and saying they 'love Jews but hate Zionists', and a facilities management employee calling Palestinians 'terrorists'.

Police said about 3.15pm some 100 protesters occupied Dickson Plaza with tents, canopies, wooden shields, and water-filled barriers.

Videos showed they marched fake bloodied bodies around the area in a 'funeral procession' for civilians killed during Israel's military action in Gaza.

Protesters also dumped red dye in the fountain and red paint on the Janss Steps leading to the square, claiming UCLA had 'blood on its hands'.

Videos showed they marched fake bloodied bodies around the area in a 'funeral procession' for civilians killed during Israel's military action in Gaza

When kicked out of one area of campus by police, protesters simply packed up and marched to another one

Police said about 3.15pm some 100 protesters occupied Dickson Plaza with tents, canopies, wooden shields, and water-filled barriers

One of the protest signs used in the UCLA demonstration

Police arrived and demanded they disperse about 6pm, which they did - only to move to another area of campus, the Kerckhoff patio, and set up again.

This included tents, canopies, and barricades with patio furniture and activists also stormed nearby Moore Hall and disrupted final exams, police said.

Again police were able to kick them out, but the protest simply moved to the courtyard between Dodd Hall and the School of Law.

This was where they decided to make their final stand, setting up barricades with heavy metal furniture and forming lines with their shields.

The protesters faced off with about 50 campus police, LAPD, Culver City Police Department, and California Highway Patrol officers.

UCLA vice-chancellor Michael Beck was chased and threatened by a mob of protesters as he was escorted across campus by a squad of police

Police face off in lines against organized protesters who screamed at them through loudspeakers

Scenes resembled a late-antiquity battle as the two sides pressed against each other in the streets, courtyards, and alleys around that area of campus.

Protesters chanted: 'No justice, no peace, no racist police.'

One video showed a small group of protesters trapped between two hedges and two lines of a police, who were arrested after not knowing where to retreat to.

During the same confrontation, video showed a policeman being hit in the head by a protester, whom he quickly chased down and tackled.

The protest devolved into skirmishes between cops and protesters and police said 25 people were arrested about 8pm for refusing to leave.

Cops begin to push back against a line of protesters carrying wooden shields

They were given citations for willful disruption of university operations and banned from being near UCLA property for 14 days.

'As a result of the unauthorized and unlawful encampments at the three locations, the group damaged the Shapiro fountain, spray-painted brick walkways, tampered with fire safety equipment, damaged patio furniture, stripped wire from electrical fixtures, and vandalized vehicles,' police alleged.

The arrested students were detained in Dodd Hall while they were processed, prompting many of the remaining activists to move there.

They crowded around the entrance to the building and demanded the release of their 'comrades', reforming battle lines and skirmishing with police.

'We just want you to free our people,' one protester yelled. Another added: 'There's a genocide going on and you guys are arresting and brutalizing students!'

A protester is dragged inside Dodd Hall after being arrested

Protesters sit on the floor after being arrested, while they wait to be handed citations

The arrested students were detained in Dodd Hall while they were processed, prompting many of the remaining activists to move there

Seconds before the protester with the megaphone was suddenly plucked from the crowd and arrested

This part of the protest was where the woman was suddenly grabbed by police as she berated them with a loudspeaker.

Inside the melee during the night, a rabbi filmed himself being threatened by masked protesters.

One called him a 'f**king pedophile' and told him to 'go back to Poland, Ukraine, where you're really f**king from'.

One of them was wearing a hat reading '1492,' a reference to the year Jews were violently kicked out of Catholic Spain.

Chaos continued for hours until the protesters finally dispersed soon after midnight when police were firing rubber bullets and pepper rounds.
It was a trial where Hunter Biden leaned on family members for emotional support  but not all of them were there when the jury returned its historic guilty verdict.

Whatever she was feeling inside, wife Melissa Cohen didn't let it show for those gathered inside the Wilmington federal courtroom for the historic verdict. She managed to keep a contended expression outside court even after the the guilty verdict.

First lady Jill Biden, who flew back from Europe to attend a day of the trial last week, wasnt in court during the crucial moment when the decision came down.

Neither was the presidents daughter, Ashley, another member of the tight Biden clan.

Cohen, who sported a grey pinstripe outfit in a room full of lawyers and media, kept a neutral composure inside court as she faced the prospect of having to tend to son Beau, 4, while his father was away in prison.

Also missing the dramatic conclusion was the presidents sister and longtime advisor Valerie.

Hunter Bidens uncle James, who faces his own scrutiny from House Republicans for his business dealings, was in the courtroom. The president's brother sighed and crossed his arms as the jury read out its verdict finding his nephew guilty on three counts  two counts of lying on a federal form during purchase of a handgun, and one of possession of the firearm while abusing drugs.

Hunter Biden left the courtroom holding hands with stepmom Jill Biden and Wife Melissa Cohen after the jury handed down its guilty verdict in his federal gun case

Now that he has been convicted, the offenses could land Hunter in jail for up to 25 years and pay a fine of up to $250,000, the sentence imposed by Judge Maryellen Noreika is expected to be far lower.

The family members had supported Cohen throughout the trial last week, while his friend and sugar bro Kevin Morris provided financial backing, while also being present.

But the action that may have mattered most came from afar, from Hunters father President Joe Biden, in the form of a statement from the president.

'I will accept the outcome of this case and will continue to respect the judicial process as Hunter considers an appeal,' the president said. 'Jill and I will always be there for Hunter and the rest of our family with our love and support. Nothing will ever change that.'

The verdict was the latest dramatic development in the years-long saga

Melissa Cohen managed a smile outside court following the guilty verdict. She kept her composure inside the courtroom Tuesday

The president's brother James sighed and crossed his arms as the jury read out its verdict

Jill Biden has been a regular attendee at trial, even flying back from Europe for an appearance

The president referenced the toll of addiction in his own statement. He has said he will not pardon his son

Biden referenced how 'so many families who have loved ones battle addiction understand the feeling of pride seeing someone you love come out the other side and be so strong,' following a trial that featured evidence and emotional testimony about Hunter's heavy drug and alcohol use.

He has stated publicly before the conviction that he would not pardon Hunter.

Hunter's lawyer Abbe Lowell issued a statement saying 'we are naturally disappointed by today's verdict. We respect the jury process,' he continued, vowing to 'continue to vigorously pursue all the legal challenges available to Hunter.'
President Joe Biden preached about his record on gun safety but failed to mention son Hunter's firearm conviction in a speech just hours after he was found guilty.

During his remarks, Biden repeatedly touted his record on implementing more strict gun control laws.

But he failed to bring up his son Hunter, 54, or the irony of the event taking place the same day as a jury found him guilty of lying about his crack cocaine addiction to buy a revolver in 2018.

Now he is facing a maximum of up to 25 years in prison when he is sentenced, in a date with a judge likely to be in October.

President Joe Biden mentioned receiving the call his son Beau Biden died during remarks about addressing gun violence on Tuesday  but did not bring up his son Hunter Biden, who was just convicted hours earlier of three firearms-related felonies

President Biden however, reference his late son Beau Biden and how he could relate to families of victims of gun violence because of the call he received informing him of his son's death.

'I know it's hard because I've gotten those phone calls too saying I've lost a son, a daughter, a wife  I know what it's like,' the president said at the Washington Hilton during remarks on his gun restriction policies at the Everytown's Gun Sense University summit.

'But guess what? Never give up on hope, hope, hope, hope,' he added.

Hours earlier, the 12-member jury in Hunter Biden's gun case came back with a verdict deeming him guilty on all three felony counts for lying on a form about his addiction in order to purchase a firearm in 2018 and owning and operating a firearm while being a user of illicit substances.

After the ruling, Biden decided to change his schedule to Wilmington Tuesday afternoon to be with his family.

While the president was not present at the weeklong trial, other family members, including First Lady Jill Biden, were in the courtroom supporting Hunter.

'As I said last week, I am the President, but I am also a Dad,' the president wrote in a statement following the ruling and before his remarks. 'Jill and I love our son, and we are so proud of the man he is today.'

'So many families who have had loved ones battle addiction understand the feeling of pride seeing someone you love come out the other side and be so strong and resilient in recovery,' Biden continued.

A 12-member jury in Delaware found Hunter Biden guilty of three felony charges related to a 2018 gun purchase where he lied about his use and addiction to illicit drugs

President Biden hugs his Hunter after he changed his schedule and jetted to Delaware to be with his son after he was found guilty of federal gun crimes

Hunter was found guilty of three federal firearms charges for lying about being addicted to crack cocaine when he bought this revolver

The court was shown damning evidence on Hunter, including images from his infamous laptop that was initially rejected as Russian disinformation

Hunter's stripper ex-girlfriend Zoe Kestan told the court he smoked crack 'every 20 minutes' when they were together

At the event, Biden also made his most recent verbal gaffe by claiming he's been to several 'mass shootings.'

'I've been to too many  I've literally spoken with well over a thousand families at these events I've attended  mass shootings,' Biden said to the anti-gun audience.

'Look in their eyes, you can almost feel that black hole they feel in the center of their chest, like they're being sucked in, there's no way out,' he continued, ignoring the flub.
Kevin Spacey last night claimed he was passed a message of support from King Charles amid his legal battle against his sex abuse accusers.

The former House of Cards star, 64, smiled as he told Piers Morgan Uncensored that while he hadn't had direct contact from the monarch, he had 'heard a message'.

It came as the disgraced actor, who was cleared of sexually assaulting four men last year, admitted his past behaviour was 'handsy' and 'pushed boundaries'.

Spacey told Talk TV's Piers Morgan Uncensored show that he was 'grateful' for Charles's message but 'didn't want to drag [the King] into all this'.

He added: 'He's got a lot on his plate and I wish him the very best.'

The King presented the actor with his honorary CBE in 2010 for his services to drama, and again in 2016 when he received an honorary knighthood.

MailOnline has contacted Buckingham Palace for comment.

Kevin Spacey has tonight claimed he was passed on a message of support from King Charles when the Hollywood actor was accused of sexual misconduct (Spacey pictured here receiving an honorary knighthood in 2016)

Spacey pictured with the then Prince Charles being presented with an honorary CBE in London in 2010 for his services to drama

Charles pictured in 1997 laughing with actor Al Pacino with Spacey in the background as he attends the Royal Film premiere of Looking for Richard in Leicester Square

Kevin Spacey has admitted to being 'handsy' and 'pushing boundaries' despite being cleared of sexually assaulting four men last year

Spacey said Charles had been supportive of him since he was made artistic director of The Old Vic in 2003 where he would come to watch the productions at the London theatre.

'We were very fortunate that when he was the Prince of Wales he loved The Old Vic, he believed in it... I was always honoured to be able to do what I could for The Prince's Trust,' he said.

'And I wish him all the best with his health.'

During the candid interview, Spacey went on to admit to being 'handsy' and 'pushing boundaries' despite being cleared of sexually assaulting four men last year.

The disgraced Hollywood actor revealed that he has battled suicide thoughts since he was charged with indecent assault against four men in 2018.

The double Oscar winner said he is now on the brink of bankruptcy due to his million-dollar legal fees and has been forced to sell his home.

He went on to say he'd spoken to a 'significant' number of men to personally apologise for his former conduct and that he intends to 'get back on the horse'.

When asked by Mr Morgan about what he considered bad behaviour, he said: 'Pushing the boundaries.

'Being too handsy, touching someone sexually in a way that I didn't know at the time they didn't want. I personally, I have caressed people, I have been gentle with people, that is the way that I am.

The double Oscar winner said he is now on the brink of bankruptcy due to his million-dollar legal fees and has been forced to sell his home in Baltimore (pictured)

When asked by Piers Morgan what he considered to be bad behaviour, Spacey said: 'Pushing the boundaries'

Speaking to Piers Morgan Uncensored, the double Oscar winner said he is now on the brink of bankruptcy due to his million-dollar legal fees and has been forced to sell his home

Spacey was a mainstay on Netflix's hit drama series House of Cards until allegations about his behaviour were made

Spacey was one of the most recognised faces in Hollywood until allegations of sexual misconduct were made in 2017, with streaming giant Netflix cutting ties with the actor

'You're making a pass at someone, you don't want to be aggressive. You want to be gentle. You want to see if they're going to respond positively.

'I am absolutely 150 per cent prepared to take accountability for those things that I did and the mistakes that I made. 'Bad, bad, bad behaviour sometimes.'

Spacey was one of the most recognised faces in Hollywood until allegations of sexual misconduct were made in 2017, with streaming giant Netflix cutting ties with the actor.

He was accused of abusing his fame and power to carry out nine sex attacks on four men during his tenure as artistic director of the Old Vic theatre. But he insisted the claims were 'madness' and accused the claimants of 'lying for money'.

In July 2023, the actor was dramatically cleared of sexually assaulting the four men following a high-profile trial at Southwark Crown Court in which Sir Elton John gave evidence in his defence.

After being linked to Prince Andrew and Ghislaine Maxwell, being pictured with the convicted felon during a tour at Buckingham Palace in 2002, Spacey denied ever having been to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein's Island.

He picked up the Best Actor Oscar in 2020 for his role in American Beauty playing Lester Burnham, a man going through a midlife crisis

Spacey starring alongside Mena Suvari in Sam Mendes 1999 Hollywood film American Beauty

When quizzed about his friendship with the American, who died in prison in 2019, Spacey said: 'He was not my friend. I am not a confidante. I've never spent time with him.'

Spacey also addressed his sexuality, on the same day as allegations made against him in 2017, and came out as gay in a statement.

He said: 'I have had relationships with both men and women. I have loved and had romantic encounters with men throughout my life, and I choose now to live as a gay man.'

Speaking for the first time about his sexuality, Mr Spacey told Mr Morgan said: 'I was closeted as a man, and I was fiercely closeted for a very long time, and now that I am out, regardless of the fact that I came out in a way that was not the best coming out party ever, I would like to try to be as positive a voice for those who are experiencing difficulty in embracing their own selves and their own lives.'

Asked about his current relationships, meeting a partner and what he had learnt, he said: 'Well, if I've learned anything, I've learned that a first move doesn't have to be physical.

'So I am hopeful and I believe that I will be able to meet someone who is willing to judge me for what they experience and not from headlines.'

Asked where he is living now and if he is going to file for bankruptcy, Spacey said: 'This week, where I have been living in Baltimore, is being foreclosed on.

'My house is being sold at auction.

The two-time Oscar-winning actor has defiantly vowed not to give up on acting after being in 'exile' for seven years (Spacey pictured in Los Angeles in 1996 after winning best supporting actor for his role in The Usual Suspects)

Kevin Spacey addresses the media gathered outside Southwark Crown Court after being found not guilty of sexual offences between 2001 and 2013

Pictured: Spacey outside Southwark Crown Court in July 2023 after being found not guilty of sexually assaulting three men

Actor Kevin Spacey leaving the Old Bailey Central Criminal Court, London, in 2022

'I'm not quite sure where I'm going to live now, but I have been in Baltimore since we started shooting House of Cards there.

'It's been a couple of times when I thought I was going to file, but we've managed to sort of dodge it, at least as of today.

'I still owe a lot of legal bills that I have not been able to pay.

'Many millions, yes. The house itself is many millions.'

When asked by Mr Morgan what he intends to do in the near future, he said: 'Get back on the horse.'
Bill Maher has reportedly sworn off college campuses for his stand-up routine, citing a lack of openness among younger audiences.

While talking to fellow comedian and former 'Everybody Loves Raymond' star Ray Romano on his podcast Club Random, Maher said he he's given up on performing or even appealing to young audiences, specifically college students.

'They don't want to hear anything they don't already agree with,' Maher told Romano. 'They don't want their minds pried open, and you know what? Let somebody else do it.'

Maher, who host's 'Real Time with Bill Maher' on HBO, has garnered widespread notoriety from more liberal viewers for his controversial opinions on political correctness and President Biden's age.

Romano pointed out that younger audiences would most likely be divided over Maher's project, attracting both the alt-right and alt-left.

Bill Maher has reportedly sworn off college campuses for his stand-up routine, citing a lack of openness among younger audiences

While talking to fellow comedian and former 'Everybody Loves Raymond' star Ray Romano on his podcast Club Random, Maher said he he's given up on performing or even appealing to young audiences, specifically college students

'You would have half this way and half this way, maybe,' Romano told Maher, referring to both sides of the political spectrum.

'First of all, they would protest before I even got on the campus,' Maher said.

In fact, that's exactly what happened in 2014, when a student group at UC Berkeley tried stopping Maher from visiting their campus.

'I was uninvited when I was invited to be the keynote speaker at the Berkeley graduation and then re-invited, but today, are you kidding?' he said. 'These kids? 'That would be the first thing they would do. They don't want to hear anything they don't already agree with.'

While Maher acknowledges the youthful energy of college audiences, he rejects the idea that his age diminishes the validity of his critiques.

'They don't want to hear anything they don't already agree with,' Maher (pictured) told Romano. 'They don't want their minds pried open, and you know what? Let somebody else do it'

'I'm not going to hold my tongue when they embrace stupid ideas,' he said .'And of course, then they'll just say the tritest, easiest, most erroneous thing lobbed at people like us is: 'you're old, now it's about just get off my lawn.''

'You put zero amount of thinking into the actual point I'm making,' Maher said. 'You didn't engage with the actual idea.'

'What about the idea?' the comedian continued.

'Am I right? Should we bring communism back because I think it's a bad idea?

'Maybe because I remember what happened the first time and you don't, and you don't care to learn.'
A family of six enjoyed dinner at The Cheesecake Factory on June 6 for only $28 between them - and then shocked social media users with how much they tipped.

The Milehams, who post on TikTok under the username @glazedepoxy, shared a video of a conversation between dad Josh and their server after eating their light dinner at the establishment in Highland Village, Texas.

Before giving the server his tip, Josh asked how the server felt about the total price of the meal being bizarrely low for six people, to which he responded 'I didn't mind.'

The family - who often show their followers how to eat cheap when on a budget - ordered a barbeque ranch chicken salad and gluten-free french fries for the table.

First, Josh showed how he split the salad's protein from its vegetables, before dishing out servings to his young children and wife Callie. Each member of the family then helped themselves to a handful of fries, which came with ketchup.

Josh and Callie Mileham, who are known as The Milehams on TikTok, spoke with their server at The Cheesecake Factory after they spent $28 on their meal for six

Josh asked their server for six plates and 'lots of extra ranch' - and the meal came out to just $28.04.

After finishing their food, Josh stunned social media users by asking the server outright what he felt his tip should be.

The server responded honestly and said: 'If you guys felt like I gave you great service, I like my tip to reflect on how you feel I served you.'

He explained that he'd seen other restaurant-goers do this trick in the past.

'I usually do have people that order light for multiple people,' said the server.

'I usually tend not to form an opinion. I do it more based on how you guys are.'

The server added that he usually tries to aim for 20 percent of the meal total. He said: 'Usually if they tip me that 20 percent, I like to think it's kind of like a good middle ground.'

According to the receipt, $6.17 is the suggested gratuity for a server if one wishes to tip 22 percent, which the Mileham's waiter thought was fair.

Josh asked their server what he thought was a fair from the $28 meal. The server told Josh: 'I like my tip to reflect on how you feel I served you'

Josh asked their server for six plates and 'lots of extra ranch' in addition to the salad and fries

After some criticism online, the family posted a third video on June 10 with the happy server - and revealed that they actually gave him a stunning $100 tip.

The server smiled from ear to ear and told the family that 'it was a pleasure' to take care of them.

'Our total was $28.04, and then, of course, it shows you the different tips that would be appropriate and nice, but we did a $100 tip,' said Callie.

'He was awesome. Super attentive. Super nice. Great customer service.'

Several social media users who didn't know about the $100 tip trashed the family of six for only spending $28 on restaurant food.

The Milehams posted a third TikTok video from their Cheesecake Factory outing, which showed that they gave their server a $100 tip

'Man, this young man is humble! He deserved a $100 tip. I guarantee this young man does well bc of his positive attitude,' a TikToker wrote.

The Milehams responded to comments made by other TikTokers and they repeatedly told them to watch the other Cheesecake Factory video they posted.

The TikTokers also responded to another comment made by someone who wrote that it should be 'the companys responsibility to pay their employees well.'

'This is 100 percent. We want to bless others, but as a corporation, you should pay your employees, not us, the customers,' the Milehams wrote.
Kevin Spacey tonight breaks down in tears as he reveals he does not have any money and is being forced to sell his home.

The disgraced Hollywood actor tells Piers Morgan Uncensored that he is on the brink of being declared bankrupt after having to pay millions in legal fees to battle a high-profile sexual assault court case.

In the bombshell interview airing at 8pm on YouTube, Spacey, 64, reveals his home in Baltimore is being put up for auction as he no longer can afford to pay the bills.

Asked where he is living now, he says: 'So the answer to that question is, I'm not quite sure where I'm going to live now, but I have been in Baltimore since we started shooting House of Cards there.'

He has twice dodged bankruptcy since being cut off by Hollywood after allegations were made against the double Oscar winner of sexual misconduct in 2017.

Kevin Spacey tonight breaks down in tears as he reveals he does not have any money and is being forced to sell his home

The disgraced Hollywood actor tells Piers Morgan Uncensored that he is on the brink of being declared bankrupt after having to pay millions in legal fees

Streaming giant Netflix also dropped Spacey for breach of contract. He was ordered in 2021 by an arbitrator to pay nearly $31 million to the studio that made the hit Netflix show, House of Cards.

Piers Morgan's bombshell interview with Kevin Spacey Morgan: 'Where are you living now?' Spacey: 'Well, it's funny you asked that question, because this week, where I have been living in Baltimore, is being foreclosed on. My house is being sold at auction.' Morgan: 'Really?' Spacey: 'So I have to go back to Baltimore and put all my things in storage.' Morgan: 'Really?' Spacey: 'So the answer to that question is, I'm not quite sure where I'm going to live now, but I have been in Baltimore since we started shooting House of Cards there.' Morgan went on to ask why the house was being foreclosed, he replied: 'Because I can't pay the bills that I owe.' Morgan: 'Are you facing bankruptcy?' Spacey: 'It's been a couple of times when I thought I was going to file, but we've managed to sort of dodge it, at least as of today.' Morgan: 'How much money do you have?' Spacey: 'None.' Morgan: 'Really?' Spacey: 'Well I mean, you have some sense of legal bills. I still owe a lot of legal bills that I have not been able to pay.' Morgan: 'You're actually in debt?' Spacey: 'Yes.' Morgan: 'Do you mind me asking how much you owe?' Spacey: 'It's considerable.' Morgan: 'Millions?' Spacey: 'Many millions, yes. The house itself is many millions.' Morgan: 'What are you going to do?' Spacey: 'Get back on the horse.' Advertisement

But in February he agreed a settlement with Media Rights Capital (MRC) to pay $1 million.

And Spacey reveals in the interview with Mr Morgan he is virtually now penniless and owes 'many millions'.

'Well I mean, you have some sense of legal bills,' he says. 'I still owe a lot of legal bills that I have not been able to pay.'

Spacey was one of the most recognised faces in Hollywood until allegations of sexual misconduct were made.

In July last year Spacey faced trial at Southwark Crown Court over nine sexual offences charges in a case involving four men. He vehemently denied their claims and the jury acquitted him of all charges.

Spacey said he was 'humbled' after being cleared of sexual assault in a high-profile trial that saw Sir Elton John give evidence in his defence.

He was fired from Netflix series House of Cards in 2017 after being accused of molesting actor Anthony Rapp when he was 14 and Spacey was 26.

Spacey was found not liable during a civil trial in New York in 2022, with the jury concluding that the event had not taken place.

Spacey won two Academy Awards as best supporting actor for The Usual Suspects in 1996 and best actor in 2000 for American Beauty, which also secured him a Bafta for leading actor.

Last month he emotionally vowed that he 'won't give up on acting' after fresh allegations were made against him in a Channel 4 bombshell documentary.

The star accused the broadcaster of 'having an agenda' in deciding to go ahead with airing its two-part film, Spacey Unmasked.

The documentary featured previously unheard testimonies about the actor's alleged inappropriate behaviour.

Spacey appeared close to tears and his voice started to break during an emotional interview this week as he defiantly vowed not to give up on a return to Hollywood.

A raft of A-listers - including Liam Neeson and Sharon Stone - have rallied around the Oscar-winning star to call for an end to his 'seven year exile'.

Speaking to The Telegraph, he admitted he had behaved poorly and done inappropriate things in the past.

But he said he had been focused on growing and becoming a better person in the last seven years.

In the bombshell interview, Spacey reveals he is virtually penniless and still has legal bills to pay

Kevin Spacey addresses the media gathered outside Southwark Crown Court after being found not guilty of sexual offences between 2001 and 2013

Pictured: Spacey outside Southwark Crown Court in July 2023 after being found not guilty of sexually assaulting three men

The two-time Oscar-winning actor has defiantly vowed not to give up on acting after being in 'exile' for seven years (Spacey pictured in Los Angeles in 1996 after winning best supporting actor for his role in The Usual Suspects)

Speaking to Piers Morgan Uncensored, the double Oscar winner said he is now on the brink of bankruptcy due to his million-dollar legal fees and has been forced to sell his home

Spacey starring alongside Mena Suvari in Sam Mendes' 1999 Hollywood film American Beauty

He picked up the Best Actor Oscar in 1999 for his role in American Beauty playing Lester Burnham, a man going through a midlife crisis

Spacey was one of the most recognised faces in Hollywood until allegations of sexual misconduct were made in 2017, with streaming giant Netflix cutting ties with the actor

Kevin Spacey broke down in tears at times during an emotional interview with The Telegraph

Liam Neeson (pictured in 2014 movie Non-Stop) is calling for Spacey to be allowed to resume his Hollywood acting career after being cleared of sexual assault charges

Defending Mr Spacey, Sharon Stone said she 'can't wait to see Kevin back at work'

'If anyone thinks that I don't sorely regret the mistakes that I have made or the choices I've made or that I hurt anyone along the way then you aren't aware of the personal work that I have been doing for the last seven years,' he said.

Appearing to be close to tears, his voice started to break as he continued: 'If anyone thinks I'm going to give up on acting they have got me wrong on all counts.'

Defending Spacey, Sharon Stone said she 'can't wait to see Kevin back at work'.

'He is a genius. He is so elegant and fun, generous to a fault and knows more about our craft than most of us ever will,' she told the Daily Telegraph.

The Basic Instinct star, 66, said it was clear aspiring actors had 'wanted and want to be around him'.

Liam Neeson also gave a glowing testimony of Spacey's character.

'I was deeply saddened to learn of these accusations against him. Kevin is a good man and a man of character,' he said.

'He's sensitive, articulate and non-judgemental, with a terrific sense of humour. He is also one of our finest artists in the theatre and on camera. Personally speaking, our industry needs him and misses him greatly.'
President Biden's son Hunter Biden was found guilty on three felony gun charges on Tuesday by a Delaware jury. He now faces sentencing which will take place in the coming months.

Biden, 54, faces a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison and fines of up to $750,000 as each count has a maximum fine of $250,000.

But legal experts do not expect the presidents son to face time behind bars  and not because his father is expected to pardon him.

The case is unprecedented because it is the first involving the child of a sitting president, but President Biden has previously said he would respect the process and not pardon his son.

Judge Maryellen Noreika has discretion when it comes to sentencing. The date for sentencing has not yet been set. Noreika noted it typically takes place in 120 days.

Hunter Biden leaving court with First Lady Jill Biden and wife Melissa Cohen after he was found guilty on three federal felony gun charges

Before she makes a decision, there will be a pre-sentencing report where each side will have the opportunity to present anything they would like for the judge to consider. They can also object to anything they oppose being included in the report.

District Judge Maryellen Noreika

Hunter Bidens legal team will also likely be filing any appeal that they might have. If an appeal around evidentiary rulings or the judges charge are successful, it could result in a new trial.

We respect the jury process, and as we have done throughout the case, we will continue to vigorously pursue all the legal challenges available to Hunter, Bidens lawyer Abbe Lowell said in a statement following the verdict.

While Biden faces a maximum of 25 years in prison for the charges, legal experts do not believe he will receive such a serious sentence.

I think that the judge is going to consider the fact that he's come out of this addiction to lead a productive, law-abiding life, said Fordham law professor Cheryl Bader.

When it comes to sentencing there are multiple factors included in the consideration process such as criminal history of which Biden currently has none. It also looks at mitigating factors.

The facts of the case and the facts around this individual don't, in my opinion, warrant a sentence of incarceration, said Bader.

Biden and Cohen returning to court on June 11 where he was found guilty on three counts. Biden faces a maximum of 25 years in prison and $750,000 in fines, but legal experts do not expect prison time in this case

Prosecutor David Weiss (center) speaking to the media after the jury reached a guilty verdict. Weiss said the case shows no one is above the law. Prosecutors and Biden's legal team will be able to weigh in for the pre-sentencing report. A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled

Berkeley Law professor John Yoo said it was no surprise that the jury took only a few hours to reach a guilty verdict.

This is a normal, run of the mill trial, Yoo said. What is crazy is that Hunter decided to go to trial instead of reaching a plea bargain with minimal jail time.

However, Yoo noted the guilty verdict does increase the stakes for Bidens tax evasion trial in Los Angeles later this year.

By that time, Hunter will be a convicted federal felon, not a first-time offender as here, Yoo said. While that means he is unlikely to serve jail time for the gun possession, he may well serve time for the tax evasion because he will have a record by then.

Biden is also charged with nine felony and misdemeanor tax offenses.

Federal prosecutors accuse the younger Biden of a four-year scheme to skip out on paying $1.4 million in taxes he owed the IRS between 2016 and 2019 and instead spending the money on his extravagant lifestyle including drugs and alcohol.

If convicted in that case, Biden faces a maximum of 17 years in prison.

Last year, the investigation into the president's son once looked like it would be wrapped up with a plea deal, which would have resulted in two years probation after pleading guilty to misdemeanor tax charges.

But that agreement fell apart after the judge expected to approve the deal instead raised further questions.

When it comes to an appeal, that is expected following Hunter Biden's sentence in the gun case. But legal experts believe there are several issues ripe for appeal.

One is raising an evidentiary issue in that the judge did not allow Biden's legal team to introduce some evidence indicated that he was not addicted to drugs at the time he bought the firearm.

Lowell established no one saw him doing crack cocaine in the month he bought the gun, but there were text messages that hurt his defense.

There is also the potential vindictive prosecution claim said assistant professor of law Sara Hidlebrand of Delaware Law School.

'Biden doesn't have a criminal history as I understand it, and I think often these particular charges wouldn't be brought in federal court,' she said. 'It's sort of unique in that way that the prosecution decided to bring this case against this person without a criminal history.'

She said there could be a claim they brought the charge because he is part of a prominent political family.

Legal experts say there are several issues Biden's legal team can potentially raise on appeal

Potentially the strongest appeal though according to Hidlebrand is raising the constitutionality of the statute under which Biden was prosecuted and whether the government can prohibit someone addicted to drugs from purchasing a firearm.

There has been indication from lower courts including from conservative Justice Amy Coney Barrett before she joined the Supreme Court that the courts could find the statute unconstitutional.

'It's sort of ironic in some ways that the Republican point of view on this issue could really benefit Hunter Biden,' she said.
Victims of crime have given up on police being able to help them, with one in six failing to report offences because they think nothing will be done, shock new figures show.

A landmark survey by Neighbourhood Watch has revealed more than a quarter of crimes went unreported last year as thousands of victims feared police would not do anything to help.

Victims of serious crimes, including sexual assault, domestic abuse, physical attacks and home break-ins admitted they didn't bother dialling 999, because they didn't think it was worth it.

The poll of more than 28,000 people across the UK by the voluntary crime prevention organisation estimated that 28 per cent of crimes were not reported last year.

More than half of victims (58.3 per cent), said they didn't report the offence because they thought 'nothing would be done'.

Thousands of victims of crime have given up on police being able to help them, with one in four failing to report offences because they think nothing will be done, a shock new survey shows (file pic)

Analysis of the data by home security experts Simplisafe found that respondents had fallen victim to 16,177 crimes, including home and vehicle break-ins, sex attacks, violent assaults, domestic abuse, cybercrime, and harassment, but 16 per cent (4,482) were never reported (file pic)

One in 10 respondents to the National Crime & Community Survey 2023 said they started the process of reporting the matter to forces, but did not finish it because they realised it was pointless.

Worryingly, more than 200 survivors also said they were 'too scared' to contact police.

The research comes after a slew of recent police misconduct cases, following the murder of Sarah Everard by serving Met officer Wayne Couzens in 2022, which have eroded faith in forces.

Analysis of the data by home security experts Simplisafe found that respondents had fallen victim to 16,177 crimes, including home and vehicle break-ins, sex attacks, violent assaults, domestic abuse, cybercrime, and harassment, but 16 per cent (4,482) of these were never reported.

Yesterday, Harriet Wistrich, founder of the Centre for Women's Justice, said victims were losing faith in the criminal justice process.

Last year a survey funded by the Home Office suggested that one in 10 rape and sexual assault survivors chose not to report their attack, with the most common reason given that they felt too ashamed and embarrassed, followed by a fear they would not be believed and a lack of trust in police.

Ms Wistrich said: 'It is a huge problem that people do not feel confident in the criminal justice system.

'People do not report because they don't think police will investigate properly, they don't trust police and increasingly some people see police as perpetrators themselves.

'Sir Mark Rowley (Scotland Yard Commissioner) said last week there are up to four million perpetrators of violence against women and children, so we know that there is a fundamental problem in how we tackle this.

Last year a survey funded by the Home Office suggested one in 10 rape and sexual assault survivors chose not to report their attack, because they felt too ashamed and embarrassed, followed by a fear they would not be believed and a lack of trust in police (file pic)

'But even if police were performing well, which they are not, we know that there are an enormous amount of these crimes going unreported.'

The Neighbourhood Watch poll also identified that hundreds of crimes went unreported because bystanders felt it was 'not my responsibility' to call police as it did not happen directly to them.

John Hayward-Cripps, CEO of Neighbourhood Watch Network, said: 'We find that people often want to do something when they witness a crime, but don't know what to do, or feel it would be unsafe to intervene.

'At Neighbourhood Watch, we encourage people to be active bystanders when witnessing a crime, when it is safe to do so, and want them to know that a small action, such as calling out inappropriate behaviour or offering support to a victim of crime can have a huge positive impact.

'When people are active bystanders, they help build resilient communities where crime struggles to flourish, makes public spaces safer and helps other people feel more confident in preventing crime.'
A woman was caught on a police station security camera ripping up seven American flags 'posted in honor of fallen officers' before boldly bowing and flipping the bird.

The incident happened in the week of June 5 around the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office headquarters in Colorado.

Officers have appealed for help identifying the vandal.

They said they believed the woman used a small blade or keys to tear the flags, going from pole to pole to rip them all.

Sharing the footage the Sheriff's Office said: 'When she was done, she even gave us a bow before heading in the direction of the light rail station.'

A woman was caught on a police station security camera ripping up seven American flags 'posted in honor of fallen officers'

The incident unfolded just before 6pm on June 5.

In the video, the woman, who is wearing shorts, a black vest and red striped hat, walks up to a police security camera and shows them her tattoos.

She then approaches a flag and tears it lengthways before flipping off the camera and curtsying.

She then walks away across the road, stopping to bow once more.

Sharing the video on X, police said: 'Just before 6 p.m. on June 5, this young lady put on a show for our cameras.

'After talking extensively to our security camera along Jefferson County Parkway (sadly, no sound) she used her tallest finger to let us know we are #1.

She then approaches a flag, and tears it lengthways before flipping off the camera and curtsying

'She then showed us her tattooed arms, the object she planned to use to perform her desecration, and proceeded to rip to shreds seven of the American flags we have posted around our headquarters in Golden.

'These flags are posted in honor of fallen officers.

'When she was done, she even gave us a bow before heading in the direction of the light rail station.

'We are pretty sure that she would like us to personally credit her performance, so if you can help us identify this individual, we will make sure she gets the encore she deserves.'

The vandal faces a misdemeanor charge of Criminal Mischief.
Supporters of progressive Oakland DA Pamela Price have taunted parents of murder victims' at a rally calling for her recall.

The counter protesters chanted 'raise your children' at those demanding a recall of Price in the November election.

Price was elected on a platform of justice reform, but many say her policies are allow violent criminals to get back onto the streets.

The demonstration on June 8 turned ugly when the two sets of activists clashed outside the Alameda Courthouse.

'I'm really upset, I just had a Pamela Price supporter to tell me to "raise my child". I wish I could, I wish he was here so I could raise him,' one mom who lost her son to gun violence told KPIX.

Supporters of progressive Oakland DA Pamela Price (pictured) taunted parents of murder victims' at a rally calling for her recall

Price opponents recently succeeded in putting her recall back on the ballot.

They are unhappy with her decision not to pursue special enhancements within sentencing which would make prison terms longer.

The mother of five-year-old Eliyanah Crisostomo, who was struck and killed by a bullet on the freeway, says Price is refusing to consider enhancements against the suspects.

'These criminals are going to get out and hurt another child,' she said. 'You are gambling with our children's lives.'

But those who support Price say the sentencing should not be based on victims' emotions and that such enhancements are disproportionately used against people of color.

The counter protesters chanted 'raise your children' at those demanding a recall of Price in the November election

Price faces a recall effort barely a year into her tenure as the county's first black woman to hold the DA post.

Recall campaigners turned in more than 123,000 petition signatures to the county's Registrar of Voters.

Among the controversies while in office was the publication of a memo written by Price advocating that probation be the 'presumptive offer' during plea negotiations.

It said low-end prison terms should be offered in cases that aren't eligible for probation  although nearly every crime in the California penal code is eligible for probation.

The policy allows for exceptions in 'extraordinary' circumstances, including human trafficking, hate crimes, child or elder abuse, and crimes that cause 'extensive' physical injury.

Price declared: 'This directive reduces reliance on sentencing enhancements and allegations as an effort to bring balance back to sentencing and reduce recidivism'.

The directive became especially controversial as Price refused to confirm she would back sentencing enhancements to three gang members accused of murdering two-year-old Jasper Wu, who was killed by a stray bullet.
Two influencers have blasted a high-end Montauk restaurant after they were charged $2,000 for 'one of the worst dining experiences they've ever experienced.'

Meg Radice and Audrey Jongens, who run the brutally honest account VIP LIST, slammed their meal at Mavericks Montauk 'criminal.'

In addition to the 'flavorless' food, they accused the restaurant of ruining one friend's dress when a seafood tower collapsed on top of her.

'The real tea on Maverick's Montauk, go cry about it,' they wrote in the caption of the video that's garnered nearly 40k likes on TikTok since it was posted Monday.

Mavericks was called one of Montauk's 'most anticipated new restaurant,' by Forbes and Hamptons.com, before it launched in 2023. The restaurant has disputed and denied the criticisms levied at it.

Meg Radice and Audrey Jongens from the food blogger account VIP LIST, known for their brutally honest reviews, didn't hold back as they called their experience 'criminal'

In addition to the 'flavorless' meal, they accused the restaurant of ruining one friend's dress when the seafood tower collapsed

Meg Radice and Audrey Jongens from the food blogger account VIP LIST, known for their brutally honest reviews, didn't hold back as they called their experience 'criminal'

The video shows a chaotic looking scene with seafood tower sauce all over one friend's glitzy dress and footage of many raw looking dishes.

Firs they were put through an excruciating wait of two and a half hours just to simply place their appetizer order.

Afterwards, Radice explained: 'The first red flag was an A5 wagyu tartar disguised as beet sauce.'

The disastrous night only escalated as a seafood tower collapsed, dousing one of their party in sauce and ruining her dress.

Radice said, 'Thank god it didn't fall on me because I would've done a Teresa Guidice table flip.'

'The level of cap in the menu descriptions is unprecedented,' they added. 'This is considered chicken with caviar? It looks like a Chad made this, and now I'm calling the coqodaq police.'

The VIP List is known to go to the city's most hyper restaurants where they make comically aggressive voiced-over reviews

Mavericks was called one of Montauk's 'most anticipated new restaurant,' by Forbes and Hamptons.com , before it launched in 2023

First pointing out the excruciating wait of two and a half hours just to simply place their appetizer order, Radice declared, 'The first red flag was an A5 wagyu tartar disguised as beet sauce'

'I thought we were being punk'd - Mavericks you have a lot of audacity,' she said before concluding with their signature saying, 'go cry about it.'

Situated in the trendy town of Montauk, a stone's throw from the Hamptons, Mavericks claims to offer up 'beautiful seafood caught right off the shore' and 'vegetables from farms you actually drive by to get here.'

Its website adds: 'Our entire menu is a celebration of the best New York has to offer, from the Hudson Valley to the forks of Long Island.'

The restaurant is run by managing partner Vanessa Price who is a sommellier and 'wine -industry veteran.'

While executive chef Jeremy Blutstein claims on the website to have been 'running kitchens on the East End and in New York City for the past 15 years.'

But commenters on the VIP List's account agreed the meal didn't look up to scratch.

One wrote:'$2000 and it looks like they barely bothered to cook anything.'

'None of this looks edible tbh,' another chimed in.

DailyMail.com reached out to Mavericks for comment.
Anti-monarchy group Republic have accused the Metropolitan Police of using human rights laws to block their Trooping The Colour protest.

Republic said police had written to them citing the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) as justification for closing down the nearby protest.

Republic claimed this was based on the 'spurious grounds' that a protest would deny spectators the right to enjoy the parade, adding that human rights legislation 'does not provide a right to enjoy a day out'.

The pressure group said no final decision had been made, but accused the police of insisting protest is 'moved to a place that is out of sight of the parade and media'.

The King will make a high-profile appearance on Saturday to mark the monarch's official birthday during Trooping the Colour, which takes place at Horse Guards Parade near Buckingham Palace in central London.

Republic protesting to abolish the monarchy during the Coronation of King Charles III in May 2023

King Charles and Queen Camilla drive past protesters as they arrived for the State Opening of Parliament in November 2023

Anti-Monarchy pressure group Republic protest outside Westminster during the State Opening of Parliament in November 2023

The group gathered outside Westminster Abbey chanting 'not my King' and holding placards prior to the royals' arrival for the annual Commonwealth Day service in March 2023

The King will make a high-profile appearance on Saturday to mark the monarch's official birthday during Trooping the Colour, which takes place at Horse Guards Parade near Buckingham Palace in central London

Republic, which campaigns for the abolition of the monarchy and its replacement with a directly elected head of state, said the move by the police was 'Kafkaesque'.

The group claimed it was told at the start of the month by the Metropolitan Police that the force was 'relaxed' and had 'no issue' with the location of the protest.

The Met was criticised last year after six Republic members were detained ahead of a pre-agreed coronation protest on May 6.

Republic chief executive Graham Smith accused the police of appearing 'willing to enforce the wishes of Royal Parks', whom he claimed 'want to ban all protest outside Buckingham Palace'.

He added that this would be a 'serious affront to democratic rights in this country'.

Republic hold placards reading 'Down with the crown' protest outside Westminster Abbey in March 2024 during the annual Commonwealth Day service ceremony

The group gathered along the Royal Mile in Edinburgh ahead of a National Service of Thanksgiving and Dedication To The Coronation Of King Charles III And Queen Camilla in July 2023

Republic protesting outside Westminster with flags that said 'not my King' during the State Opening of Parliament in November 2023

Protesters inside the ground of Windsor Castle calling for an end to 'royal secrecy' in February 2024

Pledging to challenge the police and Royal Parks, Mr Smith said: 'Human rights laws protect the right to meaningfully protest. To see those same laws used to effectively ban protest is a very worrying development.

'The police want us to protest well away from Buckingham Palace and away from the parade, where we will not be seen or heard. This is on the spurious grounds that a protest would deny spectators the right to enjoy the parade.

'The Human Rights Act and ECHR does not provide a right to enjoy a day out, and the experience of all our protests is that we successfully protest alongside spectators without incident.

'The argument that a protest is infringing on the rights of others to enjoy an event is particularly dangerous, opening up the possibility of banning any number of political protests on the most spurious grounds.'

Mr Smith added that he was calling on all parties fighting the election to 'guarantee protection of meaningful peaceful protest'.

MailOnline have contacted the Metropolitan Police for comment.
Hunter Biden's dramatic conviction in his gun and drugs trial will cause more political fallout for his father than Donald Trump saw from his guilty verdict, according to a snap poll for DailyMail.com.

When likely voters were asked whether it affected their view of Joe Biden, the results suggest a seven-point negative impact for the Democratic candidate in the election. In contrast, Trump saw a six-point bump in an equivalent question.

The results come with caveats. They are not an indication of voting intention but instead offer an insight into how the verdicts may factor into voters' views of the two runners.

In Biden's case seven percent said they would have a 'more positive' view of the president but 14 per cent said it would be 'more negative'.

That meant a net negative impact for Biden of seven percent.

J.L. Partners surveyed 500 likely voters on June 10 and 11 for the poll which showed a negative impact on Joe Biden

The results also showed Joe Biden suffering a negative impact among independent voters

Among all-important independent voters there was a similar negative shift for the president of seven percent.

Three percent of independents said a guilty verdict meant they would have a 'more positive' view of Joe Biden and 10 percent said 'more negative'.

The negative impact was slightly higher among men than women.

US President Joe Biden hugs his son Hunter Biden upon arrival at Delaware Air National Guard Base in New Castle, Delaware, on June 11, 2024 hours after Hunter's gun conviction

U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks at Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund's annual 'Gun Sense University' conference in Washington, D.C., U.S., June 11, 2024

Republican presidential candidate, former President Donald Trump motions as he walks on stage at a campaign rally, June 9, 2024, in Las Vegas

J.L. Partners surveyed 500 likely voters on June 10 and 11 for the poll.

On June 11 Hunter was convicted of three felonies relating to lying on a government form.

He said he was not a drug user when he bought a gun in Wilmington, Delaware on October 12, 2018.

But prosecutors proved he had in fact been in the midst of a crack addiction.

Hours after Hunter was found guilty by a jury President Biden delivered a speech at an Everytown for Gun Safety event.

He stood under a banner reading 'Gun Sense University' but did not mention his son had just been convicted of a gun crime.

Hunter Biden (R) and his wife Melissa Cohen Biden (L) arrive to hear the verdict in his federal gun trial at the US Federal District Court in Wilmington, Delaware, USA, 11 June 2024

Hunter's former girlfriend Zoe Kestan gave evidence that he smoked crack 'every 20 minutes'

James Johnson, who conducted the poll, said: 'Our poll suggests Hunter Bidens legal situation may blunt the impact of Donald Trumps, with more voters telling us they would take a freshly negative view of Biden in the event of a guilty verdict.

'That 7 point net decline compares to a 6 point net improvement when we asked the same question after Trumps verdict.'

He added: 'With another Hunter court case coming later in the year, we may see it continuing to cloud the presidents attempts to attack Trump on his legal woes."

Photos on Hunter's abandoned laptop dated September 30 2018 show him parading in barely-there white underwear and a red scarf at a party in a rented Hollywood house

The Colt Cobra revolver Hunter Biden purchased on October 12, 2018

US President Joe Biden talks with his son Hunter Biden upon arrival at Delaware Air National Guard Base in New Castle, Delaware, on June 11, 2024

In September, Hunter he faces a tax crimes trial in California.

He is accused of nine charges, including three felony counts and six misdemeanors, of tax evasion, failure to file and pay his taxes, and filing a fraudulent tax return.

The charges span the tax years 2016 to 2019, and are considered more severe than his gun crimes.

Trump was found guilty in May of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to cover up a $130,000 hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 election. He is due to be sentenced on July 11.

Hunter Biden, son of U.S. President Joe Biden, and his wife Melissa Cohen Biden and U.S. first lady Jill Biden leave the federal court after the jury finds him guilty on all three counts in his trial on criminal gun charges, in Wilmington, Delaware, U.S., June 11, 2024

An undated image of Hunter Biden with his father

A poll straight after his conviction found 22 percent had a 'more positive' view of him after the verdict, and 16 percent 'more negative' - a net positive of six points.

The Trump campaign said it had enjoyed a fundraising bonanza in the hours after his verdict.

On Tuesday a jury in Wilmington, Delaware unanimously convicted Hunter Biden of two counts of lying on a federal government form to buy a gun, and one count of possessing the firearm while abusing drugs.

Jurors deliberated for less than three hours after a trial that had lasted over a week.

An image submitted as evidence by the prosecution in Hunter Biden's trial

The prosecution submitted images of drug use

The gun store in Wilmington, Delaware where Hunter Biden purchased a gun in 2018

It marked the first time a sitting U.S. Presidents child has been found guilty of a federal crime.

Hunter could now face up to a maximum of 25 years in jail.

In a statement Joe Biden said: 'I am the President, but I am also a Dad. So many families who have had loved ones battle addiction understand the feeling of pride seeing someone you love come out the other side and be so strong and resilient in recovery.

'I will accept the outcome of this case and will continue to respect the judicial process as Hunter considers an appeal.'
A private jet that vanished in 1971 with five passengers onboard was miraculously found by an expert during a recent recovery mission.

On January 27, 1971, a jet took off on a snowy and cold night from the Burlington International Airport to Providence, Rhode Island. The plane was carrying two crew members and three employees from Cousin's Properties, an Atlanta-based development company.

The flight vanished and George Nikita, Donald Myers, Frank Wilder, Richard Kirby Windsor, and Robert Ransom Williams III were never found, despite multiple searches conducted over the last five decades.

Garry Kozak of Goffstown, New Hampshire, has found what he believes is the 10-seat Jet Commander aircraft, at the bottom of Lake Champlain, off Juniper Island.

'You can't find peace until you find all the pieces, and today's the day. Today's the day. And it's done,' Kristina Coffey, the daughter of George, the pilot of plane, told NBC5 News.

On January 27, 1971, a jet took off from the Burlington International Airport to Providence, Rhode Island, but appeared to have crashed in Lake Champlain. Pieces of the aircraft were found over Memorial Day weekend. (pictured: An undated photo of the plane)

The flight vanished and (from left to right) George Nikita, Donald Myers, Frank Wilder, Richard Kirby Windsor, and Robert Ransom Williams III were never found

Kozak located the wreckage over Memorial Day weekend, but news of its discovery was withheld until the victims' families were informed.

Prior to the recent discovery, pieces of debris, including wreckage from the plane and an oxygen tank were found, but the entire aircraft was never located.

Kozak said that he spent years looking for odd shapes at the bottom of Lake Champlain and analyzing previous scans of the water.

'Searching for anything that's been lost underwater is always an interesting story,' Kozak said.

'And the other [factor], in this particular case, it's the families. You know, I had spoken to a couple of them back in 2014, and I knew that they really were hoping for the plane to be found.'

During a follow-up search in May, Kozak and his team used remote-operated vehicles and high-resolution imaging technology to find multiple pieces of debris that have never been located before.

The crew discovered a broken fuselage, or main body of an aircraft, in the depths of the water with matching paint to the plane that vanished all those years ago.

They also found an instrument panel, wing structure, apparent remains of an engine and other telling evidence.

Kozak told NBC 5 News that he is positive that he found the long-lost plane, as no other corporate jets were reported found at the bottom of the 490 square-mile lake.

'If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, and looks sort of like a duck, it's probably a duck,' he said.

He credited the team that helped him make the discovery- Hans Hug, of Sonar Search and Recovery in Exeter, Hug's colleague Bruce Stebbins and Tim McDonald of Marine Solutions.

After they located the missing plane, Kozak provided all their findings to the National Transportation Safety Board and authorities for confirmation.

Although the team cracked the cold case, Kozak said that they wouldn't have been able to do so if others hadn't made breakthroughs over the years.

'There were a lot of people that contributed something that made this happen,' he said. 'And if any one of them didn't contribute, this never would have happened.'

The exact location of the downed plane will remain confidential in order to protect and respect the site, NBC 5 News reported.

Other family member's of the passengers who have been presumed dead all these years felt a great deal of closure and pain from the recent update.

The crew discovered a broken fuselage, or main body of an aircraft, in the depths of the water with matching paint (pictured) to the plane that vanished all those years ago

Frank Wilder's son, also Frank Wilder, said that he was overcome with many emotions.

'I'm feeling a mix of shock and disbelief at this time. I never thought this day would happen,' Wilder said.

'I'm so relieved that they did find it,' he added.

George's daughter said that she is also relieved that the aircraft was located.

'I'm just glad it's here in my lifetime, and I'm glad my mom's still alive,' Coffey said.

'I cried because, you know, we've had a lot of false alarms. Something that looks like a plane that's not a plane. And it's it.'

Barbara Nikita, the niece and goddaughter of George has a similar reaction to the major update in the case.

'It's a very odd feeling,' she said. 'When I look at the photos, I go between shock and awe and sick to my stomach. It is closure. It will be closure. This will be their resting place.'

After they located the missing plane, Kozak provided all their findings to the National Transportation Safety Board and authorities for conformation

Like Kozak, both Nikita and Coffey are extremely grateful to the state police, environmental, conservation teams, non-profits, historians, and everyone else who has been involved in the decades-long search.

It is unclear what will happen to the sunken plane, as an expert close to the investigation told NBC 5 News that extracting the aircraft would take a lot of time, patience and money to complete.

The families plan to wait and see what the next steps will be now that they have gotten some sense of closure.
Pro-Palestine supporters were filmed chanting intimidating slogans about Israel supporters on a New York subway car.

The activists could be heard shouting, 'Raise you're hands if you're a Zionist, this is your chance to get out'.

Video shows the slogan being yelled inside the packed subway car by a man, with the crowd shouting his words back.

After there is no response the man shouts, 'Okay, no Zionists here we're good', as a woman adds, 'We don't want no Zionists here', prompting a brief applause.

Zionism is the movement that helped establish the Jewish nation of Israel and which now calls for the country's support and protection.

Elsewhere in the Big Apple, demonstrators were seen unfurling a banner that reads, 'Long Live October 7' in the latest alarming incident of anti-Semitism since the Hamas attack.

Pro-Palestine supporters were filmed chanting intimidating slogans about Zionists in New York Tuesday. The activists could be heard shouting, 'Raise you're hands if you're a Zionist, this is your chance to get out'. The slogan was yelled by a man, as the crowd shouted his words back

The sign was held up during citywide demonstrations, which saw protesters clash with police after hopping turnstiles.

Six people were issued summonses as the crowds moved across the city, ending up outside The Nova Music Festival Exhibition on Wall Street.

The group Within Our Lifetime planned a 'Citywide Day of Rage for Gaza' designed to target museums.

Following Monday's protest, the exhibit announced it would remain open until June 22 despite being due to end on Sunday.

The exhibit memorializes the 364 people killed during the attack on the eponymous festival on October 7.

One of the show's organizers producer Scooter Braun condemned the protesters' actions.

'I don't understand why protesting a memorial for innocent music lovers who were raped and butchered and kidnapped helps,' he said in an Instagram Story.

'Go see the Nova Exhibition and see the truth instead of standing outside listening to yourself.'

Elsewhere in the Big Apple on Monday, demonstrators were seen unfurling a banner that reads, 'Long Live October 7' - another alarming incident of anti-Semitism since the Hamas attack

The sign was held up during citywide demonstrations, which saw protesters clash with police after hopping turnstiles. Six people were issued summonses as the crowds moved across the city, ending up outside The Nova Music Festival Exhibition on Wall Street

The demonstration came days after pro-Palestine activists surrounded the White House and let off flares and smoke bombs.

Thousands of protesters descended on Washington for the rally, which saw supporters bussed across state lines.

Meanwhile, the families of hostages still being held in Gaza recently met with US officials, including national security adviser Jake Sullivan and Attorney General Merrick Garland, whose Justice Department is investigating the deaths and kidnapping of Americans at the hands of Hamas.

The meetings came at a sensitive time as the Biden administration endeavors to get Israel and Hamas to commit to a cease-fire deal to end the eight-month-old war, which has seen more than 36,000 Palestinian's killed in strikes by Israel.
Voters in Nevada are heading to the polls on Tuesday to cast ballots in a series of primaries including the Nevada Republican Senate primary. Whoever wins the race will take on vulnerable Democratic Senator Jacky Rosen come November.

Republican Sam Brown has been leading in the polls but his opponent Jeff Gunter has run as a '110 percent pro-Trump' candidate.

Gunter served in the Trump administration as the ex-president's ambassador to Iceland from July 2019 through the end of Trump's four years in the White House. But his record has hampered his political campaign.

Late Sunday, Trump came out and endorsed his Republican opponent Sam Brown just days before the election.

'You know the swamp is deep and even President Trump needs help from all of us in the America first policies and those of us who love America,' Gunter told DailyMail.com after voting in the primary in Las Vegas on Tuesday.

'I'm still 110% pro-Trump,' Gunter said.

Dr. Jeff Gunter (center) showing up to vote on Tuesday in Las Vegas. He's running against Sam Brown in the Nevada Senate primary

Both Gunter and Brown showed up for Trump's rally in Las Vegas on Sunday. Trump mentioned Brown briefly during his speech but stopped short of endorsing him from the podium.

But in a Truth Social post on Sunday night, after thousands had already cast ballots early in the primary, Trump did make an endorsement.

Trump called Brown a 'FEARLESS AMERICAN PATRIOT' and noted he is the recipient of a Purple Heart.

Brown was badly burned after his vehicle went over a roadside bomb while he was serving in Afghanistan in 2008.

Trump said Brown will 'fight tirelessly' for priorities such as border security and the economy.

Sam Brown is the leading candidate in the Republican Nevada Senate primary. He received an endorsement from Donald Trump late Sunday night on Truth Social

Voters were casting ballots Tuesday in the Nevada Senate primary. Whoever wins the GOP primary on Tuesday will take on Senator Jacky Rosen in November in what is expected to be one of the closest Senate races

A Gunter supporter holding a sign outside a polling location on Tuesday in Las Vegas

Brown was polling ahead in the primary ahead of the endorsement but it's expected to give him a final surge of momentum heading into Tuesday.

Gunter told DailyMail.com that he understands the pressure Trump is under.

'I think the important thing is for all of us to get up and fight and not back down,' Gunter said.

Gunter slammed more establishment Republicans in Washington. He argued the 'DC elites are really panicking what's going on right now.'

A cutout of Trump and Gunter greeted voters going to cast their ballots on Tuesday in Las Vegas. Gunter ran as a '110% pro-Trump' candidate in the race

Dr. Jeff Gunter and his wife with former President Donald Trump. Gunter served as Ambassador to Iceland in the Trump administration

He pointed out that the balance of power in the Senate is on the line in November and argued America First supporters are excited and coming out.

'Most importantly it has to do with President Trump, having those individuals that have his back, that are supporter, or whether you want another Mitch McConnell Republican in there,' Gunter said.

When asked who he would support as Republican Senate leader if elected, Gunter kept his cards close to his chest.
AOC took to X to denounce the 'dehumanization' and 'targeting of Jews'

Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has finally spoken out to condemn anti-Semitism after an anti-Israel protest descended into chaos outside of a New York exhibit honoring the victims of the Israeli music festival terror attack on October 7.

The Congresswoman took to X to denounce the 'dehumanization' and 'targeting of Jews' that took place on Wall Street Monday night when a mob of pro-Palestine supporters made its way to the Nova Music Festival Exhibition.

'The callousness, dehumanization, and targeting of Jews on display at last night's protest outside the Nova Festival exhibit was atrocious antiSemitism - plain and simple,' Ocasio-Cortez wrote in a post on Tuesday.

Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez finally condemned anti-Semitism after an anti-Israel protest descended into chaos outside of a New York memorial honoring victims of the October 7 attack

An anti-Israel demonstration descended into chaos on Monday after the massive crowd of protesters made their way to the to the Nova Music Festival Exhibition on Wall Street

'AntiSemitism has no place in our city nor any broader movement that centers human dignity and liberation,' she added.

The public statement comes after AOC, a staunch pro-Palestine activist, had remained notably silent on the surge of anti-Semitism occurring at colleges and public places across the country in the wake of the Hamas terror attack.

Chaos erupted again on Monday after a pro-Palestine demonstration that had begun in Manhattan's Union Square ended up outside the exhibit downtown.

Footage of the event showed disorderly scenes, with flares and smoke billowing from crowd of demonstrators carrying anti-Israel signs and chanting 'long live the intifada'.

The Nova Music Festival exhibition, which began in Tel Aviv to pay tribute to the 364 lives lost in the terror attack, launched in New York as a four-week-long presentation in April.

Hollywood music executive Scooter Braun, who is Jewish, is among the festival founders' US partners who had heavily promoted the installation in New York City.

The Congresswoman took to X to denounce the 'dehumanization' and 'targeting of Jews' after failing to speak out against anti-Semitism in the wake of the attacks

Pro-Palestinian protesters are seen stopping at the Nova Festival Exhibit on Wall Street on Monday

Scooter Braun was quick to condemn the massive crowd of protesters who gathered outside the memorial just days before it was scheduled to close, and announced the exhibition will be extended to June 22nd as a result

The Hollywood music executive, who is Jewish, is among the festival founder's US partners who had heavily promoted the installation in New York City

Braun was quick to condemn the massive crowd of protesters who had gathered outside the memorial just days before it was scheduled to close - and later announced the exhibition will be extended to June 22nd as a result.

'Due to the overwhelming demand and excitement around the @novaexhibition today...we have decided to extend one more week in nyc until the 22nd now just to make sure everyone has a chance to visit and see for themselves...and for those who chose to protest against innocent music lovers who were murdered,' Braun wrote in an Instagram post.

AOC has been an outspoken pro-Palestine activists and had thrown her support behind the controversial anti-Israel demonstrators that had wreaked havoc on Columbia University's campus in April.

In November, the New York Democrat was among those who voted against a resolution to condemn growing anti-Semitism and support for Iran-backed terror group Hamas on college campuses.

Still the resolution passed overwhelmingly, with 213 Republican votes and 183 Democrats.

The resolution calls out college leaders for not speaking out in support of Jewish and pro-Israel students. It urges them to condemn anti-Semitism and ensure those students have a right to free speech on campus.
The internet has been divided after a Virginia woman broke down in tears while reading a letter that was allegedly sent by the man who murdered her parents.

Ariel Jones, 28, read the words aloud to her followers on TikTok, claiming that she had received them from the person who made her an orphan at just four months old.

She uploaded the video with the caption: 'My parents' murderer wrote me back. I've been waiting almost 30 years for this moment!'

Although she did not reveal the name of the suspected writer, a news report by WDBJ-7 in 1995 revealed that Raleigh Dean Martin murdered Joseph Siffert Jr and his girlfriend Barbara Hackney - who Ariel says were her parents.

A Virginia woman named Ariel Jones read a letter sent to her from a man she claimed murdered her parents, Joseph Siffert Jr and his girlfriend Barbara Hackney in 1995

This girl just got a letter from the man who murdered her parents in the 90s. The guy was family thru marriage. pic.twitter.com/4FvCeZaMpd  Jelly Santos (@MrsJellySantos) June 7, 2024

According to the decades-old news story, Martin shot his wife Marion before gunning down Siffert Jr and Hackney inside their own home.

The news report also said that Siffert Jr and Hackney's 'infant daughter was found in the residence unharmed,' whom Ariel claims to be.

According to death records online, the tragic ordeal took place on November 7, 1995.

Public records show that Martin, now 64, is still serving a life sentence in Nottoway Correctional Center, Virginia.

Ariel showed her followers an image of her mother and father from happier days - naming them as Joseph and Barbara.

An X user who re-shared Jones' video on June 7 also added another clip on their thread, showing the 28-year-old explaining the tragic events that took place.

In the video, Ariel claimed: 'He shot my father four times - the first shot was a kill shot into his lungs. He shot my mother five times - the first shot went to her heart.'

Martin pled guilty to capital murder for killing Siffert Jr and Hackney in February 1996 and was sentenced to life, according to an archived WDBJ 7 report.

Jones hinted that she was preparing to write a letter to Martin in her video after she explained the tragic events that led to the death of her parents.

As soon as she got the letter, she gave a small smile and proceeded to open the letter and read what it said.

Jones, who claimed to be the murder victims' daughter in multiple TikToks, explained the story of her parents murder in a separate video

Martin wrote in the alleged letter that it was 'really good' to hear from her and that he hopes she and her family are doing good.

'Thank you for the opportunity to write. I've been praying that somehow God would comfort you in a way that only he could do,' he wrote.

'I want you to know that I care about you and willing to help you any way that I can.'

Jones read that Dean had wanted to write, but he wanted her to 'break the ice' as he did not want to offend her.

He also congratulated her on making it through open heart surgery, her education, and raising two daughters.

'I would like to write some back and forth and I can call you if you'd like,' he wrote.

He concluded by writing: 'I'm glad you wrote. I have nothing but good intent. Please take care, Dean.'

Jones had a small smile after she read the letter, but she couldn't help but cry shortly afterward.

Raleigh Dean Martin pled guilty to the murders and was sentenced to life in prison where he continues to reside today in Virginia

X users are divided by her reaction, including the original poster, who was 'confused' by Jones' joy.

'She is acting like her favorite pop start contact her... I'm confused,' an X user tweeted on June 7.

One person accused this action of being 'a weird fetish' and another noted that they 'didn't hear the apology.'

'Trauma bond. She had not healed from that tragic past and is trying to get solace somehow,' a X user tweeted on June 8.

'It is strange. But, this is how she is choosing to process the unimaginable,' another X user wrote.

'I just hope for her sake that it doesnt negatively affect her relationship with the rest of her family.'
In a General Election campaign with all the twists, turns and excitement of a Netflix drama, nothing should surprise us.

Yet, even in these turbulent and unpredictable times, the announcement by Douglas Ross that he is to stand down as leader of the Scottish Conservatives came as a bolt from the blue.

Mr Ross had been on something of a political high. His pursuit of the incompetent Humza Yousaf, which led to his resignation as First Minister, marked Mr Ross out as a shrewd and necessarily ruthless political operator.

Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross announced earlier this week that he will step down from the role following the General Election

But, after angering colleagues with his decision to stand for the Westminster seat of Aberdeenshire North and Moray East when the party blocked candidate David Duguid on health grounds, Mr Ross has clearly decided he can do without the infighting and anonymous critical briefing that have dogged him throughout his time as leader.

Success

But if any of his critics think they can make a better fist of leading the Scottish Tories than Mr Ross, theyre in for a rude awakening.

It could be said the Scottish Tories have become victims of their own success.

In the aftermath of the 2014 referendum campaign, when Scottish Labour panicked about the loss of support to the SNP and tried  entirely unsuccessfully  to appeal to both Unionist and Nationalists alike, it was the Conservatives that stepped up to defend the pro-UK position.

By sticking firmly to a no to Indyref2 message, the party once considered almost extinct was reborn under the leadership of Ruth  now Baroness  Davidson.

Ross continued with that strategy and, at the 2021 Holyrood election, secured his partys position as the second largest  and main opposition  at Holyrood.

That opposition to a second referendum kept the SNPs plans at bay and Rosss recent role in bringing down Mr Yousaf proved a devastating blow to both the SNP and the wider independence movement.

Having played a role in ending the immediate threat of another referendum, what is the Scottish Tories USP?

Well, the party distinguished itself to many with its position on reform of the Gender Recognition Act.

While the Scottish Government and the other opposition parties ignored the entirely legitimate concerns of feminists, medical experts, lawyers and a majority of Scots about making it possible for people to self-ID into the legally recognised sex of their choosing, it was the Tories  with a few notable others elsewhere in Holyrood  who stepped up and tried to inject some common sense into proceedings.

That issue is one, at least, where the Scottish Conservatives and the majority of Scottish people are in step.

So, who will be the next leader of the Scottish Conservative Party? Potential candidates are remaining tight-lipped, for now.

People are pretty bloody angry that Douglas announced his resignation in the middle of the General Election campaign, says one Tory MSP.

So nobodys going to say a word about whether they want the job until the votes are counted. Weve got distraction enough already without people running leadership campaigns when were supposed to be focused on keeping seats.

Potential successors include deputy leader Meghan Gallacher, justice spokesman Russell Findlay, former deputy leader Murdo Fraser and party chairman Craig Hoy.

Of those, Mr Findlay might be the most interesting choice. A former investigative journalist whose work exposing organised crime led to him suffering an acid attack on his doorstep, he is a strong communicator and confident debater.

Mr Findlay has also shown a sharp mind during his time as deputy convener of the criminal justice committee.

But a good instinct for where the public is on law and order will not suffice for any new Tory leader.

While the UK Tory party has lurched right, chasing votes lost to Nigel Farages Reform, the Scottish party has remained steadfastly in the centre ground.

It was often the case that when Mr Ross was taunted at Holyrood about the actions of a Conservative prime minister, he privately agreed with the criticism.

The next leader must guard against any pressure to move from that centre ground.

If the partys ever to play any part in government in Scotland, even in a confidence and supply agreement, we cant shift an inch from the centre, says one Conservative MSP.

Battered

The next leader has to maintain a decent distance between us and the party in England. That should be easier after the election, assuming we lose.

At least the next Scottish leader isnt going to be battered about the head with every unpopular thing a Tory Prime Ministers done.

Mr Rosss successor could do worse than look back to the days of Annabel Goldie when it comes to policy.

Ms Goldie  who led the party from 2005 to 2011 and now sits in the House of Lords  is a rather old-fashioned one-nation Tory, cautious when it comes to public finances but supportive of their direction towards tackling problems facing the most vulnerable.

When the SNP announced its free prescriptions policy (in fact, the extension of an existing prescriptions policy to include the better off) Ms Goldie was an opponent.

She was caricatured as cruel and uncaring. After all, who but a big bad Tory could possibly oppose such a wonderful policy from such a munificent government?

The truth is that Ms Goldie was more thoughtful on the issue than any of her opponents. She opposed the prescriptions policy  then costed at around 50million a year  not because she wished to cut NHS funding but because she believed it would not materially improve the lives of the poorest.

Addiction

Perhaps, she suggested, that money might be directed towards other areas of importance, not least tackling drug addiction.

You could argue that when it came to this policy, Ms Goldie had a more progressive view than any of her Left-wing opponents.

If the Scottish Tories are to survive then a compassionate, centre-Right position is the only one to adopt.

It is possible that the Scottish Tories might not exist for much longer.

Some want to see Murdo Fraser stand and for him to resurrect his plan  ridiculed during his losing leadership campaign against Ruth Davidson in 2011  to cut ties with the UK party and rebrand, creating a new centre-Right party in Scotland.

Back then, says one MSP, the mood wasnt right. David Cameron was in Downing Street so the party was on the centre ground and there was a referendum on the horizon. Neither of these things is now true. Maybe the times come for Murdos idea.

Whoever becomes the next Scottish Tory leader, one things for sure: Douglas Ross achieved more during his time in charge than his critics acknowledge.
The SNP has been accused of failing to get a grip of the drug deaths crisis after the number of fatalities soared by 10 per cent.

A total of 1,219 deaths  an average of more than three a day  were believed to be drug-related in the 12-month period to March, which is 114 more than the previous year.

The data, based on Police Scotland reports from officers attending scenes of deaths, estimated there were 320 suspected deaths in the first three months of the year  23 more than in the October to December quarter. Men accounted for 73 per cent of the suspected first quarter drug deaths  up from 67 per cent from last year.

The figures were last night seen as a further indictment of the SNPs failed national mission to tackle Europes highest drug death toll.

More than 1,200 deaths in Scotland in the 12 months up to March this year were linked to drugs

Tory MSP Sue Webber said: On the SNPs watch, drug deaths have become Scotlands national shame with successive nationalist First Ministers failing to get a grip of this crisis.

We already have the worst drug death rate in Europe and now the number of deaths appears to be rising again.

The new figures come as health chiefs work at pace to launch the first heroin shooting gallery in the UK in Glasgow  at a cost of more than 2million a year.

Addicts will be able to inject in a hygienic environment, free from the threat of prosecution.

Scottish Labour health spokesman Dame Jackie Baillie said: Despite years of promises, the SNP has utterly failed to get to grips with this crisis  shockingly, the data shows that the number of people losing their lives to drugs is rising.

The SNP government must stop the cuts to life-saving drug and alcohol services, urgently address its complete failure to provide enough residential rehab beds, and deliver drug-checking facilities and the pilot, safer, drug consumption room in Glasgow without any further delay.

Drugs and alcohol policy minister Christina McKelvie said: This is a serious issue and the Scottish Government is taking a wide range of measures to tackle drugs-related deaths with our 250million national mission on drugs  weve also backed more than 300 grassroots projects.

We are continuing to expand residential rehabilitation capacity and are committed to delivering a 2.3million a year, safer drug consumption facility pilot, which Glasgow Health and Social Care Partnership is working at pace to establish.

But Annemarie Ward, of human rights advocacy service FAVOR UK, told Ms McKelvie in a tweet: We need policies that go beyond platitudes and token gestures. We need sustained investment in services that offer a spectrum of care, from prevention, dissuasion and early intervention to long-term recovery support.

The current landscape in Scotland, where harm reduction policies have dominated for the past 30 years, has led to the marginalisation of recovery efforts.

And Dr Neil McKeganey, director of the Centre for Substance Use Research, said: The need now, as it has been for the last decade, is to prioritise abstinence-oriented recovery.

The Scottish Government has failed to grow residential rehabilitation services  whilst sticking obsessively with a failing methadone programme operating under the guise of so-called harm reduction.
Experts have shared the key things you should say and do for a loved one on their death bed - and why you should keep talking to them after they die.

Hospice nurses who have seen countless people pass away have recommended keeping your last words simple and not being afraid to display emotion.

They also advise taking your time to say final goodbyes, being emotionally present and making the room as comfortable as possible for your loved one.

'When you're educated about what will happen, that cuts your fears in half,' says Narinder Bazen, a death midwife in Bangor, Maine, told the Wall Street Journal.

Her first recommendation was to make your loved one's surroundings peaceful.

Experts have shared the key things you should say and do for a loved one on their death bed - and why you should keep talking to them after they die

'When we create this feeling around the person that fosters deep, deep relaxation, we allow them to let go,' Bazen told the WSJ.

She added that you should take your time to say goodbye because it will only happen once.

'There is an invitation to experience awe when a loved one dies,' Bazen said.

Hadley Vlahos, a hospice nurse in Biloxi, Mississippi, who has penned a book about the last chapter of life, gave some simple recommendations about what to say.

'You want them to hear what is important,' Vlahos told the WSJ.

'Say: "I love you." "Thank you." "I'll be OK." If you have amends to make, "I'm sorry" or "I forgive you" will do.'

An author of six books about the last chapter of life has also revealed why you should keep talking to your loved one in the moments after they die

Bob Uslander, a palliative and end-of-life care physician in San Diego, California, said if you don't know what to say, touch alone is sometimes enough.

'Sometimes the best thing you can do is to sit quietly holding a person's hand and letting them feel your unwavering, loving presence,' Uslander told the WSJ.

Grief expert David Kessler, who has written six books about the end of life, has recommended keeping talking even after the person dies, because hearing is believed to be one of the last senses to lose function.

Once the person has passed, for your own peace of mind you should consider leaving the room before the hospice staff remove the body.
Well, well, well  how the tables have turned.

Hunter Biden's swift conviction on three felony gun charges, in the Biden family's home state of Delaware, changes everything.

No longer can the Dems, and their enablers in the left-wing media, shout 'convicted felon' at Trump without suffering serious blowback.

The party line from President Biden, no doubt, will be that he is not a convicted felon  only his son.

Really, Joe's 'only living son', as CNN and MSNBC immediately began repeating moments after the verdict.

Wonder where they got that talking point from?

Hunter Biden 's swift conviction on three felony gun charges , in the Biden family's home state of Delaware, changes everything.

No longer can the Dems, and their enablers in the left-wing media, shout 'convicted felon' at Trump without suffering serious blowback.

Also: sad as that may be, how is it legally relevant? Is the White House already attempting to meddle in Hunter's sentencing, trying to knock down the 25 years in prison he's facing?

Doddering Joe Biden, hours after Hunter was found guilty of lying on a federal form about his active drug addiction to illegally obtain a firearm, spoke  actually, slurred and stammered  at a gun control summit, demanding sensible reforms.

But Hunter did nothing wrong! Just look at First Lady Jill  excuse me, Dr. Jill  showing up in court every day! Flying at taxpayer expense, from Paris to Delaware to Paris again, surely not to intimidate the jury but just show support, her gold-plated 'MAMA' necklace in full view?

MAMA, MAGA  potato, pot-ah-to.

This, after propping up her unsteady husband at last week's D-Day ceremonies in Normandy. After leaving Joe alone, on Monday night, at the White House's Juneteenth celebrations, where he froze for a solid minute, eyes vacant and mouth open, seeming not to know where he was or what was happening.

It's obvious that Joe Biden is in serious decline. More than 45 insiders, Democrats and Republicans both, told the Wall Street Journal, in a damning expose published last week, that Biden  who recently claimed to have spoken with dead world leaders  is clearly decompensating.

But sure  Hunter's trial was a witch hunt to stop the vibrant, strong, and morally superior Biden from getting a second term, Lady Jill Macbeth a stalwart matriarch.

Does anyone in this administration have a sense of optics? Tone? Reality?

Then again, we're talking about House Biden, perhaps the most dysfunctional family ever to inhabit the White House.

Yet all we're going to hear from the mainstream media, now until election day, is: Poor Joe. Poor Hunter. Haven't they suffered enough?

Doddering Joe Biden, hours after Hunter was found guilty of lying on a federal form about his active drug addiction to illegally obtain a firearm, spoke - actually, slurred and stammered - at a gun control summit, demanding sensible reforms (pictured Monday night).

'This is an addict who's admitted his addiction in the most painful of ways,' former Democratic senator Claire McCaskill said on MSNBC.

So what? He's also admitted it in the most profitable of ways, getting a reported $2 million advance for 'Beautiful Things', his flop of a memoir. Parts of the audiobook which, like an idiot, he narrated himself, were played in court.

How did he not see this day coming? How did he not decline to narrate his own addictions and deplorable behaviors, knowing they might be used against him in a trial?

Yet Hunter  'the smartest guy I know,' per Joe  needs America's pity, sympathy, and constant passes for degenerate and criminal behavior.

How's that for white privilege?

Hunter Biden is a 54-year-old man who allowed his 30-year-old daughter Naomi to testify  weeping on the stand, revisiting texts from her drug-addled father hitting her up for favors at two in the morning  rather than be a true, caring parent and admit his guilt.

Recovered addicts don't throw other people under the bus. They don't continue to evade responsibility. They don't make excuses and they don't cause more harm to those they purport to love.

'I can't take this,' one message from Naomi read. 'I just miss you so much and want to hang out with you.'

All we're going to hear from the mainstream media, now until election day, is: Poor Joe. Poor Hunter. Haven't they suffered enough? (Pictured: An image from Hunter's laptop shows the president's son naked and holding a handgun.)

Aside from the gun, there was its illegal disposal by his sister-in-law Hallie Biden, who he began a sexual relationship with after his brother Beau's death.

Hallie testified that Hunter got her hooked on crack.

'I'm embarrassed and I'm ashamed, and I regret that part of my life,' Hallie said.

Hunter was also simultaneously involved with Hallie's married sister, Elizabeth Secundy, writing to her on Sept. 8, 2016: 'We should shower together by FT [FaceTime] every morning or night when we're up at 3 I'll teach you how to masturbate.'

Shades of Ashley's Biden's diary, confirmed by her as authentic in court filings weeks ago:

'Was I molested. I think so,' as well as an entry about 'showers w/ my dad (probably not appropriate)'.

What is it with this family and showers?

But Joe Biden is, per his liberal media lackeys, the only guy who can beat Trump: a bastion of family unity, decency, and a warrior against corruption.

And hey  if the media must almost entirely ignore every one of this family's glaring depravities to get him elected, just as they disavowed Hunter's laptop, so be it.

The swift verdict in both the Trump case and the Hunter trial are a flashing red light: the entire electorate, no matter their political affiliation, is sick of both sides.

The jurors go as America goes, refusing to give up yet one more day of summer for this utter garbage.

We're all disgusted and disappointed with our choices  but of the two men running, Joe Biden, that 'elderly man with a poor memory', is now more compromised than Trump.

The average man on the street could tell you exactly why Hunter Biden was found guilty. Could the same be said of Trump?

Here's the thing with Hunter's case: All roads lead back to President Biden.

A photo of the former vice-president's son apparently asleep is among the pictures Giuliani released. It shows him with a pipe of the type used to smoke crack or marijuana in his mouth.

Hunter's laptop is brimming with evidence of apparent criminal activity by him and his associates including drug trafficking and prostitution. This photo of him grabbing a woman's hair was recovered from his laptop

Not that you'd know it from the knee-jerk liberal reaction to the guilty verdict. Here was Chuck Todd on MSNBC, defending our most decent and unbiased president: 'Joe Biden,' Todd said, 'had the power to stop this if he chose to.'

Hey, Chuck  it's not as though he didn't try.

It was Biden's Department of Justice, according to two IRS whistleblowers, that interfered with the investigation into Hunter's criminality.

It was the Secret Service who were forced to deny that agents attempted to recover Hunter's incriminating paperwork from the gun store  despite the store owner saying they did.

And, last year, it was Biden's DOJ that negotiated that ridiculous sweetheart plea deal for Hunter, who was pocketing millions from foreign countries, buying a gun, and failing to pay taxes, all while in the throes of an active drug addiction  and that's Hunter's own timeline, per his own memoir, which was also entered into evidence.

That's the smartest guy Joe knows! God help us all.

Does the smartest guy you know often reference his own father, then the sitting vice president, as the possible recipient of foreign money? All while Biden's boss, Barack Obama, had two of his own officials warn Joe about Hunter taking money from Ukraine's Burisma?

Unless Hunter's main goal here, consciously or not, is to punish his father and torpedo his election chances  well, I wouldn't call Hunter smart.

In April 2021, while promoting his memoir, Hunter joked with Jimmy Kimmel about still doubting the laptop  containing images of Hunter himself smoking crack, engaging in threesomes, and holding a gun against his naked thigh  was real.

'I really don't know,' Hunter told Kimmel. 'And the fact of the matter is, it's a red herring.'

A red herring!!!!

Anyone recall '10 held by H for the big guy' on Hunter's laptop?

Or the WhatsApp message Hunter wrote to a Chinese CEO on July 30, 2017, that read, 'I am sitting here with my father and we would like to understand why the commitment has not been fulfilled,' followed by $5.1 million wired into Hunter's bank account days later?

Or the 51 former US intelligence agents who, in a signed open letter, stated that Hunter Biden's laptop was part of a 'Russian disinformation' plot to sway the 2020 presidential election?

Joe and Hunter Biden never pushed back against that. They allowed the liberal media to parrot this lie promiscuously.

In an interview with Donald Trump just weeks before that election, Lesley Stahl of '60 Minutes' repeatedly told Trump that Hunter's laptop was a fake, and even if it wasn't  who cared?

Stahl: 'This is the most important issue in the country right now?'

Trump: 'It's a very important issue to find out whether a man's corrupt who's running for president, who's accepted money from China, and Ukraine, and from Russia [] I think it's one of the biggest scandals I've ever seen, and you don't cover it.'

Stahl: 'Well, because it can't be verified. I'm telling you.'

This is exactly what most Americans are sick to death of: The liberal elite telling you.

Just as they're telling us Biden is completely compos mentis, that, per Rachel Maddow, 'he rides a bike', and that slurring, patently demented Joe Biden is America's best shot at saving democracy.

The Hunter verdict may be more consequential than it seems at first glance. His conviction, and his forthcoming trial on federal tax charges, may be the final blow for Joe. It may be the emotional hit from which he cannot recover.
Texas-based rapper Enchanting has died after an overdose reportedly left her in an intensive care unit.

The star, whose real name is Channing Nicole Larry, 26, was signed to Gucci Mane's 1017 label as recently until earlier this year.

'She came to my house the last four days to get clean. She tried her best and I did everything I could to help her, she tried,' a representative from her management team told The Shade Room, who confirmed her death on Tuesday evening.

Larry's boyfriend, MotionGod Bandman, posted a photo of the couple on Facebook while she was still fighting for her life, with the caption: 'You finally found that peace that you was looking for you. Y'all hurt me bad.'

Channing Nicole Larry, 26, aka Enchanting, is in intensive care in Texas, her sister said in a Facebook post

The star was signed to Gucci Mane's 1017 label as recently until earlier this year

Larry's profile remains active on 1017's website. The bio says that Larry began in music after graduating high school.

The rapper is quoted on the website as describing her style as 'Trap-n-Blues.'

'Other people can relate to the things I say. I might help somebody through any situation, they can listen to me and find peace,' she said.

Larry's YouTube page has generated four million views in total, and she has around 660,000 monthly streams on Spotify.

In 2020, Larry appeared on the mixtape Gucci Mane Presents: So Icy Summer.

In addition to her music career, Larry is also a creator on OnlyFans where she boasts over 25,000 likes.

Larry explained in a 2021 interview that she was born as an Army brat in Germany then moved to Atlanta before the family settled in Fort Worth, where she considers home.

Channing Nicole Larry, 26, is pictured left in September 2020

A post from Larry's boyfriend on Tuesday morning

In 2023, Larry was profiled by the Dallas Observer. She told the website about her beginnings in music in the church choir and being a cheerleader in high school. After graduation, she worked doing hair and nails before going into hip-hop.

'I feel like music was always something that was easy for me. I felt like I was musically inclined, always. It was something that I thought should probably put more time and effort into, because it was natural, you know, instead of trying to force a talent,' she said.

At that time, Larry was working with producer J White who previously crafted hits for Cardi B, Megan Thee Stallion and Gucci Mane.

Larry also spoke of her love of the growing number of female artists in the realm of hip-hop.

'It's looking hopeful for more and more women to just continue to blow up. I feel like it was a male-dominated sport, but now it's becoming more feminine-dominated. I love that for the girls,' she said.
Last week I wrote about the millions of uncertain voters who would determine the outcome of this election, especially those who voted Conservative in 2019 but now say they havent yet made their minds up or might stay at home.

And theyre still there  only 44 per cent of all voters say theyve decided how to vote, according to my latest survey. But the past week has certainly given them a couple more things to think about.

First was the return of Nigel Farage to the political front line, propelling his Reform UK party to within touching distance of the Conservatives in some polls.

In my survey  which looks at voters who put their chances of voting for one party at 50 or more out of 100  we find Reform up to 15 per cent from last weeks 11 per cent, with the Conservatives down two points to 21 per cent while 43 per cent say they are most likely to vote Labour.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage pictured today on the General Election campaign trail in Cawthorne, South Yorkshire

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak pictured today at the Silverstone race track in Northamptonshire

Its not surprising that Farage has sent a jolt through the campaign. In an otherwise uninspiring election, many see Reform as a way of finally getting the attention they feel they have been denied.

Two thirds of the 2019 Tories say they like what he stands for and nearly half would like to see him in a senior position in government.

At this stage, most voters think he will fail in his ambition to take over the Conservatives  even if most of those currently leaning towards Farages party said they would be more likely to vote for the Tory Party in future elections if it became more like Reform in terms of the things it said and the policies it promised.

Undecided voters who had previously voted Conservative were more likely than not to agree.

More generally, many wary voters see him as a troublemaker with a talent for publicity and wonder what his party stands for other than controlling immigration.

The second thing was the D-Day debacle.

Rishi Sunak apologised for leaving the commemorations early and I dont doubt that he bitterly regrets the move.

He wont need reminding that, as well as being the wrong thing to do, the decision amounts to one of the great campaign blunders of all time.

For the people taking part in my focus groups since the weekend, the incident confirms their view of a leader who is not unpatriotic but does seem chronically out of touch with the country and its priorities.

Interestingly, however, the leadership ratings in my poll have barely twitched since last week. This doesnt mean that Fridays events were unimportant.

It is more ominous than that, suggesting that things were already so bad for Sunak that not even a blunder on this scale could make them worse.

Its not surprising that Farage has sent a jolt through the campaign

Rishi Sunak apologised for leaving the commemorations early and I dont doubt that he bitterly regrets the move

A kindly observer who has worked on election campaigns (if you can imagine such a creature) might say in Sunaks defence that, when things are going wrong, the extreme pressure can mean the protagonists no longer see the wood for the trees. Bad decisions ensue.

There is some truth to this, though it remains barely believable that no one sounded the alarm on the retreat from Normandy. But, after the election, it would be a mistake for the Conservatives to blame their six weeks of campaigning if, as seems now likely, they are defeated.

A well-organised campaign with the right message can make a difference, galvanising support and reinforcing doubts about opponents.

But when we ask former Tories why they have drifted away, seven in ten say the party is out of touch and hasnt delivered what it promised. A clear majority says it is untrustworthy and incompetent.

That cant be put right in 42 days  and whatever the merits of the policies in this weeks manifesto, they are unlikely to help if people dont believe the Tories mean them or could make them happen if they do.

Labour, meanwhile, has been trying to reassure voters that it can be trusted on its historical weaknesses including tax, immigration and law and order.

Rishi Sunak speaks at the Conservative Party's general election manifesto launch at Silverstone Circuit

People still have their doubts. I found only one in ten believing legal immigration would be lower after five years of Labour than it is now.

People are more likely to think taxes would rise under Labour than the Tories (though majorities think tax would rise under both).

Fewer than a third think Starmer would succeed in cutting NHS waiting times, his partys traditional territory.

Many voters now regard the prospect of a Labour government with a sort of weary inevitability.

The question is this: do former Tories who are not enamoured of Starmer or his party drag themselves to the polling station one more time to keep a Labour majority down and ensure a decent opposition? Or will they decide to withhold their support  or transfer it to someone else  to make sure the Tories get the point?

If anything, the reaction to the weeks events suggests they are becoming more determined to do the latter.
Nigel Farage's return to the political front line has given his party a four-point boost, according to the latest poll by Lord Ashcroft.

In worrying news for Rishi Sunak, Reform UK is narrowing the gap with the Conservatives, which has fallen from 23 per cent of the vote share last week to 21 per cent.

The resurgent Right-wing party is now just six points behind with 15 per cent  up from 11 per cent last week when Mr Farage suddenly announced he would stand as a candidate in Clacton, Essex, and that he would take over as Reform's leader.

The Labour Party, meanwhile, continues to have a clear lead, but has slumped four points to 43 per cent, the poll found.

When voters are asked who would make the best PM, Lord Ashcroft's research  shared exclusively with the Daily Mail  continues to put Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer well ahead of Mr Sunak. The Prime Minister is up one percentage point compared with last week, at 20 per cent  despite his D-Day blunder when he left the ceremonies in Normandy early  while the Labour leader is down one point on 37 per cent.

In worrying news for Rishi Sunak , Reform UK is narrowing the gap with the Conservatives , which has fallen from 23 per cent of the vote share last week to 21 per cent

But writing in today's paper, Lord Ashcroft suggests this indicates things were 'already so bad' for the PM that 'not even' that gaffe 'could make them worse'.

The polling, carried out between June 6-10 with a sample size of 4,975 people, found 47 per cent of those leaning towards Reform UK said they would be more likely to vote Tory at this election if the Conservatives became more like Mr Farage's party.

According to the poll, 45 per cent of people who voted Conservative at the last general election in 2019 said they 'liked a lot' of what Mr Farage stands for, while 83 per cent of Labour voters said that they 'don't like what he stands for'. Those leaning towards Reform also said the UK should leave the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR)  often blamed for hampering Parliament's attempts to tackle illegal immigration  by 78 per cent to 13 per cent.

When voters are asked who would make the best PM, Lord Ashcroft's research  shared exclusively with the Daily Mail  continues to put Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer well ahead of Mr Sunak

But overall, those surveyed supported remaining in the ECHR by 58 per cent to 27 per cent, with 16 per cent saying they did not know.

Almost two-thirds of voters (65 per cent) think taxes will increase under Labour, compared with 57 per cent under the Conservatives.

Many voters also expect both legal and illegal migration to increase under a Labour government, with 33 per cent saying legal migration will be higher than it is now, and 34 per cent for illegal.

But they trust Labour to keep NHS waiting lists either the same or lower them, with just 18 per cent expecting them to increase.

Sir Keir remains more trusted to run the economy than ex-chancellor Mr Sunak, but he has dropped a point compared with last week.

The resurgent Right-wing party is now just six points behind the Conservatives with 15 per cent  up from 11 per cent last week when Mr Farage suddenly announced he would stand as a candidate in Clacton, Essex, and that he would take over as Reform's leader

The poll was carried out after the first head-to-head TV debate last week, in which the Prime Minister repeatedly claimed that a Labour government would mean 2,000 of tax rises for every working household. Sir Keir later accused Mr Sunak of lying.

Lord Ashcroft writes that the return of Mr Farage  who originally said he would not be standing as a parliamentary candidate  has 'sent a jolt through the campaign'. He adds: 'Most of those currently leaning towards Reform said they would be more likely to vote Tory in future elections if it became more like Mr Farage's party in terms of the things it said and the policies it promised  previous Conservative voters were also more likely than not to agree.

'At the same time, wary voters see him as a troublemaker with a talent for publicity and wonder what his party stands for other than controlling immigration.

'But in an otherwise uninspiring election, many see Reform as a way of getting the attention they feel they have been denied.'
Australia's largest bank has sparked outrage among some customers after it reduced the amount of money they can deposit when using their mobile phone number.

Commonwealth Bank (CBA) has lowered the maximum amount customers could deposit into their accounts from $1,000 to $750 a day.

Customers can still use their card to deposit up to $10,000 a day.

A CBA spokesman said the move, which came into effect last week, was designed to better protect their customers from financial crime.

'As part of this, one cardless deposit of up to $750, per mobile phone number, can now be deposited each day using our Cardless Deposit function,' he told Yahoo.

Commonwealth Bank (CBA) has lowered the maximum amount customers could deposit into their accounts from $1,000 to $750 a day (pictured, people in Brisbane use ATMs)

A CBA spokesman said the move, which came into effect last week, was designed to better protect their customers from financial crime

'When using our deposit ATMs, CBA customers can use their CBA card to make deposits more than once per day, or for amounts over $750 in cash.'

However, the move has angered some pro-cash Australians who went as far to suggest customers change banks 'immediately'.

Another labelled CBA 'the worst bank ever'.

'Will be changing banks. I run all my businesses via Commonwealth,' one wrote.

'Sad to see the day people are trying to dictate the way you can use your own money you have earned.'

A second added: 'Perhaps they should reconsider calling themselves a bank...'

'Change banks immediately if this is unsuitable for you. Send a message to the banks about their behaviour,' a third wrote.

Daily Mail Australia contacted Commonwealth Bank for further comment.

In the last five years, CBA has closed 354 branches and 2,297 ATMS across the country but has paused the closure of regional branches until the end of 2026.

Last July, CBA sparked outrage after it opened a number of 'cashless' branches with customers no longer able to access their money over-the-counter.

Deposits and withdrawals can still be made via on-site ATMs but for those who don't have their bankcard handy will need to locate a branch that offers teller transaction.

'Cardless cash' withdrawals of up to $500 a day using the CommBank app are available, but for those who need more funds or don't have their phone with them, their money can't be accessed.

The specialist centre branches focus more on business customers and loan products and are located nearby to traditional branches.

A CBA spokesperson said the move was designed to better protect their customers from financial crime (pictured, a Commonwealth Bank in Sydney)

Bank-owned ATMs have dwindled from 13,814 in 2017 to just 5,693, according to figures from the financial watchdog the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority.

In the same space of time branches have declined from 5,694 to 3,588 despite banks such as CBA announcing bulging profits, including a half yearly report last week of $5billion, just down on its previous six-month record result.

Banks have repeatedly defended branch and ATM closures by pointing out that fewer of their customers are using those services.

By the end of 2022 cash only accounted for 13 per cent of Australian consumer payments compared to 70 per cent in 2007.
President Joe Biden immediately embraced his son Hunter as he stepped off of Marine One late Tuesday afternoon in the hours following his son's federal gun conviction.

After Hunter was found guilty on all three counts by a Delaware jury, the White House announced that the president's schedule had changed: He would be traveling to Wilmington.

As Biden touched down at Delaware Air National Guard, waiting for him on the tarmac were Hunter, his wife Melissa Cohen - who was at his side at the trial the whole time - and four-year-old baby Beau.

The president grabbed his son as reporters rushed over to capture the moment, emotionally hugging him and then tugging him back over, his arm hovering over Hunter's for around five seconds.

Biden embraced Melissa too and then moved on to his young grandson, crouching down to hug him, and then kissing the pre-schooler's blond head.

President Joe Biden embraces his son Hunter Biden on the tarmac of Delaware Air National Guard as he upended his schedule to fly to Wilmington after Hunter's guilty verdict

President Joe Biden gives a kiss to his grandson, baby Beau, the son of Hunter Biden (right) and his wife Melissa Cohen (left)

Neither the president nor the first son had anything to say to the press.

Biden jumped in his trademark SUV, while Hunter, Melissa and Beau walked across the tarmac to another vehicle on base.

The president returned to Wilmington on the heels of delivering a speech where he touted his own gun safety record.

Appearing before Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund's 'Gun Sense University,' the president talked about what he was doing to decrease gun violence - but failed to mention son Hunter's conviction on federal gun charges.

He referenced Hunter's late sister and brother, and his late first wife Neilia, as he spoke about how he knew what victims' families were going through because he experienced his own set of losses.

'I know it's hard because I've gotten those phone calls too saying I've lost a son, a daughter, a wife  I know what it's like,' the president said.

Biden issued a statement through the White House counsel's office once the verdict was announced applauding Hunter for surviving drug addiction.

President Joe Biden holds onto his son Hunter Biden who was convicted on federal drug charges in Wilmington, Delaware on Tuesday

President Joe Biden (center) lingered on the tarmac to speak with Melissa Cohen (left), baby Beau (center) and Hunter Biden (right) after Hunter's conviction

Hunter Biden (center) and Melissa Cohen (right) greet a White House aide as they walked to a separate vehicles with their son Beau (left)

'As I said last week, I am the President, but I am also a Dad,' the president reiterated. 'Jill and I love our son, and we are so proud of the man he is today.'

'So many families who have had loved ones battle addiction understand the feeling of pride seeing someone you love come out the other side and be so strong and resilient in recovery,' Biden continued.

'As I also said last week, I will accept the outcome of this case and will continue to respect the judicial process as Hunter considers an appeal,' the president added.

The president never attended the seven-day trial in person - though first lady Jill Biden did - flying back and forth from France to be in the courtroom.

Other Biden family members on hand included the president's brother and sister, first daughter Ashley Biden, Naomi Biden - who testified - and her husband Peter Neal.

Biden previously told ABC's David Muir that he would not pardon Hunter.

Hunter plans to appeal the conviction, though that would occur after sentencing - with a date generally set about 120 days after the trial - meaning the first son would be back in court just weeks before the November election.

The younger Biden has also been indicted on tax evasion charges in California and could face trial again in September.
Americans are continuing to rave over $3.99 mini tote bags from Trader Joe's, with some even willing to get physical with other shoppers.

The supermarket chain launched the Mini Insulated Tote across its stores on June 4 and the limited-time product flew off the shelves, immediately selling out in several stores in California.

In a video posted to TikTok, at least a dozen Trader Joe's customers crowded around a pallet filled with the sought-after magenta and teal tote bags.

In the midst of the bag-grabbing frenzy, an elderly woman was almost knocked off her feet by fellow shoppers.

People were seen leaving with multiple bags in both colors and in fewer than 20 seconds, every single bag was gone.

Customers are seen scrambling to get their hands on the highly sought-after bags, with most of them taking far more than one

In fewer than 20 seconds, every single bag was gone. Shoppers were admonished for their behavior

'Oh my god people, you got no manners,' the man recording the video said to the crowd.

One of the store employees also appeared to admonish some of the customers for their behavior. It's unclear which Trader Joe's location this happened at.

But a quick perusal of eBay reveals why people are more than eager to push through the competition and get their hands on these bags.

Among many listings selling the bags in pairs, some are asking for astronomical sums.

One person is asking for $149.99 for a set of three, two pink and one teal, which in store would have cost roughly $12 excluding tax.

So far, there has been no bites but at least five people have viewed the listing in the last 24 hours.

The store chain is selling mini insulated totes that come in magenta and teal. Consumers who purchased the bags are now reselling them on eBay for up to $150

This set of three bags, which would have costed just under $12 excluding tax is being sold for $149.99 on eBay

This isn't the first time Trader Joe's has struck gold, previously offering mini canvas tote bags that were also massively popular.

These canvas bags, which were sold for $2.99 in store, are now only available through scalpers who are charging as much as $750 for them.

They're specifically popular in Japan, as they've become the ultimate status symbol for 'Amerikajin' fashion, or America-core, BBC reported in March.

Trader Joe's plans to restock these canvas bags across their US locations by August or September.
A white 'trad-wife' influencer who was already under fire for using the 'n-word' in a video about relationships has sparked fresh criticism for hitting out at feminists, minorities and LGBTQ groups.

TikToker Lilly Gaddis claimed the minority groups should be 'grateful' to live in America and should stop playing the 'victim card' in a video posted to her now-deleted account.

'Something that's absolutely unforgiveable is people playing the victim card while living in America,' she said in her video rant, which was shared to X on Monday.

'B***h, you live in the freest, safest country in the world and you have the nerve to play the victim card?'

She then turned her attention to minority groups - claiming their lives are better because they live in the US.

Lilly Gaddis, a 'trad-wife' influencer, has sparked fresh backlash for a video in which she hit out at minorities, feminists and the LGBTQ community

'You realize there's slave traders in Africa?' she said, wearing a blue Maui tank top with her hair pulled back.

'Look it up, look up that video of all those African slaves at auction. That's going on right now! And you have the nerve to be complaining about racism in America.'

At that point, Gaddis turned her ire to feminists, telling them 'there's women being stoned to death in the Middle East because they were raped.

'They were raped, and they got stoned to death. And you have the nerve to complain about sexism in America?

'Shut the actual f*** up. Shut the f*** up,' she told her more than 45,100 followers.

Gaddis argued in the video that the minorities should be 'grateful' to live in the US

Gaddis had more than 45,100 followers on her now-suspended TikTok page

'There's people right now that's been kidnapped by the cartel and they're waiting to be tortured or killed,' Gaddis continued. 'There's people who are being human trafficked right now --- right f***ing now.

'And you have the nerve to be playing your victim card and acting like a victim in this country, and you're so s*** on this country?

'I've got news for you dumbass, s*** has happened to everybody. Everybody's had a hard time in life, you're not unique, OK?

'You're not unique because you belong to a minority or you're part of the rainbow community or you're a woman,' Gaddis said, apparently referring to the LGBTQ community.

'We're all lucky as s*** to be born in this country where you can't just be trafficked the second you walk out your house or beheaded if you happen to get raped,' she said, before correcting herself. 'I mean stoned to death.'

'Just like maybe be grateful that you live in a country rather than such an ungrateful, stupid, delusional prick,' she concluded the video.

Gaddis was already facing backlash for using the 'n-word' while ranting about gold diggers

It is unclear when she posted the video rant as her TikTok page has been temporarily suspended, but it was shared to X on Monday as Gaddis faced backlash for another video in which she used the 'n-word' while talking about relationships.

Donning a floral apron and sprinkling garlic powder, pepper and olive oil in a bowl, Gaddis made references to 'dumb wh***s' and 'immigrants fresh off the boat looking for a green card' while talking about gold diggers.

More than 400 people posted their reaction from the video, with some expressing their outrage while others were confused.

'I didnt even reach the n word, just the "dumb wh***s and immigrants" and immediately clocked out! Imagine the surprise seeing the rest of the clip that it got worse!' one X user wrote.

Another reached out to her employer directly, Rophe of the Carolinas, a home health care company for the elderly and disabled in Wilmington, North Carolina.

'I think its absolutely disgusting that you all have such a foul mouth, racist, and disrespectful person associated to your company,' the X user wrote. 'She's disgusting!'

The business has since confirmed Gaddis was fired from her position as a marketing and sales manager.

Gaddis has since been fired from her marketing job as she doubled down on her beliefs

In a statement on Tuesday, executives at the home health care agency noted that Gaddis was recently hired by the company and insisted her 'inflammatory remarks... do not align with the values and beliefs of our company.

'We want to make it clear that these sentiments are not representative of our organization, and we do not condone or support such behavior.'

They noted that the company is owned and operated by an African American female and an immigrant, and wrote that they are committed to 'fostering a diverse, inclusive and respectful work environment where all individuals are valued and respected.'

'We understand the importance of upholding our principles of equality and understanding, and we will continue to strive to create a culture of respect within our organization,' the statement concluded.

'We appreciate the trust and support of our community, and we are dedicated to earning back any confidence that may have been shaken by this unfortunate incident.'

But so far, Gaddis has just doubled down on her beliefs.

On Tuesday, she thanked the black community for 'helping to launch my new career in conservative media'

As the backlash spread, she released another video on X in which she acknowledged to her thousands of followers that the video 'seems to have upset members of a certain community.'

But, she said, she did a 'deep dive and a soul search and after all that I still couldn't find a care.'

Then on Tuesday she thanked the black community 'for helping to launch my new career in conservative media.'

'You all played your role well like the puppets you are.'

DailyMail.com has reached out to Gaddis for comment.
A Boston man is devastated after his pride and joy, a beautiful black 1990s Buick Grand National, was stolen and used in a demolition derby as the thief careered through the streets of Boston, smashing into between 15 and 20 parked cars.

The car's owner, Dennis Harrington, had only just got the car out of the shop after having had some bodywork done on it and putting it through its paces on a racetrack.

Harrington was at work when a co-worker told him he had seen a car 'just like his'.

'Somebody came up to me to say, "Oh a car like yours has just driven by." I said, "That is my car!" Theres no other car like this in America. This thing is one of a kind,' Harrington told Boston 25.

A black 1990s Buick Grand National was stolen and used in a demolition derby as the thief careered through the streets of Boston smashing into between 15 and 20 parked cars

The car's owner, Dennis Harrington, had only just got the car out of the shop after having had some bodywork done on it

#ICYMI, Car enthusiasts look away.a car thief is on the run after stealing a #Buick #Grandnational in #Boston then according to #Boston Police the thief went on a joyride crashing into 10-15 cars #Dorchester. The owner of the @Buick is demanding justice and the thief gets pic.twitter.com/QmQ2ltFd8V  Chetan Rakieten (@chetanrakieten) June 11, 2024

The muscle car was stolen from downtown Boston and driven six miles south to the suburb of Dorchester where the thief tore a path of destruction as it collided with the parked vehicles at 2:30pm on Monday afternoon.

The damage ranged from just a few scratches to smashed headlights and broken bumpers.

The driver smashed into vehicles parked along Dicks, Center, and Parkman Streets. Neighbors say they heard the loud series of crashes.

'There was a car that crashed into a couple of other cars in the neighborhood and then he peeled back and went up the side street and hit a couple of other cars,' local resident Damal Ray say.

The car was seen on surveillance camera as it tore through the streets on a path of destruction

Frustratingly, the car had recently come out of the shop having had some body work done

The is covered in dents and scratched. One of its headlights appears to be missing too

One of the cars the Buick smashed into was this parked up red Lexus

'The car crashed into a couple of other cars in the neighborhood and then he peeled back and went up the side street and hit a couple of other cars,' local resident Damal Ray, pictured, said

Surveillance footage sees the Buick crashing into more than a dozen cars before the vehicle was eventually abandoned in Dorchester.

Neighbors reported hearing the series of crashes, describing how the car collided with several others before the driver abandoned it and fled the scene when he couldn't drive any further.

The thief caused a significant amount of damage, leaving several upset residents.

The owners of the damaged cars and the stolen Buick are now dealing with their respective insurance companies to have their vehicles repaired.

Meanwhile, Boston Police report that the car thief is still at large.
Nigel Farage was flanked by security guards as he gave an election rally speech to 450 loyal supporters tonight and insisted: 'I will not surrender. I will not give in to the mob.'

The Reform UK leader made his pledge as he addressed cheering fans at the Victory Bar on Great Yarmouth racecourse, telling them: 'I will not stop campaigning.'

But while insisting that he wanted to carry on 'meeting the great British public', he admitted he might have to change electioneering tactics to cut down on the risk of future attacks.

Farage's security detail was very much evidence at the rally after he had wet cement thrown at him when he was on his open-top bus on Tuesday morning in Barnsley, South Yorkshire.

The attack came just a week after he had a McDonald's milkshake thrown over him as he left a Wetherspoon's pub in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex, shortly after launching his campaign to stand for election in the town.

Nigel Farage speaking at his election rally in the Victory Bar at Great Yarmouth racecourse, flanked by a security guard to his right

Nigel Farage is targeted on Tuesday by an attacker, who is not pictured, throwing objects during an open top bus tour in Barnsley

The protestor, wearing a red hoodie, throws a coffee cup in the direction of the Reform party leader

As he spoke to his adoring audience seated in front of him in the bar at the Great Yarmouth racecourse, he had two security guards standing discreetly just a few yards away from him, either side of the room.

The pair stared stony-faced at the audience watching for any signs of someone launching an attack on Farage, although the likelihood of it happened seemed almost non-existent because the crowd loved him so much.

A third guard who doubled as his driver was also in evidence at the early evening event.

At least two other guards stood outside the venue, although it was not known if they worked for Farage or the racecourse.

Farage arrived in a 160mph helicopter just before 5.30pm, around 90 minutes before he began addressing his supporters.

The same dark grey coloured Airbus Eurocopter EC-135 had earlier taken him on his whistle stop tour up from London to Barnsley and then Ashford, Nottinghamshire.

The helicopter landed on the racecourse around 800m from where he gave his speech, and later took off again apparently to refuel in Norwich.

Farage entered the Victory Bar to cheers and chants of, 'Come on Nigel' and 'We need you Nigel' from his crowd of loyal supporters.

After giving his speech and taking questions from the audience, he left by a side entrance and quickly walked to his Range Rover with darkened windows which was parked just a few yards away.

He was then taken back to his helicopter which flew him back to London.

Speaking before his rally, Farage described how he was forced to duck as the cement was hurled at him in a coffee cup in Barnsley.

He said: 'I could see something coming. Something felt wrong and I was literally just on my way down the stairs when he started throwing things at me.

'It wasn't the only object thrown. There were some stones thrown as well. Look, this is the second time, that something has happened when I have been going out meeting the great British public

'I have no problem with people shouting abuse at me, loving me or not loving me. That is old style political campaigning.

On June 4 Mr Farage had milkshake thrown over him during an election rally in Clacton

In 2019 the politician was also targeted with a milkshake while speaking to voters in Newcastle in the lead-up to the Brexit referendum

'But when the threat becomes one of violence, it is something else. I was told by South Yorkshire Police that I should not get off the bus in central Barnsley because they feared violence.

'Frankly, if I had, I would be in hospital now, and that is what we are dealing with. We are dealing with an extremist, violent left wing mob who are determined to shut down debate and shut down conversation.'

'I am annoyed and I am frustrated, but whilst I might change tactics, I will not surrender to the mob.

'Obviously the worry is that it could get more extreme. It starts off with milk shakes, then it's cement and rocks. But what next?

'This cannot be right. I think people like this should get prison sentences, genuinely I do. Otherwise what happens to our democracy?

'Here we are, a week after the D Day commemorations. What was that about? It was about that we can agree to disagree, and certainly through the ballot box and not through violence.'

He admitted possibly having to change tactics when on the electioneering trail but when asked if he wanted to continue meeting members of the public, he laughed and said: 'I am not telling you that  but I may do things differently.'

When asked how much security, he currently had, he said: 'A lot, a lot, a lot. I have got drivers, security guys, people who go ahead. It is a big security operation I'm afraid. I wish it wasn't like that, but it is. And you can see why.'

Talking of his suit after it was soaked in the milkshake attack in Clacton, he added: 'It is still with the dry cleaners. I don't think it is ruined.'

Discussing the attacks on him, he told his fans at the rally: 'I genuinely believe that our democratic process is directly under threat.

'What happened to me in Clacton last week when a young woman threw a milkshake in my face and then the mob violence we saw in Barnsley today is an attempt to stop me speaking. It is an attempt to crush democracy. It is worrying.

'It is frightening and it is noticeable that most people there today were young men and women either at or freshly out of our university system. Their minds are being poisoned in school and in university, and it is plain wrong.

'For me this is very difficult because I like meeting people. I'm perfectly happy for you to disagree with me. You can call me rude names.

'If you think about it what we commemorated, those last remnants of that generation which took part in D Day last week, or some of us commemorated while others went home early. If that wasn't for the right for us to degree to disagree, verbally, but not physically, then I don't know what it was.

'All I say is that whilst it is concerning and whilst of course it does make me thoughtful, I may need to change tactics slightly, but I make one promise to you, and the tens of thousands of watching this live online. My promise is this 'I will not surrender to the mob. I will not stop campaigning.'

Farage was met with ecstatic cheers as he outlined Reform UK's policies, saying that they deserved to be the party of opposition to a future Labour Government.
He is accused of killing Russell Hill and Carol Clay

Greg Lynn has been described as a liar

The case against former Jetstar pilot Greg Lynn has been branded a 'disgrace' by his lawyer as the five-week trial draws to its end.

Lynn, 57, has pleaded not guilty in the Supreme Court of Victoria to the murders of Russell Hill, 74, and Carol Clay, 73, in the Wonnangatta Valley, in the state's alpine region on March 20, 2020.

On Tuesday, Lynn's barrister Dermot Dann KC attacked the prosecution case against his client.

Former Jetstar pilot Greg Lynn claimed he is only guilty of covering up the death. He denies murdering the campers

Carol Clay was shot dead. Police cannot say how they believe Russell Hill was allegedly murdered

'This is a prosecution case that has bumbled and stumbled its way out of the problematic category it started in to an unequivocally mistaken category of hopelessness. Completely hopeless,' Mr Dann said.

The jury heard the Crown case had been ruined by the 'half-baked' prosecution, particularly by Crown prosecutor Daniel Porceddu, whom Mr Dann compared to the bumbling fictional Inspector Clouseau.

'Culminating in a final address today that was so desperate it broke time and time again a well established rule in these courts - a rule of fairness,' Mr Dann said.

'That final address today by my learned prosecutor was so desperate that a rule that's been in existence and well known to criminal lawyers - it's been in existence for 130 years - was breached time and time again. It was a disgraceful performance. Absolutely disgraceful.'

Mr Dann reminded the jury his client answered 1200 police questions and told the truth about the deaths of missing campers.

Mr Dann highlighted 17 different ways he claimed the prosecution had not only failed to prove its case, but had behaved unfairly.

They included a failure to adduce any evidence of Mr Hills involvement with firearms, his mental health, and the death of Mr Hills family member in a hunting accident in 1995.

The jury heard prosecutors had introduced evidence it had no right to discuss and presented arguments not put to Lynn when he was in the witness box.

'Outside the rules, making stuff up, all on this big stage,' Mr Dann said. 'It just smacks of a prosecution case that has gone off the rails. It's heading down a giant cliff, a giant waterfall,' Mr Dann said.

Lynn's barrister Dermot Dann, KC has savaged the prosecution case

Greg Lynn denies murdering the elderly couple

Lynn claims he became involved in a deadly struggle for his shotgun at the front of Mr Hill's Landcruiser (pictured)

Earlier, Mr Porceddu urged the jury to reject any notion the campers died by accident.

'You've heard the accused gave a version of events in his interview and in the witness box last week. For reasons I'll go into in due course, the prosecution says that that account in completely fanciful,' he said.

'You can comfortably reject it as being an elaborate fiction.'

Mr Porceddu's closing address follows Lynn's appearance in the witness box last week.

Dressed neatly in a suit and dark-rimmed spectacles, the former pilot spoke in a cool and calm manner as he took the jury through the details of what police allege was cold blooded murder.

The jury heard Lynn claimed the couple died after Mr Hill stole his shotgun and the pair engaged in a deadly struggle for control.

'I don't know if he intended to shoot me or not, probably not,' Lynn told the jury.

'I think he was just trying to keep the shotgun for himself and scare me off.'

The jury heard Lynn had been sitting near his campfire by the river when he saw Mr Hill take his shotgun and load the magazine.

The doors of Lynn's Nissan Patrol had been left wide open to 'liberate all the music' from his car stereo, which in the pilot's own words was done in a 'childish effort' to annoy Mr Hill after a previous run-in with him.

Crown prosecutor Daniel Porceddu (left) was savaged by Lynn's barrister in his closing address to the court on Tuesday

The 12-gauge shotgun Lynn claims was fired by Russell Hill into Carol Clay's head

While Lynn has always denied murdering the couple, the jury heard he freely admitted to cleaning up the alleged crime scene and destroying the evidence.

'It was despicable,' Lynn conceded.

'All I can say to the families is that I am very sorry for all of your suffering that I've caused... yes I should be punished for it. For what I did.'

The jury heard Lynn had offered to plead guilty to the destruction of evidence before going on trial, but it had been rejected by the prosecution.

'I am innocent of murder,' he said.

'I am innocent (of manslaughter too). I haven't killed anyone.'

Lynn claimed Mr Hill accidentally shot Ms Clay through the head as he attempted to wrestle the shotgun away from him.

Pressed upon the bullbar of Mr Hill's Landcruiser, Lynn claimed Mr Hill pulled the trigger, blasting off the side mirror and hitting Ms Clay directly in the head.

Mr Hill died moments later after falling on his own knife during another struggle, Lynn claimed.

The spat had allegedly been sparked by Mr Hill's supposed dislike of deer hunting.

'According to accused, this unfortunate series of events is said to start with one thing, Mr Hill being hostile towards him because he was a deer hunter,' Mr Porceddu said.

'He concocts a version of events that puts Mr Hill as aggressor and him as the victim in a campsite spat.'

Greg Lynn leaves the wilderness after the deadly March 2020 incident

Carol Clay's purse was left discarded in Mr Hill's car

The scenic location where the deadly incident took place

In closing the case, Mr Porceddu ran the jury through all of the evidence they have been presented over the past month.

'He tells you Mr Hill and Ms Clay both died accidentally in separately instantaneous, or near instantaneous, fatal incidents both brought about by the conduct of Mr Hill,' Mr Porceddu said.

'The accused's story is indeed a series of very unfortunate events. Like the book series of that name, it is also a complete fiction.'

Mr Porceddu claimed Lynn had made further errors in his account to police about the alleged confrontation with Mr Hill.

'There are a number of reasons the story that the story is completely implausible,' he said.

Mr Porceddu said Lynn had made a mistake in his account of the supposed struggle with Mr Hill by not taking into account the rope tied from the bullbar of his Landcruiser to the toilet.

The jury heard the struggling men would have become hopelessly entangled in the rope had Lynn's version of events been true.

'He knows he's sunk because he knows that he and Mr Hill would have become tangled up in the guy rope,' Mr Porceddu said.

Lynn's sketch about how he claims the deadly struggle came to be

Mr Porceddu claimed Lynn came up with his story in the 18-months it took police to arrest him.

'The so-called struggle for the gun is the whole linchpin in the accused's story. Once that falls like a house of cards everything else tumbles with it,' he said.

'You don't believe a word of it. We urge you to see the accused's account for what it is - a carefully constructed fiction developed over one year, eight months. During that time the accused was able to gain through the media an understanding of the evidence emerging.

'It was an account that was clearly carefully rehearsed so much so that he can repeat it almost word-for-word over two separate days of a police interview. It is an account crafted in such a way to shift the blame to Mr Hill.'

The jury heard Lynn's story about Mr Hill stealing his gun from his car made no sense.

'If you're a person concerned about firearm safety, you've snuck up to the accused's campsite to confiscate his gun, and you're trying to do that without him knowing, why are you loading it when all you're looking to do is take it back to your campsite?' the prosecutor said.

Mr Porceddu said it was also unreasonable to think Mr Hill would have taken the shotgun and left Lynn's rifle in the car.

'If you're going to confiscate the gun of a person you've not been on the best of terms with, who you've allegedly been provocative towards and you're doing it to eventually report him to the police, don't you think you'd make he wasn't left with another gun?' he said.

The jury heard police allege Lynn likely murdered Mr Hill after some kind of dispute before eliminating Ms Clay because she was the only witness.

'Had she been allowed to live, Ms Clay would have been in a position to identify the accused,' Mr Porceddu said.

'While it is not known how Mr Hill was killed because the accused deliberately burnt the body of Mr Hill and obliterated any forensic evidence ... the evidence establishes Ms Clay was killed by a gunshot to the head.'

The jury heard forensic experts were only ever able to identify one bone fragment from the 2000-plus found as belonging to Mr Hill.
Frustrated former staff at failed airline Bonza have been informed they are now jobless but claim they've been left without any entitlements or avenues for help.

Bonza stood down its remaining 323 employees at a creditors meeting on Tuesday after the airline went into voluntary administration on April 30.

Hall Chadwick partner Kathleen Vouris told the furious workers the airline had been unable to secure a buyer - likely due to the company's $115million debt and lack of planes.

Ms Vouris said Bonza's employees needed to be given 'certainty' and 'the option to go and seek alternative employment'.

However, there has been no decision yet on whether Bonza will be liquidated, meaning the employees - who've had no pay for two months - won't have access to the federal government's Fair Entitlements Guarantee scheme.

Bonza stood down its remaining 323 employees, who have been unpaid since the airline went into voluntary administration on April 30

Hall Chadwick partner Kathleen Vouris said Bonza's employees needed to be given 'certainty' and 'the option to go and seek alternative employment'

'You won't receive your entitlements until we decide what the future of the company is,' Ms Vouris said, the Courier Mail reported.

'We're moving as fast as we can until we decide.'

Ms Vouris apologised for keeping employees in limbo through two months of Hall Chadwick's investigation but promised every decision her team made was the 'best and most reasonable at the time'.

However, the apology was too little too late for many workers with some in such desperate financial circumstances they're 'living in warehouses'.

'It's been horrendous to say the least, to keep staff stewing on things, learning any new information from media outlets for the most part,' one said.

The Transport Workers' Union described the decision to sack Bonza's remaining employees as a 'dark day' for the aviation industry.

'This is incredibly difficult news for Bonza employees who have received no pay for more than two months after the airline's sudden collapse,' TWU National Secretary Michael Kaine said.

'It's a dark day for regional communities across Australia which remain isolated through unaffordable or unavailable air travel to remain connected with the nation.'

Staff called for the company to be immediately liquidated so workers can access government assistance, arguing liquidation is inevitable due to Bonza owning no planes.

Bonza began flying in January 2023 but had difficulty expanding its fleet of Boeing 737 Max 8s.

Miami-based 777 Partners then withdrew its stake in an aircraft leasing company, which led to Bonza losing its lease on its planes due to unpaid bills.

The last of the airline's planes flew out of Australia last week.

Ms Vouris said the lessor of the company's aircrafts was one of the first stakeholders her team consulted with, followed by investors and partners.

Hall Chadwick last month sought to extend the administration by two months in Federal Court and won.

It is expected to hold its final creditors meeting in early August.

For now, it's not clear if Hall Chadwick will bring forward that meeting to help employees access the FEG scheme.

Staff called for Bonza to be immediately liquidated so workers can access government assistance

In a statement on Tuesday afternoon, Hall Chadwick said: 'The future of the Company is still to be determined as a third party may still put forward a Deed of Company Arrangement proposal for creditors consideration.

'The Administrators will provide an update to all creditors shortly and will look to convene the major meeting of the Company in which creditors will decide the future of the Company.

'The Administrators investigations into the Company's business and affairs are ongoing and the results of these investigations will be provided to creditors in the major report convening the major meeting.'
Four years after the Sussexes decision to abandon Britain and then pour hateful and hurtful scorn upon the Royal Family, friends of King Charles have let it be known he wants a closer relationship with his grandchildren Archie, five, and Lilibet, three.

Having met them only a handful of times and had limited communications, mostly via the occasional video call, he is said to be keen to spend time with them, to be more present in their lives and would welcome the comfort and pleasure of seeing them more.

Royal commentator Michael Cole says Charles feels the lack of closeness with his Californian grandchildren acutely.

Charles with his grandson Prince Louis at the late Queen's Platinum Jubilee Pageant outside Buckingham Palace in 2022

Harry and Meghan with Lilibet held aloft and Archie perched on his father's knee

All very understandable. What grandpa doesnt want to see his grandkids more - especially if they live on the other side of the world? But theres a small catch your Maj  you wont get to see them without seeing Meghan and Harry as well.

And as we all know, that would almost certainly bring a whole host of problems.

One can only imagine the unholy circus. If they brought the grandkids here to see the King, would Meghan have her Netflix crew in tow filming every moment?

Would she bring Grandpa Charles her new homemade jams shes flogging, then post the pictures on Instagram? Would details of the time they and their children spent with the King be sold off to the highest bidder?

After all, when Harry did his mercy dash to see his father after his cancer diagnosis, the Prince ended up talking about the meeting on American TV network ABCs Good Morning just days later. I love my family, Harry said, adding that hed jumped on a plane the moment he heard the bad news and hoped his fathers diagnosis would have a reunifying effect on the Royal Family.

Would the Sussexes even venture over here, given that Harry is currently in the middle of a lengthy and costly court battle in the UK over his personal protection in the UK? Hes claimed Britain is unsafe to visit, even though he and Meghan happily travelled to that bastion of security, Nigeria, in May.

So while I completely get the Kings desire to get to know Archie and Lilibet, especially as his cancer has brought him face to face with his own mortality, I just wonder whether all this has been thought through.

Because there are other factors to consider too. Not least Princess Catherine is currently undergoing treatment for her own cancer. Unlike Charles, who appears to be recovering well and has been out and about this spring, Kate has not been seen in public since Christmas - except for that brave video she made, looking vulnerable and telling us of her diagnosis.

The Kings desire to embrace Archie and Lilibet must be seen in the context of Williams and Kates strained relationship - or lack of it - with the Sussexes, after Harry and Meghan's very public criticism of them and other senior Royals.

Charles must also take into account the Waleses' loyalty to him over the past decade. While Harry and Meghan abandoned Royal life, William and Kate have done everything they could to support Charles and to ensure he was close to their children George, 10, Charlotte, nine, and Louis, six.

William and Kate did their duty. Harry and Meghan abandoned theirs.

The Waleses picked up the extra work left by the Sussexes when they fled for Americas millions. They declined grand Royal residences and left their vast Kensington Palace apartment for the more modest Adelaide Cottage, to be within walking distance of Windsor Castle, meaning Charless grandchildren could visit him when he and Camilla are in residence.

Charles and Camilla - with Charlotte, George and Louis in tow - go to church in Sandringham on Christmas Day

Charles describes Williams and Kates three children as a blessing. Insiders say he is a fantastic and enthusiastic grandpa to them, sees them as often as possible and is very much ready to take part in whatever it is that they are doing.

Yet Kate, the woman Charles describes as my beloved daughter-in law, will surely be apprehensive at the very least about any plans to bring Harry and Meghan back into the fold after all the pain the couple have caused her and William, after all the damage they have done to the Monarchy. Particularly at a time when she must be so emotionally vulnerable, fighting her own health battles while trying to be a mum and wife and our future Queen.

Call me a sceptic, but I also dont actually believe claims that Queen Camilla keenly supports plans for the Sussex reunion, with insiders suggesting she is encouraging her husbands desire to be closer to his absent Californian grandchildren.

Has she forgiven Harrys attacks on her in his memoir Spare, when he wrote: I had complex feelings about gaining a stepmother who, I believe, had recently sacrificed me on her personal PR altar.?

More likely, to my mind, she is just trying to keep King Charles happy as he faces his own battles. Like any devoted wife, she is content if he is content.

Charles should be grateful for what he has  the love of a devoted son, daughter-in-law and their three children - and be wary of what he naturally wishes for in his desire to see his Californian grandchildren.

Above all, he must be considerate of the feelings of his beloved Kate. She's worth a million Meghans.
The Texas woman who was found being eaten by an alligator is a trust fund divorcee mother of two, DailyMail.com can exclusively reveal.

The medical examiner in Houston confirmed the deceased woman found in the beast's jaws late last month was 63-year-old Robin Jean Puryear.

Her exact cause of death has not yet been made public by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences.

It remains unclear if Puryear was killed by the beast or if her remains were found by the reptile after she died.

Puryear had been reported missing by her partner on May 27 and the gator was spotted less than 12 hours later at around 8:40am on May 28, police stated.

The officer who discovered the human remains in the gator's mouth shot the creature dead to prevent it from eating the remainder of her body, which was then recovered by a dive team from the bayou.

Robin Jean Puryear, pictured in 2013 in a jail booking photo above after a DUI arrest in Harris County, Texas. Puryear had three DUI arrests dating back to 1987

Puryear was the mother to a son in 30s and lived in an area of Houston called Clear Lake, not far from where NASA is based.

Her house is less than a mile from where her body was found in the clutches of the predator near Horsepen Bayou.

Described as 'petite and sweet' by neighbors, Puryear stood just 5'2" tall and weighed about 125 pounds.

Puryear had lived at the Clear Lake home since 1991, according to public records, which was purchased alongside her ex-husband. The Puryears divorced in 2011.

Residents in the neighborhood said she would 'keep to herself,' and expressed disbelief over how her body was found.

'It's just a terrible situation and there is just lots of speculation,' a neighbor who did not want to be named told DailyMail.com.

'Maybe this points towards something that people are not even thinking about.'

She explained alligators are a common sight in that neighborhood, and all the residents are well aware they are in the water and often wander the banks of the bayou.

When Puryear's former spouse died years after the divorce, she and her son inherited part of her ex-husband's company.

She appears to have lived off a trust fund related to her the electrical business and had no other known employment.

The woman, was found dead along the banks of the Horsepen Bayou in Clear Lake Tuesday, less than 12 hours after she went missing. At least a dozen response officers are pictured at the scene

It is unclear at this time if the victim was killed by the alligator (stock photo)

The woman's body was found in the alligator's jaws near Coastal Oak Drive, not far from her Brook Forest Drive home. Officers were pictured at the scene on Tuesday

Puryear had three driving while intoxicated arrests on her record from 1987, 1999, 2013.

In more recent years, neighbors said she lived with a man they knew as her husband - but there are no publicly available records of a second marriage.

He did not return calls from comment.

Since her death, neighbors believe Puryear's partner has abandoned the home, with only her adult son stopping by from time to time.

As questions about Puryear's death remain unanswered, she will be laid to rest on Thursday at Crowder Funeral Home in League City, according to an online obituary.

Meanwhile, her former brother-in-law Ronald Puryear could hardly believe how her remains ended up being eaten by an alligator.

'This is really unbelievable. This sounds like a fantasy,' Ronald said, adding that he hadn't spoken to her or her son in over 10 years due to a family estrangement.

'We had a family disagreement, and the family spilt up. That's about all I feel comfortable saying.'
After months of silence on its AI ambitions, Apple entered the artificial intelligence race with a lavish product announcement on Monday.

At its Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC), the multi-trillion dollar tech giant heralded a new era of technology, dubbed 'Apple Intelligence'.

Apple Intelligence is essentially a snazzy brand name for Apple's new-found focus on AI, triggered by the huge success of the ChatGPT chatbot 18 months ago.

It means there will be an extensive presence of AI across Apple's devices and apps  whether you like it or not.

While Apple claims the technology will usher in a 'new chapter in Apple innovation', it seems that not everyone agrees, with Elon Musk dramatically warning that he will ban Apple devices from his firms following the news.

'Apple Intelligence' refers to a slew of new AI-powered features coming on Apple's upcoming software update, iOS 18, from AI-generated emoji to a new version of Siri that uses ChatGPT, OpenAI's notorious chatbot

A new, extensive presence of AI across Apple's software - given the brand name 'Apple Intelligence' - includes AI-summarized documents in Mail and Notes and an image-generating AI dubbed 'Image Playground', plus ChatGPT's integration with Siri

At the unveiling event, CEO Tim Cook said Apple Intelligence marks 'a new chapter in Apple innovation' and will 'transform what users can do with our products'.

'Our unique approach combines generative AI with a user's personal context to deliver truly helpful intelligence,' Cook said.

The tech giant announced Apple Intelligence with great reverence as 'the personal intelligence system that combines the power of generative models with personal context to deliver intelligence'.

To put it much more simply, it's an umbrella term for all the jobs AI will be able to do on your iPhone, iPad and Mac computer  as long as it has the upcoming iOS 18 software and an all-important AI chip inside the device.

ChatGPT-Siri integration

Surely the biggest part of Apple Intelligence is the integration of OpenAI's hugely popular chatbot ChatGPT with Siri, Apple's in-built virtual assistant.

Before WWDC, it was rumoured that Apple would be creating its own AI chatbot to rival ChatGPT, but instead it's partnered with OpenAI to bring ChatGPT to Apple devices.

iOS 18 users will be asked before any questions are sent to ChatGPT, along with any documents or photos, and Siri then presents the answer

What devices will get Apple Intelligence? iPhones iPhone 15 Pro Max

iPhone 15 Pro iPads iPad Pro (M1 and later)

iPad Air (M1 and later) Macs MacBook Air (M1 and later)

MacBook Pro (M1 and later)

iMac (M1 and later)

Mac mini (M1 and later)

Mac Studio (M1 Max and later)

Mac Pro (M2 Ultra) Notes: Apple Intelligence needs an up-to-date AI chip in a device to run - so the A17 Pro (in iPhones) or the M1 or later (in iPads and Macs). They need to be running iOS 18 (iPhones), iPadOS 18 (iPads) or macOS Sequoia (Macs) Advertisement

With better 'language-understanding capabilities' enabled by ChatGPT, Siri will help you across multiple apps and 'accelerate everyday tasks', Apple said.

You'll be able to press and hold the side button to activate Siri as normal, but with ChatGPT behind it Siri will be able to 'answer thousands of questions about how to do something' that it couldn't before.

For example, you could say, 'Play that podcast that Jamie recommended' and Siri will locate and play the episode, without the user having to remember whether it was mentioned in a text or an email.

Or you could ask, 'When is mum's flight landing?' and Siri will find the flight details and cross-reference them with real-time flight tracking to give an arrival time.

Apple insists that private user information and their queries will not be logged or stored by Siri, unlike the normal version of ChatGPT.

However, Elon Musk is among those who doesn't buy this, having tweeted that Apple is 'selling you down the river' by handing your data over to OpenAI.

AI-generated emoji

If you can never quite find the emoji you're looking for during chat conversations, Apple has the answer.

One of the more fun parts of Apple Intelligence is AI-generated emoji, which Apple has called 'Genmoji' (a mix of 'generated' and 'emoji').

In the Messages app, you can type a short description of the emoji you want  such as 'smiley relaxing wearing cucumbers' or 'squirrel DJ'.

AI-generated emoji: In the Messages app, users can type a short description (e.g. 'smiley relaxing wearing cucumbers') to get a unique emoji to send to someone

Similar to AI tools that just need a few words to create weird artworks, from that single prompt Genmoji returns an AI-generated approximation of what you had in mind.

If you don't like what the AI has made for you, there are a few back-up options for you to choose from.

As emoji's becoming increasingly popular to convey feelings in place of words, Apple says the tool takes emoji 'to an entirely new level'.

Clean Up

Apple's Clean Up tool for the Photos app makes ultra-clean edits to photos  without any telltale signs that the snap has been tampered with in any way.

It lets users remove 'distracting objects' from the background of a photo  for example a photobomber in the background of a family snap.

The new Clean Up tool in Apple's Photos app can identify and remove 'distracting objects' in the background of a photo

Clean Up is very similar to Google's photo-editing technology 'Magic Eraser' for its Pixel phones, heavily promoted in Google adverts in recent years.

But the technology has been described by some as 'Orwellian' as it can distort reality and 'create a false memory'.

Referring to Clean Up, one commenter said it 'can be misused' because it 'makes deleting evidence easy'.

Image generator

AI also powers a new image-generating tool called 'Image Playground', which is available on multiple apps, including Messages and Pages.

With Image Playground, users can create images in a few seconds, choosing from three styles  'animation', 'illustration' and 'sketch'.

Image Playground allows users to create fun images in seconds, choosing from three styles - Animation, Illustration and Sketch

A promo image appears to show a photo of a person being turned into a video game-style 3D avatar wearing a spacesuit in the 'animation' setting.

Rather like Genmoji, this 'exciting' image creation tool will help iPhone owners 'communicate and express themselves in new ways', the company says.

Movie Memories

The vast media storage capabilities of an iPhone means its always tempting to look back through your photos and video for a burst of nostalgia.

Recognizing this, Apple has come up with 'Movie Memories', an AI tool that creates the perfect home movie to watch on your device.

By typing a short description  for example 'last summer in our garden'  the AI can search your media library and and arrange photos and clips into a movie 'with its own narrative arc'.

Movie Memories picks out the best photos and videos based on a users description and arranges it all into a movie with its own narrative arc

And as no movie is quite as good without a bit of music, you'll get song suggestions from Apple Music to match the memory.

Again, Apple stresses the privacy aspect of using an AI to search through your private life.

'As with all Apple Intelligence features, user photos and videos are kept private on device and are not shared with Apple or anyone else,' it says.

AI writing tools

Using AI to make your writing extra concise is not a new thing  for example Microsoft's Copilot AI is creating first drafts and suggesting edits in Word.

But now Apple is jumping on the bandwagon with its own AI-powered writing tools.

The tech will rewrite, proofread and summarize text on multiple apps, including Mail, Notes and Pages, as well as some third-party apps.

'Whether tidying up class notes, ensuring a blog post reads just right, or making sure an email is perfectly crafted, Writing Tools help users feel more confident in their writing,' the firm says.

Apple says: 'Apple Intelligence unlocks new ways for users to enhance their writing and communicate more effectively'

iOS 18  which is due to arrive in September  will be compatible with many old iPhone models, including iPhone 14, iPhone 13 and iPhone 12.

However, according to Apple's website, Apple Intelligence needs an up-to-date AI chip in a device to run  the A17 Pro (in iPhones) or the M1 or later (in iPads and Macs).

Therefore, as it stands, the only two iPhones that will get Apple Intelligence are the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max  but not iPhone 15 standard version.

However, AI will become even more ubiquitous across Apple devices as new devices are released and older ones without the required AI chips are phased out.

Thomas Husson, principal analyst at Forrester, said AI will power 'almost invisible experiences without consumers realizing it or even knowing it'.

'Apple Intelligence constantly leverages on-device information and personal context behind the scenes to automatically improve the user-experience,' Husson said.

'It indeed begs the question, is there an 'on/off' button?

'I don't think so and it is another proof point that generative AI will seep into consumers' lives.'

Paolo Pescatore, analyst at PP Foresight, said AI is 'integrated deeply and broadly across all apps, devices and experiences'.

'It will mean that users will be able to accomplish much more in their daily lives  more time-saved, more life hacks, more seamless interactions, more creative ways to communicate, and more fun,' he said.
The earliest known copy of an incredible story about Jesus performing a miracle as a child has been discovered scrawled on an ancient Egyptian manuscript.

The 2,000-year-old papyrus - a material that predates paper - tells the lesser-known story of the 'vivification of the sparrows,' when the five-year-old Messiah is said to have turned clay pigeons into live birds, a tale also referred to as the 'second miracle'.

The clumsiness of the handwriting led the researchers to believe it was likely written as part of a class exercise in a school or religious community in 4th or 5th Century Egypt, which was a Christian society in those times.

The original story of Jesus' miracle is thought to have been written around the 2nd Century as part of the Infancy Gospel of Thomas, a book detailing Jesus of Nazareth's youth that was ultimately excluded from the Bible.

The 2,000-year-old papyrus (pictured) depicts the story of Jesus turning clay pigeons into live birds when he was just five

But until this discovery, the earliest written example of the gospel was from the 11th Century.

Until now, the papyrus had lay unnoticed at the Hamburg State and University Library in Hamburg, Germany.

Experts told DailyMail.com they stumbled upon the papyri while analyzing manuscripts and noticed Jesus' name in the text.

'It was thought to be part of an everyday document, such as a private letter or a shopping list, because the handwriting seems so clumsy,' Dr Lajos Berkes, a co-researcher and lecturer at the Faculty of Theology at Humboldt-Universitat said in a press release.

'We first noticed the word "Jesus" in the text. Then, by comparing it with numerous other digitized papyri, we deciphered it letter by letter and quickly realized that it could not be an everyday document,' he added.

The Infancy Gospel of Thomas (IGT) describes Jesus' life from the ages of five to 12 and was written during the 2nd century as a way to fill in the blanks of his youth.

But this gospel was omitted from the Bible because it was thought to be inauthentic.

The Bible was also intended to focus solely on Jesus' ministry, miracles and what led up to his dying on the cross.

In the IGT story, Jesus is just five years old playing in a stream while molding 12 sparrows out of soft clay in the riverbed mud.

When his father, Joseph, notices what he is doing, he scolds Jesus and asks why he would be molding clay on the Sabbath - a Holy day of rest and worship.

In response, '[Jesus] orders the clay figures to 'take flight as living birds,' which they do,' Professor Dr Gabriel Nocchi Macedo, from the University of Liege, Belgium, told DailyMail.com.

There is very little information about Jesus' childhood, but a newly discovered document recounts the earliest story of his life

The papyrus fragment measured four by two inches and contained a total of 13 lines of a popular religious story from the IGT.

Researchers said the story was likely written as part of a writing exercise in a school or monastery because of the clumsy handwriting, irregular lines and other signifiers.

'Apart from what can be deduced from the general history of the collection, there is no evidence of how or when the papyrus was discovered,' the researchers wrote in their article.

Dr Macedo said although they aren't sure when the papyrus became part of the library's collection, it seemed to have been inventoried after 2001.

However, there are two probable scenarios for how it came to be in Hamburg: 'It belonged to the original core of the collection, which was acquired through the German Papyruskartell between 1906 and 1913,' he said.

'[It} then augmented through individual purchases up until 1939 [or] it arrived ... from Berlin in a box full of unconserved papyri in 1990.'

Prior to this discovery, an 11th-Century manuscript of the IGT was the oldest version known to be in existence.

'The Infancy Gospel of Thomas is an apocryphal gospel recounting episodes from Jesus' childhood,' Dr Macedo explained.

'These episodes are not told in the Bible or other well-known liturgical or theological works.

'The work has been attributed to an author named Thomas (perhaps the apostle), but its authorship is unknown.'

Accounts of Jesus' childhood are limited to the tale of his birth, the family's escape to Egypt, their return to Nazareth and his visit to the Temple in Jerusalem.

Further information about his youth are included in apocryphal gospels, written after his death.

'Specialists sometimes compare the IGT to fanfiction,' Dr Macedo said. 'It consists of a series of loosely connected scenes where the young Jesus performs miracles, causing amazement of those around him.'

It isn't known why Jesus' early years were excluded from the Bible, but Charles Dyer, a professor-at-large of Bible at Moody Bible Institute told Christianity.com it's likely because it wanted to focus on why he came to earth, his ministry and what led to his time on the cross.

'In fact, we have, even in his adulthood, we have very little of the life of Jesus, but the part we have is what God thought was sufficient for us to truly understand who he is and why he came to earth,' Dyer said.

Dr Macedo said he and Berkes will produce a critical edition and commentary on the manuscript and will reassess the style and language of the IGT text. Their results will be published in the Journal of Papyrology and Epigraphy.

'The fragment is of extraordinary interest for research,' Berkes said in the statement.

'On the one hand, because we were able to date it to the 4th to 5th century, making it the earliest known copy,' he continued.

'On the other hand, because we were able to gain new insights into the transmission of the text.'
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - Libya's Minister of State for Communication and Political Affairs in the Government of National Unity, Walid Ellafi, has stated that the Trans-Mediterranean Forum on Migration, to be held in Tripoli in July, will include the African and European countries exporting the irregular migratory movement through Libyan territory
A factory in China is developing hyper-realistic humanoid robots that can chillingly mimic human facial expressions and emotions in scientists' latest attempt to replace workers with machines.

Ex-Robots, a robotics firm based in the northeastern coastal city of Dalian, is trying to create lifelike droids that engineers hope will soon be used in the healthcare and education industries.

Terrifying footage from inside the Ex-Robots factory shows workers surrounded by piles of disembodied heads, neck-length silicone masks and spare limbs as they work to construct the most complex class of robotic products in the world.

Drawings of robot designs are adorned on a wall, while female robots donning luxurious wigs and full faces of make-up are displayed along the factory floor.

More unsettling, however, is how the company's engineers are creating robotic duplicates of themselves and training them to replicate their expressions and emotions.

A factory in China is developing hyper-realistic humanoid robots that can chillingly mimic human facial expressions and emotions

Ex-Robots, a robotics firm based in the northeastern coastal city of Dalian, is trying to create lifelike droids that engineers hope will soon be used in the healthcare and education industries

A incredibly lifelike female humanoid robot, donning a full face of make-up, is seen on display in the office of developer Ex-Robots in Dalian, Liaoning province, China

Video captured from inside the factory shows how when an Ex-Robots worker moves her head, smiles and sticks out her tongue, a humanoid robot mimics her exact movement.

The droids use tiny motors installed in several spaces in their heads and artificial intelligence to recognise and imitate human behaviour.

'We have our own software and algorithm teams,' Ex-Robots Chief Executive Li Boyang revealed.

'There are many basic models and algorithms that are commonly open source, which everyone uses. However, we concentrate more on how to enable the AI to recognise and express expressions and emotions.'

He added that the start-up, which was established in 2009 and started developing humanoid robots in 2016, is also working on its 'foundation model'.

'The model we're making is multi-modal and capable of emotional expression,' Li said. 'It can perceive the surrounding environment and produce appropriate facial feedback.'

Ex-Robots said it takes from two weeks to a month to produce a humanoid robot, with prices ranging from 1.5million (162,000) to 2million (216,000).

Terrifying footage from inside the Ex-Robots factory shows workers surrounded by piles of disembodied heads, neck-length silicone masks and spare limbs as they work to construct the most complex class of robotic products in the world

Female humanoid robots that can mimic real human facial expressions and emotions are dressed in luxurious wigs

The droids, pictured inside the factory, use tiny motors installed in several spaces in their heads and artificial intelligence to recognise and imitate human behaviour

Employees are pictured constructing humanoid robots at the Ex-Robots factory in Dalian, Liaoning province, China

Pictured is the lifelike head of a humanoid robot. Ex-Robots reportedly uses 3D scanning, digital design and 3D printing to create the synthetic skin featured on its droids

The main purpose of the company's robots so far is for display in museums, one of which Ex-Robots has housed in the same building as its factory.

Looking ahead, Li believes that humanoid robots will have a bigger role to play in the healthcare and education industries.

'Psychological counselling and health are certainly future application scenarios. We are currently conducting related research, such as auxiliary treatment and preliminary screening for emotional and psychological disorders,' he said.

'Moreover, I believe that emotional interaction has broader applications in service fields, such as those aimed at children.'

Ex-Robots showcased its humanoids robots at the World Robot Conference, China's leading robotics conference and exhibition, in August last year, putting its animatronic heads and humanoid robots on display.

Li, during the conference, said humanoid robots were ideal for roles that require interacting with the public, such as in museums, tourist attractions, school settings and 'companion scenarios'.

The company claimed the droids personified the image of what robots are supposed to be in the popular imagination - with synthetic skin and lifelike facial expressions complimented by moving arms and hands.

Ex-Robots reportedly used 3D scanning, digital design and 3D printing to create its synthetic skin and in 2023 was credited with having crafted the lightest humanoid robot in the world, according to Interesting Engineering.

An employee checks his mobile phone as he walks past displays of robot heads at the office of humanoid robots developer Ex-Robots in Dalian

An employee works on a desk near displays of humanoid robot parts at the Ex-Robots factory

Heads for humanoid robots lie on a table at the Ex-Robots factory in Liaoning province, China

Synthetic limbs used in Ex-Robots' humanoid robots are sprawled across a table in its factory

Ex-Robots said it takes from two weeks to a month to produce a humanoid robot, with prices ranging from 1.5million (162,000) to 2million (216,000)

Video captured from inside the factory shows how when an Ex-Robots worker moves her head, smiles and sticks out her tongue, a humanoid robot mimics her exact movement

The main purpose of the robots so far is for display in museums, one of which Ex-Robots has housed in the same building as its factory. But looking ahead, the company's CEO believes that humanoid robots will have a bigger role to play in the healthcare and education industries

Ex-Robots opened its EX Future Science and Technology Museum in China's Liaoning Province in 2022, six years after the firm began its droid development efforts.

The museum - which is the first robot museum in the country - aims to immerse visitors in a complete robotic experience, even replacing humans with humanoid robots as guides.

The robots also use advanced technology, intelligent voice dialogue, and cognitive technology to interact directly with visitors.

The museum also features an AI robot research centre, a bionic robot manufacturing centre, bionic experimental module, and other cutting-edge exhibits that visitors can explore.
A new map has revealed where quicksand can be found in the US after a woman walking along a beach in Maine nearly lost her life in a liquified pit.

Quicksand can form on beaches, tidal flats, riverbanks or near springs, anywhere the ground is saturated with water.

Florida and the Carolinas are risky with their marsh coasts, while parts of Utah, New Mexico and Arizona have clay-filled waters that mix with sand to form the traps.

While deaths by quicksand are rare, experts are warning people to lookout for tell-tale signs including a more dense appearance like mud rather than sand with a rippled texture and water seeping up from underneath it.

Quicksand is found in marshy areas or near bodies of water like riverbanks or beaches, commonly found on the coasts of Florida , North and South Carolina and the Colorado Plateau - where Arizona , Utah , New Mexico and Colorado intersect

Jamie Acord was walking along the water's edge at Popham Beach State Park in Phippsburg with her husband Patrick earlier this month when she got caught in quicksand and suddenly 'dropped like a rock'. The couple are pictured together at the beach

Earlier this month, Jamie Acord was walking with her husband Patrick at Popham Beach State Park in Phippsburg when she sunk waist-deep in quicksand as the tide washed on the shore.

She sunk to her hips in a split second and let out a stunned scream as the high tide started creeping in.

Acord said she 'couldn't feel the bottom' or 'find my footing' as she sunk into the sand before her husband, Patrick, was able to pull her out.

But within seconds Patrick came to her rescue, pulling her from the sand trap.

The couple then watched as the hole filled back up with sand and disappeared.

Another recent incident happened in 2019 when a hiker was rescued at Zion National Park in southwest Utah.

Ryan Osmun was hiking with his girlfriend Jessika McNeill at Utah's Zion National Park on Saturday, when she suddenly tripped into quicksand.

As Osmun helped her out, he got his own right leg stuck in the quicksand and was unable to free himself.

McNeill then had to hike for three hours to get cell service to call for help, and neither she or Osmun were sure if they'd ever see each other again.

'There was no chance of moving it at all. The sand had surrounded the whole leg and I couldn't move it. The best way to describe it would be... standing in a huge puddle of concrete - that basically dries instantly,' Osmun said to CBS.

Quicksand forms when sand becomes saturated with water, causing it to become mushy and sag under weight - but it is typically only a few feet deep meaning people will only sink to their waist.

The actual amount of people who die from quicksand submersion is so rare that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) doesn't record the number of deaths.

'However, it is difficult to get out,' Dr Daniel Bonn, a researcher specializing in quicksand at the University of Amsterdam, told Newsweek.

'So, if one is stuck near the sea, an incoming high tide may kill you.'

She sunk to her hips in a split second and let out a stunned scream as the high tide started creeping in. Pictured is moments before the incident

Another recent case happened in 2019 when a hiker was rescued at Zion National Park in southwest Utah. Ryan Osmun was hiking with his girlfriend Jessika McNeill at Utah's Zion National Park on Saturday, when she suddenly tripped into quicksand

The most recent death was 50-year-old Jose Rey Escobedo who was swimming in the San Antonio River in 2015 when he became trapped in quicksand.

His body was found three days later, laying facedown and submerged up to his buttocks in quicksand, marking the only related death in Texas in a five-year period.

'The clay [in quicksand] can stabilize a loose packing of sand grains, just like yogurt can stabilize cereal grains in it,' said Dr Bonn.

'However, if you start to move in it, the clay matrix liquefies and the sand packing collapses, similarly to a house of cards that collapses. So it becomes liquid, and you sink.

'You get stuck in the dense packing of sand grains at the bottom of the liquefied part. But you cannot drown in it.'

It is also not uncommon for people to survive after becoming submerged in quicksand, including a 78-year-old Florida man who was rescued eight hours after he became stuck in 2016.

Bob Broyle ventured outside around 5:30pm to feed turtles in a nearby creek but fell down a down the steep bank of the creek.

When Broyle attempted to stand up, he realized he slid head first into quicksand.

McNeill then had to hike for three hours to get cell service to call for help, and neither she or Osmun were sure if they'd ever see each other again

These soggy sand deposits are found in marshy areas or near bodies of water like riverbanks or beaches, commonly found on the coasts of Florida, North and South Carolina and the Colorado Plateau - where Arizona, Utah, New Mexico and Colorado intersect.

'People hear the word quicksand they think jungle movie. The reality with this supersaturated sand is you're not going to go under,' said Jim Britt, a spokesperson for the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry.

He continued to explain that even if people are trapped, they will float on the top and eventually wiggle free.

If you do find yourself stuck in quicksand, experts have warned that its important not to panic because flailing your arms and legs could cause you to become more submerged.

Instead, it's advised to lean back slightly and spread your weight evenly to help stay afloat and gently wiggle your legs which can add more water to the sand and liquefy it, allowing you to pull free.

'It's like having your boot stick in the mud; if you just pull, nothing happens. So you need to wiggle your way out of it,' said Dr Bonn.

This could take a while, with physicists calculating that the force needed to pull your foot free at one centimeter per second is about the same force needed to lift a medium-sized car, according to Britannica.

Quicksand forms when sand becomes saturated with water, causing it to become mushy and sag under weight - but it is typically only a few feet deep meaning people will only sink to their waist

Experts advise people lean back slightly and spread their weight evenly to help stay afloat after sinking into quicksand. They also suggest gently wiggling your legs which can add more water to the sand and liquefy it, allowing you to pull free. Pictured: Quicksand near the sea in Grosseto, Italy

If you're unsure if you've stumbled upon quicksand, you should test the area first by tapping the ground with a pole or walking stick and if the ground gives way, it's best to simply avoid the area.

'One cannot drown in quicksand because of buoyancy,' Dr Bonn said.

In a 2005 study, Dr Bonn and a team of scientists found humans have roughly half the density of quicksand, meaning they should float as long as they don't struggle and bury themselves in the supersaturated sand.

'A person trapped in quicksand is not in any danger of being sucked under completely,' according to the study published in the Nature journal.

'Any unfortunate victim should sink halfway into the quicksand, but could then take solace from the knowledge that there would be no risk of being sucked beneath the surface.'
How neolithic humans might have transported so many huge boulders from Wales to Stonehenge is one of archaeology's most enduring mysteries.

However, a new study of a 'lost' boulder taken from the Stonehenge site over 90 years ago suggests that humans might not have moved the stones at all.

Dr Brian John, a retired geology lecturer from Durham University, argues that this bluestone boulder bears marks which suggest it was moved by glacial ice.

This would undermine the common theory that the bluestone was quarried in the Preseli Hills of southwest Wales and manually transported to the Salisbury Plain.

Speaking to MailOnline, Dr John said: 'I think it's hugely significant because it supports the assumption I've had for some years that these are not humanly-transported.'

A new assessment of a 'lost' boulder from Stonehenge suggests that the site's massive stones might not have been transported by humans

The Newall Boulder (pictured) was almost forgotten for over 90 years, but now research suggests it may have been carried to Stonehenge from Wales by ice

In addition to the tall Sarsen stones that make up Stonehenge's distinctive appearance, the site is also home to around 80 smaller bluestones.

It is generally agreed that these stones originate from the Preseli Hills of south-west Wales, but how they got to Stonehenge is often debated.

Dr John's argument centres on an analysis of a bluestone boulder about the size of a human skull, known as the Newall boulder.

This boulder was first excavated in 1924 by the geologists Colonel Hawley and Robert Newall.

Hawley originally thought the rock was just a piece of rubbish and wanted to throw it away rather than analyse it.

However, Newall saved the stone from the rubbish heap and placed it in a cardboard box in his attic alongside a number of other finds from the site.

Stonehenge is a prehistoric megalithic structure on Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire, England, two miles (3 km) west of Amesbury

Dr Brian John, a retired geology lecturer from Durham University, argues that this bluestone boulder bears marks which suggest it was moved by glacial ice

The boulder remained there until Newall passed it over to the Salisbury Museum shortly before he died in 1976.

There was a brief burst of interest in the boulder around 1977 - but then it was placed back into storage and effectively forgotten for another 46 years.

However, in 2022, Dr John found a reference to the boulder and asked the Museum Director Adrian Green if it was still in storage.

On discovering that it was, he was given permission to examine it and undertake a careful examination of its surface features.

Through a detailed analysis of the boulder's surface, Dr John identified a series of marks that suggest glacial, rather than human transport.

'Glacially transported boulders tend to have facets,' Dr John explains.

'That means they've got a number of different faces at angles to one another which actually indicated where a boulder has been abraded or, basically, sanded down.'

As boulders move with a glacier they get flipped over from side to side, creating several different flat faces with rounded edges, just like the Newall boulder.

The findings suggest that the 80 or so bluestone boulders at Stonehenge may all have been carried to the site by ice and not by Neolithic builders

In addition, the boulder bears a series of scratches and small fractures, called striations and chattermarks, which are often caused by glacial transport.

And although the Newall Boulder isn't exactly the same type of rock as the other bluestones, Dr John says this is exactly what his theory would predict.

He says: 'It's often claimed in popular articles that the bluestones are all made of spotted dolerite which is this type of igneous rock we get on the Preseli Hills but they're actually about 30 different rock types.

'That enormous range of rock types is absolutely typical of the way that ice travels across the terrain and picks up boulders from here there and everywhere.'

Dr John says these bluestones (pictured) are far too weathered and rough to have been quarried and transported

Dr John suggests that this provides convincing evidence that the Newall boulder and all of the smaller bluestone boulders at Stonehenge were moved by glacier.

His claims land him squarely at the centre of one of the Stonehenge's contentious debates.

The idea that the stones were transported to Salisbury Plain began with the geologist Herbert Henry Thomas in 1923.

Although Thomas was quite spectacularly wrong about almost everything, the human transport theory is still extremely popular.

The bluestone boulders may have been carried from Wales to the Salisbury Plain by a combination of Welsh and Irish ice

A team of researchers led by Professor Mike Parker Pearson of UCL have been some of the most active proponents of this theory, arguing that the stones were moved over land.

Recently, Professor Pearson and his team even claimed to have discovered evidence which identifies the quarry of the Stonehenge bluestone, dating this to 3000 BC.

However, Dr John now says his discovery should 'open up the debate' for a consideration of other theories.

He says: 'Herbert Thomas thought that because glacial transport was impossible they must have been carried by human beings.

'That's now part of our national myth because people have not seriously questioned it before; it's just been accepted as the truth.'

This map shows the variety of stones present in Southwest Wales. Dr John says the variety of bluestone types matches how a glacier would gather up stones from lots of different places

Instead of the orderly and rather deliberate building project we sometimes imagine Stonehenge to be, Dr John says: 'I think its always been a bit of shambles.'

He argues that the Neolithic builders simply used the stones they had in their immediate vicinity, rearranging and moving the smaller bluestones as needed.

And, when they eventually had to travel too far to gather more stones, the project was simply abandoned in the state we now find it.

'It was a Neolithic cost-benefit analysis that eventually the costs of getting the stones were were greater than the benefits that were coming from it,' he says.

This suggestion could overturn the prevailing theory that the Stonehenge bluestones (pictured and numbered) were transported over land by humans

However, the ultimate test for his theory would be cosmogenic dating - a test to determine how long rocks have been exposed to the surface by measuring their exposure to cosmic rays.

If Dr John is right, the deeply weathered surface of the rocks should have been exposed to the elements for hundreds of thousands of years.

Alternatively, if the stones were quarried they should only have been exposed to cosmic radiation for around 3,000 to 5,000 years.

While the debate over the origin of the stones is still very much alive, Dr John believes the evidence of weathering will remain strong.

He concludes: 'I'm very confident that if one or other university can get its act together and actually get this done these stones will be seen to have been subject to cosmogenic bombardment from the atmosphere for possibly for hundreds of thousands of years.

'That would knock the quarrying idea on its head once and for all.'
There are hundreds of stunning inhabited islands in the Mediterranean.

Keen on throwing your towel down on one this summer but don't know where to start looking?

Allow us to narrow the field for you, with the lowdown on five island hidden gems that make for stunning holiday destinations.

They boast turquoise waters, ancient ruins, spellbinding coves, and boast mouthwatering food. There's even one that's car-free.

Scroll down for some extremely strong contenders for this summer's bucket list...

Formentera, Spain

Travel guide Lonely Planet noted that Formentera is 'designed for lazy days spent lounging on some of Europe's most exquisite beaches'

Formentera is the smallest of Spain's Balearic islands and can be reached by ferry from Ibiza - it's just a mile-and-a-half wide at its narrowest point.

Will Hide, who visited the island, said: 'If you want to do little apart from eat, drink, relax on talcum powder-soft beaches, swim in turquoise waters or meander around village markets, its Formentera you should make a beeline for.'

While travel guide Lonely Planet noted that the island is 'designed for lazy days spent lounging on some of Europe's (dare we say the world's?) most exquisite beaches' - some of which have 'water [that] glows a startling shade of luminous turquoise'.

Porquerolles, France

Porquerolles boasts 'one of the best beaches in Europe' - and is car-free

A true hidden gem and one of three 'Islands of Gold' off the coast of the Riviera, this French island is filled with white beaches, bike trails and limestone cliffs that are 'unspoilt' thanks to being car-free.

MailOnline Travel Editor Ted Thornhill wrote: 'Porquerolles is the largest [of the Islands of Gold], measuring 4.3 by 1.8 miles, and boasts one of the finest beaches that I've ever thrown down my towel on. Called Notre Dame  and about two miles east of the port - its crescent-shaped form wraps around beautiful, shallow, turquoise waters.

'It must be one of the best beaches in Europe.'

Hvar, Croatia

Travel writer Jo Knowsley described Hvar as a 'Croatian gem'. Pictured: Hvar with the Paklinski Islands in the background

Billed as the sunniest island on the Med, with 2,800 hours of sun, Hvar is almost guaranteed to brighten up a holiday. But it's likely to entrance whatever the weather.

Travel writer Jo Knowsley described it as a 'Croatian gem', offering the 'clearest blue water and fragrant, leafy surroundings'.

Rough Guides stated that Hvar is the 'summertime haunt of celebrities, yacht-travellers and cocktail sippers' but that it also offers 'a piece of the Mediterranean that is family-oriented, unspoiled and affordable'.

Visitors can explore spellbinding coves, 13th-century walls, a hilltop fortress and a main square that impresses with a Renaissance-era cathedral.

Elba, Italy

Elba, Italy, has been dubbed 'an ever-glorious paradise of beach-laced coves, vineyards, azure waters and hairpin-bend motoring' by Lonely Planet

This Italian island off the coast of Tuscany, in the Tyrrhenian Seas Tuscan Archipelago National Park, was the location of French Emperor Napoleon's exile - though it is markedly more popular in the modern age.

It's dubbed 'an ever-glorious paradise of beach-laced coves, vineyards, azure waters and hairpin-bend motoring' by Lonely Planet.

Author Mary Bly, meanwhile, calls Elba a 'postcard-perfect getaway', claiming that 'Elba isn't fancy, like Capri; even the yachts that pull up to small coves and towns are human-sized'. She adds: 'It's a wonderful place to go when you long for excellent, simple food, sunshine day after day, and postcard-perfect sunsets over the sea'.

Folegandros, Greece

Folegandros, Greece (pictured), is 'ideal for a peaceful vacation' with 'mouthwatering cuisine, stunning beaches, azure Aegean waters and secluded coves'

This 'off-the-beaten-path' Greek island is just 32 square kilometres in size and makes up the southern part of the Cyclades between much-celebrated Santorini and Paros.

Quieter Folegandros is 'ideal for a peaceful vacation' with 'mouthwatering cuisine, stunning beaches, azure Aegean waters and secluded coves', states Visit Greece, the official website of the Greek National Tourism Organisation.

The island is home to the ruins of an ancient Agora, or marketplace; a Medieval village; the Olympia Archaeological Museum and, according to Lonely Planet, 'a culture alive with passionate music and thrill-seeking activities'.
Jules Robinson has revealed the unique way she has learned to combat vile online trolls following her rise to fame on Married At First Sight in 2019.

The salon owner and shapewear entrepreneur, 42, who is expecting her second child with husband Cameron Merchant, recently spoke to Daily Mail Australia about her dedication to the ancient practice of kinesiology as a method of repelling negativity.

'I do kinesiology, which is something I've been doing for a number of years,' the influencer began.

'And so with that, I envision my little silver bubble that I have around me, and it just bounces off me,' she explained.

Kinesiology is a natural therapy that combines Western and Eastern wellness techniques to promote physical and emotional health.

Jules Robinson, 42, (pictured) has revealed how she uses kinesiology to combat vile online trolls following her rise to fame on Married At First Sight in 2019

Jules gave a recent example of how she utilised kinesiology after receiving negative comments to a photo of herself posing in an ice bath while heavily pregnant during a trip to Bali.

'The comments that were on there [were so mean],' she said, adding that she had received private messages from 'so many women' asking if she was OK following the backlash.

'They were just like like DM-ing, me and being like, "God, you must have thick skin. I've just read you some of the comments. I'm so sorry that you have to deal with that",' Jules recalled.

'I do kinesiology, which is something I've been doing for a number of years. And so with that, I envision my little silver bubble that I have around me, and it just bounces off me,' the influencer recently told Daily Mail Australia

What is kinesiology?

Kinesiology means 'the study of movement'. The term is also used by complementary medicine practitioners to describe a form of therapy that uses muscle monitoring (biofeedback) to look at what may be causing 'imbalances' in the body and attempts to relieve these imbalances. The kinesiology approach examines 'unresolved stress reactions' in a person and provides techniques intended to help the body's natural healing process. Many nervous system diseases can affect muscle strength. Kinesiology is based on an energy model of health (not a medical one). There is little evidence of the underlying philosophy and claims of benefit. Source: Better Health Victoria Advertisement

'It's honestly just life, you know? And I'm big enough and emotionally intelligent enough to go, 'It's actually not really about me'',' she added.

Jules, who discusses her love for kinesiology in her newly-released book Ask Jules, said the online criticism she's received for her appearance over the years has actually helped her grow thicker skin.

'In a way, it's propelled me into being more confident because you just get to not care. You know, if you let the opinions of other people affect you all the time, you just become so insecure,' she said.

Jules gave a recent example of how she utilised kinesiology after receiving negative comments to a photo of herself posing in an ice bath while heavily pregnant during a trip to Bali

Jules, who discusses her love for kinesiology in her newly-released book Ask Jules, said the online criticism she's received for her appearance over the years has actually helped her grow thicker skin

'And trust me, that's not been an easy thing to do. You know, it's very unusual. You're not prepared in any way to come out of this platform, having so much judgement, so much criticism,' she said of life after MAFS.

Jules went on to admit that she does have her darker days, especially during her pregnancy when 'the smallest things' upset her.

However, the reality star said still maintains a positive outlook despite feeling more vulnerable.

'You've just got to go, "I really like myself. I have integrity with my choices that I do in life". I always do. And my friends and family know them all me.'

Jules and Cameron fell in love in front of the cameras during series six of MAFS in 2019 before getting married for real in November that year

Jules and Cameron fell in love in front of the cameras during series six of MAFS in 2019 before getting married for real in November that year.

The pair welcomed son Oliver in September 2020 and in March Jules announced she was expecting her second child.

Last month, the reality star officially launched her debut book Ask Jules - in which she shares her personal experiences and expert tips on beauty, wellness and self-love.
DailyMail.com photos show piles of discarded furniture and household items strewn outside on the street

Tori Spelling has moved out of the Woodland Hills property she had rented with her children for seven months

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Vagabond Tori Spelling is on the move again, but not before trashing her latest $15,000-a-month rental home on the way out.

Neighbors were outraged by the mess the Beverly Hills 90210 alum left in her wake, after she moved out the contemporary 3,000 square-foot, two-story, five-bedroom, three-bath home with pool and spa that she had rented for seven months in the upscale Woodland Hills suburb of Los Angeles.

The remodeled rental home came fully furnished when Spelling and her five children, Liam, 17, Stella, 15, Hattie, 12, Finn, 11, and Beau, seven, took residence in the beginning of the year.

But today, exclusive DailyMail.com photos show piles of discarded furniture, cushions, other household items from the property strewn across the otherwise well-kept residential street.

Exclusive DailyMail.com photos reveal the mess Tori Spelling left in her wake after moving out of her $15,000-a-month rental property in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles

Piles of discarded furniture, cushions, other household items from the home were strewn outside on the otherwise well-kept residential street

Spelling, 51, was revealed to have moved into the rental property with her five children earlier this year, months after bouncing from place to place

Some of the furnishings, such as a taupe sectional sofa that had been pictured in real estate images of the property can now be seen ripped and soiled out on the street ready for pick up by waste management.

There also pet carriers, a random DVD video, kids toys, and more.

And the scenes inside the home are not much better, according to neighborhood sources.

'Let's just say I doubt she'll be getting her security deposit back,' one neighbor told DailyMail.com.

'The smell of urine is everywhere, on the couch cushions and inside the home. There are marks all over the walls, from who knows what.

'It's completely trashed. Just look at the big dumpster they had to bring in. It's been filled up several times since she moved out on June 1.'

Tori, 51, has a menagerie of pets which her ex-husband Dean McDermott blamed for putting a strain on their almost two-decade-long marriage, even causing them to sleep in separate bedrooms, in an interview with DailyMail.com last year.

Some of the home furnishings, such as a taupe sectional sofa that had been pictured in previous real estate images of the property can now be seen ripped and soiled out on the street ready for pick up by waste management

Pet carriers - for one of Spelling's various animals - a random DVD video, kids toys, and more, were also left behind

Several black garbage bags that were also dumped during the move can be seen littering the driveway of the home

According to neighborhood sources, the scenes inside the home are not much better than the eyesore outside

'[They were] sleeping in the bedroom and on the bed. There was the pig. There's a chicken that was living in the bathroom and multiple dogs. And we all know dogs have accidents and our particular dogs were having a lot,' McDermott said at the time.

'And I just couldn't deal with that anymore.'

As reported by DailyMail.com in February, Tori moved into the Woodland Hills rental with a required $7,500 deposit.

'I'd be shocked if that covered all the damages,' Tori's former neighbor said. 'It would cost at least that much to just replace the two couches. And look at all the workers here trying to get it back to they way it was before she moved in.'

The latest listing on this home says it's now available for $16,950 a month, an increase of almost $2,000.

Tori was reportedly frantic to get out of her previous $18,000 a month rental home in Tarzana after a SWAT team descended on her neighbor's home when someone at the location was seen brandishing a firearm last October.

She has routinely packed up her brood and moved on various whims over the years.

It can be a simple tweet like 'ants in the pantry' or more recently a mold issue that sends her leaving the rental homes.

Interior photos from the online property listing had shown a large sectional that resembles the disassembled couch that was dumped outside

In an Instagram post promoting a giveaway on Valentine's Day, Tori posed among the household items up for grabs on what appeared to be the floor of the new home

Tori and Dean - who are now separated - share five children: Liam, 16, Stella, 15, Hattie, 11, Finn, 10, and Beau, six

Tori has arranged photo ops making it seem as if she has had to live in a RV, or a fleabag hotel.

But the truth is that she really just doesn't like staying in one place for very long.

In her 2013 memoir, Spelling It Like It Is, she admits as much.

'But as it persists, [constant moving] is starting to look compulsive. Moving is expensive, and I've put us in a precarious situation,' she wrote.

It used to be Dean who had to deal with the constant packing and unpacking of these moves.

Last October, DailyMail.com was the first to reveal that the 57-year-old Canadian actor had moved on with new girlfriend, account manager Lily Calo, 34.

Our exclusive photos showed the couple at the welfare office in Los Angeles where Dean was signing up for benefits.

While Tori continues to uproot her kids every six to seven months, Dean is living his best life with his new love.

Dean McDermott has since moved on with new girlfriend, account manager Lily Calo, after he and Tori announced their split in June 2023

In October, DailyMail.com reveal Dean had moved on with 32-year-old Lily Calo after they were snapped holding hands during a trip to the Department of Social Services in Chatsworth

Calo posted a photo on her Instagram account of the two enjoying a romantic poolside getaway in Palm Springs, California.

It was recently revealed that both Tori and Dean owe around $400,000 to City National Bank for a loan they took out in 2012.

The McDermott's amassed a trail of creditors over the course of their marriage, including the IRS ($707,487), California State Taxes ($282,655), and American Express ($88,000 and $37,000).

She has routinely dodged paying her bills, with her mother Candy Spelling, 78, stepping in to pay what she told TMZ in 2016 were her daughter's 'necessities.'

Tori and her younger brother Randy, 45, were each left around $800,000 when their TV producer father Aaron Spelling passed away from complications of a stroke in 2006 at the age of 83.

Candy Spelling remains in control of her husband's fortune worth an estimated $600million.
Paul Mescal has been seen in character for the first time on the set of the upcoming Gladiator 2 film.

Due for release later this year, Paul takes on the role of Roman Empire Lucius Verus, the grown-up son of Lucilla, portrayed as a child in the Oscar-winning original from 2000 starring Russell Crowe.

The Irish actor, 28, looked in good spirits as he sported a full suit of armour while strolling a set, bearing a striking resemblance to his predecessor Russell.

He was made up to look bloodied and bruised, seemingly having filmed a fight scene.

Paul was also seen modelling Roman robes and boots as he milled around with the crew while smoking a cigarette.

Paul Mescal has been seen in character for the first time on the set of the upcoming Gladiator 2 film.

The original historical epic grossed five times its budget, and it helped cement the stardom of Russell Crowe and Joaquin Phoenix (Russell Crowe seen in Gladiator, 2000)

Due for release later this year, Paul takes on the role of Roman Empire Lucius Verus, the grown-up son of Lucilla, portrayed as a child in the Oscar-winning original

While filming for Gladiator 2 had originally taken place in Morocco, these reshoots were being shot in Hove in East Sussex, England.

The grounds were cleared for the battle scenes, with actors seen storming across the field on horses and in full armour.

As had been rumoured for years, the sequel will center on Lucius (Paul), the nephew of Commodus and son of Maximus' former lover Lucilla (Connie Nielsen).

Lucius was previously portrayed by Spencer Treat Clark in the original Gladiator, who idolized Maximus for his battles.

The sequel will be set after Maximus' death, following Lucius, who has long thought that his mother is dead.

Denzel Washington also stars as as a character who's name has yet to be revealed, described as a former slave turned wealthy arms dealer who hates emperors.

The cast also includes Joseph Quinn as Emperor Caracalla, Fred Hechinger as Emperor Greta and Pedro Pascal in an unspecified role.

Original Gladiator stars Connie Nielsen (Lucilla) and Derek Jacobi (Senator Gracchus) are also slated to return.

Paul was surrounded by production staff as he got into character while filming in South Downs

The grounds were cleared for the battle scenes, with actors seen storming across the field on horses and in full armour

Extras were seen taking a break, with many sprawled across the grass in the Sussex countryside

The Irish actor looked in good spirits as he sported a full suit of armour while strolling a set, bearing a striking resemblance to his predecessor Russell

As had been rumoured for years, the sequel will center on Lucius (Paul), the nephew of Commodus and son of Maximus' former lover Lucilla (Connie Nielsen)

Roman soldiers marched across what appeared to be a battlefield in another scene

Paul was seen gesturing to camera as a large white board was held aloft to his left

In another scene Paul appeared to be locked up in a prison wagon with other convicts

A camera crew filmed the actors as the wagon rumbled across the Sussex countryside

Paul revealed unkempt hair and a small growth of beard as he sat between two co-stars

A handful of actors in tattered rags and battle clothing surrounded Paul in the wagon

Paul modelled Roman robes as he clambered into the vehicle between takes

The actor looked on as extras and assistants surrounded the prison wagon

While the wagon will appear to be horsedrawn in the completed film, in reality it's a purpose built cell on the back of flatbed trailer

The actor looked ready for action as he prepared for cameras to roll on location in Sussex

The original classic earned $465 million worldwide from a $103 million budget and won five Oscars including Best Picture after its theatrical run in 2000.

The story is set in 180 AD, following Maximus returning home after leading Roman forces to victory over Germanic tribes.

Meanwhile, his Emperor, Marcus Aurelius (Richard Harris), is secretly murdered by his treacherous son Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix), after telling him he was unfit to rule.

After Maximus refused to pledge his loyalty to Commodus, he murdered his family, as Maximus is captured by slave traders as he must fight his way through various obstacles to get his vengeance against Commodus.

The film from director Ridley Scott and writers David Franzoni, John Logan and William Nicholson is still considered a classic.

The role is the biggest of Paul's career and comes just four years after his big break in BBC drama Normal People

At one point Paul took advantage of a break between scenes by creeping off for a cigarette

A make-up artist was seen touching up the actor's dirt and blood streaked face

He idled with crew members while waiting for his name to be called ahead of another scene

The actor grimmed while smoking a cigarette between takes on the forthcoming epic

Cast (left) and crew (right) were hard at work as the production filmed scenes in Sussex

While there had been talk of a sequel since 2001, it never fully came to fruition since 2018 when Paramount gave the project a green light

While there had been talk of a sequel since 2001, it never fully came to fruition since 2018 when Paramount gave the project a green light.

The highly anticipated sequel had been shooting in Morocco and the neighboring Sahara desert.

Filming got off to a shaky start when it appeared a special effects shot had gone wrong, causing a dangerous explosion.

One on-set source shared their hopes that the injured crew members would make a full recovery, though their condition is unclear.

'It was terrifying  a huge ball of fire flew up and caught several crew members in its path,' the source recalled. 'In years of filming Ive never seen an accident so scary.'

Filming got off to a shaky start when it appeared a special effects shot had gone wrong, causing a dangerous explosion

The sequel will be set after Maximus' death, following Lucius, who has long thought that his mother is dead

The original historical epic grossed five times its budget, and it helped cement the stardom of Russell Crowe and Joaquin Phoenix

Gladiator 2 is expected to debut in cinemas across the UK and US in late 2024

Witnesses to the explosion reportedly speculated that it may have been caused by a gas pipe rupture on set.

'Six production staff had to be rushed to hospital for treatment,' they said, and it appears that no actors on the film were injured in the inferno.

'Hopefully everyone will be OK, but it was a serious accident,' the source added. 'Everyone involved, from the lowliest runners to the star names, has been shaken up by this.'

The original historical epic grossed five times its budget, and it helped cement the stardom of Russell Crowe and Joaquin Phoenix.

Gladiator won five Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Crowe.

While the new film brings back director Ridley Scott, Russell won't be featured, as his character died at the end of the original film.

Gladiator 2 is expected to debut in theaters in late 2024.
A first photo for the third Knives Out film, Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, featuring Daniel Craig as Detective Benoit Blanc dropped.

The British actor, 56, donned his bespoke suit to take on the eccentric character once more.

The Netflix production started principal photography on Monday and director Rian Johnson gushed about the cast he has assembled for the film.

'Weve been very lucky with each of these movies to have gathered some of my favorite actors on the planet, and thats absolutely the case here,' he said referring to Craig as well as other stars including Jeremy Renner, Mila Kunis and Josh Brolin.

'Theyre also all lovely folks who get along, which is the dinner party aspect of it. When youre making an ensemble movie like this I think thats key.'

The first photos for the third Knives Out film, Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery featuring Daniel Craig as Detective Benoit Blanc have dropped

The British actor, 56, donned his bespoke suit to take on the eccentric character once more; seen in an older film

The cast also includes Adam Scott, Glenn Close, Kerry Washington and Josh O'Connor.

Renner takes on a whole part in the third film. He appeared in the second film in the form of a bottle of 'Renning Hot' habanero chili pepper sauce.

He took that joke in stride and Johnson was thrilled to get the chance to work with him.

'Jeremys a great actor who Ive wanted to work with for a long time,' Rian told Netflixs Tudum.

'I was very relieved he thought the hot sauce thing was funny! Hes playing a proper part in this one, well keep the sauce off screen. Maybe well sneak a few bottles onto the catering table.'

Details of the mystery Blanc will be tasked with solving are being kept tight under wraps.

'Weve been very lucky with each of these movies to have gathered some of my favorite actors on the planet, and thats absolutely the case here,' he said referring to Craig as well as other stars including Jeremy Renner , Mila Kunis and Josh Brolin

Johnson previously gave Knives Out fans a taste of what to expect in the latest whodunnit.

He posted on X (formerly Twitter): 'I love everything about whodunnits, but one of the things I love most is how malleable the genre is.

There's a whole tonal spectrum from Carr to Christie, and getting to explore that range is one of the most exciting things about making Benoit Blanc movies.

'We're about to go into production on the 3rd one, and I'm very, very excited to share the title, which gives a little hint of where it's going. (sic)'
Viewers have been left shocked by a new X-rated reality series about the lives of OnlyFans stars.

House of Heat on Tubi follows nine online sex workers who move into a mansion to create raunchy content together.

The cast ranges from bikini models and a former Too Hot To Handle contestant all the way through to full-blown porn stars.

Almost nothing is left to the imagination as the outrageous group strips down for the cameras, get into wild fights, hook up, and do whatever it takes to make the most money from their thirsty subscribers.

In the first episode, cast member Ava Louise boasts about raking in up to $125,000 a month having sex with her boyfriend, Vinny, online.

Viewers have been left shocked by Tubi's X-rated reality series House of Heat, which is about the lives of OnlyFans stars creating content in a mansion together

The cast ranges from bikini models and a former Too Hot To Handle contestant all the way through to full-blown porn stars

Almost nothing is left to the imagination as the outrageous group strips down for the cameras, get into wild fights and hook up

'I do literally everything on OnlyFans. I have lingerie pics, nudes, custom videos, lots of sex. We're f***ing and sucking on camera,' she brags.

The 25-year-old also reveals how she convinced former construction worker Vinny to quit his blue collar job to make sex videos with her - before claiming that he's now 'gay for pay' in his adult career.

'Most of my followers on my OnlyFans page are gay and they do like me,' Vinny admits.

'Being as old school as I am, this is very difficult for me to pretend to be gay,' the New Jersey native adds.

In one shocking scene, three gay cast members convince Vinny to pull down his swimming trunks and show off his derriere for the cameras - before one tries to hug him while fully naked.

Ava later uses a taboo sex toy in front of her castmates, proudly announcing over dinner, 'I'll put it in right now!'

Other cast members include a single mom who wants to be a 'role model' for her toddler, a gay couple working in the porn industry, and a fitness model who sells his used underwear to the highest bidder.

Single mom Steph Mi (far right) said she wants to be a 'role model' for her young daughter

Some scenes show the cast members live streaming their raunchy antics on OnlyFans to make money from their subscribers

Viewers have been completely shocked by the drama and graphic content on the series

The brash series holds nothing back, with the cast inviting cameras into their rooms as they perform X-rated streams for their subscribers.

Another scene shows two cast members turning one of the bedrooms into a 'sex dungeon' that they can use for OnlyFans videos.

There's also a number of physical fights, with gay porn star Cody Scheller receiving a jug of water to the face from his boyfriend, Sumner, during a domestic dispute.

Viewers have been shocked by the antics on the series, with one writing, 'The drama on House of Heat is so intense, I need a break!'

Another wrote, 'I was just wondering how close we are to the end of society. The ratings on this show should be a fair indicator.'

One commented, 'Tubi doing what others ain't have the balls to do a reality series featuring adult content makers great idea.'

In the first episode, cast member Ava Louise boasts about raking in up to $125,000 a month having sex with her boyfriend, Vinny, online

Vinny also admitted that he's now 'gay for pay' due to many of his OnlyFans subscribers being gay men

Some of the stars of House of Heat are no stranger to the spotlight, with Chase DeMoor previously starring on Netflix's Too Hot To Handle and Perfect Match.

Also, Ava is a former Dr. Phil regular who went viral in 2020 for licking a toilet seat as part of a 'coronavirus challenge' on TikTok.

House of Heat is just the latest entry in a batch of increasingly tawdry reality shows to emerge in recent years.

Joseline's Cabaret follows former stripper and reality star Joseline Hernandez as she puts together a live strip show featuring a rowdy cast of exotic dancers and sex workers.

The X-rated series contains graphic sex scenes, nudity, violent brawls, racial slurs, and politically incorrect remarks that would get most mainstream celebrities canceled in this day and age.

In one episode, Hernandez has sex with her music producer fiance, Ballistic Beats, in a bathtub.

The TLC network has also made headlines for its own shocking reality show, MILF Manor.

The first season of the bizarre series followed women over 40 as they dated each others' sons in a Mexican villa.

Meanwhile, the UK reality series Open House: The Great Sexperiment about polyamorous couples sparked backlash in Britain after airing a 15-person orgy.

The controversial show sees committed couples come to a luxury retreat to test whether opening up their relationships and having sex with other people can 'strengthen their bond.'
MasterChef Australia fans have taken to social media after noticing fan a favourite contestant was strangely absent from several key challenges last week.

Tasmanian butcher Josh 'Pezza' Perry, 43, did not appear in last week's Elimination or immunity challenge, prompting the hashtag #WheresPezza as confused fans asked where he was.

'So is @masterchefau going to address why Pezza isn't appearing this ep again?' one fan asked and a second added: 'A statement relating to #WheresPezza is required.'

A Channel Ten spokesperson later issued a statement confirming that Pezza had not quit the series, but had to sit out several episodes due to an illness.

'Perry was unwell and absent from the kitchen for two challenges,' they told Yahoo.

MasterChef Australia fans have taken to social media after noticing fan a favourite contestant Josh 'Pezza' Perry was strangely absent from several key challenges last week. (Pictured: The judging panel)

They were quick to reassure fans that Perry's absence would not affect his standing in the competitive cooking series.

'As per competition protocol following a missed elimination challenge, Josh went straight into the next elimination challenge upon his return.'

It comes after eagle-eyed fans noticed another contestant was absent from a key MasterChef trailer.

Tasmanian butcher Josh 'Pezza' Perry (pictured), 43, did not appear in last week's Elimination or immunity challenge, prompting the hashtag #WheresPezza as confused fans enquired about his whereabouts

Last month, the series aired its gripping Redemption episode, in which former contestants return to cook for the current ones.

However, viewers noticed that recently eliminated fan favourite Stephen Dennis, 62, wasn't among them.

The popular tour guide from Queensland was left heartbroken when he was eliminated, during a nail-biting episode.

Fans took to social media to ask why Dennis was absent from the episode, with one writing: 'Super gutted about Stephen'.

A Channel Ten spokesperson later issued a statement confirming that Pezza had not quit the series, but had to sit out several episodes due to an illness

Stephen later opened up about the reason he was absent, revealing he had to visit the hospital to care for his sick mother.

'My mother is in hospital and is very unwell. My father passed away during Covid, so I need to support my mother and it would be unfair on my family to return to filming with this in mind,' he told Yahoo.

Upon hearing the sad news, fellow eliminated contestant Juan De La Cruz - who is returning for the special - posted a heartfelt statement on social media: 'I'll miss you tonight @stevowildchef. Take care of your mum.'
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The Libyan Prime Minister of the Government of National Unity, Abdulhamid al-Dbaiba, Monday welcomed a political memorandum of understanding signed between the two countries, which will help to activate their relations
In the latest in the incident surrounding George Lopez's walkout during a performance at a Central California casino over the weekend, the venue is critical of the comic for what they say was an overreaction to a few loud attendees, and a lack of communication.

The veteran comedian, 63, departed early from his Friday show at the Eagle Mountain Casino in Porterville, California after repeatedly telling people in the audience to be quiet during his set.

Lopez was seen in video from the show, clearly irritated with a set of attendees who continually shouted out from the audience, and warning he would exit the stage if the interruptions continued.

'I'm serious, I seem like an a**hole, I'm the one working!' Lopez said. 'C'mon, please, just f***ing watch the show, that's all you have to do, don't even f***ing laugh if you don't want to, I don't give a f***. Just relax, f***.'

After the catcalling from the crowd continued, Lopez said he was 'out of here,' giving the audience a brief wave before exiting the stage to boos.

The Central California casino George Lopez, 63, walked out of during a performance over the weekend is defending the actions it took in the incident, and critical of the comic for what they say was an overreaction to a few hecklers. Lopez pictured in Texas in January

Reps for Eagle Mountain Casino in Porterville, California said they were ready to assist Lopez with whatever requests he had, but he never communicated any troubles to them prior to bailing on his performance at their sold-out venue

Reps for the Los Angeles native subsequently told TMZ on Saturday that casino officials had 'failed' in their job 'to provide a good experience for both the artist and the fans' during Friday's show.

The Lopez vs. Lopez star's reps said that on Friday, 'the audience was overserved and unruly, and the casino staff was unable to provide a safe and enjoyable experience for the artist and guests.'

Lopez's reps said that the comic's 'personal security team worked with the venue security staff to maintain order, ensure safety, and eject disruptive individuals' but 'the casino security team was not adequate to accomplish this task.'

The comic's reps said the entertainer had a right to walk off the performance at the sold out venue, as he 'is not obligated to perform in an unsafe environment.'

Lopez 'feels badly that those who came to see the show were unable to do so as a result,' his reps told the outlet.

The venue said in a response to the outlet on Monday that Lopez's team had misrepresented multiple aspects of the situation.

'We do not consider unruly behavior and unsafe environment to be compliments shouted at George,' officials with the casino told the outlet Monday. 'We should have had an opportunity for his private security, tour manager or George himself to let us know who they wanted ejected and we would have done so.'

The casino's marketing director Joey Perez released a statement obtained by Dailymail.com apologizing to attendees and offering them their money back and tickets to a future show at the venue through the remainder of the year.

Lopez's exit 'came as a shock to everyone including casino management,' officials with the casino said

Lopez 'feels badly that those who came to see the show were unable to do so as a result,' reps for the entertainer said

Lopez's exit 'came as a shock to everyone including casino management,' according to Perez, who said that casino and surveillance footage disproved the 'claims of unruly guests' made by Lopez's team.

Perez said that security workers at the venue 'worked together' with the comic's security to ensure that 'there was no filming with phones.'

Perez said that Lopez's private security team was obligated 'to inform casino security if they wanted to escort anyone out which never occurred' and that 'no guests were' observed by casino officials behaving 'unruly or providing an unsafe environment.'

He added: 'Mr. Lopez or his private security had every opportunity to inform casino team if they wanted a guest escorted out and they did not. The two prior openers, also comedians, did not have any concerns or issues, so this was quite a shock to everyone attending.'

Perez said that after Lopez headed back to his dressing room, neither he 'nor his team offered an apology to the casino team or guests nor any explanation as to why' he exited the stage.

Lopez 'left 15 minutes later and was transported back to Porterville airport by Eagle Mountain Casino transportation,' Perez said.

Perez noted how the casino had been supportive and understanding after Lopez cancelled a show this past April 20 an hour before showtime, citing a health emergency.

'The casino acted as quickly as possible rescheduling the show, and accommodating guests any way they could,' Perez said. 'Now, for a second time, the comedian is causing the casino to once again accommodate guests by reimbursing show tickets and going above and beyond to ensure guests know the casino values their business and only wants to provide a positive experience while visiting.'

The venue said Monday that Lopez's team had misrepresented multiple aspects of the situation. Lopez pictured last month in LA

Perez noted how the casino had been supportive and understanding after Lopez cancelled a show on April 20 an hour before showtime, citing a health emergency

Tiffani Sahagun, the assistant general manager at the venue, said that people shouting at the stage were saying positive messages to Lopez such as 'We love you' and 'Can we buy you a drink?'

Sahagun added: 'We also know that at a comedy show, there are also likely some outbursts that casino security would have been happy to address had any issue been made known.

'We only want for our guests to have a safe and enjoyable experience, and we want our entertainers to feel safe and enjoy coming to Porterville as well.'
Tammy Hembrow and her fiance Matt Zukowski will finally be tying the knot in a matter of months.

The fitness influencer, 30, and the former Love Island star, 28, got engaged in December after just three months of dating and will be a married couple before the year ends.

Leaked photos of the wedding invitation, shared by several influencers who made the guest list, reveal the lavish ceremony will be held in Byron Bay in November.

The event will have a black tie dress code, while a 'recovery party' will follow a day after the ceremony and reception.

But Tammy and Matt's upcoming special day has caused fans to turn on the loved-up couple after they noticed some interesting details and requests in the invitation.

Tammy Hembrow (right) and her fiance Matt Zukowski (left) will finally be tying the knot in a matter of months.

The pair have asked for a wishing well, which is a donation box in which guests deposit cash gifts instead of material items, despite Tammy's net worth being a staggering estimated $50million, according to AFR's Young Rich List.

'Your presence on our day is the greatest gift of all. However, if you would like to gift us something a wishing well will be at our wedding for you contribution and well wishes,' the invitation reads.

They have also requested the ceremony and wedding reception to remain 'child free', yet Tammy has three young kids - son Wolf, nine, and daughters Saskia, seven, and Posey, one.

'Whilst we love your babies our wedding will be child free,' the invite continues.

'Babysitting can be arranged upon request. Bubs are more than welcome to join us at the recovery party on Sunday.'

Leaked photos of the wedding invitation, shared by several influencers who made the guest list, reveal the lavish ceremony will be held in Byron Bay in November

The pair have asked for a wishing well despite Tammy's net worth being an estimated $50million. They have also requested no children attend the ceremony or reception, yet has three young kids - son Wolf, nine, and daughters Saskia, seven, and Posey, one (all pictured)

Daily Mail Australia has reached out to the couple for comment.

Influencer watchdog account @influencer.updates.au shared details of the wedding and also weighed in on the wishing well and no kids requests.

'My thoughts: No kids surprised me. Surely Tammy's three kids + nieces and nephews will be at least at the ceremony,' she wrote.

'The wishing well surprised me. I didn't know mega rich people would request money.'

Influencer watchdog account @influencer.updates.au shared details of the wedding and also weighed in on the wishing well and no kids requests

She added: 'The wedding website looks like a bit of a shell at the moment. Maybe it will be more glamorous closer to the date.'

Despite concerns that they are rushing down the aisle, the couple told Daily Mail Australia that they are 'very happy' together.

'So good. Very happy. Couldn't be more happy,' they said of their shock engagement at Glamour on the Grid in Melbourne earlier this year.

'We're in the middle of wedding planning. It's not that bad. I mean, I don't have to do much, I just have to sort of sit there,' Matt added.

But Tammy said she still had 'a lot of planning to do' for their nuptials, adding: 'It feels like we've done a lot, but there's so much that goes into it.'

The couple were quick to start planning their wedding just weeks after they became engaged in December.

Tammy has been engaged twice before, the first time to influencer Reece Hawkins, who she shares a son Wolf, nine, and a daughter Saskia, seven.

In November 2021, the fitness guru became engaged to restaurateur and former Ironman Matt Poole. The pair split in December 2022 and share a daughter Posy, who turns two in June.
An American wildlife warrior has issued a very personal message to Terri Irwin.

Juniper Russo, a wildlife rescue worker from Tennessee, has taken to TikTok to express their profound gratitude to the Irwin family.

'I'm with For Fox Sake Wildlife Rescue in Chattanooga Tennessee which is a wildlife rescue rehabilitation and education facility... none of it would exist if it were not for you and Steve (Irwin) and I'm not sure I would exist if it were not for you and Steve either,' Juniper started the video.

They added that the couple had inadvertently saved their life through their inspiring work with animals.

Reflecting on their upbringing, Juniper candidly shared the challenges of their youth, highlighting how the Irwins served as beacons of inspiration and 'fill-in parental figures.'

Juniper Russo, (pictured) a wildlife rescue worker from Tennessee, has taken to TikTok to express their profound gratitude to the Irwin family

@forfoxsakewildlife @Bindi Irwin @Robert Irwin please get this message to your mom, from a wildlife warrior in the U.S.  Pretty pretty please. @Australiazoo  original sound - For Fox Sake Wildlife Rescue

'Amidst of the worst of it, Terri, I clung to you and Steve as almost like these fill-in parental figures,' Juniper said.

'I had these elaborate fantasies about how somehow I was going to run away and was going to somehow get adopted by you and Steve,' they added.

'Even though I knew that part of this fantasy was not realistic I felt like at the very least then when I was a young adult I was going to be able to move to Australia and join the team there at Australia Zoo.'

Juniper then recalled an impactful email exchange with Steve Irwin, recounting his words that encouraged them to pursue their dreams of contributing to wildlife conservation, even from across the globe.

Driven by the Irwins' dedication to wildlife and family, Juniper pledged to carry forward their legacy by making a positive difference and striving to make Terri and Steve proud.

Reflecting on their upbringing, Juniper candidly shared the challenges of their youth, highlighting how the Irwins served as beacons of inspiration and 'fill-in parental figures'

'It was what you (Terri) and Steve symbolised to me that made such a big difference,' the wildlife worker said.

'It was the idea that out there somewhere where people that loved their children and loved wildlife and that in some alternate reality you were capable of being proud of me.'

Expressing their gratitude to Terri, Juniper said: 'I'm hoping that this message might make it to you and that you can know what a difference you made. Keep doing what you're doing, please keep being you and please continue to inspire future generations... and on my end, I'll do the same.'

Juniper recalled an impactful email exchange with Steve Irwin, recounting his words that encouraged them to pursue their dreams of contributing to wildlife conservation, even from across the globe

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.

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.
Five months after his surprise return to General Hospital, Steve Burton is opening up about coming back to the soap opera.

Burton, 53, is best known for his portrayal of Jason Morgan on General Hospital, with his first stint spanning between 1991 and 2012.

He returned in 2017 after a four-year stint on The Young and the Restless, though he was fired in 2021 for refusing to get the COVID-19 vaccine.

The actor returned to Days of Our Lives in 2022 and 2023, though he announced in early January he was leaving that show, and a day later revealed he was coming back to GH.

The actor was in attendance at the Daytime Emmy Awards over the weekend, where he opened up to ET about his return to GH.

Five months after his surprise return to General Hospital , Steve Burton is opening up about coming back to the soap opera

Burton, 53, is best known for his portrayal of Jason Morgan on General Hospital, with his first stint spanning between 1991 and 2012

'It's been amazing to come back to the show. It's always felt like home. I love the cast, I love the crew, and life is amazing right now. It really is, truly,' he said.

His departure from GH in November 2021 was quite sudden and surprising, with Burton confirming in an Instagram video that he was fired, adding he applied for, 'medical and religious exemptions' for the COVID vaccine and was denied.

'But this is also about personal freedom for me. I don't think anyone should lose their livelihood over this,' Burton said in the video.

Reflecting on it now, Burton said that was, 'an interesting time in general,' adding he felt that refusing the COVID-19 vaccine was, 'something that I felt like I had to do.'

'When another door shuts another one opens and, you know, God has a plan,' Burton said of his dismissal and now return.

'I left and here I am back again, full circle, and it feels great and it's just an amazing time,' he admitted, adding he'll be happy to stick with the show, 'if it's on another 60 years.'

He also offered a tribute to beloved late soap opera actor Johnny Wactor, who was killed in downtown Los Angeles after confronting a catalytic convertor thief.

Burton said Wactor was, 'an incredible man,' adding, 'I said it on our podcast, and just in general, he was just a guy you could always count on.'

'It's been amazing to come back to the show. It's always felt like home. I love the cast, I love the crew, and life is amazing right now. It really is, truly,' he said

'But this is also about personal freedom for me. I don't think anyone should lose their livelihood over this,' Burton said in the video

'He was selfless, giving, as we see. My prayers to his family,' Burton added of the late soap opera star, who was just 37 years old when he was killed

Burton also made headlines in late December 2023 when his divorce from Sheree Gustin was finalized after it was revealed she was having a baby with another man

'He was selfless, giving, as we see. My prayers to his family,' Burton added of the late soap opera star, who was just 37 years old when he was killed.

Burton also made headlines in late December 2023 when his divorce from Sheree Gustin was finalized after it was revealed she was having a baby with another man.

Sheree has also asked the judge overseeing the divorce to permanently terminate any spousal support for both her and Burton.

The actor had previously filed for joint custody of the three children they share, and custody and visitation of Makena, Jack and Brooklyn will not change now that the divorce is finalized.

In his original divorce filing, Burton claimed that he and his ex had separated in March of 2022, and he cited 'irreconcilable differences' as the reason for their split.
Raina Chassagne's divorce filing comes after they were married in June 2023

Tory Lanez's brief marriage is coming to an end after his wife of less than a year filed for divorce.

Although the news of their marriage broke in September of last year, it was on June 25, 2023, that Lanez and Raina Chassagne tied the knot, according to TMZ, so the couple will not even make it to a full year of marriage.

Documents obtained by the publication indicate that Chassagne  who was seen crying outside the courthouse after Lanez was sentenced last year  filed for divorce last week, and she cited irreconcilable differences as her reason for ending the marriage.

She filed to divorce Lanez while he is in prison serving a 10-year sentence for shooting Megan Thee Stallion in her feet.

Chassagne shares a seven-year-old son named Kai with Lanez (real name: Daystar Peterson), and she requested sole legal and physical custody of the child in her filing, as Lanez will not be able to care for his son while he is still behind bars.

Tory Lanez's brief marriage is coming to an end after his wife filed for divorce less than a year after marrying. His wife Raina Chassagne filed for divorce last week, TMZ reported

The outlet noted that Chassagne did not appear to have legally adopted the incarcerated rapper's last name at any point prior to filing for divorce.

Shortly after he was sentenced, Lanez requested bail ahead of a planned appeal, but a judge denied his request, forcing him to begin serving his sentence behind bars.

The appeal was filed in February of this year, but it has been delayed several months after prosecutors twice request  and were granted  delays.

They now have until later this month to respond to Lanez's appeal filing.

Little is known about Lanez and Chassagne's relationship  including when they first met  but she publicly advocated for him last year when she addressed the judge during the first day of his sentencing hearing, which reportedly came after the two were married, though that was not publicly known at the time.

In her statement to the court, she described the rapper as being ambitious and trusting, and she begged the judge to break a cycle Black fathers being incarcerated, leaving their son's without mentors and loving figures.

Chassagne was unsuccessful in getting the judge to drop prison time as punishment, but Lanez was ultimately sentenced to less time than prosecutors had been seeking.

Following his conviction, Lanez will be deported to Canada, where he was born.

After being born in Brampton, Ontario, the rapper's family lived in Montreal, before relocating south of the border, first to Miami and then to Atlanta.

Lanez was found guilty by a unanimous jury on three firearm charges: assault with a semi-automatic firearm, shooting a firearm in a grossly negligent manner and carrying a concealed firearm in a vehicle.

He had previously pleaded guilty to all three charges.

In emotional testimony during Lanez's trial, Megan Thee Stallion admitted she had had a sexual relationship with the defendant and recounted how a they got into an argument in the back of his SUV while in the Hollywood Hills.

Early in the day on July 12, 2020, they had attended a pool party thrown at Kylie Jenner's home, and the two had been drinking prior to their subsequent argument.

Chassagne shares a seven-year-old son named Kai with Lanez (real name: Daystar Peterson), and she requested sole legal and physical custody of the child in her filing, as Lanez will not be able to care for his son while behind bars

TMZ reported that Lanez and Chassagne married on June 25, 2023, but the union wasn't reported on until September of last year; seen in 2018 in LA

Lanez was convicted of three firearm felonies and sentenced to 10 years in prison for repeatedly firing at Megan Thee Stallion and shooting her in the feet, which she required surgery to correct; pictured in April

Megan (real name: Megan Pete) testified that she asked Tory's driver to let her out of the car, at which pint she said Lanez screamed 'Dance b****!' and began firing his handgun at her.

He allegedly shot it five times and hit the WAP rapper in the feet, which later required surgery to correct the damage.

Megan then claimed that Tory had offered her and her friend Kelsey Harris on million dollars to stay silent about the shooting, as he was 'on probation' already.

Megan also claimed that Lanez apologized to her after the fact and attributed the shooting to him being drunk.
Chrisean Rock was arrested on Monday on a felony fugitive warrant, after she walked into a courthouse in the San Fernando Valley with her baby son.

The entertainer, 24, was handcuffed and taken into custody by five officers from the Los Angeles Police Department, who were already there waiting for her, as per TMZ.

Her nine-month-old son, Chrisean Jr. was taken away by officers as well, though it's unclear what happened to him. His father, rapper Blueface, 27, is currently serving out a jail sentence.

Rock's arrest stems from a felony fugitive warrant according to a law enforcement source. There is also an additional assault with a deadly weapon charge being added on.

The reality star  who was sued for allegedly attacking a back-up dancer in February  is currently being held without bail.

Chrisean Rock, 24, was arrested on Monday on a felony fugitive warrant, after she walked into a courthouse in the San Fernando Valley with her baby son as per TMZ; Seen in 2023

In footage shared by TMZ, she was seen walking into the courthouse with her son in a stroller, before later being walked out in handcuffs, with two officers escorting her.

It appears she was attending a court hearing for Blueface.

'This is crazy,' she exclaimed when asked about why she was being arrested.

Blueface's other baby mama, Jaidyn Alexis, was at the courthouse too, though it's reported she was not there with Chrisean.

The fugitive charge appears to stem from an open warrant out of Oklahoma.

Rock is wanted there in connection to drug charges from 2022, which include 'possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, and possession of a controlled dangerous substance.'

Chrisean previously told he followers that she understands she is legally a fugitive but that she was working to get the situation resolved and would not be turning herself in because she did not want to be away from her infant son.

However, she is now facing the possibility of being extradited to Oklahoma.

In February, Rock was sued for allegedly assaulting a man backstage at a Tamar Braxton concert, which took place in downtown Los Angeles, last fall.

Her nine-month-old son, Chrisean Jr. was taken away by officers as well, though it's unclear what happened to him

The entertainer was handcuffed and taken into custody by five officers from the Los Angeles Police Department, who were already there waiting for her; Seen in 2023

Rock's arrest stems from a felony fugitive warrant according to a law enforcement source. There is also an additional assault with a deadly weapon charge being added on; Seen in 2023

Her son's father, rapper Blueface, 27 (pictured in a mugshot) is currently in jail, after he was sentenced for more than six months for violating his probation. It appears she was attending his court hearing

In court documents, reviewed by the LA Times, she was accused of violently attacking TV personality James Wright, who claims she punched him in the face and used a 'homophobic slur' in the aftermath of the reported assault.

Wright claims Rock was wearing 'large champion style rings' when she hit him so forcefully that she caused two of his teeth to break, according to TMZ.

Earlier this year Chrisean made a plea for Blueface to be released from jail while revealing a new a portrait tattoo of him on her face.

She proudly showcased the fresh ink which she got in honor of their romance and relationship just weeks after the father of her child was jailed for more than six months after violating his probation.

With her eyes almost completely shut, the Baltimore, Maryland native showcased the piece, which looks like a spot-on replica of Blueface (born Johnathan Jamall Porter).

'#freeblueface free my Daddy I love you papa @bluefasebabyy,' Rock wrote in the caption, in a reference to him being arrested once again, in connection to a 2021 assault case.

Meanwhile fans expressed their concern for Rock, considering she and Blueface have been known to have a toxic and abusive relationship.

Blueface's legal concerns started when he was arrested in November 2022 on charges of attempted murder in connection to a shooting in Las Vegas the previous month.

After being imprisoned in the Clark County Detention Center, a judge sentenced him to nearly seven months in jail and three years probation the following October, with a possible two-to-five year prison sentence if he violates probation, as reported by Fox 11 Los Angeles.

Earlier this year, Chrisean made a plea for Blueface to be released from jail while revealing a new a portrait tattoo of him on her face

Their child, whose full name is Chrisean Jesus Malone, Jr., was born last September. She documented her delivery on Instagram Live for fans to follow along as she gave birth

The Baddies star and the Chose Me rapper dated for about three years, beginning in 2020, until their split in 2023; Pictured in 2022 in Beverly Hills

He previously pleaded guilty in October to charges related to a shooting outside at a Las Vegas strip club.

Records show his current release date is set for July 2, 2024.

The Baddies star and the Chose Me rapper dated for about three years, beginning in 2020, until their split in 2023.

Blueface signed Rock to his BluefaceLLC label after he witnessed how popular she had become with her OnlyFans platform.

Their child, whose full name is Chrisean Jesus Malone, Jr., was born in September of last year. She documented her delivery on Instagram Live for fans to follow along as she gave birth.
Cate Blanchett's son Dashiell appears to be ready to follow his mother into show business.

But instead of a career in the limelight as a performer, the 22-year-old has plans to go behind the camera as a filmmaker.

The oldest son of the Oscar winner and her husband Andrew Upton, Dashiell John Upton recently scored a role on the crew of the Ryan Gosling action film The Fall Guy.

Dashiell got the prized gig on the film in 2022 soon after completing film school reported Yahoo Lifestyle on Tuesday.

According to the publication Dashiell, who shortens his name to Dash, worked for five-months on the blockbuster in the camera department as an assistant.

Cate Blanchett's son Dashiell, 22, appears to be ready to follow his mother into show business reported Yahoo Lifestyle on Tuesday. Pictured: Dashiell with his mum, Cate Blanchett, 55, on the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival in May

His duties on the big budget U.S. production, which was shot in Sydney, included filming behind the scenes material and taking photos of the actors.

However, Dash appears to prefer to keep his family name out of the media in order to stay away from the limelight.

'Dash never really told anybody who his mother was,' a friend of the budding filmmaker explained to the publication.

The oldest son of the Oscar winner and her husband Andrew Upton, Dashiell John Upton recently scored a role in the camera department of the Ryan Gosling action film The Fall Guy. Pictured: Dash in his mother's arms in 2005

'As far as everyone else on set knew he was just a recent graduate that was lucky to land themselves on a [Ryan] Gosling shoot.

'He didnt want people to think he was there just because of who his mum is.'

Cate, 55, and her husband Andrew Upton welcomed Dash, their first child, in December 2001 after the couple tied the knot in 1997.

Cate, 55, and her husband Andrew Upton,58, welcomed Dash, their first child, in 2001 after the couple tied the knot in 1997. (All pictured) Dash graduated from film school in 2022

Tall and blond like his famous mother, Dash made a rare public appearance with Cate at the Cannes Film Festival in May.

Dash has two younger brothers, Roman Robert, 20 and Ignatius Martin, 16 and a sister Edith Vivian Patricia, aged nine.

In 2022 Cate made the surprising claim that her children are totally 'disinterested' in her fame.

The Lord of the Rings actress added that her kids were also indifferent about her work, which also includes movies The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and Ocean's 8, 'in the best possible, healthiest way.'

She told the New York Post's Page Six column: 'They have no idea, no idea.

'I told them, 'Oh Im going to New York for 36 hours. Ill be back on Wednesday

'One of them is getting an award at school, and they went, "Oh, OK, have a good time".'

Cate was privately educated at a Melbourne girls' school and has gone on to become a global celebrity and Hollywood star with a net worth of $95million.

Born and raised in Sydney, Cate is based in the UK and has lived in East Sussex with her playwright husband Andrew Upton and their four kids since 2015.
It's been more than three decades since the 1990 classic Edward Scissorhands hit theaters, with new details surfacing from the casting process.

Johnny Depp played the title character in director Tim Burton's film, which took in $86 million worldwide from a $20 million budget.

Now a new documentary on the filmmaker from director Tara Wood debuting at the Tribeca Film Festival, with Depp, 61, revealing Tom Hanks, Michael Jackson and Tom Cruise were considered for the role.

Depp even teased that Cruise, 'was not far away from actually playing Edward Scissorhands  true story,' via People.

Depp was still on the hit Fox series 21 Jump Street, though he admitted being 'pigeonholed' with the role and was actively looking for different things.

It's been more than three decades since the 1990 classic Edward Scissorhands hit theaters, with new details surfacing from the casting process.

Depp even teased that Cruise, 'was not far away from actually playing Edward Scissorhands  true story,' via People .

He said that director John Waters' 1990 film Cry-Baby, 'was the first solid step in the direction I wanted to go,' admitting he was even trying to get fired from 21 Jump Street.

When he got a hold of Burton and Caroline Thompson's script for Edward Scissorhands, Depp insisted it, 'passed through everything, anything, solid and went to the very core of whatever I am.'

'The writing was beautiful. The character was beautiful. What I suppose [attracted] me emotionally was that Edward was me. Its exactly what I should be doing,' he said.

Depp said his agent had set up a meeting with Burton, though he then heard about the A-list talent in contention - Hanks, Jackson and Cruise.

Depp admitted thinking, 'Hes never going to cast me when everyone in Hollywood is after the part,' and told his agent to cancel the meeting, to which she replied, 'Are you f***ing nuts?'

'It was weird because theres always that bastard in your skull that goes "Come on, man. Youre a TV actor guy." Because at that time it was almost either-or,' Depp said.

He ultimately met with Burton and was cast, the first in a long line of movies they would make together including 1994's Ed Wood, 1999's Sleepy Hollow, 2005's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and 2007's Sweeney Todd.

Writer Thompson also said in a 2020 Insider interview that Jackson, 'pursued' the project by Burton didn't pursue him.

Depp said his agent had set up a meeting with Burton, though he then heard about the A-list talent in contention - Hanks, Jackson and Cruise

He ultimately met with Burton and was cast, the first in a long line of movies they would make together including 1994's Ed Wood, 1999's Sleepy Hollow, 2005's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and 2007's Sweeney Todd

Writer Thompson also said in a 2020 Insider interview that Jackson, 'pursued' the project by Burton didn't pursue him

As for Hanks, a 1990 LA Times article revealed that he was interested in the role, though he ultimately passed to star in The Bonfire of the Vanities

She added that Cruise's chances at the role fell apart when he met with Burton, and he asked a specific question.

'In his interview with Tim, he asked how Edward went to the bathroom. If you start asking those questions, the whole thing falls apart. You can't ask questions like that. If you ask questions like that, you're f***ed. You've missed the metaphor, you've missed the point,' Thompson said.

As for Hanks, a 1990 LA Times article revealed that he was interested in the role, though he ultimately passed to star in The Bonfire of the Vanities.

Others who were considered at the time were Jim Carrey, Robert Downey Jr. and William Hurt before Depp was cast.
Naomi Watts and Billy Crudup wed for a second time on Saturday, almost a year to the day after their first courthouse wedding.

And the couple were supported by their children on the big day.

The Mulholland Drive star, 55, turned to her 16-year-old son Alexander 'Sasha' Schreiber to walk her down the aisle.

Sasha, who towered over his mother, looked dapper in a dark suit and tie as he gave the actress away.

Naomi's youngest, Kai, 15, and niece Ruby were bridesmaids, and they wore strapless champagne colored gowns with ruching at the waist.

Naomi Watts was walked down the aisle by her son Alexander 'Sasha' Schreiber as she wed Billy Crudup for the second time in Mexico City over the weekend

Naomi Watts, 55, (right) and Billy Crudup, 55, (left) wed for a second time on Saturday, almost a year to the date of their first courthouse wedding

Both teens styled their hair straight and pulled back in half ponytails.

Naomi shares both her children with former partner Liev Schreiber, 56.

Traditionally, the father of the bride will walk his daughter down the aisle.

However, the actress' dad Peter Watts, who worked as a sound engineer for Pink Floyd, tragically died of an apparent heroin overdose at the age of 31, when Naomi was seven years old.

Sasha looked dapper in a dark suit and tie as he gave his mother away

Naomi's child Kai, 15, and niece Ruby were bridesmaids, and they wore strapless champagne colored gowns with ruching at the waist

Naomi and her family were left reeling when he was found dead in his Notting Hill flat.

His untimely death in August 1976 still deeply effects the Birdman star, according to her mother Myfanwy Watts, who previously opened up to Daily Mail Australia in a candid interview.

Speaking from her home in the hinterland hideaway of Byron Bay, Australia, Myfanwy, affectionately known as Miv, said: 'It left scars. It was a shock. His death made Naomi incredibly determined.

'It had a profound effect on her, as it did on the entire family.'

Watts said the family tragedy helped Naomi with her film roles, in particular the 2003 American drama 21 Grams, in which Naomi played a woman who loses her husband and both her daughters in a horrific hit-and-run.

Billy's son William, 20, (pictured) who he shares with ex-partner Mary Louise Parker, was also included in the wedding party

For their second ceremony, Watts and Crudup threw a lavish ceremony and reception for family and friends in Mexico City

'With Naomi, it's been an enormous help for her, films like 21 Grams...that emotion is buried in there, she uses it, she can work with that,' Miss Watts explains.

'It's a terrible thing to happen to anyone, especially at that age when she needed her dad. We had no inkling he was using heroin at all.'

The absence of a father clearly impacted the Hollywood star and in previous interviews she has steadfastly refused to talk about him, once telling a magazine: 'I don't, it's too personal, forgive me...'

She later tentatively added: 'Growing up, there was this wondering what he would think of me or what I would think of him.'

However, the actress' dad Peter (left), who worked as a sound engineer for Pink Floyd, tragically died of an apparent heroin overdose at the age of 31, when Naomi was just seven years old

The absence of a father has clearly impacted the Hollywood star and in previous interviews she has steadfastly refused to talk about him, telling More magazine three years ago: 'I don't, it's too personal, forgive me...' Naomi is pictured with her mother as a child

She later tentatively added: 'Growing up, there was this wondering what he would think of me or what I would think of him'

Pictured on a Pink Floyd day out in St Tropez, 1970. Pictured from left is Naomi with mother Miv and Peter, Linda ORourke, Lindy Mason, manager Steve ORourke, Judy Waters, former road manager Alan Styles, Juliette Wright, Rick Wright holding Gala Wright, Roger Waters, Nick Mason, Dave Gilmour, and Ben Watts (left)

Billy's son William, 20, whom he shares with ex-partner Mary Louise Parker, was also included in the wedding party.

For their second ceremony, Watts and Crudup, 55, threw a lavish ceremony and reception for family and friends in Mexico City.

Naomi looked every inch the blushing bride in a sequinned white dress with a cowl neckline and sweeping trail while carrying a bouquet of white anemone.

Naomi didn't stay in her striking gown the whole night, as a picture shared by the actress' friend Gina Gershon of the couple's first dance showed the actress in another dress.

The black and white snap showed Naomi being spun around the floor by Billy while wearing what seemed to be the stunning lace dress she wore for her courthouse ceremony last year.

Billy, 55, looked handsome in a traditional black suit.

Naomi's brother Ben 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.

Other guests included Isla Fisher, Justin Theroux and girlfriend Nicole Brydon Bloom who shared a snap of their outfits and the gorgeous scenery.
Glamorous influencer Kate Szepanowski said goodbye to her boyfriend Jordan Roman Brennan last Thursday after he was sentenced to 11 years in jail for attempting to aid in a 'greedy' cocaine smuggling plot.

The mum-of-two, 29, attended Brisbane Supreme Court as Brennan was sentenced to just over a decade with a non-parole period of five-and-a-half years after he and his friend Brendan John Sipple were found guilty of attempting to possess a commercial quantity of unlawfully imported drugs.

A jury returned guilty verdicts for both men on May 31 after deliberating for more than six hours following a brief trial.

The two friends were hired to find 48kg of high-purity cocaine hidden in a shipping container.

Brennan and Sipple, 30, entered a freight yard at the Port of Brisbane at 4.10am on June 12, 2020, after spotting a particular shipping container during their previous surveillance runs.

Justice Michael Copley said one or both the men opened the panels of the container's refrigeration unit expecting to find a substantial amount of cocaine.

'Your involvement in this offending was due to giving in to the temptation of greed,' Justice Copley said as he handed down the sentence.

Glamorous influencer Kate Szepanowski, 29, (left) said goodbye to boyfriend Jordan Roman Brennan, also 29, (right) last Thursday after he was sentenced to 11 years imprisonment

The cocaine had been removed by police four months prior after workers at a dock in Belgium found 42 rectangular packages hidden in the container.

Police had been tracking the men with listening and GPS devices as they drove a van from their Gold Coast homes to the Port of Brisbane multiple times in June 2020.

The jury heard audio from the van with the men discussing a large payment and plans to bury the cocaine in isolated bushland.

The mum-of-two attended Brisbane Supreme Court to watch as her beau was sentenced to just over a decade with a non-parole period of five-and-a-half years

The audio also captured the men celebrating when they found the container by listening to the songs 'Circles' by Post Malone and 'Survivor' by Destiny's Child.

Crown prosecutor Patrick Wilson said the men had been determined to work as a key element in the illegal drug supply chain and had demonstrated no remorse.

'It's clear they were doing something for a substantial financial reward in return for their involvement... they plainly knew the drugs were going to be commercially exploited by others,' Mr Wilson said.

Defence barrister Josh Underwood said Sipple had overcome a difficult childhood to start a business supplying subcontractors to the building industry.

Brennan and Brendan John Sipple, who were hired to find 48kg of high-purity cocaine hidden in a shipping container, have been jailed for their 'greed'

Brennan and Sipple, 30, (pictured) faced Brisbane Supreme Court last week for sentencing for one count each of attempting to possess a commercial quantity of unlawfully imported drugs

'He is honest and hardworking... and this offending was out of character for him,' Mr Underwood said.

Barrister Mitchell Rawlings said Brennan had a great deal of motivation to rehabilitate himself and had started a courier business.

'He had sporadic but concerning contact with authorities during his early life but that has settled down now,' Mr Rawlings said.

Justice Copley said he had to impose a sentence that would deter the defendants and others from attempting to chase 'easy money' from serious drug offending.

Brennan waved and blew kisses to partner Szepanowski, his family and supporters in court as he was taken back into custody

'Neither of you had any compunction about the effects this cocaine would have on individual or the community,' Justice Copley said.

Sipple was sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment with a non-parole period of six-and-a-half years.

Brennan was sentenced to 11 years' imprisonment with a non-parole period of five-and-a-half years due to spending two years on remand.

He waved and blew kisses to partner Szepanowski, his family and supporters in court as he was taken back into custody.

Szepanowski was spotted just a few weeks ago attending court to support him as she applied lip gloss, having completely transformed her look from blonde to brunette

Szepanowski is the sister of fellow influencer Chloe Szepanowski, who in turn is a member of the Orval family through her relationship with YouTuber Mitch Orval.

Despite the Gold Coast-based beauty making a living as an influencer, she has taken an extended break from social media while boyfriend Brennan faced drug charges.

She was spotted just a few weeks ago attending court to support him as she applied lip gloss, having completely transformed her look from blonde to brunette.

Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Szepanowski for comment.
Dancer Miranda Derrick is opening up about the death threats she's received after being featured in the Netflix documentary Dancing With the Devil.

The 27-year-old dancer was featured in the documentary, which debuted May 29, and shot back at claims that she was in a cult, calling the film 'one-sided.'

Now she has taken to Instagram once again, though this time she's detailing some of the harsh treatment she's received since the film's debut, including death threats.

She even placed some of the blame on her family, who participated in the documentary, stating she doesn't understand why they thought it would help her.

She shared a video to her 1.7 million followers, which began, 'Hey guys. I know I normally don't make this kind of content, but I just wanted to be transparent and a little vulnerable with you.'

'But before this documentary, my husband and I, we felt safe,' she said, referring to her husband, choreographer James Derrick.

Dancer Miranda Derrick is opening up about the death threats she's received after being featured in the Netflix documentary Dancing With the Devil

The 27-year-old dancer was featured in the documentary, which debuted May 29, and shot back at claims that she was in a cult, calling the film 'one-sided'

'Now that this documentary is out, we feel like our lives have been put in danger,' she said, while detailing the kinds of danger they have both been in.

'We have both been followed in our cars, we have both received hate mail, death threats, people have been sending us messages to commit suicide,' she adds, while showing some of the messages on the screen during the video.

She adds, 'We've been stalked. Someone said, "If I see you on the street, I'm gonna come and gut you so better get security.'

'Someone also said, "If I see you on the sidewalk, I'm gonna come and shove you in the trunk of my car,' she said, adding these were just, 'some of the messages I've been receiving behind-the-scenes.'

'I honestly don't understand how my parents and my sister thought that this documentary would help me or help our relationship in any way,' Derrick added.

She added, 'I have been getting together with my family for the past couple years, privately, to work on our relationship, to make things right, to mend what has been broken, and I've been loving it.'

'I've been loving getting together, laughing, just enjoying each other's company, and this documentary has made it very difficult to continue doing that,' she added.

'Honestly, I think that my parents, my sister, have focused so much on this documentary that they've forgotten working on any relationship with me. And that hurts, that hurts me to say,' she admitted.

'Now that this documentary is out, we feel like our lives have been put in danger,' she said, while detailing the kinds of danger they have both been in

'We have both been followed in our cars, we have both received hate mail, death threats, people have been sending us messages to commit suicide,' she adds, while showing some of the messages on the screen during the video

She adds, 'We've been stalked. Someone said, "If I see you on the street, I'm gonna come and gut you so better get security.'

'Someone also said, "If I see you on the sidewalk, I'm gonna come and shove you in the trunk of my car,' she said, adding these were just, 'some of the messages I've been receiving behind-the-scenes'

She added, 'I have been getting together with my family for the past couple years, privately, to work on our relationship, to make things right, to mend what has been broken, and I've been loving it'

'I'm going to be perfectly honest, it has been hard to post and do my content like nothing ever happened because that's just not the case,' Derrick added.

'So if things are a little slower and I'm not posting as much, just bear with me, I'm getting through this, I see the light at the end of the tunnel, and I'm gonna get back to posting and dancing and doing what I just absolutely love,' she said.

'It just brings me so much joy, so I do want to get back to that,' she said, adding she also wants to thank, 'everyone who has been supportive,' adding the kind words, 'don't go unnoticed.'

Miranda's sister Melanie Wilking, who Miranda used to dance with as The Wilking Sisters on TikTok, went viral in 2022 when she took to Instagram Live with her parents, saying they haven't spoken with Miranda in over a year.

Just last week, Miranda confused fans even more when she attended her sister's wedding, just after claiming she wasn't a victim of a cult.

Melanie also told Access Hollywood that, while Miranda claimed it was a 'one-sided' documentary, the filmmakers reached out to them 'many times' and they,' declined every time.'
A Hollywood movie star reportedly enlisted the help of a local assistant to source marijuana for them while in Australia for a film premiere.

According to a blind item posted by Daily Mail Australia columnist Jana Hocking during one of her 'Saucy Secrets' Instagram sessions, one unfortunate Australian was recruited for the surprising job.

'I was in charge of looking after them when they visited Australia for a premiere,' began the anonymous assistant.

'My main job was to source him weed and make sure his bong water was always clean.'

For legal reasons, the name of the celebrity was blacked out.

A Hollywood movie star reportedly enlisted the help of a local assistant to source marijuana for them while in Australia for a film premiere

Hocking added this type of behaviour was 'very on brand for the kind of movies [this American celebrity] makes.'

The columnists Saucy Secrets sessions are renowned for getting her fans to dish their dirtiest stories.

In August, a follower wrote that an Aussie TV star had been very busy after splitting from her husband and becoming single.

According to a blind item posted by Daily Mail Australia columnist Jana Hocking (pictured) during one of her 'Saucy Secrets' Instagram sessions, one unfortunate Australian was recruited for the surprising job

One follower contacted Hocking to reveal they have been seeing the anonymous celebrity 'on and off again' for some raunchy nights together.

'I've been seeing [redacted] on and off again. Some nights we were up until sunrise,' the person wrote alongside a laughing-crying emoji.

Jana shared the message to her Instagram Stories, alongside a racy stock photo of a woman lying back on a flat surface with a man hovering over her.

Every Monday, the blonde beauty encourages her followers to send in blind items for her 'Saucy Secrets' sessions

Blacking out the name of the celebrity, Jana explained the follower was talking about a 'recently(ish) divorced Aussie celeb'.

It's not the first time Jana has been inundated with sexy confessions from people who have had secret romps with big celebrities.

Every Monday, the blonde beauty encourages her followers to send in blind items for her 'Saucy Secrets' sessions.
Selma Blair was pictured at the Chanel's Artists Dinner at the Tribeca Festival in New York City on Monday, accompanied by her service dog Scout amid her years long battle with multiple sclerosis.

The 51-year-old actress had a sassy, stylish look at the 17th annual incarnation of the event, with a blonde bob hairdo with curly sides.

The Cruel Intentions star donned a sleeveless Chanel Resort 2023 navy glittered muslin top with black slacks and black heels.

The Legally Blonde actress, who is mother to son Arthur, 12, with ex Jason Bleick, carried a patterned Chanel purse to the proceedings.

The American Crime Story alum has attended multiple events at this year's festival in the Big Apple.

Selma Blair, 51, debuted her blonde curls as she was pictured at the Chanel's Artists Dinner at the Tribeca Festival in New York City on Monday, accompanied by her service dog Scout

The Cruel Intentions star looked amazing amid her yearslong battle with multiple sclerosis

Selma used to have brunette hair (pictured in 2021) and while she has been sporting blonde hair for a while, her curls giver her a totally new look

On Wednesday, she was seen at the debut of the documentary Diane Von Furstenberg: Woman in Charge.

On Friday, the Anger Management star attended a Chanel-sponsored luncheon, bringing along her service dog Scout to the gathering at New York City's The Greenwich Hotel.

The event was part of the festival's Through Her Lens: The Women's Filmmaker Program.

At the luncheon, she told Page Six that her canine gives her signals as to when it's time to take her medication.

'He gives me a little nibble on my nose because I can get a little spastic. He reminds me. I get really distracted so I need him,' Blair told the outlet.

Blair has owned Scout for almost three years, as the service dog initially helped her with her balance and mobility amid her MS diagnosis.

Blair's neurologist selected the Labrador retriever Scout, who was subsequently trained to assist the actress amid her health struggle.

Blair in 2018 went public with her multiple sclerosis diagnosis, which has impacted her ability to speak and use her left leg. She detailed her journey in the 2021 documentary Introducing, Selma Blair.

On Friday, the Anger Management star attended a Chanel-sponsored luncheon, bringing along her service dog Scout to the gathering at New York City's The Greenwich Hotel

Blair said at the event that years after undergoing a bone marrow transplant, she has been functioning better

Blair told Page Six that years after undergoing a bone marrow transplant, she has been functioning better.

'It took a long time to recover but now I'm finally walking really well,' Blair told the outlet. 'I'm wearing heels without a cane.

'Everyone's different with their MS and I have always been okay with heels because my foot can bend that way. I have trouble pushing off. Heels are actually easy because you're just in a fixed foot position. So, it's always been okay.'
Halle Berry experienced an unforgettable wardrobe malfunction in a hilarious new video.

The 57-year-old Oscar winner  who embraces bold fashion choices  took to her Instagram on Monday to share a clip of herself struggling to get out of a chic, yet very tight, Anna Quan outfit with the help of her stylist Lindsay Flores.

The awards-worthy movie captured the entire sartorial mishap, from Lindsay fighting to remove the top to Halle's eventual escape, including several nip slips along the way.

'Watch my boobs!' the X-Men alum shouted to Lindsay, struggling to hold back both laughter and tears before questioning which designer was responsible for the restrictive costume.

'Anna Quan we might have to cut this s*** off,' Halle joked, as the sidesplitting drama continued.

Halle Berry experienced an unforgettable wardrobe malfunction in a hilarious new video

The 57-year-old Oscar winner took to her Instagram on Monday to share a clip of herself struggling to get out of a chic, yet very tight, Anna Quan outfit with the help of her stylist Lindsay Flores

Eventually, with some creative assistance from Lindsay  who resorted to licking her elbow for lubrication  Halle managed to remove her shirt.

'Bad and Booshy back at it slaving for fashion!' she captioned the sidesplitting post..

The eye-popping shenanigans comes after her boyfriend Van Hunt shared a racy snap of the Oscar winner to celebrate Mother's Day.

The 54-year-old musician took to his Instagram to post a naked photo of the stunning actress, showcasing her derriere as she stood on the bedroom balcony of her home.

With her chestnut locks cascading down her back, the star glanced over her shoulder, her rear resting against the wrought iron railing.

'Happy Mother's day from the bottom... of my heart,' Hunt cheekily captioned the pic. 'Oh sh**, i wasn't s'posed to post that! butt...u hav to admit thassa bad**s... mutha right there!'

As keen-eyed fans may have spotted, the photo bore a striking resemblance to the nude one Halle shared last year, when she caused an internet frenzy with her own saucy snap.

The mother-of-two displayed her famous curves while maintaining her modesty as she strategically covered her bits.

The awards-worthy movie captured the entire sartorial mishap

Lindsay fought to remove the top with Halle's help

A nip slip or two was bound to happen

'Watch my boobs!' the X-Men alum shouted to Lindsay

Halle was struggling to hold back both laughter and tears before questioning which designer was responsible for the restrictive costume

The Oscar winning performer wrote in the caption to her 8.3 million fans, 'I do what I wanna do.'

She added a red lip kiss emoji and wished her fans a 'happy Saturday.'

Hunt's eye-popping post comes a few months after Halle celebrated him for his birthday.

The Academy Award-winning actress graced Instagram with a collection of snapshots featuring the musician, along with her cherished moments of them together as a couple.

The picture-perfect pair unveiled their relationship in September 2020.

Halle is mom to two children and Van is dad to one child.

The actress shares a 16-year-old daughter, Nahla Ariela, with her ex Gabriel Aubry, and a 10-year-old son, Maceo-Robert, from her marriage to Olivier Martinez.

Meanwhile, Hunt is a father to his teenage son, Drake.

'Anna Quan we might have to cut this s*** off,' Halle joked, as the sidesplitting drama continued

Lindsay couldn't contain her laughter

The pair were champions for not giving up the good fight

Eventually, with some creative assistance from Lindsay  who resorted to licking her elbow for lubrication  Halle managed to remove her shirt

In the early months of 2022, Halle opened up to AARP The Magazine, expressing her conviction that she has finally discovered her true partner in Hunt.

'I really believe I've found my person. My son Maceo on his own did this little commitment ceremony for us in the back seat of the car,' she explained.

'I think he finally sees me happy, and it's infectious. It was his way of saying, "This is good. This makes me happy."'

She added: 'It was a very real moment for all of us. I teared up, Van was fighting back tears. Even Maceo knew he'd said something poignant.'

The star shared a video of her wearing the ensemble before fighting to take it off

Halle looked incredible per usual

Halle Berry 's boyfriend Van Hunt shared a racy snap of the Oscar winner to celebrate Mother's Day

As keen-eyed fans may recall, the photo bore a striking resemblance to the nude one Halle shared last year, nearly causing an internet sensation

The ex-Bond girl crossed paths with the Our Love Lingers tunesmith in September 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, managing to nurture their bond virtually.

After discreetly hinting at a significant other in her life, Berry unveiled the identity of her mystery man in a social media update.

'Now you know...,"'Berry captioned a snapshot donning a shirt bearing Hunt's name, clutching a drink in hand.

Months later, the duo marked their first public appearance together on the red carpet of the 93rd Academy Awards at Union Station in Los Angeles in April 2021.
Two radio hosts have been left shocked after a nursing home worker revealed the scandalous activities that go on at night.

Speaking to Chris Page & Amy Gerard in the Morning on the KIIS Network on Sunday, a nurse named Vanessa phoned in to reveal 'wild' details about patients at her retirement home in Sydney.

Using pseudonyms, Vanessa recounted a series flings and tensions at the home.

Page and Gerard were left shocked as the nurse explained why one man in the home is considered 'the talk around town.'

'Arthur is a bit of a ladies' man. He's quite the talk around town. He loves a nightly stroll down the corridors with his pants off,' the nurse explained.

KIIS FM's Amy Gerard (left) and Chris Page (right) were left shocked on Sunday's show after a nursing home worker revealed the scandalous activities that go on at night

'We're constantly running after him and guiding him back to his room so he's not showing what he has to offer to the ladies,' she added.

Vanessa revealed several ladies at the home have been experiencing tension because of the competition over Arthur.

'The ladies love him, so much so that in the dining room there has been a divide. The ladies and Arthur, they're at a standoff,' she said.

A nurse named Vanessa phoned in to reveal 'wild' details about patients at her nursing home in Sydney

'There's been some trouble.... they're fighting over Arthur. Elaine has gone to sit at another table, she's not happy with this situation. Martha is in the corner; she's not looking at anybody.'

'He (Arthur) has been known to go into other people's rooms and it's consensual. We've tried to catch him before any hanky panky,' she said.

Vanessa explained that most of the oldies enjoy a Friday night 'tipple'.

She joked that it often gets 'wild from there.'
Big Brother Australia star-turned-auctioneer Daniel Hayes failed to sell a partially renovated three-bedroom, two-bathroom property in Geelong on Saturday.

The real estate agent, 50, attempted to auction off the property for between $2.2m - $2.4million, but potential buyers decided to hold off until renovations were complete.

'This is as blue chip as it gets for Newtown overlooking probably one of Australia's best schools,' Hayes told the crowd on auction day.

Hayes was open and upfront about the extent of work the house needed.

'There's three key components that need to be finished. The internal bathroom needs to be completed, a few doors and maybe some mirrors that completes the inside,' he said.

Big Brother Australia star-turned-auctioneer Daniel Hayes failed to sell a partially renovated three-bedroom, two-bathroom property in Geelong on Saturday

The stylish property boasts a spacious open-floor plan, a fully renovated kitchen, an en suite and a walk-in wardrobe.

The former reality star told the crowd the expected cost of the renovation work would likely be between $100,000 - $200,000.

He said once the necessary renovations were completed the property would be a sight to behold, however the crowd was silent and no bids were offered.

The real estate agent, 50, attempted to auction off the property for between $2.2m - $2.4million, but potential buyers decided to hold off until renovations were complete

Hayes was open and upfront about the extent of refurbishing the house needed

The home was last sold in May 2020 for $985,000, and Hayes said on the day the reserve price was great value because it was 'surrounded by homes worth in excess of $3 million and the reserve is nothing like that'.

Hayes rose to fame on the 2021 season of Big Brother Australia, finishing fifth on the reality show.

During his time on the series, he didn't hold back from flaunting his luxurious life.

In March 2022, he revealed the heavy price his profitable real estate career came and how making deals to secure wealth meant he was rarely home with his wife and children.

The stylish property boasts a spacious open-floor plan, a fully renovated kitchen, an en suite and a walk-in wardrobe

He said once the necessary renovations were completed the property would be a sight to behold, however the crowd was silent and no bids were offered

Speaking to The Courier Mail, Hayes said that his son Harry forced him to confront the choices he was making.

'My wife and I were fighting again and he said: 'Dad, isn't it enough?',' Hayes recalled.

Hayes explained his success cost him two marriages.

'Some people just make you think that real estate is life, it's a drug, doing a deal selling at an auction, you're a God. Unfortunately ego has an unquenchable thirst. It'll take everything from you,' he added.
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Viola Davis was honored at the Literacy Partners 50th Anniversary Evening Of Readings & Gala Dinner, which was held at Pier Sixty at Chelsea Piers in Manhattan on Monday.

The 58-year-old EGOT champ dared to bare her belly by donning a white crop-top with her ensemble.

Viola wore a white pantsuit featuring permanently scrunched sleeves and matching pants with a chrome clutch and pumps selected by styling duo Elizabeth Stewart and Jordan Grossman.

Hairstylist Jamika Wilson coiffed Davis' dark curly fringed bob wig for the black-tie benefit.

Make-up artist Autumn Moultrie applied the Kung Fu Panda 4 actress' smoky eye with false lashes, blush, and glossy Cabernet pout.

Viola Davis was honored at the Literacy Partners 50th Anniversary Evening Of Readings & Gala Dinner, which was held at Pier Sixty at Chelsea Piers in Manhattan on Monday

Viola proudly held up her Champion of Literacy trophy while posing in front of the venue's waterfront view.

Davis - who dropped her Grammy-winning memoir Finding Me in 2022 - might be best known for her acting work, but she's been quietly creating publishing companies.

The South Carolina-born thespian and her husband-turned-JuVee producing partner Julius Tennon launched JVL Media in April in order 'to champion and elevate voices that resonate with authenticity and are often overlooked.'

The Air actors also invested funds into ALTR, an upcoming self-help app featuring short-form audiobooks from black luminaries, last month.

At 70, Julius is 12 years older than Viola, and they'll impressively celebrate their 21st wedding anniversary on June 23.

Davis originally met Tennon way back in 1999 on the set of CBS series City of Angels.

On July 10, the Silver Dollar Road producers will celebrate the 14th birthday of their daughter Genesis Tennon, whom they adopted in 2011.

Viola is also stepmother to Julius' two children - daughter Shevonda Tennon, 47; and son Duriel Tennon, 44 - from his six-year marriage to ex-wife #1 Sheryl Arnold, which ended in 1980.

The 58-year-old EGOT champ dared to bare her belly by donning a white crop-top with her ensemble

Viola wore a white pantsuit featuring permanently scrunched sleeves and matching pants with a chrome clutch and pumps selected by styling duo Elizabeth Stewart and Jordan Grossman

Hairstylist Jamika Wilson coiffed Davis' dark curly fringed bob wig for the black-tie benefit

Make-up artist Autumn Moultrie applied the Kung Fu Panda 4 actress' smoky eye with false lashes, blush, and glossy Cabernet pout

Viola proudly held up her Champion of Literacy trophy while posing in front of the venue's waterfront view

Davis - who dropped her Grammy-winning memoir Finding Me in 2022 - might be best known for her acting work, but she's been quietly creating publishing companies

The South Carolina-born thespian and her husband-turned-JuVee producing partner Julius Tennon (L) launched JVL Media in April in order 'to champion and elevate voices that resonate with authenticity and are often overlooked'

The Air actors also invested funds into ALTR, an upcoming self-help app featuring short-form audiobooks from black luminaries, last month

At 70, Julius is 12 years older than Viola, and they'll impressively celebrate their 21st wedding anniversary on June 23

Davis originally met Tennon way back in 1999 on the set of CBS series City of Angels

On July 10, the Silver Dollar Road producers will celebrate the 14th birthday of their daughter Genesis Tennon (M, pictured May 13), whom they adopted in 2011

'I use beauty as a tool to help me embrace the joy in life and further my self love, and I feel like people see that radiating through. I work out, I put on a nice shade of lipstick  to please me,' Davis told Harper's Bazaar UK on May 28.

'I take a bath every night, with my husband, and we sit in the tub and we laugh and we talk, we do facials. I tell him how pretty he looks, he says how beautiful I look. I love facials, acid peels, steam showers, red-light therapy, and drinking water.

'Running around with my daughter keeps me feeling young and she makes me laugh  and Ive decided I like my smile, so I want to laugh more. Feeling the sunshine  with sunscreen on, of course  makes me feel alive.'

On March 1, Variety reported that the L'Oreal brand ambassador had just wrapped her role as POTUS Taylor Sutton in Patricia Riggen's G20 Summit-set terrorist thriller G20, which they shot in Cape Town, for Amazon MGM Studios.

Viola will reprise her DC Comics role as Suicide Squad commander Amanda Waller in James Gunn's seven-episode adult animated series Creature Commandos, which will be 'released later this year' on Max.

On March 10, Gunn shared an update on Davis' standalone spin-off Waller: 'Waller's still happening and Jeremy [Saulnier] and Christal [Henry] are hard at work writing great stuff, but the schedule was impacted by the strikes so Waller will come after [Peacemaker season two] in the larger order of things.'

The URI commencement speaker overcame an impoverished upbringing in Rhode Island living in apartments that were 'condemned and rat-infested' and she didn't have a lot of friends.

Viola earned a full scholarship to Rhode Island College, thanks to federal program TRIO Upward Bound, and went on to graduate from the prestigious Julliard School.

Viola and Julius - who take nightly baths together - mingled with TODAY weather anchor Al Roker (L) and ABC News' Deborah Roberts (2-L) at the party

Davis posed for a picture with fellow honoree Ethan Hawke (R), whom she's never worked with before on stage or screen

The 53-year-old Oscar nominee - whose 1989 film Dead Poets Society scored him a cameo in Taylor Swift's Fortnight music video - has published six books, most recently A Bright Ray of Darkness: A Novel in 2021

Ethan looked dapper in a classic black suit as he was joined on the red carpet by his second wife Ryan Shawhughes Hawke (L), who wore a black lace maxi-dress and patent leather pumps

Hawke originally met his 41-year-old producing partner (L) through his literary agent before he hired her on as a nanny during his five-year marriage to Gattaca leading lady Uma Thurman, which ended in 2005

The Wildcat filmmaker even took part in the silent auction while seated at table 20

TODAY weather anchor Al Roker (L) and ABC News' Deborah Roberts (R) were both honored with the Spirit of Literacy trophies

60 Minutes reporter Lesley Rene Stahl took to the podium in a red sparkly gown to serve presenting duties

TODAY news anchor Craig Melvin donned a black velvet tuxedo to attend the gala with his wife of 12 years, Lindsay Czarniak, rocking a black sheer top and silver-sequin skirt

On Monday, Davis posed for a picture with fellow honoree Ethan Hawke, whom she's never worked with before on stage or screen.

The 53-year-old Oscar nominee - whose 1989 film Dead Poets Society scored him a cameo in Taylor Swift's Fortnight music video - has published six books, most recently A Bright Ray of Darkness: A Novel in 2021.

Ethan looked dapper in a classic black suit as he was joined on the red carpet by his second wife Ryan Shawhughes Hawke, who wore a black lace maxi-dress and patent leather pumps.

Hawke originally met his 41-year-old producing partner through his literary agent before he hired her on as a nanny during his five-year marriage to Gattaca leading lady Uma Thurman, which ended in 2005.

The Wildcat filmmaker even took part in the silent auction while seated at table 20.
Lily Allen and David Harbour got their weeks off to a stylish start by attending the 17th Annual Tribeca Artists Dinner Hosted by Chanel.

The 39-year-old musician Allen and her 49-year-old actor husband hit the red carpet at the annual bash, held at The Odeon in the Tribeca area of Lower Manhattan.

The outing comes just weeks after Allen reveal that both she and Harbour have 'control' over each others' phones to cut down on screen time.

Allen stepped out with a yellow and white top with a number of red fruit embellishments which each had several encrusted jewels.

Her short black hair fell just above her shoulder while accessorizing with large silver hoop earrings.

Lily Allen and David Harbour got their weeks off to a stylish start by attending the 17th Annual Tribeca Artists Dinner Hosted by Chanel

The 39-year-old musician Allen and her 49-year-old actor husband hit the red carpet at the annual bash, held at The Odeon in the Tribeca area of Lower Manhattan.

Allen also accessorized with a gold bracelet and several rings while holding onto a very tiny purse.

She completed her look with a full-length pastel-colored skirt that fell all the way to the red carpet and obscured her footwear for the evening.

Her husband Harbour opted for a black shirt under a brown suit coat with black pants for the outing.

The dinner came just weeks after Allen shared some insight into her home life with Harbour, when it comes to their phone usage.

'I now have a kids' phone called Pinwheel. It has no browsing capability and no social media, but you can still have Uber and Spotify,' Allen told The Times.

'My husband is the caregiver on it, so he controls what I'm allowed to have as an app on my phone. I'm the controller of his as well,' she added.

Allen is mother to daughters Ethel, 12, and Marnie, 11, who she shares with ex Sam Cooper, revealing she recently took their phones away after reading a book that said children shouldn't have smart phones until they are 14.

'The creative side of my brain has been ruined by smartphones. I feel like everyone feels the same. I don't know anyone who can possibly say that the quality of their life is improved by the presence of a smartphone.

Allen stepped out with a yellow and white top with a number of red fruit embellishments which each had several encrusted jewels

She accessorized with a gold bracelet and several rings while holding onto a very tiny purse

She completed her look with a full-length pastel-colored skirt that fell all the way to the red carpet and obscured her footwear for the evening

The couple were joined at the even by Hannah Einbinder

She added a pair of large silver hoop earrings

Her husband Harbour opted for a black shirt under a brown suit coat with black pants for the outing

The outing comes just weeks after Allen reveal that both she and Harbour have 'control' over each others' phones to cut down on screen time

'I think it's destroyed us as a species. It's horrendous that they're designed to be so addictive. Some of us have more addictive personalities than others. It's evil.'

Lily is also frustrated by the way in which social media can be used to punish comments that have been made in the distant past.

'It's unnatural. I don't think, as human beings, that you're meant to share ideas and for them to be set in stone. We are meant to evolve as people. How are you meant to do that if you're always held to account by things that you've said in the past?' she said.

'I said that 20 years ago, when I was completely different person, hadn't been married, hadn't had children. Of course I had a completely different outlook on life. Don't hold me to that,' she stated.
Power star Michael Rainey Jr. said he is 'still in shock' after he was groped on TyTy James' Twitch livestream on Sunday.

Rainey Jr., 23, was grabbed inappropriately by James' sister, Jahgee, during the stream, with the video later circulating on Twitter.

Michael took to his Instagram Stories on Monday to share a statement about the incident, writing, 'sexual assault is never okay' and adding that he is still 'processing' what happened.

Meanwhile, Power's co-creator and executive producer 50 Cent  who recently attended the Book II: Ghost season 4 premiere with Rainey Jr.  downplayed the incident on social media and said no charges are being pressed.

The rapper wrote in a comment, 'Wait sexual assault (frown emoji) from a male perspective this was an aggressive advance. LOL. He's fine no charges are being pressed.'

Power star Michael Rainey Jr. said he is 'still in shock' after he was groped on TyTy James' Twitch livestream on Sunday; Seen on June 6 in NYC

Rainey Jr., 23, was grabbed inappropriately by James' sister, Jahgee, during the stream, with the video later circulating on Twitter

Michael's full statement read, 'At this point, everyone has seen the video circulating online. I am still in shock and don't fully know how to process what happened last night.'

'This is an unfortunate situation that I do not condone in any way. I can't take it lightly because I know I would be in serious trouble if the roles were reversed.'

'The fact is, sexual assault is never okay, regardless of gender or status. We're all human, and we should respect each other. Most importantly, we should always respect ourselves.'

The actor also shared a statement with People, where he stated: 'Sexual harassment and assault are serious and unacceptable acts. Taking advantage of someone's celebrity in this manner devalues entertainers and underscores the need to respect their humanity. Those who entertain us are human beings just like everyone else.'

In the clip of the incident, James' sister's hands are blocked by three children standing in front of her, but Rainey Jr. looks visibly uncomfortable as she reaches down, and he attempts to block her hand.

TyTy James  a streamer on the platform Twitch who hosts his own channel, Tylilshow  eventually ended up kicking out his sister from the room after she made a suggestive remark about a banana.

James later shared that Michael left after about 20 minutes.

James also released a statement on his Instagram, in which he apologized to Michael and said his sister was 'out of line.'

'After the actions that occurred during my stream last night I would like to sincerely apologize to Michael and his family for what took place,' he wrote, adding, 'My little sister was completely wrong and out of line. What she did was very inappropriate and unacceptable.'

In the clip, James' sister's hands are blocked by three children standing in front of her, but Rainey Jr. looks visibly uncomfortable as she reaches down and he attempts to block her hand

Michael took to his Instagram Stories on Monday to share a statement about the incident, writing, 'sexual assault is never okay' and that he is still 'processing' what happened

Meanwhile Power's co-creator and executive producer 50 Cent downplayed the incident on social media and said no charges are being pressed; The two seen on June 6 in NYC

The rapper wrote in a comment, 'Wait sexual assault (frown emoji) from a male perspective this was an aggressive advance. LOL. He's fine no charges are being pressed'

TyTy James (pictured)  a streamer on the platform Twitch who hosts his own channel, Tylilshow  also released a statement on his Instagram, in which he apologized to Michael

'My little sister was completely wrong and out of line. What she did was very inappropriate and unacceptable,' he wrote, adding, 'I completely respect whatever direction Michael wants to go in this situation'

'I am truly embarrassed and disgusted by her actions. I completely respect whatever direction Michael wants to go in this situation.'

'After watching the clip, I was completely taken back by what she done. I will take extreme precautions with future streams to avoid similar issues and have banned her from participating in future streams.'

He finished his statement writing, 'I do not condone any type of of assault.'

Rainey Jr. plays Tariq St. Patrick on both the original series Power and its sequel Power Book II: Ghost. Tariq is the son of the show's main character James 'Ghost' St. Patrick, played by Omari Hardwick.

The actor was most recently pictured at the Power Book II: Ghost season 4 premiere and 10-year anniversary in New York City, with 50 Cent and Mary J. Blige.

50 Cent was both an executive producer and starred as Kanan Stark in the original Power series, which ran for six seasons from 2014 until 2020.

The show became a hit, and garnered critical acclaim as well as multiple awards, such as Outstanding Drama Series at the 50th NAACP Image Awards.

The premise followed, Ghost (Hardwick), a wealthy New York nightclub owner who has it all; dreaming big, catering to the city's elite, and living a double life as a drug kingpin,' per an IMDB synopsis.

Rainey Jr. plays Tariq St. Patrick on both the original series Power and its sequel Power Book II: Ghost. Tariq is the son of the show's main character, James 'Ghost' St. Patrick; Michael pictured with 50 Cent in a still

Power Book II: Ghost, which first aired in 2020, is a sequel to the original series that focuses on Tariq (Rainey Jr.)

Power Book III: Raising Kanan, which aired its first season in 2021, is a prequel to the entire Power series. It dives into the early life of Kanan.

Power Book IV: Force, which aired in 2022, is a spin-off that centers around Tommy Egan, Ghost's best friend, who tries to rebuild his life in Chicago after the events of Power.

In March it was announced that the Power franchise is currently developing a fourth spinoff series which is slated to be a prequel to the show's characters of Ghost and Tommy - originally played by Hardwick and Joseph Sikora.
Lily James is getting back to work on Monday afternoon, seen on the set of her new movie Swiped.

The 35-year-old British actress plays Bumble founder Whitney Wolfe Herd in the film, which is inspired by her epic rise as the youngest ever female billionaire.

Production began on the biopic in late March, expected to continue until July 9, with James spotted last week at Pomona College in Claremont, California.

The actress was spotted donning a grey shirt with red and white stripes under a brown coat for her day on the set.

Her auburn locks flowed past her shoulders as she checked her phone while walking through the set.

Lily James is getting back to work on Monday afternoon, seen on the set of her new movie Swiped

The actress was spotted donning a grey shirt with red and white stripes under a brown coat for her day on the set.

She completed her look with dark blue jeans and brown boots as she chatted with a crew member after arriving on set.

The film was announced back in March, with the report from Deadline stating that it will be 'inspired' by Wolfe Herd's true story, and won't be 'based' on her actual life.

There is no indication yet on how the film will differ from the actual rise of Wolfe Herd, who got her entrepreneurial start in her early 20s at Tinder.

She was credited with changing the name from the initial MatchBox to Tinder, and helped grow its user base on college campuses during her tenure as Marketing VP.

She left the company in 2014 after two years, and filed a sexual harassment lawsuit later that year, receiving more than $1 million plus stock in the settlement.

Wolfe Herd moved to Austin in 2015 and founded Bumble, the female-focused dating app that had over 80 million matches in its first year alone.

She took Bumble public in 2021, with Forbes calling her the world's youngest self-made female billionaire at just 31 years of age.

Wolfe Herd stepped down as Bumble CEO in November 2023 to take an executive chair role, with Slack's Lidiane Jones replacing her.

She completed her look with dark blue jeans and brown boots as she chatted with a crew member after arriving on set

The film was announced back in March, with the report from Deadline stating that it will be 'inspired' by Wolfe Herd's true story, and won't be 'based' on her actual life

There is no indication yet on how the film will differ from the actual rise of Wolfe Herd, who got her entrepreneurial start in her early 20s at Tinder

James got her start in 2010 in episodes of Just William and a 2011 arc on Secret Diary of a Call Girl

She made her film debut in 2012's Wrath of the Titans, and just three years later had her breakthrough as the title role in 2015's Cinderella from director Kenneth Branagh

James got her start in 2010 in episodes of Just William and a 2011 arc on Secret Diary of a Call Girl and her role as Lady Rose MacClare on Downton Abbey.

She made her film debut in 2012's Wrath of the Titans, and just three years later had her breakthrough as the title role in 2015's Cinderella from director Kenneth Branagh.

James continued to work regularly in Burnt, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, Baby Driver, Darkest Hour, Little Woods, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again and Yesterday.

She most recently starred in FX's Pam & Tommy as Pamela Anderson and The Iron Claw, and she'll next be seen in Greedy People, in theaters October 10.
Rwandan college students shine in Chinese language competition

Xinhua) 10:51, June 11, 2024

KIGALI, June 10 (Xinhua) -- The "Chinese Bridge" Chinese language competition for foreign college students was held on Sunday in the Rwandan capital of Kigali.

Hosted by the Chinese Embassy in Rwanda under the theme "One World, One Family," the event was organized by the Confucius Institute at the University of Rwanda, featuring a speech session and a talent show.

Viateur Niyongabo, a student at the College of Education, University of Rwanda, emerged as the winner of the 23rd edition of the competition. He will represent Rwanda at the finals in China.

Speaking at the event, Nelson Mbarushimana, director general of Rwanda Basic Education Board, said the competition highlights the importance of educational and cultural exchanges between China and Rwanda.

"The Chinese Bridge competition is not only about language proficiency, but also about understanding and embracing the rich culture of China. These competitions provide a unique opportunity for our students to demonstrate their Chinese language skills and showcase their understanding of Chinese traditions, arts, and history," he said. "It is a celebration of excellence and a testament to the dedication of our students and educators. The Ministry of Education is ready to continue to support this good partnership between the government of Rwanda and China."

Chinese Ambassador to Rwanda Wang Xuekun commended the Rwandan Ministry of Education for its support to Chinese language education.

This year marks the 15th anniversary of the establishment of the Confucius Institute at the University of Rwanda. Over the past 15 years, more than 40,000 Rwandan students have participated in learning Chinese, according to the Chinese envoy.

"More and more friends from Rwanda, especially Rwandan youth, have joined the circle of Chinese language learners, joining the big family of understanding Chinese culture and promoting China-Rwanda friendship and cooperation," Wang said.

The ambassador expressed his hope that Rwandan youth will continue to learn and use the Chinese language well to realize their dreams and contribute to the development of their communities and country. "We are willing to join hand in hand to compose a new chapter for a community with a shared future for mankind."

Zeng Guangyu, Chinese director of the Confucius Institute, said the competition attracts an increasing number of participants, and this year's contestants displayed better performance in the speech session than last year.

Florien Nsanganwimana, principal of the University of Rwanda's College of Education, said language learning is not only about acquiring the ability to communicate, but also about opening doors to new ideas, creating lasting friendships, and building bridges of cooperation and understanding across cultures.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Hilary Duff was a beaming mother as she stepped out with her brood of daughters in Los Angeles on Monday.

The mother-of-four, who welcomed her third daughter with husband Matthew Koma in May, went to a yogurt shop with Banks, five, Mae, three, and her family's newest addition, Townes.

The former Disney star flashed a huge smile as she carried her newborn in a front-facing carrier.

Duff's two older children wore adorable matching white eyelet dresses and ponytails.

Missing from the scene was her oldest child, 12-year-old son Luca, from her previous marriage to Mike Comrie.

Hilary Duff was a beaming mother as she stepped out with her brood of daughters in Los Angeles on Monday

The mother-of-four, who welcomed her third daughter with husband Matthew Koma in May, went to a yogurt shop with Banks, five, Mae, three, and her family's newest addition, Townes

The former Disney star carried her newborn in a front-facing carrier

The former Lizzie McGuire sensation also pulled her blonde locks into a carefree ponytail, with her long bangs loose at the front.

She was dressed in a gray sweater, light wash blue jeans, and flat sandals.

The actress flaunted a matching glossy red manicure and pedicure as she carried a cup of yogurt and her phone.

Her eyes were protected from the Southern California sun with a chic pair of dark, cateye sunglasses.

Hilary's baby girl's dangling legs and the top of her tiny head peeked out from the cream-colored carrier.

The Hollywood fixture, who rose to fame as a child star, later took to Instagram to share a sweet photo of the three sisters.

Banks endearingly held her new sibling, who was dressed in a white onesie with colorful balloons.

Duff posted the snapshot three times, zooming in on the baby's face in each subsequent photo and tagging her husband.

Hilary later took to Instagram to share a sweet photo of the three sisters

The actress used her Instagram Story to upload a black and white image of her pet resting on her chest on Monday night

Hilary and Matthew expanded their family with the May 3 birth of Townes

The longtime entertainer used her social media platform to announce the birth of her child in early May.

Sharing a series of five candid black and white photos from her home birth, she added a heartfelt caption.

Engaging her nearly 27 million followers, the new mom wrote: 'Townes Meadow Bair. now we know why she made us wait so longShe was perfecting those Cheeks!'

She added, 'I have been dreaming of holding you in my arms for months and the past 5 days of getting to know you, stare at you and smell you has been pure moments of magic. We all love you like youve been here all along, beauty. 5/3/24.'
Robert De Niro suited up to escort his babymama #2 Tiffany Chen to the Chanel-hosted 17th Annual Tribeca Festival Artists Dinner, which was held at French bistro The Odeon in Manhattan on Monday night.

The 80-year-old acting legend and the former martial arts instructor celebrated the first birthday of his seventh child - daughter Gia Virginia Chen De Niro - on April 6.

Tiffany - who came down with Bell's palsy after Gia's birth - looked elegant in a black silky slip dress beneath a brown sheer jacket as she toted a large white clutch.

Chen - a second-generation master of Tai Chi Ch'uan - kept her make-up minimal and adorned a silver sparkly chain around her large top-bun.

Robert - whose six-year divorce battle from estranged second wife Grace Hightower rages on - was still married when he met Tiffany in 2014 on the set of Nancy Meyers' dramedy The Intern, but they reportedly did not begin dating until 2021.

Robert De Niro suited up to escort his babymama #2 Tiffany Chen to the Chanel-hosted 17th Annual Tribeca Festival Artists Dinner, which was held at French bistro The Odeon in Manhattan on Monday night

The 80-year-old acting legend and the former martial arts instructor celebrated the first birthday of his seventh child - daughter Gia Virginia Chen De Niro - on April 6

De Niro and the 69-year-old Coffee of Grace founder are parents of 26-year-old son Elliot De Niro and 12-year-old daughter Helen De Niro.

The two-time Oscar winner has two children - daughter Drena De Niro, 56; and son Raphael De Niro, 47 - with ex-wife #1 Diahnne Abbott, whom he divorced in 1988 after 12 years of marriage.

Robert also fathered twin 28-year-old sons Aaron De Niro and Julian De Niro with his babymama #1 Toukie Smith.

De Niro is the co-founder of the Tribeca Film Festival - running now through Sunday - which is honoring his six-decade career in cinema with a full-blown 'De Niro Con' featuring screenings and a museum-style exhibition.

And next Sunday at 11am, French photographer-street artist JR will moderate a ticketed storyteller conversation with the four-time Emmy nominee at Spring Studios' Indeed Theater in Manhattan.

While at the fancy dinner on Monday, Robert and Chen mingled with the likes of Brooklyn-based artist Dustin Yellin.

Once inside at his VIP table, De Niro sat beside two-time Oscar nominee Jude Law, whom he's never acted with onscreen.

Audiences can currently catch the Nada actor executive producing and starring as Stan, the grandfather of an autistic boy (William A. Fitzgerald), in Tony Goldwyn's family dramedy Ezra, which hit US theaters May 31.

Tiffany - who came down with Bell's palsy after Gia's birth - looked elegant in a black silky slip dress beneath a brown sheer jacket as she toted a large white clutch

Chen - a second-generation master of Tai Chi Ch'uan - kept her make-up minimal and adorned a silver sparkly chain around her large top-bun

Robert - whose six-year divorce battle from estranged second wife Grace Hightower rages on - was still married when he met Tiffany in 2014 on the set of Nancy Meyers' dramedy The Intern, but they reportedly did not begin dating until 2021

De Niro is the co-founder of the Tribeca Film Festival - running now through Sunday - which is honoring his six-decade career in cinema with a full-blown 'De Niro Con' featuring screenings and a museum-style exhibition

And next Sunday at 11am, French photographer-street artist JR will moderate a ticketed storyteller conversation with the two-time Oscar winner at Spring Studios' Indeed Theater in Manhattan

While at the fancy dinner on Monday, Robert and Chen mingled with the likes of Brooklyn-based artist Dustin Yellin (L)

Once inside at his VIP table, De Niro sat beside two-time Oscar nominee Jude Law (L), whom he's never acted with onscreen

Audiences can currently catch the four-time Emmy nominee executive producing and starring as Stan, the grandfather of an autistic boy (William A. Fitzgerald), in Tony Goldwyn's family dramedy Ezra, which hit US theaters May 31

Back in 2016, Robert revealed his now 26-year-old son Elliot had been diagnosed with autism, which he and estranged second wife Grace Hightower (L, pictured in 2018) controversially claimed was directly linked to childhood vaccinations

Back in 2016, Robert revealed his own son Elliot had been diagnosed with autism, which he and Grace controversially claimed was directly linked to childhood vaccinations.

Bleecker Street's 100-minute road trip movie also stars Goldwyn, Bobby Cannavale, Rose Byrne, Vera Farmiga, Whoopi Goldberg, and Rainn Wilson.

Ezra currently has a 67% critic approval rating (out of 73 reviews) and a 92% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.

De Niro recently filmed his role as former President George Mullen in Netflix's six-episode political conspiracy thriller Zero Day, which he's also executive producing.

The About My Father star also has dual roles as Vito Genovese and Frank Costello in Barry Levinson's long-delayed mob movie Alto Knights (previously known as The Wise Guys), which Warner Bros. Pictures is scheduled to release into US theaters on November 15.

Throughout his acting career, Robert has been awarded with Kennedy Center Honors in 2009, the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 2011, Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama in 2016, and SAG Life Achievement Award in 2020.

De Niro also owns the Greenwich Hotel, the Nobu/Tribeca Grill restaurant chains, and Canal Productions.
Paris Hilton traded flying commercial for a private jet on Monday, as she shared a video showing off her 'new plane.'

The socialite, 43, was pictured boarding the luxury plane in a light blue pajama set and her cozy slippers.

'Taking off to NYC in my new plane! #SlivAir,' she wrote on the video, shared to her Instagram Stories.

The Hilton heiress  who recently helped kick off Pride Month  walked from the car to the plane, giving a quick wave at the camera.

The mom-of-two completed her travel look with a blue newsboy cap, sunglasses and a large tote bag.

Paris Hilton, 43, traded flying commercial for a private jet on Monday, as she shared a video showing off her 'new plane'

The star is known for her jet-setting lifestyle, and recently shares snaps of her flying with her son Phoenix, one, and daughter London, six months, to Hawaii.

Paris, who welcomed both Phoenix and London via surrogate, shares her kids with husband Carter Reum, 43. The entrepreneur began dating Reum in 2019.

The DJ and the businessman became engaged in February of 2021, and they tied the knot that November.

In February she revealed she celebrated her 43rd birthday by embarking on a getaway with Carter and Phoenix via private plane.

Hilton was also presented with several cupcakes that had been brought onto the plane in commemoration of her special day.

The plane also had a large balloon display wishing her a happy birthday.

Paris will release her second album Infinite Icon on September 6 - her first in over two decades.

The socialite released her first album Paris in 2006 and it spawned Turn It Up, Nothing In This World, and cult hit Stars Are Blind.

The socialite was pictured boarding the luxury plane in a light blue pajama set and her cozy slippers

'Taking off to NYC in my new plane! #SlivAir,' she wrote on the video, shared to her Stories

She walked from the car to the plane, giving a quick wave at the camera. The mom-of-two completed her travel look with a blue newsboy cap, sunglasses and a large tote bag

The star is known for her jet-setting lifestyle, and recently shares snaps of her flying with her son Phoenix, one, and daughter London, six months, to Hawaii

Phoenix looked cozy in a blanket for the travels

In February she revealed she celebrated her 43rd birthday by embarking on a getaway with husband Carter Reum, 43, and Phoenix via private plane

The DJ and the businessman became engaged in February of 2021, and they tied the knot that November; Seen in May 2024 in NYC

She then released a series of non-album singles, including 2015's High Off My Love, 2018's I Need You, 2023's Hot One and, in April she released Fame Won't Love You in collaboration with Sia.

Paris told Rolling Stone in 2023 that the experience of creating her song Hot One made her want to make another album.

She said: 'I was instantly inspired and knew we had to make this record. We went into Sunset Sound Studio and ended up recording 3 songs in just one day! It was magic!'

Earlier this month Paris kicked off Pride Month by sharing several photos from her Night Of 1000 Parises event.
Dina Broadhurst put on a racy display while sunbaking at a resort with a girlfriend.

The 46-year-old took to Instagram to repost a video of her working on her tan wearing nothing but a white thong while on holiday overseas.

Dina left little to the imagination as she lounged around on a sunbed rocking a pair of sunglasses and a straw hat by her side.

Elsewhere, her friend opted to cover up her ample assets by holding onto her cleavage while posing for the selfie.

The sighting comes just days after the Sydney socialite flaunted her trim figure in a series of snaps to Instagram on Sunday.

Dina Broadhurst (pictured) put on a racy display while sunbaking at a resort with a girlfriend. The 46-year-old took to Instagram to repost a video of her working on her tan wearing nothing but a white thong while on holiday overseas

Dina is no stranger to flaunting her physique, regularly sharing photos of her in swimwear to Instagram

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.

Her latest post comes after Dina finally confirmed her new romance with multimillionaire fridges heir John Winning last 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.
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, was seen downing shots with her husband-to-be before they partied into the night with their celebrity pals, including Ashley James and her partner Tommy as well as Lydia Bright and her new boyfriend Ben Davies.

Lucy looked incredible in a white, strapless gown with cut-out sections and gold buttons, with her hair pulled back into a sleek bun.

Standing beside her, Ryan opted for a linen shirt and white trousers, accessorising with a straw hat.

During the epic bash, the actor was seen waving a sparkler in the air and dancing while his friends and family cheered him on.

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, was seen downing shots with her husband-to-be before they partied into the night with their celebrity pals

Lucy looked incredible in a white, strapless gown with cut-out sections and gold buttons, with her hair pulled back into a sleek bun

They were joined by their children Lilah, 17 months, and son Roman, four, as well as his daughter, Scarlett, 15, who he shares with his ex Tina O'Brien.

Scarlett, who is currently playing Izzy Charles in the Waterloo Road reboot, got up on stage to sing Shallow, from A Star Is Born.

Guests were seen dancing to a live band and enjoying a healthy breakfast the next day in a bid to cure their hangovers.

Sharing some photos to Instagram, Ryan thanked Lucy writing: 'You made my 40th unforgettable. Love you my angel.'

The previous day, Lucy wore 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 shirt 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.

Celebrity pals, including Ashley James (pictured) and her partner Tommy as well as Lydia Bright and her new boyfriend Ben Davies flew out for the party

Lydia wore a stunning sequinned gown while her boyfriend Ben opted for a linen shirt

Ryan's daughter, Scarlett, 15, who he shares with his ex Tina O'Brien, was also present (pictued with his brother Scott)

Ryan (centre) pictured with his brothers Adam (left) and Scott (right)

Scarlett, who is currently playing Izzy Charles in the Waterloo Road reboot, got up on stage to sing Shallow, from A Star Is Born

Ryan danced and gave his youngest daughter Lilah, 17 months, a sweet kiss

Sharing some photos to Instagram, Ryan thanked Lucy writing: 'You made my 40th unforgettable. Love you my angel'

The table settings were beautiful and personalised to each guest with their name attached to the napkin.

Ryan's brother Love Island star Scott shared images of the family lunch the day before.

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.

Guests were seen dancing to a live band and enjoying a healthy breakfast the next day in a bid to cure their hangovers

Lucy soaked up some sun and relaxed following the revelry

The previous day, Lucy wore a summery one-shoulder yellow dress and gold heels as she shared a glimpse at the celebrations on her Instagram

The couple posed for photos with Ashley and Tommy

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

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.'
Constance Hall has given fans an update on her relationship with partner Denim Cooke.

The mother-of-seven, from Perth, said in an Instagram Stories video that they grow stronger all the time.

'Yes it was getting better, they dip and then they get better again,' the 40-year-old said.

'The thing I love most about Denzy is that his heart is kind, really kind and he's always prepared to change and grow and listen,' she continued.

'Like for example, I was saying to him the other day, I don't want to keep telling you what the f**k to do because I need to focus on what I'm doing and I had a go at him and we fought,' Constance went on.

Constance Hall has given fans an update on her relationship with partner Denim Cooke. The mother-of-seven, from Perth , said in an Instagram Stories video that they grow stronger all the time. Both pictured

'Then he went off and he thought about it, he comes back and he goes "I think it is because I never saw my dad doing this" and he was vacuuming and he was like I really want to get better, I want to be a better husband.'

Constance had been living apart from her partner after he almost died falling off a motorbike, but he has since moved back in.

'He just completely checked out of life after the accident,' she said.

Denim was involved in a horror motorbike crash in August, 2020.

The 48-year-old was airlifted to a trauma ward at Royal Perth Hospital suffering seven broken ribs, punctured lungs, multiple infections and a brain injury after skidding off his bike.

'Yes it was getting better, they dip and then they get better again,' the 40-year-old said. 'The thing I love most about Denzy is that his heart is kind, really kind and he's always prepared to change and grow and listen,' she continued

'I think when he woke up from the accident, I was very excited. And there was this sort of false hope,' Constance said.

'I spoke to the doctors, and they said Denim doesn't have motivation anymore. The frontal lobe damage has taken any of that away that he might have had before.

'His psychiatrist said really recently, and it was really clever, 'He loves you. He loves his family. He needs to work for you rather than just getting you and all the things you do and provide... and that's not gonna happen unless he's removed from the family home.''

The couple began to look into an assisted care facility to get a few nights away from each other and heal but Constance was reminded constantly that he was 'becoming a shell of a man'.

Constance had been living apart from her partner after he almost died falling off a motorbike in 2020, but he has since moved back in

Denim went to stay with 'his bestest friend' who lives in Esperance, a 10 hour drive away from Constance's home in Margaret River.

'I spoke to him the next day, and there was just this light in his face... like he was just his old self again. He was clear. He was awake and alive and around lovely people,' she said.

Her empathy, compassion and desire soon returned and Constance thanks her partner's psychiatrist for stepping in when he did to 'help them'.

Constance and Denim met in 2017, they 'married' and had their son Raja in 2018 bringing the total 'kid count' to seven.

The controversial mummy blogger explained up until recently, she was still legally married to her first husband, British carpenter Bill Mahon, because she couldn't cope with the red tape involved with getting a divorce, hence she and Denim are not legally married at this time.
Amy Childs has candidly revealed her seven-year-old daughter Polly has been diagnosed with dyslexia, as she proudly shared to her Instagram fans on Tuesday.

The mother-of-four, 34, who is also dyslexic, shares Polly with her ex-boyfriend Bradley Wright.

The TOWIE star posted a picture of her 'beautiful and hardworking' daughter in her uniform, as she made the announcement.

As well as Polly, Amy shares one-year-old twins Billy and Millie with her current partner Billy Delbosq and six-year-old son Ritchie Jr with her businessman ex Ritchie.

Amy also discussed her struggle with dyslexia after she was diagnosed aged four but said she always made sure she tried her best in school.

Amy Childs, 34, who is also dyslexic, has candidly revealed her seven-year-old daughter Polly has been diagnosed with dyslexia, as she proudly shared to her Instagram fans on Tuesday

The TOWIE star posted a picture of her 'beautiful and hardworking' daughter in her uniform, as she made the announcement

She wrote: 'My Polly So we got the news last week that Polly is Dyslexic..!

'I got diagnosed with dyslexia when I was 4! The struggles that I went from day to day, struggling with school work, finding it hard to read, it was really tough, I failed every single gcse but I tried my hardest always.

'I was confident, I could go into a room and speak to anyone, I had amazing manners, and I become head girl at school, just because having a diagnosis doesnt mean you cant achieve what you want in life..

'I just want to say Polly you are the most amazing beautiful girl, you are hard working, you are kind and the loveliest girl, I am so bloody proud of you Polly.

'You really are the most special girl in the world.'

Dyslexia is a common learning difficulty that mainly causes problems with reading, writing and spelling.

In 2011, Amy revealed she struggled through school and was always playing catch-up due to the learning difficulty.

She said: 'I struggled all the way through school and was always playing catch-up. But my mum and dad were determined it wouldnt hold me back.

The mother-of-four shares Polly with her ex-boyfriend Bradley Wright (pictured together in 2015)

As well as Polly, Amy shares one-year-old twins Billy and Millie with her current partner Billy Delbosq (pictured)

She also shares six-year-old son Ritchie Jr with her businessman ex Ritchie (Amy pictured holding Ritchie Jr when he was born, next to Polly)

Amy also discussed her struggle with dyslexia after she was diagnosed aged four but said she always made sure she tried her best in school

She wrote: 'My Polly So we got the news last week that Polly is Dyslexic... 'I just want to say Polly you are the most amazing beautiful girl, you are hard working, you are kind and the loveliest girl, I am so bloody proud of you Polly. You really are the most special girl in the world'

She added: 'I got diagnosed with dyslexia when I was 4! The struggles that I went from day to day, struggling with school work, finding it hard to read, it was really tough, I failed every single gcse but I tried my hardest always'

She continued: 'I was confident, I could go into a room and speak to anyone, I had amazing manners, and I become head girl at school, just because having a diagnosis doesnt mean you cant achieve what you want in life'

'They went without nights out and holidays so I could have private tuition. It gave me the confidence to believe in myself.

'I only got one GCSE, a B for my French, because I could speak it better than I could write it. But when I started working in a beauty salon at 15, everyone said I was a natural. If I put my mind to something, then I do it.

'Now I am older I have become better, but my main problem is memory. I still find it hard if Im presenting to remember my lines exactly, but its OK because I like putting it in my own words.

'Id say to anyone with dyslexia, just keep working hard and dont let it affect you. Look at Richard Branson. Hes dyslexic and hes done all right.'
Grant Denyer has shared a revelation that could change the way we all fly.

While returning home from a family holiday, the Deal or No Deal host, 46, made an incredible discovery about the hidden features of a plane toilet, which he excitedly shared with his Instagram followers.

Denyer, who was on a flight back from Fiji with his family, took the unusual step of filming inside the plane toilet to share his newfound knowledge.

In his Instagram Stories, he revealed that he had always disliked using his hands to open the flap of a plane toilet's bin, where paper hand towels are disposed of.

To his amazement, Denyer discovered a foot pedal near the floor that can be pressed to open the bin flap.

Grant Denyer has shared a revelation that could change the way we all fly. Pictured

While returning home from a family holiday, the Deal or No Deal host, 46, made an incredible discovery about the hidden features of a plane toilet, which he excitedly shared with his Instagram followers

Clearly stunned by this revelation, he shared the hack with his followers, saying, 'Surely I'm not the only person who just learnt about this.'

The video, captioned with this newfound wisdom, shows Denyer zooming in on his white-socked foot pressing down on the pedal, which is located directly under the toilet roll, close to the plane floor.

As he presses the pedal, the bin flap opens, allowing towels to be disposed of without touching the bin.

'The bin is always full for me and I hate touching the bin,' he wrote. 'Did you know about it?'

He then panned back down to the foot pedal to give his viewers a clear view of its location, emphasising the convenience of this small but significant feature.

This life-changing, lightbulb moment for Denyer was clearly a highlight of his trip.

Denyer, who was on a flight back from Fiji with his family, took the unusual step of filming inside the plane toilet to share his newfound knowledge

In his Instagram Stories, he revealed that he had always disliked using his hands to open the flap of a plane toilet's bin, where paper hand towels are disposed of

This life-changing, lightbulb moment for Denyer was clearly a highlight of his trip. Pictured with wife Chezzi

Grant recently sent social media ablaze as he delivered his best Borat impression in an amusing post.

The Deal Or No Deal Instagram shared an edited snap transformed into Sacha Baron Cohen's mockumentary character Borat.

The picture hysterically saw Grant's head superimposed on top of the famous shot of Borat wearing a lime green mankini while standing on the beach giving a thumbs-up.

Fans were quick to take to the comments section to share their surprise over the bizarre choice of promotional material as they joked that they can 'never un-see' it.

They wrote: 'We can never un-see that'; 'That's a no'; 'Oh my'; 'My eyes!'; 'Gosh hope that's a photoshop - Because that's just so awful;'
Melissa Suffield has revealed she is closer to discovering the cause of her nausea and dramatic weight loss.

The former EastEnders star, 31, has endured bouts of vomiting over the last six months and has spent 1,500 on private appointments trying to determine the cause.

Taking to her Instagram Stories on Monday, Melissa told how she had been diagnosed with small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO).

According to the Mayo Clinic, SIBO 'commonly results when a circumstance  such as surgery or disease  slows the passage of food and waste products in the digestive tract, creating a breeding ground for bacteria.

'The excess bacteria often cause diarrhoea and may cause weight loss and malnutrition.'

Melissa Suffield has revealed she is closer to discovering the cause of her nausea and dramatic weight loss

The former EastEnders star, 31, has endured bouts of vomiting over the last six months and has spent 1,500 on private appointments trying to determine the cause

Melissa, who played Lucy Beale on the soap, added that she also has low levels of Vitamin B12 and the SIPO may in fact be a symptom of this.

The actress explained she got her B12 levels tested and found it was at the very low end of what is considered a normal level.

The star noted that she had already been taking B12 supplements so her natural level was likely much lower.

In her post, she wrote: 'It's highly likely that I have an issue with B12 absorption. Why? Unsure. But we know it's highly likely, is the reason can come later / this needs to be addressed now.

'I'm really hopng it's going to be the start of some genuine healing, and getting me back to where and WHO I ned to be.'

The star told how she is going to Cambridge next month for an appointment with a B2 specialist where she will be taught how to self-administer a B12 injection.

She wrote: 'I want to stop spending all my spare time reading NICE guidelines and researching and reading papers and studies, and spend my time playing with my son and seeing my friends and family and eating nice meals and generaly just not constantly worrying.

'Don't be surprised if you suddenly see me posting a load of ads lol, because this s**t is exepennnnnnsssssiiiveee.'

Taking to her Instagram Stories on Monday, Melissa told how she had been diagnosed with small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO)

Melissa, who played Lucy Beale on the soap, added that she also has low levels of Vitamin B12 and the SIPO may in fact be a symptom of this

It comes after Melissa proudly showed off her post-baby body in lacy lingerie as she encouraged mothers to 'let themselves be.'

The soap star posed in a lacy, yellow, lingerie set as she hit back at the pressure that is put on mums.

Melissa gave birth to her son River in March 2020 and has since devoted her Instagram page to encouraging women to celebrate their bodies and help them feel confident.

In an Instagram update, she clutched on to her tummy and explained how it's okay 'if your body is new.'

The actress wrote: 'Its not a race. There is no time limit on postpartum. You will always be post birth.

It comes after Melissa proudly showed off her post-baby body in lacy lingerie as she encouraged mothers to 'let themselves be

The actress gave birth to her son River in March 2020 and has since devoted her Instagram page to encouraging women to celebrate their bodies and help them feel confident

She continued: 'Its ok to show signs of that. Having a baby changes every part of you, its ok if your body is one of those new things.

'I know it feels like theres pressure, a time limit, when that fourth trimester is over and youre expected to suddenly have your energy, body, life back, your s*** totally together.

'Its b******. Im not convinced Ill ever get any of those things back and my kid just turned 4.

'So welcome to the fifth trimester. The pressure is off here. Its ok to let yourself be, mama.'
Luke Burgess and his long-time partner Tori May are expecting their second child together, and they've decided to take a babymoon before the birth.

The couple have headed back to the NRL player's native England, sharing a sweet image outside Buckingham Palace.

The pair rugged up against the cold for the sweet image, which was shared to Luke's Instagram Stories on Tuesday.

They had earlier enjoyed another getaway to Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort on Queensland's Gold Coast.

The couple announced the happy news of their new pregnancy in a joint Instagram post on Easter Sunday.

Luke Burgess and his long-time partner Tori May are expecting their second child together, and they've decided to take a babymoon before the birth. Both pictured

The NRL star, 37, and his fiancee, who became engaged last year, were both tagged in sweet images of Tori's bump and ultrasound.

'One of us had a few too many Easter choccy eggs,' Tori wrote in her caption alongside photos of her growing bump.

She wore a black swimsuit in the images with her face just out of frame and her blossoming belly on display.

The loved-up couple became engaged at Shelly Beach in NSW in December.

They had earlier enjoyed another getaway to Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort on Queensland's Gold Coast

The couple announced the happy news of their new pregnancy in a joint Instagram post on Easter Sunday

Tori was seen happily showing off her dazzling engagement ring in a bikini as she rests it on her hunky man's chest.

In a second image, the lovebirds are seen locking lips and cuddling as they celebrate the joyous occasion.

Luke captioned the moment with some tender words.

'23/12/23 She said YES!' he began, adding a ring emoji.

'The perfect way to bring 2023 to an end. We are so excited to start this next chapter of our lives together,' he continued.

The couple have been dating since early 2020 and share one-year-old daughter, Charlotte.

Luke already shares daughter Grace, eight, with his ex-partner Yolanda Hodgson.

The pair dated for seven years until 2019.

Luke first made his name in the UK with Leeds Rhinos in the English Super League, winning a title in 2009.

He then moved to Australia ahead of the 2011 NRL season, signing a deal alongside his three siblings - Sam as well as twins, George and Tom - at South Sydney Rabbitohs.
Naomi Campbell left commuters in London stunned on Tuesday when she was spotted on the Victoria Line.

The supermodel, 54, joined TikTok star Sabrina Bahsoon, 23, known as Tube Girl, as they danced on the London Underground to Charlie XCX's new song, 360.

Naomi swished her hair in the wind while wearing a cropped leather biker jacket, baggy jeans and Nike trainers.

Sabrina became an overnight sensation online for the TikTok videos in August last year after posting a clip of herself dancing on the Central Line. She now boasts 32.9 million like and 795.7K followers on the platform.

Sharing the TikTok to her Instagram, Naomi wrote: 'What a fun afternoon going back to my roots and visiting my hometown of Brixton with Sabrina on the Victoria line in preparation for my upcoming exhibition at the V&A.'

Naomi Campbell, 54, left commuters in London stunned on Tuesday when she was spotted on the Victoria Line

The supermodel joined TikTok star Sabrina Bahsoon, 23, known as Tube Girl, as they danced on the London Underground to Charlie XCX's new song, 360

The Naomi: In Fashion exhibition explores the iconic model's amazing 40-year career in the fashion world.

The display will also feature fashion photography, curated by Edward Enninful.

It will open 22 June 2024 and run until 6 April 2025 and will feature past and present pieces from the designers who helped shape her early career.

Outfits from Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana, Alexander McQueen, Jean Paul Gaultier, Virgil Abloh and more set to be included.

In December Sabrina said she was 'so glad' to have sparked a worldwide trend in 2023 which encourages women to have fun and get out of their comfort zones.

The student, from west London, who described how getting 'thrown into this, it can be very daunting', said: 'I definitely did not expect (to go viral). I just posted that video for fun.'

In the clip, which amassed more than 10million views, Bahsoon can be seen dancing along to David Guetta's Where Them Girls At featuring Nicki Minaj.

The caption read: 'Being the friend who lives on the other side of the city so you gotta hype yourself up during the commute.'

Naomi swished her hair in the wind while wearing a cropped leather biker jacket, baggy jeans and Nike trainers

Sabrina became an overnight sensation online for the TikTok videos in August last year after posting a clip of herself dancing on the Central Line

Sharing the TikTok to her Instagram, Naomi wrote: 'What a fun afternoon going back to my roots and visiting my hometown of Brixton with Sabrina on the Victoria line'

From there the dancing format exploded, with many more videos from Bahsoon following as she coupled music from artists including Rihanna and Charlie XCX with her trademark move of using the windows of Tube carriages to allow wind to blow through her hair.

'They're super empowering and they make you feel confident and like you're that b****,' Bahsoon said.

Despite many recognising Bahsoon as Tube Girl, it was her current manager who came up with the name.

'My manager reached out to me when I had 6,000 followers, after the second Tube Girl video,' she said.

'He said to me, "I was telling my friends that I was having a meeting with the Tube Girl and they were so excited", and it sort of clicked in my head. I hashtagged it on the rest of my videos and it kind of went from there.'

Bahsoon now has millions of views per video on TikTok, which has led to women worldwide emulating the trend by proudly dancing on often packed public transport.

'I'm so glad other girls are having fun with me and getting out of their comfort zones and caring less about what others think,' she said. 'Now I see the Tube Girls of Warsaw, of Paris, and it's just insane.'

Sabrina filmed her first video as her dancing alter ego on the Central line in August with no idea she would become TikTok famous, she now boasts 32.9 million like and 795.7K followers

Bahsoon said she is much shier in herself than as her alter ego. 'I am way more shy and introverted than Tube Girl is,' she said. 'She's like my alter ego, she's way more sassier.'

As she spends a lot of time on the London Underground travelling to visit friends - which was the inspiration behind the dancing trend - she has become somewhat of a Tube connoisseur.

'The Central line is my favourite because that is where the original video was filmed,' she said. 'And then I would say the Victoria line as that is another line I take a lot to go and see my friends.

'The Bakerloo line is the worst for me because I just don't like the lighting in there and it's very rickety and hard to keep my balance.'
Debbie McGee spoke out in support of her former Strictly partner Giovanni Pernice once again on social media on Tuesday, after it was confirmed he won't return for this year's series.

The professional dancers who will appear on the upcoming 2024 series were announced on Monday - with Giovanni's name absent amid a probe into alleged workplace 'misconduct'.

Magician's assistant Debbie, 65, who was Giovanni's celebrity partner on the show back in 2017, admitted she's 'heartbroken' for the Italian dancer, 33.

Debbie claimed he 'nurtured her through grief and gave her confidence' during their stint on the show, as she defended the dancer for a third time.

Alongside a photo of the pair, she penned: 'I am heartbroken for @giovannipernice My experience on Strictly will always be happy and life changing.

Debbie McGee, 65, spoke out in support of her former Strictly partner Giovanni Pernice, 33, once again on social media on Tuesday, after it was confirmed he won't return for this year's series

Magician's assistant Debbie, who was Giovanni's celebrity partner on the show back in 2017, admitted she's 'heartbroken' for the Italian dancer

'Gio nurtured me through my grief and gave me confidence I could do things I thought was beyond me. '

In March, Debbie admitted that all of her memories on the show were 'happy ones' and said she 'adored' Giovanni, as well as the rest of the team.

Speaking to the Express, she said: 'All my memories of Strictly behind-the-scenes are happy ones. I adored every single minute and every single person I was working with.

'I never felt an ounce of competitiveness. Everyone supported each other - Pros and Celebrities.'

The BBC launched an investigation after the dancer was accused of 'threatening and abusive behaviour' while working with celebrity contestants on the show, including Amanda Abbington, Ranvir Singh and Laura Whitmore - which he has strongly denied.

Last week a male celebrity reportedly joined the group of women making complaints about Giovanni's behaviour.

It has also been claimed that a professional dancer needed three months of therapy after starring on the show alongside Giovanni.

James Jordan gave his opinion on the drama after it was confirmed he won't return to the series.

Debbie claimed he 'nurtured her through grief and gave her confidence' during their stint on the show, as she defended the dancer for a third time

Alongside a photo of the pair, she penned: 'I am heartbroken for @giovannipernice My experience on Strictly will always be happy and life changing. Gio nurtured me through my grief and gave me confidence I could do things I thought was beyond me. '

In March, Debbie admitted that all of her memories on the show were 'happy ones' and said she 'adored' Giovanni, as well as the rest of the team

Speaking to the Express , she said: 'All my memories of Strictly behind-the-scenes are happy ones. I adored every single minute and every single person I was working with. I never felt an ounce of competitiveness. Everyone supported each other - Pros and Celebrities.'

Appearing on This Morning on Tuesday, former dancer on the show James and his wife Ola gave their views on the decision, as James admitted: 'It's a shame it has come to this'.

He added: 'The only thing I will say is there is no smoke without fire and I have always protected the professional dancers and we don't know the ins and outs of it.

'Isn't the proof in the pudding a little bit. He is not back on the show so clearly, whether he has decided not to go back or whether the BBC have not asked him back there is something going on and we have not seen the footage.'

While James left the show back in 2013, he confessed: 'I would be devastated, is this happened to me.

'For four people to come forward there must be something there,' before adding: 'It is very difficult to go on something that we do not see'.

Meanwhile his wife Ola explained: 'Not everyone gets on and you have to change how to dance with each one.'

Fellow professional dancer Kristina Rihanoff also appeared on the ITV daytime show as she joined hosts Ben Shephard and Cat Deeley in studio to share her upset over the news.

She began: 'I think the show will always go on and do great things because they have a great pool of dancers.'

The professional dancers who will appear on the upcoming 2024 series were announced on Monday - with Giovanni's name absent amid a probe into alleged workplace 'misconduct'

Amanda Abbington left the competition mid-way through the series, citing personal reasons after weeks of rumours about a feud with Giovanni

The BBC launched an investigation after the dancer was accused of 'threatening and abusive behaviour' while working with celebrity contestants on the show, including Amanda Abbington (pictured), Ranvir Singh and Laura Whitmore

The Sherlock star, who is now being represented by 700-an-hour law firm Carter-Ruck, said she was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and demanded to see footage from rehearsals

Looking visibly saddened, Kristina explained: 'The news is very sad as I think when you lose one of the best choreographers and dancers on the show as a professional it is very sad.'

'He produced some very memorable dancers and took a few of his celebrity partners all the way to the final.

'So from a professional point of view the show will lose a wonderful dancer and choreographer.'

Amanda left the competition mid-way through the series, citing personal reasons after weeks of rumours about a feud with Giovanni.

The Sherlock star, who is now being represented by 700-an-hour law firm Carter-Ruck, said she was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and demanded to see footage from rehearsals.

Kristina confirmed she always had her rehearsals recorded, as she added: 'I have never not had the training sessions recorded'.

On Monday the lineup for the next series confirmed the return of dancers Dianne Buswell, Nadiya Bychkova, Graziano Di Prima, Karen Hauer, Katya Jones, Neil Jones, Nikita Kuzmin, Gorka Marquez and Luba Mushtuk.

Joining them are Jowita Przystal, Johannes Radebe, Kai Widdrington, Nancy Xu, Carlos Gu, Lauren Oakley, Michelle Tsiakkas and Vito Coppola.

James Jordan and his wife Ola gave his opinion on the drama after it was confirmed he won't return to the series

Fellow professional dancer Kristina Rihanoff also appeared on the ITV daytime show as she joined hosts Ben Shephard and Cat Deeley in studio to share her upset over the news and admitted: 'the show will go on'

While Amy Dowden is also coming back to the dancefloor after taking a break from the show last year to undergo cancer treatment.

The BBC also confirmed the return of judges Shirley Ballas, Motsi Mabuse, Craig Revel-Horwood and Anton Du Beke.

While fans were overjoyed to see Amy, 33, and the other dancers return, many were angry that Giovanni was not coming back, believing he had been pushed out by bosses due to the allegations about his behaviour.

They took to social media to fume that the Italian had been made a 'scapegoat' and said they would not watch the show anymore in protest, claiming it 'won't be the same without him'.

They raged: 'Gutted! He's my fav. Should be a petition to bring him back! If some celebs can't handle the training and hard work then they shouldn't go on the show. He was amazing with Rose; That's me not watching anymore!'
The Piano winner Brad Kella has admitted that he 'doesn't know what the keys mean' and his extraordinary talent is based purely on listening and comparing sounds.

The amateur pianist, 22, from Liverpool was declared season two's champion during Sunday's heart-wrenching finale at the Aviva Studios in Manchester.

But on Tuesday's episode of This Morning, he revealed that not only is he self-taught, but the way he plays is through sound only because he cannot read or write music.

Brad explained that he doesn't know what each key means, and each time he plays a song, it turns out differently because it is based on memory.

Chatting to Ben Shephard and Cat Deeley, the musician said: 'When I'm playing music I could create a piece, like the Ev and Frank piece, but when you hear me play that piece again, parts of it will be slightly different.

The Piano winner Brad Kella has admitted that he 'doesn't know what the keys mean' and his extraordinary talent is based purely on listening and comparing sounds

On Tuesday's episode of This Morning, he revealed that not only is he self-taught, but the way he plays is through sound only because he cannot read or write music

'And that is purely because I actually don't know what I am playing, I don't know what the keys mean I just understand the sound distance in between each key.'

His candid interview comes just days after Brad left viewers in tears during his winning performance on Sunday as he reached the final alongside other hopefuls including fellow fan favourite Duncan, 80, who suffers from Dementia.

The Channel 4 show sees a range of musicians play the piano in train stations across the UK in a bid to impress passersby with their music.

Brad took to the stage to perform a song he had written in honour of his beloved foster parents Ev and Frank, who wiped away tears as they watched from the audience.

After impressing judges Mika and Lang Lang, as well as host Claudia Winkleman, and being declared the winner, he made an impassioned speech.

He said: 'I just want to show that us care kids can still do stuff, we just need to be around the right people. Thank you so much for appreciating my music'.

Viewers were left in bits and took to X writing: 'Watched the Piano the final and I have probably wept through the entire programme'

'Well done brad! So utterly deserved, I have just cried ugly tears from start to finish'

The amateur pianist, 22, from Liverpool was declared season two's champion during Sunday's heart-wrenching finale at the Aviva Studios in Manchester

Brad explained that he doesn't know what each key means, and each time he plays a song, it turns out differently because it is based on memory

Brad pictured during his first ever piano lesson which was headed by Chinese superstar pianist Lang Lang

It comes just days after Brad left viewers in tears during his winning performance on Sunday as he reached the final alongside other hopefuls including fellow fan favourite Duncan

'Well Done Brad on the thepiano may have cried a few tears'.

While others said: 'Wow #ThePiano !! All were brilliant - I had tears streaming down my face listening to the music and the stories of these talented musicians! Brad was inspirational what an amazing man to write such a wonderful piece for his foster parents ( cue tears again !)'.

Brad previously spoke about his childhood and credited his foster parents with turning his life around.

Saying: 'I got put in foster care when I was seven years old with my twin brother. I was so confused. I remember hanging onto the railings outside my foster parents' [house] and I didn't want to go in.'

'What they did for me and my brother was absolutely everything. They'd make sure we were up to start in school, routine, getting up early, going to bed early. They gave me absolutely everything and more.'

Brad took to the stage to perform a song he had written in honour of his beloved foster parents Ev and Frank, who wiped away tears as they watched from the audience

The Channel 4 show sees a range of musicians play the piano in train stations across the UK in a bid to impress passersby with their music (Duncan pictured with his wife)

After impressing judges Mika and Lang Lang, as well as host Claudia Winkleman, and being declared the winner he made an impassioned speech

He said: 'I just want to show that us care kids can still do stuff, we just need to be around the right people. Thank you so much for appreciating my music'

Brad previously spoke about his childhood and credited his foster parents with turning his life around

Explaining how his parents helped him develop his love for music he said: 'I never started playing piano until I was 14. I can't read music, I've never had a lesson in my life. But when I hear music, it's something about it. I feel it differently than normal people'

Emotional fans took to social media to praise Brad's talents

Explaining how his parents helped him develop his love for music he said: 'I never started playing piano until I was 14.

'I can't read music, I've never had a lesson in my life. But when I hear music, it's something about it. I feel it differently than normal people.

Before adding: 'Ev put some money in to get a piano. From that moment, my life changed.'

Last year, fans were left captivated by the victorious performance on the show's debut from then-13-year-old blind and autistic girl, Lucy Illingworth, who won the show.

The teenager from Halifax in West Yorkshire moved viewers to tears with an awe-inspiring recital of Debussy's Arabesque, leading judges Lang Land and Mika to call her a 'genius'.

One year on and the moment was nominated for a BAFTA, in a category with scenes from Doctor Who, Succession and Happy Valley.

Also since her amazing performance on the Channel 4 talent show, Lucy has performed to a packed Royal Albert Hall, and left the King and Queen speechless as King Charles III's Coronation concert.

So, where is Lucy now, as The Piano returns to find another hidden musical star?

Viewers of Channel 4 's The Piano were left captivated by the victorious performance on the show's debut from 13-year-old blind and autistic girl, Lucy in the show's 2023 debut

She went on to put in the 'best performance' at the show's concert finale at the Royal Festival Hall

In the months after the programme aired, Lucy left the newly-crowned King and Queen speechless during a performance at their Coronation concert (pictured)

On her way to The Piano's final, Lucy wowed passers by at Leeds train station with her rendition of Chopin's Nocturne in B-flat minor, with the video being viewed over five million times online.

The pianist, who was born with cancerous tumours in her eyes and is largely non-verbal, was put forward by her mother Candice forward for the competition as she wanted to show others how 'amazing' she was and raise awareness of her condition.

Her performance has landed her and the programme in the Best Moment category at the BAFTA Television Awards - which take place on May 12.

Other nominees in the category are: David Beckham teasing Victoria about her 'working class' upbringing in their Netflix documentary, Ncuti Gatwa being revealed as the 15th Doctor in Doctor Who, Catherine Cawood and Tommy Lee Royce's final showdown on BBC One's Happy Valley, Bill and Frank's Story in Sky Atlantic series The Last Of Us and Logan Roy's death in Succession on the same channel.

Since recording the show, hosted by Claudia Winkleman, Lucy has been learning more and more pieces by artists including Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Irving Berlin, George Gershwin, Duke Ellington and Stevie Wonder.

Less than two months after her win aired, Lucy wowed the newly-crowned King and Queen, as well as tens of thousands more spectators, at Charles' Coronation concert in Windsor.

She was on the bill alongside world-renowned artists like Lionel Richie and Nicole Scherzinger.
Molly-Mae Hague and her fiance Tommy Fury put on a loved-up display as they stepped out together for the first time in three months on Tuesday - after she quashed rumours they had split.

The former Love Island star, 25, and professional boxer, also 25, who share daughter Bambi, 17 months, have been hit with speculations that their romance is under fire in recent months.

And while they have featured on each other's Instagram's regularly this year, until Tuesday they hadn't been seen on an outing together since March when they stepped out for Mother's Day in Cheshire.

As they stepped out in Hale, near Manchester, they looked as happy as ever laughing away with their arms around each other.

Molly-Mae looked casually chic in a cropped burgundy T-shirt, distressed leather jacket and baggy black trousers.

Molly-Mae Hague and her fiance Tommy Fury put on a loved-up display as they stepped out together for the first time in three months on Tuesday - after she quashed rumours they had split

The former Love Island star, 25, and professional boxer, also 25, who share daughter Bambi, 17 months, have been hit with speculations that their romance is under fire in recent months

She completed her outfit with white flip flops and accessorised with a simple gold chain necklace.

Molly-Mae wore dark shades and had her blonde tresses pulled up into a chic up do while opting for minimal makeup.

Meanwhile beside her Tommy cut a sporty figure in a grey hoodie and light blue shirts, teamed with trainers and white Nike socks.

It comes after earlier this week Molly-Mae quashed rumours that she has split from her fiance Tommy in her recent YouTube video on Monday.

As she gushed how 'amazing' he is as a father in the clip, Molly-Mae also insisted he is 'everything she could wish him to be and more'.

Molly-Mae included a sweet segment in her video where she facetimed Tommy while he was enjoying a day out with Bambi.

After the phone call, she told viewers: 'He's at the Trafford Centre with her, honestly he is so good with Bambi. Tommy has always been a really good dad but recently, since she's been walking, I feel like they are so close and he is so good with her.

'He is an amazing dad, he is so calm. He's taken her out for the day now and he's gone to the Trafford Centre so I can get on with things I need to do.

And while they have featured on each other's Instagram's regularly this year, until Tuesday they hadn't been seen on an outing together since March when they stepped out for Mother's Day in Cheshire

As they stepped out in Hale, near Manchester, they looked as happy as ever laughing away with their arms around each other

Molly-Mae looked casually chic in a cropped burgundy T-shirt, distressed leather jacket and baggy black trousers

She completed her outfit with white flip flops and accessorised with a simple gold chain necklace

Molly-Mae wore dark shades and had her blonde tresses pulled up into a chic up do while opting for minimal makeup

Meanwhile beside her Tommy cut a sporty figure in a grey hoodie and light blue shirts, teamed with trainers and white Nike socks

It comes after earlier this week Molly-Mae quashed rumours that she has split from her fiance Tommy in her recent YouTube video on Monday

As she gushed how 'amazing' he is as a father in the clip, Molly-Mae also insisted he is 'everything she could wish him to be and more'

Molly-Mae included a sweet segment in her video where she facetimed Tommy while he was enjoying a day out with Bambi

'He uses his initiative, he stays calm. He's probably better than I am to be honest because I'm a stress head, He's so calm and collected.

'And yeah, just him at the minute as a dad, he is just everything I can wish him to be and more.'

The speculation started after Molly-Mae failed to wish Tommy a happy birthday on social media and prior to that had complained of a 'sex drought' during a Q&A video.

Tommy is also apparently acting in ways which confuse his middle-class girlfriend.

Molly-Mae reportedly complains of Tommy's habit of going away with friends that she 'doesn't know where he is going'.

He also enjoys drinking alcohol - something Molly-Mae avoids and it was claimed that they had been spending a considerable amount of time away from each other.

A friend said: 'They are spending time apart quite a bit. They are leading quite separate lives.'

Molly-Mae and Tommy sparked relationship concerns last year when she was seen without her engagement ring on multiple times.

Their 'rocky patch' came after Tommy's wild nights out in Dubai with Chris Brown left Molly-Mae 'mortified' by his partying behaviour but in February she seemingly suggested that Tommy's secret hand injury is what 'caused so many problems' within their family.

The speculation started after Molly-Mae failed to wish Tommy a happy birthday on social media and prior to that had complained of a 'sex drought' during a Q&A video

Molly-Mae and Tommy sparked relationship concerns last year when she was seen without her engagement ring on multiple times.

Their 'rocky patch' came after Tommy's wild nights out in Dubai with Chris Brown left Molly-Mae 'mortified' by his partying behaviour

She said: 'He didn't share it with anyone and even with training through the Jake Paul stuff, I wrote a caption on Instagram saying like: "We went through some really hard times as a family" and I feel like the injury was just always causing us so many problems and was always there, but we never spoke about it.

It followed a string of perplexing appearances of Molly-Mae minus her massive engagement ring, which first went missing in December, after Tommy had been pictured partying with women during the Dubai trip.

It seemed that there are all kinds of issues, not least a 'sex drought' which saw Molly-Mae admit in January this year that they had not been intimate since the birth of baby daughter Bambi, 11 months previously.

'They are spending time apart quite a bit,' a friend told the Mail's Alison Boshoff. 'They are leading quite separate lives.'
Today host Jenna Bush Hager has revealed she was 'disinvited to prom,' despite having already purchased a dress for the big occasion, because her date found out that she had 'kissed somebody else.'

During Tuesday's episode of Today with Hoda & Jenna, Jenna, 42, and Hoda Kotb were discussing Billie Eilish's recent comments about being ghosted when the former First Daughter admitted she had 'never [been] ghosted, but I was invited to prom and then was disinvited,' as her cohost replied: 'So now you sound like a victim here....'

'Well, how would you feel if you were invited...,' Jenna fired back, as Hoda, 59, reasoned with her and said: 'Okay, now I'm with you, I don't like to be invited somewhere and then disinvited. But will you please tell me why your prom date decided that he did not want to go to prom with you any more?'

Jenna then divulged: 'Well, I kissed somebody else,' which led to gasps from the camera crew, as she continued: 'But now, before everybody gets their panties in a roar... panties in a bunch... whatever the analogy is! Here's the thing, I wasn't dating him, okay? We were going as friends to the prom, therefore, I can't be controlled.'

Eager to get to the bottom of the story, Hoda replied: 'Okay, so I have a question, let me just follow up... so you were just friends with the guy, so as friends you were able to say, "I don't want to go with you." Okay, this friend of yours who you were friends with, did you date him before you were friends?' as Jenna confirmed: 'Yes I did.'

Jenna Bush Hager has admitted she was 'disinvited to prom' when she was a sophomore

Jenna pictured in November 1997 alongside her twin sister, Barbara, when they were 16 years old

'Okay, the reveal... this is like peeling an onion!' Hoda joked, before probing further and asking: 'So you dated him and now you're just friends going. Now, did you think you were going as friends?'

Sounding quite defensive, Jenna fired back: 'Yes I did! Yes I did! We were friends, we were together, we had broken up for a period of time, it was his senior prom, I was a sophomore...,' as Hoda gasped and commented: 'Oh you were a sophomore, you were young! Wait, this is getting juicier!'

Butting in again, Jenna said: 'Now, now, let's not make this a character assassination! The age difference is okay... I feel like I'm on trial! Anyway, I was disinvited.'

'Now, I will go ahead, and for the record, state: I had already purchased a dress with my mother in tow,' Jenna revealed as Hoda asked: 'Why didn't you go with the guy you had kissed?'

'Because he was a sophomore too, it was a senior prom,' Jenna admitted, before confirming: 'But I did go with him him senior year so it all ended up fine.'

'So it all went full circle!' Hoda stated as the camera crew gave Jenna's story a 'weak smattering of applause.'

This isn't the first time that Jenna has opened up about her teenage years and in July 2023, she admitted that she once visited a nude beach in Spain while her father, George W. Bush, was in the midst of his presidential campaign.

During an episode of their show, Hoda and Jenna were discussing how Speedos were making a comeback when she Jenna was reminded of her European getaway many years ago.

Hoda Kotb probed Jenna for more details about the story and ended up teasing her

Jenna and her sister Barbara pictured with their parents George and Laura in 1997

Jenna met her now husband met Henry Chase Hager in 2004, and the couple are pictured here in 2006 when she was 25-years-old

'Some would argue it never went away, because if you go to the beaches of Europe, which I havent been to in awhile  Speedos or no Speedos, there are a lot of nude beaches in Europe,' she said.

When Hoda asked if she ever went to a nude beach, she confirmed she visited one during a study abroad trip to Spain when she was 18.

'I've done it,' she said, but she didn't specify when the trip took place  or if her twin sister, Barbara Bush, was with her  but her father was running for president at the time.

The Read with Jenna founder was a freshman at the University of Texas at Austin when her dad was sworn into office in January 2001.

Jenna also alluded to getting sunburned in areas that didn't typically see the sun when she was naked on the beach.

'I'll just say, bring extra sunscreen if you're going. At the time, it feels fun and free. But wear extra protection  sunscreen, that is  because the sun hits in parts you'll never see,' the former first daughter joked.
Beverly Hills' famous bowl-shaped mansion, previously rented by superstar Justin Bieber, is back on the market for a whopping $35 million.

The 30-year-old Baby hitmaker lived in the steel and glass property, known as the 'salad spinner house' for its striking resemblance to the kitchen gadget, in 2014.

He reportedly took out a short-term lease on the property 'for the widely reported price $59,000 per month,' according to Yahoo! News.

The Ed Niles-designed residence was also the venue rapper Meek Mill threw a Grammy after-party, against the landlord's wishes.

In 2015, the landlord sued Mill, 37, for leaving the house trashed after '1,000 people showed up' to his rager.

Beverly Hills' famous bowl-shaped mansion, previously rented by pop sensation Justin Bieber, is back on the market for a whopping $35 million

According to TMZ, at the time, the huge bash broke Meek's week-long lease.

The landlord claimed 'the place was left trashed with broken furniture, broken glass, destroyed landscaping -- and even a broken trampoline.'

He was also explicitly warned 'not to think about having the Grammy party' on the premises.

Over the years, the salad spinner house has also been rented by brothers Markieff and Marcus Morris, who both play in the NBA.

In addition to its distinctive architecture, the three-story, six-bedroom, seven-bath home has 6,500 square feet of living space, an elevator, a sail-shaped infinity pool with a spa and panoramic views of Los Angeles and the Pacific ocean.

Other amenities include multiple bars, a six-car garage and state-of-the-art security system.

The property first sold in 2011 for $9 million, and, most recently, for $10.5 million in 2014.

Per Realtor.com, it has 'served as a pricey rental property' with rates fluctuating between '$50,000 to $85,000 per month.'

The 30-year-old Baby hitmaker lived in the steel and glass property, known as the 'salad spinner house' for its striking resemblance to the kitchen gadget, in 2014

He reportedly took out a short-term lease on the property 'for the widely reported price $59,000 per month,' according to Yahoo! News

The Ed Niles-designed residence was also the venue rapper Meek Mill threw a Grammy after-party, against the landlord's wishes

The landlord sued Mill, 37, for leaving the house trashed after '1,000 people showed up' to his rager

An online real estate listing for the property says developer Raffi Cohen commissioned the home when in 2009 when he was single but put it on the market in 2010 after he got married and had children, feeling that it was more of a bachelor pad.

Considering Bieber and his wife, Hailey Bieber, are expecting their first child together, it is unlikely he would be interested in the property.

The couple, who wed in 2018, announced they were expecting last month on Instagram.

They managed to keep the news under wraps for six months and reportedly wanted to keep it a secret as long as possible.

'When they found out that Hailey was pregnant, it was just the best day for them. They have both been very emotional about it,' a source told People. 'They feel so blessed. They've also felt very protective of the baby from the moment they found out.'

They continued: 'They shared with family and close friends early on. It was important for them to keep it quiet and just enjoy for as long as possible before they publicly confirmed though. They asked their friends to not share until they were ready to announce.'
Escape to the Country fans were left emotional on Tuesday, as an old episode was aired that was presented by the late Jonnie Irwin, months after his tragic death.

The presenter passed away in February at the age of 50, three years after he was diagnosed with an aggressive form of lung cancer in 2020.

He left behind his wife Jessica Holme and their young sons Rex, four, and two-year-old twins Rafa and Cormac.

Tuesday afternoon saw the BBC air a rerun of an episode from 2022 in North Yorkshire, where Jonnie was helping Ian find a new home for 350,000, after moving back to the UK from Hong Kong.

But the episode was tinged with melancholy, as one of the last to feature Jonnie before his passing.

Escape to the Country fans were left emotional on Tuesday, as an old episode was aired that was presented by the late Jonnie Irwin, months after his tragic death (pictured)

The presenter passed away in February at the age of 50, three years after he was diagnosed with an aggressive form of lung cancer in 2020

He left behind his wife Jessica Holme and their young sons Rex, four, and two-year-old twins Rafa and Cormac (pictured)

Viewers couldn't help but be distracted by the sad reminder and took to social media to remember the host and praise him for his presenting skills and optimism.

They wrote: 'Hearing Jonnie Irwins distinctive voice on #EscapeToTheCountry. He fought his cancer battle with dignity and no attention-seeking. God bless you, you were a brilliant presenter.'

'Episode of Escape to the Country with #JonnieIrwin is on now Tuesday 11 June. Lovely to see Jonnie still had his cheeky sense of humour; Johnnie Irwin episode today, RIP #escapetothecountry'.

'So sad to switch on the TV and hear Jonnie Irwin's voice, talking about having three kids in nappies; Great to see one of the #JonnieIrwin episodes on #EscapeToTheCountry now on BBC ONE. What a top guy & presenter he was.'

It comes after Jonnie's widow candidly opened up about his final moments as she tearfully reflected on their loving marriage.

Jessica, who fell in love with the presenter in 2015 after meeting through mutual friends, said the couple 'weren't best friends they were lovers'.

Speaking with Hello! magazine last month, Jessica wiped away tears as she said: 'He told me, "I'm so happy I met you," and that he knew the boys would have the most joy and fun a person could bring.

'We had so much fun, Jonnie and me, we were never boring, we weren't best friends, we were lovers; there was passion'.

Tuesday afternoon saw the BBC air a rerun of an episode from 2022 in North Yorkshire, where Jonnie was helping Ian find a new home for 350,000, after moving back to the UK from Hong Kong

But the episode was tinged with melancholy, as one of the last to feature Jonnie before his passing

Viewers couldn't help but be distracted by the sad reminder and took to social media to remember the host and praise him for his presenting skills and optimism

Jonnie hosted property show A Place In The Sun from 2004 to 2021, when he was forced to step down due to his terminal cancer diagnosis.

Jessica cared for Jonnie at their home in the last few days of his life and was supported by nurses.

She said his death was 'cruel by how quick it was' as he returned home from hospital and didn't leave his bed before passing away days later.

Jess admitted she was in denial that this was the end because she was expecting him to have an 'neurological decline' because days earlier he was 'playfully giving her grief' about something.

She revealed their oldest son Rex went to Jonnie's room to see him before he passed and Jess explained how she believes their little boy 'knew something wasn't right because he kissed Jonnie's hand'.

Jessica announced the news of his death in a heartbreaking tribute earlier this year.

Jonnie was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2020, and went public two years later revealing the cancer had spread and it was terminal.

Jessica remained a steadfast pillar of support during her husband's challenging health battle.

It comes after Jonnie's widow candidly opened up about his final moments as she tearfully reflected on their loving marriage

Jessica, who fell in love with the presenter in 2015 after meeting through mutual friends, said the couple 'weren't best friends they were lovers'

The couple, who wed in 2016 in what Jonnie fondly described as the 'happiest weekend of my life,' have three sons.

When Jonnie was fit and healthy he enjoyed several walking holidays with his group of 'brothers' and Jess revealed she recently gave the friends some of his ashes to 'sprinkle on top of a mountain' in the Lake District.

She told the publication: 'On their last trip they rented e-bikes to make it easier for Jonnie and went to the Lake District. Two weeks ago, the others went back and I said to them, "Do you want to take a bit of him with you?" so they sprinkled some of his ashes on the top of a mountain'.

Jess went onto reveal that the family are currently looking for a special tree to plant in Northumberland so Jonnie's ashes can be planted in the roots as 'that was his wish'.

She added that his death was 'cruel by how quick it was' as he returned home from hospital and didn't leave his bed before passing away days later
James White's company Right Time Recruitment has gone into liquidation.

The Apprentice winner, 33, received a 250,000 investment from Lord Alan Sugar as he emerged victorious from the hit BBC series in 2017.

But seven years on, the company, the recruitment company owes 10,000 to HMRC among other creditors, according to The Sun.

Lord Sugar pulled out of the business in 2020, and it is believed that the firm owes Lloyds Bank more than 52,500 and a secretarial company more than 33,000.

The company's Statement of Affairs claimed that there is likely to be a 'total deficiency' of 199,763.71.

James White's company Right Time Recruitment has gone into liquidation years after he won The Apprentice

The Apprentice winner, 33, received a 250,000 investment from Lord Alan Sugar as he emerged victorious from the hit BBC series in 2017.

According to the outlet, James has now appointed a liquidator to close Right Time.

The recruitment firm specialised in the IT and consultancy industries and, following the departure of Lord Sugar as shareholder, James became the sole owner of the firm.

In May, Companies House issued a strike-off order to the company, which used to boast offices in London, Birmingham and Chicago.

James - who won the 13th series of the hit BBC show - set up tax consultancy business Mileage Reclaim Limited four years ago, and that is owed 100,000 from his recruitment firm.

During his time competing on the series, James infamously had a fling with co-star and she split from her boyfriend at the time.

Jade and James split just a year after the series finished but immediately after their time on the show ended, she claimed that their friendship had grown into something more.

She wrote' As the weeks progressed, the different friendship groups became clearer and it was apparent that James and I had a lot in common.

The recruitment firm specialised in the IT and consultancy industries and, following the departure of Lord Sugar as shareholder, James became the sole owner of the firm.

James famously had a fling with Jade English (pictured) during their time on the show but she has since branded him as 'immature'

On the show, he beat out Sarah Lynn and her sweet gifting business to claim first place in series 13

She added: 'We were both competitive, into our fitness and I think we just had a genuine connection and felt that we could rely on each other in the house.

'We used to go outside and play bat and ball and stay up talking about how the world has no limits.

'It was inspiring to be around someone else who had as much ambition and vision in life as I do.'

She later slammed her former flame for letting an 18-stone stripper perform in his office  and says it was because of his obsession with The Wolf of Wall Street.
The BBC will air two special programmes to pay tribute to the Mail's Dr Michael Mosley following his tragic death on the Greek island of Symi.

Michael Mosley - The Doctor Who Changed Britain, which will air on Friday at 8pm on BBC One will look at his almost four decades of broadcasting and how he how he transformed people's lives and was an executive producer following him working on the shows Pompeii - The Last Day; Krakatoa Revealed; Life Before Birth, and Supervolcano.

The BBC said of the programme: 'His programmes have made a lasting impact on the nation's health habits from intermittent fasting to the benefits of a cold shower.

'Michael also shared his own struggles with audiences worldwide; as a chronic insomniac he made programmes about sleep and, ever curious, he would also go to extremes in the pursuit of science, even infecting himself with a tapeworm.

Michael Mosley - The Doctor Who Changed Britain, will air on Friday at 8pm on BBC One

Mr Mosley pictured on Trust Me, I'm A Doctor - a BBC health programme - holding a jar of coconut oil and a coconut

The BBC said how the health guru's 'programmes have made a lasting impact on the nation's health habits from intermittent fasting to the benefits of a cold shower'

'Celebrating Michael's career, this programme marks the enormous impact he made, touching the lives of so many.'

Another programme, There's Only One Michael Mosley, will air on BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds from Friday at 11am, and will contain the last interview that he took part in.

Dr Mosley recorded a special edition of Just One Thing, in which he regularly revealed tips to help improve your health, at the Hay Festival on May 25 with Professor Paul Bloom.

His wife, Dr Clare Bailey Mosley, also a doctor, author and health columnist, was also in attendance in the audience of the event.

His wife, Dr Clare Bailey Mosley (pictured), also a doctor, author and health columnist, was also in attendance in the audience of the event

The recording will be introduced by TV doctor and presenter Chris van Tulleken, who Mosley worked with as part of Trust Me, I'm A Doctor.

Dr Mosley died of heat exhaustion after sitting down to rest on a rocky slope before losing consciousness as temperatures hit 40C, police believe.

He was found on a mountain side five days after he disappeared while on holiday with his wife on the Greek island of Symi last Wednesday.
Nicky Hilton sure loves to live the high life.

The younger sister of Paris Hilton was seen enjoying the scenery of Venice, Italy this week in images shared to Instagram.

The 40-year-old stood out in a leopard print dress as she made the most of a luxurious trip with her mother Kathy Hilton of RHOBH fame.

They stayed at an upscale hotel and had several friends with them while eating dinner at a banquet table.

Turns out she was hosted by Italian fashion house MaxMara, which is worth over $1.6B.

'Venetian nights with our @MaxMara family,' wrote the mother of three.

Nicky Hilton sure loves to live the high life. The younger sister of Paris Hilton was seen enjoying the scenery of Venice, Italy this week in images shared to Instagram

The 40-year-old stood out in a leopard print dress as she made the most of a luxurious trip with her mother Kathy Hilton of RHOBH fame

According to fashionunited.com, Max Mara is valued at $1.6B making it one of the most valuable fashion brands.

However, Max Mara is privately held and does not release revenue figures.

At their posh dinner party the candles were tall and the flowers a bright orange and pink as they sipped wine from crystal glasses under chandeliers.

Later in the evening Nicky was seen attending a Max Mara resort 2025 fashion show at Piazza San Marco in Venice.

The designer wore a black tuxedo blazer over a black one strap silk dress with her blonde hair pulled back.

Also at the event were Kate Hudson and Brie Larson.

Nicky is married into the billionaire Rothschild family; her husband is James Rothschild. And she makes plenty of money on her own with her design projects.

Earlier this year Hilton revealed her youngest child's name almost two years after she gave birth.

The socialite and her spouse James Rothschild - who also have daughters Lily-Grace, seven, and Theodora 'Teddy' Marilyn, six - chose the 'unusual' moniker, Chasen, for their son, who came into the world in June 2022.

She told Us Weekly in March: 'We always liked the name, and it was unusual.'

Baby Chasen is already saying lots of words and is getting on well with his siblings.

The mother-of-three said: 'He's trying to talk. He's saying lots of words, but no full sentences yet.

They stayed at an upscale hotel and had several friends with them

Hilton and her friends were dressed in MaxMara

He's so sweet and his big sisters adore him.'

The designer - who is the younger sister of Paris Hilton, 43 - insists her girls are besotted with the little one, and any 'bickering' is between the two of them.

She said: 'They love him. Zero jealousy. They just dote over him. I'm very lucky that all of my children get along extremely well. The girls have their occasional bickering, but everyone gets along.'

Nicky says her youngest daughter is a girly girl like her mom.

They were having dinner at very fancy setting

Turns out she was hosted by Italian fashion house MaxMara, which is worth over $1B

She said: 'I think my youngest, Teddy, [is] definitely more girly and feminine.'

And Chasen is already like his dad.

She added: 'He's very, very serious. It's so cute.'

Meanwhile, Nicky previously revealed the advice she gave to Paris when she became a mother for the first time.

The DJ welcomed son Phoenix and daughter London in January and November 2023, respectively, via surrogate, with her husband Carter Reum.

'Venetian nights with our @MaxMara family,' wrote the mother of three

The candles were tall and the flowers a bright orange and pink as they sipped wine from crystal glasses under chandeliers

And Nicky reminded her sibling 'not to miss all the small moments' of motherhood.

She told E! News: 'My advice always is to not miss the small moments. There's such a short window that they're so small, and new things are happening every day.

'Like, Paris always says her son looks different every day.

'She is so happy. She's so content! I was just over there last week and just hanging out in the nursery with her and her son, and she's so complete is the word I'd use.'

Hilton attends the Max Mara Resort 2025 at Piazza San Marco in Venice
Teen Mom star Amber Portwood made the shocking admission on Monday that her new fiance has disappeared.

Portwood, 34, got authorities involved when she arrived at a police station in North Carolina and filed a missing persons report for her fiance, Gary Wayt, according to TMZ.

The development comes just weeks after Gary, 39, proposed to Portwood.

On Thursday, just four days before Portwood old police her fiance had disappeared, he had made his first appearance on her reality series Teen Mom: The Next Chapter.

In a social media post from the Bryson City Police Department, Gary was described by police as being 6ft1in tall, weighing 205lbs, and police noted he is bald and has brown eyes.

Teen Mom star Amber Portwood made the shocking admission on Monday that her new fiance has disappeared

Portwood, 34, got authorities involved when she arrived at a police station in North Carolina and filed a missing persons report for her fiance, Gary Wayt, according to TMZ

He's said to be driving a gray 2009 Nissan Rogue SUV with Indiana plates.

According to the incident report, which was obtained by TMZ, Amber said the last time she saw her fiance was on Sunday evening at their hotel in North Carolina.

She added that Gary is from Indianapolis, Indiana  which is also her hometown  so he doesn't have roots in the area.

An insider revealed on Friday that Amber and Gary had gotten engaged, according to Us Weekly.

The source said the reality television star is 'really, really happy' with her new man.

They added that the proposal happened 'within the last two weeks.'

It was noted that Amber's engagement ring was created using 'a family stone that was reset into a new ring.'

And the future husband and wife have 'been in couple's therapy and talk about everything,' the source added.

DailyMail.com has reached out to reps for Portwood for comment.

In a social media post from the Bryson City Police Department, Gary was described by police as being 6ft1in tall, weighing 205lbs, and police noted he is bald and has brown eyes

He's said to be driving a gray 2009 Nissan Rogue SUV with Indiana plates

According to the incident report, which was obtained by TMZ, Amber said the last time she saw her fiance was on Thursday evening at their hotel in North Carolina; pictured in 2017

'They're being very proactive in their relationship and are doing the work to prevent problems before they start,' the person said.

It comes five months after news broke that Portwood was in a new romantic relationship.

'She met him on a dating app four months ago. They are taking their time getting to know each other, but it's getting serious,' a source told Us Weekly at the beginning of the year.

He does not have kids, but is close to his parents and 'very family-oriented,' it was reported.

According to the publication, Gary  who shares the same name as Amber's ex-boyfriend and baby daddy Gary Shirley  has never seen Amber's reality series Teen Mom.

'All the guys Amber has dated before she met on social media and were fans of the show,' the source explained.

'This new man in her life has actually never seen Teen Mom so she feels she can finally date in the way she's always wanted to,' the person close to Portwood said.

Amber was introduced to MTV audiences on 16 and Pregnant in 2009.

She moved on to become a cast member on Teen Mom and Teen Mom OG, which lasted from 2009 to 2021.

She was back in front of cameras on 2022's Teen Mom: Family Reunion and 2023's Teen Mom: The Next Chapter.

Portwood is mother to daughter Leah, 15, with ex Gary Shirley, whom she dated from 2008 to 2011.

An insider revealed on Friday that Amber and Gary got engaged the day before. According to Us Weekly, the 34-year-old reality television star is 'really, really happy'

Portwood is mother to daughter Leah, 15, with ex Gary Shirley, whom she dated from 2008 to 2011. She also shares six-year-old son James with ex Andrew Glennon, with whom she was involved from 2017 to 2019

Portwood gave birth to daughter Leah, now 15, in November 2008

She also shares six-year-old son James with ex Andrew Glennon, with whom she was involved from 2017 to 2019.

In 2011, Portwood lost custody of Leah after fighting with Gary and getting arrested the previous year.

A source told Us Weekly in January that the two now co-parent 'amicably.'

However, she does not currently have custody of son James, who lives in California with his dad.
And Just Like That star Sara Ramirez has filed for divorce from husband Ryan Debolt - three years after their separation.

The non-binary actor, 48, who previously played the reviled Che Diaz on the Sex and the City reboot, filed for a dissolution of marriage Tuesday, citing irreconcilable differences, per TMZ.

Per the documents Ramirez asked to block the court's ability to award spousal support for either party.

Their date of separation is listed as January 2018 - although their split was only announced in 2021.

In the separation announcement, Sara wrote: 'We remain loving and supportive in how we are choosing to forge our new individual paths.

The pair tied the knot in New York in 2012 after getting engaged in Paris the year before.

And Just Like That star Sara Ramirez has filed for divorce from husband Ryan Debolt - three years after their separation

The pair tied the knot in New York in 2012 after getting engaged in Paris the year before - pictured 2012

Che famously had an affair with Miranda (pictured with Cynthia Nixon) in the Sex and the City spin-off series

'Thank you for holding space around our choices and respecting our families' privacy as we navigate this process on our own terms.'

In January it was revealed Ramirez has been dropped from And Just Like That because their character Che Diaz was a waste of airtime, according to insiders, who shut down the actors claim that being pro-Palestine cost them the role.

Ramirez, who uses they/them pronouns, implied they will not return for the third season of the Sex and the City spin-off in a series of posts shared to Instagram that month.

They heavily suggested their time on the show was over as they claimed casting directors and agents are making black lists of actors and workers who post anything in support of Palestinians and Gaza to ensure they will not work again.

But a source close to the show ridiculed the suggestion, claiming Ramirezs head had been on the chopping block since last season because their character held no value anymore and was annoying.

Sara was not fired because they support Palestine and the cease fire, they told DailyMail.com exclusively. Sara was fired because Che brought nothing to the show anymore. They were on the chopping block since last season.

After Che split with Miranda, the character really held no value anymore and fans found them annoying. The storyline as a struggling comedian was a waste of airtime and Sara knew it.

Their date of separation is listed as January 2018 - although their split was only announced in 2021

Ramirez was dropped from AJLT earlier this year - days after accusing the industry of being 'performative' in a vitriolic post

And Just Like That has been renewed for a third season - pictured L-R Nixon as Miranda, Sarah Jessica Parker as Carrie Bradshaw and Kristin Davis as Charlotte York-Goldenblatt

Che, a newcomer to the spin-off series who introduced themselves as a 'queer nonbinary Mexican Irish diva,' struck up a relationship with Miranda after she abandoned her marriage to husband Steve Brady.

The character was accused of being the 'worst' on the series, which saw Miranda reunited on screen with Carrie Bradshaw and Charlotte York, played by Sarah Jessica Parker and Kristin Davis, respectively.

Viewers found the character 'cringe' and accused them of '[setting] back non-binary representation 70 years.'
Alexa Chung looked confident in a baggy beige suit at Max Mara Resort in Max Mara Resort in Venice on Tuesday.

The TV presenter, 40, stood with her arms straight down by her side at the annual fashion event in the Italian city.

The suit featured six matching buttons and embellished the look with an extravagant baby white flower which she hung upon her lapel.

In terms of makeup, Alexa opted for a natural look except for a slick of red lipstick and painted cheeks.

She let her dark red locks hang freely around her shoulders as she gave a smouldering look to the camera.

Alexa Chung looked confident in a baggy beige suit at Max Mara Resort in Max Mara Resort in Venice on Tuesday

In a second pose that also oozed confidence, Alexa stuck one hand up on her hip and almost gave a thumbs up with her other hand.

In a second pose that also oozed confidence, Alexa stuck one hand up on her hip and almost gave a thumbs up with her other hand.

Later, the former MTV star posed up a storm outside as well.

She showed off a small ring on her right hand when she went to tuck some of her hair behind her ear.

Alexa styled the whole look out with a pair of simple but smart leather shoes.

The star was just one of several famous faces to arrive at the fashion house's event.

Brie Larson put on a leggy display in a little black dress and let her blonde locks flow free.

She showed off a small ring on her right hand when she went to tuck some of her hair behind her ear.

In terms of makeup, Alexa opted for a natural look except for a slick of red lipstick and painted cheeks

Brie Larson put on a leggy display in a little black dress and let her blonde locks flow free.

By contrast, Hollywood actress Kate Hudson opted for a long black dress that she playfully stuck one leg out of.

By contrast, Hollywood actress Kate Hudson opted for a long black dress that she playfully stuck one leg out of.

She gave a big grin that showed off her glowing complexion and accessorised with a pair of blue floral earrings.

The location of the annual fashion event is often kept under wraps until this last minute.

This time, the house described the location as an 'eternally beautiful city, so often represented as a woman embodying justice, harmony, power, progress, loyalty and grace is the perfect location.'
Sir Mick Jagger has signed up as a new frontman. Not for another rock band, but for a group of campaigners fighting against proposals for a 34-storey tower block of flats on the banks of the Thames in south-west London.

The 100 million tower  named One Battersea Bridge  will not only loom over Battersea, it will cloud the river view from Chelsea, not least for the well-heeled folk on the opposite, north bank only a few hundred yards away.

Jagger has lived in different homes in the area since the 1960s and still has a large house there.

He has a strong affiliation with Chelsea and even lived in a flat in nearby Edith Grove with Keith Richards and Brian Jones during the earliest days of the Rolling Stones.

Some of their first gigs were in a local pub.

Mick Jagger performing with The Rolling Stones at the MetLife Stadium on May 26 this year

Plans for the scheme have recently been submitted to Wandsworth council and are ultimately financed by giant global investors Cerberus.

The prospect has prompted wide-scale anger among residents on both sides of the river.

The S.O.B.B Campaign (Stop One Battersea Bridge) has been launched with a petition by Chelsea resident Rob McGibbon, a journalist and local activist.

He has opened up his contacts book to bring support and the petition has garnered over 1,500 signatures in its first week, plus the backing of other famous protesters, including Eric Clapton, who has a house near the river, and longtime Chelsea resident Felicity Kendal.

'It is fabulous news that Mick has signed and supports the campaign,' McGibbon tells me.

'He has a lot of affection for Chelsea and for this stretch of the river.

'I also know that he is a keen connoisseur of architecture and agrees with everyone else that this development is all wrong.'

Plans for One Battersea Bridge are said to have prompted wide-scale anger among residents on both sides of the river. (Architect's impression)

A spokesman for the development says the project will create 142 homes, 45 of which would be 'affordable, including 20 family homes, tackling an urgent need for new, high-quality housing'.

Everest hero George Mallory's great-granddaughter has made an emotional pilgrimage to the mountain on the centenary of his disappearance.

It wasn't until 1999 that Mallory's remains were found.

'Fascinated by him and his adventures from a young age, and having inherited some of the Mallory spirit, I had long hoped to visit the Himalayas and see Everest for myself,' Freja Hollow says.

Everest hero George Mallory's great-granddaughter has made an emotional pilgrimage to the mountain on the centenary of his disappearance

Proof that not everyone in fashion is self-obsessed: journalist Hilary Alexander left almost her entire estate to charity.

Party-loving Alexander, who died on her 77th birthday last year, left a net estate of 620,000.

Of this, 20,000 was designated for a 'suitable 'wake' in my memory', 50,000 to her niece, 10,000 to a friend and 100,000 to various charities.

The remaining 440,000 will go to the Graduate Fashion Foundation, a charity that encourages the next generation of talent.

Party-loving Alexander, who died on her 77th birthday last year, left a net estate of 620,000

Le Gavroche delighted London's great and good for 56 years before finally serving its last dish in January.

Now, the Mayfair restaurant's owner, Michel Roux Jr, admits he's been unable to ease into retirement.

'I've been very busy,' he tells me at the National Restaurant Awards at Magazine London, where he was handed a lifetime achievement award.

'I haven't found the work-life balance yet, but I'm working on it.'

The MasterChef: The Professionals judge, 64, adds: 'When you're used to working all the time, you don't ever really stop.'

Michel Roux Jr said: 'When you're used to working all the time, you don't ever really stop'

Midwife star's Mermaid style

She sang on the West End stage this year in The King And I, but Call The Midwife star Helen George until recently had not even visited let alone performed at Glyndebourne opera house in East Sussex

She sang on the West End stage this year in The King And I, but Call The Midwife star Helen George until recently had not even visited let alone performed at Glyndebourne opera house in East Sussex.

So the actress, 39, was determined to make a splash when she attended for the first time.

Helen appeared to have taken sartorial inspiration from the character Ariel in Disney's Little Mermaid, wearing a strapless green cut-out dress.

'Popped my Glyndebourne cherry,' she says of her visit.

'A fabulous time was had watching the brilliantly colourful and irreverent Merry Widow.'
An Australian reality TV star has shared an absolutely unrecognisable snap to social media.

The 42-year-old stunned fans with the black and white images taken when she was just 13.

The Married At First Sight alum captioned the images with a powerful message encouraging her followers to help 'raise the age of social media citizenship from 13 to 16'.

'Look how skinny I was #supermodelera,' the mother-of-one went on to marvel.

So can you guess who the reality TV star is?

That's right, it's none other than Jules Robinson, who met her future husband Cam Merchant on season 6 of the reality TV megahit.

An Australian reality TV star has shared an absolutely unrecognisable snap to social media. So can you guess who she is?

She captioned her post, 'I can't imagine how much I would have struggled when I was 13-14 if I was participating on social media I left school very young, one because I knew exactly what I wanted to become but also because I changed schools from bullying.

'To know that when I got home it stopped and I was safe (well tbh sometimes it did follow me home ) was a relief.'

'What a cutie,' wrote her husband Cam in the post's comments.

'No way,' marveled one fan of the striking difference in Jules' recent appearance and the throwbacks.

That's right, it's none other than Jules Robinson, who met her future husband Cam Merchant on season 6 of the reality TV megahit. Pictured last month [L] and at age 13 [R]

'Beautiful little girl. Can see so much of Oli [in you]' wrote another of the resemblance to Jules and Cam's young son.

The trip down memory lane comes after Jules lifted the lid on her debilitating battle with Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) as she prepares to welcome her second child with husband Cameron Merchant.

The entrepreneur first spoke to the media about her experience with PMDD in October, after suffering from the condition since before she welcomed her first child Oliver three years ago.

She captioned her post, 'I can't imagine how much I would have struggled when I was 13-14 if I was participating on social media'

Jules exclusively revealed to Daily Mail Australia that her PMDD symptoms completely vanished after she fell pregnant earlier this year, but she still fears it may return after she gives birth.

PMDD is an intense, occasionally debilitating, form of premenstrual syndrome characterised by extreme mood swings that can significantly disrupt women's daily life and strain relationships.

'It's been the silver lining and the blessing of pregnancy that I don't have PMDD anymore,' said the reality star, who recently released her debut book Ask Jules.

It comes after Robinson, 42, lifted the lid on her debilitating battle with Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) as she prepares to welcome her second child with husband Cameron Merchant. (L-R: Jules, Cameron and their son Ollie, four)

While Jules noted that she does experience typical pregnancy mood swings 'where you just sit and cry', it hasn't been anything close to what she experienced with PMDD.

Jules admitted that she is concerned her PMDD will return once she gives birth, but still remains optimistic this time around.

'It is a little time ticking bomb that's going off. How am I going to feel? But I just go into it knowing that I've got so much more education behind me,' she said.

The entrepreneur first spoke to the media about her experience with PMDD in October, after suffering from the condition since before she welcomed her first child Oliver three years ago

She went on to credit attending events with the Gidget Foundation with helping her gain knowledge on how to cope if PMDD rears its head again.

The Gidget Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation that offers educational tools for expectant and new parents to prevent and treat mental health issues.

'I went to a Gidget Foundation event a couple of weeks ago, and it was just so humbling. And I just felt in that safe network that if I'm feeling like that again, there's people that you can call,' she said.
A cherished establishment in Grand Rapids for half a century, time is now up for a Brann's Steakhouse & Grille - for now.

The two-story corner building is slated for demolition to make way for a much larger five-story building with more than 100 apartments.

It means the steakhouse - as locals know it - was forced to shut its doors on Friday night.

But it will return - and take up space in a new restaurant area in the new building. However, it be smaller and over just one floor rather than two as it is currently - and the work might not be done until early 2027.

Johnny Brann Sr was 18 when his father John opened the restaurant at 401 Leonard St in 1974. The building is thought to have been built more than 100 years ago, and has become a landmark near the Grand River.

Brann's Steakhouse & Grille on Leonard Street in Grand Rapids in Michigan in a recent photo

Brann's Steakhouse & Grille from 1969. It is painted a darker color - before being white through the 1980s and 1990s and returning to dark more recently

He has seen the business grow, survive the pandemic and play a key role in a new law allowing businesses to fly flags for fallen members of the police and military. He will stay as the owner of the new building.

Brann's Steakhouse & Grille was founded in 1960 to Jonny's father, John M Brann. There are now seven restaurants in Wyoming, Holland, Grandville, Caledonia, Bay City and two in Grand Rapids.

Staff at the Leonard Street oulet will move to other locations.

'It's about a somewhere between a $25 to 40 million project, between 60 and 102 units will be involved, including residential, commercial and some mixed-use,' he told reporters from Wood TV at a news conference.

The new building will take up a much bigger footprint than the current one. It will cover land

'The journey of Brann's Steakhouse & Grille on Leonard has been a labor of love and dedication,' Brann Sr. added in a statement.

'I am immensely proud of the relationships my wife and I have built, the memories we've created and the community we've served.

'I'm excited to work alongside my son to craft a future that reflects our commitment to the Westside and the legacy we hold dear.'

Brann's Steakhouse & Grille in 1983. It is all white with some Tudpr-style wood beams

The building before it became the steakhouse. It is thought to be at least 100 years old

Brann's Steakhouse & Grille was set up in 1960, and is a hit with locals in Michigan

It is very much a family affair - with Johnny Brann Jr also now part of the business - the third generation.

He said: 'The legacy my parents have cultivated is not just about restaurants; it's about a shared commitment to our community.

'As we move into this new phase, I am honored to work with my Dad to continue the Brann's tradition. Our dedication to the Westside's growth remains unwavering, and we look forward to contributing to its vibrant future.'
In-N-Out has put up its prices - blaming them on the $20-an-hour minimum wage was introduced in its home state of California.

It now mean's its famous Double-Double with fries and a drink is typically more than $10 in the state's 275 restaurants.

When the new rule took efect on April 1, In-N-Out president Lynsi Snyder said she had blocked major prices rises to protect cutomers

'I was sitting in VP meetings going toe-to-toe saying, 'We can't raise the prices that much, we can't,' Snyder told Today during an interview.

But the impact of the minimum wage in the blue state - $4 more than the standard for other industries - have seen menu prices jump.

In-N-Out has put up its prices in California

Fast-food giant In-N-Out is pushing forward with its expansion into the rest of America with a proposed new restaurant in Washington

Prices are not thought to have risen at is locations outside of the Godlen State. It now also operates as far east as Texas - and is planning a restaurant for Tenessee.

A meal - a burger, fries and drink - s now typically $10.45 for a Double-Double, $8.65 for a cheeseburger, and $8.15 for a hamburger, according to the Orange County Register.

That is without tax. Adding sales tax of 9.5 percent in LA County, the Double-Double is up to $11.44.

Some are reporting higher prices in some restaurants. At Fishermans Wharf in San Francisco, the Double-Double meal is $13.63 after taxes, KRON4 said.

A spokesperson for In-N-Out told KRON4 that the price hikes were directly related to the new $20-an-hour minimum wage. But they did not say when the new prices increased.
An Air India Express staff union has claimed the airline has issued charge sheets against 200 cabin crew members for reporting sick last month when the carrier faced significant disruptions.

The Air India Express Employees Union (AIXEU) has termed the airlines move as unfortunate and unfair labour practice.

In a letter to Air India Express chief Aloke Singh on Sunday, the union also warned the Tata Group-run airlines management that such actions could be detrimental to the interests of the company and its passengers.

There was no comment from Air India Express. According to Union sources, the charge-sheet was issued to around 200 cabin crew members on June 5, with a deadline of 72 hours to file a response.

Around 200 cabin crew members of Air India Express went on strike on May 7, to protest against the alleged mismanagement in the airline, resulting in cancellation of hundreds of flights.

Consequently, the airline management terminated the services of 25 cabin crew members and warned the others to join work or else face the same action.

Three days later, the strike was called off after a conciliation meeting between the representatives of cabin crew members and the airline management at the Office of the Chief Labour Commissioner (Central) in Delhi on May 9.

The charge-sheet was issued by the Chief of HR to many of the cabin crew members regarding their sick reports. It is very unfortunate and constitutes unfair labour practice to reopen the case and issue charge-sheets for matters that have already been settled through conciliation.

The termination orders of the 25 cabin crew members were also withdrawn during conciliation based on the settlement agreement, the Union, which is affiliated to the RSS, said in the letter.

Requesting the management to refrain from reopening settled issues, AIXEU president K K Vijayakumar said in the letter, Such actions could be detrimental to the interests of the enterprise and its passengers. Instead, I urge you to seek opportunities for cooperation to strengthen our industrial relations.

Stating that the entire issue was discussed before the Central Labour Commissioner (CLC) on May 9 and was amicably settled between the management and the union, it added, Pursuing the charge-sheet and initiating punitive action against employees would only lead to unpleasant situations and worsen the already affected industrial relations.

It was clearly stated in the last hearing held on May 28 in front of the CLC that no punitive action would be initiated against the employees in this regard, the Union said.

Additionally, since the issue was settled on May 9, I believe that the employees were available for duty the following day.
India is a big aviation market and a stronger partnership between Air India and Lufthansa is good, as efforts of the Star Alliance are to bring the partners together to provide a unique value proposition for the passengers, the airline groupings CEO Theo Panagiotoulias has said.

Air India and Lufthansa are part of the Star Alliance, whose 26 member airlines come together at more than 50 global hubs to offer smooth connections across a global network.

A management company, based in Frankfurt and Singapore, coordinates Star Alliance projects and activities. It includes airport co-location, digital infrastructure, frequent flyer integration and joint business lounge projects to improve the travel experience.

Talking to PTI on the sidelines of IATA annual general meeting in Dubai this week, Panagiotoulias was bullish about the prospects in the Indian market that offers so much of opportunities.

The alliance is to bring the partners together to provide a unique value proposition... It is all about more choices, options and for a market size of India that is the very best thing, he said.

When asked about the enhanced partnership between Air India and Lufthansa, Panagiotoulias said it is good to have stronger partnerships within the alliance. Both airlines have a strong codeshare partnership that provides for a seamless connectivity for the passengers of both airlines.

Meanwhile, on the sidelines of the IATA annual general meeting, Lufthansa Group Chairman and CEO Carsten Spohr had a meeting with Air India CEO and Managing Director Campbell Wilson.

To a query about the Indian market during a media roundtable here, Spohr said he had a long meeting with Air India CEO but did not disclose the details.

He also replied in the affirmative when asked whether the partnership with Air India could go beyond Star Alliance. Star Alliance has 50 standards for the member airlines and the effort is to provide a strong value proposition to customers.

It needs to be made sure that the right value proposition is there in India, which is a big market, Panagiotoulias said.

As per the alliances website, connecting partners and intermodal partners extend its network beyond the 1,200 airports currently served by the 26 member airlines.
Ras Al Khaimah, one of the seven emirates in the UAE, is eyeing over 20 per cent growth in tourist arrivals from India with targeted marketing campaigns and addition of new hotels, the emirates Tourism Development Authority CEO Raki Phillips has said.

In 2023, we saw a significant increase in visitors from India, up 20 per cent compared with the 2022 numbers. This represents a strong recovery and growth compared to 2019. For 2024, we expect year-on-year growth exceeding 20 per cent, driven by targeted marketing campaigns and the introduction of new hotels and attractions that resonate with Indian travellers, Phillips told PTI in an interview through email.

In 2023, he said, Ras Al Khaimah welcomed the highest numbers of overnight arrivals of 1.22 million visitors, surpassing the previous record of 1.13 million visitors in 2022.

This growth reflects our strategic efforts in enhancing our tourism offerings and promoting the Emirate globally. For 2024, we anticipate continued growth, projecting a 10 per cent increase in the number of arrivals as we introduce new hotels and experiences that cater to a diverse range of travellers, he added.

India is the fifth largest source market of Ras Al Khaimah after Russia, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Kazakhstan, he said, adding that this steady growth of Indian tourists underscores the growing appeal of Ras Al Khaimah as a preferred destination for Indian travellers.

When asked about how much Indian tourists spend on an average, Phillips said, while I cannot provide exact figures due to varying factors, however, I can confidently say that Indian tourists are among the top contributors to our tourism economy in the UAE.

Indian travellers spend an average of USD 1,200 per trip to GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries, according to the latest data from Euromonitor International, he added.

Further, Phillips said, the majority of Indian tourists visiting Ras Al Khaimah are families, adventure enthusiasts, and wellness seekers. However, there is a growing trend of young couples and honeymooners choosing Ras Al Khaimah for its unique blend of adventure, luxury, and tranquillity, he stated.

In 2024, we aim to attract a diverse range of segments from India, including family vacationers, adventure enthusiasts, and luxury travellers. We are also focusing on promoting meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) tourism. Weddings are also an important segment for us, and we have seen a growing interest in destination weddings. Our Emirate offers a range of breathtaking wedding venues, from beachfront resorts to desert oases, and we work closely with our partners in India, he added.

Phillips said, the robust air connectivity between the UAE and India will also help boost tourism from India with numerous direct flights which take just over three hours.

Ras Al Khaimah benefits from its proximity to Dubai International Airport, one of the busiest and most well-connected airports globally, located just 45 minutes away, he added.

To keep the current momentum of tourist footfalls from India, he said, Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority is participating in roadshows, media events, fam trips, and exclusive events with leading wedding planners.

We have been forging strategic partnerships and implementing targeted marketing campaigns to enhance our tourism offerings, Phillips added.
The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) is set to release the much-anticipated results for the SSC Constable GD on Sarkari Result website. Lakhs of candidates who had appeared for the exam are eagerly awaiting for the result announcement, which is expected to be made in the upcoming days.

Important Highlights :

Exam Conducted Successfully: The SSC GD Constable examination was conducted from 20 February 2024 to 29 February 2024, across various centers in the country.

Massive Participation: Over 47 lakhs candidates appeared for the examination, aiming to secure positions in central armed police forces such as BSF, CISF, CRPF, SSB, ITBP, NIA, SSF, and Assam Rifles.

SSC GD Constable Result 2024: Expected Date

While the SSC has not officially confirmed the exact date for the result announcement, but the reliable sources suggest that the results will be announced by mid-June 2024. The commission has been working diligently to ensure the timely release of results, following a thorough evaluation process.

SSC GD Constable Result 2024 : How to Check Results

Visit the Official SSC Website: Go to ssc.gov.in.

Navigate to the Results Section: Click on the Results tab on the homepage.

Select GD Constable Results: Look for the link labeled SSC GD Constable Result 2024.

Enter Required Details: Enter your registration number and date of birth.

View and Download: Your result will be displayed on the screen. Download and take a printout for the future reference.

Examination Overview

The SSC GD Constable examination consisted of four sections:

General Intelligence & Reasoning: 25 questions, 25 marks

General Knowledge & General Awareness: 25 questions, 25 marks

Elementary Mathematics: 25 questions, 25 marks

English/Hindi: 25 questions, 25 marks

The total duration of the exam was 90 minutes, and it was conducted in multiple shifts to accommodate the large number of candidates.

Selection Process

The selection process for the SSC GD Constable Exam 2024 includes

:Computer-Based Examination (CBE): Candidates who clear this written exam will move on to the next stages.

Physical Efficiency Test (PET) /Physical Standard Test (PST): Shortlisted candidates will undergo PET/PST to assess their physical fitness.

Medical Examination: Those who pass the PET/PST will be called for a detailed medical examination.

SSC GD Constable Result 2024 : Whats Next for the Candidates?

Candidates who qualify in the written exam will be notified about the schedule for the PET/PST. The SSC will release separate admit cards for these tests, which candidates need to download from the official website. It is important for the candidates to stay connected with us & must updated with the SSC notifications to ensure they do not miss any Sarkari Exam Result & important dates or announcements regarding SSC GD Constable Exam 2024.

SSC GD Constable Result 2024 : Preparation Tips for PET/PST

Physical Fitness: Start focusing on physical training, including running, long jump, and high jump.

Medical Check-Up: Ensure you meet the medical standards set by SSC. Visit a doctor if needed to address any health issues.

Documentation: Keep all necessary documents ready for verification during the PET/PST.

The SSC GD Constable Result 2024 is highly anticipated and will be a decisive moment for many candidates aspiring to join Indias central armed police forces. As the results are expected to be announced soon, candidates should keep a close watch on this portal as well as the official SSC website and prepare themselves for the next stages of the recruitment process. This milestone marks a significant step in the careers of those who are dedicated to serving the nation through these esteemed positions.'
Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu discussed ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation with India on his first official visit to the country, the foreign ministry said here on Tuesday.

Muizzu, known for his pro-China leanings, was in India for the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Union Council of Ministers.

Modi was sworn in as prime minister on Sunday for a record-equalling third term, heading the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government.

Top leaders from India's neighbourhood and the Indian Ocean region, including Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda', Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Mauritius President Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, attended the ceremony.

Muizzu concluded his official visit and arrived back in Male on Tuesday morning, according to the Foreign Ministry here.

"The President travelled to India at the invitation of Prime Minister His Excellency Narendra Modi, to attend the swearing-in ceremony of the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers of the Government of India," the ministry said in a statement.

"During the visit, President Dr Muizzu attended a banquet hosted by the President of India, Her Excellency Droupadi Murmu, in honour of the visiting dignitaries," it said.

"The two Presidents also had a meeting in which they discussed strengthening bilateral cooperation between the Maldives and India," it said.

During the meeting, President Murmu conveyed her greetings to the new government and the people of Maldives. She expressed confidence that the island nation will continue on the path of prosperity and development under Muizzu's leadership.

"Both leaders noted the longstanding and multifaceted ties between two countries and highlighted important pillars of our wide-ranging bilateral cooperation including people-to-people linkages, capacity building cooperation, economic and trade relations and development cooperation," a statement by the President's Secretariat in New Delhi said.

Murmu expressed hope that India-Maldives relations will continue to strengthen in the years to come.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also called on Muizzu.

"Delighted to call on President Dr Mohamed Muizzu of Maldives today in New Delhi. Look forward to India and Maldives working together closely," Jaishankar said in a post on X.

Muizzu was accompanied by a high-level delegation of the government, according to the foreign ministry statement.

"This marks his first visit to India since the assumption of office on November 17, 2023," it said.

Unlike his predecessors, who made the first port of call to New Delhi after assuming office, Muizzu had travelled to Turkiye first and to China for his first state visit in January.

The ties between India and the Maldives came under severe strain since Muizzu, known for his pro-China leanings, took charge of the top office.

Within hours of his oath, he had demanded the withdrawal of all Indian military personnel operating three aviation platforms from his country. The Indian military personnel were replaced by Indian civilians last month.
President Droupadi Murmu on Monday met her Maldivian counterpart Mohamed Muizzu and Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' at the Rashtrapati Bhavan here.

During the meeting with Prachanda, Murmu said Nepal is a priority partner under India's 'Neighbourhood First' policy and conveyed the country's commitment to "further strengthen our unique ties".

Both leaders discussed ways to take forward the developmental initiatives across various sectors in Nepal, which are benefitting the people of both countries, a statement issued by the Rashtrapati Bhavan said.

Welcoming President Muizzu, Murmu conveyed her greetings to the new government and the people of the Maldives and expressed confidence that the island nation will continue on the path of prosperity and development under his leadership."Both leaders noted the longstanding and multifaceted ties between two countries and highlighted important pillars of our wide-ranging bilateral cooperation including people-to-people linkages, capacity building cooperation, economic and trade relations and development cooperation," the statement said.

The President expressed hope that India-Maldives relations will continue to strengthen in the years to come, it added.
Minister of State (MoS) Harshdeep Malhotra, the lone pick from Delhi in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's council of ministers, on Monday said he is committed to fulfilling the promises made to the people, including a trans-Yamuna campus of Delhi University and providing houses to slum dwellers in his constituency. Malhotra is a first-time MP who defeated his nearest rival AAP and joint INDIA alliance candidate Kuldeep Kumar by a margin of over 93,000 votes in the East Delhi constituency. "I intend to start work on my promises of establishing a Delhi University campus in Karkardoom in East Delhi as well as replacing the Kalandar Colony slum with permanent houses," he said.

The former mayor of erstwhile East Delhi Municipal Corporation said he was also committed to constructing a multi-level parking facility in his constituency. The facility was promised by him in his manifesto for the Lok Sabha elections. "I will also ensure that the promises and guarantees mentioned in the BJP's Sankalp Patra for the Lok Sabha polls are implemented across the whole city," Malhotra said.

The BJP made a clean sweep in the May 25 Lok Sabha polls in Delhi, winning all the seven seats for a third consecutive time, The AAP and Congress had entered into a seat-sharing agreement to fight the Lok Sabha polls in the national capital.

Malhotra expressed deep gratitude towards the people of Delhi for the BJP's grand success in the polls and said he will make efforts to live up to their expectations as a minister. He took oath as a Union Minister of State in the grand swearing-in ceremony of the Modi government on Sunday.

Known for his amiable nature, Malhotra is an experienced BJP leader whose organisation skills are well recognised by the party leadership. As a general secretary of the Delhi BJP, he took care of a lot of documentation work related to the organisation, policies and programmes of the party.

His elevation as a minister in the Modi government surprised many in the BJP who were expecting Manoj Tiwari, elected for the third time from North East Delhi seat, and late Sushma Swaraj's daughter Bansuri Swaraj, who won the prestigious New Delhi seat, to be inducted in the Union council of ministers.
f the government does not implement the contract policy by June 30, then there will be a big agitation in July.' This warning has been given by the electricity workers of Madhya Pradesh. On Monday, they also held a symbolic demonstration in Bhopal.

As soon as the code of conduct for the Lok Sabha elections ended, the employee organizations have started coming out in the field with their demands. It started from Monday.

Under the banner of United Forum for Employees and Engineers, the electricity workers held a symbolic demonstration outside the office of the power company located in MP Nagar, Bhopal.

Organization president VKS Parihar said, the contract policy should be implemented in June. If this does not happen, the contract workers of the entire state will take to the streets to protest in July.

Former CM Shivraj had called a Mahapanchayat in 2023

The officials of the organization said that former Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had called a Mahapanchayat of many departments before the Assembly Elections-2023 and the demands of the employees were fulfilled.

On July 4, 2023, a Mahapanchayat of contract employees was also called at Lal Parade Ground. In which he praised the hard work of the Energy Department from the stage itself.

Understanding the difficulties faced by contract employees, an announcement was made for them. On July 22, the Contract Policy-2023 was approved by the Cabinet. The new contract policy was implemented actively in most of the departments. On the other hand, 6 thousand contract officers and employees working in the power company have been waiting for the policy to be implemented for 11 months.

Organization's media in-charge Lokendra Srivastava said, during the meeting with Energy Minister Pradyuman Singh Tomar and Managing Director of Power Management, it was clearly said that after amending the contract policy, the policy should be issued soon, but even after 11 months this has not happened.

United Forum Madhya Kshetra Company Convenor RS Kushwaha said, the contract policy was issued in July 2023, but it was not implemented. Eight employees have died while working in the power company. Till date, compassionate appointment has not been provided to their families. Contract workers are paying for the wrong policies of power companies.

President Parihar said, correspondence has been made to the Principal Secretary Energy and Managing Director of Power Management. It has been requested in the letter that by the end of the month of June, the Contract Policy 2023 should be issued by adding the necessary amendments including dearness allowance and annual salary increment. If this does not happen, all the contract officers and employees of the state will come to Bhopal in the first week of July and hold a big demonstration.

During the demonstration in Bhopal, Mukesh Verma, Akhilesh Suryavanshi, Shivam Lakhera, Sanjay Baghel, Varun Namdev, Hemant Verma, Durgesh Dubey, Prashant Pal, Kuldeep Khandekar, Omprakash Mudia, Chandramani Gajbhiye, Rohit Lal, Pawan Jaiswal, Naman Tripathi, Anoop Saini, Pratap Darbar of the organization were present.
Former Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Monday was appointed as the Power Minister in Modi 3.0. In addition to this role, Khattar has also been assigned Housing and Urban Affairs in the new Cabinet.



Khattar, 70, served as Haryana Chief Minister until March 12, this year when he was succeeded by Nayab Singh Saini. He replaces RK Singh as Power Minister who lost elections from Arrah in Bihar.



Khattar had contested from the Karnal constituency in the Lok Sabha elections and defeated Divyanshu Budhiraja of the Congress. He had secured a victory with a substantial margin of 2,32,577 votes. Khattar is considered close to PM Modi with whom he worked in the BJP during the 1990s. Khattar, a bachelor, worked for almost 40 years as an RSS pracharak.



Of the five Lok Sabha seats which the BJP won this time, three winning candidates have got berths in the cabinet. Besides Khattar, the other two are BJP veterans Rao Inderjit Singh and Krishan Pal Gurjar, who have also served as Union ministers in Modi's first and second tenure at the Centre.



In the Union Cabinet, Rao Inderjit Singh has been given the portfolio of Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation; Ministry of Planning; and Ministry of Culture. Gurgaon MP Rao Inderjit Singh is a stalwart from southern Haryana and has been a representative from the region's predominant Ahir community. Having been elected as Lok Sabha MP for the sixth term now, his third as a BJP member, Singh over the years has enjoyed unflinching support of Ahirs. Singh retained the Gurgaon seat in the recently concluded general elections after defeating his nearest rival Raj Babbar of the Congress by a margin of more than 75,000 votes.



Another senior BJP leader Krishan Pal Gurjar has been given the portfolio of Minister of State in the Ministry of Cooperation. From Faridabad, Gurjar retained his seat defeating Congress' Mahender Pratap Singh by a margin of 1,72,914 votes. He has served as Minister of State for Power and Heavy Industries, Shipping, Road Transport and Highways, Social Justice and Empowerment during the Modi government's previous two terms.



In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the BJP had won all the 10 seats in the state, but in the recently held elections, Congress wrested five seats. Assembly polls in Haryana are due to be held in October.
A gangster was arrested from Delhi's Kalindi Kunj area while on his way to exact revenge on a person with whom his wife was living when he was in jail.

The officials said that the gangster was identified as Akash alias Kana, a resident of Madanpur Khadar.

He was searching for one Ranjan, a member of Shahrukh gang, associated with Lawrence Bishnoi gang, who took his wife, they said.

Ranjan's house was set on fire by Akash in the intervening night of August 31 and September 1, police said.

"The accused Kana is involved in multiple cases, including a robbery-cum-murder case in Sarita Vihar. When he was released from jail on bail in 2023, he found his wife living with Ranjan. In order to seek revenge, he set Ranjan's house on fire in which Ranjan sustained severe burn injuries," said Deputy Commissioner of Police (crime) Rakesh Paweriya.

The DCP said that they got information regarding the movement of Akash.

"It also came to notice that accused Akash always carries a loaded pistol and is in search of Ranjan for revenge," he added.

A team was formed and the accused was apprehended from Jaitpur Kalindi Kunj Road in Delhi while he was riding a stolen motorcycle to commit another crime, police said.

"He resisted arrest, but the team overpowered him and recovered one loaded pistol, five cartridges from his possession," the DCP said.

On interrogation, Akash disclosed that due to his wife's infidelity, he wanted to eliminate Ranjan and he was looking for an opportunity to kill him, police said.
Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has said that government officers and employees should work with the feeling that they are not government servants but servants of the public. There should always be a manifestation of humanity and sensitivity in their working style. The rights enjoyed by government officers and employees are for the fulfillment of public aspirations and interest for which they are accountable to the public. Government service provides an opportunity to showcase ones versatility and is also a challenge for them. Generally, when a person is empowered, he gets a sense of stability, whereas we have to remain constantly alert and active. Government service is not just a job but a big responsibility to do the best for society. Whatever role we get, we should try to play it in the best possible way with full confidence. Chief Minister Dr. Yadav said this while addressing the inaugural session of the joint basic training programme of Indian Administrative Service, Indian Forest Service, and State Service officers at the Academy of Administration, Bhopal online from New Delhi.

Chief Minister interacts with trainees

A state level training program of Indian Administrative Service 2023 batch, basic training program of Indian Forest Service 2022 batch and joint basic training program of State Civil Service 2019-20 batch started at the R.C.P.V. Noronha Academy of Administration and Management, Bhopal from June 10. The program was inaugurated at the Academy of Administration by Additional Chief Secretary General Administration and Director General Academy of Administration Vinod Kumar, Additional Chief Secretary Forest J.N. Kansotiya, Secretary General Administration Smt. G.V. Rashmi and Director Administration Academy Mujibur Rahman who lit the lamp. The theme song of the Academy was also sung. All the trainees introduced themselves on this occasion.

Good governance is the work done in public interest

Chief Minister Dr. Yadav said that government officers and employees are expected to work for good governance. While explaining good governance, he said that work done in public interest is good governance. The Ramrajya of Lord Ram, and the tenure of Emperor Vikramaditya and Emperor Ashoka are considered synonymous with administrative efficiency and good governance. He told them to make the best use of their time and try to move forward based on their ability and capability.

Create an identity by working like a Karmayogi while remaining fearless and selfless

Chief Minister Yadav encouraged the trainees to create their own identity by working like a Karmayogi while remaining fearless and selfless, to spread their aura in the society on the basis of transparency, honesty and dutifulness in their working style and inspired all to adopt new disciplines and innovations. He also wished them a bright future.

Training to nine Indian Administrative Service, 15 Indian Forest Service and 127 State Civil Services trainees

Additional Chief Secretary and Director General Academy of Administration Vinod Kumar said that the main objective of basic training is to orient the selected talents towards public service. The administrative structure of Madhya Pradesh, administrative system, rules, and procedures have been included in the training. Along with this, the participants will also be introduced to the social, economic, geographical, and cultural aspects of the state.

Director Academy of Administration Mujibur Rahman said that 9 trainees of the Indian Administrative Service, 15 of the Indian Forest Service, and 127 trainees of State Civil Service will receive training in the joint basic training program.
The Womens Indian Chamber of Commerce Madhya Pradesh commemorated its third-year

anniversary with an event marking the fourth anniversary of E-mediation Writings, illuminating the theme of 'Empowering India with a Mediation Mindset on June 02 at Bhopal.

The event garnered participation from luminaries such as Honble Governor of Madhya Pradesh, Mangubhai Patel, Judge of the Supreme Court of India, Justice JK Maheshwari, Former Chief Justice of Delhi High Court and

Chairperson of Armed Forces Tribunal, Justice Rajendra Menon, as well as esteemed judges from various high courts.

The proceedings commenced with a gracious welcome by National Member of WICCI Adv Neena Khare. In his inaugural address, Chief Guest and Governor of Madhya Pradesh, Mangubhai Patel, highlighted the pivotal role of mediation in the judicial landscape, emphasizing the imperative for youth engagement in advocating its merits.

Governor Patel particularly urged for focused efforts in tribally dominated areas to ensure

equitable access to dispute resolution mechanisms, especially for economically and socially marginalized communities.

During a special address, Guest of Honour, Justice JK Maheshwari, who also serves as the Visitor to Dharmashastra National Law University, Jabalpur, delved into the rich tapestry of Indian cultural heritage, drawing parallels from ancient texts like the Ramcharitramanas and Mahabharata to illuminate the historical precedence of mediation.

Justice Maheshwari accentuated the significance of mediation in resolving familial disputes with impartiality and equanimity.

In his presidential address, Rajendra Menon, emphasised on the integration of professional mediation courses within educational institutions, elaborated the need for robust training infrastructure to nurture skilled mediators. Justice Menon implored Dharmashastra National Law University to spearhead similar initiatives to cultivate a generation adept in the art of mediation encouraging younger lawyers to take a step towards this path by skilling

themselves in and working in the area of mediation advocacy. Furthermore, he highlighted the mandatory guideline issued by the Bar Council of India on May 20, 2024, making mediation a compulsory subject. This guideline, initially communicated in 2020, includes a detailed syllabus and references for implementation by legal education centres. Justice Menon called upon institutions to adhere to the guideline and expressed hope for widespread adoption within a year.

The event culminated with the ceremonial launch of the E-Mediation Writing calendar by the EMW team, heralding a new chapter in the Chambers ongoing mission to foster a culture of constructive dispute resolution.

The inaugural panel discussion session centred around the transition from Mediation Advocacy: Competition to Collaboration, cahired over by the esteemed Justice Vijay Kumar Shukla, Judge, High Court of M.P. His discourse emphasized the pragmatic application of mediation methodologies. Joining the discussion as panellists were Shri Justice Vishal Dhagat, Judge, High Court of M.P and Justice Purushaindra

Kaurav, Judge, Delhi High Court. Justice Dhagat emphasised upon the mediative approach to arrive at a solution in a collaborative, consensus-building manner involving far more than just the practice of law. Justice Kaurav, drawing from Munshi Premchands writings, eloquently illustrated neutral dispute resolution techniques embedded within rural narratives. He further elaborated on the mediation practices followed since the medieval times.
HRTC to procure 25 buses 50 tempo travellers CM Sukhu



Shimla: Himachal Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Monday said the Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) will procure 25 new Volvo buses and 50 tempo travellers to strengthen the fleet. Sukhu, while chairing a meeting of HRTC, assured full support from the state government that would bolster the corporation's operations. Apart from this, plans are underway to introduce electric buses with a substantial budget of Rs 517 crore allocated for their purchase in the current financial year, he said. "The state government has committed to providing Rs 63 crore per month to support HRTC in delivering excellent transport services to commuters," he said.



CM Saini directs officers to complete work of strengthening roads by August 31



Chandigarh: Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Monday said that the work of strengthening all roads in the state will be completed by August 31. Orders have been issued to all concerned departments. Besides this, the deadline for the floating the tender process has also been set for seven days. After this specified timeframe, not a single road in the state will be in a dilapidated condition, directed the Chief Minister while chairing a key meeting with officers in Karnal. The Chief Minister directed that pending development projects and schemes should be completed quickly. Besides this, the officers concerned should ensure the resolution of people's issues in Samadhan Shivirs to be organised in their respective offices. He further directed that the officers concerned must pay utmost attention to the problems, issue raised by the citizens and ensure quick solutions. He said that if any negligence is observed at any level, strict action will be taken. The Chief Minister also directed the officers concerned to expedite the completion of development work that is pending in colonies.



Poll results not to deflect SAD from Panthic agenda: Sukhbir Badal



Chandigarh : Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Monday said that the results of the Lok Sabha poll in Punjab will not deflect him and his party from their agenda of commitment to the cause of Panth, Punjab, farmers and other aggrieved and poorer sections of society.  Our commitment to Panth and Punjab, especially farmers and the other poorer sections, is not subject to election results, good or bad. We will work even harder to fulfil our commitment to the aggrieved and downtrodden sections of society. We have seen massive glory and faced great challenges. But neither affects our commitment to principles. For us, principles will continue to remain above politics, and beyond victory or defeat  he said in a statement. Badal however said that as president of the party, he not only fully and humbly accepts the peoples mandate but also wholeheartedly respects it.



PMs first decision to release Kisan Nidhi shows commitment towards farmers: Jakhar



Chandigarh: Punjab BJP president Sunil Jakhar on Monday said that the Prime Minister Narendra Modis commitment and resolve towards welfare of farmers was manifested in his first decision in the third term authorizing the release of the installment of PM Kisan Nidhi, which will benefit over 11 crore farmer families in the country. Jakhar said that PM Modi chose farmers issues over and above everything by first sanctioning the release of nearly Rs 20,000 crore to be distributed in this installment among farmer families  Rs three lakh crore distributed to farmers till date. Recently, as part of the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra across 2.60 lakh gram panchayats in the country, over 90 lakh eligible farmers were added as beneficiaries to the PM Kisan Nidhi scheme. Several lakhs of farmers in Punjab will benefit from this decision. The money will be transferred in bank accounts of beneficiary farmers which will augment their income, Sunil Jakhar said.



Help Himachal with open mind Pratibha Singh to PM Modi



Shimla: Himachal Pradesh Congress president Pratibha Singh on Monday congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a third term in office, and hoped the Centre would help the state with an open mind. She also demanded a special economic package for the hill state. "After the elections, the phase of allegations and counter-allegations is over, so the Central government should help the state with an open mind now," Singh said in a statement here. "Any government elected in a democracy is big part of the public opinion and it should be fully respected and democratic values should not be violated at any level in the country," the state Congress president said.
Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on Monday assured the AAP government that he will take up the water supply matter with the Haryana government. He advised the AAP governments ministers to not indulge in blame game. Earlier,

Delhi Water Minister Atishi Marlena and Delhi Urban Development Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj met Lieutenant Governor Saxena urging him to intervene in the water crisis issue and ask the BJP ruled Haryana to release water for Delhi. The meeting was attended by Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar and Chief Executive Officer of Delhi Jal Board (DJB) A. Anbarasu.

The AAP led Delhi Government has accused the Haryana government of releasing insufficient water to Delhi amid the ongoing water crisis. After the meeting, Atishi said the LG assured them that he would talk to the Haryana government to ensure that the national capital's share of 1,050 cusecs water is released in the Munak canal. Saxena also advised the ministers to avoid blame games and prevent wastage of water.

The issue of 54 per cent unaccounted water and 40 per cent leakage in Delhi due to theft and unrepaired pipelines was again flagged by the LG and it was agreed by the Minister that a concrete plan of action for addressing this issue will soon be prepared by DJB. The LG assured that he will take up the matter of supply with the Government of Haryana and request them to give extra water on human grounds. LG also assured that the issue of staffing at DJB and additional burden on the CEO (DJB) will be addressed suitably at the earliest, an official statement by Raj Niwas stated.

A team of Upper Yamuna River Board (UYRB) officials, along with senior officials from GNCTD and Government of Haryana, inspected the supply of water at the head of Munak Canal in Delhi on Sundays evening. The team found the water supply from Haryana to be sufficient, it stated.

The inspection report revealed that Haryana on Sunday, had released 2289 cusec of water at Munak in Haryana and the quantity of water released from Munak to Kakori for supply exclusively to Delhi, was 1161.084 cusec against the quota of 1050 cusec of water. However, water received from Munak Canal at Bawana in Delhi was 960.78 cusec, amounting to a loss of 200 cusec, i.e. 18 per cent, on that date.These losses should be less than 5 per cent as per the accepted norms, it stated.

In a statement, the LG office said Saxena assured the ministers that he will take up the matter of supply with the government of Haryana and request them to give extra water on humanitarian grounds. This water loss has also been highlighted by the UYRB, in its meeting held on Thursday, where Delhi government and Haryana government both were represented. Flagging this huge water loss, the meeting minuted, urgent action is needed for Delhi sub-branch to bring down the losses which is around 25 per cent. Munak Canal is the main source from where Delhi gets water from Haryana for supply to seven out of Delhis nine WTPs.

During transit, a huge quantity of water is lost and stolen due to non-maintenance of the Munak Canal during its course in Delhi. This happens because of leakages due to non-repair of lining of the Canal as also theft by tankers, which were seen to be unauthorizedly lifting water during the inspection, it stated.

In the meeting, LG also shared photographs with the Ministers where tankers were lined up along Munak Canal in Delhi and lifting water illegally. However, it was also informed that during the current heat wave conditions, water received at Munak during May stood at an average 948 cusec and in June till now at an average 870 MGD, it read.

Following the Supreme Court order directing Himachal Pradesh to release additional water to Delhi, it also came out during the meeting that it could not be ascertained yet, whether Himachal Pradesh was actually releasing the additional 137 cusec into Yamuna. The LG asked the Minister to take up the matter with the Government of Himachal Pradesh over the issue.

The issue of inordinate delay in the commissioning of Chandrawal WTP and Dwarka WTP, pending since years, was also discussed. He underlined that if the wastage of the water to the tune of 25 per cent in Munak Canal due to disrepair/theft, etc. and 54 per cent unaccounted water which includes 40% leakages and theft in the city itself is plugged, the water crisis in Delhi would automatically be resolved to a large extent, the statement said.
Breaking his silence on the incident where actor and MP Kangana Ranaut was allegedly slapped by a CISF constable at Chandigarh International Airport, Punjab chief minister Bhagwant mann on Monday, condemned the incident as an act out of anger while also criticizing Ranaut for her inflammatory response, which labeled the entire state of Punjab as terrorist.

The incident stemmed from anger. Kangana Ranaut's past remarks had already stirred resentment in the heart of the CISF constable, said Mann.

Mann acknowledged that while the slapping incident should not have occurred, he maintained that Ranauts reaction was equally unjustifiable. This should not have happened. But in reply to it, despite being a public figure  a film star and an elected MP  saying that the entire Punjab is a terrorist is wrong, he added.

The Chief Minister highlighted Punjabs vital role in India's freedom struggle and its contribution to the nation's food security. He emphasized that branding the state and its people as terrorists is not only incorrect but also deeply hurtful. On every issue, you say that they are terrorists and separatists. If farmers hold protests, they are called terrorists. It is wrong, said Mann.

The incident involved Kulwinder Kaur, an under-suspension CISF woman constable, who had allegedly slapped Kangana Ranaut at Chandigarh airport last week. Kaur was reportedly upset with Ranaut's comments during the farmers year long agitation on Delhi borders. The constable's brother, Sher Singh Mahiwal, is an organizing secretary of the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee in Kapurthala.

Kangana Ranaut, in a video message following the incident, claimed that she was hit in the face and verbally abused during a security check. She described the encounter in a social media post titled, Shocking rise in terror and violence in Punjab after landing in Delhi. Ranaut recounted, 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?

A separate video circulating on social media showed the agitated constable explaining her actions to bystanders. In the video, Kaur reportedly said, Kangana made a statement earlier that the women farmers were protesting in Delhi because they were paid Rs 100 or Rs 200. At the time, my mother was one of the protesters.

Following the incident, the Mohali Police booked Kulwinder Kaur under IPC sections 323 (punishment for voluntarily causing hurt) and 341 (punishment for wrongful restraint), both of which are bailable offences.

Chief Minister Mann reiterated that the slap incident symbolizes the pent-up frustration resulting from Kangana Ranaut's previous provocative statements. He stressed that while the incident was regrettable, Ranaut should have shown restraint and remembered the significant contributions of Punjabis to the country. The immature statement does not behove a public figure of Kanganas stature, Mann concluded, urging for a more responsible and respectful discourse.

SIT Formed to Probe Slap Incident

In a high-profile case, the Mohali Police on Monday constituted a three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the incident in which actress and Mandi MP-elect Kangana Ranaut was allegedly slapped at the Chandigarh Airport by the CIDF lady constable.

The SIT will be led by Mohali SP City Harveer Singh Atwal, and will be assisted by DSP Airport Kuljinder Singh and Station House Officer Perry Winkle.

SP City Atwal said that the investigation will heavily rely on the CCTV footage from the airport. The team will scrutinize the video evidence to identify individuals present at the scene during the incident. Those identified in the footage will be questioned to gather more details. Additionally, both parties involved in the incident will be summoned for questioning to provide their accounts of what transpired, he said.

Based on the evidence collected, the SIT will compile a comprehensive report to be submitted to higher authorities. Currently, no specific timeline has been set for the completion of the investigation, as it involves interviewing numerous individuals which may take considerable time.
Prime Minister Narendra Modis Cabinet 3.0 aims to balance the regional and caste dynamics of Uttar Pradesh. Interestingly, despite a significant drop in the number of Lok Sabha members elected from the state  from 64 in 2019 to 36 in 2024  the representation of UP in the cabinet has increased by 8 per cent.

In his new government, Prime Minister Modi aims to appeal to 60-62 per cent of the castes in UP, which influence 300-320 assembly constituencies. This strategic move is designed to potentially strengthen the Bharatiya Janata Partys position in future elections, reflecting a nuanced approach to addressing the complex socio-political landscape of Uttar Pradesh, said Prof Ajit Kumar Singh, former director of the Giri Institute of Development Studies in Lucknow.

A comparison of election results and ministerial representation reveals a strategic adjustment. In 2014, the BJP and its allies won 73 seats in UP, with 18 ministers, constituting 24.5 per cent of the cabinet. In 2019, the party secured 64 seats, but the number of ministers dropped to 13, representing 20 per cent of the cabinet. Despite winning only 36 seats in 2024, UPs ministerial representation stood at 10, making up 28 per cent of the cabinet.

The new ministerial allocation ensures that various regions of UP are well represented. West UP has secured the maximum representation with four ministers, followed by Purvanchal with three ministers, and Awadh (central UP) with two ministers. This regional distribution reflects an effort to maintain political equilibrium across the diverse landscape of UP.

Modis new cabinet also focuses on caste balance, incorporating a mix of communities to address the changing electoral dynamics. The cabinet includes four ministers from the Other Backward Classes (OBC), with two coming from the Most Backward Classes. There are two ministers from the Dalit community, specifically from the Gadaria and Paswan communities, and three ministers from the upper castes. Notably, there are no ministers from the Jatav and Harijan communities, which indicates a shift in support from these groups away from the BJP.

The BJPs diminished performance in UP is attributed to the shift of non-Jatav and Kurmi OBC voters towards the INDIA bloc. To address this, the reshuffle includes two ministers from the Kurmi community and two from the Most Backward Classes. Additionally, two ministers represent the non-Jatav communities, reflecting an effort to regain support from these voter segments.

In Purvanchal, where there are 27 Lok Sabha seats, the BJP won 10 seats, and its ally Apna Dal (Sonelal) won one. This is a significant drop from 2019, when the BJP and Apna Dal (S) won 20 seats. Three ministers in the new cabinet hail from this region, indicating an effort to rebuild support there.

In West UP, the BJP won 14 out of 29 seats, with two seats going to its ally Rashtriya Lok Dal. In 2019, the BJP had won 21 seats in this region. Four ministers have been appointed from west UP, showing an emphasis on strengthening the partys presence there.

In central UP and Bundelkhand, where the BJP secured nine out of 24 seats, only one minister has been appointed from this area, highlighting the challenges the party faces in this region.
Delhi Urban Development Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj on Monday alleged that the press statement issued by the Delhi Lieutenant Governor House following a meeting over water situation in the national capital was "misleading" and demanded that the video of the meeting be put in the public domain.

There was no immediate reaction from the office of LG Vinai Kumar Saxena, who had met Delhi ministers Atishi and Bharadwaj and assured them to take up the water supply matter with the Haryana government.

During a press conference, Bharadwaj was asked that the facts stated by Atishi and the LG Office press statement were different. Delhi Urban Development Minister said, "It is very unfortunate that the discussion that happened during the meeting is being presented in a wrong and false manner in the press statement. The press statement is quite misleading and portrays facts in a wrong light."

Meanwhile, the AAP held a protest on Monday at Haryana Bhawan over its allegation that the neighbouring state is not releasing Delhi's share of the Yamuna's water, leading to a shortage in the city. Scores of AAP workers, including party MLA Kuldeep Kumar, raised slogans against the BJP-led Haryana government.

Bhardwaj claimed that there were three video cameras recording the proceedings of the meeting and said, "You have video-recorded the meeting. Please put it in the public domain. Let the people of Delhi and the country see the discussion. Please make the video public. Let people see what discussion happens between ministers and LG. He cannot make it public because people will get to know his reality. This proves that Lt Governor and his office issue misleading press releases which is a criminal offence."

Bharadwaj also alleged that when he and Atishi reached the LG Secretariat for the meeting, the security personnel asked them to deposit their phones outside. "We were asked to keep our phones outside and when we questioned, there was discussion among the police personnel and they allowed us to take our phones in the meeting. When we apprised LG sir over the matter, he apologised and said there must have been some miscommunication," he said.

Further, the AAP Kondli MLA said, "The BJP is playing dirty politics and depriving the people of Delhi of their share of water at a time when heatwave conditions are prevailing in north India. The Lt Governor should intervene as the representative of the people of Delhi," Kumar said.

After the meeting, Atishi said the Lt Governor assured them that he will talk to the Haryana government to ensure that the national capital's share of 1,050 cusecs water is released in the Munak canal.

The LG Office in a statement said Saxena assured the ministers that he will take up the matter of supply with the government of Haryana and request them to give extra water on humanitarian grounds. Saxena also advised the ministers to avoid blame game and prevent wastage of water, it said.
The Supreme Court on Monday extended by nearly two months the June 15 deadline given to the Aam Aadmi Party to vacate its office at Rouse Avenue in the national capital. The top court had on March 4 directed the party to vacate its office by June 15 after noting that the plot was allotted to the Delhi High Court for expanding judicial infrastructure.

A vacation bench comprising justices Vikran Nath and Sandeep Mehta took note of the submissions of senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, appearing for the AAP and others, and extended the deadline till August 10, saying it was the last opportunity and that the party will have to hand over the vacant possession of the building at 206, Rouse Avenue here by then.

The premises were allotted in 2020 to the Delhi High Court for creating infrastructure for the district judiciary in the national capital. At the outset, Singhvi urged the bench that the deadline be extended. Lawyer K Parmeshwar, appointed as amicus curiae to assist the apex court in the matter, said there was a shortage of 90 courtrooms for judicial officers.

"We (the high court) are in dire conditions and now we may have to rent premises to accommodate the newly-recruited judicial officers, who are undergoing training presently," he said. Parmeshwar said the AAP wanted some place in central Delhi and they are being offered land at some other place in the city.

"The premises in question had to be vacated by June 15, 2024. The premises are already allotted to the Delhi High Court in 2020. The expansion of judicial infrastructure is stultified and the cost of expansion is also a factor. This application is for extension of time till August 10, 2024.

"Considering facts and circumstances and as the last opportunity, we extend the time till August 10, 2024 on an undertaking to be given by the applicant (AAP) within a week before the registry of this court that they shall hand over vacant and peaceful possession by August 10, 2024," the bench ordered.

On March 4, a bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud had directed the party to vacate its offices at Rouse Avenue in the national capital by June 15, after noting that the plot was allotted to the Delhi High Court for expanding judicial infrastructure.

It had said that the AAP has no lawful right to continue on the land. It had asked the AAP to approach the Land and Development Office under the Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry for allotment of land for its offices. Singhvi had submitted that AAP is one of the six national parties in the country and it is entitled to land in the New Delhi municipal area in accordance with its status.

"They are telling us as a national party we get nothing. I'm given (land in) Badarpur, while everyone else is in better places. A particular government does not want me to be flourishing and working," Singhvi had said. Calling AAP an "encroacher", Solicitor General Tushar Mehta had told the top court that the land allotment to the party was revoked in June 2017.

Parameshwar had informed the bench that by a communication dated June 13, 2017, the Public Works Department of the Delhi government apprised the National Secretary of the AAP that the allotment of Bungalow no.206 at Rouse Avenue stood revoked as per the directions of the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi.

The AAP had earlier denied that its offices at Rouse Avenue are an encroachment on land allotted to the Delhi High Court for judicial infrastructure and told the top court that it was officially allotted to it by the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi.
The Supreme Court on Monday slammed the Delhi government for not rectifying defects in its plea seeking a direction to Haryana to release the surplus water provided by Himachal Pradesh to the national capital to mitigate its water crisis. Expressing displeasure, the court asked the Arvind Kejriwal government to not take the top court for granted and even warned that the petition would be dismissed if the issue is not addressed. A vacation bench of Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra and Justice Prasanna B Varale noted that affidavits are not being accepted in the registry due to the defect in the petition filed by the Delhi government.

"Why have you not cured the defect? We will dismiss the petition. On the last date also this was pointed out and you did not remove the defect. Don't take the court proceedings for granted, however important your case may be.

"Never take us for granted. Filings are not being accepted. You straightaway hand over a series of documents in court and then you say you are suffering a deficit of water and pass an order today itself. You are raising all grounds of urgency and sitting leisurely. Let everything come on record. We will take it the day after tomorrow," the bench said while adjourning the matter to June 12.

The top court said it wants to read the files before the matter is heard as there are so many things being reported in the newspaper.

"If we don't read the files at our residential office we will be impressed by whatever the newspapers are reporting. That is not good for any of the parties," the bench said.At the outset, senior advocate Shyam Divan, appearing for Haryana, submitted the reply filed by the state government. The apex court asked Divan why did he file the reply now.

Divan replied that since the defects in the Delhi government's plea have not been rectified, pre-filing of the reply was not permitted by the registry.The top court then rebuked the Delhi government. The counsel for the Delhi government submitted that defects have been removed.

The acute shortage of drinking water has become an "existential problem" in Delhi, the top court had earlier observed and directed the Himachal Pradesh government to release 137 cusecs of surplus water to the national capital on Friday and Haryana to facilitate its flow.
After the Assembly by-polls for six seats int he state, Himachal Pradesh would again see By-polls for three assembly seats represented by three Independent MLAs who resigned from the assembly and joined the BJP. The polls will be held on July 10, according to the schedule issued by the Election Commission on Monday.



The three Independent MLAs -- Ashish Sharma (Hamirpur), Hoshiyar Singh (Dehra) and KL Thakur (Nalagarh) -- resigned from the assembly on March 22 and joined the BJP the following day. Their resignations were accepted by the speaker on June 3. The result of these by-polls would not affected the stability of the Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu government as it is in a comfortable majority after the victory in 4 assembly by-polls.



The BJP may field these three as its candidates from their respective seats. Sharma, Singh and Thakur were among the nine MLAs, including six from the Congress, who voted for BJP candidate Harsh Mahajan in the February 27 Rajya Sabha elections.



The six Congress MLAs were disqualified from the assembly for defying a party whip to be present in the House and vote in favour of the government. They later joined the BJP and were fielded from the respective constituencies they vacated on a saffron party ticket.



In the bypolls to the six assembly constituencies, held simultaneously with the Lok Sabha elections, the Congress retained four seats while two were won by the BJP. The 68-member House is now functioning with 65 MLAs after the bypolls. The ruling Congress has 38 MLAs while the BJP has 27.



According to the Election Commission's schedule, the notification for the bypolls will be issued on June 14 and the last date for filing nominations will be June 21. The papers will be scrutinised on June 24 while the last date for withdrawing nominations is June 26. The votes will be counted on July 13.



Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said the Independent MLAs could support any party in the House and there was no need for them to resign. "They were elected for five years but resigned within 14 months and the people of the state will decide their fate," he said.



In a related development, the Congress has dissolved its Hamirpur block unit and will shortly reconstitute it.
/In a significant show of support for the ongoing farmers agitation, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday spoke with farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, assuring the protesters of justice. The interaction took place as a five-member delegation from the Trinamool Congress (TMC) visited the Khanauri border site, where young farmer Shubhkaran Singh sustained a bullet injury on February 21.

TMCs delegation, including its five Rajya Sabha MPs  Derek OBrien, Md Nadimul Haque, Dola Sen, Sagarika Ghose, and Saket Gokhale, met with the farmers protesting at the Khanauri border between Punjab and Haryana to express solidarity with the farmers and to understand their grievances firsthand.

During the visit, Mamata spoke with the farmers via phone, reinforcing her partys commitment to their cause. Today, a team from @AITCofficial in a 5 MP delegation visited farmers' protests at the Khanauri border. Our leader @MamataOfficial spoke via phone to farm leaders to assure them that @AITCofficial will always stand for justice for farmers. Jai Hind. Jai Kisan, tweeted Sagarika Ghose after the meeting.

In her conversation, Mamata assured the farmers of every possible support and emphasized that she would raise their issues in the Lok Sabha. She criticized the NDA Government for not addressing the farmers demands and insisted that the Central Government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, should heed the farmers' rightful demands.

Mamata stressed that the farmers' demands, including a legal guarantee for the Minimum Support Price (MSP), are legitimate and must be taken seriously by the government.

The farmers, enduring months of hardship, shared their harrowing experiences and highlighted how the Kisan-Birodhi Modi Govt. at the Centre has betrayed their aspirations and resorted to brutal repressionOur women MPs stood in full solidarity with the women farmers, reaffirming our support for their cause against this oppressive regime, read the post on the partys official handle on X (formerly Twitter).

Farmers have been protesting at the Khanauri border since February, demanding a legal guarantee for MSP among other issues. They intended to march to Delhi, but were stopped by the BJP-led Haryana Government at the border, leading to the establishment of a permanent protest site.

The protest turned tragic on February 21, when Shubhkaran Singh, a young farmer from Bathinda, was killed during a clash with the police at the Khanauri border. The incident also resulted in injuries to 12 police personnel. An inquiry into the incident is being conducted by a committee appointed by the High Court.

TMC delegations visit is seen as a strategic move to amplify the farmers voices at the national level. The delegation promised that the TMC would raise the issue of MSP in the upcoming monsoon session of the Parliament.

Abhimanyu Kohar, a leader of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political), acknowledged the delegations visit and appreciated their support. They went to the spot where tractors were damaged and Shubhkaran Singh had sustained bullet injury. They spoke with farmers, said Kohar, referring to the clash with the police in February on the border point with Haryana.
TDP supremo N Chandrababu Naidu is said to be sworn-in as the chief minister of Andhra Pradesh on Wednesday, marking his fourth term in that role.

Naidu is scheduled to take oath at 11.27 am at Kesarapalli IT Park near Gannavaram Airport on the outskirts of Vijayawada.

On Tuesday, the Telugu Desam Legislature Party and NDA partners elected Naidu as their leader.

Leaders of the NDA comprising TDP, BJP and Janasena would meet Governor S Abdul Nazeer and stake claim to form a government.

There could be an invitation from the Governor to form the government by Tuesday evening.

Along with Naidu, some more leaders are likely to swear-in, who could include TDP general secretary and Naidu's son Nara Lokesh and Janasena leader N Manohar.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several other dignitaries are expected to attend the swearing-in ceremony.

Reviewing the arrangements for the ceremony, Chief Secretary Neerabh Kumar Prasad said the prime minister is expected to leave from Delhi for Gannavaram Airport at 8.20 am and arrive by 10.40 am on Wednesday.

According to the tentative schedule, he said Modi is expected to reach the venue by 10.55 am to participate in the swearing-in ceremony from 11 am to 12.30 pm. Thereafter, the PM is expected to return to the airport at 12.40 pm and take off for Bhubaneswar at 12.45 pm.

Naidu first became the chief minister in 1995 and went on to have another two terms.

His first two terms as chief minister were at the helm of united Andhra Pradesh, beginning in 1995 and ending in 2004, nine years at a stretch while the third term came post-bifurcation of the state.

In 2014, Naidu emerged as the first chief minister of bifurcated Andhra Pradesh and served it until 2019. He lost the 2019 polls to remain an opposition leader until 2024.

Following a landslide victory in the 2024 elections, he is returning as the CM for the fourth term.

The NDA comprising TDP, BJP and Janasena won a landslide victory in the recently concluded simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in the southern state with a brute majority of 164 Assembly and 21 Lok Sabha seats.
BJP leader Chandrakant Patil on Tuesday said though Uddhav Thackeray took a great deal of efforts during the Lok Sabha elections campaign, the allies Congress and NCP (SP) seem to have benefitted more than his own party.

Thackeray was not keeping well but he still campaigned hard, said Patil, a senior Maharashtra minister, at an event here.

"Uddhav Thackeray's health was not in good condition, still he took a lot of efforts. I was worried about his health. However, the outcome indicates that NCP (SP) and Congress benefitted more from his efforts than his own party.

"When Thackeray was with BJP, his party had won 18 Lok Sabha seats. With Congress and NCP (SP), he ended up winning nine seats. He needs to introspect," Patil further said.

Thackeray's Shiv Sena (UBT) contested 21 out of 48 Lok Sabha seats in the state, but won only nine. Congress, on the other hand, contested 17 and won 13. Congress leader and rebel candidate in Sangli Lok Sabha constituency also won and later extended support to the party. The NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) contested 10 seats and won eight.

Patil further taunted Thackeray saying, "Thackeray also earned a tag of winning due to the votes of minorities. An MNS leader has also put it succinctly, saying the colour of Uddhav's victory is not saffron but green."
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Bulgarias centre-right GERB party led by former Prime Minister Boyko Borissov has received most votes in the countrys parliamentary election but will need at least two partners to form a governing coalition. The countrys sixth vote for the National Assembly in three years was held Sunday parallel with European Parliament elections. Both votes were marked by apathy that kept turnout at a record low of about 30 per cent. The results produced one more deeply fragmented parliament, which does not offer many options for restoring political stability in the European Unions poorest member country. Many observers suggest that the most likely scenario is another snap parliamentary election later this year.

With 64 per cent of the votes counted, the GERB party received 23.7 per cent, followed by the ethnic Turkish Movement for Rights and Freedoms party, which surprisingly came in second with 15.9 per cent, slightly ahead of the pro-Western reformist bloc led by the We Continue the Change party with 15.1 per cent.

Four other parties also appear to have gained seats in the 240-seat chamber, according to the latest results by the election commission.

The ultra-nationalist Vazrazhdane party, which opposes any action against Russia in its war against Ukraine, came in fourth with 14.3 per cent of the vote and will likely send for the first time three representatives to the European Parliament.

The Socialist party came in fifth with 6.9 per cent, followed by the There is Such People party, led by a popular TV entertainer, with 6.3 per cent and a newly formed radical party Velichie with 4.8 per cent.

The first six parties will share the 17 seats allocated to Bulgaria in the European Parliament, the electoral commission said.
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The baying crowd of peasants shout and spit at Emmanuel Macron as he is carted off to the guillotine, his only remark that everything is all right and that there is nothing to see here, please go home is promptly answered by a farmer throwing a large rotten turnip at his head.

The cobbled streets of Paris make for a rickety ride on Macrons last journey to Le Guillotine.

Again, the feverish pitch of the peasants rises, undulating much like an ocean storm about to hit the shore violently. An old peasant woman with no teeth lifts her breeches to urinate in the gutter, and no one bats an eyelid. There are more important things at hand, like bringing justice to France from a man who has shat on millions of hard-working citizens.

This is truly the day of reckoning, not only for Macron but for France. For too long the rot has been allowed to set in; the streets are now filled with tents full of migrants mostly from Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East, the taxes are too high, and a grave injustice has been committed on the French farmers, amongst many other professions.

Tout va bien, il ny a rien a voir ici, Macron urges from atop the cart, just as a juicy cow-pat lands in his face, fresh from a farm.

The steel blade of the guillotine beckons, and the neatly placed basket under it is calmly waiting for Macrons guilty head.

This is all von der Leyens fault, I had nothing to do with it! Macron pleads, this time answered by a filthy rag with god knows what on it.

Avez-vous un dernier mot? the executioner asks.

Non! is the simple answer as the blade drops to great cheer.
I invoke the mighty Ogun and Shango and venerate my ancestors who were sold to the white slave traders to be shipped to America by Yoruba kings hundreds of years ago. I do not blame the kings, they just wanted blankets, whisky and guns, and my ancestors were probably slaves in Africa anyway. But putting that aside, I will fly to Lagos, Nigeria in four weeks to be appointed as Supreme Queen of the Yoruba tribe and people, and of all of Nigeria and Benin. It is my destiny as I am after all 43% Nigerian, as I publicised constantly during the Invictus Games and Royal Nigerian Tour, Meghan Markle told an audience at a symposium for disabled black children in Los Angeles.

Dahomey

For over 200 years, powerful kings in what is now the country of Benin captured and sold slaves to Portuguese, French and British merchants. The slaves were usually men, women and children from rival tribes  gagged and jammed into boats bound for Brazil, Haiti and the United States. Source

Meghan Markle added: Many African Americans blame white people for slavery, but none of it could have happened without the African tribes and kings who sold slaves to the white traders. This is something that is covered up because it does not suit the race card and anti-white agenda pushed by American social justice warriors and liberals. I do not think it was right, but my ancestors were slaves sold by our own people. It is what it is.

Every nation and race has endured slavery throughout history, and not just African Americans.
The appearance of legal papers pertaining to the case of three women charged in connection with the murder of Katie Simpson on August 9 2020 in the press has caused 'untold distress to the victim's family' Derry Crown Court heard today.

The defendants are Rose De Montmorency-Wright, 23, from Craigantlet Road in Newtownards, Hayley Rob, 30, from Weavers Row in Banbridge and Jill Robinson, 42, from Blackfort Road in Omagh who are due to be sentenced on Friday in relation to perverting the course of justice and withholding information about the death of Katie Simpson.

The man alleged to have murdered her, Jonathan Creswell (36) was found dead on the morning of the second day of his trial.

At a hearing today Judge Neil Rafferty KC had been asked to release character references to the media.

However, Des Fahy KC for Jill Robinson said that he was 'concerned' about material finding it's way into the media before it was aired in court.

He said that Robinson had two character references and the people supplying them were not public figures and should not be identified.

The barrister said that there was obviously 'a source' that the material was coming from and 'the court should be concerned as to why this is happening'.

Sam Magee KC for the prosecution said that he echoed the submissions made by Mr Fahy.

He said that the publication of this material was having a detrimental impact on the family of the victim.

He said at least one media outlet had quite properly applied to the court for the release of material but it was not clear how the documents were making their way into the press.

Judge Rafferty said that 'on the face of it, it is a contempt' but added that his usual course of action would be to refer the matter to the Attorney General and he would consider that option.

The court heard that there were three character references for De Montmorency-Wright, two for Jill Robinson and none for Hayley Robb.

Mr Fahy said his concern now was what other material would find their way into the press including medical reports.

He said he would have no confidence that that won't happen.

The judge said that the only 'proper access' to court material was through him and 'press freedom comes with press responsibility'.

The three women will be sentenced on Friday June 14.
A man who has been recalled to prison on foot of a life sentence licence has pleaded guilty to a series of drug charges at Derry Crown Court.

Gavin Maguire (40) with an address at Springfield Road in Belfast appeared by videolink from Maghaberry Prison today.

Counsel had asked for him to be re-arraigned and Maguire pleaded guilty to 11 charges including being concerned in the supply of cocaine and cannabis, transferring criminal property and possessing criminal property namely more than 22,000 in cash.

All of the offences were said to have occurred on dates between December 2019 and September 2021.

The court heard that Maguire had been recalled to prison on a life licence.

Judge Neil Rafferty KC said that a pre-sentence report would not be required as probation was not an option in thus case.

He told the defendant that he would sentence him for the offences to at least give him 'an idea of finality' in the case although it was unlikely that he was going anywhere for some time to come.

Maguire will be sentenced on July 5.

The defendant was jailed for life in 2007 for the murder of his cousin in February 2006.
An Ethiopian national has been remanded in custody at Derry Magistrate's Court today after the court heard he had given one name yet fingerprint evidence suggested he was somebody else.

The defendant was identified on court papers as Dessie Yafiet (27) of no fixed abode who was charged with assaulting a female, disorderly behaviour, resisting and obstructing police and theft charges that were said to have occurred on June 9 and 10.

A police officer connected the accused to the charges and opposed bail.

He told the court that the defendant was alleged to have entered Tescos in Quayside and ordered cigarettes valued at 15.60.

The man was said to have given the assistant 10 and when told that was not enough took the money and the cigarettes and tried to leave.

When challenged the man claimed he had paid for the cigarettes and clenched his fists at staff.

The court heard that on June 9 police were called to Tescos again to a report of an aggressive male who was refusing to leave the premises.

They were told the man had been causing an annoyance and was being aggressive towards staff.

He had tried to reach across a counter to lift items and had taken a staff member's mobile phone and was challenged.

He refused to leave and when asked his name said it was Muhammad Ali.

When police asked for details he said he had no name or address.

The court heard that the man made lewd remarks towards a woman police officer and pushed her before struggling with police.

Bail was opposed due to the fact that police were unable to identify him and also that he had no address.

Defence solicitor Seamus Quigley said that bail could be granted with suitable conditions.

District Judge Barney McElholm said that the court could not even be certain as to who the defendant was.

He refused bail and remanded the man in custody and said there was a need to establish the true identity.

He will appear again on July 4.
The next Westminster government has been urged to scrap the Legacy Act and listen to the victims of the Northern Ireland Troubles.

Victims spoke out as a Government challenge to a ruling that part of the controversial legislation is unlawful began at the Court of Appeal in Belfast.

Earlier this year, a High Court judge ruled that one of the central elements of the Act, the provision for conditional immunity from prosecution for Troubles offences, should be struck out.

The Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act passed into law in September.

From May 1, all civil cases and inquests that were not at their findings stage were halted.

Responsibility for investigating all legacy cases has since been transferred to a new truth recovery body, the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR).

The new arrangements have been controversial with victims groups and organisations, and are opposed by all of the main political parties in Northern Ireland.

Opening the appeal on Tuesday, barrister for the Government Tony McGleenan KC began his submissions by summarising a number of previous unsuccessful attempts to deal with the legacy of the Troubles since the Good Friday Agreement was signed in 1998.

Labour has previously said if it formed the next government it would restore legacy inquests and the ability for Troubles victims to bring civil cases.

However, it has said it would not immediately scrap the ICRIR, but wanted to see if it could command the confidence of victims families.

Speaking outside court, Grainne Teggart, from Amnesty International, said the Court of Appeal hearing was the crucial next step in the fight for justice for Troubles victims.

She said: Victims are here once again to fight for those rights.

The next UK government has the chance to right this historic wrong. It must immediately, as an urgent legislative priority, repeal the Troubles Act and put in place victims centred processes that prioritise victims and not perpetrators.

The first 100 days of this government must show that rights and the rule of law will be respected, protected and upheld.

We urge the next government to listen to the calls from victims, to do the right thing and overturn this law as a priority.

Martina Dillon, whose husband Seamus was shot dead by loyalists in 1997, said victims had no choice but to put their faith in the next government.

She said: We will continue to fight on until we get inquests.

I am not fighting for me, I am fighting for everybody here. Every victim is entitled to an inquest.

A number of families of Troubles victims have launched a cross-appeal to the human rights compliance of the ICRIR.

The High Court judgment in February ruled that the ICRIR is able to carry out human rights-compliant investigations and is independent.

Ms Teggart said: Our significant concerns with that body remain.

We need Article 2 compliant investigations so that victims can finally get truth and justice for their loved ones.

They shouldnt have to fight through the courts, but they will and will continue until such times as their rights are vindicated.
The crumbling state of the roads network in Northern Ireland is a glaring example of the consequences of the austerity agenda from Westminster, Infrastructure Minister John ODowd has said.

Mr ODowd addressed concerns about the rise in the number of potholes on roads at the Assembly on Monday, after being told one route was like the surface of the Moon.

The minister said only the highest priority road defects are currently being repaired.

In February, Mr ODowd announced an additional 8.1 million was being made available to fix some of the worst roads in Northern Ireland.

However, he said that his department continued to operate in a challenging financial environment.

The minister was asked if he would restore the depth level at which his department would fix a pothole from 50mm to 20mm.

Mr ODowd said: My department has been operating in a difficult financial environment for a number of years due to underfunding and austerity by the British government.

In response my department has had to reduce its road maintenance activities to a limited service which prioritises delivery of essential services for maintaining public safety and protecting the transport network.

Consequently, only the highest priority defects across the network are currently being repaired.

This means defects greater than 50mm depth are being repaired across all roads.

However, on high traffic urban and rural roads, defects greater than 20mm are also being repaired.

The level of repairs being carried out in any financial year depends on the funding available to my department.

North Down DUP MLA Stephen Dunne said the number of potholes on local roads was truly shocking.

He said a route within his constituency has a road surface more akin to the surface of the Moon.

He said: When will the minister take proper action to address our roads crisis?

Mr ODowd responded: We are taking all actions available to us.

We have set in place a plan in terms of reacting to the potholes. I accept potholes are an issue across many roads but it is not only within this jurisdiction.

In the south and in England, Scotland and Wales there is also a crisis in relation to potholes and it all goes back to one issue, 14 years of austerity leads to deterioration in public services, public infrastructure and our roads are a glaring example of that.

The minister said he would be making a bid for additional funding for roads maintenance in the June monitoring round.

He added: Many of our public services are crumbling.

The thing about roads is you see it physically in front of you.

This is what happens when you have an austerity agenda at the heart of the British government for the last decade.
The leading Sinn Fein candidate is not overly optimistic about retaining a European seat for the party in Midlands-North-West.

Michelle Gildernew is one of 27 candidates who contested the massive 15-county constituency to be one of the Republic of Irelands members of the European Parliament.

However, after the seventh count, left-wing independent Luke Ming Flanagan remained in the lead.

He was followed by three candidates in a tight grouping; first-time Fine Gael candidate and former jockey Nina Carberry, Fianna Fails Barry Cowen, and Maria Walsh  also with Fine Gael.

Former RTE correspondent and Independent Ireland candidate Ciaran Mullooly leads the rest of the pack for the fifth and final seat, with a sizeable gap before his next-closest rival, Ms Gildernew.

The former MP for Fermanagh and South Tyrone may benefit from transfers following the expected elimination of Chris MacManus, who inherited the partys seat in the constituency after Matt Carthy become a TD in Irelands Dail.

Speaking at the TF Royal Count Centre on Tuesday, Ms Gildernew said the election is not over until the last count is completed but added: We didnt get the result we wanted  were still in the mix  but Im not overly optimistic that I can overtake Ciaran Mullooly at this stage.

Ms Gildernew stepped down from the Fermanagh and South Tyrone seat to contest the European election.

Sinn Fein is running former general secretary of the Royal College of Nursing Pat Cullen in the seat instead.

Asked if she had any regrets about this decision, she said: I dont regret the decision that I made, I dont regret running.

Polling day followed shortly after the death of Ms Gildernews nephew during the late-stages of the campaign.

She added: This is the setback  its definitely not a tragedy.

I know what that feels like, this week as well and you know, I dont have any regrets at all about the decision I made.

Mr MacManus said the size of the constituency made it very difficult for him as he had not contested the previous election.

To have name and face recognition is a massive asset to have.

Counting officially began on Sunday but many of the candidates are bracing for the potential of the process continuing into Thursday.
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Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang talks about partners, growing competition

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang addressed the company's partnerships with Arm, High-Bandwidth Memory (HBM) manufacturers, Cloud Service Providers (CSP), and Taiwan's high-tech supply chains, which are led by TSMC, during a press Q&A session at Computex 2024 in Taipei. He also shared his vision for AI and commented on the competition. The following is a summary of the Q&A session.

Q: Currently, Nvidia's HBM partner is SK Hynix. When will Samsung join as a partner? Rumor has it that Samsung's HBM does not quite meet Nvidia's requirements.

A: For Nvidia, HBM memory is extremely essential. Right now, we're expanding rapidly. We provide the Hopper H200 and H100. Blackwell B100 and B200 are available. Grace Blackwell GB200 is here. The amount of HBM memories that we are ramping up is quite significant. The speed that we need is also very significant. We work with three partners. All three are excellent. SK Hynix, of course, Micron, and Samsung. All three will give us HBM memories. We are working diligently to qualify and integrate them into our manufacturing processes as quickly as possible.

Q: Could you please elaborate on the delay in Samsung and Micron memory becoming HBM-certified? There was a rumor that Samsung's memory failed your energy consumption and heat verification tests. Can you finally disclose whether you've certified any Samsung memory or HBM?

A: No, it did not fail for any of these reasons. Furthermore, there is no relationship between the material you have read and our business. Our relationship with Samsung and Micron is proceeding smoothly. The engineering is the only task that remains. It is yet to be completed. Yes, I wanted to finish it by yesterday, but it has not been completed. Knowing this requires patience. Yes, but there is no story present.

Q: Can you provide an update on your collaboration with Arm?

A: Of course. Our collaboration with Arm is outstanding. We are working on Grace, our CPU designed specifically for AI and high-performance computing as you are aware. We are rather thrilled about the Arm architecture since it lays the foundation of Grace. It's going to be fantastic for our data centers, and it's going to be an incredible product for the industry. Our relationship with Arm is very strong. We're working closely together to bring new technologies to market, and we're very excited about the future of Arm-based CPUs in our product lineup.

Q: CSPs like Google and Microsoft are developing their own AI chips, which could have an impact on Nvidia. The second question is whether Nvidia will conduct business, which you may consider doing, ASIC chip development?

A: Nvidia is quite different. As you know, Nvidia is not an accelerator. Nvidia accelerates computing. Do you know the difference? I explain it every year, but no one understands. The Deep Learning Accelerator cannot handle SQL data. We can. The deep learning accelerator cannot handle photos.

The accelerator cannot be used for fluid dynamic simulations. We can't make sense. Nvidia promotes faster computing. It's quite versatile. It is also quite effective for deep learning. Does that make sense?

Thus, Nvidia offers more versatile accelerated computing. Consequently, more use correlates with greater utility. It has a low effective cost. Allow me to explain with an example. Many believe that a smartphone is far more expensive than a phone. In the past, a smartphone was once more expensive than a phone; at US$100, it was the replacement for the music player. It took the place of the camera. It took the place of your laptop. On occasion. That is correct, isn't it? Therefore, the smartphone was relatively affordable due to its adaptability. It is, in actuality, our most valuable instrument.

Same thing with Nvidia accelerated computing. Second, Nvidia's architecture is incredibly versatile and practical. It is a component of every cloud. It is located in GCP, OCI, Azure, and not AWS. It's located in local clouds. In sovereign clouds, that is. It exists everywhereon-premises, in private clouds, and everywhere else. Because we have such a large audience, developers come to us first. It makes sense. Because it operates everywhere if you program for or target CUDA. It only operates at the accelerators if you program for one of them. This gets us to the second reason for which our value to the client is quite high: in addition to reducing the CSPs' workload, Nvidia provides them with clients because they are CUDA customers.

Our objective is to migrate consumers to the cloud. As cloud companies expand their Nvidia capability, their revenue increases. When they enhance the capability of their proprietary ASICs, their expenses rise. It is possible that the revenue will not rise.

We attract consumers to our cloud services, and we are really satisfied with this achievement. Nvidia is positioned in a distinct manner. Firstly, our versatility stems from the abundance of exceptional software we possess. Secondly, we exist in every cloud and are present in all locations. We are an attractive prospect for developers and highly valuable to CSPs. We attract and generate clients for them.

Q: Could you tell us more about your thoughts on the future of AI and how Nvidia is positioned in this space?

A: AI is the most potent technological force of our era. Nvidia is at the forefront of this transformation, which will revolutionize every industry. We are offering the platforms, systems, and tools necessary to stimulate AI innovation. We are facilitating the next surge of AI advancements by utilizing a variety of software libraries, including CUDA and TensorRT, as well as our AI platforms, including Clara for healthcare, Isaac for robotics, and Drive for autonomous vehicles. Our collaboration with partners from various sectors guarantees that AI can be implemented efficiently and that we will persist in expanding the limits of what is feasible. Nvidia will be playing a critical role in the journey of AI's impact on every aspect of our lives.

Q: Question about building technology. Last week, Intel and AMD unveiled the UA Link Consortium. They say that your Nvidia is proprietary. Therefore, being open is much better. So what are your thoughts on that? I believe we have used proprietary technology throughout the history of this industry. Intel is x86. ARM is ARM architecture. Now, Nvidia has NVLink. So, what do you think about open vs. proprietary?

A: For end users, performance and cost performance are favorable. End users also tolerate proprietary technology as long as it offers acceptable performance and cost-effectiveness.

Proprietary and open standards have always existed, is that correct? The market has always been both open and proprietary. Intel is x86, AMD is x86, ARM is ARM architecture, Nvidia is NVLink, and so on. The best way to look at it, in my opinion, is in terms of a platform's transparency, its capacity for innovation, and the value it adds to the ecosystem.

The most crucial factors are whether it stimulates innovation, adds value to the ecosystem, and opens up chances for everyone, regardless of whether it is proprietary or open. I believe Nvidia has accomplished that. Not only is NVLink an amazing piece of technology, but our industry partnership is even better. Our networking devices, NVSwitch and Quantum-2, are compatible with PCI Express.

We collaborate with industry to develop a great deal of open technology, but we also innovate and produce proprietary technologies. Actually, it's not either/or. It's all about advancing innovation and adding value to the ecosystem.

Q: How does Nvidia deal with increased competition in the specialized AI chip market?

A: Nvidia is a market maker, not a sharetaker. Does this make sense? We are always inventing the future.

Remember, GeForce was the first graphics card designed for gaming. We played a significant role in the early development of PC gaming. All of our work with accelerated computing was pioneering; we began working on self-driving cars, autonomous vehicles, and robotics over a decade ago and are still working on it, and of course, generative AI.

Nobody could argue that we were there on the first day, inventing the entire category. As a result, some people claim it is their top priority right now. But it's been our top priority for 15 years. As a result, the company's culture, as well as its personality, revolve around inventing the future.

We're dreamers. We are inventors. We are pioneers. We do not mind failing. We do not mind wasting time. We simply want to develop something new. So, that is our company's personality. So I believe our approaches are really different.

As you are aware, we are not simply building GPUs; the systems shown on stage are only half of the total. All of these mechanisms were designed by us, and we then opened them up to the ecosystem so that everyone could build on them. But someone had to build the first one. We completed all of these. We built all of the initial ones and someone needs to write all of the software that makes this all function. We made everything work. So Nvidia is more than simply a chip company. We are actually an AI supercomputer, AI infrastructure, and AI factory company. We're also quite good at developing AI.

How do you determine what computer to create if you don't comprehend AI? Nobody is going to teach it to you. So, 15 years ago, we had to start learning how to design AI so that we could build these computers to operate it. As a result, there are numerous unique aspects to our business. It's difficult to compare us to someone else.

Some argue that the CSPs are competitors because they manufacture chips. Remember, all of our CSPs are Nvidia customers. Nvidia is the only business that provides an accelerated computing platform that is available in every cloud. That is versatile enough to handle everything from deep learning and generative AI to database processing and weather simulation. We're rather a unique company, extremely different.

Q: Regarding Hopper and Blackwell, it appears that there has been a shift in messaging since GTC, with a greater emphasis on value, cost per token, and cost performance. The word value appears to be a frequently mentioned topic. I'm just wondering whether that's a response to customers. Have they, are they concerned about pricing, and how do you approach pricing for these sorts of novel chips?

A: Pricing is always value-based. If a product is priced correctly, demand is phenomenal. There is no such thing as great demand at the incorrect price; it does not exist. If you have the appropriate price and provide the correct value, demand will be incredible. Our demand is great. You could reduce your pricing to nothing if there is no demand. It's not about the price, right? It did not. You did not get low enough. So pricing is definitely determined by market demand. So I believe our price is appropriate.

The way we set it is not an easy exercise, but we have to build the entire system, develop all the software, and then break it up into a whole bunch of parts, and we sell it to you as a chip. But in the end, we're really selling the AI infrastructure. All the software that goes along with it is integrated into your software. So Nvidia, what we build is AI factories.

What we're building are AI factories. We deliver it as a chip. It looks a little like this. Microsoft used to deliver the operating system and Excel office. They wrote the software, but they provided it to you via floppy disk. So the question is: Does Microsoft sell floppy disks? No, that is only a delivery vehicle. So, in many ways, our chips serve as delivery vehicles for the software notion of the AI factory infrastructure. That's the simplest way to think about it.

But, in the end, we deliver AI factories successfully. In terms of cost, we have reduced energy use by 45,000 times during the past eight years. Moore's Law could not have come close to that. Over the last ten years, we have reduced training costs by 350 times. You know, probably around 350 times. Call it 1000 or 1200 times. We're only eight years into the decade. So there are two years remaining at the current rate of growth. There are still many X factors left. Moore's Law, therefore, cannot accomplish this. Not even close, even on his finest days. So we're lowering our energy consumption.

We're driving down the cost of training. Why are we doing that? So that we can enable the next level of breakthroughs. So the reason why the world has trained us is training such giant large language models without ever thinking about it. It's because the marginal cost of training has dropped by 1000 times in ten years. Assume that something you accomplished decreased a thousandfold over the course of a decade. Assume the cost of going from Australia to here is $3 rather than $3,000 or more. Okay. Instead of 24 hours, it takes 20 minutes. I believe that you could go from Australia to Taiwan in 24 minutes or 2 minutes. Yeah, it takes two minutes and costs three dollars. I bet you visit Taiwan frequently. You come here merely to visit the night market and then return home. Do you understand what I am saying? Isn't that correct?

So, by driving down the marginal cost, by driving down the energy consumed, by driving down the cost, the time we are enabling generative AI, if we didn't do that, generative AI would still be a decade away. That's why we're doing it to enable the next breakthrough in AI because we believe in it.

Q: Are you concerned about the geopolitical risks associated with your investments in Taiwan?

A: We invest in Taiwan because TSMC is fantastic. I mean, not typical. TSMC has incredible advanced technology, an exceptional work atmosphere, and excellent flexibility. Our two businesses have been working together for about a quarter of a century. We genuinely get each other's beat. We seem to be working with friends, so it's almost as if we have nothing to say. You say nothing at all. We simply understand each other.

As a result, we can construct extremely complex things in large quantities and at great speeds. This is not common for TSMC. You can't just leave it up to someone else to do it.

The industry ecosystem here is incredible. The ecosystem surrounding TSMC, both upstream and downstream, is quite rich. We've been dealing with them for a quarter-century.

Thus, TSMC and the ecosystem around it, which include Wistron, Quanta, Foxconn, and Wiwynn. Inventec and Pegatronhow many of them? Asus, MSI, and Gigabyte are all fantastic firms that are sometimes overlooked and undervalued. This is actually the case. So, if you're from Taiwan, I think you should be really proud of the ecosystem here. If you are a Taiwanese company, you should be very proud of your accomplishments. This is a fantastic place. I am very proud of all of my partners here. I am incredibly grateful for everything they have done for us and the assistance they have provided over the years. And I'm delighted that this is a new beginning, building on all of the experience that these companies have gained over time. All of these wonderful companies have gathered incredible expertise over the last two and a half to three decades.
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Wang Yi meets Iranian acting FM on ties

Xinhua) 10:53, June 11, 2024

NIZHNY NOVGOROD, Russia, June 10 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Monday met with Iranian Acting Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani in the Russian city of Nizhny Novgorod.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, expressed condolences once again over the unfortunate deaths of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian in a helicopter accident.

Wang said that during the current period, the Iranian nation has undergone a significant test. As a comprehensive strategic partner, China supports the Iranian government and people in adhering to their established domestic and foreign policies, maintaining independence, sovereignty, stability, and development, and wishes Iran a successful presidential election.

Wang said that through joint efforts, China-Iran relations have maintained healthy and steady development, benefiting from the long-standing traditional friendship and high-level mutual political trust between the two countries.

Currently, China-Iran relations are at a crucial stage of building on the past and opening up the future, Wang noted, adding that China stands ready to work with Iran to view bilateral relations from a strategic perspective, steer the development course of bilateral relations, solidly advance pragmatic cooperation in various fields, comprehensively deepen coordination in regional and international affairs, and contribute more to regional and world peace and stability.

China will continue to support Iran and Saudi Arabia in improving their relations and achieving lasting good neighborliness and friendliness in the region, he said.

Bagheri Kani, on behalf of the Iranian government, thanked China for expressing condolences over the deaths of Raisi and Amir-Abdollahian and for sending a special representative to attend the memorial service.

Bagheri Kani said that Iran is committed to strengthening strategic relations with China, enhancing cooperation in various fields, and continuously achieving new progress of bilateral relations.

In the current international situation, developing good Iran-China relations not only benefits the people of both countries but also is conducive to regional and global peace and stability, as well as building a more fair and reasonable international order and safeguarding the legitimate rights of developing countries, he said.

Iran adheres to the one-China principle and supports China in safeguarding its sovereignty and territorial integrity, he said.

Iran appreciates China's adherence to multilateralism and its commitment to upholding fairness and justice in international affairs, he noted, adding that unilateralism has reached a dead end, and cannot solve domestic problems, let alone global issues, as is fully proved in the prolonged Gaza conflict.

Iran is willing to strengthen communication and coordination with China in international and regional affairs, jointly uphold multilateralism, and seek solutions to global issues, Bagheri Kani said.

The two sides exchanged views on BRICS cooperation, the Ukraine crisis, and the Iran nuclear issue, among other topics.

Wang welcomed Iran's participation as a full member for the first time in the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting, and expressed willingness to expand strategic coordination with Iran, give full play to the important role of the BRICS mechanism in reforming and improving global governance, further strengthen the influence and voice of the Global South, and promote the formation of a more just and reasonable world order.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
People recreate on the beach and in the water at Lake Tahoes at Sand Harbor State Park. Thanks to its surging popularity, park officials will soon require parking reservations at Sand Harbor on weekends and holidays. Tracy Barbutes/Special to the Chronicle 2022

Sand Harbor State Park, home to one of Lake Tahoes most popular beaches, will soon require visitors to reserve a parking spot in advance on weekends and holidays as park officials grapple with more than 1 million annual visitors.

The new reservation system is meant to reduce traffic on local roads and mitigate rampant overcrowding at the beloved Lake Tahoe destination, said Tyler Kerver, a spokesperson for Nevada State Parks.

The park has seen a 250% increase in the number of visitors it receives each year over the past decade, mirroring Lake Tahoes dramatic rise in tourism that officials fear could overwhelm local communities if not properly managed.

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In 2012, Sand Harbor received about 365,000 visitors, Kerver said. By 2023, that number had risen to 1.3 million visitors, a staggering increase for the 55-acre park.

Critics warn that Tahoes economy is increasingly dependent on tourism amid rising concerns about environmental degradation in the basin. Last year, community leaders unveiled a plan to address pressures rampant tourism has placed on the regions resources and residents.

Sand Harbor will begin requiring visitors to book $5 reservations on weekends and holidays starting Aug. 17, for a two-month trial period. The reservation requirement will become permanent in April 2025.

The coming changes were first reported by SFGATE.

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Dr Niamh Shaw recently visited the TY class in Scoil Ui Mhuiri Dunleer as part of the Dundalk Institute of Technology's DkIT loves STEM initiative.

Dr Niamh Shaw, who is originally from Dundalk, is an Irish engineer, scientist, writer and performer who was recently voted one of Irelands leading science communicators. Niamh believes in Dreaming Big and is currently on a mission to get to Space.

Ariyah Dunne from the TY class of Scoil Ui Mhuiri Dunleer, won this visit at the recent DkIT Loves STEM event that was held in DkIT which saw over 80 female Transitional Year (TY) students from across the region attend. This event was held in conjunction with iWish with the aim of highlighting STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Maths) subjects to female students.

This on campus event was the follow up to the annual DkIT loves STEM roadshow, where leading female academics from Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths visit local and regional schools to ignite female TY students passion for STEM subjects.

Amanda Gregor, teacher from Scoil Ui Mhuiri, Dunleer commented, We were absolutely delighted and so thankful to have Dr. Niamh Shaw visit our TYs and 1st year students in Scoil Ui Mhuiri, Dunleer.

"All students and teachers who attended the talk found it to be highly engaging and inspiring. Thank you to Niamh and everyone at DkIT who facilitated this opportunity for us!

For more information on DkIT Loves STEM visit the DkIT Health & Science Outreach Portal
By TERRI SCHICHENMEYER

The Bookworm Sez

Shake It Up, Baby: The Rise of Beatlemania and the Mayhem of 1963 by Ken McNab

c.2024, Pegasus Books / $32 / 408 pages

It was like squashing a cockroach, they said.

Put your toe down in one spot, rotate your hips and your ankle, shimmy them shoulders, and snap your fingers to the beat. Thats how you kill a bug, and its how you do The Twist, but beware. In the new book Shake It Up, Baby by Ken McNab, there are some Beatles you really want around.

The first day of 1963 was remarkable for one thing: Great Britain was in the midst of an extraordinary polar plunge that would last three long, depressing months. Also on that day,

John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr arrived on a plane home from Hamburg, just four nameless faces in the crowd.

They had no idea that this would be the year when everything changed.

They were still getting used to one another, jostling for control. Their manager, Brian Epstein, was toiling to make the four men famous, constantly calling record companies, landing gigs, booking recording studios, one at which the Beatles would record an entire album in a single day. They toured constantly, dozens and dozens of concerts with one reward: their song, Please Please Me started to rise on British music charts.

Despite the official word that the boys were single, John Lennon welcomed his son Julian into the world in April 1963. Before the month was out, Lennon left for a vacation in Spain with Epstein, who was gay, almost creating a scandal.

By the end of the summer, it was obvious that that didnt matter: fans  especially female ones  didnt care what the Beatles did. Screaming fans, fainting fans, obsessive ones met the Beatles wherever they went  except in America. Curiously, there seemed to be a resistance to the Fab Fours music on this side of the ocean.

But Epstein was tenacious, Harrisons sister was dogged in her devotion, and DJs began to talk. And at the end of the year, Ed Sullivan said yes to a booking 

Charts dont lie; neither does endurance, and those two things make many people swear that the Beatles were one of the best bands the world has ever seen. Shake It Up, Baby puts an exclamation point on that notion.

Itll be hard not to sing the songs to yourself or check your record collection while youre in the middle of this book. The mix list here is made of classic Beatles and stories that even the most die-hard fans might notve heard (yet). But while music and the love of the Fab Four are the mainstay, author Ken McNab puts the Beatles and Epstein in focus by pulling outside influences into his narrative. Readers are also reminded of historical events in that pivotal year, as well as the many tunes that made you dance and shout.

Absolutely, this is a book Beatles fans must have, ASAP. Any music lover will enjoy it, and it might start a new obsession. You need your music, so find Shake It Up, Baby. Missing it will really bug you.
By VIRGINIA DRYE

Eagle Times Staff

CORNISH, N.H.  The Cornish Historical Society recently hosted its first meeting of the year with a packed house with Leo Maslan as the guest speaker. Maslan has decades of experience repairing covered bridges from all over the country. A Cornish resident, Maslan told the history of the four bridges in town, the Cornish-Windsor, Blacksmith Shop, Dingleton Hill and Squag City, as well as what types of repairs are made to a bridge with a few humorous anecdotes.

The talk included a display of artwork, books, a slideshow of local and national bridges and a replica of the historic Cornish-Windsor bridge.

George Edson, a member of the historical society, who was responsible for getting the replica of the bridge, told the attendees of the meeting the story as to how he got it.

Receiving an email from the Connecticut River Museum in Essex Connecticut, in 2021, they asked him if the society would like a model of the Cornish Windsor Bridge, as it no longer fit into future displays and needed to be rehomed. Immediately accepting the offer, Edson made plans to pick it up in Connecticut. The display now resides at the Town Hall.

Maslan noted that Cornish is a town with the most bridges, tied with Swanzey. The Cornish-Windsor Bridge has a long history with the area as the bridge was built by Cornish resident James Tasker and Bela Jenks Fletcher of Claremont.

It was built in the Meadow on the Vermont side, just north of Bridge St., said Maslan. The bridge was then moved by rolling it on specific logs. Thats how they historically were moved and how its still done. I cant imagine that a two span bridge could be rolled across the river, but evidently thats how they did it, said Maslan.

His talk when into detail as to the styles of bridges.

Dingleton Hill; the sheathing only comes up halfway, this was probably initially to save money. The Squag City Bridge, Maxfield Parrish referred to it as a sparking bridge. The boarding goes all the way up, so theres no windows, so you take your horse and buggy in there and take a long time to get out  You know, the horse wants to take a break.

Maslan also gave a warning of the fastest destruction of covered bridges  fire. Maslan also told a story of his connection to the Newport Corbin Bridge that burned down in 1993, as his son, then one-year-old son, Fritz, was the first to go through the newly finished bridge.

The town of Newport just really got rallied around losing their bridge and made it happen, he said. Why? Why are we here? Why is there a national Covered Bridge Society? Because we love covered bridges. Theyre sort of a reminiscent of a simpler life or the days gone by kind of thing. Thats all warm and fuzzy and great and people will travel all over the country to look at covered bridges.

But Maslan also explained that they serve a function, There are covered bridges in Europe and Asia that are 1,000 years old.

Even in the modern world, technology and manufactured timber have advanced so that bridges can carry a heavier load.

So, we can maintain them, we can use them, said Maslan, I think this is Jimmy Fitches line that the cow barn starts to fall down the day the cow leaves. Once they lose their purpose, they sort of lose attention. But they have a future. We just need to take care of what we have.
Chris Larsen, business executive and co-founder of crypto company Ripple, has started a nonprofit intended to send charitable donations to the citys Police Department. Hes starting with a $1 million donation. Jana Asenbrennerova/Special to The Chronicle

Last week, in an unassuming conference room at the San Francisco polices Northern Station, a small army of officers and civilians began deliberations over a question not often associated with local government:

What should we do with all this free money?

Perhaps $20,000 could help fund the annual Christmas toy drive, Capt. Jason Sawyer said. Another portion could be earmarked for therapeutic sessions in ice baths, another officer suggested. Maybe, Sawyer said later, the station could also buy a large barbecue pit trailer for community events.

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The sudden windfall will come from a new charitable organization set up by Chris Larsen, the San Francisco billionaire who has been a prolific donor for police and public safety projects.

Larsen, co-founder of crypto company Ripple, has funneled $1 million into the San Francisco Police Community Foundation to improve police officer wellness on the job and support community engagement with benefits in local neighborhoods, board members said in a letter announcing the donation to San Francisco Police Chief William Scott.

Each of the Police Departments 10 district stations will receive $100,000 to spend on equipment or programs that serve those purposes. The money isnt intended to be used on weapons, and like all police donations over $10,000, spending must be approved by the Board of Supervisors and the Police Commission.

The San Francisco Police Community Foundations board will oversee the cash flow to the Police Department.

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The city has a big budget, but just getting a small amount of that budget for something that will bring the police together with the community can just be incredibly bureaucratic and hard, Larsen said in an interview with the Chronicle. This can shorten that process to get things going. And thats good for everybody.

The new foundation comes at a moment when San Franciscans, fed up with property crimes and open-air drug dealing, have shown a willingness to empower local law enforcement agencies. Mayor London Breed and various city supervisors are looking to address public safety concerns by ramping up police hiring, and voters in March passed a proposition that would make it easier for police to chase a suspect by car and use technologies like drones and surveillance cameras.

Public sentiment seems to have shifted significantly from four years ago, when a national reckoning over the Minneapolis police killing of George Floyd prompted protests and calls to defund the police in San Francisco and around the country.

Larsen described the anti-police movements of 2020 as an overcorrection that tanked officer morale and damaged public safety. He compared it with another police movement on the other end of the spectrum  the tough-on-crime laws created as a reaction to 90s-era violence, which overcrowded jails and prisons and disproportionately harmed people of color.

We just keep going back and forth  three strikes, defund  Larsen said. Hopefully now this is getting back to a good, pragmatic place.

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Larsen, who has also footed the bill for more controversial police tools like a citywide network of surveillance cameras, expects little pushback over his latest gift. Its partially based on the model of another Larsen-backed program called Avenue Greenlight, a philanthropy that doled out $50,000 in grant funding to each of San Franciscos 34 merchant associations.

Aside from signing the check, Larsen is taking a hands-off approach to the foundation. While the gifts are intended to promote officer wellness and community outreach, each station has a wide berth to spend the money how it sees fit.

Its a different model than typical grant funding, Sawyer said, which often requires spending on specific training or equipment.

What we do at (the Northern District Station), I dont expect Central or Mission or Ingleside to replicate it, he said. We recognize, through this foundation, that maybe one size doesnt fit all.

The charitys board members are a cross section of leaders from both the citys nonprofit and business sectors, including representatives from the University of San Francisco, the educational nonprofit Five Keys, the Golden State Warriors, the Union Square Alliance and violence prevention organization United Playaz.

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The stations are asked to submit an itemized wish list to the board by the end of July, though they can also choose to pocket some of the funding for a later date.

San Francisco Police Commissioner Max Carter-Oberstone said Monday that while he was not yet familiar with the new foundation, commissioners in general will check for any conflicts of interest between the donor and police, and overall legitimacy of the gift, before approving any donation.

Larsen said he hopes the foundation will show proof of concept in this first year, and ultimately attract other deep-pocketed donors.

The hope here is this, this starts looking successful, improving public safety and community outreach, and then other philanthropists start contributing to it, (as well as) other companies that have a stake, Larsen said. Because thats good for everybody. Thats ultimately how this has to work.
Chef Martin Yan holds the medal he received for the 2022 James Beard Lifetime Achievement Award in 2022. No Bay Area restaurants or chefs brought home a medallion this year. Laura Morton/Special to The Chronicle

The James Beard Foundation awards, considered the Oscars of the food world, named its winners from the Lyric Opera of Chicago on Monday evening, and Bay Area restaurants and chefs walked away empty handed for the second year in a row.

The best chef California award had two Bay Area finalists: Geoff Davis of Burdell in Oakland and Rogelio Garcia of Auro in Calistoga. In the end, Lord Maynard Llera of Los Angeles regional Filipino restaurant Kuya Lord took the award. Six other San Francisco chefs were named as semifinalists in January, but did not make it to the finalists stage.

Chef Geoff Davis of Burdell in Oakland was a finalist for best chef California. Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle

San Franciscos the Morris was in the running for outstanding wine program award, but the award went to Lula Drake Wine Parlour in Columbia, South Carolina. Moments later, in the outstanding bar category, Jewel of the South, a bar in New Orleans French Quarter, was named the winner. Pacific Cocktail Haven in San Francisco had been the Bay Areas sole finalist in that category.

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One finalist in the best chef Great Lakes category had a Bay Area connection: Sujan Sarkar, chef and co-owner of newly opened Indian restaurant Tiya in San Francisco, was up for the award at his Michelin-starred restaurant Indienne in Chicago. But he was not, ultimately, a winner. Hajime Sato of Michigan sushi restaurant Sozai won the award.

The 2024 James Beard festivities follow the disappointing showing of 2023, in which no Bay Area hopefuls won an award. Last years finalists included Lazy Bear in San Francisco, for outstanding wine or beverage program; Kyle and Katina Connaughton, of SingleThread in Healdsburg, for best chef California; and Vince Bugtong, for outstanding pastry chef or baker.

The last time a Bay Area chef won the best chef California category was in 2022, when Brandon Jew of Mister Jius took home the honor.

While Bay Area restaurants ended the night with no awards in tow, prizes in other categories landed over the weekend.

Saturday nights media awards bestowed Oaklands Cuisine Noir magazine with its emerging voice award and cookbook chef Pierre Thiam  now a local resident, but best known for his restaurants in New York City and Dakar, Senegal  was inducted into the foundations cookbook hall of fame.

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On Sunday night, Sonoma County farmer Mai Nguyen received an award for leadership in sustainability as part of the James Beard Foundations leadership awards. Nguyen  a first generation Vietnamese American who uses gender neutral pronouns  has been active in researching carbons impact on the atmosphere and soil, as well as growing heirloom grains at their Sebastopol farm. They have also been an advocate for Indigenous communities and farmers of color.

Mai Nguyen, a Sonoma County farmer, won a leadership award. Evelyn Hang Yin/Special to the Chronicle

I am honored to be recognized for my efforts to use food to address the greatest challenges of our time: climate change and social inequality, Nguyen wrote in response to the award.

In addition to the winners announced on Monday, San Francisco Burmese restaurant Mandalay won the James Beard Foundations Americas Classics Award in February. The award is bestowed on long-standing restaurants from throughout the country considered national treasures of timeless appeal.

The restaurant is my life, the restaurant is my hobby and the restaurant makes the customers happy, Mandalay owner Sherry Dung said in a pre-recorded video that played during a segment celebrating winners.

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Disclosure: Some Chronicle staff members are part of the voting body for the James Beard Awards.
THE Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) station at Courtmacsherry is the oldest and longest operating one, certainly in Cork, and possibly in the country.

An affable contention lies between the stations at Courtmacsherry and at Arklow in Co-Wicklow; 199 years ago, in 1825, both were the first to become active on the island of Ireland.

However, as the basic documentation and archiving methods of the day were no match for the sophisticated digital archiving procedures adopted by todays RNLI, the particulars relating to key events from that era have faded with the passage of time.

The first station house, it is believed, was built in Arklow, and stood in place without a lifeboat for a number of months, while it is said, in that same year, that Courtmacsherry RNLI received its lifeboat, though it took a while before it had a station.

Some 90 years later, on May 7, 1915, when the ill-fated RMS Lusitania was torpedoed by a German U-boat off the south coast of Cork, members of the Courtmacsherry and Cobh, then Queenstown, RNLI were at the scene as the vessel went down in 18 minutes, taking 1,201 of the 2,000 passengers lives.

For geographical strategic purposes, the Cobh RNLI station was later relocated to Crosshaven, rendering the Courtmacsherry station as the only operating station to have attended the sinking of the Lusitania.

At that time, the Courtmacsherry lifeboat station was situated at Barrys Point, not far from the village. Since 1925, it has had three main locations.

It started out being housed where it is now, in the centre of the village. Back then, the building was the Coast Guard station which accommodated the Lifeboat.

In 1867, it got its own station with a slipway, which is still visible across the bay. Today it is under private ownership, but it is still referred to as the Boathouse by the current RNLI volunteers in Courtmacsherry.

It later moved to Barrys Point, where it stayed until 1998, before it returned to where it is now, when the building became available.

The love and support for the communitys RNLI station is fierce. On the day of our interviews with Duty Captain and Coxswain, Mark Gammon, and station mechanic Stewart Russell, four additional volunteers, including three retirees, showed up in support of their colleagues.

Members of the Courtmacsherry RNLI station, from left, Vincent ODonovan, Stewart Russell, Mark Gannon, John Crowley, Diarmuid OMahoney and Philip White. Picture by Noel Sweeney

Station PRO Vincent ODonovan, Jim Crowley, Dermot OMahoney and Philip White offered gems of tales, anecdotes, and historical insights.

As the Duty Captain of the lifeboat at Courtmacsherry, Mark Gammon is on duty 24 hours a day.

The lifeboat attends to a call about every two weeks, says Mark, a volunteer Coxswain.

And were just waiting for a service call. If a service call comes in, we launch the lifeboat and off we go.

From a broken-down vessel to a surfer in trouble, to a tragedy at sea, a call-out, or shout, as its called, can take any shape. When the call comes, theres no way of guessing what lies ahead.

Were a long time at it, said Mark. Theres good commitment from the crew, so we just get on with it.

A call-out could be a windsurfer in Garretstown, which is just around the corner of the bay.

I think the last call we had with our old station boat, the Trent, was 64 miles from Courtmacsherry. Actually, we were near the Scilly Islands, Mark recalled.

How was it that a station from the Cork coast attended to a vessel as far away as the Scilly Islands?!

Well, it was a sailing vessel, actually, from Courtmacsherry that was in difficulties. And we were the nearest lifeboat that was tasked.

We were probably the closest lifeboat, but the Scilly lifeboat could have been on another shout at the same time, Mark explained.

Stewart Russell, who is from the UK and has previously volunteered at Plymouth RNLI, is the station mechanic at Courtmacsherry. He talked me through the training protocol adopted by the RNLI.

The training is way different now to what it was years ago. Its quite rigorous now, Mark said.

There are a lot of different courses to do, and everybodys got to go to the Maritime College in Cork to do their personal survival techniques. Thats how they start off.

And from then it all depends which way they go, whether they go down the training as a navigator, or they could be training as a mechanic, or down the coxswains route. And they do the different courses then to attain that standard.

Stuart agrees.

Theres a whole programme. It takes about two years to go from nothing to a fully qualified crew member.

You have to do a sea survival course, personal survival techniques, a bit of firefighting and basic first aid, stuff like that.

And then a lot of the stuff is done on station. We train them in how to tie knots, and use the equipment on boards. Theres a lot of sophisticated equipment nowadays.

And then, once you do your basic crew stuff, you can then decide whether you want to go down the technical route, which is my side of things, or whether you go down the command and coxswains side of things, in which you start off as a navigator, and youre using a lot more of the electronic equipment on board, and then you can carry on to coxswain command side of things.

Diarmuid OMahoney explains about Courtmacsherry RNLIs involvment in the rescue mission after the Lusitania sank off the Cork coast in 1915.

Stuart was originally a clock maker, but for most of his life he has been around engines, of one type or another, from knee-high to a grasshopper, as he said himself.

My dad runs a body shop, and Ive been building engines for my own bikes, race bikes, stuff like that, said Stuart, and doing a lot of work on cars.

I was a volunteer in Plymouth, and through a series of circumstances, I became one of the mechanics there on the 7 Class lifeboat.

In the 199 years that the RNLI has had a station in Courtmacsherry, what impact has it had on the village?

Theres a great community spirit, and nearly every young fella wants to join the lifeboat. Its an integral part of the community here and has been for a long time.

There are 50 volunteers including fund-raisers in this RNLI branch.

Mark added: We talk about training: the boat is launched every week, and the crew go training once a week. So thats where we keep our skill level up high.

The lifeboat message is very simple, it has been since 1824. We save lives at sea, irrespective of who they are, and the basic message hasnt changed for 200 years. And I think thats worth repeating.

Courtmacsherry RNLI Press Officer, Vincent ODonovan added, The Shannon-class lifeboat that we have here now on station in Courtmacsherry, arrived just last year.

The Val Adnams is the most modern lifeboat in the RNLI fleet, and we were very proud to have the donor of the lifeboat, Val Adnams, here with us last September.

Its jet-propelled, its a fantastic boat, designed by an Irishman, called after an Irish river, the Shannon, and designed by Peter Eyer from Derry.

So were very proud to have that boat here in Courtmacsherry, and the value of it is about 2.6 million, sitting there on the water, ready at all times to go to the rescue of others.

TOMORROW: Our series on the RNLI stations of Cork visits Crosshaven
AS in any election, the numbers from the Cork City Council elections offer a stark balance sheet of wins and losses, but they dont do justice to the human stories behind the figures, or the dramas thrown up by the vagaries of our voting system.

When the dust settled on City Hall in the small hours of yesterday morning, Fianna Fail had nine seats, up two, Fine Gael five, down two, Sinn Fein four, no change, Independents four, down two, and the Greens three, no change.

Labour had three seats, up two, People Before Profit-Solidarity (PBP-S) had one seat, no change, the Social Democrats had one, Ted Tynan held on, while Lorna Bogue lost out.

Fianna Fail had a great result, and party leader Micheal Martin seemed to spend more time in City Hall over the weekend than some of his candidates.

Tony Fitzgerald was the first councillor elected, topping the poll in North West, and he wasnt shy about his ambition to seek a Dail nomination next time out. With Ballincolligs Colm Kelleher hoping to run alongside Padraig OSullivan in Cork North Central, it will be interesting to see how that plays out.

Although flying high nationally, Fine Gael dropped two councillors in Cork and although Shane OCallaghan did very well in South Central, the party cant be too happy with its performance.

The figures show that Sinn Fein has the same number of city councillors now that it did last week, but the figures dont show the turmoil behind that no change.

Running three candidates in the North-West and South-West wards didnt pay off, and while Sinn Fein still has two North-West councillors, Michelle Goulds seat came at the expense of Mick Nugent, who for the second election in a row lost out.

In the South-West ward, first-timer Joe Lynch got in, but at the expense of sitting councillor Orla OLeary.

GREENS HOLD TOUGH

Similarly, the Greens are, on the numbers, no change, but Colette Finn lost out in South-West, while things looked dicey for Dan Boyle and Oliver Moran till the very end. Still, the party made history with the election of Honore Kamegni, the first black person to sit in City Hall.

The Labour Party trebled its seats, with Laura Harmon and Peter Horgan joining sitting councillor John Maher.

Independent Irelands Ken OFlynn was re-elected with over half a quota to spare, and he will hope to translate that to a Dail seat.

Brian McCarthy of PBP-S had to wait until the 10th count, and for a long time it looked like the last seat in North West might go to library protester Ross Lahive.

Saoirse Mackin in North West wasnt elected, but the transgender Social Democrats candidate said she enjoyed a very positive reception on the doors.

Balance sheets cant capture the emotion behind wins and losses, and they cant show the courage of those who stand for election.
Alameda County mother Kanika Thornton has spent 10 months seeking help for her 4-year-old sons speech and behavior issues from his school district and her Medi-Cal health insurer. Shes still waiting. Sejal Parekh/KFF Health News

Four-year-old Ahmeir Diaz-Thornton couldnt sit still in class and rarely ate his lunch. While his preschool classmates spoke in perfect sentences, Ahmeir had trouble pronouncing words.

Ahmeirs preschool teacher relayed her concerns to his mother, Kanika Thornton, who was already worried about Ahmeirs refusal to eat anything but yogurt, Chef Boyardee spaghetti, oatmeal and applesauce. He also sometimes hit himself and others to cope with the frustration of not being able to communicate, she said.

Thornton took her son, who is on Medi-Cal, Californias Medicaid program, which covers low-income families, to his pediatrician. Then he was evaluated by a school district official, a speech therapist and the pediatrician  again. Along the way, Thornton consulted teachers, case managers and social service workers.

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Ten months later, she still doesnt have an accurate diagnosis for Ahmeir.

I felt like I failed my child, and I dont want to feel that, said Thornton, 30, who has been juggling Ahmeirs behavior and appointments on top of her pregnancy and caring for her two other children.

Some days I dont eat because he doesnt eat, said Thornton from her Alameda County home. I dont want to hurt my unborn child. So I try to eat some crackers and cheese and stuff, but I dont eat a meal because he doesnt eat a meal.

Seeking a diagnosis for a childs behavioral problems can be challenging for any family as it navigates complicated medical and educational systems that dont communicate effectively with parents, let alone each other.

A common obstacle families face is landing an appointment with one of a limited number of developmental specialists. It is particularly difficult for families with Medi-Cal, whose access to specialists is even more restricted than for patients with private insurance.

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As they await their turn, they boomerang among counselors, therapists and school officials who address isolated symptoms, often without making progress toward an overall diagnosis.

Obtaining a timely diagnosis for autism, anxiety, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder or other behavioral disorders is important for children and their parents, said Christina Buysse, a clinical associate professor in developmental and behavioral pediatrics at Stanford University.

Parent stress levels go down when a child is diagnosed early, because they learn how to manage their childs behaviors, she said.

Intervening early can also help retrain a childs brain quickly and avoid lifelong consequences of developmental delays, said Adiaha Spinks-Franklin, president of the Society for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics.

A speech and language delay at the age of 2 can put a child at risk of reading comprehension problems in the third grade, she said.

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Buysse is likely the right type of medical specialist for Ahmeir. As a developmental-behavioral pediatrician, she can often unify different symptoms into one diagnosis, and she knows what kind of therapy or medication patients need.

The Society for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics reports that there are only 706 actively certified developmental specialists in the nation.

There just arent enough of us, Buysse said, and some developmental specialists dont accept Medicaid patients because they believe the reimbursement rates arent adequate.

Thornton didnt know her son needed to see a developmental specialist, and he had never been referred to one, despite his many medical appointments. Once she learned about this type of specialist in May, she asked his pediatrician for a referral.

Alameda Health System, which provides Ahmeirs primary care, does not have a developmental-behavioral pediatrician on staff at this time, said Porshia Mack, the systems associate chief medical officer of ambulatory services.

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We have made efforts to hire them, but recruiting and retaining pediatric subspecialists is difficult for all health systems, and public safety-net systems in particular, she said.

Karina Rivera, a spokesperson for the Alameda Alliance for Health, Thorntons Medi-Cal managed care plan, provided a list of nine developmental-behavioral pediatricians she said are in the plans network.

Ahmeir Diaz-Thorntons speech has improved with school-provided therapy. However, he is still waiting for a comprehensive medical evaluation and diagnosis. Sejal Parekh/KFF Health News

However, the only two in Alameda County work for Kaiser Permanente, which is a closed system, acknowledged Donna Carey, interim chief medical officer of the Alameda Alliance. In practice, that means even if they have a developmental pediatrician, we dont have access to that pediatrician, she said.

The other seven specialists are in surrounding counties, which could pose transportation challenges for Thornton and other patients.

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The Alameda Alliance for Health met state requirements for patient access to specialists in the most recent review of its network, in 2022, said Department of Health Care Services spokesperson Griselda Melgoza. The plan was found compliant with all time or distance standards, she said.

However, after learning from KFF Health News that the plan considers Kaiser Permanente specialists part of its network, the department contacted the insurer to inquire, and will work with it to ensure member-facing materials accurately represent their current network, Melgoza said.

A month after starting preschool in fall 2023, Ahmeir was evaluated for speech delay through his school district. His pediatrician also began ordering tests to understand his eating habits.

But Thornton believes Ahmeirs symptoms arent isolated problems that can be addressed in a piecemeal fashion. Its just something else. Its his development, she said. I know a tantrum, but he doesnt get tantrums. He will hit people. Thats a no-go.

In addition to addressing medical concerns, a developmental specialist could help parents like Thornton understand what school districts offer and how to expedite school evaluations, Spinks-Franklin said. Ahmeir faces a six- to eight-month wait for a comprehensive evaluation through his school district for additional services, Thornton said.

Its common for parents to get confused about what a school district can and cant do for kids with developmental disabilities, said Corina Samaniego, who works at Family Resource Navigators, an organization that helps parents like Thornton in Alameda County. For instance, Samaniego said, school districts cannot provide medical diagnoses of autism, nor the therapy to address it.

Ahmeir has made significant improvement with speech therapy provided through the school district, Thornton said, and now speaks in full sentences more often. But she remains frustrated that she does not have a diagnosis that explains his persistent symptoms, especially his reluctance to eat and difficulty expressing emotions.

Thornton believes she has done everything she can to help him. She has even created elaborate food landscapes for Ahmeir with dinosaur-shaped chicken nuggets, mashed potato volcanoes, gravy lava and broccoli trees  only to have him turn his head away.

As of late May, she continued to seek advice from teachers and counselors while she waited for an appointment with a specialist.
ITS a case of the more things change, the more they stay the same in the Macroom Local Electoral Area. The six sitting councillors were returned for another term, despite a stern challenge from the Independent Ireland flagbearer for the final seat and a bit of a scolding on the doors, acknowledged by the current chairman of the District Council, Ted Lucey.

Topping the poll in Macroom was Gobnait Moynihan of Fianna Fail, while not far behind, in a display of vote management which will be examined in political studies classes for years to come, came Michael Creed, a cousin of the TD, leading a trio of Fine Gael candidates back to their council seats.

While Fianna Fail only ran two candidates, the strategy worked to perfection as Gobnait Moynihans surplus pulled in her running mate, Michael Looney, in the second count, a result which was declared in the early hours of Sunday morning.

For Michael Creed, the campaign had not been tough at all, adding: We divided the area into three patches, everyone kept to the divide, and our aim from the start was to get three Fine Gael councillors elected and we went out with that intention so Im absolutely delighted that it worked.

Cllr. Gobnait Moynihan, Fianna Fail who topped the Macroom poll at the County Hall, Cork. Picture Dan Linehan

Michael Looney of Fianna Fail knew from early on that he would be returned when the early tallies put him in a strong position to retain his seat, and while Martin Coughlan, the Independent councillor, had a few nail-biting moments, he was confident that he would hold sway in his battle with the Independent Ireland flagbearer Dermot Kelleher, a farmer from near Inchigeelagh who had lost his wife before taking on the challenge of running for election.

He told The Echo that he had enjoyed the canvass, but had learned some lessons while going from door to door.

An old man once told me that half the people are lying to you, and the other half may not be telling the truth, he said.

Macroom Electoral Area (Six seats)

First preference votes

Elected

Gobnait Moynihan (FF) 2,794

Michael Creed (FG) 2,593

Michael Looney (FF) 2,508

Eileen Lynch (FG) 2,376

Ted Lucey (FG) 2,058

Martin Coughlan (Ind) 1,478

Not elected

Dermot Kelleher (Independent Ireland) 1,337

John OSullivan (SF) 1,117

Harriet Burgess (GP) 939

Rosarie OLeary (Aontu) 588
A fund has been established to support the family of a pioneering fundraiser whose work helped untold thousands of people.

Micheal Sheridan, chief executive of the Mercy University Hospital Foundation, passed away last week after a brief battle with cancer.

Mr Sheridan, who was 51, was well known in Cork for his work with the charity, where he helped to raise millions for the hospitals cancer services.

He first joined the foundation in 2007 as its first employee, and a spokesperson for the foundation said he had seen it grow to become one of the leading hospital foundations in the country.

In 2021, he left the foundation to become chief executive of Irish Community Air Ambulance, where he spent three years.

Earlier this year, Mr Sheridan returned to the Mercy foundation, where he was appointed its chief executive.

Now a family friend has established the Sheridan Family Education Fund, a fundraiser to show support to Mr Sheridans family in their bereavement.

Testament

On the funds GoFundMe page, the familys friend stated that Mr Sheridans life was a testament to service, and he dedicated himself to raising funds for those in need.

His contributions to the ISPCC, Special Olympics Ireland, Critical (previously Irish Community Air Ambulance), and Mercy University Hospital Foundation have touched the lives of countless individuals, providing support during their darkest hours and establishing charitable initiatives that will endure for years to come.

Micheal worked tirelessly all his life to help people in some of the most difficult times in their lives.

We want to come together to support his family at this time, the posts author said.

Nothing was more important to Micheal than his familyhis wife Claire and their four sons Eanna, Rian, Finn and Caelan.

This GoFundMe page has been set up to support his sons' education in the coming years. As a dad myself, I know nothing is more important than knowing that your family has all they need. Mr Sheridans friend said he had established the fund in tribute to all Mr Sheridan had done for charities across Ireland.

Please show your support to his young family by donating to this education fund for his four beautiful sons, they said.

By Tuesday morning, two days after it began, the fund had raised more than 7,000 of its 10,000 target.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/sheridanfamily
Following the local elections, women make up just 16% of councillors in Cork city, with a decrease in female representation in both the city and county.

In Cork city, where 27 women ran, just five of 31 council seats were filled by women, with no constituency electing more than one woman.

New candidates elected were Labours Laura Harmon in the South West ward, Sinn Feins Michelle Gould in the North West, and Fianna Fails Margaret McDonnell in the North East. Sinn Feins Fiona Kerins in Cork City South Central and Mary Rose Desmond in Cork City South East retained their seats.

Four sitting female councillors lost theirs, leading to an overall decrease in the percentage of female councillors. Fine Gaels Deirdre Forde and Rabhartas Lorna Bogue lost their seats in the South East ward, and Sinn Feins Orla OLeary and the Green Partys Colette Finn lost theirs in the South West ward. Ms Finn told The Echo: Women get more heavily criticised, theyre the first to lose their seats when the tide goes out for a party. The gender imbalance in our politics is very problematic.

The Green Party and Sinn Fein both ran a high proportion of women, but Fine Gael and Fianna Fail ran 29% and 25%, respectively.

Encouraging

Ms Gould told The Echo that Sinn Fein was very encouraging about putting women forward  50% of our candidates were women and they kept saying that more than 51% of the population are female.

So its only right that wed have the same representation in our party, she said.

Cork County Council has 29% women now, with 13 of the 15 existing women councillors re-elected and three new women candidates being elected from 41 candidates.

Fine Gaels Kay Dawson and Independent Karen Coakley lost their seats, while the three seats vacated by councillors Danielle Twomey, Susan McCarthy in Midleton, and Marcia DAlton in Carrigaline were all won by men  meaning an overall decrease from 18 to 16 women on the council.

Sheila OCallaghan, who topped the poll in Cobh, told The Echo that a lot of her transfers went to other women  with Fine Gael councillor Sinead Sheppard getting the most votes from the distribution of her surplus, ahead of Ms OCallaghans running mate and party colleague Dominic Finn.

Nationally, women will fill approximately the same percentage of seats as in the outgoing councils, and Ireland will remain in 22nd place in the EU for the number of women in local politics.

Gender quota

Both the National Womens Council and Women for Election have called on all political parties in Ireland to commit to the introduction of a 40% gender quota for local election candidates.

Katie Deegan of Women for Election said: The decrease in womens representation on the Cork city and county councils is disappointing  at this rate, it could take many more decades to reach even 40% women on the councils.

More women at decision-making tables makes politics work better for everyone.

The reductions in the number of women on Cork city and county councils serve as a stark reminder of the barriers that still exist for women to be elected to political office.

Rachel Coyle, NWCs head of campaigns and mobilisation, said: While a record number of 677 women contested the elections, up from 566 in 2019, they only made up 31% of all of the candidates.

We know that when women are on the ticket, people vote for women  but Fianna Fail and Fine Gael didnt even manage to reach 30% of women candidates, which is incredibly disappointing.
AT least 5,000 fish have died in what Inland Fisheries Ireland(IFI) is describing as a major fish kill in a Special Area of Conservation and noted spawning habitat for fish near Kanturk.

The incident occurred on the River Allow, and it is suspected that the contamination of the water is linked to the Freemont Water Treatment Plant, operated by Uisce Eireann.

Species of fish discovered dead so far include juvenile Atlantic salmon, brown trout, lamprey, eel, stone loach, roach, and dace.

As well as being an abundant salmon and trout habitat, the river supports a population of freshwater pearl mussel.

The freshwater pearl mussel is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, and is one of the 365 most endangered species in the world  it is protected under the EU Habitats Directive.

European freshwater pearl mussel populations have declined by 90% over the past century, and the area in which the pollution occurred is one of 27 freshwater pearl mussel populations in Ireland which are protected within Special Areas of Conservation (SACs).

Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) said officers are, "still attempting to determine the scale of the kill, with fish mortalities observed up to four kilometres downstream of the source location," with multiple state bodies said to be involved in the investigation, including the Environmental Protection Agency.

IFI said its staff were on site again on Monday to investigate the pollution event, and have taken water samples from the river to gather evidence of the discharge, and source point of contamination, to advance any potential prosecution.

Uisce Eireann said in a statement that is investigating a reported spillage at the Freemount Water Treatment Plant in North Cork.

They said: Uisce Eireann has engaged with Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI)and the EPA has been notified, and added, that once the investigation is complete, an update will be made available.

IFI are responsible for the protection and conservation of freshwater fish and habitats, are reminding the public they can report instances of fish kills, pollution or illegal fishing nationwide by calling their confidential 24/7 number 0818 34 74 24.
5.24PM

The Irish People (TIP) candidate Ross Lahive has been eliminated from the running for a seat in the Ireland South constituency in the European Parliament elections.

The fourth count of the Ireland South constituency got underway at Nemo Rangers on Tuesday following the earlier elimination of Independent candidate Christopher Doyle in the third count and Independent candidate Ciaran ORiordan in the second count.

Returning officer Martin Harvey announced the elimination of Ross Lahive from the running for a seat in Ireland South, following the distribution of Mr Doyles 3,492 votes.

There could be up to 10 counts before Fianna Fails Billy Kelleher is elected to take the second seat in the Ireland South constituency, following the election of Fine Gaels Sean Kelly to the first seat in Ireland South on Monday evening.

Mr Kelleher is currently on 93,290 votes, having received an additional 206 votes from Mr Doyles votes, and will need to meet the quota of 114,761 before he can be elected.

Clare TD Michael McNamara is still polling strongly, with a total of 57,298 votes, as is Fianna Fails Cynthia Ni Mhurcu on 56,259 votes, Independent Mick Wallace on 53,701 votes, and Sinn Feins Kathleen Funchion on 50,955.

4.24PM

Independent candidate Christopher Doyle has been eliminated from the running for a seat in the Ireland South constituency in the European Parliament elections.

The third count of the Ireland South constituency got underway this morning following the elimination of Independent candidate Ciaran ORiordan.

Returning officer Martin Harvey announced at the count centre at Nemo Rangers GAA Club on Tuesday the results of the third count, being the distribution of Mr ORiordans 2,485 votes.

There could be up to 10 counts at Nemo Rangers before Fianna Fails Billy Kelleher is elected to take the second seat in the Ireland South constituency, following the election of Fine Gaels Sean Kelly to the first seat in Ireland South on Monday evening.

Fianna Fails Billy Kelleher is currently on 93,084, having received an additional 47 votes from Mr ORiordans votes.

Clare TD Michael McNamara is currently polling strongly, with a total of 57,154, as is Fianna Fails Cynthia Ni Mhurcu on 56,048 votes, Independent Mick Wallace on 53,428 votes, and Sinn Feins Kathleen Funchion on 50,755.

Counting of votes may take days until all five seats in the Ireland South constituency are filled.

EARLIER

COUNTING continues at Nemo Rangers GAA Club this morning following Fine Gael MEP Sean Kellys re-election to the European Parliament on Monday evening.

The incumbent MEP was the first candidate to win a seat in Ireland South following the first count of ballots which got underway on Monday.

Fianna Fails Cynthia Ni Mhurchu has polled strongly and is in the mix to win a seat in Ireland South, alongside party colleague Billy Kelleher who received a first preference vote of 91,074 in the first count.

Independent TD Michael McNamara, Sinn Feins Kathleen Funchion, the Green Partys Grace OSullivan and Independent Mick Wallace are also in the mix for a seat in the constituency.

The count centre for the Ireland South constituency erupted in cheer on Monday evening following the announcement by Returning Officer Martin Harvey that Fine Gaels Sean Kelly had won the first seat in the constituency after a long two days of counting ballots.

Mr Kelly exceeded the quota of 114,761, winning 122,777 votes out of a total poll of 713,323.

There were 24,759 invalid ballot papers and 688,564 valid ballot papers.

While Fianna Fails Billy Kelleher looks set to also be returned to the European Parliament, it is unlikely that he will be elected today.

Counting of votes may take days until all five seats in the Ireland South constituency are filled.
AIKEN Promotions have said staff are in place to provide assistance to people with accessible tickets, after issues were raised at the popular concert Live at the Marquee series.

The event series returned to Cork at the end of last month at a brand new venue  their third move since the first summer concert series 19 years ago.

However, accessibility issues have been raised at the new site on the Centre Park Rd.

Music fans reported a long distance from parking facilities to the venue, along with a surface that was downright dangerous.

Gene OKeeffe was at the Van Morrison concert on Friday, May 31, and had to get a general access ticket as all the accessible tickets were sold out  having to park a significant distance from the venue and travel over coarse gravel.

Mr OKeeffe told The Echo: Getting out of the car, even parking, I could see there would be an issue.

People put gravel on their driveway and thats fine, but these were rocks that someone had rolled with a steamroller.

It was absolutely atrocious, he said, explaining that he tried to move along, at which point the staff that were supervising the car park came over briefly, and he told them this is mad, its totally unsuitable.

The staff he spoke to were not interested, Mr OKeeffe said.

He said that he had been to previous concerts at the former Live at the Marquee site, but that the new venue was considerably worse for accessibility.

He described it as poor venue provision of disabled driving spots, it was downright dangerous, an appalling surface to ask people to use.

I was up on my back wheels trying to make my way to the concert, he said.

Cork couple Trisha and Brian Hurley described helping another person at the Gavin James concert on Saturday, May 25, after they noticed the stones and grit were sticking to the mans hands.

A spokesperson for Aiken promotions told The Echo: We are aware that there was an issue at one of the concerts, but there are staff in place specifically to provide assistance to those who have accessible tickets.

When ticket holders who have pre-booked parking arrive, there is a reserved accessible parking area and we will have staff there to meet them and assist them.

For those with accessible tickets not arriving by car, there are extra staff at the gate, they said, adding: Please give yourself plenty of time.
A head-on car crash left a 45-year-old mother and her two children seriously injured in the Lombardstown area of Mallow and now she has described the accident as being like a grenade into our lives and we are left to pick up the pieces.

This was the victim impact evidence presented at Cork Circuit Criminal Court where 71-year-old Mary OBrien of Alana, Mitchellsfort, Watergrasshill, County Cork, pleaded guilty to a charge of careless driving causing grievous bodily harm.

Judge Cormac Quinn said the victims injuries were the worst he had seen in such cases.

Garda Mary Brosnan testified that the accident occurred at 6.45pm on February 23 2023 on the N72 at Pallas, Lombardstown, Mallow, County Cork.

Garda Brosnan said Mary OBrien was driving from Killarney when her Mercedes Benz veered to the incorrect side of the road and collided with a Renault Grand Scenic driven by the woman, who is now 45.

Her nine-year-old son and ten-year-old daughter were passengers. Garda Brosnan said the seriously injured driver sustained a fractured pelvis and a number of breaks to both legs while her son had a fractured elbow and collar bone and her daughter also had a broken pelvis.

Mary OBrien who admitted that her careless driving caused the accident sustained a broken ankle, Garda Brosnan said. The 71-year-old was questioned on two occasions and both times she enquired about the injured parties but was told not to contact them as it was an ongoing investigation.

The main victim said feelings of fear and dread coursed through her as she saw lights coming towards her and said she replays this moment quite often.

She said it was futile to try to swerve to protect herself and her children.

I have likened it to assault on our minds, bodies and souls This accident threw a grenade into our lives and we are left to pick up the pieces. I was lifted out of the car like a rag-doll. (Now) I feel like I am 90 when I start my day, she said.

The victim expressed her feeling that the defendant had shown a lack of regard for her and her family. The injured party received a letter of apology on June 6. The injured party said at Cork Circuit Criminal Court: Your letter of apology felt more like your victim impact statement. She said that a card with a short apology would have been appreciated but not the letter written by the defendant.

Defence barrister, Donal OSullivan, said: My client expressed herself very badly in the letter. She is remorseful. She has never been in trouble in her life. She does not want to cause any further upset.

Judge Cormac Quinn said he was concerned about the fact that the defence were saying that the defendant was full of remorse but that the injured party did not accept this. He said that in those circumstances he wanted a probation report on the defendant and in particular he wanted the possibility of restorative justice. The injured party indicated that she would prefer to have the case finalised.

Judge Quinn said: It is not going to be finalised today I would not be happy with the accused trying to undo what was done in the letter. I am going to put it back for a probation report. The probation officer will interview the accused and you (the injured party) can engage with restorative justice if you want that.

Obviously she (injured party) has been to hell and back with her injuries. Her injuries are the most serious I have come across in one of these cases.

Adjourning for a probation report, the judge said it is also to explore the attitude, understanding or remorse of the accused. The case was put back to October 30 on which date another date shortly thereafter will be set for finalisation.
A PUBLICATION exploring local historical research has been launched by Cork County Councils heritage office at an event hosted by Kilshannig Heritage Society.

The guide, written by oral historian and author Dr Tomas Mac Conmara, was unveiled at an annual gathering of the Irish Community Archive Network at Springfort Hall Country House Hotel in Mallow, Cork.

The possession of his every neighbour: A guide to researching and writing local history aims to encourage, support, and strengthen good practice in the way local history research is conducted and presented.

I see firsthand the excellent work that Cork Countys Irish Community Archive Network groups undertake, and wish to pay particular tribute to Kilshannig Heritage Society for hosting this event, said Mayor of the County of Cork, councillor Frank OFlynn.

The excellent publication by Tomas Mac Conmara will be enjoyed by countless audiences far and wide.

The guide was developed in response to the unprecedented increase in local history research across Ireland, as well as the proliferation of local history and heritage societies, journals, publications, and websites over the last 15 years.

I have been very aware for many years of the great work undertaken across the country by volunteers who are deeply committed to the heritage of their place, and who give countless hours to recording and preserving their historical landscape, said Mr Mac Conmara.

The intention of the book is to provide support to this effort and to offer guidance on the methods and approaches that are optimal in researching and writing about our past.

The network provides training and support in addition to a secure digital platform where they can document and share their valuable local collections, research, articles, photographs, and oral recordings. The book will be available through the councils library service or digital copies can be requested from ican@museum.ie.
David Young, PA

Mary Lou McDonald has insisted Sinn Feins poor showing in the local and European elections in the Republic will not dent the momentum of its campaign in Northern Ireland for the UK General Election.

The Sinn Fein president said she believes the party was nailed on for some gains in the North in the vote on July 4th.

She also rejected any suggestion that the requirement of having to canvass on both sides of the border may have negatively affected Sinn Feins ground-game when it came to the local and European elections in Ireland.

Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald has initiated an internal review after her partys poor showing in elections in the Republic of Ireland. Photo: PA.

Despite registering 30 per cent-plus support in some opinion polls last year, Sinn Fein emerged from the local elections south of the border with 12 per cent of the first preference vote share.

Ms McDonald, who has apologised for the showing and initiated a review of the partys policy offering to voters, was asked whether the results could have a negative knock-on effect on Sinn Feins campaign north of the border.

I think the momentum that we have developed across the country is very strong, she replied.

And I believe that were going to perform really well in the Westminster elections. I think were nailed on for some gains.

Asked if the Westminster campaign hurt Sinn Feins canvassing south of the border, as it potentially limited the number of activists who could travel down from the north to help out, she insisted the party was perpetually on an election footing.

Were a national organisation, the other parties are a regional phenomenon, she said.

So were always active across the island.

And if you asked Sinn Fein activists and members and people who live in the north and come up and down, we seem to be permanently on an election.

DUP leader Gavin Robinson said voters wanted solutions. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA.

DUP leader Gavin Robinson claimed the lesson from Sinn Feins electoral performance south of the border was that people wanted solutions rather than just anger.

Sinn Feins electoral disappointments in the Republic of Ireland are interesting but the vote that matters for Northern Ireland is on 4th July, he said.

That will decide who speaks for Northern Ireland.

He added: The lesson from the Republic is that people wanted solutions rather than just anger. Any old fool can point out a problem, but it takes a plan and determination to deal with a problem and secure a lasting solution.

Both in Scotland and the Republic, 2024 has demonstrated the fluid nature of polls and electoral success.

The ballot box is what matters. No one should take the people for granted.

Thats why at every election, we stand on our record of delivery and our plan to make progress.
High Court reporters

Updated: 5.30pm

The Minister for Research, Innovation and Science intervened in a dispute between Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) and Professor Philip Nolan to suggest they could mediate outstanding issues, the High Court has heard.

Senior counsel for Prof Nolan, who is seeking an extension of orders preventing his dismissal, said it was striking that there was a blanket refusal from the State-funded research agency in response to his clients repeated offers to engage in mediation.

Padraic Lyons told the court on Tuesday that in late April, a representative for the Minister, Patrick ODonovan, wrote to SFI noting that an independent barristers investigation into claims against Prof Nolan by five senior staff members made no findings of bullying or breaches of corporate governance.

The secretary general of Mr ODonovans department, writing on behalf of the new Minister, said it would be in the best interests of the research agency to resolve matters promptly and that mediation could be an approach to take, the court heard.

Still to be considered by SFI was the investigation reports conclusion that Prof Nolan engaged in inappropriate behaviour that could ground allegations of gross misconduct. Prof Nolan emphatically rejects the charge.

Mr Lyons, instructed by Daniel Spring & Co Solicitors, said the SFI board gave a thin-skinned response to the Ministers letter, saying it was surprised he would suggest mediation before a disciplinary process into the outstanding claims was initiated.

This reply indicated there would be a disciplinary process, Mr Lyons said, but the SFI board went on to summarily dismiss his client on May 27th without any such process, which would have allowed his client to defend himself.

It is untenable for SFI to now contend it dismissed Prof Nolan not for misconduct reasons but because it was exercising its contractual right to dismiss, Mr Lyons said.

Prof Nolan is asking Mr Justice Rory Mulcahy to extend orders he made in recent weeks preventing his dismissal from his director general role. His lawyers argue there was no conceivable justification for the move.

'Lost the dressing room'

Responding, senior counsel Mark Connaughton, instructed by McCann Fitzgerald solicitors, said that, as director general, Prof Nolan was the star of the show but he lost the dressing room, plain and simple.

The organisation was not functioning normally, and in a private company this situation would fall on the head of the chief executive, he said.

He rebuffed any suggestion the SFI board acted in any way other than in the best interests of the organisation.

This is a highly qualified, highly experienced board of great calibre that takes its responsibilities very seriously, counsel added.

While Prof Nolans legal team argued the board overreacted to a critical letter he wrote in February 2022, which he regrets, Mr Connaughton said the reaction demonstrates this board requires exacting standards.

He said internal investigations are underway to determine the source of the completely unauthorised and improper disclosure of highly confidential material to the media.

While the plaintiff says he has suffered reputational harm due to the release of information about the investigation, SFI cannot be held legally responsible for the fact these horrible events occurred, Mr Connaughton added.

He said Prof Nolans case fails to acknowledge other findings in the barristers report. His push for mediation under these circumstances demonstrates a certain lack of insight, the court heard.

There is also a fundamental difference between the parties regarding the legalities at play, he added.

Alleged behaviour

In a letter dismissing Prof Nolan on May 27th, the SFI boards chair, Professor Peter Clinch, noted an internal groups report recommended the invocation of disciplinary procedures against Prof Nolan regarding instances of inappropriate behaviour cited in the barristers investigation.

He said the board had to consider whether it was in SFIs best interests to prolong this matter and the discord it has produced, including the loss of trust at the executive level that is a clear threat to the ability of the foundation to meet its statutory function.

Prof Clinch said it had been decided it was neither in the foundations interests nor yours to initiate a disciplinary process and the board cannot allow the situation to continue.

He noted Prof Nolan rejects certain findings of the report but said the board has decided terminating his contract is the correct course.

SFIs senior counsel, Mark Connaughton, instructed by McCann Fitzgerald solicitors, previously said the only basis for terminating Prof Nolans employment was in reference to the express terms of his written contract. SFI has yet to outline its full defence to the court.

Prof Nolan came to public prominence during the Covid-19 pandemic while leading the National Public Health Emergency Teams (Nphets) epidemiological modelling group. He is a former president of Maynooth University.

Prof Nolan, who assumed the director general role in January 2022, argues the claims made against him without foundation last December form part of an orchestrated bid to frustrate his efforts to substantially reform the organisation.

The Department of Research, Innovation and Science had acknowledged a need for change but, Prof Nolan said, there was profound resistance to this aim from the senior management team. He believes most of SFIs 120 staff members are in favour of reform.

He was appointed CEO-designate of Research Ireland  a planned merger of SFI and the Irish Research Council  in a move he says amounted to an endorsement by the Government of his leadership and strategy.

Prof Nolan believes he can continue to perform his role to the benefit of SFI and Research Ireland if he has the correct support.

He noted the SFI board is soon to be dissolved and said the organisation and the research community it serves will be seriously disadvantaged if the amalgamation is delayed or halted due to SFI actions.

The case concluded on Tuesday, and Mr Justice Rory Mulcahy said he intends to deliver his ruling next week.
Fiona Magennis

An IT consultant who failed to pay over 180,000 in VAT owed over a period of seven years has been jailed for 12 months after the Court of Appeal found his fully suspended three-year sentence was too lenient.

Clive Gargan (48) had paid back the sum due plus interest, and was fully tax compliant by the time he was originally sentenced.

Gargan was charged with 84 VAT-related offences in total; 42 counts of failing to deliver VAT returns and 42 counts of failing to pay VAT within a statutory period between 2009 and 2016.

A wholly suspended sentence was imposed after Gargan entered guilty pleas to eight counts, with the remaining counts taken into consideration.

Gargan, of The Belfry, Kilmainham, Dublin 8, was a self-employed IT consultant working for various companies. He had previously been registered for VAT during the period of October 25th, 2004, to November 1st, 2006, after which time he de-registered.

The State had appealed the leniency of the three-year suspended sentence imposed by sentencing judge Ms Justice Patricia Ryan at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on December 15th, 2023, arguing that too much weight had been given to the mitigating factors in the case.

The Director of Public Prosecutions emphasised that the respondent did not cease his offending behaviour until he was caught.

Error in principle

Delivering judgement at the Court of Appeal on Tuesday, Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy said the court was of the view that the wholly suspended sentence imposed by the trial judge constituted an error in principle.

She said that whilst the court did not accept the States submission that the respondent essentially received no punishment, as a suspended sentence is a sentence, they were of the view that the discount from the headline sentence of five years to a wholly suspended sentence was a substantial departure from the norm.

She observed that the offending proceeded over a prolonged period from May or June 2009 until March or April 2016, and that the amount involved was significant.

Quashing the original sentence, Ms Justice Kennedy said the three-judge court agreed with the nomination of a global headline sentence of five years imprisonment. However, she went on to say that proportionality is central to a just sentence and the correct sentence reflects the offence committed by the particular offender.

After taking mitigating factors into consideration, including the albeit late plea, the payment of the sum plus interest and the absence of previous convictions, she said the court considered that the appropriate reduction was 18 months once mitigation was taken into consideration, leaving a sentence of three and a half years.

Ms Justice Kennedy, sitting with Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and Ms Justice Tara Burns, said the court would suspend the final two and a half years to incentivise rehabilitation, leaving a period of one year in custody.

Investigation

Gargans offending came to light when a company who had used his services sought a VAT return and was asked to provide certain information to the Revenue Commissioners so that this return could be processed.

This information included two invoices from the respondent containing a VAT registration number which had ceased to be valid in November 2006.

Further investigative steps revealed Gargan had received payments from this company from 2011, and from a second company, Ergo Services, in 2008, 2010 and 2011, and that no VAT returns of payments were received in respect of any of these transactions.

The total VAT amount involved in the case was 180,623.51.

Gargan was charged with 42 counts of failure to deliver a VAT return contrary to S 1078(2)(g)(ii) of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 as amended by S 133(a) of the Finance Act 2002, and 42 counts of failing to pay the VAT due within the statutory period contrary to Section 1078 (2)(i) of the same Act, as amended between 2009 and 2016.

The respondent paid the VAT due plus interest on June 30th, 2016.

At the sentence hearing on December 1st, 2023, approximately 16,000 remained outstanding.

The sentencing judge put the matter back for two weeks in order for the respondent to pay the outstanding amount before handing down her sentence.

Gargan had no previous convictions and was fully tax compliant on the date of sentence.
A former sneaker botter from Australia who for years programmed bots to take advantage of e-commerce platforms now uses his experience to combat bot attacks to raid merchants websites and prevent Account Takeover (ATO) attacks as a data scientist and cyberthreat analyst at Arkose Labs.

The term sneaker botter originated with the practice of using sophisticated software to help quickly purchase limited-edition inventories of major brands like Nike and Adidas online for resale at a higher price. The term followed expanded bot attacks that progressed into snatching up concert tickets and other high-priority products sold on e-commerce platforms.

Mitch Davie is now a renowned global leader in bot management and account security. A friend invited him to the programming opportunity about eight years ago. That group was among the first in Australia to employ code automation techniques on e-commerce sites.

However, he never crossed over the line into fraudulently using stolen credentials to make purchases. Essentially, if the bot user commits no fraud, using bots is not illegal, he offered.

We were not using other peoples stolen credit card details. We used our own money and had the products shipped to our own addresses. We were just making the purchases a lot quicker than other shoppers could, Davie told the E-Commerce Times.

A few years ago, Davie decided to use his programming skills to improve cybersecurity outcomes and protect e-commerce platforms. That came as he changed his focus to raising a family and working in a career that helped many more people.

Instead of just attacking a couple of websites, now I am protecting sort of 50-plus websites. So that is a good feeling, he said.

Botters Attack Various Industries

The concept of automating online purchases has not gone away, according to Ashish Jain, CPO/CTO at Arkose Labs. Although automating bulk purchases using bots is not illegal [in certain jurisdictions], some attackers use them to obtain consumers credentials to carry out fraudulent purchases.

Bot attackers can also take over consumer accounts on e-commerce sites and create false accounts to send purchases to their own addresses. Jain is familiar with such practices from his time working at eBay validating user identity and handling risk and trust assessments for that commerce platform.

If you look across the traffic on the internet, there are multiple reports and sites, including our own data, that 40% of the traffic you can see on the website would essentially be bots, Jain told the E-Commerce Times.

This proportion of the bot traffic depends on the specific vertical, and the use cases differ in e-commerce versus banking versus the tech industry, he added.

There is this fine line in between. At what point do you abuse the system? At what point do you completely become a fraud? I think this again depends on a case-by-case basis, Jain questioned.

It is very easy to cross the line, and if the terms of the service agreement states that scraping user information is not allowed  if you have a bot and scrape it, it is considered illegal, he offered.

Legal vs. Illegal Bot Practices

Other situations exist that rely on bot automation to abuse the e-commerce system. One is making returns for profit. If you buy an item intending to keep it, a return is legitimate.

If you do that repeatedly, make it a practice, it becomes an abuse. Your intent essentially is to be able to defraud the company, Jain explained.

Another form of illegal bot use involves payment fraud. Attackers might use bots to get a list of credit cards or stolen financials, he continued. Then, they use that scraped information to buy and ship an item purchased for that purpose. Thats certainly illegal. When a bad actor is operating with a bot for the sole purpose of doing financial damage to an entity, then that comes into an unlawful category.

The key difference in determining bot usage lies in whether the activity constitutes fraudulent behavior or legitimate stockpiling, he explained. Its crucial to assess whether the bot is simply automating tasks or being used for fraud. Additionally, an agreement between the entity using the bot and the website owner from which the data is being gathered is a significant factor in this evaluation.

An example would be an agreement between Reddit and Google to let Google use the gathered data to build large language models (LLMs) to train Google AI. According to Jain, that is considered a good bot. However, Chinas bot activity is an example of bad bot usage.

We have found multiple entities within China trying to do the exact same thing. Lets just say on OpenAI, where they are trying to scrape the system or use the APIs to get more data without having any agreement or payment terms with OpenAI, he clarified.

Staying Ahead of Bot Threats

According to Davie, cybersecurity firms like Arkose Labs specialize in advanced defensive measures to protect e-commerce sites from bot activity. They use constantly updated highly advanced detection technology.

We basically monitor everything the attackers do. We are able to understand how they attack and why. That allows us to improve our detection methods, improve our captures, and stay on top of the attacks, he said.

Bot attacks are an ever-emerging process that spans many different industries. When Arkose mitigates an attack scenario in one sector, attackers will hop to a different industry or platform.

It flows throughout as a cat-and-mouse game. Currently, the attacks are the highest they have ever been, but they are also the most well mitigated, Davie revealed.

Always Looking for Attack Signals

Jain, of course, could not divulge the companys defensive secret sauce. However, he identified it as leveraging the different signals observable on the e-commerce servers. These signals fall into two categories: active and passive.

Active signals have an impact on the end user. Passive traits run behind the scenes.

A very common example of when you can detect a bot or a volumetric activity is when you look into the passive signals, such as the Internet Protocol or IPs and the devices on fingerprinting, where they are coming from, or the behavior biometric, he said.

For instance, look for behavioral information. If you see someone trying to log in on an app but notice no mouse movements, it indicates that the user on the other side of the login screen is likely a bot or a script.

Additionally, IT teams should check lists of known bad IP addresses. Or, if they notice a high volume of requests, such as a million requests within 30 minutes from an IP address associated with a data center, its a strong indicator of bot activity.

That does not seem like a normal behavior where people like you and me are trying to log in two times in an hour from a home IP address, explained Jain.

A third common example is doing velocity checks in place. These monitor the number of times a specific transaction data element occurs within certain intervals. You look for anomalies or similarities to known fraud behavior.
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Founded in 2005 as an Ohio-based environmental newspaper, EcoWatch is a digital platform dedicated to publishing quality, science-based content on environmental issues, causes, and solutions.

Elephants are some of the most intelligent, compassionate and social creatures on Earth, forming tight-knit family groups, social networks and an extended clan structure, the members of which not only care for each other, but, as new research shows, call each other by name.

A new study by researchers from Save the Elephants  a conservation and research organization based in Kenya  ElephantVoices and Colorado State University (CSU) has found that when wild African elephants are called by their names, they answer back. They also address one another with name-like calls  a rarity among nonhuman animals.

Personal names are a universal feature of human language, yet few analogues exist in other species. While dolphins and parrots address conspecifics by imitating the calls of the addressee, human names are not imitations of the sounds typically made by the named individual, the authors wrote in the study. Here we present evidence that wild African elephants address one another with individually specific calls, probably without relying on imitation of the receiver. Moreover, elephants differentially responded to playbacks of calls originally addressed to them relative to calls addressed to a different individual.

Using machine learning, the research team confirmed that elephants calls had a name-like feature that identified the intended recipient, which they had suspected based on earlier observations, a press release from CSU said.

When recorded calls were played back, elephants responded to those addressed to them with response calls or by approaching the speaker. Calls intended for other elephants did not receive as much of a reaction.

[O]ur data suggest that elephants do not rely on imitation of the receivers calls to address one another, which is more similar to the way in which human names work, said lead author of the study Michael Pardo, who was a postdoctoral researcher for the National Science Foundation at Save the Elephants and CSU during the study, in the press release.

Learning to produce novel sounds is rare among animals, but a necessary feature of identifying individuals by name. A sound that represents an idea without imitating it is called arbitrary communication and is seen as a next-level cognitive skill that vastly augments the ability to communicate.

If all we could do was make noises that sounded like what we were talking about, it would vastly limit our ability to communicate, said co-author of the study George Wittemyer, a CSU professor at the Warner College of Natural Resources, as well as chairperson of Save the Elephants scientific board, in the press release.

Wittemyer added that elephants use of arbitrary vocal labels means they may also be capable of abstract thinking.

Their complex social systems, similar to those of humans, likely led to the evolution of arbitrary vocal labeling of individuals using abstract sounds, the researchers said.

Its probably a case where we have similar pressures, largely from complex social interactions. Thats one of the exciting things about this study, it gives us some insight into possible drivers of why we evolved these abilities, said Wittemyer.

Elephant calls communicate not just their identity, but their sex, age, emotional state and context of their behavior.

Their vocalizations include low rumbles and trumpeting across a wide spectrum of frequencies, including infrasonic sounds too low for humans to hear. Group movements can be coordinated by using these calls over long distances.

Our finding that elephants are not simply mimicking the sound associated with the individual they are calling was the most intriguing, said Kurt Fristrup, a CSU research scientist with the Walter Scott, Jr. College of Engineering, in the press release. The capacity to utilize arbitrary sonic labels for other individuals suggests that other kinds of labels or descriptors may exist in elephant calls.

The four-year study included 14 months of fieldwork in Kenya where the team recorded elephant vocalizations while following them in a vehicle. They captured approximately 470 distinct calls from 101 individual callers to 117 receivers in Amboseli National Park and Samburu National Reserve.

The study, African elephants address one another with individually specific name-like calls, was published in the journal Nature Ecology & Evolution.

Wittemyer noted that elephants are expressive and those who are familiar with them can easily read their reactions. Samples played back resulted in elephants responding positively and energetically to recordings of family members and friends calling to them, while calls directed to others did not garner an enthusiastic response or movement toward the caller, indicating they recognized their own names.

The researchers also discovered that, like humans, elephants dont always use each others names in conversation. Addressing an individual by their name was more often seen when adult elephants were talking to calves or addressing others over long distances.

The research team said they would need much more data to be able to distinguish names within calls to determine if elephants give labels to things such as food, water and specific locations.

Elephants are listed as endangered, primarily due to habitat loss and poaching. The researchers said new insights into their communication and cognition as revealed in the study further bolster the case for conserving these magnificent animals.

Pachyderms need a lot of space because of their size. Wittemyer explained that, while humans conversing with elephants is still far off, the ability to communicate with them could enhance their protection.

Its tough to live with elephants, when youre trying to share a landscape and theyre eating crops. Id like to be able to warn them, Do not come here. Youre going to be killed if you come here, said Wittemyer.
Yesterday's Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference keynote teased a lot of what users can expect this fall when big iOS, iPadOS, macOS and watchOS updates hit their devices. Changes coming include RCS support in Messages, a new Passwords app, a revamped Calculator app for iPhone and iPad and a bunch of artificial intelligence (AI) infusions across the board with the new "Apple Intelligence" system. The latter will bring some of the biggest updates to Apple devices in years, including generative AI image creation, "Genmoji" custom emojis, text summarization and even some ChatGPT integration as well. If you weren't able to catch the news live, here's a rundown of everything announced at WWDC 2024.

Apple Intelligence

Apple

Apple revealed its plans to incorporate AI into its operating systems at WWDC this year. Dubbed "Apple Intelligence," this new generative AI system will appear in iOS and iPad 18 and macOS Sequoia in the form of (what Apple believes to be) practical tools that most people can use regularly. Those features include new writing tools that can help you rewrite, proofread and summarize things like emails and other messages, original emoji and image creation and more. Going hand-in-hand with original image generation is a new feature called Genmoji, which allows users to create their own unique emojis by typing in descriptions and requirements like "T-rex wearing a tutu on a surfboard."

Siri is getting an AI infusion, now that it will be powered in part by large language models. In addition to asking Siri to delete an email or edit a photo, users will also be able to ask the virtual assistant to summarize articles and webpages in Safari and even extract personal information from a picture of an ID so it can fill out an online form for them. The company emphasized the importance of "personal context" with Apple Intelligence, which will enable things like using natural language to search for photos that contain only specific family members or friends.

Apple highlighted how most Apple Intelligence actions will be done on-device to make the system as privacy-focused as possible. For queries that cannot be done locally, the work will be sent to Apple's processing centers. The company also created Private Cloud Compute, a feature that's supposed to utilize the cloud for more advanced AI processing while also making sure your data remains secure.

OpenAI's ChatGPT is also integrated into Apple Intelligence, allowing users to give Apple permission to share their queries with ChatGPT "when it might be helpful." Examples provided include asking for menu ideas that incorporate specific ingredients, or asking for decor advice while providing a photo of a space that needs sprucing up. ChatGPT will also work with the AI writing tools coming to iOS and iPadOS 18 in a new Compose feature. ChatGPT integration with iOS 18, iPadOS 18 and macOS Sequoia will roll out later this year, and apparently Apple intends to add support for other AI models in the future  meaning its partnership with OpenAI isn't a long-term exclusive.

iOS 18 and iPadOS 18

Apple

The next iPhone software update will roll out to users in the fall and, as expected, one of the biggest changes is support for Rich Communication Service, or RCS. The messaging protocol offers many improvements over SMS including end-to-end encryption, better media sharing and support for proper group chats. Apple previously stated it would adopt support for RCS in 2024 to comply with EU regulations, so it's unsurprising to see it mentioned in iOS 18's forthcoming features. Also new to Messages will be the ability to "tapback" reply using emojis and stickers, text formatting and effects and the ability to send messages via satellite.

iPhone users will have more control over their home screens in iOS 18 thanks to the fact that it will not be a locked grid system anymore. Users will be able to move app icons more freely, plus they'll be able to change app icon colors as well use a tint color picker. In terms of design and layout, this is one of the biggest changes to come to the iPhone's home screen in years and it gives iOS users similar features to those Android users have had for a long time. In the same vein, Control Center will be updated in iOS 18 to include more customization options, and will allow users to program quick controls from third-party apps in addition to the native options.

The Photos app is getting a big redesign in iOS 18, putting an emphasis on intelligently organized groups of photos that revolve around memories, trips and other big events. The new design ditches the old tabbed layout and will usher in a one-page design when you can view all of your photos individually, or view them by Collections. Users will also be able to filter out things like screenshots and receipts that would show up in a chronological format, but would otherwise mess up a tightly curated group of vacation photos.

A couple of new privacy features stand out in iOS 18, namely the ability to lock and hide apps. For the former, users can lock an app so sensitive information stays behind a Face-ID or Touch-ID wall, preventing those who you casually hand your iPhone to from seeing that information. Hiding an app, on the other hand, does exactly what you think: hides a program in a special hidden folder that others won't be able to see.

The Calculator app is getting a big overhaul in iOS 18, including improved unit conversions, a sidebar showing recent activity and integration with the Notes app. But what might be even more notable is the fact that the revamped Calculator app will not only be available on iPhones and Macs  it's coming to iPads for the first time as part of the iPadOS 18 update. Embedded within the iPadOS Calculator app is a new feature called Math Notes, which lets users write out math equations with the Apple Pencil and the app will solve many of them instantly.

iPadOS 18 will also feature a new Tab Bar, which looks similar to the Dynamic Island on iPhones. This bar makes it easier to access essential controls even when you're in apps, and depending on what you're doing, it can show up at the top of the screen or as a sidebar of sorts on the left of the display. The Notes app in iPadOS is getting another new feature called Smart Script, which will make users' handwriting more legible automatically.

macOS Sequoia

Apple

The next iteration of Apple's computer software will be called macOS Sequoia. In addition to many of the AI features also coming to iOS and iPadOS 18 as part of Apple Intelligence, the next macOS update will include iPhone mirroring, which lets users see and control their iPhone screen on a Mac screen. They'll be able to use their keyboard and trackpad to intact with the iPhone screen on their laptop, and they can even open iOS apps directly on their computers without picking up their iPhone at all.

A new Passwords app builds upon the technology of iCloud Keychain to save all of users' passwords and login credentials across devices and platforms (it will be available on Windows in addition to iOS and iPadOS). Along with standard passwords, the new app can save passkeys, verification codes and more, and give users the ability to securely share passwords with others.

Other updates coming in macOS Sequoia include a snap window arrangement tool with accompanying keyboard and menu shortcuts, Presenter Preview, which lets you see what you're about to share with call partners before they see it, and gaming upgrades like improved Windows porting capabilities using Gameporting Toolkit 2. Users will also get access to Image Playground in macOS Sequoia, Apple's AI image generator built into Apple Intelligence. It provides the ability to create AI-generated images in different styles, including animation, illustration and sketch.

watchOS 11

Apple

The next software update for the Apple Watch includes two big changes: Training Load and a new Vitals app. Training Load in watchOS 11 essentially uses many of the health and fitness metrics collected during workout tracking to estimate your effort level each time. Each workout will receive a rating from one (easy) to 10 (all out) that estimates how hard the user worked during that particular session.

The new Vitals app will show Apple Watch users how their captured health data, including heart rate, compares to baseline measurements. This will hopefully allow users to better understand when something might be off and outside the "normal" range.

The Activity app on iPhone is also getting an update to accompany watchOS 11, and will allow users to customize the data they see on the homepage so they can put their most important stats front and center. Cycle Tracking will also get an update to include more detailed pregnancy insights, including gestational age and information about the user's health metrics that may related to pregnancy (like heart rate fluctuations).

visionOS 2

Apple

Until now, Apple's Vision Pro headset has only been available in the US. That's changing soon as the company announced the device's rollout in additional countries including Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Japan, Singapore and the UK in the coming months. As far as the headset's software (visionOS) goes, Apple announced that visionOS 2 will add spatial photos, which adds depth to images in the Photos app, new UI gesture controls and improved Mac screen mirroring with support for higher resolutions and display sizes.

Apple

Apple briefly mentioned some software updates coming to AirPods Pro, including improved Voice Isolation, which should help the buds better pick up a users voice in noise environments. A new Siri Interaction is coming to AirPods Pro as well: a silent head-nod will allow users to answer an incoming call without saying a word out loud to Siri, and contrast, a shake of the head will decline a call. These silent interactions will also be applicable to messages and notifications.

Catch up here for all the news out of Apple's WWDC 2024.
Cruise, General Motors beleaguered driverless taxi service, announced Tuesday that it will start testing again around Houston. Cruise announced that they would start with human taxi drivers behind the wheels of its cars before moving to supervised autonomous driving with a safety driver behind the wheel in the coming weeks.

The announcement from Cruise landed around the same time that General Motors chief financial officer Paul Jacobson announced at Deutsche Banks Global Auto Industry Conference in New York City that the carmaker would inject another $850 million into the robotaxi company to cover operational costs.

Cruise has been nothing but a huge money pit for GM. Last year, the company plugged the plug on its driverless taxis when one of its cars in its San Francisco fleet hit a pedestrian who was hurled into the driverless taxis path by another vehicle and dragged them approximately 20 feet after getting pinned under its tire. The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) suspended the companys permits less than a month later. Cruise laid off nearly a quarter of its workforce and dismissed nine of its executives including the companys co-founder and chief executive officer (CEO) Kyle Vogy following an investigation into the accident.

Since then, Cruise has slowly but surely started showing new signs of life. In April, the company announced it would start redeploying its services in Phoenix. Just as in Houston, Cruises cars will still be monitored and operated by humans. The autonomous taxi company also plans to expand its services to other cities by engaging with officials and community leaders, according to the companys blog,but gave no timeline on when an extension might happen.

Update June 11, 5:45PM ET: This article was updated after publishing to clarify that Cruise's return to Houston is currently limited to testing, rather than picking up fares.

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Apples annual developer shindig kicked off with its traditional keynote outlining all the new tricks its products will soon do. There are big changes for iOS 18, iPadOS 18, macOS Sequoia and watchOS 11, not to mention visionOS 2 . Some highlights include a standalone Passwords app, better health metrics on the Watch and Apple Intelligence, its own spin on AI. Theres more to learn about, so keep reading to learn all the biggest stories from the show.

 Dan Cooper

The biggest stories you might have missed

Blackmagic is developing a camera for immersive Apple Vision Pro videos

Yes, iOS 18 will include RCS support

Apples new AI-powered Siri can use apps for you

Apple may integrate Googles Gemini AI into iOS in the future

iOS 18 embraces Apple Intelligence, deeper customization and a more useful Siri

macOS Sequoia will let you see your iPhone mirrored on your Macs screen

iPadOS 18 is getting a big boost with Apple Intelligence

You can get these reports delivered daily direct to your inbox. Subscribe right here!

A for Apple A for Artificial I get it!

Apple

Apple has finally bowed to pressure, bringing AI to its devices in the form of Apple Intelligence, powered by OpenAI . The system will bolster Siri, offering its generative AI smarts to write emails, summarize news articles and offer finer-grain control of your apps. Itll be interesting to see, given Apples long-held distaste for machine learning gimmicks , if this can win where Google and Microsoft have floundered .

Continue Reading.

Lets see how third-party password managers respond.

Apple

Apple already has a dedicated password manager buried in its operating systems, but now itll be its own app. Passwords will act as a standalone password manager across every Apple platform and will even work on Windows via iCloud . Like iCloud Keychain, itll generate and record passwords to all of your sites and services, locking them behind biometric security.
Neighborhood cats emerge from their hiding places in San Pablo. Outdoor cats are a leading killer of birds and other wildlife. Paul Chinn/The Chronicle 2012 Birds fly past an office building in downtown San Francisco. Billions of birds die from crashing into tall buildings. Jessica Christian/The Chronicle 2022

Regarding Cute kittens grow up. What these killer cats do to the environment (Letters to the Editor, SFChronicle.com, June 9): The argument that cats are an invasive species is just silly. The world is ever-changing and invasiveness is based almost entirely on what date something had to be here to be considered native.

But more importantly, if wild bird populations are the concern, what about the leading killer of these animals: tall buildings with lots of windows?

Up to 3.5 billion birds are killed by flying into windows in the U.S. alone each year, new research shows. Fixing these buildings to lessen this carnage is relatively easy. Why not do that?

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While one can ignore the real killer of birds, focusing instead on cats, one must consider that cats are an important part of our urban and semi-urban ecosystem.

Absent cats, then what? Poisons that pretty much decimate the entire animal ecosystem, including raptors (which are birds)

The myopic views of domestic cats expressed in the letter are harmful to our entire ecosystem. Cats and humans have co-evolved over thousands of years, and there is an important symbiosis that is beneficial to the ecosystem. Cats are to be prized, not hated.

Dan Grassetti, Berkeley

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In defense of Price

Regarding Heres another reason Pamela Price needs to be recalled as Alameda County DA (Letters to the Editor, SFChronicle.com, June 7): Letter writer Jim Gray, joining the chorus calling for Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Prices recall, sees plea deals as Christmas presents to criminals.

Murder cases are the hardest to get convictions, and in this case, the suspect pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in exchange for 15 years to life in prison. Some Christmas present.

Families of victims and many in the public associate filing charges with automatic convictions. The district attorney could throw the book at defendants, in this case, first degree murder, kidnapping and seek the death penalty and have a costly trial. If there are no convictions, blame the judge, jury, defense lawyers and media, then Price is tough!

Price is doomed by the public perception that in most plea deals, defendants receive lesser charges and get no punishment. That was not so in the case referenced in the letter and in most cases.

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Shame on Gray and the Chronicle for continuing to promote this misconception.

Bob Langfelder, Oakland

Accountability not extreme

Regarding Trumps San Francisco visit is a case study in the meaninglessness of moderate politics (Open Forum, SFChronicle.com, June 6): Gil Durans Open Forum mentions Y Combinator CEO Garry Tan several times and says, Garry Tan (is) leading the tech campaign to capture City Hall.

To be sure, Tan was instrumental in the successful effort to recall District Attorney Chesa Boudin. But Tan does not embrace extreme politics. Is it extreme to want a district attorney who will prosecute criminals and enforce the law?

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Self-government is not a spectator sport. Tan provides a fine example for business leaders in the Bay Area who get involved with the political process to keep our elected officials accountable to the people that they purport to serve.

Pete Campbell, San Jose

Good role models

Regarding S.F.s jubilant Juneteenth parade and festival celebrate strength, spirit and love (San Francisco, SFChronicle.com, June 8): San Franciscos Juneteenth Parade was well done. As a 38-year former resident of the city, I know Black residents needed it.

The media typically depicts us in a negative image. This event shows that Black residents are in San Francisco and are running things. We have a Black mayor, police chief and district attorney.

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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

It is important for our youngsters to see that there is a chance to be one of those officials. It is also good to see the Black firefighters show that there are lifetime career opportunities in the city. Its all about the next generation.

Lets continue to showcase role models as we did in this amazing celebration.
Deputy Eddie Duran shot Air Force Airman Roger Fortson to death based off of a stare.

He was 23.

Fortson was a member of the Air Force who served in combat zones overseas. The serviceman, who most recently served at Hurlburt Field, was "helping to raise his 16-year-old brother," according to a statement from his mother.

On May 3rd, 2024, Fortson was shot to death at his apartment complex in Fort Walton Beach.

According to 'Atlanta Black Star,' he was outside his own house at the time of the shooting. He was on a video call with his girlfriend planning a trip. After the shooting, he was rushed to the hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

Florida sheriff's deputy, Deputy Eddie Duran, opened fire on Fortson after a stare that he perceived to be aggressive. As the investigation continues, the basis of the sheriff's deputy's actions was eye contact.

The sheriff's report from the Okaloosa Sheriff's Office internal investigation states that Duran ssaid, "When I saw his eyes, I saw aggression. It was a stare that was fixated 100% on me, not eyebrows raised, not, 'Hey what's going on? Why are you here?' It was a stare...that showed me there was aggression."

NEW: Decorated U.S. Air Force senior airman shot to death by the police after they allegedly barged into the wrong house.



Infuriating.



23-year-old Roger Fortson died in a Florida hospital after getting shot 6 times.



Fortson was on a FaceTime when he got a knock at the door. pic.twitter.com/U6vINc328v  Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) May 9, 2024

In May, body camera footage of the shooting was released. Based on the footage, it is clear that minimal action was taken by Fortson before Duran began to shoot. It can be seen that Fortson is holding a gun in the video, but it is pointed at the ground. His hand is in the air in a stop motion before he is shot.

Duran attested that the tilt of the gun suggested violence and that Fortson took a step towards him.

Eddie Duran was fired from the sheriff's department.

However, Fortson's family demands more action is taken in the wake of their loss.

"I put so many pictures of my baby on social media...I want justice for my child," Chantemekki Fortson, Roger's mother said according to 'NBC News.' "You're not going to throw me a bone. Take his credentials. Take his pension. Bring up charges against him."
The discovery of the deceased body of British TV presenter Michael Mosley has been confirmed by Greek officials.

Mosley, a prominent TV doctor in the U.K., was reported missing on June 5 after he failed to return from a hike on the Greek island of Symi. His body was found on Sunday on a beach in Agia Marina.

He was 67.

Mosley's wife, Dr. Clare Bailey Mosley, paid tribute to her late spouse in a statement.

"It's devastating to have lost Michael, my wonderful, funny, kind and brilliant husband," she wrote. "We had an incredibly lucky life together. We loved each other very much and were so happy together."

She added, "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. 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."

Clare confirmed Mosley disappeared on Wednesday after embarking on a stroll from the Agios Nikolaos beach. The circumstances surrounding his disappearance remain unclear, but Clare reported him missing within hours.

CCTV footage revealed a man believed to be Michael walking along the opposite coast amidst sweltering heat and rugged terrain.

"We're taking comfort in the fact that he so very nearly made it," Clare said. "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."

Michael gained recognition primarily through his roles on ITV's 'This Morning' and BBC programs such as 'Trust Me, I'm a Doctor', and 'Michael Mosley: Who Made Britain Fat?'
A burglar was found hiding beneath a young boy's bed, wearing only the child's pants, in Folkestone, Kent.

Ahmad Hassan earned the moniker of a real-life "bogeyman" amongst law enforcement, instilling fear in the child, who is now reluctant to enter his bedroom alone. The incident left the boy's brother so distressed that he vomited.

The incident occurred at Canterbury Crown Court following the family's return from trick-or-treating with their mother.

Although the family initially assumed the intruder had departed despite the open doors and windows and the disarray inside their Folkestone, Kent, home, their presumption was shattered when one of the boys stumbled upon the "mortifying" scene beneath his bed.

Upon notification, the police discovered Hassan, 28, occupying a different bedroom, lying sprawled out in a starfish position on the floor, still clad in the child's orange pants. Despite Hassan's denial of burglary with intent to steal, a 40-minute jury deliberation led to his conviction.

During his trial, where he remained silent, Hassan was characterized by a police officer as "the Bogeyman." Canterbury Crown Court learned of his drug influence during the incident.

While sentencing Hassan to jail, the judge expressed her inability to comprehend the emotional impact on his young victim on October 31, 2023.

During the sentencing hearing, prosecutor Alex Matthews outlined the disturbing scene the family encountered upon returning home on Halloween. Toys were scattered, wet clothes strewn about, and signs of disturbance in their living space were present. One of the youn children discovered Hassan concealed under their bed.

"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," Matthews said, according to MSN.

Despite no forced entry and no items stolen, the psychological impact on the family, detailed in the mother's victim impact statement, was profound. She revealed how her children were deeply traumatized, with one now fearful of being alone in their own home and the other physically sickened by the experience.

Recorder Christine Wilson sentenced Hassan to 2.5 years in jail. Additionally, Hassan received a 10-year restraining order from the family.
A group of divers have certainly come across a specific kind of buried treasure.

Scuba divers in Florida discovered a mysterious package while enjoying a recent dive. On June 5th, the divers found a black garbage bag floating deep under the water. Originally, they assumed that the bag was filled with garbage.

According to 'Hollywood Unlocked,' the bag was filled with $1 million dollars worth of cocaine. The cocaine was divided into 25 individual bricks. Each brick of cocaine was marked with a fake Nike SB logo.

This bag of cocaine was found 100 feet underwater in the Atlantic Ocean in Key Largo, Florida. The dive took place at Rainbow Reef Dive Center before authorities were called to the scene around 12:25pm on the day of the find. The Monroe County Sheriff's Office were the first responders on the scene.

The Monroe County Sheriff's Office took to Facebook to inform the public of the discovery's details.

"Twenty-five individually wrapped kilograms of suspected cocaine was found by scuba divers Wednesday in approximately 100 feet of water in the Atlantic Ocean," they said in a statement. "The Sheriff's responded to the Rainbow Reef Dive Center in Key Largo at approximately 12:25 p.m. where divers stated they were removing what they thought was trash when the discovery was made. The Sheriff's Office turned over the suspected narcotics to the U.S. Border Patrol."

   :



Good Samaritan in the Florida Keys discovered a suspicious package floating at sea & notified authorities. U.S. Border Patrol agents seized the package, which contained 66 lbs. of cocaine, valued at over $1 million.#snkrs #florida pic.twitter.com/gWKU0FPmbc  Samuel Briggs II (@USBPChiefMIP) June 7, 2024

This was not the only comment made to the public in regards to the find.

Samuel Briggs II, the U.S. Border Patrol Miami Sector Acting Chief, took to Twitter, now known as X: "Cocaine Caught at Sea: Good Samaritan in the Florida Keys discovered a suspicious package floating at sea & notified authorities."

Briggs II continued: "U.S. Border Patrol agents seized the package, which contained 66 lbs. of cocaine, valued at over $1 million."

The origin of the marked packages of cocaine remains unknown.

Drug traffickers sometimes use international waters to transport drugs using a variety of vessels, according to 'CBS News,' and sometimes the packages are marked with designs.

Nearly one month ago, $1 million dollars worth of cocaine was found by a beachgoer along the Florida Keys, 'CBS Miami' reported. That discovery contained 65 lbs. of cocaine, according to U.S. Border Patrol agents.
Tuesday, June 11, 2024

Were SOC 2 Type 2 compliant and out there to reply any security questions you would possibly have. If you upload an app that is signed with an enterprise certificates, and Instrumentation is DISABLED in app settings, you must manually trust the certificates before it will efficiently launch. [Sauce Labs] provides you confidence within the definition of done  in order that the groups that are in high-pressure situations can deliver software program quicker, quicker, and more iteratively. Mixing implicit and express waits may cause unpredictable outcomes, which is another reason to keep away from implicit waits.

When the desired situation is met, the check can proceed, and provided that the situation is not met after the utmost wait time will the code throw an exception. Most of the elements in our Swag Labs instance have multiple unique attributes that make it easy to determine them with CSS. Once the test script accesses the web page to check, it needs to seek out the elements that an finish consumer would work together with. Youll see a loading display screen, after which the app will launch in a reside take a look at window utilizing the gadget you chose. We dont have to fret about ensuring the devices are healthy or [scaling].

Digital Cloud

Debug quicker, facilitate collaboration, improve cell system coverage, and mix with automated testing to enhance your speed-to-market with our Live (manual) testing resolution. All Real Device Cloud plans embody access to hundreds of actual Android and iOS units in addition to utilization of the open source automation instruments Appium, Espresso and XCUITest. The concern report will assist you to keep observe of any points recognized including screenshots, logs, and video capabilities.

Sauce Labs has launched a model new feature that lets you enter a take a look at name and take a look at status (passed/failed) on your Live Tests after cross-browser and cellular app testing. This update enhances the testing efficiency by enabling you to add more context to check descriptions and add more clarity to your check repository. With Sauce Labs, you can take a look at your mobile apps on a big selection of Android and iOS/iPadOS devices. If you wouldnt have an app, consider using the Sauce Labs demo app for validating your account performance in addition to your exams. Review our best practices for testing manually on Sauce Labs virtual emulators/simulators and real gadgets.

We love that their flexible platform makes it easy to combine API testing into any workflow, any toolchain. The matching process happens as part of the snapshot creation (createSnapshot in the API). This means, that a baseline can solely be considered for a diff if it existed earlier than the createSnapshot name. Note that not all properties are uncovered on all testing frameworks. In these instances, a default value (0, null or empty string) is used. E.g. to find a way to view all snapshots taken through the execution of your take a look at suite in CI or domestically.

To view or change the app settings, on the App Management page, hover over the app after which click on Settings. Integrate your Espresso and XCUITest check automation frameworks with Sauce Labs. We noticed a substantial increase in the high quality of code launched with the help of Sauce API Quality.

Digital System Testing With Appium

Optimize beta testing processes and streamline Android and iOS app distribution and administration with our secure, all-in-one platform. Iterate and release high-quality apps sooner with real-time video classes, intuitive in-app bug stories, and extra. The Selenium browser automation tool lets you write test code that runs through all of the possible actions in your internet app sooner and extra successfully that handbook testing. Sometimes you have sauce labs to conduct A/B testing, or doc and validate characteristic parity between completely different versions of the identical app. You can change the app model, as properly as the actual system, and launch a model new take a look at session. Learn about testing your mobile apps manually and interactively on quite lots of Android and iOS actual cellular units.

I am wondering if I can run my net exams on Saucelab real devices Chrome or Safari browsers. I even have used sauce_bindings however which allowing me only to run on windows/mac/linux(Desktop). Accelerate and scale your testing and broaden coverage by running automated exams on Sauce Labs mobile gadgets (real and virtual) by way of your most well-liked take a look at UI framework (Appium, Espresso, or XCUITest). Whether its the code we write, the software program we use, or the platform companies we offer, security is all the time extremely essential. We know that you rely on Sauce Labs to assist your builders ship higher software program, quicker, and were dedicated to protecting your funding.

Run automated and handbook cell app exams securely from anywhere, anytime. Increase group productiveness with immediate entry to probably the most extensive vary of iOS and Android units, working techniques, and check automation frameworks. Debug and launch faster with error monitoring and reporting. The rising complexity of mobile app growth requires a quick, scalable, and dependable cellular testing solution from improvement to post-release. Develop, test, and ship high-quality web and cellular apps at enterprise scale. Upload your cellular app to Sauce Labs to start out testing on virtual gadgets and real devices.

Having Sauce [Labs] handle [devices] saves time for my group on the administration. If a number of baselines match, the most recent one is chosen for diff computation. A diff represents the variations which have been detected between a snapshot and its matching baseline.

Thanks to Sauce Labs, were ready to guarantee that our apps work on over seven-hundred browser/ OS mixtures, 172 gadget emulators and over 300 unique real devices. Whats the potential ROI of investing in Sauce Labs cell software testing solutions? Download the study to find your business potential for lowered prices, increased developer and QA productiveness, new business enlargement, and lowered https://www.globalcloudteam.com/ threat. This workflow is responsible for producing snapshots (screenshots) of the net site or app under check. Users new to visible testing usually have an existing check suite in WebdriverIO, Cypress or a similar framework. With Sauce Visual testing existing check suites can be enhanced with a number of additional take a snapshot statements and thats all it takes to implement this workflow.

Mobile App Testing And Error Reporting From Growth To Post-release

This workflow is responsible for approving or rejecting detected adjustments between a snapshot and a baseline. Users shall be available to review adjustments and make the baseline evolve for accepted adjustments. Each check should have one thing particular it is validating and have at least one explicit line of code to make sure that this performance is working as meant. What makes a check successful and the method to consider success requires docs-1.1 data and may be more art than science. An explicit wait handles the synchronization within the code itself, typically with some type of whereas loop.

While it is a one-line code change that may potentially scale back the variety of failed checks in your suite, its more of a crutch than a successful long term solution. Tests run on Sauce Labs that set an implicit wait usually tend to be reported as failing than checks that dont set implicit waits. If youre in a bind, and want to try an implicit wait, make it a small value, set it with the Browser Options when creating the session, after which do not change it.

Reside Testing?

This example ensures that a specific person can efficiently log into our demo site, Swag Labs. The present API used by Selenium servers and browser drivers is defined within the W3C WebDriver specification and communicated between the components utilizing HTTP instructions. Selenium is built on a client-server architecture, which incorporates each shopper and server parts. If you are interested in upgrading to an enterprise plan, contact your Sauce Labs Sales Engineer or Customer Success Manager.

Browse the continuous integration and continuous delivery documentation to discover how to combine Sauce Labs into your DevOps pipeline. Browse the security documentation to learn to communicate with Sauce Labs Cloud from your personal network. Browse by way of the Live Testing documentation to manually test your app on Sauce Labs Cloud. The submit methodology doesnt accurately simulate how a consumer would submit the form, so it is recommended to click the Submit button as a substitute. Remote WebDriver classes are instantiated with the URL of the server or service you want in your exams. Use the search field and filters to find the device you want to take a look at on, or choose the system within the grid.

We present the instruments you need to get started shortly with Sauce Labs using your favourite framework. If you resolve to upgrade your plan, it will take impact immediately, and youll be refunded the remaining prorated quantity of the old plan and charged the prorated amount of the brand new plan. If you downgrade your plan, it will take effect on the following billing cycle. A great way to minimize complexity and cut back boilerplate code for writing Selenium exams with Sauce Labs is to make use of the Sauce Bindings. Keeping monitor of the success and failure of your tests is crucial for figuring out problems. Testers report their ends in numerous methods and with various quantities of knowledge.

See What Your Organization Can Achieve With Sauce Cell

When Selenium executes a find element call and the motive force cant discover the factor, an exception is thrown immediately. An implicit wait is ready telling the driver how lengthy to wait earlier than throwing the exception. If the element is located instantly, the worth of the implicit wait doesnt matter. Any changes you make to the app settings will have an effect on all uploaded versions of the app. Not solely the team helped us to seek out a great testing answer that may meet our requirements, but additionally labored carefully with us to speed up our agile testing processes. Browse via the Automated Testing documentation to see examples of the method to run tests in your most popular automation framework.

All digital platform plans embody our full desktop OS / browser combos in addition to access to our mobile emulators and simulators. All VMs are spun up instantaneously and used only as soon as on your tests, providing the very best stage of security. All accounts also include debugging instruments, video check playback and screenshots. Sauce Labs integrates with any language, framework and CI system.

You can addContent your app via the Sauce Labs UI or by way of the REST API. For information about importing via the API, see Upload Files with the REST API. Sauce Labs has been a very steady resolution, very high-performant and prepared and out there to complete our regression exams.

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After a major ICE raid in 2018 at the Southeastern Provisions slaughterhouse in Bean Station, Tenn., the Latino community in the surrounding area of Morristown and Grainger County was deeply affected by fear, job loss and potential deportations of family members. Natalie Keyssar/Rolling Stone/Penske Media/Getty Images 2018

Last week, President Joe Biden announced an executive order to limit asylum for migrants at the Southern border  a move undoubtedly to position himself as a presidential candidate who is tough on immigration in the lead-up to the November election. And while the new policy already faces legal challenges, another aspect of our countrys immigration policy deserves scrutiny, and its happening in one of the most unlikely agencies: the Internal Revenue Service.

For decades, the IRS has collaborated with U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement, using employer investigations to literally point ICEs guns at workers  citizens and noncitizens alike. It needs to stop.

Ingrid Munoz and Pablo Alvarado know firsthand the costs borne by the IRSs aggression. In 2008, the painting company where they worked came within the sights of the Bush administration IRS for failing to turn over payroll taxes. My research about the case for a forthcoming paper in the California Law Review revealed that ICE special agents received information that the employees were victims, rather than collaborators: Workers like Munoz and Alvarado suffered wage theft and false promises of tax remittance. Still, the IRS invited immigration officers to use the tax investigation as the start of a raid on those very workers. Although Munoz was a citizen and Alvarado had his green card, their now-settled lawsuit described how an IRS agent stopped them at their worksite and literally handed them over to an ICE officer. (Earlier that morning, armed officers had already acted on an IRS tip-off to storm their home, traumatizing their sleeping child.) Already fleeced by their employers, employees and their families paid yet again, this time through the IRSs brutality.

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It wasnt an isolated incident.

In 2018, IRS and ICE agents burst into a Tennessee meatpacking plant and rounded up almost 100 of the workers, relying on a warrant for the search of the employers payroll records. To procure its warrant, the IRS submitted an agents affidavit that pointed to cash payments to Hispanics.

According to a now-settled class-action lawsuit filed on behalf of the detained workers, agents detained only Latinos, pointed firearms only at Latinos, handcuffed only Latinos, transported only Latinos to the Armory, hurled racial slurs only at Latinos, physically harmed only Latinos, (and) humiliated only Latinos. The plants security camera footage appeared to corroborate the allegations, showing IRS agents presiding over the raid as nonwhite workers were separated from their white colleagues and supervisors.

IRS-ICE collaborations like these have happened under Democratic and Republican presidents. In 2021, for example, the IRS and ICE jointly raided a Chinese restaurant in southern Indiana, based on suspicions about the owners employment of undocumented immigrants. Although court records reflect the owners guilty pleas, there is little information about what became of the workers.

Even as the IRS Criminal Investigation Units annual report highlights less sympathetic targets for its enforcement, from Hamas to Russian oligarchs, the agencys collaborations with ICE often target our neighbors.

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Given how long these collaborations have been going on, one might expect they would be well-known. Yet when I describe my research on these incidents at tax law seminars and immigration conferences, my fellow academics are surprised. Why? Because the full scope of the IRSs armed entanglement with immigration agencies and local law enforcement remains unclear. Federal courts have been all too willing to let the IRS resist Freedom of Information Act requests about these collaborations. For example, in 2022 a U.S. district judge ruled that taxpayer privacy laws prevented the IRS from disclosing information to advocates for workers from the Tennessee meatpacking plant. The employers privacy trumped efforts to shed light on the governments abuse of the workers.

Both political parties are rightly invested in reining in these tax practices. The Democrats have exhorted the IRS to focus on billionaires rather than budget-conscious families; they have also historically promised a more humane border policy than their rivals. For their part, Republicans are independently concerned about the IRSs reach, and Supreme Court justices inveigh against the administrative state. Holding the IRS accountable for its mission drift and misuse of resources should have appeal across the political divide.

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

Tax law is often complicated, but here the solutions are simple. For one, the IRS should abide by the search-warrant standards articulated in its manual, requiring consideration of less intrusive means. The agencys criminal investigations must focus on the suspect  the employer  and not ensnare the employees. Lawyers within the IRS can provide internal checks and balances  an agents affidavit that uses race as a proxy foreshadows further harm to workers civil rights and the agencys reputation. If the IRS leadership will not implement new training and norms to reorient the culture of criminal investigations, Congress and the president can place pressure on the agency, including through public hearings to expose how IRS multiagency raids persist. To that end, the IRS interagency agreements could limit unnecessary and dangerous collaborations while still preserving tools to investigate employers.

The Supreme Court may have allowed the federal government to remove Texass razor wires earlier this year, but partisan divides over immigration and tax law remain sharp. In the shadows of contentious debates lies a barely recognized practice of tax enforcement-turned-immigration-raid that can solidify bipartisan opposition. The IRS needs to focus its crosshairs on taxing the public, not terrorizing it.
CECIL TOWNSHIP, Pa.  Every day at Michelle Stonemarks house is filled with the noisy nuisance of her backyard neighbors: Range Resources Augustine George well pad. Stonemark lives 530 feet away from the well. Thats why shes advocating for stricter regulations on oil and gas activity in Cecil Township.

Im not gonna sit here and ask you to change this ordinance because of any environmental reasons. Please dont, Stonemark said. Please base it on the fact that it is noisy and vibrating at my house at all times  I go outside, and I cant let my kids go out and play because it smells like diesel in my backyard.

Stonemark was one of several dozen people testifying at a heated public hearing on June 5 over proposed changes to Cecil Townships oil and gas regulations. The revised ordinance will set stricter noise limits and further well pad setbacks from protected structures on future wells.

The original oil and gas ordinance, created in 2012, set a minimum well pad distance of 500 feet away from protected structures, such as houses, schools, businesses and churches.

In recent years, increased noise complaints and health concerns from residents living close to wells prompted the board to update the ordinance.

Public hearing

The board of supervisors presented a new ordinance that marks two specific zones as potential well-pad areas. The zones were selected based on certain criteria such as areas that do not intersect a storm line system. The two zones will be in addition to the five wells already in Cecil Township and will be located in the southeastern part of the township.

Many residents who live in the Georgetown Estates subdivision, expressed concern over the proximity of the two proposed well spots which would sit 1,700 feet away from Georgetown Estates and 1,800 feet away from Lawrence Hill Station, another major subdivision.

Wendy Czap, who lives in Georgetown Estates, is concerned that more sensitive groups living in that area will be impacted.

This is a community with a lot of children, a lot of retirees, a lot of people raising families or trying to start families, Czap said. Theres just no need to put them at risk for air pollution, water pollution and any other cancer or illness that could be could be caused by fracking.

An overwhelming majority of residents wanted a 2,500-foot well-pad setback, as recommended by a recent University of Pittsburgh study on the health impacts on people living close to unconventional wells.

Patricia Walker is in favor of keeping residents away from wells, but not zoning out oil and gas entirely. Walker leased the mineral rights on her farmland and the money shes been given has helped the farm immensely. Shes been able to get new machinery, put in a public sewer and finish the upstairs of her house, among other things.

Were putting our money back into the land, back into Cecil Township, Walker said. Were not leaving. Thats why whenever I heard over and over again, people calling (mineral leases) blood money, this isnt blood money. This is money thats helping us stay in the township and making it better.

Alongside well setbacks, the proposed ordinance will set stricter limits on hours of operation and noise.

Expert testimony

Expert witnesses  two, hired by Range Resources  also testified during the hearing. Chris Long, a principal at the environmental health consulting firm Gradient, discussed a series of air quality monitoring studies he reviewed on behalf of Range Resources at its Augustine George well site.

The study was conducted from July 2019 to December 2021, and measured fine particulate matter known as PM 2.5 and individual Volatile Organic Compounds. The findings indicated that the Augustine well site emissions did not contribute to long concentrations of potential health effects.

However, Supervisor Cindy Fisher questioned the accuracy of the study, particularly the devices used to monitor the air.

The study used TO-15 air-monitoring devices that were set out and checked every six days. However, Fisher pointed out data from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection that states TO-15 canisters need to be changed every 24 hours or the results are not accurate.

Additionally, Judy Hess, an epidemiologist from Houston, Texas, who previously worked for Shell, attended on behalf of Range Resources to discuss inaccuracies in the recent Pitt study.

Hess believes until new studies with better metrics are published, and there is no conclusive evidence in the study that can be used to make regulatory laws. She added that relying on the study is a precautionary principle. But, Fisher said she is not willing to gamble on residents health.

Other Pennsylvania townships have also discussed zoning changes to oil and gas well pads; West Deer Township, in Allegheny County, held a township meeting on May 15. Similar to Cecil Township, residents were divided on well setbacks.

The Cecil Township public hearing will continue on July 1 at 6 p.m. Supervisors will present new updates to the proposed ordinance and take public comments.

(Liz Partsch can be reached at epartsch@farmanddairy.com or 330-337-3419.)
Farmers have been warned to be prepared for possible 'incursions' by animal rights activists 'at any time'.

The Ulster Farmers Union (UFU) said incursions cause "great distress and concern" for the industry, especially during the summer when incidents heighten.

Activist incursions refer to unauthorised entry by individuals or groups onto private farmland with the aim of protesting, documenting or disrupting agricultural practices.

The union explained that incursions on farms historically take place during the summer, urging farmers to prepare for the possibility of such events.

UFU policy officer David McClure said: Our members must keep at the forefront of their minds the possibility of an incursion occurring at any time. Such events cause great distress."

He said that activists often operate on the 'edge of legality', using tactics designed to garner public sympathy and media attention, which then complicates the legal response.

He added: From previous experience, typically these extremists will survey potential targets for weeks or months in advance of an incursion. Once they have gathered enough information, they arrange an incursion.

Alternatively, it is possible that activists will visit a site during the cover of darkness and position a surveillance camera which is collected at a later date.

Farmers should make conscious observations as to the possibility of any such cameras being on their premises.

Mr McClure explained that activists often utilise social media platforms to reach a wide audience and secure funding for their initiatives,

This allows them to circumvent traditional media channels and broadcast their activities in real-time to a global audience," he said.

Farmers are also advised to make sure their farm is in good standing, as it is impossible to defend the indefensible, Mr McClure said.

He added that farmers need to ensure they are complying with legal requirements and assurance scheme standards at all times.

During unexpected visits, activists may choose to film instances of sick or injured animals and deceased livestock, as this type of content tends to evoke strong emotions, McClure said.

It is important for farmers to carefully consider how the visual representation of any sick or injured animals on their property may be perceived if captured on camera."

Farmers should also lock buildings and remove keys at night, because if forcible entry has been used by the activists to gain access, prosecution will be more easily achieved, he said.
The Conservatives have said that Labour will 'never be on the side' of farmers as the party's manifesto was launched today.

The manifesto includes a series of proposals for the farming industry, including a legally binding target to enhance UK food security.

Unveiled by Rishi Sunak in Silverstone today (11 June), the party has also pledged to increase the UK-wide farming budget by 1 billion if they are elected in next month's election.

The Tories warned that the actions by the Labour-led Welsh government showed Labour would "never be on the side of the farming community", adding that the Conservatives would "always be on the side of farmers".

In their manifesto, the Conservatives said: "Our food and farming sectors generate over 120 billion for the UK economy every year.

"In the last parliament, we maintained the farming budget to support our food security. In England, this has supported farmers with a range of options to choose what works best for them, from business advice to new equipment, soil and nutrient management and hedgerow planting."

The Tories say they would increase the UK-wide farming budget by 1 billion and continue to ringfence agricultural funding so it is passed on to farmers in Scotland, Wales and NI, alongside a new UK-wide 20m Farming Innovation Fund.

It would also introduce a legally binding target to enhance UK food security, which would apply UK-wide alongside the UK Food Security Index.

Public sector procurement would also be be improved to deliver their goal that at least 50% of food expenditure is spent on food produced locally or to higher production standards.

And the planning system would be reformed to deliver fast track permissions for the building of infrastructure on farms, such as glasshouses, slurry and grain stores, and small-scale reservoirs.

The Tories add that they would "stick to our plan to support the sector with the labour it needs to maintain our food security, while moving away from the reliance on seasonal migrant labour with a five-year visa tapered scheme."

It comes after the Liberal Democrats launched their manifesto on Monday (10 June), promising to 'rescue' farmers from 'years of neglect'.

Labour's manifesto launch is expected this week.

What are the Conservatives pledging to do for farmers?

If elected on 4 July 2024, the Tories have pledged to:

 Increase the UK-wide farming budget by 1 billion over the parliament

 Continue to ringfence agricultural funding for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

 Introduce a legally binding target to enhance UK food security

 Improve public sector procurement

 Reform the planning system to deliver fast track permissions for the building of infrastructure on farms

 Use significant investment in R&D to prioritise cutting-edge technology for the industry

 Move away from the reliance on seasonal migrant labour with a five-year visa tapered scheme

 Support UK agri-food and drink attaches in embassies abroad, and look at new markets and new opportunities for farmers
The NFU has launched a new campaign to put a spotlight on the importance of the British harvest following a 'disastrous' toll on the sector.

The #YourHarvest campaign is set to highlight the work of arable farmers across the country by bringing their stories to life on social media.

They will explain what is happening on farm during harvest, whats being grown in the fields, how crops are being used, and how the produce ends up on plates.

The annual campaign, which is once again launched by the NFU, comes as confidence in the arable sector sits at an all-time low.

It follows months of wet weather and flooding, combined with high production costs, ongoing market volatility and reduced farm support.

Launching the campaign today, the NFU said the next government must act to support those farmers hit by "some of the most challenging weather conditions in living memory".

The union's combinable crops board chair, Jamie Burrows said: Arable farmers, like everyone, have faced a miserable last six months of continuous wet weather which has led to devastating flooding and thousands of acres of productive farmland affected.

"Many of our members have been unable to get onto fields to plant crops and those that did manage it have lost much of what was already in the ground.

"For those that have planted, it's now a wait and see game with what the summer holds. We literally are in the lap of the weather gods."

The government recently announced more measures to provide arable farmers with support, including widening the scope of the Farm Recovery Fund.

But the NFU said the next government following the general election must instigate 'further practical policies', such as the union's proposed Farm Business Investment Loans (FBILs).

According to the NFU, these would enable farmers to not only weather the current, highly volatile commercial conditions, but to invest in their businesses to become more resilient.

Mr Burrows said this years #YourHarvest campaign was more important than ever following 'such a tough year'.

"With combines preparing to roll within weeks, we will be celebrating across all social media platforms everything that is great about harvest."

Farmers and members of the public can show their support for the harvest this summer by sharing their photos and videos on social media using #YourHarvest.
Bob Egelko has been a reporter since June 1970. He spent 30 years with the Associated Press, covering news, politics and occasionally sports in Los Angeles, San Diego and Sacramento, and legal affairs in San Francisco from 1984 onward. He worked for the San Francisco Examiner for five months in 2000, then joined The Chronicle in November 2000.

His beat includes state and federal courts in California, the Supreme Court and the State Bar. He has a law degree from McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento and is a member of the bar. Coverage has included the passage of Proposition 13 in 1978, the appointment of Rose Bird to the state Supreme Court and her removal by the voters, the death penalty in California and the battles over gay rights and same-sex marriage.
Jude Law wishes he'd embraced his good looks before he became "saggy and balding".

Jude Law wishes he'd played up to his good looks earlier in his career

The 51-year-old actor has admitted he used to try and avoid roles that played on his heart throb reputation early in his career, but now he regrets not making the most of it.

Speaking to DuJour magazine, he said: "I didnt feel like I really ever leaned into playing handsome, but there were roles that required an attractive energy.

"I was trying to play against my looks in my early 20s, and now that Im saggy and balding, I wish I had played it up."

As his career has progressed, 'The Holiday' actor has tried to take on roles which haven't "leaned in to any sort of attraction".

He added: "Its been satisfying not having to turn that switch on."

That's no more clear than his new role as Henry VIII in 'Firebrand', which saw the Hollywood star throw himself into every aspect of the character.

He explained: "It took so much time every morning to get into this huge, weighted costume and I would stay in it for the rest of the day.

"You could rehearse in jeans and a T-shirt, but then you would turn up in this enormous outfit and realise youre going to knock everyone over.

"So you might as well maintain that sense of Henrys shape and size."

Jude even tried to match the king's infamously "awful" scent, as he wanted to add to the authenticity of the performance.

He revealed: "I read several interesting accounts that you could smell Henry three rooms away. His leg was rotting so badly.

"He hid it with rose oil. I thought it would have a great impact if I smelt awful."

To make sure he smelled the part, he turned to a special parfumier, who helped create a truly unsettling scent for him to wear.

He said: "She makes wonderful scents, and she also makes awful scents.

"She somehow came up with this extraordinary variety of blood, fecal matter and sweat. Initially, I used it very subtly. But then it became a spray fest."
Julia Louis-Dreyfus felt immortal before her breast cancer fight.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus felt immortal before her breast cancer fight

The Veep actress, 63, was diagnosed with the disease in September 2017, with the news delivered by her doctor who called her to tell her she had stage 2 breast cancer the day after she won her sixth consecutive Emmy award for her role in the HBO political satire.

She told presenter Hoda Kotb, 59, on the Today show as the pair discussed their respective fights with the illness: I think that when youre younger, theres kind of this arrogance of youth, of feeling like you do feel immortal. And then all of a sudden youre bumped up against that and youre like, Oh, wait a minute. This, at some point, is going to end.

You dont go through life thinking about that very much. So it puts into sharp focus priorities. It did for me.

The actress added about how the diagnosis changed her perspective on life: I made more of an attitude shift about what my priorities were and how to sort of go forth.

Julia previously told WSJ. Magazine the first thing she did when her doctor told her she had cancer was double over with laughter.

She said: I mean, it felt like it was written. It felt like it was a horrible black comedy. And then it sort of morphed into crying hysterically.

You just simply dont consider it for yourself, you know, thats sort of the arrogance of human beings.

But of course, at some point, were all going to bite it.

I find myself living more mindfully. Its not like its yakking at me all the time, but theres more laser focus.

Julia announced she was cancer-free in October 2018 after a double mastectomy and six rounds of chemotherapy.

Hoda was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007 and told Julia before she spoke about her fight with the illness: One of the reasons Ive always wanted to talk to you is that many years ago, I was diagnosed with breast cancer and something struck me in that moment.

I realised for the very first time in my life that my life had a beginning and an end.

I have never actually visualized it until that diagnosis. Its like the world snapped into focus. I cleared away stuff I didnt want anymore. I held on tightly to the things I did.
Natalie Portman has thanked friends in the wake of her divorce from Benjamin Millepied for lifting her spirits again and again.

Natalie Portman has thanked friends in the wake of her divorce from Benjamin Millepied for lifting her spirits again and again

The Black Swan actress, who met her choreographer ex-husband, 47, on the set of the ballet drama in 2009 before they tied the knot in 2012, shared her gratitude for her supportive pals in a post to mark her 43rd birthday.

She said in the message on her Instagram sent on Sunday (09.06.24): This year, on my birthday, I want to celebrate my gratitude for my friends who lift me up again and again.

Natalie accompanied the message with a carousel of photos showing her on adventures with friends and relatives over the years.

Her A-list pals flooded the comments section of the post to send birthday greetings, with Black-ish actress Tracee Ellis Ross, 51, writing: @natalieportman happy birthday gorgeous lady.

Comic Mindy Kaling, 44, added: Happy birthday, beautiful!, while actress Reese Witherspoon, 48, said: Happy Birthday, you incredible diamond of a human! I love you.

And 48-year-old actress Isla Fisher  who recently said she and her ex-husband Sacha Baron Cohen, 52, had secretly filed for divorce in 2023  added: Ports I love you. Happy Birthday Im so grateful you were born.

Among the other famous faces sending birthday wishes to Natalie were Kerry Washington, 47, Julianne Moore, 63, Ali Wong, 42, and 40-year-old Chris Hemsworth.

This year marks Natalies first birthday since she finalised her divorce from Benjamin in February.

She filed for a split from her ex in July 2023 amid reports from Page Six he had allegedly cheated on her with a then-25-year-old woman named Camille Etienne.

Natalie and Benjamin initially separated in 2022 but worked through their marital issues before their marriage collapsed.

The former couple have two children  son Aleph, 12, and seven-year-old daughter Amalia.

Natalie has recently been at the centre of rumours she is dating Normal People actor Paul Mescal, 28, after the pair were photographed smiling and laughing as they enjoyed a smoke together outside a cocktail bar in London  although an insider insisted to Us Weekly she is not currently dating.
Cambodia exported $4.969 billion worth of garments, footwear and travel goods (GFT) in the first five months this yearup by 20 per cent year on year (YoY), according to the commerce ministry.

Exports of apparel and textiles accounted for $3.628 billion during the periodup by 22 per cent YoY, a ministry report said.

Cambodia exported $4.969 billion worth of garments, footwear and travel goods in January-May 2024up by 20 per cent YoY. Exports of apparel and textiles were worth $3.628 billion during the periodup by 22 per cent YoY. Export of footwear was worth $615 millionup by 10 per cent YoY, while the figure for travel goods was $726 millionup by 18.8 per cent YoY.

Export of footwear was worth $615 millionup by 10 per cent YoY, while the figure for travel goods was $726 millionup by 18.8 per cent YoY, domestic media outlets reported.

The GFT sector comprises around 1,680 factories and branches, employing nearly 918,000 workers, mostly female, according to the ministry of labour and vocational training.

The countrys foreign trade rose significantly between January and May this year, growing by 12 per cent YoY, the data shows. The countrys total trade volume reached over $21.6 billion, up from $19.2 billion during the same period last year.

It exported goods worth $10.18 billion during the perioda YoY increase of 10.8 per cent, while it imported goods worth $11.4 billiona 13.6-per cent YoY increase.

The World Bank recently said the countrys economic growth is expected to improve marginally to 5.8 per cent this yearup from 5.6 per cent in 2023, and should further strengthen to 6.1 per cent in 2025 and 6.4 per cent in 2026 as revival in GFT exports and tourism propel the ongoing recovery.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
The New York State Senate has passed the Retail Worker Safety Act, following the passage of the coordinating bill in the Assembly. This landmark legislation mandates corporate retail employers to adopt comprehensive violence prevention plans, train workers in de-escalation and active shooter scenarios, and for large employers, install panic buttons throughout the workplace.

The Retail Worker Safety Act addresses the escalating issue of retail violence, which poses significant risks to frontline retail workers. Under the act, the New York State Department of Labor is required to develop a model risk assessment and training program focused on de-escalation tactics and active shooter scenarios. Employers with 10 or more workers must adopt this model or create their own, providing annual safety training for employees. Additionally, employers with 500 or more workers nationwide must install panic buttons in their stores, enabling workers to call for help effectively and safely.

The New York State Senate passed the Retail Worker Safety Act, requiring corporate retail employers to implement violence prevention plans, train workers in de-escalation and active shooter scenarios, and install panic buttons. Championed by RWDSU, this act aims to address the increasing retail violence and ensure a safer workplace for retail workers.

The act has been vigorously championed by President Stuart Appelbaum and members of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU), who have mobilised retail workers across New York State. They organised rallies and press conferences in cities such as New York City, Albany, and online via Zoom, advocating for the bill alongside Senator Jessica Ramos and Assembly member Karines Reyes, RWDSU said in a press release.

A survey conducted by RWDSU revealed alarming statistics. Over 80 per cent of respondents are concerned about the possibility of an active shooter entering their workplace. Nearly two-thirds experienced verbal harassment or intimidating conduct from a customer, co-worker, or manager within the past year. Only 7 per cent felt their employer had made workplace changes to improve safety following a violent incident. Nearly 75 per cent would feel safer with regular training on workplace safety, risk reduction, and response protocols during violent incidents.

Stuart Appelbaum, president of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU), said: Todays passage of the Retail Worker Safety Act by the State Senate is a critical step towards common sense safety measures for retail workers across New York. When the bill is signed into law, basic protections will be provided for both workers and customers. Throughout this campaign, we have heard deeply troubling workers stories from all over the statestories of violent crimes, senseless shootings and harassment.

Workers in retail stores in New York should never have to experience anything like this. One thing is for certain, however: employers can and should do more to protect their employees. Thats why were championing this critical law, which requires that retail employers take full responsibility to protect their workers from violence.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DP)
Argentina has expressed its interest to join the Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity, with the United States committing to keep the former informed of progress on an expansion mechanism for new members.

Both the countries recently concluded the fourth meeting of the Trade and Investment Council under the US-Argentina Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) at Buenos Aires.

Argentina has expressed its interest to join the Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity, with the US committing to keep the former informed of progress on an expansion mechanism. Both sides recently concluded the fourth meeting of the Trade and Investment Council under the US-Argentina Trade and Investment Framework Agreement at Buenos Aires.

The meeting discussed practical steps to advance transparent regulatory processes and simplify border processes.

Argentina noted that it intends to convene its National Committee on Trade Facilitation (NTFC) and support the key principles of shared practice of successful NTFCs in the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Committee on Trade Facilitation, a release from the office of US trade representative (USTR) said.

Both sides look forward to continuing a constructive and open engagement under the TIFA this year to strengthening bilateral and economic ties for mutual benefit.

They decided to create a working group on supply chain resilience to analyse capacities and opportunities to raise trade and investment in sectors of mutual interest.

President Joe Biden had hosted the inaugural Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity Leaders Summit on November 3, 2023, to set up a forum for bolstering regional competitiveness and mobilising high-standard investment in the Western hemisphere.

Biden and leaders of the eleven other inaugural Americas Partnership countriesBarbados, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama, Peru, and Uruguayhas then announced their plan to drive inclusive growth and to strengthen critical supply chains, with an initial focus on clean energy, semiconductors and medical supplies.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
Adrian Jacobs is a renowned makeup artist whose exceptional talent has made him a sought-after name in the Indian film industry. With nearly a decade of experience working with top actresses like Kriti Sanon, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Sara Ali Khan, and Tamannaah Bhatia, Adrians artistry extends beyond films to include advertisements and high-profile events. Known for his ability to enhance natural features and his versatility in adapting to different personalities and styles, Adrians work reflects his deep understanding of beauty and his commitment to his craft. From the demanding sets of Baahubali to the glamour of editorial shoots, Adrian continues to inspire with his innovative techniques and passion for makeup artistry.I met Kriti at a time when I had just come back from filming Baahubali and had been busy for a long time.I remember I got a call to fill in for someone for Kriti, and thats when we got offered. We didnt know each other at all, and one thing led to another. We were very quiet during the first half of the films schedule. It was on the 15th or 16th day that we broke the ice, and the rest is history. Weve just connected and become best friends. Even after the film, we continued working together. Then we started doing work on other formats, be it advertisements or events. Its been almost a decade of us working together now.Kriti loves pink, and sometimes I get agitated with it because she loves putting a lot of pink undertones and overtones. Even though I dont agree every time, it does look lovely on her. Peach is also a favourite. Youre right about that. Her face always has a pink tone with less foundation. I use a half pump, half squeeze of foundation on a day-to-day basis, and thats been our thing for a longest time now.Ive learned that if youre a makeup artist in the Indian film industry, you cater to different personalities, moods, and faces and you cant be restricted. There are many people with many opinions around you. When youre working your magic on a star, you need to have your focus right. Once youre good at something, you slowly start building that up with your artist and creating a vibe between the two of you. Thats happened to me with, Kriti Sanon, Sara Ali Khan, Parineeti Chopra back in the day, and Amy Jackson. The artist has to believe in you.Aishwarya Rai truly is the most beautiful woman in the world.came to me at a tender time, but I had already worked with her before. Ive been with her for 10-12 years now. She gives a lot of comfort when she likes you and believes in your craft. Shes open to listening, and that gives you a lot of confidence.My idea of my work is to enhance the features that the person already has. I want to know the mood of the day, what we are shooting, and the story behind it. I take inputs from editors, directors, technicians, cameramen, and all the artists. Every artist comes with a different mood, mind space, and ideology of makeup. I do very different work between Aishwarya, Kriti, and Sara. Ive done Baahubali with Tamannaah. They are so different from each other. Thats how I work in general, comforting them with my craft but also understanding their requirements.What happens is that the mood of the film, rather than the character, sometimes takes precedence during promotions. One wants the character to be fully revealed. We do take a big part of the character into promotions because were trying to sell the film itself. For example, in Panipat, Kriti is an Indian historical character. So obviously her promotional looks were very traditional. While you wont go too modern, you will be true to the character. But having said that, its always a change because theres always a designer on set whos very different. Its a different person, and when youre promoting, there is a different stylist. There has to be a balance between all the ideas.Baahubali has been one of the most fulfilling but tiring experiences. SS Rajamouli is sharp, particular, and very kind. He challenges and intimidates you because hes trying to get the best out of you. But hes also trying to get the best out of what is good for the film and the character. He gets so deep into the character that he wants you to do the same. We shot in all kinds of weather, and we were shooting for 16 hours a day for the main song. Tamannaahs face was eventually looking oily, and there was nothing you could do; they were tricky times. Tamannaah is extremely fair, and he was clear about making her look like a certain tribe. She lives in the forest, and that was difficult for me because shes so fair that eventually, after every 30 minutes, the dark tone would turn fair again. Her natural colour would take over because of the heat, the rain, or just sweat. It was difficult but very fulfilling.Im not someone who gets easily inspired. Maybe one person, rather than a film, Mickey Contractor, is someone who set the bar. I feel inspired by his work because nobody does clean makeup better than him. His work in Cocktail with Deepika is unparalleled. I usually dont like looking at someone elses work and replicating it. I may just look at it, but I always have a mindset of my own and want to create my own.They want to know whats going on before we start. Well have a little chat for 10-15 minutes before we begin the makeup. When Kritis hair is getting done, and there is a different colour palette for that day, she will discuss whats going on. Kriti is never overbearing. She makes you believe that youre great, but shell give inputs and be particular at the same time. I get along well with Saras mother. So there are times when well click a picture, and if I think its good work, Ill send it to Saras mum. I get a lot of satisfaction from talking to her mum and her approval more than Saras. Sometimes Sara can get edgy, and we do mad work together.All three are so different. Promotions are super hectic; you dont even know which city youre in. There are so many looks, sometimes three in a day. Theres so much happening on the day the film releases because its from two weeks ago. Actors are so stressed about how the film is going to do. They want to look good because thats the only time theyre getting away from the film character.I love films because you set your place in the beginning, and then youre set for 40-50 days. Outdoors excite me because Im meeting so many people. Editorial for me is about coming on board to create something that you dont even think exists. And for me, it is particularly because it takes the other side, which is very deeply rooted.Heres your opportunity to get away from beauty and go all out and do things that are different. I love soft makeup. Editorial is all about being experimental.
Hina Khan has been a significant name in the television industry. The actress has worked in numerous television shows and movies and brought some of the most iconic characters to life through her incredible acting skills. While she is a decade old in the industry, her journey seems to have only begun, for Hina has recently debuted in the Punjabi film industry. Having said that, with recent back-to-back releases including her first Punjabi movie Shinda Shinda No Papa and the ambitious OTT release Namacool, Hina has been on a whirlwind journey, balancing filming schedules, promotions, and other projects.



In an exclusive interview with Filmfare, Hina has opened up about her soaring Punjabi film debut, her Sushmita Sen-inspired character in Namacool, her aspirations for future projects and more. Excerpts:



Congratulations on Shinda Shinda No Papa and Namacool. How have you been? It must have been a very hectic schedule considering you had two back to back releases.



It has been quite a ride from the past one and a half months. I have also been shooting for another series in Uttarakhand. I was there for a while, for almost 40 days. I had to go to Chandigarh to shoot a song for Badshah. I came back and went for the promotions of my projects. It has been quite a hectic ride. Nonetheless, I felt good later on when I saw that my hard work bore fruit. It feels nice that the film (Shinda Shinda No Papa) is doing well. I had another release (Namacool), which was also being done by following a timeline. So, I had to come back and instantly became busy promoting the other one. I had one entire hectic day of media trials in the middle.



Shinda Shinda No Papa is your Punjabi debut film. What prompted you to make your debut in the Punjabi film industry?



I'm an artist and I am open to anything that interests me. I have received scripts in the past as well. In fact, I've heard a couple of stories and a couple of narrations. Out of them, one didnt happen at all for some reason. That subject was really, really nice, but the film just did not happen. It got shelved. Apart from that, I heard a couple of more scripts, but they did not really interest me. It also depends on when you're debuting in an industry, especially in a regional industry. Also, I have a strong hold in television because I have been here for the past 15 years, but when you are debuting in a regional world where nobody knows you and you don't have the expertise, it is very important and essential to debut with the best. The script of Shinda Shinda No Papa really interested me. It revolves around a good subject. I was happy to be a part of this film. It was a very nice journey to shoot the film. In fact, I learnt a lot while shooting in Punjab.



You filmed the movie in Chandigarh and Canada. What was the vibe outdoors?









When you choose projects, what's that one non-negotiable aspect for you?



Instinct. For me, the first and the foremost important thing is instinct. It happens with every actor, be it the mega stars of Bollywood, television, or web shows anywhere and in any medium. We have our own fair share of flops and hits. All of us. But then there's always an instinct you go by. Then of course, sometimes the script, the makers, and the actors in the script excite me. Sometimes, nothing excites me except for my own character. There are projects that I dont feel are very special, but my character in that certain project is so good that I just go ahead with it.



Coming to Namacool, you play a very interesting character, Professor Rubiya. How did you prepare for it?

Nothing much! I just watched Sushmita Sen's film Main Hoon Na ten to fifteen times. She has been so graceful in the film. I loved her ada and her nazaakat in the film. But jokes apart, we had this little hint of Sushmita in our mindscape. We wanted the character to progress in a certain way and in a certain direction. Sushmita played a very elegant and beautiful teacher of a college where the students just fell flat when she entered the room. So, we had that character and her looks in mind. No one was willing to try that flower in my head that I have in all my looks in the saris, but I was very adamant. I told them that it was going to look really nice. I wanted to give my character a different flavour and a different look. Since the story was from Lucknow, we played around with the look a lot. I enjoyed wearing the oxidised jewellery and velvet bangles, as in the dual coloured velvet bangles. I liked dressing Rubiya up and I like to brainstorm on my dresses for all my characters.



Chandigarh was extremely hot. I remember we shot it last year in July or August. It was extremely hot. Unfortunately, those were the only dates available for the child. We had to work according to Shinda's (Shinda Grewal) school holidays. Otherwise, they were okay to shoot the film in nice and cosy weather. Usually, people in Punjab prefer shooting in the winters. But we could not do that because of time limitations. So we had to go for this time only. It was very hot. But as I said, the shooting was fun. I mean, I didn't feel like I'm shooting a regional film. Again, that is the way it is when you shoot with the best. The actors I worked with were fabulous. The Punjabi actors are brilliant. They are so humble and down to earth. Nirmal ji (Nirmal Rishi) has won the Padma Shri award, but she is so humble and down to earth. When you work with people like them, it feels that you just have to put your head on your shoulders. You understand that success should not get into your head at all.



From your days in Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai to Shinda Shinda No Papa and Namacool, if you had to describe it in just one word or a phrase, what would that be?



Incredible and full of experiments. I think experimental would be the right word. My journey has been really experimental. I started somewhere else and now I am in another industry which is so popular. Then doing a film, picking up a subject, and choosing a subject, which was so experimental that it could have been a flop. We were very nervous about this. But luckily, I'm making my debut and we have already done some crazy numbers. I see Bollywood biggies going out there and promoting Punjabi films or South films, attending their events and launching their trailers. I see Punjabi actors working in Hindi films, be it Diljit (Diljit Dosanjh). The lines actually have blurred and it is all about good talent now. I see that the industry has become more welcoming after COVID. I've seen this change. I've seen this shift. So, for me, this was very experimental, but it worked and the film is doing massively well. So is Namacool. It is being viewed widely. For that matter, my character Rubiya, I was not really expecting it to do so well, but she has become very popular among the audience. Yeah. Rubiya Dilkash Ahmed is loved. Especially her Urdu. I think its her way of speaking the Urdu language and her nazaakat that gained attention.




It takes a while to land a meaty role and even longer if your roots are not in the city of dreams. A sea of people come in every month if not every day, to take a crack at showbiz. Impossible as it seems, distance does nothing to stop a budding performer from finding the spotlight. For Sahil Mehta, it took a couple of obscure roles before he landed in the main cast list of critically acclaimed works like Harman Wadalas thriller drama Tabbar and Soumendra Padhis teen film Farrey.There is a beautiful dialogue in Tabbar, recalls Sahil Mehta. Step-by-step honda sab kuch. The line, delivered by his onscreen mother, played by the delightful Supriya Pathak, resonates with the newbie every time he faces rejection. And he has faced a fair share of rejections.Sahil started out in Delhi during the pandemic. This was a period marked by turmoil and uncertainty for every industry. COVID-19 had just ended after the second lockdown and I saw this casting call. It said that we're looking for Punjabi actors. And I sent my profile. I somehow just got in touch with the casting guy and it was for Janhvi Kapoors Good Luck Jerry. I got the part. Then Tabbar and Raksha Bandhan happened consecutively. Then I auditioned for Farrey. I'm fortunate enough to practise my art and be in the industry, he says. When asked about his biggest takeaway from working on Farrey, Sahil highlights his bond with his co-stars. With every project that you do, you get along for a bit, you work together, but then you maybe lose touch. But I still talk to Zeyn (Shaw) late at night. Were like brothers like we used to be on set. To date when I go to his place, we sleep on the same bed. He wouldn't sleep in the other room because we talked for like 4-5 hours, we had so much to talk about. Its a beautiful takeaway.But before he could shine in a dark family drama on OTT or co-star with Bollywood stars like Akshay Kumar and Janhvi Kapoor, he had countless auditions, a reality for any budding artiste. It took a while for Sahil to realise that he had been sending videos and cold emails into a void.I did small roles earlier. I did a small bit in Hindi Medium Irrfan Khan sirs film. It was a blink-and-miss role. I started auditioning from Delhi itself for any available role. After five or six months I realised that they were just taking the videos for no reason. They werent sending it ahead. Living in Delhi, you don't realise ki kaise hota hai sab kuch, everything was in Mumbai. When asked to say more about his stint in Hindi Medium, Sahil laughs. There was a song in Hindi Medium and I was like Yeah, yeah, yeah Back then it was a yes for everything. The song Hoor plays and you see a younger version of Irrfan Khans character. He rides a rickshaw and waves to his friend who is having tea. I thought theyd make me dance, but instead, they wanted me to just stand and have tea. Then they asked me if I could ride a rickshaw because the actor wasnt able to ride it. Main khush ho gaya ki mujhe main role mil raha hai (I happily thought I was getting the main role). Basically, when you see him riding the rick in the wide shot, thats me. And then they got me to change and I realised that Im still the friend who appears for a second while drinking tea. The actor fondly recalled how his proud father quipped aloud, Tera scene toh start mein hi hai na? in a packed screening of the film.It would take a couple of years for Sahil to find himself on the poster of Farrey or attend the Goa International Film Festival alongside his co-stars Alizeh, Prasanna Bisht and Zeyn Shaw. The cast had been doing more workshop days than shoot days. It was during promotions that the surrealness of the situation hit him.Opening up about the fascinating experience of playing grey characters, Sahil shares, I think I'm very innocent, but there must be some grey portion of me that I haven't explored yet. I try to discover that while playing characters. I always find this very interesting. The character that I did in Good Luck Jerry was a guy in this world of crime. I come from a middle-class family. I have never seen a gun. But they gave me a real gun without the bullets for a scene in the film. You get to discover that dark side of yourself without being that person.
FM Wang Yi calls on BRICS to promote consensus on peace, oppose instigation of new Cold War

Global Times) 10:57, June 11, 2024

File photo: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi attended the BRICS Foreign Ministers Meeting in the Russian city of Nizhny Novgorod on Monday and all parties highly praised the important role of the BRICS mechanism and the achievements of its expansion. They believe that the inclusion of more countries in BRICS cooperation accelerates the process of world multipolarity, and promotes a more just and reasonable international order.

Over the past year, the BRICS cooperation has been marked by brightness, speed, and strength, Wang said.

By expanding our membership, we have ushered in a new era of joint self-reliance for the Global South, with the influence and appeal of BRICS continually rising, and we stood at the forefront, achieved success through mutual support, and united as one, accelerating despite headwinds, the top Chinese diplomat noted. "The BRICS brand is shining brighter, and our voice is more powerful."

In the face of current global changes, BRICS must maintain a high and far-sighted perspective, Wang said.

At present, certain major powers are reviving Cold War mentality, forming geopolitical small circles, and openly resisting UN Security Council resolutions, thereby undermining the authority of multilateral mechanisms, Wang noted.

The politicization and excessive securitization of economic issues are rampant, and unilateral sanctions and technological barriers are on the rise. In the face of the contest between forces promoting world multipolarity and those maintaining unipolar hegemony, and the clash between economic globalization and "anti-globalization" tendencies, we must follow the trend of history, stand on the side of fairness and justice, and make the right choices, he said.

Looking to the future, the "Big BRICS" must undertake great responsibilities and achieve significant accomplishments. We should fully leverage the strategic significance and political impact of the "Big BRICS", transforming BRICS into a new type of multilateral cooperation mechanism that is based on emerging markets and developing countries, globally oriented, and open and inclusive, Wang said.

The top Chinese diplomat called on continuing to uphold the banner of multilateralism, leading in maintaining the international system centered on the UN, and firmly resisting actions that undermine international order and violate international rules.

The BRICS should also promote an equitable and orderly world multipolarity and inclusive economic globalization, enhancing coordination and cooperation while highlighting the Global South moment in significant international agendas and placing development at the center.

Wang also called on promoting capacity building in the digital economy and artificial intelligence (AI) for developing countries, ensuring equal participation and equal benefits.

On security issues, Wang stressed that no matter how complex the situation, dialogue and consultation cannot be abandoned. No matter how sharp the conflict, political resolution must be pursued.

On the Palestine-Israel conflict, we must firmly promote an immediate, comprehensive, and sustainable ceasefire in Gaza, alleviate the humanitarian crisis, and prevent the conflict from spilling over, Wang noted. He also called on supporting Palestine's membership as a full-fledged UN member state and restarting the "two-state solution" to achieve lasting peace in the Middle East.

Meanwhile, as the Ukraine crisis continues, China supports the timely convening of peace talks that are accepted by both Russia and Ukraine, with equal participation from all parties and fair discussion of all peace proposals, Wang noted.

The BRICS should adhere to independence and objectivity, promote the international community's consensus on peace, and oppose the instigation of a "new Cold War" under any pretext, he said.

The top Chinese diplomat also suggested fully leveraging the resources and market advantages of the "Big BRICS", strengthening the supporting role of financial and trade cooperation, ensuring energy and food security cooperation, driving innovation cooperation, and acting as a bridge for cultural exchanges.

China has established the "China-BRICS AI Development and Cooperation Center" to promote cooperation in industry alignment and capacity building, welcoming active participation from all countries, Wang noted.

All parties involved in the meeting called for adherence to multilateralism, opposition to unilateralism and protectionism, and the promotion of reforms in the international financial structure, according to a readout released by China's Foreign Ministry on Monday night.

They also emphasized the need to strengthen and improve global governance, enhancing the voice and representation of developing countries. All parties stressed the importance of resolving disputes peacefully through dialogue and consultation and supported all efforts conducive to the peaceful resolution of crises.

The meeting also issued a joint statement of the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting, according to the readout.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
Abortion-rights activists protest outside the Supreme Court during a rally on March 26 in Washington, D.C. Jose Luis Magana/Associated Press

WASHINGTON  As Democratic lawmakers in several states worked to enact shield laws to protect doctors offering telehealth abortion services to patients in states where abortion is banned or restricted, an unexpected hurdle emerged: Planned Parenthood.

The abortion rights group privately lobbied officials in California, New York and Massachusetts against the novel state laws, saying they could be risky for providers and damaging to efforts to protect existing abortion care, half a dozen people involved in the laws passage told the Chronicle. Planned Parenthood did so while publicly supporting state-level efforts to pass abortion shield laws that protect clinicians providing care to patients within their own state.

The telehealth shield protections ultimately became law in seven states: California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, New York, Vermont and Washington. They extend civil and criminal protections to clinicians providing telehealth abortions  in which abortion pills are sent by mail  and bar state officials from cooperating with another states investigation or prosecution of its abortion providers.

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Ten states shield laws apply only to clinicians providing care to patients in their own states, while others also apply to telehealth abortions in which a provider is in one state and the patient is in another.

The Planned Parenthood Federation of America does not allow its clinicians to provide telehealth abortions, although some of its local affiliates do. The organization did not directly respond to the Chronicles questions about whether it had privately lobbied California, New York and Massachusetts officials.

Planned Parenthood does everything possible to protect providers of abortion including supporting shield laws, Katie Rodihan, director for state advocacy communications at Planned Parenthood Action Fund, the groups advocacy arm, said in the statement. She said that Planned Parenthood supported shield laws in Connecticut, Illinois, Maine, Rhode Island and Washington and that shield laws are only one aspect of ensuring that this essential care is accessible for every patient who needs it.

The tension over the laws comes as abortion rights advocates seek to protect different forms of access to abortion in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Courts overturning of Roe v. Wade two years ago. Many mainstream abortion rights groups have viewed the legal risk to medical providers providing telehealth abortion services as too high  even with shield laws.

Defensively legal analysis has been at the heart of the pro-choice movement since 1973, Tracy Weitz, a professor of sociology at American University and leading abortion social science researcher, said. That same legal orientation is what drives people to say, You dont want to risk it, right? Dont risk what we have. Dont risk your organization. 

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The anti-abortion movement has created such a feeling of terror that everything that feels risky feels really risky, she said.

Planned Parenthood publicly supported some telehealth shield laws, but staff members privately told Gov. Gavin Newsoms office and Attorney General Rob Bontas office they werent in favor of them, said Jodi Jacobson, executive director of Healthcare Across Borders. Newsom and Bontas offices did not respond to requests for comment.

Planned Parenthood officials told California lawmakers considering Senate Bill 345 by Berkeley Sen. Nancy Skinner last year that the telehealth measure could be risky to providers, three sources told the Chronicle. They asked not to be identified out of concern that discussing the lawmaking process could damage existing working relationships. (The Chronicle granted anonymity under its confidential sources policy.)

Planned Parenthoods opposition helped tank the California bill in the first session it was introduced, a source familiar with the measure said on condition of anonymity.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom angrily denounced the Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade during a news conference in Sacramento on June 24, 2022. During the news conference Newsom signed a bill that shields abortion providers and volunteers in California from civil judgments from out-of-state courts. Rich Pedroncelli/Associated Press

Planned Parenthood staff also privately lobbied New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and then-Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey to weaken provisions of the bills or hold them until the next legislative session, a source familiar with the interactions said.

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Planned Parenthood told other closely affiliated organizations not to support the New York telehealth shield law, but those groups eventually got on board when they saw there was enough support for the law, Jacobson said.

The ACLU and the National Abortion Federation were also among the reproductive rights groups that privately opposed telehealth shield laws in several states, three sources told the Chronicle.

The ACLU has been supportive of efforts to craft innovative solutions to the many problems created by overturning Roe, Jessica Arons, ACLU senior advocacy and policy counsel, said in a statement. The ACLU, she said, engaged in thoughtful conversations with partners to work through ways to expand access to abortion care. Those conversations with state partners and lawmakers naturally included raising questions about various policies, but our goal has always been to pass laws with the most durable protections possible for those seeking, providing, or assisting with abortion care.

The National Abortion Federation supports any efforts to improve peoples access to safe, high-quality abortion care and we are committed to evolving alongside todays abortion landscape, so that as many people as possible can get the abortion care they need, President and CEO Brittany Fonteno said in a statement.

Weitz, the American University professor, said there was initially pushback from some leading reproductive rights groups, which suggested that these laws would be risky and damaging to move forward.

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Julie Kay, executive director of the Abortion Coalition for Telemedicine, said the groups initially had some pretty serious trepidation, and then some reluctance and then some tepid support. And now I would say, partial embracing.

The laws are likely to be challenged in court, although no lawsuits have emerged. No state has attempted to prosecute providers within shield states.

David Cohen, a Drexel University law professor who helped develop the state shield laws, said he was surprised but glad that no state has prosecuted a clinician, especially considering several have publicly spoken about their work.

He attributed the inaction to the protections against extradition to states with bans or restrictions. The fact that no ones going to extradite any of these providers makes it practically impossible to prosecute them. Thats the whole point of the shield law, he said.

Republican attorneys general may also be waiting to see what happens in the November election or what the Supreme Court does in a case seeking to limit access to mifepristone. In the two-drug abortion protocol, mifepristone is taken to halt a pregnancy and another drug, misoprostol, is taken later to cause the uterus to expel the pregnancy tissue.

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If the Supreme Court declines to limit use of the drug, the Food and Drug Administration could still withdraw the approval of mifepristone or reinstate the requirement that abortion seekers see a doctor in person to receive a medication abortion. If mifepristone use is restricted, misoprostol-only abortions could still be safely done. But they can come with more side effects, including more pain.

Telehealth abortions have surged in the two years since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.

Nearly 88,000 people received telemedicine abortions across the country in the second half of 2023, according to WeCount, a nationwide study of abortion provision. Just under half were people in states with abortion bans or restrictions.

About 8,200 people in states with abortion bans or restrictions received a telemedicine abortion in December 2023, according to the most recently available data.

Before the passage of the new interstate telehealth shield laws, people in states with bans or restrictions found other ways to access medication abortion. Some providers were willing to prescribe pills that would be sent from India and some patients ordered them directly from India  although they could take weeks to ship, critical time in the case of a pregnancy. Some people seeking abortions went to community networks like Las Libres, which would provide the pills without involving a medical professional.

Abortion seekers are still legally vulnerable. Some states criminalize self-managed abortion and, even before Roe was overturned, 61 people were prosecuted from 2000 to 2020 for allegedly ending their own pregnancy or helping others to do so.

Cohen attributed some of the concerns about the shield laws to the novel way they are utilizing telehealth, where a doctor doesnt need to be licensed in the state the patient is in. Until the pandemic, medical providers needed to be licensed in both the state they were in and the state the patient was in. Then the Food and Drug Administration eased in-person dispensing requirements for mifepristone.

The telehealth shield laws take a different approach, and they say that as long as you are licensed where you are physically located  then you can care for a patient using telehealth and be protected by the shield law, Cohen said. Since that is a disruption to the accepted practice, I think that theres just a low tolerance for this kind of new practice without wide acceptance from the medical profession and other states.

Jacobson and Weitz said its possible that Planned Parenthood does not want to draw further ire from Republican lawmakers, who could target the group.

They have a whole health system to protect, Weitz said. Not just the abortion services that they offer across the country, but all of the family planning services they offer, their whole political apparatus.

Weitz, however, is surprised that the larger abortion rights movement apparatus  legal, advocacy and funding organizations  hasnt embraced interstate shield laws as a piece of the solution since Roe was overturned.

Groups that provide funding for patients to obtain abortions and their donors have been reluctant to pay providers for interstate telehealth abortions, and a major resource for helping patients obtain abortions points them to out-of-state travel instead of telehealth providers in states with shield laws.

Im shocked that the apparatus of the pro-choice movement  at this moment in time, in which we have millions of people landlocked in states where abortion is not available  are choosing to protect their organizational survival over getting abortion seekers the information they need to access care in a relatively inexpensive and relatively easy way, Weitz said.

This kind of disagreement within the abortion rights movement isnt exclusive to interstate shield laws. Planned Parenthood, the Center for Reproductive Rights and the American Civil Liberties Union have reportedly discouraged Democrats from introducing legislation to repeal the Comstock Act, citing concerns that action could affect ongoing litigation. If the Comstock Act, the obscure 1873 law that abortion opponents are invoking in the Supreme Court case to limit access to mifepristone, was enforced again, it could upend telehealth abortion for all states.

Four telemedicine practices currently provide telehealth abortions to states with bans or restrictions  Abuzz, Aid Access, Armadillo Clinic and the Massachusetts Medication Abortion Access Project. The number of clinicians working for those practices or providing telehealth abortions is fewer than 25, several researchers and funders told the Chronicle.

For now, some of the newer practices have found ways to mitigate the risk of providing telehealth abortions to patients in states that restrict the procedure.

Angel Foster, co-founder of the Massachusetts Medication Abortion Access Project, known as the MAP, said it took her organization a year to develop a practice that fully complies with state law, an experience that was a huge undertaking.

It takes a while, and it takes resources to develop a practice and a model of practice to be able to provide from a specific law state, Foster said. The MAP thought through details down to where its system servers are housed and where printed consent forms are stored.
CHICAGO, June 10, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The global Critical Infrastructure Protection Market size is projected to grow from USD 148.1 billion in 2024 to USD 178.3 billion by 2029 at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 3.8% during the forecast period, according to a new report by MarketsandMarkets. The growth of critical infrastructure protection (CIP) solutions is propelled by the rapid expansion of Internet of Things (IoT) devices, amplifying the vulnerability landscape. Simultaneously, continuous investments in infrastructure development, particularly in energy and transportation sectors, heighten the demand for advanced protection measures. This synergy underscores the need for robust security solutions to fortify critical assets against emerging threats.

Browse in-depth TOC on "Critical Infrastructure Protection Market"

559 - Tables

53 - Figures

398 - Pages

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Scope of the Report

Report Metrics Details Market size available for years 2018-2029 Base year considered 2023 Forecast period 2024-2029 Forecast units Value (USD Billion) Segments Covered Offering, Security Type, Vertical, And Region Geographies covered North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, and Latin America List of Companies in covered critical infrastructure protection Major vendors in the global Critical Infrastructure Protection Market include BAE Systems (US), Lockheed Martin (US), General Dynamics (US), Northrop Grumman (US), Honeywell (US), Airbus (France), Thales (France), Hexagon AB (Sweden), Johnson Controls (US), Motorola Solutions (US), Axis Communications (Sweden), Forcepoint (US), Fortinet (US), Cisco (US), Huawei (China), G4S (UK), GE Vernova (US), NEC Corporation (Japan), Bruker Corporation (US), Fujitsu (Japan), Tenable (US), Rolta (India), Mission Secure (US), Optasense (UK), Teltronic (Spain), Waterfall Security Solutions (Israel), Westminister Group Plc (UK), Owl Cyber Defense Solutions (US), Achilles Heel Technologies (US), CIPS Security (US), Suprema Inc (South Korea), and SCADAfence (US).

Based on the offering, services will grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period.

The exponential growth of services in the CIP market can be attributed to the escalating threat landscape facing enterprises, national agencies, and defense organizations. With cyberattacks on critical infrastructure becoming more frequent and sophisticated, there is an urgent need to safeguard people, IT systems, and vital data. CIP services offer comprehensive solutions to address these evolving threats, including risk management, consulting, and managed services. Moreover, the increasing automation in surveillance systems and the adoption of remote monitoring infrastructures like oil and gas pipelines and smart grids further drive the demand for CIP services. Organizations, including governments and critical infrastructure owners, are turning to CIP service providers to enhance security, streamline workflows, and maximize efficiencies, catalyzing the rapid expansion of the CIP services market.

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By security type, physical security & safety accounts for the highest market size during the forecast period.

The physical and safety security types have the largest market size in the CIP market due to their paramount role in safeguarding critical infrastructure against various threats. Recent events, such as drone attacks on critical infrastructure, underscore the importance of robust physical security measures. Enterprises recognize the need to go beyond traditional perimeter security, leading to increased demand for advanced systems like high-quality video surveillance, perimeter intrusion detection, and access control. Moreover, advancements in video surveillance technology, including features like facial recognition and thermal cameras, enhance monitoring capabilities. With the coordination efforts of agencies like CISA and the increased adoption of security technologies across sectors like law enforcement and government utilities, the physical safety and security segment experiences rapid growth, ensuring the resilience and protection of critical infrastructure assets.

By region, Middle East & Africa will grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period.

The Middle East & Africa is growing fastest in the CIP market due to the region's rapid trajectory toward digitalization, propelled by increasing internet penetration and technological adoption. In South Africa, Transnet's utilization of IoT technology for intelligent energy management is a prominent example, contributing significantly to the expansion of the CIP market across the region. Additionally, the Middle East, particularly in the oil and gas verticals, faces a surge in cyberattacks, including malware and ransomware incidents, due to its significant crude oil reserves, making it a lucrative target for cybercriminals. Consequently, critical sectors in the region, recognizing the pressing need for protection, are increasingly adopting essential infrastructure protection solutions to safeguard their assets from evolving cyber threats, thus driving the growth of the CIP market in the Middle East & Africa.

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Top Key Companies inCritical Infrastructure Protection Market:

BAE Systems (US), Lockheed Martin (US), General Dynamics (US), Northrop Grumman (US), Honeywell (US), Airbus (France), Thales (France), Hexagon AB (Sweden), Johnson Controls (US), Motorola Solutions (US), Axis Communications (Sweden), Forcepoint (US), Fortinet (US), Cisco (US), Huawei (China), G4S (UK), GE Vernova (US), NEC Corporation (Japan), Bruker Corporation (US), Fujitsu (Japan), Tenable (US), Rolta (India), Mission Secure (US), Optasense (UK), Teltronic (Spain), Waterfall Security Solutions (Israel), Westminister Group Plc (UK), Owl Cyber Defense Solutions (US), Achilles Heel Technologies (US), CIPS Security (US), Suprema Inc (South Korea), and SCADAfence (US) are the key players and other players in the Critical Infrastructure Protection Market.

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Mawson Gold Limited ("Mawson" or the "Company") (TSXV:MAW)(Frankfurt:MXR)(OTC PINK:MWSNF) is pleased to announce that it has entered into a non-binding term sheet ("NBTS") with Southern Cross Gold Limited ("SXG") (ASX:SXG) dated June 11, 2024 (AEST), contemplating the acquisition of SXG by Mawson through an Australian scheme of arrangement transaction (the "Australian Arrangement"). Pursuant to the NBTS, Mawson is expected to acquire all the ordinary shares of SXG (the "SXG Shares") that Mawson does not already own and change its name to Southern Cross Gold Ltd (the "New Southern Cross"). The New Southern Cross will maintain its listing on the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV") and seek a dual listing on the Australian Securities Exchange ("ASX"). The Australian Arrangement is not considered a related party transaction pursuant to Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions.

Bruce Griffin, Member of the Special Committee and Independent Director, states: "There has been widespread support both in Canada and overseas for the simplification of the Mawson and SXG corporate structures. Once completed, the simpler, dual-listed structure will allow us to achieve the following core objectives: access to broader capital markets and institutional/private investors; eliminate the perceived major shareholder overhang; and attract an expected lower cost of equity capital which will allow the Sunday Creek gold-antimony asset (the "Sunday Creek Project") to continue its path to development. I strongly believe that our proposal is in all Mawson shareholders' interests in the short, medium and long term.

"Over the past two months, SXG and Mawson have been carefully reviewing strategic options to maximize value to shareholders of each of Mawson and SXG and the proposed Australian Arrangement reflects the continued commitment of the management teams and board of directors of each company to achieve our respective core objectives to benefit all shareholders, whether big or small, anywhere in the world. The single best solution, therefore, is the Australian Arrangement, the principal terms of which have been agreed in-principle by SXG and MAW in the NBTS".

Key points of the NBTS are:

Prior to the transaction becoming effective, Mawson will affect a share consolidation of its common shares (the "Mawson Shares") at a ratio of approximately 3.1581:1 (the "Consolidation"), resulting in the number of outstanding Mawson Shares being equal to the number of SXG Shares held by Mawson; Mawson to acquire all SXG Shares that it does not own by way of the Australian Arrangement, and will issue shares of New Southern Cross in Australia ( either in the form of CHESS Depositary Interests "CDIs" on the ASX or, if a shareholder elects, common shares of New Southern Cross on the TSXV) on a 1 for 1 (post-consolidation) basis, which would give Mawson's existing shareholders as of the record date approximately 49.6% ownership on completion of the Australian Arrangement; Mawson to maintain its listing on the TSXV and to seek to dual list on the ASX. The parties' intention is that trading of the SXG Shares and the new CDIs of New Southern Cross will be seamless, with minimal interruption in trading. Australian shareholders should benefit from tax rollover relief rules; The current Australian Board and management team of SXG to lead and manage New Southern Cross; Proposed spin-off of Mawson's Swedish uranium assets, subject to Swedish regulatory changes, prior to the closing of the Australian Arrangement to benefit Mawson shareholders; SXG to delist from ASX concurrently with the closing of the Australian Arrangement; SXG shareholders to vote on the Australian Arrangement. Mawson shareholders to also vote on certain aspects of the Australian Arrangement; and The process is expected to take approximately three to four months during and after which time SXG shares will trade normally with minimal to no interruptions.

The Australian Arrangement, aimed at consolidating ownership and establishing a single dual-listed company to hold the Sunday Creek Project, has been chosen for its expected operational, corporate and international tax efficiency and the benefits it offers to all shareholders of both SXG and Mawson. To achieve the goal of building the Sunday Creek Project, SXG will need to continue to lower the cost of equity capital. The Australian Arrangement is a foundational step in this direction as it results in a simplified ownership structure, a dual listing that allows access to Australian and North American capital markets, and a structure that is both investable by institutional shareholders and places all shareholders on the same level.

New Southern Cross' overarching objective will be to maximize value per share with an aim to develop one of the highest cashflow margin gold mines globally, while prioritizing environmental sustainability and stakeholder interests in all our communities. To realize this vision, New Southern Cross will concentrate on three key areas:

Grade : Enhancing drill density in existing high-grade zones to demonstrate continuity and increase high-grade volumes.

: Enhancing drill density in existing high-grade zones to demonstrate continuity and increase high-grade volumes. Volume : Expanding mineralization along the core 1.2 km strike from Christina to Apollo down to and below 1km depth.

: Expanding mineralization along the core 1.2 km strike from Christina to Apollo down to and below 1km depth. District Scale: Intensifying exploration efforts across the region, focusing on strike extensions and parallel trends within the 10km strike featuring historical workings, early-stage drill discoveries, and highly anomalous soil sampling data.

Specifically, Mawson believes that the immediate benefits to its shareholders include:

Simplification of Structure : Mawson anticipates immediate benefits for its shareholders through a more transparent and institutional-investible structure. The Company believes this will lead to a potential revaluation of the asset, reducing the cost of capital to advance the Sunday Creek Project to become one of the highest margin gold assets globally.

: Mawson anticipates immediate benefits for its shareholders through a more transparent and institutional-investible structure. The Company believes this will lead to a potential revaluation of the asset, reducing the cost of capital to advance the Sunday Creek Project to become one of the highest margin gold assets globally. Direct Exposure to Sunday Creek : The Australian Arrangement and the listing of New Southern Cross' shares on both the ASX and TSXV offers new and existing shareholders of New Southern Cross direct exposure to the globally leading Sunday Creek Project. The North American market has greatly benefited from the wealth generated from the rebirth of the Victorian goldfields in Australia over the last 8 years.

: The Australian Arrangement and the listing of New Southern Cross' shares on both the ASX and TSXV offers new and existing shareholders of New Southern Cross direct exposure to the globally leading Sunday Creek Project. The North American market has greatly benefited from the wealth generated from the rebirth of the Victorian goldfields in Australia over the last 8 years. Institutional Support : The Australian Arrangement will transition the combined entity's shareholder base to a more institutionally dominated and supportive register. SXG brings both a high-quality register with a significant overlap of current Mawson shareholders and access to further high quality global and supportive Australian and European institutional shareholders. Notably, major shareholders of both SXG and Mawson, such as Pierre Lassonde, Darren Morcombe, and Konwave AG, are supportive of the Australian Arrangement.

: The Australian Arrangement will transition the combined entity's shareholder base to a more institutionally dominated and supportive register. SXG brings both a high-quality register with a significant overlap of current Mawson shareholders and access to further high quality global and supportive Australian and European institutional shareholders. Notably, major shareholders of both SXG and Mawson, such as Pierre Lassonde, Darren Morcombe, and Konwave AG, are supportive of the Australian Arrangement. Cost Reduction and Share Fungibility : Consolidating separate companies will lead to cost savings, while allowing for the fungibility of shares between the North American and Australian stock exchanges, benefiting all shareholders.

: Consolidating separate companies will lead to cost savings, while allowing for the fungibility of shares between the North American and Australian stock exchanges, benefiting all shareholders. Management and Board Continuity: New Southern Cross is expected to be led by the current successful Australian management team and Board of SXG, ensuring continuity and leveraging their expertise. It is anticipated that New Southern Cross will be led by Mr. Tom Eadie as Non-Executive Chairman and Mr. Michael Hudson as President & CEO.

Mawson's Chairman and Interim CEO, Michael Hudson, states, "Given my fiduciary responsibilities across both Mawson and SXG, I have relied on the highly competent independent directors and independent special committees to finalize the Australian Arrangement terms to achieve a long-desired aim to simply consolidate the ownership of the Sunday Creek Project in a dual listed structure.

"Now with the NBTS signed, we can move forward with a tax-effective and clear plan that is in the best interests of all shareholders. The Special Committees have taken logical and clear steps for a mutually beneficial transaction aimed at reducing the cost of capital for future development of the globally significant Sunday Creek Project.

"The strategic Australian Arrangement will unlock value with the consolidation of ownership and direct exposure to the Sunday Creek Project, with the benefits of a dual listing in North American and Australia. I am very excited to have the opportunity to lead as President & CEO the New Southern Cross, which will become further recognized as a growth and high-grade gold story across both the Australian and North American markets."

Term of the NBTS

In conjunction with mutual due diligence, Mawson and SXG will in good faith negotiate a Scheme Implementation Agreement ("SIA") over the coming weeks, to implement the Australian Arrangement containing terms and conditions, including representations and warranties, customary non-solicitation covenants, break fees, board support and fiduciary-out provisions, all customary for transactions of this nature. Following that, SXG will prepare a Scheme Booklet for its shareholders, comprising the Notice of Meeting, Explanatory Statement, and Independent Expert's Report ("IER"). Special independent committees have been formed for both Mawson and SXG to negotiate the terms of the Australian Arrangement.

Capital Structure

Under the terms of the NBTS, should the Australian Arrangement be implemented, and prior to the transaction becoming effective, Mawson will affect a share consolidation of its number of shares on issue (305,045,320) (the "Mawson Shares") at a ratio of approximately 3.1581:1 (the "Consolidation"), resulting in the number of outstanding Mawson Shares being equal to the number of SXG Shares (96,590,910) held by Mawson (subject to rounding).

Under the Australian Arrangement, Mawson will then offer to purchase the SXG shares Mawson does not already own on the basis of a 1:1 exchange ratio for new Mawson shares, so that existing holders of SXG (other than Mawson) will own approximately 50.4% of issued New Southern Cross shares following completion of the Australian Arrangement.

SXG shareholders, via the Australian Arrangement, may exchange one fully paid ordinary SXG share for one post consolidation Mawson common share (either in the form of CDIs or, if a shareholder elects, Mawson common shares) such that at the completion of the Australian Arrangement existing MAW shareholders will hold approximately 49.6% of the issued capital of Mawson. As a result of the Australian Arrangement, it is expected that SXG will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Mawson.

The issued capital of New Southern Cross at the completion of the Australian Arrangement will be approximately 194.9 million shares, mirroring the same capital structure of SXG as at today's date.

Dual Listing

It is expected that Mawson will change its name to Southern Cross Gold Ltd and will seek dual list on the ASX through the admission to quotation of the CDIs (which will be subject to the ASX listing and admission process). Once the Australian Arrangement is complete, it is anticipated that Mawson (to be renamed Southern Cross Gold Ltd) will trade on both the TSXV and the ASX.

Promptly after execution of SIA to implement the Australian Arrangement, Mawson and SXG will prepare and submit an ASX listing application for Mawson on an assumed post-completion basis, together with ancillary documents and applications (such as an application for in-principle advice on suitability for listing, details of the terms of Mawson Shares and CDIs, pro forma combined financial statements, and other materials required by ASX). SXG and its advisers will take the lead in assisting Mawson in preparing the content of the in-principle advice application to ASX, the formal listing application, and ancillary submissions and applications.

Experienced Australian Team

Following completion of the Australian Arrangement, it is expected that the Board of New Southern Cross will be reconstituted so that it comprises the current members of the SXG board of directors led by Mr. Tom Eadie as Non-Executive Chairman. An additional director may be drawn from the current Mawson board of directors. Management of New Southern Cross is expected to mimic the current management of SXG led by Michael Hudson as President & CEO, Lisa Gibbons as General Manager and Kenneth Bush as Exploration Manager.

Mawson Spin-Off

Immediately prior to, or concurrently with the completion of the Australian Arrangement, Mawson intends to, subject to Swedish regulatory change, and considering all corporate and tax matters, either:

distribute Euro Canna Holdings Ltd. ("Euro Canna") common shares to the Mawson shareholders (the "Spinout Transaction"); or

sell Euro Canna or its assets to an arm's length third party and distribute the net proceeds to the holders of Mawson shares as at the Record Date of the Mawson Special Meeting (the "Sale Transaction" and together with the Spinout Transaction, the "Euro Canna Transaction").

The Euro Canna Projects (hereinafter defined) host the majority of Sweden's conventional hard rock historic uranium resources (combined 22.7Mlb U3O8 (see below)).

During March 2023, Euro Canna, acquired six exploration licenses: Bjorklund nr 1 & 2, Bjorkramyran nr 3, Kvarnan nr 5, Nojdfjallet nr 1, and Skuppesavon nr 2 for 16,138 hectares. All these exploration licenses are granted and are located through central and northern Sweden to explore for zirconium, scandium, yttrium and lanthanum and other lanthanides (rare earths) ("Euro Canna Projects").

Although Sweden benefits from having 40% of its electricity supply generated by nuclear energy, a uranium exploration and mining moratorium has been in place in the country since May 2018. The Swedish Government has indicated a positive stance on re-evaluating and lifting the moratorium. Exploration, development and mining of the Euro Canna Projects is still possible under the current Swedish Minerals Act; however, recovery of uranium in a mining scenario would not be permitted under the current mineral legislation. The Swedish Government announced an inquiry into the ban on mining uranium. The inquiry concluded on 15 May 2024 and Mawson believes a public announcement by the Swedish government will be made shortly.

Sweden's current center-right coalition government has also indicated strong support to expand nuclear power in Sweden. There are currently six operating nuclear reactors in Sweden that supply approximately 40% of the country's electricity. The Swedish Government has called for the possible restart of Ringhals nuclear power plant Units 1 and 2, as well as to prepare for the construction of new reactors.

The Euro Canna Projects are considered a valuable option on the potential for Sweden regulation changes regarding uranium exploration and development.

The historic uranium resources within the six exploration licences staked by Euro Canna consist of:

Pleutajokk 1 : 5.3 Mlb U3O8 (1.93 Mt @ 0.120% U3O8) A vein type uranium prospect related to sodic-metasomatism and high-grade metamorphism hosted by metavolcanic rocks.

U3O8 (1.93 Mt @ 0.120% U3O8) Lilljuthatten 1 : 4.2 Mlb U3O8 (0.78 Mt @ 0.240 % U3O8) A vein and breccia uranium type prospect related brittle deformation in leucogranite.

U3O8 (0.78 Mt @ 0.240 % U3O8) Kvarnan 1 : 3.7 Mlb U3O8 (1.94 Mt @ 0.086% U3O8) A vein and dissemination uranium type prospect related to sodic-metasomatism and high-grade metamorphism hosted by metavolcanic rocks.

U3O8 (1.94 Mt @ 0.086% U3O8) Klappibacken 2 : 3.3 Mlb U3O8 (1.94 Mt @ 0.080 % U3O8) A vein and breccia uranium type prospect related brittle deformation in leucogranite.

U3O8 (1.94 Mt @ 0.080 % U3O8) Bjorkramyran 1 : 3.3 Mlb U3O8 (1.33 Mt @ 0.1% U3O8) A vein type uranium prospect hosted by shear zones in albitized granitic rocks.

U3O8 (1.33 Mt @ 0.1% U3O8) Skuppesavon 1 1.8 Mlb U3O8 (0.98 Mt @ 0.08% U3O8) A vein type uranium prospect related to sodic-metasomatism and high-grade metamorphism hosted by metavolcanic rocks.

U3O8 (0.98 Mt @ 0.08% U3O8) Nojdfjallet 1 : 1.1 Mlb U3O8 (0.76 Mt @ 0.068 % U3O8) A vein and breccia uranium type prospect related brittle deformation in leucogranite.

U3O8 (0.76 Mt @ 0.068 % U3O8)

The resource estimates quoted are based on a report, "Introductory Technical Report on Eight Uranium Properties In Northern Sweden" by Andrew Phillips from Telluride & Associates dated 15th July 2005. The resource was calculated using a polygonal method and is roughly analogous to the CIM definitions "Indicated" and "Inferred". These data are historical in nature and Mawson has not completed sufficient exploration to verify the estimates and is not treating them as National Instrument defined resources or reserves verified by a qualified person and the historical estimate should not be relied upon. The Company believes this historical resource and the data used to compile the estimate - which represent the most recent estimates and data available - are generally reliable and relevant. The resource estimate quoted is based on a report, "Klappibacken Resource Report 2007" by Goeff Reed dated 14 October 2007. The resource was estimated within a geologically constrained mineralized envelope; with a lower cut-off of 0.025% uranium applied to resource blocks populated using the inverse distance squared method within Maptek Vulcan software. The model utilized a total of 56 holes for 8,943 metres and is roughly analogous to the CIM definitions "Indicated" and "Inferred". These data are historical in nature and Mawson has not completed sufficient exploration to verify the estimates and is not treating them as National Instrument defined resources or reserves verified by a qualified person and the historical estimate should not be relied upon. The Company believes this historical resource and the data used to compile the estimate - which represent the most recent estimates and data available - are generally reliable and relevant.

A qualified person has not done sufficient work to classify the historical estimate as current mineral resources or mineral reserves and the issuer is not treating the historical estimate as current mineral resources or mineral reserves.

Approvals and Timing

The Australian Arrangement is subject to a range of conditions, including, but not limited to, approval by SXG shareholders, court approval and regulatory approvals, as well as SXG and Mawson entering into a SIA relating to the Australian Arrangement containing terms and conditions, including representations and warranties, customary non-solicitation covenants, board support and fiduciary-out provisions all customary for transactions of this nature.

Closing of the Australian Transaction is expected to take three to four months following the execution of the SIA by the parties and assuming that the scheme of arrangement is successful, that there are no rival bidders and that there are no regulatory actions that will affect timing.

SXG will require the usual shareholder approvals to implement the Australian Arrangement as required by the Corporations Act, being both:

a 75% vote by number of SXG shares voted, and

a majority in number of the SXG shareholders who vote.

Mawson and its associates will not be entitled to vote on the Australian Arrangement.

Mawson will require:

shareholder and TSXV approval to implement the changes to the Mawson Board of the resulting entity, as required by the policies of the TSXV being a simple majority in the number of Mawson shares voted;

TSXV approval on the Consolidation; and

shareholder and TSXV approval to implement the Spinout Transaction, if applicable, as required under the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) being a 66?% vote by the number of Mawson Shares voted. The Euro Canna Transaction is also expected to be subject to certain conditions customary for this type of transaction including, but not limited to, regulatory and court approvals in British Columbia.

About Sunday Creek

The Sunday Creek Project is located 60km north of Melbourne within 19,365 hectares of granted exploration tenements. SXG is also the freehold landholder of 133.29 hectares that form the key portion in and around the main drilled area at the Sunday Creek Project.

Gold and antimony form in a relay of vein sets that cut across a steeply dipping zone of intensely altered rocks (the "host"). When observed from above, the host resembles the side rails of a ladder, where the sub-vertical mineralised vein sets are the rungs that extend from surface to depth. At Apollo and Rising Sun these individual 'rungs' have been defined over 600 m depth extent from surface to 1000 m below surface, are 2 m to 30 m wide, and are 20 m to 100 m in strike.

Our systematic drill program is strategically targeting these significant vein formations. Initially these have been defined over 1,350 m strike of the host from Christina to Apollo prospects, of which approximately 620 m has been more intensively drill tested (Rising Sun to Apollo). At least 47 'rungs' have been discovered to date, defined by high-grade intercepts to >7,000 g/t Au) along with lower grade edges. Ongoing step-out drilling is aiming to uncover the potential extent of this mineralised system.

Geologically, the project is located within the Melbourne Structural Zone in the Lachlan Fold Belt. The regional host to the Sunday Creek mineralisation is an interbedded turbidite sequence of siltstones and minor sandstones metamorphosed to sub-greenschist facies and folded into a set of open north-west trending folds.

Qualified Person

The Qualified Person, Michael Hudson, Executive Chairman and a director of Mawson Gold, and a Fellow of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, has reviewed, verified and approved the technical contents of this release.

About Mawson Gold Ltd

In May 2022, Mawson spun-off its Australian assets via an IPO of SXG onto the ASX. Mawson currently holds 49.57% (96,590,910) of SXG's shares (194,863,187) on issue.

Further Information

Further discussion and analysis of the Sunday Creek project is available through the interactive Vrify 3D animations, presentations and videos all available at www.southerncrossgold.com.au.

On behalf of the Board,

"Bruce Griffin"

Bruce Griffin, Member of the Special Committee and Independent Director Further Information

www.mawsongold.com

1305 - 1090 West Georgia St., Vancouver, BC, V6E 3V7

Mariana Bermudez (Canada), Corporate Secretary

+1 (604) 685 9316 info@mawsongold.com

Forward-Looking Statement

This news release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions and accordingly, actual results and future events could differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. You are hence cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of present or historical fact are forward-looking statements, including statements with respect to the NBTS and the likelihood that the SIA will be entered into and that the Australian Arrangement, including the proposed consolidation of Mawson's shares, proposed listing of Mawson's shares on the ASX and Euro Canna Transaction, will be consummated on the terms and timeline provided herein or at all, the benefits of the Australian Arrangement to Mawson and SXG and the receipt of all required approvals including without limitation by shareholders and applicable court, regulatory authorities and applicable stock exchanges. Forward-looking statements include words or expressions such as "proposed", "will", "subject to", "near future", "in the event", "would", "expect", "prepared to" and other similar words or expressions. Factors that could cause future results or events to differ materially from current expectations expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements include general business, economic, competitive, political, anticipated Swedish legislative changes on the current ban on uranium mining and social uncertainties; the state of capital markets; risks relating to (i) the preliminary and non-binding nature of the NBTS, (ii) the ability of the parties to satisfy the conditions precedent to the execution of the SIA or to ultimately agree on definitive terms, (iii) the impact on the respective businesses, operations and financial condition of Mawson and SXG resulting from the announcement of the Australian Arrangement and/or the failure to enter into definitive agreement(s), including the SIA, or to complete the Australian Arrangement on terms described or at all, (iv) delay or failure to receive board, shareholder regulatory or court approvals, where applicable, or any other conditions precedent to the completion of the SIA, (v) unforeseen challenges in integrating the businesses of Mawson and SXG, (vi) failure to realize the anticipated benefits of the Australian Arrangement or Euro Canna Transaction, (vii) other unforeseen events, developments, or factors causing any of the aforesaid expectations, assumptions, and other factors ultimately being inaccurate or irrelevant; and other risks described in Mawson's and SXG's documents filed with Canadian or Australian securities regulatory authorities. You can find further information with respect to these and other risks in filings made by Mawson or SXG with the securities regulatory authorities in Canada or Australia, as applicable, and available in Canada at www.sedarplus.ca. Mawson's documents are also available at www.mawsongold.com We disclaim any obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable law. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

SOURCE: Mawson Gold Limited

View the original press release on accesswire.com
GRESHAM, Ore. and TOKYO, June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Element Six (E6) and Orbray, both world leaders in high-performing advanced materials, today announced a strategic collaboration to deliver the world's highest quality wafer-scale single crystal (SC) synthetic diamond.

Tomorrow's cutting-edge industrial applications across telecommunications, defense, and artificial intelligence (AI) will place unprecedented demands on power and energy efficiency. Enabling these technologies to reach their full potential requires novel material solutions.

Synthetic diamond, thanks to its superlative properties, including high breakdown field and high thermal conductivity, is the ultimate answer, promising to become the go-to material platform for the next technological century. However, unlocking these disruptive industrial opportunities can only be realised if a reliable supply of wafer-scale SC diamond is available.

Element Six was the first company to build and develop a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) platform consistent with large area, uniform polycrystalline diamond growth up to 150 mm in diameter and, later, pioneering electronic grade SC diamond development and production, commercializing its first SC product range in the 2000s. Recently, E6 opened a world-class CVD facility in Gresham, Oregon, enabling sustainable, scale production of high-quality SC synthetic diamond products.

In parallel, Orbray pioneered the development of a unique heteroepitaxial process to grow SC diamond on cost-efficient sapphire substrates, demonstrating milestone results of SC deposition up to 55 mm diameter.

The partnership between these pioneering companies will combine Orbray's innovative approach to scaling SC CVD diamond with E6's proven large area deposition system and expertise in making high-purity SC diamond, to deliver a reliable supply of high-quality, wafer-scale, single crystal diamond for key applications, including 6G wireless components, advanced power and RF electronics, sensing, thermal management, and quantum devices.

Through this strategic collaboration, Orbray and Element Six will work together to produce wafer-scale high-quality SC diamond, expanding their core competency in diamond technology ahead of anticipated industrial opportunities.

Element Six's patented technology and expertise in high-quality SC CVD diamond and large-area synthesis technology is already being exploited in atomic particle detection and researched in novel applications such as radio frequency (RF) transistors, quantum sensing, and quantum-secure communication. Orbray's innovative heteroepitaxial sapphire substrate approach is advancing the research and development of larger SC wafer-scale diamond substrates, and simultaneously, production of heteroepitaxial SC CVD diamond for novel industrial applications. As a result, by combining these unique capabilities, the partnership between Element Six and Orbray is poised to deliver SC diamond wafer technology at sizes and levels of quality beyond what is possible today.

Ms. Riyako Namiki, President and CEO at Orbray, said:

"The strategic collaboration between Element Six and Orbray represents the next milestone to unlock a new era of single-crystal diamond applications, delivering unprecedented competitive advantage and new heights of performance to an ever-growing range of global customers."

Through its world-leading range of disruptive single-crystal, diamond-enabled solutions, Element Six has already accelerated key advances in a wide range of novel applications, enabling significant milestones such as the identification of Higg's boson and the advancement of optics technology for metrology in the pharmaceutical industry.

Siobhan Duffy, CEO at Element Six, said:

"Both Element Six and Orbray have many distinctive traits in common: a heritage of excellence and trust, spanning over eight decades, as well as a drive for innovation and a desire to push the boundaries of technology to achieve ever-better solutions that can benefit the world.

"This strategic collaboration will allow us to combine our respective core competencies towards the development of a world's first: the highest quality wafer-scale single crystal synthetic diamond."

About Element Six

Element Six, part of the De Beers Group, is a world-leader in the design, development and production of synthetic diamond advanced material solutions. The company operates worldwide with primary manufacturing facilities in US, UK, Ireland, Germany, and South Africa.

For over seventy years, Element Six has harnessed the extreme properties of synthetic diamond to open up new possibilities in areas such as photonics, acoustics, power transmission, water treatment, thermal management and sensors. The company's advanced material solutions are used in a wide rage of applications across multiple industries including manufacturing in the automotive and consumer electronics industries, cutting and drilling in the oil and gas industry, and in components for mining, road, construction and agriculture applications.

About Orbray Co., Ltd.



Head office: Tokyo, Japan

Founded in 1939 with the manufacture of jewel bearings for electric meters. With jewel processing technology (cutting, grinding, and polishing) as its core technology, the company has continued to develop its leading-edge technology to create a variety of products. It currently manufactures and sells precision jewel parts, DC coreless motors, fiber optic components, and medical devices. In particular, Orbray has achieved the world's most advanced results in the technology for growing synthetic diamond and sapphire.

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2433442/Element_Six_Logo.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2433444/4750888/Orbray_Logo.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/element-six-and-orbray-partner-to-deliver-the-worlds-highest-quality-wafer-scale-single-crystal-synthetic-diamond-302168231.html
Woodside has achieved first oil from the Sangomar field offshore Senegal, marking the safe delivery of the country's first offshore oil project.

The Sangomar Field Development Phase 1 is a deepwater project including a stand-alone floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) facility with a nameplate capacity of 100,000 barrels/day, and subsea infrastructure that is designed to allow subsequent development phases.

"This is an historic day for Senegal and for Woodside," said Woodside CEO Meg O'Neill. "First oil from the Sangomar field is a key milestone and reflects delivery against our strategy. The Sangomar project is expected to generate shareholder value within the terms of the production sharing contract.

"Delivering Senegal's first offshore oil project safely, through a period of unprecedented global challenge, demonstrates Woodside's world-class project execution capability. We are proud of the relationships we have formed with PETROSEN, the Government of Senegal and our key international and local contractors to develop this nationally significant resource."

General Manager of PETROSEN E&P Thierno Ly said he was pleased to reach this milestone.

"First oil from the Sangomar field marks a new era not only for our country's industry and economy, but most importantly for our people.

"This achievement is the result of the unwavering commitment of our teams, who have worked diligently to overcome challenges and meet our strategic objectives in a complex and demanding environment. We have never been so well positioned for opportunities for growth, innovation, and success in the economic and social development of our nation."

About Sangomar Field Development Phase 1

The Sangomar Field Development Phase 1 features the Leopold Sedar Senghor FPSO, named after the first president of Senegal, which is moored approximately 100 kilometres offshore Senegal. The vessel has a storage capacity of 1,300,000 barrels.

The Phase 1 development includes 23 wells (11 production wells, 10 water injection wells and 2 gas injection wells). 21 of the 23 wells have been drilled and completed including 9 production wells. The RSSD joint venture has also approved a 24th well (production well) that will be completed in the current campaign.

The Sangomar Project is being progressed by the Rufisque Offshore, Sangomar Offshore and Sangomar Deep Offshore (RSSD) joint venture, comprising Woodside (Operator and 82% participating interest) and Societe des Petroles du Senegal (PETROSEN) (18% participating interest).

The Sangomar Field Development Phase 1 project cost estimate remains within the provided range of US$4.9-$5.2 billion. The drilling campaign at Sangomar is ongoing and Woodside expects to continue commissioning activities and safely ramping up production through 2024.

Crude quality is expected to be ~31 degrees API which is in demand in European and Asian markets.

Woodside's historical acquisition of participating interests in the RSSD joint venture from both Capricorn Energy and FAR included certain contingent payments. Given current timing of first oil and oil prices Woodside anticipates making both these payments. The final payments are subject to ongoing production performance and oil price.

Teleconference

A conference call providing an update on Sangomar first oil with a question-and-answer session will be hosted by Woodside CEO and Managing Director, Meg O'Neill, on Tuesday, 11 June 2024 at 09:30 AWST/11:30 AEST/20:30 CDT (Monday, 10 June 2024).

A separate announcement containing the investor presentation that will be referred to during the conference call will be released shortly.

We recommend participants pre-register 5 to 10 minutes prior to the event with one of the following links:

https://webcast.openbriefing.com/wds-inv-2024/ to listen to a live stream of the question-and-answer session

https://s1.c-conf.com/diamondpass/10039456-ur5bd3.html to participate in the question-and-answer session. Following pre-registration, participants will receive the teleconference details and a unique access passcode.

This announcement was approved and authorised for release by Woodside's Disclosure Committee.

Forward-looking statements

This announcement may contain forward-looking statements with respect to Woodside's business and operations, market conditions, results of operations and financial conditions which reflect Woodside's views held as at the date of this announcement. All statements, other than statements of historical or present facts, are forward-looking statements and generally may be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as 'guidance', 'foresee', 'likely', 'potential', 'anticipate', 'believe', 'aim', 'estimate', 'expect', 'intend', 'may', 'target', 'plan', 'forecast', 'project', 'schedule', 'will', 'should', 'seek' and other similar words or expressions.

Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to inherent known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of Woodside, its related bodies corporate and their respective officers, directors, employees, advisers, or representatives. Details of the key risks relating to Woodside and its business can be found in the "Risk" sections of Woodside's most recent Annual Report released to the Australian Securities Exchange, Woodside's Climate Transition Action Plan and 2023 Progress Report, and in Woodside's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including Woodside's Annual Report on Form 20-F. You should review and have regard to these risks when considering the information contained in this announcement.

Investors are strongly cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. Actual results or performance may vary materially from those expressed in, or implied by any forward-looking statements.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240610557422/en/

Contacts:

INVESTORS

Marcela Louzada

M: +61 456 994 243

E: investor@woodside.com



MEDIA

Christine Forster (Australia)

M: +61 484 112 469

E: christine.forster@woodside.com



Rob Young (United States)

M: +1 281 790 2805

E: robert.young@woodside.com
Kupfer wird oft als das Gold der Energiewende bezeichnet, weil es aufgrund seiner hervorragenden elektrischen Leitfahigkeit eine zentrale Rolle in vielen Technologien spielt, die fur nachhaltige Energiesysteme entscheidend sind. Experten gehen aufgrund der Angebotsknappheit von einem Superzyklus aus.

Korrektur als Einstiegschance

Nach Hochststanden im Mai korrigierte das rote Metall stark. Die Abwartsspirale verstarkte sich in den vergangenen Tagen aufgrund schwacher Konjunkturdaten aus den USA und China. Langfristig konnte sich die aktuell laufende Korrektur als exzellente Einstiegsmoglichkeit herausstellen.

3 Kupferaktien mit hohem Potential

Im neuen, kostenlosen Spezialreport stellen wir drei aussichtsreiche Unternehmen vor, die bei einem weiteren Anstieg uberproportional profitieren konnten.

Handeln Sie jetzt und sichern Sie sich Ihren kostenfreien Report!


EQS Newswire / 11/06/2024 / 10:21 UTC+8



Deploying a VEGGiTY Proof of Concept Model (VPM Model) to

Enhance Chili Supply amid Worsening Climate Change in Malaysia for Nestle

(HONG KONG, 11 June 2024) -Unity Group Holdings International Limited ("Unity Group" or the "Group", stock code: 1539.HK), a leading comprehensive energy-saving and GreenTech solution provider with headquarters in Hong Kong, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding ("MOU") with Nestle Products Sdn. Bhd. ("Nestle"), the Malaysian operating arm of Nestle S. A., the world's largest fast-moving consumer goods company, and GoBiz Asia Sdn. Bhd. ("GoBiz"), the authorized representative for Unity Group in Malaysia. Under the MOU, Unity Group and its wholly-owned agricultural technologies ("AgriTech") arm, VEGGiTY will join hands with Nestle to establish the VEGGiTY Proof of Concept Model ("VPM Model"). Unity Group and GoBiz will be responsible for the delivery, installation, operation, cultivation and management of the VPM Model in Malaysia and ensure the products meet Nestle's standards, expecting to achieve a stable chili supply by December 2024 or another mutually agreed upon date.

Smart AgriTech combines intelligent control and Internet of Things ("IoT") technologies

Mr. Mansfield Wong, Chairman of Unity Group,said, "Due to adverse effects caused by global warming, such as more frequent and prolonged heat waves, the environment for the food and agricultural industry has become more challenging in Malaysia and many other regions with similar climates, such as the Middle East. This hampers crop yields and efficiencies, exacerbating food shortage issues. With innovative agricultural technologies and methods offered by VEGGiTY, we aim to develop an indoor smart AgriTech solution with Nestle to minimize energy costs and water usage while sustainably increasing yielding and efficiencies in a fully controlled indoor environment with intelligent control system and IoT technology. This solution seeks to satisfy consumers' new demands.

In Malaysia, while the Johor state is a major producer of fruits and vegetables, contributing to 34.5% of the nation's production in last year's market, only about 30% of chilies are currently locally produced in Johor. The Johor state aims to reduce dependence on imported chilies, marking a local government push towards innovative agricultural techniques to improve local food production for more robust food security. This effort is a part of Johor's execution of their National Food Security Policy Action Plan 2021-2025 and National Agri-Food Policy 2021-2030.

Unity Group's partnership with Nestle Malaysia thus aligns with the local government mission of enhancing local food security, with the first step being increasing local chili production to reduce import dependency. We will leverage our combined strengths and resources with Nestle to address food scarcity problems stemming from climate conditions.

"Nestle currently purchases 400-500 tons of chili per annum, while their global requirements are up to 5,000 tons per annum. This project is designed to leverage local labors and low-carbon farming strategies to ensure a consistent supply and quality of chili and achieve regenerative farming practices."

Nestle will offtake the chili from Unity Group based on its monthly demand

Under the MOU, Unity Group will provide a 40' container unit for the VPM Model, a fully functional self-contained unit called "Portable All-in-One Digital Vertical Indoor Farming (DVIF) system" and deliver it to Malaysia. The DVIF system features solar panels that power devices with constant temperature and humidity control and automated plant lights for optimal growth. The system can reduce energy costs and water usage while sustainably yielding 200 times more than traditional farms and 10 times more than indoor farms.

According to the MOU, Nestle will provide the chili seeds during the trial, after which Nestle reserves the right to offtake the chili from GoBiz and Unity Group based on its monthly demand. This strategic partnership aims to establish a controlled, climate-resilient growing environment and build a sustainable, resilient food supply chain, reflecting Unity Group's resolute commitment to implementing green strategies and practices in the face of climate change. The project's success is expected to be replicated in other nations addressing similar agricultural and environmental challenges.

- Ends -

About Unity Group Holdings International Limited

Founded in 2008, Unity Group became the first energy service company to be listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. At the core of its operations is the Energy Management Contract (EMC) business model, which implements customized solutions designed to achieve optimal energy efficiency and maximize returns for clients. Unity Group employs industry-leading, effective, and practical research methodologies. These methodologies span innovative green technologies, data analysis, and machine learning. The outcomes of its research and development efforts manifest in its uniquely versatile, appropriate, and actionable green technology solutions. Currently, Unity Group operates in Mainland China, Malaysia, and the Middle East.

For more information, please visit: https://www.unitygroup.eco/index.php

This press release is distributed by LBS Communications Consulting Limited.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Joanne Chan Tel: (852)3679 3671 Email: jchan@lbs-comm.com Jason Ho Tel: (852)3752 2675 Email: jho @lbs-comm.com

11/06/2024 Dissemination of a Financial Press Release, transmitted by EQS News.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.



Media archive at www.todayir.com


Miami, Florida--(Newsfile Corp. - June 5, 2024) - The latest move empowers LinkDaddy to provide enhanced Cloud Authority backlinks for its client base. By working with DigitalOcean, the company delivers high-quality interlinking of relevant content through HTML pages hosted on servers such as Amazon AWS, Microsoft Azure, and IBM Clouds. The collaboration also improves LinkDaddy's cloud infrastructure solutions and allows scalable application development.

More details can be found at https://linkdaddy.com/cloud-authority-backlinks/

LinkDaddy Announces Partnership With DigitalOcean For Cloud Authority Backlinks

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8814/211890_fe99f39d2462286e_002full.jpg

DigitalOcean was formed to meet the growing multi-sector need for affordable cloud-based computing solutions. Since its inception in 2012, the company has expanded to offer services across the globe from the US and Europe to Japan and India. LinkDaddy capitalizes on DigitalOcean's expertise to build credibility for clients on trusted cloud platforms, driving better search engine performance and improving domain authority. Additional details are available at https://www.digitalocean.com/

This enhanced performance achieved, in part, through the use of the cloud stacking method, which helps clients' content appear more readily in search results. By linking a network of cloud-based sites to target websites, LinkDaddy and DigitalOcean help to diversify link profiles and expand traffic sources for businesses. The cumulative effect co-opts the authority of these cloud domains and builds credibility for the target website.

"This method also helps improve a brand's online reputation," a spokesperson says. "By using the trust of famous cloud platforms, you can make your online presence stronger. This can lead to more people recognizing and trusting your brand."

LinkDaddy's approach to implementing an effective campaign for cloud authority backlinks is a seven-stage process beginning with the creation of high-quality content based on keywords chosen by the client. A personalized HTML page is created for each user website, which features all of the aforementioned keywords before the team publishes and interlinks these pages on reputable cloud hosting platforms.

The company creates additional Dofollow SEO backlinks for all HTML pages which bolster the cloud links mentioned above. The LinkDaddy team also provides indexing and a detailed client report.

All backlinks are created using LinkDaddy's white hat SEO practices - all of which comply with Google guidelines. The team says clients can expect to see noticeable results within seven days.

Interested parties can browse a series of packages via the LinkDaddy website, with the B option providing search engine optimized content, up to 10 images, seven keywords, five-tier two DoFollow SEO backlinks as well as indexing, social media links, citations, a YouTube video, and embedded GMB. This package includes cloud hosting via Microsoft Azure, Oracle, Scaleway, Exoscale, and DigitalOcean's own platform.

For more information, go to https://linkdaddy.com/cloud-authority-backlinks/

Contact Info:

Name: Tony Peacock

Email: tony@linkdaddy.com

Organization: LinkDaddy

Address: 1065 SW 8th St PMB 622, Miami, Florida 33130, United States

Website: https://linkdaddy.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/211890

SOURCE: Plentisoft
Partners Group / Key word(s): Funds

Partners Group closes its fifth direct private equity program with total commitments above its target of USD 15 billion



11.06.2024 / 07:00 CET/CEST





Baar-Zug, Switzerland; 11 June 2024

Client commitments to the Program were drawn from all three pillars of Partners Group's diversified client offering

Partners Group's first, second, and third direct private equity funds are in the top quartile for historical performance[1], while its fourth direct private equity fund is still in early value creation mode

Partners Group follows a transformational investing approach based on thematic sourcing and entrepreneurship at scale

Partners Group, one of the largest firms in the global private markets industry, has surpassed its target of USD 15.0 billion in client commitments for its fifth direct private equity program ("the Program"). The Program comprises commitments to Partners Group's fifth direct private equity fund, Partners Group Direct Equity V[2], and to the bespoke client solutions and open-ended funds that allocate to the same direct private equity strategy[3].

The Program is supported by one of the industry's largest middle market private equity teams, with around 200 investment professionals located across Partners Group's offices in the Americas, Europe, and Asia Pacific. These teams draw on a differentiated thematic sourcing approach to identify market-leading companies with transformational potential. Partners Group's large network of over 180 seasoned external industry experts then act as operating directors at portfolio companies to drive value creation and entrepreneurship from the board level.

Wolf Scheider, Partner, Head Private Equity, says: "I am grateful to our clients for their continued trust in our transformational investing approach, which is highlighted by the successful close of our fifth direct private equity program above its target. We have a long track record of applying our industrial mindset to build market-leading businesses that can capitalize on growth trends."

Partners Group applies deep thematic research to identify high conviction sub-sectors supported by resilient long-term global trends across four industry verticals: Technology, Health & Life, Goods & Products, and Services. Through its entrepreneurial governance approach, the firm partners with management teams to build a value creation plan around clearly defined strategic pillars. At the time of closing, the Program was committed to companies including Breitling, a leading Swiss watchmaker; SureWerx, a North American supplier of mission-critical personal protective equipment, safety gear, and tool solutions; and ROSEN Group, a global provider of inspection services for crucial energy infrastructure assets.

Kim Nguyen, Partner, Head Private Equity Services Vertical, comments: "We spend years delving deep into thematic growth trends to develop the winning business models of the future and identify companies in niche ecosystems with the highest value creation potential. Our teams, reinforced with the bespoke expertise of leaders from operational backgrounds, support our portfolio companies to apply these models in order for them to thrive in a rapidly changing economy."

Investors in the Program are a mix of new and existing clients, including public and corporate pension plans, sovereign wealth funds, insurance companies, endowment funds, foundations, and individual investors in the private wealth category. Partners Group's partners and other employees, together with affiliates of the firm, also made a meaningful commitment to the program, bringing the total amount committed to-date by this group to the firm's suite of investment programs to more than USD 4.8 billion.

Sarah Brewer, Partner, Co-Head Client Solutions, comments: "We have built long-term relationships with clients around the world and are pleased that existing investors have once again anchored this direct private equity program. This continued commitment from clients is a testament to the confidence they have in our global private equity platform."

Partners Group's first, second, and third direct private equity funds are in the top quartile for historical performance within their respective vintages, according to leading private markets data provider Preqin. Partners Group's fourth direct private equity fund, which closed in 2021, is still in early value creation mode[4]. In March 2024, a report published by Preqin ranked Partners Group in joint first place as the most consistently performing large buyout manager between 2008-2017[5].

[1] Preqin data, as of 7 June 2024.

[2] Partners Group's fifth direct equity fund is closed. Past performance is not indicative of future returns.

[3] Partners Group has three principal types of client offering: bespoke mandate solutions; evergreen funds, which allow for a certain amount of liquidity and enable individual investors to access private markets more conveniently; and traditional closed-ended, commingled private markets programs. Commitments to the firm's fifth direct private equity program were drawn from all three types of client offering and consist of all allocations to direct private equity made during the fundraising period of Partners Group Direct Equity V.

[4] Partners Group's fourth flagship direct private equity fund has a 2020 vintage and closed in 2021; its third direct private equity fund has a 2016 vintage and closed in 2017 - it currently has a net IRR of 16.4% and a net TVPI of 2.10x; its second direct private equity fund has a 2012 vintage and closed in 2014 - it currently has a net IRR of 17.7% a and net TVPI of 2.28x; its first direct private equity fund has a 2009 vintage and closed in 2010. IRR and TVPI as of 31 March 2024. Past performance is not indicative of future returns.

[5] Why LPs are focusing on the most consistent top-performing GPs: Preqin, 14 March 2024: https://www.preqin.com/insights/research/factsheets/why-lps-are-focusing-on-the-most-consistent-top-performing-gps .

About Partners Group

Partners Group is one of the largest firms in the global private markets industry, with 1'900 professionals and approximately USD 150 billion in assets under management. The firm has investment programs and custom mandates spanning private equity, private credit, infrastructure, real estate, and royalties. With its heritage in Switzerland and its primary presence in the Americas in Colorado, Partners Group is built differently from the rest of the industry. The firm leverages its differentiated culture and its operationally oriented approach to identify attractive investment themes and to build businesses and assets into market leaders. For more information, please visit www.partnersgroup.com or follow us on LinkedIn .



Shareholder relations contact

Philip Sauer

Phone: +41 41 784 66 60

Email: philip.sauer@partnersgroup.com

Media relations contact

Jenny Blinch

Phone: +44 207 575 2571

Email: jenny.blinch@partnersgroup.com

End of Media Release


The proposed remake of the first three blocks of Powell Street would include an enormous golden lantern suspended above the cable car turntable near Powell and Market streets, with programmable LED lighting that could celebrate such events as Pride month. Field Operations/Union Square Alliance

Theres a new look proposed for Powell Street, or at least the historic three-block link between Market Street and Union Square  a remake that its designer describes as practical, with a twist.

Thered be upgraded sidewalks for the beleaguered San Francisco corridor, now a tattered terrain where the ever popular cable cars pass more than 20 empty storefronts. Youd see street trees and ceremonial lighting, and one grand flourish: a starburst-like golden lantern suspended high in the air above the cable car turntable.

If full funding is procured for the project, which is estimated to cost upward of $30 million, the result would be Powell Streets most extensive overhaul since BART opened in 1973.

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We want to make this place feel like something where you want to be, said Richard Kennedy of Field Operations, the landscape architecture firm that teamed with Sitelab Urban Studios on the four-month design effort. If San Francisco is going to rebound and recover, Powell Street is going to play an important role.

The Union Square Alliance seeks to redesign the three blocks of Powell Street between Market Street and Union Square. While the full remake is estimated to cost between $20 million and $30 million, the alliance has $3.5 million to implement a start to the proposed makeover. Field Operations/Union Square Alliance

Field Operations is best known locally for Presidio Tunnel Tops, the extravagant 12-acre space that has become one of San Franciscos most popular outdoor attractions since it opened above Crissy Field in summer 2022. Sitelab often works with developers on the urban design of multi-block mega projects, such as the makeover of Stonestown Galleria that recently was approved by the citys Board of Supervisors.

The Powell Street reboot is much more focused, with constraints both physical and financial.

The cable car is already there. The historic buildings are already there, Sitelab founder Laura Crescimano commented on Monday, after the unveiling of the schematic design proposal to local media. We are not starting from scratch.

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Financially, $3.5 million of city funding is available for an initial set of upgrades, according to the projects sponsor, the Union Square Alliance. But the full remake hinges on whether city voters will approve a $390 million civic improvement bond on the November ballot  and whether the proposed Powell Street overhaul is selected to receive a large chunk of the bonds $75 million reserved for public plazas.

Whatever reality checks are involved, theres a lot to like about the schematic proposal.

As Kennedy said, theres a practical sensibility to such touches as using the same dark speckled concrete paving for sidewalks that already is standard in the Union Square district. Its easy to install; its easy to patch when there are the inevitable incisions to fix pipes or power lines beneath the surface. But there would also be an elegant extra: thin stainless steel bars embedded in the surface to intensify the reflection from new hanging lanterns crisscrossing the street.

Sidewalks would be widened from 15 to 21 feet, the same width as defined by the metal parklets between Ellis and Geary streets that were installed in 2012. If theres money for a full overhaul, the change would involve new curbs and plank-like dark paving. The test phase being discussed for next year would leave the parklets in place but freshen their appearance.

The proposed remake of the first three blocks of San Franciscos Powell Street would include an enormous golden lantern suspended above the cable car turntable between Powell and Market streets. Field Operations/Union Square Alliance

The big flourish would be the golden lantern that is envisioned as the eye-catching introduction to the Powell Street scene.

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Renderings show a speckled orb dotted with LED lights that could be programmed to mark occasions ranging from holidays to sporting events. The illuminated show would seemingly float between two early 20th century landmarks, 1920s 1 Powell St. and the flatiron Flood Building across the way.

In fact, Kennedy said, the overscaled composition would be a discrete lattice of rods that support cabled lights and is supported from below by four posts. Nor is it intended to be the center of attention so much as a counterpoint to the classical structures framing it and rotation of cable cars below.

We want it to have an abstraction and lightness, rather than a specific form, Kennedy said of the lantern. We want it to be timeless.

Field Operations and Sitelab were selected for the project in January, and hit the budget and timing to release the schematic design. That design will be on show from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednsday at one of the streets empty storefronts, in this case the former UniQlo retail store, later the Samsung showroom, at 111 Powell.

As for what comes next, the design offers two stripped-down initial phases that would be financed by $3.5 million already reserved for Powell Street by City Hall.

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One alternative focuses on making the two blocks from Ellis to Geary more comfortable for strollers. The other would concentrate most of the investment on the large lantern, the idea being that a big move will attract more attention.

If this path is pursued, construction could begin next year. Boosters, though, are rooting for the bond to pass and Powell Street to get a windfall.

We really think this project can help turn the corner for Union Square and revive the economy, said Marisa Rodriguez, CEO of the alliance. We want to put our best foot forward.
Regulatory News:

Medincell (Paris:MEDCL):

Reference index for the European tech sector, Euronext Tech Leaders includes more than 120 high-growth and leading tech companies listed on Euronext markets (Amsterdam, Brussels, Dublin, Lisbon, Milan, Oslo, Paris).

By integrating the Euronext Tech Leaders, Medincell gains access to an extensive ecosystem tailored to the tech sector, that includes a broad, international investor base financing tech companies of varying growth stages.

Medincell will also benefit from a wide range of services designed to support selected companies throughout their listing journey.

Christophe Douat, CEO of Medincell, said: "We are honored to join the leading innovative selected to compose this prominent tech index in Europe, where Medincell is currently listed. This inclusion underscores our sustained growth and our leadership in technological innovation within our field. It also adds a new dimension to our financial strategy in France and beyond by enhancing our visibility to a new category of international investors."

More info about the Euronext Tech Leaders initiative: https://www.euronext.com/en/raise-capital/euronext-tech-leaders

About Medincell

Medincell is a clinical- and commercial-stage biopharmaceutical licensing company developing long-acting injectable drugs in many therapeutic areas. Our innovative treatments aim to guarantee compliance with medical prescriptions, to improve the effectiveness and accessibility of medicines, and to reduce their environmental footprint. They combine active pharmaceutical ingredients with our proprietary BEPO technology which controls the delivery of a drug at a therapeutic level for several days, weeks or months from the subcutaneous or local injection of a simple deposit of a few millimeters, entirely bioresorbable. The first treatment based on BEPO technology, intended for the treatment of schizophrenia, was approved by the FDA in April 2023, and is now distributed in the United States by Teva under the name UZEDY (BEPO technology is licensed to Teva under the name SteadyTeq). We collaborate with leading pharmaceutical companies and foundations to improve global health through new treatment options. Based in Montpellier, Medincell currently employs more than 140 people representing more than 25 different nationalities.

UZEDY and SteadyTeq are registered trademarks of Teva Pharmaceuticals.

www.medincell.com

This press release may contain forward-looking statements, particularly concerning the progress of the Company's clinical trials. Although the Company considers that its forecasts are based on reasonable assumptions, any statements other than statements of historical fact that may be contained in this press release relating to future events are subject to change without notice, to factors beyond the Company's control and to the Company's financial capabilities.

These statements may include, but are not limited to, any statements beginning with, followed by or including words or expressions such as "objective", "believe", "expect", "aim", "intend", "may", "anticipate", "estimate", "plan", "project", "will", "may", "probably", "should", "could" and other words or expressions of similar meaning or used in the negative. Forward-looking statements are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties beyond the Company's control which may cause actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to differ materially from those anticipated or implied by such statements.

A list and description of such risks, hazards and uncertainties can be found in the documents filed by the Company with the Autorite des Marches Financiers (AMF) pursuant to its regulatory obligations, including in the Company's document de base, registered with the AMF on September 4, 2018 under number I. 18-062, as well as in documents and reports to be published subsequently by the Company. Furthermore, these forward-looking statements only apply as of the date of this press release. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update these forward-looking statements, nor to update the reasons why actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available. The Company's updating of one or more forward-looking statements does not imply that it will or will not update these or any other forward-looking statements.

This press release is published for information purposes only. The information contained herein does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy or subscribe for securities of the Company in any jurisdiction whatsoever, particularly in France. Similarly, this press release does not constitute investment advice and should not be treated as such. It is not intended to address the investment objectives, financial situation or specific needs of any particular recipient. It should not be relied upon as a substitute for the exercise of your own judgement. All opinions expressed in this document are subject to change without notice. The distribution of this press release may be restricted by law in certain jurisdictions. Persons into whose possession this press release comes are required to inform themselves about and to observe any such restrictions.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240611550964/en/

Contacts:

David Heuze Head of Corporate and Financial Communications, and ESG

david.heuze@medincell.com +33 (0)6 83 25 21 86



Grace Kim Head of US Financial Strategy and IR

grace.kim@medincell.com +1 (646) 991-4023



Investors Relations France

Louis-Victor Delouvrier/Alban Dufumier

medincell@newcap.eu +33 (0)1 44 71 94 94



Media Relations

Nicolas Merigeau

medincell@newcap.eu +33 (0)1 44 71 94 94
THE HAGUE, Netherlands, June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Amber Implants ('Amber' or 'the Company'), an innovative medical technology company developing next-generation implants for spinal injuries, today announces that it has completed enrolment of its first-in-human clinical trial with its innovative VCFix Spinal System. The VCFix Spinal System is the first device that does not rely on bone cement for the treatment of vertebral compression fractures.

The trial was conducted at two centers in Germany with Prof. Dr. Med. Robert Pflugmacher (Orthopaedic surgeon, Kreiskrankenhaus Mechernich GmbH.) and Dr. Med. Ardeshir Ardeshiri (Neurosurgeon, Wilhelmsburger Krankenhaus Gro-Sand Hamburg) and assessed the safety and efficacy of the VCFix Spinal System for patients suffering from osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures. The device was primarily used in stand-alone configuration without bone cement.

The study enrolled 10 patients, all of whom suffered from severe disabling pain with Disability Ratings of 70% and higher. Following the procedure, typically lasting less than 20 minutes, all the patients saw maximal pain reduction with Disability Ratings reduced to 10% or less and they were able to walk freely without disability at discharge.

The short-term efficacy data, as well as the performance of the device, has shown promising results and will be further assessed in the continuation of this trial. Prof. Dr. Med. Robert Pflugmacher said: "VCFix represents a remarkable innovation, significantly improving the reconstruction of fractured vertebrae". "This technology has proven to be user-friendly and has yielded exceptional short-term outcomes for our patients", added Dr. Med. Ardeshir Ardeshiri.

The Company will soon begin the pivotal clinical trial for the same intended use (i.e., standalone and with and without cement) as well as test the device with a posterior fixation method for high-energy traumatic fractures. Amber is preparing for these pivotal trials in a broader European setting before the end of the year and is building towards Food and Drug Administration ('FDA') clearance for its first indication in early 2025.

Dr. Banafsheh Sajadi, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Amber Implants said: "Short-term efficacy data from the study is very promising, with results even exceeding our expectations. Patients have experienced significant pain relief and regained the ability to walk without discomfort. VCFix has the potential to be a disruptive technology for the millions of patients who suffer from vertebral fractures each year. We are now focused on preparing for pivotal trials in Europe to bring the benefits of this technology to the many more patients who would otherwise suffer from the high rate of complications associated with other treatment options available."

Per year, over 8.6 million people suffer from different types of vertebral fractures. These fractures cause severe back pain, limited mobility, disability, and an increased rate of mortality. Currently, vertebral compression fractures are managed through the injection of Polymethyl Methacrylate (PMMA) bone cement into the affected vertebra and/or with multi-level posterior fixation. This can lead to side effects in up to two-thirds of patients, post-treatment.

The VCFix Spinal System is designed to restore the spine and provide maximum stability to the affected spinal segments. VCFix offers an innovative strategy for managing a wide range of vertebral fractures, with and without cement and with and without posterior fixation. It can be used for a broad range of indications, from osteoporotic low-energy fractures to traumatic high-energy fractures, and would therefore be a disruptive technology for this patient population.

The VCFix Spinal System has received a breakthrough designation from the FDA.

CAUTION: This device is exclusively for clinical investigation and no substantiated clinical benefits have been established.

About Amber Implants

Amber Implants is a medical technology company located in the Netherlands. Founded in 2018, the Company has developed novel spinal implants for Vertebral Compression Fractures (VCFs) and is focused on improving patient outcomes through implants that provide more natural healing and better stability. Amber Implants is committed to delivering a new generation of treatments for traumatic fractures, promising a simpler, more efficient, and safer approach to treating a broader range of fractures.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/amber-implants-completes-enrolment-of-first-in-human-clinical-trial-of-its-vcfix-spinal-system-302168519.html
Newly Merged, Full-Service Agency Now Serves Brands Globally

SAN DIEGO, June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading independent agencies Mindgruve and Macarta are proud to announce their official merger into a single powerhouse brand, MindgruveMacarta. This new company brings together two of the fastest-growing agencies in the U.S., according to Adweek, to unite their award-winning expertise in performance marketing, retail media, and analytics into a seamless, integrated offering. With more than 300 employees across seven offices in San Diego, Denver, Mexico City, Sao Paulo, Amsterdam, Madrid, and London, MindgruveMacarta is now one of the top independent, performance marketing and retail media agencies in the world.

"This is a transformational moment for us," said Chad Robley, CEO of Mindgruve, who will become Chairman and CEO of the combined agency. "As MindgruveMacarta, we are well positioned to attract ambitious global brands seeking a fully integrated, omni-channel approach to performance marketing, retail media, and advanced analytics."

MindgruveMacarta will serve a diverse client base including Fortune 500 companies, with a portfolio of brands including P&G, Colgate-Palmolive, Dupont, Sony, Mattel, 3M, and Wrangler. The combined entity will be led by long-tenured industry veterans with a strong track record of delivering dynamic growth for their global brand partners.

"Bringing together Mindgruve and Macarta's expertise into a single, integrated offering creates a performance marketing and retail media juggernaut," said Mike Hodges, CEO of Macarta, who will become President of MindgruveMacarta. "MindgruveMacarta will give clients access to the most advanced media mix modeling, cross-platform attribution and in-depth data science."

MindgruveMacarta will now bring together industry expertise in consumer, CPG, B2B, healthcare, financial services, and technology sectors as well as deep platform experience in Google, Meta, Linkedin, Amazon, Walmart and Mercado Libre. The agency is a Google Premier Partner and Amazon Advanced Advertising Partner.

For more information about MindgruveMacarta, please visit the website at mindgruvemacarta.com.

About MindgruveMacarta

MindgruveMacarta is a global performance marketing, retail media and data-tech company created from the merger of Mindgruve and Macarta. The agency is comprised of strategists, creatives, media and marketplace experts, data scientists, and engineers driven by one common purpose - accelerate business growth through data-driven marketing, creative, and commerce. With over 300 experts across the globe, MindgruveMacarta's teams provide integrated, performance marketing and retail media solutions for global brands.

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WHSmith will drive growth and savings by using Xiatech's Xfuze integration, data and analytics platform.

WHSmith, the global travel retailer, has chosen Xiatech, the pioneer of Xfuze, the world's first composable Hyper-Integration Platform, as its partner to support the acceleration of the business' growth and international expansion.

The 10-year partnership will involve WHSmith deploying Xfuze to create a real-time, hyper-connected business by integrating their system landscape and creating a single view of trusted data (including customers, sales, product, inventory), supporting the retailer's operations and decision-making across its global business.

"As a business operating in more than 30 countries around the world, we are always looking at how we can consistently deliver the best possible experience for our customers, no matter where they shop with us. We are excited to partner with Xiatech whose innovative integration, data and analytics platform offers us rapid feedback and insights from across our business, helping us stay connected to the needs of our colleagues, customers and suppliers and helping us to always be there for every one of life's journeys," said Lyndon Hearn, Group CIO, WHSmith.

Established more than 200 years ago, WHSmith is a leading global travel retailer employing over 14,000 colleagues and operating more than 1,700 stores across 30 countries. The business is dedicated to supporting its customers' journeys and employs a forensic approach to retail to ensure it delivers a leading experience for customers. Xiatech's AI-powered Xfuze platform will enable WHSmith's technology group to obtain visibility of, transform and automate key processes across the retail value chain, which will reduce the cost of serving customers, improve operations and be able to respond faster to market threats and opportunities.

"We are honoured to have been chosen by WHSmith to power the retailer's travel, high street and international business including its digital transformation for years to come. Our Xfuze platform will enable WHSmith to become a data-first retailer using integrated systems, data and processes that, ultimately, improve customer experiences," said Jonathan Summerfield, CEO of Xiatech.

Xiatech creates connected businesses so information flows across organisations in real-time by using its Xfuze platform to integrate systems, data, analytics and processes.

Certified by the MACH Alliance, Xfuze is a cloud-native platform that features a library of Smart Connectors, a Digital Integration Hub, a Unified Data Repository, an Insights Hub and Advanced Analytics powered by Composable AI, to empower IT and business teams to rapidly add new channels to market and generate more value from existing technology investments.

About WHSmith

WHSmith is a leading global retailer for the world's travelling customer. With more than 1,700 stores across 30 countries worldwide, WHSmith offer customers a wide range of travel essentials for their journey, including books, newspapers magazines, digital accessories and food and drink.

The Company has a growing international business with over 640 stores primarily across the world's leading airports, including over 320 stores in North America, incorporating leading specialty retail brands Marshall Retail Group and InMotion.

WHSmith's High Street business comprises over 520 stores across the UK and customers can shop online 24/7 at WHSmith.co.uk.

Follow WHSmith on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

About Xiatech

Xiatech shortens time-to-insights, accelerates digital transformation, and extends the value of legacy technology investments by providing organisations with Xfuze, the world's first ML-powered composable Hyper-Integration Platform that innovatively connects systems, creates a single view of data and delivers actionable insights in one solution. To learn more about how organisations are quickly generating results in weeks, visit www.xiatech.io or our Xfuze Showplace.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240610033395/en/

Contacts:

Lance Mercereau

CMO at Xiatech

lance@xiatech.io

M: 07788 183273
LONDON, June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Cronofy, the embedded scheduler for high-performance teams, has released the latest edition of its annual Candidate Expectations report. Surveying 12,000 candidates across 7 countries in Europe and North America, the report presents exclusive insights into what candidates want out of hiring experiences.

Long waiting times psychologically damaging to anxious candidates

Candidates from the UK, France, Germany, USA, Spain, Canada, and the Netherlands share that long times taken to schedule interviews, ghosting, and a lack of communication are placing higher psychological burdens on candidates than ever before. They name the top most frustrating issue in recruiting as lack of responsiveness and poor communication (at 28%). Neurodiverse candidates feel the effect of inefficient interview processes even more keenly, reporting higher levels of stress at 56%, compared to the global population (38%).

Candidates complain of longest interview scheduling delays on record due to increased recruiter workload

Amidst layoffs, candidates report feeling that the market is starkly less stable compared to previous years. In 2024, a higher proportion (36%) candidates are waiting a month or more before disengaging from an interview scheduling process, up 12% from last year. Just 12% of candidates would disengage after 1 week, less than half compared to 2023.

Recruiters come under more pressure as the percentage of candidates expecting to wait a month or more for their first interview is up almost 3x from last year (from 5% to 14%). The largest proportion of candidates (31%) report their first interview took as long as 2-3 weeks to schedule, presenting a missed opportunity for recruiters looking to recruit top candidates.

Candidates demand automated interview scheduling to ease delay pains

Candidates named the top area they want to see automated as interview scheduling at 37%. With 81% also saying having human touchpoints during the hiring process is vitally important, recruiters need to balance automation and timely communication to succeed.

To read the report, visit: https://www.cronofy.com/reports/candidate-expectations-report-2024

About Cronofy:

Founded in 2014, Cronofy powers scheduling for over 180,000 companies, automating scheduling for any kind of interview in minutes, so that recruiters can focus on hiring top candidates. The privacy-first provider integrates with 70+ ATS, and their products are trusted by leading companies like Wise, GoDaddy, Indeed, Haufe Group, and Personio.

Discover more: https://www.cronofy.com/

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LINKOPING, Sweden, June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Following the Swedish Tire Safety Council's alarming report on wheel detachment incidents, NIRA Dynamics reaffirms the value of its pioneering Loose Wheel Indicator (LWI) technology. Established in the market since 2017 and currently enhancing over 1 million vehicles, including Audi's fleet, LWI represents a significant leap in automotive safety, offering a proven, software-based solution to mitigate the risks associated with wheel loss.

The urgency for innovative safety solutions has never been more critical, as the council's report sheds light on the 30,000 wheels detaching annually in Sweden, contributing to roughly 900 traffic accidents. Leveraging the widespread adoption and success of LWI technology, NIRA Dynamics is at the forefront of addressing this issue through advanced sensor analytics and real-time driver alerts.

By utilizing the vehicle's existing wheel speed sensors, LWI detects the early signs of wheel loosening. This seamless integration and continuous monitoring system have made LWI a cost-effective and easily deployable safety feature for manufacturers like Audi and Zeekr, demonstrating significant reductions in the incidence of wheel detachment.

Already on the market, preventing accidents

With LWI's established presence since 2017, its contribution to road safety is tangible. For drivers, LWI provides unmatched confidence and security, dramatically lowering the potential for wheel detachment accidents. For society, a broad application of LWI would pave the way for safer roads and underscore NIRA Dynamics' commitment to pioneering sustainable safety solutions.

"Since its introduction, LWI has been instrumental in safeguarding over a million drivers, a testament to our vision for a safer automotive future," affirms Jorg Sturmhoebel, Product Manager Wheel Safety at NIRA Dynamics. "The Swedish Tire Safety Council is doing a great job education the public about tire safety, however, there are cost-efficient technologies that can further minimize the number of wheels lost."

Future outlook and call to action

Encouraged by the Swedish Tire Safety Council's findings, NIRA Dynamics continues to innovate in the realm of vehicle safety. The company extends an invitation to automakers and industry stakeholders to explore the benefits of integrating LWI technology, moving closer towards universal road safety through technological excellence. "We truly believe that more car manufacturers could and should benefit from collaborating on tire-related occurrences. The tires and their characteristics are extremely important factors when it comes to traffic safety" says Lisa Abom, CEO at NIRA Dynamics.

Learn more about LWI: https://www.niradynamics.com/products/loose-wheel-indicator

About NIRA Dynamics: NIRA Dynamics, established 2001 with main office in Linkoping/Sweden, is specialized in sensor fusion and vehicle data cloud services. NIRA develops cost-efficient safety and navigation solutions for the global vehicle industry, as well as big data services for the road maintenance industry. Among the customers are Audi, Volkswagen, Honda, Volvo, Stellantis, Renault, BYD, SGMW and Geely.

Contact details:

Johan Hagg - Head of Marketing & Communication

Email: johan.hagg@niradynamics.se

Phone: +46 700 454056

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SANTA CLARA, Calif. and PUNE, India, June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Persistent Systems (BSE: PERSISTENT) and (NSE: PERSISTENT), a global Digital Engineering and Enterprise Modernization leader, announced a long-term Strategic Partnership Agreement with Google Cloud for expanded reach across the US, India, UK, and Australia. This agreement focuses on driving joint go-to-market activities and accelerating digital transformation for enterprises globally. Using Google Cloud's Gemini models, along with other innovative Google technologies, the Company will develop industry-specific solutions to drive broad-based GenAI adoption. The agreement will enable Google Cloud and Persistent to deliver market-leading solutions that help enterprises maximize the ROI from their cloud investments while modernizing their infrastructure and data stack.

Under this strategic agreement, Persistent will leverage its deep domain expertise, combined with Google Cloud's advanced platforms and AI, to create innovative solutions tailored for the BFSI, Healthcare and Life Sciences, Communications, Media and Telecom, Consumer Tech, and Hi-Tech industries. It will accelerate the adoption of emerging AI-driven technologies and create unique value propositions for clients as they receive early access to the new offerings. The collaboration will also lead to rapid deployment of services and comprehensive support to clients, enhancing overall customer satisfaction. Furthermore, Persistent will have access to additional resources from Google Cloud to build new solutions, leading to faster time-to-market.

Persistent has made significant investments in its go-to-market initiatives and talent reskilling program to strengthen the partnership with Google Cloud. The Company has invested significantly across seven Specializations, most recently acquiring Data & Analytics and Machine Learning Specializations, 52 expertise designations, and over 87% of Persistent's engineers are trained on GenAI technologies. As a highly specialized Global Solutions Systems Integrator (SSI) partner, Persistent showcases a strong track record of its capabilities and expertise in integrating and implementing Google Cloud solutions.

With this expanded partnership, Persistent and Google Cloud will continue to help joint clients capitalize on the power of cloud for improved scalability and innovation.

Sandeep Kalra, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director, Persistent:

"As a client-centric organization, we remain committed to delivering client value through access to the unique capabilities and solutions of our curated partner ecosystem. Our new Google Cloud Strategic Partnership Agreement, combined with our industry-leading cloud practice and Google Cloud's pioneering technologies, positions us to set new benchmarks for what can be achieved through cloud, data and analytics, and AI. Together, we will continue to deliver unparalleled value to our clients by offering the scale, efficiency, and enhanced security necessary to help our clients create differentiation and growth."

Kevin Ichhpurani, Corporate Vice President, Global Ecosystem and Channels, Google Cloud:

"Global organizations today are digitally transforming with Google Cloud's trusted infrastructure, services, and generative AI. This new Strategic Partnership Agreement will help these organizations accelerate their cloud- and AI-driven transformations with leading technology from Google Cloud and thousands of specialized and certified experts from Persistent. We're excited to work with Persistent to bring even more cloud and AI services and solutions to enterprises."

About Persistent

With over 23,800 employees located in 21 countries, Persistent Systems (BSE & NSE: PERSISTENT) is a global services and solutions company delivering Digital Engineering and Enterprise Modernization. As a participant of the United Nations Global Compact, Persistent is committed to aligning strategies and operations with universal principles on human rights, labor, environment, and anti-corruption, as well as take actions that advance societal goals. With 268% growth since 2020, Persistent is the fastest-growing Indian IT Services brand according to Brand Finance.

www.persistent.com

Forward-looking and Cautionary Statements

For risks and uncertainties relating to forward-looking statements, please visit persistent.com/flcs

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Kunstliche Intelligenz hat spatestens nach dem Raketenstart von Chat GPT das Leben aller verandert. Doch der Superzyklus steht nach Meinungen von Experten erst am Anfang. Wahrend Aktien wie Nvidia von der ersten Aufwartsentwicklung stark profitieren konnten, versprechen aussichtsreiche Player aus der

zweiten Reihe noch enormes Aufwartspotenzial.



Im kostenlosen, exklusiven Spezialreport prasentieren wir ihnen 5 innovative KI-Unternehmen, die bahnbrechende Entwicklungen in diesem Sektor pragen konnten.



Warum sollten Sie dabei sein?

Trotz der jungsten Erfolge steht die Entwicklung der kunstlichen Intelligenz noch am Beginn eines neuen Superzyklus. Experten gehen davon aus, dass der Sektor bis 2032 global auf 1,3 Billionen US-Dollar explodieren wird, wobei ein groer Teil auf Hardware und Infrastruktur entfallen wird.



Nutzen Sie die Chance!

Fordern Sie sofort unseren brandneuen Spezialreport an und erfahren Sie, welche 5 KI-Aktien das grote Potenzial zur Vervielfachung besitzen. Dieser Report ist komplett kostenlos und zeigt Ihnen die aussichtsreichsten Investments im KI-Sektor.

Handeln Sie jetzt und sichern Sie sich Ihren kostenfreien Report!
New leadership and global market growth initiatives showcased at first annual EMEA Conference in Barcelona, accelerating BirchStreet's presence in key global region

LAS VEGAS, June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- BirchStreet Systems, a leading global technology provider of enterprise procure-to-pay solutions to the hospitality sector, has announced significant growth momentum and expansion initiatives in the EMEA region, led by Mark Haywood, Chief Commercial Officer, EMEA & APAC. Haywood brings over two decades of diverse and highly relevant industry experience within the hospitality and SaaS technology sectors to his role at BirchStreet. Throughout his successful career, he has capitalized on his experience and expertise, holding several e-commerce and SaaS technology company management, leadership and commercial positions in organizations such as RateGain Technologies, TravelClick (Amadeus), Melia Hotels, The Ascott Group, and First Option Hotel Reservations.

"We continue delivering on our deep commitment to EMEA customers," said Haywood. "Hospitality businesses in this part of the globe are searching for ways to enhance their operational efficiencies and bottom lines, while building guest satisfaction and loyalty. Our local presence in the EMEA market allows us to maintain on-going dialogue with our customers, understand their long-term business strategies and challenges, adapt our solutions to the specific market needs and ensure we can help them grow."

BirchStreet has expanded its presence to 57 EMEA countries, currently serving more than 1,800 hospitality properties in the region. EMEA customers leverage BirchStreet's platform to manage 4.3 billion EUR in annual spend. Since the beginning of 2024, the company has added several new brands across Europe, UAE, and The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to its portfolio, posting triple-digit net new growth YoY.

To support its commitment to delivering value, BirchStreet Systems recently hosted the first annual EMEA Conference in Barcelona, gathering the hospitality industry's leading and innovative brands to discuss important issues in property operations, exchange fresh ideas and share best practices.

ESG thought leaders Gavin McGee Fraser of Sircle Collection, Bart van den Hoven of Marriott, International, Maribel Esparcia Perez of RaizUp, and Alvaro Rodriguez, Ph.D. of The Climate Reality Project, discussed the latest developments in hospitality Sustainability efforts, the impact of various European regulations and what actionable steps hospitality brands should take to ensure that they meet their customers' expectations.

Marcel M. Bruognolo of Hyatt Hotels Corporation, Jason Stump of Wynn Al Marjan Island, and Dorothee Bechstadt of Hilton Supply Management provided unique insights into how emerging technologies, financial strategies and innovation help drive operational excellence in hospitality, as well as sharing a thought-provoking outlook on what future trends will drive the next wave in the evolution of hospitality P2P.

Pablo Perez Gutierrez of Sircle Collection, Sachin Thomas of Marriott EMEA, & Dorothee Bechstadt of Hilton Supply Management shared their organizations' remarkable journeys and success in P2P transformation, discussing the importance of the data that drives better decision-making and outlining critical business factors that lead companies to adopt procurement technologies and process.

Keynote speaker Dr. Christina Yan Zhang of The Metaverse Institute talked about the fascinating breakthroughs in Generative AI and other disruptive technologies, and how their proper adoption and utilization can help build a sustainable hospitality industry in the future.

"This forum was an important milestone in forming a unique hospitality community in the EMEA region that collectively will help shape the future of P2P hospitality. We look forward to many more gatherings in the future!" added Haywood.

For more information on BirchStreet Systems and its leading P2P operational platform purpose-built for hospitality, please visit www.birchstreetsystems.com.

About BirchStreet Systems

Founded in 2002, BirchStreet is the leading global provider of enterprise procure-to-pay solutions for the hospitality sector. BirchStreet's software platform provides leading global hospitality brands with a full suite of procurement applications, including eProcurement software, accounts payable automation, invoice management, inventory management, recipe management, supplier payments, and reporting and analytics. BirchStreet's customers leverage the company's solutions to access a broad network of suppliers and manage billions of dollars of spend annually across a wide variety of categories, including food and beverage, operating supplies, maintenance services and capital projects. For more information, please visit www.birchstreetsystems.com.

Media Contacts:

Irina Jakovleva

BirchStreet Systems

Chief Marketing Officer

ijakovleva@birchstreet.net

Andrea Mane

ProVision Partners

amane@provision-partners.com

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AMSTERDAM, June 11, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Relay42, a leading European Customer Data Platform (CDP), is leveraging Amazon QuickSight to power its new real-time customer intelligence, reporting, and dashboard module. Harnessing the breadth and quality of customer data, the new Insights module empowers marketing teams to dive deep into customer behaviors and gain invaluable insights into the performance of their marketing programs across all online, offline, paid, and owned marketing channels.

Preview of the Relay42 Insights module, in pre-beta version



Key capabilities of the Relay42 Insights module include:

Deep insights into customer behaviors: With the Relay42 Insights module, marketers can ask unlimited questions about their data and gain a deeper understanding of how to serve their customers more effectively.



With the Relay42 Insights module, marketers can ask unlimited questions about their data and gain a deeper understanding of how to serve their customers more effectively. Simplicity with AI-powered querying: Marketers can use artificial intelligence to query their data using natural language search, reducing the reliance on data scientists. Users can simply type a question to access insights on-demand, without the need for predefined queries or complex data manipulation.



Marketers can use artificial intelligence to query their data using natural language search, reducing the reliance on data scientists. Users can simply type a question to access insights on-demand, without the need for predefined queries or complex data manipulation. Multi-source data integration: The Relay42 Insights module enables marketers to pull data from various sources. This includes CRM systems, call center records, and other external sources, providing a comprehensive view of customer interactions.



The Relay42 Insights module enables marketers to pull data from various sources. This includes CRM systems, call center records, and other external sources, providing a comprehensive view of customer interactions. Customizable dashboards: Marketers can create customizable dashboards that suit their specific requirements, facilitating an easy visualization of key metrics and KPIs.



Marketers can create customizable dashboards that suit their specific requirements, facilitating an easy visualization of key metrics and KPIs. Real-time statistics: Leveraging real-time first-party data, the Insights module provides marketers with instant access to the latest insights to inform their decision-making when crafting marketing campaigns.



"We are very excited to work with Amazon to embed more customer intelligence into Relay42," said Tomas Salfischberger, CEO and founder of Relay42. "The new module unlocks a treasure trove of customer intelligence and actionable insights to optimize marketing performance."

About Relay42

Relay42 is an Orchestration Customer Data Platform (CDP) that empowers businesses to create meaningful customer relationships by utilizing smart technology to transform fragmented interactions into seamless journeys. Relay42 gives businesses the freedom, flexibility, and agility to build sustainable customer relationships, using valuable customer data as a baseline.

Global brands including Air France, KLM, Vattenfall, and FedEx rely on Relay42 to anticipate and address customer needs in real time across all online and offline channels. Relay42 is the only platform built for AI-driven customer journeys with real-time connectivity to all systems and touchpoints.

For more information, visit https://relay42.com .

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Bicyclists make their way up Valencia Streets controversial center bike lanes. Bronte Wittpenn/The Chronicle

San Franciscos Municipal Transportation Agency appears ready to shift course on its much-criticized center-running bikeway project on Valencia Street.

The agencys staff will ask the citys transportation board at its June 18 meeting to approve a conceptual design for a side-running bikeway to replace the Valencia corridors center-running bikeway, according to a public-hearing notice. The current center lanes span eight blocks on Valencia between 15th and 23rd streets.

Valencia Street bike lane controversy: S.F.s new plan leaves a key decision up to merchants

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Agency leadership, for months, has considered whether to remove San Franciscos first center-running bike lanes as the project drew widespread criticism from merchants and cyclists who bike on the busy commercial corridor in the Mission District.

Protected side-running lanes have the endorsement of the Valencia Corridor Merchants Association, which urged the SFMTA in May to make the switch.

Agency officials have floated two potential concepts for side-running bike lanes that differ in how cyclists would navigate the dozens of parklets along Valencia Street.

One design would keep parklets curbside and have cyclists snake around them  toward the car lanes. The other design calls for floating parklets in which bike lanes run between the curb and parklets, as they do on Oaklands Telegraph Avenue commercial corridor. Its unclear which design the SFMTAs Board of Directors will be asked to approve.

Valencia cyclists and businesses shouldnt expect sudden changes if the transportation board endorses a new design. SFMTA officials said in February that it would likely take seven months after board approval for the side-running bikeway to take effect, meaning the center-running lanes will remain at least through the end of the year.

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Still, merchants and cyclists are likely to receive the agencys pivot as welcome news.

Merchants have threatened legal action, and one of them went on a monthlong hunger strike, in opposition of the center bikeway they blame for declines in foot traffic to their storefronts.

Some cyclists favor the center bikeway over the painted side lanes that sandwiched cyclists between car traffic and curbside parking spots, and the transportation agency says early data show fewer cyclists are getting doored by cars. Many other cyclists, though, say the center bikeway is awkward and challenging to enter and exit, and doesnt feel safe to ride.
CHICAGO, June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- High Voltage Power Transformer Market in terms of revenue was estimated to be worth $9.1 billion in 2024 and is poised to reach $12.3 billion by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 6.3% from 2024 to 2029 according to a new report by MarketsandMarkets.

This growth is primarily driven by the need to strengthen power distribution networks to keep up with the rising global demand for electricity. Furthermore, the market stands to gain from the increasing capacity of renewable energy sources and substantial investments in industrial production, both of which are expected to boost the demand for High voltage power transformers. Another key factor contributing to this expansion is the growing adoption of high-voltage direct current systems, which is expected to further accelerate market growth during the forecast period.

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Browse in-depth TOC on "High Voltage Power Transformer Market"

204 - Tables

64 - Figures

262 - Pages

High Voltage Power Transformer Market Scope:

Report Coverage Details Market Revenue in 2024 $9.1 billion Estimated Value by 2029 $12.3 billion Growth Rate Poised to grow at a CAGR of 6.3% Market Size Available for 2020-2029 Forecast Period 2024-2029 Forecast Units Value (USD Million/Billion) Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, and Trends Segments Covered By Power Rating, By Cooling Type and By End User Geographies Covered Asia Pacific, North America, Europe, Middle East and Africa, and South America Report Highlights Updated financial information / product portfolio of players Key Market Opportunities Development of customized transformers to deploy in HVDC transmission systems Key Market Drivers Pressing need for grid modernization and expansion with increasing electricity demand

By power rating, LPT (> 60 MVA) segment is expected to be the fastest market.

LPT (> 60 MVA) segment is expected to be the fastest growing market largely due to their widespread application across numerous industries and utility services. The demand for LPTs is being primarily driven by the exponential increase in renewable energy installations and increase in grid infrastructure globally. Renewable energy sources like wind and solar power, which are crucial for sustainable and environmentally friendly energy production, require large power transformers to convert fluctuating voltages into stable and usable power for transmission. Projects like the Champlain Hudson Power Express transmission line in the United States, delivering clean hydroelectricity from Canada to New York City, highlight the importance of large power transformers in enabling the transmission of renewable energy over long distances.

Oil immersed segment, by cooling type, to occupy majority of High Voltage Power Transformer Market share.

The oil immersed segment is expected to continue dominating the High Voltage Power Transformer Market share due to several inherent advantages that oil cooling offers over other methods like air cooling. Oil as a coolant is more effective in dissipating heat from the transformer core and windings because of its superior thermal conductivity and higher heat capacity. This enables oil immersed transformers to handle higher power capacities and operate at a lower temperature, enhancing their efficiency and lifespan. Furthermore, oil immersion helps prevent oxidation of the core and coil, thereby reducing maintenance needs and improving reliability. The fluid also serves as an excellent insulator, significantly reducing the risk of electrical faults within the transformer. Despite concerns about potential environmental impacts, such as oil leaks, advancements in containment and bio-based oils are addressing these challenges, making oil immersed transformers a preferred choice for heavy-duty applications in industrial and utility settings where high power output and reliability are critical. This enduring preference secures their majority stake in the market.

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Asia Pacific to emerge as the largest High Voltage Power Transformer Market.

Asia Pacific is expected to emerge as the largest market for high voltage power transformers, driven by several convergent factors that are shaping its energy landscape. The primary driver is the expansive urbanization and industrialization across major economies such as China, India, and Southeast Asia. These countries are experiencing significant growth in their manufacturing sectors and widespread construction of new infrastructure, which necessitates a robust and reliable power supply, thereby increasing the demand for high voltage high voltage power transformers. Moreover, governments in the Asia-Pacific are heavily investing in enhancing their national grid infrastructures to support economic growth and improve the quality of life for their growing populations. According to a recent BloombergNEF report, China accounted for nearly half of all global low-carbon spending. In 2022, the country invested USD 546 billion in solar and wind energy, as well as electric vehicles and batteries. India plans to invest USD 34.2 billion by 2030 in an interstate transmission network (ISTS) to evacuate renewable energy, according to K Sreekant, Chairman and Managing Director of government owned Powergrid Corporation of India (PGCIL). According to data from GlobalData, Energy Monitor's parent business, China invests more in transmission grids than any other country combined. In 2022, China invested USD 166 billion in its transmission infrastructure, while other countries contributed USD 118 billion. Investments in infrastructure updates are driven by the country's aging power infrastructure. All these investments will likely drive the high voltage high voltage High Voltage Power Transformer Market in the Asia Pacific region. This has led to a surge in demand for advanced high voltage high voltage power transformers that can handle the variable outputs of renewable energy sources such as wind and solar. Additionally, the region is characterized by a strong push towards rural electrification, especially in countries with significant rural populations. Programs aimed at extending the electrical grid to remote areas are crucial in increasing the penetration of electricity to underserved regions, further driving the demand for high voltage high voltage power transformers.

Key Market Players of High Voltage Power Transformer Industry:

Key players in the global High Voltage Power Transformer Market include Hitachi Energy (Japan), Siemens Energy (Germany), Schneider Electric (France), Toshiba Energy System & Solution Corporation (Japan), and General Electric (US).

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Related Reports:

Power Transformer Market by Power Rating (Small Power Transformer (Up To 60 MVA), Medium Power Transformer (61- 600 MVA), Large Power Transformer (Above 600 MVA)), Cooling Type (Oil-cooled, Air-cooled), Phase (Single, Three) - Global Forecast to 2029

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CHICAGO, June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The report "Ethyl Cyanoacetate Market by Grade (Pharmaceutical Grade, Industrial Grade), Function (Chemical Intermediates, Polymerization, Cross-linking Agents, Catalysts), Application Pharmaceutical, Agrochemicals, Adhesives, Dyes) - Global Forecast 2029", size is projected to grow from USD 145 million in 2024 to USD 184 million by 2029, registering a CAGR of 4.9% during the forecast period. The Ethyl cyanoacetate market is poised for substantial growth, propelled due to its versatile applications across various industries, including pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and specialty chemicals. It serves as a crucial intermediate in organic synthesis and fundamental building block for a wide range of compounds. Moreover, advancements in chemical synthesis techniques and the development of novel applications further contribute to the rising demand for ethyl cyanoacetate.

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Pharmaceuticals, by application, is expected to be the most significant Ethyl cyanoacetate Market segment during the forecast period.

Pharmaceuticals has emerged as the fastest-growing end-use industry in the Ethyl cyanoacetate market because it serves as a crucial intermediate in the synthesis of various pharmaceutical compounds, including drugs and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). The pharmaceutical sector's continuous demand for new drugs, generics, and specialty medicines drives the need for intermediates like ethyl cyanoacetate. Additionally, advancements in drug discovery and development have led to an increased focus on complex molecules and APIs, where ethyl cyanoacetate's reactivity and versatility play a pivotal role. Moreover, factors such as increasing healthcare expenditure, rising prevalence of chronic diseases, and expanding geriatric population contribute to the growing demand for pharmaceuticals, thereby driving the demand for ethyl cyanoacetate.

Cross-linking agents is anticipated to be the fastest-growing Ethyl cyanoacetate Market segment, by function, during the forecast period.

Cross-linking agents are experiencing rapid growth in the Ethyl cyanoacetate market, emerging as the fastest-growing processing technology, to its pivotal role in enhancing the properties of various materials, such as coatings, adhesives, and polymers. Ethyl cyanoacetate offers unique chemical properties that make it well-suited for cross-linking applications, enabling the formation of strong, stable bonds between molecules. This capability enhances the overall quality and functionality of end products, driving up demand for ethyl cyanoacetate as a cross-linking agent. Ethyl cyanoacetate's alignment with principles of green chemistry makes it particularly advantageous, thus boosting its anticipated expansion within the cross-linking function segment. Furthermore, ongoing technological advancements and innovations in cross-linking chemistry continue to expand the applications of ethyl cyanoacetate-based cross-linking agents across diverse industries and sectors.

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Industrial Grade is anticipated to be the fastest-growing Ethyl cyanoacetate Market segment, by grade, during the forecast period.

Industrial Grade segment is experiencing rapid growth in the Ethyl cyanoacetate market, emerging as the fastest-growing grade due to its widespread utility across diverse industries, including coatings, adhesives, and specialty chemicals. Industrial grade ethyl cyanoacetate serves as a versatile raw material, offering cost-effective solutions for manufacturers engaged in large-scale industrial processes. The growing demand for industrial chemicals in emerging economies, coupled with increasing industrialization and infrastructure development, has fuelled the need for ethyl cyanoacetate in industrial applications. Moreover, advancements in manufacturing technologies and processes have enhanced the quality and availability of industrial grade ethyl cyanoacetate, further driving its growth in this segment.

North America is expected to be the fastest-growing segment in the global Ethyl cyanoacetate Market, by region, during the forecast period.

North America is emerging as the fastest-growing region in the Ethyl cyanoacetate market due to a confluence of factors propelling demand across diverse industries. The region has a strong emphasis on innovation and technological advancements which foster the development of new applications and uses for ethyl cyanoacetate, stimulating market growth. Furthermore, North America benefits from a strong research and development infrastructure, including academic institutions, research centers, and private laboratories. These entities drive innovation and provide valuable expertise in optimizing the production processes and expanding the applications of ethyl cyanoacetate, contributing to its rapid growth in the region.

To enable an in-depth understanding of the competitive landscape, the report includes the profiles of some of the top players in the Ethyl cyanoacetate Market. These Merck KGaA (Germany), Shandong Xinhua Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (China), Tiande Chemical Holdings Limited (China), Tokyo Chemical Industry Co., Ltd. (TCI) (Japan), HeBei ChengXin (China), TATEYAMA KASEI Co.,Ltd (Japan), Triveni Chemicals (India), EMCO Dyestuff (India), Loba Chemie Pvt. Ltd. (India), and Sisco Research Laboratories Pvt. Ltd. (India).

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Consumer Foam Market - Global Forecast to 2026

Polyolefins Market - Global Forecasts to 2021

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Strengthening its Pharma/Life Science Expertise and Software Portfolio in India

BIELEFELD, Germany and HYDERABAD, India, June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- NTT DATA Business Solutions AG, a company of NTT DATA and a leading global IT service provider focused on the mid-market and SAP, announces the acquisition of a majority stake in ProvenTech Pvt Ltd, Hyderabad, Telangana, India. ProvenTech is specialized in providing cutting-edge GenAI-driven Quality Management and Manufacturing solutions to Pharma, Healthcare and Food industry, leveraging its own products, SAP S/4HANA and other enterprise software. Founded in 2020, the company offers a unique and comprehensive portfolio including its own SaaS solutions, automation, integration and advisory services to meet the diverse needs of the pharmaceutical industry. ProvenTech is dedicated to transforming shopfloor processes with advanced technologies such as SAP BTP and DataSphere, enabling companies to quickly capture and leverage new opportunities and innovations.

NTT DATA Business Solutions Private Limited, the Indian subsidiary, and ProvenTech have been collaborating for the past couple of years. By combining ProvenTech's specialized capabilities with NTT DATA's global presence, the acquisition will expand the market reach and innovation of both companies in the Life Sciences sector.

"Together with ProvenTech, we can play a leading role in the pharmaceutical industry. They have industry-specific niche skills, advanced technical expertise and an innovative product portfolio," says Norbert Rotter, CEO of NTT DATA Business Solutions and EVP NTT DATA, Inc. "With this acquisition, we are accelerating our growth ambitions in India. At the same time, it is in line with our strategy to continue to expand successfully in our focus industry Pharma/Life Science. I am confident that ProvenTech's deep expertise and their own software products will be an excellent complement to our SAP offerings across multiple regions."

ProvenTech has a diverse portfolio of products and services tailored to the unique needs of the pharmaceutical industry. The offered solutions ensure seamless integration and optimal performance in critical manufacturing and quality process areas, significantly improving operational efficiency and compliance using Pharma / Industry 4.0 technologies.

"ProvenTech's outstanding product portfolio and innovative approach to the pharmaceutical sector are a perfect fit with our strategic vision to optimize the cross-selling of SAP ERP with enhanced pharmaceutical solutions in India and APAC," says Sanjeev Deshpande, Managing Director - India, EVP - Head of APAC Region at NTT DATA Business Solutions. "Together, we aim to offer comprehensive solutions to our pharmaceutical and healthcare customers. In doing so, we can count on ProvenTech's in-depth industry and Data Science expertise proven by serving many renowned Fortune 500 customers."

With the acquisition, a team of more than 350 skilled professionals will extend the 15,300+ employees of NTT DATA Business Solutions. The service offerings of the two companies will be expanded into new pharmaceutical segments to improve both competitiveness and market reach. The global network of NTT DATA with the additional expansion of the NTT Group is intended to serve this purpose.

"Joining the forces with NTT DATA provides us with an exceptional opportunity to scale our operations and extend our global reach," says P. Raju Venkata, CEO of ProvenTech. "I am very much looking forward to working together as one team and to the new opportunities that lie ahead of us."

ProvenTech will become a subsidiary of NTT DATA Business Solutions Private Limited in India and will operate as an independent company after the acquisition, using the brand name 'ProvenTech, an NTT DATA Company'.

For more information, please visit nttdata-solutions.com.

About NTT DATA Business Solutions

NTT DATA Business Solutions is a leading global IT service provider focused on SAP with a powerful ecosystem of partners. With more than 35 years of in-depth experience, we enable companies worldwide to become Intelligent Enterprises. We deliver end-to-end solutions that accelerate sustainable growth and success - from strategic consulting and implementation to managed services and beyond. As a global strategic SAP partner, we drive innovation and leverage the latest technologies to support our customers individually and across all industries. Our more than 15,300 dedicated employees in over 30 countries work passionately every day to make it happen.

NTT DATA Business Solutions is part of NTT DATA, a $30+ billion trusted global innovator of business and technology services headquartered in Tokyo. As One NTT DATA we serve 75% of the Fortune Global 100 and are committed to helping customers innovate, optimize and transform for long-term success. NTT DATA is part of NTT Group.

Press Contact Local (Hyderabad, Telangana) Global Sneha Pujari Senior Marketing Manager NTT DATA Business Solutions Private Limited Infocity Madhapur, Hi-Tech City 500081 T: +91 8125620506 Email: Sneha.Pujari@nttdata.com Jasmin Straeter Head of Global Communications NTT DATA Business Solutions AG Konigsbreede 1, 33605 Bielefeld, Germany T: +49 521 9 14 48 108 Email: Jasmin.Straeter@nttdata.com



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Ringo Yu, manager, Manufacturer Climate Action Program (MCAP) at Cascale, recently presented the program via webinar to manufacturers in Indonesia and Bangladesh. The sessions were hosted by TUV Rheinland, an MCAP appointed science-aligned target validation organization. Over 150 apparel sector companies including brands, retailers, and tier one and two suppliers, some of whom are Cascale members, participated in the training day in which they discussed Scope 3 emissions and target setting, after which Yu presented details on the MCAP program about the science-aligned targets (SATs) on Scopes 1 and 2.

Yu shared core information on Cascale's evolution over the past 15 years, now counting over 300 members across the consumer goods value chain. He then shared more about Cascale's Higg Index, a leading end-to-end sustainability measurement suite of tools, before leading the presentation on MCAP.

Stating the call to action that to stay within 1.5C of warming we must reduce global greenhouse gas emissions 45 percent by 2030, and to net zero by no later than 2050, Yu detailed Cascale's MCAP Supplier Climate Engagement and Onboarding Program. It was developed in partnership with Nike and Target and launched in September 2023. As Yu explained, the goal of MCAP is to drive a common approach to accelerate manufacturers' progress in measuring GHG emissions, setting targets, reporting on progress on MCAP disclosure dashboard on Cascsale website publicly, and mitigating climate change risk and development of corporate decarbonization plan.

Yu shared that MCAP is modeled on the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) corporate near-term criteria, presenting an intermediate step towards net-zero targets to support Cascale's perspective that only by aligning on a path forward and acting collectively can the industry address the systemic challenges associated with climate change and positively impact the planet.

Accessible to Cascale members and non-members alike, MCAP accelerates target setting for manufacturers and includes advisory support to help them get started on their decarbonization journey. With the second cadence kicking off in September, Yu invited all attendees to participate.

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Cascale on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Cascale

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/cascale

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Cascale

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Santa Helena environmental and metallurgical programs to rapidly advance

LONDON, UK / ACCESSWIRE / June 11, 2024 / Meridian Mining UK. S (TSX:MNO )(Frankfurt/Tradegate:2MM)(OTCQX:MRRDF) ("Meridian" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an update on its drilling activities at the Cabacal and Santa Helena mines, part of the greater 50km Cabacal Cu-Au-Ag VMS belt-scale project ("the Belt") in Mato Grosso, Brazil.

At the Santa Helena Cu-Au-Ag & Zn project ("Santa Helena"), first results are starting to be received following re-initiation of the drilling program, with CD-472 returning a strong interval of 5.0m @ 4.0g/t AuEq from 24.1m ("Figure 1"). Meridian is initiating the environmental impact studies for open-pit development at Santa Helena, as part of its hub and spoke development strategy for the broader belt. The Company also reports that Santa Helena's metallurgical testwork is to commence shortly and focus on developing a flow sheet to optimise production of clean copper + gold-silver concentrate, gold dore and zinc concentrates. Drilling continues and further assays are pending.

The infill drilling at the advanced Cabacal Cu-Au-Ag project 1 ("Cabacal") includes holes targeting historical positions where data has been lost and which were not included in the 2022 resource statement 2 . Drilling results defining extensions of near surface Cu-Au-Ag mineralization are highlighted by CD-483's 10.1m @ 2.1g/t AuEq from 9.4m, amongst broader intersections ("Figure 2"). Meridian has now completed over 50,000 metres of drilling at Cabacal which pushes the project database to a total of over 125,000 meters.

Highlights Reported Today

Meridian reports further strong shallow mineralized intercepts at Santa Helena and Cabacal deposits;

Santa Helena continues to advance as the next open pit target for the hub and spoke development strategy of the Cabacal VMS belt; Shallow high-grade Cu-Au-Ag & Zn mineralization continues to be intercepted; CD-472 returns 12.9m @ 2.2g/t AuEq from 24.1m at Santa Helena; including: 5.0m @ 4.0g/t AuEq from 24.1m; Environmental impact, hydrogeological and metallurgical studies commencing; and

Cabacal drilling defines more shallow high-grade mineralization; CD-483 returns 10.1m @ 2.1g/t AuEq* from 9.4m at Cabacal.



*See technical note for separate AuEq equations for Santa Helena and Cabacal.

Mr. Gilbert Clark, CEO, comments: "We are pleased to see a continuing flow of solid results from both Santa Helena and Cabacal. Our focused strategy of investing into the development of near-term production from Cabacal and Santa Helena, whilst continuing "near-mine" exploration, outlines the potential for the Belt to become a multi decade producer. Santa Helena continues to advance as the second open pitable target, and another potential source of quality clean copper concentrates with high grades of gold and silver. With multiple new copper smelters being built internationally and the demand for clean copper concentrates growing, the Cabacal Cu-Au-Ag VMS belt presents one of the only near-term projects of scale that can help bridge this supply gap for clean copper concentrates."

Santa Helena Update

Drilling continues at Santa Helena with two rigs, and the first result has been returned with further results pending. Drilling is continuing with an infill pattern to achieve systematic coverage over the deposit, particularly in up-dip extensions where the system was more sparsely tested. The first result is reported from CD-472 ("Figure 1"), from a position between CD-360 (16.4m @ 0.9g/t AuEq from 6.0m & 11.0m @ 5.2g/t AuEq from 30.0m) and CD-325 (14.9m @ 4.6g/t AuEq from 26.3m). CD-472 crosses a position where only partial sampling records were available from a historical surface hole. The new result has returned:

CD-472 (Santa Helena): 12.9m @ 2.2g/t AuEq (1.0g/t Au, 0.5% Cu, 24.6g/t Ag & 1.4% Zn) from 24.1m; including: 5.0m @ 4.0g/t AuEq (1.7g/t Au, 1.3% Cu, 53.7g/t Ag & 1.7% Zn) from 24.1m; 4.7m @ 1.2g/t AuEq (0.1g/t Au, 0.2% Cu, 6.5g/t Ag & 1.9% Zn) from 48.3m; and 11.1m @ 0.8g/t AuEq (0.1g/t Au, 0.1% Cu, 5.3g/t Ag & 1.2% Zn) from 58.9m.



By comparison, the historical vertical hole it crosses, PM-15A had returned:

2.2m @ 0.9g/t AuEq (0.1g/t Au, 0.1% Cu, 8.0g/t Ag, 1.7% Zn) from 25.0m;

2.1m @ 1.4g/t AuEq (0.3g/t Au, 0.2% Cu, 9.9g/t Ag, 1.9% Zn) from 32.1m

The results provide more continuous sample coverage for resource modelling and show importantly that the sampling gaps are mineralized.

The Company has engaged Sete Solucoes e Tecnologia Ambiental Ltda and Hidrovia Hidrogeologia e Meio Ambiente to initiate baseline environmental assessments for open-pit development. The Company's metallurgical consultant, Mr Norman Lotter, is advising on the formulation of a program to test the various mineralization styles.

Figure 1: Santa Helena results location map.

Cabacal Update

Further drill results continue to be delivered from the Company's programs at Cabacal, including holes from the northwest extension, the mine area flank, and the mine area ("Figure 2"). Some of the recent drilling has included further twinning on holes where data has only been partially preserved or lost. The first of these results reported was CD-470, which returned 16.0m @ 12.5g/t AuEq from 53.3m, including 6.4m @ 30.6g/t AuEq 3 . Additional holes have targeted a range of positions (and expected grade distributions), in the Eastern, Central and Southern Copper Zones. Highlights from the recent drilling include:

CD-483 (ECZ twin of JUSPD-587): 10.1m @ 2.1g/t AuEq (1.7g/t Au, 0.3% Cu & 1.9g/t Ag) from 9.4m; including: 1.9m @ 8.8g/t AuEq (7.6g/t Au, 0.8% Cu & 4.2g/t Ag) from 12.7m; 18.2m @ 0.9g/t AuEq (0.6% Cu & 1.9g/t Ag) from 26.4m; 4.9m @ 1.2g/t AuEq (0.2g/t Au, 0.7% Cu & 3.1g/t Ag) from 59.9m;

CD-478 (Central Area of the CNWE): 6.5m @ 1.0g/t AuEq (0.2g/t Au, 0.5% Cu & 4.0g/t Ag) from 22.5m; 10.7m @ 1.5g/t AuEq (0.4g/t Au, 0.8% Cu & 3.7g/t Ag) from 51.3m; including: 2.5m @ 4.4g/t AuEq (1.3g/t Au, 2.1% Cu & 13.1g/t Ag) from 59.2m; 4.0m @ 1.1g/t AuEq (0.3g/t Au, 0.5% Cu & 2.3g/t Ag) from 65.0m; 3.1m @ 1.4g/t AuEq (0.4g/t Au, 0.7% Cu & 4.0g/t Ag) from 114.3m;

CD-477 (CCZ; twin of JUSPD-484; void from 25.1 - 32.7m): 9.8m @ 1.6g/t AuEq (0.4g/t Au, 0.9% Cu & 4.3g/t Ag) from 47.3m; including: 2.8m @ 3.4g/t AuEq (0.6g/t Au, 1.9% Cu & 10.5g/t Ag) from 54.3m; 5.2m @ 1.6g/t AuEq (0.5g/t Au, 0.8% Cu & 3.6g/t Ag) from 69.9m;

CD-474 (SCZ orthogonal hole; void from 76.5 - 83.8m): 11.8m @ 1.0g/t AuEq (0.2g/t Au, 0.6% Cu & 2.3g/t Ag) from 55.9m; 3.7m @ 4.7g/t AuEq (4.7g/t Au, 0.1% Cu & 1.0g/t Ag) from 70.4m; 10.0m @ 1.1g/t AuEq (0.4g/t Au, 0.5% Cu & 2.2g/t Ag) from 138.7m;

CD-469 (JUSPD-580 twin; SW flank of mine area): 23.2m @ 0.5g/t AuEq (0.1g/t Au, 0.3% Cu & 0.6g/t Ag) from 85.6m; including: 2.0m @ 1.9g/t AuEq (0.3g/t Au, 1.2% Cu & 2.8g/t Ag) from 106.8m; and

CD-460 (CNWE): 12.2m @ 1.9g/t AuEq (1.3g/t Au, 0.5% Cu & 3.5g/t Ag) from 71.2m; including: 4.5m @ 4.5g/t AuEq (3.1g/t Au, 1.0% Cu & 6.6g/t Ag) from 72.0m.



Figure 2: Cabacal results location map.

The twin drilling is providing some useful context in areas where targeted historical holes have gaps in information where data is lost, incomplete, or depicted only in graphic charts. Some additional drilling will target the down-plunge projection of the shallow CD-483 position. Some additional select infill drilling will also be conducted on a staggered pattern in the resource area, to further consolidate grade distribution and continuity.

CD-460 returned a solid intersection from the CNWE, although this area is exhibiting some nuggetty characteristics in gold distribution, making definition more challenging. Sample CBDS63645 (76.12 - 76.45m) from this hole returned 6.2g/t Au. Its duplicate pair, which was not used in the composite calculation, returned tenfold the grade at 72.9g/t Au. A screen-fire assay check will be further conducted on the remaining sample. The locally steep topography of this area makes certain areas more challenging to access, and the position may potentially be better targets for under-ground development with closer spaced drilling off the floor of an open pit.

The Company is also running through an update of its quality control program through a third round of umpire analysis. Results generally compare well, although some punctual outliers may also indicate a nugget effect, or an analytical issue, with one sample in particular (CBDS02391) originally reporting 0.279 g/t and repeating with 9.25 g/t Au. Visual inspection of the sampled interval showed that visible gold was present, and further evaluation continues.

The Company has been reviewing historical records submitted to the ANM when the project was originally operated by BP Minerals and RTZ. These records have provided some additional information on production and development, but unfortunately an annex of assay results from a technical report has not yet been located. The technical reports include some further examples of face mapping and sampling of the variably oriented vein and shear arrays encountered in the underground room and pillar mining. Geometries created challenges for selective high-grade extraction, and steep structures are present that were not coupled well with the dominantly vertical drilling ("Figure 3"). A number of holes orthogonal to the main strike, and scissor holes, will be conducted to test for potential structural arrays in trends not typically intersected in the moderately dipping NE-trending drilling.

Figure 3: Historical Cabacal underground face sampling for gold illustration looking south from technical report recently retrieved for ANM archive search, showing (A) moderately dipping mineralization and vein arrays (75g/t Au channel sample in lower left), and (B) subvertical cross-cutting shear with vein arrays (6.3g/t Au sample; (C) 36.6 g/t vein selvedge in upper left, and (D) unsampled subvertical vein sets to the right).

About Meridian

Meridian Mining is focused on:

The development and exploration of the advanced stage Cabacal VMS gold-copper project;

The initial resource definition at the second high-grade VMS asset at Santa Helena as first stage of Hub and Spoke development strategy;

Regional scale exploration of the Cabacal VMS belt to expand the Hub and Spoke strategy; and

Exploration in the Jauru & Araputanga Greenstone belts (the above all located in the State of Mato Grosso, Brazil).

The Preliminary Economic Assessment technical report (the "PEA Technical Report") dated March 30, 2023, entitled: "Cabacal Gold-Copper Project NI 43-101 Technical Report and Preliminary Economic Assessment, Mato Grosso, Brazil" outlines a base case after-tax NPV5 of USD 573 million and 58.4% IRR from a pre-production capital cost of USD 180 million, leading to capital repayment in 10.6 months (assuming metals price scenario of USD 1,650 per ounces of gold, USD 3.59 per pound of copper, and USD 21.35 per ounce of silver). Cabacal has a low All-in-Sustaining-Cost of USD 671 per ounce gold equivalent for the first five years, driven by high metallurgical recovery, a low life-of-mine strip ratio of 2.1:1, and the low operating cost environment of Brazil.

The Cabacal Mineral Resource estimate consists of Indicated resources of 52.9 million tonnes at 0.6g/t gold, 0.3% copper and 1.4g/t silver and Inferred resources of 10.3 million tonnes at 0.7g/t gold, 0.2% copper & 1.1g/t silver (at a 0.3 g/t gold equivalent cut-off grade). Santa Helena mine area generated an initial Exploration Target with a tonnage range of 3.2 -7.2 Mt grading between 3.0 - 3.2g/t AuEq*, which gives a potential high-grade metal inventory range of between 306,000 to 763,000 AuEq ounces, located within 10km of the proposed Cabacal mill site.

Readers are encouraged to read the PEA Technical Report in its entirety. The PEA Technical Report may be found on the Company's website at www.meridianmining.co and under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca .

The qualified persons for the PEA Technical Report are: Robert Raponi (P. Eng), Principal Metallurgist with Ausenco Engineering), Scott Elfen (P. E.), Global Lead Geotechnical and Civil Services with Ausenco Engineering), Simon Tear (PGeo, EurGeol), Principal Geological Consultant of H&SC, Marcelo Batelochi, (MAusIMM, CP Geo), Geological Consultant of MB Geologia Ltda, Joseph Keane (Mineral Processing Engineer; P.E), of SGS, and Guilherme Gomides Ferreira (Mine Engineer MAIG) of GE21 Consultoria Mineral.

On behalf of the Board of Directors of Meridian Mining UK S

Mr. Gilbert Clark - CEO and Director

Meridian Mining UK S

Email: info@meridianmining.co

Ph: +1 778 715-6410 (PST)

Stay up to date by subscribing for news alerts here: https://meridianmining.co/contact/

Follow Meridian on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MeridianMining

Further information can be found at: www.meridianmining.co

Technical Notes

Samples have been analysed at ALS laboratory in Lima, Peru. Samples are dried, crushed with 70% passing <2mm, split off to give a mass of approximately 250g, and pulverized to >85% passing 200#. Routine gold analyses have been conducted by Au-AA23 (fire assay of a 30g charge with AAS finish). High-grade samples (>10g/t Au) are repeated with a gravimetric finish (Au-GRA21). Samples are held in the Company's secure facilities until dispatched and delivered by staff and commercial couriers to the laboratory. Pulps and coarse rejects are retained and returned to the Company for storage. The Company submits a range of quality control samples, including blanks and gold and polymetallic standards supplied by Rocklabs, ITAK and OREAS, supplementing laboratory quality control procedures. Approximately 5% of archived samples are sent for umpire laboratory analysis, including any lots exhibiting QAQC outliers after discussion with the laboratory. In BP Minerals sampling, gold was analysed historically by fire assay and base metals by three acid digest and ICP finish at the Nomos laboratory in Rio de Janeiro. Silver was analysed by aqua regia digest with an atomic absorption finish. True width is considered to be 80-90% of intersection width. Assay figures and intervals are rounded to 1 decimal place. Gold equivalents for Cabacal are calculated as: AuEq(g/t) = (Au(g/t) * %Recovery) + (1.492*(Cu% * %Recovery)) + (0.013*(Ag(g/t) * %Recovery)), where:

Au_recovery_ppm = 5.4368ln(Au_Grade_ppm)+88.856

Cu_recovery_pct = 2.0006ln(Cu_Grade_pct)+94.686

Ag_recovery_ppm = 13.342ln(Ag_Grade_ppm)+71.037

Recoveries based on 2022 metallurgical testwork on core submitted to SGS Lakefield

Gold equivalents for Santa Helena are based on metallurgical recoveries from the historical resource calculation, updated with pricing forecasts aligned with the Cabacal PEA. AuEq (g/t) = (Au_(g/t) * 65%Recovery) + (1.492*Cu(%) * 89%Recovery) + (0.474*Zn% * 89%Recovery)) + (0.013Ag(g/t) * 61%Recovery)).

Qualified Person

Mr. Erich Marques, B.Sc., MAIG, Chief Geologist of Meridian Mining and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed, and verified the technical information in this news release.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Some statements in this news release contain forward-looking information or forward-looking statements for the purposes of applicable securities laws. These statements address future events and conditions and so involve inherent risks and uncertainties, as disclosed under the heading "Risk Factors" in Meridian's most recent Annual Information Form filed on www.sedarplus.ca . While these factors and assumptions are considered reasonable by Meridian, in light of management's experience and perception of current conditions and expected developments, Meridian can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, Meridian disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or results or otherwise.

Table 1: Assay results reported in this release.

Santa Helena

Hole-id Dip Azi EOH (m) Zone Int (m) AuEq (g/t) CuEq (%) Au (g/t) Cu (%) Ag (g/t) Zn (%) Pb (%) From (m) CD-472 59 189 82.8 SHM 12.9 2.2 1.5 1.0 0.5 24.6 1.4 1.1 24.1 Including 5.0 4.0 2.7 1.7 1.3 53.7 1.7 2.2 24.1 4.7 1.2 0.8 0.1 0.2 6.5 1.9 0.2 48.3 11.1 0.8 0.5 0.1 0.1 5.3 1.2 0.3 58.9

Cabacal

Hole-id Dip Azi EOH (m) Zone Int (m) AuEq (g/t) CuEq (%) Au (g/t) Cu (%) Ag (g/t) From (m) CD-483 -89 000 91.7 ECZ 2.8 0.5 0.3 0.4 0.1 0.5 2.1 10.1 2.1 1.4 1.7 0.3 1.9 9.4 Including 1.9 8.8 5.9 7.6 0.8 4.2 12.7 18.2 0.9 0.6 0.0 0.6 1.9 26.4 1.8 0.4 0.3 0.0 0.3 0.8 51.6 0.9 0.7 0.4 0.1 0.4 1.2 56.1 4.9 1.2 0.8 0.2 0.7 3.1 59.9 3.2 1.1 0.8 0.2 0.6 3.2 73.8 CD-480 -49 061 124.8 CWNE 4.5 0.4 0.2 0.1 0.2 1.1 14.4 2.1 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.2 1.2 27.5 1.6 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.6 45.4 2.1 0.7 0.5 0.2 0.4 0.8 50.5 0.7 0.5 0.3 0.2 0.3 2.1 54.9 5.8 1.3 0.8 0.5 0.6 1.9 62.6 4.3 0.5 0.4 0.2 0.2 0.4 75.2 1.0 2.0 1.3 0.2 1.3 2.8 86.7 0.5 4.3 2.9 1.3 2.1 11.3 97.2 7.2 0.4 0.3 0.1 0.2 1.9 100.6

Hole-id Dip Azi EOH (m) Zone Int (m) AuEq (g/t) CuEq (%) Au (g/t) Cu (%) Ag (g/t) From (m) CD-478 -48 060 133.7 CWNE 6.5 1.0 0.7 0.2 0.5 4.0 22.5 Including 0.4 7.5 5.0 1.2 4.2 20.2 27.0 2.5 0.6 0.4 0.1 0.4 1.5 38.0 10.7 1.5 1.0 0.4 0.8 3.7 51.3 Including 2.5 4.4 3.0 1.3 2.1 13.1 59.2 Including 1.0 9.3 6.2 2.2 4.7 30.0 59.2 4.0 1.1 0.7 0.3 0.5 2.3 65.0 3.0 0.5 0.3 0.1 0.3 1.7 78.4 7.7 0.4 0.3 0.1 0.2 0.5 102.3 3.1 1.4 0.9 0.4 0.7 4.0 114.3 Including 0.8 3.7 2.5 1.0 1.9 11.9 116.5 CD-477 -89 000 87.7 CCZ 1.7 1.3 0.9 0.1 0.8 1.2 11.2 1.0 2.0 1.3 0.8 0.8 1.6 18.4 3.5 0.7 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.3 37.7 9.8 1.6 1.1 0.4 0.9 4.3 47.3 Including 2.8 3.4 2.3 0.6 1.9 10.5 54.3 5.2 1.6 1.1 0.5 0.8 3.6 69.9 Including 2.3 2.9 1.9 1.0 1.3 6.0 70.4 CD-475 -89 000 133.9 SCZ 2.0 0.4 0.2 0.4 0.0 0.1 66.8 6.5 0.6 0.4 0.5 0.1 0.4 71.6 7.7 1.3 0.8 0.2 0.7 2.9 81.4 Including 2.4 2.5 1.7 0.6 1.4 6.2 81.4 13.8 0.7 0.5 0.1 0.4 2.5 91.1 Including 1.5 2.1 1.4 0.3 1.2 8.9 95.8 3.7 1.1 0.7 0.2 0.6 2.7 106.6 CD-474 -49 091 166.4 SCZ 11.8 1.0 0.7 0.2 0.6 2.3 55.9 Including 3.5 2.2 1.5 0.2 1.4 5.3 60.6 3.7 4.7 3.2 4.7 0.1 1.0 70.4 Including 2.2 7.2 4.8 7.1 0.1 1.1 70.4 2.5 0.9 0.6 0.4 0.4 0.6 83.8 3.6 1.6 1.1 0.4 0.8 4.0 89.3 Including 0.4 11.1 7.4 2.4 5.7 32.0 92.5 1.4 1.0 0.7 0.1 0.7 2.4 95.8 0.9 4.2 2.8 0.6 2.4 9.0 100.6 0.7 1.4 0.9 0.3 0.8 2.9 105.9 1.7 0.4 0.2 0.4 0.0 0.2 109.6 10.0 1.1 0.7 0.4 0.5 2.2 138.7

Hole-id Dip Azi EOH (m) Zone Int (m) AuEq (g/t) CuEq (%) Au (g/t) Cu (%) Ag (g/t) From (m) CD-473 -89 000 142.9 SCZ 2.3 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.4 96.7 5.2 1.0 0.7 0.2 0.6 1.7 110.2 Including 1.4 2.8 1.9 0.3 1.8 5.1 112.0 CD-471 -59 060 142.1 CWNE 3.2 0.4 0.3 0.0 0.3 0.3 42.4 0.8 0.7 0.5 0.0 0.5 0.2 89.6 2.9 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.8 110.8 CD-469 -89 000 127.9 SCZ 2.7 0.5 0.3 0.0 0.3 1.1 44.5 23.2 0.5 0.3 0.1 0.3 0.6 85.6 Including 2.0 1.9 1.3 0.3 1.2 2.8 106.8 1.4 0.4 0.3 0.1 0.2 0.8 113.2 CD-468 -44 054 133.6 CWNE 0.6 1.3 0.9 1.1 0.2 1.1 87.0 CD-467 -50 057 132.4 CWNE 10.4 0.7 0.4 0.0 0.4 1.7 48.0 1.2 1.2 0.8 0.1 0.7 6.0 63.1 2.5 0.4 0.3 0.1 0.2 2.0 71.2 2.3 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.1 1.0 83.3 1.5 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.2 92.9 5.9 0.7 0.5 0.3 0.3 0.8 97.0 Including 2.0 1.6 1.1 0.7 0.7 1.5 100.8 8.3 0.6 0.4 0.1 0.3 1.4 107.6 CD-466 -35 060 140.5 CWNE 0.5 3.0 2.0 0.1 2.0 5.9 68.0 1.0 0.5 0.3 0.2 0.3 0.3 113.5 2.8 2.4 1.6 1.8 0.4 1.0 118.2 Including 0.5 10.1 6.8 8.2 1.3 1.6 118.2 CD-465 -46 062 142 CWNE 3.9 1.2 0.8 0.2 0.7 0.8 23.0 4.7 0.6 0.4 0.1 0.4 0.7 44.6 10.9 0.5 0.3 0.1 0.3 1.1 52.5 25.3 0.6 0.4 0.3 0.3 0.8 100.0 Including 3.3 1.6 1.1 1.1 0.4 0.9 105.1 Including 1.9 1.9 1.3 0.4 1.0 3.9 118.9 CD-464 -80 239 106 CWNE 5.7 0.4 0.2 0.0 0.2 0.2 38.3 3.8 0.7 0.5 0.6 0.1 0.2 63.0 0.5 0.9 0.6 0.3 0.5 1.5 71.0 1.7 0.5 0.4 0.2 0.2 6.3 78.6

Hole-id Dip Azi EOH (m) Zone Int (m) AuEq (g/t) CuEq (%) Au (g/t) Cu (%) Ag (g/t) From (m) CD-463 -80 235 115 CWNE 2.1 0.3 0.2 0.0 0.2 0.1 37.4 2.0 0.4 0.3 0.0 0.3 0.5 43.5 0.4 1.1 0.7 0.1 0.7 0.7 48.9 1.9 2.8 1.9 1.6 0.9 1.3 61.9 CD-462 -50 055 141 CWNE 6.6 0.6 0.4 0.1 0.3 0.9 20.5 7.8 0.6 0.4 0.2 0.3 1.2 29.2 3.9 0.6 0.4 0.1 0.4 0.6 41.9 4.4 0.3 0.2 0.0 0.2 0.3 52.0 8.0 0.4 0.3 0.1 0.2 0.8 65.1 16.7 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.2 81.6 4.2 0.7 0.4 0.1 0.4 1.3 104.3 7.4 0.6 0.4 0.3 0.2 1.4 114.6 CD-461 -20 060 154 CWNE 0.7 0.8 0.5 0.0 0.5 2.6 72.5 5.0 0.3 0.2 0.0 0.2 0.2 114.0 5.5 0.6 0.4 0.4 0.1 0.3 122.0 1.3 1.4 0.9 0.8 0.4 10.2 136.9 CD-460 -51 308 112 CWNE 13.2 0.4 0.2 0.0 0.2 0.2 25.1 5.2 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.5 43.2 3.6 0.5 0.3 0.1 0.3 0.5 53.0 12.2 1.9 1.3 1.3 0.5 3.5 71.2 Including 4.5 4.5 3.0 3.1 1.0 6.6 72.0 CD-459 -20 060 138 CWNE 1.3 0.5 0.3 0.1 0.3 0.4 72.7 1.5 0.3 0.2 0.0 0.2 0.2 84.2 0.9 0.4 0.3 0.0 0.3 0.3 87.6 5.6 0.5 0.4 0.1 0.3 0.7 105.0 CD-458 -50 060 133 CWNE 8.8 0.7 0.5 0.1 0.4 1.4 19.0 6.0 0.4 0.3 0.1 0.2 0.6 45.0 10.4 1.0 0.7 0.8 0.1 0.6 62.9 Including 1.1 7.7 5.1 7.3 0.3 2.7 62.9 30.7 0.6 0.4 0.1 0.3 1.2 78.3 Including 2.2 1.8 1.2 0.3 1.0 4.5 96.0

1 See Meridian news release March 06, 2023

2 See Meridian news release September 26, 2022

3 Meridian Mining News release of May 07, 2024.

SOURCE: Meridian Mining UK S

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Neurotrophins are proteins involved in the development, function and survival of neurons discovered 70 years ago by Italian Nobel Rita Levi Montalcini with the identification of Nerve Growth Factor (NGF).

are proteins involved in the development, function and survival of neurons discovered 70 years ago by with the identification of Nerve Growth Factor (NGF). The first NGF-based therapy was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2018 to treat a rare ocular disorder and today in Rome researchers are discussing the potential of neurotrophins including NGF, Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) and other molecules for the treatment of various eye and brain disorders , paving the way for innovative therapeutic strategies for unmet patient needs.

to treat a rare ocular disorder and today in Rome researchers are discussing the potential of neurotrophins including NGF, Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) and other molecules for the , paving the way for innovative therapeutic strategies for unmet patient needs. Potential indications include: corneal neurosensorial abnormalities , retinal diseases, optic neuropathies, traumatic brain damage, axon regeneration, dementia, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease

and Clinical studies aimed at expanding the research and knowledge of potential applications of NGF in both eye and brain disorders are being evaluated for launch in 2025.

Nature Conferences has convened a meeting of leading global scientists to discuss the state of the art and future lines of research on neurotrophins. The event, From the Eye to the Brain, will focus on the potential new applications of neurotrophins in therapeutic areas including ophthalmology and the central nervous system. The program takes place in Rome June 11-12 and is sponsored by Dompe farmaceutici.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240611384024/en/

From the Eye to the Brain: World's Top Scientists Gather in Rome to Discuss Future of Neurotrophins in Eye and Brain Research (Photo: Business Wire)

Neurotrophins were discovered by Italian Nobel laureate Dr. Rita Levi-Montalcini and her colleague Dr. Stanley Cohen in the early 1950s. Drs. Levi-Montalcini and Cohen uncovered that NGF plays a crucial role in the proliferation, differentiation and survival of sympathetic and sensory neurons.

The past decade saw a key breakthrough with the first successful therapeutic application of a neurotrophin. The first NGF treatment was approved in 2018 by the U.S. FDA for the treatment of a rare corneal disease.

From the Eye to the Brain will feature global experts in the fields of neuroscience and ophthalmology discussing the first potential therapeutic applications of neurotrophins in the treatment of optic nerve and retinal damage in glaucoma and central nervous system disorders including pediatric and adult traumatic brain injuries, Parkinson's disease, dementia and depression

"Research on neurotrophins is becoming increasingly important for understanding several brain diseases for which we currently have no effective therapies," said Elliott Mufson, professor of neurobiology and Alzheimer's disease researcher at Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, Arizona, and speaker at the conference. "For example, there is a disconnect between the NGF and its receptors, which leads to the death of key neurons, causing dementia in people with Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and Down syndrome. Potential approaches to rescue these neurons exist and we will discuss how NGF could be used to track the progression of Alzheimer's Disease in people affected by the disease

"The discovery of neurotrophins in the 50s was a truly paradigm-shifting, revolutionary discovery. It was a brilliant piece of work that changed how we thought about our brain's functions.said Thomas Sudhof, M.D., Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2013. "Today neurotrophins are under-researched but there are enormous opportunities. These opportunities will be realized once we actually have a better insight into what neurotrophins do

Key Sessions

Thomas C. Sudhof, M.D., Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2013

How to build and renew synapses: from molecules to memory mechanisms

This presentation will focus on the significant progress made in understanding synaptic transmission and its implications for treating neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.

Elliott Mufson, Ph.D., Barrow Neurological Institute

Neurotrophins in Neurological Disease

Dr. Mufson will discuss the role that nerve growth factor (NGF) plays in the maintenance of a group of cholinergic cells located deep within the brain that make a key neurotransmitter that contributes to cognition and how their degeneration plays a role in the onset of dementia in people with Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and Down syndrome.

Barbara L. Hempstead, Dean of Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences

Impact of Neurotrophins on the Development of Social Behavior Circuits

Dr. Hempstead's research will be presented on neurotrophins and pro-neurotrophins, exploring their dual role in promoting neuronal survival and causing neuronal dysfunction post-injury, which has important implications for stroke and seizure-related conditions.

Baoji Xu, Professor UF Scripps, University of Florida

BDNF-TrkB signaling and the regulation of appetite and body weight

Dr. Xu will discuss his research on the role of neurotrophins in cerebral cortex development and weight control, contributing to a deeper understanding of the connection between neurobiology and metabolic regulation, offering insights into potential treatments for obesity and related disorders.

Elizabeth Coulson, Ph.D., Queensland Brain Institute

Targeting the p75 neurotrophin receptor to stop neurodegeneration in dementia

Dr. Coulson will present her research on neuronal cell death mechanisms in neurodegenerative diseases, focusing on the amyloid precursor protein associated with Alzheimer's disease and her work to identify therapeutic targets to address this condition.

Zhigang He, Ph.D., B.M., Harvard Medical School

Neurotrophins-based strategies for promoting neuronal survival and axon regeneration

Dr. He will present advancements in axon regeneration and functional restoration following central nervous system injuries, addressing spinal cord and optic nerve injuries.

Additional From the Eye to the Brainsessions will focus on potential applications for corneal neurosensorial abnormalities, retinal diseases, optic neuropathies, traumatic brain damage, axon regeneration, and dementia.

For more detailed information about the conference and to view the complete agenda, visit: https://natureconferences.streamgo.live/from-the-eye-to-the-brain/agenda.

About Nature Conferences:

Nature Conferences brings together experts from various scientific fields to discuss the latest research and innovations. Our events provide a platform for collaboration and knowledge exchange, driving scientific advancements across the globe. For more information visit https://conferences.nature.com/.

About Dompe:

Dompe is a privately-held biopharmaceutical company founded in Milan, Italy, with a 130-year legacy of R&D and medical innovation. Today, headquartered Dompe employs more than 900 employees worldwide and maintains a U.S. commercial operations hub in the San Francisco Bay Area as well as an R&D presence in Boston. For more information visit www.dompe.com.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release refers to certain information that may not coincide with expected future results. Dompe firmly believes in the soundness and reasonableness of the concepts expressed. However, some of the information is subject to a certain degree of indetermination in relation to its research and development activities and the necessary verifications to be performed by regulatory bodies. Therefore, as of today, Dompe cannot guarantee that the expected results will be consistent with the information provided above.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240611384024/en/

Contacts:

Michael Szumera

Senior Director, Head of US Corporate Communications

Mobile: +1 650 445 3735

michael.szumera@dompe.com
Leading the Next Era of Innovation and Growth for the Company

CHELMSFORD, MA / ACCESSWIRE / June 11, 2024 / AMD Global Telemedicine, a leader in telehealth solutions, is excited to announce the appointment of Tim Steffl as the new President. Tim joins the company with an extensive background in healthcare, bringing a wealth of experience and a strong track record of success. His leadership will be focused on driving AMD Global Telemedicine into a new era of innovation and growth.



Tim Steffl, Appointed President of AMD Global Telemedicine

Tim Steffl

Tim's distinguished career in healthcare spans several high-profile positions. He spent 16 years with the American Hospital Association (AHA), where he served as Chief Operating & Development Officer. In this role, he managed the for-profit endorsement arm of the AHA and was instrumental in founding, launching, and running three start-up organizations. His leadership and entrepreneurial spirit align perfectly with AMD Global Telemedicine's mission to innovate and enhance healthcare through digital health technologies.

Most recently, Tim was the President and CEO of the dental technology company ADA Business Innovation Group (ADABIG). He was responsible for establishing the profitability and scalable growth of this for-profit subsidiary of the American Dental Association. His role included developing a business portfolio of companies by partnering with, developing, or acquiring innovative organizations in the dental sector. Tim also created a strategy for growing and scaling ADA Practice Transitions, which helps match dentists looking to buy or sell a dental practice.

Tim also served as Vice President of Strategic Development & Finance at Delta Dental Plans Association. In this capacity, he provided strategic oversight and leadership across multiple functions, significantly contributing to the organization's growth and success. His deep understanding of the healthcare and technology landscape and his ability to drive strategic initiatives will be invaluable as he leads AMD Global Telemedicine.

Tim is also a dedicated Mentor at MATTER, a Chicago-based healthcare incubator and accelerator, where he offers business expertise to start-up organizations in the healthcare space. His commitment to fostering innovation and supporting emerging healthcare companies further demonstrates his alignment with the management team and AMD Global Telemedicine's vision.

"I am honored to join AMD Global Telemedicine and excited to lead the company in delivering innovative telehealth solutions," said Tim. "My focus will be on leveraging our cutting-edge technology to enhance patient care and streamline the delivery of healthcare. Together with the talented team at AMD, we will drive the future of telehealth and expand our impact on healthcare globally."

"We are thrilled to welcome Tim to the AMD Global Telemedicine family," said Lewis Miller, Board Member, AMD Global Telemedicine. "His extensive experience and proven leadership in the healthcare sector make him the ideal person to lead our company. We are confident that under his leadership, AMD Global Telemedicine will achieve new heights of success and continue to revolutionize telehealth solutions."

For more information about AMD Global Telemedicine, visit www.amdtelemedicine.com.

Contact Information:

Keri Souza

VP of Marketing

ksouza@amdtelemedicine.com

978-937-9021

SOURCE: AMD Global Telemedicine

View the original press release on newswire.com.
Commences Restart of Production at our Harmon Valley South field

Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - June 11, 2024) - OBSIDIAN ENERGY LTD. (TSX: OBE) (NYSE American: OBE) ("Obsidian Energy", the "Company", "we" or "our") today announced that we have reached a mutually beneficial agreement in principle with the Woodland Cree First Nation (the "WCFN").

Obsidian Energy has commenced the restart of production from our Harmon Valley South field in our Peace River area. As previously disclosed, the field was producing at an approximate rate of 4,500 net boe per day prior to being shut down on May 12, 2024, due to the conflict with the WCFN.

"We look forward to a strong, collaborative and respectful relationship with the WCFN," said Stephen Loukas, Obsidian Energy's President and Chief Executive Officer. "The Company and the WCFN engaged in extensive discussions with the help of a mediator to arrive at a fair and equitable agreement that is beneficial to both parties."

The agreement between Obsidian Energy and the WCFN has a term through the end of 2025. The Company and the WCFN intend to keep the other terms of the agreement confidential.

ADDITIONAL READER ADVISORIES

OIL AND GAS INFORMATION ADVISORY

Barrels of oil equivalent ("boe") may be misleading, particularly if used in isolation. A boe conversion ratio of six thousand cubic feet of natural gas to one barrel of crude oil is based on an energy equivalency conversion method primarily applicable at the burner tip and does not represent a value equivalency at the wellhead. Given that the value ratio based on the current price of crude oil as compared to natural gas is significantly different from the energy equivalency conversion ratio of 6:1, utilizing a conversion on a 6:1 basis is misleading as an indication of value.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release contains forward-looking statements or information (collectively "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of the safe harbour provisions of applicable securities legislation. The use of any of the words "expect", "anticipate", "continue", "estimate", "objective", "ongoing", "may", "will", "project", "should", "believe", "plans", "intends" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements or information. More particularly and without limitation, this news release contains forward-looking statements and information concerning: our expectations for the relationship, and the term and confidentiality of the agreement.

The forward-looking statements and information are based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by Obsidian Energy. Although Obsidian Energy believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking statements and information are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements and information because Obsidian Energy can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. By its nature, such forward-looking statements and information are subject to various risks and uncertainties, which could cause the actual results and expectations to differ materially from the anticipated results or expectations expressed. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things: our ability to work with the WCFN pursuant terms and conditions to the agreement entered into; the possibility that we change our 2024 capital plans in response to internal and external factors, including those described herein; the possibility that the Company will not be able to continue to successfully execute our business plans (including the three-year growth plan) and strategies in part or in full, and the possibility that some or all of the benefits that the Company anticipates will accrue to our Company and our stakeholders as a result of the successful execution of such plans and strategies do not materialize; and unanticipated operating events or environmental events that can reduce production or cause production to be shut-in or delayed (including extreme cold during winter months, wild fires, flooding, drought and warm weather in the spring and summer months), including inability to access our properties due to blockades or other activism. Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such forward-looking statements and information, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on such forward-looking statements and information. Obsidian Energy gives no assurance that any of the events anticipated will transpire or occur, or, if any of them do, what benefits Obsidian Energy will derive from them. The forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. Except as required by law, the Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements or information contained herein. Readers should also carefully consider the matters discussed that could affect Obsidian Energy, or its operations or financial results in Obsidian Energy's Annual Information Form (see "Risk Factors" and "Forward-Looking Statements" therein) for the year ended December 31, 2023, which is available on the SEDAR+ website (www.sedarplus.ca), EDGAR website (www.sec.gov ) or Obsidian Energy's website. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive.

Unless otherwise specified, the forward-looking statements contained in this document speak only as of the date of this document. Except as expressly required by applicable securities laws, we do not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this document are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

Obsidian Energy shares are listed on both the Toronto Stock Exchange in Canada and the NYSE American in the United States under the symbol "OBE".

All figures are in Canadian dollars unless otherwise stated.

CONTACT

OBSIDIAN ENERGY

Suite 200, 207 - 9th Avenue SW, Calgary, Alberta T2P 1K3

Phone: 403-777-2500

Toll Free: 1-866-693-2707

Website: www.obsidianenergy.com;

Investor Relations:

Toll Free: 1-888-770-2633

E-mail: investor.relations@obsidianenergy.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/212421

SOURCE: Obsidian Energy Ltd.
Erinnern Sie sich, als Moderna und BioNTech von unbekannten Unternehmen zu globalen Marktfuhrern wurden und fruhzeitige Investoren reich belohnt haben?



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Northern Superior Resources Inc. ("Northern Superior" or the "Company") (TSXV:SUP)(OTCQB:NSUPF) is pleased to announce the appointment of Eric Desaulniers as Director of the Company, effective immediately. Mr. Desaulnier, renowned for his significant achievements in Quebec, brings a wealth of experience to Northern Superior.

While Northern Superior remains focused on advancing exploration activities and its consolidation strategy for the Chibougamau Gold Camp, the appointment of Mr. Desaulniers signifies the Company's readiness for an eventual development phase. His extensive experience and proven leadership will further bolster Northern Superior's commitment to excellence and innovation in mineral exploration and development.

Mr. Desaulniers, President and Chief Executive Officer of Nouveau Monde Graphite Inc. ("NMG"), has demonstrated exceptional leadership, pioneering NMG's innovative approach to sustainable development and cementing its position as a prominent industry player. Under his stewardship, NMG has achieved unprecedented milestones, including forging strategic partnerships and multi-year binding offtake agreements for active anode material with Panasonic Energy and General Motors. NMG has established itself as a cornerstone of the government of Quebec's Plan for the Development of Critical and Strategic Minerals, and counts Resource-Quebec as one of its largest shareholders, underscoring its strong positioning in the Quebec business landscape.

Eric Desaulniers commented: "I am honored to join the impressive team at Northern Superior and contribute to the Company's continued growth. As a geologist, I have always been drawn to the Philibert Gold Project, recognizing its potential as an important foothold of the Chibougamau Gold Camp. I am excited to join Northern Superior at this advanced stage of consolidating the best-in-class gold assets in this prospective area. Northern Superior stands out as one of the most exciting and rapidly growing gold companies, and together, we will continue to drive innovation in the Quebec mining industry."

Victor Cantore, Executive Chairman of Northern Superior, commented: "Having interacted with Eric previously, I can attest firsthand to his remarkable achievements. On behalf of everyone, I would like to extend a warm welcome to Eric. His exceptional track record and leadership in Quebec's business arena make him an invaluable addition to our Board. His accomplishment aligns perfectly with Northern Superior's unwavering commitment to transforming the Chibougamau Gold Camp into a premier gold destination."

Eric Desaulniers

Eric Desaulniers is a seasoned professional geologist specializing in geophysics. He earned a bachelor's degree in geology and a master's degree in geophysics from Laval University in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. As a project manager at Sander Geophysics, a renowned geophysical corporation, Mr. Desaulniers oversaw numerous large-scale interpretation and data acquisition projects globally. His work spanned the Middle East, Central and North Africa, and North America, serving esteemed clients such as the British Geological Survey, Saudi Aramco, Shell, the Moroccan government, and BRGM (le Bureau de Recherches Geologiques et Minieres, France).

In 2012, Mr. Desaulniers founded NMG, where he has held the positions of President and Chief Executive Officer since its inception. Under his leadership, NMG has evolved from greenfield exploration to achieving unprecedented milestones, including going public and advancing it to the globally recognized company it is today.

Before embarking on his career in the mining sector, Mr. Desaulniers served as an Infantry Officer in the Canadian Forces, specializing in leadership instruction, advanced negotiation training, and project management. In 2007, he joined an expedition to the North Pole in the Canadian Arctic with Columbia University of New York.

About Northern Superior Resources Inc.

Northern Superior is a gold exploration company focused on the Chibougamau Camp in Quebec, Canada. The Company has consolidated the largest land package in the region, with total land holdings currently exceeding 62,000 hectares. The main properties include Philibert, Lac Surprise, Chevrier and Croteau. Northern Superior is also the largest shareholder (72%) of ONGold Resources Ltd. (TSXV: ONAU), which is advancing several assets in Northern Ontario including the district scale TPK Project.

The Philibert Project is located 9 km from IAMGOLD Corporation's Nelligan Gold project which was awarded the "Discovery of the Year" by the Quebec Mineral Exploration Association (AEMQ) in 2019. Philibert host a new maiden 43-101 inferred resource of 1,708,800 ounces Au and an indicated resource of 278,900 ounces of Au.1 Northern Superior holds a majority stake of 75% in the Philibert Project, with the remaining 25% owned by SOQUEM, and retains an option to acquire the full 100% ownership of the project. Chevrier hosts an inferred mineral resource of 652,000 ounces Au (underground and open pit) and an indicated mineral resource of 260,000 ounces Au.2 Croteau hosts an inferred mineral resource of 640,000 ounces Au.3 Lac Surprise hosts the Falcon Zone Discovery, interpreted to be the western strike extension of IAMGOLD Corporation's Nelligan Deposit.

Northern Superior is a reporting issuer in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario and Quebec, and trades on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol SUP and the OTCQB Venture Market under the symbol NSUPF. For further information, please refer to the Company's website at www.nsuperior.com or on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca).

Qualified Person

The technical content and scientific aspects of this press release have been reviewed and approved by Ms. Adree DeLazzer, P. Geo., a Qualified Person as defined by the National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"). Ms. DeLazzer is Vice-President Exploration of Northern Superior and is not considered independent.

Northern Superior Resources Inc. on Behalf of the Board of Directors

Simon Marcotte, CFA, President and Chief Executive Officer

Contact Information

Simon Marcotte, CFA

President and Chief Executive Officer

Tel: (647) 801-7273

info@nsuperior.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation that is based on expectations, estimates, projections and interpretations as at the date of this news release. The information in this news release about the proposed transaction; and any other information herein that is not a historical fact may be "forward-looking information". Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, interpretations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "interpreted", "management's view", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward- looking information and are intended to identify forward-looking information. This forward-looking information is based on reasonable assumptions and estimates of management of Northern Superior, at the time it was made, involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the companies to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such factors include, among others, risks relating to the ability of the parties to execute the proposed transaction. Although the forward-looking information contained in this news release is based upon what management believes, or believed at the time, to be reasonable assumptions, the parties cannot assure shareholders and prospective purchasers of securities that actual results will be consistent with such forward-looking information, as there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended, and neither party nor any other person assumes responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of any such forward-looking information. Neither party undertakes, and assumes no obligation, to update or revise any such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information contained herein to reflect new events or circumstances, except as may be required by law.

__________________________________

1Northern Superior announces 1,708,809 gold ounces in inferred category and 278,921 gold ounces in indicated category at 1.10 g/t in maiden NI 43-101 pit constrained resource estimate at Philibert; Northern Superior Resources Inc. press release dated August 08, 2023.

2NI 43-101 Technical Report Mineral Resource Estimation for the Chevrier Main Deposit, Chevrier Project Chibougamau, Quebec, Canada, October 20, 2021, Prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 by Lions Gate Geological Consulting Inc. IOS Services Geoscientifiques Inc. for Northern Superior Resources Inc.

3Chalice Gold Mines Limited and Northern Superior Resources Inc. Technical Report on the Croteau Est Gold Project, Quebec, September 2015, Prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 by Optiro Pty Ltd ("Optiro") to Chalice Gold Mines Limited and Northern Superior Resources Inc.

SOURCE: Northern Superior Resources Inc.

View the original press release on accesswire.com
From left, Board of Education Commissioners Matt Alexander, Lainie Motamedi, Jenny Lam and Lisa Weissman-Ward. Progressive Alexander, who is running for reelection, was endorsed by three moderate candidates. Amaya Edwards/Special to the Chronicle

When the San Francisco teachers union officially endorsed candidates for the November school board election late last week, a lot of jaws dropped across the city.

That was in no small part because three of the four picks come from the moderate side of the political spectrum. The union, which represents 6,000 educators, hasnt backed a nonprogressive to serve on the board in at least a decade.

Perhaps more surprisingly, the three moderates, Parag Gupta, Jaime Huling and John Jersin, all received middling support during the unions membership meeting but unanimous support from the executive committee in the final vote. So did progressive incumbent Matt Alexander, which wasnt a surprise.

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The unions unusual endorsement of moderates was celebrated by some as a beacon of hope in a hostile political climate, a sign perhaps of the moderate left and far left finding common ground and focusing on fixing a city and school district with a lot of problems. But it was also seen with suspicion by others, as a political strategy amid a progressive slump, a way to save face by supporting strong candidates who had something to offer in return.

Four of the seven school board seats are up for election in the fall. Alexander is the only incumbent definitely running for reelection. There are 12 candidates in the race so far, with the filing deadline in mid-July.

In between the unions first overall vote and the final vote, campaign strategist Nate Albee, who represents Gupta, Huling, Jersin and Alexander, worked the phones, meeting with union officials, seeing what it would take to get his clients the endorsements. There were phone calls and meetings, he said.

Union leadership told him they would be open to helping his three moderates get the votes they needed  and their public support of Alexander could help them do that, Albee said.

They had to make a case to their members, he added. They had conversations about it.

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He said the union told him that if the candidates were going to endorse Alexander, it would be a good idea to do it before the (unions) vote.

The candidates did. They got the endorsement.

They support Matt Alexander, Albee said. Thats not half-assed.

The terms of current board members Jenny Lam, Kevine Boggess and Mark Sanchez are also up this year, but all have previously said they will not seek reelection.

Board members Lainie Motamedi, Lisa Weismann-Ward and Alida Fisher won election in 2022 and are serving terms that last until in 2026.

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Gupta, Huling and Jersin all said they had decided to endorse Alexander before their interviews with the union, each also saying they had been strongly opposed to him in years past, but got to know him in recent months, saying they believed as an educator, he was an asset on the board.

I do think supporting Matt is what we honestly believed so thats something I would have done regardless, said Huling, a deputy city attorney in Oakland.

I was already supportive of Matt, said Gupta, an executive at Mercy Housing. Im sure that publicly supporting him helped with the endorsement.

We supported Matt because we had conversations with him and had gotten to know who he is, said Jersin, former vice president at LinkedIn and co-founder of an education nonprofit. Certainly endorsing Matt in front of the union was certainly helpful in getting the endorsement.

Alexander was equally supportive of the three.

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Its really clear they are about kids and about building bridges, he said, adding he believes they are the most qualified people running and he has endorsed them. That was not necessarily what I was expecting.

Matt Alexander at SFUSD headquarters in June 2022. He has endorsed the three moderate candidates, saying they are about kids and about building bridges. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle

Union officials declined to address the endorsement process, saying only that they supported four pro-public education candidates for the SFUSD Board of Education.

We are on the right path to fighting for and winning the school our students deserve, said Cassondra Curiel, president of the United Educators of San Francisco.

The unions endorsement, however, did not sit well with the SF Parent Action, which had previously endorsed Gupta and Huling, as well as a third moderate, Supryia Ray.

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The organizations leaders said they learned last week that the candidates struck a deal to win the endorsement of the union.

We are deeply concerned about backroom political dealing that dismisses the voices of parents and the needs of children, according to the statement released Monday evening.

SFUSD is facing extraordinary challenges in the coming years, the statement continued. Kids cant wait  they need leaders who are skilled, authentic, transparent, trusted, and who will choose to prioritize the needs and outcomes of kids over politics.

The groups leadership said it was unclear whether the information would have an impact on their endorsement of Gupta and Huling.

Albee had a different take, saying voters want people to start working together and not be caught in arguments of the past.

I see this as what the city needs  people putting down their guns.

That said: This is a huge win for the moderate coalition, he added. It is not surprising (the union is) trying to come back to center.

Todd David, political director for Abundant SF, a moderate advocacy organization, can see both sides, saying that having the support of the union and the moderate coalitions is a solid strategy.

From a political point of view, landing the teacher unions endorsement is a big coup for these candidates, he said. Most importantly for students and parents, if this endorsement helps to build bridges between the union and the mod coalition to all work together to support student outcomes, that would be a great goal and outcome.
By Peter Tavernise

Do you feel a bit lost when people refer to certain environmental sustainability topics and aren't sure where to start when it comes to learning more? Sustainability 101 is a blog series that you can turn to for information about different environmental terms that may come up at work, during discussions with friends, and even at your annual holiday gathering.

NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / June 11, 2024 / "Biodiversity forms the web of life that we depend on for so many things - food, water, medicine, a stable climate, economic growth, among others. Over half of global GDP is dependent on nature. More than 1 billion people rely on forests for their livelihoods. And land and the ocean absorb more than half of all carbon emissions."

- United Nations: Biodiversity - our strongest natural defense against climate change

When it comes to the health of the planet, resilient ecosystems play a critical role. Resilient ecosystems protect the environment and help support the stability and security of human communities.

But what makes an ecosystem resilient and why is it essential for our future?

Resilient ecosystems

A common view of resilient ecosystems is the ability to withstand, recover from, and adapt to changes or shocks from natural events, such as earthquakes, or from human-made causes, such as climate change, pollution, or deforestation.

As the world deals with ongoing changes, the term "resilient ecosystems" is becoming a more frequently discussed topic. But more than a buzzword, it's an increasingly important strategic approach to sustainability. A wider perspective of resilience we can look at in this context includes:

Ecosystems that are able to adapt, survive, and thrive regardless of the disturbances they face.

Providing essential services that support life on Earth-such as purifying water and air, supporting agriculture, maintaining biodiversity, and protecting against natural disasters.

Ecosystems have varying degrees of resilience depending on factors such as the variety and interconnectedness of species within the ecosystem, weather patterns, and temperature levels. We find examples of naturally resilient ecosystems now becoming strained, from coral reefs to lakes and forests.

As we have seen, ecosystem resilience can be negatively impacted by things like climate change and human-driven deforestation. For example, due to encroachment by human activities, it's estimated that the Amazon rainforest has lost more than three-quarters of its resilience, making it more vulnerable to extreme events such as droughts. These types of trends are critical to address, given the interwoven balance of carbon stores, biodiversity, and human activity.

Interconnection - At the heart of establishing resilience

From this wider view, at the core of resilient ecosystems is interconnection-not just within the ecological community but also among individuals and societies.

This means moving beyond mere transactions with nature to fostering meaningful relationships with our environment and each other. Building connections and fostering unified responses are crucial for resilience. It's about creating a world where we support our ecosystems as much as they support us.

The United Nations describes its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as "integrated and indivisible," recognizing that sustainability efforts must build upon the connections between individuals, communities, and the environment. The SDGs emphasize that progress in one area amplifies the potential in others.

For instance, improving the health of our ecosystems directly supports goals related to health, water, and even economic growth. Recognizing the interdependence of these goals can help prioritize actions that offer the most significant mutual benefits.

When natural ecosystems are protected and preserved, that translates to benefits for the community-such as the ability to earn a living, resources to build schools, access to clean drinking water, and reduction of disease.

How Cisco is advancing resilient ecosystems

Investing in resilient ecosystems is one of the three key priorities of The Plan for Possible, our next-generation environmental sustainability strategy. We believe it is critical to help humans and nature navigate a changing climate by investing in regenerative technologies, workforces, and nature itself.

The Cisco Foundation's social investment strategy is closely aligned to this priority, particularly through its 10-year, $100 million climate impact initiative. The Cisco Foundation is supporting resilient ecosystems through both grants and impact investments, directly helping communities cultivate approaches for a regenerative economy, launching climate-focused companies, as well as supporting educational initiatives to help people take effective climate action.

Beyond the Foundation's climate impact initiative, the Foundation also supports community and ecosystem resilience through investments in other sectors, including Crisis Response and Critical Human Needs, Education, and Economic Empowerment. For example, in 2021, NESsT launched the Amazonia Tech Portfolio with support from Cisco that addresses regenerative forest conservation by supporting climate-smart solutions that grow sustainable value chains while improving livelihoods in the Amazon basin.

Climate adaption and resilience

Cisco's nonprofit partner Mercy Corps provides an inspiring example of building resilient ecosystems. Mercy Corps partners with communities around the world to help them adapt to their changing environment and innovate to improve their livelihoods-collaborating with partners large and small, global and local.

Our recent five-year Technology for Impact partnership with Mercy Corp reached more than 13 million people across 45 countries, and it has also influenced the broader humanitarian and development sector. Now we have a new partnership that focuses on fostering climate adaptation and resilience.

In the Horn of Africa, where over 20 million people's lives and livelihoods are being threatened by drought, Cisco is working with Mercy Corps to support pastoralist farmers who have been severely impacted by the drought in Northeast Kenya. You can learn more about our partnership in the video above.

Building community skills for resilience

Developing a workforce with the right skills is an important component of building resilient ecosystems and supporting transitions to clean energy. The Cisco Foundation supports various organizations that are advancing environmental education and initiatives, including DOT (Digital Opportunity Trust), which supports a youth-led response to the global climate challenge in regions such as Lebanon and Tanzania, and the Pachamama Alliance which focuses on developing skills for local community action and climate justice.

Communities leading the way in resilient ecosystems are those that emphasize a deep connection, working to restore our relationships with the Earth, each other, and ourselves.

By understanding and supporting resilient ecosystems, we can empower vulnerable communities and co-create opportunities for more sustainable and equitable development.

As we continue to face environmental challenges, the need for robust, resilient ecosystems has never been greater. It's time to foster a broader climate and environmental movement, one that welcomes new ideas, people, and inventive connections.

Together, we can build a resilient future where both people and the planet thrive. Want to learn more and get involved? Check out our Climate Grants and Investments page, for more information.

View original content here.

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Cisco Systems Inc. on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Cisco Systems Inc.

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/cisco-systems-inc

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Cisco Systems Inc.

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Klondike Gold Corp. (TSXV:KG)(FRA:LBDP)(OTCQB:KDKGF) ("Klondike Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has completed the first phase of 2024 exploration drilling, completed initial prospecting, and received new detailed prospectivity interpretation of airborne magnetic data to aid ongoing targeting of orogenic gold (Au) occurrences at the Company's 100% owned Klondike District Property (the "Property") in the Dawson mining district, Yukon, Canada.

Highlights

First phase of drilling completed 19 holes totalling 2,750 meters targeting Stander Zone gold mineralization with the objective of expanding gold mineralization adjacent the current Stander Zone mineral resource sub-area 1 . Phase one drilling follows up the discovery of high grade (0.97 opt Au to 2.91 opt Au) gold veining in each of four 2023 drill holes over 400 meters strike length and 200 meters dip length (see news release of January 15, 2024). Assays pending.

. Phase one drilling follows up the discovery of high grade (0.97 opt Au to 2.91 opt Au) gold veining in each of four 2023 drill holes over 400 meters strike length and 200 meters dip length (see news release of January 15, 2024). Assays pending. Second phase of drilling of approximately 2,500 meters is expected to begin this week to test the additional resource potential of high grade gold veining at Stander Zone and to test for potential extensions.

Prospecting targeted the newly interpreted outcrop line on the Eldorado Creek slope of Stander Zone mineralization and successfully located and sampled areas of quartz veining. Prospecting continues in specific target areas. Assays pending.

The Company received structural lineament and mineral potential maps interpreted from new reprocessing of magnetic datasets of the Property by RDC Consulting provided under a Klondike Gold / CASERM (Centre for Advanced Subsurface Earth Resource Models) research contract. Lineament analysis informs a regional structural recharacterization of the Klondike District Property developed by the Company to target the world class gold endowment present in the Klondike District. Detailed surface structural and lineament mapping in combination with systematic oriented drill core measurements is directly contributing to drill targeting of high-grade orogenic gold veins at the Stander Zone.

Peter Tallman, Klondike Gold's President & CEO states, "The first sixty days of 2024 field work including a full Phase 1 drill shift are complete. The geology team has made key observations that may lead to additional discoveries targeting high grade gold orogenic veining. A very large Klondike Gold team "Thank You" goes to the exceptional Kluane Drilling crew who achieved a record for core drilled in a shift and also a record for average core drilled per each shift for the month in May."

QUALITY ASSURANCE/QUALITY CONTROL

The technical and scientific information contained within this news release has been reviewed and approved by Peter Tallman, P.Geo., President and CEO of Klondike Gold and Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101 policy. Exploration related technical information, specifications, analytical information and procedures can be found on the Company's website.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Klondike Gold will be participating in the following upcoming events:

June 23 - 26: Invest Yukon Investment Conference/Property Tour (Dawson, YT)

July 19 - 21: CEM TSX Venture Growth Conference (Kelowna, BC)

August 12 - 16: Klondike Investment Conference/Property Tour (Dawson, YT)

November 22 - 24: CEM Florida Capital Event (Miami, FL)

ABOUT KLONDIKE GOLD CORP.

Klondike Gold is a Vancouver based gold exploration company advancing its 100%-owned Klondike District Gold Project located at Dawson City, Yukon, one of the top mining jurisdictions in the world. The Klondike District Gold Project targets gold associated with district scale orogenic faults along the 55-km length of the famous Klondike Goldfields placer district. Multi-km gold mineralization has been identified at both the Lone Star Zone and Stander Zone, among other targets. The Company has identified a Mineral Resource Estimate of 469,000 Indicated and 112,000 Inferred gold ounces1, a milestone first for the Klondike District. The Company is focused on exploration and development of its 727 square km property accessible by scheduled airline and government-maintained roads located on the outskirts of Dawson City, Yukon, within the Tr'ondek Hwech'in First Nation traditional territory.

1 The Mineral Resource Estimate for the Klondike District Property was prepared by Marc Jutras, P.Eng., M.A.Sc., Principal, Ginto Consulting Inc., an independent Qualified Person in accordance with the requirements of NI 43-101. The technical report supporting the Mineral Resource Estimate entitled "NI 43-101 Technical Report on the Klondike District Gold Project, Yukon Territory, Canada" has been filed on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca effective November 10, 2022. Refer to news release of December 16, 2022.

ON BEHALF OF KLONDIKE GOLD CORP.

"Peter Tallman"

Peter Tallman,

President and CEO

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:

Telephone: (604) 609-6138

E-mail: info@klondikegoldcorp.com

Website: www.klondikegoldcorp.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Certain statements contained in this news release constitute "forward-looking statements". When used in this document, the words "anticipated", "expect", "estimated", "forecast", "planned", and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements or information. These statements are based on current expectations of management, however, they are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this news release. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these statements. Klondike Gold does not undertake any obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise after the date hereof, except as required by securities laws.

SOURCE: Klondike Gold Corp.

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 11, 2024) - Optimi Health Corp. (CSE: OPTI) (OTCQX: OPTHF) (FSE: 8BN) ("Optimi" or the "Company"), a leading Health Canada licensed GMP psychedelics pharmaceutical manufacturer, specializing in controlled substances such as botanical psilocybin and MDMA, is pleased to announce a series of milestones in its international psychedelic supply operations and corporate marketing strategy.

Optimi has completed its first international shipment to Israel of its in-house manufactured MDMA active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) to the Institute for Psychedelic Research at Tel Aviv University (IPR-TLV). This achievement, made possible through the grant of the necessary Export Permit from Health Canada, marks a pivotal step in Optimi's mission to support global psychedelic research and innovation.

"Completing our first International export of MDMA to Israel is an important milestone for the Company," said Bill Ciprick, CEO of Optimi. "Now that we have our Drug Establishment Licence, this accomplishment highlights our capability to manufacture MDMA in-house for clients around the world, and efficiently deliver the product to an international client. It also underscores our dedication to expanding the availability of high-quality, controlled substances for important scientific research and therapeutic applications worldwide."

Through the export process, Optimi has also received the CERS (Canadian Export Reporting System) and CBSA (Canada Border Services Agency) Exporters Authorization ID, further confirming its capacity to export controlled substances from Canada. This authorization is crucial for maintaining compliance with international trade regulations and ensuring smooth logistics for future shipments to customers around the world.

Investor Relations

The Company is also pleased to announce that it has retained Oak Hill Financial Inc. ("Oak Hill") to provide comprehensive investor relations, business and capital markets advisory services at a rate of CDN$12,000 per month for an initial three-month term, then continuing month to month at the Company's election. Oak Hill will begin helping Optimi to effectively communicate its latest corporate milestones with potential new investors, and further engage with the investment community on behalf of the Company. To the knowledge of the Company, Oak Hill does not currently hold a security position in Optimi.

"We are excited to partner with Oak Hill to bolster our investor relations efforts," added Jacob Safarik, Chief Financial Officer of Optimi. "Their expertise will be invaluable as we continue to expand our shareholder base and reach new milestones in the psychedelic pharmaceuticals industry. It's important for Optimi to bring new eyes to our recent achievements and increase supply opportunities with our Drug Establishment Licence."

Recent Corporate Highlights:

On June 3, 2024, Health Canada awarded Optimi a Drug Establishment Licence for the production and distribution of the Company's MDMA and psilocybin capsules, and for the fabrication of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API's) extracted from plant sources. Optimi is now recognized by Health Canada as GMP-compliant pharmaceutical drug manufacturer.

Psychiatrists in Australia who are authorized by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) can request the importation of Optimi's MDMA and psilocybin capsules for use in patients. The available drugs include: MDMA Capsules (40mg and 60mg) for PTSD; and Psilocybin Capsules (5mg) for Treatment-Resistant Depression.

Optimi was recently issued an import certificate to supply an initial order 160 doses of MDMA and psilocybin to fulfill patient prescriptions, facilitated by Mind Medicine Australia.

The Company can now provide customers with comprehensive GMP psychedelic drug solutions for drug commercialization, covering manufacturing, export, and distribution from their facility in Princeton, BC, Canada.

On behalf of the Board of Directors,

OPTIMI HEALTH CORP.

Dane Stevens, CMO

Telephone: (778) 761-4551

For media inquiries, please contact:

Andrea Mestrovic

Andrea@weareverypolite.com

For investor inquiries, please contact:

Michael Kydd

investors@optimihealth.ca

902.880.6121

www.optimihealth.ca

ABOUT OPTIMI (CSE: OPTI) (OTCQX: OPTHF) (FSE: 8BN)

Optimi Health is the only psychedelics pharmaceutical manufacturer in Canada with both a Controlled Drugs and Substances Dealer's Licence and a Drug Establishment Licence (DEL). Specializing in controlled substances such as botanical psilocybin and MDMA, Optimi is dedicated to supplying safe, top-tier GMP-grade products and API to researchers, drug developers, and authorized patients in markets across the world.

Our leadership is reinforced by our state-of-the-art, GMP-compliant cultivation, formulation, and analytical facilities, purpose-built to develop proprietary formulations that meet the highest standards of quality and responsible sourcing. Located in Princeton, British Columbia, our two facilities total 20,000 square feet where all products are grown and manufactured in-house under strict GACP and GMP conditions, ensuring unparalleled quality and reliability. Optimi Health is committed to being the most trusted and compassionate supplier of safe drug candidates worldwide.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS:

This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation (collectively, "forward-looking statements") that relate to Optimi's current expectations and views of future events. Any statements that express, or involve discussions as to, expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, through the use of words or phrases such as "will likely result," "are expected to," "expects," "will continue," "is anticipated," "anticipates," "believes," "estimated," "intends," "plans," "forecast," "projection," "strategy," "objective," and "outlook") are not historical facts and may be forward-looking statements and may involve estimates, assumptions and uncertainties which could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking statements. forward-looking statements made in this news release include the proposed use of the proceeds of the Offering. No assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking statements included in this news release should not be unduly relied upon. These statements speak only as of the date of this news release.

Forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond Optimi's control, which could cause actual results and events to differ materially from those that are disclosed in or implied by such forward-looking statements. Optimi undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for Optimi to predict all of them or assess the impact of each such factor or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. Any forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/212419

SOURCE: Optimi Health Corp.
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / June 11, 2024 / Regency Centers brought home two awards at this year's ICSC MAXI Global Awards ceremony, which features the premier recognition of excellence, innovation and creativity, and highlights the retail real estate industry's most innovative events, programs and technologies that add value to marketplaces and companies internationally.

The awards included a Silver for "The Abbot Spotlight: The Unofficial Gateway to Harvard Square," and a Gold for the industry's first known intercompany partnership, "Signs of HOPE," which was collaboratively submitted by Brixmor Property Group, Regency Centers, Kimco Realty, Kite Realty Group, Peterson Companies, Sterling Organization, and Urban Edge Properties.

The Abbot Spotlight: The Unofficial Gateway to Harvard Square

(B2B, Single Marketplace)

The Abbot Spotlight is an ongoing initiative to showcase an award-winning historic renovation/redevelopment in the vibrant heart of Harvard Square, one of America's greatest intellectual hubs. This 65,000 SF mixed-use asset is situated in the heart of Cambridge, MA, directly connected to the best retail and placemaking amenities in the market. This property was deserving of an elevated marketing campaign; amplified by a narrative-driven, visually stunning digital production that served as its vehicle for promotion after one of the market's worst economic downturns.

Click here to view the award submission.

It's a great honor and a fantastic recognition for all involved," said Eric Davidson, Senior Communications Manager. "The story of The Abbot's transformation doesn't happen without the work of Sam Steibel, David Sherin, and Krista Di Iaconi. The B2B and brand narrative was helmed by two of the best in the industry with Faith Hershey and Ivan Do. And of course, the visual expertise and craftsmanship of Quiet Valor's incredibly talented team really brought this to life 'on-screen.' Our merchants, the city of Cambridge, our property operations team - the list goes on. My favorite piece of video content is Heat with Robert De Niro and Al Pacino, but The Abbot Spotlight is a close second.

Signs of HOPE

(Community, Company)

Despite an increase in suicide rates, only 17% of Americans were aware of the 988 Lifeline, a free lifesaving resource offered by the federal government for mental health crises calls. The urgency was clear: mental wellness is relevant to every community, regardless of geography or demographics, impacting 22% of Americans in 2021. As a result, seven open-air center landlords collaborated on the industry's first known intercompany partnership to permanently install Signs of HOPE, car park pole signage promoting the 988 Lifeline, in 1,450 shopping centers in 40 states. Together, this portfolio serves 42% of the U.S. population with 251M people who make 4.2 billion visits annually.

Click here to view the award submission.

Being a part of something that has the potential to give hope to those who need it, and even help save lives, is incredibly gratifying," said Jan Hanak, Vice President, Marketing + Communications. "To have our industry celebrate our collective efforts in this important endeavor is icing on the cake!

Learn more about the ICSC Global Maxi awards here.

View original content here.





View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Regency Centers on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Regency Centers

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/regency-centers

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Regency Centers

View the original press release on accesswire.com
HIGHLIGHTS

Prismo Metals has received commitments for a $1.1 million private placement of units at a price of $0.17 per unit.

Hot Breccia Copper Project (Arizona): Permit expected this month. Upcoming exploration program to focus on diamond drilling five holes with an expected depth of 1,000 metres each.

Palos Verdes Silver Project (Mexico): Planning to drill approximately 3,600 meters in ten holes to be completed in two phases. These holes will be drilled from Vizsla Silver Corp. concessions adjacent to the Palos Verdes concession and will target the Palos Verdes vein at depth.



NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

Prismo Metals Inc. ("Prismo" or the "Company") (CSE:PRIZ)(OTCQB:PMOMF) is pleased to announce that it has received commitments for 6,500,000 units of the Company ("Units") at a price of $0.17 per Unit for gross proceeds of $1,105,000 to be issued on a non-brokered private placement basis (the "Private Placement"). The total amount of the Private Placement has been committed to and the Company expects that the Private Placement will be fully subscribed at a closing expected to take place on or around June 18, 2024.

Each Unit consists of one common share in the capital of the Company (a "Share") and one-half of one common share purchase warrant of the Company (each whole warrant, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one common share in the capital of the Company for a period of twenty-four (24) months from the date of issue at an exercise price of $0.25.

Steve Robertson, President of Prismo Metals commented: "The recent strengthening in commodity prices has resulted in renewed interest from investors in exploration companies like ours. We are pleased to welcome several new incoming shareholders who will be participating in the Private Placement. Our priorities this year remain to start drilling at our Hot Breccia copper project located in the heart of the Arizona copper belt and to test the Palos Verdes vein at depth on our silver project of the same name in Mexico."

Mr. Robertson added: "The anticipated exploration program at Hot Breccia will focus on diamond drilling five holes with an expected depth of 1,000 metres each, for a program total of 5,000 metres. The actual depth of each drill hole will be determined by the stratigraphy encountered. The exploration team would like to ensure the entire Paleozoic carbonate sequence, which are the most prospective host rock for mineralization, is intersected. Arrangements for the start of drilling will be underway once the final Bureau of Land Management ("BLM") permit is fully in place, which is anticipated to occur in the near future."

Regarding the Palos Verdes silver project in Mexico, Craig Gibson, Co-Founder and Chief Exploration Officer said: "Immediately following closing of the Private Placement, we will mobilize our drilling crew at our Palos Verdes for our next phase of drilling. We are planning to drill approximately 3,600 meters in ten holes to be completed in two phases. These holes will be drilled from Vizsla Silver Corp. concessions adjacent to the Palos Verdes concession and will target the Palos Verdes vein at depth. This drill program follows a recommendation presented by the Panuco Joint Technical Committee. The Joint Technical Committee is comprised of Prismo's CXO Dr. Craig Gibson, Vizsla Silver's VP Exploration Dr. Jesus Velador, and Dr. Peter Megaw."

About Hot Breccia

The Hot Breccia property consists of 1,420 hectares 227 contiguous mining claims located in the world class Arizona Copper Belt between several very well-understood world-class copper mines including Morenci, Ray and Resolution (Figure 1). Hot Breccia shows many features in common with these neighboring systems, most prominently a swarm of porphyry dikes and series of breccia pipes containing numerous fragments of well copper-mineralized rocks mixed with fragments of volcanic and sedimentary derived from considerable depth. Prismo ran a ZTEM survey last year that identified a very large conductive anomaly directly beneath the breccia outcrops (Figures 2 and 3).

Sampling at the project has shown the presence of copper and gold mineralization associated with polymictic breccia that has brought fragments of sedimentary rocks and mineralization to the surface from depths believed to be 400-1,000 meters below the surface. Drilling of deep holes, possibly including a twin of an historical hole, is planned.

Gold mineralization ranging from anomalous values of 0.1-0.3 g/t to 28 g/t with local copper has also been encountered at the surface associated with dikes (see News Release of July 11, 2023).

Figure 1: Location of the Hot Breccia copper project in Arizona.

Figure 2. View of the subsurface looking northeasterly showing the conductive body from the ZTEM survey and cross sections of the Christmas deposit and the Hot Breccia area. Historic drill holes are shown with copper assays as disks within the red ellipse; the magenta color indicates > 1% Copper.

Figure 3. Plan view of the surface geology showing the hot breccia land boundary in black and the cross sections from Fig. 2. The surface projection of the conductive body shown in Fig. 2 is roughly outlined in red.

Assay results from historical drill holes are unverified as the core has been destroyed, but information has been gathered from memos, photos and drill logs that contain some, but not all, of the assay results and descriptions.

About Palos Verdes

The Palos Verdes project is located in the historic Panuco-Copala silver-gold district in southern Sinaloa, Mexico, approximately 65 kilometers NE of Mazatlan, Sinaloa, in the Municipality of Concordia. The Palos Verdes concession (claim) covers 700 meters of strike length of the Palos Verdes vein, a member of the north-easterly trending vein family located in the eastern part of the district outside of the area of modern exploration. Shallow drilling (<100m) conducted in 2018 on the Palos Verdes Vein was targeted 30 to 50 meters beneath largely barren vein outcrops and cut a well mineralized multistage vein two to seven metres wide with narrow intervals of high-grade precious metal values and subordinate base metals (see table of intercepts at www.prismometals.com ). This mineralization is open in all directions and the currently planned drilling program is designed to follow it along strike and to depth.

A geochemical sampling program conducted in late 2023 focused on narrow and most strongly mineralized portions of the vein was conducted along the exposed strike length of the Palos Verdes vein system. The best sample from that program assayed 930 g/t silver and 10.55 g/t gold with 15.4% zinc and 4.5% lead (2,605 g/t Ag/Eq) over 0.5 meters. Strongly anomalous values of precious metal and indicator elements occur above the mineralized shoot identified during drilling and also along the vein system further to the northeast. This area may indicate the presence of a second blind mineralized shoot that will also be tested by the deep drilling from Vizsla ground.

Table 1. Assay highlights for Palos Verdes sampling program.

Sample UTM Coordinates WGS84 Length Au Ag Cu Pb Zn E N meters g/t g/t % % % 126032 414,003 2,593,429 0.5 0.833 280 - - - 126035 414,173 2,593,467 1.0 0.854 174 - - - 126036 414,171 2,593,459 1.0 0.152 103 - - - 126037 414,188 2,593,470 1.0 5.96 433 - - - 126038 414,205 2,593,469 1.0 0.249 75.5 - - - 126041 414,093 2,593,387 1.0 0.969 415 - - - 126068 413,520 2,593,029 0.5 0.174 103 - - - 126072 413,591 2,593,121 0.5 0.184 98.8 - - - 126077 413,627 2,593,102 0.5 1.285 326 - - - 126079 413,663 2,593,137 0.5 0.331 78.1 - - - 126083 413,722 2,593,333 0.5 0.459 65 - - - 126085 413,740 2,593,176 0.5 0.203 82.6 0.94 4.55 14.23 126086 413,736 2,593,175 0.5 10.55 930 0.78 4.50 15.40 126088 413,746 2,593,182 0.5 0.073 76.8 0.78 1.14 2.03 126089 413,744 2,593,076 0.5 0.034 24.5 0.22 2.33 3.40 126095 413,734 2,593,145 0.5 1.19 190 - - - 517878 413,751 2,593,180 0.5 0.079 61.7 0.32 0.73 11.85 517879 413,742 2,593,180 0.5 0.182 129 0.18 8.22 15.65

The Company completed its third drill campaign last year with 2,923 meters drilled in 15 holes with high grade mineralization encountered in several holes. Assays previously reported from this program include the highest-grade intercept recorded at the project in hole PV-23-25 with 102 g/t gold, 3,100 g/t silver and 0.26% zinc over 0.5 meters, or 11,520 g/t silver equivalent (see News Release of July 27, 2023). The last eight drill holes in the program, PV-23-26 to PV-23-33 were drilled to test the limits of the mineralized shoot in the western portion of the vein at depth and to the east of the NW fault.

Holes PV-23-27 and PV-23-29 to PV-23-33 tested the mineralized shoot to define the limits of mineralization and cut variably mineralized vein material (Table 1). The angle of inclination of several holes was very steep at -75 degrees, and drilling from the Vizsla Silver ground will provide more useful information.

Holes PV-23-26 and PV-23-28 explored to the east of the NW fault and did not cut significant mineralization but provided valuable information for the next holes that need to be drilled deeper from the adjoining Vizsla Silver ground.

2023 Palos Verdes Drilling Highlights

PV-23-25:

This hole intersected 11,520 g/t Ag equivalent over 0.5 meters (3,100 g/t Ag, 102 g/t Au and 0.26% Zn) This intercept is part of a wider mineralized interval with 4,311 g/t Ag equivalent over 1.35 meters (1157 g/t Ag, 38 g/t Au and 0.1% Zn)

(3,100 g/t Ag, 102 g/t Au and 0.26% Zn) A second interval higher in the hole yielded 512 g/t Ag equivalent over 0.3 meter (384 g/t Ag, 1.36 g/t Au and 0.27% Zn)

PV-23-24:

This hole intercepted 1,234 g/t g/t Ag equivalent over 0.7 meter (60 g/t Ag, 11.9 g/t Au and 3.9% Zn) This interval is within a wider 2.6-meter interval with 384 g/t Ag equivalent (32 g/t Ag, 3.3 g/t Au and 1.57% Zn)

(60 g/t Ag, 11.9 g/t Au and 3.9% Zn) A second interval higher in the hole yielded 302 g/t Ag equivalent over 1.2. meters (95 g/t Ag, 1.84 g/t Au and 1.2% Zn)

PV-23-20:

This hole intercepted 189 g/t g/t Ag equivalent over 0.9 meters (58 g/t Ag and 1.58 g/t Au) and is the first mineralized intercept in the northeastern portion of the concession

PV-23-32:

This hole intersected 450.2 g/t Ag equivalent over 0.3 meters (45 g/t Ag, 0.83 g/t Au, 0.43% Pb, and 0.47% Zn) as part of a larger zone of 2.2 meters with 115 g/t Ag equivalent

(45 g/t Ag, 0.83 g/t Au, 0.43% Pb, and 0.47% Zn) as part of a larger zone of 2.2 meters with 115 g/t Ag equivalent A second interval deeper in the hole yielded 391.5 g/t Ag equivalent over 0.4 meters (17 g/t Ag, 3.56% Pb, 6.03%Zn) within a larger interval of 5.55 meters with 103.8 g/t Ag equivalent

PV-23-33:

This hole intersected 112.7 g/t Ag equivalent over 0.35 meters (37 g/t Ag, 0.489 g/t Au, 0.36% Pb, and 0.56% Zn)

(37 g/t Ag, 0.489 g/t Au, 0.36% Pb, and 0.56% Zn) A second interval deeper in the hole yielded 105.6 g/t Ag equivalent over 0.3 meters (20 g/t Ag, 0.22% Pb, 1.79% Zn)

(20 g/t Ag, 0.22% Pb, 1.79% Zn) A third interval contained 382.2 g/t Ag equivalent over 0.45 meters (144 g/t Ag, 0.45% Pb, 5.12% Zn) within a 0.75-meter interval of 253.4 g/t Ag equivalent (95 g/t Ag, 0.31% Pb, 3.39% Zn)

Figure 4. Geologic and drill hole map of the Palos Verdes and adjacent concessions with silver assays from the recent sampling and showing surface projection of the mineralized shoots and the high-level alteration assemblage discussed in the text. Planned deep drill holes from Vizsla Silver ground shown in purple and red color. Broad hachured swath is the northwest-trending structure interpreted to have offset the eastern extension of the vein.

Figure 5. View of subsurface at Palos Verdes, looking northerly, with the Palos Verdes vein projection in red and the high-grade mineralized shoot in magenta, apparently truncated by the NW fault, blue.

Table of drill highlights for the previously unreported holes at the Palos Verdes Project:

Hole From

(m) To

(m) Width

(m) Est True width (m) Au

(g/t) Ag (g/t) Cu

(%) Pb

(%) Zn

(%) *Ag eq (g/t) PV-27 0.90 1.30 0.40 0.10 0.216 107 - 0.02 0.02 126.2 PV-32 109.40 111.60 2.20 1.41 0.16 17.5 0.27 0.92 1.30 115.4 111.30 111.60 0.30 0.19 0.83 45.0 0.68 4.32 4.67 333.9 150.10 155.65 5.55 3.57 0.20 20.7 0.16 0.61 1.09 103.8 155.25 155.65 0.40 0.26 0.04 17 0.21 3.56 6.03 391.5 PV-33 225.65 226.40 0.75 0.26 0.03 94.8 2.28 0.31 3.39 253.4 225.95 226.40 0.45 0.14 0.04 144 3.65 0.45 5.12 382.2

*Silver equivalent values are calculated using the following metals prices: Au, US$1,750/oz, Ag, $21.24/oz, Pb, $0.97/lb and Zn, $1.34/lb. Cu was not used in the calculation, and metallurgical recoveries were not considered as there is no data available for the Palos Verdes vein. True width estimated from hole inclination and estimated vein dip, where known.

Table of drill hole data for holes not previously released:

Hole Target Easting Northing Elev Azim Incl Depth (m) PV-23-26 NW fault 413,807 2,593,082 1,236 10 -45 327.00 PV-23-27 PV vein 413,814 2,593,082 1,226 320 -75 234.00 PV-23-28 NW fault 413,801 2,593,136 1,244 35 -60 117.00 PV-23-29 SW PV gap 413,735 2,593,073 1,216 330 -75 183.00 PV-23-30 SW PV gap 413,707 2,592,990 1,202 330 -50 180.00 PV-23-31 SW PV gap 413,709 2,592,990 1,200 330 -75 246.00 PV-23-32 SW PV gap 413,677 2,592,942 1,211 315 -50 199.50 PV-23-33 SW PV gap 413,678 2,592,938 1,216 330 -75 250.50

Coordinates in UTM WGS84 using handheld Garmin GPS.

Additional Information About the Private Placement

The Private Placement will be made available to subscribers pursuant to the accredited investor and friends, family and business associate exemptions provided under sections 2.3(1) and 2.5 of National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions.

The Private Placement will also be made available to existing shareholders of the Company who, as of the close of business on April 3, 2024, held Shares (and who continue to hold such Shares as of the closing date of the Private Placement), pursuant to the existing securityholder exemption set out in BC Instrument 45-534 Exemption From Prospectus Requirement for Certain Trades to Existing Security Holders (the "Existing Securityholder Exemption"). The Existing Securityholder Exemption limits a shareholder to a maximum investment of CAD$15,000 in a 12-month period unless the shareholder has obtained advice regarding the suitability of the investment and, if the shareholder is resident in a jurisdiction of Canada, that advice has been obtained from a person that is registered as an investment dealer in the jurisdiction. If the Company receives subscriptions from investors relying on the Existing Securityholder Exemption exceeding the maximum amount of the Private Placement, the Company intends to adjust the subscriptions received on a pro-rata basis.

The Company intends to use the proceeds from the Private Placement to fund drilling at its Palos Verdes project, and for general working capital purposes. There may be circumstances, however, where, for sound business reasons, a reallocation of funds may be necessary.

The Company may pay finder's fees to eligible finders in connection with the Private Placement, subject to compliance with applicable securities laws and Canadian Securities Exchange policies.

All securities issued in connection with the Private Placement will be subject to a four-month hold period from the closing date under applicable Canadian securities laws, in addition to such other restrictions as may apply under applicable securities laws of jurisdictions outside Canada.

The securities being offered have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act and may not be offered or sold in the United States, or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons or persons in the United States, absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any State in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

Debt Settlements

The Company also announces that it has entered into debt settlement agreements with certain creditors of the Company (the "Creditors") pursuant to which the Company has agreed to issue to the Creditors, and the Creditors have agreed to accept, an aggregate of 646,391 Units (the "Settlement Units"), in full and final settlement of accrued and outstanding indebtedness in the aggregate amount of $109,886.

Each Settlement Unit consists of one Share and one-half of one Warrant. Each such warrant shall entitle the holder to purchase one common share in the capital of the Company for a period of twenty-four (24) months from the date of issue at an exercise price of $0.25.

The Settlement Units will be subject to a statutory hold period of four months from the date of issuance under applicable Canadian securities laws, in addition to such other restrictions as may apply under applicable securities laws of jurisdictions outside Canada.

Updated Disclosure Regarding Closing of Prior Debt Settlement Transaction

The Company also wishes to clarify its previously disseminated press release dated April 5, 2024, announcing the closing of the Company's previously announced debt settlement transactions with certain creditors of the Company (the "Prior Debt Settlement"). The press release inadvertently disclosed in one instance that the Company issued a total of 788,235 Shares to ProDeMin, a company controlled by then President and CEO (now Chief Exploration Officer) of Prismo, Dr. Craig Gibson, in the Prior Debt Settlement. The actual number of Shares issued to ProDeMin was 588,235 as elsewhere stated in the news release.

QA/QC

Samples taken by Prismo are analyzed by multielement ICP-AES and MS methods internationally recognized analytical service providers. Certified Reference Materials including standard pulps and coarse blank material are inserted in the sample stream at regular intervals. Dr. Craig Gibson, PhD., CPG., a "Qualified Person" as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and Chief Exploration Officer and a director of the Company, has reviewed and approved the technical disclosure in this news release.

Not for distribution to U.S. news wire services or dissemination in the United States.

About Prismo Metals Inc.

Prismo (CSE: PRIZ) is mining exploration company focused on two precious metal projects in Mexico (Palos Verdes and Los Pavitos) and a copper project in Arizona (Hot Breccia).

Please follow @PrismoMetals on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube

Prismo Metals Inc.

1100 - 1111 Melville St., Vancouver, British Columbia V6E 3V6

Contact:

Alain Lambert, Chief Executive Officer alambert@cpvcgroup.ca

Steve Robertson, President steve.robertson@prismometals.com

Jason Frame, Manager of Communications jason.frame@prismometals.com

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This release includes certain statements and information that may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect the expectations or beliefs of management of the Company regarding future events. Generally, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "intends" or "anticipates", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "should", "would" or "occur". This information and these statements, referred to herein as "forward-looking statements", are not historical facts, are made as of the date of this news release and include without limitation, statements regarding discussions of future plans, estimates and forecasts and statements as to management's expectations and intentions with respect to, among other things: the expected closing date of the Private Placement; the anticipated proceeds to be raised under the Private Placement; the intended use of any proceeds raised under the Private Placement; the payment of any finder's fees in connection with the Private Placement; the issuance of the Settlement Units; the Company's plans to commence drilling at the Hot Breccia and Palos Verdes projects and the expected depth thereof; and the anticipated receipt of the final BLM permit and the timing thereof.

These forward-looking statements involve numerous risks and uncertainties and actual results might differ materially from results suggested in any forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things: delays in obtaining or failure to obtain required regulatory approvals for the Private Placement and the Debt Settlement; market uncertainty; the inability of the Company to raise the anticipated proceeds under the Private Placement; the inability of the Company to utilize the anticipated proceeds of the Private Placement as anticipated; delays or changes in plans with respect to exploration projects or capital expenditures, including in respect of the Company's proposed drill programs; delays in the receipt of the final BLM permit; the uncertainty of mineral resource exploration cost estimates; health, safety and environmental risks; worldwide demand for metals; metals prices and other commodity price and exchange rate fluctuations; environmental risks; competition; ability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources; and changes in legislation, including but not limited to tax laws, royalties and environmental regulations.

In making the forward looking statements in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including without limitation: the Company will obtain the required regulatory approvals for the Private Placement; the Company will be able to raise the anticipated proceeds under the Private Placement and on the timetable anticipated; the Company will use the proceeds of the Private Placement as currently anticipated; the Company will issue the Settlement Units as anticipated; the Company will commence drilling at the Hot Breccia and Palos Verdes projects at the expected depth and on the timetable anticipated; and the final BLM permit will be received and on the timetable anticipated.

Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, forward-looking information or financial out-look that are incorporated by reference herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. We seek safe harbor.

SOURCE: Prismo Metals Inc.

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - June 11, 2024) - Red Light Holland Corp. (CSE: TRIP) (FSE: 4YX) (OTCQB: TRUFF) ("Red Light Holland"), a company engaged in the production, growth, and sale of functional mushrooms and mushroom home grow kits in North America and Europe, as well as a premium brand of psilocybin truffles to the legal, recreational market within the Netherlands, in compliance with all applicable laws, today announced the resignation of its Chief Financial Officer, David Ascott, who is leaving Red Light Holland effective June 21, 2024 to pursue an opportunity in another industry. Mr. Ascott has served as Red Light Holland's CFO since November 2021.

"While this was a difficult decision for me to make, I am very proud of my tenure here and for the numerous accomplishments at Red Light Holland," remarked Mr. Ascott. "I am grateful for the opportunity to work with Red Light Holland and thoroughly enjoyed my great relationship with CEO Todd Shapiro. I would also like to thank the talented team at the Company and I believe Red Light Holland continues to be well positioned for the future, and I wish each member of the Red Light Holland family continued success going forward."

Todd Shapiro, Red Light Holland Chief Executive Officer & Director, commented: "On behalf of Red Light Holland and its Board of Directors, I would like to thank Mr. Ascott for his time spent here. Reflecting on the journey we've shared at Red Light Holland, I can't help but feel a sense of gratitude for the collaborative efforts with David. From those early morning brainstorms to the late-night strategy sessions, our focus has always been unwaveringly fixed on driving shareholder value."

Shapiro added: "While David's departure presents a void, the confidence in our team's ability to swiftly find a capable replacement is palpable. Already, the wheels are in motion as we embark on the interim CFO interview process. As for any concerns shareholders may have about timing, rest assured, David's departure is neither associated with (nor will the timing impact) our meticulous adherence to deadlines, especially with upcoming audits and filings."

Red Light Holland will update its shareholders shortly on the extensive search both internally and externally for a new CFO immediately, with an announcement on Mr. Ascott's successor being made in due course.

About Red Light Holland

Red Light Holland is an Ontario-based corporation engaged in the production, growth and sale of functional mushrooms and mushroom home grow kits in North America and Europe, and a premium brand of psilocybin truffles to the legal, recreational market within the Netherlands, in compliance with all applicable laws.

For additional information on the Company:

Todd Shapiro

Chief Executive Officer & Director

Tel: 647-643-TRIP (8747)

Email: todd@redlight.co

Website: www.RedLight.co

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. These statements relate to future events or future performance. The use of any of the words "could", "intend", "expect", "believe", "will", "projected", "estimated" and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on the Company's current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events.

The forward-looking information and forward-looking statements contained herein include, but are not limited to, statements regarding: the Company's performance, business objectives and milestones and the anticipated timing thereof, the Company and the Company's partners to maintain its stated licenses and obtain all necessary additional licenses and regulatory approval required for the Company to carry out its plans as described; and the Company's plans to seek an interim and successor CFO, including its plans to update its shareholders on its progress.

Forward-Looking information in this press release are based on certain assumptions and expected future events, namely: the Company's ability to maintain or exceed its current performance, and carry out its business objectives and milestones and under the anticipated timing and costs in connection with, the execution or achievement of such objectives and milestones; the Company to maintain its stated licenses and obtain all necessary additional licenses and regulatory approval required for the Company to carry out its plans as described; and the Company having the ability to carry out its plans to seek an interim and successor CFO.

These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements, including but not limited to: the Company's inability to maintain or exceed its current performance, and carry out its business objectives and milestones and under the anticipated timing and costs in connection with, the execution or achievement of such objectives and milestones; the Company's inability to maintain its stated licenses and obtain all necessary additional licenses and regulatory approval required for the Company to carry out its plans as described; and the Company's inability to source an interim and successor CFO.

Readers are further cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are placed will occur. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated.

Forward-Looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement and reflect the Company's expectations as of the date hereof and are subject to change thereafter. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, estimates or opinions, future events or results or otherwise or to explain any material difference between subsequent actual events and such forward-looking information, except as required by applicable law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/212425

SOURCE: Red Light Holland Corp.
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Professional development courses help agents quickly compete and thrive; single-topic ProPath courses are now available for the first time at $49 each

DENVER, CO / ACCESSWIRE / June 11, 2024 / Just a few months after its launch, ProPath, the new professional development content from The CE Shop, has already achieved a 97% satisfaction score, the highest among any of the company's courses. More than one-quarter of students who have taken courses from The CE Shop have returned to take ProPath courses.?









The CE Shop knows how critical it is to start a real estate career with the right information and why quickly building momentum and proving sustainability for success is the key to longevity. ProPath helps provide that success map and then follows with courses for the more seasoned agents to continue to hone their skills to grow their business.

Five ProPath packages like "Real Estate Success Builder" and "Real Estate Kickstarter" are still an option and have a limited-time introductory offer of $99, down from $349. In addition, now available are 11 individual courses that allow professionals to target a single topic and area of improvement, like "Build Your Core Lead Network" and "Build Your Negotiation Skills."

For those ready to leap in the direction of success and income growth, discover these individual courses here.

About The CE Shop

The CE Shop is the leading provider of professional real estate education with both online and live-online options in real estate, mortgage, home inspection, and appraisal courses available throughout the United States. The CE Shop produces quality education for professionals across the nation, whether they're veterans in their industry or are looking to launch a new career. We believe that the right education can truly make a difference. Visit TheCEShop.com to learn more.

Media Contact:

The CE Shop Press

Press@TheCEShop.com

720.822.5314

Contact Information

Buse Kayar

buse.kayar@issuerdirect.com

SOURCE: The CE Shop

View the original press release on newswire.com.
Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk threatened to ban Apple devices at his companies if the iPhone maker partners with OpenAI. Jae C. Hong/Associated Press

Elon Musk threatened to ban Apple devices at his companies if the iPhone maker partners with OpenAI.

In response to an announcement at the Cupertino tech giants Worldwide Developers Conference on Monday, where Apple revealed plans to integrate the latest edition of ChatGPT into its software, including Siri, Musk fired off a series of tweets on his social media platform X.

That is an unacceptable security violation, Musk wrote.

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Apple CEO Tim Cook speaks at the companys annual developer conference in Cupertino on Monday. Jeff Chiu/Associated Press

He stated that Apple devices, such as the iPhone, iPad and Mac, would no longer be allowed at his companies, including Tesla and SpaceX. Visitors will have to check their Apple devices at the door, where they would be stored in sealed containers to block electromagnetic transmissions.

Apple introduced a range of AI features at the conference, including Apple Intelligence, emphasizing that privacy is at the core of its strategy, using a combination of internal processing and cloud computing. However, Musk remained skeptical about Apples intentions.

Its patently absurd that Apple isnt smart enough to make their own AI, yet is somehow capable of ensuring that OpenAI will protect your security & privacy! he wrote on X.

Apple announced that ChatGPT integration would be available for free in iOS 18, iPadOS 18 and macOS Sequoia later this year. Musk criticized Apples trust in OpenAI, accusing Apple of compromising user data  without offering evidence to support his statement  and alleging that, Theyre selling you down the river.

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The iPhone 15 Pro is shown after its introduction on the Apple campus in 2023. Jeff Chiu/Associated Press

In March, Musk filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, which he co-founded in 2015, and its CEO Sam Altman, claiming they had deviated from their original mission to develop AI for the benefit of humanity rather than profit.

Since he departed from OpenAI, Musk has begun his own AI startup, xAI, and an alternative to ChatGPT called Grok.

He has also had previous conflicts with Apple and CEO Tim Cook.

Responding to Cooks post promoting Apple Intelligence on Monday, Musk shot back, Dont want it. Either stop this creepy spyware or all Apple devices will be banned from the premises of my companies.

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Purchase further demonstrates the significant role high integrity nature-based carbon solutions play as part of a holistic corporate climate action plan

HOUSTON, TX / ACCESSWIRE / June 11, 2024 / Anew Climate, LLC, a global leader of diverse climate solutions, announced today that it has signed an agreement with Microsoft to deliver more than 970,000 nature-based carbon removal credits as part of Microsoft's commitment to becoming carbon negative by 2030. Generated from Anew's vast portfolio of North American improved forest management projects, these high-integrity removal credits are derived from forestlands owned by Aurora Sustainable Lands, Acadian Timber Corp., and Baskahegan Company.





Anew Climate project aerial view

View of Anew Climate forest carbon project included in Microsoft purchase

A crucial near-term scalable solution available to combat climate change is conserving and sustainably managing forest properties, which have been proven effective in both the avoidance of overall net carbon emissions as well as the removal of carbon from the atmosphere. Through its Environmental Products business segment, Anew Climate offers organizations like Microsoft registry-distinguished carbon removal credits generated from tree growth within its diverse forestry portfolio.

"Anew is proud to be part of Microsoft's sustainability journey. Microsoft is a shining example among climate-conscious companies and known for its rigorous due diligence and focus on quality. At Anew, we are leading the way to help companies and landowners achieve meaningful, positive change for the climate," said Lizzie Aldrich, Anew Climate Vice President of Business Development.

"Carbon removal credits provide a financial incentive for traditional institutional landowners and managers to shift to sustainable forestry and land management practices. We are pleased to collaborate with Anew Climate to help increase the carbon stocks of forests across the United States," said Brian Marrs, Senior Director of Energy and Carbon Removal at Microsoft.

Nature-based solutions such as improved forest management and afforestation have the potential to provide about one-third of the climate mitigation activities needed to meet climate goals.1 Over 10 million acres have been conserved over the past decade through market-based incentives, which is twice the rate of conservation through traditional easements since the formation of modern-day land trusts approximately 60 years ago.2

About Anew Climate

Anew Climate, LLC is a global leader of diverse climate solutions built on the principles of transparency and accountability. We bring innovative products and services to the public and private sectors to help reduce or offset their carbon footprints, restore the environment, and ensure our clients' investments create economic value as well as durable climate impact. With deep market understanding, Anew leverages technological and nature-based solutions to create value through the generation and marketing of environmental credits for low carbon fuel, carbon, renewable energy, and emissions markets. Anew is majority owned by TPG Rise, TPG's global impact investing platform. The company has offices in the U.S., Canada, Spain, and Hungary and an environmental commodities portfolio that extends across five continents. For more information, visit anewclimate.com.

Contact: pr@anewclimate.com

1 Scaling Voluntary Carbon Markets, a Playbook for Corporate Action.?World Economic Forum. September 2023,

2 "National Conservation Easement Database," Ducks Unlimited and TPL.org, accessed on April 26, 2024

Contact Information

Tracy Willits

Chief Communications Officer

pr@anewclimate.com

SOURCE: Anew Climate

View the original press release on newswire.com.
Z Modular, a division of Zekelman Industries, has committed more than $1 million to bolster research and development at the University of Windsor into innovative materials, designs, and support systems for modular housing construction.

The Flatz|520 multi-family residential apartment complex in Maricopa, Arizona was constructed using Z Modular's innovative modular building and construction processes. (Photo courtesy of Z Modular)

UWindsor civil engineering professor Sreekanta Das, Associate Dean of Research and Graduate Studies in the Faculty of Engineering, has been appointed the Industrial Research Chair of the Zekelman Centre of Modular Innovation and Sustainable Construction. Having already made invaluable contributions to the field, Dr. Das will continue to address critical challenges in the modular housing industry.

With deep-seated roots in southern Ontario, Zekelman Industries is enthusiastic about the burgeoning collaboration with the University of Windsor's Faculty of Engineering, acknowledging the potential for groundbreaking advancements in modular construction.

"This is an important investment in research for the industry and for Zekelman Industries," said Barry Zekelman, Executive Chairman and CEO. "Traditional construction methods are just about tapped out for further optimization of improved housing, construction speed, and cost control. In our Z Modular company, we've piloted and are now expanding an integrated approach to development, design, and construction. Leveraging new processes and technologies will help solve the multi-family housing crisis. Our partnership with the University of Windsor will support continued research for broader opportunities for a better way to build."

Dr. Das underscores the significance of this partnership in nurturing the Faculty of Engineering's research ecosystem and fostering closer ties with local industry partners. He said the establishment of this industry-sponsored research center is a pivotal milestone for the University of Windsor, signaling its commitment to driving innovation, societal impact, and strengthening ties with local communities.

"For the past eight years, our partnership with Z Modular has driven remarkable progress in cutting-edge modular construction technology," Dr. Das said. "With the establishment of our new research center, supported generously by Z Modular, we stand on the brink of delivering innovative solutions to the housing challenges facing our region and other areas across Canada."

Bill Van Heyst, Dean of Engineering at the University of Windsor, called the partnership with Z Modular a groundbreaking event.

"This collaboration is not just a milestone for us, it's a leap towards redefining the future of engineering research, education and practice," Dr. Van Heyst said. "We are not just hopeful but committed to elevating this partnership to unprecedented levels of innovation and impact."

Shanthi Johnson, UWindsor Vice-President- Research and Innovation, said the announcement shows the university's commitment to working with industry partners on groundbreaking research.

"The University of Windsor is proud to be at the forefront of this transformative collaboration, reaffirming our commitment to groundbreaking research and this strategic partnership," said Dr. Johnson. "Together, we are driving innovation to address complex challenges and championing sustainability in construction and housing."

This expansion signals the onset of a wave of collaborative research initiatives, promising enriched training opportunities for students and facilitating engagement with advocates for affordable housing - a critical solution required to tackle current housing crisis in Ontario and across North America. This initiative will provide training for undergraduate and graduate engineering students at the University of Windsor, arming them with the essential skills demanded by the local construction sector and ultimately aiming to alleviate the housing crisis in Windsor-Essex and beyond.

The University of Windsor's Faculty of Engineering and the Office of Vice-President, Research and Innovation aspire to replicate this model of collaboration with other community partners and industries, propelling Windsor-Essex to the forefront of sustainable construction innovation.

For further information, please contact:

University of Windsor:

Dylan Kristy

Manager, Strategic Communications

University of Windsor

519-819-9113

dkristy@uwindsor.ca

Zekelman Industries:

Amanda Donovan

Director of Marketing Communications

312-339-3838

amanda.donovan@zekelman.com

SOURCE: Zekelman Industries

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Miami, Florida--(Newsfile Corp. - June 11, 2024) - Capstone Management Group, a leading insurance/reinsurance program management firm, and HealingMaps Inc. (HealingMaps), a premier resource for psychedelic-assisted therapies, are excited to announce the formation of Advanced Behavioral Strategies, Inc. (ABS), a strategic joint venture to deliver innovative insurance products tailored for the burgeoning psychedelic-assisted therapy industry. This partnership aims to address the unique needs of practitioners and clients within this evolving field by offering comprehensive insurance riders and policies.

The psychedelic-assisted therapy industry is experiencing rapid growth, driven by increasing recognition of its potential benefits for mental health treatment. As this field expands, so does the need for specialized insurance solutions that cater to its unique challenges and opportunities. Capstone Management Group and HealingMaps are at the forefront of this movement, combining their expertise to provide robust coverage options that ensure safety, security, and peace of mind for all stakeholders involved.

"We are thrilled to partner with HealingMaps to launch ABS and offer specialized insurance products that support the advancement of psychedelic-assisted therapy," said Nino Pedrini, CEO of Capstone Management Group. "Our mission has always been to provide innovative and comprehensive insurance solutions, and this joint venture allows us to extend that commitment to a cutting-edge industry with immense potential for positive impact."

Cory Jones, CEO of HealingMaps, echoed this sentiment, "The collaboration between HealingMaps and Capstone represents a significant step forward for the psychedelic therapy community. By creating insurance products specifically designed for our industry - coupled with our marketing and data solutions - we are addressing a critical need and fostering a safer environment for practitioners and patients alike. This partnership underscores our dedication to supporting the growth and acceptance of psychedelic-assisted therapies."

The new insurance products offered through this joint venture will include specialized riders and policies that cover various aspects of psychedelic-assisted therapy, such as professional liability, general liability, and product liability. These tailored solutions are designed to provide comprehensive protection for therapists, clinics, and other entities involved in the psychedelic therapy space.

For more information about the new insurance products and how they can benefit your practice, please visit Capstone Management Group or HealingMaps.

About Capstone Management Group

Capstone Management Group is a leading provider of innovative insurance solutions, dedicated to delivering comprehensive coverage tailored to the needs of diverse industries. With a focus on customer service and risk management, Capstone Management Group is committed to providing peace of mind through tailored insurance products.

About HealingMaps

HealingMaps is the premier resource for information on psychedelic-assisted therapy, offering a comprehensive directory of clinics, therapists, and treatment centers. HealingMaps aims to support the growth and acceptance of psychedelic therapies by providing reliable information and resources to practitioners and patients.

Media Contact:

Cory Jones

CEO

cory@healingmaps.com

"THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS RELEASE IS NOT AN OFFER TO SELL OR A SOLICITATION TO BUY ANY INSURANCE PRODUCT OR SERVICE. Products and services described above may be offered by one or more licensed affiliates or business partners of the aforementioned entities. Not all products and services may be available in all jurisdictions, and the coverage provided by any insurer is subject to the actual terms and conditions of the policies issued. Please refer to the actual policy or the relevant product or services agreement for complete terms, exclusions and conditions. Certain products and services may be provided through various non-admitted insurance companies. No insurance product or service which may be offered or sold by any of the entities listed in this release will be effective in any jurisdiction in which such offer or solicitation, purchase or sale would be unlawful under the insurance or other laws of such jurisdiction."

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/212441

SOURCE: HealingMaps Inc.
Boston, Massachusetts--(Newsfile Corp. - June 11, 2024) - SinglePoint Inc (CBOE: SING), is pleased to announce its subsidiary Boston Solar, a Proud Partner of the Boston Red Sox and leader in the renewable energy sector, proudly announces the completion of its 6,000th residential solar system installation. This significant achievement underscores the Company's commitment to sustainable energy solutions and its role in advancing the adoption of clean, renewable energy across the region.

Since its inception Boston Solar has been at the forefront of the solar energy revolution, providing homeowners with innovative and efficient solar solutions that not only reduce energy costs but also contribute to a healthier environment. The installation of the 6,000th solar system marks a major milestone in the company's mission to promote sustainability and energy independence for all.

"We are thrilled to reach this landmark of 6,000 residential solar installations," said Michael Morlino President, Boston Solar. "This accomplishment is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team, as well as the growing awareness and commitment of homeowners to embrace renewable energy. Each installation brings us one step closer to a greener future, and we are excited to continue driving the adoption of solar energy in communities nationwide."

The solar industry has been seeing monumental growth and attention. The industry has now surpassed 5,000,000 residential homes with residential solar market penetration at approximately 7%. This leaves a long runway for companies like Boston Solar to continue installing residential and small commercial solar systems throughout the US.

In addition to reaching this milestone, Boston Solar remains dedicated to advancing solar technology and expanding its offerings to meet the diverse needs of homeowners. The Company continues to enhance the efficiency of its business units and drive towards operational profitability. Initiatives to date have reduced overhead by approximately $3,000,000, improved residential installation throughput resulting in improved cashflow and increased commercial solar opportunities which would result in additional revenue and profitability upon completion of projects.

"I am grateful for the effort and commitment our teams have shown. For those in the industry it is no secret it has been a tumultuous two plus years and the fact our companies have fundamentally improved in this extremely tough environment is a testament to their fortitude and strength. Over the remaining half of the year we will continue to work towards improving our cash position, reduce our cost of goods and further enhance the business units to achieve cashflow positive operations and ultimately profitability," adds Wil Ralston CEO SinglePoint Inc.

About Boston Solar

Boston Solar is a subsidiary of SinglePoint Inc. (CBOE: SING) Since its founding in 2011, Boston Solar has installed more than 5,000 residential and commercial solar arrays, powering thousands of homes and businesses in New England, primarily in Massachusetts. The mission of Boston Solar is to provide superior clean energy products, exceptional customer service, and the highest-quality artistry in residential and commercial installations.

Boston Solar has accumulated several distinctions of recognition of the company's outstanding:

Honored with the 2020 Guildmaster Award from GuildQuality, the award acknowledged how Boston Solar demonstrated exceptional customer service within the residential construction industry.

Named a Top Solar Contractor by Solar Power World magazine for five consecutive years.

Applauded by the Boston Business Journal's "Largest Clean Energy Companies in Massachusetts" list.

Boston Solar is a Solar Energy Business Association of New England (SEBANE) member. Learn more at: www.bostonsolar.us

About SinglePoint Inc.

SinglePoint Inc. is a renewable energy and sustainable lifestyle company focused on providing environmentally friendly energy efficiencies and healthy living solutions. SinglePoint is initially focused on building the largest network of renewable energy solutions and modernizing the traditional solar and energy storage model. The Company is also actively exploring future growth opportunities in air purification, electric vehicle charging, solar as a subscription service, and additional energy efficiencies that enhance sustainability and a healthier life. For more information, visit the Company's website (www.singlepoint.com).

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this news release may contain forward-looking information within the meaning of Rule 175 under the Securities Act of 1933 and Rule 3b-6 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and are subject to the safe harbor created by those rules. All statements, other than statements of fact, included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding potential plans and objectives of the Company, the use of proceeds, anticipated growth and future expansion, are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties.

There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements.

Technical complications, which may arise, could prevent the prompt implementation of any strategically significant plan(s) outlined above. The Company undertakes no duty to revise or update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release.

Boston Solar

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/6548/212442_6c9da707a4aec86f_001full.jpg

Investor Relations Contact:

SinglePoint Inc

investor@singlepoint.com

888-682-7464

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/212442

SOURCE: Hawk Point Media Group.
Bold Prime emerges victorious as the "Fastest Growing CFD Broker, Asia - 2024 and Fastest Growing Online Forex Broker, Asia - 2024" at the distinguished Global Brand Awards

LONDON, June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The esteemed Global Brand Awards, organized annually by Global Brands Magazine (GBM) headquartered in England, celebrate international brands excelling across various industries. GBM conducted a comprehensive evaluation, assessing criteria such as steady performance and growth, technological innovation, and customer support. Bold Prime stood out in this evaluation, showcasing exceptional performance and earning well-deserved recognition from Global Brands Magazine.

Commenting on winning the award, Jay Reddy, CEO, Global Brands Magazine said, "Congratulations to Bold Prime on being recognized as the 'Fastest Growing CFD Broker, Asia - 2024' and 'Fastest Growing Online Forex Broker, Asia - 2024.' This accolade reflects Bold Prime's dedication to innovation and excellence in the financial services sector."

Commenting on winning the award, Teng, Regional Officer (APAC) of Bold Prime said "Being honored by Global Brands Magazine is a remarkable achievement for us. These awards reflect our unwavering dedication to providing our clients with exceptional trading services, cutting-edge technology, and a secure trading environment. Competing against the largest brokers in Asia and emerging victorious is a testament to our team's hard work and our clients' trust." He added, "Our vision at Bold Prime has always been to empower traders with the best tools and support necessary to thrive in the fast-paced trading world. These awards inspire us to continue enhancing our offerings and expanding our global reach to exceed our clients' expectations."

ABOUT BOLD PRIME

Bold Prime was founded by several teams of experts from various sectors of the financial services industry who collaborated to combine all the features, perks, and performance of industry-standard retail financial businesses. They took these aspects and enhanced them, pushing the boundaries of a retail brokerage to a completely new level. This vision was conceived in the year 2020.

Bold Prime is a pioneer in the CFD brokerage industry, offering institutional-level performance and technology with retail-like accessibility. The company believes that investing in cutting-edge technology provides a trading experience unlike any other. With knowledgeable and eager support teams available 24/7, the entire CFD market is at clients' fingertips.

The team at Bold Prime comprises market experts from both retail and institutional trading, further expanding the skill sets and expertise available. The company's systems, operations, and overall wellbeing are managed by top-tier personnel, ensuring clients have zero worries.

ABOUT GLOBAL BRANDS MAGAZINE (ENGLAND)

Global Brands Magazine (GBM) has been at the forefront, bringing news, views and opinions on brands shaping the future of their industry. The UK-based magazine provides its readers with the latest news and information on 'best-in-class brands across the globe. Each year, GBM develops awards for companies that stand out, have a unique vision, exceptional service, innovative solutions and consumer-centric products among their industry leaders. The Magazine has over 10 million visitors and 14 million page views per month, making it one of the best online magazines. The Magazine also maintains a strong presence on social media, with over 20k+ Facebook likes, 10k+ Instagram followers, 25k+ Twitter followers, and 3k+ LinkedIn followers.

ABOUT THE GLOBAL BRAND AWARDS

Global Brand Awards honours brands for their excellence in performance and rewards companies across different sectors for the quality of their services. The Brand Awards highlight the accomplishments of organisations that have performed remarkably well in finance, education, hospitality, automotive, lifestyle, education, real estate, technology, and others. Global Brand Awards recognise vital players who progress towards excellence by providing a platform to acknowledge their efforts. In addition, GBM strives to create awareness concerning the significance of such organisations and rewards them for their notable efforts with the ultimate global recognition. To learn more about the awards, please visit the Brand Awards Winners section on the GBM website.

To nominate your company or business leader for the Global Brand Awards 2024, please click on the following link:

https://www.globalbrandsmagazine.com/nomination-form/

Check out our social media shoutouts from the links below:

Facebook: https://bit.ly/3RoB85H

Linkedin: https://bit.ly/3XfsUjR

Twitter: https://bit.ly/3KE2JMd

Instagram: https://bit.ly/4ebtDJ7

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2377199/4691275/GBM_2024_Logo.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/bold-prime-earns-prestigious-recognition-at-global-brand-awards-2024-302169528.html
Created in 2022 by Lawn & Landscape magazine and Best Companies Group, the comprehensive survey and awards program identifies, recognizes and honors the best places of employment in the landscaping industry.

CHICAGO, IL / ACCESSWIRE / June 11, 2024 / Visterra Landscape Group, a premier commercial landscaping platform, today announced it has been named a winner in Lawn & Landscape's 2024 Best Places to Work. Ranked sixth in the Large Employer category, Visterra and peer companies are spotlighted in the June 2024 edition of Lawn & Landscape, and will be formally recognized at Lawn & Landscape's Executive Summit and Awards Dinner July 23 in Atlanta.

Participating companies were evaluated on workplace policies, practices, and demographics, approximately 25 percent of the total evaluation, and a comprehensive employee survey to measure the employee experience, worth approximately 75 percent of the total evaluation. Best Companies Group managed the overall registration and survey process, analyzed the data and used their expertise to determine the final rankings.

"Once again, this contest shows the amount of fantastic and professional companies the lawn care and landscape industries have to offer," says Brian Horn, editor, Lawn & Landscape magazine. "These entries get better and better every year, and we are excited to be able to share these stories."

Visterra CEO Alan Handley heralded the announcement as a significant and early validation of employee satisfaction, culture, and purpose across Visterra's growing commercial landscaping platform.

"Earning a place on Lawn & Landscape's coveted Best Places to Work ranking serves as a valuable gauge on the workplace culture we are building at Visterra, and affirms to our employees, customers and stakeholders that Visterra provides not only an exceptional workplace but an outstanding pathway to a successful career in commercial landscaping," Handley said. "We are grateful to land such a high-profile industry honor and thank Lawn & Landscape and Best Companies for their independence and rigid due diligence in the selection process."

To be considered for participation, companies had to fulfill the following eligibility requirements:

Have 50 percent or more of revenue coming from landscaping services, which includes maintenance, chemical lawn care, irrigation, design/build, hardscapes, tree care and interior landscaping, landscape lighting

Be a publicly or privately held business

Be a for-profit or not-for-profit business

Be based in the U.S. or Canada

Have a minimum of 15 full-time or part-time employees working in the U.S. or Canada

Must be in business a minimum of 1 year

Be willing to be featured in Lawn & Landscape magazine in print and/or online, if your company ranks on the Best Landscape and Lawn Care Companies to Work For lists.

ABOUT VISTERRA LANDSCAPE GROUP

Visterra Landscape Group is a premier commercial landscaping platform, safely delivering expert landscape maintenance, enhancement, construction, and critical winter services with a reputation for excellence in client service. With incumbent partner leaders guiding day-to-day operations, Visterra continues to grow its platform with a team that prioritizes employee well-being, safety, and career opportunities. Visterra partner companies include Riverside Services serving greater Boston; Dyna-Mist serving north Texas; and Oberson's and GroundsPRO serving Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana. For more information, visit www.vlgllc.com.

For more information on the 2024 Lawn and Landscape's Best Places to Work program, visit www.bestcompanieslandscapeandlawncare.com or contact Madelyne Barroso at MBarroso@BestCompaniesGroup.com.

###

Contact: media@vlgllc.com

SOURCE: Visterra Landscape Group

View the original press release on accesswire.com
The $930m acquisition will provide customers with a comprehensive combined public and private content offering, further cementing AlphaSense's leadership in market intelligence

NEW YORK, June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- AlphaSense , the leading market intelligence and search platform, today announced an agreement to acquire Tegus , a leading provider of expert research, unique private company content, and financial data and workflow tools. This transaction will bring Tegus' breadth of private company data to AlphaSense's platform, further delivering on the companies' shared mission to empower business and financial professionals to make smarter decisions through AI-driven market intelligence. As part of this deal, AlphaSense has raised $650 million in funding, co-led by Viking Global Investors and BDT & MSD Partners, and joined by new investors, J.P. Morgan Growth Equity Partners, SoftBank Vision Fund 2, Blue Owl, Alkeon Capital, as well as existing investors Alphabet's CapitalG and Goldman Sachs Alternatives. This raise brings AlphaSense's valuation to $4 billion.

"This transaction marks a pivotal moment for AlphaSense in our mission to help businesses and investors make better decisions with confidence and speed," said Jack Kokko, CEO and Founder at AlphaSense. "I am thrilled to join forces with the Tegus team as a significant leap forward in furthering our mission, adding top-quality content on public and private companies, and enhancing our ability to deliver even more comprehensive insights to our customers around the world."

Today, Tegus has an extensive and fast-growing library of high-quality expert research, which includes coverage of 35,000+ public and private companies across TMT, consumer goods, energy and life sciences sectors. Additionally, Tegus' financial data offering, which includes financials, KPIs, and fully drivable models on more than 4,000 public companies, as well as its BamSEC self-serve solution to search and access securities filings, adds new and unique offerings to AlphaSense's extensive product suite and datasets. Users will benefit from the addition of this content with AlphaSense's market-leading AI and search capabilities, enabling its combined user base to continue easily extracting proprietary insights.

Michael Elnick, Co-Founder and Co-CEO at Tegus, said, "This is a significant moment for Tegus. For nearly a decade we've worked to transform how companies and investors conduct research. By joining forces with AlphaSense, we're going to empower clients in new and more powerful ways. AlphaSense and Tegus are like-minded companies, with a shared vision, and I couldn't be more excited to continue pursuing our mission of modernizing research for businesses, together."

For over a decade, AlphaSense has been transforming the research process with the latest innovations in AI technology, while also building its vast collection of top-tier, trustworthy business content. Together, AlphaSense and Tegus will accelerate growth, innovation, and content expansion, bringing their complementary product and content capabilities together to enable users to unearth even more comprehensive insights from thousands of content sets.

This agreement follows a series of recent company milestones for AlphaSense, including being named to the 2024 CNBC Disruptor 50 list , exceeding $200 million in ARR and doubling revenue in less than two years, the opening of a new Singapore hub to fuel expansion in the APAC region, a $100 million Series D investment led by Alphabet's CapitalG, and the close of a $150 million Series E funding round led by BOND .

The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2024. Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC is acting as AlphaSense's financial advisor, and DLA Piper LLP and Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP are acting as AlphaSense's legal advisors. Evercore is acting as Tegus' lead financial advisor and Latham Watkins is acting as Tegus' legal advisor. Morgan Stanley also acted as financial advisor to Tegus.

About AlphaSense

The world's most sophisticated companies rely on AlphaSense to remove uncertainty from decision-making. With market intelligence and search built on proven AI, AlphaSense delivers insights that matter from content you can trust. Our universe of public and private content includes equity research, company filings, event transcripts, expert calls, news, trade journals, and clients' own research content. Our platform is trusted by over 4,000 enterprise customers, including a majority of the S&P 500.

Founded in 2011, AlphaSense is headquartered in New York City with over 1,300 people across the globe and offices in the U.S., U.K., Finland, India, and Singapore. For more information, please visit www.alpha-sense.com.

About Tegus

Tegus is an end-to-end research platform that seamlessly combines expert insights, company filings and comprehensive KPIs and financial data, empowering investors to find critical insights quickly, easily create comparables and update models, and develop powerful perspectives to inform their investment decisions. Tegus' proprietary content set now includes more than 100,000 expert call transcripts, financial coverage of more than 4,000 public companies and industry comps and analysis on more than 50 sectors. Tegus acquired BamSEC and then Canalyst, bringing two beloved investment research tools into the Tegus platform to combine powerful quantitative and qualitative data together in a single suite.

Founded in 2016, Tegus is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois and employs more than 550 team members across the globe, including in its offices in Vancouver, B.C. and Waterford, Ireland. For more information, please visit www.tegus.com.

Media Contact

media@alpha-sense.com

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Only 1 in 4 companies have successfully launched AI initiatives in the past 12 months according to second annual generative AI survey commissioned by Lucidworks

Only 63% of global companies plan to increase AI spending in the next 12 months, compared to 93% in 2023

Despite delays, the tech sector leads with the most deployed initiatives across all industries and half have already realized financial benefits

Qualitative applications - generating FAQs or providing HR support - have been the most successful to date with roughly a quarter of planned initiatives already implemented

Concerns about generative AI implementation costs increased by 14x in 2024

SAN FRANCISCO, June 11, 2024, a leader in search and total AI solutions, today released the results of its second annual Generative AI Global Benchmark Study , the largest ongoing global study of its kind. The study surveyed business leaders across North America, EMEA, and the APAC region who are actively pursuing generative AI initiatives. The report explores key areas of generative AI investment and organizations' progress in adopting the technology.

Flattened Spending Points to More Thoughtful Planning

Generative AI's explosive growth is cooling as businesses face cost and security hurdles. Global AI spending plans are down sharply, with only 63% planning increases (vs. 93% last year). USA-based organizations remain above average with 69% planning to increase AI spend. While investment remains high, more companies are prioritizing thoughtful planning to balance the potential of this new technology with managing risks and costs.

Deployment Delays Stall ROI

Despite initial hype, slow deployment and low success rates are commonplace, with only 25% of planned projects fully implemented. This lag is stalling anticipated ROI, with 42% of companies yet to see a significant benefit from generative AI initiatives. Tech and retail sectors stand out with higher deployment and realized gains, but overall, most industries are slow to move beyond the pilot phase.

Implementation Costs Raise Alarms

Security remains a top concern for business leaders, but cost worries have surged 14x in the past year. Additionally, concerns around response accuracy have risen 5x, likely due to issues with hallucinations. This highlights the need for careful large language model selection to balance cost and ensure accurate, secure results.





Practical Applications Are First to Deployment

Businesses are using generative AI to establishclear guidelines for AI use (governance) and automate tasks like generating first drafts of code (reducing G&A costs). This trend is driven by concerns around data privacy, security, and skyrocketing implementation costs. Qualitative applications like generating FAQs are seeing success, but more complex quantitative applications like fraud detection in financial services or predictive maintenance in manufacturing are lagging behind. The ability to analyze unstructured data and generate actionable insights holds the greatest potential for generative AI's future value.

"The initial wave of enthusiasm for generative AI is being met with a more strategic approach," said Mike Sinoway, CEO, Lucidworks. "Businesses are recognizing the potential of this technology, but they're also cautious about the risks and costs. This is reflected in the flattened spending, which suggests a shift toward more thoughtful planning. This planning ensures AI adoption delivers real value, balancing the need to stay competitive with managing costs and potential risks."

The 2024 benchmark study also includes the following findings:

Across all organizations, 36% of leaders plan to keep spending flat, compared to only 6% in last year's survey

??Only 49% of Chinese leaders plan to increase AI spending in 2024, a massive drop from 100% in 2023

Close to 70% of financial services companies plan to increase spending over the next 12 months, followed closely by tech at 68% and B2C retail at 64%

Roughly 20% of companies report significant delays during deployment with only one in five planned revenue and growth initiatives and one in eight OpEx cost reduction initiatives implemented

Retailers have some of the highest concerns around cost (63%), likely due to the required responsiveness and high number of customer queries

Nearly eight in 10 companies use commercial LLMs and 21% have opted for open source only

A third of business leaders feel like they're falling behind competitors despite almost everyone struggling to implement this new technology



Download the complete 2024 Generative AI Global Benchmark Study here and learn more about Lucidworks at Lucidworks.com.

About Lucidworks

Lucidworks clients are more than 2.5x more likely to successfully deploy generative AI initiatives than their peers. The world's largest brands including Crate & Barrel, Lenovo, and Red Hat rely on Lucidworks' suite of products to power commerce, customer service, and workplace applications that delight customers and empower employees. Contact us today to build your AI success strategy.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/70e4f2a7-800d-4978-9f5d-30c0f02edb4d
The tech industrys aversion to regulation was on full display during a recent event at Stanfords AI Institute, where web pioneer Marc Andreesen said state testing of AI models would be crippling. Jessica Christian/The Chronicle

At an otherwise mostly low-key affair last week at Stanford Universitys Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence institute, venture capitalist Marc Andreesens heated warnings against government regulation of AI stood in stark contrast to the more moderate tone of the day.

The institutes co-director, Fei-Fei Li, asked Andreesen about troubling bills on our state Senate floor that would regulate AI software  likely a reference to legislation by state Sen. Scott Wiener proposing safety testing and company liability for future AI programs. The tech moguls response: Placing limits on the development of the technology would cripple industry and academia, and could even lead to war between superpowers.

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Andreesens argument reflects fears in the tech community that legislation such as Weiners would throttle development of open source software programs in California out of fear the software could be modified by third parties in ways that run afoul of the law.

To implement a ban on strong AI and on open source, not only do you need to have pervasive surveillance to a degree that would make Orwell blush, you also need to enforce it globally, said the inventor of the Netscape web browser and co-founder of VC firm Andreesen Horowitz.

By describing it as a ban Andreesen wasnt referring explicitly to Weiners bill, which calls for state evaluation of AI models, but rather to an article written by researcher Eliezer Yudkowsky last year painting AI technology as a threat to human existence and calling for a complete ban on the development of the technology, even if it meant nuclear war.

You need to picture U.S. stealth bombers entering Chinese air space, or pick any other country, and unilaterally bombing data centers. Like thats where this heads, if AI regulation, particularly that focused on open source software, is allowed to proceed, Andreesen said.

Open source AI, such as the Llama 3 chatbot from Facebook parent Meta, is the kind whose computer code is disclosed and freely available to any developer looking to build an app or service on top of it.

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Wieners bill would regulate very large AI programs of a kind that do not yet exist, holding them liable for injuring people and property and other foreseeable harms.

When the bill passed out of the state Senate last month, Wiener said in a statement, by focusing its requirements on the well-resourced developers of the largest and most powerful frontier models, SB1047 puts sensible guardrails in place against risk while leaving startups free to innovate without any new burdens.

Andreesens words represent a common perspective among the tech community innovators who have grown used to building mass-market products with few guardrails from government, even as some AI leaders including OpenAI CEO Sam Altman have appeared before Congress asking for governmental guidance or oversight on the increasingly powerful technology.

An open letter last year signed by tech and business leaders including Elon Musk, an early funder of OpenAI who now has his own AI startup, called for a six-month moratorium on most AI development. But that didnt happen, with OpenAI and other building ever more powerful and capable technology that is increasingly integrated in the offerings of companies like Microsoft and Apple.

Many in the tech community have raged against Wieners proposal, which is now moving through the Assembly, saying it would effectively consolidate power in the hands of only the largest companies.

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I expect this bill will end the open source AI/LLM development in California and possibly the US, wrote Arun Rao, a product executive working on AI at Meta, in a post on X.

Wiener has said he is aware of the concerns, and has made amendments to the bill including one that would absolve companies working on open source models of liability if a third party, such as a startup, changes it enough to cause it to do harm. Another tweak would apply the bills provision only to programs that cost $100 million or more to train, in an effort to ease liability and reporting requirements on smaller developers.

The San Francisco nonprofit Center for AI Safety is a co-sponsor of the bill and has called it an example of how to balance AI innovation with safety by establishing clear, predictable, common sense legal standards for AI companies.

Wieners bill is one of many proposing to limit how the technology affects everyday life. Senior figures in the Biden administration also have recently warned about the technologys potential to erode elections and democracy itself through false misinformation.

Other calls have come from within AI companies themselves, with a group of current and former OpenAI and Google employees demanding protections for voicing concerns about runaway AI technology only they are privy to, since they are building it in real time.

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For his part Andreesen framed the debate as Do we put limitations on ourselves so that we slow everything down and restrict it? providing an opening to adversaries like China to erode or overtake the U.S. technological edge on the battlefield and in the boardroom.
Marion, North Carolina--(Newsfile Corp. - June 11, 2024) - Greene Concepts Inc. (OTC Pink: INKW) is pleased to announce that sales of the Company's Be Water brand continues to grow on the Walmart Marketplace platform. The Company first shared its plans to sell its products through Walmart Marketplace on its September 21, 2023 press release. Through Walmart.com, Greene Concepts has achieved tremendous online sales of its artesian spring water BE WATER brand. This includes very favorable customer reviews for each of its BE WATER product configurations (6-pack and four 6-packs).

Purchase BE WATER at Walmart.com at the following online locations:

6-Pack Walmart Online Purchase Page

Four 6-Pack (24 Total Bottles) Walmart Online Purchase Page

Lenny Greene, CEO of Greene Concepts, notes, "Shortly before we received approval to sell BE WATER at Walmart's physical stores, we began offering our products on Walmart.com. This was a major new development for us since the Walmart Marketplace is one of the fastest-growing e-commerce platforms in the United States. Walmart Marketplace provides us with instant cost, scale, quality, and efficiency right away which brings about business growth. This growth has turned into increased sales for Greene Concepts and continues to expand our national reach."

Mr. Greene continues, "Our brand quality is second-to-none and one needs to only read our BE WATER product details, located on our Walmart description pages, to better understand why our sales continue to flourish on Walmart Marketplace. One of our Walmart.com customer reviews mentions 'Best value among the artesian water class. Taste great and so smooth going down' while another customer states, 'Wish I found this soonerfor now it's the best kept secret.' Consumers are very pleased with our BE WATER product and our sales at Walmart Marketplace remain robust. I thank every Walmart.com consumer for choosing our made in the U.S.A. brand for their hydration needs."

BE WATER is sourced and bottled at the Company's Marion, North Carolina bottling plant.

QUARTERLY FINANCIAL IMPROVEMENTS

The Company experienced favorable outcomes in several categories as noted on its Q3 Quarterly Report for the period ending April 30, 2024 when compared to its Q2 Quarterly Report for the prior period ending January 31, 2024 (see: INKW OTC Markets Disclosure Page).

These include the following financial category increases from Q2 to Q3:

Sales increased by 2.6%

Inventory increased by 4.9%

Accounts Receivable increased by 130.2%

Accounts Payable decreased by 65.8%

Follow Greene Concepts, Inc. on Twitter at: @GreeneConcepts and @BeWaterBeYou

Websites: https://greeneconcepts.com/ and https://bewaterbeyou.com/

About Greene Concepts, Inc.

Greene Concepts, Inc. (http://www.greeneconcepts.com) is a publicly traded company whose purpose is to provide the world with high-quality, healthy and enhanced beverage choices that meet the nutritional needs of its consumers while refreshing their mind, body and spirit. The Company's flagship product, BE WATER, is a premium artesian bottled water that supports total body health and wellness. Greene Concepts' beverage and bottling plant is located in Marion, North Carolina, and their water is ethically sourced from spring and artesian wells that are fed from a natural aquifer located deep beneath the Blue Ridge Mountains. Greene Concepts continues to develop and market premium beverage brands designed to enhance the daily lives of consumers.

Safe Harbor: This Press Release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements are based on the current plans and expectations of management and are subject to a few uncertainties and risks that could significantly affect the company's current plans and expectations, as well as future results of operations and financial condition. A more extensive listing of risks and factors that may affect the company's business prospects and cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found in the reports and other documents filed by the company with the Securities and Exchange Commission and OTC Markets, Inc. OTC Disclosure and News Service. The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, because of new information, future events or otherwise.

CONTACT:

Greene Concepts, Inc.

Investor Relations

IR@greeneconcepts.com

SOURCE: Greene Concepts Inc.





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SOURCE: Greene Concepts
Returning to showcase the World's Fastest Autonomous Racecar, the Indy Autonomous Challenge (IAC), presented by Bridgestone, will take on the hillclimb at the Goodwood Festival of Speed presented by Mastercard from July 11th to July 14th, 2024. This year, the IAC's AV-24 fully autonomous racecar will be piloted by software from the PoliMOVE-MSU team, with support from the UNIMORE Racing team.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240611138772/en/

The world's fastest autonomous racecar with an AI pilot coded by students from PoliMOVE-MSU team races on Goodwood Hill. Credit Indy Autonomous Challenge. (Photo: Business Wire)

The IAC has developed the AV-24, a fully autonomous racecar utilizing a Dallara chassis used in the Indy NXT series, and outfitted with a state-of-the-art robotics platform developed with leading autonomous hardware and software providers. To date, the IAC has organized autonomous racing competitions gathering 10 teams comprised of 18 universities at prestigious venues such as the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Texas Motor Speedway, and Monza F1 Circuit-affectionately known as the Temple of Speed. The 2024 Festival of Speed marks the Indy Autonomous Challenge's competitive debut in the UK, promising to test the technology in new and challenging ways.

Since its inception in 2021, the Indy Autonomous Challenge and its university teams have set several world records for high-speed ground-based autonomy:

Autonomous land speed record of 192.2 mph

Highest on-track speed of 180 mph

Fastest head-to-head overtake on-track at 177 mph

Most miles of autonomous racing accumulated: 9,000 miles.

Last year the Indy Autonomous Challenge was introduced to Goodwood in 2023 as part of Future Lab presented by Randox, illustrating the IAC's significant role in advancing automotive driving technology through global events. Additionally, the Technical University of Munich used their autonomous racecar to conduct a low-speed scan of the Goodwood hill, crafting a digital twin of the course that will help enable this year's fully autonomous hillclimb.

Paul Mitchell, Chairman and President of the Indy Autonomous Challenge, expressed enthusiasm about the upcoming event, stating, "We are eager to undertake the unique challenges presented by the Goodwood Hillclimb. Unlike the familiar ovals and F1 road courses, Goodwood's Hillclimb will challenge the precision of sensor perception, GPS localization, vehicle dynamics, and path planning in new ways, providing a historical backdrop to showcase the future of high-speed autonomous mobility and the innovative university teams behind it."

The event, part of Goodwood's FOS TECH program, will highlight the latest in automotive technology and alternative fuels, integrating the Future Lab and STEM programs targeted at young people eager to participate in future robotics. IAC university teams' capabilities will be showcased as they attempt an autonomous world record on the Goodwood hill. Autonomous racing will not only entertain but also offer insights and learnings towards the future of mobility, demonstrating how AI drivers will revolutionize vehicle safety and efficiency on public roads and within supply chains.

The Duke of Richmond, founder of the Festival of Speed, commented on the festival's role in showcasing technological innovation: "This year, our new FOS TECH ethos will bring together our future technology and mobility content. Whether exploring Future Lab presented by Randox, Electric Avenue, or enjoying content on the Hill, visitors to the Festival of Speed can experience the work of groundbreaking innovators and their vision for tomorrow's world."

Sara Correa, Chief Marketing Officer for Bridgestone in the Americas, Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) added, "What really matters is working together to collaboratively develop and advance the future of mobility. Bridgestone is proud to partner with the IAC and its young engineers to test and improve autonomous technologies through opportunities like the Goodwood Hillclimb. Motorsports are the ultimate challenge, and the learnings we gather here can be applied to the sustainable solutions we develop for society and our customers."

Participating teams: PoliMOVE-MSU Comprised of members from Politecnico di Milano (Italy), Michigan State University (Michigan), with the support of UNIMORE Racing University of Modena and Reggio Emilia (Italy)

The IAC's appearance at Goodwood Festival of Speed will be the first time that an exhibitor has graduated from Future Lab to the Hillclimb. This year's event will also feature engaging educational sessions, where attendees can explore future technologies such as autonomous vehicles, drones, robots, augmented and virtual reality, generative AI, sensor fusion, and the Internet of Things. These topics will be the focus of a Q&A session in collaboration with Durham University's solar-powered electric car team, which has also worked with Bridgestone to advance sustainable mobility.

Earlier in June, the IAC conducted a series of training sessions on the Goodwood Hillclimb, performing fully autonomous runs of the hill, reaching speeds greater than 177 kph (110mph). Video and photo footage of the training sessions and racecar livery renders dedicated to media use can be found here.

About the IAC: The Indy Autonomous Challenge (IAC) is a non-profit corporation based in Indianapolis, Indiana (USA) that organizes racing competitions among 10 university-affiliated teams representing 18 universities from around the world. Teams program AI drivers to pilot fully autonomous racecars and compete in a series of history-making events at iconic tracks. Based in Indiana, the IAC is working to establish a hub for performance automation in the state and is harnessing the power of innovative competitions to attract the best and the brightest minds from around the globe to further state-of-the-art technology in the safety and performance of autonomous vehicles. The IAC started as a $1 million prize competition with 31 university teams signing up to compete more than three years ago, representing top engineering and technology programs from 15 U.S. states and 11 countries. Follow the IAC @IndyAChallenge on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.

About Bridgestone: Bridgestone is a global leader in tires and rubber building on its expertise to provide solutions for safe and sustainable mobility. Headquartered in Tokyo, the company employs approximately 130,000 people globally and conducts business in more than 150 countries and territories worldwide. Bridgestone offers a diverse product portfolio of premium tires and advanced solutions backed by innovative technologies, improving the way people around the world move, live, work and play.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240611138772/en/

Contacts:

Marc Ferlet

marc.ferlet@indyautonomouschallenge.com

USA: +1 317 662 5070

FR: +33 6 79 16 96 26
Investors include McLaren Healthcare Corporation, Cone Health, Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, Macmillan Cancer Support and Aviko Radiopharmaceuticals, a private company funded by affiliates of Deerfield Management

MIDDLETON, Wis., June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Leo Cancer Care is delighted to announce that it has secured funding to advance the company to the next stage of its global ambitions for upright radiation therapy.

This investment highlights increasing confidence investors have in the team and the product, which is offering a "more human" way to administer radiation therapy to patients with a range of cancers.

The unique upright patient positioning and CT imaging system, named Marie after Nobel laureate and radioactivity research pioneer Marie Curie, utilizes a fixed radiation beam with patients rotated slowly and smoothly to different beam angles as treatment is administered.

The solution allows patients to remain in an upright position during treatment. Growing evidence indicates that this position reduces internal organ movement in patients receiving upright therapy. This simple shift not only enhances patient comfort but also has the potential to improve treatment accuracy.

Marie removes the need for a gantry while still providing 360 degrees of beam angles. This gantry-less approach enables a significant reduction in spatial footprint and cost, particularly for proton therapy and carbon ion therapy.

Investment will aid expansion into Asia

Stephen Towe, CEO of Leo Cancer Care, said: "This funding marks an important milestone, as it will enable the growth of our business and allow us to build the necessary infrastructure to support our system once it is installed at various sites. The investment will also help us to build a global footprint."

The funds will enable Leo Cancer Care to expand into the Asian markets, particularly in Singapore, Japan, and South Korea, where the company has begun building teams and establishing a commercial presence.

"This funding will help put Leo Cancer Care and our systems for upright radiation therapy firmly on the global stage," he added.

Strategic Investors committed to advancing healthcare

The latest investment from both strategic investors and VCs (venture capitals) reflects the confidence in the innovative Leo Cancer Care system and welcomes a list of partners aligned with the company's goals.

The first is a Leo Cancer Care partner, McLaren Health Care Corporation. McLaren's decision to invest comes after the installation of the first of two Marie solutions for testing purposes in Flint, Michigan.

McClaren Health Care Corporation's investment in Leo Cancer Care has been augmented with McLaren's Chief Administrative Officer, Gregory Lane, taking a seat on the Leo Cancer Care Board of Directors.

Another healthcare provider investing in Leo Cancer Care is Cone Health, a comprehensive health network with over 150 locations across the U.S. dedicated to providing accessible care. Their brand promise, "We're right here with you," which emphasizes personalized care, aligns with Leo Cancer Care's goal to deliver radiation therapy in a more human way.

An investor close to home is WARF (Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation), which is connected closely with UW Health based in Madison, Wisconsin, another early adopter of the technology and based in the same city where Leo Cancer Care has its office in the United States.

The UK's leading cancer care charity Macmillan Cancer Support has joined the list of investors. Macmillan created an impact investment portfolio in 2023, dedicated to supporting startups that are aligned with the Charity's goals. This new partnership will help Leo Cancer Care to keep those living with cancer at the heart of their mission to be the more human way to deliver radiation therapy.

Aviko Radiopharmaceuticals, a private biotechnology company funded by affiliates of Deerfield Management, also joins investors in this financing. In 2023, Aviko joined Leo Cancer Care and Neutron Therapeutics in a multi-year partnership to advance upright patient positioning for boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT).

EDBI, the strategic investment arm of the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), another supporter of Leo Cancer Care's global expansion plan, has joined the round. Leo Cancer Care plans to establish Singapore as a base for its APAC activity and growth in the coming years.

Towe added: "Financing the business is the 'fuel' to keep it going but it is the partnerships we have created along the way that will drive us over the finish line, taking this innovation to those who need it most."

Please note: Leo Cancer Care's upright patient positioning system recently gained 510(k) regulatory clearance in the United States for clinical use, with a similar process underway in Europe. Marie, including our upright CT scanner, is not yet clinically available.

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JERSEY CITY, N.J., June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- InsightAce Analytic Pvt. Ltd. announces the release of a market assessment report on the "Blood Brain Barrier Market "- Distribution by Type of Molecule (Biologics and Small Molecules), Route of Administration (Intravenous and Oral), Target Disease Indication (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Leptomeningeal Carcinomatosis, Mucopolysaccharidosis Type II (Hunter Syndrome), Mucopolysaccharidosis Type III A (Sanfilippo Syndrome A) and Multiple Sclerosis) and Therapeutic Area (Lysosomal Storage Disorders, Neurodegenerative Disorders, and Neuro-Oncology Disorders), Industry Trends, Industry Competition Analysis, Revenue and Forecast To 2031.

The Blood Brain Barrier Market is estimated to reach over USD 514.8 Mn by 2031, exhibiting a CAGR of 40.9% during the forecast period.

Request for Free Sample Pages: https://www.insightaceanalytic.com/request-sample/2527

The Blood-Brain Barrier (BBB) market refers to the industry focused on developing, researching, and commercializing technologies, therapies, and strategies aimed at understanding, modifying, and interacting with the blood-brain barrier. The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a selective permeability barrier that isolates the circulating blood from the brain and extracellular fluid in the central nervous system (CNS). Its primary function is to control damage to the brain from pathogens and contaminants; however, it also offers a substantial obstacle to the delivery of drugs to the brain.

Developing new drugs and delivery methods for the blood-brain barrier market is crucial for advancing treatment options for central nervous system (CNS) disorders. This involves creating innovative techniques to efficiently and safely deliver therapeutics across the BBB, enhancing drug efficacy. Altering drugs to improve their ability to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a critical area of research in treating central nervous system (CNS) disorders.

This involves chemically modifying drugs to improve their permeability and efficacy in reaching the brain. Techniques such as conjugating drugs with lipophilic molecules, changing their molecular size, or using prodrugs that convert into active forms once they cross the BBB are employed. These modifications aim to overcome the selective nature of the BBB, ensuring that therapeutic agents can effectively reach their targets within the brain.

List of Prominent Players in the Blood Brain Barrier Market:

2-BBB Medicines

AbbVie

AC Immune

Acorda Therapeutics

Adamas Pharmaceuticals

Amgen

Alector

Attralus

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals

Angiochem

Biogen

Biohaven

Denali Therapeutics

Eli Lilly

Genentech

Ionis Pharmaceuticals

Johnson & Johnson

Lundbeck

Merck

Neurocrine Biosciences

Novartis

Pfizer

Roche

Sanofi

Takeda Pharmaceuticals

Teva Pharmaceutical

Order the 180 Pages Full Report @ https://www.insightaceanalytic.com/buy-report/2527

Market Dynamics:

Drivers:

Innovations in drug delivery systems, including nanotechnology, liposomes, and focused ultrasound, are revolutionizing the treatment landscape for neurological disorders by improving the transport of therapeutic agents across the blood-brain barrier (BBB). These advancements not only enhance the efficacy of treatments but also contribute to market growth by addressing the growing demand for BBB-penetrating drugs and technologies, particularly among the ageing population, who are more susceptible to neurological disorders. Collaborations between pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology firms, and research institutions are pivotal in driving innovation and fostering the development of novel therapies specifically tailored to target the BBB, ultimately offering new hope for patients with challenging neurological conditions.

Challenges:

Neurological disorders are multifaceted and heterogeneous, making them challenging to treat. Developing therapies that can effectively target specific pathways or cell types implicated in these disorders while minimizing off-target effects remains a major challenge. Ensuring the safety and minimizing the toxicity of drugs targeting the BBB is crucial. Some drug delivery methods and therapeutic agents may pose risks of adverse effects or neurotoxicity, necessitating rigorous preclinical and clinical evaluation.

Regional Trends:

North American companies and institutions actively engage in strategic partnerships and collaborations with global stakeholders, including pharmaceutical giants, biotech startups, and academic centers worldwide. These collaborations facilitate knowledge exchange, resource sharing, and the development of innovative BBB-targeted therapies. North America attracts substantial investment and venture capital funding for BBB-related research and development.

Curious about this latest version of the report? @ https://www.insightaceanalytic.com/enquiry-before-buying/2527

Recent Developments:

In February 2024, Denali Therapeutics raised USD 500 million to research further and develop and advance their BBB-crossing Transport Vehicle technology for neurodegenerative illnesses.

In February 2024, Attralus raised USD 56 million in Series B+ Venture Capital financing to further its research and development of rare illness treatments.

Segmentation of Blood Brain Barrier Market.

Global Blood Brain Barrier Market by Type of Molecule

Biologics

Small Molecules

Global Blood Brain Barrier Market by Route of Administration

Intravenous

Oral

Global Blood Brain Barrier Market by Target Disease Indication

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis,

Leptomeningeal Carcinomatosis,

Mucopolysaccharidosis Type II (Hunter Syndrome)

Mucopolysaccharidosis Type III A (Sanfilippo Syndrome A)

Multiple Sclerosis

Global Blood Brain Barrier Market by Therapeutic Area

Lysosomal Storage Disorders

Neurodegenerative Disorders

Neuro-Oncology Disorders

Global Blood Brain Barrier Market by Region

North America-

The US

Canada

Mexico

Europe-

Germany

The UK

France

Italy

Spain

Rest of Europe

Asia-Pacific-

China

Japan

India

South Korea

Southeast Asia

Rest of Asia Pacific

Latin America-

Brazil

Argentina

Rest of Latin America

Middle East & Africa-

GCC Countries

South Africa

Rest of the Middle East and Africa

For More Customization @ https://www.insightaceanalytic.com/customisation/2527

About Us:

InsightAce Analytic is a market research and consulting firm that enables clients to make strategic decisions. Our qualitative and quantitative market intelligence solutions inform the need for market and competitive intelligence to expand businesses. We help clients gain competitive advantage by identifying untapped markets, exploring new and competing technologies, segmenting potential markets and repositioning products. Our expertise is in providing syndicated and custom market intelligence reports with an in-depth analysis with key market insights in a timely and cost-effective manner.

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Landmark event marks Pfizer's enduring legacy, innovative achievements and commitment to help shaping the future of global healthcare

By leveraging AI, introducing new products, expanding its oncology offerings, increasing vaccine availability and enhancing patient access, Pfizer demonstrates its commitment to delivering breakthroughs that change patients' lives

DUBAI, UAE, June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Pfizer commemorated its 175-year anniversary in Dubai on June 11, by reflecting on the significant contributions made in the global and regional medical landscape while looking ahead at what is yet to come.

In 2023, Pfizer touched the lives of more than 45 million patients and completed 32 successful launches across the Middle East, Russia and Africa (MERA). The pharmaceutical leader also reached out to around 15,000 patients through 30 patient access programs available in 11 countries across the region. Several industry advancements through government collaborations were also acknowledged. These include the partnership with Haya Karima in Egypt, collaborations with MOH in Morocco to achieve universal health coverage (UHC) and enhance the antimicrobial resistance (AMR) landscape in Morocco, and more recently, a collaboration with the Department of Health in Abu Dhabi to advance research through the generation and analysis of real-world data focusing on rare diseases such as Sickle Cell Disease.

Patrick van der Loo, Regional President of Pfizer MERA, commented: "As we come together to mark this momentous milestone, today is an opportunity to acknowledge the endless global breakthroughs we have led over the past 175 years and the immense contributions that we have made to the regional medical landscape over the last 65 years. We are incredibly honored to partner with public sector leaders and to be strategic contributors in driving national healthcare agendas forward, bringing innovative treatments to those who need them wherever they are. As we look back at all our great accomplishments, we are simultaneously looking ahead with the same momentum and renewed commitment to further paving the way for medical excellence. I am confident that the best is yet to come from Pfizer, and I am excited to see how our scientists, researchers and employees will continue to deliver breakthroughs that will change patients' lives in the region and beyond".

Pfizer's recent acquisition of global biotech company Seagen marked the beginning of a strategic focal shift towards oncology with cancer continuing to be a leading cause of death around the world. The acquisition boosted Pfizer's oncology capabilities, with a portfolio now comprising 50+ programs in development. The company has dedicated 40 percent of total Research and Development investments towards oncology while also partnering across the oncology community to maximize accessibility of cancer treatments.

Yasser El Dershaby, Vice President and Regional Medical Lead at Pfizer MERA expressed pride in Pfizer's contributions to modern medicine and its ongoing commitment to pioneering breakthroughs that positively impact patients' lives. He said: "Pfizer has spearheaded clinical trials on a global level to bring the most advanced and effective treatments to the market. Recently, we saw phenomenal results during the third phase of our CROWN trial evaluating Lorlatinib; a lung cancer treatment in people with previously untreated, anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-positive advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). As we embark on a new chapter, we look forward to driving even more innovations in the pharmaceutical industry to benefit more people across the region and beyond. Our focus is on clinical excellence and medical innovation through continued research and development efforts. We are eager to strengthen our partnership network, leverage cutting-edge technologies, and introduce new products to push the boundaries of what's possible in the field of health and wellness and ensure our offerings reach all those who need them."

Looking ahead, Pfizer is poised to leverage the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance patient outcomes, further expand its oncology offerings and increase vaccine accessibility across the region and beyond. The company aims to have 35 launches across MERA in 2024 and remains committed to enhancing patient access through various access programs and partnerships to improve patient care and foster economic growth.

Furthermore, Pfizer remains dedicated to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts to gain better insights of the regional market. These efforts include building a more inclusive colleague experience through different programs such as Pfizer's Leadership Aspiring Future Talents (LAFTA) program, advancing equitable health outcome and ongoing collaborations with organizations like the Arab International Women's Forum (AIWF) to amplify Pfizer's DEI vision and drive positive change within the industry and the broader community.

About Pfizer: Breakthroughs That Change Patients' Lives

At Pfizer, we apply science and our global resources to bring therapies to people that extend and significantly improve their lives. We strive to set the standard for quality, safety, and value in the discovery, development, and manufacture of health care products, including innovative medicines and vaccines. Every day, Pfizer colleagues work across developed and emerging markets to advance wellness, prevention, treatments, and cures that challenge the most feared diseases of our time. Consistent with our responsibility as one of the world's premier innovative biopharmaceutical companies, we collaborate with health care providers, governments, and local communities to support and expand access to reliable, affordable health care around the world. For more than 150 years, we have worked to make a difference for all who rely on us. We routinely post information that may be important to investors on our website at www.Pfizer.com.

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CHICAGO, June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The global flow cytometry market, valued at $5.1 billion in 2024, is primed for substantial growth, projected to achieve a remarkable compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.2% over the forecast period, ultimately reaching $10.3 billion by 2032. This expansive market ecosystem encompasses an array of activities spanning the production, distribution, and utilization of flow cytometry instruments, reagents, and associated services, with industry behemoths such as Becton, Dickinson and Company, Danaher Corporation, and Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. at the forefront. Driving this growth are relentless technological innovations, escalating adoption rates in clinical diagnostics, and the seamless integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning, all culminating in augmented data analysis capabilities. Yet, persistent challenges persist, notably the substantial capital outlay required for instrument acquisition and upkeep, alongside the intricate nature of reagent development. Nevertheless, avenues of opportunity abound, particularly within burgeoning clinical applications, propelled by ongoing advancements in instrumentation and automation. Presently, North America commands a dominant market share, with the Asia Pacific region poised for significant growth, underpinned by burgeoning healthcare expenditures and supportive governmental initiatives fostering market expansion.

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Browse in-depth TOC on "Flow Cytometry Market"

713 - Tables

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Innovative Advancements Propel Growth

In the dynamic global flow cytometry market, the introduction of cutting-edge technological advancements propels market expansion by catering to the demand for enhanced workflow efficiency and superior performance. Key players are continually innovating to develop and commercialize advanced flow cytometry products with features such as multiplexing capabilities, higher throughput systems, and improved data analysis software. These innovations not only bolster the efficiency, sensitivity, and accuracy of flow cytometry assays but also make them more appealing for both research and clinical applications. For instance, the BD FACSDiscover S8 Cell Sorter, introduced by Becton, Dickinson and Company in April 2024, exemplifies the integration of real-time imaging and spectral flow cytometry capabilities, catering to evolving market needs.

Cost Barrier Challenges Market Adoption

However, the high cost associated with flow cytometry instruments poses a significant challenge to market growth. Clinical laboratories, research facilities, and pharmaceutical companies often require multiple instruments for concurrent research studies, leading to substantial capital investment and maintenance costs. Limited budgets, especially in academic and research laboratories, further exacerbate this issue, hindering widespread adoption, particularly among smaller institutions with constrained financial resources. Additionally, the elevated product installation costs and associated overheads present significant barriers to implementation, particularly in emerging markets where healthcare infrastructure may be underdeveloped.

Clinical Applications Present Lucrative Opportunities

Despite these challenges, the expanding utilization of flow cytometry in clinical applications and infectious disease diagnostics presents lucrative growth opportunities for market players. Flow cytometry's ability to analyze cellular characteristics and biomarkers has revolutionized disease diagnosis, prognosis, and monitoring in various fields, including hematology and immunology. For example, flow cytometry plays a crucial role in diagnosing and monitoring hematological malignancies, such as leukemia and lymphoma, by analyzing cell surface marker expression patterns. Moreover, advancements in instrumentation, automation, and assay development, coupled with regulatory clearances like the DxFLEX Clinical Flow Cytometer from Beckman Coulter, underscore flow cytometry's importance in precision medicine and its potential to drive further market expansion.

Reagent Development Complexity

Nevertheless, complexities related to reagent development remain a significant challenge in the flow cytometry market. Developing high-quality reagents with optimal specificity, sensitivity, and stability is a time-consuming and resource-intensive process, requiring extensive testing and validation to ensure reproducible results across diverse applications and laboratory settings. Despite these challenges, ongoing advancements in reagent development hold promise for unlocking the full potential of flow cytometry in various research and clinical applications, underscoring the resilience and adaptability of the market in overcoming obstacles and driving continued innovation.

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Reagents & Consumables Dominate Market

The reagents & consumables segment dominated the flow cytometry industry in 2023, fueled by advancements in reagents, increased research & development activities, and the adoption of flow cytometry in clinical applications. This segment, further subdivided into antibodies, assays & kits, and other reagents & consumables, holds sway due to its crucial role in facilitating accurate analysis and experimentation in flow cytometry processes.

Academic & Research Institutes Poised for Growth

Academic & research institutes are projected to experience substantial growth at a significant CAGR throughout the flow cytometry industry forecast period. This growth is driven by increased investment in clinical trials, drug development, and biopharmaceutical research, alongside rising demand for advanced technologies and high-throughput capabilities. Significant funding and grants for scientific research further bolster this segment's expansion.

North America Leads Industry in 2023

North America emerged as the dominant force in the global flow cytometry industry in 2023, surpassing other regions such as Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa. Its leadership position is attributed to robust healthcare infrastructure, substantial investment in research and development, and high adoption rates of advanced technologies. The presence of leading market players, extensive clinical research activities, and favorable regulatory policies reinforce North America's stronghold in the flow cytometry market.

Asia Pacific's Growth Trajectory

The Asia Pacific region is poised to witness significant growth during the forecast period of 2024-2032. Factors driving this growth include the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases, rising healthcare expenditure, and supportive government initiatives promoting the adoption of flow cytometry technologies across various applications. This burgeoning market expansion in the Asia Pacific region underscores its potential to emerge as a key player in the global flow cytometry landscape.

Key Players Driving Innovation

Leading the charge in the flow cytometry market are key players such as Becton, Dickinson and Company (US), Danaher Corporation (US), Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (US), Agilent Technologies, Inc. (US), Sony Corporation (Japan), Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. (US), Miltenyi Biotec (Germany), Enzo Biochem, Inc. (US), Sysmex Corporation (Japan), bioMerieux (France), Cytonome/ST, LLC (US), Sartorius AG (Germany), and Cytek Biosciences (US), among others. These industry giants continually drive innovation and shape the market landscape through their cutting-edge technologies and solutions.

Recent Technological Advancements

Recent developments in the flow cytometry industry highlight the relentless pursuit of innovation among market players. In May 2024, Agilent Technologies Inc. unveiled the NovoCyte Opteon Spectral Flow Cytometer, offering configurations ranging from three to five lasers and supporting up to 73 high-quality detectors. Beckman Coulter introduced the CytoFLEX nano Flow Cytometer in March 2024, featuring simultaneous multiparameter detection powered by six fluorescent detection channels and five side scatter channels. Sony Corporation launched the FP7000 spectral cell sorter in October 2023, supporting high-speed, high-parameter sorting with more than 44 colors and leveraging patented spectral technology-based optics, advanced electronics, and fluidics. Additionally, in March 2023, BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) launched the BD FACSDiscover S8 Cell Sorter, the world's first spectral cell sorter with high-speed cell imaging, further exemplifying the industry's commitment to pushing technological boundaries and driving innovation forward.

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Signifier Medical Technologies Limited ("Signifier" and the "Company"), a leader in medical technologies specializing in sleep apnea therapy solutions, is thrilled to announce its largest ever order to date. Spectrum Sleep Solutions Inc. has placed a tremendous order for 10,000 units of the innovative eXciteOSA device. This significant order comes on the back of South Carolina's Human and Health Services Medicaid coverage for eXciteOSA, signaling a major step toward expanded accessibility and treatment for sleep apnea sufferers.

The size of the order only further demonstrates how far the Company has come since its inception and especially since its restructuring last year. Since August 2023, under a newer and dynamic leadership supported by a functional new Board, the Company has passed through a series of commercial successes not seen in the Company before.

eXciteOSA is an innovative therapy for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), offering a non-invasive approach to treating the condition. Unlike traditional continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines, eXciteOSA uses neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) therapy to build the endurance of the muscles at the back of the tongue, reducing the risk of airway collapse during sleep. With over 15,000 patients being prescribed eXciteOSA, and real-world data demonstrating strong adherence of patients using therapy over 80% of days, this innovative therapy allows patients to complete a session for just 20 minutes during the day, offering them the freedom to breathe naturally, all night long, on their own.

"I am delighted discussions between Signifier and Spectrum Sleep Solutions have culminated in Signifier having achieved its largest ever commercial order, made ever more pertinent that it comes on the heels of a period of profound business consolidation, deepening our associations with technology to drive efficiencies whilst deploying capital in expanding our supply chain. We are building a leading team, led by Yasser Zayni, Signifier's eXciteOSA expert in conjunction with Spectrum Sleep Solutions and their established strategies in developing clinical channels," exclaimed Mujtaba Chohan, Head of Finance and Executive Director of Signifier. "The decision by Spectrum Sleep Solutions to embrace eXciteOSA underscores its efficacy and its ability to revolutionize sleep apnea treatment.

Akhil Tripathi, Signifier's Founder and Director, stated, "Coming off the back of the recent Medicaid coverage in South Carolina, this milestone reflects our ongoing mission to broaden access to innovative therapies for individuals in need. Spectrum Sleep Solutions, a leading healthcare distributor in the US, shares Signifier's vision for eXciteOSA becoming the de-facto first-line therapy in the treatment of sleep apnea and is the first of a sequence of related transactions that Spectrum Sleep Solutions has pledged as they continue to deepen their relationship with the Company.

Spectrum Sleep Solutions' order highlights the growing demand for alternative therapies to treat OSA and emphasizes the importance of expanding access to innovative treatment options. This substantial order supports Spectrum Sleep Solutions' commitment to providing effective sleep apnea treatments to its clients and reinforces Signifier's role as a leader in the field.

Spectrum Sleep Solutions' CEO, Forrest Ackerman, states, "This partnership with Signifier represents a major step in our commitment to offering innovative and effective solutions for sleep apnea and treating hundreds of thousands of patients who are in need of successful and clinically proven alternative therapies for sleep-disordered breathing. The eXciteOSA therapy provides a non-invasive alternative that aligns with our mission to improve patient outcomes and overall quality of life. We look forward to growing our partnership with the firm for years to come and seeing an expansion of the product through our US-wide commercial channels, so that we can positively impact our patient's health and well-being."

Signifier looks forward to continuing its collaboration with Spectrum Sleep Solutions and other healthcare partners as it works to expand the availability of the eXciteOSA device across the United States and beyond.

To learn more about eXciteOSA, please visit www.signifiermedical.com or www.exciteosa.com.

About Signifier Medical Technologies

Signifier is a pioneer in addressing the root causes of sleep-disordered breathing. The Company is focused on developing and commercializing innovative and non-invasive solutions to help people breathe normally and naturally all night without needing to use a wearable medical device or a surgical implant. Founded in 2015, Signifier is at the forefront of sleep therapy, with a mission to develop therapies to improve population health, increase the quality of patients' healthcare experience, and generate healthcare savings. Signifier has offices in London (UK) and Needham (Massachusetts, USA).

About eXciteOSA

eXciteOSA is a revolutionary daytime therapy for sleep-disordered breathing. Clinically proven to target a common root cause of OSA, eXciteOSA uses NMES to "exercise" the upper airway muscles, working the intrinsic and extrinsic tongue muscles to improve endurance and prevent airway collapse during sleep. Unlike other devices that are used while patients sleep, eXciteOSA is the first commercially available device used while awake.

Signifier is dedicated to engaging with the sleep research community to produce high-quality evidence from rigorous clinical trials.

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Cardino, a pioneer in the used electric vehicle (EV) market, recently announced a triumphant 4 million seed funding round spearheaded by Point Nine. The funding round was supported by an array of distinguished angel investors and notable figures, including key investors from platforms like Rosberg Ventures, Vinted.com, Bolt, HomeToGo, Dance and HeyJobs.

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Cardino GmbH Team photo (Photo: Business Wire)

Cardino enables the sale of used electric vehicles via a digital platform, leveraging a solid network of trusted dealers across Europe. This efficient model not only streamlines the sales process but also promotes a sustainable and circular economy by facilitating the transfer of used EVs to new owners.

Private sellers enjoy a free, seamless experience and an impressive 80% likelihood of receiving a binding offer within 72 hours of listing. The company manages all aspects of the transaction, from complementary valuation based on real-time market data to handling logistics, pick-up, and payment processing. The vehicle is collected within seven days and delivered across Europe without the seller ever leaving home.

This significant investment is a testament to the market's confidence in Cardino's innovative business model and its remarkable growth trajectory. Notably, Cardino achieved nearly 50% quarter-over-quarter growth in Q1 of 2024, and its annualized Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) soared to an impressive 100 million. Such figures underscore Cardino's position as a trailblazer in the rapidly evolving landscape of electric vehicles.

Cardino equips car dealerships with an advanced toolkit to efficiently source EVs. The biggest value for dealers is the ease of access to supply from different markets and the high quality of cars with low mileage and no damage. Cardino screens sellers and inspects vehicle condition, history, and battery reports for quality assurance.

The platform provides comprehensive vehicle profiles and enables direct bidding, simplifying the acquisition process, generating competitive prices for buyers and connecting sellers and buyers from different markets.

Nico Rosberg of Rosberg Ventures shared his excitement about the platform's impact, saying: "The future of cars is electric. For that, we need a sustainable used car market. Henrik, Lukasz and the entire Cardino team are doing pioneering work with their platform. Cardino is both efficient and transparent, setting new standards for the entire industry. That is why I am happy to support this mission as an investor."

"Cardino is dedicated to revolutionizing the used EV marketplace through its digital-first approach, making the process convenient and efficient for sellers and dealers," says Henrik Sachs and Lukasz Pajak, Founders.

The company was founded in 2022 to transform the used electric car market.

As Cardino's services extend further across Europe, its commitment to innovation and sustainability in the automotive sector remains steadfast. Plans for 2024 include expanding consumer services to France, on the seller side, and enhancing the platform's features, such as the introduction of a proprietary online battery range check to set new benchmarks in the EV market.

About Cardino

Cardino was founded in Berlin in 2022 with a vision to revolutionize the used electric car market. Our goal is to remove all unnecessary difficulties in buying and selling cars for both used car dealers and sellers. Together, we aim to connect sellers and buyers across Europe and ensure used electric cars find new owners at fair prices through a smooth, digital process.

About the Founders

Henrik Sachs is a Cambridge graduate, former Stanford fellow, and ex-McKinsey consultant now building a sustainability stealth start-up with pre-seed funding. He has broad experience in climate technology, including batteries, EVs, and hydrogen. Henrik worked extensively in the sustainability and automotive sectors at McKinsey, as well as McKinsey LEAP in the UK, DACH and Scandinavia. Born in Germany, he lived in the UK and US for several years before coming home to work in Berlin and Munich.

Lukasz Pajak graduated from the SGH Warsaw School of Economics and spent a semester at the National University of Singapore focusing on entrepreneurship and strategic management. He has over five years of experience in marketplace operations, including consulting for digital businesses in the UK, DACH, and Scandinavia. With a deep passion for sustainable mobility and energy transition, Lukasz was one of the first McKinsey LEAP consultants in the CEE office working with finance, automotive, and marketplace/e-commerce clients.

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NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / June 11, 2024 / GoDaddy

Originally published on GoDaddy Resource Library

Tell us a little bit about yourself and what do you do here at GoDaddy.

My name is Srinivasa Rao Sharma, but most people call me Srini. I grew up in Chennai, a city in the south of India, where I was the first person in my family to attend high school and college. I learned about the possibility of getting an education in the United States through my friends at undergrad and decided to apply. I got into Purdue University (go Boilermakers) and completed my graduate degree in Industrial Engineering. I like to optimize things around me. If I see dishes on a dining table that can be set up in a better manner, I will be the first one to do it. I also enjoy cooking and eating delicious Indian vegetarian food, especially biryani.

My wife and I like to go on road trips. I drove from Boston to Seattle (3,000 miles) in three and a half days this year. We added 30,000 miles to our car in just the last two years. We have a four-month-old son named Athik Shrey, which means "more kindness."

I joined GoDaddy on Valentine's Day in 2022 - I found the perfect match for my career! I started as a Senior Business Analyst, working on data enablement for various ventures. Later, I took on additional responsibilities to manage and enable data products related to cash receipts and maintain one of the most used and critical dashboards in the company. If you have any questions about revenue or cash receipt anomalies, you can ask me. Currently, I work as a Senior Business Analyst II in the Customer Product Analytics team.

What has been one of your proudest moments at GoDaddy?

After eight months at GoDaddy, I was entrusted the responsibility to own a vital data product that had a high impact on the business and improve its performance and reliability. I redesigned the underlying architecture, rebuilt the report with enhanced Tableau functionality, and delivered it to our stakeholders with faster loading and better user experience.

What do you want your colleagues, neighbors, and friends to take away from Asian Heritage Month?

Asian Heritage Month offers a valuable opportunity to acknowledge and honor the diverse contributions of Asians across various domains, including technology. It serves as a platform to gain insight into the rich and distinct cultures embraced by our Asian friends, neighbors, and colleagues, and to appreciate how these cultural influences shape their professional demeanor, communication, and personal traits.

Moreover, Asian Heritage Month prompts discussions about workplace inclusion and equity, fostering a deeper understanding of the importance of diversity. It encourages individuals to reflect on their roles in maintaining a fair and equitable work environment, ensuring that everyone, regardless of cultural background, is treated with respect and given equal opportunities.

How do you celebrate or honor your heritage and culture?

We celebrate festivals throughout the year to honor our heritage and culture. Every festival has its own way of celebration. One of my favorite festivals that we celebrate around January 15th each year is called "Thai Pongal". During this festival, we honor the contributions of our farmers. We eat sugarcane and wear new clothes. We also conduct bull-taming competitions to recognize how important cows and bulls are for our farmers and society.

Moreover, our culture is expressed through the way we conduct marriages. These are lavish events that draw around a thousand guests. The ceremonies last for two to three days and follow intricate rituals that reflect our deep reverence for tradition and kinship.

Who are some mentors or public figures from your community that have influenced you in your life or professional career?

When I was a student, I found inspiration in the words of one of the greatest scientists, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, the former President of India. Despite being born into a very poor family, he rose to become the President of India. Dr. Kalam was the epitome of humility, always advocating for the welfare of students and youth in our country. One of his famous quotes that deeply resonated with me is: "Dream is not that which you see while sleeping, it is something that does not let you sleep." I continue to live by this philosophy today. I have experienced countless sleepless nights as I relentlessly pursue my dreams.

What's your motto or personal mantra?

I have a few very simple and straightforward mantras in life. Some I learned from my dad and others I have learned from mentors. I will share two below.

"Money is not the only reward you might get for your efforts. There are other forms of rewards that are more valuable than money that one must not fail to recognize."

"The most expected reward or prize is always delivered at the most unexpected times."

Are you enjoying this series and want to know more about life at GoDaddy? Check out our GoDaddy Life social pages! Follow us to meet our team, learn more about our culture (Teams, ERGs, Locations), careers, and so much more. You're more than just your day job, so come propel your career with us.

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Widespread heat advisories and warnings go into effect on Tuesday. Baron Lynx

UPDATED FORECAST: Bay Area heat wave will bring hottest weather in years

Tuesday is set to be the warmest day of the week in California, with triple-digit heat returning to the Central Valley and some interior spots in the Bay Area possibly flirting with the 100-degree mark.

The National Weather Service has issued heat advisories and warnings for a large portion of interior California for the next few days. However, high temperatures are unlikely to set records like last week, due to a slightly different atmospheric setup.

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California-wide view

After just a smattering of 100-degree temperatures in Southern Californias high deserts over the weekend, much of the Central Valley and those same desert locations will start a new multiday stretch of triple-digit temperatures on Tuesday.

Temperatures will range from 100 to 105 degrees from Bakersfield to Sacramento, which is about 10 to 15 degrees above normal for this time of year. In Northern California around Redding and Chico, an excessive heat warning goes into effect on Tuesday, with highs ranging from 105 to 110 degrees.

Temperatures will heat up into the triple digits on Tuesday for interior California. Baron Lynx

The very warm end to spring will continue for the Sierra as well. Temperatures around Tahoe are expected to peak in the mid-80s on Tuesday. Since early May, the average high temperature at South Lake Tahoe has been 70.6 degrees, nearly 6 degrees above normal.

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Warm for the coast

San Francisco and coastal parts of the Bay Area will experience warmth on Tuesday, as low-level offshore winds will keep the sea breeze in check. Temperatures will warm into the mid-60s along the immediate coast, and western districts in the city may reach the low 70s.

A weak cold front will approach the region late on Tuesday, dropping inland temperatures by a few degrees on Wednesday and strengthening the marine layer influence along the coast.

Tuesday will be the hottest day for the Bay Area. Baron Lynx

Tuesday breakdown

San Francisco: Low clouds and fog will start to clear away through the morning hours, hanging on a bit longer west of Twin Peaks. Mostly sunny skies in the afternoon push temperatures into the low to mid-70s downtown and in the Mission District. Temperatures will top out in the mid- to upper 60s in the Richmond and Sunset districts. Even Ocean Beach should see temperatures in the mid-60s. Winds will be generally light out of the southwest at 5 to 15 mph. Lows overnight will be in the low 50s.

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North Bay: Low clouds and fog will hug the immediate coastline in the morning, but sunshine develops everywhere else in the North Bay. Its going to be a hot day, with highs in Novato, Petaluma, Sonoma and Vallejo in the mid- to upper 80s, and in the low to mid-90s in Santa Rosa. Further inland, temperatures in Vacaville and Fairfield will be in the mid- to upper 90s. Clouds return overnight along the coast, with mostly clear skies elsewhere and lows in the low 50s.

East Bay: Morning clouds and fog shouldnt impact the East Bay much. Interior spots like Livermore, Concord, Walnut Creek and Antioch will see highs in the mid- to upper 90s. It will be a bit cooler closer to the bay, with highs in Oakland, Richmond, Hayward and Fremont in the low to mid-80s. It will be mostly clear overnight, with lows in the mid-50s.

Pacific Coast and Peninsula: Low clouds and fog should clear out by mid-morning. Temperatures along the coast will be a bit warmer compared to Monday, with highs in Daly City, Pacifica and Half Moon Bay in the mid- to upper 60s. Conditions will be warmer for bay-facing locations, with highs in South San Francisco and San Mateo in the low 70s. It will be even warmer further to the south, with highs in Menlo Park and Redwood City in the mid- to upper 80s. Mostly clear, except along the coast, overnight with lows in the 50s.

South Bay and Santa Cruz: The Santa Clara Valley should warm up nicely with less of a bay breeze. Highs in Mountain View, Cupertino and San Jose will be in the upper 80s to low 90s. Mostly clear and seasonably mild overnight with lows in the mid-50s. Morning clouds and fog will blanket coastal areas of Santa Cruz County but should clear out in the morning. Highs in Santa Cruz will be in the low to mid-70s, with temperatures in the mountains reaching the upper 80s to low 90s in places like Ben Lomond and Boulder Creek. Partly cloudy overnight with lows in the 50s.
Department of Defense grant will advance small molecule technology for acute lung injury

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA / ACCESSWIRE / June 11, 2024 / KeViRx, Inc., an innovative, early-stage pharmaceutical company, announced today the receipt of $1.99 million in grant funding from the U.S. Department of Defense's Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program. This grant funding will allow KeViRx to advance its first-in-class small molecule platform technology, KVX-053, toward IND for pulmonary microvascular leakage and inflammation during acute lung injury (ALI). In the U.S., ALI affects 200,000 patients every year and can result from viral infection, sepsis, pneumonia or inhalation of chemical toxins. The most severe form of ALI is referred to as acute respiratory distress syndrome or ARDS.

"There are very limited treatment options for patients with ALI and 40% will die of ARDS," KeViRx Co-founder John S. Lazo said. "KVX-053 is a host-directed, insult-agnostic small molecule that targets the central pathways that are dysfunctional in ARDS. If we are successful, KVX-053 would be transformative for this disease."

KeViRx's lead asset, KVX-053, is a first-in-class small molecule inhibitor of the PTP4A3 phosphatase. KVX-053 has potent immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects, which repair and restore damaged endothelial barrier functions. The endothelial barrier in the vasculature ensures the delivery of nutrients and oxygen to tissues and, if damaged, increased vascular permeability results in tissue edema, migration of inflammatory cells and inflammation, leading to respiratory failure.

Elizabeth R. Sharlow, KeViRx, Inc. co-founder and CEO, added: "I am delighted and honored to be awarded these grant funds. This financial support gives KeViRx the opportunity to accelerate the development of KVX-053 for ALI/ARDS and to propel it closer to the clinic. KVX-053 has the potential to make a difference in patients' lives. We are also excited to continue our research collaboration in ALI with John Catravas, Sentara chair and professor in Old Dominion University's Frank Reidy Research Center for Bioelectrics. John's expertise in the vascular endothelium and vascular inflammation has been pivotal to moving our KVX-053 technology forward."

This work is supported by The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs endorsed by the Department of Defense, in the amount of $1.99MM through the Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program under Award Number HT9425-24-1-0284. Opinions, interpretations, conclusions, and recommendations are those of the author(s) and are not necessarily endorsed by The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs endorsed by the Department of Defense. The U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity, 808 Schreider Street, Fort Detrick MD 21702-5014 is the awarding and administering acquisition office.

For more information, visit www.KeViRx.com.

About KeViRx, Inc.

KeViRx, Inc. (www.KeViRx.com) is a privately held early, pre-clinical stage biotechnology company founded in 2016 and headquartered in Charlottesville, VA. A resident of the Johnson & Johnson JLABS incubator in Washington D.C., KeViRx is commercializing technology licensed from the University of Virginia's Licensing & Ventures Group. KeViRx is developing small molecules drugs that treat microvascular leakage and inflammation, pathologies that are the basis for many diseases, including cancer and respiratory diseases, such as ALI. KeViRx's small molecule drugs target the PTP4A3 phosphatase, regulator of endothelial barrier function.

About University of Virginia Licensing & Ventures Group

UVA LVG is the intellectual property management and innovation commercialization organization for the University of Virginia research enterprise. Its mission is to maximize the economic impact of UVA discoveries and improve lives at the University and around the world. To learn more, visit lvg.virginia.edu.

About Old Dominion University

Old Dominion University, located in Norfolk, is Virginia's forward-focused public doctoral research university with more than 23,000 students, a top R1 research ranking, rigorous academics, an energetic residential community and initiatives that contribute $2.6 billion annually to Virginia's economy. Learn more at odu.edu.

Contact:

Elizabeth R. Sharlow, CEO

+1 (724) 996-5777

ersharlow@KeViRx.com

Contact Information:

Elizabeth Sharlow

Chief Executive Office

ersharlow@kevirx.com

724-996-5777

SOURCE: KeViRx, Inc.

View the original press release on newswire.com.
Plotly wins 2024 Customer Impact Partner of the Year award, showcasing the significant business value achieved by Databricks customers using Plotly.

SAN FRANCISCO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / June 11, 2024 / Plotly, a Select Databricks ISV partner, proudly announced today that it has been selected by Databricks as the Customer Impact Partner of the Year at the annual Data + AI Summit. The award validates Plotly's exceptional accomplishments via its production-grade data app platform, in partnership with Databricks, the Data and AI company.





Databricks Customer Impact Partner of the Year

Plotly wins 2024 Customer Impact Partner of the Year award, showcasing the significant business value achieved by Databricks customers using Plotly.

The Databricks Customer Impact Partner of the Year award recognizes the transformational impact Databricks customers achieve by working in tandem with partners of the Databricks Data Intelligence Platform. More than 3,000 Databricks customers actively utilize Plotly and Dash for creating and sharing data insights, ranging from interactive visualizations to at-scale production data applications.

This morning, Plotly was also named the most popular data and AI product in the Databricks 2024 State of Data + AI report. The report examines data and AI adoption trends across 10,000+ global Databricks customers to understand how they're approaching ML, adopting GenAI, and responding to evolving governance needs.

Plotly simplifies and unifies the data application development lifecycle for data scientists and domain experts, connecting notebooks, Python coding, and point-and-click paradigms in a scalable platform. As the front end for data science in action, business users in Financial Services, Healthcare, Energy, and other sectors make critical operational decisions using Plotly data applications.

Dave Gibbon, Senior Director - Strategic Partnerships at Plotly, quoted:

"Thousands of Databricks customers globally derive material, impactful business value on a daily basis using Databricks with Plotly. This success cements and extends the impact of Databricks beyond IT and data engineering groups to data scientists, ML/AI engineers, quants, genomic scientists, and more - who can now rapidly develop production-grade interactive data applications for use in turn by business stakeholders."

Fortune 500 companies and other global companies such as S&P Global, CIBC, Shell, Uniper, UK Power Networks, Molson Coors, and Ballard Power benefit from Databricks' at-scale data warehousing, AI modeling, and governance capabilities alongside interactive data applications and notebooks with Plotly Dash Enterprise.

Plotly customers are sharing the business impacts they've realized in three talks at the Databricks Data+AI summit including, "Powering S&P Global Visual Analytics Apps With Databricks And Plotly" and Databricks' "Production Data Applications for AI-Driven Observability".

To stay informed of future Databricks and Plotly joint initiatives, bookmark the Plotly<>Databricks partner page.

Contact Information:

Domenic Ravita

Plotly

info@plotly.com

SOURCE: Plotly Technologies Inc.

View the original press release on newswire.com.
Leaders in Marine Technology Collaborate to Enhance Vessel Performance and Efficiency.

OTTAWA, ON, June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Gastops, a global leader in intelligent condition monitoring solutions, is pleased to announce a significant contract award from Seaspan's Vancouver Shipyards (Seaspan) to support the Canadian Coast Guard's Multi-Purpose Vessel (MPV) Project.

Gastops is a long-standing provider of specialized propulsion system integration services to Naval, Coast Guard and system integrators, shipyards, and marine control system companies around the world. Gastops utilizes dynamic simulations to validate propulsion machinery selection, develop and substantiate propulsion machinery control algorithms, evaluate propulsion machinery performance, and support the marine propulsion system design process.

Under this agreement, Gastops will leverage its expertise in dynamic simulations of marine propulsion and electric plants to evaluate and optimize system performance and efficiency of the MPV's propulsion machinery through a process referred to as Dynamic Response Analysis (DRA).

The contract requires a comprehensive DRA of the Electric Propulsion System to verify control algorithms for the propulsion system, assess performance of the propulsion machinery, and aid in design of the electric propulsion system. The use of a dynamic simulation model of the ship will allow the propulsion and integrated electrical systems to be analyzed for all anticipated vessel maneuvers.

Shaun Horning, President, and CEO of Gastops Ltd., expressed excitement about the contract, stating, "We are honored to collaborate with Seaspan and to contribute our 35 plus years of shipbuilding experience to the renewal of Canada's fleet of non-combatant ships through the National Shipbuilding Strategy. Gastops is committed to delivering cutting-edge solutions that enhance vessel performance and reduce risk in the ship build process. We look forward to contributing to the success of the Multi-Purpose Vessel Project."

"Seaspan is pleased to be awarding this contract to Gastops as we continue developing the design of the first flight of the CCG's new fleet of MPVs. The analysis provided by Gastops will be integral to ensuring the performance and longevity of the ships' Electrical Propulsion System," said David Belton, Senior Program Director, Multi-Purpose Vessels at Seaspan Shipyards.

About Gastops: (www.gastops.com)

Gastops is a global leader in intelligent condition monitoring solutions, serving Aerospace, Defence, Energy, and Industrial sectors since 1979. With a comprehensive range of services including online monitoring sensors, modeling and simulation, engineering, design, and MRO services, Gastops enables proactive operating decisions to optimize asset availability, performance, and safety.

About Seaspan: (www.seaspan.com)

Seaspan is a leader in Canada's ship design, engineering, building and ship repair industry. With modern facilities and a dedicated workforce of approximately 3,900 in North Vancouver and Victoria, the company has proven itself to be a trusted and strategic partner on a range of complex projects for both government and the private sector.

Media Contact: Ruth Kearnan, media@gastops.com, 613.744.3530

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Wabtec Corporation's (NYSE: WAB) Green Friction braking solution is ready to begin commercial fleet operations on the RER A rail line in the greater Paris metropolitan area, in association with Ile-de-France Mobilites (IDFM) and RATP. The innovative brake friction material will improve air quality in the transit authority's tunnels and underground network by reducing particle emissions from braking.

Green Friction brake linings will be deployed on all MI09 trains operating on the RER A line starting this year, benefiting more than one million daily passengers. This commercial launch follows extensive testing in association with RATP and IDFM. Wabtec tested its Green Friction materials on ten RER A trains for over a year to confirm its effectiveness. The solution covered over a million kilometers of testing and demonstrated the capability to reduce emissions from the train braking by an average of 70 percent, up to 90 percent. The reductions are achieved without compromising safety or performance, while also minimizing the impact on operating costs.

"Particulate matter emissions from train braking are a worldwide challenge," said Philippe Nogues-Cubelles, Vice President Friction at Wabtec. "Green Friction tackles the source of the fine particle problem. Today, Wabtec is the only company in the rail industry offering operational, rapidly deployable and cost-effective equipment to reduce pollution levels linked to braking."

Green Friction is a unique range of materials designed to eliminate fine particles emitted during braking. It is the result of both Wabtec's expertise in friction materials and the company's significant investment in accurately measuring braking-particle emissions. The Green Friction product portfolio was developed in 2019 to meet current and future regulatory standards regarding air pollution and friction performance.

Several metro networks in other cities in France, as well as in Europe and Asia have expressed interest in the Green Friction innovative technology for their fleets.

About Wabtec

Wabtec Corporation (NYSE: WAB) is focused on creating transportation solutions that move and improve the world. The company is a leading global provider of equipment, systems, digital solutions and value-added services for the freight and transit rail industries, as well as the mining, marine and industrial markets. Wabtec has been a leader in the rail industry for over 150 years and has a vision to achieve a zero-emission rail system in the U.S. and worldwide. Visit Wabtec's website at www.wabteccorp.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240611261770/en/

Contacts:

Wabtec Media contact:

Kadia Niang (Europe)

+33 (0) 7 88 67 18 78

kadia.niang@wabtec.com

Tim Bader (United States)

+1 682-319-7925

tim.bader@wabtec.com

Wabtec Investor Contact

Kyra Yates

+1 817-349-2735

kyra.yates@wabtec.com
ZUG, Switzerland, June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The BSV Association has published a new report, in collaboration with strategic management consulting firm Boston Consulting Group, titled, 'Navigating Digital Transformation: Building Trust in an Automated World - The Role of Blockchain in Safeguarding Data and Streamlining Transactions.

The report highlights blockchain technology's fundamental role in establishing data trust and enhancing transaction efficiency via its transparent, secure, and immutable digital ledger, establishing corporate reliability and confidence.

With data processing predicted to be at an all-time high - 125 billion digital devices will be connected worldwide by 2030 via the internet and other wireless channels - how can we ensure that these transactions are secure, and that the information exchanged retains its integrity? BSV Blockchain is the answer.

Data trust has always mattered, but never more so than in the new digital age, as artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT) and other emerging technologies help enterprises thrive, whilst emerging threats may compromise their operations, revenue, and reputation.

The report also addresses whether blockchains are created equally and why BSV works. More than 500 blockchains have tried to establish digital trust since 2008. BSV is the first to scale trust reliably. The BSV blockchain's design, which uses large blocks (comparable to pages in a record book), powers its ability to handle transactions at extraordinarily high volumes for much less cost than other blockchains.

Additional report takeaways:

Data misuse, security breaches and misinformation are prone to increase with the implementation of new technology. Therefore, enterprises must avoid rushing into new solutions without a safety net. Enterprises need help with trust in four key areas: identities, data, ownership and systems to ensure scalability and transparency. Adopting Blockchain is a valuable first step, but not the ultimate solution to digital integrity. The report highlights how BSV can help secure data and the Proof-of-Concept initiatives to explore blockchain possibilities. Blockchain ensures accurate, tamper-free, and tamper-proof data, which is ideal for use in automated systems.

Cyrille Albrecht, Managing Director at the BSV Association, said, 'Blockchain is now gaining significant traction. Companies increasingly integrate Blockchain into their digital processes and applications, reaping numerous benefits. The core enabler of these rewards can be summed up in one word: Trust.'

Adopting Blockchain is not an end-to-end solution for digital integrity, but it is a valuable and exciting first step.

Blockchain alone won't solve modern enterprise challenges. It will still be necessary to secure sensors and other devices receiving incoming data. However, to be in a much safer position, organisations must integrate Blockchain within their systems, thoroughly understand regulatory requirements, and develop in-house expertise or strategic partnerships.

The report highlights the development of new case studies from leading technology companies such as IBM, Gate2Chain, Rekord IoT, Complex China, Tokenovate, and Centi. These case studies showcase innovative blockchain applications and their potential to revolutionise industries by establishing and maintaining trust.

Now is the time to get involved. Learn how Blockchain can help in this new digital age and take the next step. Read the report - Navigating Digital Transformation: Building Trust in an Automated World: The Role of Blockchain in Safeguarding Data and Streamlining Transactions.

About BSV Blockchain:



One Blockchain for Everyone.

The BSV Association leads the BSV blockchain for Enterprise and Blockchain for Government initiatives. This Switzerland-based global non-profit industry organisation supports the use of the BSV blockchain.

The BSV Association oversees the creation of technical standards and educates enterprises, government agencies, start-up ventures, developers, and users on creating a global blockchain ecosystem. The original Bitcoin protocol and its scripting language provide powerful technical capabilities that BSV has restored.

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Durable and Elegant Engineered Board Stock is a Sustainable Alternative to PVC

DOWNERS GROVE, IL / ACCESSWIRE / June 11, 2024 / Marketing Card Technology, LLC (MCT), a leading manufacturer of credit, debit, and prepaid payment cards, is now offering open-loop, non-reloadable prepaid payment cards made from sustainably forested wood fiber instead of plastic. The cards are rigid and water-resistant, designed to mimic the look and feel of traditional plastic materials. As part of the qualification process, MCT subjected the material to both rigorous internal testing and third-party testing. Customers have the option of either sustainably sourced virgin fiber or post-consumer recycled fiber. Available features include magnetic stripes, holograms, foils, signature panels, and a variety of specialty inks and coatings.





Prepaid cards fanned out against a forest backdrop





Push Venkitasamy, President & CEO of Marketing Card Technology, said: "We're excited to bring plastic-free open-loop prepaid cards to the market. More and more card issuers want an alternative to virgin PVC. We find that each brand has unique needs, based on their customer profile, their environmental goals, and the design and function of their cards. We want to give our customers the flexibility to select the material best suited for their unique situation. For this reason, we are always on the lookout for innovative materials that will expand MCT's BetterCore portfolio of card products. Secure payment cards made from sustainably-forested wood fiber are an exciting addition to the BetterCore family."

MCT is proud to hold FSC Chain-of-Custody certification (FSC-C197562) from the Forest Stewardship Council for both of its Illinois manufacturing sites. The Forest Stewardship Council is a global independent nonprofit organization that has established a certification program to promote responsible forestry. FSC Chain-of-Custody certification enables the control and tracking of FSC-certified material at every step of the supply chain, from forests to the finished product.

Marketing Card Technology is an EMV-Co approved, U.S.-based, and minority-owned provider of card manufacturing and direct mail services. Headquartered in Downers Grove, Illinois, MCT provides plastic and paper cards used for payments, gifting, access, ticketing, ID, membership, and marketing promotions. MCT's direct mail operation in Darien, Illinois, mails up to 1.5 million direct mail pieces daily on behalf of businesses, nonprofits, and public organizations nationwide.

Contact Information

Push Venkitasamy

President & CEO

push@mctechnology.com

331-801-7557

SOURCE: Marketing Card Technology, LLC

View the original press release on newswire.com.
BURLINGAME, Calif., June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The global nuclear fusion market, valued at $331.26 billion in 2024, is on a trajectory of rapid expansion, with projections indicating it will soar to $491.55 billion by 2031, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.8% from 2024 to 2031, as per a recent report by Coherent Market Insights. Fusion works by mimicking the processes that power our sun and other stars to generate energy. It has potential to meet global energy demand for thousands of years without carbon emissions or long-lived radioactive waste. This clean source of energy output makes nuclear fusion an attractive proposition for governments and policymakers looking to transition to greener sources of energy production.

Request Sample Report: https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/6838

Market Dynamics:

The growth of the global nuclear fusion market is attributed to increasing investments in fusion technology development and growing support from public and private organizations across the globe. For instance, in 2021, the European Commission announced plans to invest over 650 Mn in nuclear fusion energy research over the next 5 years.

Nuclear Fusion Market Report Coverage

Report Coverage Details Market Revenue in 2024 $4.21 billion Estimated Value by 2031 $491.55 billion Growth Rate Poised to grow at a CAGR of 5.8% Historical Data 2019-2023 Forecast Period 2024-2031 Forecast Units Value (USD Million/Billion) Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, and Trends Segments Covered By Technology, By Fuels Geographies Covered North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Rest of World Growth Drivers Addressing climate change concerns

Energy security and diversity concerns Restraints & Challenges Overcoming hurdles towards commercial viability

Technical challenges in sustaining fusion reactions

Market Trends:

Growing focus on commercialization of fusion energy and development of compact fusion reactors is expected to drive the nuclear fusion market growth over the forecast period. For instance, Commonwealth Fusion Systems, a spin-off from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, is developing compact tokamak fusion reactors with the goal of commercializing fusion energy by 2025. The company raised over $1.8 billion in private funding by November 2021 to accelerate this mission.

Additionally, increasing research focus on alternative approaches such as inertial confinement fusion (ICF) using lasers is also expected to support the nuclear fusion market expansion. For instance, the National Ignition Facility (NIF) at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory is conducting research towards ignition and net energy gain using powerful laser beams.

Immediate Delivery Available | Buy This Premium Research Report:

https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/buy-now/6838

Market Opportunities:

Inertial confinement fusion uses intense laser or particle beams to compress and heat fuel to extreme temperatures and densities, causing nuclear fusion reactions. This technology holds promise as it could enable compact fusion reactors. Several companies are developing this technology including Zap Energy which is working on developing electric power plants based on inertial confinement fusion.

Magnetic confinement fusion uses magnetic fields to confine the hot plasma fuel in donut-shaped devices called tokamaks. This is currently the leading approach being pursued by several companies and national programs. Tokamaks allow for continuous fusion reactions compared to inertial confinement which works in pulsed modes. International experimental fusion reactor ITER, being built in France, uses magnetic confinement fusion with the aim to demonstrate self-heating by 2035.

Key Market Takeaways

The global nuclear fusion market size was valued at USD 331.26 Bn in 2024 and is anticipated to witness a CAGR of 5.8% during the forecast period 2024-2031. This is owing to growing investments in developing commercially viable fusion reactors to meet increasing energy demands sustainably.

On the basis of technology, the magnetic confinement segment is expected to hold a dominant position over 75% market share during the forecast period. This is because magnetic confinement allows for continuous operation compared to inertial confinement.

On the basis of fuels, deuterium-tritium fuel is anticipated to hold a major share over 60% of the market. This is because deuterium-tritium fuel allows efficient fusion reaction rates.

By region, North America is expected to dominate the nuclear fusion market over the forecast period due to presence of major companies like Zap Energy and high investments in fusion research by the U.S. Department of Energy.

Some of the prominent players operating in the nuclear fusion market include Zap Energy, First Light Fusion, Tokamak Energy, Commonwealth Fusion Systems, among others. These players are investing in developing commercial fusion reactors to tap into this multibillion-dollar opportunity.

Key Developments:

For new technologies to gain market share, the following conditions must be met: applications for the technology must be developed, the cost of development must be attractive to investors in order to justify building the factories and supply chains required to scale them up, customers must want to buy them, and sufficient supply must be available to meet growing demand.

Customize this study as per your requirement:

https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-customization/6838

About Us:

Coherent Market Insights is a global market intelligence and consulting organization that provides syndicated research reports, customized research reports, and consulting services. We are known for our actionable insights and authentic reports in various domains including aerospace and defense, agriculture, food and beverages, automotive, chemicals and materials, and virtually all domains and an exhaustive list of sub-domains under the sun. We create value for clients through our highly reliable and accurate reports. We are also committed in playing a leading role in offering insights in various sectors post-COVID-19 and continue to deliver measurable, sustainable results for our clients.

Contact Us:

Mr. Shah

Senior Client Partner - Business Development

Coherent Market Insights

Phone:

US: +1-206-701-6702

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June 11, 2024

SBM Offshore is pleased to announce that it has completed the acquisition of the shares in the lease and operating entities related to FPSOs N'Goma, Saxi Batuque and Mondo from its partner Sonangol EP. Simultaneously, SBM Offshore completed the sale of all its shares in the parent company of the Paenal shipyard in Angola to a subsidiary of Sonangol EP.

The acquisition of the shares from Sonangol EP brings SBM Offshore's ownership in the entities owning the FPSOs Saxi Batuque and Mondo to 100% and in the entity owning the FPSO N'Goma to 80%. The operating companies in Angola will be wholly owned by SBM Offshore after the acquisition. The total net consideration paid for the equity ownership of the acquired entities by SBM Offshore and including the sale of the parent company of the Paenal shipyard is approximately US$40 million.

In addition, SBM Offshore has signed an MOU with its minority partner (Angola Offshore Services Limited, "AOSL") in the FPSO N'Goma concerning the purchase by AOSL of 20% of SBM Offshore's shareholding (80%) in the entity owning the FPSO. This MOU is conditional on the signature of a share purchase agreement and upon several conditions precedent, including consent from clients and lenders, and approval by the various competent authorities.

Through this transaction, SBM Offshore is reorganizing its business in Angola, focusing on core lease and operate activities and divesting a non-core construction yard.



Corporate Profile

SBM Offshore designs, builds, installs and operates offshore floating facilities for the offshore energy industry. As a leading technology provider, we put our marine expertise at the service of a responsible energy transition by reducing emissions from fossil fuel production, while developing cleaner solutions for alternative energy sources.

More than 7,400 SBMers worldwide are committed to sharing their experience to deliver safe, sustainable and affordable energy from the oceans for generations to come.

For further information, please visit our website at www.sbmoffshore.com.

Financial Calendar Date Year Half Year 2024 Earnings August 8 2024 Third Quarter 2024 Trading Update November 14 2024 Full Year 2024 Earnings February 20 2025 Annual General Meeting April 9 2025 First Quarter 2025 Trading Update May 15 2025





For further information, please contact:

Investor Relations

Wouter Holties

Corporate Finance & Investor Relations Manager

Mobile: +31 (0) 20 236 32 36 E-mail: wouter.holties@sbmoffshore.com (mailto:wouter.holties@sbmoffshore.com) Website: www.sbmoffshore.com (http://www.sbmoffshore.com)

Media Relations

Evelyn Tachau Brown

Group Communications & Change Director

Mobile: +377 (0) 6 40 62 30 34 E-mail: evelyn.tachau-brown@sbmoffshore.com (mailto:evelyn.tachau-brown@sbmoffshore.com) Website: www.sbmoffshore.com (http://www.sbmoffshore.com)

Market Abuse Regulation

This press release may contain inside information within the meaning of Article 7(1) of the EU Market Abuse Regulation.

Disclaimer

Some of the statements contained in this release that are not historical facts are statements of future expectations and other forward-looking statements based on management's current views and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance, or events to differ materially from those in such statements. These statements may be identified by words such as 'expect', 'should', 'could', 'shall' and similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties. The principal risks which could affect the future operations of SBM Offshore N.V. are described in the 'Impact, Risk and Opportunity Management' section of the 2023 Annual Report.

Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results and performance of the Company's business may vary materially and adversely from the forward-looking statements described in this release. SBM Offshore does not intend and does not assume any obligation to update any industry information or forward-looking statements set forth in this release to reflect new information, subsequent events or otherwise.

Nothing in this release shall be deemed an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities. The companies in which SBM Offshore N.V. directly and indirectly owns investments are separate legal entities. In this release "SBM Offshore" and "SBM" are sometimes used for convenience where references are made to SBM Offshore N.V. and its subsidiaries in general. These expressions are also used where no useful purpose is served by identifying the particular company or companies.

"SBM Offshore", the SBM logomark, "Fast4Ward", "emissionZERO" and "Float4Wind" are proprietary marks owned by SBM Offshore.

Attachment
Marc Jacoban with the Department of Public Works clears a clogged storm drain at the intersection of Franklin Street and Broadway that caused flooding during heavy rainfall in San Francisco on Jan. 31. A new report by the San Francisco civil grand jury says the city isnt ready to manage the extreme rains and floods expected to come in the near future due to climate change. Carlos Avila Gonzalez/The Chronicle

San Francisco isnt ready for extreme rains and floods, expected to worsen due to climate change, according to a report released Tuesday by the San Francisco civil grand jury.

The citys sewer system isnt able to manage downpours dropping more rain in shorter periods. Storms in 2023 spilled millions of gallons of sewage-tainted stormwater into creeks and streets.

Bay Area flood risk: This detailed map shows danger zones

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The new report highlights a lack of transparency in the citys budget for climate resilience and inadequate coordination between departments. The jury provided recommendations for improving flood preparedness, including reforming the citys climate resilience program and reassessing funding shortfalls.

With at least 23,700 residents likely harmed by inland flooding, the city needs a more comprehensive and integrated plan to adapt to climate change, said jury foreperson Michael Carboy in a statement.

The grand jury, made up of 19 city residents, is tasked with investigating the operations of government, explained juror Jonathan Cowperthwait. Climate change is (something) that affects so many different departments across the city and so many individuals that it felt particularly germane, Cowperthwait said.

ClimateSF, the citys climate resilience program, was created by the mayors office in 2021 to coordinate and oversee climate resilience projects. The program was designed to coordinate planning, not to coordinate implementation of projects, according to the report.

Its not that San Franciscos been doing a bad job, said juror Ralph Lane. Its just that were at a precipice of going from planning a lot of big things that need to be done to actually  doing a lot of big things.

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The jury recommends changes to improve decision-making efficiency and to formalize procedures for interdepartmental coordination. It also recommends more transparency in planning for climate adaptation in the city through annual reports and stronger messaging to notify the public about flood insurance options. The report also includes recommendations for reassessing limits on debt financing.

The threat is real, and the costs will be looming, Lane said.

The mayors office and city attorneys office are required to respond to the findings and recommendations within 60 days. The Board of Supervisors will then conduct a public hearing on the report.

We appreciate the Civil Grand Jurys work on this and will closely review the recommendations, said Angela Yip, a spokesperson for the city administrators office, by email. While theres still work to be done, San Francisco has been a nationwide leader on climate resilience.

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The "Italy e-Cigarette Market" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The Italian market grew substantially between 2022 and 2023 and is one of the leading vape markets in Europe. It differs from other large European markets in its reliance on physical vape stores, and regulation of the online market is a potential barrier to growth in online sales.

While the popularity of disposables has increased significantly, open system products remain the most popular category in Italy with a trend towards more simple devices.

This report analyses the current state of the Italian vaping market, how it differs from other leading European markets, and how it has changed over the past year.

This market report will provide you with:

A clear and detailed understanding of current market size and structure, enabling you to confidently identify where your business and your products stand within the market.

The ability to plan ahead for developing trends.

A strategic picture of consumers, retail channels, and product preferences.

Understanding of major competitor brands and their position within the market.

In-depth discussion of the most important topics for the specific market, with historic and future influences on change identified and comparisons made to other national markets.

Detailed data in graphical form.

Key Topics Covered:

Executive summary

Introduction and regulatory framework

Market size and forecast

Retail channels

The disposable market boom in Italy

Open systems: a shift to basic hardware in open pods

E-liquid progression and popularity

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/922sbd

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

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BH Macro Limited - Transaction in Own Shares

PR Newswire

LONDON, United Kingdom, June 11

BH Macro Limited (the "Company")

(a closed-ended collective investment scheme established as a company with limited liability under the laws of Guernsey with registered number 46235)

Transaction in Own Shares

11 June 2024

BH Macro Limited (the Company) announces today it has purchased the following number of its ordinary shares on the London Stock Exchange from J.P. Morgan Securities plc:

Ordinary Shares: - Share Class Sterling Date of purchase: 11 June 2024 Number of ordinary shares purchased: 50,000 Lowest price per share (pence) 354.50 Highest price per share (pence) 355.50 Trading venue LSE Aggregate volume per date per trading venue: 50,000 Weighted average price per day per trading venue (pence): 355.0375

The Company intends to hold the purchased shares in treasury.

Following the above share transactions of the relevant US Dollar and Sterling Shares, the total number of shares in issue in each share class of the Company will be as follows:

Ordinary Shares in issue (excluding Treasury) Ordinary Shares held in Treasury 357,272,286 Sterling Shares 17,370,464 Sterling Shares 28,506,709 Dollar Shares Nil Dollar Shares

From 11 June 2024, the total number of voting rights in the Company (rounded up to the whole number) is 547,229,736.

Enquiries:

Company website: www.bhmacro.com

William Simmonds

JPMorgan Cazenove

Tel: 020 7588 2828

The Company Secretary

Northern Trust International Fund Administration Services (Guernsey) Limited

Tel: 01481 745001
Nord Anglia Education students attending annual Summit to develop creative solutions to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

LONDON, June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- 123 students have been selected from across Nord Anglia Education's global family of schools to attend this year's NAE-UNICEF Student Summit, hosted from 12 to 19 June 2024 in Houston, Texas.

Through Nord Anglia Education's global collaboration with UNICEF, students have been raising awareness of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through social impact projects. The SDGs are a collection of 17 goals set by the United Nations regarding social and economic development issues.

Each year, students from Years 10-12 from Nord Anglia's international schools come together for the NAE-UNICEF Student Summit. This year's theme is 'Innovation', and student ambassadors at the Summit will:

Join workshops led by UNICEF, World's Largest Lesson, Generation Global, and subject matter experts on the SDGs, building advocacy skills, impacting change in their communities, as well as student leadership.

Present a project at the "Global Issues Solutions Fair" working with their international peers to address problem statements created by UNICEF on important topics such as nutrition, learning, and health. The partnership between Nord Anglia Education and UNICEF aims to support UNICEF in further developing freely accessible learning materials on the SDGs, while helping Nord Anglia students gain the knowledge and skills required to make positive changes within their communities.

Lead "peer talks" to share how they are taking action as leaders in their communities through social impact projects focused on sustainability, climate change, and social equality. The students will also take part in local community volunteering in Houston.

New this year, attending educator chaperones will engage in professional learning to better support their students and schools in enhancing their social impact efforts.

The event is being hosted at Nord Anglia's two schools in the city: The Village School and the British International School of Houston. Houston was chosen as the ideal location for the Summit thanks to being the first officially recognised "Child-Friendly City" in the United States of America.

Dr Leslie Williams, Senior Programme Lead for Social Impact and Giving at Nord Anglia Education, said: "We're thrilled our student leaders are making their way to Houston to join our flagship event, which will inspire positive actions in their schools and communities. At the heart of our education philosophy is a vision to shape a generation of creative and resilient global citizens who will change our world for the better, and events like the Summit ensure our students are developing into real changemakers."

The NAE-UNICEF Student Summit is not the only way students get engaged with the SDGs and social impact efforts at Nord Anglia schools. Through the Social Impact Distinctions, schools work toward three levels of accreditation (bronze, silver, and gold) showcasing how they have embedded children's rights and the SDGs. Each year, students can also receive funding from the Social Impact Grants to expand and enhance their community activities addressing the goals.

UNICEF does not endorse any company, brand, product, or service.

About Nord Anglia Education:

As a leading international schools organisation, we're shaping a generation of creative and resilient global citizens who graduate from our schools with everything they need for success, whatever they choose to be or do in life.

Our strong academic foundations combine world-class teaching and curricula with cutting-edge technology and facilities, creating learning experiences like no other. Inside and outside of the classroom, we inspire our students to achieve more than they ever thought possible.

No two children learn the same way, which is why our schools around the world personalise learning to what works best for every student. Inspired by our high-quality teachers, our students achieve outstanding academic results and go on to study at the world's top universities.

To learn more or apply for a place for your child, go to www.nordangliaeducation.com.

Media enquiries:

David Bates

Communications Manager

+44 (0) 7787 135223

David.bates@nordanglia.com

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1503193/3645357/Nord_Anglia_Education_Logo.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/student-ambassadors-heading-to-houston-texas-for-the-nord-anglia-education-unicef-student-summit-302169760.html
ZIGUP plc - Transaction in Own Shares

PR Newswire

LONDON, United Kingdom, June 11

NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO OR FROM ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OR REGULATIONS OF SUCH JURISDICTION

11 June 2024

ZIGUP PLC

("ZIGUP" or the "Group" or the "Company")

Transaction in Own Shares

ZIGUP plc (LSE:ZIG) announces that on 11 June 2024 it purchased the following number of its own shares to be held in treasury:

Class of shares : Ordinary shares of 50p ("shares") Number of shares purchased : 50,000 Weighted average purchase price paid 415.875 pence per share Highest purchase price paid 418.75 pence per share Lowest purchase price paid 413 pence per share

Following the above transaction, the Company's issued share capital consists of 246,091,423 ordinary shares of 50p each, of which 20,189,362 ordinary shares are held in treasury, and 1,000,000 preference shares of 50p each which do not carry any rights to vote. Therefore, the total number of voting rights in the Company is 225,902,061 which may be used by shareholders as the denominator for the calculations by which they will determine if they are required to notify their interest in, or a change to their interest in the Company under the FCA's Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules.

In accordance with Article 5(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 (the Market Abuse Regulation) as incorporated into UK domestic law by the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, the schedule below contains detailed information about the purchases made by Numis Securities Limited on behalf of the Company as part of the Company's buyback programme.

Schedule of Purchases - Individual Transactions (as at 11 June 2024)

Number of shares

purchased Transaction price

(GB pence per share) Time of transaction Transaction reference number Venue 25,000 25,000 418.75 413.00 08:23:35 14:37:17 00070237727TRLO0 00070248627TRLO0 LSE LSE

Notes

This announcement is made in accordance with the requirements of Listing Rule 12.4.6.

For further information contact:

Buchanan

David Rydell/Jamie Hooper/Hannah Ratcliff +44 (0) 207 466 5000

Notes to Editors:

ZIGUP (formerly Redde Northgate plc) is the leading integrated mobility solutions provider, with a platform providing services across the vehicle lifecycle to help people keep on the move, smarter. The Company offers mobility solutions to businesses, fleet operators, insurers, OEMs and other customers across a broad range of areas from vehicle rental and fleet management to accident management, vehicle repairs, service and maintenance.

The mobility landscape is changing, becoming ever more connected and ZIGUP uses its knowledge and expertise to guide customers through the transformation, whether that is more digitally connected solutions or supporting the transition to lower carbon mobility through providing EVs, charging solutions and consultancy.

The Company's core purpose is to keep its customers mobile, smarter - through meeting their regular mobility needs or by servicing and supporting them when unforeseen events occur. With our considerable scale and reach, ZIGUP's mission is to offer an imaginative, market-leading customer proposition and drive enhanced returns for shareholders by creating value through sustainable compounding growth. The Group seeks to achieve this through the delivery of its new strategic framework of Enable, Deliver and Grow.

ZIGUP supports its customers through a network and diversified fleet of approx. 130,000 owned and leased vehicles, supporting over 700,000 managed vehicles, with over 175 branches across the UK, Ireland and Spain and a specialist team of over 7,500 employees. We are a trusted partner to many of the leading insurance and leasing companies, blue chip corporates and a broad range of businesses across a diverse range of sectors. Our strength comes not only from our breadth of our award-winning solutions, but from our extensive network reach, our wealth of experience and continual focus on delivering an exceptional customer experience.

Further information regarding ZIGUP plc can be found on the Company's website: www.zigup.com
Finsbury Growth & Income Trust PLC - Transaction in Own Shares

PR Newswire

LONDON, United Kingdom, June 11

For immediate release

11 June 2024

FINSBURY GROWTH & INCOME TRUST PLC

(the "Company")

MARKET PURCHASE OF COMPANY'S OWN SHARES

The Company announce that it has today purchased 215,851 of its own shares ("Ordinary Shares") at a price of 837.52 pence per Ordinary Share. Such shares will be held in treasury by the Company.

The transaction was made pursuant to the authority granted at the Annual General Meeting of the Company held on 23 January 2024.

Following this transaction, the total number of Ordinary Shares held by the Company in treasury is 44,672,954; the total number of Ordinary Shares that the Company has in issue, less the total number of Ordinary Shares held by the Company in treasury following such purchase, and therefore, the total number of voting rights in the Company is 180,318,349.

The figure of 180,318,349 may be used by shareholders as the denominator for calculations of interests in the Company's voting rights in accordance with the FCA's Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules.

For and on behalf of

Frostrow Capital LLP

Company Secretary

For further information, please contact:

Victoria Hale

Frostrow Capital LLP

Tel: 020 3 170 8732
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / June 11, 2024 / Antea Group

In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the number of bills and regulations aimed at enhancing transparency regarding the societal and environmental impacts of business operations.

These policies include the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Enhancement and Standardization of Climate-Related Disclosures, California Senate Bill 253 Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act and the California Senate Bill 261 the Greenhouse Gases: Climate-Related Financial Risk, with others being discussed. While the SEC climate disclosure rule continues to be debated, the California regulations are pressing onward, with their first wave of reports due beginning in 2026.

Companies need to be aware of their legal obligations and begin preparing now.

Organizations, especially those who already generate voluntary sustainability reports that are aligned to frameworks like the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD), Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), or the Sustainability Accounting Standards (SASB), will be well-positioned to respond to these new regulations.

This is because there are several familiar components embedded within these regulations such as emissions reporting; Environment, Social, and Governance (ESG) strategies; identification and quantification of certain climate-related risks and opportunities; and more. Businesses who have yet to establish a sustainability program or disclose to the likes of EcoVadis or CDP (formerly known as the Carbon Disclosure Project), however, may find themselves overwhelmed and already behind schedule.

Other companies may find that they are not directly subject to these new regulations, and therefore believe they will not be affected by their rulings.

However, many of the ESG-oriented regulations also incorporate responsibility for a company's value chain. Consider the European Union's Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CS3D). These two laws go hand-in-hand, charging companies with establishing practices to address their identified material impacts on the environment as well as their impacts on human rights. The scope extends from a company's own operations and their subsidiaries' operations to also include the impacts associated with their supply chains' operations.

So, while an organization itself may not be directly tied to the regulation, their value chain might. Companies should therefore prepare to respond to their customers and other stakeholders who fall within the scope of these new regulations.

There are four tactical steps companies can take to be ready:

Identify your legal obligations - consider which regulations do and/or will apply to your organization. In several instances, there are ramp-up periods where additional information will be required in future years.

- consider which regulations do and/or will apply to your organization. In several instances, there are ramp-up periods where additional information will be required in future years. Conduct a readiness gap assessment - take stock of your current practices as they relate to the new disclosure requirements. Develop action plans and strategies to fill these gaps.

- take stock of your current practices as they relate to the new disclosure requirements. Develop action plans and strategies to fill these gaps. Calculate GHG emissions - begin with scopes 1 & 2 which are directly tied to your operations. For some companies, you will also need to begin assessing your scope 3 which means involving your value chain. Once you have calculated your emissions, consider defining your approach in what is called an "Inventory Management Plan." This document outlines the process for which your organization collects, calculates, and manages their GHG data and serves as an important tool for third-party assurance or verification.

- begin with scopes 1 & 2 which are directly tied to your operations. For some companies, you will also need to begin assessing your scope 3 which means involving your value chain. Once you have calculated your emissions, consider defining your approach in what is called an "Inventory Management Plan." This document outlines the process for which your organization collects, calculates, and manages their GHG data and serves as an important tool for third-party assurance or verification. Report your required non-financial information - leverage frameworks, like TCFD, to effectively communicate and address your stakeholders on material ESG topics. In doing so, you demonstrate maturity as you report on your company's ESG objectives, strategies, goals and performance.

Bringing it all together

After you have identified and established your stakeholder obligations and reporting deadlines, the fifth step is to begin to create a collaborative team to properly address these challenges. Involving your finance, operations, supply chain, and legal teams will support the success of your sustainability program. This will allow your organization to synergize and streamline the work, leverage existing resources and best practices, and put your company in a position to disclose with confidence. Sustainability, and its related ESG reporting, is a journey.

The new regulations are designed to help guide you along the way, but we know that with more and more pressure and noise, it can be hard to see the forest through the trees. Our ESG experts can help you conduct readiness gap assessments, conduct GHG emissions inventories for Scopes 1, 2, and 3, support strategy development, generate reports aligned to various frameworks like TCFD, GRI, and SASB, and much more.

Contact our team today for help with your corporate sustainability reporting and disclosure!

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Antea Group on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Antea Group

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/antea-group

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Antea Group

View the original press release on accesswire.com
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / June 11, 2024 / International Paper Company

The Nurse is In

"After helping send people down the right path, I feel like I am making a difference here in the lives of our employees. That's a good feeling, and it's one of the best parts of my job."

Stanley Coppola, RN, OHN, International Paper's Franklin, Va., Pulp Mill, was not always an occupational health nurse (OHN), but he always found ways to support those around him. He began his career in workers' compensation insurance, while volunteering as an emergency medical technician. He became an emergency room RN just outside the heart of the Big Apple - New York City. Now, a little more than a year into his role at Franklin, Coppola, like the rest of IP's OHN team, sees the strength of International Paper's culture of safety within the communities where IP operates.

"It's a small town. Everybody knows each other," said Coppola. "It's one thing to have coworkers you want to keep safe, but, when it's family or close friends that you've known forever, they take ownership of watching out for each other."

For our OHNs at IP, everything begins and ends with safety - nothing is more important than team members getting home to their families at the end of each shift. To make this possible, it requires teamwork to look out for each other and dedicated safety professionals to ensure everyone is following procedures and protocol.

A Better Pill to Swallow

Angela Conlay, RN, OHN, has lived just a 30-minute drive from the Mansfield, La. Containerboard Mill nearly her entire life. Caring for her coworkers means caring for the people who make her community feel like home.

"Not only do we help when people are hurt, we do everything we can to prevent anything from happening in the first place," she explained. "We educate as much as we can before, during and after anyone comes into our offices."

Led by Donna Fudale, IP occupational health program manager, OHNs take the tall task of educating employees to heart. With regular weekly meetings, they discuss current topics, best practices and support each other in focusing on their facilities' unique needs. They also collaborate with each site's environmental health and safety (EH&S) teams.

Being able to watch and support our safety team educating our team is amazing. - Angela Conlay, RN, OHN

"They aren't pulling the teams into classrooms for eight hours at a time. Instead, they are going to the crews wherever they are to have open and hands-on discussions in their own work areas. Approaches like this matter to people because it helps things to stick."

The Ripple Effects of Positive Impact

The concept of community plays an immense role in each of our mill's culture of safety. Communities have been the heart of IP's dedication to team members and safety for more than 125 years. There are many collaborative efforts, such as conversations and health fairs, to build trust and foster wellness - inside and outside the facility.

The annual health fairs organized by OHNs support employees even further by helping connect team members to a wide range of local community health services. These events offer eye exams, hearing tests, mammograms, dermatology screenings, safety and personal protective equipment demonstrations, opportunities to talk to physicians from hospitals and Veteran Affairs medical centers, and more. Every fair tends to look a little different, but each OHN pours a sky-high level of care into each one.

The most memorable moments are when I can use my nursing skills to help a coworker in need, like training our emergency medical responders and then hearing how they were able to apply their training to help their family members or close friends outside of work. - Elizabeth Bryan, RN, OHN

"The most memorable moments are when I can use my nursing skills to help a coworker in need, like training our emergency medical responders and then hearing how they were able to apply their training to help their family members or close friends outside of work," said Elizabeth Bryan, RN, OHN, Columbus, Miss., Pulp Mill, with nearly15 years of IP service.

In honor of Occupational Health Nurses Week at International Paper, the best appreciation anyone can send to their facility's OHN is to take the time to say thank you and rest assured knowing they are there to help and will communicate any possible health and safety concerns. Angela Conlay said it best: "None of it matters if our employees are not taken care of."

About International Paper

International Paper (NYSE: IP) is a global producer of sustainable packaging, pulp and other fiber-based products, and one of the world's largest recyclers. Headquartered in Memphis, Tenn., we employ approximately 39,000 colleagues globally who are committed to creating what's next. We serve customers worldwide, with manufacturing operations in North America, Latin America, North Africa and Europe. Net sales for 2023 were $18.9 billion. Additional information can be found by visiting internationalpaper.com/.

About International Paper - EMEA

In Europe, Middle East & Africa (EMEA), International Paper focuses on the production and marketing of fiber-based packaging and specialty pulp, employing approximately 4,400 people. As a leading supplier of high-quality corrugated containers for a multitude of applications, we serve customers throughout the region from our network of two recycled containerboard mills and 23 box plants in France, Italy, Morocco, Portugal and Spain. Specialty pulp is made in Gdansk, Poland. Other products available from International Paper in the region include a variety of Kraft linerboard and other pulp products.

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from International Paper Company on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: International Paper Company

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/international-paper-company

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: International Paper Company

View the original press release on accesswire.com
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / June 11, 2024 / The Clorox Company





By Laura Keller, Brand Experience Integrator

Brita's efforts to make water better for people and the planet have come to life in the form of a beach-cleaning robot.

Fully electric and operated remotely, the BeBot - the newest innovation in litter removal technology - will comb beaches and remove litter of all shapes and sizes, including food wrappers, cigarette butts, aluminum cans and plastic water bottles. It cleans 32,000 square feet per hour, raking through sand without disrupting the beach environment. Removed litter collects in the BeBot's basket and is analyzed by partners to understand potential sources and recycle what's possible. Insights from the initiative are being used to raise awareness of plastic litter threats to coastal communities and to engage consumers and policymakers in finding solutions to plastic waste.

The litter removal robot, unveiled on Earth Day in partnership with the city of Detroit and Council of the Great Lakes Region, was made possible by generous funding from The Clorox Company and support from Midwest retailer Meijer. This initiative is part of the largest deployment of eco-friendly and remote-controlled devices across multiple states in the region. Our company's investment will support the deployment of the BeBot on Belle Isle in the Detroit River for the 2024 season, which?runs from April to October.

To see the BeBot in action and find out more about the BeBot initiative, visit the Belle Isle Conservancy website.

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from The Clorox Company on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: The Clorox Company

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/clorox-company

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: The Clorox Company

View the original press release on accesswire.com
The following abrdn U.S. Closed-End Funds (NYSE:ACP, AGD, AOD, ASGI, AWP, THQ, THW and NYSE American:AEF, FAX, FCO, VFL), announced today that the closed end funds in the chart directly below will pay the distributions indicated on a per share basis on June 28, 2024 to all shareholders of record as of June 21, 2024 (ex-dividend date June 21, 2024).

Ticker Exchange Fund Amount ACP NYSE abrdn Income Credit Strategies Fund $ 0.1000 AEF NYSE American Abrdn Emerging Market Equity Income Fund, Inc. $ 0.1000 AGD NYSE abrdn Global Dynamic Dividend Fund $ 0.0650 AOD NYSE abrdn Total Dynamic Dividend Fund $ 0.0575 ASGI NYSE abrdn Global Infrastructure Income Fund $ 0.2100 AWP NYSE abrdn Global Premier Properties Fund $ 0.0400 FAX NYSE American Abrdn Asia-Pacific Income Fund, Inc. $ 0.0275 FCO NYSE American abrdn Global Income Fund, Inc. $ 0.0700 THQ NYSE abrdn Healthcare Opportunities Fund $ 0.1800 THW NYSE abrdn World Healthcare Fund $ 0.1167 VFL NYSE American abrdn National Municipal Income Fund $ 0.0450

At the end of each calendar year, a Form 1099-DIV will be sent to shareholders, which will state the amount and composition of each fund's distributions and provide information with respect to their appropriate tax treatment for the prior calendar year. You should not draw any conclusions about any of these Funds' investment performance from the amount of the distributions.

MANAGED DISTRIBUTION POLICY FUNDS

ANNOUNCE DISTRIBUTION PAYMENT DETAILS

abrdn Global Infrastructure Income Fund ("ASGI")

abrdn Healthcare Opportunities Fund ("THQ")

abrdn World Healthcare Fund ("THW")

The above-noted abrdn U.S. Closed-End Funds (the "Funds" or individually the "Fund"), today announced that the Funds will pay the distributions noted in the chart above on June 28, 2024, on a per share basis to all shareholders of record as of June 21, 2024 (ex-dividend date June 21, 2024).

Each Fund has adopted a distribution policy to provide investors with a stable distribution out of current income, supplemented by realized capital gains and, to the extent necessary, paid-in capital in reliance on an exemptive order granted by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Under applicable U.S. tax rules, the amount and character of distributable income for each Fund's fiscal year can be finally determined only as of the end of the Fund's fiscal year. However, under Section 19 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act") and related rules, the Funds may be required to indicate to shareholders the estimated source of certain distributions to shareholders.

The following tables set forth the estimated amounts of the sources of the distributions for purposes of Section 19 of the 1940 Act and the rules adopted thereunder. The tables have been computed based on generally accepted accounting principles. The tables include estimated amounts and percentages for the current distributions to be paid as well as for the cumulative distributions paid relating to fiscal year to date, from the following sources: net investment income; net realized short-term capital gains; net realized long-term capital gains; and return of capital. The estimated compositions of the distributions may vary because the estimated composition may be impacted by future income, expenses and realized gains and losses on securities and currencies.

The Funds' estimated sources of the current distributions to be paid and for its current fiscal year to date are as follows:

Estimated Amounts of Current Distribution per Share Fund Distribution Amount Net Investment Income Net Realized Short-Term Gains* Net Realized Long-Term Gains Return of Capital ASGI $ 0.2100 $0.0399 19% - - $0.1239 59% $0.0462 22% THQ $ 0.1800 - - $0.0306 17% $0.0810 45% $0.0684 38% THW $ 0.1167 - - $0.0047 4% $0.0081 7% $0.1039 89%

Estimated Amounts of Fiscal Year to Date Cumulative Distributions per Share Fund Fiscal Year** to Date Distribution Amount Net Investment Income Net Realized Short-Term Gains* Net Realized Long-Term Gains Return of Capital ASGI $ 1.3800 $0.2622 19% - - $0.8142 59% $0.3036 22% THQ $ 1.3500 - - $0.2295 17% $0.6075 45% $0.5130 38% THW $ 1.0503 - - $0.0420 4% $0.0735 7% $0.9348 89%

* includes currency gains

** ASGI, THQ and THW have a 9/30 fiscal year end.

Where the estimated amounts above show a portion of the distribution to be a "Return of Capital," it means that Fund estimates that it has distributed more than its income and capital gains; therefore, a portion of your distribution may be a return of capital. A return of capital may occur for example, when some or all the money that you invested in a Fund is paid back to you. A return of capital distribution does not necessarily reflect the Fund's investment performance and should not be confused with "yield" or "income."

The amounts and sources of distributions reported in this notice are only estimates and are not being provided for tax reporting purposes. The final determination of the source of all distributions for the current year will only be made after year-end. The actual amounts and sources of the amounts for tax reporting purposes will depend upon the Fund's investment experience during the remainder of the fiscal year and may be subject to change based on tax regulations. After the end of each calendar year, a Form 1099-DIV will be sent to shareholders for the prior calendar year that will tell you how to report these distributions for federal income tax purposes.

The following table provides the Funds' total return performance based on net asset value (NAV) over various time periods compared to the Funds' annualized and cumulative distribution rates.

Fund Performance and Distribution Rate Information Fund Average Annual Total Return on NAV for the 5 Year Period Ending 05/31/2024 Current Fiscal Period's Annualized Distribution Rate on NAV Cumulative Total Return on NAV Cumulative Distribution Rate on NAV ASGI3 9.20%3 9.34% 17.88% 5.55% THQ 10.89% 8.81% 13.34% 5.45% THW 9.56% 11.43% 12.90% 7.62%

1 Return data is net of all fund expenses and fees and assumes the reinvestment of all distributions reinvested at prices obtained under the Fund's dividend reinvestment plan.

2 Based on the Fund's NAV as of May 31, 2024.

3 The Fund launched within the past 5 years; the performance and distribution rate information presented reflects data from inception (July 29, 2020) through May 31, 2024.

Shareholders should not draw any conclusions about a Fund's investment performance from the amount of the Fund's current distributions or from the terms of the distribution policy (the "Distribution Policy").

While NAV performance may be indicative of the Fund's investment performance, it does not measure the value of a shareholder's investment in the Fund. The value of a shareholder's investment in the Fund is determined by the Fund's market price, which is based on the supply and demand for the Fund's shares in the open market.

Pursuant to an exemptive order granted by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Funds may distribute any long-term capital gains more frequently than the limits provided in Section 19(b) under the 1940 Act and Rule 19b-1 thereunder. Therefore, distributions paid by the Funds during the year may include net income, short-term capital gains, long-term capital gains and/or a return of capital. Net income dividends and short-term capital gain dividends, while generally taxable at ordinary income rates, may be eligible, to the extent of qualified dividend income earned by the Funds, to be taxed at a lower rate not to exceed the maximum rate applicable to your long-term capital gains. Distributions made in any calendar year in excess of investment company taxable income and net capital gain are treated as taxable ordinary dividends to the extent of undistributed earnings and profits, and then as a return of capital that reduces the adjusted basis in the shares held. To the extent return of capital distributions exceed the adjusted basis in the shares held, capital gain is recognized with a holding period based on the period the shares have been held at the date such amount is received.

The payment of distributions in accordance with the Distribution Policy may result in a decrease in the Fund's net assets. A decrease in the Fund's net assets may cause an increase in the Fund's annual operating expense ratio and a decrease in the Fund's market price per share to the extent the market price correlates closely to the Fund's net asset value per share. The Distribution Policy may also negatively affect the Fund's investment activities to the extent that the Fund is required to hold larger cash positions than it typically would hold or to the extent that the Fund must liquidate securities that it would not have sold, for the purpose of paying the distribution. Each Fund's Board has the right to amend, suspend or terminate the Distribution Policy at any time. The amendment, suspension or termination of the Distribution Policy may affect the Fund's market price per share. Investors should consult their tax advisor regarding federal, state, and local tax considerations that may be applicable in their particular circumstances.

Circular 230 disclosure : To ensure compliance with requirements imposed by the U.S. Treasury, we inform you that any U.S. tax advice contained in this communication (including any attachments) is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, for the purpose of (i) avoiding penalties under the Internal Revenue Code or (ii) promoting, marketing or recommending to another party any transaction or matter addressed herein.

In the United States, abrdn is the marketing name for the following affiliated, registered investment advisers: abrdn Inc., abrdn Investments Limited, abrdn Asia Limited, abrdn Private Equity (Europe) Limited, and abrdn ETFs Advisors LLC.

Closed-end funds are traded on the secondary market through one of the stock exchanges. A Fund's investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor's shares may be worth more or less than the original cost. Shares of closed-end funds may trade above (a premium) or below (a discount) the net asset value (NAV) of the fund's portfolio. There is no assurance that a Fund will achieve its investment objective. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

https://www.abrdn.com/en-us/cefinvestorcenter

###

For More Information Contact:

abrdn U.S. Closed-End Funds

Investor Relations

1-800-522-5465

Investor.Relations@abrdn.com

SOURCE: abrdn U.S. Closed-End Funds

View the original press release on accesswire.com
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / June 11, 2024 / Case IH, a brand of CNH, attended the 29th Agrishow in Brazil showcasing more than 20 machines.

The main highlight, which draws attention for its size and robustness, is the Quadtrac AFS Connect 715.

The largest and most powerful tractor ever produced by the brand was presented at Agritechnica 2023, in Germany, and arrived in Brazil for the first time for the main agricultural technology fair in Latin America. The machine features an FPT Cursor 16 engine, with 715 hp, which can reach up to 778 hp. Recognized worldwide, the Quadtrac AFS Connect 715 has already earned Case IH AE50 awards for outstanding agricultural innovation, in addition to Good Design 2023, which highlights global industrial innovations and cutting-edge graphic designers.

Another machine that has guaranteed awards around the world is Case IH's first 100% electric tractor concept, which was also presented at Agrishow 2024. Also recognized by the Good Design 2023 award, the Electric Farmall also secured the Farm Machine 2024, one of the most coveted in the agricultural engineering industry, in the Utility Tractor category.

With a completely new design, it represents the first concept of a utility tractor powered entirely by a battery pack and without an internal combustion diesel engine, environmentally friendly and with zero pollutant emissions. It is quiet and ideal for working in controlled environments such as greenhouses, sheds and with livestock. It has power, performance and technology.

Already available to rural producers, the new tractor of the Farmall family, the Farmall Max 140, has a 141 hp engine, the largest in the line. With a 16x16 semi-powershift transmission, it has new styling and factory connectivity, sending real-time data to AFS Connect. It has a high-capacity hydraulic system, with a 113L/min flow pump and three-point electronic lift, ensuring robustness, versatility and performance.

With the largest booth at the fair, Case IH presented even more news for rural producers. With more than 20 machines on display, with options from planting to harvesting, the brand also unveiled exclusive launches aimed at the agriculture of the future. These included, the ethanol-powered engine. The Cursor 13 engine is a prototype for the new fuel. The project is 100% Brazilian and developed in partnership with FPT Industrial. It is currently in the development phase and will be tested on Case IH sugarcane harvesters in the next harvest.

"The ethanol engine is a renewable fuel alternative, with a focus on reducing CO2 emissions, high performance and low operating costs. We see it as promising, especially for our customers in the sugar and alcohol sector who, in addition to contributing to the environment, will also have fuel and freight savings", said Christian Gonzalez, Case IH's vice president for Latin America.

Quadtrac AFS Connect 715

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from CNH Industrial on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: CNH Industrial

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/cnh-industrial

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: CNH Industrial

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Alta Copper Corp. (TSX:ATCU)(OTCQX:ATCUF)(BVL:ATCU) ("Alta Copper" or "the Company") is pleased to announce it has filed a technical report titled "Canariaco Copper Project NI 43-101 Technical Report & Preliminary Economic Assessment". The technical report for the 2024 Optimized Preliminary Economic Assessment ("2024 PEA") on its 100% owned Canariaco Project ("Canariaco" or the "Project") was filed and is available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and on the Company's website at www.altacopper.com.

Canariaco is a world class porphyry copper project, located 102 km northeast of Chiclayo in Northern Peru. The 2024 PEA was prepared by Ausenco Engineering Canada ULC ("Ausenco"), AGP Mining Consultants Inc. ("AGP") and Whittle Consulting Pty. Ltd., ("Whittle"), respectively leading international engineering and mining consultancy firms.

Joanne Freeze, President and CEO, commented "We are extremely pleased with not only the robust economic results of our 2024 PEA but also the ESG improvements since 2011. Minimizing the overall footprint as well as impacts on watersheds, arable lands and local communities while maximizing value is a substantial accomplishment. While we are very pleased with the scale of operation providing a long-life, large scale copper project producing annual average copper of 158,000 tonnes per year in the first 10 years, we also look forward to the expansion opportunities of our mineral resource by way of further drilling."

Project Opportunities

As listed below, there are several opportunities which could improve the economics and impact of the project and should be considered as the project continues along the development and permitting path:

Mineral Resource Expansion and Estimation

Additional drilling in several defined project areas of the Canariaco property have the potential to:

delineate additional mineral resources;

support both an increase and/or expansion of known resources; and,

upgrade the portions of the mineral resources currently classified as Inferred to Indicated and/or Measured resources

A review of deeper zones of the Norte deposit recently identified that 32 of 47 drill holes drilled to 400 metres or more bottomed in mineralization. DDH 07-135 bottomed in 0.55% Cu (over last 10 metres) at 721 metres and DDH 07-141 bottomed in 0.38% Cu (over last 10 metres) at 770 metres. Of the 32 holes drilled to depths between 400 and 770 metres, 27 drill holes intersected grades from 0.31 to 0.74% Cu.

Additional drilling is planned to be undertaken deeper on and laterally to the Norte deposit, laterally to and deeper on the Sur deposit as well as to the south of Sur on the Quebrada Verde prospect.

Drilling at Norte could extend or better define higher grade zones as well as to provide sufficient data to support potential upgrading of the portions of the mineral resources currently classified as Inferred to Indicated and/or Measured resources. Drilling at Sur is to identify lateral and depth extensions of the known mineralization which could increase the mineral resources substantially. The lateral and depths limits of the Sur deposit are completely unknown with only 15 holes drilled to date.

Quebrada Verde drilling will test extensive altered intrusive bodies coinciding with geochemical and geophysical anomalies which are all typical of porphyry deposits and are completely untested by drilling to date.

Mine Plan

Additional geotechnical drilling could allow an optimization to the design of pit slopes which would be expected to improve economics especially if able to steepen some of the pit walls and decrease the strip ratio.

Metallurgical Test Work and Recovery Methods

Increasing the overall testwork database could optimize the process parameters. This could result in increased recoveries, lower operating costs and improved concentrate quality. In addition, further flotation testwork should consider alternative technologies such as course particle flotation and/or air induction style flotation machines.

Qualified Persons and NI 43-101 Technical Report

The 2024 PEA summarized here for the Canariaco project was completed by Ausenco Engineering Canada ULC, of Vancouver British Columbia, with mining aspects completed by AGP Mining Consultants Inc.

The qualified persons for the 2024 PEA and this News Release are identified below:

Mr. Gordon Zurowski, P.Eng. Principal Mining Engineer at AGP Mining Consultants Inc. and an independent Qualified Person as set forth by NI 43-101, is responsible for mine design and mine capital and operating costs. Mr. Zurowski has reviewed the news release against the technical report.

Mr. Kevin Murray, P.Eng. Principal Process Engineer at Ausenco Engineering Canada ULC and an independent Qualified Person as set forth by NI 43-101, is responsible for the financial model as well as mineral processing and metallurgical resting, recovery methods, and process and infrastructure capital and operating costs. Mr. Murray has reviewed the news release against the technical report.

Mr. Scott Elfen, P.E., Global Lead Geotechnical and Civil Services at Ausenco Engineering Canada ULC and an independent Qualified Person as set forth by NI 43-101, is responsible for the waste management facility and associated capital and operating costs, and the site-wide water management design. Mr. Elfen has reviewed the news release against the technical report.

Mr. James Millard, P.Geo., Director, Strategic Projects at Ausenco Sustainability ULC and an independent Qualified Person as set forth by NI 43-101, is responsible for environmental studies, permitting, and social and community impacts. Mr. Millard has reviewed the news release against the technical report.

Mr. Jonathan Cooper, P. Eng., Water Resources Engineer at Ausenco Sustainability ULC and an independent Qualified Person as set forth by NI 43-101, is responsible for water management and site water balance. Mr. Cooper has reviewed the news release against the technical report.

Joanne Freeze, P.Geo., President, CEO and Director has reviewed and approved the contents of this release for Alta Copper Corp.

About Ausenco

Ausenco is a global company redefining what's possible. The team is based across 26 offices in 15 countries delivering services worldwide. Combining deep technical expertise with a 30-year track record, Ausenco delivers innovative, value-add consulting studies, project delivery, asset operations and maintenance solutions to the minerals and metals and industrial sectors (www.ausenco.com).

About Whittle

Australia-headquartered Whittle Consulting has a 25-year proven track record helping mining companies worldwide improve NPVs and sustainability for their operations and projects. It is comprised of a group of highly experienced industry experts, who have strong technical backgrounds in a range of disciplines including geology, mining engineering, metallurgy, research, mathematics and computing, finance, operational, financial modeling and analysis, sustainability, and a thorough appreciation of practical, organizational, and contextual reality. Whittle Consulting are comfortable with complexity, not being bound by conventional thinking, and by being willing to challenge existing paradigms and conventional wisdom which can conceal the real potential of mining businesses.

About Alta Copper

Alta Copper is focused on the development of its 100% owned Canariaco advanced staged copper project. Canariaco comprises 97 square km of highly prospective land located 102 km northeast of the City of Chiclayo, Peru, which includes the advanced stage Canariaco Norte deposit, Canariaco Sur deposit and Quebrada Verde prospect, all within a 4 km NE-SW trend in northern Peru's prolific mining district. Canariaco is one of the largest copper deposits in the Americas not held by a major.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities laws ("forward-looking statements"). Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as: believe, expect, anticipate, intend, estimate, plans, postulate and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. All statements that are not statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, without limitation: the results of the 2024 PEA, including the projected CapEx, the estimated pre-tax and after-tax NPV and IRR, the estimated mine life and estimated concentrate grades; the potential production from and viability of the Canariaco Project; the risks and opportunities outlined in the 2024 PEA; the potential tonnage, grades and content of deposits; the extent of mineral resource estimates; and estimated production and operating costs. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release. Although the Company believes the forward-looking statements in this press release are reasonable, it can give no assurance that the expectations and assumptions in such statements will prove to be correct. The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking statements by the Company are not guarantees of future results or performance, and are subject to risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors which could cause events or outcomes to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors and assumptions include, among others, variations in market conditions; the nature, quality and quantity of any mineral deposits that may be located; metal prices; other prices and costs; currency exchange rates; the Company's ability to obtain any necessary permits, consents or authorizations required for its activities; the Company's ability to access further funding and produce minerals from its properties successfully or profitably, to continue its projected growth, or to be fully able to implement its business strategies. In addition, there are known and unknown risk factors which could cause our actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements.

Known risk factors include risks associated with exploration and project development; the need for additional financing; the calculation of mineral resources; operational risks associated with mining and mineral processing; fluctuations in metal prices; title matters; government regulation; obtaining and renewing necessary licenses and permits; environmental liability and insurance; reliance on key personnel; local community opposition; currency fluctuations; labour disputes; competition; dilution; the volatility of our common share price and volume; future sales of shares by existing shareholders; and other risk factors described in the Company's annual information form and other filings with Canadian securities regulators, which may be viewed at www.sedarplus.ca. Although we have attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. We are under no obligation to update or alter any forward-looking statements except as required under applicable securities laws.

Cautionary Note to US Investors

We advise U.S. investors that this news release uses terms defined in the 2014 edition of the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM) "CIM Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves", as incorporated by reference in Canadian National Instrument 43-101 "Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects", for reporting of mineral resource estimates. These Canadian standards, including NI 43-101, differ from the requirements of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as set forth in the mining disclosure rules under Regulation S-K 1300. Regulation S-K 1300 uses the same terminology for mineral resources, but the definitions are not identical to NI 43-101 and CIM Definition Standards. Regulation S-K 1300 uses the term "initial assessment" for an evaluation of potential project economics based on mineral resources. This study type has some similarities to a Preliminary Economic Assessment, but the definition and content requirements of an initial assessment are not identical to the definition and content requirements for a PEA under NI 43-101.

On behalf of the Board of Alta Copper Corp.

"Giulio T. Bonifacio", Executive Chair and Director



For further information please contact:

Giulio T. Bonifacio, Executive Chair and Director

gtbonifacio@altacopper.com

+1 604 318 6760

or

Joanne C. Freeze, President, CEO and Director

jfreeze@altacopper.com

+1 604 512 3359

Email: info@altacopper.com

Website: www.altacopper.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Alta_Copper

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/altacopper/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AltaCopperCorp

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/altacopper/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AltaCopper

SOURCE: Alta Copper Corp.

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Proclamation celebrates prominent Alpha Phi Alpha member for his four decades of dedication to create federal holiday

The late Albert "Al" Ely Edwards, Former Texas State Representative has been honored by the Atlanta City Council and named, "Father of the Juneteenth Holiday." Councilman Michael Julian Bond presented the award to his son Jason K. Edwards. Juneteenth will be celebrated on Wednesday, June 19, 2024.

"Yesterday the City of Atlanta and Councilman Michael Julian Bond recently honored dad for his work," said Jason K. Edwards, the son of the Juneteenth champion and Chairman of Juneteenth USA, a nonprofit started by his late Father in 1979. "It was a wonderful honor for my dad and our family for the City of Atlanta to honor his work that started in Texas. Juneteenth USA is profoundly thankful to Councilman Bond and the City of Atlanta for making this day possible!"

In May of 2024, Juneteenth USA, which is the oldest Juneteenth organization in the United States, acknowledged the reference from the White House about Texas State Representative Al Edwards, known affectionately as the "Architect and Father of Juneteenth" and his efforts to make Juneteenth a true federal holiday. Juneteenth reminds the country of Americans' national responsibility to honor the history of enslaved people and celebrate the freedom and rights U.S. citizens count on.

Edwards, a prominent member of the Alpha Eta Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., was recognized for advocating to countless state legislators to pass Juneteenth in their state to create a state-led and state-celebrated national holiday, with unwavering commitment for almost four decades to transition June 19th from a Texas state holiday to a respected national holiday.

According to the late State Legislator's son Jason Edwards, "Official recognition of the Juneteenth holiday lends profound significance to June 19, 1865. His political work with the 45 states that recognized Juneteenth by 2014, was aided by community activist like Opal Lee who in 2016 took his state-led efforts and started her push for Juneteenth to become a Federal Holiday. My father dedicated his life to ensuring that Juneteenth would finally join the revered national holidays here that recognize major historical days in our country's history."

For more information about the life and legacy of State Representative Al Edwards, and the significance of Juneteenth, visit https://www.juneteenthusa.org/

Media Contact

Organization: Juneteenth USA

Contact Person: Ms. Yvonne Harris

Website: https://www.juneteenthusa.org/

Email: info@juneteenthusa.org

Contact Number: +13103837041

City: Beachwood

State: OH

Country: United States

SOURCE: Juneteenth USA

View the original press release on accesswire.com
WINDHOEK, KHOMAS / ACCESSWIRE / July 11, 2024 / Trustco Group Holdings Limited (TTO.SJ) today announced a landmark agreement to convert NAD 4.4 billion (USD 235 million) of debt into equity, paving the way for a planned USD 100 million capital raise in the US markets. The agreement is expected to increase Trustco's net asset value by approximately NAD 1.5 billion (USD 79 million).

"This recapitalization is a crucial step towards achieving our growth ambitions as well as complementing our current round of fundraising in the US markets," said Quinton Z. van Rooyen, Deputy CEO of Trustco Group. "Trustco will be well-positioned to attract further strategic investors and create long-term value for our investors after freeing up its balance sheet."

Quinton Z. van Rooyen, Deputy CEO of Trustco Group

The conversion is also a significant statement of support from the founding family, demonstrating confidence in Trustco's growth plans and strategy. In terms of the conversion agreement, the debt owed to Next Capital and Dr Quinton van Rooyen will be exchanged for new ordinary Trustco shares at a price of NAD 1.17 (USD 0.06) per share, a 350% premium over Trustco's 90-Day Volume Weighted Average Price. This pricing aligns with the Company's audited net asset value per share as of August 31, 2023, and is contingent on obtaining shareholder and regulatory clearances which will include an independent fairness opinion to ensure the transaction's execution aligns with best governance practices.

This transaction is the latest development in Trustco's ongoing efforts aimed at strengthening its overall market presence. The previously announced agreement with Riskowitz Value Fund, forming part of a planned USD 100 million capital raise in the US markets, reinforces Trustco's growth trajectory and investment strategy. This influx of capital from two long-standing shareholders, including the founding family, underscores the confidence in the company's approach.

Trustco is also increasing its stake in the insurance and real estate portfolios in Namibia. The planned acquisition of an additional 11.35% stake in Legal Shield Holdings will increase Trustco's ownership to 91.35%, with a NAD 468 million (USD 25 million) equity transaction.

Concurrently, Trustco's mining investment in West Africa has revealed promising diamond resource estimates prepared by an independent Competent Person. With an estimated in-situ value of USD 763 million, the Meya River Kimberlite Dyke represents less than 5% of the total combined strike lengths of the kimberlite domains within Meya Mining's licensed Area.

With a deleveraged balance sheet, Trustco can accelerate its diversification strategy to create value across its multi-sector investment portfolio. Backed by the support of the long-time anchor investors, including the founding family, Trustco has revealed a robust foundation for continued success going forward.

About Trustco:

Trustco Group Holdings Ltd is an investment entity headquartered in Windhoek, Namibia, which manages a diverse portfolio of investments spanning the insurance, real estate, commercial banking, micro-finance, education and mining sectors. Decisions are biased towards long-term investment performance and short-term hurdles are viewed as catalysts for future growth.

Historically, Trustco's investment portfolio has delivered exceptional returns with a CAGR of 68.97% since 1992, with a well-balanced asset mix, with a current average weighting of 34% in US Dollar based assets, while the remaining 66% is invested in Namibia Dollar (1 NAD = 1 ZAR) based assets. Trustco enjoys the backing of a wide range of coinvestors, including 3 610 from Namibia, 1 443 from abroad, and 94 from institutional entities.

About Namibia:

Namibia is a Southern African country with a population of approximately 3 million and a GDP per capita of USD 5 031 in 2022. The country's economy expanded by 4.2% in 2023 and is projected to expand by 3.7% in 2024, following a recovery of 5.3% in 2022 from the COVID-19 pandemic. With its wealth of natural resources, pro-business environment and increasingly skilled workforce, Namibia offers attractive investment prospects across all sectors.

Media Contact

Organization: Trustco Group Holdings

Contact Person: Neville Basson

Website: https://www.tgh.na

Email: NevilleB@tgh.na

Contact Number: +264612754501

Address: 2 Keller Street, Trustco House

Address 2: Windhoek

City: Windhoek

State: Khomas

Country: Namibia

SOURCE: Trustco Group Holdings

View the original press release on accesswire.com
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / June 11, 2024 / During the month of June, Entergy Arkansas is focusing our philanthropic efforts on food insecurity. One in five Arkansans faces hunger - and that number becomes one in four for children. Both statistics make the state the highest for food insecurity in the country.

Summer Cereal Drive

When schools close for the summer, children especially struggle to find food to replace breakfast and lunch they were receiving at school every day.?Over 60% of children in Arkansas rely on free and reduced lunches, meaning when summer comes, they are struggling to fill the gaps that those meals provided.

Meeting the basic needs of our most vulnerable customers, such as providing hot meals, is foundational to Entergy's corporate social responsibility objectives. Addressing food insecurity is a vital step in our strategy to develop and support poverty solutions.

Entergy Arkansas is there to help with the summer cereal drive and other programs to help children and their families get the nourishment they need. In fact, we're the defending champions for the Arkansas Foodbank and KTHV Channel 11 Summer Cereal Drive.

Last year, we were the largest donor at just over $30,000 and some change. Every $1 donated can purchase one box of cereal, which provides five meals. And while the cereal and donations are collected in the summer, they are used to provide meals throughout the year to families in need.

We've pledged to defend our position and bring in even more donations this year. You'll see us at donations sites across our service territory, including Little Rock, Pine Bluff, Cabot, Hot Springs and Russellville.

Year-round Giving

The Arkansas Foodbank serves Central Arkansas and is one of six Feeding America food banks that helped found the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance. The others include Food Bank of North Central Arkansas,?Food Bank of Northeast Arkansas,?Harvest Regional Food Bank,?River Valley Regional Food Bank?and the?Northwest Arkansas Food Bank.

Entergy Arkansas is a longtime partner to the Alliance, which seeks to advocate on food policy, provide resources, source nutritious food, secure food and funding, promote nutrition education, increase out of school meals participation, and raise awareness of hunger in the state.

Last year, Entergy Arkansas donated $110,000 to the group as part of its Entergy Arkansas Bright Futures campaign celebrating 110 years in the state.

Since its founding in 2001, the Alliance has grown to include more than 500 members: the original six Feeding America food bank members, local food pantries, soup kitchens, food rescue organizations, global food wholesalers and retailers, state level hunger programs and hunger advocates from around the state who are working daily to reduce hunger in Arkansas.

Programs through the Alliance and sponsored by Entergy Arkansas this year will include the Hunger Action Breakfast, Serving Up Solutions, Watermelon Crawl and College Hunger Summit.

While we are putting a lot of effort into addressing food insecurity in June, you'll also see us serving in our community in other ways. One grantee we'll be volunteering to help with is Mosaic Templars Cultural Center Juneteenth in Da Rock commemoration, which happens all month long. It's one of several ways we help create and celebrate diversity, inclusion and belonging for our employees and our communities.





View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Entergy Corporation on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Entergy Corporation

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/entergy-corporation

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Entergy Corporation

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Golden Pursuit Resources Ltd. (the "Company") (TSXV:GDP) is pleased to announce that it has received approval for a grant under the Mining Incentive Program (MIP) for its Gordon Lake project. In its approval notice, the Northwest Territories Geological Survey stated that the Gordon Lake Project "was highly ranked and approved for funding at 50% of eligible expenses. The total value of your MIP funding for 2024-25 is $80,788.50."

This funding will cover part of our 2024 geophysical service and detailed geological mapping in preparation for drilling. Golden Pursuit is anticipating an announcement regarding the start of construction an all-season road that will connect Gordon Lake to Yellowknife via Tibbitt Lake which ends 30 kms south of Gordon Lake. The Company perceives that access will greatly assist and accelerate exploration and development at the Gordon Lake Project. Land and water use permits necessary for exploration are in place with work scheduled to start in the first week of July.

The Company is further pleased to announce that it has retained the services of Renmark Financial Communications Inc. to handle its investor relations activities.

"We are pleased to announce that we have selected Renmark to reinforce Golden Pursuit Resources' profile in the financial community and enhance the visibility of our company. We choose Renmark because its standards and methodologies fit best with the message we wish to communicate to the investing public," noted Brian McClay, President & Chief Executive Officer.

In consideration of the services to be provided, Golden Pursuit Resources Ltd.'s monthly fees will be a cash consideration of up to $9,000 CAD starting June 1st, 2024, for a period of seven months ending December 31st, 2024, and renewable monthly thereafter.

Renmark Financial Communications does not have any interest, directly or indirectly, in Golden Pursuit Resources Ltd. or its securities, or any right or intent to acquire such an interest.

The foregoing is subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.

Golden Pursuit Resources Ltd.

Per: "Brian McClay"

Brian McClay, President

For further information, please contact:

Golden Pursuit Resources Ltd.

Tel: 604-730-6982

Email: info@goldpursuit.ca

Renmark Financial Communications Inc.

Ben Ozerkevich: bozerkevich@renmarkfinancial.com

Tel: (416) 644-2020 or (212) 812-7680

www.renmarkfinancial.com

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE: Golden Pursuit Resources Ltd.

View the original press release on accesswire.com
COPENHAGEN, Denmark, June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- In an era where climate change poses a critical threat to biodiversity and agricultural productivity, a pioneering research project that harnesses environmental DNA ('eDNA'), sets out to transform future global cropping systems and to develop resilient crops in the face of climate change.

The Novo Nordisk Foundation has awarded a grant to AEGIS of up to DKK 500 million over seven years, with an additional DKK 85 million funded by the Wellcome Trust.

AEGIS is led by the evolutionary geneticist Professor Eske Willerslev from the University of Copenhagen and University of Cambridge. The initiative aims to decode and understand how ecosystems and crops have responded and adapted to past environmental perturbations and is driven by the aspiration to create a more sustainable future by enhancing crop resilience and agroecosystem sustainability.

"Understanding how entire ecosystems and individual species function and have adapted to environmental challenges over the course of millennia will enable the creation of new resilient crops that can withstand and mitigate climate change. AEGIS has the potential to break scientific barriers in a number of fields, while simultaneously revolutionising plant breeding and increasing the resilience of agroecosystems in both the Global South and Global North." says Mads Krogsgaard Thomsen, CEO, Novo Nordisk Foundation.

"Agricultural systems and the foods we grow have changed over millennia. We currently know very little about past ecosystems and what changes in biodiversity might have occurred as the environment changed. AEGIS hopes to build the evidence base needed to strengthen the resilience of food systems across the world in the face of future environmental changes," elaborated John-Arne Rttingen, CEO, Wellcome Trust.

"By employing ecosystem modelling, we can pinpoint which combinations of species led to the most durable ecosystems in the past. This knowledge could serve as a blueprint for creating climate resilient food systems, enhancing both the crops we grow and the sustainability of the environments they grow in," explained Professor Eske Willerslev.

Reinventing agroecosystems

As a part of the initiative, a global hub of environmental genomics expertise will be established at the University of Copenhagen. Central to this hub is the data engine, a core unit dedicated to extracting and analysing ancient eDNA from sediment cores, offering a window into the Earth's agrarian history and the response of ecosystems to changes over hundreds to millions of years.

This groundbreaking work will harness the collective expertise in bioinformatics, microbial ecology, plant breeding, and environmental genomics to move scientific frontiers and develop new approaches to designing stable and resilient agroecosystems. The ultimate goal is to provide a robust knowledge base and tools for the global community to advance agriculture in the face of climatic adversity.

The Novo Nordisk Foundation anticipates that AEGIS will significantly contribute to the understanding of agroecosystem functionalities from past environmental disturbances and will demonstrate proof-of-concept in key crops such as barley, wheat, and rice.

AEGIS is committed to the principles of the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing, which focusses on fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising by the utilisation of genetic resources, thereby contributing to the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity.

About the Novo Nordisk Foundation

Established in Denmark in 1924, the Novo Nordisk Foundation is an enterprise foundation with philanthropic objectives. The vision of the Foundation is to improve people's health and the sustainability of society and the planet. The Foundation's mission is to progress research and innovation in the prevention and treatment of cardiometabolic and infectious diseases as well as to advance knowledge and solutions to support a green transformation of society.

www.novonordiskfonden.dk/en

About Wellcome

Wellcome is a global charitable foundation, based in the UK. Wellcome supports science to solve the urgent health challenges facing everyone. We support discovery research into life, health, and wellbeing, and we're taking on three worldwide health challenges: mental health, infectious disease, and climate and health.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/novo-nordisk-foundation-and-the-wellcome-trust-award-a-grant-of-up-to-dkk-585-million-to-the-ancient-environmental-genomics-initiative-for-sustainability-aegis-302169719.html
Wild Common, a Jackson Hole, Wyoming-based agave spirits company, raised $5M in Series A funding.

Backers included HIPstr, the early-stage investment arm of HighPost Capital.

The company intends to use the funds to continue to scale its platform and enter into new markets, grow its team, further enhance its agave spirits, and capitalize on the growth of the broader tequila market.

Founded by Andy Bardon in 2021 in Jackson Hole, Wyoming and distilled in the Jalisco Valley, Mexico, Wild Common produces agave spirits through a time-honored process. Its agave is grown and harvested by hand from Mexicos rich volcanic soil, slow-roasted in small batches, distilled by experts, and bottled by hand on site.

FinSMEs

11/06/2024
The police are probing to find out if Darshan Thoogudeepa was directly involved in the murder or was part of the conspiracy read more

Bengaluru, Leading Kannada film actor Darshan Thoogudeepa has been taken into custody in a murder case, Bengaluru Police Commissioner B Dayananda said on Tuesday. He said Darshan and his aides, who have been detained, are being questioned by police. In connection with a murder, a Kannada film actor has been taken into custody and is being questioned, Dayananda briefed reporters here. The 47-year-old was picked up in connection with the murder of a man, identified as Renuka Swamy, on June 9 in Kamakshipalya area of the city, he said. After the alleged killing, the body of Swamy, who worked with a pharmacy company and hailed from the district headquarters town of Chitradurga, was dumped into a stormwater drain in Kamakshipalya.

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Based on the recovery of the dead body of an unidentified man and the injuries on his body, a murder case was registered. On the basis of CCTV footage and other technical evidence, the deceased was identified as Renuka Swamy, Dayananda said. We have detained the Kannada film actor and his aides and are questioning him. Since the investigation is on I cannot share more details, he said.

When asked whether Darshan has been arrested: he said: He has been taken into custody and is being questioned. Other procedures will follow after the due process. It is alleged that the deceased had made some derogatory comments against a film actress in a social media post. Police came to know about the murder after some local residents alerted them. The body was sent for an autopsy and the forensic report confirmed that he was murdered, police sources said. Further investigation led to the arrest of some suspects, who spilled the beans, a police official said. Based on their statement, police detained Darshan from a hotel in Mysuru, sources said.

The police are probing to find out if the actor was directly involved in the murder or was part of the conspiracy, the sources added. Meanwhile, sources said the actress against whom the deceased had made adverse comments has also been detained for questioning. Renuka Swamys parents were inconsolable after learning about the murder. He was my only son. Last year he got married. I spoke to him on Saturday only. I want justice, his father Srinivasaiah told reporters at Kamakshipalya police station. Police have provided tight security at the house of Darshan, who has a huge fan following, at RR Nagar here.

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Darshan made his debut as a lead actor in the movie Majestic in 2002. He featured in several commercially successful films including Kariya, Krantiveera Sangolli Rayanna, Kalasipalya, Gaja, Navagraha, Saarathi, Bulbul, Yajamana, Robert and Kaatera.
EQS-Ad-hoc: 029 Group SE / Key word(s): AGM/EGM

029 Group SE: Change in the Administrative Board



11-Jun-2024 / 14:01 CET/CEST

Disclosure of an inside information acc.



The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.



Berlin, 11th June 2024. 029 Group SE (ISIN: DE000A2LQ2D0), a global hospitality and lifestyle platform, announces that at yesterdays Annual General Meeting, changes have been made to the Administrative Board of the company. As Lorin Van Nuland decided prior to the Annual General Meeting to resign as member of the Administrative Board, it was necessary to elect a new member in yesterdays Annual Shareholders Meeting. The shareholders elected Leon Sander as new member of the Administrative Board. Lorin Van Nuland will remain active as the Managing Director of 029 Group SE.



About 029 Group SE

029 Group SE believes that the next generation of consumer brands will be built on connection, experiences, and community. In a post-pandemic world, new patterns of work, life and leisure are emerging and acceleRating. These trends create opportunities in hospitality and lifestyle for innovation-driven entrepreneurship with a strong community focus. 029 Group backs the most audacious entrepreneurs with a hands-on investment approach, focusing on areas where they can add significant value through their platform, global network and company building expertise. 029 Group is based in Berlin, Germany.

Further Information:



029 Group SE

Neue Schonhauserstr. 3-5

10719 Berlin

E-Mail: ir@029-group.com

https://www.029-group.com/

029 Group SE (ISIN: DE000A2LQ2D0), a global hospitality and lifestyle platform, announces that at yesterdays Annual General Meeting, changes have been made to the Administrative Board of the company. As Lorin Van Nuland decided prior to the Annual General Meeting to resign as member of the Administrative Board, it was necessary to elect a new member in yesterdays Annual Shareholders Meeting. The shareholders elected Leon Sander as new member of the Administrative Board. Lorin Van Nuland will remain active as the Managing Director of 029 Group SE.029 Group SE believes that the next generation of consumer brands will be built on connection, experiences, and community. In a post-pandemic world, new patterns of work, life and leisure are emerging and accele. These trends create opportunities in hospitality and lifestyle for innovation-driven entrepreneurship with a strong community focus. 029 Group backs the most audacious entrepreneurs with a hands-on investment approach, focusing on areas where they can add significant value through their platform, global network and company building expertise. 029 Group is based in Berlin, Germany.Further Information: https://www.029-group.com/ Neue Schonhauserstr. 3-510719 BerlinE-Mail: ir@029-group.com



End of Inside Information

11-Jun-2024 CET/CEST The EQS Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases.

Archive at www.eqs-news.com


Sanjay Leela Bhansali, a name synonymous with grandeur and intricate detailing in Indian cinema, is known for creating mesmerizing cinematic worlds. Production designer and art director Subrata Chakraborty, who has collaborated with Bhansali on films such as Padmaavat (2018), Gangubai Kathiawadi (2022), and Netflixs Heeramandi, recently shared insights into Bhansalis unique approach to set design.

Chakraborty, whose impressive portfolio also includes Chhapaak (2020), Shershaah (2021), and Dunki (2023), described Bhansalis passion and enthusiasm for his sets. In a recent interview he said Sir (Bhansali) would accompany us too and we would have endless discussions about how the set would look like, says Chakraborty. This collaborative process is key to capturing the essence of Bhansalis vision. For Heeramandi, they aimed to recreate Bombays old charm, constructing two-storey buildings with large balconies, chowks, and mosques, all given a distressed look to mirror the historic Kamathipura area.

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This meticulous set was built in Mumbais Film City, with hundreds of workers involved in bringing Bhansalis vision to life. You know what the best moment is on any of Bhansalis floors, Chakraborty asks. Its when he sees the set for the very first time. According to Chakraborty, Bhansalis reactions are a spectacle in themselves. He is excited as a child. Endlessly praising something he loved, he adds.

Chakrabortys anecdotes highlight Bhansalis childlike excitement and intense passion for perfection, traits that have contributed to his legendary status in the film industry. Currently, Sanjay Leela Bhansali is basking in the grand success of Heeramandi : The Diamond Bazaar and is gearing up for its sequel which was recently announced.
Mohan Charan Majhi will take oath as Odishas chief minister on Wednesday. However, there is no official residence for him yet. Why? The 24-year tenure of Naveen Patnaik holds the answers read more

House hunting is never a piece of cake, be it for common folks or a chief minister. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which stormed to power in Odisha, has ended suspense on its new CM by announcing the name of Mohan Charan Majhi. But it needs to find a residence for the leader to dwell in.

The saffron party wrested Naveen Patnaiks Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in the recent elections, ending the 77-year-olds 24-year reign in Odisha. The BJP clinched 78 of the 147 Assembly seats, while the BJD was reduced to 51. The Congress got 14, Independents three and one was won by the Communist Party of India (Marxist) or CPI(M).

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The BJP swept the Lok Sabha polls, winning 20 of the 21 seats. The Congress bagged the remaining one seat, while Patnaiks party drew a blank.

After the results, Patnaik resigned as the chief minister, paving the way for the formation of a BJP government. As Majhi becomes BJPs first CM in Odisha, where will he stay? Is there no official CM residence?

Naveen and his Niwas

Naveen Patnaik took over the reins of Odisha as its CM in 2000. At the time, the BJD chief decided to work from his personal home, Naveen Niwas, which effectively served as the Chief Ministers residence during his tenure.

Patnaik did not opt for a government-allocated house, creating a unique precedent in the states political history, as per Moneycontrol.

He carried out all official and administrative work from Naveen Niwas, a grand mansion built by his late father and former Odisha CM Biju Patnaik.

Naveen Patnaik at his residence Naveen Niwas in Bhubaneshwar on 25 October 2019. PTI File Photo

As per an NDTV report, the Patnaik familys original bungalow is in Cuttack, where Naveen and his siblings Prem and Gita were born.

Known as Anand Bhavan, a caretaker has been managing the bungalow for the last five decades. This happened after Biju Patnaik moved to Odishas capital Bhubaneswar after the construction of Naveen Niwas, the report added.

The Cuttack bungalow now serves as a museum.

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Dwellings of CMs before Naveen Patnaik

Before Naveen Patnaik came to power, where did other CMs stay?

Well, former chief ministers including Giridhar Gamang and Janaki Ballabh (JB) Patnaik used to reside in a government quarter situated on the stretch between Raj Bhavan and AG Square, as per Times of India (TOI).

After Congress JB Patnaik returned as CM in 1995, the Chief Ministers Office was moved to a two-storeyed building. The structure also acted as Gamangs official residence, as per NDTV.

Many states have exclusive official residence for their CMs. The house where we lived during my fathers tenure as chief minister was not the official residence of the CM. The house had undergone renovation during JB Patnaiks tenure, Shishir Gamang, son of former CM Giridhar, told TOI.

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The building was later converted into the Chief Ministers Grievance Cell by Naveen Patnaik.

The hunt for CM residence

Authorities have started scouting places that can serve as Odisha CMs official residence.

The general administration department has begun the exercise to look for an appropriate and sprawling quarter for the new chief ministers residence. A few vacant quarters including the CMs grievance cell have been shortlisted. After selection of the quarter, immediate renovation and installation of facilities will be done. But it will take some time, a senior government official told TOI.

For now, the administration has decided to prepare a suite in the state guest house for Odishas new chief minister. It will be a temporary stay until they can zero in on a suitable residence.

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Odisha CMs swear-in ceremony

Mohan Majhi , a four-time MLA from Keonjhar, will take the oath of office on 12 June. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will arrive in Bhubaneswar on Wednesday to attend the oath-taking ceremony of the new Odisha government at 5 pm at Janata Maidan.

#WATCH | Mohan Charan Majhi elected as the Leader of BJP Legislative Party in Odisha. He will be the new CM of the state. pic.twitter.com/tDMART1zN7  ANI (@ANI) June 11, 2024

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Manjhi is the BJPs tribal face in Odisha. Before he was declared the CM face in the BJP legislature party meeting in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday, the names of Manmohan Samal, Suresh Pujari, Girish Murm and Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo were doing rounds.

However, KV Singh Deo has been made a deputy CM, along with Pravati Parida.

With inputs from agencies
The surge of euro-sceptic nationalist parties in the European elections is expected to make Ursula von der Leyens efforts to secure a second term as president of the influential European Commission more challenging, although she remains the leading candidate for the position. Von der Leyen needs to secure a qualified majority from the 27 European Union leaders and also a majority in the 720-seat European Parliament read more

The recent European Parliament elections saw the centre-right European Peoples Party (EPP) emerge victorious with 184 seats. This victory strengthens Ursula von der Leyens position in her bid for a second term as the European Commission president.

Speaking about the results, von der Leyen expressed her intention to collaborate with the centre-left and liberal groups that initially backed her. This platform has worked well. It was constructive, it was effective, she stated, signalling her preference to avoid alliances with more extreme right-wing factions.

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Despite the EPPs success, von der Leyens reappointment is not guaranteed. The rise of euro-sceptic nationalist parties complicates her path. In 2019, she narrowly won the presidency with just nine votes above the required majority, despite the EPP being the largest group in the parliament.

This time, she needs a qualified majority from the 27 EU leaders and a majority in the 720-seat European Parliament to secure her position for another five years.

Who is Ursula von der Leyen?

Ursula Gertrud von der Leyen, born on 8 October, 1958, in Brussels, Belgium, is a German physician and a prominent centre-right politician. She has been serving as the 13th president of the European Commission since 2019.

Lead candidate for the European Commission, current European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, speaks during an election event at the European Parliament in Brussels, 9 June, 2024. AP

A member of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the European Peoples Party (EPP), von der Leyen has had a long and distinguished career in politics. Her early life was steeped in European political culture, as her father, Ernst Albrecht, was one of the first European civil servants.

Educated at the London School of Economics and Hanover Medical School, von der Leyen pursued a medical career before entering politics. She served in various ministerial roles in Angela Merkels cabinet from 2005 to 2019, including as the first female defence minister of Germany. Her tenure in Merkels cabinet marked her as a steadfast and influential figure, continuously serving longer than any other minister during Merkels time as chancellor.

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What challenges does von der Leyen face?

Nationalist and euro-sceptic political groups, along with the far-right German AfD, have gained significant ground, potentially holding 149 seats. This could create substantial hurdles for von der Leyen, especially since some members of her potential coalition might not support her, even if their party leaders do.

In 2019, she received crucial votes from right-wing Polish deputies, who are unlikely to support her now due to her strong stance on the EUs Green Deal and rule-of-law issues.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, left, and Friedrich Metz, leader of the CDU, stand in front of the party logo in Berlin, Germany, 10 June, 2024. AP

To ensure parliamentary support, von der Leyen has indicated a willingness to collaborate with the European Conservatives and Reformists Party (ECR), which includes euro-sceptic parties like Brothers of Italy, Spains Vox, and Polands Law and Justice.

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This strategy, however, risks alienating her traditional alliesthe Socialists, liberals, and Greenswho have all voiced opposition to any cooperation with the right.

Why is the support from EU leaders critical?

The support from European leaders is another critical factor. Von der Leyen needs backing from 15 of the 27 EU leaders, representing 65 per cent of the EUs population. The EPPs 13 leaders, including Poland, only represent 26 per cent of the population, necessitating support from leaders like French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

While von der Leyen is generally seen as having performed well during her termparticularly with her handling of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout and the EUs response to Russias invasion of Ukrainethere are complications.

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Macron has suggested former Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi for high EU roles, which could influence his support. Additionally, the upcoming decision involves a package of senior EU posts, making the negotiation process more intricate.

What is the importance of the European Commission presidency?

The role of the European Commission president is one of the most powerful in Europe, overseeing the EUs executive arm and playing a crucial part in shaping EU policies. Ursula von der Leyens leadership has been marked by significant initiatives, including the EU Green Deal and efforts to establish an International Criminal Tribunal for Russia.

Also Read | Centre holds, far-right makes gains in EU elections: How does voting work?

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Forbes named her the most powerful woman in the world in 2022 and 2023, highlighting her influence.

What is the Spitzenkandidat process?

The Spitzenkandidat process, German for lead candidate is a method that connects the selection of the President of the European Commission to the results of the European Parliament elections. Each major European political party, distinct from the political groups within the European Parliament, nominates their candidate for the Commission President ahead of the Parliamentary elections.

The Spitzenkandidat from the largest party, or the one able to form a majority coalition, is then proposed by the European Council to the European Parliament for election as Commission President.

Lead candidate for the European Commission, current European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen speaks during an event at the European Peoples Party headquarters in Brussels, 9 June, 2024. AP

This procedure was first implemented in 2014, though its legitimacy was challenged by some European Council members, with the Prime Ministers of the UK and Hungary voting against the nomination of the EPPs Spitzenkandidat Jean Claude Juncker at the time.

As the EPPs Spitzenkandidat for the 2024 elections, von der Leyens ability to navigate the complex political landscape and secure both the nomination from EU leaders and the majority support in the European Parliament will determine if she retains her pivotal role.

Also Read: What the surge of far-right means for Europe

The next few weeks are critical as she works to consolidate her position amidst the evolving dynamics of European politics.

With inputs from agencies
Emmanuel Macron called for snap elections after being battered in European Parliament elections. The far-right Rassemblement National (National Rally) party, led by Marine Le Pen, is expected to dominate the polls. We explain the partys ideology and what will happen if it wins read more

French president Emmanuel Macron called for snap elections following a significant defeat in the European Parliament elections. The far-right Rassemblement National (National Rally) party, led by Marine Le Pen, is expected to win the elections, though likely falling short of a full majority,

France faces the prospect of a political landscape shift that could see the far-right influence domestic policies more directly.

We take a deep dive into the National Rallys stand on issues like immigration, its closeness with Russia, rising appeal among young voters, and whether they can take control of France after the snap elections.

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French President Emmanuel Macron has dissolved countrys National Assembly. File Image/AP

The inception and evolution of National Rally

The National Rally (RN) was founded in 1972 as the National Front (Front National, FN) by Jean-Marie Le Pen. The party emerged from the fringes of French politics, advocating a blend of nationalist, anti-immigration, and anti-establishment positions. Under Jean-Marie Le Pen, the party was known for its xenophobic and often openly racist rhetoric, which included Holocaust denial and vehement opposition to immigration.

Marine Le Pen, Jean-Maries daughter, took over the party leadership in 2011 and initiated a process of de-demonisation to do away with the partys fascist image and broaden its appeal. She rebranded the FN as the National Rally in 2018, distancing the party from its extremist roots and attempting to present it as a legitimate alternative to the mainstream political establishment.

Under her leadership, the RN has maintained its nationalist and anti-immigration stance but has softened its rhetoric, focusing more on populist themes such as economic protectionism and national sovereignty.

Anti-immigration policies

The National Rally continues to hold stringent views on immigration. Marine Le Pen has called for the abolition of birthright citizenship and stricter policies to combat illegal immigration.

The party advocates for a significant reduction in immigration, tighter border controls, and the prioritization of French nationals in employment and social services, according to a 2024 research paper titled Populism on the verge of power: the goaloriented mainstreaming of the French Rassemblement National.

Source: Populism on the verge of power: the goaloriented mainstreaming of the French Rassemblement National, published in Discover Global Society journal in February 2024.

Despite efforts to rebrand, the RNs policies on immigration still reflect a nationalist and exclusionary stance. The partys platform includes proposals for national preference in jobs and housing, and the suspension of legal immigration from non-European countries. While the RN has toned down the overtly xenophobic language of the past, its core ideology remains centered on preserving French identity and culture against perceived threats from immigration.

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Ties with Putin and Kremlin

The National Rally has well-documented connections with the Kremlin. In 2013, the party received a loan of 9.4 million euros from a Russian bank, a move that has drawn scrutiny and criticism from political opponents and observers. Marine Le Pen has consistently expressed admiration for Russian President Vladimir Putin, praising his nationalist rhetoric and strongman approach to governance.

Russian President Vladimir Putin. File image/Reuters

A parliamentary inquiry in 2023 revealed that the RN had acted as a communication channel for Russian interests, particularly in supporting Moscows annexation of Crimea. I absolutely dont believe that there was an illegal annexation of Crimea. There was a referendum, the inhabitants wished to rejoin Russia, she told BFMTV in 2017.

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Le Pens alignment with Russian positions has raised concerns about the partys foreign policy orientation and its potential impact on Frances relations with the European Union (EU) and the North-Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO).

EU-sceptic party

The National Rally used to be anti-EU. However, following the Brexit debacle, it no longer wants to quit the EU. Still, it does want French exceptions to the laws of the bloc. It no longer wants to quit the Schengen free travel area yet wants a dual border for France and the EU involving systematic checks.

Progressive ideals and movements

Despite its far-right orientation, National Rally has made overtures towards some progressive ideals, particularly in the realms of environmentalism and feminism. The party has incorporated environmental conservation into its platform, framing it as part of a broader commitment to protect the French homeland. This approach has helped the RN appeal to a segment of environmentally conscious voters who may not traditionally align with far-right politics.

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Marine Le Pen has also sought to position herself as an advocate for womens rights, merging it with the anti-Islam rhetoric of the party. She has often criticised the patriarchal elements of Islam and has spoken of promoting gender equality within a nationalist framework.

A 2022 poll indicated that a significant portion of the French population viewed Le Pen as more feminist than Macron.

Attracting the young voter base

The National Rallys voter base has traditionally comprised working-class individuals, small business owners, and rural populations who feel disenfranchised by the mainstream political establishment. However, under Marine Le Pen and her protege, the partys young rising star Jordan Bardella, the party has broadened its appeal to include younger voters, highly educated people, and high-income professionals.

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French far-right leader Marine Le Pen speaks as Jordan Bardella, president of the French far-right National Rally, listens at the party election night headquarters after French President Emanuel Macron announced the dissolution of the National Assembly and called a new legislative election after the defeat in the EU vote, 9 June 2024 in Paris. AP

Bardella, who is expected to be the partys candidate for Prime Minister in the upcoming elections, has played a crucial role in modernising the partys image and expanding its reach. He has attracted younger, urban voters who are disillusioned with the traditional parties and are drawn to the National Rallys populist message, according to The Guardian. This shift has been instrumental in the partys recent electoral successes and its growing influence in French politics.

Past electoral record

The National Rally has made significant electoral gains in recent years. In the 2012 presidential election, Marine Le Pen garnered 17.9 per cent of the vote, a historic high for the party. She advanced to the second round in both the 2017 and 2022 presidential elections, securing 33 per cent and over 40 per cent of the vote, respectively. The results were seen to reflect the partys growing appeal and the increasing polarisation of French politics.

National Rallys chance of taking control of France

If the National Rally wins the upcoming legislative elections, to be held on June 30 and July 7, it wouldnt lead to the ouster of President Macron from office. However, he would need to appoint a new prime minister, possibly, from the National Rally.

Bardella, who will be the partys candidate for prime minister, according to comments given by RN deputy chairman Sebastien Chenu to RTL Radio, is likely to get the post.

In such a scenario, France would enter a period of cohabitation, where the president and the prime minister come from opposing parties. Macron would end up retaining control over foreign policy and defence, while the National Rally would influence domestic policy through the new prime minister, according to Al Jazeera. Cohabitation could lead to significant policy clashes, particularly on issues like immigration, economic regulation, and relations with the European Union.

With inputs from agencies
Data from the Lago Collective showed that rejected visa application fees, known as reverse remittances, netted Schengen nations and the UK nearly $200 million last year. Experts say low and middle-income nations have the highest rejection rates and that the worlds poorest are paying the price read more

The United Kingdom and Schengen countries are taking in hundreds of millions in fees.

Countries around the world are raking in the big bucks by rejecting visas.

The United Kingdom and Schengen countries are taking in hundreds of millions in fees.

Data from the Lago Collective showed that rejected visa application fees, known as reverse remittances, netted EU nations and the UK nearly $200 million last year.

A Schengen visa is a type of visa that allows its holder to travel freely within the Schengen area, which is a zone comprising 27 European countries that have abolished passport and other types of border controls at their mutual borders.

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The Schengen visa is typically issued for short stays of up to 90 days within a 180-day period for tourism, business or family visits. It is a uniform visa that facilitates easier travel between these countries without the need for multiple visas.

Lets take a closer look at how these countries are making moolah:

According to Euro Observer, the EU earned $139 million from Schengen visa rejections in 2023.

Schengen visa rejections brought in $113 million in 2022, the data compiled by Marta Foresti and Otho Mantegazza at Lago Collective showed.

Meanwhile, the UK made $56 million in rejected fees last year.

The fees are non-refundable.

This will likely increase in 2024 given that the visa application fee to travel to the EU is rising from 80 to 90 for adults on 11 June.

For children aged six to 12, the cost will be 45 euros, an increase of 5 euros. There are no charges for children under six.

The above figures do not take into account the expense of being unable to travel for business and leisure, or bills for legal advice and private agencies involved in processing visa applications.

Ninety per cent of the fees for rejected Schengen visas come from African and Asian nations.

Low and middle-income nations have the highest rejection rates for short-term visas for Europe and the UK.

African nations are most affected with Ghana, Senegal and Nigeria having rejection rates as high as 40 to 50 per cent.

Schengen Visa became globally expensive effective today. AP

Most visa applications for the EU are made by people from Morocco and Algeria, as per Euro Observer.

Pakistanis alone spent $5.7 million on UK applications that were rejected, as per Dawn.

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Around 40 per cent of applications from Pakistan were rejected last year.

Around half of Schengen visas from Pakistan were also rejected.

Pakistanis spent $3.5 million spent on Schengen visa applications.

What do experts say?

Visa inequality has very tangible consequences and the worlds poorest pay the price, Marta Foresti, founder of Lago Collective told EU Observer.

You can think of the costs of rejected visas as reverse remittances, money flowing from poor to rich countries. We never hear about these costs when discussing aid or migration, it is time to change that, she added.

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The rejection rate for short-term visa applications from Pakistan is very high, at approximately 40pc for both Schengen countries and the UK, resulting in very significant costs for all involved. This is surprising given the multiple ties between Pakistan, Europe and the UK.

Yet the challenges faced by Pakistani nationals to reach Europe through legal means became tragically clear a year ago when hundreds died in the Greece boat capsize. People have no choice but to resort to dangerous journeys, Foresti added.

Foresti in a blog last year noted, Visas regimes are not equal or reciprocal. An Italian national can obtain a visa to Sierra Leone on arrival for 30. A Sierra Leonean wishing to travel to Italy for a business meeting must undertake two separate trips to the Italian Consulate in Abidjan, Cote dIvoire, over several weeks at eye-watering costs.

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Dawn quoted Lago Collective as saying in a statement, These costs are just the tip of the iceberg: in most cases, applicants pay more than the basic application fee, with private agencies involved in processing visa applications and brokers providing additional services along the way. The costs of not being able to travel for business and leisure also results into significant losses for all those involved.

With inputs from agencies
Vietnam is accelerating its construction of artificial islands amid its territorial dispute with China in the South China Sea. Over the past three years, the area of Vietnamese artificial islands has expanded more than sevenfold, now reaching half the size of Chinas artificial islands, said a report citing satellite images read more

The Namyit island (in picture) is 194 acres and is occupied by Vietnam. CSIS/AMTI

Vietnams aggressive land reclamation and dredging activities in the South China Sea are setting the stage for a record year of island-building. This surge in activity has significantly expanded Vietnams territorial claims in one of the worlds most contested waterways.

According to US researchers and various think tanks, Vietnams recent efforts have nearly matched the total land created over the previous two years combined. Since November 2023, Vietnam has added 692 new acres (280 hectares) of land across 10 features in the Spratly Islands, commented the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative (AMTI) at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).

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This brings the total land reclaimed by Vietnam to approximately 2,360 acres, a significant increase from the 329 acres recorded three years ago. The rapid expansion is intended to solidify Vietnams presence in the region, which has seen overlapping claims from China, Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, apart from Vietnam.

Vietnam is on pace for a record year of island building in 2024, the AMTI report stated. This increase in land reclamation is a strategic move to enhance Vietnams capabilities and assert its territorial claims amidst rising tensions in the South China Sea.

How has military infrastructure increased?

Vietnams largest outpost, Barque Canada Reef, has nearly doubled in size over the past six months, growing from 238 to 412 acres. The feature now measures 4,318 meters in length, making it capable of hosting a 3,000-meter runway, similar to those found on Chinas largest outpostsFiery Cross, Mischief, and Subi Reefs.

Currently, Vietnam operates a 1,300-meter runway on Spratly Island, suitable for most military aircraft, but a longer runway would support larger military transport, surveillance, and bomber aircraft.

Top 10 largest features in the Spratly Islands, along with their size and current occupier. CSIS/AMTI

Other significant developments include the creation of 102 acres of new land at Discovery Great Reef, 52 acres at South Reef, 41 acres at Namyit Island, and 37 acres at Pearson Reef. These expansions are part of a broader strategy to enhance Vietnams military and logistical capabilities in the region.

With an enormous length of 14,173 feet, Barque Canada Reef has the potential to have a 9,842-foot runway like Chinas three major artificial islands, the report highlighted. This development would mark a significant escalation in Vietnams military infrastructure in the South China Sea.

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How has China fared?

The South China Sea is a crucial maritime corridor through which more than $3 trillion of trade passes each year. The overlapping claims have made it a flashpoint for regional tensions. China, which has been building islands in the South China Sea since 2013, claims sovereignty over vast swathes of the sea, including areas where Vietnam is expanding its islands.

Chinas extensive land reclamation efforts between 2013 and 2015 resulted in the creation of 4,650 acres of new land. Despite announcing a halt to reclamation work in 2015, China has continued to build infrastructure, including military-grade airstrips and harbours. Vietnams recent activities, though not as extensive as Chinas, represent a significant increase in its efforts to assert control over the disputed areas.

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Temporary helipads have appeared across many of the expanding features, including Discovery Great Reef, Ladd Reef, Tennent Reef, and South Reef, said the report. CSIS/AMTI

China has more holdings in the region than any other country, but Vietnam is now in second place, noted the AMTI report. The Barque Canada Reef, controlled by Hanoi, could now host a runway sufficient for military transport planes or bombers, further intensifying the military buildup in the area.

What may be the future implications?

The rapid expansion of artificial islands by Vietnam has raised concerns about the potential for conflict in the region. The Grandview Institution, a Beijing-based think tank, recently warned that Vietnams increasing activities could complicate and escalate the situation in the South China Sea.

Recent months have seen several clashes involving Philippine and Chinese vessels , including collisions and the use of water cannons by China. These incidents highlight the fragile nature of the peace in the region and the risks associated with the militarisation of these disputed territories.

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Barque Canada Reef (in picture) remains Vietnams largest outpost, nearly doubling over the last six months from 238 to 412 acres. CSIS/AMTI

Vietnam has significantly accelerated the expansion of its outposts in the Spratly Islands over the last six months, the AMTI report stated. This acceleration is not only a testament to Vietnams strategic ambitions but also a clear indicator of the heightened competition and potential for conflict in one of the worlds most critical maritime regions.

Also Read: Philippines Prez looks to India for regional stability amid South China Sea tensions

Vietnams aggressive expansion, marked by significant military infrastructure developments, highlights the escalating tensions and the strategic importance of this contested waterway.
Leaders of Ajit Pawars NCP and Shinde Sena have expressed their disgruntlement over the allocation of portfolios in Modi 3.0, as both parties were denied Cabinet berths. The Mahayuti alliances poor showing in Maharashtra Lok Sabha election results has also sparked a blame game read more

The ruling alliance in Maharashtra seems to be in trouble. PTI File Photo

The 18th Lok Sabha election results brought jubilation for some political parties and worry for others. However, some found themselves experiencing both emotions as voters mandate came to light. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would probably associate with this third category.

While the saffron party has succeeded in returning to power at the Centre for a third term in a row, it failed to secure a majority on its own, leading to the formation of a coalition government. The third National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken charge. But the saffron party is still not out of the woods.

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If reports are to be believed, trouble is brewing in the Mahayuti alliance, comprising the BJP, Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) camp headed by Ajit Pawar, in Maharashtra.

But why? Lets understand.

Why Mahayuti bloc needs to worry

The Maharashtra Lok Sabha election results have given a reason for the ruling Mahayuti alliance in the state to lose sleep.

The Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), consisting of Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress, and Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar), clinched 30 out of 48 Lok Sabha seats.

The Mahayuti managed to bag just 17 seats, with the BJP getting nine, Shinde Sena seven and Ajit Pawars NCP one.

The ruling Mahayuti alliance in Maharashtra won only 17 of the 48 Lok Sabha seats in the state. PTI File Photo

The remaining one seat was won by an Independent candidate  Vishal Patil  who has extended support to the Congress.

The results assume significance as Maharashtra is set to hold Assembly elections in a few months.

Since the results came out, chasms have started erupting in the ruling Mahayuti bloc over various issues, including the recent allocation of ministerial berths in the third Modi government.

Is Ajit Pawars NCP miffed?

Ajit Pawars NCP had reportedly asked for a Cabinet berth in Modi 3.0.

However, it was given a Minister of State (independent charge) post by the BJP. The NCP led by the Maharashtra deputy chief minister rejected the offer. As of now, there is no Union minister from the party in the Modi government.

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As per The Hindu, Pawar said he would not accept a position below a Cabinet berth and is ready to wait for the next Cabinet reshuffle.

Similarly, Eknath Shindes Shiv Sena was expecting a Cabinet berth, along with a Minister of State (MoS) position.

NCP MLA Anna Bansode expressed disgruntlement over the issue. Maharashtras expectation was that both the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP be awarded Cabinet berths. We have two MPs in Sunil Tatkare and Praful Patel (Rajya Sabha member). Our partys expectation was that at least Mr. Patel, who has been a Cabinet minister in the past, be given a berth this time. Hence, the cadre of these parties are upset by our parties being excluded from the Union Cabinet, he told The Hindu.

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Doubts about the future of the Mahayuti alliance rose last week when Sharad Pawars grandnephew and his party MLA Rohit Pawar claimed 18-19 MLAs of Ajit Pawar s NCP were in touch with the veteran politician.

They are eager to return but our party chief will take the final decision. We will take the decision based on how a particular MLA has behavedThose who have been offensive will not be taken, he reportedly said.

However, the NCP camp has rejected these claims.

Ajits recent praise for his uncle, Sharad Pawar, has also added fuel to the fire. On Monday (10 June), the NCP president spoke highly of the veteran politician at the foundation day event of the party.

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Sharad Pawar set up NCP 25 years ago over the nationality of Congress Sonia Gandhi. I am thankful to him for leading the party and providing powerful leadership to the organisation, he said, as per Times of India (TOI).

The newspaper says this is the first such adulation for Pawar Senior by his nephew who split the NCP into two last July. His remarks have also garnered attention as they come in the wake of the Lok Sabha results.

Ajit Pawar also told the party workers about why they turned down the MoS with independent charge, citing Praful Patels extensive experience as Cabinet minister in the UPA government.

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Notably, the deputy CM added that the NCP told the BJP leadership that the party would wait for some time and will continue with NDA.

What has Shinde-led Shiv Sena said?

The Shinde-led Sena has also expressed disappointment over being denied a Cabinet role in the Modi government.

A day after the Union ministers took the oath of office in Delhi, Shinde Sena MP Shrirang Barne said his party is one of the oldest allies of the BJP and was expecting a Cabinet berth after it won seven of the 15 seats it contested.

He pointed out the proportion of other NDA allies in the new Council of Ministers.

HD Kumaraswamy [of the Janata Dal (Secular)] with two MPs was given a Cabinet berth. Likewise, despite Jitan Ram Manjhi [Hindustani Awami Morcha] being the sole elected MP of his party, he was made a Cabinet Minister. Chirag Paswan [Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas)] who got five MPs, less than the Shiv Sena, was made a Cabinet Minister. Considering our strike rate, we certainly deserved a Cabinet berth and an MoS. Likewise, even Ajit Pawars NCP deserved a Cabinet berth, Barne said, as per The Hindu.

#WATCH | Pimpri Chinchwad, Maharashtra | On Shiv Sena getting one MoS seat in Central govt, party MP Shrirang Barne says, "Shiv Sena is an old ally of BJP-NDA. Yesterday, Shiv Sena got one MoS seat, but I think the party should have got a Cabinet berth like Majhi ji's and pic.twitter.com/G1R5V71M5O  ANI (@ANI) June 10, 2024

Shinde Sena MP Jadhav Prataprao Ganpatrao is the partys sole representative in the Union Cabinet. He has been allocated the AYUSH ministry and Health and Family Welfare ministry as an MoS with independent charge.

Shinde Sena has tried to downplay Barnes remarks. Eknath Shindes son, Shrikant Shinde, said his party was supporting the Modi government unconditionally.

This nation has asked for, and needs, the leadership of Prime Minister Modi. There is no bargaining or negotiation for power. We have extended unconditional support to an ideological coalition. We want Prime Minister Modi to carry forward the noble work of nation building. Our party and all its MLAs and MPs are faithfully committed to the NDA, Shrikant said in a statement.

What is the future of Mahayuti allies?

The Lok Sabha election results have come as a wake-up call for the Mahayuti alliance in Maharashtra.

The sudden announcement by BJPs Devendra Fadnavis, who offered to step down as the deputy chief minister after the dismal electoral performance, also added a sense of unease in the coalition, as per a Deccan Herald (DH) report.

Later, the former Maharashtra CM took a U-turn, saying he is not someone who runs away.

Fadnavis is considered the architect of the Mahayuti bloc.

The results have exposed the fault lines within the ruling alliance. Speaking to CNBC-TV 18 after the results, a senior Shinde Sena leader said, We knew Ajit Pawar was doing to drag us down. We, in fact, raised the concern and told the same to (the) BJP. But the BJP didnt listen to us. You can see what it did to our alliance.

Talking about the upcoming Assembly polls, the leader said, If Ajit Pawar is not dropped from the alliance, he will once again drag us down. We will express our concerns once again so that proper course correction can happen on time.

The CNBC-TV 18 report mentioned that similar views were expressed by several BJP workers on the day of polling in Baramati, an important seat for the Pawar family.

They said that while the BJP and Shinde Sena share a common Hindutva ideology, which made it easier for them to convince voters that it was a natural alliance, this was not the case with the Ajit Pawar-led NCP. We knew including Pawar in the Mahayuti alliance was a bad idea. We, ourselves, were not convinced so we failed to convince our voters to vote for Pawars candidates, the BJP workers told CNBC-TV 18.

Amid rumblings within the ruling alliance, the Opposition MVA is having a field day.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut claimed Shinde Sena MLAs are in touch with his party. The MLAs are not in touch with me but are in touch with our party leaders. After their defeat in the Lok Sabha, they (MLAs in Shinde camp) have realised where they stand and therefore have gotten in touch with our leaders, he told Indian Express, adding that the party has not yet decided about taking them back.

However, Shinde Sena has rubbished his claims, countering that two newly elected MPs of Uddhav Sena and its MLAs have sent feelers to the ruling party.

Congress MLA and leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra Assembly Vijay Wadettiwar says 40 MLAs of Shinde Sena and Ajit Pawars NCP want to return to their respective parent parties.

He also told the NCP camp of Ajit Pawar to forget about getting any Cabinet berth in the future.

Their [Ajit Pawar factions] bargaining power is over. It is a case of eat whatever you get. Within the next couple of months, 40 MLAs from both the Shinde Sena and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP will return back to their original parties, Wadettiwar said, as per The Hindu.

As cracks develop within the Mahayuti alliance, can it survive until the Assembly elections or will we witness more instability in Maharashtra politics? Only time will tell.

With inputs from agencies
A plane crash resulted in the deaths of Malawi vice president Saulos Chilima and nine others on 11 June. After an extensive search operation, the wreckage of the missing plane was discovered in Chikangawa Forest, with no survivors read more

Malawis Vice President Saulos Chilima and nine others have been confirmed dead following a military aircraft crash. The incident occurred on 10 June, 2024, leading to an intense search operation which ultimately ended in confirmation of death for all aboard the plane.

Earlier the Malawian military had said that the plane may have crashed in dense forest, but it had not yet been found. According to Reuters, top military official Paul Valentino Phiri had told reporters that search and rescue operations had been hampered by foggy weather around the Chikangawa Forest which was affecting visibility.

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Malawis President Lazarus Chakwera confirmed the demise of Chilima and his entourage during an address to the nation on Tuesday. The ill-fated flight included not only Chilima but also notable figures such as former first lady Shanil Dzimbiri, ex-wife of former Malawian President Bakili Muluzi.

All you need to know about the crash

On 10 June 10, 2024, the Malawi Defence Force Aircraft carrying Chilima, along with nine others, failed to land at Mzuzu International Airport as scheduled. The aircraft departed from the southern African nations capital Lilongwe at 9:17 am and was expected to land at 10:02 am. However, due to adverse weather conditions, the plane attempted to turn back without landing. Moments later, air traffic control lost contact, and the plane disappeared from radar.

The aircraft, a small, propeller-driven plane operated by the Malawian armed forces, had seven passengers and three military crew members on board. According to the president, the plane, identified by its tail number as a Dornier 228-type twin propeller plane, was delivered to the Malawian army in 1988. This information was confirmed by the ch-aviation website, which tracks aircraft data, reported AP.

Telecommunications towers later traced the last known position of the aircraft to a 10-kilometer radius within one of the plantations. This area became the focal point of the search and rescue operations.

Authorities reported that approximately 600 personnel were involved in the search operation within the expansive forest plantation in the Viphya Mountains near Mzuzu.

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Malawi Vice President Saulos Chilima, left, and his wife Mary disembark from a plane upon his return from South Korea in Lillongwe, 9 June, 2024. AP

Chakwera, addressing the nation on state TV, had then expressed his concern and commitment: I know this is a heartbreaking situation. I know we are all frightened and concerned. I too am concerned. But I want to assure you that I am sparing no available resource to find that plane. And I am holding onto every fiber of hope that we will find survivors.

Despite international assistance from the US, UK, Norway, and Israel, the search concluded tragically. A press statement from the Office of the President and Cabinet also confirmed: The aircraft, which was carrying the Vice President, the Right Honourable Dr. Saulos Klaus Chilima, and nine others, was found this morning in the Chikangawa forest. Unfortunately, all on board have perished in the crash.

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Malawi declares national mourning

Chakwera has declared a national day of mourning and ordered that all flags fly at half-mast until the day of the funeral. He expressed his deepest condolences to the families of the deceased: This is a day of great sorrow for our nation. We mourn the loss of our Vice President, a great leader, and all those who were on board.

Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Colleen Zamba, reiterated the presidents sentiments in the official statement: The Office of the President and Cabinet wishes to inform the general public that the search and rescue operation for the Malawi Defence Force Aircraft that went missing on Monday, 10th June 2024, has regretfully ended in tragedy. The President has expressed his deepest condolences to the families of the Vice President and all those who have lost their lives in this tragic incident.

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Who was Saulos Chilima?

Saulos Klaus Chilima, born on 12 February, 1973, was a prominent Malawian politician and business executive. Before entering politics, Chilima had a distinguished career in the private sector, holding top positions at Unilever, Coca-Cola, and Airtel Malawi. He transitioned to politics and became Vice President in June 2020 after a successful campaign alongside Chakwera, according to his profile on Malawis government website.

Malawi Vice President Saulos Chilima, left, greets government officials upon his return from South Korea in Lillongwe, Sunday, 9 June, 2024. AP

Chilimas educational background includes a Ph.D. in Knowledge Management from the University of Bolton in the UK, awarded in August 2015. Known for his commitment to public service and development, Chilima was a devout Roman Catholic and was married to Mary Chibambo. The couple had two children, Sean and Elizabeth.

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His political journey was marked by his dedication to transforming Malawi. As Vice President, Chilima was instrumental in various developmental projects and policy reforms aimed at improving the lives of Malawians.

With inputs from agencies
The BJPs suspense over Odishas new chief ministerial face will likely end today. The partys state legislature unit is meeting on Tuesday to elect its leader, who will be sworn in as the chief minister on Wednesday. State BJP president Manmohan Samal, former state party chief Suresh Pujari, senior MLA KV Singh Deo and retired Gujarat cadre IAS officer Girish Murmu are being considered for the job read more

According to the latest developments, Manmohan Samal and Suresh Pujari are seen as the potential CM aspirant. Image Courtesy: @SamalManmohan7/@sureshkpujari/X

The BJPs suspense over Odishas new chief ministerial face will likely end today.

The partys state legislature unit is meeting on Tuesday to elect its leader, who will be sworn in as the Chief Minister on Wednesday.

On 5 June, Naveen Patnaik tendered his resignation after his 24-year reign over the state was ended by the BJP, which stormed to power in Odisha on its own for the first time by winning 78 out of 47 seats.

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Heres a brief look at the key names in the fray for the CM post.

Frontrunners for the Odisha CM post

The BJP camp is still engaged in intense discussions about selecting the Odisha chief minister and the makeup of its new administration.

The next chief minister will be chosen by the ruling party, with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Environment Minister Bhupendra Singh closely supervising the process.

Earlier, senior party leaders Dharmendra Pradhan and Jual Oram were formerly seen to be the most qualified candidates for the position. However, they have been incorporated into the Narendra Modi-led NDA government 3.0.

Oram has been assigned the charge of the Ministry of tribal affairs, while Pradhan has been returned to the education portfolio.

Manmohan Samal

According to the latest developments, state BJP president Manmohan Samal is seen as the potential CM aspirant.

The only drawback to this possibility is his defeat in the election from the Chandabali Assembly seat with a small margin of 1,916 votes.

According to The Indian Express, the 65-year-old hails from Bhadrak district and has been active in politics since his student days, when he was part of RSSs student wing, ABVP.

                



               pic.twitter.com/teifuQrAZA  Manmohan Samal (Modi Ka Parivar) (@SamalManmohan7) June 10, 2024

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He has been the state BJP president twice, once from 1999 to 2004 and then again from March 2023.

In April 2000, Samal was elected to the Rajya Sabha only to resign after four years after being elected to the state Assembly from Bhadraks Dhamnagar.

He has held various portfolios, including revenue and food supplies and consumer welfare from 2004 to 2008 in the BJD-BJP administration.

For the latest BJP victory, he played a key role as he opposed the alliance talks between the BJD and the BJP, persuading his party leadership to go to the polls alone.

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Suresh Pujari

The second probable candidate for the top job is former state BJP chief Suresh Pujari, who has been elected from the Brajarajnagar Assembly constituency for the first time.

The 64-year-old first came to light during the violent students movement in Sambalpur in 1980, as per Orissa Diary.

An advocate by profession, Pujari was first elected to the Lok Sabha from Bargarh constituency in 2019.

Prior to that, he lost in Assembly elections five times.

He was appointed the state BJP president in 2006 and has also served as the National Secretary of the BJP, representing Odisha in BJPs central committee chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Recently, while speaking to reporters about the CMs post, he said, The Parliamentary Board of the party takes final decision in these matters. The parameter for selecting the CM is what the PM had said during his election campaign. A 24-carat pure Odia will be the CM of Odisha, who works for Odia asmita and culture.

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KV Singh Deo

Senior MLA KV Singh, who belongs to the erstwhile royal family of Patnagarh, is also being considered as a key CM candidate.

The 67-year-old has now been elected for the sixth time from the Patnagarh constituency.

He had also served as a minister in the erstwhile BJD-BJP coalition government, handling key portfolios like industries and urban development.

Singh served as the state BJP president from 2013 to 2016.

Girish Murmu

There are speculations that the BJP may also consider Girish Murmu for the states top post.

Known for getting things done, Girish Chandra Murmu, a retired Gujarat cadre IAS officer from the 1985 batch, is another candidate under consideration.

According to Hindustan Times, some BJP officials believe, Murmu, whose hometown is Mayurbhanjs Betnoti, may be the great choice to lead Odisha.

The 65-year-old is currently working as the World Health Organizations (WHO) external auditor.

Previously, he has served as the lieutenant governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Indias comptroller and auditor general (CAG), Prime Minister Narendra Modis CMOs senior secretary, and a few significant roles in the PM administration at the Centre.

Criteria for selection

In response to rumours, state BJP president Manmohan Samal last week had said that the matter will be decided by the partys parliamentary board.

Additionally, he highlighted remarks made by PM Narendra Modi during an election rally in Berhampur, in which he stated that the new BJP CM would take the oath of office on 10 June.

However, the postponement is due to PM Modis commitments, who was caught up with his own swearing-in ceremony on Sunday and a meeting with party MPs yesterday.

The selection of the CM will be based on the criteria set by the PM  an Odia who will uphold the culture and tradition of the state will be the next chief minister of Odisha, Samal was quoted by PTI.

As per the latest developments, the swearing-in ceremony of the Odisha CM will take place on 12 June, Wednesday, alongside Andhra Pradesh where Telegu Desam Party chief N Chandrababu Naidu will be sworn in as the CM.

Reportedly, Odishas outgoing CM Naveen Patnaik has also been invited to the oath-taking ceremony.

According to The Times of India, the CM-designate would first visit the Jagannath temple in Puri. The BJP will reopen all the four gates of the famous temple, fulfilling its poll promise. Notably, the gates have been closed since the COVID-19 pandemic.

With inputs from agencies
The Narendra Modi government has finally declared the portfolios in the new Cabinet. While it is an exercise in continuity, it also shows that the BJP is gearing up for the Assembly elections in six states and a Union Territory later this year. Heres how read more

A week after the Lok Sabha election results were declared, the Modi Sarkar 3.0 has finally taken form and is ready for the tough task ahead. On Monday (10 June), a day after Narendra Modi was sworn in along with 72 ministers, the portfolios have been allocated and we now know that Modi has retained the big four  home, finance, external affairs and defence  in an indication that he wants to focus on continuity.

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While many would say that continuity is the biggest takeaway from this Modi sarkar 3.0, theres another big matter to look at. A close look at the ministers show that the BJP is all gearing up for the Assembly elections in six states and Union territories. Several of the states that are going to the polls later this year have received substantial representation in the third Narendra Modi government.

Lets examine this closer.

Who got what

Before we deep dive into how Modi has enacted a balancing act with his Cabinet, lets take a better look at who has got what.

Modi has retained Rajnath Singh as his defence minister, Amit Shah as his home minister, Nirmala Sitharaman as his finance minister and S Jaishankar as his external affairs minister. Hes also given former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan the charge of the agriculture ministry while Haryanas ML Khattar has been given housing and urban affairs along with the power ministry.

PM Modi has retained Rajnath Singh as his defence minister. Moreover, Amit Shah will continue as Home minister while Nirmala Sitharaman will be the finance minister and S Jaishankar will handle external affairs. File image/PTI

The BJP has also kept key portfolios including education, railways, road transport and highways. As the Indian Express reports, as many as 15 ministers from the previous term have retained their portfolios including Rao Inderjit Singh (Statistics, Planning); Jitendra Singh (Science & Technology, Earth Sciences, MoS in the PMO; Personnel; Atomic Energy and Space); Arjun Ram Meghwal (Law and MoS Parliamentary Affairs).

However, keeping in mind the importance of his allies, Modi has also handed the TDP and JD(U) some key portfolios. For instance, PM Modi has allocated the key civil aviation portfolio to young TDP minister K Ram Mohan Naidu .

The JD(U)s Rajiv Ranjan Lalan Singh has got panchayati raj and ministry of fisheries, animal husbandry and dairying. Chirag Paswan will continue in the footsteps of his late father Ram Vilas Paswans in the food processing ministry. Moreover, HD Kumaraswamy of Karnataka-based Janata Dal-Secular, has been given steel ministry, while former Bihar CM Jitan Ram Manjhi has got the micro, small and medium enterprises ministry.

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Cabinet with an eye on the polls

But the allocation of ministries isnt just about continuity. Its also about Assembly elections in 2025. Later in the year, six states and Union Territories  Haryana, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Jammu and Kashmir, Delhi and Bihar  will go to the polls. And early next year, Assam in the northeast will also go to the polls.

In fact, the state of Bihar, bound for Assembly polls this year, finds sizeable representation in the Cabinet. Eight berths have been given to people from the state. They are: 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).

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Union Miniser Giriraj Singh, who hails from Bihar. The state of Bihar finds sizeable representation in the Cabinet. File image/PTI

In fact, the BJPs picks reflect a careful mix of castes, with two upper castes (Giriraj Singh and Satish Dubey), an OBC (Nityanand Rai) and an EBC (Raj Bhushan Choudhary). In fact, Raj Bhushan Choudhury, a political newbie and a doctor by profession, represents the Mallah community in the Nishad-dominated seat of Muzaffarpur. Moreover, with the inclusion of Ramnath Thakur, the son of Bharat Ratna Karpoori Thakur, who is still considered one of the most iconic leaders of the Economically Backward Classes (EBCs), the messaging is clear.

Another state which will go to the polls this year is Maharashtra. And considering the BJPs less than stellar performance in the state, the party has ensured to give it better representation in the Cabinet. The state has got five ministers, including BJP heavyweight Nitin Gadkari. Of the five berths, the BJP has kept two and given one each to allies Shiv Sena and the Republican Party of India.

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A fifth  a junior ministers (independent charge)  was said to have been allotted to Ajit Pawars NCP . But the partys nominee for government  Praful Patel  did not turn accept the job, terming it as a demotion.

Maharashtras Nitin Gadkari has been retained as the transport and roads minister in Modi Cabinet 3.0. File image/PTI

Apart from Gadkari, the BJP has given Raksha Khadse, a young and prominent OBC face, the MoS charge in the ministry of sports.

Similarly, Haryana which goes to the polls this year, has been rewarded with three ministerial berths. Former BJP chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar, who won from Karnal, has been made Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs; and Minister of Power.

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BJPs Rao Inderjit Singh, who has been made MoS (Independent Charge), and Krishna Pal Gurjar (MoS) have also found space in the Cabinet, reflecting the party intention for the elections.

The UT of Jammu and Kashmir, which will vote for its state Assembly election soon, for the first time since 2014, is represented by the BJPs Jitendra Singh in the Modi 3.0. And Delhi, which will vote early next year, saw first-time MPs Harsh Malhotra (East Delhi) and Kamaljeet Sehrawat (West Delhi) being inducted.

BJPs Jitendra Singh has been retained in the Modi Cabinet 3.0. The leader represents Jammu and Kashmir. File image/PTI

The Cabinet has got two ministers  both from the BJP  from Jharkhand, which will also go to the polls this year. Annapurna Devi has been given charge of the women and child development ministry while Sanjay Seth has been made MoS in the defence ministry.

In 2026, Assam will also go to the polls and hoping to retain its sway there, the BJP has inducted two ministers from the northeastern state in the form of former state chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal, who has been given ministry of ports, and BJP Rajya Sabha MP Pabitra Margherita as a minister of state. As The Wire notes, the message behind that decision is clear. Margherita has been elevated to thwart the rise of three young and influential opposition leaders from the Ahom community that is key to winning several of eastern/upper Assams Assembly segments.

The portfolio allocation makes the messaging clear. While the national elections may not have gone the BJPs way completely  they were unable to achieve the majority mark of 272 on their own  the party is already readying itself for the Assembly polls in an attempt to consolidate their power in the country.

Whether representation of leaders will help in their efforts, only time will tell.

With inputs from agencies
Expert predicts positive export outlook for H2

16:21, June 11, 2024 By Zhong Nan and Wang Keju ( China Daily

At Jiangsu Dongcheng Power Tools Co Ltd, a Qidong, Jiangsu province-based manufacturer, in early June, spare parts flow seamlessly along an assembly line where they are processed, assembled into electric tools, and packaged in an efficient process.

This batch of electric tools will be shipped to countries including Vietnam, Algeria, and Brazil within the month.

"Since initiating our international expansion in 2013, our electric tools have developed a vast marketing network that covers more than 60 countries and regions across Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, North Africa, and Latin America," said Shen Yunyun, head of the company's sales unit for overseas markets.

With the rapid evolution of cross-border e-commerce, Shen said that the Chinese company is strategically focusing on this area to seek more customers.

Following the market trend, Jiangsu Dongcheng, supported by 5,000 engineers and workers, will also continue to invest in the research and development of cordless electric tools and battery storage business-related electric tools to support its export business this year, according to information released by Nanjing Customs.

Market observers said that China's ongoing optimization of its export goods structure and expansion of its trading partnerships will help mitigate the effects of rising trade barriers and other external challenges.

Thanks to these factors, China's exports surged 6.1 percent year-on-year to 9.95 trillion yuan ($1.37 trillion) in the first five months, said the General Administration of Customs.

China has been enhancing its industrial framework by transitioning from primarily processing raw materials to increasingly focusing on greener, advanced high-tech products. This shift underscores the country's evolving competitive edge in the next phase, said Lin Jiantian, director of the General Administration of Customs' Department of Enterprise Management and Audit-based Control.

China's export growth between January and May was attributable to the nation's production capabilities, market potential, and tech-intensive green products. A positive outlook is maintained for the coming months, said Guo Lei, chief economist at GF Securities.

A recent survey conducted by the Beijing-based China Council for the Promotion of International Trade showed that 81.6 percent of foreign trade-oriented businesses predict stable or increased exports in the first half.

The World Trade Organization also forecast in April a rebound in global trade, expecting goods trade to expand 2.6 percent in 2024 and 3.3 percent in 2025 after dipping 1.2 percent in 2023.

Li Muyuan, executive vice president of the China Container Industry Association in Beijing, warned that geopolitical tensions and supply chain disruptions remain key factors affecting China's foreign trade in the second half.

Disruptions in shipping routes, particularly those related to security issues in the Red Sea and the Suez Canal, could lead to increased shipping costs, extended travel times, and supply chain interruptions, said Li.

Influenced by anticipated uncertainties of new trade policies due to the US general elections later this year, many US retailers and businesses from other sectors have been rushing to order products from Chinese exporters to replenish their stocks, said Yang Changyong, a researcher with the Academy of Macroeconomic Research under the National Development and Reform Commission.

Also, the European Union has recently launched a series of discriminatory investigations against Chinese electric vehicles, wind power, and photovoltaic products, leading to an increasing risk of economic and trade frictions between China and the EU, said He Yadong, spokesman for the Ministry of Commerce.

Liang Ming, director of the Institute of International Trade, which is part of the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, emphasized enhanced trade cooperation with a broader array of partners, including economies of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and Arab League countries.

This diversification will assist China in addressing the challenges arising from "decoupling" efforts conducted by the United States and certain European countries, said Liang.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Zhong Wenxing)
June 10, 2024: Once more, the Russian GLONASS is in trouble. The problem is a familiar one, too many GLONASS satellites are ending their service lives, usually seven years, and Roscosmos, the Russian space agency, does not have the money to replace all of the GLONASS satellites. The cash shortage means the program to build improved GLONASS satellites, like GLONASS-K, which is the first GLONASS satellite that is unpressurized and weighs much less at 750 kg while also having a longer service life of ten years. The current GLONASS-M weighs 1,450 kg and has a service life of seven years.

Currently most of the 24 GLONASS satellites in service are past their seven year service lives and, as expected, operating erratically, and starting to fail. Maintaining the worldwide GLONASS satellite network does not have a high priority because Russian personal, commercial, and military satellite navigation users have long used satellite navigation equipment that contained GLONASS and American GPS receivers. This combination provides more accurate location information and a more reliable system because the two satellite systems contain about fifty satellites.

Keeping GLONASS active with a full constellation of 24 satellites with the latest technology is expensive and used to depend on a steady supply of high-tech components only available from the United States and its allies. Imports of those are blocked by Western sanctions for Russias invasion of Ukraine. Recently China has also become a major supplier of electronics needed for navigation satellites. Russia has the option to buy the components it used to obtain from Western countries. Depending on China for components does not solve the fundamental problem that Russia does not have the money to maintain GLONASS. Since the American GPS system began operating in 1993, several other similar systems have appeared. GLONASS went online in 2011 and the Chinese Beidou came online in 2020, at the same time as the European Galileo system. Creating and maintaining these global systems is expensive and only the United States and China have been able to finance continuous operation and upgrades. Galileo, which is paid for by a coalition of nations, has had problems getting coalition members to provide the needed funds. Russia tried to compete but ran out of money.

Multiple global positioning satellite systems increase the accuracy and reliability of the signals, as well as provide redundancy and interoperability in case of disruption of service. Multiple systems can also create problems involving spectrum congestion, signal interference, and coordination complications.

By 2020 it was believed that current anti-jamming efforts were sufficient to keep American military GPS use viable for a while. That was optimistic because improvements in GPS jamming and spoofing technology were introduced more rapidly than expected. Since GPS disruption it has become increasingly obvious that Russia has been regularly jamming or spoofing GPS signals, mainly to hide the exact location equipment that allows GPS tracking. In the last five years there have been thousands of incidents where Russia has been jamming or spoofing satellite navigation signals used by the American GPS, Chinese Beidou, Europes Galileo and Russian GLONASS when used by foreigners. Most of this activity was not obvious jamming but the more difficult to detect spoofing. Russia used this to conceal the true location of key Russian government officials and Russian military units. The spoofing was particularly common for Russian military forces in Ukraine and Syria. Spoofing replaced the actual satellite signal with a false one that rendered smart bombs or planned attacks on targets inaccurate. Spoofing can introduce false signals gradually and sometimes delay a navigation system's realization that it is being deceived. Thats one function of INS (Inertial Navigation System), to act as a monitor for GPS as well as a backup.

Current INS tech relies on receiving an accurate GPS location initially and periodically thereafter to keep both GPS and INS location data in sync. GPS depends on continuous satellite signals to operate and the INS is only used to step in and replace GPS when its satellite signal becomes temporarily too weak, or absent. When an accurate GPS signal is achieved, INS goes back into standby mode. Spoofing can now mimic these momentary disruptions and evade detection as a false signal by the INS, which is completely self-contained. This is sometimes a problem for American guided weapons sent to Ukraine that do not have the latest anti-jamming tech installed.

American INS researchers are not the only ones seeking an INS that is accurate and persistent enough to replace GPS for extended periods. INS has long suffered from the inability to provide as accurate a location as satellite navigation systems as the gyroscope and acceleration capabilities now performed by microelectronics of the chip-based INS cannot maintain as continuously precise location as the space satellite-based system can. This is no longer seen as an insurmountable problem, nor is the large cost-difference between GPS and INS tech. Israel apparently feels it is closer to a solution than anyone else.

Meanwhile, spoofing satellite navigation systems has become more popular and practical because it does not require expensive or high-tech equipment. While American weapons and military navigation systems have a backup in the form of unjammable INS systems, these are useless if the spoofing is not detected. American systems are supposed to detect spoofing and revert to INS, but the Americans do not disclose details of how these systems work in order to make it difficult for spoofing systems to be modified to be less detectable. That is one reason why the U.S. has not released detailed information on spoofing incidents because some of them may have evaded the INS spoofing detection tech.

To further complicate the issue there have also been instances where mandatory AIS (Automatic Identification System) transponders that all large ships must carry are more frequently reporting instances of getting no GPS signal at all. Large ships usually carry two AIS units, in case one malfunctions so AIS failure can be ruled out as a cause. Something outside the ship is manipulating the GPS signal. This demonstrates how it is possible to deceive the unjammable INS and new INS systems are sought that will eliminate that risk by replacing GPS most of the time.

The new INS technology has attracted a lot of attention in the military where backups are always appreciated because when equipment fails in combat, or for commercial users like aircraft or ships, its literally a matter of life or death. Meanwhile, the U.S. is building and testing more compact GPS anti-jamming systems for smaller 200 kg UAVs. This is part of a program to equip all American UAVs, even the smallest ones, with more secure GPS. While all UAVs can be flown by the operator, the GPS makes it a lot easier for the operator to keep track of exactly where his UAV is at all times, and sometimes the UAV is programmed to simply patrol between a series of GPS coordinates. If the GPS jams or fails, the operator can usually use the video feed to find landmarks on the ground and bring the UAV back to where it can be seen and landed. Other UAVs have a failsafe system for the GPS. When it is no longer available the UAV turns around and heads back in the general direction of the operator. This is better than just allowing the GPS-less UAV keep flying until it runs out of fuel and crashes somewhere,

GPS reliability threats are coming from a few suppliers like Russia, China, and North Korea. These nations have developed all manner of GPS jamming technology, and over the last decade it has become increasingly obvious that these nations were using new GPS spoofing technology to conceal the true location of senior personnel and mobile combat units.

Developers and users of GPS jamming gear tend to keep quiet about what they do because this sort of thing is illegal in peacetime, especially when civilians experience GPS disruptions themselves. When the United States tests military GPS jamming, it does so at sea or in remote areas and warns nearby civilians who might encounter GPS problems to be aware of the tests and act accordingly. This warning policy has been in use for decades because of the growing number of new electronic equipment designs that could cause problems for civilians if the disruptive effect extended farther than expected.

Other nations are not as secretive in complaining and often the culprit is Russia. In 2018 Finland and Norway went public with their accusations that Russia deliberately jammed GPS signals in northern Finland and Norway from a location near the Russian military bases in the Kola Peninsula on the Barents Sea. The jamming took place as NATO held its largest training exercise since the Cold War ended in 1991. Russia denied any responsibility even though they are known to possess long-range jammers for GPS and other signals. Norway said they had tracked the jammer to a specific location but, when Russia refused to admit any involvement, Norway refused to explain how they tracked the signal because that would provide Russia with information on Norwegian EW (Electronic Warfare) equipment that might be useful to them.

China is seeking to monetize its Beidou satellite navigation system. Beidou is the Chinese version of American GPS. Beidou finally became fully operational, providing worldwide coverage, in January 2020. There are three competing systems: GPS, GLONASS and Galileo. The full Beidou network was open for business as a world-wide service in early 2020. The American GPS has been operational since 1978 while the Russian GLONASS achieved that status in 1995. Unfortunately, Russia had problems, mostly financial, in keeping GLONASS operational. The European Galileo became operational worldwide in 2020. Each of these systems cost about $10 billion to create and get into service. The American GPS cost $12 billion, mainly because it has been around for so long.

China is determined to do what none of the other three satnav systems have done; become profitable. China has not revealed how they expect to do that and the other three major satnav providers remain silent on the profitability issue. Currently the main reason for building a satnav system is national prestige and an alternative to dependence on the Americans, or any single satnav provider.

China has also invested heavily in trying to obtain favorable press coverage for Beidou and somehow establish it as a preferred satnav service. That has cost over half a billion dollars but has not created any acceptance of Beidou as a superior satnav provider. China has a long-range plan for Beidou that includes adding new features and somehow achieving market dominance by 2040. China likes to announce long range goals like this, then quietly forget about it when the promised future never arrives.

Meanwhile, Chinese state-controlled media have provided a global audience with unprecedented details of this Chinese technological effort. People got their first experience with Beidou in late 2012 when the first few satellites were made available to anyone with a Beidou receiver. China expected Beidou to become a major competitor for the existing global navigation systems, at least with civilian users. China made it clear its initial goal was to grab a major share of the satnav market from the original U.S GPS system and do it by 2030. Progress has been slow so far.

The reality is that China has had a difficult time getting Beidou fully operational. By 2020 worldwide Beidou service was available and the rest of the world was not impressed. Beidou incorporates the best features of the GLONASS and Galileo systems, as well as items planned for the next generation American GPS satellites. With all that, no one has found a way to make a profit, at least not directly. There are plenty of ideas but no one has yet turned any of those ideas into cash. Moreover, there are disputes between the Beidou, Galileo, and GLONASS organizations over who should use what frequencies. Since GPS got into service first no one is contesting the frequencies GPS uses, but the three other players have some problems.

The success of the original GPS satnav system has generated all this competition. But so far these other efforts have found the work much more difficult than expected. A European consortium went forward with Galileo despite growing costs and technical problems. Initially Galileo was to be funded with private money. But the costs climbed beyond the most optimistic estimates of future income, so now Galileo is being paid for with tax dollars, as was GPS and the competing Russian and Chinese systems.

Galileo came about because the Europeans didn't like being dependent on an American system and didn't believe the Russians would be able to keep their GLONASS system viable. Galileo became operational because the European nations were willing to pay for a system that anyone could use without charge. Dual GPS and Galileo receivers cost about 20 percent more than GPS only receivers. Having two separate sets of signals makes for more reliable and accurate receivers. Also, the way Galileo is being set up will provide improved reliability in higher latitudes and in built-up areas.

GLONASS was at full strength in 1996, shortly after the Cold War ended. But the end of the Cold War in 1991 meant the end of the regular financing for GLONASS. Maintaining the system required launching replacement satellites every 5-7 years. By the end of 2002, only seven GLONASS satellites were still operational. However, the Russian economy recovered and provided funds for a series of launches in 2003 that increased the number of active satellites to twelve. That went to 18 by the end of 2007 and Russia had 24 GLONASS satellites in orbit by 2011 with the system again fully operational by 2012. As a result, GLONASS was the first real competitor for GPS. However, GLONASS was not completely functional until 2016 because of delays in building all the ground control stations.

The money for GLONASS is coming from a Russian government that does not want to be dependent on the American controlled GPS system. But the money is only there because of high oil prices. Most GLONASS receivers in use are actually combined GPS/GLONASS receivers. Russia will have to put billions of dollars into GLONASS over the next few years to keep the system fully operational and then spend even more money to maintain the satellite network. The costs of the Ukraine war are consuming the investment capital needed to maintain Russias civilian infrastructure, including GLONASS, its railroad system and oil production. GLONASS is widely used in conjunction with GPS. In other words, many systems, including cell phones that already used GPS, added GLONASS and Galileo to provide better coverage and fewer instances where the signal was unavailable.

Beidou is a more restricted system. Services available to anyone are less accurate than other systems but Beidou also has a more accurate military messaging mode that is only available to the Chinese and Pakistani military. China continues trying to monetize its GPS service, which really would make it unique compared to the others, but few nations are willing to pay for a military grade satnav service provided by China. It will take more than a multi-billion dollar propaganda effort to change global suspicion of Chinese motives and reliability in such matters.

One of the reasons why there are so many global positioning satellite systems is that they have both civilian and military applications. GPS was originally developed by the US Department of Defense to provide precise navigation and timing for its armed forces and allies. GPS also became widely used by civilians for various purposes, such as mapping, geocaching, tracking, and recreation. Similarly, GLONASS, Beidou, and Galileo have dual-use capabilities that can enhance the economic, scientific, and security interests of their respective countries or regions. For example, GLONASS can support Russian oil and gas exploration, Beidou can facilitate China's Belt and Road Initiative, and Galileo can improve European autonomy and resilience in the face of external threats or disruptions.

Use of multiple global positioning satellite systems can also increase the accuracy and reliability of the signals, as well as provide redundancy and interoperability in case of failures or attacks. Having too many systems can also pose challenges, such as spectrum congestion, signal interference, and coordination difficulties. Moreover, some countries may use their systems for strategic or political purposes, such as denying access to rivals or asserting territorial claims. Therefore, it is important to establish international norms and regulations for the peaceful and responsible use of global positioning satellite systems.
Mohan Charan Majhi, a four-time MLA from Keonjhar, was sworn in today as chief minister of Odisha. A slew of dignitaries including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah were in attendance as the 53-year-old, whose father was a security guard, took office as the BJPs first chief minister in the state read more

Majhi will take the oath of office at Bhubaneswars Janata Maidan tomorrow with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in attendance. ANI

Odisha now has a new chief minister.

Mohan Charan Majhi was sworn in today as the BJPs first chief minister in Odisha.

Majhi took the oath of office at Bhubaneswars Janata Maidan today with a slew of dignitaries in attendance including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah.

Majhi earlier met ex-chief minister Naveen Patnaik and invited him to the swearing-in ceremony.

Majhi drove to Naveen Niwas, Patnaiks residence in Bhubaneswar, and formally extended the invite.

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Patnaik last week resigned from the post of the chief minister after the defeat of his BJD in the Assembly elections. He ruled the state for 24 years.

Majhis name was announced on Tuesday by defence minister Rajnath Singh after the BJP legislative meet at the partys state office in Bhubaneswar.

Rajnath, putting forward Majhis name, called him young and dynamic.

He predicted that Majhi would take Odisha on the path to progress and prosperity as its new chief minister.

Singh, a Central observer, was accompanied by Union minister Bhupender Yadav.

Prabhati Parida and KV Sing Deo were also sworn in as Odishas deputy chief ministers.

But who is the 53-year-old Majhi?

Lets take a closer look:

As per News18, Majhi is a four-time MLA from Keonjhar.

Majhi hails from the tribal community.

He is known for his public service and organisational skills.

As per NDTV, Majhi was born in Keonjhars Raikala village.

His father was a security guard.

In 2024, Majhi was elected to the Assembly from the Keonjhar Assembly seat.

As per Times Now, Majhi won the seat by defeating the BJDs Mina Majhi.

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His margin of victory was 11,577 votes.

Majhi in 2019 was also elected to the Assembly from the Keonjhar constituency.

In 2014, Majhi lost to the BJDs Abhiram Naik.

He previously represented Keonjhar twice between 2000 and 2009.

As per News18, Majhi, served as government Deputy Chief Whip from 2005 till 2009 when the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) led a coalition government with the BJP.

Prior to running for Assembly, Majhi was a sarpanch from 1997 to 2000.

He was also a member of Standing Committee of SC & ST under ORV Act.

Mohan Charan Majhi is a strong and firebrand tribal leader from mineral-rich Kendujhar district, senior journalist and political analyst Jatindra Dash told India Today.

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Dash told the outlet that Majhi hails from a humble background.

A loyal member of the BJP, Majhi is thought to have strong links to the RSS.

The India Today piece noted that Majhi has become popular due to his for appealing to the masses.

As a four-time MLA, he has a deep understanding of the states governance system and has been instrumental in shaping the BJPs policies for the region, the piece noted.

Majhi has also been the subject of some controversy.

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In September 2023, Majhi, then the Opposition whip and BJP lawmaker Mukesh Mahaling were suspended from the Odisha Assembly till the end of session for throwing daal at Speaker Pramila Malliks podium.

The BJP members were protesting the remark of a then BJD MLA who urged the Opposition members to come to the House with good mental health.

According to India Today, Majhi and Mahaling were protesting the the alleged Rs 700-crore scam in the purchase of pulses for the mid-day-meal scheme.

As per NDTV, Majhi has a law degree.

Due to the blessings of Lord Jagannath, the BJP achieved a majority in Odisha and is going to form the government in the state. I would like to thank the 4.5 crore Odias who voted for change, Majhi was quoted as saying by NDTV.

BJP stormed to power in Odisha by securing 78 of the 147 Assembly seats, while the BJD managed to win only 51 seats.

Congress bagged 14 constituencies and CPI (M) secured one, while three Independent candidates also emerged victorious.

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Patnaik had taken the oath as the chief minister of Odisha on 5 March, 2000.

A five-member delegation led by the BJP Odisha unit president Manmohan Samal, went to Naveen Niwas, the residence of Patnaik, and formally invited him to attend the swearing-in ceremony to be held at 5 pm on Wednesday.

Senior leaders such as Suresh Pujari, Basanta Panda, Samir Mohanty and Nityananda Gond accompanied Samal.

Naveen Babu has accepted the invitation and assured us that he would attend the ceremony, Samal told reporters.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to arrive in Bhubaneswar at 2.30 pm on Wednesday and proceed to Raj Bhavan from the airport, according to BJP sources.

With inputs from agencies
Best known for his audacious comedy clips and prank videos, YouTuber Fidias Panayiotou on Sunday clinched a seat in the European Parliament from Cyprus. He contested the polls as he said he could no longer stand the continued rule of nerds in Brussels read more

Star YouTuber Fidias Panayiotou celebrated his election to the European Parliament at Eleftheria Square in capital Nicosia. Reuters

What bridged the gap between political power and digital influence this EU election? The victory of a YouTuber.

In a surprising twist of events, Fidias Panayiotou, a 24-year-old content creator from Cyprus, with no political experience whatsoever, has clinched a seat in the European Parliament. The TikToker garnered 19.4 per cent votes, third-highest in the Mediterranean island nation, leaving behind many traditional political parties.

It was a shock what happened, a miracle, Panayiotou told the state broadcaster CyBC after his victory. The parties should take it as a warning that they must modernise and listen to the people, he added.

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But who is Fidias Panayiotou and why did he step into political arena? Lets delve into the details

Professional mistake maker

Best known for his audacious comedy clips and prank videos, Panayiotou, commonly known as Fidias, has built a substantial following of about 2.6 million on YouTube since he first started posting in 2019.

Fidias who has described himself as a professional mistake maker has run a bunch of quirky projects that included a mission to hug 100 celebrities including tech billionaire Elon Musk (which he successfully did), training with Chinas Shaolin kung fu warriors and even spending a week in a coffin.

Fidias met Elon Musk in January 2023 after camping outside Xs Office for over two months. Instagram/ @Fidias0



Thats not all, the newly-elected MEP also stirred controversy last year after he attempted to travel across India and Japan without paying, and instead begging for cash. He was seen evading train fares by hiding in toilets and skipping out on a five-star hotel breakfast bill in Japan.

The video which racked up millions of views led to significant backlash, and the vlogger was forced to issue an apology video, which he later deleted. YouTube also deleted the fare-dodging videos for breaching its community guidelines.

What motivated him to contest elections?

According to Politico, Fidias announced his candidacy in January after his appearance on Cypriot TV, Alpha Cyprus where he said that he could no longer stand the continued rule of nerds in Brussels while confessing that he had no idea about politics or the European Union but was willing to learn.

I am 23 years old and I have never voted in my life, and I said to myself one night that if I never vote and I never take an interest, the same nerds are always going to be in power, and I said enough! he announced.

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Later, in April Fidias submitted his papers as an independent candidate alongside his father, a priest, saying, I heard somewhere that if you are not satisfied with things around you and you want them to change, you have to be the change.

Why did I choose to be independent? Because I cant fit into molds. Because I want you to know that I have no party interests to serve, he told the local news portal Sigmalive.

He added that his goal was not to win, but to motivate young people to get involved in politics.

Fidias factor

The YouTuber celebrated his win in the capital Nicosia on Sunday wearing a plain grey shirt and shorts. He announced, We are writing history. Not just in Cyprus, but internationally.

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His unexpected success in the European Union elections has been described by Philenews as a resounding message to established political parties, marking a major step towards changing political map.

The young YouTuber, fully utilising social media, with non-political rhetoric, without political positions, without knowledge  he admits it himself  of the European Union sphere, managed to bring about upheaval, the website said.

The Mediterranean island nation with a population of about 9,00,000, saw a voter turnout of about 59 per cent, a notable increase from 45 per cent in the 2019 elections. Analysts attribute this rise in part to the Fidias factor.

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Earlier, Philenews analysis of exit poll data showed Fidias capturing 40 per cent of the votes from the 18-24 age group and 28 per cent from the 25-34 age group.

Mediterranean island nation with a population of about 9,00,000, saw a voter turnout of about 59 per cent, a notable increase from 45 per cent in the 2019 elections. Analysts attribute this rise in part to the Fidias factor. Reuters

Analysts said the YouTuber, who had no comprehensive agenda, had shown that traditional parties were out of touch with voters and lacked understanding of social media and its impact.

The conservative party Democratic Rally (DISY) took 24.8 per cent, followed by the communist Progressive Party of Working People (AKEL) with 21.5, costing it one of its two seats in the outgoing assembly.

Cypriot voters also sent a member each from ultranationalist party National Popular Front (ELAM) with 11 per cent votes and Centrist party DIKO with 10 per cent votes to the European Parliament.

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With input from agencies
Jammu and Kashmir Police said gunshots were reportedly heard by villagers in Hiranagar area of Kathua. Cops rushed to the spot after being informed by villagers read more

One terrorist has been gunned down by security forces in Jammus Kathua district on Tuesday.

A massive search operation has been conducted to hunt for others who reportedly fled into nearby forests after open firing near Saida village in Hiranagar area of Kathua district.

Gunshots reportedly heard by villagers in Hiranagar area of Kathua. Police rush to the spot after being informed by villagers, ANI quoted J&K Police as saying.

Around 8:30 pm on Tuesday, June 11 two terrorists entered into the village and asked for water from some houses As soon as the information was received, the teams of SHO and SDO reached the spot, J&K ADGP Anant Jain said.

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One of the terrorists was killed in the exchange of fire. The search operation to nab the second terrorist is underway. There are unconfirmed rumours that many people are injured and three are dead. But only one civilian was injured, other than this all information regarding hostages being held and death, are rumours There is an exchange of fire going on between the Indian Army and terrorists in the Chattergala, he further said.

#WATCH | Jammu and Kashmir: ADGP Anant Jain says, "There were two terrorists... After they entered asked for water from some houses... As soon as the information was received, the teams of SHO and SDO reached the spot. One of the terrorists was killed in the exchange of fire. The https://t.co/t0mMfqVZYi pic.twitter.com/hX3DfRz8xh  ANI (@ANI) June 11, 2024

Union Minister Jitendra Singh said he is in continuous online contact with DC Kathua Rakesh Minhas in the wake of terrorist attack on a house in village Saida in Hiranagar sector close to the International Border."

I am also in touch with SSP Kathua Anayat Ali Choudhary who is on the spot. The owner of the house that was attacked is also in touch on mobile phone. Joint police and para military operation is going on, he further said.

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One terrorist neutralised so far. I and my office are in constant touch and keeping a close watch on the developments, the minister added.

I am in continuous online contact with DC #Kathua Sh Rakesh Minhas in the wake of terrorist attack on a house in village Saida in Hiranagar sector close to the International Border. I am also in touch with SSP Kathua Sh Anayat Ali Choudhary who is on the spot. The owner of

1/2  Dr Jitendra Singh (@DrJitendraSingh) June 11, 2024

The suspected terror attack in Kathua comes just two days after the Reasi incident in which at least 10 pilgrims, including a child, were killed and several others were injured when terrorists opened fire on a 53-seater bus travelling from the Shiv Khori cave shrine to the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Katra, Jammu on June 9.

#UPDATE | Jammu and Kashmir: Two civilians injured in firing by terrorists in Hiranagar, were brought to the Hiranagar hospital for treatment. https://t.co/KX5irj535c pic.twitter.com/E2mAZvTf59  ANI (@ANI) June 11, 2024

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More details are awaited.
Jaishankar was retained as the foreign minister of India as the BJP announced portfolios for its cabinet on Monday. He is among the many union ministers whose terms were extended for the second time read more

After taking charge of the External Affairs Ministry on Tuesday, S Jaishankar made a couple of comments that might hint at how Indias foreign policy will take shape in the next five years.

Jaishankar was retained as the foreign minister of India as the BJP announced portfolios for its cabinet on Monday. He is among the many union ministers whose terms were extended for the second time.

Along with Jaishankar, BJP leaders including Ashwini Vaishnaw and Bhupendra Yadav have taken charge of their respective offices so far. Other ministers like Amit Shah and Rajnath Singh will assume office later today.

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With India already achieving the role of being the voice of the global south, Jaishankars next term will put more focus on the countrys relationship with neighbouring nations as well as pushing Indias interest before the world.

So, what lies ahead of the foreign ministry? Jaishankar answers:
The resolution was passed by the 20th Parliaments Security Services Committee, which claims that these agreements pose a threat to the sovereignty and independence of the Maldives read more

President Droupadi Murmu with President of Maldives Mohamed Muizzu during a meeting, at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on 10 June, 2024. PTI

Despite the handshakes and congratulatory messages during Maldives President Mohamed Muizzus brief visit to India for Prime Minister Narendra Modis swearing-in, the ties between the two countries remain strained. In a recent development, the Maldives Parliamentary Committee adopted a resolution to scrutinise four agreements signed with India by the previous government.

According to the Economic Times, the agreements under scrutiny include a hydrography agreement between India and the Maldives, the Uthuru Thila Falhu Dockyard project supported by India and the Dornier aircraft gifted by India to the Maldives Defence Forces for humanitarian and search and rescue missions.

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The resolution was passed by the 20th Parliaments Security Services Committee, also known as the Parliament 241 Committee, which claims that these agreements pose a threat to the sovereignty and independence of the Maldives. The review decision followed a proposal by Hithadhoo Central MP Ahmed Azan. These agreements were signed during President Solihs administration.

Hydrographic survey agreement

In December last year, the Maldives government led by President Muizzu chose not to renew the hydrographic survey agreement with India, which expired on 7 June, 2024.

During Prime Minister Modis visit to the Maldives on 8 June, 2019, a significant hydrographic survey agreement was signed. This agreement authorised India to conduct comprehensive surveys of the Maldives territorial waters, including its reefs, lagoons, coastlines, ocean currents and tidal levels.

Hydrographic surveys, carried out by ships equipped with tools like sonar, investigate various aspects of water bodies. As described by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, these surveys map water depth, seafloor and coastline shapes, potential obstructions and other physical features, ensuring the safety and efficiency of maritime traffic.

According to Moneycontrol, the inaugural meeting of the Joint Commission on Hydrography took place in the Maldives in September 2019. Subsequently, in February and March of 2021, the Indian Naval Ship Darshak executed the first joint hydrographic survey. This collaborative effort continued with three surveys conducted in 2021, 2022 and 2023, covering 944 square kilometres, including regions not surveyed since 1853. These surveys utilised multi-beam echo sounders and included tidal measurements for accurate tidal predictions.

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The primary objective of these surveys was to update Navigational Charts/Electronic Navigational Charts, benefiting various industries such as tourism, fishing, and agriculture by providing precise and current maritime information.

Uthuru Thila Falhu Dockyard project

In February 2021, India and the Maldives formally agreed to develop a Coastguard harbour and dockyard at the Uthuru Thila Falhu naval base. The agreement was signed by Maldivian Defence Minister Mariya Ahmed Didi and Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, under the framework of a defence action plan established in 2016 by then-Maldivian president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom during his visit to India.

The scope of the agreement includes the construction of the harbour and dockyard, along with essential infrastructure development. India is also tasked with enhancing communications resources, radar services, and training support. Despite these developments, the Maldives National Defence Force clarified that no Indian military personnel would be stationed at the base.

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The joint statement after the signing of the deal had said that the agreement was signed pursuant to a request made by the Government of Maldives in April 2013 for support and cooperation from the Government of India to help enhance the capability of the Maldives Defence Forces in exercising jurisdiction and undertaking maritime surveillance of its Exclusive Economic Zone and islands.

Dornier Maritime Surveillance aircraft

In September 2020, Maldives received Dornier Maritime Surveillance aircraft from the Indian Navy, which was termed a colossal milestone in the defence ties between the two countries.

The purpose of the aircraft was to help the country in maritime and exclusive economic zone (EEZ) surveillance, humanitarian assistance, disaster and medical relief. Moreover, the purpose was to help the Maldivians in the northern atolls and identify foreign vessels. However, as things stand now the aircraft is lying idle in the archipelago with no one trained in the country to fly it.

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Return of Indian military personnel to India

As demanded by President Muizzu, all 77 Indian military personnel deployed in the island nation were sent back in May this year.
In the last term, this ministry performed exceptionally well. We delivered the G20 presidency. We took on the challenges of COVID including, Vaccine Maitri supplies. We also were the centre of crucial operations like Operation Ganga and Operation Kaveri. In the last decade, this ministry under the leadership of PM Modi has become a very people-centric ministry said Jaishankar read more

A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi distributed portfolios to his ministers, a number of leaders including S Jaishankar and Ashwini Vaishnaw took charge of their duties on Tuesday.

#WATCH | Delhi: Dr S Jaishankar takes charge as External Affairs Minister pic.twitter.com/vRsE3Hpr3m  ANI (@ANI) June 11, 2024

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Jaishankar and Vaishnaw are among the BJP leaders including Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah, Nitin Gadkari and Nirmala Sitharaman who retained the ministries they handled in the previous government. Vaishnaw has also been given additional duties as Minister of Information and Broadcasting in the third term of the Modi government.

Addressing the media after taking charge, External Affairs Minister Jaishankar expressed immense honour to be once again given the responsibility of leading the Ministry of External Affairs.

#WATCH | Delhi: EAM Dr S Jaishankar says "It is an immense honour to be once again given the responsibility of leading the Ministry of External Affairs. In the last term, this ministry performed exceptionally well. We delivered the G20 presidency. We took on the challenges of pic.twitter.com/B4DshccGdy  ANI (@ANI) June 11, 2024

In the last term, this ministry performed exceptionally well. We delivered the G20 presidency. We took on the challenges of COVID including, Vaccine Maitri supplies. We also were the centre of crucial operations like Operation Ganga and Operation Kaveri. In the last decade, this ministry under the leadership of PM Modi has become a very people-centric ministry. You can see that in terms of our improved passport services, community welfare fund support that we give to Indians abroad, said Jaishankar.

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Jaishankar said, in these turbulent times, India is a country which is trusted by many and he believes it will position India as a Vishwa Bandhu.

Together, we are very confident it will position us as Vishwa Bandhu, a country which is in a very turbulent world, in a very divided world, a world of conflicts and tensions. It would actually position us as a country which is trusted by many, whose prestige and influence, whose interests will be advanced, said the minister.

When asked how he sees Indias relationship with Pakistan and China shaping up in the next five years, he said, In any country and especially in a democracy, it is a very big deal for a government to get elected three times in a row. So the world will definitely feel that today there is a lot of political stability in IndiaAs far as Pakistan and China are concerned, the relations with those countries are different, and the problems there are also different. Our focus with regard to China will be on finding a solution for the border issues and with Pakistan, we would want to find a solution to the issue of years-old cross-border terrorism

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#WATCH | Delhi: On India's relationship with Pakistan and China for the next 5 years, EAM Dr S Jaishankar says "In any country and especially in a democracy, it is a very big deal for a government to get elected three times in a row. So the world will definitely feel that today pic.twitter.com/Df0omUhfEQ  ANI (@ANI) June 11, 2024

On Indias UNSC seat Jaishankar said that he is fully confident that under PM Modis leadership, the foreign policy of Modi 3.0 will be very successful and other countries too realise that the influence of India has been steadily growing.

#WATCH | Delhi: On India's UNSC seat in the next 5 years, EAM Dr S Jaishankar says "It has different aspects and I am fully confident that under PM Modi's leadership, the foreign policy of Modi 3.0 will be very successful...For us, the influence of India has been steadily pic.twitter.com/0IbUO6NSIc  ANI (@ANI) June 11, 2024

It has different aspects and I am fully confident that under PM Modis leadership, the foreign policy of Modi 3.0 will be very successfulFor us, the influence of India has been steadily growing, not just in terms of our own perception but also what the other countries think. They feel that India is truly their friend and they have seen that in times of crisis, if there is one country that stands with the Global South, it is India. They have seen that when we put forward the African Union membership during the presidency of G20, the world trusted us and our responsibilities are also increasing, so we also believe that under the leadership of PM Modi, Indias identity in the world will definitely increase, said Jaishankar.

Vaishnaw, who took charge as the Railway Minister and Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Minister, said that PM Modi has done a lot of reforms in railways in the last 10 years and the PM has kept railways in focus because railway is the common mans mode of transport and a very strong backbone of the country.

#WATCH | Delhi: Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw says, "People have blessed PM Modi again to serve the country. Railways will have a very big role. In the last 10 years, PM Narendra Modi has done a lot of reforms in railways. Be it the electrification of railways, construction pic.twitter.com/aHA11bXBPc  ANI (@ANI) June 11, 2024

People have blessed PM Modi again to serve the country. Railways will have a very big role. In the last 10 years, PM Narendra Modi has done a lot of reforms in railways. Be it the electrification of railways, construction of new tracks, new types of trains, new services, or redevelopment of stations, these are the major achievements of PM Modi in the last 10 years. And the PM has kept railways in focus because railway is the common mans mode of transport and a very strong backbone of our countrys economy, so there is a lot of focus on railways. Modi ji has an emotional connection with railwaysI thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said Vaishnaw.

Apart from Jaishankar and Vaishnaw, other ministers who took charge included Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav, Minister of Textiles Giriraj Singh, MoS of Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas Suresh Gopi, MoS of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Kirti Vardhan Singh.

#WATCH | Delhi: Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav says "I express my gratitude to PM Modi that he has given me the responsibility of an important ministry. I will work with full readiness to discharge this responsibility. Mission LIFE was pic.twitter.com/0pH8ZvpAFT  ANI (@ANI) June 11, 2024

Mission LIFE was started by PM Modi in the Glasgow COP as a very big action program for the environmental crisis in the world. Today, Mission LIFE is going on all over the world with the help of sustainable development and mindful consumption. PM Modis Ek ped maa ke naam campaign should be done with utmost responsibility to keep our Earth green. Many steps have been taken by this ministry in the last 10 years under the leadership of PM Modi and we are moving ahead taking environment and development together, said Yadav.

PM Modi took the oath of office along with 72 ministers of the new coalition government on Sunday.

The Council of Ministers comprises 30 Cabinet Ministers, five Ministers of State with Independent Charge, and 36 Ministers of State. The 72-member council of ministers has seven women, including two with cabinet rank. This is four less than the outgoing council of ministers.

PM Modi will head a coalition government in his third term for the first time since he became Prime Minister in 2014 following a huge Brand Modi victory after 10 years of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) rule.

With inputs from agencies
PM Modi distributed portfolios among the newly inducted ministers of the NDA government. Much against speculation, Modi kept his top ministers unchanged while accommodating the allies. What message does this portfolio distribution send out? read more

There is an interesting anecdote about Prime Minister Narendra Modis penchant for continuity, which reflects in his policy-making and the way he runs the government. The anecdote is about his cook, Badri Meena. People in the close circle of Modi call his working style the Badri Meena phenomenon.

Badri Meena is the prime ministers personal cook. Badri was around 15 when he landed up in Ahmedabad in Modis home state in the mid-1990s from Rajasthans Udaipur, looking for employment. He got employment in the kitchen of the Bharatiya Janata Partys (BJP) office.

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The story goes that Modi was impressed with Badris swachh kitchen, a simple khichdi and kadhi that he had during his frequent visits to the office as a party worker. When Modi became the general secretary of the BJP in 1998, he took Badri in his staff and the 47-year-old cook has stayed with the BJPs top leader since then through his four terms as the Gujarat chief minister and into the third term as the prime minister.

The point is Modi prefers to work with the same people as long as possible. The portfolio distribution has shown just that.

A message of continuity

Union ministers Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah, Nirmala Sitharaman, Subramanian Jaishankar, Nitin Gadkari, Piyush Goyal, Dharmendra Pradhan, Ashwini Vaishnaw, Sarbananda Sonowal and Bhupender Yadav are among the top ministers who have retained their portfolios that they managed in Modi 2.0. This gives the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government  with the BJP dependent on its allies to have the majority in the Lok Sabha  almost the same identity display that the previous Council of Ministers had when the BJP had an overwhelming majority of its own.

Some of the ministers from the previous government have also been appraised, so to say, upward. For example, Vaishnaw, who had railways, also got the information and broadcasting ministry that Anurag Thakur, the Hamirpur MP from Himachal Pradesh had held in the previous government.

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Kiren Rijiju, who held the earth sciences ministry, is now in charge of parliamentary affairs, a considerably more significant ministry in a government where the lead party is short of majority on its own.

JP Nadda, the BJP president, made his re-entry to have the same portfolio that he handled before he quit to lead the party earlier. Hardeep Singh Puri, known for delivering the vision spelt out by the prime minister, has got petroleum and natural gas.

Coalition craft

Compared to his previous government, Modi has given Cabinet rank to 11 leaders, up from five, belonging to the BJPs allies in the Council of Ministers. However, when it comes to ministries traditionally considered as plum ones, they have gone to the BJP veterans. The allies have got ministries that do a lot of work but stay away from the political limelight.

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For example, former Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan got the agriculture portfolio. His counterpart from Haryana, Manohar Lal Khattar, has got power, housing and urban affairs  a significant ministry that once BJP stalwart M Venkaiah Naidu, who went on to become the Vice President of India, held.

Another former CM, HD Kumaraswamy of Karnataka-based Janata Dal-Secular, has been given steel ministry, which has a lot of work to do but gets scant political limelight. Similarly, former Bihar CM Jitan Ram Manjhi has got the micro, small and medium enterprises ministry, which covers sectors with a huge unorganised working population but without fetching much of the headline space.

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In the case of Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) leader Chirag Paswan, there is a message of continuity. He has got the food processing industry that his late father Ram Vilas Paswan once held.

Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu of the Telugu Desam Party, the BJPs largest ally, has got the civil aviation ministry, earlier held by Jyotiraditya Scindia, who has a specific and more significant task cut out in Modi 3.0.

Rajiv Ranjan Singh of the Janata Dal-United has got fisheries, animal husbandry and dairying. The JDU is the BJPs second largest ally in the NDA.

In the case of both the TDP and the JDU, the understanding seems to be more on better cash flow to the state than a bigger stake in the central government. JDU president Nitish Kumar and Andhra Pradeshs CM-to-be N Chandrababu Naidu, the TDP chief, are apparently looking to bring faster development in their states than get involved in the politicking over how the NDA government is run at the Centre.

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And a task cut out

Before going to the polls seeking his third consecutive term at the Centre, Modi said he had given a task to his bureaucrats to put in place the agenda that the prime minister would be doing in the first 100 days of his new tenure. He began his day in the office by approving a special package for the farmers  Kisan Samman Nidhi, his policy to extend cash support to about 90 million farmers.

A review of the Agniveer scheme is also reportedly on the cards. The army is understood to have recommended, as reported on Monday, some changes to the existing Agniveer scheme, which hogged the limelight during the parliamentary election campaign.

The government is also likely to notify the rules for the Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDPA), and introduce an amendment to the IT rules  the deadline to send suggestions for which ended on May 15.

But the biggest task cut out could be on fixing the issues of internal security. The Northeast in general, and Manipur in particular, is likely to be a top priority area. This makes the job Scindia tough and key to achieving the goals of Modi 3.0. Scindia has been given the charge of communication and DONER, the ministry that focuses on the development of the Northeast region.

It does not look like a coincidence that the day Modi allocates portfolios to his ministers, the BJPs parental organisation Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat said, Manipur is waiting for peace for the last one year. There was peace in Manipur earlier for 10 years. It felt like gun culture had finished there. But the state has suddenly seen violence."

The situation in Manipur will have to be considered with priority. There is a need to get over election rhetoric and focus on problems facing the nation," Bhagwat said.

Manipur saw ethnic violence that left many dead and forced hundreds to live in relief camps. PM Modi was criticised for not visiting the state once since the ethnic violence broke out in early May last year.

In this years election, the two Lok Sabha seats from Manipur went to the Congress. And Scindia is a former Congress leader who enjoys the confidence of PM Modi. He has a very specific task cut out in Modi 3.0, it seems.
The state is all decked up for the ceremony with Prime Minister Narendra Modi set to attend the event. Odishas outgoing chief minister Naveen Patnaik has also been invited for the swearing-in ceremony read more

Odisha is likely to get a new chief ministerial face as soon as today (Tuesday) as the BJP, which won a landslide victory in the state assembly elections, will hold its first meeting with the newly elected MLAs under the chairmanship of Union Ministers Rajnath Singh and Bhupendra Singh Yadav to pick a leader for the post.

The oath-taking ceremony in Odisha will be held on June 12 alongside Andhra Pradesh where Telegu Desam Party Chief Chandrababu Naidu will be sworn in as the chief minister.

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The state is all decked up for the ceremony with Prime Minister Narendra Modi set to attend the event. Odishas outgoing chief minister Naveen Patnaik has also been invited for the swearing-in ceremony.

According to Times of India, the CM-designate would first visit the Jagannath temple in Puri. The BJP will reopen all the four gates of the temple, fulfilling its poll promise. The gates have been closed since the pandemic.

Central observer team

The ruling party has assigned Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Environment Minister Bhupendra Singh Yadav to oversee the selection process of the next chief minister of Odisha.

Singh was appointed owing to his extensive role during the state assembly elections, the BJP said in a statement.

BJP won 78 out of 147 seats in the state assembly elections, putting an end to BJDs 24-year-long rule.

In the Lok Sabha elections too, the BJP made almost a clean sweep in Odisha by winning 20 out of 21 seats.

Who is in fray?

BJP had initially shortlisted a couple of candidates for the job including former Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

According to News18, two leaders  Brajarajnagar MLA Suresh Pujari and state BJP President Manmohan Sonowal  are being considered for the job.

While the possibility of appointing Sonowal seems stronger owing to his role in making BJP win big in the elections, the fact that he did not win the elections can be seen as a drawback.
The apex court was hearing a petition seeking revocation of the recently announced scores and fresh conduction of the National Entrance-cum-Eligibility Test (NEET) after students alleged that there was a paper leak read more

As the NEET controversy continues to brew, the Supreme Court on Tuesday issued a notice to the National Testing Agency (NTA) saying that the sanctity of the examinations has been affected.

The apex court was hearing a petition seeking revocation of the recently announced scores and fresh conduction of the National Entrance-cum-Eligibility Test (NEET) after students alleged that there was a paper leak.

A vacation bench of Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah, however, refused to stay the counselling of successful candidates for admissions to MBBS, BDS and other courses.

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#WATCH | On the Supreme Court's hearing on the NEET-UG 2024 exam, Advocate J. Sai Deepak says "Multiple petitions have been listed in the Court. Some of the petitions were filed before the declaration of results on the basis that there had been a leak of the paper itself. pic.twitter.com/MIi4hoJBmt  ANI (@ANI) June 11, 2024

NEET-UG, 2024 was held on May 5 and its results were declared on June 4. It was expected to be declared on June 14.

It is not that simple that because you have done it is sacrosanct. Sanctity has been affected, so we need answers, the court said.

Who filed the plea and what did it say?

The plea was filed by Shivangi Mishra and nine others on June 1 before the results were declared. The court kept receiving more petitions on the case after NEET results were announced, which claimed that this years examination was riddled with malpractices and questioned the NTA over the granting of grace marks to many students.

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The alleged paper leak was violative of Article 14 (right to equality) under the Constitution as it gave an undue advantage to some candidates over others who chose to attempt the examination in a fair manner, the petition said.

About the controversy

The controversy has invited criticism from the Opposition with Congress Rahul Gandhi proclaiming that he would be the voice of students in the Parliament. Many students were seen protesting outside the Ministry of Education.

Meanwhile, NTA last week said the education ministry has set up a four-member panel to review the grace marks awarded to more than 1,500 candidates in the exam.

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In its recommendations, the committee said the State government may undertake immediate steps to eliminate NEET, as qualifying criteria for admission to medical programmes, by following the required legal and/or legislative procedures.

With inputs from agencies
The incident of firing at the temporary operating base (TOB) of the Indian Army in the remote area of Doda was the third terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir within 48 hours read more

Terrorists fired upon a temporary operating base (TOB) of the Indian Army in Jammu and Kashmirs Doda in the late hours of Tuesday (June 11).

Multiple rounds were fired at the TOB in the remote area of Doda by the terrorists.

Several teams of Army and police were rushed to the spot.

This is the third terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir within 48 hours.

The first attack was on June 9, Sunday, at Reasi when the terrorists opened fire at a 53-seater bus when it was en route from Shiv Khori temple to Mata Vaishno Devi shrine at Katra near Teryath village in the Poni area. The bus veered off the road and plunged into the deep gorge following the gunfire around 6:15 pm, an hour before Narendra Modi took oath as Prime Minister in Delhi.

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At least 10 people, including a child and three women, were killed and more than 40 others were injured in the ghastly attack.

The second attack took place in the early evening on Tuesday, June 11, when terrorists opened fire at residents of Saida Sukhal village in the Hira Nagar police circle of Jammus Kathua district.

Also Read: One terrorist killed, others trapped in Jammus Kathua; massive search underway

One terrorist was gunned down in retaliatory firing by security forces.

More details are awaited.
June 11, 2024: Myanmar (Burma) has been at war with itself since 2021 when northern tribal rebels and most Myanmar civilians rebelled against the military government. By the end of 2023 there was another unexpected uprising against the Myanmar military government. This began in the north, where tribal militias have been fighting the army for decades. That wore down the resolve and morale of the army. Many of the army generals were surprised at how suddenly and quickly the troops in the north lost their will to fight and either deserted or joined the rebels. These attitudes spread quickly. In the capital, Naypyidaw, radio and telephone calls from army units in the north grew increasingly desperate. Many of the calls were for air support, by armed helicopters or fixed wing aircraft. The Myanmar Air Force had few attack aircraft, and most were Chinese or Russian jet fighters, many with pilots who were now unwilling to carry out attacks on civilians, even if they were armed rebels. There was much anger over the many airstrikes the government had ordered against armed rebels and unarmed civilians. The military government was weakened by sanctions and was unable to pay the troops on time or at all. This was one reason over 15,000 soldiers deserted, many of them joining the rebels.

Many of these soldiers surrendered their weapons and walked off to find their way back to their families. The rebels knew that they would face a lot more soldiers as they marched south in more heavily populated areas. The rebels needed weapons for all the northern men volunteering. The solution turned out to be on the internet where inexpensive 3D printers could be purchased and used to manufacture the components needed for crude 9mm pistols. These enabled more rebels to rob or ambush police or individual soldiers and steal their weapons.

Using 3D printers to manufacture these crude pistols is a time consuming process but the persistent rebels turned out more and more of these weapons and slowly created so many armed rebels that the military government now expects to make a last stand in the towns and cities in southern Myanmar. This time there will be no negotiations with the military, which has proved to be untrustworthy and senior officers are determined to somehow survive this final campaign in the south. The soldiers these officers command continue to desert despite offers of higher pay and benefits. The officers have a well earned reputation of promising much and delivering little. This means they will have a difficult time gathering enough troops to defend the towns and cities in the south, where most of the population lives.

This mess was the aftereffect of yet another military coup in early 2021, a decade after the military government, which had been in power since 1962 finally gave in to demands for freedom and democracy. This happened by 2010 as a result of the generals failing to run the economy or deal with the rebellious northern tribes. The military negotiated a deal with the democrats that left the military with some of their political power as well as immunity from prosecution or retribution for a long list of past crimes.

Once elections were held, the generals realized they had underestimated the degree of popular anger at the decades of military misrule. After 2011, with Burma governed by a government answerable to the people, not a military caste, there were calls for canceling the political privileges the military had retained as part of their agreement to allow peaceful transfer of power. The late 2020 nationwide elections put into power a government that finally had the votes, and determination, to cut the military down to size and make them much less capable of another coup. The generals moved faster than the new government and once more took control of the country in early 2021.

The generals found that it was not as easy as the early 1960s. This time there was much less compliance and a lot more defiance. In fact, most Burmese acted the way they voted, despite the greater firepower and, so far, resolve of the generals. The army has trashed the economy and put more and more Burmese out of work and without access to food, the Internet, or the banking system. The resistance not only continued, but it also kept increasing in numbers of armed rebels and the unwillingness of soldiers to make war once more on their own people.

The generals had another potential problem; they had become more dependent on their Chinese business partners. The Chinese were not only partners-in-crime with the generals, but they were also the source of cash for the generals and more weapons for the army. The generals considered the Chinese connection the vital key to victory, or fatal flaw in the coup plan. It all depended on how much Burmese were willing to resist China. This is important in many ways and the result of regional changes that have taken place over the last few centuries.

In mid-2021 the military declared themselves the provisional government. There were vague assurances of new elections, but few voters believed the voting would be free and fair. China promptly recognized the provisional military government. Meanwhile the supporters of the ousted government organized themselves as the NUG, or National Unity Government and sought to gain foreign support, while also avoiding capture or death by the military. Many Burmese diplomats outside the country at the time of the coup continued to support the elected government. Some Western countries reported that the Burmese military was seeking to kidnap or kill these rogue diplomats. Not to be outdone, in the north one of the tribal militias offered $3,000 to any Burmese soldiers who defected with his weapon, and safe passage out of the country. The military has refused to negotiate and refused UN offers to mediate negotiations.

Unlike 2010, this time the military sees their situation as do or die. Too many Burmese now want the military leaders dead or in prison. The Burmese avoided civil war for decades after the 1962 coup and everyone seems to believe this was not the correct way to go about it. Now the Burmese have to see what, if any, military assistance they can obtain from foreign supporters. The rebels up north obtained weapons from the army. Thousands of soldiers deserted with their weapons and some of these men knew where the army had stockpiled weapons and ammunition. Army officers usually remained loyal to the generals, but they were outnumbered and often killed by the rebels or their own men. Within a few weeks, most military units in the north had disappeared because of desertions rather than attacks by the rebels.

Burma was until 1948 part of the British colonial holdings in South Asia and one of the last additions. In 1885 Britain took control of what is now Burma after nearly a century of commercial and territorial conflicts between the expanding Burmese monarchy and the British East India Company, the economic engine that powered the effort to form what would, for about a century, become the largest component of the British colonial empire. Burma was a unique addition to the empire as it was the first large possession whose population was East Asian (Han) while the rest of India was Indo-European. The majority of Burmese were descendants of Han tribes that had migrated, at least three thousand years ago, from what is now southern China. About the same time the Central Asian nomads who became dominant in western Eurasia, poured into India, and kept going for centuries until they dominated their less aggressive but culturally and economically advanced predecessors. Same thing happened in south-east Asia but for several reasons the expansions halted in Burma, northeast India, Tibet and Central Asia.

The Indo-European Indians were far more culturally and technologically advanced than their European cousins. Indians were very active traders, mainly by sea across the Indian Ocean. When the Europeans began their Age of Exploration in the 1400s, once they reached East Africa and the Persian Gulf, they encountered Indian traders who had already been there for over a thousand years. The British did not come to South Asia to build an empire but to trade. Empire-building was a side effect of trade disputes. The South Asian British colonial rule only lasted for about two centuries and it ended when the British realized they were losing a lot of money maintaining it.

Burma, like India, had been a collection of feuding kingdoms when the British arrived. Modern Burma long consisted of southern Burma, where the ethnic Burmese (Burans) dominated. In the north, as in northeast India, there was an even larger and more diverse collection of tribes that had long maintained their independence. The British persuaded the tribes to become part of the new democratic Burma. A similar collection of tribes in northeast India made a similar deal. Many of the tribal peoples were not happy with the new central government and that produced over seventy years of rebellion and unrest.

Democratic India eventually negotiated new peace deals with the separatists among the tribes. The 1948 democratic Burma tried to do the same but continued resistance of the tribes contributed to the longest-lasting military government in South Asia. There was another element to this. Most Burmese noted that India never had a coup and Moslem Pakistan, at least West Pakistan, suffered a lot of coups and had their first one before Burma did. Also noted was that the coups in Pakistan led to Pakistan falling apart. In 1970 an uprising in East Pakistan, now Bangladesh, demanded a separate state and West Pakistan, which became just Pakistan, was unable to prevent it. Since then, Bangladesh, emulating India, adopted a coup resistant government that worked. Pakistan continues to be threatened by its own military, which now exercises its political power without taking over the government. The generals in Pakistan and Burma have one thing in common, they established government and personal economic ties with China. It is these business relationships with China that give the generals independence from their own governments financial power and the ability to coerce an elected government into obeying the military, and not the other way around.

Applying this in Burma is proving more difficult than in Pakistan, where the Chinese investments came after the Pakistan military had already carried out several successful coups but were always forced to eventually back off and allow elections to return. But now, thanks in part to Chinese assistance, the Pakistani military can control the government without being the government.

The success of the Chinese economic conquest approach is not assured in Pakistan and is even less of a sure thing in Burma. As long as the generals can find enough money to pay most of their troops, they can maintain their power. But, as the Pakistani generals have discovered, there are limitations to this approach. You must successfully intimidate the population rather than going to war with them because that risks foreign intervention. Thats what happened in Pakistan during the 1971 civil war. When troops from West Pakistan started killing rebellious civilians in a big way, neighboring India was outraged and soon intervened. This forced the Pakistani forces in East Pakistan to surrender and allowed the formation of Bangladesh.

The Burmese Army tried to keep the death toll down. Six months after the 2021 coup only about a thousand civilians had died and very few soldiers were killed. The generals are under pressure to pay close attention to troop morale and realized that another boost in soldier pay would not be enough to maintain loyalty in a force where most troops belong to extended families with many members who are not in the military and more of them are being shot at by the military.

The Chinese realize that if the Burmese can avoid open warfare with an increasingly angry population, the generals could prevail. More Burmese are obtaining weapons and using them, and the generals have a hard time portraying dead or wounded soldiers as Myanmar Martyrs. None of Burmas neighbors are eager and ready to invade, as India did in 1971 Bangladesh. Bangladesh consists of a Moslem Bengali population. Most Bengalese were Moslem, which is why you had East Pakistan from 1948 to 1970. But a third of Bengalis were Hindu, including a few Christians. In 1970, not all Moslem Bengalis lived in East, or West Pakistan. The massacre of Bengalis in East Pakistan generated a lot of Indian support for intervention. There are often times when ethnicity trumps religion.

Such is not the case in Burma, where the Buran group, while possessing ancient ethnic connections with the Han in China, now consider themselves, like the Han-related majorities in Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam, as very distinct and want as little to do with China as possible. This is a common pattern on all the current borders of China, where Han who wanted no part of a Chinese empire are still struggling to escape Han domination.

In Burma the 2021 coup was another expression of Han hostility. The continued resistance developed an armed component within 90 days. The CDM or Civil Disobedience Movement was mainly about organizing peaceful protests but as more civilians were shot, some CDM factions began shooting back. Worse, there were organized attacks as well. This began in April when someone fired five rockets at the Shante Air Force base outside the city of Mandalay. The rockets caused no damage or injuries and were believed aimed at the Chinese CH-3A UAVs that were delivered in 2015 and used mainly to keep an eye on tribal rebels in the north. After the coup the army asked China for assistance in using all the manned and unmanned aircraft and helicopters China and Russia has sold to Burma in the last decade. The military had imported $2.5 billion worth of military gear since 2010. China provided 58 percent of it and Russia 33 percent. Now these weapons are being used against the nationwide uprising. China is something of an expert on this as it is installing a Big Brother level surveillance in China and is willing to export that tech. An elected Burmese government would never divert the huge sums required to purchase and install Chinese Big Brother levels of surveillance. The Burmese military is another matter, especially when it has taken over the government again. At the moment the military is in charge and China sees another major export sale looming. Better surveillance capabilities will provide immediate help to suppress the rebels.

China faces huge economic losses if the current military government loses. China is a major foreign investor in Burma and those projects often displace Burmese illegally and without compensation. Most of this misbehavior occurred in the northern border areas where hostile tribes live. These tribes tend to have armed militias that have been fighting the military for over sixty years. Chinese investments gave the tribal rebels more targets for unarmed protests and armed attacks. China will do whatever it can to protect those investments, which include oil and natural gas pipelines from southern China to the northeast Burma coast. The pipelines have come under increasing attacks.

The first thing the new military government did after the 2021 coup was assure China that Chinese assets would be protected. China promptly used their veto powers in the UN to block UN actions against the new military rulers of Burma. Soon Russia also proclaimed support for the military government. The response of the military was not unexpected, because the civilian government knew that the Burmese generals maintained their connections in China.

The Burmese Army has long been at the center of most illegal economic activity. Some estimates indicate that at least $20 billion has been illegally moved out of Burma during the fifty years of military rule. Almost all of that involved military personnel or their gangster and commercial allies. Military families still control a lot of the economy and most of the wealthy families in Burma have a military connection. The illegal cash leaving amounted on average to about six percent of GDP. The military may have surrendered much of their political power in 2010, but they held onto their considerable personal wealth.

The Burmese military is comfortable with a cozy relationship with China and Russia, but most Burmese are not. This has led to Chinese businesses being attacked since the coup and a few have been set on fire. The military was forced to assign more troops and hire some armed guards to protect the Chinese businesses.

The alliance of separatist northern tribes, which reached a peace agreement with the elected government in 2016, refused to recognize or cooperate with the military government. Burmese military leaders were surprised at the extent and duration of mass protests during the last six months. Despite most of the economy being crippled, the military still has income because during their decades of rule they came to control many businesses and some of those were joint ventures with China. A lot of Chinese firms pay the Burmese military directly for joint ventures. This provides the military with over a billion dollars a year, assuming the Chinese operations can keep functioning. Burmese army officers made a lot of money allowing China to do business in the tribal north, often at the expense of local civilians, most of them tribal people. After the return of democracy in 2011, China no longer had as much freedom in the north. Russia is of little help economically but is one of the few nations supporting the military government.

China is in uncharted territory here but is mainly risking money, not a lot of Chinese lives. The Chinese see this as an opportunity to see how far this new version of conquest can go. This is an important experiment because it is a new version of the tactics the Europeans, especially the British, used centuries ago to replace Chinese dominance of East Asia.

One thing the current Burmese conflict is unlikely to change is the dominance of the government by ethnic Burmese (Burman) people at the expense of the third of the population consisting of minorities. The army always played on this during the decades after the 1962 coup. Even after elections were resumed the army still had allies in the form of militant Buddhist nationalists. Another thing that unites and divides the country is religion. Some 80 percent of Burmese are Buddhists, including many of the rebellious tribes in the north. A third of the non-Buddhists are Christians, mainly in the tribal north and about 30 percent are Hindu. The ethnic Burmese are most hostile towards Moslems, who make up only about four percent of the population and less than ten percent of the minorities. Until 2012 about half the Moslems were ethnic Bengalis (Rohingya) who until the 1980s were considered Burmese citizens. That changed after an elected government took power in 2011 and since 2012 nearly a quarter of the million Rohingya are believed to have fled Burma to escape the growing violence of radical Buddhist Burmese nationalists. China assures the Burmese generals that they have proven solutions for all these problems.
India has demanded for a verified stop to any further recruitment of Indian nationals by the Russian Army read more

India has 'pressed' the Russian authorities for early repatriation of mortal remains of two Indian nationals killed in conflict. Representational Image/ REUTERS

Two Indian nationals, who were recruited by the Russian Army, were killed in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Tuesday.

We regret to state that two Indian nationals who had been recruited by the Russian Army have recently been killed in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. We offer our deepest condolences to the families of the deceased, the MEA said on June 11.

India strongly takes up the matter with Russia

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Indias foreign ministry said it, along with the Indian Embassy in Moscow, have strongly taken up the matter with the Russian Ambassador in New Delhi and with Russian authorities in Moscow respectively.

Indian Embassy in Moscow has pressed the Russian authorities, including the Ministry of Defence, for early repatriation of mortal remains, the MEA said.

Release all India nationals in Russian army: MEA to Moscow

The MEA also said that it has demanded the Russian Ambassador in New Delhi and Russian authorities in Moscow for early release and return of all Indian nationals who are with the Russian Army.

India demands verified stop on further recruitment

The MEA further said India has also demanded that there be a verified stop to any further recruitment of Indian nationals by the Russian Army.

Such activities would not be in consonance with our partnership, the statement by the MEA read.

Caution for Indian nationals

We also urge Indian nationals to exercise caution while seeking employment opportunities in Russia, the MEA said.
The last time the BJP depended on the TDP for a majority in the Lok Sabha was the time when the Andhra Pradesh party got the Speaker from the state. Will Andhra again have the Speakers post? read more

(File) Bharatiya Janata Party president JP Nadda with BJP national general secretary Daggubati Purandeswari and other party leaders raises slogans after hoisting the party flag on the occasion of BJP 'Sthapna Diwas' at BJP Central Office (Ext.) in New Delhi, on 6 April, 2023. PTI

Om Birla has made history by becoming the first Lok Sabha Speaker to get elected as a Member of Parliament in a general election since PA Sangma won the national polls in 1998. Clearly, the ruckus that voters see in the Lok Sabha and the action that the Speaker has to take against those committing unruly behaviour in the House does not often go well with voters.

But will Om Birla get his job back as the Lok Sabha Speaker? Reports suggest the ruling coalition, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), is looking beyond Birla. The focus has shifted to Andhra Pradesh, where the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) has emerged as the party with a mandate to govern the state and act as the second-largest constituent of the ruling NDA at the Centre.

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The last time when TDP chief Nara Chandrababu Naidu was in such a position where his party played the role of propping the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to stay in power at the Centre, he got the Speakers post for his party. GMC Balayogi was the first MP from Andhra Pradesh, and also the first Dalit person, to become the Lok Sabha Speaker. His son Harish Madhur is now a TDP MP.

Several names are doing rounds for the next possible MP to sit in the Speakers chair. Daggubati Purandeswari is one of them.

A polyglot, senior and friends everywhere

Purandeswari is a three-time Lok Sabha member, who has served as a Union minister in the Manmohan Singh government. She won her first Lok Sabha election from Bapatla in 2004 and secured a berth in 2009 as well from Vijayawada as a Congress nominee.

This time, Purandeswari won from Rajahmundry constituency on a BJP ticket, having lost the election in 2019. Purandeswari had joined the BJP in 2014, protesting the Manmohan Singh governments decision to bifurcate Andhra Pradesh into two, creating the separate state of Telangana.

Second of the four daughters of legendary actor NT Rama Rao, who founded the TDP and became the chief of Andhra Pradesh, Purandeswari knows at least five languages including Telugu, Tamil, Hindi and French, making her well-suited for the role in a House that sees representatives from various linguistic backgrounds.

Having spent years in the Congress, and served the BJP as its womens wing in-charge and also as the Andhra unit president in her current role, Purandeswari has friends on both sides of the Lok Sabha. Personal equations have always proven to be a strong force in resolving parliamentary deadlocks  Somnath Chatterjee and PA Sangma have shown it.

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With north-south divide having played out politically towards the end of the 17th Lok Sabha, Purandeswari presents an opportunity to the Modi government to make a political outreach to the south.

Fewer women after quota law

PM Modi has been known for his messaging over the past 10 years. As it turned out, the Lok Sabha election returned fewer women to the House of People compared to the 2019 parliamentary polls  74 against 78. And this came in less than a year, India enacted a law reserving 33% seats for women in legislatures. The law was not applied to this years Lok Sabha election.

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The selection of ministers for the NDA Cabinet has already raised a few eyebrows pointing to fewer women in the Council of Ministers  seven compared to 11 in the previous ministry. Purandeswari as the Lok Sabha would send a message that the Modi government is committed to empowering women through their appointment to offices of high political importance.

India has had two women as Lok Sabha Speakers  Meira Kumar during the Manmohan Singh government and Sumitra Mahajan during the first Modi government.

The speculation about Purandeswari getting the Speakers role carries more currency now as she was originally expected to be part of Modis Council of Ministers. She was not named despite her spectacular show in the Lok Sabha polls. As the Andhra BJP chief, she returned with an 80 per cent strike rate  the party won eight of the 10 Lok Sabha seats it contested in alliance with the TDP and actor-politician Pawan Kalyans Jana Sena Party (JSP).

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And theres a TDP connection

The fact that Purandeswari is related to TDP chief Naidu makes her choice as the Lok Sabha Speaker comes as a politically viable option in the NDA. There have been reports suggesting that Naidu has apprehensions that if his party suffers a split-like situation  the ones seen in Maharashtra in the case of the Shiv Sena and the Nationalist Congress Party  a Speaker of his choice would keep his TDP from breaking up.

Purandeswari and Naidus wife are sisters  the TDP chief is married to the third daughter of NT Rama Rao.

The office of the Lok Sabha Speaker has always been significant, ranked sixth in the order of precedence at par with the Chief Justice of India, and is the boss of the most parliamentary affairs as the head of the House of People in India. Om Birlas stint as the Lok Sabha Speaker over the past five years made it even more significant politically as it was marked by unprecedented action against Members of Parliament for disrupting the proceedings and creating ruckus in the House. More than 140 MPs were suspended in one go last year.

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With the Opposition bloc, INDIA, having returned to the Lok Sabha with greater numbers than they had in the previous House, there will likely be more political confrontations during the upcoming parliament sessions.

The BJP is reportedly not in favour of parting with the Speakers post with its allies, while its partners  both the TDP and the Janata Dal-United of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar are pushing for a change of guard in the office.

So, will Om Birla be replaced by Daggubati Purandeswari as the Lok Sabha Speaker? Its a question of a few days, literally.
The message is unequivocal: The BJP is here to lead with a steady hand, and there will be no dilution of its agenda or priorities in the face of coalition politics read more

Following the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP-led NDA government has been formed under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This marks a historic moment, with Modi forming the government for the third consecutive time, despite facing a reduction in the number of seats. The Opposition has interpreted the BJPs failure to secure an outright majority as a sign of their defeat. However, this narrative overlooks the resilience and adaptability of the BJPs coalition politics.

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While the numbers of the BJP have decreased, it does not signify an end to its governance agenda, focused on Indias development and cultural revival. The saffron party has a proven track record of managing successful coalition governments, as evidenced by the leadership of Atal Bihari Vajpayee and his deputy Lal Krishna Advani. The current scenario is another challenge in a democratic framework, but it also serves to strengthen the BJPs core ideologies and policies through coalition dynamics.

Prime Minister Modis new NDA government sends a strong rebuttal to Opposition propaganda. The formation of Modis 3.0 cabinet is a clear message that the BJPs political strength and ideological commitment remain intact, regardless of the seat count. PM Modis unwavering focus on the development and the cultural revival of Bharat stands firm. The BJP is prepared to engage in respectful negotiations with its allies to ensure the continuity of its policy, and political, geopolitical, and economic agendas.

The BJP will Lead

The reconstitution of the Modi cabinet has been a subject of intense scrutiny and interpretation. The retention of stalwarts like Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, Nirmala Sitharaman, S. Jaishankar, Nitin Gadkari, and Bhupendra Yadav sends a robust signal to the Opposition: the BJP is unwavering in its core governance philosophy and is not willing to compromise on key ministerial positions. This strategic move by Prime Minister Narendra Modi not only consolidates the BJPs position but also reaffirms its commitment to its foundational policies concerning internal and external security, economic reform, and infrastructure development.

The message is unequivocal  the BJP is here to lead with a steady hand, and there will be no dilution of its agenda or priorities in the face of coalition politics.

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The Oppositions narrative that the BJP would be compelled to cede important cabinet posts to its allies has been effectively countered. The reappointment of experienced ministers indicates a continuity of policy and an emphasis on stability and experience in governance. This is particularly significant at a time when India faces numerous challenges on various fronts, including economic recovery post-pandemic, border security issues, and the need for infrastructural growth.

Moreover, this cabinet reshuffle is a testament to the BJPs ability to balance alliance dynamics while maintaining a firm grip on the steering wheel of the government. It underscores the partys confidence in its leadership and policy direction, which has been endorsed by the electorate in successive elections.

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In essence, the composition of the new Modi cabinet is a strategic masterstroke that reinforces the BJPs leadership narrative. It is a clear declaration that the party is not only in command but is also prepared to lead India towards a future defined by robust security, dynamic diplomacy, and sustainable development.

No Compromise on Politics and Ideology

One of the most significant messages conveyed through the new cabinet is that the BJPs ideological base will not be diluted. By retaining key figures like Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, and Nitin Gadkari, who have been instrumental in driving the partys vision and policies, the Modi government signals continuity in its ideological stance. These leaders have been pivotal in shaping the BJPs approach to governance, emphasising economic development, national security, and cultural revival. Their continued presence in the cabinet ensures that these priorities will remain at the forefront of the governments agenda. Moreover, the induction of BJP president JP Nadda is a message that the politics of the BJP will not be compromised at all.

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Additionally, the inclusion of loyalists and seasoned politicians like Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Manohar Lal Khattar highlights the BJPs strategy to maintain a strong ideological coherence. These leaders are not only experienced administrators but also staunch supporters of the partys foundational values. Their roles in the cabinet reinforce the message that the BJPs political and ideological ethos will be upheld, irrespective of coalition dynamics. This is why the narrative that the BJP will shift from its ideological agenda is not standing.

In conclusion, the new Modi cabinet is a testament to the BJPs steadfastness in its political and ideological pursuits. It communicates to the Opposition and the nation that while coalition dynamics may require tactical adjustments, the BJPs foundational principles and long-term vision for India remain non-negotiable.

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Experience is Key

In the wake of Narendra Modis historic third term as prime minister, critics have raised concerns about his ability to manage a coalition government, citing his perceived lack of experience in such arrangements. However, Modis strategic cabinet formation, which includes seven former chief ministers, serves as a robust counter to these allegations.

The induction of seasoned leaders and former CMs like Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Rajnath Singh, ML Khattar, Jitan Ram Manjhi, Kumaraswamy, and others who have helmed state governments, brings a wealth of administrative experience to the Central government. This move consolidates Modis position and sends a clear message that the coalition will benefit from the diverse expertise of these veteran politicians.

Critics have often pointed out that Modis previous terms did not involve the intricacies of coalition management, suggesting potential governance challenges. Yet, the composition of the Modi 3.0 cabinet suggests a deliberate effort to blend youth with experience, ensuring the government is well-equipped to handle the complexities of a coalition.

Moreover, the inclusion of former chief ministers is a testament to the NDAs repository of experienced administrators and leaders. The presence of these leaders in the cabinet is poised to enhance decision-making and policy implementation, reflecting a government that prioritises work and performance over political rhetoric.

In essence, Modis cabinet choices have been a strategic manoeuvre to address the Oppositions concerns head-on. By assembling a team of accomplished leaders, Modi 3.0 is positioned to harness their administrative acumen and steer the nation toward its developmental goals while managing the dynamics of a coalition government. The message is clear: experience and expertise will be the cornerstones of governance in Modis third term.

The strategic inclusion of leaders from various states and diverse backgrounds reflects Modis intent to create a government that is not only inclusive but also resilient. This approach ensures that the Modi 3.0 cabinet is well-prepared to tackle the challenges ahead, maintaining a strong ideological base and an unwavering commitment to Indias development.

All Set to Take on the Opposition in Upcoming State Elections

In the intricate dance of Indian politics, the recent unveiling of Modi 3.0 cabinet is more than a mere changing of guards; its a symphony of strategic moves poised to reverberate through upcoming state elections. Haryana, Maharashtra, and Jharkhand emerge as focal points in this political theatre, each demanding a tailored approach from the BJP.

Haryana, a crucible of social and caste equations, sees the BJP retaining key ministers as a testament to its proven social engineering prowess. The partys knack for forging non-Jat alliances reflects a calculated bid to consolidate its stronghold in a state where caste dynamics often sway electoral fortunes.

Maharashtra, with its intricate alliance dynamics, presents a canvas where every brushstroke matters. The recent interplay involving NCPs Praful Patel showcases the delicate equilibrium the NDA strives to maintain, emphasising unity in the face of formidable political puzzles.

Jharkhand, rich in tribal hues, offers a canvas for the BJPs nuanced strokes. Its focus on non-tribal constituencies signals a potential shift in the states political tapestry, an endeavour to transcend traditional affiliations and appeal to a broader voter base.

This cabinet reshuffle isnt just about optics; its a strategic riposte to Opposition critiques, signalling the BJPs preparedness for the impending electoral showdown. With an eye on development agendas and a keen understanding of regional nuances, these choices echo a larger vision of governance beyond mere seat counts.

As the electoral drumbeats grow louder, the BJPs manoeuvres will be scrutinised not just for their immediate impact but for their lasting imprint on the political landscapes of Haryana, Maharashtra, and Jharkhand. In this unfolding saga, every appointment, alliance, and strategy bear the weight of shaping the future narrative of these crucial states.

The author, a columnist and research scholar, teaches journalism at St. Xaviers College (autonomous), Kolkata. His handle on X is @sayantan_gh. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
It seems the heat has gotten to Shehbaz Sharif, the Prime Minister of Pakistan. His visit to China seemed shaky from the start, with dates remaining unconfirmed by Beijing until just before his departure. Finally, a five-day visit was slatedwhich might seem like a nice holiday, except that critical policy decisions are looming. As Pakistani experts note, the visit led to postponing a critical budget session, vital for securing a deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Sharif must have needed that visit badly. Just how badly soon became apparent. In a highly unusual development, the Chief of Army Staff, General Asim Munir, was seen front and centre throughout the visit.

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The talky talk before the visit

Prior to the visit was the usual flowery rhetoric. In an interview with the Chinese media, Sharif declared, We are two iron brothers, our friendship is unshakable and our hearts beat together. The reality, however, is that Pakistan desperately hopes for a rollover of some $15 billion in debt to China for the construction of approximately 20 power plants. Additionally, there is the small matter of $1.5 billion in unpaid bills, and Sharifs government desperately wants to avoid raising power charges again. The last time such an increase occurred, it sparked severe protests, especially concerning given the current heatwave. Officials acknowledge the visit was unexpected, while others hope the prime minister will return with substantial business deals. In a sign of bravado, Islamabad announced $2 billion for the Karakorum Highway realignment, a project that has yet to undergo feasibility studies and certainly wont be funded by the already overburdened public exchequer.

In Beijing, Sharif was received with due ceremony by Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong. His entourage, which included the Ministers for the Board of Investment, Commerce, and Revenue, among others, indicated the visits primary focus on economic matters. Around 79 Pakistani companies were present in Shenzhen, the prime ministers first stop.

At the conference, Pakistani ministers promoted the country as an ideal base for export-oriented companies. The teams consistent message, echoed even during their visit to the UAE, was that Pakistan no longer seeks loans but rather employment opportunities and training for its youth. This stance implicitly acknowledges the limitations of the current Pakistani labour force. Headlines say that Pakistans best and brightest are leaving.

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In 2022 alone, a staggering 765,000 individuals left for foreign shores, including 92,000 highly educated professionals such as doctors, engineers, IT experts, and accountants. Furthermore, Pakistans finance minister Muhammad Aurangzeb acknowledged  temporary hiccups  in payments and repatriations for Chinese firms due to severe foreign exchange issues. Other companies, including German giant SAP, face similar challenges, with solutions unlikely to materialise soon.

Those mysterious agreements

As the visit progressed, the theatrics intensified. On June 6, the Ministry of Commerce hailed a historic moment in bilateral ties, reporting the signing of 32 agreements in business-to-business meetings. These agreements covered sectors such as energy, automobiles, information technology, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, andmost notablyagriculture and food processing. This focus on agriculture has always been a priority for China, given its heavy dependence on food imports and low arable land availability.

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Interestingly, available reports also included an MoU between the Pakistan Television Corporation and China Media Group, signalling further ingress of Chinese media into the country, adding to the six companies already operating there. Additionally, there is the now-customary mention of feasibility studies for various highways, such as the DI Khan-Zhob National Highway (N-50) and the Muzaffarabad-Mirpur-Mangla Expressway. The latter derives its importance from two proposed economic zones (Bhimber and Mirpur), which, notably, are absent from the main CPEC page.

Its worth noting that Mangla houses Pakistans Strike Corps, making that particular road strategically significant. Furthermore, plans persist for constructing a tunnel at Babusar, aimed at enabling all-weather connectivity between Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, a project in development since 2016. In short, the agreements offer nothing new.

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The joint statement

The final joint statement is interesting in multiple ways. First, its 18 pages long and dithers on about the iron-clad relationship, ironically congratulating Pakistan on its (s)electionsfrom a Chinese leader who has selected himself for life. Then theres the now-standard support for safeguarding its sovereignty, national independence, and territorial integrity, which falls short of an actual mutual defence treaty. It also reiterates a theme prevalent throughout the visitthe importance of combating terrorism, stressed by none other than President Xi himselfbut links it to attempts to undermine their friendship.

Someone should inform the Chinese that strong suspicions linger that the recent attack on the Dasu hydropower stationwhich, rather unusually, the Tehrik-e-Taliban deniedmay have been orchestrated by Pakistanis themselves to garner Beijings support against Kabul. In fact, thats what the Taliban are openly claiming.

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Theres little in terms of specifics in the economic cooperation sphere. The final statement mentions only 23 agreements and is vague on most matters, except for projects related to Chinese core interests. Gwadar is mentioned in terms of the need to build auxiliary infrastructure, which includes roads and railways that Pakistan has failed to build, and the Karakorum Highway realignment project, which has faced serious setbacks. Incidentally, the Gwadar international airport is undergoing flight checks and safety audits, marking the final leg of its coming online. Thats a mystery in itselfa huge airport in the middle of nowhere with no particular incoming traffic to support it.

Meanwhile, many of Pakistans prized projects see little mention. The ML-1, the most expensive project of all, is mentioned only in passing, with China merely committing to its businesses investing in Pakistan in accordance with market and commercial principles. In other words, caution is in the air. The statement is predictably enthusiastic about end-to-end agricultural cooperation, which likely means that local farmers might find themselves at a disadvantage. Chinese farms in Africa are well-known for mass mechanisation rather than generating employment.

And as of the time of writing, no spectacular bailout of Pakistan has materialised, either in terms of substantial business deals or debt rollovers. However, there is a commitment to the industrialisation of Pakistan. Thats a tall order when at present, it has none of the basics. The IT industry has seen a significant rise in recent years, and China may be expected to dip its fingers into that pie.

The all-platinum lining

Despite business and Chinese banks hanging back in providing economic succor, Beijing apparently has no qualms about payback in the defence sphere, given the generous provision of the new J-10 combat aircraft with an entire suite missile, the direct import of the new VT tank, licensed production of the Type 90-2M tank, frigates and the new Hangor class submarines. And the reason for that is made more than obvious. The statement underscored that stronger strategic defence and security cooperation between China and Pakistan plays an irreplaceable and critical role in ensuring strategic balance of the region. Thats plain speaking of no mean order.

On the Kashmir question, the Chinese position is a little mixed. While retaining its traditional line of Kashmir being a leftover of history to be dealt with under the UN resolutions and bilateral treaties, it opposes any unilateral action. Clearly, the Article 370 move still rankles considering that China occupies a large slice of the princely state of Kashmir. And finally, there is what the statement doesnt say. While it espouses a high-toned position on Gaza and the need for a two-state solution, it is entirely silent on the burgeoning Ukraine situation, where World War III is expected as tensions rise. Apparently, its not Beijing which is being cautious. Pakistan likes its bread buttered on both sides, and it likes to keep its US options open.

Based on public statements, the visit seemingly yielded none of Pakistans desired financial commitments. However, its worth noting that actual loans to the Pakistani military, for instance, are shrouded in opacity, receiving no mention in State Bank of Pakistan reports beyond a rare (and perhaps accidental) footnote. Yet, Sharif made that hurried trip for a reason, and he brought the Army Chief along for a reason as well.

It appears something was anticipated, potentially involving a payout from the Pakistani Army and a reciprocal quid pro quo for the civilian establishment. If there has been a bargain, it has yet to surface. A debt rollover is possible, but the true quid pro quo might only become apparent through an increased Chinese presence within Pakistan and along its borders with India. Wait for it.

The writer is a Distinguished Fellow at the Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies, New Delhi. She tweets @kartha_tara. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
Projection says the hard-liners amongst the Right-wingers alone will win about 25 per cent of the seats in the EU assembly in Brussels in elections conducted on June 9 read more

High prices, low growth, the imposition costs of a Green transition, and rampant and disruptive immigration that preys on limited resources have all contributed to the rise of Right-wing and far-Right parties in Western Europe.

An immigrant who does not say thank you but instead attempts to impose its foreign will is a big departure from earlier waves of foreign arrivals. Then the newcomer tried his best to integrate with the ethos of the host country and, in a few years, succeeded in doing so.

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Projection says the hard-liners amongst the Right-wingers alone will win about 25 per cent of the seats in the EU assembly in Brussels in elections conducted on June 9. Predictably, they are already demanding a say in policy in proportion to their expected strength.

The current centre-Right leadership of the EU under Ursula Von der Leyen and her European Peoples Party (EPP), as the biggest group, can hold out for now. It can possibly win a second term too. The EPP can obtain a majority after the counting is done, with some moderate Right-wing support, such as from Italian Prime Minister Georgia Melonis Brothers of Italy.

Meloni has extended a warm invitation to perceived fellow Right-wing leader Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend the outreach sessions of the G7 Summit Italy is currently hosting. Prime Minister Modi is expected to attend for a day very soon.

So far, the radical Right, unlike Melonis moderate Right, has not been able to unite, but once that happens, it will be difficult to stave them off in European politics. Nationalist prime ministers are already in place in Hungary, Italy, and Slovakia, and Right-wing parties are in the governments of several other countries.

The Right-wing reaction is to past liberal immigration policies that led to a flood of mainly Islamic Middle Easterners but also from other parts of the world, both legal and illegalboat people and overland infiltrators. They do provide cheap labour, but at what cost? They have typically come from Syria, Iraq, Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, and the countries of North Africa and Turkey.

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These immigrants, with aggressive anti-Western attitudes, are unable to identify with the liberal post-war Judeo-Christian ethic and way of life.

So they resort to violence in the name of Allah and indulge in gang-based molestation of women, rape, and murder. In their culture, they do not allow uncovered women to be seen in public. And going to the West to avail of a better standard of living does not mean one has to accept their ways.

The targets are the very native White populations. These indigenous Europeans are now fed up with immigrants exhorting them to give up their sinful ways and adopt Islam. The immigrants themselves tend to live in ghettos that they barricade. They refuse to let the state police or other authorities into their areas, even as they seek to introduce Sharia laws for their community.

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In reaction to this daylight hijacking, the Right-wing has now mobilised politically. Their parties are dedicated to resisting such immigrant dictation. Many want the immigrants deported and the laws tightened.

The Right-wing has many other grouses beyond immigration. They resent the perceived excesses of the Green Movement, for example, the banning of cars based on carbon emissions. They do not like orders from a bureaucratic council in Brussels. They increasingly find the EU itself stifling and restrictive, but have shelved the earlier ideas of wrecking it in favour of influencing it from within.

The people who back these Right-wing organisations often disagree with the prevailing economic policy they see as anti-nationalist. Likewise, many governance issues are not perceived to be in their best interests. The liberal dispensation and its court systems have laws that make matters worse by allowing the immigrants, for example, to conduct themselves with impunity.

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Right-wing parties such as the Swiss Peoples Party dominate in Switzerland, even though it is not in the EU. Far-Rightists rule in ItalyBrothers of Italy, Lega. In Hungary, it is the Fidesz. The Right-wing Finns Party is part of the government in Finland. In Sweden, the Right-wing Swedish Democrats are prominent. In Serbia, the right-wing United Serbia is in a dominant position.

In the recent EU elections, centre-Right and far-Right parties have done well in France and Germany, the two biggest economies in the EU. As results trickle in, we see that in France, the far-Right Nationalist Rally has already won a big victory. Early results suggest the Right-wing would win 32 per cent of the vote, double the votes in favour of Macrons liberals. In reaction, President Emmanuel Macron has promptly dissolved parliament and called for a snap election. If he loses still, will the Right-wing under Marie Le Pen treat India with the same warmth? Most likely yes, as the French Right is not opposed in any way to the Modi government or the NDA.

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In Germany, the centre-Right is likely to win the largest number of seats, followed by the far-Right AfD, which is expected to bag second place. Chancellor Olaf Scholzs Socialists cannot hope for more than coming in third. Again, India should have no difficulty dealing with Germany. In fact, the collaboration and technology transfer mechanics with the Germans could well do better. The Left-leaning penchant for finger-wagging will be discontinued.

The story of the tilt towards the Right repeats itself in almost all of the 27-member EU countries. And the trend line is unmistakable.

There is a similar movement in America, with the rising possibility of Donald Trump and a decidedly conservative Republican Party winning a second term in November.

Some analysts are pointing towards a similar Rightward trend globally, though the liberal Left is also tightening its belt. Is this because of tougher economic struggles that affect everybody? The rising intolerance towards foreign immigration certainly points in that direction. Initiatives of the government that further burden the taxpayer rather than strengthen his arm are becoming unpopular. When they are intended to potentially benefit the cause of planetary issues such as global warming, it becomes all the more annoying because peoples issues should have come first.

In fact, globalisation, once the buzzword for progress, is now regarded as an inconvenience to be controlled. Import tariffs are going up, and restrictive visa regimes are being imposed.

It may be impossible to retreat behind protectionist walls beyond a point, but national interests, rather than international ones, are the new points of emphasis.

Is this going to slow progress? If it does, countries around the world, and not just in Europe, seem to be prepared for it. The idea of gaining what you lose on the swing road being made up at the roundabout, is presently not very popular. The generosity of globalisation is being replaced by me first policies. Is this cyclical and likely to revert to form once the economic conditions improve? Probably not. The bilateral give-and-take is the more likely model going forward, rather than outfits like the WTO or some UN agency.

The writer is a Delhi-based political commentator. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
Apples AI is tailored for the everyday user  those who prioritise seamless, intuitive, and secure experiences over technical intricacies. This stands in contrast to the more fragmented and experimental approaches of competitors read more

Apple presented AI in a more user-centric way, focusing on simplicity, privacy, and integration. Tim Cook, for example, described Apple's AI as personal, powerful, and private. Image Credit: Apple

Say what you will about Apple but they know how to organise an event and present their latest products and services in a rather slick manner. So much so that other tech companies often take notes from them.

Apples AI announcements at WWDC 2024 also had a number of lessons for tech giants like Google, Meta, Amazon, and OpenAI on how to not only market their AI services but also how to position their principles of AI.

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Apples introduction of Apple Intelligence is a textbook example of how the company adheres to its core principles of simplicity, privacy, and integration within its ecosystem, providing a fresh perspective on deploying generative AI.

Tim Cooks description of Apple Intelligence as personal, powerful, and private underscores Apples strategy of integrating AI in a manner that respects user privacy while enhancing functionality across its devices.

This stands in contrast to the more fragmented and experimental approaches of competitors. Apples AI is tailored for the everyday user  those who prioritise seamless, intuitive, and secure experiences over technical intricacies.

Contextual and User-Centric AI

Apples approach emphasizes context and usability, enhancing Siri to perform more than 100 actions based on user activity and device context. This capability aligns with Apples philosophy of creating products that just work. Siris improvements, including leveraging ChatGPT for more complex queries, reflect a commitment to enhancing user experience without overwhelming users with technical jargon or complex interfaces.

Distinctive AI Branding

The rebranding of AI as Apple Intelligence is a strategic move to demystify and humanize the technology. By distancing itself from the often intimidating connotations of artificial intelligence, Apple positions its AI as a benign, user-friendly tool that integrates smoothly with its existing ecosystem. This branding could serve as a model for other companies looking to make AI more palatable to the general public.

Thoughtful Integration vs. Aggressive Expansion

Unlike Google and Metas approach of rapidly infusing AI across all platforms, Apples integration feels deliberate and cohesive. Each featurewhether its systemwide writing tools, personalized Siri actions, or fun elements like Genmojisfeels like a natural extension of the operating system rather than an afterthought. This measured approach could serve as a lesson in maintaining product integrity while innovating.

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Privacy and Security

Apples emphasis on privacy is a critical differentiator. In a time when data security concerns are paramount, Apples promise of a private AI experience resonates strongly with consumers wary of surveillance and data misuse. This focus on privacy could force competitors to reevaluate their data practices and prioritize user security in their AI offerings.

Simplifying Complex Technology

Apples AI strategy embodies Steve Jobs philosophy: simple can be harder than complex. By focusing on creating a clean, user-friendly interface, Apple demonstrates that the real challenge lies in making advanced technology accessible and straightforward. This approach not only sets a high bar for usability but also highlights the importance of thoughtful design in tech innovation.

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Challenges and Expectations

While Apples AI announcements are promising, the real test will come with practical implementation. The accuracy of Apple Intelligence, its handling of data provenance, and the specifics of the partnership with OpenAI will be critical factors to watch. As with any AI system, the potential for inaccuracies or hallucinations remains, and how Apple addresses these issues will be telling.

Apples announcements serve as a clarion call to other tech giants: integrating AI should not merely be about adding features but enhancing user experience through thoughtful, privacy-conscious design. This approach challenges Google, Meta, Amazon, and OpenAI to refine their AI strategies, focusing on simplicity, security, and seamless integration.
From 2017 to 2023, EV registrations in the state grew by 1,275 per cent. All in all, there are 3.4 lakh e-vehicles in the state with 2.98 lakh two-wheelers, 23,516 four-wheelers and 18,246 three-wheelers read more

Bengaluru has seen its EV adoption explode in the last couple of years. from 2017 to 2024, EV adoption has grown by 1275%. Image Credit: Reuters

Bengaluru has emerged as Indias leading city for electric car registrations in 2023, surpassing major cities like Mumbai, Delhi, and Pune.

The citys tech-savvy workforce, who are usually open to accept new technologies, zero road tax, subsidized electricity for EV charging, and an extensive network of charging stations have all contributed to this growth.

According to data from Jato Dynamics reviewed by electric car registrations in Bengaluru surged more than threefold in 2023, reaching 8,690 units. The citys love for of EVs extends beyond cars and also includes numerous two-wheelers.

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This tendency to choose EVs over ICEs has consistently positioned the city as a prominent proponent of EV adoption in India. While Bengaluru is the leading city in India when it comes EV adoption, the state it is located, Karnataka, has seen a nearly five-fold increase in EV registrations between 2018 and 2021, making it one of the top three states for EV adoption.

A report titled Roadmap for Transformation of Bengaluru to a Global EV Lighthouse City in India, prepared by the UK Government, NITI Aayog, and the Government of Karnataka, highlighted the states progress. The registration of EVs in the state has seen a whopping 1,275 per cent growth, as per a report by The New Indian Express.

In 2017-18, the city had 1,922 EVs. By 2023-2024 the number rose to 1,59,428. The vehicles include two-wheelers, three-wheelers and cars. All in all, there are 3.4 lakh e-vehicles in the state with 2.98 lakh two-wheelers, 23,516 four-wheelers and 18,246 three-wheelers.

As for the state with the most numbers of EVs registered, it is UP. Maharashtra and Karnataka take the next two stops.

By 2030, electric two-wheelers and three-wheelers will lead EV adoption in Bengaluru, with sales penetration projected to reach 30 per cent for private cars, 70 per cent for commercial vehicles, 40 per cent for buses, and 80 per cent for two and three-wheelers. The penetration of electric buses and private vehicles is expected to increase at a slower rate compared to other segments.

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With the rise in EVs, the demand for charging infrastructure is also set to grow. The report projects that Bengaluru will need at least 58,416 charging points by 2030, driving the citys energy demand to 11.73 gigawatt hours. Bengalurus conducive EV and energy storage policies, along with its thriving tech industry and extensive logistics network, are key factors supporting its transformation into a global EV lighthouse city.

Karnataka leads the nation in the number of publicly available charging stations, with over 5,500 stations as of February 2024. EVs account for 6-7 per cent of the total energy consumption in Karnataka, with Bengaluru alone accounting for over 5 per cent. According to Bescom data, EV chargers approved by the company have consumed 14.8 lakh kWh of power over the past two years, generating significant revenue.

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Despite a slight dip in registrations towards the end of 2023, the overall trend in Bengaluru shows a considerable increase in EV adoption. Factors such as rising public awareness, diverse model options, and affordable costs have encouraged more people to switch to EVs. However, the city still has room to grow in the adoption of electric two-wheelers, three-wheelers, and public taxis. The state government is keen on introducing electric buses to its fleet, further promoting EV use.

Karnatakas EV policy is attracting significant investments, contributing to the states goal of becoming a major player in the global EV manufacturing sector. According to Ramesh Shivanna, a member of the Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry, increasing energy consumption by EVs will help the state and country achieve renewable energy goals. As India aims to become a global EV manufacturing hub, Bengaluru is poised to play a crucial role in this transformation.
Tesla is facing a more serious issue: an ever-growing stockpile of unsold vehicles, particularly evident in Austin, Texas. This comes at a time when Tesla shareholders are supposed to approve $56 billion as remuneration for Teslas stocks performance read more

It seems that Teslas turbulent times dont seem to have an end. The electric vehicle giant, has been making headlines recently, but not for reasons it might prefer. While the Cybertruck and its polarizing design have drawn plenty of attention and amusement, Tesla is facing a more serious issue: an ever-growing stockpile of unsold vehicles, particularly evident in Austin, Texas.

The companys struggle to sell cars is becoming increasingly hard to hide, especially when observed from above.

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A news outlet by the name Sherwood News used satellite imagery to analyse the situation, comparing parking lots of unsold Tesla vehicles in October 2023 to those in March 2024. The comparison revealed significantly fuller lots in March, corroborating Teslas Q1 earnings report from April.

The report indicated that the company was producing far more cars than it was selling, with deliveries dropping by 8.5% year-over-year and nearly 47,000 more cars produced than sold. This marked Teslas first sales decline since the 2020 pandemic-induced production halt.

Ports, parking lots, and outside its factories  extra Teslas are piling up and you can see them from space https://t.co/fdorpLTrFe pic.twitter.com/MxrJ4x9xuA  Rani Molla (@ranimolla) June 7, 2024

The satellite imagery, provided by SkyFi, shows that these unsold vehicles are going nowhere. They sit idle in parking lots, waiting to be shipped. Sherwood News highlighted similar situations across the country, with reports of excess inventory being stored at places like the Chesterfield Mall in St. Louis. SkyFis satellite images from May 2024 showed nearly 500 Teslas parked there.

Compounding Teslas woes, shareholders are scheduled to vote this week on Elon Musks nearly $56 billion compensation package at the companys annual shareholder meeting. This vote comes after a Delaware judge struck down the pay deal in February, citing Musks extensive ties with the board members who approved it.

Alongside voting on Musks compensation, shareholders will also decide whether to relocate Teslas headquarters out of Delaware, likely to distance the company from what Musk believes is an unfavourable judicial oversight there.

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The situation paints a rather challenging picture for Tesla. The production surplus suggests that demand may not be keeping pace with the companys ambitious output. This discrepancy could be a cause for concern among investors, particularly as Tesla navigates these turbulent times with its leadership and strategic decisions under intense scrutiny.

As Tesla contends with these operational and logistical issues, the future of its market strategy and production capabilities will be crucial. The upcoming shareholder decisions could signal significant changes in how Tesla navigates its business challenges, including the potential relocation of its headquarters and adjustments to its executive compensation practices. The outcomes of these votes and the companys ability to address its inventory glut will be pivotal in determining its trajectory in the competitive EV market.
Muhammad is one of the most common mens names in the worlds most populous Muslim-majority nation. Aulia was imprisoned after being reported under a blasphemy law that carries a maximum sentence of five years. Prosecutors had sought an eight-month term for Aulia read more

Snap from the controversial video of Aulia Rakhman. File Photo.

A court in Muslim-majority Indonesia has handed a comedian a seven-month prison sentence for blasphemy after he made a joke about the name Muhammad, a local legal official said Tuesday.

Aulia Rakhman, a comedian from Lampung Province on Sumatra island, was found guilty of spreading hatred through stand-up jokes at an event in December, Lampung prosecutors office spokesperson Ricky Ramadhan told AFP.

Aulia reportedly made a joke at a cafe in provincial capital Bandar Lampung about how names like Muhammad  inspired by Islams founding prophet  had lost their positive connotations due to the sheer number of badly behaved Indonesians who share them.

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Muhammad is one of the most common mens names in the worlds most populous Muslim-majority nation.

Aulia was imprisoned after being reported under a blasphemy law that carries a maximum sentence of five years. Prosecutors had sought an eight-month term for Aulia.

The law forbids anyone from making statements at odds with one of Indonesias six official religions or trying to prevent someone from adhering to one of those religions.

Aulia was found guilty last week, but the verdict only came to light on Tuesday.

The defendant admitted and regretted his actions, behaved politely at the trial, and the defendant has never been convicted, Ricky said.

The aggravating factor was the defendants actions have disturbed society.

The comedians jailing is the latest in a string of blasphemy cases in the country.

In 2022, Indonesian police arrested six people on charges of blasphemy over a bar chains free alcohol promotion for patrons named Muhammad.

Jakartas ex-governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, better known as Ahok, was jailed for nearly two years on controversial blasphemy charges in 2017.

Rights groups have long campaigned against the laws, which they say are frequently misused to target religious minorities.
A day after four US college instructors teaching in China were stabbed while visiting a busy public park, China on Tuesday said that the attack in the northeastern city of Jilin was an isolated incident, promising Beijing would protect the safety of foreigners in the country read more

A day after four US college instructors teaching in China were stabbed while visiting a busy public park, China on Tuesday said that the attack in the northeastern city of Jilin was an isolated incident, promising Beijing would protect the safety of foreigners in the country.

The police preliminarily judged that the case was isolated. Further investigation is underway, AFP quoted foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian as saying.

Jian said the incident would not affect the normal development of China-US people-to-people exchanges.

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In a rare case of violent crime against foreigners, the educators from Cornell College, a private liberal arts college in Mount Vernon, Iowa, were wounded in a serious incident on Monday, while participating in a partnership program with Beihua University in the city of Jilin, in northeastern China, according to a CNN report, citing the college authorities.

We have been in contact with all four instructors and are assisting them during this time," CNN quoted Cornell College President Jonathan Brand as saying in a statement, adding no students took part in the program.

Video purportedly depicting the aftermath of a daylight attack surfaced on Chinese social media on Monday but was quickly censored. The footage displayed two men and a woman lying on the ground, heavily stained with blood, while surrounded by bystanders.

Despite the grim scene, the individuals seemed conscious as they conversed on their cell phones, as shown in the video.

As of Tuesday, details regarding the attack, such as the motive and the identity of the perpetrator(s), remained elusive.

The US State Department acknowledged reports of a stabbing incident in China and is currently monitoring the situation.

Knife attacks are relatively common in China due to the countrys strict gun control laws. The nation has experienced several stabbing sprees in public areas, such as schools and hospitals. However, attacks targeting foreigners are rare.

The incident in Jilin on Monday comes at a time when China is trying to attract international visitors after three years of stringent Covid-19 border restrictions. It also coincides with efforts to enhance educational exchanges with the United States as both countries aim to stabilize their strained relationship.

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With inputs from agencies
June 11, 2024: The island nation of Cyprus in the eastern Mediterranean has, for Russia, been useful as a wretched hive of scum and villainy where local politicians and businesses, especially banks, make a lot of money by allowing Russia to do whatever it wants. That means Cyprus has become the one EU (European Union) country that eagerly and enthusiastically supports the Russian invasion of Ukraine. This is nothing new because, since the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, Cyprus has become a favorite place for Russian tourists, businesses, gangsters, and intelligence agencies to operate in a European country which welcomes them and their money. As long as the right Cypriot businesses and officials are paid, the Russians can conduct all manner of otherwise illegal activities.

Since the 1990s Cyprus has become a favorite vacation destination for Russians, especially during the winter. As long as the Soviet Union existed, its only warm in winter portions were in Crime where it was sometimes chilly even then. Cyprus is different as it is semi-tropical and long popular with northern Europeans as a vacation spot.

Unlike other European vacationers, as many as 50,000 Russians settled in Cyprus after 1991. There are now over 120,000 living in Cyprus because of economic difficulties back home caused by western economic sanctions over this and that, chiefly since 2022. These Russians now constitute about ten percent of the Cypriot population. Russians with enough money move to Cyprus until the Ukraine War is over. Cyprus has long been pro-Russian and supports the invasion of Ukraine and the continued fighting there.

Another interesting recent revelation was that Cyprus had never expelled a Russian diplomat. Other EU members have expelled over 300 Russian diplomats since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Thats 82 percent of the Russian diplomats expelled since 1991. Cyprus has become the headquarters for Russian smuggling, sabotage, and intelligence operations in Europe. Most of the Russian diplomats in Cyprus actually work for Russian government intelligence and special operations organizations.

Seven months after the invasion of Ukraine, Russia sent a senior FSB general with no diplomatic experience to be their ambassador to Cyprus. Russia also opened a consulate on the Turkish portion of Cyprus. Cyprus had been a British colony for many years until being given independence in 1960, whereupon ethnic strife between its Greek majority and Turkish minority began, and increased until 1974 when its government was overthrown by Greek nationalists with the aid of Greeces then military dictatorship. And assassinated the US ambassador in the process. Turkey then invaded Cyprus to protect the Turkish minority, ethnically cleansed the island into separate Greek and Turkish areas, and created an independent Turkish state there in 1983. This new state did not prosper economically. The Greek state of Cyprus did, notably with tourism and international financial crime. Current illegal Russian activities in Cyprus are directed at supporting their operations in Ukraine and conducting hostile operations against NATO nations supporting Ukraine.

Russian intelligence operations, illegal banking and evading economic sanctions imposed after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine are tolerated. Many Cypriots view Russia as a protector and a partner and have sympathies for the Russian positions on various international issues, such as the conflicts in Syria and Ukraine. Cyprus also has a strained relationship with Turkey, which occupies the northern part of the island and supports the Turkish Cypriot separatists. This makes Cyprus more inclined to align with Russia, which opposes Turkey's role and ambitions in the region.

Another possible reason why Russia is using Cyprus for intelligence operations, as well as illegal banking and other efforts to evade the economic sanctions imposed after Russia invaded Ukraine, is that Russia always takes advantage of weak legal and regulatory rules. Cypriots do not try to prevent foreigners from using Cypriot banks for money laundering, tax evasion and spying on Western businesses and governments.

Russia has strong economic and cultural ties with the Republic of Cyprus, as well as strategic interests in maintaining its access to the Mediterranean Sea and resisting NATO's presence in the region. Russia has used its veto power in the UN to block resolutions that would pressure Turkey to withdraw its troops from the north or impose sanctions on Turkish officials involved in illegal oil and natural gas drilling activities. Russia has also supported TRNC (Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus) efforts to gain more international recognition and legitimacy, such as by facilitating direct flights from Russia to the north. Turkey, on the other hand, has been the main supporter and protector of the TRNC, providing it with military, economic, and diplomatic assistance. Turkey has also asserted its role as a regional power and a defender of the rights of Turkish Cypriots, often clashing with the Republic of Cyprus, Greece, the EU, and the US over the status of the island and the maritime boundaries in the eastern Mediterranean.

After February 2022, many European countries denounced the Russian invasion of Ukraine and imposed sanctions as well as expelling Russian spies operating as diplomats. At the same time there are problems with Russian agents arrested for plotting to sabotage key infrastructure across Europe as part of an effort to weaken European support for Ukrainians resisting the Russian invaders.

Cyprus is an ethnically divided island in the Mediterranean Sea that has been a member of the European Union since 2004, though EU laws do not extend to the breakaway Turkish Cypriot north. Due to these divisions, the island is not a member of NATO. Thus, it offers Russia opportunities to cause trouble for European nations that oppose the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
In a message to PM Modi, Chinese Primer Li Qiang said China wants to push forward its bilateral relations with India in the right direction read more

Chinese Premier Li Qiang congratulated Narendra Modi for his term consecutive win as the Prime Minister of India.

According to Xinhua, Li Qiang in his congratulatory message to PM Modi said that China is willing to work with India to push forward bilateral relations in the right direction.

The Chinese Premier also said, Sound and steady development of China-India relations is not only conducive to the well-being of the two peoples but also injects stability and positive energy into the region and the world.

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On June 5, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning congratulated PM Modi on behalf of the country and said both the nations should look to the future to advance bilateral relations, frozen since the Galwan incident four years ago, on a healthy and stable track.

We noted the results of Indias general election and extend congratulations on the victory of the BJP led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the National Democratic Alliance, Mao told at a media briefing in Beijing.

A healthy and stable China-India relationship is in the interest of both the countries, and conducive to the peace and development in this region and beyond, Mao said, responding to a question by the official media seeking Chinas comment on PM Modis win.

China stands ready to work with India to act in the fundamental interests of the two countries and the two peoples, bear in mind the overall interest of our ties, look to the future and advance bilateral relations on a healthy and stable track, she further said.

Relations between India and China hit a low except for trade ever since the eastern Ladakh border standoff erupted on May 5, 2020, following a violent clash in the Pangong Tso (lake) area near Galwan.

As per the 2024 Lok Sabha polls result, announced on June 4, PM Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) bagged 240 of the 543 seats and the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is comfortably above the majority 272 mark.

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With inputs from agencies
The Chinese have become wary of putting in more money since they know it is a financial black hole due to Pakistans long-term poor economic circumstances, said Jeremy Garlick, an associate professor of international relations at Prague University of Economics and Business, according to a report read more

Hoping to pocket more big-ticket energy and infrastructure deals as his county reels from an economic crisis, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had to come back empty-handed from China after finishing a five-day official visit last weekend, according to a report.

Despite Sharifs discussions with President Xi Jinping and other prominent officials, little tangible progress was made. This apparent shift signals a potential shift in Chinas stance towards Pakistan, casting doubt on the future of the much-lauded $50 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a pivotal component of Beijings expansive Belt and Road Initiative.

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The Chinese have become wary of putting in more money since they know it is a financial black hole due to Pakistans long-term poor economic circumstances, Nikkei Asia quoted Jeremy Garlick, an associate professor of international relations at Prague University of Economics and Business, as saying.

China needs to maintain the facade that CPEC is working because it is supposed to be a key part of the BRI, added Garlick.

According to Nikkei Asia, Islamabad had last month made a formal request for an extra $17 billion in energy and infrastructure projects financed by China. This request came after a significant meeting of the body responsible for determining future investments in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Prior to his visit, which marked Sharifs inaugural trip to China since assuming office in March, Pakistani officials had claimed that an upgraded version of the multibillion-dollar agreement would be formally launched in Beijing.

However, the Chinese response was less than enthusiastic. A joint statement comprising 32 points, issued over the weekend, disclosed that Pakistan secured minimal tangible benefits, with only a vague reference to an enhanced economic cooperation agreement, added the report.

Earlier CPEC investments in the power sector were rushed by political needs, and might not have been optimal, Nikkei Asia quoted Stella Hong Zhang, a China public policy postdoctoral fellow at the Harvard Kennedy Schools Ash Center.

Cash-strapped Pakistan recently made a significant move, seeking to restructure over $15 billion in debt owed to Chinese energy producers running power plants within its borders. This request came as Islamabad is in talks with the International Monetary Fund for a bailout ranging from $6 billion to $8 billion.

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Adding to the complexity is security concerns. Pakistan vowed to ensure the safety of Chinese workers and projects following a series of deadly militant attacks that rattled Beijing, raising doubts about future investments.

Nevertheless, amid these challenges, there were some modest achievements. China agreed to progressively advance the Main Line 1 (ML-1) Railway project, estimated at $6.7 billion. This project aims to enhance Pakistans railway infrastructure between Karachi in the south and Peshawar in the north over three phases, with China committing only to the initial phase.

There was also an agreement to upgrade a section of the Karakoram Highway, which links Pakistan and China through rugged mountainous terrain, often inaccessible during winter due to heavy snowfall.

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We will not see big investments, nor will we see China [completely] withdrawing from cooperation with Pakistan, Garlick added.

With inputs from agencies
In Pakistan, the media has always been vulnerable to control by the state while journalists have been targeted for their critical approaches. Over the last two years in Pakistan, the media has been forced into silence, and journalists who dissent face suppression, Former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan wrote on X read more

Former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan, who has been lodged at the high-security Adiala Jail at Rawalpindi since his arrest 10 months ago, on Tuesday claimed that in Pakistan the media has always been vulnerable to control by the state while journalists have been targeted for their critical approaches.

Independent media is one of the most important pillars of the state. It acts as a watchdog and compels the government to correct its course.

In Pakistan the media has always been vulnerable to control by the state while journalists have been targeted for their critical  Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) June 11, 2024

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Taking to X, he in a long post wrote, In Pakistan, the media has always been vulnerable to control by the state while journalists have been targeted for their critical approaches. Over the last two years in Pakistan, the media has been forced into silence, and journalists who dissent face suppression.

The former prime ministers statement comes after the recent introduction of the Punjab Defamation Act 2024 by the Punjab government, led by Maryam Nawaz, the daughter of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif. The controversial legislation imposes severe restrictions on press freedom under the guise of combating fake news.

Khan said independent media is one of the most important pillars of the state as it acts as a watchdog and compels the government to correct its course.

My government tried to change this environment by bringing in the Protection of Journalists and Media Law but it has been sidelined since the engineered VoNC, he added.

VoNC he referred to was the vote of no-confidence in April 2022 that threw out his government over an alleged leak of a diplomatic cable.

On Tuesday, the PTI founder cited examples of some journalists who were either murdered or forced to leave the country for their criticism of the Pakistan Army for its role in politics.

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Arshad Sharif was driven into exile by grave threats and was murdered in cold blood in Kenya. Dr. Moeed Pirzada, Sabir Shakir, and Wajahat Saeed Khan have been compelled to leave the country. Imran Riaz Khan was abducted and tortured for over six months, while journalists like Siddique Jan, Sami Ibrahim, Arif Hameed Bhatti and Adeel Habib have been under constant pressure, he said.

Who is orchestrating this systematic oppression in clear violation of our Constitution and our commitments under international conventions? asked Khan.

He said that the crackdown and muzzling of the media through threats, harassment and oppressive ordinances is also a direct attack on democracy and freedom of expression.

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Pakistans journalist bodies have challenged the Punjab Defamation Act 2024 in the Lahore High Court.

With inputs from agencies
Yahya Sinwar, the chief of Hamas in the Gaza Strip, is believed to be the mastermind of the October 7 attack on Israel read more

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said that the Israeli invasion of Rafah does not appear to be imminent. Source: Reuters

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said that the fate of the ceasefire proposal for the Gaza Strip is down to one person.

Blinken was referring to Yahya Sinwar, the chief of Hamas in Gaza. Sinwar is considered to be the mastermind of the October 7 attack of Hamas.

Referring to Sinwar, Blinken said the question is whether he would accept the deal and act in the best interests of Palestinians whom he purports to represent, according to The New York Times.

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Blinken is currently in the Middle East where he is working towards bringing all parties concerned behind the Gaza ceasefire proposal. He is pressing for the fulfilment of the peace plan that US President Joe Biden outlined in a speech from the White House last month. The plan, which has been endorsed by Israel, seeks the end of war in Gaza in three stages.

Speaking to reporters in Israels Tel Aviv after meeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Blinken said there was a strong consensus about the proposal.

I think theres a strong consensus, again, behind moving forward the proposal. But it really is down to one person at this point [Sinwar]. The commitment in agreeing to the proposal is to seek that enduring cease-fire but that has to be negotiated, Blinken was quoted as saying.

Hopeful sign: Blinken on Hamass statement on peace plan

After Hamas said it welcomed the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), Blinken said it was a hopeful sign.

The UNSC proposal was based on the three-stage Gaza peace plan endorsed by Israel and announced by Biden last month.

As per the plan, the first phase will have a six-week ceasefire in which women, the elderly, the wounded hostages held by Hamas will be released in lieu of the release of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. In the same phase, the displaced Palestinians in Gaza will also return to their homes and the Israeli military will withdraw from Gazas populated areas.

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In the phase two, the permanent end of the war will be negotiated and the remaining orders will be released.

In the phase three, the reconstruction of Gaza will start.

In a statement on Monday, Hamas said it welcomes what is included in the Security Council resolution that affirmed the permanent cease-fire in Gaza, the complete withdrawal, the prisoners exchange, the reconstruction, the return of the displaced to their areas of residence, the rejection of any demographic change or reduction in the area of the Gaza Strip, and the delivery of needed aid to our people in the strip, according to Reuters.

Even as Blinken called it a hopeful sign, he said the only word that matters is the word of the Hamas leadership in Gaza. It was a reference to Sinwar.

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Press Hamas to say yes

Blinken has said that the only party obstructing the realisation of a ceasefire in Gaza in Hamas and everyone should press it to say yes.

The international community should press Hamas to say yes if they want to put Israelis and Palestinians alike on the path to more durable peace and security, said Blinken.

So my message to governments throughout the region, to people throughout the region is: If you want a ceasefire, press Hamas to say yes. If you want to alleviate the terrible suffering of Palestinians in Gaza, press Hamas to say yes. If you want to get all the hostages home, press Hamas to say yes. If you want to put Israelis and Palestinians alike on the path to more durable peace and security, press Hamas to say yes. If you want to prevent this conflict from spreading, press Hamas to say yes, said Blinken to reporters in Egypts Caro during his multi-nation tour of the Middle East.
The Israeli proposal seeks a permanent end of war in the Gaza Strip in a three-stage process that starts with a six-week ceasefire read more

Hamas has responded to the Israeli proposal for ceasefire in the Gaza Strip (Photo: AFP)

The terrorist group Hamas has submitted the response to the Israeli proposal for the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

The Hamas has submitted the response to Qatar and Egypt, said the foreign ministries of the two countries in a joint statement.

Qatar and Egypt are mediators in truce talks between Israel and Hamas. The talks are also being facilitated by the United States and other regional players.

Confirming the acceptance of the response from Hamas and the Palestinian factions regarding the Israeli ceasefire proposal, the joint statement said the mediation efforts will continue until an agreement is reached.

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The two sides confirm that their joint mediation efforts with the United States of America will continue until an agreement is reached, and that the mediators will examine the response and coordinate with the parties concerned regarding the next steps, said the joint statement.

Qatar and Egypt Announce that they have Received a response from Hamas and the Palestinian Factions regarding the Truce Proposal #MOFAQatar pic.twitter.com/8hpBTERyJK  Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Qatar (@MofaQatar_EN) June 11, 2024

The Israeli ceasefire proposal being discussed has proposed a permanent end of the war in Gaza in a three-stage process. The process would start from a six-week ceasefire and the release of a select group of hostages held in Gaza in lieu of the release of Palestinian prisoner.

Axios has quoted White House National Security Spokesperson John Kirby as saying that the United States has received the response of Hamas via mediators.

Hamas issues statement after submitting response

Following the submission of its response to the Israeli ceasefire proposal, Hamas in a statement expressed readiness to positively reach a deal to end the war, according to Al Jazeera.

Our response prioritises the Palestinian people and the complete end of the ongoing onslaught on Gaza, said the joint statement of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), as per Al Jazeera.

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The PIJ is also a Gaza-based terrorist group. Like Hamas, it is also committed to the destruction of the State of Israel. It is also known to have participated in the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.

Separately, Alex Marquardt of CNN reported that the response included comments on the proposal.

Hamas: "We made some comments on the proposal to the moderators," Osama Hamdan told Al Mayadeen.



"Our response is a clear reaffirmation of our commitment to the ceasefire and withdrawal from Gaza, a commitment we have consistently upheld," Hamdan added.  Alex Marquardt (@MarquardtA) June 11, 2024

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Previously, Hamas had said that it welcomed the passage of a resolution on the ceasefire in Gaza in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). The resolution was based on the Israeli proposal on the table.

Whats in latest Gaza ceasefire proposal?

The latest ceasefire proposal for Gaza seeks the end of war in three-stages. It was first outlined by US President Joe Biden in a speech two weeks ago.

In the first stage, there will be a six-week ceasefire during which women, the elderly, and the wounded held hostage in Gaza will be released in exchange of Palestinian prisoners in Israel. The displaced Palestinians will also return to their homes in Gaza as the Israeli military will withdraw from Gazas populated areas.

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During the first stages six weeks of ceasefire, talks will commence to reach the second phase in which the war will permanently end and all hostages held in Gaza will be released.

In the third stage, the reconstruction of Gaza devasted by months of war will start.

Under the plan, the humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza will also surge to 600 trucks per day.

Down to one man: US says truce depends on Yahya Sinwar

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said that the fate of the Gaza ceasefire proposal is down to one person.

Blinken was referring to Yahya Sinwar, the chief of Hamas in Gaza. He is also considered to be the mastermind of the October 7 attack.

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Blinken said that while the welcome by Hamas of the UNSC resolution was a hopeful sign, the final call on the ceasefire was with Sinwar.

Speaking to the media in Israels Tel Aviv after meeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Blinken said there was a strong consensus regarding the proposal. Blinken is on a multi-nation tour of the Middle East to press for the realisation of the proposal.

I think theres a strong consensus, again, behind moving forward the proposal. But it really is down to one person at this point [Sinwar]. The commitment in agreeing to the proposal is to seek that enduring cease-fire but that has to be negotiated, said Blinken, as per The New York Times.

Separately, Blinken in Cairo said that the onus for a ceasefire in Hamas was on Hamas and the world should press Hamas to say yes if it wants for the war in Gaza to end.

So my message to governments throughout the region, to people throughout the region is: If you want a ceasefire, press Hamas to say yes. If you want to alleviate the terrible suffering of Palestinians in Gaza, press Hamas to say yes. If you want to get all the hostages home, press Hamas to say yes. If you want to put Israelis and Palestinians alike on the path to more durable peace and security, press Hamas to say yes. If you want to prevent this conflict from spreading, press Hamas to say yes, said Blinken.
The conflict in Gaza was triggered when Hamas fighters charged into Israel on Oct. 7 and killed some 1,200 people, according to Israeli tallies. Israels subsequent bombardment and invasion of Gaza has killed more than 37,000 Palestinians, according to health authorities in the Hamas-run enclave. read more

The U.N. human rights office said on Tuesday the killings of civilians in Gaza during the Israeli operation to release four hostages, and also armed groups holding of captives in densely populated areas, could amount to war crimes.

Israel said the operation, accompanied by an air assault, took place on Saturday in the heart of a residential neighbourhood in central Gazas Nuseirat area where Hamas had kept the hostages in two separate apartment blocks. The operation killed more than 270 Palestinians, according to Gazan health officials.

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The manner in which the raid was conducted in such a densely populated area seriously calls into question whether the principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution - as set out under the laws of war - were respected by the Israeli forces, Jeremy Laurence, spokesperson for the U.N. human rights office, said.

Laurence added that the holding of hostages in such densely populated areas by armed groups was putting the lives of Palestinian civilians, as well as the hostages themselves, at added risk from the hostilities. All these actions, by both parties, may amount to war crimes, he said.

The conflict in Gaza was triggered when Hamas fighters charged into Israel on Oct. 7 and killed some 1,200 people, according to Israeli tallies. Israels subsequent bombardment and invasion of Gaza has killed more than 37,000 Palestinians, according to health authorities in the Hamas-run enclave.

Gunmen took around 250 hostages back to Gaza on Oct. 7, more than 100 of whom were released in exchange for about 240 Palestinians held in Israeli jails during a week-long truce in November. There are 116 hostages left in the coastal enclave, according to Israeli tallies, including at least 40 whom Israeli authorities have declared dead in absentia.

Meanwhile, Hamas accepts a UN Security Council ceasefire resolution and is ready to negotiate over the details, senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri told Reuters on Tuesday, adding that it was up to Washington to ensure that Israel abides by it.

Hamas accepts the UN security council resolution in regard to the ceasefire, withdrawal of Israeli troops and swap of hostages for detainees held by Israel, he said.

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The U.S. administration is facing a real test to carry out its commitments in compelling the occupation to immediately end the war in an implementation of the UN Security Council resolution, Abu Zuhri said.
Yahya Sinwar has been blocking attempts of ceasefire so that the continuing deaths of Palestinians keeps alienating Israel and benefitting Hamas, according to a report read more

Yahya Sinwar, the chief of Hamas in the Gaza Strip, has dubbed the dead Palestinians as necessary sacrifice.

Sinwar believes the death and destruction in Gaza benefits Hamas and harms Israel, according to a report.

Sinwar is considered to be the mastermind of the all-out attack of Hamas on Israel on October 7, 2023. He has been a member of Hamas since before the terrorist groups finding in 1980s. He was imprisoned in Israel and was serving multiple life sentences for his acts. Then, after serving 22 years in prison, he was released along with a thousand other prisoners for the release of an Israeli national held hostage in Gaza.

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The terrorist group Hamas has ruled Gaza since 2007. Sinwar took over the leadership of Hamas in Gaza in 2017. Since then, he has engaged in a policy of triggering activities that have led to casualties among the Palestinians. These casualties have in turned fuelled further conflict and systematically isolated Israel on the international stage. Following the October 7 stage, Sinwar has deployed the strategy at a grand scale, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Based on a review of Sinwars messages with Hamas leadership based abroad, the newspaper has reported that he has blocked attempts at ceasefire in Gaza with the hope that the civilian deaths will benefit Hamas and harm Israel militarily and diplomatically.

The tactic appears to be working as Israel is more isolated than ever at the international stage. Several countries have said they would join the case of genocide against Israel at the International Case of Justice (ICJ) and arrest warrants against Israeli leaders have been sought at the International Criminal Court (ICC). More and more countries are supporting Palestinians and condemning Israel  accusations of war crimes and genocide are also widespread.

We have the Israelis right where we want them, said Sinwar in one of the messages.

Sinwar shows cold disregard for civilian casualties, says report

The messages reviewed by the paper show that Sinwar has shown a cold disregard for human life. The paper added that the messages show that Sinwar has made it clear he believes Israel has more to lose from the continuation of the war and civilian deaths than Hamas.

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In April 11, after three sons of Qatar-based Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh were killed in an Israeli airstrike, Sinwar said that those and other deaths of Palestinians will infuse life into the veins of this nation, prompting it to rise to its glory and honour.

The ongoing war is not the first time that he has fuelled the conflict that led to the deaths among Palestinians. In 2018, Sinwar began the practice of holding weekly protests at Gazas border with Israel where the border is marked by a fence. During those protests, fearing a breach and an influx of protesters or terrorists, Israeli soldiers fired on those who came close to the fence. The deaths served the Sinwars goal.

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We make the headlines only with blood. No blood, no news, said Sinwar in an interview in 2018.

Lately, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said that the ceasefire in Gaza depends on Sinwar alone. Referring to him, he said its down to one man.

Whats Yahya Sinwars endgame in Gaza?

Following the 11-day conflict in 2021, Israeli officials believe Sinwar started planning a large-scale attack on Israel, according to the report.

That attack finally took place on October 7. The endgame of the attack was to jolt the world and revive the cause of Palestine. As the subsequent Israel-Hamas War has caused unprecedented deaths and destruction in Gaza, Sinwar appears to be succeeding in his goal of isolating Israel, stripping the nation of its allies, and generating worldwide support for the Palestinian statehood.

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One aim of Sinwar of carrying out the October 7 attack was to end the paralysis in resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and revive its global diplomatic importance, the WSJ reported Arab and Hamas officials familiar with Sinwars as saying.

The paper reported that the ultimate goal of Sinwars war appears to get a permanent ceasefire that allows Hamas to declare a war in Gaza by outlasting Israel and claim the leadership of the Palestinian case.

That appears to be happening as Israel appears to be falling deeper into the trap by the day.

Even without a lasting ceasefire, the paper reported that Sinwar believes Israeli PM Netanyahu has few options other than occupying Gaza. Once Israel occupies Gaza, it would get isolated further and would lose support from allies like the United States. It would also get bogged down in a bloody insurgency of Hamas and other terrorist groups. The insurgencys toll would further drive the conflict and isolation of Israel  increasingly turning Israel into a pariah state.
In an address to the nation, Malawi President Lazarus Chakwera said there had been no survivors when a plane carrying Chilima and others crashed into a forest on Monday read more

Malawis Vice President Saulos Klaus Chilima, and nine others on board the airplane that went missing on June 10 had been killed, the countrys President Lazarus Chakwera said during an address to the nation on Tuesday.

The aircraft they they were travelling in crashed in the Chikangawa mountain range, the Malawian government said on Tuesday.

The Malawian President confirmed that there had been no survivors when the plane carrying Chilima and others crashed into a forest.

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The plane has been found and I am deeply saddened and sorry to inform you all, it has turned out to be a terrible tragedy, President Chakwera said, in a televised address.

The search and rescue team has found the aircraft near a hill. They have found it completely destroyed with no survivors, the President further said.

Also Read: Plane carrying Malawi Vice-President, 9 others goes missing

President Chakwera declared Tuesday a national day of mourning.

Where Malawi Vice President was travelling to

Chilima along with the other passengers onboard the ill-fated aircraft were travelling to attend the funeral of the countrys former attorney general when it dropped off radar.

Local media reports mentioned the air traffic officials saying that the plane which took off from the southern African nations capital, Lilongwe, could not land at Mzuzu airport, around 370 kilometres north of the capital, due to bad weather and poor visibility.

The pilot was advised to return to Lilongwe after which the flight disappeared, the air traffic officials informed.

The wreckage of the military plane carrying Chilima and others was located in a mountainous area in the north of the African nation after a search that continued for more than a day.

Hundreds of soldiers, police officers and forest rangers carried out extensive search for a missing military plane carrying the 51-year-old Malawis vice president, former first lady Shanil Dzimbiri (the ex-wife of former President Bakili Muluzi) and eight others.

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In which aircraft the Malawi Vice President was travelling?

As per the Malawai President, the aircraft in which Chilima and others were travelling was a small, propeller driven operated by the Malawian armed forces.

The tail number, the president provided, shows it is a Dornier 228-type twin propeller plane which according to the ch-aviation website, that tracks aircraft information, was delivered to the Malawian army in 1988.

Despite the track record of the aircraft and the experience of the crew, something terrible went wrong with that aircraft on its flight back to Lilongwe, sending it crashing down and leaving us all devastated, the Malawi President said on Tuesday.

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Chilima was a possible contender for 2025 Malawi Presidential polls

According to a report by CBS News, Chilima, in Malawi, was seen as a possible contender for next years presidential election.

Chilima was first sworn in as Vice President of the Republic of Malawi on May 30, 2014 and on June 28, 2020 he was sworn in for his second term as Vice President of the republic of Malawi.

He was arrested in in 2022 on graft allegations, amid reports that he had received kickbacks from a businessman for government contracts. However, he consistently denied the charges, right up until last month, when they were dropped by the national prosecutor, who filed a notice for the discontinuation of the case.

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With inputs from agencies
The development comes after the military said earlier on Tuesday that the plane might have crashed into the forest due to bad weather read more

The wreckage of Malawi Vice President Saulos Klaus Chilimas plane that went missing has reportedly been found. The countrys military shared images with AFP that showed the army personnel standing on a foggy slope near debris bearing the registration number of the Malawi Army Dornier 228-202K aircraft.

The development comes after the military said earlier on Tuesday that the plane might have crashed into the forest due to bad weather.

The whereabouts of the passengers, however, still remain unknown.

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Chilima, 51, was aboard a military aircraft with nine others that left Lilongwe, the capital, at 09:17 a.m. (0717 GMT) on Monday.

In a televised address, Malawis president Lazarus Chakwera said that Chilimas aircraft was bound for Mzuzu, a city in the country, but was unable to land due to poor visibility and therefore the plane was ordered to return to the capital.

Soon after this, the aviation authorities failed to make contact with the aircraft since it went off the radar.

The president said that he had made requests to neighbouring countries, and the U.S., Britain, Norway and the Israeli governments for support in the rescue efforts.

Chilima, seen as a potential candidate in next years presidential election, was arrested in 2022 over graft allegations.

However, a Malawi court dropped the corruption charges against him last month after the director of public prosecutions filed a notice for the case to be discontinued. Chilima has denied any wrongdoing.

With inputs from agencies
Prime Minister Narendra Modi thanked the Sultan of Oman for his wishes and highlighted Sultan Haitham bin Tariks historic visit to India in December 2023 read more

The Sultan of Oman, on Tuesday, called Narendra Modi and congratulated him on his appointment as the Prime Minister of India for a third consecutive time.

Sultan Haitham bin Tarik extended his heartfelt congratulations to Prime Minister on his reappointment as PM for a third term following the recently concluded general elections, Prime Minister Office (PMO) said.

During the telephonic conversation the Sultan Haitham bin Tarik emphasised the centuries-old ties of friendship between Oman and India and conveyed his best wishes for the progress and prosperity of the people of India.

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Thank His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik of the Sultanate of Oman for his call and deeply appreciate his warm felicitations and words of friendship. The centuries-old India-Oman strategic ties are destined to scale new heights.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 11, 2024

PM Modi thanked the Sultan of Oman for his wishes and highlighted his historic visit to India in December 2023 which led to deepening of bilateral cooperation in all areas.

Both the leaders reaffirmed their commitment to further deepen and strengthen India-Oman partnership for the mutual benefit of the two countries.

PM Modi also extended warm greetings to the Sultan and the people of Oman on the upcoming Eid Al Adha festival.

Modi took oath as the Prime Minister for the third straight time on June 9.
The Government of Canada is aware of further imagery displayed in Brampton on Sunday. Canadas position is clear: The promotion of violence is never acceptable in Canada, Canadian High Commissioner to India Cameron MacKay wrote on X read more

Days after Khalistani extremists put up a float of late PM Indira Gandhis assassination at an event in Brampton and India subsequently lodged a formal protest with the Canadian authorities, Canadas High Commissioner to India Cameron MacKay on Tuesday said that promotion of violence is never acceptable in Canada.

Taking to X, MacKay wrote, The Government of Canada is aware of further imagery displayed in Brampton on Sunday. Canadas position is clear: The promotion of violence is never acceptable in Canada.

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After a float featuring the assassination of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was displayed at an event in Vancouver on Thursday and then in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) on Sunday, India had sought exemplary action from all levels of the Canadian Government.

We sincerely urge all levels of governments in Canada to take exemplary action against the public display of violence and hatred, said Indias High Commissioner to Ottawa Sanjay Kumar Verma as he formally raised the matter with Global Affairs Canada, the countrys foreign ministry.

The float, part of a demonstration taken out in Brampton to mark the 40th anniversary of Operation Bluestar, featured an effigy of Indira Gandhi as she was being fired upon by her bodyguards. Other than the float, posters stating that her punishment had been delivered on October 31, 1984, the date of the assassination, were also prominently displayed.

The display also included pictures of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a pro-Khalistan figure slain in Surrey, British Columbia on 18 June, 2023, juxtaposed with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus statement in the House of Commons suggesting credible allegations of a possible connection between Indian agents and the murder.

Beneath them was a photo of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, captioned with punishment waiting, added the report.

Indian nationals living in Canada feel intimidated by such hatred being propagated. Unfortunately, this has happened in Canada time and again. Canadian systems and society have failed to put any cost on the perpetrators, Verma had said.

Last week, a similar float was display during a protest in front of Indias Consulate in Vancouver.

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Reacting to that on Friday, Canadas Minister of Public Safety Dominic LeBlanc posted on X, The promotion of violence is never acceptable in Canada.

Ties between New Delhi and Ottawa had soured due to a row over Prime Minister Justin Trudeau allegation that India was involved in the incident in which Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar was shot to death in British Columbia in June last year.

India has repeatedly accused Canada of giving a free hand to the extremists and not acting against the incidents of Khalistani extremism.

Indian-origin Canadian member of Parliament Chandra Arya also expressed similar concern over Khalistani supporters in Canada putting up posters of Indira Gandhis assassination.

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Arya claimed that the Khalistani supporters are once again attempting to instil fear of violence in Hindu-Canadians by putting up posters of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhis assassination, showing bullet holes in her body with her Sikh bodyguards turned assassins holding guns.

Multiple incidents of Khalistani extremism have been reported in Canada. This includes chanting of anti-India slogans, putting up of threatening posters and vandalism of Hindu temples.

Last month, anti-India slogans some anti-India slogans were heard during the Nagar Kirtan Parade organised by the Ontario Gurudwara Committee (OGC) in Canada, an event where PM Justin Trudeau was also present.

India issued a strong condemnation regarding the float used in the Nagar Kirtan parade in Ontario and said the celebration and glorification of violence shouldnt be accepted in a civilized society.

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With inputs from agencies
At the French Institute of International Relations, Russian opposition politician and former lawmaker Dmitry Gudkov unveiled a study of the Russian diaspora in several EU member states, one of the first attempts to study the Ukraine war-triggered exodus read more

A group of exiled Kremlin critics on Tuesday urged EU countries to do more to welcome Russians fleeing Vladimir Putins regime, arguing that a shortage of skilled workers would deal a blow to the countrys war-time economy.

According to some estimates, up to one million people have fled Russia since Putin invaded Ukraine in 2022 but some of them have begun returning back, discouraged by the scarcity of available jobs and difficulties getting visas and long-term residence permits, in countries like Turkey but also in the European Union.

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One less engineer is one less missile flying in the direction of Ukraine, Russian opposition politician and former lawmaker Dmitry Gudkov said in Paris.

Speaking at the French Institute of International Relations, Gudkov unveiled a study of the Russian diaspora in several EU member states, one of the first attempts to study the Ukraine war-triggered exodus.

Conducted by researchers associated with the University of Nicosia on behalf of a new think tank co-established by Gudkov and the economist Vladislav Inozemtsev, the study is based on a survey of over 3,200 Russians living in France, Germany, Poland and Cyprus.

Nearly 80 per cent of respondents left Russia after 2014, the year Putin annexed Crimea from Ukraine. Of them, 44 per cent fled after the full-scale invasion.

As part of policy recommendations, the study called for a broad programme of economic migration from Russia, adding that most Russians who have fled the country were well-educated Russian Europeans supporting Western values.

The strategy to undermine the Putin regime should include orchestrated bleeding: stimulating the outflow of qualified specialists and money from Russia unrelated to the war, the study said.

Authorities in Moscow have acknowledged that labour shortages have become a serious problem, threatening economic growth.

Inozemtsev said more should be done, arguing that welcoming skilled Russians and their financial resources could be a more effective blow against the Kremlin than multiple rounds of Western sanctions that have so far failed to halt Russias war machine.

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Even we have been surprised by the qualifications of those who have left, Inozemtsev said.

Citing figures from 2022, the study said the average monthly salary of Russian immigrants in Cyprus stood at more than 5,480 euros ($5,880), compared with the average monthly salary of 2,248 euros for native Cypriots.

Additional boost

Mindful of the rise of anti-immigrant sentiments across Europe, the study argued that Russian exiles could integrate into European societies relatively easily and would not be a burden on social security systems.

Several hundred thousand Russians could also provide an additional boost to slow-growing European economies, the study said, adding that in the future the exiles could help promote reconciliation between Europe and Russia.

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EU nations, especially France and Germany, have welcomed anti-Kremlin Russians since the start of the invasion. But Gudkov said problems persisted and EU governments were concerned that new arrivals could pose a security risk.

Russian and Belarusian citizens, who were initially approved to serve as volunteers for the Olympic Games in Paris, were told by organisers in May that they had not passed security checks.

Ordinary Russians have also been affected by the fallout of sanctions.

Gudkovs father Gennady Gudkov, himself a prominent Kremlin critic now based in France, said he struggled to open a bank account despite receiving political asylum.

Dmitry Gudkov said many Russian exiles were struggling and it was no surprise that some choose to go back to Russia.

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It is very hard to live like this, he said.
Tensions between the two Koreas have hit rock bottom in recent years. In the past few weeks, Pyongyang has sent balloons filled up with cigarette butts and toilet papers southward in response to anti-North Korean propaganda messages flown up north read more

First trash balloons and now ordering its soldiers to briefly cross the border, North Koreas unusual tactics have vexed South Korea with the latter responding by firing warning shots on Tuesday.

Some North Korean soldiers working within the DMZ on the central front briefly crossed the Military Demarcation Line, the JCS said in a statement, referring to the line of control in the heavily fortified border between the two Koreas.

After our military issued warning broadcasts and warning shots, they retreated northward, it said, adding the incident happened June 9.

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Apart from the immediate retreat of the North Korean soldiers following our warning shots, there were no unusual movements observed, the JCS said, adding the military was closely monitoring troops near the border.

Tensions between the two Koreas have hit rock bottom in recent years. In the past few weeks, Pyongyang has sent balloons filled up with cigarette butts and toilet papers southward in response to anti-North Korean propaganda messages flown up north.

Meanwhile, the South Korean government this month fully suspended a 2018 tension-reducing military deal and restarted loudspeaker propaganda broadcasts along the border in response to the trash balloons, infuriating the North, which warned Seoul was creating a new crisis.

Seoul also has reasons to believe that North Korea is also installing its own loudspeakers.

With inputs from AFP
The Hindu Manifesto has made a total of seven demands to the incoming government after the British general elections read more

A collective of Hindu organisations has released a 'Hindu Manifesto' ahead of UK elections (Photo: X/Hindus for Democracy)

A collective of Hindu organisations have released a Hindu manifesto ahead of the elections in the United Kingdom.

The so-called manifesto has made a total of seven demands to the incoming government in the UK after the elections. The demands include the recognition of hatred against Hindus and the protection of temples in the UK.

The document has been released by collective Hindus for Democracy. It is a collective formed by 15 Hindu organisations, including the UK-based chapters of the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, Chinmaya Mission, and the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), according to its website.

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Sharing their demands on X (formerly Twitter), the collective said it sought seven pledges from the incoming government.

Whats in Hindu Manifesto of UK?

The collective Hindus for Democracy has sought the following seven pledges from the incoming British government:

Recognising anti-Hindu hate as a religious hate crime and proscribing those indulging in it Protecting places of Hindu worship and government funds to temples Access to fairer education by setting up Hindu faith schools and inclusion of experts from the community in making syllabus More representation of Hindus in political parties and other public institutions Addressing issues related to visas of Hindu priests Inclusion of Hindus in social services and supporting the elderly and disabled care Protection of Dharmic way

The full demands can be seen in the thread on X below.

Its time for change

In a separate statement on its website, the collective said that even though the Hindus in the UK number more than 1 million and have contributing significantly, they are underrepresented in several areas.

The statement further said the Hindus in the UK had to understand the power of politics and seek a change.

We have to recognise the importance of politics, even though its often considered a taboo topic in our community. Its time for change, read the statement.

Secular body criticises Hindu manifesto

Following the publication of the so-called Hindu manifesto, the National Secular Society (NSS), a more-than-a-century old organisation advocating for secularism, criticised the document and said the incoming government should reject these demands.

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The NSS said that, if realised, the demands of the Hindu organisations would hurt the work of human rights campaigners on caste- and women-related issues.

We're concerned that demands in new 'Hindu manifesto' would silence human rights campaigners, esp. on issues of #caste and #WomensRights. It's an example of the sectarianism the next government must reject to avoid the country becoming more fragmented. https://t.co/PEY7dwVsm8  National Secular Society (@NatSecSoc) June 11, 2024

The NSS further said in a statement that the demands would stifle free speech as they would stifle any criticism of Hinduism.

The manifesto defines anti-Hindu hate or Hinduphobia as a set of antagonistic, destructive, and derogatory attitudes and behaviours towards Sanatana Dharma (Hinduism) and Hindus that may manifest as prejudice, fear, or hatred. The NSS warned that this could chill free speech about Hinduism because it would prevent people from expressing negative attitudes about the religion itself, and not just its followers, read the NSS statement.
At the launch of the Conservative Partys manifesto, Sunak announced significant policy pledges for the next government if the party wins the upcoming election. Sunak outlined plans to reduce payroll taxes and eliminate the main rate for self-employed people by the end of the next parliamentary term. read more

UK PM Rishi Sunak has vowed to halve net migration to the UK and offered more tax cuts while launching the Conservative Partys manifesto on Tuesday. He also promised to provide help for first-time homebuyers if he wins the July 4 election.

Sunak has stepped up his argument that the opposition would derail the economic recovery and cannot be trusted in government with surveys showing the Conservatives consistently about 20 points behind Keir Starmers Labour Party.

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At the launch of the Conservative Partys manifesto, Sunak announced significant policy pledges for the next government if the party wins the upcoming election. Speaking at the Formula One racetrack Silverstone in central England, Sunak outlined plans to reduce payroll taxes and eliminate the main rate for self-employed people by the end of the next parliamentary term.

We will ensure that we have lower welfare so that we can deliver lower taxes.

Key financial commitments in the Conservatives manifesto include an annual tax cut of 17.2 billion pounds by the fiscal year 2029/30. This will be balanced by a 12 billion pound reduction in welfare spending each year and an additional 6 billion pounds per year from measures to combat tax avoidance and evasion.

Historically, similar pledges to significantly cut the welfare budget have often fallen short, such as those made by former finance minister George Osborne in 2015. In addition to fiscal policies, Sunak promised to halve migration numbers, increase housing construction, and offer financial support to first-time homebuyers.

But so far, Sunaks message has failed to dent the Labour lead, with many voters asking why the party had not done more during its 14 years in power.The Conservatives also now face a challenge from the right-wing Reform UK party, which, under the leadership of Brexit campaigner Nigel Farage, has vowed to lead a revolt against the Conservatives.

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Sunak has been on the back foot since he left D-Day commemorations in France early to give an election interview, angering veterans and prompting members of his own party to question his abilities. He has since repeatedly apologised. Sunak has argued that after years of turmoil since the COVID pandemic and energy price spikes, the economy is at a turning point and starting to grow again, and says Labour would derail any recovery. As in previous elections, the Conservatives say that only they can be trusted to keep taxes low while Labour would need to hike rates to fund their promises, stalling economic growth.

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But previous tax cuts have failed to move the dial for Sunak and polls show many voters want change and greater investment in public services. The public are still grappling with a 21% surge in shop prices in the last three years, and fallout from the chaotic tenure of Sunaks predecessor Liz Truss, whose economic policies led to higher borrowing costs and mortgage rate rises.

Labour has denied that it would put up taxes, ruling out any increase to the rates of income tax, national insurance, value-added or corporation tax. On Tuesday, the partys health policy chief also ruled out an increase in capital gains tax.

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With inputs from agencies.
The Ukrainian agency said the plane, which is capable of carrying stealth missiles across hundreds of kilometers (miles), was among a countable few of its type in Moscows arsenal. According to reports by Russian agencies, Moscows air force obtained more than 10 new Su-57s last year, and has placed an order for a total of 76 to be delivered by 2028 read more

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.

Kyivs main military intelligence service shared satellite photos it said showed the aftermath of the attack. If confirmed, it would mark Ukraines first known successful strike on a twin-engine Su-57 stealth jet, lauded as Moscows most advanced fighter plane.

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.

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The Ukrainian agency said the plane, which is capable of carrying stealth missiles across hundreds of kilometers (miles), was among a countable few of its type in Moscows arsenal. According to reports by Russian agencies, Moscows air force obtained more than 10 new Su-57s last year, and has placed an order for a total of 76 to be delivered by 2028.

A spokesman for Ukraines military intelligence, Andriy Yusov, hours later said on Ukrainian TV that the attack may have damaged two Su-57 jets parked at the base, and also wounded Russian personnel. He did not immediately give any evidence to support the claim.

Ilya Yevlash, a spokesman for Ukraines air force, told Ukrainian media in April that Moscow was trying to keep its Su-57 fleet at a safe distance from Ukrainian firepower.

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.

But the airstrips distance from Ukraine, as well as unofficial comments from Russia, point to the likely use of Ukrainian-made drones. Since Moscows full-scale invasion more than two years ago, Kyiv has ramped up domestic drone production and used the munitions to strike deep inside Russia. In January, drones hit a gas terminal near St. Petersburg that lies over 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) north of the border.

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A popular pro-Kremlin Telegram channel, thought to be run by a retired Russian army pilot, claimed that three Ukrainian drones struck the Akhtubinsk airstrip on Saturday and that flying shrapnel damaged the jet.

It is now being determined whether it can be restored or not. If not, it would be the first combat loss of a Su-57 in history, the Fighterbomber channel reported.

A military correspondent for Russias state-run RIA news agency, Aleksandr Kharchenko, in a Telegram post Sunday denounced Moscows failure to build hangars to protect its aircraft. But the post stopped short of directly acknowledging the strike.

Russias so-called military bloggers like Fighterbomber are often seen as sources of information on military losses in the absence of an official Kremlin comment. Russias Defense Ministry or senior political figures did not comment Sunday.

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The ministry on Saturday claimed its forces downed three Ukrainian drones in the Astrakhan region, home to the Akhtubinsk airstrip. Igor Babushkin, the governor of Astrakhan, that same day reported that Ukraine attempted to strike an unspecified facility there, but claimed the attack was unsuccessful.

Russias Su-57 fleet has been largely absent from the skies over Ukraine, and has instead been used to fire long-range missiles across the border. The U.K. Ministry of Defence said in an intelligence briefing last year that Russia is likely trying to avoid reputational damage, reduced export prospects, and the compromise of sensitive technology that would come from losing any Su-57 jets in enemy territory.

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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, said Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov. Another five drones and a Ukrainian-made missile were brought down over the region on Sunday, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

According to an update by Pepel (Ashes), a channel run by Belgorod journalists now based outside Russia, Ukrainian drones on Sunday afternoon struck an ammunition depot outside the town of Rakitnoye, some 35 kilometres (22 miles) from Ukraine. Footage circulating on social media showed thick plumes of smoke rising into the sky. In one video, a womans voice is heard, saying I wonder if soldiers lived there?

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Gladkov, the governor, did not directly comment on those claims, but confirmed that a blaze had broken out in a non-residential building near Rakitnoye. He said no one was hurt.

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 Russias 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, according to Ukrainian and Western officials. 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, Bidens 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 CBSs Face the Nation.
The deal, drafted by Biden, envisions a stage-wise ceasefire ultimately leading to a permanent end to the war. However, Israel has said that it will only end the war when Hamas is completely defeated, therefore keeping the possibility of a temporary ceasefire open read more

The UN Security Council has backed a ceasefire proposal between Israel and Hamas outlined by US President Joe Biden, urging the terror group to accept the deal which it did hours later.

The proposal has also been welcomed by Hamas ally the Islamic Jihad group and the Palestinian authority. The Palestinian terror group released a statement saying that it is ready to cooperate with mediators over implementing the principles of the plan that are consistent with the demands of our people and resistance.

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Hamas welcomes what is included in the Security Council resolution that affirmed the permanent ceasefire in Gaza, the complete withdrawal, the prisoners exchange, the reconstruction, the return of the displaced to their areas of residence, the rejection of any demographic change or reduction in the area of the Gaza Strip, and the delivery of needed aid to our people in the Strip, Hamas said in a statement.

What does the deal say?

The deal, drafted by Biden, envisions a stage-wise ceasefire ultimately leading to a permanent end to the war. However, Israel has said that it will only end the war when Hamas is completely defeated, therefore keeping the possibility of a temporary ceasefire open.

Israels UN Ambassador Gilad Erdan was present for the vote but did not address the council. Instead, senior Israeli UN diplomat Reut Shapir Ben Naftaly told the body that Israels goals in Gaza had always been clear.

Israel is committed to these goals - to free all the hostages, to destroy Hamas military and governing capabilities and to ensure that Gaza does not pose a threat to Israel in the future, she said. It is Hamas that is preventing this war from ending. Hamas and Hamas alone.

Who voted in favour and who abstained?

The ceasefire draft received both backing and resistance among the members of the UNSC.

While the proposal was accepted by Hamas and Palestine Islamic Jihad who reacted positively to what it had to offer, the deal faced opposition from Russia which abstained from voting.

Russias U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia asked what Israel had specifically agreed to and said the Security Council should not be signing up to agreements with vague parameters.

We did not wish to block the resolution simply because it, as much as we understand, is supported by the Arab world, Nebenzia told the council.

With inputs from agencies
The US had banned Azov Brigade from using American weapons, citing the neo-Nazi ideology of some of its founders read more

Soldiers of 12th Special Forces Brigade Azov of the National Guard Pose for a photo at the 155mm self-propelled gun M109 Paladin at the front line, near Kreminna, Luhansk region, Ukraine. Source: AP.

The US has lifted a ban on providing American weapons and training to a controversial Ukrainian military unit that was key to the defense of the major port city of Mariupol, the State Department said on Tuesday.

The Azov Brigade is among Ukraines most effective and popular fighting units but it has been dogged by its origins as a volunteer battalion that drew fighters from far-right circles and criticism for some of its tactics. The US had banned the regiment from using American weapons, citing the neo-Nazi ideology of some of its founders.

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The current members of the Azov Brigade, which has been absorbed into Ukraines National Guard as the 12th Special Forces Brigade, reject accusations of extremism and any ties with far-right movements. But the Kremlin has seized on the regiments origins in its efforts to cast Russias invasion as a battle against Nazi influence in Ukraine.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow took an extremely negative view of Washingtons decision. He described Azov as an ultranationalist armed formation and accused US authorities of being ready to flirt with neo-Nazis.

US law prohibits providing equipment and training to foreign military units or individuals suspected of committing gross human rights violations. The State Department said in a statement that it found no evidence of such violations.

This is a new page in our units history, the Azov Brigade wrote in a statement on Instagram. Azov is becoming even more powerful, even more professional and even more dangerous for occupiers.

Obtaining Western weapons and training from the United States will not only increase the combat ability of Azov, but most importantly, contribute to the preservation of the lives and the health of personnel, the statement said.

Up until the State Departments decision, Azov was prohibited from sending fighters to Western military exercises or accessing weapons bought with American funds. Lifting the ban will likely bolster the brigades fighting capacity at a difficult time during the war against Russias invasion. Ukraine suffers from persistent ammunition and personnel shortages.

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Years before Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Human Rights Watch raised concerns about Azov, writing that credible allegations of egregious abuses had been made against its fighters.

Moscow has repeatedly portrayed the Azov as a Nazi group and accused it of atrocities, but has publicly given little evidence of the allegations. In 2022, Russias top court officially designated Azov a terrorist group.

The brigade grew out of a group called the Azov Battalion, formed in 2014 as one of many volunteer regiments created to fight Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine. It quickly became a separate official unit under the Ministry of Internal Affairs and later a unit of the National Guard.

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Since its first commander left in October 2014, the brigade says on its website, it has been cleansing itself of undesirable elements. It wasnt possible to ascertain whether the brigade has accomplished that. It has, however, tried to recast its public image away from the controversy surrounding its ultranationalist origins to that of an effective and skillful fighting force, and has shunned connections with controversial figures.

Azov soldiers played a key part in the defense of Mariupol, holding out in a siege and low on ammunition for weeks at the southern port citys steel mill, despite devastating attacks from Russian forces in 2022.

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They are hailed as heroes in Ukraine, remembered for defense of the sprawling plant that became a symbol of Ukrainian tenacity in the war against Russia, and people take to the streets for weekly rallies calling for the release of hundreds of Azov POWs who remain in Russian captivity.
Hunter Biden has been held guilty on all three charges in the gun-possession case that he was accused of read more

Hunter Biden, the son of US President Joe Biden, has been held guilty in the gun-possession case.

Hunter has been held guilty on all three counts that he was accused were. The case against him is related to the possession of a gun while he was a drug addict in violation of concerned laws.

The charges against Hunter were:

Lying to a licensed gun dealer Lying on federal gun application form for applicants screening Illegally possessing a gun Hunter lied that he was not an addict when, in reality, he was an addict. Under the US laws, addicts cannot own guns.

Following the conviction, Hunter now faces 25 years in jail and a fine up to $750,000, according to CNN.

Hunter is the first immediate family member of a President of the United States to be convicted with their parent still in office. The case, however, dates to 2018 when Joe Biden was not the president.

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Following the verdict, President Biden in a statement said that while he accepts the judgement, he stands with his son.

He said, I am the President, but I am also a Dad. So many families who have had loved ones battle addiction understand the feeling of pride seeing someone you love come out the other side and be so strong and resilient in recovery. I will accept the outcome of this case and will continue to respect the judicial process as Hunter considers an appeal.

This is not the only case that Hunter face. In September, another case related to alleged federal tax fraud is set to start.
In a thought-provoking conversation with Firstpost, former Prime Minister of Israel Ehud Olmert gives his take on the ongoing Gaza crisis and how Israels current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is dealing with it read more

While acknowledging the fact that the Israel-Hamas war was inevitable, the former Prime Minister of Israel, Ehud Olmert stated that the ongoing conflict could have ended five months ago. In a thought-provoking interview with the Firstposts Bhagyasree Sengupta, the erstwhile Israeli premier gave his take on the crisis at hand and how Israels current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is dealing with it.

Olmert was the 12th Prime Minister of Israel from 2006 to 2009. The veteran politician was at the forefront of several peace deal negotiations with the Palestinians and the Arab world. During his premiership, he navigated Israel through the Second Lebanon War and the Cast Lead Operation in Gaza. Throughout the ongoing conflict, Olmert has been a strong advocate for the implementation of a two-state solution in the region.

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During the insightful conversation, the former Israeli premier delved more into Netanyahus conduct throughout the war.

War should have ended 5 months ago

When asked what is Israels end goal when it comes to its ongoing ground operation in Gaza and how long can the Jewish nation sustain it, the veteran politician made it clear that the raging conflict should have ended five months ago and there is not much to carry out since then.

We achieved an important part of our original goals. We reached out for much of the military capacity of Hamas. We destroyed many of the tunnels. We killed more than 12,000 fighters of Hamas, which is an incredible number. We destroyed most of the bunkers, most of the command positions, most of their launchers, most of the rockets, Olmert explained.

However, he acknowledged that during this operation, a large part of Gaza was destroyed and brought up the need to look after the political future of the conflict-stricken coastal enclave.

The war cabinet meets at the IDFs Kirya military headquarters in Tel Aviv on January 18, 2024. Source; File Image / AP

Okay, lets assume that we have destroyed all of the Hamas. There was no one left of Hamas. All of the fighters, all of the leaders, Sinwar, Mohammad Deif, everyone will be destroyed, killed, annihilated by Israel.

There are still six million Palestinians living in Gaza and the West Bank. What is the political horizon to deal with this? And this is something that the Israeli government refuses to say, he remarked.

Olmert went on to recall that there was a political plan in place when he was in power. I spelt it out many years ago when I was prime minister, and I presented a comprehensive peace plan to the then-Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, which was based on a two-state solution. There ought to be a Palestinian state, more or less on the borders of 1967, with minor modifications and swaps of territories, and the Arab part of Jerusalem has to be the capital of the Palestinian state, the former Israeli Prime Minister told Firstpost.

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He also mentioned that the holy places could have been administered by a special trust of five nations, the Saudis, the Jordan, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Palestine, the State of Israel, and the Americans (United States), and noted that all believers would have free access to these sites.

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, left, speaks while Israels Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, right, looks on during a media conference at the Elysee Palace in Paris, Sunday, July 13, 2008. Source: File Image / AP

However, he noted that in 2024, Netanyahu is refusing to lay out the end game. The argument that many in Israel have, and not only in Israel, across the world, is that the Israeli Prime Minister knows that his political partners in the right-wing messianic, extremist groups within the government will break the coalition if the government accepts compromises, Olmert averred.

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I wish I could tell you what the end game of Netanyahu is, but the end game of Netanyahu completely focuses on his political survivability and not on the national interest of Israel, he added.

War was inevitable but Netanyhus remarks were unnecessary

When asked what was his first thought when the October 7 attack broke out in southern Israel by Hamas terrorists, Olmert recalled the distressing time. I was on my way back to Israel, flying from Europe. The whole picture was very confusing and distressing and very painful. We started to hear about how so many different Israelis were killed in their homes, in their living rooms, in their bedrooms and different towns across the border. It was terrible, Olmert told Firstpost.

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Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivers a statement on October 7, 2023, in Tel Aviv, Israel. Source - X/ @netanyahu

He pointed out that while the war against Hamas was not declared on the same day, some of the statements made by Netanyahu at that time were unnecessary. He (Netanyahu) said that we will leave Gaza in rubble and that Gaza will be destroyed. You can do certain things sometimes in the course of war. But if you declare in advance that you will destroy everything and bring Gaza into rubble, that then creates an impression that you are prepared to commit war crimes, which were unnecessary, he added.

Was October 7 an intelligence failure or Netanyahus failure?

Commenting on the Israeli military intelligence chiefs decision to step down from the post and question whether the October 7 attack was an intelligence failure, Olmert made it clear that Israel has all the information needed to ensure security. However, the ex-PM emphasised that Netanyahu undermined Hamas.

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Look, the reason for the failure of Israel to anticipate the events on October 7 is not a lack of intelligence. We had all the information that was needed in order to know what was coming up. We knew everything, said Olmert.

What we didnt have, we didnt have the wisdom to understand that they are actually going to accomplish it. And this was primarily because the position of the Israeli prime minister was that Hamas was deterred. Hamas is not going to actually fight with us because they want some kind of stability, he furthered.

Olmert who has been the Mayor of Jerusalem claimed that Netanyahu preferred an informal cooperation with Hamas. What happened is that the prime minister preferred the kind of informal cooperation with Hamas over the need to negotiate with the Palestinian Authority because the Palestinian Authority is a potential partner for peace. And peace also means territorial compromises, he explained. The erstwhile Israeli leader claimed that a territorial compromise with the Palestinians would not have sat well with some of his partners in the current coalition government.

The looming ICC arrest warrant

Olmert articulated that while he has been extremely critical of Netanyahu, he does not believe that the state of Israel has committed war crimes. The comments from the former Israeli premier came weeks after the prosecutors of the International Criminal Court said that they are pursuing an arrest warrant against Netanyahu and Hamas leaders.

I dont think that Israel has committed war crimes or crimes against humanity, and therefore I completely disagree with the ICC in their demand for the charges of the arrest warrant against Netanyahu and the defence minister (Yoav Gallant), particularly in combination or in the binding or linking together the killers of the Hezbollah and Hamas, he said.

Karim Ahmed Khan, International Criminal Court chief prosecutor, speaks during a news conference at the Ministry of Justice in Khartoum, Sudan, Aug. 12, 2021. Source: File Image / AP

Never in the history of the state of Israel, has there been any order given by a civilian authority or by a military authority to kill our enemies indiscriminately. In many innocent civilians became victims of war because the terrorists are embedded with them, he mentioned, adding that there was no intended desire to kill indiscriminately.

Likud before Netanyahu

Both Netanyahu and Olmert were part of the same political party named Likud, in fact, Olmert was one of the founders of the Israeli party. The ex-PM insisted that the party which was established in 1973 was completely different from what it is now. It was established in September of 1973, and Im still signed on the proclamation of the establishment of the party. Netanyahu joined it much later. So, the Likud that we established in 1973 and that was led then by the late Prime Minister Menachem Begin was an entirely different party, the former Israeli premier told Firstpost.

Then-prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, right, and former prime minister Ehud Olmert, left, attend the funeral of Likud MK Zeev Boim in Binyamina, March 21, 2011. Source: File Image / AP

It was a right-wing party, but it was not an extreme right-wing party. It was not a nationalistic chauvinistic and fundamentalist party. It was a more conservative party in its basic attitude on major issues, but it was at the same time capable of making political compromises that actually led Israel into the major peace agreement that we signed with Egypt in 1979, which was a historic achievement by Begin, he added, insisting that something like this would have never happened in todays day and age.

Hamas and Hezbollah of today

When describing how his administration navigated through the challenges posed by Hamas and Hezbollah, Olmert mentioned that Israels operation in 2006 deterred Hezbollah to such an extent that the Lebanese-based militant group did not attack Israeli territory for the past 17 years, until now.

For 17 years Hezbollah was deterred and they didnt shoot one time across the border from Israel which was an absolute victory over Hezbollah at that time. They came back to the border between Israel and Lebanon on the 7th of October when they saw the weakness of the Israeli response at the beginning and the total inability of the Israeli government to respond to the attacks in the south, they decided to join in with the military operation in the north, Olmert said after narrating the aftermath of the 2006 Lebanon war.

Northern Israel, July 12 2006: Israeli soldiers stand next to a mobile artillery unit firing shells towards a Hizbullah target in southern Lebanon. Source: AFP

When it comes to the Cast Lead Operation in Gaza, Olmert elucidated the reason why Israel withdrew its troops from the coastal enclave before he actually would have liked.

What happened in the Cast Lead operation, I wanted to carry on the war further in order to destroy the entire dominance of Hamas in Gaza. Unfortunately, at that time, it was a month before the elections and I announced my resignation already, he said. My partners to the coalition at that time, the minister of defence, the chief of staff, the minister of foreign affairs, all of them were not prepared to carry on the military operation, he furthered, admitting that Israel lost the opportunity to destroy Hamas control in Gaza at that time.

On Biden, Modi and Israels friends

When asked about the upcoming US presidential election and its impact on Israel-US ties, Olmert did not mention much about former US President Donald Trump. However, he insisted that the current American Commander-in-Chief Joe Biden has been the most forthcoming president as far as Israel is concerned.

Biden is a friend of mine. I dont remember anyone being as friendly, and supportive as President Biden to the state of Israel. And I admire his convictions his principles his values and his friendship to the state of Israel. We couldnt expect to have any better friend than Biden is, he said, adding that as an Israeli he finds no reason for a change in American presidency.

Biden in 2006 with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who presided over a round of negotiations with Palestinians. Source: AP

When it comes to Indias role in the prospective peace process, Olmert described Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a strong ally of Israel. He also recalled his strong ties with the former Prime Minister of India, Dr Manmohan Singh. He (PM Modi) carries on in the tradition of former Prime Ministers of India, who were friends of Israel. I dealt with Prime Minister Singh for a long time. Although he was from another party, he was from the Congress party, the former Israeli premier averred.

I can only say good things about Mr. Singh and I think that Modi is a very outspoken friend of the State of Israel, he added.

When asked about the kind of role the international leaders can play in the peaceful resolution of the conflict, Olmert pointed out that most of the world leaders are in support of a two-state solution.

PM Modi with his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu. Source: PTI

I would suggest to them to talk to the Israeli Prime Minister and explain to him that one is not an enemy of Israel if he is for a Palestinian state. And that if one says to Israel that he supports the creation of a Palestinian state, he looks at what he thinks is good for Israel and the Palestinians and stability in the Middle East and perhaps also a momentum for peace between us and our historical adversaries, he remarked.

Hostage situation

When asked about the hostage situation, Olmert insisted that releasing them from Hamas captivity should be Israels first priority. Look, when I was prime minister I refused to make a deal with Hamas to release hundreds of prisoners in Israel for releasing one Israeli soldier who was abducted by the Palestinians. In this particular case the situation is entirely different, he recalled.

The reason that they (240 hostages) were abducted was because the state of Israel failed to protect them. We failed to prevent the breaking of the Palestinian terrorists into their homes, something that is the most fundamental, elementary responsibility of the government for its citizens.

Photo of Israel Defence Forces taken during Cast Lead Operation, 2008 Source: File Image / IDF

We have to do everything to get them back, this is the first priority, this is the number one obligation that the government has to its citizens. And if, as part of it, we have to stop the war, we have to stop the war, he added.

Go home before we force you out: Olmert to Netanyahu

In regards to what advice he would like to give to the current Israeli premier, Olmert delivered his advice to Netanyahus supporters instead. Ill tell you something, which I think is the best advice, but this is not to Netanyahu. I want to advise everyone who supports Netanyahu to lift their support so that we can get rid of him as the Prime Minister of Israel, Olmert told Firstpost.

He has been long enough a Prime Minister, he has failed completely in the most fundamental obligation that is expected from a national leader, which is to defend the citizens of the state of Israel, he said giving an anecdote of how India would have reacted if something like this happened. He insisted that any countrys government would have been called out inevitably in such a situation.

Israelis block a highway as they protest against plans by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus government to overhaul the judicial system, in Tel Aviv, Israel, Tuesday, July 18, 2023. Source: AP

Go home, before we force you out and leave us alone. Israel will manage, we have brilliant people in the country who can take over and run the government in the best possible manner, he concluded.

On Sunday, Israels National Unity Party Chairman Benny Gantz resigned from Netanyahus war cabinet, echoing sentiments similar to Olmerts and calling for early elections. With veteran politicians calling for quick polls, it will be interesting to see Netanyahus next move.
A top US admiral in the Pacific has revealed US strategy to deter China from invading Taiwan, saying the enemy may face a large, lethal drone force meant to make its military miserable read more

A top US admiral in the Pacific has revealed US strategy to deter China from invading Taiwan, saying the enemy may face a large, lethal drone force meant to make its military miserable.

According to Admiral Samuel Paparo, the Hellscape strategy is designed to distract China and buy the US time to respond.

I want to turn the Taiwan Strait into an unmanned hellscape using a number of classified capabilities, The Washington Post quoted Paparo, the commander of US Indo-Pacific Command, as saying at the International Institute for Strategic Studies Shangri-La Dialogue Summit.

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I can make their lives utterly miserable for a month, which buys me the time for the rest of everything, added Paparo.

Asked for further details, Paparo was tight-lipped. I cant tell you whats in it. But its real and its deliverable, he told the Washington Post.

What is unmanned hellscape strategy?

The strategy involves deploying thousands of unmanned surface ships, aerial drones and submarines to surround the island to counter Chinese forces the moment they cross over into the Taiwan Strait, effectively serving as a first line of defence.

Implementing such a tactic necessitates substantial investments in cost-effective, dependable drones  a goal the US has been pursuing through its Replicator initiative. The Department of Defence formally unveiled this program last year, which is a long-term plan to field thousands of autonomous systems.

Although advancements on this bold strategy have largely occurred without fanfare, there have been discernible indications of progress.

According to a South China Morning Post report, in March, Deputy Defence Secretary Kathleen Hicks announced that the Pentagon is allocating $1 billion this fiscal year to the Replicator program. A few capabilities have been highlighted as necessary for the first drones in the programme, and the Pentagon is working with defence partners to develop and acquire these systems, added the report.

The Replicator program is taking cues from the Russia-Ukraine war, Paparo told the Post, as Ukrainian forces have broken new ground in using drone technology to stave off Russian forces.

Last summer, Hicks highlighted Replicators objective to neutralise Chinas predominant strength  its sheer scale: More ships. More missiles. More people. She said well counter the [Peoples Liberation Armys] mass with mass of our own, but ours will be harder to plan for, harder to hit, harder to beat.

Former INDOPACOM commander expressed last year that the United States unmanned capabilities will provide a significant asymmetric advantage.

Operational concepts that we are working through are going to help amplify our advantages in this theatre, he said, adding, Theres a term, hellscape, that we use.

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On its part, China has prioritised enhancing its military strength, evidenced by heightened military activities near Taiwan in recent years. According to Paparo, Chinas annual defence budget is estimated to be approximately $700 billion, triple the amount publicly disclosed by Beijing. The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) earmarked approximately $840 billion for defense expenditure in fiscal year 2024.

Chinese military drill around Taiwan sounds alert

Paparos comments on the Hellscape strategy come after a significant Chinese military exercise near Taiwan, where they strategically encircled the island, demonstrating their joint force prowess.

This exercise not only showcased Chinas capability to swiftly impose a blockade, alarming Taiwan and the US, but it also served as a valuable learning experience for the US military.

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After the drills concluded, Paparo said they looked like a rehearsal for an invasion, telling Japans Nikkei newspaper:

We watched it. We took note. We learned from it. And they helped us prepare for the future, added Paparo.

Over the past four years, Chinas military has significantly ramped up its activities around democratically-governed Taiwan. Beijing views the island as its own territory, a position the government in Taipei strongly rejects.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has ordered the countrys military to be ready to invade Taiwan by 2027.

With inputs from agencies
Former South African president Jacob Zumas uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) party has applied to the countrys top court to block the newly elected parliament from sitting this week on the grounds that the May 29 vote was marred by fraud, it said on Tuesday read more

South Africa's former President Jacob Zuma arrives with his daughter and member of uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Duduzile Zuma at the National Results Operation Centre of the IEC, which serves as an operational hub where results of the national election are displayed, in Midrand, South Africa, on 1 June, 2024. Reuters File

Former South African president Jacob Zumas uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) party has applied to the countrys top court to block the newly elected parliament from sitting this week on the grounds that the May 29 vote was marred by fraud, it said on Tuesday.

The National Assembly is due to convene on Friday for lawmakers to swear the oath of office and elect their speaker, deputy speaker and the countrys president.

The challenge from MK comes at a time when South Africa is facing a level of political uncertainty unseen in 30 years of democracy, with no clarity as to who will govern the country when the electoral dust settles.

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The African National Congress (ANC), which has been in power since the end of apartheid in 1994, lost its majority but remains the biggest party, and is now negotiating with a range of other parties with diametrically opposed policy aspirations.

MK came a surprisingly strong third, winning 14.6% of the vote which translates into 58 seats in the 400-seat chamber, but despite its success it has alleged vote-rigging took place and threatened to boycott the new parliament.

The 2024 elections were anything but free and fair, said Sihle Ngubane, MKs secretary-general, in the partys application to the Constitutional Court, which it circulated to media on Tuesday via a WhatsApp group.

The Independent Electoral Commission and other parties said the election was free and fair, and South Africa does not have a history of significant vote fraud.

A new entrant in South African politics, MK gained momentum after Zuma announced in December he would be backing the party and soon became its leader.

The party advocates rewriting the constitution, seizing land from white farmers and nationalising all natural resources including mines.

A longtime pillar of the ANC, Zuma fell out with the party after he was forced to quit as president in 2018 over a string of corruption scandals. He was jailed in 2021 for refusing to give evidence at a public inquiry that found there had been widespread public sector corruption during his administration.

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Zuma retains a vast and loyal following, especially in his populous home province of KwaZulu-Natal, where MK won 45.9% of the vote to a humiliating 17.6% for the ANC.

MKs name, which means Spear of the Nation in Zulu, was also the name of the ANCs armed wing from the apartheid era, but an attempt by the ANC before the election to prevent its rival from using that name and branding was unsuccessful.
Nokia has announced that it has made the worlds first live immersive voice and audio call over a cellular network. This uses new Immersive Voice and Audio Services (IVAS) codec technology, which is part of the upcoming 5G Advanced standard.

Pekka Lundmark, Nokias President and CEO, held a live immersive audio and video call with Stefan Lindstrom, Finlands Ambassador of Digitalization and New Technologies, said the company.

IVAS allows consumers to hear sound spatially in real-time, instead of the monophonic voice experience used in smartphones and PCs today. Nokia CEO said that this will be useful for enterprise and industrial applications.

The Immersive Voice and Audio Services (IVAS) codec technology enables live spatial audio across any connected devices (e.g. smartphones, tablets or PCs) offering a three-dimensional sound.

Nokia said that it was able to successfully demonstrate the IVAS technology in a real-time call, even though the technology has not yet been implemented in mobile networks.

This first live call used Nokias proprietary Immersive Voice technology to achieve the experience over a public 5G network.

The technology is part of the upcoming 5G Advanced standard and Nokia aims to get licensing opportunities with the technology, and it should take a few years to be available widely, according to Reuters.
Light is back with another minimalist phone without any apps. The Light Phone III is a compact phone that retains the black & white interface on its large 3.92 FHD+ matte OLED display.

There is also a 50MP rear camera which takes inspiration from point-and-shoot film cameras, it has a dedicated real shutter button, with center focus and a fixed focal length.

Even though it has a simple interface with limited function, the company said that it will continue to roll out more utility oriented tools with ongoing software updates that are optional and never pre-installed. It also said that it might add streaming apps like Spotify, messaging apps like WhatsApp / Signal and ride hailing apps in future software updates.

The Light Phone III has a metal frame, fingerprint scanner, flashlight, is powered by Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 SoC, so it supports 5G, and also has NFC. There is a user-replaceable, 1800mAh battery.

Design in Brooklyn & Taiwan in collaboration with Foxconn, it is assembled by Foxconn in mainland China, near Shenzhen, said the company.

Light Phone III specifications

3.92-inch FHD+ (1240 x 1080 pixels) FHD+ AMOLED screen, matte finish

Octa Core Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 Advanced Edition 4nm Mobile Platform (2.3 GHz x 2 A78-based +2GHz x 6 A55-based Kryo CPUs) with Adreno 613 GPU

6GB LPDDR4X RAM, 128GB UFS 2.2 internal storage

Dual SIM (nano + eSIM)

LightOS with minimal interface that supports music / podcast player, texting, directory, directions, notes/voice memo, calendar, timer and alarm

50MP rear camera, LED flash, dedicated shutter button

Top-mounted fingerprint sensor

USB Type-C audio, stereo speakers

Dimensions: : 106 x 71.5 x 12mm; Weight:124g

Dust and Splash resistant (IP54)

5G SA / NSA, Dual 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 6 802.11 ac (2.4GHz + 5GHz), Bluetooth 5.0, GPS + GLONASS, USB Type-C, NFC

1800mAh (typical) battery

Pricing and availability

The Light Phone III is priced at USD 799 (Rs. 66,805 approx.), but you can now pre-order at a special price of USD 399 (Rs. 33,360 approx.), which is a 50% discount, till July 15th. It will ship starting from January 2025.

The company will continue selling the Light Phone II and said that it will continue getting updates.

Regarding the phone, Light said:

Whether you daydream about a digital detox, want to pay more attention to your toddler, or are buying your very first phone, the Light Phone III is a tool for a better life.
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Oyster disaster looms after heavy rains and floods across Texas

JENNIFER REYNOLDS/The Daily News Raz Halili, vice president at Prestige Oyster Inc. in San Leon, talks Monday about the state of Galveston Bays oyster beds after heavy rains flooded the bay with freshwater.

SAN LEON

Years of drought, followed by floods punctuated by hurricanes have devastated Galveston Bay oysters. But through it all Prestige Oysters has never asked for or taken state or federal disaster money.

That could change very soon, however, as the industry faces staggering losses, said Raz Halili, president of the San Leon-based oyster company, which operates a bayside processing plant in San Leon.

Were going to hope that there is some type of assistance, Halili said. If anything, maybe some federal funding that comes to reef restoration projects in the bay system.

Were a lot like farmers. Were stewards of the bay. We maintain these oyster reefs, and they play a pivotal role in our bay system.

Galveston County Judge Mark Henry last week declared a disaster to assist oyster farmers struggling after recent flooding in Texas swamped Trinity and Galveston bays with too much fresh water, which harms oysters.

Henry on Thursday announced the local declaration as a step to help oyster business owners get financial help.

Unprecedented flooding across the state last month has caused Prestige Oysters alone to lose about $5 million in inventory, Halili said.

The future was looking very bright here in Galveston Bay, Halili said. Its really unfortunate to see so many oysters die as they have. And with this recent flooding, its inevitable.

Oysters are very resilient creatures. They live in brackish water. Thats why they thrive here in Galveston Bay. But when we get too much saltwater or too much fresh water, theyre not going to make it and unfortunately thats what weve seen.

RECORD RAIN

May was record-breaking when it came to rainfall in Texas, National Weather Service Meteorologist Cameron Self said. While Galveston County saw 4.4 inches, some places received nearly 30 inches of rain.

It doesnt matter if it just rains here locally, Halili said. If its raining up north in Dallas and all over Texas, fresh water gets released into Galveston Bay.

The Trinity River, the third-largest river in the state, feeds into Galveston Bay, according to information from the Texas Water Development Board. The river starts in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

The San Jacinto River, which is one of the smaller rivers in the state, carries rainwater from areas in and around Houston to Galveston.

$50M IMPACT

Prestige Oysters, a leading industry distributor, alone supplies product to areas in and around Galveston, as well as across the United States.

The oyster industry in Texas supplies about 15 percent of the nations total harvest and has a $50 million impact on the economy, according to Texas A&M University at Galveston.

In 2000, about 70 percent of the 6.2 million pounds of oysters consumed in the state came from Galveston Bay.

Galveston and Chambers counties are facing an unprecedented crisis that threatens the livelihoods of many families and businesses, state Rep. Terri Leo Wilson said Friday in a written statement. The extensive fresh water influx and resulting low salinity have devastated our oyster beds, with both Galveston and Chambers counties reporting close to 100 percent mortality in oyster leases. This disaster will cost millions in losses and severely impact our economy. It is imperative that we receive state support to help our communities recover.

Leo Wilson is urging the state to issue a disaster declaration for Galveston and Chambers counties. Henrys declaration opens the path for businesses affected in this county to receive state and federal aid if it become available.

It takes about two years for oysters to reach legal market size, according to Texas Parks & Wildlife Department.

But they provide more than just food, Halili said.

Oysters are a keystone species in our environment and they provide not only life for other creatures but they also clean our water systems, he said. Theyre our first protection for coastal barriers for storm surge. Even if youre not an oyster lover, you have to really appreciate everything they do for us here on the Gulf coast.

One oyster can filter 50 gallons of water each day, according to the Galveston Bay Foundation. But they live on the shells of other oysters.

The foundation has partnered with a number of restaurants in and around Galveston to recycle oyster shells and return them to the bay to create new oyster habitats.
Fri Friday

86 /53

Mix of sun and clouds. Highs in the mid 80s and lows in the low 50s.
Poland and the United States sign a Memorandum of Understanding to Counter Foreign State Information Manipulation

Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Republic of Poland

10.06.2024

On June 10th, Poland and the United States signed a Memorandum of Understanding to Counter Foreign State Information Manipulation.

On June 10th, Poland and the United States signed a Memorandum of Understanding to Counter Foreign State Information Manipulation. The signing ceremony was attended by the Plenipotentiary of the Minister of Foreign Affairs for Countering International Disinformation Tomasz ChAoA and U.S. Special Envoy and Coordinator for the Global Engagement Center James P. Rubin.

Poland and United States confirmed their unwavering commitment to countering international disinformation, including by strengthening social resilience to the effects of this phenomenon and increasing costs for disinformers through sanctions and other joint actions. Through this MOU, Poland and the United States intend to enhance information sharing on the threat posed by foreign information manipulation, expand capacity for counter-disinformation programming, and align policies along the key action areas.

The Republic of Poland and the United States will work together to advance our shared commitment to combatting harmful manipulation of the global media environment by foreign state actors.

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Yemen dismantles large US, Israeli espionage network

Iran Press TV

Monday, 10 June 2024 6:17 PM

Yemen's security authorities say they have dismantled a large espionage network that was working for the United States and Israel amid the Arab country's military campaign to support the people of Gaza in their struggle against the Israeli aggression.

Head of Yemen's Security and Intelligence Service Major General Abdul Hakim Hashem Al-Khaiwani said on Monday that the spying ring had been active within various government departments in the country for the past eight years.

"The exposed network collected important information in various fields and carried out direct espionage technical operations on behalf of the enemy's intelligence services to obtain confidential, sovereign information," said Khaiwani in a televised statement.

Security authorities said the US-Israeli led espionage network had recruited officials within the Yemeni government to influence decision-makers and infiltrate state agencies.

Spies also carried out operations to spread diseases in Yemen to target its health system, authorities said, adding that the network had promoted "moral corruption" to undermine the education system in the country.

The network had provided intelligence to the US and Israeli militaries to help them hit the Yemeni infrastructure used to target Israeli and US-linked ships in regional waters.

The uncovering comes as Yemen is carrying out a series of extensive military operations against Israel, the US and Britain as part of a campaign to support people of Gaza in the face of an Israeli aggression that has killed more than 37,000 people in the Palestinian territory since it started in October last year.

Yemen first started targeting Israeli linked ships and Israeli ports in November but drone and missile attacks expanded later to cover US and British ships after the two countries launched airstrikes on Yemen to force it to stop its anti-Israeli operations.

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US, Poland join forces to counter Russian disinformation in Ukraine

By VOA News June 10, 2024

The United States and Poland are creating a group to help Ukraine fight Russian disinformation, the U.S. State Department's Global Engagement Center announced Monday.

The Global Engagement Center, which works to throw a light on disinformation by what it considers hostile states, said in a statement that the joint Ukraine Communications Group, or UCG, was formed in Warsaw to "support Ukraine against Russia's aggression in the information space."

The State Department said the new group would bring together allies to "coordinate messaging, promote accurate reporting of Russia's full-scale invasion, amplify Ukrainian voices and expose Kremlin information manipulation."

The State Department asserted that the Kremlin "repeatedly uses lies and manipulation to peddle false pretexts for its unjustifiable invasion, obfuscate its war aims and attempt to fracture worldwide solidarity with the Ukrainian people."

The Kremlin has dismissed claims it spreads disinformation, accusing the West instead of engaging in "information terrorism."

According to The Associated Press, Polish officials say Poland has also become a target of sabotage and other disruptive measures by the Russian secret services.

NATO member Poland has been a hub for Western weapons supplied to Ukraine. It has also been a haven for a significant number of Ukrainian refugees, who have fled their country since Russia's invasion in February 2022.

Oleksii Kovalenko contributed to this report. Some information provided by The Associated Press.

Oleksii Kovalenko contributed to this report.

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U.S. military officials engage Norwegian construction industry as part of growing European Deterrence Initiative construction mission

By Christopher Gardner June 10, 2024

OSLO, Norway -- Engineering and construction professionals from throughout Norway and across Europe recently gathered here to learn more about military construction contracting opportunities with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Europe District in support of regional security initiatives.

Europe District personnel provided nearly 100 members of industry details on how firms can register to compete for U.S. contracts as well as a broad overview of the roughly $200 million in design and construction work planned for the Royal Norwegian Air Force's Rygge Air Station south of Oslo. The projects are funded through the U.S. European Command's European Deterrence Initiative using U.S. Air Force military construction funds.

"The Ministry of Defense very much appreciates the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers taking the time and effort to arrange this industry day," said Norwegian Ministry of Defence Department of Investments Senior Adviser Svein Gjeruldsen when addressing the members of industry at the event. "It confirms the U.S. intention to strive to utilize Norwegian suppliers to the greatest extent practical."

Europe District carries out work in more than 40 countries. In addition to building and strengthening host nation relationships -- like Gjeruldsen highlighted -- engaging local industry is often key to successfully delivering local design and construction programs like the emerging one in Norway.

"Engaging local contractors plays a big role in delivering successful projects," said Europe District Contracting Officer Shawna West who presented at the event in Norway. "In addition to expanding the bidder pool, local contractors know how to get work done in their home countries, how to navigate permitting and local requirements, working in local climates and recruiting local workers. Whether they are part of projects as primes or subcontractors or in other ways, it's always good to engage and educate local industry partners."

West also noted that these efforts can expand bidding pools and potentially event reduce project costs in addition to ensuring greater opportunities for local partnerships.

Working with the government can be complex, and potential contractors must be signed up into certain systems and be able to prove they meet different qualification criteria. Both contracting and legal professionals present on these topics.

"Getting involved in contracts with the U.S. government can be complicated, so ensuring industry partners understand U.S. law and our approach to contracting is key to being able to successfully deliver projects in any country," said Dani Bolong with Europe District's Office of Counsel while in Oslo briefing industry professionals.

The event in Oslo was hosted in close collaboration with U.S. Embassy in Oslo, Norwegian Ministry of Defence, Norwegian Defence Estates Agency and U.S. Air Forces in Europe partners.

In recent years, similar events have been held to engage and empower members of local industry in Turkiye, Poland, Romania Germany, Italy and more.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Europe District solicitations, bid results and award notices in Norway and throughout Europe and Africa are can be found on the SAM.gov website. Additional, broader information on contracting with Europe District can be found on the Contracting section of Europe District's site here: www.nau.usace.army.mil/Business-With-Us/Contracting/

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Russian aircraft suspected of violating Finland's airspace in the Gulf of Finland

Finnish Ministry of Defence

10.06.2024

A Russian military aircraft is suspected to have violated Finnish air space off the coast of the Gulf of Finland, near the city of Loviisa in the morning today.

The aircraft was in Finnish air space for aprroximately 2 minutes, as deepest 2,5 kilometers inside Finnish territory.

"We take this suspected territorial violation seriously and investigations have begun," says Minister of Defence Antti Hakkanen.

The Border Guard is responsible for the preliminary investigation and will provide more information once the investigation is complete.

The previous confirmed violation of Finland's airspace by Russian aircraft took place in August 2022, when two Russian fighter jets entered Finland's airspace in the Gulf of Finland.

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Several Zionist soldiers killed, injured in explosion by Qassam brigades

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Jun 10, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- Qassam Brigades say they have exploded a house in Rafah in which several Zionist soldiers were either killed or injured.

Al Mayadeen cited Qassam Brigades on Monday that the Zionist soldiers had just entered a bomb-laden house when it was exploded.

Zionist media have also reported that their soldiers were killed or injured in what they described as a hard incident.

They said that the casualties were caused by the collapse of a four- or five-story building.

Some Zionist media said that four soldiers were killed and 10 others were injured while six of them are in critical conditions.

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Hezbollah kills Israeli military forces in northern occupied Palestine: Statement

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Jun 10, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- Lebanon's Hezbollah has confirmed attacks on the location of the forces of the Israeli regime in north of the occupied Palestine.

The attack led to killing a number of Israeli forces and left some others wounded, Al Mayadeen quoted Hezbollah as saying in its Monday statement.

As the statement read, Hezbollah encountered the Israeli army to support the people in Gaza and the Palestinian resistance.

The attacks were also in response to the aggression of the Zionist regime's army against the villages in south of Lebanon, Al Mayadeen reported.

Hezbollah targeted two buildings where the Zionist military forces had been settled, according to the statement.

During the past months, Hezbollah has been targeting the Israeli military bases in north of the occupied Palestine due to the regime's crimes and genocide.

Its anti-Israel measures have made the occupying settlers evacuate the area.

After eight months of massacre in Gaza, Israel has not yet achieved its two goals which were annihilation of the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas and release of the Israeli captives.

From the outset of war in Gaza in October 2023, over 37,000 mostly women and children have been killed in the enclave.

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No sign of US seeking ceasefire in Gaza: Iran

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Jun 10, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- There is no sign that the US is in favor of establishing a truce in the Gaza Strip as the Zionists have committed atrocities in the US-backed war against Palestinians, Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanaani says.

The Zionist regime has enjoyed the US's unconditional support in the Gaza War over the past eight months, said Kanaani during his weekly press briefing in Tehran on Monday.

The US is by no means ready for an armistice in the ongoing war, he further noted.

If the Americans sincerely seek a ceasefire, he said, they should stop sending weapons to the Zionist regime.

The repeated resignations of the Zionist regime's cabinet members and military and security officials indicate the collapse of the regime, the failure to achieve its goals, and its strategic and continuous failures in the Gaza war, he added.

Of course, substituting a few murderers with new ones does not change the nature of this regime's behavior towards the Palestinians, he underlined.

Iran condemns the brutal operation of the regime, he said, urging the international community to take its legal and humane responsibility.

The global community must take immediate actions to put an end to the Zionists' war machine, he pointed out.

As several reports show, the military and intelligence forces of the US and the UK have played roles in the Israeli attack on the Nuseirat camp in Gaza, Kanaani said.

Gaza's Government Media Office says more than 270 Palestinians have been martyred in an Israeli attack on the Nuseirat refugee camp and the number may rise.

US' contradictory approach in supporting terrorism

It is reprehensible that some people use terrorist groups for their political goals and it is a bitter and non-constructive approach that we have seen before and are still witnessing, Kanaani said.

Goals of Iran's acting FM's upcoming trip to Iraq

He said that the necessary arrangements are being made for his visit to Iraq.

The high-ranking officials of Iraq, including the prime minister, the president, the head of the Iraqi parliament, and of course the Iraqi Kurdistan prime minister, visited Iran to express their sympathy to the nation and government of Iran after the martyrdom of President Ebrahim Raisi and his entourage, he said.

Bagheri will visit Baghdad to negotiate with the Iraqi authorities on important bilateral, regional and international issues and to appreciate the Iraqi authorities, he added.

Foreign Ministry, Election

Kanaani said that the ministry gives importance to maximum participation in the upcoming presidential election, especially in other countries, and that the diplomatic apparatus has taken initial arrangements a while ago.

According to the spokesman, the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have formed a committee, providing Iranian consulates with directives to hold the election abroad; and the director-general of consular affairs of the Foreign Ministry started visiting certain countries to pursue this goal.

Iranian diplomats have started negotiating with the authorities of certain countries to pave the ground for the participation of Iranian expatriates in the elections, Kanaani said.

Arbaeen Pilgrimage

As to efforts made by the consular committee of Arbaeen pilgrimage, he noted that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has started preparations for holding magnificent Arbaeen processions this year, adding that the committee was formed in the Foreign Ministry several months ago.

Additionally, the ministry held necessary talks with certain Iraqi officials to this end, the spokesman said, noting that the Foreign Ministry has begun preparations for effective assistance in holding the grand Arbaeen procession for months.

Israeli regime's threat against Lebanon

As always, Iran supports peace and stability in the region, Kanaani stated.

After eight months of cruel war against Palestinians, he said, the world is convinced that it is the occupying regime that seeks to create insecurity in the region.

The regime's threats against Lebanon must be taken seriously by the United Nations, he said, noting that any provocative action against the country's territorial integrity must be categorically condemned.

As the advocates of the Zionists, the US and the UK should take the main responsibility in the war, the official underscored.

Kanaani said that the countries should quit supportive measures in the enclave and stop the Israeli regime's warmongering.

Maintaining the stability, security and territorial integrity of Lebanon must be considered by all sides, he said.

The Lebanese army, government, and people have the right to respond to any aggression, he pointed out.

The spokesman went on to say that resistance to the occupation can guarantee stability and security in Lebanon.

The Zionists must know that the Resistance in the region will respond to any adventurous action against Lebanon and its sovereignty, he added.

Some European parties act against Iran's nuclear issue

Non-constructive measures are taken by the parties who are only ones to be blamed about Iran's nuclear issue and the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, Kanaani said.

Such measures do not have legal grounds and acceptable political logic, he stated.

Instead of making accusations against Iran, they should do their responsibility, he stressed.

Iran fulfills its obligations concerning its nuclear activities within the framework of the International Atomic Agency Agency (IAEA) and the comprehensive safeguards agreement.

The political pressures of some Western parties, including the US and Europe, have caused the IAEA to deviate from its professional function and its activities have been influenced by political approaches, Kanaani said.

Such pressures will not be constructive, he reiterated.

Iran-Armenia relations

Iran and Armenia had signed an agreement regarding the mutual establishment of their consulate generals in Tabriz and Kapan, he said adding that Iran's consulate general was officially opened during Martyr Hossein Amirabdollahian's visit.

During Martyr Amirabdollahian's last trip to Armenia, Iran's agreement with the mutual opening of the Armenian Consulate General in Tabriz was presented to the Armenian authorities, he said.

Reopening the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Iran

The diplomatic activity of the Azeri embassy in Iran has been resumed following the agreements, and the approximate time has been determined, he said.

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Burgeoning cross-border tourism shows China's vitality in opening-up

Xinhua) 17:01, June 11, 2024

KUNMING/NANNING/HANOI, June 11 (Xinhua) -- "China travel" has recently emerged as a prominent buzzword on social media platforms like YouTube, reflecting a notable surge in the country's cross-border tourism. A rising wave of international tourists is discovering the real China.

The influx of Vietnamese tourists in Yunnan Province and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, where the major China-Vietnam border ports are located, significantly contributes to this trend. Meanwhile, Vietnam is gaining popularity as a travel destination for Chinese tourists, driven by their similar cultures and an increasingly strong bilateral relationship.

A passenger shows her passport and a train ticket to Luang Prabang of the Laos via the China-Laos Railway, in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Feb. 14, 2024. (Xinhua/Hu Chao)

The Tourism Information Technology Center of Vietnam National Authority of Tourism highlights China as a key driver for Vietnam's tourism growth, with a remarkable 112,000 arrivals in April alone, which topped the growth rate among Vietnam's international tourist markets.

As the bilateral cooperative partnership deepens and mutual exchanges flourish, tourism professionals and experts from both sides express considerable confidence in the cross-border tourism sector. This optimism is fueled by the marked improvements in tourism infrastructure and supportive amenities now in place.

A group of Vietnamese tourists taste local rice noodles in Mengzi City, southwest China's Yunnan Province, May 24, 2024. (Xinhua)

ONE-DAY TOUR

In recent years, one-day tours to border prefectures such as Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture, and Wenshan Zhuang and Miao Autonomous Prefecture in Yunnan, as well as Dongxing City and Pingxiang City in Guangxi, have gained significant popularity among Vietnamese tourists.

These tours offer engaging activities like supermarket shopping, savoring local delicacies, and enjoying leisurely coffee moments, catering to Vietnamese visitors eager to immerse themselves in Chinese customs.

Vuong Van Thanh, a seasoned tour guide from Vietnam, has been leading groups across the Beilunhe Bridge, linking Mong Cai in Vietnam with Dongxing in China, for enriching one-day tours.

He notes a marked increase in tour bookings this year. "Our guests have a fondness for Chinese cuisine, with many returning for the renowned chicken soup," he said. Beyond the culinary attractions, Vietnamese tourists relish the diverse shopping experiences, including the purchase of household appliances and fashionable clothing.

A recent group of 28 Vietnamese tourists seeking the famed flavors of Chinese cuisine embarked on a gastronomic journey to Mengzi City in Honghe, where they were captivated by the enticing tastes of local rice noodles. Kieu Deng Truong, visiting from Hai Duong province, was particularly impressed by the soup's rich flavor, despite his hometown's reputation for exceptional rice noodles. His experience has inspired plans to introduce family and friends to this delectable Chinese dish.

The Culture and Tourism Bureau of Honghe Prefecture reports that from January 1 to May 19, the region's travel agencies welcomed 4,550 inbound groups comprising 61,380 tourists, a testament to the boom in cross-border tourism.

Concurrently, the trend of outbound travel by Chinese tourists is gaining momentum, with Vietnam emerging as one of the top-tier destinations during the May Day holiday, as reported by Ctrip, a leading Chinese travel platform.

Chong Yuanjian, a Chinese traveler, recently returned from a trip to Vietnam's Lao Cai Province, where he discovered the charm of authentic Vietnamese cuisine. "I find that Vietnamese food is different from ours. They cook in a lighter way, and I feel it's good for health."

This growing interest in cross-cultural experiences has invigorated Vietnamese tourism, with the General Statistics Office of Vietnam reporting a substantial year-on-year increase in international tourist arrivals.

The number of Chinese tourists to Vietnam has reached 1.25 million in the first four months this year, ranking the second among countries, said the department.

A tourist poses for photos at Bisezhai railway station in Mengzi City, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Aug. 9, 2022. (Xinhua/Jiang Wenyao)

TWO-WAY COOPERATION

The boom in tourism is significantly supported by convenient transportation networks. In Yunnan, Hekou Port is now accessible via both railway and expressway, with a new expressway to Tianbao Port in Wenshan Prefecture under development. This enhanced connectivity is a boon to the economy and offers new experiences to tourists from both countries.

Several kilometers away from Tianbao Port, a water-themed park is being built to meet the tourists' growing demands for high-quality tourism.

Guangxi's border city, Dongxing, celebrated the inauguration of its first railway last year, the Fangchenggang-Dongxing high-speed line. This line integrates Dongxing into China's extensive railway network.

"Thanks to the opening of the Fangchenggang-Dongxing high-speed railway, more and more Vietnamese tourists choose to start their travels from Dongxing Port and then go to other destinations by trains," said Wu Juan, deputy director of culture, radio, television, sports, and tourism bureau of Dongxing.

This photo taken on Sept. 10, 2021 shows railway (front) and expressway bridges linking Hekou Port (R) in Hekou County, southwest China's Yunnan Province and north Vietnam's Lao Cai Province. (Xinhua/Chen Xinbo)

The China-Vietnam Detian Waterfall cross-border tourism cooperation zone, operational since September 15, 2023, in Chongzuo City, Guangxi, exemplifies successful bilateral collaboration and attracts a rising number of tourists. As Asia's largest transnational waterfall, it offers a picturesque landscape and a vibrant ethnic culture, providing an immersive experience on the China-Vietnam-style street with minimal language or payment barriers.

"The cross-border formalities are very convenient, and the scenic area in China offers perfect tourism service facilities," said Vietnamese tourist Nguyen Thi Trang, who just finished a "one-day tour in two countries" travel in Guangxi's Chongzuo.

"Exploring ways of cross-border tourism cooperation in border areas not only contributes to the development of the economy but also sets an innovative example for China's tourism," said Dai Bin, president of the China Tourism Academy.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
US, UK helped Israel release captives in Nuseirat offensive: Report

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Jun 10, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- Israeli media have revealed that the US and the UK provided the regime with key intelligence that helped it release four captives during the latest offensive in Gaza's Nuseirat refugee camp.

Israeli newspaper Haaretz, citing top American and Zionist officials, reported on Monday that Washington and London had provided Tel Aviv with logistical assistance that played a great role in releasing the captives.

The officials told the newspaper that American and British agents collected information about the captives and their locations, using drones and eavesdropping on phones.

The American officials speaking with Haaretz claimed that the US-British assistance was based on the approach that the release of the captives would convince Israel to end its war on Gaza.

The claim comes as both the US and the UK are facing outrage from their own peoples as well as in the world over their political and military support for the Israeli regime ever since the war broke out in early October.

The Israeli military's attack on Nuseirat, in central Gaza, killed at least 210 Palestinians on Saturday.

The carnage took place as the Israeli regime has in the past weeks refused to accept Palestinians' conditions for a ceasefire that would also release the remaining captives held in Gaza.

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.

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Jordanians concerned about US potential use of local bases to wreak havoc

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Jun 10, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- The contribution of the United States to the horrific massacre at the Al-Nuseirat refugee camp has raised concerns and debates among Jordanian people about the potential use of American military bases in the Arab country against Palestine and even Jordan.

According to Rai Al-Youm newspaper, some leaked information about the involvement of US forces in the operation to free four Zionist prisoners in the Al-Nuseirat camp in the Gaza Strip created a wave of concern among Jordanian circles regarding the devastating role of the United States in the region.

Rai Al-Youm asked about Jordan's interests as an Arab state in the region, when it comes to the use of US military bases in the country to support the Israeli war on Gaza.

The media outlet went on to say that there are controversies on the military role of the US in commanding, planning, and executing the operation in the Al-Nuseirat camp and supporting the Zionist regime.

The Arab language newspaper pointed to the fact that Jordanian people are worried about the use of US military bases and equipment against the Palestinians and Jordanians in the future, and that such involvement by the Americans in the operation sends a very negative signal to the region's people, countries, and governments.

The Israeli regime pounded the Al-Nuseirat camp in central Gaza on Saturday, which left 274 martyrs, including 64 children and 57 women. The regime announced the release of four Israeli captives during the deadly operation in the camp.

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Iran sees any claim about trio islands as interference: FM spox

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Jun 10, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman has condemned baseless remarks about its three southern islands, stressing that Tehran sees any related claims as an interference in its internal affairs and territorial integrity.

The points declared at the final statement of the 160th ministerial meeting of the [Persian] Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in Doha, Qatar, were unconstructive and fruitless, Nasser Kanaani said on Monday.

He stressed that the Greater Tunb, the Lesser Tunb and Abu Musa are inseparable parts of Iran.

Last week, the Foreign Ministry summoned the Chinese Ambassador to Iran, Cong Peiwu, over China's support for the baseless claims in paragraph 26 of the concluding statement of the joint meeting with the UAE.

Considering the strategic cooperation between Iran and China, Iran expects the Chinese government to correct its position on the issue.

Also about the paragraph related to Iran's nuclear program, Kanaani said the Islamic Republic has always been faithful to its commitments and to the international regulations, so the country sees claims about its peaceful nuclear activities as worthless.

On Iran's Arash joint gas field with Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, the spokesman rejected Kuwait's claim made at the GCC final statement about the field.

Such a legally worthless statement that is issued unilaterally and repeatedly does not prove that the Kuwaiti side is right, Kanaani reiterated.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran, based on its fundamental policies and strategic approach, has always been after solving regional problems through cooperation and interaction with the neighbors; and the country welcomes constructive initiatives in line with enhancing multilateral and bilateral relations."

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China affirms commitment to Iran's territorial integrity

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Jun 10, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- China's top diplomat has affirmed his country's commitment to Iran's territorial integrity, calling for improvement of ties in all fields.

In a meeting with Iran's acting Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani in the western Russian city of Nizhny Novgorod on Monday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Beijing adheres to the territorial integrity of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

During the meeting, both sides discussed political, economic, commercial, regional and international issues and exchanged views on ways to develop cooperation in these fields.

Expressing his condolences on the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian in a helicopter crash, Wang Yi termed the Iran-China relations as strategic.

He said China is determined to develop strategic relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran in all fields.

Bagheri Kani for his part, described the Iran-China ties as deep-rooted and historical and on the way to improvement in all fields.

Multilateralism, which Iran and China are the flagships of, is a clear solution to solve global problems, the top Iranian diplomat stressed.

Bagheri Kani also slammed the Zionists' crimes as an example of unilateralism's failure and hailed the Chinese government's position in the recent meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)'s Board of Governors.

Bagheri Kani, at the head of a delegation, arrived in Nizhny Novgorod to attend a meeting of BRICS foreign ministers.

The top Iranian diplomat was received by the Russian foreign ministry and local officials as well as Iranian Ambassador to Moscow Kazem Jalali.

Apart from attending the BRICS meeting on June 10-11 that will focus on regional and international issues, Bagheri Kani is set to hold bilateral talks with foreign ministers of other participating countries.

Upon his arrival, Bagheri Kani told reporters that it was the first meeting of the foreign ministers of the BRICS countries since the Islamic Republic became one of its members.

"BRICS is the largest international economic group, and with the presence of important countries, it is playing its role outside the framework of the unilateralism of the West. The presence of the Islamic Republic in this group shows the position and importance of our country in the multilateral system."

He added that Iran's membership in BRICS is a lasting legacy of martyred President Raisi and Foreign Minister Amirabdollahian.

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Yemeni ballistic missile strike causing damage to 2 ships: CENTCOM

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Jun 10, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) has confirmed that Yemen's missile attacks damaged two commercial vessels in the Gulf of Aden in the last 24 hours.

"Houthis launched two anti-ship ballistic missiles (ASBM) from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen into the Gulf of Aden. One ASBM struck M/V Tavvishi, a Liberian-flagged, Swiss-owned and operated container ship. M/V Tavvishi reported damage but has continued underway. The second ASBM was successfully destroyed by a coalition ship. There were no injuries reported by US, coalition, or merchant vessels," CENTCOM announced on its X (formerly Twitter) account on Sunday.

CENTCOM also noted that the Houthis launched one ASBM and one anti-ship cruise missile (ASCM) into the Gulf of Aden. Both missiles struck M/V Norderney, an Antigua and Barbados flagged, German-owned and operated cargo ship and added that M/V Norderney reported damage but has continued underway.

"There were no injuries reported by US, coalition, or merchant vessels."

"Additionally, US Central Command (USCENTCOM) forces successfully destroyed one uncrewed aerial system (UAS) over the Gulf of Aden. Later, USCENTCOM forces successfully destroyed two Houthi land attack cruise missiles (LACM) and one missile launcher in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen," CENTCOM added.

Brigadier General Yahya Saree, , the spokesman of the Yemeni armed forces, said in a statement on Sunday that the Yemeni Armed Forces attacked the British destroyer Diamond in the Red Sea with ballistic missiles.

He also confirmed two separate attacks on Norderney and M/V Tavvishi ships, which damaged both vessels.

In support for the Palestinian resistance movement and people, the Yemeni Army initiated attacks on ships affiliated with the Israeli regime, the US, and the UK in order to push them halt the ongoing aggression against the Gaza Strip.

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JOINT PRESS STATEMENT between New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs

Republic of the Philippines - Department of Foreign Affairs

MAKATI 10 June 2024 -- On 10 June 2024, the Philippine Secretary for Foreign Affairs Enrique A. Manalo hosted New Zealand's Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Right Honourable Winston Peters in Manila.

During their meeting, Minister Peters and Secretary Manalo discussed the enduring friendship between New Zealand and the Philippines, shaped by nearly 60 years of diplomatic relations. They reiterated their mutual desire and discussed steps towards elevating the Philippine-New Zealand relationship to a Comprehensive Partnership by 2026, as agreed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr and PrimeMinister Christopher Luxon in Manila in April 2024.

Secretary Manalo and Minister Peters discussed opportunities for growing mutually beneficial two-way trade, investment and defence cooperation, including the negotiation and conclusion of a Status of Visiting Forces Agreement in 2024. They welcomed the signing of the Mutual Logistics Support Arrangement.

They also reflected on the flourishing people-to-people links between the two countries, including the growing Filipino community in New Zealand. Secretary Manalo acknowledged NewZealand's ongoing development support to the Philippines, including a new package of support to improve health, education, and livelihoods in Mindanao.

Minister Peters and Secretary Manalo exchanged views on the Indo-Pacific region, including the South China Sea. They agreed on the important role maritime security and international law plays in ensuring peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. END

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Iraqi resistance strikes Israeli military target in Syria's Golan Heights

Iran Press TV

Monday, 10 June 2024 11:50 PM

Iraq's Islamic Resistance has announced striking an Israeli military target in neighboring Syria's Tel Aviv-occupied Golan Heights.

The umbrella group of anti-terror fighters made the announcement in a statement on Monday, saying the target in question had been hit using kamikaze drones.

The coalition said it had carried out the operation "in continuation of our path of resisting the occupation."

The Golan Heights have been under Israeli occupation since 1967, when the regime launched a large-scale war against the regional Arab states, including Syria.

The drone strike, the resistance added, also came "in support of our people in Palestine, and in response to the massacres committed by the usurping entity against civilians including children, women, and the elderly."

The group has staged numerous such operations against the occupied territories since October 7 last year, when the Israeli regime launched a genocidal war on the Gaza Strip.

The brutal Israeli military onslaught has so far killed upwards of 37,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children.

The Iraqi resistance concluded its statement by pledging to "continue striking the enemy's strongholds."

Last time, the resistance claimed responsibility for a drone attack on a "vital" and strategic Israeli position in a statement published on the group's Telegram channel on Saturday.

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.

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Hamas welcomes UN Security Council resolution on ceasefire plan

Iran Press TV

Monday, 10 June 2024 9:21 PM

Hamas has welcomed the UN Security Council's earlier adoption of a resolution that has backed a plan aimed at bringing about a ceasefire in the Israeli regime's ongoing genocidal war against the Gaza Strip.

The Palestinian resistance movement voiced its approval of the resolution in a press statement on Monday, hours after the 15-member council voted overwhelmingly in its favor.

Hamas said it "welcomes what is included in the Security Council resolution that affirmed the permanent ceasefire in Gaza, the complete withdrawal [of the Israeli forces], and the prisoners' exchange."

It also said it approved of the plan's other provisions, namely "the reconstruction [of the Gaza Strip], the return of the displaced to their areas of residence, the rejection of any demographic change or reduction in the area of Gaza, and the delivery of needed aid to our people in the strip."

The statement expressed "readiness" on the part of the group "to cooperate with the mediators to engage in indirect negotiations on implementing these principles that are consistent with the demands of our people and resistance."

The regime launched the war last October in response to Al-Aqsa Storm, a retaliatory operation staged by Gaza's resistance groups, during which some 250 people were taken captive.

The brutal Israeli military onslaught has so far killed upwards of 37,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children.

Egypt and Qatar have been mediating negotiations aimed at conclusion of a ceasefire agreement following one in November, during which Hamas released 105 of the captives that had been seized during Al-Aqsa Storm.

In early May, Hamas agreed to another truce proposal enabling cessation of the Israeli aggression and release of the rest of the captives. The Israeli regime, however, rejected the proposal.

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Israel's Hermes 900 drone downed by Hezbollah missile

Iran Press TV

Monday, 10 June 2024 6:20 PM

Fighters from the Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah have shot down an Israeli drone as it was flying in the skies over southern Lebanon.

Hezbollah said in a statement on Monday its fighters had shot down a Hermes 900 drone armed with missiles to carry out attacks on our regions using air defense weapons.

The Israeli military confirmed a drone had been shot down over Lebanon by a surface-to-air missile. "A surface-to-air missile was launched toward an IAF (Israeli Air Force) UAV that was operating in Lebanese airspace," it said in a statement. The drone "was damaged and fell in Lebanese territory," it added.

The Hermes 900 is a medium-sized drone, which reportedly has the endurance to fly for over 36 hours and up to 30,000 feet (9,144 meters) and can carry a maximum payload of 350 kilograms.

Hezbollah has also escalated its use of drones to attack Israeli military positions in recent months. Last Thursday, the Lebanese resistance group used anti-aircraft missiles against Israeli jets for the first time.

Separately, Hezbollah said it attacked an Israeli military post in the occupied Golan Heights with a "squadron of drones" on Monday. In a statement, the group said it had injured Israeli soldiers and caused part of the outpost to catch fire.

Hezbollah also said it carried out an air attack "with a swarm of drones" on the newly established command headquarters of the Israeli army's 146th Division east of Israel's northern city of Nahariya in the occupied territory.

The group said in a statement on Telegram the attack resulted in "the killing or wounding" of Israeli forces as well as the destruction of their settlements and a blaze.

It said the operation was in response to Israel's attack on the Lebanese villages of Aitaroun and Markaba that killed two people on Saturday.

The Israeli regime launched its devastating hostilities in the Gaza Strip on October 7 after the territory's Hamas-led Palestinian resistance groups carried out a surprise retaliatory attack, dubbed Operation Al-Aqsa Storm, against the occupying entity.

The Israeli military has also been carrying out attacks against the Lebanese territory since then, prompting retaliatory strikes from Hezbollah in support of the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip. The movement has vowed to keep up its retaliatory operations as long as the Tel Aviv regime continues its onslaught on Gaza.

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Hamas: Israeli massacre in Nuseirat meant to block ceasefire deal

Iran Press TV

Monday, 10 June 2024 4:30 PM

Israel's recent attack on the Nuseirat camp in the central Gaza Strip was intended to block any ceasefire agreement, says the political bureau chief of the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas.

Ismail Haniyeh said on Monday Washington's role in the attack made the administration of President Joe Biden "no less criminal" than Israeli leaders.

Israeli forces launched the raid in broad daylight on Saturday. The regime claimed the strike targeted military infrastructure in the camp as part of a "rescue operation."

But witnesses and journalists on the ground say Israel bombed residential buildings, leading to higher casualties. Nearly 300 Palestinians were killed and over 700 wounded the Israeli regime's latest act of aggression.

Haniyeh also said Benny Gantz and the commander of the Israeli military's Gaza Division Gadi Eiskenot had resigned from the war cabinet in order to "jump off the boat... before it sinks."

Israel's political system is on the brink of "collapse," Haniyeh stated.

The Hamas official also said Gantz, perceived as an alternative to Benjamin Netanyahu, is no different from the current prime minister. "Both are murderers seeking destruction."

Gantz quit the cabinet despite pleas from Netanyahu. He had given Netanyahu a June 8 deadline to present a plan for post Gaza war.

Brigadier General Avi Rosenfeld has also already tendered his resignation, citing his failure to prevent Operation Al-Aqsa Storm on October 7. Two more Israeli ministers also resigned after Gantz stepped down.

Hamas prepared to positively consider any ceasefire proposal

Separately, senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri called on the US administration to pressure the regime to stop the genocide in Gaza.

"We call upon the US administration to put pressure on the occupation to stop the war on Gaza and the Hamas movement is ready to deal positively with any initiative that secures an end to the war."

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken was in Egypt as part of a West Asia tour to push for the recent US proposal for truce in Gaza. Biden says the three-phase proposal had been presented by Israel.

However, Tel Aviv has not fully endorsed it. Hamas says it has not received concrete proposals that could lead to a sustainable ceasefire agreement.

With the presidential election around the corner in the US, the Biden administration is under public pressure from inside and outside to stop supporting Israel and the genocide in the Gaza Strip.

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Hezbollah strikes Israeli outposts in reprisal for southern Lebanon aggression

Iran Press TV

Monday, 10 June 2024 10:49 AM

Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah has conducted operations against two military facilities housing Israeli troops on the northern side of the 1948-occupied territories in response to the regime's deadly strikes on southern Lebanon.

Hezbollah said in a statement that several Israeli soldiers were killed and injured on Monday as it targeted a gathering of the forces at the Manara kibbutz in the Upper Galilee region, which is adjacent to the Lebanese border and overlooking the Hula Valley, with "appropriate weapons".

The statement added that the projectiles hit the designated targets precisely.

Separately, the Lebanese resistance fighters struck Israeli soldiers stationed at a building in the Yaron settlement in Western Galilee, leaving behind casualties at the site.

Hezbollah emphasized that the two operations were in solidarity with steadfast Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, in support of brave and heroic Palestinian resistance factions, and in reprisal for the Israeli enemy's attacks on southern Lebanon regions, especially the village of Houla and Shebaa town.

It later targeted the Bayyad Blida post with a kamikaze drone, a building in Avivim in response to strikes on Aitaroun, and surveillance equipment in the Ramim barracks.

Hezbollah carried out on Sunday six attacks on Israeli posts in northern part of the 1948-occupied territories and in the occupied Kfarshouba Heights.

The developments came a day after Lebanese resistance fighters forced an Israeli fighter jet to leave Lebanese airspace after its missile defenses confronted the aircraft.

The Lebanese group said its fighters "launched anti-aircraft missiles at the enemy's F-15 warplane, which was violating our airspace and breaking the sound barrier in an attempt to scare ordinary people."

It added that the interception of the Israeli warplane by its missile defenses "forced it to retreat beyond the Lebanese borders."

The Israeli regime has repeatedly attacked southern Lebanon since October 7, when it launched a ferocious war on Gaza that has killed at least 37,084 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.

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China asserts adherence to Iran's territorial integrity, sovereignty

Iran Press TV

Monday, 10 June 2024 10:12 AM

China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi has pledged Beijing's commitment to respecting Iran's territorial integrity and sovereignty.

Wang made the remarks in the western Russian city of Nizhny Novgorod on Monday as he met with Iran's interim Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani on the sidelines of a ministerial meeting of the BRICS group of emerging economies.

The remarks came a few days after the Iranian Foreign Ministry summoned China's ambassador to Tehran to protest Beijing's support for "baseless claims" regarding three Iranian islands in the Persian Gulf.

Earlier, the Chinese government had expressed support for the United Arab Emirates' claim about the triple islands, which have historically been part of Iran.

Wang went on to assert that "China is resolved to expand [its] strategic relations with the Islamic Republic in all areas."

For his part, Bagheri Kani described the Sino-Iranian relations as historical, deep-rooted, and undergoing enhancement in all areas.

He considered Iran and China to be "flag-bearers of multilateralism," which he described as a "distinct solution for resolution of the international problems."

The Iranian official, meanwhile, described the eight-month-long genocidal war that is being waged by the Israeli regime against the Gaza Strip as exemplary of defeat of unilateralism.

Bagheri Kani also thanked China for its supportive stance towards the Islamic Republic in the latest meeting of the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which passed an anti-Iranian resolution accusing Tehran of insufficient cooperation with the UN nuclear organization.

Iran showed to the world the peaceful nature of its nuclear program by signing the 2015 nuclear agreement, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), with six world powers.

But, Washington's unilateral withdrawal in May 2018 and its subsequent re-imposition of sanctions against Tehran left the future of the deal in limbo.

Iran officially became a member of the BRICS at the beginning of 2024, five months after it announced its acceptance as full member into the group along with Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia.

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Iran rejects GCC's 'unconstructive, fruitless' claims on trio Persian Gulf islands

Iran Press TV

Monday, 10 June 2024 8:17 AM

Iran says it regards any claim about its sovereignty over the three islands of Abu Musa, the Greater Tunb and the Lesser Tunb in the Persian Gulf as "interference" in its internal affairs.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kan'ani on Monday dismissed the "unconstructive and fruitless" statement issued by the ministerial council of the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in its 160th session in Doha, Qatar.

He said the trio islands in the Persian Gulf are an "inseparable and permanent" part of the Islamic Republic's territory.

In its statement, the ministerial council claimed that the three islands belong to the United Arab Emirates and accused Tehran of continuing to occupy them.

It called on Iran to respond to the UAE's efforts to resolve the issue through direct negotiations or resorting to the International Court of Justice.

The three Persian Gulf islands of Abu Musa, the Greater and Lesser Tunbs have historically been part of Iran, proof of which can be found and corroborated by countless historical, legal, and geographical documents in Iran and other parts of the world.

However, the United Arab Emirates has repeatedly laid claim to the islands.

The islands fell under British control in 1921 but on November 30, 1971, a day after British forces left the region and just two days before the UAE was to become an official federation, Iran's sovereignty over the islands was restored.

'Repetitive statements about Arash gas field have no legal value'

The Iranian spokesperson also dismissed the GCC claims asserting shared rights of Kuwait and Saudi Arabia to the entirety of the Arash natural gas field in the Persian Gulf.

"Issuing repetitive statements and leveling unilateral claims [about the Arash gas field] lack legal value and do not prove any right in favor of the Kuwaiti side," Kan'ani said.

He emphasized that the only logical and fruitful solution is to return to the technical and legal negotiating table and bilateral talks in order to reach a lasting agreement based on good neighborliness and respect for common interests.

He reaffirmed Iran's right to the resources of the gas field as per the negotiations held between the two countries and advised the Kuwaiti officials against resorting to fruitless political and media approaches.

Based on its strategic approach and principled policies, Iran always believes in interaction and cooperation with its neighbors to solve the problems in the region and welcomes constructive initiatives to promote bilateral and multilateral relations, the spokesman stated.

The ministerial council claimed that the entire field is located in the marine areas of Kuwait and that ownership of the natural resources in the divided submerged zone adjacent to the Saudi-Kuwaiti divided zone is jointly owned by Saudi Arabia and Kuwait and they alone have full rights to exploit the natural resources in that region.

The dispute over the Arash gas field dates back to the 1960s when Iran and Kuwait were awarded overlapping offshore concessions for the field following its discovery.

The dispute has undergone several rounds of assertions and rebuttals by the involved parties, becoming a friction point among the three neighboring states of the Persian Gulf.

The Arash gas field is estimated to contain reserves of 20 trillion cubic feet of gas, potentially yielding a daily output of one billion cubic feet. Some studies show approximately 40% of the field lies within Iranian maritime boundaries.

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Blinken delusional to visit region; Gaza truce hinges on ending Israel support: Hamdan

Iran Press TV

Monday, 10 June 2024 7:30 AM

Hamas says US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will not be capable of pressuring the Palestinian resistance movement into accepting a pro-Israeli so-called ceasefire proposal that is being advanced by Washington.

"If the US secretary of state travels to the region and thinks that his presence amounts to [piling up] pressure on us, he is delusional," Osama Hamdan, senior Hamas representative in Lebanon, told the country's al-Manar television network on Monday.

Blinken is visiting Egypt, the occupied Palestinian territories, Jordan, and Qatar to push through the proposal, which US President Joe Biden came up with on May 31.

Under the plan, the Israeli regime would withdraw from population centers in the Gaza Strip -- which the regime has brought under a genocidal war -- and Hamas would free the captives it seized.

At least 37,084 Palestinians have been killed in the war that was launched after Al-Aqsa Storm, a retaliatory operation, during which Gaza's resistance groups seized the captives.

Hamas has vowed not to release the captives unless Israel completely ends its aggression, withdraws its troops, and there is a proper exchange deal.

On Sunday, the US announced that it had requested a United Nations Security Council vote on a draft resolution backing its proposal.

Hamdan, however, said, "If the United States was serious about the issue of ceasefire, it would stop or at least decrease its military support for Israel."

The US has provided the Israeli regime with thousands of tons of military hardware since the onset of the war.

'Israeli army worn out, incapable of keeping up battle'

The Hamas also official said the Israeli army was "worn out and incapable of keeping up the battle" in Gaza.

Despite all the "conceitedness" that it displays, the army has been caught up in a "war of attrition" in the coastal sliver, he added.

"The power of the resistance is greater than the enemy's power of occupation," Hamdan said, adding, "The upcoming days will prove the extent of the resistance's power."

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Wider Europe Briefing: Unpacking The European Parliament Election Results

By Rikard Jozwiak June 10, 2024

The Briefing: The Center Holds For Now

Despite all the headlines about the surge of the populist right, the main takeaway from the European Parliament elections is that the three biggest political groups in the chamber are unchanged.

After EU citizens went to vote across the 27 EU member states between June 6 and 9, the center-right European People's Party (EPP) came in first -- as they have done in every European parliamentary election since 1999 -- with a projected 185 lawmakers in the 720-seat chamber.

(The results are still provisional and being updated throughout the day. For the latest numbers, check the European Parliament website.)

The Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D) came in second with a projected 137 members of the European Parliament (MEPs). And the liberal-centrist Renew Europe has come in third with an expected 79 MEPs.

Together, those three leading parties have an estimated 401 MEPs, a majority, albeit a small and shrinking one, down from 417 MEPs in the smaller 705-seat parliament. (The chamber is gaining 15 more seats in these elections, held every five years, distributing some but not all of the seats vacated when the United Kingdom Brexited in 2020.)

The EPP was actually the only major political group that gained in popularity; all others lost support compared to the previous elections in 2019. So, the center holds -- just.

The Greens/European Free Alliance (Greens/EFA) made big gains in the 2019 elections, and in the outgoing parliament they held 71 seats. In these elections the party has seen its support drop, now with only 52 seats, making it the second-smallest group in parliament. The smallest group is the far-left group in the European Parliament (GUE/NGL), which got 36 seats.

The Populist Right Gains, But Are They Winners?

The populist right has certainly made gains. The European Conservatives And Reformists (ECR) group -- home to Giorgia Meloni's Brothers of Italy, the Polish Law and Justice (PIS) party, the Sweden Democrats, and the Spanish Vox party -- has gained four seats and now has 73.

And the political group even further to the right, Identity and Democracy (ID) of Marine Le Pen and the Austrian Freedom Party (FPO), would have likely increased their share as well if it wasn't for the fact that they had kicked out Alternative for Germany (AFD) a few weeks earlier after a leading member of the far-right German party had downplayed the role of the SS during the Nazi period.

In some individual member states, the populists did really well. Le Pen's National Rally party triumphed in France, finishing over 15 percentage points ahead of French President Emmanuel Macron's coalition of centrist/liberal parties. FPO also topped the polls in Austria.

Yet, here's the thing: Combined, the ECR and ID will have around 130 parliamentarians, which is around what they had in 2019. There is always the possibility the two groups could merge and form a populist-right supergroup that potentially would be the second largest in the chamber and give them dibs on several important committee chairs and rapporteur positions. In that regard, there have been talks behind the scenes and out in the open for years, but nothing has come of it so far.

As seen with the ejection of AFD from the ID group, collaboration is not always easy. The parties making up the populist right certainly agree that Brussels has too much power, but that is where the similarities end. For example, the ECR tends to be very hawkish on Russia, led especially by the Polish PIS but also surprisingly Meloni, who has been pivoting to the center, leading to speculation that she wants to join the EPP.

On the other hand, the ID group is openly pro-Russian and doesn't tend to be keen on compromise in the European Parliament. (The ECR will quite often vote with the mainstream groups, notably on foreign policy issues.)

The Great Unknown

The wild card is the approximately 100 nonattached members in the new European Parliament who don't belong to a political group -- at least not yet. In fact, in terms of electoral gains, the nonattached MEPs saw the biggest increase, gaining nearly 40 seats. (For some of these MEPS, being nonattached might just be a temporary state of affairs, as joining a group significantly increases their influence.)

The question then is which, if any, groups are willing to mop up some of the nonattached -- or if a new group of these political strays can be formed. (A minimum of 23 MEPs from at least seven EU countries is needed to form an official parliamentary group in the European Parliament.)

Some of the nonattached members and their domestic political parties have already burnt their bridges. For example, Viktor Orban's right-wing Fidesz party parted ways with the EPP; Robert Fico's populist leftist Smer party was suspended from the Socialists and Democrats; and, as mentioned above, Germany's AFD were recently pushed out of ID.

These nonattached members will now start horse-trading. For political groups open to take in new members, it is not an easy choice. On the one hand, every political group wants to grow, but, on the other, letting a controversial national party under its wing can end up tainting the entire group.

The Conference of Presidents, a key decision-making body that consists of the president of the European Parliament and the leaders of all the political groups in the chamber, will convene on June 12 in Brussels to take stock of the situation and set out a road map. Members have until July 16 to negotiate the composition of the political groups, when the new European Parliament meets for its inaugural legislative session in Strasbourg.

Beyond Brussels

Emmanuel Macron did not have a good night. His drubbing at the hands of Le Pen has already prompted him to call for snap parliamentary elections, with the first round expected to take place by the end of June. The result was an embarrassment for the French president, with the far-right winning in every region in the country.

Yet there are some mitigating factors. First, this is hardly a surprise. Polls have for months predicted such a result. It is not uncommon that European Parliament elections, which see lower turnout than national elections, are used to punish those in power. Macron has been in power since 2017, so a certain fatigue is understandable.

The decision to call for national elections in France could be a rather smart gamble for Macron to move the conversation away from his humiliation and Le Pen's triumph. His alliance has 249 seats out of 577 in the National Assembly, France's lower house of parliament, compared to Le Pen's 88. He already lost his majority there back in 2022 and risks losing more now.

France has a presidential system, however, so even if Macron does have to cohabit with the opposition, he still gets to call the shots.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is also under pressure. The main opposition party, the Christian Democratic Union of Germany/Christian Social Union in Bavaria, received 31 percent of the vote, twice as much as Scholz's Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD). As votes were being counted, Scholz's party was neck-and-neck with AFD for second place.

The next federal election in Germany is due in the fall of 2025, but there will likely be political pressure to hold them earlier. Either way, the leaders of the EU's two biggest and most important member states have been politically undermined by this vote.

What Impact Will The New Chamber Have In Brussels?

It is likely that the tilt to the right will have an impact on some areas of policy going forward. For example, the European Parliament might become less ambitious on environmental issues and stricter on questions of migration.

It is worth bearing in mind that the European Parliament is different to national parliaments in that MEPs don't propose laws themselves. In the EU, it is the executive branch, the European Commission, that has the right of initiative and starts the initial drafting of a potential new law. The European Council, which consists of EU heads of state or government, is also involved with amending proposed laws.

In terms of lawmaking, the European Parliament is the weakest of these three institutions, rarely getting much of what it wants. Haggling over laws between the parliament, the commission, and the council in so-called trialogues can take months or even years before anything is actually agreed and becomes law.

On foreign policy, it is not expected that the newly elected European Parliament will change much. Support for Ukraine and further EU enlargement will still be the majority positions. And while there might be MEPs holding pro-Kremlin positions, they are more likely to use the chamber as a platform to parrot Kremlin talking points rather than doing significant legislative work.

Besides, the European Parliament does not dictate EU foreign policy. This is the exclusive domain of EU member states. So, while MEPs consider and write plenty of foreign policy reports and resolutions, all of these are nonbinding.

What Happens Now?

One cautious winner is European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. As the lead candidate for the first-place EPP group, she is now expected to get another five years in charge of the EU's executive arm. Even though she was triumphant on the night, von der Leyen still needs the leaders of the 27 EU member states and a simple majority in the European Parliament to secure her nomination.

The leaders will assemble in Brussels on June 17 to have an initial discussion about the three top EU jobs: the president of the European Commission, the president of the European Council, and EU foreign policy chief. They will then meet again in Brussels on June 27-28 to finalize the candidates.

Under the "lead candidate" system, von der Leyen would take the presidency, as she is the candidate from the party that got the most votes. This is what happened in 2014, when Jean-Claude Juncker was selected. However, EU leaders went against the "lead candidate" system in 2019 when they ignored the German center-right candidate from the EPP, Manfred Weber, and opted instead for von der Leyen, then a little-known German defense minister.

But with the EPP's especially good results on election night, it will be hard to overlook von der Leyen. Macron was reportedly considering the idea of putting forward former Italian Prime Minister and European Central Bank President Mario Draghi as an alternative, but with the French president taking a drubbing, that idea is unlikely to gain much ground.

"It was a good day for the EPP. We won the elections," von der Leyen told journalists late on June 9, adding that she was confident that member states would back her. "We are by far the strongest party. We are the anchor of stability."

The question is what will happen in the European Parliament when they are due to confirm her nomination, most likely in July.

Speaking to the press, she mentioned the word "responsibility" several times and added that she hopes to strike a deal with the S&D and Renew Europe groups, with whom she said she had worked well with in the last five years to form a "pro-European, pro-Ukraine, pro-rule-of-law center."

The incumbent needs a majority of 361 votes and, taken together, the EPP, the S&D, and Renew would have 401 MEPs.

However, it wouldn't take much to blow her off course. In 2019, after some social-democrat and liberal MEPs decided to vote against her, she survived by just nine votes. She could try to get the Greens or even the ECR on board this time, but working with the latter -- the populist right -- would risk alienating leftists and liberals alike.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/european-parliament- elections-results-epp-far-right/32986621.html

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Orban Challenger Says Strong Election Showing Marks Breakthrough For Hungary

By RFE/RL's Hungarian Service June 10, 2024

BUDAPEST -- Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has claimed victory for his long-ruling Fidesz party after European and local elections on June 9, but a former loyalist mounting a more EU-friendly challenge said his new party's success marked the start of a political breakthrough.

Orban's national-populist Fidesz party won the European voting with 44 percent, with nearly all the votes counted, but lost one of its seats in the European Parliament as defector Peter Magyar's fast-rising Respect and Freedom (Tisza) party appeared to control nearly 30 percent with counting nearly complete early on June 10.

Fidesz will still hold 11 of Hungary's 21 European Parliament seats, but Tisza looked set to win seven of its own MEP mandates and further its softer line in contrast to Orban's near-constant feuding with Brussels.

Tisza's rise appeared to erode Fidesz's base among voters slightly but dealt an even heavier blow to the longtime center-left opposition leader, the Democratic Coalition (DK).

But the broader opposition appeared to hold onto many of the mayoral posts it grabbed in 2019.

In a neck-and-neck race for the mayorship of the capital, Budapest, leftist-green incumbent Gergely Karacsony appeared to hold a lead over the Fidesz-backed David Vitezy of just hundreds of votes with 95 percent of the more than 700,000 votes counted and a recount almost certain.

Elections officials reported record-high turnout, with more than 57 percent of registered voters casting ballots at 10,199 polling stations.

Orban responded to his party's worst showing in the European voting amid the relatively high turnout by saying there were two elections and his party won them both.

"Today we defeated the old opposition, we defeated the new opposition, and it doesn't matter what the current opposition is called, we will always defeat it again and again," Orban, who has governed with a parliamentary supermajority since 2010, said in his election-night speech.

But Magyar congratulated his seven successful candidates for the European Parliament and hailed mandates in 10 local assemblies in the capital.

"What is apparent is that this is the Waterloo of the Orban power machine, the beginning of the end," the 43-year-old lawyer who split from Fidesz in February to campaign on eliminating corruption said.

"What happened here is a political ground-breaking, no matter how you twist it," Magyar said. "What happened here in the last two months? Lies and truth confronted each other."

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.

Magyar's party has presented itself as a more centrist and constructive alternative to Orban's brand of "illiberal" populism.

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 perceived attacks on democracy and the bloc's founding principles and inclusivity, his opposition to EU sanctions on Russia and military aid for Ukraine, and his close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The Fidesz campaign relied heavily on Hungarians' fears of being drawn into the war in neighboring Ukraine.

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.

Magyar 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 emerged as a challenger after his ex-wife became embroiled in the case of a presidential pardon for an accessory to serial child sexual abuse that cost former President Katalin Novak her job.

Hungary's next general elections are scheduled for 2026.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/hungary-election-results-orban- magyar/32986205.html

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New Pro-Russian Extremist Party In Bulgaria Has Links To Ponzi Scheme And Theme Park

By RFE/RL's Bulgarian Service June 10, 2024

SOFIA -- He was accused of running a Ponzi scheme in Bulgaria, allegedly using the ill-gotten gains to build a historical theme park that authorities suspect was also being used by an armed far-right militia.

Despite his controversial past and shady business practices in Bulgaria, albeit no stranger to corruption, Ivelin Mihailov is now about to enter the political arena with his pro-Russian, far-right party.

The Greatness party gained some 5 percent of the vote, according to preliminary results, in Bulgaria's June 9 parliamentary elections.

"This is the surprise of the elections," political analyst Ognyan Minchev told Bulgarian National TV after pre-election polls had not given the party much of a chance.

It was Bulgaria's sixth snap parliamentary poll in three years amid ongoing political instability. The June 9 poll was triggered by the collapse in March of a coalition between the center-right GERB party and the pro-Western We Continue The Change (PP) party.

Results from the elections showed GERB winning the national poll with nearly 25 percent. A total of six other parties were set to at least clear the four-percent hurdle needed to win seats in parliament, including the Movement for Rights and Freedom (DPS),which mainly represents Bulgaria's large Turkish minority; PP; and Revival, like Greatness, a far-right, pro-Kremlin party.

The elections to the National Assembly, Bulgaria's unicameral, 240-seat parliament, were held parallel to elections to the European Parliament. In those elections, GERB also came out on top, amid far-right gains across Europe.

The Rise Of Greatness

The party was founded on March 25, 2023, according to the Bulgarian investigative news site Kapital. Mihailov, a Bulgarian businessman with a shady past, is one of its founders.

Mihailov was one of the key investors in Historical Park, which, according to its website, "offers an adventure up to 10,000 years back in time for the whole family."

An investigation by Kapital in 2019 found that Historical Park, located around 30 kilometers from the Black Sea resort city of Varna, was financed with funds from a pyramid scheme, ostensibly to buy up properties in the area. Suspicions of the project led to investigations by the Interior Ministry but no formal charges. Those involved in the scheme deny any wrongdoing.

The theme park's activities have also attracted the attention of lawmakers.Kalin Stoyanov, Bulgaria's interior minister, said in May that the ministry had received reports that there were weapons, military trucks, and communications equipment at the site. A far-right group called Bulgarian Hero, which Stoyanov described as a paramilitary organization, had apparently conducted military training there. The ministry said it was investigating.

Besides the murky Mihailov, the other founder of Greatness is Nikolay Markov, a former lieutenant colonel in Bulgaria's State Agency for National Security between 1993 and 2007. Markov often appears in the Bulgarian media as a national-security expert.

What Does Greatness Stand For?

The party can generally be described as populist, Euroskeptic, and pro-Russian. On its website, the party explains it was formed to protect what it said Bulgarians had built together.

In 2022, Mihailov dipped his toes into political waters, heading a campaign to halt the construction of wind turbines, spreading false claimsthat they were harmful to health.

His campaign hid wider motives, critics claimed. "The battle over the wind turbines in Vetrino [in northeast Bulgaria] is gradually growing into a battle with green energy in general, to preserve coal plants and [is also] against military aid to Ukraine," according to factcheck.bg.

After the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, content from websites linked to Mikhailov began to appear on websites close to the Kremlin on topics such as "Nazism in Ukraine" and calls for Bulgaria's neutrality, RFE/RL's Bulgarian Service reports.

Both Mihailov and Markov are extremely active in social networks. The Free and Peaceful Bulgaria group founded by Mikhailov has 30,000 members on Facebook and organizes protests against the military aid that Bulgaria provides to Ukraine.

Written by Tony Wesolowsky based on reporting by RFE/RL's Bulgarian Service

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/bulgaria-far-right-party- greatness/32986812.html

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Despite Shift To Far Right In EU Vote, Von Der Leyen Says Centrists Held Against 'Extremes'

By Rikard Jozwiak June 10, 2024

Ursula von der Leyen will face some challenges to secure another five-year term as European Commission president, but her chances appeared good after her European People's Party (EPP) strengthened its grip as the largest faction in the European Parliament in elections across the European Union's 27 countries that culminated on June 9.

As far-right parties celebrated big gains, Von der Leyen, speaking in Berlin on June 10, cast the results in a positive light for the EPP, which will remain the largest bloc in the 720-member parliament. The initial results show it is possible to "withstand the pressure from the extremes," she said.

Despite the shift to the right, von der Leyen, a member of Germany's conservative Christian Democratic Union, was among the main winners in the election. The 65-year-old saw the center-right EPP increase the number of seats it holds in the European Parliament as centrist forces maintained an overall majority in the legislative branch of the 27-member bloc located in Strasbourg.

"We won the European elections," von der Leyen told her grouping as the results were announced, crediting the EPP's record of delivering for the public and managing crises for giving it "the strength to have this good result."

She appeared in prime position to secure another term at the helm of the European Union's executive, the European Commission, but she will have to get a majority of European Union national leaders to support her and shore up enough support in the new parliament.

As the new parliament takes shape, EU leaders are preparing for a summit on June 17 at which they are expected to have an initial discussion on the nomination before deciding whom to nominate at another summit held in Brussels on June 27-28.

Vassilis Ntousas, an analyst with the German Marshall Fund, said there's no question about the gains of far-right parties in four days of voting.

"What we saw was some key high-profile wins for the far right, no question about it," Ntousas told RFE/RL. "France is perhaps the most pronounced of those examples."

The far-right gains prompted French President Emmanuel Macron to dissolve parliament and announce new national elections immediately after his party's losses to Marine Le Pen's National Rally were clear on June 9.

But Ntousas said the broader picture shows the far right had modest gains across the bloc and in some countries didn't do as well as preelection polling predicted. The centrist majority that has "really set the tone when it comes to EU policies has held," he said.

On von der Leyen's chances to win reelection, Ntousas said the odds are with the incumbent, but it remains to be seen what effect the French parliamentary elections will have on the process.

Meanwhile, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni more than doubled her party's seats in the European Parliament.

"It is a resounding result," Meloni said on June 10 of the gains made by the far-right Brothers of Italy despite a historically low turnout of 49.69 percent.

"It is very important politically and also moving personally," she told Italy's RTL radio, noting that elsewhere in Europe governing parties had suffered in the polls.

"Italy is going completely against the trend," she said.

Germany's Alternative for Deutschland (AfD), which had been hounded by scandals, still rallied enough seats to sweep past the slumping Social Democrats of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

Scholz said the gains far-right parties made are worrying and should not become normalized. He added that Germany's coalition parties cannot "go back to business as usual" to win voters back.

The AfD on June 10 said its top candidate, Maximilian Krah, will be excluded from the party's delegation at the European Parliament because of the scandals.

Krah has been accused of having suspicious links to Russia and China, and he touched off a furor by making comments minimizing the crimes of the Nazis. Krah will still enter parliament, but the AfD delegation will be led by Rene Aust. The scandals surrounding the AfD resulted in the party's expulsion from the far-right group within the European Parliament.

With reporting by AFP, dpa, and Reuters

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/far-right-gains-eu-election- leyen-centrists/32986081.html

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NATO Ex-Commander Clark Warns Serbia 'Agent' Of Russian 'Infection' In Balkans

By Valona Tela June 10, 2024

The former commander of NATO's bombing campaign to protect ethnic Albanians and force a withdrawal of Serb-led Yugoslav troops from Kosovo in the late 1990s has warned of ongoing obstacles to stability and dangerous Russian "ambitions" in the Balkans.

Retired U.S. Army General Wesley Clark told RFE/RL's Kosovo Service that Serbia and its former province Kosovo remain at cross purposes and "Serbia is a magnet, drawing Russian imperialist ambitions into Europe."

Serbia continues to reject the independence that Kosovo declared in 2008, and more than a decade of Western-mediated talks aimed at normalizing relations between Belgrade and Pristina have mostly stalled over recognition and representation for Kosovo's ethnic Serb minority.

"Serbia doesn't want peace, and Kosovo doesn't want to surrender its independence," Clark said in an interview coinciding with the 25th anniversary of the end of the 79-day NATO bombardment during Kosovo's war of independence.

Belgrade has worked with UN Security Council permanent member Russia to oppose partially recognized Kosovo's membership in international organizations, with support from China.

Serbian President Aleksandr Vucic has bolstered trade, energy, and diplomatic relations with Russia and avoided joining sanctions on Moscow since President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine two years ago, irritating the EU candidate country's Western partners.

Belgrade's relations with Pristina have also soured further over cross-border violence, boycotted elections and walkouts, and currency and other crackdowns in Serb-majority areas of northern Kosovo.

Russia has helped fuel resistance to postwar borders and institutions in the former Yugoslavia, including through appeals to Christian Orthodoxy and historical and linguistic ties particularly in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, and North Macedonia.

Clark warned that there cannot be stability between Kosovo and Serbia until "Moscow withdraws its imperialist ambitions from the region."

"Until then, you're not going to have stability and the chance for people to reconcile and move forward," Clark added.

He said Serbia was serving as "an agent of infection in the region, in North Macedonia, in Montenegro, and elsewhere" and he warned of the risk of further violence in the region.

"The way out is Russia's defeat in Ukraine, to take the Russian backing of Serbia down to a different level," Clark said, "so Serbia understands its future's with the West. When Serbs understand that, there'll be no problem with Kosovo."

Clark was NATO's supreme allied commander Europe during the air campaign targeting mostly Serbian targets, including in Belgrade, that ended on June 10, 1999, after the signing of the Kumanovo Agreement withdrawing then-Yugoslav forces from Kosovo and establishing an international peacekeeping force there amid accusations of ethnic cleansing.

Kosovo has been criticized by its Western partners over Prime Minister Albin Kurti's increasingly assertive policies, including a ban on dinar transactions despite wide use of the Serbian currency in mostly Serb-populated areas and expropriations of land.

Pristina has also refused to lay a legal foundation for an association of Serb-majority municipalities despite a pledge in the so-called Brussels Agreement in 2013.

Clark said that "nations have to do what's in their own interest" and appeared to question the essential need for such an association.

"I think for it to open the way to extraterritoriality for Serbia any more than it has north of the Ibar River is extremely damaging for the future of the people in Kosovo," Clark said, citing Serbs' past use of Orthodoxy as a "focal point for rebellion or repression or aggression."

"And so, I think it's better for everyone in the region if we don't push the association, but instead hope and work for these two governments to have normalized diplomatic relations," Clark said.

"There's always a mix of ethnic groups, but the best way for peace is to respect national boundaries."

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/clark-interview-serbia-kosovo- russia-nato-balkans/32986502.html

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Bulgarian Ex-PM Borisov's Coalition Leads Vote Count, But No Easy Path To Governing

By RFE/RL's Bulgarian Service June 10, 2024

SOFIA -- The conservative GERB-SDS coalition led by former Prime Minister Boyko Borisov was leading all parties but had only around one-fifth of the vote as counting continued in Bulgaria's sixth election in the past three years, with no sign of an easy path to power for any side.

Turnout appeared to be a record low at just around 32 percent, marking the first time in Bulgaria that participation was higher for the European elections than for the national balloting.

With 93.53 percent of votes for the Bulgarian parliament counted early on June 10 according to the Central Election Commission's official website, GERB-SDS was well ahead of all other parties with 24.63 percent of the vote, in a contest that could bring the populist Borisov -- who has been accused of corruption by the opposition -- back to power.

The Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS) was second at 15.89 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 billionaire, Delyan Peevski, who has been hit by sanctions for alleged corruption by the United States and Britain.

There has been speculation that GERB-SDS and DPS could seek to form a government, but the partial results so far suggest they would need at least eight or so seats to reach the 121 seats needed for a majority in the legislature.

The reformist We Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria coalition (PP-DB), GERB's erstwhile partner in the outgoing coalition government, was third at 14.81 percent.

The pro-Russian Revival party (Vazrazhdane) was in fourth at 14.04 percent.

During the balloting on June 9, Borisov 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 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.

With 93.35 percent of the ballots counted, GERB was also leading the concurrent voting for the European Parliament, GERB-SDS had 23.5 percent, ahead of PP-DB at 14.91 percent and Revival with 14.24 percent, and DPS with 13.48 percent.

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 expected to see a drop as many supporters deserted 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.

If Borisov is unable to cobble together a government, another election -- the seventh in three years -- is likely, observers say.

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 Borisov's 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.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/borisov-gerb-coalition-lead- early-results-bulgaria/32986071.html

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Secretary Antony J. Blinken's Remarks to the Press

US Department of State

Remarks to the Press

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

Cairo Airport

Cairo, Egypt

June 10, 2024

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Well, good afternoon, everyone. Ten days ago, President Biden put forward a proposal that would produce an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, get all the hostages home, and put us on a path to an enduring resolution to the conflict in Gaza. It's a proposal that is very close to what Hamas itself had agreed to some time before. Since the President put the proposal forward, countries throughout the region and around the world - as well as international organizations - have all endorsed it. Israel has accepted it. And the only outlier in this moment - the only outlier in this moment - is Hamas.

So my message to governments throughout the region, to people throughout the region is: If you want a ceasefire, press Hamas to say yes. If you want to alleviate the terrible suffering of Palestinians in Gaza, press Hamas to say yes. If you want to get all the hostages home, press Hamas to say yes. If you want to put Israelis and Palestinians alike on the path to more durable peace and security, press Hamas to say yes. If you want to prevent this conflict from spreading, press Hamas to say yes.

Now, if we get this ceasefire, it also opens the path to more durable security, calm, peace in Gaza. And for that, it's critical that we continue to work on plans for the day after to make sure that when it comes to security in Gaza, when it comes to governance, when it comes to reconstruction, we have the plans in place to move forward. That's going to be a critical part of my conversations here in the region, as we go on to Israel and then to Jordan and then to Qatar.

Throughout this process, Egypt has played a critical and a leading role in supporting the proposal to get to a ceasefire and return of hostages, in working on these day-after plans, in being a critical partner as well for getting humanitarian assistance in to the Palestinian people who so desperately need it in Gaza. And I want to thank President Sisi again for a very good exchange and for all the work we're doing almost on a daily basis.

In Jordan itself - and we'll come to this in a day - we're going to be focused intensely on the humanitarian assistance piece and civilian protection. Because deal or no deal, it remains absolutely essential that we get more aid to Palestinians who need it, that that aid gets around and distributed to those who are so desperately in need of it, and that we continue to work on protecting civilians and get them out of harm's way.

Look, I think this is a critical moment, because we see the possibility, we see the prospect of an immediate ceasefire, of getting all the hostages home, of getting on the path to a durable resolution to the conflict in Gaza. I know that there are those who are pessimistic about the prospects. That's understandable. Hamas continues to show extraordinary cynicism in its actions, a disinterest not only in the well-being and security of Israelis but also Palestinians. And there are those in the region who are also working against efforts to bring about a ceasefire and a durable peace, who don't even acknowledge - indeed reject - the existence of Israelis or Palestinians, much less their ability to live side-by-side in peace.

But I believe strongly - this is now my eighth trip to the region since October 7th - that the overwhelming majority of people - whether they're in Israel, West Bank, in Gaza, throughout the region, around the world - actually want and believe in a future where Israelis and Palestinians alike can live in peace, in security. And for the United States, we will continue our efforts every single day, first to get this ceasefire, to get hostages home; but second, to try to put everyone in the region on that much better path.

Andrea.

QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, you say that everyone but Hamas has agreed to this. Benjamin Netanyahu has certainly said otherwise publicly, and hostage families are saying you should try everything if this fails. And it's quite possible it will fail with him now toughening his position with his right-wing partners. If this fails, they want you to work through Qatar and deal with Hamas to get the Americans home. We are reporting at NBC News that that is being discussed as a backup plan - if no other way to get a ceasefire - doing it without Israel agreeing to a ceasefire agreement. Tell us about that. And also if the war continues, won't the Palestinian death toll be unacceptable, as the national security advisor of Israel has said to the end of the year, after such a horrific death toll in getting the hostages out militarily this weekend?

SECRETARY BLINKEN: First, let me be very clear: Israel has accepted the proposal. In fact, they were critical in putting it forward. So the only party 

QUESTION: (Inaudible.)

SECRETARY BLINKEN: No, that's - that is what - that is what the official position of the Israeli Government, the prime minister. So the only party that has not accepted, the only party that's not said yes is Hamas. That's who everyone is waiting on. That's who the Palestinians in Gaza are waiting on, it's who the Israelis are waiting on, it's who the hostages and the hostage families are waiting on, it's who the entire region and the entire world is waiting on. And so we'll see. Does Hamas want to end this conflict, end this war that it started, or not? We'll find out. But it's clear that virtually the entire world has come together in support of the proposal, and the only open question is will Hamas say yes. So that's one.

Second, in terms of the hostages, my number one priority as Secretary of State is to ensure the well-being of Americans who are in harm's way anywhere in the world, including those who are being unjustly detained or being held hostage. The best way, the most effective way to get everyone home, including the American hostages, is through this proposal, is through the ceasefire deal that's on the table right now. That's what we're focused on. That's what we're determined to have - to see achieved.

And finally, Andrea, in terms of civilian suffering, civilian casualties, civilian injuries, the humanitarian assistance, again, the most immediate answer to that question, the best way to ensure that there's not another civilian casualty, is for this ceasefire deal to go forward, for Hamas to accept it. It's as basic and as simple as that. That's what's on the table now; that's what we need to see an answer to. That's what would end the conflict in Gaza; that's what would prevent more civilian casualties.

QUESTION: If that's your top priority, wouldn't indirect talks for the Americans at least bring those Americans home possibly?

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Again, my top priority always: bring Americans home. And because of that, the most effective way to do that, to achieve that, to actually get them home is through the proposal that's on the table. So let's see if we get an answer from Hamas.

QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, after your meeting with Egyptians today, do you have a better sense for when Hamas is actually going to respond to this proposal on the table - it's been on the table for, as you say, 10 days at this point - and if the raid over the weekend to release those Israeli hostages could have a negative impact on how they respond? And then you're also meeting with Benny Gantz tomorrow. I wonder what your message is to him after his resignation, and if you're concerned at all - increasingly concerned - about Netanyahu not having an endgame to this war given that that's the reason that Gantz stepped out of the government.

SECRETARY BLINKEN: So on Egypt, first, as I said, we greatly appreciate the critical role that they played in serving as a mediator and trying to get Hamas not only to the table, but to engage and now to say yes. I can't go into the details of our conversations today, except to say that our Egyptian counterparts were in communication with Hamas as early - as recently as a few hours ago. And so I got an 

QUESTION: Were those conversations hopeful?

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Again, not going to get into any details about that. But I think Egypt, the United States, other countries believe that, again, we should be able to get to yes. But ultimately, I can't put myself, none of us can put ourselves in the minds of Hamas or its leaders. So we don't know what the answer will be. I don't have anything further on that. I just know that there's a sense of urgency among all concerned - starting with us, with Egypt, with all of our Arab partners, the Arab League, countries throughout the region, well beyond - a real urgency in getting an answer and getting an affirmative answer, because it's the single best way to do what so many people around the world want: to get an immediate ceasefire, get hostages home, put us on a path to enduring peace and security for the people in Gaza and throughout the region. So we're working on that.

I think on virtually every trip to the region, including in Israel, I've met with leaders in Israel, whether part of the government or not part of the government, and Benny Gantz is someone for whom I have deep respect. The decisions that the Israelis make about their government, who's in, who's out - those are decisions for Israelis to make, not for us. But I'll continue to meet with Mr. Gantz and others who lead major political parties in Israel and who are going to be critical to the path forward.

QUESTION: But based on his decision to step aside, are you increasingly concerned that the prime minister doesn't have a plan to end the war given what he said? He's seen it from the inside.

SECRETARY BLINKEN: So - look, you've heard me talk to this, and I think if we get a positive response on the ceasefire, that only underscores the urgency of making sure that we do have plans in place for what happens the day after. Because in the absence of those plans, then one of three things. Either Israel would have to stay - which it says it doesn't want to do and we believe it must not do and would be left holding the bag in Gaza and would probably have a major insurgency on his hands for years to come - or in the absence of a plan, it leaves, Hamas returns; or we have a total vacuum, and you just have chaos, lawlessness, criminality, jihadist groups, et cetera. So it's imperative that there be a plan, and that has to involve security, it has to involve governance, it has to involve reconstruction.

We've spent the last five or so months, since the beginning of the year, working intensively with countries throughout the region on developing these plans, and as I mentioned a few minutes ago, that's going to be a big part of this trip as well, carrying those conversations forward. It would be very good if Israel put forward its own ideas on this, and I'll be talking to the government about that. But one way or another, we've got to have these plans, we've got to have them in place, we've got to be ready to go if we want to take advantage of a ceasefire and bringing this conflict to an end in a way that actually produces long-term security for Israel. Because again, in the absence of a long-term plan, in the absence of knowing what you're going to do post-conflict in Gaza, it's just a recipe for permanent insecurity for Israel. It's not in their interest, and that's something we'll be talking about.

QUESTION: Thank you.

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Thanks very much.

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Secretary Blinken's Meeting with Egyptian President El-Sisi

US Department of State

Readout

Office of the Spokesperson

June 10, 2024

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Matthew Miller:

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken met today with President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi in Cairo. Secretary Blinken and President El-Sisi discussed the proposal for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza that would secure the release of all hostages. The Secretary thanked President El-Sisi for Egypt's leadership in mediating the proposal. He underscored that the proposal would alleviate the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza and surge humanitarian assistance, and that Hamas should accept it without delay.

Secretary Blinken and President El-Sisi continued discussions on plans for post-conflict governance, security, and reconstruction in Gaza, which the ceasefire proposal would advance. They also discussed the importance of reopening the Rafah Border Crossing and the need to protect Palestinian civilians and humanitarian workers. The Secretary reaffirmed the United States' rejection of any forced displacement of Palestinians from Gaza.

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Treasury Targets Companies and Vessels Behind Illicit Houthi Shipments

U.S. Department of the Treasury

June 10, 2024

WASHINGTON -- Today, the Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is sanctioning ten individuals, entities, and vessels, including tanker captains, in multiple jurisdictions that have engaged in the illicit transport of oil and other commodities, including for the network of Houthi financial facilitator Sa'id al-Jamal. This action targets maritime shipping and financial facilitators, several vessel managers and owners, and a company involved in forging shipping documents. Today's action, the seventh round of sanctions targeting the network of Sa'id al-Jamal since October 2023, underscores the U.S. government's commitment to isolating and disrupting the financing of international terrorist groups such as the Houthis.

"The Houthis continue to leverage an expansive support network to facilitate their illicit activities, including hiding the origin of cargo, forging shipping documents, and providing services to sanctioned vessels," said Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian E. Nelson. "As we demonstrated with our military strikes last week, the United States government is committed to disrupting and degrading the Houthis' ability to engage in attacks against commercial shipping and naval vessels, as well as target those who seek to facilitate these activities."

Today's action is being taken pursuant to the counterterrorism sanctions authority, Executive Order (E.O.) 13224, as amended. OFAC designated Sa'id al-Jamal pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, on June 10, 2021, for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps - Qods Force (IRGC-QF). The IRGC-QF was designated pursuant to E.O. 13224 on October 25, 2007, for providing support to multiple terrorist groups. The U.S. Department of State designation of Ansarallah (commonly known as the Houthis) as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist group, pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, became effective on February 16, 2024.

HOUTHI SHIPMENTS

Houthi financier Sa'id al-Jamal, who goes by the Chinese alias "Caihong" (), or "Rainbow," relies on a network of foreign shipping firms to sell and transport commodities to China, Syria, and other jurisdictions. United Arab Emirates (UAE)- and Oman-based Shark International Shipping L.L.C, under the leadership of its managing director John Britto Aruldhas, has worked with the Sa'id al-Jamal network to furnish forged shipping documents for vessels shipping commodities on behalf of the Houthis.

India-based Rayyan Shipping (OPC) Private Limited (Rayyan) has served as the manager and technical operator of the sanctioned Guyana-flagged vessel OLYMPICS (IMO: 9212759), formerly known as the LADY SOFIA, which continues to carry cargo for the Sa'id al-Jamal network. As of mid-May, the OLYMPICS, captained by Vivek Ashok Pandey, was operating under forged paperwork falsely indicating that the vessel was carrying Malaysian commodities that were loaded at a Malaysian port in late April. Pandey has captained the LADY SOFIA since it onboarded commodities on behalf of the Sa'id al-Jamal network in late January. The OLYMPICS remains in the East China Sea.

Additionally, OFAC is designating Sa'id al-Jamal's Yemen-based nephew 'Abdallah Najib Ahmad al-Jamal ('Abdallah al-Jamal), who manages money laundering operations for the Sa'id al-Jamal network. 'Abdallah al-Jamal works with U.S.-designated money launderer Bilal Hudroj and sanctioned Yemeni exchange houses Davos Company for Exchange and Transfers and Al-Rawda Exchange and Money Transfers Company to move funds on behalf of Sa'id al-Jamal. 'Abdallah al-Jamal has handled millions of dollars' worth of currency that has been transferred to Yemen as part of these money laundering operations.

Shark International Shipping L.L.C, Rayyan Shipping (OPC) Private Limited, Vivek Ashok Pandey, and 'Abdallah Najib Ahmad al-Jamal are being designated pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, Sa'id al-Jamal. OFAC is designating John Britto Aruldhas pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Shark International Shipping L.L.C.

ADDITIONAL ILLICIT SHIPMENTS

In addition, OFAC is designating Hong Kong-based Lainey Shipping Limited, the registered owner of the Panama-flagged JANET, and Panama-based Louis Marine Shipholding Enterprises S.A., the registered owner of the Panama-flagged BELLA 1,for their role in carrying sanctioned cargo on behalf of Hizballah-owned and OFAC-designated Concepto Screen SAL Off-Shore to Southeast Asia. Lainey Shipping Limited and Louis Marine Shipholding Enterprises S.A. are being designated, pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, the IRGC-QF. The JANET is being identified as blocked property in which Lainey Shipping Limited has an interest and the BELLA 1 as blocked property in which Louis Marine Shipholding Enterprises S.A. has an interest.

OFAC is also designating Sandeep Singh Choudhary, the master of the vessel LA PEARL, which also operates under the name ELITE. OFAC identified the LA PEARL as property in which Saone Shipping Corporation has an interest on April 25, 2024. Saone Shipping Corporation was concurrently designated pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, Sepehr Energy Jahan Nama Pars Company (SEJ). The LA PEARL is currently anchored off the coast of China following its delivery of sanctioned cargo. Sandeep Singh Choudhary is being designated pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, SEJ.

SANCTIONS IMPLICATIONS

As a result of today's action, all property and interests in property of the designated persons described above that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. In addition, any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, individually or in the aggregate, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked. Unless authorized by a general or specific license issued by OFAC, or exempt, OFAC's regulations generally prohibit all transactions by U.S. persons or within (or transiting) the United States that involve any property or interests in property of designated or otherwise blocked persons.

In addition, financial institutions and other persons that engage in certain transactions or activities with the sanctioned entities and individuals may expose themselves to sanctions or be subject to an enforcement action. The prohibitions include the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any designated person, or the receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services from any such person.

The power and integrity of OFAC sanctions derive not only from OFAC's ability to designate and add persons to the SDN List, but also from its willingness to remove persons from the SDN List consistent with the law. The ultimate goal of sanctions is not to punish, but to bring about a positive change in behavior. For information concerning the process for seeking removal from an OFAC list, including the SDN List, please refer to OFAC's Frequently Asked Question 897. For detailed information on the process to submit a request for removal from an OFAC sanctions list.

Click here for more information on the individuals and entities designated today.

###

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UN Security Council adopts resolution on proposed ceasefire and hostage deal between Israel and Hamas: UK statement at the UN Security Council

UK explanation of vote delivered by Ambassador Barbara Woodward, UK Permanent Representative to the UN, following the Security Council vote on resolution 2735.

10 June 2024



The UK voted for this resolution as an important step in bringing about an end to the conflict that has raged since the horrific attacks on 7th October, and moving towards lasting peace.

The situation in Gaza is catastrophic and the suffering has gone on for far too long. The deal on the table is something that the UK has long-called for. It is the best way to get the remaining hostages out, bring about an immediate ceasefire leading to a permanent end to hostilities and enable a significant scaling up of much-needed humanitarian aid.

We call upon the parties to seize this opportunity and move towards lasting peace which guarantees security and stability for both the Israeli and Palestinian people.

Far too many lives have been lost already. There is desperate need for humanitarian assistance in Gaza and hostages have now been held for over eight months.

News of the rescue of four hostages will be a huge relief to their families. Our thoughts are also with families of those still captive, and all the innocent lives - both Palestinian and Israeli - already lost and affected by the conflict. We must secure the release of all hostages and end the fighting.

The UK applauds the diplomatic efforts of Qatar, Egypt and the United States in negotiating the deal that is on the table. We note that Israel has accepted the deal, and call upon Hamas to accept the terms and bring an end to the suffering of the Palestinian people and the hostages that remain in detention.

We must then see a rapid increase in the flows of humanitarian aid throughout the entire Gaza strip, with the opening of all border crossings and facilitation of the minimum operating requirements of the UN and international humanitarian organisations.

The UK remains in steadfast support of a credible and irreversible pathway towards a two-state solution with Israel and Palestine living side-by-side in peace and delivering security for both nations and the wider region.

As we have made clear, a sustainable peace must also include Hamas no longer being in control of Gaza and international support for the Palestinian Authority so that it can resume governance and security responsibilities across the West Bank and Gaza. The UK stands ready to support this.

President, the UK has long advocated for a deal such as the one on the table.

This conflict has gone on for far too long.

Now more than ever is the time for diplomacy.

Now is the time for peace.

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The UK recognises that climate change impacts on peace and stability across Central Africa: UK statement at the UN Security Council

Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki at the UN Security Council meeting on UNOCA.

10 June 2024



The United Kingdom welcomes the positive achievements made by UNOCA in confronting challenges faced by the subregion, including through use of its good offices and capacity-building to address the root causes of conflict.

I will make four brief points today.

First, we welcome the fact that Chad's presidential election on 6 May took place under broadly peaceful conditions. But, allegations of irregularities and the denial of accreditation to 2,900 EU-trained electoral observers risk undermining progress towards a return to constitutional order. The UK urges Chad to now set a timeline for local and legislative elections, which are an opportunity to demonstrate commitment to good governance.

Second, as the Secretary-General report makes clear, Gabon stands at a critical juncture following its national dialogue. We commend the authorities' cooperation with UNOCA so far. Delivering an inclusive process for the transition to constitutional order, in accordance with the roadmap to elections in August 2025, will be crucial for meeting the democratic aspirations of all Gabonese people.

Third, we encourage UNOCA to deepen its support to Cameroon in developing a political solution to the crisis in its North-West and South-West regions. The UK is also deeply concerned by the insurgent violence in the Far North region, including the growing use of improvised explosive devices, and we fully support the Multinational Joint Task Force in combatting jihadist groups in the Lake Chad Basin.

Finally, delivering stability in the subregion means tackling the drivers and enablers of conflict. The UK recognises that climate change impacts on peace and stability across the subregion, and we encourage UNOCA to strengthen collaboration with other regional actors to enable a more coherent response to this challenge.

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Support Palestinian women-led organizations at heart of Gaza aid response

10 June 2024 - The UN agency championing gender equality called on Monday for greater investment in Palestinian women-led organizations who are at the forefront of humanitarian operations in the Gaza Strip.

UN Women published its fourth Gender Alert since the war began eight months ago, which examines the immense challenges these organizations face while also highlighting their commitment to save lives.

The series of reports document how the lives of women and girls have deteriorated across sectors such as food security, shelter, health and safety.

Barely surviving

Latest data collected in April revealed that over 80 per cent of those surveyed in Gaza report a dependency on food assistance. Furthermore, 83.5 per cent said that the assistance received was not enough to meet their basic family needs.

The Gender Alert details the findings of a UN Women assessment of 25 Palestinian women-led organizations which remain at the forefront of the humanitarian response despite the dire situation.

Together, they maintain a network of 1,575 staff across Gaza and the West Bank, and their offices serve as vital hubs for delivering assistance and coordination.

Operating amid destruction

Nearly 90 per cent of the organizations have experienced damage to their offices and 35 per cent have suffered complete destruction.

"Amid this adversity, close to 60 per cent of organizations report being able to operate at full capacity," UN Women said.

Additionally, 88 per cent have shifted towards emergency relief, providing essential services such as the distribution of food items, non-food items, cash assistance and protection-related services, including psychosocial support.

Invest in resilience

At the same time, the organizations face financial struggles as 56 per cent reported decreased funding and 88 per cent have major financial difficulties that hamper their ability to deliver critical services.

UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous said they must be supported.

"The work of women-led organizations in Gaza and the West Bank is as much about the survival of women and girls as it is about maintaining hope, dignity, and the possibility of a better future for those they serve," she said.

"Investing in their resilience is not just important - it is the key to an inclusive response that leaves no one behind."

The report called for action to actively fund women-led organizations, which are vital for reaching the women and girls most in need.

Other recommendations include advocating for increased humanitarian access, thus enabling these organizations to expand their life-saving responses, and including women-led organizations in all humanitarian coordination structures to ensure effectiveness and inclusion.

Gaza hospitals overwhelmed

The Israeli military operation to rescue hostages at the Nuseirat refugee camp this past weekend overwhelmed the already limited capacity of Gaza hospitals, the UN said on Monday.

This especially applies to the Al Aqsa and Al Awda hospitals in Deir al Baleh and the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis, said UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric, speaking in New York.

More than 270 people, including children and other non-combatants, were killed in the fighting between Israeli forces and Hamas militants in and around the camp on Saturday.

Mr. Dujarric said an inter-agency mission to Al Aqsa hospital that day found the facility was hosting about 700 patients, or nearly five times the capacity for in-patient services, and just one generator there is still running.

Fuel running short

Fuel remains critically short in Gaza, he added. Humanitarians report that just 20 per cent of supply needed for vital water and wastewater facilities was received during the week of 26 May.

"These shortages, compounded by power cuts and damage to infrastructure, are severely disrupting operations and limiting people's access to water. As of 2 June, daily water production stood at just 26 per cent of pre-conflict levels," he said.

Many displaced families in Gaza are forced to reply on dirty sea water for their daily needs, according to UN Palestine refugee agency UNRWA, and the hotter temperatures and lack of hygiene are making an already dire situation even worse.

Floating dock update

Mr. Dujarric also briefed journalists on further delays related to the floating dock built by the United States military in May.

"World Food Programme (WFP) colleagues tell us that we are temporarily pausing operations at the floating dock until a thorough assessment of the security situation is conducted to ensure the safety of our staff and our partners," he said.

"The World Food Programme's position, as the logistics arm of the UN operation in Gaza, has always been that it will support any UN and international effort to increase the flow of humanitarian supplies into Gaza and the World Food Programme has welcomed the relief that has been received through the pier since it started operating."

He said a total of 85 WFP trucks carrying roughly 748 metric tonnes of humanitarian supplies have been delivered to date.

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Youth in Haiti remain optimistic amid worsening instability

10 June 2024 - The crisis in Haiti has left children among the most vulnerable to extreme violence, malnutrition, poverty, and collapsing social systems there, according to the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF).

The agency surveyed over 3500 young people in early June, the majority of whom believe their rights are rarely or never respected.

"When I ask children if their rights in Haiti are being respected, the answer is often a resounding: "no"," said Samarre Tercier Marcellin, Youth Advocate for UNICEF Haiti.

"Children are abused, die of diseases and malnutrition that could be cured or prevented, and lack access to quality learning. This needs to change," he added.

Despite this stark reality, a shocking majority of youth respondents to the UNICEF survey still believe the future of children is brighter than it is in the present.

Haiti continues to suffer a series of political, socio-economic and security crises. Rival gangs are battling for control of territory across the capital Port-au-Prince forcing thousands of people to flee their homes. This has further exacerbated poverty and severe hunger across the nation.

Worsening crisis

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP) added Haiti to the list of countries of "greatest concern due to the escalation of violence by armed groups," in their most recent outlook report for the months of June to October 2024.

FAO and WFP have also identified Haiti as a "famine or risk of famine hotspot," with over five million people now experiencing acute food insecurity, the highest numbers seen since the 2010 earthquake.

The number of displaced people in Haiti has also greatly increased in recent months, from 362,000 in March to 580,000 currently, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

More than 100,000 left Port-au-Prince alone due to the deteriorating security situation.

This situation has had grave consequences on the children of Haiti. Of the 2,500 people killed or injured from January to March, many of them were children, said UNICEF.

"Each day, children are being injured or killed," UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell told the UN Security Council in April. "Some are being recruited, or they are joining armed groups out of sheer desperation."

Around 600,000 of the 1.6 million people facing emergency levels of acute food insecurity are children and many schools have shut down due to attacks, leaving thousands of children stripped of their right to education.

Still optimistic

Despite the devastating conditions, many youth remain hopeful. According to the UNICEF survey, 24 per cent are very hopeful and 41 per cent are at least a little. Fourteen per cent said they are not very hopeful, and just 10 per cent reported no hope at all.

When asked about what would allow the country to change the most, 40 per cent cited better access to education, 24 per cent the economic development and poverty reduction, 19 per cent security around the country and seven per cent improved health services.

Increased humanitarian action

Humanitarian efforts have been intensified as a result of the worsening conditions. WFP has delivered 43,600 hot meals to nearly 13,500 displaced people in Port-au-Prince since 1 June. It has also allocated $1 million as part of its social protection and resilience activities to approximately 65,000 people across the country.

There have also been joint efforts on behalf of the Haitian authorities and national and international organizations to prepare Haitian civilians for the hurricane season that began on 1 June.

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Sudan crisis: UN health agency alerts over attack on key hospital

10 June 2024 - Further deadly violence in Sudan's besieged El Fasher city has forced a major hospital to shut over the weekend after soldiers stormed the facility, prompting alarm on Monday from the UN World Health Organization (WHO) about the serious impact on sick and injured patients.

"WHO is appalled by the recent attack on South Hospital, the only facility with surgical capacity in El Fasher, Darfur," the UN agency said in a post on X. "The hospital's closure following the attack has stretched the two other hospitals there beyond capacity, further limiting access to lifesaving services."

According to reports, the hospital had to close after Rapid Support Forces (RSF) soldiers entered the building and opened fire. The NGO which helps to run the hospital, Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), said on X that the armed fighters stole equipment and an ambulance.

Wad Al-Nura fallout

In a related social media post, the WHO condemned "another attack" on a health facility in Wad Al-Nura in Al-Jazirah state south of Khartoum, that caused the death of a nurse who was on duty and caring for patients at the time.

"WHO strongly condemns attacks on healthcare. Health workers and patients should not have to risk their lives to provide and access health services," the UN agency said, days after an attack on the village reportedly by RSF paramilitaries involving heavy artillery left more than 100 dead.

Rights chief's warning

UN human rights chief Volker Turk added his voice on Friday to widespread international condemnation of that attack in which he cited evidence gathered by his Office which "indicates that the RSF used weapons with wide-area effects, including artillery shells, during the attack".

Previously, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights spoke out against the "deeply devastating impact" on civilians of the clashes between the Sudan Armed Forces and the RSF in El Fasher in the far west of the vast country.

In addition to personal appeals in separate phone calls to the generals of the rival militaries, Mr. Turk warned that more than 1.8 million residents and internally displaced people were besieged in the city "and at imminent risk of famine".

Any further escalation "would have a catastrophic impact on civilians and would deepen intercommunal conflict with disastrous humanitarian consequences", the High Commissioner insisted.

Hunger crisis

The humanitarian emergency caused by heavy fighting which erupted across Sudan last April is now close to becoming the world's largest hunger crisis.

According to the UN World Food Programme (WFP), 18 million people in Sudan are acutely food insecure including nearly five million who are now in the grip of emergency levels of hunger.

"This is the highest number ever recorded during the harvest season... Around 90 per cent of those in emergency are in areas where access is extremely limited due to heavy fighting and restriction," WFP said, in an appeal for urgent funding.

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World News in Brief: 'Gender apartheid' in Afghanistan, DR Congo rights abuses, reforestation crucial to climate fight

10 June 2024 - The oppression of women and girls in Afghanistan since the Taliban takeover in August 2021 is unmatched in terms of scale and generational impact, according to a new update on gender discrimination in the country from UN Women released on Monday.

Key international actors, including the UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Afghanistan, have used terms such as "gender apartheid" to describe the high levels of discrimination.

"Gender apartheid is not merely a theoretical possibility or legal construct, but a real threat and lived reality for millions of women and girls around the world," in February.

While there is no conventional legal framework currently in place in Afghanistan, a series of written and verbal decrees issued by the de facto authorities have forcefully curtailed the freedoms of women and girls.

UN Women is calling for immediate global action to end the injustice.

Mounting oppression

The decrees founded on the Taliban's interpretation of Islamic law dictate women's attire, strictly limit their movement and restrict access to education and professional opportunities, in effect eliminating their voices from public spaces.

Only one per cent of Afghan women feel they have influence in their communities, and 18 per cent report not meeting once with women outside their immediate family for the last three months.

"Women want the right to make decisions, not just in their homes, but in government and other spaces. They want an education. They want to work. They want their rights," one 26-year-old Afghan woman told UN Women.

This discrimination will lead to inevitable long-term consequences. For instance, the ban on girls' education is correlated with a 25 per cent increase in the rate of child marriage and a 45 per cent increase in the rate of early childbearing.

UN Women's gender profile shows that leaving 1.1 million girls out of school and barring more than 100,000 women from university is correlated with an increased risk of maternal mortality by at least 50 per cent.

Rights abuses against civilians still rampant in eastern DR Congo

Human rights abuses in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) are still rampant in the war-wracked east of the country.

That's the worrying finding of a new report from UN refugee agency, UNHCR, which said on Monday that children have been killed, abducted, sexually abused and exploited by armed groups in North Kivu province.

During May, the agency recorded 164 alerts involving children; almost 90 per cent took place in combat zones, including Goma-Nyiragongo.

Clashes intensify

UNHCR noted that an intensification of clashes in Masisi and Rutshuru, along with attacks against civilians in Beni, have forced more than 250,000 people from their homes and shelters.

Those displaced and returning to their homes are the most common victims of rights abuses, with Masisi, Beni and Rutshuru territories the worst affected.

The UN agency said that the increase in abuses since April was likely attributable to fighting between the M23 armed group and rival Allied Democratic Forces in southeast Masisi and northern Rutshuru.

Since 27 May, the UN Mission in DRC (MONUSCO) has conducted more than 50 patrols to protect civilians in addition to securing routes from Kilambo, Mirangui, Kanyabayonga, Kania and Kirumba towards camps for the displaced.

The Mission recently reinforced its presence in the area in reaction to the large-scale displacement, said UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric in his Monday briefing at UN Headquarters.

As part of its mandate to support disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration efforts, MONUSCO has facilitated the repatriation of six former combatants, including one woman, to various localities in North Kivu.

Climate action plans falling short on forests, warns UNEP

Despite global commitments to end deforestation by 2030, only eight of the top 20 countries that are levelling trees the fastest have related quantifiable targets in their national climate action plans (NDCs), the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) warned on Monday.

That's according to the UN-REDD report on accelerating climate action to protect forest cover worldwide, which is a key part of the effort to capture carbon and slow global warming.

The report reveals a major gap in forest protection, management and restoration in current NDCs, which lay out plans to adapt and mitigate climate change.

Falling short

Pledges submitted from 2017 to 2023 do not meet the global ambition to halt and reverse deforestation, said UNEP.

Forests have the potential to contribute up to one third of the emissions reductions needed to close the 2030 mitigation gap.

Although 11 of the NDCs do contain targets relating to tree replacement or reforestation, mitigating the impacts of climate change requires reducing deforestation first, as it takes many years to capture the carbon being lost.

UNEP said it was crucial for NDCs to integrate existing national strategies to curb emissions from deforestation, which 15 of the 20 countries examined have adopted.

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UNRWA Situation Report #113 on the situation in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem - All information from 6-9 June 2024, is valid as of 9 June 2024 at 22:30 (local time)

UNRWA

10 Jun 2024

Day 244-247 of Hostilities

Published 10 June 2024

1. Key points

The Gaza Strip

Ongoing strikes by Israeli Forces continue, with aerial, land and maritime bombardment across the Gaza Strip. These result in civilian casualties, displacement and the destruction of residential structures and civilian infrastructure. Airstrikes have reportedly been especially intense in central Gaza, particularly in Bureij, Maghazi, and Nuseirat refugee camps and eastern Deir Al Balah. The Israeli Forces' ground offensive continues to expand, particularly in the southern regions of Gaza City and eastern Rafah, deepening the humanitarian crisis and significantly destabilizing humanitarian aid flows.

1.7 million people (more than seven out of every 10 people in the Gaza Strip) are currently displaced; families already displaced multiple times are on the move again due to military operations and Israeli evacuation orders.

As of 9 June, almost all Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) have left Rafah, with fewer than 100,000 people who stayed in the area. All UNRWA shelters in Rafah have been forced to vacate.

According to OCHA, on 6 June, an UNRWA school sheltering about 6,000 IDPs was struck overnight in Nuseirat refugee camp. The strike reportedly resulted in the killing of around 40 people, including 14 children and nine women, and the injury of 74 others, with some casualties believed to still be under rubble. UNRWA is unable to verify or confirm the above figures.

According to OCHA, between 1-6 June, out of the 17 coordinated humanitarian assistance missions to northern Gaza, eight (47 per cent) were facilitated by Israeli authorities, three (18 per cent) were denied access, four (23 per cent) were impeded, and two (12 per cent) were cancelled, due to operational or security reasons.

In addition, out of the 74 coordinated humanitarian assistance missions to areas in southern Gaza, 52 (70 per cent) were facilitated by the Israeli authorities, three (four per cent) were denied, 12 (16 per cent) were impeded, and seven (10 per cent) were cancelled. Many missions classified as impeded experienced extended delays, with some delays reaching up to nine hours at sensitive and insecure locations, placing humanitarian personnel at increased security risks.

The ongoing Israeli military operation in Rafah is directly impacting the ability of aid agencies to bring critical humanitarian supplies into Gaza as well as the ability to rotate critical humanitarian staff. UNRWA has maintained a presence in Rafah with a focus on continuing missions to Kerem Shalom to retrieve fuel and aid. UNRWA is scaling up operations to significantly increase its capacity to retrieve aid via Kerem Shalom pending Israeli Authority movement approvals and cross-UN support to manage logistics. As UN and UNRWA are only able to access Kerem Shalom to retrieve humanitarian aid, UNRWA is only reporting on trucks entering Kerem Shalom which are being handled/verified by UNRWA and/or UNRWA on behalf of others (e.g. other UN agencies and NGOs).

As of 9 June, the total number of UNRWA colleagues killed since 7 October is 193.

The West Bank, including East Jerusalem

The West Bank, including East Jerusalem update will shift to once a week, every Monday.

According to OCHA, between 7 October 2023-3 June 2024, 508 Palestinians, including 124 children, were killed in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.

Between 3 and 9 June there were at least 161 recorded Israeli Security Forces (ISF) search and arrest operations across the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. The ISF detained more than 225 Palestinians including Palestine Refugees during this period, representing the highest number of detentions recorded in one week since the beginning of February 2024. Dozens of detentions were recorded in Kafr Malik (Ramallah Governorate) and Beit Ummar (Hebron Governorate) on the morning of 5 June, and in Qalqiliya on the morning of 6 June.

Between 3 and 9 June, 11 Palestinians were reported killed. Three Palestinians were killed on 6 June in an ISF operation in Jenin Camp and Jenin city in the northern West Bank, during which rockets were launched at a house and an ISF helicopter opened fire. Two Palestinians were killed during an exchange of fire in Nablus, in the vicinity of Balata Camp, on 3 June. Two other Palestinians were killed in Tulkarm (north) on the morning of 4 June, when the ISF opened fire on their vehicle. On 9 June, a child was killed during a search operation in El Fara'a camp, in the northern West Bank.

Israeli settlers' violence against Palestinians remained high, with an escalation over 7-9 June. Palestinians and their property were attacked in Burqa, in the northern West Bank, with at least two houses subject to arson and several cars burnt. In Masafer Yatta, in the southern West Bank, settlers uprooted olive trees and stole agricultural equipment.

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Dr. Ghada al Jadba, UNRWA Chief Field Health Programme, Gaza. address to the World Health Assembly 2024

UNRWA

10 Jun 2024

Geneva Switzerland

It's been more than seven months of catastrophe in Gaza.

Since 7 October, I've always had the feeling that this was all just a terrible nightmare, but gradually, I started to realize that this is not a nightmare. It is the worst reality ever.

For me, this is the fourth time to be a bystander in the same events. Every time, it was following a crisis in Gaza, the 2014 war, the Great March of Return, the 2021 war.

Each time, there was huge destruction and huge loss. And UNRWA continued to rebuild and restore life in Gaza.

In 2021 war, I personally experienced a threat to my life, my son and I came under aggressive bombardment. Thank God, we were saved that time. The next morning, I went out to work and I saw huge, shocking destruction everywhere.

At the time, I mentioned that what I had experienced couldn't be described, it could only be felt.

But what we are experiencing now in Gaza even can't be felt.

As humans, we can't feel or understand all of what is happening to us in Gaza.

Simply because it is beyond humanity.

Apart from politics and international rules and interventions, it is beyond humanity in every aspect.

The ongoing war has posed unprecedented obstacles for UNRWA health services. The continuing escalation of hostilities in Gaza has made the continuation of our services extremely difficult. As daily life itself becomes untenable.

We need miracles to continue working, and we have done just that.

Before 7 October, UNRWA ran 22 health centres (HCs) serving 1.3 million Palestine Refugees and providing comprehensive primary health care services including:

Maternal health care services,

Preconception care,

Antenatal,

Postnatal,

Family planning,

Child health care services,

Infant care,

Vaccinations,

Curative services,

Treatment for non-communicable diseases,

Mental health and psychosocial support,

School health services,

Protection against gender-based violence, and

Hospitalization support services,

UNRWA was partnered with ten hospitals to provide secondary health care services,

Since 7 October, we repeatedly continued to take losses on all health programme assets and the components of any health care system, [including] loss of access to health facilities with repeated orders of evacuation and massive displacement of whole areas and cities in Gaza.

The first huge loss was on 13 October when there was the order to evacuate from the whole of Gaza City and the north region to the south region.

We lost more than half of our health centres.

We were left with only eight functional HCs. And even we struggled to keep them operated. On one time we had only four functional HCs. Now we have four HCs from the 22 HCs before the war and three newly established temporary HCs.

Most of the internally displaced persons (IDPs) went to UNRWA schools, that UNRWA designated as shelters. People lost everything and they need everything. UNRWA provided them with everything, including health services, all with huge difficulty given the limited supplies and goods entering Gaza.

There are registered 1.7 million IDPs.

We established medical points at all UNRWA shelters to provide IDPs with the essential health services.

In the HCs and shelters we provided the minimum primary health care packages, as discussed and agreed with EMRO, WHO Country Office and the Ministry of Health. We almost resumed all the previously provided health services before war.

Also, we established medical points at Mawasi area (coastal region in the west of the southern Gaza Strip) to serve the IDPs there, in addition to the three newly established HCs there. The daily number of medical consultations in HCs and shelters is between 20,000-25,000, which is more than 50 per cent of total consultations before the war.

The losses sustained by UNRWA are not only in the form of damage to our facilities, but we have also lost most of the medical supplies in our main storage facility in Gaza City. It was an extremely difficult situation.

An extraordinary situation requires extraordinary solutions. The UNRWA Health Department provided supplies received from the Jordan field. The usual six-month procurement of medication was accelerated with local procurements from Jordan and Egypt and by changing delivery routes through the Rafah border crossing for the first time, supported by EMRO (WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region Office).

Vaccines were lost and there was coordination with UNICEF, supported by EMRO, which succeeded to deliver vaccines in January. UNRWA administered vaccinations to nearly all eligable children and those who missed their scheduled vaccines. Vaccinated more than 100,000 children.

Food insecurity started to affect more than 1.1 million people in Gaza, UNRWA with the support of UNICEF introduced assessment of malnutrition in the HCs and shelters to all children, done to 27,762 children. And we provide nutritional supplements to IDPs in the shelters with the support of UNICEF.

Another main loss and challenge is staffing. Our staff are part the misery in Gaza, they are part of the killing, displacements and lack of life's necessities. Connectivity was extremely difficult. But we succeeded in connecting and redeploying them (around 70 to 80 per cent of the staff) and hiring more temporary staff.

Information and reporting systems were a crucial component in our work, and we lost our advanced electronic health systems. We were keen to establish other ways to register and report all health data.

Surveillance to infectious diseases with epidemic potential [was tracked] with close coordination and support from the WHO and MoH. Massive surges in some of them, like diarrhea and acute jaundice (68 times more and 452 times more than average).

WHO also supported the UNRWA Health Programme with Early Warning, Alert and Response Systems (EWARs) for the surveillance of infectious diseases. We successfully used them in shelters and their use has now expanded. EWARs are a good platform for input of all health data.

We invested in partner coordination with WHO, and we are proud of that. We were supported with a lot, also by MoH and other UN agencies. UNICEF provided huge support in nutritional aspects and vaccines supplies. UNFPA, PRCS and PMRS also.

In Gaza, the needs on the ground are huge, people have lost everything and need everything.

But the main loss was the loss of the feeling of humanity.

UNRWA provides and meets huge needs.

What really needed in Gaza?

Restore humanity,

More assistance,

Much more humanitarian relief to enter the Strip,

And most important is an immediate ceasefire.

UNRWA is the main humanitarian organization in Gaza providing large scale operations.

UNRWA is the witness of Palestinian Nakba 1948 up to the current Nakba.

UNRWA continued to assist Palestinians in Gaza in times of war and emergency.

UNRWA will continue to be the main hope for Palestine Refugees until a justice solution to their case.

We, at UNRWA, despite of the suffering, deep pain and exhaustion, continue to do everything and anything we can to provide services and aid.

To restore as much as we can of the lost humanity of Palestinians in Gaza and to dust off their souls.

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Adopting Resolution 2735 (2024) with 14 Votes in Favour, Russian Federation Abstaining, Security Council Welcomes New Gaza Ceasefire Proposal, Urges Full Implementation

Meetings Coverage

Security Council

9650th Meeting (PM)

SC/15723

10 June 2024

After 247 days of war in Gaza, the Security Council today adopted by 14 votes in favour - with the Russian Federation abstaining - a resolution proposing a comprehensive three-phase ceasefire deal to end the war in Gaza, urging both Israel and Hamas to implement it fully and without delay and condition.

Note: Full coverage of today's meeting of the Security Council on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question, will be available following its conclusion.

THE SITUATION IN THE MIDDLE EAST, INCLUDING THE PALESTINIAN QUESTION

Explanation of Position Before Vote

The representative of the United States , speaking before the vote, said that "the last eight months had been nothing short but devastating"  for Israelis who lost loved ones on 7 October, when Hamas set this conflict into motion by carrying out acts of unthinkable violence, and for Israelis and people from over 16 other countries whose loved ones are still being held hostage by Hamas. The past eight months have also been devastating for Palestinian civilians in Gaza; nearly 2 million have had to flee from one place to another in search of safety, which has been elusive. Children in Gaza have been traumatized by seeing their family members killed. Calling on Israel "to do everything possible to protect civilians", she said, however, that "Hamas leaders are those who put civilians at risk".

Amid the worsening humanitarian situation, "Palestinian civilians are living through sheer hell by no fault of their own", she said, with "families unsure what the next day holds and millions grappling with the uncertainty of what will be left when they are allowed to return home". Parents are trying to find food for their families; children are forced to stop their education, and elderly persons no longer have access to medicine.

"The fighting must end in a sustainable way," she said, calling for an immediate ceasefire with the release of hostages and stressing that a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas is "the only way to bring about a durable end to this war". She said Hamas has failed to accept any agreement, while Israel has agreed to a comprehensive deal on the table which is "nearly identical to Hamas' own proposal"  it would bring hostages home, ensure Israel's security, enable a surge in humanitarian relief, and set the stage for a political settlement that provides a better future for Israelis and Palestinians alike. "Now we are all waiting for Hamas to agree to the ceasefire deal it claims to want, but we cannot allow to wait and wait," she stated, noting that "with every passing day, needless suffering continues".

Detailing the text, she said the first phase of this agreement would last for six weeks and include an immediate and complete ceasefire, with the release of hostages, including women, the elderly and the wounded; the return of the remains of some hostages who have been killed; the exchange of Palestinian prisoners; the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the populated areas of Gaza; the return of Palestinian civilians to their homes and neighbourhoods in all areas of Gaza; and the safe distribution of humanitarian assistance in Gaza. The proposal says that if negotiations take longer than six weeks in phase one, the ceasefire will continue "as long as negotiations continue". Underscoring that "Hamas is no longer capable of carrying out another 7 October," she reiterated Washington D.C.'s commitment to Israel's self-defence. She also noted that the text rejects any demographic or territorial changes in Gaza, including any actions that reduce its territory.

Vote

The Council then adopted resolution 2735 (2024) with a vote of 14 in favour to none against, with 1 abstention (Russian Federation).

Explanations of Position after Vote

Speaking after the vote, the representative of the United States observed: "Today, this Council sent a clear message to Hamas - accept the ceasefire deal on the table." Israel has already agreed, she added, underscoring that  if Hamas does the same  "the fighting can stop today". Now, the international community is united behind a deal that will save lives, help civilians in Gaza start to rebuild and heal, reunite hostages with their families, lead to a more secure Israel and unlock the possibility of more progress. Noting that Egypt and Qatar have assured her country that they will help ensure that Hamas engages constructively, she said that "the United States will help ensure that Israel lives up to its obligations as well, assuming Hamas accepts the deal". Over the past eight months, the Council has often been divided and the world has taken notice with understandable frustration. However, there is another side to this story  for the fourth time, the Council has said that the only way to end the cycle of violence and build durable peace is through political settlement. "Today, we voted for peace," she stressed.

The representative of Algeria said that his thoughts are with the 37,000 Palestinians who have been killed by the Israeli occupying forces over the past eight months. "These martyrs for us are alive with their Lord, watching over us from heaven," he said. He acknowledged that Algerians deeply feel the suffering of the Palestinians and, with their own history of struggle against occupation, they understand and support the Palestinians' legitimate and just demands. Noting that as a free and dignified people, Palestinians will never accept living under occupation and will never abdicate their fight for liberation, he added: "To us, Palestinian lives matter".

While the resolution is not perfect, it offers a glimmer of hope, he said, stressing: "We voted for this text to give diplomacy a chance." Guided by solidarity with the Palestinian people, Algeria will do its part in the international reconstruction effort. He reaffirmed Algeria's commitment to accountability for those killed in Nuseirat and all occupied Palestinian territories. "No one will be immune. None will be above the law," he stressed. If the International Court of Justice's orders are not endorsed, a new genocide "looms on the horizon", he said, underscoring: "Therefore, our objective must be to end the occupation."

The representative of the United Kingdom , whose delegation voted in favour, cited the resolution as "an important step" in bringing about an end to the conflict that has raged since the 7 October attacks. The situation in Gaza is catastrophic, and the suffering has gone on far too long. London has long called for the deal on the table which is "the best way" to get remaining hostages out, bring about an immediate ceasefire leading to a permanent end to hostilities, and enable a significant scaling up of much-needed humanitarian aid. She called on Hamas to accept the deal and end the suffering of the Palestinian people and the hostages who remain in detention. Further, she called for the rapid increase of humanitarian aid, stressing that "now  more than ever  is the time for diplomacy, now is the time for peace".

The representative of Malta noted her country's consistent calls for a ceasefire, the release of all hostages and a comprehensive response to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. "We fully support all initiatives that bring us closer to these imperatives," she emphasized. While welcoming the 8 June news that four hostages were successfully rescued by Israeli forces, she stated that images from that operation "are truly horrifying". And those images are not isolated, she added; rather, they are "emblematic of the scale of suffering in Gaza". She therefore stressed that all parties must respect international humanitarian law. Meanwhile, the ceasefire proposal will be essential to addressing deepening humanitarian concerns; lead to the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip; and create the space to mount an international reconstruction effort there. Most importantly, it will put both parties on the path towards reviving a credible political process for lasting, sustainable peace anchored in a two-State solution.

The representative of Switzerland , noting that she supported the draft text, said: "This plan currently represents the best chance for a way out of the appalling violence raging in the Middle East." However, she expressed regret that despite the request of several delegations, the call for respecting international humanitarian law and human rights law  which was included in previous resolutions  "did not find a place" in the text voted in today. "We are relieved that four hostages have  after many months  been reunited with their families," she continued, while expressing concern over the very high number of Palestinian casualties during the rescue operation in Nuseirat. Reiterating her support for the negotiations led by Egypt, Qatar and the United States, she called on Israel and Hamas to conclude and implement this agreement as soon as possible.

The representative of Japan , whose delegation voted in favour, underscored that "the devastating conflict in Gaza has gone on for far too long," with too much suffering and loss of innocent life. "The catastrophic humanitarian situation is indescribable," while many hostages are still being held in appalling conditions. Commending the vigorous diplomatic efforts led by the United States, Egypt and Qatar, and the three-stage proposal outlined by President Biden, he said that  if Hamas accepts the deal and both parties commit themselves to negotiations  it will finally bring about the long-awaited ceasefire and release of hostages. "Today, the Security Council has upheld its responsibility to maintain international peace and security by expressing our strong desire to see the end of the vicious cycle of violence," he stated, adding: "The people of Gaza and the hostages still held by Hamas are counting on us."

The representative of Slovenia noted that international law prohibits hostage-taking, the denial of humanitarian access to civilians and attacks against humanitarian workers. Further, it includes displaced persons' right to voluntary return. "My point, colleagues, is that many of the elements of this deal should already be taking place," she emphasized  which also should have been the case for the Council's previous resolutions and the International Court of Justice's provisional measures. Underscoring that "the suffering in Gaza must end", she said that military operations to free hostages that leave hundreds of civilians killed and injured  like the one conducted on 8 June  "cannot be the new normal". Photos of children dying of malnutrition "will go down in history as one of the conflicts this Council should have prevented", she stressed. Only two sovereign and equal States can make peace happen, she added, pointing to this as the reason for her country's recent recognition of Palestine as an independent, sovereign State.

The representative of China , noting that the draft text is still "ambiguous in many aspects", said that his delegation has "valid concerns" whether the parties concerned will accept the ceasefire proposal and whether the three-phase arrangements can be carried out smoothly. "Our understanding is that, as long as a ceasefire is achieved, no more fighting will be launched again," he said, observing that this has been the most pressing aspiration of Gaza civilians. From the perspective of the urgent need to stop more killings and alleviate the humanitarian catastrophe, China voted in favour. Underscoring that all Council resolutions are legally binding, he expressed hope that the sponsor will work "sincerely" in an impartial matter to push for an immediate realization of a permanent ceasefire. China will work towards bringing the Israeli-Palestinian question "back to the right track" of the two-State solution, he added.

The representative of Guyana said that 247 days have passed since Hamas' horrific attacks and since Israel launched a war on Gaza "unprecedented in scale and impact". The humanitarian situation is catastrophic and "Gaza has been made an abyss of destruction," she observed, adding that  despite the adoption of the resolution calling for the protection of civilians and a ceasefire  the war has persisted. Her country voted in favour of the draft as it represents a valuable contribution towards achieving the end of the war and bringing relief to civilians suffering in Gaza and the Israeli hostages and their families. Nevertheless, she emphasized that the Council must redouble its efforts towards the urgent achievement of a ceasefire and the release of all hostages in Gaza.

The representative of Ecuador said that his country, "once again, voted in favour of peace". Now, both parties must accept the proposal, which will put into effect an immediate ceasefire, allow for the release of hostages and alleviate the terrible humanitarian situation faced by civilians in Gaza. Further, implementing all proposed phases will facilitate the beginning of a reconstruction plan in Gaza and reject any attempts at demographic or territorial change in the Strip. Stressing that the proposal be seized to halt the spiral of violence and "ensure that this is the last war of this long conflict", he also urged moving towards the existence of two States, Palestine and Israel, on the basis of 1967 borders and relevant resolutions.

The representative of Sierra Leone said he voted in favour of the resolution, adding that the Security Council's actions should complement ongoing diplomatic efforts. While his delegation does not agree with all the elements in the text, he urged Israel and Hamas to seize this opportunity to meaningfully engage and commit to an agreement that will lead to a ceasefire, the release of hostages and the exchange of Palestinian prisoners. To avoid future catastrophes and put an end to this "brutal conflict", Sierra Leone reiterates the need for parties to the conflict to respect and implement all relevant Council resolutions. He expressed hope that the parties to the conflict will approach the negotiating table with empathy, flexibility and consideration of the conflict's impact on women, children, the elderly and other vulnerable groups, who since 7 October 2023 have been victims of their actions.

The representative of the Russian Federation said that from the very outset of the military escalation, Moscow has advocated for a permanent ceasefire. On the adopted resolution, he said that "its sponsors did not keep the Council in the loop of the agreement's details". Noting that "there was no negotiation process", he also pointed out that  even though Hamas is called upon to accept this so-called deal  there is no clarity regarding official agreement from Israel. In this regard, he recalled numerous statements by Israel that "it will continue in its war until Hamas is defeated". The Council should not sign up to agreements with vague parameters and without a clear understanding of the parties' position, he asserted. Also, the adoption of yet another document  the content of which raises questions  undermines the Council's authority as the main body for the maintenance of international peace and security. "We do not wish to block the resolution as the Arab world supports it," he said. However, the questions raised by Moscow require a response.

The representative of the Republic of Korea , Council President for June, spoke in his national capacity to welcome diplomatic efforts by the United States, Egypt and Qatar to achieve an immediate ceasefire and the release of hostages. "The recent airstrikes on refugee camps and the massive operation to rescue hostages, resulting in a large number of civilian casualties, once again exemplify the imperative of finalizing the deal as soon as possible," he said. Underscoring that "more hesitation means more fatalities", he expressed hope that today's adoption will press both parties  notably Hamas  to accept and implement the terms of the proposal. Israel must also stay true to its word. "No other considerations should be prioritized beyond the lives of innocent people," he stressed, expressing hope that the resolution can lead to "a concrete outcome on the ground"  including a massive expansion of humanitarian aid.

The representative of Israel said that her country's goals have been very clear since Hamas' invasion on 7 October: to bring hostages back home and to dismantle that terrorist group's capabilities. "Once these goals are met, the war will end," she stressed, noting that if Hamas released hostages and turned themselves in "not one more shot needs to be fired". However, 120 hostages are still being held by Hamas, which keeps advancing their goal of "murdering every Israeli". It is the "genocidal jihadists who started this war" who are preventing the war from ending, she observed, emphasizing that pressure must be applied on Hamas and "blame must be placed where it belongs". Yet, that terrorist group does not care for what the Council has to say because it has never been held responsible. She stated that the pressure on the terrorists should have begun long ago, but "it's still not too late".

As a result of a heroic operation, the Israel Defense Forces rescued four hostages, who were held in residential buildings by Palestinian families. While the hostages were guarded by terrorists, Gazan civilians were their jailors, she said, adding that those "so-called innocent civilians" were not only cooperating with terrorists, but were complicit with their heinous crimes. "Israel regrets any harm to civilians, but it must be emphasized that Palestinians who cooperate with Hamas and take part in their war crimes are not uninvolved," she said. While the loss of life is tragic, if States do not put blame on Hamas, they are advancing its strategy. "We will continue until all hostages are returned and until Hamas' military and governing capabilities are dismantled," she underscored, adding that Israel will not engage in meaningless negotiations, which Hamas can stall as a way to exploit.

...

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Security Council: Central African Region

Meetings Coverage

Security Council

9648th Meeting (AM)

SC/15721

10 June 2024

(Note: Due to the financial liquidity crisis affecting the United Nations and the resulting constraints, the full press release will be published at a later date.)

The Security Council met this morning to hear briefings on the Central African region. Addressing the Council were Abdou Abarry, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Regional Office for Central Africa, and Gilberto Da Piedade Verissimo, President of the Commission of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS).

Briefings

ABDOU ABARRY, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Regional Office for Central Africa (UNOCA), presenting the twenty-sixth report of the Secretary-General (document S/2024/420), said that, during the reporting period, the region has seen positive developments. He welcomed the return of Constitutional order to Chad and Gabon, commending the facilitators of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS)  Democratic Republic of the Congo President Felix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo and Central African Republic President Faustin Archange Touadera. The reporting period was marked by the conclusion of the transition in Chad with the adoption of a new constitution in December 2023 and presidential elections held on 6 May, he noted, also reiterating his intent to support the talks with the politico-military groups that have not signed the Doha peace agreement. Turning to Gabon, he highlighted the inclusive national dialogue held in April, reporting that Gabonese authorities created a National Constitutional Committee charged with drawing up a draft constitution and draft electoral code.

He further highlighted progress made in justice and security reform in Sao Tome and Principe and the agreement signed between the authorities and the Peacebuilding Commission that provides the release of $2.5 million by the Peacebuilding Fund. Moreover, during the ECCAS Summit of Heads of State and Government, held in Equatorial Guinea on 15 March, Central African States lifted sanctions against Gabon, allowing it to "return to the ECCAS family". "Facilitating intraregional trade will play a crucial role in the promotion of stability and the prevention of conflicts in this subregion," he added. Highlighting the threat of non-constitutional change, he called on the States of the subregion to keep the political space open. He recalled that during the fifty-sixth session of the UN Standing Committee on Security Questions in Central Africa, held in Rwanda in November 2023, the regional States mandated UNOCA to organize a regional conference on unconstitutional Government changes and their root causes. The conference will take place on 1-2 July in Sao Tome and Principe.

Noting that armed groups and violent extremists continue to "sow their reign of terror" despite the presence of military forces in the region, he welcomed the Joint Multilateral Force's operations against Boko Haram and Da'esh-affiliated groups in the Lake Chad Basin. However, in Cameroon, separatist groups continue their atrocities in the north-west and south-west regions by imposing "dead towns" and restricting access to education. In May, more than 14 people were killed, including Government officials. Yet, Cameroon remains the "economic engine" to the region and holds the greatest foreign reserve in the Central African Monetary Community region. Further, the escalation of the 23 March Movement (M23) rebel group in the Great Lakes region caused 7.2 million internally displaced persons. In that regard, he reported on his recent trip to Luanda  along with the Special Envoy Huang Xia and the Special Representative and Head of the UN Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO) Bintou Keita  to support the Luanda Process.

Pointing to the extreme rainfall in the region, induced by climate change, he said that many Central and Eastern African States were struck by flooding and consequent infrastructure damage. Such crises pose security challenges, strain Government's limited resources and can fuel social unrest and conflicts over access to resources, he added. To that end, the Government of Sao Tome and Principe organized a high-level conference on innovative climate financing, biodiversity conservation and sustainable development that called for the development of a road map for sustainable blue and green financing. "It is our hope that the renewal of the UNOCA's mandate under way will take into account this ambition of the Office to respond to the expectations of Member States of ECCAS for more cooperation and good offices in the years to come," he said.

GILBERTO DA PIEDADE VERISSIMO, President of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), said that  while "the situation in the space covered by ECCAS is deemed to be generally stable"  there are "certain fragilities". After three years of a political-transition process supported by the Community, Chad held a presidential election on 6 May 2024. This restored the country to constitutional order, made possible through the cooperation demonstrated by authorities and Chadian stakeholders as well as ECCAS' facilitation efforts. Meanwhile, the political-transition process under way in Gabon has "generated both hope and optimism" since its establishment on 31 August 2023, he said, noting that the drafting of the next constitution and the organization of elections are under way towards completion of the transition in September 2025. Recalling that the anti-constitutional change of that country's Government on 30 August 2023 prompted ECCAS to sanction Gabon  notably by suspending its participation in Community activities  he reported that "positive developments have been observed since then".

These, he said, resulted in ECCAS' March 2024 decision to lift sanctions imposed on Gabon "provided that it stringently adheres to the transition timeline submitted in December 2023". Meanwhile, ECCAS recently adopted measures to support that country during this critical stage in its transition process, as was the case with Chad. He stressed, however, that  despite these positive circumstances  Africa continues to encounter multiple security challenges. These include armed groups' persistent opposition of peace processes in the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as well as the terrorist threats originating in the Sahel and Lake Chad Basin regions. Secessionist movements also continue to pose a significant security threat  "attested to by the situation in Cameroon", he said. Further, he noted that the region is plagued by a wide-ranging humanitarian crisis due to security challenges and the "nefarious consequences of climate change", including a series of floods striking numerous ECCAS States.

He also pointed out that millions of internally displaced persons are located in Central Africa, alongside thousands of refugees fleeing atrocities in Sudan, Libya and elsewhere. Additionally, he recalled that diplomatic and security tensions between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda, as well as between Burundi and Rwanda, "sowed the seeds of conflict" that caused a "conflagration" to break out in the Great Lakes region in the mid-1990s  "the fallout of which continues to be experienced to this date". While the Luanda and Nairobi processes have helped to contain these crises, they have done so "without effectively and definitively resolving them", he said. Moreover, despite significant regional and continental efforts, armed groups, terrorist organizations and secessionist movements  as well as diplomatic and security crises  in Central Africa continue to threaten international peace and security.

"Thus, this situation warrants the Security Council's full attention," he underscored, expressing gratitude to the United Nations for the two peace missions currently deployed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Central African Republic. Nevertheless, he called on the Council  bearing in mind MONUSCO's imminent withdrawal  to support the regional mission deployed by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He further called on the organ to step up support for the Luanda and Nairobi processes  "particularly during this period when inter-State tensions appear to have precipitously escalated in the subregion".

Statements

The representative of the United Kingdom highlighted the positive achievements made by UNOCA in confronting challenges faced by the subregion by addressing the root causes of conflict. While welcoming Chad's presidential election on 6 May, which took place under broadly peaceful conditions, he spotlighted allegations of irregularities and the denial of accreditation to 2,900 European Union-trained electoral observers that "risk undermining progress towards a return to constitutional order". Accordingly, he urged Chad to set a timeline for local and legislative elections, which are an opportunity to demonstrate commitment to good governance. He also commended the Gabonese authorities' cooperation with UNOCA and encouraged the Office to deepen its support to Cameroon in developing a political solution to the crisis in its north-west and south-west regions. Further, he voiced deep concern over the insurgent violence in the far north region and fully supported the Multinational Joint Task Force in combating jihadist groups in the Lake Chad Basin. "Delivering stability in the subregion means tackling the drivers and enablers of conflict," he stressed.

The representative of the United States said that his country "believes it is vital to support the democratic and peaceful aspirations of the people of Central Africa". He, however, expressed concern over the effect of Sudan's crisis on Chad and the Central African Republic, with both countries collectively hosting over 600,000 new Sudanese refugees. In 2023, the United States was the largest aid provider to Sudan and the neighbouring countries. While welcoming Chad's presidential elections on 6 May, he voiced regret over the transitional Government's full control over electoral institutions. As that country prepares for legislative and local elections in 2024, he called on its Government to increase inclusivity and transparency. He also encouraged Gabon to establish, in a timely manner, a democratically elected Government. Further, he called on the Central African Republic's Government in opposition to constructively engage in the country's first local and regional elections since 1988.

The representative of Slovenia said the briefings "paint a picture of a dynamic region that seeks growth, democratic progress and sustainable development, but is at the same time faced with substantive political, economic and social challenges". Welcoming the presidential elections in Chad this past May and the national dialogue that took place in April in Gabon, she expressed concern over continued restrictions of civic space and freedom of expression. Commending UNOCA for its steadfast commitment to the climate, peace and security agenda, she highlighted "the dynamics of severe outbreaks of farmer-herder conflicts that are directly caused by climate-induced natural resource scarcity" and expressed support for the operationalization of a regional transhumance protocol. Women's participation is integral for building and sustaining lasting peace, she said, reaffirming support for the extension of UNOCA's mandate and the adoption of a new presidential statement.

The representative of Algeria , also speaking for Guyana , Mozambique and Sierra Leone , said that Central Africa "finds itself at a crossroads, grappling with a series of complex, interconnected challenges" that include armed conflict, transnational crime and maritime insecurity. Nevertheless, he welcomed continued regional and subregional efforts to address these through ongoing peace talks, disarmament programmes and political transition processes. While noting the "positive dynamic" at the political level in several regional countries, he expressed concern over Boko Haram-related security incidents and called on all regional stakeholders to urgently address the group's increased attacks in the Lake Chad Basin  as well was the underlying causes of violence and extremism. He also expressed concern over the increased use of improvised explosive devices by terrorist groups in the region, urging strengthened cross-border cooperation between States "in the region and beyond" in this context.

"Maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea remains a pressing concern," he went on to say, calling on all security actors present in this area to work together to end the piracy, armed robbery and other illicit activities threatening regional stability and economic development. Emphasizing that the region remains one of those most vulnerable to the consequences of climate disruption, he said that recurring floods, longer droughts and the historic shrinking of Lake Chad "are perfect illustrations in that regard". And, noting the other pressing challenges in a region where "decades of conflict have left deep scars", he urged the international community to play a greater role  "particularly in transformative economic recovery". This includes investing in sustainable development in Central Africa  particularly in education and health care  and he also urged that, while the region "has the potential for prosperity", the persistent fragility of peace and security there necessitates continued support from the United Nations.

The representative of China underlined that countries in Central Africa have vigorously advanced their processes and achieved significant progress in promoting development and stability. However, the region still faces multiple security and development challenges, he said, stating: "We must support the region in its effort to maintain stability." Spotlighting progress achieved by Gabon, Rwanda and the Central African Republic, he emphasized that the international community must respect the sovereignty and ownership of regional countries, uphold the principle of "resolving African issues in the African way" and support regional countries in their choice of development models that align with their respective national realities. Additionally, he underscored the need to enhance regional cooperation as the threat represented by terrorist organizations such as Boko Haram and Da'esh remains rampant, resulting in hundreds of civilian casualties. In this respect, he spotlighted the counter-terrorism efforts made by Chad and Cameroon. He said that to address the region's development challenges and alleviate its debt burden, the international community must focus on closing the funding gap in the humanitarian emergency fund.

The representative of the Russian Federation , noting that hotbeds of instability are spilling over beyond the Sahara-Sahel region, expressed concern over Boko Haram's persistent capabilities that impact Cameroon and Chad, also posing a threat to north-east Nigeria. Noting the effectiveness of the joint efforts of African States through regional multinational armed forces, she called for predictable financing and support. She voiced concern over violence in north-west and south-west Cameroon, while spotlighting the Central African Republic's progressive stabilization with the bilateral support of Moscow and the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA). Also noting progress in official dialogue between Bangui and Chad on cross-border cooperation, she said that Chad's completion of the transitional period is a "milestone on the path to stability and national harmony". Calling UNOCA "an important tool for international preventive diplomacy", she, however, underscored the primary role of regional States in crisis prevention and resolution.

The representative of Japan , expressing appreciation for the inclusive national dialogue that took place in Gabon in April, welcomed the efforts of the people of Chad in holding last month's presidential elections in a generally peaceful manner. Expressing concern about the continued violence in the north-west and south-west regions of Cameroon, she called on its Government to ensure the safe return of refugees and internally displaced persons. Highlighting the persistent insecurity and dire humanitarian situation in the region, she commended the shared efforts by relevant countries, ECCAS, UNOCA and other actors in promoting the climate, peace and security agenda in the region. Expressing support for the mandate renewal of UNOCA for another three years, she said: "We should strive to adopt a Security Council presidential statement," since it has been nearly five years since the last one was issued.

The representative of France , expressing support for a three-year extension of UNOCA's mandate, said that the Office's work is "essential" in a region encountering major challenges. Chad and the Central African Republic are confronted by the significant displacement of civilian populations generated by the conflict in Sudan, and military operations in northern Darfur are creating humanitarian and stability risks for the entire region. Also noting that UNOCA is supporting Cameroon in resolving crises in that country's north-west and south-west, she called on all parties to pursue dialogue. For its part, France will support the political-transition processes under way in both Chad and Gabon, and she urged authorities in the Central African Republic to guarantee the exercise of political and civil rights and create conditions conducive to holding free, transparent and inclusive local and regional elections. Welcoming, as well, UNOCA's work regarding climate change, she urged the implementation of concrete solutions in light of the floods affecting several regional countries.

The representative of Ecuador highlighted the complex security and development challenges facing the Central African subregion, noting UNOCA's tools to prevent political crises and promote dialogue to help countries consolidate peace. "Security challenges persist," he cautioned, noting the increase of violence by Boko Haram in the Lake Chad Basin and Cameroon, as well as intercommunal attacks. The fight against terrorism must be complemented by addressing the causes of violence through dialogue, tolerance, combating hate speech and misinformation, and providing the population with a decent livelihood, he underscored. Furthermore, the need for humanitarian assistance due to forced displacement caused by conflicts in the region has reached epic proportions in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, he said, adding that they continue to receive flows of people fleeing the conflict in Sudan. The humanitarian situation is also worsened by natural hazards exacerbated by climate change, he observed, stating: "International aid must be provided without delay."

The representative of Malta , while noting that Central Africa holds the potential for "immense social and economic growth", expressed regret that parts of that region remain plagued by violence. Recalling the crucial role of dialogue in addressing economic, religious and ideological fractures, she echoed the Secretary-General's appeal to support the Multinational Joint Task Force and the revised Regional Strategy for the Stabilization, Recovery and Resilience of the Boko Haram-Affected Areas of the Lake Chad Basin Region. Also voicing concern over the increase in extreme weather events, she expressed support for the work of climate, peace and security advisers. "More can be done by this Council in recognizing the nexus that exists between climate and security," she stressed. She further commended the partnership announced by the Republic of the Congo, France and the European Union at the value of $50 million to protect biodiversity and combat climate change in the region.

The representative of Switzerland said that the current transition in Chad is a "unique opportunity" to strengthen democratic governance and respect for human rights. Noting the holding of presidential elections, she encouraged authorities to complete the transition by organizing legislative elections and stressed that all Chadians must be involved in this process. "In Gabon, too, it is crucial that human rights are taken into account in the national political dialogue," she emphasized. Welcoming progress in extending State authority in the Central African Republic, supported by MINUSCA, she said that forthcoming local elections "will be a decisive step to consolidate this progress". She also stressed that the international community's actions must acknowledge that climate change is exacerbating security threats in Central Africa  "in Cameroon, for example, the impact of climate change is palpable". This illustrates the need to invest in preventing climate-related conflicts and, in this context, she welcomed collaboration between ECCAS, its member States and UNOCA in adopting a regional protocol on transhumance.

The representative of the Republic of Korea , Council President for June, speaking in his national capacity, welcomed the presidential elections in Chad and the transition progress in Gabon. He also commended the efforts of President Felix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of the Congo  as the ECCAS facilitator for Chad  in enhancing the transition's inclusivity. "We hope to see a consolidation of these positive developments," he stressed. Pointing to the deteriorating humanitarian situation, he reiterated the Secretary-General's call for a Cameroonian-led conflict resolution in the north-west and south-west regions. He further noted the increased use of improvised explosives in the Lake Chad Basin and the protracted conflict in Sudan, while also highlighting the impact of climate change in the Central African region. Recalling the first Republic of Korea-Africa Summit and his country's support through green and agricultural official development assistance (ODA), he expressed support for UNOCA's extension until August 2027.

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24th MEU (SOC) Deploys Aviation Detachment to Sweden for BALTOPS 24

US Navy

10 June 2024

From 24th MEU (SOC) Public Affairs Office

KALLINGE -- The 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) Special Operations Capable (SOC) deployed a detachment of U.S. Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier jets, MV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft, and personnel to Ronneby Airport in Kallinge, Sweden to conduct expeditionary advanced base flight operations in support of exercise Baltic Operations (BALTOPS) 24, June 9, 2024.

The aircraft are assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 365 (Reinforced), 24th MEU (SOC), which is currently deployed with the U.S. Navy Wasp Amphibious Ready Group (ARG). While based at Ronneby Airport, the detachment is capable of self-sustaining and self-deploying in support of various events with NATO Allies during BALTOPS 24.

"Our self-deploying and self-sustaining detachment demonstrates the ARG-MEU's ability to project force more than 900 nautical miles and establish a forward operating base in the Baltic region," said Lt. Col. Cory Jobst, commanding officer, VMM-365 (REIN). "This expeditionary advanced base is a historic first with our longstanding partner, and newest NATO Ally, Sweden."

The USS Wasp (LHD 1) and USS New York (LPD 21), with the Wasp ARG and embarked 24th MEU (SOC), are participating in BALTOPS 24. The Wasp ARG-24th MEU (SOC) is deployed to the U.S. Naval Forces Europe area of operations to support high-end warfighting exercises while demonstrating speed and agility in a dynamic security environment.

BALTOPS 24 is the premier maritime focused military exercise in the Baltic Region. The exercise, led by U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa, and executed by Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO, provides a unique training opportunity to strengthen combined response capabilities critical to preserving freedom of navigation and security in the Baltic Sea.

BALTOPS 24 is also part of the U.S. Department of Defense exercise series, Large Scale Global Exercise (LSGE). LSGE is an umbrella term that incorporates several exercises and military activities, which enable the U.S. Joint Force to train with Allies and partners and improve shared understanding, trust and interoperability on security challenges across the globe.

While the exercise is led by U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. Sixth Fleet, it will be command-and-controlled by Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO, headquartered in Oeiras, Portugal.

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UN Security Council backs US push for Gaza cease-fire

By VOA News June 10, 2024

The U.N. Security Council added its voice Monday to calls for Hamas and Israel to implement a permanent cease-fire deal and hostage release in Gaza.

"Colleagues, today we voted for peace," U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield told council members following the 14-0 vote in favor of a U.S.-drafted resolution supporting the cease-fire proposal. Russia abstained.

She said the plan is the best and only way to bring about a durable end to the 8-month-old war, which began with Hamas' terror attack inside Israel on October 7.

"There is an opportunity to chart a different course," Thomas-Greenfield said. "Hamas must take it."

Russia questioned whether Israel has indeed signed up to it and said there have not been enough details about the cease-fire proposal for the council to give its blessing.

"The Security Council should not sign up to agreements with vague parameters," Russian envoy Vassily Nebenzia said.

The resolution seeks to add pressure on Hamas while urging both Hamas and Israel to fully implement the cease-fire deal "without delay and without condition." It is also the first time the 15-nation council has called for a "permanent" end to the hostilities.

Israel's ambassador, Gilad Erdan, was present for the vote but did not stay to deliver his government's statement. Instead, political coordinator Reut Shapir Ben-Naftaly spoke without mentioning the resolution's adoption or Israel's support for the proposal. She urged the international community to put pressure on Hamas.

"It is Hamas that is preventing this war from ending. Hamas and Hamas alone," she said.

The Reuters news agency reported that following the vote, Hamas issued a statement welcoming that the council has "affirmed a permanent cease-fire in Gaza" and indicating a willingness to engage in indirect negotiations over implementing the principles "that are consistent with the demands of our people and resistance."

Blinken in region

Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken returned to the Middle East on Monday, marking his eighth diplomatic mission to the region since the military conflict in Gaza began.

He urged regional leaders to press Hamas to agree to the three-phase deal, which Washington says that Israel has accepted but Hamas has not since President Joe Biden announced it on May 31.

"The best way to ensure that there's not another civilian casualty is for the cease-fire deal to go forward, for Hamas to accept it. It's as basic and as simple as that," Blinken told reporters in Cairo.

"Our Egyptian counterparts were in communication [with Hamas] as recently as a few hours ago," Blinken said. "I think Egypt, the United States, other countries believe that again, we should be able to get to yes."

Proposal

In its initial phase, the three-phase cease-fire proposal calls for a halt in fighting, the release of some hostages from Gaza, the release of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, a surge in humanitarian aid for Palestinians, the withdrawal of Israeli troops from populated areas of Gaza, and the return of Palestinian civilians to their homes and neighborhoods.

The second phase envisions a permanent cessation of hostilities in exchange for the release of all other hostages in Gaza and a full withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza. The final phase includes a multiyear reconstruction plan for the Gaza Strip, much of which has been devastated by eight months of Israeli bombardment. It would also provide for the return of the remains of any deceased hostages still in Gaza.

Blinken went to Israel after his meetings in Cairo. In Tel Aviv, he met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

He emphasized the importance of efforts to provide long-term peace, security and stability to Israelis and Palestinians alike.

The State Department said Blinken also reiterated that the proposal on the table "would unlock the possibility of calm along Israel's northern border and further integration with countries in the region," referring to Lebanon and Hezbollah militants there. Exchanges of fire along that border have escalated since the war in Gaza started, and tens of thousands of civilians in both Israel and Lebanon have had to evacuate their towns and homes.

Blinken will go to Jordan for a humanitarian aid conference on Gaza and also visit Qatar.

The October 7 Hamas terror attack resulted in the deaths of about 1,200 people in Israel, mostly civilians, according to official Israeli figures. Hamas militants took about 250 hostages, 116 of whom remain in the Palestinian territory, including 41 the army says are dead.

Israel's military response has killed more than 37,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's health ministry, which does not distinguish between fighters and civilians in its figures.

VOA's State Department bureau chief Nike Ching and U.N. correspondent Margaret Besheer contributed to this report. Some information for this report was provided by The Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse.

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Taliban: Pakistan, Iran expelled over 400,000 Afghan refugees so far in 2024

By Ayaz Gul June 10, 2024

The Taliban government in Afghanistan has said that the eviction of hundreds of thousands of Afghan refugees from Pakistan and Iran continues unabated, with around 2,000 individuals arriving in the country daily.

"The two neighboring countries have forcibly deported over 400,000 refugees since the start of 2024, with Pakistan responsible for 75% of the deportations," said Qari Yusuf Ahmadi, the spokesperson for the Taliban's commission assisting and resettling returnees to their native Afghan districts.

"They are being well served here, and efforts are being made to provide them with additional amenities of life," Ahmadi claimed.

Meanwhile, the United Nations warned Monday that recovery from years of conflict and "entrenched poverty" in Afghanistan is increasingly challenged by worsening humanitarian and economic conditions as well as a decline in foreign aid since the Taliban seized power almost three years ago.

Taliban officials have denounced deportations of Afghan migrants by Iran and Pakistan, calling for better coordination in repatriating the displaced families in line with international laws and taking into account the situation in Afghanistan.

Tehran and Islamabad maintain their deportation drives target only undocumented Afghan migrants, following laws enforced in countries around the world.

Pakistan formally launched its crackdown on foreigners residing illegally, including Afghans, last October, blaming them for a surge in nationwide terrorist acts. Nearly 600,000 Afghans have since gone back to their home country, with Pakistani officials claiming "more than 95%" returned voluntarily.

Islamabad has repeatedly clarified its crackdown is not targeted at the 1.4 million officially declared Afghan refugees being hosted by the country, nor is it aimed at nearly 800,000 migrants holding Afghan citizenship cards.

The U.N. estimates that more than 1.5 million refugees have returned to Afghanistan from Pakistan and Iran since January 2023, including voluntary returnees.

The U.N. humanitarian agency reiterated in a Monday statement that more than half of the population in Afghanistan  23.7 million people, including 9.2 million children  need relief assistance.

The agency noted that the U.N. appealed for around $3 billion in funding to support Afghan humanitarian programs in 2024, but the appeal is only 20% funded six months into the year, hampering relief activities in the country, where 48% of people live below the poverty line.

Critics attribute the aid decline, among other factors, to the Taliban's sweeping restrictions on Afghan women's access to education and work.

De facto fundamentalist Afghan rulers have barred girls from seeking education beyond the sixth grade and prohibited many women from public and private workplaces.

The U.N. noted Monday that the imposition by the Taliban "of ever-more restrictive policies on women and girls' rights and basic freedoms" have hindered their access to assistance and services and their involvement in public life.

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'Dozens dead' in Somalia clan clashes

By Mohamed Olad Hassan June 10, 2024

A deadly clash over the weekend between two clans in central Somalia has killed at least 50 people, residents and medical officials told VOA on Monday.

Another 155 people are said to have been injured in the clashes in the Galgudud province near Somalia's border with Ethiopia.

The fighting between the Dir and Marihan clans erupted on Saturday in rural areas between Abudwaq and Herale towns over grazing land and watering points, said Feysal Abdullahi Kheyre, a commissioner and resident of Herale.

Witnesses who asked for anonymity for fear of reprisals said about 400 militiamen fought each other during the clashes, using anti-tank weapons and heavy machine guns mounted on pickup trucks.

"The reason behind the high casualties is the fact that the fighting took place in an open ground and that the clan militias are heavily armed," said Muhidin Aden Wali, a commissioner and resident of Abudwaq.

Neither commissioner denied there were high casualty figures but said that they did not know specific numbers.

Following the clashes, the Somali government announced Sunday that it was forming a committee to find an immediate solution for tribal conflicts.

The Somali National News Agency (SONNA) said the committee consisted of five ministers appointed by president of Galmudug State, Ahmed Abdi.

"The purpose of this committee is to go to conflict areas in the cities [of Abu Dawaq and Harali] to end the bloody fighting there," SONNA reported.

Witnesses said Monday units of Somali's army were deployed in the area to prevent further clashes.

The clans have a recent history of fighting over pastoral land and water wells.

Revenge killings

According to residents and local elders, revenge killings and land disputes have been fueling inter-clan violence in Somalia for years, with some of the heaviest fighting taking place in Galgudud and Mudug.

"It was unfortunate fighting between brotherly and neighboring nomadic people and it is as it has always been, over land disputes, water and clan vendetta," Abdullahi Sa'id Farah, a clan elder and resident of Abudwaq, told VOA.

"Our sons and husbands are those dying from both sides in the clan conflicts in central Somalia and this has had a painful impact on Somali mothers for many years," said Irado Mohamed Igal, an activist in the region.

Regional officials accused militant group al-Shabab of sparking the renewed clan clashes.

"Al-Shabab continues to pit Somali clans against each other so that it would benefit by distracting the local governments and local people from their fight against al-Shabab," a security adviser to the president of Galmudug state, Ahmed Shire Falagle, told VOA Somali by phone.

VOA could not independently verify the involvement of al-Shabab in this weekend's clan violence.

The clashes add weight to the security tasks of Somalia's federal government, which is struggling to contain the threat posed by the militants.

On Saturday, al-Shabab militants attacked government forces in the central town of El-Dheer.

Al-Shabab, through its Telegram channel, said its forces overran two government military camps, a claim denied by the Somali government.

Residents and witnesses who spoke to VOA said at least 16 people were killed during the attack, which they said was repelled by the government soldiers aided by local clan militias.

VOA reporter Abdiwahid Isaq contributed this report from Galkayo in central Somalia.

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Thai democracy faces pivotal week which could see poll-winning party dissolved

By Vijitra Duangdee June 10, 2024

Thailand's democracy movement faces a pivotal week as the Constitutional Court considers whether to dissolve the election-winning Move Forward Party (MFP), a ruling which would effectively nullify the votes of 14 million people and trigger a new period of political instability.

MFP became Thailand's largest party at the May 2023 polls, winning 151 parliamentary seats and igniting calls to cut the army from politics and redistribute wealth and power more evenly.

But it was blocked from forming a government and has since run into endless obstacles brought by a conservative establishment rattled by its success.

The court will meet on June 12 to consider MFP's fate on an allegation that it breached the Thai constitution by calling for reform of the royal defamation law  which protects the monarchy from criticism  during its election campaign.

Party frontman Pita Limjaroenrat says MFP had no intention of overthrowing the monarchy, as alleged, with a call to amend a law that has seen scores of young pro-democracy activists charged since 2020.

The activists came out to protest when the same court dissolved Move Forward's predecessor  Future Forward.

"No one can really say how the court is going to rule but if we are to be dissolved this would be two parties in five years," Pita told reporters Sunday at a news conference.

"I don't even want to think or forecast how this might affect Thailand especially when our society, economy, and politics are still fragile," he added.

The court is widely expected to strike out the party, which has the potential to stir a new round of political uncertainty.

"In the short term, there may be big protests across the country like those that happened when they dissolved Future Forward," Khemthong Tonsakulrungruang, a constitutional scholar at Chulalongkorn University, told VOA.

"But in the long term I'm more concerned that the conservative elite will actually succeed in slowly weakening the progressive movement, by banning MPs and dissolving whatever the next party incarnation is."

The monarchy sits at the head of Thai power, backed by an army which has carried out 13 coups since the kingdom became a constitutional monarchy in 1932.

Where coups have failed to end the democracy cause, the courts have stepped in by banning parties and popular politicians, mainly from groups which threaten the status quo.

The Constitutional Court can also impose a decade-long political ban on the party leader  including Pita  when it renders a decision.

What happened

Move Forward emerged from last year's poll as the most serious threat to the elite order in a generation. Harvard-educated leader Pita appeared primed for the premiership.

But he was blocked from taking office by senators who were appointed by generals after the last coup in 2014. The party was subsequently forced into the role of the opposition.

Instead, conservatives rallied behind the Pheu Thai party, formerly Thailand's most radical group, to take the reins of government.

The courts have previously taken out parties linked with Pheu Thai's founder, 74-year-old telecoms billionaire Thaksin Shinawatra. Until its deal to lead the government, Pheu Thai was seen as the gravest threat to the establishment.

Now it finds itself aligned with its former enemies.

"There's no such thing as normal politics in this country," Sirote Klampaiboon, an independent scholar and political commentator, told VOA.

Referring to the establishment's opposition, Klampaiboon said, "A political entity can be destroyed at any time. Participatory democracy can be destroyed at any time."

Even the current coalition government is now also being destabilized by court cases against its prime minister, Srettha Thavisin, and Pheu Thai's patron, Thaksin.

Experts say it is a sign of the kingdom's conservatives exerting their behind-the-scenes control over politics despite losing the popular vote.

If Move Forward is dissolved, most of its lawmakers are expected to regroup under a new banner, whose name has yet to be announced.

Others, however, may defect to coalition parties  a common practice in Thai politics  weakening its parliamentary hand.

Thailand's latest democracy movement stems from Future Forward, founded by the billionaire scion of an auto parts empire, Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit.

Future Forward won 6 million votes in the 2019 election but was dissolved a year later with Thanathorn banned from politics for a decade for breaching media shareholding rules, which he denied.

Four years on, the party's successor Move Forward won 14 million votes.

Thanathorn, a charismatic figure who still pulls large crowds wherever he goes, says the future belongs to a new era in politics.

"If Pita was our prime minister this would already be the beginning of a new era of progressive Thailand," he told the audience at a June 1 screening of a documentary about his rise from nowhere to the center of Thai politics.

"I'm confident that by 2027, when we will have the next election, our political horizons will be closer. Whatever our party name will be... we will absolutely be ready."

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Former CENTCOM commander to VOA: President picked 'worst' choice in Afghanistan withdrawal

By Carla Babb June 11, 2024

President Joe Biden picked the "worst of all possible worlds" when deciding how to withdraw U.S. forces from Afghanistan, the former commander who oversaw the U.S. withdrawal there told VOA.

Retired General Frank McKenzie writes in a new book, "The Melting Point," that he briefed President Biden in February 2021 on four military options on Afghanistan: one that would keep about 2,500 U.S. forces in the country and maintain eight bases; one that would reduce U.S. force numbers to 1,800 and drawdown to three bases; one that took out all U.S. forces and kept the embassy in place, and one that pulled out all American forces and the U.S. embassy.

Biden picked the third option, which attempted to keep the embassy, American citizens and at-risk Afghans in the country.

"I felt that was the worst of all possible worlds to actually pick that particular approach," McKenzie told VOA in an interview on Monday.

In a speech explaining the decision, Biden said the U.S. could not continue the cycle of extending or expanding its military presence in hopes of better conditions for withdrawal.

"While we will not stay involved in Afghanistan militarily, our diplomatic and humanitarian work will continue. We'll continue to support the government of Afghanistan. We will keep providing assistance to the Afghan National Defenses and Security Forces," Biden said.

McKenzie also writes in his book that the Doha agreement, signed by then-President Donald Trump's administration and the Taliban in 2020, was "one of the worst negotiating mistakes" by the United States. Speaking to VOA, he said the negotiations, orchestrated by then-U.S. ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad, committed the U.S. to an exit timeline while not requiring the Taliban to fulfill its agreed-upon conditions.

As Trump announced the agreement, he warned, "If bad things happen, we'll go back with a force like no one's ever seen."

According to McKenzie, Presidents Biden and Trump "shared one common policy objective, to get out of Afghanistan without regard to consequences."

McKenzie said Iran and Russia now have a "marriage of convenience" and raised concerns about what Russia may be giving Iran in return for Iranian drones and missiles to use in its was against Ukraine.

He said Ukrainians should be able to fire anywhere inside Russia that's attacking Ukraine, "but with certain limits" on areas such as Russian nuclear capable sites.

"You can't give them a sanctuary there," he said.

This interview had been edited for brevity and clarity.

VOA: You have a lot of criticism for the Doha agreement, which the Trump administration and the Taliban signed in February 2020. Why do you think it was, as you say in your book, "The Melting Point," one of the worst negotiating mistakes made by the United States?

Former CENTCOM Commander Gen. Frank McKenzie: I think because we signed on to an agreement where we committed to a timeline to leave. And that's significant if you don't condition that agreement, and we did not require the Taliban to fulfill the conditions that were imposed on them as part of that agreement. So the agreement potentially could have worked a little bit better had we not been quite so supine in the negotiating process that followed it. And so I think that really did a couple of things that gave new life to the Taliban, because they took it as a schedule that we were leaving. I think we, across two presidential administrations, took it as a schedule for when we were going to leave, and it deflated the Afghan government.

VOA: The former President of Afghanistan, Ashraf Ghani, he has called the primary negotiator for the Doha agreements for the United States U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad, he's called him "corrupt," "incompetent" and full of secrecy. And in your book, you have some similar descriptions of Khalilzad. You used "secretive" one time, "compartmented," "not sharing much within the US government." Is it fair to say that you agree with Ghani here?

McKenzie: Well, to the extent that he was highly compartmented, kept his negotiations very secret ... That's observable truth from where I sit. The rest of it, I couldn't comment on that.

VOA: Did you feel that he always had the US interests at the center of his negotiations?

McKenzie: Great question. I think, from the way it turned out, clearly, we were not served by the negotiating that he did.

VOA: An internal White House review of President Biden's decision to withdrawal said that Biden's decisions were, I'm quoting them, "severely constrained" by President Trump's Doha agreement. But you and I have talked about this in several of our discussions. The Taliban was never abiding by the commitment. So to what extent does an agreement that the Taliban is not abiding by severely constrain the Biden administration's decisions?

McKenzie: Let's remember that the Biden administration chose to keep Ambassador Khalilzad on as the principal negotiator. That was a decision they could have revisited. They could have changed the negotiating team. They did not elect to do that. And I think that's a very important thing to consider when you look at the trajectory of the Doha agreement. The fact of the matter was in January 2021, when the Biden team came into office, there were a number of parts of the agreement that the Taliban were not in compliance with, and we did not choose to force it to be in compliance with those agreements.

... I believe that we got into what happened in August of 2021 because two presidential administrations, as unlike as any two in modern American history, shared one common policy objective, to get out of Afghanistan without regard to consequences: President Trump, President Biden.

VOA: You outlined four options for President Biden on what to do with Afghanistan. Your first recommendation was to keep 2,500 US forces and some special operators inside Afghanistan, maintaining eight bases, including Bagram. Your second option was to reduce to 1,800 US forces, and you said that would allow you to have a tenuous hold on three bases, including Bagram. Option three was the complete drawdown, but keeping in the embassy. And then option four was a complete pullout with no diplomatic presence. Biden chose option three, and that is the one that you said offered the "highest risk to U.S. interests." What made you say that?

McKenzie: Because we're leaving under this plan, we're going to withdraw basically the U.S. military, but we're still going to leave a large embassy platform. We're going to leave our citizens, and we're going to leave the at-risk Afghans, tens of thousands ...so the initiative will shift to the Taliban, and we would be dependent on their good judgment and on their good nature, which we know is in either case, not a good thing for the United States. So I felt that was the worst of all possible worlds to actually pick that particular approach.

VOA: And you have blamed both Presidents Trump and President Biden for what happened in Afghanistan. ... But what's interesting is that barring an unlikely third-party presidential candidate victory, one of those two men, either President Biden or President Trump, is going to be the next President of the United States. What concerns do you have with that?

McKenzie: Well, concerns probably wouldn't be the appropriate word. The most important thing for the U.S. military and military four-star generals is to be completely apolitical. The US military needs to be prepared to answer the legal orders of the constitutionally authorized leaders of the country and to express an opinion beyond that is, I think, dangerous to the future of the republic ... If you're a four-star officer, you bear a unique burden. It's different, really, than any other grade of officer because of the fact you serve at the very highest levels of the US military, at the nexus, really, where policy, military operations and, in fact, politics come together. So I think it is, it's bad for the country to express an opinion about that, and I'm not going to do that.

VOA: Iran supports Hamas in the region, Hezbollah the Houthis. They also support Russia. ... Where would Russia be in the fight against Ukraine without the support of Iranian drones and missiles?

McKenzie: So I think Iranian drones and missiles have been very helpful to Russia in their fight. They're actually better than some forms of Russian equipment. They've allowed them to gain what we would call volume to their fires, and it's very concerning. And what's also concerning is, and I don't have a good picture, frankly, what Russian technology is flowing back into Iran. But this is not, it's not a freebie. These are two totalitarian nations, so any exchange of something is a quid pro quo. So we should be very concerned about what Russia may be injecting back into Iran...It's a marriage of convenience and nothing more.

VOA: The counter-ISIS fight was largely successful because the U.S. and its partners were able to go in Syria, where the fight was. And experts say the fight in Afghanistan failed on many levels because the US was not able to go across the border into Pakistan. Now there's a similar debate here in the Ukraine war concerning Russian forces firing into Ukraine from Russia. What are your thoughts on that? Should Ukrainians be able to fire anywhere inside Russia that's attacking Ukraine

McKenzie: So yes, but with certain limits. So I think (limits are) not necessarily a geographic distance. I would not say, "Don't fire further than 10 miles into Russia." ... I would argue that you need to be very careful not to attack Russian nuclear capable sites, Russian nuclear command and control facilities, things like that. Aside from that, I would say we should give Ukraine some flexibility in where they strike inside Russia, because, as you said before earlier, you can't give them a sanctuary there. Russian command and control, conventional military control, Russian logistics and other formations are really free of danger there, and I think that has significantly hurt the Ukrainian ability to respond this latest offensive.

VOA: I want to switch to the war in Gaza. Is Israel's battle against Hamas winnable?

McKenzie: So it's winnable if they can fashion a way to a "day after" that makes sense. That doesn't involve constant combat inside Gaza. And that's going to require vision that may involve troops other than Israeli troops being in there. I think Arab troops would be perfect from being one of a number of different nations. It's going to require significant investment, infrastructure, rebuilding, but provision of basic, basic services. But you got to ensure that Hamas is not part of that equation. I'm intensely sympathetic to the view, to the Israeli view, that you have to eliminate Hamas. At the same time. I think it's a very high bar to say that you're going to get rid of all of all of Hamas because it's a revolutionary movement. There's always going to kill 99 Hamas fighters. The 100th fighter is going to raise a bloody hand and declare the revolution. So I think that's a problem that they set that they have to confront. They've done away with many of the combat formations of Hamas. There are still some left. I think they've been a little less successful at getting after senior Hamas leadership, because they've chosen to hide even when their fighters fight. And I'm sure they're hidden deep underground, protected by Israeli hostages. And of course, the real hostages in Gaza, not just the Israeli hostages, but the population of Gaza itself, which Hamas has no interest in moving out of the line of fire.

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Palestinian humanitarian needs in focus at Jordan meeting as US pushes for Israel-Hamas cease-fire

By VOA News June 11, 2024

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is set to take part in a meeting in Jordan focusing on how to boost the international community's humanitarian response for the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip who are badly in need of help after eight months of war.

Blinken will travel to Jordan after talks in Israel with Benny Gantz and Yair Lapid, two centrist politicians, amid a U.S. push for Israel and Hamas to agree to a multi-stage cease-fire deal.

Gantz left Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's emergency government on Sunday, saying Netanyahu is mismanaging the war in Gaza and putting his own "political survival" ahead of Israel's security needs.

Lapid expressed support for Gantz, saying on X that the time has come for Israel to have a new government that returns security to the country and secures the return of the hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.

Blinken began his latest trip to the region with talks Monday in Egypt before meeting with Netanyahu.

He said the best way to ensure there are no more civilian casualties is for Hamas to accept the peace deal. Blinken also emphasized the importance of efforts to provide long-term peace, security and stability to Israelis and Palestinians alike, and that the deal on the table "would unlock the possibility of calm along Israel's northern border and further integration with countries in the region."

Security Council support

The U.N. Security Council added its voice Monday to calls for Hamas and Israel to implement a permanent cease-fire deal and hostage release in Gaza, voting 14-0 in favor of a U.S.-drafted resolution supporting the cease-fire proposal. Russia abstained from the vote.

"Colleagues, today we voted for peace," U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield told council members following the vote.

She said the plan is the best and only way to bring about a durable end to the 8-month-old war, which began with Hamas' terror attack inside Israel on October 7.

"There is an opportunity to chart a different course," Thomas-Greenfield said. "Hamas must take it."

Russia questioned whether Israel has indeed signed up to it and said there have not been enough details about the cease-fire proposal for the council to give its blessing.

"The Security Council should not sign up to agreements with vague parameters," Russian envoy Vassily Nebenzia said.

The resolution seeks to add pressure on Hamas while urging both Hamas and Israel to fully implement the cease-fire deal "without delay and without condition." It is also the first time the 15-nation council has called for a "permanent" end to the hostilities.

Israel's ambassador, Gilad Erdan, was present for the vote but did not stay to deliver his government's statement. Instead, political coordinator Reut Shapir Ben-Naftaly spoke without mentioning the resolution's adoption or Israel's support for the proposal. She urged the international community to put the pressure on Hamas.

"It is Hamas that is preventing this war from ending. Hamas and Hamas alone," she said.

Following the vote, Hamas issued a statement welcoming that the council has "affirmed a permanent cease-fire in Gaza" and indicating a willingness to engage in indirect negotiations over implementing the principles "that are consistent with the demands of our people and resistance."

In its initial phase, the three-phase cease-fire proposal calls for a halt in fighting, the release of some hostages from Gaza, the release of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, a surge in humanitarian aid for Palestinians, the withdrawal of Israeli troops from populated areas of Gaza, and the return of Palestinian civilians to their homes and neighborhoods.

The second phase envisions a permanent cessation of hostilities in exchange for the release of all other hostages in Gaza and a full withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza. The final phase includes a multiyear reconstruction plan for the Gaza Strip, much of which has been devastated by eight months of Israeli bombardment. It would also provide for the return of the remains of any deceased hostages still in Gaza.

The October 7 Hamas terror attack resulted in the deaths of about 1,200 people in Israel, mostly civilians, according to official Israeli figures. Hamas militants took about 250 hostages, 116 of whom remain in the Palestinian territory, including 41 the army says are dead.

Israel's military response has killed more than 37,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's health ministry, which does not distinguish between fighters and civilians in its figures.

VOA's State Department bureau chief Nike Ching and U.N. correspondent Margaret Besheer contributed to this report. Some information for this report was provided by The Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse.

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Russo-Ukraine War - 10 June 2024 - Day 838

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 on 28 May 2024, Ukraine's Defence Intelligence (HUR) reported that Russia has intensified attempts to recruit Africans to fight in Ukraine. In particular these recruitment efforts focus on the central African countries of Rwanda, Burundi, Congo and Uganda. Russia is reportedly offering a sign-up bonus of $2,000, monthly pay of $2,200 and the promise of a Russian passport.

This recruitment campaign is likely to replace Russian battlefield losses, which are significant, and to sustain offensive activity in multiple axes across the front. With Russia's finite pool of convict recruitment likely culminated, Russia is likely expanding its recruitment across the global south, to avoid additional mobilisations within Russia itself. As well as being domestically unpopular for President Putin and the Russian government, the previous mobilisation for the war resulted in a record labour shortage and an exodus of skilled workers such as doctors and IT professionals.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that the Ukrainian military continues to decisively give an offence to the Russian enemy's attempts to advance deep into Ukrainian territory, giving him an effective fire effect, exhausting across the entire frontline.

So far, 81 combat encounters have taken place. The situation remains tense, but under control.

Throughout the day, the Defense Forces hit 13 Russian personnel concentration areas, seven PPOs, one artillery unit and a radio station.

Along with that, Russian zagarbniki launched on the territory of Ukraine two rockets with the use of five rockets and 45 aviation strikes with the use of 64 cabs, took 486 kamikadze drones. Also, Russian forces carried out over 2,900 shells on positions of Ukrainian troops and settlements using artillery, mortars, firearms and armaments of fighting vehicles.

In the Kharkiv direction, there were four unsuccessful Russian attacks in the areas of vovcans k and glbokoye. Ukrainian military continues to take measures to strengthen defense positions and borders.

The previous Russian losses in this direction were 64 occupants killed and injured. One tank, seven cars and five special equipment units were destroyed. In addition, two tanks, a combat-armored vehicle, three artillery systems and four vehicles were damaged. Also affected 15 blindaziv and the Russian forces' ammunition warehouse.

In the Kupyansky direction, Russian forces tried to push Ukrainian units away from occupied positions in the areas of settlements Sinkivka, Stepova Novoselivka, Piscni and Berestove. Never been successful. Loss of positions and territories is not allowed.

In the Lymans komu direction the number of warfare increased to 12. Russian occupiers tried to advance in the areas of Druzhelyubivka, Nevsky, Terniv, Torsky, Grigorivka and Serebryansky Forest. All attacks were successfully repelled by Ukrainian defenders.

In the Sivers komu direction, the setting of significant changes has not been experienced. Four assault actions in the areas of Spirnogo, Ivano-Daryivka and Verkhnyokamans kogo for the Russian forces ended in failure.

In the Kramatorsky direction, the Russian aggressor tried seven times to attack Defense Forces units in the areas of Novoy, Ivanivsky, Klishchievka and Andriyivka. Six attempts of Russian occupiers to break through Ukrainian borders did not have success. The situation is intense. The fight is ongoing in the area of Novoy.

The hottest situation remains in the Pokrovsky direction. Russian forces tried 21 times to infiltrate the combat order of the defenders of Ukraine near Evgenivka, Novooleksandrivka, Novopokrovsky, Yasnobrodivka, Umansky and Karlivka. 19 Russian attacks down. Two more clashes are ongoing near Novooleksandrivka and Novopokrovsky.

The Defense Forces are making maximum efforts to exhaust and contain Russian invaders. The previous Russian losses in this direction were 198 occupants killed and injured. Destroyed a SU-25 aircraft, one tank, a combat-armored vehicle, a cannon and four cars.

In the Kurakhiv direction, the situation remains tense. Since the beginning of the day, the number of combat clashes has increased to 17. Zagarbniks are trying to move near the settlements of Nevelske, Krasnogorivka, Georgiyivka, Konstantinivka and Paraskoviyivka. 14 Russian attacks were successfully repelled by the Defense Forces. Fighting continues in the area of Krasnogorivki. Measures are being taken to prevent the advancement of Russian troops deep into Ukrainian territory.

In the Vremivs komu direction, the zagarbniki tried to go forward near Vodanogo and Staromayorsky. The assault actions of the Russian occupiers have failed. Defense forces are under control.

In the Orihiv direction, the Russian occupiers carried out one unsuccessful assault in the area of the settlement of Kopany.

In the Pridniprovsk direction, Ukrainian defenders repelled two Russian attacks in the area north of Krynok. A loss of positions is not allowed.

In other directions, the situation has not changed significantly.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that the Sever Group of Forces have engaged manpower and hardware of the AFU 57th Motorised Infantry, 42nd Mechanised, 3rd Tank Brigades, 113rd, 125th territorial defence brigades close to Volchansk, Veseloye, Goptovka, Radyanskoye, and Tikhoye (Kharkov region).

The Russian troops repelled seven counter-attacks launched by assault groups of the 82nd Air Assault Brigade, 36th Marine Brigade, and 416th Rifle Battalion of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

The enemy's losses amounted to up to 255 Ukrainian troops, nine motor vehicles, 152-mm Akatsiya self-propelled artillery system, two 122-mm D-30 howitzers, and two counter-battery stations.

The Zapad Group of Forces' units improved the situation along the front line and inflicted fire damage on the 77th Airmobile, 14th, 43rd, 54th, 63rd, 116th mechanised brigades, 12th special brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and 18th National Guard Brigade near Serebryanka (Donetsk People's Republic), Berestovoye, Sinkovka, and Timkovka (Kharkov region).

The enemy lost up to 570 Ukrainian troops and four motor vehicles.

In counter-battery warfare, the Russian troops neutralised one U.S.-made 155-mm M109 Paladin self-propelled artillery system, one U.S.-made 155-mm M777 howitzer, one 152-mm Msta-B howitzer, two 122-mm D-30 howitzers, and one UK-made 105-mm L-119 howitzer were destroyed.

The Yug Group's units improved the tactical situation and delivered strikes at manpower and hardware of the 46th Airmobile, 78th Air Assault, 24th, 28th, 41st, 54th mechanised brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine near Dyleyevka, Verkhnekamenka, Katerinovka, Kurakhovo, Dzerzhynsk, and Chasov Yar (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy lost up to 430 Ukrainian troops and seven motor vehicles.

In counter-battery warfare, the Russian troops hit one German-made 155-mm Panzerhaubitzer self-propelled artillery system, one U.S.-made 155-mm M777 howitzer, one 152-mm Msta-B howitzer, three 122-mm Gvozdika self-propelled artillery systems, and one 122-mm D-30 howitzer.

In addition, one Bukovel-AD electronic warfare station and two AFU field ammunition depots were destroyed.

The Tsentr Group of Forces captured more advantageous lines and inflicted fire damage on the 71st Infantry Brigade, 115th Mechanised, 25th Airborne brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, 109th Territorial Defence Brigades near Novgorodskoye, Kalinovo, Karlovka, and Rozovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

Five counter-attacks launched by assault groups of the AFU 59th Motorised Infantry Brigade, 24th, 47th, and 110th mechanised brigades were repelled.

The enemy lost up to 345 Ukrainian troops, four armoured fighting vehicles, including two U.S.-made Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, and two pick-up trucks.

In addition, three U.S.-made 155-mm M777 howitzers, three 152-mm Msta-B howitzers, three 152-mm D-20 howitzers, two 122-mm Gvozdika self-propelled artillery systems, and four 122-mm D-30 howitzers were eliminated.

The Vostok Group of Forces continued to advance into the depth of the enemy's defence and liberated Staromayorskoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

The Russian Armed Forces inflicted fire damage on manpower and hardware of the AFU 58th Motorised Infantry Brigade, 72nd Mechanised Brigade, 123rd and 128th territorial defence brigades near Velikaya Novosyolka, Vodyanoye, Neskuchnoye, Urozhaynoye, and Ugledar (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 140 Ukrainian troops, two motor vehicles, one UK-made FH-70 howitzer, one 152-mm D-20 howitzer, and one 122-mm D-30 howitzer.

The Dnepr Group of Forces have engaged the 128th Mountain Assault Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the 35th Marine Brigade, and the 121st Territorial Defence Brigades near Mirnoye, Nesteryanka (Zaporozhye region), Osokorovka, and Tyaginka (Kherson region).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 60 Ukrainian troops, two pickup trucks, one 152-mm Giatsint-B gun, and one 122-mm D-30 howitzer.

Operational-Tactical Aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, and Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces have hit the command post of the AFU tactical aviation brigade, the field artillery depot, as well as temporary deployment areas of foreign mercenaries, clusters of enemy manpower and military hardware in 147 areas.

Air defence units shot down one MiG-29 aircraft of the Ukrainian Air Forces.

During the day, the Russian Armed Forces intercepted one Neptune anti-ship missile, two U.S.-made HARM anti-radiation missiles, four aerial bombs (French-made HAMMER and U.S.-made JDAM), seven U.S.-made HIMARS and Uragan projectiles, as well as 51 unmanned aerial vehicles.

In total, 611 airplanes and 276 helicopters, 25,514 unmanned aerial vehicles, 528 air defence missile systems, 16,308 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,331 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 10,302 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 22,413 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.

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Cyber Rapid Response Team assisted in keeping Lithuania's cyberspace safe over the European Parliament election

Republic of Lithuania - Ministry of National Defence

2024-06-10

Cyber security

On June 9, the election to the European Parliament day, the National Cyber Security Centre (Lith. NKSC) under the Ministry of National Defence recorded no cyber-incidents linked to the election. The EU Cyber Rapid Response Team (CRRT) provided assistance to the NKSC over the election period in keeping Lithuania's cyberspace safe.

Seven CRRT experts deployed to Lithuania for the mission from five European Union members states: Belgium, Croatia, Estonia, Netherlands and Poland. Throughout the lection period they conducted cyber-threat monitoring, analyzed infrastructure vulnerabilities and maintained readiness to respond to potential cyber incidents in cooperation with the NKSC team.

"Activation and deployment of CRRT experts to Lithuania in support of ensuring European Parliament elections security is an example of a successful cooperation of EU member states in the area of cyber security, which sends a signal to hostile cyber-criminal groups to biter not test neither Lithuania's nor the EU's resilience to cyber-threats," Vice Minister Greta Monika Tuckute said.

The CRRT mission also put to test time the information exchange and interaction mechanism by for the first sharing cyber-threat assessment reports provided by the Cyber Threat Analysis Cell of the Regional Cyber Defence Centre, part of the NKSC.

The EU Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) Cyber Rapid Response Teams and Mutual Assistance in Cyber Security (CRRTs) project initiated by Lithuania in 2018 is one of the most successful among the 60 PESCO projects. It is designed to prevent cyber-attacks and respond to cyber-incidents in EU member states, European institutions, European Common Security and Defence Policy missions and operations and provide assistance to partners.

The CRRT currently has 11 EU countries as members: Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Poland, Romania and Slovenia.

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Security Council Extends Mandate for Ombudsperson, Monitoring Team of Sanctions Regime against ISIL (Da'esh), Adopting Resolution 2374 (2024)

Meetings Coverage

Security Council

9649th Meeting (PM)

SC/15722

10 June 2024

Extending the mandates of the Ombudsperson and the Monitoring Team of the sanctions regime against Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), also known as Da'esh, and Al-Qaida, the Security Council today also updated the criteria for designating individuals, groups and entities on the regime's list to include the committing of acts of sexual and gender-based violence.

Council resolution 2734 (2024) (to be issued as document S/RES/2734(2024)) was adopted by a recorded vote of 14 in favour to none against, with one abstention (Russian Federation).

Acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations, the 15-member organ extended the mandate of the Office of the Ombudsperson, established by resolution 1904 (2009), for a period of 36 months from its date of expiration in June 2024 and expressed its intention to review the mandate and take appropriate action regarding the further extension no later than 17 May 2027.

The text also affirms that the Ombudsperson shall continue to receive and review requests from individuals, groups, undertakings or entities seeking to be removed from the ISIL (Da'esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions List in an independent and impartial manner and shall neither seek nor receive instructions from any Government.

Further, the Ombudsperson shall continue to present to the Security Council Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999), 1989 (2011) and 2253 (2015) concerning ISIL (Da'esh), Al-Qaida and associated individuals, groups, undertakings and entities, observations and recommendations regarding the delisting of those individuals, groups, undertakings or entities that have requested removal from the Sanctions List.

Also extended was the mandate of the current New York-based Monitoring Team and its members, established pursuant to paragraph 7 of resolution 1526 (2004), for a further period of 36 months from the expiration of its current mandate in June 2024. The Council directed the Team to report on relevant thematic and regional topics and developing trends and to identify, gather information on and keep the Committee informed of instances and common patterns of non-compliance with the measures imposed in this resolution.

Under listing criteria, the Council decided to recognize that planning, directing, or committing acts involving sexual and gender-based violence including rape, enslavement of persons, and cases of abduction and trafficking in persons may be eligible for designation in the ISIL (Da'esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions List, when such acts are being used by ISIL, Al-Qaida and associated individuals, groups and entities as a tactic of terrorism.

As in 2021, the resolution covers a wide range of measures, including asset freeze, travel ban and arms embargo. The terms on asset freeze instruct States to freeze the funds and other financial assets or economic resources of listed individuals, groups, undertakings and entities, including funds derived from property owned or controlled directly or indirectly, by them or by persons acting on their behalf or at their direction.

The travel ban calls on States to prevent the entry into or transit through their territories of these individuals, while the arms embargo prevents the direct or indirect supply, sale or transfer to listed individuals, groups, undertakings and entities from their territories or by their nationals outside their territories, or using their flag vessels or aircraft, of arms and related materiel of all types including weapons and ammunition, military vehicles and equipment, paramilitary equipment, and spare parts for the aforementioned, and technical advice, assistance or training related to military activities.

The Council has tended towards unanimous adoptions on this topic and in statements after adoption, its members welcomed the extension of the mandates. However, they also cautioned against politicizing those mandates, and notably, they expressed divergent views on the amendment of listing criteria to include sexual and gender-based violence.

The representative of the United States, who sponsored the text, said that provision reflects the Council's recognition that "sexual and gender based violence is a tool terrorists utilize to further their aims." Noting the "devastating frequency of this horrific tactic", from ISIL's use of sexual slavery against the Yazidi community to Al-Shabaab's use of abduction, rape and forced marriage, she said the text is a critical step in the global campaign to end sexual and gender-based violence.

China's delegate pointed out that according to the resolution, when sexual violence is used as a terrorist tactic, such acts may be eligible for designation on the basis of current criteria. This phrasing is more appropriate till the international community "reaches a clear consensus on the link between sexual and gender-based violence and terrorism", he said. It is necessary to "abandon ideological biases and double standards" and consider listing requests objectively, he said, stressing that the Monitoring Team and Ombudsperson must continue to perform their duties impartially.

The representative of the Russian Federation, who abstained from the vote, noted that the 1267 sanctions regime is one of the most effective and cautioned against dilution of its mandate. If there is proof that terrorists associated with ISIL or Al-Qaida use sexual violence to achieve their goals, then the Committee must act accordingly; however, this must not result in watering down its counter-terrorism mandate and distracting it with secondary questions. "It is unacceptable to automatically tie the question of SGBV [sexual and gender-based violence] to terrorism," he said, adding that such cases should be considered only if there is reliable information. Further, such violence should not be used as an independent criteria for listing, he underscored, expressing regret that the United States delegation "did not think it valuable to preserve the consensus spirit of the counter-terrorism agenda".

Algeria's delegate also expressed regret that the resolution was not adopted by consensus, because the 1267 sanctions regime derives its effectiveness from the unity of the Council. Some matters in the text deserve further consideration, he said, stressing the importance of the "Member-State driven nature" of the listing and de-listing process. Politicizing the mandate of the sanctions regime will undermine it, he cautioned.



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Belarus to join second phase of nuclear exercises with Russia

Iran Press TV

Monday, 10 June 2024 4:43 PM

Belarus is set to participate in the second phase of nuclear exercises with Russia, in an attempt to confront the Western plots to drag Minsk into a war, according to the eastern European country's defense ministry.

Military officials in Minsk said on Monday its army was taking part in the second stage of Russian exercises ordered by President Vladimir Putin to practice the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons.

The nuclear exercises are a reaction to "unsuccessful attempts to drag [Belarus] into an epidemic of color revolutions and crush us with economic sanctions" and some Western countries' "plans to use military force against our state," Belarusian Defense Minister Lieutenant General Viktor Khrenin said in a post on Telegram.

It's the second time Belarus and Russia practice deploying nuclear weapons together, after Putin ordered the first phase of the drills to take place in southern Russia last month.

Nuclear analysts described the drills as a warning signal by Putin to the US-led Western countries to avoid an escalation of the war in Ukraine.

The nuclear exercises are a proactive measure to "increase our readiness to use so-called retaliatory weapons," Khrenin said.

"Now, more than ever before, we are determined to respond to any threats posed to both our country and the Union State" between Russia and Belarus, he added.

He did not say where the exercises were taking place or what types of weapons were involved. Belarus shares borders with three NATO countries - Poland, Lithuania and Latvia.

"We have no goal of creating any tension in regional security issues. We do not project relevant military threats on third countries or anyone else," Khrenin added.

Khrenin pointed out that despite being a peaceful country, Belarus still needed to maintain its military forces combat-readiness. "We are a peaceful state, we do not threaten or seek confrontation with anyone, but we will keep our powder dry!"

Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko announced last year that Russia was moving some of its tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus.

Tactical nuclear weapons are designed for use on the battlefield, as opposed to long-range strategic weapons intended to wipe out entire enemy cities in apocalyptic proportions.

Nuclear analysts believe the probable use of tactical nuclear weapons on Ukraine could deliver a stunning shock to the West without posing an imminent risk of moving the Doomsday Clock closer to midnight.

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Telephone conversation with President of Brazil Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva

Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with President of the Federative Republic of Brazil Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

June 10, 2024

19:35

The presidents expressed mutual interest in further deepening the successfully developing Russian-Brazilian strategic partnership across all major areas. In particular, they agreed to maintain close interaction between two countries based on Russia's BRICS chairmanship and Brazil's G20 presidency this year.

When discussing the situation surrounding Ukraine, Vladimir Putin laid out Russia's principled approaches in connection with the upcoming "peace conference" in Switzerland.

In turn, the President of Brazil expressed his willingness to contribute to identifying ways to provide a peaceful solution to the Ukraine conflict, which is set forth in the well-known Brazil and China's joint initiative.

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Hong Kong exiles in UK and Canada lack access to billions of their savings

Those who left under the British national (Overseas) passport program are cut off by Hong Kong government policies.

A commentary by Megan Khoo 2024.06.09 -- In April 2023, Hong Kong Watch found that Hong Kongers were being denied access to up to A2.2 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 A3 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.

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 A57,000 (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 government's lawless declaration.

I have spoken with a Hong Konger who has A90,000 (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 Manulife's 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, it's ineligible to withdraw the fund as a BNO passport holder," this is simply not true.

Sun Life's 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, FayAal 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.

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.

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.

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US and China spar over nuclear weapons build-up

Both countries accused each other of spurring an arms race.

By Alex Willemyns for RFA 2024.06.10 -- Beijing and Washington have accused each other of propelling a new nuclear arms build-up, with an American official on Friday suggesting a possible increase in the U.S. stockpile may be needed in response to the rapidly growing arsenal of China, Russia and North Korea.

Speaking to a meeting of the Arms Control Association in Washington on Friday, Pranay Vaddi, the top arms control official on the White House National Security Council, said the U.S. rivals were "expanding and diversifying their nuclear arsenals at a breakneck pace."

"We may reach a point in the coming years where an increase from current deployed numbers is required," Vaddi said, adding that efforts to engage in arms-control talks had been repeatedly rebuffed.

In a response in Russian state media on Saturday, an unnamed Chinese diplomat accused the United States of hypocrisy, noting that Washington "sits on the largest and most advanced nuclear arsenal in the world" and has refused to put conditions on the use of its arms.

"The U.S. should stop undermining the international nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation regime, reduce the role of nuclear weapons in national and collective security policies and act responsibly for the welfare of the world," the official said.

Treaty failure

The war of words comes amid the deterioration in a system of treaties aimed at non-proliferation that began at the height of the Cold War.

In February 2023, Russian President Vladimir Putin withdrew from the 2010 New START treaty, which had restricted the two countries to only 1,550 deployed strategic nuclear warheads. Since then, Moscow has repeatedly threatened nuclear war with the West over Ukraine.

China, meanwhile, has been busily stockpiling its own nuclear arsenal, even though it has publicly disavowed the use of its weapons in a "first use" capacity. Not subjected to any non-proliferation treaties, Beijing has reportedly doubled the supply of its warheads in recent years.

A 2022 report from the Pentagon said China's People's Liberation Army is on track to have 1,500 nuclear warheads by 2035.

In the background, though, Beijing has been pushing the world's nuclear states to sign-on to a multilateral treaty codifying its pledge never to use a nuclear weapon without being attacked by one first.

Edited by Malcolm Foster.

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Chinese FM Wang Yi attends BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting amid growing voice of Global South

Global Times

China calls for new type of 'globally oriented' multilateral cooperation mechanism

By Chen Qingqing Published: Jun 10, 2024 11:01 PM

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Monday called for the full leveraging of the strategic significance and political impact of "big BRICS," transforming the group into a new type of multilateral cooperation mechanism that is based on emerging markets and developing countries, globally oriented, and open and inclusive.

Wang Yi made the remarks on Monday while attending the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting scheduled from Monday to Tuesday.

Some experts said the ministerial meeting - the first since the expansion of BRICS - carries a special significance, as the BRICS mechanism has been ushering in a new era of larger scale cooperation, striking a sharp contrast to the US-led small circle of G7.

Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, told the Foreign Ministers' Meeting that at present, certain major powers are reviving the Cold War mentality, forming geopolitical "small circles," and openly resisting UN Security Council resolutions, thereby undermining the authority of multilateral mechanisms.

In the face of the contest between forces promoting world multipolarity and those maintaining unipolar hegemony, and the clash between economic globalization and "anti-globalization" tendencies, we must follow the trend of history, stand on the side of fairness and justice, and make the right choices, Wang Yi said.

Wang Yi also met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Monday. Wang Yi said the BRICS countries represent an important platform for solidarity and cooperation among emerging markets and developing countries. The expanded BRICS mechanism will play a key and significant role in creating a more just and equitable global governance system, Wang said. And China is fully committed to supporting Russia's work as the BRICS chair, jointly strengthening the BRICS strategic partnership with Russia, promoting unity and self-reliance among the Global South, and voicing strong support for multilateralism and common development. This will ensure a successful start to the "big BRICS cooperation."

"The BRICS mechanism has gone beyond just economic and financial cooperation, and is moving toward a three-pronged approach that includes political trust and cultural exchanges alongside economic and financial cooperation," Wang Youming, director of the Institute of Developing Countries at the China Institute of International Studies in Beijing, told the Global Times on Monday.

The role of the BRICS mechanism is defined by nonconfrontation, non-replacement, and non-counterbalance, Wang Youming said, noting that the bloc's most crucial task is to promote a more just and reasonable international order.

Within the framework of the Foreign Ministers' Meeting, a separate meeting will also be held with the participation of a number of countries of the Global South and East, according to TASS.

Russian President Vladimir Putin was quoted as saying in media reports in January that about 30 countries were prepared to join BRICS. Most recently, Thailand aims to become the first Southeast Asian country to join the bloc and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan also expressed Ankara's desire to become part of it, according to media reports.

"The meeting is significant as it is the first one since the [2023] expansion, and it aims to further consolidate the consensus among developing countries and amplify their voice in global governance," Song Wei, a professor at the school of international relations and diplomacy at Beijing Foreign Studies University, told the Global Times on Monday.

During the meeting with Lavrov, Wang Yi said that developing China-Russia relations is a strategic choice made by both sides based on their fundamental interests, in line with global trends and the spirit of the times. It does not target any third party, nor will it be disrupted by external interference, Wang Yi said. China is ready to work with Russia to maintain strategic resolve, explore cooperation potential, overcome external obstacles, and ensure the steady and long-term development of bilateral relations, he noted.

On the Palestine issue, Wang Yi pointed out at the meeting that China supports Palestine's membership as a full-fledged UN member state, and the resumption of talks on the two-state solution to achieve lasting peace in the Middle East.

As the Ukraine crisis continues to drag on, China supports the timely convening of genuine peace talks that are accepted by both Russia and Ukraine, with equal participation from all parties and fair discussion of all peace proposals, Wang Yi said.

BRICS should adhere to independence and objectivity, promote the international community's consensus on peace, and oppose the instigation of a "new cold war" under any pretext, the top Chinese diplomat said.

As the BRICS meeting takes place, the G7 leaders are preparing to "send a tough new warning" to China and Russia this week in Italy. Some experts said the voice of the Global South, represented by BRICS, increasingly contrasts with the G7's closed small circle.

"BRICS advocates for open cooperation with a wide range of developing countries and for equal cooperation with developed countries, embodying openness and inclusiveness," Wang Youming said, noting that in contrast, the West, supported by an alliance system, is notably targeting and strategic in its approach, particularly toward China and Russia.

Echoing Wang Youming, Song said the BRICS mechanism is entirely composed of emerging market and developing countries, making it more representative of their interests.

"BRICS can consolidate consensus among developing countries, thereby increasing their collective bargaining power and giving them a greater voice in setting global economic governance agendas and rules," Song noted.

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Sister of North Korean leader warns South on border broadcasts

Tit-for-tat responses raise tensions.

By RFA staff 2024.06.09 -- The powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has warned South Korea of danger after it resumed cross-border propaganda broadcasts, the latest response in a series of tit-for-tat measures that has increased tension along their border.

North Korea last month began sending balloons carrying trash over the border into the South in response to earlier balloon flights by activists in the South who sent propaganda materials drifting into the North.

Both sides have used such tactics for decades but this recent round of actions has brought renewed tension to one of the world's most sensitive and highly fortified frontiers.

Last week, South Korea suspended a 2018 pact aimed at reducing tension on the border and on Sunday it resumed propaganda broadcasts through loudspeakers into the North.

Kim Yo Jong, the influential sister of the North Korean leader, denounced the South for what she called its "despicable political agitation" in comments broadcast by the Noth's KCNA state news agency on Sunday and warned of a North Korean response.

"This is a prelude to a very dangerous situation," she said.

North Korea had said earlier it would temporarily suspend its cross-border balloon campaign, though threatening to resume it if more anti-Pyongyang leaflets were sent from South Korea.

Kim Yo Jong said the North Korean action was being resumed in response to the South's loudspeaker broadcasts, which the South said it started up again on the weekend.

South Korea considers its loudspeaker campaign to be an important psychological warfare tool involving blaring messages over the border including criticism of the North's human rights record, news and K-pop songs, to the fury of North Korea.

Separately, the North staged GPS jamming attacks in waters near South Korea's northwestern border islands for several days last week.

Edited by RFA staff.

Copyright 1998-2016, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content 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.

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French leader calls for new legislative vote after far-right victory in EU polls

By Lisa Bryant June 10, 2024

Right-wing parties chalked up major gains in several key European countries following the European parliament elections a with France facing perhaps the biggest fallout.

French President Emmanuel Macron has dissolved parliament and called for new legislative elections later this month, after the far-right National Rally scooped up nearly one-third of the vote in Sunday's European parliament elections a more than twice the share for Macron's ruling Renaissance Party.

Shortly after the first results were announced, Macron was on national TV, announcing snap legislative elections in France a three years ahead of schedule. The first round of voting takes place June 30.

For centrist Macron, it's a gamble that he might not win. If the National Rally scores strongly in this national poll, its 28-year-old president, Jordan Bardella, could become France's next prime minister.

"What happened last night was a political earthquake," said Celia Belin, who heads the Paris office for the European Council on Foreign Relations. The results themselves were not surprising, she said, as weeks of polling showed the National Rally scoring strongly, but what was surprising was Macron's reaction.

"Snap elections are not common at all ... and usually are actually lost by the president who calls for these elections," Belin said.

Gael Sliman, who heads polling agency Odoxa, was also surprised by Macron's move.

The president may be gambling he will prevail in these legislatives, but Sliman told France Info radio it's quite possible France will usher in the Olympics next month with a far-right prime minister a or see gridlock if nobody wins an absolute majority.

The far right also scored strongly in several other key EU countries, including Germany, Austria and Italy. The European Council's Belin said that will further divide the EU parliament and create gridlock.

"You might see even more opposition to climate action. Even more opposition to additional sanctions against Russia, for example. Or even more opposition toward actually doing anything about China," she said.

But overall, the center right remained the main winner in these EU elections a good news for European Council President Ursula von der Leyen, who is campaigning for another term in office.

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Indian PM Modi sworn in for 3rd term

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Jun 10, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi took oath of office for a record third time, two days after his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led alliance won enough seats required constitutionally for form a coalition government.

According to IRNA, the Indian media covered live swearing-in ceremony of Modi as the Prime Minister, the most important decision-making position in India.

President Draupadi Murmu administered the oath to PM Modi at the Presidential Palace in New Delhi, in an event attended by thousands of dignitaries, including leaders of seven regional countries, film stars and industrialists.

"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", Modi wrote in a post on X social network.

Several senior cabinet ministers of the previous government, including those with defense, interior, finance, foreign and industry portfolios also took oath along with several newcomers.

Modi is the only politician after India's independence leader Jawaharlal Nehru to serve as prime minister for three consecutive terms. His right-wing Hindu nationalist party BJP won 240 seats but fell short of majority, unlike the previous two elections in 2019 and 2014, to form the government of its own.

The BJP, this time came to power with the support of 14 regional parties that were part of the National Democratic Alliance. This year's election result is considered a major defeat for Modi as pre-opinion polls had predicted that his party would win even more seats than in 2019.

Unemployment, high prices, low incomes and infringements on religious freedoms had alienated voters.

The prime minister during his election campaigns was accused of delivering hate speeches to woo Hindu voters, in violation of the code of conduct of India's Elections Commission, which Modi later denied despite the opposition filing complaints with the electoral body.

Analysts say Modi's new term may be fraught with challenges to build consensus on political and contentious issues in the face of diverse interests from regional parties and a strong opposition in parliament.

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Indian Prime Minister Modi names cabinet

By VOA News June 10, 2024

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi named a cabinet on Monday, one day after being sworn in for a third consecutive term.

While the recent election saw Modi's Hindu nationalist BJP party lose its absolute majority in parliament, Modi was able to keep top ministers in place.

External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, in charge of the country's foreign policy for the past five years, will retain his position. Amit Shah will stay as home minister, Nirmala Sitharaman will remain finance minister, and Rajnath Singh will remain as defense minister.

Modi is the second Indian prime minister to win a third term. His party, the BJP, won 240 seats in parliament, 32 short of a majority, and far below the numbers it won in the previous two elections. However, the party was able to secure control of parliament and form a government with two regional allies, the Telugu Desam Party and the Janata Dal (United).

Their National Democratic Alliance (NDA) controls a total of 293 seats.

Modi will need support from his allies to stay in power and may have to adapt his style of governance.

Modi is considered a champion for the Hindu majority, who make up about 80% of the 1.4 billion people living in the country. His supporters credit him with economic growth and bettering the country's global standing.

Opponents say he has undermined India's democracy and secular tradition in favor of Hindu nationalist policies that have sidelined Muslims. Critics have also noted decreasing freedom for the media and a mixed economic record that includes high unemployment and inequality, despite growth.

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Imprisoned firebrand politician wins election in Indian Kashmir

By Muheet Ul Islam June 10, 2024

On June 4, 2024, the Langate neighborhood in Kupwara district on the Indian side of Kashmir reverberated with chants of "Cooker, cooker, pressure cooker," after the local election commission office declared election results for the three constituencies in the region.

The results were part of the Indian general elections that ended June 1. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) failed to secure an absolute majority in the voting but he retained office for a rare third term with the support of the Telugu Desam Party, or TDP, and Janata Dal United, or JDU.

Kashmir Valley exit polls normally favor the oldest regional political party, the National Conference, or NC. In the recent election, however, imprisoned firebrand politician Sheikh Abdul Rashid, popularly known as "Engineer Rashid," won a landslide victory.

He defeated Omar Abdullah, former chief minister and vice president of the NC, and Sajad Ghani Lone, a separatist-turned-mainstream politician and founder of the People's Conference, or PC, by over 200,000 votes.

Rashid was arrested days before the government of India revoked the disputed Himalayan region's semiautonomous status in August 2019. He was later charged in a terror-funding case and is currently imprisoned in New Delhi's Tihar jail.

He is also the founder of the Awami Ittehad Party, or AIP.

"My father showed interest after being approached by his party members. He said that he would contest the election from the Baramulla parliamentary constituency if the AIP members thought he was a good fit for the position," Abrar Rashid, son of Engineer Rashid, told VOA. "AIP had decided to contest the election in October last year," he added.

AIP started its campaign late after filing the party chief's nomination papers on April 30. Despite low resources to cover his campaign expenses, the junior Rashid attracted a massive crowd in support of his father.

"Initially, the response was moderate. But soon people, especially youth, began showing great interest in our campaigns. They [youth] spent their own money to support the election campaign. We faced a minor issue, as we couldn't use our traditional party symbol, a cooking gas cylinder, because our party is not registered with the election commission," Rashid said, adding that a pressure cooker was chosen as a new symbol, and it became popular among the masses in the region.

Political analysts attribute Engineer Rashid's landslide victory as an outcome of sympathy and resistance politics.

"It was altogether a sympathy vote where people thought Engineer Rashid would be released soon after being elected as a member of parliament from north Kashmir," Muzamil Maqbool, a political analyst and host of the podcast "Plain Talk," told VOA.

"Secondly, people, especially the youth, are sick and tired of the same old dynasty politicking. They didn't see Omar Abdullah or Sajad Lone as suitable candidates to represent them in the Indian parliament," Maqbool added.

AIP disagreed, saying Rashid did not win because of sympathy votes but because of the party agenda, which includes the "unconditional release of all prisoners, the preservation of the culture and identity of Jammu and Kashmir, and ensuring full respect for human rights and freedom of expression of the local population."

"Engineer Rashid has already proven himself as an honest, humble, pro-poor and fearless leader. Despite being imprisoned in Tihar since 4 August 2019 for speaking up for the people of Kashmir he remains calm and committed to his duty," AIP spokesperson Firdous Baba said. "Engineer Rashid left his office to represent the nation, inventing a style of politics that brought him suffering but gave hope to the people. His arrest was due to his true interpretation of Kashmir, and he has remained steadfast in his position despite the challenges."

Sheikh Showkat Hussain, a Kashmiri political analyst and a prominent scholar of human rights and international law, also believes that sympathy worked for AIP and its founder.

"I would say sympathy, as well as his continued identification with resistance politics, played a crucial part in his victory," Hussain said. "People had a third option a a former chief minister, a proxy candidate and a person in jail," he said, referring to Lone, who was covertly supported by Modi's BJP, without mentioning his name.

Rashid's charisma was not confined to the north, as people from south and central Kashmir voluntarily campaigned for him a igniting the flame that led to his victory.

"Engineer Rashid is the voice of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, and I felt the need to support him," Mudasir Thoker, a resident of south Kashmir's Shopian district, told VOA. "I traveled from south to north continuously for 18 hours to extend my support. My message was clear that the youth of Jammu and Kashmir will support a leader who understands the struggles of the local population."

Kashmir is a disputed territory between India and Pakistan. The two nuclear-armed South Asian neighboring countries control different parts of the Himalayan territory since their independence from British rule in 1947. A small portion is also under Chinese control.

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Chinese FM Wang Yi expresses China's willingness to strengthen strategic coordination with Iran, fully utilizing the BRICS mechanism in reforming and improving global governance

Global Times

By Global Times Published: Jun 10, 2024 11:44 PM

China's top diplomat Wang Yi welcomed Iran's participation as a formal member for the first time at the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting, expressing China's willingness to strengthen strategic coordination with Iran, fully utilize the BRICS mechanism in reforming and improving global governance, further enhance the influence and voice of Global South countries, and promote the international order toward a more just and reasonable direction.

Member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi met Iranian Acting Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, on June 10, 2024 local time.

During the meeting, Wang once again expressed condolences for the unfortunate deaths of late Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and late Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian in a helicopter accident. Wang said that during this period, the Iranian nation has undergone a significant test. As a comprehensive strategic partner, China supports the Iranian government and people in adhering to their established domestic and foreign policies and maintaining their independence, sovereignty, stability and development. China wishes Iran's presidential election to be successfully held.

According to Wang, through the joint efforts of both sides, China-Iran relations have maintained healthy and steady development, thanks to the long-standing traditional friendship and the high level political mutual trust between the two countries.

Currently, China-Iran relations are at a crucial stage of building on past achievements and advancing forward, Wang said, noting that China is willing to work with Iran, with a strategic perspective on China-Iran relations, to steer the development direction of the bilateral relations, solidly advance pragmatic cooperation in various fields, and comprehensively deepen coordination in regional and international affairs to contribute more to regional and global peace and stability.

China will continue to support Iran and Saudi Arabia in their efforts to improve relations and achieve lasting good-neighborliness and friendship in the region, Wang said.

On behalf of the Iranian government, Bagheri expressed gratitude to the Chinese side for extending condolences over the unfortunate deaths of Iran's late President Ebrahim Raisi and late Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, and for sending a special representative to attend the mourning activities.

Bagheri said Iran is committed to strengthening its strategic relations with China, enhancing cooperation in various fields, and continuously advancing the bilateral relationship. Under the current international situation, developing strong China-Iran relations not only benefits the people of both countries but also contributes to regional and global peace and stability, which will be conducive to the establishment of a more equitable and reasonable international order and safeguarding the legitimate rights of developing countries.

Iran adheres to the one-China principle and supports China's efforts to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity. Iran appreciates China's commitment to multilateralism and its dedication to upholding fairness and justice in international affairs, Bagheri said, adding that Iran is willing to strengthen communication and coordination with China on international and regional affairs, jointly uphold multilateralism, and seek solutions to global issues.

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Many nations seeking to obtain Iranian drones: Iran Air Force commander

ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency

Mon / 10 June 2024 / 15:58

Brigadier General Hamid Vahedi, commander of the Iran Air Force, announced that several countries are interested in obtaining the domestically developed unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) produced by Iranian military experts.

Tehran -ISNA- During his visit to the Shahid Yasini Tactical Air Base in the southern port city of Bushehr, Vahedi emphasized that the Iran Air Force and other branches of the Iranian Armed Forces have successfully developed a diverse range of drones with varying operational capabilities.

The brigadier general underscored the substantial advancements Iran's military industries achieved since the victory of the Islamic Revolution in 1979.

Iran's military officials have reiterated that a number of Western countries have approached the Iranian military department with a desire to acquire Iranian combat drones.

Iran showcased in January its strategic combat, reconnaissance, destruction, and radar drones. The UAVs, including the strategic multi-purpose Ababil-4 and Ababil-5 drones, were designed and manufactured by the Iranian Defense Ministry in cooperation with the Iranian Army, despite facing Western sanctions.

Additionally, the UAVs included Arash and Bavar drones, designed for destruction and precision-strike missions, as well as Karrar, a jet-powered drone capable of performing a range of target, combat, and aerial interception missions.

The upgraded Iranian drones are equipped with self-protection, anti-electronic warfare, and indigenous navigation systems, along with smart precision-strike weapons. They also enjoy modern capabilities for integration with other weapon systems and network-based operations.

End Item

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Iran determined to further deepen strategic ties with Russia: Interim FM

Iran Press TV

Monday, 10 June 2024 4:14 PM

Iran's interim Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani says the country is determined to expand its strategic relations with Russia.

Bagheri Kani made the remarks in Moscow on Monday in a meeting with Igor Levitin, who serves as a senior aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

He said that late Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi who died in a helicopter crash last month along with Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian both had emphasized the need for Iran to have deep relations with Russia.

The top diplomat said that efforts to complete a joint Iranian-Russian project to build a railway between cities of Rasht and Astara in northern Iran must be accelerated to enable the two countries to benefit from increased transit of cargo on the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC).

"We will use all our potentials for the implementation of the strategic projects between the two countries that could serve their high interests," said Bagheri.

Levitin, for his part, renewed his condolences on the martyrdom of Iranian president and foreign minister while reiterating that top Russian authorities will honor agreements signed between leaders of the two countries in recent years.

He said he will pay a visit to Iran in the near future to supervise joint projects, adding that Russia plans to link the INSTC with other transit corridors in the region to boost transportation cooperation between Moscow and Tehran.

Bagheri was in Russia to attend a ministerial meeting of the BRICS grouping of developing economies.

He held other meetings with top diplomats from Russia, China, Brazil and Belarus on the sidelines of the event.

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IAEA's political resolution won't hinder Iran's nuclear development: Interim FM

Iran Press TV

Monday, 10 June 2024 3:34 PM

Iran's interim foreign minister says a politically-motivated resolution issued by the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will fail to impede efforts by the Islamic Republic to implement its nuclear development plans.

Ali Bagheri Kani made the remarks in an address to the foreign ministerial meeting of the member states of the BRICS group of countries in the Russian city of Nizhny Novgorod on Monday.

He said the move by the three European parties to the 2015 nuclear deal - Britain, France and Germany - to spearhead the IAEA resolution against Tehran was in line with their failed policies to abuse international mechanisms to obtain their own political goals against independent countries.

The E3 move against Iran will cause more tension, Bagheri Kani said.

The interim foreign minister said Tehran will continue to cooperate with the IAEA based on its rights and commitments stipulated in the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and the Safeguards Agreement.

The 35-member Board of Governors passed a resolution on June 5, accusing Iran of withholding sufficient cooperation with the IAEA.

Ratified by 20 votes in favor, two against and 12 abstentions, the resolution proposed by the E3 demands that the Islamic Republic step up its cooperation with the IAEA and provide "technically credible explanations which satisfy the Agency's questions."

The resolution also supports the IAEA to pursue its dialogue with Iran to clarify all outstanding safeguards issues.

BRICS driving force to make better world

Bagheri Kani said the current unjust and undemocratic structures in the world are incapable of solving problems and changing the global chaotic situation. However, BRICS has drawn up major plans to rectify the unfair systems and turn into a driving force to build a better world, he added.

The top Iranian diplomat said BRICS has proved it seeks to find more effective solutions to challenges facing regional and international security and stability.

The ongoing developments in the Gaza Strip and its southern city of Rafah clearly show the unjust nature of the Western international system, Bagheri Kani said.

Iran believes full establishment of peace, stability and security in West Asia hinges on a complete end to Israel's occupation and its nuclear disarmament, the Iranian official said.

Iran has proposed holding a national referendum with the participation of the original inhabitants of Palestine, including Muslims, Jews, and Christians to determine their own destiny and future political structure and the establishment of a West Asia free of weapons of mass destruction and nuclear arms, Bagheri Kani stated.

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Profile: Ghazizadeh Hashemi, Ex-Lawmaker, Head of Martyrs' Foundation

Iran Press TV

Monday, 10 June 2024 10:39 AM

By Press TV Website Staff

Iran's 12-member election supervisory body, the Constitutional Council, has approved six candidates to participate in the upcoming presidential election scheduled for June 28.

Among those approved is Seyyed Amir-Hossein Ghazizadeh Hashemi, a former parliamentarian who now heads the organization that oversees the welfare of the families of veterans and martyrs.

Iran is set to hold a snap presidential election on June 28, one year earlier than expected, following the martyrdom of President Ebrahim Raeisi in a tragic helicopter crash in northwestern Iran on May 19.

The candidates approved by the Islamic Republic's top vetting body will have two weeks for campaigning and presidential debates before the polling takes place.

Hashemi was born in 1971 in Fariman, a city in northeastern Razavi Khorasan province. His father, a baker by profession, has two other sons and four daughters.

He was raised in a religious and revolutionary family. His grandfather was a strong opponent of the anti-Islamic policies and practices of the West-backed Pahlavi dynasty regime.

His younger brother, Seyyed Ahsan Ghazizadeh Hashemi, is a politician who represented the constituency of Fariman and Sarakhs in the parliament.

Hashemi is a cousin of Seyyed Hossein Ghazizadeh Hashemi, a former representative of Fariman and Sarakhs, and Seyyed Hassan Ghazizadeh Hashemi, who served as the health minister in Hassan Rouhani's government.

As a teenager, he actively participated in the last years of the Iraq-Iran war and was wounded in the leg, requiring surgery.

After returning from the war, he studied medicine at Mashhad University of Medical Sciences and graduated as an ENT specialist. He got married in 1997 and has a son and a daughter.

Hashemi was chosen as the vice president of the Khorasan Veterans Foundation in 2002 and became a member of the board of trustees of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences.

He worked as an associate professor at Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences and was the president of Semnan University of Medical Sciences before becoming a member of parliament.

Hashemi entered the 8th parliament in 2008 as a representative of Mashhad and Kalat constituency and also participated in the 9th, 10th, and 11th legislatures until 2021.

He is a member of the Central Council of the Front of Islamic Revolution Stability and served as the party spokesperson from 2013 to 2014. From 2020 to 2021, he served as the deputy spokesperson of the parliament.

In 2021, he was appointed vice president of Iran and head of the Foundation of Martyrs and Veterans Affairs, a government body that looks after the welfare of veterans and families of martyrs.

In the same year, he participated in the presidential election and, with slightly more than a million votes, finished fourth among the candidates before backing the candidacy of Ebrahim Raeisi.

On June 3, the last day of registration, Hashemi filed his nomination again and at a press conference spoke about his political vision for the country.

He praised President Raeisi's perseverance and dedicated work to solve people's problems, adding that the Iranian people still face problems and challenges that must be addressed.

Hashemi promised to remove the barriers between the government and the people, emphasizing the need for a significant number of elite youth to enter the country's administrative services to revolutionize mechanisms and transform the model.

He considers himself a rival to the century-old state-oriented bureaucracy and closed management circles that, according to him, ignore the country's capacities.

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Profile: Masoud Pezeshkian, Lawmaker and Former Health Minister

Iran Press TV

Monday, 10 June 2024 8:50 AM

By Press TV Website Staff

The Constitutional Council, Iran's 12-member election supervisory body, approved six candidates on Saturday to run in the upcoming presidential vote after a meticulous vetting process.

Among the approved candidates is Masoud Pezeshkian, a former Minister of Health and a seasoned lawmaker who has also previously served as the deputy parliament speaker.

Iran is set to hold a snap presidential election on June 28, one year earlier than expected, following the martyrdom of President Ebrahim Raeisi in a helicopter crash in northwestern Iran on May 19.

The candidates approved by the country's top vetting body will have two weeks for campaigning and presidential debates before the voting takes place later this month.

Born on September 29, 1954, in the city of Mahabad, West Azarbaijan province, Pezeshkian currently represents the northwestern city of Tabriz in the 12th Iranian parliament.

His political journey has been remarkable, rising through the ranks to hold the important cabinet portfolio of Health Minister under President Mohammad Khatami (2001-2005).

A seasoned parliamentarian, Pezeshkian was elected in the 8th, 9th, 10th, and 11th parliaments. Between 2016 and 2020, he also held the position of the first deputy speaker.

He previously ran for the presidency in 2013 and 2021 but both times failed to make headway.

A cardiac surgeon by training, Pezeshkian previously also served as the chancellor of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences and currently is a member of the academic staff at the prestigious university in northern Iran.

After receiving approval from the country's top election supervisory body to run in the June 28 election on Saturday, he took to X (formerly Twitter), using #For-Iran as his election slogan.

He introduced his plans, emphasizing the importance of entrusting tasks to experienced and knowledgeable individuals in his potential administration.

He also announced Javad Zarif, the former Iranian Foreign Minister, as his choice to head the country's foreign ministry, while vowing to implement the directives of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei.

Pezeshkian officially joined the race for the top executive office on June 1, the third day of registration, at the Interior Ministry in Tehran, accompanied by a group of supporters.

He underscored the importance of unity and coherence among all political factions in the country, emphasizing the significance of competence, skill, and experience over political affiliations.

He also expressed condolences over the martyrdom of President Ebrahim Raeisi and his companions in the helicopter crash, and emphasized adherence to the directives set forth by the Leader of the Islamic Revolution and the country's constitution, urging their effective implementation.

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Iran's Air Defense Force made 'leaping progress' in recent years: Commander

Iran Press TV

Monday, 10 June 2024 6:36 AM

The chief commander of the Iranian Army's Air Defense Force has hailed the achievements of his forces in recent years, saying they have made "leaping progress" by exercising self-reliance.

Brigadier General Alireza Sabahifard said the Army's Air Defense Force is in possession of a variety of systems that enable it to react to any possible threats in a timely manner.

The force, he continued, has also made great strides in specialized areas, especially in the field of developing different types of drones and radars.

"As a manifestation of the power of the Islamic Iran, the Air Defense Force has been able to achieve significant progress through self-belief and self-confidence," Sabahifard said on Sunday.

"The progress and development of this specialized force in the past years has been very accelerated and leaping."

Iranian military experts and engineers have in recent years made remarkable breakthroughs in manufacturing a broad range of indigenous equipment, making the armed forces self-sufficient.

Iranian officials have repeatedly underscored that the country will not hesitate to strengthen its military capabilities which are entirely meant for defense, and that Iran's defense capabilities will be never subject to negotiations.

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has repeatedly called for efforts to maintain and boost Iran's defense capabilities.

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Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's opening remarks during a meeting with Acting Foreign Minister of Iran Ali Bagheri Kani on the sidelines of the BRICS Foreign Ministers Meeting, Nizhny Novgorod, June 10, 2024

10 June 2024 17:47

1099-10-06-2024



Thank you for attending this meeting and for the opportunity to have a bilateral discussion with you.

I would like to yet again extend my heartfelt condolences on the passing of President of Iran Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian. We will always remember them not only as great sons of the Islamic Republic of Iran but also as loyal friends of Russia. Together, we accomplished much and established several promising plans for cooperation in the interests of our peoples.

We appreciate our Iranian friends' commitment to maintaining the continuity of our relations and their unwavering stance on advancing mutually beneficial cooperation in all areas. We confirm our full support and reciprocation of this position.

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Benny Gantz quits Netanyahu's War Cabinet

ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency

Mon / 10 June 2024 / 15:57

A key member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's war cabinet, Benny Gantz, has announced his withdrawal from the country's war cabinet.

Tehran -ISNA- Israeli War Cabinet Minister Benny Gantz announced Sunday in a televised address his resignation from the Israeli war cabinet, calling it a painful decision.

"Leaving the government is a complex and painful decision," he said. However, he rescinded his sorrow by underlining that the Israeli regime was dealing hesitantly with existential issues based on the political interests of a few.

Gantz also acknowledged the failure to secure the release of Israeli captives from Gaza. He emphasized that "true victory prioritizes the return of hostages over political considerations."

Highlighting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's role in obstructing a genuine victory, Gantz admitted that "there will be no quick and easy victory," and warned that "the war will continue for years."

Regarding the situation in the northern settlements of occupied Palestine, where confrontations with Hezbollah persist, Gantz called for the return of settlers to the region and the establishment of a regional alliance.

Shortly after the announcement, another minister without portfolio, former IDF Chief of Staff, Gadi Eisenkot, also resigned from the cabinet. Yechiel Tropper, a member of the Knesset, made the same announcement.

End Item

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Israeli War Cabinet Member Gantz Says Resigned From Netanyahu's Emergency Government

Sputnik News

20240610

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Israeli war cabinet member Benny Gantz said that he had decided to quit Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's emergency government over its handling of the Gaza conflict.

"Netanyahu is preventing us from advancing toward true victory. That is why we are leaving the emergency government today, with a heavy heart but with full confidence," Gantz said in a televised address on Sunday.

Gantz also called on Netanyahu to set a date for early elections.

In mid-May, Gantz said that he would resign from the emergency government if a new plan for a military operation in the Gaza Strip was not adopted by June 8.

A Sputnik

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June 10, 2024

Release

Readout of Under Secretary of Defense Dr. William LaPlante's Visit to Japan

Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment (USD(A&S)) Dr. William LaPlante traveled to Tokyo, Japan to launch the Inaugural U.S. a Japan Defense Industrial Cooperation, Acquisition, and Sustainment (DICAS) Forum with his Japanese counterpart, Masaki Fukasawa, Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics Agency Commissioner (ATLA). Below is a readout of the week's events:

DICAS Inaugural Meeting

On Sunday, June 9, USD(A&S) LaPlante and Commissioner Fukasawa, who serve as DICAS co-chairs, signed the Terms of Reference to restructure the Systems and Technology Forum into the DICAS. In accordance with the U.S. a Japan Joint Statement issued in April, both sides agreed to promote greater U.S. a Japan defense industrial cooperation under the DICAS and accelerate coordination towards co-development, co-production, and co-sustainment. ATLA also welcomed the publication of the National Defense Industrial Strategy (NDIS) and the Regional Sustainment Framework (RSF) by the Department of Defense.

The co-chairs concurred on the following principles to further defense industrial cooperation:

Making projects mutually beneficial to both sides by, including but not limited to, promoting technology transfer.

Each side should remain flexible in the pursuit of actions and policies enabling the advancement of our respective defense industrial bases.

All relevant stakeholders should work together to overcome identified challenges/hurdles.

DOD should work to deepen its understanding of Japanese industrial capabilities.

USD(A&S) LaPlante and Commissioner Fukasawa also agreed to establish working groups for further discussions on identifying opportunities for missile co-production, co-sustainment of forward-deployed U.S. Navy ships and U.S. Air Force aircraft, and supply chain resiliency for priority defense requirements, in partnership with U.S. and Japanese industry.

DICAS Industry Round Table

On Monday, June 10, USD(A&S) LaPlante and Commissioner Fukasawa hosted a DICAS Industry Round Table with U.S. and Japanese prime contractors. USD(A&S) LaPlante provided an overview of the NDIS and RSF and both co-chairs took questions from Japanese companies. In addition, the companies spoke about issues they have faced and their expectations for the DICAS to alleviate some of the roadblocks to cooperation.

At the conclusion of the Round Table, USD(A&S) LaPlante and Commissioner Fukasawa formally launched ship repair discussions, in coordination with the DICAS. The U.S. Navy and its counterparts from ATLA and the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Forces will co-chair the Ship Repair Working Group meeting on June 11. Dr. LaPlante noted that A&S looks forward to participating in these ship repair discussions and reporting out at the next DICAS meeting.

Visit to F-35 FACO and Regional Depot Facilities

Following the DICAS Industry Round Table, LaPlante visited the F-35 Final Assembly and Check Out (FACO) facility and regional aircraft depot at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries' Komaki South Plant. Dr. LaPlante stated that he highly valued the stable operation of the F-35 FACO in Japan and steady progress of the examination toward the Maintenance, Repair, Overhaul, and Upgrade capability and as a regional depot in the Indo-Pacific.

https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3800838/

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EU-Kazakhstan: 21st Cooperation Committee Meeting held in Brussels

European External Action Service (EEAS)

10.06.2024

EEAS Press Team

On 6 June, in Brussels, the European Union and the Republic of Kazakhstan held their 21st meeting of the Cooperation Committee. The EU acknowledged the positive dynamics in EU-Kazakhstan bilateral relations and expressed its commitment to maintain the momentum and further enhance this relationship. The EU and Kazakhstan exchanged views on topics of common interest in the current challenging geopolitical context. The EU welcomed Kazakhstan's principled position in support of the international rules-based order and the UN Charter, as well as for its constructive role at regional and global level.

The EU welcomed the political and socio-economic reforms undertaken under the leadership of President Tokayev and encouraged Kazakhstan to purse this reform path. The two sides discussed ways to achieve further progress in the field of human rights, including conducting a full, transparent and independent investigation into the tragic January 2022 events that resulted in the death of over 200 people.

The EU remains Kazakhstan's first trading partner and the biggest foreign investor in Kazakhstan. The EU underlined the importance of improving Kazakhstan's business climate to take full advantage of the economic possibilities under the EU-Kazakhstan Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (EPCA). The EU encouraged Kazakhstan to continue its efforts on preventing circumvention of EU sanctions against Russia and Belarus.

The EU and Kazakhstan took stock of continued progress on connectivity. Following the successful Global Gateway Investors' Forum for EU-Central Asia Transport Connectivity (29-30 January 2024, Brussels), the EU is advancing on delivering the EUR 10 billion pledge in the form of ongoing and planned investments in sustainable transport connectivity in Central Asia. The EU thanked Kazakhstan for hosting the upcoming launch of the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor (TCTC) Coordination Platform in Astana on 12 June 2024.

The two sides also discussed cooperation on critical raw materials, energy security, green transition and fighting climate change. Kazakhstan remains a reliable energy supplier for the EU. The EU welcomed growing cooperation in education and research and expressed readiness to continue joint work on people-to-people mobility, including by opening up the aviation space. The EU looked forward to the initialling of the Horizontal Aviation Agreement as soon as possible.

The Cooperation Committee also discussed EU-Central Asia regional cooperation, including in the field of education, water and environment, rule of law, security, counter-terrorism, fighting drug trafficking and border management.

The meeting was chaired by Deputy Managing Director for Europe and Central Asia, European External Action Service, Luc Devigne and Deputy Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan, Roman Vassilenko.

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Imprisoned Former Kazakh PM Asks President For Clemency

By RFE/RL's Kazakh Service June 10, 2024

Karim Masimov, a once-powerful politician who twice served as Kazakhstan's prime minister, has officially asked President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev for clemency from a treason conviction dating to when he was the chief of the National Security Committee (KNB).

Informburo.kz website quoted KNB officials on June 10 as saying that Masimov, who is serving an 18-year prison sentence on charges of high treason and attempting to seize power during unrest in 2022, had filed papers asking for a presidential pardon in March.

The officials added that Masimov still faces charges of bribe-taking and money laundering, which are currently under investigation.

Masimov, a close ally of former President Nursultan Nazarbaev, was jailed in April 2023 over his role in deadly events that followed unprecedented anti-government protests in the former Soviet republic in January 2022.

The protests began in the southwestern town of Zhanaozen in January 2022 over a sudden fuel price hike. But the demonstrations, fueled by anger over corruption, political stagnation, and widespread injustice, quickly grew.

Much of the protesters' ire appeared directed at Nazarbaev, who ruled Kazakhstan from 1989 until March 2019, when he handed over power to President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev. However, Nazarbaev was widely believed to remain in control behind the scenes.

The protests were violently dispersed by police and military personnel, including troops of the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organization whom Toqaev invited into the country claiming that "20,000 extremists who were trained in terrorist camps abroad" had attacked Almaty.

The authorities have provided no evidence proving Toqaev's claim about foreign terrorists.

With reporting by Informburo.kz

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/kazakhstan-masimov-president- clemency/32986321.html

Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Airstrike targets insurgent meeting in Myanmar, 16 killed

Activists suspect junta forces got a tip-off about a meeting of anti-junta groups.

RFA Burmese 2024.06.10 -- A Myanmar military airstrike on a meeting of anti-junta activists in a monastery in central Myanmar killed 16 people, including two monks, and wounded 22 people, witnesses told Radio Free Asia.

The bloody raid in Let Pan Tan village was the latest in the central region of Sagaing, which has been rocked by violence since the military overthrew an elected government in 2021 triggering an insurgency by members of the majority Burman community in Myanmar's heartland.

Activists taking up arms against military rule have formed militias called People's Defense Forces, linking up with ethnic minority insurgent groups that have been battling for self-determination for decades in remote borderlands.

One witness close to a People's Defense Force said the military must have received a tip-off that the meeting was taking place on Saturday.

"The bombardment was carried out while the people were in the meeting due to leaked information. How would they know from so far away?" said the source who declined to be identified for security reasons.

"So it's clear we should consider that there are spies and informers in the village or near the village, who are secretly collecting information about us."

RFA was not able to contact People's Defense Force groups in the region. Sagaing's junta spokesperson, Nyunt Win Aung, did not answer telephone calls seeking comment.

While junta troops have been pushed back in several parts of the country since allied anti-junta fighters went on the offensive late last year, the military can unleash devastating force in seconds with its jets.

Anti-junta forces have no air power with the exception of drones, and little in the way of anti-aircraft weapon systems to face the threat.

On June 3, a junta airstrike on a wedding in Sagaing's Mingin township killed 33 people and wounded 64.

RFA has not been able to verify whether the civilians were among the casualties in Let Pan Tan, where numerous buildings, including a second monastery, were damaged, the witnesses said.

Military swoop for suspects

Nine people at the meeting were killed on the spot and seven died later of their wounds, residents said.

It was impossible to identify some of the victims, another witness, who also declined to be identified, told RFA.

"The bodies were badly damaged and disfigured," said the witness, adding that several victims were decapitated. "There are quite a lot of people who got severely hurt and had their arms or legs severed (in the blast). There isn't enough medicine for everyone."

Early on Sunday, a convoy of junta troops raided Let Pan Tan village and arrested about 10 people, including women, the witness said. RFA was not able to verify that information.

According to compiled data by the RFA, junta attacks have killed 662 civilians and injured 1,492 more nationwide from January to May 2024.

Translated by RFA Burmese. Edited by Kiana Duncan.

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.

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Myanmar junta troops tell residents of villages near Sittwe to leave by Friday

The military has been preparing for an attack on the Rakhine state capital by the rebel Arakan Army.

By RFA Burmese 2024.06.10 -- Junta troops ordered residents in western Myanmar, near the Rakhine state capital, to leave their villages ahead of anticipated attacks by the Arakan Army, an ethnic minority insurgent group that has been battling the military for control of territory.

The residents of five villages in Sittwe township were told on Saturday that they must move into Sittwe city by Friday, several residents told Radio Free Asia on Monday.

A resident said that troops threatened people with a massacre similar to what took place last month in nearby Byain Phyu village that left nearly 80 people dead and came amid intense fighting in the area between junta forces and the Arakan Army, or AA.

"The junta troops entered the villages in their military vehicles, and ordered those who can afford to move themselves," the resident said. "Those who cannot will be evacuated by junta vehicles."

"If the locals do not leave their villages during the specific period, they will experience similar incidents like Byaing Phyu village," he said.

The AA ended a ceasefire in November that had been in place during the military's February 2021 coup d'etat. It now occupies nine townships in Rakhine state, as well as Paletwa township in neighboring Chin state.

A battle between the AA and the junta for control of Sittwe has been anticipated for several months. Junta troops have been preparing for the defense of the city by deploying heavy weapons, warships and a large number of ground forces in the surrounding villages, several residents said.

Potential human shields

The five rural villages - Yae Chan Pyin, Aung Taing, Kyet Taw Pyin, Pa Lin Pyin and Ohn Yae Paw - are all located on the banks of the Mayu River.

A Sittwe resident said the junta may have concluded that AA troops would like to use the villages for their attack on the city.

"So, the junta has removed all people from the villages," he said. "They are making human shields to protect their base in Sittwe city."

The forced removal of people from their homes is a violation of human rights, AA spokesman Khaing Thukha said.

"It is different from the evacuation of people from conflict-affected areas," he said. "But now, people are being forced to move only into the city - not to any other areas."

The junta hasn't released any information about the removal of people from the five villages.

The junta's spokesman for Rakhne state, Hla Thein, didn't answer his telephone on Monday when RFA tried to call him for comment.

Translated by Aung Naing. Edited by Matt Reed and Malcolm Foster.

Copyright 1998-2024, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content 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.

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Junta hosts junket for Chinese travel agents in bid to attract tourists

Foreign visitors to Myanmar fell drastically following the Covid-19 pandemic and 2021 military coup.

By RFA Burmese 2024.06.10 -- More than 40 Chinese travel agency employees and social media influencers were given a junta-led tour of Mandalay, Yangon and the ancient city of Bagan last month in the latest effort by Myanmar's military rulers to boost a dwindling tourism industry.

The Covid-19 pandemic and the chaos and fighting that have plagued the country following the 2021 military coup have combined to deal a significant blow to tourism numbers.

More than 4 million tourists visited Myanmar in 2019, according to the World Tourism Federation. Those numbers plummeted to 130,000 in 2021 and 230,000 in 2022.

Even Bagan - a UNESCO World Heritage site that is home to soaring spires and iconic Buddhist pagodas and temples - remains empty of tour groups, according to a tour guide who, like other sources in this story, wished to remain anonymous for security reasons.

"Since the coup d'Atat, Bagan has had a complete absence of foreign visitors," he told Radio Free Asia. "Recently, guests from Spain emailed me expressing their desire to explore Bagan, but they also emphasized that Myanmar is not a safe destination given the current situation."

The Chinese delegation arrived for their visit - officially referred to as the "Myanmar-China Tourism Promotion Familiarization Trip" - on May 10. They were also scheduled to visit the seat of government, Naypyidaw, and the beach resort town of Ngwe Saung.

"The aim is to boost the number of Chinese tourists visiting Myanmar's destinations and raise awareness of Myanmar's destinations in the Chinese tourism market," according to the junta-controlled Myanmar News Agency.

'Irreparable damage' to the industry

But two foreign tour operators said they didn't think the effort would attract a rush of Chinese tourists.

"If you inquire whether success can be achieved, the answer is negative," one of the tour operators said.

Most people have already determined that a leisurely visit to Myanmar's most popular tourism sites would be "impossible" due to the situation on the ground, he said, referring to the armed conflict in much of the country between various anti-junta forces and the military.

There continue to be frequent shortages of electricity - something that has already forced some hotels to close, the second tour operator said.

"Over the past four years, the tourism industry has suffered irreparable damage," he said. "Unless the underlying issues are addressed, inviting guests won't attract visitors. After all, why would Chinese tourists risk their safety in an insecure destination?"

More visitors, more currency

International flights resumed to Myanmar in April 2022, more than a year after the coup. Since then, junta officials have attempted a number of tourism promotion strategies, and in 2023, the number of foreign visitors was recorded as 1.28 million.

Junta-controlled newspapers reported last month that Myanmar received 350,000 foreign tourists between January and March 2024, with China being the largest source, followed by Thailand.

But those numbers may simply reflect the type of visas people select when traveling to Myanmar for business or other purposes, several tour guides and travel agencies officials told RFA. It's easier to enter Myanmar on a tourism visa than with other visa categories, they said.

The increase in visitors - for whatever purpose - brings in much needed foreign currency, a Myanmar's Ministry of Hotels and Tourism spokesman said.

"The recent surge in tourist arrivals has significantly boosted revenue," he said. "During the Covid-19 pandemic, tourism came to a standstill due to travel restrictions. But the situation has improved, and visitors are gradually returning."

The junta has also made efforts to attract Indian and Russian visitors. Last September, it announced direct flights from Yangon and Mandalay to Russia's third most populous city, Novosibirsk.

Translated by Kalyar Lwin. Edited by Matt Reed and Malcolm Foster.

Copyright 1998-2024, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content 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.

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Key takeaways from Pakistani PM's visit to China

By Sarah Zaman June 10, 2024

Pakistani government officials are hailing as a success a recent five-day visit to China by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Observers, however, say that despite the usual display of warm relations from both sides, hurdles remain in improving the economic partnership between Beijing and Islamabad, largely because of Pakistan's poor policies.

Prime Minister Sharif's visit to China late last week comes as Pakistan is seeking more foreign investment and looking to boost exports to help with its economic crisis amid security concerns.

At a press conference Monday, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar called the visit "extremely successful and historic."

"The fruits of the historic visit to China will reach the people of Pakistan," Tarar said.

Sharif visited China at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart, Premier Li Qiang, with whom he held delegation-level talks in Beijing. Sharif also visited Shenzhen and Xi'an to help build business-to-business ties and to observe China's advancements in agriculture, technology, and business facilitation.

China-Pakistan economic corridor

In China, both sides committed to "forging an upgraded version" of the multi-billion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, or CPEC, by boosting construction, mining and exploration, and industrial cooperation.

Some critics say in its bid to ramp up CPEC, Pakistan is ignoring some harsh lessons from the first decade of the energy and infrastructure project.

"The corridor's original sin was that Pakistan signed up for a large number of projects that added obligations in foreign currencies and this conflicted with Pakistan's domestic-oriented exchange rate and industrial policies," said economist Ali Hasanain. "Those obligations have gradually and predictably narrowed Pakistan's fiscal space," added Hasanain, an associate professor at Lahore University of Management Sciences.

Pakistan owes more than $7.5 billion in project debt to power plants set up under CPEC. The country also owes nearly $2 billion in circular debt, or unpaid bills, to Chinese power producers.

Unable to boost exports on the back of new roads and added power generation capacity acquired through CPEC, Pakistan now faces a debt crisis where it is seeking new loans to pay past debt.

Many Pakistani economists blame Islamabad for the crisis.

Hasanain pointed to the Sharif government's push to upgrade a crumbling cross-country railway line as an example of CPEC projects that will add to the country's debt burden. The scope of the much-delayed Mainline-1 or ML-1 project has been reduced to bring down the cost, but the roughly $6.8 billion project is struggling to attract Chinese investment.

"While this upgradation will eventually be needed, there has been little consideration of the financial stress it will cause, and how the country will honor resultant obligations in the future," Hasanain told VOA.

Economic cooperation

According to a joint statement issued at the end of the visit, China and Pakistan signed 23 agreements and Memoranda of Understanding, or MOUs, in a myriad of fields including cooperation on agriculture, infrastructure, industrial cooperation, inter-governmental development assistance, market regulation, surveying and mapping, media, and film.

Ammar Habib Khan, a Karachi-based business affairs expert, says Chinese firms are interested in investing in Pakistan because it is a strategic partner.

"Economic impact extends much longer into the future, maybe 30, 40, even 50 years. With a 30-year horizon or a 20-year horizon it makes sense to continue to invest in Pakistan," Khan said, adding that the first phase of CPEC has been successful given the infrastructure development it brought.

More than 100 Pakistani business leaders accompanied Sharif on the trip that included a convention with Chinese businesses.

"There is an opportunity here to bring lots of Chinese energy-intensive industry to Pakistan where a lot of surplus power can essentially be used," Khan said. "CPEC 2.0 will actually be more about utilizing the infrastructure that is in the country and how it can be optimized."

Khan acknowledged that the renewed focus on CPEC would require Pakistan to first fix its finances.

The joint statement noted Beijing will encourage companies to invest in Pakistan in accordance with the market and commercial principles, signaling that it will not push firms to take unwanted risks or to give any concession to Pakistani companies.

Debt relief

Pakistan's nearly $375 billion economy is facing a debt burden of almost $290 billion. According to data compiled by CEIC, an online economic database, Pakistan's foreign debt is close to $130 billion.

Chinese officials say around 13 percent of Pakistan's external debt is owed to China, but the International Monetary Fund put the figure at almost 30 percent in a 2022 report.

Experts believe China will have to restructure the debt Pakistan owes. During Sharif's visit, however, no public statement was issued on the topic.

"The Pakistani side entered these meetings with realistically low expectations about winning concessions in the form of restructuring Pakistan's outstanding debt to China. Some form of relief may yet come, but is unlikely to be significant," said Hasanain.

Khan believes, even if China agrees to much-needed debt restructuring with Pakistan, it will do so quietly.

"They [the Chinese] are dealing with around 50 countries, all needing some kind of debt relief. If they [Chinese] give public statements, that basically becomes a precedence," he said.

Security

During the visit, the Pakistani leader, along with the country's powerful army chief, Gen. Asim Munir, held talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping for more than three hours.

The security of Chinese nationals in Pakistan is a key concern for Beijing. Five Chinese workers died in a suicide attack in northwest Pakistan in March, while at least a dozen more have died in targeted attacks in recent years.

"The fact that the army chief accompanied the prime minister shows that we are taking security issues seriously," Tarar told the press Monday. "We did not spare any effort in satisfying China's security concerns."

Naghmana Hashmi, a former Pakistani ambassador to China, told VOA that Beijing is talking tough with Islamabad on the security of Chinese nationals to avoid a backlash from its own people.

"Their people ask questions, their journalists ask questions that here is our best friend and we don't have people dying anywhere except when they go to Pakistan," Hashmi said. "Now, everybody does not understand the politics of it so the optics of it are very bad," the former diplomat said, reiterating Pakistani officials' stance that adversaries want to derail CPEC.

In the joint statement at the end of the visit, Beijing appreciated Pakistan's probe of the March 26 attack.

"[The Chinese side] ... 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," the statement continued.

Pakistan has blamed the attack on militants based in Afghanistan. In the joint statement, both sides called on Afghanistan to "firmly combat terrorism, including not allowing its territory to be used for terrorist acts."

The ruling Afghan Taliban have rejected Pakistan's assertion that militants based in Afghanistan attacked Chinese nationals, saying Islamabad is attempting to poison Kabul's relations with Beijing.

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I have often wondered what the future of the Kingdom of Eswatini looks like. As one age above 50, one finds oneself reflecting with greater wisdom on many life issues. God has been good to me and I have had the opportunity to travel extensively worldwide. I have recently travelled to South Korea and India. My mind is particularly drawn to South Korea, where I realised development is unimaginable, given that South Korea was poorer than most African countries only 50 years ago. The Korean wars devastated the country.

The capital, Soul, is way above anything we can imagine back in Africa. These are the same people who suffered colonialism and post-colonial dictators just like most African countries. EmaSwati had it even better than all African countries in that we never experienced civil war, political violence, and oppression on the scale of many of our fellow Africans, and indeed, many Asian countries. I imagined a car industry developing within the kingdom pioneered by emaSwati and supported by the government as a national project. We have reopened the iron ore mines and now we need to develop it further.



Identifying one product to sell

One of the greatest advantages we have as a nation is the fact that we have a King who can influence thinking nationwide. If I had a chance to speak to him one-on-one, I would ask him to use his influence to channel all the efforts we have as emaSwati towards producing one product to sell to the world. And that product would be a vehicle. We would bring together all our greatest minds and try to identify products within the car industry in which we can excel; an industry in which we, as emaSwati, can become a world market leader in the next 50 years. Botswana is now the worlds number one diamond-producing country by value. The diamond industry accounts for 30 per cent of the countrys GDP and 80 per cent of its exports. We may not have diamonds but we have iron ore.

Car industry Eswatini

Imagine if King Sobhuza II had the vision to start a car industry in the early 1960s, just when the Hyundai Motor Company in South Korea was starting. He would have demanded that the Japanese buy our iron ore on condition that they start a small steel-making factory in Swaziland. A team of emaSwati engineers would have travelled to Japan with the specific goal of learning components within the car industry, that could be manufactured locally. We have historically some of the oldest iron ore mines in the world, but we have no steel industry. Our local iron ore mines have reopened. My prayer is that government establish the Royal Steelworks Company, with the specific and consensus decision to start a car manufacturing industry. The government would deliberately support this industry by introducing an African car in the next 10 years. The interesting feature of the car industry is that it has the potential to produce many components which could be sold internationally.

The initial stage would involve buying components internationally and putting the vehicle together locally by the Royal Steelworks Company. Every part could be bought internationally and assembled locally. There is a market for a robust durable cheap African vehicle that can be a workhouse for the agriculture sector. We as emaSwati once built a tractor/lorry called Tinkhabi. It was half tractor half pickup three-tonne lorry. The government would then support the company by hiring only local products for agriculture. Within a few years, Tinkhabi would be exported initially throughout Africa and eventually, the whole world. The concept would develop into agricultural vehicles and all kinds of agricultural planting and harvesting vehicles. Africa needs food to feed a growing population in the next 50 years.



International trade statistics

It is very frightening to realise that we are nowhere in teams of international trade as an African continent. The African share of global trade remained at less than three per cent, driven largely by merchandise trade. The Bible speaks of great sea-trading nations and is not referring to us. World overall, the total trade (both merchandise and services) slightly decreased in 2023, with exports at USD 31.6 trillion (down by 1.1 per cent) and imports at USD 31.5 trillion (down by 2.1 per cent) compared to 2022 of which Africa contributed only three per cent. The question stands: If Africa has only three per cent to sell to the world how are we to industrialise and develop? The whole African continent has no African-designed, manufactured and internationally or regionally distributed vehicle.

Mauritius is now a financial service hub from an island state of about 1.26 million people (2022) just like us. Mauritius is a beacon of economic success in Sub-Saharan Africa, having evolved from a low-income, sugarcane-dependent nation in the 1960s (just like Eswatini) to an upper-middle-income country with a per capita income surpassing US$10 000. This remarkable transformation was rooted in a stable democracy and a relatively diversified economy that now includes tourism, manufacturing, fisheries, ICT, and financial services, the latter contributing 40 per cent of GDP.

Eswatini cannot easily emulate Mauritius when it comes to financial services simply because of our politics. We are not considered politically stable enough or democratic enough to qualify as a financial hub the international community can trust. One day we will elect our prime minister and government, through our locally developed Tinkhundla political system or some hybrid democratic Political System and we will qualify. Luckily, we have minerals including iron ore and coal which can be used to produce steel including stainless steel.



Hyundai Motor Company

In 1967, Hyundai Motor Company was founded. The following year, the construction of the companys Ulsan assembly plant was completed. Today, it is the worlds largest integrated automobile manufacturing facility, with an annual production capacity of 1.6 million cars. In 1968, the Cortina was the very first vehicle successfully assembled by Hyundai at its Ulsan plant, in cooperation with Ford Motor Company their technical partner.

Following the Cortinas initial success and eventual dominance of the European market, Hyundai decided to develop its own locally produced car. The company hired George Turnbull, the former Managing Director of Austin Morris at British Leyland in February 1974. He immediately hired six European chief engineers to assist him, including a body designer, two chassis designers, two production engineers, and a test engineer. As they say, Hyundai would become a household name giving birth to Kia and many other products. Everything is possible if we have emaSwati with a vision, the will, and a supportive visionary government.

Comment: septembereswatini@gmail.com
June 10, 2024

Release

Joint Press Statement on the 3rd Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG) Meeting

The United States and the Republic of Korea (ROK) convened the third Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG) in Seoul on June 10, 2024. Established to implement the Washington Declaration between the United States and Republic of Korea in April 2023, the NCG is an enduring bilateral consultative body to strengthen the U.S.-ROK Alliance and extended deterrence to contribute to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in the region.

The meeting was co-chaired by Dr. Vipin Narang, U.S. Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space Policy and Dr. Cho Chang Lae, ROK Deputy Minister for National Defense Policy. U.S. and ROK officials from the U.S. National Security Council, the ROK National Security Office, and relevant defense, foreign affairs, intelligence, and military authorities also took part in the meeting.

During this NCG meeting, both sides assessed that the NCG has bolstered nuclear deterrence and the response capabilities of the Alliance since the inaugural NCG through in-depth discussions on all areas of extended deterrence, including information sharing, consultative mechanisms, and joint planning and execution.

NCG Principals applauded substantive progress on NCG workstreams, including on the NCG Guidelines; security and information sharing protocols; nuclear consultation and communication processes in crises and contingencies; nuclear and strategic planning; U.S.-ROK conventional and nuclear integration (CNI); strategic communications; exercises, simulations, training and investment activities; and risk reduction practices.

The NCG completed its review of the Guidelines document, which provide principles and procedures for the Alliance to maintain and strengthen the credible and effective nuclear deterrence policy and posture. Both sides agreed that the Guidelines will lay a solid foundation for strengthening U.S.-ROK cooperation on extended deterrence as equal partners.

Furthermore, NCG Principals discussed joint and combined planning and execution of U.S-ROK CNI options on the Korean Peninsula and reaffirmed the integration of ROK advanced conventional capabilities with U.S. nuclear operations substantively strengthens the allied deterrence and response capabilities against the DPRK nuclear and missile threat.

NCG principals applauded the second convening of the Nuclear Deterrence Immersion Course in May. 2024, through which officials from across the ROK interagency enhanced their expertise on the application of nuclear deterrence on the Korean Peninsula and in the region.

Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to continue close cooperation to strengthen the combined deterrence and defense posture. To this end, the NCG will leverage an interagency simulation, an NCG-led TTX, and a military-to-military TTX, as venues to exercise NCG work. In addition, both sides discussed ways to further enhance visibility of U.S. strategic assets deployments around the Korean Peninsula and to execute U.S.-ROK CNI exercises and training in relation to U.S. strategic assets deployments.

NCG principals approved the NCG work plan and proposed key activities for the second half of 2024 and reiterated their commitment to continue to achieve substantive progress on NCG workstreams in an expedited and mutually coordinated manner. The two principals will report the outcome of the NCG to the 56th U.S.-ROK Security Consultative Meeting in Washington D.C. this fall and to their respective commanders-in-chief in an appropriate manner.

The fourth principal-level NCG will be convened in the United States later this year.

https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3801107/

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June 10, 2024

By C. Todd Lopez, DOD News

Third Meeting of Nuclear Consultative Group Enhances U.S., South Korea Alliance, Deterrence

U.S. and South Korean officials today convened the third meeting of the Nuclear Consultative Group, where among other things, participants planned greater cooperation between the two nations and enhanced nuclear deterrence on the Korean Peninsula.

"Across the board, we're making progress in the Nuclear Consultative Group," said Richard C. Johnson, deputy assistant secretary of defense for nuclear and countering weapons of mass destruction policy. "Just the establishment of that group, I think, was very important to demonstrate how we are elevating the discussion that we're having on nuclear deterrence issues, but the work that we're doing is really key. Whether that's from information sharing to joint planning and execution."

Johnson spoke today at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.

At this meeting of the NCG, Johnson said, a "big outcome" was the signing out of a set of shared guidelines for the U.S. and South Korean alliance.

"These guidelines really serve as kind of the principles and procedures upon which the alliance will serve to really look at nuclear deterrence issues in terms of policy and posture," Johnson said. "This will really be the foundation upon which we move forward in the NCG on U.S./[South Korea] cooperation."

According to a statement released today by the NCG, the guidelines provide principles and procedures for the U.S./South Korea alliance to maintain and strengthen a credible and effective nuclear deterrence policy and posture.

A key focus of this most recent meeting of the NCG, Johnson said, was planning and execution related to conventional nuclear integration, or CNI.

The NCG is interested in ensuring that, in the event of a nuclear crisis on the Korean peninsula, U.S nuclear capabilities are effectively integrated with Korea's own conventional capabilities. "[South Korea] ... is really advancing its conventional capabilities," he said. "And I think we're making real progress there."

The NCG statement today said participants in the meeting discussed the planning and execution of U.S/South Korea CNI options on the Korean Peninsula. The group reaffirmed that integration of South Korea's conventional capabilities with U.S. nuclear operations "substantively strengthens the allied deterrence and response capabilities against the [North Korea] nuclear and missile threat."

Also on the agenda, Johnson said, was a focus on increased tabletop exercises so that the U.S. and South Korea can practice the integration and deterrence the NCG seeks.

"The best way to understand how to operate in this ... world is to practice," he said. "We are doing more and more of what we call tabletop exercises, or TTXs. And we have at least, I believe, three coming up over the course of the next year, including a military-to-military exercise."

During today's meeting, NCG participants agreed to an interagency simulation, an NCG-led TTX and a military-to-military TTX.

A big part of deterrence efforts, Johnson said, also includes enhanced visibility of U.S. commitment to the alliance through the visibility of American strategic deterrent assets. In July 2023, for instance, the USS Kentucky, a nuclear ballistic missile submarine, visited the South Korean port of Busan. It was the first time in over 40 years such a visit occurred.

"I think we're in a very good place," Johnson said. "I don't think we've ever had this high of a level of collaboration, commitment and trust on extended deterrence than we've ever had with the United States and the Republic of Korea."

The NCG was created to implement what was agreed to in the April 2023 Washington Agreement. In that agreement, the U.S. reaffirmed its commitment to South Korea and the Korean people and also agreed that any nuclear attack by North Korea against South Korea "will be met with a swift, overwhelming and decisive response."

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Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's answers to questions from the Moscow. Kremlin. Putin television programme, St Petersburg, June 9, 2024

9 June 2024 13:25

1083-09-06-2024

Question: President Joseph Biden said in an interview that US weapons would not be used by Ukraine to strike Moscow or the Kremlin. Isn't it a step towards a major escalation?

Sergey Lavrov: I find it hard to comment on this. However, if he was of sound mind and memory when he said that, and is now bragging about not issuing orders to bomb Moscow, it implies that all other things are allowed.

By and large, they are, in fact, bombing everything else. Not long ago, at the beginning of the conflict, they launched drones to attack Moscow. Back then, no one did anything to bring the Zelensky regime into line. So, our Western colleagues shouldn't try to put a positive spin on their behaviour.

At a meeting with the members of international news agencies, many Western ones among them, President Putin made it clear that without the direct involvement of the United States, Britain and the Europeans the attacks on the Belgorod and Kursk regions and other Russian territories wouldn't have been possible. They are all well aware of that.

Look at our French colleagues suddenly going abuzz. Prime Minister Gabriel Attal started saying they have no instructors in Ukraine. This is not true and they know it. It appears that their plot is to slowly get everyone accustomed to the idea that nothing is happening, but take one more step tomorrow, and another one the day after tomorrow.

We see it and we are fully aware of what they are doing and what part they are playing in the war against Russia. We know how to fight back.

Question: Do you think they have heard Vladimir Putin's message about us possibly shipping our weapons to other parts of the world? Will they get the message?

Sergey Lavrov: I have no doubt that they have heard it and will get it. They still have people there who can analyse things. They engage in escalation with the sole purpose of pleasing their radical base, and do so daily in the run-up to every election campaign. I think they'll get the message. Or rather, I think they already got it and will draw conclusions. This is an absolutely symmetrical response. If you send arms to our enemy, we are free to choose our response to your hostile actions.

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Meeting with Human Rights Commissioner Tatyana Moskalkova

Tatyana Moskalkova presented her annual performance report to the President.

June 10, 2024

13:15

The Kremlin, Moscow

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Ms Moskalkova, we have established the post of human rights commissioner in all regions of the Russian Federation.

Human Rights Commissioner Tatyana Moskalkova: Yes, except in the Zaporozhye Region.

Vladimir Putin: You will soon present your report at the State Duma. What would you like to talk about today?

Tatyana Moskalkova: Mr President, as per the Federal Constitutional Law, first of all, I am presenting to you the annual report on the activities of the Human Rights Commissioner in the Russian Federation.

Your first visits abroad were to Belarus and Uzbekistan. We maintain close cooperation with our counterparts in Belarus and with the Ombudsman of Uzbekistan through the CIS Human Rights Commission, which was reinstated by you and other leaders of the CIS states. Our inaugural meeting took place last year, during which we developed a roadmap for our collaborative efforts.

Establishing a secure environment and fostering economic opportunities for development are paramount; they ensure the right to life and the right to social advancement. In my report, I meticulously analyse each group of rights for every category of citizens, providing detailed descriptions of their status.

In this regard, we certainly rely on the Public Opinion Foundation (FOM), as it is crucial to monitor how individuals evaluate the level of their security. It is noteworthy that the landscape has evolved considerably over the past decade. A decade ago, only 32 percent of people believed their rights were respected, whereas today this figure has substantially increased to 52 percent. Conversely, the proportion of citizens who critically assess and believe that citizen rights are not respected has decreased from 63 percent to 36.

This outcome is the product of the diligent and concerted efforts of all government agencies to fulfil their constitutional duty of safeguarding the rights and freedoms of individuals.

Our contribution to this scenario is achieved through steadfast, diligent efforts in refining the tools provided by the Federal Constitutional Law, which empower me as the Federal Commissioner, along with the law you signed in 2020, known as the law On Commissioners for Human Rights in the Constituent Entities of the Russian Federation.

Over the two years, we have managed to make the results three times better and provide targeted aid to over 17,000 people, or 87,000 together with collective requests. We try to come on site, if we see that a request is collective and pressing but get answers that everything is alright. We will carry on this practice.

However, to be fair, this scheme shows how the number of requests we receive has grown: up to more than 93,000. This dynamic continues, because trust in the institute of the Commissioner for Human Rights is growing.

On the other hand, people's demand for respect for their rights is also increasing. Today, it is very important to rebuild and sharpen our mechanisms and tools that the law provides. We use our own inspections or file administrative claims in court to protect people with the help of the prosecutor's office.

A woman contacted us from among the orphans, who had been unable to get housing for ten years, despite the fact that a court decision had been made. We filed an administrative claim in court, the court supported us, and she was not only provided with housing, but also paid for moral damages.

It is very important, of course, that people receive support from our institute. Today, this support is not only related to the violation of rights - the number of humanitarian appeals we receive is growing: they are not related to the fact that officials or administrative bodies have violated the law. People ask us for help due to a special situation: these are evacuees who today remain in temporary accommodation centres on our territory, and, of course, participants in the special military operation and their family members.

We pay special attention to this category, not just because we have created an all-day-round hotline; all our employees take turns responding to signals on night phones. We have a specially created division that deals only with these issues.

However, the main thing is empathy, the ability to establish direct contact and explain to the people what is being done to resolve a certain situation. Today we have a lot of requests about missing people and war prisoners. There are also requests about payments and medical assistance.

We have managed to help several thousand people, working in very close cooperation with the Defence Ministry, the Federal Security Service, and other government agencies. We maintain dialogue with the Ukrainian Commissioner, exchange our lists of missing people, and managed to find out what happened to more than 100 people and help them.

We have agreed to visit in a mirrorlike manner: me - Ukrainian servicemen, who are on our territory, and the Ukrainian human rights commissioner - our POWs. We have visited over 1,700 people, and last year we agreed on mutual delivery to our prisoners of belongings and parcels from home. This is very important today, very important to have our dialogue continued.

We also interact with the International Committee of the Red Cross and insist that they not only visit our prisoners, but also provide them with medical care and do everything necessary to ensure that the Geneva conventions are respected.

We will continue this humanitarian work. Our efforts are much needed here and we will put our hearts into it.

Vladimir Putin: Good.

Tatyana Moskalkova: This determines, as you rightly said and as we all understand, at what reference point in the history of our state's development we are now.

We kept on working both with the evacuees and, of course in the new territories. In Zaporozhye, we are still establishing the institution of the commissioner; this is why we went there and set up our public reception offices. People can come, turn for help and have their pressing problems resolved.

It is very important that human rights commissioners have proved themselves in extreme situations, not only working as a united team with appeals from the participants in the special military operation and their families, but also during the floods in Orenburg where our commissioner was immediately included in the governor's headquarters. And it is very important that he directly communicated with the people, inspected facilities where they were resettled and living conditions there. We participated in the large humanitarian aid delivery to the people, gave explanations and provided legal advice.

In this respect we stand together with Maria Lvova-Belova, so that in such extreme conditions we should be with the people and be able to help them in resolving complex problems.

Of course, we continued our work on so called traditional requests: social rights, the rights of the people who are kept in detention facilities, and criminal procedure rights.

As for the socioeconomic rights, it should be said that the number of requests has decreased, especially regarding labour rights. The national projects that are currently underway and the state programmes are yielding results. Nevertheless, we can see that there are instances of overdue salaries and absence of indexation. With our assistance over 4,000 people received their delayed salaries.

A lot of families were relocated from dilapidated houses. A large collective complaint came from the Komi Republic that the buildings in which people live are not recognised as dilapidated, and that it is impossible to live in them. We were receiving seemingly reassuring letters. We went there and made sure that these buildings must indeed be included on the list of emergency ones. The head of the republic helped us, and today people received the necessary compensation in order to purchase housing.

We helped collect child support from negligent parents and provide housing for orphans. In this big book, unlike the last report that I presented to you, we have introduced a separate section on categories of citizens whom we consider the most vulnerable: people with disabilities and pensioners.

This year, we will also pay special attention to people living in rural areas. You gave us a boost in your Address to the Federal Assembly, and we have just held a large coordination council in the Republic of Daghestan, where all of the country's commissioners have gathered.

Of course, there are a lot of problems today, and we appeal to the State Duma, for example, to speed up the adoption of a law on mobile pharmaceutical stations and on expanding the list of organisations authorised to sell medicines in the regions.

We are asking the Government to consider subsidising the delivery of construction materials to hard-to-reach regions. Unfortunately, we do not have a programme for mountain settlements. They have their own, very special characteristics, and we recommend that the Government look at the possibilities of developing such a programme in order to increase guarantees of the rights of people living in rural areas.

We still have the leading number of appeals regarding the quality of investigation in criminal proceedings, compared with other categories, although it has decreased slightly compared to last year. But a large number of complaints are related to refusals to initiate criminal proceedings.

A person reports that a theft or robbery has been committed against them (which is assessed without collecting evidence) and is refused to find the criminal and provide compensation. Only through our requests, and thanks to the law, we have the right to look through the materials of pre-investigation checks, and we can see that they are sometimes formal, or that a person should have been admitted to justice but was denied.

We cancelled 450 appeals, while prosecutors cancel them in hundreds, thousands, hundreds of thousands, which is a big problem. I will appeal to the State Duma with a request to create a special working group and consider the possibility of starting an investigation, at least for obvious crimes, from the moment a crime is registered.

It may appear strange, but we continue to receive numerous petitions concerning placement in custody. Even though you have repeatedly raised these issues at the boards held by the General Prosecutor's Office, custodial placement continues to be widely used in our country. Occasionally, when the investigation asks for a house arrest, the court rules in favour of a pre-trial restriction in the form of detention. I am particularly concerned about this when the issue is about non-violent crimes, or this judicial restriction is used with regard to women, especially women with children. The court will make its decision, but there is a whole range of other enforcement measures that go before the court.

The situation in the correctional system has improved. The law on opposing and toughening responsibility for torture is in force today, even though we receive such petitions, but the prosecutor's office, the Ministry of Justice, and the Federal Penitentiary Service respond to them.

Most of the petitions have to do with the conditions of detention. I visit correctional facilities fairly often. I have been to the Rostov Region, the Donetsk People's Republic, and the Kostroma Region. Repairs have been made, and the facilities now look better. But some of them need additional investment, perhaps, not financial investment, but investment that comes from the soul and relies on creative approaches.

Vladimir Putin: Financial investment should not be left out of sight, either. Much remains to be done in that regard. Inmates must be kept in decent, humane conditions.

Tatyana Moskalkova: You are absolutely right. But, strangely enough, the correctional system is moving at a faster pace than detention centres for people subject to deportation, or temporary detention centres for foreign nationals who are sometimes held there for years, and the conditions are rather modest to say the least.

Many pre-trial detention centres need major investment and spending, and we make recommendations to the Government in our report to pay attention to this. There are detention centres that, in violation of the law, have no exercise yard, i.e. the inmates are unable to spend time outdoors.

In addition to working with petitions, we have other areas of focus as well.

Vladimir Putin: Do you have all of that in your report?

Tatyana Moskalkova: Yes, we have an entire section devoted to recommendations to the authorities, and I would like to ask you to instruct the Government to review them.

The report covers other areas that are mandatory for us, such as legal education, lawmaking, and coordinating the activities of human rights commissioners representing the Russian Federation in courts, as well as international cooperation.

Despite the fact that there were attempts to isolate us from integration venues, the world has a great interest in us. Last year, over 40 countries did not hesitate to face travel challenges in order to attend the international conference that we successfully hold every year with your support.

The Eurasian Ombudsman Alliance is going strong. We started out with four member countries six years ago, and today we have ombudsmen from ten countries. We meet annually to discuss a variety of engaging issues and to promote bilateral international cooperation.

In closing, this substantive report - and I think it is substantive - contains detailed information about all areas of the Human Rights Commissioner's activities.

I would like to thank you for supporting the institution of the human rights commissioners and for the tremendous amount of work that you are doing in this area as the guarantor of human and civil rights and freedoms.

Vladimir Putin: Thank you.

The scientific and educational centre for human rights is operational, correct?

Tatyana Moskalkova: It was created with your support...

Vladimir Putin: In 2019.

Tatyana Moskalkova: Absolutely right. I reached out to you back then saying we do not have a single centre of high standing in the country that would train young human rights commissioners and staff of the commissioner's office who must know how to handle petitions, or to train public observation commission members that work in correctional facilities, and how to work with fledging human rights organisations.

For many years now, we were being imposed extraneous perspective on human rights and extraneous understanding of the approaches to protect human rights. Today, we have significantly changed this perspective. Without a doubt, individuals within their rights are all about social well-being, the right to life, and the right to happiness. We are trying to ensure all of the above, not just the rights of individual small groups of people.

Vladimir Putin: Good. Thank you very much.

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Russian Navy detachment makes a business call to Alexandria port (Egypt)

10.06.2024

Russian Navy warships including the guards missile cruiser Varyag and frigate Marshal Shaposhnikov made a routine call at the Alexandria port (Egypt).

As part of the call by Russian ships on Russia Day, 12 June, a reception will be held with the participation of representatives of the command of the Egyptian Navy on board of the guard missile cruiser Varyag. Also, the crews of Russian ships will have the opportunity to rest after long-distance trips and get acquainted with local sightseeings.

The business call of the Russian warships will last until 14 June and will conclude with a bilateral Passage Exercise (PASSEX) with the ships of the Egyptian Navy. The ships will hone the elements of joint manoeuvering, conduct communication and inspection exercises.

The visit of the Russian warships' detachment to the Alexandria port will be another practical step in strengthening Russia-Egyptian naval cooperation.

Department for Media Affairs and Information

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Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov visits National Medical Centre n.a. A.Vishnevsky

10.06.2024

Minister of Defence of the Russian Federation Andrei Belousov visited the National Medical Research Center of High Medical Technologies / Central Military Clinical Hospital n.a. A.Vishnevsky of the Ministry of Defence of The Russian Federation.

The head of the Russian medical department spoke with the hospital leadership and medical personnel about the state and prospects of developing a diagnostic and treatment base at the medical institution.

Andrei Belousov emphasised the need to improve rehabilitation facilities in order to recover the health of military personnel as quickly as possible.

During the visit, the Minister of Defence had a look at the capabilities of a unique hybrid operating-room of the hospital, where surgeons can conduct several surgeries simultaneously.

Aleksandr Lishchuk - Professor, Doctor of Medical Science, the Head of the Cardiac Surgery Centre - told the Russian Defence Minister that thanks to the high-technology equipment of the hybrid operating-room, more than 300 heart surgeries were performed during the special military operation, all of them were successful. The patients were transferred to receive rehabilitation treatment. Many of the servicemen who underwent surgeries have already returned to service.

During his visit, Andrei Belousov also presented state awards to servicemen involved in the special military operation. The Minister of Defence thanked them for their service and wished them a speedy recovery.

On the eve of the Medical Worker Day, the head of the Russian military department congratulated the hospital's medics and nursing staff on the professional holiday and presented them with state and departmental awards.

Andrei Belousov expressed gratitude to the military medics for their dedicated work, professionalism, and devotion to military and professional duty. He noted the special role of military medics and nursing staff in providing medical care to the wounded in the special military operation.

Department for Media Affairs and Information

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Backed by Russia, Syria launches massive crackdown on Daesh

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Jun 10, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- Arabic media reported that the Syrian army once again clashed heavily with the Daesh terrorist group in the center of Syria.

The Syrian army attacks in the past few days have been one of the largest military attacks in the Syrian desert, which were supported by Russian fighters, The New Arab quoted Abu Omar Al-Bukmali, a media activist in Deir Ezzor as saying on Sunday night.

Military vehicles and brigades of the 25th Division, the 5th Division, and the Syrian Presidential Guard Division participated in these attacks, he added.

Accordingly, the Syrian army's vast attacks have been carried out in Rasafa in Raqqa, Athriya in the suburbs of Hama, Sheikh Hilal in the suburbs of Aleppo, and up to the area of aaAl-Tanf on the border of Syria, Jordan, and Iraq.

The Russian Ministry of Defense also announced two days ago that it had launched air operations and targeted the positions of terrorists in Al-Tanf, eastern Syria, which was under the control of American forces.

The London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which is an opposition to the Syrian government, also reported that the ISIS terrorists carried out separate attacks on the convoy of Syrian army forces in the Al-Amur in the eastern suburbs of Homs, the Al-Bukmal in Deir ez-Zor suburbs, and at least 10 Syrian army forces were killed.

The Syrian Ministry of Defense also confirmed on Sunday that its active units clashed with the ISIS-affiliated terrorist group in the Syrian desert.

9376**9417



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Taiwan slams China, Pakistan for misusing U.N. resolution 2758

ROC Central News Agency

06/10/2024 09:58 PM

Taipei, June 10 (CNA) Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs criticized China and Pakistan on Monday for publishing a statement that misinterprets United Nations resolution 2758 by falsely equating the resolution with Beijing's claim that Taiwan is part of China.

China and Pakistan issued the statement on June 7 during Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's visit to China.

"Both sides stressed that the authority of the U.N. General Assembly Resolution 2758 brooks no dispute or challenge," the statement said.

"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," the statement added.

On Monday, MOFA issued a press release stating that resolution 2758 only addresses the issue of China's representation in the United Nations and does not mention Taiwan at all.

It does not authorize the PRC to represent Taiwan in the U.N. system, nor does it mention that Taiwan is part of the PRC, MOFA said.

The ministry said that the Republic of China (Taiwan's official title) is a free and democratic country.

It stated that it is an internationally recognized fact that neither democratic Taiwan nor authoritarian China are subordinate to the other. This is also the current status quo across the strait, it added.

MOFA asserted that China continues to deliberately distort and erroneously politicize the U.N. document to make untrue connections between the language of the resolution and Beijing's so-called "one China principle."

The ministry emphasized that China's political coercion and diplomatic suppression of Taiwan will not change Taiwan's belief in upholding democracy.

Taiwan is a key player in safeguarding democracy and freedom across the world. It will continue strengthening relationships with like-minded partners to counter China's threats and military intimidation, curb the expansion of authoritarianism, and ensure cross-strait peace and stability, MOFA said in the statement.

(By Matt Yu and Evelyn Kao)

Enditem/kb

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Refresher shooting program for Taiwanese reservists expanded

ROC Central News Agency

06/10/2024 03:45 PM

By Matt Yu, Wu Shu-wei and Joseph Yeh, CNA reporters

Amid rising military threats from China, the Ministry of National Defense (MND) in Taiwan launched a rifle practice program last year for qualified reservists, offering them a chance to hone their shooting skills, and the MND has now expanded the initiative to a larger number of training camps.

The training program, which is part of the ongoing efforts of Taiwan's government to improve the combat readiness of the nation's reserve forces, started with a one-day training camp in four municipalities -- Miaoli County, Hualien County, Taichung and Kaohsiung in the north, east, center and south of the country, respectively.

Applications for the 2023 program were open to reservists who had served in the military less than 12 years prior and had not participated in the annual compulsory reservist training that year.

Sixty applicants were selected for each camp, and their training involved practice shooting with military-issued T91 assault rifles. They were each required to fire at least 70 rounds of live bullets, in standing, kneeling and prone positions, aiming at targets 25 to 300 meters away.

That inaugural program received positive reviews from participants and defense experts alike, prompting the MND to expand the initiative this year to 18 training camps at reservist bases across the country, with each camp catering for fewer than 20 reservists.

While a registration fee of NT$220 (US$6.78) per person was required last year, there was no fee this year.

However, the training period was reduced from a full day to half day, according to Wang Shen-yuan (), secretary-general of the Yunlin County National Defense Education Association, who took part in the program last year and this year.

Wang further told CNA that the rifles used in this year's training program were the older T65K2 models, and each reservist fired only 48 rounds of bullets, all from a prone position, aiming at targets 25 to 75 meters away.

Several other reservists who took part in both programs also said there was not enough rifle practice this year.

The MND should arrange different levels of rifle shooting practice, as not everyone has the same skills, a reservist surnamed Yang () suggested in an interview with CNA.

Chi Yung-yun (), a professor at Hungkuang University in Taichung who also participated in both programs, told CNA that the rifle practice should again include at least three different shooting positions, as in the previous year, to make it "more realistic and practical."

Su Tzu-yun (), a research fellow at the Institute for National Defense and Security Research (INDSR), also suggested that the MND gradually increase the number of rifle shooting rounds in future reservist training programs.

Taiwan's military could learn from the example of Lithuania, which established private-run but military-backed shooting ranges around the country to improve its all-out defense, Su said.

Commenting on the changes in this year's training program, Han Gan-ming (), a retired one-star-general and former head of the MND's All-out Defense Mobilization Office, said that 48 rounds of live rifle shooting over a 4-hour period is enough to refresh a reservist's training on a yearly basis.

Also offering some suggestions, Han, who is now a member of the INDSR, said that in light of Taiwan's strict gun controls, it might be a feasible plan for local governments around the country to first establish simulator shooting ranges, which would be a better way for reservists and other members of the public to familiarize themselves with rifles.

Enditem

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Delegation led by Czech Senate vice president arrives in Taiwan

ROC Central News Agency

06/10/2024 02:26 PM

Taipei, June 10 (CNA) Czech Senate Vice President Jiri Drahos arrived in Taiwan at the head of a 19-member delegation, including the country's Deputy Minister of Technology Jana Havlikova, for a six-day visit Monday.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), during the trip, which will last until Saturday, the group will meet with President Lai Ching-te (), Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim (), Premier Cho Jung-tai (), Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu () and Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (), among others.

Both sides will exchange views on mutually concerned issues on economic and trade, technology, education and culture, and deepen cooperation in areas spanning from key industries, science development, talent cultivation, culture and arts, MOFA said in a press release.

While in Taiwan, Drahos is scheduled to host a Czech Republic semiconductor industry business opportunity forum and witness the signing of a cooperation agreement between the National Museum in Prague and Taiwan's National Palace Museum, MOFA said.

He will also open an exhibition on Czech castles and chateaus to be staged at the National Taiwan Museum in Taipei and launch a program on boosting Taiwan-Czech supply chain resilience, MOFA added.

Other members of the Czech delegation include Deputy Minister for Digitalization and Innovation at the Ministry of Industry and Trade Petr Ocko, National Museum Director General Michal Lukes, and several government officials and tech experts.

Drahos, 75, is a Czech chemist and politician who has been a senator since October 2018. Previously, he served as president of the Czech Academy of Sciences from 2009 to 2017 and was a candidate in the 2018 Czech presidential election.

He last visited Taiwan in 2022.

(By Joseph Yeh)

Enditem/ASG

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MANZINI  Under the guise of religious authority, a shocking allegations has been made that some religious leaders in the country are preying on vulnerable women.

The clergy are purported to be also impregnating the vulnerable women and then arranging unsafe abortions in South Africa. The disturbing allegations were made at a recent One Billion Rising Policy Advocacy Dialogue held in Manzini. As attendees at the dialogue listened with horror, details emerged of young women and girls who had allegedly fallen prey to these religious leaders, who allegedly used their power and influence to coerce their victims into sexual relationships, resulting in unwanted pregnancies that were then secretly and unsafely terminated across the border.

The Policy Advocacy Dialogue served as a platform for both community leaders and religious figures to come together and openly discuss the critical issue of safe abortion. In alignment with governments theme of rapid and effective change to address abuse in the community, the workshop sought to take a stand against the exploitation and victimisation of women.

Dialogue

By engaging in dialogue and building bridges, One Billion Rising, in collaboration with SAFAIDS, aimed to break down the stigma and misinformation surrounding abortion, as well as ensure that young women have access to safe and legal reproductive healthcare. The Ministry of Health was also in attendance. One Billion Director Colani Hlatjwako brought to light a tragic reality, asserting, Our women are being exploited by some pastors who impregnate them and then arrange for unsafe abortions in Johannesburg, South Africa, perpetuating a cycle of abuse and harm. Further revealing a disturbing practice, Hlatjwako disclosed that some religious leaders provided pregnant women and girls with herbal concoctions (timbita) to terminate their pregnancies.Such unsafe abortions, she lamented, frequently resulted in health complications and sadly, loss of life. The director also emphasised the impact these tragedies had on society as a whole, underscoring the necessity of taking decisive action to prevent such abuses and safeguard the health and wellbeing of women and girls.

Interviews

Following the revelations, this publication was prompted to go deeper and seek interviews with some of those who had been affected. *Faith, a young woman in her mid twenties, revealed that she met *Pastor John at her local church. The young woman said she was introduced to the praise team after her passion for singing. As a woman from a less privileged background as she is unemployed, she revealed that they started a relationship, which she believed was based on genuine affection.

However, Faith said she soon found herself pregnant and afraid to tell her family. When she confided in Pastor John, he reportedly reassured her that he would take care of everything.

Faith was allegedly taken by Pastor John to a nearby city in South Africa for an abortion, which he assured her was safe. However, she said she soon began experiencing severe pain and bleeding, and was rushed to a local hospital. Faith shared that doctors found that she had suffered severe damage from the unsafe procedure, which left her unable to have children in the future. Shattered and traumatised, Faith said she returned home, too ashamed to tell anyone what had happened. She shared that she tried to move on, but the trauma and guilt haunted her, and she struggled with severe depression.

*Jessica, a 19-year-old high school pupil, was struggling to pay her tuition fees. Her mother, a devout churchgoer, asked the pastor of their local church, *Pastor Michael, if he could offer Jessica any assistance. Touched by her mothers concern, Jessica agreed to help clean the church in exchange for tuition money. One day, while Jessica was alone in the church, Pastor Michael approached her and began complimenting her appearance and her work ethic. Flattered, she revealed that she did not realise his intentions until he slept with her after buying her clothes and food, impregnating her. Terrified, Jessica disclosed that she did not know where to turn. She said she knew she could not tell her mother, who would be devastated and blame her. So, she reportedly confided in Pastor Michael, who offered to help her take care of it and arranged for her to travel to South Africa for an abortion.

Alone and scared, Jessica underwent the procedure, which left her physically and emotionally scarred. She returned home, but the trauma of her experience had left her deeply depressed and unable to concentrate on her studies. She eventually dropped out of school, feeling that her life had been irreparably damaged by Pastor Michaels betrayal. She also shared that she had since stopped being a member of the church. When drawn for comment, Conference of Churches Themba Ngozo, said: We, as a church body, condemn these acts of exploitation and abortion in the strongest terms. Our faith teaches us to protect the sanctity of life, and we are appalled by any instances of abuse or manipulation that occur under the guise of religion. He went on to state that they must work together to provide a safe and supportive environment for all women, especially those who may be vulnerable to such atrocities.

*Not real names.
PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan

ROC Ministry of National Defense

2024/06/11

PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan

1.Dateis

6 to 6 a.m. (UTC+8) Monday to Tuesday, Jun. 10-11

2.PLA activitiesis

11 PLA aircraft and 8 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today.7 of the aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan's northern and southwestern ADIZ. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and employed CAP aircraft, Navy vessels, and coastal missile systems in response to the detected activities.



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Summit on Peace in Ukraine: state of preparations and security measures

Swiss Government

Bern, 10.06.2024 -- 90 states and organisations have so far registered to attend the summit on peace in Ukraine at the BArgenstock (NW) on 15/16 June. The aim of the high-level meeting of heads of state and government is to develop a common understanding for a possible path towards a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. This will then form the basis for a peace process. On 10 June, President Viola Amherd, Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis and Nidwalden Cantonal Councillor Karin Kayser-Frutschi, together with Stephan Grieder, head of operations and chief of the Nidwalden Cantonal Police, and Major General Daniel Keller, Commander of Territorial Division 2, gave a briefing on the state of preparations and security measures.

This weekend, ideas and visions for a process towards a comprehensive, just and lasting peace for Ukraine will be discussed high above Lake Lucerne. 90 states and organisations will take part in the summit on peace in Ukraine at the BArgenstock resort. Around half of the states come from Europe, the other half from other continents. "The broadest possible participation is important in order to be able to initiate a broadly backed process. The fact that so many states are sending such high-ranking delegations shows that it was right to initiate a broadly backed process," said President Viola Amherd in Bern.

The overarching objective of the summit is to inspire a future peace process. To achieve this, the summit intends to:

a Provide a platform for dialogue on ways towards a comprehensive, just and lasting peace for Ukraine based on international law and the UN Charter;

a Promote a common understanding of a possible framework to reach this goal;

a Jointly define a roadmap on how to involve both parties in a future peace process.

Doing nothing is not an option

Although war is still being waged in Ukraine, Switzerland declared in January that it was willing to organise a conference for peace. Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis made it clear to the media that doing nothing was not an option. "We believe that there is always room for dialogue, even if weapons are being fired," he said. The summit at the BArgenstock resort is a conference for peace, not a peace conference, but the preparations alone have triggered a positive dynamic.

The summit will begin with a plenary session on the afternoon of 15 June. On 16 June, three topics of global interest that affect a large number of states will be discussed in detail in working groups: (1) nuclear safety, (2) freedom of navigation and food security, and (3) humanitarian aspects. A final declaration is also being prepared for the conclusion of the conference.

Canton of Nidwalden has operational lead on security arrangements

As the host canton, Nidwalden is responsible for security in the run up to and during the conference. "Our top priority is to ensure the protection of summit participants and make sure that the public feels safe," said Karin Kayser-Frutschi, Director of Nidwalden's Justice and Security Department. The canton is reliant on the support of additional police forces, the armed forces, the Federal Office of Police fedpol and other partners in the national security network. "Cooperation with all parties involved is based on partnership and is goal-oriented," explained Karin Kayser-Frutschi.

The security and surveillance measures affect both the site in the form of a security perimeter around the BArgenstock resort and restrictions on movements on the lake and in the air. Measures regarding airspace have been closely coordinated with the federal government, which has issued the necessary decrees.

Restrictions for the local population are unavoidable due to the security requirements for summit participants protected under international law, but the duration and extent are proportionate in the view of those responsible for security. Residents will still be allowed to access the security zone even during the summit, for example. For tactical reasons, no information will be provided on security arrangements or the number of security personnel deployed.

Information for the public regarding restrictions can be found at www.nw.ch/friedenskonferenz.

Up to 4,000 members of the armed forces on duty to ensure security

The Swiss Armed Forces are supporting the security measures for the summit by deploying up to 4,000 military personnel to provide subsidiary support services. They will protect important and critical infrastructure, provide air transport, aerial reconnaissance, as well as air operations, conduct surveillance and interventions on the lakes, as well as logistics and command support. The armed forces' logistical services include around 6.5km of fencing and 8km of steel wire, around 100 vehicles for the police and additional special vehicles to transport persons protected under international law, around 2km of trackway and various lighting equipment.

The air force is reinforcing its air policing service and is providing advanced air surveillance and air transport for persons protected under international law. The armed forces have set up a heliport in ObbArgen NW for its operations. Five helicopters can take off and land here.

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June 10, 2024

By Joseph Clark, DOD News

Austin to Host Ukraine Meeting, Meet With NATO Defense Ministers

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III will travel to Brussels this week where he will meet with the U.S.-led coalition committed to backing Ukraine's defense against Russia's ongoing invasion, Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said today.

The meeting, scheduled for Thursday, will mark the 23rd iteration of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group.

"The secretary and chairman will join ministers of defense and senior military officials from nearly 50 nations to discuss the ongoing crisis in Ukraine and the continued support from the international community to provide the Ukrainian people with the means necessary to defend their sovereign territory," Ryder told reporters during a briefing at the Pentagon.

Ryder said discussions will likely focus, in part, on continued efforts to bolster Ukraine's air-defense capabilities, as well as efforts to enhance the defense industrial base within Ukraine and across the alliance.

Austin will also participate in a NATO defense minister's meeting at NATO headquarters on Friday.

The engagements follow Austin's visit to France last week, where he and President Joe Biden met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Paris.

The three leaders discussed the United States' efforts to support Ukraine's urgent battlefield needs.

The president also announced a new package of security assistance for Ukraine, which is valued at $225 million and includes air defense interceptors, artillery ammunition and other critical capabilities.

The latest provision is the sixth security assistance package announced by the U.S. since Biden signed a nearly $95 billion national security supplemental into law in April. The supplemental includes humanitarian and security assistance funds for Israel and Taiwan in addition to Ukraine.

Ryder also said that the recent shipments of U.S. aid to Ukraine are showing signs of success on the front lines, as evidenced by Russia's slowing offensive near Kharkiv.

The UDCG has also undertaken initiatives aimed at bolstering Ukraine's long-term defense through the formation of targeted capability coalitions.

Thirteen members of the contact group are leading eight separate capability coalitions designed to drive Ukraine's long-term force development. Those coalitions focus on critical capabilities that range from air defense to artillery.

In remarks following last month's UDCG meeting, Austin underscored the United States' continued commitment to Ukraine's enduring security.

"The outcome in Ukraine is crucial for European security, for global security, and for American security," Austin said. "None of us would want to live in a world where dictators redraw borders by force and launch wars of aggression to try to revive yesterday's empires.

"So let me be clear, Ukraine's partners are united," he said. "We're determined. And we're not going anywhere."

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Latvia joins new initiative to support Ukrainei

Republic of Latvia - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

10.06.2024

Latvia joins the U.S. and Poland-led Ukraine Communications Group in Warsaw on 10 June 2024.

The first meeting of the Task Force took place on Monday. At the opening event, the U.S. Special Envoy and Coordinator for the Global Engagement Centre James Rubin and Polish Foreign Minister's Plenipotentiary for Countering International Disinformation Tomasz ChAoA referred to the ongoing struggle for information space, in which the Task Force will be in charge of supporting Ukraine.

In addition to political, diplomatic, economic and military support, Ukraine also needs support in the information space. The Task Force's tasks will include countering Russia's global disinformation campaign, while keeping support for Ukraine high on the international agenda.

The Task Force will include representatives from the U.S., Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, as well as the European External Action Service and NATO.

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Flight MH17: European Court of Human Rights to hear the Netherlands' inter-State application against the Russian Federation

Government of the Netherlands - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

News item | 10-06-2024 | 09:30

On 12 June 2024 the European Court of Human Rights will consider the Netherlands' inter-State application against the Russian Federation regarding the downing of flight MH17. The hearing will take place in Strasbourg.

This hearing is the next step towards achieving justice.

At a later date, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) will give judgment on the responsibility the Russian Federation bears for the deaths of all persons on board flight MH17 and for the suffering that the next of kin have experienced and continue to experience as a result of the Russian Federation's actions. It will likely be another year before a judgment is handed down.

On 25 January 2023, at the hearing on the admissibility of the inter-State application, the ECtHR ruled that the Russian Federation exercised jurisdiction in eastern Ukraine when flight MH17 was shot down. In doing so, the ECtHR became the first international court to confirm Russia's involvement in the downing of the aircraft.

The European Court of Human Rights and flight MH17

The purpose of the ECtHR is to hold states to account for human rights violations. Both states and individuals can lodge applications with the ECtHR. In 2020, the Netherlands lodged an application with the ECtHR against the Russian Federation regarding Russia's role in the downing of flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine on 17 July 2014. All 298 people on board, including 196 Dutch nationals, lost their lives.

MH17: the Netherlands' application against Russia

The Netherlands argues that the Russian Federation played an important role in the downing of flight MH17. It also believes that the Russian Federation did not investigate the matter sufficiently and did not cooperate sufficiently with Dutch authorities' requests for information. According to the Netherlands, this, and the fact that the Russian Federation continues to deny any involvement in the downing of flight MH17, has caused the victims' next of kin additional suffering. What's more, there were no legal remedies available to the next of kin in Russia itself.

The Netherlands' inter-State application is being heard jointly with a number of inter-State applications lodged by Ukraine against the Russian Federation. Those applications concern actions by the Russian Federation in eastern Ukraine since 2014. The last application to be added to this group of cases was Ukraine's inter-State application against the Russian Federation regarding the war in Ukraine since February 2022.

Next step towards justice

The hearing of 12 June 2024 on the downing of flight MH17 is an important step towards establishing the truth, holding the perpetrators accountable and achieving justice for all the victims and their next of kin. The parties involved in the application and the intervening third parties - including the next of kin - will have the opportunity to present their views at the hearing. The court will not give judgment immediately after the hearing. The ECtHR has handled the case expeditiously, but it will likely be another year before a judgment is handed down.

The hearing will be held on Wednesday 12 June 2024 from 9.00 at the ECtHR in Strasbourg and is open to the public. A video recording will be made available after the hearing.

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Ukraine Comunications Group launched in Warsaw

Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Republic of Poland

10.06.2024

On June 10, Plenipotentiary of the Minister of Foreign Affairs for Countering International Disinformation Tomasz ChAoA and U.S. Special Envoy and Coordinator for the Global Engagement Center James P. Rubin attended the opening ceremony of Ukraine Communications Group.

The initiative brings together partner countries and international organizations (i.a. Finland, France, Canada, Lithuania, Latvia, Germany, Poland, Slovenia, United States, Sweden, Ukraine, NATO, European External Action Service [EEAS]) and aims to strengthen coordination towards the effective exposure of Russian disinformation. The Kremlin regularly uses lies and manipulation to undermine our solidarity with the Ukrainian people defending their homeland. This group aims to address misleading narratives about Russian aggression against Ukraine and foster a fact-based approach in the global information environment.

Launching the Ukraine Communications Group is a strong signal of our common determination to continue supporting Ukraine in its fight against the Russian invasion.

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Ukraine Loses Up to 570 Soldiers in Fights With Russia's Battlegroup Zapad - MoD

Sputnik News

20240610

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russia's Battlegroup Zapad defeated Ukrainian troops in the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) and the Kharkov region, while the Ukrainian military lost up to 570 soldiers in clashes over the past 24 hours, the Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) said on Monday.

"Battlegroup Zapad improved its frontline positions, defeating units [Ukrainian troops in the DPR and the Kharkov region] ... The enemy lost up to 570 soldiers and four cars," the MoD said in a statement.

Ukraine also lost up to 430 soldiers in battles with Battlegroup Yug, the ministry said, adding that Battlegroup Tsentr repelled five Ukrainian counterattacks and Kiev lost up to 345 soldiers. In battles with Battlegroup Vostok Ukraine lost up to 140 soldiers.

Russia's Battlegroup Sever repelled seven counterattacks, while Kiev lost up to 255 soldiers, the statement read, adding that the Russian forces have also control of the Staromayorskoye settlement in the DPR.

A Sputnik

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The United States and Poland Announce New Ukraine Communications Group

US Department of State

Media Note

Office of the Spokesperson

June 10, 2024

Today, the United States and Poland jointly launched a new Ukraine Communications Group (UCG) based in Warsaw to support Ukraine against Russia's aggression in the information space. The UCG will bring together like-minded partner governments to coordinate messaging, promote accurate reporting of Russia's full-scale invasion, amplify Ukrainian voices, and expose Kremlin information manipulation.

Representatives from participating countries will begin collaborating in person to support Ukraine's independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity through collaborative efforts to counter disinformation and support fact-based reporting. The Kremlin repeatedly uses lies and manipulation to peddle false pretexts for its unjustifiable invasion, obfuscate its war aims, and attempt to fracture worldwide solidarity with the Ukrainian people. The UCG is designed to counter these deceptive narratives and reinforce honest coverage of Ukraine's resilience and bravery in the face of Russia's aggression.

The United States, in partnership with the broad coalition of countries supporting Ukraine, has worked to expose purveyors of Kremlin disinformation since before the full-scale invasion. The UCG is an extension of these efforts and offers another tool for like-minded countries to support Ukraine and protect the integrity of the global information space.

For additional information and UCG media inquiries, please contact the Global Engagement Center at GECMediaContacts@state.gov.

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Civilians wounded in Russian strikes on Ukraine's Kharkiv city

By VOA News June 10, 2024

At least six people were injured Monday, while houses, cars and businesses were damaged by three Russian-guided bombs on Ukraine's northeastern city of Kharkiv, the city's Mayor Ihor Terekhov said on Telegram.

Terekhov said that there may be people still under the rubble following the attack on Ukraine's second largest city.

Kharkiv and the surrounding region have long been the target of Russian attacks but recently the strikes have become more intense, hitting civilians and the region's energy grid.

Russia denies deliberately targeting civilians, but thousands have been killed and injured during its invasion of Ukraine.

Ukraine's military said it damaged three Russian surface-to-air defense systems overnight Sunday into Monday in missile attacks on the Moscow-occupied Crimea peninsula.

Citing Ukraine's general staff, Reuters news agency reported the attacks struck an S-400 system in Dzhankoi and two less advanced S-300 systems near Yevpatoriya and Chornomorske resulting in "significant losses" for Russian air defenses.

Reuters could not independently verify the statement.

There was no immediate comment from the Russian defense ministry. Local Telegram channels reported explosions near Dzhankoi and Yevpatoriya.

The Russian defense ministry said Monday its forces have retaken control of the village of Staromaiorske in Ukraine's Donetsk region.

Reuters could not independently verify the battlefield reports.

During his nightly video address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that the situation in Donetsk is difficult. "The occupier's pressure there is the greatest," he said, noting that Russia conducted more than 40 attacks Sunday and more than 20 Monday. "We are making every effort to ensure that you and our entire army have more weapons, more equipment, and more modern systems," Zelenskyy said, addressing Ukrainian soldiers.

During an economic forum last week in St. Petersburg, Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed that Russia had taken 47 Ukrainian towns and villages so far this year, including last month's gains from Russia's major ground assault in the northeastern Kharkiv region.

VOA could not verify the claim.

U.S. President Joe Biden's national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, said Sunday during a TV interview on CBS' "Face the Nation" that Russia's advance on the Kharkiv border region had "stalled out" after Washington partially allowed Ukraine to use some U.S.-supplied weapons to strike inside Russia.

Putin warned the United States and NATO allies that such a move could prompt him to place similar Russian weapons in countries within range of the U.S. or its European allies.

In other developments, Ukraine may station some of the more than 60 F-16 fighter jets it's set to receive from its Western allies at foreign bases to protect them from Russian strikes, a senior Ukrainian military officer said Monday.

Ukrainian pilots are currently undergoing training to fly the warplanes ahead of the deliveries expected to start later this year.

Moscow said F-16 jets and military airfields outside Ukraine will become legitimate targets if they take part in combat missions against Russian forces, the RIA state news agency quoted Andrei Kartapolov, head of the State Duma lower house of parliament's defense committee as saying Monday.

Ukraine peace conference

Switzerland said Monday 90 countries and organizations will participate at the two-day Ukraine peace conference it is hosting beginning Saturday, at the request of Zelenskyy.

Russia will not participate.

Swiss President Viola Amherd told a news conference in Bern on Monday that the upcoming peace conference aims to be a platform for discussing ways to achieve a "comprehensive, just and lasting peace for Ukraine based on international law and the U.N. charter," as well as working on a framework for carrying out a peace plan and how to involve Russia and Ukraine in a peace process.

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris will represent Ukraine's most important military and financial backer, a setback for Zelenskyy who had hoped Biden would attend instead.

Zelenskyy had also hoped to secure high-level attendance from some of Moscow's allies, principally China.

Beijing has criticized the gathering and said it would be "difficult" to attend without Russia's participation.

Russia has criticized the process and said it would engage in peace talks only if they consider the situation on the ground, including Russia's battlefield gains since launching its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Zelenskyy has demanded Russia withdraw from all Ukrainian territory.

Putin will visit North Korea and Vietnam in the coming weeks, Russia's Vedomosti newspaper reported Monday.

Putin's visit to Pyongyang is being "actively prepared," Russian Ambassador to North Korea Alexander Matsegora told the newspaper.

Putin could also visit Vietnam most likely after his visit to North Korea, an official in Vietnam told the newspaper.

The official said the dates had been agreed, but the agenda was still under discussion. The two sides are expected to focus on energy, military cooperation and banking support.

Vietnam's foreign ministry did not reply to a request for comment.

Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse.

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NEW YORK, June 10, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, announces the filing of a class action lawsuit on behalf of purchasers of common stock of Humana Inc. (NYSE: HUM) between July 27, 2022 and January 24, 2024, both dates inclusive (the Class Period). A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than August 2, 2024.

SO WHAT: If you purchased Humana common stock during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.

WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Humana class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=25679 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email case@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than August 2, 2024. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.

WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources or any meaningful peer recognition. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs Bar. Many of the firms attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.

DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, defendants throughout the Class Period made false and/or misleading statements as well as failed to disclose material adverse facts, about Humanas business and operations. Specifically, defendants downplayed pressures on Humanas adjusted earnings per share (EPS) resulting from increased medical costs associated with pent-up demand for healthcare procedures (especially as COVID concerns abated) which, contrary to Humanas assurances, resulted in increased utilization rates and costs. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.

To join the Humana class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=25679 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email case@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action.

No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investors ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/.

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

-------------------------------

Contact Information:

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The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.

275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor

New York, NY 10016

Tel: (212) 686-1060

Toll Free: (866) 767-3653

Fax: (212) 202-3827

case@rosenlegal.com

www.rosenlegal.com
MBABANE  The country is experiencing an outbreak of influenza A and B.

Influenza A is the most common strain and usually causes seasonal flu outbreaks. Influenza B can also cause flu outbreaks, but it mutates more slowly. This was confirmed by the Director of Health Services, Dr Velephi Okello, who warned the nation to be on the alert of the flu outbreak. Influenza is a common and sometimes deadly viral infection of the nose, throat, and lungs also known as flu. Okello advised people who were experiencing flu-like symptoms to visit the hospital and also take the COVID-19 test.

COVID-19

The director stated that COVID-19 cases were still detected and in the past week, five cases were confirmed. The director stated that there could be more cases of COVID-19 but the confirmed cases were among those who were tested. She said those people who have not been vaccinated for COVID-19,. should do so as it prevents people from developing serious flu.

She stated that influenza was a challenge and could be deadly as it could also result in pneumonia and other diseases affecting the lungs.

How to keep warm;
RIO DE JANEIRO, June 11, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FII Institute is honoured to announce that Brazils President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva will speak at the inaugural Latin America FII PRIORITY Summit in Rio de Janeiro on 12 June, marking a significant milestone for the summit.

President Lula, who will be joined by several high-ranking Brazilian and Latin American government officials, underscores the importance of FII PRIORITY Rio in addressing key global priorities and promoting investment opportunities. His attendance is a testament to Brazils integral role in shaping the future of global investment and sustainability.

We are deeply honoured by President Lulas decision to join us," said Richard Attias, CEO of FII Institute. "As a global leader, his leadership and vision will greatly enrich our discussions and initiatives. The theme of our summit, Invest in Dignity, was inspired by President Lulas vision.

The FII PRIORITY Rio de Janeiro Summit will take place at the Copacabana Palace from 11 to 13 June 2024, featuring a rich and diverse programme with world-renowned leaders and critical discussions on global issues.

For more information, please visit: https://fii-institute.org/Program-Rio. For media enquiries, please email: media@fii-institute.org and fii-institute@fsb.com.br.

About FII Institute

The Future Investment Initiative (FII) Institute is a global non-profit foundation driven by data with an investment arm focused on impactful initiatives for humanity. Through its PRIORITY Summits, the institute brings together leading minds to foster innovation and sustainable solutions across the globe.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b35d9202-dd4a-42c5-8e66-d4bd1dcf5749
MANILA, Philippines, June 11, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Infocom, a Customer Experience (CX) management leader in the Philippines, was recognized in the Customer Service Management Planning & Practice category at the recent 11th Annual Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards in Manila.



The Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards are the only business awards program to recognize innovation in the workplace in all 29 markets of the Asia-Pacific region. The Stevie Awards are widely considered to be the worlds premier business awards. This year, more than 1,000 nominations from organizations across the Asia-Pacific region were considered in categories.



Rommel Regino, Infocoms Chief Operations and Sales Officer, expressed pride in the award, which reflects the companys 30-year commitment to delivering exceptional service to telecom and banking clients. The award embodies the passion and commitment of our 4,000 employees, who always make our customers feel at home with every engagement, Regino added.

The judges noted: By employing a unique strategy combining innovation, people, and analytics, Infocom was able to drive client success. Their use of AI and analytics helped them consistently rank as a top vendor.

The 11th edition of the Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards attracted many remarkable nominations, said Stevie Awards president Maggie Miller. The organizations that won this year have demonstrated that they are committed to being innovative, and we applaud them for their perseverance and creativity.

About Infocom

Infocom, an affiliate of Inspiro, is a Philippine-based CX management specialist with over two decades of experience. Our dedicated team of 4,800 CX experts is strategically located across four delivery centers in Makati, Quezon City, and Dumaguete. Infocom and Inspiro are owned by Altius Link, Inc., a synergistic partnership between KDDI Corporation and Mitsui & Co., Ltd.

Contact:

Raymond Boholano

Vice President, Marketing and Corporate Communications

raymond.boholano@inspiro.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/60cb5e4b-2b95-48c4-a890-7e82aa6c683f
YANGLING, China, June 10, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In May this year, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Modern Agriculture Exchange Center in Yangling Agriculture High-Tech Industrial Demonstration Zone held the 38th foreign aid training on dry farming agricultural technology, where 54 trainees from 13 countries, including Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Armenia and Pakistan, received 14 days of agricultural technology training. The program included theoretical discussions, field visits, and case discussions, enabling the trainees to gain insights into China's experience in poverty reduction and rural revitalization.



The Management Committee of Yangling Agriculture High-Tech Industrial Demonstration Zone states that to date, Yangling has successfully conducted 56 foreign aid training programs for member states of the SCO as well as other developing countries. These programs have benefited over 2,000 trainees in total.

Additionally, significant exchange activities such as the SCO Modern Agriculture Development Roundtable and the Forum of Heads of Agricultural Universities of the SCO countries have been organized to facilitate important discussions and collaboration in the field of agriculture.

So far, the demonstration zone has organized 35 multilateral institutional exchange activities, creating an extensive platform for cooperation in diverse agricultural sectors. It has emerged as a significant facilitator in promoting international trade and enhancing production capacity cooperation in agriculture-related domains among SCO nations.

Agriculture holds significant importance in the regional economic cooperation of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). The collaborative efforts in the Belt and Road Initiative have been successfully synchronized with the development strategies of SCO member countries, creating a crucial platform for the implementation of both bilateral and multilateral agricultural cooperation.

China and other member states of the SCO have fostered strong ties in agricultural investment, trade, science, and technology. These countries have worked towards enhancing policy dialogue and communication, facilitating talent exchange and training, and fostering collaborative innovation in the field of science and technology. Furthermore, they have jointly established "demonstration fields" for agricultural cooperation, aiming to tap into the untapped potential of sustainable development.

At the 19th meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization on June 14, 2019, China put forward a proposal to establish an SCO agricultural demonstration base in the northwestern province of Shaanxi. The objective of this initiative is to enhance collaboration with SCO member states in the realm of modern agriculture.

Since its inception, the Yangling Agriculture High-Tech Industrial Demonstration Zone has emerged as a flagship project for agricultural technology cooperation within the SCO. It has also played a crucial role in advancing agricultural science and technology under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

Over the past five years, the demonstration zone has utilized the establishment of the base as a platform to proactively expand agricultural openness to the international community. As a result, it has successfully established eight agricultural science and technology demonstration parks in countries such as Kazakhstan. Additionally, it has dispatched 73 batches of over 190 expert teams to provide foreign aid guidance, facilitating the dissemination of more than 100 crop varieties and accompanying cultivation techniques. These efforts have benefited over 2 million hectares of land in overseas countries.

In Kazakhstan, China's Northwest A&F University and North Kazakhstan State University have collaborated to conduct quality assessments of agricultural products in the BRI joint laboratory for crop green production. Through this partnership, outstanding varieties will be identified and utilized as planting materials within the China-Kazakhstan Agricultural Science and Technology Demonstration Park.

In Tashkent, Uzbekistan, the China-Uzbekistan Water-Saving Agriculture Demonstration Park has implemented intelligent water-fertilizer integrated irrigation equipment powered by solar energy. This advanced technology not only conserves electricity, water, and fertilizer but also enhances local cotton production by over 30% while reducing water usage by 50%. The agricultural technology expertise of Yangling has garnered significant recognition from member states within the SCO.

Source: The Management Committee of Yangling Agriculture High-Tech Industrial Demonstration Zone

A Media Snippet accompanying this announcement is available through the image or link above.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, June 11, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Li-FT Power Ltd. (LIFT or the Company) (TSXV: LIFT) (OTCQX: LIFFF) (Frankfurt: WS0) is pleased to report assays from 13 drill holes completed at the Shorty, Ki, Echo, BIG East, Fi SW, Nite, and BIG West pegmatites within the Yellowknife Lithium Project (YLP) located outside the city of Yellowknife, Northwest Territories (Figure 1). These drill results are the final batch of results from the winter 2024 drill program. Drilling intersected significant intervals of spodumene mineralization, with the following highlights:



Highlights:

YLP-0284: 25 m at 1.21% Li 2 O, (Shorty)

and: 18 m at 1.41% Li 2 O

and: 10 m at 1.00% Li 2 O

and: 5 m at 1.76% Li 2 O

YLP-0272: 13 m at 1.05% Li 2 O, (Ki)

including: 8 m at 1.43% Li 2 O

Discussion of Results

This news release provides results for 12 drill holes from LIFTs 2024 winter drilling program and one hole from the 2023 summer drilling. Holes are reported from seven different pegmatite complexes that include Shorty, Ki, Echo, BIG East, Fi SW, Nite, and BIG West. A table of composite calculations, general comments related to this discussion, and a table of collar headers are provided towards the end of this section.

Francis MacDonald, CEO of LIFT comments, With this being the last drill results press release for a while, I would like to commend the team for operating a successful winter drill program. LIFT has drilled approximately 50,000 meters in the last 12 months and has shown the scale of the Yellowknife Lithium Project. We look forward to reporting a maiden resource estimate in the next months and also metallurgical test work.

Figure 1  Location of LIFTs Yellowknife Lithium Project. Drilling has been thus far mainly focused on the Near Field Group of pegmatites which are located to the east of the city of Yellowknife along a government-maintained paved highway, and advancing to the Echo target, the first drilling in the Further Afield Group.

Shorty Pegmatite

The Shorty pegmatite is formed by several sub-parallel dykes that, together, define a pegmatite-bearing corridor that is at least 1.4 km long, up to 100 m wide, north-northeast striking, and dips 50-70 to the west. The corridor itself consists of both country rock and pegmatite, with pegmatite occurring in either a single 10-40 m wide dyke or as 2-4 dykes with a similar cumulative width spread over 50-100 m.

YLP-0284 was collared within a few meters of the lease boundary to test one of the thicker dykes within the Shorty corridor on a center approximately 75 m below the surface and 25 m downdip of previously released YLP-0283 (1.32% Li 2 O over 35 m). New drilling intersected 47 m of pegmatite split by 7 m of country rock as well as a 10 m wide dyke ~30 m further down the hole. The thick pegmatite interval returned composites of 1.41% Li 2 O over 18 m and 1.21% Li 2 O over 25 m whereas the lower one returned a wall-to-wall composite of 1.00% Li 2 O that includes 5 m of 1.76% Li 2 O. These intersections indicate that spodumene mineralization widens in the down-dip direction from YLP-0283 to 0284 and is open below that as well as along strike to the north-northeast (Table 1 & 2, Figures 2 & 3).



Figure 2  Plan view showing the surface expression of the Shorty pegmatite with diamond drill holes reported in this press release.





Figure 3  Cross-section illustrating YLP-0284 with results as shown in the Shorty pegmatite dyke with a 25 m interval of 1.21% Li 2 O.



Ki Pegmatite

The Ki pegmatite complex comprises a north-northwest trending corridor of dykes that extends for at least 1.3 km on surface and dips steeply to the southwest. The southern part of the corridor consists mostly of one large dyke and several narrower flanking dykes that sum to a constant pegmatite width of around 25 m. The northern part consists of two relatively thick dykes that are between 50-150 m apart, with the western dyke comprising the northern extension of the Ki dyke and the more eastern dyke referred to as Perlis.

YLP-0272 was drilled to test the western part of the Ki corridor at approximately 50 m below the surface and 75-100 m up-dip of previously released YLP-0278 (0.51% Li 2 O over 5 m), as well as 50 m south and along strike of previously released YLP-0274 (1.16% Li 2 O over 11 m). New drilling intersected the Ki dyke (13 m wide) and several subsidiary dykes that are 1-3 m wide, with the Ki dyke returning a wall-to-wall composite of 1.05% Li 2 O that includes 8 m of 1.43% Li 2 O. Together with YLP-0274, this result defines a new spodumene deposit in the western part of the Ki corridor that is open at depth and along strike to the north-northwest (Table 1 & 2, Figures 4 & 5).



Figure 4  Plan view showing the surface expression of the Ki pegmatite with diamond drill holes reported in this press release.





Figure 5  Cross-section illustrating YLP-0272 with results as shown in the Ki pegmatite dyke with a 13 m interval of 1.05% Li 2 O.



YLP-0269 was drilled on a section 50 m south of the section with YLP-0272/0278, to test the Ki corridor from 10-150 m vertically beneath the surface. Over 185 m of core length, drilling intersected the Ki dyke (15 m wide) as well as 10 other dykes between 1-6 m wide and separated from each other by 3-67 m of country rock. The Ki dyke returned composites of 0.55% Li 2 O over 2 m and 0.50% Li 2 O over 3 m whereas the other 10 dykes all returned assays <0.1% Li 2 O (Table 1 & 2, Figure 4).

YLP-0265 was drilled on a section 50 m south of YLP-0269 to test the Ki corridor at 50-75 m below the surface as well as 50 m downdip of previously released YLP-0261 (0.56% Li 2 O over 3 m) and 50-75 m up-dip of YLP-0276. New drilling intersected an 80 m wide corridor with seven pegmatite dykes between 1-12 m in width in addition to a 6 m wide dyke a further 82 m down the hole that is likely the Perlis dyke. Two of the wider dykes within the corridor returned composites of 0.45% Li 2 O over 2 m and 0.45% Li 2 O over 4 m whereas all other dykes, including Perlis, returned assays <0.2% Li 2 O (Table 1 & 2, Figure 4).

YLP-0276 stepped back 125 m from YLP-0265 to test the Ki corridor on the same section down to 250 m below the surface. Drilling intersected five pegmatite corridors that are each separated by 40-60 m of country rock, with each interval hosting 2-17 m of pegmatite spread over 1-3 dykes and 2-20 m of drill core. The two intervals with the thickest pegmatite likely correspond to the Ki and Perlis dykes and returned, respectively, composites of 0.56% Li 2 O over 8 m (including 1.17% Li 2 O over 3 m) and 0.46% Li 2 O over 2 m (Table 1 & 2, Figure 4).

Echo Pegmatite

The Echo pegmatite complex comprises a steeply dipping, northwest-trending, feeder dyke (Echo feeder) that splits into a fanning splay of moderate to gently dipping dykes for 0.5 km to the northwest (Echo splay). The dyke complex has a total strike length of over 1.0 km. The feeder dyke is 5-15 m wide whereas the gently dipping dykes in the splay are locally up to 25 m thick. Two of the three holes reported here were drilled on the splay and one was drilled in the zone where the splay merges with the feeder.

YLP-0277 was drilled on a section located 400 m from where the Echo splay merges with the feeder, testing the splay down to 150 m below the surface and in between previously released YLP-0281 (1.09% Li 2 O over 33 m from three intervals spaced a total of 163 m apart) and YLP-0279 (no significant results). New drilling intersected a 32 m wide pegmatite dyke that is centered at 75 m below the surface in addition to several thinner dykes. The thick dyke returned a composite of 0.48% Li 2 O over 26 m that includes three higher-grade subintervals averaging 0.9-1.2% Li 2 O over 2-5 m (Table 1 & 2, Figures 6 & 7).



Figure 6  Plan view showing the surface expression of the Echo pegmatite with diamond drill holes reported in this press release.





Figure 7  Cross-section illustrating YLP-0277 with results as shown in the Echo pegmatite dyke with a 26 m interval of 0.48% Li 2 O.



YLP-0270 was drilled to test the Echo splay approximately 200 m from where it merges with the feeder, down to 225 m vertically beneath the surface, and between previously released YLP-0120 (0.60% Li 2 O over 24 m) to the southwest and YLP-0273 (no significant results), which was drilled from the same location as YLP-0270 but at a steeper inclination. New drilling intersected three intervals of pegmatite each separated by ~75 m country rock, with each interval comprising one to three dykes with a cumulative width of 2-14 m. All assays returned <0.1% Li 2 O (Table 1 & 2, Figure 6).

YLP-0266 was drilled within the area where the Echo splay merges with the feeder, as well as on section with and stepped back 80 m from previously released YLP-0099 (0.62% Li 2 O over 11 m). New drilling intersected three dykes within 100 m of the surface, all of which are just 2-3 m wide and returned negligible grades (Table 1 & 2, Figure 6).

Nite Pegmatite

The Nite pegmatite complex is exposed along 1.4 km of strike length as a swarm of parallel-trending dykes that occur within a north-northeast striking corridor dipping ~50-70 degrees to the east. The northern part of this complex consists of a 5-15 m thick dyke flanked by one or more 1-5 m dykes whereas the southern part comprises a fanning splay of 5-10 thin dykes within a 200 m wide corridor.

YLP-0286 was the last hole drilled as part of the 2024 winter program, is the most southerly hole drilled on the Nite complex and is the hole nearest the structural transition from the narrower northern part to the wider southern part. This hole was designed to test the Nite corridor at 50-75 m below the surface as well as 50 m southwest and along strike of previously released YLP-0142 (1.47% Li 2 O over 10 m). New drilling intersected a 63 m wide corridor with 30 m of pegmatite spread over six dykes between 1-17 m in width. The thickest two dykes returned wall-to-wall composites of 0.53% Li 2 O over 17 m (including 4 m of 1.56% Li 2 O) and 0.91% Li 2 O over 6 m. This result indicates that the Nite complex is open at depth and along strike to the south-southwest (Table 1 & 2, Figures 8 & 9).



Figure 8  Plan view showing the surface expression of the Nite pegmatite with diamond drill holes reported in this press release.





Figure 9  Cross-section illustrating YLP-0286 with results as shown in the Nite pegmatite dyke with a 17 m interval of 0.53% Li 2 O.



BIG East Pegmatite

The BIG East pegmatite complex comprises a north-northeast trending corridor of parallel-trending dykes that is exposed for at least 1.8 km of strike length, ranges from 10-100 m wide, and dips approximately 55-75 degrees to the west.

YLP-0264 was drilled near the northern mapped extent of the BIG East pegmatite to test this corridor at 50 m below the surface and 25 m up-dip of previously released YLP-0267 (0.47% Li 2 O over 12 m). New drilling intersected 10 m and 13 m wide pegmatite dykes separated by 24 m of country rock and with all assays returning <0.1% Li 2 O (Table 1 & 2, Figure 10).

YLP-0268 is the northern-most hole drilled on the BIG East corridor and was collared on a section that is 50 m north and along strike of the section with YLP-0264/0267. Drilling intersected a 15 m wide pegmatite dyke centered at approximately 65 m vertically beneath the surface as well as several flanking dykes between 1-5 m in width. The wider dyke returned three 1 m assays grading between 0.3-0.5% Li 2 O whereas the flanking dykes returned <0.1% Li 2 O (Table 1 & 2, Figure 10).



Figure 10  Plan view showing the surface expression of the BIG East pegmatite with diamond drill holes reported in this press release.



Fi Southwest Pegmatite

The Fi Southwest (SW) pegmatite is exposed over at least 1.1 km on surface and occurs within a broader corridor that is 50-100 m wide and dips between 60-80 to the east. The complex is cored by a 20-40 m wide main dyke that is continuous for at least 800 m along strike, with numerous sub-parallel subsidiary dykes between 1-5 m in width. At its northern and southern ends, the main dyke splays out into a broader corridor with more dykes that have narrower widths.

YLP-0209 was drilled to test the northern splay of the Fi SW complex down to 175 m vertically and in between previously released YLP-0201 and YLP-0215 (both no significant results). Drilling intersected a 90 m interval, centered on 125 m vertical depth, with 13 m of pegmatite spread over five between 1-4 m wide. All assays returned <0.2% Li 2 O (Table 1 & 2, Figure 11).

Figure 11  Plan view showing the surface expression of the Fi Southwest pegmatite with diamond drill holes reported in this press release.

BIG West Pegmatite

The BIG West pegmatite complex comprises a north-northeast trending corridor of parallel-trending dykes that is exposed for at least 1.5 km along strike and is steeply west dipping to subvertical. The northern part of the complex consists of a single corridor approximately 50-75 m wide whereas in the south this single corridor splits into upper and lower pegmatite zones approximately 125 m apart.

YLP-0175 is the last hole reported from the 2023 summer program and was designed to test the southern part of the BIG West corridor at a vertical depth of 250 m below the surface as well as 75-100 m downdip of previously released YLP-0170 (0.76% Li 2 O over 1 m). Drilling intersected the upper pegmatite as a single 7 m wide dyke with all assays returning <0.2% Li 2 O (Table 1 & 2, Figure 12).

Figure 12  Plan view showing the surface expression of the BIG West pegmatite with diamond drill holes reported in this press release.

Table 1  Assay highlights for drill holes reported in this press release

Hole No. From (m) To (m) Interval (m) Li2O% Dyke YLP-0175 No significant result BIG West YLP-0209 No significant result Fi SW YLP-0264 No significant result BIG East YLP-0265 71 73 2 0.45 Ki and 86 90 4 0.45 Ki YLP-0266 No significant result Echo YLP-0268 No significant result BIG East YLP-0269 69 71 2 0.55 Ki and 75 78 3 0.50 Ki YLP-0270 No significant result Echo YLP-0272 56 69 13 1.05 Ki inc 58 66 8 1.43 Ki YLP-0276 147 155 8 0.56 Ki inc 150 153 3 1.17 Ki and 218 220 2 0.46 Ki YLP-0277 86 112 26 0.48 Echo inc 86 88 2 0.90 Echo and inc 98 103 5 1.17 Echo and inc 109 112 3 0.98 Echo YLP-0284 52 70 18 1.41 Shorty and 77 102 25 1.21 Shorty and 131 141 10 1.00 Shorty inc 133 138 5 1.76 Shorty YLP-0286 76 93 17 0.53 Nite inc 82 86 4 1.56 Nite and 111 117 6 0.91 Nite

Drilling Progress Update

The Company concluded its winter drill program at the Yellowknife Lithium Project with a combined total of 286 diamond drill holes (49,548 m) completed between the summer and winter programs.

General Statements

All 13 holes described in this news release were drilled broadly perpendicular to the dyke orientation so that the true thickness of reported intercepts will range somewhere between 65-100% of the drilled widths. A collar header table is provided below.

Mineralogical characterization for the YLP- pegmatites is in progress through hyperspectral core scanning and X-ray diffraction work. Visual core logging indicates that the predominant host mineral is spodumene.

Table 2 - Drill collars table of reported drill holes in this press release

Drill Hole NAD83 Easting Northing Elevation (m) Depth (m) Azimuth () Dip () Dyke YLP-0175 Zone 11N 653,486 6,933,091 201 332 118 51 BIG West YLP-0209 Zone 12N 371,597 6,941,115 249 240 302 50 Fi SW YLP-0264 Zone 12N 346,308 6,933,466 197 89 121 45 BIG East YLP-0265 Zone 12N 373,002 6,942,897 255 219 57 45 Ki YLP-0266 Zone 12N 439,402 6,922,716 276 150 215 59 Echo YLP-0268 Zone 12N 346,313 6,933,525 197 86 121 45 BIG East YLP-0269 Zone 12N 372,999 6,942,956 255 201 58 54 Ki YLP-0270 Zone 12N 439,348 6,922,810 277 306 215 60 Echo YLP-0272 Zone 12N 373,002 6,943,008 254 87 60 67 Ki YLP-0276 Zone 12N 372,895 6,942,828 253 360 59 45 Ki YLP-0277 Zone 12N 439,159 6,922,882 277 207 215 56 Echo YLP-0284 Zone 12N 372,957 6,938,377 251 257 124 88 Shorty YLP-0286 Zone 11N 647,396 6,936,148 207 132 300 45 Nite

QA/QC & Core Sampling Protocols

All drill core samples were collected under the supervision of LIFT employees and contractors. Drill core was transported from the drill platform to the core processing facility where it was logged, photographed, and split by diamond saw prior to being sampled. Samples were then bagged, and blanks and certified reference materials were inserted at regular intervals. Field duplicates consisting of quarter-cut core samples were also included in the sample runs. Groups of samples were placed in large bags, sealed with numbered tags in order to maintain a chain-of-custody, and transported from LIFTs core logging facility to ALS Labs (ALS) laboratory in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories.

Sample preparation and analytical work for this drill program were carried out by ALS. Samples were prepared for analysis according to ALS method CRU31: individual samples were crushed to 70% passing through 2 mm (10 mesh) screen; a 1,000-gram sub-sample was riffle split (SPL-21) and then pulverized (PUL-32) such that 85% passed through 75-micron (200 mesh) screen. A 0.2-gram sub-sample of the pulverized material was then dissolved in a sodium peroxide solution and analysed for lithium according to ALS method ME-ICP82b. Another 0.2-gram sub-sample of the pulverized material was analysed for 53 elements according to ALS method ME-MS89L. All results passed the QA/QC screening at the lab, all inserted standards and blanks returned results that were within acceptable limits.

Qualified Person

The disclosure in this news release of scientific and technical information regarding LIFTs mineral properties has been reviewed and approved by Ron Voordouw, Ph.D., P.Geo., Partner, Director Geoscience, Equity Exploration Consultants Ltd., and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (NI 43-101) and member in good standing with the Northwest Territories and Nunavut Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists (NAPEG) (Geologist Registration number: L5245).

About LIFT

LIFT is a mineral exploration company engaged in the acquisition, exploration, and development of lithium pegmatite projects located in Canada. The Companys flagship project is the Yellowknife Lithium Project located in Northwest Territories, Canada. LIFT also holds three early-stage exploration properties in Quebec, Canada with excellent potential for the discovery of buried lithium pegmatites, as well as the Cali Project in Northwest Territories within the Little Nahanni Pegmatite Group.

For further information, please contact:

Francis MacDonald Daniel Gordon Chief Executive Officer Investor Relations Manager Tel: + 1.604.609.6185 Tel: +1.604.609.6185 Email: info@li-ft.com Email: investors@li-ft.com Website: www.li-ft.com

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

Certain statements included in this press release constitute forward-looking information or statements (collectively, forward-looking statements), including those identified by the expressions anticipate, believe, plan, estimate, expect, intend, may, should and similar expressions to the extent they relate to the Company or its management. The forward-looking statements are not historical facts but reflect current expectations regarding future results or events. This press release contains forward looking statements. These forward-looking statements and information reflect management's current beliefs and are based on assumptions made by and information currently available to the company with respect to the matter described in this new release.

Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, which are based on current expectations as of the date of this release and subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. Additional information about these assumptions and risks and uncertainties is contained under "Risk Factors" in the Company's latest annual information form filed on March 27, 2024, which is available under the Company's SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca, and in other filings that the Company has made and may make with applicable securities authorities in the future. Forward-looking statements contained herein are made only as to the date of this press release and we undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. We caution investors not to place considerable reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this press release.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

All photos accompanying this announcement are available at:

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/78b93424-45ea-4bd6-8b46-eeaf8b26f829

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Dublin, June 11, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Global Hysteroscopy Procedures Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report by Procedure (CPT Code 58558, CPT Code 58353), End-use (Ambulatory Surgical Centers, Hospitals, Clinics), Region, and Segment Forecasts, 2024-2030" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The global hysteroscopy procedures market size is expected to reach USD 7.4 billion by 2030, expanding at a CAGR of 7.5% from 2024 to 2030. Surge in prevalence of gynecological disorders, technological advancements, increasing adoption of minimally invasive surgeries, and favorable reimbursement policies are the key driving factors for the market. In addition, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has been significant on the market.







The increasing prevalence of uterine fibroids is a key factor driving the market. For instance, as per the research article published in Dove Press Ltd., the prevalence of uterine fibroid disease ranges from 5.4% to 23.6%, depending upon the age group. Moreover, uterine fibroids can cause serious problems in 25% of women. Hysteroscopy is used to diagnose abnormalities, such as excessive bleeding, severe stomach cramps, recurrent miscarriages, or difficulties in conceiving. Thus, the presence of such a large patient pool leads to increased demand for hysteroscopy procedures.



Hysteroscopy Procedures Market Report Highlights

The hospitals end-use segment held the largest revenue share of over 52.4% in 2023. The segment growth is credited to the high number of cases of gynecological disorders

Asia Pacific is expected to witness the fastest CAGR over the forecast period due to the presence of a large patient pool coupled with the rising aging population in the APAC region

Integrating hysteroscopy into office practice will provide a lucrative opportunity for key market players. Several players have launched office hysteroscopy and associated devices

For instance, Aveta System (office hysteroscopy), recently launched by Meditrina Inc. in March 2020, is an all-in-one tissue removal solution for intrauterine pathology, which offers wide-angle HD hysteroscopy

Furthermore, in-office hysteroscopy is beneficial over traditional hysteroscopy procedures as it is efficient & clinically beneficial and offers a patient-centric approach

It is also a simple and quick tool for retrieving intrauterine devices. Thus, physicians will consider investing in equipment and adopting an in-office approach for hysteroscopy

Key Attributes:





Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 130 Forecast Period 2023 - 2030 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2023 $4.5 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2030 $7.4 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 7.5% Regions Covered Global





Key Topics Covered:



Chapter 1. Methodology and Scope



Chapter 2. Executive Summary

2.1. Market Outlook

2.2. Segment Outlook

2.3. Regional Outlook

2.4. Competitive Insights



Chapter 3. Hysteroscopy Procedures Market Variables, Trends & Scope

3.1. Market Lineage Outlook

3.2. Market Dynamics

3.2.1. Market Driver Analysis

3.2.1.1. Increasing Prevalence of Gynecological Disorders

3.2.1.2. Rising Adoption of Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures

3.2.1.3. Growing Adoption of Technologically Advanced Devices for Hysteroscopy Procedures

3.2.2. Market Restraint Analysis

3.2.2.1. High Cost of Hysteroscopy Procedures and Systems

3.2.2.2. Concerns Associated with Product Approval and Commercialization

3.3. Hysteroscopy Procedures Market Analysis Tools



Chapter 4. Hysteroscopy Procedures Market: CPT Codes Estimates & Trend Analysis

4.1. Segment Dashboard

4.2. Hysteroscopy Procedures Market: CPT Codes Movement Analysis

4.3. Hysteroscopy Procedures Market by CPT Codes Outlook (USD Million)





Chapter 5. Hysteroscopy Procedures Market: End-use Estimates & Trend Analysis

5.1. Segment Dashboard

5.2. Hysteroscopy Procedures Market: End-use Movement Analysis

5.3. Hysteroscopy Procedures Market by End-use Outlook (USD Million)

5.4. Market Size & Forecasts and Trend Analyses, 2018 to 2030

5.5. Hospitals

5.6. Clinics

5.7. Ambulatory Surgery Centers



Chapter 6. Hysteroscopy Procedures Market: Regional Estimates & Trend Analysis

6.1. Regional Dashboard

6.2. Regional Hysteroscopy Procedures Market Movement Analysis

6.3. Hysteroscopy Procedures Market: Regional Estimates & Trend Analysis by CPT Codes & End-use

6.4. Market Size & Forecasts and Trend Analyses, 2018 to 2030

6.5. North America

6.5.1. North America Hysteroscopy Procedures Market Estimates and Forecasts, 2018-2030 (USD Million)

6.5.2. U.S.

6.5.3. Canada

6.5.4. Europe

6.5.5. Europe Hysteroscopy Procedures Market Estimates and Forecasts, 2018-2030 (USD Million)

6.5.6. UK

6.5.7. Germany

6.5.8. France

6.5.9. Italy

6.5.10. Spain

6.5.11. Denmark

6.5.12. Sweden

6.5.13. Norway

6.6. Asia-Pacific

6.6.1. Asia-Pacific Hysteroscopy Procedures Market Estimates and Forecasts, 2018-2030 (USD Million)

6.6.2. Japan

6.6.3. China

6.6.4. India

6.6.5. South Korea

6.6.6. Australia

6.6.7. Thailand

6.7. Latin America

6.7.1. Latin America Hysteroscopy Procedures Market Estimates and Forecasts, 2018-2030 (USD Million)

6.7.2. Brazil

6.7.3. Mexico

6.7.4. Argentina

6.8. Middle East & Africa

6.8.1. Middle East & Africa Hysteroscopy Procedures Market Estimates and Forecasts, 2018-2030 (USD Million)

6.8.2. South Africa

6.8.3. Saudi Arabia

6.8.4. UAE

6.8.5. Kuwait



Chapter 7. Competitive Landscape

7.1. Market Participant Categorization

7.2. Key Company Profiles

Medtronic

Stryker Corporation

Hologic, Inc.

KARL STORZ SE & CO. KG

Johnson & Johnson (Ethicon, Inc)

Olympus Corp.

Delmont Imaging

B. Braun Melsungen AG

Richard Wolf GmbH

CooperCompanies

Maxer Endoscopy GmbH

Boston Scientific Corp.

MedGyn Products, Inc.

Lina Medical APS

Luminelle

Meditrina, Inc. (Aveta)

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/26w8o

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

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Memphis, TN, June 11, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The National Civil Rights Museum is deeply saddened by the passing of civil rights philosopher and strategist, Rev. James M. Lawson, Jr.

Participating in several museum events and programs, Rev. Lawson has been a lifelong mentor of the movement and among a panel of respected scholars for the National Civil Rights Museum. He is one of the Museums 2011 Freedom Award Icon of the Civil Rights Movement honorees. In recent years, Rev. Lawson would join the National Civil Rights Museum in illuminating the legacy of Dr. King during April 4 commemoration. He paired with civil rights activist John Lewis in the milestone MLK50 Evening of Storytelling Symposium in 2018.

A supporter of the Gandhian philosophy of nonviolent protest, Rev. Lawson was one of the Civil Rights Movements leading theoreticians and tacticians in the African American struggle for freedom and equality in the 1950s and 1960s. In 1957, one of Lawsons professors introduced him to the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who urged him to move south and aid in the Civil Rights Movement.

Heeding Kings advice, Lawson moved to Nashville, Tennessee and enrolled at the Divinity School of Vanderbilt University, where he served as the southern director for Fellowship of Reconciliation (FOR) and began hosting nonviolence training workshops for sit-ins with the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC). Influential in the formation of Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), Lawson trained many of the future leaders of the Civil Rights Movement, including James Bevel, Diane Nash, John Lewis, Bernard Lafayette, and Marion Barry who participated in nonviolent sit-ins, Freedom Rides, and voting rights campaigns. He was expelled from Vanderbilt after being arrested for nonviolent demonstrations. In 2021, the college would name part of its divinity school the James Lawson Institute for the Research and Study of Nonviolent Movements at Vanderbilt University.

As pastor of Centenary Methodist Church in Memphis, Lawson invited Dr. King to Memphis to garner support for the 1968 Sanitation Workers Strike. It was solely his invitation that detoured SCLC to Memphis ahead of the Poor Peoples Campaign. Days after Kings assassination, with Kings widow Coretta Scott King, Lawson would help to organize the Silent March through downtown Memphis in honor of Dr. King.

Lawson was pastor of Holman United Methodist Church in Los Angeles and continued his social activism on Palestinian and immigrant rights, gay and lesbian issues, the Iraq wars, and poverty.

Rev. Lawson was a friend and guiding light to those who loved equality, justice, and peace. He leaves a long legacy of love and quieted strength in the name of human rights. He will be sorely missed throughout the world.

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MALVERN, Pa., June 11, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via IBN  Annovis Bio Inc. (NYSE: ANVS) (Annovis or the Company), a late-stage drug platform company developing novel therapies for neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimers (AD) and Parkinsons disease (PD), today announces that its recent Phase II/III Alzheimers study of its lead drug candidate, Buntanetap, showed statistically significant efficacy and safety in both carriers and non-carriers of Apolipoprotein E4 (APOE4), a genetic cause of AD.

Interested parties are encouraged to register for the upcoming investor call today at 4:30 PM ET, where detailed findings will be discussed. https://zoom.us/webinar/register/3117176913600/WN_Ev_1s7l2RUKmIQJNdko5iA

Key Findings:

Efficacy in Early AD Patients: In patients with early AD (MMSE 21-24), Buntanetap showed a statistically significant dose-response in ADAS-Cog11 scores, with a -3.3 points improvement over baseline and -2.3 points improvement from placebo.

APOE4 Carriers : In APOE4 carriers treated with 15mg Buntanetap, there was a -3.15 improvement in ADAS-Cog11 scores.

: In APOE4 carriers treated with 15mg Buntanetap, there was a -3.15 improvement in ADAS-Cog11 scores. Comparable Safety: Buntanetap was found to be equally safe in both APOE4 carriers and non-carriers, with no instances of ARIA (Amyloid-Related Imaging Abnormalities).

Patient Breakdown: The study included 159 APOE4 carriers (33 homozygotes and 126 heterozygotes) and 159 APOE4 non-carriers.

Scientific Context: Recent findings published in Nature Medicine have redefined APOE4 homozygosity as a distinct genetic form of Alzheimers disease, requiring individualized prevention strategies, clinical trials, and treatments. This study emphasized the near-full penetrance of AD biology in APOE4 homozygotes, suggesting that these patients represent a significant target group for therapeutic interventions.

Safety Insights: Dr. Samuel Gandy, an Alzheimers researcher at Mount Sinai, highlighted the heightened safety risks for APOE4 homozygotes from anti-amyloid drugs, such as Leqembi, which have been associated with serious side effects like brain swelling and bleeding. When the Food and Drug Administration approved the anti-amyloid drug Leqembi last year, it required a black-box warning  the agencys strongest caution  because of safety concerns for people with two copies of APOE4. However, Buntanetap demonstrated no increased safety issues compared to placebo, even in APOE4 carriers.

During our upcoming investor call, we will discuss the recent New York Times article that underscores the serious implications for APOE4 carriers.

Future Plans: Encouraged by these results, Annovis Bio is planning an 18-month Phase III trial focusing on biomarker-positive early AD patients. This trial aims to further validate Buntanetaps efficacy and safety profile and will be conducted under the guidance of the FDA.

Investor Call: Annovis Bio will host an investor call to discuss these findings in detail and outline the future development plans for Buntanetap.

Date and Time: June 11, 2024, 4:30 pm ET.

June 11, 2024, 4:30 pm ET. Register Now: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/3117176913600/WN_Ev_1s7l2RUKmIQJNdko5iA

About Buntanetap: Buntanetap (formerly known as Posiphen or ANVS401) targets neurodegeneration by inhibiting the formation of multiple neurotoxic proteins, including amyloid beta, tau, alpha-synuclein, and TDP43. By improving synaptic transmission, axonal transport, and reducing neuroinflammation, Buntanetap aims to reverse neurodegeneration in AD, PD, and other neurodegenerative diseases.

About Annovis Bio Inc.: Headquartered in Malvern, Pennsylvania, Annovis Bio Inc. is dedicated to addressing neurodegeneration in diseases such as AD and PD. The companys innovative approach targets multiple neurotoxic proteins, aiming to restore brain function and improve the quality of life for patients. For more information, visit www.annovisbio.com and follow us on LinkedIn and X .

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements include, but are not limited to, the Company's plans related to clinical trials. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and assumptions and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those related to patient enrollment, the effectiveness of Buntanetap, and the timing, effectiveness, and anticipated results of the Company's clinical trials evaluating the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of Buntanetap. Additional risk factors are detailed in the Company's periodic filings with the SEC, including those listed in the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. All forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information available to the Company as of the date of this release. The Company expressly disclaims any obligation to update or revise its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law.

Contacts

Annovis Bio, Inc.

101 Lindenwood Drive

Suite 225

Malvern, PA 19355

www.annovisbio.com

Investor Contact

Scott McGowan

InvestorBrandNetwork (IBN)

Phone: 310.299.1717

 IR@annovisbio.com

Investor Website

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OTTAWA, June 11, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Banning the use of replacement workers in federally regulated industries would lengthen and increase the frequency of work stoppages, according to remarks the Montreal Economic Institute is set to deliver to the Senate this afternoon.



In provinces prohibiting the employment of replacement workers, work stoppages are more numerous and can be up to 60 per cent longer, noted MEI President and CEO Daniel Dufort. But heres the kicker: those measures dont seem to lead to better pay for workers.

The Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology is currently studying Bill C-58, which proposes to ban temporary replacement workers in federally regulated industries.

A recent MEI study found that in Quebec and British Columbia, the only provinces with such laws on the books, work stoppages were longer and more frequent than in provinces without such legislation.

In jurisdictions banning replacement workers, private investment was 25 per cent lower, resulting in private sector salaries that are up to 3.6 per cent lower.

Dufort points to the looming rail strike as an example of the possible widespread impact Bill C-58 could have on Canadian workers.

A simultaneous strike by unionized employees of Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited (CPKC) and Canadian National (CN) could paralyze freight transport, as well as the many commuter rail lines that rely on those networks.

If the CPKCs 80 railway controllers were to be on strike after C-58 takes effect, no more trains could run on its network, says Dufort. Vancouvers West Coast Express, GO Transits Milton Line and three of Exos commuter rail lines in Montreal could be paralyzed without replacement workers.

The MEI is an independent public policy think tank with offices in Montreal and Calgary. Through its publications, media appearances, and advisory services to policymakers, the MEI stimulates public policy debate and reforms based on sound economics and entrepreneurship.

Interview requests

Samantha Dagres

Advisor, Communications

Cell: 514-226-2287

sdagres@iedm.org

---

To follow the MEIs work, subscribe to our Twitter account @iedm_montreal.
Dhaka, Bangladesh, June 11, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Honorable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina graciously accepted the Global Center on Adaptations Local Adaptation Champions Award from GCA CEO Professor Patrick V. Verkooijen today, on the occasion of his official visit to Bangladesh.

Bangladesh, the first government to receive the global Local Adaptation Champions Award, won in the Innovation in Devolving Finance category for the Local Government Initiative on Climate Change (LoGIC). Implemented by the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Co-Operatives, Government of Bangladesh, LoGIC provides a mechanism for accessing and managing climate finance from various sources, a platform for sharing best practices and lessons learned, and a system for monitoring and evaluating effectiveness and impact.

I am deeply honored to accept this prestigious award on behalf of the Government and people of Bangladesh, whose unwavering resilience and innovative spirit have always guided us through natural adversities, declared Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. This recognition underscores our commitment to sustainable development and climate resilience, and we are grateful for the Global Center on Adaptations invaluable support in our journey towards a prosperous and resilient future.

H.E. Ban Ki-moon, 8th Secretary of the United Nations and Chairperson of the Board of the GCA, lauded Prime Minister Hasina, stating: Once again, Bangladesh stands at the forefront of supporting the most climate-vulnerable populations, demonstrating leadership in channelling essential climate finance to those in dire need.

Professor Verkooijen added The GCAs Global Hub on Locally Led Adaptation, inaugurated by Her Excellency Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in 2022, is dedicated to amplifying the voices of the most vulnerable. The insights and ownership in their locally led Peoples Adaptation Plans are invaluable for guiding international financial institutions. At GCA we are supporting the scaling up of such initiatives and linking them to larger funding sources. We know for climate action to be effective it must prioritize protecting those living on the frontlines of our climate emergency.

Professor Verkooijen also welcomed the offer from Her Excellency Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to establish a permanent GCA regional office in Bangladesh embodying the latest climate resilient technology and design.

During his two-day official visit from June 9-10, 2024, Professor Verkooijen visited Chattogram to engage with local communities supported by the GCA. These communities are developing Peoples Adaptation Plans to inform investments by the World Bank-supported Chattogram Water Supply Improvement Project (CWSIP). He met with residents of Nobab Khan Colony and Razakhali Beribadh Colony, low-income communities severely impacted by water scarcity, flooding, heat, and disease caused by water salinity and contamination, and rising vector populations. GCAs initiatives in Bangladesh are funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and Global Affairs Canada.

Professor Verkooijen also held discussions with Finance Minister Abul Hassan Mahmud Ali and Environment Secretary Dr. Farhina Ahmed. These meetings focused on strengthening partnerships to advocate for the doubling of climate finance by 2025 and exploring new avenues for climate adaptation projects in Bangladesh.

Notes to Editors

About the Global Center on Adaptation

The Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) is an international organization dedicated to promoting adaptation to the impacts of climate change. It works to climate-proof development by instigating policy reforms and influencing investments made by international financial institutions and the private sector. The goal is to place climate adaptation at the forefront of the global climate change agenda. Founded in 2018, GCA embodies innovation in its approach to climate adaptation and operates from the largest floating office in the world, located in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. GCA has a worldwide network of regional offices in Abidjan, Cote dIvoire; Dhaka, Bangladesh; and Beijing, China. A new office will open in Nairobi, Kenya in 2025.

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York, Pa., June 11, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WellSpan Health and Jersey College, an accredited post-secondary institution specializing in nursing education, have received regulatory approval to establish a school of nursing that will offer an associate degree in nursing program in York County. The affiliation is being established to address the national nursing shortage locally and provide a more coordinated, well-rounded approach along with WellSpans other school of nursing partners.

As WellSpan continues to reimagine the face of healthcare, we remain actively committed to our workforce and narrowing the nursing shortage in our communities to solidify a talented, sustainable nursing workforce, said Kasey Paulus, senior vice president and chief nursing executive, WellSpan Health. Through our collaboration with Jersey College, it furthers our commitment to support the development of nursing professionals by bringing a broader suite of opportunities to South Central Pennsylvania through a non-traditional, stackable credentialing approach and track toward a bachelors degree in nursing.

The schools inaugural class will start on August 26. The campus location, situated at 1409 Williams Road in York, will include spacious classrooms, collaboration areas, a skills lab, as well as a student lounge for nursing students. In addition to the Williams Road location, the WellSpan York Hospital campus will be home to the initial clinical site for the school, with the ability to utilize all WellSpan Health facilities throughout the learning experience.

The collaborative program will include the benefits of hospital-based diploma programs while also presenting a unique, non-traditional model and professional track to support early career individuals pursuing a path in nursing as well as well-educated professionals seeking a career change through a program in as little as 2 years. The program anticipates providing qualified individuals with a learning opportunity which combines direct clinical experience at WellSpan Health facilities while earning an associate degree in nursing. Following graduation from the program, individuals will be encouraged to advance their career by pursuing a bachelors degree.

We are excited to enter into this strategic alliance with WellSpan Health to bring our devotion to nursing education and excellence to communities across central Pennsylvania, said Greg Karzhevsky, Chancellor, Jersey College. Our shared vision, complimented by Jersey Colleges unique hospital-based professional nursing program and model, will produce an extraordinary development experience while embodying our lifelong learning philosophy for nursing professionals that Pennsylvanians deserve. We look forward to an amazing relationship with WellSpan Health for many years to come!

Jersey College has numerous similar strategic alliances with other healthcare systems and currently has 16 campuses throughout Pennsylvania, Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Indiana, New Jersey and Tennessee. 13 of the campuses are hospital-based professional nursing programs.

With 30 to 50 students per nursing cohort and three nursing cohorts per year in the planned school, dozens of nursing professionals can earn degrees locally through the expansive program. Individuals interested in enrolling in the program can visit www.JerseyCollege.edu/WellSpan. WellSpan and non-WellSpan team members alike are eligible for tuition assistance opportunities for those who qualify.

For details on WellSpans six acute care hospitals across South Central Pennsylvania, visit www.WellSpan.org.

About WellSpan Health

WellSpan Healths vision is to reimagine healthcare through the delivery of comprehensive, equitable health and wellness solutions throughout our continuum of care. As an integrated delivery system focused on leading in value-based care, we encompass more than 2,000 employed providers, 220 locations, eight award-winning hospitals, home care and a behavioral health organization serving South Central Pennsylvania and northern Maryland. With a team 20,000 strong, WellSpan experts provide a range of services, from wellness and employer services solutions to advanced care for complex medical and behavioral conditions. Our clinically integrated network of 2,600 aligned physicians and advanced practice providers is dedicated to providing the highest quality and safety, inspiring our patients and communities to be their healthiest.

About Jersey College

Jersey College was established in 2003 with the goal of offering nursing education for the adult professional. Jersey College currently enrolls more than 3,300 nursing students across its 16 campuses located throughout New Jersey, Arizona, Florida, Indiana, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee. The school of nursing at Jersey College offers both Practical and Professional nursing programs that allow an individual to become a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) or a Registered Nurse. The nursing programs have been designed to support the adult student in accomplishing their educational and professional goals, and to foster the diversification of the nursing workforce to better serve the areas multicultural communities. Jersey College has graduated over 10,500 nurses into the communities surrounding their campuses and is accredited by the Council on Occupational Education.

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China's SMEs Development Index edges down in May

Xinhua) 17:02, June 11, 2024

BEIJING, June 11 (Xinhua) -- China's small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) reported a slight decline in business activities in May, with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Index down 0.2 points from the previous month, the latest industry data showed.

The index, calculated based on a survey of 3,000 SMEs in China, came in at 89.2 in last month. The reading was up from 88.9 registered in the same period last year, according to the China Association of Small and Medium Enterprises.

The index contains multiple sub-indexes to gauge the performance and expectations of SMEs. A reading below 100 indicates dented vitality.

Last month, the sub-indexes for labor force and business capital were above 100, while those for sentiment on the macroeconomy, overall business operation, market, investment and earning performance were below 100.

Development confidence and market expectations of China's SMEs were yet to be boosted, the association said. The survey showed that these enterprises were faced with falling demand and high operating costs last month.

The association called for consolidating and strengthening the sound economic recovery momentum, stressing the need to step up support for the real economy, expand domestic demand, and widen investment and financing channels for SMEs.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
MBABANE The ACC has written to Standard Bank Eswatini enquiring about transactions of one of the banks employees UNAYO account, that are allegedly linked to a Funduzi Forensic Services (Pty) Ltd account.

Funduzi Forensic Services is the company that was contracted by government to conduct an investigation into irregularities relating to procurement, in particular the acquisition and distribution of medicine to public institutions. The bank employee, Delisa Malinga of Mbabane, said the beneficiaries of the funds that were deposited into the Funduzi account became known to the bank management as of April 3, 2024. Malinga is facing disciplinary proceedings by his employer. His charges are alleged involvement in acts of bribery and corruption. His charge sheet suggests that he contravened Clause 5.2.1.3 of the Disciplinary Code and Procedure.

This clause states that: Involvement in acts of bribery or corruption, ie in giving or receiving of, or any attempt to give or receive, inducements, or try to influence somebody to corruption of any kind. Malinga has since rushed to the Industrial Court to stop his disciplinary hearing and to have it declared time-barred. In his founding affidavit, Malinga informed the court that it was common cause that part of the events that resulted in him being charged, was a letter from the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). He said the letter sought certain information about him and transactions in his UNAYO account.

As a result of the letter, Malinga submitted that through his representatives from the Swaziland Union of Financial Institutions and Allied Workers (SUFIAW), he applied to be furnished with the letter from the ACC. He said the letter was seeking information on who the beneficiaries of the deposits into the Funduzi account were. Malinga said the application was granted. However, since the letter was confidential, he said he and his representatives were allowed to only view it. Indeed we did see a corner of the letter, submitted Malinga.

Hearing

The veracity of these allegations is still to be tested in court. The bank and chairperson of the hearing are yet to file their answering papers. Malinga is represented by Meluleki Ndlangamandla of MLK Ndlangamandla Attorneys. He said in perusing the letter from the ACC, it became clear to them that the issue came to the attention of the banks management through Sibusiso Mndzebele, who is in management. Malinga submitted that he was accused of being involved in acts of corruption. Noteworthy is that the letter from the Anti-Corruption Commission, which brought the issue to the attention of the management of the bank is dated March 26, 2024, meaning as at March 26, 2024, the issue was brought to the attention of management.

I should reiterate and be candid that the letter was only shown to us and we were never given copies of the letter, as such same cannot be annexed hereto, but it is a letter that is common cause fact, Malinga told the court. He alleged that Mndzebele indicated on the March 26 letter that he actioned it on April 3, 2024. This, he said, therefore, meant that as of this date, the management had conclusively determined, who the beneficiaries of the funds deposited in the Funduzi account, were. According to Malinga, on May 30, 2024, through his representatives, he raised an objection to the disciplinary hearing in terms of Clause 1.11 of the Disciplinary Code and Procedure.

Objection

He said the objection was on the basis that 35 days had elapsed since the issue was brought to the attention of the banks management on March 26, 2024 and actioned on April 3, 2024.

The first respondent (bank) is barred from proceeding with the disciplinary hearing in terms of Clause 1.11 of the binding Disciplinary Code and Procedure, Malinga told the court.

Clause 1.11 provides that all disciplinary action shall be taken and finalised (this includes the issuance of the sanction) as soon as possible after the misconduct has been brought to the fore.

The Chairperson of the disciplinary hearing, Celumusa Phakathi, Malinga submitted, allegedly contravened the disciplinary code and persisted in proceeding with the hearing despite his objection. He argued that the disciplinary code was part of his terms and conditions of employment, hence they are my entitlement. The second respondent (Phakathi) does not even take into consideration the period from April 3, 2024, to the date upon which the preliminary objection was raised. The period from April 3, 2024, far exceeds the binding period of 35 days set by Clause 1.11 as the 35 days lapsed on May 2024 when reckoned from April 3.

Malinga argued that the chairperson allegedly did not consider a similar case of Charles Mthethwa, that was ruled upon by the Industrial Court of Appeal, which declared a hearing to be time barred, relying on a similar clause to 1.11 of the banks disciplinary code. The ruling of Phakathi, according to Malinga, was, therefore, susceptible to being reviewed and set aside and that the hearing be declared time-barred. He argued that the alleged contravention of the disciplines code and the persistence of the chairperson were detrimental to his rights to a fair hearing.

He said it hinged on the ultimate decision that may be reached if the chairperson had adopted an approach to do away with the disciplinary code. I seek this order on the basis that the application cannot be determined while at the same time the disciplinary hearing, which I am challenging proceeds. The interest of justice would not warrant the same. The foreseeable harm and prejudice is that the binding terms of the Disciplinary Code on the issue of time-bar will be rendered useless and of no force or effect through an unlawful process.

Complaints

That decision will be acted upon by the respondents (bank and Phakathi) to punish me with, possibly, a dismissal in circumstances where it has lost jurisdiction. The second respondent brushed aside my complaints that the code was not being followed, Malinga argued. He submitted that the balance of convenience favoured the grant of the interim interdict with immediate effect on the basis that, if the hearing proceeded in circumstances wherein it ought not to have, he stood to suffer immediate adverse effects of an illegal hearing and be sanctioned.

The matter will proceed tomorrow. The hearing will not proceed until the matter is finalised in court. The matter is pending before Judge Manene Thwala. Meanwhile, the ACC has since written to the Auditor General, Timothy Matsebula and gave his office seven days to release all the documents that were used in the appointment of Funduzi Forensic Services, which exposed serious irregularities in the procurement of drugs.






Dublin, June 11, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Wound Therapy Devices Market - A Global and Regional Analysis: Focus on Product, Region, Country-Level Analysis, and Competitive Landscape - Analysis and Forecast, 2023-2030" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global wound therapy devices market is on a trajectory of robust growth and is anticipated to reach $6.47 billion by 2030. This market is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.42% between 2023 and 2030. Such growth is propelled by the rising geriatric population, higher incidence of chronic diseases and acute wounds, and rising need for advanced devices such as NPWT among patients.

Market Segmentation



Segmentation 1: by Product

Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT)

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT)

Offloading Devices

Electrical Stimulation

Compression Bandages

Based on product, the wound therapy devices market is led by negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT), which held a 44.47% share in 2022.

Segmentation 2: by Region

North America: U.S., and Canada

Europe: U.K., Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Switzerland, Russian Federation, Turkey, Poland, Belgium, Sweden, Ireland, Norway, Austria, Denmark, Finland, Portugal, Czech Republic, Romania, Greece, Slovakia, and Ukraine

Asia-Pacific: Japan, China, India, South Korea, Australia, Malaysia, and Thailand

Latin America: Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, and Chile

Rest-of-the-World

Regionally, North America is expected to maintain a dominant position through a steady compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.44% from 2023 to 2030. This sustained growth can be attributed to the region's advanced healthcare infrastructure, widespread awareness of wound management, and a notable increase in chronic wounds among its aging populace. The emphasis on R&D in North America has also facilitated the emergence of innovative wound therapy device products, supported by a strong regulatory environment and healthcare policies favoring advanced wound care solutions.

Latin America and the Rest-of-the-World regions are projected to experience the highest growth rates, with CAGRs of 6.22% and 6.37% respectively, indicating a rapidly expanding market presence. These regions' growth is likely driven by improving healthcare infrastructure, rising awareness of effective wound care, and increasing accessibility to advanced medical treatments. These dynamics underscore the expanding global need for effective wound care solutions and the significant opportunities for market players across diverse healthcare landscapes.

Key Market Players and Competition Synopsis

The global competitive landscape of the wound therapy devices market is defined by the presence of several key players, each contributing to the market's growth through innovation, business expansion, funding, strategic partnerships, and a focus on expanding product portfolios. Leading companies in this space are distinguished by their commitment to research and development, which enables them to introduce advanced wound care solutions that address a range of needs, from basic wound protection to complex wound management scenarios.

Some prominent names established in this market are:

3M

Smith & Nephew plc.

DeRoyal Industries, Inc.

AccelHeal

Sky Medical Technology Ltd.

Getinge AB

Medline Industries

ConvaTec

Gentell

GWR Medical

Key Attributes

Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 54 Forecast Period 2023-2030 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2023 $4.78 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2030 $6.47 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 4.4% Regions Covered Global

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/qo1x4q

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

Attachment
DENVER, June 11, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Poppulo, a leader in communications experience software, is proud to announce its new status as an Elite partner in the BrightSign Bright Alliance program. This designation underscores the company's commitment to helping customers maximize the reach and impact of their digital signage globally.



Poppulo, formerly known as Four Winds Interactive (FWI), has long been recognized as an industry-leading Content Management System (CMS) provider, delivering flexible and powerful digital signage for the enterprise. As the digital signage hardware landscape continues to evolve, newer and more cost-effective players like BrightSign have emerged, offering compelling use cases for a variety of industries. Poppulo is excited to announce certification across the latest in BrightSign innovation, the Series 5 players.

Poppulo and BrightSign share a common goal to help businesses create captivating experiences that connect and communicate with people in dynamic and impactful ways. The Bright Alliance program's Elite category signifies a partnership marked by excellence and mutual benefit. As part of this category, Poppulo will continue to innovate and collaborate closely with BrightSign, ensuring seamless performance and satisfaction for all users of their combined technologies.

"We are thrilled to be a member of the Bright Alliance program," said Caroline Daly, Vice President, GTM Strategy at Poppulo. "This partnership highlights our dedication to providing our customers with a wide array of hardware options, ensuring they receive the best possible digital signage solutions tailored to their specific needs."

We are delighted to welcome Poppulo as an Elite member of BrightSigns Bright Alliance program, said Misty Chalk, Vice President of Sales, Americas. This partnership underscores our shared commitment to making digital signage more accessible and innovative, allowing businesses to communicate more effectively with their audiences. Together, we are set to deliver unparalleled performance and reliability on a global scale with our BrightSign Series 5 players.

Visit Poppulo at InfoComm 2024 in Booth W3076 to discuss the latest in digital signage innovation. Learn more about Poppulo and BrightSigns partnership here.

About Poppulo

Poppulo is the leading communications and workplace experience software company. The Poppulo Harmony platform helps enterprise organizations achieve more by effortlessly connecting their employees, customers, and workplaces through omnichannel employee communications, digital signage, and workplace management. Poppulo's 4,500+ customer base is representative of the world's most successful companies, including 40+ of the Fortune 100. For more information, visit www.poppulo.com. Follow Poppulo on LinkedIn and on Twitter.

About BrightSign

BrightSign LLC, the global market leader in digital signage media players, is headquartered in San Jose, California, with offices in Europe and Asia. BrightSign manufactures media players and provides free software and networking solutions for the commercial digital signage market worldwide, serving all vertical segments of the digital signage marketplace. From entry-level BrightSign LS players to BrightSign XC players offering state-of-the-art technology and unsurpassed performance, BrightSigns products are known for their signature reliability, affordability, ease-of-use, and market-leading technology. For more information, visit BrightSign.

Media Contact:

Mic Wilborn

Director, Content Marketing

mic.wilborn@poppulo.com

+1 303-313-3000

Partner Contact:

Caroline Daly

Vice President, GTM Strategy

Caroline.daly@poppulo.com

+353 21 242 7277
CALGARY, Alberta, June 11, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Shake it up. Twist and shout. Its time to celebrate the 60th anniversary of The Beatles' arrival in Canada. On July 10, the National Music Centre (NMC) in Calgary will open a new exhibition, From Me to You: The Beatles in Canada 1964-1966, which offers a nostalgic tribute to the band's transformative years upon arriving in Canada for the first time.



The display captures the cultural landscape of Canada in the 1960s, and the frenzied excitement of Beatlemania that swept across the country. Adorned with rare photographs, memorabilia and audiovisual treasures, the exhibition will transport visitors to the landmark moment when The Beatles invaded Canadas consciousness and ignited a nation's fervour.

This exhibition is a must-see for any Beatles fan who wants to relive the bands early years, and the cultural influence it brought to Canada," said Piers Hemmingsen, music historian and author of The Beatles in Canada: The Origins of Beatlemania, who loaned NMC much of the items in the exhibition. While much of the attention around Beatlemania was focused on the U.S., Canada was first to recognize the band and embrace its music. This exhibition is sure to bring back cherished memories that capture the spirit of that unforgettable time."

From the bands electrifying performances in Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal, nearly drowned out by the sounds of screaming fans, to the impact on pop culture that ensued, each artifact tells a story of the Fab Four's indelible impact on Canadian music history. The exhibit not only showcases The Beatles' musical evolution during this period, but also highlights its cultural influence.

We are thrilled to commemorate this milestone anniversary with an exhibition that celebrates The Beatles' monumental impact on music and culture in Canada, said Andrew Mosker, President and CEO of the National Music Centre. From Me to You: The Beatles in Canada 1964-1966 offers a unique opportunity for visitors to relive the excitement of Beatlemania. This exhibition is a testament to the bands enduring influence after landing in North America 60 years ago.

From Me to You: The Beatles in Canada 1964-1966 is accessible with paid admission to Studio Bell and will run from July 10, 2024 until January 5, 2025. For more information on hours and admission, visit studiobell.ca/general-admission.

About National Music Centre | Centre National de Musique

The National Music Centre (NMC) has a mission to amplify the love, sharing, and understanding of music. It is preserving and celebrating Canadas music story inside its home at Studio Bell in the heart of the East Village in Mohkinstsis (Calgary) on Treaty 7 territory. NMC is the home to four Canadian music halls of fame, including the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame, the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame, and Quebecs ADISQ Hall of Fame. Featuring musical instruments, artifacts, recording equipment, and memorabilia, the NMC Collection spans over 450 years of music history and innovation. A registered charity with programs that include exhibitions, artist development, performance, and education, NMC is inspiring a new generation of music lovers. For more information about NMCs onsite activities, please visit studiobell.ca. To check out the NMC experience online, including video-on-demand performances, made-in-Canada stories, and highly entertaining educational content, visit amplify.nmc.ca.

Media contact:

Julijana Capone, Senior Publicist

T. 403.543.5123

julijana.capone@nmc.ca | @nmc_canada

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/26a8ea67-80c3-4444-b414-c90401849a56
NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C., June 11, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Grundfos Foundation has provided a DKK 5 million ($725,000 USD) grant to Water Mission, a Christian engineering nonprofit, to support the continued expansion of Water Missions disaster response program. The grant will improve Water Missions readiness and capacity to quickly and efficiently respond to multiple disasters simultaneously.

Water Mission has more than 20 years of experience responding to natural disasters and humanitarian crises in over 50 countries with both immediate and long-term safe water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) solutions. In the last year, Water Mission responded to the devastating earthquakes in Turkey, and most recently the flooding in East Africa, serving over 280,000 people affected by disasters, often collaborating with organizations such as UNICEF, Oxfam, USAIDs Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance, World Central Kitchen, UN Migration (IOM), and others.

In the wake of a disaster, it is a matter of life and death to have access to safe drinking water, and every second counts. We have seen how Water Mission can respond quickly and efficiently with emergency safe water supplies, said Grundfos Foundation Executive Director Kim Nohr Skibsted. We are making emergency funding available to our trusted partner at short notice to avoid unnecessary red tape and delays in getting help to those who need it.

Emergency safe water access is critical for survival and recovery in every disaster. The internationally accepted Sphere Standards established for disasters stipulate the minimum volume of water required for drinking and domestic hygiene per household in a disaster context is two gallons (7.5 liters) per person per day. Water Mission actively works to coordinate efforts with local government authorities and other responding organizations to exceed these disaster relief standards.

The Grundfos Foundations grant allows us to accelerate and expand our ability to respond to multiple disasters around the globe, said Water Mission CEO and President George Greene IV, PE. This provides us with the flexibility to have pre-positioned equipment ready to go in our warehouses and dedicated people set to deploy to future disasters. We are thankful for the Grundfos Foundations generosity and trust.

In addition to its disaster response capabilities, Water Mission focuses on increasing sustainable safe water access in remote communities in eight countries around the world. This community development work is in response to the global water crisis, where according to the World Health Organization, more than two billion people around the world lack access to clean, safe water. Water Mission believes that, together, we can end the global water crisis. In the last year, Water Mission has served more than 1.9 million people with WASH solutions and more than 8 million people since its founding.

Watch this short video to learn more about Water Missions disaster response capabilities.

About Water Mission

Water Mission is a Christian engineering nonprofit that builds sustainable safe water solutions for people in developing countries, refugee camps, and disaster areas. Since 2001, Water Mission has served more than 8 million people in more than 60 countries, sharing safe water and the message of Gods love. Water Missions global headquarters is in North Charleston, SC, and the organization serves people in Africa; Asia; and North, South, and Central America. Charity Navigator has awarded Water Mission its top four-star rating 17 years in a row, a distinction shared by less than 1% of the charities rated by the organization. To learn more, visit watermission.org, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, or Twitter.

About The Grundfos Foundation

The Grundfos Foundation (Poul Due Jensen Foundation) is a Danish commercial foundation. Grundfos founder, Poul Due Jensen, created the Foundation on 19 May 1975. With 88 % of the shares, the Foundation is the majority shareholder in Grundfos, a world leader in pumps, water solutions and services.

This year, the Grundfos Foundation has pledged DKK 250m to philanthropic purposes within three strategic areas: Water, Research and Inclusion. Find out more about the Grundfos Foundation.

A video accompanying this announcement is available at

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/26772902-1cfe-4bda-8921-1c3fa886b720
MILAN, June 11, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The celebration took place on the Boardwalk of Venice Beach in the Los Angeles area with a consumer event where more than 5,000 leaflets dedicated to the Fresh Up Your Life Project and 1,000 branded T-shirts were distributed with the mission of soliciting a good sentiment and mostly attention towards European Fruits and Vegetables.



In fact, the Project has the challenging goal of increasing awareness, competitiveness and consumption of EU agricultural products, focusing efforts primarily on promoting fresh fruits and vegetables in the United States (and the United Arab Emirates). Sponsored by CSO Italy and co-financed by the European Union, the program also brought together several Italian companies including Apofruit Italia, Cico-Mazzoni, Conserve Italia, Lagnasco Group, Oranfrizer, Origine and Salvi-Unacoa.

Amidst the various activities of the day, a survey was conducted among the attendees to investigate American consumer sentiment toward the production of fresh fruits and vegetables from Europe and especially Italy. Although California is one of the main producers of fresh fruits and vegetables in the U.S., it was interesting to note that most of the interviewed people were particularly aware that Italy and more generally, Europe are a major producer of fruits and vegetables. In terms of types of production recognized as typical of the territories promoted, the sample surveyed reported grapes (33%), lemons (32%) and tomatoes (21%) in order of importance, followed by oranges (14%). When it comes to factors that influence the purchasing decision for fruits and vegetables, especially fresh ones, there are many: first and foremost remains the price factor followed, however, by the quality element. In third place weighs heavily the environmental impact of different production and the Country of Origin, it is evident how the approach to consumption is changing, preferring more conscious choices even in small things. Closing the classic is the presence of organic certification.

In response to the question of whether there is a difference in quality between fruit produced in the United States and fruit produced in Europe, just under half of the respondents answered affirmatively. Specifically, we talk about quality price, in fact, although European fruits and vegetables come to the U.S. market with a higher average price, the perceived quality of the consumers surveyed is higher than an equivalent local product. Another element in favor of this quality perception is the issue of GMOs: U.S. consumers are on average more exposed than Europeans to foods derived from genetically modified organisms (GMOs), because in North America the use of these plants is permitted, and their use does not have to be reported on the label.

The other half of consumers, however, did not express an opinion stating that they are not fully informed about it. It is precisely this segment of the public that the project aims to reach to raise awareness of the quality and freshness of European fruit and vegetable production.

The event was a way to raise consumer awareness on the project and take stock of what has been done to date. Certainly, there is still a long way to go to be able to properly inform all consumers about the opportunities offered by European fruits and vegetables therefore project activities will continue throughout 2024 with media relations and advertising activities, participation in sector fairs and events with KOL.

Press Office:

Renato Pagani Renato.pagani@secnewgate.it  + 39 335 6939561

Giorgia Rizzi giorgia.rizzi@secnewgate.it

News about CSO Italy

CSO Italy, founded in 1998, is a unique entity in Italy that associates many of Italy's leading companies in the production and marketing of domestic fruit and vegetables. Completing the range of members are important companies specializing in different areas of the fruit and vegetable supply chain, from packaging, logistics, processing, machinery, and distribution. CSO Italy's mission is to provide useful services to members to improve and make the Italian fruit and vegetable industry more efficient and competitive. A technical table at the service of the entire Italian fruit and vegetable supply chain to increase its competitiveness through synergy among operators. CSO ITALY, has 73 members, distributed as follows: 51 producer members, 14 supply chain members, 3 subsidizing members and 5 supporting bodies.

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Research Executive Agency (REA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1d527ca1-6a95-4c55-aa6f-7bdda6b99bed




Omniscients revolutionary platform, Quicktome, leverages AI to convert a standard MRI scan into a detailed map of an individuals brain networks.



The latest funding round will support continued growth in the US market and product development for expanded indications.



SYDNEY, June 11, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Omniscient (o8t), pioneering the use of AI to decode the human brain, today announced the conclusion of a successful Series C funding round, bringing total capital raised to US$60 million. This represents the most recent milestone in the companys history of continued growth, with two FDA-cleared products to date.

At the intersection of data science and neuroscience, the company stands as a global pioneer in connectomics, utilizing AI to map and analyze an individuals intricate web of brain connections and functions.

Among Omniscient's investors are prominent Australian business leaders Will Vicars and Gina Rinehart, underscoring their continued confidence in Omniscients vision and capabilities. This latest achievement follows Omniscients successful participation at the 2024 South By Southwest (SXSW) conference in Austin, Texas, where the company showcased its transformative impact on brain health and human potential.

Omniscient will utilize the funds to expand its presence in the US market  where more than 100 US hospitals and clinics utilize the companys AI-enabled connectomic analysis platform, Quicktome  and to advance product development efforts targeting expanded indications.

At Omniscient, we create meaningful AI-driven technologies that are transforming how we understand and care for the brain. Our innovations empower doctors, therapeutics developers, and brain tech pioneers to make groundbreaking advances in brain science and treatment, said Dr. Stephane Doyen, Chief Data Scientist and co-founder of Omniscient.

Quicktome, the companys flagship platform, uses the power of AI to automatically decode and map the brains networksresponsible for everything from motor to language to emotionusing just a straightforward MRI scan. Omniscient recently expanded its product offering to include the first FDA-cleared neurological planning and visualization tool using resting-state fMRI, opening up new horizons for Quicktome in areas such as stroke, disorders of consciousness, and oncology. Now, the companys technology is poised to bring the benefits of connectomic analysis to clinicians and patients across the brain health spectrum, from neurosurgery and neurology to mental health and beyond.

As enthralled as the world is right now by the generative AI boom, its easy to forget that the most important data set on the planetand the most impactful realm to apply advanced AIis the human brain, said Stephen Scheeler, CEO. We are thrilled to continue to lead the connectomics AI revolution worldwide, thanks to the support of our far-sighted investors, the talents of our team, and the dedication of our customers, partners, and collaborators.

About Omniscient

Omniscient (o8t) is the world leader in using AI to decode the human braina field known as connectomics. We are an artificial intelligence innovation hub that creates advanced technologies to conquer the problems and enhance the potential of the human brain for the benefit of all humankind. Our mission is to improve the lives of billions through connectomics. Today, Omniscients connectomics AI platform, Quicktome, provides critical insights informing prognosis and planning across neurologic conditions, from cranial surgery and neuro-oncology to stroke and beyond. Tomorrow, Omniscient is poised to revolutionize brain health and help conquer conditions such as Alzheimers disease and depression through truly personalized brain medicine. To learn more, visit o8t.com.

Media Contact:

media@o8t.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/498228d8-2fab-4f85-8422-1494cf775eee
WASHINGTON, June 11, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, Oceana announced Dr. Christina Hicks and Patrice Etlin have joined the organizations distinguished Board of Directors. As the largest international advocacy organization dedicated solely to ocean conservation, Oceana is winning campaigns around the world that stop overfishing, protect ocean habitat, increase transparency, curb oil and plastic pollution, and restore ocean abundance and biodiversity.

We are very pleased to welcome Christina and Patrice to Oceanas Board of Directors. Both are experts in their respective fields and will bring invaluable experience and insight to Oceana that will help us grow as an organization and win more policies victories for our oceans and the people who depend on them, said Sam Waterston, Chair of Oceanas Board of Directors.

Dr. Christina Hicks is a Professor at Lancaster University in the United Kingdom. As a social scientist and marine conservationist, her work is far-reaching and covers fisheries governance and conservation, food justice and nutrition, and the politics of finance and investment in fisheries and food systems.

Saving the worlds oceans requires informed actions that are flexible, reflexive, adaptive, and centered in equity. Oceana embraces these approaches, while focusing on solutions that address environmental and societal challenges together, said Hicks. As a scientist, I have always admired that Oceanas campaigns are informed by the best available science. Oceana is on the ground, around the world, winning policy victories that are making a difference for our oceans and coastal communities. I am thrilled to join Oceanas Board of Directors and work together to save the world's oceans, ocean life, and ocean-dependent societies.

Hicks was recently named a Pew Marine Fellow and will investigate the links between international (and often opaque) financing and overfishing in four countries in East and West Africa. She is listed as a Highly Cited Researcher by the Institute for Scientific Information at Clarivate, and has won several awards for her work, including the Philip Leverhulme Prize in Geography and the Royal Geographical Societys Gill Memorial Award.

Patrice Etlin joined the private equity firm Advent International in 1997 and started the organizations investment activities in Brazil, his home country. As one of Advents global Managing Partners and member of its Executive Committee, he helps oversee the firms strategic direction and investment activities, with a particular focus on Latin America. Etlin has 29 years of private equity experience and has led, co-led, or participated in over 30 investments in the region.

As an avid free diver, I have developed a deep passion for our oceans. After witnessing the destruction of marine life and ecosystems firsthand, I knew I had to get involved and help protect these precious ocean habitats. I choose to support Oceana because they tackle the biggest threats facing our oceans and win, said Etlin. I look forward to fueling this passion by joining Oceanas Board of Directors and helping to win victories that safeguard our seas.

Longtime Oceana Board Member Valarie Van Cleave also announced her retirement from the Board. Van Cleave is the co-founder of Oceanas SeaChange Summer Party, the organizations award-winning event in Southern California that has raised more than $19 million over the last 16 years to protect and restore the worlds oceans. Van Cleave has been instrumental in the organizations success, kickstarting Oceanas campaign to combat seafood fraud in the United States and around the world and serving as the Chair of the Board from 2018 to 2022. She will be honored for her contributions at this years SeaChange Summer Party on Aug. 17, 2024, in Orange County.

Other Oceana Board Members include Keith Addis, Gaz Alazraki, Herbert M. Bedolfe III, Ted Danson, Nicholas Davis, Maya Gabeira, Cesar Gaviria, Maria Eugenia Giron, Loic Gouzer, Jena King, Ben Koerner, Sara Lowell, Dr. Kristian Parker, Dr. Daniel Pauly, David Rockefeller, Jr., Susan Rockefeller, James Sandler, Lex Sant, Simon Sidamon-Eristoff, Dr. Rashid Sumaila, Diana Thomson, Elizabeth Wahler, Sam Waterston, Jean Weiss, and Antha Williams. More information on Oceanas Board of Directors is available here.

Oceana is the largest international advocacy organization dedicated solely to ocean conservation. Oceana is rebuilding abundant and biodiverse oceans by winning science-based policies in countries that control one-quarter of the worlds wild fish catch. With more than 300 victories that stop overfishing, habitat destruction, oil and plastic pollution, and the killing of threatened species like turtles, whales, and sharks, Oceanas campaigns are delivering results. A restored ocean means that 1 billion people can enjoy a healthy seafood meal every day, forever. Together, we can save the oceans and help feed the world. Visit Oceana.org to learn more.

Contact: Gillian Spolarich, gspolarich@oceana.org
St. Louis, MO, June 11, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Global law firm Norton Rose Fulbright announced today that its regulatory, investigations, securities and compliance practice has added a 12-lawyer team, highlighted by four new partners: Jeff Kalinowski, Eric Martin and Jeff Ziesman in St. Louis and Laura Perlov in Denver. These dozen lawyers join the firm from Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner.

Joining the four arriving partners are senior counsel Shea Hicks in St. Louis and David Miller in Denver, counsel Natalie Becker and Shannon Wheaton in St. Louis and four associates: Ryan Bert, Claire Sanford and Joshua Watts in St. Louis and Austin Hartley in Denver.

Jeff Cody, Norton Rose Fulbrights US Managing Partner, said:

I am pleased that this remarkable group of lawyers has joined Norton Rose Fulbright, bringing robust practices and valuable experience which will greatly benefit our clients. Their arrival expands our already strong global investigations offering, which will continue to be an area of growth over the coming years.

Sandeep Savla, Norton Rose Fulbrights US Co-Head of Regulatory, Investigations, Securities and Compliance, commented:

Companies and their executives across many industries face heightened litigation risk amid increased regulatory scrutiny, and clients look to Norton Rose Fulbright for innovative guidance on these complex issues. These lawyers are highly regarded in this space, and I am delighted to welcome them to the team.

Jeff Kalinowski has represented broker-dealers, investment advisers and individual securities industry professionals for more than 35 years. He has tried more than 100 securities-related jury trials, bench trials and arbitrations in a variety of venues throughout the US. Jeff also has extensive experience handling complex regulatory matters involving the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and state regulatory authorities. Licensed in Missouri, Jeff received his law degree from the University of Illinois and his bachelors degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia.

Eric Martin, who joins the firm as US Head of Digital Asset Disputes, is an accomplished trial lawyer who routinely takes high-stakes matters to trial in the cryptocurrency, securities and consumer finance industries. He has represented broker-dealers and investment advisors in securities-related litigation, including matters involving claims of defamation, raiding, suitability and non-compete violations. He also has significant experience in the emerging cryptocurrency industry, having tried numerous disputes to successful verdicts. Eric, who co-led Bryan Cave Leighton Paisners Financial Services Disputes and Investigations Group, is licensed in Missouri, California, Michigan, Kansas and Illinois. He earned his law degree from the University of Illinois and his bachelors degree from Bradley University.

Laura Perlovs practice focuses on crisis management, particularly where an investigation, government enforcement or litigation is possible. She defends individuals and companies in state and federal investigations, complex securities regulation matters and enforcement proceedings. Laura regularly counsels corporations and executives in sensitive internal investigations and performs independent investigations on behalf of corporations and boards on subjects including securities and financial fraud, false claims, accounting irregularities, whistleblower allegations, misuse of corporate assets, kickbacks and conflicts of interest. Laura, who is licensed in Colorado and New York, received her law degree from Tulane University and her bachelors degree from Emory University.

Jeff Ziesman assists financial institutions with regulatory matters brought by the SEC, FINRA, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) and state securities regulators. His clients range from large financial organizations with a global reach to midsized regional businesses. Jeff brings an insiders perspective to handling regulatory examinations, investigations and enforcement proceedings, leveraging his previous experience as FINRAs Deputy Regional Chief Counsel for the Midwest Region and enforcement representative for FINRAs Regulatory Disposition Group for anti-money laundering cases. Licensed in Missouri, Iowa and Kansas, Jeff received his law degree from Drake University and his bachelors degree from the University of Northern Iowa.

Jeff Kalinowski, who has worked with Eric Martin for more than 25 years and with Laura Perlov and Jeff Ziesman for more than a decade, said:

Norton Rose Fulbrights regulatory, investigations, securities and compliance lawyers have a reputation for delivering top-tier legal counsel to clients around the world, and we are thrilled to join this high-performing group. The firms global platform will benefit our practices tremendously, and our shared client-centric approach makes this move a great fit for us all.

The firms regulatory, investigations, securities and compliance practice has roughly doubled in the US over the last four years to 58 lawyers, with 11 of its 23 partners joining since 2021.

Norton Rose Fulbright

Norton Rose Fulbright provides a full scope of legal services to the worlds preeminent corporations and financial institutions. The global law firm has more than 3,000 lawyers advising clients across more than 50 locations worldwide, including Houston, New York, London, Toronto, Mexico City, Hong Kong, Sydney and Johannesburg, covering the United States, Europe, Canada, Latin America, Asia, Australia, Africa and the Middle East. With its global business principles of quality, unity and integrity, Norton Rose Fulbright is recognized for its client service in key industries, including financial institutions; energy, infrastructure and resources; technology; transport; life sciences and healthcare; and consumer markets. For more information, visit nortonrosefulbright.com.
New York, United States, June 11, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Global Farm Equipment Market Size is to Grow from USD 165.3 Billion in 2023 to USD 272.3 Billion by 2033, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 5.12% during the projected period.





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Farm equipment includes machines or fabricated foundations that recover land yield across agro-based economies worldwide. The farm equipment directly endorses the inclination of farmers or land operators toward the combination of mechanization technologies into their traditional farming. Moreover, the rising scarcity of human workforce and heavy expenditure on the conservation of cattle on the job site in several countries have stimulated customers to leverage the aid of modernized equipment in farming applications. The growing adoption of semi-automatic and automatic mechanics for finding fertilizers has raised the demand for advanced equipment worldwide. Moreover, automotive communicators and sprayers are now delivering more efficiency resulting in faster operation covering huge distance areas. These machineries in the farming field certify an even distribution of fertilizers and nutrients that aid decrease overall operation cost and time and improve crop yields. However, the high opening cost of farming equipment is expected to be associated with the bottlenecks for implementing farming equipment, particularly for small-income farmers. The rental business is projected to be associated with new revenue streams for market growth to overcome such challenges. However, the development of the farming equipment industry faces barriers owing to high initial investments, they indicate a shift toward innovative and effective farming equipment.

Browse key industry insights spread across 193 pages with 110 Market data tables and figures & charts from the report on the " Global Farm Equipment Market Size, Share, and COVID-19 Impact Analysis, By Equipment Type (Tractors, Harvesting Equipment, Cultivation and Soil Separation Equipment, Spraying and Handling Equipment, Irrigation Equipment, and Others), By Application (Land Development, Sowing and Planting, Threshing and Harvesting, Fertilization and Planting, and Others), and By Region (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East, and Africa), Analysis and Forecast 2023  2033."

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The tractors segment is anticipated to hold the greatest share of the global farm equipment market during the projected timeframe.

Based on the equipment type, the global farm equipment market is divided into tractors, harvesting equipment, cultivation and soil separation equipment, spraying and handling equipment, irrigation equipment, and others. Among these, the tractors segment is anticipated to hold the greatest share of the global farm equipment market during the projected timeframe. The reason behind this is the labor insufficiency and the growing population to meet the global food necessities, which has made tractors a necessity for increasing productivity in the farming industry.

The land development segment is anticipated to hold the greatest share of the global farm equipment market during the projected timeframe.

Based on the application, the global farm equipment market is divided into land development, sowing and planting, threshing and harvesting, fertilization and planting, and others. Among these, the land development segment is anticipated to hold the greatest share of the global farm equipment market during the projected timeframe. The reason behind this is the constant augmentation of farming land to satisfy the food consumable need of the growing population is increasing the application of land development suggestively.

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Asia Pacific is expected to hold the largest share of the global farm equipment market over the forecast period.

Asia Pacific is expected to hold the largest share of the global farm equipment market over the forecast period. This can be attributed to the rising farm innovation obsessed by subsidies or loan waivers and government efforts are projected to propel farm tractor sales in India. Electric farm tractors are acquiring adhesion in China due to various factors. Moreover, the government's drive for cleaner transportation and financial incentives has spurred adoption. Increasing awareness of sustainable farmings importance has further obsessed demand, given the environmental impact of traditional methods.

North America is predicted to grow at the fastest pace in the global farm equipment market during the projected timeframe. This can be attributed to the growth being frequently obsessed with plenty of large farmland, which has run into high demand for farm modernization. Moreover, the region is witnessing augmented adoption of intelligent combine harvesters equipped with monitoring tackles to surge farm yield. Factors such as increasing labor costs, the union of robotic systems and Global Positioning Systems (GPS) in tractors and harvesters, and growing demand for high-capacity machinery due to huge farms.

Competitive Analysis:

The report offers the appropriate analysis of the key organizations/companies involved within the global market along with a comparative evaluation primarily based on their product offering, business overviews, geographic presence, enterprise strategies, segment market share, and SWOT analysis. The report also provides an elaborative analysis focusing on the current news and developments of the companies, which includes product development, innovations, joint ventures, partnerships, mergers & acquisitions, strategic alliances, and others. This allows for the evaluation of the overall competition within the market. Major vendors in the Global Farm Equipment Market include AGCO Corporation, Fliegl Agro-Center GmbH, Agromaster, APV GmbH, Bellota Agrisolutions, CLAAS KGaA mbH, CNH Industrial N.V., Deere & Company, Escorts Limited, HORSCH Maschinen GmbH, ISEKI & Co., Ltd., J C Bamford Excavators Ltd, Quivogne CEE GmbH (Kiwon RUS LLC), Valmont Industries Inc., Kubota Corporation, and Others.

Get Discount At @ https://www.sphericalinsights.com/request-discount/4467

Recent Developments

In June 2023, JCB declared plans to announce the company's first electric wheeled loader with zero-release and low-sound competencies. The loader comes with options for wide or narrow wheels and tire options for farming or industrial deployment.

Key Target Audience

Market Players

Investors

End-users

Government Authorities

Consulting And Research Firm

Venture capitalists

Value-Added Resellers (VARs)

Market Segment

This study forecasts revenue at global, regional, and country levels from 2020 to 2033. Spherical Insights has segmented the Global Farm Equipment Market based on the below-mentioned segments:

Global Farm Equipment Market, By Equipment Type

Tractors

Harvesting Equipment

Cultivation and Soil Separation Equipment

Spraying and Handling Equipment

Irrigation Equipment

Others

Global Farm Equipment Market, By Application

Land Development

Sowing and Planting

Threshing and Harvesting

Fertilization and Planting

Others

Global Farm Equipment Market, Regional

North America US Canada Mexico

Europe Germany UK France Italy Spain Russia Rest of Europe

Asia Pacific China Japan India South Korea Australia Rest of Asia Pacific

South America Brazil Argentina Rest of South America

Middle East & Africa UAE Saudi Arabia Qatar South Africa Rest of the Middle East & Africa



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Global Farm Equipment Market Size , Share, and COVID-19 Impact Analysis, By Equipment Type (Tractors, Harvesting Equipment, Cultivation and Soil Separation Equipment, Spraying and Handling Equipment, Irrigation Equipment, and Others), By Application (Land Development, Sowing and Planting, Threshing and Harvesting, Fertilization and Planting, and Others), and By Region (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East, and Africa), Analysis and Forecast 2023  2033

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Newark, June 11, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Brainy Insights estimates that the USD 4 billion in 2023 global craft vodka market will reach USD 9.46 billion in 2033. Small-scale, independently owned distilleries produce craft vodka. Vodka originated in Eastern Europe, specifically Russia and Poland, where it was made from grains or potatoes. Craft vodka evolved in the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries, appealing to consumers who want artisanal, locally manufactured spirits. Craft vodka is created by a rigorous process that includes high-quality ingredients, fermentation, distillation, filtration, diluting, and bottling. Distillers frequently prioritize locally obtained, organic ingredients and use small-batch production methods. This produces a spirit with different tastes. Craft vodka businesses likewise prioritize distinctive packaging and branding to differentiate themselves. Some craft vodka brands include Tito's Handmade Vodka, Hangar 1 Vodka, Reyka Vodka, Chase Vodka, and Belvedere Vodka.



Get a Free Sample Research Report: https://www.thebrainyinsights.com/enquiry/sample-request/14380



Key Insight of the Global Craft Vodka Market



North America will dominate the market during the forecast period.



The regulatory framework in North America is relatively beneficial to small-scale distilleries. Legislative changes and regulatory reforms have paved the way for craft producers to enter the market and compete with larger, more established brands. North American craft distillers are likewise noted for their ingenuity and creativity. This spirit of invention has helped to expand and diversify the region's artisan vodka sector. Furthermore, the breadth and diversity of the North American market present numerous potential for artisan vodka manufacturers to attract a large audience. A strong infrastructure supporting the artisan spirits business, such as distribution networks, helps craft distillers succeed.



In 2023, the flavoured craft vodka segment dominated the market, with a 76% market share and revenue of 3.04 billion.



The type segment is divided into flavoured craft vodka and unflavoured craft vodka. In 2023, the flavoured craft vodka segment dominated the market with the largest share of 76% and revenue of 3.04 billion.



In 2023, the offline channels segment dominated the market with the largest market share of 67% and revenue of 2.68 billion.



The distribution channel segment is divided into offline and online channels. In 2023, the offline channels segment dominated the market, with a market share of 67% and revenue of 2.68 billion.



Report Scope and Segmentation 



Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 2024-2033 Forecast CAGR 9% 2033 Value Projection USD 9.46 Billion Market Size in 2023 USD 4 Billion Historical Data 2020-2022 No. of Pages 238 Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Company Profiles, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors and Latest Trends Segments Covered by Type, Distribution Channel, End-users, Regions Regions Covered The regions analyzed for the market are Asia Pacific, Europe, South America, North America, and Middle East & Africa. Furthermore, the regions are further analyzed at the country level. Craft Vodka Market Growth Drivers The increasing awareness and visibility of craft vodka brands and products due to the rise of social media

Advancement in market



The Nearest & Jack Advancement Initiative announced that Blackleaf Organic Vodka and Mission Craft Cocktails have been accepted for its Business Incubation Programme. This programme provides mentorship and business support to BIPOC and underrepresented spirits entrepreneurs. The Nearest & Jack Advancement Initiative, which includes the Leadership Acceleration Programme, the Business Incubation Programme, and the Nearest Green School of Distilling, aims to increase diversity in the American spirits business.



Market Dynamics



Driver: the demand for premium products is increasing with rising disposable income.



Support for local craftspeople has helped to increase the appeal of small-scale producers that value craftsmanship and quality. Craft vodka is at the cutting edge in the alcohol and spirits business. Craft vodka's distinct flavour profiles have piqued the interest of consumers looking for unique drinking experiences. Craft distillers experiment with various ingredients and procedures, resulting in diverse tastes to meet the expanding consumer demand. Third, support for small enterprises greatly impacts the demand for craft vodka. The emphasis on personalization and customization appeals to consumers, resulting in increased demand for artisan vodka. Collaborations with local craftspeople, limited edition releases, and unique packaging all contribute to Unique packaging, limited edition releases, and collaborations with local craftspeople all contribute to the product's uniqueness and luxury. These elements all contribute to the increased popularity of artisanal vodka.



Restraints: Cost challenges.



Production expenses include substantial initial investments in equipment, ingredients, and facilities. Craft distilleries need specialized equipment for mashing, fermentation, and bottling, which can be expensive. Furthermore, quality, locally produced ingredients raise production costs, and ingredient price variations have an even greater influence. Craft vodka is frequently more expensive than mainstream brands because of variables such as premium ingredients, small-batch production, and artisanal craftsmanship, making it unaffordable for many customers. This will lower the demand for craft vodka. As a result, the high costs connected with craft vodka will limit market growth.



Opportunities: The rise of social media has increased the exposure and visibility of craft vodka businesses and products.



Social media platforms have transformed how craft vodka brands interact with consumers, allowing them to reach a larger audience and build direct customer relationships. Craft vodka makers use social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok to engage with customers through innovative marketing methods and fascinating storytelling. One of the primary benefits of social media marketing for craft vodka manufacturers is the potential to generate authentic and relatable content that connects with customers. Furthermore, social media enables craft vodka manufacturers to express their distinct personalities and brand identities. Furthermore, social media allows craft vodka manufacturers to express their distinct personalities and brand identities through visually attractive content such as spectacular photography, videos, and graphics, which helps them stand out in a crowded market. As a result, the rise of social media has changed the way craft vodka businesses market their goods, allowing them to communicate with customers more honestly, personally, and powerfully, which will contribute to market growth during the forecast period.



Challenges: Regulatory hurdles.



Regulations governing various aspects of alcohol production, labelling, and distribution require meticulous adherence to ensure compliance. Craft distillers must obtain permits and licenses from the relevant authorities to produce and distribute vodka legally. These permits have strict requirements concerning production methods, record-keeping, and labelling. Additionally, each state maintains its own set of regulations governing alcohol production and distribution. Craft distillers must navigate these state-specific requirements, which vary significantly regarding permitting, taxation, and sales regulations. The complex, overlapping, redundant and varied nature of regulations complicates matters for craft distillers. Navigating these complex regulatory landscapes can be time-consuming and costly for craft distillers. Therefore, the regulatory hurdles and the associated costs, effort and time will challenge the market's growth.



Browse Detailed Summary of Research Report with TOC: https://www.thebrainyinsights.com/report/craft-vodka-market-14380



Some of the major players operating in the global craft vodka market are:



 Beam Suntory Inc.

 Blisswater Industries Private Limited

 Diageo plc-The Smirnoff Co.

 Fifth Generation, Inc.- Titos Handmade Vodka

 Heaven Hill Brands

 Khortytsa

 Pyat Ozer

 Sazerac Company

 St. George Spirits

 William Grant & Sons Limited



Key Segments covered in the market:



By Type



 Flavoured Craft Vodka

 Unflavoured Craft Vodka



By Distribution Channel



 Offline Channels

 Online Channels



By Region



 North America (U.S., Canada, Mexico)

 Europe (Germany, France, the UK, Italy, Spain, Rest of Europe)

 Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, India, Rest of APAC)

 South America (Brazil and the Rest of South America)

 The Middle East and Africa (UAE, South Africa, Rest of MEA)



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About the report:



The market is analyzed based on value (USD Billion). All the segments have been analyzed on a worldwide, regional, and country basis. The study includes the analysis of more than 30 countries for each part. The report analyses driving factors, opportunities, restraints, and challenges to gain critical market insight. The study includes Porter's five forces model, attractiveness analysis, Product analysis, supply and demand analysis, competitor position grid analysis, distribution, and marketing channels analysis.



About The Brainy Insights:



The Brainy Insights is a market research company, aimed at providing actionable insights through data analytics to companies to improve their business acumen. We have a robust forecasting and estimation model to meet the clients' objectives of high-quality output within a short span of time. We provide both customized (clients' specific) and syndicate reports. Our repository of syndicate reports is diverse across all the categories and sub-categories across domains. Our customized solutions are tailored to meet the clients' requirements whether they are looking to expand or planning to launch a new product in the global market.



Contact Us



Avinash D

Head of Business Development

Phone: +1-315-215-1633

Email: sales@thebrainyinsights.com

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MBABANE - Zulu King, Misuzulu KaZwelithini, is born again.

The Zulu King, who had been a member of the Nazareth Baptist Church for years, became a fully-fledged member of the church through baptism, which took place during a two-week meeting held at Linda Ntonga over the weekend.

Baptised

He was baptised by His Holiness Unyazi Lwezulu Shembe, who leads the Nazareth Baptist Church, Buhleni. The baptism of the King was confirmed by local members of the church, who were part of the meeting and witnessed the activity. The baptism was also captured by the Enigmatic channel in South Africa. It was gathered that the Zulu King was baptised along with one of his brothers, his wife and six kings of tribes in South Africa. In an interview with a senior member of the church, Makhehleni Derrick Dlamini, he confirmed the Zulu Kings baptism. Dlamini said they took it that the Zulu King, who had been with the church, followed in his father King Zwelithinis footsteps.

Dlamini stated that the Kings parents were confessed Christians under the Nazareth Baptist Church. His baptism means he has been born again in the spirit. It means he is now a fully-fledged member of the church with a gown. The Nazareth Baptist Church is the only church with a gown reserved for kings, he said. The members of the Nazareth Baptist Church believe in Shembe as the African Messiah. The church believes that Shembe is the Holy Spirit that came down from Heaven and found a place in Isaiah, who founded the church in 1910.

The church believes that Shembe does not die, but finds a place in the flesh of the successor after the death of the leader. The church is currently under the leadership of His Holiness Unyazi Lwezulu. Dlamini said the King was baptised in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Worth noting is that the Zulu King had been in the country for two Sabbath services held at Ludzidzini Royal Residence.

Meeting

The Sabbath services formed part of the two-week meeting held by the church in the country. The King registered his appreciation for the churchs continued meetings in Eswatini and KwaZulu-Natal. He also registered his happiness about the next meeting, which was scheduled to take place at his royal residence. He stated that Shembe was the way to those who wanted prosperity and success.
SAN JOSE, Calif., June 11, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Smart building materials company ClearVue Technologies Limited (ASX:CPV | OTC:CVUEF), headquartered in Perth, Australia, today announced that Martin Deil, Global CEO, will present live at Small-Cap Growth Virtual Investor Conference hosted by VirtualInvestorConferences.com on June 13th .



DATE: June 13th

TIME: 12:30  1pm

LINK: https://bit.ly/44WdZwZ

Available for 1x1 meetings: June 13th

This will be a live, interactive online event where investors are invited to ask the company questions in real-time. If attendees are not able to join the event live on the day of the conference, an archived webcast will also be made available after the event.

It is recommended that online investors pre-register and run the online system check to expedite participation and receive event updates.

Learn more about the event at www.virtualinvestorconferences.com .

Recent Company Highlights

 Charles Mowrey appointed President & CEO North America and a new office opened in San Jose to drive US market operations

 New project with leading vacuum glazing manufacturer LuxWall to create the Zero Window, a product designed to achieve net zero energy buildings

 Secured strategic licensed manufacturers around the world including MS Glass in Australia, H T Glass in Singapore, and distributors 8G Solutions in the US, Greendustrial Global in Israel, and Concept Business Group in South Africa

 First sales achieved with a solar facade in Australia and a solar greenhouse in California

 Proved world-leading energy generation and thermal performance of ClearVue products through independent testing by Singapores peak building authority.

About ClearVue Technologies

ClearVue Technologies Limited (ASX: CPV) is an Australian technology company that operates in the Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BPIV) sector which involves the integration of solar technology into building surfaces, specifically glass and building facades, to provide renewable energy. ClearVue has developed advanced glass technology that aims to preserve glass transparency to maintain building aesthetics whilst generating electricity.

ClearVues electricity-generating glazing technology is strategically positioned to complement and make more compelling, the increased use of energy-efficient windows now being regulated in response to global climate change and energy efficiency goals.

Solar PV cells are incorporated around the edges of an Insulated Glass Unit (IGU) used in windows and the lamination interlayer between the glass in the IGU incorporates ClearVues patented proprietary nano and micro particles, as well as its spectrally selective coating on the rear external surface of the IGU.

ClearVues window technology has application for use in the building and construction and agricultural industries (among others). ClearVue has worked closely with leading experts from the Electron Science Research Institute, Edith Cowan University in Perth, Western Australia to develop the technology.

To learn more please visit: www.clearvuepv.com

About Virtual Investor Conferences

Virtual Investor Conferences (VIC) is the leading proprietary investor conference series that provides an interactive forum for publicly traded companies to seamlessly present directly to investors.

Providing a real-time investor engagement solution, VIC is specifically designed to offer companies more efficient investor access. Replicating the components of an on-site investor conference, VIC offers companies enhanced capabilities to connect with investors, schedule targeted one-on-one meetings and enhance their presentations with dynamic video content. Accelerating the next level of investor engagement, Virtual Investor Conferences delivers leading investor communications to a global network of retail and institutional investors.

CONTACTS:

ClearVue Technologies Limited

Earle Harper

Chief Commercial Officer

+61 407 345 180

earle.harper@clearvuepv.com
New York, June 11, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The streets of Times Square were filled with the powerful harmonies of Amazing Grace on Saturday, June 8, as thousands at the event and those already in the area joined a flash mob choirbecoming a prominent highlight of the Jesus Week evangelistic event in New York City. This extraordinary performance, led by global evangelist Nick Hall, is set to be a key part of an upcoming Anthem of Grace broadcast for Pulse Evangelism, an organization leading a worldwide effort to make Jesus known.

Building on the success of the initial Anthem of Grace broadcast, which impacted tens of millions worldwide on Good Friday, the gathered crowd brought together individuals to celebrate the hope of the Gospel. In addition to the choir, 19 members of Pulse Evangelisms young evangelist training program, Pulse 100, shared the Gospel in the streets of New York alongside Hall. So far, 51 Gospel responses have been recorded.

We were blown away by the impact of the initial Anthem of Grace broadcast, and seeing thousands join together in Times Square was an incredible testament to the power of unity, said Hall. My prayer is that this performance of Amazing Grace will continue to spread the hope of the Gospel far and wide.

The entire event was filmed for a future broadcast as part of the Anthem of Grace campaign. A film crew captured key moments, including Nick Hall leading the crowd in singing Amazing Grace from the stage, spontaneous choirs forming, and individual testimonies of faith. In several cases, bystanders were moved to sing Amazing Grace, and their heartfelt renditions will be featured in the upcoming broadcast.

Launched by Dimas Salaberrios, Mick Richards and David Beidel, Jesus Week is an evangelistic movement that has mobilized churches to reach millions throughout the Northeast. The weekends event in Times Square featured a lineup of inspiring speakers and artists, including author David Beidel, worship leader Freddy Washington, and hip-hop artist KB, who performed for an enthusiastic audience. Running from 2PM to 8PM ET, the event drew thousands of participants and onlookers creating an atmosphere of celebration and worship in the heart of New York City.

The energy in Times Square during the flash mob was so moving, added Pastor and film producer Dimas Salaberrios, one of the event's featured speakers. It was a powerful demonstration of faith and community, and I believe it touched many lives. Being part of such a transformative event was something Ill never forget.

The entire program was free and open to the public, with local churches and worship teams joining the flash mob choir. The intersection of 43rd Street and 7th Avenue became a hub of joy and praise, as the powerful performance of Amazing Grace resonated through Times Square.

For more information about Jesus Week and the Anthem of Grace campaign, please visit JesusWeekMovement.org and AnthemofGrace.com .

For media inquiries and interview requests, please contact Kaci at kaci@seesparkgo.com or (678) 895-4488.

Secondary contact: John Brandon, Marketing Director at Pulse Evangelism, john.brandon@pulse.org or (218) 731-4201.

###

About Pulse Evangelism

Founder and President Nick Hall started Pulse Evangelism in 2006. Since then, Pulse has seen over 330 million people reached by the Gospel and over two million people have responded to Jesus through their initiatives. Pulse is an evangelism movement on mission to empower the Church and Make Jesus Known. Since Pulses founding, they have linked arms with hundreds of ministries and churches around the world to fuel evangelistic movements. Whether hosting a big outreach event, providing the evangelistic voice at another organizations event or training evangelists on American college campuses, the common goal of everything they do is to share the hope of Jesus. Learn more at www.pulse.org .

About Nick Hall

Nick Hall is on earth to tell people about Jesus. He started a grassroots movement as a college student and has spent the last 20 years traveling the world to meet people where they are and tell them that they matter. As a student at North Dakota State University, Nicks life was changed when he wrote a paper titled Pulse for his English class, hoping to combat the depression, substance abuse, and suicide that was impacting his friends and their campus. That paper unleashed one of the largest student-led efforts in American history, launching a nonprofit that exists today. Through Pulse events, Nick has shared a message of hope with over 330 million people around the globe. Everywhere Nick goes, he talks to people about faith and the deeper issues of life, because he knows what it feels like to make mistakes, experience heartbreak, and be alone. One of the goals of Nicks life is to come alongside students who desire to impact their high school or college campus because thats where this all began. Nick lives in Minneapolis with his wife Tiffany and three children.

Attachment
NEW YORK, June 11, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bernstein Liebhard LLP:



Do you, or did you, own shares of Roblox Corporation (NYSE: RBLX)?





Did you purchase your shares between November 15, 2023 and May 8, 2024, inclusive?





Did you lose money in your investment in Roblox Corporation?





Do you want to discuss your rights?

Bernstein Liebhard LLP announces that a securities class action lawsuit has been filed on behalf of investors who purchased or acquired the securities of Roblox Corporation (Roblox or the Company) (NYSE: RBLX) between November 15, 2023 and May 8, 2024, inclusive (the Class Period). The lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California and alleges violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 against the Company and certain of its officers (the Complaint).

If you purchased or acquired Roblox securities, and/or would like to discuss your legal rights and options please visit Roblox Corporation Shareholder Class Action Lawsuit or contact Investor Relations Manager Peter Allocco at (212) 951-2030 or pallocco@bernlieb.com.

In November 2023, the Company provided investors with material information concerning Robloxs expected revenue for the first quarter of 2024 (Q1-24) and fiscal year 2024 (FY-24). This was the first time Roblox offered earnings and revenue guidance to its investors since the Company went public in 2021. Defendants statements included, among other things, that Roblox expected $4.14 billion to $4.28 billion of bookings in FY-24  reflecting 25%-27% annual growth  and $3.3 billion to $3.4 billion annual revenue.

On May 8, 2024, the Company announced it was reducing its previously-announced bookings guidance to $4.0 billion for FY-24. It also announced only 19% bookings growth in Q1-24. The Company blamed its digital economy, new purchasable items, and platform expansion for the decline.

On this news, Robloxs stock price fell $8.61 per share, or over 22%, to close at $30.42 per share on May 9, 2024.

If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than August 9, 2024 . A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. Your ability to share in any recovery doesnt require that you serve as lead plaintiff. If you choose to take no action, you may remain an absent class member.

If you purchased or acquired Roblox securities, and/or would like to discuss your legal rights and options please visit Roblox Corporation Shareholder Class Action Lawsuit or contact Investor Relations Manager Peter Allocco at (212) 951-2030 or pallocco@bernlieb.com.

Since 1993, Bernstein Liebhard LLP has recovered over $3.5 billion for its clients. In addition to representing individual investors, the Firm has been retained by some of the largest public and private pension funds in the country to monitor their assets and pursue litigation on their behalf. As a result of its success litigating hundreds of lawsuits and class actions, the Firm has been named to The National Law Journals Plaintiffs Hot List thirteen times and listed in The Legal 500 for sixteen consecutive years.

ATTORNEY ADVERTISING.  2024 Bernstein Liebhard LLP. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Bernstein Liebhard LLP, 10 East 40th Street, New York, New York 10016, (212) 779-1414. Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter.

Contact Information:

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Bernstein Liebhard LLP

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St. Louis, June 11, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cordell & Cordell, a leading family law firm, is pleased to announce the promotion of Michelle L. Ferreri to Management Partner. With her exceptional legal skills and unwavering dedication to clients and the Firm, Ms. Ferreri has proven herself as a valuable asset.

A South Jersey native, Ms. Ferreri is a graduate of Lehigh University where she earned her BA in Journalism and Public Relations. Ms. Ferreri then received her JD from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law in 2005. Ms. Ferreri began her legal career as a law clerk to the Honorable Eugene J. McCaffrey, J.S.C. in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Family Part. She has been practicing family law exclusively since completing her clerkship in 2006. Ms. Ferreri is licensed in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

Ms. Ferreri opened the Mt. Laurel, New Jersey office of Cordell & Cordell when she joined the firm in 2011. Over the course of her 18-year career as a family law attorney, she has demonstrated a deep understanding of family law and a commitment to achieving the best possible outcomes for her clients. Ms. Ferreri was recognized as a New Jersey Rising Star from 2009-2011 and 2014-2020 in the family law practice area by Super Lawyers, a Thompson Reuters rating service of outstanding lawyers. She was also named Awesome Attorney in Family and Matrimonial Law for 2009-2022 by South Jersey Magazine and named to the list of Best Family Law Attorneys in 2015 and 2016.

Ms. Ferreri is a member of the New Jersey Association of Professional Mediators and she has been approved as a qualified Rule 1:40 Family Part Economic Mediator for the New Jersey Courts. She has completed 40 hours of Divorce Mediation Training through the New Jersey Association of Professional Mediators and 40 hours of Civil Mediation Training through the New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education. This additional mediation training allows her to provide clients with alternative dispute resolution options, further enhancing her ability to navigate complex family law matters.

In addition to her legal expertise, Ms. Ferreri has been in a management role with the Firm since 2013, managing attorneys and legal staff across the country. Her team currently consists of Cordell & Cordell offices in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Michigan, and Colorado. Ms. Ferreri also regularly presents on the topic of ethics and best practices to the Firm.

Michelle has consistently demonstrated exceptional legal skill and a deep commitment to our clients. Her promotion to Partner is well-deserved, and we are confident that she will continue to excel in her new role, said Frank Murphy, Executive Partner and Chief Compliance Officer at Cordell & Cordell.

As one of Cordell & Cordells newest partners, Ms. Ferreri will continue to focus on family law, mediation, and management of her team of attorneys and legal staff. Her promotion reflects the firm's commitment to recognizing and rewarding exceptional talent within its ranks.

###

About Cordell and Cordell

Cordell & Cordell is a renowned domestic litigation firm that focus on/in men's divorce. Their innovative approach to family law has gained national recognition, with coverage from esteemed outlets such as The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Time magazine, CNN, and FOX News.

For more information about Cordell & Cordell and their services, please visit CordellCordell.com.

Attachment
Pipeline of high-quality targets systematically prioritized to unlock the full potential of Morelos

(All amounts expressed in U.S. dollars unless otherwise stated)

Toronto, June 10, 2024 - Torex Gold Resources Inc. (the "Company" or "Torex") (TSX: TXG) is pleased to provide detail on a multi-year exploration strategy for its highly prospective Morelos Property ("Morelos"), designed to generate incremental additions to mineral resources in the near term, generate at least one new discovery in the mid-term, and extend the mine life at Morelos in order to deliver stable production and cash flow well beyond 2033.

Jody Kuzenko, President & CEO of Torex, stated:

"Since 2021, our exploration strategy has been focused on shoring up the near-term production profile and identifying future sources of feed to fill the mill beyond 2027. With these two business priorities well advanced, our drilling and exploration programs over the coming years will be increasingly focused on demonstrating the multi-decade potential of Morelos by delineating new deposits within the Media Luna Cluster and making new discoveries across the broader property.

"As our understanding of the structures and systems that control mineralization at Morelos continues to evolve, we are now broadening the search to grow organically through the identification of several new and promising targets including Todos Santos, El Naranjo, and Atzcala. In order to prioritize these targets to align within the Company's strategic priorities, our Exploration team has developed a systematic approach for evaluation on both a geologic and economic basis, culminating in the development of a new multi-year exploration and drilling strategy.

"The increased focus on identifying additional sources of feed across Morelos over the coming years will continue to be complemented by the near-mine drilling aimed at extending the life of both ELG Underground and Media Luna, expanding resources and delineating reserves at EPO, and drill testing Media Luna West and Media Luna East, two high priority targets that we expect will heavily utilize infrastructure currently being built as part of the scope of the Media Luna Project.

"Morelos is a prolific, world-class asset. Consistent with our approach in all other facets of our business, we intend to leverage a systematic, data-driven exploration and drilling strategy that will solidify Morelos as a foundational asset from which to grow the Company and deliver long-term shareholder value."

EXPLORATION STRATEGY OVERVIEW

Morelos is a 29,000-hectare land package that is situated within the heart of the Guerrero Gold Belt and includes the El Limon Guajes ("ELG") Mine Complex, the Media Luna Project, a processing plant, related infrastructure, and a number of exploration targets. The $31 million average annual investment in drilling and resource expansion since 2021 and $30 million budgeted for 2024 demonstrate the Company's strategic priority of unlocking the full mineralized potential of Morelos. Given existing knowledge of the geology of the property and the fact that 75% of the land package remains unexplored, Morelos remains highly prospective with respect to the delineation of additional gold, copper, and silver mineralization beyond what has been identified to date.

The Company's new multi-year exploration strategy is expected to enable Torex to deliver on its objective to maintain more than 450,000 gold equivalent ounces ("oz AuEq") of production annually beyond 2027 and to make at least one new discovery at Morelos in the coming years. The exploration and drilling strategy will focus on three distinct areas:

Extending the mine life of ELG Underground and Media Luna: Delineating higher-value ore to extend the life of mine plan at Morelos by defining upside at ELG Underground and Media Luna through infill and near-mine step-out drilling;

Expanding resources within the Media Luna Cluster: Enhancing and extending the production profile by unlocking the full potential of the Media Luna Cluster, including zones currently identified as Media Luna, EPO, Media Luna West, Media Luna East, and Todos Santos;

Advancing targets through the growth pipeline: Strengthening the exploration target pipeline to deliver new discoveries across Morelos by prioritizing best-ranked projects, including zones currently identified as El Naranjo, Atzcala, Esperanza, Querenque, Tecate, El Olvido, and Victoria.

The Company's understanding of the structural controls of the mineralization is evolving and the current interpretation is that there are at least three dominant styles of mineralization present at Morelos: skarn, intermediate sulphidation ("IS"), and carbonate replacement deposits ("CRD"). As the knowledge matures and new exploration techniques are tested, uncovering additional upside at previously explored deposits bolsters confidence about the property-wide potential to host new deposits.

EXPLORATION STRATEGY EXECUTION

The Company has identified several exploration targets across Morelos (Figure 1) that are at various stages of development as depicted in the exploration pipeline (Figure 2). These range from the earliest stage of target selection, to target definition, through to exploration and drilling, resource delineation, and, at the most defined level, reserve definition to assess economic viability.





Figure 1: A number of high-potential targets have been identified across Morelos

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/1863/212314_db283b8e4438f8ee_001full.jpg

The goal is to advance each of the targets in the exploration pipeline and, pending the establishment of economic resources, ultimately bring them into production. Priorities amongst these targets will shift based on their economic potential and their ability to fulfill the Company's strategic objectives.





Figure 2: The exploration pipeline of targets identified to date, with each of the targets depicted at their current stage of development

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/1863/212314_db283b8e4438f8ee_002full.jpg

ELG Underground

The 2023 ELG Underground drilling program was successful in expanding Measured & Indicated Resources by 570 thousand oz AuEq prior to mine depletion (432 koz AuEq after depletion). The success of the drill program resulted in Proven & Probable Reserves increasing by 280 thousand oz AuEq prior to processed depletion (146 koz AuEq after depletion), thereby extending the mine life of ELG Underground by two years through 2028 (see Tables 1 and 2 of this news release for more information on mineral reserves and resources).

Building off the success of the 2023 program, the 2024 drilling program is exploring where the identified mineral corridors (or trends) intersect the La Flaca and Z71 faults. The program will test the potential for high-grade mineralization along the El Limon Sur and El Limon Deep trends and the potential to extend high-grade resources within the Sub-Sill and El Limon West trends. Given a consistent history of reserve replacement and resource growth, ELG Underground is expected to remain a key focus of future drilling programs.

Media Luna Cluster

The Media Luna Cluster is comprised of the Media Luna and EPO deposits as well as the high-priority drill targets Media Luna West, Media Luna East, and Todos Santos. The main Media Luna deposit is characterized by the distribution of north-northeast and west-northwest dikes on the flank of the Cuajiote fault, which control and define the distribution of gold, silver, and copper mineralization. Media Luna contains 4.6 million oz AuEq of Measured & Indicated Resources, with an additional 1.0 million oz AuEq in Inferred Resources and has additional upside at depth confirmed by preliminary drilling that intercepted similar grade mineralization as the current resource. Testing mineralized potential at depth will be the subject of follow-up drilling after construction of the Media Luna Project is complete.

Given the success of step-out drilling at EPO in 2023, which saw Indicated Resources expand to more than 1.1 million oz AuEq and the Inferred Resources upgraded to Indicated largely replaced, approximately $10 million is budgeted at EPO to conduct more than 24,000 metres ("m") of infill and expansionary drilling in 2024. The 2024 program is aimed at upgrading additional underground resources to the Indicated category while further expanding Inferred Resources. More than 700 thousand oz AuEq remain in Inferred Resources and any further category upgrades will further enhance the economics of EPO.

Based on the mine design envisioned in an internal pre-feasibility study that is currently underway, and if determined to be economic, the Company anticipates a similar path of development at EPO as was undertaken at ELG Underground, with throughput gradually increasing as the underground deposit is developed. This design approach, combined with the ability for EPO to leverage infrastructure now being built at Media Luna, is expected to result in a capital-efficient development project. High-level results of the internal pre-feasibility study are expected to be released later this year.

At Media Luna West, the first drilling since 2012 was conducted in 2023 and yielded positive results. As an advanced exploration target, 12,000 m of follow-up drilling is planned in 2024 to further define the deposit's resource potential. Media Luna West, an underground target, sits approximately 1.5 kilometres ("km") to the west of Media Luna and should also benefit from infrastructure developed as part of the Media Luna Project.

Todos Santos is a promising underground target that was advanced to the initial drill testing stage in 2023. Todos Santos exhibits encouraging magnetic anomalies, potentially indicative of blind mineralization with no surface expression, which will be further explored through the 3,000 m of drilling planned in 2024. The target is strategically positioned along the pronounced north-south structural corridor, bridging the gap between ELG and the Media Luna Cluster, running parallel to the Guajes Tunnel. Outcropping skarn mineralization with multiple old copper workings as well as gold anomalies in breccia outcrops were discovered during grassroots exploration at Todos Santos. Although early stage, Todos Santos has shown signs that it may potentially have a higher proportion of copper to gold than exists at Media Luna, which could support higher future copper production if the deposit is deemed economic.

The extent of Media Luna's mineralization to the east remains unknown. The Company has recently commenced discussions with local Ejidos regarding drilling access. If and as an agreement is achieved, Media Luna East is expected to become a priority underground target with potential for drilling to commence as early as 2025. Similar to EPO, Media Luna East would benefit from infrastructure being developed as part of the Media Luna Project.

Regional Exploration

The 2024 exploration budget includes $3 million allocated for regional exploration. In 2024, 3,000 m of intermediate drill testing is planned at El Naranjo, focused on completing the geological delineation and moving the three best areas into the advanced exploration stage. Preliminary surface works confirm the presence of oxidized gold mineralization within IS veins and breccia bodies, which serve as vectors to Media Luna-type CRD systems at depth.

Atzcala is currently at the target selection stage. The goal this year is to complete a geological evaluation of a 15 km x 5 km area, which will include hyperspectral drone surveys, high resolution magnetometry, and systematic rock geochemistry. The best-ranked area within Atzcala based on geological criteria is expected to be advanced to the target definition stage.

Within the regional exploration program, there are also plans to explore the north side of the Balsas River, looking for potential extensions to and/or the identification of new structural corridors, similar to those identified at the ELG deposit.

Longer-Dated Targets

In addition to the priority targets for 2024, the Exploration team has a number of other projects in the pipeline that are longer dated. As the Media Luna Project has substantially advanced, exploration has commenced from platforms situated in the northern areas of the Guajes Tunnel. During excavation, underground crews encountered many indications through mapping, channel sampling, and visible chalcopyrite, that there may be mineralization along the 7 km Tunnel from ELG to Media Luna. No further exploration has been undertaken in the southern end of the tunnel as completion of the Media Luna underground construction remains the priority.

Other longer-dated targets that have yielded encouraging results in early geological work include Querenque, Tecate, Esperanza, El Olvido, and Victoria. While not a priority focus in 2024, these areas will be evaluated and advanced as appropriate in the exploration pipeline over the coming years.

IDENTIFYING & PRIORITIZING TARGETS

Torex has undertaken a refreshed approach to exploration and drilling since 2021 that included appointing a Vice President of Exploration and enhancing the depth of experience on the Exploration team. To date, the team has studied both recent and historic drilling data, which provided a framework for a technical reinterpretation of the geochemical, geophysical, and remote sensing studies completed in the Morelos district. This reassessment was a key factor in re-evaluating the mineralization model, now thought to include CRD and IS systems in addition to skarn. As expected in a complex system, some of these mineralization styles overlap, which can enrich their gold content.

The evolution of this geological understanding is supported by a comprehensive process of evaluating and ranking the targets identified to date. The exploration pipeline was produced to effectively sort these targets into defined exploration stages. The aim is to systematize and add transparency to the ranking process by comparing projects at a similar exploration stage, assessing each target based on several factors including mineralization style, geology, geography, and economic potential. Working with the Technical Services team, the results of this ranking system can be used to support future capital allocation priorities of the Company.

This process delivers a geological ranking that will be reassessed each year, as exploration advances, to consider both economic and strategic criteria, culminating in an exploration budget proposal for the following year. A multi-year plan will then be formulated by projecting the anticipated advancements of the project pipeline and estimating the proposed exploration and budgets at each exploration stage. Drilling and associated program costs are then estimated for each stage of the pipeline to define the level of investment for the multi-year period. As significant spending on the Media Luna Project winds down later this year, more funding is expected to be allocated in the coming years to further explore priority targets.

MORELOS PROPERTY GEOLOGY

On a regional scale, Morelos is situated in the Guerrero Gold Belt on the western edge of the Mixteca terrane which is composed of a pre-Carboniferous basement of metamorphic rocks of the Acatlan Complex, unconformably overlain by a thick succession of Cretaceous sedimentary rocks. These are known as the Morelos, Cuautla, and Mezcala Formations, which together form the Morelos-Guerrero basin.

The Cretaceous sedimentary successions of the Morelos-Guerrero basin, containing large expanses of carbonate (geochemically reactive) rocks are the major hosts for skarn mineralization in the area and consist of 600- to 1,000-metre-thick, shallow marine carbonate rocks of the Morelos Formation. This unit is mainly composed of calcareous limestones with some dolomite in lower units. The Morelos Formation is conformably overlain by the Cuautla Formation, characterized by limestones that gradually transition upward to pelagic limestones and siliciclastic rocks of the Mezcala Formation. The base of the Mezcala unit is dominated by gray limestones that gradually transition to shales, siltstones and sandstones, and conglomerates at the very top.

Cretaceous sedimentary rocks were folded into north-south-striking anticlines and synclines as a result of the accretion of the Guerrero composite terrane against the Mixteca terrane during the Laramide orogeny. Subduction of the Farallon Plate beneath the North American craton caused magmatism that resulted in the formation of Late Cretaceous-Paleocene diorites and granodiorites that intruded the folded and thrusted sedimentary units of the Morelos-Guerrero basin within the Mixteca Terrane.

At the property scale, structural deformation is dominated by west-northwest faults cut by first-order north-south faults, which are somewhat displaced by second-order northeast faults. Granodiorites and diorites intruded the folded sequence, which triggered the hydrothermal systems that gave rise to the mineralized deposits.

The known mineralized deposits at Morelos correspond to CRD, skarn, and IS mineralized styles hosted along contacts of the intrusive rocks and carbonate-rich sedimentary rocks of the Cuautla and Morelos formations, as well as along the footwall contact of the Mezcala Formation. At depth, the mineralization has a strong structural control related to the major north-south faults.

At a deposit scale, early-stage calc-silicate alteration is related to proximal skarn that evolves to CRD associated to copper and silver mineralization with a final IS-epithermal mineralization event that increases the gold volume and grade.

Dykes and sills are deemed the main ore control and traps of the mineralized bodies. Given that gold precipitates due to the buffer exerted by the early stage calc-silicate alteration and sulfide mineralization, it occurs as free gold and is dissociated from the previous copper event mainly related to chalcopyrite.

ABOUT TOREX GOLD RESOURCES INC.

Torex is an intermediate gold producer based in Canada, engaged in the exploration, development, and operation of its 100% owned Morelos Property, an area of 29,000 hectares in the highly prospective Guerrero Gold Belt located 180 kilometres southwest of Mexico City. The Company's principal asset is the Morelos Complex, which includes the El Limon Guajes ("ELG") Mine Complex, the Media Luna Project, a processing plant, and related infrastructure. Commercial production from the Morelos Complex commenced on April 1, 2016 and an updated Technical Report for the Morelos Complex was released in March 2022. Torex's key strategic objectives are: integrate and optimize the Morelos Property; deliver Media Luna to full production; grow reserves and resources; disciplined growth and capital allocation; retain and attract best industry talent; and build on ESG excellence.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

Torex Gold Resources Inc.

Jody Kuzenko

President and CEO

Direct: (647) 725-9982

jody.kuzenko@torexgold.com

Dan Rollins

Senior Vice President, Corporate Development & Investor Relations

Direct: (647) 260-1503

dan.rollins@torexgold.com

MINERAL RESERVES AND RESOURCES

For additional information on mineral reserves and resources, please see Tables 1 and 2 attached to this news release and the Company's annual information form filed on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and on the Company's website at www.torexgold.com.

QUALIFIED PERSONS

The exploration strategy and detailed plan have been developed in-house by Torex. Volker Moeller, Ph.D., P.Geo. (ON), a qualified person (a "QP") as such term is defined in NI 43-101, has reviewed the strategy and characteristics of the targets on a high level and approved the contents of the news release in respect thereof. Dr. Moeller is a Senior Resource Geologist employed by SLR Consulting (Canada) Ltd. and is independent of Torex.

Information in this news release pertaining to mineral reserves and mineral resources, including Tables 1 and 2, have been reviewed and approved by Johannes (Gertjan) Bekkers, P.Eng, a QP, and Vice President, Mines Technical Services of Torex.

CAUTIONARY NOTES ON FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, statements that: pipeline of high-quality targets systematically prioritized to unlock the full potential of Morelos; the details of a multi-year exploration strategy for its highly prospective Morelos Property, designed to generate incremental additions to mineral resources in the near term, generate at least one new discovery in the mid-term, and extend the mine life at Morelos in order to deliver stable production and cash flow well beyond 2033; since 2021, the Company's strategy has been focused on shoring up the near-term production profile and identifying future sources of feed to fill the mill beyond 2027; the Company's drilling and exploration programs over the coming years will be increasingly focused on demonstrating the multi-decade potential of Morelos by delineating new deposits within the Media Luna Cluster and making new discoveries across the broader property; the Company is now broadening the search to grow organically through the identification of several new and promising targets including Todos Santos, El Naranjo, and Atzcala; the increased focus on identifying additional sources of feed across Morelos over the coming years will continue to be complemented by the near-mine drilling aimed at extending the life of both ELG Underground and Media Luna, expanding resources and delineating reserves at EPO, and drill testing Media Luna West and Media Luna East, two high priorities targets that the Company expects will heavily utilize infrastructure currently being built as part of the scope of the Media Luna Project; the Company intends to leverage a systematic, data-driven exploration and drilling strategy that will solidify Morelos as a foundational asset from which to grow the Company and deliver long-term shareholder value; the $31 million average annual investment in drilling and resource expansion since 2021 and $30 million budgeted for 2024 demonstrate the Company's strategic priority of unlocking the full mineralized potential of Morelos; Morelos remains highly prospective with respect to the delineation of additional gold, copper, and silver mineralization beyond what has been identified to date; the Company's new multi-year exploration strategy is expected to enable Torex to deliver on its objective to maintain more than 450,000 oz AuEq of production annually beyond 2027 and to make at least one new discovery at Morelos in the coming years; the exploration and drilling strategy will focus on three distinct areas: extending the mine life of ELG Underground and Media Luna; expanding resources within the Media Luna Cluster; and advancing targets through the growth pipeline; as the knowledge matures and new exploration techniques are tested, uncovering additional upside at previously explored deposits bolsters confidence about the property-wide potential to host new deposits; a number of high-potential targets have been identified across Morelos; the goal is to advance each of the targets in the exploration pipeline and pending the establishment of economic resources, ultimately bring them into production; Figure 2 of the exploration pipeline of targets identified to date, with each of the targets depicted at their current stage of development; the program will test the potential for high-grade mineralization along the El Limon Sur and El Limon Deep trends and the potential to extend high-grade resources within the Sub-Sill and El Limon West trends; given a consistent history of reserve replacement and resource growth, ELG Underground is expected to remain a key focus of future drilling programs; testing mineralized potential at depth will be the subject of follow-up drilling after construction of the Media Luna Project is complete; approximately $10 million is budgeted at EPO to conduct more than 24,000 m of infill and expansionary drilling in 2024; the 2024 program is aimed at upgrading additional underground resources to the Indicated category while further expanding Inferred Resources; more than 700 thousand oz AuEq remain in Inferred Resources and any further category upgrades will further enhance the economics of EPO; based on the mine design envisioned in an internal pre-feasibility study that is currently underway, the Company anticipates a similar path of development at EPO, if determined to be economic, as was undertaken at ELG Underground, with throughput gradually increasing as the underground deposit is developed; this design approach, combined with the ability for EPO to leverage infrastructure now being built at Media Luna, is expected to result in a capital efficient development project; high-level results of the internal pre-feasibility study are expected to be released later this year; 12,000 m of follow-up drilling is planned in 2024 to further define the deposit's resource potential; Media Luna West should also benefit from infrastructure developed as part of the Media Luna Project; Todos Santos exhibits encouraging magnetic anomalies, potentially indicative of blind mineralization with no surface expression, which will be further explored through the 3,000 m of drilling planned in 2024; although early stage, Todos Santos has shown signs that it may potentially have a higher proportion of copper to gold than exists at Media Luna, which could support higher future copper production if the deposit is deemed economic; if and as an agreement is achieved with local Ejidos for land access, Media Luna East is expected to become a priority underground target with potential for drilling to commence as early as 2025; Media Luna East would benefit from infrastructure being developed as part of the Media Luna Project; the 2024 exploration budget for El Naranjo includes $3 million allocated for regional exploration; in 2024, 3,000 m of intermediate drill testing is planned at El Naranjo, focused on completing the geological delineation and moving the three best areas into the advanced exploration drilling stage; for Atzcala the goal this year is to complete a geological evaluation of a 15 km x 5 km area which will include hyperspectral drone surveys, high resolution magnetometry, and systematic rock geochemistry; the best-ranked area within Atzcala based on geological criteria is expected to be advanced to the target definition stage; while not a priority focus in 2024, Querenque, Tecate, Esperanza, El Olvido, and Victoria will be evaluated and advanced as appropriate in the exploration pipeline over the coming years; the reassessment was a key factor in re-evaluating the mineralization model, now thought to include CRD and IS systems in addition to skarn; as expected in a complex system, some of these mineralization styles overlap, which can enrich their gold content; as significant spending on the Media Luna Project winds down later this year, more funding is expected to be allocated in the coming years to further explore priority targets; and Torex's key strategic objectives are to integrate and optimize the Morelos Property; deliver Media Luna to full production; grow reserves and resources; disciplined growth and capital allocation; retain and attract best industry talent; and build on ESG excellence. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "strategy", "designed", "expects", "planned", "focus", "potential", "future", "envisioned", goal", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results are "on track to" or "will", "would", "could", "can" or "is expected to" occur. Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including, without limitation, risks and uncertainties identified in the Company's technical report (the "Technical Report") released on March 31, 2022, entitled "NI 43-101 Technical Report ELG Mine Complex Life of Mine Plan and Media Luna Feasibility Study", which has an effective date of March 16, 2022, Company's annual information form ("AIF") and management's discussion and analysis ("MD&A") or other unknown but potentially significant impacts. Forward-looking information is based on the reasonable assumptions, estimates, analyses and opinions of management made in light of its experience and perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, and other factors that management believes are relevant and reasonable in the circumstances at the date such statements are made. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information or future events or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable securities laws. The Technical Report, AIF, and MD&A are filed on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and on the Company's website at www.torexgold.com.

Table 1: Mineral Reserve Estimate - Morelos Complex (December 31, 2023)



Tonnes Au Ag Cu Au Ag Cu AuEq AuEq

(kt) (gpt) (gpt) (%) (koz) (koz) (Mlb) (gpt) (koz) Media Luna Underground

















Proven 2,001 4.28 33.1 1.09 276 2,129 48 6.48 417 Probable 21,568 2.56 24.2 0.84 1,775 16,749 401 4.24 2,943 Proven & Probable 23,569 2.71 24.9 0.86 2,050 18,877 448 4.43 3,360 ELG Underground

















Proven 1,497 5.77 8.0 0.30 277 385 10 6.28 302 Probable 2,007 4.91 7.5 0.29 317 482 13 5.46 352 Proven & Probable 3,504 5.28 7.7 0.30 594 867 23 5.81 654 ELG Open Pit

















Proven 1,813 4.30 5.4 0.16 251 313 6 4.36 254 Probable 3,741 2.51 4.5 0.20 302 538 16 2.58 310 Proven & Probable 5,553 3.09 4.8 0.18 552 851 23 3.16 565 Surface Stockpiles

















Proven 4,972 1.17 2.8 0.07 187 443 8 1.20 192 Probable - - - - - - - - - Proven & Probable 4,972 1.17 2.8 0.07 187 443 8 1.20 192 Total Morelos Complex

















Proven 10,283 3.00 9.9 0.32 991 3,269 72 3.52 1,165 Probable 27,316 2.73 20.2 0.71 2,393 17,769 430 4.11 3,606 Proven & Probable 37,598 2.80 17.4 0.61 3,384 21,038 502 3.95 4,771

Notes to accompany the mineral reserve table:



1.Mineral reserves were developed in accordance with CIM (2014) guidelines.

2.Rounding may result in apparent summation differences between tonnes, grade, and contained metal content. Surface stockpile mineral reserves are estimated using production and survey data and apply the same gold equivalent ("AuEq") formula as ELG Open Pits.

3.AuEq of total reserves is established from combined contributions of the various deposits.

4.The qualified person for the mineral reserve estimate is Johannes (Gertjan) Bekkers, P. Eng., VP of Mines Technical Services.

5.The qualified person is not aware of mining, metallurgical, infrastructure, permitting, or other factors that materially affect the mineral reserve estimates.

Notes to accompany the Media Luna Underground mineral reserves:

1.Mineral reserves are based on Media Luna Measured & Indicated mineral resources with an effective date of December 31, 2023.

2.Media Luna Underground mineral reserves are reported above an in-situ ore cut-off grade of 2.4 g/t AuEq.

3.Media Luna Underground cut-off grades and mining shapes are considered appropriate for a metal price of $1,500/oz gold ("Au"), $19/oz silver ("Ag") and $3.50/lb copper ("Cu") and metal recoveries of 90% Au, 86% Ag, and 93% Cu.

4.Mineral reserves within designed mine shapes assume long-hole open stoping, supplemented with mechanized cut-and-fill mining and includes estimates for dilution and mining losses.

5.Media Luna Underground AuEq = Au (g/t) + Ag (g/t) * (0.0121) + Cu (%) * (1.6533), accounting for metal prices and metallurgical recoveries.

Notes to accompany the ELG Underground mineral reserves:



1.Mineral reserves are founded on Measured & Indicated mineral resources, with an effective date of December 31, 2023, for ELG Underground (including Sub-Sill, El Limon Deep and El Limon Sur Trend deposits).

2.ELG Underground mineral reserves are reported above an in-situ ore cut-off grade of 2.8 g/t AuEq and an in-situ incremental cut-off grade of 1.6 g/t AuEq.

3.Cut-off grades and mining shapes are considered appropriate for a metal price of $1,500/oz gold ("Au"), $19/oz silver ("Ag") and $3.50/lb copper ("Cu") and metal recoveries of 90% Au, 86% Ag, and 93% Cu, accounting for the planned copper concentrator.

4.Mineral reserves within designed mine shapes assume mechanized cut and fill mining method and include estimates for dilution and mining losses.

5.Mineral reserves are reported using an Au price of US$1,500/oz, Ag price of US$19/oz, and Cu price of US$3.50/lb.

6.ELG Underground AuEq = Au (g/t) + Ag (g/t) * (0.0121) + Cu (%) * (1.6533), accounting for metal prices and metallurgical recoveries.

Notes to accompany the ELG Open Pit mineral reserves and Surface Stockpiles:

1.Mineral reserves are founded on Measured & Indicated mineral resources, with an effective date of December 31, 2023, for El Limon and El Limon Sur deposits.

2.ELG Open Pit mineral reserves are reported above an in-situ cut-off grade of 1.2 g/t Au.

3.ELG Low Grade mineral reserves are reported above an in-situ cut-off grade of 0.88 g/t Au.

4.It is planned that ELG Low Grade mineral reserves within the designed pits will be stockpiled during pit operation and processed during pit closure.

5.Mineral reserves within the designed pits include assumed estimates for dilution and ore losses.

6.Cut-off grades and designed pits are considered appropriate for a metal price of $1,500/oz Au and metal recovery of 89% Au.

7.Mineral reserves are reported using an Au price of US$1,500/oz, Ag price of US$19/oz, and Cu price of US$3.50/lb.

8.Average metallurgical recoveries of 89% for Au, 30% for Ag, and 15% for Cu.

9.ELG Open Pit (including surface stockpiles) AuEq = Au (g/t) + Ag (g/t) * (0.0043) + Cu (%) * (0.2697), accounting for metal prices and metallurgical recoveries.





Table 2: Mineral Resource Estimate - Morelos Complex (December 31, 2023)



Tonnes Au Ag Cu Au Ag Cu AuEq AuEq

(kt) (gpt) (gpt) (%) (koz) (koz) (Mlb) (gpt) (koz) Media Luna Underground

















Measured 1,835 5.26 41.7 1.37 310 2,463 55 8.00 472 Indicated 25,616 2.99 29.5 1.04 2,463 24,328 585 5.03 4,146 Measured & Indicated 27,451 3.14 30.4 1.06 2,774 26,791 640 5.23 4,618 Inferred 7,330 2.54 23.0 0.88 598 5,408 142 4.25 1,001 ELG Underground

















Measured 3,451 5.48 7.9 0.32 608 876 24 6.10 677 Indicated 4,725 4.46 7.4 0.30 677 1,126 31 5.03 765 Measured & Indicated 8,176 4.89 7.6 0.31 1,285 2,002 55 5.48 1,441 Inferred 2,396 4.60 8.0 0.35 355 620 19 5.28 407 EPO Underground

















Measured - - - - - - - - - Indicated 6,979 2.66 30.0 1.27 597 6,728 195 5.14 1,153 Measured & Indicated 6,979 2.66 30.0 1.27 597 6,728 195 5.14 1,153 Inferred 4,960 2.00 37.0 1.24 318 5,908 136 4.52 721 ELG Open Pit

















Measured 1,812 4.41 5.5 0.16 257 323 6 4.47 261 Indicated 4,299 2.50 4.4 0.18 346 606 17 2.57 355 Measured & Indicated 6,110 3.07 4.7 0.17 602 929 23 3.13 615 Inferred 399 2.06 1.5 0.05 26 19 0 2.08 27 Total Morelos Complex

















Measured 7,098 5.15 16.0 0.55 1,175 3,662 86 6.18 1,409 Indicated 41,619 3.05 24.5 0.90 4,083 32,787 827 4.80 6,418 Measured & Indicated 48,717 3.36 23.3 0.85 5,258 36,449 913 5.00 7,828 Inferred 15,085 2.67 24.7 0.89 1,297 11,955 297 4.45 2,156

Notes to accompany the mineral resource table:



1.CIM (2014) definitions were followed for mineral resources.

2.Mineral resources are depleted above a mining surface or to the as-mined solids as of December 31, 2023.

3.Gold equivalent ("AuEq") of total mineral resources is established from combined contributions of the various deposits.

4.Mineral resources for all deposits are based on an underlying gold ("Au") price of US$1,650/oz, silver ("Ag") price of US$22/oz, and copper ("Cu") price of US$3.75/lb.

5.Mineral resources are inclusive of mineral reserves.

6.Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.

7.Numbers may not add due to rounding.

8.The estimate was prepared by Ms. Carolina Milla, P.Eng. (Alberta), Principal, Mineral Resources



Notes to accompany Media Luna Underground mineral resources:

1.The effective date of the estimate is December 31, 2023.

2.Mineral resources for Media Luna Underground are reported above a 2.0 g/t AuEq cut-off grade.

3.Metallurgical recoveries at Media Luna Underground average 90% Au, 86% Ag, and 93% Cu.

4.The assumed mining method is from underground methods, using a combination of long-hole open stoping and mechanized cut-and-fill.

5.Media Luna Underground AuEq = Au (g/t) + (Ag (g/t) * 0.0127) + (Cu (%) * 1.6104), accounting for underlying metal prices and metallurgical recoveries for Media Luna Underground.



Notes to accompany ELG Underground mineral resources:



1.The effective date of the estimate is December 31, 2023.

2.Mineral resources for ELG Underground are reported above a cut-off grade of 2.2 g/t AuEq.

3.Average metallurgical recoveries are 90% Au, 86% Ag, and 93% Cu, accounting for recoveries with planned copper concentrator.

4.The assumed mining method is underground cut and fill.

5.ELG Underground AuEq = Au (g/t) + (Ag (g/t) * 0.0127) + (Cu (%) * 1.6104), accounting for underlying metal prices and metallurgical recoveries for ELG Underground.



Notes to accompany EPO Underground mineral resources:



1.The effective date of the estimate is December 31, 2023.

2.Mineral resources for EPO Underground are reported above a 2.0 g/t AuEq cut-off grade.

3.Metallurgical recoveries at EPO average 87% Au, 85% Ag, and 92% Cu.

4.The assumed mining method is from underground methods, using long-hole open stoping.

5.EPO Underground AuEq = Au (g/t) + (Ag (g/t) * 0.0130) + (Cu (%) * 1.6480), accounting for underlying metal prices and metallurgical recoveries for EPO Underground.



Notes to accompany the ELG Open Pit mineral resources:



1.The effective date of the estimate is December 31, 2023.

2.Mineral resources for ELG Open Pit are reported above an in-situ cut-off grade of 0.78 g/t Au.

3.Average metallurgical recoveries are 89% Au, 30% Ag, and 15% Cu.

4.Mineral resources are reported inside an optimized pit shell, underground mineral reserves at ELD within the El Limon pit shell have been excluded from the open pit mineral resources.

5.ELG Open Pit AuEq = Au (g/t) + (Ag (g/t) * 0.0045) + (Cu (%) * 0.2627), accounting for underlying metal prices and metallurgical recoveries for ELG Open Pit.





To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/212314
MONTREAL, June 10, 2024 /CNW/ - (Sydney, June 11, 2024) - Champion Iron Ltd. (TSX: CIA) (ASX: CIA) (OTCQX: CIAFF) ("Champion" or the "Company") welcomes the addition of high-purity iron ore to Canada's Critical Minerals List (the "List"). The List considers minerals based on specific criteria, including their requirements for a national transition to a sustainable low-carbon economy and their strategic sourcing for international allies. The update presented today by the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, recognizes Canada's leadership role in the global green steel supply chain.

Champion's CEO, Mr. David Cataford, said, "We applaud the Government of Canada for joining the governments of Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador in identifying high-purity iron ore in their respective critical minerals list. Such a recognition highlights our Company's rare solution to decarbonize the steel industry, which represents nearly 10% of global carbon emissions. The Labrador Trough hosts one of the largest resources of high-purity iron globally, creating an exceptional opportunity for Canada to become a global sustainable leader in the green steel supply chain. Leveraging our skilled workforce, access to hydroelectric power, supporting communities and governments, we continue to work on several growth projects, including our direct reduction pellet feed project and the potential to advance the Kami project with a strategic partner."

Champion Iron AboutLimited

Champion, through its wholly-owned subsidiary Quebec Iron Ore Inc., owns and operates the Bloom Lake Mining Complex, located on the south end of the Labrador Trough, approximately 13 km north of Fermont, Quebec. Bloom Lake is an open-pit operation with two concentrators that primarily source energy from renewable hydroelectric power. The two concentrators have a combined nameplate capacity of 15 Mtpa and produce low contaminant high-grade 66.2% Fe iron ore concentrate with a proven ability to produce a 67.5% Fe direct reduction quality iron ore concentrate. Benefiting from one of the highest purity resources globally, the Company is investing to upgrade half of the Bloom Lake mine capacity to a direct reduction quality pellet feed iron ore with up to 69% Fe. Bloom Lake's high-grade and low contaminant iron ore products have attracted a premium to the Platts IODEX 62% Fe iron ore benchmark. The Company ships iron ore concentrate from Bloom Lake by rail, to a ship loading port in Sept-Iles, Quebec, and has delivered its iron ore concentrate globally, including in China, Japan, the Middle East, Europe, South Korea, India and Canada. In addition to Bloom Lake, Champion owns a portfolio of exploration and development projects in the Labrador Trough, including the Kamistiatusset Project, located a few kilometres south-east of Bloom Lake, and the Cluster II portfolio of properties, located within 60 km south of Bloom Lake.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes certain information and statements that may constitute "forward-looking information" under applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "continues", "forecasts", "projects", "predicts", "intends", "anticipates", "aims", "targets" or "believes", or variations of, or the negatives of, such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "should", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Inherent in forward-looking statements are risks, uncertainties and other factors beyond the Company's ability to predict or control.

Specific Forward-Looking Statements

All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this press release that address future events, developments or performance that Champion expects to occur are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, the decarbonization of the steel industry, the opportunity for Canada to become a global sustainable leader in the green steel supply chain and growth projects, including the direct reduction pellet feed project and the potential to advance the Kami project with a strategic partner.

Risks

Although Champion believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, most of which are beyond the control of the Company, which may cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements include, without limitation, the factors discussed in the section entitled "Risk Factors" of the Company's 2023 Annual Report, Annual Information Form and MD&A for the financial year ended March 31, 2024, which are available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca, the ASX at www.asx.com.au and the Company's website at www.championiron.com. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information.

Additional Updates

All of Champion's forward-looking information contained in this press release is given as of the date hereof or such other date or dates specified in the forward-looking statements and is based upon the opinions and estimates of Champion's management and information available to management as at the date hereof. Champion disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any of the forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. If the Company does update one or more forward-looking statements, no inference should be drawn that it will make additional updates with respect to those or other forward-looking statements. Champion cautions that the foregoing list of risks and uncertainties is not exhaustive. Readers should carefully consider the above factors as well as the uncertainties they represent and the risks they entail.

For further information, please contact:

Champion Iron Ltd.

Michael Marcotte, CFA

Senior Vice-President, Corporate Development and Capital Markets

514-316-4858, Ext. 1128

Info@championiron.com

For additional information on Champion Iron Ltd., please visit our website at: www.championiron.com.

This press release has been authorized for release to the market by the CEO of Champion Iron Ltd., David Cataford.

SOURCE Champion Iron Ltd.
VANCOUVER, June 11, 2024 - Bedford Metals Corp. (TSX-V: BFM) (the "Company" or "Bedford") announces that it has engaged CanExplor Management Ltd. to conduct a satellite survey over its Ubiquity Lake Uranium Project. This survey will utilize advanced technology to analyze helium emission data, which directly correlates with uranium decay. Helium gas, a byproduct of uranium decomposition, serves as an excellent exploration marker, particularly in projects where uranium is present on the surface.



The satellite survey will meaningfully advance Bedford's understanding of the Ubiquity Lake Uranium Project. By analyzing helium emission data, the Company will gain valuable insights into the subsurface geology and uranium mineralization, enhancing its knowledge of the Project in advance of the upcoming summer exploration program.

Peter Born, President of Bedford, commented, "We are eager to partner with CanExplor Management to conduct this cutting-edge satellite survey over our Ubiquity Lake Uranium Project. Modern-day technology allows us to refine our exploration efforts with improved speed and efficiency, ultimately enhancing our ability to unlock the full potential of our mineral projects. At Bedford Metals, we pride ourselves on utilizing the most current technology to advance our exploration initiatives and create value for our shareholders."

Bedford remains committed to conducting exploration activities to the highest environmental standards and collaborating with local communities and indigenous groups. Environmental stewardship is a fundamental aspect of the Company's operational philosophy, and it will continue to prioritize responsible resource development while engaging with stakeholders respectfully and transparently.

The engagement of CanExplor Management Ltd. for the satellite survey underscores Bedford Metals' dedication to leveraging innovative techniques to maximize the value of its mineral projects. As the Company continues to advance its exploration programs, it remains focused on delivering value to its shareholders and contributing to the global transition toward sustainable resource development.

Dr. Peter Born, PGeo, is the designated qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and the President of the Company, and is responsible for and has approved the technical information contained in this release.

About Bedford Metals Corp.

Bedford Metals Corp. is a mineral exploration company. We create value for our shareholders by identifying and developing highly prospective mineral exploration opportunities. Our strategy is to advance our projects from discovery to production.

The Ubiquity Lake Uranium Project, covering 1382 hectares, lies just south of the bottom lip of the Athabasca Basin, adjacent to ALX Uranium's Carpenter Lake Project to the east. Situated near the Cable Bay Shear Zone, parallel to the Virgin River Shear Zone, which hosts Cameco's Centennial uranium deposit, the project holds immense potential. Furthermore, it is located 100 km west of Cameco's past-producing Key Lake uranium mine, underscoring the strategic significance of its location.

For further information, please contact the Company at info@bedfordmetals.com or 604-622-1199 or visit the Company's website at www.bedfordmetals.com.

On behalf of the Board,

Bedford Metals Corp.

"Peter Born"

President

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release may include forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. All statements within, other than statements of historical fact, are to be considered forward looking. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. There can be no assurances that such statements will prove accurate and, therefore, readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of such uncertainties. We do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements except as required under the applicable laws.

CONTACT:

MRKT360 INC

https://mrkt360.com

Alex Zertuche

alexz@mrkt360.com

For E.S.T Office Hours, Call 1 416-477-0587
VANCOUVER, June 11, 2024 - Liberty Gold Corp. (TSX:LGD; OTCQX:LGDTF) ("Liberty Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has received from the United States Forest Service ("USFS") the final approval for an amendment to the current exploration Plan of Operations ("POO") at the Black Pine Oxide Gold Project, Idaho ("Black Pine"). This approval authorizes exploration activities on USFS lands where the Company holds mineral title but was not previously permitted to drill. Additionally, the Company has added a Director of Regulatory Affairs and Sustainability to advance mine permitting with the federal and state agencies.



Plan of Operations & Land Position Expansion

This new permit amendment from the USFS expands the current area for permitted exploration from 24.7 square kilometres ("km2") by 51% to 37.3 km2 (see Figure 1 below). This will allow the Company to explore seven new target areas where the prospective and permissive gold host-rock carbonate sequence ("middle plate") is known to occur at shallow depth beneath sandstone cover rock ("upper plate").

In addition, the amended POO further directs the Bureau of Land Management ("BLM") to begin the process of issuing a Hardrock Prospector Permit ("HPP") over contiguous, highly prospective, areas. The HPP would open a further 7.1 km2 of ground to approved exploration activities.

The Company has additionally staked 46 unpatented mining claims in the southwest of the project area, totalling 3.3 km2. These claims are contiguous with the existing project area and cover the projected southern extension of the prospective middle plate host rock carbonate sequence, identified by field & structural mapping and soil geochemistry. The newly acquired ground expands the total project area to 69.3 km2.

Pete Shabestari, Vice President of Exploration commented, "We wish to thank the US Forest Service for processing this amendment diligently and efficiently. The amendment approval reflects the collaborative relationship established with the agencies over the last seven years and the well-managed and straightforward nature of permitting at Black Pine. With this new approval, we can now turn the exploration drill rigs towards gold discovery in these highly prospective target areas."

FIGURE 1 - BLACK PINE PROJECT AND PERMITTING AREA MAP





For a map showing the Black Pine Project and Permitting area, click here: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1e509dc9-5811-4b4b-b8ba-deca82cbdbaf

Field Operations 2024

Field operations have begun at Black Pine in earnest, with the first reverse circulation ("RC") drill rig expected to arrive mid-June and a second arriving in mid-July. The first phase of planned exploration drilling is budgeted at 20,000 meters ("m") and will focus on new discovery in the seven outlying target areas with the key objective of growing the current Black Pine resource base which already exceeds 3 million ounces. (see press release dated February 15, 2024)

Appointment of Matt Zietlow as Director, Regulatory Affairs & Sustainability

The Company is also pleased to announce that Matthew Zietlow has joined Liberty Gold as the Director, Regulatory Affairs & Sustainability, based in Idaho. He will be responsible for leading the mine permitting process at Black Pine, with the objective of submission of the Mine Plan of Operations ("MPO") to the respective regulatory agencies by Q4, 2024.

Mr. Zietlow has over 30 years of experience in mine permitting, operational compliance, reclamation and closure at multiple active and idled locations throughout the western United States. He has held senior roles in community affairs, media relations, and academic advisory boards related to the mining sector, and also served as State chair of the Nevada Mining Association Executive Environmental Committee.

ABOUT LIBERTY GOLD

Liberty Gold is focused on exploring for and developing open pit oxide deposits in the Great Basin of the United States, home to large-scale gold projects that are ideal for open-pit mining. This region is one of the most prolific gold-producing regions in the world and stretches across Nevada and into Idaho and Utah.?We know the Great Basin and are driven to discover and advance big gold deposits that can be mined profitably in open-pit scenarios.?

For more information, visit libertygold.ca or contact:

Susie Bell, Manager, Investor Relations

Phone: 604-632-4677 or Toll Free 1-877-632-4677

info@libertygold.ca

All statements in this press release, other than statements of historical fact, are "forward-looking information" with respect to Liberty Gold within the meaning of applicable securities laws, the use of proceeds of the offering, the timing and completion of the Preliminary Feasibility Study, the timing and completion of formal mine permitting, and the potential quantity and/or grade of minerals and Liberty Gold's mineral resources. Forward-looking information is often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "seek", "anticipate", "plan", "continue", "planned", "expect", "project", "predict", "potential", "targeting", "intends", "believe", "potential", and similar expressions, or describes a "goal", or variation of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "should", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance and is based upon a number of estimates and assumptions of management at the date the statements are made including, among others, assumptions about future prices of gold, and other metal prices, currency exchange rates and interest rates, favourable operating conditions, political stability, obtaining governmental approvals and financing on time, obtaining renewals for existing licenses and permits and obtaining required licenses and permits, labour stability, stability in market conditions, the timing and success of future plans and objectives in the areas of sustainable development, health, safety, environment, community development; successful resolution of disputes and anticipated costs and expenditures and the timing of regulatory approvals. Many assumptions are based on factors and events that are not within the control of Liberty Gold and there is no assurance they will prove to be correct.

Such forward-looking information, involves known and unknown risks, which may cause the actual results to be materially different from any future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including, risks related to the interpretation of results and/or the reliance on technical information provided by third parties as related to the Company's mineral property interests; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; current economic conditions; future prices of commodities; possible variations in grade or recovery rates; the costs and timing of the development of new deposits; failure of equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; the failure of contracted parties to perform; the timing and success of exploration activities generally; delays in permitting; possible claims against the Company; labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry; delays in obtaining governmental approvals, the completion of exploration as well as those factors discussed in the Annual Information Form of the Company dated March 28, 2024 in the section entitled "Risk Factors", under Liberty Gold's SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca.

Although Liberty Gold has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Liberty Gold disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
LONGUEIL, June 11, 2024 - Azimut Exploration Inc. ("Azimut" or the "Company") (TSXV:AZM) (OTCQX:AZMTF) is pleased to provide an update on its business strategy and comprehensive 2024 field season (see Figure 1). The most recent corporate presentation is available on the Company's website.

The Company will hold a webinar on June 20, 2024 at 1pm ET / 10am PT in English and at 2:30pm ET / 11:30am PT in French. A short presentation will be followed by a Q&A session for interested investors and shareholders. Registration can be completed here: English Webinar / French Webinar.

HIGHLIGHTS

Azimut is a Quebec-focused explorer holding the province's largest mineral portfolio, mostly in the Eeyou-Istchee James Bay region. It has a robust project pipeline and a minimum budget of $10M for 10 projects, including $6M of partner-funded programs.

Azimut's main projects will be advanced through the following exploration programs:

Elmer (gold, 100% Azimut): Drilling to test new shallow targets, prospecting JBL1 (lithium, 100% Azimut): Prospecting, possibly drilling Galinee (lithium, SOQUEM JV): Drilling to outline a discovery in the making, prospecting Pikwa (lithium, SOQUEM JV): Prospecting, possibly drilling Corvet (lithium, Rio Tinto option): Prospecting, possibly drilling Kaanaayaa (lithium, Rio Tinto option): Prospecting, possibly drilling Pilipas (lithium, Ophir option): Prospecting, possibly drilling Kukamas (nickel, copper, gold, KGHM option): Prospecting, possibly drilling

Field teams are already active at Elmer, Galinee and Corvet. All prospecting programs will be conducted from early June to late September. Azimut operates the abovementioned projects except Pikwa and Pilipas.

Another major initiative, the James Bay Nickel project (110 claim blocks, roughly 200 targets), is under review by senior mining companies with the intent of implementing a regional strategic alliance.

Azimut has a strong balance sheet with $13M in working capital and shares, and no debt. Management maintains rigorous financial discipline. The Company has 85.4 million shares issued and outstanding since its founding in 1986 with no roll-back.



Business Strategy

Azimut is a technically driven exploration company that uses advanced numerical targeting to enhance discovery probability while concurrently developing partnerships to minimize the financial risk of exploration. The Company also chooses to advance some projects on its own.

Predictive modelling: Data processing applied to mineral exploration using a proprietary predictive methodology (AZtechMineTM) to generate exploration projects in underexplored regions. The objective is to increase the discovery probability through state-of-the-art targeting.

Partnership development: Agreements are signed with seniors and juniors to increase the discovery odds by conducting multiple exploration programs and minimizing the need for recurrent financings. Over time, preserving the Company's capital structure supports per-share value creation. Azimut has one of the lowest share dilution rates in the junior mining space.

Multicommodity approach (gold, copper, nickel, lithium): Azimut takes full advantage of its Quebec-scale mineral potential appraisal and better addresses commodity market volatility.



2024 Exploration Outlook

Azimut is focusing its 2024 work programs in the James Bay region, one of the most prospective in Canada. The region has excellent community relationships and governmental support and is well served in infrastructure, including paved highways, airports and a world-class hydro-electric power grid.

Key features and the planned 2024 work activities are presented below for eight of the Company's projects.

ELMER (gold) - 100% Azimut

The project controls a 35km-long greenstone belt that is largely underexplored and hosts a compliant National Instrument 43-101 maiden mineral resource estimate for the Patwon Zone (311,000 oz at 1.93 g/t Au Indicated and 513,900 oz at 1.94 g/t Au Inferred). 75% of the resources are contained within an open-pit shell with a depth of 376 m. Patwon is open along strike and at depth. Four (4) main drill-ready multi-kilometre robust target zones have been delineated and host high-grade gold prospects.

Work program: Focused prospecting is underway to assess new prospective sectors along shear zones. At least 3,000 m of core drilling will start in early July to test shallow-depth targets.

See press releases of June 29, 2023, and January 4 and April 16, 2024.



JBL1 (lithium) - 100% Azimut

Azimut considers this extensive (52 x 28 km) project to be one of the most prospective areas for lithium in the James Bay region based on its strong geochemical footprint in lake sediments (Li, Cs, Rb, Ga and Sn) and more than 100 outcropping mapped pegmatites (not yet sampled for lithium).

Work program: High-resolution remote sensing analysis ongoing. Comprehensive prospecting and possible drilling based on results.

See press releases of January 23 and August 21, 2023.



GALINEE (lithium) - 50/50 Azimut-SOQUEM JV

A significant discovery is in the making, marked by wide high-grade lithium drill intercepts that notably include 2.48% Li 2 O over 72.7 m, 2.68% Li 2 O over 54.6 m and 2.13% Li 2 O over 44.1 m. Additional good results are expected from the second drilling phase completed early May (see PR of April 18, 2023).

At the project scale, highly prospective areas with a cumulative length of 60 kilometres are based on strong geochemical footprints in lake sediments (Li, Cs, Rb, Ga, Sn) and favourable geology.



Work program: Metallurgical tests underway on lithium-bearing drilling intercepts. Property-scale till sampling underway to be followed by a prospecting phase. Follow-up drilling to further outline the mineralized zone and test new targets.

See press releases of January 9, February 23, April 18 and May 8, 2024.



PIKWA (lithium) - 50/50 Azimut-SOQUEM JV

This 28-kilometre-long project lies immediately along strike of the Corvette Property owned by Patriot Battery Metals ("Patriot"), which hosts the world-class CV5 deposit (initial inferred resource of 109 Mt at 1.42% Li 2 O).

High-potential sectors were identified following the 2023 initial lithium-focused prospecting phase.



Work program: Ongoing detailed prospecting, till sampling and possibly drilling based on results.

See press releases of January 23, May 17 and August 21, 2023.



CORVET (lithium) - Rio Tinto option

Located south-west of Patriot's Corvette Property, this 33-kilometre-long property displays a strong lake-sediment geochemical footprint for lithium and related pathfinders and a favourable geologic context for lithium-bearing pegmatites.

The initial exploration phase in 2023 comprised high-resolution hyperspectral, LiDAR and digital photogrammetric surveys, lake sediment geochemical surveys, and reconnaissance prospecting.



Work program: Comprehensive prospecting underway and possibly drilling, depending on the results.

See press releases of January 23 and July 10, 2023.



KAANAAYAA (lithium) - Rio Tinto option

Located south of Patriot's Corvette Property, this 25.6-kilometre-long property displays a strong lake-sediment geochemical footprint for lithium and related pathfinders and a favourable geologic context for lithium-bearing pegmatites.

The initial exploration phase in 2023 comprised high-resolution hyperspectral, LiDAR and digital photogrammetric surveys, lake sediment geochemical surveys, and reconnaissance prospecting.



Work program: Comprehensive prospecting and possibly drilling, depending on the results.

See press releases of January 23 and July 10, 2023.



PILIPAS (lithium) - Ophir option

A potential for lithium-bearing pegmatites was identified based on the regional geological context and remote sensing data. The project also displays a potential for gold-copper mineralized systems.

Work program: Ongoing prospecting and mapping. LiDAR and digital photogrammetry surveys. Potential drilling in H2 2024, depending on the prospecting results.

See press releases of December 11, 2023 and May 14, 2024.

KUKAMAS (nickel, copper, gold) - KGHM option

This 41-kilometre-long project was subject to a substantial program in 2023 comprising a heliborne magnetic and electromagnetic survey (3,199 line-km) and an initial prospecting phase.

The salient result was the discovery of a nickel-copper-platinum-palladium prospect that correlates well with a strong, kilometre-scale, undrilled electromagnetic anomaly. Several other gold and gold-copper targets were also identified elsewhere on the property.



Work program: High-resolution remote sensing, lake sediment geochemical survey. Focused prospecting. Possibly maiden core drilling program.

See press releases of February 8, 2023, and April 2, 2024.



Other projects of interest to the Company's management are currently subject to data processing and target ranking:

James Bay region: Wabamisk (gold, antimony), Doran (copper), Wapatik (nickel-copper, lithium).

Nunavik region: Rex (gold, copper, rare earths) and Rex South (gold, copper, tungsten, tin, rare earths).

Qualified Person

Dr. Jean-Marc Lulin, P.Geo., prepared this press release as Azimut's qualified person within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

About Azimut

Azimut is a leading mineral exploration company with a solid reputation for target generation and partnership development. The Company holds the largest mineral exploration portfolio in Quebec. Its wholly owned flagship project, the Elmer Gold Project, has advanced to the resource stage with a strong exploration upside. Azimut also advances the Galinee Lithium Project, a significant discovery made in JV with SOQUEM. The Company controls strategic land positions for copper-gold, nickel and lithium in Quebec.

Azimut uses a pioneering approach to big data analytics (the proprietary AZtechMine expert system) enhanced by extensive exploration know-how. The Company's competitive edge is based on systematic regional-scale data analysis. Azimut maintains rigorous financial discipline and a strong balance sheet, with 85.4 million shares issued and outstanding.

Contact and Information

Jean-Marc Lulin, President and CEO

Tel.: (450) 646-3015 - Fax: (450) 646-3045

Jonathan Rosset, Vice President Corporate Development

Tel: (604) 202-7531

info@azimut-exploration.com www.azimut-exploration.com

Cautionary note regarding forward-looking statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements, which reflect the Company's current expectations regarding future events. To the extent that any statements in this press release contain information that is not historical, the statements are essentially forward-looking and are often identified by words such as "anticipate", "expect", "estimate", "intend", "project", "plan" and "believe". The forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. There are many factors that could cause such differences, particularly volatility and sensitivity to market metal prices, impact of change in foreign currency exchange rates and interest rates, imprecision in reserve estimates, environmental risks including increased regulatory burdens, unexpected geological conditions, adverse mining conditions, changes in government regulations and policies, including laws and policies, and failure to obtain necessary permits and approvals from government authorities, as well as other development and operating risks. Although the Company believes that the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on these statements, which only apply as of the date of this document. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required to do so by applicable securities laws.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
LOBAMBA - The attorney general says Prime Minister (PM) Russell Dlaminis statement, doubting the competence of the Auditor Generals Office, was his personal opinion and should not interfere with Parliament business.

The Attorney General, Sifiso Khumalo, said the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), which suspended its sittings last Friday, could resume its work, unflinchingly, as the PMs statement could not be cited as an impediment. The PM was addressing the Editors Forum of Eswatini and government officials last Thursday, when he said certain events pointed to incompetence at the Auditor Generals (AG) Office and further said there was doubt if his reports could be relied upon.

Statement

The attorney general, who is also an ex-officio member of the House of Assembly, yesterday told the House, during a sitting, that the PAC shall resume its sittings. He said any statement made by the PM or Cabinet minister should not affect the operation of Parliament. Khumalo stated that the PM did not have power over Parliament. The attorney general said the suspension of the PAC sittings was inappropriate. He said this after the Chairperson of the PAC and Deputy Speaker, Madala Mhlanga, rose on a point of clarification, where he told the House that he needed to clarify and shed light following the events of the past few days.

Last Thursday, the PM questioned the competence of the auditor generals reports. On Friday morning, Mhlanga announced that following the dark cloud that was hanging over the Auditor General, Timothy Matsebula, and his office, which was prompted by the PMs statement, the sittings were suspended. He noted that the PACs work was based on the audit queries that were raised in the audit reports that were produced by the Auditor Generals Office. Therefore, if there were questions about the competence of the reports, the PAC had to suspend sittings, pending advice from the attorney general.

Last week, PAC sittings were suspended as the committee was taken aback by a statement that was made about an office that we work closely with - the Auditor Generals Office. We suspended sittings so we could get advice from the attorney general on how we can go about with our work, while we have a dark cloud hanging over the auditor general and the PAC. I consulted the auditor general and the Speakers Office and it was stated that the PAC sittings should not have been suspended, because the Parliament is an independent arm of government that should not be affected by any utterances outside of it. I relayed the matter to the Committee as well, he said.

The PAC Chairperson told the House that they had been advised that the PAC should continue with its sittings and urged Khumalo to clarify the legal position on the matter.

Deviated

The attorney general stated that he had not deviated from the previous conversation he had with the chairperson. Khumalo said the PMs statement should not affect the proceedings of the PAC or any Parliament business. I can confirm that indeed, the deputy speaker, who is also PAC chairperson, contacted me and I gave him advice. I wish to state for the record that I stand by what I said on our phone conversation. It was inappropriate for the PAC to suspend sittings on the basis of a statement that had been issued by the PM in another forum, he said.

The attorney general shared with the House about the separation of powers. Khumalo added that the government implemented Acts of Parliament, not the other way around. He stated that the country had three arms of government, which are the Legislature, Executive and the Judiciary. He explained that these three armss operations were independent of each other, as guaranteed by the Constitution of Swaziland (Eswatini).

Khumalo said the job of the legislature is to make laws and play an oversight on the Executive side of government. The Executive arm of government is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the government and implementing laws that are made by Parliament. The Judiciary is responsible for interpreting the law and passing judgments according to the law, he said. He reminded the MPs that the Legislature carries out its operations through sessional committees, as provided in Section 129 of the Constitution. The attorney general said the PAC and the Finance Committee were the only sessional committees that were prescribed in the Constitution in terms of Section 209, meaning, the PAC is a creature of the Constitution and its powers are constitutionally provided for.

Khumalo said the PM was just expressing his personal opinion and his opinion was not binding on Parliament or any committee of Parliament, more especially the PAC. There should not be an opinion of any member of the Executive, be it the PM, DPM or any minister, that can interfere with the duties of Parliament or operations of this House, because of the independence that exists within the three arms of government, Khumalo said.

Suspend

Therefore, the PAC should not suspend sittings because; the PM expressed an opinion, and the PM does not have powers to halt the operations of Parliament.There is no single member of the government Executive that has powers to suspend Parliament business, he said. He said since there was no legal support for the suspension of the PACs operations, it was wrong for the PAC to suspend its sittings. We, therefore, advise that the PAC should resume its operations, because there is no legal basis for the stoppage of work by the PAC, Khumalo said.

Mhlanga asked the PAC members to convene after yesterdays sitting. At the time this report was compiled, it had not been communicated officially when the PAC sitting will resume.

Sigwe MP David Ngcamphalala lauded Khumalo and the deputy speaker for the clarity. He said the clarity had assisted everyone who was unsure what was happening, given the crucial task bestowed to the PAC.

However, Ntondozi MP Peter Vulinjini Ngwenya needed further clarification, given that inasmuch as the three arms of government were independent of each other, their operations were somehow intertwined. He said he felt the PAC took the decision based on that the people who should implement what the Legislature had worked on were questioning what they were doing. I feel like we still have a problem here, we are talking about the PM of the country who said someone was incompetent, he said. Khumalo said the PMs statement was not a fact, but an opinion; therefore, an opinion should not affect Parliaments business.
VANCOUVER, June 11, 2024 - Koryx Copper Inc. ("Koryx" or the "Company") (TSX-V: KRY) further to the Company's news release on May 22, 2024, the Company announces it received approval of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange") for the consolidation of the Company's issued and outstanding common shares on the basis of one (1) new common shares for every five (5) existing common shares (the "Consolidation"). The Consolidation is effective as at the opening of the market on June 14, 2024.

The Company's name and trading symbol remain unchanged following the Consolidation. The new CUSIP number will be 50067J202 and the new ISIN number will be CA50067J2020 for the post-Consolidation common shares. The Company has 231,668,716 pre-Consolidation common shares issued and outstanding (including the Shares issued under the Offering), and after the Consolidation there are approximately 46,333,743. post-Consolidation common shares issued and outstanding (excluding the Common shares issued under an offering of common shares that is expected to close on June 13, 2024).

No fractional post-Consolidation common shares will be issued as a result of the Consolidation. Shareholders who would otherwise be entitled to receive a fraction of a post-Consolidation common share will be rounded up to the nearest whole number and no cash consideration will be paid in respect of fractional shares. The exercise price and number of common shares of the Company, issuable upon exercise of any outstanding convertible securities will be proportionately adjusted pursuant to the Consolidation.

A letter of transmittal from the Company's transfer agent, Computershare Trust Company of Canada, will be sent to registered shareholders. Shareholders who hold their common shares in brokerages accounts are not required to take action to effect an exchange of their common shares for post-Consolidation common shares.

About Koryx Copper Inc.

Koryx is a mineral exploration and development company. Koryx growth strategy is to focus on the exploration and development of quality assets in significant mineralized trends and in proximity to infrastructure in stable countries. The Company holds the Haib Copper Project in Namibia and holds an interest in three exploration licenses in the Copperbelt in Zambia

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Per: "Pierre Leveille"

Pierre Leveille

President & CEO

More information is available by contacting Pierre Leveille, President & CEO at +1-819-340-0140 or at: info@koryxcopper.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, without limitation, statements regarding the use of proceeds from the Company's recently completed financings and the future or prospects of the Company. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect ", "is expected ", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management, are inherently subject to business, market, and economic risks, uncertainties, and contingencies that may cause actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, other factors may cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated, or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Other factors which could materially affect such forward-looking information are described in the risk factors in the Company's most recent annual management discussion and analysis. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.
CAB celebrate and thank volunteers

The Gibraltar Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) hosted an event to celebrate Volunteers Week 2024, which was from the 3rd to 9th June.

CAB wished to especially celebrate their volunteers who help in several areas to include translation services, counselling, mediation, letter writing, advice on finances, and CV writing. Without these volunteers CAB would not be able to offer the level and volume of services they do for the community.

Minister for Equality, The Hon. Christian Santos GMD MP was invited by Chief Executive Pili Rodriguez to open the event and present some of the volunteers with certificates to recognise their work and support. These volunteers make a great contribution to CAB in outreach services as well as to other specialist services the Bureau has set up.

Volunteers can make a real difference to others lives and put their experiences and expertise to good use. It is also the perfect opportunity to rise to new challenges, try something different, and afford the volunteer the chance to develop new talents and skills.

'Gibraltar has always been fortunate to have so many selfless individuals who give of their time, effort and dedication to volunteer in so many areas. This week puts a spotlight on the valuable work they do.'

Minister for Equality, The Hon. Christian Santos GMD MP said: I am honoured to have been invited by CAB to attend their event on the 4th June to thank and celebrate their volunteers. We are a very generous community, not just in the giving of financial donations but also with our time. My heartfelt thanks to all volunteers in Gibraltar who through their selflessness make our homeland that much more caring, empathetic and better.
Mitchell. Photo: Huge Galdones

At last nights James Beard Foundation Chef and Restaurant Awards, Charlie Mitchell was named the Best Chef in New York, beating out fellow nominees such as Jeremy Salamon from Agis Counter and Nasim Alikhani of Sofreh.

Mitchells restaurant, Clover Hill, is a 20-seat fine-dining tasting room in Brooklyn Heights, with a Michelin star  Mitchell was the first Black chef in the city to earn the distinction  and a $305 buy-in for reservations. (At least one diner, Khruangbins Laura Lee, has publicly expressed admiration for the restaurants soundtrack.) Michell, who grew up in Detroit, told us earlier this year that hes been cooking in one form or another since he was 6 years old. I grew up in a fairly large family on both my moms and my dads side, he said back in February. Cooking was something that we did for any reason  good, bad, or sad.

Mitchells win was the lone victory for the citys restaurants at the ceremony, whose national honors were otherwise dominated by operators in midsize markets. The Outstanding Chef honor went to Michael Rafidi of Albi in Washington, D.C.; the Outstanding Restaurant was Langbaan in Portland, Oregon; and Best New Restaurant was awarded to Dakar NOLA, which got its start as a pop-up and opened as a permanent location in 2022.

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A chronic high turnover in personnel, staff shortages and a resulting breakdown in internal controls are among the reasons for the long-standing and continued questioned costs cited by the Federal Emergency Management Agency in the funding of Guam Homeland Security/Office of Civil Defense.

Thats according to OCD Administrator Charles Esteves on Tuesday, responding to concerns raised in an informational briefing at the Legislature on Monday.

In that hearing, officials revealed that FEMA may require the government of Guam to repay up to $42 million in grants awarded to GHS/OCD from 2015 to 2022.

Office of Public Accountability officials testified that in response to a whistleblower tip provided through Sen. Frank Blas, Jr., they conducted an investigative audit and reviewed previous FEMA audits dating as far back as 2011 that documented questionable costs, and concerns over GHS/OCDs internal controls.

OPA testified that unaddressed, repeated (audit) findings prompted FEMA to freeze federal reimbursements to GHS/OCD.

Esteves said Tuesday that there were two grant accounts that are restricted, but not frozen.

He explained that the Homeland Security grant program and the Emergency Management grant program totaling about $2.2 million a year are under restricted cash drawdown.

Were not allowed to draw down funds without submitting draw down documents, Esteves said. We received federal awards from DHS and FEMA for the HSGP and EMPG. These are the awards pending drawdown.

Esteves said OPA stated that because we didnt draw down yet; the general fund is subsidizing our operations.

GHS/OCD is supposed to be 100% federal funded.

FEMA is currently reviewing $8.4 million in reimbursement requests for fiscal 2019 through 2022.

Blas also raised concerns during Mondays informational briefing about the GHS/OCD funding, saying transfer authority is based on whats been budgeted. This was not budgeted.

Regarding the reimbursement of questioned costs from 2015 to 2022, Esteves said FEMA could ask for zero back, or ask for all of it. I dont know.

Questioned costs

Meanwhile, Esteves said the $34.7 million in questioned costs that the OPA audit referenced were actually identified in an independent federal audit of FEMA and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that is conducted every five years to review the awards that the agencies make.

The latest FEMA and DHS audit covered seven years, from 2015 to 2022, because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The OPAs investigation team reviewed the federal audit documents of GHS/OCD as far back as 2011, which covered the previous five-year federal audit period of FEMA and DHS, and found that many of the same concerns raised by FEMA were also raised back then.

It may seem like the agencys been in peril since then, but if that was the case, we wouldve lost grant funding a long time ago...but thats not the case, Esteves said.

He said GHS/OCD submitted a corrective action plan, but like previous plans, he said the chronic issues will remain for as long as the regular turnover in personnel continues.

If theres no continuity, you can get a breakdown in internal controls, Esteves said.

He said the public auditor made a good point on staff training, but staff retention is also very important.

We cant be changing out administrative assistants, grant managers, and program managers every year or two because the learning curve is too steep, Esteves said. We havent had a grants manager since last May.

GHS/OCD has a total of nine classified employees and 21 unclassified employees.

Esteves said the unclassified employees are paid from grant funding for the specific projects they are assigned to. In other words, their job security is tied to the continuation of the grants.

Esteves said many of the audit concerns had to do with consolidation of information.

He said the high turnover can create problems because when an employee leaves, their replacement on the project basically has to start from scratch.

OPA on Monday said it was continuing with a second audit on GHS/OCD.

A spokesman for Sen. Dwayne San Nicolas, who has oversight of GHS/OCD, said Tuesday that an oversight hearing is being planned. Theyre just waiting on a schedule for the public hearing room next month.
Expect a mix of showers into the weekend due to converging trades at the surface, and with the influence of a tropical upper tropospheric trough, TUTT, passing just to the north, the National Weather Service said in its weekly regional weather outlook.

Gentle to moderate trades and combined seas of 3 to 4 feet will prevail through the end of the week.

A weak disturbance centered southeast of Koror will bring showers and thunderstorms to Yap and Palau for another day or two before pushing west-northwest into the Philippine Sea.

Showers and thunderstorms are seen across Palau and western Yap State Tuesday, and will linger at least through Wednesday. Expect relatively improved conditions for the weekend, but still with episodes of showers and gentle winds.

Extreme drought persists across islands of Yap State, and the CNMI but additional improvement is expected this week as much-needed showers continue to fall on drought-stricken areas, NWS said.

Longer-range rainfall trends appear to support a more normal rainfall pattern for most areas in coming weeks.

Weak circulation southeast of Palau

NWS said it is watching an area of disturbed weather, a weak circulation, southeast of Palau.

This circulation is not expected to develop as it heads generally west-northwest through Palau, bringing showers and thunderstorms, the next couple of days.

Elsewhere in the NWS Guam Area of Responsibility, tropical cyclone activity is not expected through the next seven days.

NWS, however, reiterated its earlier projection of one to two typhoons and two to four named storms on Guam for the remainder of 2024, in support of typhoon preparedness.
A federal program that compensated those sickened by nuclear weapons testing expired over the weekend without ever paying out radiation survivors for Guam.

The June 7 expiration date for the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act, RECA, came and went without members of the House taking an extension, or expansion of the program to a vote.

Enacted in 1990, the program never included Guam or other downwinder communities affected by weapons testing or uranium mining.

Now, members of Congress are pushing to resuscitate RECA and include Guam, New Mexico, Missouri and other radiation affected jurisdictions through an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act.

If passed, residents with certain cancers and illnesses on Guam between 1946 and 1962 will be eligible for up to $100,000 in payouts for being exposed to radiation from nuclear weapons tests over the Marshall Islands.

Were in a serious situation here. We shouldnt have let this expire, Guam Del. James Moylan said during a press conference hosted by the Union of Concerned Scientists over the weekend.

He said the situation only prolonged the suffering of Guam radiation survivors who were afflicted with cancer and exposed to radiation through no choice of their own.

The fight isnt over. I think...it puts us even in a stronger position to push even harder for this just compensation to happen, Moylan said.

By Tuesday in Washington, D.C., the public will know whether the RECA expansion will proceed to a vote, according to New Mexico Democrat Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez, who sits on the House Committee on Rules.

An amendment to expand RECA is on the list of potential amendments for the NDAA, but has to make it through the Committee on Rules on Tuesday before going up to a vote, Fernandez said.

The Republican majority in the rules committee will have the last say, Fernandez noted.

Attempts to expand RECA through the NDAA failed last year, but the New Mexico representative said chances are better now that Republicans in the Senate have thrown support behind expanding the program.

Its a bipartisan effort. We have greater support than ever before. And nows the time to make things right, said the Republican Moylan, who is seeking his first reelection.

New Mexico Democrat Rep. Tina Cordova accused House leadership of politicizing the issue of compensating radiation survivors.

Cordova said she is the fourth member of her family to have cancer since the 1945 Trinity nuclear tests exposed New Mexico residents to nuclear fallout.

While members of Congress, primarily Speaker (Mike) Johnson and other Republican members of the House play politics, were planning funerals, Cordova said. While they play politics, were gathering up our resources to pay for somebody to have cancer treatment.
A woman is accused of stealing thousand dollars worth of items from Home Depot on multiple occasions, a magistrates complaint filed in the Superior Court of Guam states.

Zhaodi Chen Romolor, also known as Emma or Zhaodi Chen, 47, was charged with aggregated retail theft and retail theft as third-degree felonies and attempted retail theft as a misdemeanor on Tuesday.

According to documents, Guam Airport Police officers responded to a theft complaint at Home Depot on Monday. An employee told officers that Romolor stole about $5,284.11 in merchandise from the store from May 5 to June 3, the complaint states.

On June 6, Romolor attempted to leave Home Depot with about $487.96 worth of merchandise and fled from employees when they tried to verify her receipt, documents state.

The employee looked at surveillance footage and saw Romolor had exited the store on numerous occasions with unpaid merchandise.

On May 5, she was observed leaving and not paying for about $1,413.96 worth of merchandise, the complaint states.

On May 30, she left without paying for $106.30 in merchandise.

On May 31, she left without paying $292 in merchandise.

On June 1, she left without paying $757.24 in merchandise.

On June 2, she left with $459.77 in merchandise without paying.

On June 3, she left with $349.59 in merchandise without paying, documents state.

Romolor admitted to all the thefts except the June 10 theft, the complaint states.

She said she could not recover the stolen items because they were used in various pre-paid business projects, documents state.

She was arrested at 11:34 a.m. Monday.
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The mother of a Mountain Brook teen who lost a hand and leg in a rare series of shark attacks along a Florida beach Friday afternoon posted an update Sunday on her daughters condition and details of the dramatic incident.

Lulu Gribbin was one of two teens injured in one of two shark attacks in a span of 90 minutes along about four miles of beach in Walton County.

The other teen, McCray Faust, suffered minor injuries, according to previous reports. There were no immediate updates on her condition Sunday.

A 45-year-old woman lost a foot in an attack about an hour-and-a-half before the attack on the two Mountain Brook girls. HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital told WJHG TV on Saturday that the woman is now in stable condition.

A vigil was held for the Mountain Brook teens at St. Lukes Episcopal Church on Sunday afternoon.

Meanwhile, Walton County Florida authorities have been patrolling the shoreline and urging beachgoers to use caution while in the water following the attack.

Lifeguards are flying yellow and purple flags for moderate surf hazards and the presence of dangerous marine life, the fire district posted.

SWFD lifeguards are flying yellow and purple flags for moderate surf hazards and the presence of dangerous marine life on 6/9/24. 



We encourage beach patrons to be situationally aware in the water, swim near a lifeguard, stay hydrated, and look out for each other.



1/3 pic.twitter.com/vMmWbzbFsP  South Walton Fire District (@swfdinfo) June 9, 2024

Gribbins mother, Ann Blair Gribbin, on Sunday provided details of the attack and her daughters condition on the Caring Bridge website.

She said Lulu and and her twin sister, Ellie, went to the beach with some of their friends and their mothers on Wednesday.

It was our first mother daughter beach trip, and we were all incredibly excited. Our first two days were amazing on the beach being with friends and going to dinners, Gribbin posted.

On Friday afternoon, we were walking back on the beach to the girls and everyone on the beach was standing looking out into the water. No one was in the water and all we heard was there was a shark and we started to look as well, the post continued.

My friend called both her daughters and they were not answering so she started to panic and said there is something wrong and started running and so we all did.

The beach was packed with people just looking. I came up on a group of people surrounding someone on the ground and looked down and it was Lulu who was there. Ellie found me and said Mom its Lulu. I saw her wounds on her leg and started to scream.

She was lifeless her eyes closed mouth white and pale. The wound on her leg or all that was left of her leg was something out of a movie. I finally made it back to her and held her hand and she saw me, and I told her I was there, Lulus mother wrote.

Her eyes were open. I had no idea how long she had been there or what had happened. Almost immediately the beach truck was there and the EMTs loaded her onto a board and put her back in the truck and wheeled her off, she was air lifted away, the post stated.

Gribbin learned her daughter was take to Sacred Heart in Pensacola, which she said was an hour and 20 minute drive.

We prayed the entire way. My friend who was driving was a God send for me and Ellie and knew exactly what to pray. All I could say over and over was please be alive please breathe. No one we called could give us any information, she posted.

By the time they got to the hospital, Lulu was already in surgery.

They answered my prayer that she was alive, and her vitals were good, she wrote.

Surgeons told the family that the shark had bitten off Lulus left hand and that they had to amputate her right leg halfway up from her knee to her hip.

She also had lost 2/3 of the blood in her body. Of course, no one wants that for your child but she is alive. They also told us that Lulu may be intubated for the next week or so and would need 4-5 surgeries to finalize her amputations, the post stated.

Lulu did not have surgery on Saturday as expected and her vitals were improved, Gribbin wrote.

She did so well that they ended up taking the tube out of her throat and she was breathing on her own. This was a first big step. Once she was settled her first words to us were I made it. And boy she did, the post went on.

Her mother said that Lulu recalled being with friends on a sand bar in waist high water, looking for sand dollars.

I am not sure who noticed the shark first, but Lulu said it bit her hand and then her leg and then went for her other friend and got her foot. Lulu said a man grabbed her other arm and pulled her out and another younger boy helped him carry her to shore, the post states.

Once on the shore there were two doctors and two other young women one of whom was a nurse who were all surrounding Lulu. These individuals put tourniquets on Lulus wounds. Which I believe was crucial to saving Lulus life, Gribbin wrote.

I am eternally grateful for the 3 surgeons and all the nursing staff and doctors here at this hospital who saved Lulu. I am grateful for the doctors and nurses on the beach that day. I am grateful for the EMTs on the beach and the crew in the air. I am grateful for the individual who pulled her out of the water.

Lulu faces multiple surgeries and our lives will be forever changed, her mother said.

Lulu is strong, beautiful, brave and so many more things I cant count. God has a plan for her, and we will be there to support her every way we can.

Lulu, her mother wrote, is worried about not fitting in and people making fun of her. I need prayers for everyone to be understanding and to show her grace. I also need prayers for Lulu to know that her hand and her leg do not define who she is....Sweet Lulu is more worried for her friends than she is herself, which is a testament to her character.

Lulu Gribbin was one of two teens injured in the shark attack in Walton County, Florida.Alaina Bookman

At Sundays prayer service, community members showed up in droves to support and pray for the teens and their families.

The church was packed, filling every pew and overflow room as candles were lit in honor of Lulu and McCray. Sounds of prayers and songs filled the church throughout the service.

The church also ensured that there were counselors available for anyone struggling with the aftermath of the attack.

This extended community has got your back, the church Reverend Richmond Webster said to the families.

It was not clear if one shark was responsible for both attacks or what type of shark attacked the three.

All I can say is that these incidents are very rare, Demian Chapman, a scientist and director of the Center for Shark Research at the Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium in Sarasota, Florida told The Associated Press on Saturday.

There are more sharks in the Gulf of Mexico than in past years, Chapman said.

Theres definitely been a recovery of sharks in the Gulf after many years of overfishing, he said. Theyre sort of out there again after being depleted quite a bit.

Its even more rare to have two events in one day involving three people, he said. Thats astronomically low odds of that happening.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
In a heartfelt ceremony on June 10, the James Beard Foundation announced the winners of its prestigious Restaurant and Chef Awards. The city of New Orleans walked away with two honors: Best New Restaurant for Senegalese eatery Dakar NOLA and Outstanding Bar for Jewel of the South.

Nominations for the awards were narrowed down from thousands of choices submitted by the public. In 2022 and 2023, not a single restaurant or bar in New Orleans made the cut.

At the awards ceremony, Dakar NOLA chef Serigne Mbaye became visibly choked up while thanking his staff for their support.

I want to thank the people of New Orleans, who truly embrace me as one of their own, Mbaye said. I always knew that West Africa has something to say.

Dakar NOLA, which serves a tasting menu along with family-style dishes, is one of several brick-and-mortars in New Orleans that originated as a pop-up.

The restaurant stands out for its unique presentation style. At the start of each dinner, Mbaye addresses the dining room: He explains the origins of each pescatarian plate, inspired by the journey West African slaves endured to reach Louisiana and their lasting impact on the citys foodscape.

Recent specials include crawfish soup with dawadawa (an African locust bean), seafood broth and palm oil bread rolls, and Nigerian black-eyed-peas fritters with Gulf shrimp. Dakar NOLA is located 3814 Magazine Street, and reservations can be made online.

Meanwhile, the French Quarters Jewel of the South can add Outstanding Bar to its growing list of accolades. The restaurants co-owner, Chris Hannah, won the same James Beard Award in 2017 while heading Arnauds French 75 Bar.

Seasonal cocktails include the Righteous Harlot, made with vodka, dragon fruit cordial, St. Germain and sparkling wine, and the savory Pouves-Vous Poulet, stirred with duck and chicken fat-washed rum.

Jewel of the South is located at 1026 St Louis Street, and reservations can be made online.
Floridas outspoken (and sometimes controversial) Republican U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz will return to The Villages for a one-day-only appearance.

The public is invited to hear Gaetz speak at 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 18, at the Rohan Recreation Center in The Villages of Florida.

As the invited guest of The Villages MAGA Club, organizers said, This is a great opportunity to meet and interact with Congressman Gaetz, ask questions and learn more about his work.

Long considered one of former President Donald Trumps most loyal allies, Gaetz often traveled to New York to show his support during Trumps recent hush money trial, sitting prominently in the first row, just behind the former president.

He became a controversial figure within the GOP in 2020 when the Department of Justice initiated an investigation into allegations of sex trafficking involving a 17-year-old girl. However, in February 2024, the DOJ announced it had closed the investigation, and no charges were filed.

When Gaetz made his first trip to The Villages in 2021, he was still under intense scrutiny over the accusations, yet drew a standing-room-only crowd during an appearance with U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Georgia, to launch their America First tour.

At that time, several Villagers voiced their concerns about his presence in the community, with one local resident telling CNN that she was absolutely horrified to hear he would be speaking. Another called his engagement in town a distraction tour.

But in 2023, Gaetz reportedly received an enthusiastic welcome when he returned to The Villages as the keynote speaker before The Villages Republican Club at the Lake Miona Recreation Center.

Gaetz will appear at 6 p.m. June 18 at the Rohan Recreation Center at 850 Kristine Way in The Villages. Tickets are $10 each and are available to purchase on the clubs website. The doors will open at 5:30 p.m. For more information, call 352-492-8856.
Two separate shark attacks on neighboring Florida beaches Friday left one victim in stable condition, while two others remain in critical condition  with one woman requiring the amputation of her hand.

The attacks occurred within a span of 90 minutes June 7, about 4 miles apart on Walton County beaches, located on Floridas Panhandle, between Miramar Beach and Panama City Beach.

Following the incidents, local authorities flew double red flags along the areas beaches, indicating the water was closed for swimming.

Officials reopened beaches on Saturday  and as of Monday at 11 a.m., the South Walton Fire District downgraded the hazard from high to medium by moving from red flags to yellow and purple flags  which warn dangerous marine life may be present.

While the area has experienced shark attacks in the past  with the last reported in June 2021, when a teenager swimming close at Grayton Beach State Park survived a bite to the chest  South Walton Fire District Fire Chief Ryan Crawford said its extremely unusual for two to happen in the same afternoon within 4 miles of one another.

During a news conference Friday, Crawford said the first attack happened around 1:20 p.m. in the area of Founders Lane and WaterSound Beach, when multiple calls to 911 flooded in, reporting that a 45-year-old woman, swimming just past the first sandbar with her husband, had been bitten by a shark.

She received significant trauma to the midsection and pelvic area, as well as amputation of her left lower arm, Crawford said. Lifeguards and deputies immediately responded initiating care on the beach.

The woman was transported her to HCA Fort Walton-Destin Hospital and was listed in critical condition.

Just 4 miles east of the first incident, a second shark attack was reported at 2:56 p.m. in the Sandy Shores Court area of Seacrest Beach.

According to bystanders, two female victims, between the ages of 15 and 17, were with a group of friends just inside the first sandbar.

As of Monday, June 10, beaches are open and lifeguards are flying yellow and purple flags in Walton County, indicating moderate hazards and the presence of dangerous marine life.South Walton Fire District

So, very similar locations as far as proximity to the shoreline and about waist deep water, Crawford said.

When lifeguards and deputies arrived on-scene, one of the females had significant injuries to her upper leg and one hand. She was treated on scene and then transported to Okaloosa MedFlight and airlifted to a trauma facility. The other female had minor injuries on one foot and was transported to the hospital for treatment.

In a post to Facebook on Saturday, the Walton County Sheriffs Office said its Beach Marine Unit continues to monitor the shoreline and the beaches following Fridays incidents, also noting that, Deputies spotted a 14-foot hammerhead east of South County Highway 395 in Santa Rosa Beach on Saturday morning, which they emphasized, was not uncommon.

We want to reiterate that sharks are always present in the Gulf, officials posted. Swimmers and beachgoers should be cautious when swimming and be aware of their surroundings at all times.
With the U.S. presidential election just months away, new research shines a light on whether the power of Floridas Black voters has been diluted, with fewer opportunities for minorities to engage politically and socially.

In a comparison of both white and Black Americans in 48 states and the District of Columbia, WalletHubs latest report rates Florida in the bottom half of the country for its racial equality in civic engagement  highlighting significant gaps between Floridas white and Black citizens in both voter turnout rates and volunteer rates, which are significantly higher across the country for white Americans.

Florida essentially earned a grade of C- in the report, with a total score of 70.89 out of a possible 100. The state of Arizona topped the list, at number one, with a score of 89.19. And Wisconsin came in last place with a score of 29.99.

Promoting racial equality in civic engagement holds significant importance as it provides minorities with greater opportunities to hold influential positions and address their needs, making society more equitable as a whole, said Cassandra Happe, a WalletHub analyst. Increased civic engagement also fosters better connections among people of different races, enabling them to learn more about each other and overcome existing prejudices.

With 63.2% of Floridas population registered to vote, 64.2% of Floridas non-Hispanic white adult population is registered to vote, compared with 59.9% of the states non-Hispanic Black population.

But equalizing political engagement within a system of shifting  and, for many, confusing  new laws, can pose a challenge.

From allegations that Floridas Gov. Ron DeSantis manipulated electoral district boundaries to favor a white candidate, to legislation restricting voter assistance options and community-based voter registration efforts  as well as a ban preventing convicted felons from voting until all court-ordered fees and fines are paid  the Sentencing Project referred to Florida as the nations disenfranchisement leader.

According to Common Cause, statewide elections in Florida have historically run very close to 50-50  with the party that controls redistricting also disproportionally controlling the state House and Senate.

In 2022, Republican legislators were accused of discriminating against Black voters after adopting a congressional map shaped by the DeSantis administration that effectively unseated former U.S. Rep. Al Lawson, a Black Democrat. Lawson, who was elected to Congress in 2016 and won reelection in both 2018 and 2020, lost his seat to a white Republican in 2022.

According to The Guardian, Lawsons loss was nearly entirely attributable to Governor Ron DeSantis.

In 2023, a Florida judge struck down the map, calling it unconstitutional and demanding it be redrawn. However, in March, federal judges overturned that ruling and upheld the governors new congressional map.

Further compounding the disparity, WalletHubs data ranks the Sunshine State third in the nation for its gap in the number of white and Black adults on parole, with Black residents incarcerated at a rate 4.2 times higher than those who are white.

In Florida, if you are convicted of a felony, you lose the right to vote until you finish your sentence, including any parole or probation.

In 2018, Florida voters passed Amendment 4, which the ACLU said would restore the right to vote for an estimated 1.4 million people in the state. But the following year, Floridas Legislature passed a new law requiring that these citizens pay off any court-ordered fines and fees, in full, before they could regain their right to vote.

Some have called the system confusing, while many claim they simply cant afford to pay the fees, leading the ACLU to declare Floridas system for voting rights restoration an administrative train wreck.




Haiti - Social : 578,074 displaced people increase of 60% in 3 months





A report in early March 2024 from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) indicated that 362,551 people were internally displaced (IDPs) in Haiti due to the escalation of violence by armed groups. The new report at the beginning of June reveals that the number of IDPs has now reached 578,074 people, an increase of almost 60% compared to March.



This sharp increase is due to the deterioration of the security situation observed in the Metropolitan Zone of Port-au-Prince (ZMPP) since March...



The increase in the number of displaced people was more marked in the provinces where it increased by 95%, compared to 15% in the metropolitan area. Indeed, following the increase in violence in the ZMPP, many people fled the capital to seek refuge in the provinces.



The Great South was the region which experienced the greatest increase in the number of IDPs welcomed there (+130% compared to March). 47% of displaced people in the country are in the Great South.



68% of displaced people are welcomed in the provinces and 32% in the ZMPP. 78% of IDPs in the provinces come from the ZMPP. Artibonite, where half of the IDPs fled areas located in this department, is an exception. In all other departments of the country, the majority of IDPs came from the Metropolitan Area of Port-au-Prince.



At the national level, 80% of displaced people are in host families compared to 20% in sites. However, in the ZMPP 61% of IDPs reside in sites compared to 39% in host families, while in the provinces the opposite occurs (97% in host families and only 3% in sites).



The report emphasizes that it is crucial to support host communities in the provinces, particularly in the Great South, to enable them to continue to welcome displaced people and important to promote social cohesion between these two population groups.



Without the resilience of host communities, the number of sites in the provinces risks increasing as was the case in the ZMPP. Indeed, at the start of the crisis the majority of IDPs in the ZMPP were hosted by host families, only around 20% in sites in 2022; this figure increased to 60% on site in 2023. One of the reasons for this increase is the lack of resources of host communities to continue to welcome displaced people and the deterioration of social cohesion in this context.



In the latest report on the emergency situation in Haiti No. 26 (period from June 1 to 7) the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Haiti in collaboration with humanitarian partners reveals that the World Food Program (WFP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) have classified Haiti as a "famine or famine risk hotspot", requiring urgent attention.



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Haiti - News : Zapping...





Final straight line for the new Government

The Presidential Transitional Council (CPT) met with Prime Minister Garry Conille this Monday to finalize the list of personalities to be part of the next government. The meeting took place at the Villa dAccueil, in Musseau. Nothing leaked from this meeting...



4 gang members lynched

4 members of the "6 men for hell" gang operating in the Watapana neighborhood of Jacmel have been lynched and their bodies burned by residents of the locality of Jean Malois.



Threat of strike among standing Magistrates

The standing magistrates threaten to go on strike from mid-June if by then the Executive authorities do not take steps to satisfy all of their demands. The Collective of Standing Magistrates of Haiti sent correspondence to this effect to the Presidential Council and to the new Prime Minister Garry Conille.



CEP formation in June (!)

The Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) will be formed during the month of June announces [very optimistic] Presidential Advisor Fresnel Joseph...



Death of Professor Henry Robert Sterlin

Professor Henry Robert Sterlin, specialist in international relations, died on Sunday June 9, 2024, in Port-au-Prince, at the age of 72. Professor at the State University of Haiti, Henry Robert Sterlin was a former Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and a founding member of the Consortium of Political Parties. His eternal departure represents a loss for the State University of Haiti, in particular for the National Institute of Administration, Management and Advanced International Studies (INAGHEI), deplores Professor James Boyard.



WFP received 60 containers

On June 3rd, WFP received 60 containers of food and non-food items for its own operations via the main port of Port-au-Prince. Since March 1, WFP has distributed more than a million meals in 86 sites in the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area.



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(CNBC) Trump Media on Monday submitted an updated inspection of the companys finances by a newly hired public accounting firm, after its last auditor was charged with fraud by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Shares of Trump Media ended the trading day down more than 5%.

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A 9.5 centimeter action figure of the bounty hunter Boba Fett is now the most expensive toy in the world. It was recently sold by the auction house "Heritage Auctions" for 525,000 US dollars. The unknown winner of the auction is already offering it again via the auctioneer for 787,500 US dollars - historical toys have long since become not only collector's items but also objects of speculation.

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Very rare Boba Fetts from 1979 have previously fetched six-figure sums because the figure never went on sale. The reason for this is the small rocket on the figure's back, which the toy could fire via a spring, just like in the movie "The Empire Strikes Back". Such small parts were criticized at the time due to possible safety risks, such as choking or even suffocation. Accidents had occurred with similar toys for the "Battlestar Galactica" franchise. This is reported by former Kenner engineer Jacob Miles in a YouTube video produced by Heritage Auctions.

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Boba Fett is smuggled out of the factory

The toy manufacturer Kenner is said to have had concerns during the prototype phase of Boba Fett, and the figure was ultimately canceled. The employees were supposed to destroy all the copies, but some must have ended up in other people's hands. Jacob Mile suspects that some employees took the Bobas home with them - in the video, he himself regrets not having done the same.

The figure now being sold is not only so rare because of the recall before the start of sales. It is also one of the few known prototypes in which the spring for the rocket is tensioned via an L-shaped recess on the back. This "L-Type", as collectors call it, is hardly known. The "J-Type", with a J-shaped recess, is offered more frequently. When developing such toys, the techniques of the time often required many versions to find out what would result in as few rejects as possible during production.

The authenticity of the L-type was certified by several US institutions dedicated to the evaluation of rare toys. What is ironic about the high price is that the Boba Fett 1979 should not be available to buy directly. Instead, the bounty hunter was supposed to be sent free of charge as a collector's bonus if you bought four other figures from Kenner. Kenner was then unable to fulfill this promise. Later versions of the figures in stores then contained the note that you could order another figure for proof of purchase of four figures - but not the Boba Fett with working plastic rocket.

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Statistics Finland on 31 May reported that the country had a total of 550,183 families with children in 2023, representing a drop of 1,851 from the previous year. Such families comprised altogether 2,028,458 individuals, including 992,502 under 18-year-olds  a drop of 10,592 from the previous year.

FINLAND is home to fewer than one million children for the first time ever, reveal statistics published in May by Statistics Finland.

Venla Berg, a senior researcher at the Population Research Institute, called for action on a broad basis to tackle the a sharply declining birth rate in an interview with YLE on Saturday. She estimated that policy makers do not appear to understand the gravity of the situation judging by the their inclination to prioritise the economy and security ahead of the birth rate.

The decline in birth rate, she reminded, will have ramifications for all citizens, regardless of whether they want children of their own.

This is happening way to fast here. We should at least be trying to slow down the birth rates decline, she stressed to the public broadcasting company. After the climate crisis, this is in my view the biggest thing that decision makers should be focusing on.

Although the Finnish population has continued to grow steadily as a consequence of immigration, the population structure is shifting in a way that the elderly will soon comfortably outnumber the number of prime-age people. The shift is already casting doubt over the future of public services, eradicating rural communities  many of which are major food producers  and increasing loneliness by punching holes in the social networks of families with children.

Localities faced with sharp drops in the number of children are running into financial difficulties, forcing them to slash services and drive out families with children.

The number of children can fall by as much as 3050 per cent in a short time period, ultimately leading to no one living in the area, warned Berg.

The possible solutions are hardly straightforward due to the sundry factors behind the development. Some have argued that measures to reverse the development are unlikely to succeed, viewing that the focus should instead be on adaptation  an echo of the debate about the climate crisis.

Berg on Saturday called for a change not only from decision makers, but also in education, corporate values and public attitudes.

Decision makers, she outlined, should invest more in children, young people, families and education to prevent problems and foster a generation of people with the capacity to shoulder their responsibility for society. In schools, sex education should focus not only on contraception but also on the effects of age on fertility. Employers should introduce measures that convey the message that children are always welcome.

Families themselves, in turn, should recognise that it really takes a village to raise a child.

The dominant thinking here is that you have to have the capacity to take care of your own children. Instead we could all be lending a hand to others, commented Berg.

She also reminded that an overwhelming majority of people with children are happy. Children produce a tremendous amount of joy and meaning in life.

Aleksi Teivainen  HT
They were all off quite badly. They were really far off, he summed up on Monday.

KIMMO GRONLUND , a professor of political science at Abo Akademi University, told Helsingin Sanomat on Monday that he cannot remember an election where polls have been off the mark as badly as they were in the newly concluded elections to the European Parliament.

Helsingin Sanomat, MTV and YLE all published their final polls in the week leading up to the elections, yielding total errors of 24.6, 28.3 and 20.3 percentage points, respectively, when compared with the actual results published on Sunday. The Helsingin Sanomat poll was carried out by Verian, the YLE poll by Taloustutkimus and the MTV poll by Abo Akademi University.

We performed the best in this sad group, but also we had a 20.3-point difference to the election results, said Gronlund.

All three polls specifically failed to foresee the surge in support for the Left Alliance and fall in support for the Finns Party.

Propelled by the massive popularity of its chairperson, Li Andersson, the Left Alliance won 17.3 per cent of the vote to establish itself as the second largest Finnish party in the European Parliament. Andersson alone won 13.5 per cent of the 1.8 million votes cast in the elections, breaking the previous record vote haul by a single candidate comfortably by roughly 90,000 votes.

The Helsingin Sanomat poll had the left-wing party winning 9.7 per cent of the vote.

The Finns Party lost one of its two seats after slumping to a vote share of 7.6 per cent, days after polls indicated that the party would be fighting for as many as three seats in the European Parliament. The YLE poll, for example, had the populist right-wing party winning 16.5 per cent of the vote, albeit with the caveat that a lot would hinge on its ability to mobilise its supporter base.

Helsingin Sanomat and YLE polls both also greatly overestimated the appeal of the Social Democrats and underestimated the appeal of the National Coalition.

Gronlund highlighted to Helsingin Sanomat on Monday that polls have previously underestimated the appeal of the Finns Party. Now they all overestimated it wildly, he said, attributing the error to the high number of people who, when contacted by pollsters, said they would vote but ultimately stayed at home.

For example, over 70 per cent of people voiced their intention to vote in the poll carried out by Abo Akademi. Ultimately, though, voter turnout came in at 42.4 per cent.

Jari Pajunen, the managing director of Taloustutkimus, stated to YLE on Monday that the low turnout explains some of the polling errors by, for example, benefiting parties with a diligent support base, such as the National Coalition and Swedish Peoples Party. Supporters of the latter may have also been prompted to action by pre-election polls, which showed that the party was at risk of being left without representation in Brussels.

And it was a surprise that Finns Party supporters seem to have stayed at home, he said to the public broadcaster.

Finns Party supporters staying at home may partly explain the solid vote haul of the National Coalition and the respectable showing of the Green League, but it does not explain the popularity of Andersson.

The Left Alliance is a mystery, conceded Gronlund to Helsingin Sanomat.

One viable theory is that she managed to mobilise people who have previously paid little attention to the European Parliament. Gronlund estimated that the theory is almost surely accurate given that the turnout did not change significantly from previous elections: with Finns Party supporters staying at home, they had to have been replaced by someone, such as young adults inspired by Andersson.

Anderssons whopping personal vote haul threw a wrench in the measurements, Pajunen said to YLE. We simply had no grasp on that. When you look at the comparative figure, Anderssons votes are the only thing there.

Although pollsters like to stress that polls are not forecasts but rather measures of the public mood at a particular time, Gronlund said he is sure the results will prompt pollsters to refine their methodologies.

Aleksi Teivainen  HT
On May 25, 2023, the White House published the first-ever U.S. National Plan to End Gender-Based Violence, a seven-pillar plan that takes a whole-of-government approach to preventing and addressing sexual violence, intimate partner violence, stalking, and other forms of gender- based violence (GBV). GBV is an urgent public health problem. In the United States, more than half of women and almost a third of men experience unwanted sexual contact in their lifetime. Children are also often impacted by exposure to intimate partner violence, and many perpetrators also abuse children in their homes.

The causes of GBV are complex and include gender inequality, economic factors, cultural norms that legitimize violence, and exposure to displacement caused by migration and climate change. GBV disproportionately impacts communities that have been marginalized, with perpetrators often targeting people with vulnerabilities such as age, gender and sexual identity, race and ethnicity, poverty, disability, and incarceration, all of which may make receiving help more challenging.

As a public health issue, exposure to sexual violence has significant implications for survivors. Individuals impacted by GBV are more likely than their peers to experience mental health conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder, substance use disorder, and suicidal ideation and behaviors; adverse sexual health outcomes such as dysfunction, unwanted pregnancy, and sexually transmitted infection; and chronic medical conditions such as fibromyalgia, gastrointestinal disease, and cardiovascular disease.

As a Department, HHS recognizes that gender-based violence is a complex public health problem that requires research-driven, survivor-centered solutions. For the past year, HHS has worked to implement the National Plan to End Gender-Based Violence throughout our nations public health and human service programs. Some recent accomplishments have included making improvements to existing programs and developing innovative projects, including many programs that are the first of their kind. These implementation efforts mark a critical validation of GBV as a preventable public health issue that can and should be prioritized.

The National Plan framework separates goals under seven Pillars; 1) Prevention; 2) Support, Healing, Safety, and Well-Being; 3) Economic Security and Housing Stability; 4) Online Safety; 5) Legal and Justice Systems; 6) Emergency Preparedness and Crisis Response; and 7) Research and Data. HHS equities and related efforts largely focus on Pillars 1, 2, 6 and 7, and include a wide range of funding opportunities, collaborative efforts, and policies.

The implementation of these goals has had significant, real-world implications for survivors and providers. For example, the Administration for Children and Families (ACF)s Culturally Specific Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Discretionary Grants and Supplemental Funding Subgrants have connected 35 culturally specific organizations with the funding they need to provide services to underserved communities, and places additional funding in the hands of 145 subgrant recipients so that they may provide accessible, culturally responsive, and linguistically appropriate services for survivors and their children.

In celebration of the one-year anniversary of the National Plans release, HHS is publishing the fact sheet below to share highlights of our progress.

Pillar 1: Prevention

Patient Consent for Sensitive Exams: On April 1, Secretary Becerra announced new guidance from Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to clarify the informed consent requirements for sensitive examinations conducted at teaching hospitals particularly when patients are under anesthesia. This is also a racial equity issue. In one study, black women were 4 times more likely to have experienced a pelvic exam without consent while under anesthesia. The guidance affirms the importance of clear hospital guidelines to ensure providers and trainees first obtain and document informed consent from patients before performing sensitive examinations in all circumstances. This action will help ensure that patients are treated with dignity and respect in health care settings and advances the National Plan to End Gender-based Violences goals of enhancing and promoting prevention.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Collaboration with Department of Defense (DOD): The CDC entered an interagency agreement with the DoD to provide technical assistance that supports the implementation of a comprehensive prevention planning system grounded in a public health approach. This work is focused on preventing harmful behaviors, including sexual violence and intimate partner violence, in the Military and Armed Services. Following the publishing of the National Plan, accomplishments include the development of a new resource, Community and Organizational Level Prevention of Harmful Behaviors in the Military which has been disseminated to military audiences and is designed to assist the Integrated Primary Prevention Workforce (IPPW) in identifying evidence-informed programs, practices, and policies. Additionally, CDC is developing and evaluating online bystander intervention tools for Servicemembers to mitigate risk for harmful behaviors in the cyber environment. The first phase of this project is identifying relevant research, intervention, and approaches to inform a future bystander intervention project or intervention resources for bystander intervention approaches for the prevention of technology-facilitated abuse. Tools developed through IPWW are expected to be completed in FY2025 and will be implemented throughout DoDs respective instillations.

HHS Innovation Challenge to Prevent Human Trafficking Among Women and Girls: The Office on Womens Health (OWH) has developed a national prize competition to identify existing innovative programs that address human trafficking prevention among women and girls. This program will help to identify and amplify innovative and evidence-based approaches that successfully prevent human trafficking and/or improve health outcomes related to human trafficking. In Phase 1, HHS may select up to 20 submissions to each receive a prize of up to $50,000 from existing programs that have demonstrated successful outcomes in preventing human trafficking and/or improving health outcomes related to human trafficking among women and girls. The participants selected to receive a prize in Phase 1 may compete for consideration to receive a prize in Phase 2. In Phase 2, HHS may select up to 8 Phase 2 submissions to each receive a prize of up to $100,000 from programs that have successfully expanded and/or replicated to increase the impact of their program in preventing human trafficking and/or improving health outcomes related to human trafficking on women and girls.

HHS Task Force to Prevent Human Trafficking: In August 2023, the Task Force hosted the first National Human Trafficking Prevention Summit and released of the National Human Trafficking Prevention Framework, which will help HHS agencies, divisions, programs, and regions increase abilities to prevent and respond to human trafficking.

Rape Prevention Education (RPE) Funding Opportunities: The CDC published three new Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs) for their Rape Prevention Education (RPE) Program, which provides nation-wide funding to states, territories, and tribal nations so that they can address sexual violence prevention and response needs. One RPE NOFO is currently funding 53 State and Territorial Health Departments and puts emphasis on four key strategies for preventing sexual violence, which are: building infrastructure for sexual violence prevention, developing comprehensive state/territory action plans, implementing prevention strategies at community and societal levels that promote health equity, and using data-driven approaches to maximize impact. The CDC published two additional 4-year NOFOs for state and Tribal sexual assault coalitions. These NOFOs are first-time, new NOFOs with funding authorized under the 2022 reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). Funding authorized under the 2022 reauthorization continues to be rolled out, and these NOFOs reflect funding appropriated in the FY2024 budget. The key strategies that will be implemented include building infrastructure, developing comprehensive action plans, implementing prevention approaches, and utilizing data to inform action.

CDC is also funding four RPE research projects which were awarded in September 2023. These projects are collaborations between academic researchers and RPE-funded organizations to expand the evidence base and advance the field of sexual violence prevention. The projects are in the rigorous evaluation phase of their selected SV prevention approach, which is a primary prevention program, policy, or practice that has been implemented by CDCs RPE program. These projects also fit under pillar 7, Research and Data.

Violence Against Women and Substance Use Prevention Initiative: The OWH is addressing the intersections of intimate partner violence (IPV) and substance use disorders (SUD) through statewide pilot projects that include partnerships with domestic and sexual violence organizations at the state and local level that will: incentivize SUD providers treating pregnant and postpartum women to be trained on identifying and addressing IPV; train SUD treatment providers to address IPV with patients and train IPV staff on SUD; identify, utilize, and disseminate best practices; integrate IPV and SUD protocols into medical practice; and integrate perinatal and postpartum programs into existing substance use programs.

State, Local, Territorial, and Tribal (SLTT) Partnership Programs to Reduce Maternal Deaths Due to Violence: The OWH is expanding surveillance and evidence-based implementation for programs dealing with maternal death due to violence to improve outcomes related to violence and reduce deaths due to violence among pregnant and postpartum women through a five-year funding opportunity.

Pillar 2: Support Healing, Safety, and Well-Being

Interagency Collaboration on Sexual Violence Against People with Disabilities: The Administration for Community Living (ACL), the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH), and the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Family Violence Prevention and Services (OFVPS) developed an Interagency Collaboration on Sexual Violence Against People with Disabilities to encourage collaboration and coordination across HHS and improve capacity to serve this population in federally supported programs. In April 2024, the interagency collaborative released a Dear Colleague with guidance to rape crisis centers, domestic violence programs, and programs serving people with disabilities grantees on how to better serve victims with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

The 2023-2025 Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) Strategy to Address Intimate Partner Violence (IPV): The agency-wide plan outlines aims, objectives, and activities for HRSA Bureaus and Offices to encourage preventing and responding to IPV across HRSA activities. These are grouped under three aims: (1) Enhance HRSA coordination of IPV efforts; (2) Strengthen infrastructure and workforce capacity to support IPV prevention and response services; and (3) Promote prevention of IPV through evidence-based programs. The Strategy to Address IPV is also accompanied by the Preventing and Responding to IPV resource, which is an Implementation Framework for HRSA-Supported Settings of Care. The Implementation Framework provides HRSA-supported settings of care with five key building blocks and associated actionable steps they can take to prevent and respond to IPV in the communities they serve.

National Training and Technical Assistance Partners Cooperative Agreement - Health Partners on IPV + Exploitation: The Health Partners on IPV + Exploitation is administered by Futures Without Violence and trains health center staff to identify, treat, and refer patients experiencing or survivors of IPV or human trafficking to recovery services. Training and technical assistance offerings include policy and procedure change and partnership development for the 1,400 health centers and over 15,000 service sites funded by HRSAs Bureau of Primary Health Care (BPHC) Health Center Program. From 2023-2024, the Health Partners on IPV + Exploitation have conducted trainings regarding Health Center Emergency Preparedness for Survivors of IPV + Exploitation, Understanding Harm Reduction Approaches to Address IPV, Human Trafficking, and Exploitation and Homelessness in Health Centers, and shared tools to develop partnerships between health centers and domestic and sexual violence advocacy programs.

National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) Updates: The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)s National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) announced several activities supporting victims of childhood sexual violence; including a call series and a webinar series focused on improving best practices for supporting gender-diverse trauma victims and the creation of the Violence Prevention and Restoration Consortium, which connects professionals, providers, and people with lived experience to share innovations. The anticipated impacts of these activities include increased connectedness within the field, improved efficacy for prevention and response strategies, and higher quality care for victims. By connecting survivors, practitioners, and other professionals, these collaborative efforts will help increase the visibility of advocacy for victims of child sexual abuse.

Supporting Families Impacted by Domestic Violence: The Childrens Bureau within the Administration on Children and Families (ACF) and the ACF Office on Family Violence Prevention and Services (OFVPS) are committed to improving outcomes for children, youth, and families impacted by domestic violence. On April 26, 2024, the Childrens Bureau issued Information Memorandum (IM) ACYF-CB-IM-24-03 on Supporting Families Impacted by Domestic Violence: Opportunities to Partner with Families to Promote Family Violence Prevention Programs and Services. The purpose of this IM is to increase awareness of the prevalence and impact of domestic violence on children, youth, and families; highlight effective strategies to support families impacted by domestic violence and to encourage child welfare agencies to enhance partnerships with domestic violence programs, State Domestic Violence Coalitions, tribal programs, culturally specific domestic violence programs, community-based organizations focused on supporting families impacted by domestic violence.

Sexual Assault Capacity Building Centers: The OFVPS at ACF issued three grant awards to Sexual Assault Capacity Building Centers to help provide specialized sexual assault intervention and prevention technical assistance for Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA) grant recipients. The grant awarded funds to two Sexual Assault Capacity Building Centers, the National Alliance to End Sexual Violence and Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape and supported one Culturally Specific Sexual Assault Capacity Building Center for the African American Community, the National Organization of Sisters of Color Ending Sexual Assault, to provide training and technical assistance to states, territories, tribes, coalitions, culturally specific organizations, and LGBTQI+ organizations to help meet the needs of sexual assault survivors nationwide. The funding allocated to these organizations will help FVPSA grant recipients respond to the intersectional needs of sexual assault survivors and will help expand technical assistance services at the organizational level.

Culturally Specific Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Discretionary Grants: The OFVPS at ACF awarded $7.5 million in grant funding to 35 culturally specific organizations to facilitate the provision of trauma-informed, developmentally sensitive, and culturally relevant services for individuals affected by sexual assault and domestic violence from racial/ ethnic specific populations, underserved communities, and historically marginalized communities across the nation. The grants were awarded in 2023 and the project period for these grants ends on September 30, 2027.

FVPSA American Rescue Plan Culturally Specific Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Supplemental Funding Subgrants: In 2023, FVPSA Culturally Specific Special Issue Resource Centers, Ujima, Esperanza United, the Asian Pacific Institute on Gender-Based Violence, the National Womens Resource Center, and the Alaska Native Indigenous Womens Resource Center issued 145 American Rescue Plan Culturally Specific Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault subgrant awards to 145 culturally specific community-based organizations to support accessible, culturally responsive, and linguistically appropriate services for survivors and their children. These subgrants support services for survivors from the American Indian; Alaska Native; African American; Asian/Pacific Islander, and Latino/Latina communities.

Cooperative Agreement for the Refugee and Migrant Behavioral Health Technical Assistance Center: SAMHSA created a Refugee and Migrant Behavioral Health Technical Assistance (TA) center to grow the capacity of healthcare providers and organizations to serve migrant and refugee populations in the United States. This TA center will be responsible for supporting clinical case consultation services for behavioral health providers and developing website content that addresses gender-based violence in refugee and migrant populations. The TA center will also create online learning modules, establish learning communities, and provide targeted technical assistance on gender-based violence. On November 30, 2023, the Cooperative Agreement was granted to Southwest Key, who subsequently started a needs assessment for providers and professionals in March 2024 to ensure resources best meet population needs.

Pillar 6: Emergency Preparedness and Crisis Response

Sustaining Essential Health Care Services Related to IPV During Public Health Emergencies: An ad hoc committee of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine developed a conceptual framework for delivering essential preventive and primary health care services related to IPV during Public Health Emergencies using an all-hazards approach and published a subsequent 2024 Consensus Study Report that defines and describes essential health care services related to IPV during Public Health Emergencies and suggests activities to help HRSA-supported facilities meet those needs.

Pillar 7: Research and Data

National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey Updates: The CDC announced revisions to their data collection methods on the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS), which collects the most current and comprehensive national- and state-level data on sexual violence, intimate partner violence, and stalking victimization in the United States. Improvements include revamped sections on perpetrator behaviors that reduced burden on participants; improved specificity of technology-facilitated stalking; additional questions about technology-facilitated sexual violence; additional questions about the mental and emotional harm of sexual violence; updated questions about reproductive coercion; updated questions about sex at birth and gender identity; and improved sensitivity for transgender and non-binary respondents. Revisions were announced in January 2023, with data collection wrapping up in December 2023. Initial data results are expected to be released in late 2024. Revisions and updates to the survey and methodology are expected to improve data quality and specificity to help inform future research priorities. The improvements to NISVS measurement related to technology-facilitated stalking and sexual violence also fit under Pillar 4, Technology-Facilitated GBV.

National Institutes of Health (NIH) Future Directions in Violence Against Women: Request for Information (RFI) Report: The NIH National Institute on Nursing Research conducted an analysis of public input gathered in response to an RFI intended to identify scientific directions in violence against women (VAW) research, including violence perpetrated against cisgender, transgender, and gender-diverse persons. The report synthesized responses from researchers, healthcare providers, advocates, and people with lived experiences, and compiled nine emergent themes for future research directions. These themes included advancing social determinants of health research to understand and mitigate risks; informing policy efforts to create a broader impact on prevention; strengthening measures and methodologies in VAW research to address magnitude, victimization, and perpetration; increasing the focus on intersectionality; expanding research to focus on health effects of VAW beyond the acute phase; incorporating research on violence perpetration; assessing intergenerational violence; leveraging diverse settings to promote and prevent VAW; and expanding the focus on populations disproportionately impacted by VAW.

National Institutes of Health Understanding and Addressing the Health Impacts of Online Abuse and Harassment

NIH hosted a two-day workshop in December 2023 on the health impacts of online abuse and harassment, with specific consideration for victims of in-person gender-based violence and harassment to help identify gaps and challenges in the research. Presentations and discussions focused on five key areas: (1) understanding the health impacts of online abuse and harassment; (2) meeting the needs of vulnerable and under-resourced populations; (3) lessons learned from related research areas; (4) potential collaborations to tackle online abuse and harassment; and (5) research approaches for prevention and intervention.
In the time of coalition politics, a thousand opinions will bloom. The reduced tally for the BJP in the general elections and its dependence on allies to run the government have encouraged the RSS to take a reflective, but critical, stance on the partys politics. The BJP considers the RSS its ideological fount. In this context, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwats remarks about the polarising election campaign will be seen as an indictment of the BJPs shrill anti-Muslim rhetoric. Bhagwat, of course, blamed both the BJP and the Opposition for adopting campaign strategies that would lead to divisions, increasing social fault lines. However, the sarsanghachalak s comment will be read in light of BJP chief JP Naddas recent remark that the party has outgrown the RSS and is no longer dependent on the latter to conduct its affairs.

Relations between the BJP and the RSS have been a taut affair, even though most senior leaders in the party have been moulded by the Sanghs ideology. The RSS claims to be above party politics but also seeks a mentoring role in BJP affairs, including in government. This is often resisted, if not resented, by the BJP brass. When Atal Bihari Vajpayee headed the NDA governments between 1998 and 2004, the party and the Sangh often clashed over policy and politics.

The electoral dominance of the BJP for a decade since 2014 provided little leeway for the RSS to assert itself as Brand Modi diminished every other political actor. That changed on June 4. Expect Bhagwat, like many others, to speak more. And all of it is unlikely to sound soothing to a bruised BJP.
Bengaluru, Leading Kannada film actor Darshan Thoogudeepa has been taken into custody in a murder case, Bengaluru Police Commissioner B Dayananda said on Tuesday. He said Darshan and his aides, who have been detained, are being questioned by police. "In connection with a murder, a Kannada film actor has been taken into custody and is being questioned," Dayananda briefed reporters here. The 47-year-old was picked up in connection with the murder of a man, identified as Renuka Swamy, on June 9 in Kamakshipalya area of the city, he said. After the alleged killing, the body of Swamy, who worked with a pharmacy company and hailed from the district headquarters town of Chitradurga, was dumped into a stormwater drain in Kamakshipalya. "Based on the recovery of the dead body of an unidentified man and the injuries on his body, a murder case was registered. On the basis of CCTV footage and other technical evidence, the deceased was identified as Renuka Swamy," Dayananda said. "We have detained the Kannada film actor and his aides and are questioning him. Since the investigation is on I cannot share more details," he said. When asked whether Darshan has been arrested: he said: "He has been taken into custody and is being questioned. Other procedures will follow after the due process." It is alleged that the deceased had made some derogatory comments against a film actress in a social media post. Police came to know about the murder after some local residents alerted them. The body was sent for an autopsy and the forensic report confirmed that he was murdered, police sources said. Further investigation led to the arrest of some suspects, who spilled the beans, a police official said. Based on their statement, police detained Darshan from a hotel in Mysuru, sources said. The police are probing to find out if the actor was directly involved in the murder or was part of the conspiracy, the sources added. Meanwhile, sources said the actress against whom the deceased had made adverse comments has also been detained for questioning. Renuka Swamy's parents were inconsolable after learning about the murder. "He was my only son. Last year he got married. I spoke to him on Saturday only. I want justice," his father Srinivasaiah told reporters at Kamakshipalya police station. Police have provided tight security at the house of Darshan, who has a huge fan following, at RR Nagar here. Darshan made his debut as a lead actor in the movie 'Majestic' in 2002. He featured in several commercially successful films including 'Kariya', 'Krantiveera Sangolli Rayanna', 'Kalasipalya', 'Gaja', 'Navagraha', 'Saarathi', 'Bulbul', 'Yajamana', 'Robert' and 'Kaatera'.

Leading Kannada film actor Darshan taken into custody in murder case
Balodabazar, Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma along with two cabinet colleagues on Tuesday visited Chhattisgarh's Balodabazar city, a day after a mob set fire to a government office and scores of vehicles during a protest called by the Satnami community against the alleged vandalisation of a religious structure. Sharma, who holds the Home portfolio, directed that stern action should be taken against those who indulged in the arson, an official said. More than two dozen cars, around 70 two-wheelers and a government building were torched at the district office premises after the protest turned violent on Monday. Several police personnel were also injured in stone-pelting. Unidentified persons vandalized 'jaitkham' or `victory pillar', a sacred symbol worshipped by the Satnami community, near the holy Amar Gufa at Giroudpuri Dham in the district on the intervening night of May 15 and 16. Police subsequently arrested three persons in connection with the incident. To protest against the incident, the community called for a demonstration at Dussehra Maidan here on Monday, and also a `gherao' at the collector's office. As the protest led to arson and stone-pelting, the Balodabazar-Bhatapara district administration imposed section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, prohibiting assembly of four or more people in Balodabazar city till June 16. To take stock of the situation, Deputy CM Sharma, Revenue Minister Tank Ram Verma and Food Minister Dayaldas Baghel visited the district office in the wee hours of Tuesday. Talking to reporters, Sharma expressed grief over the incident and instructed officials to take strict action against those who took part in the arson. Many of the damaged vehicles belonged to poor people who had come for work at the government office. Government property was also damaged and documents in the record room were burnt, the deputy CM said. He also noted that earlier, after leaders of the Satnami community demanded a high-level inquiry, being dissatisfied with the police probe into the damage to 'jaitkham', Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai ordered a judicial inquiry. People of the community expressed satisfaction over it and said they would submit a memorandum expressing gratitude to the CM, but some anti-social elements committed arson during Monday's protest, he claimed. Visuals of the protest site showed some 50 motorcycles, two dozen cars and the building housing the offices of the Collector and Superintendent of Police damaged due to arson. A fire brigade vehicle was also torched by the mob which was seen clashing with police. Several people have been taken into custody, police sources said. The influential Satnami community, founded by medieval-era social reformer Baba Ghasidas, represents the largest Scheduled Castes group in Chhattisgarh.

Chhattisgarh deputy CM Vijay Sharma visits violence-hit Balodabazar
Delhi minister Atishi on Tuesday accused neighbouring state Haryana of lying on water released to the national capital. The attack comes as Delhi continues to battle acute water shortage this summer.



Haryana has been lying regarding the water released by them. Statistics by Haryana government show that from May 1 to May 22, they have released 719 cusec for CLC (carrier line channel) and 330 cusec in DSB (Delhi sub-branch), as per the affidavit submitted in Supreme Court, Atishi said at a briefing.



In total, 1049 cusec water was released from May 1 to May 22. But, the supply started to decline from May 23, it dropped from 719 cusec and 309 cusec to 675 cusec and 283 cusec, PTI quoted her as saying.



ALSO READ: 'Water being stolen under AAP govt protection': Delhi BJP on severe crisis Delhi minister Atishi accused Haryana of releasing less water in both sub-canals of Munak Canal(HT Photo)



Even between 7 June and 10 June, Haryana released less amount of water in both sub-canals of Munak Canal. This is shown by the data given to the Supreme Court. The water released by Haryana reduces further by the time it reaches Delhi. We will also submit all these data to the Supreme Court tomorrow. We have filed an additional affidavit in the Supreme Court. I will also write a letter to the CM of Haryana regarding this, Atishi was quoted by ANI as saying.



ALSO READ: Delhi water crisis: AAP minister warns of chaos, alleges Haryana blocking supply



The Delhi government has repeatedly accused Haryana of releasing less water to the Capital. Atishi on Monday said that Delhi lieutenant governor VK Saxena assured the city government that he would talk to the Haryana government to ensure that the national capital's share of 1,050 cusecs water is released in the Munak canal. The Aam Aadmi Party workers had also staged a protest at Haryana Bhavan in Delhi.



(With PTI, ANI inputs)
CHICAGO  A Palestinian chef using ancient cooking techniques a Senegalese restaurant in New Orleans and an upscale Thai restaurant in Oregon won coveted James Beard awards Monday at a red carpet awards ceremony in Chicago. Palestinian DC chef and Senegalese restaurant in New Orleans win coveted James Beard Awards

More than 100 restaurants were finalists across 22 categories for the culinary worlds equivalent of the Oscars with diverse range of cuisine and chef experience, a recent shift following turbulent, pandemic-era years for the James Beard Foundation. Just being a finalist can bring wide recognition and boost business. The most anticipated categories included awards for outstanding restaurateur, chef and restaurant.

Michael Rafidi, whose Washington, D.C., restaurant Albi was awarded a coveted Michelin Star in 2022, won outstanding chef among five finalists. Albi, which is Arabic for my heart, pays homage to Rafidis Palestinian roots by using Old World food preparation techniques. Everything is cooked over charcoal, including grape leaves stuffed with lamb and sfeeha, a meat pie.

This is for Palestine and all the Palestinian people out there," Rafidi told The Associated Press after winning the award. Rafidi, who wore a traditional black and white checkered keffiyeh, said he kept thinking of his Palestinian grandfather, who was also a chef, and how he paved the way for him.

Restaurants apply for the awards. Judges, who mostly remain anonymous, try the cuisine before voting. Nominees are reviewed for the food as well as for a behavioral code of ethics, including how employees are treated. On Monday, winners announced at the Lyric Opera of Chicago venue were given engraved medallions.

The award for best new restaurant went to Dakar NOLA, a Senegalese restaurant in New Orleans.

I always knew that West Africa has something to say, said chef Serigne Mbaye. That kept me going.

The James Beard Foundation has bestowed awards since 1991, except in 2020 and 2021 when the organization scrapped them as the restaurant industry was reeling from the COVID-19 pandemic. The foundation was also facing criticism over a lack of racial diversity and allegations about some nominees behavior. Foundation officials vowed to improve ethical standards and be more reflective of the industry.

An upscale Thai restaurant that uses Pacific Northwest ingredients, Langbaan won outstanding restaurant, while Chicago restaurant Lula Cafe, a bistro that opened in 1999 on the city's North Side, won an award for outstanding hospitality.

Erika and Kelly Whitaker, a Colorado couple, won outstanding restauranteur.

Their Id Est Hospitality Group runs several Colorado restaurants including The Wolfs Tailor, which serves wild game like smoked venison. Their restaurants have a focus on zero waste and sustainability practices.

We don't particularly chase these awards," Kelly Whitaker said. But we definitely chase the platform this brings.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday said that the UN Security Council's vote in favour of a US-backed proposal for a cease-fire in Gaza made it as clear as it possibly could be that the world supports the plan, as he again called on Hamas to accept it. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken (File image)(REUTERS)

Everyone's vote is in, except for one vote, and that's Hamas, Blinken told reporters in Tel Aviv after meeting with Israeli officials. Blinken said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had reaffirmed his commitment to the proposal when they met late Monday.

Blinken's latest visit to the region  his eighth since Hamas' October 7 attack ignited the war  is focused on rallying support for the cease-fire proposal, boosting the entry of humanitarian aid and advancing postwar plans for Gaza's governance.

He is travelling on to Jordan as well as Qatar, which along with Egypt has served as a key mediator with Hamas.

The proposal, announced by President Joe Biden last month, calls for a three-phased plan in which Hamas would release the rest of the hostages in exchange for a lasting cease-fire and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.

The group is still holding around 120 hostages, a third of whom are believed to be dead.

Biden presented it as an Israeli proposal, but Netanyahu has publicly disputed key aspects of it, saying Israel won't end the war without destroying Hamas and returning all the hostages.

Hamas has not yet formally responded to the proposal. The militant group welcomed the UN resolution and supports the broad outline of the agreement but has demanded assurances it will be implemented. The militant group embraced a similar proposal last month that was rejected by Israel.

Efforts are continuing to study and clarify some matters to ensure implementation by the Israeli side, Hamas spokesman Jihad Taha said Tuesday. Israel has not given clear approval or commitments to implementation that would lead to ending the aggression, he said.

On Monday, the UN Security Council voted overwhelmingly to approve the proposal, with 14 of the 15 members voting in favour and Russia abstaining. The resolution calls on Israel and Hamas to fully implement its terms without delay and without condition.

The proposal has raised hopes of ending an 8-month war that has killed over 37,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health officials, and driven some 80 per cent of the population of 2.3 million from their homes.

Israeli restrictions and ongoing fighting have hindered efforts to bring humanitarian aid to the isolated coastal enclave, fuelling widespread hunger.

The war began when Hamas and other militants stormed into Israel on October 7, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking around 250 hostages. Over 100 hostages were released during a weeklong cease-fire last year in exchange for Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.

Biden's May 31 announcement of the new proposal said it would begin with an initial six-week cease-fire and the release of some hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. Israeli forces would withdraw from populated areas and Palestinian civilians would be allowed to return to their homes.

Phase one also requires the safe distribution of humanitarian assistance at scale throughout the Gaza Strip, which Biden said would lead to 600 trucks with aid entering Gaza every day.

In phase two, the resolution says that with the agreement of Israel and Hamas, a permanent end to hostilities, in exchange for the release of all other hostages still in Gaza, and a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza will take place.

Phase three would launch a major multi-year reconstruction plan for Gaza and the return of the remains of any deceased hostages still in Gaza to their families.

The conflicting signals from Netanyahu appear to reflect his political dilemma. His far-right coalition allies have rejected the proposal and have threatened to bring down his government if he ends the war without destroying Hamas.

A lasting cease-fire and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza would likely allow Hamas to retain control of the territory and rebuild its military capabilities.

But Netanyahu is also under mounting pressure to accept a deal to bring the hostages back. Thousands of Israelis, including families of the hostages, have demonstrated in favour of the US-backed plan.

The transition from the first to the second phase appears to be a sticking point. Hamas wants assurances that Israel will not resume the war, and Israel wants to ensure that protracted negotiations over the second phase do not prolong the cease-fire indefinitely while leaving hostages in captivity.

Blinken said the proposal would bring an immediate cease-fire and commit the parties to negotiate an enduring one. The cease-fire that would take place immediately would remain in place, which is manifestly good for for everyone. And then we'll have to see, Blinken said.
By Greg Torode and James Pomfret British judges' resignations put Hong Kong rule of law in spotlight

HONG KONG, - Two senior British judges recently resigned from Hong Kong's top appeals court as international concerns mounted over the rule of law in the city following the recent convictions of 14 prominent democratic activists amid a national security crackdown.

"Hong Kong, once a vibrant and politically diverse community is slowly becoming a totalitarian state. The rule of law is profoundly compromised in any area about which the government feels strongly," wrote one of the judges, Jonathan Sumption, in an editorial in the Financial Times on June 10.

Another judge on the court, Beverley McLachlin, announced on Monday that she would step down when her three-year term expired on July 29.

WHY ARE THE RESIGNATIONS SIGNIFICANT?

While Hong Kong has a deep pool of legal professionals across its courts, commerce and academia, it has since 1997 appointed foreign judges to sit on the five-person court of final appeal for certain cases.

They have been described as a "canary in the coalmine", generating confidence in Hong Kong's judiciary as an independent entity free from outside interference after Hong Kong returned to Chinese Communist Party rule in 1997.

These judges do not dominate the system but help keep Hong Kong tied to British Common Law traditions. Critics, including the U.S. government, say these are under threat after the imposition of a sweeping national security law in 2020, and another set of security legislation in March this year.

A roster of local judges, designated by Hong Kong's pro-Beijing leader to hear specific national security cases, have in recent years delivered jail terms to scores of opposition figures for a number of offences including rioting, unauthorised assembly and most recently, conspiracy to commit subversion.

The International Bar Association said the latest national security legislation, known as Article 23, "significantly enables further crackdowns on human rights in Hong Kong."

The Hong Kong and Chinese governments have repeatedly stated that the city's judiciary remains independent and the laws were needed to ensure stability.

HOW MANY FOREIGN JUDGES REMAIN ON HK'S TOP COURT?

After the departure of Lawrence Collins, Jonathan Sumption and Beverley McLachlin, eight foreign non permanent judges remain on the Court of Final Appeal.

They don't all sit together but are selected by the chief justice to join the five-judge CFA, flying in to Hong Kong for specific cases.

COULD THE RESIGNATIONS SPARK OTHERS TO LEAVE?

Despite the pressures, that is far from clear at this point. Retired judges say jurists discuss the broader environment among themselves, but rarely publicly or with outsiders.

"As a judge, one is schooled in how to stay totally above the fray," one retired senior judge told Reuters. "If anyone can keep the pressures from bothering them, an old judge certainly can. I'm not surprised many have stayed this long."

Two judges - Beverley McLachlin and Nicholas Phillips - face the end of their three year terms in July and October respectively. McLachlin departs then but any extension of Phillips' term has yet to be announced.

McLachlin, who previously served for 17 years as the Chief Justice of Canada, has faced Canadian press criticism for staying on, but has at times defended Hong Kong's legal system.

Other judges have extended or joined in the last 18 months.

That said, the international pressures on those that remain is likely to continue, particularly as more high profile national security cases move up the system, with some defendants like media tycoon Jimmy Lai facing possible life imprisonment.

When asked about Western criticism, Hong Kong's top judge Andrew Cheung said in January he was confident he would still be able to recruit leading foreign judges, later saying they had "played a significant role" in the courts in some of the most substantive appeals heard. The foreign judges, however, have not been involved so far in the most high profile national security cases.

WHAT CASES ARE LOOMING?

One of the three remaining British judges, David Neuberger, is scheduled to hear a number of appeals this month that involve pro-democracy campaigners including barristers and former lawmakers Martin Lee and Margaret Ng, and Jimmy Lai. They had been convicted for unauthorised assembly cases in 2019 when the months-long pro-democracy demonstrations took place.

Neuberger told Reuters that he could not comment on the resignations, but that he intended to remain on the Hong Kong court "to support the rule of law in Hong Kong, as best I can."

Hong Kong's judicial officials involved in national security cases, including prosecutors with the department of justice, judges designated by Hong Kongs leader to hear national security cases, as well as the citys justice secretary Paul Lam are all facing scrutiny.

The U.S. Congressional-Executive Commission on China - which advises Congress - has been calling on the U.S. to consider imposing sanctions on judges" presiding over national security cases for their role in weakening Hong Kongs once venerated rule of law," while rights advocacy groups have published reports on the issue.

The judiciary as well as the Hong Kong and Chinese governments have condemned such calls.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
By Steve Gorman California public university academics end pro-Palestinian strike under court order

LOS ANGELES, - Thousands of University of California academic workers who went on strike at six campuses protesting administrators' response to pro-Palestinian protests returned to the job on Monday under court order, but their union vowed more protests to come.

An Orange County Superior Court judge late on Friday granted a temporary restraining order sought by the university, which asserted that the walkout stemmed from non-labor issues and that it violated the no-strike clause in the union's contract.

University officials had originally petitioned the California Public Employment Relations Board, but the panel twice rejected their requests for an injunction.

Unionized academic researchers, graduate teaching assistants and post-doctoral scholars walked off the job over what they called unfair labor practices in the university's handling of pro-Palestinian demonstrations in recent weeks.

The work stoppage was organized by the United Auto Workers union Local 4811, which represents some 48,000 non-tenured academic employees across 10 UC campuses and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

The protest strike began on May 20 at the UC Santa Cruz campus, and was expanded over the following two weeks to encompass UCLA, UC Davis near Sacramento, and campuses at San Diego, Santa Barbara and Irvine. Those six campuses account for roughly 31,500 UAW members. The UC system has a total of 10 campuses.

Continuation of the strike "would have caused irreversible setback to the students' academic achievements and may have stalled critical research projects in the final quarter," Melissa Matella, UC's associate vice president for labor relations, said in a statement welcoming the restraining order.

Judge Randall Sherman set a hearing for June 27 to hear arguments on whether to extend the injunction. The union's own strike authorization expires on June 30.

UAW 4811 leaders denounced the ruling, saying the judge defied the authority of the Employment Relations Board by intervening in a labor matter outside the court's jurisdiction.

Nevertheless, the union said its members were abiding by the court order. The UAW said it would focus its efforts on an upcoming grievance proceeding against the university.

Among other things, the union is demanding amnesty for grad students and other academic workers who were arrested or face discipline for their roles in campus protests against Israel's military offensive in the besieged Palestinian territory of Gaza.

The strike marked the first union-backed protest in solidarity with a surge of pro-Palestinian student activism on dozens of U.S. campuses in recent months.

The UAW said it was planning additional protests at UC Davis on Tuesday and at UCLA on Wednesday.

Union leaders have said a major impetus for the strike was the arrest of 210 people, including campus-employed grad students, at the scene of a Palestinian solidarity protest camp torn down by police at UCLA on May 2.

Masked assailants armed with sticks and clubs attacked the encampment and its occupants the night before, sparking a bloody clash that persisted for at least three hours before police restored order.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Toronto: Canadas House of Commons has unanimously passed a motion recognising the Tibetan claim to self-determination. Tibetan activists in Ottawa on Monday (Credit: Canada Tibet Committee)

The motion, which had been moved by Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, an MP from the Bloc Quebecois, was passed on Monday. While all MPs present in the House voted in favour of the motion, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was not in the chamber when it was passed.

Another Bloc MP Julie Vignola posted on X after the vote, The motion adopted today represents more than a year of discussions and negotiations.

Reacting to the development, Canada Tibet Committee or CTC posted on X, Thrilled to announce that the Parliament of Canada has passed a unanimous motion declaring Tibets right to self-determination.

The text of the motion stated that the House by unanimous consent, resolved that China is carrying out a policy of systemic cultural assimilation against Tibetans.

Importantly, it recognised Tibetans, as a people and a nation, can claim the right to self-determination.

It added, Tibetans are empowered to freely choose their economic, social, cultural and religious policies without interference from any external power. This empowerment prohibits China from interfering in the choice of the next Tibetan spiritual leader, the eventual successor to His Holiness the 14th Dalai lama.

Among those who welcomed the motions passage was Sherap Therchin, executive director of the CTC. He described it as a historic milestone.

He said it will help Tibetans further their cause by fighting against Beijings disinformation that Tibet had historically been part of China since it was annexed in 1950.

This is not a legally binding motion, but it stays in the government record. It is a huge step, going beyond usual human rights angle. Hopefully, this will encourage the government to take further steps, Therchin said.

Therchin, who was in Ottawa, said his group also met Canadian MPs cutting across party lines, while the annual Parliamentary Friends of Tibet reception was also held on Monday.
By William James and James Pomfret Hong Kong rule of law 'profoundly compromised', says British judge

LONDON/HONG KONG, - The rule of law in Hong Kong is profoundly compromised in areas where the government has strong opinions, a British judge who resigned last week from the top Hong Kong appeals court said on Monday.

Jonathan Sumption is one of two British judges who resigned shortly after a landmark verdict in which 14 prominent democratic activists were convicted for subversion amid a national security crackdown on dissent.

Some lawyers say the resignations challenge the assumption, long held by some legal professionals, that having foreign jurists on the top court helps protect the city's international image after China imposed a national security law on Hong Kong in 2020 in response to mass pro-democracy protests.

Explaining his eventual decision to resign, Sumption said Hong Kong authorities were paranoid about political dissent.

"Hong Kong, once a vibrant and politically diverse community is slowly becoming a totalitarian state. The rule of law is profoundly compromised in any area about which the government feels strongly," Sumption wrote in an editorial published on the Financial Times website.

Hong Kong's chief judge Andrew Cheung thanked Sumption for his past work in a statement, while noting that "a tension often exists between protection of fundamental rights and safeguarding national security, both of which the Hong Kong Judiciary is firmly committed to doing."

Hong Kong's leader John Lee disagreed with Sumption's comments and said judges did not have expertise in political matters. He also accused Britain and other countries of attempting to interfere in Hong Kong's legal affairs.

Chinese and Hong Kong authorities say the national security law is necessary and has brought stability.

"Some UK officials and politicians try to weaponise the UK's judicial influence to target China and HKSAR " Lee told reporters, adding the city's rule of law remains strong.

"A judge is entitled to his personal political preferences, but that is not a judge's area of professional expertise."

While some departing foreign judges on the top court have voiced concerns at Hong Kong's tightened security laws, none has gone as far as Sumption.

The resignations swell the number of British jurists who have severed ties to Hong Kong's highest court amid a years-long crackdown on dissent under the mainland's national security law.

Another judge on the court, Canada's Beverley McLachlin, announced on Monday that she would step down when her three-year term expired on July 29.

Britain, which handed Hong Kong back to China in 1997, has said the security law that punishes offences such as subversion with terms of up to life in jail has been used to curb dissent and freedom.

Many of Hong Kong's democratic campaigners have been arrested, detained or forced into exile, civil society groups have been shuttered and liberal media outlets forced to close.

Last month, 14 pro-democracy activists were found guilty and two acquitted in the landmark subversion trial that critics say further undermined the city's rule of law and its reputation as a global financial hub.

The verdicts in Hong Kong's biggest trial against the democratic opposition came more than three years after police arrested 47 democratic activists in dawn raids on homes across the city.

"The real problem is that the decision is symptomatic of a growing malaise in the Hong Kong judiciary," Sumption wrote.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Jailed former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan on Tuesday claimed the media has been forced into silence by the state and journalists who dissent have faced suppression over the last two years in the country. Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan (File image)(Reuters)

Khan has been lodged at the high-security Adiala Jail at Rawalpindi since his arrest 10 months ago for his involvement in multiple cases, some of which have resulted in conviction.

In Pakistan, the media has always been vulnerable to control by the state while journalists have been targeted for their critical approaches. Over the last two years in Pakistan, the media has been forced into silence, and journalists who dissent face suppression, Khan, 71, said on his X account.

The former prime ministers post comes days after the Punjab government  headed by Maryam Nawaz, daughter of Khans arch-rival and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif  recently introduced the Punjab Defamation Act 2024, a controversial legislation about defamation which imposes massive curbs on press freedom in the name of fake news.

Independent media is one of the most important pillars of the state. It acts as a watchdog and compels the government to correct its course, the founder of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party said.

My government tried to change this environment by bringing in the Protection of Journalists and Media Law but it has been sidelined since the engineered VoNC, he said.

VoNC he referred to was the vote of no-confidence in April 2022 that threw out his government over an alleged leak of a diplomatic cable.

On Tuesday, the PTI founder cited examples of some journalists who were either murdered or forced to leave the country for their criticism of the Pakistan Army for its role in politics.

Arshad Sharif was driven into exile by grave threats and was murdered in cold blood in Kenya. Dr Moeed Pirzada, Sabir Shakir, and Wajahat Saeed Khan have been compelled to leave the country.

"Imran Riaz Khan was abducted and tortured for over six months, while journalists like Siddique Jan, Sami Ibrahim, Arif Hameed Bhatti and Adeel Habib have been under constant pressure, he said, and questioned: Who is orchestrating this systematic oppression in clear violation of our Constitution and our commitments under international conventions?

Khan further said that the crackdown and muzzling of the media through threats, harassment and oppressive ordinances is also a direct attack on democracy and freedom of expression.

Pakistans journalist bodies have challenged the Punjab Defamation Act 2024 in the Lahore High Court.
Malawi Vice President Saulos Chilima and nine other people, including his wife, were killed as the plane they were onboard crashed in the Chikangawa mountain range, said President Lazarus Chakwera on Tuesday. Saulos Klaus Chilima, Malawi, Vice President of Malawai (Photo by AMOS GUMULIRA / AFP)(AFP)

Chakwera said in his statement, I'm deeply saddened, I'm sorry to inform you all that it has turned out to be a terrible tragedy. The search and rescue team has found the aircraft near a hill. They have found it completely destroyed with no survivors.

The President further said, Despite the track record of the aircraft and the experience of the crew, something terrible went wrong with that aircraft on its flight back to Lilongwe, sending it crashing down and leaving us all devastated.

The aircraft carrying Chilima, who was being seen as the presidential candidate in next year's general elections in Malawi, went missing on Monday. The plane was scheduled to land in the Mzuzu airport at 10:02 a.m. However, the plane was unable to land due to bad weather and poor visibility.

It was ordered to return to Lilongwe but went off the radar and aviation authorities could not make contact with it. Chakwera said all passengers on board were killed on impact and that the military was bringing their remains back to the capital.

After the flight went missing on Monday, many countries, including the United States, offered technological support to Malawi for the search operations.

Chilima, aged 51, was one of the top potential presidentian candidates for the 2025 elections in Malawi. He was arrested in 2022 on graft allegations, amid reports that he had received kickbacks from a businessman for government contracts.

The charges were however denied by Chilima. The charges against the vice president were dropped by the national prosecutor in May this year, who eventually registered a notice for the discontinuation of the case.

(With inputs from agencies)
Male, Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu discussed ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation with India on his first official visit to the country, the foreign ministry said here on Tuesday. Prez Muizzu discussed ways to strengthen bilateral ties on first official India visit: Maldives Foreign Ministry

Muizzu, known for his pro-China leanings, was in India for the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Union Council of Ministers.

Modi was sworn in as prime minister on Sunday for a record-equalling third term, heading the Bharatiya Janata Party -led National Democratic Alliance government.

Top leaders from India's neighbourhood and the Indian Ocean region, including Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda', Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Mauritius President Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, attended the ceremony.

Muizzu concluded his official visit and arrived back in Male on Tuesday morning, according to the Foreign Ministry here.

"The President travelled to India at the invitation of Prime Minister His Excellency Narendra Modi, to attend the swearing-in ceremony of the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers of the Government of India," the ministry said in a statement.

"During the visit, President Dr Muizzu attended a banquet hosted by the President of India, Her Excellency Droupadi Murmu, in honour of the visiting dignitaries," it said.

"The two Presidents also had a meeting in which they discussed strengthening bilateral cooperation between the Maldives and India," it said.

During the meeting, President Murmu conveyed her greetings to the new government and the people of Maldives. She expressed confidence that the island nation will continue on the path of prosperity and development under Muizzu's leadership.

"Both leaders noted the longstanding and multifaceted ties between two countries and highlighted important pillars of our wide-ranging bilateral cooperation including people-to-people linkages, capacity building cooperation, economic and trade relations and development cooperation," a statement by the President's Secretariat in New Delhi said.

Murmu expressed hope that India-Maldives relations will continue to strengthen in the years to come.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also called on Muizzu.

"Delighted to call on President Dr Mohamed Muizzu of Maldives today in New Delhi. Look forward to India and Maldives working together closely," Jaishankar said in a post on X.

Muizzu was accompanied by a high-level delegation of the government, according to the foreign ministry statement.

"This marks his first visit to India since the assumption of office on November 17, 2023," it said.

Unlike his predecessors, who made the first port of call to New Delhi after assuming office, Muizzu had travelled to Turkiye first and to China for his first state visit in January.

The ties between India and the Maldives came under severe strain since Muizzu, known for his pro-China leanings, took charge of the top office.

Within hours of his oath, he had demanded the withdrawal of all Indian military personnel operating three aviation platforms from his country. The Indian military personnel were replaced by Indian civilians last month.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
A royal biographer has blasted Prince Harry, asking him to "pay for his own security" after his appeal over his arrangements when in the UK. The courts have granted an appeal to Harry after he claimed he is "unable to bring his wife Meghan or their two children due to safety concerns." Prince Harry blasted for arrogance over court appeal (REUTERS/Akintunde Akinleye)(REUTERS)

Royal biographer Angela Levin called out the Duke of Sussex for his arrogance over the court battle following claims that he had "tried to jump the queue" to get the appeal heard at the earliest. Previously, Lord Justice Bean had told Harry that he is "not entitled to jump the queue because of his status."

Levin discussed reports saying that Harrys request to have the appeal heard sooner is because he and his wife, Meghan Markle, have a "planned world tour. She said that he is "not well enough in the VIP group to go ahead of everybody else".

Levin went on to say that it would be "arrogant" of the duke to "go around the world on taxpayer money". "I think that this country will go absolutely mad if they use our taxpayers' money to go around the world, Levin told GB News.

If you step down from being a royal, you can't expect the same sort of attention

Levin predicted that following their successful Nigeria trip, Harry and Mrghan might spend a lot of time "in Africa. Levin also said that the British public would be "very annoyed" if they used Harrys level of protection around the world, in case it is granted to the duke. "I can't see how you can keep on going back again and again and again, but he's very determined. He's absolutely determined, she said.

On being asked that since Harry is the Kings son, whether he deserved the best protection, Levin said, "If he comes for anything to do with the Royal Family, he has the best protection. If he comes to see friends or to do something that's got nothing to do with the royals, he has grade two or grade three.

"If you step down from being a royal, you can't expect the same sort of attention that you get if you're not, and you can't actually control it, she added. "He doesn't get that. But you have to accept that, you can't take it out of the Government. It's just not right. He can pay for it if he wants to for himself, but he can't actually expect us to pay for him and his family all the time."
New Delhi, India on Tuesday said two of its nationals, who were recruited by the Russian Army, have recently been killed in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, taking the number of such deaths to four. Two more Indian nationals killed in Russia-Ukraine conflict

The Ministry of External Affairs said India has strongly taken up the matter with Russia and sought early release and return of all Indian nationals who are with the Russian Army.

In a firmly-worded statement, it said India has demanded that there be a "verified stop to any further recruitment of Indian nationals by the Russian Army" and that such activities would not be in "consonance with our partnership".

"We regret to state that two Indian nationals who had been recruited by the Russian Army have recently been killed in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine," the MEA said.

"We offer our deepest condolences to the families of the deceased. Our embassy in Moscow has pressed the Russian authorities, including the Ministry of Defence, for early repatriation of mortal remains," it said.

In March this year, 30-year-old Hyderabad resident Mohammed Asfan succumbed to injuries sustained while serving with Russian troops on the frontlines with Ukraine.

In February, Hemal Ashwinbhai Mangua, a 23-year-old resident of Surat in Gujarat, died in a Ukrainian air strike while serving as a "security helper" in the Donetsk region.

"The Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian embassy in Moscow have strongly taken up the matter with the Russian Ambassador in New Delhi and with Russian authorities in Moscow respectively, for early release and return of all Indian nationals who are with the Russian Army," the MEA said.

The statement by the MEA came hours after Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra attended the Russian National Day reception at the Russian embassy.

According to reports, around 200 Indian nationals were recruited as security helpers in the Russian military.

A total of 10 Indians working as support staff with the Russian military have been released and repatriated to India, according to officials.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
BEIJING  Four instructors from Iowa's Cornell College teaching at Beihua University in northeastern China were attacked in a public park, reportedly with a knife, officials at the U.S. school and the State Department said. 4 US college instructors teaching at Chinese university attacked at a public park

There was no immediate comment from Chinese authorities about Monday's reports.

Cornell College President Jonathan Brand said in a statement that the instructors were attacked while at the park with a faculty member from Beihua, which is in an outlying part of the industrial city of Jilin.

The State Department said in a statement it was aware of reports of a stabbing and was monitoring the situation.

Details on the extent of the instructors' injuries and whether the attack was targeted or random were unclear Monday. Cornell spokesperson Jen Visser said in an email that the college was still gathering information on what happened.

News of the incident was suppressed in China, where the government maintains control on information about anything considered sensitive. News media outlets had not reported it. Some social media accounts posted foreign media reports about the attack, but a hashtag about it was blocked on a popular portal.

The attack happened as both Beijing and Washington are seeking to maintain people-to-people exchanges to help bolster relations amid tensions over trade and such international issues as Taiwan, the South China Sea and the war in Ukraine.

Visser, the Cornell spokesperson, said the private college in Mount Vernon, Iowa, partners with Beihua University. A college news release from 2018, when the program started, says Beihua provides funding for Cornell professors to travel to China to teach a portion of courses in computer science, mathematics and physics over a two-week period

According to a 2020 post on Beihua's website, the Chinese university uses American teaching methods and resources to give engineering students an international perspective and English-language ability.

About one-third of the core courses in this particular program use U.S. textbooks and are taught by American professors, according to the post. Students can apply to study for two years of their four-year education at Cornell College and receive degrees from both institutions.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has unveiled a plan to invite 50,000 young Americans to China in the next five years, though Chinese diplomats say a travel advisory by the U.S. State Department has discouraged Americans from visiting China.

Citing arbitrary detentions as well as exit bans that could prevent Americans from leaving the country, the State Department has issued a Level 3 travel advisory  the second highest warning level  for mainland China. It urges Americans to reconsider travel to China.

Some American universities have suspended their China programs due to the travel advisory.

Tang reported from Washington.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Rural art gallery promotes integrated development of culture, tourism in E China's Zhejiang

People's Daily Online) 13:32, June 11, 2024

While inheriting rural culture, a rural art gallery in Yudong village, east China's Zhejiang Province also boosts the integrated development of culture and tourism, contributing to rural vitalization in an all-round way.

The art gallery has six art masters' studios, where famous artists come to engage with villagers every year.

Yudong, located in Gouxi town, Kecheng district of Quzhou city, is famous for its farmer paintings. The development of paintings in the village dates back to the 1970s. Back then, the local cultural center started to organize painting training, and several residents from the village began to learn the skill, including Zheng Genliang.

Photo shows a farmer painting about Yudong village, Quzhou city, east China's Zhejiang Province. (Photo/Zheng Limin)

Zheng then could earn an extra of tens of thousands of yuan (1 yuan is equal to $0.14) from wall paintings annually.

Realizing that paintings could increase their incomes, more and more villagers mastered the skill and made a better living through it.

Yudong also strived to create better conditions for the villagers to create art.

In 2015, Yudong came up with the idea of building an art gallery, which was backed by the township and district governments.

Five years later, a rural art gallery covering a construction area of 4,200 square meters was inaugurated in Yudong.

Most of the works displayed in the art gallery are created by villagers, with the subjects of the paintings ranging from agricultural production to things that emerged in recent years, like shared dining halls, shared laundries, and rural music concerts. The vibrant colors and compositions of the paintings reflect the changing rural lifestyle.

"While spreading local culture, the art gallery also provides a space for exchanges between local creators and visiting tourists and artists," said Yu Xiaoqin, Party chief of Yudong.

Students visit the rural art gallery in Yudong village, Quzhou city, east China's Zhejiang Province against the backdrop of wall paintings. (Photo/Li Dong)

Today, Yudong is home to one member of the China Artists Association and 10 members of the Zhejiang Artists Association. Paintings drawn by Yudong's farmer-turned-painters are exhibited in museums in cities, including Beijing.

"The art gallery is an important window to showcase local culture and has always been open to the public free of charge. We welcome friends from all over the country," said Yu Bin, a guide at the art gallery.

The art gallery in Yudong has attracted more and more tourists, thanks to its rising fame. Taking this as an opportunity, the village has further developed rural tourism.

A tourism company was established in Yudong in 2019 to tap into the village's tourism resources. Today, it is also in charge of the art gallery's operations, as well as the development of relevant cultural and creative products, educational tours and other cultural and tourism programs.

A wide array of cultural and creative products featuring elements of farmer paintings, including wallets, umbrellas, and ceramics, are displayed at an exhibition area of the art gallery.

In addition to independent design, Yudong has collaborated with institutions like the China Academy of Art to develop nearly 100 types of cultural and creative products, helping increase the villagers' incomes.

Li Dong, head of the tourism company, said the company handed over more than 400,000 yuan in operating income to the village collective in 2023. So far this year, the village has received 42 educational tour groups. During peak periods, around 10,000 students visit the village each month.

Last year, the output value of Yudong's farmer painting-related industries reached nearly 30 million yuan, and the village received 500,000 tourist visits.

"We will continue exploring the development of the art gallery, developing rural tourism, and promoting the integrated development of culture and tourism," said Yu Xiaoqin.

"Thanks to the art gallery, the artistic atmosphere in our village has become stronger. We often visit the art gallery to enjoy exhibitions in our free time," said Yu Chunliang, a 71-year-old villager who has engaged in farmer paintings for over 30 years.

Under his influence, his daughter Yu Yunmei began to draw farmer paintings more than 10 years ago. Now, several of her paintings are exhibited in the art gallery. She also earns from drawing wall paintings and prize money by taking part in painting competitions, and has three apprentices.

Since December 2023, the rural art gallery has been organizing a public welfare activity for tourists once every weekend. It also launched a new initiative of creating and exhibiting farmer paintings on tablet computers.

Art contributes to the rural development of villages in Zhejiang. As of the end of December 2023, Zhejiang had established a total of 692 rural museums, including exhibition halls, cultural centers, and many rural art galleries like the one in Yudong village.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
A group of anti-Israel protesters gathered outside a downtown Manhattan exhibit that memorialises the deaths of people who were butchered by Hamas terrorists at the Nova Music Festival in Israel on October 7 last year. The depraved celebration saw the crowd lighting flares and waving a flag associated with the Iran-backed Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah in front of the Nova Music Festival Exhibition on Wall Street. Anti-Israel protesters light flares and chant Long Live the Intifada' outside NYC exhibit for Oct 7 victims (@AvivaKlompas/X, @abbaleh/X)

The protesters on Monday, June 8, clashed with police while shouting Israel go to hell. The demonstration was organised by the pro-Palestinian group Within Our Lifetime, and began in Union Square. Some protesters were seen unfurling a banner reading Long live October 7th. Some even chanted Long Live the Intifada.

Take a look at this video:

Many X users condemned the act, commenting on the above video, This is absolutely shameful and disgusting. All of them are potential terrorists and murderers. Its absolutely disgusting, but these are the same types of people that have protested Holocaust museums and Jewish hospitals. There is no limit to their hatred, one user wrote, while another said, These morally bankrupt hellions have shown depths of depravity while spreading malignancy without conscience or reason, embodying vacuous minds of intellectual bankruptcy and unbridled evil.

Expose and deport all of them. NYC used to be so great. Now it's literally hell on earth, one user wrote, while another said, I leave Twitter for an hour, and then I find this horror show. Hamas' terror never ends. I'm sick of this. One wrote, They should be arrested! WE have exchanged the truth for a lie. It's totally despicable and evil on every imaginable level... Why aren't the masses speaking up and shaming these evildoers? Righteousness exalts a nation, but wickedness is plummeting it to the depths of hell.

The Nova Exhibit announced after the protest that it would remain open until June 22, although it was initially supposed to wrap up on Sunday. The installation sets out to recreate an event dedicated to peace and love that was brutally cut short by Hamass attack on Israel from Gaza on that fateful day, its website states.

Take a look at some more videos of the protest:
President Joe Bidens son Hunter Biden was convicted by a jury on Tuesday of lying about his drug use to illegally buy a gun, a verdict Democrats may seize upon to counter Donald Trumps claim of a justice system weaponized against him. Shocking texts Hunter Biden sent drug dealer revealed (Photo by RYAN COLLERD / AFP)(AFP)

A 12-member jury in Wilmington, Delaware, federal court found him guilty on all three counts against him, making Hunter Biden the first child of a sitting U.S. president to be convicted of a crime.

Hunter Biden, 54, lightly nodded his head after the verdict was read but otherwise showed little reaction. He then patted his lawyer Abbe Lowell on the back and hugged another member of his legal team.

The judge set no date for sentencing, but added the timeline is usually within 120 days. That would place it no later than a month before the Nov. 5 U.S. presidential election.

Sentencing guidelines for the gun charges are 15 to 21 months, but legal experts say defendants in similar cases often get shorter sentences and are less likely to be incarcerated if they abide by the terms of their pretrial release.

The trial followed the May 30 criminal conviction of Trump, the first former U.S. president to be found guilty of a felony and the Republican challenger to Joe Biden, a Democrat, in the Nov. 5 election.

Trump, convicted on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to cover up a sex scandal, accuses Democrats of pursuing that case and three other criminal prosecutions to prevent him from regaining power in his rematch with Joe Biden.

Congressional Democrats have pointed to cases including the Hunter Biden prosecution as evidence that Joe Biden is not using the justice system for political or personal ends, having said last week he would not pardon his son if convicted.

The Hunter Biden case was brought by U.S. Department of Justice Special Counsel David Weiss, a Trump appointee.

Weiss has also charged Hunter Biden with three felony and six misdemeanor tax offenses in California, alleging he failed to pay $1.4 million in taxes between 2016 and 2019 while spending millions on drugs, escorts, exotic cars and other high-ticket items.

Hunter Biden has pleaded not guilty to those charges. A trial is scheduled for Sept. 5 in Los Angeles.

The Delaware trial included prosecution testimony by Hunter Bidens ex-wife, former girlfriend and sister-in-law, who gave firsthand accounts of his spiraling addiction in the weeks before and after he bought the gun in October 2018.

Prosecutors also showed text messages, photos and bank records that they said showed Biden was deep in the throes of addiction when he bought the gun and knowingly broke the law by answering no to being a drug user on a government screening form.

Bidens lawyers sought to show he was not using drugs when he bought the gun and did not intend to deceive because he didnt consider himself a drug user when he filled out the form.

The defense called Hunter Bidens daughter, Naomi Biden, who testified that her father seemed to be doing well when she saw him shortly before and after he bought the gun.
Canada exempted certain foreign nationals from the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations last year. The exemptions, however, are only applicable to those who meet certain eligibility conditions, which include submitting a work permit application for a maximum of three years, permanent residence in the US, and being an H-1B visa holder. Canada relaxes work permit rules for American H-1B visa holders((PTI File Photo))

H-1B visa holders' work permit exemptions in Canada

Initially, the policy was slated to end on July 15, 2024, but was cut short after the cap of 10,000 applications from principal applicants was reached. The policy exempting certain American H-1B visa holders from work permit requirements ended on July 17, 2023.

Qualifications for H-1B Visa Holders:

To be eligible for an open work permit in Canada, H-1B visa holders must meet the following criteria:

Obtain a valid H-1B Specialty Occupations visa Must reside in the United States Secure a job offer from an employer in Canada and meet its requirements

ALSO READ: Can laid off H-1B visa holders switch to tourist visas? Here's what USCIS says

However, Canada introduced two more policies that came into effect last year to provide further assistance to H-1B visa holders. According to Finacial Express, the complementary public policy that came into effect on September 27, 2023, provides authority to:

Process applications received in excess of the 10,000 cap will be considered if they were submitted after the expiration of the initial public policy on July 17, 2023, but before the closure of the online portal. Process applications from family members who applied for work permits after the initial public policy expired and before September 28, 2024. Exempt minor children (aged 17 and under) of H-1B visa holders from the $150 study permit processing fee if they were issued an H-1B open work permit upon arriving in Canada.

Meanwhile, the December 16, 2023 policy, which is set to expire on December 16, 2026, aims to facilitate the renewal of work permits for foreign nationals in Canada who were issued a work permit for less than 3 years, following facilitation under the first 2 H-1B public policies, to enable them to benefit from the full 3-year maximum of this work permit category, per the outlet.
Former US President Donald Trump on Monday took a U-turn after he endorsed "a strong conservative voice for South Carolinas first Congressional District". Ahead of Tuesday's statewide primary, Trump urged the voters to support Nancy Mace, whom he previously lambasted as an absolutely terrible candidate.(AFP)

Ahead of Tuesday's statewide primary, Trump urged the voters to support Nancy Mace, whom he previously lambasted as an absolutely terrible candidate.

Taking to Truth Social, Trump hailed Mace for working hard campaigning across South Carolina in support of their record-breaking win.

In Congress, she is fighting to Secure the Border, Strengthen our Military, Support our Veterans, Uphold the Rule of Law, Stop Political Weaponization, and Protect and Defend our always under siege Second Amendment," the 77-year-old former president continued.

Congresswoman Nancy Mace has my Complete and Total Endorsement! South Carolina, Get out to Vote TOMORROW!

During the 2022 midterm elections, Trump refused to support Mace due to what the former president saw as treachery during the January 6 Capitol riot.

Also Read: Would Rep. Nancy Mace serve as Donald Trumps VP? She says nobody would turn

Trump vs Nancy Mace: Here's what went wrong

Following the Capitol riot, Mace in interview to CNN called out Trump and sought to hold him accountable, a month after stating that everything that hes worked for  his entire legacy, was wiped out yesterday.

Clapping back at Mace, Trump chose not to back her in 2022 race, chastising her as an absolutely terrible candidate. He even went on to call her the disloyal GOP leader.

One year after facing the backlash from Trump, the South Carolina representative allegedly fired a shot at the Trump's supporters behind a curtain.

Mace, one of eight Republican legislators who voted to remove former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) in October, arrived at the Capitol wearing a white T-shirt adorned with a scarlet "A" days later.

According to Slate, she grumbled to her team that those who didn't realise her unusual clothing was a reference to "The Scarlet Letter" were most likely "Trump voters."

However, the tables turned in January 2024, when Mace endorsed Trump, writing on X that I don't see eye to eye perfectly with any candidate.

Justifying her support for the expected 2024 Republican presidential contender, She added, "And until now Ive stayed out of it. But the time has come to unite behind our nominee."

Last month, an Emerson College/The Hill poll revealed Mace leading her top GOP primary opponent by a significant margin. But she did not achieve 50% support in the survey. Moreover, if she cannot collect at least half the vote against former South Carolina state official Catherine Templeton om Tuesday, the congresswoman will move to a rerun on June 25 between the top two primary-vote-getting candidates.
Donald Trump on Monday urged a staunchly anti-abortion Christian group to stand up for innocent life, ambiguously revisiting an issue that Democrats want to make a focus of this years presidential election. Donald Trump urges anti-abortion Christian group to stand up for innocent life (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)(AP)

The former president and presumptive Republican nominees pre-recorded message praised the work of those attending the event hosted by The Danbury Institute, which is meeting in Indianapolis in conjunction with the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention. The newly-formed institute is an association of churches, Christians and organizations that wants to eradicate abortion in its entirety.

A panel of in-person speakers doubled-down on that anti-abortion stance on Monday, and a top Southern Baptist leader called for a hardline position against in vitro fertilization. Albert Mohler, the president of the SBCs flagship seminary, said IVF is a commodification of the embryo that assaults human dignity. He criticized pastors as well as politicians showing openness to it including in Alabama, which shielded IVF providers from prosecution and civil lawsuits after a state Supreme Court ruling said frozen embryos are children.

Were about to find out how pro-life the pro-life movement is, Mohler said.

Trump has repeatedly taken credit for the overturning of a federally guaranteed right to abortion  having nominated three of the justices who overturned Roe v. Wade  but has resisted supporting a national abortion ban and says he wants to leave the issue to the states. At odds with Mohler's view, Trump does support IVF access.

In his recorded remarks, Trump thanked the audience for their tremendous devotion to God and Country and said everyone needs to pull together to preserve their values, including religious liberty, free speech, innocent life and America's heritage and traditions.

You just cant vote Democrat. Theyre against religion. Theyre against your religion in particular, Trump said. You cannot vote for Democrats and you have to get out and vote.

Both Southern Baptists and Republicans at large are split on abortion politics, with some calling for immediate, complete abortion bans and others more open to incremental tactics. Polls over the last several years have found a majority of Americans support some access to abortion, and abortion-rights groups have won several statewide votes since Roe was overturned, including in conservative-led states like Kansas and Ohio.

Like the GOP, the Southern Baptist Convention has moved steadily to the right since the 1980s, and its members were in the vanguard of the wider religious movement that strongly supported Republican presidents from Ronald Reagan to Trump. The Conservative Baptist Network, one of the events sponsors, wants to move the conservative denomination even further to the right.

Although they criticized President Bill Clintons sexual behavior in the 1990s, Southern Baptists and other evangelicals have supported Trump. That has continued despite allegations of sexual misconduct, multiple divorces and now his conviction on 34 charges in a scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election through a hush money payment to a porn actor who said the two had sex. Trump gave his address on the same day he was appearing virtually for a required pre-sentencing interview with New York probation officers.

Many Southern Baptists say they see him as the only alternative to a Democratic agenda they abhor.

H. Sharayah Colter, spokesperson for The Danbury Institute, said in a statement that the presidential race was a binary choice and said Trump has demonstrated a willingness to protect the value of life even when politically unpopular.

And Mohler, who leads Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, and once an outspoken Clinton critic, wrote a column after Trump's conviction attacking Democrats for supporting transgender rights.

Say what you will about Donald Trump and his sex scandals, he doesnt confuse male and female, wrote Mohler. On Monday, he denounced Trumps prosecution and conviction, other speakers tapped into themes of Christian nationalism, a fusion of American and Christian identity.

Trump has said he would not sign a national abortion ban and in an interview on the Fox News Channel last week, when commenting on the way some states are enshrining abortion rights and others are restricting them, said that the people are deciding and in many ways, its a beautiful thing to watch.

For over a year until he announced his position this spring, Trump had backed away from endorsing any specific national limit on abortion, unlike many other Republicans who eventually ended their presidential campaigns. Trump has repeatedly said the issue can be politically tricky and suggested he would negotiate a policy that would include exceptions for rape, incest and to protect the life of the mother.

Democrats and President Joe Bidens campaign have tried to tie Trump to the most conservative state-level bans on abortion as well as a recent Alabama Supreme Court ruling that would have restricted access to in vitro fertilization and other fertility procedures that are broadly popular.

Four more years of Donald Trump means empowering organizations like The Danbury Institute who want to ban abortion nationally and punish women who have abortions, said Sarafina Chitika, a spokesperson for Bidens campaign. Trump brags that he is responsible for overturning Roe, he thinks the extreme state bans happening now because of him are working very brilliantly, and if hes given the chance, he will sign a national abortion ban. These are the stakes this November.

When asked about his appearance before The Danbury Institute, Trump campaign spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said Trump has been very clear: he supports the rights of states to determine the laws on this issue and supports the three exceptions for rape, incest, and life of the mother.

Leavitt also said, President Trump is committed to addressing groups with diverse opinions on all of the issues, as evidenced by his recent speech at the Libertarian Convention, his meetings with the unions, and his efforts to campaign in diverse neighborhoods across the country.
Text messages highlighted by federal prosecutors during Hunter Bidens trial revealed that he tried to meet up with a since-convicted drug dealer to buy a .38-calibre revolver. This happened a day before he lied about using crack cocaine. Shocking texts Hunter Biden sent drug dealer revealed (Photo by RYAN COLLERD / AFP)(AFP)

Hunter allegedly asked a contact to [m]eet me 7/11 at 3 on the evening of October 11, 2018. Reportedly, the first son had spent the previous two days trying to arrange a meeting with someone who was saved in his contacts as Q.

Can you meet me @ 7/11 now[?], Hunter asked on the afternoon of Oct. 10, 2018. He was told that Q, who also called himself Jr, would not be able to make it right away.

It is unclear if Hunter and Q ever met before the first son on October 12, 2018, allegedly stopped in at Starquest Shooters & Survival Supply in Wilmington.

Who is Q?

According to the Daily Mail, Hunters contact is a person named Eladio Otero Jr. In June last year, he pleaded guilty to one count of using a communication device to facilitate a drug conspiracy as part of a deal with Delaware federal prosecutors. The man was subsequently sentenced to 15 months in prison, as well as a year of supervised release.

This was not all in Oteros rap sheet. In 2010, he was convicted of second-degree assault in Maryland in connection with an armed robbery in 2007.

After the text messages were revealed, prosecutor Derek Hines noted that Hunter referenced the convenience store both before and after the gun purchase. This suggested that this was a spot that he regularly visited to buy the drug.

However, defence attorney Abbe Lowell noted that the messages sent before Hunter allegedly bought the gun had no location data to confirm his whereabouts. Was he going to meet Q or getting a cup of coffee? he asked Erika Jensen, who had taken the stand to counter defence claims that the first son was not addicted to the drug at the time he bought the weapon.

I dont know, said Jensen, who reportedly analysed evidence from Hunters laptop. I have no further context.

As per emails recovered from Hunters hard drive, he withdrew 800 from his Wells Fargo checking account on October 11 evening. This information is damning as Hunters ex-girlfriend Zoe Kestan previously testified that he often removed huge amounts of cash to purchase drugs.

Data from a text Hunter sent to his sister-in-law and lover Hallie Biden showed that he was at the 7-Eleven about an hour later, on October 16, 2018. Sometimes we had text messages without location data, Lowell said to Jensen. Sometimes we had location data without text messages.

Three witnesses, including Hunters daughter Naomi, were called by the defence before they rested their case on Monday, June 10.
Days after Donald Trump became the first former or sitting US President to be convicted of a crime in hush money trial, Joe Biden's son Hunter too found guilty in federal gun trial. Hunter Biden became the first child of a serving United States President to be convicted of a crime after a 12-member jury in Wilmington, Delaware, on Tuesday found him guilty on all three counts. Hunter Biden became the first child of a serving United States President to be convicted of a crime after a 12-member jury in Wilmington, Delaware, on Tuesday found him guilty on all three counts.

Hunter, 54, nodded briefly after the decision was given. He then patted his attorney, Abbe Lowell, on the back before hugging another member of his legal team.

However, the judge did not set a date for sentence, but stated that it is generally within 120 days. It seems that the sentencing would take place before the November 5 US presidential election.

Guidelines for imprisonment for firearms crimes range from 15 to 21 months, although legal experts say prisoners in similar instances frequently receive shorter sentences and are less likely to be detained if they follow the terms of their preliminary release.

On May 30, Trump was convicted on 34 misdemeanor counts of fabricating company documents to cover up hush money payment to former film star Stormy Daniels. He alleged that Democrats pursued the case against him in order to stop him from reclaiming power in his potential rematch with Joe Biden.

Congressional Democrats have backed Joe Biden, citing the Hunter Biden prosecution as proof that the incumbent President does not use the legal system to advance political or personal gain, while declaring that he would not pardon his son if convicted.

Also Read: Big blow for Joe Biden as son Hunter convicted in gun trial; Will he go to prison after his guilty verdict?

Hunter Biden's unending legal troubles

The case against Hunter Biden was filed by US Department of Justice Special Counsel David Weiss, who was appointed by Trump. He also charged Hunter with three felony and six minor tax charges in California, claiming that he neglected to pay $1.4 million in taxes from 2016 to 2019, despite spending millions on drugs, escorts, luxury cars among others

Biden's son has pleaded not guilty to all the accusations and the trial is slated for September 5 in Los Angeles.

Hunter's attorneys attempted to demonstrate that he was not consuming drugs when he purchased the pistol and didn't mean to falsify since he never considered himself an illicit drug user when filling out the form.

Here's how netizens are reacting to Hunter Biden's conviction

Reacting to his conviction, one X user wrote: Historic moment in U.S Politics. Lets see if Joe keeps his promise not to pardon.

This is a great news that means more reasons to vote Biden out, another reacted.

So how long till Biden Pardons him? a third user wrote, while the fourth wondered, Was pretty much on the cards. Will this have an impact on Joe?

Hunter Biden Guilty. This is NOTHING compared to the REAL CRIMES Hunter committed. International money laundering, selling access to the White House, child sex trafficking, drugs, on and on, Bill Mitchell wrote.
While Joe Biden hardly spoke much on Hunter Biden's gun trial, his son's conviction in the case may have devastating consequences on the incumbent president. According to Democratic strategist Basil Smikle, Republicans may jump on a guilty conviction and attempt to find means to link Biden to his son's activities.(AFP)

Soon after a 12-member Delaware jury found him guilty on all three charges in a felony gun case, both father and son issued separate statements. As 2024, the election year the US, is more about legal proceedings and courtroom dramas following Donald Trump's hush money trial, Biden's first son Hunter on Tuesday, June 11, became the first child of a current POTUS to ever be convicted of a crime.

In a press briefing, White House declared that President Biden will travel to Wilmington on Tuesday following Delaware Federal Court's verdict.

A look at judge's verdict

Hunter has been found guilty of two charges of making false claims in order to purchase a gun in 2018 while suffering from drug addiction, as well as a third charge of illegally obtaining the weapon.

The two counts for providing deceptive statements carry jail penalties of up to ten years and five years, respectively, while the unlawful possession charge brings a maximum punishment of ten years.

Following the judgment, Judge Maryellen Noreika stated that she will contact the jurors to decide on a sentencing date within the next 120 days.

Meanwhile, Hunter's lawyer Abbe Lowell stated in a statement that they will continue to vigorously pursue all the legal challenges available to Hunter.

Reacting to the verdict, Special counsel David Weiss asserted that no one in this country is above the law.

Also Read: Trump campaign slams Hunter Biden trial as distraction from real crimes of the Biden Crime Family'

What did Joe Biden and Hunter Biden say after the verdict?

In an emotional statement, Biden mentioned that he was not just a President but also a dad, adding that he was so proud of the man [Hunter] is today."

Meanwhile, Hunter admitted that he is disappointed by the verdict, but thanked his family and friends for extending their support throughout his legal woes.

So many families who have had loved ones battle addiction understand the feeling of pride seeing someone you love come out the other side and be so strong and resilient in recovery, he stated.

The jury's decision, which was announced after three hours of discussion across two days, comes a week after Commander-in-Chief declared that he will abide by the verdict in Hunter's gun trial and would not use his power to pardon his son.

Can Hunter Biden's conviction harm father Joe ahead of November election?

81-year-old Biden serves as the head of a close-knit family that has had its fair share of personal sorrow and trauma.

His surviving son Hunter, 54, now faces a possible prison sentence of around 25 years.

It seems that ruling has little chance to have an impact on how Americans vote in the election scheduled for November as Hunter's dad's name will appear on the ballot, not his. When it comes to the case, there are no evidence linking Biden to his son's crimes. More, polls have barely suggested that the netizens are paying close attention to this trial.

However, many experts are speculating if Hunter's conviction will have any impacy on the president's campaign against Republican rival Trump, whom he has portrayed as a threat to the rule of law.

One thing which is similar between Hunter and Trump's cases is that they will run parallel ahead of the November elections as they face sentence and probable appeals.

Todd Belt, who leads the political management school at George Washington University, noted the Biden faces tough circumstances.

He did promise us a return to normalcy, and it's not normal for presidents to comment on trials like this in such a way, Belt said while speaking to Reuters before the verdict. He really wants to avoid the perception of partiality.

The decision came just hours before Biden was due to speak at an Everytown for Gun Safety event about his government's efforts to tighten gun-purchase regulations.

Republicans have long attempted to link Hunter's problems and financial activities to Biden, without providing any evidence. House Republicans launched an impeachment investigation targeting Biden, which is all but defunct.

According to Democratic strategist Basil Smikle, Republicans may jump on a guilty conviction and attempt to find means to link Biden to his son's activities, despite the fact that it has been evident that his father was not involved in any way that would have an influence on his presidency.

Meanwhile, Biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy blasted Biden family, stating that Ive said it before and Ill say it again: the Hunter Biden trial was a sham.

Its a smoke screen to legitimize the Trump conviction & to deflect attention from the Biden familys actual likely crimes: selling off our foreign policy to make their family rich. Dont fall for it, he added.

Besides the firearms accusations in Delaware, Hunter is also facing other federal charges in California for allegedly evading a tax assessment, failing to pay his taxes, and filing a fraudulent tax return.

After failure of a plea deal to resolve both sets of accusations last year, Hunter pleaded innocent to the tax charges.
Israel conducted a heroic Seeds of Summer military operation where the Israeli forces were successful in rescuing four Israeli hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Almog Meir Jan, who was rescued from Nuseirat in central Gaza on Saturday, was kidnapped from a desert rave back in October during a Hamas terror attack.(AFP)

One of these rescued hostages was Almog Meir Jan who was rescued from Nuseirat in central Gaza on Saturday. He was kidnapped from a desert rave back in October during a Hamas terror attack. Almogs father, who had not seen his son for so long, died of grief a few hours before his sons safe return home after eight long months.

He lost 20 kilos, he couldnt bear it in any way

As reported by the NY Post, Almog was away from home for eight months and his father, who was traumatised by unfortunate on-course events, was not well. In an interview with Israeli broadcaster Kan, Almogs aunt Jan Dina revealed that Almogs father, Yossi, health was deteriorating as he used to cling to the television for any piece of information about his son.

Almogs aunt explained, Yossi, my brother, Almogs father, was glued to the television for the whole eight months." She said that Yossi loved and cared for his son very much. He just wanted to what was happening and what plight his son was in.

She further explained her brother's declining health as he lost 20 kilos of weight, isolated himself from everyone and did not wish to see anyone. He could not communicate with anyone and everyone around him was worried for his health.

Also Read: Anti-Israel protesters light flares, chant Long Live the Intifada' outside NYC exhibit for Oct 7 victims

We are very happy about Almogs return, but'

Jan shared that she was excited to know that her nephew is part of the hostages rescued and will soon return home. Almog's aunt expressed she was so happy on his return, she drove like crazy to his brother's house, the door was opened and he was asleep.

She continued, My brother died of grief and didnt get to see his son return. The night before Almogs return, my brothers heart stopped. He didnt get to see his son return.

Alogs father died of a heart attack and his funeral was held on Sunday.

On October 7, Hamas carried out one of the deadliest attacks on Israel, killing at least 1,200 people. They abducted 253 people from Israel to the Gaza Strip, including children, women, and elderly people. There are still over 100 hostages left in Gaza.
After Joe Biden's first son Hunter Biden convicted on felony gun charges, the US President asserted that he and First Lady Jill Biden love our son. In a statement, Biden asserted that I am the President, but I am also a Dad and added that he was so proud of the man [Hunter] is today."(AP)

In a statement, Biden asserted that I am the President, but I am also a Dad and added that he was so proud of the man [Hunter] is today."

So many families who have had loved ones battle addiction understand the feeling of pride seeing someone you love come out the other side and be so strong and resilient in recovery, he asserted.

This comes a week after the 81-year-old commander-in-chief declared that he will accept the verdict in the case and continue to uphold the legal process as Hunter examines an appeal.

President Biden has remained out of the federal courthouse in Delaware and hardly said much about the case, in a bid to avoid giving an impression of intervening in the criminal investigation brought by his own Justice Department.

However, Biden's supporters and colleagues have expressed concern over the toll that the trial and now the conviction would have on the incumbent President, who has long been worried with his only living sons well-being and continued sobriety.

The Delaware trial witnessed prosecution testimony from Hunter Biden's ex-wife, former girlfriend, daughter and sister-in-law. They all provided firsthand details of his growing addiction in the weeks preceding and following his purchase of the weapon in October 2018.

Prosecutors also presented text messages, images, and bank records, alleging that Hunter was in the clutches of addiction when he purchased the gun and deliberately violated the rules by replying "no" to a federal screening application about his drug use.

Also Read: Joe Biden says he would not pardon son Hunter Biden for the 2018 firearm purchase

Hunter Biden faces up to 25 years imprisonment

Hunter Biden was convicted of lying to a federally licensed gun dealer, submitting an inaccurate statement on the form by declaring he was not a drug user and illegally keeping the pistol for 11 days.

He faces up to 25 years imprisonment when he is sentenced by Judge Maryellen Noreika. However, first-time offenders typically do not receive anywhere near the maximum, and its uncertain whether Noreika would give Hunter time behind bars. The judge is yet to announce a sentencing date.

Hunter has joined former US President Donald Trump, his father's main challenger, as both have been convicted ahead of the November elections, the year which is more about the legal battles and courtroom than political rallies, debates and campaign events and rallies.
The first official portrait of King Charles since his coronation was vandalised by animal rights activists on Tuesday. The painting by British artist Jonathan Yeo was defaced with a picture of a character from the animated franchise Wallace and Gromit. The Animal Rising group uploaded a video of the vandalism attack at a public gallery in London online. The first official portrait of King Charles was vandalised by animal rights activists (Animal Rising)

King Charles' portrait vandalised by animal rights activists

In the video, two animal rights zealots can be seen approaching the portrait of Charles in his red Welsh Guards ceremonial military uniform and placing Wallace's head onto the British monarch's face. The attack left onlookers taken aback as they gasped in shock. The message planted on the painting reads, No cheese, Gromit. Look at all this cruelty on RSPCA farms!

The slogan refers to the animated character's fondness for cheese and the alleged animal cruelty at a number of farms certified by the Royal Society for the Protection of Animals, a British charity, reports NBC News. While the painting was set to be on free public display at the Philip Mould Gallery until June 21, the vandalism might change the course of its future.

However, the group revealed in a statement that the painting was not damaged. The posters were affixed using water sprayed onto the bag of them, and are easily removable without causing damage to the painting, the Animal Rising Group said.

Meanwhile, Daniel Juniper, one of the activists who defaced the painting, said, With King Charles being such a big fan of Wallace and Gromit, we couldnt think of a better way to draw his attention to the horrific scenes on RSPCA Assured farms!

Juniper continued, Even though we hope this is amusing to His Majesty, we also call on him to seriously reconsider if he wants to be associated with the awful suffering across farms being endorsed by the RSPCA.

Charles has made it clear he is sensitive to the suffering of animals in UK farms; now is the perfect time for him to step up and call on the RSPCA to drop the Assured Scheme and tell the truth about animal farming, the activist added.
New footage released by House Republicans shows Nancy Pelosi blaming herself for the lack of National Guard troops at the US Capitol Building on January 6, 2021. The former House Speaker is heard in the video talking about her lack of accountability, and accepting responsibility for a lack of security ahead of Donald Trumps Stop The Steal rally. Nancy Pelosi admits she did not have any accountability for lack of security at Capitol on Jan 6 (Brian Lawless/PA via AP)(AP)

The New York Post reported that the video in question was shot by Pelosis daughter, Alexandra Pelosi, for an HBO documentary.

What did Nancy Pelosi say?

We have responsibility, Terry, Pelosi tells her chief of staff Terri McCullough as they drive away in a car from the Capitol. We did not have any accountability for what was going on there, and we should have. This is ridiculous.

Pelosi then seems to rebuke McCullough for asking her if the National Guard should be called. Youre gonna ask me in the middle of the thing, when theyve already breached the inaugural stuff, should we call the Capitol Police? I mean the National Guard. Why werent the National Guard there to begin with? Pelosi says.

McCullough then explains that they thought that they had sufficient resources. Its not a question of how they had  they dont know! They clearly didnt know, and I take responsibility for not having them just prepare for more, Pelosi shot back.

This conversation is part of a 45-minute long footage submitted to the GOP-controlled House Administration oversight subcommittee, Politico reported. A previous report on the riot, which was authored by House Republicans in 2022, revealed that the Democratic leadership had concerns over the optics of having National Guard troops stationed at the Capitol Building following the Black Lives Matter protests in 2020. Days after the riot, the House and Senate Sergeant at Arms, and the chief of Capitol Police, resigned.

The footage released by House Republicans was dismissed by a spokesperson for Pelosi, who accused them of trying to whitewash January 6. Numerous independent fact-checkers have confirmed that Speaker Pelosi did not plan her own assassination, Aaron Bennett wrote on X. Cherry-picked out-of-context clips dont change that.

Three years later, House Republicans are still trying to whitewash January 6th, he added. Its shameful, unpatriotic & pathetic.
Sydney No matter who wins, both Biden and Trump can likely agree on one thing: doing less in the Middle East

Sydney, Prior to the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel, US national security adviser Jake Sullivan posited that the Middle East had been quieter than it has been for decades.

This is obviously no longer the case. On the contrary, the heart-wrenching state of the region has inflamed tensions and inspired generation-defining protests across the world.

This unrest has led many to wonder if the Biden administrations Middle East policies will ultimately undermine the presidents re-election campaign against former president Donald Trump in November.

It ultimately may. But even if the occupant of the White House changes, US policy toward the region largely will not. This is because Biden and Trump will both do everything possible to attain what Sullivan had hoped for: an ultimately quieter Middle East.

Bipartisan support for coalition-building

No single US initiative will be more crucial to securing a quieter Middle East than the boosting of ties between regional partners. The groundwork has already been laid through the Abraham Accords, the Arab-Israeli normalisation agreements initiated by the Trump administration and embraced by the Biden administration.

The fruits of such efforts became apparent when a diverse coalition  featuring the US, France, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Israel  worked together to down 300 Iranian projectiles launched at Israel on April 13. It was the first direct attack by Tehran against Israel in their decades-long shadow war.

The coalitions joint response marked dramatic progress towards a long-term and bipartisan US goal for the Middle East: a level of regional co-operation and stabilisation that will finally allow for a decreased US footprint.

As much as Trump may not have appreciated certain US alliances as much as his predecessors, it is safe to assume that whoever occupies the White House next year will likely seek to build on these regional alliances. There are a number of reasons for this.

Irans actions remain unchanged

First, the scope and severity of Irans destabilising conduct in the region has only increased.

Iranian proxy militant groups across Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Yemen and Gaza have displayed unprecedented levels of aggression in recent years. Its debatable whether Iran was fully aware of Hamas attack on October 7, but Tehran undeniably continues to financially support the group.

Iran has been no less aggressive in its own conduct. In addition to its unprecedented attack on Israel in April, this has included:

1. alleged plots to assassinate former senior US government officials

2. further increasing its stockpile of uranium enriched to near weapons-grade levels

3. extensive international hostage-taking

4. ever-closer alignment with Russia, North Korea and China.

Israeli-Arab ties persist

Second, Irans conduct has undoubtedly contributed to stronger ties between Israel and the Arab world. Such ties have persisted  albeit more quietly since the start of the war in Gaza.

Jordans King Hussein, who rules over a mostly Palestinian population, may be a vociferous critic of Israels conduct in Gaza, but he nonetheless benefits from record levels of Israeli gas and desalinised water going to his energy-poor and water-scarce country.

The Egyptian economy is so reliant on Israeli energy that Egyptians endured rolling blackouts when Israel briefly cut gas exports at the start of the war.

The UAE and Israel have only deepened their commercial, political and military links after their new Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement went into effect last year.

While the UAE has repeatedly condemned Israel for its actions in Gaza, bilateral trade actually increased by 7 per cent in the first quarter of 2024.

Both Trump and Biden want out of the Middle East

Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, both Republicans and Democrats agree on the need to shift US attention and resources to the Indo-Pacific region.

This is not lost on US partners in the Middle East.

This is why the Biden administration both endorsed and continued two of the Trump administrations top diplomatic initiatives in the region  the Abraham Accords and the US troop withdrawal from Afghanistan.

The reason is the longstanding, bipartisan sentiment that the US should not expend further resources  or, even worse, lose more US lives  in the Middle East.

On Gaza, Trump has urged Israel to wrap up its operations, saying: "Israel has to be very careful, because youre losing a lot of the world, youre losing a lot of support."

The Biden administrations public and private urgings for Israeli restraint in Gaza make clear it also has little interest in being further enmeshed in the Middle East.

No matter who wins in November, both Trump and Biden would be vexed if Israel and Hamas war continued in January 2025. They would also be equally concerned if Hamas resumed attacks on Israel. But neither wants to expend any more than the bare minimum of political capital to resolve the situation.

In an era in which the US is producing more of its own energy and US fears of terrorism are decreasing, American citizens and politicians alike would much prefer its allies in the Middle East take care of their own security.The US role in the region remains integral

Despite this desire for the US to pull back from the region, the next president still has a critical role to play.

The normalisation of Saudi-Israeli relations, for example, is undoubtedly the most important goal of the Abraham Accords. And this will prove challenging without a binding US security guarantee for Saudi Arabia, a Saudi-US civil nuclear agreement, and increased US support for an independent Palestinian state.

The US military presence in the region will also continue to prove integral to uniting the diverse coalition of countries countering Irans increasing influence. After all, it was the US Central Commands extensive co-ordination that enabled the international response to Irans April 13 attack on Israel.

A future US role in the region could perhaps best be described as leading from behind  though no US president has said or likely ever will say that explicitly.

Instead, the winner of Novembers election will publicly champion regional stability. And on this front, bolstering a regional coalition will remain the primary strategy  and could, ultimately, be the foundation for peace. GRS GRS

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
The UK's prestigious Oxford University has agreed to return a 500-year-old bronze idol of a saint believed to be stolen from a temple in Tamil Nadu to India. The 60cm-tall statue of Saint Tirumankai Alvar was acquired by the Ashmolean Museum at the University of Oxford from Sothebys auction house in 1967 from the collection of a collector named Dr J.R. Belmont (1886-1981).(A{)

"On 11 March 2024, the Council of the University of Oxford supported a claim from the Indian High Commission for the return of a 16th-century bronze sculpture of Saint Tirumankai Alvar from the Ashmolean Museum. This decision will now be submitted to the Charity Commission for approval," said a statement from the university's Ashmolean Museum.

The 60cm-tall statue of Saint Tirumankai Alvar was acquired by the Ashmolean Museum at the University of Oxford from Sothebys auction house in 1967 from the collection of a collector named Dr J.R. Belmont (1886-1981).

The museum says that it was alerted to the origins of the ancient statue by an independent researcher in November last year, following which it alerted the Indian High Commission.

The Indian government made a formal request for the bronze idol believed to be stolen from a temple in Tamil Nadu and found its way to a UK museum through auction.

The museum, which holds some of the worlds most famous art and archaeology artefacts, says it acquired the statue in good faith in 1967.

There have been several instances of stolen Indian artefacts being restored from the UK to India, most recently in August last year when a limestone carved relief sculpture, originating from Andhra Pradesh, and a Navaneetha Krishna bronze sculpture originating from 17th century Tamil Nadu, were handed over to the Indian High Commissioner to the UK following a joint US-UK investigation involving Scotland Yards Art and Antiques Unit.
As Donald Trump has openly argued that Prince Harry will not receive any "special privileges" when it comes to his USA status, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are said to be thinking of plan B if Trump gets elected to the White House. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are "worried sick" about being "kicked out" of the United States, a source claimed to New Idea.(REUTERS)

Meghan Markle and Harry are "worried sick" over fears of being "kicked out" of the US, a source claimed to New Idea. This comes after Trump warned that he would cancel Harry's visa after coming into power following November elections, forcing the Duke to go back to the UK.

The Sussexes are worried sick over the prospect of Donald Trump becoming president again - and making good on his vow to kick Prince Harry out of America, the source said.

While Harry has been residing in California's Montecito with Meghan and their two kids, his US visa application is part of the legal action. The couple moved out of the UK and shifted to the US in 2020 after stepping out from their royal duties. Notably, Harry is the only non-US citizen in his household.

Meghan is a US citizen and her two kids Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet hold dual citizenship.

Things started moving on the legal front with the release of Prince Harry's book, Spare, in January 2023, in which he made explosive claims about using drugs.

Also Read: Here's Prince Louis witty yet best advice for England team ahead of Euro 2024

Prince Harry and Meghan's contingency plan

According to the New Idea source, the Duke and Duchess are "putting together a contingency plan" to depart the nation with their kids if Trump returns to office.

The source went on to suggest that the idea of moving back to the UK with her family is "unthinkable" for Meghan.

Even experts had predicted that Meghan would ditch the idea of returning to the UK because the Duchess "is deeply unpopular here".

In an interview with Nigel Farage, Trump vowed to take necessary actions if he discovered Prince Harry "lied" on his visa application. However, he declined to rule out deporting the Prince to the UK.

We'll have to see if they know anything about the drugs, and if he lied, they'll have to take appropriate action, he said.
Rudy Giuliani's mugshot was released Monday, June 10, in which he is seen grinning, after being indicted in Arizona for allegedly taking part in attempting to overturn the results of the 2020 election. Giuliani has pleaded not guilty to nine felony charges, including fraud, forgery and conspiracy. Rudy Giuliani seen grinning in mugshot after being indicted in Arizona (Maricopa County Sheriff's Office)

The 80-year-old former New York City mayor allegedly spread false claims of election fraud in Arizona after the 2020 election. He has also been accused of trying to make state legislators in the Grand Canyon State change the results.

Yet another example of partisan actors weaponizing the criminal justice system

This is yet another example of partisan actors weaponizing the criminal justice system to interfere with the 2024 presidential election through outlandish charges against President Trump and anyone willing to take on the permanent Washington political class, Giuliani spokesman Ted Goodman said, according to New York Post.

Joe Biden and his allies continue to eviscerate the trust and integrity of our criminal justice system in their quest to take down President Trump and hold on to power. Mayor Rudy Giulianithe most effective federal prosecutor in U.S. historywill be fully vindicated, added Goodman.

The recent mugshot has been released by the Maricopa County Sheriffs Office as Giuliani went through booking procedures and was processed in the system. The mugshot shows him wearing a suit jacket, white shirt and a blue tie with white stars.

Earlier in the day, a clip from The Rudy Giuliani Show showed him wearing the same blue time, a post on his account on X shows.

Arizona authorities struggled for several weeks to serve Giuliani notice of the indictment against him. Finally, on May 17, they were able to serve him while he was walking to a car shortly after celebrating his 80th birthday in Florida.

Prosecutors subsequently requested for a $10,000 cash bond because of the difficulty they faced in serving Giuliani. At the time, he said, I have a fair number of threats including death threats, and I dont have security anymore ...so I have very strict rules about who gets up and who doesnt.
Gabby Petito wrote a heartbreaking love letter to Brian Laundrie, her boyfriend, before their doomed cross-country road trip. In the letter, she shared her excitement for the trip, and also begged him to not abuse her verbally. Slain Gabby Petito's heartbreaking love letter to killer boyfriend Brian Laundrie revealed (gabspetito/Instagram)

The 22-year-old asked Laundrie, 23, to stop crying and calling her names. The letter was released by the FBI and obtained by New York Post.

Gabby Petitos letter

Brian, You know how much I love you, so (and Im writing this with love) just please stop crying and stop calling me names because we are a team and Im here with you, Petito wrote in the letter, which is undated. Referencing an argument the two previously had, she said she was sorry for getting upset over a dumb piece of paper.

Yes, I can be a child sometimes, I know, but its cause you give me this energy and I just love you too much, like so much it hurts, she wrote. So you in pain is killing me. Im not trying to be negative but Im frustrated theres not more I can do.

It remains unclear what was causing Laundrie to be in pain. Petito also said that she would work with him on the van after coming back from New York. This is the same van the two drove during the road trip. We can work on the van together and they are OUR dreams now, Petito wrote.

So I hope you understand when Im upset its cause I love you too much, she added. Now, stop crying!!! And come home and say you love me with a big hug.

Petito eventually went missing and her body was found days later, dumped in a Wyoming camping area. Laundrie was accused of murdering her. Days later, Laundrie was found dead too, shortly after he died by suicide.

Discussing suicides can be triggering for some. However, suicides are preventable. If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Hotline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
Before the royal feud turned Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's life upside down, the Sussex couple lived in Frogmore Cottage, gifted by Queen Elizabeth II, after their wedding in 2018. However, not long after they settled into their new home, the Duke and Duchess had to renounce their claims to the property and move to Canada before they finally found their home in California. FILE - Britain's Prince Harry leaves after attending an Invictus Games Foundation 10th Anniversary Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul's Cathedral in London, Wednesday, May 8, 2024. A London judge said Tuesday, May 21, 2024, Prince Harry can't expand his privacy lawsuit against The Sun tabloid's publisher to include allegations that Rupert Murdoch and some other executives were part of an effort to conceal and destroy evidence of unlawful information gathering. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, File)(AP)

Prince Harry opened up about his heartbrokenness about having to part ways with the regal setting, his former royal residence at Windsor Castle.

According to the Mirror, the Sussexes even invested taxpayers' money, which they later repaid, to fund lavish renovations. However, they soon bid the five-bedroom home farewell upon their departure from the royal hierarchy in 2019. They ultimately vacated the place in 2020. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Netflix docuseries even lends the worldwide audience a glimpse into the cottage, which they made their own during the initial chapters of their relationship.

How Prince Harry reacted after being evicted from Frogmore Cottage

A flurry of reports swirling around insinuate that the Duke of Sussex is determined to find a permanent UK home. Royal author Tom Quinn stressed the lonely vision that Harry might be missing his old friends and lifestyle.

Also read | Kate Middleton considering Trooping the Colour surprise appearance amid new Prince Harry-Meghan Markle snub

Quinn told the Mirror that Prince Harry "misses his Old Etonian and army friends, many of whom have not visited as they dont get on with Meghan. Harry is determined to find his own permanent home in the UK, which is partly why hes continuing his legal action to get the British taxpayer to pay for his security."

He also implied that the honeymoon period where everything in the States is new and exciting is coming to and end.

All while these headlines are taking over the web, an old excerpt from Prince Harry's memoir, Spare, has also resurfaced. Therein too, the Duke had shared his heartening account about how the deepening royal rift pushed him out of the grand estate.

Harry's words reflect upon a meeting with King Charles and Prince William that followed after his grandfather Prince Philip's funeral. Notably, even as he awaited their arrival at his then-residence, the Prince was left heartbroken, considering that the place he once called his home was no longer his. He wrote in Spare, Once upon a time, this was going to be my forever home. Instead it had proved to be just another brief stop.

Also read | No special treatment for Prince Harry: Judge dismisses argument to jump the queue in security appeal

Later in the book, the Duke also alleged that he and his wife were evicted from their royal abode once they decided to relinquish their titles.

Eventually, other reports followed, suggesting that King Charles had asked the couple to leave Frogmore Cottage. The Standard's March 2023 report revealed that the Duke and Duchess had lost their privilege and access to Frogmore Cottage. An insider told the outlet, The Sussex's are no longer leasing Frogmore Cottage. That privilege has been removed. It's over for them in the UK. If they want a residence in the UK they will have to buy one privately.

A source also highlighted the possibility that King Charles was allegedly using this opportunity to relocate his brother Prince Andrew. He had previously been asked to vacate his Royal Lodge mansion due to his friendly associations with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The insider claimed the King had asked the Sussexes to leave their station to allow someone else to move in.

However, that never happened (at least until now). Harry's cousin, Princess Eugenie, and her husband, Jack Brooksbank, took over the place in November 2020. Later, they shifted to another residence, leaving the empty, vacant property behind.

Despite all the commotion and heated exchanges that transpired, Meghan and Harry ultimately passed on the keys to their former cottage in June 2023.
Nearly a month before former President Donald Trump's sentencing date, a son of the sitting president has been convicted of lying about his addiction to buy a gun illegally. President Joe Biden's son, Hunter Biden, was found guilty on all three counts on Tuesday by a 12-member jury in Wilmington, Delaware. FILE - Republican presidential candidate, former President Donald Trump, left, speaks at a campaign rally in Las Vegas, June 9, 2024, and President Joe Biden speaks at White House in Washington, June 4, 2024.(AP)

His father, Joe Biden, soon issued a statement claiming that he respects the judicial process while his son considers an appeal. Though a life-changing decision, the Biden campaign can now weaponise this verdict against Trump, who has been radically fuming wild allegations of political bias and posing new levels of threats to the rule of law in the US, falsely accusing that the New York hush money trial was rigged or a scam.

The Hunter Biden trial verdict makes him the first son of a sitting US president to be convicted. While his father accepted the case's outcome, the rival contesting presidential nominee has again launched his attacks against the Biden family.

Also read | Joe Biden's heart-breaking reaction after son Hunter found guilty of gun crimes: But I am also a dad

Donald Trump campaign on the conviction of Hunter Biden

The former president's campaign initially released a statement via CNN, which was eventually updated to omit well wishes" to Hunter.

The original statement read: This trial has been nothing more than a distraction from the real crimes of the Biden Crime Family, which has raked in tens of millions of dollars from China, Russia and Ukraine. Crooked Joe Bidens reign over the Biden Family Criminal Empire is all coming to an end on November 5th, and never again will a Biden sell government access for personal profit. As for Hunter, we wish him well in his recovery and legal affairs.

Soon after that, in addition to the media outlet notifying the revised version of the statement, the former president's son, Donald Trump Jr posted the edited copy on X/Twitter.

Penned by Karoline Leavitt, Trump campaign National Press Secretary, the statement is as follows: his trial has been nothing more than a distraction from the real crimes of the Biden Crime Family, which has raked in tens of millions of dollars from China, Russia and Ukraine. Crooked Joe Bidens reign over the Biden Family Criminal Empire is all coming to an end on November 5th, and never again will a Biden sell government access for personal profit.
In a brutal incident, four US college tutors suffered injuries after they were "brutally assaulted" in China's public park. Tourists walk past a gateway with the name "Beishan" seen at the Beishan Park in northeastern China's Jilin province on Jan 23, 2020. Four instructors from Iowa's Cornell College teaching at Beihua University in northeastern China were attacked in the Beishan public park, reportedly with a knife on June 11, 2024.(Zhu Wanchang/CNS Photos via AP)

The videos circulating on social media shows one woman and two men, one of whom was soaked in blood, laying on the ground at Beishan Park in central Jilin, which hosts numerous temples.

The instructors were rushed to a hospital following the unprovoked attack and they are being treated for their injuries, which are not life-threatening.

Meanwhile, Cornell College President Jonathan Brand issued a statement, revealing that the instructors were accompanied by a Beihua University's faculty member. According to Cornell spokesman Jen Visser, a private school in Mount Vernon collaborated with Beihua University in Jilin City in eastern China.

The degree of their injuries, and whether it was a targetted or random attack remained unknown. Visser informed that college authorities are still gathering information regarding the incident.

Reacting to Hinson's post, one user wrote: Anti-foreigner hate propaganda is at an all-time high on Chinas social media. Ultra-nationalists blame everything on foreigners.

The government does absolutely nothing to address hate, knife attacks, vehicular attacks, etc. Every country should put up a travel warning to China.

Commenting on the incident, representative Ashley Hinson of Iowa remarked, that she is "horrified" and her team is in touch with Cornell College and will do everything possible to their safe return.

Fomenting a lot of nationalism and anti-foreigner hatred probably has a lot to do with it as well, one more reacted.

Iowa Representative Adam Zabner informed that his brother, David, was among those assaulted in China. He claimed that the four had visited a local temple on Monday when an assailant stabbed them with a knife.

Also Read: US issues major nuclear weapons alert amid fears of all-out war: If that day comes

Chinese Police confirms arrest of suspect

Meanwhile, Chinese Police and Chinese Foreign Ministry confirmed the incident, with the arrets of the suspect.

The Public Security Bureau of Jilin's Chuanying district said a 55-year-old man named Cui was apprehended on charges of stabbing and four Americans and a Chinese tourist who attempted to halt the crime.

The unprecedented attack on Americans comes as China attempts to mend ties with the US and reinvigorate tourism to help bolster its lagging economy following three years of isolation due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

A State Department representative said that US authorities were aware of the reports and were keeping track of the situation, but did not elaborate further.

The cops have tentatively established that this is an isolated event and are now carrying out additional investigations.

The number of US citizens studying in China has declined dramatically in the last 10 years. According to US figures, there are about 300,000 Chinese students studying in the US and less than 900 Americans pursuing their studies in China.
Although the Trump Campaign unleashed words of contempt following Hunter Biden's guilty verdict on three counts of lying about his drug addiction to illegally purchase a gun, other Republican leaders expressed their approval of the line of action on Tuesday. Vivek Ramaswamy and Marjorie Taylor Greene discredit Hunter Biden trial as a "distraction" from other alleged crimes of the Biden Family.

The Trump campaign labelled the trial a distraction from the real crimes of the Biden Crime Family. However, other officials from the primary political rival of the Democratic Party hailed the Tuesday verdict as a step toward accountability. 

The first son's trial follows Trump's May 30 guilty verdict. As the first former US president to be found guilty of a felony and the presumptive nominee for the Republican Party for this year's elections, Trump was convicted on all 34 felony counts of falsifying business documents to cover up a sex scandal involving the former adult film star Stormy Daniels. While Republican allies had previously slammed Trump's conviction as a rigged politically motivated stunt, along with the former president himself falsely declaring it a scam, they've rolled out a starkly contrasting batch of reactions to the case surrounding Hunter Biden.

Republican leaders react to Hunter Biden's conviction

Agreeing with the Trump campaign message, the ex-US presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy called the Hunter Biden trial a sham" to legitimize the Trump conviction. Urging people not to fall for the focus on the guilty verdict, he tweeted: Hunter Biden trial was a sham. Its a smoke screen to legitimize the Trump conviction & to deflect attention from the Biden familys actual likely crimes: selling off our foreign policy to make their family rich.

Also read | Trump campaign slams Hunter Biden trial as distraction from real crimes of the Biden Crime Family'

Along with his online statement, he shared a video message, explaining why the Hunter Biden trial came right after the Trump conviction. It also avoids accountability for the Biden Crime Family on the actual things that Hunter Biden should have been charged for, Ramaswamy added.

He continued, For example, peddling foreign influence while his actual father, Joe Biden, was the Vice President of the United States. Hunter had no business serving on the board of a Ukrainian energy company, a state-affiliated energy company. That's affiliated with the same country, Ukraine, that his father, now as the US President, is sending hundreds of billions of dollars of your taxpayer money to. That's where the real crimes lie.

So, this deflects accountability for the actual investigations that are more close to implicating Joe Biden, Ramaswamy concluded.

Similarly, Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, representing Georgias 14th District, also called to attention how the biggest crimes of the Biden Crime Family remain untouched. Also calling him the Deep State's sacrificial lamb, MTG tweeted, "Millions of dollars from foreign influence peddling into Joe Bidens bank account.

Hunter Biden just became the Deep States sacrificial lamb to show that Justice is balanced while the other Biden crimes remain ignored."

House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer stated, Today's verdict is a step toward accountability.

Also read | Joe Biden's heart-breaking reaction after son Hunter found guilty of gun crimes: But I am also a dad

Comer has been leading the impeachment inquiry into Jode Biden's alleged corrupt ties. In addition to commenting on Hunter Biden's conviction, he urged the Department of Justice to investigate everyone involved in the Bidens' corrupt influence peddling schemes that generated over $18 million in foreign payments to the Biden family. In the same message, he suspected department officials of continuing to cover for the Big Guy, Joe Biden until the aforementioned clause wasn't achieved.

Congressman Tom Tiffany, serving the 7th District of Wisconsin, chimed in with his tweet: This is just the beginning of holding the Biden Crime Family accountable Now, let's do Joe Biden.

Sen. Josh Hawley was among several other politicians to point out that the Biden Justice Department initially negotiated to strike up a plea deal in 2023. If this had gone through, the first son would have gotten two years of probation on pleading guilty to misdemeanour tax charges.

Never forget DOJ tried to avoid this trial & verdict by giving Hunter a sweetheart plea deal. Until the judge exposed them, Hawley wrote on X/Twitter.

Conservative legal commentator Mike Davis credited the Delaware jury for putting the facts and law above politics. There is overwhelming evidence of Hunter Bidens guilt on the gun charges, he tweeted. Also stressing, overwhelming evidence of Joe Bidens foreign corruption, which greatly compromises our national security, Davis added, Delaware US Attorney David Weiss, handpicked by both Democrat senators, only brought these gun charges after he got caught by an honest judge attempting to jam through a sweetheart deal, with a back-door pardon, to protect the Biden family.

Adding, If Hunter Biden were a black man, hed be sent to prison, Davis asked people not to hold their breath about the president's claims of not pardoning his son. He insinuated Biden would do it the day after the election.
A federal jury in Delaware has found Hunter Biden guilty of all three counts at his felony trial.

The president's son was charged with three felonies connected to a 2018 purchase of a gun. Prosecutors claimed he lied on a mandatory gun-purchase form by saying he was not illegally using or addicted to drugs.

The jury only took three hours to render the verdict. Hunter Biden stared straight ahead and showed little emotion as the verdict was read, the Associated Press reported.

Biden had pleaded not guilty and his defense said there was no evidence he was using drugs in the 11 days that he owned the gun.

He had claimed the Justice Department was pursuing the case against him due to pressure by Congressional Republicans.

Biden did not take the stand in his defense. He avoided cross-examination by choosing not to testify.

A deal with prosecutors fell apart last year after GOP lawmakers claimed he was getting preferential treatment.

Hunter Biden left court holding First lady Jill Biden's hand.

President Joe Biden offered a statement shortly after the guilty verdict, reiterating that he and Jill "love our son, and we are so proud of the man he is today."



"As I also said last week, I will accept the outcome of this case and will continue to respect the judicial process as Hunter considers an appeal," Biden said.

Hunter Biden could face up to 25 years in prison but could also walk away with probation.

The judge has not set a sentencing date yet but noted that it is normally about 120 days after a conviction in federal cases.

Hunter Biden faces another trial on tax charges slated to begin in September in California.
Malawi's Vice President and nine other individuals were confirmed dead on Tuesday, after their military plane crashed into hilly terrain - destroying the aircraft and killing the passengers on impact.

President Lazarus Chakwera announced that Vice President Saulos Chilima was killed in the crash during a television broadcast. The plane's "completely destroyed" wreckage was by a hill, in a thickly forested area, near the northern city of Mzuzu, the Associated Press reported.

"I am deeply saddened and sorry to inform you all that it has turned out to be a terrible tragedy," Chakwera said. "Words cannot describe how heartbreaking this is and I can only imagine how much pain and anguish you all must be feeling at this time, as well as how much pain and anguish you all will be feeling in the coming days and weeks as we mourn this terrible loss."



More than 600 people, including police, soldiers and forest rangers were involved in the recovery effort. Malawi's former first lady, three members of the military and five other passengers were also aboard the plane.

The plane vanished during a 45-minute flight between Malawi's capital Lilongwe and Mzuzu. As weather conditions worsened, air traffic controllers urged the pilot to not attempt a landing at Mzuzu's airport. Shortly afterwards the plane lost contact, according to Chakwera.

Chakwera asked Malawians to observe a moment of silence for Chilima, whom he described as "a good man, a devoted father and husband, a patriotic citizen who served his country with distinction, and a formidable vice president."
The jurors who convicted Hunter Biden on all three felony charges on Thursday are revealing the most convincing evidence that led to his conviction.

They were particularly affected by Biden's eldest daughter, Naomi Biden, 30, who was one juror-a 51-year-old Black woman from upper Delaware-calling it the most compelling testimony.

"It just seemed so sad for her to see her father in such a state. She was happy when she thought he was getting better, then he relapsed," the juror told the New York Post.

Adding, "I just think she probably just wants her dad to be like he was before her uncle (Beau Biden) died. And to be able to depend on him."

A second juror, a 68-year-old from Sussex County, said that Naomi's testimony was especially effective.

"I felt sorry for Naomi; I really did. I don't think any daughter should have to be up there testifying on her father's behalf," he said.

"That was heartbreaking, and I think all the jurors felt the same thing."

The Sussex County juror admitted that he "probably wouldn't have called her" when asked if the defense made a mistake by calling Biden's daughter to the stand.

Damning text messages between Hunter, 54, and his sister-in-law, Hallie, also influenced the jury.

"In my opinion, he was trying to get drugs," the upper Delaware juror said of the text exchanges dated days after Hunter illegally purchased a.38-caliber revolver after lying about his crack cocaine addiction on a background form.

When Hallie Biden took the stand for the prosecution last week, she was shown a text exchange dated October 13, 2018-one day after Hunter purchased the gun-and asked what Hunter was referring to when he wrote, "waiting for a dealer named Mookie."

She responded, "That he was buying crack cocaine."

Speaking to The Post after deliberating for three hours across two days, the female juror told the media outlet that President Biden's son "looks kind of defeated."

"He looks kind of helpless to me," she added.

"I think he just needs to get away somewhere and get some real rehab, if he hasn't. Hopefully he's still not using."

The Sussex County juror agreed that the photos and text messages were particularly crucial to the prosecution's case.

"Prior to him buying the gun, he was making [drug] deals, and so that played a big part in the decision," the man said.

Following an hour of deliberation on Monday afternoon, he stated that the jury was divided 6-6 on conviction in an informal vote.

By the time the jury reconvened Tuesday, five panelists had changed their minds.

Both jurors confessed they felt bad for the Biden family throughout the testimony, which outlined Hunter's painful spiral into addiction.

The female juror believes Hunter "needs rehab, definitely not imprisonment."

"I was expecting all of us to be at each other's throats, you know, because of who his father is and how the political climate is in this country," she said, adding that the trial "was a waste of taxpayers' dollars."
We are thrilled to announce the opening of Al Manakha Rotana, our first property in Al Madinah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

With a landmark location in the centre of the holy city of Madinah, Al Manakha Rotana aims to serve travellers seeking a unique cultural experience, as well as the millions of pilgrims who partake in the annual Islamic pilgrimage to Madinah, home to Islam's second holiest shrine, the Prophet's Mosque.

Situated in front of Islam's second-holiest shrine, the Prophet's Mosque, and surrounded by vibrant shops and cafes, as well as iconic historical sites such as Omar bin Khattab Mosque and Al Ghamamah, the four-star Al Manakha Rotana offers a haven of comfort and convenience for pilgrims and travellers alike.

Each of the hotel's 512 rooms and suites is thoughtfully designed and equipped with modern fittings and furnishings. Many of the rooms also offer uplifting views of Madinah's most sacred site, the Prophet's Mosque, adding a touch of serenity to every stay. For guests looking to maintain their fitness, a fully equipped gym with sweeping vistas over the holy city's landmarks is located on the 12th floor. To ensure a comfortable and inclusive environment, specific timings are allocated for male and female guests.

In addition, the property offers four distinctive dining venues, including two all-day dining restaurants with a diverse selection of local and international dishes catering to regional and global tastes. For guests seeking a more laid-back option, a lobby cafe and a stunning rooftop terrace overlooking the cityscape serve a tempting array of international cuisine to satisfy guests during their stay.

Al Manakha Rotana's opening aligns with Rotana's ambitious goal of launching eight properties in KSA over the next four years, bringing the total key count to more than 4,400 across 18 properties.

Other KSA openings in the pipeline include four Edge by Rotana and one Rayhaan by Rotana in Riyadh, and three properties in Al Baha, all set to open by 2028.

Rotana's portfolio currently spans 20,088 keys and six superlative brands, including an impressive 2,828 keys across ten hotels in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Hotel website
Holiday Inn - the niu Cure, Erlangen is the first of over 50 brand collaboration properties set to open.

IHG Hotels & Resorts, one of the world's leading hotel companies, today opens the first Holiday Inn - the niu property in Germany, Holiday Inn - the niu Cure, Erlangen, marking the debut of the collaboration between Holiday Inn and the niu.

Anchored in a shared passion for distinctive design and memorable hospitality, Holiday Inn - the niu represents an exciting opportunity to combine the niu's extensive domestic presence and unique design inspired by locality, with Holiday Inn's global reputation and brand recognition. Together this delivers a hotel experience that offers genuine hospitality with personal service and provides great value for people travelling for business or leisure. As with all IHG Hotels & Resorts properties, guests who have booked to stay in a Holiday Inn - the niu hotel will be able to earn and redeem points when they sign up for IHG One Rewards, one of the world's largest hotel loyalty programmes.

Situated in the historic town of Erlangen, Holiday Inn - the niu Cure takes its design cues from the city's well-known affiliation with medicine and medical technology. The name "Cure" pays homage to the medical progress of the city, which is reflected in the design ethos of the hotel. The use of ring-shaped pendant lamps, a warm pine-green and wood colour palette combined with natural materials throughout the hotel's furnishings all aim to help promote relaxation and recuperation. Like all Holiday Inn - the niu properties, the 177 room Holiday Inn - the niu Cure is designed to be stylish and homely, while providing guests with all the comforts needed to refresh and recharge - including free wi-fi, smart TV with screen mirroring, blackout curtains and a hot buffet breakfast.

Known as one of Germany's best-preserved Baroque era cities, Erlangen has plenty to offer for those looking to visit for a weekend getaway or to extend their business trip. With large open squares that host daily market stalls, festivals, and cultural events throughout the year, Erlangen hosts some of the world's most renowned conventions such as Comic Salon - an annual event held for comic art and graphic literature. True to German heritage, Erlangen is also home to Bergkirchweih, one of Germany's oldest folk and beer festivals.

As with Holiday Inn's Open Lobby concept, all Holiday Inn - the niu hotels have 'Living Lobbies' - feel-good oases to help guests unwind and relax or serve as a great co-working space. The onsite bar lounge area is the perfect place to round off the day with a drink and some light bites and the hotel's 24hour Lobby Shop offers a selection of snacks available to purchase including confectionery and savoury snacks.

In the coming months, more Holiday Inn - the niu hotels are expected to open. This will include locations such as Nuremburg, Frankfurt, Cologne, Dusseldorf, Berlin, Munich, Hamburg and Potsdam, and outside of Germany, it will be available in locations including Amsterdam and Haarlem in the Netherlands, Manchester in the UK and Vienna, Austria. More recently, IHG and NOVUM Hospitality signed their first additional pipeline hotel for Holiday Inn - the niu. This property is in addition to the initial 52 signed under this brand collaboration in April 2024.

IHG Hotels & Resorts has 96* open hotels across Germany spanning multiple well-known brands, including InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Hotel Indigo, Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn Hotels & Resorts and Holiday Inn Express, offerings guests plenty of choice when deciding where to stay for their next trip. Loyalty members and guests can explore IHG Hotels & Resorts' more than 6,000 hotels and 19 brands globally via the IHG One Rewards mobile app - all in the palm of their hand.

*Numbers correct as of March 2024.

Hotel website
Swapping iconic eastern beach views for the high-rise landscape of North Sydney and views to the harbour, Frances Ryall joins TFE Hotels fresh from a stint with IHG, where she was Operations Manager of the 209-key Crowne Plaza Coogee and, most recently, a secondment at Melbourne's InterContinental the Rialto.

Passionate about service and with a strong rooms and conferencing background, Frances brings a strong focus on guest service and expertise experience from working across various IHG, Accor and the Hyatt Regency brands, to the new role. Frances joined the team in May 2024.
Concord Hospitality, the award-winning hotel management and development company currently operating over 140 hotels across North America, is pleased to announce the recent promotion of Kristie Byrd to Divisional Vice President of Sales and Marketing. A 13-year Concord Hospitality veteran, Byrd's portfolio spans renowned brands including Marriott, Hilton, Choice, Hyatt, and IHG, all of which she will continue to assist and oversee in her new role. Concord Hospitality is excited to continue to recognize its exceptional team members and further build strong internal foundations to better adapt and serve individual properties' needs as it expands its portfolio.

Kristie Byrd is a seasoned hospitality executive with over 29 years of experience in sales strategy and leadership. She joined Concord in 2011, bringing with her a wealth of expertise gained from her previous roles at Marriott International and other leading hotel brands. Kristie's strategic vision and leadership have been instrumental in driving business expansion, fostering strong client relationships, and developing high-performing sales teams.

In her new role, Byrd will work in tandem with each hotel's general managers to implement divisional sales and marketing strategies at the property level to increase the revenue of each asset. She will lead and manage different teams across multiple hotels, ensuring they meet or exceed sales targets while simultaneously working closely with other departments such as operations, finance, and human resources to ensure alignment and support for various initiatives.

Recognized for her exceptional sales achievements, Kristie has received numerous accolades from industry leaders like Marriott International, Hyatt, Choice, and Hilton. As a certified facilitator for multiple disciplines and National Schools within Marriott International, Kristie is dedicated to developing talent and sharing her expertise with the next generation of hospitality professionals. With her extensive experience, strategic acumen, and passion for the hospitality industry, Kristie will continue to drive success and innovation at Concord.
The Ned Doha has appointed Ghadi Ahmed as director of marketing & communications.

Ahmed, a seasoned professional with over 10 years of experience in luxury marketing and PR, brings a track record of crafting compelling brand narratives and driving growth.

Previous roles include time at Mondrian Doha, where she worked for more than seven years from the pre-opening period and supporting the launches of other Ennismore properties like SLS Dubai and Hyde Dubai. Additionally, her participation in a task force for SLS Baha Mar in the Bahamas further broadened her global understanding of the hospitality industry.
Anne Buckland has been appointed General Manager for Snow King Resort. Troy Mathews, vice president, operations, for Benchmark/Pyramid Luxury & Lifestyle, made the announcement.

Anne brings more than 17 years of hospitality experience to Snow King Resort where she was initially hired as a sales manager and most recently served as director of sales and marketing. Snow King Resort is Jackson's largest full-service resort & spa with 203 guestrooms and 45 luxury condominiums.

Prior to joining Snow King Resort in 2015, Anne served as a group sales and catering manager for The Vero Beach Hotel & Spa, in Vero Beach, Florida, and was a group sales and marketing manager for Aramark, Togwotee Mountain Lodge Moran in Moran, Wyoming.

Anne received her bachelor of arts and science degree from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, and currently resides in Jackson with her family.
When we think about leadership qualities, not more than a decade or two ago, emotional intelligence would have come a long way down the list. However, our expectations of work and what it means to be a leader have shifted drastically since then. Now, if you talk to most leadership and HR experts, they will tell you that emotional intelligence is one of the most, if not the most important skill for todays business leaders.

Operational and technical skills are still essential, but modern organizations are increasingly looking for effective leaders who can create positive work cultures, encourage employee growth, consider other perspectives, and build strong relationships within the business.

In this article, well cover some of the basics, look at the five categories of emotional intelligence, and explore how having an emotionally intelligent leader can benefit an organization.

What is emotional intelligence?

Emotional intelligence is as old as humankind, but as an expression, it was first coined in 1990 by two psychologists, John Mayer and Peter Salovey. They used the term to describe an individuals capacity to process, regulate, and perceive their own emotions and to recognize, understand, and influence the feelings of others.

The psychologist Daniel Goleman progressed the work of Mayer and Salovey by researching the importance of emotional intelligence in leadership. He suggested that although an individuals IQ and technical skills are important, you should not progress to an executive position unless you have a high level of emotional intelligence. Even with all the smart ideas in the world, without emotional intelligence, he theorized that you could not be a great leader.

Emotional intelligence is not just a vital skill for successful leaders. One study suggests that 71% of employers value emotional intelligence over technical skills when hiring new candidates because emotionally intelligent employees have a positive impact in the workplace. Another study found that emotional intelligence accounts for 60% of job performance in positions ranging from supervisors to CEOs.

What are the five components of emotional intelligence in leadership?

The psychologist Goleman identified five key characteristics of emotional intelligence (EI), which well discuss below. Unlike IQ, which measures someones intelligence, you can learn and improve the skills that make up your emotional intelligence. As well as leading to improved success professionally, developing your emotional intelligence can bring significant benefits in your personal life, such as increased happiness and wellbeing.

The five categories of skills that make up emotional intelligence include:

Self-awareness

Self-aware leaders acknowledge their strengths and weaknesses and know when to seek help when faced with a challenging situation. They are also conscious of when their behavior could influence others detrimentally and can regulate their emotions and decisions to guide the team effectively and complete the tasks at hand. Genuine self-awareness is a rare skill, with research suggesting that 95% of people think they are self-aware, while only 10 to 15% truly are.

Self-regulation

As well as being aware of their own emotions, good leaders can manage them and channel them in an effective way. Those who can self-regulate potentially disruptive emotions are better at managing conflict, are more likely to take responsibility, are better at making decisions, and can adapt well to change.

Social awareness

Business leaders dont operate in isolation. They must be aware of the wider environment and devise strategies and plans to encourage satisfaction in their teams. They must also recognize and empathize with the emotions of others and build relationships (social skills) with diverse stakeholders through verbal and non-verbal communication and active listening.

Empathy

This is the ability to understand and recognize how others feel and how your actions or decisions as a leader will affect them. Empathetic leaders understand how to communicate in different situations and how workplace dynamics impact employee performance, happiness, and wellbeing.

Motivation

Business leaders should be excellent self-motivators and be able to perform at a high level without external praise. They should be resilient to circumstances that could demotivate them and be committed and focused on achieving their goals. They should also understand what motivates their teams and take steps to meet those needs.

What are the business benefits of emotionally intelligent leaders?

There are many ways that emotionally intelligent leaders can benefit an organization. Here are a few headline stats to back that up:

Emotionally intelligent leaders improve behaviors and business results and positively impact work team performance (source).

Employees with emotionally intelligent managers are four times less likely to leave their jobs (source).

Employees who believe their leaders treat them with respect are 55% more engaged, 63% more satisfied, and 58% more focused on their jobs (source).

Thats what the numbers say, but in terms of workplace benefits, what advantages do emotionally intelligent leaders bring?

Effective collaboration

Emotionally intelligent leaders create psychologically safe workspaces where team members feel confident enough to contribute and share their ideas in group scenarios. The leaders listen and communicate effectively and recognize and harness the unique talents of every individual.

Strong relationships

Leaders with high emotional intelligence use empathy, active listening, and interpersonal skills to build trust and a rapport with their teams. They understand their team members emotions and needs and work to make them feel valued and appreciated. These strong relationships lead to higher levels of motivation, engagement, and staff retention.

Constructive conflict management

Conflict is inevitable in any organization, but leaders with high levels of emotional intelligence can manage it and resolve it in a constructive and positive way. By staying calm, encouraging team members to express their views constructively, and listening to and empathizing with them, they can understand everyones point of view and find mutually beneficial resolutions.

Informed decision-making

Effective decision-making is a vital part of any leadership role, and leaders who understand and control their emotions make more informed and rational decisions. They consider the needs and perspectives of others, discuss issues openly with the relevant stakeholders, and make decisions that create better outcomes and stronger relationships.

Emotional intelligence is non-negotiable

While some skills and characteristics might be nice to have in a leader, emotional intelligence is essential. Leaders who are self-aware, empathetic, and have the ability to understand and manage their emotions are at the heart of positive workplace cultures that make employees feel heard and valued. And happy employees are productive employees, with one study (pdf) finding organizations that prioritize emotional intelligence are 22 times more likely to be high-performing.

Dr Stefano Borzillo, Associate Professor of Organizational Behavior at EHL, confirms this necessity and highlights the importance of EI in leadership roles and the hospitality industry.

Emotional Intelligence (EI) is increasingly recognized as a critical predictor of job performance and longevity in a role. EI equips individuals and teams with essential skills that confer them a distinct advantage in organizational settings by comprising four core competencies- emotional recognition, understanding, regulation, and management. Not only is EI vital for effective team leadership and creating a supportive organizational climate, but it also enhances resilience to emotional labor Additionally, EI can be developed throughout one's career, offering continuous improvement in roles that demand intensive human interaction. In industries like hospitality, EI is indispensable for fostering trusting, appreciative, and enduring relationships with guests, colleagues, and oneself.

 Source: EHL

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Hospitality skills: Foundation for high emotional intelligence (EQ) Inspirational leaders: Who they are & How can you become one? A guide Boost your social and emotional intelligence skills profile Why emotional intelligence is important in tourism & hospitality

About EHL Group

EHL Group is the global reference in education, innovation and consulting for the hospitality and service sector.

With expertise dating back to 1893, EHL Group now offers a wide range of leading educational programs from apprenticeships to master's degrees, as well as professional and executive education, on three campuses in Switzerland and Singapore. EHL Group also offers consulting and certification services to companies and learning centers around the world. True to its values and committed to building a sustainable world, EHL Group's purpose is to provide education, services and working environments that are people-centered and open to the world. www.ehlgroup.com

EHL Hospitality Business School

Communications Department

+41 21 785 1354

EHL

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PITTSBURGH - Formed to shake up the hotel industry, Virgin Hotels, a luxury lifestyle brand, is on a fast-track for growth. Its properties in Chicago, Dallas, Las Vegas, Nashville, New Orleans, and New York each opened with a trio of Aptech financial management solutions, and hotels in Miami, Philadelphia and Denver will follow suit in the next few years. Virgin Hotels Chief Financial Officer Harris White said Aptechs PVNG enterprise accounting, Execuvue business intelligence, Targetvue budgeting and forecasting, and automated invoice processing has been the financial systems support the company needed to weather the pandemic and prepare for future growth.

From the moment we opened our first hotel, I was a BIG fan of Aptech, White said. The companys three cloud-based solutions provide access to financials regardless of where our teams are working  whether we are in office, traveling on business, or even working from home. Each platform delivers an exceptional experience. The accounting package is easy to use, simple to train on, and quick to compile financial statements and trend reports.

The business intelligence system is just as user friendly, enabling us to run daily/weekly/monthly reports that are stored on the menu, he said. The data is intuitive  whether its actual, budgeted, prior year, or two years ago  and the dropdowns are easy to access and understand. Because we have international locations, Aptech built a drop down on the menu where we can select an alternative currency. Its been very helpful. Finally, when it comes to budgeting and forecasting, we can estimate room revenues by market segment on a granular level to improve forecasting accuracy.

Solving the Need for Speed

Rene Wilson, Virgin Hotels VP of operations finance, said having all three Aptech solutions working together aids in the brands financial efficiency  especially when it comes to budgeting and forecasting.

Having three finance software systems in one is the most efficient way to operate, Wilson said. Any time that data can flow seamlessly from one system to the next without having to double or triple check the figures is fantastic. Some financial management solutions may omit certain general ledger information if it is not imported or mapped correctly. With Aptech, this is something that we never have to worry about.

In regard to accounting, our directors of finance often tell us how much they appreciate being able to post a journal entry and financial statement right away, he said. In past roles, Ive worked with other vendors who make you wait to upload data or the speed with which it takes import the numbers was too slow. In the finance world, speed is everything. Aptechs automated invoice processing is very promising. We have been piloting it in New York for the last 60 days. Its added a vast amount of speed and efficiency to the accounts payable process, and everyone is eager for us to turn that functionality on at our other hotels. Being able to scan large batches of invoices and populate the data is saving our AP teams an impressive amount of time in keying in all the information. We are all in with Aptech and automation.

Best-In-Class Support

Both White and Wilson said Aptech support is the standout feature that surpasses its software. White said while its rare to have a software issue, the customer service team will usually reply within 15 minutes or less  even after hours  if needed. That is something all property-level finance leaders are very grateful for, he added.

Aptech support is not limited to its customer service team, Wilson said. Sometimes we reach out to the executive team to help us in building new reports in Execuvue. I say what I need and they get together with their development team and build us something from scratch. From the top down, everyone is instrumental in providing value and tailoring the software to our evolving needs. Thats rare to find in a technology partner. We appreciate that Aptech is always on the cutting edge of innovation. We are looking forward to the day when we can leverage AI inside Execuvue to speak commands, such as show me the forecast projection for Nashville for the next 30 days, and within seconds the data visualization I requested will appear. That will be an excellent feature.

Aptech President Jill Wilder said she is delighted that Virgin Hotels is so impressed with Aptech solutions and her team.

Virgin, as a brand, has always been on the leading edge of technology, particularly with its customers, Wilder said. Just as they strive to create unique customer experiences, challenge the status quo, and champion their people, we try to do the same. Their purpose is to change business for good. Our purpose is to change hotel finance processes for the good of hospitality businesses. Together we make a dynamic team, and we are proud to support Virgin Hotels today and long into the future.

To learn more about Aptech solutions, visit them at HITEC Charlotte, June 24 to 27 at the Charlotte Convention Center in Booth #2644 or visit http://www.aptech-inc.com.

About Aptech

Aptech Computer Systems, Inc., based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is the only provider of a fully integrated enterprise accounting, business intelligence and planning ecosystem to the hospitality industry. All clients are companies like yours, which own or manage hotels. Its solutions help customers at both the corporate and property levels understand their financial and operational data for faster goal achievement. The company is renowned for introducing business intelligence into the hotel industry and offers a solid resource of hospitality professionals. Aptech is an IBM Software Value Plus partner and Premier Solution Provider, as well as a Prophix Premier Business Partner. Incorporated in 1970, Aptechs state-of-the-art back office, true business intelligence and enterprise planning solutions are 100% hotel specific. Solutions include PVNG, Execuvue and Targetvue. Clients comprise over 3,500 properties  including large chains, multiple-property management companies and single-site hotels. Execuvue is registered to Aptech Computer Systems Inc. All other trademarks are owned by their respective holders. For more information, please visit www.aptech-inc.com.

Barbara Worcester

+1 440 930 5770
Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP), the global spokes group for the industrys hospitality technology segment and producers of the HITEC brand, announced today a new project that will develop a code of digital responsibility for hospitality.

Earlier this year, HFTP commissioned the University of Houston College of Global Hospitality Leadership to write a white paper on digital responsibility, which is featured in the inaugural issue of HFTPs Tech+Fin Hospitality Magazine available at HITEC 2024 and on the associations website (available June 24). Resulting from the papers conclusion and discussions with industry experts, it became clear that the industry needs some base guidelines or code of conduct for digital responsibility. Therefore, HFTP decided to adopt the project, beginning by convening a task force of industry experts and academics to develop the code.

Task force members include:

There are many good practices for digital responsibility throughout the industry, but these have never been aggregated, vetted and published as a compilation of the best practices in a uniform guide, said Thomas Atzenhofer, HFTP Deputy CEO. HFTPs task force of global industry technology and business experts, has agreed to tackle the task and make the industry better for all segments from small to large.

The first in a series of task force meetings will be held later this month at HITEC 2024 in Charlotte, N.C. Once a draft code is developed, it will be presented for industry feedback. Ultimately, a final code will be developed and hospitality enterprises who opt to follow the base guidelines will be awarded a compliance seal.

The advent of AI and digital responsibility is going to continue to be a growing concern to our customers said Scot Campbell, Task Force Co-chair. Rather than have disparate governmental regulations by those who dont understand our business, it is more prudent to have these guidelines developed for the industry by the industry. None of us want to be able to have an unhappy customer whose digital information is accidentally used in a way they did not intend.

HFTP is accepting applications of interest for additional task force volunteers. Send a message of interest along with your LinkedIn profile to [email protected] by June 17, 2024. The target date for the release of the guidelines is Q4 2024. HFTP will also publish code guidelines for the club industry in Q1 of 2025.

About HFTP

Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP), established in 1952, is a hospitality nonprofit association headquartered in Austin, Texas USA with an offices in the EU. HFTP is recognized as a group supporting the finance and technology segments of the hospitality industry with an international network of members and stakeholders. HFTP offers expert networks, educational resources, career development programs, research, leadership opportunities and conferences and events. HFTP produces international events throughout the year, including the world's largest hospitality technology tradeshow and conference brand: HITEC. In addition, it oversees the hospitality-specific Pineapplesearch.com and the Uniform System of Accounts for the Lodging Industry (USALI), Hotel-Online and Hospitality Upgrade Magazine. For more information about HFTP, visit www.hftp.org.

Eliza Selig

Staff VP, Marketing and Communications

+1 512 220 4026

HFTP
The Forum will be held in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, on 26-28 July 2024. Hosted under the patronage of the First Lady of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Her Excellency Dr. Auxillia C. Mnangagwa, and co-organized with Basque Culinary Center, it aims to harness the transformative power of gastronomy tourism for the benefit of local communities and territories in the African continent.

Developing a strategy for African Gastronomy

With gastronomy tourism as one of the pillars of the UN Tourism Agenda for Africa  Tourism for Inclusive Growth, the Forum aims to build towards a roadmap for a common agenda for African Gastronomy Tourism. African Tourism Ministers and the FAO Representative in Zimbabwe will take part in discussions on developing a strategy to propel African gastronomy onto the global stage, how to build adequate polices to enhance gastronomy tourism and enhance its role as a driver of development. In addition to forum discussions, the event will include organized technical visits to various locations throughout the region.

Highlighting the importance of innovation, the Forum will include a pitch challenge where entrepreneurs will present scalable solutions to address regional challenges in the gastronomy and tourism value chains. Additionally, keynotes and panel discussions will emphasize sustainable practices in gastronomy tourism, exploring topics such as local sourcing and minimizing food waste.

Supporting rural development and progressing skills and education

At the Forum, Experts and chefs, including Chef Fatmata Binta, UN Tourism Ambassador for Responsible Tourism, representatives from the Ghana Food Movement, Chef Adenike Adefila from Nigeria, Chefs in Africa (Rwanda), and Chef Mounir El Arem from Tunisia, will present their initiatives and discuss their impact on local communities, emphasizing their role in fostering positive change and progressing education and skills.

On the sidelines of the Forum, the UN Tourism Youth Photo Contest titled "A Journey through Zimbabwes Gastronomy" will offer Zimbabwean communities a unique opportunity to express their perspective and capture the essence of Zimbabwe's gastronomic heritage. The call for participation will open from 10 June to 1 July.

Highest level support for tourism in Zimbabwe

Zimbabwes engagement towards positioning gastronomy as a key pillar for the sustainable development of tourism in Africa has been showcased through the launch of several initiatives endorsed by Zimbabwes First Lady as the National Tourism Patron, such as the Regional Traditional Gastronomy Festival taking place every year since 2019. Zimbabwe has also been an active participant in previous editions of the World Forum on Gastronomy Tourism.

Related links:

About UN Tourism

The World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism) is the United Nations agency responsible for the promotion of responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism.

As the leading international organization in the field of tourism, UN Tourism promotes tourism as a driver of economic growth, inclusive development and environmental sustainability and offers leadership and support to the sector in advancing knowledge and tourism policies worldwide.

Our Priorities

Mainstreaming tourism in the global agenda: Advocating the value of tourism as a driver of socio-economic growth and development, its inclusion as a priority in national and international policies and the need to create a level playing field for the sector to develop and prosper.

Promoting sustainable tourism development: Supporting sustainable tourism policies and practices: policies which make optimal use of environmental resources, respect the socio-cultural authenticity of host communities and provide socio-economic benefits for all.

Fostering knowledge, education and capacity building: Supporting countries to assess and address their needs in education and training, as well as providing networks for knowledge creation and exchange.

Improving tourism competitiveness: Improving UN Tourism Members' competitiveness through knowledge creation and exchange, human resources development and the promotion of excellence in areas such as policy planning, statistics and market trends, sustainable tourism development, marketing and promotion, product development and risk and crisis management.

Advancing tourism's contribution to poverty reduction and development: Maximizing the contribution of tourism to poverty reduction and achieving the SDGs by making tourism work as a tool for development and promoting the inclusion of tourism in the development agenda.

Building partnerships: Engaging with the private sector, regional and local tourism organizations, academia and research institutions, civil society and the UN system to build a more sustainable, responsible and competitive tourism sector.

Our Structure

Members: An intergovernmental organization, UN Tourism has 160 Member States, 6 Associate Members, 2 Observers and over 500 Affiliate Members.

Organs: The General Assembly is the supreme organ of the Organization. The Executive Council take all measures, in consultation with the Secretary-General, for the implementation of the decisions and recommendations of the General Assembly and reports to the Assembly.

Secretariat: UN Tourism headquarters are based in Madrid, Spain. The Secretariat is led by the Secretary-General and organized into departments covering issues such as sustainability, education, tourism trends and marketing, sustainable development, statistics and the Tourism Satellite Account (TSA), destination management, ethics and risk and crisis management. The Technical Cooperation and Silk Road Department carries out development projects in over 100 countries worldwide, while the Regional Departments for Africa, the Americas, Asia and the Pacific, Europe and the Middle East serve as the link between UN Tourism and its 160 Member States. The Affiliate Members Department represents UN Tourism's 500 plus Affiliate members.

UN Tourism Communications Department

+34 91 567 8100

UN Tourism
Ruby Hotels proudly announces its second project in the Netherlands, following the success of its flagship in Amsterdam. Located in Rotterdam's vibrant Glashaven district, the new project will offer approx. 225 meticulously designed rooms and lively public areas. Partnering with Foruminvest, a European hotel developer, promises to deliver an unparalleled Lean Luxury experience in one of Rotterdam's most exciting neighborhoods.

Under the leadership of founder and CEO Michael Struck, Ruby Hotels continues its expansion journey with the introduction of its Lean Luxury concept to Rotterdam. The project, a conversion of office space into a 225-room hotel, promises a seamless blend of contemporary design and functional elegance.

Strategically positioned between the iconic Boompjes skyline and the bustling city center, Rotterdam Glashaven enjoys a prime location that embodies the city's cosmopolitan spirit. Nestled within the Maritime District, surrounded by historic ports and the majestic Maas River, the hotel offers a tranquil retreat while remaining within arm's reach of Rotterdam's cultural and culinary gems.

The hotel will be developed by Foruminvest, an award-winning real estate developer, with a track record of major hotel developments across Europe. Elena Gunther-Jakobs, Associate Director Development Northern & Central Europe, comments: Rotterdam is a city pulsating with energy and creativity, making it an ideal destination for our target group , says Gunther-Jakobs. We are thrilled to collaborate with Foruminvest and leverage their expertise to introduce Ruby's signature blend of style, comfort, and affordability to this dynamic market.

Renowned for its forward-thinking architecture and cultural diversity, Rotterdam is a magnet for business travelers and leisure seekers alike. With its booming economy and robust tourism sector, the citys hotel market has been growing stably. Moreover, Rotterdam's proximity to Schiphol Airport presents an attractive gateway for international travelers seeking a unique Dutch experience beyond Amsterdam's confines.

Bob van de Geer, Senior Manager Developments & Acquisitions, comments: The development of this hotel aligns seamlessly with Foruminvests investment strategy, focused on prime locations in major European cities and popular tourist destinations , says Van de Geer. We are truly grateful to collaborate on this project with Ruby, a team of true hotel professionals. This project marks the beginning of a successful partnership.

With a portfolio that includes prestigious projects and a focus on sustainable development, Foruminvest shares Ruby's vision for creating exceptional spaces that resonate with modern travelers. As the transformation of the former office building unfolds under the guidance of Foruminvest, Ruby's in-house design team, led by Matthew Balon, is poised to infuse the hotel with its signature blend of style and functionality.

About Ruby Hotels

The Ruby Group under the leadership of founder and CEO Michael Struck is breaking new ground with its Lean Luxury philosophy. With a lean organisational structure and concentration on the essentials, Ruby succeeds in creating a contemporary, affordable form of luxury for modern, cost and style-conscious customers. Founded in 2013, the Group already operates 18 Ruby hotels across Europe, with a further nine hotels under construction or in the planning phase. In addition, Ruby is expanding into China via a joint venture with Delonix, headed by Alex Zheng, one of China's most accomplished hotel entrepreneurs. Ruby also offers Ruby Workspaces in Munich, Hamburg, Dusseldorf, Amsterdam, Vienna, Stuttgart, and Malta  perfectly equipped workplaces and a creative atmosphere with access to an inspiring office community. Financially strong partners support Ruby's expansion. ECE Group; the Austrian Soravia Group; Franger Investment, a German family office; Ocean Redstone, a private equity fund; the entrepreneur Michael Hehn; and Michael Struck jointly hold the company shares.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates  Hilton announced the results of its Green Ramadan 2024 initiative, which aimed to further reduce food waste across hotel operations during the holy month. Through the effort, Hilton saw a more than 20% reduction in post-consumer food waste.

Following the success of Green Ramadan 2023 where food waste was reduced by over 60%, the programme was scaled across 32 hotels in seven countries and served 239,000 guests during iftars and suhoors.

Participating hotels in Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Turkiye and Malaysia undertook extensive sustainability training, and aimed to close the loop across the food value chain by focusing on local sourcing, sustainable gastronomy, forensic waste management, and diversion by donation and composting where possible. By adopting interventions such as guest messaging, smaller portions, live cooking stations, artfully reduced food displays and switching to a la carte menus, the campaign was able to break through the food waste awareness barriers with an educational and interactive approach.

 Source: Hilton

Prior to the launch of this years initiative, the hotel teams were given instructive upskilling sessions and a food waste prevention playbook based on the key learnings gained from Green Ramadan 2023. These insights contributed to the success of the 2024 campaign, with food waste being reduced by 21% over the course of the month-long effort.

This is equivalent to more than 1.7 tonnes of food waste being avoided  enough to provide 4,300 meals. More than 7.4 tonnes of CO2 emissions were also prevented, equating to 488,523 smartphone charges, as hotel guests were empowered to adopt more sustainable and eco-friendly habits over the course of their stays. Items observed to be most frequently wasted included bread and pastry, vegetables and meats.

The campaign was launched as a collaboration between Hilton, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) West Asia under the impactful Recipe of Change campaign, and Winnow - an AI-enabled food waste management solution. In addition to creating Green Ramadan tools to prime guests to adopt more sustainable behaviors, the participating hotels also fostered effective working cultures that immersed their wider teams  including front house and culinary staff  in the spirit of the campaign.

About Winnow

Winnow builds artificial intelligence tools to help chefs run more profitable and sustainable kitchens by cutting food waste in half. Launched in a single staff restaurant in 2013, Winnow has now been adopted by more than 2,500 sites globally. Winnow is a registered B Corporation operating in 77 countries with offices in Chicago, London, Dubai, Singapore, and Cluj-Napoca. Collectively, Winnow users are saving $70m annually, the equivalent of 50m meals a year from being wasted. For more information, visit www.winnowsolutions.com.

*For more information about Green Ramadan 2024, please watch this video.

**Thanks to the successful implementation of insightful interventions the baseline data recorded in week one was 14% lower at 129 grams per cover, than the data recorded at the end of Green Ramadan 2023, which resulted in 151 grams per cover of post-consumer waste. This was then reduced by a further 21% resulting in 102 grams per cover at the end of the month-long effort.

***Winnow estimates the average meal to be 400g.

****CO2e emissions are calculated by multiplying weight savings by 4.3. This is a blend of an FAO estimate of 4.6x and a WRAP estimate of 3.9x.

About Hilton

Hilton is a leading global hospitality company with a portfolio of 22 world-class brands comprising more than 7,500 properties and nearly 1.2 million rooms, in 126 countries and territories. Dedicated to fulfilling its founding vision to fill the earth with the light and warmth of hospitality, Hilton has welcomed over 3 billion guests in its more than 100-year history, was named the No. 1 World's Best Workplace by Great Place to Work and Fortune and has been recognized as a global leader on the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices for seven consecutive years. Hilton has introduced industry-leading technology enhancements to improve the guest experience, including Digital Key Share, automated complimentary room upgrades and the ability to book confirmed connecting rooms. Through the award-winning guest loyalty program Hilton Honors, the more than 180 million members who book directly with Hilton can earn Points for hotel stays and experiences money can't buy. With the free Hilton Honors app, guests can book their stay, select their room, check in, unlock their door with a Digital Key and check out, all from their smartphone. Visit stories.hilton.com for more information, and connect with Hilton on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.
IRIS, a global leader in digital ordering and guest experience platforms for the hospitality industry, will be attending HITEC Charlotte this month to showcase their latest features (now available across its mobile ordering platform) and updates on client successes.

Graham Rushin, IRIS VP of Sales and Marketing and Marcus Bird, Head of Commercial will be demonstrating why IRISs online ordering platform is powering F&B operations in some of the leading hotel groups of the world through their range of revenue-generating and resource-saving features:

Latest features: Re-order and upselling

Two new re-order and upsell features have recently been launched to deliver a more frictionless and personalised dining experience for guests that also deliver more orders and revenue for operators.

Via the new Order Again button, guests can quickly and easily reinstate all the items from a previous order back into their cart for a quick, fuss-free and complete re-order that saves time and can be completed quickly, without the need to wait for a member of staff or run the risk of mistakes.

Likewise, the Related Items Categories feature has also been built with the same ethos of equipping and enabling operators with the functionality to reduce pressure on staff and maximise each and every revenue opportunity. Operators can now include additional suggestions for nominated menu items. For example, a choice of red wines or side dishes to accompany a steak, so that guests can see at a glance how best to complement and enhance their meal and, critically for operators, increase their order size.

These features can also include discount codes along with allergen aspects eg dairy free, for complete transparency to again enhance the guest experience and build trust.

Client success case studies

Kansas City Marriott Downtown - Mobile Dining with the IRIS App  Located in the heart of the city, the award-winning hotel had a clear brief: to process room service orders more effectively, maximise F&B revenue and distribute menus more efficiently to guests. Following the installation of IRISs mobile dining solution the team reported an 87% increase in order volumes YOY, with F&B revenue increasing 94% YOY and 30 minutes of time saved per order delivery.

JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa  Set in 600 acres and with over 1,000 rooms, the team were keen to maximise the performance of both their F&B outlets and provide guests with a modern, digital experience for guests. Opting for the IRIS mobile dining solution for both in-room dining and at their Spa Bistro, the team reported a 90% guest uptake of mobile ordering since installation. In turn this has lead to over 2,200 orders processed every month, $15K saved on printing costs and greater staff satisfaction in terms of guest and order management.

The Ritz-Carlton New York, NoMad  The Ritz-Carlton New York NoMad hotel features 250 luxury guest rooms and suites and 16 penthouse residences. As a flagship Ritz-Carlton property, the team were keen to operate more sustainably and introduced the IRIS app for guests to access guest information and order room service: online F&B ordering and guest directory solutions. From going live within 48 hours the hotel now consistently processes over 500 orders per month through the IRIS app and exceeded its annual budget in just 9 months.

Graham Rushin, added, Were thrilled to be attending HITEC Charlotte, where we will showcase our latest time-saving and revenue generating solutions for hoteliers and connect with industry leaders. Our platform is feature-rich so its a great opportunity for us to demonstrate all the latest functionality to operators face to face so they can see for themselves how they can leverage the benefits in their own settings. This event provides an invaluable opportunity to demonstrate our innovations, share insights, and build meaningful relationships within the hospitality technology community.

IRIS will be showcasing its innovative F&B online ordering and mobile concierge platform, and demonstrating the latest features, solutions and integrations that are fuelling F&B operations for thousands of hotels across the world at HITEC Charlotte, the world's largest, longest-running hospitality technology event, produced by Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP).

Date - June 25 to June 28, 2024

Venue - Charlotte Convention Center, NC

Booth number - 4244

To find out more please visit: iris.net

About IRIS Software Systems

IRIS is a global market leader in digital F&B ordering, guest directory and concierge solutions for hotels, working with many of the world's leading chains including Marriott, Ennismore, Mandarin Oriental, IHG and Four Seasons.

IRIS empowers Hotels and F&B leaders to do what they do best: increase revenue, look after their teams, and provide an outstanding customer experience.

Their flexible hospitality platform enables hotels and restaurants to provide a truly digital ordering experience to their guests, making it easier and faster for guests to browse, order and pay for items and services across multiple outlets.

Since 2010, thousands of hotels on every continent across the world have used IRIS's mobile, tablet and web app technology to boost additional revenues by 20% on average.

More information: www.iris.net or [email protected]

Kate Fuller

Senior Marketing Manager

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With more than 25 years' experience in the technology and hospitality industry, Ive learned the importance of safety and security cannot be overstated. Hotels are more than just a place to stay  they're sanctuaries where guests seek comfort and peace of mind. Ensuring a safe environment for both guests and staff is key and forms the foundation of trust that is the basis for every successful hospitality venture. As we navigate technological advancements and evolving threats, the industry has to prioritize safety and security measures to protect its most valuable assets: people.

Building Trust: The Heart of Hospitality

Trust is the foundation of the hospitality industry. When guests check into a hotel, they entrust their safety to the establishment, expecting a secure environment from the moment they arrive until they leave whether based on their stay or within the technology network. Building a secure network and technology ecosystem that enhances the guest experience but maintains a high level of security of personal information is vital. This mutual trust is crucial for fostering a positive environment that enhances guest experiences and employee satisfaction. Breaking trust can have consequences, damaging a hotels reputation and customer loyalty.

Enhancing Safety Through Technology and Innovation

To keep the trust of guests and employees, hotels must wholeheartedly embrace modern technology and innovative practices to enhance safety and security. We cant afford to be complacent  implementing advanced solutions such as geo-location tracking for emergency responses and flexible alert systems for varied threat scenarios is essential. Audio and visual evidence gathering, QR-RFID location reporting, and comprehensive incident reporting systems are not mere luxuries but necessities that support real-time situational awareness and effective risk mitigation. Real-time translation services can break down language barriers, ensuring clear communication during crises, while structured security checklists set consistency and thoroughness in safety protocols. By integrating these cutting-edge technologies and approaches, hotels can foster an environment where both guests and staff feel genuinely protected.

Proactive Approaches to Evolving Challenges

The hospitality industry faces challenges, from technological disruptions to unforeseen security threats. The only viable path forward is a proactive stance and an unyielding embrace of innovation.

Taking these steps signifies more than just technological advancement  it reflects a commitment to excellence and a dedication to the well-being of all stakeholders. By continuously evolving and adopting forward-thinking solutions, the hospitality industry can ensure that safety and security are not just priorities but fundamental guarantees.

Building trust, leveraging technology, and adopting proactive measures allows hotels to create safe havens for their guests and employees. In doing so, they not only elevate the overall experience but uphold the integrity and reputation of the hospitality industry.

ABOUT WORLDVUE

WorldVue WorldVue is a trusted provider of video, advanced connectivity and professional services to properties and enterprises across the world. With a dedication to customer service, WorldVue is leading the way in delivering innovative technology solutions that enhance the resident, guest, and staff experience. From managed services to digital transformation, WorldVue is a single point of contact for all property technology needs. Founded in 1975, WorldVue is a privately held company headquartered in the United States with offices in the Americas, UK, Netherlands, and Dubai. The company serves over 8,000 properties and over 985,000 rooms.

Sydney Holsclaw

678-654-4683

WorldVue
Image Credit Aptech



Named among hospitality's 'Best Finance & Accounting Software' 2024, Aptech's enterprise accounting, business intelligence, and targeting/forecasting technologies is enabling the six-year young brand to share data and streamline efficiencies across its development pipeline; Visit Aptech at HITEC Charlotte June 24-27 in Booth #2644

Formed to shake up the hotel industry, Virgin Hotels, a luxury lifestyle brand, is on a fast-track for growth. Its properties in Chicago, Dallas, Las Vegas, Nashville, New Orleans, and New York each opened with a trio of Aptech financial management solutions, and hotels in Miami, Philadelphia and Denver will follow suit in the next few years. Virgin Hotels Chief Financial Officer Harris White said Aptechs PVNG enterprise accounting, Execuvue business intelligence, Targetvue budgeting and forecasting, and automated invoice processing has been the financial systems support the company needed to weather the pandemic and prepare for future growth.

From the moment we opened our first hotel, I was a BIG fan of Aptech, White said. The companys three cloud-based solutions provide access to financials regardless of where our teams are working  whether we are in office, traveling on business, or even working from home. Each platform delivers an exceptional experience. The accounting package is easy to use, simple to train on, and quick to compile financial statements and trend reports.

The business intelligence system is just as user friendly, enabling us to run daily/weekly/monthly reports that are stored on the menu, he said. The data is intuitive  whether its actual, budgeted, prior year, or two years ago  and the dropdowns are easy to access and understand. Because we have international locations, Aptech built a drop down on the menu where we can select an alternative currency. Its been very helpful. Finally, when it comes to budgeting and forecasting, we can estimate room revenues by market segment on a granular level to improve forecasting accuracy.

Solving the Need for Speed

Rene Wilson, Virgin Hotels VP of operations finance, said having all three Aptech solutions working together aids in the brands financial efficiency  especially when it comes to budgeting and forecasting.

Having three finance software systems in one is the most efficient way to operate, Wilson said. Any time that data can flow seamlessly from one system to the next without having to double or triple check the figures is fantastic. Some financial management solutions may omit certain general ledger information if it is not imported or mapped correctly. With Aptech, this is something that we never have to worry about.

In regard to accounting, our directors of finance often tell us how much they appreciate being able to post a journal entry and financial statement right away, he said. In past roles, Ive worked with other vendors who make you wait to upload data or the speed with which it takes import the numbers was too slow. In the finance world, speed is everything. Aptechs automated invoice processing is very promising. We have been piloting it in New York for the last 60 days. Its added a vast amount of speed and efficiency to the accounts payable process, and everyone is eager for us to turn that functionality on at our other hotels. Being able to scan large batches of invoices and populate the data is saving our AP teams an impressive amount of time in keying in all the information. We are all in with Aptech and automation.

Best-In-Class Support

Both White and Wilson said Aptech support is the standout feature that surpasses its software. White said while its rare to have a software issue, the customer service team will usually reply within 15 minutes or less  even after hours  if needed. That is something all property-level finance leaders are very grateful for, he added.

Aptech support is not limited to its customer service team, Wilson said. Sometimes we reach out to the executive team to help us in building new reports in Execuvue. I say what I need and they get together with their development team and build us something from scratch. From the top down, everyone is instrumental in providing value and tailoring the software to our evolving needs. Thats rare to find in a technology partner. We appreciate that Aptech is always on the cutting edge of innovation. We are looking forward to the day when we can leverage AI inside Execuvue to speak commands, such as show me the forecast projection for Nashville for the next 30 days, and within seconds the data visualization I requested will appear. That will be an excellent feature.

Aptech President Jill Wilder said she is delighted that Virgin Hotels is so impressed with Aptech solutions and her team.

Virgin, as a brand, has always been on the leading edge of technology, particularly with its customers, Wilder said. Just as they strive to create unique customer experiences, challenge the status quo, and champion their people, we try to do the same. Their purpose is to change business for good. Our purpose is to change hotel finance processes for the good of hospitality businesses. Together we make a dynamic team, and we are proud to support Virgin Hotels today and long into the future.

To learn more about Aptech solutions, visit them at HITEC Charlotte, June 24 to 27 at the Charlotte Convention Center in Booth #2644 or visit http://www.aptech-inc.com.



About Aptech

Aptech Computer Systems, Inc., based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is the only provider of a fully integrated enterprise accounting, business intelligence and planning ecosystem to the hospitality industry. All clients are companies like yours, which own or manage hotels. Its solutions help customers at both the corporate and property levels understand their financial and operational data for faster goal achievement. The company is renowned for introducing business intelligence into the hotel industry and offers a solid resource of hospitality professionals. Aptech is an IBM Software Value Plus partner and Premier Solution Provider, as well as a Prophix Premier Business Partner. Incorporated in 1970, Aptechs state-of-the-art back office, true business intelligence and enterprise planning solutions are 100% hotel specific. Solutions include PVNG, Execuvue and Targetvue. Clients comprise over 3,500 properties  including large chains, multiple-property management companies and single-site hotels. Execuvue is registered to Aptech Computer Systems Inc. All other trademarks are owned by their respective holders. For more information, please visit www.aptech-inc.com.
Pricing Transparency Without Hidden Mandatory Junk Fees. Does This Apply to Restaurants Too? New California Proposed Law (SB 1524 ) Says 'No!' Can This Be Right? - By Mark S. Adams

For more than 20 years consumers have complained about hidden mandatory fees, junk fees, resort fees, destination fees, service fees, administration fees, health fees, surcharges, connection fees, and similar charges, whatever they are called.

Californias new Honest Pricing Law, SB 478, cracks down on hidden fees, requiring businesses to advertise and list a price that includes all mandatory charges. This applies to most goods and services, but a new bill, SB 1524, proposes an exception for restaurants.

SB 478: Transparent Pricing and the End of Junk Fees

SB 478, taking effect July 1, 2024, prohibits businesses from advertising a misleadingly low price and then tacking on hidden mandatory fees at checkout. This includes service charges, resort fees, and other surprise surcharges. Consumers have long complained about these junk fees, and SB 478 aims to create price transparency. Californias Civil Code Section 1770(a)(29), amended by SB 478, prohibits unfair business practices like misrepresenting product qualities. Importantly, it requires businesses to advertise prices that include all mandatory fees, excluding only government taxes and reasonable shipping costs. This transparency aims to protect consumers from unexpected charges. Certain industries, like those complying with FCC regulations for internet access or those already subject to federal and state disclosure laws for financial services, are exempt from this specific provision.

SB 1524: A Special Exception for Restaurants?

Introduced on June 6, 2024, SB 1524 would allow restaurants to continue adding mandatory service charges, gratuities, and other fees on top of their advertised prices, as long as these fees are clearly disclosed on menus or advertisements. The proposed amendment to Civil Code 1770, would add a new subsection 29(D) to exempt restaurants from the transparent pricing mandate of in that section by adding this language:

(D) For purposes of this paragraph, advertising, displaying, or offering a price for a good or service does not include advertising or displaying the price of individual food or beverage items sold by a restaurant, bar, or other food service provider, or sold pursuant to a contract for banquet or catering services, provided that any service charge, mandatory gratuity, or other mandatory fee or charge is clearly and conspicuously displayed on the advertisement, menu, or other display.

The Debate: Transparency vs. Industry Flexibility

This exemption has raised concerns about consumer protection and a level playing field for businesses. SB 1524s proponents, including the restaurant industry and the labor union UNITE HERE, argue that it allows restaurants flexibility in covering costs like employee benefits. Opponents argue that this exemption undermines the core purpose of SB 478  price transparency for consumers. They question why restaurants should be treated differently from other businesses and point out the Federal Trade Commissions stance that hidden fees are deceptive practices.

The Future: Will Restaurants Get a Pass on Hidden Fees?

Whether SB 1524 passes remains to be seen. It faces opposition from consumer advocates who prioritize transparency. The coming months will reveal if the logic of SB 478  honest pricing for all  prevails, or if restaurants win this special exemption.

Potential Outcomes of SB 1524

Note that SB 478 is a law effective July 1st, requiring businesses to advertise all-inclusive prices for goods and services, excluding only government taxes and reasonable shipping costs. SB 1524, on the other hand, is a potential carve out of SB 478 for restaurants, but to be effective, SB 1524 needs to be passed.

So is SB 1524 the Beginning of Even More SB 478 Carve Outs?

Who knows? The debate surrounding SB 1524 extends beyond the restaurant industry. It raises questions about exemptions for other industries. If restaurants win a carve-out, could hotels, ticket sellers, or other businesses seek similar exemptions from the transparent pricing requirements? The outcome of SB 1524 might also influence the Federal Trade Commissions role in regulating hidden fees. The FTCs existing stance against hidden fees could inform future regulations aimed at creating a level playing field across industries. Ultimately, this case could be a turning point in establishing clear and consistent pricing practices nationwide.

But keep in mind, SB 478 stands on a long-standing and well-supported platform against Junk Fees. Since 2012, the FTC has issued reports and proposed rules suggesting that the use of deceptively attractive low prices to catch consumer attention is bait-and-switch, consumer fraud when there are other mandatory fees or charges (junk fees) that will be added to the cost. See:

Conclusion

SB 1524 presents a significant challenge to Californias push for transparent pricing. The outcome will impact not just restaurants and consumers, but potentially set a precedent for businesses nationwide. The question remains whether the focus will prioritize consumer protection through clear pricing or industry flexibility with carve-outs.

Mark S. Adams, Hotel Dispute Lawyer, is an experienced trial lawyer and a senior member of JMBMs Global Hospitality Group. A primary focus of Marks practice is devoted to representing clients on hundreds of matters involving Hospitality Litigation, Arbitration & Dispute Resolution  from avoiding litigation to conducting complex, multi-state litigation, arbitration, and mediation.

Marks expertise is in business litigation involving contracts, corporate and partnership disputes, and hospitality disputes and litigation. On behalf of hotel and resort owners, Mark has successfully litigated the termination of long-term, no-cut, hotel management agreements, franchise agreements, fiduciary duty issues, investor-owner disputes, TOT assessments, and more. He has wide-ranging trial experience in various commercial disputes, including complex multi-party litigation and class actions. He has tried numerous cases in state courts, federal courts, and domestic and international arbitrations and is a frequent author and speaker on trial practice. Forbes, Reuters, and other publications have covered Marks trial wins. He obtained two of Californias 50 largest jury verdicts in the same year.

Mark has taken or defended nearly 1,000 depositions throughout North America, Europe, and the Middle East. The Wall Street Journal has quoted him as an expert on noncompete agreements. For more information, contact Mark at 949.623.7230 or markadams@jmbm.com.
Image Credit Cloudbeds

There used to be a time when hotel revenue managers simply had to look at predicted demand and keep an eye on competitors rates to optimize pricing.

When travelers booked a hotel room, they had no way of knowing the quality of the guest experience unless they had stayed at the hotel before or knew someone who had. For them, the primary quality indicator was price.

All that changed when online reviews came along.

Online reviews bridged that information gap, creating value transparency and replacing price as the only quality indicator. For revenue managers, that meant adding a new strategy (and a new skill) to their decision-making: reputation pricing.

In this article, we explore reputation pricing, strategies for improving reputation and rates, and technology to help.

What is reputation pricing?

Reputation pricing uses your hotels online reputation as one of the factors influencing rates. As IDeaS explains, reputation pricing aligns your hotels room rates with three elements: your guests knowledge about the level of experience you offer, their expectations about the value they can get for their money, and their willingness to pay for that value.

How your online reputation impacts pricing strategies

Your online reputation has a significant impact on occupancy and profitability.

Research shows that the more positive reviews a property has, the higher it will rank in search results. This, in turn, leads to more visitors, conversions, and, finally, higher occupancy rates.

Additionally, if guests believe (based on reviews and ratings) that they will get more value from staying at your property, theyll be willing to pay more for it. Pablo noted during Cloudbeds Live that as long as a hotel fits within a travelers budget and is in the right location, theyre likely to splurge and pay a little bit extra to guarantee a positive guest experience. Thats when reputation pricing comes in, allowing revenue managers to increase metrics like ADR (average daily rate) and, ultimately, RevPAR (revenue per available room).

The connection between reputation and rates

Several research studies have confirmed the connection between reputation and rates. One study by Cornell University estimated that a 1-point increase in user review score (on an OTAs 5-point scale) would allow a property to increase prices by 11.2% without harming its occupancy rates.

In a paper published by the Universidad de Murcia, researchers compared the rates of the hotels ranking #1 on Tripadvisor in four Spanish cities with those of their three direct competitors. The results showed that, in most cases, the top-ranking hotels applied considerably higher rates than competitors for the same room type.

MADRID VALENCIA SEVILLA BILBAO AVG Hotel ranking #1 181,29  87,35  182,46  137,99  147,27  Avg rate of three competitors 125,10  86,84  168,81  101,07  120,46  Avg difference in  56,20  0,51  13,64  36,92  26,82  Avg difference in % 44,92% 0,59% 8,08% 36,53% 22,26% Max difference 93,27  59,01  114,84  83,93  93,64 

The impact of negative reviews

While positive reviews will increase your hotels expected value, negative ones will have the opposite effect. However, trying to offset that with lower rates is not that simple.

A study by Kelly A. McGuire and Jeannette Hoincluded in their book Hotel Pricing in a Social World: Driving Value in the Digital Economyshowed that: lowering the price of a badly rated and negatively reviewed property provides no additional value in the minds of consumers. If you have negative reviews, the authors say, you should keep the price up and try to fix the issues that generated them instead.

As a warning to hoteliers, Adele Gutman shared during Cloudbeds Live that just one negative review can turn away 30 guests and noted that AI suggestions have been known to spread negative reviews even if the issue has been addressed. Therefore, hotels must try their best to avoid poor reviews entirely.

6 ways to improve reputation and increase rates simultaneously

The goal of reputation pricing is to understand your perceived value and increase it over time. This process involves not only revenue managers but also marketing and operations teams.

Here are six steps to follow to increase your reputation and rates:

1. Understand your online reputation

You cant do anything until you understand your perceived value in the market. To do this, collect and analyze guest feedback and perform a sentiment analysis to see where you stand. Consider both direct and indirect feedback as part of your analysis.

Direct feedback includes:

Hotel guest responses to email surveys

Feedback collected directly by staff

Ratings and reviews left on OTAs (online travel agencies like Booking.com) and other external channels (like Google)

Indirect feedback includes:

Mentions of your hotel on social media

Loyalty program participation

Conversion rates on metasearch campaigns

Conversion rates on your hotels website.

2. Know your competitors reputation

A good reputation is not enough to charge more; you must offer more value than the competition to push the price. Ensure you understand the value (and shortcomings) of your competition and amplify how you deliver a better experience.

For example, if your competitors guests are complaining about the continental breakfast being underwhelming, make sure you advertise your award-winning dining experience with pictures and detailed descriptions on your profiles.

3. Know your guests

The other side of the equation for assigning value to your reputation is your customers willingness to pay, which can be different depending on property type (hostel, luxury, boutique), guest segment (leisure, business), or booking source (corporate/consortia, travel agency vacation packages).

Pablo shared that he recently spoke to the General Manager of an independent hotel that leverages group business in the winter since capacity is lower. Therefore, its unlikely that the hotel will receive noise complaints or other negative feedback. In the summer, however, the hotel doesnt push to have events in case they disturb high-paying transient travelers.

By knowing your segments in and out, you can offer a highly valued guest experience that warrants a higher price.

4. Assign a monetary value to reputation

Utilizing technology, take the data youve collected about your reputation, guest segments, competitors, and overall revenue to determine if, based on your hotels reputation, you can raise rates.

Knowing your guests price elasticity will be crucial to determining the maximum premium you can apply without hurting occupancy rates.

5. Improve your reputation and maintain it

It requires a consistent effort to maintain and improve your reputation. To ensure you climb the ranks and establish your hotel at the top of its category, implement a hotel reputation management strategy that includes the following:

Encourage feedback and respond to reviews. A report by Cornell University found that simply asking for feedback is associated with higher ratings and that responding to reviews leads to improved sales and revenue. Investing in an online reputation management strategy is crucial to establish a positive online reputation.

Know your priorities. Another study by Cornell University, which analyzed the content of over 95,000 hotel reviews, found that consistent service and comfortable rooms are key drivers of guest satisfaction, more than other factors such as location and amenities.

As you try to fix issues highlighted in guest reviews, its important to prioritize those operational areas. The study also found that for hoteliers, its much better to receive consistently good feedback. Travelers tend to consider excellent reviews mixed with less good ones as red flags, so ensure you offer a consistent experience.

Dont skimp on the details. A high star rating is not an excuse to ignore guests feedback. In fact, McGuire and Ho found that travelers value reviews more than ratings. If you receive a 4-star rating from a guest, but in their review, they mention a minor problemfor example, the shower wasnt working properlypotential guests are likely to value that detail, so you should too.

6. Use reputation pricing with other strategies

Reputation pricing should be used with other tried and tested hotel pricing strategies, most commonly:

Competitive pricing. Look at the rates of your direct competitors to make sure youre not charging unreasonably high or low rates.

Demand-based pricing. Vary pricing based on demand, whether its actual (bookings already made by guests for a given period) or based on forecasting.

Profit pricing. Determine rates by calculating the hotels operating costs and adding the target profit margin.

How technology can help improve reputation and increase rates

Monitoring and managing your online reputation can be challenging, especially because of the sheer number of platforms (OTAs, social media, and metasearch engines) where guests can leave reviews. Thats where technology can help.

Reputation and revenue management systems (RMS) can be integrated with a hotels PMS, channel manager, and booking engine to facilitate a reputation pricing strategy. With an integrated system, hotels can gather and respond to guest feedback and update rates across platforms all from one place.

8 top reputation management tools

Here are some of the leading reputation management tools for hotels to streamline the collection and analysis of guest feedback.

Cloudbeds.

Cloudbeds new AI-powered review management tool integrates with Google Business Profile to help hotels manage reviews and craft personalized responses. With this tool, lodging businesses can:

Respond to guest reviews fast

Utilize AI-generated replies to improve ratings and reputation

Self-manage reviews all in one place

In addition, Whistle for Cloudbeds offers real-time messaging, in-stay surveys, and seamless integration with TripAdvisor, automatically verifying guests reviews for authenticity.

Cloudbeds also integrates with the following solutions, giving hoteliers the flexibility to choose the best system for their business.

See everything the Cloudbeds Platform has to offer. Book a demo

GuestRevu.

Monitors reviews on Google and TripAdvisor collects personalized feedback from guests, and consolidates it in Cloudbeds PMS.

Hotels Quality.

Allows you to communicate with guests via email, SMS, and instant messages, with a focus on marketing automation and upselling.

myHotel.

Helps reputation management by sending out guest surveys, monitoring online reviews and sending real-time alerts to address issues with guests promptly.

Reputize.

Actively engages with guests during and after their stay, helping you fix issues before they turn into a negative review.

StayFI.

Helps you engage with guests before, during, and after their stay, also by leveraging guest WiFi.

TrustYou.

Uses a proprietary scoring system to assess a hotels online reputation and a multi-channel messaging platform to engage with guests and collect guest feedback.

Xperium by RepUp.

Automates review monitoring and ensures 1:1 guest communication on multiple channels from a unified dashboard.

Drive more bookings at a higher ADR

Reputation pricing sits at the intersection of revenue management, sales, marketing, and operations.

Although it requires hoteliers to actively monitor customer satisfaction and manage feedback, it can be an effective revenue management strategy to leverage positive reviews and ratings, driving more bookings at a higher ADR.

To be successful, hotels must understand guest expectations in the hospitality industry, develop a strong online presence backed by positive reviews, and make pricing decisions that align with their perceived value.

About Cloudbeds

Cloudbeds is the leading platform redefining the concept of PMS for the hospitality industry, serving tens of thousands of properties in more than 150 countries worldwide. Built from the ground up to be masterfully unified and scalable, the award-winning Cloudbeds Platform brings together built-in and integrated solutions that modernize hotel operations, distribution, guest experience, and data & analytics.

Founded in 2012, Cloudbeds has been named a top PMS, Hotel Management System and Channel Manager (2021-2024) by Hotel Tech Report, Worlds Best Hotel PMS Solutions Provider (2022) by World Travel Awards, and recognized in Deloittes Technology Fast 500 in 2023. For more information, visit www.cloudbeds.com.
The Philippines is one of the most vulnerable countries in ASEAN due to its ease of access to technology and well-established financial transaction facilities, according to a research by the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF). This was revealed during the recent Advanced Investigation Workshop 2024, which was organized by the International Justice Mission (IJM) to tackle critical issues surrounding Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (OSAEC).

(L-R) National Investigations and Law Enforcement Development director Atty. Noel Eballe, International Justice Mission Karlo Taboada, GCash chief risk officer Ingrid Berona, and International Justice Mission internet crimes against children specialist Bill Maddox

During the workshop, GCash, the countrys leading finance app, was invited to share its best practices against OSAEC, as part of its continued efforts to battle cybercrimes and promote a safe and secure digital ecosystem.

GCash chief risk officer Ingrid Berona shared before international law enforcer participants the critical role of inter-agency partnerships in the fight against women and children's exploitation.

"Last year, over 100 possible OSAEC transactions were endorsed to GCash by one our partner remittance center and Anti-Money Laundering Council. What we do is we monitor these possible cases and if found suspicious, relevant accounts are blacklisted and reported back to them for further investigation. Aside from reports from our partners, our system also alerts us of suspicious transactions that could possibly be related to sexual abuse of children online," said Berona.

Participants of the 10-day workshop gathered representatives from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), the Philippine National Police Women and Children Protection Center (PNP-WCPC), Anti Money Laundering Council (AMLC), the Australian Federal Police (AFP), the Netherlands Police, and the United Kingdom's National Crime Agency (NCA).

To ensure the safety of its users, GCash, the largest cashless ecosystem in the country, continues to closely work with top law enforcement authorities, including the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG), the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC), to combat cybercrime.

"Considering our thrust towards financial inclusion, we believe in helping the marginalized so that we can truly be an organization that serves all. More than just scams and fraud, GCash believes that it also has a social responsibility to use its resources against other crimes against persons, especially helpless women and children," concluded Berona.

For more information, visit https://www.gcash.com
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Missing for 80 years and thought lost, a painting banned by the Nazis has sold for almost 6m (7m) at auction.

Only seen before in black-and-white photos taken by the artist themself, Tanz im Variete took art historians across the world by surprise when it turned up at a Munich auction house earlier this year.

German expressionist Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, who is known for his vibrant abstract pieces, was included on the Nazis degenerate art list which saw over 600 of his works sold or destroyed under the regime.

Tanz im Variete was thought to be among them, until it resurfaced in what art historians believe to be a sensation.

The oil on canvas painting, dated to 1911, depicts a black man and a white woman dancing the cakewalk among a crowd at a party. The dance was popularised by African-American dancers across Europe in the early 20th century.

The painting was owned by a jewellery designer in 1944 but was kept hidden in a heavy duty crate on a farm in the countryside to protect it from Allied aerial bombardment and the risks of the Nazi party finding it.

open image in gallery Ernst Ludwig Kirchners work was banned by the Nazi party ( Ernst Ludwig Kirchner )

When French troops took the village in 1945, the crate was discovered and forced open and the canvas was damaged by a bullet and a stab with a bayonet.

Auction house Ketterer Kunst said that a bullet hit the head of one of the female dancers on the left while the male dancers torso was pierced.

Fortunately, the soldiers, left the crate with the painting behind and the painting was rescued and restored.

The owner then gave the painting to his two children in 1980 on his 75th birthday, and told them to return it to public view in the future. The previous owners chose to remain anonymous.

The damage is still visible on the works reverse side, but that did not stop it from being sold for a huge sum at Ketterer Kunst on Friday.

The sale exceeded the auction houses expectations by fetching 6,958,000 (5,875,509) - more than double than the 2,000,000 estimated.

The work has literally been waiting in the wings of art history for a century to step into the limelight, the auction house said.

open image in gallery Another Kirchner painting named Czardas dancers ( Ernst Ludwig Kirchner )

They added that the painting reflects social upheaval in Germany before the First World War and is a homage to the golden age of entertainers who, before the First World War, sent audiences into ecstasy with their show dances.

Kirchner died in Switzerland in 1938 in what was believed to be a suicide at the time, however historians have since said he was likely shot in the heart by someone else.

Theories range from his partner, neighbouring farmers or local Nazis pulling the trigger but the actual circumstances around his death remain uncertain.
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Artist Kehinde Wiley, best known for painting Barack Obamas presidential portrait, has denied sexual assault allegations in a new post on social media, claiming his accuser has pursued him over the years.

Last month, British-Ghanian artist and curator Joseph Awuah-Darko accused Wiley of sexually assaulting him twice in 2021. It almost destroyed me, the artist wrote of the alleged incident on Instagram.

In the post, Awuah-Darko claimed that on June 9, 2021, he was inappropriately groped by Wiley at a dinner hosted by Noldor Artist Residency in Ghana to celebrate Wileys work. He said the groping was unwelcome and unprovoked and that it had happened in front of another guest.

He then alleged that a second assault was much more severe and violent, without going into further detail. However, he later told The New York Times that the sexual encounter began consensually, but that it then moved to a bedroom, where Mr. Wiley forced himself on him after Mr. Awuah-Darko had said he did not want to go further.

Wiley has now responded to Awuah-Darkos allegations in his own June 11 Instagram post, writing: I need to set the record straight about false claims made against me. My accusers disturbing allegations are baseless and defamatory. And while I largely stayed silent, I must bring the truth about how he has pursued me over the years to light.

Alongside screenshots of their private interactions on WhatsApp, Wiley confirmed that he had met Awauah-Darko at a 2021 dinner hosted at his loft space in Ghana.

We were flirting all night, Wiley explained. Around 4am, he came to my hotel room. We had a one time encounter. Everything was consensual.

Kehinde Wiley called the allegations a reckless smear campaign ( Getty Images )

Wiley continued: The next day, he left happily, as witnessed by my assistant who arranged his transportation home. He also set me these friendly and flirty text messages. This marked the beginning of years of Joseph aggressively pursuing a relationship with me.

In February 2022, a year after we first met, he traveled 4,377 miles from London to Lagos, Nigeria JUST to attend my birthday party, he claimed. Just last year he repeatedly sought to visit me at my cabin in Upstate New York, which I ignored.

Since our first encounter in 2021, he has consistently sent me messages via phone and Instagram professing his love for me, my talent, and my work.

Calling the allegations a reckless smear campaign, Wiley accused Awuah-Darko of harassing friends and colleagues desperately seeking any information to support his ridiculous campaigns.

He found nothing, Wiley said, adding that Awuah-Darko finally managed to conspire with a person I had a brief consensual encounter with in 2021; this person had also hoped for a more significant relationship.

We live in a world where a single false social media post can destroy someones life, where people are tried and convicted online without regard for the truth. This is dangerous and wrong, Wiley concluded. I encourage all who read this post to take a closer look at my accusers and their motivations.

Wiley has since sent Awuah-Darko a cease and desist letter demanding that he remove the categorically false and defamatory Instagram posts, CNN reports.

Awuah-Darko, meanwhile, addressed Wiley directly in an Instagram post shared on Monday, that read: Sue me and EVERY OTHER victim that has publicly come forward for defamation if you say our claims are false. I dare you. And do it quickly.
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Glen Powells latest project Hit Man, which follows the life of undercover police officer Gary Johnson, has soared to the top of Netflixs film charts just days after its release.

Directed by School of Rocks Richard Linklater, Hit Man tells the story of Gary Johnson (Powell), a philosophy professor who begins working for the police while posing as an assassin-for-hire to aid in sting operations.

The film explores the somewhat true story of the undercover police contractors life who unexpectedly discovers that he can pose as a reliable hitman to bring down those enlisting his services to kill their enemies.

Thanks to Hit Mans shocking plot, viewers have been quick to question how closely the film stayed faithful to Gary Johnsons unbelievable life story and whether Powells character is a real person.

*Some spoilers ahead*

In the film, Johnson, who is a professor of psychology and philosophy at the University of New Orleans, is depicted as a nerdy bird watching-enthusiast with a forgettable face, which enables his transition into the hitmen he poses as.

The real-life Johnnson actually taught classes in human sexuality and psychology in Texas and worked alongside the local law enforcement in Houston. But  just like in the film  Johnson would meet people soliciting hitmen while wearing a wire and wheedle out confessions.

Glen Powell in Hit Man ( Netflix )

Hit Man is based on a 2001 Texas Monthly article by the journalist Skip Hollandsworth. In the piece, Hollandsworth details how Johnson was considered the Laurence Olivier of the field as his investigations have led to 60 arrests of Houston locals who tried to hire him as their assassin.

While working, Johnson went under aliases including Mike Caine, Jody Eagle, and Chris Buck and was thought to be thegreatest professional hitman in Houston by his clients. Hes the perfect chameleon, Houston lawyer Michael Hinton told Hollandsworth. He never gets flustered, and he never says the wrong thing. ... He fools them every time.

In Hit Man, Johnson is employed by a woman called Maddy Masters (Adria Arjona) who hires him to kill her abusive husband, Ray (Evan Holtzman). Rather than soliciting a confession from Masters, Johnson tells her to use the money intended to kill Ray to leave him and start a new life. But Johnson and Masters wind up sleeping together, start a relationship, and Masters ex later emerges looking for revenge.

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Adria Arjona and Powell in Hit Man' ( Courtesy of Netflix )

In reality, there is no evidence Johnson dated hit clients. The professor has been married and divorced three times and is described by his second wife, Sunny, as a loner.

She told Texas Monthly: Hell show up at parties and have a good time, and hes always friendly, but he likes being alone, being quiet. Its still amazing to me that he can turn on this other personality that makes people think he is a vicious killer.

Johnson told Hollandsworth: Doing what you do, its sort of hard to trust peopleI think it would be fair to say that I dont let many people get too close.

Despite never sleeping with a client, Johnson did meet a woman who was a victim of abuse in real life and attempted to steer her away from employing him. He learned that she really was the victim of abuse, regularly battered by her boyfriend, too terrified to leave him because of her fear of what he might do if he found her, Hollandsworth writes.

Powell in Hitman ( Netflix )

Instead of setting up a sting to catch the woman and send her off to jail, he decided to help her. He referred her to social service agencies and a therapist to make sure she got proper help so she could leave her boyfriend and get into a womens shelter.

In Hit Man, two murders take place: Masters kills her ex husband Ray after he comes looking for her and Johnson kills a policeman who finds out about the crime and threatens to turn the couple in unless they give him a million dollars. Notably, real life Johnson never killed anyone.

Hit Mans final title card describes Johnson as the chillest dude imaginable who loved animals, was a Vietnam War veteran and a practicing Buddhist. The professor was born in 1947 and died before Hit Man started filming in 2022. His cause of death is unknown.
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Ian McKellen has said hell star in a recently announced Lord of the Rings franchise  on one morbid condition.

The actor, who played Gandalf in Peter Jacksons blockbuster JRR Tolkien adaptations, addressed rumours he might feature in the forthcoming film, centred on Andy Serkiss Gollum, during a new interview.

After Warner Bros announced The Hunt for Gollum last month, it was theorised by fans that Gandalf might appear  and McKellen has confirmed there are stirrings in Tolkien land.

Speaking to The Times, McKellen said he has heard that Gandalf will be in the film, but levelled: There is no script, there is no offer, there is no plan.

However, the 85-year-old said he would be up for being in the film if Im alive.

McKellen, who is set to play Falstaff in Player Kings at the Noel Coward Theatre, reflected on his age during the interview, revealing that he now often wonders if projects he accepts will be his final job.

If you want to know that you are mortal, you just have to look at your address book. And so when a script comes through, or the hint of an offer, you think, This might be my last job. No. Im not doing that.

The Hunt for Gollum is the first of several planned new Lord of the Rings franchises that will be released by Warner Bros in the coming decade.

Serkis, who will direct the film, said of the news: Yesssss, Precious. The time has come once more to venture into the unknown with my dear friends, the extraordinary and incomparable guardians of Middle Earth Peter, Fran and Philippa. With Mike and Pam, and the Warner Bros team on the quest as well, alongside WETA and our filmmaking family in New Zealand. Its just all too delicious.

Ian McKellen as Gandalf in the Lord of the Rings franchise ( New Line Cinema )

Meanwhile, Jackson and his fellow producers, Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens, added: It is an honour and a privilege to travel back to Middle-earth with our good friend and collaborator, Andy Serkis, who has unfinished business with that Stinker  Gollum! As life-long fans of Professor Tolkiens vast mythology, we are proud to be working with Mike De Luca, Pam Abdy and the entire team at Warner Bros on another epic adventure!
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Jin, the oldest member of the South Korean boyband BTS, was greeted by his bandmates as he completed his mandatory military service and was discharged on Wednesday 12 June.

The 31-year-old emerged from his army base in South Koreas northern Yeoncheon county early on Wednesday, where he was met by bandmates RM, j-hope, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook.

As Jin greeted and hugged his fellow bandmates, RM played a saxophone in the background, belting out the hook from their hit song Dynamite.

The other members, who are also in the process of completing their military service, had to request time off from their respective camps.

Jin, whose real name is Kim Seok-jin, posted a cryptic message on online fan platform Weverse on Tuesday that referred to the day of his release as D-Day. His message simply read: D-1.

open image in gallery BTS member Jin (L) is welcomed by his bandmates (2-L-R) Jimin, Jungkook, j-hope, V, and RM in front of the main gate of the Armys 5th Infantry Division after completing his 18 months of mandatory military service in Yeoncheon, South Korea, 12 June 2024 ( EPA )

Jin enlisted in December 2022.

Shortly after his discharge, Jin appeared on a live stream from his agencys headquarters, fulfilling a promise he had made to fans before his enlistment. He also posted a photo from the bands official account, with member Suga joining in for the group photo.

I'm normally more handsome than this, but I cried when I was discharged. My eyes are puffy. I usually have confidence in my face, but I'm less confident today, said Jin on the live.

Ahead of Jins discharge, the bands agency, BigHit Music, asked fans not to assemble at the military base camp.

We are excited to bring you the news of Jins upcoming military discharge.

Jin is close to completing his active service in the army and will soon be discharged.

Please note that the discharge day is reserved for military personnel only. No special events are planned on the day of Jins discharge. To prevent any issues arising from overcrowding, fans are strongly advised to refrain from visiting the site. Please convey your warm regards and encouragement in your hearts.

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While it appeared that only the media was present at the base and fans stayed away, there were massive crowds outside the company building, with police being called in for crowd control.

In South Korea, where all able-bodied men must join the military and serve 18 months in active service, Jins conscription sparked a fierce debate about the rules. Many believed that exemptions should be provided to prominent entertainers like BTS.

In 2019, lawmakers who wanted BTS, also called Bangtan Sonyeondan, exempted argued that the band was worth $4.65bn to South Koreas economy, accounting for 0.3% of the countrys GDP.

In 2020, the law was revised to allow globally recognised K-pop stars to postpone their service until they turned 30.

open image in gallery V, Jungkook, Jimin, RM, Jin, j-hope and Suga of BTS speak at the White House in Washington DC on 31 May 2022 ( Getty )

Several activities have been planned for Jins return. His discharge comes a day ahead of the bands 11th debut anniversary, a day which the group usually commemorates by holding several events and performances. This year, since Jin is the only member present, he will be holding a free meet and greet event, where he will hug 1,000 fans who won a raffle, which will be followed by his first performance in two years.

The band announced in 2022 they would be taking a break from group activities to focus on their solo music, while each member completed their military service. During this period, all the members released their solo albums, with Suga additionally going on tour under his alter ego Agust D.

Jin released a single, The Astronaut, co-written with Coldplay, in October 2022 and is expected to release his solo album later this year.

The remaining members are expected to complete their military service by the end of 2025, with Jung Kook and Jimin scheduled to return in December that year. They are anticipated to resume activities as a septet in 2026.

Fans of the band, who are popularly known as Army, have shared photos of BigHit parent companys Seoul headquarters, which has been plastered with the phrase Apobangpo.

The phrase was coined by Jung Kook as a way to say Army forever Bangtan Forever.
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Donald Trump has described Taylor Swift as unusually beautiful but liberal, noting: She probably doesnt like Trump.

The former US president and recently convicted felon was interviewed by Variety editor Ramin Setoodeh last November for a new book about his time hosting The Apprentice, Apprentice in Wonderland: How Donald Trump and Mark Burnett Took America Through the Looking Glass, which is set to be published on June 18.

Asked his opinion of Swift, Trump replied: Shes got a great star quality. She really does.

He continued: I think shes beautiful  very beautiful! I find her very beautiful. I think shes liberal. She probably doesnt like Trump. I hear shes very talented. I think shes very beautiful, actually  unusually beautiful!

Asked specifically what he thinks of her music, Trump admitted: Dont know it well.

He went on to question whether the pop superstar really is politically liberal, asking: She is liberal, or is that just an act? Shes legitimately liberal? Its not an act? It surprises me that a country star can be successful being liberal.

open image in gallery Donald Trump and Taylor Swift ( Getty )

When Setoodeh pointed out that Swift is no longer purely a country artist, Trump responded: Garth Brooks is liberal. Explain that! How does it happen? But hes liberal. Its one of those things...

Swift had been rumored to be a private Republican supporter during the 2016 election cycle, but in 2018 she went on to endorse Tennessee Democratic candidates Phil Bredesen for Senate and Jim Cooper for House of Representatives.

In her 2020 documentary Miss Americana, Swift discussed her decision to become politically vocal.

Back in the [2016] presidential election, I was in such a horrendous place that I wasnt going to pop my head out, she explains. These arent your dads celebrities and these arent your dads Republicans I need to be on the right side of history.

In the 2020 presidential election, Swift publicly backed Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. After that years Black Lives Matter protests, Swift directly tweeted at Trump: After stoking the fires of white supremacy and racism your entire presidency, you have the nerve to feign moral superiority before threatening violence? When the looting starts the shooting starts??? We will vote you out in November.

In a 2021 interview with Vanity Fair Swift explained further how Trump had affected her political stance, saying: As a country musician, I was always told its better to stay out of [politics]. The Trump presidency forced me to lean in and educate myself.
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Glastonbury might be known as one of the worlds greenest festivals, thanks to its setting in the picturesque Somerset countryside, but every so often the weather turns foul and those verdant fields are churned up into brown sludge.

As many fans will attest, over the years there have been a number of memorable occasions where guests spent more time trying to pry their wellies out of the mud than they did watching bands perform.

Some take this as a cue to give up and go home, while others decide to lean into it, resulting in some of the more iconic pictures of Glastonbury Festival.

Here are five of the muddiest Glastonbury festivals in memory.

1982  Slippery in Somerset

Glastonbury tickets in 1982 cost just 8 for the 25,000 people that attended. Although, those lucky enough to secure a ticket were not as lucky in the weather department.

On Friday, the festival saw the highest rainfall recorded in a single day for 45 years. The ground then became swampy and slippery, but in true Glastonbury fashion, that didnt stop the smiles.

The mud taking over the fields of Worthy Farm in 1982 ( ITV )

The mud didnt stop people from dancing and smiling in 1982 ( ITV )

1997  The year of mud

After over a decade of relatively dry weekends, 1997 at Glastonbury was dubbed the year of the mud.

The downpour during the preceding days had turned the Arthurian verdure into a swamp of oozing, sucking chocolate mousse, The Independent reported.

This was mud as you'd always imagined it: platonic mud, mud you could squeeze into gooey sculptures, mud which made every clod-lifting step a trial of strength. The famous Green Fields certainly weren't green, and they could barely be identified as fields.

Sir Michael Eavis, the festival organiser and co-organiser, told ITV at the time: People are really enjoying themselves - and not many people are leaving.

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He added: Its a shame about the weather and the mud and things but the spirit is very high.

Most of the 90,000 attendees that year still managed to enjoy the music, which included sets from The Prodigy, Radiohead and Massive Attack.

However, The Independent also reported that doctors attending the scene believed they had seen more cases of trenchfoot in two days than had been witnessed since the First World War.

It is basically people whose feet have been wet for 48 hours finding their soles starting to lacerate and blister, said Dr David Leeder, a volunteer in the festivals medical centre. This gets infected and its not very pretty. Its so uncommon we werent sure how to treat it.

One fan, Jim Sommerville from Edinburgh, had to be carried into the medical centre with his injured feet in the air: The wellies didnt get here until today and before I only had trainers, he told The Independent.

Ive been dancing in a puddle for about 18 hours but I might have to stop for a bit.

Meanwhile, other fans said they were giving up entirely: It was bad enough dealing with just the mud, said Susan Robinson from Stockport as she navigated her way up a slippery hill towards the exit. But some bastard stole my wellies from outside my tent last night and Ive given up the ghost.

Music fans make the best of muddy conditions as they display a wish you were here banner in 1997 ( PA )

Music fans enjoy the mud pools at the 1997 Glastonbury festival (Martin Bennett/PA) ( PA Archive )

2005 - Lightning strikes

After the year of the mud, the 2005 festival turned out to be the year of the flood, as Worthy Farm was hit by two months worth of rain in just a few hours. The weather gods even threw in a few lightning strikes for dramatic effect.

This turned the muddy fields into what can only be described as marshland, with festival-goers using inflatable boats and dinghies as their primary mode of transport.

A festival attendee pulling friend through the mud on an inflatable dingy in 2005 ( Getty Images )

Pete Doherty of The Libertines and model Kate Moss braving the mud in 2005 ( Getty Images )

One unlucky festival-goer traipses through a sea of water and abandoned tents during 2005s festival floods ( Getty Images )

2007  The wettest Glastonbury ever

Glastonbury 2007 was officially the wettest on record, with 60.1mm of rain falling on the Friday. And it didnt stop there; the wet weather stuck around for the entire weekend.

The 135,000-person-strong crowd braved the rain and mud to watch headliners the Arctic Monkeys, The Who and The Killers. Once again, Michael Eavis was impressed by how revellers managed to keep their spirits up.

Its gone very well, in spite of the rain and in spite of the mud, he said. The drains have actually worked, believe it or not. Someone called me from Spain and said they would swap all the sun they had for the Glastonbury culture.

Two festival-goers sliding in the mud in 2007 ( Getty Images )

People struggling to leave the festival due to the mud in 2007 ( Getty Images )

2016  Mud wrestling

Nine years later, festival attendees faced some of the worst mud the Somerset farm had ever seen, after torrential rainfall hit the site in the weeks running up to the festival.

Eavis told The Guardian that every single bit of woodchip they could find in the south of England was being used on the site, and even suggested that it was worse than the year of mud.

Ive never seen mud like it in my whole life. This is worse than 1997, he said. In all 46 years, it hasnt been as bad as this.

Two festival revellers roll in the mud in 2016 ( Getty Images )

Festival-goers eating lunch in the thick mud in 2016 ( Getty Images )

The leftover wellies after an awful year of mud in 2016 ( Getty Images )

Glastonbury 2024 takes place from Wednesday 26 June to Sunday 30 June. This years headliners are Dua Lipa, Coldplay and SZA, while the Legends Slot will be filled by country-pop star Shania Twain.

Fingers crossed that 2024s festival will bring a Sky Full of Stars rather than a Rainy Day. You can see the latest Glastonbury weather forecast here.
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Kevin Spacey has admitted that he once flew to Africa with Jeffrey Epstein, former President Bill Clinton and a group of young girls

However, he has continued to deny that he was ever friends with the controversial deceased sex offender.

The actor, 64, explained to Piers Morgan on his controversial Uncensored program that he met Epstein after Clinton invited him on an eight-day humanitarian trip to Africa in 2002.

It was primarily to raise awareness and prevention for AIDS, and particularly for mothers who had HIV to get the medication they needed to not pass it onto their children, so I said yes, absolutely, the actor claimed.

When flight log records for Epsteins jet, which has been dubbed the Lolita Express, confirmed Spacey had been a passenger the actor at first denied having a connection to Epstein.

Spacey told Morgan: I have since learned who he is and I have since been able to go back and find out that the airplane that we flew on for this humanitarian mission was owned by Jeffrey Epstein.

open image in gallery I didnt want to be around this guy because I felt he put the president at risk on that trip to South Africa, because there were these young girls, said Spacey of Jeffrey Epstein ( Piers Morgan Uncensored )

He continued: I didnt know him. I have never spent any time with him. I was with the Clinton Foundation people, thats who I was with.

Spacey went on to say that he felt uncomfortable about Epstein, despite claiming not to know who he was. I didnt want to be around this guy because I felt he put the president at risk on that trip to South Africa, because there were these young girls, said Spacey. We were like, Who is this guy?

Morgan then asked him specifically if there were young girls on those flights? And Spacey replied: There were young girls on those flights, yeah. Spacey did not elaborate on the ages of the girls aborad the plane.

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The Independent has reached out to the Clinton Foundation for comment on Spaceys claims.

Spacey maintained: Theres a big difference between not remembering that I met some guy and some woman on a humanitarian trip where my focus was entirely on what we were there to do, and not remembering whether I went to somebodys island.

He went on to say that the group continued on to the UK as Clinton had been invited by former Prime Minister Tony Blair to give a speech at a Labour Party conference.

So, we flew then to London, and the president said to me, Before we leave tomorrow, do you want to come? I am going to go to Buckingham Palace tomorrow to see Prince Andrew, do you want to come? said Spacey. I said, Sure.

Spacey was photographed with Epsteins confidante Ghislaine Maxwell sitting on the thrones at Buckingham Palace.

This Maxwell woman, she was one of many people to sit down next to me in that throne room, Spacey claimed.

I have no relationship with her. I had no relationship with [Epstein]. I mean hes not my friend. I am not a confidant. Ive never spent time with him.

Elsewhere in the interview, Spacey described his former behavior as too handsy and broke down in tears as he said he is many millions in debt and his Baltimore home is in foreclosure.

Spacey was last year acquitted of a number of sexual offenses alleged by four men in the UK to have taken place between 2001 and 2013.

Each of Spaceys accusers gave evidence in the trial, describing him as a vile sexual predator, slippery and atrocious, despicable, [and] disgusting.

In response, the two-time Oscar winner described the allegations against him as madness and a stab in the back. The jury acquitted Spacey of all charges.
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Kevin Spacey has admitted to being too handsy in the past, which he told Piers Morgan in a tearful new interview was touching someone sexually in a way that I didnt know at the time they didnt want.

The actor, 64, was speaking to Morgan on his controversial Uncensored program as he continues to battle Hollywood exile.

The House of Cards star also broke down in tears as he revealed that this week his home in Baltimore is being foreclosed on and sold at auction due to his massive debts.

I have to go back to Baltimore and put all my things in storage, said Spacey. Im not quite sure where Im going to live now.

Asked by Morgan why the house is being foreclosed, Spacey replied: Because I cant pay the bills that I owe.

As to whether hes facing bankruptcy, the actor revealed: Theres been a couple of times when I thought I was going to file, but weve managed to sort of dodge it, at least as of today. Pressed on how much money he has left, Spacey first replied: None, before telling Morgan: Well, you have some sense of legal bills. I still owe a lot of legal bills. He added that the figure he owes is: considerable. Many millions.

open image in gallery Kevin Spacey appearing on Piers Morgan Uncensored ( Piers Morgan Uncensored )

Spaceys appearance on the show follows the Channel 4 documentary Spacey Unmasked, which aired fresh allegations about the American Beauty star last month.

In a promotional video teasing the interview, Morgan called Spacey one of Hollywoods biggest villains both on and off screen and promised the actor would address the sexual assault claims against him.

Spacey was last year acquitted of a number of sexual offenses alleged by four men in the UK to have taken place between 2001 and 2013.

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Each of Spaceys accusers gave evidence in the trial, describing him as a vile sexual predator, slippery and atrocious, despicable, [and] disgusting.

In response, the two-time Oscar winner described the allegations against him as madness and a stab in the back. The jury acquitted Spacey of all charges.

Morgan claimed Spacey would also discuss other scandals that have engulfed him, including his association with Jeffrey Epstein and Prince Andrew.

News of Spaceys appearance on Piers Morgan Uncensored has been met with mixed reactions, with some fans calling him a phenomenal actor while other users called the booking an interesting choice.

Spacey was one of the most recognizable faces in Hollywood when allegations of sexual misconduct were first made in 2017, leading streaming giant Netflix to cut ties with the then-star of House of Cards.

The actor Anthony Rapp was the first to accuse the Hollywood A-lister of misconduct, telling BuzzFeed News that Spacey tried to seduce him when he was just 14. In 2022, a New York jury dismissed Rapps claims of sexual abuse.

Channel 4s recent documentary Spacey Unmasked interviewed 10 men not involved in the 2023 criminal trial.

Spacey described the claims as anonymized and non-specific, before writing off the program as a dying networks one-sided documentary about me in their desperate attempt for ratings.

He added: Each time I have been given the time and a proper forum to defend myself, the allegations have failed under scrutiny and I have been exonerated.

Sharon Stone, Stephen Fry, and Liam Neeson all subsequently spoke out in support of Spaceys return to Hollywood, calling him a genius and fun.

Channel 4 stood by its documentary, broadcast over two nights at the start of May, saying in a statement: Spacey Unmasked is an important film exploring the balance of power and inappropriate behaviour in a work environment, aiming to give a voice to those who have previously been unable to speak out.
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Kevin Spacey has been announced as a guest on Piers Morgans controversial Uncensored programme as he continues to battle Hollywood exile.

The actor, 64, is slated to appear on the YouTube show on Tuesday (11 June) following the Channel 4 documentary Spacey Unmasked, which aired fresh allegations about the American Beauty star last month.

In a promotional video teasing the interview, Morgan called Spacey one of Hollywoods biggest villains both on and off screen and promised the actor would address the sexual assault claims against him.

Spacey was last year acquitted of a number of sexual offences alleged by four men in the UK to have taken place between 2001 and 2013.

Each of Spaceys accusers gave evidence in the trial, describing him as a vile sexual predator, slippery and atrocious, despicable, [and] disgusting.

In response, the two-time Oscar winner described the allegations against him as madness and a stab in the back. The jury acquitted Spacey of all charges.

Morgan claimed Spacey would also discuss other scandals that have engulfed him, including his association with Jeffrey Epstein and Prince Andrew.

News of Spaceys appearance on Piers Morgan Uncensored has been met with mixed reactions, with some fans calling him a phenomenal actor while other users called the booking an interesting choice.

Spacey was one of the most recognisable faces in Hollywood when allegations of sexual misconduct were first made in 2017, leading streaming giant Netflix to cut ties with the then-star of House of Cards.

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The actor Anthony Rapp was the first to accuse the Hollywood A-lister of misconduct, telling BuzzFeed News that Spacey tried to seduce him when he was just 14. In 2022, a New York jury dismissed Rapps claims of sexual abuse.

Channel 4s recent documentary Spacey Unmasked interviewed 10 men not involved in the 2023 criminal trial.

open image in gallery Kevin Spacey has been announced as a guest on Piers Morgans controversial interview programme Piers Morgan Uncensored ( PA Archive )

Spacey described the claims as anonymised and non-specific, before writing off the programme as a dying networks one-sided documentary about me in their desperate attempt for ratings.

He added: Each time I have been given the time and a proper forum to defend myself, the allegations have failed under scrutiny and I have been exonerated.

Sharon Stone, Stephen Fry, and Liam Neeson all subsequently spoke out in support of Spaceys return to Hollywood, calling him a genius and fun.

Channel 4 stood by its documentary, broadcast over two nights at the start of May, saying in a statement: Spacey Unmasked is an important film exploring the balance of power and inappropriate behaviour in a work environment, aiming to give a voice to those who have previously been unable to speak out.
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Four instructors from a prestigious American college were stabbed in a public park on Monday in northeastern China, during a visit to a partnering university.

The instructors from Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa, were injured in the attack by an unknown assailant during a walk in a park in Jilin City, part of Jilin province in northern China, according to the school.

The four were with a faculty member from their partner institution, Beihua University, when they were injured in a serious incident, school president Jonathan Brand said in a statement to the college community.

We have been in contact with all four instructors and are assisting them during this time, Mr Brand said. He also confirmed that the school was in coordination with the US State Department.

"The U.S. Department of State and our embassies and consulates abroad have no higher priority than the safety and security of U.S. citizens overseas. We are aware of the stabbing of three U.S. citizens in Jilin City, a State Department spokesperson told The Independent.

We are providing all appropriate consular assistance. A consular officer visited the victims on June 11, they continued. We are in touch with local authorities and are closely monitoring the situation."

Images and a video of the injured, which were shared on social media, have reportedly been censored on Chinese platforms.

Iowa representative Ashley Hinson said in a post on X: My team has been in communication with Cornell College and will do everything in our power to bring these Iowans home safely.

Join me in praying for their health and safety.

Iowa governor Kim Reynolds said: I am in touch with Iowas federal delegation and the state department in response to this horrifying attack. Please pray for their full recovery, safe return, and their families here at home.

Iowa senator Joni Ernst also said her team was closely following reports that personnel from Cornell college in Mt Vernon were stabbed in China.

We are in touch with the college and the State Department, and stand ready to further assist these Iowans. Praying for a speedy recovery for all, she said on X.

According to CBS News, Iowa representative Adam Zabners brother David is one of the injured in the stabbing incident.

He told the outlet that his brother had been stabbed in the arm at Beishan Park and was recovering in hospital. He has not yet been released this morning but hes doing ok, he said.

It was not clear if the instructors were specifically targeted.

The partnership between Cornell College and Beihua University started in 2018. A news release from the same year noted that Beihua University funds Cornell professors trips to China, where they reside and teach computer science, mathematics, and physics over a two-week period.
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China is turning Hong Kong into a totalitarian state by compromising the rule of law, according to a British judge who resigned from the citys top court last week.

Jonathan Sumption is one of two British judges who resigned shortly after a Hong Kong court convicted 14 activists of subversion under a contentious national security law enacted in the wake of mass protests five years ago.

Mr Sumption and Lawrence Collins are set to be followed by Beverly McLachlin, former chief justice of the Supreme Court of Canada, who is leaving Hong Kong's top court when her term ends in July.

It has been a privilege serving the people of Hong Kong. I continue to have confidence in the members of the Court, their independence, and their determination to uphold the rule of law, Ms McLachlin said in a brief statement.

In an article for the Financial Times, Mr Sumption, who served as a non-permanent overseas judge, described growing "paranoia of the authorities" and intimidation of the judges by a "darkening political mood" in the city.

"Hong Kong, once a vibrant and politically diverse community, is slowly becoming a totalitarian state, he wrote. The rule of law is profoundly compromised in any area about which the government feels strongly.

He stayed on at the court hoping the presence of overseas judges would help sustain the rule of law, Mr Sumption said, but "I fear that this is no longer realistic.

China has allowed non-permanent foreign judges to sit on Hong Kongs Court of Final Appeal even after it took the then British colony back in 1997 to enable continuity with British Common Law tradition, provide expertise to local lawyers and reassure businesses and financial markets.

open image in gallery Protesters gather outside a Chinese consulate in Los Angeles to protest against Hong Kongs new national security law ( AFP via Getty )

Hong Kongs administration reacted strongly to Mr Sumption's article, saying there was "absolutely no truth that the city courts are under any political pressure".

"Anyone who suggested otherwise, no matter what the reasons or motives may be, would be utterly wrong, totally baseless, and must be righteously refuted," it said in a statement on Tuesday.

The citys leader, John Lee, said the professional duty of judges was to interpret and apply laws in accordance with legal principles and evidence regardless of their political views.

"Some UK officials and politicians try to weaponise the UK's judicial influence to target China and Hong Kong, he said.

"A judge is entitled to his personal political preferences, but that is not a judge's area of professional expertise.

In 2022, another British judge, Robert Reed, stepped down from the top court saying the citys administration had "departed from values of political freedom and freedom of expression."

Hong Kong has detained over 1,800 people in a crackdown on protests since the 2019 agitation, many of them under the national security law.
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A powerful Japanese business lobby is calling on the government to allow married couples to keep dual surnames, saying the lack of freedom to do so hinders womens advancement and has even become a business risk.

In Japan, each wedded pair has to legally adopt one family name. While either surname can be used, 95% of women still traditionally adopt their husbands, according to a 2022 government survey. Experts say such law only exists in Japan and have even accused it of putting women off marriage in a country already suffering dwindling nuptials.

Keidanren, or The Japan Business Federation, said Monday a the law has to be revised to fit a more diverse, equal and inclusive Japanese society.

This came months after about a dozen plaintiffs filed a lawsuit asking for the system to be changed.

As women play more active roles and the number of female executives is on the rise, the surname issue has become a business risk that companies can no longer dismiss as a problem of certain individuals, said Masakazu Tokura, head of Keidanren.

Tokura said many Japanese career women are already using their maiden names at work and on their business cards, including 90% of Keidanren female members. However, they still have to use their unified surnames on all legal documents, causing them issues when  for example  opening bank accounts, issuing credit cards, and traveling overseas as the names don't match, he said.

Keidanren internally surveyed its members and 88% of female executives expressed dissatisfaction with the status quo.

The proposal by the organization  which boasts over 1,500 Japanese companies and has regularly made economic policy recommendations  is seen as unusual for it has customarily supported Prime Minister Fumio Kishidas conservative governing Liberal Democratic Party that has shelved the dual surname idea for over three decades.

Tokura says the proposal will be submitted to the government next week following approval by the lobby's board meeting. They also called on the parliament to swiftly support a change in the 1898 civil code which governs the adoption of surnames.

On Monday, when asked about the proposal, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi of the governing party said the public had varied opinions on the matter and that careful discussion was needed.

However, several surveys show the vast majority support a dual-surname household, and the ruling LDP, which also opposes same-sex marriage, is already facing growing calls to allow more diversity in family values and marriage. Many in the party support traditional gender roles and a paternalistic family system, arguing that allowing the dual-surname option would destroy family unity.

In 2015 and 2021, the Supreme Court found said the one-surname-only policy wasn't unconstitutional but urged parliament to discuss the issue. But deliberations have stalled due to opposition by the governing party conservatives.

Akari Takahashi, a 22-year-old wedding planner, said she never questioned adopting her fathers surname until she traveled to Australia and her host mother expressed discontent with the idea of a unified family name.

That's when I realized something was wrong with it," Takahashi said, adding she couldnt imagine having to make such a choice.

The rights gap between men and women in Japan is among the worlds largest with Japan ranking 125th in a 146-nation survey by the World Economic Forum for 2023.
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Amazon workers in an Indian warehouse were allegedly made to pledge they would not take any breaks, including to drink water or go to the bathroom, until they met their targets, even as the country reeled under an unprecedented heatwave.

As temperatures soared past 50C, workers at Amazon Indias Manesar warehouse, located in the northern state of Haryana, said they were finding it increasingly difficult to cope with the hazardous working conditions they claim were being ignored by the management.

One worker, who requested anonymity, described an incident on 16 May when warehouse employees were allegedly asked to work continuously without breaks in order to meet their targets.

That day, we struggled to meet the target that was set, which was higher than usual; perhaps a sale was on, so products had to be moved to a different godown the same day. Around 4.30pm, one manager urged us to work harder, and then another manager instructed us to hold our arms out and pledge, We will not take any breaks, we will not stop to drink water or go to the bathroom until we meet our targets.

In a statement to The Independent, Amazon maintained that the safety and wellbeing of their employees was paramount. All Amazon sites have been equipped with heat index devices that constantly monitor changes in temperature, the company said.

The worker admitted there were fans and large coolers at the warehouse but described their impact as negligible. Walk just 10 steps away and you can barely feel any difference. The areas where we work are typically between 30-35C on any given day, she said.

She said she spent her days organising products from 8.30am to 6.30pm, with only two 30-minute breaks.

Despite the intense heat, she, along with approximately 2,000 other workers at this warehouse, had to endure 10-hour shifts on their feet, struggling to meet what they described as unreasonably high targets. The lack of seating adds to the strain  all for a salary of around Rs10,000 (94) per month.

The employee alleged that when women workers tried to rest in the bathrooms, the managers came looking for them.

The designated break rooms are small and unbearably hot, so many female workers end up resting in the bathrooms during their breaks. However, managers come searching for us if they feel that we have stayed too long, pressuring us to return to work, she said.

Women employees rest in the bathroom at an Amazon warehouse in Manesar, Haryana ( Supplied by Amazon India Workers Association )

The difficult conditions are not limited to break areas. A male worker recounted instances when several colleagues had fainted from the intense heat but were given a paracetamol tablet and asked to go back to work after resting for 10-15 minutes. Workers in the areas where products and packages are loaded and unloaded from trucks face particularly harsh conditions.

The trailers sit in the sun for two to three hours, making the interiors scorching hot. Yet were still expected to unload them in just five minutes, he explained.

An Amazon spokesperson said: Safety and wellbeing of our associates is of utmost priority for us. With several parts of the country witnessing inclement weather, all Amazon sites have been equipped with heat index devices that constantly monitor changes in temperature, and our teams implement appropriate corrective measures to provide comfortable working conditions.

These measures include temporarily suspending work in areas reporting a high heat index. Our buildings are temperature controlled with HVAC solutions, have proper ventilation, offer adequate provision of water and ORS, and follow job rotation as well as work-rest cycles in case of high heat index.

We are also sensitive to the needs of associates who may have prior health conditions, and our sites are equipped to provide additional emergency medical assistance to those who may need them, such as in cases of a heat stroke.

Amazon India Workers Association (AIWA) convenor Dharmendra Kumar said these harsh working conditions have led workers to unionise in a bid to raise their demands, and alleged that complaints to Amazon and the labour ministry have resulted in no action.

Despite many complaints to Amazon and the Ministry of Labour, no actions have been taken. Workers are enduring high temperatures in the warehouses, with recordings up to 34.2C in some areas, Mr Kumar said.

These recent grievances were part of a broader struggle that Amazon warehouse workers have been engaged in globally. For the past four years, workers have participated in the make Amazon pay movement, demanding safer working conditions and better wages.

One of the ongoing issues has been Amazons stringent leave policy, which has led to workers having their IDs blocked for taking time off due to health reasons or emergencies without prior approval.

Nitesh Kumar Das, an organiser with AIWA, described the worsening conditions to The Independent: Many workers are struggling in these conditions, seeking relief in inadequate places and facing difficulties in accessing basic necessities like water and breaks during busy periods.

Its imperative that companies like Amazon prioritise the welfare of their workers by implementing necessary safeguards, including providing additional compensation for working in high temperatures and ensuring access to hydration.

In 2019, reports emerged that workers at an Amazon warehouse in the UK were having to urinate in plastic bottles rather than go to the toilet during their shifts. Union officials said they were taking action after more than 600 reports were made from Amazon warehouses to the health and safety executive in the past four years.

But a spokesperson for Amazon said at that time: These groups are conjuring misinformation to work in their favour, when in fact we already offer the things they purport to be their cause  industry-leading pay, benefits, and a safe workplace for our employees. We can only conclude that the people who attend the events are simply not informed.
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Hindu pilgrims from the bus that was attacked by suspected militants in Jammu and Kashmir have recounted their horrifying ordeal, including how they played dead to escape the gunmen.

The vehicle was taking the pilgrims to the popular Himalayan shrine of Vaishno Devi when it was attacked in Reasi district by gunmen hiding in the wooded hills overlooking the road.

The driver lost control and the bus fell into a deep gorge, killing at least nine passengers and injuring 41.

The gunmen escaped but Indian security forces have launched a manhunt in the mountainous area. There were three gunmen, police said, and possibly a lookout.

Five of the nine persons killed sustained gunshot wounds as did 10 of the injured.

We lay on the ground without making a movement. We pretended to be dead until the militants left, one of the survivors, Devi Prasad, a private school teacher from Gonda in the northern Uttar Pradesh state, told The Indian Express.

He said the gunmen continued shooting for about five minutes even after the bus rolled down into the gorge.

On seeing the militant the first thing that struck my mind was that we wont survive, Santosh Kumar Verma, from Uttar Pradeshs Balrampur, said.

Before I could think any further, I saw the drivers head falling on the steering wheel, and the bus falling into the gorge.

Rajat Ram Verma recalled pushing his wife and teenage son under the seat as soon as the firing started. But the bus fell down into the gorge and I lost my grip on my son, he said. Later when I enquired about him, my wife told me that he was no more.

Bhawani Shankar, from Tughlakabad in the capital Delhi, was on the bus with his wife, five-year-old daughter and three-year-old son. I bent down and hid my two children under the seat as bullets were being fired from hills, he told The Hindu newspaper. I will never forget those 20-25 minutes of horror.

The Resistance Front, a shadowy group allegedly associated with the Lashkar-e-Taiba militant organisation, claimed responsibility for the attack but quickly retracted.

Manoj Sinha, central administrator of Jammu and Kashmir, said the attack was an attempt to incite unrest in the region.

Amit Shah, the federal home minister, said he had spoken to Mr Sinha and the police chief about the attack. The culprits of this dastardly attack will not be spared and will face the wrath of the law, he said.

Rahul Gandhi, politician from the opposition Congress Party, said the attack reflected the true picture of the worrying security situation in Jammu and Kashmir.

According to The Indian Express, Reasi, along with the neighbouring districts of Rajouri and Poonch, were a hotbed of the armed struggle against Indias rule in Jammu and Kashmir from late 1990s to early 2000s, but grew relatively calm over the next two decades.

In the last few years, however, Rajouri and Poonch have seen a resurgence in militant activity, with 38 Indian soldiers and 11 civilians losing their lives to violence. At least three militant groups currently operate in Reasi, Udhampur, Poonch, and Rajouri, sources in the security forces told NDTV.
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Hundreds of caged animals died after a fire broke out at Bangkoks popular Chatuchak weekend market on Tuesday.

Among the dead animals were dogs, fish, snakes, birds, rabbits and, reportedly, several exotic species.

The fire erupted near the pet section early in the morning and quickly swept through the market, gutting 118 shops, city officials said, adding that it was brought under control within an hour.

The blaze likely started in a pet dog shop where the owner left the fan on overnight to provide ventilation and cooling for the animals, Bangkok Post quoted a vendor in the market as saying.

A shop owner said she was woken up by the cries of animals above her shop. Suddenly thick smoke filled the air and made it impossible to breathe, she told the online news platform Thaiger.

No human casualty has been reported so far.

Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt visited the market, one of the most famous in Thailands capital, and said they were investigating the cause of the fire.

The city administration said that they were still estimating the extent and cost of the damage but all affected shopkeepers could apply for compensation.

Chatuchak is a major tourist attraction in Bangkok, bringing shoppers from all over the world to browse its hundreds of shops and stalls for items ranging from food and drink to clothing, furniture, plants, books and pets.

Pet vendors in the market have regularly faced accusations of trafficking rare and endangered species like turtles, tortoises and birds.
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A severe heatwave is scorching northern India and Pakistan, raising temperatures above an unprecedented 50C and leaving hundreds of people dead.

Indias weather department is investigating a reading of 52.9C recorded in the outskirts of Delhi on Thursday. If confirmed, it will be the hottest temperature ever recorded in the country.

M Mohapatra, the weather departments director, said average temperature in the capital was in the 45-50C range, several notches above normal for this time of the year. It was the same story in much of northern India.

Such extreme heat could be fatal. Indeed, at least 18 people were reported to have died from heatstroke and related illnesses on Thursday alone. They included a 40-year-old man in Delhi who was staying in a room without a cooler or a fan. His body temperature, doctors said, had crossed 107F, nearly 10 degrees above normal.

In all, India has recorded several hundred deaths from extreme heat this summer, but experts said the actual number could be far higher.

How hot is too hot for human body?

The human body has a very narrow range of temperature it finds ideal. It works best when the temperature is between 36C to 37.5C, or 96.8F to 99.5F. Anything over this is dangerous.

Ambient air temperature of 18-24C is good for most people, although people who are healthy and more well adapted to heat can sustain slightly higher temperatures.

When its temperature rises the body seeks to remove heat, mainly through sweating, though breathing and increased heart rate also help.

open image in gallery ( AFP via Getty Images )

For most people but especially the vulnerable, prolonged exposure to temperatures above 40C causes heat stress as the body starts to struggle to cool itself down.

Heat stress is recognised by fever above 104F, dry skin and loss of consciousness, said Dr Arun Sharma, a professor of community medicine.

High temperatures may also cause sunburn, irritation in the eyes and dehydration.

For protection, Dr Sharma advised avoiding sun exposure, keeping the body hydrated with frequent intake of water, fruit juice, coconut water or lemon drinks, and avoiding sudden changes in temperature like walking out of air conditioned rooms straight into sunlight and vice versa.

The more extreme the temperature gets the more the body must sweat, increasing the risk of dehydration and even heatstroke.

When the individual is dehydrated, extreme heat exposure will thicken their blood and cause organs to shut down, resulting in death within hours, popularly called heatstroke, said professor Vidhya Venugopal, country director at the Sri Ram Institute of Higher Education and Research.

When the temperature rises above 46C, cells, the tiny building blocks of our body, start getting damaged or destroyed.

The bodys inability to regulate its temperature can also worsen existing chronic conditions like cardiovascular, respiratory and cerebrovascular diseases and ailments related to diabetes, according to the National Institute of Environmental Health Science in the US.

A recent analysis suggested that increasing heat can also worsen certain brain conditions.

Role of humidity

Air temperature alone doesnt tell the full story. Humidity is an important factor in how we feel the heat, especially when it is as hot as 50C.

High humidity prevents the body from cooling itself by sweating, raising the risk of heatstroke and other potentially fatal conditions.

Humidity in the air is measured as wet bulb temperature, so named as it is measured by wrapping a wet cloth around a thermometer and seeing how much cooler it gets.

A wet bulb temperature of 32C is usually the maximum a human body can endure. This is equivalent to a dry temperature of 55C. The theoretical maximum wet bulb temperature is 35C, which means most humans are likely to suffer heatstroke at this level.

When air temperature is 46.1C and relative humidity is 30 per cent, the wet bulb temperature is 30.5C. But when air temperature is 38.9C and relative humidity is 77 per cent, the wet bulb temperature is about 35C.

Heat in India, as in much of South Asia, is extremely humid. The average relative humidity of Delhi is 67 per cent, which makes higher temperatures particularly dangerous.

Studies have shown that when air temperature reaches 35C and is accompanied by high humidity, it becomes risky for our health. Once 40C is reached, the heat can be dangerous even with low humidity levels.

At 50C, suffice to say, the risk is far higher.

Why cities are hotter

This risk is further increased in cities due to concrete infrastructure and lack of green spaces, which means they are often warmer than rural areas.

While some Indians can afford to use air conditioners and water coolers to beat the heat, half of the countrys workforce is compelled to work outside with little to not respite throughout the day.

The unequitable impacts of heat waves, especially with temperatures beyond 50C in dry environments like Delhi, will affect the most vulnerable, such as the elderly, young children, workers exerting outdoors, people with comorbidities, and the poor with minimal cooling interventions, said Dr Venugopal.

Night temperatures

Its not just daytime heat that is scorching South Asia. Night temperatures have been as high as 36C in some places in northern India, which is particularly dangerous since it means people cannot cool off at night to fall asleep.

Increasingly, overnight temperatures offer little relief during periods of extreme heat, which means people struggle to escape the health risks that it brings, Dr Andrew Pershing, vice president for science at Climate Central.

Is 50C the new normal?

Indias heatwaves have been getting increasingly brutal over the last few years. Scientific assessments have found that the intensity, frequency and duration of this heat has been made worse due to the climate crisis.

This devastating heat is not a natural disaster, said Dr Friederike Otto, professor at Imperial College London and director of World Weather Attribution, a coalition which studies reasons behind extreme weather.

The suffering India is facing this week is worse because of climate change, caused by burning coal, oil and gas and deforestation.

What we are seeing in India is exactly what scientists said would happen if we didnt stop heating the planet.

India isnt alone in facing this weather.

Pakistan recorded temperatures above 52C in the southern Sindh province this week, the highest this summer and close to the countrys record high. Several other Asian nations have broken records for high temperatures this summer.

The past 12 months have been the planets hottest ever recorded. The confirmation came well after the United Nations warned in 2023 that we were living in an era of not just global warming but global boiling.

According to the UNs top science body, IPCC, heatwaves that arrived once in 10 years without human-caused warming were now likely to occur 2.8 times as often. And if emissions werent cut much faster than planned, it said, they would become even more common.
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Halle Berry laughed off a relatable wardrobe malfunction while attempting to change out of her outfit.

The actor, 57, shared a recent video to Instagram of her and her stylist, Lindsey Flores, trying to free her from a shirt. In the clip, Berry was wearing a black corset over her white, button-down shirt, and a black skirt with a slit. In the footage, Flores grabbed Berrys corset, as the A-lister said: Get this baby off.

While Berry said ow! in response to Flores attempt to forcefully pull the top over her head, she reminded the stylist that there was a zipper on the corset. After undoing the zipper, Flores went on to lift the corset and white button-down up, while Berry continued to laugh and struggle through the situation.

Flores then quipped that she might have to cut off the corset to get it off. The Catwoman star continued laughing, while her stylists managed to lift the white shirt up, towards the top of the actors head.

The pair continued to work through the challenge, during which Flores accidentally pulled Berrys hair. Watch my boobs! Berry hilariously added, before Flores quipped that her friend actually hit her boob.

Flores went on to push at Berrys arm, in an attempt to remove it from the white shirts sleeve. Although they managed to get the white shirt and corset up, the move revealed Berrys chest, as her breasts in the video were covered with red heart emojis.

She further quipped about wearing the outfit in the first place, telling her stylist: Why did you have me in this? Flores then told her to stand still, so she wouldnt rip the garment.

Berry then joked about having to ruin the designer outfit to take it off. Anna Quan, we might have to cut this s*** off, she said, while she was still bent forward.

Eventually, Flores got the outfit partially off by pulling one of Berrys arms out of the white shirt sleeve. The pair then worked to get Berrys other arm out of the sleeve, while she still noted that she didnt want to mess [her] hair up.

However, Flores joked that she had to grease up Berrys elbow, so she then hilariously licked her arm. After that, Flores successfully got the shirt off, before the video ended with Berry covering her chest with the clothing and walking into her dressing room. Suffer for fashion, Flores jokingly said.

Berry quipped about the wardrobe malfunction in the caption, writing: Bad and Booshy back at it slaving for fashion!

In the comments, many fans and famous faces admitted they could relate to Berrys struggles when changing out of an outfit.

Man, this video makes me feel GOOD!!!!!! I feel seen, Viola Davis wrote, while another fan added: This is the most human thing that relates to all of us Ive ever seen on social media I love you hahahah.

A third wrote: This Reel is better than most television shows. And also proves that your attention span is actually not that bad, just depends on what youre watching and I know we were all on the edge of our seats, wondering how this would play out lol. Outfit was not letting go of the Queen.

Prior to the wardrobe malfunction, Berry wore the outfit to IFMs Annual Functional Medicine Conference with Pendulum Probiotics last week in Las Vegas, Nevada. She also shared a video on Instagram of her walking through the Bellagio Hotel and Casino, which is where the event was held.

On Fridays, we strut, she wrote in the caption of the video, in which she paired her black and white look with black heels. She also had her hair in a low ponytail and wore a pair of silver hoop earrings.
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Energy drinks are often the go-to for people wanting to tackle tiredness, however, new research suggests these drinks could be linked to serious conditions.

The beverages often contain high levels of sugar and caffeine. Doctors have now warned that they may trigger a life-threatening condition requiring emergency treatment.

Energy drinks contain caffeine ranging from 80mg to 300mg per serving, compared with 100mg found in a cup of coffee.

Many of them also contain other additional ingredients, such as taurine and guarana, which are thought to alter heart rate, blood pressure and other heart functions.

The popular drinks can potentially disrupt the hearts electrical system, increasing the risk of abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmia) which lead to severe health consequences such as a sudden cardiac arrest  where the heart stops beating.

Researchers at the Mayo Clinic in the US looked at the medical data of 144 patients who had survived a cardiac arrest following emergency treatment. Results found that seven of them, aged between 20 and 42, had consumed an energy drink some time before the life-threatening event, with six requiring electrical shock treatment and one needing manual resuscitation.

open image in gallery Doctors advised caution as energy drinks may trigger life-threatening conditions in patients with genetic heart diseases (Yui Mok/PA) ( PA Archive )

Peter Schwartz, of the Centre for Cardiac Arrhythmias of Genetic Origin and Laboratory of Cardiovascular Genetics, in Milan, Italy, wrote in an accompanying editorial: Critics might say of these findings, its just an association by chance.

We, as well as the Mayo Clinic group, are perfectly aware that there is no clear and definitive evidence that energy drinks indeed cause life-threatening arrhythmias and that more data are necessary, but we would be remiss if we were not sounding the alarm.

The two main stimulants in fizzy energy drinks are caffeine and sugar, so what exactly is that doing to our bodies?

Caffeine increases the heart rate, increases concentration, keeps people awake for longer and prevents them from going to sleep, explains Dr Belinda Griffiths from The Fleet Street Clinic.

Caffeine can be good for adults. A lot of studies are saying that two coffees or more a day, depending on the amount of caffeine in each drink, might be beneficial for heart disease.

However, refined sugar  especially in the quantities found in energy drinks  is not healthy at all.

We can quite happily manage without it, we get enough sugar from everything else that we eat and drink, says Griffiths.

It increases blood glucose, gives a short burst of energy and then a drop afterwards, which can affect your mood, and also make you feel increasingly hungry afterwards [meaning] you might want to eat more.

open image in gallery Researchers warn energy drink lovers to reduce their intake of the caffeinated beverages (Alamy/PA)

London-based nutritionist Beanie Robinson, founder of The Health Space, says anyone looking to wean themselves off energy drinks should consider switching to fizzy water.

The nutritionist says: I dont think we want to be relying on energy drinks for energy, I encourage clients to drink filtered water  this is what gives us energy.

Consuming a high amount of energy drinks is exposure to caffeine, artificial flavourings and sweeteners that can affect our energy and gut levels.

If you love an energy drink every now and again, it probably isnt going to do any damage, however, there are better alternatives which avoid sugar and caffeine.

She also recommends adding a squeeze of lemon, lime, cucumber or mint to still or fizzy water, to give it extra flavour.
Malaysia's deputy PM: Malaysia benefits from China's development

People's Daily Online) 15:56, June 11, 2024

As Malaysia and China celebrated the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic ties on May 31, 2024, Malaysia's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Rural and Regional Development Dato' Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid bin Hamidi highlighted the significant benefits Malaysia has derived from China's development over the past five decades.

Malaysia's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Rural and Regional Development Dato' Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid bin Hamidi receives an interview with People's Daily Online.

In an exclusive interview with People's Daily Online, Ahmad Zahid lauded the close cooperation in trade, education, and science and technology that has characterized the relationship between China and Malaysia, crediting visionary leaders from both nations for advancing these ties.

"China, the second-largest economy in the world, is an important trading partner of Malaysia and fosters a sound relationship with ASEAN. Malaysia can benefit from China's development, which is a great achievement for the Malaysian government and its people," he added.

Malaysia was among the first countries to respond to China's proposal to develop the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and has been one of the primary beneficiaries of early-stage BRI cooperation.

Ahmad Zahid cited the East Coast Rail Link project, being built by a Chinese company, as an example of successful cooperation. He also noted the impressive construction speed of another Chinese company, which can complete a floor in only three days.

"China's experience, encompassing technologies and speed, is highly worthwhile for Malaysian enterprises to learn from. So is that in sectors such as industry, communication, manufacturing, and services," said Ahmad Zahid.

The deputy prime minister also praised the cooperation in the automotive sectors of both nations, highlighting the partnership between Chinese automaker Geely and Malaysian automaker Proton as a significant milestone.

He added that Geely has helped Proton turn losses into profits and achieve technology transfer from China to Malaysia through acquisition.

The two automakers recently launched a new plan to roll out electric vehicles in Malaysia, which Ahmad Zahid described as a "game-changing move."

Similarly, a subsidiary of MARA Corporation, affiliated with the Malaysian Ministry of Rural and Regional Development, has signed cooperation agreements with Chinese companies to help Malaysia transition public transportation from diesel engines to new energy vehicles over the next 10 to 20 years.

Ahmad Zahid commended Chinese-made electric vehicles in Malaysia for offering cost-effective options for local consumers.

Education exchanges have also been a significant aspect of the bilateral relationship. Ahmad Zahid noted that there are currently 5,000 Malaysian students studying in Shanghai.

"Education exchanges will profoundly influence bilateral relations, and the two countries should strengthen exchanges between youth organizations," Ahmad Zahid emphasized.

As chairman of the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Council of Malaysia, Ahmad Zahid highlighted the opportunities Chinese vocational education institutions provide for Malaysian students to receive technical and vocational education and training. He expressed the hope that Malaysia can send more students to China to learn new technologies and knowledge.

Ahmad Zahid praised China's efforts in poverty alleviation and rural revitalization, acknowledging the country's significant achievements in these areas.

The deputy minister also expressed admiration for China's initiatives, particularly the development of its central region. "I've carefully read reports about a symposium on further energizing the central region in the new era," he said.

He stated that he believed China's main objective in developing the central region is to eradicate poverty, followed by creating employment opportunities, improving infrastructure, and developing new industries. He also stressed the importance of balancing development between developed and underdeveloped areas.

"I view the attainment of balanced development between these areas as a preventive measure against the numerous challenges that arise from extensive rural-to-urban migration," Ahmad Zahid noted. "Creating job opportunities in rural areas, encouraging the return of the workforce, and reinvesting in rural development are all prudent measures to consider."

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
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Levels of gonorrhoea in England are now at the highest level since records began in 1918 and new diagnoses of syphilis at levels not seen since 1948.

Doctors are urging people who are worried that they might have a sexual transmitted infection (STI) to get tested immediately as levels of gonorrhoea and syphilis soar across the UK.

Following the statistics, British Association for Sexual Health and HIV (BASHH) has launched a LoveGUM campaign to encourage more junior doctors to specialise in sexual health.

The leading organisation for sexual health and HIV professionals in the UK said genitourinary medicine (GUM) doctors are needed now more than ever.

Sexual health can sometimes be a difficult topic to talk about, so we have spoken to some sexual health experts to help de-mist the STI taboo

The NHS defines STIs as diseases passed on from one person to another through unprotected sex (sex without a condom) or sometimes through genital contact.

These infections can range in seriousness, but anyone who is displaying some of the common symptoms defined by the NHS  unusual discharge, lumps around the genitals, rashes or warts  are encouraged to see a doctor.

How soon symptoms appear depends on the type of STI you have, and some people have no symptoms.

The only way to know for sure is to get tested at a sexual health clinic, GUM clinic or GP surgery.

What is gonorrhoea and how can it be treated?

The NHS defines gonorrhoea as a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by bacteria called Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

According to Nuffield Health, the bacteria live in the cells of the urethra, rectum, cervix and sometimes the eyes and throat, and is passed on through unprotected vaginal sex, anal sex or oral sex, and through sharing sex toys.

New UK Health Security Agency figures revealed that gonorrhoea diagnoses increased 7.5% within a year  from 79,268 diagnoses in 2022 to 85,223 diagnoses in 2023.

open image in gallery Cases of gonorrhoea in England have reached record highs, new figures show (Alamy/PA)

Sexual health expert and GP at LloydsPharmacy Online Doctor, Dr Bhavini Shah, explains who is most at risk of gonorrhoea and the symptoms to be aware of.

Anyone who is sexually active can catch gonorrhoea. But youre particularly at risk if you regularly change sexual partners or do not use adequate barrier methods of contraception, like condoms, when having sex.

It can be prevented through barrier methods of contraception. This means the use of condoms or dental dams (a square of latex or plastic used in oral sex). You should also wash and cover sex toys with a new condom when sharing them.

She also said that symptoms usually appear within two weeks of being infected and reinforced the importance of getting tested.

In women, common symptoms include an unusual vaginal discharge (thin or watery and green or yellow in colour); pain or burning when peeing; pain or tenderness in the abdominal area; bleeding between periods, heavier periods and bleeding after sex.

In men, symptoms may include unusual discharge from the penis (white, yellow or green), pain or burning when peeing; swelling of the foreskin. Another symptom is pain or tenderness in the testicles, although this is rare.

Around 10% of infected men and 50% of infected women do not experience any obvious symptoms, which is why regular STI testing is necessary, especially if youre particularly at risk, explained Shah.

Shah added that its important to treat gonorrhoea quickly to prevent complications and long-term issues.

She said: For example, although rare, gonorrhoea can spread to the eye, if the eye comes into contact with infected discharge from the penis or vaginal fluid.

Gonorrhoea is particularly concerning in pregnant women as it can cause miscarriage, premature birth or blindness in the newborn baby.

The most common form of treatment is an antibiotic injection, usually in the buttocks or thigh.

Sometimes it is also possible to have an antibiotic tablet instead.

A follow-up appointment a week or two after treatment is also recommended, so another test can be carried out to see if youre clear of infection.

Patients are advised to avoid having sex until they have been given the all-clear, to prevent re-infection or passing the infection on to anyone else.

What is syphilis and how can it be treated?

The UK Health Security Agencys new figures also revealed that infectious syphilis diagnoses has increased by 9.4%, from 8,693 diagnoses in 2022 to 9,513 diagnoses in 2023.

According to the NHS, symptoms of syphilis include small sores on the body  usually around the genital areas  white or grey warty growths, rashes and swollen glands.

Symptoms can take three weeks to appear after youre infected.

It is diagnosed from a blood sample and is treated with antibiotics.

According to the Nuffield Health, if left untreated it can become a debilitating and led to blindness, paralysis, stroke, dementia and heart disease.

But Dr David Phillips, sexual health consultant, HIV physician and BASHH vice president, doesnt want people to worry, and assures sufferers that experts are on hand to help.

Phillips said: Syphilis is not as well-known as other STIs, but it is on the rise.

Serious long-term complications do exist, but the main message we want to get across to people is to not have any fear.

There are lots of incorrect and scary information online so make sure you are looking at NHS and BASHH resources because we are the experts on it.

We are here for you and will help you get the right diagnosis and treatment.
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Bridgerton star Nicola Coughlan gave a hilarious response to a fan who praised her for filming nude scenes.

The actor, 37, candidly addressed a remark about her body during a recent screening of Bridgerton season three, part two, at the Lighthouse Cinema in Dublin, Ireland. During a Q&A session at the screening, one fan told her she was very brave for filming nude scenes in season three of the Regency-era drama, which is centered on her character Penelope Featheringtons romance with Colin Bridgerton, played by Luke Newtown.

In response to the fans remark, Coughlan poked fun at why she had the bravery to film those nude scenes.

You know, it is hard, cause I think women with my body type, women with perfect breasts We do not get to see ourselves onscreen enough, she quipped at the screening, as shown in a video shared to X.

She went on to hilariously praise her appearance and how its shown on the Netflix program, adding: I am a proud member of the perfect breasts community, and I hope you enjoy seeing them.

During the Q&A session at the screening in Dublin, she also acknowledged that she is a little nervous about her family watching the new episodes of Bridgerton because of the sex scenes shes in.

Its a lot, my sister is here tonight and she was all brave and hard. I was like maybe just close your eyes for a bit, theres nothing I can do. Theyve really masterminded this in order to watch these scenes, this is the most intense one, I would say probably, she explained, as reported by The Irish Times.

Coughlan also shared that when her family, including her parents, watch the sex scenes in the new episodes of the show, she wont be there for it.

I think, you know what were going to do? Ill let them watch it, I wont be there, and then afterwards well just pretend it never happened, a nice bit of denial, do you know what? A bit of Irish style, when Im back home, lets just forget that moment, she said.

The Derry Girls alum has previously opened up about filming intimate scenes for the show, explaining why she requested to be very naked in the show. In an interview with Stylist in May, she also spoke about her work with Bridgertons intimacy coordinator, Lizzy Talbot, on this seasons sex scenes.

I specifically asked for certain lines and moments to be included, Coughlan said. Theres one scene where Im very naked on camera, and that was my idea, my choice. It just felt like the biggest f*** you to all the conversation surrounding my body; it was amazingly empowering. I felt beautiful in the moment, and I thought: When Im 80, I want to look back on this and remember how f***ing hot I looked!

In 2022, the actor also posted a message on Instagram asking her fans to stop sharing their opinions about her body. Most people are being nice and not trying to be offensive, but I am just one real-life human being, and its really hard to take the weight of thousands of opinions on how you look being sent directly to you every day, she wrote.

If you have an opinion about me, thats OK, I understand Im on TV and that people will have things to think and say, but I beg you not to send it to me directly, she added.

In a later interview with The Irish Times, she once again hit back at critics who make comments about her appearance, as she continues her career in Hollywood.

All I care about is the work. Bodies change, if I lose weight, or gain weight, or I do anything, its no ones business. All I care about is doing good acting and being judged on that, Coughlan said.
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Ryan Reynolds has recently appeared on The View, but not as a guest.

The Deadpool actor was spotted in the audience alongside his mother, Tammy, which prompted the hosts to ask him what he was doing there. All he said was that he was spending time with his mother while she was visiting from Canada.

You never know whats going on here at The View, one of the hosts, Whoopi Goldberg said during the episode. Sometimes you look up and you go, Oh, this is really great. And then you look over and you go, Oh snap, theres Ryan Reynolds!

As the camera panned over to him and his mother, the Free Guy actor joked that it was way less stressful sitting in the audience compared to participating in the show itself.

My mom is here visiting her grandkids, and yesterday, she said, Its my dream to go to The View. Reynolds said.

He joked about how hes spent enough time with the woman who raised him to know that he should do what she wants. Well, first off, I try to do what she says because you dont know what shes capable of, he laughed. Unspeakable violence my whole life. So, I didnt want to taste the back of her hand, so I said, Lets go to The View.

But in order to get tickets to the show, he decided to use his wifes name, Blake Lively. So we made a call. I told them, Im Blakes husband. Id love to come to The View. Does that get us a little farther? And then here we are, he recalled.

Tammy then chimed in, explaining how much of a fan of the show she was, mentioning that she watches the show every morning and that this specific episode was being recorded.

Lively and Reynolds have been married since 2014 and share four children: Betty, four, Ines, seven, James, nine, and a one-year-old (whose name has not been revealed). The hosts even joked that it would be OK if Lively also came to watch the show too. Done, he said.

Recently, the actor revealed that his children have Canadian passports in an interview with People alongside Hugh Jackman. My kids, they have Canadian passports as well, and they feel a real connection to that, he said.

Its a point of pride of theirs. Theyve also spent huge amounts of their formative years in Canada, and particularly Vancouver.

They love being from Canada, he added. They tell people they are. Oh, Im half Canadian, half American.

Jackman echoed a similar statement at the time, saying that it was important for his own children, Oscar, 24, and Ava, 19 to spend time in Australia because thats where he was born and from.

It was a really important thing for us that we spent time in Australia...[and] they felt part Australian, and Im really proud of that, he told the outlet.

I think if you ask them, theyll say, Im Australian. And theyll say, No, Im American too, but Im Australian.
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An influencer has revealed she is making light of a bad situation with a huge haul of designer items from Paco Rabanne.

On June 7, Victoria Paris  a fashion and lifestyle influencer with more than 439,000 followers on Instagram and 1.9 million on TikTok  took to her social media account to share the harrowing news that her home in Los Angeles had been robbed. The 25-year-old posted video footage of the masked man lurking outside while she was traveling with her brother in Lisbon.

In the video, Paris got emotional, discussing how shes had so much fun detailing her life online and letting her followers revel in experiences with her. However, now thats changed. Paris admitted shes now questioning whether sharing aspects of her personal life with her following is a good idea.

Two days later, the TikToker appeared in way better spirits with a new perspective on the robbery. On June 9, Paris posted to her account again to show the massive haul of Paco Rabanne pieces she was gifted.

The content creator first confessed the robber had stolen all her Rabanne purses, calling him silly, before waltzing back in front of the camera with five Rabanne bags.

Rabanne really said: Checkmate b****, because they sent me everything that was stolen and then some, Paris said.

She then proceeded to pull out a pair of chunky loafers from Rabannes collaboration with New Rock, six garments, four bags, and one belt.

I would literally rob the f*** out of me in this, Paris proclaimed as she danced around in a pink mini-dress that retails for more than $1,100. Miss body by burglary, she added in a long black ensemble.

Paris said her humor was how she coped with tough situations like this.

Um, I dont know if I should say it, but Im going to say it. Being robbed might have been the best thing that ever happened to me, she exclaimed.

The style enthusiast ended the video by thanking Rabanne for generously sending over all the items she allegedly lost and a few more.

Paris followers sent her sweet comments, arguing she deserved to be sent all these gifts because shes worked hard for everything she has.

This is so sweet I would cry. Im so grateful you have such support around you!!! Looking up to you ever day, one fan wrote, while another remarked: Im so happy they sent you everything!!!!!

Your sense of humor is top tier, sometimes you gotta laugh so you dont cry, a third admitted.

Before Paris posted her summer clothing haul sponsored by Rabanne, she pieced together video clips of her home in Los Angeles over the last year and sadly confessed she now has to move because of the recent incident.

The first place Ive ever had that felt like a home Ill miss it, she wrote.

The Independent has contacted Paris for a comment.
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Two men connected to a toddlers fatal opioid overdose at a New York City daycare have pleaded guilty to drug charges and causing bodily harm, prosecutors said.

The men admitted to storing fentanyl in the floorboards of a Bronx daycare's playroom, prosecutors said.

Felix Herrera Garcia, 35 pleaded guilty Monday to three felony drug trafficking charges, including narcotics possession with intent to distribute resulting in serious bodily injury.

Prosecutors said they secured a guilty plea from Parras Paredes, 38, on one similar count. Both men are from the Bronx.

A trap door leans open over narcotics, including fentanyl, and drug paraphernalia stored in the floor of a day care center in September 2023, in New York

One 22-month-old child, Nicholas Dominici, died from ingesting fentanyl at the Divino Nino daycare in September. Three other children survived after medics administered the overdose-reversing drug Narcan.

Nicholas father Otoniel Feliz told CBS News that the little boy had been at the daycare centre for just a week. Mr Feliz said that the daycare had been recommended to him by the Kingsbridge Heights Community Center.

We spoke to the ones who are in charge ... They recommended that place and apparently complied with all of the rules, Mr Feliz said. We were on a waitlist for our son to qualify. Apparently, the place passed all of the inspections. Supposedly that apartment was only for daycares, but the rumor is, from what we have heard, they also rented rooms.

The center, which was advertised for children between 6 weeks and 12 years old, was licensed under the citys Department of Children and Family Services. It had passed all inspections without violations, including a surprise visit by city authorities on 6 September 2023.

Herrera fled the US after the overdoses and was on the run in Mexico for about two weeks before he was arrested.

Herrera's wife, allegedly the operator of the daycare, along with one other person, were charged separately with murder, narcotics possession, and assault.

Herrera and Paredes face a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in prison, prosecutors said.
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It was a scene straight out of The Godfather. On the night of Feb. 1, a bloody goat head with a butchers knife through it was left on the doorstep of Judge Francesca Marianos home in southern Italy, with note beside it reading, like this.

Mariano had already received threats, including notes written in blood, after she issued arrest warrants for 22 members of a local mafia clan that operates in southern Puglia, the heel of Italys boot.

Puglia is known for its olive groves, cone-shaped trulli white-washed houses, and spectacular coastlines that will provide the backdrop when Premier Giorgia Meloni hosts Group of Seven leaders for their annual summit this week.

But the region is also home to the Sacra Corona Unita, Italys fourth organized crime group. It is far less well-known than Sicilys Cosa Nostra, the Calabrian ndrangheta or the Camorra around Naples, but just as effective in infiltrating everything, from local businesses to government.

And yet, a remarkable array of women like Mariano is challenging its power structures at great personal risk. They are arresting and prosecuting clan members, exposing their crimes and confiscating their businesses, all while working to change local attitudes and cultural norms that have allowed this mafia to establish roots as deep as Puglias famed olive trees.

I dont believe anyone who says theyre not afraid. Thats not true, said Marilu Mastrogiovanni, an investigative journalist and journalism professor at the University of Bari who has written in-depth stories about mafia infiltration for her blog.

Courage is moving forward despite the fear, she said.

The Sacra Corona Unita, or SCU, is the only organized crime group in Italy whose origins are known: A local criminal founded it in the Lecce prison in 1981, in part to push back other mafia groups that were trying to infiltrate the area.

Its name and initiation rites are linked to the Catholic faith, with the corona or crown, referring to the beads of a rosary.

Slowly but steadily, the SCU wove itself into the fabric of Puglia's society, mixing its illicit activities in with legitimate businesses. Today, it has roughly 30 clans and some 5,000 members, almost all of them men.

 Drug trafficking is the main business, said Carla Durante, head of the Lecce office of the Anti-Mafia Investigative Directorate, an inter-agency police force. That is always accompanied by extortion, usury. And now, like all over the nation, we have infiltration into the public administration.

The SCU takes the billions of euros it earns from drug trafficking and launders it through legitimate business, often in Puglias booming tourism industry.

One of the most effective ways to fight it has been by confiscating mob-owned assets. Durantes team sequesters mafia properties, such as vineyards or farms, which are then turned over to local organizations to be transformed into socially useful community centers or projects.

By now we have learned that this is really the most incisive tool, because taking assets away from mafiosi means disempowering them, Durante said. Since 1992, the national office has confiscated more than 147 million in mafia assets.

But the SCU has in some ways become more effective than Italys other mafia groups in inserting itself into the local community and gaining social acceptance. In recent years, it generally avoided headline-grabbing acts of violence in favor of more nuanced forms of intimidation.

Organized crime is still organized, in the sense that it enjoys a certain consensus in Italy," said Sabrina Matrangola, whose mother, a local politician, was killed by the mob in 1984 after she campaigned to preserve a coastal park from illicit development.

"And as long as there is this consensus, as long as not everyone chooses the right side, and someone will not be willing to roll up their sleeves to help, these places will always be in danger, said Matrangola, who now works as an activist with the group Libera, which converts mob assets to serve the community.

For those who challenge it, danger persists.

Two weeks after Mariano sent out her arrest warrants for a mob crackdown dubbed Operation Wolf, the lead prosecutor on the case, Carmen Ruggiero, nearly had her throat slit by one of the suspects.

Pancrazio Carrino, one of the 22 people named in the warrant, had signaled his desire to collaborate with Ruggieros investigation. But when Ruggiero showed up to interrogate him in the Lecce prison, he had other plans: He had chiseled a knife out of a porcelain toilet bowl in his prison cell and hid it in a small black plastic bag in his rectum, planning to cut her jugular during the meeting, according to court documents.

If I had been as lucid that day as I am now, Carrino later told investigators, Carmen Ruggiero would already be history.

In the end, a suspicious guard searched him before he could strike and found the makeshift knife.

Sevens months after the threat, Ruggiero walked confidently into the Lecce prison courtroom for a recent hearing in the case, accompanied by a three-officer police escort.

She has remained undeterred by the death threats, as have the other women who have challenged SCUs power. But they have had to take precautions, including with around-the-clock security.

Mastrogiovanni, the journalist, moved her young family out of her hometown after her reports on her blog Il Tacco DItalia about SCU's infiltration so angered the local government that at one point, the town was plastered with giant posters attacking her work. One depicted her up to her neck in a hole.

According to the patriarchal culture of the SCU, a woman shouldnt have a voice, all the more if she uses it to write about the mafia, she said.

Mariano, the judge, also lives with around-the-clock police escorts but believes that her job challenging the SCU goes beyond the halls of the courtroom. In her downtime, Mariano uses her passion for writing books, poetry and plays to try to change attitudes at the grassroots level. Recently, she staged a play about the mob in Lecces Apollo Theater.

We have to start with communication, which is fundamental to transmit values of dignity, courage, responsibility," she said. The ability to say no, the ability to be indignant in the face of things that are wrong.
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An Oregon man who drugged his daughter and her friends with fruit smoothies laced with a sleeping medication after they didnt go to bed during a sleepover was sentenced to two years in prison.

Michael Meyden, a 57-year-old from the Portland suburb of Lake Oswego, apologized during his sentencing Monday after pleading guilty to three felony counts of causing another person to ingest a controlled substance, The Oregonian reported.

My whole life is destroyed, he told the court. Everything that was important to me up until that point is gone.

He said he planned a fun sleepover last summer for his daughter and three of her friends, all then age 12, but they didnt go to bed by 11 p.m. as he wanted. Meyden said he wanted them well rested for the next day, but he also wanted them to go to bed so he could sleep.

Michael Meyden was sentenced to two years in prison for drugging the smoothies of his daughters friends when they didnt go to sleep during a sleepover. ( The Oregonian )

Meyden laced fruit smoothies with a sleeping medication, authorities said. Two of the friends drank the smoothies and eventually passed out. A third girl didnt want the drink and alerted a family friend by text message after she saw Meyden return to make sure the girls were asleep. He moved the arm of one girl and the body of another and put his finger under ones nose to see if she was asleep.

The family friend picked up the girl and woke her parents, who then contacted the families of the other girls.

The girls tested positive at a local hospital for benzodiazepine, used to treat insomnia and anxiety. Prosecutors said Meydens daughter also tested positive.

No decent parent feels the need to drug their own child and her friends, one of the girl's mothers told Meyden during sentencing. No decent parent feels the need to go down and confirm children are unconscious. No decent parent puts their hands on drugged and unconscious young girls without nefarious intent.
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A retired police officer convicted of murdering four people, including a man he tortured and strangled over stolen drug money, was sentenced Monday to four consecutive life terms in prison.

Nicholas Tartaglione, 56, who had been an officer in the Hudson River Valley village of Briarcliff Manor, was convicted last year. His case drew attention both because of the brutality of the crime and because Tartaglione was briefly a cellmate of Jeffery Epstein, the politically connected playboy who killed himself while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges.

The man Tartaglione tortured was Martin Luna, who he believed had stolen $250,000 from him that was meant to buy cocaine, prosecutors said. The other three victims were friends or family who happened to be out at a club with Luna when Tartaglione and two associates kidnapped them in 2016.

Prosecutors said Urbano Santiago, Miguel Luna, and Hector Gutierrez were forced to watch as Tartaglione strangled Martin Luna with a zip tie. Then, they were executed by gunfire. Investigators found the bodies of the four men buried together on Tartagliones property in Otisville, New York.

Tartaglione worked for various suburban police departments before retiring on disability from the Briarcliff Manor force in 2008, including the departments in Yonkers, Pawling and Mount Vernon. Tartaglione has maintained his innocence, arguing at trial that he simply ran an animal rescue farm and wasn't motivated by money, according to The Journal News.

One of his alleged accomplices in the murders shot himself in his car in 2017 as FBI agents prepared to arrest him. Another man, Joseph Biggs, was sentenced to 16 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to killing one of the victims. Biggs described the killings as a witness at Tartaglione's trial.

Tartaglione was not Epstein's cellmate at the time of his death, but his lawyer claimed he was a critical witness in the ensuing suicide investigation. He had shared a cell with Epstein weeks earlier in 2019, when the wealthy financier was discovered with bruises on his neck and then placed on suicide watch.
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This is the shocking moment a brazen thief walks through an empty church to snatch a priceless bronze eagle sculpture that people have worshipped in front of for nearly 160 years.

CCTV footage shared with The Independent and West Midlands Police appears to show a hooded man shielding his face as he walks calmly past the empty pews of St Augustines Church in Edgbaston at 11am on Monday.

A hooded figure escapes with the eagle sculpture ( St Augustines )

He looks around before covering the sculpture in a blanket and walking back through the church carrying the heavy relic between his legs.

It is believed he fled the scene in a van parked nearby.

The eagle lectern has been a feature of St Augustines since its consecration in 1868. It was created by the eminent Victorian company of Hardman & Co who also designed the stained glass windows of the Houses of Parliament in London.

The eagle lectern has been a feature of St Augustines since its consecration in 1868. ( St Augustine's )

Stephen Hartland, churchwarden emeritus for St Augustines, told The Independent: He walks in and diverts his face from the cameras. He has obviously reccied the place beforehand.

The church has been there open every day for 160 years so thankfully this is a rare occurrence.

But it is absolutely brazen.

That is usually a time when a lot of people are there, the vicar was there 20 minutes before and came back ten minutes after. So he chose his moment very carefully.

The thief makes his getaway ( St Augustines )

He added: This item means an awful lot to us. It has been a piece of our worship for nearly 160 years.

Its that continuity of worship, it is not - as it may be to him - just a pile of brass that hes going to get 100 for.

This is a priceless object of worship to the St Augustines congregation.

He urged the thief to drop it off anywhere so it can be safely recovered in one piece.

He added: Im sure the insurance will pay out and we can get a new one - but its not the same, is it?

You feel violated. The church is open because it is important to the community. He has violated that trust and every member of our congregation that finds St Augustines a very holy place.

A West Midlands Police spokesman said: The theft has been reported to us and our enquiries are on-going.
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A protester has hurled objects at Nigel Farage during a campaign trail in South Yorkshire.

The Reform UK leader was waving at supporters from the top of his partys battle bus in Barnsley town centre on Tuesday when the incident occurred.

Mr Farage said he believed the objects were some wet cement from a work site followed by a coffee cup. He narrowly missed the objects.

Mr Farage said he believes the objects were some wet cement and a a coffee cup ( Danny Lawson/PA Wire )

A man in a red hoodie could be seen shouting from a work site below, before reaching into a bucket and throwing something else, which also missed.

The man was then seen being dragged away by people in green high-vis jackets and apprehended by a police officer.

Mr Farage said he had been warned by police not to get off the bus.

A man in a red jumper was caught on camera hurling the objects ( Danny Lawson/PA Wire )

Speaking at a rally in Great Yarmouth on Tuesday evening, Mr Farage said the incident demonstrated that: our democratic process is directly under threat.

He added: Its an attempt to stop us campaigning. Its an attempt to crush democracy.

Its worrying, its frightening and its noticeable that most of the people there today were young men and women either at or freshly out of our university system.

Their minds are being poisoned in school, in university and its plain wrong.

The politician shared a video which showed a man in a red jacket throwing objects from a building site before being tackled by police.

A 28-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of public order offences following the incident.

South Yorkshire Police said: We have arrested a 28-year-old man on suspicion of public order offences following disorder in Barnsley town centre today.

It is believed that the man threw objects from a nearby construction area.

A suspect was quickly detained and remains in police custody.

The man could be seen being dragged away by people in green high-vis jackets, then detained by a police officer ( Danny Lawson/PA Wire )

Speaking just before the incident, Mr Farage accused the Conservative Party and its manifesto of lies.

Im sorry to use this word  more lies, more lies.

In 2010, 2015, 2017, 2019, they told us they would reduce immigration and theyll be saying the same thing today.

Theyre also saying today theyre going to reduce tax.

Well, hang on. The tax burden has now risen. Its the highest its been since 1948.

I dont believe a single word that they say and I think, increasingly, nor does the country.

The funny thing is that, with (Sir) Keir Starmer, I literally still have no idea what he believes in.

The Reform Party leader had a McDonalds milkshake thrown over him in Clacton last Tuesday ( AFP via Getty Images )

A similar incident occurred last Tuesday, when the Reform Party leader had a McDonalds milkshake thrown over him after launching his campaign for the general election.

Victoria Thomas Bowen, 25, was charged with assault by beating and criminal damage when a yellow-coloured drink was thrown over Mr Farage as he left the Moon and Starfish Wetherspoon pub in Clacton-on-Sea in Essex. Thomas Bowen is due to appear before Colchester Magistrates Court on 2 July.

Mr Farage has been targeted multiple times by protesters throwing objects on him. He was first hit by a milkshake while in Newcastle in 2019.
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Police have launched an investigation into historical allegations of sexual abuse at the boarding school where Earl Spencer claimed he was abused.

Charles Spencer, the brother of the late Diana, Princess of Wales, claimed in his memoir that sexual assaults and beatings at Maidwell Hall School, which he attended from the age of eight, left him with lifelong demons.

Northamptonshire Police said on Monday the force had conducted preliminary inquiries into allegations of abuse that are said to have taken place in the 1970s at Maidwell Hall School in West Northamptonshire.

After the publication of Earl Spencers book, A Very Private School, earlier this year Maidwell Hall said it was sorry about the experiences he and some other contemporaries had to endure.

Charles Spencer, the 9th Earl Spencer, published his memoir earlier this year ( PA Media )

In a statement after the publication of the book in March, Maidwell Hall School said: It has been very sobering to read about the experiences the young Charles Spencer, and some of his contemporaries, had at the school, and we are sorry that this was their experience.

It is difficult to read about practices which were, sadly, sometimes believed to be normal and acceptable at that time.

We were also dismayed to read about the allegations of the abuse Charles Spencer suffered.

Having been alerted to what took place, we immediately made a referral to the Lado (local authority designated officer), to ensure that any disclosures are handled sensitively, expediently and professionally.

Maidwell Hall added that almost every facet of school life has evolved significantly since the 1970s and the strict safeguarding of children was at the heart of these changes.

A spokesman for Northamptonshire Police said: We are in the early stages of investigating a number of non-recent allegations of sexual abuse at Maidwell Hall School.

Northamptonshire Police takes all allegations of abuse very seriously and where reports are made to us, we will pursue all available lines of inquiry to help bring perpetrators to justice.

We encourage anyone who has suffered abuse anywhere in our county, at any time, to contact us either online at northants.police.uk, by calling 101 or 03000 111 222 if youre calling from outside of Northamptonshire.
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British and Canadian data protection watchdogs have launched a joint investigation into last years data breach at DNA testing company 23andMe.

The American genetics firm allows customers to send in samples of their DNA and have them tested for genetic information about their health, lineage, or place of origin.

Some of this information was accessed by hackers in October 2023.

After the hackers seemingly attempted to sell the information online, the company said in a statement the data had been compiled from individual 23andMe accounts without the account users authorisation.

The hackers accessed the personal information of 6.9 million people, the firm told TechCrunch in December 2023.

According to its website, the company has sold more than 12 million DNA testing kits since 2006.

Canadian and British data protection regulators said they will pool their expertise and resources to conduct a joint investigation.

They will look into the scale of the breach and its potential harm to the customers, whether the company had adequate safeguards in place to protect the highly sensitive information under its control and whether it gave adequate notification about the breach to the regulators and the affected people as required by Canadian and British data protection laws.

23andMe is a custodian of highly sensitive personal information, including genetic information which does not change over time, the UK Information Commissioners Office said.

It can reveal information about an individual and their family members, including about their health, ethnicity, and biological relationships. This makes public trust in these services essential.

The company said it acknowledges the joint investigation announced by the Privacy Commissioner of Canada and the UK Information Commissioner and intends to cooperate with their reasonable requests relating to the credential stuffing attack discovered in October 2023.

People need to trust that any organisation handling their most sensitive personal information has the appropriate security and safeguards in place. This data breach had an international impact and we look forward to collaborating with our Canadian counterparts to ensure the personal information of people in the UK is protected, UK information commissioner John Edwards said.

Canadas privacy commissioner, Philippe Dufresne, said: In the wrong hands, an individuals genetic information could be misused for surveillance or discrimination. Ensuring that personal information is adequately protected against attacks by malicious actors is an important focus for privacy authorities in Canada and around the world.

Additional reporting by agencies
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James Cameron has slammed the ongoing investigation into the Titan submersible disaster almost a year after it claimed the lives of five people  as he revealed the tragic intelligence he received in the immediate aftermath of the disaster.

The acclaimed Titanic director, 69, who has made over 30 dives to the wreck in manned submersibles, offered to be an expert witness in the investigation. However, he claims he has never been asked for his opinion almost a year after the 15 June disaster.

Cameron claims that a very reliable source told him that an implosion was detected close to the wreck site while the investigation was still continuing under the assumption that the men trapped in the Titan could still be alive.

I literally wrote that on the [notepad] the moment I heard from my naval source, a very reliable source, that they had heard an event and triangulated it to the site [of the sub], Cameron said.

While Cameron does not believe that the US Coast Guard deliberately lied to the families of the men who died, he does believe they withheld information and went by a procedure that was torturous for the family.

His revelation comes after the US Coast Guard confirmed to The Independent that the investigation was still in its fact-finding phase.

Five people, including OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush and Camerons close friend and Titanic expert, Paul-Henri Nargeolet, lost their lives around two hours into the Titan submersibles commercial dive to the Titanic wreck site.

The disaster was the result of a catastrophic implosion that has been speculated to be the result of the submersibles controversial carbon fibre hull.

James Cameron has visited the Titanic wreck multiple times and offered to be a witness in the Titan submersible disaster investigation. but he claims he has never been called upon. ( Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

Questions about the submersibles safety had already been raised before last years disaster and now experts, including Cameron, are questioning how the company behind the Titan, OceanGate, was even allowed to offer commercial trips to the wreck in the experimental vehicle.

Ive volunteered to the investigative committee at the Coast Guard, Cameron told 60 Minutes Australia on Sunday (8 June).

They should be inviting me but theyre not. Why listen to a scientist?

Cameron continued: Frankly, I think theyve kind of got egg on their face and they dont want outside opinions.

Thats just my interpretation.

The Titanic tourist sub had a carbon fibre hull, which has been speculated to have played a role in its catastrophic implosion last year ( OceanGate Expeditions )

OceanGate notably had its passengers sign a waiver that mentioned the submersibles experimental status and had them repeatedly accept the risk of death.

The company claimed before the disaster that paying citizen explorers were the key to better understanding the worlds oceans and charged $250,000 for a visit to the Titanic.

These guys broke the rules, Cameron told 60 Minutes.

Its that simple. They should not have been legally allowed to carry passengers.

The disappearance of the submersible made international news, prompting an extensive search and rescue operation.

At the time, it was believed that the five passengers  Stockton Rush, 61, Paul-Henri Nargeolet, 77, billionaire and explorer Hamish Harding, 58, Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood, 48, and his 19-year-old son, Sulaiman  could still alive on the submersible, but were at risk of dying when the subs limited emergency oxygen supply eventually ran out.

Hope was further fuelled by reports of banging from beneath the ocean, which were wrongfully interpreted as the passengers attempting to make themselves known ahead of a rescue.

The search for the submersible was called off when its remains were discovered close to the Titanic wreck site ( PA Media )

But Cameron has slammed the handling of the investigation and how these bangs were interpreted.

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 didnt 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.

Wed already hoisted a glass, you know, a toast to our fallen comrades on Monday night.

Theyre hearing something tapping against a hull over the sound of 11 ships operating in the immediate vicinity, moving giant pieces of deck equipment around?

Thats like hearing a sparrow fart over the cacophony of an airport.

The search for the missing submersible was finally called off shortly after its oxygen supply would have run out when its remains were discovered on the ocean floor, close to the bow of the Titanic.

The Titan wreck was salvaged as part of the ongoing investigation into last Junes disaster ( Reuters )

Captain Jamie Frederick of the US Coast Guard, however, has defended the handling of the search and said it had to continue until definitive information had been discovered.

He also said that the information about the implosion that Cameron had access to was classified at the time.

In the business of search and rescue, absent definitive information, we have both a moral and statutory responsibility, frankly, to continue to search, Frederick said.

If you dont have hope and youre conducting a search and rescue case, youre in the wrong business.

OceanGate suspended all of its operations in the wake of the disaster.

A spokesperson for the Coast Guard told The Independent: The Titan Marine Board of Investigation (MBI) remains in the fact-finding phase of the investigation and is collecting all relevant evidence and information.

A projected completion date is not available.

The latter part of the fact-finding phase will include a public hearing, and the MBI will provide at least 60 days notice ahead of the public hearing.

The US Coast Guard told The Independent: The Titan Marine Board of Investigation (MBI) became aware of Mr Camerons willingness to assist the investigation after viewing the Australian 60 Minutes segment. The MBI welcomes his participation, and the team will be reaching out to him.
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The doomed Titan submersible actually solved a Titanic mystery a year before its fatal implosion.

In an archived OceanGate video, the company, which suspended its operations after the disaster, revealed what happened on a successful expedition to the liners wreck.

The mystery was discovered by one of the victims of last years disaster, French explorer and Titanic expert, Paul-Henri Nargeolet, 77, who noticed a blip on sonar next to the shipwreck in the 1990s.

Following its discovery, it was speculated that the blip could have been caused by another shipwreck or a geological feature at the bottom of the North Atlantic Ocean.

However, it would take 26 years after Nargeolet first made the discovery to explain what it was.

Prior to his death last year, Nargeolet had successfully visited the wreck site 37 times, including on the first expedition to recover artefacts in 1987.

When he finally got to explore the unknown structure in the Titan in 2022, Nargeolet discovered that it was a large ecosystem, thriving with marine life.

He had the chance to view it up close because of the Titans round viewing window.

The Titan solved a Titanic mystery a year before it imploded ( OceanGate Expeditions )

We didnt know what we would discover, he said. On the sonar, this could have been any number of things including the potential of it being another shipwreck.

Ive been seeking the chance to explore this large object that appeared on sonar so long ago. It was amazing to explore this area and find this fascinating volcanic formation teeming with so much life.

In the video of the discovery, it is claimed that manned submersible visits to the Titanic allow explorers to notice small details that it is claimed would likely be missed if they were viewed by unmanned submersible ROVs.

But while the Titan submersible did make it to Titanic on several occasions, later analysis of the experimental vehicle claimed that this weakened its carbon fibre hull over time.

It is speculated that this resulted in its catastrophic implosion last June, which claimed the lives of five people including Nargoelet  British billionaire Hamish Harding, 58, Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood, 48, and his 19-year-old son, Sulaiman, and OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush.

The use of carbon fibre in the hull was subject to criticism within the submersible industry at the time.

The submersible imploded around two hours into its dive to the Titanic last June ( OceanGate Expeditions )

Now experts including Titanic director James Cameron are questioning how OceanGate were ever able to offer commercial expeditions that cost $250,000 a head to the wreck.

The investigation into the accident remains ongoing, with the US Coast Guard confirming to The Independent confirming that it is currently in its fact-finding stage.

A spokesperson told The Independent: A projected completion date is not available.

The latter part of the fact-finding phase will include a public hearing, and the MBI will provide at least 60 days notice ahead of the public hearing.
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The army has revealed what roles the escaped Household Cavalry horses will fulfil at this years Trooping the Colour ceremony.

Dramatic scenes unfolded when the horses were spooked by noise from a nearby building site in April, which prompted them to throw off their riders and gallop through London, injuring themselves and a number of pedestrians in the process.

The incident prompted widespread public concern for their welfare, despite experts insisting that such incidents are rare.

Following professional assessment, Tennyson, who was not badly injured, will be taking part in the Kings birthday parade, while Trojan and Vanquish will have supporting roles with the Kings Life Guard but will not be on the parade itself, The Independent can reveal.

Two of the horses who were more badly injured, Vida and Quaker, will continue their recovery in the countryside.

The revelation comes after an animal rights charity warned against the animals participation in the parade, claiming that noisy, unpredictable crowds would create a risk to the public and the horses.

Peta (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) has called for the five horses injured in the panic to be retired from duty and not made to return for the Kings birthday parade, in a letter to the regiments commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Matthew Woodward.

The warning comes days after the army said three of the injured horses  Trojan, Tennyson and Vanquish  are already back on duty and against all expectations, are looking likely to take part in the annual parade on 15 June.

Military horses caused chaos in central London after they were spooked by builders moving rubble ( PA Wire )

The other two horses  Vida and Quaker  are also expected to return to work in due course.

However, as Trooping the Colour is a large-scale military event involving guns and soldiers, Peta has argued that the horses should not participate and that all five of them should be retired permanently.

The animal rights group says that should the horses participate in Trooping the Colour, they could be a danger to themselves and other people.

Kate Werner, Petas senior campaigns manager, wrote to Lt Col Woodward: Clearly, these horses are easily agitated and sensitive to noise.

The five military horses that bolted and injured themselves as they ran loose through central London in April are all expected to return to duty, the army said ( MoD/Crown Copyright/AP )

Forcing them to perform at a crowded event marked by drums and a 41-gun salute would place them and the public at risk.

The whole world was rightly shocked to see images of scared, blood-soaked horses running through the streets of London after getting spooked during Aprils failed exercise.

The group also took the opportunity to argue that the militarys continued use of horses is no longer a necessity in the modern world.

Tradition is never an excuse for animal suffering, and each horse deserves to live free from the stress they endure when paraded through a busy, loud capital city with a human on their back, all for the amusement of noisy, unpredictable crowds, the letter added.

Two military horses bolt through the streets of London in April this year ( PA Wire )

As revealed by the army, over 200 horses will take part in this weekends event as well as one extremely large dog  an Irish wolfhound who is the official mascot of the Irish Guards.

Although the King typically rides on a horse, this year, because of his ongoing cancer treatment, he will inspect the soldiers from a carriage instead.

The army said in a statement: After weeks of gruelling rehearsal and painstaking preparation, 250 musicians, 20 pipers, 240 military working horses, an extremely large dog, and almost a thousand dual-role soldiers of the British armys Household Division will deliver a magnificent spectacle for the King, the nation, and the world in London on Saturday 15 June.

The Kings Birthday Parade is a gift from the British armys Household Division to His Majesty on the occasion of the Kings official birthday. Held traditionally on the second Saturday in June, regardless of the sovereigns actual date of birth, the parade is an opportunity for the Household Division to demonstrate their professional excellence and loyalty to the crown.

A spokesperson for the Household Cavalry told The Independent: Our horses undergo a thorough process of treatment and rehabilitation before their suitability to return to work is carefully assessed. We would never allow them to do so unless they were absolutely ready, physically and mentally.
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After the UK experienced the warmest May on record, many across the country will have been dusting off the outdoor barbecues and refreshing their summer wardrobe in anticipation for a further hot spell in June.

However, the first 10 days of June have been cooler than expected, with the mercury down an average two degrees compared expected temperatures for the month so far in southern England, and the outlook will not change for a little while yet.

Dr Robert Thompson, a meteorologist from the University of Reading, said the biggest factor for cooler temperatures in June was the Atlantic jet stream, which is bringing in cold air from Greenland and Iceland. The steam, he said, wriggles around to steer in winds from different regions.

June has seen rain and chilly conditions for many across the UK - but average temperatures for the month are expected to return from the end of this weekend ( Alamy )

He addded that the lower-than-expected temperatures for the start of June is not entirely unusual - and that the warm weather will return to likely give the UK above-average heat this summer.

With the jet stream  a core of strong winds blowing from west to east  located further south than normal for this time of year, cooler winds from Arctic region were leading to lower temperatures across the UK.

But this will change as the stream eventually moves northwards, with it also bringing higher pressure across England and Wales.

Temperatures are below average for this time of year, with highs of 16 degrees forecast for Tuesday afternoon ( Met office )

Yes, at lunchtime you needed a coat, and it is not what you expect from June - but we have got so used to rising temperatures caused by global warming that we expect the months to be warmer than average, Dr Thompson said.

To put into perspective, Dr Thompson explained that out of the past 12 months, just three were colder than average in the UK.

It looks like we will return to a more normal position toward the end of this weekend, said Dr Thompson, who believes temperatures this summer will be above average, with expected periods of droughts and thunderstorms associated with a warmer conditions. Things are changing with global warming, he added.

Temperatures will remain the same for Wednesday with a cold breeze coming in on the Atlantic jet stream ( Met Office )

A spokesperson for the Met Office told The Independent that temperatures across the UK for June were between three and four degrees below average. The next week will remain unsettled, they said, before the warm weather will return.

On Tuesday, the Met forecast a bright day, with sunny spells, for many, but rain is expected across northern, central and eastern England in the afternoon, with a cool northerly breeze keeping temperatures below 18 degrees.

On Wednesday, another bright start of the day is expected ahead of sccattered showers across eastern parts of England. Thursday and Friday will also see thundery outbreaks of rain with a cold breeze felt by many.
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A 28-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of public order offences after objects were thrown at Nigel Farage on the General Election campaign.

The Reform UK leader was on top of a party battle bus in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, on Tuesday morning, when a cup was thrown, narrowly missing him.

A man in a red hoodie could be seen shouting from a work site below, before reaching into a bucket and throwing something else, which also missed.

Workmen appeared to then haul the man from the site and he ran off, before police officers tackled him.

South Yorkshire Police said: We have arrested a 28-year-old man on suspicion of public order offences following disorder in Barnsley town centre today.

It is believed that the man threw objects from a nearby construction area.

A suspect was quickly detained and remains in police custody.

Mr Farage said he believes the objects were some wet cement and a coffee cup.

He told reporters: What weve now got is a mob that want to close down all debate, a mob that are prepared to use violence to achieve their goals, and that for a democratic country is very, very worrying indeed.

Asked how he felt, Mr Farage added: Me? Im used to it. I dont like it, of course not, this is stopping me doing what I want to do.

Im at my best going out, meeting people and talking to them, having a debate with them, going around the pubs or whatever I do.

And these violent youngsters are stopping me, its very, very frustrating.

He posted the footage on X, formerly Twitter, saying: My huge thanks to South Yorkshire Police today.

I will not be bullied or cowed by a violent left-wing mob who hate our country.

Mr Farage had been warned by police not to get off the bus.

It comes after Victoria Thomas Bowen, 25, was charged with assault by beating and criminal damage when a milkshake was thrown over Mr Farage as he left the Moon and Starfish Wetherspoons pub in Clacton-on-Sea in Essex on Tuesday last week.

Mr Farage was seen with the yellow drink splattered across his dark blue suit as he boarded his campaign bus.

Thomas Bowen is due to appear before Colchester Magistrates Court on July 2.

During a campaign walkabout in Newcastle in 2019, Mr Farage had a 5.25 Five Guys banana and salted caramel milkshake thrown at him.
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Nigel Farage has pulled out of a high-profile BBC interview as his Reform UK party faces a row over whether the UK should have appeased Hitler.

The former Ukip leader was due to take part in a Panorama special with Nick Robinson, set to have been broadcast on Tuesday night.

But it has been pulled from the schedule and postponed, despite Mr Farage continuing to campaign in Barnsley and Nottinghamshire.

It comes less than 24 hours after it emerged one of his candidates claimed the country would have been far better off if it had taken Hitler up on his offer of neutrality instead of fighting the Nazis.

Ian Gribbin, who is standing in Bexhill and Battle, also described Winston Churchill as abysmal and praised Russian president Vladimir Putin, according to the BBC.

Nigel Farage on the campaign trail in Cawthorne, South Yorkshire ( Danny Lawson/PA Wire )

He also claimed online that women were the sponging gender and should be deprived of health care.

A Reform spokesman said the comments were not endorsements but written with an eye to inconvenient perspectives and truths.

And the remarks about women were described as tongue in cheek.

Mr Farage tried to brush aside the row on Monday, saying that every party will suffer controversy triggered by its candidates in a snap election.

But the row is awkward for Reform as it seeks to capitalise on outrage over Rishi Sunaks D-Day gaffe last week, when the prime minister left international commemorations early.

Mr Gribbin is reported to have posted on the Unherd website in 2022 that: Britain would be in a far better state today had we taken Hitler up on his offer of neutrality  but oh no Britains warped mindset values weird notions of international morality rather than looking after its own people.

The same month he wrote that the UK should exorcise the cult of Churchill and recognize that in both policy and military strategy, he was abysmal.

The previous month he criticised women, writing: Do you think you could actually work and pay for it all too like good citizens?

Men pay 80% of tax  women spend 80% of tax revenue. On aggregate as a group you only take from society.

Less complaining please from the sponging gender.

Outspoken: Reform UK candidate Ian Gribbin ( Reform UK )

In a separate post, he also suggested removing that inequality by depriving women of healthcare until their life expectancies are the same as men, Fairs fair.

In 2021, he wrote female soldiers almost made me wretch [sic] and were a total liability.

In the run-up to Russias invasion of Ukraine, he said that President Putin had shown a maturity of which we can only dream of.

A Reform UK spokesman said: Through offence archaeology, the BBC has found that Mr Gribbin has made a series of comments about a number of subjects.

They were written with an eye to inconvenient perspectives and truths. That doesnt make them endorsements, just arguing points in long-distance debates.

His historical perspective of what the UK could have done in the Thirties was shared by the vast majority of the British establishment including the BBC of its day, and is probably true.

Again, no endorsement, just pointing out conveniently forgotten truths.

As for the feminism point, his tongue is so firmly in his cheek one should be able to spot it from 100 yards.

The row has erupted just days after commemorative events for the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings ( Jane Barlow/PA Wire )

Mr Farage defended his party, saying the Greens had a bigger problem. Theyve had to suspend 20 of their candidates for putting out pretty vile antisemitic tweets.

Heres something, I think every party will suffer because it was a snap election. Weve put in place a good vetting programme but weve run out of time.
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Rishi Sunak has doubled down on his disputed claim the Labour Party will increase taxes for the average household by more than 2,000 a year after he was accused of misleading the public with the figure.

In an interview with BBC Panoramas Nick Robinson, the prime minister was questioned about the record level of tax increases under Tory rule since 2010, before he was asked why he was hitting out at possible Labour tax rises.

Youve got a bit of a nerve, havent you, having a go at the Labour Party? said Mr Robinson.

Youve raised our taxes by record amounts, 93 billion, youve produced some figures criticised by the boss of the Treasury, criticised by the Chair of the UK Statistics Authority, criticised by the former Head of the Civil Service. And yet, you come to this interview and you repeat something that youve said that they all think is misleading.

Mr Sunak responded: Because its right, and the choice in this election is clear, we are going to keep cutting peoples taxes, youll see that in our manifesto tomorrow, youve seen it in the announcements that weve already made, Labour Party are going to put peoples taxes up.

He claimed recent tax rises were due to circumstances out of his control, blaming the pandemic and Russias war on Ukraine.

( via REUTERS )

The disputed 2,094 figure was originally raised in the first televised clash of the general election campaign, when Mr Sunak repeatedly pointed to analysis by Treasury civil servants he said showed a 38.5 billion black hole in Sir Keirs spending plans.

This would lead to each working household paying 2,094 more in tax under a Labour government, the PM said.

But Mr Sunak suffered a humiliating setback when it emerged Treasury permanent secretary James Bowler had told MPs the Treasury should not be cited as the author of the costing analysis.

It further emerged that even under the Conservatives own calculations, the figure would be spread over four years.

But Mr Sunak repeatedly insisted that the figure was accurate in his interview with Mr Robinson.

There are 27 different policies that underpin that figure, he said. Of those 27, 21 are produced by independent Treasury officials, available online for people to see, three come from other Government sources, two come from the Labour Party themselves, and one comes from an independent investment bank. Every single one of them is available, transparent, and you tot them all up and it amounts to 2,000 worth of tax rises for every working family.

At the top of the interview, Mr Sunak was presented with a picture of US President Joe Biden, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, French President Emmanuel Macron and the UK foreign secretary David Cameron at Omaha beach for the D-Day memorial event  before he was then asked why he was not there.

Mr Sunak repeated twice that he was unreservedly sorry for not being in attendance  he cut his attendance short in France to return to the UK, where he filmed a pre-recorded ITV interview  before adding that he hoped people could find it within their hearts to forgive me.

The interview ended with a pointed question from Mr Robinson about the state of Britain, at the end of which he asked how Mr Sunak could believe that the Conservative Party deserves another five years in power.

Many viewers have told us, theyve got in touch with the BBC and said: Nothing works in this country. You cant get a GP appointment. You cant get to a dentist. You cant afford somewhere to leave. The trains dont run on time. Sewage gets pumped into the rivers and the sea.

Why do you deserve another chance?

Mr Sunak responded by saying that British children are not just the best readers in the UK, theyre the best readers in the western world, suggesting that not everything about the country had gotten worse.

He added that he was proud of what has been achieved over 14 years.
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Rishi Sunak has launched a tax-cutting general election manifesto in a last-ditch attempt to revive the Conservative Partys fortunes.

It remains to be seen whether the prime ministers plans will be enough to overturn a 21-point gap between the Tories and Labour in the polls.

But if they are, top economists have warned Mr Sunak he faces a tough task to find the cash to back up his pledges. Sir Keir Starmer has accused the PM of serving up a Jeremy Corbyn-style manifesto everything into the wheelbarrow" without explaining how to pay for it.

Click here for our live coverage of the general election campaign.

But the Union Jack-clad manifesto came with a six-page costing document and a promise from the PM that his sums add up.

The Independent has looked at what Mr Sunak is offering voters and how it will be paid for.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak during a visit to Silverstone University Technical College in Towcester (PA) ( PA Wire )

The headline-grabbing measures from the PMs manifesto were on tax. He promised to continue with Conservative plans to abolish employer national insurance contributions in the long term, with a 2p cut pencilled in by April 2027.

It also promised to abolish the main 6p rate of national insurance contributions for the self-employed by 2029.

By 2030, the two measures combined are set to cost the Treasury just shy of 13bn.

Other tax bungs unveiled in the manifesto included child benefit reforms, the new triple-lock plus for pensioners, axing stamp duty for first-time buyers and scrapping capital gains tax for homes sold to tenants.

In total, the tax giveaways amount to 17bn per year by 2030.

Its a hefty price tag, but the document also sets out the Tory plans to pay for them. The Conservatives argue they can raise 6bn a year by 2030 by clamping down on tax avoidance, a promise also being relied on by Labour to fund Sir Keirs election pledges.

Rishi Sunak launching the Tory manifesto ( AP )

Mr Sunak is also promising 12bn of savings per year through reforming the benefits system  although the small print stresses this is a reasonable estimate and not based on economic forecasts.

Combined, the savings amount to 18bn, enough to cover the partys promises on tax.

The Tories also set out how they plan to pay for spending pledges scattered throughout the manifesto, such as national service for 18-year-olds and boosting defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP by 2030.

The main savings come from major cuts to the civil service headcount, which the party says will save just under 4bn, and so-called quango efficiencies, amounting to 1.3bn.

Tory spinners insisted the figures set out in the costing document were perfectly sensible. But senior economists poured cold water on the PMs plans, expressing heavy scepticism about the funding.

Keir Starmer said Rishi Sunak had launched a Jeremy Corbyn-style manifesto ( Getty Images )

The Resolution Foundation said the welfare funding cuts would not be achievable over the next parliament, blowing a 12bn hole in the manifesto just hours after it was published.

The think tank also pointed to 21bn of spending cuts pencilled in after the election, which both parties have so far refused to engage with on the campaign trail.

It said Mr Sunaks promised policies are being funded through 12bn of poorly defined benefit cuts, and an unspecified 6 billion clampdown on tax avoidance.

Chief executive Mike Brewer said: There are big questions over whether doubling down on firm tax commitments, funded by pledges to massively cut spending in record time, really passes the plausibility test, or whether this approach answers the big economic challenge Britain faces on growth.

The influential Institute for Fiscal Studies agreed, saying the Tories have promised 17bn in definite giveaways after the election paid for by uncertain, unspecific and apparently victimless savings.

Director Paul Johnson said: Forgive a degree of scepticism.

Mr Johnson, who has accused both parties of engaging in a conspiracy of silence about planned post-election spending cuts, repeated his warnings about the shortfalls which will need to be addressed.

He said: This manifesto remains silent on the wider problems facing core public services  and if you think those civil servants, management consultants and quangos were delivering anything, these plans imply an even tougher time than set out back in March.
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Rishi Sunak has unveiled the Conservatives' general election manifesto  here we round up some key of the takeaways.

Sunak is appealing to white van man

In a manifesto of few surprises one stood out  to abolish national insurance for the self-employed within five years. For employees, the Tories also pledged a further 2p cut to NI, following on successive 2p cuts at the autumn statement and spring budget. Making the self-employed exempt is expected to affect around four million people. The manifesto also promises no increases to income tax, NI or VAT and to scrap capital gains tax for landlords who sell properties to their tenants.

And trying to appeal to would-be homeowners

In an effort to help people get on the property ladder the document promises a "new and improved" Help to Buy scheme. To run for three years, it would be available to those buying new-builds, worth up to 20 per cent of a propertys value and would help buyers purchase with a 5 per cent deposit. The Conservatives have also said they will abolish stamp duty on houses up to the value of 425,000.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and wife Akshata Murty at the launch of the Conservative Party General Election manifesto at Silverstone (James Manning/PA) ( PA Wire )

But there was nothing on inheritance tax

No pledge on inheritance tax will do little to appease the Tory right, who think that another cut to national insurance will do little, especially as the government itself was disappointed that previous cuts to the levy did nothing to help the partys disastrous poll ratings.

No pledge to leave the ECHR

In another move that will anger the right, the document stops short of saying the UK could leave the European Convention on Human Rights. The convention, and the Strasbourg court which rules on it, have been seen as a key stumbling block to Mr Sunaks attempts to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda. The manifesto repeats Mr Sunaks wording that if forced to choose between our security and the jurisdiction of a foreign court, including the ECHR, we will always choose our security."

Rishi Sunak (James Manning/PA) ( PA Wire )

Rishi Sunak knows people are frustrated with him - and his party

The PM admitted that people are "frustrated" with him and that the Tories "have not got everything right". He said: "I'm not blind to the fact that people are frustrated with our party and frustrated with me. Things have not always been easy. And we have not got everything right." But, he insisted, "we are the only party in this election with the big ideas to make our country a better place to live".

National service is his biggest offer to young people

The plan, widely mocked when it was announced a few weeks ago, would see 18-year-olds either spend a year in the armed forces or volunteering once a month in civil society. The policy is in part aimed at creating a more cohesive society.

The big message from the Tory manifesto launch? Dont vote Labour

But one of the PMs biggest messages in his speech was simple - Dont vote Labour. In a direct appeal to voters he said that if they did not know what Labour stands for, or were concerned about what Keir Starmer is not telling you. But Labour insiders will be pleased at the amount of airtime they have received at their rivals manifesto event.
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Malawis vice-president, Saulos Chilima, was among 10 people killed when a small military plane crashed in a mountainous region in the north of the country, the president said on Tuesday.

Chilima was 51.

President Lazarus Chakwera announced in a live address on state television that the wreckage of the plane had been located after a search of more than a day in thick forests and hilly terrain near the northern city of Mzuzu. Mr Chakwera said there were no survivors of the crash.

Former first lady Shanil Dzimbiri, the ex-wife of former president Bakili Muluzi, was also on the plane, the president had said. There were seven passengers and three military crew members onboard.

The group was travelling to Mzuzu to attend the funeral of a former government minister. Chilima had just returned from an official visit to South Korea on Sunday.

Hundreds of soldiers, police officers and forest rangers had been searching for the plane after it went missing Monday morning while making the 45-minute flight from the southern African nations capital, Lilongwe, to Mzuzu, around 370km (230 miles) to the north.

Air traffic controllers told the plane not to attempt a landing at Mzuzus airport because of bad weather and poor visibility and asked it to turn back to Lilongwe, Mr Chakwera said in an address late Monday night. Air traffic control then lost contact with the aircraft and it disappeared from radar, he said.

Malawi vice-president Saulos Chilima, left, and his wife Mary disembark from a plane upon his return from South Korea ( AP )

The president described the aircraft as a small, propeller driven plane operated by the Malawian armed forces. The tail number he provided shows it is a Dornier 228-type twin propeller plane that was delivered to the Malawian army in 1988, according to the ch-aviation website that tracks aircraft information.

Around 600 personnel were involved in the search in a vast forest plantation in the Viphya mountains near Mzuzu, authorities said, including around 300 police officers, 200 soldiers and local forest rangers. Chilima was serving his second term as vice-president. He was also in the role from 2014-2019 under former president Peter Mutharika. He was a candidate in the 2019 Malawian presidential election and finished third, behind the incumbent, Mr Mutharika, and Mr Chakwera. The vote was later annulled by Malawis constitutional court because of irregularities.

Chilima then joined Mr Chakweras campaign as his running mate in an historic election rerun in 2020, when Mr Chakwera was elected president. It was the first time in Africa that an election result that was overturned by a court resulted in a defeat for the sitting president.

Chilima had previously been facing corruption charges over allegations that he received money in return for influencing the awarding of government procurement contracts for the Malawi armed forces and the police, but prosecutors dropped the charges last month. He had denied the allegations, but the case led to criticism that Mr Chakweras administration was not taking a hard enough stance against graft.

The search for the plane lasted more than 24 hours and provoked an international response. Mr Chakwera had said the US, the UK, Norway and Israel had offered assistance in the search operation and had provided specialized technologies. The US embassy in Malawi said it also had assisted and had offered the use of a Department of Defense small C-12 plane.

However, officials with Chilimas United Transformation Movement political party  a different party to the president  criticized the government response as slow and said there was no transponder on the plane, and that was concerning for an aircraft carrying a high-level delegation.

Malawi is a country of around 21 million people and was ranked as the fourth poorest nation in the world by the World Bank in 2019.
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A Southern California socialite was sentenced Monday to 15 years to life in prison for the hit-and-run deaths of two young brothers in a crosswalk more than three years ago.

Authorities said Rebecca Grossman, wife of a prominent Los Angeles burn doctor, fatally struck Mark Iskander, 11, and brother Jacob, 8, while speeding.

A Los Angeles jury in February found Rebecca Grossman guilty on all counts: Two felony counts each of second-degree murder and gross vehicular manslaughter, and one felony count of hit-and-run driving resulting in death.

Superior Court Judge Joseph Brandolino sentenced her to two concurrent 15-years-to-life sentences, plus three years for fleeing the scene of the fatal crash that would run concurrently with the two other sentences, the Los Angeles Times reported.

The judge called Grossman's actions reckless and unquestionably negligent.

The deadly crash occurred on the evening of Sept. 29, 2020, in Westlake Village, a city on the western edge of Los Angeles County.

Prosecutors presented evidence that the data recorder in Grossmans white Mercedes showed she was speeding at up to 81 mph (130 kph) and tapped her brakes, slowing to 73 mph (117 kph), less than two seconds before a collision that set off her airbags.
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After a white Wisconsin father rushed a graduation stage and pushed a Black superintendent to prevent him from shaking his daughters hand, he falsely told police the school official touched him first, new video reveals.

On May 31, Matthew Eddy barged onto the stage at Baraboo High Schools graduation as his daughter was shaking hands with school officials. As she approached Superintendent Rainey Briggs, the father jumped on stage, grabbed the superintendent by his arm and dragged him away from his daughter, viral video of the incident shows.

Now, new police video shows that Eddy falsely stated the superintendent touched him first  a claim that video footage of the graduation disproves.

I didnt touch him until he touched me, Eddy told Baraboo Police Officer Brandon Meyer just minutes after the incident, according to footage first obtained by local outlet WISN 12.

I did not want him to be able to shake her f****** hand because he does not deserve it from her, Eddy continued.

An unnamed father of a graduate pictured shoving Superintendent Rainey Briggs (far left) off the stage. In 2018, the same high school made national news after a photo emerged of several students performing the Nazi salute ( TV43 Baraboo )

When police said they were not aware of any allegations that Briggs had targeted Eddys daughter, he explained he was upset about a perceived slight by the school district. Eddy said his daughter had to meet with school officials regarding expulsion but did not provide details.

Eddy also told police Briggs previously rolled his eyes when he spoke to him about his daughter.

Officers wrote in a report that they had reason to believe the push was pre-planned and that the father was sorry for the incident  but only because of the impact it had on his graduating daughter.

Matthew Eddy speaks to police after rushing the Baraboo High School graduation stage and pushing Superintendent Rainey Briggs ( WISN 12 )

Eddy has since been charged with disorderly conduct, and Briggs has filed a restraining order against the father.

We would like to emphasize that the safety and well-being of our students, staff, and community members is a top priority, Baraboo School District spokesperson Hailey Wagner said in a statement regarding the incident.

Meanwhile, the Baraboo School Board condemned it.

No employee of the School District of Baraboo should fear for their physical safety when fulfilling their job duties or at any other time, the school board stated. That this adult felt emboldened to behave in this way in front of hundreds of students and other adults should deeply trouble us all; this type of behavior will not be tolerated.

While Eddy did not make any mention of Briggs race, David Hart, president of Blacks for Political and Social Action of Dane County, told WMTV 5 he is concerned about how Briggs was treated.

After Dr. Briggs was pushed out of the way and prevented from doing his job, it does not appear that anyone checked on Dr. Briggs welfare, and he was forced to continue on amid this trauma, Hart told the outlet. While this incident could certainly have race neutral explanations, the treatment of Dr. Briggs looks all too familiar to us.

Baraboo High School previously made national news in 2018 when a photo emerged depicting several current and former students doing the Nazi salute.

A group of current and former Baraboo High School students pictured performing the Nazi salute. ( Twitter )

One boy in the front row can also be seen forming his index finger and thumb into an OK sign, a symbol co-opted by followers of far-right and white supremacist movements. The image was taken ahead of their junior prom and was not affiliated with the school or school district.

However, the school district ultimately refused to take disciplinary action against the students, citing their first amendment rights.
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A British Airways service from London to Texas turned back just as the aircraft reached North America, resulting in passengers enduring a nine-hour flight to nowhere.

Flight records show that the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, headed to George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, had just crossed the Canadian border before backtracking on Monday.

British Airways later said the turnaround was a precaution due to a minor technical issue and it had apologized to customers on the flight.

The exact cause of the issue was not specified by British Airways, but several outlets reported that it was connected to the aircrafts engines.

The flight left London Heathrow at 9.27am BST on Monday, and landed again at the same airport at 6.54am the following day  a total of nine hours and 27 minutes in the air.

open image in gallery Flight records show that the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, headed to George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, had just crossed the Canadian border before backtracking on Monday ( PA Archive )

Similar, successful flights to Houston only take about 30 to 40 minutes longer on average.

The Independent understands that the issue was not serious enough to have the plane grounded immediately but required inspection and potential engineering work.

Rather than grounding at Houston or another US airport, the flight returned to London where British Airways has technicians and resources to resolve the issue.

A statement from British Airways read: The flight returned to London Heathrow as a precaution due to a minor technical issue. It landed safely and customers disembarked as normal.

Weve apologized to our customers for the disruption to their journey.

The Independent understands that all passengers were rebooked onto alternative flights to Houston, including any missed connecting flights in the US.

Hotel accommodation and information on how to claim for any additional expenses, were also provided.
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A woman in Michigan is suing her sister after her cat bit her and left her with a large infection and thousands of dollars in medical bills.

The incident at the center of the lawsuit happened on December 26. Terra Simpson, 48, was visiting her sister Samantha Scherer, 50, from Alabama in Michigan. Without reason, Scherers cat, named Zoey, bit her on her right wrist and left her with multiple puncture wounds.

Simpsons arm swelled to three times the normal size. She suffered a severe reaction to the attack that required medical treatment to her right hand and arm, including surgical intervention, medications and physical therapy, according to the lawsuit.

Simpson says she had a cat allergy that her sister was aware of. She also said her sister also knew that the cat had a history of aggression and did not have updated vaccinations, according to a federal court filing last month.

Samantha Montgomery Scherer, left, and Terra Simpson, right, with their partners in 2017. Simpson is suing Scherer claiming that she failed to protect her against her cat which bit her in December ( Samantha Montgomery Scherer/Facebook )

Simpson argues that her sister had a duty to act with reasonable care in protecting visitors to her home from her cat and to provide the animal with basic veterinary care.

She is seeking up to $300,000 in damages related to her medical injuries and mental anguish.

One person who visited Scherers home, Amber Chaney, claimed she was bit by the cat when it was not provoked and it drew blood. Another visitor, David Mettert, said the same thing happened to him about three years ago, according to the suit filed in Michigan federal court

Simpson left the Michigan home and had to stop at urgent care on her way back to Alabama, according to the filing. She was seen at a clinic in Kentucky, where officials noted her puncture wounds. When she arrived in Alabama, she went to an emergency room where she stayed for eight days.

The womans breathing became labored and after failing to progress with IV antibiotics, she underwent surgery on December 30 for incision and drainage of abscess on her right hand and forearm, the documents state.

A photo of the injuries Terra Simpson says that she sustained after her sisters cat bit her in December ( Terra Simpson )

The woman has continued to attend physical therapy appointments. It remains unclear if she will ever be able to make a full recovery.

Zoey died from old age in March, according to The Detroit News. Scherer found out about the lawsuit from the newspaper and said she was not surprised by the filing given her sisters current medical state.

Im not saying people should just go around and sue people, but its obvious with everything that shes been through, she said.
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Chiquita Banana has been found liable by a Florida jury for financing a far-right Columbian paramilitary group, and has been ordered to pay $38.3m to the families of victims killed by the militants.

The civil case was tried in the Southern District of Florida and found that the company "knowingly provided substantial assistance to the [Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia] to a degree sufficient to create a foreseeable risk of harm to others," according to CNN.

The suit was brought by the families of eight victims who were killed by the far-right group, which has been designated as a terrorist organization by the US government in 2001. The group participated in widespread human rights abuses in Columbia, including the murders of individuals it believed were linked to left-wing rebels.

The far-right organization reportedly disbanded in 2006, according to Stanford University's Mapping Militants Project.

The lawsuit was first brought in 2008, alleging that Chiquita Banana paid the group, which allowed them to carry out violent attacks in Columbia. Now, 16 years later, the victims families finally have a judgment in their favor.

Chiquita Banana has been found liable by a Florida jury of financing a far-right paramilitary group that committed human rights abuses and murders in Columbia ( AP )

Chiquita pleaded guilty in 2007 to paying more than $1.7m to the group over the course of more than 100 payments, despite the group being recognized as a terror organization. The payments were made between 1997 and 2004.

The payments were recorded as "security services," but the Justice Department found that Chiquita Banana never actually received any services from the group.

At the time, the company agreed to pay a $25m fine.

A company executive, who was not named at the time of the statement, said Chiquita Banana made the payments under threat of violence. The executive claimed the groups leader, Carlos Castano, made veiled threats against the company's subsidiary company and staff in Columbia if he was not paid.

Even still, the Florida jury determined that the company failed to act as a reasonable businessperson would have acted under the circumstances.

Chiquita Banana said it plans to appeal the ruling.

The situation in Colombia was tragic for so many, including those directly affected by the violence there, and our thoughts remain with them and their families. However, that does not change our belief that there is no legal basis for these claims, the company said in a statement. While we are disappointed by the decision, we remain confident that our legal position will ultimately prevail.

The suit was brought by the families of eight victims who were killed by the far-right group, which has been designated as a terrorist organization by the US government in 2001. The group participated in widespread human rights abuses in Columbia, including the murders of individuals it believed were linked to left-wing rebels. ( AP )

Gustavo Petro, Columbia's president, asked why justice for the crimes committed by Chiquita Banana were only found in the US, and not in Columbia.

Why could US justice determine in judicial truth that Chiquita Brands financed paramilitarism in Uraba? Why couldnt Colombian justice? he asked in a post on X.

Agnieszka Fryszman, a lead attorney representing the plaintiffs, issued a statement celebrating the ruling and praising the families that brought the lawsuit against Chiquita Banana, saying they "risked their lives to come forward to hold Chiquita to account, putting their faith in the United States justice system," according to the BBC.

She also said that "the verdict does not bring back the husbands and sons who were killed, but it sets the record straight and places accountability for funding terrorism where it belongs: at Chiquita's doorstep."

Chiquita Banana faces a second case brought by a different group of plaintiffs set to begin trial on July 15.
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A Southern California man repeatedly fired a rifle at a law enforcement helicopter after his birthday party came to a sour end earlier this year, police say.

Justin Derek Jennings, 39, of Laguna Niguel, was indicted by a federal grand jury for attempting to damage, destroy or disable an aircraft on March 9. The man had been drinking and became angry, according to court documents from the case.

As the episode escalated, people at the party, including family members, left to go home. Once the majority of the guests left, police say the man took out a rifle from his gun safe and fired an entire magazine worth of ammunition inside the residence.

The remainder of the guests ran from the area and contacted authorities about the incident. The Orange County Sheriffs Department responded to the scene with several deputies and a police helicopter.

A helicopter involved in the search for hikers near Lake Havasu City. A man in Laguna Niguel, California is in custody after attempting to shoot at an Orange County Sheriffs Department helicopter ( Mohave County Sheriffs Office / Facebook )

After Jennings noticed the helicopter circling around the home, he went to the second story and began shooting a rifle into the sky. He fired when the helicopter was visible to him. Federal prosecutors said the shooting continued for about 20 minutes.

Jennings later spoke with an Orange County Sheriffs Deputy, left the home and surrendered. Police entered the residence and found two revolvers, two handguns, two rifles and multiple rounds of ammunition, investigators said.

Bullet casings were seen on the floor and officials also took a box of ammunition that sat on a couch and beneath the window where the man allegedly tried to fire.

If convicted, Jennings could face 20 years in federal prison. The Orange County District Attorneys Office previously charged Jennings in connection with the incident but the case was dismissed so the federal case could be filed.

Officials arraigned Jennings in the US District Court in Santa Ana on Monday afternoon, where he pleaded not guilty to the change.

A federal magistrate judge ordered that he be jailed without bond and his trial date is scheduled for August 5.
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The death of a Latino and indigenous man in police custody in circumstances similar to George Floyd was kept secret by California authorities for nearly a decade, an investigation has revealed.

Darryl Dean Mefferd, 49, died in 2016 after being detained by the Vallejo Police Department (VPD) for unclear reasons and allegedly restrained face down on the ground, according to local news outlet Open Vallejo.

But because his death was ruled accidental by the county coroner  who is also a serving police sergeant  officials never publicly announced it and allegedly fought in court to keep it secret.

The alleged use of 'prone restraint' echoes the May 2020 murder of George Floyd, who was killed by a police officer kneeling on his back for nearly ten minutes while attempting to arrest him on suspicion of using a counterfeit $20 bill.

An inside source told Open Vallejo that body camera footage from the night of the incident showed a Vallejo police officer sitting "with his whole body weight" on Mefferd's back for about the same duration.

It comes after repeated law enforcement scandals in the San Francisco Bay Area city, which had one of the highest rates of police shootings of any American city between 2010 and 2020, paying out so much money in legal settlements and damages that it was forced to withdraw from a statewide municipal insurance scheme.

VPD officers have been accused of routinely slow-rolling internal investigations, botching a major investigation into a woman's kidnapping, and adopting secret honor symbols to glorify officers who killed citizens. Last year a judge ruled that senior officials had illegally destroyed evidence relating to multiple police shootings.

According to Open Vallejo, Mefferd was detained on the night of December 7, 2016, after being treated at a local hospital for alcohol withdrawal.

Although medics found him ineligible to be detained on the grounds of mental health and never called the police on him, he was intercepted by an officer responding to an unrelated incident and taken to a crisis center in nearby Fairfield.

What happened next is unclear. Initial calls for help from the scene say there was an altercation, and some say Mefferd was "combative" or "uncooperative". The inside source, by contrast, said there was no fight and that the officer had restrained Mefferd in a prone position.

Prone restraint is a highly controversial technique that is illegal in many school districts, with several studies finding that it can cause asphyxia, leading to a fatal condition known as prone restraint cardiac arrest (PRCA).

Dr Victor Weedn, an expert on PRCA, said he believed that PRCA explains not only Mefferd's death but most non-shooting deaths of people in police custody.

But the Solano County coroner's report  or rather, the sheriff-coroner's report, since those positions are often merged in California  did not mention any restraint or physical confrontation, and nor did Mefferd's autopsy report.

Open Vallejo further alleged that no body camera footage or surveillance footage from the incident has ever been released and that the city of Vallejo, the Solano County District Attorney's Office, and the Fairfield Police Department are still refusing to release some records.

The Solano County Sheriff's Office initially released only the coroner's report and dispatch records, before releasing an additional 43 pages of records on Friday.

In response to the investigation, a spokesperson for the DA's office emphatically denied any suggestion that it was involved in a "cover-up" of Meffort's death, claiming that it had never received any public record requests from Open Vallejo.

"After an extensive search, we were able to locate reports authored by formerly employed DA Investigators Dillon, Campbell, Hernandez, and Wilcox... [who] assisted the involved law enforcement agencies with the criminal investigation of this incident," the spokesperson said.

"If there is new and different credible evidence regarding the manner or cause of Mr Mefferds death, our office will re-open the investigation into this matter."

A spokesperson for the Fairfield Police Department said that its involvement was limited "only to the life-saving measures employed by our officers upon arriving at the scene".

She added: "Our department has absolutely nothing to hide. Anyone wishing to obtain our records regarding this case, scant though they are, has only to do so through [our] web portal."

The VPD, the city of Vallejo, and the Solano County Sheriff-Coroner's Office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
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Newly released FBI documents reveal the contents of a letter Gabby Petito wrote to Brian Laundrie, her abusive boyfriend, who would later kill her during a road trip across the western US in the summer of 2021.

The letters are just a part of the 350 pages of documents released by the FBI relating to the case, NBC News reports.

Petito, who was 22 years old when she was killed, voices her frustration with Laundrie over the way he criticizes her and shares her desire to have a better relationship with him.

Just please stop crying and stop calling me names because were a team and Im here with you, she wrote in the letter. Yes, I can be a child sometimes, I know, but its cause you give me this energy and I just love you too much, like so much it hurts. So you in pain is killing me. Im not trying to be negative but Im frustrated theres not more I can do.

She said she hopes Laundrie understands that "when I'm upset it's cause I love you too much".

Gabby Petitos father posted a heartbreaking tribute to mark the second anniversary of her murder ( Joseph Petito/Instagram )

Now, stop crying!!! And come home and say you love me with a big hug, the letter said.

The letter did not have a date.

Teton County Coroner Dr Brent Blue found that Petito died by manual strangulation/throttling in a written autopsy ruling released in 2021.

The search for Petito  and later the manhunt for Laundrie  grabbed headlines across the world in the summer of 2021 after Laundrie returned from his road trip alone.

After Petito's parents lost contact with her, they reached out to the Laundrie family for answers. Petito had been staying with the Laundries prior to the summer road trip. The Laundries did not offer any information to the Petitos, and the woman's family began to suspect something might have been wrong.

After weeks of searching, Petito's body was found on 19 September near the border of the Birdger-Teton National Forest in Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming.

By that time, Laundrie  who was not immediately arrested  had slipped away from the police who had been watching his family home. His disappearance kicked off a manhunt that also took weeks, and even saw the ultimately ineffectual involvement of Dog the Bounty Hunter.

Wild theories about Laundrie's location spread across the internet, with some claiming they saw him in Central America or driving remote roads in Appalachia.

Brian Laundrie talks to a police officer after being pulled over ( Moab Police Department )

The reality was much more mundane; Laundrie went to a spot in a local nature preserve where he liked to walk and died by suicide.

Police were unable to initially locate his remains because the park is mostly swamp, and early fall rainstorms had made searching the area nearly impossible. Once the waters receded, police located Laundrie's remains as well as a bag containing a water damaged journal.

An FBI analysis of the journal managed to recover some of the writing within, including a confession made by Laundrie that he killed Petito.

In his version of events, he claims Petito was injured from a fall and that she was in "extreme pain" which is why he "ended her life, I thought it was merciful..."

"Im sorry for everyones loss. Please do not make life harder for my family, they lost a son and a daughter. The most wonderful girl in the world. Gabby Im sorry," Laundrie wrote. I have killed myself by this creek in the hopes that animals may tear me apart. That it may make some of her family happy.
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A Florida businessman has appeared in court in connection with the disappearance of his estranged wife from an apartment in Madrid, Spain.

David Knezevich, 36, of Fort Lauderdale, pleaded not guilty to one federal charge of kidnapping during his arraignment on Tuesday.

His wife, Ana Knezevich Henao, was last seen on February 2, 2024. When she vanished, the couple had been married for 13 year but were separated and planned to divorce, a friend told federal investigators.

He was arrested in early May at Miami International Airport after flying in from his native Serbia. Before Knezevich was arrested, his attorney told CNN that his client has never been to Spain but evidence suggests otherwise.

Henao, 40, a Colombian-American, was touch with her family and friends in January 2024, when she arrived in Spain.

Security footage showed her entering her building at 2.20pm on February 2, capturing her last known whereabouts.

Hours later, at around 9.30pm, security footage captured a man, wearing a helmet and holding a can of spray paint, entering her building. The man then proceeded to spray a security camera lens, somewhat obscuring it.

Knezevich was arrested by US Marshals at Miami International Airport in May 2024 ( FBI handout )

Still, the camera was able to pick up the man then fastening a piece of duct tape to the entrance door lock. Then, the man looked directly at the camera, revealing that he has physical characteristics that resemble those of [David] Knezevich, prosecutors said.

An hour later, around 10.30pm, the man was seen again, this time leaving the building with appears to be a suitcase, according to the court filing.

Aside from the partially-obscured security footage, documentation puts the defendant in Madrid at the time of his wifes disappearance, according to the criminal complaint.

Customs and Border Patrol records revealed that Knezevich flew from Miami to Istanbul, Turkey. Three days later, he rented a Peugeot 308 in Serbia, which he proceeded to drive over 7,677 km (4,770 mi) between January 29 through March 15, the complaint states.

The rental agency informed investigators that the windows of the car were tinted and the license plates had been changed when Knezevich returned the vehicle. Around the same time, someone in Spain had filed a complaint about stolen license plates. Spanish authorities tracked the stolen plates, finding that they had been present on Henaos street in Madrid, the complaint states.

Video captured the stolen plates attached to a Peugeot 308. It also revealed that the stolen plates had passed through two toll booths on the night of February 2 into the morning of February 3  including one toll booth in a town just outside of Madrid.

On February 3, two of the victims friends received unusual texts from her, explaining that she was running off for a few days with a man she had just met.

Federal investigators noted that the defendant had asked a woman he met on a dating app to help him translate a message into perfect Colombian.

A missing persons poster for Henao, plastered on a streetlight in Madrid, Spain ( Manu Fernandez )

That message was sent to one of Henaos friends, seemingly explaining her disappearance. The friend later shared the message with CNN.

I met someone wonderful!! He has a summer house about 2h from Madrid. We are going there now and I will spend a few days there. Signal is spotty. Ill call you when I get back, the WhatsApp message read. Yesterday after therapy I needed a walk and he approached me on the street! Amazing connection. Like I never had before.

That friend told CNN that she had spoken with Henao just hours before receiving the message, and she did not mention the amazing connection with a stranger.

Friends also told the Associated Press in February that it would have been out of character for Henao to have run off with a stranger, adding that the text didnt sound like it was written in her voice. This wasnt the only impersonation attempt, the complaint states.

One of Knezevichs employees told investigators that in April, her boss had asked her to open a new bank account while pretending to be his wife. Knezevich even gave the employee his missing wifes social security number in preparation for the call, the complaint says. The employee rejected the proposal, which prompted the defendant to allegedly threaten to withhold pay.

The pairs separation was contentious due to financial disputes over millions of dollars in assets, the complaint also noted.

Spains National Police has conducted searches for Henao and is investigating her disappearance as a possible murder.
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A husband was sentenced to life in prison for stabbing his estranged wife to death after police used records from his Uber ride home to tie him to the slaying.

Kenneth Shea, 37, was imprisoned after he pleaded guilty to brutally murdering 57-year-old Elizabeth Shea in Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania.

Shea was found dead in April 2024 at her Cromwell Lane home on the master bedroom floor with slash wounds to her head and neck.

Police had gone to the home to perform a welfare check on Shea after coworkers at a doggie daycare reported that she had failed to show up for work that morning. Upon arriving at the house, police found three phones discarded in the toilet and discovered the door to the main bedroom locked.

Sheas body was found inside the room when officers forced their way in.

Following the discovery of the body, investigators determined that an air conditioning unit had been pushed inside the residence, allowing access through the window, the Montgomery County District Attorneys office said.

Four hard drives from the homes security cameras were found discarded in the toilet.

Kenneth Shea was initially charged with simple assault based on a previous domestic violence incident at the home. Police say that he had been served with a protection from abuse order and was evicted from the Cromwell Lane home.

In the following days, police focussed the investigation on Kenneth Shea and his travel history on the day of the murder.

Records obtained by investigators showed that he had taken an Uber in the early morning hours of April 10, according to the DAs office.

He was picked up at 12.36am at Comfort Inn in Feasterville-Trevose and dropped off at 12.55am on Wainwright Road, which is behind the victims residence. At 3.37am the defendant was picked up on Wainwright Road and returned to the hotel at 3.58am, where video surveillance from the lobby showed him arriving and going to Room 314, the DAs office added.

Location records on Sheas phone also showed him in the area of the Bucks County hotel in the days leading up to the murder and later on April 10.

Following the discovery, police arrested Shea as he left his hotel room at around 6 pm on April 10.

Investigators later found camouflaged pants consistent with the pants Shea was seen wearing when he returned to the hotel following the murder, and what appeared to be blood stains on the bed, according to a criminal complaint.

Shea had injuries to his right hand, including three small cuts to his right index finger, investigators said.

As he was sentenced on Monday, Shea was in tears as he apologized to his slain wife and her sons, who were in court.

He also said he wanted to skip the trial to avoid putting the family through any more pain.

Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele called the murder a tragic case and added, our hearts go out to the family of Elizabeth Shea.
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An off-duty security guard in Seattle has been charged with murdering teenage boy who was returning a defective airsoft gun to a sporting goods shop

Hazrat Ali Rohani, 17, was visiting a Big 5 branch in Renton, Washington with his friends last Wednesday evening when 51-year-old Aaron Brown Myers approached the group with a real gun in his hand, according to court documents.

Even though he had not been hired to protect the store and had no authority to give them orders, Myers allegedly threatened the boys into dropping their guns, tackled one of them to the ground, and ultimately shot Rohani at least seven times.

He later told investigators that he believed the teenagers were about to commit a robbery and felt a duty to act, claiming that they repeatedly ignored his commands to surrender.

However, surveillance footage contradicts Myers account of events, according to a police statement seen by The Independent.

The defendant took it upon himself to conduct overwatch in a Renton parking lot, despite the fact that he is not a member of law enforcement and thus has not been trained in how to safely prevent crime, prosecutors said in court filings on Monday.

The defendant attacked three teenagers who had not committed any crime, and at every stage of the interaction chose to escalate with more and more violence until it culminated in taking the life of seventeen-year-old [Rohani].

The prosecutors asked a judge to set Myers bail at $2m in order to prevent him from fleeing or committing any other violent offences.

They added that Myers had previously followed a random citizen through two stores in 2022 because he wrongly believed they had a gun. In that incident, he called 911 and allegedly told the dispatcher that he might have to shoot.

Mondays charges came after two separate vigils were held nearby for Aayden Hayes, a 13-year-old shot dead in Bellevue on May 29, and Amarr Murphy-Paine, a 17-year-old killed while attempting to break up a fight during lunch break at his Seattle high school.

In a probable cause statement filed by the Renton Police Department, investigators saidthat Myers was distraught and crying after his arrest and had to be given a trash can to vomit into.

Once he calmed down, he told investigators that he was a licensed security guard and was voluntarily doing overwatch in the parking lot because he had seen numerous crimes occur there.

Myers said that he thought the boys were carrying a Glock and felt like he did not have time to call 911. He approached them from behind and threatened them with his gun, telling them to drop their weapons.

According to the police report, Myers claimed that none of the teenagers ever complied with his orders to put their hands up.

Yet surveillance footage allegedly showed one of the teenagers placing his gun on the ground, and two of them  including Rohani  reacting to Myers orders by putting their hands in front of their bodies and extending their fingers to show they were carrying no weapons.

Despite their compliance, the defendant then escalated the situation further, tackling [one of the teens] and pinning him to the ground, while still holding his gun trained on the [other] teenagers, prosecutors alleged.

He claimed he did this to prevent [the first boy] from reaching for the airsoft pistol hed already placed on the ground, but failed to take the obvious step of securing the toy gun, rather than assaulting the teen who had carried it.

At that point, Myers told police, one of the teenagers reached into his waistband for a gun and refused to stop when ordered. Myers feared for his life and shot the boy numerous times.

Surveillance footage showed the boys right hand briefly lower[ing] to his waist area before being shot, police said.

For their part, the two surviving teenagers told police that they had repeatedly informed Myers that they were only carrying BB guns.

Airsoft guns are replica guns that fire plastic pellets and are used in non-lethal shooting matches similar to paintball. In casual contexts, they are often referred to as BB guns.

This story was updated at 7:37pm Pacific Time on Monday June 10, 2024 to include newly-released details about Myers charges.
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An assistant district attorney in Texas was arrested after he allegedly pointed a loaded gun at his roommate and threatened to shoot him during an argument over streaming porn.

Joseph Francis Frederick III, 51, was booked into the Travis County Jail on Saturday on a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He bonded out on Sunday.

According to an arrest affidavit, the incident began on June 7 when Frederick woke up his roommate for help because he was having trouble streaming porn on a TV.

After the roommate, who was not named, fixed the streaming issue, Frederick allegedly accused him of flirting with someone who had been at their West Austin home earlier that day and making googly eyes at the guest, which upset the roommate who said he felt like he was being called a hoe, according to the affidavit viewed by FOX7.

An argument broke out and then escalated as Frederick attempted to force his way into the mans locked bedroom, damaging the door.

The roommate told police that Frederick told him: Get away from me and Youre a danger to yourself and everyone around you, according to the affidavit.

Joseph Francis Frederick III, 51, was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon ( Travis County Jail )

A short time later, when the man opened the door to his room, Frederick was in the hallway pointing a gun at him and allegedly aimed it at the mans face and said Ill shoot you.

The roommate then began recording the ordeal, which was shown to the police. Frederick was seen on video walking around the house still holding the gun and yelling at his roommate to Get the f*** out.

No injuries were reported.

A loaded Smith & Wesson .38 Special with five hollow point rounds was recovered from the scene, according to the affidavit.

The Travis County district attorneys office is reviewing the incident and released a statement saying: Our office will be reviewing the information on the case and we do not have any further comment at this time.
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Watch from outside court in Wilmington, Delaware, after Hunter Biden was convicted by a jury on Tuesday 11 June of lying about his drug use to illegally buy a gun.

A jury found him guilty on all three counts against him, making Hunter Biden the first child of a sitting US president to be convicted of a crime.

The verdict of the 12-member jury must be unanimous on each count.

His trial followed the 30 May criminal conviction of Donald Trump, the first former US president to be found guilty of a felony and the Republican challenger to Joe Biden, a Democrat, in the 5 November election.

The Hunter Biden case was brought by US Department of Justice Special Counsel David Weiss, a Trump appointee.

Mr Weiss has also charged Hunter Biden with three felony and six misdemeanour tax offences in California, alleging he failed to pay $1.4 million in taxes between 2016 and 2019 while spending millions on drugs, escorts, exotic cars and other high-ticket items.

Hunter Biden has pleaded not guilty to those charges. A trial is scheduled for 5 September in Los Angeles.
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Joe Bidens personal tragedies have shaped his career, from policy to politicking.

In December 1972, the president  then a 30-year-old senator-elect from Delaware - was weeks away from being sworn into office when he lost his first wife Neilia and 13-month-old daughter Naomi in a car accident. His two sons, Joseph Beau Biden III, and Hunter Biden, were also in the car, and suffered injuries.

In 2015, Beau Biden, an Iraq War veteran and Delaware attorney general, died from brain cancer. He was 46 years old.

In a statement following his death, Joe Biden wrote: Beau Biden was, quite simply, the finest man any of us have ever known.

Beau Biden, Delaware Attorney General, pictured in 2008. He died from brain cancer in 2015 ( Getty Images )

Beau had experienced a stroke in 2010, and three years later was treated at MD Anderson Cancer Centre in Houston, Texas, where doctors removed a lesion from his brain.

In 2015, his cancer returned, and he received aggressive treatment at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. He died on May 30, 2015.

Beau was laid to rest at St Josephs on the Brandywine in Wilmington, Delaware, where Joe Bidens late wife Neilia and daughter Naomi are also buried.

He is survived by his widow Hallie and his two children Natalie and Hunter.

Beau was three years old when his mother was killed in the crash that also took the life of his little sister. Beau and his brother Hunter, then two, were also in the car. Their father was sworn into the Senate at their hospital beds.

During his 2012 speech at the Democratic National Convention, Beau moved his father to tears while nominating him for vice president.

Beau Biden and Joe Biden are pictured together at the 2008 Democratic National Convention ( AFP/Getty Images )

One of my earliest memories was being in that hospital, dad always at our side. ... He decided not to take the oath of office. He said, Delaware can get another senator, but my boys cant get another father.

However, great men like Ted Kennedy, Mike Mansfield, Hubert Humphrey  men who had been tested themselves  convinced him to serve. So he was sworn in, in the hospital, at my bedside, Beau said.

In 1977, Joe Biden married Jill Jacobs, who became the boys stepmother and helped rebuild the family, Beau later said in 2012. I have two moms now, he added.

Beau studied at the University of Pennsylvania and went to law school at Syracuse University, where his father also attended.

He served as a prosecutor in the US attorneys office in Philadelphia before running for Delaware attorney general in 2006, winning by 13,000 votes. In his reelection in 2010, he won by more than 149,000 votes.

In 2008, as a captain in the Delaware Army National Guard, Beau was deployed to Iraq during a war effort that then-senator Joe Biden had previously voted to support. Beau briefly returned to the US for his fathers vice-presidential swearing-in ceremony in January 2009, then shipped out to complete his yearlong service.

President Joe Biden believes his sons cancer was caused by the burn pits used in Iraq to burn the waste created from warfare.

As Delawares chief law enforcement official, Beau didnt seek a third term, as he planned to run for governor in 2016, before his health began to rapidly decline.

In a statement following his death, then-president Barack Obama cited a poem by William Butler Yeats. Beau Biden believed the best of us all ... For him, and for his family, we swing our lanterns higher.

President Barack Obama hugs Vice President Joe Biden during the funeral of Beau Biden on June 6, 2015

During an appearance on MSNBCs Morning Joe in the lead-up to the 2020 election, then-candidate Joe Biden said: Beau should be the one running for president, not me.

He recalled how Beau had supported him on the campaign trail in the past. Biden said his son told him: Look at me, dad. Remember: home base. Just remember who you are.

Hed grab me by the lapel, Biden said. He still grabs me by the lapel.

He went on: Every morning I get up... not a joke, I think to myself, Is he proud of me? Because hes the one who wanted me to stay engaged ... He walks with me. I know that sounds to some people kind of silly, but he really, honest to God, does. I know hes in me.

Vice-President Joe Biden and sons Hunter Biden (L) and Beau Biden walk in the Inaugural Parade in 2009 in Washington when Barack Obama was sworn in as the 44th president ( Getty Images )

Beaus death enormously impacted his family, including his younger brother Hunter who recalled in his 2021 memoir Beautiful Things that the grief became overwhelming.

Hunter said he struggled with drug and alcohol addiction after Beau died in 2015. During his federal gun charges trial in June 2024, Hunters attorneys said his relapse stemmed from the grief he felt over the loss of his older brother.

In the wake of Beaus death, Hunter dated his brothers widow, Hallie, on and off. The two have spoken about their shared grief over the loss of Beau. They eventually ended their relationship in 2019 and Hunter entered a treatment program to get sober.

Hunters fifth child with his second wife, Melissa Cohen Biden, is named in honor of Beau.
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Twin real-estate heirs are facing accusations they allegedly raped two women - including one at a castle called the Playboy Mansion of the East Coast.

Oren and Alon Alexander have been sued in New York by two women who said the famous twins sexually assaulted them.

Defendants gender-motivated animus towards women is evinced by, among other things, their humiliating and degrading sexual assault and repeated raping of plaintiff, one of the lawsuits read, according to The New York Post .

A lawyer representing the Alexanders told the newspaper that the lawsuits were nothing more than a shakedown.

One alleged victim says she was assaulted in 2012 at Sir Ivans Castle in Water Mill, New York. The Post has described the location, which looks like a castle, as a place where large bashes are held.

That alleged victim said she met Oren in 2008 and declined his advances for a date. That prompted Alon to pretend to be his twin.

While at the castle in 2012, the woman says the brothers dragged her through the garage and to a bedroom, where she was assaulted.

Once plaintiff and the twins were inside the garage door, the door closed and locked immediately right behind them. Plaintiff was then told that she must change into a sarong, the filing read, according to the Post. Plaintiff then proceeded to make a dash for the stairs that led up to the house, while fully dressed. As plaintiff bolted for the stairs, there was a [worker] who grabbed her arm and dragged her back into the garage.

Twin real-estate heirs are facing accusations in two new lawsuits they allegedly raped two women. The suits were filed in New York court. ( Getty Images/iStockphoto )

The other alleged victim said she was 18 years old when she was assaulted after being drugged at a Meatpacking district hot spot in Manhattan, according to the Post.

That alleged victim said Alon spiked her drink and then assaulted her inside her apartment, according to the lawsuit.

Moments after entering the apartment, [the woman] was sexually abused, assaulted, pinned, groped, harassed, battered, and fondled by defendants, the complaint reads. Alon held Plaintiff downDefendants would then switch positions, repeatedly raping [the alleged victim].

Both women said they did not file police reports after the alleged assault.

The two filed their lawsuits in New York under a law that allows sexual assault victims to sue no matter when the assaults happened.

The brothers now live in Miami Beach and are heirs to a real-estate empire led by the father, Shlomy Alexander.

This suit was brought public after [the Alexanders] chose not to give in to a demand in the tens of millions of dollars, Jim Ferraro told the outlet. We are confident this matter will be resolved in [their] favor given an extensive collection of powerful evidence including, phone records, text messages, emails and other documents whose content clearly debunks these claims.
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Students who survived the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre are reflecting on the horrific mass shooting that forever changed their young lives as they prepare to graduate from high school.

Im happy to be graduating but theres a lot of emotions going into having people that are supposed to be here not graduate with us, 17-year-old Emma Ehrens, who ran from her classroom where her teacher and friends were killed when the gunmans rifle jammed, told NewsTimes. I get to graduate so I should be happy but  its still a heavy feeling on my shoulders. I cant sever the connection between being happy and sad for graduation.

The Sandy Hook massacre was the deadliest shooting at an elementary school in US history. Twenty first graders and six educators were killed when 20-year-old Adam Lanza stormed the Connecticut school and opened fire. Twelve years on from the events of December 14, 2012, the survivors of the shooting are preparing to begin their adult lives.

But although high school graduation is meant to be a happy day, for the Sandy Hook survivors, it will be shrouded in sadness.

We have to share the stage with them; we have to celebrate everyone who is graduating this year but for me at least this is not even about me. I know it should be, but personally I cant think about anything other than the fact that theyre not graduating, Ehrens said.

Meanwhile, Grace Fischer, 18, said she is excited for the next chapter, but feels it is important that those who are not here with us are honored at graduation.

Survivors of the Sandy Hook school shooting were interveiwed by GMA ahead of their high school graduation ( ABC News )

Obviously, graduations are bittersweet because you dont want to leave your best friends but for us theres that whole extra layer of, Oh, but our best friends arent even there, Fischer said. Im excited for my next chapter but for graduation there will be something to honor the victims who arent able to be there  honoring them while celebrating our accomplishments is kind of a good balance because we dont want to forget about who is not here with us.

A group of five students will honor the victims at their graduation from Newtown High School by distributing green and white ribbons for graduates to wear as a sign of solidarity.

Aside from graduation, many of the survivors have found their own unique ways to remember the victims since the shooting.

I have my friends name tattooed on my shoulder so he stays with me every day, Henry Terifay, now 18, told Good Morning America in a separate interview, adding of all his classmates who were killed, I just try and remember them every day.

Others hope to carry the memories of the victims with them into their chosen career paths.

Ive basically known that I wanted to be a therapist since I was eight, which was really only a year after the shooting, Ella Seaver, who was 7 at the time of the shooting, said.

I have been in and out of therapy almost my whole life, especially after the shooting, and its really just helped me cope and helped me learn about myself, so I want to try and pay that forward and help people who have gone through gun violence, or even people who havent, who are just struggling in their daily life.

Ehrens added that she plans to attend Roger Williams University in Rhode Island to study pre-law to either stop this from happening to anyone else or help people who are going through the same thing we did, and just make sure that they know they are not alone, she told News Times.

Another group of survivors has sought to keep the memory of their classmates alive through their work for the gun violence prevention club Jr. Newtown Action Alliance.

The club, which includes younger high school students, lobbies lawmakers, participates in vigils and reaches out to communities torn apart by tragedies. The clubs leadership told News Times it is their way of honoring the memory of their slain classmates while moving on to the next chapter of their lives.

People are comforted near Sandy Hook Elementary School, Dec. 14, 2012 in Newtown, Conn ( AP )

For the past 10 or 11 years that its been since in Sandy Hook, weve grown so much and we do so much work to fight for (the 2012 victims) and for other people because we dont want other peoples lives to get robbed like theirs did, said Fischer, who plans to attend Hamilton College as a pre-law and justice studies major. Thats why I think walking across that stage will be a very victorious moment.

While many of the survivors are using their traumatic experience to make positive change, the terrible memory of the day of the shooting still stays with them.

Sany Hook sign in Connecticut ( AP )

The tragedy never ends, Matt Holden, who was six at the time of the shooting, told Good Morning America. The friends, family who were lost that day, the smiling faces that should be filling the seats in your classroom, the parents who should be able to watch their kids graduate, get married, the kids will never be able to hug their parents again. Its never over.
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A massive fire at a historic church in Toronto destroyed rare artefacts but the police have not deemed the blaze suspicious at this time.

The St Annes Anglican Church on Gladstone Avenue in Toronto, reported the fire just before 8am on Sunday. The church and all artefacts inside were completely destroyed, according to the local deputy fire chief.

Those artefacts included murals painted by three members of the Group of Seven, a Canadian art collective. It was too early to determine the cause, origin, and circumstance of the fire, Sean Driscoll, a spokesperson for the Office of the Fire Marshal, said in an email to CBC News.

Since the cause remains unknown, the fire is not considered suspicious at this time, Shannon Eames, a spokesperson for Toronto police, told CBC News.

Community members and art experts in Canada are mourning the heartbreaking loss of the church and the unique artwork by members of the Group of Seven and other prominent Canadian artists.

The lost works in the fire depicted Old Testament prophets, the Nativity, and the Crucifixion and were created by JEH MacDonald, Fred Varley, and Franklin Carmichael.

St Annes Anglican Church is located in Torontos Little Portugal neighbourhood and was built between 1907 and 1908. The church was designated a national historic site in 1996 and was also designated by the City of Toronto under the Ontario Heritage Act in 1980.

To be honest, its heart-wrenching to come up here to see the church like this, the Global News quoted St Annes rector Father Don Beyers as saying when he visited the destroyed church on Monday.

I almost felt sick to my stomach to see it, he said, adding that church members are incredibly hurt and sad. He called the loss both devastating and heartbreaking.

Beyers said the community has not only lost a place of worship, rites and holiday celebrations  it has also lost Canadian artwork at its very best.

Its almost hard to describe how beautiful the works were and how rare. It was the only religious artwork to my knowledge that the Group of Seven ever did, Beyers said.

CP24 quoted the city councillor of Davenport, Alejandra Bravo as saying: Its something that we cannot replace in Canada, and in the world, but this is much more than just a building. This is a place that has provided support, home, love, brought people from the community together, served needs of people who needed it and provided the spiritual support that people so desperately needed in times where theyve also fallen on hard times.

Davenport has lost something that can never be replaced, and the grief that people are expressing to our office is tremendous.

Ms Bravo called this loss too great to comprehend.

Toronto mayor Olivia Chow said: The spirit of the place, however  how they are so compassionate to everyone around them  will still be there.

Parks Canada, Directory of Federal Heritage Designations, stated that the cycle of paintings at St Annes Anglican Church combined narrative scenes, written texts, as well as decorative plasterwork and detailing accentuating the architectural lines of the building and were a manifestation of the Arts and Crafts movement which sought to ally architecture with the sister arts of painting and sculpture.

The national agency noted that the works drew upon the motifs, colours and the artistic conventions of Byzantine art, and (were) integral to the churchs architectural style.

According to CBC News, over the past two and a half years, 33 churches nationwide have been destroyed by fire, with many cases confirmed as arson.
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Four campaign workers in Connecticut were charged with misuse of absentee ballots years after their involvement in the 2019 Bridgeport Democratic mayoral primary scandal.

The charges were announced on Tuesday against Bridgeport City Councilman Alfredo Castillo, 52, vice chair of the citys Democratic Party leader Wanda Geter-Pataky, 67, as well as two 2019 campaign workers, Nilsa Heredia, 61, who worked for the citys mayor Mayor Joe Ganim and Josephine Edmonds, 62, who worked for a Ganim primary rival Marilyn Moore. All four were accused of Unlawful Possession of Absentee Ballots and they individually face other charges.

The group initially faced accusations of mishandling absentee ballots in the mayoral primary race in September 2019, investigators say. The incumbent mayor Joe Ganim eked out a narrow victory in the primary race, defeating John Gomes by just 251 votes.

Gomes then sued, alleging absentee ballot mishandling and supplying video footage showcasing Geter-Pataky, a member of the Democratic Town Committee, repeatedly dropping absentee ballots into drop boxes or handing them to others, who then did the same.

The judge sided with Gomes, finding that the evidence was so damning that it necessitated a redo primary election.

Wanda Geter-Pataky watches video of herself in court placing absentee ballots into election drop boxes. She is now one of four people criminally charged in connection to the case. ( Connecticut Post )

The volume of ballots so mishandled is such that it calls the result of the primary election into serious doubt and leaves the court unable to determine the legitimate result of the primary, the superior court judge wrote in November 2023.

The allegations of the 2019 absentee ballot mishandling prompted the Secretary of States office to send a letter of referral to the State Elections Enforcement Commission.

The commission then opened a civil investigation resulting in a vote to refer evidence of criminal conduct to the Division of Criminal Justice on June 7, 2023, which was accepted by the Office of the Chief States Attorney, according to investigators.

Integrity of our voting process is vital to our democracy, Chief States Attorney Griffin said. I appreciate the attention and time the Statewide Prosecution Bureau put into these investigations. I hope these prosecutions will send a message that deters tampering with election results in the future in Connecticut.

The individuals also face other election-related charges. Some were charged with tampering With a Witness, Misrepresenting Eligibility Requirements for Voting by Absentee Ballot, Failure to Maintain an Absentee Ballot Distribution List, and others.

All four were released on promises to appear in Bridgeport Superior Court on June 24.
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Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman and his wife Giselle were hospitalized after being involved in a car crash in Maryland.

Fetterman, a Democrat, was driving a Chevrolet Traverse that struck the rear of a Chevrolet Impala on I-70 on Sunday, Maryland State Police said.

According to his office, Fetterman suffered a bruised shoulder in the incident and both he and his wife were discharged on Sunday afternoon.

No details were given on any injuries suffered by Giselle Barreto Fetterman.

Officials say that a passenger in Fettermans vehicle, as well as the driver of the Impala, were both taken by ambulance to War Memorial Hospital in West Virginia for medical evaluation.

You might have heard G and I were in a car accident yesterday. Thank you all for the well wishes.



Not the best way to spend our 16th wedding anniversary but were doing well and happy to be back home in Braddock with the family. pic.twitter.com/OKFmbUXtNF  Senator John Fetterman (@SenFettermanPA) June 10, 2024

On Sunday morning, John and Gisele were involved in a car accident with another driver. Out of an abundance of caution, they were evaluated at a local hospital. John was treated for a bruised shoulder and they were discharged that afternoon. They are doing well and happy to be back in Braddock, a spokesperson for Fettermans office told The Independent.

Both vehicles were traveling west on I-70 when the wreck happened around 8am.

Democratic Senate candidate for Pennsylvania John Fetterman alongside his wife Gisele Barreto Fetterman (R), arrives to vote at the New Hope Baptist Church in Braddock, Pennsylvania, in November 2022 ( EPA )

An investigation into the crash is ongoing and no citations have been issued, police said.
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Far-right commentators couldnt help but whine on social media moments after Hunter Biden became a convicted felon - despite asking for years for his conviction.

The jury unanimously convicted Biden Tuesday on all three of his felony counts in the gun case. The decision was historic and marked the first time the child of a sitting US president has been found guilty of a crime.

Rightwing commentators and allies of former president Donald Trump have argued that the justice system is biased against conservatives in general and Trump in particular. Trump was convicted of 34 felonies in New York state court for falsifying business records in an effort to influence the outcome of the 2016 election.

They unloaded after the conviction with complaints and conspiracy with one even saying it benefits Hunters dad: This is all about protecting Joe Biden.

First lady Jill Biden, Hunter Biden, son of U.S. President Joe Biden, joined by his wife Melissa Cohen Biden, leave the J. Caleb Boggs Federal Building on June 11, 2024 in Wilmington, Delaware ( Getty Images )

Hunter Biden guilty. Yawn. The true crimes of the Biden Crime Family remain untouched, Charlie Kirk, the founder of the rightwing youth organization Turning Point USA wrote on X. This is a fake trial trying to make the Justice system appear balanced. Dont fall for it.

This is a tiny consolation of justice. Really, it should be much more... The most egregious thing that Hunter Biden has done is money laundering to hide the selling out of his country to foreign interests by the promise of access to his father, Buck Sexton said on his podcast with Clay Travis.

Delaware jury just found Hunter Biden guilty on all three counts of lying on a federal firearms form. This doesnt undo any of the treason Joe Biden and the Uniparty have committed, Paul A. Szypula wrote on X.

Former Trump administration immigration official Stephen Miller added that the Justice Department is running election interference for Joe Biden thats why DOJ did NOT charge Hunter with being an unregistered foreign agent (FARA) or any crime connected with foreign corruption. Why? Because all the evidence would lead back to JOE. DOJ is Joes election protection racket.

Theres no evidence that the president has been involved in his sons foreign business dealings, which has been the subject of the House Republicans floundering impeachment probe into the president.

The gun charges are a giant misdirection. An easy op for DOJ to sell to a pliant media that is all too willing to be duped. Dont be gaslit. This is all about protecting Joe Biden and only Joe Biden, Miller claimed.

The chair of the House Oversight Committee James Comer said that the conviction of Hunter Biden was a step toward accountability.

But he added that until the Justice Department investigates everyone involved in the Bidens corrupt influence peddling schemes it will be clear department officials continue to cover for the Big Guy, Joe Biden.

Republican Florida Representative Matt Gaetz wrote on X that The Hunter Biden gun conviction is kinda dumb tbh.

The difference here is they know Joe will pardon Hunter before sentencing, former one-term Congressman Madison Cawthorn wrote on X. They needed this guilty verdict so the left could rush to the media and pretend theres not a double standard in our justice system. But Hunter will get probation, and Biden will try to throw Trump in prison. Just watch.

The president said in a statement that I will accept the outcome of this case and will continue to respect the judicial process as Hunter considers an appeal. Jill and I will always be there for Hunter and the rest of our family with our love and support. Nothing will ever change that.

Kentucky Representative Thomas Massie said: Hunter might deserve to be in jail for something, but purchasing a gun is not it. There are millions of marijuana users who own guns in this country, and none of them should be in jail for purchasing or possessing a firearm against current laws.

Hunter Biden said in a statement: I am more grateful today for the love and support I experienced this last week from Melissa, my family, my friends, and my community than I am disappointed by the outcome. Recovery is possible by the grace of God, and I am blessed to experience that gift one day at a time.

We are naturally disappointed by todays verdict, Abbe Lowell, Bidens defense attorney, said. We respect the jury process, and as we have done throughout this case, we will continue to vigorously pursue all the legal challenges available to Hunter.

He added: Through all he has been through in his recovery, including this trial, Hunter has felt grateful for and blessed by the love and support of his family.
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President Biden on Tuesday said he accepts the outcome of the first of two criminal cases against his son, Hunter Biden, after a jury found Hunter guilty on three charges related to his purchase and possession of a handgun in 2018.

Biden issued a statement declaring his continued support for his only surviving son just minutes after a jury in Wilmington, Delaware unanimously convicted Hunter Biden on three felony gun charges, a historic decision that marks the first time a sitting presidents child has been found guilty of a crime.

"As I said last week, I am the president, but I am also a dad. Jill and I love our son, and we are so proud of the man he is today, he said.

The younger Biden, a 51-year-old Yale-educated attorney and lobbyist turned visual artist, has admitted to struggling with addiction for decades. His father said he can relate to the many families who have had loved ones battle addiction and he shares the feeling of pride at seeing a relative come out the other side and be so strong and resilient in recovery after overcoming alcohol or drug dependency.

The president added that he will accept the outcome of this case and will continue to respect the judicial process while his son considers whether to appeal the conviction.

He also said he and First Lady Jill Biden will always be there for Hunter and the rest of our family with our love and support.

Nothing will ever change that, he added.

The jury verdict against Hunter Biden represents the first time the child of a sitting president has been convicted of a crime and comes less than two weeks after his fathers likely 2024 opponent, former president Donald Trump, was found guilty of 34 felonies by a New York City jury after a monthlong trial.

While Trump and his family members have routinely assailed the legal proceedings against him, President Biden has vowed not to intervene in the cases against his son and has said he would not use his authority to pardon him.

Hunters attorney, Abbe Lowell, said in a statement that he and his client were naturally disappointed by the jurys verdict but stressed that they respect the judicial process and would continue to vigorously pursue all the legal challenges available.

For his part, Hunter Biden said he was more grateful today for the love and support from his family, friends and community than he was disappointed by the outcome.

Recovery is possible by the grace of God, and I am blessed to experience that gift one day at a time, he added.
 Close Security footage appears to shows Hallie Biden dumping Hunter Bidens gun in garbage

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President Joe Biden flew to Wilmington, Delaware, on Tuesday to be with his son Hunter Biden after a jury convicted him on three federal gun charges.

Hours after the verdict, the White House Press Office announced that the presidents schedule had changed and that he would head hometown. Later that afternoon, Biden landed in Delaware  greeting his son, daughter-in-law and grandson on the tarmac.

Hunter was charged with two counts of making false statements and one count of unlawfully possessing a firearm for obtaining a gun in October 2018 while he was addicted to crack cocaine.

The president has already said he will not pardon his son but issued a statement saying he and first lady Jill Biden love and support their son and are proud of his resilience in recovery.

Throughout Hunters federal gun charges trial, members of the Biden family flocked to the courthouse to show their support for the defendant.

On Tuesday evening, CNN aired a montage comparing and contrasting the very different reaction of Fox News hosts to the criminal convictions of Donald Trump and the younger Biden at their respective trials.
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The presidents son, Hunter Biden, has been found guilty in his federal gun trial in Wilmington, Delaware, after days of emotional testimony about the first sons drug use.

After approximately three hours of deliberations, 12 jurors unanimously convicted him on all three felony gun charges, a historic decision that marks the first time a sitting presidents child has been found guilty of a crime.

I am more grateful today for the love and support I experienced this last week from Melissa, my family, my friends, and my community than I am disappointed by the outcome, Hunter said in a statement about an hour after the verdict was read. Recovery is possible by the grace of God, and I am blessed to experience that gift one day at a time.

He remained calm and still as the verdict was read, then turned to hug members of his legal team and kiss his wife, Melissa Cohen Biden. He left the courthouse holding hands with his stepmom, first lady Jill Biden, who missed the actual reading of the verdict. They all left the scene in a black SUV without issuing a statement.

I will accept the outcome of this case and will continue to respect the judicial process as Hunter considers an appeal, Joe Biden said in a statement. Jill and I will always be there for Hunter and the rest of our family with our love and support.

Special Counsel David Weiss said in a statement following the verdict: No one in this country is above the law. Everyone must be accountable for their actions, even this defendant. However, Hunter Biden should be no more accountable than any other citizen convicted of this same conduct.

He added: This case was not just about addiction, a disease that haunts families across the United States, including Hunter Bidens family. This case was about the illegal choices the defendant made while in the throes of addiction.

Hunter was indicted in September after the plea deal hed inked with prosecutors blew up over a federal judges concerns. At trial, jurors heard deeply personal evidence about the severity of his drug use, with prosecutors using his own texts and his memoir, Beautiful Things, in addition to the testimony of his exes, to accuse him of knowingly lying on a form to buy a gun on October 12, 2018.

Hunter could now face years behind bars. The charges carry a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison and fines of up to $750,000. But there is no minimum sentence, and non-violent first-time offenders usually do not receive severe punishments.

Hunter was accused of buying and owning a gun while being addicted to crack cocaine, flouting federal law, which states that those who use illicit drugs may not own firearms.

Prosecutors successfully argued that Hunter lied on a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives form when he purchased a 38 Colt Special revolver, a speedloader, and cartridges at the gun store in StarQuest Shooters and Survival Supply in Wilmington.

Hunter Biden, left, arrives at the federal court with his wife, Melissa Cohen Biden, June 6, 2024, in Wilmington ( AP )

Hunter had the gun for 11 days before it was dumped in a trash can outside a grocery store by Hallie Biden, the widow of his brother Beau Biden, on October 23, 2018. Hallie and Hunter were in an on-and-off relationship at the time. Crack and alcohol were both issues during the relationship, Hallie testified.

She also spoke of her own drug use, which began after she was introduced to crack cocaine by Hunter. It was a terrible experience; Im ashamed and I regret that period of my life, she said on Thursday.

But the key issue during Thursdays testimony was how she found  and then discarded  the 38 Colt Special, speedloader, and cartridges.

I panicked and I wanted to get rid of them because I didnt want him to hurt himself or my kids to hurt themselves, she told the court. I was so flustered ... I realize it was a stupid idea now, she added.

She said she was going to pretend she hadnt taken the gun, but that Hunter had soon texted her about it.

Are you insane, he wrote. Tell me now. This is no game. And youre being totally irresponsible and unhinged. He added: Its hard to believe anyone is that stupid.

Hallie Biden departs from federal court, Thursday, June 6, 2024, in Wilmington ( AP )

Hallie subsequently returned to the grocery store to get the gun, but it had been taken away by an elderly man searching for recyclables. Delaware police were later able to track down the man and retrieve the firearm.

Hunter was charged with gun crimes years later when prosecutors were working on unrelated tax charges against him.

Two of the three counts Hunter faced were connected to the ATF form he filled out to purchase the gun, which includes questions regarding the buyers criminal record, if they are purchasing the gun for themselves, as well as their mental health and drug use.

Hunter was charged with making a false statement on the form as well as lying to a licensed firearms dealer.

The final count was about owning a gun while being an addict, which is also a crime under federal law. Prosecutors argued that Hunter knew he was an active drug user when he bought and owned the firearm.

Prosecutor Derek Hines said during opening arguments that when the defendant filled out that form, he knew he was a drug addict.

He added: The law does not require us to prove that he was using drugs on that very day. Just that he knew he was a drug user or a drug addict.

First lady Jill Biden departs from federal court, June 7, 2024, in Wilmington ( AP )

Meanwhile, the defense, led by attorney Abbe Lowell, argued that the prosecution had to prove that Hunter was using drugs at the time he bought the firearm, noting that the form asks if you are an active user of drugs.

It does not say have you ever been. It does not say have you ever used, Lowell said during opening arguments.

Lowell added that a person who recovers always calls themselves an addict, regardless of whether they have recovered or not, meaning that Hunter may have referred to himself as such when he purchased the gun, but that it doesnt mean he was an active user. He also noted that the gun was never loaded and was only left in its lockbox on a single day.
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The defense and the prosecution painted two starkly different pictures of Hunter Bidens 2018 gun purchase during closing arguments on Monday.

Lawyers for Biden outlined a story of a recovering addict who genuinely believed he was on the mend when he checked a box saying that he wasnt an active user of illicit drugs on a form to buy a firearm on 12 October 2018.

Meanwhile, the prosecution argued that Biden was well aware that he was an addict and an active drug user when he bought the 38 Colt Special at StarQuest Shooters and Survival Supply in Wilmington.

Biden is accused of knowingly buying a firearm while being addicted to crack cocaine, a violation of federal law.

The presidents son faces three counts: False statement in the purchase of a firearm, false statement in a record required to be kept, and being a drug user or drug addict in possession of a firearm.

During a discussion with lawyers and the judge before closing arguments, Biden was brought up to speak to the judge for the first time in the course of the trial. He was also seen speaking closely to James Biden, President Joe Bidens brother during a break in the proceedings.

Hunter Biden, son of US President Joe Biden, departs his gun trial at the US Federal District Court in Wilmington, Delaware, on June 10 ( EPA )

Ahead of closing arguments, the prosecution called FBI Agent Erika Jensen, who testified previously during the trial, back to the stand. She was assigned to Bidens case last fall.

She testified that according to research she conducted over the weekend, text message history revealed that Biden was in Delaware in the time leading up to the gun purchase. The prosecution indicated that Biden may have been buying drugs at that time.

They also brought up testimony from last week in which Naomi Biden, 30, testified that her father was in New York during a three-day visit on 15 October.

But the prosecution shared evidence that Biden was still in Delaware as of 16 October that year. The prosecution used texts and Bidens memoir Beautiful Things to argue that the presidents son often used 7/11s as meetups to purchase drugs. They attempted to use the texts and location data to show that Biden was still using drugs when he bought the firearm.

Joe Bidens siblings, Valerie Biden and James Biden arrive for Hunter Bidens trial on June 10 ( EPA )

Prosecutor Leo Wise said during closing arguments that the people sitting in the gallery are not evidence.

Among those attending the trial were First Lady Jill Biden, the presidents sister Valerie Biden Owens, Hunter Bidens half-sister Ashley Biden, Hunter Bidens wife Melissa Cohen, and the presidents brother James Biden.

They may have reacted to parts of the evidence presented, but none of that matters, he added.

Your responsibility to apply the law to the facts  is no more important or less important because of who the defendant is, he said.

Biden looked straight ahead, avoiding the gaze of the jury during parts of the closing arguments.

Biden used crack and knew it during the relevant time period, Wise argued, noting that he went to rehab over and over again.

The evidence was personal. It was ugly, and it was overwhelming. It was also absolutely necessary, Wise said.

Hunter Biden, son of U.S. President Joe Biden, arrives with his wife Melissa Cohen Biden at the federal court for his trial on criminal gun charges, in Wilmington, Delaware, U.S., June 10, 2024 ( REUTERS )

In his closing arguments, defense attorney Abbe Lowell noted that the salesman who sold Biden the gun, Gordon Cleveland, saw no signs at all that Biden may have been under the influence of either drugs or alcohol at the time of the purchase.

Wise reminded the jury of the testimony of Bidens exes who said he could present himself in a coherent way even when he was using.

The prosecution does not have to prove that he used drugs on 12 October or between the 12th and 23rd, the day Hallie Biden discarded the firearm in a trashcan outside a grocery store, Wise argued to the jury. Hallie Biden is the widow of Beau Biden and had an on-and-off romantic relationship with Hunter Biden at the time.

What the government does have to prove is that there was a pattern of use.

The prosecution claimed that Biden was not only a drug user but an addict of crack cocaine, saying Thats why he kept going to rehab, he couldnt stop on his own.

Lowell spent the bulk of his closing statement pushing the notion that Biden cannot be found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, arguing that such rules are there to make sure no one is found guilty improperly.

That burden stays with the government throughout the case, he said, as he accused the prosecution of using conjecture and suspicion.

The defense lawyer used the analogy of a magician tricking his audience as he blasted the prosecution for supposedly not proving that Biden was using drugs within the relevant time frame.

That statement wasnt what he believed to be false, he said regarding Biden filling out the form to buy the gun.

The word knowingly cannot be proved beyond a reasonable doubt, he added. He also accused the government of trying to use Bidens extensive drug use to blur the times he did use drugs with the times he allegedly didnt.

He also appeared to try to take aim at the credibility of some of the governments witnesses, noting that both Hallie Biden and Zoe Kestan, a fellow ex of Bidens, received immunity to testify.

Two days after he bought the firearm, Biden texted Hallie Biden that he was sleeping on a car smoking crack.

Much like he argued that Biden may simply have been buying a donut and a coffee when he visited a 7/11, Lowell argued that Biden didnt want to tell Hallie Biden where he was when he sent that text.

He didnt think hed be in a courtroom five years later explaining how they talk to each other, Lowell said.
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Hunter Biden has been found guilty of lying on a federal gun form, lying to a gun dealer and possessing a firearm while using illegal drugs and now his sentence becomes the question.

A judge will have to decide whether the countrys first son will now head to jail for up to 25 years.

On Tuesday, a jury of 12 Delaware residents found Biden guilty on all three charges after approximately three hours of deliberations.

It is unlikely that Biden will receive a lengthy jail sentence, given that he is a first-time, nonviolent offender and cases similar to Bidens have resulted in little jail time. Instead, Judge Maryellen Noreika could choose to impose other penalties such as fines or probation.

But prison is not entirely off the table.

Hunter Biden, son of President Joe Biden, arrives at federal court in Wilmington, Delaware ( Getty Images )

Noreika said she would set Bidens sentencing date for a later time. But no matter what punishment he faces, he will have to face it. His father, President Joe Biden, has already said that he will not pardon his son.

Prosecutors presented a strong case to jurors, painting Biden as a grief-stricken man who made some bad choices that resulted in a careless mistake. They specified that while addiction is not a crime, lying about drug use to buy a gun was.

Hunter Biden, son of U.S. President Joe Biden, and his wife Melissa Cohen Biden walk outside the federal court as his trial on criminal gun charges continues, in Wilmington, Delaware, U.S., June 11, 2024 ( REUTERS )

Nobody is above the law, lead prosecutor Derek Hines said, during opening arguments. Nobody is allowed to lie, not even Hunter Biden.

The defense disputed the governments claim and said the presidents son was not actively using drugs when he purchased the gun and did not knowingly make false statements.

Testimony from several of Bidens exes confirmed that he was addicted to crack cocaine from 2015 until 2019, and that he was unreliable in telling the truth. Defense attorneys did not dispute that, and hinged much of their case on extremely specific wording in the statute Biden was charged under.
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Naomi Bidens testimony during her fathers testimony weighed on the jury as they deliberated Hunter Bidens conviction.

No daughter should ever have to testify, an anonymous juror told CNN an hour after the verdict.

Hunter Biden was convicted of all counts in his felony gun trial in Wilmington, Delaware on Tuesday. Days earlier, on Friday, the defense called his daughter and the presidents granddaughter Naomi Biden to the stand.

Speaking to CNN after the verdict on Tuesday afternoon, an unnamed juror said he believed that it was a bad mistake to put the defendants daughter on the stand, adding that most of the jurors felt sorry for the 30-year-old.

Hunter Biden, son of US President Joe Biden, joined by his wife Melissa Cohen Biden, arrive at the J Caleb Boggs Federal Building in Wilmington, Delaware, on June 11. ( AFP via Getty Images )

When she took the stand, President Joe Bidens granddaughter admitted she was nervous before proceeding to tell the court that things got bad after her uncle Beau died in 2015. She also testified that she never saw her father using drugs.

Hunter grew tearful as he listened to his daughter speak.

The anonymous juror also spoke about another very sad revelation that came up during the trial: I did not know that Hallie also got addicted to crack.

Hallie Biden, Beaus widow who later dated Hunter when he bought the gun, testified that the presidents son had introduced her to the drug in 2018 and she quit abusing it later that year.

It was a terrible experience that I went through, she told the court. Im embarrassed, and Im ashamed and I regret that period of my life.

It was very sad. Not that he was convicted of the crimes, but that his life had turned out the way that it did, the juror told the outlet.

Twelve jurors found Hunter Biden guilty of lying on a federal gun form, lying to a gun salesman about his prior drug use and unlawfully possessing a firearm in October 2018. Tuesdays verdict marked the first time a sitting presidents child was ever convicted of a crime.

Naomi Biden departs from federal court on June 7 ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

Despite the high-profile nature of the trial  and the fact that the person on trial was the presidents son  the juror clarified that Hunter was treated like any other defendant: No politics came into play. Politics was not even spoken about. The first family was not even spoken about. It was all about Hunter.

The juror also said he doesnt think Hunter should serve jail time.

The panel was initially split 6-6 after they took an immediate vote as they entered deliberations, the juror said. He explained that the initial no votes were because jurors didnt want to jump to conclusions right away. By Tuesday morning, they took another vote and everyone agreed that the presidents son was guilty.

In the immediate aftermath of the verdict, Hunter said that he was grateful for the support of his friends and family although he is disappointed by the outcome. He added, Recovery is possible by the grace of God, and I am blessed to experience that gift one day at a time.

The sentencing date will be scheduled at a later date, the judge said on Tuesday.
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President Joe Biden ruled out pardoning his son, and the president has said he would respect the outcome of the jury trial, which marked the first-ever criminal proceedings of the son of a sitting US president.

But conservative commentators and social media critics have questioned whether the president will stand by his statements after his sons conviction on three gun counts that could put him in prison for up to 25 years.

If Biden did pardon Hunter, he would be relying on longstanding executive authority that has been exercised dozens of times  but it would be an unprecedented and potentially politically devistating decision from a president who has repeatedly pledged that no one is above the law.

I will accept the outcome of this case and will continue to respect the judicial process as Hunter considers an appeal, he said on Tuesday after the verdict was announced. Jill and I will always be there for Hunter and the rest of our family with our love and support. Nothing will ever change that.

One week earlier, when asked whether he would respect the trials outcome, the president said yes. And asked if he had ruled out pardoning his son, the president also said yes.

In December, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre insisted that the president is not going to pardon his son.

Under the Constitution, The President  shall have Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offenses against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment.

The president has authority to grant a pardon to anyone convicted in federal court or by a military court martial. A pardon would block any further punishment for the forgiven offense, and would effectively prevent any further consequences of a criminal conviction.

Hunter Biden leaves a federal courthouse in Delaware with his mother, First Lady Jill Biden, and wife, Melissa Cohen Biden, on June 11. ( AP )

The president does not have authority to grant pardons on state-level convictions.

A pardon does not include an expungement of a criminal record, but it will restore most legal disabilities, including voting rights and the ability to sit on a jury and possess a firearm. It also does not signify innocence.

Generally, a pardon is granted on the basis of the petitioners demonstrated good conduct for a substantial period of time after conviction and service of sentence, and a petitioner typically is required to wait at least five years following their conviction or release from prison (or whichever is later) before submitting an application, according to the US Department of Justice.

The Justice Department also could also waive that five-year waiting period.

The guidelines are only recommendations. The president doesnt need to wait for the Justice Department to act.

President Joe Biden and Hunter Biden leave St Edmond Catholic Church in Delaware on June 1. ( AP )

In considering a pardon, federal authorities typically consider the conduct, character and reputation of the petitioner, and whether they have shown a demonstrated ability to lead a responsible and productive life for a significant period after conviction or release from confinement is strong evidence of rehabilitation and worthiness for pardon.

That includes a background check by the FBI on their employment, family responsibilities, reputation, community service and charitable giving.

A pardon application is also considered against the seriousness of the offense, and whether the petitioner has accepted responsibility, remorse and atonement.

A petitioner should be genuinely desirous of forgiveness rather than vindication, according to the Justice Department. While the absence of expressions of remorse should not preclude favorable consideration, a petitioners attempt to minimize or rationalize culpability does not advance the case for pardon.

Anyone seeking a pardon after stating they are innocence or the victim of a miscarriage of justice will bear a formidable burden of persuasion.

Officials also would review the need for a pardon against potential threats to the petitioners livelihood, including whether a felony conviction interfered with occupational licensing for their employment.

But the absence of a specific need should not be held against an otherwise deserving applicant, who may understandably be motivated solely by a strong personal desire for a sign of forgiveness, according to the Justice Department.

Officials also would take into consideration any recommendations and other comments from US attorneys and the sentencing judge.

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, the president said in a statement at the start of the trial in federal court in Wilmington. 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.
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After a years-long investigation by a Department of Justice prosecutor appointed under former president Donald Trump, a Delaware jury has found Hunter Biden guilty on three separate criminal charges related to his purchase of a revolver from a gun shop in Wilmington six years ago.

Prosecutors alleged that Hunter, the youngest and only surviving son of President Joe Biden, lied on an eight-page form he had to fill out to buy the .38 caliber revolver. It is a federal crime to lie on the form, known as an ATF Form 4473, which prosecutors said he did when he checked a box indicating that he wasnt a user of illegal drugs.

They also separately alleged that he violated a separate criminal law by making a false statement regarding his status as a drug addict during the transaction to the licensed gun dealer, and by possessing the gun while he was addicted to drugs.

Were the charges serious? Yes. Any gun-related criminal charge is generally serious, even in a country with relatively lax laws governing the possession and acquisition of firearms.

The week-long trial, held in a federal courthouse not far from where President Bidens re-election campaign is based, marked a low point for Hunter. The Yale-educated attorney-turned-businessman has struggled with drug and alcohol addiction for decades, by his own admission.

And its just the latest chapter in a long-running saga which Republicans hope will end with Hunters troubles helping to oust his father from the White House and usher in a restoration of Donald Trump  despite Trumps status as a convicted felon.

Since 2019, when it became clear that Joe Biden would be a candidate in the 2020 election against Trump, Hunter Biden has been a cudgel which the GOP has sought to wield against his father. It started with the now-infamous phone call between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, during which Trump pressured Zelensky to announce investigations into both the elder Biden and his son.

He never got what he tried to extort from Zelensky. But that didnt stop Trump from repeatedly and brazenly lying about Hunters overseas business work and accusing Joe Biden of having profited from it, despite there being no evidence that anything of the sort took place.

Hunters status as a right-wing hate object became even more solidified in October 2020, after the New York Post obtained and reported on emails from a copy of a hard drive purportedly from a laptop that used to belong to him. The laptop was allegedly abandoned at a Delaware computer repair shop run by a Trump supporter who provided copies of the drive to various high-profile pro-Trump figures, including disgraced ex-New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani.

This led to a dramatic reaction and fallout. The then-management at Twitter mistakenly (in their words)  and briefly  limited sharing of the Post story because they believed the email in question had been stolen as part of a hack-and-dump operation akin to what Russian intelligence services had done to prominent Democrats four years earlier. An open letter by more than 50 ex-intelligence experts said such a hack-and-leak operation had all the hallmarks of a Russian disinformation operation, although there is no proof that it was. It then became an article of faith among the Trumpian faithful that one of the only reasons that Trump lost the election  to the extent that any of his supporters believed that hed lost to begin with  was because voters werent aware of the presidents errant sons errant computer.

Since then, targeting Hunter has been de rigeur for any Republican hoping to make his or her bones as a fighter for Trumps cause.

To that end, theres been an entire cottage industry constructed around Hunter. One ex-Trump administration aide has spent much of the last four years publishing increasingly bizarre streams of content from a copy of the hard drive he obtained. Republicans in Congress have also spent much of the last two years mining through Hunters stolen data in hopes of finding any way to credibly accuse his father of anything that would justify impeaching him to repay Democrats for the two righteous cases they brought against Trump during his tumultuous quadrennium in the White House.

The only real effect the GOP-led probes focus on Hunter had was in pressuring a Trump-appointed judge to throw out a plea deal hed reached to avoid this trial because it would have precluded the government from trying him on charges that hed violated the Foreign Agents Registration Act  despite little evidence outside the fever swamps thatd ever violated that law.

After the deal fell apart, the Trump-appointed prosecutor whod been pursuing Hunter got appointed to a special counsel role, letting him bring a second set of charges against him for alleged tax law violations in California.

But the Congressional investigations into President Biden havent laid a glove on him leaving Hunter to bear the brunt of the Republican vendetta against him, having stood trial for charges that legal experts say would never have been brought outside of a larger case involving far more serious crimes.

The GOP will attempt to use the outcome of this trial to tar Joe with Hunters misdeeds, just as Donald Trump tried to during their second debate four years ago.

It didnt work then, and it wont work now.

Hunter Biden may have done wrong. But hes not on a ballot this fall. And Americans know that.
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Watch as Joe Biden delivers remarks at Everytowns Gun Sense University in Washington DC on Tuesday 11 June, hours after his son Hunter was found guilty in a historic trial.

Hunter Biden was convicted by a jury of lying about his drug use to illegally buy a gun, a verdict Democrats may seize upon to counter Donald Trumps claim of a justice system weaponised against him.

A 12-member jury in Wilmington, Delaware, federal court found the defendant guilty on all three counts against him, making Hunter the first child of a sitting US president to be convicted of a crime.

Hunter, 54, lightly nodded his head after the verdict was read but otherwise showed little reaction. He then patted his lawyer Abbe Lowell on the back and hugged another member of his legal team.

He then left the courthouse without making a statement.

His father issued a statement saying he accepted the outcome of the case and would respect the judicial process as his son considers an appeal.

As I said last week, I am the President, but I am also a Dad. Jill and I love our son, and we are so proud of the man he is today, the statement read.

So many families who have had loved ones battle addiction understand the feeling of pride seeing someone you love come out the other side and be so strong and resilient in recovery.
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Melissa Cohen Biden has been at her husband Hunter Bidens side throughout his federal gun trial, looking on as a Delaware jury found the presidents son guilty of three felony gun charges on Tuesday morning.

The 38-year-old activist and aspiring documentary filmmaker married Hunter Biden  whos now been convicted of buying a firearm while being addicted to crack cocaine  in 2019, following a previous marriage to Los Angeles businessman Jason Landver that ended in 2014 after two years. They share a 4-year-old boy, Beau Jr., who was named after Hunters late older brother.

President Joe Biden talks to his Marine escort as he walks with grandson Beau and first lady Jill Biden as son Hunter Biden (R) walks with his wife Melissa, upon arrival at Fort McNair in Washington, DC, on March 31 ( AFP via Getty Images )

Cohen Biden was born and raised in Johannesburg, South Africa, and briefly lived at a childrens home before she was adopted by a Jewish South African couple with three sons, Biden wrote in his memoir Beautiful Things.

She studied interior design in South Africa, then moved to Los Angeles to attend UCLA at the age of 22, the Daily Mail noted in 2019. Biden has said she speaks five languages, including Italian and Hebrew, writing in his book that shes an aspiring documentary filmmaker.

Following her divorce, she launched a crowdfunding effort for her documentary film about tribal communities, which was set to be called Tribal Lands.

I am Melissa and I'm going to take you back to the continent where I was born, she said in a trailer for the film, according to The List.

As an African-born western woman raised by its native people, Melissa can confidently provide viewers with a unique narrative of adventure and discovery while representing another ethnic and gender demographic, a statement about the film said.

Hunter Biden, center, President Joe Biden's son, accompanied by his mother, first lady Jill Biden, left, and his wife, Melissa Cohen Biden, right, walking out of federal court after hearing the verdict, Tuesday, June 11, 2024, in Wilmington ( AP )

Her activism has focused on animal rights and antisemitism, with a friend telling the Mail that She loves animals and the wild and is fervently anti-poaching, and lately she has become very vocal about antisemitism.

When they got together in 2019, Biden was struggling with substance abuse, a lifelong issue that ultimately led to his guilty verdict.

It was a chance meeting. After being rejected from a hotel in Los Angeles, to which hed escaped following a family intervention over his drug use, Biden chatted up a group at the rooftop pool who suggested he meet one of their friends: Cohen. They met up the very next day.

She arrived in oversized sunglasses pushed atop her honey-blond hair, Biden writes in Beautiful Things.

He told her she had the same blue eyes as Beau Biden, his late brother. Then he told her he was in love with her before admitting to his substance abuse.

Not anymore. Youre finished with that, Cohen said, according to Biden.

She ultimately helped him get sober, according to the memoir, taking his phone, car keys, wallet, and computer, deleting all his contacts apart from close family, and turning to steel when drug dealers appeared at the door as she made them leave.

Within a week of meeting Cohen, Biden proposed, according to The New Yorker.

Hunter Biden, son of US President Joe Biden, joined by his wife Melissa Cohen Biden, arrive at the J Caleb Boggs Federal Building in Wilmington, Delaware, on June 11, 2024. ( AFP via Getty Images )

By the next morning she had accepted his proposal, and Biden bought the simplest wedding bands he was able to find before calling a marriage service that sent over an officiant.

I called my dad and said that we just got married. He was on speaker, and he said to her, Thank you for giving my son the courage to love again, Biden told the magazine.

Biden writes in his memoir that Melissa dealt with my whining and crying and scheming before asking her to marry him.

The decision never felt rash or harebrained or reckless. It felt urgent. I felt like Id been given a reprieve, he wrote.
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Nancy Mace is coming to terms with the fact that revenge is a dish best served cold as she fends off a primary challenge from Kevin McCarthy  the former House Speaker that she helped oust last year.

Voters will cast their ballots on Tuesday in primary races across five states, including the Republican representatives South Carolina House district.

Tuesdays primary results will serve as a bellwether for the November presidential election. But they will also provide a chance for McCarthy, the former House Speaker, to seek political retribution against eight GOP defectors who sided with Democrats last October and got him kicked from his post.

Mace was part of the group known as the Gaetz eight, and McCarthy, who has retired from Congress, has since endorsed her primary opponent.

Its about revenge, Mace told NBC News on Monday. Its also about honesty and integrity. And my vote to oust Kevin McCarthy was about trust.

Groups linked to McCarthy have been pouring money into supporting his defectors opponents across the states. Three of these groups spent $4m on ads against Mace, NBC News reported.

McCarthy has been backing the GOP primary challenger to Florida rep. Matt Gaetz, who also voted for his ouster.

The former House Speaker was asked on CNN last week whether he was on a political vengeance tour but denied the accusation.

Meanwhile, Maces primary rival, Catherine Templeton, told the Post and Courier last month that she decided to run for Congress because of what she did, meaning her vote against McCarthy.

Templeton, who served in former South Carolina governor Nikki Haleys cabinet, confirmed that she asked McCarthy to help raise money for her.

In November, Rep Tim Burchett, fellow member of the Gaetz eight, told Newsmax that McCarthy was plotting to use $17m that he apparently had in his coffers to mess with a lot of people like my and Nancy Maces campaigns, Im sure.
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Rudy Giuliani appears in a new mugshot weeks after pleading not guilty to election interference charges in Arizona.

The former New New York City mayors latest mugshot was released by the Maricopa County Sheriffs Office on Monday. Giuliani gave a wily smile as he went before the cameras. He had a previous mugshot taken in Georgia after being charged there, but appeared far less excited in that portrait.

In late May, Giuliani pleaded not guilty to nine felony charges for his alleged role in a 2020 election interference plot. Another 17 other people were also charged in connection to the case.

The Arizona indictment accuses the defendants of interfering with the lawful transfer of the presidency of the United States, keeping President Donald Trump in office against the will of Arizona voters, and depriving Arizona voters of their right to vote and have their votes counted.

Prosecutors say that one month after the 2020 election, 11 Republicans supporting Trump convened at the states GOP headquarters to sign certificates claiming the states electoral college votes.

Rudy Giuliani poses for a mugshot weeks after pleading not guilty in an Arizona election interference case ( Maricopa County Sheriff's Office )

The additional seven people charged, including Giuliani, were included for their alleged roles in the scheme.

Giulianis attorney, Ted Goodman, released a statement after the former mayor took his mugshot.

This is yet another example of partisan actors weaponizing the criminal justice system to interfere with the 2024 presidential election through outlandish charges against President Trump and anyone willing to take on the permanent Washington political class, it read. Joe Biden and his allies continue to eviscerate the trust and integrity of our criminal justice system in their quest to take down President Trump and hold on to power. Mayor Rudy Giulianithe most effective federal prosecutor in U.S. historywill be fully vindicated.

Arizona officials served the indictment to Giuliani after his 80th birthday bash in Palm Beach, Florida. At the party, the former New York mayor served cake and belted out a rendition of Frank Sinatras New York, New York.

Guilianis Arizona charges comes amid charges still pending in Georgia and a bankruptcy case. He is roguhly $148m in debt.

Guilianis Arizona charges comes amid charges still pending in Georgia and a bankruptcy case. He is pictured in his Georgia mugshot. ( Reuters )

The former mayor launched a new coffee business - Rudy Coffee - to help his brand and deal with the debt. The first 100 bags are signed by the former mayor, the products website claims, and started to ship in June.

The three variations come with tag lines such as fighting for justice with an image of Giuliani from his time as US Attorney for the Southern District of New York; enjoying life, with an image of a flip-flop-wearing Guiliani sitting on a beach; and Americas mayor, with an image of a smiling Mr Giuliani holding a cup.

While Trump has chosen to sell sneakers and bibles to cover his legal fees, his former lawyer is flogging three coffee types: bold, morning, and decaf. The bags weigh two pounds each and can be purchased for $29.99.

Ive moved at a fast pace, and have had many different roles in life, but the one constant thing has been a good cup of coffee, which is now proven to have health benefits. Please enjoy my delicious fresh roasted specialty coffee. Its quality you can trust, Giuliani says in an ad.
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Donald Trump supplied a brief, two-minute, pre-recorded message for an event hosted by an extreme anti-abortion group - which denounces the procedure as child sacrifice - but managed to dodge the issue altogether.

Trump spoke virtually Monday at the Life and Liberty Forum held by the Danbury Institute, a group that has decried abortion as the greatest atrocity facing our generation today and has vowed not to rest until it is eradicated entirely.

The presumptive Republican presidential nominee, however, did not mention abortion once.

Instead, his words echoed his campaign rally speeches. You just cant vote Democrat. Theyre against religion. Theyre against your religion in particular, he said in remarks broadcast to a half-empty room at the Indiana roof ballroom in Indianapolis.

We have to defend religious liberty, free speech, innocent life and the heritage and traditions that built America into the greatest nation in the history of the world.

He added: But now we are, as you know, a declining nation. I know that each of you is protecting those values everyday and I hope well be defending them side-by-side for the next four years.

A Trump campaign spokesperson attempted to clarify the former presidents abortion stance, telling Politico ahead of the event that Trump supports the rights of states to determine the laws on this issue and supports the three exceptions for rape, incest, and life of the mother.

Trumps remarks were broadcast to a half-empty room at the Indiana roof ballroom in Indianapolis ( Adam Wren / screengrab )

Trump is committed to addressing groups with diverse opinions on all of the issues, as evidenced by his recent speech at the Libertarian Convention, his meetings with the unions, and his efforts to campaign in diverse neighborhoods across the country, the spokesperson also told the outlet.

The Independent has contacted the Trump campaign for comment.

Trumps stance on abortion remains unclear. He has touted the overturning of Roe v Wade in 2022 as a victory, calling himself proudly the person responsible for the reversal of the landmark ruling on abortion rights. However, the former president also pledged in April that he would not sign a national abortion ban into law if it were passed by Congress. That same week, he said on social media platform, Truth Social, that he believed that the issue of abortion should be left up to states.

Trumps two-minute statement at the nearly three-hour, Christian event starkly contrasted the other speakers speeches.

Many speakers at the event were Southern Baptists arguing their opposition to abortion and IVF services, as well as gender-affirming health care, same-sex marriage, and even no-fault divorce. Some speakers went so far as to claim that many women are being coerced into getting abortions. One speaker even likened a surge in abortions to the Holocaust.

Dr Albert Mohler, president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, took aim at IVF, saying the practice is not only the alienation of reproduction, from the conjugal setting, it is also an engineered system whereby multiple embryos are created only for most of them assuredly to be destroyed.

He added: We need to recognize any intervention with an embryo, any commodification of the embryo, any turn of the embryo into a consumer product, is an assault upon human dignity.

He touched upon the Alabama ruling in February, when the states Supreme Court labeled embryos as children, allowing a wrongful death lawsuit to proceed after embryos were destroyed at an IVF clinic. Dr Mohler slammed the GOP-controlled Alabama legislature and Republican governor for passing a short-term measure that protected IVF services after the controversial ruling.

Even in the state of Alabama lack of political will to stand behind what was the correct rule and judgment by the Alabama Supreme Court, he said.

He also claimed that conception starts at fertilization rather than implantation. We mean when the sperm and the egg meet and God said, let there be light, he said.

A welcome video was played at the beginning of the conference. God has been pushed out of our schools and our public squares, the narrator stated, before accusing transgender Americans in public spaces of exposing [children] to indecency and confusion.

Tim Lee, an evangelist and marine, claimed the US is trying to kick God out of everything.

Our forefathers wanted God in America, he said. Its time to take America back.

Trumps message to the Christian gathering aired on the same day he was interviewed by a probation officer ahead of his sentencing next month in his hush money trial. Trump made history last month as the first former president to be found guilty in a criminal case.
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The Biden campaign is hoping for a Donald Trump meltdown in the first televised debate between the two candidates ahead of the November election.

President Joe Biden will take part in his first 2024 debate with the former president, now a convicted felon, on June 27, which will be aired on CNN. A second faceoff is set for September 10, hosted by ABC.

Trump refused to take part in any of the GOP primary debates, writing on Truth Social: The public knows who I am & what a successful Presidency I had. I will therefore not be doing the debates.

But Team Biden hopes that the former presidents time on stage will remind the public what Trumps White House years really looked like.

The out of sight, out of mind concept of President Trump is real. I think people forget the way he interacts, the way he communicates, the inaccuracies of the things he says and promises to the American people, Democratic strategist Amanda Loveday, an adviser to the pro-Biden political action committee Unite the Country, told NBC.

A debate like this deletes distraction and allows for people to see them next to each other and answer questions back to back and be able to compare them.

President Joe Biden is falling behind in the polls ( AP )

Biden campaign officials believe that such comparison between the two candidates will give the current president an edge at a time when he is falling behind in the polls.

I dont think that hes going to come off as diminished and meek, Angelo Carusone, president of the left-leaning journalism watchdog group Media Matters for America, said of Biden. My sense is that people will see that comparison and theyll hear somebody making coherent arguments and Trump saying some really random stuff.

Seeing him unfiltered for a little bit of time is important for people to at least be able to process just how much hes changed. And it has gotten worse over time; he has declined. And in some ways, it has gotten more rabid and intense, he added on Trump.

Recent polls have shown that Biden is losing support, including among Latino and Black voters, with many potential voters reporting greater confidence in Trump heading the economy.

Trump has sought to paint Biden as an inept politician who can barely follow a teleprompter and whose leadership includes entangling the US in two foreign wars.

Trump has repeatedly questioned Bidens mental capacity ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

He has also repeatedly questioned Bidens mental capacity, branding him Sleepy Joe and claiming that he cant put two sentences together and hes in charge of nuclear warfare. Trump also trolled Biden in January with a spoof advert depicting the White House as a senior living establishment where residents feel like presidents.

But Democrats have argued that Bidens strong policy record as president has been overlooked, with aides and allies frustrated he wasnt getting credit for a strong economy and for advancing policy proposals in support of reproductive rights or bolstering infrastructure, forgiving federal student loans and capping the cost of insulin, as well as taking a strong stance on immigration.

Bidens allies have largely put his performance in the polls down to the short memories of voters who have forgotten what Trump was like as president  but they hope voters memories will be jogged after the debates.

The presidents strategy during the debates will be to let Trump be Trump, a campaign official told NBC. This will reveal the Republican presidential candidates extreme leanings, they added, and will show that Trump is less stable now than he was four years ago.

In an interview Thursday with ABC News, Biden laid out his goals for the first debate. Say what I think. Let him say what he thinks. The things he says are off the wall: I want to be a dictator on day one. I want to move in a direction where he talks about, you know, suspending the Constitution, Biden said. All I have to do is hear what he says  remind people what he says and what I believe and what he believes. Hes about him. Im about the country.

Meanwhile, a campaign official told NBC that Biden is likely to cast Trump as obsessed with revenge and retribution and hark to the political violence in the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol during the first debate.

This is going to be the most important debate since JFK-Richard Nixon in 1960, said Frank Luntz, a GOP pollster who regularly holds focus groups with voters.

We all get a chance to see whether Joe Biden is as feeble as Trump says he is. We all get a chance to see whether Donald Trump is as unhinged as Joe Biden says he is, Luntz said. This is our chance to test the worst accusations of the candidates against each other.
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Donald Trump has made history as the first criminally convicted US president. He has been found guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records as part of a conspiracy to corruptly influence the 2016 presidential election.

He sat emotionless as the jury convicted him on 34 counts of falsifying business records to cover up a payment to porn star Stormy Daniels in the run-up to the 2016 election. Ms Daniels says that they had a sexual encounter in 2006, which Trump denies.

The jury delivered the verdict late on 31 May after deliberating for almost two days at the Manhattan court.

The Republican presidential candidate completed a virtual interview with Manhattan Criminal Courts probation department on Monday, a mandatory requirement before he is sentenced on July 11 by New York judge Juan Merchan after being found guilty on all counts at his hush money trial last month.

Could Trump go to prison? And what potential prison time is he facing in his three other criminal cases?

The hush money case  up to 20 years

The 34 charges were stepped up from misdemeanors to class E felonies for the trial because prosecutors alleged the crimes were carried out in an effort to commit or conceal another crime.

Each of the 34 counts carries a maximum sentence of four years in prison, however New York imposes a 20-year sentencing cap for this type of offense.

However, such sentences are usually only doled out in circumstances like previous felony convictions or based on the seriousness of the crime.

Given that Trump has no prior criminal record and his crimes are non-violent, he could face no jail time. Instead, New York Judge Juan Merchan could impose other penalties such as fines, probation or conditional discharge in lieu of jail time.

The prosecution and the defense are still to give their recommendations on sentencing. The defense was due to give its recommendation on June 13. On June 10 Trump sat for a virtual interview with a probation officer as part of the sentencing procedure. Reports said the interview lasted half an hour.

Some commentators have suggested the prosecution could ask for jail time although others have suggested Trumps age and lack of previous convictions make this unlikely.

The classified documents case  up to 450 years

In one of two federal criminal cases, Trump is charged with willfully retaining secrets and obstructing justice over his alleged mishandling of classified documents after leaving the White House.

In August 2022, the FBI raided Trumps Mar-a-Lago home in Palm Beach, Florida, and found boxes of classified documents that he should have returned to the National Archives.

In that case, the former president faces a maximum of 10 years in prison per count of willfully retaining secrets and 20 years per count of obstructing justice.

Donald Trump appears alongside his aide and co-defendant Walt Nauta and attorneys Chris Kise and Todd Blanche in Miami, Florida, in June 2023 ( Reuters )

While the latter offence comes with a higher maximum sentence, it is the former which should have Trump more worried. Convictions of wilful and/or reckless retention of classified information frequently result in prison sentences of several years or more. Trump faces more than 30 of those charges.

The trial was provisionally set for 20 May, although Judge Aileen Cannon subsequently suspended it indefinitely and pretrial hearings relating to it continue to be dominated by baffling orders and courtroom spats.

The federal election interference case  up to 55 years

The Justice Departments second case against Trump accuses him with efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election in his favor.

In this case, he faces charges of conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy against Americans right to vote in free elections and attempting to block the certification of the election results by summoning a mob to attack the US Capitol on 6 January 2021.

Should he be convicted on either point, he faces steep maximum prison sentences for each count, in particular the obstruction of proceeding charges, which carry 20-year maximum terms.

Donald Trump claimed he witnessed filth and decay in Washington DC after his arraignment in early August 2023 ( Getty )

The trial, in this case, was provisionally set for 4 March but it has been plagued by delays while Trumps presidential immunity argument plays out before the US Supreme Court.

The Georgia racketeering case  up to 76.5 years

In Georgia, Trump is charged with his efforts to overturn the 2020 election in the state.

Donald Trump appears in a police booking mugshot released by the Fulton County Sheriffs Office in Georgia in August 2023 ( Reuters )

The sprawling RICO case, brought by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis against Trump and a string of his allies, is unique in that it is the only case where the charges carry minimum prison terms.

The most serious felony charge  of violating Georgias RICO statute (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organisations)  carries a minimum prison term of five years, with a maximum of 20 behind bars.
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Donald Trumps lawyer Alina Habba is defending her supposedly hardscrabble background as her detractors on social media question whether she is concocting a false rags-to-riches story.

Habba appeared on Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirks show on the right-wing channel Real Americas Voice on Monday and defended remarks she had made over the weekend at a summit held by Kirks group. Before hundreds of attendees at TPUSAs Young Women's Leadership Summit, Habba claimed that her father used to take the money that he could have and got a Coke and a pack of peanuts every day so that we could survive.

On Monday, she told Kirk: "I know that there were comments that were just beyond comprehension, trying to break down, fact-check me. I really can't be fact-checked on my life. I'm happy to break it down further for everybody and all the nastiness.

A fair portion of Habbas background is public knowledge, and provides a complicated answer to the question of whether Habba has upsold the plight she and her family faced during her childhood. With a background as Chaldean Catholics from Iraq, Habbas family arrived in the US in the 1980s, fleeing religious persecution perpetuated by Saddam Husseins government. Chaldean Catholics fled Iraq to the US in significant numbers throughout the 80s and into the early 1990s; more faced persecution and were uprooted from their homes during the rise of Isis in the 2010s.

But its also clear that Habbas family had come upon some measure of success and financial stability by the time she was in high school. Her father, Dr Saad Habba, is a renowned gastroenterologist who can be found published in American medical journals as early as 2000, when Habba was 16. Two years later, she graduated from a prestigious New Jersey private school, The Kent Place School. Tuition at the private academy runs past $53,000 a year for high schoolers.

As Trumps attorney, Habba has represented him through several of his legal defeats, including the civil case brought against him by writer E Jean Carroll which ended in a historic $83 million judgement against her client.

Alina Habba speaks to reporters outside of the Manhattan courtroom where Donald Trump was convicted on 34 felonies ( POOL/AFP via Getty Images )

She was not directly involved in representing Trump during his recent Manhattan criminal trial on 34 felony counts related to an illegal effort to hide a hush money scheme, which prosecutors said was aimed at protecting his presidential campaign. The former president was found guilty on all 34 counts, and is due to be sentenced next month (pending an appeal, which he will file). Habba does continue to serve as an informal legal advisor to the president and did attend court with her boss as he was convicted on his criminal charges.

Despite not being a member of Trumps political staff, she has also regularly appeared on cable news to defend her client on matters of personal dignity and appearance beyond simply serving in her role as an attorney. In one instance in mid-April, she appeared on Fox News to defend her client sleeping in the Manhattan courtroom during proceedings, even though she herself had not attended court that day.

Hes been sitting there, as he is forced to, at the threat of going to jail if hes not sitting there, she said. If anything, hes probably brutally bored. I mean, its painful they make him sit there through jury selection but no, you know, Ive heard that report; its unlikely [he fell asleep], I know him; I sat through trial after trial with him. That never happens.
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Donald Trump completed his pre-sentencing interview with a New York City probation officer on Monday, a mandatory requirement before he is sentenced on July 11 by New York judge Juan Merchan after being found guilty on all 34 counts at his hush money trial last month.

The Republican presidential candidate and now convicted felon sat for the session virtually and was finished after less than a half-hour of routine and uneventful questions and answers, a source told the Associated Press.

Trumps lead attorney Todd Blanche was allowed to be on the call to advise his client, which is not standard practice but was permitted since Judge Merchan did not object.

Former New York City Department of Corrections and Probation commissioner Martin Horn told NBC News in advance of Mondays interview that conducting the session by video call was highly unusual but acknowledged that hauling Trump into a probation office would be very disruptive and require additional security considerations.

Trumps answers to the interview questions, which concerned his personal history and current physical and mental wellbeing, will be used to compile a report that will be submitted to Judge Merchan as he weighs the defendants punishment.

It follows his May 30 conviction on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to conceal a $130,000 payment to porn star Stormy Daniels in October 2016, just prior to that years election, to ensure her silence over an alleged affair.

The former presidents defense team is expected to enter its own sentencing recommendation on June 13, with the prosecution following on June 27, but the justice will announce his final ruling next month.

Trumps sentencing will come just four days before he will be formally invited to accept the Republican presidential nomination for 2024 at its national convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, an honor he could theoretically have to answer from inside a jail cell.

Donald Trump addresses the press from Trump Tower in New York in the aftermath of his hush money trial verdict ( AP )

Judge Merchan has the power to impose a wide range of punishments on the former president, ranging from probation and community service to up to four years in prison.

Trump was found guilty by a unanimous jury after six weeks of often-explosive testimony from the likes of Daniels, ex-tabloid publisher David Pecker and the Republicans own estranged former fixer Michael Cohen.

He denied any wrongdoing and insisted before the trial even began and throughout its duration that the whole affair was a scam with a rigged outcome that had been cooked up by Joe Biden and his countless political enemies to discredit him, a ploy to keep him away from the campaign trail as he pursues a belated second stint in the White House.

Trump has continued to make that argument to his supporters and his allies in conservative media since the verdict was announced, threatening revenge should he return to the Oval Office.
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First Lady Jill Biden only missed one day of her son Hunter Bidens federal gun charges trial when she traveled to France to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day with the president.

She attended court on Wednesday before jetting off to Normandy and was back at the federal building in Wilmington, Delaware by Friday morning.

And she isnt the only one, President Bidens youngest son was surrounded by family members each day of his trial until the very end.

Hunter walked hand-in-hand with his glamorous wife, Melissa Cohen Biden, into the building every morning before court and out every afternoon. His sister Ashley Biden, aunt Valerie Biden, uncle James Biden and maternal aunt Bonny Jacobs have all shown up. His daughter Naomi Biden was also present, albeit in her capacity as a witness for the defense.

The rallying around by the first family is notable, even as painfully intimate and at times embarrassing details have emerged in testimony about the fallout from Hunters addiction to crack cocaine.

First Lady Dr Jill Biden arrives to attend her son Hunter Bidens trial at US Federal District Court in Wilmington, Delaware on June 7, 2024 ( EPA )

During Naomi Bidens testimony about the strain her fathers addiction put on their relationship, members of the Biden family held hands and at times, some broke down in tears.

After Biden was found guilty, he walked out of the courthouse, remaining hand-in-hand with his mother and wife.

The symbolic show of loyalty has drawn particular scrutiny for the fact that it was preceded by another headline-grabbing criminal trial: the hush money case brought against Donald Trump.

For much of the former presidents six-week trial in New York, he attended the Manhattan criminal courthouse without family, surrounded only by lawyers and a rotating cast of political allies.

Donald Trump Jr, Tiffany Trump, Eric Trump and Lara Trump attend closing arguments of their fathers criminal trial in New York ( POOL/AFP/Getty )

Many of the Trump family distanced themselves from the trial. Donald Trump Jr showed up for the first time as the defense was resting its case. Tiffany Trump and her husband Michael Boulos appeared briefly for closing arguments.

Trumps eldest daughter, Ivanka Trump, and her husband Jared Kushner never showed. The only public acknowledgment that she made of her fathers conviction was an Instagram story post featuring a childhood photo of her with him, and the caption: I love you dad.

Eric Trump was the sole family member to attend the trial regularly, and the only one standing behind his father in court when the guilty verdict was handed down by the jury. He was the only familial hand that the former president reached out to shake while leaving the courthouse that day.

A court sketch of former president Donald Trump, right, shaking his son Eric Trump's hand as he walks out of the courtroom in Manhattan Criminal Court on May 30 ( AP )

The other notable missing figure from the Trump world was former first lady, Melania Trump.

Her absence was palpable in the courtroom when adult film star Stormy Daniels gave testimony about her alleged affair with Trump when he was already married to Melania.

The affair with Daniels was central to the case in which Trump was found guilty of falsifying 34 business records. During her testimony, Daniels revealed how she and the former president engaged in a one-night-stand, and that he told her he did not sleep in the same room as Melania who had recently given birth to their son, Barron. Trump has denied the affair.

Hunters wife Melissa has also had to listen to the difficult testimony of her husbands ex-girlfriends - but from before they were married in 2019. This has included his former sister-in-law Hallie Biden, who testified about his reckless behavior while addicted to crack cocaine.

Hunter Biden walks with his wife Melissa Cohen Biden into federal court in Wilmington, Delaware ( REUTERS )

She is fiercely defensive of her husband, at one point yelling at a former Trump aide in attendance in the hallway, calling him a Nazi piece of s***. The former aide and Biden are involved in a lawsuit regarding Bidens laptop which has been used as evidence at his gun charges trial.

Trumps family was also defensive during his trial but centered their ire on the justice system, repeating the false claims of their father. Eric Trump called the trial political warfare while Donald Trump Jr called the trial a witch hunt.

The Biden family appears to have taken a more measured approach. President Joe Biden said he would not pardon his son and accepted the guilty verdict for what it is.

Joe Bidens siblings, Valerie Biden and James Biden arrive for Hunter Bidens trial on June 10 ( EPA )

But he also added: So many families who have had loved ones battle addiction understand the feeling of pride seeing someone you love come out the other side and be so strong and resilient in recovery... Jill and I will always be there for Hunter and the rest of our family with our love and support. Nothing will ever change that.

Recent polling indicates that voters are unconcerned with the outcome of Trumps criminal trial when it comes to how they cast their ballot in November. It remains unclear if Hunter Bidens verdict will affect his fathers re-election campaign.

But with so much public attention on both, especially in an election year, the high-profile clans have sent a message to Americans about showing up in times of difficulty.

The family presence, or lack thereof, raises a fair question: if your family wont support you in times of crisis, who will?
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A pet whippet ran four miles to help save his owner after the truck they were traveling in crashed into a ravine in Oregon.

Brandon Garretts truck went over an embankment in a heavily wooded area of the state near the Idaho border on June 2 as he drove with his four dogs.

The mans family had no idea what happened to him until his whippet named Blue made it to a friends campsite, alerting them that something was wrong.

Garrett and the dog, who had glass stuck in his snout, had been due to return to the campsite hours earlier but failed to show up, The New York Times reported.

Garretts brother, Tyree, raised the alarm and an overnight search in bad weather began to find the missing 62-year-old.

Brandon Garrett was rescued from a ravine in Oregon last week after his dog ran to get help ( Baker County Sheriffs Office )

Officials said that Tyree located his brothers truck the next day in the ravine and called in rescuers.

Baker County Sheriff Travis Ash responded to the scene and as they searched for an access point to the creek, he heard a man yell for help.

Garrett was located one hundred yards from the vehicle above the creek where he had been able to crawl to safety.

The sheriffs department gave him first aid at the scene while Pine Valley Rural Fire volunteers and US Forest Service employees cut a path using chainsaws.

When rescuers reached the man they loaded him in a basket and pulled him out of the ravine on a rope system. He was then airlifted to a regional hospital.

The other three dogs were found alive at the site, though they were injured in the incident. One of the dogs had surgery for a broken hip and had injured its femur. Another dog had a broken leg in two spots.
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A gang of thieves stole at least 500,000 (421,000) worth of jewellery and watches from a Bulgari shop in Rome before disappearing into the citys sewers with police in pursuit.

The gang struck at about midnight on Saturday, climbing through a hole they dug in the floor of the Bulgari store on Romes Via Condotti, which is lined by high-end designer shops.

The three masked robbers were caught on CCTV and triggered the alarm. Police arrived seven minutes after the alarm was sounded, but took four minutes to break through the door that had been barricaded by the gang.

But the raiders managed to gather their haul of valuables and disappear back down the hole into Romes sewer system within those 11 minutes, according to Italian media.

Police officers stand outside the Bulgari store in via Condotti, Rome ( EPA )

While we were opening the door, we could hear them shouting Lets go, lets go, one investigator told the newspaper La Repubblica.

Romes sewage system dates back to the Roman era, with the complex network of tunnels compared to an underground metro system.

The centre of Rome is criss-crossed by sewer tunnels that date back to the Roman era and are still in use, Marco Placidi, head of Sotterranei di Roma, a group that explores Romes underground archaeology, told The Times.

They are large enough to walk in and, if its not raining, there is no more than 10cm of water in them. They are not totally mapped so it is hard to know where the robbers went, Mr Placidi added.

There was speculation that they had kept the Bulgari store under surveillance for some time and may well have gone into the shop, posing as customers, to better understand its layout and security systems.

Police officers could hear the raiders shouting Lets go! Lets go! before they disappeared into Romes ancient sewer system ( EPA )

In August 2022, a similar tunnelling technique was used by a gang of thieves to try to raid a bank near the Vatican - but it failed after one robber became stuck.

On that occasion, the thieves dug a tunnel from an abandoned shop, hoping to access a bank branch. One of them, dubbed the mole man by the Italian press, became stuck for more than eight hours when a section of the tunnel collapsed.

He was eventually extricated alive with the help of a large mechanical digger. The other members of the gang tried to flee the area but were caught by police.
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The leader of Frances mainstream right has said he would back an alliance with Marine Le Pens far-right National Rally (RN) in snap elections announced by president Emmanuel Macron  sparking a backlash from his own party and shocking opponents.

The head of the right-wing Republicans party, Eric Ciotti, said: We need to have an alliance while remaining ourselves... an alliance with the National Rally and its candidates. His party won around 7 per cent of the vote in European parliamentary elections where RN won more than 30 per cent of the vote and Mr Macrons centrist ticket won only 15 per cent. Hours later, Mr Macron dissolved parliament.

A number of senior political figures connected to the Republicans party hit out at Mr Ciottis stance. Gerald Darmanin, the interior minister and former member of the Republicans, said Mr Ciotti had dishonoured Gaullism  General Charles de Gaulle founded the movement. He also accused Mr Ciotti of signing the Munich agreement, an appeasement deal reached in 1938 between Nazi Germany, France, the UK and Italy.

Ms Le Pen called Mr Ciottis move a brave choice, while the other face of the party, 28-year-old Jordan Bardella, promised supporters the largest possible majority in his first interview since the European results.

Mr Macron evoked the horrors of fascism in a pre-election warning to voters ( AP )

In light of the European polls, politicians on the left are focused on closing ranks to prevent a win for the National Rally. For now, they have also vowed not to join forces with Mr Macrons centrists. In a joint statement, the alliance called on all forces on the left, including the influential labour unions, to unite behind a new popular front to form an alternative to Emmanuel Macron and to fight against the racist project of the far right.

Mr Macrons election announcement also prompted left-wing unions, parties and student movements to hold demonstrations in towns and cities across France on Monday. In Marseilles, more than 1,000 people took part in a protest.

As for Mr Macron himself, he told Le Figaro on Tuesday that he was out to win the snap elections, to be held on 30 June and 7 July. On Monday, he had evoked the horrors of fascism in a pre-election warning as parties seek alliances to stop the hard-right taking power in France.

Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella in Paris on Sunday ( AP )

Mr Macron warned Europes history of fascism should not be allowed to recommence as he visited Oradour-sur-Glane, a village in central France where 643 civilians were killed by the Nazis in 1944.

And in this memory, in the ashes of Oradour, we must ensure that force of this reconciliation, the sap of our European project, our continuing desire for liberty, equality and fraternity is reborn, Mr Macron said.

Mr Macron was due to give a press conference on Tuesday afternoon, but it was postponed until Wednesday.

Election specialists say Mr Macron faces an uphill battle if he is to avoid the prospect of a RN victory.

According to an IFOP survey for Paris Match magazine, 36 per cent of polled citizens hoped for National Rally to win at the election.

An anti-fascist rally in Toulouse on Monday following the European election results ( AFP )

Asked which party was most likely to emerge as the winner of the two-round ballot, 60 per cent of the panel cited the National Rally.

The survey, which did not simulate parliamentary elections with their two-round majority votes as such, did not include seat projections.
 Close Michael Mosley caught on CCTV the day he disappeared

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The late television and radio doctor Michael Mosley leaves Britain for the better, after showing millions of people how to improve their health and wellbeing in easy ways, a friend and former colleague has said.

Scientist and broadcaster Dr Hannah Fry said in a special BBC documentary: Dr Michael Mosley achieved what so many broadcasters dream of: he made a difference to peoples lives, changing the way we see ourselves, our health and our wellbeing.

And in doing that for so many people, for so many years, he leaves Britain for the better.

Dr Mosley , who died after disappearing on a walk on the Greek island of Symi, was aksi hailed as one of the most important broadcasters of recent decades in a special BBC Radio 4 programme.

It comes as his body is likely to be released to his family and repatriated by the weekend.
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Tragic details have continued to emerge about Dr Michael Mosleys final hours after he disappeared on the Greek island of Symi, with his body discovered five days later.

After police officers, firefighters and a helicopter scoured the rocky hillside, he was found at the foot of a fence near a beach bar at the Agia Marina resort.

Doctor and broadcaster Michael Mosley was found near a fence on Sunday (Avalon/channel4/PA) ( PA Media )

His body was discovered in a rocky area behind Agia Marina ( PA Wire )

CCTV footage has reportedly shown him making his way down the slope before falling over, with his wife saying that his family had taken comfort in the fact he very nearly made it to safety.

Follow latest updates on TV doctor Michael Mosley.

After recently taking part in a theatre tour with his wife Dr Clare Bailey, the two had flown to the tranquil Dodecanese island to stay at the three-bedroom Merchant House apartment in Symi with friends.

The TV star, who had regularly appeared on This Morning and The One Show, had enjoyed a boat ride on Wednesday before leaving his wife and family friends at the nearby Agios Nikolaos beach at around 1.30pm.

Carrying a small bottle of water and an umbrella, he set out without his mobile phone to return to the couples accommodation and had planned to walk along the coastal route.

In 37C searing heat, he managed to climb the steep slope and was seen on a cafes CCTV at 1.52pm in the town of Pedi. It is believed he took a wrong turn and rather than making the walk inland to Symi, he ventured eastwards and is suspected to have become disorientated.

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.

His widow said the 67-year-old appeared to have undertaken an incredible climb, took the wrong route and collapsed where he couldnt be easily seen by emergency search teams.

A view of the resort, with Dr Mosleys body discovered just metres from the water ( Yui Mok/PA Wire )

Despite searches being conducted in the area, it was five days later that a Greek cameraman and the local mayor spotted a suspicious shape at the edge of the resort, and alerted the bar staff.

His body was discovered around mid-morning on Sunday beneath a fence, 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.

Emergency services at the scene where Dr Mosleys body was discovered ( Yui Mok/PA Wire )

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.

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, with friends and colleagues praising him for innovating the world of science and health broadcasting.
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A fire broke out at the Palace of Versailles on Tuesday, forcing the evacuation of visitors from one of Frances busiest tourist sites before it was brought under control, a spokesperson said.

The Palace, built in the 17th century for King Louis XIV, was the main royal residence until the French Revolution and the overthrow of the monarchy in 1789.

Firefighters came. There is no more smoke, no more flames and there is no damage to the collection, the spokesperson added.

The fire broke out in an area of roofing where renovation works were being done, the spokesperson said.

( REUTERS )

More than seven million people visit the palace each year. Later this summer it will host the Olympic Games equestrian events.

In 2019, a fire consumed the roof of the Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris. The blaze engulfed the spire and almost toppled the main bell towers. Around the world, TV viewers watched with horror as the medieval building burned.
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The US secretary of state Antony Blinken has said that the endorsement by Hamas officials of the UN Security Councils ceasefire resolution is a hopeful sign in the effort to get a truce deal over the line  but that the Hamas leadership inside Gaza needs to sign it off.

The resolution, backed by 14 of the 15 Security Council members  with Russia abstaining  backs a US proposal setting out conditions for a full and complete ceasefire, the release of hostages held by Hamas, and the exchange of Palestinian prisoners.

Mr Blinken urged Hamas to accept the deal, and said Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu had reaffirmed his commitment to the proposal on Monday. Mr Netanyahu has taken a tough stance in public over a deal, saying that Hamas needs to be destroyed  having faced pressure from his hardline governments coalition allies to continue the war.

Mr Blinken said the response of Hamas to the UN vote was a hopeful sign, but that mediators are still awaiting word from the groups leaders in Gaza. Qatari and Egyptian mediators have not received formal replies from Hamas or Israel to the UN-backed truce proposal, an official close to the talks told reporters.

Thats what counts. And thats what we dont have yet. And thats why I say were waiting to see it. Everyone has said yes, except for Hamas, Mr Blinken said.

On Tuesday, an Israeli government official said the plan would allow its military to achieve all of its objectives before ending the conflict.

Israel will not end the war before achieving all its war objectives: destroying Hamass military and governing capabilities, freeing all the hostages, and ensuring Gaza doesnt pose a threat to Israel in the future.

The proposal presented enables Israel to achieve these goals, and Israel will indeed do so, said the official, who wasnt named.

Mr Blinkens latest visit to the region  his eighth since Hamass 7 October attack on southern Israel ignited the war  is focused on rallying support for the ceasefire proposal, boosting the entry of humanitarian aid, and advancing post-war plans for Gazas governance.

The war began when Hamas and other militants stormed into Israel and killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, while taking around 250 people hostage.

Mr Blinken met privately with families of the hostages in Israel, as well as demonstrators outside a hotel who were calling for a ceasefire deal, and later travelled on to Jordan, where he attended a Gaza aid conference and announced more than $400m (314m) in additional aid for Palestinians in Gaza and the wider region.

Mr Blinken was also expected to visit Qatar, which along with Egypt has served as a key mediator between Israel and Hamas. Mr Blinken was in Cairo earlier on Monday.

The proposal, announced by Mr Biden last month, consists of a three-phase plan in which Hamas would release the rest of the hostages in exchange for a lasting ceasefire and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. The group is still holding around 120 hostages, a third of whom are believed to be dead.

More than 100 hostages were released during a week-long ceasefire last year, in exchange for Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.

The eight-month war has killed more than 37,000 Palestinians, according to health officials in the Hamas-run Gaza Strip, and has driven some 80 per cent of the territorys 2.3 million people from their homes.
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The UN Security Council on Monday adopted a US-drafted resolution endorsing a ceasefire plan to end the eight-month war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza in three phases.

The Security Council also rejected any attempt at demographic or territorial change in the Gaza Strip, including any actions that reduce the territory of the Palestinian enclave, according to the resolution.

Hamas, its ally the Islamic Jihad group, and the rival Palestinian Authority of president Mahmoud Abbas welcomed the resolution which calls on Israel and the Palestinian militant group to fully implement its terms without delay and without condition.

The resolution was approved by an overwhelming majority with 14 of the 15 Security Council members voting in its favour, while Russia abstained, citing a lack of clarity.

It also reiterated the UNSCs unwavering commitment to achieving the vision of a negotiated two-state solution where two democratic states, Israel and Palestine, live side by side in peace within secure and recognised borders.

The resolution stresses the importance of unifying the Gaza Strip with the West Bank under the Palestinian Authority, something Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahus right-wing government has not agreed to.

In its statement, Hamas said it was ready to cooperate with mediators over implementing the principles of the plan.

UN Security Council to vote on US-backed Gaza ceasefire resolution ( EPA )

The war was sparked by Hamas surprise 7 October attack in southern Israel in which militants killed about 1,200 people, mainly Israeli civilians, and took about 250 others hostage. About 120 hostages remain, with 43 pronounced dead.

Israels military offensive has killed more than 36,700 Palestinians and wounded more than 83,000 others, according to health officials in Hamas-controlled Gaza. It has also destroyed about 80 per cent of Gazas buildings, according to the UN.

Earlier on Monday, Hamas had said it was only willing to accept a deal that would secure an end to the war in Gaza. Mr Netanyahu said he was determined to pursue the war against Hamas.

"Hamas welcomes what is included in the Security Council resolution that affirmed the permanent ceasefire in Gaza, the complete withdrawal, the prisoners exchange, the reconstruction, the return of the displaced to their areas of residence, the rejection of any demographic change or reduction in the area of the Gaza Strip, and the delivery of needed aid to our people in the Strip," the militant group said in a statement.

The statement was among the strongest from Hamas to date, but it stressed the group would continue its struggle against Israeli occupation and work on setting up a "fully sovereign" Palestinian state.

Separately, the Islamic Jihad said early on Tuesday that it looks positively to what the resolution included, especially in terms of opening the door to reaching a comprehensive cessation of aggression and a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip.

Hamas also said it was willing to engage in indirect negotiations over implementing the principles that are consistent with the demands of our people and resistance.

In the Israeli-occupied West Bank, the Palestinian presidency welcomed the resolution saying it is with any resolution that calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and preserves Palestinian land unity.

US secretary of state Antony Blinken was in Israel on Monday, where he urged Mr Netanyahu to accept the plan for postwar Gaza. Mr Netanyahu has been skeptical of the deal, saying that Israel is still committed to destroying Hamas.

US deputy ambassador Robert Wood told reporters earlier on Monday that the US sees the deal as "the best, most realistic opportunity to bring at least a temporary halt to this war."

Mr Biden outlined the truce accord last month, which envisions a ceasefire in stages, ultimately leading to a permanent end to the war.

The first phase of the US presidents plan would begin with an initial six-month cease-fire and the release of hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from populated areas in Gaza and the return of Palestinian civilians to all areas in the territory.

Phase one also requires the safe distribution of humanitarian assistance at scale throughout the Gaza Strip, which Biden said would lead to 600 trucks with aid entering Gaza every day.

An overall view as the UN Security Council holds a meeting on the situation in the Middle East at UN headquarters on 10 June 2024 in New York ( AFP via Getty Images )

In phase two, the resolution says that with the agreement of Israel and Hamas, a permanent end to hostilities, in exchange for the release of all other hostages still in Gaza, and a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza will take place.

Phase three would launch a major multi-year reconstruction plan for Gaza and the return of the remains of any deceased hostages still in Gaza to their families.

But Israel has said it will agree only to temporary pauses until Hamas is defeated, while Hamas has countered it will not accept a deal that does not guarantee the war will end.

Earlier Monday, Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad leaders met in Qatar to discuss the proposed cease-fire deal and said later that any deal must lead to a permanent cease-fire, a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, reconstruction and "a serious exchange deal" between hostages in Gaza and Palestinians held in Israeli jails.

Russias UN ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said Moscow abstained because details of the three-phase plan havent been disclosed and "we have a whole host of questions."

"Hamas is called upon to accept this so-called deal, but still there is no clear clarity regarding official agreement from Israel," Ms Nebenzia said. "Given the many statements from Israel on the extension of the war until Hamas is completely defeated ... what specifically has Israel agreed to?"

Additional reporting by agencies
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Elon Musk has threatened to ban Apple devices from his companies, though his fears appear to stem from a misunderstanding about the iPhone makers recently announced partnership with ChatGPT creator OpenAI.

The tech billionaire  who owns or heads Neuralink, SpaceX, Tesla, The Boring Company and X  claimed on Monday that Apples decision to integrate OpenAI technology into its iPhones and iPads was an unacceptable security violation.

In a post to X (formerly Twitter), he added: Visitors will have to check their Apple devices at the door, where they will be stored in a Faraday cage.

He also referred to the partnership as extremely concerning, though some of his comments on X were flagged for misrepresenting what was actually announced.

His comments came less than two hours after Apple unveiled a host of new artificial intelligence features  which it referred to as Apple Intelligence  at its annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in California. A separate announcement revealed an update to Apples virtual assistant Siri that will allow it to hand off some queries to OpenAIs popular ChatGPT chatbot.

The new feature will be integrated into Apples operating system later this year, available within Siri as well as a new system called Writing Tools.

Dont want it.



Either stop this creepy spyware or all Apple devices will be banned from the premises of my companies.  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 10, 2024

In joint announcements, Apple and OpenAI both stated that ChatGPTs integration will involve strong privacy protections that would prevent personal data from being compromised and would include user consent options.

Apple claimed that it was setting a new standard for privacy in AI, hiring independent experts to inspect its code in order to verify that data from iPhone, iPad and Mac is sent and stored cryptographically to ensure security.

Privacy protections are built in for users who access ChatGPT  their IP addresses are obscured, and OpenAI wont store requests, the tech giant said. ChatGPTs data-use policies apply for users who choose to connect their account.

OpenAI echoed Apple in its announcement, stating that privacy protections are built in when accessing ChatGPT within Siri and Writing Tools, adding that requests are not stored by OpenAI, and users IP addresses are obscured.

Mr Musk continued to question the partnership between Apple and OpenAI in the hours following the WWDC keynote announcement, describing it as extremely concerning and engaging with those defending Apples privacy credentials.

Apple using the words protect your privacy while handing your data over to a third-party AI that they dont understand and cant themselves create is *not* protecting privacy at all, he wrote on X in response to a post by popular YouTuber Marques Brownlee.

Mr Musks post was flagged by Xs content moderation system, which noted that his claim misrepresents what was actually announced by Apple.

Apple Intelligence is Apples own creation, and ChatGPT is entirely separate, and controlled by the user, the note stated.

Mr Brownlee also responded, writing that he had spoken to Apple boss Tim Cook, who said that no data is sent to OpenAI without explicit user permission.

Despite this, Mr Musk continued to claim that OpenAI would be syphoning off Apple user data through the ChatGPT functionality, sharing a meme illustrating the idea.

The entrepreneur also hinted that he was planning to build his own phone, writing that it was not out of the question that his social media firm would partner with Samsung to manufacture a privacy-focussed X phone.
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Apple has released updates for all of its platforms, with new operating systems for the iPhone, iPad, Apple TV and even Vision Pro.

The new software was revealed during the companys Worldwide Developers Conference, or WWDC, held in California this week.

The updates bring a host of new features. But perhaps most notable among them is Apple Intelligence, a suite of tools intended to infuse Apple products with AI.

Those and others will arrive in the software updates that will become available to the public this autumn.

However, users can get them early  so long as they are wiling to take the risk of bugs and other problems that come with beta versions of the software.

The developer beta of all the software updates is available now. It can be downloaded by heading to the Settings app on a device and opting in to that beta.

Apple does caution that the beta update can come with bugs, such as reduced performance or even data loss. It advises people to backup their devices before downloading it.

The public beta of the software will then become available in July, Apple said. That tends to be a more rigorously checked version of the software, which should come with less risk.

Even still, however, the software is still a work in progress and comes with risks as well as some features that may not fully work. Beta updates come with a Feedback app intended to report those problems.

The full updates will then come in the fall, Apple said. The iOS and Apple Watch updates usually arrive just before the iPhone, in September, with new versions of MacOS coming a little later, often in October.
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A former Vatican employee has been arrested after police say he stole a 391-year-old manuscript from an archive, then tried to sell it.

The man, identified by Italian media as Alfio Maria Daniele Pergolizzi, is accused of stealing a 17th-century manuscript by Gian Lorenzo Bernini that includes plans for the decorative gilded features of St. Peters Basilica.

Alessandro Diddi, promoter of justice for the Vatican, will decide this week if the man will be formally indicted, Reuters reports.

Pergolizzi previously worked as the head of communications at the Fabric of St. Peter, which conserves and maintains the Basilica, The Art Newspaper reports.

The man was arrested in a sting operation last month when Mauro Gambietti, head of administration at the Basilica, teamed up with Vatican investigators and met with the former employee.

open image in gallery A former employee for the organization that maintains St Peters Basilica, pictured, was arrested after police say he stole a seventeenth-century manuscript ( AFP via Getty Images )

The former Fabric employee then sold Gambietti the manuscript for $130,000  but Vatican police swept in to arrest him after he left the meeting, according to The Art Newspaper.

While authorities say he stole the manuscript, Pergolizzi says he was given the manuscript by the late Monsignor Vittorino Canciani, a former canon of St Peters Basilica.

The manuscript is now back with the Vatican, Reuters reports.

open image in gallery Gian Lorenzo Bernini, whose manuscript authorities say was stolen from the Vatican, crafted the statues pictured above displayed in St Peters Square ( Getty Images )

This is not the first time a reported theft has rocked the Vatican.

In 2017, Italian journalist Emiliano Fittipaldi published a document that authorities claimed was stolen from a locked cabinet in the Vatican.

The document, Fittipaldi claimed, pertained to Emanuela Orlandi, a 15-year-old who went missing in Rome in 1983. He said the document was written by a cardinal and listed expenses for Emanuelas accommodations in London between 1983 and 1997.

The same journalist was also prosecuted and cleared by an Italian court for publishing financial documents stolen from the Vatican, a scandal known as Vatileaks.
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Andrew Gore was looking forward to a treat on his 47th birthday: flying with his wife Victoria and 10 other people for a weeks holiday on Spains Costa Brava.

But after an extraordinary mix-up at Bristol airport, the couple from Mountain Ash in South Wales were put on the wrong Ryanair plane  away from their family and friends.

Despite having boarding passes showing their destination as Barcelona, they were flown to Kaunus in Lithuania.

To reach their intended destination, they then had to endure a 150-mile Uber ride across an international frontier to Riga in Latvia, and a 1,400-mile flight to Spain.

I was distraught, and scared. I didnt stop crying, said Ms Gore. It was my worst nightmare.

open image in gallery Made it: Andrew and Victoria Gore after their arrival in Lloret de Mar, a day late ( Victoria Gore )

Andrew and Victoria Gore, also 47, had done everything right. They had booked a package holiday with Sunshine.co.uk, costing over 1,500 for the week. The deal included flights from Bristol to Barcelona on Ryanair.

As Andrew is an amputee and Victoria is autistic, they booked special assistance at Bristol airport and arrived in good time for the 8.15am flight on Saturday 25 May.

Ms Gore said: We have been away lots of times and always had special assistance, so this was nothing new to us.

The minibus took us to the Ryanair plane and they checked our boarding pass and let us on the plane.

The couple had been assigned separate seats on their original flight. Ms Gore, believing she was on the aircraft shortly departing to Barcelona, said: I asked the air hostess if we could sit together as Im scared of flying.

She checked our boarding pass again and put us in the second row.

They were on the wrong plane, while their family  who did not have special assistance  boarded the right aircraft.

We didnt see our family getting on, so asked if they were on board, and were assured they were, said Ms Gore.

The Boeing 737 took off for the 1,400-mile trip to Kaunus. We had a couple of drinks, then went to sleep as we had been up early, said Ms Gore.

As we landed, it was very clear we were in Lithuania.

They alerted the crew, and according to Ms Gore the captain was furious when he learnt what had happened. He instructed staff to provide care and onward transportation for them.

With no direct flights from Kaunus to Barcelona, ground staff booked them on the following days flight from Riga, 150 miles north across the Latvian frontier. They were also assigned a hotel, and an Uber to take them there.

They flew as normal to Barcelona next day and were taken to their hotel on the Costa Brava.

But they had no baggage: it had been removed from the Bristol-Barcelona flight when, through no fault of their own, they did not board the plane.

It finally arrived two days later.

Andrew and Victoria Gore have now returned to South Wales. Ive heard of suitcases going to the wrong place but not people. In this day and age, there are so many checks. How could it happen?

They looked at our boarding passes so many times. Its unbelievable.

The Independent contacted Ryanair, who blamed the incident on ABM, who provide special assistance at the airport.

These passengers booked special assistance for this flight from Bristol to Barcelona (25 May), but the ABM agents boarded them onto the wrong flight to Kaunas despite gate signage clearly displaying the flights destination, a spokesperson said.

Upon arriving at Kaunas Airport, these passengers notified the crew that they were on the wrong flight and Ryanair immediately arranged for both passengers to be reaccommodated on the next available flight to Barcelona, which was scheduled to depart Riga Airport the next morning (26 May).

As these passengers did not board their flight to Barcelona, their bags were removed from the aircraft in line with standard safety procedures. When it was realised that these passengers had been misrouted and were rerouted to Barcelona, their bags were rushed from Bristol Airport to Barcelona.

We sincerely apologise to these passengers for any inconvenience caused as a result of ABMs error, and have assured that they will be fully compensated by Bristol Airport.

A spokesperson for Bristol Airport said:

Weve worked with our business partners to investigate this incident. All customers have their travel documentation checked by the airline or their ground handling agent before boarding an aircraft. Since being informed of the issue, Bristol Airport has worked with our airline handling agent and special assistance provider to investigate the circumstances and to introduce improvements for the future.

We will contact the customer with information to direct their complaint to the correct business partner for resolution.
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Singapore Airlines has offered compensation to all passengers who were injured after a flight to London suffered extreme air turbulence last month.

The airline sent emails offering $10,000 (7,800) each to passengers who sustained minor injuries. It said it was open to discussing further compensation for those who suffered more serious injuries.

The SQ321 flight from Bangkok to London suffered severe turbulence over Myanmar, causing it to instantly plunge 178ft.

A 73-year-old British passenger died during the incident, possibly from a heart attack, and the flight made an emergency landing.

open image in gallery The interior of Singapore Airlines flight SQ321 is pictured after an emergency landing at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport, Thailand, 21 May 2024 ( REUTERS )

open image in gallery The interior of Singapore Airlines flight SQ321 is pictured after an emergency landing at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport, in Bangkok, Thailand 21 May 2024 in this handout image ( Reuters )

Of the 229 passengers and crew members on board, 104 people suffered injuries, mainly from being thrown from their seats.

While most received minor injuries and resumed their travels, about 20 were treated in intensive care units in Bangkok hospitals.

Following the incident, the airline announced a full ticket refund for all passengers, even those who were not injured. It also said they would receive delay compensation in keeping with European Union or UK regulations.

open image in gallery An Australian passenger injured on a Singapore Airlines flight battered by severe turbulence talks to reporters at Samitivej Srinakarin Hospital in Bangkok ( AP )

For those who sustained more serious injuries from the incident, we have invited them to discuss a compensation offer to meet each of their specific circumstances when they feel well and ready to do so, the airline said.

Passengers medically assessed as having sustained serious injuries, requiring long-term medical care, and requesting financial assistance are offered an advance payment of $25,000 to address their immediate needs. This will be part of the final compensation that these passengers will receive.

open image in gallery British man killed in severe turbulence named as Geoffrey Kitchen ( Facebook )

A preliminary investigation into the 20 May incident by Singapores Transport Ministry said the aircraft went through huge swings in gravitational force in less than five seconds, likely causing injuries to people who werent buckled in.

The jet dropped 178ft in less than a second, which likely resulted in the occupants who were not belted up to become airborne before falling back down.

It remains unclear what caused the turbulence. Turbulence is mostly associated with heavy storms, but it can occur in seemingly clear weather as well. In fact, the so-called clear air turbulence is the most dangerous.

Such turbulence can occur in wispy cirrus clouds or even in clear air near thunderstorms when differences in temperature and pressure create powerful currents of fast-moving air.
Kevin Spacey has admitted his past behaviour pushed boundaries and that he had been handsy.

The actor, 64, is set to appear on Piers Morgans controversial Uncensored YouTube programme on Tuesday 11 June as he continues to battle Hollywood exile.

Spacey was last year acquitted of a number of sexual offences alleged by four men, said to have taken place between 2001 and 2013 in the UK.

In a preview clip for the interview, Morgan asks Spacey what his idea of bad behaviour is when he looks back at his past.

Pushing the boundaries, the actor replies.

The full interview will air on Piers Morgan Uncensored on Tuesday evening at 8pm.
Embattled businessman has seen millions of euro worth of property in Dublin slip out of his control

Receivers have been appointed over millions of euro worth of assets in Dublin controlled by a Colm Wu company. Photo: Stock image

An agent purporting to represent embattled businessman Colm Wu has attempted to bypass receivers by instructing tenants of a property they now control to sign new rental contracts and continue paying rent to him.

It is understood the tenants contacted gardai, who attended the property in Dublin while the agent was present.

The agent had shown up at the residential property in Dublin on more than one occasion after receivers had been appointed.

Mr Wu did not respond to a request for comment.

Colm Dolan and Nicholas ODwyer, of Grant Thornton, were appointed receivers on May 22 this year over certain assets controlled by a Colm Wu company called Baron Clonbrock Capital Ltd.

The assets include millions of euro worth of assets in Dublin, including 22 Lower Leeson Street and a residential property in Crumlin.

First Citizen Finance has a charge over the properties on foot of a 2019 finance agreement.

On the day they were appointed receivers over the properties, the tenants of the house in Crumlin were notified by letter by a property management firm that Mr Dolan and Mr ODwyer had been appointed receivers over their home.

The tenants were instructed that from that date on, no rent should be paid to any other third party. They were provided with a new bank account to pay their rent into.

However, on at least two occasions after the receivers had been appointed, an individual purporting to be an agent of Mr Wu arrived at that residential property.

The Irish Independent understands that he attempted to make the tenants sign a new rental agreement that would see their rent rise by as much as 40pc.

However, tenants were concerned and visited a garda station to complain. A garda subsequently attended the property while the purported agent of Mr Wu was present. While the individual then left, he returned last week.

Mr Wu, also known as Guoqing Wu, has also seen the receivers from Grant Thornton recently appointed by First Citizen Finance over certain assets owned by Celtic Ranelagh Capel Investments Ltd.

The assets in the company over which the receivers have been appointed include 1 Saint Alphonsus Road in Drumcondra. It is listed as having been bought for 900,000 on the date that the debenture was created between First Citizen Finance and Celtic Ranelagh Capel Investments.

The other asset in Celtic Ranelagh Capel Investments over which the receivers now have control is 66 Lower Drumcondra Road. It is listed as having been bought for 750,000 on the date the debenture was signed.

Mr Wu has extensive property assets, with Chinese backers. Among those who has provided finance to one of his companies that owns properties on Dublins North King Street is Yingchun Deng, who lists his residential address as being one of Dublins most expensive homes.

A liquidator, Myles Kirby, was appointed earlier this year to Mr Wus Castor Ventures Ltd, which operated the Mulligan & Haines gastropub on Dublins Dame Street. The pub closed, with the loss of 30 jobs. Another pub in Ashtown was saved.
The Director of Consumer Protection Colm Kincaid has said the clock is ticking for the Irish banking and payments sector to raise their game on basic customer service and he has questioned why the Central Bank has to get involved before senior management take some complaints seriously.

Speaking at the Banking and Payments Federation Irelands national banking conference in Dublin, Mr Kincaid said there is an array of cases in the public domain involving errors, or redress to consumers, where the regulator continued to face more to-and-fro with firms than should be necessary.

He said the Central Bank has observed that when issues are brought to its attention by consumers and it becomes involved, the problem is escalated to the financial firms management team, and then the firm recognises that its performance is sub-standard and rectified the situation.

While it was good to see that responsiveness, Mr Kincaid said, too often it begs the question why it took a Central Bank intervention to bring this level of senior management attention to an issue a customer was already complaining about, and that clearly called into question how the firm was delivering for its customers in general.

The director said a more consumer-focused culture is being embedded within financial firms that are regulated by the Central Bank, and there is a good level of responsiveness by regulated firms to the banks interventions.

The time has come for firms to pay more attention to the basic levels of service consumers receive

However, the level of service a consumer receives, especially when things go wrong, cannot continue to be so differentiated based on whether or not the specific matter is one on which the Central Bank is focused at that point in time with your firm, he said.

Responsiveness to regulatory interventions is not enough, and the time has come for firms to pay more attention to the basic levels of service consumers receive, and how the sector is going to deliver for those consumers into the future. Mr Kincaid noted that the primary source of complaints to the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman was linked to customer service, accounting for almost a quarter of all cases. For the banking sector, that rose to 32pc of all complaints.

This was not an isolated trend, he noted, as it was backed up by customer-sentiment analysis published by the Department of Finance last year, which found that customers service was the main reason for dissatisfaction with the banks, both in branches and online services.

We can also see this in our own social-media trends monitoring, and analysis of the complaints made directly to firms, Mr Kincaid said. For examples, banks have reported to the Central Bank that during 2023 their customers complained to them 81,000 times. Over two-thirds of those complaints were about account processing and administration, and other customer-service issues, resulting in almost 1.6m in redress to those customers. The director described the financial institutions record on customer engagement as a mixed bag with some good initiatives, but also firms falling short of internalising a consumer-focused culture in their commercial decision making from the outset, independent of any intervention by the Central Bank. There is also a lack of attention to the level of service received by consumers in their day-to-day activities, including where there are complaints about that service.

Mr Kincaid added that firms could do a lot a practical level to make improvements to customers service and could expect to see an increasing focus on this topic in the Central Banks supervisory work.

The bank is reviewing the Consumer Protection Code to make sure it remains fit for purpose, which will include new protections and a targeted package of new measures on digitalisation, frauds and scams, and effective information on mortgage credit and switching.

Consumers will benefit from the added clarity on their regulatory protections, as well as a package of new protections that reflects how most are accessing financial services today.
The Electricity Supply Board (ESB) is being sued over the admitted inadvertent disclosure of a firm's confidential pricing structure to four competitors as part of a tender process.

Causeway Geotech Ltd, a ground investigations contractor based in Ballymoney, Co Antrim, has brought High Court proceedings against the ESB and ESB Networks DAC claiming it will suffer loss and damage as a result of the disclosure and affect its chances of success in future tender processes.

In April, Causeway brought proceedings seeking damages for matters including infringement of EU law on procurement, breach of confidence and wrongful interference with its contractual and/or economic interests.

On Monday, the matter was admitted to the fast track Commercial Court on the application of Causeway with no objection from the ESB defendants. The case returns in October.

Causeway carries out ground investigations in advance of planned building projects to reduce and control ground-related risks during construction. It employs 122 people, operates in Ireland and the UK and forecasts an annual turnover of 50m (59m) by 2030.

In an affidavit, Causeway director Paul Dunlop said the firm was one of a number of firms shortlisted by the ESB for carrying out ground investigations.

In August 2023, the ESB issued a request for tenders under the multi-contractor framework agreement for site investigation services. Causeway submitted its tenders which included its prices for the work which Mr Dunlop said is highly confidential and commercially sensitive.

On February 19 last, the ESB informed Causeway, via the eTenders system, that it had completed an initial evaluation of responses.

However, Mr Dunlop said, attached to this message was a zip folder entitled "Causeway.zip" which contained the firm's pricing information.

Two days later another message was sent via eTenders saying it had come to the ESB's attention that "due to a technical error, commercially sensitive information was inadvertently disclosed".

Later that day, ESB said it was pausing the tender process pending an analysis review and on February 29 said it was cancelling the entire process due to "unforeseen circumstances", Mr Dunlop said.

When Mr Dunlop queried what had happened, he said the ESB eventually responded saying that the Causeway information was "inadvertently issued to other tenderers involved in this competition".

Mr Dunlop told the ESB this breach of confidentiality meant competitors have gained an unfair advantage in all future public and private sector bidding by tailoring their bids accordingly, eroding our ability to compete on a level playing field".

In one subsequent email the ESB said it believed it could put measures in place "to de-risk the process", he said.

Further correspondence followed between Causeway's lawyers and the ESB including seeking a proposal to compensate the firm. Ultimately, due to time constraints for bringing cases under EU procurement law, proceedings were issued.

Mr Dunlop said the market for ground investigations on the island of Ireland is relatively small with no more than 12 companies competing for work.

The disclosure of its rates to competitors is likely to have a significant impact on the turnover, margin and profitability of Causeway's business, may also result in redundancies, and ultimately put the business at risk of failure, he said.
Irelands high-tech economy faces bigger fallout than some where more traditional industries remain big employers

The Department of Finance has published a series of reports looking at the impact of AI on the workforce. Photo: Getty

Around 30pc of Irish employment is in occupations that are negatively exposed to the impact of artificial intelligence (AI), according to a number of new reports from the Department of Finance and Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.

A total of 63pc of the workforce are exposed to the emerging technology in some way, according to the analysis which used AI data from 2021.

However, 30pc of the labour market hold positions which are potentially at risk of being substituted by the technology.

This includes roles such as IT operations and laboratory technicians, as well as chartered and certified accountants.

The occupational groups which have the highest potential automation risk include administrative and secretarial jobs, as well as sales and customer service positions, both departments reported.

Impacted sectors include finance and insurance, as well as information and communication.

Today's News in 90 seconds - 11th June 2024

Meanwhile, a third of Irish jobs are positively exposed to the impact of AI, with the technology anticipated to boost productivity in these positions. Jobs which feature in this category include medical practitioners, librarians, psychologists, barristers and judges.

Women are more likely than men to hold roles that are negatively exposed to AI as more women work in administrative or customer service occupations.

Industries such as agriculture and construction are also male dominated, which contributed to the higher exposure of female employees in Ireland. Elementary occupations, such as those in building, transport and manufacturing, have the lowest exposure of all occupational groups to any changes driven by the technology.

The agriculture, forestry and fishing sector was also highlighted as the least exposed to AI.

Younger people  those aged between 15 and 34  may also work in jobs that are at risk of being automated compared with their older colleagues, according to the analysis.

Ireland is slightly more exposed than the advanced economy average, although the UK is slightly more exposed to the impact of AI than Ireland.

However, the US is slightly less exposed.

Those working in urban areas are more likely to be affected, with around 71pc of those located in Dublin in relatively highly exposed roles.

However, the reports also noted that higher earners stand to benefit most from increased AI adoption due to preliminary analysis that revealed a positive correlation between exposure to the technology and salary.

The reports, which were prepared to assist the Government in defining future policy, also noted that previous waves of labour-saving technologies had focused on machines replacing hands at work.

This differs from the potential influence of AI in the workplace, which could replace more highly skilled positions.

The analysis pointed to possible short-term disruption to labour market, while there is also potential for new jobs linked to emerging technologies to replace those under threat.

Other areas under scrutiny include the possible impact of the technology on the Governments other macroeconomic objectives, including climate goals.

The computing power required to run AI platforms is extremely high, with data centres in Ireland already facing criticism for the amount of electricity they consume.

The reports also pointed to a potential impact on tax and spending following future changes in the labour market, as well as a need to upskill workers in negatively exposed groups.

Finance Minister Michael McGrath said history has shown that technological advancement can sometime cause labour market disruption.

It is essential that workers are supported to gain or improve the skills required to fully utilise AI as a supporting technology, or in a transition to roles that require different skills with social safety nets that are fit-for-purpose. In this regard we are taking action to ensure that the public finances are in a position to absorb the structural changes that are likely to happen, he said.
The co-producer of the multi-Oscar nominated The Banshees of Inisherin and Netflix hit Valhalla has won the first appeal against a cumulative 434,216 award made to a group of 22 film workers.

This follows the Labour Court setting aside a Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) award of 5,337 last December to Clive McCarthy, an Irish Film Workers Association (IFWA) member and stage hand for the productions of Penny Dreadful and Into The Badlands.

In the ruling, deputy chairwoman of the Labour Court Katie Connolly said the court has found no evidence that the appellant, Metropolitan Films International Limited, was the employer of Mr McCarthy.

As a result, Ms Connolly concluded that it was not necessary for the court to determine the other preliminary matters in relation to the courts jurisdiction to hear the appeal.

Ms Connolly said the court found the complaint is not well-founded and the decision of the WRC adjudication officer is set aside.

Metropolitan Films International has lodged appeals concerning the awards made to the 22 workers relating to the cumulative award of 434,216 and the McCarthy case is the first appeal heard.

A second appeal has been heard by the Labour Court and ruled upon with the ruling to be published shortly.

A spokeswoman for Metropolitan Films International said: Metropolitan Films International Limited is pleased that the recent ruling from the Labour Court, setting aside a previous adjudication from the WRC, fully confirms and vindicates the companys position on these matters from the outset.

Metropolitan Films International told the Labour Court that it is a production company that identifies material for film/TV projects and sources funding to develop projects with writers and directors.

It said that once a project is financed and is gearing up to enter production, a special purpose vehicle (SPV) is established, and all the employees and contractors are then engaged and paid by the SPV.

Metropolitan says that during the period June 2017 to March 2018, Mr McCarthy was employed as a PAYE employee in the role of stagehand by two such separate SPV entities: Badlands Three TV Productions DAC and VK Six Productions DAC.

The Labour Court report said the court was told that Mr McCarthy was not proceeding with the case, and did not attend the hearing to rebut the appeal.
Auto-enrolment is designed to provide private pension cover for around 800,000 people in companies that do not offer pension schemes.

Plans to bring a new auto-enrolment pension system will not be enough to address a string of challenges facing the States pension set-up.

Auto-enrolment is designed to provide private pension cover for around 800,000 people in companies that do not offer pension schemes.

Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys has promised to have the new auto-enrolment regime in place early next year.

But Dan Malone of the National Pension Helpline, an information website that can refer consumers to brokers, said the new scheme will not necessarily address the multitude of pension problems currently facing the country.

He said the inadequacy of private pension pots held by individuals and what he referred to as the fragile nature of the State PRSI pension as core issues that need to be tackled.

There are a number of complex problems to be solved, he said.

Ireland, like many European countries, is faced with an ageing population.

Today's News in 90 seconds - 10th June 2024

The number of individuals aged 65 and over is set to double by 2050, without a corresponding increase in the number of workers.

Mr Malone said this will put a huge strain on Irelands social insurance fund, which is responsible for paying out State pension payments to retirees.

And he said that an analysis of private pensions in Ireland suggests that some 90pc of workers are not on track for a financially comfortable retirement.

So what you have is a system that is weak on both the State pension side and the private pension side, he said.

The pensions expert, whose firm helps people trace pensions they paid into in the past, said that auto-enrolment will only solve the problem of pension coverage.

This is because it will hugely expand the number of people with a retirement savings plan, but it will not address the issue where people have not got enough funds in their pension to have a comfortable retirement.

The Government will be able to say that they increased the number of people with private pensions from 68pc to close to 100pc but, in reality, auto-enrolment will do very little, at least at the beginning, in the way of ensuring that people have sufficiently-sized pensions to support a comfortable lifestyle in retirement.

Mr Malone said that having a private pension is one thing, but having enough money in that private pension is another thing altogether.

Auto-enrolment seeks to improve retirement savings for workers aged 23 to 60 who are currently outside the private pension system.

By automatically enrolling eligible workers into a pension, the Government hopes to increase the number of individuals actively saving for retirement.

The scheme will mandate pension contributions from employees, employers, and the State.

An employee earning 20,000 per annum would likely see a gross pension contribution from all sources equal to around 700 in year one of the scheme.

The mandated percentage contributions are set to gradually increase over a 10-year period.

But this, said Mr Malone, is too little too late.

An individual under the age of 30 can currently contribute 10 times more money to their private pension annually, through the likes of a PRSA (personal retirement savings account), than theyll be able to contribute using auto-enrolment for the first three years, he said.

National Pension Helpline is not a broker and not regulated by the Central Bank.

*Note: This article was updated on 10/06/2024 to reflect the fact that National Pension Helpline is not a broker as originally reported.
Hard-pressed households are to be hit with a charge on their electricity bills to subsidise the generation of electricity from wind farms and solar panel operations in the coming year.

This is because the energy regulator is proposing that the levy that subsidises renewable energy operators should be set at 225m next year.

This is in contrast to this year, when the public service obligation (PSO) levy on electricity bills was set at zero.

The PSO levy was put in place to subsidise the generation of electricity from sustainable sources. 

The levy guarantees the price renewable energy generators get for the electricity they produce.

The Commission for Energy Regulation (CRU) sets the level of the PSO levy, which applies from each October.

It has just produced a consultation paper proposing that from October, a sum of 2.98 a month will be levied on each consumers electricity bill. Over a year, this works out at 35.76.

Wind and solar generators get guaranteed prices for the energy they generate, in a bid to encourage the transition to renewable energy.

When wholesale prices are high, mostly because of high gas prices, renewable generators, which do not require gas, receive greater revenues for the electricity they sell in the wholesale market, the CRU said.

But recent falls in wholesale gas prices mean the prices renewable energy generators are getting at the moment have dropped, so under government policy, they get a subsidy to ensure they can compete with fossil-fuel electricity generators.

In the consultation paper, the CRU said it was proposing to set the PSO levy at 225m for next year.

Government policy determines the amount of subsidy provided to generators supported under the PSO, it said. Following a review of the PSO cost submissions from eligible suppliers, the CRUs initial calculation is that a PSO levy of 225m will be required for the 2024/25 PSO year, which represents an increase of 225m on the 2023/24 PSO levy, which was set to zero.

The CRU said it will publish the final PSO levy for 2024/25 by August 1.

Responses to the consultation should be submitted via the CRU consultation portal by June 28.

Daragh Cassidy, of price-comparison site Bonkers.ie, said electricity bills are currently around 70pc to 80pc above pre-energy crisis levels.

So although the proposed levy is only just under 3 a month, its adding to bills at a difficult time, he said.

And many consumers will, of course, struggle to understand why were paying an extra levy for renewable energy when were constantly told renewable energy will bring our electricity prices down.
Amy Poehler, a cast member in Inside Out 2, poses at the premiere of the film at the El Capitan Theatre (Chris Pizzello/AP)

Inside Out stars Amy Poehler and Lewis Black have agreed it was vital to introduce new emotions to the sequel of the hit film.

The original 2015 film saw 11-year-old Riley Andersen deal with five core emotions as she struggled to adjust to a move from Minnesota to San Francisco.

Poehler, Phyllis Smith and Black reprise their roles in the sequel as Joy, Sadness and Anger, while Tony Hale replaces Bill Hader as Fear and Liza Lapira stars as Disgust in place of Mindy Kaling.

The sequel will see five new emotions enter the brain as Riley becomes a teenager.

Anxiety, Envy, Embarrassment, Ennui and Nostalgia are voiced by Maya Hawke, Ayo Edebiri, Paul Walter Hauser, Adele Exarchopoulos and June Squibb, respectively.

At the films world premiere in Los Angeles, Black told the PA news agency that it was the right time and place for a sequel  almost a decade after the original was released to critical acclaim.

Lewis Black, a cast member in Inside Out 2 (Chris Pizzello/AP)

Anxiety is really huge, its important, he said on the purple carpet of the El Capitan Theatre.

Were living in the age of anxiety, and everybody is worried about something.

I think it was really vital to bring these other emotions into it, starting with Anxiety, like Paul (Walter Hauser), who plays Embarrassment, said, its like seasoning. It made the (Inside Out) world better.

Maya Hawke, a cast member in Inside Out 2 (Chris Pizzello/AP)

Poehler agreed, telling PA: I love that Pixar waited until they felt they had a really good idea, they were really ready to make another one.

I think that using that moment, the teenage moment, to remind us that our emotions keep surprising us just when we think we have it down, literally a wrecking ball comes in and changes everything.

So I think thats a really heightened time, theres a lot going on in our head and Pixar are really good at not patronising what people are going through.

Ayo Edebiri, a cast member in Inside Out 2 (Chris Pizzello/AP)

On her new castmates, Poehler added: Ayo, Tony Hale, who I have known and loved forever, Lisa, theyre all so great and they add so much to this franchise.

And Im happy that me, Phyllis (Smith) and Lewis (Black) are back as the old guard.

Filmmaker Kelsey Mann took over from Pete Doctor and Ronaldo Del Carmen to direct the sequel.

Mann told PA about the importance of the teenage storyline: This was a really hard time in my life and I think a lot of our lives.

We really remember that time when youre a teenager and I really couldve used a movie like this, I really felt self conscious at this time.

And you think youre the only one thinking and feeling what youre thinking and feeling so we really wanted to make a movie that told people they arent alone.

Tony Hale, a cast member in Inside Out 2 (Chris Pizzello/AP)

While Hale spoke about stepping into the shoes of US actor and comedian Hader as Fear.

I was and am a huge Bill Hader fan; you cant match that kind of brilliance. I just know I have a lot of fear in my own life and a lot of flavours of it, so I just tried to bring that to the table, he told PA.

I kind of wish that I could act like Fear, we all try and keep it together when we want to freak out. I was given the opportunity to walk into the audio booth and freak out.

In the film, Kensington Tallman replaces Kaitlyn Dias as the teenage version of Riley.

Kensington Tallman, a cast member in Inside Out 2 (Chris Pizzello/AP)

The teenage actress, who is about to turn 16, said the process had been a long journey, having first auditioned at the age of 13.

I started recording at 14 and I was entering adolescence at the exact same time Riley was, and so we were experiencing the same emotions, Tallman told PA.

Riley is such a fun character. She is joyful, loves her friends, and is kind.

But as she is going through adolescence, shes experiencing challenges, and with that comes these new emotions, and so she is really trying to navigate these new emotions.

As youll see, her personality and sense of self is really going to start changing and she kind of has to navigate that.

Tallman added that the film teaches us that we dont have to be anybody but ourselves, were beautiful inside and out.

Inside Out 2 will be released in the UK on June 14.
The six-part series is a riveting account of the Bond-like scenes from 2013 when Greenpeace members attempted to storm a Russian oil platform in the Arctic

Theres a moment early on in On Thin Ice: Putin v Greenpeace (BBC2 and BBC iPlayer) when an activist with the environmental campaigning group talks about feeling like she was in the middle of a James Bond movie.

Except a Bond movie (with the exception of the most recent one) always has a predictable outcome: 007 foils the bad guy, saves the day and gets the girl.

For the 28 Greenpeace members and two journalists who found themselves banged up in a Murmansk prison in 2013 after attempting to storm a Russian oil platform in the Arctic and halt drilling, there were no such certainties.

Based on past experience, theyd assumed theyd be held for two days at most, then released and booted out of the country. Instead, they were informed that theyd be held on remand for two months while it was decided whether or not they were guilty of piracy, a charge which carried a sentence of up to 15 years.

Even if you know how it all ended, this six-part docuseries, stripped across three nights (Sun-Tue, June 9-11) in double bills, is riveting.

Its a tale of an oil protest gone badly wrong, and also a lesson in what happens when naive idealism comes crashing up against the paranoia and brutality of Vladimir Putin.

These days, were all too familiar with what Putin is capable of. When he first took the reins of power in Russia, though, he was still something of an unknown quantity.

Conservative politician Iain Duncan Smith, a former British prime minister, says Putin represented the face of a new Russia, a clearheaded leader, open for business.

We believed this was a bloke we could do business with, says Duncan Smith over footage of various Western leaders, including then PM David Cameron, warmly shaking hands with the former KGB thug-turned-tyrant.

That was until the rigged Russian election of 2012, when the real Putin  the short-in-stature macho man who liked to be filmed riding a horse shirtless or clutching a hunting rifle  emerged to crack down on the freedoms Russian citizens had begun to take for granted.

Russia wasnt the only country eager to drill in the Arctic. Britain and America also wanted a piece of the action, but Russia got there first.

Russian soldiers pushing Dima to the ground in On Thin Ice: Putin v Greenpeace. Photo: BBC/Greenpeace/Denis Sinyakov

The Arctic 30, as they were soon tagged, werent aware how repressive Putins Russia had become by 2013 when they hatched the plan to disrupt operations at the platform operated by the state-owned oil and gas company Gazprom.

It was a brave move but, in hindsight, an impractical one. Setting off from Norway in the Greenpeace ship Arctic Sunrise, the plan was for two people to scale the rig on ropes, after which a survival pod with enough supplies to keep the people inside going for a few days would be winched up and left to dangle from the side of the rig.

Greenpeaces campaign of disruption had had some success in the past, forcing several countries to abandon plans for Arctic drilling, which had been made possible by global warming melting the ice caps. But as the operations leader, a Greenpeace veteran called Frank (only first names are used), puts it, the plan went to shit almost immediately.

As the two climbers made their way slowly up the rig, they were bombarded with water cannons. There was a very real danger theyd either be blown into the water or drown while hanging from their ropes.

Suddenly, Greenpeaces small boats came under attack from the Russian coastguard, who turned out to be members of the FSB, formerly the KGB. They were armed to the teeth and wearing balaclavas.

Phill and Sini listen to a briefing on Arctic Sunrise. Photo: BBC/Greenpeace/Denis Sinyakov

The upshot was that the FSB forces returned in a helicopter, abseiled onto the Arctic Sunrise and took over the ship, cutting off communication to the wider world and holding the activists captive.

They had no legal right to do any of this, since the ship was in international waters. But Putin  who was less interested in the oil than in the status it gave him  considered Greenpeaces attack on the rig to be a personal attack on him. Gazprom is Putin, says the companys former comms head Igor, who we learn near the end is now an officer in the Ukrainian army.

The series deftly blends footage secretly filmed by the activists with skilful dramatised recreations to thrilling, chilling effect.
Having 'farmer' on your CV or being able to call on the farming community to support you during an election is not a negative, but it by no means guarantees a seat for anyone.

There were mixed results for a slew of candidates drawing on the farming community as election votes were counted over the weekend in the European and local elections.

On the European side, Fianna Fails Billy Kelleher, a Cork-based farmer, looks set to retain his seat, while Independent TD Michael McNamara, who runs the family farm in Scariff, Co Clare and practices as a barrister, also looks to be in with a strong shout to secure a seat in the South constituency for Europe.

Fianna Fail Offaly TD Barry Cowen  who lasted just 17 days as agriculture minister in 2020  looks to be on track to be elected this week to Europe, while Maria Walsh, whose family farms in Shrule, Mayo, and former RTE Midlands correspondent, Ciaran Mullooly, were still in the mix yesterday.

And as we went to print yesterday, more than 40 farmers had been elected to local councils around the country, including Michael Creed, a nephew of the former minister for agriculture, who was elected to Macroom council.

Certainly having farmer on your CV or being able to call on the farming community to support you during an election is not a negative, but it by no means guarantees a seat for anyone.

Former ICSA general secretary Eddie Punch, who ran in the South European constituency, will struggle to be elected, while former ICSA president Dermot Kelleher was eliminated on the fifth count in Macrooms council elections.

A look back at the census from 1981 shows that just over 30pc of the countrys workforce were involved in agriculture at nearly 300,000. That had dropped to less than 200,000 by 1981 and since 2016 the industry with the largest decline was farming, according to the CSO.

The number of farmers has been steadily declining in Ireland in the last number of decades, with those left becoming more specialised.

That divergence of farming groups in recent years means not only is it difficult for farming organisations to represent a broad breath of farming sectors, but the political clout of farmers has dwindled in recent years.

While its not impossible for those coming from the farming sector to do a good job representing issues further flung than farming, using the sector as a platform basis clearly doesnt hold the same spring it once did.

And if Irish farming is to not just survive but thrive, we need voices around the table that understand the issues facing farmers at local, national and especially at European level.
IFA Dairy chair Stephen Arthur called on milk processors to increase the price paid to their dairy farmers to compensate for the lost supplies. (Photo by Luis Robayo/AFP via Getty Images)

The slump in milk production so far this year has cost the rural economy an estimated 370m.

It comes as the CSO last week reported another fall in April milk production, down 81 million litres (-7.9pc) when compared with April 2023 and down 107.6 million litres (-10.2pc) when compared with the same month in 2022.

It means, for the period January to April 2024, the Milk Intake by co-ops and processors is now at 2,204.6 million litres, a decline of 186.3 million litres (-7.8pc). Dairy Industry Ireland (DII) has estimated that this equates to a direct loss of milk sales by dairy farmers this year of 75-85m.

However, speaking to the Farming Independent, DII director Conor Mulvihill warned the loss to rural Ireland is much greater, highlighting what he described as the multiplier effect of the dairy industry in rural areas.

He said that based on EY research conducted by the industry, this years lost production has taken some 370m from the rural economy.

This money has not been taken from cities, it is coming out of rural Ireland, he said. We are talking about a loss the equivalent of three Pairc Ui Chaoimh in just four months, and this is on the back of an over 4pc loss in milk supply last year as well.

Meanwhile, IFA dairy chair Stephen Arthur called on milk processors to increase the price paid to their dairy farmers to compensate for the lost supplies.

Milk volumes continue to lag well behind 2023 levels which means reduced sales for dairy farmers, he said. Together with the increased cost of production from the very difficult spring, dairy farmers need to be paid for their product and we believe the market can support a price increase.

He also said markets are improving, with the GDT this week showing an improvement of 1.7pc on the last trade two weeks ago. Butter is trading at almost 7,000 per tonne, up 1.7pc and skim is up 3pc at 2,722 per tonne.

Ornuas PPI return for May is 39.6 c/l, VAT inclusive, which is an increase of 1.1 c/l from the previous month, with the Ornua value payment worth an estimated additional 2.97 c/l including VAT. This price represents an increase on Ornuas PPI return of 4.93c/l since January of this year.
The President Michael D. Higgins was presented with the medal by the Director-General of the FAO, Dr Qu Dongyu.

There has to be an acceptance at European level of farming as a way of life that is subsidised and protected, if it is to sustain rural populations, President Michael D Higgins has said.

I believe that... youre going to have to see acceptance at European level of farming as a way of life that is subsidised and protected, if you want to sustain rural populations, he told journalists after being awarded the Agricola Medal of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) last week.

Youre going to have to set farming as a form of life... but its about relationship with soils, climate conditions and animals which is incredibly important.

People think that it is very modern and indicates great wealth to have ranch-style farming but of course it indicates and appalling neglect of biodiversity and heritage and the importance of hedgerows and the importance of ditches to drain land.

He said that if you look at the composition of the Irish farming community at the moment, a great proportion is based on part time.

You also have an additional intrusion into agriculture in relation to the use of land as building property portfolios, which is quite aggressive and has the effect of making it difficult to expand to viable levels.

And while he also pointed to good things happening in relation to grasses and alternatives to fertiliser use, he said he is worried about the concentration of volume product and the different changes in price levels at European level.. .have a distorting effect on the life on land.

He also said more needs to be done in relation to reducing food wastage. Ireland is doing well in offering transparency and traceability in relation to the food products it produces.

That said, I have questions that it needs to be very careful... Id like to see it producing far more different dairy products.

Speaking about sobering facts which, he said, illustrate the dysfunctionality of current world food systems, he said food production systems are broken and new food production models are built by and for the populations using them are needed.

He also said he is concerned about any initiatives that solely focus on a one-size-fits-all approach and that places an emphasis on large-scale monocropping, formal seed systems, and high-tech solutions such as climate-smart agriculture, digital and precision agriculture, and chemical inputs.

The President was presented with the medal by the Director-General of the FAO, Dr Qu Dongyu.

The medal, which bears the Latin name for farmer, is conferred upon international figures who have undertaken outstanding efforts in advancing the cause of global food security, poverty alleviation and nutrition. President Higgins is the first Irish recipient of the medal.
I lived in Australia for a year but I chose to come back to work with my dad on our Tipperary farm

After returning from Australia a year ago, 26-year-old Tipperary farmer Roisin ODonnell is now back on her family farm  heres why she worries for her future

Were painted as the big bad wolf wrecking the environment and being cruel to animal: Roisin ODonnell on her family farm in Graigue, Poulmucka, Clonmel in Co Tipperary. Photo: John D Kelly Photography

Azmia Riaz Tue 11 Jun 2024 at 03:30

Roisin ODonnell is not surprised that her generation does not want to stay in farming. The 26-year-old dairy farmer says: No school teacher ever told me, You should be a farmer. Its pushed away all the time, go and get the big job, be an accountant, be a nurse, basically be anything but a farmer.
Theresa Clarke (70s) was seriously injured following the collision with a cyclist in Ranelagh, south Dublin

Theresa Clarke (70s) was seriously injured following the collision with a cyclist in Ranelagh, south Dublin.

A lifelong Fine Gael member who died after a road accident on the night she was erecting election posters has been remembered as a wonderful woman.

Theresa Clarke, who was in her 70s, was seriously injured following the collision with a cyclist in Ranelagh, south Dublin, on Tuesday night of last week.

Ms Clarke is the mother-in-law of John Clendennen, a Fine Gael councillor who was elected to Offaly County Council over the weekend.

She was treated in hospital for several days before passing away in Beaumont Hospital, Dublin on Sunday surrounded by her family.

This week Mr Clendennen said that his re-election had been overshadowed by the tragic passing of his mother-in-law.

The Birr councillor paid tribute to Ms Clarke, describing her as a tower of strength for her family.

She was a great woman in that regard and put her family first. It has been heartwarming to hear the stories in the past couple of days of how well she was held and the fondness for her within the community.

She was a life-long member of Fine Gael and very active, she was a wonderful woman with a willingness to help.

Taoiseach Simon Harris described Ms Clarke as an integral part of the Fine Gael family as he offered his condolences to the Clarke family.

"I spoke to Theresa's husband Michael and John in recent days. We are all devastated by her loss, he said.

The family are appealing for anyone with information in relation to the road collision to come forward.

Ms Clarke was a former principal of Scoil Aonghusa Senior in Balrothery in north Dublin and was heavily involved with Fine Gael in the Dublin Bay South constituency.

She was helping to erect election posters on the evening of the accident.

Gardai say they are continuing to investigate the fatal incident.

Theresa Clarke is survived by her husband Michael, children Elaine, Miriam and Josephine, as well as her wider family and friends.

Her funeral will take place at St Annes Church, Bohernabreena, Dublin, on Thursday morning before she is laid to rest at Bohernabreena Cemetery.
Taoiseach Simon Harris speaking to the media at the RDS Count Centre for the European elections on Sunday. Picture: Fergal Phillips

Fine Gael has apologised after its video urging people to vote in last weekends elections used a song by childrens collective The Kabin Crew without credit.

The video, which has been since deleted, used the song The Spark with a caption that read: Weve got the new energy, and well tell you all about it  Tomorrow vote Fine Gael in the Local, European and Limerick Mayoral elections.

In response, The Kabin Crew, who are based in Cork and Clare, said in a post on X: Ah Jaysus, lads, at least credit the kids who performed this track. Who ever created this video and made the social media post should know this. Not comfortable with it being used for political means.

You have used our music, without permission, for political means. Please cease all usage with immediate effect.

Today's News in 90 seconds - 10th June 2024

The Spark has been a viral sensation since it first appeared on social media more than three weeks ago.

The Kabin Studios, the creative hub in Cork where the crew are based, said later they did not want their music used for national or international political measures, especially by those with no connection to the work they do locally.

Anyone who uses our music, credit the kids and consider making a donation to childrens charity, they said.

Fine Gael has since issued an apology for not seeking permission.

We wish to sincerely apologise to all at the Kabin Crew and Kabin Crew Studio for not seeking permission to use their music. It was wrong, and it should not have happened, a spokesperson said.

The party also said it would make a donation to the studio to support their great work, or in lieu of this, to a charity of their choice.

The Fine Gael spokesperson said: The Kabin Crew are an immensely talented group who produce great music, including the track of the summer. They are a credit to all in their community and are great ambassadors for Cork city. Keep up the great work at the Kabin Studio.

Tanaiste Micheal Martin TD, Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald TD and the Labour Party have all used the song in their TikToks. However, they credited The Kabin and Lisdoonvarna Crew, who also appear on the track.

Ms McDonald had two of the young performers give her a rap lesson and Micheal Martin congratulated them on their success, as did the official Labour Party TikTok account.

The drum-and-bass track, which has yet to be released on streaming platforms, has also been hailed by Time and The New York Times as the song of the summer.

The Kabin and Lisdoonvarna crews unite children aged nine to 12 at the youth community space where they are able to express themselves through music and performing arts.

The Rhyme Island initiative, started by Garry McCarthy, is now expanding nationwide in a project called Rhyme Island Roadshow. Rap, songwriting and performance workshops will be accessible to young people of various backgrounds living in Ireland.

The cross-country project, sponsored by Creative Ireland, is set to build up to Rock the Block Festival this Saturday, June 15, where children aged eight to 18 will be able to reveal what they have been working on throughout the tour.

The self-proclaimed Sound of The Northside appears to have spread far beyond the boundaries of what was thought possible with more than eight million hits on TikTok and more than 750, 000 views on YouTube in just three weeks.
Survey reveals family carers provide more than 20bn worth of unpaid care every year

Family carers are the backbone of Irelands health and social care system, but they face huge burdens. Stock photo: Getty

Almost three-quarters of carers (72pc) have never received respite, according to a survey highlighting the harsh realities they face.

In its State of Caring 2024 report, Family Carers Ireland (FCI) found that almost half (48pc) of family carers experienced severe loneliness, despite the majority of respondents living with the people for whom they care.

Family carers are the backbone of Ireland's health and social care system, providing more than 20bn worth of unpaid care to ill, elderly, and/or disabled individuals every year.

Since 2016, the number of people providing informal care in Ireland has increased by 50pc.

The FCI survey, completed by 2,127 current family carers between January and March this year, highlights the crushing impact of systemic neglect, financial strain, and a deepening housing crisis.

The percentage surveyed who had never accessed respite care rose from 66pc in 2022 to 72pc in 2024, highlighting ongoing inadequacies and gaps in the support system.

Two years on from its previous report, FCI found this worrying increase underscores the health system's failure to meet family carers' basic needs.

The survey uncovers the harsh realities family carers face in securing stable and appropriate housing necessary for effective caring, with almost one in five (17pc) of mortgage holders having missed a mortgage payment in the past year. More than one-third of those in private rental (35pc) and those in local authority housing (32pc) have missed a payment in the past year.

One carer said: We are in constant fear of an eviction notice coming through the door. That alone has a negative impact on our outlook. Then with the security issues, no maintenance being carried out on the house, inadequate insulation  it all has a negative impact on daily life. Our landlord knows we wont question anything as we have nowhere else to go.

The survey also showed that 69pc of carers found it difficult to make ends meet. More than a quarter (29pc) of those struggling financially had cut back on essentials such as food and heat to make ends meet.

A third of family carers reside in homes that are not suitably adapted, lacking essential accessibility features such as ramps and grab bars.

The charity said the situation was exacerbated by the inadequacy of the Housing Adaptation Grant, which has not been increased in over a decade, forcing many to rely on family and friends, personal loans, or community help to make necessary modifications.

"This survey reveals a harrowing truth  family carers are being pushed to the brink, said Catherine Cox, head of communications and policy at FCI.

Despite promises of reform, they have been abandoned in a broken system. The report paints a bleak reality, echoing the persistent struggles highlighted for many years and emphasising the urgent need for a transformative approach to supporting family carers and providing them with the recognition, resources and respect they deserve.

Ms Cox called for immediate action to relieve the burdens experienced by family carers across Ireland.

These include the abolition of the means test for Carers Allowance and increasing the Housing Adaptation Grant.
The DAA has formally applied for planning permission for the new viewing platform at the airports perimeter

Aviation enthusiasts will soon be able to watch aircraft using Dublin Airport from the comfort of a specially-built viewing platform after the DAA formally applied for planning permission for the new facility.

The DAA, which flagged the potential development last year, has told Fingal County Council that the new observation facility on Old Airport Road will formalise the position of a layby at the airports perimeter, locally known as The Mound, that attracts so-called Avgeeks who park up to watch aircraft landing and taking off.

The facility will provide a comfortable and safe space on an elevated platform for the community to view aircraft movements, the DAA has told the council.

But following a pre-planning meeting, the council has also made the DAA remove a planned coffee dock at the viewing platform.

The DAA added that the platform will offer a clear view of the airports south runway, 10R/28L, has well as the cross runway, 16.34, whilst providing facilities such as shelter, seating, parking and lighting.

Plans of the proposed 'plane-spotting' facility

Aircraft observation facilities are a feature of many airports around Europe and the world, the DAA notes in its planning application. As well as providing a plane-spotting platform, the facilities also create an interface between the airport and the local community, helping aviation enthusiasts to engage with the airport by observing aircraft movements and airport operations.

Dublin Airport attracts a large number of aviation enthusiasts who observe aircraft using the gateway.

Many of them are very active on social media, while the airports aircraft movements also regularly features on live social media streams.

The proposed development represents a considerable planning gain for the local community and aviation enthusiasts alike, the DAA has said in its planning application.

It represents a significant investment in modern fit-for-purpose observation facilities and a considerable improvement on what exists currently, it adds. In our view, there is a clear benefit to progressing with the existing design acknowledging that this has been achieved by providing energy efficient light fixtures powered using green energy generated on-site using solar PV panels.

Plans of the proposed 'plane-spotting' facility

The council had also requested that electric vehicle charging stations be installed as part of the development.

While acknowledging the planning authoritys request for EV charging stations at this location, such a provision would require extensive site works (including connection to substations remote from the observation facility) as well as wholesale upgrades to the existing electrical services with knock on effects on both the receiving environment and project feasibility, the DAA points out.

Today's News in 90 seconds - 11th June 2024

The proposed development will have 22 parking spaces, including two for reduced mobility users and two for families.

Dublin Airport has a significant international network, particularly to North America. It serves cities such as Beijing, Doha, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, New York, Los Angeles, Seattle, San Francisco, Denver and a number of other long-haul routes. It also has services to destinations across Europe.

Passenger numbers at the airport are currently capped at 32 million a year under a planning condition attached almost 20 years ago to the construction of Terminal 2.
Philip Nolan lost the dressing room, plain and simple  SFI defends his dismissal in High Court

Prof Nolan is seeking an extension of orders preventing his dismissal from the State-funded research agency

Prof Philip Nolan. Photo: Collins

Tim Healy Tue 11 Jun 2024 at 19:30







The Minister for Research, Innovation and Science intervened in a dispute between Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) and Prof Philip Nolan to suggest they could mediate outstanding issues, the High Court has heard.
Luke ONeill: Everything you need to know about Ozempic  and why it could soon be used to treat depression, Parkinsons and addiction
Infectious disease consultant Dr Mary Horgan has been appointed interim Chief Medical Officer in the Department of Health, it was announced today.

The 261,000 a year position was held for many years by Dr Tony Holohan until July 2022.

It has been vacant again following the departure of Dr Breda Smyth in recent weeks to take up an academic post in the Royal College of Surgeons.

Dr Horgan is Prof of Infectious Diseases at University College Dublin and works in the Mater Hospital.

She became well known during the Covid-19 pandemic for her commentary on the virus and was appointed to the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) after it was decided it needed more wide ranging expertise.

The job of chief medical officer was advertised earlier this year and it is unclear how many applicants it attracted.

Health Minister Stephen Donnelly today announced Dr Horgans interim appointment after it was approved by the Cabinet.

Last November Prof Horgan was appointed by the Minister for Health to lead the design of a new emerging health threats agency.

Mr Donnelly said :The Chief Medical Officer plays a critical role in developing policy and legislation regarding patient safety, quality in health care, and in developing strategies to support and improve population health.

Throughout her career, and more recently in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic and her work on NPHET, Professor Mary Horgan has demonstrated the experience, expertise and strong and effective leadership skills that are required for the role.

I want to thank her for taking up this interim appointment and look forward to working with her in the Department as we continue our focus on strengthening and improving Irelands preparedness for health threats and protecting and improving population health.

Prof Horgan said: I am honoured to be taking up the role of chief medical officer. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Department of Health and to bringing my national and international experience in healthcare to support the Departments mission to improve the health and wellbeing of the people in Ireland.

A native of Tralee in Co Kerry she was previously Dean of the Medical School in University College Cork (UCC). She was elected as the first female President of the Royal College of Physicians since its founding in 1654 and was re-elected to serve her second term in 2020.

She has served as President of the Infectious Diseases Society of Ireland and on the boards of the Health Products Regulatory Authority, Irish Blood Transfusion Service, the Mercy University Hospital and the Governing Body of UCC.

Earlier this year Prof Smyth announced she was leaving to take up an academic position as Prof of Public Health in the Royal College of Surgeons.

Dr Smyth was appointed the chief medical officer in November 2022, after serving in an acting capacity since the previous July, following the departure of Dr Tony Holohan, who had been in the post for 14 years.

An open competition is also currently underway to fill two vacant positions at the grade of Deputy Chief Medical Officer. The Department of Health has found it difficult to recruit doctors to these positions in recent years with salary and public scrutiny cited as two possible reasons.
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
Celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival by making zongzi

09:33, June 10, 2024 By Xie Ying, Zhang Wenjie, Fanny ( People's Daily Online

Today marks the fifth day of the fifth month on the Chinese lunar calendar, when we celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival, also called Duanwu Festival.

The Dragon Boat Festival, one of the four traditional Chinese festivals, was the first to be inscribed on UNESCO's List of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

For food enthusiasts, consuming zongzi, a glutinous rice dumpling wrapped in bamboo or reed leaves, is a priority. Preferences for zongzi flavors vary significantly between the northern and southern regions of China: Northern zongzi are typically sweet, while southern ones are usually savory.

On this day, Chinese people eat zongzi to commemorate Qu Yuan, a patriotic poet and minister of the State of Chu during the Warring States period (475-221 B.C.). After being falsely accused of treason and banished due to his well-intended advice to the king, he drowned himself in the Miluo River. In their search for Qu Yuan's body, the people of the State of Chu threw rice in bamboo tubes into the water, aiming to protect his remains from being eaten by fish. This act led to the origin of zongzi in China.

With a history spanning over 2,000 years, the Dragon Boat Festival today is infused with delightful folk customs and traditions. Beyond making zongzi, communities across the country engage in various activities, including dragon boat racing, hanging calamus plants above doors and windows, and adorning spaces with colorful rope decorations.

Today marks the Dragon Boat Festival. Let's enjoy zongzi together. Wish you safety and health on this Dragon Boat Festival.

(Web editor: Zhao Tong, Liu Ning)
Voters could have to go to the polls before Christmas, results suggest

The Coalition is facing a by-election headache with the possibility of up to six TDs leaving the Dail in the coming weeks.

If Taoiseach Simon Harris is genuine in his insistence that the general election will not be until 2025, he will be forced to hold multiple by-elections before Christmas.

Traditionally government parties struggle in such contests  and in this scenario those elected would only get a matter of weeks in the Dail before facing the electorate again.

European counts were continuing late last night and look certain to result in several TDs moving on to Brussels.

Fianna Fails Barry Cowen is seen as a safe European seat in Midlands-North West, as well as Sinn Feins Kathleen Funchion and Michael McNamara in Ireland South.

Meanwhile Aontu leader Peadar Toibin has a chance in Midlands-North West and Labours Aodhan O Riordain is in the hunt in Dublin.

Furthermore, the chances of Finance Minister Michael McGrath being selected as Irelands next EU Commissioner over the summer are seen as increasingly likely in government circles.

His brother, Seamus, who topped the poll in Cork with 36pc of the total vote, has said he was open to running in the next general election and is being viewed as the ministers likely replacement in Cork South Central.

After the local and European election results, will we see a General Election in October 2024?

Last night Fianna Fails poll topper Barry Andrews remained on track to be the first MEP elected in Dublin with more than 60,000 votes, but he may not reach the quota of over 75,000 until later this afternoon.

However Fine Gaels Regina Doherty was neck-and-neck with Mr Andrews. Counts were coming thick and fast and they are set to continue into today and likely tomorrow.

A battle royale looms for the third and fourth seats in Dublin, with four candidates in the 30,000 vote mark.

Sinn Feins Lynn Boylan is being viewed as being the most secure of the four and she will also benefit from most of running mate Daithi Doolans votes, which now stand at 11,000.

Independent Irelands Niall Boylan, Labours Aodhan O Riordain and Green Partys Ciaran Cuffe are expected to scrap it out for the last seat.

Also not to be underestimated are sitting MEP Clare Daly and People Before Profits Brid Smith. The two candidates are likely to transfer into one another and one of them still may get a seat.

In Ireland South, poll topper Sean Kelly of Fine Gael was elected on the first count just after 9.30pm last night, with 122,777 votes. The former GAA president has won his fourth term in the European Parliament, having been first elected in 2009.

Outgoing Fianna Fail MEP Billy Kelleher will be returned to the European Parliament with a first preference vote of 91,074.

He is expected to be elected after several counts later today.

Clare-based Independent Michael McNamara is poised to clinch a Euro berth after a strong first count of 56,339 votes.

The final two seats are expected to be decided in a tight battle between five candidates.

Sitting TD Kathleen Funchion is among those in the mix to be elected in Ireland South.

The final two seats are now set to be decided on transfers in a tight battle between Independent Mick Wallace, Fianna Fails Cynthia Ni Mhurchu, Fine Gaels John Mullins, Sinn Feins Ms Funchion and the Green Partys outgoing MEP Grace OSullivan.

Just 20,000 votes separate the five challengers.

The fact Fianna Fails Ms Ni Mhurchu is in a very strong position to become an MEP is a major coup for Micheal Martins party. If it transpires, Fianna Fail will be the biggest party in local government and have the most MEPs.

Fine Gaels decision to run a Cork-based candidate alongside Kerrys Sean Kelly rather than somebody from Leinster will be seen as a big mistake.

In the Midlands North West constituency, Luke Ming Flanagan and Barry Cowen are expected to lead the way, with Fine Gaels Maria Walsh, Nina Carberry and Fianna Fails Lisa Chambers also in the mix.

Early indications are suggesting Chris MacManus and Michelle Gildernew are not doing too well, although they are likely to transfer to one another.

I now have growing confidence that Fianna Fail will remain as the largest party of local government when all the votes are counted

Elsewhere, former secretary general independent candidate John Moran topped the poll in the race to become Limericks first directly elected mayor with 18,308 first preference votes in the first count.

Mr Moran received a total of 18,308 first preference votes in the landmark election, and was followed in second place by another independent candidate Helen ODonnell who received 12,903 votes.

As some of the final council seats continued to be decided last night, Fianna Fail has declared itself as on track to be the largest party in local government.

Director of local elections for FF and minister of state Jack Chambers said it would remain the largest party in local government, having reviewed the latest numbers.

It comes as Fine Gael said earlier that it had the largest number of first preference votes in the local elections.

As director of elections I have been reviewing the counts and seat numbers all day and I now have growing confidence that Fianna Fail will remain as the largest party of local government when all the votes are counted and the full democratic process has concluded, said Mr Chambers.

We are in a really strong position as the final seats are declared.

The Taoiseach could be accused of many things  doing favours for me is not one of those

Separately Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald has challenged the Taoiseach to bring it on and call an early general election in Ireland.

She struck a defiant note following her partys disappointing showing in the countrys local election and rejected any suggestion Simon Harris would be doing her a favour if he stuck to his original plan to go to the polls in early 2025.

Mr Harris and Tanaiste Micheal Martin have both moved to dampen speculation of an earlier-than-expected general election after their respective parties performed better than many pollsters had predicted in last Fridays local and European elections.

While it could still take days to finish counting every vote across the country, the political implications of the results are already reverberating.

Sinn Fein has already announced an internal review after its poor performance while Ms McDonald has apologised for the results.

Some opinion polls last year saw Sinn Fein riding high on 30pc-plus support among the electorate, but the party attracted only 12pc of first preference votes in Fridays local government elections.

While that was still up on its showing in the last local council poll in 2019, the result is well short of what the party had hoped for.

Asked if Ms Harris would be doing her a favour if he decided against an early election, Ms McDonald replied: The Taoiseach could be accused of many things  doing favours for me is not one of those.

I want us to contest the general election and I want us to have that at the earliest possible date because I firmly believe that we need a change of government.

When the Taoiseach calls the election is anybodys guess. He seems to be indicating that it might go to next spring. I rather suspect that it will happen in the autumn, thats my speculation.

She added: Well be ready whenever it happens. Bring it on.
The businessman, who ran as an Independent, was tipped by the tallies from the start, with 18,000 first preference votes, ahead of second placed Helen ODonnell with 14,000.

That healthy margin was reflected from the first count, where Mr Moran assumed a 5,000 lead, which held for 13 further eliminations into the race of the final two.

Mr Moran beat Ms ODonnell on the twelfth and final count by 4,622 votes.

Following the victory, Mr Moran, who refused to speak to media until the official announcement, said: It is an emotional day for everybody.

Everybody knows we started this journey five years ago it was obvious to the people of Limerick then as it was to them now that there is a system of Government in Ireland that needs to change to re-establish democracy, he said.

He stressed that the role is about bringing places in Limerick together and not about politics that speaks to a particular group of people in one area.

"Right here in Limerick we have shown how it can be done and how people can come together and develop a common vision for their future.

"I spent a lot of time talking to communities to understand what they want Limerick to be, he said, citing more housing, more business prosperity and more health, he added.

The former Secretary General of the Department of Finance was swarmed by his campaign team, and embraced his partner Damien Duggan following the announcement of Returning Officer Caroline Curley. To his right was his mother, reduced to tears.

His sister Siobhan and nephews and nieces, Chloe, Ryan and Rebecca also surrounded him.

Cheers rang out across the entire lower hall of the Limerick Racecourse following the historic win, not only from friends and family but from the 80 count staff who spent three full days counting votes across the local and mayoral election in the county.

Mr Moran, as the new mayor, will have an executive and representative role in Limerick City and County Council, where will see powers taken from its executive staff.

Adding to his speech post-announcement, Mr Moran said: I think this role works best as an independent and I said that from the beginning.

"I think that you have an independence to make policy that works best for Limerick but also an independence to work with everybody.

His new executive powers will see him take charge of strategic planning, designing and proposing long-term plans to drive economic and spatial development in Limerick.

He will also be in charge of the countys housing strategy, focus on road transport, safety, maintenance and traffic management safety in Limerick as well as environment.

The newly formed position will see Mr Moran collect a salary of approximately 154,134. He will not be permitted to hold another job at the same time.

The Birmingham native grew up on a farm in Patrickswell and later Dooradoyle after his family moved from the UK to a cottage just a stones throw away from the Limerick Racecourse where he was elected today.

He will officially start his role on June 21 for a term of five-years, which marks the first official meeting of a new Limerick City and County Council.

Mr Moran will address all 40 of Limerick City and County Councils 40 local representatives across six local electorate area, each of whom were elected over the weekend in the new-look never before seen council structure.

There he will produce a document that explains his vision and objectives for his tenure.

This document will then be known as the mayoral programme, and it will remain in force for the his entire term of office.

However, the new mayor said there will be an official ceremony for people before the council meeting to mark this historic moment.

"It has been an amazing journey. I think that Limerick has grown in terms of its history today and in terms of coming together.

"I am just so honoured that you have chosen me to be the person to lead that.

"This is the beginning of that journey and we will travel that journey together as we finally move towards establishing a governance structure in Ireland that allows people to make decisions locally, he proclaimed to the room.
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.

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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.
There were emotional scenes at count centres across Donegal as four out of six 100% Redress Party were elected to Donegal County Council.

The party, formed to fight for 100% Redress for defective concrete block homeowners, was elected in four local electoral areas.

Ali Farren topped the poll in Carndonagh, while Joy Beard was elected second in Buncrana.

Denis McGee was elected in Glenties while Tomas Sean Devine was the third councillor elected in the Letterkenny LEA.

However, Mr Devine's seat is currently subject to a recount but he is expected to be officially elected again as he passed the quota in the original count on Sunday.

Two other candidates  Charles Ward in Lifford Stranorlar and Eamonn Jackson in Milford fought hard and received a respectable vote but failed to be elected.

Joy Beard of the 100% Redress party.

However, the election into four areas across the county sent a clear message about what is a priority for the people of Donegal  and that is redress for those whose homes are crumbling.

Speaking after their election, emotional Ali Farren and Joy Beard said it was a special win as none of us wanted to be politicians, we are just ordinary people who want our houses fixed.

This is amazing for ourselves, our communities and every family that we will represent.

This is one of the best days and it is the first stage in the process.

Not one of us wanted to be a politician  we certainly did not want to be county councillors but we know now that we have to do this, said the pair.

Ms Beard said there has been years of suffering but there is now a voice in the Chamber for those affect homeowners.

The problem is that we were not being listened too and that is why we set up the party in the first place.

This is going on far to long and things need to change.

We wanted to see how much support we would get at the local elections and we have received tremendous support.

Tomas Sean Devine after being elected.

Tomas Sean Devine said his seat in Letterkenny and Denis McGees in Glenties shows the defective concrete scandal is a county wide issue, having previously been seen as an issue primarily affecting Inishowen.

This scandal is countywide and it has gone beyond the county - it is nationwide.

When we were canvassing around the doors, the conditions that some of these people are in living in are shocking  and there is no light at the end of the tunnel.

We will fight for everyone and nobody will be left behind, said Mr Devine.

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Government parties will be looking on at the result with interest as the popularity of the party looks only set to increase and the possibility of putting a candidate forward for the upcoming general election.

Ali Farren said on Sunday that the party's success cannot be ignored and their eyes are now firmly on the next General Election.

We need a voice in Dublin so we will be looking for a candidate to send to Dublin who will speak up for us and ensure our voices are heard.

"We have to send a strong message and we will be sending someone forward to run in the next election.

"If we get the support from the public, we will put a voice for affected homeowners in Dublin, said Mr Farren.

Ali Farren after being elected on Sunday.

Mr Devine is hopeful that the partys success in the election will encourage people in other counties to consider the political route.

This is going to open things up  they will say look what they done in Donegal.

There is going to be a general election and I think the other counties need to start thinking about it.

I think the government will waken up here and take notice. We got four out of six elected and the other two received great votes, Mr Devine.

The Letterkenny man, whose home is affected by defective blocks, said the party is not a one issue party and will ensure it represent the people of Donegal on all issues.

This is not just defective concrete blocks  I am living in an estate in Letterkenny and for ten plus years, we have been fighting for basic water in the estate.

These are issues that are very close to me too and that we will be fighting for.

We are not a single issue party.

We are newly formed and we probably did not get all of our policies online but we are learning as we go along.

It comes from the heart with us and we are not being led by a party in Dublin  we are locally led and we will fight for our local people, said Mr Devine.

Mr Farren added, We are going to be a voice  for everyone who needs it.
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.
Independant candidate Thomas Welby is congratulated after he was the first Cllr. to be elected in Ireland for the second time running at The Galway Lawn Tennis club. Photo: Ray Ryan

The local elections in Galway have concluded and this is the make-up of the elected Galway County Council for the next five years.

Out of 39 seats, Fine Gael is the largest party with 13 seats, gaining two seats compared to 2019. Fine Gael is followed by Fianna Fail on 11 seats, losing four seats from the past elections. The rest are comprised of seven Independents (they were 11 in 2019), six Independent Ireland councillors and two Sinn Fein (gaining one seat since 2019). The Green Party lost its only seat in the county.

Independant candidate Thomas Welby is congratulated after he was the first Cllr. to be elected in Ireland for the second time running at The Galway Lawn Tennis club. Photo: Ray Ryan

Connemara North  4 seats

The four outgoing councillors in Connemara North have all been re-elected and they are: Thomas Welby (IND), Gerry King (FF), Seamus Walsh (IndI), Eileen Mannion (FG).

Thomas Welby was the first candidate in Ireland to be elected at this years elections and he was elected at the first count.

This is the fourth time Cllr Welby has been elected as he told the Irish Independent: Im delighted, its the fourth time topping the poll, the second time as the first to be elected in Ireland. I just want to thank everybody, my family in particular, my brother, my wife, my children, and grandchildren, sons in law, the support I got from relatives and friends, Im really delighted.

I look forward to another five years and 20 years in politics. My father was first elected 50 years ago, in 1974, and Im really happy to be able to continue.

Fine Gael Padraig Mac an Iomaire the moment he was elected for the Connemara South LEA

Michael Leainde celebrating with his team and famliy

Connemara South  5 seats

In Connemara South, Noel Thomas (IndI), Padraig Mac an Iomaire (FG), and Tomas O Curraoin (IND) have been re-elected. They are joined in the council by Mairtin Lee (FF) and Michael Leainde (IndI), a postman and undertaker from Rossaveal, who said he aims to address the concerns of those in rural communities.

Dermot Connolly

Michael Connolly with his family

Ballinasloe  6 seats

Five outgoing councillors were reconfirmed in Ballinasloe: Dermot Connolly (SF), Michael Connolly (FF), Evelyn Francis Parsons (IND), Declan Geraghty (IndI) and Peter Keaveney (FG).

They are joined by Alan Harney (FG), who attended Creagh National School and Garbally College and studied law in Trinity College Dublin. He has significant political experience as he worked for former Senator Maura Hopkins for a number of years.

Gerry Finnerty

PJ Murphy celebrating after being elected at the first count

Gort-Kinvara  5 seats

Geraldine Donohue (IND), Gerry Finnerty (FF), Martina Kinane (FF), PJ Murphy (FG) have all been re-elected. They will be joined by newcomer Paul Killilea (FG), from Kiltartan, who grew up on the family farm, attended school in Kiltartan NS and then onto Gort Community School thereafter.

Andrew Reddington with his family and supporters the moment he heard he was elected.

Tuam councillor Mary Hoade has been elected for the 6th time in a row

Tuam  7 seats

After 12 counts, five outgoing councillors have been elected in Tuam  Andrew Reddington (FG), Donagh Killilea (FF), Pete Roche (FG), Mary Hoade (FF), and Karey McHugh Farag (IND).

Among them, Mary Hoade has been a councillor since 1999 as she told the Irish Independent: Its an honour to be consistently re-elected on every occasion, and I just want to take the opportunity to thank my canvass team, the electors and everybody who has worked in the campaign up to now.

When asked why residents keep voting for her after all these years, she said: They know Im a hard worker, I work hard to represent the constituency, I can be relied on and Im always accessible and available, I think thats what local politics is all about.

The five councillors have been elected along with two newcomers: Galway Bay FM broadcaster Ollie Turner (FG), and Shaun Cunniffe (IndI) who said he aims to work for a better deal for rural Ireland, small businesses and working people.

Declan Kelly is one of the three Loughrea candidates to be elected at the first count

Loughrea  5 seats

The five outgoing councillors in Loughrea have all retained their seats and they are: Ivan Canning (FF), Shane Curley (FF), Declan Kelly (IndI), Michael Moegie Maher (FG), Jimmy McClearn (FG).

Athenry-Oranmore  7 seats

Only three councillors retained their seats in the Athenry-Oranmore LEA: David Collins (FG), Albert Dolan (FF), James Charity (IND).

They are joined by two young faces, newcomer Cillian Keane (FF), who is only 23 and recently graduated from UCD with a degree in Food & Agribusiness Management; and Louis O'Hara (SF), who announced a long list of priorities including public transport, housing, and more facilities for the young members of the community.

And by two familiar faces, Peter Feeney (FG) who has made a comeback after having been a member of the council from 2003 to 2019, and Tomas Grealish (IND), brother of Galway West Independent TD Noel Grealish, who announced his candidacy as outgoing Councillor Jim Cuddy decided to retire.
Mr Egan became emotional when asked how he was feeling after being elected and said he was thinking of his daughter who was in Australia and for the people who worked on his campaign.

While Fianna Fail managed to retain their dominance in Offaly County Council, Sinn Fein were the comeback kids of the local election here in the Faithful County.

Sean Maher (SF) and Audrey Hennessy Kennedy (FF) became the final two candidates elected to Offaly County Council and now all seats in the county have been filled.

The election of the last two candidates was delayed after Social Democrats Clare Claffey called for a recount after count 12.

On course to be eliminated after that count late on Monday night, just 27 votes separated her from Sinn Feins Sean Maher.

While four errors were identified during the examination of all 15 candidates' votes, it was deemed that these would not materially affect the outcome of the count and Mr Maher and Ms Hennessy Kennedy were elected.

Fianna Fail just about managed to hold on to the eight seats they held since the 2019 election and remain the biggest party in the council.

For Sinn Fein though, it was an important weekend as they made gains in a county where before, they had no sitting councillors. They now have three seats, with one sitting councillor in each electoral area.

The party secured three seats in the 2014 local elections but lost them all in 2019.

For Sinn Feins Aoife Masterson, who is a first time candidate, and was elected this weekend, she said the result was a monumental achievement for the party.

Its been an absolutely fantastic day for Sinn Fein in Offaly. Its a monumental achievement.

When you consider where we were in 2019, weve really focused and built back our roots and focused on what we can deliver for the community and its finally paid off today, Ms Masterson said.

But it hasnt been good news for Sinn Fein across the country. Ms Masterson said the disappointing national result now means Sinn Fein needs to learn from the mistakes made in this election.

This weekend isnt the weekend wed hoped for, theres no doubt about that. But well do like we did before, in 2019. Well listen, well go back to our base, go back to our constituents, learn from the mistakes weve made and build going forward, she said.

It was also a big moment for Ms Mastersons party colleague Sean Maher, who regained the seat he lost in 2019.

Im a bit over the moon now, ecstatic. Absolutely delighted considering in 2019 we lost the seat and to come back in 2024 and win it is fabulous for myself, the family and the people who have worked with us, Mr Maher said.

We got it over the line eventually, after a long few days. So, it's on to work for the people of Birr, he added.

The Green Party now has no representatives on Offaly County Council, after Mark Hackett lost his seat in Edenderry.

Four sitting councillors lost their seats in this election. Two of those were councillors who had been co-opted into their seats.

Sandy Feehan Smollen was co-opted onto Offaly County Council last September after her husband Ken Smoll stepped down from his position last September.

She did not manage to retain the seat in Tullamore LEA and while wasnt eliminated, she did not come close enough to the quota to be elected on count 6.

While Pippa Hacketts husband Mark Hackett who was co-opted into the seat in 2019 when she was elected to Seanad and became a Minister of State, also lost out.

Clare Claffey (SD) who was elected in 2019 lost her sit at the bitter end of the counting process while it was also a disappointing result for Fianna Fails Robert McDermott who didnt manage to hold on to his seat.

On Monday, Fine Gaels Hugh Egan was elected after reaching the quota in count 11.

Mr Egan became emotional when asked how he was feeling after being elected and said he was thinking of his daughter who was in Australia and for the people who worked on his campaign.

"Im feeling over the moon, Im feeling elated. Im feeling a bit emotional, I have a daughter in Australia, Im thinking of her now.

"Look at this for a team around here, this is for them. I had lads driving me during the week, I had lads knocking on doors, putting up posters, he said.

Mr Egan said he was glad he was able to secure a Fine Gael seat in his local area of Doon.

"There was a seat down in Doon for forty years, we lost it in 2014. So its after taking us three elections to get it back, but we have it back now, Mr Egan said.

For the newly elected candidate, he intends to go back to the basics of what the people need from the local council.

"Its the very same as what I said on the doors. Im back to basics, Im back doing what a councillors job is, representing the local people with the basics of what they want. The roads, the ditches, the planning permissions.

"Back to basics, back to grassroots, look after the local people, Mr Egan said.

Hugh Egans election meant Fine Gael increased the number of seats in Offaly by one, from four to five seats.

In count 10, Fianna Fail's Barbara Daly was eliminated.

It's a significant development here in Offaly, as the seat has been held by Ms Daly's family for close to 70 years.

Ms Daly's brother Eamon Dooley announced that he would be retiring from the council and would not stand for re-election and resulted in his sister Barbara being selected to run in the area.

The seat was previously held by their father Eddie Joe Dooley.

Those elected to the council in the Tullamore LEA is as follows:

Neil Feighery (FG), Frank Moran (FF), Aoife Masterson (SF), Sean OBrien (Ind), Tony McCormack (FF), Declan Harvey (FF), Ollie Bryant (FF).

Edenderry was the first LEA in Offaly to fill its seats, with the last two candidates Noel Cribbin (FG) and Claire Murray (SF) elected without reaching the quota.

There will now be two Claire Murrays on Offaly Council this year and Ms Murrays election is significant for Sinn Fein who have gained two seats in the county.

The six seats in the Edenderry LEA were filled by:

Eddie Fitzpatrick (FF), Fergus McDonnell (Ind Irl), Claire Murray (FF), Liam Quinn (FG), Noel Cribbin (FG), Claire Murray (SF).

The final result for the Birr LEA saw the following candidates elected:

John Clendennen (FG), Hugh Egan (FG), Audrey Hennessy-Kennedy (FF), John Leahy (Ind), Sean Maher (SF), Peter Ormond (FF).
Dublin Fire Brigade and gardai were called to the scene and the fire was put out. No injuries were reported.

Mummified remains many centuries old have been destroyed after a man set a fire in the crypt of a historic Dublin church.

The incident unfolded around 4.30pm today at St Michan's Church on Church Street in Dublin 7.

Its understood the man gained entry to the crypt and then lit a fire. A man was later arrested in connection with the incident.

A statement from the Church of Ireland confirmed the historic crypt of St Michans was broken into and vandalised this afternoon.,

A fire was lit in the crypt which houses a number of mummified remains, including those of the 800-year-old Crusader. It is feared that at least some of the remains have been destroyed in the incident.

Archbishop Michael Jackson visited St Michans this evening. Afterwards he said:

I am devastated to say that vandalism has once again struck in the crypt of St Michans, Church Street. The Fire Brigade was called and members dealt with the fire. However, significant damage has been done to the mummies. These historic remains are woven into the history of the city of Dublin and emblazoned in the imaginations of visitors and tourists from home and abroad.

We do not yet know what the future is for the mummies as the Archdeacon of Dublin and I fear that they have been destroyed. These mummies are a national treasure and I am shocked at the sacrilege of the destruction of the remains of people who once lived.

Archdeacon David Pierpoint, who is the Vicar of St Michans added: Our security system is very tight and thankfully we have CCTV in operation. The footage has been handed to the Gardai and the investigation is in their hands. We are very grateful to the Gardai and Fire Brigade for their efforts and support in putting out the fire.

The crypt is a crime scene but I have just been given access to see the damage. The mummies are sitting in a foot of water. They need a very specific atmosphere and I fear that at least two of the remains, including the Crusader, have been destroyed. I will contact the National Museum to see if anything can be saved.

Dublin Fire Brigade and gardai were called to the scene and the fire was put out and the area made safe. No injuries were reported.

A full forensic examination is currently underway.

A garda spokesperson said: A man was later arrested in connection with the incident, for an alleged offence under the Criminal Damage Act 1991, and is currently detained pursuant to Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 at a garda station in the Dublin area.

Investigations are ongoing.
George Nkencho was shot dead on the porch of his home in Clonee, west Dublin

An inquest into the fatal shooting of George Nkencho by gardai has been adjourned, to allow his family seek an explanation from the DPP why no officer will face prosecution over his death.

Mr Nkencho (27) suffered fatal gunshot wounds during an incident involving members of the Garda Armed Support Unit outside his family home at Manorfields Drive, Clonee, Co Dublin on December 30, 2020.

The victims family have asked the DPP to explain her decision why no criminal proceedings should arise from the case, following the completion of a lengthy investigation by the Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commission into the fatal shooting.

At a sitting of Dublin District Coroners Court today, GSOC lead investigator Stuart Duguid confirmed that the DPPs decision had been relayed to Mr Nkenchos family.

Mr Duguid told coroner, Myra Cullinane, that relatives of the deceased were seeking the reasons for not prosecuting any gardai involved in Mr Nkenchos death and that they might apply to appeal that decision.

The GSOC officer said the family had up to 56 days to appeal the DPP's decision not to prosecute.

Mr Duguid applied for the inquest to be adjourned until October on the basis that the ongoing process could take a number of months.

Asked by Dr Cullinane about the gardas view on the case, counsel for An Garda Siochana, Barry Ward BL, said Mr Nkenchos family were entitled to seek whatever assistance they required.

Counsel for the Nkencho family, Shane Coleman BL, said his clients had no issue with a further adjournment.

The coroner observed that the application for an adjournment was being made under Section 25 (1) of the Coroners Act, although she acknowledged that one could not say that criminal proceedings were being contemplated.

However, Dr Cullinane recognised that the process is ongoing and granted the application for an adjournment until October 4.

Today's News in 90 seconds - 11th June 2024

The brief hearing was attended by the victims sister, Gloria Nkencho.

Earlier this month, Ms Nkencho vowed that her familys fight for justice would continue despite the DPPs decision.

In a statement, she expressed hurt and disappointment at how news of the decision had emerged and claimed the development had left them with more questions than answers.

Campaigners last month also staged a demonstration outside the Department of Justice in Dublin to call for the DPPs decision to be reversed.

The fatal shooting outside his home in west Dublin three-and-a-half years ago occurred after a stand-off developed between gardai and Mr Nkencho, who was armed with a kitchen knife.

The tense situation arose shortly after Mr Nkencho had been involved in an incident at a local Eurospar store where he assaulted a shop assistant.

The young man, whose family come originally from Nigeria, was pronounced dead a short time later at Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown.

Post-mortem results revealed he died as a result of multiple gunshot wounds to the torso.

His family claim he was suffering from mental health issues for several months before his death and that the level of force used against him by gardai was disproportionate.
A Dublin woman who was among the first to receive a stem-cell transplant has returned to the hospital where her life was saved several decades ago.

Mairsile Hourihane had the stem-cell surgery  also known as a bone-marrow transplant  at St Jamess Hospital in Dublin in 1989.

Yesterday she told of how she was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML), a rare kind of cancer that affects the bone marrow and white blood cells and usually develops very slowly.

My diagnosis of CML nearly 40 years ago was the beginning of an uncertain and scary time in my life. After my diagnosis in St Vincents Hospital, I was under the care of excellent haematologists with a support team at St Jamess Hospital, who ultimately saved my life.

Even though the service was in its infancy when I received my bone-marrow transplant, I always knew that I was lucky to be in the best place with the best team looking after me, and I am delighted to be here to celebrate all that the team continues to achieve.

The growing and ageing population is leading to more blood cancers with increasing demand for stem-cell transplants, specialists said yesterday.

The transplants are used to treat and cure many types of blood-related cancers such as leukaemia, lymphoma or multiple myeloma as well as rare bone-marrow failure conditions and solid-organ tumours.

Dr Catherine Flynn, a haematologist in St Jamess, said: Since 1984, we have provided stem cell and bone-marrow transplants to over 3,750 patients, improving rates of survival for patients with blood cancer and giving them fresh hope. Looking after our increasing number of transplant survivors is a privilege but also presents a growing challenge.

We are very grateful to the many stem cell donors from all over the world. We are hopeful that we can continue to grow our service through adequate support and resources.

Health Minister Stephen Donnelly, who attended the event, paid tribute to donors and the role they play in facilitating the many bone-marrow transplants that take place.
Clear picture emerges from counts around country

Counting continues at TF Royal Theatre in Castlebar, Co Mayo, for the local and European elections. Photo: PA

Fianna Fail and Fine Gael hold six seats each in Cavan, followed by Sinn Fein with three seats. Independent Ireland, Aontu and an Independent make up the remainder, with one seat each.

Cavan County Council

Clare County Council

Fianna Fail is the largest party in the council chambers for Clare, where it holds 14 seats. Fine Gael holds nine seats. Independents hold three, and Sinn Fein has two.

Cork City Council

Fianna Fail is the largest party, with nine seats and Fine Gael holds five seats in Cork. Sinn Fein holds four seats, while the Green Party, Labour and Independents all hold three each. The Workers Party, Social Democrats, Independent Ireland and People Before Profit all hold one.

Cork County Council

Fianna Fail holds 19 seats and Fine Gael holds 18 seats. Among the remaining councillors there are four from Independent Ireland, three from the Social Democrats, two from Labour and one from Sinn Fein.

Dublin City Council

Fine Gael is the largest party in Dublin City Council, with 11 seats, while the Social Democrats doubled their seats to 10 to become the second largest party. There are nine independents and nine Sinn Fein councillors, along with eight Fianna Fail and eight Green Party councillors. The rest of the seats are occupied by four Labour, two PBP, one Independent Ireland and one Right to Change councillor.

South Dublin County Council

Independents have also dominated in South Dublin, where they claimed 10 seats. Fine Gael claimed nine, while Fianna Fail and Sinn Fein took five seats each. People Before Profit took four, Labour took three, while Social Democrats won two. The Irish Freedom Party claimed its only seat in Dublin here, with Independent Ireland also taking one.

Galway City Council

Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and Independents all share the top spot, with four seats each, followed by Labour with three, Social Democrats with two and Sinn Fein with one.

Galway County Council

Fine Gael is the largest party, with 13 seats, followed by Fianna Fail with 11 seats. The rest are comprised of seven Independents, six Independent Ireland councillors and two Sinn Fein.

Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown

Fine Gael has come out on top in Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown, where the party now boasts more than double the seats of all other parties in the chamber at 16.

Kilkenny County Council

Fianna Fail is comfortably the largest party in Kilkenny, with 11 seats, followed by Fine Gael with seven. Labour and independents hold two each, while the Greens and Sinn Fein hold one each.

Leitrim County Council

While Fianna Fail is the largest party in Leitrim, with six councillors, there are five independents just behind it. Fine Gael and Sinn Fein won three seats each and the Green Party holds one.

Limerick City and County Council

Fianna Fail holds a majority in Limerick, with 13 councillors. Fine Gael holds 10 seats and the rest are divided between independents with five, Sinn Fein with three and Labour with three. Social Democrats won two seats, Independent Ireland won two seats and the Greens and Aontu took one each.

Louth County Council

Sinn Fein and Independents both snapped up seven seats each in Louth, followed by Fianna Fail, which took six seats. Labour and the Greens took two seats and one seat respectively.

Sligo County Council

Fianna Fail scooped six seats in Sligo, followed by four independents and four Fine Gael councillors. Meanwhile, there were just two Sinn Fein, one Labour and one People Before Profit councillors elected.

Tipperary County Council

Independents hold the majority after winning 14 seats. Fianna Fail and Fine Gael both hold 10 each, while Labour took three seats and Sinn Fein took two. One Workers and Unemployed Action councillor also took a seat.

Waterford City and County Council

Fianna Fail holds eight seats in Waterford, with independent councillors also winning eight seats. Sinn Fein took seven and Fianna Fail took five, while Labour won three seats and Social Democrats took one.

Wicklow County Council

While Fine Gael is the largest party with nine seats, it will be up to Independents to decide where they fall, having won 10 seats. Fianna Fail seated four councillors, while the Social Democrats won three, Sinn Fein and the Green Party won two each and Independent Ireland and Labour took one each.

Westmeath County Council

Fianna Fail is the largest party in Westmeath, with a comfortable majority of nine seats.

Wexford County Council

Independents have taken control of the council in Wexford with 11 seats, followed by Fine Gael and Fianna Fail as just two seats remained.

Monaghan County Council

Sinn Fein took control of one of their only local authorities by seating eight councillors in Monaghan. Fine Gael elected six, while Fianna Fail elected three and independents elected one.

Offaly County Council

Fianna Fail was in a strong position, followed by Fine Gael as the remaining three seats were left to be filled.

Roscommon County Council

Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and Independents were battling it out for the top position, with three seats left to be filled.

Mayo County Council

The final four seats could decide whether Fianna Fail, Fine Gael or independents will come out on top.

Meath County Council

Fine Gael, Fianna Fail and Independents were each in strong positions, with 11 seats to be filled.

Longford County Council

It is a battle between Fine Gael and Fianna Fail as four seats remained to be filled yesterday.

Laois County Council

The full picture for Laois was yet to be made clear yesterday as Sinn Fein, Fine Gael, Fine Fail and Independents were all neck-and-neck as 10 seats were left to be filled.

Kerry County Council

Independents and Fianna Fail were battling it out for the final three seats yesterday.

Kildare County Council

Fine Gael and Fianna Fail were in another battle for the top spot in Kildare yesterday as there were three seats left to fill. The Social Democrats were also polling strongly.

Fingal County Council

Labour had its strongest showing in Fingal, where it, Fine Gael and Labour all have seven seats.

Donegal County Council

Sinn Fein was dominating with 10 seats in Donegal as counts continued yesterday, followed closely by a strong showing for Independents and Fianna Fail.

Carlow County Council

Another battle between Fine Gael and Fianna Fail was ongoing in Carlow yesterday, with both electing five councillors each as there were two seats left to fill.
Harris was told canal clearances and cuts to welfare for Ukrainians and asylum-seekers were a weapon of mass distraction

Simon Harris sniped at Mary Lou McDonald and others on the elections outcome today

Taoiseach Simon Harris sniped at Mary Lou McDonald and others on the elections outcome today.

He said people want politicians to come up with solutions to social problems, adding to Ms McDonald: "I would have thought you learned that this weekend."

Mr Harris told the Sinn Fein leader not to come into the Dail chamber with her one setting of performative outrage and lets actually engage on the substance of the issues as she tackled him on supports for special schools.

Earlier, he complained about the Sinn Fein leader "Mary Lou-splaining to me" about respite provision in respect of special needs children.

Mr Harris said he knew all about it because his own family had benefitted from July provision by schools  and he had promised to prioritise this area as Taoiseach.

He also criticised Holly Cairns, leader of the Social Democrats, who said "people don't buy it" on promises to improve care. He said people had an opportunity at the weekend to speak for themselves.

"Lots of people voted for my party and for coalition parties as well," he said. More than 53pc of the electorate had backed the candidates of Fine Gael, Fianna Fail and the Green Party, he said.

But Paul Murphy of Solidarity-People Before Profit said Fine Gael and Fianna Fail had actually lost votes at the local elections, telling Mr Harris: "Pride goes before a fall."

He said the canal clearances and cuts to welfare for Ukrainians and asylum-seekers and were "a weapon of mass distraction". It set a trap which, unfortunately, Sinn Fein fell into, he said.

Mr Harris said there would be a general election in due course and he was looking forward to it. He said he wasn't sure if Sinn Fein was part of Mr Murphy's plan for a new left alternative government.

"They will work it out after their review," he said. Mr Harris said he was a politician of the centre, and a functioning immigration system would be established that would be fair.

"This party isn't a nasty party, and this is not a nasty Government," he said, telling Mr Murphy: "Better luck next time."

Mr Murphy said the Government had spent 100,000 clearing tents when there were empty beds that could be provided. "It is extremely cynical politics."

Ms McDonald raised special needs children and a survey by Family Carers Ireland that revealed that 72pc of families had never received respite. She cited case histories, and one case in which a boy had not received July provision since 2019. The programme provides socialisation and stimulation they need, she said.

Ms Cairns agreed, saying: "The people out there aren't interested in the Punch and Judy show that often takes place in this house. They're not interested in petty political one-upmanship or politics that values soundbites over substance.

The report from Family Carers Ireland was shocking, she said, with carers struggling to make ends meet while their loved ones don't receive any formal support.

"Nearly 50pc had to pay privately for products or services that should be publicly available to them," she said.
His death is not being treated as suspicious

A young man who passed away after getting into difficulties at Craigavon Lakes has been named as Jamie Murray, who was local to the area.

A death notice for the 22-year-old reads that he was the dearly beloved son of Deirdre and Jason Murray loving daddy of Sophia, and loving partner of Teri, much loved brother of Patrice, Dylan, Charlie and Niall, loving uncle to Fionnbhar, Eabhan, Ruadhan, Cian, Theo and Brodie.

Police reported that a man had entered the water in the Lake Road area of Craigavon shortly after 6pm on Saturday evening and encountered difficulties.

His death is not being treated as suspicious.

It comes after a concern for safety report was made to officers.

Locator: Lake Road - Craigavon

A multi-agency search operation was launched involving the PSNI, Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service, and community search and rescue volunteers.

Mr Murrays funeral will take place on Wednesday, arriving at St Paul's Church in Lurgan for 10am Requiem Mass, followed by his interment afterwards in St Colman's Cemetery.

Tributes to the young Co Armagh man have been pouring in online since his passing, with one friend referring to him as Big Jambo and stating that not a day will go by [in which] I won't think of you.

The father-of-one was also a talented amateur boxer, with his mother stating that he was her champ.

A PSNI spokesperson said: "Enquiries into the circumstances surrounding the man's death are ongoing, and a post-mortem will take place in due course, however at present the death is not believed to be suspicious.

"Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the deceased."

Sinn Fein councillor Catherine Nelson expressed condolences with the mans family.

The community is shocked and saddened to learn that a man tragically lost his life in Craigavon on Saturday, she said.

My first thoughts and condolences are with this mans family and friends at this very sad and difficult time.

I would also like to pay tribute to the emergency services for all their efforts.
Locals in the tight-knit Tipperary village about 8km from Cashel are said to be in shock

Tributes have been paid to an Irishman who was killed in a car accident in Australia on Sunday.

Father-of-two Kevin Ivers, who was in his 30s and originally from Pearse Park Golden in Co Tipperary, died in a car crash in Perth.

Mr Ivers ran the Golden Plant Hire in Gingin, Perth, Western Australia.

It is believed that Mr Ivers car accident happened during torrential rain in Perth.

Locals in the tight-knit Tipperary village, which is about 8km from Cashel, are said to be shocked by the news.

Mr Ivers had attended primary school in the village of Golden and secondary school at Cashel Community School.

One local said that Kevin was a gentleman and many had great memories of him growing up in Pearse Park in Golden.

The Irish Department of Foreign Affairs has been informed of the news and is offering consular assistance to Mr Ivers fiancee Rhyllie Vine and his sons, who are aged thee and five.

Mr Ivers is survived by Ms Vine, sons Sonny and Banjo, parents Richie and Ann, brothers Paddy and David, sisters Donna and Aoife, grandmother Bridget, brother-in-law Michael, sisters-in-law Emma and Sheila, nephews, nieces, uncles, aunts, relatives and his many friends in Australia and Golden.

No funeral arrangements have been made as yet but they are likely be announced in the coming days.
Lucinda OSullivan goes on a food safari around Dublins newest casual dining spots and finds dumplings, spice bags and more

With plenty of interesting new establishments opening around Dublin, our critic decided to take a tour of the town

From left: Prawn dumplings; and duck dumplings in Sichuan chilli broth from CN Dumpling. Photo: Lucinda OSullivan

Lucinda O'Sullivan Tue 11 Jun 2024 at 03:30

Despite the spate of recent restaurant closures, it hasnt stopped eager restaurateurs from planting their flags. Indeed, with so many hip new casual dining spots opening in Dublin, I decided to do a safari of openers to see what they had to offer.
A tourism surge has boosted Spains economy, but is also straining services for locals

Fresh from a tour of Real Madrid's glittering Santiago Bernabeu stadium in the Spanish capital, Guadalupe Rebollo said a holiday in Spain with her 15-year-old daughter is a better deal than one on the beach in her native Mexico.

The Rebollos are part of a record surge in foreign visitors to Spain that is helping its economy outperform European peers and create jobs at a rapid rate.

However, it is also straining services such as housing and transport and stirring resentment among locals.

Today's News in 90 seconds - 11th June 2024

How to make the boom sustainable and share its benefits more widely are the tasks facing Spain's decision-makers, and some of them think driving tourism upmarket is the way forward.

But for the Rebollo family from Mexico, affordability is one of the factors that makes Spain so attractive, along with its cultural highlights.

Rebollo, 45, said their recent vacation at home had cost them the equivalent of 2,500.

"Here we are going to spend a little more than that, but getting to know other countries, paying for plane tickets and tours," she said. "The truth is that it is very good value for money."

Millions of other visitors agree and the tourism surge has helped put Spain, long the laggard among Europe's big economies, into the lead, now outperforming the wider 20-country euro zone, which grew a scant 0.3pc in the first quarter of 2024 compared to Spain's 0.7pc.

While France cut its 2024 growth forecast and Germany only just skirted a recession, held back by a dependence on industry and a vulnerability to fluctuations in commodity prices and geopolitical tensions, Spain expects its economy to grow 2pc this year.

Expansion is being driven by growth in services as well as public and private consumption fuelled by job growth, said Angel Talavera, head of European economics at Oxford Economics.

Tourism accounted for 71pc of real growth in the Spanish economy last year, according to tourism lobby group Exceltur. Consumption by non-residents accounted for nearly a third of Spain's 2.5pc growth in 2023, according to BBVA.

But many Spaniards feel they are not reaping the benefits, and the driver of Spain's success is increasingly being met with protests.

Tourism protests in Santa Cruz de Tenerife on April 20, 2024. Photo: REUTERS/Borja Suarez

"It is true that we are going like gangbusters, but this phenomenon must be managed," Tourism Minister Jordi Hereu said on May 8. "We are not going to ban people from coming to Spain, but we can put limits on the tourist offer."

Recently, locals have protested against tourism models in Mallorca and the Balearic Islands, as well as the Canary Islands.

Measures are already being taken, with local governments placing limits on new holiday home permits.

In Barcelona, local authorities asked for a bus route to be removed from smartphone apps to the popular tourist destination Park Guell because the service was saturated.

Nor are Spaniards getting the feel-good factor from the boom. An April survey by the Spanish Sociological Research Centre found that although 60pc of Spaniards acknowledged that their personal economic situation was "good", 59pc also said the situation in the country was "bad" or "very bad".

Cheaper wages are drawing investment in new hotels, which are opening at a rate of one every four days, allowing Spain to overtake the UK this year as the most attractive country in Europe for hospitality investors, according to CBRE.

Antonio Catalan, president of AC Hotels, Marriott's partner in Spain, said his hotels had seen a 17pc rise in foreign visitors in the first quarter who were spending 27pc more, due mainly to higher room rates.

"Spain is under-priced and has too many customers," he said.

A record 85 million people visited in 2023 and that upward trend continued in the first quarter of this year, with visitor numbers growing nearly 18pc to 16.1 million, although that may have been boosted by Easter falling within the period this year.

Those who come are spending more, thanks in part to efforts to develop the luxury market, which some regions see as a solution to overtourism.

Visitors to Spain last year spent 109 billion versus 63.5 billion in France as tourists flexed their credit cards in restaurants and designer stores.

Foreign tourist spending grew by 27pc in the first quarter from a year earlier.

Tourism has also helped boost job growth, with unemployment falling to a 16-year low even as immigration helps fill vacancies in the services sector.

The sector created 197,630 more jobs in the first quarter compared to last year, representing one out of every four jobs created during the period, according to Turespana, the state-run agency that promotes Spanish tourism.

Those new jobs are helping to boost private consumption to complement spending by tourists.

But Oxford Economics' Talavera warned Spain's economic boom was not sustainable. "Tourism cannot grow at this rate permanently, nor can public spending continue its expansion," he said.

Rebollo and her daughter, meanwhile, planned to spend two weeks in Europe, including a few days in France, "but we'll spend more time in Spain because we've noticed it isn't expensive and Paris is," she said.
With billions going to the polls this year, we cannot afford to disregard the importance of keeping a lid on the lies

'The truth is out there but so are the lies.' Photo: Getty

Separating the truth from the lies on social media will be a defining challenge of our time. It has meaningful, real-world repercussions and, frankly, history will not remember us well if we continue to downplay the significance of the threat of misinformation.

Not only this, but as AI and deep-fake technology become more powerful and more accessible, the problem is going to get worse.

Back when I worked at Twitter, in the days before Elon Musks takeover and self-consciously edgy and embarrassing X rebrand, we took the threat of misinformation incredibly seriously. I worked on Twitters curation team during multiple elections, including in the UK and the US, and through the first two years of the pandemic. I saw how false information spreads quickly and is believed easily, and how difficult it is to stop it travelling once it starts.

We worked with Reuters and the Associated Press to debunk rapidly growing and unreliable stories. We coined the term pre-bunk for identifying likely misinformation before it spread. Misleading posts were labelled once they reached a certain influence threshold.

We all knew this was mission critical, because Twitter punches above its weight in terms of influence on the news agenda and public conversation  thats why Musk became so invested. We all wanted to make it safer. Better. A force for good.

The curation team  my team  was among the first to be cut in Musks new regime. In his first weeks, and, in my view, with a lack of subtlety, grace or much sense, he undid years of work; wiping out or reducing those areas of the company that dealt with misinformation and community moderation, disbanding the Trust and Safety team, and unbanning accounts previously sanctioned for spreading harmful lies.

Since then, the EU has found that X is the social media platform with the highest disinformation rate. As Miah Hammond-Errey, the director of the Emerging Technology Program at the United States Studies Centre at the University of Sydney said last year: Few recent actions have done more to make a social media platform safe for disinformation, extremism, and authoritarian regime propaganda than the changes to Twitter since its purchase by Elon Musk.

Those services Musk cut are needed more than ever. Just last week, British prme minister Rishi Sunak, during a televised debate with Keir Starmer, repeatedly mentioned a supposed 2,000 tax hike under a Labour government. The next day, it was debunked by several sources  but Conservative ministers keep using it.

Why? Because 2,000 is a big, simple, shareable story. It will travel far faster than the debunks, written by careful journalists with painstaking attentiuon to detail.

Its not just a right-wing issue. When a protester threw a milkshake over Nigel Farage in Clacton last week, rumours swirled within hours that the whole thing was a false-flag stunt, and that the attacker was a Farage supporter. Five days later, screengrabs proving the milkshaking was staged are still circulating.

"In 2018, an MIT study showed that false stories are 70pc more likely to be shared and reach a wide audience six times faster than real ones

Why? Because Were wired to share shocking or gossipy information, and lies are usually more interesting than the boring old truth.

In 2018, an MIT study showed that false stories are 70pc more likely to be shared and reach a wide audience six times faster than real ones. I can absolutely believe it. Weve all seen fake news spread. Weve all had the clueless relative on Facebook sharing easily disproved infographic JPGs about vaccines or the true environmental impact of electric vehicles, with no source, and weve seen that same image then pop up again and again across our social bubbles.

False information online is a deadly problem, and its going to get worse.

Open AIs Sora app, for example, which is launching later this year, will allow users to manipulate video to add elements or change a location, creating seamless proof of pretty much anything they want. With video-based TikTok a key election battleground this year, the potential for turbo-charging fake news is terrifying.

Social networks are trying to combat this, to a greater and (in Musks case) lesser extent, and we need to help them  features such as Xs Community Notes are a start, though its painfully little in comparison to what the platform used to have.

Fact-checking from reputable journalistic sources such as BBC Verify or Full Fact help too, though those stories spread far slower than the lies they debunk.

We need to help. We need to do our bit. Report obvious misinformation. Think before you share. Check sources. Take this seriously. Because the truth is out there but so are the lies.
A Go Fund Me page has been set up for the strong and vibrant young woman as her medical bills continue to soar

Tasha Keane suffered a severe head injury after she fell from two stories high on a yacht in Dubai.

The young woman is currently in hospital in Dubai receiving treatment for a head injury and lacerations on her liver.

As the medical bills continue to soar, Tashas family have set up a Go Fund Me page to help cover Tashas medical expenses.

"We are reaching out to you with heavy hearts and an urgent request for help. Our beloved sister, Tasha, recently experienced a devastating accident while on a yacht in Dubai, explained Tashas sister Roisin Keane, on the Go Fund Me page.

She fell from two stories high and suffered a severe head injury. Tasha is currently in a hospital in Dubai, fighting hard to recover. There is lacerations on her liver so she is currently being monitored.

The medical bills have already reached 10,000, and they continue to climb as she requires more medical attention and support. Our family is doing everything we can, but we need your help to ensure Tasha gets the care she needs.

Today's News in 90 seconds - 11th June 2024

Roisin added: We are kindly asking for donations to help cover Tasha's medical expenses in Dubai no matter how small, will make a huge difference in her journey towards healing.

Tasha is a strong and vibrant person, and with your support, we believe she can overcome this challenging time. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers, and if you can, donate to help Tasha get the medical care she desperately needs.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your generosity and support, she concluded.

To donate to the Donate to help Tasha GoFundMe please click here
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.
After playing in Malahide last year, The Killers are back in Dublin for three shows this week.

The Mr Brightside hitmakers are kicking off their Rebel Diamonds Tour with three nights at the 3Arena on Wednesday, June 12, Friday, June 14 and Saturday, June 15.

The Rebel Diamonds album and tour will celebrate the bands 20 years of hits and features at least one track from each of the bands seven studio albums.

Heres everything you need to know ahead of the upcoming gigs in Dublin.

Are there any tickets left?

Tickets to all three Dublin gigs this week are sold out, but fans still have a chance to see the band live. Resale tickets for all three shows are available on Ticketmaster, starting at 70.

Who is the opening act?

Scottish rock band Travis will support all three gigs at the 3Arena this week.

When do doors open?

Doors at the 3Arena will open each night at 6.30pm. Travis begin their support set at 7.50pm, with The Killers taking the stage at 9pm. All times are subject to change, so fans should arrive early.

The Killers are celebrating 20 years of hits

What songs will they perform?

The Killers are hitting the road to promote their new compilation album, Rebel Diamonds, celebrating 20 years of hits. Heres a recent setlist from their Boston gig to give fans an idea of what to expect:

1. On Top

2. Spaceman

3. The Way It Was

4. Smile Like You Mean It

5. Shot at the Night

6. The Man

7. Somebody Told Me

8. From Here on Out (Acoustic)

9. Runaways

10. Read My Mind

11. Your Side of Town

12. boy

13. A Little Respect (Erasure cover)

14. Human

15. Mr. Brightside

16. Lightning Fields

17. All These Things That Ive Done

18. When You Were Young

19. Caution

How do I get to the 3Arena?

Traveling to 3Arena couldnt be easier. Situated in the heart of Dublins docklands, it is very well served by public transport.

Irish Rail Dart or inter-city services will bring you to Connolly or Heuston Station, from where you can hop on the Luas straight to the 3Arena.

There are extra trams on show nights to cater for the large numbers travelling to and from the venue. A full schedule and live information are available on www.luas.ie.

Dublin Bus offers a high frequency and accessible service from all over Dublin to within a 20-minute walk of the 3Arena.

The 151 route runs every 10 minutes during rush hour and will leave you on Castleforbes Road, the closest stop to the venue, just a two-minute walk away. The last bus departs Castleforbes Road at 23.15pm Monday to Saturday.

For anyone driving, there is limited car parking available in The Point Village car park, but this car park is not run by 3Arena.

With large numbers gathering on show nights traffic congestion can delay your arrival and departure so its encouraged to use public transport where possible.

What else should I be aware of?

3Arena is a fully cashless venue and the maximum bag size limit is 40cm x 40cm x 20cm. Large rucksacks, luggage or oversized bags are not permitted. Under-16s to be accompanied by an adult and standing is strictly over-14s.
News that the business was to close came to light in recent days.

There is a wide-spread shock and sadness at the closure of the well-known Harringtons Bakery, which supplies freshly baked products to a host of local shops.

The reason for its closure is not known, and the company declined to comment on the situation when contacted.

The Kerryman understands that up to 12 jobs could be lost with the closure of the bakery, which is located in Kenmare and has a long and established history in the area. Most homes in the area would have a loaf of Harringtons bread in its kitchen.

The family-run business was established in 1995 and has continued to grow over the years. In 2020, when Larkins Bakery closed its doors, it took over many of its products. It set up after Moriartys Bakery closed and began at the Harrington family home.

Due to its growth, it is now based in Gortamullen Business Park in Kenmare, in a purpose-built bakery.

The company is especially renowned for its Brack.

The shocking news that the business was to close came to light in recent days.

Independent Cllr Dan McCarthy said that its closure is a huge blow to the region. He worked for the company as a breadman for many years and was with the company when it set up.

"It is a huge blow. It is a loss to the area for both its product and its employment," he said.
Tim Lucey, CEO of Greyhound Racing Ireland presenting Dan Quirke, Founder Dillon Quirke Foundation with a cheque of 10,000. Also included in the photo are Joshua Enright & Mia Forrestal of Greyhound Racing Ireland.

Tim Lucey, CEO of Greyhound Racing Ireland presenting Dan Quirke, Founder Dillon Quirke Foundation with a cheque of 10,000 raised at the Jerseys At The Dogs Nationwide Bucket Collection hosted at greyhound stadia nationwide in April.

The foundation was established in honour of Dillon, who collapsed during a hurling match and passed away of SADS on the 5th August 2022 in Semple Stadium, Thurles. Sudden Adult Death Syndrome (SADS) claims 100 young lives each year in Ireland and the foundation was created with the aim of raising awareness and setting up a screening programme which will screen every player (both male and female) from 12 years of age upwards.

The Jerseys At The Dogs Nationwide Bucket Collection event involved the participation of eleven greyhound stadiums across Ireland, including Enniscorthy. The collection was held over the week of the 1st  7th April with greyhound racing fans and staff encouraged to wear their club or county jerseys in honour of Dillon and to donate what they could at the turnstiles.

Dan Quirke expressed gratitude on behalf of the Dillon Quirke Foundation, saying, We are deeply appreciative of Greyhound Racing Irelands support. The funds raised will go a long way in furthering our mission and ensuring Dillons legacy lives on.

The funds were presented at Limerick Greyhound Stadium by Tim Lucey, CEO of Greyhound Racing Ireland, to Dan Quirke, representing the Dillon Quirke Foundation.

Tim Lucey commented, We are immensely proud to support the Dillon Quirke Foundation. The participation and generosity from all the stadia involved demonstrate the strong sense of community within the greyhound racing world. We hope these funds will help the foundation continue its important cardiac screening work of young GAA players nationwide and continue to honour Dillons memory.
The conference was by Education and Training Boards Ireland (ETBI), and attendees heard how three primary schools in Cork, Kerry and Limerick that were formerly under the patronage of the Catholic Church will reopen this September as multi-denominational CNSs. The three schools will all now fall under the patronage of their local Education and Training Board (ETB).

These three new schools will bring the total number of CNSs nationwide to 32. Delegates at the ETBI conference heard, however, that a much higher number of CNSs are needed to serve Irelands increasingly diverse population. The latest Census shows less than 70pc of the population now identify as Catholic  but almost 90pc of primary schools fall under the patronage of the Catholic Church.

To adapt to changing demographics, the Government has a commitment of having 400 multi-denominational primary schools operating across Ireland by 2030. Currently, out of 3,116 primary schools in total, only 152 are multidenominational, including the Community National Schools run by ETBs.
As part of the annual Bloomsday celebrations, Donal Magner and Brendan Lacey will present a talk on Sunday, June 16 in Avondale, Rathdrum on James Joyce's approach to trees and forestry in Ulysses.

Arboreal reality and fantasy  from Barney Kiernan's Pub to Avondale shows that Joyce was well aware of what was happening at the time to restore Ireland's forest resource, not just in Ulysses but also in an essay written on Home Rule in Trieste in 1907.

Trees are repeatedly referenced in Ulysses, often reflecting the parlous nature of Irish forestry in 1904 when forest cover had fallen to almost one per cent of the land area. Written by Donal Magner, the talk explores Joyces awareness of forest decline in Ulysses and transposes the narrative to what was actually happening to rescue Irelands vastly depleted forests at the time.

"While the customers in Barney Kiernans public house in Dublin were bemoaning the decline of Irish forests in the Cyclops episode of Ulysses, work was being carried out in Avondale house and estate to establish the first forestry school and tree species trial by the State," said Magner.

"The role of the State is vital in the creation of a viable forestry programme especially after the devastating storm of 1903, which felled many of the remaining trees in Ireland. Joyce writes about the cyclone as he called it and its damage especially to trees in the Phoenix Park.

"Professor John Nisbet of the West of Scotland Agriculture College was shocked at the damage caused by the storm and when he delivered his report  commissioned by the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction  he made an important and visionary proposal, which would shape Irish forest policy for the rest of the century. Nisbet said that if the afforestation of Ireland "be a duty at all, it is the duty of the State and not of the private landowner.

The cry to Save the trees of Ireland, by the citizen in Barney Kiernan's pub was being met in reality as the first tentative steps to restore Irelands forests were being taken, which the talk explores.

Donal and Brendan will discuss the uncertain narrative of Irish forestry leading up to 1922, when Ulysses was published as Ireland emerged from the ravages of the Civil War. The story is brought up-to-date in the Meeting House, Avondale on Sunday close to Coilltes Beyond the Trees experience and the ancestral home of Charles Stewart Parnell often referred to as the cradle of Irish forestry. Here home-grown conifers are use to create the award winning Seed Cafe, tree canopy walk and viewing tower.

The talk takes place at 11am on Sunday, June 16, and admission is free, though visitors are required to pay a 5 parking charge at the venue.
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
Photo courtesy: File image from Facebook/Mark Cuban

New York/IBNS: Renowned entrepreneur and investor on the popular TV show Shark Tank , Mark Cuban, has revealed how 300 of the 330 employees of his audio streaming service Broadcast.com were turned into millionaires, highlighting the practice of sharing profits with employees following company sales.

Mark Cuban, in a recent post on X (formerly Twitter), shared that 300 of the 330 employees at Broadcast.com became millionaires when the company was sold to Yahoo for $5.7 billion in stock in 1999.

"In every business I have sold, I have paid out bonuses to every employee that was there more than a year," the entrepreneur stated, extending this approach beyond Broadcast.com.

In every business I've sold I've paid out bonuses to every employee that was there more than a year. https://t.co/02NdL9a41q, 300 out of 330 employees became millionaires. Microsolutions, I paid out 20 pct to our 80 employees. HDNet wasn't as big , but paid out about 20pct https://t.co/hTvCZnVvUF  Mark Cuban (@mcuban) June 5, 2024

Further elaborating this approach, Cuban said that he had distributed a portion of the proceeds to employees at MicroSolutions and HDNet, which is now known as AXS TV.

These sales were not accompanied by layoffs, demonstrating a commitment to employee well-being beyond financial rewards, as per reports.

According to a CNBC report, Cuban's entrepreneurial journey started with software firm MicroSolutions, which he sold to CompuServe for $6 million in 1990.

Following the sale, the entrepreneur reportedly distributed 20 percent of the proceeds among his 80 employees, which resulted in an approximate $15,000 windfall for each employee, if the money was divided equally.
Iqra Hasan won from Kairana Lok Sabha seat on Samajwadi Party ticket. Image: Wikipedia CC

The results of Lok Sabha elections 2024 have come and they have shown why the democratic system is the most beautiful form of electoral politics.

How it gives representation to every section of the society, no matter what caste, class or religion they belong to.

The poll results have thrown a pleasant surprise with the people giving a chance to progressive women from the minorities too, especially from the Muslim community.

This election saw a huge upheaval in the country's most populous state Uttar Pradesh.

One of the most interesting wins came from Kairana Lok Sabha seat, where Samajwadi Party made 29-year-old Iqra Hasan its candidate. Iqra emerged victorious by defeating BJP's Pradeep Kumar by 69,116 votes.

Iqra's family has been in politics for the last 40 years. Her grandfather Akht Hasan had contested elections from Kairana in 1984 on a Congress ticket and won and became an MP. He had defeated BSP supremo Mayawati. At that time Mayawati was contesting Lok Sabha elections for the first time. Later, her father Munawwar Hasan carried forward the family's political legacy and was elected MP on Samajwadi Party ticket in 1996. He died in a road accident in 2008.

After the death of Munawwar Hasan, his wife Tabassum Hasan won the election from Kairana Lok Sabha seat on BSP ticket in 2009. Tabassum also emerged victorious in the by-election held after the death of BJP MP Hukum Singh in 2018.

Iqra's elder brother Nahid Hasan is a three-time MLA. He contested and won the assembly elections from jail in the year 2022.

The arrest of her elder brother under the Gangster Act became the turning point in Iqra's life and she took the responsibility of ensuring her brother's victory in the elections.

Iqra Hassan has studied from Queen Mary School, New Delhi. She has obtained a post-graduate degree in International Politics from Lady Shri Ram College for Women, Delhi University. Apart from this, she has also studied law from SOAS University of London.

Iqra says that after her father's death, there were changes in politics and communal issues became the biggest ones. With Iqra getting a total of 5 lakh 28 thousand 13 votes in the election and becoming one of the youngest MPs, she now shoulders the hopes and aspirations of lakhs of youth in her constituency and also emerges as a role model for millions.

Similar is the case of Sajda Ahmed, the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) candidate from Uluberia Lok Sabha constituency in West Bengal. Sajda gave a crushing defeat to BJP's Arun Udaypal Chaudhary.

Sajda Ahmed captured 7 lakh 24 thousand 622 votes, while Arun Udaypal Chaudhary got 5 lakh 5 thousand 949 votes. Sajda Malik had also defeated BJP's Joy Banerjee in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

Sajda Ahmed retained the Uluberia Lok Sabha seat on TMC ticket. Image: Official Facebook

62-year-old Sajda Ahmed obtained her graduation degree from Calcutta University in 1983.

After this he supported his father Sultan Ahmed and took over his inheritance.

After the death of her father, Sajda Ahmed won the Lok Sabha elections for the first time by winning the by-election held in 2018 and since then she has retained the Uluberia Lok Sabha seat.

Sajda Ahmed is the widow of Sultan Ahmed, the former two-time MP from Uluberia, and prominent Muslim face of the TMC who died of cardiac arrest on September 4, 2017.

Long back, my husband had wanted me to join politics. But I had declined. There were already two politicians in the family and I had my kids to groom. I might not have campaigned, but I have been like a shadow for my husband, during his 30 years of political career. So many years down the line, today, when I will be contesting this election, in a way will be fulfilling his wish, Sajda had said during an interview before filing the nomination.

The induction of such progressive women in the Parliament will certainly boost the interest of the minorities and certainly boost Indias image in the world as being the most diverse democracy.
Photo courtesy: Representational Image | Courtesy: IBNS File

Kolkata/IBNS: A teacher of a Kolkata law college resigned after she was allegedly asked to refrain from wearing hijab while taking classes, prompting the educational institution to issue a clarification, media reports said.

Sanjida Qadar, who was the teacher at LJD Law College affiliated to the University of Calcutta, alleged the college order "offended" her "values and religious sentiments".

Qadar, who has been wearing hijab from March-April this year, stopped taking college from June 5, a few days after the order was reportedly issued.

In a clarification, the college said no such order was issued and it was a "miscommunication".

The institution has also requested the teacher to resume taking classes.

However, Qadar is reluctant to resume taking her classes.
Photo courtesy: Wikimedia commons

New Delhi/IBNS: The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued notice to the National Testing Agency or NTA hearing on the plea seeking cancellation of National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET)-UG 2024, media reports said.

The pleas have been filed over the allegations of leakage of question papers.

The top court has, however, refused to stay the ongoing counselling process for admission of selected candidates.

Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah told the NTA counsel as quoted by The Indian Express, "Its not so simple that because you have done it (conducted the exam), its sacrosanct. We need answers for thatThe sanctity has been affected. So we need answers."

Justice Vikram Nath said, " Let the counselling start. We are not stopping the counselling."

In their plea, the students said as quoted by The Indian Express, "After having stumbled upon news of the NEET exam paper leak they have been shaken at the core.

"Since the breaking of news on the NEET exam paper leak, the Petitioners are under tremendous stress and anxiety  their family members nurtured the dream of Petitioners becoming a medical practitioner one day."

The Calcutta High Court has sought a response from the National Testing Agency (NTA) over a PIL filed alleging irregularities in the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET), the test for entry into medical colleges.

The petitioners have argued candidates had no scope to get marks like 718 or 719 as per the marking system.

Noting NTA's reason for granting such grace marks to the examinees, the division of the high court has asked the agency for a response to the allegations.

A writ petition was filed in the Delhi High Court challenging the grace marks awarded to the examinees by the NTA.

The vacation bench of the Delhi High Court has asked the agency for a stand on the petition.

In this year's examination, it is alleged that two of the options given for a question appeared to be correct, contrary to the instruction that only one option would be correct.

Following the allegations, the NTA went ahead with granting grace marks to all those who had opted for one of the two correct answers.
Photo courtesy: X/@ncbn

Vijayawada/IBNS: Ahead of his oath-taking ceremony, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister-designate N Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday declared his government will make Amaravati as the state capital, media reports said.

"Amaravati will be the capital of our state. We will aim to develop the entire state, not just a few places," Naidu as quoted by The Indian Express..

Naidu, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief, made the announcement during the NDA meeting held in Vijayawada.

YSRCP chief Jagan Mohan Reddy, who is set to be succeeded by Naidu, had proposed an idea of decentralised development in the state.

Reddy as the Chief Minister floated the idea of making Amaravati as the legislative capital, Visakhapatnam as the administrative capital and Kurnool as the judicial capital.

Taking a dig at the former Chief Minister, Naidu said the voters have responded by defeating YSRCP in Visakhapatnam.

The TDP chief has been unanimously elected as the leader of the coalition, which swept the recently concluded assembly elections.

The TDP, Jana Sena Party and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which are in an alliance, have bagged 135, 21, 8 seats. YSRCP, which came to power in 2019, won only 11 seats.

Naidu will take oath as the Chief Minister on June 12. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the supreme leader of the BJP, will attend the oath-taking ceremony.
Photo courtesy: X/@JaiTDP

Vijayawada/IBNS: Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief N Chandrababu Naidu was on Tuesday unanimously elected as the leader of the ruling coalition, NDA, in Andhra Pradesh.

Naidu will take oath to become the Chief Minister on Wednesday.

Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan proposed Naidu's name as the NDA leader. All members of the coalition, which swept the recently concluded assembly elections, agreed to it.

After getting elected as the NDA leader, Naidu said, "Thank you for electing me as the leader of the legislative party.

Also, kudos to the people who gave the verdict which has never been given in the history of the state."

During the NDA meeting, Naidu declared his government will make Amaravati as the state capital, media reports said.

"Amaravati will be the capital of our state. We will aim to develop the entire state, not just a few places," Naidu as quoted by The Indian Express..

YSRCP chief Jagan Mohan Reddy, who is set to be succeeded by Naidu, had proposed an idea of decentralised development in the state.

Reddy as the Chief Minister floated the idea of making Amaravati as the legislative capital, Visakhapatnam as the administrative capital and Kurnool as the judicial capital.

Taking a dig at the former Chief Minister, Naidu said the voters have responded by defeating YSRCP in Visakhapatnam.

The TDP chief has been unanimously elected as the leader of the coalition, which swept the recently concluded assembly elections.

The TDP, Jana Sena Party and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which are in an alliance, have bagged 135, 21, 8 seats. YSRCP, which came to power in 2019, won only 11 seats.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the supreme leader of the BJP, will attend the oath-taking ceremony.
Photo Courtesy: PIB

Taiwan 's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday said it wants to establish closer mutually beneficial cooperation with India, a country which recently elected new members of its Parliament.

Indian PM Narendra Modi took oath for the record-equalling third straight term.

India is a key target country for Taiwans New Southbound Policy, MOFA said as quoted by Taiwan News.

Taiwan wants to promote bilateral cooperation in trade and semiconductor technology, which will facilitate peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region, the ministry added.

Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te congratulated Indian PM Narendra Modi on his Lok Sabha election victory and said he is looking forward to expanding the fast-growing relationship between the two nations.

He posted on X: "My sincere congratulations to Prime Minister @narendramodi

on his election victory. We look forward to enhancing the fast-growing #Taiwan-#India partnership, expanding our collaboration on trade, technology & other sectors to contribute to peace & prosperity in the #IndoPacific."

Indian PM Narendra Modi returned for the third term after registering a victory in the Lok Sabha polls despite a strong fight from the opposition alliance named INDIA.
Photo courtesy: File Photo/ IBNS

Srinagar: Two days after nine people died when the bus they were travelling in was shot at by terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir's Raesi district, a person was killed and two others were reportedly injured as terrorists opened fire in a village in the Union Territory's Kathua district, close to the International Border. A terrorist has also been killed.

In a post on X, Union Minister Jitendra Singh, who is the MP from Udhampur, said, "I am in continuous online contact with DC (district collector) #Kathua Sh Rakesh Minhas in the wake of a terrorist attack on a house in village Saida in Hiranagar sector close to the International Border. I am also in touch with SSP Kathua Sh Anayat Ali Choudhary who is on the spot."

I am in continuous online contact with DC #Kathua Sh Rakesh Minhas in the wake of terrorist attack on a house in village Saida in Hiranagar sector close to the International Border. I am also in touch with SSP Kathua Sh Anayat Ali Choudhary who is on the spot. The owner of

1/2  Dr Jitendra Singh (@DrJitendraSingh) June 11, 2024

"The owner of the house that was attacked (name not to be disclosed) is also in touch on mobile phone. Joint police & para military operation is going on. One terrorist neutralised so far. I and my office are in constant touch and keeping a close watch on the development," he added.

After the terrorists opened fire in Saida village, a joint operation was launched by security forces to track them down, and one of the attackers was killed.

This is the second attack in Jammu in three days. On Sunday, nine people were killed and 33 injured after a bus carrying pilgrims was attacked by terrorists and plunged into a gorge.

The bus was on its way to the Shiv Khori cave temple when the attackers opened fire.

Efforts are on to trace the terrorists who, officials said, carried out the attack on the directions of Lashkar-e-Taiba commander Abu Hamza,

What is worrying security forces and the establishment is that the attacks have taken place in areas that were known to be free of terrorism. There has been information for some time, however, that Jammu was high on the radar of terrorists.
Photo courtesy: Wikimedia Commons

New Delhi/IBNS: The Indian Army is set to get a new chief with the government announcing that Lt General Upendra Dwivedi will take over as the Chief of the Army Staff from General Manoj C Pande on June 30.

Lt General Dwivedi, who has been decorated with the Param Vishisht Seva Medal and the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, is currently the Vice Chief of the Army Staff and will take charge on the afternoon of June 30, the day General Pande demits office.

Born in 1964, Lt General Dwivedi was commissioned into the Jammu & Kashmir Rifles, an infantry regiment of the Indian Army on Dec 15, 1984.

In his 40 years of service, he has held a wide variety of roles. His Command appointments include Command of Regiment (18 Jammu & Kashmir Rifles), Brigade (26 Sector Assam Rifles), DIG, Assam Rifles (East) and 9 Corps, a government release said on Tuesday.

As Lt General, Mr Dwivedi has held important posts, including those of Director General Infantry and General Officer Commanding in Chief of the Northern Command from 2022 to 2024, before being appointed the Vice Chief of the Army Staff.

Having studied at the Sainik School Rewa, National Defence College and US Army War College, Lt General Upendra Dwivedi has also undergone courses at the DSSC Wellington and Army War College, Mhow. He was conferred 'Distinguished Fellow' in the coveted NDC equivalent course at the US Army War College in Carlisle.

The officer has an M Phil in Defence And Management Studies and two Master's Degrees in Strategic Studies and Military Science. He has also been decorated with three GOC-in-C Commendation Cards.

General Pande, who was scheduled to retire at the end of May, was given a one-month extension of service. He was appointed the Army chief on April 30, 2022.
Photo Courtesy: Jason Shah Instagram page

Director Sanjay Leela Bhansali has been in the news ever since his OTT debut series Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar released last month amid positive reviews and audience response but actor Jason Shah has now revealed that the set of the show lacked basic human kindness.

Shah, who earned accolades from movie buffs for his performance as antagonist British cop Alastair Cartwright, told NDTV that the atmosphere on set was fraught with "stress".

"I found it to be lacking just simple niceties of human nature. I wasn't introduced to many people over there, which I found very odd and a little confusing. Then I started to think that since I play the villain, they want me to be angry and disconnected from everybody. But for me, being connected to a human being on set never boils over into my character. I definitely felt a little bit out of place, but I guess you just keep on going with the flow of things," he told the Indian news channel.

Speaking on his first meeting with director Bhansali, he said: "I was sitting inside one of the rooms in his office. I had the script in my hand, and that's when he came in and started nonchalantly looking through a cupboard. He then looked over and said a very silent, Hi.' It wasn't an introduction of sorts. I realised later that he had come to see me to check if the guy that he chose would be able to carry it off.

Shah is a British actor and fitness model.

He has participated in the 10th season of the reality show Bigg Boss as a wildcard entrant, and played Captain Hugh Ross in Jhansi Ki Rani on Colors TV.

He also played the role of Sir John Greenwood in Barrister Babu.

Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar

Directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar was released on Netflix in 2024 amid positive reviews.

The series is about the lives of tawaifs in the red-light district of Heera Mandi in Lahore during the Indian independence movement against the British Raj.

It stars Manisha Koirala, Sonakshi Sinha, Aditi Rao Hydari, Richa Chadha, Sanjeeda Sheikh, Sharmin Segal Mehta and Taha Shah Badussha.
Photo Courtesy: UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe

The UN Security Council on Monday adopted a resolution aimed at reaching a comprehensive ceasefire deal in three phases to end the war in Gaza, with US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield telling members "today, we voted for peace."

The United States-drafted text calls for Hamas to accept a ceasefire proposal announced on 31 May by President Joe Biden that has already been accepted by Israel.

Adopted by a large majority with 14 votes in favour and Russia abstaining - choosing not to exercise its veto power - the resolution also urges both parties to fully implement the terms of the proposal without delay and without condition.

Russia's Permanent Representative told the Council after the vote there was a lack of clarity over what exactly Israel had signed up to in the resolution, leaving too many questions unanswered for Moscow to offer its support.

'Durable end' to the war in sight

President Biden described the deal as not just a ceasefire that would inevitably be fragile and temporary" but one that would provide a "durable end to the war.

He added that the terms of the deal had been transmitted by Qatar to the leadership of Hamas.

Signaling a hopeful shift in diplomacy, the US-led initiative brought both Israel and the Palestinian mission on board, avoiding the vetoes from permanent members  including the US itself  which have stalled action on several of the resolutions which have failed to pass since the 7 October terror attacks and kidnappings began the cycle of violence.

Three-phase approach

The motion envisages a three phase approach to ensure a lasting and comprehensive end to the fighting.

Phase one includes an immediate, full, and complete ceasefire with the release of hostages including women, the elderly and the wounded, the return of the remains of some hostages who have been killed, and the exchange of Palestinian prisoners.

It calls for the withdrawal of Israeli forces from populated areas of Gaza, the return of Palestinians to their homes and neighbourhoods throughout the enclave, including in the north, as well as the safe and effective distribution of humanitarian assistance at scale.

Permanent end to hostilities

Phase two would see a permanent end to hostilities in exchange for the release of all other hostages still in Gaza, and a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.

In phase three, a major multi-year reconstruction plan for Gaza would begin and the remains of any deceased hostages still in the Strip would be returned to Israel.

The Council also underlined the proposals provision that if negotiations take longer than six weeks for phase one, the ceasefire will continue as long as negotiations continue.

No territorial change

In the resolution, the Security Council rejects any attempt at demographic or territorial change in the Gaza Strip, including any actions that reduce the territory of the enclave.

The text also reiterates the Councils unwavering commitment to the vision of the two-State solution where two democratic States, Israel and Palestine, live side by side in peace within secure and recognized borders consistent with international law and relevant UN resolutions.

In this regard stresses the importance of unifying the Gaza Strip with the West Bank under the Palestinian Authority, the resolution added.

Hamas must accept deal: US

The fighting could stop today if Hamas agrees to the deal now endorsed by the Security Council, said US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield.

Hamas should now see clearly that the international community is united, united behind a deal that will save lives and help Palestinian civilians in Gaza start to rebuild and heal. United behind a deal that will reunite hostages with their families after eight months in captivity.

Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield said there was now an opportunity to chart a new course and the US will help ensure that Israel lives up to its obligations, assuming that Hamas accepts the deal.

Today is the fourth Security Council resolution making clear that the only way to end the cycle of violence is through a political settlement", she added.

Algeria: Palestinian lives matter

Algerian Ambassador Amar Bendjama said that his compatriots deeply feel the suffering of Palestinians and with their own history of struggle against colonial occupation, fully understand and support the Palestinian peoples legitimate and just demands.

As a free and dignified people, the Palestinians will never accept living under occupation. They will never abdicate their fight for liberation, he said.

Stressing that Algerias sole guiding principle has been to save Palestinian lives, he said that his country cannot remain silent in the face of collective punishment against Palestinian people.

Palestinian lives matter, he stressed.

He said Algeria voted in favour of the draft because it represents a step towards an immediate and lasting ceasefire. This text is not perfect, but it offers a glimmer of hope to the Palestinians as the alternative is continued killing and suffering...We voted for this text to give diplomacy a chance", he added.

It is time to halt the killing.

Permanent ceasefire is key: China

Chinas Ambassador Fu Cong said they have voted in favour of the resolution but there needs to be a permanent ceasefire which has been at the core of the international communitys concerns.

Ending the bombardment and offensive is also the most pressing need for civilians under fire in Gaza.

He stressed that all Security Council resolutions are binding, and todays must be no different.

All resolutions have to be implemented in an efficient and constructive way, he added.

Russia: No clarity to so-called deal

Russian Ambassador and Permanent Representative Vassily Nebenzia said his country had abstained due to several outstanding concerns.

From the very outset of the military escalation, we have consistently and unwaveringly advocated for the imperative for a permanent ceasefire regime, including in order to release the hostages and remedy the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, he said.

We have a whole of host of questions about the American draft resolution, whereby the Council welcomes some deal  the ultimate outlines of which are not known to anyone perhaps except the mediators, he said.

Although the resolution calls on Hamas to accept the so called deal there is no clarity on the official agreement of Israel as it is written in the resolution.

Noting the public statements of Israeli leaders indicating that the war would continue until Hamas is completely defeated, he asked what specifically has Israel agreed to?

The parameters of this deal are vague and the Council should not be signing up to it, he added.

Israel: War aims unchanged

The Representative of Israel Reut Shapir Ben Naftaly said her countrys goals have been very clear since the first few days following 7 October: To bring all our hostages back home and to dismantle Hamas capabilitiesand ensure that Gaza does not pose a threat to Israel in the future.

As we have echoed several times in this very chamber, once these goals are met, the war will end, she added, noting that 120 hostages remain in captivity and that Hamas continues firing rockets at Israeli towns and cities.

She called for more pressure on Hamas, stating that although three resolutions have been adopted by the Security Council calling for hostages to be released, none have been freed as a result.

The pressure on the terrorists should have begun long ago but it is still not too late, it must begin now, she added.

We will continue until all of the hostages are returned and until Hamas military and governing capabilities are dismantled, she said.

Israel will not engage in meaningless and endless negotiations which can be exploited by Hamas as a means to stall for time, she added.
Photo courtesy: IBNS File

New Delhi/IBNS: Two Indians who were recruited by the Russian Army have been killed in the ongoing Russia- Ukraine conflict, media reports said.

Confirming this, the foreign ministry said the government has taken up the issue with Russia and asked that the recruitment of Indians in the country's army be stopped immediately.

All Indians currently with the Russian army should be allowed to return, the ministry said.

The ministry has also asked people to be cautious while taking up jobs in Russia.

"The Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Embassy in Moscow have strongly taken up the matter with the Russian Ambassador in New Delhi and with Russian authorities in Moscow respectively, for early release and return of all Indian nationals who are with the Russian Army," read a statement from the ministry.

"India has also demanded that there be a verified stop to any further recruitment of our nationals by the Russian Army. Such activities would not be in consonance with our partnership," the statement added.

In March, following reports of several Indians dying in the war after being lured to Russia with promises of jobs, the foreign ministry had said they were trying to get the men back.

"We have an understanding that something like 20-odd people are stuck, we are trying our level best for their early discharge," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal had said.

In April, the ministry said 10 Indian nationals working as support staff with the Russian military have returned.


Photo Courtesy: Pixabay

Four US university instructors were injured after they were by an unknown attacker at a public park in China, media reports said on Tuesday.

The instructors from Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa, were at a public park with a faculty member of their partner institution when they were injured in a serious incident, school President Jonathan Brand was quoted as saying by CNN in a statement to the college community.

We have been in contact with all four instructors and are assisting them during this time, Brand said.

School spokesperson Jen Visser told CNN the stabbing incident happened in Jilin City and the partner school is Beihua University.

According to reports, no student was participating in the program.

Iowa Rep. Ashley Hinson, who represents the district where the college is located, said she felt 'horrified' after coming to know about the incident.

"Horrified that multiple Cornell College faculty members were brutally stabbed in China," she posted on X.

Horrified that multiple Cornell College faculty members were brutally stabbed in China.



My team has been in communication with Cornell College & will do everything in our power to bring these Iowans home safely. Join me in praying for their health & safety.  Ashley Hinson (@RepAshleyHinson) June 10, 2024

"My team has been in communication with Cornell College & will do everything in our power to bring these Iowans home safely. Join me in praying for their health & safety," she said.

A US State Department spokesperson told the BBC they were aware of reports of a stabbing incident in Jilin, but could not provide more information.

Several images of the incident where three injured people were lying on the ground.

Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst said her team is closely monitoring the incident which happened in China.

My team and I are closely following reports that personnel from Cornell College in Mt. Vernon were stabbed in China.



We are in touch with the college and the State Department, and stand ready to further assist these Iowans. Praying for a speedy recovery for all.  Joni Ernst (@SenJoniErnst) June 10, 2024

She said: " We are in touch with the college and the State Department, and stand ready to further assist these Iowans. Praying for a speedy recovery for all."
Jeetu bhaiya fans assemble! Kota Factory season 3 trailer is here. The challenges and aspirations that the kids have as they prepare for one of the most challenging examinations in India are the focus of the show's trailer. The cast of Kota Factory season 3 includes fan favorites Vaibhav (Mayur More), Meena (Ranjan Raj), Vartika (Revathi Pillai), Shivangi (Ahsaas Channa), and Jeetu Bhaiya (Jitendra Kumar). We have all the information you need if you're curious what Kota Factory season 3 has to offer. To find out what to anticipate from the next season, scroll down.

Netflix

Kota Factory Season 3 trailer breakdown and what to expect from new season

Jeet ki tayyari nahi, tayyari hi jeet hai

Vaibhav (Mayur More), like millions of other students across the nation, struggles with the weight of expectations and the unrelenting drive to get top scores. In the meantime, Meena (Ranjan Raj) queries the fundamental idea of being ready for a test as difficult as the JEE.

Jeetu Bhaiya makes a reappearance in Season 3 as the dependable mentor. He has served as the students' much-needed rock throughout the series, encouraging them that regardless of rank or score, their unique journeys matter and their years of work should be honored.

Also read: Kota Factory Season 3 Release Date: When And Where To Watch Jitendra Kumar's Show

Why Is Jeetu called 'Bhaiya' and Not 'Sir'?

When the institutes head asks him why he asks students to call him Jeetu bhaiya and not Jeetu sir. He goes on to respond saying that the responsibility of these students can only be handled by Jeetu bhaiya and not somebody called sir.

In KOta Factory season 3, lecturers will make sure that students are ready for the exam because this is the last chance for everyone.



Ab aakhri baar, zor laga do, aur advance mein tod phod macha do!



Jitendra Kumar talks about Kota Factory season 3

Jitendra Kumar shares his thoughts on the role of Jeetu ahead of the new season: This is the moment weve been building up to, and the trailer captures it perfectly. As the JEE preparations intensify, Jeetu himself must also brace for what's ahead. TVF and Netflix have given the Jeetu character depth and prominence, making him resonate with so many people. He has evolved from just an on-screen character to an emotion. Season 3 takes this even further, sharing a special message with our young Kota Factory fans during this exam season  Tayyari Hi Jeet Hai. Im excited for the surprises this season will unveil on June 20.

For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.
'Monday Blues' is a Western idea, according to actor and MP Kangana Ranaut. In her most recent Instagram story, she discussed her opinions regarding the Monday memes. She said that Indians shouldn't whine about their jobs because their nation is still developing. Additionally, the actor emphasized the need to normalize "obsessive work culture". Kangana offered her views on the need for an obsessive work ethic by sharing a video of Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussing his goal of making India a developed nation by 2047.



Kangana Ranaut thinks people should stop cribbing about Mondays

Kangana wrote on her Instagram stories, Together we have just one goal  Nation First. Just one intention  2047 Viksit Bharat. I have said this publicly, my each and every moment is for the country. I have also promised the country  24/7 for 2047.



Also read: Amid slap row, Kangana Ranaut's old post defending Will Smith smacking Chris Rock resurfaces

IG

What Narayana Murthy Said About Work Culture

Similar remarks were made before by Infosys founder Narayana Murthy. Earlier this year, in an interview with former Infosys CFO Mohandas Pai for the first edition of 3one4 Capital's podcast "The Record," Murthy stated that young people need to work longer hours in order to compete with developed countries.



Also read: Gul Panag criticises trolls targeting Kangana Ranaut after CISF officer slap incident

"India's work productivity is one of the lowest in the world. Unless we improve our work productivity...we will not be able to compete with those countries that have made tremendous progress. If we want to compete with the fastest growing countries like China and Japan, we need to boost up our work productivity," he had said.



"So therefore, my request is that our youngsters must say, 'This is my country. I'd like to work 70 hours a week,'" he added.

For the unversed, one day following her victory in the Lok Sabha elections, Kangana said that, while going through security at the Chandigarh airport, a female CISF constable slapped and abused her.

For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.


Thousands of people come to Mumbai every year with a dream of making it big in the film industry. A lot of them don't even come close to their dreams. While some give up, others continue to persevere against all odds, facing countless rejections and hardships. Many continue to struggle in obscurity, their dreams of fame and fortune remaining just out of reach. The city, with its glittering promise, can be both a beacon of hope and a harsh reminder of the realities of the industry. What happened with Noor Malabika Das is a reminder of the same.

Actress Noor Malabika Das dies a lonely death

Instagram

Living away from the family in Mumbai, the actress who hailed from Assam, the actress died a lonely death. For days, no one knew about her death. It was only after neighbours noticed a strange smell coming from the house, they reported the matter to the Police. When they arrived, they found her body in a decomposed state at her Lokhandwala flat. It is suspected to be a case of suicide.

Why her family didn't attend her last rites?

The Police tried to contact the family. However, none of them came forward to perform her last rites. It is said that her elderly parents had visited her a while ago. They couldn't travel back to Mumbai again. So, the Police and her actor friend Aloknath Pathak bid her farewell with the help of the Mamdani Health and Education Trust NGO, which handles the cremation of unclaimed bodies in the city.

Now, her paternal aunt has revealed she suffered from depression as she couldn't make it big in the industry. "She went to Mumbai with big hopes to become an actress. However, she was fighting hard to achieve this. We understand that Malabika was unsatisfied with her achievements that forced her to take this extreme step," Noor Malabika Das' aunt Arati Das told TOI.

Also Read: 5 Times Kajol Got Brutally Trolled For The Most Random Reasons While Promoting 'The Trial'

Meanwhile, All Indian Cine Workers Association has urged Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Home Minister Devendra Fadnavis to conduct a thorough investigation into the alleged suicide.

Who was Noor Malabika Das?

Noor Malabika Das, a former air hostess with Qatar Airways, gained recognition for her role alongside Kajol in the 2023 legal drama The Trial, directed by Suparn Verma. Her last film, Gharwali Baharwali, directed by Sangit Gaikar, was released on May 31. Noor Malabika Das also appeared in various projects such as Siskiyaan, Walkaman, Teekhi Chatni, Jaghanya Upaya, Charamsukh, Dekhi Andekhi, and Backroad Hustle.

Also Read: Did You Know Manasvi Mamgais Character In Kajol's The Trial Was Inspired By Rhea Chakraborty?

If you know anyone battling with depression or other mental health issues, please reach out to someone who can help.



AASRA Foundation: 022 2754 6669

Samaritans Mumbai: +91 84229 84528 / +91 84229 84529 / +91 84229 84530

Sanjivini Society for Mental Health: +911124311918

For more news and updates from the world of OTT, celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.


Actor Ranbir Kapoor was spotted holding a drink at Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant's pre-wedding celebration, contradicting earlier reports that he had quit drinking for his role in the upcoming film "Ramayan." Ranbir is currently working on Nitesh Tiwari's highly anticipated movie "Ramayan," where he plays Lord Rama alongside Sai Pallavi as Mata Sita. Fans have been eager for updates, especially after photos of the actors surfaced on social media. Reports had suggested that Ranbir stopped drinking and eating meat to embody the purity of Lord Rama.

Pic Of Ranbir Kapoor's Drink At Ambani Bash Contradicts Purity Claims For 'Ramayan' Role

Viral Picture Of Ranbir kapoor From The Ambani Bash/New Agencies

However, a recent photo from the Ambani event shows Ranbir with a drink in hand, raising questions about the earlier claims. Dressed in an off-white outfit, he was seen talking to a guest while standing next to Shanaya Kapoor. The context of him holding the drink is unclear, but the image has led many to speculate whether the reports were merely a publicity stunt.

Also Read: Leaked Photos Of Ranbir Kapoor And Sai Pallavi On Ramayana Set Lead To Tight Security, New Title Revealed

In addition to the controversy about drinking, Ranbir was also criticised in the past for allegedly eating beef. This criticism resurfaced alongside the current debate about his lifestyle choices for the role of Lord Rama.

Sai Pallavi As Sita And Ranbir Kapoor As Ram/X

Previously, sources claimed that the 41-year-old actor had quit smoking and drinking to stay true to his role. They described how the cast was being encouraged to lead a "self-restrained lifestyle." Despite these claims, the latest photo suggests otherwise.

In "Ramayan," Yash is expected to play Ravana, Naveen Polishetty as Lakshman, and Sunny Deol as Lord Hanuman. The film also features actors like Arun Govil, Lara Dutta, and Sakshi Tanwar. The first part of the film is scheduled for release in 2025.

Besides "Ramayan," Ranbir Kapoor is also working on several other projects, including "Animal Park," "Love & War" with Alia Bhatt and Vicky Kaushal, and the "Brahmastra" franchise.

For more news and updates from the world of OTT, celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment


Apple WWDC 2024 Highlights: Today, Apple kicked off its 2024 Worldwide Developers Conference, unveiling groundbreaking new technologies and features during a keynote streamed live from Apple Park to millions worldwide. Throughout the weeklong event, developers and students will have unique access to Apple experts, as well as insights into new tools, frameworks, and features to elevate their apps and games.

Apple WWDC 2024 Highlights: Big announcements made by Apple

At WWDC24, Apple introduced Apple Intelligence, the personal intelligence system, along with exciting new features for iOS 18, iPadOS 18, macOS Sequoia, watchOS 11, and tvOS 18. They also unveiled visionOS 2, which offers powerful new ways to interact with Apple Vision Pro.

This years keynote showcased Apple Intelligence, a personal intelligence system combining generative models with users personal contexts, integrated into iPhone, iPad, and Mac for highly relevant and useful intelligence. Major updates include the biggest-ever redesign of the Photos app, new productivity tools, and more ways for users to express themselves and customise their devices. visionOS 2 brings new interaction methods with Apple Vision Pro and updates to spatial photos and Mac Virtual Display, while tvOS 18 enhances Apple TV+ films and shows with useful information on users biggest home screens.

Starting this month, Apple Vision Pro will be available in more countries and regions, including mainland China, Hong Kong, Japan, and Singapore. Next month, it will come to Australia, Canada, France, Germany, and the UK.

Apple Unveils Apple Intelligence

Apple Intelligence leverages the power of Apple silicon to understand and create language and images, perform actions across apps, and utilise users personal contexts to simplify and speed up everyday tasks. A key feature is on-device processing, which provides personal intelligence without collecting users data. Private Cloud Compute sets a new standard for privacy in AI, allowing computational capacity to flex between on-device processing and larger, server-based models running on dedicated Apple silicon servers.

iOS 18: More Personal and Intelligent

With iOS 18, users can arrange apps and widgets freely on the Home Screen, customise buttons on the Lock Screen, and access more controls in Control Centre. The redesigned Photos app automatically organises photo libraries into a new single view, with helpful collections keeping favourites easily accessible. New text effects in iMessage bring conversations to life with dynamic, animated appearances, and users can now communicate via satellite in the Messages app even without a cellular or Wi-Fi connection.

Apple Unveils Apple Intelligence | Apple

iPadOS 18: Next-Level iPad Experience

iPadOS 18 makes the iPad more versatile and intelligent, with new features and apps designed for Apple Pencil. The Calculator app now includes Math Notes, allowing users to type or write mathematical expressions and see them instantly solved in their own handwriting. New handwriting tools in Notes, including Smart Script, make handwritten notes more fluid and easier to read.

Apple Unveils Apple Intelligence

iOS 18 To Allow iPhone Users To Record Phone Calls

Apple has just announced some exciting updates at this year's WWDC 2024 event, and iPhone users are in for a treat with the upcoming iOS 18. Among the many new features revealed, one that stands out is the ability to record phone calls directly from the Phone app itself.

With iOS 18, users will now be able to record and transcribe live calls without the need for expensive third-party apps. This means you can easily capture important conversations, interviews, or memorable moments without any hassle.

macOS Sequoia: New Ways of Working and Intelligence

macOS Sequoia enhances Continuity between iPhone and Mac with iPhone Mirroring, allowing full access and control of iPhone from Mac. Safaris new Highlights feature simplifies information discovery while browsing. Gaming is more immersive with Personalized Spatial Audio, and Apple Intelligence offers new ways for Mac users to enhance their writing, create playful images, and more. Apple Intelligence fully utilises the power of Apple silicon and its Neural Engine, supported by every Mac with an M-series chip.

watchOS 11: Health, Fitness, and Personalisation

watchOS 11 offers new health and fitness insights and greater personalisation. The new Vitals app highlights key health metrics, the ability to measure training load enhances workout experiences, and Activity rings are more customisable. The Smart Stack and Photos face provide more individualisation, and the Health app on iPhone and iPad offers additional support for pregnant users. New features like Check In, the Translate app, and double tap gesture capabilities add convenience to Apple Watch.

Apple Unveils Apple Intelligence

visionOS 2: New Spatial Computing Experiences

visionOS 2 enhances Apple Vision Pro with new spatial computing experiences, including new ways to create spatial photos, intuitive hand gestures for accessing important information, and updates for Mac Virtual Display, Travel Mode, and Guest User. New capabilities like Follow Your Breathing in the Mindfulness app, SharePlay for Photos, and multiview in the TV app are also introduced.

Home and Audio Updates

tvOS 18 introduces intelligent features like InSight and updates to Enhance Dialogue and subtitles, improving cinematic experiences. Apple Fitness+, Apple Music, and FaceTime capabilities are enhanced on the largest home screens. The Home app gains new features with iOS 18, such as guest access and hands-free unlock with home keys, providing effortless and secure home access. AirPods software updates transform how users respond to Siri, take calls, and enjoy games.

For more informative articles on historical and upcoming events from around the world, please visit Indiatimes Events.


A day after taking oath as Prime Minister of India for a historic third time at Rashtrapati Bhavan, PM Narendra Modi assumed office on Monday and signed his first file related to the Kisan Samman Nidhi. PM Modi has sanctioned the release of the 17th Installment under the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana. "Ours is a government fully committed to Kisan Kalyan (farmers welfare). It is therefore fitting that the first file signed on taking charge is related to farmer welfare. We want to keep working even more for the farmers and the agriculture sector in the times to come," said Modi in a statement. This significant step demonstrates the government's unwavering commitment to supporting farmers. The Installment, amounting to approximately Rs 20,000 crore, will benefit 9.3 crore farmers across the country.

The PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana is a cornerstone initiative of the Indian government aimed at enhancing the financial stability of farmers. In a recent announcement, PM Narendra Modi highlighted the government's dedication to farmer welfare by authorising the release of the 17th Installment of the scheme. This move reflects the government's ongoing efforts to uplift the agricultural sector and support farmers in achieving economic prosperity.

What is PM-KISAN Nidhi?

Launched in December 2018, the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana is a central government scheme designed to boost farmers' income. Under this program, farmers receive an annual financial assistance of Rs 6,000, disbursed in three equal Installments of Rs 2,000 every four months. These funds are transferred directly to the beneficiaries' bank accounts through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system. In the last Installment, over 93 million farmers received their payments, highlighting the scheme's extensive reach and impact.

Economic Context and Budget Allocation

In the interim budget for 2024-25, the government allocated Rs 1.27 lakh crore to the Ministry of Agriculture, underlining its commitment to the sector. Despite challenges such as scanty monsoon rains, which led to a slight decline in total food grain production to 328.85 million tonnes in 2023-24, the government's focus remains on enhancing agricultural growth and resilience. With predictions of above-normal monsoon rains this year, there is optimism for higher farm production and sustained rural recovery.

Steps for Farmers to Receive the 17th Installment

Farmers need to complete certain formalities to receive the 17th Installment of the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana. This includes completing the e-Know Your Customer (eKYC) process. Here are the steps to follow:

Visit the Official Website: Go to pmkisan.gov.in.

Navigate to eKYC: Click on the "eKYC" option under the "farmer corner" section.

Click on the "eKYC" option under the "farmer corner" section. Enter Aadhaar Details: Fill in your 12-digit Aadhaar number in the required field.

Fill in your 12-digit Aadhaar number in the required field. Verify with OTP: Click on the "search" button, enter the OTP sent to your Aadhaar-registered mobile number, and submit.

Click on the "search" button, enter the OTP sent to your Aadhaar-registered mobile number, and submit. Alternative Method: Alternatively, you can complete the eKYC process at a nearby Common Service Centre (CSC) by providing your Aadhaar number and undergoing biometric authentication.

How to Check PM-KISAN Installment Status

Farmers can easily check the status of their PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana Installment online by following these steps:

Visit the PM-KISAN Website: Go to pmkisan.gov.in.

Access Farmers Corner: On the homepage, find the 'farmers corner' section.

Check Beneficiary Status: Click on the 'beneficiary status' option.

Enter Required Details: Enter your registered Aadhaar number or bank account number.

View Status: Click on the 'get data' button to display the status of your PM-KISAN Installment on the screen.

The release of the 17th Installment under the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana reaffirms the government's commitment to farmer welfare. By ensuring timely financial support, the scheme plays a crucial role in enhancing the livelihoods of millions of farmers. Stay updated with the latest developments and ensure you complete the necessary steps to receive your benefits under this transformative scheme.

FAQs:

What is the date of PM Kisan installment 2024?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 10 cleared the 17th installment of PM-Kisan Nidhi for farmers

How can I check my PM Kisan KYC status?



You can check their installment status online by visiting the official PM-KISAN website (pmkisan.gov.in). In the 'farmers corner' section, they need to click on 'beneficiary status', enter their Aadhaar number or bank account number, and click 'get data' to view the status.
Get ready to be inspired by the ultimate Gen Z fashion icon  Ananya Pandey! With her latest Instagram posts, she's setting trends and turning heads like never before. Let's dive into her effortlessly chic style and see how she's defining fashion for the new generation.

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Ananya Pandey channeling her inner Gen z in new Instagram posts

In one of the posts, she is looking like a goddess in glitter in her gold Self Portrait dress and Swarvoski earrings. Styled by Priyanka Kapadia, the actress is seen posing with open bangs and soft glam to go with the simple yet elegant look.

Read More: Yoga Like The Celebs: 5 Asanas That Ananya Panday, Varun Dhawan And Others Swear By

Actress "serving looks and slaying hearts" in Chanel

In a second look, Ananya adorned a Chanel outfit perfect for the sizzling summer. The actress rightly captioned it, "Serving looks and slaying hearts." The actress adorned the printed noodle trap top with maximal print pants, a printed bag and large sunglasses.

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Ananya in Italy for Anant Ambani-Radhika Merchant's second pre-wedding celebrations

Interestingly, she was seen wearing the same Chanel Spring 2024 outfit for the Ambani pre wedding festivities earlier this month in Rome, Italy.





Earlier, Ananya was spotted in the little Italian fishing village of Portofino at the second pre-wedding festivities of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant and she graced the occasion in a striking lemon yellow dress by Dice Kayek. With its crystal strap details, her ensemble added a touch of elegance to the celebrations, perfectly complementing the Italian summer theme.

Read More: Happy Birthday, Sonam Kapoor: A look at the actor's iconic fashion moments since becoming a mother

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She was also seen posing with besties Suhana Khan and Shanaya Kapoor as the trio attended the cruise bash of the Ambani's in the first week of June in Italy.

For more on lifestyle, astrology and health from around the world please visit Indiatimes Lifestyle.
Developing a feeling of consciousness towards the environment and its conservation in the present generation has become imperative. Given that today's youth will become tomorrow's leaders, inculcating a feeling of responsibility and the need to protect the environment in them is of great importance. And teaching the younger generation, how to reduce the increasing carbon impact on the environment and actively switch to more sustainable ways of living becomes easier when you start right from the school.

Taking this into consideration, the KV AFS Akkulam in Thiruvananthapuram is taking outstanding eco-friendly initiatives for which they have recently won its first-ever Green School Programme (GSP) award.

Also Read: World Oceans Day 2024: 7 ways you can help to protect the ocean

Green initiatives adopted by Thiruvananthapuram's KV AFS Akkulam

Let's delve into the 3 smart steps taken by the school staff, authorities and the students to collectively reduce their carbon footprint.

1) Sustainable modes of t ransportation

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Starting from transportation, the school has successfully eliminated diesel and petrol use. Their commitment to reducing pollution by promoting non-polluting methods of transportation has led to a 133% increase in students and staff opting for alternatives to private vehicles.



2) Efficient waste disposal

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The school has put forth a stringent ban on all packaged food items on campus to reduce waste and promote healthy eating. They have also enforced a strict two- and three-bin system to recycle dry and moist waste properly, guaranteeing that there are no single or mixed bins.



3) Adoption of solar energy

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The school staff have successfully transformed their campus into a lush green space, providing nearly half (48%) of its premises with a green cover. Since last year, they have been harnessing solar energy to run the school, significantly reducing their carbon footprint.



By implementing environmentally friendly methods optimally on their campus, Kerala's KV AFS Akkulam is promoting environmental consciousness among the future generation of flag-bearers. This green school is thus inspiring all educational institutions across the country with its eco-friendly approach which successfully promotes sustainability and resource efficiency.

Also Read: Transform Your Home Into A Breezy Oasis With These 7 Inexpensive Tips

For more on health, astrology and fashion from around the world please visit Indiatimes Lifestyle.


An Indian-origin software engineer settled in the US recently experienced what many others have been facing recently: a layoff. Layoffs have been occurring across the board, from giants like Google and Tesla, to domestic firms like Paytm. However, unlike most, he was given a reason - the company revealed their preference for hiring workers directly from India.

Company wanted a different kind of Indian

In a video circulating on X, an Indian-origin techie introduces himself and shares that his entire team was recently laid off.

Also read: Laid off three times, this woman cracked the code to job hunting & is now sharing a crucial job search tip



During his exit interview, he was shocked to learn that the company was replacing him and his team with workers in India.

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Despite emphasising that he too was Indian and that his family had moved to the US for work, the company did not reconsider, stating they wanted a different "kind" of Indian.



"They (the company) were like, 'no, no, no, you don't get it. We are getting rid of you. We are moving the job to India to be done by Indians from India, who will do it cheaper there.' And in that moment, I turned into every one of your fathers. I was like, 'go**amn Indians are taking our jobs,'" he said in the video.

Watch the video here:

Indian software engineer is laid of and replaced by... Indians.  pic.twitter.com/RtlZhU35Fo  AlphaFo (@Alphafox78) June 9, 2024

Also read: Indian-Origin LinkedIn Career Expert Suggests 5 Tips For Navigating Lay Offs: 'Don't Spend Time On That...'

How people reacted

The video has gone viral, crossing over 3.2 million views. In the comments section, a variety of opinions were shared.



One person stated, "It's not that you're Indian, it's that you are now 90% less expensive."

Another person corroborated this, saying, "Bro doesn't get it. He's being laid off because he's expensive."

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Yet another commenter emphasised, "It's all about the money. They will work for way less in India. It's not even close. We can't compete with India, or China when it comes to how little they can survive with over there."



Another comment read, "It's not about Indians. It's about paying people cheap. American corporations rely on cheap labor for big profits for themselves."

What's your take on it?

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In the lush forests of Tamil Nadu, a tiny elephant calf, initially rejected by its mother, found itself alone and lost in the wilderness. But this tale of heartbreak soon turned into one of hope and warmth. Rescued by kind-hearted caregivers, the precious baby jumbo was brought to an elephant feeding camp.

A successful rescue, but a heartbreaking moment follows

It all began with a distressing incident on May 30 when an ailing mother elephant was found lying on the ground, with her three-month-old calf next to her.

Also read: Watch: Elephants Display Astonishing Intelligence In Video, But A Subtle Detail Sparks Mixed Reactions

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Acting promptly, a team of forest officials lifted the mother with the help of a crane and provided her with three days of intensive treatment. After her health improved, she was released back into the forest.



"Forest department staff rushed to the spot to provide treatment to the mother elephant on May 31 and lifted her with the help of a crane. The baby, unable to receive milk, wandered into the forest," forest veterinarian Dr. Sukumar explained.

But a heartbreaking moment followed.

A new life for the elephant calf

After this incident, the team discovered the elephant calf stranded in the forest and took him to the foothills of Marudamalai in an attempt to find his mother and reunite them.

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The mother elephant had regained her health and rejoined her herd, but sadly, she consistently refused to accept her baby.



So, the officials had no choice but to bring the baby to the Theppakadu elephant camp.

Supriya Sahu, Additonal Chief Secretary of Environment, Climate Change & Forests, Govt of Tamil Nadu, shared on social media, "A feeling beyond words as we warmly embrace a 3-month-old baby elephant in our care who has been abandoned by his mother."

Also read: When Bomman And Bellie Whispered To Elephants & Won Big At The Oscars



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Sahu explained that, according to experts, such events do occur in the wild for unexplainable reasons.



The post continued on a hopeful note: "The baby will have the company of two other baby elephants and 27 elder elephants. Our experienced mahouts are known for their unconditional love and service to elephants. Here is wishing the little warrior a great future and loving company to heal his heart."

Check out Supriya Sahus post here:

A feeling beyond words as we warmly embrace 3 months old baby elephant in our care who has been abandoned by his mother elephant.The mother was found sick and lying on the ground with her baby roaming around her in panic on 3rd June in Coimbatore.Tamil Nadu foresters lifted her pic.twitter.com/9cPEBL66Hb  Supriya Sahu IAS (@supriyasahuias) June 10, 2024

For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.
A Japanese guy is facing backlash on social media after his very pregnant wife cooked 30 days' worth of dinners for him. According to the South China Morning Post, the problem arose after the nine-month-pregnant woman revealed on X that she had prepared the meals ahead of her due date on May 21. She did so because she would not be living with her husband following the birth and would be staying with her parents for postpartum recovery.

Why did the woman prep meals for a month for her husband?

The woman was afraid that her husband would not eat well while she was away | Image: Unsplash

The woman was afraid that her husband would not eat well while she was away, so she prepared one month's worth of dinners and stored them in the freezer for him.



Also read: Watch: Japanese man records grandparents' hilarious reactions to trying Indian snacks for the first time

The tale has sparked a broad conversation on social media, with the majority of people criticizing the spouse for his inability to perform basic household responsibilities such as cooking. Some even accused the woman of coddling her spouse and treating him like a child.

How did people on the internet react?

Pregnant Japanese woman prepped meals for husband | Image: Weibo

One user said, ''What kind of husband allows his heavily pregnant wife to prepare a month's worth of dinners? Does he usually do nothing at home? Isn't it just spoiling him?''



Another commented, ''How pitiful she is  she's been pregnant for nine months and has a vegetative husband.'' A third said, ''This Japanese woman is bizarre. She is pregnant and acting as her husband's maid. How did her husband eat before he married?''

Some have pointed out how subservient and dutiful wives contribute to a culture that breeds immature, domestically inept husbands.

How did some internet users side with the wife?

Some praised the woman for being a kind and caring wife | Image: Pexels

However, not everyone regarded this as a negative, and they praised the woman for being a kind and caring wife.



A few also said how this was a much bigger issue as millions of men like the woman's husband were equally unlikely to cook for themselves, especially in Asian countries.

Also read: Watch The Cutest Reaction: Japanese Mother And Grandmother Try Indian Kurta For The First Time!

A person from China said, ''Isn't it the same in all East Asian countries? When my mum came to stay with me abroad to help with the baby, she forgot to prepare meals for my dad. He survived on steamed buns and noodles for three months, even losing muscle mass.''

What do you think about this? Tell us in the comments.

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Anil Ambani, the son of Indian business mogul Dhirubhai Ambani, rose to prominence as one of the world's most successful businessmen. Anil was celebrated for his exceptional business acumen and active leadership within the Reliance Group, amassing significant wealth. Once the sixth richest person in the world, Anil faced a stark downfall, ultimately declaring bankruptcy amidst mounting debts worth crores.



This marked a dramatic turn in the fortunes of Anil Ambani, encapsulating the highs and lows of his journey.

Anil Ambani's Journey with Reliance Power

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Anil Ambani expanded his business portfolio by entering the power sector through the establishment of Reliance Power. He notably achieved a significant milestone by attaining full subscription to the Reliance Power IPO within less than a minute, making it the largest IPO of its time. By 2007, Anil's total wealth exceeded Rs. 4 lakh crores, highlighting his considerable success and impact in the business domain.



Reliance Power operated two gas-fired power plants at Dadri and Shahpur, utilizing natural gas for electricity generation. However, Anil Ambani relied on his brother, Mukesh Ambani, to obtain the necessary natural gas supply.

Also Read: Rising From The Ashes: Anil Ambani's Journey Back To Financial Success; Check Net Worth, Properties & Car Collection

Initially, there was an agreement stipulating that Reliance would supply natural gas to Reliance Power at a rate of 2.3 dollars per unit. However, Mukesh raised the price, prompting Anil to file a breach of contract case against him in the Bombay High Court. Mukesh contested this decision in the Supreme Court, which ultimately ruled in Mukesh's favor. Left with no alternative, Anil had to purchase costly gas.

The closure of his long-awaited Dadri project left Anil devastated. By 2015, all of his companies except Reliance Capital were on the brink of collapse.

Anil Ambani's Remarkable Revival: The Resurgence of Reliance Power

Fast forward to 9 years, Reliance Power has reached a major milestone by successfully clearing all outstanding debts, transforming into a debt-free entity on a standalone basis. With a debt load of around Rs 800 crore, the company has diligently repaid loans to several financial institutions, such as IDBI Bank, ICICI Bank, Axis Bank, and DBS, through multiple settlement agreements executed between December 2023 and March 2024.

Also Read: Meet Anmol Ambani, Anil Ambani's Savior Son Who Turned Misfortune Into A Rs 20,000 Crore Empire

reliance power

The company strategically employed the proceeds from the sale of its developmental rights in Arunachal Pradesh's 1,200 megawatt hydro-electric project to THDC for Rs 128 crore, and its 45 MW wind energy project in Vashpet, Maharashtra to JSW Renewable Energy for Rs 132 crore, effectively eliminating its debts.



Reliance Power, with an equity base of Rs 4,016 crore and backed by more than 3.8 million retail investors, operates with a total capacity of 5,900 MW. This encompasses the well-known Sasan Ultra Mega Power Project (UMPP), a large-scale integrated coal-based power plant generating 3,960 MW, along with the 1,200 MW Rosa Thermal power plant in Uttar Pradesh.

The share price of Reliance Power, owned by Anil Ambani, has experienced an upward trend over the past week, witnessing a notable increase of approximately 22%.

Stock market analysts suggest that since Reliance power has achieved debt-free status, leading to improved operational efficiency, which has drawn investors' interest towards Reliance Power shares. They anticipate that Reliance Power shares, which have recently surged to Rs 28, may soon reach the Rs 36 per share mark.
While iPhone users take immense pride in owning the gadget, theres one thing that is lacking in the widely-loved phone. Looks like god has finally answered our prayers! With the iOS18 update, Apple iPhone users will soon be able to record calls!



iOS I8 Update: Record and transcribe your calls!

After recording your call, Apple's Intelligence feature transcribes it within the Notes app, allowing users to generate summaries through the new Apple Intelligence AI system. Additionally, Apple stated that users will also have the ability to record and transcribe audio directly within the Notes app.



Also read: Who is Akshat Srivastava? The young Varanasi coder who impressed Apple's CEO Tim Cook

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Apple introduces a new recording feature within the Phone app, featuring a visual soundwave and recording duration display. When activated, all call participants receive notifications. This enhancement aims to promote transparency in conversations. With the introduction of Apple's 'Apple Intelligence', discussions remain within the group, ensuring advanced data security.



With iOS audio recording now integrated into the Phone app, instant transcription of calls is at your fingertips, whether it's a corporate meeting or an educational briefing. Imagine needing a last-minute briefing; simply call your expert colleague and have their explanation transcribed instantly. This feature offers an upgraded digital brainstorming experience, eliminating the need for time-consuming note-taking.



Also Read: Apple WWDC 2024 Highlights: From iOS 18 to Siri 2.0, all big announcements made by Apple

The Internet is ecstatic over this announcement!

Many users to X to voice their delight over this latest development. From posting funny memes to cracking jokes, the reactions are hilarious.



One user wrote, Apple's phone call recording could be huge for podcasting - call a friend with FaceTime audio

- iPhone removed background noise

- audio, full transcription, and summary of phone call

- publish your episode directly from your phone

Another user wrote, Apple introduced call recording in iOS 18. Why? Do they really want android users to switch to iPhone.



#iOS18 to have call recording feature



iPhone users to Tim Cook: pic.twitter.com/5iFCg6SYva  storyspinner (@iamandy1987) June 11, 2024




At Apple's WWDC 2024 event, the company revealed numerous enhancements for its devices, aligning with earlier speculations. Notably, they emphasized the integration of artificial intelligence into the software upgrade of iOS 18. Apple also confirmed a partnership with OpenAI to incorporate ChatGPT deeply into their devices as a chatbot.

However, this decision has irked Elon Musk big time.

He took to X to voice his disappointment with OpenAI-Apple collaboration. He went on to say that if OpenAI comes to iOs, he will ban Apple devices in his companies.

Replying to Tim Cook, Apple CEO, Musk stated, Dont want it (Apple Intelligence). Either stop this creepy spyware or all Apple devices will be banned from the premises of my companies.

Furthermore, Elon Musk indicated that he would ensure no Apple devices are present in his office building. He said, And visitors will have to check their Apple devices at the door, where they will be stored in a Faraday cage.

Also Read: Three 'Musk'eteers: Meet Kimbal & Tosca, Elon Musks Lesser-Known Siblings Who Own Restaurants & A Streaming Service

Absurd that Apple cant make its own AI, says Musk

Tim Cook/ AP

Following the launch, Musk flooded his X profile with memes and other content insinuating that OpenAI's chatbot is a form of spyware. In a post, he explained, Its patently absurd that Apple isnt smart enough to make their own AI, yet is somehow capable of ensuring that OpenAI will protect your security & privacy! Apple has no clue whats actually going on once they hand your data over to OpenAI. Theyre selling you down the river.



Its patently absurd that Apple isnt smart enough to make their own AI, yet is somehow capable of ensuring that OpenAI will protect your security & privacy!



Apple has no clue whats actually going on once they hand your data over to OpenAI. Theyre selling you down the river.  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 10, 2024





What will happen once Apple integrates ChatGPT into its devices?

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According to Musk, OpenAI utilizes private data for training their chatbots under the guise of personalization. Therefore, as Apple integrates ChatGPT into its devices, Musk believes it will compromise user privacy. This isn't the first instance of OpenAI facing privacy concerns.

Apple may have anticipated criticism and introduced an 'opt-in' option. However, Musk still found fault with this approach. In response to a user, he stated, "Apple using the words 'protect your privacy' while handing your data over to a third-party AI that they don't understand and can't themselves create is not protecting privacy at all!"

Also read: Meet Ashok Elluswamy, Chennai-born lead of Tesla's AI/Autopilot Team, recruited via X by Elon Musk

Elon Musk shares Indian meme to slam Apple

Tesla CEO Elon Musk shared an Indian meme on X, taking a swipe at Apple. Musk emphasized Apple's integration of OpenAI's ChatGPT in various features and the potential for data breaches.

The meme, titled "How intelligence works," portrays a man and a woman sharing coconut water. The accompanying text suggests that Apple's collaboration with OpenAI could lead to privacy infringements through data sharing.
Chirag Paswan, known as the 'Modis Hanuman', recently secured a significant role as the Minister of Food Processing in Modi's 3.0 cabinet. His rise from a Bollywood aspirant to a Union Minister is a tale of perseverance and strategic political moves. Chirag Paswan's political success culminated in winning a ministerial position in Modi's 3.0 cabinet after a decisive victory in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Despite challenges within his party, Paswan's faction emerged victorious in all five contested seats, bolstering his political standing.

Reclaiming a Legacy

The Hajipur Lok Sabha constituency holds sentimental value for Chirag Paswan as it was previously represented by his late father, Ram Vilas Paswan. Winning from this constituency symbolises the continuation of his family's political legacy, solidifying his position as a prominent figure in Bihar politics.

Overcoming Challenges

Narendra modi and Chirag Paswan | Photo: PTI

Chirag Paswan faced internal party divisions orchestrated by his uncle, Pashupati Paras. Despite this, he founded a new political entity and orchestrated a sweeping victory in the Lok Sabha polls, showcasing his resilience and determination.

Bollywood to Politics

Before entering politics, Chirag Paswan briefly explored a career in Bollywood. However, disillusioned with the industry, he transitioned to politics in 2012, driven by a desire for public service. His journey from the silver screen to the political arena reflects his adaptability and commitment to serving the people. The LJP (Ram Vilas) party, led by Chirag Paswan, has pledged "unconditional" support to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Paswan believes that the recent victory of the BJP-led NDA in the Lok Sabha elections is a testament to Modi's leadership prowess.

Educational qualifications of Chirag Paswan

Chirag Paswan started his education at the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) in Delhi. This school, set up in November 1989, is part of the Ministry of Human Resource Development. NIOS is known for being inclusive, offering various courses for different interests, including vocational, life skills, and community-focused programs, along with regular academic courses for high school and senior secondary levels. This flexible education system is meant to cater to a diverse group of learners, allowing students like Paswan to pursue their studies while also exploring other interests.

Initially interested in technology, Paswan enrolled in a Bachelor of Technology program in Computer Engineering at the Institute of Engineering and Technology in Jhansi. This institute, affiliated with Bundelkhand University, is known for its challenging engineering curriculum and focus on practical learning. However, Paswan didnt stay long in the engineering field. He decided to leave the program during his third semester, marking a big change in his career path. He shifted away from the world of technology and coding to explore his growing interest in the arts. This decision was a bold one and eventually led him to the movie industry in Bollywood before he later entered politics.

Chirag Paswan's Net worth, house, car collection and more

Chirag Paswan | Photo: IANS

The 41-year-old leader, often referring to himself as Modi's 'Hanuman', shares a good relationship with the Prime Minister. According to documents he submitted, he owns things like cash, bank savings, investments, and jewelry, totaling more than Rs 2.68 crore. His movable belongings are valued at Rs 1.66 crore, including cash, bank deposits, and investments in company shares. He also has gold jewelry worth Rs 14.40 lakh and two cars, a Maruti Suzuki Gypsy 2015 model, and a 2014 Toyota Fortuner, valued at Rs 35 lakh together. His fixed properties, including a house in Patna, are worth Rs 1.02 crore.

Chirag Paswan's journey exemplifies the power of perseverance and adaptability. As he takes on the responsibilities of the Ministry of Food Processing, there is anticipation surrounding his ability to deliver on his promises and steer Bihar towards progress.

For the latest and more interesting financial news, keep reading Indiatimes Worth. Click here
The Katsina State Police Command says bandits have killed about 22 people in the Gidan Bofa and Dan Nakwabo communities in Kankara Local Government Area (LGA) of the State.

The bandits were said to have attacked the two villages on Sunday afternoon.

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The assailants killed 15 people in Gidan Boka village and another five in the Dan Nakwabo community.

In a statement issued on Monday, Abubakar Sadiq, the commands spokesperson, said the bandits also killed four officers, three inspectors and one corporal, as well as two members of the Katsina State Community Watch Corps (KSCWC) in an ambush.

His words: On the same date, at about 15:00 hrs, a distress call was received at the Kankara Divisional Headquarters that armed bandits in their numbers riding on motorcycles armed with dangerous weapons, shooting sporadically, attacked Gidan Baki village in the same Kankara LGA, killing unsuspecting villagers.

Immediately, the nearest armoured personnel carrier (APC) patrol team was dispatched to the scene.

READ ALSO: We Wont Negotiate Starvation Wage  Labour Discloses As Seven-Day Strike Suspension Elapses Tomorrow

While en route to Gidan Baki village, the team discovered that the attack was actually on Gidan Boka village via Yar Goje village, Kankara LGA, where they quickly redirected towards the scene.

Upon reaching Kurmeji village via Yar Goje, the team fell into an ambush, where a firefight ensued between the team and the bandits.

Upon receipt of the information on the attack of the responding team, swiftly the DPO mobilized and led a team of operatives to the scene and restored normalcy.

During preliminary investigation, it was revealed that the armed bandits attacked Gidan Boka village, killing fifteen (15) people and injuring two (2) others.

They also ambushed our patrol team and killed four (4) police officers, three (3) inspectors and one (1) corporal, and two (2) members of the Katsina State Community Watch Corps (KSCWC). Also, the bandits, while escaping through Dan Nakwabo village, Kankara LGA, shot and killed five (5) persons.

The police command said investigations are ongoing, adding that further development will be made public.
The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Monday, awarded the sum of N25 million in damages against the Kano State Government and the police for wrongly accusing Alhassan Ado Doguwa, of murder.

The representative of the Doguwa/Tudun Wada Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, was accused of the murder of three people believed to be members of the then-opposition New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP) during the February 25, 2023, general election.

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Following his arraignment, the APC member who doubles as House Committee Chairman of Downstream Petroleum, accused the Police and the Kano State Government of bias after he was arraigned as a principal actor in the fracas.

His petition led to a review of the police investigation of the incident by the police authorities.

READ ALSO: Court Restrains Kano Gov., Yusuf From Re-arresting Doguwa Over Alleged Murder

The then-outgoing APC administration in the state dropped the police investigation and exonerated him.

However, the incumbent Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, immediately upon taking office, said his government would prosecute Doguwa, whom he accused of killing over 15 people.

Yusuf, a member of the NNPP, said the new administration would reopen and pursue the case to a logical conclusion.

In the same vein, we shall investigate all cases of political violence that led to the loss of lives and properties across the state in the last eight years.

The infamous case of Alhassan Ado Doguwa, who allegedly sponsored the maiming and murder of over 15 innocent souls in Tudun Wada Local Government, will be pursued to its logical conclusion, the new Governor said in his inaugural speech.


The Edo State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Jarett Tenebe, has threatened to direct hoodlums to assault the State Governor, Godwin Obaseki.

Tenebe made the threat in a video sighted on X just as the State prepares to conduct its governorship election come September 21, 2024.

Information Nigeria reports that Obaseki had boasted of his Party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), winning the September gubernatorial election.

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Obaseki had on Monday during the Teachers for Tech Conference, to commemorate the 2024 Education Week, said: Im not worried about the future for you, because you know what to do.

Can any other person come and cover your eyes again? So, in this democracy that we are now in, if anybody comes and does not continue where we are going, what will we do? he asked the cheering crowd.

The State Governor furthered that, Those who are struggling to come, so they can take us back to where we are coming from-Holy Ghost Fire!

READ ALSO: Court Aquits Ado Doguwa Of Murder; Fines Kano Govt N25m

Meanwhile in the viral video, Tenebe said: Let me send a clear warning to him, he cannot rig this election, because we are ready for him. He can start saying all of this because hes planning to do certain things that are not decent.

Im Chairman of the Party now and Im ready for him. He should be careful with the way he talks so that we will not tell people to stone him. It may get to that very soon if he starts opening his mouth to say rubbish.

I will tell people to stone him and Im sure when they start stoning him, he will know he doesnt have the support he is talking about.

Obaseki had also expressed confidence that the PDP will secure up to 80 percent of the total votes in the governorship poll to ensure the election for its candidate, Asue Ighodalo.

We see the suffering the people are going through, so the campaign will be based on the hope PDP will give our citizens.

Those fighting PDP have collected money from the other political party and I want you all present here to join me flush them out. Let them stay out since they have collected money, Obaseki had said.

Tenebe is known to be a supporter of former Deputy Governor Phillip Shaibu, whose impeachment was instituted by Obaseki.
The Nigeria Labour Union on Monday, ruled out possible plan to stage another nationwide strike tomorrow, 11th, June, 2024.

INFORMATION NIGERIA reports that NLC President, Joe Ajaero, disclosed this to the public, during the ongoing International Labour Conference in Geneva, Switzerland.

Ajaero revealed that the organised labour cannot embark on strike tomorrow because the figures presented by the Tritiparte committee on minimum wage are with President Bola Tinubu.

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He said: The tripartite committee submitted two figures to the President. Government and employers proposed N62,000 while labour proposed N250,00o. We are waiting for the decision of the President.

Our National Executive Council (NEC) will deliberate on the new figure when it is out.

READ MORE: Senators, Reps, Govs Should Get Same Minimum Wage As Labour  Father Mbaka

We cannot declare strike now because the figures are with the President. We will wait for the Presidents decision.

During the tenure of the immediate past President, the figure that was proposed to him was N27,000 by the tripartite committee but he increased it to N30,000.

We are hopeful that this President will do the right thing. The President had noted that the difference between N62,000 and N250,000 is a wide gulf.

The NLC and Trade Union Congress have been in loggerhead with the federal government over the minimum wage.

The development, as however generated attentions from stakeholders and state Governors.

The Governors, while reacting to FGs N62,000 offer, said that they cant pay the proposed minimum wage.
Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON), has disclosed that local councils cannot afford to pay the proposed N62,000 as new minimum wage.

This, according to ALGON, is owing to the fact that meagre allocation comes from the Federation Account.

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National President of ALGON, Aminu Muazu-Maifata explained in a chat with newsmen in Lafia that all the 774 Local Government Councils in the country gets allocation of a little above 18 per cent from Federation Account monthly.

Recall that representatives of the Federal Government and the private sector at the tripartite committee for the negotiation of the new minimum wage had proposed N62, 000, while the Organised Labour proposed N250,000.

Muazu-Maifata noted that even if the Local Government executives decide to set aside the entire monthly allocations for salaries, ALGON will still not have sources to implement the new minimum wage.

Apart from payment of wages, we still have other responsibilities such as provision of affordable healthcare, education, security, traditional institution, rural roads as well as youths and women empowerment among others to contend with, ALGON President declared.

READ ALSO: We Wont Negotiate Starvation Wage  Labour Discloses As Seven-Day Strike Suspension Elapses Tomorrow

The Chairman of Lafia Local Government Area (LGA) of Nasarawa State however said that the Chairmen were in support of wage increments to civil servants, but the revenue coming to the local government is small.

He further appealed for increase in the monthly allocations of the 774 LGAs in the country to enable them pay the proposed minimum wage.

I want to appeal for increase allocation to local governments in Nigeria. ALGON has a lot of responsibilities to meet up with the N62, 000 minimum wage.

We will also give priority to issues of security at the local level and attract interventions from development partners to our various councils.

I also want to improve the on existing unity amongst the various LGAs Chairmen and administrations in the country in order to better the lives of our people.

Unity among LGAs Chairmen will help us compare notes and come up with good policies and programmes to improve governance for the benefits of the people at the grassroots, he added.
Former Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State says his support for the incumbent State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji stems from a place of mutual respect.

According to him, when its time for the election, he will not hesitate to go against him.

Fayose, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has come under criticism lately for allegedly hobnobbing with and benefiting from appointments from Governor Oyebanji of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

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Addressing his supporters in Ado-Ekiti on Monday, ahead the ward congress of the PDP coming up next month, Fayose stated that those saying he got an appointment from Governor Oyebanji should stop playing politics of bitterness.

His words: I feel satisfied with the work of Governor Oyebanji, done so far in the state.

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Governor Oyebanji is a humble Governor. Thirteen times, he has visited me in Lagos to greet me. We discussed the progress and development of the state. I have to respect him, which has nothing to do with politics; he is the only governor who has brought all governors in the state together.

When it is time for the election, we will confront him. We supported Asiwaju in the last presidential election because he is a Yoruba man, and its time for our presidency. I am not looking for a position. If you say Fayose does not matter, wait; during the election you will see.

He also appealed to members of the PDP in the State to close ranks and work for peace for the party to win the next governorship and other elective positions in the state.

While debunking the allegation that he has dumped the PDP for the APC, he asserted is not and will never be an APC member.

When we come to the election period, we will fight Governor Oyebanji. The PDP is not in order in Ekiti; let us come together, he added.
Kevin Morgan is escorted from a courtroom by Montgomery County Sheriff's deputies on Monday during a break from his trial on first-degree murder and related crimes. Read more

A Pottstown custody exchange that ended in fatal gunfire is at the center of a murder trial this week in Norristown, and jurors on Tuesday heard conflicting accounts of that brief, deadly episode last summer.

Montgomery County Assistant District Attorney Courtney McMonagle said in her opening statement that Kevin Morgan, 35, killed Derek Mayo, the man dating the mother of his 13-year-old daughter, Peyton. Morgan, she said, goaded Mayo, 38, into a confrontation before shooting him in the chest as Peyton, along with Mayos 2-year-old son, watched in horror from a car nearby.

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He took a loaded gun to a custody exchange with his daughter, McMonagle said. And he made the conscious decision to pull that trigger.

But Morgans attorney, John Han, told jurors that prosecutors were cherry-picking facts and obscuring important context about Mayos history of threats and abuse toward his client. Morgan, the lawyer said, was backing away from Mayo, who was reaching toward his waistband as he charged toward him.

The evidence shows that the events that day did not happen in a vacuum, Han said. Theres a larger story that needs to be told.

The confrontation between the two men took place June 27, 2023 a few, yards away from Morgans home on May Street in Pottstown, according to investigators. Kelsay Love-Shellar, Morgans ex-girlfriend, had come to the home to pick up their daughter as part of their custody agreement.

Mayo had come along for the ride, something that Han said surprised Morgan. McMonagle, the prosecutor, disputed this, saying Morgan had prepared to meet with Mayo, changing into a heavy jacket and long, baggy pants, despite the summer heat, so that he could better hide the gun he was carrying.

When Morgan opened the car door for his daughter, he saw Mayo and became angry, calling him a derogatory name and demanding to know why Love-Shellar had brought him to his home, according to trial testimony.

As Love-Shellar, Mayo and Morgan argued, Morgan held the car door open, according to the girls testimony Tuesday. Eventually, Love-Shellar pulled away, but stopped the car nearby at Mayos insistence, the girl said.

Mayo then got out of the car, yelled to Morgan Is this what you want?, and approached him, Peyton said. When the men were a few feet apart, Morgan fired his gun once, hitting Mayo in the chest.

Peyton witnessed the aftermath of the shooting, watching as Mayo yelled that he had been shot and clutched his chest. She pulled the 2-year-old away from the window, she said Tuesday through her tears, so he wouldnt see his fathers injury.

Police arrived not long afterward. Mayo was taken to Pottstown Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Morgan was taken into custody by officers, who found the gun they say he used to shoot Mayo inside a second-floor bedroom of his home. He had a permit to carry a concealed weapon at the time of the shooting.

Han said Mayo had made a series of threats against Morgan since Mayo began dating Love-Shellar in 2016.

Two months before the fatal shooting, Mayo threatened Morgan during an argument, saying he was tired of him and promised to fight him the next time they saw each other, according to Han.

In 2019, Mayo texted Morgan, saying he should never have been born and calling him a rat for testifying against two people who had killed Morgans best friend outside a bar in West Chester in 2012, the lawyer said.

Morgans testimony had helped Chester County prosecutors secure convictions for both, Han said. Mayo, he said, has ties to one of the killers, James J.E. Potts Jr. Mayo and one of Potts friends attacked Morgan during an earlier custody exchange in 2019, according to Han.

The trial is expected to last through Friday before Montgomery County Court Judge William Carpenter.
Every ninth grade teacher at Science Leadership Academy Center City, the well-regarded magnet school with a heavy tech focus, is now cell phone free during class time. Matt Kay, an English teacher, said it's improved the quality of student work and student relationships. Read more

For Matthew Kay, the 2023-24 school year will always be the dividing line: before, when cell phones were nearly ubiquitous, and after, when he and the rest of the ninth-grade faculty at Science Leadership Academy required them to be out of kids reach during class time.

Kay has taught at SLA, the nationally regarded Philadelphia magnet school that was at the vanguard of the tech-in-schools movement, since its founding in 2006. But the change he has witnessed since the cell phone policy shifted on May 1 was enough to convince him that phones were technology the kids did not need.

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I dont think Ive done an about-face as strongly as this. I was all about, Dont take it from them, teach them how to use it, Kay said. But we would be bad adults if we put the phones back in their hands.

The role of cell phones in schools is a hot-button issue both nationally and across the region. The Philadelphia School District has identified phone-free environments in schools during instructional time as key to academic achievement, according to district documents, though officials have given latitude to individual schools to determine how they want to achieve that.

Classes without connective tissue

Cell phone use has been an increasing frustration in class, Kay said. SLA is a project-based school, and Kay and his colleagues witnessed students becoming less efficient with their time as their cell phone use rose, particularly post pandemic.

Id say, I gave you a week-and-a-half, and you only have a paragraph written. Whats going on? Kay said.

In the past, students would interact during free time; once phones were introduced, when there was down time, they would be scrolling social media and not talking to each other.

Classes didnt seem like they had much connective tissue, said Kay, who has written multiple books on discussing race with students. They didnt know each other that well.

Technically, there were rules around cell phone use  that is, phones couldnt be out during class time. If Kay saw a phone, he took it away. But that strategy got less and less effective.

It was pulling so much more of their attention that it was no longer me taking one or two phones a week. It was turning into four or five or six a class. If you werent going to do that, then essentially you just quit, said Kay.

Eventually, Kay and a colleague began talking about taking phones away for real, having kids slide them into numbered pouches hanging near the door when they walked in. If the whole ninth-grade team did it together, then none of us was that teacher, Kay said.

They picked May 1 to start the policy, and informed students.

When we have our phones, were not really paying attention.

When Kay talked to his students about the coming ban, he told students that their phones would be in a pouch at the front of the room. If they needed it during class, they could go to the pouch to use it there. (Every student in school system has a district-issued Chromebook.)

I told them, Someone has to be the adult, and that really resonated with them in ways that I didnt expect. I said, I see a lot of you are having trouble during work periods, and I see a lot of you dont know each other as much as I want you to know each other, Kay said. Im 40 years old. You are 14. If you were hitting yourself with a stick every day, I would take the stick out of your hand.

He expected pushback  from parents and especially from students. But he got thank-you emails from parents, and students were less spicy than he expected, Kay said. On Day 1, some students brought in a second phone; Kay teased them about their burner phones and the end-runs around the rule died out within a day.

The quality of their work deepened, Kay said. And kids began pulling out decks of cards during down time, Kay said. They talked to each other.

Everything is better. My classroom kind of felt in an interpersonal way like it was 10 years ago. It was kind of touching, honestly, Kay said.

Hannah Bland, an SLA 9th grader, wasnt happy about the policy at first.

I really didnt like having my phone taken away, said Bland, 14. But after she got used to the policy, it started to make sense. And then a funny thing happened: She liked it.

It helped me focus more in class. I was more focused on my work. I think I have gotten more engaged in my work.

Eryn Grant, another SLA freshman, had a similar experience.

When we have our phones, were not really paying attention to our teachers, said Grant, 15. Now, I got to know a lot of my classmates better.

Its easier to just swipe your thumb a few times

In The Anxious Generation, author Jonathan Haidt argues that the phone-based childhood has replaced play-based childhood and is causing widespread mental health issues among youth, among other issues. That matched what Kay was seeing in class.

The second something gets hard, its easier to just swipe your thumb a few times and not work through the knot that youre trying to work through. Thats what is killing the kids in the work period, said Kay.

Haidt has called for phone-free schools, and it makes sense to Kay to keep phones out of classrooms.

I work hard at being interesting, and I get annoyed when people say if you were just more interesting, then that would overcome the phones, said Kay. Thats objectively not true. No one can compete with TikTok. The classroom has got to be a place where they have to not be around those algorithms.

SLAs ninth grade teachers are carrying the policy forward into next year and beyond, Kay said. Chris Lehmann, SLAs principal, is behind it.

Fundamentally, the most important thing that we can do is teach kids about the attention economy when it comes to their cell phones, and to help kids understand that their attention is being monetized, said Lehmann. With all things, we have to start asking better questions about the way that we use these devices, and I think thats what were trying to do. Its not just an unexplored or unexplained band. This is about how we help kids become more intentional about their attention.

Last year, SLA had a cell phone reboot where students spent time in their advisory period examining their cell phone use and thinking and talking about how the devices affected them.

The ninth-grade class ban may well spread, Lehmann said.

School-wide, we are working towards not having cell phones in class, period, said Lehmann.
Mayor Cherelle L. Parker (center) speaks at a press conference Tuesday. Behind her, from L-R, are Dawn Chavous, spokesperson for the African American Charter School Coalition, Council member Isaiah Thomas, chair of Council's education committee, Robin Cooper, president of the district's principals' union, and Stacy Holland, executive director of Elevate 215. Read more

Flanked by a broad  and unusual  coalition of traditional public and charter supporters, Mayor Cherelle L. Parker on Tuesday called for Harrisburg leaders to pass a state budget that would change the way schools are funded in Pennsylvania.

Legislation passed with bipartisan support Monday by the Pennsylvania House would increase education funding by $864 million statewide in an effort to meet its legal charge to adequately and equitably fund schools. Of that sum, the Philadelphia School District would get an additional $242 million for the 2024-24 term. The education bill now goes to the Senate, where Republican leaders have expressed concerns about the plan.

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A Commonwealth Court judge ruled last year that the states current education funding system was unconstitutional and ordered the legislature to remedy it. The proposed budget, lawmakers have said, is a down payment on bridging the so-called adequacy gap, the amount estimated it would take to adequately educate all students, factoring in student needs. House Democrats want $5.4 billion more put into public education over the next seven years.

Parker and the group, which also included City Council President Kenyatta Johnson, sent Gov. Josh Shapiro a letter Monday emphasizing both their unity and their demand that Philadelphias funding gap  which amounts to $1.4 billion over the seven years  be closed.

The school district has already passed a $4.5 billion budget that banks on the additional $242 million in state funding, and Watlington said the system would use it well  hiring teachers, investing in social and emotional supports, and restarting Parent University, an education program for families.

Here are some takeaways from Tuesdays City Hall news conference:

Strange bedfellows took a united stand.

Parker, who has emphasized the need for one Philadelphia from the beginning of her administration, assembled a group of 15 leaders that included Superintendent Tony B. Watlington Sr., representatives of Philadelphia Charters for Excellence and the African American Charter School Coalition, the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers, and the district principals union  organizations that have not always been on the same side of issues  to show a united front.

A pumped-up Parker said she felt warm and fuzzy about the assemblage.

I told Philadelphia that I wouldnt whisper about it, Parker said. I would not engage in the type of politics, especially when it comes to public education, that traditionally puts what we refer to traditional public schools versus public charter schools, and work to pit the two against each other. The fact of the matter is none of our schools have the resources that they need to provide the 21st-century quality education that students need, that the students in our great city deserve. We have waited too long. We are looking to Harrisburg.

Joel Boyd, CEO of Mastery Charter Schools, said the point was to stop fighting, and start fighting together on behalf of children, to not look into the past, but look to the future. What we know is that a funding gap leads to an opportunity and access gap.

Parker would not take a public position on vouchers.

Parker refused to say where she stood on a Republican-led campaign to set aside millions in the budget for vouchers to send children from economically disadvantaged families to private schools. The controversial campaign was recently endorsed by Jay-Zs Roc Nation. Shapiro supports vouchers if they are tied to the education funding increases he wants; most Democrats are anti-voucher.

Asked about her position on the plan, Parker refused to engage, repeating that she was super excited about the prospect of $242 million more for Philadelphia schools.

We are not at the table negotiating the state budget, said Parker, herself a former state representative. It doesnt behoove us to muddy the waters with positions on things that may or may not ever come to pass, the mayor said; Harrisburg lawmakers need to go to the table with everything they need to hammer out the best compromise they can on behalf of our students.

Passing this budget could be a watershed for the commonwealth.

Lawmakers have a July 1 deadline to pass a budget, and often debate right up to the wire.

Dan Urevick-Ackelsberg of the Public Interest Law Center, one of the lawyers who successfully argued the landmark education funding lawsuit, said the proposed budget could be a watershed for the commonwealth for school spending.

Children dont have Rs or Ds next to their name, Urevick-Ackelsberg said at City Hall of political designations. They have potential, and it is time to begin fulfilling it. It is time for this to become law.
Benny Lai and his mother, Thuyen Luu, of Vietnam Restaurant backstage at the James Beard Awards in Chicago. Read more

Philadelphias recent hot streak at the James Beard Foundations restaurant and chef awards ended Monday.

The citys lone finalist  Jesse Ito, chef-owner of Royal Sushi & Izakaya in Queen Village  lost in voting to chef Harley Peet of Bas Rouge in Easton, Md., in the outstanding chef, Mid-Atlantic category. This was Itos seventh time as finalist in various Beard categories.

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Ito had support afterward from friends and mentors from Philadelphia, chef Chutatip Nok Suntaranon and restaurateur Ellen Yin, both of whom won Beard Awards after disappointments. Yin told him that when she first lost, JoAnn Clevenger from Upperline in New Orleans told her: Honey, its not if you win or lose, just keep getting invited to the party.

But still, Philadelphia commanded attention at the 2024 awards. The sight of Benny Lai and his mother, Thuyen Luu, striding across the stage at the Lyric Opera in Chicago to receive an award for Vietnam Restaurant in Chinatown was inspiring. As one of this years Americas Classics restaurants, Vietnam was honored for serving quality food, reflecting the character of their communities, and having timeless appeal.

 READ MORE: The story of Vietnam, an America's Classic restaurant

Luu and her husband, Nhu Lai, owned a sandal factory in South Vietnam that was confiscated by the communists after the fall of Saigon, and they arrived in the United States with $30 in their pockets. They opened a grocery in West Philadelphia, followed by the Chinatown restaurant, and later a second restaurant in West Philadelphia.

Philadelphia was last shut out of the chef and restaurant awards in 2016. The next year, however, the citys scene came roaring back: the best chef in America was Michael Solomonov (Zahav, Laser Wolf, et al.), best restaurateur was Stephen Starr, best chef in the Mid-Atlantic region was Greg Vernick, and Sam Calagione of Dogfish Head Brewery in Milton, Del., was named best wine, spirits, or beer professional.

Last year was also a particularly bright year for Philadelphia: Friday Saturday Sunday was named the outstanding restaurant and Ellen Yin its outstanding restaurateur, while Chutatip Nok Suntaranon of Kalaya was named the best chef in the Mid-Atlantic region.

No awards were given in 2020 and 2021 because of the pandemic and the Beards reaction to criticism that its nominees lacked diversity.

Philadelphians received solid Beard attention this year in other categories. Inquirer critic Craig LaBan and photographer Jessica Griffin won Saturday for travel writing for a series of articles about Cantina La Martina chef Dionicio Jimenezs first post-pandemic trip home to Puebla as well as a deep dive into tequila and mezcal production led by Philadelphia restaurateur David Suro of Tequilas.

LaBan was a finalist this year in the criticism category won by the New Yorkers Helen Rosner.

Books by local authors won both beverage categories. Suro and coauthor Gary Paul Nabhan won Beverage without Recipes for Agave Spirits: The Past, Present, and Future of Mezcals. South Jersey bartender Danny Childs won in Beverage with Recipes for Slow Drinks: A Field Guide to Foraging and Fermenting Seasonal Sodas, Botanical Cocktails, Homemade Wines, and More.

Also, two of the five recipients of the foundations 2024 Leadership Awards work in the region and were recognized in a ceremony Sunday for working to set standards that create more equitable, just, sustainable, and economically viable food systems for producers, workers, and consumers alike. Muhammad Abdul-Hadi of Down North Pizza and the Down North Foundation in North Philadelphia was cited for Industry Culture and Practices, while Christa Barfield of FarmerJawn was honored for Emerging Leadership as someone at the beginning of their career but already doing significant work.

Food critic Craig LaBan contributed to this article.
Benefits Data Trust has call-center employees, shown here before the pandemic, who contact individuals who may be eligible for government benefits. Read more

Benefits Data Trust, the recipient of a no-strings-attached $20 million grant from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott in 2022, replaced its CEO with the organizations chief financial officer on an interim basis, the nonprofit said Tuesday.

The Philadelphia nonprofit, which helps people access government benefits, did not say why its board replaced CEO Trooper Sanders with its chief financial officer, Wendy Starner, who joined Benefits Data Trust early last year. Sanders had been CEO since September 2019.

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During these challenging times, I appreciate the confidence that the board of directors has placed in me to serve them and BDT in this capacity as interim CEO and CFO, Starner said.

A board document obtained by The Inquirer showed that as of October, Benefits Data Trust, abbreviated as BDT, was on track to report a $9.8 million loss for 2023. Final 2023 financial results were not available. BDTs 2022 audited financial statement showed that it had $46 million in revenue, up from $28 million the year before. The grant from Scott caused the big gain.

In a March 2022 interview about the $20 million gift, Sanders said it would allow the Center City group to think about how to make the challenge of benefits access a thing of the past over the next decade. BDT later called that effort its 10-year moonshot, with the goal of making it possible for everyone who qualifies to apply for benefits in 20 minutes or less.

Warren Kantor, a former credit card executive, founded BDT in 2005. He wanted to see whether marketing techniques used to sell people credit cards could help find seniors and others who needed help signing up for benefits. Kantor was motivated by the challenge of helping his widowed mother sign up for a prescription drug benefit.

State government agencies, health insurers, and others pay the Philadelphia nonprofit to help people access government benefits for food, housing, and health care. BDT operates in about 15 states. Two years ago, it employed 340, many of them working in call centers.

When BDT works with health insurers, its often with Medicaid managed-care companies. But last week, Independence Blue Cross announced that it was working with BDT to help privately insured customers with prediabetes access benefits, such as food, childcare, housing, and utilities.
Activity on Kensington Ave. is seen in the foreground, with the Cantina La Martina restaurant in the background on Friday. Read more

Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel confirmed Monday that at least 75 additional police officers will be deployed to Kensington as soon as next week, and that the department intends to move quickly from warning of consequences into a phase of heavier narcotics enforcement.

Echoing what police commanders told Kensington residents at a community meeting last week, Bethel said that a communication phase about the impending enforcement would be followed very quickly by a crackdown on open-air drug activity and other quality-of-life crimes that have long been viewed as the norm in Kensington.

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The communication and enforcement phases did not come with a set timeline, as Bethel said that Mayor Cherelle L. Parkers five-phase plan to stabilize the neighborhood remains fluid, and that there would be overlap. But Bethel made clear that arrests would increase in order to tackle the drug trade and attendant shootings in a neighborhood that has endured a historic concentration of gun violence since the pandemic.

There is nowhere in America this should be happening, Bethel said. And if I was anywhere else in the city of Philadelphia, no one would be ask me a question as to what Im doing with people who are out there committing crimes, selling drugs, shooting and killing people.

Open-air drug use  long overlooked in Kensington  would also no longer be accepted by police.

Bethel said that the communication phase would entail informational leaflets warning people about the impending enforcement, with scannable QR codes with information about treatment and other resources. Police last week said the signs and fliers could go up Monday, but by late afternoon, no such information was clearly visible on Kensington Avenue, and people who frequent the area said they had not yet seen any literature.

The enforcement ramp-up is complicated by the citys strained treatment system. Outreach efforts in Kensington have increased in recent months leading up the closure of a homeless encampment along Kensington Avenue. But city officials have said that more than 90% the citys treatment and shelter beds are consistently full, and many drug users in Kensington have complex medical needs due to the animal tranquilizer xylazine that has permeated the illicit drug supply, leaving users with open flesh wounds that are easily infected.

Parker intends to spend more than $100 million building a drug-treatment center capable of housing more than 600 people near the citys jail complex in Northeast Philadelphia. But the project could take three years to complete. In the meantime, officials are seeking to expand services and add beds for people with substance-use disorders at existing shelters  to vocal objection from residents who live near those facilities.

While vowing to increase arrests, Bethel said he was not trying to overrun the system by locking up hundreds of people living in addiction on the streets. He said he would continue to utilize the Police-Assisted Diversion program to offer rehabilitation for people facing criminal charges for low-level drug offenses, and seek collaboration with District Attorney Larry Krasner and the citys court system.

Amid criticism from some business owners, residents, and community leaders over the displacement of the drug market that occurred after last months encampment clearing, police have stressed that change would not come overnight. Conditions would likely get worse before they get better, Deputy Commissioner Pedro Rosario, who is overseeing the Kensington operation, said last week.

But on Monday, Bethel said the extra police presence would remain in the neighborhood for the long haul.

Were going to give hope to a community that has lost hope, he said.

Kensingtons new fleet of officers will be rookies, graduating fresh from the police academy on June 17. Bethel said the officers would be working on foot beats that have been utilized by the department for more than a decade. The incoming officers will be equipped with body-worn cameras, the commissioner added, and patrolling under the supervision of more senior officers.

The long-term goal is sustain and hold one block at a time, beginning with a triangular target area centered on the intersection of Kensington and Allegheny Avenues, the epicenter of the neighborhoods drug trade. Police will focus on clearing sidewalks using bike racks and barricades, similar to those deployed after the recent encampment closure.

Bethel said there is no playbook for Philadelphias approach to Kensington, noting that few major cities have a neighborhood with a comparably entrenched drug trade dating back decades. But the dawn of this next chapter would seek to reset the norms, he said.
Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle L. Parker hopes her plans to clean up city streets will put an end to scenes such this one on North Front Street near Dauphin Street from Jan. 3. Read more

Mayor Cherelle L. Parker made progress on her pledge to make Philadelphia the safest, cleanest, greenest big city in America by winning unanimous approval from City Council last week for a $6.37 billion budget that dedicates tens of millions more each year for sanitation.

The Parker administration asserted this would pave the way for at least $214 million, over the next five years, for new clean and green programs.

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Residents will be able to see, touch, and feel the positive impacts of this budget in their neighborhoods, along their commercial corridors, and throughout Philadelphia, Parker said in a statement Thursday.

Philadelphia is one of the only major American cities that lacks a regular citywide street cleaning program, and long relied almost solely on spot sweeping or volunteers to combat litter. Parker campaigned in part on cracking down on litter and illegal dumping through a holistic strategy, often reiterating that she wants the city to shed an undesired nickname: Filthadelphia.

To that end, Parker created the Office of Clean and Green Initiatives and formed a related 38-person cabinet to guide sanitation and other beautification efforts. She also put the sanitation division, part of the Streets Department, under the newly created office. The Streets Department will continue to handle paving and road maintenance.

 READ MORE: Mayor Parkers $246 million plan to clean up Filthadelphia

One major component of Parkers new budget: $100 million over five years to expand Philadelphia Taking Care of Business (TCB), a program Parker created in 2020 as a member of Council that funnels money through the Commerce Department to neighborhood groups, which in turn contract with companies to clean commercial corridors.

The extra funding would expand the program  which currently pays for about 250 workers across 39 different organizations  to new areas, including some adjacent residential streets. Officials have said it would also add funds for tree plantings and vacant lot cleaning.

Budget documents outlined plans for $4 million to enhance illegal dumping enforcement  including $1 million for new surveillance cameras  and $1.4 million for specialized 10-person cleaning crews that would be assigned to each Council district.

Parker also later committed to a new program to clean every block in the city at least once a year, over the course of the summer. This program would largely use existing funding, officials said.

Other initiatives outlined by the administration included a new twice-weekly trash collection pilot  intended to address the problem of people putting household trash on the curb well ahead of official collection days. The city also plans to install 1,500 Big Belly compacting trash cans.

Specifics on these new initiatives remain scant. The administration has not publicly said where TCB cleaning, street sweeping, and the enhanced trash collection pilot would expand, or when.

The Parker administration said that adding the costs of capital projects and funds to departments such as Parks and Recreation for related cleaning and greening efforts would bring total expenditures through 2030 to $477 million.

 READ MORE: Mayor Parkers $200+ million plan to clean up Filthadelphia

Carlton Williams, the former Streets commissioner, was promoted by Parker to head the Office of Clean and Green Initiatives. He described this work as fighting both litter and crime, saying he believes in the broken windows theory that posits that fixing public nuisances discourages crime.

Theres a strong relationship between crime and grime, Williams said at a news conference that kicked off the citywide cleaning effort.

Parkers overall cleaning strategy won effusive praise from Council members who, in hearings, described endless complaints from residents about litter and dumping.

When the constituents call me screaming and yelling at me, Im like, Who can I call to get some additional help? Council President Kenyatta Johnson said.

Yvette Watts, who runs a janitorial company contracted to perform work through TCB, said she was excited about more city money being spent on cleaning.

Being a cleaning company, Im somewhat biased, because I want everything clean, she said. But I think its a wonderful idea. Who doesnt want their community clean if you live here and work here?

Parker has linked her political success to improving the citys quality of life. At the Wednesday event, she linked the passage of her proposed budget to the fulfillment of those promises.

Its going to seal the deal and make this new clean and green the standard operating procedure for the city of Philadelphia, she said. This is how were going to make Philadelphians believe in our city again.

Staff writer Sean Collins Walsh contributed to this article.
Josh Kruger, left, was formerly the communications director for the Office of Homeless Services at City of Philadelphia. Read more

A 20-year-old man pleaded guilty Monday and was sentenced to 15 to 30 years in prison for the fatal shooting of local journalist and advocate Josh Kruger in October, court records show.

The negotiated guilty plea to third-degree murder and related offenses was expected from Robert Davis, who killed Kruger, 39, on Oct. 2.

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Police said Davis entered Krugers Point Breeze home in the middle of the night and shot him multiple times before fleeing. Kruger was able to get outside and collapsed on the sidewalk. He was taken by police to the hospital, where he died.

Davis guilty plea before Philadelphia Common Pleas Judge Barbara A. McDermott also included counts of aggravated assault and illegal gun possession for firing a gun at someone on a SEPTA platform in late September.

Davis lawyer Andrea Konow could not be reached for comment.

A spokesperson for District Attorney Larry Krasner acknowledged Davis sentencing, but declined further comment.

Police have said that Davis and Kruger had been in a sexual relationship and that the killing was domestic in nature. Davis became addicted to meth during his involvement with Kruger, Davis mother and brother said, and this exacerbated Davis ongoing mental health troubles. They said Davis told them Kruger often provided him with the drugs.

Davis mother and older brother told The Inquirer that the relationship between the two began years ago  when Davis was 15  and involved sex, drugs, and abuse. They said in previous interviews that Davis told them Kruger was threatening to post sexually explicit videos of him online before, police say, Davis shot him.

Kruger was well-known locally as a freelance journalist and advocate for the LGBTQ community, and people experiencing addiction and homelessness. He worked for the city, including the Office of Homeless Services, for five years.

His death shocked many in the Philadelphia area who knew and supported his work.
Bill Whiting, one of the former Wanamakers employees who is missing his pension, poses outside the iconic former department store, now a Macy's, on Chestnut Street. Read more

Bill Whitings job at Wanamakers holds a dear place in his heart. For Whiting, who worked there in his 20s and 30s, it was a deeply formative time  and a whole lotta fun.

He was hired as a corporate designer in the 1970s, back in the renowned department stores heyday, and during his nearly seven years there, he worked on fashion shows and window displays, and even designed a massive Shinto shrine for the stores Japan fair.

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He immortalized the tie and shoelaces he wore to the interview, using them as upholstery on two tiny French chairs he made for a 19th-century replica of a Spruce Street townhouse. Decades later, he still keeps in touch with many of his former coworkers.

But theres something about the job that doesnt sit right with Whiting, who is now 74:

He never got his pension.

Hes certain he contributed to it  and hes not sure how to access it. Through a Facebook group, he has found more than 40 former employees who are in the same boat.

Some tried Macys  the current owner after several Wanamakers acquisitions  and had no luck. Others, such as Whiting, tried the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. (PBGC), the government agency that protects workers pensions. A representative told him that in order to help the former workers, the PBGC needed to know the pension plan number. But Whiting didnt have any records from that time. His colleagues didnt, either.

You know, from your 20s to early 30s, I dont think it ever dawns on you that youre gonna get old, let alone die, he said.

Many, he said, have given up on ever getting the money they were promised.

 READ MORE: An author who was sold on Wanamakers

A Macys spokesperson said the company would evaluate each request from former employees regarding the pension and send a written response.

Whiting and his colleagues situation is not uncommon. Employees who worked at a company like Wanamakers that was bought and sold over the years are especially vulnerable to losing track of their pensions.

The PBGC holds benefits for 61,000 workers  known as missing participants  whose employers terminated their pensions plans and transferred the benefits to the agency, a PBGC spokesperson said.

Wanamakers and two of the companies that acquired it over the years, Woodward & Lothrop and JCPenney, terminated their defined benefit plans, the PBGC spokesperson confirmed. When a pension plan is terminated, it no longer pays out recurring benefits. Instead, the money is converted into lump-sum payments or annuities.

PBGC said it could not comment on specific cases but encouraged former employees to contact the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. (1-800-400-7242)  even if they dont have their pension plan number.

Ron Garwood worked at Wanamakers for 45 years through five different owners including Macys. It was the best career he could have had, he said. As a visual merchandise manager, he was in charge of a team that designed how goods were displayed across the store, and the company allowed his group creative control. He started there in 1966.

Back in those days, he said, money was no object.

 READ MORE: Go inside the Wanamaker Organ, the worlds largest playable instrument

He remembers members of the Wanamaker family being present around the store, tapping on the window and saying hello to the workers. They made us feel special, he said.

But Garwood, who is now 80 and lives in Tennessee, said that he, too, never received his pension.

Tyler Compton runs the UMass Boston Pension Action Center, which focuses on helping people in the New England area track down their lost pensions, called it unfortunately very, very common that workers dont know how to get the benefits theyve earned. The good news, though, is that pensions are protected by the government through the PBGC.

It is incredibly rare for a pension to just disappear, she said. That being said, it is very difficult to trace them.

Her center serves 300 to 350 clients a year. The recovery process can take anywhere between six to 18 months, and even longer if a pension plan disagrees that a worker is owed. In that case, her team helps retirees file a claim for benefits and eventually appeal, if necessary. Sometimes the discrepancy is due to a record-keeping error, she said, since some records are so old that they were handwritten or composed on typewriters.

The Mid-America Pension Rights Project covers workers in Pennsylvania who are trying to get ahold of their pension.

After The Inquirer reached out to PBGC, the agency offered its help to Whiting. He is in talks with it now, as well as with the Mid-America Pension Rights Project.

Garwood, though, doesnt hold out much hope that hell get his pension.

He could certainly use it; he and his partner are on Social Security, which is great, but theres only so much, and he said there are people he knows from his Wanamakers days whom hed like to help financially.

Technically, it really was to go to us, Garwood said. Thats what a pension is.
Takia McClendon, left, in her classroom with Principal Aliya Catanch-Bradley, right, at Bethune Elementary School, in Philadelphia in February. The state House approved a bill Monday that would increase state funding to the School District of Philadelphia. Read more

HARRISBURG  Pennsylvania could have a new public school funding system for the next academic year  one that Democratic lawmakers hope will meet their constitutional duty to offer all students in the state a fair and equitable education.

The Pennsylvania House passed the sweeping education funding changes Monday in a bipartisan, 107-94 vote. The bill sets up the state to increase state funding of public schools by $864 million in the next academic year, and a broader proposal calls for more than $5 billion over seven years.

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Public school advocates say the changes are conservative but would be transformative. The bill is certain to face scrutiny in the GOP-controlled Senate, where lawmakers have expressed concerns about the plan.

Heres what you need to know about the proposal, its future, and why lawmakers are trying to change the system now.

How much money would school districts get under the bill?

House Democrats want to push $5.4 billion into public education over the next seven years, $5.1 billion of which would be funded by the state. Low-tax districts that could contribute more by raising their local taxes would be responsible for making up the remaining $291 million. The legislation advanced Monday would cover only one year of spending; new spending during the seven-year plan would need to be reapproved by lawmakers each year as part of the states annual budget.

The proposal creates new adequacy targets, which would calculate how much each school district needs to spend to adequately educate students.

Under this proposal, Philadelphia would be eligible to receive $1.4 billion over the next seven years, or $242 million in the upcoming fiscal year.

The proposal also includes nearly $1 billion more over seven years for tax equity supplements for particularly high-taxing school districts.

The bill outlines how school districts can spend the additional money, and the potential uses include raising teachers salaries to $60,000 a year. Pennsylvania needs 15,000 more teachers to meet its needs, and advocates have long sought higher salaries in hopes of enticing more people to become educators.

What comes next for the education funding bill?

The bill must pass both the House and Senate and be signed by Gov. Josh Shapiro to become law. It now goes to the Senate, where Republican leaders have noted that lawmakers cant predict the states economic future. They said its therefore difficult to commit to a seven-year plan to fully fund the new system, and they have also long been resistant to cyber charter school funding changes included in the legislation.

Shapiro and the legislature will work to agree to a funding plan ahead of the July 1 deadline to pass a budget for the upcoming fiscal year.

As negotiations continue, an unusual group of 15 charter, public school, and union leaders  led by Mayor Cherelle L. Parker and City Council President Kenyatta Johnson  have called for support of the House bill passed Monday.

Our organizations represent different sectors, have different missions, and have policy differences on a range of issues, but we have come together with one voice to urge you to take action to support the needs of all Philadelphia students, the coalition officials wrote in a letter sent Sunday to Shapiro and legislative leaders.

Why does Pennsylvania need a new public education funding system?

Shapiro and lawmakers were tasked by a Commonwealth Court judge last year with creating a new public education funding system.

The February 2023 landmark ruling found that Pennsylvania has been violating students constitutional rights to an education, leaving schools with inadequate resources. School districts rely heavily on local property taxes to fund public education, which creates an inequitable system across the state in which poor school districts cant raise as much as their wealthier peers.

Although Pennsylvania has a school funding formula that directs additional money to needier districts, its been applied only to a portion of state education funding, so that districts with declining enrollment arent penalized. As a result, the formulas impact has been limited.

A bipartisan commission of lawmakers worked for six months on a new system  which culminated Monday with the passage of the 87-page bill.

Today, we tell every young learner, no matter where they live, we tell them that they matter and that their educational opportunities will not be limited by the tax base of their neighborhood, State Rep. Mary Isaacson (D., Philadelphia), who helped draft the bill, said on the House floor Monday.

Several Republican House members said that they didnt believe another blank check to school districts would actually address the issues, and that the bill does not do enough to hold individual school districts accountable for providing Pennsylvania students with a good-quality education.

We need to be looking forward for public policy that is going to involve more than just money. We have to be able to measure success, said State Rep. Jesse Topper (R., Bedford), the minority chair of the House Education committee. Our students deserve that. I know we can do better, and I believe we will do better.

What about cyber charter schools?

The legislation would also cut the tuition rates that school districts pay cyber charters  setting a flat per pupil rate of $8,000 for most students. Currently, districts pay cyber charters $8,639 to $26,564, depending on the districts own per pupil spending.

The proposed new rates are the same as what brick-and-mortar charter schools receive. The current difference between the two has been a complaint from public school advocates, who say the virtual schools dont cost as much to run.

The cyber charter tuition changes  which would also adjust payments for special education students at the charters, with rates ranging from $13,120 to $50,720 depending on the severity of the disability  would save districts $530 million next year alone, according to House Democrats.
The most controversial project to come before the Philadelphia Land Bank in the last year is officially dead.

Over the last nine months, the Philadelphia Land Bank considered a proposal from developer Mohamed Mo Rushdy for the city to sell him dozens of properties in the Norris Square neighborhood at a very low price so he could build modestly priced units for homeownership.

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Neighborhood groups and local community development corporations opposed the idea from the start. The project would have been orchestrated through the citys Turn The Key program, which subsidizes homeownership for working-class residents with preference for city employees. Local advocates argued that such homes would still be priced above what most longtime neighborhood residents could afford.

On May 17, Rushdy capitulated in a mass email sent to neighborhood organizations.

I wanted to inform everyone that I will be withdrawing the Seventh District application for a 45 Turn the Key home project from the land bank, Rushdy wrote. I hear you loud and clear, and that is why Im withdrawing my application.

Crucially, Rushdys project never appeared to have the support of the areas Councilmember, Quetcy Lozada, who would have to introduce legislation to transfer the land from the citys Land Bank. In October she submitted a letter of opposition to the project. She declined to comment for this article.

Rushdy pushed forward anyway, asking the Land Bank board to at least vote on his plan. Consideration was hampered multiple times by lack of a quorum to vote. This lead him to briefly serve on the Land Bank board himself, where he said his company would seek no more city-owned property (while continuing to pursue this effort).

He stepped down just before a raucous March meeting in Norris Square where neighborhood residents pummeled him with questions.

At the same time, Rushdy attempted to tailor the project to win community and Council support. He narrowed the projects scope from 75 properties, some at market rate, to 45 properties that would be sold only with Turn the Key subsidies  to no avail.

Public land should be for the public good, said Will Gonzalez, executive director of Ceiba, a coalition of Latino groups. This effort has solidified the community around the need for affordable housing, and the Latino CDCs are looking to be more innovative in terms of securing financing [to redevelop the land].

Rushdy, who is also president of the Building Industry Association of Philadelphia, said the saga demonstrates why most developers avoid the Land Bank to acquire property.

While the housing wouldnt have been affordable to the lowest-income residents, he said, it also wouldnt have been priced like new market-rate homes in Kensington or Fishtown. He predicts that nothing will happen on these parcels for a long time.

We need so much more subsidies if we are going to just focus on [housing for the] lowest income, Rushdy said. If were going to wait for that money, were not going to do much.
To capitalise on a favourable current environment and to build strong foundations for future success, investment in technology and platforms for growth is key for insurance intermediaries, he said. Businesses that can leverage technology effectively can boost client and employee experiences, as well as operational efficiency. This then allows for your key assets, your people, to spend more time with new and existing clients, adding value and mitigating risk.
While the financial services industry works toward the betterment of their clients, its unfortunate that there are a small few who take advantage of the trust bestowed on them. Ensuring some basic consumer protections works to lift trust in the financial services industry and the professions that support it, he said. This crucial safety net for victims of financial services misconduct is now in place, and those who have experienced financial loss through no fault of their own are being compensated.
In an Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA) case in February 2024, Allianz was unsuccessful in denying a landlords claim after a fire destroyed the property. AFCA determined that the insurer could not prove the property had been unoccupied for more than 60 days, noting that it failed to ask any occupancy-related questions in the renewal schedule.
Previously, Guy Carpenter estimated that flooding in the UAE, Bahrain, and Oman could generate insured losses of up to $850 million. Preliminary estimates suggested that insured property losses from the April 14-17 floods would likely exceed $650 million, with potential losses in the UAE reaching as high as $850 million. Dubai was identified as the most affected emirate.
The work we do is driven by the need to prevent workplace injuries, and making sure employers have the important cover needed to protect their workers, he said. We continue to listen to the feedback were receiving from the industry and provide brokers and employers with access to ongoing industry expertise and valuable resources. The broker hub is now available to further support brokers to make the right decisions about workers compensation insurance for NSW employers.
Alliant Insurance Services is expanding its benefits presence with the addition of Matt Richard (pictured above left) and Tricia Schmidt (pictured above right) to its Employee Benefits Group. Both appointments are part of Alliant's strategy to strengthen its regional leadership and expertise.
I am very proud of our colleagues at AIG and Corebridge for all they contributed over the past several years, along with the focus and discipline with which they executed on the separation of the life & retirement business.
Kevin was key to the start of our digital journey 25 years ago and has been at the center of building the Hiscox digital offering into the powerhouse it is today, Hussain stated. We are immensely grateful for the deep expertise and drive that Kevin has brought to our business over his time here, and we wish him all the best with his next steps.
Greg DiPrato (pictured left) joined the groups operations in New York as a property broker and senior vice president. With over four decades of experience in the industry, DiPrato previously spent more than 16 years as a senior vice president at a leading independent insurance brokerages global property practice.
Retail giant Walmart says it is against putting panic buttons in stores  a move that the New York legislature wants to require under a new law aimed at keeping retail workers safe.

On Friday, the New York State Senate passed legislation that would make most big retail chains, including Walmart WMT.N, to put panic buttons in their New York stores where employees can easily access them or provide staff with wearable, or mobile-phone-activated, panic buttons that summon emergency services.

The law, which is a reaction to rising threats to store clerks from thefts and violence, was already passed by the states Assembly and now goes to Governor Kathy Hochul for signature. Retail groups have criticized the law in part because installing the panic buttons would be costly.

Walmarts top corporate affairs officer told Reuters that the company opposes the panic button idea because it believes there are likely to be many false alarms.

Eight out of 10 times somebody thinks somethings going on, theres actually not, Dan Bartlett, Walmart executive vice president of corporate affairs, told Reuters on Friday.

Walmart said it hired its first chief safety officer in April to evaluate store worker safety. The nations largest retailer, Walmart operates 4,700 stores, including 98 in New York state.

The panic button provision of the New York law would go into effect in 2027 for retailers with more than 500 employees nationwide.

The legislation would also require most retailers with 10 or more employees to provide violence prevention and safety training to their staff.

Union Support

While Walmart is not unionized, the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, which represents more than 100,000 U.S. workers, has pushed for the bill to become law in New York.

A group of retail industry lobbyists including the National Retail Federation and the Food Industry Alliance of New York State has opposed it.

The costly mandates proposed in the bill  including the installation of panic buttons  will do little, if anything, to address recidivists entering stores with the intent to engage in illegal activity such as shoplifting and assault, the group wrote in a May 28 letter.

They also endorsed a New York Police Department Community Affairs Bureau statement opposing panic buttons. A New York City council committee said in 2019 phone calls to 911 are better because they give responders vital information that panic buttons do not.

We stand by the letter and have concerns relative to mandating panic buttons, Michael Durant, CEO of the Food Industry Alliance of New York State, told Reuters on Saturday.

At Walmarts annual meeting in Bentonville, Arkansas, this week, shareholders voted down a proposal from Walmart store employee shareholders who wanted Walmart to conduct an independent review of its policies and practices on workplace safety and violence.

(Reporting by Siddharth Cavale; Editing by Vanessa OConnell, Gerry Doyle and Cynthia Osterman)

Topics New York
Britam Holdings Ltd. is hunting for opportunities to enter the massive but under-served insurance market in Democratic Republic of Congo later this year.

Kenyas biggest listed insurer by market value with operations in seven African economies is chiefly seeking an acquisition, but could establish a greenfield operation, according to Chief Executive Officer Tom Gitogo. It will initially launch life and general insurance products, before introducing asset management, he said.

Congo is an attractive market with Africas fourth-biggest population of about 100 million people and insurance penetration  the ratio of gross direct insurance premiums to gross domestic product  is below the continents average of 2.6% and a global average of 7.4% as calculated by Deloitte LLP.

We think it can be as big as Kenya in a few years for our group, Gitogo said.

Congos national investment promotion agency estimates the market could be as big as $5 billion. The extractive industry alone is valued at about $1 billion, Alain Kaninda Ngalula, the head of the nations insurance regulator known as ARCA, told Geopolis in February. President Felix Tshisekedi wants major economic players including mining companies to pay premiums inside Congo and not buy cover outside the country.

Africas second-largest nation by area is one of the worlds poorest countries despite being the second-biggest source of copper and the largest producer of cobalt, a key ingredient in many EV batteries.

Congo liberalized its insurance industry about a decade ago, enabling competition to the state-owned monopoly Societe National dAssurances.

Closely held Mayfair Insurance Co. expanded to Congo in 2020, according to its website. Other Kenya-based insurers keen on the market include Jubilee Holdings Ltd. and CIC Insurance Group Ltd.

Expansion into Congo is something that is in our plans, CIC CEO Patrick Nyaga said.

Africas insurance market was $87.4 billion in 2023 and the size could reach $154 billion by 2032, according to research by IMARC Group.

Britam controlled a fifth of long-term and 8.2% of general underwritten gross premiums in Kenya by end-2023, according to Kenyas Insurance Regulatory Authority. The countrys penetration rate was 2.29% in 2022, it said.

Photograph: Birere market in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo. Photo credit: Arlette Bashizi/Bloomberg

Copyright 2024 Bloomberg.

Topics Trends New Markets Market
Singapore Airlines has sent compensation offers to passengers on a flight last month from London to Singapore that ran into severe turbulence, causing dozens of injuries and a death, the carrier said on Tuesday.

Passengers with minor injuries have been offered $10,000, while those with serious injuries can discuss offers to meet specific needs, it added.

Passengers medically assessed as having sustained serious injuries, requiring long-term medical care, and requesting financial assistance are offered an advance payment of $25,000 to address their immediate needs, that will form part of any final settlement, the airline said.

Three weeks after the May 20 flight, 11 passengers are still receiving medical care in hospitals in Bangkok, according to the airline.

Allianz Is Lead Insurer for Singapore Airlines Incident: Sources

A 73-year-old passenger died of a suspected heart attack and dozens were injured after flight SQ321 encountered what the airline described as sudden, extreme turbulence while flying over Myanmar. It diverted to Bangkok, the Thai capital.

Passengers said crew and those not strapped in left the floor or their seats and slammed into the cabin ceiling, cracking it in places. A Bangkok hospital treating passengers said there were spinal cord, brain and skull injuries.

Singapore Airlines said it would refund passengers airfares and compensate them for the delay in line with European Union or British regulations covering their tickets.

An international agreement, the Montreal Convention, makes airlines liable for physical injuries from accidents on international flights, which can include turbulence, regardless of whether they were negligent.

If passengers file a lawsuit, the airline cannot contest damages up to about $175,000, but if greater damages are sought, Singapore Airlines can try to limit liability by proving it took all necessary measures to avoid the turbulence, lawyers say.

Allianz is the lead insurer for the aircraft, sources speaking on condition of anonymity have told Reuters.

Individuals travel insurance policies will probably cover injuries from aircraft turbulence, but policies may vary, the Association of British Insurers said after the incident.

Travel claims lawyer Peter Carter said his Australia-based firm, Carter Capner Law, which represents some passengers, is paying close attention to what accident reports may say about the type of turbulence and whether pilots could have avoided it.

Shares in Singapore Airlines fell 0.4% on Tuesday. The stock remains little changed since the May 20 incident.

Cause of Turbulence

In a preliminary report, Singapores Transport Ministry said a rapid change in gravitational force and a drop in altitude of 54 m (177 ft) probably caused passengers and crew to become airborne.

The plane was probably flying over an area of developing convective activity, it said, using a term referring to developing bad weather.

The most common cause of turbulence is the unstable weather patterns that trigger storms, which can be detected by weather radar, allowing pilots to fly around potential patches.

Another type, clear air turbulence, is a sudden and severe swirl even where there are no clouds. Such invisible pockets of air are hard to predict.

There were 211 passengers, including many Australians, British and Singaporeans, and 18 crew members on the flight.

The incident put seatbelt practices in the spotlight, with airlines typically allowing passengers to undo belts during normal cruise conditions, while recommending they keep them on.

Singapore Airlines, which is widely recognized as one of the worlds leading airlines and a benchmark for much of the industry, has not had major incidents in recent years.

An analyst at Singapore-based DBS bank, Jason Sum, said the turbulence incident had not altered the banks view on the carrier.

We anticipate limited negative impact as public perception of the airlines safety standards and consumer sentiment remains intact, he told Reuters on Tuesday, adding its crisis management had been exemplary.

Airlines look to turbulence data, but shy from more seatbelt curbs

(Reporting by Lisa Barrington in Seoul, Xinghui Kok in Singapore; editing by Jamie Freed and Clarence Fernandez)

Topics Talent Aviation
A more rightward-leaning European Parliament will make it harder to pass ambitious EU climate policies, but the majority of Europes current world-leading green policies are likely to stay put, lawmakers, officials and analysts said.

Provisional results in the European Parliament election on Sunday night showed centrist parties holding a majority, but gains for right-wing and far-right parties skeptical of the EUs Green Deal package of environmental policies, and heavy losses for Green parties.

I dont think that well be rolling back on (climate) policies. But I do think that it will be more complicated to get new policies off the ground, Bas Eickhout, head of the European Parliaments Greens lawmaker group, told Reuters.

EU climate measures over the next five years will depend on the incoming European Commission, which is responsible for proposing EU laws. But the newly elected European Parliament will get a say on every new green policy.

Sundays election result signals tougher maths to approve new EU climate measures.

All new policies will be harder to pass. But backsliding is very unlikely, Krzysztof Bolesta, Polands secretary of state for climate, told Reuters.

It is possible that new ambition will be delayed, mostly for populistic reasons, agreed Julian Popov, who until April was EU member Bulgarias environment minister.

That could have consequences for an upcoming 2040 EU climate target, needed to steer the EU towards its 2050 net zero emissions target. The EU Commission has suggested the 2040 goal should be an ambitious 90% emissions cut, but it needs approval from both EU countries and the Parliament.

The upcoming European Commission and Parliament will also face tough decisions on whether to introduce new policies to push industries towards that 2040 target.

That includes farming, a sector whose emissions have barely fallen since 2005. But after months of protests across Europe by angry farmers, there is little political appetite to target the sector with new rules, especially if the cost of complying with them would drive up food prices for citizens already dealing with the biggest jump in living costs in a generation.

Shares in renewable energy companies were knocked lower by concerns the election results could slow the green energy transition.

Wind turbine makers, Vestas VWS.CO and Nordex NDXG.DE, were down more than 3% on Monday. Orsted was down 0.5%.

No Big U-Turn

While new climate measures might face a tougher ride, a full-scale reversal of the dozens of EU climate policies passed in the last five years would be legally difficult.

Those policies  which include renewable energy targets and a strengthened carbon pricing regime on power and industry  are fixed into EU law and already being rolled-out across the blocs 27 member states.

Many are already working. EU emissions are down by nearly a third from 1990 levels, and Europe is installing wind and solar energy capacity at record speed.

Still, the election campaign saw mounting calls from the right to scrap some Green Deal policies  with a prime target the EUs 2035 ban on new petrol and diesel cars. That policy has a 2026 review clause, on which the Parliament will get a say.

It was an ideological folly, which absolutely must be corrected, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni told online magazine Open last week.

Three EU diplomats singled out the 2035 car policy as one that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will face significant pressure to weaken, including from some lawmakers in her center-right European Peoples Party who want it scrapped. Von der Leyen needs support from a majority of lawmakers in the new European Parliament to win a second term.

But broad climate policy rollbacks are unlikely, officials and analysts said. Thats partly because the EUs existing climate measures add up to deliver its 2030 climate target  to cut net greenhouse gas emissions 55% from 1990 levels  which national governments and lawmakers both approved into EU law.

There might well be changes in individual pieces of legislation, but what will be important to watch is how this adds up, said Mats Engstrom, senior fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations think-tank.

Dont Call It a Green Deal

Contrary to the last EU election in 2019, when millions of young climate protesters took to Europes streets, this years campaign saw climate change usurped by issues including immigration, economic woes and struggling European industries.

Meeting the EUs 2030 climate target will require investments of 1 trillion euros per year, a jump of around 356 billion per year compared with 2010-2020, according to the European Investment Bank.

Investing in local industries was a campaign pledge across the political spectrum, as competition sharpens with the U.S. and China to produce green tech like low-carbon steel and electric cars.

Some analysts said this focus would see the EU pass more funds and policies to support climate-friendly projects  but with the focus on helping industry, rather than being green and clean.

If its about scaling up manufacturing of green technologies here in Europe, then that may be done in the name of industrial competitiveness and not for the climate, said Linda Kalcher, Executive Director at think-tank Strategic Perspectives.

It might be that we see the rhetoric shifting, but the action on the ground being the same, Kalcher said.

(Reporting by Kate Abnett; additional reporting by Giselda Vagnoni, Julia Payne; editing by Toby Chopra)

Photograph: The industrial backdrop of a BP refinery and a Uniper coal-fired power plant are seen in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, on March 6, 2023. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, File)

Topics Trends Europe
A new bipartisan bill would authorize National Flood Insurance Plan payouts for structures condemned due to chronic erosion or unusual flooding.

Introduced earlier this month by Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) and Congressman Greg Murphy (R-N.C.), the Prevent Environmental Hazards Act would allow advance payouts for demolition or relocation  up to 40% of the homes value, or $250,000  and limit payouts to 40% if owners neglect to act before a collapse.

Coastal communities in Maine know all too well how devastating the impacts of the climate crisis can be, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree said in a press release. Over the last year, Maine has been hit with multiple major storms, and climate emergencies are continuing to increase across the country.

Related: Maine to Spend $25 Million to Rebuild Waterfront Damaged by Winter Storms

She said that the Prevent Environmental Hazards Act enables homeowners to tackle coastal erosion before losing their homes by authorizing the National Flood Insurance Program to give payouts for condemned structures and allowing advanced demolition or relocation funding, and added that giving coastal communities more funding options is crucial to mitigating future climate change impacts, and I am happy to be a part of this bipartisan effort.

In the press release, Murphy said that homeowners should not be forced to wait for their home to cause an environmental hazard before the National Flood Insurance Program is implemented. As many in our coastal communities understand, ocean currents and weather systems are unpredictable.

Related: Video of Carolina Beach House Collapsing into Sea Continues to Go Viral

He pointed to beach erosion in Rodanthe, North Carolina, that destroyed six properties in the last four years, causing massive environmental and personal hazards before the homeowners were able to receive NFIP compensation. Murphy said that proactive planning will better serve eligible beneficiaries, improve public safety, save taxpayer dollars and protect the surrounding environment.

As of press time, the bill had been referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.

According to the EUs climate change monitoring service, each of the past 12 months ranked as the warmest on record in year-on-year comparisons. The U.S. Geological Survey reports that many beaches along the nations coastline have lost more than six feet of shoreline a year over the last century, with costal erosion estimates for much of the country expected to increase in the coming decades.

Topics Maine
A U.S. congressional committee will accuse the biggest Wall Street firms on Tuesday, in a report seen by Reuters ahead of its publication, of colluding with advocacy groups to force companies to shrink their greenhouse gas emissions.

The report is the first of its kind produced by the Republican-led Judiciary Committee in the House of Representatives since it launched an investigation in late 2022 into whether corporate efforts to tackle climate change violate antitrust laws.

Several Republican-controlled states have been already targeting Wall Street firms for entering into climate coalitions and marketing environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG)-focused investment products, fretting that these initiatives will harm jobs in the fossil fuel industry.

This is despite the world failing to live up to an intergovernmental agreement reached in Paris in 2015 to keep global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) so it can avoid the most catastrophic effects of climate change.

In the Judiciary Committees report, the committee staff accuse President Joe Bidens administration of failing to meaningfully investigate the climate cartels collusion, let alone bring enforcement actions against its apparent violations of longstanding U.S. antitrust law.

The goal of any investigation is to inform legislative reforms, a spokesperson for Judiciary Committee chair Jim Jordan said. The spokesperson declined to comment on any interactions with U.S. antitrust regulators regarding the report.

The report said it provided interim findings and that the investigation is continuing.

The committee issued subpoenas for documents and interviewed former regulators during the investigation. Its report on Tuesday focused on Climate Action 100+, a grouping of more than 700 investors focused on getting companies to curb emissions, and credited its investigation for several asset managers ending their membership this year for fear of an antitrust crackdown.

The report says Climate Action 100+ bullies asset managers to join and presses them to use their shareholder votes in support of climate proposals, seeking to reduce fossil fuel extraction and raising energy prices for U.S. consumers.

Climate Action 100+ did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

No antitrust lawsuit has been brought against any climate coalition of companies.

The report also takes aim at Climate Action 100+ co-founders, the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS) and climate-focused investor group Ceres for their key support of Climate Action 100+. It says activist investor Arjuna Capital, a member, seeks to destroy fossil fuel companies.

CalPERS and Arjuna did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Ceres did not immediately provide comment.

The report cited work plans, meeting minutes and other documents it obtained, including an email between Ceres directors comparing their work and that of Climate Action 100+ to the global Navy and the Army ground troops.

Another internal email referenced a Climate Action 100+ plan to replace board members at oil and gas firm Exxon Mobil XOM.N, and said this effort would show (Climate Action 100+) has teeth.

Exxon did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The report also criticized the worlds three biggest asset managers, BlackRock, Vanguard and State Street, as members of the climate cartel.

Representatives for BlackRock, State Street and Vanguard did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The committee has called witnesses including Ceres president Mindy Lubber to appear at a public hearing on June 12.

Topics USA
A contractor cannot be the public adjuster on a claim and cannot advertise itself as an insurance claims negotiator if it does not hold an adjusters license, the Texas Supreme Court decided in a case that could give support to other states that have regulated public adjusting work.

The high court overturned a Texas appeals court ruling and found that a 2003 state law does not regulate free speech and does not violate a roofers constitutional rights, as Stonewater Roofing Ltd. had claimed. The Tyler, Texas-based roofer had sued the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) over the rule in 2020 after a disgruntled customer had sued Stonewater.

The debate about free speech rests largely on a misreading of the public adjuster laws, and TDI wins the day because those statutes operate much more narrowly than Stonewater fears, Justice John Devine wrote in the June 7 opinion.

TDI officials hailed the ruling.

It upholds TDIs position that under Texas law, public insurance adjusters who work on your claim cant also serve as your construction contractor, a TDI spokesperson said in a statement. And likewise, contractors cant advertise or claim that theyll handle your insurance claim for you.

The case has been closely watched in Texas and around the country, and four property insurance organizations, including the American Property Casualty Insurance Association and the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies, along with two adjuster associations had filed amicus curiae briefs in support of TDIs position.

We are hopeful that this decision will help ensure that contractors stay in their lane when working on projects involving insurance claims, said Steven Badger, of the Zelle law firm, who wrote the amicus brief for NAMIC, APCIA and the Insurance Council of Texas.

Badger and other insurance advocates have long maintained that a contractor can talk to the insurance company about the scope of repairs and associated cost of repairs  but the contractor cannot attempt to negotiate the claim on behalf of the homeowner. Those that do so are engaging in conduct that only an adjuster is authorized to do, Badger noted.

Stonewater, which holds no adjusters license, had said on its website that it is an insurance specialist that can settle claims quickly. Its contracts with homeowners authorize the contractor to negotiate with the insurance company, the court explained.

Some 40 other states have laws or regulations similar to Texas, the court said. But Texas law appears to be a little more restrictive than some states rules. Florida statutes, like Texas rules, for example, bar contractors from working as adjusters on the same claim and bar contractors from working as adjusters, period, unless they are licensed as such.

If a contractor also becomes licensed as a public adjuster, they are prohibited from entering into a contract to both adjust and repair on the same property, reads a bulletin from the Florida Department of Financial Services, which regulates adjusters. Similarly, a public adjuster may not participate directly or indirectly in the reconstruction, repair or restoration of the damaged property that is the subject of his/her claim adjustment.

Texas law takes it a step further on the advertising limitations, and notes that simply negotiating claims or loss amounts is considered to be the job of an adjuster, which requires education, testing and a professional license.

In other words, a person may not serve in a dual roleas both contractor and adjusterin connection with property subject to an insurance claim or falsely advertise an ability to do so, the Supreme Court wrote in the Stonewater opinion. Persons violating the statute are subject to administrative, criminal, and civil penalties.

Property insurers and their supporters have for years decried the prevalence of public adjusters, especially after storm events, charging that some PAs swoop in, collude with contractors and exaggerate damage, leading to unnecessary claims litigation. Floridas chief financial officer in 2022 complained that public adjusters were swarming over southwest Florida after Hurricane Ian made landfall, and he called for new limits on public adjusters fees.

Some in Florida have pointed to the Texas rules as a more iron-clad approach to limiting roofers aggressive marketing techniques. Florida lawmakers did not adopt the Texas statutory language but in 2023 approved other restrictions. House Bill 1185 now prohibits public adjusters from contracting with anyone other than the named insured without the insureds written consent. If the public adjuster does contract with a third party, the third party must pay the fee. The bill also allows policyholders to cancel a public adjuster contract within 30 days if the loss was caused by a declared emergency, or within 10 days of signing the contract.

A 2024 Florida law added to the rules, requiring that public adjusters contracts with insureds must contain the license numbers of the adjusting firms that employ them.

Stonewaters lead attorney in the Texas case, Michael McCabe, declined to comment on the Texas court ruling Monday. In his argument to the court McCabe contended that the Texas law considers a person to be an adjuster if that person negotiates for or effects a claim or settlement amount. Negotiating involves communications and is protected by the First and 14th Amendments of the U.S. Constitution, McCabe and the Stonewater team argued.

But the Texas Supreme Court justices said that interpretation of the law misses the forest for the trees. The gravamen of the defined profession is the role a person plays in a nonexpressive commercial transaction, not what anyone may or may not say, the justices said. Settlement in the law refers to payment, which is not speech.

The U.S. Supreme Court, the state justices noted, recently reaffirmed that reasoning, writing that The First Amendment does not prevent restrictions directed at commerce or conduct from imposing incidental burdens on speech, and professionals are no exception to this rule.

Stonewaters attorneys also argued that the Texas law is too vague and violates the 14th Amendments due process clause. The state Supreme Court disagreed, writing that the regulations are specific and clear enough.

In rejecting (the) vagueness argument, the Court found that Stonewaters conduct in the underlying insurance claim was clearly proscribed by the public adjuster licensing statute, Badger said in an email.

The Supreme Court opinion dismisses Stonewaters lawsuit, leaving the Texas regulations intact. Two justices wrote concurring opinions.

Topics Florida Texas Contractors
A 100-year-old apartment complex in Miami on Monday erupted into one of the largest blazes in decades after one man shot an employee at the site then set fire to the building.

The Miami Herald, the New York Times and others reported that police had apprehended a suspect in the shooting and arson. The shooting victim and three firefighters were taken to local hospitals.

The three-alarm fire, the first in decades in Miami, displaced more than 40 residents, forced rescues of several, and left the building heavily damaged. Fire officials said the complex, built in 1920, had a continuous attic with no firewalls, which may have allowed the fire to spread rapidly through the building.

The building, on NW Third Street, near downtown, is managed by Atlantic Housing Foundation and the owner is listed as Dallas-based AHF Temple Court, the news outlets reported.
Memories from the Dance Floor

Season one of Irish journalist Damian Kerlins series celebrated LGBTQ+ venues in the UK and for season two its heading to Wales. There are communities out there thriving, and dare I say it, having even more fun than London, Kerlin says in his intro. Wales, or Cymru, made sense for him to examine next as he lived there as a student, getting to explore some of the venues mentioned across the four new episodes, out every Wednesday in June for Pride Month.

The first contributor paints a vivid picture of the scene in the early 1970s. The gay bar was called the Northwestern Hotel it used to belong to the railway at one time I remember walking in there, you could hardly see from one end to the other because of the smoke. It seemed that everyone smoked then. And the record that was playing on the jukebox was The Wonder of You - Elvis Presley. He says he was educated during his first term of college by one of the people he met there.

I was having a lot of fun going to the bar. I was only 18, of course I was illegal. The word jailbait came in the whole time but I never compromised anybody I realised the consequences of things like that. Kerlin explains that in 1967 the passing of the Sexual Offences Act allowed for a partial thaw in the legal protection of homosexuality (it permitted homosexual acts between two consenting adults over the age of 21), so not much help for our then teenage contributor, who was two and a bit years below the age of consent in 1970.

There follows a determination to do something about the lack of equality. This series being set in Wales, there are miner strikes and Thatcher speeches. Kerlin says hes taking us back to see the community who were ready to take centre stage in their fight for equality.

Since season one of the show, it has been announced that Kerlin is writing an oral history of of Britains queer club scene, also titled Memories from the Dance Floor. It is a glittering celebration of the gay bar, with a cast of characters ranging from Boy George to Reverend Richard Coles, Paul Oakenfold to Peter Tatchell, says publisher Dialogue Books.

Cormacs Queerly Beloved

Northern Irish DJ and producer Cormac invites fellow DJs and musicians, friends and allies from the LGBTQ+ community to talk about music, queerness and anything else that shaped their unique story. Season one has already wrapped with nine compelling shows for you to listen to, featuring the xx singer Romy, Peaches, and the brilliant Planningtorock.
In the past, I often used these words with teenagers in therapy sessions: I understand that school can be challenging, but college will be a different world for you. Youll find your tribe, meet like-minded people, and things will start looking up.

I said them with conviction, having seen numerous young people who struggled in secondary school thrive in third level. However, given the post-pandemic changes in college life, Ive hesitated to make these promises in recent years.

College campuses are not just places of learning but also hubs of energy and excitement. In the three universities Ive taught in, the rag and freshers weeks used to be particularly energetic.

I remember many occasions struggling to be heard while giving a lecture due to the thumping beat of the dance music blaring outside.

It was common to see young people sitting on the grass on a sunny day or with multiple bottles of energy drinks on their desks at Friday morning lectures. It was all part of forming their identity, getting an education and having fun.

However, the college campus has changed. The student vibrancy that existed before covid lockdowns has not reappeared. Diminishing student engagement was discussed at the recent HEA healthy campus annual conference in Dublin.

It is pervasive in Irish third-level institutes and overseas. Societies and clubs on campus have waned, and so has the high energy that impacted the overall student experience.

Many hypotheses were presented at the conference about why this is happening, including the pandemic lockdowns, which significantly impacted college life.

The housing crisis was also discussed, meaning many students need help to afford to live on campus or nearby. As soon as 5pm comes around, most are on public transport or in their cars returning to the family home, a daily struggle that hampers their engagement and campus life.

A speaker from UCD described how staff stepped in and started a breakfast club.

They had noticed that many students were arriving on campus early to beat the Dublin traffic, and rather than let them sit alone in their cars, they opened a breakfast club to give them an opportunity to connect.

Lonely nation

I have never heard so many young people complain of loneliness. Its an issue of national concern. Last year, the Loneliness Taskforce Research Network was established at Maynooth University to explore the problem.

Screen-based technologies play a significant role in our difficulty making connections, and the fallout from covid lockdowns has contributed substantially. However, a significant contributing factor is the rise of individualism.

Individualisation refers to a social process where individuals increasingly focus on their goals, preferences, and identities rather than conforming to the expectations or norms of collective groups such as families, communities, or social classes.

This trend can be seen in various aspects of life, including economic behaviour, social interactions, and cultural practices. It can also be seen when individuals prioritise personal freedom, autonomy and their desires over adhering to traditional societal norms or expectations.

Sociologist Simon Duncan argues that traditional institutions such as marriage, family, and religious organisations often decline during a period of individualisation as people tend to seek self-realisation and fulfilment outside these structures. Individualism also emphasises self-expression and personal branding, frequently seen on social media.

The individualistic nature of social media can be observed through the centrality of the self in words like iPhone and selfie, which focus very much on the individual.

This shift towards individualism, while empowering on an individual level, has the potential to weaken community bonds and contribute to social fragmentation, a concern we should all reflect upon.

Sociologist Anthony Giddens speaks of the positive impact of individualism, such as increased agency and autonomy, giving people more freedom to pursue personal goals and aspirations. However, he warns that as individuals prioritise personal goals over collective ones, community bonds can weaken, and there can be a sense of social fragmentation. He says that with an increased sense of responsibility for our success and well-being, there is a potential increase in the stress and anxiety related to personal achievement and failure.

Philosopher Alain De Botton highlights how in the past we often referred to someone who struggled in life as down on his luck or unfortunate. In contrast, people in that position are now commonly referred to as a loser. This critical response seems to place the reasons for failure on the individual.

Individualisation can also be observed in the labour market, where a job for life is no longer a thing; instead, work life has become more flexible and dynamic, with people frequently changing jobs and careers to align with personal goals, which can lead to opportunities and insecurities in employment.

Psychologists like Ulrich Beck, who have examined the impact of individualisation on mental health, have found that while it can be empowering, it also possesses the potential for increased loneliness and isolation.

It is critical to remember that we functioned as a collective for centuries. Stories of tribes and communities have been a part of our history for as long as records have existed. Therefore, the move away from our sense of a physical community is hugely concerning.

Emotional intelligence

I have felt the effects of individualism over my lifetime. Growing up, I was far more influenced by a sense of community than in my adult life. When I was a child, we had visitors calling to our house most nights unannounced, and I have no doubt this helped to develop my social and emotional intelligence. I compare that to my childrens experience  we dont have visitors or visit others without at least a weeks notice.

The diminishing role of religion is also a factor. Whatever your religious views, there is no debating the critical role of religious involvement in our social world. Religious practices bring people together.

The loss of a sense of community has far-reaching impacts on our lives and, more importantly, our childrens lives. This process has been happening for quite some time, accelerated by the pervasive effects of technology and the pandemic lockdowns.

When I was growing up in the 1980s, the self-esteem movement encouraged us to be selfish and look after ourselves. It persists. Today, if you go into any bookshop, you will see any number of self-help books but almost no help-others books. As we become more individualised, we have to realise that helping others is not a selfless act; it helps us feel better. Two of the most effective ways known to improve your mental health are volunteering and joining a choir, because helping others gives us meaning and purpose, and a choir brings us together to achieve a collective goal.

We must do everything we can to help our young people see the profound value of having a tribe, being part of a community and creating a village. At the recent conference, one of the keynote speakers, Prof Mark Dooris from the University of Central Lancashire, said college life is where you learn, work, play and love. While I have no doubt we have done well to maintain young peoples ability to learn and work, we have a bit of work to do on the play and love aspects, which we underestimate at their peril.

Dr Colman Noctor is a child psychotherapist
"Becoming a citizen means everything," proudly declared Dr Rabia Tayyub, one of the almost 5,000 people who on Tuesday became Irish citizens.

Ceremonies held in Killarney, Co Kerry, over the last two days saw 4,800 people from across the globe, and who live and work in Ireland, granted citizenship. Those from India accounted for the greatest number  at almost 1,000  followed by the UK with 416 citizens. There were more than 200 new Irish citizens who hail originally from Brazil, the Philippines, Poland, Romania, South Africa, Nigeria, and Pakistan, while 119 people from the USA were granted citizenship.

In all, the applicants were drawn from 138 countries around the world.

Immigration has now replaced a history of emigration in the state, with one fifth of the population now born outside Ireland, Aine Griffin of the Department of Justice told those present at the INEC in Killarney.

The Irish for citizen was saoranach based on the root word meaning free, Ms Griffin said to a spontaneous round of applause.

Talent Gumade, who is studying food science in TU Dublin and is originally from Zimbabwe with his one-year-old daughter Sky.

Retired judge Ms Justice Mary Irvine, presiding officer, urged the new citizens to seize the day and the opportunities the landmark event of citizenship afforded them.

New citizens

Leeds born Seain Laughey, whose family are among just 16 Laugheys in the world  has lived in Dublin for 20 years, and said Brexit and its restrictions had prompted him to apply.

Nurcan Durmaz who received her Irish citizenship at the INEC in illarney. Nurcan, who is from Turkey and lives in Cork City, described it as 'the best day ever'.

Since Brexit, his wife and three children could "sail through" customs to France and Spain. Mr Laughey also worked for a company based in Portugal and traveling since Brexit was difficult.

"Its rotten," he said of Brexit.

Hrvoje Graf from Zagreb in Croatia moved to Cratloe in Clare in 2016 and works with a printing company. He was very excited to receive his citizenship on Tuesday. His wife and three children  a 20-year-old student in UL; an 18-year-old currently sitting his Leaving Cert and a 12-year-old in primary school have also applied. Hrvojes mother Nada came for the occasion.

Hrovjes first name means Croat  so now he will have to change his name to Eire he joked, adding his mothers name meant hope.

Levin Kelleher, Kildare with husband Edmond and baby Leona after receiving her citizenship.

Jinxin Wang from Bejing has been living in Dublin for 11 years. She arrived as a student and now works for KPMG. The decision was a big one, as she will have to give up her Chinese citizenship.

"It was something I was trying to work through for a while. It was a big decision. I do like Ireland a lot. I love the country and I like my life here, she said.

Jinxin wore a green dress to mark the occasion.

Jaska Mentz and her baby Adeline from South Africa and now living in Greystones and Anam Jamil, Lexlip, and originally from Pakistan, at the citizenship ceremonies at the INEC, Killarney.

Elizabeth Castilllo is originally from Mexico city. A mother of two girls aged four years and eight months, Elizabeth was very emotional thinking of her father-in-law John Adams, who passed away just last year.

"He would have been very proud," she said.

Dr Umair Tayyub, originally from Pakistan and a gastro-endocrinologist in Galway, became an Irish citizen last year. His wife, Dr Rabia Tayyub, was in Killarney on Tuesday to accept her citizenship. The couple and their two children aged nine and five, a boy and a girl "love Ireland".

In Ireland for a decade, the last five years have been particularly lovely, they said.

"Becoming a citizen means everything," Dr Rabia said.

Canan Canpolat is originally from Istanbul. The family moved to Cork 13 years ago and she was accompanied to the ceremony by her younger sister Cansu, a student at MTU and already an Irish citizen.

A further two days of ceremonies, which are set to take place in Dublin in 10 days' time, will see thousands more people become Irish citizens.
Two more men accused of murdering Tristan Sherry, who was killed after he fatally shot a man in a Dublin restaurant on Christmas Eve, have been sent forward for trial to the non-jury Special Criminal Court.

On Tuesday, gardai served books of evidence on David Amah, 18, of Hazel Grove, Portrane Road, Donabate, Dublin and Michael Andrecut, 22, who both face murder charges, and Juares Kumbu, 18, who is solely accused of a firearms offence for removing the shooter's murder weapon.

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) chose the non-jury trial venue because, in this case, "The ordinary courts are inadequate to secure the effective administration of justice."

Finglas father of one Sherry died from blunt force head trauma in Browne's Steakhouse in Blanchardstown. He was injured after shooting Jason Hennessy Sr with a submachine gun.

Mr Hennessy, 48, from Corduff, Blanchardstown, had been having dinner with family and friends before he was shot in the neck and upper body. He died in hospital 11 days later.

The defendants had been refused bail earlier and appeared at Cloverhill District Court on Tuesday. Senior prosecutor Tom Conlon told Judge Alan Mitchell that the DPP directed that they all be tried in the Special Criminal Court. The DPP had furnished a certificate under section 46.2 of the Offences Against the State Act.

David Amah (pictured) had informed gardai that he panicked and felt "my life is in danger". Picture: IrishPhotoDesk.ie

The judge agreed to grant a return-for-trial order and legal aid to the three, who will also have senior counsel representation. He warned the defendants they must inform the prosecution if they intended to use an alibi, and he also ordered gardai to hand over interview videos to the defence.

They will learn the date of their appearance before the Special Criminal Court later and remain in custody, having been denied bail earlier.

Mr Kumbu and Amah did not speak during the hearing, but Mr Andrecut said "Nice one" when served with his book of evidence and later when the judge explained the order.

Judge Mitchell said that if they face trial together, "there will be large legal teams, and the courtroom will have to be big for this number of accused".

Case background

Earlier, in their bail hearings, Detective Sergeant Mark Murphy alleged that the pair were in the restaurant when two gunmen entered and started shooting.

Mr Sherry and Hennessy fell to the ground, and the firearm dropped. It was ultimately picked up and removed by another person. Several people attacked Sherry with kicks and beat him with chairs and an iron bar, and he was also stabbed in a "sustained attack" for five minutes.

The court heard it continued after the gun was removed. The hearing was told Mr Andrecut, with an address at Sheephill Avenue in Dublin 15, would be raising the issue of self-defence. Mr Amah, of Hazel Grove, Portrane Road, Donabate, Dublin, had informed gardai that he panicked and felt "my life is in danger".

Mr Kumbu, Brookhaven Grove, Blanchardstown, had also been refused bail previously. A hearing was told he had been at the steakhouse enjoying dinner with the Hennessy family when "two assassins with machine guns came in and started spraying bullets".

Detective Garda Shane Guinan alleged one of the gunmen, Tristan Sherry, was grabbed by Jason Hennessy Sr, who "succumbed to his injuries".

The court heard the gun fell to the floor, but it was picked up and put on a table. Mr Kumbu allegedly picked it up, left the restaurant and was driven away from the scene.

Other defendants

Last week, two other Dublin men also had their cases transferred to the same court. Noah Musueni, 18, of Corduff Park, Corduff and Wayne Deegan, 26, of Linnetsfield, Avenue, are also accused of murdering Sherry.

Another youth and two other men are before the courts on related charges, including assault, violent disorder and a weapons offence during the incident. One is Brandon Hennessy, 20, of Sheephill Avenue, Dublin 15, a son of Jason Hennessy Sr.

He has been accused of violent disorder and production of a commercial dustpan and brush with a steel handle capable of inflicting serious injury during the incident. A court has heard he allegedly "retaliated" after his father was shot.
A head-on car crash left a 45-year-old mother and her two children seriously injured in the Lombardstown area of Mallow and now she has described the accident as being like a grenade into our lives and we are left to pick up the pieces.

This was the victim impact statement presented at Cork Circuit Criminal Court where 71-year-old Mary OBrien of Alana, Mitchellsfort, Watergrasshill, County Cork, pleaded guilty to a charge of careless driving causing grievous bodily harm.

Judge Cormac Quinn said the victims injuries were the worst he had seen in such cases.

Garda Mary Brosnan testified that the accident occurred at 6.45pm on February 23, 2023, on the N72 at Pallas, Lombardstown, Mallow, County Cork.

Garda Brosnan said Mary OBrien was driving from Killarney when her Mercedes Benz veered to its incorrect side of the road and collided with a Renault Grand Scenic driven by the woman, who is now 45. Her nine-year-old son and 10-year-old daughter were passengers.

Garda Brosnan said the seriously injured driver sustained a fractured pelvis and a number of breaks to both legs while her son had a fractured elbow and collar bone and her daughter also had a broken pelvis.

Mary OBrien who admitted that her careless driving caused the accident sustained a broken ankle, Garda Brosnan said. The 71-year-old was questioned on two occasions and both times she enquired about the injured parties but was told not to contact them as it was an ongoing investigation.

The main victim said feelings of fear and dread coursed through her as she saw lights coming towards her and said she replays this moment quite often. She said it was futile to try to swerve to protect herself and her children.

I have likened it to assault on our minds, bodies and souls

This accident threw a grenade into our lives and we are left to pick up the pieces.

"I was lifted out of the car like a rag-doll. (Now) I feel like I am 90 when I start my day, she said.

The victim expressed her feeling that the defendant had shown a lack of regard for her and her family. The injured party received a letter of apology on June 6. The injured party said at Cork Circuit Criminal Court, Your letter of apology felt more like your victim impact statement.

She said that a card with a short apology would have been appreciated but not the letter written by the defendant.

Defence barrister, Donal OSullivan, said: My client expressed herself very badly in the letter. She is remorseful. She has never been in trouble in her life. She does not want to cause any further upset.

Probation

Judge Cormac Quinn said he was concerned about the fact that the defence were saying that the defendant was full of remorse but that the injured party did not accept this. He said that in those circumstances he wanted a probation report on the defendant and in particular he wanted the possibility of restorative justice.

The injured party indicated that she would prefer to have the case finalised.

Judge Quinn said: It is not going to be finalised today I would not be happy with the accused trying to undo what was done in the letter. I am going to put it back for a probation report. The probation officer will interview the accused and you (the injured party) can engage with restorative justice if you want that.

Obviously she (injured party) has been to hell and back with her injuries. Her injuries are the most serious I have come across in one of these cases.

Adjourning for a probation report, the judge said it is also to explore the attitude, understanding or remorse of the accused. The case was put back to October 30 on which date another date shortly thereafter will be set for finalisation.
A student transporting 17,000 worth of cocaine in West Cork was arrested and questioned by gardai and the following day he was the victim of an attack that left him with a serious head injury.

Judge Cormac Quinn said the attack was consistent with the view the accused was under duress and in fear of others in carrying out the offence of carrying this quantity of drugs.

Sant Edosomwan, of The Drive, Pheasants Run, Clonee, Dublin, was sentenced to two years in prison for having the drugs for sale or supply.

Detective Garda David Barrett testified at Cork Circuit Criminal Court that gardai encountered the defendant on April 28, 2023, driving a black Ford Fiesta in the Innishannon area. The tax was out of date and when gardai were talking to him it was noticed he and his passenger were becoming visibly nervous.

The vehicle was searched under the Misuse of Drugs Act. Det Garda Barrett said a small ball-shaped object was found underneath the drivers seat, along with a taser/stun-gun and a hatchet.

He was arrested and interviewed on two occasions and he made no particular admission. [Later], he said he was aware there were probably drugs in the car that he was transporting. He admitted delivering drugs to West Cork on two or three occasions.

He was a student at the time. He has no previous convictions. He was 20 at the time, Det. Garda Barrett said.

Asked about the taser and the hatchet he said he had them for his own protection.

Defence barrister Ben Shorten said the accused owed money and that was the reason he became involved in this activity. He said the young man was in his third year in Maynooth University studying computers and doing well.

Prior to this drug-dealing, he tried to support himself as a student by selling clothing but this enterprise ran aground during covid and he got himself into debt, Mr Shorten said.

Judge Quinn noted the day after his arrest for this offence, the defendants home was ransacked and there was an assault on him. Det Garda Barrett accepted gardai in Dublin had received a report in relation to this and an investigation was ongoing.

The judge said he was satisfied the defendant was a person who was not going to offend in the future.

I take into consideration his remorse and good history of employment. In relation to culpability, he was under financial pressure. He was assaulted the next day, consistent with operating out of fear and duress.

The question is whether the two years should be fully suspended. I dont find it is a suitable case for a fully suspended sentence, the judge concluded as he jailed Sant Edosomwan for two years.
The Defence Forces is set to continue its deployment in Kosovo for a further year.

Tanaiste and Defence Minister Micheal Martin has also sought approval for troops to be trained to monitor undersea cables.

Mr Martin is due to seek approval for Ireland to take part in four separate military capability development projects with the Permanent Structured Co-operation (Pesco) and the European Defence Agency (EDA).

One Pesco development project is known as the Critical Seabed Infrastructure Project, which seeks to further develop surveillance, reconnaissance, and maritime response. It also aims to increase EU co-operation in monitoring and defending critical seafloor infrastructure, such as undersea cables, against threats such as terrorism and sabotage.

The project itself has been in place since last year, with seven other EU member states participating. It is due to be completed by 2035.

One of the EDA training programmes is around cyber defence, with it due to help train cyber defence experts and increase co-operation between EU states. With an expected approval of these plans by Cabinet, Mr Martin will also be required to seek the approval of the Dail, with a motion to be brought after.

Mr Martin wil also ask for the Government to approve Irelands deployment of 13 Defence Forces members to the UN authorised International Security Presence in Kosovo (KFOR) until June next year. There are 13 Defence Forces personnel in the region currently, with Ireland having participated in the KFOR mission since 1999.

Meanwhile, Environment Minister Eamon Ryan is due to seek approval to allow homeowners availing of the defective concrete blocks grant scheme access to retrofitting grants of up to 37,000.

It is understood that the proposals are being brought forward due to existing anomalies which have prevented homeowners impacted by mica from accessing their second scheduled SEAI grant.

He is also due to bring forward a plan to accelerate development of renewable energy. This accelerating renewable energy taskforce implementation plan contains over 70 actions on grids, markets, and planning to speed up delivery of 80% of wind energy by 2030.

On planning, in particular, the proposal aims to stop renewable projects from being delayed by one to two years.

Mr Ryan will also bring forward new legislation that will streamline existing EPA licensing systems, to make it more transparent for businesses and industry.

Meanwhile, Housing Minister Darragh OBrien will update his Cabinet colleagues on the ongoing progress on the action plan for An Bord Pleanala.

It is expected to detail that there are seven remaining actions to be carried out, which are due to be addressed by the new Planning and Development Bill, which will enter report stage in the Dail on Tuesday.
I wish I could do Joe Joyces take on the election weve just had.

It would be sardonic, for sure  Joe measured everything in terms of its impact on the human condition, and I dont think hed have seen a measurable shift in that vital metric.

However, it would also have been meticulously reported and brilliantly written. Ill come back to Joe Joyce in a moment.

I guess all I really want to say about our elections is two things: First, the elections are more or less over  bar the counting and the shouting. Second, the general election speculation has already begun.

The single most stupid thing our leaders could do is to make a decision about the next election before the hoopla has died down over this one.

Barely before a vote was counted, the entire media wanted to move on, and already the headlines are talking about the pressure on Simon.

Heres the thing: Political leaders who have to run an election barely two months into the job, and get as good a result as Simon did, are not under pressure. Not in the slightest.

He can, and he should, take his own sweet time (alongside Micheal and Eamon, if he has any sense), and keep the rest of us on tenterhooks.

As for me, Ive never failed in the ballot box before. Ive always gone down to vote knowing exactly who I wanted to vote for, and who I was willing to vote for  lets say my determined first preference and the next few after that. I made a mess of it this time.

This time, there was also a long list of people I was also utterly determined to vote against  and I failed. I lost the will to live

Faced with a ballot paper like the wingspan of an albatross, I managed to vote from No 1 to No 12 on the European one, but couldnt distinguish between the awfulness of the last 10 or so.

I just hope nothing happens on count 13 or 14 tonight to bring my silent ballots into play.

Thats one of the great privileges our system gives us thats denied to our neighbours, with their silly first past the post thing.

We get to make a pretty sophisticated set of choices in our ballot box. They have to bring a sledge hammer into theirs.

Leader of Reform UK Nigel Farage seems never to be off the airwaves, writes Fergus Finlay. Picture: James Manning/PA

Right now, there are two parties over there  the Conservative Party and the Reform Party  contesting the election against Labour, and fighting viciously against each other at the same time.

The Tories are busy running the worst political campaign in the history of the world, under a leader who seems more hapless every day (his campaign looks like a mass extinction event).

The Reform Party, on the other hand, has just been taken over by the most dishonest charlatan British politics has ever seen (well, at least since Boris), who seems  for some reason I cant figure out  to own the airwaves. Hes certainly never off them.

The opinion poll numbers of these two parties are converging, at well under 20% each, while Labour floats serenely above 40%.

If those opinion poll numbers were to translate into reality on election day, and if they were to be spread anyway evenly across the country, the Tories and Reform Party would finish up by destroying each other  effectively cancelling each other out and winning no seats at all.

That wont happen, although there is a real chance that Labour will get a thumping great majority with a good deal less than half of the votes.

It always makes me smile that whenever anyone criticises the crazy and undemocratic British system, the standard defence is: Look at the political stability our first past the post system guarantees.

Stability? Boris Johnson being criminally irresponsible throughout the covid pandemic? Liz Truss? The Tories fought the last election in Britain to get Brexit done.

That was a couple of years ago, but I havent heard a single Tory use the word Brexit once

The only reason Keir Starmer is able to say, again and again, that stability is the real change is because the Tories have presided over such unmitigated chaos with their first past the post majority.

If Joe Joyce would be sardonic about us, I can only wonder what hed say about them.

However, Joe died this week.

In case you didnt know him, Joe Joyce was one of the greatest Irish journalists and reporters of his generation. Twice journalist of the year in Ireland, he wrote mostly for the Irish Times and the Guardian.

He was also a newspaper editor and a columnist. When you talk about Joe, you have to use both terms  journalist and reporter. Facts mattered to Joe.

He wrote often about dangerous stuff, like the so-called heavy gang in the 1970s. If you were writing about malfeasance with the gardai back then and you didnt get your facts right, youd regret it.

It was Joe who wrote the first story about how the gardai treated a young woman called Joanne Hayes, and that story led to the Kerry Babies Tribunal.

The Charwoman's Daughter by James Stephens; and The Boss by Joe Joyce and Peter Murtagh. The latter is recounts a couple of years in the life of Charles J Haughey.

I often thought afterwards that if they had let Joe run that tribunal, hed have got to the real truth in double quick time and hed never have allowed Joanne Hayes to be treated the way she was.

A great journalist has to be a great writer, and Joe was all of that.

Most people of my generation with even a passing interest in politics read The Boss, written by Joe and Peter Murtagh about a couple of years in the life of Charles J Haughey.

Even to someone like me, who was immersed in politics by then, it was a spellbinding account

It became absolutely indispensable to anyone who wanted to understand the dynamics of Irish politics.

On the bookshelves beside me as I write this are two of Joes novels  Off the Record and The Trigger Man  brilliant books that Ive read several times.

Joe was also an editor. Years ago, at the request of the Commission on the Status of People with a Disability, he took an enormous pile of research and recommendations  the work of a large and passionate committee  and, in a few weeks, turned them into a coherent, seminal report.

Ive always been in his debt personally, because he and his wife Frances edited my book Snakes and Ladders  making it twice the book it would have been otherwise.

Ive known Joe and his family well for years. Theyre friends.

With every year that has passed my admiration for Joe grew, because he battled a debilitating and long-term condition that shortened his life.

However, he did it with the wry humour that was his trademark. Frances and his daughters know they have lost someone very important. They also know that Joe, through his work, clarity, and fearlessness, left everything better than he found it.
A Europe that just celebrated on the beaches of Normandy the 80-year-old D-day beginning of its liberation from war, nationalism and fascism now again faces fascism, nationalism and war.

Please dont be reassured by European Commission president Ursula von der Leyens complacent statement that the centre is holding during what we might call E-day  June 9, 2024, when the results of 27 different national elections to the European parliament were announced.

Thats true in the aggregate distribution of seats between the main party groups in the European parliament, with her own centre-right European Peoples party group coming out comfortably on top. But the EU is run by national governments even more than by its directly elected parliament, and E-Day produced hard-right successes in core member states that range from the significant to the shocking.

None of these Eurosceptic parties will be so stupid as to advocate following Britains Brexit by trying Frexit, Dexit or Nexit. Instead, they will continue to pull the EU to the right from inside, with an even harder line on immigration, determined opposition to the green measures urgently needed to address the climate crisis, reduced support for Ukraine and  nationalist as they all are  clawing back national control from Brussels.

So dont let anyone tell you its not so bad. Its bad, and could get worse.

Most dramatic is France. I was in Normandy for the D-day anniversary and watched President Emmanuel Macron trying to use the international commemoration event (the one British prime minister Rishi Sunak missed) to tell an inspiring story about how that liberation paved the way for todays European Union.

But in the surrounding villages I saw mainly election posters for Marine Le Pens National Rally and heard stories of widespread support for it. Sure enough, on E-Day the National Rally scored a stunning victory, winning more than 30% of the vote and trouncing Macrons liberal centrist Renaissance.

In the little town of Ver-sur-Mer, where my father landed along with so many other British soldiers to begin the liberation of western Europe on June 6, 1944, the National Rally got some 33% of the vote.

Another significant chunk of votes in Ver-sur-Mer went to Marion Marechal, Le Pens even more extreme niece, the name of whose party, Reconquete, suggests a reconquest of Europe from allegedly alien and especially Muslim inhabitants, as openly advocated by its founder Eric Zemmour.

Then came the bombshell. Macron, whose always extraordinary self-confidence is now visibly tipping into hubris, announced that he was dissolving the French parliament and calling fresh elections on June 30, with a second round on July 7. I can only salute this decision, replied Le Pen.

This is a huge gamble, counting on the excellent French two-round electoral system for voters in most constituencies to prefer another candidate over the National Rally one in the decisive second round.

French President Emmanuel Macron appears on a television screen at the French far-right National Rally party election night headquarters on Sunday to announce the dissolution of the National Assembly and call for an election. Photo: AP/Lewis Joly

But given the depth of popular anger, theres a serious risk that  just three days after Britain gets a government of the pragmatic, very cautiously pro-European centre-left in its election on July 4  France may get a government of the Eurosceptic hard right, binding the hands of Macron, the continents leading advocate of a stronger Europe. If so, this would be Frances Brexit moment, although without the resulting exit.

Only slightly less worrying is Germany. While the centre-right CDU-CSU was the clear winner, the extreme-right Alternative fur Deutschland (AfD) came second, with just under 16% of the vote, more than was garnered by any of the three parties in the countrys governing coalition, including Chancellor Olaf Scholzs Social Democrats.

And the AfD is a party so extreme that even Le Pen decided she did not want to be in the same European parliamentary group with it, after Maximilian Krah, its charming lead candidate, said in an interview that not all members of the SS were criminals.

Meanwhile, in Italy, the Fratelli dItalia of the countrys post-neofascist prime minister Giorgia Meloni came out on top, as did the far-right Freedom party in Austria. In the Netherlands, the Party for Freedom of the Islamophobe Geert Wilders performed only slightly less well than the centre-left.

Most worrying of all, many of these parties do particularly well among young voters, and especially young men. According to a survey before the election, some 36% of 18- to 24-year-olds in France backed the National Rally.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, whose far-right Fratelli dItalia party came out on top in the elections in Italy. Photo: Roberto Monaldo/LaPresse via AP

Yes, there are more encouraging results from Poland and Hungary; but if the lesson from those countries (as from Britain) is that you must actually have your populist nationalists in power for some years before they start to be rejected, thats small consolation.

Even if the hard right does not form the next French government this summer, these results will greatly complicate getting united, decisive action from the EU on issues such as the green transition.

Consequences for Ukraine

Most urgently, it will become even more difficult to make an essential upward step-change in military support for Ukraine, at a moment when that country is  lets be clear  in serious danger of eventually losing the largest war in Europe since 1945.

Although the parties of the hard right are divided over Ukraine, with Meloni currently among the embattled countrys strong supporters, the net impact of these results will be negative.

In Germany, roughly one quarter of the vote went to parties  of hard right (AfD), hard left (Die Linke) and a curious populist mix of the two (the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance)  that advocate a version of peace that effectively means Ukrainian capitulation.

Unfortunately, Scholzs Social Democrats show clear signs of being tempted to appease these appeasers. The continental and global consequences of a victory for President Vladimir Putins fascist Russia would bring Europe even closer to a return to its bad old days.

All of this is before we get to the most important election for Europe this year, which doesnt happen in Europe. A victory for Donald Trump in Novembers US presidential election would weaken and probably further divide Europe, as hard-right populist nationalists, quite possibly including Meloni, would line up as the European party of Trump.

If former President Donald Trump wins Novembers US presidential election, it could create further divisions in Europe. Photo: AP/John Locher

So is it time to despair and emigrate to New Zealand? Certainly not. Theres still a large majority of Europeans who dont want to lose the best Europe weve ever had. But they need to be mobilised, galvanised, persuaded that the Union really does face existential threats.

I now await with some dread the weeks of horse-trading in the EU: which party gets into bed with which other party? Who gets what top job? Fiddling in Brussels while Kharkiv and our planet burn.

What we need is a combination of national governments and European institutions that between them deliver the housing young people currently cannot afford, the jobs, the life chances, the security, the green transition, the support for Ukraine. Will Europe wake up before it is too late?

Read More Far-right gains in EU elections deal stunning defeats to Macron and Scholz
Since Ann Wixted first moved to Cork 42 years ago, plenty has changed.

For starters, the Dublin native has fallen head over heels for the real capital in ways she never imagined!

We moved to Cork over four decades ago, when my husband Declan found work as an engineer, Ann recalls. It was a massive change moving to a big city like Cork, because at that stage wed left Dublin and were raising our family in Arklow, a small town in Co. Wicklow.

Our eldest daughter at the time was eleven years old, so we felt the children were at the right age for the big change. It was definitely the right decision  we settled in very quickly here and people were so helpful and friendly to us from day one. The girls are all grown up now, so weve raised our kids, and these days our grandkids, here in Cork. We couldnt be happier to call it our home.

There have also been changes to Cork itself, of course, over those past four decades  with a huge variety of new shops, eateries and late night venues popping up across the city.

Not all of the changes have been positive, however. Outside many of those beautiful buildings on the streets of Cork, Ann notes, youll find people sleeping rough each night.

Ann Wixted hopes to give everyone the home Cork has given her by leaving Cork Simon a gift in her Will.

Ive noticed a big increase in homelessness over the years. What really gets to me is whenever Im walking through the city, Id see so many people lying outside buildings under duvets. It upsets me terribly.

I cant help thinking it could be one of my own family, one of my daughters, lying there. Ive seen young people like them sleeping out on the streets more and more over the past few years.

The numbers are increasing indeed. Last year saw record demand for Cork Simons services, with nearly 1,500 people presenting to the charity because they were experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness.

Cork Simon has had a presence in Cork for over 50 years, just slightly longer than Ann herself. Like her, the charity has seen a dramatic shift in the citys problems over the years.

[Homelessness] is different to what it was fifty years ago, explains Leona Walsh, Cork Simons Legacies Manager. The profile of the people we support has changed and the complexity of the needs of people has changed too. Your traditional homeless person would have been an old man on the street. Now, we work with people aged 18 to 80.

Every homeless person has a different story. It could be mental health issues or some kind of childhood trauma; it could be relationship breakdown or addiction issues. There can be loads of reasons. Youll rarely find that its one thing.

It was exactly this reason, knowing that homelessness can happen to anyone, that first compelled Ann to support Cork Simon. For longer than she can remember, she has been donating to the charity every month.

I think I first heard about Cork Simon through a friend, it's so long ago I can't remember! But since then Ive always been hugely interested in their work and how I can support it. Ive been to the odd meeting over the years to learn more about what theyre doing, and I have to say theyre just incredible.

I have been in Cork Simons emergency accommodation for a visit, and its lovely. Its a nice, warm bed and a safe space for those who need it. I just think the work they do in Cork Simon is wonderful, both staff and volunteers. Theyre out all hours day and night. I have huge respect for them  if I was a bit younger Id love to be out doing the same and helping them!

Instead, Ann recently decided to help the charity in a very different way. While she has supported Cork Simon throughout her life, she now wants to continue helping them even beyond that.

About two years ago, when Declan and I decided to make our Wills, I said to him that Id like to leave something to charity. He was very supportive of it, as were my daughters. They know how much it means to me, to try make a difference to Cork Simon.

Ill be honest, I feel a huge sense of relief now that it's all signed and sealed! It was a lot more straightforward than I expected and didnt take much time at all. Having it done and dusted gave me a huge sense of peace.

For over 50 years, Cork Simon has been helping those who need it most; providing food, shelter and long-term support to those affected by homelessness. Here, volunteers Maddie, Joar and Andrea are pictured preparing food for the soup run at Cork Simon,

Id like to feel that when Im gone, well at least Ill know that Ive contributed something to the charity and helped them in some way to continue their hard work into the future.

No matter how small or big the gift in your Will is, I think anything would be appreciated by Cork Simon because they need all the help they can get.

Leona echoes this sentiment, and is keen for people to know that no donation is insignificant.

You might decide to leave 10% of whatever is left in your Will after debts etc are paid. A residual gift is hugely valuable, because that type of gift doesnt devalue over time. If you make your Will today and die in twenty years, what you give to Cork Simon is still 10% of whats left. But if you say youre going to leave 2,000, that sum devalues because it wont be worth as much in twenty years.

Leona Walsh, Cork Simon's Legacies Manager, says no gift is too small to help the charity.

Some people feel that they need to be really wealthy to leave a gift in their will, but thats not the case. The vast majority of people who leave donations are people like me, on normal incomes. Gifts can be small or large. They all make a difference.

Ann is certainly hopeful that her own gift will make a difference to Cork Simon in the years to come. She has a dream vision of what her adopted home of Cork might look like in the future without her  and is confident that the charity are the only ones who might be able to make it a reality.

I would love to never see another person sleeping rough on the streets ever again; for everyone to have a home like Cork has given to me, she shares. I know thats the ultimate goal for Cork Simon too, and theyre working so hard to get there, but they can only do so much. Its an uphill battle and getting worse all the time.

"I dont know if [homelessness] can ever be fixed altogether, but I so hope it will be. You never know whats ahead!

To find out more about how you can help make Ann's vision's a reality, and to support Cork Simon, visit the charity's website.
Donald Trumps mandatory pre-sentencing interview has ended after less than half an hour of routine and uneventful questions and answers, a person familiar with the matter told the Associated Press.

The former US president was quizzed by a New York City probation officer for a report that will be compiled and presented to trial judge Juan M Merchan prior to Trumps July 11 sentencing in his hush money criminal case.

Judge Merchan can use the report to help decide Trumps punishment following his May 30 felony conviction for falsifying business records to cover up a potential sex scandal.

All people convicted of crimes should be allowed counsel in their probation interview, not just billionaires

The judge has discretion to impose a wide range of punishments, ranging from probation and community service to up to four years in prison.

Trump, who declined to give evidence at the trial, appeared for the probation interview on Monday by video conference from his residence at the Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, with his lawyer Todd Blanche by his side.

The arrangement garnered complaints of special treatment, but city officials contend that is not the case.

Typically, people convicted of crimes in New York must meet with probation officials face-to-face for their required pre-sentence interviews and are not allowed to have their lawyers with them.

After Mr Blanche baulked, Judge Merchan granted him permission to sit in on Trumps interview.

The citys public defenders on Monday criticised what they said were special arrangements for Trump and urged the probation department to ensure that all New Yorkers, regardless of income, status, or class, receive the same pre-sentencing opportunities.

All people convicted of crimes should be allowed counsel in their probation interview, not just billionaires, four of the citys public defender organisations said in a statement.

This is just another example of our two-tiered system of justice.

Pre-sentencing interviews with probation officers influence sentencing, and public defenders are deprived of joining their clients for these meetings. The option of joining these interviews virtually is typically not extended to the people we represent either, said the statement from the Legal Aid Society, Bronx Defenders, New York County Defender Services and Neighbourhood Defender Service of Harlem.

A spokesperson for the city, which runs the probation department, said defendants have had the option of conducting their pre-sentencing interviews by video since before the dawn of social distancing during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020.

Donald Trump has vowed to appeal against his conviction (Rick Scuteri/AP)

A message seeking comment was left with a spokesperson for the state court system.

Pre-sentence reports include a defendants personal history, criminal record and recommendations for sentencing.

They also include information about employment and any obligations to help care for a family member.

The interview is also a chance for a defendant to say why they think they deserve a lighter punishment.

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.

Trump was convicted in May of 34 counts of falsifying business records arising from what prosecutors said was an attempt to hide a hush money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels just before the 2016 presidential election.

She claims she had a sexual encounter with Trump a decade earlier, which he denies.

Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, has vowed to appeal against his conviction  though by law he must wait until after he is sentenced to do so.

He says he is innocent of any crime and says the case was brought to hurt his chances to regain the White House.
The federal judge presiding over the classified documents case against former president Donald Trump and two of his associates struck a paragraph from the indictment on Monday.

Still, they denied a defence request to dismiss some of the charges.

The paragraph concerns allegations that Trump, in 2021, while no longer president, showed a classified map of a foreign country to a representative of his political action committee while discussing a military operation that he said was not going well.

Defence lawyers said the paragraph was prejudicial because it included information that was not irrelevant to the indictment, which accuses Trump of illegally retaining classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate, and US District Judge Aileen Cannon on Monday agreed that the languages inclusion in charging documents was not appropriate.

She left the rest of the indictment intact, denying in her 14-page order a defence request to dismiss actual charges in the indictment.

The indictment against former president Donald Trump (Jon Elswick/AP)

But even as she did that, she chided special counsel Jack Smiths team for including language in the indictment that she said was legally unnecessary to serve the function of an indictment and for creating arguable confusion in the allegations.

The motion to dismiss the counts is one of multiple pretrial requests and disputes that have piled up before Ms Cannon for months.

These have snarled the cases progress and prompted the judge last month to indefinitely postpone a trial that had been set for May 20 in Fort Pierce, Florida.

She has scheduled additional arguments for later this month, including on a Trump challenge to the legality and funding of the Justice Departments appointment of Mr Smith as special counsel last year.

The delays are all the more startling given that many legal experts had seen the classified documents case as exceedingly straightforward.

The case alleged that Trump had illegally hoarded classified documents from his presidency at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, and obstructed FBI efforts to get them back.

The prosecution is one of four criminal cases Trump faces as he seeks to reclaim the White House.

The defendants in this particular motion had sought to throw out more than a half-dozen counts in the indictment, which also accuses Trump of conspiring with valet Walt Nauta and Mar-a-Lago property manager Carlos De Oliveira to conceal the sensitive files from the government.

The defendants had challenged counts related to obstruction and false statements.

Still, Ms Cannon said in an order on Monday that the identified deficiencies, even if generating some arguable confusion, are either permitted by law, raise evidentiary challenges not appropriate for disposition at this juncture, and/or do not require dismissal even if technically deficient, so long as the jury is instructed appropriately and presented with adequate verdict forms as to each Defendants alleged conduct.

Ms Cannon has already rejected multiple other motions to dismiss the case, including one that suggested that Trump was authorised under a statute known as the Presidential Records Act to keep the documents with him after he left the White House and to designate them as his personal files.
The UN human rights office is citing possible war crimes by Israeli forces and Palestinian armed groups in connection with a deadly raid by Israeli forces that freed four hostages over the weekend and killed hundreds of Palestinians.

Office spokesman Jeremy Laurence expressed concerns about possible violations of rules of proportionality, distinction and precaution by the Israeli forces in Saturdays raid at the urban Nuseirat refugee camp.

Palestinian health officials say at least 274 Palestinians, including dozens of women and children, were killed in the operation.

Palestinians help a wounded man after Israeli strikes in Nuseirat refugee camp, Gaza Strip (Jehad Alshrafi/AP)

Mr Laurence said Palestinian armed groups who are holding hostages in densely populated areas are putting the lives of nearby civilians and the hostages at added risks from the hostilities.

All these actions by both parties may amount to war crimes, he told a regular UN briefing in Geneva.

It was catastrophic, the way that this was carried out in that civilians  again  were caught smack bang in the middle of this, Mr Laurence added.

Alluding to the ordeal faced by hostages and their families, he said: The fact that four hostages are now free is clearly very good news.

These hostages should never have been taken in the first place. Thats a breach of international humanitarian law. They must be freed. All of them. Promptly.

Israel launched its war against Hamas after the groups October 7 attack, in which militants stormed into southern Israel, killed some 1,200 people  mostly civilians  and abducted about 250.

Israels war against Hamas in Gaza has killed more than 36,730 people, according to Gazas Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between combatants and civilians in its count.

Palestinians are facing widespread hunger because the war has largely cut off the flow of food, medicine and other supplies.

UN agencies say over one million in Gaza could experience the highest level of starvation by mid-July.
US secretary of state Antony Blinken has said the UN Security Councils vote in favour of a US-backed proposal for a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release made it as clear as it possibly could be that the world supports the plan, as he again called on Hamas to accept it.

Everyones vote is in, except for one vote, and thats Hamas, Mr Blinken told reporters in Tel Aviv after meeting Israeli officials.

He said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had reaffirmed his commitment to the proposal when they met late Monday.

Hamas welcomed US President Joe Bidens initial announcement of the plan as well as the UN resolution endorsing it but has yet to submit its official response.

Mr Blinken said Hamass response to the UN vote was a hopeful sign but that mediators are still awaiting word from the groups leaders in Gaza.

Thats what counts. And thats what we dont have yet. And thats why I say were waiting to see it. Everyone has said yes, except for Hamas, he said.

In a separate development, the UN human rights office said Israeli forces and Palestinian militants may have committed war crimes during the deadly Israeli raid that rescued four hostages over the weekend. At least 274 Palestinians were killed in the operation, according to Gazas Health Ministry.

Antony Blinken speaks to families and supporters of Israelis held hostage by Hamas in Gaza (Jack Guez, Pool Photo via AP)

Mr Blinkens latest visit to the region  his eighth since Hamass October 7 attack on southern Israel ignited the war  is focused on rallying support for the ceasefire proposal, boosting the entry of humanitarian aid and advancing post-war plans for Gazas governance.

He met privately with families of the hostages as well as demonstrators outside a hotel calling for a ceasefire deal, and later travelled on to Jordan.

Mr Blinken was also expected to visit Qatar, which along with Egypt has served as a key mediator with Hamas. Mr Blinken was in Cairo earlier on Monday.

The proposal, announced by Mr Biden last month, calls for a three-phased plan in which Hamas would release the rest of the hostages in exchange for a lasting ceasefire and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. The group is still holding around 120 hostages, a third of whom are believed to be dead.

Israeli military officers gather by their vehicles in a refugee camp in the occupied West Bank (Majdi Mohammed/AP)

Mr Biden presented it as an Israeli proposal, but Mr Netanyahu has publicly disputed key aspects of it, saying Israel will not end the war without destroying Hamas and achieving the return of all the hostages.

Hamas supports the broad outline of the agreement but has demanded assurances it will be implemented. The militant group embraced a similar proposal last month that was rejected by Israel.

Efforts are continuing to study and clarify some matters to ensure implementation by the Israeli side, Hamas spokesman Jihad Taha said on Tuesday. Israel has not given clear approval or commitments to implementation that would lead to ending the aggression, he said.

On Monday, the UN Security Council voted overwhelmingly to approve the proposal, with 14 of the 15 members voting in favour and Russia abstaining. The resolution calls on Israel and Hamas to fully implement its terms without delay and without condition.

The proposal has raised hopes of ending an eight-month war that has killed more than 37,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health officials, and driven some 80% of the population of 2.3 million from their homes.

Israeli restrictions and ongoing fighting have hindered efforts to bring humanitarian aid to the isolated coastal enclave, fuelling widespread hunger.

Later on Tuesday, Mr Blinken attended a Gaza aid conference in Jordan, where he announced more than 400 million dollars in additional aid for Palestinians in Gaza and the wider region.

US secretary of state Antony Blinken attending a conference in Jordan (Alaa Al Sukhni/Pool Photo via AP)

The war began when Hamas and other militants stormed into Israel on October 7, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking around 250 hostage. More than 100 hostages were released during a ceasefire last year in exchange for Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.

Mr Bidens announcement on May 31 of the new proposal said it would begin with an initial six-week ceasefire and the release of some hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. Israeli forces would withdraw from populated areas and Palestinian civilians would be allowed to return to their homes.

Phase one also requires the safe distribution of humanitarian assistance at scale throughout the Gaza Strip, which Mr Biden said would lead to 600 trucks with aid entering Gaza every day.

In phase two, the resolution says that with the agreement of Israel and Hamas, a permanent end to hostilities, in exchange for the release of all other hostages still in Gaza, and a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza will take place.

Phase three would launch a major multi-year reconstruction plan for Gaza and the return of the remains of any deceased hostages still in Gaza to their families.

The conflicting signals from Mr Netanayahu appear to reflect his political dilemma. His far-right coalition allies have rejected the proposal and have threatened to bring down his government if he ends the war without destroying Hamas.

A lasting ceasefire and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza would likely allow Hamas to retain control of the territory and rebuild its military capabilities.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met Antony Blinken (Jack Guez/Pool Photo via AP)

But Mr Netanyahu is also under mounting pressure to accept a deal to bring the hostages back. Thousands of Israelis, including families of the hostages, have demonstrated in favour of the US-backed plan.

The transition from the first to the second phase appears to be a sticking point. Hamas wants assurances that Israel will not resume the war, and Israel wants to ensure that protracted negotiations over the second phase do not prolong the ceasefire indefinitely while leaving hostages in captivity.

Mr Blinken said the proposal would bring an immediate ceasefire and commit the parties to negotiate an enduring one.

The ceasefire that would take place immediately would remain in place, which is manifestly good for for everyone. And then well have to see, Mr Blinken said.
Hunter Biden said he is grateful for the support from family and friends but disappointed by the outcome following his conviction on felony charges in a federal gun case.

I am more grateful today for the love and support I experienced this last week from Melissa, my family, my friends, and my community than I am disappointed by the outcome, the US presidents son said in a statement.

Recovery is possible by the grace of God, and I am blessed to experience that gift one day at a time.

Defence lawyer Abbe Lowell said they are naturally disappointed by Hunter Bidens guilty verdict.

Through all he has been through in his recovery, including this trial, Hunter has felt grateful for and blessed by the love and support of his family

Mr Lowell said in a statement that they respect the jury process and will vigorously pursue all legal challenges that are available.

Through all he has been through in his recovery, including this trial, Hunter has felt grateful for and blessed by the love and support of his family, Mr Lowell said.

After Hunter Bidens conviction, President Joe Biden said in a statement that he and the first lady will always be there for their son with our love and support.

The president said he will accept the outcome and continue to respect the judicial process as his son considers an appeal.

President Joe Biden said he and the first lady will always be there for their son (AP)

President Biden said he and wife Jill love their son and they are proud of the man he is today.

The special counsel appointed to investigate Hunter Biden said his conviction on federal gun crimes is a reminder that no one is above the law.

David Weiss, US attorney for Delaware, said: No one in this country is above the law. Everyone must be accountable for their actions.

Republican reaction to Hunter Bidens verdict was swift and varied as some called the guilty outcome overdue accountability for the Biden family while others said it represented a veil of fairness.

Special counsel David Weiss, centre, accompanied by federal prosecutors Derek Hines and Leo Wise, speaks during a news conference (Matt Slocum/AP)

James Comer, the Republican chairman of the House Oversight Committee, who has been investigating the presidents family for the last two years, said the verdict marked a step towards accountability.

Mr Comer and other House Republicans have pursued an impeachment inquiry into President Biden for the last 17 months that has failed to directly connect the commander-in-chief to his familys overseas business dealings.

Mr Comer has taken a special interest in Hunter Biden and his various legal woes, bringing in the presidents son last year to conduct a deposition.
Hamas has said that it gave Qatari and Egyptian mediators its reply to the US-backed proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza, with some remarks on the deal.

It appeared the reply was short of an outright acceptance that the United States has been pushing for, but the group said it was ready to keep working to reach an agreement.

On his eighth visit to the region, US secretary of state Antony Blinken said the UN Security Councils vote in favour of the US-backed proposal for a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release made it as clear as it possibly could be that the world supports the plan, as he again called on Hamas to accept it.

Everyones vote is in, except for one vote, and thats Hamas, Mr Blinken told reporters in Tel Aviv after meeting Israeli officials. He said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had reaffirmed his commitment to the proposal when they met on Monday.

Antony Blinken speaks to families and supporters of Israelis held hostage by Hamas in Gaza (Jack Guez, Pool Photo via AP)

The foreign ministries of Qatar and Egypt  who have been key mediators with Hamas in months of talks  confirmed that they had received Hamass response and said mediators were studying it.

In a joint statement, Hamas and the smaller Islamic Jihad militant group said they were ready to deal positively to arrive at an agreement and that their priority is to bring a complete stop to the war.

A senior Hamas official, Osama Hamdan, told Lebanons Al-Mayadeen television that the group had submitted some remarks on the proposal to the mediators. He did not give any details.

In a separate development, the UN human rights office said Israeli forces and Palestinian militants may have committed war crimes during the deadly Israeli raid that rescued four hostages over the weekend. At least 274 Palestinians were killed in the operation, according to Gazas Health Ministry.

Mr Blinkens latest visit to the region  his eighth since Hamass October 7 attack on southern Israel ignited the war  is focused on rallying support for the ceasefire proposal, boosting the entry of humanitarian aid and advancing post-war plans for Gazas governance.

Israeli military officers gather by their vehicles in a refugee camp in the occupied West Bank (Majdi Mohammed/AP)

He met privately with families of the hostages as well as demonstrators outside a hotel calling for a ceasefire deal, and later travelled on to Jordan.

The proposal, announced by US President Joe Biden last month, calls for a three-phased plan in which Hamas would release the rest of the hostages in exchange for a lasting ceasefire and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. The group is still holding around 120 hostages, a third of whom are believed to be dead.

Mr Biden presented it as an Israeli proposal, but Mr Netanyahu has publicly disputed key aspects of it, saying Israel will not end the war without destroying Hamas and achieving the return of all the hostages.

Hamas supports the broad outline of the agreement but has demanded assurances it will be implemented. The militant group embraced a similar proposal last month that was rejected by Israel.

Efforts are continuing to study and clarify some matters to ensure implementation by the Israeli side, Hamas spokesman Jihad Taha said on Tuesday. Israel has not given clear approval or commitments to implementation that would lead to ending the aggression, he said.

US secretary of state Antony Blinken attending a conference in Jordan (Alaa Al Sukhni/Pool Photo via AP)

On Monday, the UN Security Council voted overwhelmingly to approve the proposal, with 14 of the 15 members voting in favour and Russia abstaining. The resolution calls on Israel and Hamas to fully implement its terms without delay and without condition.

The proposal has raised hopes of ending an eight-month war that has killed more than 37,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health officials, and driven some 80% of the population of 2.3 million from their homes. Israeli restrictions and ongoing fighting have hindered efforts to bring humanitarian aid to the isolated coastal enclave, fuelling widespread hunger.

Later on Tuesday, Mr Blinken attended a Gaza aid conference in Jordan, where he announced more than 400 million dollars in additional aid for Palestinians in Gaza and the wider region.

UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres told the gathering that the amount of aid flowing to the United Nations in Gaza for distribution has plummeted by two thirds since Israel launched an offensive in the territorys southern city of Rafah in early May.

Mr Guterres called for all border crossings to be opened, saying, the speed and scale of the carnage and killing in Gaza is beyond anything he has since he took the helm of the UN in 2017.

The war began when Hamas and other militants stormed into Israel on October 7, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking around 250 hostage. More than 100 hostages were released during a ceasefire last year in exchange for Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.

Antony Blinken waves as he arrives at Ben Gurion airport near Tel Aviv (Jack Guez/Pool via AP)

Mr Bidens announcement on May 31 of the new proposal said it would begin with an initial six-week ceasefire and the release of some hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. Israeli forces would withdraw from populated areas and Palestinian civilians would be allowed to return to their homes.

Phase one also requires the safe distribution of humanitarian assistance at scale throughout the Gaza Strip, which Mr Biden said would lead to 600 trucks with aid entering Gaza every day.

In phase two, the resolution says that with the agreement of Israel and Hamas, a permanent end to hostilities, in exchange for the release of all other hostages still in Gaza, and a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza will take place.

Phase three would launch a major multi-year reconstruction plan for Gaza and the return of the remains of any deceased hostages still in Gaza to their families.

The conflicting signals from Mr Netanayahu appear to reflect his political dilemma. His far-right coalition allies have rejected the proposal and have threatened to bring down his government if he ends the war without destroying Hamas.

A lasting ceasefire and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza would likely allow Hamas to retain control of the territory and rebuild its military capabilities.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met Antony Blinken (Jack Guez/Pool Photo via AP)

But Mr Netanyahu is also under mounting pressure to accept a deal to bring the hostages back. Thousands of Israelis, including families of the hostages, have demonstrated in favour of the US-backed plan.

The transition from the first to the second phase appears to be a sticking point. Hamas wants assurances that Israel will not resume the war, and Israel wants to ensure that protracted negotiations over the second phase do not prolong the ceasefire indefinitely while leaving hostages in captivity.

Mr Blinken said the proposal would bring an immediate ceasefire and commit the parties to negotiate an enduring one.

The ceasefire that would take place immediately would remain in place, which is manifestly good for for everyone. And then well have to see, Mr Blinken said.
06/11/2024



Photo/JSU Canyon Center

Fort Payne, AL  The Jacksonville State University Field School and the Little River National Preserve will host the annual BioBlitz on Friday and Saturday at the Little River Canyon Center. The free event invites all ages to help identify and catalog the plants and animals of Little River Canyon National Preserve.

Event Highlights

Friday, June 14:

2:00 PM: Discovery Station at Little River Falls

Discovery Station at Little River Falls 5:30 PM: Light refreshments before the evening activities begin

Light refreshments before the evening activities begin 6:00 PM: Special presentation by Alabama native, social media influencer and Founder of the Native Habitat Project Kyle Lybarger. Kyle will share his insights on managing native ecosystems and conserving rare plant species.

Special presentation by Alabama native, social media influencer and Founder of the Native Habitat Project Kyle Lybarger. Kyle will share his insights on managing native ecosystems and conserving rare plant species. 7:15 PM: Family friendly trivia event open to all ages. Expect the unexpected with trivia questions spanning topics from entomology, music, sports, and more.

Family friendly trivia event open to all ages. Expect the unexpected with trivia questions spanning topics from entomology, music, sports, and more. 8:15 PM: The Jax State Field School will lead a guided night hike to Little River Falls while others search for moths and insects using black lights at Little River Falls.

6:30 AM: A guided bird hike that will start the day and will begin at the Little River Canyon Center

A guided bird hike that will start the day and will begin at the Little River Canyon Center 10:00 AM: Snorkel survey or guided hike at Canyon Mouth Park

Snorkel survey or guided hike at Canyon Mouth Park 2:30 PM: BioBlitz Awards and Venomous Snakes of Alabama with the Alabama Herpetological Society. This is an educational program which includes live snakes.

The BioBlitz aims to document the rich biodiversity of the preserve, which includes over 50 species of reptiles and amphibians, 40 species of fish, 145 species of birds and many rare plants. Participants use smart phones and the iNaturalist app to take photos and sound recordings to identify, record and document species found. Last years event recorded 375 species and over 800 observations.

All events are free and open to the public. For more information, contact the Canyon Center at 256-845-3548, visit CanyonCenter.org and follow the JSU Field School on Facebook.

Join others for a weekend of exploration, education, and community science at the Little River BioBlitz!
Santa Helena environmental and metallurgical programs to rapidly advance

LONDON, UK / ACCESSWIRE / June 11, 2024 / Meridian Mining UK. S (TSX:MNO ) (Frankfurt/Tradegate:2MM) (OTCQX:MRRDF) ("Meridian" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an update on its drilling activities at the Cabacal and Santa Helena mines, part of the greater 50km Cabacal Cu-Au-Ag VMS belt-scale project ("the Belt") in Mato Grosso, Brazil.

At the Santa Helena Cu-Au-Ag & Zn project ("Santa Helena"), first results are starting to be received following re-initiation of the drilling program, with CD-472 returning a strong interval of 5.0m @ 4.0g/t AuEq from 24.1m ("Figure 1"). Meridian is initiating the environmental impact studies for open-pit development at Santa Helena, as part of its hub and spoke development strategy for the broader belt. The Company also reports that Santa Helena's metallurgical testwork is to commence shortly and focus on developing a flow sheet to optimise production of clean copper + gold-silver concentrate, gold dore and zinc concentrates. Drilling continues and further assays are pending.

The infill drilling at the advanced Cabacal Cu-Au-Ag project 1 ("Cabacal") includes holes targeting historical positions where data has been lost and which were not included in the 2022 resource statement 2 . Drilling results defining extensions of near surface Cu-Au-Ag mineralization are highlighted by CD-483's 10.1m @ 2.1g/t AuEq from 9.4m, amongst broader intersections ("Figure 2"). Meridian has now completed over 50,000 metres of drilling at Cabacal which pushes the project database to a total of over 125,000 meters.

Highlights Reported Today

Meridian reports further strong shallow mineralized intercepts at Santa Helena and Cabacal deposits;

Santa Helena continues to advance as the next open pit target for the hub and spoke development strategy of the Cabacal VMS belt; Shallow high-grade Cu-Au-Ag & Zn mineralization continues to be intercepted; CD-472 returns 12.9m @ 2.2g/t AuEq from 24.1m at Santa Helena; including: 5.0m @ 4.0g/t AuEq from 24.1m; Environmental impact, hydrogeological and metallurgical studies commencing; and

Cabacal drilling defines more shallow high-grade mineralization; CD-483 returns 10.1m @ 2.1g/t AuEq* from 9.4m at Cabacal.



*See technical note for separate AuEq equations for Santa Helena and Cabacal.

Mr. Gilbert Clark, CEO, comments: "We are pleased to see a continuing flow of solid results from both Santa Helena and Cabacal. Our focused strategy of investing into the development of near-term production from Cabacal and Santa Helena, whilst continuing "near-mine" exploration, outlines the potential for the Belt to become a multi decade producer. Santa Helena continues to advance as the second open pitable target, and another potential source of quality clean copper concentrates with high grades of gold and silver. With multiple new copper smelters being built internationally and the demand for clean copper concentrates growing, the Cabacal Cu-Au-Ag VMS belt presents one of the only near-term projects of scale that can help bridge this supply gap for clean copper concentrates."

Santa Helena Update

Drilling continues at Santa Helena with two rigs, and the first result has been returned with further results pending. Drilling is continuing with an infill pattern to achieve systematic coverage over the deposit, particularly in up-dip extensions where the system was more sparsely tested. The first result is reported from CD-472 ("Figure 1"), from a position between CD-360 (16.4m @ 0.9g/t AuEq from 6.0m & 11.0m @ 5.2g/t AuEq from 30.0m) and CD-325 (14.9m @ 4.6g/t AuEq from 26.3m). CD-472 crosses a position where only partial sampling records were available from a historical surface hole. The new result has returned:

CD-472 (Santa Helena): 12.9m @ 2.2g/t AuEq (1.0g/t Au, 0.5% Cu, 24.6g/t Ag & 1.4% Zn) from 24.1m; including: 5.0m @ 4.0g/t AuEq (1.7g/t Au, 1.3% Cu, 53.7g/t Ag & 1.7% Zn) from 24.1m; 4.7m @ 1.2g/t AuEq (0.1g/t Au, 0.2% Cu, 6.5g/t Ag & 1.9% Zn) from 48.3m; and 11.1m @ 0.8g/t AuEq (0.1g/t Au, 0.1% Cu, 5.3g/t Ag & 1.2% Zn) from 58.9m.



By comparison, the historical vertical hole it crosses, PM-15A had returned:

2.2m @ 0.9g/t AuEq (0.1g/t Au, 0.1% Cu, 8.0g/t Ag, 1.7% Zn) from 25.0m;

2.1m @ 1.4g/t AuEq (0.3g/t Au, 0.2% Cu, 9.9g/t Ag, 1.9% Zn) from 32.1m

The results provide more continuous sample coverage for resource modelling and show importantly that the sampling gaps are mineralized.

The Company has engaged Sete Solucoes e Tecnologia Ambiental Ltda and Hidrovia Hidrogeologia e Meio Ambiente to initiate baseline environmental assessments for open-pit development. The Company's metallurgical consultant, Mr Norman Lotter, is advising on the formulation of a program to test the various mineralization styles.

Figure 1: Santa Helena results location map.

Cabacal Update

Further drill results continue to be delivered from the Company's programs at Cabacal, including holes from the northwest extension, the mine area flank, and the mine area ("Figure 2"). Some of the recent drilling has included further twinning on holes where data has only been partially preserved or lost. The first of these results reported was CD-470, which returned 16.0m @ 12.5g/t AuEq from 53.3m, including 6.4m @ 30.6g/t AuEq 3 . Additional holes have targeted a range of positions (and expected grade distributions), in the Eastern, Central and Southern Copper Zones. Highlights from the recent drilling include:

CD-483 (ECZ twin of JUSPD-587): 10.1m @ 2.1g/t AuEq (1.7g/t Au, 0.3% Cu & 1.9g/t Ag) from 9.4m; including: 1.9m @ 8.8g/t AuEq (7.6g/t Au, 0.8% Cu & 4.2g/t Ag) from 12.7m; 18.2m @ 0.9g/t AuEq (0.6% Cu & 1.9g/t Ag) from 26.4m; 4.9m @ 1.2g/t AuEq (0.2g/t Au, 0.7% Cu & 3.1g/t Ag) from 59.9m;

CD-478 (Central Area of the CNWE): 6.5m @ 1.0g/t AuEq (0.2g/t Au, 0.5% Cu & 4.0g/t Ag) from 22.5m; 10.7m @ 1.5g/t AuEq (0.4g/t Au, 0.8% Cu & 3.7g/t Ag) from 51.3m; including: 2.5m @ 4.4g/t AuEq (1.3g/t Au, 2.1% Cu & 13.1g/t Ag) from 59.2m; 4.0m @ 1.1g/t AuEq (0.3g/t Au, 0.5% Cu & 2.3g/t Ag) from 65.0m; 3.1m @ 1.4g/t AuEq (0.4g/t Au, 0.7% Cu & 4.0g/t Ag) from 114.3m;

CD-477 (CCZ; twin of JUSPD-484; void from 25.1 - 32.7m): 9.8m @ 1.6g/t AuEq (0.4g/t Au, 0.9% Cu & 4.3g/t Ag) from 47.3m; including: 2.8m @ 3.4g/t AuEq (0.6g/t Au, 1.9% Cu & 10.5g/t Ag) from 54.3m; 5.2m @ 1.6g/t AuEq (0.5g/t Au, 0.8% Cu & 3.6g/t Ag) from 69.9m;

CD-474 (SCZ orthogonal hole; void from 76.5 - 83.8m): 11.8m @ 1.0g/t AuEq (0.2g/t Au, 0.6% Cu & 2.3g/t Ag) from 55.9m; 3.7m @ 4.7g/t AuEq (4.7g/t Au, 0.1% Cu & 1.0g/t Ag) from 70.4m; 10.0m @ 1.1g/t AuEq (0.4g/t Au, 0.5% Cu & 2.2g/t Ag) from 138.7m;

CD-469 (JUSPD-580 twin; SW flank of mine area): 23.2m @ 0.5g/t AuEq (0.1g/t Au, 0.3% Cu & 0.6g/t Ag) from 85.6m; including: 2.0m @ 1.9g/t AuEq (0.3g/t Au, 1.2% Cu & 2.8g/t Ag) from 106.8m; and

CD-460 (CNWE): 12.2m @ 1.9g/t AuEq (1.3g/t Au, 0.5% Cu & 3.5g/t Ag) from 71.2m; including: 4.5m @ 4.5g/t AuEq (3.1g/t Au, 1.0% Cu & 6.6g/t Ag) from 72.0m.



Figure 2: Cabacal results location map.

The twin drilling is providing some useful context in areas where targeted historical holes have gaps in information where data is lost, incomplete, or depicted only in graphic charts. Some additional drilling will target the down-plunge projection of the shallow CD-483 position. Some additional select infill drilling will also be conducted on a staggered pattern in the resource area, to further consolidate grade distribution and continuity.

CD-460 returned a solid intersection from the CNWE, although this area is exhibiting some nuggetty characteristics in gold distribution, making definition more challenging. Sample CBDS63645 (76.12 - 76.45m) from this hole returned 6.2g/t Au. Its duplicate pair, which was not used in the composite calculation, returned tenfold the grade at 72.9g/t Au. A screen-fire assay check will be further conducted on the remaining sample. The locally steep topography of this area makes certain areas more challenging to access, and the position may potentially be better targets for under-ground development with closer spaced drilling off the floor of an open pit.

The Company is also running through an update of its quality control program through a third round of umpire analysis. Results generally compare well, although some punctual outliers may also indicate a nugget effect, or an analytical issue, with one sample in particular (CBDS02391) originally reporting 0.279 g/t and repeating with 9.25 g/t Au. Visual inspection of the sampled interval showed that visible gold was present, and further evaluation continues.

The Company has been reviewing historical records submitted to the ANM when the project was originally operated by BP Minerals and RTZ. These records have provided some additional information on production and development, but unfortunately an annex of assay results from a technical report has not yet been located. The technical reports include some further examples of face mapping and sampling of the variably oriented vein and shear arrays encountered in the underground room and pillar mining. Geometries created challenges for selective high-grade extraction, and steep structures are present that were not coupled well with the dominantly vertical drilling ("Figure 3"). A number of holes orthogonal to the main strike, and scissor holes, will be conducted to test for potential structural arrays in trends not typically intersected in the moderately dipping NE-trending drilling.

Figure 3: Historical Cabacal underground face sampling for gold illustration looking south from technical report recently retrieved for ANM archive search, showing (A) moderately dipping mineralization and vein arrays (75g/t Au channel sample in lower left), and (B) subvertical cross-cutting shear with vein arrays (6.3g/t Au sample; (C) 36.6 g/t vein selvedge in upper left, and (D) unsampled subvertical vein sets to the right).

About Meridian

Meridian Mining is focused on:

The development and exploration of the advanced stage Cabacal VMS goldcopper project;

The initial resource definition at the second high-grade VMS asset at Santa Helena as first stage of Hub and Spoke development strategy;

Regional scale exploration of the Cabacal VMS belt to expand the Hub and Spoke strategy; and

Exploration in the Jauru & Araputanga Greenstone belts (the above all located in the State of Mato Grosso, Brazil).

The Preliminary Economic Assessment technical report (the "PEA Technical Report") dated March 30, 2023, entitled: "Cabacal Gold-Copper Project NI 43-101 Technical Report and Preliminary Economic Assessment, Mato Grosso, Brazil" outlines a base case after-tax NPV5 of USD 573 million and 58.4% IRR from a pre-production capital cost of USD 180 million, leading to capital repayment in 10.6 months (assuming metals price scenario of USD 1,650 per ounces of gold, USD 3.59 per pound of copper, and USD 21.35 per ounce of silver). Cabacal has a low All-in-Sustaining-Cost of USD 671 per ounce gold equivalent for the first five years, driven by high metallurgical recovery, a low life-of-mine strip ratio of 2.1:1, and the low operating cost environment of Brazil.

The Cabacal Mineral Resource estimate consists of Indicated resources of 52.9 million tonnes at 0.6g/t gold, 0.3% copper and 1.4g/t silver and Inferred resources of 10.3 million tonnes at 0.7g/t gold, 0.2% copper & 1.1g/t silver (at a 0.3 g/t gold equivalent cut-off grade). Santa Helena mine area generated an initial Exploration Target with a tonnage range of 3.2 -7.2 Mt grading between 3.0 - 3.2g/t AuEq*, which gives a potential high-grade metal inventory range of between 306,000 to 763,000 AuEq ounces, located within 10km of the proposed Cabacal mill site.

Readers are encouraged to read the PEA Technical Report in its entirety. The PEA Technical Report may be found on the Company's website at www.meridianmining.co and under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca .

The qualified persons for the PEA Technical Report are: Robert Raponi (P. Eng), Principal Metallurgist with Ausenco Engineering), Scott Elfen (P. E.), Global Lead Geotechnical and Civil Services with Ausenco Engineering), Simon Tear (PGeo, EurGeol), Principal Geological Consultant of H&SC, Marcelo Batelochi, (MAusIMM, CP Geo), Geological Consultant of MB Geologia Ltda, Joseph Keane (Mineral Processing Engineer; P.E), of SGS, and Guilherme Gomides Ferreira (Mine Engineer MAIG) of GE21 Consultoria Mineral.

On behalf of the Board of Directors of Meridian Mining UK S

Mr. Gilbert Clark - CEO and Director

Meridian Mining UK S

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Ph: +1 778 715-6410 (PST)

Stay up to date by subscribing for news alerts here: https://meridianmining.co/contact/

Follow Meridian on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MeridianMining

Further information can be found at: www.meridianmining.co

Technical Notes

Samples have been analysed at ALS laboratory in Lima, Peru. Samples are dried, crushed with 70% passing <2mm, split off to give a mass of approximately 250g, and pulverized to >85% passing 200#. Routine gold analyses have been conducted by Au-AA23 (fire assay of a 30g charge with AAS finish). High-grade samples (>10g/t Au) are repeated with a gravimetric finish (Au-GRA21). Samples are held in the Company's secure facilities until dispatched and delivered by staff and commercial couriers to the laboratory. Pulps and coarse rejects are retained and returned to the Company for storage. The Company submits a range of quality control samples, including blanks and gold and polymetallic standards supplied by Rocklabs, ITAK and OREAS, supplementing laboratory quality control procedures. Approximately 5% of archived samples are sent for umpire laboratory analysis, including any lots exhibiting QAQC outliers after discussion with the laboratory. In BP Minerals sampling, gold was analysed historically by fire assay and base metals by three acid digest and ICP finish at the Nomos laboratory in Rio de Janeiro. Silver was analysed by aqua regia digest with an atomic absorption finish. True width is considered to be 80-90% of intersection width. Assay figures and intervals are rounded to 1 decimal place. Gold equivalents for Cabacal are calculated as: AuEq(g/t) = (Au(g/t) * %Recovery) + (1.492*(Cu% * %Recovery)) + (0.013*(Ag(g/t) * %Recovery)), where:

Au_recovery_ppm = 5.4368ln(Au_Grade_ppm)+88.856

Cu_recovery_pct = 2.0006ln(Cu_Grade_pct)+94.686

Ag_recovery_ppm = 13.342ln(Ag_Grade_ppm)+71.037

Recoveries based on 2022 metallurgical testwork on core submitted to SGS Lakefield

Gold equivalents for Santa Helena are based on metallurgical recoveries from the historical resource calculation, updated with pricing forecasts aligned with the Cabacal PEA. AuEq (g/t) = (Au_(g/t) * 65%Recovery) + (1.492*Cu(%) * 89%Recovery) + (0.474*Zn% * 89%Recovery)) + (0.013Ag(g/t) * 61%Recovery)).

Qualified Person

Mr. Erich Marques, B.Sc., MAIG, Chief Geologist of Meridian Mining and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed, and verified the technical information in this news release.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Some statements in this news release contain forward-looking information or forward-looking statements for the purposes of applicable securities laws. These statements address future events and conditions and so involve inherent risks and uncertainties, as disclosed under the heading "Risk Factors" in Meridian's most recent Annual Information Form filed on www.sedarplus.ca . While these factors and assumptions are considered reasonable by Meridian, in light of management's experience and perception of current conditions and expected developments, Meridian can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, Meridian disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or results or otherwise.

Table 1: Assay results reported in this release.

Santa Helena

Hole-id Dip Azi EOH (m) Zone Int (m) AuEq (g/t) CuEq (%) Au (g/t) Cu (%) Ag (g/t) Zn (%) Pb (%) From (m) CD-472 59 189 82.8 SHM 12.9 2.2 1.5 1.0 0.5 24.6 1.4 1.1 24.1 Including 5.0 4.0 2.7 1.7 1.3 53.7 1.7 2.2 24.1 4.7 1.2 0.8 0.1 0.2 6.5 1.9 0.2 48.3 11.1 0.8 0.5 0.1 0.1 5.3 1.2 0.3 58.9

Cabacal

Hole-id Dip Azi EOH (m) Zone Int (m) AuEq (g/t) CuEq (%) Au (g/t) Cu (%) Ag (g/t) From (m) CD-483 -89 000 91.7 ECZ 2.8 0.5 0.3 0.4 0.1 0.5 2.1 10.1 2.1 1.4 1.7 0.3 1.9 9.4 Including 1.9 8.8 5.9 7.6 0.8 4.2 12.7 18.2 0.9 0.6 0.0 0.6 1.9 26.4 1.8 0.4 0.3 0.0 0.3 0.8 51.6 0.9 0.7 0.4 0.1 0.4 1.2 56.1 4.9 1.2 0.8 0.2 0.7 3.1 59.9 3.2 1.1 0.8 0.2 0.6 3.2 73.8 CD-480 -49 061 124.8 CWNE 4.5 0.4 0.2 0.1 0.2 1.1 14.4 2.1 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.2 1.2 27.5 1.6 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.6 45.4 2.1 0.7 0.5 0.2 0.4 0.8 50.5 0.7 0.5 0.3 0.2 0.3 2.1 54.9 5.8 1.3 0.8 0.5 0.6 1.9 62.6 4.3 0.5 0.4 0.2 0.2 0.4 75.2 1.0 2.0 1.3 0.2 1.3 2.8 86.7 0.5 4.3 2.9 1.3 2.1 11.3 97.2 7.2 0.4 0.3 0.1 0.2 1.9 100.6

Hole-id Dip Azi EOH (m) Zone Int (m) AuEq (g/t) CuEq (%) Au (g/t) Cu (%) Ag (g/t) From (m) CD-478 -48 060 133.7 CWNE 6.5 1.0 0.7 0.2 0.5 4.0 22.5 Including 0.4 7.5 5.0 1.2 4.2 20.2 27.0 2.5 0.6 0.4 0.1 0.4 1.5 38.0 10.7 1.5 1.0 0.4 0.8 3.7 51.3 Including 2.5 4.4 3.0 1.3 2.1 13.1 59.2 Including 1.0 9.3 6.2 2.2 4.7 30.0 59.2 4.0 1.1 0.7 0.3 0.5 2.3 65.0 3.0 0.5 0.3 0.1 0.3 1.7 78.4 7.7 0.4 0.3 0.1 0.2 0.5 102.3 3.1 1.4 0.9 0.4 0.7 4.0 114.3 Including 0.8 3.7 2.5 1.0 1.9 11.9 116.5 CD-477 -89 000 87.7 CCZ 1.7 1.3 0.9 0.1 0.8 1.2 11.2 1.0 2.0 1.3 0.8 0.8 1.6 18.4 3.5 0.7 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.3 37.7 9.8 1.6 1.1 0.4 0.9 4.3 47.3 Including 2.8 3.4 2.3 0.6 1.9 10.5 54.3 5.2 1.6 1.1 0.5 0.8 3.6 69.9 Including 2.3 2.9 1.9 1.0 1.3 6.0 70.4 CD-475 -89 000 133.9 SCZ 2.0 0.4 0.2 0.4 0.0 0.1 66.8 6.5 0.6 0.4 0.5 0.1 0.4 71.6 7.7 1.3 0.8 0.2 0.7 2.9 81.4 Including 2.4 2.5 1.7 0.6 1.4 6.2 81.4 13.8 0.7 0.5 0.1 0.4 2.5 91.1 Including 1.5 2.1 1.4 0.3 1.2 8.9 95.8 3.7 1.1 0.7 0.2 0.6 2.7 106.6 CD-474 -49 091 166.4 SCZ 11.8 1.0 0.7 0.2 0.6 2.3 55.9 Including 3.5 2.2 1.5 0.2 1.4 5.3 60.6 3.7 4.7 3.2 4.7 0.1 1.0 70.4 Including 2.2 7.2 4.8 7.1 0.1 1.1 70.4 2.5 0.9 0.6 0.4 0.4 0.6 83.8 3.6 1.6 1.1 0.4 0.8 4.0 89.3 Including 0.4 11.1 7.4 2.4 5.7 32.0 92.5 1.4 1.0 0.7 0.1 0.7 2.4 95.8 0.9 4.2 2.8 0.6 2.4 9.0 100.6 0.7 1.4 0.9 0.3 0.8 2.9 105.9 1.7 0.4 0.2 0.4 0.0 0.2 109.6 10.0 1.1 0.7 0.4 0.5 2.2 138.7

Hole-id Dip Azi EOH (m) Zone Int (m) AuEq (g/t) CuEq (%) Au (g/t) Cu (%) Ag (g/t) From (m) CD-473 -89 000 142.9 SCZ 2.3 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.4 96.7 5.2 1.0 0.7 0.2 0.6 1.7 110.2 Including 1.4 2.8 1.9 0.3 1.8 5.1 112.0 CD-471 -59 060 142.1 CWNE 3.2 0.4 0.3 0.0 0.3 0.3 42.4 0.8 0.7 0.5 0.0 0.5 0.2 89.6 2.9 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.8 110.8 CD-469 -89 000 127.9 SCZ 2.7 0.5 0.3 0.0 0.3 1.1 44.5 23.2 0.5 0.3 0.1 0.3 0.6 85.6 Including 2.0 1.9 1.3 0.3 1.2 2.8 106.8 1.4 0.4 0.3 0.1 0.2 0.8 113.2 CD-468 -44 054 133.6 CWNE 0.6 1.3 0.9 1.1 0.2 1.1 87.0 CD-467 -50 057 132.4 CWNE 10.4 0.7 0.4 0.0 0.4 1.7 48.0 1.2 1.2 0.8 0.1 0.7 6.0 63.1 2.5 0.4 0.3 0.1 0.2 2.0 71.2 2.3 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.1 1.0 83.3 1.5 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.2 92.9 5.9 0.7 0.5 0.3 0.3 0.8 97.0 Including 2.0 1.6 1.1 0.7 0.7 1.5 100.8 8.3 0.6 0.4 0.1 0.3 1.4 107.6 CD-466 -35 060 140.5 CWNE 0.5 3.0 2.0 0.1 2.0 5.9 68.0 1.0 0.5 0.3 0.2 0.3 0.3 113.5 2.8 2.4 1.6 1.8 0.4 1.0 118.2 Including 0.5 10.1 6.8 8.2 1.3 1.6 118.2 CD-465 -46 062 142 CWNE 3.9 1.2 0.8 0.2 0.7 0.8 23.0 4.7 0.6 0.4 0.1 0.4 0.7 44.6 10.9 0.5 0.3 0.1 0.3 1.1 52.5 25.3 0.6 0.4 0.3 0.3 0.8 100.0 Including 3.3 1.6 1.1 1.1 0.4 0.9 105.1 Including 1.9 1.9 1.3 0.4 1.0 3.9 118.9 CD-464 -80 239 106 CWNE 5.7 0.4 0.2 0.0 0.2 0.2 38.3 3.8 0.7 0.5 0.6 0.1 0.2 63.0 0.5 0.9 0.6 0.3 0.5 1.5 71.0 1.7 0.5 0.4 0.2 0.2 6.3 78.6

Hole-id Dip Azi EOH (m) Zone Int (m) AuEq (g/t) CuEq (%) Au (g/t) Cu (%) Ag (g/t) From (m) CD-463 -80 235 115 CWNE 2.1 0.3 0.2 0.0 0.2 0.1 37.4 2.0 0.4 0.3 0.0 0.3 0.5 43.5 0.4 1.1 0.7 0.1 0.7 0.7 48.9 1.9 2.8 1.9 1.6 0.9 1.3 61.9 CD-462 -50 055 141 CWNE 6.6 0.6 0.4 0.1 0.3 0.9 20.5 7.8 0.6 0.4 0.2 0.3 1.2 29.2 3.9 0.6 0.4 0.1 0.4 0.6 41.9 4.4 0.3 0.2 0.0 0.2 0.3 52.0 8.0 0.4 0.3 0.1 0.2 0.8 65.1 16.7 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.2 81.6 4.2 0.7 0.4 0.1 0.4 1.3 104.3 7.4 0.6 0.4 0.3 0.2 1.4 114.6 CD-461 -20 060 154 CWNE 0.7 0.8 0.5 0.0 0.5 2.6 72.5 5.0 0.3 0.2 0.0 0.2 0.2 114.0 5.5 0.6 0.4 0.4 0.1 0.3 122.0 1.3 1.4 0.9 0.8 0.4 10.2 136.9 CD-460 -51 308 112 CWNE 13.2 0.4 0.2 0.0 0.2 0.2 25.1 5.2 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.5 43.2 3.6 0.5 0.3 0.1 0.3 0.5 53.0 12.2 1.9 1.3 1.3 0.5 3.5 71.2 Including 4.5 4.5 3.0 3.1 1.0 6.6 72.0 CD-459 -20 060 138 CWNE 1.3 0.5 0.3 0.1 0.3 0.4 72.7 1.5 0.3 0.2 0.0 0.2 0.2 84.2 0.9 0.4 0.3 0.0 0.3 0.3 87.6 5.6 0.5 0.4 0.1 0.3 0.7 105.0 CD-458 -50 060 133 CWNE 8.8 0.7 0.5 0.1 0.4 1.4 19.0 6.0 0.4 0.3 0.1 0.2 0.6 45.0 10.4 1.0 0.7 0.8 0.1 0.6 62.9 Including 1.1 7.7 5.1 7.3 0.3 2.7 62.9 30.7 0.6 0.4 0.1 0.3 1.2 78.3 Including 2.2 1.8 1.2 0.3 1.0 4.5 96.0

1 See Meridian news release March 06, 2023

2 See Meridian news release September 26, 2022
June 11th, 2024 - TheNewswire - Rockport, Ontario - New Age Metals Inc. (TSXV: NAM); (OTCQB: NMTLF); (FSE: P7J.F) (NAM or the Company) in conjunction with its Farm-in/Joint Venture agreement with Mineral Resources Ltd. (MinRes) is pleased to announce the results of the 2024 winter exploration program at its Winnipeg River-Cat Lake Lithium project in southeast Manitoba. The project area hosts numerous spodumene-bearing pegmatites and surrounds the world class Tanco mine. Drilling was carried out by Platinum Diamond Drilling Inc. (Platinum) with technical and geological oversight by Axiom Exploration Group Ltd. (Axiom).

Harry Barr, Chairman and CEO, stated; We are very pleased with the safe and efficient execution of this drill campaign by our contractors and technical team. The abundance of pegmatites intersected, coupled with anomalous geochemical results, underscores the high prospectivity of our projects for Lithium-Cesium-Tantalum (LCT) type mineralization. The identification of new lithium-bearing pegmatites from this campaign validates our team's targeting methodology for green-fields projects and reaffirms our commitment to advancing the exploration of our properties in an effort to position New Age Metals as a key player in meeting the global demand for lithium. We look forward to announcing upcoming exploration plans for the summer season that will build on these encouraging results.

Program Details

The program consisted of exploration drilling across three of the Companys properties including Lithium Two, Bird River Lithium, and Lithman East. Drilling on the Lithman West property was hindered by insufficient ice thickness required for an ice bridge crossing.

The program commenced on January 2nd, consisting of 56 diamond drill holes totalling 12,686 meters. A total of 3,507 drill core samples were submitted to SGS Canada Inc. for geochemical analysis and all assay results have been returned. Final drill collar coordinates can be found in Appendix A.

Drilling was focused on high-priority targets identified from the 2023 geochemical and geophysical field programs. Among these targets was the Lithman East property, which lies ~7 km east of the Tanco mine complex and lacked any publicly available historical drill data. Two drill holes intersected over 1% Li2O and others exhibited anomalous geochemical values for lithium, cesium, tantalum, and tin.

Exploration drilling was also conducted within the vicinity of spodumene-pegmatite showings on the Lithium Two and Bird River Lithium properties to assess the extent of mineralization on these properties. Drilling on the Lithium Two property was concentrated on the newly discovered spodumene-bearing pegmatite on the Northwest edge of the property, as well as to the east of the FD5 Pegmatite. Drilling on the Bird River Property was conducted to test the Tappy and Matty Showings at depth, as well as defined geophysical anomalies.

2024 Drill Program Highlights

*Note that all intercepts are reported as core length intervals and are not true width

A total of 158 individual pegmatites were intersected in 41 of the 56 total drill holes.

Exploration holes on the Lithman East property intersected pegmatite in 22 of 26 holes with an average of 31.13 meters (cumulative) of pegmatite per hole.

Two drill holes intersecting over 1% LiO and others showing anomalous geochemical values for Lithium, Cesium, Tantalum, and Tin indicative of a fractionated, rare-metal pegmatite system.

Lithman East Drilling Intercepts: Notable intercepts include: 1.29% LiO over 0.3 m (from 363.8 m) (LE24-002) and 1.14% LiO over 0.7 m (from 398.3 m) (LE24-011) High-grade lithium mineralization has not been recorded on this property prior to this drilling campaign. Samples assayed up to 2976 ppm Cs, 258 ppm Ta, and 3125 ppm Sn

Lithium Two Drilling Intercepts: LT24-032: 0.63% Li2O over 18 m (from 62 m), including: 0.75% Li2O over 6.5 m (from 67.5 m), 2.47% Li2O over 1.50 m (from 78.5 m), 3.36% Li2O over 0.5 m (from 79 m), and 214 ppm Ta over 6.55 m (from 76 m) LT24-036: 1.32% LiO over 0.58 m (from 29.18 m) and 204 ppm Ta over 0.4 m (from 125.7 m) LT24-042: 1.92% LiO over 0.7 m within 4.35 m of 0.52% LiO (from 65.75 m) LT24-044: 1.77% LiO over 0.8 m within 2.8 m of 0.81% LiO (from 90 m); and 233 ppm Taover 0.7 m (from 86.45 m)

Bird River Lithium Drilling Intercepts: BR24-012: 0.28% LiO over 4.8 m (from 85.5 m); including 0.51% LiO and 783 ppm Cs over 0.83 m, and 246 ppm Ta over 1.8 m (from 83.7 m)



Discussion of Results

Maiden drilling on the Lithman East property yielded highly encouraging results, including intersections of lithium mineralization where no historic drilling or lithium bearing surface samples have been previously documented. Drilling encountered large intersections of pegmatite boasting markedly elevated Li-Cs-Ta-Sn values including two intersections surpassing 1% Li2O at a drill depth below 350 meters indicating that there may be a source of lithium at depth awaiting further exploration. These discoveries were the result of an extensive summer surface geochemical sampling program where results identified a highly fractionated region of the property with elevated LCT indicator elements. Comprehensive analysis of the drilling and assay data is currently ongoing and will guide strategic follow-up of the exciting results from this program.

The results from the Lithium Two and Bird River Lithium properties underscore the complex emplacement mechanisms of these pegmatites, with surface exposed mineralized zones pinching out at depth in many instances. The technical team, in collaboration with a post-doctoral study by the University of New Brunswick and Manitoba Geological Survey will be evaluating the drilling data which utilized oriented drill core to better understand the structural setting and controls of these pegmatites.

Figure 1: Overview of 2024 Lithium Two Drilling showing pegmatite intercepts

Figure 2: Overview of 2024 Lithman East Drilling Showing Pegmatite Intercepts (TMI-RTP-TDR Underlay)

Figure 3: Overview of 2024 Bird River Lithium Drilling showing Pegmatite Intercepts

Table 1: Lithium Two Drilling Highlights

*Intervals reported as Core Width. B.D. denotes below detection*

Lithium Two - Drilling Highlights Hole ID Highlights From To Interval (m) % Li2O Cs ppm Ta ppm LT24-032 62 64.5 2.5 0.92 271 151 including 63.2 63.7 0.5 2.70 84 88 67.5 74 6.5 0.75 278 156 including 67.5 69 1.5 1.18 135 110 including 71 71.5 0.5 0.43 1523 143 including 72.5 74 1.5 1.34 129 107 76 82.55 6.55 0.69 119 214 including 78.5 84 1.5 2.47 137 196 including 79 79.5 0.5 3.36 162 192 80 81.5 1.5 0.18 19 386 82.55 84 1.45 0.44 646 10 LT24-033 100.56 101.14 0.58 0.21 706 6 LT24-035 59.4 60.5 1.1 0.17 383 197 including 59.4 59.9 0.5 0.19 487 264 60.5 61 0.5 0.22 603 90 61.5 64 2.5 0.33 375 39 including 61.5 62 0.5 0.66 670 17 LT24-036 26.4 29.76 3.36 0.50 132 37 including 29.18 29.76 0.58 1.32 84 99 91.9 94.5 2.6 0.5 44 124 116.1 116.6 0.5 0.21 515 2 125.7 126.1 0.4 0.00 13 204 LT24-037 56.2 57.75 1.55 0.58 259 43 LT24-042 31.5 33.2 1.7 0.64 48 69 65.75 70.1 4.35 0.52 57 44 including 66.2 66.9 0.7 1.92 47 103 LT24-044 86.45 87.15 0.7 0.04 60 233 90 92.8 2.8 0.81 238 42 including 92 92.8 0.8 1.77 28 52 LT24-045 18.95 19.3 0.35 0.01 21 432 100.57 100.84 0.27 0.02 35 223

Table 2: Lithman East and Bird River Lithium Drilling Highlights

*Intervals reported as Core Width. B.D. denotes below detection*

Lithman East - Drilling Highlights Hole ID Highlights From To Interval (m) % Li2O Cs ppm Ta ppm Sn ppm LE24-001 70.21 70.45 0.24 0 323 290 373 LE24-002 363.8 364.1 0.3 1.29 33 13 B.D. LE24-004 10.7 13 2.3 0.09 119 51 316 including 10.7 10.9 0.2 0.06 216 256 3125 LE24-006 103.2 103.82 0.62 0.08 20 55 1088 LE24-011 77 78.6 1.6 0.29 1893 48 B.D. including 77.6 78.6 1 0.40 2976 16 B.D. 398.3 399 0.7 1.14 10 5 B.D. 403.05 403.6 0.55 0.10 76 258 1421 LE24-013 88.8 89.7 0.9 0.01 212 66 401 LE24-018 37 38 1 0.02 45 46 416 48.5 56.4 7.9 0.10 146 26 B.D. including 55.8 56.4 0.6 0.28 516 132 180 LE24-025 169.3 171.45 2.15 0.14 1230 52 B.D. including 169.8 169.95 0.15 0.29 505 223 197 276.35 277.1 0.75 0.18 544 5 B.D. Bird River - Drilling Highlights Hole ID Highlights From To Interval (m) % Li2O Cs ppm Ta ppm Sn ppm BR24-012 80.56 81.1 0.54 0.34 475 1 B.D 83.7 85.5 1.8 0.09 219 246 176 85.5 90.3 4.8 0.28 266 50 B.D. including 87.6 88.43 0.83 0.51 783 5 123

About NAM

New Age Metals is a junior mineral exploration and development company focused on the discovery, exploration, and development of green metal projects in North America. The Company has two divisions: a Platinum Group Element division and a Lithium/Rare Element division.

The PGE Division includes the 100% owned, multi-million-ounce, district-scale River Valley Project, one of North Americas largest undeveloped Platinum Group Element Projects, situated 100 km by road east of Sudbury, Ontario. In addition to River Valley, NAM owns 100% of the Genesis PGE-Cu-Ni Project in Alaska. The Company is working towards obtaining with a 3rd party Company to further this Projects development.

The Companys Lithium Division is one of the largest mineral claim holders in the Winnipeg River Pegmatite Field, where the Company is exploring for hard rock lithium and various rare elements such as tantalum, rubidium, and cesium. Exploration for 2024 includes 12,687 meters of diamond drilling following up on the anomalous results from the geochemical samples collected during summer 2023 and geophysical/structural interpretation. The Company has a partnership with Mineral Resource Limited (MRL, ASX: MIN), a top global lithium producer to explore and develop the Companys lithium project portfolio in Southern Manitoba. The Company has submitted its 2024/25 budget to Mineral Resources Limited and expects a final approval by early summer 2024. Our philosophy is to be a project generator with the objective of optioning our projects with major and junior mining companies through to production.

The Company is actively seeking an option/joint venture partner for our newly acquired Northman and South Bay Lithium Projects in northern Manitoba, and its road-accessible Genesis PGE-Cu-Ni Project in Alaska.

Investors are invited to visit the New Age Metals website at www.newagemetals.com where they can review the company and its corporate activities. Any questions or comments can be directed to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Harry Barr at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Farid Mammadov at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 613 659 2773.

Qualified Person

The technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Lynde Guillaume (Senior Geologist, Axiom Exploration Ltd.), an independent consultant of the Company, and a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101.

Opt-in List

If you have not done so already, we encourage you to sign up on our website (www.newagemetals.com) to receive our updated news.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

Harry Barr

Harry G. Barr

Chairman and CEO

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements: This release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. These statements may differ materially from actual future events or results and are based on current expectations or beliefs. For this purpose, statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. In addition, forward-looking statements include statements in which the Company uses words such as continue, efforts, expect, believe, anticipate, confident, intend, strategy, plan, will, estimate, project, goal, target, prospects, optimistic or similar expressions. These statements by their nature involve risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially depending on a variety of important factors, including, among others, the Companys ability and continuation of efforts to timely and completely make available adequate current public information, additional or different regulatory and legal requirements and restrictions that may be imposed, and other factors as may be discussed in the documents filed by the Company on SEDAR (www.sedar.com), including the most recent reports that identify important risk factors that could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake any obligation to review or confirm analysts expectations or estimates or to release publicly any revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. Investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

Appendix A: 2024 Final Drill Coordinates and Information (NAD 83/UTM Zone 15)
TORONTO, June 11, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Class 1 Nickel and Technologies Ltd. (CSE: NICO | OTCQB: NICLF) ("Class 1 Nickel" or the "Company") reports that further to its news release dated 24 April 2024, it has filed the National Instrument 43-101 (NI 43-101) Technical Report in support of an updated mineral resource estimate (MRE) for its Alexo South Nickel Sulphide Deposit (A-S Deposit) dated 7 June 2024, with an effective date of 19 April 2024, is available on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) and on the Companys website (https://class1nickel.com/alexo-dundonald-project/).

The A-S Deposit, located about 45 km northeast of the mining City of Timmins, Ontario, is one of four high-grade nickel deposits within the extensive Alexo-Dundonald Nickel Sulphide Project (the Project or Property), which covers approximately 2,078 hectares (20.78 km2). The updated Mineral Resource Estimate for the Alexo North Deposit was announced 22 May 2024 and updates to the remaining two nickel sulphide mineral resources contained within the Project, Dundonald South and North, will be completed over the coming months.

David Fitch, CEO of Class 1 Nickel, commented: With the filing of the technical report and mineral resource estimate for the Alexo South nickel sulphide deposit, we look forward to the filing of the same for the Alexo North nickel sulphide deposit in the coming weeks. We have begun work on updating the next deposit, Dundonald South, with that result expected in the next 6 weeks, followed by the Dundonald North nickel sulphide deposit. Having all four nickel sulphide deposits updated, we are planning a second phase of diamond drilling to expand the high-grade nickel resources and then move the Project through a Preliminary Economic Assessment study to start before the end of 2024.

Alexo South MRE Highlights:

Indicated Resources (open pit and underground*) of 572 kt at 0.61% Ni (7.7M lbs Ni)  44% increase in Indicated tonnes and 10% increase in nickel pounds.

Inferred Resources (open pit and underground*) of 125 kt at 0.54% Ni (1.5M lbs Ni)  693% increase in Inferred tonnes and 419% increase in nickel pounds.

84% of the nickel pounds and 82% of the tonnes in Alexo South Deposit Mineral Resource Estimate are in the Indicated category with drilling planned to update to Measured.

With only 18% of the Alexo South Deposit tonnes in the Inferred category there is excellent exploration upside to expand and upgrade resources through additional drilling.

Alexo South Deposit, one of 4 deposits on the Alexo-Dundonald Property, is open along strike and at depth, with the new geological model and interpretation providing ample targets for next-stage drilling.

Updated Mineral Resource Estimate work continuing on the remaining 3 deposits of the Alexo-Dundonald Nickel Project (Alexo North Deposit  see Class 1 Nickel news release dated 22 May 2024).

*C$52.5/t NSR open pit and C$96.0/t NSR underground cut-offs applied in current 2024 mineral resource estimate whereas a C$30.0/t NSR open pit and C$90.0/t NSR underground cut-offs were applied in the 2020 mineral resource estimate.

Table 1. Mineral Resource Statement for the estimated 2024 Alexo South Indicated and Inferred Resources.

Alexo South

Resource Category

Tonnage (t) Grade Contained Metal Ni (%) Cu (%) Co (%) NiEq (%) NSR (C$/t) Ni (klbs) Cu (klbs) Co (klbs) Constrained Open Pit ($52.5/t NSR COG)

Indicated 275,000 0.58 0.02 0.02 0.62 123 3,490 133 133 Total Pit

Constrained

Indicated: 275,047 0.58 0.02 0.02 0.62 123 3,490 133 133 Out-of-Pit/Underground (C$96.0/t NSR COG) Indicated 297,000 0.65 0.03 0.02 0.69 139 4,240 190 157 Inferred 130,000 0.54 0.03 0.02 0.58 116 1,500 75 52 Total Open Pit and Underground Resources Indicated 572,000 0.61 0.03 0.02 0.66 131 7,730 323 290 Inferred 130,000 0.54 0.03 0.02 0.58 116 1,500 75 52

Notes to Table 1:

(1) The independent Qualified Person for the MRE, as defined by NI 43-101, is Mr. Simon Mortimer (FAIG #4083) of Atticus Geoscience Consulting S.A.C., working with Caracle Creek International Consulting Inc. The effective date of the MRE is 19 April 2024.

(2) Mineral Resources are not Mineral Reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability.

(3) The estimate of Mineral Resources may be materially affected by environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-political, marketing, or other relevant issues.

(4) The Inferred Mineral Resource in this estimate has a lower level of confidence than that applied to an Indicated Mineral Resource and must not be converted to a Mineral Reserve. It is reasonably expected that the majority of the Inferred Mineral Resource could be upgraded to an Indicated Mineral Resource with continued exploration.

(5) The Mineral Resources were estimated following the 2019 CIM Estimation of Mineral Resources & Mineral Reserves Best Practice Guidelines prepared by the CIM Mineral Resource & Mineral Reserve Committee and the 2014 CIM Definition Standards for Mineral Resources & Mineral Reserves prepared by the CIM Standing Committee on Reserve Definitions.

(6) Geological and block models for the MRE used core assays (2,254 samples from 2021 drilling and 178 samples from 2024 in-fill core sampling) and data and information from 181 surface diamond drill holes (29 from Class 1 Nickel and 152 historical). The drill hole database was validated prior to resource estimation and QA/QC checks were made using industry-standard control charts for blanks, core duplicates and commercial certified reference material inserted into assay batches by Class 1 Nickel.

(7) The block model was prepared using Micromine 2020. A 6 m x 6 m x 6 m block model was created, with sub blocks to 0.5 m x 0.5 m x 0.5 m. Drill composites of 1.0 m intervals were generated within the estimation domains, and subsequent grade estimation was carried out for Ni, Cu and Co using Ordinary Kriging interpolation method.

(8) Grade estimation was validated by comparison of input and output statistics (Nearest Neighbour and Inverse Interpolation methods), swath plot analysis, and by visual inspection of the assay data, block model, and grade shells in cross-sections.

(9) As a reference, the average estimated density value (specific gravity) within the mineralised domain is 2.89 g/cm3 (t/m3).

(10) Estimates have been rounded to 3 significant figures for Indicated resources and 2 significant figures for Inferred resources.

(11) The historical open pit mined areas were removed from the MRE and the MRE considers a geological dilution of 5% and a mining recovery of 95%.

(12) US$ metal prices of $8.00/lb Ni, $3.25/lb Cu, $13.00/lb Co were used in the NSR calculation with respective process recoveries of 85%, 70%, and 80%; gold, platinum and palladium are not considered in the current NSR calculation.

(13) Pit constrained Mineral Resource NSR cut-off considers processing, and G&A costs, applying a factor of 5% for mining dilution, that respectively combine for a total of (($45.00 + $5.00) * (1 + 5%)) = C$52.5/tonne processed.

(14) Out-of-pit Mineral Resource (underground) NSR cut-off considers ore mining, processing, and G&A costs that respectively combine for a total of ($46.00 + $45.00 + $5.00) = C$96.0/tonne processed.

(15) The out-of-pit Mineral Resource grade blocks were quantified above the $96.0/t cut-off, below the constraining pit shell and within the constraining mineralized wireframes. Additionally, only groups of blocks that exhibited continuity and reasonable potential stope geometry were included. All orphaned blocks and narrow strings of blocks were excluded. The long-hole stoping with backfill mining method was assumed for the out-of-pit (underground) MRE calculation.

(16) The NSR calculation is as follows: NSR C$/t = ((Ni% x 199.89) + (Cu% x 66.87) +(Co% x 305.71)) x 95%.

(17) The NiEq% calculation is as follows: NiEq% = (Ni% x 1) + (Cu% x 0.33) + (Co% x 1.53).





Figure 1. Location of the four known nickel sulphide deposits within the Alexo-Dundonald Nickel Sulphide Project, Timmins Mining Camp, Ontario, Canada.

An updated Mineral Resource Estimate for the Alexo North Deposit (Table 2) was announced by Class 1 Nickel on 22 May 2024 and its supportive Technical Report is forthcoming. The remaining two mineral resource estimates within the Project, Dundonald South and Dundonald North, remain current under the mineral resource estimations and technical report completed by P&E Mining Consultants Inc. (Stone et al., 2020).

Alexo North MRE Highlights:

Indicated Resources (open pit and underground*) of 42,600 t at 0.92% Ni (864k lbs Ni)  63% increase in Indicated tonnes and 8% increase in nickel pounds.

Inferred Resources (open pit and underground*) of 500 t at 0.32% Ni (3k lbs Ni)  100% increase in Inferred tonnes and 100% increase in nickel pounds.

99.6% of the nickel pounds and 99% of the tonnes in Alexo North Deposit Mineral Resource Estimate are in the Indicated category with drilling planned to update to Measured.

With only 1% of the Alexo North Deposit tonnes in the Inferred category there is excellent exploration upside to expand and upgrade resources through additional drilling.

Alexo North Deposit, one of the 4 deposits on the Alexo-Dundonald Property, is open along strike, with the new geological model and interpretation providing ample targets for next-stage drilling.

Updated Mineral Resource Estimate work continuing on the remaining 2 deposits (Dundonald South and North) of the Alexo-Dundonald Nickel Project.

*C$52.5/t NSR open pit and C$96.0/t NSR underground cut-offs applied in current 2024 mineral resource estimate whereas a C$30.0/t NSR open pit and C$90.0/t NSR underground cut-offs were applied in the 2020 mineral resource estimate.

Table 2. Mineral Resource Statement for the estimated 2024 Alexo North Indicated and Inferred Resources.

Alexo North

Resource Category Tonnage

(t)

Grade Contained Metal Ni

(%) Cu

(%) Co

(%) NiEq

(%) NSR

(C$/t) Ni

(klbs) Cu

(klbs) Co

(klbs) Open Pit ($52.5/t NSR COG)

Indicated 35,100 0.98 0.11 0.04 1.08 205.87 759 83 33 Inferred 500 0.32 0.04 0.02 0.36 68.04 3 0 0 Underground (C$96/t NSR COG) Indicated 7,500 0.63 0.08 0.03 0.70 133.71 105 12 5 Total Open Pit and Underground Indicated 42,600 0.92 0.10 0.04 1.02 193.09 864 95 38 Inferred 500 0.32 0.04 0.02 0.36 68.04 3 0 0

Notes to Table 2:

(1) The independent Qualified Person for the MRE, as defined by NI 43-101, is Mr. Simon Mortimer (FAIG #4083) of Atticus Geoscience Consulting S.A.C., working with Caracle Creek International Consulting Inc. The effective date of the MRE is 21 May 2024.

(2) Mineral Resources are not Mineral Reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability.

(3) The estimate of Mineral Resources may be materially affected by environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-political, marketing, or other relevant issues.

(4) The Inferred Mineral Resource in this estimate has a lower level of confidence than that applied to an Indicated Mineral Resource and must not be converted to a Mineral Reserve. It is reasonably expected that the majority of the Inferred Mineral Resource could be upgraded to an Indicated Mineral Resource with continued exploration.

(5) The Mineral Resources were estimated following the 2019 CIM Estimation of Mineral Resources & Mineral Reserves Best Practice Guidelines prepared by the CIM Mineral Resource & Mineral Reserve Committee and the 2014 CIM Definition Standards for Mineral Resources & Mineral Reserves prepared by the CIM Standing Committee on Reserve Definitions.

(6) Geological and block models for the MRE used core assays (559 samples from 2021 drilling) and data and information from 181 surface diamond drill holes (29 from Class 1 Nickel and 152 historical). The drill hole database was validated prior to resource estimation and QA/QC checks were made using industry-standard control charts for blanks, core duplicates and commercial certified reference material inserted into assay batches by Class 1 Nickel.

(7) The block model was prepared using Micromine 2020. A 6 m x 6 m x 6 m block model was created, with sub blocks to 0.5 m x 0.5 m x 0.5 m. Drill composites of 1.0 m intervals were generated within the estimation domains, and subsequent grade estimation was carried out for Ni, Cu and Co using Ordinary Kriging interpolation method.

(8) Grade estimation was validated by comparison of input and output statistics (Nearest Neighbour and Inverse Interpolation methods), swath plot analysis, and by visual inspection of the assay data, block model, and grade shells in cross-sections.

(9) As a reference, the average estimated density value (specific gravity) within the mineralised domain is 2.91 g/cm3 (t/m3).

(10) Estimates have been rounded to 3 significant figures for Indicated resources and 2 significant figures for Inferred resources.

(11) The historical open pit mined areas were removed from the MRE and the MRE considers a geological dilution of 5% and a mining recovery of 95%.

(12) US$ metal prices of $8.00/lb Ni, $3.25/lb Cu, $13.00/lb Co were used in the NSR calculation with respective process recoveries of 85%, 70%, and 80%; gold, platinum and palladium are not considered in the current NSR calculation.

(13) Pit constrained Mineral Resource NSR cut-off considers processing, and G&A costs, applying a factor of 5% for mining dilution, that respectively combine for a total of (($45.00 + $5.00) * (1 + 5%)) = C$52.5/tonne processed.

(14) Out-of-pit Mineral Resource (underground) NSR cut-off considers ore mining, processing, and G&A costs that respectively combine for a total of ($46.00 + $45.00 + $5.00) = C$96.0/tonne processed.

(15) The out-of-pit Mineral Resource grade blocks were quantified above the $96.0/t cut-off, below the constraining pit shell and within the constraining mineralized wireframes. Additionally, only groups of blocks that exhibited continuity and reasonable potential stope geometry were included. All orphaned blocks and narrow strings of blocks were excluded. The long-hole stoping with backfill mining method was assumed for the out-of-pit (underground) MRE calculation.

(16) The NSR calculation is as follows: NSR C$/t = ((Ni% x 199.89) + (Cu% x 66.87) +(Co% x 305.71)) x 95%.

(17) The NiEq% calculation is as follows: NiEq% = (Ni% x 1) + (Cu% x 0.33) + (Co% x 1.53).

The updated mineral resource estimates for Alexo South and Alexo North were completed by Caracle Creek Chile SpA (Caracle) and their strategic partner Atticus Geoscience Consulting Ltd. (Atticus) (together the Consultants), replacing the 2020 mineral resource estimates completed by P&E Mining Consultants Inc. (Stone et al., 2020), which is filed on SEDAR+. The current MREs were completed in accordance with National Instrument 43-10 (NI-43-101).

Alexo-Dundonald Nickel Sulphide Project

The Alexo-Dundonald Nickel Sulphide Project (A-D Project) is located about 45 km northeast of the mining centre of the City of Timmins, Ontario, covers an area of approximately 2,078 ha (20.78 km2), and was acquired by the Company in September 2018. The A-D Project includes four foundation nickel deposits (Alexo North and South and Dundonald North and South) of which the Alexo North (aka Alexo) and Alexo South (aka Kelex) were small-scale past producers of relatively high-grade nickel (i.e., 1957; 2004-2005). The deposits are located on a near-continuous folded komatiite-ultramafic rock sequence that extends for at least 14 km within the Property and which has never been systematically explored. The four mineral resources are open at depth and along strike and could increase in size with additional drilling (see Company news release dated 18 April 2024).

Qualified Persons

The Qualified Person for the Alexo South Mineral Resource Estimate reported herein and as defined by NI 43-101, is Mr. Simon Mortimer (FAIG #4083), Principal Geoscientist at Atticus Geoscience Consulting, working with Caracle Creek International Consulting Inc. All other technical information and data in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Dr. Scott Jobin-Bevans (P.Geo., PGO #0183), a geological consultant to the Company, Managing Director and Principal Geologist with Caracle Creek Chile SpA, and a Qualified Person under the definitions established by NI 43-101.

About Class 1 Nickel

Class 1 Nickel and Technologies Limited (CSE: NICO | OTCQB: NICLF) is a Mineral Resources Company focused on the exploration and development of its 100% owned komatiite-hosted nickel sulphide projects: the Alexo-Dundonald Nickel Sulphide Project, neat Timmins, Ontario (4 nickel sulphide deposits) and the Somanike Nickel Sulphide Project, near Val-dOr, Quebec (includes the historical Marbridge Ni-Cu Mine). Both projects comprise extensive property packages covering past-producing nickel mines, offering near-term production opportunity and excellent exploration upside.

Class 1 Nickels current focus is to advance the A-D Project back into production and at the same time continue brownfield and greenfield exploration on its large property package to aggregate additional nickel resources. The A-D Project sits on a 14+ km strike-length, folded komatiite unit containing several nickel-copper-cobalt and PGE mineral resources plus numerous underexplored sulphide occurrences. Decades of successful capital expenditure and investment into the Project has resulted in the discovery and delineation of four main nickel Mineral Resources that occur along the folded komatiite unit. The A-D Project was previously mined via a direct-shipping model, and the Company will soon commence a Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) study to determine the best path forward.

In addition, the Company also holds 100% interest in its River Valley PGE Project located about 65 km northeast of the City of Sudbury, the worlds largest and longest operating nickel-copper-cobalt-PGE mining camp (see Companys 13 December 2023 new release for additional information).

For more information, please contact:

Mr. David Fitch, President & CEO

T: +61.400.631.608

E: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

For additional information please visit our website at www.class1nickel.com and our Twitter feed: @Class1Nickel.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its regulation services provider has reviewed or accepted responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.

This news release contains forward-looking information which is not comprised of historical facts. Forward-looking information is characterized by words such as plan, expect, project, intend, believe, anticipate, estimate and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions may or will occur. Forward-looking information involves risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events, results, and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking information include, but are not limited to, changes in the state of equity and debt markets, fluctuations in commodity prices, delays in obtaining required regulatory or governmental approvals, and other risks involved in the mineral exploration and development industry, including those risks set out in the Companys managements discussion and analysis as filed under the Companys profile at www.sedarplus.ca. Forward-looking information in this news release is based on the opinions and assumptions of management considered reasonable as of the date hereof, including that all necessary governmental and regulatory approvals will be received as and when expected. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, other than as required by applicable securities laws.
TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / June 11, 2024 / Northern Superior Resources Inc. ("Northern Superior" or the "Company") (TSXV:SUP) (OTCQB:NSUPF) is pleased to announce the appointment of Eric Desaulniers as Director of the Company, effective immediately. Mr. Desaulnier, renowned for his significant achievements in Quebec, brings a wealth of experience to Northern Superior.

While Northern Superior remains focused on advancing exploration activities and its consolidation strategy for the Chibougamau Gold Camp, the appointment of Mr. Desaulniers signifies the Company's readiness for an eventual development phase. His extensive experience and proven leadership will further bolster Northern Superior's commitment to excellence and innovation in mineral exploration and development.

Mr. Desaulniers, President and Chief Executive Officer of Nouveau Monde Graphite Inc. ("NMG"), has demonstrated exceptional leadership, pioneering NMG's innovative approach to sustainable development and cementing its position as a prominent industry player. Under his stewardship, NMG has achieved unprecedented milestones, including forging strategic partnerships and multi-year binding offtake agreements for active anode material with Panasonic Energy and General Motors. NMG has established itself as a cornerstone of the government of Quebec's Plan for the Development of Critical and Strategic Minerals, and counts Resource-Quebec as one of its largest shareholders, underscoring its strong positioning in the Quebec business landscape.

Eric Desaulniers commented: "I am honored to join the impressive team at Northern Superior and contribute to the Company's continued growth. As a geologist, I have always been drawn to the Philibert Gold Project, recognizing its potential as an important foothold of the Chibougamau Gold Camp. I am excited to join Northern Superior at this advanced stage of consolidating the best-in-class gold assets in this prospective area. Northern Superior stands out as one of the most exciting and rapidly growing gold companies, and together, we will continue to drive innovation in the Quebec mining industry."

Victor Cantore, Executive Chairman of Northern Superior, commented: "Having interacted with Eric previously, I can attest firsthand to his remarkable achievements. On behalf of everyone, I would like to extend a warm welcome to Eric. His exceptional track record and leadership in Quebec's business arena make him an invaluable addition to our Board. His accomplishment aligns perfectly with Northern Superior's unwavering commitment to transforming the Chibougamau Gold Camp into a premier gold destination."

Eric Desaulniers

Eric Desaulniers is a seasoned professional geologist specializing in geophysics. He earned a bachelor's degree in geology and a master's degree in geophysics from Laval University in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. As a project manager at Sander Geophysics, a renowned geophysical corporation, Mr. Desaulniers oversaw numerous large-scale interpretation and data acquisition projects globally. His work spanned the Middle East, Central and North Africa, and North America, serving esteemed clients such as the British Geological Survey, Saudi Aramco, Shell, the Moroccan government, and BRGM (le Bureau de Recherches Geologiques et Minieres, France).

In 2012, Mr. Desaulniers founded NMG, where he has held the positions of President and Chief Executive Officer since its inception. Under his leadership, NMG has evolved from greenfield exploration to achieving unprecedented milestones, including going public and advancing it to the globally recognized company it is today.

Before embarking on his career in the mining sector, Mr. Desaulniers served as an Infantry Officer in the Canadian Forces, specializing in leadership instruction, advanced negotiation training, and project management. In 2007, he joined an expedition to the North Pole in the Canadian Arctic with Columbia University of New York.

About Northern Superior Resources Inc.

Northern Superior is a gold exploration company focused on the Chibougamau Camp in Quebec, Canada. The Company has consolidated the largest land package in the region, with total land holdings currently exceeding 62,000 hectares. The main properties include Philibert, Lac Surprise, Chevrier and Croteau. Northern Superior is also the largest shareholder (72%) of ONGold Resources Ltd. (TSXV: ONAU), which is advancing several assets in Northern Ontario including the district scale TPK Project.

The Philibert Project is located 9 km from IAMGOLD Corporation's Nelligan Gold project which was awarded the "Discovery of the Year" by the Quebec Mineral Exploration Association (AEMQ) in 2019. Philibert host a new maiden 43-101 inferred resource of 1,708,800 ounces Au and an indicated resource of 278,900 ounces of Au.1 Northern Superior holds a majority stake of 75% in the Philibert Project, with the remaining 25% owned by SOQUEM, and retains an option to acquire the full 100% ownership of the project. Chevrier hosts an inferred mineral resource of 652,000 ounces Au (underground and open pit) and an indicated mineral resource of 260,000 ounces Au.2 Croteau hosts an inferred mineral resource of 640,000 ounces Au.3 Lac Surprise hosts the Falcon Zone Discovery, interpreted to be the western strike extension of IAMGOLD Corporation's Nelligan Deposit.

Northern Superior is a reporting issuer in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario and Quebec, and trades on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol SUP and the OTCQB Venture Market under the symbol NSUPF. For further information, please refer to the Company's website at www.nsuperior.com or on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca).

Qualified Person

The technical content and scientific aspects of this press release have been reviewed and approved by Ms. Adree DeLazzer, P. Geo., a Qualified Person as defined by the National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"). Ms. DeLazzer is Vice-President Exploration of Northern Superior and is not considered independent.

Northern Superior Resources Inc. on Behalf of the Board of Directors

Simon Marcotte, CFA, President and Chief Executive Officer

Contact Information

Simon Marcotte, CFA

President and Chief Executive Officer

Tel: (647) 801-7273

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation that is based on expectations, estimates, projections and interpretations as at the date of this news release. The information in this news release about the proposed transaction; and any other information herein that is not a historical fact may be "forward-looking information". Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, interpretations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "interpreted", "management's view", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward- looking information and are intended to identify forward-looking information. This forward-looking information is based on reasonable assumptions and estimates of management of Northern Superior, at the time it was made, involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the companies to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such factors include, among others, risks relating to the ability of the parties to execute the proposed transaction. Although the forward-looking information contained in this news release is based upon what management believes, or believed at the time, to be reasonable assumptions, the parties cannot assure shareholders and prospective purchasers of securities that actual results will be consistent with such forward-looking information, as there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended, and neither party nor any other person assumes responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of any such forward-looking information. Neither party undertakes, and assumes no obligation, to update or revise any such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information contained herein to reflect new events or circumstances, except as may be required by law.

__________________________________

1 Northern Superior announces 1,708,809 gold ounces in inferred category and 278,921 gold ounces in indicated category at 1.10 g/t in maiden NI 43-101 pit constrained resource estimate at Philibert; Northern Superior Resources Inc. press release dated August 08, 2023.

2 NI 43-101 Technical Report Mineral Resource Estimation for the Chevrier Main Deposit, Chevrier Project Chibougamau, Quebec, Canada, October 20, 2021, Prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 by Lions Gate Geological Consulting Inc. IOS Services Geoscientifiques Inc. for Northern Superior Resources Inc.
Guinean ex-dictator Moussa Dadis Camara's defence team pleaded for his acquittal Monday over a 2009 massacre, insisting he had nothing to do with one of the darkest moments in the nation's history.

Along with 11 other government and military officials, Dadis Camara is charged with numerous cases of murder, sexual violence, torture, abduction and kidnapping.

Guinean prosecutors had in late May requested life imprisonment for him and six other defendants, saying they were guilty of crimes against humanity for the massacre.

On September 28, 2009, and in the following days, members of the presidential guard, soldiers, police and militiamen brutally cracked down on an opposition rally at a stadium in the suburbs of the capital Conakry.

At least 156 people were killed, 109 women were raped and hundreds of people injured, according to a UN-mandated commission of inquiry. The actual figures are thought to be higher.

Dadis Camara's landmark trial has gripped the West African country, with drama from the courtroom beamed to the nation's televisions and radios.

Dadis Camara has blamed the massacre on subordinates who he said acted beyond his control and denies any responsibility.

"I beg you to acquit Captain Dadis. He must go home, he did nothing," the former dictator's lawyer Almamy Samory Traore told the court.

Dadis Camara "did everything in his power to prevent this from happening," Traore argued in the plea, calling the massacre "an accident designed to sully" the ex-dictator's image.

Guinea's chief prosecutor, Alghassimou Diallo, had on May 22 denied the defendants any mitigating circumstances, arguing they showed a lack of regret since the landmark trial began in September 2022.

The defence disagreed, asserting that the ex-president had expressed his compassion on several occasions during the hearings.

"It's not justice that these civil plaintiffs are seeking, it's the conviction of a former head of state," Traore said.

The defence case is expected to last several days before the judges give their verdict at a date that is yet to be determined.
A court in Brussels on Monday sentenced a 65-year-old Belgian-Rwandan man to 25 years imprisonment for murder and rape committed during the 1994 Rwandan genocide.

Emmanuel Nkunduwimye was found guilty of war crimes and genocide for a series of murders as well as the rape of a Tutsi woman.

Nkunduwimye, who was first arrested in Belgium in 2011, was the owner of a garage in Rwanda's capital Kigali in April 1994 when the genocide began.

The garage was part of a complex of buildings that was the scene of massacres perpetrated by Interahamwe militiamen.

He was close to several militia leaders -- including Georges Rutaganda, who was sentenced to life imprisonment by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and died in 2010.

The jury at the trial in Brussels found the accused assisted the militia "with full knowledge of the facts".

"He could not have been unaware of the abuses committed there," the sentencing said, according to Belga news agency.

During the trial, Nkunduwimye was formally identified by the woman he raped, who came to testify in camera at the hearing.

Nkunduwimye denied the accusations and his defence called for his acquittal, arguing in particular that the prosecution's evidence was unreliable.

Prosecutors at the trial -- which began in April -- had requested a sentence of thirty years in jail.

The genocide in Rwanda, which took place between April and July 1994, claimed at least 800,000 lives, according to the UN.

The victims were mainly members of the Tutsi minority, but also moderate Hutus.

The trial of Nkunduwimye was the seventh such trial to be held in Belgium over the genocide since 2001.

Belgium -- which controlled Rwanda during the colonial period -- prosecutes alleged genocidaires as its court recognises universal jurisdiction for crimes under international humanitarian law committed outside the country.

In the most recent trial, Seraphin Twahirwa was sentenced in December 2023 to life imprisonment for dozens of murders and rapes perpetrated by himself or the Interahamwe militiamen under his authority in Kigali between April and July 1994.
The UN voiced alarm on Tuesday at the civilian toll of Israel's rescue of four hostages in Gaza, and the fact that Palestinian armed groups are holding captives there.

The United Nations rights office (OHCHR) said acts committed by both Israelis and Palestinians "may amount to war crimes".

"We are profoundly shocked at the impact on civilians of the Israeli forces' operation in An Nuseirat at the weekend to secure the release of four hostages," spokesman Jeremy Laurence told reporters in Geneva.

The UN, he said, was also "deeply distressed that Palestinian armed groups continue to hold many hostages, most of them civilians".

Israeli forces stormed Nuseirat refugee camp on Saturday to rescue four Israeli hostages.

Almog Meir Jan, Noa Argamani, Andrey Kozlov and Shlomi Ziv were kidnapped from the Nova festival in southern Israel on October 7.

Hamas-run Gaza's health ministry said at least 274 Palestinians were killed and 698 wounded during the operation.

"Hundreds of Palestinians, many of them civilians, were reportedly killed and injured," Laurence said.

"The manner in which the raid was conducted, in such a densely populated area, seriously calls into question whether the principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution -- as set out under the laws of war -- were respected by the Israeli forces."

- 'Serious breach' -

Asked about figures provided by the Gaza health ministry, he said that prior to October 7, when there was greater possibility to check, the UN had consistently found "the numbers they provide us are... very close to being 100-percent accurate".

The UN rights office has had limited access to verify numbers since the war started but Laurence said it still had contacts on the ground "who are reliable".

Asked about hostages held in Gaza, Laurence said this was also "prohibited by international law".

"Furthermore, by holding hostages in such densely populated areas, the armed groups doing so are putting the lives of Palestinian civilians, as well as the hostages themselves, at added risk from the hostilities," he stressed.

Asked about reports that hostages had been held in civilian locations, he said that should not happen "to an extent they could be ... used as human shields".

"That in itself is a serious breach."

- 'Complicit' -

Israel's mission to the UN in Geneva reacted by alleging that the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, had "finally realised that Hamas uses Palestinians as human shields".

"Yet, instead of taking a clear and consistent stance against this abhorrent strategy, he falls into the habit of slandering Israel. This time, for rescuing our hostages," it said.

"Those who continue to shield Hamas terrorists, including OHCHR (Turk's office), are complicit in the suffering of Palestinians and Israelis alike."

The Gaza war started after Hamas fighters launched an attack on Israel on October 7 which resulted in the deaths of 1,194 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures.

They seized 251 hostages, more than 100 of whom were released during a November truce.

Israel's relentless retaliatory bombing and ground offensive in Gaza has killed at least 37,164 people there, also mostly civilians, according to the health minister in the besieged Palestinian territory.
According to the investigators, in the first days of Russias full-scale invasion, on March 4, 2022, Ukrainian citizen Oleksandr Kostornyi sent an image of the grounds of the International Center for Peacekeeping and Security, better known in Ukraine as the Yavoriv military training facility, to his friend Oleksandr Svystunov. At Svystunovs request, Kostornyi forwarded the message to the email address of a certain Nikolay Vodolazov, who was identified as an FSB [Russian intelligence services] agent Yuri Vodolazkyi.

A former Lviv resident, Svystunov is now holding Russian citizenship and has been living in the annexed Crimea since 2014. He is one of the founders of the political party Russian Bloc and of an organisation called Russian Movement of Ukraine. Since 2017, the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine imposed sanctions on Svystunov, including a ban on his entry to Ukraine.

On March 13, 2022, Russia fired missiles at the Yavoriv military base, located 30 kilometres from Lviv, near the border of Ukraine with Poland, striking the barracks where the soldiers were sleeping. 61 people were killed and 160 others were injured.

A Russia-controlled network of individuals

Aged 74, Kostornyi is a native of Lviv, a former KGB officer, head of the Russian Pushkin Society, and co-founder and chairman of several other organisations. He is married and has four daughters and six grandchildren.

According to the investigation, he belonged to a Russia-controlled network of individuals who, under the guise of public activity, were working on destabilising Ukraine. Among his contacts, it found employees of the Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States Rossotrudnichestvo, of the Russian Embassy in Kyiv, of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, former KGB officers, as well as journalists of Russian channels, etc.

Until 1990, Kostornyi served as a major in the Department of External Surveillance in the State Security Committee of the former USSR (KGB). He graduated from the KGB Higher Red Banner School in Moscow. From 2002 till 2010, Kostornyi ran for the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on behalf of pro-Russian parties  the Progressive Socialist Party of Ukraine, Natalia Vitrenkos Peoples Opposition Bloc and the Communist Party of Ukraine.

At the time, in his correspondence with pro-Russian activists, Kostornyi wrote, according to the investigation: The Nazi successors are in power in Ukraine, the level of fascism in western Ukraine is outrageous and talked about rubbing the faces of the modern-day Ukrainians across the floor. On May 9, 2015, he wore a St Georges ribbon while visiting the Hill of Glory in Lviv to lay flowers on the graves of Soviet soldiers. On the evening of the same day, Kostornyi appeared on Rossiya-1 TV channel, complaining that the Nazis had torn his St Georges ribbon.

Organizing protests in Western Ukraine

The investigation also established that back in 2015, Svystunov was giving Kostornyi tasks for organising protests in western Ukraine, where the following slogan was heard: Poroshenko to resign! Dismiss the government! and other similar messages. For each protester brought in, organisers were promised a payment of 50-100 hryvnias. To this, Kostornyi explained that Svystunov was suggesting protests to address human rights violations. He added that they were held with the permission of the authorities and that the organisations he represented were officially registered and not accomplishing anything against Ukraine.

The man considers himself a committed human rights activist with 30 years of experience. He is one of the founders of the International Society for Human Rights, whose badge he wore on his jacket lapel whenever he appeared in the courtroom. Defence lawyer Yuriy Paley also stated in court that his client lived a normal public life and, for instance, participated in the drafting of the law on national minorities.

The media soon referred to him as a strike corrector

The indictment against Kostornyi was submitted to the court at the end of September 2022. However, the case began to be heard on the merits only in January 2023. Long before the verdict, the media began to call the accused a strike corrector, and relatives of those killed and reported missing at the Yavoriv military base attended court hearings, expecting a punishment.

Kostornyi burdened the court with numerous motions. He complained about the bias of the press and accused the court of indifference. Am I actually supposed to die in a cell?! Are you aware that Im in a hospital ward right now, after one of the suicidal prisoners assaulted me with his fists?

Unable to get what he wanted, Kostornyi yelled, interrupted Judge Viktor Romaniuk, argued in a raised voice and thus received warnings that he would be removed from the courtroom. He also demanded not to allow journalists to take photos and videos of the court hearing. Those filming do not report accurately on the course of the court hearing, do not report the opinions I express [...] I did not commit that crime. I suggested investigating whether it was even possible to do what I was charged with. This was not mentioned anywhere. The information that I allegedly guided missile strikes is false.

Defence lawyer Paley spoke of leverage over the media and promised that civil lawsuits will be filed.

For Yuriy Paley, the defense lawyer, since his client was not in direct contact with the enemy, there was no question of high treason. Photo:  Roman Balyk / Sudovyi Reporter

It wasnt a map I photographed

The accused wanted the trial to be closed to the public, declaring that he would reveal secret data from the case regarding the location of military sites at the Yavoriv facility. But a couple of minutes later, he said that in fact, the prosecutor and investigators had already disclosed everything that was classified in open hearings  and that they were now correctors of Russian missiles, not him. I have not visited the Yavoriv training facility since 2013, which can be proved by the examination of my phones movements, Kostornyi stated.

And in fact, the mobile phone data showed that on July 19, 2021, Kostornyi visited the Starychi hunting and fishing grounds, located near the military base, where he took a picture of a map on the wall. It was this image that he handed over to his Russian interlocutor in early March 2022. Which he acknowledged. I have been a member of hunting and fishing associations for many years. These associations allow people over 70 to use their services free of charge. I went to Starychi to renew my membership card, he explained. It is clear that to get to the lakes where you can fish free of charge, you need to know how to get there. It was for this purpose that I photographed the chart on the wall.

 What was the purpose of sending it to them [Svystunov and Vodolazov]? prosecutor Andriy Nikerui asked.

 For no particular purpose. This is a common communication between people who use the services of the hunting and fishing sector.

 Have you sent such charts to everyone?

 Well, more than once.

The defence argued that there was no document that would certify that the map-chart of the Starychi hunting and fishing grounds was classified or prohibited from being distributed. The lawyer said he personally visited the premises of the estate and that the map was displayed on the wall in the corridor and was openly accessible.

False! False! I didnt write that!

The main evidence was the correspondence and telephone contacts of the accused.

The prosecutor quoted a message identified as coming from the FSB agent Vodolazkyi: Are there dorms nearby where military instructors live, hotels maybe? Is there any abnormal number of foreigners? Where can iron stuff and foreign mushrooms be? In general, is there more clear information about that area? According to him, Kostornyi replied to this question by sending the Starychi map, once again, with a mark 3.

You say it was me who put a mark? Those are your fantasies, Kostornyi reacted. The marks that are there were not made by me. They were made when this chart was given for use to members of the hunting and fishing grounds. It is publicly available and was authorised by the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine back in 2008.

 Later, there are questions: Where can military instructors live? 3? And you answered: 4.

 I did not answer.

 Later you were asked: 3 and 4 are dormitories and places to sleep?

 And what did I answer? Read it! It says that I refused to answer.

 No, there is an answer from you: These are all pictures from 2021. But it is quite possible that these buildings are used for these purposes.

 Yes. It is possible. Its an assumption, not a statement.

 You said that the correspondence was about mushrooms, not military dormitories.

 I was asked. I didnt know for what purpose. I answered vaguely.

 Werent you troubled by the fact that hundreds of missiles were flying towards Ukraine at that time?

 Dont lie! Nothing was flying at that time! The question is deceitful!, Kostornyi shouted.

 In March 2022, when Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, you wrote in Russian about the facilities where military personnel could live.

 False! False! I didnt write that! These are your thoughts on this matter. If everyone had the opportunity to see these records, there is always not answering, not answering, not picking up the phone...

 Explain it to us, if you didnt write this, then who did? the judge intervened.

 Ask the prosecutor, Kostornyi replied.

 Its your phone, not the prosecutors.

 Your Honour, I would like to draw your attention to the fact that the investigator in charge of the case refused to let me be present during the examination of the phone. In other words, I dont know what was put in it and how.

 Do you have a theory as to who could have carried out this communication, if not you?, the judge asked.

 The prosecutor, in my absence. The investigator who had the phone.

Relatives of servicemen killed or missing from the Yavoriv military base attend court hearings in Lviv, western Ukraine. Photo:  Roman Balyk / Sudovyi Reporter

Your version of events changes every five minutes, Kostornyi!

Kostornyi believes that the prosecutor is trying to make a scapegoat out of him and protect the administration of the training facility. The air raid alert began at 3 a.m., he said, but the warning systems at the training facility did not function and the military remained asleep in the buildings. Therefore, peoples deaths are allegedly the administrations responsibility.

These missiles are not launched according to the charts I was using and sending. They were using American satellites for targeting. They need to have images from space, the accused said. Meanwhile, the case files do not contain any expert conclusions on how such missiles are targeted. And Kostornyi often would contradict himself.

He confirmed that he was a board member of a veterans organisation in Lviv and that he was distributing humanitarian aid. I would travel to districts around Lviv at my own expense, collect food and deliver it to elderly people who were 80 or older, he said.

 Please specify for how long you were doing this? the judge asked.

 For many years. I was engaged in human rights activities for 30 years.

 When the prosecutor asked you a question, you said that you had not travelled outside Lviv since 2013. You only went to Starychi once... And now you say that you have been travelling to all the villages for 30 years and distributing humanitarian aid.

 Thats right.

 You said five minutes ago that you hadnt travelled outside Lviv since 2013. Was it a lie?

 I meant the area of the training facility.

 Your version of events changes every five minutes, Kostornyi!

For the Defense, there is no case of high treason

The defence lawyer believes that in the case of high treason, Kostornyis interlocutor should have been a state authorities representative of the enemy country. Svystunov may or may not be under sanctions. I will not even verify this. But he is a citizen of Ukraine, and it has not been proven that he is a representative of the enemy, Paley said.

Kostornyi added that if he is guilty of correcting the missile attack, he should have been charged with causing death and material damage. But the indictment does not include this. If I am guilty of causing the deaths, I can only express my condolences to the families of the victims. But the prosecutor doesnt consider me guilty, because he writes: there are no victims in the criminal proceedings. [...] I really have nothing to do with that disaster. Then what am I being accused of? That I took a picture of the location of a hunting and fishing grounds, which is available to all citizens of Ukraine? The accused wrapped up his closing statement in Russian: Sooner or later, conscience awakens. I hope to live long enough to see the consequences of the conscience waking up in those present here. Thank you!

Kostornyi was sentenced to the maximum sentence for treason, 15 years in prison. He could not have been sentenced to life imprisonment even if the charges were more severe, as the law does not allow it to be imposed on people who are over 65 years old.

This report is part of our coverage of war crimes justice produced in partnership with Ukrainian journalists. A first version of this article was published on the "Sudovyi Reporter" website.
Despite the hype and its star-studded cast, Suzy's comeback movie "Wonderland" received underwhelmed reviews.

Suzy, Park Bo Gum's Movie 'Wonderland' Garners Mixed Reactions

On June 5, the much-anticipated sci-fi movie "Wonderland," starring Park Bo Gum and Suzy, finally hit the screen. As it is one of the awaited films this 2024, many were looking forward to it.

"Wonderland" revolves its story around a virtual platform service called Wonderland, which creates a virtual version of a deceased person through artificial intelligence.

The story follows a group of people using the service to reunite with their late loved ones and communicate with them through video calls.

Following its premiere, the movie critics and viewers have shared mixed reactions about the AI-centric sci-fi film. The comments gathered are from CINE21, theqoo, and CGV.

Movie Critics Dub 'Wonderland' As 'Too Vague,' 'Too Forced,' More

CINE21 is a South Korean film magazine known for its one-liner review platform, and has dubbed "Wonderland" as "too forced," "too vague," and "too loose."

Critic Jung : "Loosely put together, compensating all the details for mere passion and technology."

: "Loosely put together, compensating all the details for mere passion and technology." Critic Lee : "This movie unintentionally proves that film is dead and we're living in an era of soulless coding."

: "This movie unintentionally proves that film is dead and we're living in an era of soulless coding." Critic Yoo : "A hard realization of life's imperfections between oblivion and consciousness."

: "A hard realization of life's imperfections between oblivion and consciousness." Critic Park : "Tried to make us cry, ended up getting too vague."

: "Tried to make us cry, ended up getting too vague." Critic Kim: "Forcing tears with a cake mix of Zoom and After Life."

Some people on theqoo (online community forum) also expressed their sentiments over the movie.

"I know how much Park Bo Gum and Suzy put into promoting this movie, but the director cut out a lot of their story. It feels so choppy, what a waste of great cast."

"Must be one of the soapy movies that forces you to cry."

"What a waste of money this was. I'm so mad. I wouldn't even watch it for free."

Nevertheless, many still appreciated the movie's narrative.

Viewers shared their reactions posted through CGV Golden Egg score, which is said to work the same as the famous Tomatometer in the US.

"'Wonderland' comforts both the ones leaving this world and the ones getting left behind. The performances of the actors were immaculate and kept me watching the whole time."

"This movie made me think not to go against what's natural. Smothered in the regrets from the dying, the left-behind, the living. But the acting was excellent. The small details were great. The directing, leaving a lot of the context up to interpretation, was interesting too."

"I started watching without thinking too deeply about it, but it got me pondering about a lot. Sure, it wasn't a perfect movie, but the idea and the cast's acting were good enough for me."

"A world where the living can't let go of the dead and the dead can't be forgotten by the living. It's hard to tell whether that's right or wrong. But this movie shows us that anything taken too far will only destroy reality as we know it. What a good movie."

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.
Kim Soo Hyun's agency addresses the dating rumors surrounding the "Queen of Tears" star.

Following the successful finale of his K-drama comeback with Kim Ji Won, the South Korean heartthrob once again found himself in the middle of a dating controversy.

Over the weekend, netizens were stunned after several fan accounts posted sightings of Kim Soo Hyun at the Ultra Korea EDM Music Festival in Paradise City, Incheon, along with his bodyguard.

However, a familiar face was also spotted alongside the award-winning star partying at the said event.

Eagle eyed fans noticed that the girl who was with Kim Soo Hyun was the former I.O.I. and PRISTIN member Lim Nayoung.

Various clips and photos featured the "It's Okay Not To Be Okay" star and Lim Nayoung together with another man who others believe is Kim Soo Hyun's bodyguard.

[0608] Actor #KimSoohyun at Ultra Korea EDM Music Festival, Paradise City, Incheon.



 shop_k_t pic.twitter.com/VOvAKVKN8h  soohyunupdates (@soohyunupdates) June 8, 2024

As the clip went viral, fans and netizens speculated that the two were dating.

Kim Soo Hyun's Agency Shut Downs Dating Rumors

In a report, Kim Soo Hyun's agency released a brief statement, responding to dating rumors involving the actor and Lim Nayoung.

Acknowledging that the actor attended the Ultra Music Festival Korea, "the dating rumors are completely groundless."

The same goes for Lim Nayoung's agency, Mask Studio, which also expressed the same stance and mentioned that it was just a "coincidence."

"Lim Na-young attended Ultra Music Festival Korea privately and coincidentally encountered Kim Soo-hyun there. The moment where they were observed whispering was merely a result of the noisy environment."

Kim Soo Hyun's Dating History

This is not the first time that Kim Soo Hyun has been involved in various dating rumors with fellow celebrities.

Before Lim Nayoung, the "Queen of Tears" star was rumored to be dating former labelmate Kim Sae Ron back in March.

At the time, it was the peak of his TVN K-drama with Kim Ji Won, which made fans hate "The Great Shaman Ga Doo Shim."

It was after Kim Sae Ron accidentally posted a selfie, in a close, intimate pose, which the actress deleted immediately.

Following the dating news, Goldmedalist denied the rumors and released a warning that they would "take strong legal measures against any defamation and offensive posts that tarnish the actor's reputation and character."

Meanwhile, during his early years as an actor, he was linked to "The Producers" co-star IU but insists that they are just friends.

There were also rumors that he dated "Dream High" co-star Bae Suzy but never got to address the issue.

READ MORE: Kim Soo Hyun, Rowoon Team Up for THIS Special Project in the US

For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news, keep your tabs open here at KDramaStars.

KDramaStars owns this article

Written by Geca Flores






Monday, June 10, 2024 - A World War Two 100 year old veteran, has returned to France to marry his 96-year-old bride as world leaders gathered to commemorate D-Day.

Almost exactly to the day 80 years ago, troops parachuted in behind Nazi lines to capture Carentan and stop German reinforcements from defending the beaches.

More than 4,000 Allied soldiers died  and entire boats filled with men were lost when they stormed the beaches of Normandy on June 6, 1944.

Last weeks 80th anniversary of D-Day could likely be the last major commemoration where WWII veterans are present.

But one of them, Harold Terens, a 100 year old man showed its never too late for love when he married his sweetheart Jeanne Swerlin, 96, near the Normandy beaches on Saturday, June 8.

The two Americans wed in the town hall of Carentan, northern France, which was one of the Allied forces first key locations to liberate.

With this ring, I thee wed, Mr Terens said, to which Ms Swerlin gasped and giggled: Really?

Terens wore a light blue suit with a pink handkerchief tucked in his breast pocket to resemble Swerlins dress.

During the toast, Terens took the opportunity to cast attention to wars raging right now.

To everybodys good health, he said.

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.

The couple were invited to spend their wedding-night with French President Emmanuel Macron and the USAs President Biden at a state dinner in the Elysee Palace.

Mr Terens called it the best day of my life.








Tuesday, June 11, 2024 - Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha has inadvertently revealed that no Kenyan will be able to hide his income from President William Rutos government.

This is after she revealed that the government has a testing tool to track the income and wealth of self-employed Kenyans.

Speaking during an interview, Nakhumicha explained that the self-testing tool will calculate wealth and pave the way for unemployed and self-employed individuals to remit funds to the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF).

She explained that the tool will inform the government which categories the contributors fall in and how much they can be expected to contribute.

"We have people who are in self-employment so they have an income so they know how much they make," Nakhumicha stated.

"We have a means-testing tool which is a scientific tool that has been developed and it is self-testing. It is you saying that this is me, I am in an informal setting and this is how much I make in a year and therefore the calculation for my 2.75 per cent will be this much."

She further revealed that the tool will categorize the self-employed, unemployed but with an income, and those who have no income.

However, she cautioned those eying to dupe the government into remitting less than their income categories.

The CS revealed that the state will study economic characteristics such as their lifestyles and personal belongings to determine the categories they fall in.

"You cannot hide your economic characteristics. If I look at the watch you are wearing, I can give an estimate of what your income is. I want to speak to Kenyans, you dont have to hide, this is your health, take care of your health," the CS explained.

The Kenyan DAILY POST








Tuesday, June 11, 2024 - Former Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya has poked holes in the Finance Bill 2024, terming it a retrogressive bill that is set to overburden Kenyans.

Speaking on Monday, Munya said the proposed Finance Bill will affect business people and cannot help build the economy, as the proposals under the Bill do not accommodate the people as promised during the campaigns.

"The Finance Bill is a bad thing for Kenyans.

"It will burden them. It will not help stabilize Kenya's economy; it will increase the burden on Kenyans more than the government campaigned to accommodate the lower-income earners of society, including Mama Mboga and the Boda Boda people," Munya said.

He accused the government of introducing taxes on farmers' harvests per kilo for every harvest, which is mandated for county governments under cess.

The government's policies continue to burden the country. Unfortunately, this government is taking taxes mandated for county government under cess on every kilo of a farmer's harvest.

"This is not what we expected," he said.

He called MPs out for failing to defend Kenyans despite that being their duty.

He accused Parliament of being pocketed and supporting the Bill instead of fighting for Kenyans.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Monday, June 10, 2024 - Former neonatal nurse, Lucy Letby will today go on trial over an allegation that she attempted to murder a baby girl at the Countess of Chester Hospital.

The 34-year-old, from Hereford, was convicted in August last year of the murders of seven babies and the attempted murders of six other infants at the hospital in Cheshire between June 2015 and June 2016.

The jury at Letby's 10-month trial at Manchester Crown Court was unable to reach verdicts on six counts of attempted murder in relation to five children.

Today, at the same court, Letby will be retried over one of those counts - an allegation that she tried to murder a baby girl, known as Child K, in February 2016.

The retrial comes after Letby lost her bid to appeal her convictions last month.

Three of the country's most senior judges ruled the former nurse will not be allowed to challenge the guilty verdicts of the jury at Manchester Crown Court.

In April, her lawyers had applied for leave to appeal, arguing that she wanted to challenge her convictions on four grounds. Each involved arguments that Mr Justice Goss, the trial judge, wrongly refused legal applications made during the case.

But on May 24, Dame Victoria Sharp said Letby's application had been refused on all four grounds.

In a short hearing, at London's Court of Appeal, Dame Sharp said their judgement was being reserved to a later date.

'Lucy Letbyput forward four grounds of appeal, each of which involved a position that the trial judge wrongly refused applications that she made during her trial,' the judge said. 'This court has, having heard that application, directed to refuse leave to appeal on all grounds and refused all associated applications.'

The full reasons for the judges' decision were not made public and the full details of the appeal hearings, which took place over three days in April, also cannot be reported for legal reasons.

Letby was convicted of seven counts of murder and seven of attempted murder  one of the babies she tried to kill twice.

Mr Justice Goss sentenced Letby to 14 whole life tariffs for each guilty count, meaning she has no prospect of parole.

Letby applied for leave to appeal against her convictions soon after the guilty verdicts last year.

She lost the first stage of the process, in which a single judge reviewed her arguments as a paper exercise.

Letby had the right to a second stage, which involved renewing her application before Dame Sharp, Lord Justice Holroyde, and Mrs Justice Lambert at the public hearings. But their refusal of her application signalled the end of the appeal process for her.

Letby has always denied harming any child in her care and maintains her innocence.

She was cleared of two counts of attempted murder at the original trial.






Monday, June 10, 2024 - A Gaza journalist who wrote for Al Jazeera was holding three hostages in his home with his family before he was killed by Israeli commandos during a rescue operation on Saturday, June 8, according to the Israeli military.

Abdallah Aljamal, who also worked as a spokesman for the Hamas-run labor ministry, was killed when special forces soldiers stormed his home in central Gaza and rescued hostages Almog Meir Jan, 21, Andri Kozlov, 27, and Shlomi Ziv, 41, the Israeli military said.

Aljamals death was originally reported by Rami Abdu, the head of the Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor, who claimed Israel Defense Forces soldiers raided the journalists home and killed him and several members of his family.

The IDF acknowledged that Aljamal was keeping the hostages inside his family home, but made no mention of what happened to his relatives.

This is further proof that the Hamas terrorist organization uses the civilian population as a human shield, the IDF said in a statement.

Aljamal had previously written a column for Al Jazeera in 2019. The Qatar-based outlet said Aljamal was never an employee.





Before his death, Aljamal was contributing to the Palestine Chronicle news outlet, where he wrote stories covering the deaths of Palestinians in Gaza during Israels offensive.

Many of his recent stories focused on the ongoing IDF operation in Nuseirat, where his own home was located, and where Israeli intelligence had figured out he was holding three of the four hostages rescued on Saturday near a refugee camp.

The Palestine Chronicle is a non-profit organization based in Washington State that works to provide daily news to Gaza.

The organization confirmed on Sunday that Aljamal was a contributor reporting on the ground in Gaza, but made no mention that he was holding three hostages.

Along with the three men, Israeli forces also rescued Noa Argamani, the 26-year-old Israeli woman who became the terrified face of the Oct. 7 terrorist attack on the Jewish state.




Monday, June 10, 2024 - Kanye West and his wife Bianca Censori abandoned their outrageous fashion choices as they arrived at the airport in Narita, Japan this weekend.

Bianca, 29, who usually displays lots of skin, wore a robe that covered her from neck to feet. She also wore a durag on her hair.

Kanye, 46, wore a bathrobe that extended down to his ankles.





This is one of the first times Bianca has made headlines for a look that isnt pushing the boundaries of nudity.

The pairs arrival in Japan comes after their recent trip to Italy.








Tuesday, June 11, 2024 - National Assembly Majority leader Kimani Ichungwah has accused Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua of sponsoring chaos in the vote-rich Mt Kenya region.

Speaking during the launch of Kiambaa Technical Training Institute on Monday, the Kikuyu MP stated there was a plan to ensure some MPs don't discharge their duties.

Ichung'wah stated that nobody would stop leaders supporting President William Ruto from continuing with their development agenda.

"Dont bring any trouble to this meeting. Even if you have been sent by the Deputy President or Wamatangi, don't cause disturbances at a peaceful gathering.

"We are aware of the plans being made here in Mt Kenya to ensure these MPs do not perform their duties.

"I want to say it is not the Deputy President, the governor, the MCA, or you as a young man being used who will stop the development work for the people of Kiambaa.

"I know there are plans to ensure that politicians who support William Ruto will not hold meetings in Mt Kenya," Ichungwah stated.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Tuesday, June 11, 2024 - ICT Cabinet Secretary Eliud Owalo has expressed confidence that members of the Luo community will support President William Rutos re-election in 2027.

Speaking at a church service in Eldoret town, Uasin Gishu County on Sunday, Owalo said Luos will not be 'left out' of the next government, given that the president has initiated several development projects in the region.

Let me tell you a secret; we as the Nyanza region have decided that because of the projects President Ruto has kickstarted here, we will vote for him without fail come 2027, Owalo said.

We will not wait until he gets into office to start knocking on his door; we will back him from the start so that we can be in government, Owalo added.

The CS at the same time reiterated that the government has commenced digitizing all markets in the country and training the youth, noting that it will go a long way in the creation of job opportunities.

He said the national government will collaborate with leadership in the counties in setting up digital hubs.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Tuesday, June 11, 2024 - The National Assembly Implementation Committee has summoned State House representatives to explain why Former President Uhuru Kenyatta's office has been running without funding.

"We are instructing our clerks to write to the State House Comptroller to come and appear to the committee on why the former president's office is not receiving its perks," Committee Chair Raphael Wanjala said on Tuesday.

Wanjala noted with concern remarks by the Spokesperson to the Office of the 4th President Kanze Dena that indicated that retired President Uhuru Kenyatta has been funding his own official office.

"We are not going to allow that to happen yet we appropriate money as Parliament," added Wanjala.

On Monday, Dena dropped the bombshell after she claimed that President William Rutos government has not been funding the office of the former head of state and even accuses the government of intimidating employees and his aides.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Tuesday, June 11, 2024  Muranga county residents and leaders have said they support the One Man One Vote One Shilling policy that is being pushed by Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.

Gachagua has been advocating One Man One Vote One Shilling claiming it will increase national resource allocations to Mt Kenya counties.

Gachagua said resources are about people, since the more they are, the more taxes they pay to the government.

Though some local leaders are opposed to the policy, Muranga residents through Maragua MP Mary Wamaua have declared that the county supports Gachagua's push and any MP who will oppose it will be declared an enemy of Mt Kenya region.

Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro and his Kikuyu counterpart, Kimani Ichungwah, have been branded tukunias ( traitors) for opposing the One Man One Vote One Shilling policy.

Others are Kirinyaga County Governor Anne Waiguru and Public Service Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria.

The Kenyan DAILY POST
Tuesday, June 11, 2024 - Muranga County Senator Joe Nyutu has urged President William Rutos government to stop being petty and instead pay former President Uhuru Kenyatta his retirement benefits and perks.

Speaking on Tuesday, Nyutu said that the former president does not pose a threat to the sitting President to justify the refusal of his benefits, saying the two should dialogue.

The senator called for investigations to determine the real cause of why the former president has not been paid his retirement benefits.

Why wouldn't they talk? I don't think the sitting President is that vengeful.

"It's simply a matter of differing views, he said.

I want to be clear: I firmly believe that the former President should receive his rightful dues and that his office should be supported by the state as mandated by law.

The retired Presidents office on Monday claimed that Uhuru was being denied his retirement benefits by the Kenya Kwanza government with some staff going without salaries.

Through his spokesperson Kanze Dena, Uhuru claimed that his cars were being fuelled from his pocket with the government refusing to also allocate him an office.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Tuesday, June 11, 2024 - Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua boarded a Kenya Airways flight to Mombasa where he expected to be the chief guest at the International Scientific Conference.

This comes amid claims that he no longer has access to military choppers.

On Sunday, he arrived late in Nakuru for the Akorino National Prayer Conference and apologized to the President, claiming he had transport challenges.

He found the event underway after arriving nearly one hour after President Ruto and his entourage.

A few weeks ago, he was also denied a military chopper during Madaraka Day Celebrations in Bungoma, forcing him to hire a private chopper.

















The Kenyan DAILY POST.






Monday, June 10, 2024 - A Pakistani man who tried to set up the nation's first gay club after returning from the UK has been thrown into a mental hospital.

The man, who was not identified, filed an application to set the club up in Abbottabad, a conservative city in the north of the nation that nearly 240million call home, the Telegraph reports.

The man said, in an application filed to city officials, that the proposed club, which would've balled Lorenzo, would be a 'great convenience and resource for many homosexual, bisexual and even some heterosexual people residing in Abbottabad in particular, and in other parts of the country in general.'

But gay s3x is criminalised in Pakistan, and can be punished with prison sentences of up to two years. On top of this, a deeply conservative culture can make it difficult to be openly gay.

So much so that the man was transferred to the Sarhad hospital for psychiatric disease in Peshawar on May 9.

He received much abuse for his application from local citizens and politicians alike.

The leader of the Jamiat Ulema Islam (JUI) party, a conservative religious group in the region, claimed that the applicant tried to set up the club had recently returned from a visit to the UK.

One local MP from the far-Right Pakistan Awami Tehreek party said he would've doused the club with petrol and set it alight, while the leader of the party, Naseer Khan Nazir, said there would be 'very severe consequences' if the club was allowed to go up.

His friends, who were not named, said they were terrified for his wellbeing and had been blocked from visiting him or accessing any information about him.

'Everyone is afraid that talking about it will put them in danger,' one said.

'I do not know about his well-being for many days' they said, adding that they had 'tried to find out about him a couple of times but without success'.

Before he was sent to the mental hospital, he told the paper: 'I talk about human rights and I want everyone's human rights to be defended.'

'I have started the struggle for the rights of the most neglected community in Pakistan and I will raise my voice in every forum,' he said.

'If the authorities refuse, then I will approach the court and I hope that like the Indian court, the Pakistani court will rule in favour of gay people.'

His application states that there would've been 'no gay (or non-gay) sex (other than kissing)' at the club.

The application added: 'A clearly visible notice on the wall would warn: no sex on premises. This would mean that no legal constraints (even obsolete ones like [anti-sodomy] PPC section 377) would be flouted on the premises.'






Monday, June 10, 2024 - Russian President, Vladimir Putin's threats to invade the Baltics and bring a new war to Europe must be taken seriously, a former CIA director and top US Army general has warned.

General David Petraeus, who served nearly four decades in the US military, said the Russian dictator "won't be satisfied to stop with Ukraine".

Retired four-star US general Petraeus, who commanded Allied Forces in Iraq, said Ukraine's allies in the West must do more to help win the war against Putin.

This week, Putin warned he will send his allies long-range missiles in response to the West sending Ukraine weapons.

Speaking to The Sun, Petraeus said Putin has been "very clear" about bringing a new war to Europe.

The world "should listen" to Putin as he "tells us what he believes", the former CIA boss warned.

Petraeus said: "The Ukraine war could expand in the region if Putin succeeds in Ukraine.

"He wouldn't be satisfied to stop with Ukraine. Moldova clearly would be next.

"After that it might be Lithuania or one of the other Baltic states.

"He's been very clear and I think it's also clear in hindsight that we should listen to this individual. He tells us what he believes."

In order to defeat Putin, the West must do "everything humanly possible" to help Ukraine, Petraeus urged.

And Ukraine must also push to make "greater strides in technology" in the battle against Russia's vast army, he added.

"Ukraine has to do more to enable itself and is finally doing that... it needs to crank it into a higher gear to generate more replacement soldiers and also additional units," Petraeus said.

"Keep in mind that what they did in the Black Sea wasn't by their ships or their sailor but their drones.

"Its maritime drones, its aerial drones and its anti-ship missiles have enabled them to sink one third of the Black Sea fleet ships.

"Russia has had some of its own. The glide bombs that they are now using are particularly pernicious and ineffective unfortunately."

"[Putin] has been very clear and I think it's also clear in hindsight that we should listen to this individual. He tells us what he believes

"Russia is generating considerable additional forces, has a population far more than three times that of Ukraine, has ten times the economy and some other advantages.

"The reality is a difficult one and yet another reason why we should be doing all that we can to help Ukraine in every possible way."
Tuesday, June 11, 2024 - The rate of unemployment in Mt. Kenya is on the rise after the ban on muguka and the closure of miraa and muguka-selling shops in the area.

According to Kariuki Simba, a farmer from Embu County who spoke to the press, the number of casual labourers being hired had decreased from approximately 1,000 to 100.

"Earlier you would find that they have employed 1,000 people but now the number has decreased drastically," he added.

Simba revealed that the reduced number results from the ban on muguka in the Coastal region.

Mombasa County is leading the charge against the stimulant.

He further argued that hundreds have been left jobless and those left are working in shifts, significantly reducing their wages.

Additionally, Simba revealed that the amount of Miraa being sold had also declined. This has further exacerbated the losses incurred by the farmers.

"Before the ban, the business was good but after we have lost millions in losses. As we speak, the amount of Miraa being sold is lower compared to before," he added.

He revealed that some farmers were opting to throw away the crops and the labourers are maintaining the farms in the meantime.

Notably, this ban was enforced to prevent school-going children from consuming the stimulant.

All those found selling miraa face a fine and imprisonment as outlined by each county.

When the ban was enforced last month, Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir emphasized that the county was determined to protect all the children. Kilifi Governor on the other hand Fatuma Achani increased the charges for muguka.

The farmers have asked the county governments to reconsider the ban and instead put measures to regulate the sale.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Monday, June 10, 2024 - Russia is allegedly sending thousands of migrants and foreign students to fight in the war against Ukraine for visa renewal.

According to Bloomberg, the assessment was done by some European officials who alleged that the Kremlin is using foreign students as extra manpower using the tactics first deployed by the Wagner mercenary group.

The report added that Russia has been threatening not to extend the visas of African students and young workers unless they agree to join the military, according to officials familiar with the matter.

Moscow has also been enlisting convicts from its prisons while some Africans in Russia on work visas have been detained and forced to decide between deportation or fighting, one European official said.

Some of those people had been able to bribe officials to stay in the country and still avoid military service, said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

According to reports citing Ukrainian intelligence, Russia has engaged in a global recruitment drive to enlist foreign mercenaries in at least 21 countries, including several nations in Africa.

Army recruitment campaigns offer lucrative signing bonuses and salaries for those wholl join up as contract soldiers.

Recruiters have also targeted migrants and students who previously looked for employment in Russia, and in some cases have lured others over with promises of lucrative work before forcing them to train and deploy to the front.








Tuesday, June 11, 2024 - Haiti Prime Minister Garry Conille has revealed that he intends to set up a new government one week after being discharged from the hospital in readiness to receive the Kenyan police officers.

This follows President William Ruto's announcement that he will deploy Kenyan troops to the troubled Caribbean nation in two weeks.

Conille, who is holding the position in an interim capacity, was rushed to the hospital on Saturday after suffering an asthma attack.

Speaking in a video on Sunday, the PM noted that he was feeling fine and was determined to restore peace in the Caribbean country so that its citizens can access health services.

"The whole time I was at the hospital, I was thinking of something: People who need to go to the general hospital cant get there (due to widespread violence). People who need health care cant afford it," he stated.

I hope that by early next week, we can have a government in place. I am doing everything we can so we can get out of this crisis.

This comes as reports indicated that three police officers were killed on Sunday as gang violence continues to afflict the country, especially its capital, Port-au-Prince.

Synopha, a police union in Haiti, further noted that one police officer is still missing while over 60 per cent of hospitals were shut down due to the violence.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Tuesday, June 11, 2024  The fallout between President William Ruto and his Deputy, Rigathi Gachagua, has turned physical.

This is after Rutos supporters in Mt. Kenya beat up Ndenderu Member of County Assembly David Mwaura, causing him serious injuries for supporting Gachagua.

The leaders from Kiambu County had convened to launch the construction of Kiambaa Technical Institute when the mayhem occurred.

Mwaura was attacked for supporting the one man one vote one shilling revenue sharing formulae propelled by Gachagua.

The event was attended by leaders and the public, most of whom were perceived to oppose the formulae.

In general, 11 members of Parliament from the county including Kikuyu's Kimani Ichung'wah were in attendance.

A clip showed tens of attendees clobbering the politician who was later rushed to hospital after sustaining injuries.

He told the press that he was beaten up in the head, ribs, and legs and was stumped while on the ground.

"I was hit in the ribs and the head. I was pushed to the ground, beaten on the legs, and stumped on while lying on the ground," he stated.

For weeks now, Gachagua has been attracting ire from other leaders for pushing for the one man one vote one shilling revenue sharing formulae arguing that it is the only fair formulae of sharing state resources.

He argued that Mt Kenya ranks among the most popular regions and contributes more votes than many other areas and therefore deserves a bigger allocation.

Other leaders including those from the Mt Kenya region, however, are opposed to the formula, arguing that it is a divisive argument that will destroy national unity.

The Kenyan DAILY POST








Tuesday, June 11, 2024 - US Ambassador Meg Whitman has praised President Wiliam Ruto's leadership on matters of Finance Bill 2024 and hustler empowerment.

Speaking during an interview, Whitman particularly praised the public participation spearheaded by the Rutos government.

She noted that the administration was brave in handling the economic environment which has affected not only Kenya but the rest of the globe as well.

"The financial situation facing the country is quite difficult as you well know and the international financial institutions loans IMF (International Monetary Fund) and World Bank have restrictions around the increase in revenue collection," she explained.

"That is balanced by growing the economy and how to keep taxes at a minimum and I know that the Finance minister and the President are trying to balance those various pressures."

She further noted that projects such as the Hustler Fund, which the Head of State has led, are empowering entrepreneurs who are increasingly achieving financial freedom and growing the economy.

"What I really admire about Kenya is the notion of public participation. When a Finance Bill comes out, there is a real engagement by the public, businesses and government.

"I have confidence that Kenya will come to the best answer possible which is not an easy one," she added.

"My view is that President William Ruto is doing the best job that he can do in the current very difficult economic situation that is not unique to Kenya but he is navigating it."

This comes even as Kenyans are tired of Rutos leadership and have given a D score in terms of performance.

The Parliamentary Finance Committee closed the public participation exercise for the Finance Bill 2024 yesterday at the Kenyatta International Conference Center with the majority of Kenyans rejecting the bill in its entirety due to many unreasonable taxes.

The Kenyan DAILY POST








Tuesday, June 11, 2024 - Kenyas imminent deployment of its troops to Haiti seems to have instilled fear among gangs, who have begun to flee the nation's capital, Port-au-Prince.

Sources privy to the information revealed that the gang members had started to relocate from Haiti's capital to provincial towns located miles away from the city.

The gangs' shift in strategy has made it easier for police officers to track them down, with reports indicating that several of them have been apprehended.

Earlier this week, police in Port-au-Prince managed to arrest and detain some of the prison escapees who had opted to join the gangs.

While being interrogated, one of the gang members admitted to having escaped prison on the night of March 2 this year.

Human rights organizations are now calling on the Haitian police force to make more reinforcements to curb the resettlement of the gangs in the provincial areas.

The latest development comes against the backdrop of the planned deployment of the multinational police force to the Caribbean nation.

President William Ruto in a recent interview with BBC News, revealed that the deployment would be done in the next three weeks.

The Head of State noted that the security base that would house the Kenyan troops was 70 per cent complete and that there would similarly be a supply of equipment before the date.

Ruto's sentiments came barely days after reaching an agreement with United States President Joe Biden about the timelines of the deployment and what the mission would entail.

The Kenyan DAILY POST








Tuesday, June 11, 2024  President William Ruto has responded to former President Uhuru Kenyatta that his government has denied him his funds and was frustrating his staff.

Addressing the press yesterday, Uhuru, through his Director of Communication Kanze Dena, accused Rutos government of withholding the former presidents budget, denying him an office, cars and refusing to renew the contracts of his staff all of which he is entitled to as retired president.

However, in a quick rejoinder, Ruto, through government Spokesman Isaac Mwaura, refuted the claims, insisting that Uhuru continues to enjoy his benefits as a retired president that he is entitled to.

In the statement, the government clarified that Uhurus office has been allocated 14 vehicles which were maintained and fueled by the state.

Further, the spokesperson rubbished claims that Uhurus fuel cards were blocked, stating that the vehicles are fueled through the State House Master Cards with records showing that several vehicles were fueled as recently as May 15, 2024.

The vehicles, according to Mwaura are also routinely maintained and serviced at State House with the most recent services having been offered on April 5, May 7, May 8, and May 15, 2024.

Mwaura further clarified that the vehicles Uhuru was using were not as old as earlier alleged and were purchased in the years between 2020, 2021, and 2022.

Additionally, it was reported that Uhuru's office had made a request asking the national government for 4 new vehicles whose cost is KSh140 million.

On the issue of salaries, the government noted that two employees, Kanze Dena (Director of Communications) and George Kariuki from Uhuru's Office were not listed as public servants hence, they are not entitled to be on the government payroll.

On the office matter, the government maintained that Uhuru had declined to occupy the space provided to him in Nyari, Nairobi County which was previously occupied by Former President Mwai Kibaki.

Additionally, the government maintained that it was paying Uhuru and his staffers salaries on time.

The Kenya DAILY POST
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The big talking point in the Piltown Local Electoral Area was always going to be around who would claim the seat vacated by Fianna Fails Eamon Aylward.

It was his party colleague, Jenny Catt Slattery, who won the battle for the seat on the ninth count, seeing off an immense challenge from Sinn Feins Natasha Newsome Drennan.

The outcome will come as a disappointment to Sinn Fein, who historically have had strong showings in the area, the most recent being Melissa ONeill when she stood for the party back in 2014.

Just like the previous local election in the Piltown LEA, Pat Dunphy (FF) topped the poll with Tomas Breathnach (LAB) coming in second.

Both candidates surpassed the quota of 1,423 on the first count.

The remaining three seats were filled in the final count, following the elimination of other contenders with fewer votes, as no other candidates reached the quota outright.

All four sitting councillors retained their seats, with Fidelis Doherty (FG) and Ger Frisby (FF) also extending their continually elected run.

As a first time candidate, The Irish People Partys Richard Daly did respectably well with 368 first preference votes after the first count.

This placed him ahead of Fine Gaels Damien Donoghue (358), Social Democrat David Kane (226) and Green Party candidate Benny McDonagh (116).

The Irish People Party proved to be not as transfer friendly as the other parties in the Piltown LEA however.

This saw Richard Daly (TIP) eliminated after the fifth count, whilst Damien Donoghue (FG) lasted for one count more.

The elimination of Sinn Fein candidate Michael Wemyss after the seventh count left everything to play for, with much anticipation around where his transfers would go.

If Wemyss (SF) had transferred a very high number of votes to Newsome Drennan (SF), there was a chance that Newsome Drennan couldve leapfrogged both remaining Fianna Fail women and taken the final seat.

As it turned out, there were indeed a lot of transfers from Wemyss to Newsome Drennan (SF), but not enough to claim the last seat.

The subsequent elimination of Maria Wall (FF) and her ensuing transfers helped to ensure the election of her party colleague Jenny Catt Slattery (FF).

It was the first time since the Local Elections in 2004 that the Green Party had a candidate in the Piltown LEA.

Back then, Green Party candidate John Fitzgerald finished bottom of the poll with 297 first preference votes.

This year, unfortunately for the Green Party, Benny McDonagh finished in the same position, securing just 116 first preference votes.

David Kane was the first ever Social Democrat to run in Piltown LEA in the Local Elections when he decided to run this year.

He received 226 first preference votes after the first count, meaning he was never going to be in the running for a seat.

Despite this, both the Green Party and the Social Democrats will be happy to have left a mark on the campaign trail in Piltown LEA during this election campaign, possibly laying the groundwork for future endeavours.

Labour candidate Tomas Breathnach, who was elected on the first count, has further cemented his partys influence in Piltown LEA.

Coming into this campaign, he had been sitting in the Piltown LEA continuously since 2004.

Even before that, he was just beaten to a seat back in the Local Election in 1999.

Fine Gaels Pat Dunphy has repeated the feat he achieved in the last Local Election by topping the poll.

Back then, he secured 1,579 first preference votes out of a total electorate of 16,125.

Taking into account polling numbers that year (8,057), that represented an overall share of 19.6% first preference votes.

This time around, he secured 1,874 first preference votes out of a total electorate of 17,132.

Taking into account polling numbers this year (8,534), this represents an overall share of 21.96% first preference votes.

This is an impressive feat when one considers that the other three re-elected councillors have seen a slight drop in their overall share of first preference votes when comparing 2019 and 2024 figures.

This could easily be influenced by the fact that there are two additional candidates this year compared to 2019, but it makes Dunphys achievement even more impressive.

Overall, the story in Piltown LEA follows the story of the election on a national level, the electorate have retained their trust in the status quo.

Although there is one new councillor this year, the party composition is exactly as it was back in 2019.
Tributes have poured in for the mother-in-law of a Fine Gael candidate, who died after being struck by a cyclist in Dublin.

Theresa Clark, aged 70, was putting up election posters and as she crossed the Ranelagh Road in South Dublin, she was struck by a cyclist.

The accident occurred on Tuesday, June 4 at approximately 11pm.

A teacher and the former Principal of Scoil Aonghusa Snr in Balrothery, Theresa was the mother-in-law of Fine Gael candidate John Clendennen, who was elected to Offaly County Council this week.

Since the tragic news broke out, tributes have poured in for Theresa, a teacher who has been described as a loving and much-loved mother of three.

As he thanked voters for supporting his campaign as he got re-elected, John Clendennen shared in a post on social media: Despite being re-elected, today is overshadowed by great sadness. As I fought the concluding days of the election campaign, my mother-in-law Theresa Clarke was fighting for her life up to Sunday afternoon, following a tragic road traffic accident on Tuesday evening.

Scoil Aonghusa Parents Association paid tribute: It is with deep sorrow that we share the news that Theresa Clarke, former beloved Principal of Scoil Aonghusa Senior, has passed away. Our sincere condolences to all her family and friends.

Theresa passed peacefully following a tragic road accident surrounded by her family in the wonderful care of the staff of Beaumont Hospital.

Beloved wife of Michael, loving and much-loved mother of Elaine, Miriam and Josephine. Theresa will be forever loved and dearly missed by her husband and daughters, her sons-in-law John (Clendennen), Andrew (Sparshott), and future son-in-law Alan (Dixon), her three treasured grandchildren Oakley, Percy and Arlo, brother Danny, sister Anne (Brophy), brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, extended family, relatives and friends, her colleagues and friends from Scoil Aonghusa Snr, Balrothery and Fine Gael Dublin Bay South and broader network.

Theresa is now reunited with her parents Dan and Josephine Loughrey and her beloved brother Finian, read a death notice on Rip.ie.

Reposing at her residence (D16 FT53) this (Wednesday) evening from 4pm to 8pm. Removal on Thursday morning to St. Annes Church, Bohernabreena arriving for 10am Requiem Mass, burial thereafter in Bohernabreena Cemetery.

Gardai are appealing for any witnesses to this collision to come forward.

Any road users who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) and were travelling on the Ranelagh Road in Ranelagh between 10:45pm and 11.15pm on Tuesday, June 4 are asked to come forward.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Irishtown Garda Station at 01 666 9600, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.
South East Technological University (SETU) has announced the appointment of Professor Marie Claire Van Hout as Vice President of Research, Innovation and Impact.

With an extensive academic background and a track record in interdisciplinary global health research and knowledge transfer, Professor Van Hout brings a wealth of experience and expertise to her new role at SETU.

We are thrilled to welcome Professor Van Hout as Vice President of Research, Innovation and Impact at SETU, said Professor Veronica Campbell, President of SETU.

Her unparalleled expertise and passion for advancing knowledge and societal well-being align with SETUs ambitions in our strategic plan. We look forward to her leadership in driving impactful research and innovation that will make a positive difference.

Holding PhDs in Public Health from Teesside University and in Law from Liverpools John Moores University, along with a Master of Law from Dublin City University and Master of Science qualifications in health professions education, and addictions, Prof Van Hout exemplifies inter-disciplinary academic excellence.

Welcoming her appointment, Prof. Van Hout said: I am delighted to return to SETU and the south east region. My vision is to lead, elevate, and consolidate SETUs research, innovation, and knowledge transfer, and graduate studies portfolio to build a world-class, impactful, transformative, empowering, inclusive, and sustainable research, innovation, and entrepreneurship ecosystem in the south east region.

Prof Van Hout was first appointed as lecturer in the School of Health Sciences at Waterford Institute of Technology in 2004, and in 2017 was promoted to senior lecturer. She became Professor of International Public Health Policy and Practice at Liverpool John Moores University in late 2017, where she also served as Associate Dean for Research and Knowledge Exchange, and Head of Global Health at the Institute for Health Research. She holds various adjunct professorships in Ireland, the United Kingdom, Portugal, South Africa, and the United States, and is Vice Chair of a Marie Sklodowska Curie Life Sciences Panel.

Her extensive portfolio includes publishing over 300 peer-reviewed journal articles and securing over 14 million in research funding from entities such as the European Union, Irish and UK Research Councils, and pharmaceutical industries.

Notably, her global health research concentrates on health policy, health inequalities, and human rights of marginalised and minority groups, including individuals affected by communicable and non-communicable diseases, gender-based violence, migration, and detention.

Prof Van Hout has also actively consulted for international organisations such as the World Health Organisation, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and Joint Secretariat on HIV/AIDS, the Council of Europe, and the European Union Agency for Drugs as a substantive human rights and health policy expert.
25 years ago Waterford Treasures Museums opened its doors. Since then the museum has evolved to now include a collection of six museums in the citys Viking Triangle welcoming visitors from all over the world every year.

This July 4 Waterford Treasures will celebrate its 25th anniversary with a very special Viking-themed event for which tickets are now available at www.waterfordtreasures.com

At the event, visitors can immerse themselves in all things Viking with a range of exciting activities in our Medieval Museum. Step into the dark and atmospheric wine vault to meet a Viking seer, the priestess of Lytir, who will reveal your fortune if you dare to listen.

Indulge in authentic Viking foods and drinks in the Choristers Hall, while enjoying Viking storytelling, object handling, and more surprises throughout the evening. Dressing in your finest Viking attire for this unforgettable adult-only celebration is recommended.

The Waterford Treasures Museum collection now includes The Bishops Palace, the Medieval Museum, The Irish Silver Museum, The Irish Museum of Time, the Irish Wake Museum, The Epic Walking Tour, and the ever-popular King of the Vikings Virtual Reality Adventure, plus Reginalds Tower.

As it celebrates its 25th anniversary, the museum's success can be seen in the number of visitors it draws, over 100,000 each year on average.

Commenting on the museums and their legacy, Sara Dolan CEO at Waterford Treasures says, Waterford Treasures greatest impact is probably the effect it has had on Irelands oldest city. Six museums now have a home in the Citys Viking Triangle; almost all of the citys six museums were part of a programme of urban renewal and are housed within historically significant buildings in the centre of the oldest quarter of the city.

"This reinvigoration of these beautiful structures has brought tourists in large numbers. The new revenue encouraged a regeneration of Waterford within the ancient city walls resulting in a tourism hotspot for the city. We have also seen locals take great pride in the area and smart new bars, cafes and other businesses have sprung up. In a very short time the Viking Triangle project truly did change the face of Waterford City and is one of the reasons Waterford won top spots in the Conde Nast and New York Times must see destination lists earlier this year.

A special limited-edition coin has been created to commemorate the occasion. Visitors can purchase the 25th-anniversary coin from the Medieval Museum. For further details see www.waterfordtreasures.com.
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There are inequalities in society which are gender based. With some of them women are disadvantaged and with some, men are disadvantaged.

Im all for reducing inequalities for women such as the gender pay gap, and the fact many more women get sexually harrassed and assaulted etc. This post is not an argument against that.

But there was a quote I saw along the lines that if there is an area where women face disadvantage, you get massive public campaigns about it. But in areas where men face disadvantage, there is a near total absence of activism or publicity.

This rang true to me. The gender pay gap for example gets massive publicity. Scores and scores of articles on the fact the average hourly wage for women is around 9.4% less than for men. Huge global campaigns on this. Government action statements etc.

How often do we see this for an area of male disadvantage? Very rare. This got me wondering how many areas are there where men do worse compared to women? So I started doing research. And you can see the results below.

So when people start going on about male privilege, maybe it would be nice to have some balance about all the areas where men have really bad outcomes.

Where are the ministries, the taskforces, the campaigns for these areas?

Im not saying that overall women are more advantaged than men. Its not a competition. What Im saying is that there is a huge disparity in how we talk about areas of male disadvantage. As a society we are almost silent on it, while on issues such as a 9.4% pay gap we have endless publicity.

So heres the areas to date I have identified where men or boys in New Zealand are disadvantaged.

Education  Secondary

11% less likely to get NCEA Level 1

7% less likely to get NCEA Level 2

14% less likely to get NCEA Level 3

25% more likely to leave school with no qualifications

Twice as likely to be a high (special) needs student

27% less likely to get UE

Three times more likely to be stood down, suspended

5 times more likely to be excluded or expelled

Education  Tertiary

42% less likely to be in tertiary education

36% less likely to obtain a diploma

37% less likely to obtain a bachelors degree

25% less likely to get Honours

37% less likely to get Masters

26% less likely to get a PhD

Crime

Twice as likely to be a victim of homicide

43% more likely to be assaulted by a stranger

Twelve times more likely to be in prison

Five times more likely to be sentenced for a crime

Eight times more likely to be sentenced to prison

Health

Seven times more likely to commit suicide

Six times more likely to be subject to a mental health compulsory treatment order

Seven times more likely to be a mental health special patient

113% more likely to be a hazardous drinker

67% more likely to drink drive

Twice as likely to be a user of hard drugs

10% more likely to get cancer

74% more likely to have coronary heart disease

31% more likely to have a stroke

270% more likely to have gout

11% more likely to have diabetes

Ten times more likely to have HIV/AIDs

Four years shorter life expectancy

24% more likely to be a smoker

11% more likely to be obese

28% more likely to have high blood pressure

33% more likely to have high cholesterol

46% more likely to have an intellectual disability

22% more likely to be hearing impaired

Work

Twice as likely to be injured at work

Three times as likely to be seriously injured at work

Twenty times as likely to be killed at work

General/Other

Three times more likely to be deported

2.1 times more likely to have a fatal accident

Four times less likely to gain primary custody of children

Five times more likely to have to be paying child support

10% more likely to be homeless

28% more likely to be injured in a car crash

130% more likely to be killed in a car crash

Four times more likely to drown

Seven times more likely to be autistic

24% more likely to have Down syndrome

Five times more likely to have ADHD as a child

30% more likely to be an infant death

Quite chilling when you read the whole list.

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2:02 VIDEO: Suspected drunk driver crashes into Habitat for Humanity home in Jefferson City Correction: The family purchased the home with 0% interest through Habitat for Humanity, rather than they were gifted the home. Homeowners pur

A suspected drunk driver crashed into a Jefferson City home on Monday afternoon.

The crash happened around 10:55 a.m. in the 1600 block of Edmonds Street, according to Dave Helmick, property supervisor for Jefferson City's Department of Planning and Protective Services.

A resident of the home was taken to a local hospital with minor injuries.

The driver of a 2006 Dodge Stratus was westbound on Dulle Street and failed to slow down at the intersection of Edmonds Street, according to a Jefferson City Police Department crash report. The car went over the curb and crashed into the front of the home.

"It was into the kitchen, approximately 12 feet, pretty much the whole way of the whole distance. So the car was inside the structure," Helmick said.

The driver, a 23-year-old man from Jefferson City, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, according to JCPD. Charges had not been filed as of Monday evening.

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Jamal Resonno said his mom, sister, two nieces and his nephew live at the home.

"When I went inside the house, a car's inside of the house. I mean, it's bad in there. It's just destroyed," Resonno said.

The Resonno family gained ownership of the home through River City Habitat for Humanity in October 2021. Homeowners purchase the home that Habitat helps them to build, and homeowners must invest numerous hours of "sweat equity" into the home, alongside volunteers.

Resonno and Helmick encouraged individuals to drive slow and take their time while in residential neighborhoods.

"People, if you out there, if you come on Edmonds Street, please slow down. There's kids out here, tons of kids," Resonno said.

"You're paying attention to what's going on and, you know, hopefully we can avoid things like this," Helmick said.

Traffic was restricted in the area for about 90 minutes, according to JCPD.
The leaders of Korea and Turkmenistan agreed Monday to expand cooperation in large-scale energy and infrastructure projects, and work together for Seoul's strategy for Central Asia.

President Yoon Suk Yeol held a summit with Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedow in the capital city of Ashgabat and adopted a joint statement outlining their cooperation for Seoul's "K-Silk Road Cooperation" initiative.

The initiative is the Yoon administration's regional strategy centered on linking Korea's innovative capabilities with Central Asia's resources and development potential.

During the talks, the two leaders agreed to deepen the "mutually beneficial" partnership in various areas, and exchanged opinions about the security situation on the Korean Peninsula and regional issues, Yoon's office said.

Yoon and Berdimuhamedow also discussed ways to collaborate in the energy and infrastructure projects, and expand cooperation in new areas of mutual concerns, including infrastructure, shipbuilding, public health and climate change.

"We agreed to further strengthen cooperation in the energy and plant sector that has driven the collaboration between the two countries," Yoon said in a joint press conference.

Berdimuhamedow supported the "K-Silk Road" initiative and committed Ashgabat to close cooperation with Seoul to help implement the vision in the region.

"Turkmenistan and Korea see significant potential for extensive collaboration in creating a transcontinental transportation route connecting Asia to Europe. We have confirmed mutual interest in expanding cooperation in the energy sector," Berdimuhamedow said through a translator.

Korea, the world's fourth-largest buyer of crude and gas, aims to deepen collaboration for energy projects and resource development with Turkmenistan, the world's fourth-largest natural gas reserve holder.

On the sidelines of the summit, the two sides signed the Trade and Investment Promotion Framework (TIPF) to pave the way for a comprehensive economic cooperation between the two nations, making it the third Central Asian country to clinch such a deal following Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan last year.

Hyundai Engineering signed a framework agreement with Turkmenistan's state-run Turkmengas for the fourth desulfurization facility at the Galkynysh gas field. It marks the Korean company's second deal following an agreement in 2009.

Hyundai Engineering also inked a cooperation agreement with Turkmenistan's state-run chemical corporation to resume operation of the Kiyanly Polymer Plant to manage the project's first phase focused on a technical audit. The company secured a deal in 2013, but the plant ceased operations in 2023.

The talks also created a favorable environment for Korean companies' participation in urea and ammonia fertilizer production plants in Kiyanly, Balkan Province in western Turkmenistan, with Daewoo Engineering & Construction bidding for the project to build two fertilizer plants, the presidential office said.

The combined contracts expected to be secured by the two Korean companies are estimated to worth approximately $6 billion, senior presidential secretary for economic affairs Park Chun-sup said in a briefing.

During the state visit, eight cooperation documents were signed in the presence of the two leaders, including the TIPF and agreements for gas field and chemical plant facility cooperation.

Additionally, several memorandums of understandings (MOUs) were signed between the two nations' governments, financial institutions, hospitals and in the fields of infrastructure and urban development cooperation.

Korea is seeking to diversify import sources of urea, a type of nitrogen used to curb emissions in diesel cars and to make agricultural fertilizers, amid growing concerns over its stable supply due to China's tight export controls.

To help Korean companies bid on large-scale construction and plant projects in Turkmenistan, the two countries signed a memorandum of agreement on a financial cooperation framework and agreed to expedite talks on the Investment Protection Agreement and the Customs Mutual Assistance Agreement.

During the meeting, Berdimuhamedow supported Korea's launching a summit involving the leaders of Korea and all five Central Asian countries, including Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, next year.

Yoon arrived in Turkmenistan on the first leg of his three-nation tour to Central Asia, which will also take him to Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.

His state visit marks the third trip by a Korean president to Turkmenistan, following visits in 2014 and 2019. The two countries established diplomatic relations in 1992 and forged a mutual partnership in 2008.

Following the summit, Yoon and first lady Kim Keon-hee laid flowers at the Independence Monument and attended a tree-planting ceremony. (Yonhap)
Federica Del Proposto's debut solo exhibition in Asia traces evolution of colorful creativity

By Park Han-sol

Federica Del Proposto sees her spirited art as being just the right combination of architectural precision and vibrant comic storytelling  her two early creative ventures before finding her true calling in illustration.

The meticulously rendered parallel lines in Del Propostos colorful landscapes reflect her initial years working as an architect in Rome and Paris, while the playful expressiveness of her characters hints at the punchy storytelling in her comic strips, Fumettisottovuoto, a university passion project that became an online sensation in Italy in the late 2000s.

I searched for an artistic field that could reunite all my personalities in one practice. Illustration came naturally as the most suitable for this task, the Italian artist told The Korea Times in an email interview. I want to tell little stories and emotions with [just] a few lines.

Over the last decade, the self-taught illustrators lively scenography of cities, buildings and people has found its way into publications and cultural festivals around the world  the pages of The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal, the catalog for the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics and the walls of the cosmetics giant Amorepacifics headquarters in Seoul.

And this summer, her art has landed at Museum 209 in Seouls Songpa District for her debut solo exhibition in Asia, titled Extra + Ordinary Journey.

The journey is both ordinary and extraordinary because it shows the everyday lives, stories and emotions of people, but also what it means to be human living in our world, she said.

We live in spaces designed by us, humans, and we are architects of our own emotions while living in these spaces. So, even an ordinary everyday situation is part of a more complex and extraordinary global narrative, in which we all are linked.

That is why space  what Del Proposto calls the scenography of our stories  is always the starting point within her illustrated world. She then spontaneously populates these settings with characters, giving them an extra + ordinary lease on life.

Overall, the exhibition is a feast for the eyes, breathing life into the artists vividly lined cityscapes of New York, Paris, Milan, London, Bangkok and Seoul with her touch of imagination.

Featuring over 100 illustrations and site-specific installations inspired by her two-dimensional drawings, the show traces the decade-long evolution of her creative career  from her earlier, droll depictions of women indoors in The Black and White Series to her first foray into a multihued palette with fineliners and pastels in The Village Saint-Martin series.

In the summer of 2021, the illustrator was struck by an unexpected nerve injury that temporarily paralyzed two of her fingers. With her ability to draw severely impacted, she could lift her pen for no more than half an hour a day.

During her two months of recovery, she came across the Japanese Sumi-e technique, traditionally used for black ink paintings, and decided to experiment with it in her colorful outlines. The result? Portraits of cultural icons rendered in free-flowing, gestural lines in just 10 minutes.

Rihanna, David Bowie, Emily Dickinson and Michelle Yeoh are just a few of the famous faces featured in her Ten Minutes Drawings on display.

The exhibition culminates in Del Propostos latest creative phase, represented by the Three Lands installation produced specifically for the Seoul event. This much-denser piece reflects on our contemporary times and the intricacies of our world and society," a theme that has particularly captivated the artist since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Highlighting the international resonance of her style, she expressed hope that visitors take time to immerse themselves in the moments captured in her illustrated universe.

It has to be an extra experience in their ordinary days, like enjoying a special moment for ourselves or with our families, she noted.

Extra + Ordinary Journey runs through Oct. 27.
Reports of NK soldiers in Ukraine may show Russia's 'profound' desperation: US official
By Lee Yeon-woo

Woori Bank discovered another of its employees who was involved in embezzlement, approximately two years after a 70 billion won ($50.83 million) embezzlement case made headlines.

According to sources, Tuesday, Woori Bank found that 10 billion won had been embezzled at a branch located in South Gyeongsang Province. The bank is investigating the details of the case and the exact amount of the losses.

An employee at the branch had reportedly forged documents related to loans and deposits, and invested in overseas securities futures. Losses from the investment are extimated to be around 6 billion won.

Woori Bank explained that the transactions were uncovered through its own internal control system. The bank detected unusual trading activity, so it asked the employee to explain the case and requested the team leader to verify the transactions. It also dispatched a special investigation team to recover the funds.

As the investigation began, the employee turned himself in to the police.

This comes as yet another embezzlement incident at Woori Bank. Earlier in 2022, an employee who had worked at the bank for more than 10 years was found to have embezzled approximately 70 billion won, making headlines nationwide.

Due to the significant amount involved, the Financial Supervisory Service stated it will conduct a field inspection of the branch at the earliest date possible.

Woori Bank vowed to prevent any recurrence.

"We will conduct a thorough investigation to identify the problem in the loan process and prevent similar cases from occurring," an official from Woori Bank said. "We will also strictly reprimand the employee and provide education to all employees to raise awareness of our internal systems."
By Yoon Ja-young

KB Kookmin Card celebrated the 30th anniversary of its Indonesian subsidiary KB Finansia Multi Finance (KB FMF) in Jakarta, Indonesia, Monday.

According to the credit card company, its CEO Lee Chang-kwon attended the ceremony to encourage KB FMF employees and award those with notable accomplishments in sales.

All the achievements by KB FMF during the past 30 years are based on passion and dedication by all our employees. We have proved our capability during the past 30 years despite unfavorable circumstances such as the global economic recession. I hope KB FMF will rise as the most beloved financial company in Indonesia, Lee said.

Established in 1994, KB FMF is a credit financing company specializing in mortgages for used cars and motorcycles as well as installment financing for durable goods. It was integrated as a subsidiary of KB Kookmin Card after the acquisition of its shares by the credit card company.
By Lee Kyung-min

Dunamu, the operator of Korea's leading crypto exchange Upbit, helped at least 300 young delinquent borrowers with debt redemption, living expenses and emergency loans without interest last year, according to the digital asset service provider, Tuesday.

The Dunamu Next Dream initiative was established in September 2022 with the aim of rehabilitating underprivileged youths who have been neglected by the current government's welfare program.

The crypto exchange operator said the initiative led young people, who are paying back loans, to see a drop to about 400,000 won ($290) in their repayments, down from about 2 million won.

The group's average delinquency rate also fell to 0.69 from 1.89. The increase in their income from work or business activities, which is essential for their financial independence, averaged 780,000 won for the 20 to 29 age group and 310,000 won for the 30 to 39 age group.

Dunamu held a conference to share the success of the initiative in Myeong-dong, Jung District, Seoul, in May.

Among the participants were partial debt relief recipients of the program, financial consultants, the crypto exchange and Dunamu-affiliated organizations.

A participant said the initiative changed their attitude toward life.

"I came upon Dunamu Next Dream when I was losing motivation and the meaning of life since my income was barely enough to support my family," the participant said.

"However, I feel my attitude about the future has changed for the better, not to mention my financial situation. I want to live with confidence, taking control of my own life from now on. I will help others along the way to create a virtuous cycle."

A financial consultant participating in the event said the experience was highly rewarding.

"I was glad to see many recipients open up and change. Dunamu Next Dream has provided financial and non-financial support to young people with humble backgrounds. Its significant impact will be remembered by financial consultants and the young adults."

Data from the Seoul Financial Welfare Counseling Center showed the debt of 1,499 youths aged 29 and under who finished a financial education course at the center averaged 71 million won. Over 17 percent of the total had debts of at least 100 million won.
KDB's relocation presidential initiative

By Lee Kyung-min

The board of Korea Development Bank (KDB) approved the capital reduction of Taeyoung Engineering and Construction (E&C), marking the latest development in the months-long debt restructuring of the troubled building developer, according to the creditor, Tuesday.

The board's approval of the KDB-led creditors discussion as well as the due diligence by accounting firms is proceeding without any disruption, KDB head Kang Seog-hoon said during a press conference at the bank headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul. It was held to commemorate the second anniversary of Kangs inauguration.

The creditors agreed to a plan in April to reduce the stakes of the builder's major shareholders by a ratio of 100 to 1, while the ratio for minority shareholders will be 2 to 1.

Kang said the relocation of KDB headquarters to Busan will not be revised, despite a fierce backlash from unionized employees at the bank.

We have long spearheaded structural reorganization and fortified manpower capabilities to prepare for the relocation. The drive was a major pledge of President Yoon Suk Yeol. We will continue to seek cooperation with the National Assembly to advance the relocation.

Kang stressed the need to lift the cap on the lenders legal capital of 30 trillion won ($21 billion), a critical step to bolster the financing of the countrys manufacturing and growth drivers.

The cap of 30 trillion won remained unchanged for the past 10 years, far lower than the minimum of 60 trillion won needed to meet the needs of the countrys growth drivers  artificial intelligence (AI) rechargeable batteries and bio sectors.

The state-run lender should not, in his view, solely rely on government financing. This underscores the need for it to enhance its capabilities to increase retained income in order to bolster its capital size.

The KDB is extremely vulnerable to financial volatilities due to outside shocks, as evidenced by chronically low net-interest-income and return-on-asset ratios. The problem of heavy reliance for equity and assets on shares of state-run energy firm Korea Electric Power Corp. (KEPCO) and HMM, the countrys largest shipping firm, will be resolved in the months to come.

The lender aims to generate at least 3 trillion won in stable income, underpinned by regular dividend payouts and diversified investment banking portfolio management.

Kang said the failed sale of HMM will resume with considerations for government marine business policies among other strategic interests.

The holdings of HMM shares is weighing heavily on the financials of KDB, grounds for us to push for a swift sale again are dependent on market conditions. Also coming into play will be management efficiency concerns.
The agriculture ministry said Tuesday it has been monitoring the supply of chicken ahead of the summer season.

The monitoring came as the demand for chicken normally rises during the summer, as many South Koreans enjoy meals, including a traditional chicken soup.

"On the back of efforts made by farms and businesses, the supply of chicken remains stable," said Park Su-jin, the deputy minister for food grain policy. "The consumer price is also set to remain stable down the road."

The number of chickens supplied to the market over the first five months of 2024 came to 319 million units, up 5.3 percent from a year earlier.

The consumer price for a kilogram of chicken came to 5,868 won ($4.26) this month, down 8.3 percent from last year. (Yonhap)
About 20 North Korean soldiers briefly crossed the inter-Korean land border earlier this week and went back to the North's side after the South's military fired warning shots, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said Tuesday, amid heightened tensions over Pyongyang's trash-carrying balloon campaign.

The North Korean soldiers crossed the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) within the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) separating the two Koreas in the central section of the border at around 12:30 p.m. Sunday, according to the JCS.

The South's military aired warning broadcasts and fired warning shots, prompting the North Koreans to return to their side of the border, the JCS said, noting there was no unusual activity after the shots.

JCS spokesperson Col. Lee Sung-jun said the military assessed that the North Koreans, who were working on an unspecified task inside the DMZ, did not intentionally cross the border, considering they returned immediately after the warning shots.

Lee said the DMZ is currently thick with grass and bushes, making MDL signs difficult to see.

"(They) were moving through bushes where there was no path, and we were observing them even before they came near the MDL," Lee told a regular briefing. "It is assessed to be a simple violation, while they were moving for a task."

He said some of the troops were armed, while many of them carried work tools, but declined to elaborate on what they were working on.

The incident came just hours before the South blared anti-Pyongyang broadcasts through border loudspeakers Sunday after a six-year hiatus in response to the North's recent launches of balloons carrying garbage into the South.

Since May 28, the North is estimated to have sent more than 1,600 of such balloons in what has been called a "tit-for-tat" response to anti-Pyongyang leafleting by activists in the South.

The DMZ is one of the heaviest-guarded areas in the world, with barbed wire fences and a substantial military presence along both sides.

The MDL horizontally bisects the DMZ, which has served as a buffer zone between the two Koreas since the 1950-53 Korean War ended in an armistice, not a peace treaty. (Yonhap)
North Korea's vice public security minister has left for Russia, state media reported Tuesday, amid deepening cooperation between the two nations following their leaders' summit last year.

A North Korean delegation, headed by Vice Public Security Minister Ri Song-chol, left Pyongyang the previous day to visit Russia, the Korean Central News Agency said in a one-sentence dispatch, without disclosing details about the itinerary.

The North's official plans to meet with Vladimir Kolokoltsev, Russia's internal minister, and discuss "fundamental issues of cooperation," Russia's embassy in Pyongyang said on its Telegram account.

The delegation will discuss ways to cooperate with Russia in the "law enforcement area" in a situation needed to ensure social and political stability when it comes to "new challenges" that have occurred in Russia, the embassy said, without elaborating what "new challenges" mean.

There is a possibility that the cash-strapped North could discuss the issue of dispatching its workers abroad as Russia is believed to be undergoing a labor shortage due to its war in Ukraine.

North Korea and Russia have been bolstering military ties and expanding the scope of cooperation in various fields since the North's leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin held the summit in September last year. (Yonhap)
The unification ministry is considering meeting with North Korean defectors' groups dedicated to sending anti-Pyongyang leaflets across the inter-Korean border amid heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula, Seoul officials said Tuesday.

Tensions are running high as Kim Yo-jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, warned Sunday that her country could take an unspecified "new counteraction" against South Korea if Seoul keeps sending such leaflets and blaring its loudspeaker broadcasts across the border.

South Korea resumed loudspeaker broadcasts Sunday for the first time in six years in response to North Korea's repeated sending of trash-carrying balloons to the South. But it did not turn on the loudspeakers the next day in an apparent bid to prevent the situation from spiraling out of control.

"The government is working on holding a meeting with related civic groups as swiftly as possible for close communication," a ministry official said.

The ministry has said it will not officially ask defectors' groups to refrain from launching the leaflet campaigns, citing the Constitutional Court's related ruling last year.

In September, the court ruled that a clause banning leaflet launches in the law on the development of inter-Korean relations is unconstitutional, saying it excessively restricts the right to freedom of expression.

The government said police could exercise their authority to deter activists' leaflet operations at the scene, if necessary, in cases that the move poses a serious threat to border residents.

For years, North Korean defectors in the South and conservative activists have sent big plastic balloons carrying leaflets critical of Kim Jong-un in what they say is aimed at freeing North Korean people from the tyrant regime with outside information. (Yonhap)
By Jung Min-ho

Health officials in Goyang, a city close to the inter-Korean border, have issued a malaria advisory following the confirmation of two cases of the mosquito-borne disease in the same area within just four days.

According to city officials on Tuesday, a teenage Ilsanseo District resident began showing symptoms of malaria, which include high fever and muscle aches. Four days later, another person living in an apartment building located just 500 meters away exhibited similar symptoms.

After receiving medical tests and treatment, they both fully recovered within several days.

Health officials said they would conduct an investigation into the environment of the area to assess the risk of malaria there and beyond, amid a nationwide spike in new cases.

The officials also released a list of the citys 16 hospitals and clinics where patients can go for malaria testing, calling for extra precautions to avoid mosquito bites, particularly during peak mosquito season between May and October.

According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, 100 people were confirmed to have been infected with malaria between January and May this year. Among them, 66 contracted it last month.

Along with several other cities near the demilitarized zone, including Gimpo and Paju, Goyang is one of the high-risk areas for malaria.

According to the disease control agency, malaria cases are typically transmitted through the bites of Anopheles sinensis, the most common malaria-transmitting mosquito species found in Korea.

A person infected with malaria is not contagious through person-to-person contact. The disease is predominantly spread by mosquito bites, but transmission can occur also occur through blood transfusions, hypodermic needle-sharing or congenital transmission from mother to fetus during pregnancy.

High fever, chills, sweating, fatigue, chest pain, breathing problems and coughing are among the typical symptoms of the disease. If untreated, it can cause severe responses in the form of seizures or organ failure and in the worst cases may result in brain damage or even death.
Some patients expressed anxiety Tuesday as community doctors voted to stage a one-day strike next week, although it remains uncertain how many doctors would join the labor action.

The government has ordered community doctors to keep providing medical treatment as they are set to take a day off Tuesday amid a protracted standoff with trainee doctors over a plan to boost the number of medical students.

"While I am not suffering from a life-threatening disease, the situation is still frustrating," a person who visits clinics two or three times a week said on the condition of anonymity.

Another person who suffers from depression said, "I can respect their strike, but it is also disappointing as doctors are turning their backs on patients who cannot live a day without medicine."

Next week's planned strike comes in support of trainee doctors who have left their worksites since late February in protest of the government's medical reform.

Despite the standoff, the government finalized the admissions quota hike of some 1,500 students for medical schools late last month, marking the first such increase in 27 years.

Some community doctors were pessimistic over the planned strike.

"As community doctors are also self-employed and operate businesses within neighborhoods, they can suffer massive losses even by shutting down for a day," a community doctor said.

Community doctors staged a similar strike in 2020 over a botched plan to increase the number of medical students.

About 33 percent of clinics closed their doors on the first day at that time, but the rate fell to 6.5 percent two weeks later. (Yonhap)
South Korea and China are expected to hold "two plus two" talks of their senior foreign and defense officials early next week, diplomatic sources said Tuesday, amid rising tensions from North Korea's provocations and the prospect of another summit between the North and Russia.

The vice-ministerial diplomatic and security dialogue is expected to take place in Seoul early next week, and the two sides are fine-tuning the details on the arrangement, the sources familiar with the matter said.

The talks come at a time when renewed tensions on the Korean Peninsula are intensifying after the North's multiple launches of trash-carrying balloons across the border into the South in protest of the sending of anti-Pyongyang leaflets by North Korean defectors and activist groups.

South Korea responded with resuming the propaganda loudspeaker broadcasts toward the North. Pyongyang has warned of further counteraction if Seoul continues the psychological warfare and leafleting.

The talks will also come as Russian President Vladimir Putin is widely expected to visit North Korea for a summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, in what will be Putin's reciprocal trip to Pyongyang following their rare September summit in Russia's Far East last year.

The current security landscape and developments on and around the Korean Peninsula will likely be high on the agenda for the expected talks next week.

The talks, if realized, will likely be led by First Vice Foreign Minister Kim Hong-kyun and Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong.

Defense officials at the director general level are expected to join the dialogue.

The two sides could also discuss bilateral and other issues of common interests, including China's strategic competition with the United States, the expanding military ties between Pyongyang and Moscow, and the cross-strait issues.

Holding the two plus two talks was part of the agreement reached between the two countries when President Yoon Suk Yeol met one-on-one with Chinese Premier Li Qiang for talks on the margins of the trilateral summit with Japan late last month.

They agreed to elevate the dialogue format to the vice-ministerial level. The previous talks took place among the director generals in 2013 and 2015. (Yonhap)
Experts fear South Korea might follow misstep of 2015

By Kwak Yeon-soo

President Yoon Suk Yeols outreach policy toward Japan might start to be called into question as Japan pushes to include the Sado mine on UNESCOs World Heritage list in July.

The Korean government has been demanding Japan include a full account of the mine's history, including the forced labor of about 2,000 Koreans during the 1910-45 colonial period, in its submission for the inscription. However, the Japanese government has only described the value of its mining technology and system from the 16th century until the mid-19th century, excluding its 20th-century wartime atrocities.

The International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), a UNESCO advisory body, withheld the nomination of the Sado mine, requesting Japan submit additional documents about the property.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Korea would oppose the inclusion of the Sado mine in the World Heritage list unless Japan adds mention of wartime forced labor to its nomination bid.

Experts urged the government to protest strongly against Japans ambition, if it wants to avoid repeating the misstep of 2015, when Japan listed the sites of the Meiji Industrial Revolution on the World Heritage list without including the negative aspects that occurred on Hashima Island, where Koreans were forced to work in coal mines during the colonial period.

Yang Ki-ho, a professor of Japanese studies at Sungkonghoe University, feared that the presidential office  unlike the foreign ministry  might not oppose Tokyos bid for the inscription of the Sado mine on UNESCOs list, given the history of avoiding thorny historical issues between the two nations.

When it comes to Korea's ties with Japan, President Yoon Suk Yeol wants to look to the future. He lifted import ban on fisheries products from Japans Fukushima region, used local funds to compensate forced labor victims, withdrew a WTO complaint about Japans export restrictions among a few others. But if he gives in again, this time he would be met with strong public reaction. His approval rating may sink to its lowest point, Yang said.

President Yoons approval rating stood at 31.5 percent as of Tuesday, according to a survey conducted by the polling agency Realmeter. The opposition parties have criticized his outreach to Tokyo as submissive diplomacy.

Give and take (on the ratio of 50:50 or 51:49) is the principle of diplomacy, but Yoons approach to Japan is closer to 90:10, which is not good in the long term. Korea should delay a consensus if Japan doesnt include the history of forced labor in its bid, Yang added.

Lee Won-deog, a professor of Japanese studies at Kookmin University, said the future of South Korea-Japan relations depends on how the government tackles the Sado mine issue.

"Although the Sado mines issue is not critical enough to determine the fate of the country, it is related to regaining pride and self-esteem for Koreans. Therefore, we should continue to pressure Japan to include mention of wartime forced labor in its nomination bid. Otherwise, Yoon will face a public backlash," he said.

Lee, who acknowledged Yoons efforts to normalize bilateral ties with Japan, added that the ICOMOS decision to refer back to Japan for additional information about the property is favorable to Korea.

The fact that Korea is a member of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee is deemed favorable to us, he said.

According to UNESCO guidelines, a property's inclusion on the World Heritage list requires a two-thirds majority vote from committee members present. However, decisions are typically reached through consensus, with formal voting only occurring when consensus cannot be achieved beforehand.

The final decision regarding the inscription will be made during the UNESCO World Heritage Committee session in New Delhi, India, scheduled for July 21 to 23.
President Yoon Suk Yeol condemned North Korea's nuclear development for threatening the international nonproliferation regime, as he was set to embark on a state visit Tuesday to Kazakhstan, a country that voluntarily gave up its nuclear arsenal.

In a written interview published in the Egemen Qazaqstan and Kazakhstanskaya Pravda newspapers, Yoon touted Kazakhstan as "a global model for denuclearization" for closing the former Soviet Union's nuclear testing site in its territory and dismantling the world's fourth-largest nuclear arsenal after gaining independence in 1991.

"North Korea's nuclear development is a dangerous and irresponsible act that shakes the foundation of the international nonproliferation regime, which countries like South Korea and Kazakhstan have steadfastly defended and developed over the years," Yoon said.

Yoon said Pyongyang has continued to develop nuclear weapons despite Seoul's active participation in the international community's efforts for denuclearization and nonproliferation.

Pyongyang has staged six nuclear tests, with its last test in 2017. Nuclear negotiations between the United States and the North have remained stalled since the 2019 Hanoi summit between the two nations ended without a deal.

"Despite repeated decisions by the U.N. Security Council and the unified voice of the international community demanding North Korea abandon its nuclear development, North Korea continues to develop nuclear weapons and their delivery systems, seriously threatening international peace and security," Yoon said.

Regarding his summit with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev slated for Wednesday, Yoon said the talks will focus on ways to bolster cooperation in the economy, technology, environment, agriculture and other areas.

"The two countries will deepen cooperation in core areas, such as energy, infrastructure and manufacturing," Yoon said. "This meeting is also to discuss ways to expand mutually beneficial cooperation in various future-oriented fields, including key minerals, science and technology, environment, agriculture and climate change response."

Yoon also expressed hope to finalize Seoul's review on designating new countries for the employment permit system to promote exchanges of labor between the two nations.

"South Korea is actively opening its doors from traditional manufacturing to advanced sectors," he said. "In light of the upcoming summit, I hope that the ongoing discussions on designating new countries for the employment permit system will be smoothly concluded."

To promote people-to-people exchanges and tourism, the countries will resume direct flights between Incheon and Astana, Kazakhstan's capital city, for the first time in four years, which were suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he added.

Yoon is set to wrap up his two-day state visit to Turkmenistan and head to Kazakhstan, the second leg of his Central Asian trip, which also includes Uzbekistan. (Yonhap)
By Kim Hyun-bin

Peruvian Minister of Foreign Affairs Javier Gonzalez-Olaechea invited Korean investors to explore the wealth of opportunities awaiting them in the South American nation during an investment seminar hosted by the Embassy of Peru in Seoul, Tuesday.

With an emphasis on Peru's stable economic landscape, strategic positioning and transparent investment policies, the minister aimed to entice Korean businesses to consider Peru as a prime destination for investment and expansion.

In his address to a distinguished audience of diplomats, business leaders and potential investors at a hotel in Seoul, Gonzalez-Olaechea emphasized Peru's economic stability as a cornerstone for attracting foreign investment.

"We need development; Peru needs investors. We need true investors who respect our environment, our laws and our partners, who will be with us in our present and future endeavors. All investors are welcome. We welcome those who comply with the law and who will utilize funds wisely. This is Peru, a place where business opportunities are readily available," he said.

"We are facing deficits, which represent opportunities, but these are not deficits for Koreans; they are opportunities. Peru offers a conducive atmosphere for foreign investment, with economic stability and a robust regulatory framework."

The minister emphasized Perus advantageous geographic location, situated in the heart of Latin America's coastal area, which presents itself as an ideal launchpad for Korean investors seeking to expand their presence across the continent."

The minister assured potential investors of Peru's commitment to fair and equitable treatment, highlighting the nation's commitment to transparency and non-discrimination, underscoring Peru's dedication to fostering a level playing field for all investors.

"We require foreigners to abide by our laws, ensuring that all investors, regardless of nationality, receive equal treatment, he said.

"Peru's fiscal situation is sound, with a well-functioning central bank ensuring macroeconomic stability."

Turning his attention to infrastructure opportunities, Gonzalez-Olaechea emphasized Peru's pressing need for investment in key sectors, including transportation.

"We lack highways and railways, presenting significant opportunities for Korean investors to contribute to the development of Peru's infrastructure," he said, urging Korean businesses to seize the moment and capitalize on the nation's infrastructure deficit as a way to mutually benefit.

Drawing inspiration from the successes of other nations, Gonzalez-Olaechea underscored Peru's dedication to growth and development.

"We can learn from other countries. Some countries were once worse off than Peru, but through great sacrifices and hard work, they achieved significant growth. This is what we have accomplished, unlike 60 or 70 years ago. You (Korea) have modern technology and are capable of solving everything wisely."

The minister also pointed out Peru's burgeoning youth population emphasizing that 50 percent of voters are youths under 30, highlighting the young labor force and potential consumers.
Senior diplomats of Korea and Cuba will hold talks in Seoul later this week, Seoul's foreign ministry said Tuesday, the first such talks since the establishment of bilateral relations earlier this year.

Deputy Foreign Minister Chung Byung-won will meet one-on-one with Carlos Pereira, director general for bilateral affairs at the Cuban foreign ministry, on Wednesday, ministry spokesperson Lim Soo-suk said in a press briefing.

Pereira is in Seoul this week to attend a regional forum on cooperation between Korea and Latin American countries. Pereira is the first senior Cuban diplomat visiting Korea since the two countries forged the formal diplomatic ties in February.

Following the forum on Monday, Pereira told some Korean reporters that opening a Cuban embassy in Seoul could possibly happen as early as next month, a remark seen as expressing Havana's willingness to have its official diplomatic presence soon despite the fact that it usually takes more time to carry out the procedures.

Korea and Cuba have not decided on the location of the Cuban mission, Seoul officials said. A Cuban diplomat from its embassy in China has been visiting Seoul since last month to work on the opening of the embassy.

"Korea and Cuba are in consultations to open embassies in each other's countries," Lim said in the briefing. "The two countries will continue to work closely together to ensure that a permanent mission (in Korea) can be opened at an earliest date possible."

Pereira highlighted at the forum the strong potential for cooperation between Korea and Cuba in minerals, renewable energy and agriculture, as well as economy and investment.

Pereira expressed hope that many Korean companies will come to Cuba to participate in its efforts toward energy transition.

"Cuba is very interested in expanding the substantive cooperation with us, and I expect that will be part of the main focus at Wednesday's talks," a foreign ministry official said. (Yonhap)
Korea's foreign ministry on Tuesday welcomed the U.N. Security Council's (UNSC) adoption of a United States-led ceasefire plan for the war in Gaza.

On Monday (U.S. time), the council approved the first resolution endorsing a ceasefire proposal presented by U.S. President Joe Biden, which calls for ending the monthslong war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

"Korea expects all parties concerned to immediately accept the proposal and fully implement it upon the UNSC's adoption of the resolution," the ministry said in a message sent to reporters.

"The Korean government, as a nonpermanent member of the council, will actively join the international community's efforts to resolve the Gaza conflict," it added.

The proposal presented conditions for a full and complete ceasefire, the release of hostages held by Hamas, the return of dead hostages' remains and the exchange of Palestinian prisoners.

The resolution was approved by 14 out of the 15 Security Council members, with Russia abstaining. (Yonhap)
Second Vice Foreign Minister Kang In-sun will attend a multilateral conference in Germany this week on recovery efforts for Ukraine, Seoul's foreign ministry said Tuesday.

Kang will take part in the two-day Ukraine Recovery Conference 2024 starting Wednesday (local time) to highlight the international support for Ukraine and introduce Korea's efforts in its peace initiative for the war-torn nation, ministry spokesperson Lim Soo-suk said in a briefing.

Korea participated in the conference in 2022 and 2023.

"Vice Minister Kang will emphasize the international community's solidarity and support for Ukraine and introduce Korea's implementation of the Ukraine Peace and Solidarity Initiative," Lim said.

Under the initiative, announced during President Yoon Suk Yeol's visit to Ukraine in July 2023, Korea pledged to continue its nonlethal support for Ukraine in various forms, in a contribution worth $2.3 billion in total.

Kang will also attend the ministerial meeting of the Multi-agency Donor Coordination Platform for Ukraine, a multinational donor group that Korea joined in February to add its contribution to the coordination of financial assistance and reconstruction plans for the country. (Yonhap)
By Matt VanVolkenburg

Ask most people what they think of when you mention the neighborhood of Sindang-dong, and they will reply, tteokbokki. As the story goes, the spicy version of the dish was invented there by Ma Bok-rim shortly after the 1950-53 Korean War, and it became popular as a cheap snack for local schoolkids. Mas appearance in a gochujang ad in 1996 caused her restaurant  and the Sindang-dong Tteokbokki Street  to explode in popularity.

Twenty-five years later, history began to repeat itself. Much like in Mullae-dong, Seongsu-dong and Euljiro, cafes, wine bars and foreign food eateries began to move into aging rice warehouses and other 50- or 60-year-old brick buildings in the Jungang Market area north of Sindang Station. By late 2021 it had become a noticeable trend, one that sped up last year when over 40 new cafes, bars and restaurants opened. Drawing on the example of Hipjiro, the area has been dubbed Hipdang-dong. (Had this happened a few years earlier, when the Gyeongnidan neighborhood was all the rage, it might have become the more musical Sindangnidan.)

The neighborhoods name is said to come from the shamanic shrines, or sindang, that appeared nearby during the 1392-1910 Joseon Kingdom era. Gwanghuimun gate, which stands a couple of blocks south of Dongdaemun Design Plaza, was one of the two gates through which corpses could leave Seoul, and in the early 20th century cemeteries were located where the tteokbokki street and northern section of Jungang Market now stand.

A rice market was active north of Sindang Station by the 1930s, as that was the decade when Chung Ju-young, founder of Hyundai, started doing deliveries for a rice shop before opening his own in 1938. By the 1960s, the market had grown immensely, with its merchants acting as wholesalers for more than 70 percent of the rice consumed in Seoul.

The area south of Sindang Station was first urbanized in the mid-1930s, and a small number of traditional Korean houses, or hanok, built between 1935 and 1938 still stand today. While a street plan (perhaps designed by a cubist painter) was devised for the area, hanoks spilled haphazardly across the grid, or were densely built with little thought of vehicles ever accessing them. As a result, the city government spent much of the late 1970s demolishing houses to make way for the streets it had planned three decades earlier.

The area was also home to a number of Western-influenced culture houses built in neat rows in the 1930s, but today only one remains  that which belonged to former President Park Chung-hee before he led a coup in 1961 and ended up moving into Cheong Wa Dae.

A year later, in 1962, the new authorities decided to control prostitution by designating a number of guidance zones where women would not be arrested but would be encouraged to find other employment; those working outside these zones faced arrest. Police designated an area north of Jungang Market, along Cheonggye Stream  next to a high school  as one such location, much to the chagrin of local residents.

Many other such stories from the past are practically forgotten today, including the fact that the area around the market was home to one of Seouls oldest queer spaces, centered on Seongdong Theater (1962-96). Times changed, and the theater closed and other queer centers like Itaewon or Jongno became trendy.

Changing trends in shopping also affected Jungang Market. The grain sellers which dominated the market dwindled to a handful, and the underground part of the market, which sold bedding, began to empty out.

In response to the latter situation, Seoul Art Space Sindang was established in 2009, allowing artists and designers to use these spaces at affordable prices. Perhaps it was this influx of artists that influenced the changes to the neighborhood in more recent years.

For now, in Jungang Market, wine and cocktail bars, cafes, izakayas, taco joints, Vietnamese and fusion Chinese eateries and even a punk bar (along with a half dozen photo booths) coexist with vegetable, fish, and chicken sellers, Chinese groceries and places serving more traditional fare. The market is booming and seeing more visitors than ever.

Gentrification always comes with costs, but at the moment the area seems to be in its honeymoon phase, perhaps helped by the size of the neighborhood compared to the relatively small number of "hip" establishments. Whether youre a gourmand, a member of the Instagram tribe looking for a new place to explore or someone keen on watching gentrification in real time, the Sindang Station area should be an interesting place to keep an eye on moving ahead.

The aforementioned places will be visited, and many more stories about Sindang-dongs history and urban development will be shared, this coming Saturday in an excursion by Royal Asiatic Society (RAS) Korea. Participation costs 30,000 won, or 25,000 won for RAS Korea members. Visit raskb.com for more information.

Matt VanVolkenburg has a master's degree in Korean studies from the University of Washington. He is the blogger behind populargusts.blogspot.kr, and co-author of "Called by Another Name: A Memoir of the Gwangju Uprising."
By Nam Hyun-woo

The Foreign Military Attache Corps in South Korea held a scholarship donation ceremony and charity walk at Seoul Battleship Park, Tuesday, to honor South Korean seamen killed in the 2002 inter-Korean naval skirmish, known as the Second Battle of Yeonpyeong.

The Second Battle of Yeonpyeong occurred on June 29, 2002, after two North Korean patrol boats violated the inter-Korean maritime border in the West Sea. After engagements, North Korean vessels retreated back across the Northern Limit Line, but the clash resulted in the deaths of six South Korean sailors and injured 18 others, while the Chamsuri-357 was sunk. One North Korean boat was also severely damaged, and South Korea says that 13 North Korean sailors were killed and 25 wounded.

The commemorative event was launched last year to remember those who served in the naval battle and military personnel who have dedicated their lives to the nation.

The ceremony was attended by over 150 participants, including military attaches from 23 countries and their families, veterans of the Second Battle of Yeonpyeong and staff from foreign embassies in South Korea. Naval officials including Vice Chief of Naval Operations Kang Dong-gil and Vice Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs Lee Hee-wan were also present.

To commemorate the battle on June 29, the Foreign Military Attache Corps donated 629,000 won ($456) to a Navy Love Scholarship Foundation supporting the families of fallen and economically disadvantaged naval personnel.

Veterans who served on the Chamsuri-357, a vessel engaged with North Korean warships during the battle, also donated 357,000 won, symbolizing their ships hull number. Embassies from various countries will also contribute additional funds for the scholarship.

After the donation ceremony, participants walked 3.57 kilometers from Seoul Battleship Park to Yanghwa Bridge along the Han River, honoring the victory and the service veterans in the battle. The event concluded with a one-hour performance by the Navy band.

As a uniformed serviceman, it is meaningful to participate in a work to remember soldiers who dedicate their lives to their countries and to support their families, regardless of the nationality, said Capt. Rodrigo Fernando Perez Castro of the Chilean Navy, who leads the Foreign Military Attache Corps in South Korea.

I hope this event helps honor the sacrifice of the families of the fallen South Korean naval personnel.

The Foreign Military Attache Corps plans to continue this annual tradition.
The chief policymaker of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea said Tuesday no extra budget should be allowed for a project for potential offshore oil and gas reserves in the East Sea unless relevant data is submitted.

The remark came amid growing controversies surrounding Act-Geo, the U.S. geoscience firm that gave a positive assessment of the potential reserves, including one that the company had signed a contract with state-run Korea National Oil Corp. (KNOC) when it was subject to operational restrictions for failing to pay franchise tax.

"KNOC signed the contract with Act-Geo even though its business had been suspended for four years for failing to pay tax (in the U.S.) and there are also allegations that Act-Geo is a paper company created to avoid personal tax," Rep. Jin Sung-joon said during a policy meeting.

Stressing the "astronomical" amount of money needed for the project, he said no increase in budget will be allowed for the drilling exploration unless relevant data is submitted.

The government commissioned the Texas-based geoscience research firm to conduct a study in February last year, which reported that oil deposits, holding up to 14 billion barrels of gas and oil, may be buried in the deep sea off the coast of Yeongil Bay in Pohang, about 260 kilometers southeast of Seoul. (Yonhap)
Defector-turned-activist vows to continue launching anti-Pyongyang leaflets until Kim Jong-un apologizes for sending trash to South Korea

By Lee Hyo-jin

A series of trash-laden balloons sent by North Korea has reignited debates surrounding the government's stance on anti-Pyongyang leaflets launched by local activists, most of whom are defectors.

Over the last couple of weeks, North Korea has launched approximately 1,600 balloons carrying waste paper and plastic to the South on four occasions since May 28. This exchange followed South Korean activists' release of large balloons carrying anti-regime leaflets to the North.

Observers criticized the government's passive tolerance of the leaflet distribution activities, arguing that it has provided a justification for the North's balloon offensive. They called for at least minimal administrative engagement to halt civic groups from sending more leaflets to the North to prevent tensions from escalating further.

"The ball is now in our court. North Korea's next step will depend on whether the defector groups launch propaganda leaflets," said Yang Moo-jin, president of the University of North Korean Studies.

Kim Yo-jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, warned on Sunday of additional retaliatory measures if Seoul continues loudspeaker broadcasts and leaflet launches.

"In other words, the North would refrain from further provocations if the South stops its loudspeaker broadcasts and leaflet launches," Yang said. He noted that the Kim regime is likely to act cautiously to prevent tensions from escalating further, with Russian President Vladimir Putin's planned visit to Pyongyang on the horizon.

According to Russian newspaper Vedomosti, Putin will visit North Korea and Vietnam in the coming weeks, potentially meaning that the visit could be as early as this month.

The South Korean government is apparently treading cautiously as well. After resuming its loudspeaker propaganda broadcasts toward the North in retaliation for its balloon offensive, Sunday, the military refrained from operating the speakers on Monday. This move was perceived as a prudent stance aimed at preventing a further escalation in tensions.

"In such a situation, additional leaflet launches could heighten military tensions. Pyongyang may resume sending balloons filled with trash in retaliation, or worse, engage in more provocative actions. The government should exercise its power to limit the leaflet launches, at least for now," Yang said.

However, even after the balloon saga, Park Sang-hak, head of the Fighters for a Free North Korea (FFNK), remains resolute about his intention of sending propaganda leaflets to the North.

"I will keep on flying the leaflets until Kim Jong-un apologizes for sending garbage and excrement to South Koreans," Park told The Korea Times, Tuesday.

Last Thursday, the defector-turned-activist sent 10 large balloons filled with 200,000 leaflets criticizing the Kim regime along with USB drives loaded with K-pop and trot music, which prompted the North to respond with a third batch of trash-carrying balloons.

The Ministry of Unification is planning to hold a meeting with several civic activists who have been sending the leaflets, potentially to indirectly discourage them from their activities. However, Park said he "has not received any contact from the ministry and will not engage in any discussions with the authorities."

Park declined to comment on his next leaflet launch, stating that it depends on the course of wind and weather conditions.

The Yoon Suk Yeol government has been refraining from intervening with the civic group's leaflet activities citing a 2023 Constitutional Court ruling that affirmed these actions as being protected under freedom of expression.

Yet calls to halt the leaflet launches are also coming from the conservative ruling People Power Party (PPP).

Rep. Yoon Sang-hyun of the PPP urged the defector groups to take a break, highlighting North Korea's warning of a hundredfold retaliation if the South resumes sending leaflets.

"Defector groups should not provide North Korea with a pretext for provocation by sending leaflets so openly. It is necessary for them to either send the leaflets discreetly or temporarily suspend their launch to avoid giving North Korea a reason for provocation," the lawmaker said during a press conference, Monday.

On the same day, Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon demanded the central government take appropriate measures regarding the leaflet launches.

"The government should not passively tolerate the launch of anti-North Korean leaflets but must implement concrete measures to address the issue," Kim wrote on Facebook.

The governor also said he will utilize all available administrative power to ensure the safety of Gyeonggi Province residents living near the border area. This could include designating off-limit danger zones and cracking down on leaflet distribution activities in accordance with relevant laws.
Ruling party tables resolution urging speakers resignation

By Nam Hyun-woo

The 22nd National Assembly is already facing disruptions, just 10 days into its term, as the two main rival parties clashed, Tuesday, over the majority-holding main opposition Democratic Party of Koreas (DPK) unilateral appointments of the heads of parliamentary standing committees.

In response, the ruling People Power Party (PPP) tabled a resolution demanding Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shiks resignation.

It claimed Woo, hailing from the DPK, violated the speakers obligation of neutrality by allowing the opposition party to unilaterally appoint standing committee chairpersons and randomly assign PPP members to the committee during a late-night plenary session the previous day. PPP lawmakers boycotted the session.

The PPPs 108 lawmakers held a general meeting on Tuesday, during which they unanimously agreed to the resolution, which was later submitted to the Assemblys legislation office.

The speaker violated his obligation of neutrality through biased proceedings during a plenary session the day before, the resolution read.

Furthermore he severely infringed on the voting and deliberation rights of lawmakers by forcibly assigning them into standing committees, thereby committing a serious abuse of power that significantly undermines parliamentary democracy.

A resolution, being a non-binding political statement, means that Woos speakership will remain unaffected even if it is adopted. However, it highlights a stark partisan divide and underscores the serious asymmetric power dynamics disadvantaging the ruling party.

Since the opening of the new Assembly on May 30, the PPP and the DPK have been butting heads over the appointments of 18 standing committee chairpersons.

Citing its dominance in the number of parliamentary seats, the DPK claimed at least 11 standing committees should be headed by its lawmakers. However, the PPP insisted on assuming leadership positions at several key committees, including the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, responsible for gatekeeping before tabling bills at a plenary session, and the House Steering Committee, which can audit the presidential office.

The PPP cited a parliamentary practice in Korea where a member of the largest party assumes the speaker position, one from the second-largest party takes the post of chief of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, and one from the ruling party takes the chief post of the House Steering Committee.

After several rounds of failed negotiations, Woo convened a plenary session on Monday night, while PPP lawmakers staged a sit-in protest outside the plenary hall. Opposition lawmakers in attendance proceeded to elect the chairpersons of 11 standing committees. DPK Supreme Council member Rep. Jung Chung-rae was appointed as the head of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, and DPK floor leader Rep. Park Chan-dae was appointed as the head of the House Steering Committee.

This marked the first instance of the main opposition party having its lawmakers simultaneously serve as the parliamentary speaker and the heads of two committees.

Read More 22nd National Assembly begins with intense partisan divisions

The DPK said it left seven standing committee chair positions for the ruling party, while threatening to hold another plenary session on Thursday to fill the remainder with its members if the PPP refuses to field its candidates.

I urge the speaker to promptly convene a plenary session to expedite the composition of the seven standing committees that still need to elect their chairpersons," the DPK floor leader said during a party meeting, Tuesday.

Along with the resolution, the ruling PPP plans to boycott the standing committees for an indefinite period. Instead, the party said its lawmakers would carry out their responsibilities through 15 special committees established within the party last week. Members of these special committees are entitled to receive briefings from ministries and other government agencies but do not possess legislative authority.

We will hold a (PPP) general meeting again to discuss our next steps, PPP floor leader Rep. Choo Kyung-ho told reporters, Tuesday.

We refuse to accept the standing committee chairpersonship elected through the DPKs unilateral actions. We will neither participate in nor cooperate with any legislative schedule unilaterally announced by the DPK.
Opposition parties to swiftly push for special counsel probe into cases involving Kim Keon Hee

By Kwak Yeon-soo

The Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission is facing a major backlash from opposition parties following its decision to close its review regarding first lady Kim Keon Hee's luxury handbag scandal, citing the lack of a punishment clause for public officials' spouses under the anti-graft act.

Kim was accused of improperly receiving a Christian Dior luxury handbag worth 3 million won ($2,178) from a Korean American pastor named Choi Jae-young, who conspired with YouTube-based media outlet Voice of Seoul to secretly film his meeting with Kim in 2022.

The decision comes nearly six months after a civic group called People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy filed a corruption complaint with the commission against President Yoon Suk Yeol and the first lady as well as the pastor on charges of violating the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act in December.

The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) lashed out at the commissions decision to clear Kim of graft charges, vowing to push ahead with a special probe into the luxury bag scandal and other suspicions involving the first lady.

Was the commissions decision to close the case a farewell gift for the first lady, who embarked on her weeklong trip to Central Asia alongside the president? Rep. Yoon Jong-kun of the DPK asked in a statement, pointing out that the outcome was made public hours after the presidential couple left for Turkmenistan.

The DPK will swiftly push for a special counsel probe into cases involving Kim to prevent her from running away.

Prosecutor General Lee One-seok said prosecutors will continue with their investigation into the case in accordance with the law. Apart from the anti-corruption agency's investigation, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office has also been looking into the case.

The prosecution is committed to investigating based on evidence and legal principles, without considering political factions or vested interests, he told reporters, Tuesday.

Rep. Cho Kuk, leader of the minor opposition Rebuilding Korea Party, criticized the commissions decision.

Although there is no provision for public officials children under the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act, my daughter was found guilty in court for receiving a scholarship for graduate school, he wrote on Facebook, Tuesday.

The Reform Party also condemned the commission for reaching a hasty, unreasonable and senseless conclusion.

Its deeply regrettable that the commission, which is supposed to be the last bastion against corruption, has failed to play its role. It should serve the people, not the president, the partys chief spokesperson Kim Seong-yeol said in a statement.

Meanwhile, People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy denounced the commission's decision, arguing that it demonstrates a complete disregard for the common understanding that public officials  including their spouses  should not accept money, valuables or other benefits under any circumstances.
By Mason Richey

June 12 marks the sixth anniversary of the historic 2018 Singapore summit between former U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. It is worth reflecting on that momentous event, both as a reminder of how much geopolitics has changed since then and to recall what diplomacy with North Korea may look like when Pyongyang eventually signals a willingness to restart discussions with Washington and Seoul.

To begin with, we should remember that the diplomacy of Singapore was born of crisis, notably North Koreas 2017 nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missile tests, as well as Trumps fire and fury rhetoric. The Singapore summit was also laden with risk, both of a bad deal and a return to crisis in the absence of a deal. In short, Singapore was not the halcyon days. All parties and most observers were skeptical that the summit would produce progress in U.S.-North Korea relations, and on Pyongyangs denuclearization in specific. But there was at least a spark of hope, and that is worth something. Indeed, surprisingly  or perhaps due to shared low expectations  the Trump-Kim meeting went well enough to keep hope alive, resulting in a February 2019 follow-up in Hanoi.

The Hanoi summit, however, revealed the irreconcilable positions held by the United States and North Korea regarding the latters nuclear weapons, and the summit ended in failure that still casts a shadow on Washingtons and Seouls efforts at diplomatic outreach to Pyongyang. Following sporadic efforts at working-level talks, North Korea eventually refused further negotiation with the U.S. and South Korea, instead hardening its posture internally and externally, accelerating its weapons program and doubling down on sanctions evasion and cyber theft to keep its economy afloat.

Rather than the modest hope of Singapore, North Koreas relations with the U.S. and South Korea now feature trash balloons and rising tensions along the Demilitarized Zone and the Northern Limit Line. The absence of hotline contact and an abrogated inter-Korean Comprehensive Military Agreement mean risk reduction measures are not operational. Pyongyang now possesses a functional and growing nuclear weapons arsenal and has rhetorically, institutionally, and politically eliminated denuclearization as a negotiation item.

Worse still, geopolitical conditions have recently favored North Korea, which is less isolated than it has been in years. Sino-U.S. rivalry and the war in Ukraine have incentivized Beijing and Moscow to increase support for Pyongyang, including aiding international sanctions evasion and providing diplomatic cover. China at least pretends to want to play a constructive role with respect to North Korea, but Russia has not only abandoned the pretense of sanctions enforcement but has actively engaged in arms transfers with North Korea, receiving millions of artillery shells and dozens of short-range missiles in (likely) exchange for food, fuel, money, and/or military technology assistance for Pyongyang. For good measure, Russia killed the United Nations Panel of Experts monitoring North Koreas illicit activities in service of its weapons programs. Vladimir Putin has hosted Kim Jong-un in the Russian Far East and may soon make a visit to North Korea.

The war in Gaza, supported by Iran, both demands diplomatic attention that reduces already limited bandwidth to deal with North Koreas malfeasance and underscores the malign cooperation between Tehran and Pyongyang. To top things off, the Yoon administration is weakened after a beating in April National Assembly elections, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is embroiled in scandal, the U.S. faces uncertainty heading toward a November election with two historically awful candidates, and elections worldwide in 2024 mean states are focused on domestic politics.

This is not a context in which Kim Jong-un is inclined to engage Washington or Seoul. In that sense, Singapore is a distant memory, as is whatever small hope there might have been for denuclearization and sustainably improved relations between Pyongyang, Washington and Seoul.

Nonetheless, fickle Fortunas Wheel will keep spinning, the situation will evolve, and North Korea will eventually indicate interest in renewed diplomatic negotiation. Distant Singapore still holds lessons for that eventuality. The first lesson is to keep expectations extremely low. The number of things that can derail progress is extensive. Second, history rhymes  not repeats  and so denuclearization is highly unlikely to be on the agenda of future North Korean diplomacy. Washington and Seoul will have to figure out how to handle that, notably weighing the risks of working toward a deal short of denuclearization versus the risks of continuing to press for it such that North Korea refuses to engage and instead ratchets up tensions.

Lastly, the cliche is true: let us hope for the best, but prepare for the worst.

Mason Richey is professor of international politics at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, president of the Korea International Studies Association, and editor-in-chief of the Journal of East Asian Affairs.
Physicians should keep their commitments to patients

Access to medical treatments is generally not a major concern in developed countries like Korea, although costs can vary. However, a nearly four-month-long dispute between the government and the medical community over increasing the enrollment quota for medical schools has made health care somewhat less accessible.

On June 18, access to doctors may become even more difficult  a deplorable situation that must be prevented. The Korean Medical Association (KMA), representing 140,000 physicians nationwide, has announced a one-day strike. They are demanding that the government abandon the plan to increase the medical school enrollment quota. In fact, 73.5 percent of its doctors have indicated their willingness to participate in the strike if called upon. For now, the strike is planned for just one day, but the KMA has warned that this could change depending on the government's response. The government has ordered the general practitioners continue providing services and to report any hospital closures to the authorities.

The call for walkout comes at a critical and frustrating moment in this medical crisis. Last month, an appellate court upheld the government's plan to increase the medical school quota. Following this decision, medical schools announced their admissions plans last week, which include an expansion of 1,500 additional seats.

On June 17, medical professors at four Seoul National University (SNU) hospitals in Seoul and Bundang are expected to walk out, except for those working in emergency rooms and intensive care units. The professors are demanding that the government revoke, rather than merely suspend, the administrative penalties against junior doctors who walked out on Feb. 20.

At this point in the standoff, both the government and the medical community need to explore other options. They can find solutions by restarting dialogue from scratch on the issue of expanding the enrollment quota for the 2026 academic year. The government should make aggressive efforts to talk to the physicians, while the medical community must reaffirm their commitment to patient care.

With 2.6 doctors per 1,000 people, Korea has one of the lowest numbers of physicians per capita among OECD member nations. A large majority of Koreans support an increase in the number of doctors.

Since the Feb. 20 walkout by junior doctors, the medical community has rebutted the government's plan by saying that increasing the enrollment quota for medical schools will not necessarily mean more doctors in essential disciplines. Since the appellate court ruled in favor of the government's plan, both sides have failed to narrow their differences on how to address the common problem that both have acknowledged.

Nevertheless, historical precedent seems to fuel the medical community's resistance. This is not the first time doctors have launched a full-scale protest. In fact, it is the fourth since 2000. Each time, the government ultimately relented, driven by concerns over jeopardizing patients' lives. This pattern has reinforced the medical community's belief that the government can never truly prevail against the doctors.

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo has categorized any collective action by the doctors that puts lives at risk as an "illegal act."

Fellow professors at SNU asked the school's medical professors to reconsider the walkout, saying, "Reform must be supported by the people and society, and earn the government's consent." Patients are also denouncing the move. The Korea Severe Disease Association issued a statement condemning the doctors' and professors' walkout as a reflection of "extreme selfishness" neglecting public health for the pursuit of their interests.

If some 30 percent of doctors participate in the collective action, the full-fledged strike is predicted to cause significant disruptions. The government must make every effort to engage in dialogue with the medical community to prevent the strike. Likewise, physicians should halt their steps toward collective action.
By Rushan Ziatdinov

The Korea Times recently reported about the results of a survey in which human resources officials at Korea's top 1,000 companies said they believe a drastic demographic shift will cause an economic plight in the near future, and among them, 45.8 percent said their biggest concern is labor supply.

While labor supply in manufacturing and agriculture can be solved through agreements with developing countries, attracting and retaining high-skilled talent is more challenging for Korea. Highly skilled talent always looks for better places for themselves and their families and can be more mobile. It is no secret that there are many countries in the world that would be interested in having more highly skilled talent  research-oriented engineers, postdoctoral fellows, research scholars, and professors.

So what can Korea offer to international high-level talent so that such people will come and work here, not somewhere else, and integrate harmoniously and peacefully into society? For example, why would a highly talented person from a leading country in terms of GDP based on purchasing power parity, such as China, the United States, India, Japan, Germany or Russia, come and work here? These are good questions, and they need to be addressed carefully, because it's very important for the bright future of the country, given the demographic issues it faces.

First of all, it is necessary to carry out a more systematic study of the needs of various organizations for highly qualified workers, as well as a forecast of the potential shortage of workers in all sectors and subsectors of the economy. Then it's important to better advertise available jobs by writing detailed job descriptions and specifications in correct English without mistakes. Every job advertisement is not only an advertisement for a job, it's an advertisement for an organization and an advertisement for Korea, so it should be written perfectly and attractively.

Unfortunately, portals such as https://global.hibrain.net/ and https://arjk.net/ do not contain too many English job advertisements from universities for global talent, such as https://jrecin.jst.go.jp/, a Japanese job portal for academics, which had 843 job advertisements as of May 31. Many jobs on the aforementioned Japanese portal require applicants to be able to give lectures in both Japanese and English, and probably overseas applicants would not be very interested in them due to lack of Japanese language skills.

In addition, there are more well-known international platforms such as LinkedIn, where Korean organizations can post their jobs globally. Nowadays, due to the increasing competition for talent, companies should train their headhunters to be more active and search for talent globally. I would also recommend all Korean consular organizations operate their websites and advertise various academic programs and events not only in Korean and the language of the country where they are located but also in English to attract foreign expatriate talent living there. Highly skilled people do not have a single nationality and can be found all over the world, often considering themselves as global citizens. I would also recommend developing various bonus programs for those who can bring highly skilled talent to the country.

More attention should be paid to supporting international families, including those who raise their children in Korea. Prestigious international schools are too expensive here, and this factor is very important in retaining highly qualified talent and improving demographics. There are some schools unofficially known as global schools where kids from multicultural families study, but the medium of instruction is mostly Korean, not English. International families pay taxes like all Korean citizens and have a right to quality education for their children. For migrant expatriate talents, a modern world-class quality education is impossible without extensive knowledge of today's language of science. One of the solutions would be to give them the right to bilingual education in both Korean and English.

Global competition for talent is intensifying. Despite some criticism, powerful neighboring countries such as Russia, China and Japan are developing various programs to attract global talent. China's Thousand Talents Plan, which grew out of the "Talent Superpower Strategy" in 2007, is the most prominent of China's more than 200 talent recruitment programs, according to the Science Journal (Shi et al., 2023). In Japan, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology launched the Global 30 project in 2009 to internationalize higher education in Japan and increase student mobility. Russia is also developing some academic programs to attract talent from overseas and even offers the opportunity to get one hectare (10,000 square meters) of free land in the Far East and Arctic to all its citizens and foreigners who are legally residing in the country.

According to an article published on the World Economic Forum (2023) portal, Switzerland, Singapore, and the United States are the top three countries in terms of talent competitiveness, and Korea is ranked 24th. Korea has highly developed infrastructure and industry, warm climate conditions, beautiful nature, highly developed transportation and medical systems, good education, good cuisine and is surrounded by water what more does the talent need? Of course, the country should also continuously develop itself in various laws that will better protect minorities such as expatriate migrants and, in the near future, may become one of the most attractive, highly inclusive and happy places for global talent, at least in Asia.

In some other countries, even tourists can legally get married under the laws of the country they are visiting and spend their honeymoon supporting the budget of those countries. However, to my great regret, this is not the case in Korea. Not only tourists but also two foreigners from two different countries who legally reside in Korea and have their residency cards cannot have the same marriage certificate as two Koreans.

District offices accept the entire package of documents required for a marriage and issue two foreigners a certificate called "surijeungmyeongso." Korean citizens receive another certificate called "honinjeungmyeongso" (or marriage certificate). Automated translation of the term surijeungmyeongso is different to that of a marriage certificate: repair certificate (Google translation), certificate of repair (Papago), DeepL (certificate of repair). According to Clova AI, "the main difference between the two certificates is that "surijeungmyeongso is used to confirm the acceptance of an application or request, while (a) marriage certificate is used to verify an individual's marital status." Obviously, something should be improved here.

Rushan Ziatdinov is a professor of industrial engineering at Keimyung University in Daegu.
By Ko Dong-hwan

Moviation has launched Korea's first urban aerial mobility (UAM) service, Vonaer, giving a time-saving boost to local transportation across areas with heavy traffic or geographic traits unfavorable to land mobility, according to the company, Monday.

Using chartered helicopters between established Von Ports, existing helipads or upcoming vertiports, Vonaer provides rides to passengers who book online through the platform's smartphone app. Accepting reservations for slots every hour, the service platform carries passengers from Jamsil in southern Seoul to Incheon International Airport in 20 minutes, a trip taking about two hours by road.

From Jamsil to Yangjae in southern Seoul, a high-congestion route requiring around an hour of driving during rush hour, it takes just five minutes.

Moviation CEO Shin Min said that Vonaer invites an era where UAM, which has so far been largely limited to larger companies, costs ($319) for a one-way trip.

Moviation caters to customers with not just transportation but also sightseeing across tourism hotspots around Seoul, Incheon as well as the country's west coast and the inter-Korean border region's demilitarized zone. Users can also register their luggage for delivery to desired destinations.

"UAM has already penetrated throughout countries with advanced aviation technologies like the United States and Europe, boosting itself as a competitive urban mobility service based on well-established infrastructure and further development in progress. Their infrastructure and accumulated user-demand data have already begun propelling the future global UAM industry," Shin said.

Shin said that to introduce a full-fledged UAM service to Korea, starting off with existing helicopters before deploying more advanced carriers is necessary to waste no time in establishing the UAM market here by promoting the service and preparing essential infrastructure.

"The UAM market is still in an immature state here in Korea. Our current objective with the six-month pilot program is to lay down a foundation by launching the service using helicopters," Shin said. "It'll then bridge the country's existing aviation market and the looming UAM industry."

Moviation, a small firm with 15 employees based in Seoul, currently possesses two mobility carriers, a Sikorsky S-76 for up to 11 passengers with a separate luggage space and a smaller helicopter for carrying passengers only. The company begins accepting reservations on Tuesday and the earliest service lifts off on June 25.

Moviation has a partnership with HeliKorea, one of five local helicopter operators here, to rent its carriers for the service. To expand the UAM market, Shin plans to sign carrier rental partnership deals with more operators and introduce more Von Ports here, most immediately in Yeouido.

Moviation currently faces regulatory hurdles posed by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, which has been enforcing regulations for UAM separately from helicopters  unlike in the United States, where both are treated as the same, according to Lee Mi-hyun, Moviation's chief strategy officer. Areas above the Han River are also designated off-limits to private carriers, forcing the firm to make detours and take longer routes.

"We'll tackle one by one those regulations that have so far held back the country's helicopter transportation business," said Shin, who worked for 15 years on New York's Wall Street before establishing Moviation in 2022. "In the meantime, we'll focus on increasing our UAM service using helicopters, an internal combustion engine for electric vertical take-off and landing that will ultimately lead the future UAM industry."

While the country's airline companies like Korean Air have soared to a world-class level in the past decades, the helicopter mobility market has remained almost stagnant without enough attention or investments, according to Lee.

"Korea's tourism industry has so far been underdeveloped without effective tools like helicopters or other aerial mobility services," Lee said. "As we plan to increase our service networks and shorten the length and time for itinerary routes we provide, we'll draw more customers and hope to lower our fares to below 300,000 won per person and make the service more available to the broader public."
Hankook Tire & Technology said Tuesday it has signed a deal with Mitsubishi Motors to supply tires for the Japanese automaker's Xforce compact sport utility vehicle.

The Korean tire company said it will supply its Ventus Prime 4 product to Mitsubishi. The company's Ventus product series has been supplied to other global car manufacturers, including BMW, Volkswagen and Audi, as well.

According to the company, the Ventus Prime 4 exhibits high braking power and excellent performance even on wet surfaces. It also minimizes noise and enhances handling accuracy, while also facilitating increased travel compared to the previous model.

Hankook Tire said it is expanding its supply of tires through collaborations with Japanese automakers, including Mitsubishi, Toyota and Nissan. (Yonhap)
Ultium Cells agrees to another sharp wage hike

By Park Jae-hyuk

Korean battery makers running joint factories with U.S. carmakers are facing surging labor costs as they have no choice but to sharply raise wages for their American employees amid growing union influence, according to industry officials, Tuesday.

Ultium Cells, the joint venture between LG Energy Solution and General Motors (GM), reached a tentative agreement with the United Auto Workers (UAW) on Monday (local time) for a 30 percent wage hike over three years. This came after Ultium Cells and the UAW agreed last August to increase the factory workers wage by 25 percent on average.

Eighteen months ago, this company was on a low road path to poverty wages, unsafe conditions and a dark future for battery workers in America, UAW President Shawn Fain said. Now theyve more than doubled their wages by the end of this contract, won record health and safety language and showed the world what it means to win a just transition.

UAW Local 1112 Shop Chairman Josh Ayers also said that the union wants this agreement to become a cornerstone for current and future battery plants across the nation.

Their remarks indicate that the UAW will flex its muscle once again against other joint battery plants that Samsung SDI and SK On run with U.S. carmakers.

Based on strong support from U.S. President Joe Biden, the union has urged the joint ventures to raise wages and guarantee job security. After the UAWs strike last year, GM, Ford Motor and Stellantis agreed to a 25 percent wage increase over four years.

The recent deal between Ultium Cells and the UAW is expected to affect other battery firms and carmakers in the U.S., Korea Investors Service analyst Kim Ho-seop said. Rising labor costs will be a negative factor for their business amid the slow demand for electric vehicles.

Last year, the UAW criticized StarPlus Energy, as the joint venture between Samsung SDI and Stellantis had not informed union leaders in advance of the construction of its Kokomo factory until a day before the announcement. Amid the growing pressure from the union, Samsung SDI is also preparing to open a joint battery plant with GM.

BlueOval SK raised salaries for its workers during the UAWs strike last year, although the joint venture between SK On and Ford said the wage increase was not related to the strike.

However, Ford said at that time that it remains open to the possibility of working with the UAW on future battery plants in the U.S.

Three of the four battery plants under construction are part of the BlueOval SK joint venture between Ford and SK On, the U.S. carmaker said. The future employees at these operations can choose to be union represented and enter into the collective bargaining process.
By Lee Min-hyung

Hyundai Motor and Kia will likely cash in on Toyota Motor's involvement in a series of vehicle certification scandals. This issue will likely see a rise in demand for Korean cars, particularly in emerging markets such as India and Southeast Asia amid the tainted corporate image of the Japanese automaker, said company officials and experts Tuesday.

The outlook came in reaction to Toyota's latest apologies for cheating on certification tests on seven models. In January, the Japanese firm also came under fire for reporting false data in its diesel engine certification test for 10 of its models.

Market insiders said the sequential involvement in such scandals will drastically hamper the firm's unwavering image as the world's top-selling carmaker.

They expect that the Hyundai Motor Group will benefit from the Toyota scandal in strategic marketplaces.

"The Korean automakers will attract more attention from local customers in India and major Southeast Asian markets following the latest Toyota scandal," Lee Ho-geun, an automotive engineering professor at Daedeok University, said. "When a strong earthquake and tsunami struck Japan back in 2011, major Japanese carmakers  including Toyota  were hit hard by subsequent disruptions in their parts supply chains. At that time, Volkswagen benefitted most from the production fall from its Japanese counterparts."

Given Hyundai Motor Group's enhanced profile in global markets, such as the two strategic regions, the Korean company will be able to further boost its sales and cement its image as a more reliable automaker there, according to Lee.

Even though Toyota is still considered an unmatched leader in the global auto industry in terms of sales, Hyundai Motor and Kia are on track to narrow the gap by targeting emerging marketplaces.

According to data from the Vietnam Automobile Manufacturers' Association, Hyundai Motor sold the most vehicles in Vietnam in 2023, outnumbering Toyota by around 10,000 during the same period.

Officials from a carmaker said Hyundai Motor Group will be the biggest beneficiary of the latest Toyota scandal, as the company is also rooted in the same Asian region and is rapidly emerging as a major threat to global carmakers due to its outstanding sales growth for the past decade.

Hyundai Motor Group is on track to tighten its position as one of the world's top three carmakers in terms of sales, following Toyota and Volkswagen, the officials said, noting that the group's brand image is being renovated with its group-wide drive to lead future mobility.

They added that the company is also betting big on electric vehicles and seeks to reshape its identity as a software-driven vehicle firm and that Toyota's involvement in such scandals will be a good opportunity for Hyundai Motor and Kia to raise their global profile in this auto paradigm shift.

Backed by the drive, the Korean firm achieved an eye-catching operating profit-to-sales ratio of 10.4 percent in the first quarter, which is the highest among carmakers across the globe.
By Lee Min-hyung

Korea pledged to elevate its partnership with Turkmenistan in infrastructure, plant projects and energy by taking advantage of the latter's geopolitical stability and extensive reserves of natural resources, Korea's largest business lobby said Tuesday on the sidelines of their bilateral business forum.

A group of 250 government and company officials from both sides discussed the future business partnership during the Korea-Turkmenistan Business Forum  jointly hosted by the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) and its Turkmenistan counterpart.

"Korea still has many things to do with Turkmenistan, whose gas reserves are the world's fourth-largest," President Yoon Suk Yeol said during a keynote speech at the forum.

Yoon urged Korean companies to join bids for more plant projects from Turkmenistan.

"Korean firms' construction capabilities are the world's top level and they have been recognized in Turkmenistan for carrying out multiple plant projects," he said. "We hope more Korean firms participate in more plant projects in Turkmenistan."

Turkmenistan is a major business partner for Korea after companies from the latter have won accumulated plant project orders worth $4.99 billion (6.87 trillion won) over the past decade. The amount tops the list among Korea's five major trade and business partners in Central Asia.

Both sides also agreed to level up their ties in infrastructure, energy and a string of other business areas, such as smart cities and shipbuilding, so they can build more future-oriented and comprehensive business partnerships, according to the KCCI.

"Turkmenistan is pushing for diverse government-driven projects, including plant and smart city construction, as part of its key growth strategy, so both countries are expected to deepen their exchanges and partnerships in a variety of areas," Park Il-jun, executive vice chairman at the KCCI, said. "We expect both countries to push ahead with diverse joint projects by combining Korea's core strengths and Turkmenistan's growth potential."

Leaders from Korea's leading construction firms  such as Hyundai Engineering and Daewoo Engineering & Construction  also attended the event along with government officials. They include Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun and Land Minister Park Sang-woo.

Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, chairman of the People's Council of Turkmenistan, and Mergen Gurdov, chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Turkmenistan, also joined the forum to discuss future ties with the Korean government and companies.

The Korean business lobby expected both countries to expand their business ties into more untapped areas.

"Korea and Turkmenistan have long strengthened their partnerships with a focus on the energy industry," the KCCI vice chairman said. "We look forward to boosting their collaboration not only in the energy sector but also in shipbuilding, digital and even medical treatment."

The Korean land minister also delivered a speech on the theme of the nation's smart city strategy.

"Korea secures the world's top-level ICT infrastructure and is home to multiple global firms, such as Samsung, LG and Hyundai Motor," the minister said.

He noted Korea, with its technological prowess, has carried out a number of smart city projects in 23 countries, adding that Korea hopes to boost such partnerships with Turkmenistan.
Unionized workers of Samsung Electronics have decided to resume talks with the company later this week, about two weeks after wage negotiations broke down, industry sources said Tuesday.

Samsung Electronics and representatives of the labor union will meet Thursday to discuss the schedule and direction of future bargaining, according to the sources.

Since January, the two sides have held several rounds of talks but have been unable to narrow their differences over the wage increase rate, vacation system and bonuses.

After failing to reach a deal on wage hikes, the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU), the biggest labor union with 28,000 members, secured the legal authority to proceed with a strike following a mediation process by the National Labor Relations Commission and a subsequent vote among its members.

Late last month, the NSEU announced a collective action in protest against stalled wage negotiations with the management, threatening a full-fledged strike.

According to union members, they took the day off last Friday as a preliminary step toward a potential general strike.

Samsung Electronics has not experienced a strike since its founding in 1969. (Yonhap)
The U.N. Security Council on Monday overwhelmingly approved its first resolution endorsing a ceasefire plan aimed at ending the eight-month war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

The U.S.-sponsored resolution welcomes a ceasefire proposal announced by President Joe Biden that the United States says Israel has accepted. It calls on the militant Palestinian group Hamas to accept the three-phase plan.

The resolution  which was approved with 14 of the 15 Security Council members voting in favor and Russia abstaining  calls on Israel and Hamas to fully implement its terms without delay and without condition.

Whether Israel and Hamas agree to go forward with the plan remains in question, but the resolutions strong support in the U.N.s most powerful body puts added pressure on both parties to approve the proposal.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken was in Israel on Monday, where he urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to accept the plan for postwar Gaza as he pushed for more international pressure on Hamas to agree to the ceasefire proposal. Netanyahu has been skeptical of the deal, saying that Israel is still committed to destroying Hamas.

Hamas said it welcomed the adoption of the resolution and was ready to work with mediators in indirect negotiations with Israel to implement it. The statement was among the strongest from Hamas to date, but it stressed the group would continue its struggle against Israeli occupation and work on setting up a fully sovereign Palestinian state.

A senior Israeli diplomat did not directly mention the resolution, telling the council Israels position is unwavering: We will continue until all of the hostages are returned and until Hamas military and governing capabilities are dismantled.

This also means that Israel will not engage in meaningless and endless negotiations, which can be exploited by Hamas as a means to stall for time, Minister Counsellor Reut Shapir Ben Naftaly said.

U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield reiterated, however, that Israel has accepted the ceasefire deal, which is supported by countries around the world.

The resolutions adoption, she said, sent a clear message to Hamas to accept the ceasefire deal on the table.

The fighting could stop today, if Hamas would do the same, Thomas-Greenfield told the council. I repeat, this fighting could stop today.

U.S. deputy ambassador Robert Wood told reporters earlier on Monday that the United States sees the deal as the best, most realistic opportunity to bring at least a temporary halt to this war.

Earlier Monday, Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad leaders met in Qatar to discuss the proposed ceasefire deal and said later that any deal must lead to a permanent ceasefire, a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, reconstruction and a serious exchange deal between hostages in Gaza and Palestinians held in Israeli jails.

Russias U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said Moscow abstained because details of the three-phase plan havent been disclosed and we have a whole host of questions.

Hamas is called upon to accept this so-called deal, but still there is no clear clarity regarding official agreement from Israel," Nebenzia said. Given the many statements from Israel on the extension of the war until Hamas is completely defeated ... what specifically has Israel agreed to?"

Algeria's U.N. Ambassador Amar Bendjama, the Arab representative on the council, said that while the text isn't perfect, it offers a glimmer of hope to the Palestinians, as the alternative is (the) continuing killing and suffering of the Palestinian people.

We voted for this text to give diplomacy a chance to reach an agreement that will end the aggression against the Palestinian people that has lasted far too long, Bendjama said.

The war was sparked by Hamas surprise Oct. 7 attack in southern Israel in which militants killed about 1,200 people, mainly Israeli civilians, and took about 250 others hostage. About 120 hostages remain, with 43 pronounced dead.

Israels military offensive has killed more than 36,700 Palestinians and wounded more than 83,000 others, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. It has also destroyed about 80 percent of Gazas buildings, according to the U.N.

The Security Council adopted a resolution on March 25 demanding a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, with the U.S. abstaining, but there was no halt to the war.

Monday's resolution underscores the importance of the ongoing diplomatic efforts by Egypt, Qatar and the United States aimed at reaching a comprehensive ceasefire deal , consisting of three phases and says the three countries are ready to work to ensure negotiations keep going until all the agreements are reached.

Bidens May 31 announcement of the new proposal said it would begin with an initial six-month ceasefire and the release of hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from populated areas in Gaza and the return of Palestinian civilians to all areas in the territory.

Phase one also requires the safe distribution of humanitarian assistance at scale throughout the Gaza Strip, which Biden said would lead to 600 trucks with aid entering Gaza every day.

In phase two, the resolution says that with the agreement of Israel and Hamas, a permanent end to hostilities, in exchange for the release of all other hostages still in Gaza, and a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza will take place.

Phase three would launch a major multi-year reconstruction plan for Gaza and the return of the remains of any deceased hostages still in Gaza to their families.

The resolution reiterates the Security Councils unwavering commitment to achieving the vision of a negotiated two-state solution where two democratic states, Israel and Palestine, live side by side in peace within secure and recognized borders.

It also stresses the importance of unifying the Gaza Strip with the West Bank under the Palestinian Authority, something Netanyahus right-wing government has not agreed to. (AP)
Soldiers are searching mountainous forests near a city in northern Malawi after a military plane carrying the country's vice president and a former first lady went missing in the area Monday, President Lazarus Chakwera said.

The plane carrying 51-year-old Vice President Saulos Chilima, former first lady Shanil Dzimbiri and eight others left the southern African nations capital, Lilongwe, at 9:17 a.m. and had been expected to land 45 minutes later at Mzuzu International Airport, about 370 kilometers (230 miles) to the north.

But air traffic control told it to not attempt a landing and to turn around because of bad weather and poor visibility, Chakwera said in an address broadcast live on state TV channel MBC.

Air traffic control lost contact with the aircraft and it disappeared from radar a short time later, he said.

I know this is a heartbreaking situation. I know we are all frightened and concerned. I too am concerned, Chakwera said. But I want to assure you that I am sparing no available resource to find that plane. And I am holding onto every fiber of hope that we will find survivors.

Mzuzu is Malawis third biggest city and the capital of the northern region. It lies in a hilly, forested area dominated by the Viphya mountain range, which has vast plantations of pine trees.

The president vowed that search operations would continue through the night and said authorities using telecommunications towers tracked the last known position of the plane to a 10-kilometer (6-mile) radius in one of the plantations. That area was the focus of the Malawi Defense Force search and rescue operation, he said.

I have given strict orders that the operation should continue until the plane is found, Chakwera said.

Chakwera said the U.S., the U.K., Norway and Israel offered assistance in the search operation and had provided specialized technologies that the president hoped would help find the plane sooner.

Chakwera said Dzimbiri, the ex-wife of former President Bakili Muluzi, was also one of the passengers. The group was traveling to attend the funeral of a former government minister. Three of those onboard were the military crew flying the plane, the president said.

Chakwera asked Malawians to pray for all those onboard and their families.

Chilima has been vice president since 2020.

He was a candidate in the 2019 Malawian presidential election and finished third. That vote was won by incumbent Peter Mutharika but was annulled by Malawis Constitutional Court because of irregularities. Chakwera finished second in that election.

Chilima then joined Chakweras campaign as his running mate in an historic election rerun in 2020, when Chakwera was elected president. It was the first time in Africa that an election result that was overturned by a court resulted in a defeat for the sitting president.

The vice president had been facing corruption charges over allegations that he received money in return for influencing the awarding of government contracts, but prosecutors dropped the charges last month. That led to criticism that Chakwera's administration was not taking a hard enough stance against graft.

Chilima was arrested in late 2022 and made several court appearances, but the trial has yet to start. He has denied the allegations. (AP)
A State Department official called on "all" countries Monday to honor U.N. Security Council (UNSC) resolutions against North Korea's weapons of mass destruction (WMD) programs amid a report that Russian President Vladimir Putin could visit Pyongyang in the coming weeks.

The Russian daily Vedomosti has reported that Putin is expected to make a trip to the North as early as this month before paying a visit to Hanoi, as Seoul, Washington and other countries are closely watching deepening military ties between Pyongyang and Moscow for their security implications.

"I think the one thing that is very clear is that the UNSC resolutions related to the DPRK are still in effect, and that everyone has an obligation to honor those UNSC resolutions, including Russia, who voted for the Security Council resolutions," the official said in a meeting with reporters. DPRK stands for the North's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

"We, of course, will continue to call upon all countries, including Russia, to honor its international obligations and commitments with respect to the DPRK's illegal WMD and ballistic missile programs," he added.

The official noted that he has been following up on media reports regarding Putin's potential trip to the North.

"We will have to watch and see what happens if he does go and what comes out of it," he said.

Putin's visit to the North, if realized, would mark his first trip to the North in 24 years. He last visited the reclusive country in July 2000, when Kim Jong-un's late father, Kim Jong-il, was in power.

Washington has revealed that Pyongyang has shipped over 10,000 containers of munitions or munition-related materials to Russia since September, in addition to its missile shipments.

In return, the North has been seeking assistance from Moscow, including fighter aircraft, surface-to-air missiles, armored vehicles and ballistic missile production equipment, according to U.S. officials.

Commenting on growing cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow, Richard Johnson, deputy assistant secretary of defense for nuclear and countering weapons of mass destruction policy, voiced concerns over it.

"We are extremely concerned with this collaboration and cooperation that we see with Russia and the DPRK," he said during a forum hosted by the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies.

He reiterated that the North's provision of weapons to Russia is a violation of UNSC resolutions.

"We are also concerned that Russia may be helping the DPRK in a range of areas, including surface-to-air missiles, production equipment for ballistic missiles or material, or other advanced technologies," he said. "So we have to keep a very close eye on this."

Johnson restated that the U.S. goal remains the "complete," and "verifiable" denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

"We continue to say that we are prepared to meet with the DPRK without preconditions. We obviously will do so with close consultation with our allies, ROK, Japan and others," he said, referring to South Korea by its official name, the Republic of Korea.

He also touched on the results of the third gathering of the Nuclear Consultative Group, a bilateral nuclear deterrence dialogue, in Seoul this week. He said that the allies will have at least three table top exercises on nuclear deterrence, including a military-to-military exercise, over the course of next year. (Yonhap)
Billionaire Elon Musk said on Monday he would ban Apple devices at his companies if the iPhone maker integrates OpenAI at the operating system level.

"That is an unacceptable security violation," Musk, who is the CEO of electric-vehicle maker Tesla and rocket maker SpaceX and owner of social media company X, said in a post on X.

"And visitors will have to check their Apple devices at the door, where they will be stored in a Faraday cage," he said.

Apple and OpenAI did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment.

Earlier in the day, Apple announced a slew of AI features across its apps and operating platforms and a partnership with OpenAI to bring the ChatGPT technology to its devices.

Apple said it had built AI with privacy "at the core" and it would use a combination of on-device processing and cloud computing to power those features.

"It's patently absurd that Apple isn't smart enough to make their own AI, yet is somehow capable of ensuring that OpenAI will protect your security & privacy!" Musk said on X.

It was unlikely that anyone would follow Musk's lead, Ben Bajarin, CEO of consulting firm Creative Strategies, said, adding that Apple was trying to educate people that private cloud was as secure as keeping data on a device.

"What (Apple) is trying to now add to the narrative is when (data) leaves and goes to the secure private cloud, it's similarly taking that same user data anonymization and firewalling of that information to you. Apple really never sees that," he said.

Musk had sued OpenAI, which he co-founded in 2015, and its CEO Sam Altman at the beginning of March, saying they abandoned the startup's original mission to develop AI for the benefit of humanity and not for profit.

He has also founded his own startup, xAI, in a bid to challenge OpenAI and build an alternative to the viral chatbot ChatGPT.

xAI was valued at $24 billion in its last funding round, where it raised $6 billion in series B funding. (Reuters)
Malawian Vice President Saulos Chilima and nine other people died when the small military plane they were traveling in crashed in bad weather in a mountainous region in the north of the country, the president said Tuesday. Chilima was 51.

President Lazarus Chakwera announced in a live address on state television that the wreckage of the plane had been located after a search of more than a day in thick forests and hilly terrain near the northern city of Mzuzu. He said the wreckage was found near a hill and the plane had been completely destroyed" and everyone onboard was killed on impact.

Chakwera said he had been informed by the head of Malawi's armed forces that the plane had been found and I am deeply saddened and sorry to inform you all that it has turned out to be a terrible tragedy.

"Words cannot describe how heartbreaking this is and I can only imagine how much pain and anguish you all must be feeling at this time, as well as how much pain and anguish you all will be feeling in the coming days and weeks as we mourn this terrible loss," Chakwera said.

He said Chilima was a good man, a devoted father and husband, a patriotic citizen who served his country with distinction, and a formidable vice president.

Chakwera asked everyone to observe a moment's silence and stood with his head bowed at the podium where he was making his address.

Former first lady Shanil Dzimbiri, the ex-wife of former President Bakili Muluzi, was also on the plane, the president had said. There were seven passengers and three military crew members onboard.

The group was traveling to Mzuzu to attend the funeral of a former government minister. Chilima had just returned from an official visit to South Korea on Sunday.

Hundreds of soldiers, police officers and forest rangers had been searching for the plane since it went missing Monday morning while making the 45-minute flight from the southern African nation's capital, Lilongwe, to Mzuzu, around 370 kilometers (230 miles) to the north.

Air traffic controllers told the plane not to attempt a landing at Mzuzu's airport because of bad weather and poor visibility and asked it to turn back to Lilongwe, Chakwera said in an address late Monday night. Air traffic control then lost contact with the aircraft and it disappeared from radar, he said.

The president described the aircraft as a small, propeller driven plane operated by the Malawian armed forces. The tail number he provided showed it to be a Dornier 228-type twin propeller plane that was delivered to the Malawian army in 1988, according to the ch-aviation website that tracks aircraft information.

Around 600 personnel were involved in the search in a vast forest plantation in the Viphya Mountains near Mzuzu, authorities said, including around 300 police officers, 200 soldiers and local forest rangers.

Chilima was serving his second term as vice president. He was also in the role from 2014-2019 under former President Peter Mutharika. He was a candidate in the 2019 Malawian presidential election and finished third, behind the incumbent, Mutharika, and Chakwera. The vote was later annulled by Malawis Constitutional Court because of irregularities.

Chilima then joined Chakweras campaign as his running mate in an historic election rerun in 2020, when Chakwera was elected president. It was the first time in Africa that an election result that was overturned by a court resulted in a defeat for the sitting president.

Chilima had recently faced corruption charges over allegations that he received money in return for influencing the awarding of government procurement contracts for the Malawi armed forces and the police, but prosecutors dropped the charges last month. He had denied the allegations, but the case led to criticism that Chakweras administration was not taking a hard enough stance against graft.

The search for the plane lasted more than 24 hours and provoked an international response. Chakwera had said the U.S., the U.K., Norway and Israel had offered assistance in the search operation and had provided specialized technologies.

The U.S. Embassy in Malawi said it also had assisted and had offered the use of a Department of Defense small C-12 plane.

However, officials with Chilimas United Transformation Movement political party  a different party to the president  criticized the government response as slow and said there was no transponder on the plane, and that was concerning for an aircraft carrying a high-level delegation.

Malawi is a country of around 21 million people and was ranked as the fourth poorest nation in the world by the World Bank in 2019. (AP)
On June 11, it was reported that prosecutors have asked a judge to impose a 15-year prison sentence on former idol and current DJ Yesong.

The ex-idol, who debuted with the K-Pop group Instar in 2019, is currently on trial for causing a fatal accident while driving under the influence.

The tragic incident occurred when DJ Yesong, driving under the influence, caused two accidents, one of which resulted in the death of a delivery driver. Prosecutors emphasized the gravity of her actions and her lack of remorse.

"Her crimes are heavy, considering how she is still blaming the victim even though the accident resulted in his death. I ask that you sentence the defendant to 15 years in prison and confiscate the keys to her Benz," stated the prosecutors.

During the trial, DJ Yesong attempted to explain her actions by citing financial pressures and the necessity of attending a crucial gathering.

"At the time, I was experiencing financial hardship due to the lack of bookings. I was at an important gathering that had my livelihood at stake, and I couldn't refuse to drink. This led me to make an unexcusable mistake that caused unerasable pain to the victim. I am reflecting deeply," Yesong testified.

READ ALSO: THIS Former Idol's Tragic Drunk Driving Incident Leaves Innocent Man Dead

The sentencing for DJ Yesong is scheduled for July 7. The case has drawn significant attention due to her former status as a K-Pop idol and the serious nature of the charges against her. Meanwhile, Former idol-turned-DJ Yeseong is embroiled in controversy following a fatal DUI accident that killed a single father. Public outrage has intensified as new information calls into question the authenticity of her apology statement.

Ex idol causa acidente fatal apos dirigir embriagada



A famosa DJ Yesong, que ja foi idol no grupo do kpop INSTAR em 2019, se envolveu em uma serie de eventos tragicos que resultaram na morte de um entregador em Seul, na Coreia do Sul. A situacao causou desaprovacao online, pic.twitter.com/zPAfD1mmh4  Nunca Pause o MV (@npomvtt) February 29, 2024

Yeseong's apology, conveyed by her mother, falsely claimed she lost her father at a young age, a claim debunked by investigations revealing her father is alive. Her mother attributed this to a "miscommunication," explaining she raised Yeseong alone from age three but did not imply her husband's death.

Additionally, Yeseong remains in police custody due to her elevated blood alcohol level and alleged uncooperative behavior at the scene. Authorities are intensifying their scrutiny, including conducting a detailed drug examination after initial tests returned negative.

YOU MIGHT BE ALSO INTERESTED IN: Former Idol Caught in Web of Lies After Fatal DUI Accident - Details Inside

For more K-Pop news and updates, keep your tabs open here at KpopStarz.

KpopStarz owns this article.

Written by Cassidy Jones.
On 10 June Argentinas Presidentmarked the completion of his first six months in power by urging congress to approve his wide-ranging collection of reforms, known as the Ley de Bases, or omnibus bill.

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On 10 June Mexicos President-electmet with Presidentto discuss the transition of power and plans for constitutional reform ahead of her taking office on 1 October.

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The violence-addled southern Mexican state of Chiapas has been hit with its largest mass displacement since 1997 as violent gangs attacked the town and burned down houses. Approximately 4,200 were forced to flee their homes because of the attack.

Mexico President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador announced that the government has already set up camps for the people displaced by the gang violence, which also forced many other residents to be trapped in their homes before army troops and state police showed up.

Photos from the attack that were released by police show people fleeing with just purses on their shoulders or just small backpacks or shoulder bags. President AMLO stated that the attack was "a conflict between the very same people" of the town of Tila, which is where a longstanding land dispute between farmers is currently happening.

Tila resident Victor Gomez told the Associated Press that he and many others spent three days in their homes and were too afraid to go outside, adding "A lot of people left with what they had on their backs, without money, without clothing, they left behind all their possessions, a lot of their pets remained in Tila because they could not be evacuated."

Observers have stated that criminal gangs and political interests were behind the attack, with a group known as the "Autonomos," or Autonomous Ones, being responsible for it all, according to the Digna Ochoa Human Rights Center. The group is linked to drug trafficking, setting up roadblocks, and extorting residents.

AMLO noted that "things have calmed down," and that they are already supplying the displaced residents with food. The president also noted that they want to negotiate with these armed groups "to reach an agreement so that people can return to their communities."

READ MORE: Mexico: Peso Takes a Dive After President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador Doubles Down on Constitutional Reforms

Mexico Mass Shooting Led to Deaths of 11 People in Chiapas Last Month

Chiapas has been plagued by violence in recent times, as the state sits right on the Mexico-Guatemala border and is an ideal drug trafficking route, with both the Jalisco New Generation Cartel and the Sinaloa Cartel vying for supremacy there. Just last month, a horrific mass shooting rocked the state, killing 11 people.

This happened in the township of Chicomuselo, an area known as a trafficking route for migrant and drug smuggling. It is also a known area for cartel turf battles. The victims were not cartel members but residents of the town, according to CBS News.

Election Violence Also Plagued Southern Mexico State of Chiapas

Chiapas has also been the site of election violence before the recently-concluded Mexico elections. One of the latest attacks also happened last month as a mayoral candidate was killed with six others, including a young girl.

"A confrontation broke out between armed civilians during a political campaign event," Chiapas state prosecutors said. This resulted in the deaths of six people, including candidate Lucero Lopez Maza, who was running for mayor in the rural town of La Concordia, Chiapas.

The town is near the border with Guatemala and also near a major smuggling route for drugs and migrants.

READ MORE: Mexico City Covered in Ice Amid Massive Heatwave as Weird Weather Continues

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Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH:Cartel turf war rages in Mexico's Chiapas as groups fight over territory | FOCUS  FRANCE 24
Former President Donald Trump completed his presentencing interview in under 30 minutes on Monday.

Conducted via video conferencing by a New York City probation officer, the Trump mandatory presentencing interview is part of preparations for his July 11 sentencing in a hush-money case.

Trump participated from Mar-a-Lago, with his lawyer Todd Blanche present, AP News reports.

The confidential report may include details on Trump's conviction, social and family history, employment, education, and economic status unless the judge decides otherwise.

READ NEXT: Georgia Court Puts Trump's Election Case on Hold Indefinitely

Judicial Discretion and Sentencing Options

Judge Juan M. Merchan has several options for sentencing former President Donald Trump, ranging from probation and fines to up to four years in prison.

Despite not testifying at his trial, Trump was legally required to participate in a presentencing interview.

The video interview and presence of Trump's lawyer, Todd Blanche, sparked criticism of special treatment, according to ABC News.

Typically, New York convicts meet probation officials face-to-face for interviews without their lawyers, but Judge Merchan allowed Blanche's presence due to concerns about Trump being questioned alone.

Public defenders, including the Legal Aid Society and Bronx Defenders, called for equal treatment for all defendants, emphasizing that everyone should have the right to legal counsel during probation interviews.

The probation department defended the arrangement, stating video interviews have been an option since before the COVID-19 pandemic, and all defendants can request their lawyers' presence if a judge approves.

Presentence reports, prepared by probation officers, social workers, or psychologists, help judges determine appropriate sentences by providing a comprehensive overview of the defendant's history, criminal record, and circumstances.

Donald Trump was convicted of 34 counts of falsifying business records related to a hush money payment to Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election.

He denies Daniels' claims and plans to appeal, alleging political motivation.

Role of Presentencing Interviews

During presentencing interviews, defendants can present information to argue for a lighter sentence, explaining their circumstances and providing supporting documentation.

In Trump's case, the presentencing report may not significantly influence Judge Merchan, who is already familiar with Trump's conduct due to the case's high profile.

However, legal experts believe the Trump mandatory presentencing interview and report could still impact his sentencing.

Disrespect during the interview could negatively affect his case, while remorse or an apology could lead to a more favorable outcome, CNN noted.

Judge Merchan will consider the presentence report along with submissions from Trump's legal team and the Manhattan District Attorney's Office when deciding the sentence on July 11.

Trump's conviction for 34 class-E felonies, the lowest level in New York, carries a maximum sentence of four years in prison per count.

The judge has the discretion to impose various sentences, including prison time, probation, or conditional discharge with community service or fines.

Public reaction to Trump's sentencing will likely be intense due to his high-profile status and the politically charged nature of the case.

Legal experts will closely scrutinize the proceedings and the sentence, which could impact Trump's political future and the broader legal landscape.

Both Trump's legal team and the Manhattan District Attorney's Office will submit their recommendations to Judge Merchan.

READ MORE: Trump Draws Thousands in Nevada Rally Post-New York Convention

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Written by: Ross Key

WATCH: Trump probation interview set for Monday after hush money conviction - From MSNBC
Puerto Rico has had a massive electricity problem for years and it reared its ugly head again as a massive and prolonged blackout ravaged the US territory's central and southern portions, causing a variety of problems for the island's residents.

According to the Associated Press, the power outage began over a week ago, and it happened after a transformer that twice exceeded its useful life collapsed. This has left tens of thousands of residents without any electricity for days.

Luma Energy, the US territory's embattled electricity utility company, admitted that repairs could take over a month. As expected, this has caused widespread anger, especially as Puerto Rico is under daily excessive heat warnings.

The Puerto Rico blackouts are also affecting the US territory's water supply, as the water service on the island heavily relies on electrical power. Because of the lack of water and electricity, Governor Pedro Pierluisi is now under pressure to declare a state of emergency.

"The people of Santa Isabel, Coamo, and Aibonito cannot endure another day without electricity," said Puerto Rico Sen. Hector Santiago Torres in a statement regarding the most affected towns by the blackout. "This situation is unsustainable."

When Hurricane Maria hit the island back in 2017, it badly damaged the US territory's power grid. To this day, Puerto Rico has suffered blackouts that have been caused by various reasons, from other hurricanes to generators just simply giving out. The situation is made more complicated thanks to its energy provider being caught in various scandals.

Puerto Rico Residents Forced To Throw Away Rotting Food Because of the Blackout

On the ground level, people are suffering thanks to the massive blackout, especially as over 40% of Puerto Rico's 3.2 million people live below the poverty level and cannot afford generators or replace costly electric appliances that have been damaged by the constant power outages.

READ MORE: Puerto Rico Still Needs 'A Lot of Work' Over Its Hurricane and Earthquake Recovery, Says Federal Audit

"My fridge broke because of the voltage issues, so I had to throw away all the spoiled food," Carmen Franco, 68, stated The blackouts have left residents without food in their fridge as many have been forced to throw them away due to rot.

However, ABC News noted that the government is distributing food to those affected, with a music school being transformed into a kitchen to give out food. They even deliver hundreds of lunches to hard-to-reach areas in the town.

Puerto Rico Residents Pushing for Solar Energy

With its myriad of electricity problems, Puerto Rico residents are now turning to much greener sources of energy, such as solar.

This can be seen in the coastal communities of Guayama and Salinas where a 52-year-old oil-fired power plant and a 22-year-old coal-fired power plant are both located. However, these plants are not very popular as residents claim they "contaminate their drinking water and air, and harm people's health."

The towns have received a portion of the $440 million in funding for rooftop solar energy in Puerto Rico given by the US federal government in November of last year, with the government acknowledging the environmental impacts made by the plants. The towns are also slowly replacing their aging coal plants with brand-new solar ones.

READ NEXT: Puerto Rico: Top 5 Resorts To Visit While in This US Territory

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Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Why does Puerto Rico's energy grid keep failing? - CBS News
The Transitional Presidential Council strongly condemned the deadly assault on Haiti National Police officers by gang leader Jimmy "Barbecue" Cherizier.

In Sans-Fil, near Delmas 18, a clash between PNH's Anti-Gang Tactical Unit and Cherizier's Viv Ansanm coalition left three officers dead, Emelin Fermetus, Clovis Peterson, and Piton Wilkens Jean Junior, with another critically injured.

The ambush highlighted Haiti's ongoing struggle with rampant Haiti gang violence in Port-au-Prince, The Haitian Times reports.

The CPT expressed deep condolences to the officers' families, pledged solidarity with Haiti National Police, and affirmed its commitment to enhancing law enforcement capabilities to combat armed gangs and restore peace.

Haiti Prime Minister Garry Conille pledged government assistance to families of victims after a recent attack.

Conille, newly sworn in, emphasized the attack's threat to national security and stability, offering condolences to the officers' families and colleagues.

READ NEXT: Haiti Appoints Garry Conille as its New Prime Minister

Escalating Violence and Tragic Losses

Since February 29, Haiti has faced escalating gang violence, resulting in 21 police officers killed in the first quarter of 2024, according to the National Human Rights Defense Network.

The recent spike in Haiti police officers' casualties underscores severe security challenges, heightening concerns for public safety and prompting urgent calls for enhanced security measures.

Following the attacks, graphic images circulated on social media, depicting the charred bodies of slain officers and highlighting the brutality of the assaults.

Videos and statements from gang leaders, including Barbecue, who claimed responsibility in a widely circulated video, underscored the boldness of the attacks and the growing audacity of criminal networks.

In response to public outcry, Haiti police spokesperson Garry Desrosier announced a comprehensive investigation into the officers' deaths.

This investigative effort aims to identify the perpetrators and uncover the events leading to the tragic loss of lives, Kenyan.co noted.

Amid calls for accountability, Haitian stakeholders are grappling with the implications of ongoing violence on societal stability and governance.

International Support and Deployment Delays

Haiti is awaiting the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS) to strengthen local law enforcement. Still, delays in international deployment have left security vulnerabilities.

Kenyan President William Ruto's commitment to send Kenyan police officers to lead the MSS offers hope amid logistical and administrative obstacles, according to Reuters.

Originally sought in 2022, the MSS aims to enhance Haiti's ability to combat organized crime and rebuild trust in law enforcement.

Recent reports indicate gangs are shifting tactics, moving from urban centers like Port-au-Prince to provincial towns to evade police scrutiny.

This relocation showcases the adaptability of criminal networks, complicating efforts to maintain territorial control and public safety.

Despite challenges, recent successes in capturing escaped prisoners connected to gangs illustrate ongoing police efforts to dismantle criminal operations nationwide.

Haiti faces profound challenges in law enforcement and governance following the devastating gang attack.

Efforts are underway to bolster security measures and restore public confidence, supported by international assistance and calls for institutional reform and accountability.

This pivotal moment underscores Haiti's quest for peace, stability, and justice amidst complex security dynamics.

The recent attack on Haiti police officers underscores its broad impact on national security, emphasizing the need for coordinated responses to address underlying issues and secure a brighter future for Haiti.

As Haiti navigates these challenges, international support and local initiatives converge to shape its path forward.

READ MORE: Haiti's PM Garry Conille Released After Respiratory Emergency

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Written by: Ross Key

WATCH: Exclusive report from Haiti: Inside the brutal war between gangs and police in Port-au-Prince - From FRANCE 24 English
Former New York City mayor and former Donald Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani has finally been processed in Phoenix over his involvement in the Arizona fake electors case. He posted a bond worth $10,000, and his mugshot was taken. The mugshot has now been released.

Of the 11 defendants in the case, which include the Arizona fake electors and several of Donald Trump's lawyers, only the former New York City mayor had been ordered to post bond. He previously pleaded not guilty to nine felony charges, including conspiracy, forgery, and fraud.

In that hearing on May 21, where the former Republican mayor and presidential candidate appeared remotely, Giuliani was ordered to post a secured appearance bond of $10,000. He was also given a month to physically appear in Arizona for booking procedures, which he now did.

Arizona prosecutors had a hard time finding Giuliani prior to his court appearance in Phoenix, with the former mayor not being in his New York home when prosecutors were looking for him. He was finally found during his birthday party in Florida, where he was handed his court summons after taunting Arizona prosecutors in a livestream.

"Mayor Rudy Giuliani - the most effective federal prosecutor in US history - will be fully vindicated," Giuliani spokesperson Ted Goodman told AZ Family in a statement. "This is yet another example of partisan actors weaponizing the criminal justice system to interfere with the 2024 presidential election through outlandish charges against President Trump and anyone willing to take on the permanent Washington political class."

The former mayor and other Trump officials are accused of hatching a plot to overturn the results of the 2020 elections, in which Biden won the state. Giuliani was part of the Trump campaign's spearheading into the state, a key swing state in 2020, to help change the election results.

What Was the Donald Trump Fake Electors Scheme in Arizona About?

Giuliani's legal processing came after former Trump presidential chief of staff Mark Meadows and Trump 2020 Election Day operations director Michael Roman appeared in a Phoenix court on Friday over the Arizona fake electors scheme. They both pleaded not guilty.

READ MORE: Rudy Giuliani Radio Show Canceled, Selling New York City Home Soon After

Rudy Giuliani and Mark Meadows, as well as the other co-defendants, conspired to submit names of fake electors from Arizona and other states to Congress. This would have overturned the election results but it ultimately failed thanks to then-Vice President Mike Pence choosing to go with the Constitution rather than go with his running mate's fraudulent scheme.

Rudy Giuliani Speaks Out After Arizona Court Appearance

Soon after he was released after posting bail and having his mugshot taken, Rud Giuliani spoke with local Phoenix NBC affiliate, 12news. There, he told the outlet that he did not regret what he did in Arizona.

"Oh my goodness. No," he said when asked about whether he regrets being part of the plot to steal the election in Arizona. "I'm very, very proud of it."

He then doubled down on his debunked election claims, saying, "because there was a substantial amount of vote fraud that went on here. That was covered up. Probably one of the biggest conspiracies in American history. And I think that's coming out over and over again. They just discovered 275,000 missing ballots in Georgia. I think you're gonna find that just like Russian collusion was a hoax, this election was a hoax."

Various court cases and recounts have already proven his statements false, with Giuliani failing to give substantial evidence of voter fraud in several of these cases.

READ MORE: Arizona Fake Electors Case: Donald Trump Lawyers John Eastman, Jenna Ellis, Others Officially Named and Indicted

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Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Rudy Giuliani booked on felony charges in Arizona - 12 News
A three-alarm fire erupted on Monday at the Florida Apartment, Temple Court in Miami, coinciding with a shooting incident that left one man critically injured.

The complex, located at 431 NW 3rd Street, became a scene of chaos as firefighters battled the blaze and rescued over 40 residents, many of whom were elderly, CBS News reports.

Miami Mayor Francis Suarez reported receiving multiple calls about the fire around 8:15 AM.

Emergency responders found a Florida man on the third floor suffering from gunshot wounds, who was immediately transported to Jackson Memorial Hospital in critical condition.

READ MORE: Florida Shooting: 5 Dead, Including Catholic Priest and Gunman; 2 Police Injured

Shooting and Blaze Engulf Florida Apartment Complex

The Temple Court Apartments in downtown Miami faced a dual crisis Monday morning when a man was shot, and a fire broke out, prompting a massive rescue operation.

Firefighters arrived to find heavy smoke and flames emanating from a third-floor window of the four-story building.

According to Miami Fire Rescue Captain Ignatius Carroll, the fire rapidly spread through the complex, necessitating a defensive approach to contain it.

The situation escalated to a three-alarm fire, requiring extensive resources to manage.

Rescue efforts were intensive, involving over 126 firefighters working eight hours to extinguish the flames.

The building's common attic facilitated the fire's rapid spread, complicating containment efforts, The New York Times noted.

Residents, including elderly individuals and those with limited mobility, were evacuated amidst the chaos.

Miami Fire Rescue confirmed that three firefighters were hospitalized for smoke inhalation but were discharged in stable condition.

Additional medical attention was provided to a resident for smoke inhalation and to others for injuries sustained during the evacuation.

Suspect in Custody, Investigation Ongoing

By Monday afternoon, authorities had apprehended a suspect connected to the shooting and fire.

The identity of the suspect and details linking the incidents remain under investigation, according to the Miami Herald.

Mayor Suarez emphasized that ensuring the safety and well-being of residents displaced by the Florida fire is a top priority.

Atlantic Housing Management, overseeing Florida Apartment, Temple Court, expressed sorrow over the incidents and pledged support to the affected residents.

Efforts are underway to provide temporary shelter, meals, and necessary supplies for those displaced by the blaze.

Residents and officials expressed shock and concern over the magnitude of the fire, which Mayor Suarez described as the first three-alarm blaze in Miami in 25 years.

The Red Cross set up a shelter at Jose Marti Park to assist displaced residents, offering essentials and support services.

The Temple Court Apartments, built in 1920, are home to a diverse community of tenants, many of whom rely on the building's affordable housing options.

The incident has raised questions about building safety and emergency preparedness in older structures.

As investigations into the cause of the Florida fire and shooting continue, Miami remains focused on supporting the Temple Court community in its recovery.

Mayor Suarez commended the swift response of emergency services. He emphasized the city's commitment to assisting affected residents during this challenging time.

READ MORE: Smiley Martin, Suspect in 2022 California Mass Shooting, Found Deceased in Jail

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Written by: Ross Key

WATCH: Massive fire at Miami apartment, person found shot on third floor | Special Report - From CBS Miami
Pedro Castillo, the former president of Peru who was ousted from office in 2022, has had his pretrial detention extended by the country's Justice Department for over a year. The new extension will see him jailed for another 14 months before he could even stand trial. This came a few days after he slammed his successor and former running mate, President Dina Boluarte.

Peru has had a revolving door of leaders who do not last very long, with Castillo being the latest one ousted. Boluarte herself is in danger of that too, as she faces a massive corruption scandal over her owning several luxury goods that public officials cannot seem to afford just with their salaries.

As Reuters noted, Castillo was ousted from office and replaced by his then-Vice President Dinal Boluarte after he tried to dissolve Congress in late 2022 to stop them from once again trying to impeach him. After several days of hiding, he was finally arrested and charged with rebellion, abuse of authority, and disrupting the peace.

However, Castillo was very popular among Peru's indigenous communities, particularly those living in the Andean regions. His arrest sparked massive protests, which were violently put down by government forces soon after. Several protesters have been killed by police and tensions in the country are still very high.

Pedro Castillo Slams Peru President Dina Boluarte, Claims Her Nose Is Fake

Before the Peruvian Justice Department extended his pretrial detention, former President Pedro Castillo appeared in a video hearing from prison where the government asked to extend his "preventive detention." During the hearing, he slammed his successor.

READ MORE: Peru Lawmakers Try To Oust President Dina Boluarte Again as Rolex Scandal Continues

During the hearing, Castillo told the court that the accusations against him were more fake than Boluarte's eyelashes and nose. He referred to the current president as "Pinocha," a reference to Pinocchio as he has repeatedly claimed her nose is fake.

This is in reference to rumors that Boluarte underwent cosmetic surgery to help her become more popular as she had had dismal ratings after taking office. She went missing from the public eye for 12 days in 2023, with rumors circulating that she underwent various cosmetic surgeries, including rhinoplasty, according to infobae.

"I have been detained for 18 months," lamented Castillo, claiming that he was not given the right to defend himself and noted that his only family, his wife and children, are considered flight risks.

Protests Regarding Pedro Castillo's Arrest Still Happening and Another Protester Has Died

The response to Castillo's arrest has been protests, with several pro-Castillo protesters marching in Lima and it often ended with them clashing with police. One clash resulted in the death of yet another protester as the political crisis in Peru continued.

The protester who died was identified as Victor Santisteban Yacsavilca, 55. This brings the death toll of protesters who died since the impeachment and arrest of President Pedro Castillo to 58.

READ MORE: Peru President Dina Boluarte Requested To Be Removed from Office by Lawmakers Over Rolex Scandal

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Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Peru is in Huge Trouble... - Into the Shadows
Conservative pro-Donald Trump propaganda movie, "2000 Mules," may have been dropped by its distributor after a recent lawsuit, but its debunked message is still being spread by some of its creators.

That message is the "Big Lie," which claims that Donald Trump won the 2020 presidential elections, which has repeatedly been proven false through various recounts sponsored by Trump himself, various court cases that Trump lost, and fact checks by various media organizations.

"2000 Mules," which is based on a book by Dinesh D'Souza, claimed that there was widespread voter fraud and permeated across right-wing echo chambers, being a source often used by Trump supporters to prove that their dear leader won the election. It claimed that Joe Biden used hundreds of so-called mules to illegally vote. As mentioned earlier, this has been debunked, even in court.

D'Souza, along with True the Vote and the film's distributor, Salem Media, were sued by Mark Andrews, the man featured in the film, who was alleged to have helped Joe Biden cheat as he was dropping off a ballot. The film gives no actual evidence that he was cheating and it turns out that Andrews was only dropping off his family members' ballots legally.

According to the Tucson Sentinel, Andrews sued the defendants when the movie's claims were already debunked. However, this lawsuit has led to Salem Media dropping the film and retracting its previous comments. The company also issued an apology to Andrews but only after the lawsuit.

"2000 Mules" has been routinely fact-checked, with its creators refusing to provide evidence on their claims and instead just challenging journalists to debates. This did not matter to Trump supporters though, as conservative nonprofit Turning Point Action is still slated to screen the debunked film in Wisconsin. D'Souza Media is also still distributing DVD copies of it.

D'Souza, a conservative activist, pleaded guilty to facilitating illegal campaign contributions in 2014. He was later pardoned by Trump.

'2000 Mules' Distributor Claims It Was Not Their Intent To Harm Mark Andrews With Pro-Trump Film

As expected from Trump supporters, they continually harassed Mark Andrews after watching the film. However, the lawsuit by Andrews soon led to Salem Media to issue an apology to him last Friday.

READ NEXT: Fox News Falls for Prank Regarding Donald Trump Fraud Trial Juror's Cousin, Spread Misinformation To Defend Ex-POTUS

"It was never our intent that the publication of the 2000 Mules film and book would harm Mr. Andrews," the national talk radio network stated in its apology statement. "We apologize for the hurt the inclusion of Mr. Andrews' image in the movie, book, and promotional materials have caused Mr. Andrews and his family."

"We have removed the film from Salem's platforms, and there will be no future distribution of the film or the book by Salem," it added. The distributor also claimed that it "relied on representations" that D'Souza had made.

Salem Media is known for distributing the programs of several prominent pro-Trump personalities such as Charlie Kirk and Sebastian Gorka.

Right-Wing Misinformation Gets Reckoning in Latest Court Defeats, Including '2000 Mules'

With Salem Media dropping and apologizing for "2000 Mules," more and more right-wing outlets have faced reckonings over spreading election misinformation. These include The Gateway Pundit which issued bankruptcy earlier this year, as well as Alex Jones who has been forced to liquidate his assets to pay for the lawsuits he lost.

According to NBC News, right-wing media, such as Fox News and Newsmax, have also been caught up in this reckoning, most especially Fox News which had its dirty laundry aired during the Dominion lawsuit last year.

The Murdoch-owned network was forced to settle for $787.5 million. As a result, Fox News, Newsmax, and fellow right-wing network OAN have been forced to be more careful surrounding its election coverage.

READ MORE: Donald Trump Supporters Threaten Another Insurrection, Call for Riots and Killing the Judge After Ex-POTUS Was Found Guilty

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WATCH: Krystal Ball DISMANTLES Dinesh D'Souza's "2000 Mules" Election Fraud Movie - Breaking Points
DEAR ABBY: I have been slowly slogging through grad school, one course per semester. And now, after four long years, Im finally going to graduate. I work in the industry Im going to school for, and Id like to invite some of my co-workers out to dinner to celebrate. While Id love to foot the bill for everyone, Im not financially able to do so.

How can I tactfully word the invitation so everyone knows Im inviting them to a dinner, not treating them to one? I dont want anyone to be embarrassed due to assumed expectations. -- READY TO CELEBRATE

DEAR READY: A formal invitation may not be the way to go. Because this will be a casual no-host affair, there might be less confusion if you simply call your co-workers and explain youd like to get together if theyre interested in celebrating with you.

***

Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.
By Mary Clare Jalonick, The Associated Press

WASHINGTON  Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman was treated at a hospital for a bruised shoulder after a car accident Sunday morning, according to a statement from his Senate office. He was released from the hospital Sunday afternoon.

Fetterman, a Democrat, and his wife Gisele were involved in a car accident with another driver, the statement said, and were both evaluated at a local hospital and discharged within hours. The senator returned to his home in Braddock, Pennsylvania, and is expected to be back in the Senate for votes this week.

A spokeswoman for Fetterman, Carrie Adams, said that the senator was driving the car and the accident was on Interstate 70 in Maryland. The condition of the other driver is unclear.

Fetterman, 54, suffered a stroke in May 2022 as he was campaigning for his seat. As a result, he still has some trouble speaking fluidly and quickly processing spoken conversation, and he often uses devices in congressional hearings and routine conversations to transcribe spoken words in real time.
A 19-year-old angler set a state record with a white perch caught in April, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission has announced.

The states now-heaviest white perch weighed in at 2 pounds, 1 ounce; thats 5 ounces heavier than the previous record, according to the commissions certification.

The fish was caught on the morning of April 14 by Christopher Barrett, a 19-year-old angler from Mohnton, Berks County, who was fishing with his father in the Delaware River near the Commodore Barry Bridge, just offshore from Chester.

It was a large fish to begin with and it was full of eggs, which made it even heavier, Barrett said in a news release from the Fish and Boat Commission. Were pretty good at catching perch, so I guess it was a little bit of skill and luck combined with good timing to catch that fish at just the right time.

Barrett and his father had navigated their 20-foot center console boat down the Darby Creek from the Ridley Township Municipal Marina and into the Delaware River. They were targeting Striped Bass and catfish, but were also attracting White Perch using heavy-duty spinning rods fitted with fish finder rigs and circle hooks baited with bloodworms, according to the commission.

The fish was weighed the next morning on a certified scale in the presence of a state conservation officer,and was measured at 14 and one-eighth inches long, although only weight is considered for state records.

Im so grateful for this record, but even more excited that I got to share this experience with my dad, said Barrett. We go fishing all the time together and its our favorite thing in the world to do. Well never forget this.

The fish was caught on the morning of April 14 by Christopher Barrett, who was fishing with his father in the Delaware River near the Commodore Barry Bridge, just offshore from Chester.Pa. Fish and Boat Commission

White perch are found across the Atlantic coastal region, and in Pennsylvania are most common in the lower Delaware and Susquehanna rivers where salt and freshwater mix, according to the commission. They are often found in brackish waters but can tolerate a wide range of habitats.

Anglers who believe they may have caught a record fish can find information on how to certify their catch and complete an application form on the Fish and Boat Commissions website.
A man has been sentenced to to four years in jail for an incident which saw him pull a realistic imitation firearm on a publican in a row over Covid restrictions, leading to the closure of an iconic Dublin pub.

George Murry (55) later admitted he frightened the life out of the poor man when he pulled the realistic imitation Glock handgun on Tom Maye in Maye's Public House on December 16, 2020 and told him he was going to blow (his) fucking head off.

The incident had a significant effect on Mr Maye, who had run the pub for 31 years, but has since sold the business, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard.

The iconic pub on the corner of Dorset Street and Frederick Street North was best known for its big Guinness clock sign.

Murray, with an address at Granby Centre, Granby Row, Dublin, pleaded guilty to one count of possessing a realistic imitation firearm with the intention to make a threat to kill at the Dublin pub. He was jailed for four years.

Murray has been in and out of custody on other matters since this incident and has been in the Central Mental Hospital since last August, the court heard. He has 57 previous convictions.

Detective Sergeant Eoin Treacy told the court that at around 3pm on the day in question, Murray and another man entered the pub, which was operating a door bell system at the time. Covid restrictions were in place, and pubs could only operate as off-licences for take-away customers at that time, the court heard.

Mr Maye (70), the proprietor of the pub, was working behind the counter on the day in question and he told Murray and his companion that the pub was not open for drinking in. Murray left before returning a minute or so later, with some cans in his hand.

He told Mr Maye he was going to sit there for the hour with his drinks. Mr Maye repeatedly told Murray to leave, during which time a customer came into the shop looking to buy cigarettes.

Murray then told Mr Maye: I'll blow your fucking head off, before he produced the imitation Glock from the waistband of his trousers. Mr Maye dived behind the counter while the other customer ran out the door, the court heard.

Murray then left the pub, tucked the gun back into his waistband and started walking down the street. Mr Maye pushed a panic button and gardai arrived within three minutes, the court heard.

Murray was quickly spotted and armed gardai pulled their weapons on him before arresting him and confiscating the firearm.

The street was busy with people at the time, the court heard.

CCTV footage of the incident was played in court, while a victim impact statement from Mr Maye was handed in, but not read out.

James Dwyer SC, defending, said Murray had a lengthy history of schizoaffective disorder and polysubstance abuse, which started in his early teens. He has been in and out of mental health care over the last few years, the court heard.

His previous convictions include theft, burglary, criminal damage and harassment offences. He said Murray later told gardai he was just angry and had no intention of killing anyone. The replica gun was a pellet gun, the court heard.

Sentencing Murray, Judge Pauline Codd commended the gardai for their bravery, noting they had no idea they were dealing with a replica gun.

She noted the incident had a serious effect on Mr Maye: None of them had any interest in continuing the business and this led to the closure of the business he ran for 30 years.

The judge took into account Murray's psychiatric history. She set a headline sentence of seven years but reduced this to four years. She backdated it to last November.

Murray put his thumbs up and said fair play to the judge.
Another day, another round of counting in the TF Hotel and Theatre in Castlebar, as the seemingly never-ending vote count for European elections is underway.

The fifth count was just completed for the Midlands-North-West election in Castlebar, with no candidates meeting the necessary quota of 113,325 votes needed to be elected again.

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan continues to lead the charge to be elected, currently sitting on 79,019 votes. The popular independent candidate from Roscommon received the most votes in the first count (78,214), and that figure has slowly creeped up following three rounds of transfers.

It will be difficult for other candidates to secure a seat, as four clear frontrunners have emerged behind Ming Flanagan. Fine Gael's candidate Nina Carberry currently leads the battle for second place with an impressive 74,286. The former star jockey had been disregarded by some as a "shameless celebrity candidate", but Carberry's fame has clearly stood to her thus far.

Incumbent Fine Gael MEP Maria Walsh also looks unlikely to lose her seat, currently sitting at 71,879 votes. The Shrule, Co Mayo native was initially expected to surpass fellow Fine Gael candidate Carberry, but both are still in safe positions to be elected.

Closely trailing Carberry is Fianna Fail TD for Laois-Offaly Barry Cowen, who is sitting on 74,204 votes after the fifth count. The clear frontrunner of the Fianna Fail candidates, it looks ever unlikely that Cowen will lose out in this European election.

The big surprise of the election count so far has to be former RTE correspondent and Independent Ireland candidate Ciaran Mullooly, who sits in fifth currently with an impressive tally of 58,260.

Mullooly, who got his start in journalism in his home county of Longford, has the potential to succeed in his career swing to politics, and is projected to perform well with transfers from independent and right-wing candidates. He is unlikely to be caught by Sinn Fein candidate Michelle Gildernew, who is over 11,000 votes behind him.

A long few days awaits the count staff in Castlebar, but to many, the outcome in Castlebar seems clear.
In a major new investigation to be broadcast this Wednesday and Thursday night on RTE One and RTE Player, RTE Investigates examines the Irish and European horse industries. Using hidden cameras, RTE Investigates exposes the abuse horses can suffer after they leave the spotlight.



Serious animal welfare abuses and cruelty have been uncovered in the treatment of horses that are being sent for slaughter at the countrys only licensed equine abattoir. The behaviour was filmed in a building (a lairage) used by Shannonside Foods Ltd in Straffan, where the company keeps horses before they are brought to the kill room. Footage, captured by RTE Investigates, shows the routine mistreatment of the animals and will be aired as part of a special documentary tomorrow night on RTE One.



The research focused in particular on a lairage shed where official Department of Agriculture inspectors do not have a remit to regulate or inspect. In this shed, the animals are held and screened in the days leading up to their slaughter.



RTE hidden cameras caught the routine abuse of animals. The abuses included ill-treatment of dying horses. Viewers can see horses being whipped and struck with long lengths of plastic piping, including being hit around the head. In another example, a horse is filmed struggling for hours before it fell, and tried to get up many times. The only attention the horse got was the illegal use of a pitchfork in its side to try and force it up. After hours of struggling, it died. It was physically dragged out of the shed the next day.



In Ireland, RTE Investigates analysed data which allowed, for the first time, to profile the background of horses that were sent for slaughter. It has never been possible to fully see the link between the racing and slaughter industries until now.



The data allowed RTE Investigates journalists to track back and identify thousands of horses that passed through Ireland's only licensed horse abattoir. Two-thirds of the horses were thoroughbred racers, competitors who between them had raced more than 3,000 times, earning their owners more than 1.5 million on tracks across Ireland, the UK and France as well multiples of that for punters.





The Department of Agriculture said the lairage (holding shed) where secret filming took place was not part of the approved premises over which they have jurisdiction, but that all evidence of illegal activity... will be appropriately investigated.





The wide-ranging investigation will be revealed in a hard-hitting hour-long documentary, RTE Investigates: Horses - Making a Killing to be broadcast this Wednesday night, 12 June at 9.35pm on RTE One and in an additional special report on Prime Time on Thursday night at 9.35pm on RTE One.
Fianna Fail European election candidate Cynthia Ni Mhurchu has said she is absolutely honoured to have received enough number one votes to put her in fourth position in her five-seat constituency.

Ms Ni Mhurchu, an Irish speaker who co-hosted the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest, said they ran a military-style campaign for three months up to polling day.

On her status as a so-called celebrity candidate, she said she was chuffed to get any label and would not mind being called mother or slogger or grafter or lawyer.

The celebrity factor obviously helped but only with an older cohort, and obviously we know that more people came out to vote, she said at the Nemo Rangers GAA Club in Cork.

But funnily enough, when I was canvassing younger people, they actually responded to the fact that I wanted to be positive, centrist, slightly left of centre, but we actually wanted to get a lot of work done for the south east and the rest of Ireland South.

Fine Gaels Sean Kelly became the first of five MEPs in the 10-county constituency to be elected after two days of sorting and counting.

He surpassed the quota of 114,761 with 8,000-odd votes to spare.

The former GAA president was hoisted into the air as the results were announced, surrounded by his family and party colleagues.

Of Mr Kellys surplus transfers, his running mate John Mullins received 2,633 votes, while Fianna Fails Billy Kelleher received 1,963 votes.

Several people have remarked on the erratic nature of transfers in Irelands European election.

Ms Ni Mhurchu, a Carlow native, said she felt her vote was primarily driven by the region in the south east, but also that she is transfer friendly and has an appeal across the board.

Im very humbled by the amount of first preference votes that I got. I think its testament to the huge, huge campaign that we ran with Martin OBrien as the campaign director, she said.

We actually got ahead, I believe, of the other candidates because I was nominated on March 7 and it went live on the Independent either that day or the next day.

But it was a real hitting the ground from that point on and we actually canvassed from the start.

So thats about three months of canvassing, so thats seven days a week, hundreds of towns, cities and villages.

The second to seventh count results did not see anyone elected, and so the candidates with the lowest vote share, Ciaran ORiordan, Christopher Doyle, Ross Lahive, Graham de Barra, Cian Prendiville and Una McGurk, were eliminated respectively.

Returning officer Martin Harvey said candidates were be eliminated one at a time, rather than in groups due to how close their vote share was to one another.

Three different people will check and give their opinion on who can be eliminated, can they be eliminated together, he said.

Weve an e-count system here on the computer and then the four minds are put together whove done the calculations, and we check to see are we all right, and Im glad to tell you were always right. We always have the same answer.

Mr Kelleher is expected to reach the quota around Wednesday afternoon, with a battle on between five candidates for the other four seats.

There are just a thousand votes separating Independent TD Michael McNamara; Ms Ni Mhurchu; and outgoing MEP and ex-Co Wexford TD Mick Wallace.

Sinn Fein TD Kathleen Funchion and the Green Partys Grace OSullivan are also in the running, with the transfers of Ms Funchions running mate Paul Gavan and Mr Kellys running mate John Mullins expected to be crucial.

I dont see us being out of here until Thursday at lunchtime at the earliest, Mr Harvey said on Tuesday.

Asked whether there was a childrens fun day planned in the hall for Thursday, he gestured to the count and said: This is a fun day.

Mr Harvey said that some of the staff reckon the count could finish on Wednesday, and added: If we can save the fun day, wouldnt that be great?
HISTORY has been made.

The Limerick public have elected the first ever directly elected mayor in Ireland.

John Moran has been returned to the hugely significant role following 12 counts at Limerick Racecourse.

The 58-year old had a comfortable lead from the first count to the final count, securing the biggest electoral mandate of any Limerick politician in history.

He beat 14 other candidates in the landmark election, with his nearest rival being XXX in second place.

There were scenes of huge celebration as the Mungret man was joined by family, friends, and his partner Damien Duggan, from Raheen. His dog, Henri has been a key figure on this campaign trail and on Mr Moran's X account, he even describes himself as a "parent" of a red setter.

Having lived in New York where he held high-profile Wall Street law positions, as well as running a juice bar in France, he returned to Ireland in 2010.

Then during the midst of the financial crash, he worked at the Central Bank, then later was secretary general at the Department of Finance. More recently, he was a board member at the European Investment Bank and the chair of the Land Development Agency, the government body charged with delivering housing on public lands.

In very recent years, he overcame bowel cancer and now finds himself a key entry in Limerick's history books by becoming its first directly elected mayor.

More to follow
Farming for Nature is delighted to welcome Lisa Gifford, Leitrim Hill Creamery to their ambassador network. The network, founded in 2018, seeks to acknowledge and support farmers who farm, or wish to farm, in a way that will improve the natural health of the countryside.

Lisa grew up in the US. Her Irish roots brought her back to Ireland and in 2016 she purchased a small farm in Drumcong. Lisa said: When I came to Ireland many years ago, the beauty of the place touched a sympathetic cord in my heart and I said to myself maybe someday I will come back. And here I am.

Lisa manages the smallholding with her daughter Gypsy Gifford and daughter-in-law Richelle South. There is a range of stock on the farm including goats, sheep, pigs and chickens. The main commercial aspect of the farm is milking goats and producing farmhouse goats cheese that is sold direct to customers at local farmers markets.

Lisa is particularly interested in rare-breed goats such as the Irish Goat. Much of the grassland is diverse in plant, grass and herb species, and the remaining land will be reseeded with a multispecies mix suitable for goats. External inputs are low and the farm is very extensively managed.

There are mature hedgerows around the farm and they are planting trees on the land and in field corners to provide shelter and improve soil structure, as well as creating additional habitat for wildlife.

Lisa takes great pride in the diversity of this farming system, as well as the fresh, natural product created on the farm. Lisa believes that Ethics and economics can co-exist. What is necessary is shared values'.

Farming For Nature was set up with the aim to source, share and celebrate the stories of farmers across Ireland who manage their land in a way that sustains nature, while providing a livelihood for their family.

The Farming For Nature ambassador network is now 91 people strong and Lisa is one of Farming for Natures 10 new ambassadors in 2023. The ambassadors come from across Ireland and include beef, sheep, goats, horses, dairy, horticulture and tillage farmers who manage a wide range of very valuable habitats including species-rich grasslands and heaths, wetlands, woodlands and hedgerows.
It was a bloody marvellous feeling to top the poll in Dublin, newly elected MEP Regina Doherty has said.

She finished ahead of Fianna Fails Barry Andrews, Sinn Feins Lynn Boylan and Labours Aodhan O Riordain as the four were announced as the next European representatives for the constituency.

After her election at the RDS count centre in Dublin, Ms Doherty said: Weve had a really renewed sense of energy in the last couple of months.

And its not just because the Taoiseach has it, he has made us all believe in ourselves and instil a new energy so that we go that extra mile.

Speaking at her side, party leader and Taoiseach Simon Harris said he was absolutely delighted, and added: She has worked so hard, she deserves this, Im so proud of her and of course shes going to continue an incredible tradition of Fine Gael people representing Dublin in the European Parliament.

Also absolutely delighted was Fianna Fail leader and Tanaiste Micheal Martin, who commented: Tremendous performance by Barry (Andrews), he led from the front, a very positive campaign.

For his part, Mr Andrews said he was hugely relieved as the results came in after 10pm on Tuesday.

I am very excited to start the work in Brussels. I have a very positive mandate now from the people of Dublin to do the work.

Ms Boylan admitted that she was exhausted but added that she was absolutely overwhelmed by the support she received.

While Sinn Fein leadership has acknowledged the elections went worse than expected, Ms Boylan was insistent that the party had a positive result  after electing an MEP in Dublin and increasing its representation in local government.

She said: How is it a bad election when were the party that increased its vote? Fianna Fail and Fine Gael decreased their vote.

They decreased their number of councillors. Weve increased our vote, weve increased our number of councillors.

Mr O Riordain said the result shows that the Labour Party is back.

Speaking to reporters at the RDS, he said: Were back and were going to win even more when the general election comes into focus.

Party leader Ivana Bacik said Mr O Riordains team ran a positive, dynamic and energetic campaign.

Mr O Riordain overtook radio presenter and Independent Ireland candidate Niall Boylan in the final count which saw the redistribution of Ciaran Cuffes votes, after the Green Party candidate became the second MEP in Dublin to lose their seat.

Mr Cuffes elimination after the 18th count came one stage after Independents 4 Change candidate Clare Daly exited the race.

Reflecting on the loss of his seat, Mr Cuffe suggested the issue of migration had dominated the European election campaign over concerns about the climate.

He said: I think we have seen the rise of those voices who dont feel the state should be involved in helping the most vulnerable and I think I certainly have campaigned all my life to help the most vulnerable in society. Ill continue to do that and my party will continue to do that.

Earlier, Ms Daly insisted she had no interest in speaking to the media as she left the Dublin count centre after losing her seat as an MEP.

Several reporters asked Ms Daly to comment as she left the RDS count centre after being eliminated. She declined.

When approached by RTE, she said: You had no interest in talking to me for five years, so Ive no interest in talking to you.
YesWeHack Raises 26 Million Euros to Accelerate Its Growth and International Expansion





YesWeHack, the global Bug Bounty and vulnerability management platform, announces a ?26 million Series C funding round.

In a world where cyber risks are more strategic and complex than ever, YesWeHack will use this funding to invest in Artificial Intelligence, launch new innovative solutions and expand its international growth.

The round is led by Wendel, alongside new investors such as Adelie and Seventure Partners, as well as reinvestment from Bpifrance, Open CNP* and Eiffel Investment Group. YesWeHack is also delighted to welcome Renaud Deraison, Co-Founder of Tenable and Senior Advisor to Wendel Growth, to its Board of Directors.

YesWeHack is the leading security testing solution for organisations of all sizes. Its Bug Bounty platform mobilises a community of tens of thousands ethical hackers to test the security of its customers in an agile and cost-effective way, thus reducing their attack surface.

With more than 500 customers across 40 countries, YesWeHack covers all business sectors, including:

70% of "CAC 40" ** companies

Global organisations such as Louis Vuitton, Decathlon and Tencent

Telecoms companies such as Orange, Ooredoo and Telenor

Unicorns such as Contentsquare, Doctolib and Blablacar

Public institutions in countries such as France, Spain, Canada and Singapore

Since its last funding round in 2021, YesWeHack has increased by six times its annual recurring revenue and tripled the number of ethical hackers registered on its platform. The company has also developed integrated pentest and attack surface management solutions, offering customers a unified approach to monitoring their online risks and vulnerabilities.

Guillaume Vassault-Houliere, CEO and Co-Founder of YesWeHack, commented: "This funding round is a vote of confidence in our commitment to excellence and our ambitious vision. Thanks to this investment, YesWeHack will deliver even higher levels of customer satisfaction and continue developing innovative solutions in one of the most dynamic segments of cybersecurity. We would like to thank our investors, both longstanding and new, and are honoured by their trust."

Antoine Izsak, Head of Growth Equity at Wendel, said: "Bug bounty is now recognised as a must by some of the companies most exposed to the cyber threat. We are delighted to be working with the European leader YesWeHack, which stands out for its quality of service, compliance with regulations and the relevance of its technological roadmap for customers who are increasingly overwhelmed by the growing volume of vulnerabilities."

Renaud Deraison, Co-Founder of Tenable, Senior Advisor to Wendel Growth and new member of the Board of Directors added: "YesWeHack's community of experts is one of the most qualified in the world to continuously test the security of its customers' digital infrastructure. I'm honoured to join YesWeHack's Board of Directors and look forward to contributing to the company's mission alongside Guillaume and his team."

*The Corporate Venture Capital fund of CNP Assurances.

**The CAC 40 is Paris' main stock market index.

About YesWeHack

YesWeHack is a leading Bug Bounty and Vulnerability Management Platform. Founded by ethical hackers in 2015, YesWeHack connects organisations worldwide to tens of thousands of ethical hackers, who uncover vulnerabilities in websites, mobile apps, connected devices and digital infrastructure.

Our Bug Bounty Programs benefit from in-house triage, personalised support, a customisable model and results-based pricing. Clients include Tencent, Swiss Post, Telenor, Ooredoo, Orange, the French Ministry of Armed Forces and several other governments worldwide.

The YesWeHack platform offers a range of integrated, API-based solutions: Bug Bounty (crowdsourcing vulnerability discovery), Vulnerability Disclosure Policy (creating and managing a secure channel for external vulnerability reporting), Pentest Management (managing pentest reports from all sources) and Attack Surface Management (continuously mapping online exposure and detecting attack vectors).

For more information, visit: www.yeswehack.com

This transaction was carried out with the expert support of Trachet Ltd.

11 june 2024 at 02:05

News published onand distributed by:
XTransfer and Banking Circle Announce Strategic Partnership





Collaboration Set to Boost Payment Capabilities for Importers/Exporters in Europe and the Middle East

HONG KONG, June 11, 2024 /CNW/ -- XTransfer, the World's Leading & China's No.1 B2B Cross-Border Trade Payment Platform, and Banking Circle, the innovative tech-driven Payments Bank, have entered into a strategic partnership. This collaboration aims to reduce the cost and processing time of cross-border payments for XTransfer's clients, particularly benefiting Chinese suppliers with significant markets in Europe and the Middle East.

Both XTransfer and Banking Circle are committed to minimising the cost associated with global trade payments. XTransfer focuses on providing SMEs with secure, compliant, fast, and cost-effective cross-border payment and fund collection solutions, thereby enhancing global competitiveness and facilitating international expansion. Banking Circle has established a comprehensive local clearing network for major currencies and an effective FX engine supporting 24 currencies, ensuring quick, low-cost payments without hidden fees.

Through the integration of Banking Circle's infrastructure, XTransfer can now offer its clients a broader array of local payment and fund collection options. Clients will be able to receive payments not only in major currencies like the US Dollar, Euro, GBP, and Danish Krone, but also in six additional currencies in Europe and the Middle East. This partnership is expected to expand further, with plans to introduce even more currency options in the near future.

This development is particularly advantageous for businesses dealing with Chinese suppliers. Buyers in Europe and the Middle East will have the convenience of paying Chinese suppliers in a wider range of local currencies.

Bill Deng, Founder and CEO of XTransfer, commented on the partnership, "Our alliance with Banking Circle represents a significant step forward in our expansion into the European and Middle Eastern markets. This partnership not only accelerates XTransfer's global ambitions but also promises to revolutionise the international trade landscape for businesses. We are eager to see the continued success of this collaboration."

Laust Bertelsen, Co-Founder and CEO of Banking Circle, added, "We are thrilled to support XTransfer's vision for global trade. By leveraging Banking Circle's accounts and payment rails, XTransfer can streamline the payment process for its clients, reducing both costs and transaction times."

About XTransfer

XTransfer, World's Leading & China's No.1 B2B Cross-Border Trade Payment Platform, is dedicated to providing SMEs with secure, compliant, fast, convenient and low-cost foreign trade payment & fund collection solutions, significantly reducing the cost of global expansion and enhancing global competitiveness. Founded in 2017, the company is headquartered in Shanghai and has branches in Hong Kong SAR, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia, and Singapore. XTransfer has obtained local payment licenses in Hong Kong SAR, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, and Australia. With more than 450,000 enterprise clients, XTransfer has become the industry No.1 in China.

By cooperating with well-known multinational banks and financial institutions, XTransfer has built a unified global multi-currency clearing network and built a data-based, automated, Internet-based and intelligent anti-money laundering risk control infrastructure centred on small and medium enterprises. XTransfer uses technology as a bridge to link large financial institutions and small and medium enterprises around the world, allowing SMEs to enjoy the same level of cross-border financial services as large multinational corporations.

XTransfer completed its Series D financing in September 2021 and achieved unicorn status. The Company possesses a diverse composition of international investors, including D1 Capital Partners LP, Telstra Ventures, China Merchants Venture, eWTP Capital, Yunqi Capital, Gaorong Capital, 01VC, MindWorks and Lavender Hill Capital Partners.

For more information: https://www.xtransfer.com/

About Banking Circle S.A.

Banking Circle S.A. is the Payments Bank for the new economy. As a fully licenced bank, free of legacy systems, Banking Circle enables payments companies and banks of any scale to seize opportunities in the new economy - quickly, at low cost.

Banking Circle S.A. is a modern correspondent bank committed to building a local clearing network for all major currencies, to deliver fast, low-cost payments with no hidden fees for the beneficiary. It provides a suite of unique and award-winning banking solutions, including multi-currency banking accounts and Virtual IBANs, bank connections for local clearing and cross-border payments, all underpinned by market leading compliance and security.

Through bespoke, flexible, scalable and futureproof solutions Banking Circle S.A. is enabling financial institutions to help their customers transact across borders in a way that was previously not possible.

Headquartered in Luxembourg, Banking Circle S.A. has offices in London, Munich and Copenhagen.

SOURCE XTransfer

11 june 2024 at 04:00

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NEVADA KING ANNOUNCES EXECUTION OF ARRANGEMENT AGREEMENT FOR SPIN-OUT OF NON-ATLANTA CLAIMS PORTFOLIO





VANCOUVER, BC, June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - Nevada King Gold Corp. (TSXV: NKG) (OTCQX: NKGFF) ("Nevada King" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that, further to its news release dated February 12, 2024, the Company has entered into an arrangement agreement for a strategic reorganization of its business pursuant to which all of the Company's concessions and properties with the exception of the Atlanta Gold Mine Project ("Atlanta") will be spun out to Nevada King shareholders (the "Spin-Out") through a subsidiary of the Company ("SpinCo"). In connection with the Spin-Out, Nevada King will also grant to SpinCo a 3.0% net smelter return ("NSR") royalty on all gold and silver production from Atlanta including the Atlanta resource area and non-core claims surrounding the Atlanta Gold Mine Project.

The Spin-Out will provide investors with an ownership stake in two separate specialized companies. Nevada King will continue to focus exclusively on the advancement of the Atlanta Gold Mine Project, while SpinCo will focus on advancing its foothold as the third largest mineral claim holder in the State of Nevada, behind Nevada Gold Mines (Barrick/Newmont) and Kinross Gold. SpinCo will control over 193,000 acres (9,682 claims) along the Battle Mountain Trend with key project areas hosting significant historical exploration work and possessing untested discovery potential. These project areas include Iron Point, Buffalo Valley, Lewis, Horse Mountain-Mill Creek, Hilltop South, Carico Lake, Kobeh Valley, and Pancake South.

"We are pleased to progress with this exciting opportunity for the Company and its shareholders. Creating a standalone focused company holding Nevada King's large portfolio of claims along the Battle Mountain trend will create an exciting growth-focused story with a dominant land position along one of the world's most prolific gold mining trends. This project portfolio is nestled amongst some of North America's most prominent current and former producing mines and has the potential to provide exceptional exploration upside and optionality from multiple properties," Collin Kettell, CEO of Nevada King, stated.

Spin-Out

The Spin-Out will be completed as part of a strategic reorganization to unlock value in Nevada King's large portfolio of mineral claims in the State of Nevada. The target areas along the Battle Mountain trend to be held by SpinCo include the Company's Lewis, Horse Mountain-Mill Creek, and Iron Point projects. Nevada King will also grant SpinCo an NSR royalty in the amount of 3.0% from all gold and silver production from non-core Atlanta claims surrounding Atlanta, as well as a 3.0% NSR royalty on the core "Bobcat" claims that cover the existing resource zone. The 3.0% NSR royalty on the Bobcat claims will take effect upon fulfilling the existing royalty on the Bobcat claims which is a 3.0% royalty capped at the first 4,000 ounces of gold equivalent production.

The Spin-Out will proceed by way of a statutory plan of arrangement (the "Arrangement") pursuant to the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia). Common shares of SpinCo (the "SpinCo Shares") will be distributed to shareholders of Nevada King in proportion to their shareholdings of Nevada King. There will be no change in Nevada King shareholders' holdings in the Company as a result of the Spin-Out.

SpinCo will not be listed on a public stock exchange on closing of the Arrangement but will operate as a reporting issuer.

Completion of the proposed Spin-Out will be subject to approval of the Nevada King shareholders, and the approvals of the British Columbia Supreme Court and the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV").

The Arrangement Agreement

Nevada King has executed an arrangement agreement whereby the business of Nevada King will be reorganized into two companies. In connection with the Arrangement, Nevada King will apply for an interim order from the Supreme Court of British Columbia authorizing the Company to call a shareholder meeting to approve the Arrangement.

The Arrangement involves, among other things, the distribution of SpinCo Shares to Nevada King shareholders such that each shareholder will hold: (i) one new common share of Nevada King for each common share of Nevada King held immediately prior to the effective time of the Arrangement; and (ii) one-thirtieth of one SpinCo Share for each common share of Nevada King held immediately prior to the effective time of the Arrangement. Immediately following completion of the Arrangement, which is expected to occur in late July, Nevada King's shareholders, other than any dissenting shareholders, will own 100% of SpinCo. Nevada King options will also be adjusted pursuant to the Arrangement as described in more detail in the information circular ("Circular") that will be mailed to shareholders in the second half of June.

After careful consideration, the Board of Directors has unanimously determined that the Arrangement is fair to shareholders and is in the best interests of the Company. A description of the various factors considered by the Board of Directors in arriving at this determination will be provided in the Circular.

After closing of the Arrangement, new Nevada King shares will continue trading on the TSXV in Canada under the symbol NKG and on the OTC Market in the United States under the symbol NKGFF, respectively. SpinCo Shares will not be listed on any stock exchange after completion of the Arrangement, but the company will be a reporting issuer and will comply with its continuous disclosure obligations under applicable Canadian securities laws.

About Nevada King Gold Corp.

Nevada King is the third largest mineral claim holder in the State of Nevada, behind Nevada Gold Mines (Barrick/Newmont) and Kinross Gold. Starting in 2016 the Company has staked large project areas hosting significant historical exploration work along the Battle Mountain trend located close to current or former producing gold mines. These project areas were initially targeted based on their potential for hosting multi-million ounce gold deposits and were subsequently staked following a detailed geological evaluation. District-scale projects in Nevada King's portfolio include (1) the 100% owned Atlanta Mine, located 100km southeast of Ely, (2) the Lewis and Horse Mountain-Mill Creek projects, both located between Nevada Gold Mines' large Phoenix and Pipeline mines, and (3) the Iron Point project, located 35km east of Winnemucca, Nevada.

The Atlanta Mine is a historical gold-silver producer with a National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101") compliant pit-constrained resource of 460,000 oz Au in the measured and indicated category (11.0M tonnes at 1.3 g/t) plus an inferred resource of 142,000 oz Au (5.3M tonnes at 0.83 g/t). See the NI 43-101 Technical Report on Resources titled "Atlanta Property, Lincoln County, NV" with an effective date of October 6, 2020, and a report date of December 22, 2020, as prepared by Gustavson Associates and filed under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.com).

The scientific and technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Calvin R. Herron, P.Geo., who is a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101.

Resource Category Tonnes (000s) Au Grade (ppm) Contained Au

Oz Ag Grade (ppm) Contained Ag

Oz Measured 4,130 1.51 200,000 14.0 1,860,000 Indicated 6,910 1.17 260,000 10.6 2,360,000 Measured + Indicated 11,000 1.30 460,000 11.9 4,220,000 Inferred 5,310 0.83 142,000 7.3 1,240,000 Table 1. NI 43-101 Mineral Resources at the Atlanta Mine

Please see the Company's website at www.nevadaking.ca.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward Looking Information

This news release contains certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "potential", "possible", and similar expressions, or statements that events, conditions, or results "will", "may", "could", or" should" occur or be achieved. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, without limitation, completion of the Spin-Out, TSXV approval of the Spin-Out, the date of the Meeting, and the benefits of the proposed Spin-Out are forward-looking statements. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements reflect the beliefs, opinions and projections on the date the statements are made and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by Nevada King, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and the parties have made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Such factors include, without limitation, the ability to complete proposed exploration work, the results of exploration, continued availability of capital, and changes in general economic, market and business conditions. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release concerning these items. Nevada King does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by applicable securities laws.

SOURCE Nevada King Gold Corp.

11 june 2024 at 07:30

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Kardium Announces $104M in New Financing for Innovative Atrial Fibrillation Treatment





Kardium Inc., developer of the Globe Mapping and Ablation System for the treatment of atrial fibrillation, has raised US $104 million in a new financing round. The round is led by existing investor Fidelity Management & Research Company, together with follow-on participation by funds and accounts advised by T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. and T. Rowe Price Investment Management, Inc. as well as new investor Durable Capital Partners LP.

"We are very excited to have the continued support of existing investors, and welcome Durable Capital Partners to this round," said Kevin Chaplin, CEO of Kardium. "Their enthusiasm and support reflect the incredible success we have achieved with the Globe System and the tremendous potential we have to dramatically improve the treatment of atrial fibrillation for millions of patients worldwide."

The new financing will allow Kardium to complete its PULSAR clinical study in order to obtain regulatory approvals for the Globe System, to grow the manufacturing team and capacity, and to build a clinical support and commercial team in preparation for the commercial launch of the Globe System.

Recent clinical data presented at the Heart Rhythm Society annual meeting demonstrated impressive results with the Globe System, showing freedom from atrial arrhythmia at 1 year of 84.2% in paroxysmal AF patients and 80% in persistent AF patients.

The Globe Mapping and Ablation System consists of a sophisticated catheter with a 122-electrode array and advanced software that enable rapid pulmonary vein isolation, high-definition mapping, and the ability to ablate anywhere in the atrium ? all with a single catheter.

About Kardium

Kardium Inc. (kardium.com) is a rapidly growing, privately held medical solutions company that has developed an advanced system for atrial fibrillation (AF) treatment: the Globe System. Kardium has built an outstanding team, who have worked with top medical advisors to develop the Globe System. Founded in 2007 and headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, Kardium has consistently ranked as one of the top companies to work for in British Columbia.

This press release may contain forward-looking statements, which reflect current expectations regarding future events. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such statements. The Globe System is restricted by federal law to investigational use only, and it has not been approved or cleared for commercial distribution in any jurisdictions.

11 june 2024 at 09:05

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Leader of Les Republicains (LR) right-wing opposition party Eric Ciotti poses prior to an interview on the set of the French TV channel TF1 in Boulogne-Billancourt, outside Paris, on June 11, 2024. STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN / AFP

The leader of France's right-wing Les Republicains (LR) on Tuesday, June 11, backed an alliance in snap parliamentary elections with Marine Le Pen's far-right Rassemblement National (RN). "We need to have an alliance (...) an alliance with the RN and its candidates," Eric Ciotti told TF1 television, laying out a position that was met by strong opposition within his own party.

"I want my political family to move in this direction," Ciotti said. He said he had spoken to the far-right Rassemblement National leaders Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella. Le Pen hailed Ciotti's declaration as "courageous" in a statement to Agence France-Presse. Bardella on Tuesday night confirmed a deal was in the works. "I confirm there will be an accord between the Rassemblement and Les Republicains," he told France 2 television.

Read more Subscribers only French snap elections: Le Pen and niece strive for far right's reconciliation

Key figures from LR were quick to denounce Ciotti's declaration and call for his resignation. Gerard Larcher, the president of the Senat, said Ciotti "can no longer preside our movement and must give up his mandate of president of Les Republicains."

Bruno Retailleau, the head of LR's senators, who hold a majority in the upper house of Parliament, said the group had "unanimously reaffirmed what must be the clear and responsible line of the French right: remaining itself while keeping its independence and its autonomy vis-a-vis Macron's camp and Le Pen's camp." Olivier Marleix, the head of the LR group in the Assemblee Nationale, said: "Eric Ciotti speaks only for himself. He must leave from the presidency of Les Republicains."

Ciotti replied that there was "absolutely no question" of him resigning. "I am LR, I remain LR, I am the president of LR," he told BFM-TV. "I am receiving thousands of messages of support," he said.

'Personal line'

Speaking to TF1, Ciotti said that his decision was taken on a "personal line," and that LR is today "too weak" to oppose Macron's coalition and the "the unnatural alliance" formed by the left.

Read more Subscribers only French left agrees to form new 'Popular Front' in parliamentary elections

"It's an agreement that will concern the entire national territory," Ciotti explained, adding that all LR MPs who "wish to do so" would have no "RN competitors" facing them. "We need an alliance" with the RN to build "a bloc of the right, a national bloc," he added, despite calls from within his party not to enter into such an agreement.

"I think the country has never been so right-wing," Ciotti said. "It expects the right, it expects right-wing action. We can no longer rely on impotence, on communication, on a form of immobilism that has led us to where we are now."

Macron called the snap polls after the far right crushed his centrist alliance in Sunday's European Parliament elections. There are just 19 days until the first round on June 30.
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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.
(Bloomberg) -- Boeing Co. delivered 24 commercial jets in May, including 19 of its 737 family aircraft, as parts shortages and fresh scrutiny by Chinas regulators complicated efforts to recover from a crisis engulfing its most popular aircraft.

While rival Airbus SE handed over 53 aircraft last month, the US planemaker matched its total for April, the lowest monthly tally in more than two years. Boeing also recorded four gross jet orders against one cancellation for the month.

Boeing has pared back deliveries of its cash cow 737 jets as it slows down work, increases inspections at supplier Spirit AeroSystems Holdings Inc., and seeks to reinforce safety at its factories in the wake of a near-catastrophic accident in January. The manufacturer expects to burn through about $8 billion in cash during the first half of the year, with the financial strain set to ease in the latter part of the year as deliveries pick up again.

The companys shares slid 3.2% at 1:25 p.m. in New York as investors digested the results and news of another potential salvo in the US-China trade war. Boeings stock has dropped roughly 30% this year.

Its unclear whether Boeing will benefit from the customary rally in aerospace shares ahead of the industrys main trade event next month, which typically yields a bumper crop in orders, said RBC Capital Markets analyst Ken Herbert. For investors, we believe the focus remains on aircraft production rates and paring Boeings inventory of already built planes, he said in a note to clients on Tuesday.

By one measure, the campaign to improve quality appears to have shown modest improvements in May. Of the 737 Max deliveries, 16 aircraft were recent factory rollouts, up from just nine jets in April, Scott Deuschle, analyst with Deutsche Bank, said in a June 3 report. Boeing declined to say how many deliveries were of factory-fresh aircraft versus those coming out of long-term storage.

Boeing shipped five widebody aircraft in May, including two 787 Dreamliners. While one of the carbon-composite aircraft went to China, its delivery paperwork was completed in early May. Thats before the nations regulators paused imports from the US planemaker over the design of new, 25-hour cockpit voice recorders that have been approved by their counterparts in the US and Europe. The delivery halt remains in effect, Boeing said.

Through the end of May, Boeing has delivered 131 airplanes, including 102 of its 737 family models. Airbuss total stands at 256 units. However, 787 deliveries fell by half versus April as the company grappled with shortages of heat exchangers and premium seats. Boeing didnt deliver any 777 freighters, either, and has only handed over two of the models so far this year.

Investors need to see accelerating improvement in deliveries of all three aircraft to gain confidence that Boeings cash outflows will turn around during the second half, Deuschle said.

(Updates with shares, analyst quote from fourth paragraph.)

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
Banana giant Chiquita Brands must pay $38.3 million to 16 family members of people killed during Colombia's long civil war by a violent right-wing paramilitary group funded by the company, a federal jury in Florida decided.

The verdict Monday by a jury in West Palm Beach marks the first time the company has been found liable in any of multiple similar lawsuits pending elsewhere in U.S. courts, lawyers for the plaintiffs said. It also marks a rare finding that blames a private U.S. company for human rights abuses in other countries.

This verdict sends a powerful message to corporations everywhere: profiting from human rights abuses will not go unpunished. These families, victimized by armed groups and corporations, asserted their power and prevailed in the judicial process, Marco Simons, EarthRights International General Counsel and one plaintiff's lawyer, said in a news release.

The situation in Colombia was tragic for so many, Chiquita, whose banana operations are based in Florida, said in a statement after the verdict. However, that does not change our belief that there is no legal basis for these claims.

According to court documents, Chiquita paid the United Self-Defense Forces of Columbia  known by its Spanish acronym AUC  about $1.7 million between 1997 and 2004. The AUC is blamed for the killings of thousands of people during those years.

Chiquita has insisted that its Colombia subsidiary, Banadex, only made the payments out of fear that AUC would harm its employees and operations, court records show.

The verdict followed a six-week trial and two days of deliberations. The EarthRights case was originally filed in July 2007 and was combined with several other lawsuits.

Our clients risked their lives to come forward to hold Chiquita to account, putting their faith in the United States justice system. I am very grateful to the jury for the time and care they took to evaluate the evidence, said Agnieszka Fryszman, another attorney in the case. The verdict does not bring back the husbands and sons who were killed, but it sets the record straight and places accountability for funding terrorism where it belongs: at Chiquitas doorstep.
Air Canada, which operates a daily non-stop flight to Toronto from New Delhi, did not see even a single on-time departure in the period for which review was done. It also saw one cancellation during the week, with delays ranging up to one hour on four occasions and a longer one once. The airline also operates thrice a week service to Montreal and two of its three flights recorded a delay.



Also read: We could have handled the delays better, says Air India CEO Campbell Wilson



Air India operates about four-fifth of these flights and has been a major beneficiary of the Russia-Ukraine war as the non-stop flights operating on these markets dwindled, with Canadian and American carriers desisting from flying over Russia.



Also Read: Ukraine war keeps Air India on top of non-stop routes to US; can the Tata Group airline maintain pole position?



How did Air India perform in the same week? In terms of statistics, it did better, barring the flights to San Francisco. Its daily flight to New York from Mumbai saw a delay of up to six hours on one of the seven days and two delays of up to an hour. The thrice a week service to Newark was delayed only once.



Also Read: Air India passenger receives broken seat despite paying extra 1,000; airline issues apology



In the same period, Air India had four scheduled flights to San Francisco from Mumbai, two of which left on time, while two were delayed. Air India had three scheduled flights from Bengaluru, two of which left on time while one was delayed by over three hours. Flights to New York, which are operated four times a week from Delhi, saw a delay on two occasions and was on time on the other two. This route has seen a mix of B777-300ER and B777-200LR in operation on certain days.



The Delhi to San Francisco operations were the much discussed ones with a delay ranging over a day. Air Indias flights to Chicago from Delhi, a daily service, saw a near on-time performance the whole week, leaving within minutes of its scheduled departure time and having an on-time arrival on most days. The airline deploys its Dreamliner aircraft to Washington-- it is the only route to North America on which a Dreamliner is operated. Like Chicago flights, this, too, was on time.



The airlines flagship to New York, a daily service from Delhi, also operated on time on six out of seven days. To Canada, the airline operates two flights a day, one to Vancouver and another to Toronto. The airline operated five of seven flights to Vancouver on time, with two delays recorded. The passengers to Toronto were more prone to delays as it was delayed in four out of seven occasions.
Bengaluru: Indias top two information technology (IT) services companies, Tata Consultancy Services Ltd (TCS) and Infosys Ltd, have witnessed a decline in the count of staff aged 30 years or less, over the past two years.

Mint's analysis shows the share of young workers in TCS's workforce has fallen from 59% in FY22 to 50.3% in FY24. For Infosys, that's a drop from 60% to 55% over the same period.

Analysts attribute this drop to low fresher hiring and weak growth of IT services companies in the fiscal gone by, and not so much to the advance of artificial intelligence (AI) or generative AI taking over entry-level jobs.

In an environment when the IT services sectors growth was fast until 2022, companies knew that there were projects to deploy new hires so they would hire more. Now growth expectation are low, which is why the fresher intake is low. Once growth revives, the younger employee headcount might pick up," said Pankaj Kapoor, senior vice-president and head of strategy, investor relations & ESG, at Mumbai-based business process management company Firstsource.

Kapoor, who has tracked the Indian IT services industry for almost two decades, also said, GenAI is not having an impact on fresher hiring as of now."

An email sent to TCS went unanswered, whereas the Infosys spokesperson said its responses to Mints questions were covered in its annual report.

How the numbers were analysed

IT services companies have anywhere between 75% and 85% of their workforce based out of India.

For instance, Cognizant Technology Services Corp had 254,000 employees or 73% of its 347,700 workforce working out of India at the end of December 2023, according to its annual report.

Bengaluru-based Infosys, which is yet to disclose the geographical distribution of its employee numbers for last year, had more than three-fourths of its global employee count of 343,234 in India at the end of March 2023, according to its annual report filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

At peer Wipro Ltd, about 82% of its 234,000 workforce, or 193,000 employees, is based out of India, according to the companys annual report filed with the SEC.

Analysts maintain that for TCS, a similar percentage of its 601,546 employees are based out of India.

TCS and Infosys are the only top software services companies that disclose the age distribution of their workforce.

TCS disclosed in its FY24 annual report that its India workforce had 50.3% people less than 30 years of age. The company's total workforce in India, assuming three-fourths of its employees are stationed here, would translate to 451,160 employees. Back-of-the-envelope calculations show that of this, 226,933 people are less than 30.

Likewise, TCS's annual reports for the previous two fiscals show that its share of India workforce aged 30 years or less was 59% at the end of March 2022, and 53% at the end of FY23.

At Infosys, more than half its global workforce of 317,240 employees are of 30 years and less in FY24 as compared with the financial year through March 2022 when 60% of its employees, or 187,271 of them were aged 30 or less.

Why this is happening

At least three analysts maintain that this is not a structural change because reduction in young workforce is linked to a company's growth and, for now, GenAI is not having a direct impact on fresher hiring.

The number of employees aged 30 years and below has dropped due to low hiring of freshers from the peak levels post-pandemic," said Apurva Prasad, vice president of institutional research at HDFC Securities.

Also read: Recruiters shift focus from IT as hiring remains slow

TCS and Infosys hired about 40,000 and 12,000 freshers, respectively, as of March 2024, compared with 78,000 and 55,000 hired in the 12 months through March 2022.

Another analyst attributed the reduction of freshers to low growth of Indian IT outsourcing companies.

Indias IT sector grew 3.8% to $254 billion at the end of March 2024, which is its slowest growth rate in the past 25 years, estimated Indian IT industry body National Association of Software and Service Companies (Nasscom).

Tata Consultancy Services, Infosys, and HCL Technologies Ltd reported a dollar revenue growth of 4.1%, 1.9%, and 5.4%, respectively, last year whereas Bengaluru-based Wipro reported a full-year revenue decline of 3.8%.
The Sikkim government has approved a proposal to increase the dearness allowance (DA) by four percent for its employees and pensioners, with retrospective effect from July 1, 2023, officials announced on June 11, as per PTI.

The decision was made during the first cabinet meeting of the second Sikkim Krantikari Morcha government on June 10 evening, presided over by Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang.

With this four percent hike, the dearness allowance for government employees and pensioners has risen to 46 percent, officials said.

The increase in DA will have an impact of 174.6 crore on the state exchequer in the current financial year, they added.

In addition to the allowance hike, the cabinet meeting saw other crucial decisions, including the nomination of two-time SKM legislator Sanjeet Kharel as the Pro-tem Speaker of the 11th Sikkim Legislative Assembly. The 47-year-old MLA's nomination was part of the strategic moves by the newly re-elected SKM government.

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Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya is expected to administer the oath of office and secrecy to Kharel, setting the stage for the first session of the 11th Sikkim Legislative Assembly. During this session, Kharel will administer the oath to the newly-elected members, and the election of the assembly speaker will also take place.

Also Read | Indian Energy Exchange share price Today Live Updates : Indian Energy Exchange Surges in Positive Trading Today

Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang, who took oath for his second consecutive term on Monday, along with eleven other ministers, has led the SKM to a commanding victory, securing 31 of the 32 assembly seats in the recent polls held concurrently with the Lok Sabha elections.

These developments mark a significant period of governance and administrative decisions in Sikkim, aimed at addressing both economic and leadership aspects in the state.
The 2024 Lok Sabha election resulted in a significant political shift, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) losing its majority and its coalition forming its weakest government in a decade. However, in one aspect, there was no substantial change for Indian voters.

As many as 250 (46%) of the 542 newly-elected members of Parliament (MPs) had declared criminal cases against them at the time of filing their nominations, data from the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) showed. (Congress Rahul Gandhi was elected to two seats, and has been counted once.) Around 31% face serious criminal charges. Both figures mark a small increase since the 2019 cohort of MPs.

The BJP had 63 MPs who face serious criminal cases, the highest for any party. But thats evident given the partys huge strength in the Parliament. Seen in percentage terms, this was 26% of all BJP MPs. The two biggest parties of the Opposition INDIA blocthe Congress and the Samajwadi Party (SP)had a greater share of party MPs facing serious cases: 33% and 46%, respectively.

Facing a criminal case does not imply criminality or conviction, since politicians often face bogus cases as well. That said, aggregated figures on serious cases do help assess overall link between politics and crime in an elected legislature. Serious cases include offences such as murder, attempt to murder, crimes against women.

What follows is based on a Mint analysis of individual-level data sourced from ADR, which compiles the information from each candidates nomination affidavit in every election.

Troubled lawmakers

A state-wise analysis further revealed that the new MPs facing criminal cases belong only to 22 of the 36 states and Union territories: there are none from the other 14 (which includes the seven north-eastern states and Uttarakhand among major states). Eleven states witnessed an increase in the number of such Lok Sabha members, while seven saw a decrease.

Odisha was among the states that saw the highest increase in elected MPs facing criminal charges. In 2019, the state sent just six such MPs, while this time, there are 16. This coincides with the BJP gaining ground in the eastern state, and the Biju Janata Dal losing strength. Bihar, with 22 elected Lok Sabha members facing cases, saw the biggest decline from 2019, when it had 35 such MPs.

States such as Kerala (95%) and Telangana (82%) had among the highest shares of parliamentary seats occupied by MPs facing at least one criminal case.

Wealthy victors

Politicians with criminal backgrounds are not the only concern, as there is a simultaneous growing influence of money power in the lawmaking system. A constituency-wise analysis of the assets owned by winners and their immediate opponents (runners-up) showed that a majority, over 54%, of Indian constituencies elected a wealthier candidate. While voters may not choose wealth, past Plain Facts analyses have shown that wealthier candidates have a better shot at winningpossibly because they can mobilize stronger campaigns.

The analysis covered 541 of the 543 seats, and excludes Surat (which had only one candidate) and Indore (where the none of the above option was the runner-up).

MPs from as many as 504 out of these 541 seats had assets of 1 crore or more, with 30 of them declaring total assets worth 100 crore or more. Fifteen of these 30 MPs were from the BJP, and three each from Congress and Telugu Desam Party (TDP).

Rich representatives

The median size of the assets of almost all parties MPs has increased over the last five years. Among major parties, the MPs of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) continued to have the highest median assets: around 16 crore, up from 13.4 crore in 2019.

The BJPs MPs saw an increase of 1.6 times in median assets ( 7.4 crore), while those of the Congress increased just 10%, to 8.5 crore. Samajwadi Party MPs had higher median assets than those of the BJP.

Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani of TDP, who won the Guntur parliamentary seat, declared the highest total asset worth of over 5,705 crore, followed by Konda Vishweshwar Reddy of the BJP (Chevella seat), who has assets worth over 4,500 crore. Most candidates declare assets they own together with their spouses.

As India continues to grapple with issues of corruption, criminal politicians and a growing influence of money, the latest 2024 election results serve as a wake-up call for Indian voters.
UK Elections 2024: British Prime Minister, facing snap elections, unveiled Conservative Party's poll manifesto on Tuesday, where the leader has promised tax-cuts and help for first time home-buyers.

PM Sunak, who seemed to have lost the popular vote, deemed to be lagging in polls, will use this as one of the last throws of the dice to bring the Torys into popular favouritism.

How Sunak fares ahead of snap elections he ordered? Rishi Sunak has been juggling promises to win back the popular consensus for the Conservative party ahead of the snap UK Elections 2024. Surveys have shown that Conservatives about 20 points behind the opposition Labour Party ahead of the July 4 Elections.

PM Sunak seems to be trailing in the popular consensus. Despite promises of more police officers, lower taxes, and support for pensioners, PM Sunak has failed to dent the Labour Party's popularity with the US voter base.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is additionally encountering opposition from the right-wing Reform UK party, led by Brexit advocate Nigel Farage, who has pledged to spearhead a "revolt" against the Conservatives.

Notably, Conservative Party has been in power in UK for 14 years now.

What does Conservative Party, PM Sunak's manifesto promise? According to Reuters report, the Conservative Party promises an already discussed and announced tax cuts. The Party promises further reductions if re-elected for another term.

"We will enable working people to keep more of the money you earn because you have earned it and have the right to choose what to spend it on," Sunak will say at the manifesto launch at the Formula One racetrack Silverstone in central England, according to excerpts of his speech.

According to further reports, PM Rishi Sunak is expected to promise another 2 pence per pound cut to National Insurance, paid by workers.
You could spot a fake a mile off. The plasticky Prado" wallets arranged on bedsheets on the pavements lining Canal Street in New York bore only a passing resemblance to the ones for sale in the Prada store in Soho. The fake Chanel bags they lay next to were lumpy, misshapen and smelled a little like petrol. An attempt to make a quick buck by buying one and passing it off as genuineperhaps by taking it to a small local consignment storewould have been met with raised eyebrows and a chuckle.

What an innocent time. Now booming demand, technological improvements and sheer opportunism have transformed the market for buying and selling luxury bags. LVMH, a luxury conglomerate, sold about 10bn-worth ($13bn) of leather goods in 2013. By 2023 it was selling 42bn-wortha 320% increase in just ten years. (The global economy, by contrast, grew by only 30%.) Dedicated reselling platforms, such as the RealReal and Vestiaire Collective, have expanded rapidly. Revenues from reselling luxury bags and clothing now add up to around $200bn a year. So producers of counterfeits have upped their game, too. Women now gather in Reddit groups to QC" (quality check) bags they order from China via WeChat. Called superfakes" by the New York Times, such dupes are often spot ondown to having the correct number of stitches on each side of the classic Chanel quilted diamond (up to 11, apparently). They cost about a tenth of the regular price.

Thus the market for secondhand luxury bags is now vast, widespread and complicated enough that those interested in buying a genuine handbag risk being swindled. As a result, it ought to be of interest to economists, who have long been gripped by questions about how markets function when information asymmetries" existwhen the seller of a good knows more about its quality than the buyer does. The topic was the subject of The Market for Lemons", a paper about the used-car market published by George Akerlof in 1970, for which he won a Nobel prize 31 years later.

In Mr Akerlofs model there are just four kinds of car: new cars and used cars; good cars and bad cars. (In America bad cars are known as lemons".) New cars are worth more than used ones and good ones should be worth more than bad ones. Mr Akerlof assumes that a cars owner will learn over time if it is a lemon. But this will not be obvious to a potential buyer. They will therefore offer the same price whether a car is good or bad, and the price will take into account the possibility that the car might be a lemon. Unable to fetch a fair price, sellers of good cars will withdraw, further driving down prices. Greshams law will assert itself: just as bad money chases out good, lemons chase out solid cars. As such, the market for decent used cars may vanish entirely.

It is not hard to spot the parallels with the market for luxury handbags: bags are either new or used; they are either real or fake. The seller will know if they bought their bag from a boutique on Fifth Avenue, ordered it via WeChat or even picked it up on Canal Streetbut their potential buyer will not.

To help overcome situations like this, it helps to have independent third parties who are able to adjudicate quality. It is often easier to sell a used car to a mechanic or a dealer, for instance, who will then be able to provide a guarantee to a less knowledgeable buyer. Many luxury brands provide authenticity cards with bags when they are sold, so that customers can prove their purchase is real. Checking these and other markers of quality is precisely the kind of role that the luxury-resale platforms, which provide authenticity-checking services, are supposed to fulfil.

Yet the task is increasingly difficult. This became clear in January, when a lawsuit brought by Chanel, a French fashion house, against What Goes Around Comes Around (WGACA), a vintage store in New York, went to trial. Chanel provided evidence that WGACA, which markets itself as providing a 100% authenticity guarantee", may have sold counterfeits. In 2012, 30,000 authenticity cards, which are included in every Chanel bag, were stolen from the warehouse of one of the firms manufacturers. No bags went missing. Their serial numbers were then voided in Chanels database. Joseph Bravo, an executive at the firm, said that he was later asked by police in Florence, Italy, to identify one of these cards which had been tucked into a fake bag. Chanel provided evidence that 50 bags with voided serial numbers had ended up being sold by WGACA. On February 6th the jury sided with Chanel, awarding the firm $4m in damages, for copyright infringement and other infractions. Chanel is also suing the RealReal over counterfeit issues, which the reselling platform denies.

Todays verdict was not about not selling a counterfeit," argued Seth Weisser, the founder of WGACA, but selling items which were voided in Chanels database." He stood by the firms 100% authenticity guarantee. But the decision plants a seed of doubt about what is being sold. If even the professionals cannot be trusted, then what? The theory of lemons suggests that the market for used handbags might collapse.

A sour taste

Nobody should be happy with such an outcome. The reselling platforms lose out for obvious reasons. But brands lose out, too. A robust resale market provides an additional reason to buy a luxury bag. Whereas a white t-shirt is a pure consumption good, likely to be used until worn out and discarded, a fine handbag is closer to buying a car: the product is an asset that depreciates over time, yet still holds value. (It can also cost about as much as a vehicle.)

The collapse of the market would also be a blow to shoppers. Lemon problems vex economists quite so much because they prevent willing buyers and sellers of perfectly good cars and handbags from striking deals that would benefit each party. Chanel has proven its point about how hard it is for third parties to authenticate its products. It may now be wise for the company to use its ample resources to find a more robust way for them to do so.

 2024, The Economist Newspaper Limited. All rights reserved.

From The Economist, published under licence. The original content can be found on www.economist.com
Mumbai: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has rejected a proposal to reappoint Rajkumar Bansal as the managing director and chief executive of Edelweiss Asset Reconstruction Company, the company said in a regulatory filing on Tuesday.

...we hereby inform you that with regard to re-appointment of Rajkumar Bansal, as Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer (MD & CEO) of the Company, RBI has communicated that the companys request has not been acceded to, said the regulatory filing on Tuesday.

Bansal, who, according to his Linkedin profile joined Edelweiss ARC as the chief executive in April 2018, has over three decades of banking experience and had retired as an executive director from IDBI Bank.

RBIs decision comes less than two weeks after it imposed business curbs on two Edelweiss group entities, including its asset reconstruction company Edelweiss ARC, for regulatory breaches.

Also Read: Evergreening, circumventing, no corrective action: Why RBI slapped curbs on Edelweiss firms The central bank had said that ECL Finance acquired loans from non-lender group entities for ultimate sale to the group ARC, circumventing regulations.

In EARCL (Edelweiss ARC), other violations included not placing the Reserve Bank (of India)s supervisory letter before the board, non-compliance with loan settlement regulations, and sharing non-public client information with group entities," the regulator had said in a statement announcing the curbs on 29 May.

Both companies have said that RBIs directions would not have a material impact.

Mint reported earlier how the regulator is also urging ARCs to improve governance and compliance. Two deputy governors recently highlighted concerns about industry practices in the 17 May meeting cited earlier. Deputy governor Swaminathan J. said onsite examinations revealed instances of ARCs being used to evergreen distressed assets".

Related read | Evergreening of loans still remains a bane of banking Deputy governor Rajeshwar Rao noted that while ARCs can aid in stressed asset resolutions, there are concerns about them becoming a vehicle for tainted promoters".

Lenders sell stressed loans to ARCs at a discount, in exchange for either cash or a mix of cash and security receipts, although lenders prefer cash. The security receipts are redeemable when the ARC recovers the loan.
India's largest lender State Bank of India (SBI), announced on June 11 that its board has approved a plan to raise up to $3 billion through debt in the current financial year, as per an exchange filing.

The state-owned financial institution plans to secure the funds in multiple tranches via either a public offering or private placement of senior unsecured notes. These notes will be denominated in US dollars or other major foreign currencies, according to the bank's statement.

State Bank of India share price was trading up 0.37 per cent at 835.20 at 2:40 pm on BSE.

In this regard, pursuant to Regulation 30 of SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015, we submit that the Executive Committee of the Central Board at its meeting held today, i.e., 11th June 2024, has approved, inter alia, to examine the status and decide on long-term fund raising in single/multiple tranches of up to US$ 3 Billion (US$ Three Billion) under RegS/144A, through a public offer and/or private placement of senior unsecured notes in US Dollar or any other major foreign currency during FY 2024-25, the SBI said in an exchange filing.

Also Read | IDFC First Bank share price Today Live Updates : IDFC First Bank Shares Rise in Positive Trading Session

However, the Mumbai-headquartered bank did not disclose the intended use of the raised capital.

This move comes as Indian banks, including SBI, are strengthening their capital reserves to cater to increasing loan demands. Several other state-run banks including Canara Bank, Punjab and Sind Bank, and Punjab National Bank also have plans to raise funds through debt this fiscal year.

Also Read | Yes Bank share price Today Live Updates : Yes Bank Shares Plunge as Investors React to Negative News

In January, SBI successfully raised 50 billion rupees (approximately $600 million) by issuing Basel III-compliant additional tier-I perpetual bonds.
New Delhi: On the morning of 9 February 2023, there was an unusual buzz at the A.P. Shinde Symposium hall of the National Agricultural Science Complex in New Delhi. That day, the Geological Survey of India (GSI), the countrys premier mineral exploratory body, was to propose its annual programme for the upcoming field season (2023-24) besides sharing various findings of the last five years with respective state governments.

Its a routine yearly exercise that does not attract much attention, but GSI officials knew things would be different this time. They had stumbled on something nobody could ignore.

The agency shared 16 geological reports and 35 geological memorandums with state governments covering 51 mineral blocks across 11 states. Further, it also handed over 17 reports of coal and lignite with total resources of 7,897 million tonnes (mt) to the ministry of coal.

But one report overshadowed everything else. The GSI, for the first time, had established lithium reserves of 5.9mt in the Salal-Haimana area of Reasi district in Jammu and Kashmir. The finding was based on exploration carried out by the agency in the shadow of the pandemic in 2020-21 and 2021-22. In one stroke, this put India among the top 10 countries with lithium reserves.

The impact was immediate. At least half a dozen companies said they were interested in developing the precious resource.

Suitors included high-profile names such as Sajjan Jindals JSW Group. Jindal told the Financial Times in April 2023 itself that he would 100 percent bid for the lithium blocks" a claim he would reiterate in March 2024. Hindalco Industries, Ola Electric, Vedanta Group and Shree Cement were some of the other interested parties.

View Full Image Sajjan Jindal, the chairman of JSW Group.

State-run Coal India Ltd, forever looking to diversify beyond coal, also showed interest. In its annual report for 2022-23, the company said: We are exploring the acquisition of lithium, cobalt, and nickel assets abroad and have amended our Memorandum of Association (MoA) to include non-ferrous and critical minerals. We are currently identifying suitable overseas assets for mergers and acquisitions."

Buoyed by such interest, the government moved quickly. Critical minerals, including lithium, were off limits for private miners in the country back then. In August 2023, the rules were amended to let private miners bid for these resources. By November, the stage was cleared for auction of the resource. The reserves put up for bidding in Kashmir were among 20 blocks comprising minerals worth an estimated 45,000 crore.

For the first time ever, we have identified a critical and deep-seated mineral. We have not just identified but we have also put it up for auction today," said Prahlad Joshi, former minister of mines, on 29 November 2023.

Lithium is a critical component in the global war against climate change and forms the bedrock of the batteries that power industries such as energy, consumer electronics and transport.

The lack of bidders at the auction, which ended in the second half of January, was a sobering reality check. The reserves in Kashmir received only two bids, forcing the government to cancel the auctionless than three bidders makes the process invalid. Mint could not ascertain the identity of the two biddersthe government does not reveal the names in case of a failed bid.

Lithium is a critical component in the global war against climate change and forms the bedrock of the batteries that power industries such as energy, consumer electronics and transport. The metals demand has zoomed in the last decade, earning it the moniker white gold, and is set to multiply manifold over the coming years.

For an import dependent economy like India, the discovery of the reserves is a big deal, justifying the hype around its discovery. Why then is the industry reluctant to walk the talk?

View Full Image Prahlad Joshi, the former minister of mines. (X)

Unproven Reserves

The biggest factor deterring most companies from the bidding process is that the reserves are unproven and highly speculative. There are four stages of exploration for any mineral depositG4, G3, G2 and G1as classified by the United Nations International Framework Classification for Reserves/Resources (UNFC-1997). The reserves in Kashmir are classified under G3, the second stage of preliminary exploration, after reconnaissance.

G3 findings are inferences about mineral resources, where quantity, grade and mineral content have been estimated with a low level of confidence. Following this, geologists undertake more intense exploration to reach the G2 stage of general exploration, and then the final G1 stage of detailed exploration. It can take years to decades to get from one stage to the next.

The deposits in Kashmir, for example, were first mapped and reported by the GSI a quarter century ago, in 1999. This was the G4 stage. It has taken nearly 25 years to get to G3 from that stage. In the next stage, G2, more studies are done to estimate the minerals shape, size and grade. The process gets expedited from one stage to the next but still takes years. The final G1 stage of detailed exploration, where characteristics of the deposit are established with a high level of accuracy, is when the mineral is any closer to actual extraction.

International experience shows it takes, on average, 16.5 years from the discovery of critical minerals to production. In addition, J&Ks resources are currently at an inferred G3 stage, so further exploration will be needed to determine the extent of the reserves that are economically recoverable," said Siddharth Goel, lead, energy programme at the International Institute of Sustainable Development (IISD).

Typically, bidding is most intense for G1 minerals, so the lack of bidders comes as no surprise for experts within the mining community.

International experience shows it takes, on average, 16.5 years from the discovery of critical minerals to production. Siddharth Goel

Bidding for resources with preliminary exploration is considered very risky as there is no certainty either on the quantity or quality. Companies find it difficult to put a fair value of the resource based solely on GSIs assumptions," said B.K. Bhatia, additional secretary, Federation of Indian Mineral Industries (FIMI), an industry body.

Lack of Know-how

The other big reason for the tepid interest is lack of technical know-how within the industry when it comes to mining lithium. Most of the lithium being mined globally today is found either in the form of brineaccumulation of saline groundwater enriched in lithiumin South America, or in the form of hard rock, in Australia. The lithium in Kashmir is neither brine nor hard rock but clay deposits mixed with other minerals, including bauxite. Commercial-scale extraction and production of such deposits is yet to be tested globally.

While the technology for extraction of lithium from hard-rock and brine deposits has matured, the technology for extraction from clay deposits remains untested globally. Given these challenges, the J&K lithium block received less than three bids," said Girishkumar Kadam, senior vice president at Icra, a rating agency.

Indias domestic mining industry is largely made up of local companies, including public sector undertakings. Multinational firms such as Rio Tinto and BHP have tried to enter the market but with little success. Their absence has resulted in a lack of technical expertise, especially in the area of exploration and prospecting.

Global mining companies havent had a good experience in India. We auction our mines here unlike the first come, first served system followed by most other mineral-rich countries like Australia and Canada. Global firms are not very comfortable with this given the uncertainties and risks involved in mining," said Hanuma Modali, managing director, Deccan Gold Mines, a gold exploration company.

Sensitive Location

A third stumbling block is the location itself. Situated 50 kilometres from the line of control in the countrys most politically volatile state, Kashmir is one of the least mined regions in the country. Added to that, the Himalayas are an ecologically fragile mountain range as the land subsidence in nearby Ramban earlier this year and Joshimath in Uttarakhand last year show.

Lithium mining can take a heavy toll on the environmentit takes about 2.2 million litres of water to extract one tonne of the metal. Any mining efforts run the risk of resistance from not just the green lobby but also the local population.

Large resource discoveries in peripheral regions far from the capital and locus of government power are often politically destabilizing, especially when those resources are discovered in areas dominated by ethnic or religious groups that face significant discrimination," said Cullen S., senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, a Washington-based think tank.

Lithium is the Future

There is no denying the importance of the soft shiny grey metal that every country is hankering for today. Due to its ability to pack energy, lithium is the key component in batteries that power modern appliances, ranging from smartphones, laptops and smartwatches to wearables and tablets. Beyond appliances, the metal has applications in other industries, such as the power sector, where it supports stationary grid storage for solar and wind energy and transport for electric vehicles (EVs).

With no production in the country, this is a massive deficit area for India. Lithium-ion imports shot up from just $94 million in 2014-15 to nearly $3 billion in 2023-24 (see table). This is only the start and as demand for electronics, renewable energy and electric vehicles (EVs) rises, so will the clamour for lithium.

According to the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), a Canada based independent think tank, demand for lithium in India is expected to grow from just 1,634 tonnes in 2022 to between 60,000 and 93,000 tonnes by 2050 (see table). Currently, the consumer electronics sector accounts for more than half of this demand, but this will change in future. The big driver could be EVs. From under 25% today, EVs could account for nearly 75% of the demand.

The estimated demand of critical minerals like lithium, nickel and cobalt is half of the reserves that are already known and economically recoverable today. Therefore, the abundance of these raw minerals does not limit a smooth transition to EVs. However, local discovery, like the one in Kashmir, is important due to strategic reasons," said Amit Bhatt, India managing director, International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT), an American think tank.

While the discovery is great news, further exploration is needed to better understand the quality and quantity of the deposit, and identify whether the material can be mined economically using the processes available today," said Bhatt.

Where does all the lithium come from right now? While the South American lithium triangle of Bolivia, Chile and Argentina accounts for more than half of the global reserves, production is concentrated in Australia, Chile and China. But having the resource and mining isnt enough. Lithium also needs to be refined and that is where China has a stranglehold, accounting for two-thirds of worlds refining capacity.

Not surprisingly, around 75% of imported lithium ion in India comes from China. Alongside mining the reserves in Kashmir, India would also need to set up sufficient refining capacity to be truly self-reliant.

India will need to secure access to capital and technology to extract lithium as well as build processing and refining infrastructure," said Goel of IISD. The uncertainty surrounding the scale of the reserves, coupled with the long-time lag before production commences, means that India cannot be complacent in sourcing lithium externally to meet its clean energy manufacturing ambitions."

Even if everything eventually falls into place, it will be years before lithium production takes off in India. But it will be a start.

View Full Image A file photo of a lithium deposit in La Corne, central Quebec. (AFP)

Second time lucky?

Fortunately, despite the failure of the auction in the first round, neither the government nor the industry has given up on Reasi. The reserves were listed again in the third tranche of auctions (for critical minerals) that concluded last month. In the run up to the auctions, senior leaders of the industry again made positive noises.

We have taken the documents for many of the mines that are comingthe auctions are happening. We are interested, we have looked at lithium, graphite, nickel and copper, which seems to come with nickel in some mines," Satish Pai, managing director of Hindalco Industries, told Moneycontrol in February 2024, less than a month after the failed lithium auction.

Mining is a part of JSW Groups activity and lithium is very important. We will certainly participate when the government comes for the auctioning of these mines," group chairman Sajjan Jindal said once again, in March.

With the new government in, the results of the lithium auction could potentially be one of the first big announcements. When that happens, Kashmirs white gold may finally have some prospectors.

Mint reached out to the Vedanta Group, Hindalco, JSW Group and Shree Cement for their comments but did not receive any response.
The semiconductor industry in India is expected to face a shortage of 250,000 to 300,000 professionals across various verticals, including research and development (R&D), manufacturing, design, and advanced packaging, by 2027, according to a report by TeamLease Degree Apprenticeship.

It is worth mentioning that India seeks to secure a significant portion of the global semiconductor manufacturing market. The government has approved four projects as part of the 76,000 crore semiconductor incentive scheme.

Sumit Kumar, Chief Business Officer at TeamLease Degree Apprenticeship, said the number of apprenticeships in the electronics industry has surged from 7,517 in 2019-20 to 91,948 in 2023-24, marking a remarkable 12.2-fold increase.

He highlighted the importance of the governments support via the PLI and DLI schemes, emphasizing the collective efforts of industry, academia, and training organizations in building a strong semiconductor ecosystem in India.

On the other hand, TeamLease Degree Apprenticeship CEO Ramesh Alluri Reddy also stressed the mission of putting India to work to increase employment in India, especially in light of the $15 billion investment in three semiconductor plants.

The PLI scheme alone offers a $1.7 billion incentive package for companies establishing semiconductor manufacturing facilities in India. Advancements in AI-driven technologies are pushing India towards higher-value activities in the semiconductor industry, he said.

AI-powered chip design and smart manufacturing are creating a demand for professionals skilled in AI, IoT, and 5G. Building an ecosystem for higher value creation activities and cultivating a competent workforce through degree apprenticeships and training programs is crucial to establish India as a significant player, Reddy added.

Industry projections indicate that India's semiconductor sector is expected to hit $100 billion by 2030. Recently, both companies and the government have worked together to develop the required curriculum for numerous colleges.
On the afternoon of 30 May, when the northern plains were in the grip of a severe heat wave and breaking many records for maximum temperature readings, India set another record. The countrys power utilities successfully met the maximum power demand of 250 gigawatts (GW). On the same day, thermal power generation also climbed to a new peak of 176 GW.

The peak demand exceeded the revised estimates of the government's power sector experts. The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) had estimated peak demand at 235 GW for May and to cross the 250 GW level in August and September.

The power sector regulator had previously estimated peak demand for 2024-25 at about 245 GW and for 2025-06 at 260 GW in its electric power survey published in November 2022. This is forecast to climb to 328 GW by 2031-32 and 488 GW by 2041-42.

The CEA's power demand forecasts are based on demand from households, industry, commercial establishments, irrigation, railway traction, public water works, public lighting, and so on.

Also read | Can India keep up with the ebbs and flows of power demand?

Additionally, the 2022 electric power survey considered emerging demand from electric vehiclesit assumed that 30% of all vehicles sold in 2030 would be battery electric vehicles and 100% by 2042. Solar power and hydrogen mission contributions that will ease the pressure on conventional energy sources were also considered.

However, the widespread use of artificial intelligence (AI), particularly generative AI, and the setting up of large data centres to support online AI interactions could lead to the overshooting of these demand forecasts. Mint explains how the rise of AI could lead to a sharp increase in power demand.

Why should power utilities worry about the rising use of AI?

Concerns about the energy impact of AI are on the rise in many parts of the world. The International Energy Agency, in its annual report on electricity market developments and policies published in January, estimated that data centres, cryptocurrencies and AI together accounted for 460 terawatt hours (TWh) of power or about 2% of global electricity demand in 2022.

This demand could rise to 620-1,050 TWh by 2026; the agencys base case for demand is at just over 800 TWh. The additional demand by 2026 from data centres, cryptos and AI is equivalent to the 2022 power consumption of Sweden at the lower end and Germany at the higher end.

An article published by the World Economic Forum noted that the energy requirement to run AI tasks was already accelerating with an annual growth rate of 26-36%. This means by 2028, AI could be using more power than the entire country of Iceland used in 2021," the article read.

Also read | For AI, a few seconds of power becomes a booming business

A widely cited and peer-reviewed analysis by Alex de Vries, a doctoral candidate at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, highlighted that AI servers are power-hungry devices. A single NVIDIA DGX A100 server can consume as much electricity as a handful of US households combined. Because of this, the electricity consumption of hundreds of thousands of these devices will start to add up quickly," De Vries wrote on his blog.

His paper was published in the scientific journal Joule in October 2023. AI systems require graphics processing units (GPUs) to run large numbers of calculations quickly, 95% of which are supplied by Nvidia.

He estimates that the worldwide AI-related electricity consumption could increase by 85.4-134.0 TWh by 2027. This figure represents half a percent of the worldwide electricity consumption and is comparable to the annual electricity consumption of countries such as the Netherlands, Argentina and Sweden.

What makes AI power-hungry?

According to New Scientist, De Vires in his paper noted that if Google were to switch its entire search business to AI, it would end up using 29.3 TWh per yearequivalent to the electricity consumption of Ireland, and almost double the companys total energy consumption of 15.4 terawatt hours in 2020.

Making that sort of switch is practically impossible, as it would require more than four million powerful computer chips known as GPUs that are currently in huge demand, with limited supply. This would cost $100 billion, which even Googles deep pockets would struggle to fund," he wrote.

The IEA estimates that a single Google search takes 0.3 watt-hours of electricity, while a ChatGPT request takes 2.9 watt-hours.

Also read | Whats behind the renewed interest in nuclear power?

Online interactions using AI such as chatbots need the support of large data centres equipped with hundreds of machines with high-performance chips. Energy is required not just to keep these data centres running 24x7 but also to keep the machines cool. Thats just one part of the energy requirement of AI.

The training and inference phases of AI models also consume a lot of electricity. During the training phase, models learn and develop by digesting vast amounts of data. In the inference phase, models go live and respond to specific real-world problems and queries. While both phases are energy intensive, the inference phase accounts for the bulk of the consumption.

According to some estimates, training a large language model like OpenAIs GPT-3 uses nearly 1,300 MWh of electricity, equivalent to the annual consumption of about 130 US homes.

Can India handle a surge in demand for power from a widespread deployment of AI?

India is rapidly digitalising and that itself is set to increase the power demand. A joint study by Microsoft and LinkedIn found that over 90% of Indias knowledge workers use AI tools to improve productivity.

Rising usage of generative AI models such as ChatGPT by students, professionals and industry will lead to the setting up of many large data centres.

Also read | How India keeps up with its power needs, in 8 charts

India is already one of the larger data centre hubs in the world, and with increased data localisation the number of data centres will increase. These data centres need a reliable and stable flow of electricity.

Governments, regulators and electricity generating and distribution companies must consider this demand when forecasting to ensure adequate capacity is built.
BlackRock Inc. closed-end fund holders are being urged by an influential proxy adviser to reject efforts by activist hedge fund Saba Capital Management to terminate the firm as manager of two funds overseeing about $2 billion.

Still, in reports released late Monday, Institutional Shareholder Services recommended supporting Sabas board nominees for the two funds, noting concerns over their governance structures.

ISS urged shareholders to reject Sabas proposals to terminate BlackRock as the investment adviser of the California Municipal Income Trust and BlackRock Science and Technology Term Trust , while recommending they support board nominees put forward by Saba for each fund, according to the reports seen by Bloomberg.

Saba has presented a compelling case for change at the board level, but has not made a case for termination of the management contract at this time, ISS said in the BFZ report.

BlackRocks closed-end shareholders will vote next week on Sabas proposal to nominate new board members at six closed-end funds and to remove the firm as manager of certain funds. On Tuesday, proxy adviser Glass Lewis weighed in on proposals for three of the six closed-end funds  backing all of BlackRocks nominees and urging shareholders to retain the firm as manager.

Boaz Weinsteins Saba has spent years and billions of dollars buying up closed-end funds trading at steep discounts and then pressuring managers to close the gap via tender offers and other means. BlackRock has pushed back against Sabas claims that the firm is mismanaging its closed-end funds, telling investors that the hedge fund is attacking the funds all to enrich itself.

BlackRock praised Glass Lewiss broad support in a statement Tuesday, while describing the ISS recommendation as a vote of confidence in a separate statement.

As trusted fiduciaries, our commitment to all shareholders is unwavering, and we will continue to defend and advance their best interests, R. Glenn Hubbard, chair of the boards of BlackRock closed-end funds, said in the statement.

Meanwhile, Saba said in a statement that ISS is holding BlackRock accountable for disregarding shareholder rights. BlackRocks hand-picked trustees are directly responsible for destroying billions in shareholder value and preventing us from taking action to protect our investment, Saba partner and portfolio manager Paul Kazarian said in the statement.

The proxy recommendations are the latest development in an intense showdown between Saba and BlackRock, whose outcome could potentially shake up the $250 billion closed-end fund industry.

Saba is pushing for boardroom changes at 10 BlackRock funds in total, contending its board candidates will improve the funds financial returns by closing the discount between the market price and their net asset value.

Last month, BlackRock released plans to waive some management fees and increase distributions at some closed-end funds, as Weinstein issued a fresh attack against the vehicles.

In its reports Monday, ISS had mixed recommendations for four other funds in which Saba is also looking to win board seats.

ISS supports BlackRocks slate of directors for the New York Municipal Income Trust and MuniYield Pennsylvania Quality Fund . For the MuniHoldings New York Quality Fund and MuniYield New York Quality Fund , ISS supported one BlackRock nominee, but recommended that shareholders withhold support for another BlackRock director.

With assistance from Crystal Tse.
Shares in shipping and logistics providers came under heavy selling pressure Tuesday as investors digested news of a possible cease-fire between Israel and Hamas, which could see merchant vessels return to the Red Sea and send freight rates sharply lower.

Houthi rebels in Yemen began attacking commercial vessels in the Red Sea in December last year in response to the war between Israeli forces and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, forcing container ships to take longer, more expensive routes around southern Africas Cape of Good Hope to avoid the region.

With vessels busy sailing the longer routes, a market that suffered from overcapacity became tight and sent spot freight rates surging, prompting shippers in recent weeks to increase their profit expectations for the year.

Having previously expected a tough year on overcapacity and low rates, Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd both raised guidance along with their first quarter earnings as the Red Sea conflict pushed prices up.

Kepler Cheuvreux chief analyst Axel Styrman said in a note that capacity utilization in the container shipping market is currently at around 85%, with four percentage points of that coming from the diversion of vessels mainly because the distance ships must travel from China to Europeone of three main routes in ocean container shippinghas increased by 32%.

The Shanghai Containerized Freight Index, a spot price index, rose 82% from early April to June 7, largely driven by the diversions and seasonality, he said.

However, on Monday evening the UN Security Council approved its first resolution endorsing a cease-fire plan, increasing the likelihood of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas and a peace process going forward.

The U.S. says Israel has agreed to the deal, which includes an initial temporary cease-fire, the release of hostages, and the withdrawal of Israeli forces in Gaza, while Hamas told Arab negotiators they would accept a deal only if Israel commits to a permanent cease-fire.

It is likely that this will lead to a reduction or complete stop of Houthi attacks on ships in the Red Sea, which could see container ships return to the Red Sea and means that 4% of global fleet capacity will come to market in three to four weeks, according to Styrman.

This will lead to a collapse in spot prices with a decline of at least 50% from current levels, a scenario we have anticipated gradually in the second half of 2024-2025," he said.

Hapag-Lloyd said in a statement it has no plans to passage through the Red Sea yet. I would not expect that to happen within the next months to come," a spokesperson said.

Shares in Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd both fell over 6% in afternoon trade in Europe while Asian carriers Cosco and Yang Ming both closed around 10% lower.

Write to Dominic Chopping at dominic.chopping@wsj.com
Dividend stocks: Shares of Asian Paints Ltd, Jindal Saw Ltd, Kriti Nutrients Ltd, Kriti Industries (India) Ltd, Tata Motors Ltd, and Tata Motors Ltd DVR will be in focus when the stock market opens on June 11 (Tuesday).

The Board of Directors of these companies had declared special dividends and final dividends for their eligible shareholders.

These companies had fixed June 11 as the record date to ascertain the eligibility of shareholders for their respective issues.

Ex-dividend date Shares of Asian Paints Ltd, Jindal Saw Ltd, Kriti Nutrients Ltd, Kriti Industries (India) Ltd, Tata Motors Ltd, and Tata Motors Ltd DVR will trade ex-dividend on Tuesday (June 11).

Dividends Asian Paints: The company had declared a final dividend of 28.15 per equity share for the financial year 2024.

In a stock exchange filing, Asian Paints said the Board of Directors Recommended payment of final dividend of Rs. 28.15 (Rupees twenty-eight and paise fifteen only) per equity share of the face value of Re. 1 (Rupee one) each for the financial year ended 31 st March 2024, subject to the approval of the shareholders at the ensuing 78th Annual General Meeting of the Company.

Jindal Saw: The company had declared a final dividend of 4.00 per equity share for the financial year 2024.

In a stock exchange filing, Jindal Saw said: the Board has recommended a dividend of Rs. 4/- per equity shares having a face value of Rs. 2/- each for the financial year ended 31st March, 2024.

Kriti Industries (India): The company had declared a final dividend of 0.20 per equity share for the financial year 2024.

In a stock exchange filing, Kriti Industries (India) said: We are pleased to inform you that the Board of Directors of the Company has recommended a dividend @ Rs. 0.20/- (20%) per equity shares ofRe. 1/- each for the year 2023-24, on the total 4,96,03,520 ~quity shares of Re. 1/- each which will be paid to all the members/beneficiaries of the Company.

Kriti Nutrients: The company had declared a final dividend of 0.30 per equity share for the financial year 2024.

In a stock exchange filing, Kriti Nutrients said: We are pleased to inform you that the Board of Directors of the Company has recommended a dividend @ Rs. 0.301- (30%) per equity shares of Re. 1/- each for the year 2023-24, on the total 5,01,03,520 equity shares of Re. 1/- each which will be paid to all the members/beneficiaries of the Company.
Following the election verdict, most FMCG shares have seen a jump of up to 10%, attributed to their defensive characteristics and the optimism surrounding improved prospects.

A convergence of favorable factorssuch as the monsoon-driven rural resurgence, heightened focus on social welfare post election, and margin buoyancy propelled by crude pricesbode well for the sector, says domestic brokerage firm Anand Rathi in its latest note.

The brokerage noted that the results of the 2024 general election, particularly the loss of seats in key states like UP and Maharashtra, could prompt the Union government to intensify its focus on social welfare.

With upcoming state elections in Maharashtra and Bihar in 2024 and the Budget likely scheduled for July, the brokerage anticipates increased allocation for social welfare schemes, which would boost rural income.

Early monsoon arrival promises bumper harvest season The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasts above-average monsoon rains at 106% of the long-term average this year.

Also Read: Brokerages see likely gain in FMCG stock with BJPs return to power

The monsoon arrived early in Kerala on May 30th, compared to the usual June 1st, and has already covered much of South India. A consistent monsoon is expected to result in healthy kharif crops, leading to better farm income and a modest rise in food prices for consumers, said the brokerage.

Fall in crude prices to aid gross margin Crude oil prices have decreased by 10% over the past 710 days. Crude oil and its derivatives are essential inputs for various FMCG products and their packaging, with packaging costs constituting 5-20% of many companies input costs.

"We expect the steady input price environment to persist due to a lack of major supply-demand mismatch/disruption. Thus, we expect better gross margin trajectories for most of the companies that we cover, aided by better mix and price increases in some cases (alcoholic beverages, Emami.)," said Anand Rathi.

Revival in sight The brokerage's analysis of 11 FMCG companies (excluding ITC) shows that Q4 revenue grew by just 3.3%, a significant decline from 6% in H1 and 13% in FY23, but an improvement from 2.1% in Q3.

It projects a gradual revenue growth recovery to 8.8% for the FMCG companies it covers by FY25, primarily driven by volume growth.

The brokerage also noted that advertising and sales promotion (A&SP) expenditures increased by 24% year-on-year (or 180 basis points) for eight FMCG companies in Q4. This follows a 30% rise in H1 and 27% in Q3, driven by heightened competition and new product launches due to the sharp decline in input costs for smaller companies.

While A&SP spending (as a percentage of net sales) is expected to remain high, its growth is likely to moderate as gross margin gains are anticipated to ease in FY25, it noted.

Valuations Given these multiple tailwinds, the brokerage has maintained its 'buy' rating on three FMCG stocks: Hindustan Unilever (HUL) with a target price of 3,000, Emami with a target price of 730, and Zydus Wellness with a target price of 2,150.

In the consumer discretionary sector, United Breweries is the brokerage's top pick. It has a target price of 2,300 per share with a 'buy' rating.
Shares of HUDCO and NBCC surged sharply in today's early morning trade, despite the broader indices trading within a muted range. This rally in these government-backed companies came after the new Cabinet, in its very first meeting on Monday, approved government assistance for the construction of three crore houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), a housing scheme initiated by the Government of India in 2015.

HUDCO, which had a significant exposure to affordable housing finance, saw its shares gain 8.5% in intraday trade, reaching 290. NBCC, which benefits from construction-related activities, experienced a similar spike of 8.4%, with shares touching 155.

PMAY aims to provide affordable housing to economically weaker sections (EWS), low-income groups (LIG), and middle-income groups (MIG) through financial assistance and subsidies for construction or renovation.

The move comes even as the government has launched a new housing scheme under PMAY (Urban) in the form of interest subvention for urban poor and middle-class people, which is set to end in December 2024.

The new announcement is set to lead to a resumption of construction of homes under the older scheme, given that the government was aiming to complete homes already sanctioned, rather than sanctioning new ones. So far, 11.8 million houses have been sanctioned under the scheme, of which 8.35 million have been completed, according to the website of the scheme.

Further, under PMAY (Gramin), which is under the rural development ministry, the government had set a target to construct 29.5 million houses by March 31, 2024. According to the ministry, as of November 2023, over 29.4 million houses had been sanctioned, of which 25 million had been completed.

Both the housing schemes have been flagship welfare schemes of the government. A total of 42.1 million houses have been completed for eligible poor families under the scheme in the last 10 years.
Concerns over the stability of the current coalition government are premature, and the current government may remain fiscally prudent and use populism opportunistically, according to a note from brokerage firm Kotak Institutional Equities (Kotak Securities Limited).

"Fears of the current coalition government being unstable are too premature. The more probable outcome would be slower decision-making with the slower passage of legislative agendas, given a larger opposition and major executive decisions requiring a more consultative approach," said Kotak.

"All solutions to electoral losses need not be translated into populism and away from a macro framework built over the last decade. We expect the government to remain fiscally prudent and populism to be used opportunistically," Kotak said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was sworn in as prime minister for the third consecutive term on Sunday, June 9, along with his 71 ministers.

He allocated portfolios to the newly elected ministers in his cabinet on Monday, June 10, and the first cabinet meeting took place in Delhi on the same day.

Kotak Securities expects the coalition government to see an increase in compromises, and the interests of coalition partners will need to be given relatively higher priority due to the weaker strength of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in National Democratic Alliance (NDA) 3.0.

"Demands from Andhra Pradesh and Bihar for higher budgetary allocation (comparable with special status) may result in at least 500 billion additional allocations. The executive agenda may become more consultative," said Kotak.

However, BJPs lower seat count may not result in a significant impact on fiscals.

"While BJPs lower seat count will be linked to the need for more populism, we believe that not all solutions need to be fiscal-led," said Kotak.

The brokerage firm underscored that assembly elections in Haryana, Jharkhand, Maharashtra (all in Oct-Dec 2024) and Bihar (November 2025) could imply populism on the state governments agenda rather than the Centres.

"The Centre will likely continue to focus on (1) fiscal consolidation, (2) steady infrastructure spending, (3) basic spending such as on education, health, shelter, and security, and (4) efficient delivery of rural-based programs. Loans for capex to states could be increased with a lower share being conditional," said Kotak.

Kotak believes the risks of a more populist Union Budget would increase if the upcoming state elections results turn adverse for the BJP.
Brokerage house Nuvama believes multibagger wind energy stock Suzlon Energy is a good to have, not a need to have one. The brokerage finds no reason to stray away from the BUY thesis with an unchanged target price of 53. This recommendation is supported by the structural upturn in the wind sector and the company's financial turnaround.

Suzlon Energy Ltd shares have garnered attention in Tuesday's trading session due to a significant order win.

Read here: Stability concerns premature; government may stay fiscally prudent: Kotak The stock rose as much as 4 percent in intra-day deals to 49.29 in intra-day deals today. It is now just 5.5 percent away from its 52-week high of 52.19, hit on June 4, 2024. Meanwhile, it has surged multifold, 271 percent, from its 52-week low of 13.28, hit on June 23, 2023.

On June 8, Marc Desaedeleer, an Independent Director at Suzlon, tendered his resignation. In his resignation letter, he cited instances where the corporate governance standards practiced by the company did not align with his expectations. Specifically, he noted situations where communications lacked the level of openness and transparency he anticipated.

Read here: ONGC stock jumps almost 5% as Jefferies sees over 50% upside However, Suzlon Energy's CEO clarified that the concerns raised were primarily process-oriented and of a soft nature, which would be addressed in due course. The Suzlon management emphasised that the suggestions put forth by Desaedeleer did not pertain to financial or operational irregularities or non-compliance with the law. Rather, they related to matters that did not meet Desaedeleer's personal standards of expectations and desired speed of implementation.

Despite this, analysts have largely maintained a 'Buy' rating on the stock on strong financial turnaround, wind sector potential, and its recent order wins.

"With Suzlon turning around its financial position and the operational ramp-up expected in FY25, management is looking to address the needs of the business first and intends to implement such best-in-class suggestions in due course. We, hence, find no reason to stray away from our BUY thesis on Suzlon driven by the upturn in the wind sector and financial turnaround of the company," noted Nuvama.

Read here: Is it wise to buy PSU stocks as Sitharaman retained FM in Modi cabinet? Suzlon Energy is capable of maintaining its leadership in WTG/turnkey EPC execution leading to 21 percent OB and 61 percent PAT CAGR over FY2427E, the brokerage had said in an earlier report. The company is now well placed to capture its previous highs and sustain leadership, it had stated, adding that it expects Suzlon Energy to maintain a market share of around 30 percent and show a strong pickup in order intake and execution.

Meanwhile, brokerage ICICI Securities also emphasised that the resignation letter doesn't suggest any financial or legal impropriety. The management is actively enhancing transparency and information-sharing processes. With these measures in place, the management is optimistic about resolving corporate governance concerns and enhancing disclosures. ICICI maintains a 'BUY' rating on Suzlon with a target price of 60, implying an almost 27 percent upside.

Read here: Wardwizard Innovations: This small-cap EV stock soared 54% in just 5 sessions The broking firm highlighted Suzlon Energy's focus on debt reduction and efficient working capital management over the past 15 months. It affirmed the company's commitment to enhancing corporate governance continuously, mentioning recent steps taken to boost transparency. The firm expressed confidence in Suzlon's ability to address specific corporate governance issues.

Additionally, ICICI Securities provided a positive outlook for the wind industry in the medium to long term, citing an expected 10GW wind opportunity from FY23 to FY27E. It emphasised the increasing complexity of renewable energy projects and the pivotal role wind energy is poised to play in future renewable energy generation.

Read here: Mid, smallcaps rise despite valuation concerns; what is driving broader market? Morgan Stanley also recently initiated coverage on Suzlon with an 'Overweight' rating, citing it as a significant beneficiary of India's energy shift towards greener sources. Positioned well to capitalise on this transition, Suzlon could potentially secure wind orders totaling approximately 32 GW or $31 billion over the next five years. According to the brokerage, earnings are expected to soar with a 57 percent Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) from FY24 to FY27.

Morgan Stanley noted that Suzlon 2.0 is well-positioned to benefit from India's energy transition. The company has become much stronger after deleveraging and leaner by reducing fixed operating costs. Suzlon achieved debt-free status by raising funds through various methods, including a QIP and a rights issue. By the end of the March quarter, the company had a net cash balance of 1,100 crore.

Read here: Multibagger! Suncity Synthetics gives over 280% returns in less than 3 months The stock has given multibagger returns in the last 1 year, rallying 238 percent, while in 2024 YTD, it has advanced 26.4 percent, giving positive returns in 4 of the 6 months so far.

The stock climbed 1.3 percent in June, marking its third consecutive month of gains. It surged 14.5 percent in May and 3 percent in April. However, the stock experienced a decline of 10.7 percent in March and 1.5 percent in February. Prior to that, in January 2024, the stock recorded a gain of 20.3 percent.
When Advit Nigam, a 42-year-old banker moved into his new home in Greater Kailash in south Delhi, he was thrilled to discover a myriad of amenities tailored to promote wellness. From a cutting-edge yoga studio to a serene rooftop garden, the residence offered an array of features that resonated with his newfound focus on well-being.

Among these amenities, the circadian lighting system stood out as a game-changer. This innovative lighting setup not only enhances the ambiance of my living space but also plays a crucial role in optimising my sleep patterns. By mimicking the natural rhythms of daylight, the circadian lighting system helps me wind down in the evening, facilitating deeper and more restorative sleep," he says.

A wellness home is one that has amenities focussed on enhancing its residents physical and mental health. Swati Gupta, founder and principal designer at Blue Dot Design, paints a more elaborate picture. A wellness home comes with enhanced ventilation systems that ensure superior indoor air quality and air purifiers to eliminate allergens and pollutants. It is made with eco-conscious materials like low VOC paints and sustainable flooring that minimise indoor toxins. It has abundant natural light flooding through ample windows and water filtration systems offer clean, refreshing water, while smart home technology optimises energy efficiency and comfort," says Gupta. She adds that these homes come with outdoor living spaces such as gardens and green roofs that foster relaxation, connection with nature, and encourage physical activity. All these features provide the inhabitant a holistic wellness experience," she says.

The Indian real estate industry has traditionally prioritised location, aesthetics and functional spaces as its key offerings. According to Suren Dsouza, managing director & principal architect of Deksha Design Studio, Mumbai, this new shift towards wellness reflects an evolving understanding that our living environment can profoundly impact health and well-being.

What began as a niche interest has rapidly gained traction, transforming the way homes and apartments are conceived and constructed. The wellness revolution in real estate is characterised by a focus on holistic health and an emphasis on creating spaces that contribute positively to residents physical and mental well-being," Dsouza explains.

Air quality, for example, has become a major focus. Homes are being equipped with advanced ventilation systems, air purifiers and materials that minimise off-gassing and indoor pollutants. These measures not only promote respiratory health but also contribute to a cleaner, more enjoyable living space. With residents quality of life becoming paramount, developers across metros are prioritising wellness-centric features within high-rise projects.

In Hyderabad, we are witnessing a significant surge in the integration of wellness-centric features in residential projects. From meticulously crafted air filtration systems to thoughtfully designed lighting schemes and dedicated spaces for relaxation and rejuvenation, developers are looking at ways in which residents wellbeing can be enhanced, shares Rajasekhar Reddy Allipuram, founder of PropGo and partner, Terra Liva Estates.

Whats worth noting, he says, is that developers are actively working to incorporate such amenitiesonce the purview of only luxury propertiesinto a wider range of high-rise developments. As demand grows and technologies evolve, we anticipate these wellness-focused enhancements to become standard offerings for residents across Hyderabad," Allipuram says.

The wellness revolution in real estate is characterised by a focus on holistic health and an emphasis on creating spaces that contribute positively to residents physical and mental well-being. -Suren D'souza

What does it cost?

While the idea of a home designed to promote well-being sounds dreamy, there are practical concerns like budget to be factored in. The cost of integrating wellness solutions into homes can vary widely depending on the extent and complexity of the features desired, says Gupta. The cost of implementing wellness solutions can add tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of dollars to the overall price of a home. However, the long-term benefits to health and well-being may justify the initial investment for some buyers," she notes.

Allipuram may have a point about these features becoming standard offerings soon. According to a recent report released by Global Wellness Institute (GWI), a US-based non-profit research and educational institution, the burgeoning sector known as wellness real estate" is poised for remarkable growth, with earnings projected to grow globally from $438 billion in 2023 to $913 billion by 2028. While the US, China and UK ranked as the top three markets for the industry, India came 10th with earnings purportedly rising from $5.01 billion in 2019 to $9.08 billion in 2023.

Home is where happiness is

Its not just developers and realtors who are concerning themselves with the idea of wellness homes. A recent rash of surveys and studies conducted by home solutions companiesfrom sleep solution providers to paint manufacturersprove that they are looking at ways to incorporate elements of wellness into their offerings, as well. A study by Nippon Paint India published in February, for instance, categorised colours into archetypes that described the moods every colour could evoke in people.

With people holing themselves in their homes more than ever, it is natural that people want to make their private spaces idyllic, says Dr. Kaustav Sengupta, faculty at NIFT, and Nippon Paints color analyst whose insights fortified the study. As for how the archetypes he'd created could help enhance a home, Sengupta says, If you are a parent with a son who prefers spending all his time at home, you'd want to choose colours from the Wonderland archetype that includes bright colours that could uplift his mood. Or if you are someone who wants their home to be a place to relax and detach from the external world, you'd choose the Heal archetype that has soothing greens and blues colours that encourage you to do nothing."

In late February, Bengaluru-based sleep and home solutions provider, Wakefit.Co released the Happy Home Index 2024, a report that contained the results of a year-long study they'd conducted with 3,000 participants across Indian metros. The vision of the survey was to understand the relationship people have with their homes and the elements in the home that made them happy, including functional objects such as bookshelves or wardrobes.

People derive happiness from their homes in two ways: through its visual aesthetic and through how comfortable they feel," says co-founder Chaitanya Ramalingegowda. Post-pandemic, people are looking to add elements that combine both beauty and comfort, which contributes to overall well-being, he says. They want a study desk with an ergonomic chair to work out of or a sofa that offers lumbar support," says Ramalingegowda underlining the fact that ultimately, a happy home is a space where style marries well-being.

Tanisha Saxena is a Delhi-based independent journalist. She writes stories that are on the intersection of art, culture and lifestyle.
Aditya Birla Sun Life Mutual Fund launched one of Indias first global funds from Gift City (registered with the International Financial Services Authority, or IFSC) last year. It had its first close in September, raising $33 million, mostly from resident Indians and institutions.

The fund is a close-ended Category II alternative investment fund (AIF). It has a term of 4.5 years, which can be extended by another year with the consent of two-thirds of its investors. It will feed into the ARGA Emerging Market Equity Fund. ARGA is a US-based asset manager with about $15 billion worth of assets globally.

The underlying fund actively picks 35-80 companies in emerging markets. It is mostly exposed to China, South Korea, Taiwan and Brazil. Its major holdings are TSMC, Gree, SK Hynix, Alibaba and Samsung. In terms of sectors, it is dominated by financial services, consumer discretionary and technology.

The ABSL Emerging Market Equity fund has a graded expense ratio for investors depending on how much they invest. For the direct plan variant (Class B1) at the lowest ticket size, this comes to 1.25%.

The expense ratio reduces for higher ticket sizes as per a defined slab rate. The underlying fund has delivered returns (net of withholding taxes and fees) of 10.5% in the past year, 4.2% in the past three years and 7.1% in the past five years (as of April 2024).

These are returns in US dollars. It has beaten the MSCI Emerging Markets Index (net) over all these periods.

As for the ABSL Emerging Equity Fund, it is up 10.65% over the past six months and 5.67% since its inception on 6 September last year.

View Full Image (Graphics: Pranay Bhardwaj)

Valuation for emerging markets as a whole looks attractive, with Brazil and China being significantly cheaper than advanced economies like the US," said A. Balasubramanian, managing director and chief executive officer, Aditya Birla Sun Life Asset Management Co. Ltd.

A higher degree of individual investor participation, lower availability of sell-side research and other demographic factors have contributed to greater inefficiencies and volatility in emerging markets offering high scope for growth," he said.

Improving quality and corporate governance in emerging market companies and greater depth of financial markets are further aiding the case of investing in emerging markets. Our fund encourages investors to take a leap and strengthen their portfolio by investing in attractive emerging markets, at a discount," said Balasubramanian.

The fund also offers the opportunity to capitalize on favourable exchange rate movements apart from generating returns through its investments. The economic conditions are ripe for investors to go global, and we are here to provide them with our support in this journey."

Tax benefits

The term of the ABSL Global Emerging Markets Equity Fund has been carefully chosen. After three years, gains in the fund will be taxed as long-term capital gains (LTCG) for Indian residents. This implies a tax rate of 20%, and investors will benefit from indexation as well. Since this will act as a feeder fund with a buy and hold strategy, any churn in stocks in the underlying fund will not generate taxation for investors.

For non-resident Indians (NRIs), there will be no tax in Gift City or India. However, they may be taxed on gains in their home countries. For resident Indians, the benefit of global diversification is coupled with a 20% tax with indexation after a three-year holding period.

In contrast, regular feeder mutual funds investing overseas (called funds of funds, or FoFs) are taxed at a slab rate regardless of the hounding period (after Budget 2023).

Ease of investment

One of the big benefits of Gift City for NRIs is the simpler paperwork involved. Since Gift City is considered to be a jurisdiction outside India, the complex forex rules around non-resident ordinary (NRO), non-resident external (NRE) and portfolio investment scheme (PIS) accounts do not apply.

View Full Image (Graphics: Pranay Bhardwaj)

Furthermore, the fund is denominated in the US dollar. Hence, NRIs can directly remit money to it from their foreign bank accounts in US dollar without converting to Indian rupee. Corporates can also remit up to 50% of their net worth under the Reserve Bank of Indias (RBI) overseas portfolio investment (OPI) norms.

Is round-tripping a concern?

Generally, investments abroad that, in turn, invest in India do open up the risk of running afoul of round-tripping regulations in India. However, this may not be a major concern here.

The underlying fund has historically invested 5-15% of its assets in India. However, since this is a relatively small proportion and it is a managed pooled vehicle with many investors, it may not attract any action related to round-tripping, according to a senior industry executive who declined to be named.

Disadvantages

On the flip side, the funds close-ended structure means that investors cannot wait out a bad period. The emerging markets mandate may not mean much diversification from India. Past returns do not compare favourably to those delivered by the Indian market.

The AIF also has a high ticket size ($150,000). Remitting money to it from India attracts a 20% tax collected at source. This can be adjusted against other taxes payable or claimed in your income tax return as a refund. However, it does present the investor with a cash-flow drain in the short term.

The ABSL fund is a niche bet for the select few who want to take on a high level of risk. But whats important to note is that it is an early version of many such products that may spring up in Gift City. Investors should keep an eye out for them.

Also Read: Why alternative investment funds are betting on performing credit
RSS leader Santanu Sinha on Tuesday issued a clarification on his sexual exploitation allegations against BJP's IT cell head Amit Malviya, saying his post was not intended to malign Malviya's image. The remarks came after the BJP leader filed a defamation suit against Sinha.

Sinha described it as humiliating that the Congress party was running a "hate campaign" against Malviya and the BJP. He also criticized the West Bengal BJP unit, expressing astonishment that no one from the state unit attempted to understand the "intent of the post," instead playing a dubious role.

In a Facebook post, the RSS leader wrote, I want to give a clear message that the post was not aimed to malign Malviya but as caution not to get entangled in a honey trap, which was first brought to light by Tathagata Roy, ex-president of the State unit and former governor of Tripura.

"No corner in the post there is any whisper about sexual exploitation of women by Amit Malviya. Rather I have there expressed my fear if Malviya will be drawn to honey trap by the unscrupulous leaders of the party to remain clung to their post despite such debacle in the recently held election," he added.

He expressed his "heartfelt sorrow" and insisted that he had not written anything inappropriate in the post. He also stated that he has no intention of withdrawing it. do not want BJP and its office bearers get undermined in any manner by misinterpretation of my post.

Congress seeks action against Malviya On Monday, Congress demanded Malviya's removal from his position and an independent probe into Sinha's alleged 'sexual exploitation' post dated June 7, 2024.

Shantanu Sinha has said that the BJP IT Cell head Amit Malviya, has indulged in nefarious activities. He indulges in the sexual exploitation of women. Not just in 5-star hotels but in BJP offices in West Bengal. The only thing that we seek from the BJP is, justice for women, Congress leader Supriya Shrinate said.

"The reality is less than 24 hours after PM Modi was sworn in, serious charges of sexual exploitation have been leveled against a very prominent office bearer of the BJP, the head of its IT cell. Today we seek the immediate removal of Amit Malviya from his position. It's an extremely influential position. It's a position of power and there can be no independent inquiry. There can be no independent probe. There cannot be justice unless and until he doesn't get removed from his position," she added.
Bangalore police, on June 11, detained Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa from Mysuru in connection with a murder case, HT Kannada reported. The South Indian actor was arrested for his alleged links in the Renukaswamy murder case and is currently being brought to Bangalore.

Renukaswamy allegedly made derogatory social media posts about Pavitra Gowda and suggested an initial police investigation. Police began an investigation into the case after they found Renukaswamys dead body near Sumannahalli Bridge in Bengaluru, reported Asianet.

Also Read: Passenger goes naked on Melbourne-bound Virgin Australia flight, arrested Ten people have been arrested in the case so far. According to an Asianet report, police officials are likely to give further information about the case in a press conference shortly.

The 47-year-old was picked up from a hotel in Mysuru in connection with the murder of Renukaswamy.

Renukaswamy murder case A native of Chitradurga, Renukaswamy was allegedly murdered for harassing Pavithra Gowda online. Gowda is a close friend of the Kannada actor Darshan. Renukaswamy was asked to come near a Mysuru farmhouse owned by Darshan.

Also Read: Canadian auto parts billionaire Frank Stronach, 91, arrested on sexual assault charges Allegedly, the accused persons tortured Renukaswamy for hours and murdered him before dumping his body in a drain in Bengaluru's Kamakshipalya region two months ago, reported The Hindu, referring to police. The police recovered the dead body on June 9 from the area and began an investigation into the case.

After Darshan Thoogudeepas arrest, police personnel have been deployed near his Bengaluru residence. Three people who were arrested during the initial investigation of the murder case had reportedly admitted to killing Renukaswamy because of financial disputes, reported Indian Express.

Who is Darshan Thoogudeepa? Darshan Thoogudeepa is a Kannada film actor famous for his movies like Anatharu and Krantiveera Sangolly Rayanna, released in 2012.

Also Read: Canadian Tycoon Frank Stronach Arrested in Sex Assault Case He is also a producer and a distributor. Born on 16 February 1977, Darshan established his production house, Thoogudeepa Productions, in 2006. The production house's first movie was Jothe Jotheyalu, in which Darshan made a special appearance.
Sanjida Qadar, a teacher at a private law college affiliated with the University of Calcutta, has resigned and ceased attending classes due to the institute's alleged diktat that she refrain from wearing a hijab while at work.

When the issue became public and sparked an uproar, the college clarified that it was a misunderstanding. The teacher was scheduled to resume work on June 11 after withdrawing her resignation.

Sanjida Qadar said that after May 31, the college authorities told her not to wear a hijab while at work. The teacher, employed at LJD Law College in Falta, South 24 Parganas, for three years, submitted her resignation on June 5.

Also Read: What you wear is your responsibility, your decision: Rahul Gandhi on Hijab "The diktat from the college governing body offended my values and religious sentiments," PTI quoted her saying.

West Bengal minister and Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind president Siddiqullah Chowdhury supported the teacher and said the college governing body president should apologise to her. He also questioned whether the college acted under the influence of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Also Read: Rajasthan BJP MLA faces protests from Muslim students over hijab: Our children will turn up in lehenga chunni "How can the head of the management of a law college issue such a diktat? Mind it, children are expected to learn about the Constitution and laws at such an institute. We heard he has no objection to Sikh men wearing turban and women's headscarves. Why, then, is he targeting Muslims?" Chowdhury said in a video posted on social media.

The issue of Sanjida wearing a headscarf seemed to have escalated recently, even though she has been wearing it at work since March-April.

Also Read: New York Police department accused of Violating Religious Freedom, to pay $17.5 million in Hijab mugshot case The college authorities contacted her after her resignation became public, insisting it was a misunderstanding. As per PTI sources, they clarified that they had never prohibited her from covering her head with clothes during working hours.

College administration clarifies "There was no directive or prohibition, and the college authorities respect the religious sentiments of everyone. She will resume classes on Tuesday. Now, there is no misunderstanding. We engaged in prolonged discussions with her. The initial developments were the result of some miscommunication, College governing body chairman Gopal Das told PTI.

Also Read: Karnataka elections result 2023: BJP MLA who imposed Hijab ban defeated by Congress "I received an email from the office on Monday. I will analyse my next steps and then decide. But I am not going to the college on Tuesday," Sanjida said.

According to PTI, the email mentions that the dress code for faculty allows her to wear a dupatta or scarf to cover her head during classes.
Stressing the need to "normalise obsessive work culture", actor and BJP MP Kangana Ranaut on Tuesday said Indians can't afford to be lazy as the country is yet to become a developed nation.

Ranaut shared her thoughts in an Instagram Story, in which she posted a video clip of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address to the staffers of the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) after he began his third term on Monday.

"My every moment is for the country," Modi had said, asserting that he had promised to work round the clock to achieve the goal of India becoming a developed country by 2047.

In her post, Ranaut wrote that the concept of weekends was nothing but "western brainwashing".

"We need to normalise obsessive work culture and stop waiting for the weekends and complaining about Mondays memes. That's all western brainwashing; we are not a developed nation yet, and we can't afford to be bored and lazy at all," she captioned her post.

Ranaut, a popular face from Bollywood and a long-time Modi supporter, was elected from Mandi in Himachal Pradesh, her home state, in her first election. She defeated Vikramaditya Singh, the son of six-time chief minister Virbhadra Singh and state Congress chief Pratibha Singh.

The work-life balance debate Kangana Ranaut is not the first person to support obsessive working hours. Earlier this month, Nilesh Shah, CEO of Kotak AMC, emphasised that for India to fast-track its economic growth, one generation must embrace the work ethic prevalent in countries like Korea, Japan, and China, where working 12-hour days is common practice.

Responding to Shah's claim, Devina Mehra, Founder and Chairperson of First Global, categorically dismissed his suggestion of working 84 hours a week for nation-building, calling it impractical and counterproductive".
Karnataka Congress Chief DK Shivakumar on Monday, describing the Lok Sabha 2024 elections outcome in the state as a warning bell to the Congress, indicated that the ruling party in the state is currently on a fact-finding mission to find out the reasons for the below-par performance.

The NDA secured 19 out of 28 Lok Sabha seats in Karnataka, with the BJP claiming 17 and the JD(S) winning two. The ruling Congress heavily relied on its governments guarantee schemes to garner electoral success but could win only nine seats.

The Deputy Chief Minister also emphasised the importance of analysing and correcting mistakes. He urged party members to avoid discussing the party's performance or assigning blame in front of the media, PTI reported.

When the General Secretary (AICC) and Rahul Gandhi came to Bengaluru, they told us. We are calling meetings and discussing. We have called a meeting to discuss Bengaluru city. For other places, we will fix dates as well. We need to examine things, where we have gone wrong, and what has happened, Shivakumar told media persons here.

I have asked party men not to speak to the media. Let us do the fact-finding on what has happened and where and find solutions. People have given us a warning bell. We need to be careful in the future. At least now we have to realise what has gone wrong and where, and we should rectify it, he said, as quoted by PTI.

Shivakumar said the Congress party was confident about securing around 15 seats in the Lok Sabha elections. However, it failed to do so because several leaders were not elected from their home turf.

We are verifying why it happened. There may be several individual causes, but defeat is a defeat. We have to accept that votes for us have gone down. People have given verdict, we cant give lame excuses. We have to set it right," he said.

There is no use in it. Those who had taken responsibility for their respective area must answer for the performance there. They should speak to workers as to what went wrong and what is the solution, the Karnataka Congress chief added.
After taking charge of the office for the third time, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held the first cabinet meeting on Monday in New Delhi. He allocated portfolios to 71 ministries who took oath on Sunday.

Addressing the Cabinet Ministers, PM Modi directed them not to make unnecessary statements and speak only when necessary on issues regarding their respective ministries. He also requested the Union Ministers to reach the Ministry on time" because it positively impacts the staff.

The Prime Minister also encouraged the Cabinet ministers to "share the files with their Minister of State and involve them in the decision-making process of the respective Ministry."

Also Read | Live updates on Modi 3.0 Cabinet

During the first cabinet meeting, PM Modi approved the construction of 3 crore additional rural and urban houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY).

The Cabinet has decided to further expand the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana and construct 3 crore additional rural and urban houses. This decision underscores the governments commitment to addressing the housing needs of our nation and ensuring that every citizen leads a better quality of life. The expansion of PMAY also highlights our governments commitment to inclusive growth and social welfare, PM Modi wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

The composition of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) remains unchanged in the new NDA government, with Union Ministers Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah, Nirmala Sitharaman and S Jaishankar retaining their portfolios of Defence, Home, Finance and External Affairs.

The four BJP leaders had the same portfolios as the previous NDA government. The cabinet formation and portfolio allocation also reflected the reality of numbers in the NDA government, with BJP's allies having greater representation.

The new faces in the Cabinet include BJP leaders JP Nadda, Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Manohar Lal Khattar. Some ministers of the previous NDA government saw a change in portfolios. These include Mansukh Mandaviya, Pralhad Joshi, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Kiren Rijiju.
Amid a strain in India-Canada ties, a recent incident in which Khalistani extremists put up imagery to glorify the assassination of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in Brampton sparked fresh concerns. Canadian High Commissioner to India, Cameron MacKay, reacted to the incident on Tuesday and said that "promotion of violence" is "never acceptable" in Canada.

"The Government of Canada is aware of further imagery displayed in Brampton on Sunday. Canadas position is clear: The promotion of violence is never acceptable in Canada," Cameron MacKay said in a post on X.

The development comes amid an all-time low in the ties between India and Canada, which began in November 2023 when Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged that India was involved in the incident in which Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar was shot to death in British Columbia in June last year.

India rejected the claims and called it "absurd." The allegations were followed by both countries expelling each other's diplomats.

Chandra Arya, an Indian-origin member of the Canadian Parliament, expressed concerns over the acts of Khalistani terrorists in the country. He said that they are attempting to "instill fear of violence in 'Hindu-Canadians'" by putting up posters of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's assassination.

'Take exemplary action' India's High Commissioner to Ottawa, Sanjay Kumar Verma, said that the Government of India has urged the Canadian authorities at all levels to take exemplary action against the public display of violence and hatred. "Indian nationals living in Canada feel intimidated by such hatred being propagated. Unfortunately, this has happened in Canada time and again. Canadian systems and society have failed to put any cost on the perpetrators," Verma had said.
Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi, in his first speech in Raebareli after winning the Lok Sabha elections, said, The public has sent a message to the Prime Minister of the country that if he touches the Constitution, then see what people will do to him."

Addressing a thanksgiving meeting in Raebareli on Tuesday, the Congress MP said the INDIA coalition parties fought the election unitedly in Raebareli, Amethi and other parts of the country to reduce the strength of the BJP-led NDA in Parliament.

Also Read | Modi 3.0: As Nirmala Sitharaman back on FM's chair, share market pundits bet on The Congress leader said, Earlier, there used to be alliances, but everyone used to complain about the alliance partners not assisting somewhere, but this time all the parties got united and didn't move back an inch.

Slamming the saffron party, Gandhi said, You (BJP) have made Kishori Lal Sharma win in Amethi, me in Rae Bareli, and the MPs of INDIA alliance in Uttar Pradesh... You have changed the politics of the entire country.

Accusing the Modi government of ignoring the common people, Gandhi said the masses taught them a lesson by ensuring the BJP's defeat in Ayodhya.

Also Read | BJP MLA Mohan Charan Majhi made new Chief Minister of Odisha; KV Singh Deo, Pravati Parida declared deputy CMs "(BJP) lost the Ayodhya seat... Not only in Ayodhya, the Prime Minister has also saved his life in Varanasi... If my sister (Priyanka Gandhi) had contested from Varanasi, today the Prime Minister of India would have lost the Varanasi election by 2-3 lakh votes..." Gandhi added.
Delhi Irrigation and Flood Control Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj asserted Tuesday that there will be no flooding in the Yamuna this year as the river will get a clear channel for its flow. Bharadwaj inspected the Yamuna Barrage near ITO during the day. According to an official statement, the minister was apprised of the measures being taken to manage potential flood scenarios.

Last year, the barrage caused significant flooding in the Yamuna, leading to waterlogging and severe inconvenience for residents living nearby.

Bharadwaj said the amount of rainfall received last year and the volume of water released into the Yamuna from Haryana were unprecedented in decades and that resulted in the flood situation.

"Although this barrage falls under the jurisdiction of the Haryana government and its operation is their responsibility, this time, the Delhi irrigation and flood control department has coordinated with the Haryana government to prepare for potential issues," he said.

"The department has made preparations so that even if the same amount of water as last year flows into the Yamuna, there will be no flooding in Delhi and the Yamuna's water will not reach the roads," Bharadwaj added.

The minister said work has been ongoing for the past three months and a significant amount of silt around all the barrages has already been removed.

All barrages have been opened, he said, adding that some could not be opened and had to be cut and removed to ensure that there is no obstruction in the water flow.

Pilot Cut experiment To prevent water accumulation in the Yamuna and avoid a flood situation, a new experiment has been conducted by the Delhi irrigation and flood control department, Bharadwaj said.

"This experiment is called 'Pilot Cut'. Under this experiment, small channels are dug from the accumulated soil in front of the barrage extending far beyond. During this process, small islands of soil are formed between the artificial channels created in the Yamuna.

"When rainwater will be released from Haryana, it will flow swiftly through these artificial channels, carrying with it the small soil islands, thereby eliminating any possibility of water stagnation and allowing the water to flow swiftly ahead," he said.

This procedure ensures that there will be no likelihood of water accumulating in the Yamuna, terminating all potential flood scenarios due to unhindered water flow, the Aam Aadmi Party leader said.

During the last flood in the Yamuna, there were incidents of regulators breaking at some places, he said.

"This time, to prevent such situations, all regulators have been repaired. Broken regulators have been replaced... All regulators have been tested," the minister said.

Water accumulation in urban areas has various causes which fall under the responsibility of different departments such as the DDA, PWD and the MCD, he said.
Mumbai rains: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has said that the 'Southwest Monsoon' is advancing in parts of Karnataka and Maharashtra, predicting heavy to very heavy rains and isolated instances of extremely heavy rainfall in the region.

Senior IMD scientist Dr Soma Sen Roy told newswire PTI, Associated with this monsoon onset in advance, we are seeing heavy to very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall, mainly over Maharashtra and parts of coastal Karnataka during the last 2-3 days.

Sen said that the weather agency is anticipating very heavy rainfall, which is expected to continue over the region encompassing south and central Maharashtra, including Marathwada, South Madhya Maharashtra, Konkan, Coastal Karnataka, and certain areas of North Interior Karnataka. He said that very heavy rainfall will continue today, followed by a gradual reduction.

Also read: Monsoon Tracker: IMD issues orange alert for heavy rains in Mumbai and Thane; check details here According to Mumbai city's local forecast on June 10, the IMD predicted a "generally cloudy sky with the possibility of thunderstorms accompanied by moderate to heavy rain in the city and suburbs" for the next 24 hours.

The weather agency forecasted a partly cloudy sky for Mumbai today, with heatwave conditions expected at many places and strong surface winds that could be occasionally gusty. The maximum and minimum temperatures in the financial capital are expected to settle around 43.4 and 28 degrees Celsius, respectively. The extended forecast for the next six days, until June 17, predicts continued heatwave conditions.

In a weather bulletin dated June 10, the Meteorological Department reported favourable conditions for the Southwest Monsoon to advance further into more parts of the North Arabian Sea, some parts of South Gujarat, and some parts of Maharashtra during the next two days.
(Bloomberg) -- German Chancellor Olaf Scholz pilloried lawmakers from the farright Alternative for Germany and the far-left BSW parties for boycotting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiys speech to the nations parliament.

The chancellor is very disturbed, but not surprised by such disrespectful behavior, Scholzs chief spokesman, Steffen Hebestreit, said.

AfD and BSW legislators skipped out on Zelenskiys speech to the lower house, or Bundestag, on Tuesday in protest over the ruling coalitions support for the government in Kyiv against Russias full-scale invasion.

Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla, the co-leaders of the AfD caucus, published a statement in which they derided the Ukrainian leader  who earlier attended a reconstruction conference  as a war and begging president and questioned his legitimacy as the countrys head of state. Although a handful of the AfDs 77 members were present in the Bundestag to hear Zelenskiy speak, most stayed away, along with the BSWs 10 deputies.

The government should not give him a stage for reconstruction begging, Weidel and Chrupalla wrote. Ukraine does not need a war president now, it needs a peace president who is willing to negotiate so that the dying stops and the country has a future.

Sahra Wagenknecht, who cofounded the BSW in January after splitting from the Left party, accused Zelenskiy of contributing to a highly dangerous spiral of escalation. A separate statement from the party said he was accepting the risk of a nuclear conflict with devastating consequences for the whole of Europe.

The German government should use its influence on Zelenskiy to get him to agree to peace talks, according to the BSW statement. You dont end wars with weapons, you end wars through peace negotiations.

The two parties talking points echo some of the narratives promoted by the Kremlin, and both have been accused by critics of being too soft on Russian President Vladimir Putin.

German authorities said last month theyre investigating an AfD lawmaker, Petr Bystron, for alleged corruption and money laundering linked to Russia. Bystron, who was second on the partys list for the European Parliament elections, has denied allegations that he took cash from a Czech-based, pro-Moscow media outlet.

Friedrich Merz, the chairman of the opposition Christian Democrats, called the actions of the AfD and BSW a genuine nadir in the culture of our parliament.

I am fairly appalled, Merz told reporters. The assertion that we have to try to end this war with more diplomacy is completely without any substance, he added. The offer has been made and Russia rejected it and in Germany these two parties, the AfD and the BSW, still claim the opposite.

Although Wagenknecht was previously a member of the Left, some of her new partys populist policies, including calls for a tougher line on immigration, have attracted voters frustrated with mainstream parties who might otherwise support the AfD, especially in eastern Germany where she is from.

A poll for public broadcaster ZDF published in April showed that 42% of respondents supported an expansion by NATO allies of their backing for Ukraine, while 31% said it should remain at the same level.

--With assistance from Arne Delfs.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
Bigg Boss OTT Season 3 is among the most anticipated web series, especially since Bollywood actor Anil Kapoor has been announced as its host. The real-life drama show is set to begin on June 21 on JioCinema, and is said to feature some of the popular names from the social media's circuit.

According to an India Today report, the viral vada pav girl Chandrika Dixit is a confirmed contestant of Bigg Boss OTT 3.

Originally from Madhya Pradesh's Indore, Chandrika, a street food vendor in Pitampura's Sainik Vihar, become a viral sensation after an argument with Delhi Police and Municipal Corporation members who allegedly tried to remove her stall.

Along with Chandrika, social media star Vishal Pandey will also be a part of this reality show.

The India Today report, citing sources, said the Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai actors Harshad Chopda and Shehzada Dhami have been roped in for this new season of Bigg Boss OTT 3.

Shehzada recently made headlines for his removal from the show over unprofessional conduct, and producer Rajan Shahi has also discussed the separation from Harshad owing to creative differences.

To add on the drama, Temptation Island winners Cheshta Bhagat and Nikhil Mehta are also among the confirmed contestants of the show. The two had witnessed rise and fall of their love during the show.

Chestha had later accused Nikhil of being in a pre-existing relationship and deceiving her, which prompted Nikhil to initiate a defamation lawsuit against her.

Among the various personalities, social media creators Abhi and Niyu, known for their YouTube series '100 Reasons to Love India,' are anticipated to participate in the reality show.

Earlier, the Bigg Boss had commented on Anil Kapoor taking over as the host of the show, saying, Bigg Boss OTT and I are a dream team! We're both young at heart; people often say - jokingly - that I'm reverse aging, but Bigg Boss is - seriously- timeless.

Also read: Bigg Boss helps JioCinema limit viewership loss post IPL

It feels a bit like going back to school, and trying something new and exciting. Having said that, I've always approached all my projects with sincerity and a commitment to hard work and I'm going to bring that same energy (times 10!) to Bigg Boss! Unscripted reality has something for everyone  laughter, drama, and surprising twists, and I can't wait to bring my own flavour to it! they had added.
The Israel Police on Tuesday, June 10, released body camera footage of Yamam unit fighters rescuing hostages from their captivity in Gaza after 245 days.

The rescued hostages are Shlomi Ziv, Andrey Kozlov, and Almog Meir Jan.

The video clip captured by helmet cameras shows Yamam unit fighters raiding the apartment where the captives were held. Before finally managing to set foot in the building, after indulging in numerous firefights, the Yamam soldiers proceeded by decreeing the three hostages to identify themselves.

Also read: Israelis Find Respite in Rescue But Wars Challenges Endure Weve come to save you, The Jerusalem Post quoted a Yamam soldier saying as Almog Meir Jan's tense posture seemed to be relaxed after hearing the policeman. The video concludes with hostages fleeing on foot while Yamam soldiers provide cover fire and neutralise the militants.

The Israel police later issued an official statement with the video that reads, Yamam and Shin Bet operatives worked simultaneously at two locations to rescue the four hostages, engaging in fierce combat with the terrorists."

Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a social media post on X (formerly Twitter), stated, This is the moment the elite Yamam unit rescued former hostages Shlomi Ziv, Almog Meir Jan and Andrey Kozlov from captivity in Gaza.

A video released later by the Israel Defense Force (IDF) captures one of the first moments of the freed hostages boarding the Yasur helicopter following their rescue operation.

Also read: Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu set to address US Congress on July 24 amid frayed ties The caption with the video states, One of the first moments when Shlomi, Andrey and Almog board the Yasur helicopter after being rescued from Hamas after 245 days as hostages. The Jerusalem Post quoted an IAF soldier saying, "You are going to Sheba Medical Center  I think youll get a warm welcome there.

Also read: Biden Bid to End Gaza War Falters as Israel and Hamas Push Back

Yamam is a special central unit, also known as the National Counter-Terrorism Unit, which is one of four special units of the Israeli Border Police.
The US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan on Tuesday said that Washington, DC was "deeply concerned" over the recent stabbing of four American college teachers in Jilin City, northeastern China, stressing that the US diplomats have spoken with the assault victims to ensure that their needs are met.

Taking to microblogging platform X (formerly known as Twitter), Sullivan said, We are deeply concerned by the stabbing of US citizens in Jilin City, China. Our team has been in touch with these Americans and our PRC counterparts to ensure that the victims' needs are met and appropriate law enforcement steps are being taken. We wish them a speedy recovery.

Jake Sullivan's India Visit Meanwhile, news agency PTI reported that Sullivan is likely to visit India next week (around June 18) to review the overall progress in implementing the ambitious iCET initiative.

Also Read | If Priyanka had contested from Varanasi, PM Modi would have lost..: Rahul Gandhi The report citing sources said Sullivan would hold wide-ranging talks with NSA Ajit Doval, primarily focusing on cooperation under the US-India Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (CET).

Sullivan's visit to India was discussed during a phone call between US President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Narendra Modi last week, the report added. Biden called up Prime Minister Modi to congratulate him on his re-election for a third term.

Also Read | Odisha gets new CM after Naveen Patnaiks 24-yr reign Whos Mohan Charan Majhi? "President Joseph R Biden, Jr spoke today with Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India to congratulate him and the National Democratic Alliance on their historic victory in India's general election," the White House said in a readout following the call.

The two sides are also expected to review ongoing defence cooperation including an ambitious plan between US defence giant GE Aerospace and India's Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) to produce the advanced F414 jet engines for the Indian Air Force (IAF).

Also Read | Modi 3.0 Cabinet Live: PM Modi allocates portfolios It is important to note that the US National Security Advisor called off a visit to India for the review of iCET twice this year in view of the US administration's focus on the evolving situation in West Asia arising out of the Israel-Hamas conflict.
US President Joe Biden's son Hunter Biden was convicted of all three felony charges in an ongoing gun trial. Hunter Biden was found guilty of lying about his drug use to illegally buy a gun. Hunter Biden had on a mandatory gun-purchase form stated that he was not illegally using to addicted to drugs.

Hunter Biden could face up to 25 years in prison, although as a first-time offender jail time is unlikely.

After the verdict to the gun trial was announced, Joe Biden, who faces US elections later this year, said that he will accept the outcome of his son Hunter's criminal case and respect the judicial process.

"I am the President, but I am also a Dad," Joe Biden said. "Jill and I love our son, and we are so proud of the man he is today." "I will accept the outcome of this case and will continue to respect the judicial process as Hunter considers an appeal," Biden added.

Hunter Biden, following the trial said he's grateful for support from family and friends but 'disappointed' by federal gun case conviction.

Following a two-day deliberation period in Wilmington, Delaware, jurors reached a guilty verdict against Hunter Biden. The charges include lying to a federally licensed gun dealer, providing false information on the application regarding drug use, and unlawfully possessing the firearm for 11 days.

The US court judge did not specify a sentencing date for Hunter Biden, but such an event typically occurs within 120 days. This would fall around a month before the November 5 US presidential election.

The verdict was delivered less than two weeks following the conviction of Donald Trump on business fraud charges. Trump is expected to be Joe Biden's Republican rival in the upcoming November presidential election.

Now Hunter Biden and presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, the US president's chief political rival, have both been convicted by American jurors in an election year that has been as much about the courtroom as about campaign events and rallies.
Soldiers searched for a missing military plane carrying Malawi's 51-year-old Vice President Saulos Chilima and former first lady Shanil Dzimbiri in the mountainous forests of the country's northern region, said President Lazarus Chakwera on Monday.

The plane carrying the Vice President, former first lady, and eight others left the southern African nation's capital, Lilongwe, at 9:17 a.m. on Monday. It was expected to land 45 minutes later at Mzuzu International Airport, AP reported.

Addressing a TV channel MBC, Chakwera said, Air traffic control told it not to attempt a landing and to turn around because of bad weather and poor visibility. Air traffic control lost contact with the aircraft and it disappeared from radar a short time later.

I know this is a heartbreaking situation. I know we are all frightened and concerned. I too am concerned. But I want to assure you that I am sparing no available resource to find that plane. And I am holding onto every fiber of hope that we will find survivors," he said as quoted by AP.

Mzuzu, the third largest city in Malawi and the capital of the northern region is nestled in a hilly, forested area dominated by the Viphya mountain range, known for its extensive pine plantations.

The president promised to continue the search operations and said authorities using telecommunications towers tracked the plane's last known position to a 10-kilometre (6-mile) radius in one of the plantations. He said that area was the focus of the Malawi Defense Force search and rescue operation.

I have given strict orders that the operation should continue until the plane is found. The U.S., the U.K., Norway and Israel offered assistance in the search operation and provided specialized technologies that the president hoped would help find the plane sooner," Chakwera said.

Dzimbiri, the ex-wife of former President Bakili Muluzi, was also one of the passengers. The group was travelling to attend the funeral of a former government minister. Three of those onboard were the military crew flying the plane. I have asked Malawians to pray for all those onboard and their families, he added.
As Indias new government takes office, it does so in a blisteringly hot and record-breaking summer. The capital alone saw a maximum temperature of 49.9 Celsius and has seen several heatwaves this season. While the monsoon has started impacting many regions, it is crucial to understand that there is a new normal when it comes to heat, and it affects allpolitically, economically and socially. So, how hot is too hot?

The year 2024 has confirmed predictions of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) that extreme heat-related health risks will be the biggest climate threat for South Asian countries. In April, over eight Indian states, particularly those on both coasts, experienced severe heatwave conditions.

The northern and central regions faced intense heatwaves in May, with more than 37 cities continuously recording daytime highs above 45 Celsius. Cities such as Delhi grappled with the combined effects of extreme heat and air pollution. Since March, these temperatures have led to nearly 25,000 reported heatstroke cases, going by government data, record-breaking power demand, lower water levels in reservoirs, and damage to fruit crops.

With heatwaves becoming more intense and frequent due to climate change, and a recent study showing that Indian cities are warming at twice the rate as the rest of India, how do we build resilience against the varying degree of vulnerability arising from heat risks across the country?

Understanding the difference between heatwaves and heat stress is crucial for strengthening resilience. Heatwaves are declared by agencies like the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and World Meteorological Organization (WMO) based on specific weather criteria such as departures of air temperature from normal levels for 2 to 5 consecutive days, whereas heat stress is when the human body absorbs heat beyond its tolerance limit.

Various factors influence heat stress, including acclimatization, weather, activity levels, age and pre-existing health conditions. It essentially determines how hot is too hot. Take, for instance, the 2003 European heatwave that resulted in about 15,000 deaths in France, with temperatures hovering around 37 Celsius for a few days.

In India, heatwaves are declared only when temperatures cross 40 Celsius in the plains, 30 Celsius in hills and 37 Celsius in coastal areas. These thresholds are based on the normal summer climate of the past to which the local population has acclimatized.

However, an analysis conducted by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) for the heat action plan for Thane, a coastal city in Maharashtra, unveils concerning trends. One, the increase in extreme warm nights over the last decade surpasses that of extreme hot days, which poses serious health concerns.

Second, we noticed that felt heat, which takes into account both temperature and humidity, was actually 3-4C higher than just dry heat. This means even if the temperature is 35 Celsius, you might feel like it is 38 Celsius, as was seen in the months of May and June.

To build resilience against the evolving risk due to heat, city-level heat action plans (HAPs) must address three key aspects.

One, when to take action: Unlike floods or cyclones, heatwaves vary in their impacts, which are largely influenced by individual health vulnerability. Hence, HAPs should establish local city-level heat stress thresholds, indicating temperatures and meteorological conditions hazardous to human health. Cities like Thane and Ahmedabad have already implemented them. However, currently, more than 67% of Indian HAPs still lack these crucial thresholds.

Analysing past occurrences of daily heat extremes and correlating data-sets of variables such as mortality, morbidity and ambulance calls is one way to establish these thresholds. However, this is challenging due to a scarcity of health data linked to heat-related illnesses and fatalities, with only a few HAPs, such as the Ahmedabad HAP, having been able to do so.

The IMDs forthcoming Indian context-specific heat index for forecasts from next year and the National Centre for Disease Controls initiatives on heat-health data collection (under the National Programme on Climate Change and Human Health) are positive steps to strengthen thresholds based on the impact of temperature on heat-related mortality and illnesses.

Two, where to take action: Extreme heat affects diverse populations differently, influenced by socio-economic and health factors. However, nearly 97% of Indian HAPs lack vulnerability and risk mapping, which leaves decision-makers with very little information that can guide a priority order for action when a heatwave strikes.

It is imperative to conduct granular mapping in HAPs to identify vulnerable groups, such as outdoor workers, slum residents and the elderly, along with assessing the degree of heat risk they face.

Three, how to take action: For the strategies laid out in HAPs to succeed, timely implementation is critical. HAPs play a crucial role in coordinating inter-agency efforts by assigning roles and responsibilities for heat action. The involvement of gram panchayat-level decision-makers in Odishas heatwave management mechanisms exemplifies this. Such mechanisms help streamline implementation plans for local administrations.

Also read: How heat stress has increased in urban India this year

A 42 Celsius day in Mumbai will impact someone working in a grocery shop differently than a food delivery driver or an IT professional working in a large company. Then you add humidity. India has demonstrated leadership in reducing extreme heat impacts through proactive measures like HAPs. As these plans enter their second generation, they should shift focus from response to preparedness and long-term heat risk mitigation.

Heat stress looms as the foremost health hazard in India and South Asia. Yet, united and powered by data, we can beat the heat.

These are the authors personal views.
When OpenAI was founded in 2015, its primary objective was to advance digital intelligence in the way that is most likely to benefit humanity as a whole." The path it chose to achieve this was to build large language models, a computationally intensive exercise that had only just become achievable at scale because of recent advances in modern chip design.

This, however, was going to require significant investment, and in order to raise these funds while staying true to its prime objective, OpenAI decided to put in place a complex corporate structure to separate ownership from control.

Financial investors were made to invest in a for-profit company over whose governance they had no control. That would be determined by a different not-for-profit entity that was required to place human safety above all else, even if it was at the cost of profits or shareholder value.

In November 2023, the OpenAI board sacked Chief Executive Officer Sam Altman for, among other things, failing to provide the board with advance information on significant corporate developments, such as the launch of ChatGPT; at least one board member later claimed that she had first got to know of its launch through social media.

If this was true if, in fact, Altman had not disclosed critical business information to the board before releasing it to the worldit seems clear that the boards ability to prioritize human safety had been severely compromised. By sacking him, it would seem the board was doing exactly what it was supposed to.

Good governance is about placing the core values of an organisation ahead of short-term commercial imperatives. While it might seem that the only reason businesses exist is to maximise profits, sustained profitability requires a performance culture built on a set of core values that are constantly and consistently enforced.

Through much of my professional career, I have been called upon to deal with many such instancesboth as part of the management of my law firm as well as in the course of advising clients. Among the most difficult situations weve had to deal with are those that required us to take decisive action in order to uphold core organisation values.

In more than a few instances, it involved taking action against high-performing individuals, or persons who either brought in significant revenue or controlled important client relationships. While considering the actions we had to take in order to uphold corporate values, we know we could suffer an immediate loss of revenue, while running the risk that some or all of the clients serviced by these individuals would leave with them.

These are consequences no commercial organization wants to suffer. And yet, if that is what it takes to uphold the core values that define its culture, these are actions no firm can shy away from.

A well-governed organization will uphold its values even when it is not in its immediate commercial interest to do so. From experience, I can say that this is extraordinarily difficult to do in the moment. Concerns abound about the immediate commercial consequences of these actions and the impact on its reputation.

It is only when the management recognizes that there is long-term value in preserving the culture of the organization that it will be able to hold true to its values despite the cost. Only organizations that consistently do this can truly evolve into institutions.

Shortly after Altman was sacked as CEO of OpenAI, there was a widespread revolt in the company. Nearly 800 employees threatened to quit unless he was reinstated, pledging to follow him wherever he went. There was significant consternation in the industry over what this dismissal meant and how it would impact the future of AI. Eventually, all of OpenAIs major investors had to step in to set things right.

OpenAIs board had been tasked with ensuring that the company remained true to its core values even if that came at a commercial cost. Its directors determined, for better or worse, that Altman remaining CEO was incompatible with these values, and so they ousted him from that role in the belief that doing so was aligned with their fiduciary obligation to uphold the core values of the organization.

Within a week of being sacked, Altman was re-instated as CEO. The board that had terminated him was recast. Key members who were involved in his dismissal were removed and new members more aligned with his vision were appointed. Three months later, Altman himself was back on the board of OpenAI.

Now it is impossible for any outsider, much less someone on the other side of the planet, to opine on whether the board was right in doing what it did. What, however, is beyond doubt is that the guard-rails that OpenAI had put in place to ensure that no onenot even its CEOcould act in a manner inconsistent with its values, had failed. Not only was the board unable to hold Altman accountable, key members got sacked for trying.

There is every likelihood that OpenAI will continue to grow from strength to strength. However, there is no doubt that this growth will be driven by purely commercial incentives. Its prime objective is no longer to operate in the interests of humanity, but to protect the interests of its investors who are now effectively in control.

Whether OpenAI will, under these new circumstances, become the institution that it could have, only time will tell.
House Republicans, under the guise of preventing non-US citizens from voting, are promoting a new ID requirement so restrictive that could disenfranchise untold numbers of otherwise eligible Americans this November. The bill, sponsored by Texas Representative Chip Roy and championed by House Speaker Mike Johnson, would go further than any previous voter ID measure.

It would require everyone to produce documentable" proof of their US citizenship before casting a ballot in a federal election. In most instances, that would mean presenting a certified birth certificate (not a photocopy) or an unexpired US passport.

It is an unnecessary move designed to reinforce the notion that voter fraud is somehow widespread, though its proponents have never produced any evidence. Johnson appears determined to curry favour with former President Donald Trump, who has been floating baseless claims about rigged elections for years.

Trump lost the popular vote to Hillary Clinton in 2016 but insisted that illegal ballots cast by immigrants had tainted the results. He won the Electoral College but continued to claim that fraud had occurred and appointed a voting integrity commission" to investigate.

Maine Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap, a commission member, released a preliminary report on the findings, affirming that no proof of fraud was found.

Voters already attest under penalty of perjury that they are citizens and typically must produce some ID before voting. As Republicans know, the consequences for non-citizens falsely claiming citizenship in order to vote are severe. The Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 stipulates that violators be deported.

Like other so-called election integrity efforts, this latest gambit is doomed to fail, in no small measure, because its ostensible objectivereducing voter fraudis already rare. Such efforts are, however, singularly effective at their actual, unstated goal: suppressing the vote to benefit one party.

There are years of data, mostly from Republican-led states with strict voter ID requirements, to show that tighter restrictions only disenfranchise otherwise eligible voters. According to a review of such studies by the Brennan Center for Justice, there is a large and growing pile of evidence that strict voter ID laws disproportionately impact voters of colour," along with the elderly and students.

In Minnesota, which consistently has one of the highest voter turnouts in the country, Secretary of State Steve Simon said he worries about the message such proposals send, let alone the chaos that could ensue if such requirements were adopted. We want to honour everyone who is an eligible citizen," he said.

I am not aware of any state that requires documented proof of citizenship." The number of voters who could flood government offices with requests for birth certificates, passports or other documents is unimaginable," Simon said.

Chip Roy, the bills sponsor, claimed in a news release that since President Joe Biden took office, millions of illegal aliens have poured into our country illegally and many are given the opportunity to register to vote in federal elections." Roy has offered no evidence of it.

The damage from such outlandish claims is more than superficial. The continued attacks by Roy, Johnson and others undermine confidence in the nations voting system. During a news conference to announce the bill, Johnson made the unfounded claim that millions of undocumented immigrants that have been paroled can simply go to their local welfare office or the DMV and register to vote."

Even if Johnson pushes for a floor vote soon, the Democratic Senate will likely reject the bill. That doesnt mean the danger will have passed. Should Trump return to the White House, he may sign such legislation. And if he loses, Johnson and House Republicans will have conveniently provided him with another false narrative to challenge the results.

Democrats have done their share to muddy the waters, with several cities and states that allow non-citizens to vote in non-federal elections. Washington DC, San Francisco, and a smattering of municipalities in Maryland and Vermont allow non-citizen voting in local races. These jurisdictions have argued that non-citizens have a compelling interest in local issues.

Also read: Biden's agenda hangs in balance as tough election year approaches

That may be so, but extending even limited voting privileges to these residents creates confusion and invites the backlash were seeing now, which could result in hardship and disenfranchisement of eligible voters. Voter suppression is antithetical to the broad turnout that should be every polls goal. But letting non-citizens vote in local polls is being used by some to justify ever higher barriers for all voters. bloomberg
The new portfolios assigned to ministers under Modi 3.0 weigh heavily in favour of Modi 2.0 incumbents. The Centres four heavyweight ministrieshome, defence, external affairs and financewill be headed, as before, by Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, S. Jaishankar and Nirmala Sitharaman.

Similarly, Nitin Gadkari will again be the minister for road transport and highways, while Piyush Goyal retains commerce. Of course, there are new faces. Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who moves from Madhya Pradesh to the Centre, for example, will head agriculture, while Manohar Lal Khattar, who moves from Haryana state politics, will be the new minister for power. Members of allied parties have got significant roles, too.

While Prime Minister Narendra Modi has had a relatively challenging job of allotting these jobs, given the ruling partys need for allies support this time, the broad message that emerges from the exercise is one of continuity. Thats no surprise, considering that the PM may have had little cause for dissatisfaction with the performance of key ministries under the previous regime. On the whole, Mondays portfolio allocations are likely to be welcomed by investors.
Sometimes you have no choice but to roll the dice. That is where Frances president, Emmanuel Macron, found himself on the night of June 9th. He had just received a thumping in elections to the European Parliament, in which the National Rally (RN), led by Marine Le Pen, won twice as many votes as his own party, Renaissance. Already, in his own national parliament, he has to govern with a minority, cobbling together support as best he can to get his governments domestic legislation through, usually with great difficulty. The boost to Ms Le Pens standing from her big Euro-win risked making him a lamer duck than ever, with the very real prospect that the opposition would anyway force an election later in the year by voting down his budget.

An untenable position, then. As in America, French presidents cannot pass much of their domestic agenda without a majority in the legislature; Mr Macron has a prime minister, who runs the day-to-day business of the government, but in the normal course of things the government still needs to win votes to pass legislation. At the moment, Mr Macrons party has no majority, but neither can anyone else form a majority government.

Will Mr Macrons bold moveto seize the initiative by calling a snap election at the end of this month, a full three years earlymake his situation better or worse? The vote could work to his advantage. His gambit is likely to force the French to confront the choice between centrism and the extremes. In a two-round system, centrist voters will have a chance to vote tactically in the second round to keep the RN at bay. If, as is possible, his party does not get much closer to a majority, he may be able to persuade the moderate parties to work together to keep the RN from forming its own government. Neither the French Socialists nor the Republicans, the centre-right party, will want to see the hard-right RN take over the prime ministers office. Knocking heads together might be a lot easier if there is a real prospect of that happening. That may well be Mr Macrons thinking.

However, France also faces a more alarmingif less likelyoutcome: the RN could win the parliamentary election, or at least be the dominant party in the Assembly. That does not mean Ms Le Pen would become prime minister; she says she would instead put forward her young protege, Jordan Bardella. That would allow her to keep her powder dry for the presidential race in 2027.

How bad might a putative RN government be for France? Not catastrophic perhaps. It would run most domestic policy and would draw up the budget. So there would be lots of areas in which the party could drag France further from the centre towards their hard-right positions. However, the French constitution reserves huge powers for the president, particularly over foreign and defence matters. Hence, Frances relations with the European Union and its support for Ukraine could not be much altered by the populists.

The question is how that in turn might affect the election that really matters, the presidential vote in 2027 in which Mr Macron cannot be a candidate. This would critically depend on how well the RN was seen to have performed in office. On the one hand, French prime ministers tend to get the blame for everything that goes wrong, while presidents can float above the fray. That is what happened to Elisabeth Borne, who served under Mr Macron and was replaced in January. It is especially true in a period of cohabitation, as in the 1990s when Presidents Francois Mitterrand and Jacques Chirac had prime ministers from different parties.

On the other hand, French voters have in the past always enforced a taboo about the hard right holding national office. Ms Le Pen has already done a lot to make her party more professional. If a RN prime minister surprised France on the upside, it could both make Ms Le Pen into a more normal candidate and enhance her popularityrather like Italys right-wing prime minister, Georgia Meloni.

Yet Ms Le Pen has not yet shown that she aims to follow in Ms Melonis less extreme footsteps. If she were to win the presidency in 2027 with her current policies, it really would be alarming: she is pro-Russia, against heavily arming Ukraine, and deeply sceptical of the EU even if she no longer says that she wants France to leave it. A Le Pen presidency would be bad news for anyone who thinks that deeper integration is a necessary part of the solution to many of the problems Europe faces, from its deficit in technology to its energy transition. Race and religious relations in France would worsen and disruptive xenophobes like Hungarys Viktor Orban would gain a powerful ally. The countries of the Balkans, banging on Europes doors for entry, would have longer to wait.

The irony in all of this is that what looks like a crisis in France has actually distracted attention from an election that was not as dire as centrists had feared. Europe as a whole saw no right-wing surge. The parties of the hard right collectively picked up only three or four percentage points of support; they did well in Germany and in Austria, as they did in France, but elsewhere they had a disappointing night. That slight loss of ground for the political centre will make governing in Brussels a little trickier, but not much. Yet the surge in France, and a smaller one in Germany, is hogging the headlines, in part due to Mr Macrons surprise. We hope it was worth it.

 2024, The Economist Newspaper Limited. All rights reserved. From The Economist, published under licence. The original content can be found on www.economist.com
If you have heard of titanium dioxide at all, you probably know it as an ingredient in sunscreen. But it is also used in lots of foods, from pizza and salsa to frosting and candyand now, there is growing concern about the potential health risks of eating it.

The ingredient helps block the suns rays when we slather it on our skin at the beach. Food makers use it to brighten up colorsthink whiter mozzarella on your frozen pizza or more vibrant hues in your Skittles. Some research, mainly in animals, has suggested that eating it might be linked to immune system problems, inflammation and DNA damage that could lead to cancer.

The European Union has banned titanium dioxide in food since 2022. Earlier this year, legislators in California introduced a bill to bar foods with titanium dioxide from being served in public schools. Some public-health advocacy groups have petitioned the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to not allow it to be used in foods.

Whats tricky: It isnt always easy to tell whether titanium dioxide is in your food. Manufacturers dont have to list it by name on packagesit might be identified on a label only as artificial color." But some do disclose it. And some food makers are reformulating products to remove titanium dioxide as questions about it grow.

The science isnt conclusive. Some studies havent shown negative health effects, and some countries, including Canada, Australia and New Zealand, have recently reviewed the research and said that titanium dioxide in food is safe.

The Consumer Brands Association, a trade group that includes many food makers, says titanium dioxide is used safely in certain foods as a coloring, noting that the industry adheres to the FDAs safety standards. Mars, which makes Skittles, says all of the ingredients it uses are safe.

Why titanium dioxide is in your food

In general, manufacturers add titanium dioxide to make products look more appealing. A very small concentration makes something look very white and bright," said David Julian McClements, a professor in the food-science department at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Adding it with other colors can make those colors pop, he said.

Titanium dioxide is most prevalent in candy, coffee creamers and frosted or powdered baked goods, said Kelsey Mangano, associate professor and nutrition program director at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. The substance is also in many chewing gums and mints.

It is a common ingredient in sunscreen because it is effective at blocking ultraviolet rays. It is used in medications for a similar reason: to help protect the active ingredients inside the pill from being broken down or altered by light.

You dont need to worry about it in sunscreen because there isnt evidence that titanium dioxide penetrates the skin, said Nicolaj S. Bischoff, a Ph.D. student at Maastricht University Medical Center in the Netherlands who has researched the possible health effects of titanium dioxide. And since the substance performs an important function in medications, the risk/benefit calculus is different than with food, he noted.

What the science says

New higher-resolution microscopes and other methods of detecting and analyzing particles are allowing researchers to better understand titanium dioxide.

Scientists now know that most titanium dioxide ingredients used in food contain varying amounts of tiny nanoparticles. The problem with nanoparticles is that, because of their small size, there is the potential for them to penetrate the mucous layer in your gastrointestinal tract, get into your cells and accumulate in your organs, said McClements.

Some studies in animals found that consumption of titanium-dioxide nanoparticles led to damage to the liver, immune and reproductive systems, as well as DNA. Other research has found that titanium dioxide changes the gut microbiome and inhibits the growth of beneficial bacteria.

New research in people has found a link between titanium dioxide consumption and inflammation in the gut. In a small study with 35 healthy adults, those who had the highest levels of titanium dioxide in their stool had higher levels of certain gut-inflammation measures than those with the lowest titanium-dioxide levels. They also had indications of more gut permeability, or how leaky or separated the cells are," said Mangano, lead scientist of the study, which was published in February in the journal NanoImpact.

The concern is that chronic increased gut inflammation and permeability could increase the risk of colon cancer, nutrient deficiencies and the low-grade inflammation that underlies many chronic diseases, Mangano said. After conducting this research, Mangano said she stopped chewing gum, which often contains titanium dioxide.

Children likely face greater potential risks from titanium dioxide, said McClements. They tend to eat more foods that contain it, like candy and other sweets, and they are smaller.

The science isnt clear-cut. Some studies in animals havent shown toxic effects. Scientists also disagree about which studies are relevant to how people consume it. Before the EU banned it in food, food-safety experts identified that titanium dioxide had the potential to cause damage to DNA. But they were uncertain about how exactly it happens and at what dose the damage starts to occur. So they could no longer consider titanium dioxide safe when used in food.

The occasional cupcake or creamer with titanium dioxide likely isnt a problem, said Bischoff. The potential risks are longer term and likely from chronic exposure, he said.

What you can do

Many products that have titanium dioxide include it on the ingredient list. And there are many versions of foods that dont contain itincluding foods that arent packaged or ultra-processed, such as fresh fruit and vegetables.

Be aware, though, that the FDA doesnt require food manufacturers to list the name titanium dioxide among a products ingredients. Companies can cite the more general artificial color" or artificial coloring" instead. You can contact the manufacturer to seek more detail if artificial color" is listed on the label, an FDA spokesperson suggests.

Or you could save yourself the trouble and avoid foods with artificial colors.

Some food companies are removing titanium dioxide from certain products. Whole Foods recently reformulated its 365 brand macaroni and cheese: Its new product no longer contains titanium dioxide. Beyond Meat did the same with its plant-based chicken nuggets.

Write to Andrea Petersen at andrea.petersen@wsj.com
In a bold statement on Monday, Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX and owner of the social media platform X, declared he would prohibit the use of Apple devices within his companies if Apple incorporates OpenAI at the operating system level.

Musk expressed serious concerns about security, calling such an integration an "unacceptable security violation." He emphasized that employees and visitors would be required to leave their Apple devices at the door, where they would be stored in a Faraday cage to prevent any electronic communication.

This announcement came shortly after Apple unveiled numerous AI features during its WWDC 2024 event. Key highlights included the introduction of Apple Intelligence, a significant AI-driven enhancement of Siri, along with new operating systems: iOS 18, iPadOS 18, VisionOS 2, macOS Sequoia, and WatchOS 11. Apple also announced a partnership with OpenAI to integrate ChatGPT technology into its devices.

Apple reassured users that its AI developments prioritize privacy, employing a mix of on-device processing and cloud computing to maintain security. However, Musk was not convinced, criticizing Apple's reliance on OpenAI and questioning their ability to ensure data security and privacy.

The California-based tech company is also revamping the Control Center to offer a more personalized and adaptable experience. Users will soon be able to incorporate controls from compatible third-party apps, rearrange the layout of controls, and even modify the controls on the bottom lock screen.

Ben Bajarin, CEO of Creative Strategies, suggested that it is improbable others would adopt Musk's stance. He explained that Apple's strategy involves educating users about the security of private cloud systems, which maintain the same level of data anonymization and protection as on-device storage.

Musk's criticism is further complicated by his history with OpenAI, a company he co-founded in 2015. Earlier this year, he filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and its CEO, Sam Altman, accusing them of deviating from their original mission to create AI for the public good and instead pursuing profit-driven goals..

(With inputs from Reuters)

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Apple's highly anticipated iOS 18 update, announced at WWDC 2024, is set to deliver a host of innovative features that elevate user experience, customization, and privacy. Here are five groundbreaking features that will soon be available on compatible devices.

1. Private Cloud Compute

One of the standout features of iOS 18 is Private Cloud Compute, a clever solution designed to enhance the performance of Apple Intelligence (AI). Apple Intelligence leverages both on-device and server-based AI models to manage user requests seamlessly. When the device's local capabilities fall short, Private Cloud Compute steps in, processing additional data on Apple silicon servers. Impressively, this data is transmitted securely and temporarily, ensuring that user information remains private and inaccessible to Apple. This hybrid approach promises to deliver powerful, intuitive, and private AI experiences.

2. Lock and Hide Apps

Building on the privacy innovations of the Photos app, iOS 18 introduces the ability to lock and hide any app on the home screen.

Access to concealed applications is restricted to a secure section within Settings or a discreet folder dedicated to hidden apps, both necessitating authentication via Face ID, Touch ID, or a passcode. This functionality proves invaluable in protecting sensitive information and averting inadvertent disclosure when sharing devices or displaying screens to others.

3. Contacts Permissions

iOS 18 offers refined control over contact sharing. Previously, users had to grant apps full access to their entire contact list or none at all. The new update allows users to select specific contacts to share with an app, mirroring the functionality of selectively sharing photos. This granular permission control enhances user privacy and ensures that only the necessary information is shared with third-party applications.

4. Dedicated Passwords App

In an effort to simplify password management, iOS 18 introduces a standalone Passwords app, moving away from the cumbersome experience of accessing Keychain within the Settings app.

This app serves as a central hub for organizing various credentials, including account passwords, passkeys, Wi-Fi access codes, and two-factor authentication tokens, all securely stored within the Keychain.

Additionally, the Passwords app features alerts for common security weaknesses, such as reused or easily guessed passwords and those that have appeared in data breaches. This development makes password management more convenient and accessible across all signed-in Apple devices, including Windows via the iCloud for Windows app.

5. Accessory Setup Kit

The new Accessory Setup Kit in iOS 18 enables developers to create user-friendly methods for pairing accessories without compromising privacy. By ensuring that apps cannot access information about other devices on the users network, Apple claims to provides a secure and seamless pairing process.

Apple has announced that iOS 18 will be available for download on a range of iPhone models, including the iPhone 15 series, iPhone 14 series, iPhone 13 series, iPhone 12 series, iPhone 11 series, iPhone XS series, iPhone XR, and iPhone SE (2nd generation or later). However, to fully utilize the upcoming Apple Intelligence features, users will require the A17 Pro chip, which is only available in the iPhone 15 Pro or iPhone 15 Pro Max.

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A gamer's expectations from a laptop designed primarily for gaming are quite simple: portability, processing power, zero lag, a stellar display, and quick heat dissipation. All these functionalities, complemented by novelty features such as RGB lighting, make a gaming laptop worth considering for buyers, especially when it intends to beat out gaming consoles that cost considerably lesser.

We recently got our hands on the Lenovo Legion Pro 7 (6IRX9H) that was announced in January this year. With support up to 2029, this laptop hopes to be among the top choices for gamers who want a new laptop to beat out their opponents in virtual realms. Currently priced at 3,56,999, this is a premium category device that's meant for users who want high-performance gaming and computing.

How does the laptop perform across different games? Is it able to tackle multitasking effectively? Is the heat emanating from it manageable? There are a lot of questions to answer here, and rightly so, if you're going to be investing so much money. Let's get into it, starting with the specifications of the Lenovo Legion Pro 7 laptop.

Specifications of the Lenovo Legion Pro 7 laptop

Component of Lenovo Legion Pro 7 Specification Processor Intel Core i9-14900HX (24C/32T, up to 5.8GHz) Graphics NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 16GB (2040MHz, 175W TGP) Chipset Intel HM770 Memory 32GB DDR5-5600 (2x 16GB) Storage 1TB M.2 NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD Display 16' WQXGA (2560x1600) IPS, 240Hz, 500 nits, 100% DCI-P3, Dolby Vision, G-SYNC, DisplayHDR 400 Audio Stereo speakers (2W x2), HARMAN, Nahimic Audio, Smart AMP Camera FHD 1080p with E-shutter Keyboard Per-key RGB backlit with Lighting Lens Touchpad Mylar surface, Precision Touchpad (PTP) Battery 99.9Wh Dimensions 363.5 x 262.1 x 21.95-25.9 mm Weight 2.62 kg Operating System Windows 11 Home Bundled Software Office Home & Student 2021 Connectivity Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, Ethernet, Thunderbolt 4, USB-C, USB-A, HDMI 2.1, headphone/mic combo jack Additional Features LA2-Q AI chip, hybrid cooling, Lenovo Vantage software

With these specifications, this machine stands out as a formidable beast in the world of gaming laptops, but how do these variables fare in practice? Keep reading our review of the Lenovo Legion Pro 7 to find out.

Buy this product below:

Also read: Best gaming laptops 2024: Dominate virtual worlds with top 8 options for every budget

What about the processor and graphics on the Lenovo Legion Pro 7?

To keep it short and sweet - yes! The Legion Pro 7 is powered by a 14th generation Intel Core i9-14900HX processor, a 24-core behemoth capable of clock speeds up to 5.8GHz. It's paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 graphics card, boasting 16GB of GDDR6 memory.

With this combination, this laptop is primed for the most demanding workloads, whether you're battling it out in the latest AAA titles, rendering complex 3D models, or crunching data for research, the Legion Pro 7 delivers performance that leaves little to be desired.

During my extensive testing, the Legion Pro 7 tackled everything I threw at it with ease. Games such as "Cyberpunk 2077" with ray tracing enabled managed to run at silky smooth frame rates even at the highest settings. The 16-inch IPS display took the gaming experience to the next level, delivering visuals that were vibrant and smooth - more on that below.

How is the display of the Lenovo Legion Pro 7?

Simply stunning! Pardon my adjective association, but the Legion Pro 7 features a 16-inch WQXGA (2560x1600) IPS display with a 240Hz refresh rate.

The numbers are great on paper - I know, but is it able to deliver ably across different settings? In my experience, absolutely yes. This display is great for gaming, and you will have a smooth and tear-free experience with the Lenovo Legion Pro 7.

The high refresh rate and G-SYNC technology get rid of screen tearing and stuttering, while Dolby Vision support will bring HDR content to life with great detail.

Also read: Best i5 10th generation laptops: Top 9 models to handle daily tasks without breaking sweat

How is the audio on the Lenovo Legion Pro 7 laptop?

The stereo speakers, tuned by HARMAN and boosted with Nahimic Audio, deliver rich sound that is able to fill the room. Whether you're listening to music, watching movies, or playing games, the audio quality will not leave much to demand. The bottom-firing speakers, if not used on a stand, may suppress the sound and affect your experience.

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What about the design of the Lenovo Legion Pro 7?

As the images show, this laptop is quite huge. Frankly, it doesn't suit my style profile while buying gadgets, but it'll make some gamers very happy. For starters, the Legion Pro 7's chassis is crafted from recycled aluminium and magnesium, and has clean lines and a minimalist aesthetic. The backlit keyboard, with its per-key RGB lighting, is a joy to use, offering precise feedback and customisable lighting effects.

When I was gaming at night, my room was coloured with the hues of a rainbow as I slayed my opponents - and who doesn't love a rainbow? The keyboard is comfortable to use, the trackpad is equally precise and responsive, but let's be honest, you're going to buy a mouse anyway. So make sure it's a good one because this laptop's specifications make it capable of outrunning your clicking calibre.

Also read: AI laptops: What they are, how they work, and which ones to buy

What is the gaming performance of the Lenovo Legion Pro 7 like?

It would be a shame if a gaming laptop with so many top-of-the-line features didn't perform well while gaming. Fortunately, the Lenovo Legion Pro 7 laptop not only hits all the right marks but goes a step further. Let me explain how.

The Lenovo Legion Pro 7 with its RTX 4090 is a powerhouse, capable of running any modern AAA title with ease. For instance, "Cyberpunk 2077" with ray tracing cranked up was a feast for the eyes, showcasing the laptop's capabilities for clear lighting and reflections.

"Red Dead Redemption 2" ran at a buttery smooth 120+ FPS even at maximum settings, which gave me the opportunity to dive deeper into its open-world experience.

The fast-paced action of "Call of Duty: Warzone" was also incredibly responsive thanks to the 240Hz display that gave me competitive edge.

Even demanding titles like "Microsoft Flight Simulator" were playable at high settings by leveraging the powerful CPU and ample memory for smooth simulation and detailed scenery rendering.

In essence, if you have a game, this machine will not only let you play it, it will help you ace it. If pun gods would let me have it, I think this laptop is a game-changer!

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How hot does the Lenovo Legion Pro 7 get?

I'm going to be real - when I was setting up the laptop, I left it on my bed as it initialised. At that point, the machine became extremely hot to the touch - something that is not unusual in laptops during start up, but as my usage moved to other arenas such as gaming, browsing, and streaming, I still noticed a lot of heat. What is in the laptop to keep it cool? A hybrid cooling system that is intended to combine air cooling with liquid metal for optimal thermal management.

Even then, do not, I repeat, do not seat this laptop down on your lap (ironic, right?), it will fry up your insides in a hot minute. Instead, I would suggest this gaming laptop to be used as intended, on a table, with a proper elevated setup for easy heat dissipation.

Treat this as your gaming station companion and not an on-the-go gaming device, which will honestly be quite hard, as you'll find below.

Also read: Convertible laptops: What they are, who they're for, and which ones to buy

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Is the Lenovo Legion Pro 7 portable?

There's no easy way to say this, except that the Lenovo Legion Pro 7 is not portable. It's a gaming beast that will meet all your virtual battlefield expectations, but I don't recommend this laptop for users who want to game on-the-go. If you have a personal vehicle in which you intend to store it as you travel, then you're good to go.

If your commute involves public transport, be well-informed that your shoulders will not enjoy the long ride back home after a never-ending working day - and the added weight of the charger definitely does not help its case.

Game on it, amp up the gaming settings, push your limits across games, but do not treat it like the Nintendo Switch, simply because it's not - it's better. Perhaps the ROG Ally series will be a better choice if you want a portable gaming device with some trade-offs, such as a smaller screen.

What else should you know before buying the Lenovo Legion Pro 7?

The port selection on the Lenovo Legion Pro 7 is comprehensive. What do you get? Thunderbolt 4, USB-C, USB-A, HDMI 2.1, and Ethernet ports so that you can connect all your peripherals and accessories easily.

While the Legion Pro 7 excels in many areas, it's not without its shortcomings. The battery life, at about 5 hours, is somewhat disappointing, especially for a laptop of this size and power. If you plan on gaming on-the-go, you'll need to keep the power adapter handy.

The price, while justified by the premium components and features, is steep. This laptop is not for the casual gamer and is a serious investment for those who need the absolute best.

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Should you buy the Lenovo Legion Pro 7 ?

Reasons to buy Lenovo Legion Pro 7 Reasons to avoid Lenovo Legion Pro 7 Powerful Intel Core i9-14900HX processor Expensive NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 graphics card Heavy (2.6kg) 16-inch WQXGA IPS display with a 240Hz refresh rate Will get hot! 100% DCI-P3 colour gamut Backlit Legion TrueStrike keyboard with per-key RGB lighting Up to 8 hours of battery life

Verdict on the Lenovo Legion Pro 7: Expensive beast that will meet your need for speed

The Lenovo Legion Pro 7 is a machine that delivers uncompromising performance, great visuals, and good audio. It has a thoughtful design that will keep gamers happy, especially if they plan to use it at home.

If you're a hardcore gamer, a demanding professional, or simply someone who appreciates the finer things in life, the Legion Pro 7 is a laptop that deserves your attention. The price is enough to put many people off, and I don't blame them.

What is the price of Lenovo Legion Pro 7 gaming laptop in India?

The price of the Lenovo Legion Pro 7 gaming laptop in India is currently 3,56,999 and there are numerous other gaming options with different prices that you can buy.

When was Lenovo Legion Pro 7 gaming laptop released?

The Lenovo Legion Pro 7 gaming laptop was announced on 22nd January 2024 and is now available to purchase from various stores - both online and offline. It first went on sale in March 2024.

Is Legion Pro 7 and 7i the same?

The Lenovo Legion 7 and 7i are not the same; they are different versions of Lenovos gaming laptops. The Legion 7 typically refers to models with AMD processors, while the Legion 7i features Intel processors. They also differ in terms of available ports.

Are Lenovo laptops good for gaming?

Lenovo laptops, particularly the Legion series, are well-regarded for gaming. They offer a balance between price and performance and are known for their overall gaming performance.

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FAQs

Question : What are the key specifications of the Lenovo Legion Pro 7?

Ans : It features an Intel Core i9-14900HX processor, 16-inch WQXGA IPS display (500 nits, 240Hz), 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD, NVIDIA RTX 4090 GPU (16GB VRAM), Windows 11, Office 2021, and 100% DCI-P3 colour gamut support. It weighs 2.6kg and includes a 3-month Xbox Game Pass.

Question : What kind of gaming performance can I expect from the Lenovo Legion Pro 7?

Ans : With its powerful Intel Core i9 processor, NVIDIA RTX 4090 GPU, and high refresh rate display, the Legion Pro 7 delivers exceptional gaming performance. It can handle the latest AAA games smoothly at high graphics settings, offering immersive gameplay experiences.

Question : Does the Lenovo Legion Pro 7 support content creation and productivity tasks?

Ans : Yes, the Legion Pro 7 is equipped with robust hardware suitable for content creation and demanding productivity tasks. The high-resolution display and powerful GPU are beneficial for video editing, graphic design, and other creative workloads.

Question : What is the battery life like on the Lenovo Legion Pro 7?

Ans : The battery life of the Legion Pro 7 varies depending on usage and settings but generally offers sufficient power for gaming sessions and productivity tasks. Expect around 4-6 hours of battery life under typical use, though intensive gaming may drain the battery more quickly.

Question : Does the Lenovo Legion Pro 7 come with any additional perks or software?

Ans : Yes, the Legion Pro 7 includes Windows 11 and Office 2021 pre-installed, providing a seamless user experience out of the box. It also comes with a 3-month Xbox Game Pass subscription, allowing access to a vast library of games.

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A new nonprofit is focused on helping Idaho journalists fight for government transparency.

The Idaho First Amendment Alliance, established this year, aims to provide funding for trainings, workshops and court fees for Idaho journalists challenging a public agencys lack of transparency.

Melissa Davlin, Idaho Reports lead producer and Idaho Press Club president, launched the nonprofit. She told the Idaho Capital Sun the organization will show Idaho journalists are serious about government transparency, particularly when a public agency does not comply with Idaho law.

In the last five years, the Idaho Press Club has twice successfully sued government agencies for refusing to provide public records, she said, and both lawsuits took a lot of resources and time.

Unfortunately, we dont always have the ability to do that, Davlin said. Weve had to leave some denials unchallenged simply because we dont always have the funds, the time or the resources to take somebody to court.

Davlin said her goal is not to take agencies to court, but to help journalists bring transparency to the public.

As an industry where we are facing so many challenges to the fiscal health of corporate newsrooms and small newsrooms, and trying to figure out what our industry is going to look like over the next 20 or 30 years, I think its important that we as a statewide organization are able to provide these tools for reporters, Davlin said.

Idaho public records denials can only be challenged in court

The only way to challenge a public records denial, an overcharging of fees, or an over-redaction of a record, is to take that public agency to court.

In recent years, Idaho journalists have done so at least three times.

In 2019, an Idaho judge sided in favor of the Idaho Press Club, a statewide association of Idaho journalists, which said Ada County did not properly comply with Idaho public record law.

The judge ordered the county to release the withheld information and pay the press clubs court costs, saying that officials frivolously and improperly denied the requests, the Idaho Statesman reported.

Last summer, the Coeur dAlene Press successfully sued North Idaho College for denying access to employment contracts. The college denied the newsrooms public records requests, saying the contracts were personnel records, and therefore exempt from disclosure, the Coeur dAlene Press reported.

A Kootenai County judge rejected that reasoning, ruling that the college must provide the records to the Press.

And in 2021, in what resulted in a high-profile lawsuit, the Idaho Press Club successfully sued former Lt. Gov. Janice McGeachin after her office repeatedly refused to fill local reporters public records requests, the Idaho Statesman reported.

Longtime Idaho journalist Audrey Dutton told the Sun she has requested hundreds of public records in her career, but said the incident with McGeachins office was so egregious.

Dutton, as a former Idaho Capital Sun senior reporter, was one of the journalists who requested records from McGeachins office. Dutton received significantly redacted versions of the records she requested more than a month later.
There will be strong public support for Micheal Martin to become taoiseach again after the next election, a Fianna Fail junior minister has said.

Jack Chambers said that he saw huge warmth and support for Mr Martins leadership while canvassing during the local and European elections.

Mr Chambers, who was the partys director for the local elections, also said that Sinn Feins lacklustre result was not a failure of strategy, and more a rejection of Sinn Feins message.

He also joined the number of senior Fianna Fail figures who have criticised internet panel polling in the wake of a strong performance from the party in the local and European elections.

Fianna Fail and Fine Gael will become the largest parties in local government, while Fianna Fail is also expected to increase its number of MEPs from two to three.

Fianna Fail figures have praised Mr Martins leadership as part of the reason for its strong performance.

Mr Martin said his party had done far better than predicted, and that the moral of the story of the elections is that polls should not be taken as gospel.

Speaking to the PA news agency, Mr Chambers agreed: I think polling is having a disproportionate impact on the wider public narrative about party support.

I think we have to be more balanced in our assessment or when we hear about the margin of error of polls, if the polling companies now set out that the margin of error is plus or minus 8%, maybe thats a more accurate margin of error.

He said he did not panic when polls put the party at the mid-teens, but said it was frustrating at times to have to respond to a national narrative about the partys position.

Asked about whether he thought Sinn Fein ran too many candidates, Mr Chambers said their lacklustre performance was not a failure of electoral strategy but a rejection of the partys political offering.

This was a rejection of Sinn Feins message: negative, shallow, divisive politics, which is more about protest than then bringing positive solutions for people.

People want hope and positivity and opportunity for progress on many issues, and Sinn Fein have become experts on diagnosing the problems but putting forward very little alternatives or solutions that people want to actually vote for or believe is possible.

Asked about Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonalds comments that incumbent candidates were challenging for new candidates, Mr Chambers said theyre picking kind of marginal factors as an excuse.

Theyve had a complete collapse and a devastating result when you compare 25% in 2020, to 12% in 2024 in the local elections.

He said of Mr Martin: Within our party but also amongst the wider public, theres enormous support for his leadership, his delivery and issues and his backbone across many areas of leadership hes brought as a minister and as taoiseach.

I think therell be strong public support for Micheal Martin to be taoiseach in the aftermath of the next general election, and our party are absolutely unified behind him.

Thats what I think will be a strong proposition come the next general election.

Asked whether he would consider himself as a future leader of Fianna Fail, Mr Chambers said: As Ive said previously, my absolute support is for Micheal Martin as leader.

Down the line for another day, thats something to consider at that point.

Part of the partys strategy for the local elections was preparing early, completing and progressing tickets in many electoral areas much earlier than in 2014 and 2019, Mr Chambers said.

He added that they also ran tighter tickets compared to 2019, but made sure they were competitive.

We engaged early with candidates about their local campaigns, their engagement and how they plan and scale up their activity and their grassroots momentum months in advance.

I think that has borne out good results in many electoral areas.

Mr Chambers said that Irish politics is aligning closer to European norms and that there is a larger block of floating voters than there has been before.

We forensically prepared this for the last year with strong tickets and good candidates and grassroots campaigns, matched with a national policy and message about bringing positive delivery within communities, he told PA.

We showed determination, resolve and confidence in our tickets and in our candidates about their ability to deliver and to get elected.

I think that strategy of not panicking, and not reacting to polling numbers, and actually being focused on the grassroots campaign and engaging with voters I think thats what voters have responded to.

He said there was a serious issue at how polls are dominating the narrative in Irish politics.

He said Fianna Fail had examples of new people being elected which would sows the seeds of a whole new generation of public representatives for our party adding that he expected many to go on to become TDs.

Theres vibrancy, theres youth and I think it all centres around people within communities wanting politicians that are positive about the future and trying to get a progress on core issues rather than having an alternatives that complains, talks about change, but doesnt say what that actually means.
The first black man to be elected as a Cork City councillor has said he hopes to pave the way for future generations.

Honore Kamegni was one of several candidates from migrant backgrounds to be successful in Irelands local elections.

The father-of-two, who is originally from Cameroon, has lived in Ireland since 2002.

He said his work as a postman in the Douglas and Rochestown areas for 14 years served him well when out canvassing, which he began more than a year before polling day on June 7.

Thats true, I used to be a postman in my constituency, so I know the people, I know the issues, he told the PA news agency, sporting an Ireland hoodie and a Green Party badge.

After the 12th count, I am ELECTED. I am proud to represent this Great Party.Up the GREEN PARTY! pic.twitter.com/m2OpMIHCyx  Cllr. Honore Kamegni (@HonoreKamegni) June 9, 2024

So when I went back to most of them, they remembered me and they were very happy to see me standing and to be able to continue to serve them in a different field this time.

Asked about how he was seen as almost famous in his local area when serving as a postman, he said: Whatever you do in life, you should give 200% if you can.

I was just doing my job properly and correctly. Thanks to my hard work, it has paid off, and I want to say thank you to all of the beautiful people in my constituency who put their trust in me.

He added: The canvassing was tough going, very difficult, very long  Ive been canvassing for 14 months, since April 2023.

So Ive knocked on 15,000 doors because I said to myself the goal is to talk to every single resident in my constituency, to know them and for them to know me.

I believe that to represent people they should know you and you should know them.

The Green Party councillor said he was always sympathetic to green policies, and became active in the party in 2022.

Asked if he felt there was a backlash to climate change policies while canvassing, he said: I got people questioning the Green Party policy, thats true, and its their right to.

We live in a democratic society, so if theyre not happy with something, thats why Im there. To get their feedback on any issue that they have and try to find a better solution to the issues that they have.

Mr Kamegni, who has spoken about abuse he received on social media during his election campaign, said the number of candidates from migrant backgrounds who have been elected is a sign that Irish people are rejecting all the hatred online.

Its a good sign, its a sign that Ireland is part of the global world now, Cork is part of the global world as well.

Its a sign that people are rejecting all the hatred, all the hostility thats going on online. We shouldnt divide ourselves, completely the contrary, we need to be a team.

Thank you to all those who put their trust in me, I will continue to work very, very hard to continue to serve you and I want my election to serve as a pathway to the future generation.
Ciaran Cuffe from the Green Party has become the second MEP in Dublin to lose their seat.

Mr Cuffes elimination after the 18th count came one stage after Independents 4 Change MEP Clare Daly exited the race.

Fianna Fails Barry Andrews and Fine Gaels Regina Doherty remain on course to secure two of the four seats after 18 counts.

Sinn Feins Lynn Boylan also looks set for a seat while Independent Irelands Niall Boylan and Labours Aodhan O Riordain are battling it out for the final spot in Brussels.

Reflecting on the loss of his seat, Mr Cuffe suggested the issue of migration had dominated the European election campaign over concerns about the climate.

I think we have seen the rise of those voices who dont feel the state should be involved in helping the most vulnerable and I think I certainly have campaigned all my life to help the most vulnerable in society. Ill continue to do that and my party will continue to do that, he said.

I think we need a green and a social transition. We need to help, particularly those who are facing difficult circumstances, and I think we need to be building bridges, not erecting walls in Europe.

Mr Cuffe added: I think what characterised the 2019 election was the extraordinary urgency of the need to tackle climate change and biodiversity loss. I dont think those issues have gone away. Its a bit like having a hole in the roof of your house and saying ah, well get around to that in a few years time.

I think we absolutely have to face up to climate breakdown and biodiversity loss, we have to ensure a green transition, but clearly at a European level the issue of migration featured very strongly.

It had to, given that the issue has been on the front page for a long time and that we really have had challenges in accommodating 100,000 Ukrainians and others who have fled persecution and violence, so that did dominate a lot of the campaign.

Earlier, Ms Daly insisted she had no interest in speaking to the media as she left the Dublin count centre after losing her seat as an MEP.

The outspoken Independents 4 Change candidate was knocked out of the race after the 17th count.

Several reporters asked Ms Daly to comment as she left the RDS count centre after being eliminated.

She declined.

When approached by RTE, she said: You had no interest in talking to me for five years, so Ive no interest in talking to you.

Ms Daly then walked out of the centre along with a group of supporters.

Brid Smith of People Before Profit  Solidarity was eliminated on the previous count.

Reflecting afterwards, she said left-wing parties in Ireland needed to cop on and encourage more vote transferring between themselves.

Veteran activist Ms Smith said she was encouraged to have secured support from places and voters that would not ordinarily be thought of as sympathetic to the political left.

She said she believed the narrative around the advance of the far right was overstated, albeit still worrying.

I think its worrying that far-right candidates can move in and get council seats, but not that many, she told the PA news agency.

But what we have to do on the left is to be more cohesive and more coherent and transfer more strongly to each other.

Like Fianna Fail and Fine Gael transfer strongly to each other and the left needs to cop on and vote left and transfer left.

We said that right throughout this election campaign, its been one of our slogans, and we think that that needs to happen from here on in. If that happens, it would marginalise the far right as well.
Crime, Press Releases

By Long Island Published: June 11 2024

Julie DeVuono, a nurse from Amityville, was sentenced for forging COVID-19 vaccination cards, laundering over $1.2 million, and filing false opioid prescriptions, resulting in the forfeiture of her nursing licenses and substantial fines.

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced that Julie DeVuono, 51, of Amityville was sentenced after pleading guilty in September of 2023 to filing forged COVID-19 Vaccination Record Cards, laundering the criminal proceeds of the sales of the forged cards and filing false prescriptions for opioids for people who were not her patients.

This defendant abused her power as a nurse by submitting forged COVID-19 vaccination records and fraudulent prescriptions for oxycodone to state-wide databases, said District Attorney Tierney. As part of her plea, my office required that the defendant surrender her nursing licenses and forfeit over $1.2 million in profits from her criminal enterprise.

According to the investigation and the defendants admissions during the guilty plea allocution, from June 15, 2021, to January 27, 2022, DeVuono, sold forged COVID-19 Vaccination Record Cards which purported to show that patients had received a COVID-19 vaccination. DeVuono then entered the false information into the New York State immunization Information System (NYSIIS).

In 2021, each adult customer was charged $220 for a false entry on the COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card and a false entry into NYSIIS. In 2022, each adult customer was charged $350 for a false entry on the COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card and a false entry into NYSIIS. DeVuono then laundered the proceeds from this criminal conduct by transferring funds through several accounts and conducting several transactions including paying off the mortgage on her Amityville home.

A subsequent investigation by the District Attorneys Office uncovered a separate scheme by DeVuono, which revealed that from February 2019 and August 2021, DeVuono submitted false prescriptions for oxycodone to local pharmacies in Suffolk County for individuals who were not her actual patients, and some of whom were her relatives.

On September 15, 2023, DeVuono and her corporation, Kids-On-Call Pediatric Nurse

Practitioner, P.C., both pleaded guilty before Supreme Court Justice John B. Collins. DeVuono pleaded guilty to Money Laundering in the Second Degree, a Class C felony, Forgery in the Second Degree, a Class D felony, and Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree, a Class E felony. Kids-On-Call Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, P.C. pleaded guilty to Money Laundering in the Second Degree, a Class C felony, and Forgery in the Second Degree, a Class D felony.

As a result of DeVuonos criminal conduct, she and the corporation have agreed to forfeit criminal proceeds totaling $1,252,540. The proceeds include United States currency and bank account funds previously seized, along with equity that DeVuono paid off on her Amityville home. DeVuono also surrendered her professional licenses as a Nurse Practitioner and a Registered Professional Nurse to the New York State Department of Education, and is no longer permitted to practice in the medial field in New York State.

Additionally, DeVuono surrendered her certificate of incorporation as a professional service

corporation in New York State. As a condition of her plea, she had to immediately shut down Wild Child Pediatric Healthcare, her pediatric office.

On June 11, 2024, Justice Collins sentenced DeVuono to six months in jail and five years of

probation with alcohol and narcotic conditions. In lieu of the six months of jail, DeVuono may complete 840 hours as a community service that must be completed during her probationary supervision term of five years. She will also pay $15,000 in fines. Kids-On-Call Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, P.C. was sentenced to three-year conditional discharges and a total of $510,000 in fines. DeVuono was represented by Jason Russo, Esq. and Steven Gaitman, Esq.
Local News

By Chris Boyle Published: June 11 2024

This wonderful designation underscores our Town Boards commitment to our environment and recognizes our ongoing efforts to protect Mother Earth, said Supervisor Joseph Saladino.

Supervisor Joseph Saladino and the Town Board announced that the Town of Oyster Bay has been designated a Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Foundation. This marks the 29th year the Town has been recognized for its commitment to effective urban forest management.

This wonderful designation underscores our Town Boards commitment to our environment and recognizes our ongoing efforts to protect Mother Earth, said Supervisor Saladino. Throughout the year, we host programs and events, many of which include tree plantings, that help bring environmental awareness to residents of all ages, while safeguarding our natural resources.

The Town achieved Tree City USA recognition by meeting all the programs requirements, including a tree board or department, a tree-care ordinance, an annual community forestry budget and an annual Arbor Day observance. The Tree City USA program is sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters.

The Arbor Day Foundation is a million-member nonprofit conservation and education organization with the mission to inspire people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees. More information is available at arborday.org. To participate in upcoming environmental opportunities in the Town of Oyster Bay, residents can visit www.oysterbaytown.com/volunteer
Valley Stream Man Sentenced to 10 Yrs in Prison for Role in Narcotic Trafficking Ring on South Shore

Crime

By Chris Boyle Published: June 11 2024

Christopher Corley pleaded guilty to drug charges in April stemming from a 2023 indictment for a trafficking operation involving cocaine and fentanyl.

Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly announced that a Valley Stream man was sentenced to 10 years in prison for his role in a wide-ranging narcotics trafficking operation on the South Shore of Nassau County involving large quantities of drugs and firearms.

Christopher Corley, 47, pleaded guilty on April 16, 2024, before Judge Meryl Berkowitz to Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Second Degree (an A-II felony); Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Second Degree (an A-II felony); and Conspiracy in the Second Degree (a B felony).

He was sentenced on Monday to 10 years in prison and five years post release supervision.

Christopher Corley was the ringleader of a sophisticated narcotic tracking operation that sold dangerous, illegal drugs like cocaine, crack, and fentanyl along our South Shore. The defendant possessed nearly half a kilogram of fentanyl during a search warrant executed last year, said DA Donnelly. Fentanyl remains among the most concerning drugs for law enforcement. Its lethal potency in even the smallest doses and its use as a cutting agent for traditional drugs have led to thousands of preventable overdose deaths across our region. I thank our partners at the DEA and its Long Island Task Force for their tremendous work breaking up this illicit operation and for helping us keep our communities safe.

DA Donnelly said that the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administrations Long Island District Office Task Force and the Nassau County District Attorneys Office began an extensive nine-month investigation after receiving information in October 2022 about a narcotic trafficking operation being run by defendant Christopher Corley.

After conducting months of surveillance across several locations in Nassau County used to support the narcotics operation, in March 2023 the NCDA applied for electronic eavesdropping warrants to identify the conspirators.

Recordings of wiretapped phone calls and other surveillance revealed Corley and co-defendants discussed making crack/cocaine, chopping up drugs, packaging the narcotics, and making multiple deliveries of drugs, including fentanyl in Nassau County.

The investigation led to several addresses, including 25 North Montgomery Street in Valley Stream, 945 Derrick Adkins Lane in West Hempstead, 780 Adams Street in Baldwin, and 14 Azalea Court in Long Beach.

During the execution of search warrants on June 13, 2023, at Corleys home at 25 North Montgomery Street, a narcotics kilogram press used to make bricks of cocaine was recovered with powder still in the machine along with various stamps with symbols including a Yinyang and a Transformers head.

A trap disguised as an older model microwave was also recovered and contained nearly three kilograms of cocaine and 430 grams  nearly half a kilogram  of fentanyl.

It is alleged that the narcotics were being sold in Nassau and Suffolk counties.

In total, search warrants executed on June 13, 2023, recovered:

More than 3.9 kilograms of cocaine  approximately 8.5 pounds

Nearly half a kilogram of fentanyl

More than 24 grams of crack/cocaine

Seven firearms, including a so-called ghost gun and an assault weapon

Four large-capacity magazines

More than 23 grams of alprazolam

Approximately 4.2 grams of oxycodone

Two kilogram presses

Co-defendant Christopher Lasane Jr., 27, of Long Beach, pleaded guilty on April 16, 2024, to Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree and is expected to receive one to three years in prison when he is sentenced on July 31, 2024.

Co-defendant Thomas Keyes, 36, of Long Beach, pleaded guilty on March 27, 2024, to Attempted Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree and is expected to receive five years in prison and three years post release supervision when he is sentenced on July 17, 2024.

Co-defendant Clifford Nealy, 47, of West Hempstead, pleaded guilty on April 4, 2024, to Attempted Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree and Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree and is expected to receive 2-1/2 years in prison and three years post release supervision when he is sentenced on June 25, 2024.

Cases against defendants James Anthony Alexander, Janeathea Nealy, Christopher Lasane Sr. and Keya Evans are pending.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administrations Long Island District Office Task Force is comprised of officers from several partner agencies, including the Nassau County Police Department, Nassau County District Attorney Detective Investigators, the Suffolk County Police Department, New York State Police, Nassau County Sheriffs Department, New York City Police Department, and the Freeport Police Department.

DA Donnelly thanks the DEA and this coalition of agencies for their partnership in the investigation and prosecution of this case.

The case is being prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Paula Cajdler of the Narcotics, Firearms & Gangs Bureau. Corley is represented by Joseph Lo Piccolo, Esq. Alexander is represented by Mindy Plotkin, Esq. Janeathea Nealy is represented by Nipun Marwaha, Esq. Clifford Nealy is represented by Melvin Roth, Esq. Thomas Keyes is represented by Robert Schalk, Esq.
Local News

By Chris Boyle Published: June 11 2024

Choi was the founder of 16 Handles - the first-ever self-serve frozen yogurt in New York City that would go on to boast more then 40 locations around the world.

Manhasset, New York resident and prominent businessman Solomon Choi sadly passed away on June 7, 2024 at just 44 years of age.

Choi was the founder of 16 Handles - the first-ever self-serve frozen yogurt in New York City that would go on to boast more then 40 locations around the world - as well as foodservice industry supplier of custom and off-the-shelf disposables Greeno Products. He would later go on to start Jabba Brands in 2019 to advise, invest and operate foodservice companies, and was also involved with venture capital firm Hustle Fund, which invests in early-stage start-up companies.

Choi was born on April 20, 1980 in Seoul, South Korea, and later moved to the United States and graduated with a BS in Business Administration from the University of Southern California Marshall School of Business in 2002.

He leaves behind his parents, William WonJin Choi and Jennifer YunHwa Choi, his wife Hannah Chang-Choi, and their two children Jubilee and Joshua Choi.

16 Handles CEO Neil Hershman issued a statement about Choi's tragic passing, praising him as someone who was generous with both his time and energy.

We are deeply saddened by the unexpected passing of 16 Handles Founder and former CEO Solomon Choi, he said. He was a visionary who came to New York City in his 20s and founded this iconic frozen dessert brand. 16 Handles is where I got my personal start in franchising and I owe so much to Solomon for the opportunities, education, mentorship and friendship he provided to me throughout the years. Part of the mission statement for 16 Handles is to create moments of happiness, and Solomon truly embodied this is his personal and professional life, always sporting a big smile and optimistic outlook. Our hearts go out to his family, friends and all those who loved him and worked with him during this incredibly difficult time.
Local News

By Chris Boyle Published: June 11 2024

J&J Sold Talc-Laced Products, Settlement Requires J&J to Stop Manufacturing and Selling Talc-Laced Baby and Body Powder.

New York Attorney General Letitia James and a bipartisan coalition of 42 attorneys general today secured $700 million from Johnson & Johnson (J&J) for deceptively marketing and selling baby powder and body powder products that contained dangerous talcum powder. New York will receive $44 million from the consent judgment with J&J. For years, J&J targeted beauty salons and churches in communities of color with advertisements about its baby and body powder products that contained talcum powder. Talcum powder can cause serious health concerns, including ovarian cancer and lung problems. The coalition had alleged that J&J misled consumers about the safety and purity of some of its products in its advertisements. Todays $700 million consent judgment filed in New York State Supreme Court resolves claims against J&J and requires the company to stop manufacturing and selling its baby powder and body powder products that contain talcum in the United States.

Targeting communities with cosmetic products that contain dangerous substances is not just illegal, it is very cruel, said Attorney General James. No amount of money can undo the pain caused by Johnson & Johnsons talc-laced products, but today families can rest assured that the company is being held accountable for the harm it caused, and its dangerous products will no longer be on shelves in New York. Those that prey on our communities, hurt their health, and violate our laws will be met with the full force of my office.

J&J sold baby powder and body powder products containing talcum powder in New York and across the country for decades. Talcum powder products pose significant health risks, including links to cancer, primarily due to potential asbestos contamination, a known carcinogen. J&Js products that contained talcum powder included, but were not limited to, Johnsons Baby Powder and J&Js Shower to Shower. After the coalition of states began investigating, the company stopped distributing and selling these products in the United States in 2020.

In addition to paying $700 million to 42 states over three years, J&J agrees to permanently stop manufacturing, selling, promoting or distributing any products containing talcum powder either directly or through a third party in the United States.

Joining Attorney General James are the attorneys general of Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia.

Todays settlement is the latest action by Attorney General James to protect consumers and hold companies accountable for misleading practices. In May 2024, Attorney General James and a multistate coalition of 50 attorneys general secured over 410 million for AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon Wireless for misleading millions of Americans with deceptive advertisements about "unlimited" data plans and "free" phones. Also in May, a federal judge accepted a jury's finding that Quincy Bioscience made fraudulent and deceptive statements about its supplement, Prevagen, leading to a permanent injunction against the company's deceptive advertising. In August 2023, Attorney General James and the Federal Trade Commission secured $1.6 million from an online apartment finder for defrauding consumers with false marketing of available rooms. In October 2019, Attorney General James announced a multistate settlement, along with 41 additional attorneys general, requiring Johnson & Johnson and its subsidiary Ethicon, Inc. to pay nearly $117 million for the deceptive marketing of transvaginal surgical mesh devices that endangered the health of women across New York and the rest of the nation.

For New York, this matter was handled by Special Counsel Mary Alestra under the supervision of Bureau Chief Jane M. Azia of the Consumer Frauds and Protection Bureau. The Consumer Frauds and Protection Bureau is part of the Division of Economic Justice led by Chief Deputy Attorney General Chris DAngelo and overseen by First Deputy Attorney General Jennifer Levy.
Bill and Joe discuss Israels slow news weekend which included a hostage rescue followed by a high-level war cabinet resignation. The floating Gaza pier and al Qaeda are also discussed (because Bill).

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Joe Truzman is a research analyst at FDD's Long War Journal focused primarily on Palestinian militant groups and Hezbollah. Bill Roggio is a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the Editor of FDD's Long War Journal.
Apple didnt have a lot of new Apple TV or smart home announcements to make at WWDC, but the few new features announced provide some real quality-of-life improvements. Here are some of the key features coming to Apple TV and Apples smart home ecosystem this fall.

InSight

One of our favorite features of Amazon Prime Video is X-Rayjust pause what youre watching to see the actors on screen, the music playing at that moment, and other relevant info.

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, they say, because InSight looks just like X-Ray. Swipe down on the TV remote when youre watching an Apple Original series to see the same sort of info: actors and their characters and the current song playing. You can even add it to your Apple Music playlist with a tap.

If you dont want to disturb the other people watching, InSight info can show up in the iPhone remote app.

Better Enhance Dialog support and subtitles

The Enhance Dialog feature introduced in tvOS 17 now uses a machine learning algorithm to provide even better vocal clarity, and it works with more audio output types including TV speakers, receivers, and AirPods or other Bluetooth devices.

Subtitles will now appear intelligently when you mute the volume or skip back.

21:9 projector support and screen savers

Apple TV is optimized for televisions, which tend to be all 16:9, but this year Apple is adding support for projectors that have an aspect ratio of 21:9.

Having difficulty hearing whats being said? The Enhance Diaplog option can be turned on whenever you want. Having difficulty hearing whats being said? The Enhance Diaplog option can be turned on whenever you want. Apple Having difficulty hearing whats being said? The Enhance Diaplog option can be turned on whenever you want. Apple Apple

There are new Aerial screensavers, but Apple is also making it easier to choose between the Aerials, photos, a new Portraits category, or the new TV & Movies category that features scenes from Apple TV+ content. Theres also a new animated Snoopy & Woodstock screen saver.

New smart home features

The Home app is getting a few improvements, too. Its adding support for home vacuums, and you can share access to locks, garage doors, and security systems with guests, finally.

A new Express Mode unlocking feature will unlock your door when you come within 6 feet of it if you have a compatible door lock with Ultra WideBand and compatible iPhone (11 or later) or Apple Watch (series 6 or later).

A new energy reporting page in the Energy section will show your energy usage after you link your account to your electricity provider. At first, Apple is only providing this feature in partnership with PG&E in California, but it should grow to support other providers.
There is growing concern among state officials over the sale of intoxicating hemp products that can provide a similar effect to marijuana but escape the strict regulations applied to the states pot industry.

But cracking down on these unregulated products is a tall task, authorities testified Tuesday on Beacon Hill. They described multiple agencies with blurred lines of authority and local health boards ill-equipped to tackle the monumental task of pulling the products from store shelves.

A growing chorus of marijuana business owners and public officials have complained that intoxicating hemp products are illegally sold online and at gas stations, liquor stores, other retailers and restaurants across the commonwealth, circumventing the states stringent regulations for selling cannabis.

Kimberly Roy, a member of the states Cannabis Control Commission, has previously described the products as gas station weed.

Hemp is similar botanically to marijuana but contains far less THC, the primary chemical that produces a high. Unlike marijuana, it is legal federally, with numerous industrial uses.

Still, hemps cannabis compounds can be extracted, concentrated and added to consumable products such as gummies, beverages and vaporizers.

A sign outside a gas station in New Jersey advertises products containing the cannabis compound Delta-8 THC for sale.Paul Mulshine file photo | For NJ Advance Media

What results are products that act much like marijuana but are not regulated as such.

Concerns over that conundrum spurred an oversight hearing held Tuesday by the state Legislatures Joint Committee on Agriculture and Joint Committee on Cannabis Policy.

The reality is that the same cannabinoids that can be derived from marijuana can be derived from hemp, Ashley Randle, commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, testified Tuesday.

The 2018 federal legislation that allowed hemp production did not change the governments ban on adding cannabis compounds to food and beverages. Still, companies seized on the change to create a new market for hemp-derived edibles, beverages and vapes.

Phoebe Walker, the director of community health at the Franklin Regional Council of Governments, told lawmakers that Massachusetts went through a really careful process to legalize cannabis.

A tray of marijuana buds is inspected at a facility owned by 253 Farmacy in Turners Falls, March 11, 2021. (Don Treeger / The Republican)

But since the legalization of hemp at the federal level, a whole new class of psychoactive substances derived from the cannabis plant are being sold in our state outside of that structure, leaving health officials very concerned, Walker said.

Licensed cannabis dispensaries say these alternate sources for THC products cut into their business, hurting their chances of success in an industry facing increasingly tight profit margins.

Businesses that spent potentially millions of dollars to open and meet state regulations are faced with a demoralizing sight of intoxicating cannabinoid products being sold down the street with no regulation, no testing and no protection for children, Roy testified Tuesday.

Many of the products come from out of state, public health officials testified. Massachusetts farmers licensed to grow hemp cannot use it for most edible products.

Health officials worry about businesses selling ingestible hemp products that have not passed through the rigorous testing requirements imposed on legal marijuana, which can identify harmful contaminants.

Roy said laboratories that test intoxicating hemp products have found they contain Frankenstein chemical compounds that are difficult to identify.

Dr. Robert Goldstein, commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, said consumers may not know that they are purchasing products that are untested or unapproved by the Cannabis Control Commission.

Many products with hemp-derived THC have misleading labels that fail to accurately disclose their contents, leading consumers to unknowingly partake in substances that could lead to health risks, he said.

Often, he said, they can be sold without the restrictions that limit normal cannabis purchases to people over the age of 21.

Nothing about the packaging would make anyone believe they are illegal and potentially dangerous, said Joyce Redford, the board of health program director for 16 North Shore and Cape Ann communities.

Consumers also disapprove of common retailers and restaurants outside the legal cannabis industry selling intoxicating hemp products.

A MassINC poll of 1,000 state residents, published in April by CommonWealth Beacon, found 55% of respondents thought only licensed dispensaries should be able to sell products containing THC derived from hemp.

Facing pressure from cannabis industry groups and hemp farmers to reel in the unregulated market, state officials notified local health boards last month that food, beverages and other products infused with hemp-derived cannabis compounds remain illegal under federal law.

The onus was on community health officials to enforce the restrictions, the notice from the Department of Agricultural Resources and Department of Public Health read.

While the Cannabis Control Commission regulates all marijuana products, it is the Department of Agricultural Resources that regulates hemp. Though the Department of Public Health has jurisdiction over issues of public well-being, food codes are enforced by local health officials.

But municipal health departments are often underfunded, already stretched thin and unprepared to crack down on businesses selling intoxicating products derived from hemp, health officials testified Tuesday.

Many health directors and boards just dont have the capacity, Maureen Buzby of the Melrose Health Department said.

Cheryl Sbarra, executive director of the Massachusetts Association of Health Boards, said local health officials sometimes do not have jurisdiction over stores, such as gas stations, that only sell shelf-stable snacks.

This is a heck of a situation, said Rep. Paul A. Schmid, III (D-8th Bristol), House chair of the Joint Committee on Agriculture.

Do we solve it from closer collaboration between (the Department of Agricultural Resources) and boards of health, or do we just turn over to the Cannabis Control Commission the responsibility of regulating intoxicating hemp? he asked.

Roy said the commission was happy to work with any sister agencies to regulate these products, which she called a health and safety menace.

But at the end of the day, Roy said, they do need to be regulated.
An award-winning Rhode Island shop known for its fresh-baked bagels, signature breakfast sandwiches and scrumptious sweets has found its new home in Massachusetts.

Rebelle moved from Providence and officially opened at 249 3rd St. in Cambridge last week, owner Milena Pagan told MassLive Tuesday. The restaurants current hours are 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday, but those are expected to change within the coming weeks.

Rebelle is currently offering a limited menu as Pagan continues to adjust to the new location. She said the shop is not preparing sandwiches at the time but there are tons of bagels, pastries and drinks available.

People are also encouraged to bring in reusable cups for iced drinks in exchange for a free cookie.

Cambridge was my playground in my college years and I have a lot of love for the city, Pagan said in a previous press release. I am drawn to the energy and vibrancy of Kendall Square, so it feels like the logical next step to continue experimenting and innovating with our bagels in that market.

Rebelle will be bringing their signature bagels, breakfast sandwiches and pastries to Cambridge this winter (Photo courtesy of Rebelle).

Rebelle is now just a stones throw away from the Massachusetts Institute for Technology, from which Pagan graduated with a degree in Chemical Engineering. Pagan left the corporate world to become a professional baker in 2017.

Rebelle was named a Best of Rhode Island winner by Rhode Island Monthly three years in a row. Pagan has also received a James Beard Award nomination for her other business, Little Sister, was a PBN 2023 Business Women Awards Achievement Honoree and the 2020 EY Entrepreneur of the Year Award recipient.

The chef has also appeared in Bon Appetit, The New York Times and countless local Rhode Island publications. She competed on an episode of the Food Network series Guys Grocery Games in January.

The Cambridge location will continue to feature Rebelles hand-rolled bagels, made from scratch, as well as its spread of cream cheeses like smoke harissa, roasted poblano pepper and Mexican street corn.

Rebelle will be bringing their signature bagels, breakfast sandwiches and pastries to Cambridge this winter (Photo courtesy of Rebelle).

Soon customers can order Rebelles signature breakfast sandwiches like the Lox Sandwich, made with house-cured salmon and a pastrami spice crust.

Rebelles scratch-made pastries include halvah and chocolate cookie and flaky pop-tarts. The shop also has vegan, dairy-free and nut-free options.
Chef Leigh Whittaker did not predict that her medical background or business degree would lead her to open her own restaurant two decades into her career. She also never imagined that her first restaurant would be located on one of Bostons most popular streets.

I never thought Id end up on Newbury Street just for various reasons, Whittaker said. I cannot be happier that Im here, to be honest. But it kind of fell into place.

The culmination of Whittakers experiences will come to fruition when her latest business venture  a Mediterranean-influenced restaurant called Le Mari  is expected to open Friday, July 12 on Newbury Street in Boston.

The restaurants name is French for the husband, which Whittaker has affectionately called the endeavor.

Everyone says, You open a restaurant, and youre going to be married to it. So thats kind of where that all came from, Whittaker said during a phone interview.

Around the same time as the COVID-19 pandemic, Whittaker left her 20-year career in the medical device industry to follow her passion for cooking and enter the culinary world.

While Whittaker was lucky enough to travel the world for work, she said, It was time to make a change and do something that was my passion in life.

I always loved cooking and you know, anyone I cooked for would always say you, should open a restaurant, Whittaker said. [But] I really didnt want to just go and open a restaurant without being able to have that experience.

Le Mari, a Mediterranean-influenced restaurant, is expected to open at 259 Newbury St. in Boston on Thursday, June 13.Alyssa Blumstein Photography

So Whittaker applied and got accepted to the Cambridge School of Culinary Arts, from which she graduated in June 2021 and continues as an instructor. Shortly after, Whittaker started working in one of New Englands most renowned farm-to-fork restaurants: Earth at Hidden Pond in Kennebunkport, Maine.

But as her summer in Kennebunkport was ending, Whittaker was inspired by female chefs in Boston (including Lydia Shire, Jody Adams and Tiffani Faison) and wanted to come back to the city.

I worked for a male chef in Maine, Whittaker said. It was great to get that experience too, but I really had to come back to Boston and see what made Boston tick and why all of these female chefs were so prominent.

This led Whittaker to join James Beard winner Karen Akunowicz (who she also idolized) at Fox & The Knife in South Boston in September 2021. At the restaurant, Whittaker trained new line chefs and helped them through the ins and outs of preparing, cooking, and plating dishes that would meet Akunowiczs strong standards.

Whittaker was then inspired to create her own restaurant that blends her love of sourcing local ingredients with her talent for crafting homemade pasta and her joy of bringing people together.

While looking for a space, she enlisted the help of her restaurant partner Marty Bloom, who has opened dozens of restaurants in Eastern Massachusetts, including Freds Turkey House, Blooms Prime Rib House, Starbucks American Bar and Grill and Strombolis.

Le Maris previous space was initially going to be leased to Chickadee Group, but for some reason, the deal kind of fell apart, Whittaker said.

So, under Blooms direction, Whittaker put in a bid for the space. To her surprise, Whittaker beat out multiple bidders because of the connections she developed in her previous career.

The owner of the Newbury Street Guest House sent me an email and said, Didnt you recognize my name, Whittaker said.

I hadnt because I didnt put two and two together. He and I used to do acquisitions at a medical device company called C. R. Bard back in the day for about five years together, the chef said. He said, I stopped all bids because I want you to have this.

That encounter laid the groundwork for Le Mari, which is expected to open at 259 Newbury St. on Friday.

Le Mari, which will be one of a few female-owned restaurants on Newbury Street, is a 1,300-square-foot restaurant and bar that is home to a pair of Parisian-style patios for outdoor dining that can each fit roughly 20 people.

The inside of the restaurant is clad in deep turquoise tones reminiscent of the Aegean Sea and accented with golden hues. The space is outfitted with a mix of traditional seating, high-top tables and banquettes.

There are two bars located in the back of the restaurant: one that seats 18 and one that seats 30. The dining room is complimented with a French mural that hangs along exposed brick.

Crystal chandeliers and sconces providing subtle lighting can also be found throughout the space.

Le Mari, a Mediterranean-influenced restaurant, is expected to open at 259 Newbury St. in Boston on Thursday, June 13.Alyssa Blumstein Photography

The Mediterranean tapas-style restaurant is intended to highlight fresh ingredients and seasonal dishes, from raw preparations and small bites to seafood, pasta and steak offerings. Regarding the menus intentionally short list, Whittaker said, We wanted to keep it reasonable, so that way it was executable.

We tried to really take a look at what we felt was kind of the trends in terms of dish size and as well as kind of peoples tastes, she explained. But youll see theres some kind of unique, different stuff on there and we didnt want to be like everybody else.

Le Maris menu features items such as scallops with grilled pineapple, duck fat gaufrettes with shallot aioli, caviar and tarroco dust and Cavatelli con vongole (clams) served with squid ink and San Marzano tomatoes.

Le Maris drink menu covers a plethora of cocktails and wine selections such as the Yes, Chef (Altos blanco, agave and Thai bird chili), Catchin a Flight TAmaro (bourbon, Amaro and citrus expression) and the Ive Studied Abroad (Velo vodka, Caffe Borghetti and Tia Maria cold brew).

Le Mari will be open for dinner from 4:30 p.m. to 2 a.m. Tuesday through Sunday. The restaurant is looking to launch weekday lunch and weekend brunch in the coming weeks as well.
A federal appeals court has affirmed a ruling against a Middleborough middle school student who was barred from wearing a T-shirt that said there are only two genders to school.

Last May, Nichols Middle School student Liam Morrison sued Middleborough Public Schools after he wore the shirt to school in March 2023 and was told by administrators that it abridged the districts dress code, which prohibits clothing with hate speech or that targets protected groups. Morrisons lawyers  who are from conservative Christian advocacy groups Alliance for Defending Freedom and Massachusetts Family Institute  argued that their clients free speech rights were being violated, and that the dress codes hate speech clause was vague and overly broad.

Students dont lose their free speech rights the moment they walk into a school building. This case isnt about t-shirts; its about a public school telling a middle-schooler that he isnt allowed to express a view that differs from their own, Alliance for Defending Freedom Senior Counsel David Cortman said in a press release.

But in the U.S. First Circuit Court of Appeals ruling on Sunday, Chief Judge David Barron affirmed school administrators power to decide what speech might cause material disruption of student learning due to a negative psychological impact and to limit such speech. Middleborough Public Schools actions in this situation fell within the limits of such power set forth in previous cases, he wrote.

The question here is not whether the t-shirts should have been barred. The question is who should decide whether to bar them  educators or federal judges, the ruling reads.

Middleborough Public Schools Superintendent Carolyn Lyons said in a statement to MassLive that the district is happy with the courts decision to uphold our ability to create safe and secure learning environments for all students.

How our students treat one another and respectfully express themselves matters at the Middleborough Public Schools, as it is those statements that create environments that are conducive to learning, the statement reads.

The case so far

In July, Federal District Court Judge Indira Talwani ruled against Morrison based on a 1969 U.S. Supreme Court case known as Tinker v. Des Moines, which affirmed students rights to wear black arm bands to school in protest of the Vietnam War because the school couldnt show how it interfered with schooling. The case also affirmed school administrators right to restrict students speech when it materially disrupts classwork or involves substantial disorder or invasion of the rights of others.

Talwani concluded that the school administrators were well within their discretion to conclude that the message on Morrisons shirt may communicate that only two gender identities  male and female  are valid, and any others are invalid or nonexistent. She reasoned that Tinkers rights of others limitation applied because students who identify differently ... have a right to attend school without being confronted by messages attacking their identities.

Morrisons lawyers failed to counter Middleborough Public Schools assertion that it barred him from wearing the shirt to protect [against] the invasion of the rights of other students to a safe and secure educational environment, Talwani wrote. Additionally, she rejected their opposition to the dress code as a whole because, while the code is broad, it isnt punitive, and merely requires students to change clothes.

In response to Talwanis ruling, Morrisons lawyers appealed the decision to the U.S. First Circuit Court of Appeals.

The new ruling

The appeals court affirmed Talwanis ruling in its Sunday decision, writing that regardless of whether the Supreme Courts 1969 ruling on the rights of others applies, it believes the shirt did constitute a material disruption.

Previous rulings indicate that the material disruption limitation this can be applied to passive, silent speech, so long as two conditions are met, Barron wrote. These conditions are that the speech can be reasonably interpreted to demean someones personal identity, and that the message could be reasonably assumed to have a serious negative psychological impact on students with the demeaned characteristic, thereby causing substantial disruption of their learning.

Barron commended Liam for his concern for the free speech of students, writing that judges should take care to keep Tinker from being applied overbroadly. However, the school districts actions in Liams situation fell within the established limits set forth in Tinker and in other rulings, he wrote.

We emphasize that in many realms of public life, one must bear the risk of being subjected to messages that are demeaning of race, sex, religion, or sexual orientation, even when those messages are highly disparaging of those characteristics, the ruling reads. But, like these other courts, we do not understand Tinker, in holding that schools must allow for robust discussion and debate over even the most contentious and controversial topics, to have held that our public schools must be a similarly unregulated place.

Barron also emphasized previous rulings that established the special characteristics of the school environment and held that school rules need not be held to the same standards as a criminal code. School administrators need to maintain security and order, and this warrants a certain degree of flexibility in school disciplinary procedures because they need to be able to impose disciplinary sanctions for a wide range of unanticipated conduct, the judge wrote.

Whats next

The Alliance for Defending Freedom will likely appeal the appeals courts decision, according to a press release from the organization. This would leave it up to the U.S. Supreme Court to accept the case or let the appeals courts decision stand.

Our legal system is built on the truth that the government cannot silence any speaker just because it disapproves of what they say. The 1st Circuit erred in its decision denying L.M. his right to free speech, and we are reviewing all legal options including appealing this decision, Alliance for Defending Freedom Senior Counsel David Cortman said in the release.
Cape and Islands District Attorney Robert Galibois on Monday took legal action against Dukes County Sheriff Robert W. Ogden, filing a lawsuit with the Supreme Judicial Court seeking an order to force Ogden to provide disciplinary records for members of the sheriffs office dating back 20 years.

At issue is a policy developed by Galibois office to comply with its requirements under the 1963 Supreme Court decision Brady v. Maryland, which requires prosecutors to disclose any material that could be deemed exculpatory or favorable to a person accused of a crime. When Galibois took office in January 2023, the district attorneys office did not have a formal policy for handling such materials.

Beginning in May 2023, Galibois office sought records from the sheriffs office to maintain compliance with the policy. Months later, in September of that year, after three requests from the DAs office, Ogden replied to the request, saying there was no relevant information to provide, according to a letter filed with with the lawsuit.

In January, the state updated its policy for Brady materials based on an SJC decision that started in part, prosecutors ask all members of their prosecution team for all discoverable materials related to [a] defendants case. Because the sheriffs office is considered a part of the prosecution team, Galibois office sought additional records from Ogden going back two decades to comply with the new policy.

Ogden said producing the records the DA sought would create an undue burden on his office and denied the request.

Despite continued correspondence between the Commonwealth and the defendant, Sheriff of Dukes County [Marthas Vineyard], the defendant has not complied with his duties, the lawsuit, a copy of which was obtained by MassLive, reads. The defendant has also refused to provide a list of current employees so that the Commonwealth may make independent inquiries regarding members of the prosecution team.

As a result of Ogdens failure to produce the records sought by Galibois office, the district attorneys office filed a series of motions in Dukes County District Court blaming Ogdens noncompliance for prosecutors inability to fulfill their discovery obligations by providing all evidence collected. In one instance where a motion was filed, a judge dismissed a case on the day a jury-waived trial was set to begin.

The filing says Galibois office sought compliance from Ogden as recently as May 31 and had not received a response as of the filing date, June 10.

Galibois office said it would continue to be unable to represent that it has completed its discovery obligations until Odgens office complies, potentially imperiling several other cases in which the sheriffs office played a part.

The filing seeks a court order requiring Ogden to comply with the request immediately and without delay.

In his initial response to the request for data going back 20 years, Ogden told Galibois he believed it goes beyond what is legally required and the sheer time and resources required to comply would place an undue burden on this Sheriffs Office, both clerically and financially, as well as professionally.

A spokesperson for Galibois office declined to comment, citing the pending litigation. The sheriffs office could not be reached for comment.
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.

Cedric Allen CunninghamSebastian Restrepo

Cedric Allen Cunningham

Age: 53

Community: Springfield

His Story: A native of Greensboro, North Carolina, Cedric Allen Cunningham is a 20-year veteran educator at Springfield Central High School where he chairs the world languages department and oversees numerous student clubs and organizations.

Cunningham, a self-described very proud Southern gentleman of African American and Native American heritage, originally thought he might become a diplomat or an ambassador growing up and live abroad, always having a passion for learning about other languages, cultures, customs, traditions and more. In his leisure time, he enjoys traveling around the world.

As an educator, he incorporates his passion for greater cultural comprehension in his curriculum, teaching French and German language in Springfield public schools as well as AP African American studies. Cunningham, a life-long-learner in his words, encourages his students to get involved in student organizations and take time to travel and see the world in order to expand their horizons.

In addition to his 12-year tenure as the department chair for modern world languages, Cunningham also advises Centrals National Honor Society and is a co-advisor for the Black Student Union, the Mental Health Club and the high schools Diversity Inclusion and Racial Equity Club.

For the past eight years, Cunningham has played an active role in the Springfield Education Association, a local teachers union, and serves as a representative for both the Massachusetts Teachers Associations board of directors and the groups executive committee.

With the union I volunteer numerous hours to help the betterment of our schools for both students and educators, Cunningham said. He also serves on several committees here such as the MTA-ALANA, a grass roots organization representing African Americans, Latinos, Asian Americans and Native Americans.

Cunningham said his leadership style is one that encourages openness. He said in leading his department at Central he hones in on its potentials and strengths and always looks to elevate his team. In turn, through individual and collaborative work, he said he receives positive feedback from his colleagues for his efforts and for supporting a healthy and friendly work environment.

In his words: The more transparent I am when I make decisions, the more understanding and commitment I can expect from my team. This creates a good team atmosphere.

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.

Charles LusterSebastian Restrepo

Charles Luster

Age: 58

Community: Worcester

His story: In 2020, Charles Luster and friends were looking for ways to respond to both the COVID-19 pandemic and the murder of George Floyd. He said Floyds death woke him up to the need for community support for Black men like himself and the dangers they face.

In response, Luster helped start two Worcester-based organizations: 2Gether We Eat and The UnCommonwealth Group.

He is the founder and executive director of 2Gether We Eat, a youth hydroponic farming education program that has been running for about three years. Through the program, Worcester students learn how to grow food using hydroponic agriculture, which grows plants without soil. The technique uses about 70% less water than traditional farming, according to the organizations website.

They have received grants to establish hydroponic farms at low-income schools in the city, and healthy food grown through the program is then donated back to the community.

Charles Luster seen here on a balcony overlooking Court Square in Springfield, Mass., on June 6, 2024.Sebastian Restrepo

Luster is also the co-founder and board chairman of The UncommonWealth Group, a business and leadership group for Black men formed in 2022. Members of the organization aim to uplift Black men through mentoring and other community work.

Since its inception, UnCommonwealth Group has held two free Black Music Festivals in Worcester. They host two weekend Black Mens Breakfasts a month and also provide mentoring to kids in Worcester public schools. Luster said he wants to be a part of the solution to gang violence in the city.

Its really important for my little Black and Brown boys to see people like them in the schools, Luster said. You start at an early age. Youre able to show them what success really looks like, and not television success.

He said the name of the group is meant to signify the societal challenges Black people face, but he also wants to be a representative for all marginalized people in Worcester. He said it particularly hurts to see all of the homeless residents on the streets, especially veterans, as he is a veteran himself.

Luster said it isnt always easy to influence change in the community, because he frequently runs into gatekeeping in both local politics and events meant to be for the community.

Our true mission with the UnCommonwealth Group is to be a part of the table in Worcester when theres decision-making and not get left out, he said.

In his words: Once you begin to be a community activist, its just a way of living. Take time for yourself and your family. Self-care is most important.

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.

Della BlakeSebastian Restrepo

Della Blake

Age: 64

Community: Hampden County

Her Story: Della Blake is the director of the Black Behavioral Health Network (BBHN), whose mission is to help people in Hampden County access culturally-appropriate, community-based behavioral health services and achieve better treatment outcomes.

Founded in March 2017, the organization hopes to address mental health service gaps and outcome disparities faced by groups such as veterans, homeless individuals and families, unemployed persons and people battling addition.

Blake came into this position after working for the Hampden County Sheriffs Department for 34 years. She has also served as the director of the Black Addiction Counselor Education Program, which works to increase the number of Black mental health and addiction counselors in Massachusetts by providing training in these areas.

Establishing culturally-appropriate mental health services and tackling health disparities is a huge mission that takes time, Blake said. She does this work because, over the years, shes noticed a lack of such services, as well as continuing disparities in Western Massachusetts.

The need is there. The process is for the long haul, she said.

Blakes mentors have always urged her to stick with her mission no matter what, she said. Between their words of encouragement and her loving and supportive family, shes maintained her drive to keep going.

It has to be a mission of love and concern for your community. It will require commitment and perseverance. It is a lot of work, but what you believe in will inspire you, she wrote.

In her words: When you are given a God-inspired vision, know that God has inspired the vision in like-minded people.

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.
Immigration officers have arrested an unlawfully present Guatemalan national accused of raping a minor in Bristol County, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Yader Alexander Morales-Quevedo, 24, is facing charges of rape of a child and exhibiting a child in a nude or lascivious pose out of Bristol County Superior Court, ICE said in a press release. ICE officers arrested him in New Bedford on May 28.

ICE officials are unsure of where or when Morales-Quevedo entered the U.S., but said he was not inspected, admitted or paroled by a U.S. immigration official. He was arraigned on a charge of rape of a child in New Bedford District Court in August 2022.

Morales-Quevedo was later arraigned on the same charge, as well as a charge of exhibiting a child in a nude or lascivious pose, in Bristol County Superior Court in January 2023, ICE said. He will remain in ICE custody pending the outcome of his removal proceedings.

Yader Alexander Morales-Quevedo will have his day in court, but he is facing some very serious charges. He posed a significant threat to the children in our Massachusetts communities, Boston ICE Director Todd Lyons said in the release. [ICE Boston] will continue to prioritize public safety by arresting and removing egregious noncitizen offenders from our New England neighborhoods.

Court records indicate that Morales-Quevedo was released on bail with conditions after both arraignments. The latest conditions of release were that he have no contact with the alleged victim, all named witnesses and all children under 18 that are not his own.

It is unclear what prompted ICE to arrest Morales-Quevedo, but court records indicate neither he nor his attorney attended a status review hearing on May 20. He has previously been accused of assault and battery on a household or family member  including in November 2023 while he was out on bail in the child rape case, but all such charges have since been dismissed.

Morales-Quevedos lawyer did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday afternoon. Neither ICE nor the Bristol County District Attorneys Office responded to a request for comment on the case.
Boston police have arrested a man in connection with a Monday night shooting on the Boston Common that left a man in critical condition, but the suspect is not currently facing assault charges.

Officers recovered a firearm from 30-year-old Lynnfield resident Dana Loder at the scene of the shooting shortly after 10 p.m., Boston police said in a press release Tuesday morning. He is facing three firearms charges, one drug charge and a charge of resisting arrest in connection with the incident.

Officers responded to the Boston Common after hearing gunshots while patrolling the area of Tremont and Winter Streets, police said. At the scene, they saw multiple people running away in different directions, including a suspicious man who was clutching the front of his waistband with both hands.

Officers commanded the man  who was later identified as Loder  to stop, but he kept running away and could be scene dropping a firearm on the ground as he tried to escape, police said. They chased after Loder and eventually arrested him near 131 Tremont St.

Read more: Person seriously injured in shooting on Boston Common

Shortly after Loder was arrested, officers discovered a man with life-threatening gunshot wounds on the Boston Common, police said. He was taken to a local hospital and remains in critical condition.

Homicide detectives are investigating the shooting, police said. It is unclear if they are looking for more suspects or if Loder is suspected of being the shooter but has not been charged as such yet.

Anyone with information about the shooting is strongly urged to contact Boston police homicide detectives at (617) 343-4470. You can also send police an anonymous tip by calling 1-800-494-TIPS or by texting the word TIP to CRIME (27463).

The Boston Police Department will stringently guard and protect the identities of all those who wish to help this investigation in an anonymous manner, it wrote in the release.
A Lynnfield man facing weapons charges in connection with a shooting on Boston Common Monday night that left another man seriously injured was ordered held pending a dangerousness hearing at his arraignment Tuesday.

Dana Loder, 30, is charged with carrying a loaded firearm without a license  2nd offense, carrying a firearm without a license  2nd offense, possession of ammunition without an FID card, and possession of a Class B drug. He also faces a charge of resisting arrest, court records show.

As of Tuesday, he is not charged with the shooting, which left a man with injuries initially believed to be life-threatening. Boston police said Tuesday afternoon that the man is now expected to survive his injuries, and the investigation into the shooting is no longer being led by homicide detectives.

In Boston Municipal Court on Tuesday, Loder pleaded not guilty to the charges and was detained pending a dangerousness hearing set for Monday, court records show.

The shooting took place around 10:07 p.m. Monday near Tremont and Winter streets, Sgt. Detective John Boyle, a spokesman for Boston police, told MassLive. Officers patrolling the area went to the common after hearing gunshots, police said in a statement Tuesday morning.

At the scene, officers saw multiple people running away in different directions, including a suspicious man who was clutching the front of his waistband with both hands.

Officers commanded the man  who was later identified as Loder  to stop, but he kept running away and could be scene dropping a firearm on the ground as he tried to escape, police said. They chased after Loder and eventually arrested him near 131 Tremont St.

Shortly after Loder was arrested, officers discovered a man with gunshot wounds on Boston Common, police said. He was taken to a local hospital.

Anyone with information about the shooting is strongly urged to contact Boston police homicide detectives at (617) 343-4470. You can also send police an anonymous tip by calling 1-800-494-TIPS or by texting the word TIP to CRIME (27463).
A crash between a moped and a car on Merrimack Street in Lowell left a man severely injured around 2 p.m. on June 10., according to the Lowell Police Department.

By the time Lowell officers arrived, smoke was coming from the moped in the middle of the street and the moped driver had severe burns. The moped driver was taken to a nearby hospital then airlifted to a Boston area hospital.

Nage Jean-Caidor, owner of Naturel Juicing, told NECN that the moped driver ran into the smoothie shop naked asking for help, adding that he had stripped down because he was caught on fire.

I led him to the back where the bathroom was, I tried to calm him down, I gave him water, Jean-Caidor said, according to the news outlet. She is trained in first aid and helped him as she called 911 and waited for the ambulance.

A witness had extinguished the fire on the moped, NECN reported.

The condition of the driver is not yet available and the crash is being investigated by the Lowell Police Department Accident Reconstruction Unit.
A Massachusetts man with a criminal record of more than 100 different arrests was sentenced on Monday for threatening an interracial couple on Facebook Messenger in January 2021 and trying to prevent the couple from reporting the threats, acting U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts Joshua S. Levys office said in a statement.

Stephen DeBerardinis, of Boston and Dedham, was sentenced to seven and a half years in prison followed by three years of supervised release. In March, he pleaded guilty to one count of transmitting in interstate commerce threats to injure a person, one count of tampering with a witness and victim by intimidation, threats, and corrupt persuasion and one count of tampering with a witness and victim by harassment.

The subjects of the harassment, a white woman and a Black man, announced their engagement on Facebook in late December 2020. DeBerardinis did not know the couple but could view their Facebook pages because they had mutual Facebook friends, Levys office said.

On Jan. 6, 2021, DeBerardinis, using his own Facebook account, sent the couple a series of threatening and harassing messages, which included slurs. When the couple replied to tell DeBerardinis they intended to report him to law enforcement he replied with a message that said, snitches get stitches along with a photo of brass knuckles. He also continued to threaten the couple, according to Levys office.

After the harassment was reported to police and eventually federal investigators, officials discovered DeBerardinis has an extensive criminal record that includes more than 100 arrests over the past 24 years. He had previously been convicted of threats, intimidation, false reports of a crime, impersonation of a police officer, and larceny, among other crimes, according to Levys office.

Investigators also found that DeBerardinis threatened a journalist in September 2021 who wrote an unflattering article about a project he attended where he was seen attempting to punch protesters at a rally, according to the statement. His Facebook account contained multiple posts of race motivated, hate filled speech and white supremacist symbols, Levys office said.

During a search of DeBerardinis residence, police found more than 70 knives, 22 brass knuckles, swords, bullets, black powder for guns, stun guns, rifles and a number of other weapons. Investigators also found photos of weapons on his Facebook page.

In the statement, Levy said DeBerardinis horrifying and vicious threats ... were also a broadside attack on the values of equality and respect that our nation upholds.

The toxic brew of racist hate, threats of violence and use of social media to amplify vile and violent attitudes is a corrosive danger to every law-abiding member of our community, he said. The nearly eight-year sentence imposed on this defendant should send a message that when you engage in hate crimes, there is a serious price to be paid.
A motorcyclist who was seriously injured in a crash with an SUV in Wendell Monday afternoon has died, according to the Northwestern District Attorneys office.

Leverett police  who provide policing services in Wendell  were dispatched to the crash site at the intersection of Depot and Farley Road around 3:20 p.m., the department said previously. There, officers discovered that an SUV and a Harley Davidson had collided.

The man who was riding the motorcycle was seriously injured in the crash and was taken to Athol Memorial Hospital, police said. Massachusetts State Police and the Northwestern District Attorneys Office are investigating the crash.

The Northwestern District Attorneys Office declined to identify the motorcyclist Tuesday morning. It is unclear whether the SUV driver cooperated with police or if they may face charges.

No further information about the crash has been released.
A motorcyclist was seriously injured in a crash with an SUV in Wendell Monday afternoon, according to the Leverett Police Department, which provides policing services to the town of Wendell.

Officers were dispatched to the crash site at the intersection of Depot and Farley Road around 3:20 p.m., Leverett police wrote in a Facebook post. There, they discovered that an SUV and a Harley Davidson had collided.

The man who was riding the motorcycle was seriously injured in the crash and was taken to Athol Memorial Hospital, police said. The crash shut down both roads for four hours Monday afternoon.

Massachusetts State Police and the Northwestern District Attorneys Office have taken over the case, police said. Neither immediately responded to a request for comment Tuesday morning.

It is unclear whether the motorcyclist survived. No further information has been released.
A person was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries after being shot on Boston Common Monday night and police have taken a suspect into custody, officials said.

The shooting took place around 10:07 p.m. Monday near Tremont and Winter streets, Sgt. Detective John Boyle, a spokesman for Boston police, told MassLive. Officers took a person into custody who was seen leaving the area and had discarded a gun, he said.

Officers found a person had been shot, and they were taken to an area hospital with life-threatening injuries, according to Boyle. Boston police homicide detectives also responded to the scene.

The shooting remains under investigation, Boyle said.
(*This story was updated at 3:51 p.m. on Tuesday, June 11, 2024, with additional reporting.)

If the battle over abortion rights is one of the key issues of the 2024 election  and it is  then the fight to contain crisis pregnancy centers is its second front.

Abortion rights advocates say the facilities, which they describe as anti-abortion centers, use mountains of misinformation to terrify and intimidate the most desperate of women into not going through with the procedure.

These are con artists posing as health care professionals, U.S. Rep. Katherine Clark, D-5th District, said. They are knowingly ... misleading patients for the sake of their ideology.

There are more than 30 such centers in Massachusetts. In some parts of the state, they outnumber health centers or hospitals that provide abortion care, according to a tally by Planned Parenthood Action Fund.

Of those, only four are licensed by the state Department of Public Health, the same data show.

Two years after the U.S. Supreme Court toppled Roe v. Wade, and with control of the White House and Capitol Hill on the line, Democrats are using every arrow in their collective quiver to drive home the message that reproductive rights are under siege.

The issue is particularly critical among younger voters who played a key role in President Bidens election in 2020 and who helped Democrats roll back an expected Republican wave in 2022.

Reproductive rights ranked second only to the economy in a Harvard University poll of young voters released earlier this spring.

On Monday, Bay State advocates brought the fight to those anti-abortion centers, unveiling a new, publicly funded advertising campaign aimed at educating residents on the public health threat that they pose to the most vulnerable of populations.

The new effort counter-punches to the vast amount of misinformation and disinformation that the centers peddle every day, deceiving people who may be frightened or confused as they find themselves at a crossroads, state Public Health Commissioner Robbie Goldstein said at a news conference outside a womens health clinic in Brookline.

These individuals have an important decision to make, he said. Its a choice. They are, or they may be, pregnant. They are seeking care, support, information, options, and, most importantly, the truth.

The crisis facilities, these same advocates argue, cloak themselves in clinical language, employ white-coated staff who are not licensed professionals, and even use manipulated ultrasounds to scare women into not getting abortions.

Often, they are right across the street from legitimate womens health care centers, all to further obfuscate their true mission: Aiding in the Republican-backed effort to end access to abortion nationwide.

This is happening every day across the country, including right here in Massachusetts, Clark, the No. 2 Democrat in the House said during Mondays news conference. Bay Staters deserve to know how to spot these fake clinics and to advocate for themselves.

Banners from Massachusetts' new advertising campaign targeting "anti-abortion centers" are displayed outside a women's health center in Brookline. State officials unveiled the campaign during a news conference on Monday. (MassLive photo by John L. Micek).John L. Micek

Nearly two years ago this June we saw the Supreme Court roll back a fundamental individual freedom and [overturn] Roe v. Wade, U.S. Rep. Jake Auchincloss, D-4th District, said. The right for a woman to access safe and effective abortion care is vital to public health and womens empowerment.

Since the high courts ruling, 21 states have moved to ban or restrict access to the procedure, according to a New York Times tracker.

Abortion remains safe and legal in Massachusetts, though advocates warned Monday that might not always be the case if opponents successfully push through a nationwide ban.

Anti-abortion centers are the foot soldiers of the anti-abortion movement, Rebecca Hart Holder of the advocacy group Reproductive Equity Now, said. These facilities are how anti-abortion extremists operate in protected states like ours.

In a statement, the Pregnancy Care Alliance of Massachusetts, a coalition that represents the crisis centers, accused the administration of playing politics, arguing the campaign would impact the many women who want to parent and rely on the free assistance we provide.

For now, reproductive rights advocates have public opinion on their side.

More than two-thirds of respondents (67%) to a CommonWealth Beacon/WGBH poll released in April said they believed the high court made the wrong decision when it toppled Roe v. Wade, returning the issue to the states.

The poll also underlined the personal nature of the debate, with more than half of respondents (51%) saying they had known someone who had an abortion.

Advocates, across events in recent weeks, have sought to underline those very personal stakes.

And with the nations high court set to decide other abortion-related cases before its current term ends, those personal stakes will only deepen.

Everyone should care about this issue  you never know what your reproductive journey will be, state Attorney General Andrea J. Campbell said during a public hearing in Boston last month.

But those journeys require accurate maps. The campaign unveiled Monday could end up being a vital first step for many.
(*This story was updated at 3:57 p.m. on Tuesday, June 11, 2024 with additional reporting.)

With Steward Health Care plunged into bankruptcy, one Massachusetts lawmaker says she has a plan to make sure it doesnt happen again.

With a Steward-owned facility in Brighton as her backdrop, U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., on Tuesday pitched legislation, dubbed the "Corporate Crimes Against Health Care Act, that would hit violators with jail time, and give state attorneys general and the U.S Justice Department more tools to fight the improper corporate exploitation of health care.

When private equity gets hold of health care systems, it is literally a matter of life and death, so if you drive a hospital like Steward into bankruptcy, putting patients and communities at risk, you should face real consequences, Warren said in a statement.

Dallas-based Steward, which owns eight facilities in Massachusetts, filed for bankruptcy in early May. The company has since said it plans to sell its hospitals, as it looks to pay off tens of millions of dollars in debt.

Warren, joined by U.S. Sen. Ed Markey, her fellow Bay State Democrat, has been sharply critical of Stewards operations under its CEO, Dr. Ralph de la Torre.

What Dr. de la Torre, Cerberus Capital Management, and Medical Properties Trust did to Steward-owned hospitals in Massachusetts and across the country is unforgivable. They promised to improve health care, but instead traded lives and livelihoods for profit, Markey said. Private equity firms and their enablers will continue to steal from Americas health care system to feed their corporate greed unless we stop them. We need guardrails now to guarantee CEO wealth doesnt come before the publics health.

As its currently written, the legislation would:

Create a new criminal penalty of up to 6 years in prison for executives who loot health care entities such as nursing homes and hospitals, if that looting results in a patients death;

Provide state attorneys general and the DOJ with the power to claw backand return to the health care companyall compensation, including salaries, issued to private equity and portfolio company executives within 10 years before or after an acquired health care firm experiences serious, avoidable financial difficulties due to that looting;

 Authorize an associated civil penalty of up to 5 times the clawback amount,

 Prohibit payments from federal health programs to entities that sell assets or use assets for a loan collateral made to a real estate investment trust (REIT); repeal a rule in the Tax Code that allows taxable REIT subsidiaries to invest in the operation of health care entities; and remove the 20 percent pass-through deduction, passed in the 2017 Trump tax cuts, for all REIT investors,

 Require health care providers receiving federal funding to publicly report mergers, acquisitions, changes in ownership and control, and financial data, including debt and debt-to-earnings ratios, and

 Mandate a National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine report to Congress on moral injury in health care, Warrens office said in its statement.

The crisis at Steward health care illustrates the risks of allowing private equity and corporate America to play financial games with our public health care dollars. Hospitals become real-estate investments, clinicians become financial assets, and patients suffer the consequences when a risky investment scheme goes south, Hayden Rooke-Ley, a senior fellow at the American Economic Liberties Project, a Washington D.C-based think tank, said in the joint statement.

In a statement, a spokesperson for an industry group accused Warren and Markey of political opportunism with their proposal.

Americas health care system faces incredible challenges  no matter how local facilities are funded. Private equity in Massachusetts helps develop cures, supports urgent care facilities, and improves access for patients, Drew Maloney, the president and CEO of the American Investment Council, said, noting that Warrens bill is a purely political attack  not a real solution that will help patients, providers, and hospitals.
A Chinese pharmaceutical company is pausing construction of a 189,500 square-foot facility in Worcester, according to Thomas Matthews, a spokesman for City Manager Eric Batista.

WuXi Biologics, a company that produces medicines using biological sources such as cells, told the city it had halted construction its $300 million facility to evaluate its interior design. The facility site is located at the Reactory, a 46-acre park with sites for biotech and bio-manufacturing companies that are interested in working in Worcester.

WuXi Biologics did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Monday.

Matthews said the company told the city its evaluation is being conducted to determine if the facility will meet the needs of its customers and did not provide an immediate timeline of when the project will resume or be completed. The company told city officials that despite the pause, it remains committed to seeing the project completed, according to Matthews.

The other project currently under construction at The Reactory is a 90,000-square-foot bio-manufacturing facility built by Webster-based developers Galaxy Life Sciences.

As of June 2024, the Galaxy Life Sciences project is still under construction, with the foundation being completed and parts of the steel structure being erected, according to Matthews.

Upon both the completion of both facilities approximately 300,000 square feet of new commercial space will be added to the city and an estimated 350 jobs would be created, according to the citys website.

The WuXi Biologics facility alone is expected to add an estimated 200 jobs once it becomes fully operational in 2025, according to WuXi Biologics website.

Following negotiations with the Worcester Business Development Corporation (WBDC) in 2018, WuXi Biologics became the first tenant of The Reactory and announced plans to build a $60 million facility that would employ more than 150 people. In 2022; those numbers would rise to $300 million and 250 people after the company expanded their drug manufacturing capacity to 24,000 liters from 6,000 liters, according to reporting by the Telegram & Gazette. In a statement released Jan. 8, the company announced they would expand their capacity again, increasing to 36,000 liters. The press release reads that the expansion is due to the increasing demand from clients for contract manufacturing services.

The new commercial capacity in Worcester, Massachusetts represents a key part of our global bio-manufacturing network, reflecting our commitment to continuously strengthen our capabilities in line with anticipated market and client needs, WuXi Biologics CEO Dr. Chris Chen wrote in the statement. We look forward to providing more efficient and cost-effective manufacturing processes and enabling our clients to bring new biologics to patients.
FORMER Independent councillor Christy Hyland says he will take time to consider his options in public life after losing his seat in Fridays local election

The Westport-based former garda was one of the biggest casualties of the 2024 local elections, losing a seat in the Westport Electoral Area. Speaking to The Mayo News after his defeat he said after serving 30 years in An Garda Siochana and the last 15 years as a councillor, to spend more time with his family before considering his future.

I have give 45 years in toltal to public life but I will take time to consider what to do next as I have always been active in public life. I will spend time with my family and reflect.

The people have decided and I wish to thank everyone for their support especially, my wife Maggie and daughter Ruth, and all the people who supported me over the years.

It is a relief if I am honest with you. I worked hard and was fortunate to devote myself full-time as a public representative. There were times when I would get phone calls and have to miss family events to help people out and I will not miss those calls. I could not have worked any harder and gave it my all, he said. He was first elected to Westport Town Council in 2009 as a Fine Gael councillor but was elected to Mayo County Council in 2014 as an Independent after failing to get the party nomination. He was reelected five years later after topping the poll.

Hyland had been tipped by many to retain his seat and feels this perception may have worked against him.

Home and dry

THE biggest problem I had on the campaign was people saying I was home and dry and I feel I lost a large number of votes because people thought I was going to be elected anyway. That is what I put the loss down to. I lost a few hundred votes on that. People went into the ballot box thinking Hyland was safe and to give vote to someone else, he explained.

Along with his other council colleagues he was a victim of the surge of support behind Chris Maxwell, particularly in the communities around Croagh Patrick. His support in the Murrisk box dropped by a third and Hyland admitted this was a shock given the campaigning he did to bring the water to the village and for the renovation of the toilets at Croagh Patrick.

I was absolutely shocked because I put my head on the block six years ago regarding getting the water to Murrisk. I helped highlight the problem in The Irish Times despite receiving criticism for it which eventually led to people getting together and on board to bring the water to Murrisk. Now there are machines on the ground. I was there to serve the community and I did what I could.
A WESTPORT councillor hit out at 'derogatory' comments made about him on social media, saying they have no place in local politics.

Fine Gael councillor Peter Flynn was elected late on Sunday night after the fourth count in the Westport Electoral Area, after polling 1,559 first preference votes.

Flynn was the only sitting councillor or candidate in the electoral area to publicly state their support for the preferred route option of the Westport to Murrisk Greenway, which drew the ire of those opposed to it.

While standing by his decision, Flynn admitted that the campaign had been tough from a personal point of view and he had to deal with social media abuse.

It has been a tough three months and one of the most difficult campaigns I have had coming into an election. It got pretty difficult along the way with some derogatory comments and a lot of social media stuff which I didn't like and doesn't have a place in local politics. We are all there to represent what we believe is the right thing to do for our community in various different ways, he said.

The outspoken councillor was among the candidates affected by the surge of support behind Independent Ireland candidate Chris Maxwell in the communities where the proposed Greenway is to run.

Cllr Flynn acknowledged that his stance cost him votes but questioned why his fellow councillors had not been backed as they had done a lot of work for those communities over the last five years.

I have never ducked the issues. When both [Greenway] proposals were put on the table it became clear to me the more rural option was the only option and that is still my view. I know it has cost me a lot of votes but that is a discussion for another day. I think politicians have to be honest with people.

Difficult to understand

To be fair to my three colleagues, Christy [Hyland], Brendan [Mulroy] and Johnno [John O'Malley] they have put in a serious workload over the last five years as well. Some of the voting trends in a lot of boxes leave a lot of question marks particularly around Brackloon and Murrisk and Lecanvey and Kilsallagh and that area. Not just for me but for the other three candidates where we put in a huge effort and delivered huge projects and quite literally all four of our votes collapsed. That is really difficult to understand but that is politics.

In fairness to Chris Maxwell it is a remarkable vote to go from 900 votes the last time [2019] to almost double it shows how things can change, he said.

Independent Ireland candidate, Chris Maxwell said that he was over the moon with the support he received in communities at the foot of Croagh Patrick and will continue to ensure the holy mountain and its communities are protected.

We live around the foot of Croagh Patrick and every single one of them [communities] came out to vote for me and I am so proud of them. That is our benchmark  we will look after that mountain to the best of my ability when I am elected, he said after his election.

Best route

The Louisburgh native added that he wants to bring the Greenway to Louisburgh but the best route was along the public road.

We want to get the greenway back to Louisburgh as best as possible and the best way to get it back is with money wisely spent and back the main road. If that 10 million [budget for Greenway from Westport to Murrisk] is there and they're worried about it let's take it [10 million] to Roonagh. Build the road from Roonagh to Louisburgh and the Greenway beside it and get joined up with what's already there in Bertra, he said.
Another day, another round of counting in the TF Hotel and Theatre in Castlebar, as the seemingly never-ending vote count for European elections is underway.

The fifth count was just completed for the Midlands-North-West election in Castlebar, with no candidates meeting the necessary quota of 113,325 votes needed to be elected again.

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan continues to lead the charge to be elected, currently sitting on 79,019 votes. The popular independent candidate from Roscommon received the most votes in the first count (78,214), and that figure has slowly creeped up following three rounds of transfers.

It will be difficult for other candidates to secure a seat, as four clear frontrunners have emerged behind Ming Flanagan. Fine Gael's candidate Nina Carberry currently leads the battle for second place with an impressive 74,286. The former star jockey had been disregarded by some as a "shameless celebrity candidate", but Carberry's fame has clearly stood to her thus far.

Incumbent Fine Gael MEP Maria Walsh also looks unlikely to lose her seat, currently sitting at 71,879 votes. The Shrule native was initially expected to surpass fellow Fine Gael candidate Carberry, but both are still in safe positions to be elected.

Closely trailing Carberry is Fianna Fail TD for Laois-Offaly Barry Cowen, who is sitting on 74,204 votes after the fifth count. The clear frontrunner of the Fianna Fail candidates, it looks ever unlikely that Cowen will lose out in this European election.

The big surprise of the election count so far has to be former RTE correspondent and Independent Ireland candidate Ciaran Mullooly, who sits in fifth currently with an impressive tally of 58,260.

Mullooly, who got his start in journalism in his home county of Longford, has the potential to succeed in his career swing to politics, and is projected to perform well with transfers from independent and right-wing candidates. He is unlikely to be caught by Sinn Fein candidate Michelle Gildernew, who is over 11,000 votes behind him.

Fellow Fianna Fail candidate and Mayo native Lisa Chambers will struggle to overtake Mullooly, as she trails with just over 44 thousand votes.

Lower in the polls, Saoirse McHugh garnered an impressive 19,802 votes so far. While she will not gain a seat, the independent candidate hailing from Achill meant that she was the third-strongest performing independent candidate - not an easy feat with nine in the mix.

Fellow independent candidate Michelle Smith also proved herself, gaining exactly seven thousand votes by the fifth count.

A long few days awaits the count staff in Castlebar, but to many, the outcome in Castlebar seems clear.
THE Fine Gael whip on Mayo County Council says the door is open to talking to any sensible people in deciding council policy for the next five years  and that includes Fianna Fail.

A grouping of Fianna Fail and Independent councillors have controlled the reins of Mayo County Council for the last ten years, and the results of Fridays local election suggest they have the numbers to do so again.

Fine Gael looked set to take control of the council in 2019, but a last minute U-turn by the then Independent councillor Seamus Weir removed any chance of an agreement.

The current Fine Gael whip, Westport-based councillor Peter Flynn, told The Mayo News that his party wants to be part of the next council and is willing to sit down with any political group.

The door is open, and I hope we can have sensible conversations. We have seen that happen at the national level, when people said it could not be done, he said, referring to the government coalition. We hope that every option is available at a local level again and we dont have more of the same.

When asked if that group would include Fianna Fail, he replied absolutely.

We want to partner with a group who wants to move the council forward in the right direction and wants to get the council focusing on the things that really matter to people. They are the basic things like the key services and infrastructure and projects which will deliver for the entire county, and that is the most important thing right now. We want to sit down with sensible people who want to do sensible things, he added.

More Independents

30 councillors have now been elected to Mayo County Council.

The final seats were filled by Joe Faughnan, Michael Loftus and Jarlath Munnelly, who were elected in the Ballina area in the early hours of this morning. Two recounts took place in Swinford but eventually Neil Cruise (Fine Gael) held off the challenge of John Sheahan from Sinn Fein. Cruise held out in both recounts to be declared elected last night along with Gerry Murray, (Sinn Fein), Adrian Forkan and John Caulfield (both Fianna Fail).

There are five new councillors in Mayo: Joe Faughnan (Independent) in Ballina; Harry Barrett (Independent) in Castlebar; Alma Gallagher (Fine Gael) and Paul Lawless (Aontu) in Claremorris; Chris Maxwell (Independent Ireland) in Westport. Three outgoing councillors lost their seats: Tom Connolly (Fine Gael) in Claremorris; Martin McLoughlin (Fianna Fail) in Castlebar; and Christy Hyland (Independent) in Westport.

The state of the parties after these elections in Mayo is as follows: Fine Gael  10 councillors (down from 11); Fianna Fail  10 councillors (down from 11); Independents  seven councillors (no change); Aontu  one councillor (previously none); Sinn Fein  one councillor (no change); Independents Ireland  one councillor (previously none).

The full list of councillors in the new Mayo County Council for the next five-year term is:

Ballina (6): Cllr John OHara (Fine Gael), Cllr Mark Duffy (Independent), Cllr Annie May-Reape (Fianna Fail), Cllr Joe Faughnan (Independent), Cllr Michael Loftus (Fianna Fail), Cllr Jarlath Munnelly (Fine Gael).

Belmullet (3): Cllr Paul McNamara (Fianna Fail), Cllr Gerry Coyle (Fine Gael), Cllr Sean Carey (Fianna Fail).

Castlebar (7): Cllr Michael Kilcoyne (Independent), Cllr Ger Deere (Fine Gael), Cllr Blackie Gavin (Fianna Fail), Cllr Al McDonnell (Fianna Fail), Cllr Cyril Burke (Fine Gael), Cllr Harry Barrett (Independent), Cllr Donna Sheridan (Fine Gael).

Claremorris (6): Cllr Patsy OBrien (Independent), Cllr Richard Finn (Independent), Cllr Damien Ryan (Fianna Fail), Cllr Alma Gallagher (Fine Gael), Cllr Paul Lawless (Aontu), Cllr Michael Burke (Fine Gael).

Swinford (4): Cllr Gerry Murray (Sinn Fein), Cllr Adrian Forkan (Fianna Fail), Cllr John Caulfield (Fianna Fail), Cllr Neil Cruise (Fine Gael).

Westport (4): Cllr Chris Maxwell (Independents Ireland), Cllr Peter Flynn (Fine Gael), Cllr John OMalley (Independent), Cllr Brendan Mulroy (Fianna Fail).

Independent councillor Michael Kilcoyne, who was instrumental in negotiating arrangements between Independents and Fianna Fail over the lifetime of the last two councils, said the Independents have no problem doing a deal with any group. However, he stressed the last arrangement with Fianna Fail had worked well and he would be open to renewing the agreement.

The Independents will have extra numbers, and going on my figures we could have eight, which would be nearly a third of the council, and that is a good performance. We will meet amongst ourselves to see what we would do.

We have no problem doing a deal with either party, but we have done it twice with Fianna Fail and it was honoured by all sides. I remember doing a deal with Fine Gael in the town-council days, and we were happy with that too. I would leave the door open to do a deal with anyone. Whoever would be best to implement our policies, we would be happy to do a deal with them, he said.

Coordinated approach

The last Independent group that did a deal with Fianna Fail consisted of Michael Kilcoyne, Richard Finn, Christy Hyland, Seamus Weir and Mark Duffy. However, Weir has since retired and Hyland has lost his seat in the Westport Electoral Area.

New Independents include former Fine Gael councillor Patsy OBrien, Harry Barrett from Castlebar and Independent Ireland councillor Chris Maxwell. Carrowholly-based councillor John OMalley was not part of the last Independent group.

Cllr Kilcoyne said that it will be up to each Independent to decide who they want to talk to, but he feels they would be in a stronger position if they acted together.

It would be better to have a coordinated approach. There is no point in having two groups of independents competing with each other. They should be all working together. There were five in the last grouping, and it held together solidly. There is difference sometimes on issues and we have always reached a compromise, he added.

Honourable people

Fianna Fail whip Damien Ryan told The Mayo News that his party has yet to discuss who it would like to talk to regarding the make-up of the new council, but he agreed the current arrangement has worked.

The last ten years there has been a good arrangement. They were honourable people. There will be a different group of Independents this time, so we will have to sit down with our group this week and we will take it from there, he said.

The AGM of Mayo County Council, which will elect a new Cathaoirleach, will take place on Friday, June 21.
Mayo native harpist, Holly Geraghty, will release her debut album in the famous Matt Molloys pub.

Ms Geraghtys debut album entitled Musical Musings from Mayo will officially be launched on June 26 at 8pm in the Westport pub.

The ten-track solo harp album pays tribute to the people, music and landscape of county Mayo, featuring a captivating blend of old and newly composed Irish traditional repertoire deeply connected to this region.

This album includes guest artists Matt Griffin on guitar, Dan Bodwell/Caimin Gilmore on double bass, and Maria Ryan/Lucia MacPartlin on violin.

The Ballindine woman is a distinguished harper, composer, and educator.

Immersed in the world of Irish traditional music from an early age, Ms Geraghty initially began to play the concertina before moving on to the harp.

The artwork for Musical Musings from Mayo

Recipient of numerous All-Ireland titles on both instruments and has showcased her talents across Europe, Britain, America, and Canada, she has also nurtured budding talents at academic institutions and international festivals.

The harpist holds a Bachelor of Music, a Graduate Diploma in Music Education, a Masters in Irish Traditional Music Performance, as well as a Postgraduate Diploma in School Leadership.

Her 2009 duet album Ceolmhar received much critical acclaim, and Musical Musings from Mayo is sure to be no different.

The album will be available for purchase from Ms Geraghtys website and major streaming platforms from June 27.
by Laurie Sullivan @lauriesullivan, June 10, 2024

Apple at its developer conference Monday announced Apple Intelligence based on AI to personalize content across devices.

The companys next step will be driven by generative AI (GAI) and large language models, announcing a partnership with OpenAI to integrate ChatGPT into its devices and services, Apple CEO Tim Cook said during the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in Cupertino, California.

Cook described Apple Intelligence as a personal intelligence system based on Apples own generative AI models and its custom semiconductor chips.

Privacy sits among the most important features of this transition, he said. Processing information on Apple devices rather than sending it to the cloud lets Apple access personal data without collecting personal data, said Craig Federighi, Apple senior vice-president of software engineering.

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Apple has developed some of the most advanced silicon in the past few years. It sits inside iPhones, iPads and Macs, and helps the company adhere to strict privacy standards. Many of Apple's generative AI models can run entirely on a device powered by Apple's A17+ or M-series chips, eliminating the risk of sending a user's personal data to a remote server.

When larger cloud-based model are needed to process generative AI (GAI) requests, Apple will run it on servers it created using Apple silicon. This allows for the use of security tools built into the Swift programming language. Apple Intelligence will only send to the server any relevant data required to complete a task.

Apple Intelligence determines whether or not the request can be processed on the device or if it must go to the server for more information. Private Cloud Compute will refuse to communicate with a server unless its software has been publicly logged for inspection, setting a new standard for AI and privacy.

Consumer data is never stored or made accessible to Apple. It only is used to fill a request.

Siri, now powered by Apple Intelligence, also received an upgrade based on privacy. Apple Intelligence lets Siri handle stumbles in speech and better understand context. A semantic index will let users change course in a conversation without starting from the beginning. Apple said users make 1.5 billion voice requests daily.

The voice assistant also will soon gain what Apple calls "onscreen awareness." For example, if a friend sends their address, the user can ask Siri add the address to a specific contact. It also will have the ability to take actions in and across apps through an App Intents API for developers.
by Fern Siegel , June 11, 2024

Creative agency Arnold Worldwide has appointed Molly Adler as senior vice president-group creative director.

Adler will focus on the PNC Bank account, while supplying creative leadership at the agency. Based in New York, she reports to James Bray, executive creative director.

Molly is just the type of creative leader we want at Arnold, said Arnold CCO Sean McBride, who lauded Adler's leadership and love of craft. "Shes our type of person: low ego, generous with ideas, and fun as hell to be around.

Previously, she spent six years as a freelance creative director, art director and UX designer. Prior to 2016, Adler was senior creative director/art director at BBDO NY, where she ran the Lowes Home Improvement account for four years.

Adler has worked with various top brands in the past two decades, such as Google, Apple, Mars, FedEx, The New York Times, and AT&T.

Her agency experience also includes Google Creative Lab, BBH NY, Fallon London, Fallon NY and Bozell.

Arnold Worldwide is owned by Havas. Client work includes ADP, Progressive, Sam's Club and Chewy.
by Ray Schultz , June 10, 2024

Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota has signed a bill to protect journalists against meritless lawsuits that would interfere with their First Amendment rights.

HG 5216 is one of several state anti-SLAPP (strategic lawsuits against public participation) laws to take throughout the country, according to News/Media Alliance, which hailed the bill.

Recently, the Ohio Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously passed an anti-SLAPP bill, SB 237, based on the Uniform Law Commissions Public Expression Protection Act.

Okalahoma has a law called the Oklahoma Citizens Participation Act (OCPA), which goes beyond what some might imagine.

Contrary to common belief, the OCPA extends beyond defamation claims and offers a robust defense in various disputes, including claims alleging breach of contract or business interference, writes the law firm of McAffee & Taft.

How did anti-SLAPP bills originate?

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When New York State passed its anti-SLAPP law in 1992, the apparent focus was on real estate developers who, in an effort to quiet those who opposed their developments, brought baseless suits against their opponents, causing them to incur legal fees and annoyance for having spoken out against the developers plans, according to the firm of Norton Rose Fullbright.

However, several amendments were later added, broadening the law.

In Europe, the European Parliament recently adopted an Anti-SLAPP directive requiring that EU member states enact anti-SLAPP legislation in their own countries.
by Danielle Oster , June 10, 2024

As anticipated, Apple unveiled its new generative AI capabilities at its annual World Wide Developers Conference event at its Cupertino, California headquarters, introducing audiences to its generative-AI powered Apple Intelligence system, which the company is launching across devices.

Addressing the audience, Apple CEO Tim Cook said that generative AI offers opportunities to take the capabilities of Apple to new heights, adding that the company wanted to carefully implement the new technology to make sure the outcome reflects the principles at the core of our products, and understand users by being grounded in your personal contexts.

He characterized the innovation as a new personal intelligence system that makes your most personal products more useful and delightful.

What does that look like in practice?

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By integrating the function within key features, paired with personal context, Apple Intelligence provides a systemwide Writing Tools function that can help rewrite, proofread, and summarize across different text-based apps, including Apples Mail, Notes and Pages apps, as well as third-party apps. Image Playground lets users create personalized generative-AI images in Animation, Illustration, or Sketch formats to use within Messages and its own designated app.

As part of the largest-ever redesign of its Photos app, Apple Intelligence also brings new tools to image editing and curation through Memories in Photos. The function lets users create the stories they want to see just by typing a description, to create a storyline with chapters based on identified themes, and arrange them into a movie with its own narrative arc, according to a release.

Apple Intelligence also promises an upgrade to Apples Siri assistant app, which the company claims will make it even more natural, contextually relevant, and personal, as well as introducing the ability to type to Siri and switch seamlessly between talk and text commands.

A key part of Apple's pitch is its promise that its AI system is grounded in protecting user privacy. In cases when external servers are used,, data is not stored or made accessible to Apple and is only used to fulfill the users requests, according to the company, which also promises that third-party independent experts can verify said privacy.

According to Apples presentation, users will be prompted and asked for consent before any information is shared using tools integrating ChatGPT. Apple also said it would add additional support for other AI models to be integrated into writing tools and other functions in the future.

In closing the presentation, Cook described Apples new generative AI tools as AI for the rest of us, a phrase also used as a tagline at the end of a subsequently released Apple Intelligence In 5 Minutes explainer video on the brand's YouTube channel.

Cook called the developments an exciting new chapter of personal intelligence, adding, Were just getting started.
by Ray Schultz , June 10, 2024

Elle Magazine is extending its brand to a condominium in Miami, the publication recently announced.

The property, a 25-story tower, is being built by Vertical Developments and Urban Network Capital Group.

Elle Residences Miami will be located in Miamis Edgewater neighborhood. It will have 180 units. Prices start at $525,000.

Elle has previously put its name on cafes, spas and hotels, but this is the first residential offering, sister publication Elle Decor reports.

This project will represent a groundbreaking concept, offering captivating gateways for owners and residents to experience condo living through a fresh lens and the visionary perspective of Elle, says Constance Benque, CEO of ELLE International and Lagardere News.
by Danielle Oster , June 11, 2024

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A lawsuit filed in Northern California District Court seeks to burst the bubble on a leading prebiotic soda brands health claims.

Kristin Cobbs filed the class-action lawsuit against Poppi (and its company name, VNGR Beverage LLC) on May 29, on behalf of herself and others who purchased the brand due to what she alleges are false and misleading marketing claims about its gut health benefits. Poppi is an increasingly popular brand and, according to the lawsuit, topped $100 million dollars as of 2024 while continuing to grow.

The lawsuit contends that the brand relied on claims that it is gut healthy to build this consumer base, despite each can containing just 2 grams of prebiotic fiber -- an amount

too low to cause meaningful gut health benefits for the consumer from just one can, according to the filing.

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In fact, according to the lawsuit, someone would need to drink more than four Poppi sodas in a day to realize any potential health benefits from its prebiotic fiber, which would be canceled out by consuming sugar in amounts which has been shown to actually harm gut health, according to the suit.

Cobbs claims she repeatedly purchased Poppi based on representation on its label and other marketing materials promoting its benefits for gut health, citing it being marketed as a prebiotic soda, its Be Gut Happy, Be Gut Healthy slogan, and the line For a healthy gut appearing on its cans.

In February, the brand appeared on advertisings biggest stage with a Super Bowl ad positioning it as The future of soda. The ad included a shot of a Poppi can featuring the phrase For a healthy gut and touted its prebiotics alongside its 5g sugar in a graphics onscreen highlighting its contents.

Cobb claims Poppis conduct amounted to false advertising under California law and is asking for monetary relief as restitution for her and others impacted, injunctive relief as deemed appropriate, as well as attorney and legal fees, and is demanding a trial by jury.

The case has implications for how brands in the burgeoning category market their products. It appears that Poppi may already have moved to moderate its message in an effort to appeal to a wider audience, focusing more on the Its time to love soda again aspect and less on explicit health-related claims.

Providing consumers with a compelling alternative to traditional soda brands full of sugar or artificial sweeteners may be the better selling point anyway. At MediaPosts Brand Insider Summit: CPG last year, Ben Goodwin, co-founder and CEO of Poppi competitor Olipop, said that in consumer testing, the brand found that while people appreciated the potential health benefits, the emotional driver of tapping into their nostalgia for soda tied to childhood memories was much more compelling to them.
by Colin Kirkland , June 11, 2024

BeReal, the purposefully unglamorous one-post-per-day social media platform, has been acquired by Voodoo, a French mobile apps and games publisher, for 500 million.

In a recent statement, Voodoo makes it clear that it believes BeReal has the potential to become a leading app, especially among Gen Z consumers.

At 40 million active users, BeReal has made various attempts over the past year to increase revenue by inviting brands and celebrities to the platform, but has fallen short of gaining the proper funding for future success. The company began publicly searching for a buyer in March.

Voodoo recognized that BeReal had achieved incredible user loyalty and growth, showing there is a universal need to share real, unfiltered experiences with close friends, according to a statement by CEO Alexandre Yazdi.

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Yazdi added that combining Voodoos team aims to help scale BeReal into the iconic social network for authenticity. According to Voodoo, the acquisition will allow BeReal to build and release new features while refocusing on growth through organic and paid marketing across markets. The social app is popular in Voodoos three key markets: the United States, Japan and France.

BeReal, known to many as the anti-Instagram app, officially launched in 2020 and has stayed close to its mission of presenting a more realistic representation of self by asking users to post simultaneous unfiltered glimpses into their daily lives.

To help ensure authenticity, the amount of time a user waits to snap a picture after the initial daily alert appears is included under their timeline photo. However, the platform has introduced several new features since its existence, like groups, mentions, multiple posts per day, pinned posts, and a friends of friends feed.

Per the acquisition, BeReal co-founder and CEO Alexis Barreyat will leave the company and be replaced by Aymeric Roffe, the current CEO of Wizz, a global online chat app owned by Voodoo.
SAN DIEGO, June 10, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In collaboration with leading medical researchers from around the world, ResMed (NYSE: RMD, ASX: RMD) presented 13 new clinical studies at SLEEP 2024, the annual joint meeting of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the Sleep Research Society. Held in Houston, the event brought together scientific and medical experts focused on sleep health. From exploration into the prevalence of insomnia in the Americas to the reduction in emergency room visits among COMISA patients on PAP therapy  the ResMed-supported research demonstrated the effectiveness and value of positive airway pressure (PAP) treatment for OSA.



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The monsoon cools the summer heat but ignites a wave of diseases. #diseaseprevention #medindia

Health Department Instructions

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National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP) - (https:www.nhm.tn.gov.in/en/nhm-programscommunicable-diseases/national-vector-borne-disease-control-programme-nvbdcp)

The arrival of the monsoon has brought relief from the scorching summer heat, but it also poses a risk of increased waterborne and vector-borne diseases. Consequently, the public health department issued directives on Monday for all local bodies, from districts to villages, to implement measures to prevent disease outbreaks during the rainy season ().Officials have instructed all local bodies to develop a bi-weekly survey calendar for each health worker. This directive aims to ensure systematic monitoring and control of disease spread. Specific areas like Gadchiroli, Chandrapur, and Gondia are prone to malaria, while regions in Vidarbha are at risk for Japanese Encephalitis, Chandipura Viral Encephalitis, and Leptospirosis. Urban areas and the Konkan region, including Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad, and Mumbai, are likely to report dengue outbreaks, according to officials.Dr. Kailas Baviskar, Deputy Director of Health Services, stated that the health department has outlined various measures for controlling waterborne and insect-borne diseases effectively. "All districts, covering both rural and urban areas, have been asked to reassess their monsoon preparedness. Each district is to identify its most vulnerable villages to better plan manpower and resources for epidemic prevention and control," he said.Dr. Radhakishan Pawar, Joint Director of Health Services, mentioned that districts contain institutions like ashram schools, student hostels, and old age homes, which require regular health visits. Medical officers and health workers have been instructed to ensure these visits occur. Additionally, districts must perform quality control checks on water sources to prevent waterborne diseases."A sanitary survey of all drinking water sources is conducted annually before the monsoon, categorizing villages with green, yellow, and red cards based on risk levels. Villages will be monitored closely based on these surveys," he added.Clean premises, eliminate mosquito breeding sites, spray insecticides in risk areas, use dewormers, employ biological mosquito control like guppy fish, and promote personal protection methods such as mosquito nets, anti-mosquito creams, and window screens.Ensure diagnostic laboratories are accessible in all districts.Maintain an adequate supply of necessary medicines to treat monsoon-related diseases.Establish quick response teams at the deputy director, district, and taluka levels.Set up control rooms at the taluka, district, and deputy director levels.Engage village-level ASHA workers in conducting effective epidemic surveys.Ensure regular coordination among various departments such as water supply and sanitation, rural development, agriculture, urban development, and animal husbandry for disease control.Utilize various media to educate the public about epidemic diseases as directed by the health department.Source-Medindia
While fans have been eagerly waiting for his grand Bollywood comeback, iconic superstar Govinda instead decided to treat them by launching his own OTT platform titled Filmy Lattu.

Thats not all, besides launching his own OTT app, Govinda also announced that his 2017 comeback film Aa Gaya Hero is officially available to stream online for the audiences.

Sharing the news on his Instagram account, Govinda wrote, Presenting my own OTT app Filmy Lattu Download now and watch my film AA GAYA HERO.

Reacting to the interesting announcement, one social media user wrote, Nobody's fall pains me more than Govinda, an unarguable superstar of an era, his own arrogance got the better of him, whats even worse is in an OTT era where all the fine actors are getting their due finally, Govinda is still stuck in stone age! Time to watch Dulhe Raja again.

Another user reacted, Govinda's descent into becoming a parody of himself should be a case study for rising actors in the industry.

A third user commented, Govinda's a fine tale on why acceptance and pragmatism are important for a human being.

A fourth user wrote, WTF. Man is not ready to move on from the 90s.

Check out some of the responses below:

Nobody's fall pains me more than Govinda, an unarguable superstar of an era, his own arrogance got the better of him, whats even worse is in an OTT era where all the fine actors are getting their due finally, Govinda is still stuck in stone age!



Time to watch Dulhe Raja again https://t.co/M6yL7MkcQ4  Gagan Chawla (@toecrushrzzz) June 7, 2024

Govinda's descent into becoming a parody of himself should be a case study for rising actors in the industry https://t.co/MnfeKIHSoO  Chaoticartist07 (@kalakaryash07) June 7, 2024

Bollywood ko bachange agya hai wapas. https://t.co/6QFFjoV5bZ  Manik Sharma (@Manik1Sharma) June 7, 2024

He's on a different league all together  https://t.co/VmyzWiHDdC  bubbles (@brazen_soul) June 7, 2024

Ye bas meme content dene aaya hai https://t.co/PSYyZnxI8X  Maharani Meghdevi (@ForeverAnnnoyed) June 7, 2024

WTF. Man is not ready to move on from the 90s. https://t.co/MOiY1WhyvP  Lazy Kachua (@LazyKachua) June 7, 2024

One of the biggest cinema regrets for me remains not to have seen Govinda's peak. Those comic films stereotyped him. He's an actor who's range was far bigger. His own rigidity and lack of willingness to evolve with time got the better of him.  KASHISH (@crickashish217) June 7, 2024

Directed by Dipankar Senapati, Aa Gaya Hero released in 2017was supposed to be Govindas comeback to films after almost a decade but it opened to extremely negative reviews and was a massive disaster.
Since the release of Sanjay Leela Bhansalis OTT debut, Heeramandi, his niece, Sharmin Segal, has been at the receiving end of massive criticism. Fans of the show felt that her lacklustre performance did not do justice to Alamzeb, who was one of the best-written characters in the whole show. Since then, not only has Sharmin Segal received backlash for her acting skills, but also her apparent rude behaviour in interviews. From being called jealous of Aditi Rao Hydaris punctuality to being disrespectful towards senior actors like Sanjeeda Sheikh, clips of her interviews have been going viral since the shows release.

@ Netflix The most recent clip has Sharmin comparing herself to Meena Kumari and, as expected, she is getting trolled for it again. Sharmin Segal responded to people trolling her for her dull expressions in the show by explaining the thought process behind portraying Alamzeb. She said she took inspiration from Meena Kumaris performance in Pakezaah who looks into nothingness to express the pain in her heart. Check out the clip from her interview with ETimes: View this post on Instagram Fans did not take her comparison to an acting legend well. Heres how they reacted to her statements:

@ Instagram/@what.now.media

@ Instagram/@what.now.media

@ Instagram/@what.now.media

@ Instagram/@what.now.media
Kangana Ranaut has been in the news for many reasons nowadays. First it was because of winning the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 as a BJP candidate from Himachal Pradeshs Mandi seat. Then it was for a rather unfortunate incident where a CISF constable slapped her at the Chandigarh airport during a security check. Since then, many celebrities like Shabana Azmi and Mika Singh have come out in support of her, condemning the constables violent act on social media. Kangana herself responded to the incident on social media and said, "I am safe and perfectly fine. However, my concern is how we will handle the rise of extremism in Punjab.

@ Instagram/Kangana Ranaut Amid this controversy, an old post of Kangana has started doing the rounds of social media. Back in 2022, Will Smith slapped Chris Rock on the Oscars stage when the latter made a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith. Kangana posted about the incident on social media, supporting Will Smith for his bad ass move. Fans pointed out the actress hypocrisy in supporting Will Smiths slap and justifying it while not applying the same logic to her own slapping incident. This is what Kangana posted back in March 2022. Heres how fans have reacted to the old post resurfacing online.

@ Reddit/Chandigarh

@ Reddit/Chandigarh
Minister of Foreign Affairs, George Gerapetritis, travels today, Tuesday, June 11, to the Dead Sea, Jordan, to participate in the International Conference on Gaza, titled "Call for Action: Urgent Humanitarian Response for Gaza".



The Conference, co-organized by Jordan, Egypt, and the United Nations, aims to expedite the process of providing humanitarian aid and coordinate the actions of the international community to mitigate the consequences of the humanitarian disaster in Gaza.
The official in charge of sexual assault response at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy resigned last weekend ahead of a Senate oversight committee hearing Tuesday on a sexual assault scandal at the 148-year old school, saying the service betrayed her, "betrayed victims and betrayed the system" by failing to hold perpetrators accountable.

Shannon Norenberg, who had served as the sexual assault response coordinator at the Coast Guard Academy since 2013, detailed the reasons for her resignation in a blog post that described the process for investigating sexual assaults at the school that occurred decades earlier, and Coast Guard leadership's subsequent efforts to hide the incidents and the investigation from Congress.

Norenberg, an Army veteran who previously worked as a sexual assault response coordinator for the Marine Corps, said Coast Guard leaders gave her scripts to interview victims, which she said made her believe she was helping not only the investigation but the victims in receiving benefits.

Read Next: White House 'Strongly Opposes' Proposed 19.5% Pay Hike for Junior Enlisted Troops

Instead, she said, the effort was designed to mislead them.

"The Coast Guard lied to me. Worse than that, they used me to lie to victims, used me to silence victims and used me in a coordinated effort to discourage victims of sexual assault at the academy from speaking to Congress," Norenberg wrote in her post Sunday.

The Coast Guard is a year into a scandal that rocked it after an extensive investigation by CNN found the service conducted a multiyear probe into dozens of sexual assaults at the academy and went to great lengths to cover up the results.

Subsequent documents released by the Coast Guard to Congress cited 51 cases of sexual assault, although Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., has said 102 cases of rape or sexual assault from 1988 through 2006 were investigated, with 43 alleged perpetrators and 63 victims.

During a hearing before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on Tuesday, Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Linda Fagan told members she had not read Norenberg's statement nor had she reviewed an early version of the investigation into the academy assaults, known as Operation Fouled Anchor.

Fagan said a Homeland Security Office of Inspector General investigation into the cover-up was ongoing and she was constrained from answering many of the questions thoroughly because of it.

She told committee members that she was unaware of whether any officers had been disciplined for any retaliation against whistleblowers or victims and would rely on the IG investigation to guide future actions.

"I know I keep talking about the IG investigation, but as that concludes, that will provide insights into whether non-criminal misconduct occurred or not, and then we'll work to create what accountability, transparency, what are the administrative tools there" to take action, Fagan said.

Following the CNN reports, Fagan initiated a review of the assaults and Operation Fouled Anchor and pledged to increase oversight, be more transparent, and create a "culture of respect."

But over the past several months, the Coast Guard has continued to face questions over its handling of recent allegations of sexual assault and its approach to helping victims.

In April, senior leaders below Fagan decided to withhold videos made by sexual assault survivors as part of a sexual assault awareness month initiative because, according to an internal memo, they thought the stories would perpetuate an idea that the Coast Guard is in an "assault crisis."

The videos were posted the following month.

And in May, an email was sent to Fagan and most members of the service alleging that a sector commander in the Coast Guard's Eighth District sat on allegations of sexual assault in his unit and condoned retaliation by subordinates against victims.

During the hearing, Blumenthal described the email as "highly inflammatory" but said the underlying incident, which took place in the past few years, had been confirmed by the service.

"That was just a couple of months ago," Blumenthal said. "This situation demands unsparing truth-telling, following the evidence where it leads, and being willing to face that truth, even though it may be embarrassing to friends, colleagues, predecessors and current leadership."

To date, no one involved in the Operation Fouled Anchor investigation, the cover-up or subsequent incidents has been disciplined, although retired Coast Guard Capt. Glenn Sulmasy resigned as president of Nichols College last year after he was accused of inappropriate communications with students while he was on the faculty at the Coast Guard Academy a decade ago.

Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., said the Coast Guard's response to congressional oversight in this issue was a master class in obfuscation, given the service's reluctance to hand over important documents or providing them with heavy redaction or requiring congressional staff to review them in person without a camera or taking notes.

The night before the hearing, the Coast Guard dumped thousands of documents on committee staff, many of them highly redacted, said both Blumenthal and Johnson.

"You almost think that they must provide conferences or workshops for members of the executive branch on how to avoid complying with congressional oversight requests. It's the exact same runaround: 'We're going to take it seriously. We're going to be fully transparent. We're going to come clean. Wait, we can't show you that,'" Johnson said.

In her resignation letter, Norenberg said that as SAPR, she was unaware of incidents of sexual assault at the school that occurred before she arrived and was not told of the ongoing investigation. She said she was contacted in 2018 by Coast Guard Headquarters officials who said she would be calling victims to arrange in-person interviews as part of an "apology tour."

But the word "apology" was never used. Instead, she was to offer an "official expression of regret."

She also was to update the victims on the investigation and offer services to help them heal, including, if they needed, a form they could fill out that would help them access health care and services from the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Just before her first meeting, Norenberg learned she would not be offering the forms.

She later concluded that the reason the Coast Guard decided against offering the forms is that it would lead to a spike in the number of sexual assault reports filed at the academy, which would raise suspicion.

"The inevitable result would have been Operation Fouled Anchor being discovered by Congress. To prevent Operation Fouled Anchor from being discovered by Congress, Coast Guard leaders deliberately withheld VA military sexual trauma benefits and services from the survivors we were sent around to meet with. Worse, we offered them absolutely nothing to replace those lost benefits and services. We just left the victims to fend for themselves," she wrote.

Norenberg said she was stunned when she read the reports about the cover-up and concealment of Operation Fouled Anchor.

"We weren't sent out there to help these people, I realized. We were sent out there as part of an elaborate cover-up of Operation Fouled Anchor designed to hide the existence of the investigation from Congress and the public," she said.

Although Fagan said she had not read Norenberg's resignation letter, she lauded her as making an "incredible difference" at the Coast Guard Academy.

Throughout the hearing, Fagan said she is working to turn the culture of the service around.

"Every expert we've consulted cautioned that culture change is not easy and it is not quick, but it is critical that we undertake this, and it's critical to our success as a service organization," Fagan said.

Blumenthal said he found the denial of forms to victims that would have enabled them to access VA benefits "the most damning parts" of Norenberg's letter.

"If the document is unsigned, they can't access the benefits. If they're denied the opportunity to sign that document, not only are they victims of assault and survivors, but they are prevented from accessing the health care they need to deal with the trauma and other medical problems," Blumenthal said. "I find that absolutely untenable and intolerable."

Related: 'Culture of Cover-Up:' Senators Ratchet Up Pressure on Coast Guard After It Hid Report on Rapes, Sexual Assaults
The opinions expressed in this op-ed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Military.com. If you would like to submit your own commentary, please send your article to opinions@military.com for consideration.

The gist of Rep. Derrick Van Orden's op-ed published earlier this month by Military.com is that former President Donald Trump has done much for U.S. military members and veterans, while President Joe Biden has been disrespectful.

That's nonsense.

Any good that veterans received during Trump's term in office came from others' efforts and in spite of -- not because of -- Trump. Most people's actions are prompted by what they think and feel. In Trump's case, he has never felt or shown respect for the U.S. military or its veterans. He has thought only of how he could use them for his own purposes.

Lest nostalgia for Trump's presidency obscure the facts, let me remind you of several:

When running for president in January 2016, Trump skipped a Republican presidential debate for a "fundraiser" for veterans. Although he received roughly $5 million in donations and pledged an extra $1 million of his own cash, he sent the money to veterans' charities months later only after investigative reporters revealed he had not donated the funds. Trump was fined $2 million by a judge for deceptive practices tied to the event.

As president, he canceled a visit to the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery near Paris in 2018. Although he falsely claimed his helicopter could not fly in the rain and the Secret Service couldn't drive him there, the truth was that keeping his hair dry was more important than honoring American war dead, as reported by The Atlantic. Trump reportedly told staffers, "Why should I go to that cemetery? It's filled with losers." Losers? Americans who made the ultimate sacrifice are losers?

During that same trip, he also told senior staffers that the nearly 2,000 U.S. Marines who were killed at the World War I Battle of Belleau Wood were "suckers" for getting killed. American Marines, whose motto "Semper Fi" means "always faithful," are not suckers when dying for their country.

This is what he thinks of the honorable men and women who sacrifice their bodies, family time, and even their lives for an American cause greater than themselves.

But Trump doesn't, and never will, understand how a person can be true to an ideal for which he does not receive a financial reward in return. On Memorial Day 2017, while standing in front of the grave of 1st Lt. Robert Kelly, the son of Gen. John Kelly who died in Afghanistan in 2010, Trump turned to Gen. Kelly and said, "I don't get it. What was in it for them?"

Trump was similarly mystified why U.S. flags should be lowered to half-staff after Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., died, saying the "guy was a f---ng loser."

Loser? He spent five long years in North Vietnam as a prisoner of war, after being shot down while carrying out a bombing run against a heavily defended target. When offered early release as a gesture to his father, Adm. John McCain, he refused, because honorable American service members do not accept special treatment from the enemy. Trump would have accepted early release in a heartbeat, if he had served in Vietnam, which he didn't, because he dodged the draft with a deferment for Schrodinger's bone spurs. The family of the doctor who provided the diagnosis said he likely made it up as a favor to Trump's father.

Despite attending a military prep school, Trump has been contemptuous since high school of U.S. military discipline, traditions, and the idea of service to country. His anti-military contempt has continued for decades. Not only did he mock McCain for being captured, he also mocked Gold Star families before and after his first 2016 presidential campaign. During his time in office, Trump didn't even want to be seen with veteran amputees, because "it doesn't look good for me," The Atlantic reported, or to have disabled veterans participate in a patriotic parade because "nobody wants to see that." More ominously, Trump stated that certain high-ranking military members, with decades of service to our country, should be executed for treason because they disagreed with his political positions. This is not a person who has the interests of U.S. military members and veterans at heart.

Any good that helped American veterans while Trump was in office did not spring from his love of the military, was not his administration's idea, and was developed by a combination of efforts by congressional staffers, veterans service organizations, and concerned officials at the Department of Veterans Affairs.

But President Biden has been concerned with military members and veterans for decades. His late son, an Army officer, died of cancer that the president believes came from his exposure to chemicals in wartime burn pits. That loss has driven a very personal commitment to the welfare of military members. While serving as president, Biden has signed more than two dozen laws that benefit military members and veterans, including the PACT Act, which expanded the benefits and services for service members and veterans exposed to toxic chemicals.

Working with partners in Congress, Biden's administration also expanded access to health care and child care; improved long-term medical care; took steps to curtail veteran homelessness (and asked Congress to triple its housing vouchers to needy veterans); lowered health care costs for World War II veterans; and expanded support to military suicide prevention programs by community-based organizations (and established the 988 Veterans Crisis Line).

This is in addition to ensuring the VA improved its medical appointments, veteran disability claim processing times, and delivered record benefits to veterans. Moreover, Biden also established a task force to help protect military members and their families against financial fraudsters and signed an executive order consisting of multiple actions designed to improve post-military employment access and increase transition assistance to military spouses.

Biden has demonstrated his commitment to service members and veterans' welfare throughout his distinguished decades of public service. His reelection would genuinely benefit military members and veterans. Trump has shown only contempt.

-- Ronald Lackey is a retired major who served for 17 years as an intelligence officer in the U.S. Air Force and reserves with units assigned to NORAD, Tactical Air Command, Air Force Intelligence Agency, Air Force Special Operations and Air Force Search and Rescue. He was medically retired due to service in Operation Desert Shield/Storm, going on to serve 22 years in various local, state and federal law enforcement analysis positions, including federal counterdrug and counterterrorism task forces, and five years at the Arizona Counterterrorism Information Center.
NORMANDY, France -- John Brown was 20 years old when he joined the Army Air Forces in 1947. World War II was over, but he still wanted to serve, eventually finding himself with the Army's occupation force in Japan. It was the start of nearly 30 years of service. He would become a counterintelligence expert, deploying during the Korean War and Vietnam War, among other secretive destinations. The most outstanding moments of his career are still classified.

Brown turned 96 years old in 2023 and intended to visit Normandy to commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day alongside his fellow Army veterans. Unfortunately, he died on May 2, 2024, three weeks before his scheduled trip. But his buddies didn't forget about him: they brought his cremated remains to France and carried them on a jump into Normandy on June 3, 2024.

In the early midnight hour of June 6, they spread Brown's ashes near the "Iron Mike" memorial, in an annual ceremony meant to honor those who are no longer among their ranks.

Master Sgt. (ret.) Russ Battatio holds the story of Sgt. Maj. John Brown and a container of his remains before making a static line jump into Normandy's La Fiere drop zone on June 3, 2024. (Military.com/Blake Stilwell)

"We come here to do a ceremony to honor our greatest generation, especially the paratroopers," Sean Lockhead, director of veteran affairs for the nonprofit All Airborne Battalion, told Military.com ahead of this year's event. "In a few minutes, at midnight, we try to imagine what these heroes felt as they dropped in. It's our way of commemorating the sacrifice they made, with so many men who lost their lives on the initial jump and then the following days here at La Fiere."

On the morning of June 6, 1944, paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne were assigned to capture a key bridge across the Merderet River, west of Sainte-Mere-Eglise. By dawn that morning, La Fiere Bridge was in American hands, but the Germans were being reinforced with men and armor.

Over four days, the paratroopers were outgunned, outnumbered and low on ammunition, but they were able to hold the small but critical bridge until reinforcements arrived from nearby Utah Beach. Some 250 paratroopers died fighting in "probably the bloodiest small unit struggle in the experience of American arms," according to the National World War II Museum.

Just down the street from the bridge, a statue was erected featuring Iron Mike, an unnamed airborne soldier meant to represent all airborne troops.

"It basically represents the battle that was fought here, the Battle of La Fiere Bridge," Lockhead said. "Their success here made a huge difference for all the units coming in from Utah Beach."

The original Iron Mike statue, unveiled in September 1961, is at Fort Liberty, North Carolina. The Iron Mike at La Fiere is exactly like the original, except it was dedicated to Lt. Gen. James "The Jumping General" Gavin, the only American general to make four combat jumps during the war.

The "Iron Mike" Memorial statue at La Fiere in Normandy France. (Military.com/Blake Stilwell)

At the stroke of midnight on June 6 this year, the gathered paratroopers observed a moment of silence, said the names of veterans like Brown who died in the past year, and offered a toast of whiskey and Calvados (a locally made Normandy brandy) to the departed. They then performed a rousing chorus of "God Bless America."

"It's our honor," said Lockhead. "Everything we do is focused on our veterans. Don't get me wrong, the jumping is cool, it's fun, but it's far down on our list. We focus on World War II, but for us, it's also how we embrace current-day veterans and the issues they're having. The combination of these things helps us in our mission of improving the lives of all veterans."

A member of the All Airborne Battalion wearing a World War II-era paratrooper's uniform speaks to the crowd at the Iron Mike Memorial on June 6, 2024. (Military.com/Blake Stilwell)

The La Fiere region has since become hallowed ground for not only American paratroopers, but paratroopers from all over the world. The ceremony included airborne troops of all ages, from the United Kingdom, France, Germany, the Netherlands and elsewhere.

"They come here to celebrate the greatest generation because they are not going to be around for very long," Lockhead added. "And now it's not even a matter of if they're Normandy veterans. It could be anyone associated with World War II; the Pacific, North Africa ... It doesn't matter because our time for honoring these men and women is fading very quickly."

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The first successful manned launch from the International Space Station (ISS) occurred on February 9, 2018, when Scott Rocket landed safely on Earths surface after an estimated 348 hours in orbit.







(When Is The First Space X Manned Launch)

The mission was a major milestone for NASA and the United States, as it marked the first time that humans had set foot on another planet. It also demonstrated the technological capabilities of SpaceX, one of the leading private space companies in the world.

However, the landing of the rocket on Earth did not come without controversy. Some experts were concerned about the safety of the astronauts who had spent so long in space and wondered if they would be able to return to Earth safely.

Despite these concerns, the landing of the rocket on Earth was a significant achievement and that SpaceX has made significant progress in developing its technologies. The company is now working on expanding its operations beyond the ISS and establishing a permanent human presence on Mars.

Its worth noting that the success of this mission was only possible due to the efforts and dedication of the astronauts and scientists who worked on the mission. They faced numerous challenges and setbacks, but their perseverance and determination paid off in the end.







(When Is The First Space X Manned Launch)

In conclusion, the successful manned launch from the International Space Station on February 9, 2018, was a major achievement for NASA and the United States. It demonstrated the technological capabilities of SpaceX and marked the beginning of a new era in space exploration. While there were some concerns about the safety of the astronauts who had spent so long in space, their bravery and dedication paid off in the end, and we can expect to see many more exciting moments in space exploration in the years to come.
The Phillies released Beau Burrows from his minor league deal, per the transaction log at MLB.com. The former first-round pick had signed with Philadelphia at the end of Spring Training.

Burrows was selected by the Tigers with the 22nd pick of the 2015 draft. The Texas native was a top 100 caliber prospect early in his professional career. His results began to level off once he hit the Triple-A level. Burrows pitched in the majors for the Tigers and Twins between 2020-21, allowing eight runs in 8 1/3 innings covering six relief appearances.

Since then, Burrows has bounced around the upper levels of the minor leagues. He spent 2022 with the Dodgers and worked in the Braves system a year ago. Burrows split his time with the Phils between Double-A Reading and Triple-A Lehigh Valley, allowing 6.45 earned runs per nine through 22 1/3 frames. He walked more than 20% of opposing hitters. Burrows now owns a 6.10 ERA in 317 1/3 career innings at the Triple-A level. His camp will presumably search for another minor league opportunity, though it doesnt seem out of the question he could head to independent ball to dial in his command.
The Pirates have claimed infielder Niko Goodrum off waivers from the Angels, per announcements from both clubs. The Pirates optioned Goodrum to Triple-A Indianapolis. To open a 40-man spot, right-hander Ben Heller was designated for assignment. There wasnt any previous indication that Goodrum had been removed from the Angels roster, so their 40-man count will drop to 39.

Goodrum was only with the Angels a short time. He was claimed off waivers from the Rays about a month ago and only got into four games with the big league club, as they kept him on optional assignment for the most part. In his 15 big league plate appearances, he drew two walks but didnt get a hit and struck out four times. In Triple-A Salt Lake, he hit a tepid .200/.333/.200 in 30 plate appearances.

Now 32, Goodrum was once a solid regular for the Tigers. He slashed .247/.318/.427 over 2018 and 2019 for a 98 wRC+, indicating he was just barely below average at the plate for that time. He also stole 24 bases in that stretch while bouncing around to all seven positions outside of the battery.

But things have been a struggle since then, as hes slashed .190/.267/.321 in 582 major league plate appearances over the past few years. There were some encouraging signs pointing towards a bit of a bounceback lately, though Goodrum hasnt been able to maintain them. He .280/.448/.440 for Bostons Triple-A club and then hit .295/.373/.387 in the KBO last year, leading to a minor league deal with the Twins for 2024. He was acquired by the Rays just before Opening Day and didnt perform in the majors but hit .316/.422/.605 in Triple-A Durham before the Angels claimed him and his performance dipped again.

Its been quite the up-and-down stretch for Goodrum but the Bucs evidently are intrigued enough to give him a roster spot and bring him aboard for some extra depth. Even as he has struggled more generally, he has drawn walks here and there. He has a 14.7% walk rate in the minors this year and had a 23.1% rate with Worcester last year before going to Korea, then walking in 11.4% of his plate appearances over there.

The Pirates have several position players struggling this year, with guys like Jack Suwinski, Rowdy Tellez, Edward Olivares, Jared Triolo and Michael A. Taylor having posted fairly lackluster numbers. Since Goodrum can move all around the diamond, he could be a viable replacement if the Bucs decide to make any kind of move with anyone in that group or if someone hits the injured list. He also has less than five years of service time and could be kept around for next year via arbitration, the Bucs are so inclined.

Heller, 32, signed a minor league deal with the Pirates in the offseason. He posted a 4.91 earned run average and 10.1% walk rate in Triple-A before being selected to the big league roster last week, though his 43% strikeout rate was certainly enticing. He tossed two innings for the Pirates in the past week but allowed an eye-popping 11 earned runs.

The Pirates will have a week to trade Heller or pass him through waivers. His career numbers are naturally much better than the 49.50 ERA he currently has in the 2024 season. In 52 frames going back to his 2016 debut, he has a 4.85 ERA, though he missed much of the 2018 to 2022 seasons due to injuries. The major league results have obviously been poor this year but it was just two outings after he struck out a bunch of guys in Triple-A. If any club were to claim him, Heller is out of options but less than four years of service time.
LOS ANGELES, CA  One of the most-watched new TV programs on Netflix this week centers on two Michigan-raised sisters whose social media-influencing fame took a dark turn when an alleged cult leader entered the picture.

Dancing for the Devil: The 7M TikTok Cult premiered late last month, rising this week to the No. 2 spot on the popular streaming services self-reported ranking of most-watched TV programs.

The 3-part limited series largely centers on Melanie Wilking, 25, and Miranda Derrick, 27, two siblings who the documentary identifies as Detroit natives.

Graduates of the Sterling Heights-based Warren Consolidated School of Performing Arts, the sisters first gained fame for dance routines they performed on their shared social media accounts, where they branded themselves as The Wilking Sisters. The duo also performed as members of the Detroit Pistons hip-hop dance team and appeared in music videos with pop stars such as Bruno Mars, Jason Derulo and Joe Jonas.

Over time, followers noticed Derrick no longer appeared in social media-uploaded videos with her younger sister. In 2022, Wilking and her parents uploaded a video on social media, announcing their fears Derrick was under the influence of a Los Angeles-based church-turned-talent management agency they likened to a cult.

At the time, Derrick largely cut off contact with her family per direction of the agencys chief executive officer, Robert Shinn, the family alleged in the documentary.

Additional interviews showed former acquaintances of Shinn  who also identified as a pastor of a church  accuse him of sexual abuse, which he has denied.

While Derrick later reconciled with her family, she remained linked to Shinns organization, 7M Films, the documentary stated.

In a statement uploaded to Instagram after the Netflix documentary was released, she called the series a one-sided story.

I am just a woman trying to live my life, Derrick wrote last week. I am not a victim, I am not in any harm, I am not being abused.
FLINT, MI - Shelly Hardy received a phone call on Friday that shed soon embark on a history-making flight.

Bishop Airport hosted Michigans first all-female honor flight on Tuesday, June 11, where Hardy and other veterans flew to Washington D.C. to visit memorials built in their honor.

When (I) applied for it, they said it might take two or three years, Hardy said. When they called me Friday, I was so shocked.

Honor Flights are an opportunity to thank Americans who fought for their country by bringing them to the nations capital to see the memorials that commemorate their service.

Seventy-five veterans were honored and each of their guardians, whom they chose to accompany them on the flight, were also veterans. The 9 a.m. flight included one Korean War Veteran, 63 Vietnam veterans and others, Bob Green, president of Mid-Michigan Honor Flight who organized the ceremony, said.

Hardy is from Harrison, Mich. and served from 1988-92 in Germany and South Korea as a petroleum supply specialist.

Her older brother, Tom Owens, inspired her to join the military after he served in Vietnam.

It was a very intense experience, she said. I refilled tanks and aircrafts and I was really busy all the time.

As the Allegiant aircraft moved toward its takeoff position on Tuesday morning, it was sprayed with a water cannon salute from two airport fire trucks.

Its a privilege to host the first flight of its kind in Michigan, said Nino Sapone, CEO at Flint Bishop Airport. We are grateful for their service and we look forward to being a part of their journey.

Lynette Dilbert received a phone call on Memorial Day that she was selected to be on the honorary flight.

Dilbert served in the army from 1988-91 in Fort Moore, Ga., and was part of the Gulf War, working in petroleum, oil and lubricants.

When I signed up, it was peacetime and I wasnt expecting war, said Dilbert, from New Haven, Mich. But I signed up for it. Being in the military has been great. I dont have any regrets.

Being on this flight means everything. When you think about the roles women play, even during the Vietnam or World War II, we are here and weve been doing this.

Veterans and their guardians will be met upon their return Wednesday night by well-wishers, the Patriot Guard Riders and many more upon their return to Flint.

This was the second honor flight hosted at Bishop.

Related: Bronze Star recipient gets heros welcome after first-ever Honor Flight at Flint airport

Last September, the airport welcomed more than 70 veterans who served during World War II, the Korean and Vietnam Wars.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI  A new report by The Hill is spotlighting an $800,000 donation from Hank Meijer, the billionaire father of former Republican U.S. Rep Peter Meijer, to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce days after it endorsed his son in the 2022 primary election.

In the days following the donation, the Chamber spent $381,000 on an advertisement in support of Meijer, The Hill reports. But because the advertisement did not explicitly advocate for Meijers election or defeat, the pro-business lobbying giant did not have to legally disclose the donation from Hank Meijer, the co-chair and CEO of the Meijer chain of superstores, The Hill wrote.

The Hills reporting was based on emails it obtained between the Chamber and officials close to the Meijer family. The donation was not previously reported on until now.

To read the full story by The Hill, click here: $800,000 wire transfer from billionaire donor to US Chamber raises curtain on dark money

Campaign finance experts who spoke with The Hill said the donation and subsequent advertisement, as well as the emails between the Meijer family associates and the Chamber, pull back the curtain on a surge of dark money in U.S. elections.

The donation to Chamber came in the midst of the 2022 GOP primary for the Grand Rapids-area congressional seat between Meijer, R-Grand Rapids Township, and John Gibbs, HUDs former acting Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development in the Trump administration.

Ultimately, Gibbs, the recently fired Ottawa County Administrator, defeated Meijer 52% to 48%, riding a wave of voter dissatisfaction over Meijers vote to impeach Trump following the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.

On Tuesday, June 11, following publication of The Hill story, Meijer did not immediately respond to a request for comment from MLive/The Grand Rapids Press.

John Truscott, a Meijer family spokesperson, told The Hill that the personal contribution made two years ago to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Voter Education Fund was in full accordance with all laws and regulations.

Related: Former congressman Peter Meijer drops out of U.S. Senate race

Last year, Meijer launched a campaign for the Republican nomination for the open U.S. Senate race in Michigan. He dropped out of the race in late April, and said in a statement that he did so because the fundamentals of the race have changed significantly and that he did not see a strong pathway to victory.

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Five story building, 181 apartments planned for vacant lot in Grand Rapids

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KALAMAZOO, MI -- Kalamazoo Valley Community Colleges Texas Township campus has undergone a major renovation.

The campus is now home to a nearly 10,000-square-foot lab space for the colleges new school for cosmetology and barbering. The college announced it would be adding the new school last November.

Classes will start using the new lab this fall.

The school builds upon KVCCs focus on connecting food, health and wellness, according to Paige Eagan, provost and vice president for instruction and student services.

Inside theres an expansive training space. One room has shampoo bowls and styling stations and another has nail technician stations. Theres also a separate area with barbering stations.

In recent years theres been a growth in the beauty industry, said Aliah Wafford, program director.

Theres an abundance of content about cutting hair and painting nails on Youtube University, Wafford said. But going to school to study the trades allows students to gain more understanding about the techniques and health implications of cosmetology and barbering.

I can teach someone how to cut, I can teach someone how to do an updo, but learning the basics that you need in order to give services is whats most important, Wafford said.

The basics are things like nail health, working with different hair textures and learning about the muscles connecting to the face and scalp, Wafford said.

Its been normal to walk into a salon and they say well, I cant do your hair texture, Wafford said. I dont want that to be normal.

Wafford has been a licensed cosmetologist for 20 years, she said and shes currently studying for a bachelors degree in business administration and management from KVCC. Before becoming program director, Wafford taught classes at the West Michigan College of Barbering and Beauty. She also founded the Key Lounge Hair Studio with a former student at 5320 W Main St. in Kalamazoo.

Studying business in addition to cosmetology and barbering is one of the benefits of taking classes at KVCC, Wafford said.

A lot of times if you dont have that connection with someone else, or you dont have the education, its going to be hard for you to have a starting point for your business, Wafford said.

Eagan said theres been a lot of interest in the school thus far. Classes will be organized in a cohort model, meaning students will study on the same track as they move through the program. The starting class for cosmetology will be 40 students and the starting class for barbering will be 20 students.

Cohorts will launch twice a year, Mark Dunneback, dean of instruction at KVCC said. Part-time and full-time students will be separated into different cohorts as well.

Targeting one to two or two to three classes throughout the year will also ensure the quality of education that the students are getting, Wafford said. We wont have three people that started last month, three people started this month and everybodys on different pages. Everyone will be learning at the same pace within that cohort.

The program will offer non-credit employer recognized credentials in the form of a 1,500-training hour cosmetology program and 1,800-training hour barbering program. A certification in cosmetology and barbering can also count toward an associates degree in salon management or occupational technical studies.

A 400-training hour nail tech program and 400-training hour esthetician program are also being developed, according to KVCCs website.

Discounted services performed by students will also be offered at the school starting soon. A start date for those services hasnt been announced but updates can be found on KVCCs website.

Want more Kalamazoo-area news? Bookmark the local Kalamazoo news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Kalamazoo daily newsletter.
LANSING, MI - Michigan workers who believe they were wrongly asked to pay back their pandemic unemployment benefits can now file a claim to join a class action lawsuit settlement.

The Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency agreed to a $55 million settlement in April after it demanded benefits back from workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. This resolves a class action lawsuit brought by two workers who said they faced collections without due process.

A website that rolled out Tuesday, June 11 allows workers to submit claims, opt out or learn more about the settlement.

Related: Workers to get $55M after Michigan agency took back pandemic unemployment aid

Anyone who thinks they might qualify can:

Go to Michigan.gov/UIA for more information about the settlement, deadlines, court documents and more.

Call a settlement administrator at 1-866-499-4565 or email info@bwclassactions.com

Look out for an email from the Unemployment Insurance Agency titled Saunders v. UIA improper collections settlement alert

Log into the Michigan Web Account Manager (MiWAM) to look for a message called Saunders v. UIA Improper Collections Alert that lets claimants know if they might qualify for the settlement.

David Blanchard, an attorney representing plaintiffs in the case, previously estimated up to 140,000 people subject to improper collection after March 1, 2020 could be eligible for settlement money.

The deadline to file a claim, object or opt out of the settlement is Nov. 4. A final approval hearing is scheduled for March 20, 2025.

Im proud of the hard work by staff at the UIA to bring this case close to a resolution that benefits claimants and provides them the money they deserve, said Michigan UIA Director Julia Dale in a statement. Our focus has always been on doing whats right for claimants and this settlement reflects our commitment to a fair conclusion for all parties involved.

Related: Michigan unemployment agency unlawfully demanded money back, class-action lawsuit says

The lawsuit stemmed from overpayment issues that occurred during the pandemic.

Michigan mistakenly overpaid billions in unemployment after allowing some workers to claim benefits for reasons that were not approved by the federal government. The unemployment agency then retroactively found workers ineligible for aid and tried to reclaim those benefits.

The lawsuit said Michigan collected on overpayments caused by agency error and started collection efforts despite pending appeals from workers. As a result, some people were asked to repay tens of thousands of dollars or face tax return and wage garnishment.

The Michigan Court of Claims previously ordered the unemployment agency to stop collecting on claims filed after March 1, 2020 in which a worker may have filed an appeal. Court documents showed the agency tried to claim benefits back from more than 1.8 million people before the injunction went into effect. The court will decide when collections can start again.

Under the settlement agreement, the state will also make changes to how it collects on overpaid benefits. It requires the Michigan UIA to adopt or reform practices to ensure that workers are given due process rights before collections can start.

Additionally, the Michigan UIA is implementing a new computer system called MiUI to replace a decade-old system that was overwhelmed during the pandemic and has a history of issues around fraud detection. After the old system falsely accused 40,000 claimants of fraud from 2013 to 2015, the state agreed to a separate $20 million settlement.

The MiUI system is on track to be fully operational in 2025.
The weather pattern developing over the next two weeks is the type of pattern that produces significant severe thunderstorm complexes in the Great Lakes region.

We meteorologists call the thunderstorm complexes about to develop ridge-runners. The storm systems come off the Pacific Ocean across the northern U.S. border and then move southeast into the Great Lakes.

The weather pattern is going to configure such that ridge-runner thunderstorm complexes will occur over the next few weeks. These clumps of thunderstorms dont last all day. They do hit quickly, lasting a few hours at any one spot.

The problem with ridge-runner thunderstorm complexes is we only get a day or two advanced warning on the exact timing and location. The good news is we will be able to give you at least a days worth of warning on any significant severe weather burst.

Heres the ridge-runner pattern developing.

Forecast at 15,000 feet up shows the hot ridge forming over the next week while disturbances run across the northern edge of the ridge.NOAA

The severe weather forecast over the next few days shows this idea of an area of severe storms moving across the northern Plains and maybe into Michigan by Thursday.

Severe thunderstorm forecast for Wednesday, June 12, 2024NOAA

Severe weather outlook for Thursday, June 13, 2024NOAA

Im particularly interested in watching a strong southwestern storm that should be around Michigan Sunday or Monday. I believe that could be a significant weather period.

Get ready for a much different weather pattern. Temperatures are going up. Humidity will go up. Clumps of thunderstorms should hit Michigan a few times in the next few weeks. Those storms could be strong or severe.

Ill give you at least a one-day warning on the chance of significant severe weather.
Tamela Phillips Disability Rights Michigan holds a COVID-19 clinic at the Burma Center.

Taylor Scamehorn Priscilla Lal

Taylor Scamehorn Translator Kyu Senia

Taylor Scamehorn Nurse Teresa Crawford and DRM's Tamela Phillips at the Burma Center COVID-19 clinic.

Global Detroit Destine Brown

Global Detroit DRM holds a COVID-19 clinic at a Global Detroit resource fair.

Global Detroit Rezaul Chowdhury

The Burma Center recently hosted a vibrant cultural heritage event, drawing attention to the diverse traditions and entrepreneurial spirit within the Battle Creek community.The highlight of the event included a traditional Burmese fashion show and a contest for small businesses, offering them a chance to win funding for expansion. In addition to celebrating culture and supporting local businesses, the event also featured a COVID-19 vaccination clinic, aiming to make health care more accessible to this underserved population.In Michigan, many individuals from refugee, immigrant, and migrant communities face significant challenges in accessing preventive health care services, including COVID-19 vaccinations. Disability Rights Michigan (DRM) has been at the forefront of efforts to bridge this gap by integrating vaccination clinics into community events.Tamela Phillips, a DRM vaccine advocate, highlights the importance of this strategy.We work closely with organizations across the state that support these communities, providing translators to ensure everyone has access to the information and services they need, Phillips explains.The clinic offered the opportunity for vaccination access and information to be shared with another group of people that may not have received it due to the language barrier. It was nice to be able to reach out.Several dialects were spoken at the event, reflecting the linguistic diversity of the attendees.We are a very small community in Battle Creek, says Priscilla Lal, program manager at the Burma Center in Springfield, outside of Battle Creek. The nonprofit supports the Burmese community in a variety of ways, including housing, job opportunities, assisting with medical appointments, and finding other resources.They needed help with phone calls and navigating a new country and culture and doing small, essential, everyday things, says Lal. Language access is still a big part of everything that we do here and is still impacted a lot.Michigan's demographic statistics reveal that while English is the primary language for over 91% of residents, a significant portion of the population speaks other languages, including Spanish, Arabic, and various Asian languages. This linguistic diversity necessitates tailored approaches to health care outreach.DRM's collaboration with the Burma Center has included multiple COVID-19 clinics, with the latest one held on May 18. The turnout was pretty good, Lal notes.On Michigan's east side, DRM has partnered with Global Detroit to support immigrant populations with limited English proficiency. Destine Brown, Global Detroits social cohesion program manager, emphasized the impact of these efforts.DRM has joined us at community resource fairs and festivals, providing mobile clinics and crucial information, Brown said.The partnership has been instrumental in overcoming barriers to health care access. People needed that extra step where someone could explain and answer their questions, Brown says.Often, people didn't even have information about vaccinations. Pairing the information with an incentive made it an easy decision.Some of the feedback we heard is that folks were happy that they were able to get this service on a weekend because sometimes they can't take off work or they don't have the time during the week to make it to these places, Brown says. There was also no documentation required, which can be a barrier for some immigrants in obtaining services.Working with Kristen Milefchik, a DRM vaccine advocate, has changed how the nonprofit selects venues for events.We had a challenge come up where we invited them to a local school, and they didn't have ramps or elevators, making it difficult for people who use wheelchairs or older folks with mobility issues, Brown says.She says that experience helped the group think more inclusively during project planning.In Detroits Banglatown neighborhood, DRM works with Rezaul Chowdhury, a community engagement specialist with Global Detroit. Chowdhury, who serves as a trusted connector within the Bangladeshi immigrant community, played a key role at the vaccination clinic by providing translation services and encouraging participation.I explained the vaccination process and the incentives, and people were happy to line up and get vaccinated, Chowdhury said.As a trusted connector, he is out in the community helping small business owners and community members navigate matters big and small to help them get the resources they need and deserve.Chowdhury worked as a translator and Bangla speaker at the clinic.I was a resource for a lot of people who showed up. Some of them are not very interested or sometimes they are going to learn about what it is about. If they were struggling to understand, I jumped in and translated, says Chowdhury. I explained they were giving vaccinations and they were giving gift cards. They were happy to participate, and they lined up. We did a lot of vaccines.The collaborative efforts of organizations like DRM, the Burma Center, and Global Detroit illustrate the power of community-based approaches in addressing public health challenges and supporting immigrant and refugee populations. By combining cultural celebrations with essential services, these initiatives ensure that more people can access the resources they need to thrive. Disability Inclusion is a series exploring the state of Michigans growing disability community. It is made possible through a partnership with Disability Rights Michigan
At Jiangsu Dongcheng Power Tools Co Ltd, a Qidong, Jiangsu province-based manufacturer, in early June, spare parts flow seamlessly along an assembly line where they are processed, assembled into electric tools and packaged in an efficient process. This batch of electric tools will be shipped to countries including Vietnam, Algeria and Brazil within the month. "Since initiating our international expansion in 2013, our electric tools have developed a vast marketing network that covers more than 60 countries and regions across Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, North Africa and Latin America," said Shen Yunyun, head of the company's sales unit for overseas markets. With the rapid evolution of cross-border e-commerce, Shen said that the Chinese company is strategically focusing on this area to seek more customers. Following the market trend, Jiangsu Dongcheng, supported by 5,000 engineers and workers, will also continue to invest in the research and development of cordless electric tools and battery storage business-related electric tools to support its export business this year, according to information released by Nanjing Customs. Market observers said that China's ongoing optimization of its export goods structure and expansion of its trading partnerships will help mitigate the effects of rising trade barriers and other external challenges. Thanks to these factors, China's exports surged 6.1 percent year-on-year to 9.95 trillion yuan ($1.37 trillion) in the first five months, said the General Administration of Customs. China has been enhancing its industrial framework by transitioning from primarily processing raw materials to increasingly focusing on greener, advanced high-tech products. This shift underscores the country's evolving competitive edge in the next phase, said Lin Jiantian, director of the General Administration of Customs' Department of Enterprise Management and Audit-based Control. China's export growth between January and May was attributable to the nation's production capabilities, market potential and tech-intensive green products. A positive outlook is maintained for the coming months, said Guo Lei, chief economist at GF Securities. A recent survey conducted by the Beijing-based China Council for the Promotion of International Trade showed that 81.6 percent of foreign trade-oriented businesses predict stable or increased exports in the first half. The World Trade Organization also forecast in April a rebound in global trade, expecting goods trade to expand 2.6 percent in 2024 and 3.3 percent in 2025 after dipping 1.2 percent in 2023. Li Muyuan, executive vice-president of the China Container Industry Association in Beijing, warned that geopolitical tensions and supply chain disruptions remain key factors affecting China's foreign trade in the second half. Disruptions in shipping routes, particularly those related to security issues in the Red Sea and the Suez Canal, could lead to increased shipping costs, extended travel times and supply chain interruptions, said Li. Influenced by anticipated uncertainties of new trade policies due to the US general elections later this year, many US retailers and businesses from other sectors have been rushing to order products from Chinese exporters to replenish their stocks, said Yang Changyong, a researcher with the Academy of Macroeconomic Research under the National Development and Reform Commission. Also, the European Union has recently launched a series of discriminatory investigations against Chinese electric vehicles, wind power and photovoltaic products, leading to an increasing risk of economic and trade frictions between China and the EU, said He Yadong, spokesman for the Ministry of Commerce. Liang Ming, director of the Institute of International Trade, which is part of the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, emphasized enhanced trade cooperation with a broader array of partners, including economies of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and Arab League countries. This diversification will assist China in addressing the challenges arising from "decoupling" efforts conducted by the United States and certain European countries, said Liang.
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J. Kumar J.Kumar is an author, journalist and a political commentator based in Mumbai
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Noor Malabika Das who died by suicide in Mumbai was unsatisfied with her career, faced rejection, suffered from depression
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The Boys Season 4 Review: Erik Kripkes Anti-Superhero Saga Dials Up The Craziness In A Politically-Charged Season
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Abhishek Sahu covers HR and Education (Careers) at Moneycontrol. He can be reached at Abhishek.Sahu@nw18.com and @Abhishek44sahu.
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Persistent System ties up with Google Cloud to expand in India, US, UK
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Delhi HC asks MX Media to keep aside Rs 5 crore from assets sale for ALT dues
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SIP flows at record highs but SIP stoppage ratio also hits new high in May
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Modi's coalition govt likely to follow fiscal consolidation path, with slight populist tilt: UBS report
Lovisha Darad Lovisha is passionate about domestic and global equity market development. She writes stories exclusively on equities from a fundamental perspective, gathering insights from niche market gurus.
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MC Inside Edge: Data centres are the new oil, order won or in-the-pipeline, fund managers cautious on QIPs, Emperors favourite
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Suzlon Energy must immediately assure shareholders there are no non-compliances, says proxy advisory SES
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Vodafone Idea shares rise 3% after likely approval for Rs 14,000-crore loan
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India's exports have already started picking after a weak year: Unmesh Wagh, chairman, JNPA
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Nitin Gadkari- a go-getter and man behind India's mega push to road infrastructure
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OPEC forecasts global oil demand to grow by 2.3 million bpd in second half of 2024
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RBI rejects reappointment of Raj Kumar Bansal as MD, CEO of Edelweiss ARC
Souptik Datta Reports on Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Chennai. Btw, curiosity never kills the cat. You can reach me on souptikdatta@nw18.com
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Sam Altman suggests that Open AI still doesn't fully understand how GPT works, despite rapid growth
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Ajit Pawar thanks uncle Sharad Pawar for steering NCP since 1999
'As far as Pakistan and China are concerned... ': Jaishankar's first comment after returning as foreign minister
Bomb scare at Delhi airport: 13-year-old sent hoax mail to see if could be caught
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Delhi airport bomb scare: 13-year-old boy apprehended, sent email 'just for fun'
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Govt imposes import curbs on certain types of studded gold jewellery
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'Had Priyanka fought from Varanasi...': Rahul Gandhi's bold assertion in Rae Bareli
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Message to China: India to rename 30 places in Tibet after Arunachal provocation
June 11, 2024 / 22:56 IST

Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) willconduct a knowledge-sharing workshop with Flipkart and the Indian Toy Industry tomorrow. The workshop is aimed at supportingonline selling, scaling domestic consumption and upskilling/reskillingthe workforce.

In the session, participation from Flipkart, Walmart and theToy Association of India is expected with around 100 participants.

The programme aims to boost Indias position and capabilities in the global toy supply chain. It would help the toy producers comprehend the complexities of online selling which shall in turn help in the increase of sales and market access.
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Jaishankar's response as 3 India pacts under lens in Maldives
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Swati Das is an independent journalist covering Tamil Nadu politics, and is based in Chennai.
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Several parts of national capital face outage as power grid substation catches fire
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In today's edition of Pro Panorama: Life beyond TCS Q2, outlook for Indian stocks, what tied up RBI's hand and much more

The establishment of Global Capability Centers (GCC) in India gathered pace in recent years as business enterprises became comfortable with offshoring. As many as 1,600 GCCs are currently operating out of India, up from 1,250 in FY19. GCCs often provide vital functions in product development and customer service, amongst others. However, as macroeconomic headwinds weigh on technology spends, business enterprises may take a closer look at GCCs that are not vital to corporate functions or are operating

Chart of the Day: How AI is driving cost saving expectations at GCCs

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Arun Anand has authored two books on the RSS. His X handle is @ArunAnandLive. Views are personal, and do not represent the stand of this publication.
DP Srivastava is Former Ambassador to Iran and has served on the Board of IPGL, the company charged with the development of Chabahar Port. Views are personal, and do not represent the stand of this publication.


The Dragon Boat Festival, also known as the Duanwu Festival, falls on Monday this year. International students in north China's Tianjin are invited to celebrate the festival with the locals. #GLOBALink
There should be a review of whether laws are achieving their objectives: former ASG Balbir Singh
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BRICS expresses 'grave concern' over 'unprecedented' escalation of violence in Gaza
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Andrew Roberto was raised his whole life on Saipan. He graduated from Saipan Southern High School, holds a degree from Northern Marianas College, and a BA in English from the University of Guam. He once worked for KUAM, UNO Magazine, and the Guam Daily Post.
George Radanovich Speaks In Sonora View Photos

Sonora, CA  Mother Lode Republican Congressman Tom McClintock, and former Congressman George Radanovich, who is running for state Assembly, were the guest speakers at a luncheon held Monday afternoon by the Tuolumne County Business Council and the Tuolumne County Association of Realtors (TCAR).

The TCAR conference room on Tuolumne Road was packed with a mix of realtors and local business leaders.

Congressman McClintock spent much of the time talking about the benefits of capitalism and freedom over the policies of socialism.

He argued, I think California is just starting to get a real practical education in free market economics and socialist economics, and I think people are starting to tell the difference.

Much of McClintocks focus was on the desire for government to get out of the way when it comes to things like housing, insurance, and healthcare.

McClintock argued that Californias policies are leading to fast-food style restaurants to cut back on staff, or close entirely, citing a recent announcement by the chain Rubios to cease operations. California recently implemented a $20 per hour minimum wage requirement on the fast-food sector.

There was also a question and answer session where McClintock was asked about topics like smoke impacts on the environment, voting safeguards, and term limits.

One questioner pushed back on McClintocks arguments about scaling back the role of government by citing the benefits of the California Fair Plan, as the states insurer of last resort. McClintock countered that home insurance price caps put in place by California, along with environmental regulations leading to overgrown forests, are what is leading to the fire insurance crisis.

On term limits, he indicated that he was initially in favor of the concept years ago, but his opinion has now changed, pointing to California as an example of why he is against term limits. He noted that state government is not running as smoothly as the eighties, when Democrats and Republicans would get together to work out issues, and politicians are now just jockeying for their next position.

Meanwhile, Radanovich spoke about the need to rebuild the Republican Party, and bring back sanity to the state. He wants to see changes on policies like the AB 32 climate initiative, CEQA and Proposition 47.

Radanovich, a Republican, is facing fellow GOP party member David Tangipa in the November General Election.

McClintock stated that he is supporting Radanovich in the election and called him a rock solid conservative.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) logo View Photo

El Dorado, CA The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has announced seasonal fire restrictions for public lands managed by the Mother Lode and Ukiah field offices, effective Wednesday, June 12, due to dry conditions and increased wildland fire danger. These restrictions are in addition to the year-round, statewide fire prevention order and will remain in effect until further notice. The affected BLM-managed public lands are in Amador, Calaveras, Colusa, El Dorado, Glenn, Lake, Marin, Mariposa, Mendocino, Napa, Nevada, Placer, Sacramento, Solano, Sonoma, Stanislaus, Tuolumne, Yolo, and Yuba counties.

It has become necessary to implement additional fire restrictions as temperatures rise, leading to increasingly dry conditions in the district, said Central California District Fire Management Officer Dave Brinsfield. We ask that visitors follow these restrictions and do their part to help us minimize fire potential when visiting public lands.

On average, human-caused wildfires account for 95 percent of all wildfires in California, often occurring near roadways, communities, and recreational areas, posing significant threats to public safety. The following restrictions are in place until fire danger subsides:

No campfires, briquette/charcoal barbecues, or stove fires are allowed outside of agency-provided fire rings or barbecues at designated developed recreation sites.

No smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, or a developed campground with a three-foot diameter area clear of brush and flammable materials.

No welding or operating acetylene or other torches with open flames.

No motorized vehicles or tools powered by internal combustion engines off designated roads or trails.

No target shooting; hot bullet fragments, exploding targets, and metal from recreational shooting can spark wildfires. Hunting is allowed with a valid California hunting license and in accordance with state regulations. Steel-jacketed, steel core, or incendiary ammunition of any caliber is prohibited.

Possessing, discharging, or using fireworks or pyrotechnic devices is always prohibited on BLM lands. A valid California Campfire Permit is required to operate a stove or fire, where allowed, on these public lands. Residents and visitors are reminded to help prevent human-caused fires by ensuring campfires are completely extinguished, maintaining proper tire pressure and vehicle upkeep, and using approved spark arrestors on motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, and chainsaws. The use of steel-core ammunition, although legal for hunting, can significantly increase the chance of wildfire if ricocheted off rocks. Violating a fire prevention order may result in fines up to $100,000 and/or imprisonment for up to 12 months. Restitution for fire suppression and damage costs may also be required. More information can be found on the CAL FIRE website here.
A small group of protesters claiming to be representing various churches sprayed graffiti on the perimeter wall outside the offices of the Gays and Lesbians Association of Zimbabwe (GALZ) on Sunday, and sang songs denouncing homoxuals.

The group, made up of about a dozen men and women, wrote Say No and Down with Homosexuals on the wall and gate of GALZs Milton Park offices in Harare.

The incident which happened at around 3PM has been reported to the police, GALZ said.

In a statement, the association of LGBTI people in Zimbabwe said: A group of individuals claiming to represent various Christian churches descended on our Harare centre chanting slogans against homoxuality. They proceeded to vandalise property, painting hurtful graffiti on the walls.

While we respect differences in values, it is utterly unacceptable to deploy acts of vandalism and intimidation against communities who hold different values.

GALZ said police had been called as it urged authorities to hold the perpetrators accountable for these criminal actions.

This act of violence has not been committed in isolation, it is a stark reminder of the ongoing discrimination and hostility that our community faces. We urge religious and political leaders to condemn such acts and uphold the constitutional rights and freedoms of all citizens to be protected by law regardless of their diverse backgrounds including xual orientation, gender identity and expression, the group said.

Zimbabwes constitution adopted in 2013 prohibits same-x marriage but is silent on gay relations.

Laws criminalising gay x in carry penalties of up to three years in jail, and police have been known to arrest gays, then set them free without bringing charges.

In a 2018 interview, President Emmerson Mnangagwa  when asked if would protect the rights of gays  said he would not give them any special treatment but would be guided by the constitution.

He added: Those people who want it are the people who should canvass for it, but its not my duty to campaign for this. In our constitution, it is banned  and it is my duty to obey my constitution. With regard to areas that we felt we would not accept, it is issues of gays and homosxuality, which is unlawful in our country. We rejected all those.

There are a few countries from Europe, which recommended we reconsider our position with regard to adults of the same sx marrying each other  that we rejected. ZimLive.

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Yves here. It is odd how little attention Russias campaign against Ukraines electric grid is getting, given that it is the sort of blow that the West and Ukraine cant stop or even blunt. The kinetic war is getting vastly more attention, presumably because it is much more familiar and also consuming lots of funds, weapons, and men. Helmer points out below that the Washington Post has quoted Ukraine sources saying at least 86% of Ukraines generating capacity has been destroyed.

It is beneficial to Russia that far more attention is going to the traditional battlefield. This means that the officials who have been focusing on the line of contact, still in their minds, will be at a very embarrassing loss when Ukraine starts collapsing. Russia is controlling when that happens, but the 86% figure and the limited alternatives (discussed below) says that things are pretty close to becoming catastrophic. It will be interesting to see if US and NATO leaders try outrage or mumble shuffle, since they do not appear to have prepared the media at all for this outcome.

We have pointed out that Russia controls Ukraines future by virtue of Ukraines entire system running on old Soviet standards, and Russia, not the US or NATO states, makes that grade of gear. Please do not suggest the West could step in and supply Ukraines needs. Private companies will not build factories for what for them would be a big run of special purpose equipment. We are having enough difficulty scaling up to produce more of not terribly high tech items where we have an ongoing need, like 155 mm shells.

By John Helmer, the longest continuously serving foreign correspondent in Russia, and the only western journalist to direct his own bureau independent of single national or commercial ties. Helmer has also been a professor of political science, and an advisor to government heads in Greece, the United States, and Asia. He is the first and only member of a US presidential administration (Jimmy Carter) to establish himself in Russia. Originally published at Dances with Bears

As the Ukraines peak summer electricity season approaches, the list of the Russian General Staffs Electric War targets is shrinking. This is because almost all the Ukrainian electricity generating plants have been stopped. What remains for destruction are the connecting lines and distribution grids for the Ukraines imported electricity from Poland and other European Union neighbours. The microwave and cell telephone towers, and the diesel fuel stocks which are powering the back-up generating sets are next.

Theres no keeping the Ukrainian cell network up any more than there is keeping up the electrical grid, comments a close military observer. The General Staff have set the flow of Ukrainian refugees west as inversely proportional to the flow of data and electrons over Ukrainian airwaves and transmission lines. We can expect that relationship to be set to highly inverse before the summer is out. What calculations have been made regarding things further west are just beginning to become evident.

The Electric War is now accelerating faster to the Polish border than the Russian army advance along the line east of the Dnieper River.

In the very long history of siege warfare, there has never been a case of letting the enemys civilian population run safely away from his castles and cities until the fortifications and army which remain must choose between surrender and destruction.

Read the story file on the Electric War since October 2022 here.

The geographic spread, the explosive yield, and the cost of each of the raids are accelerating. On June 1, the Russian military bloggers, which continue to be the semi-official source of battlefield news each day, reported that energy facilities had been attacked in five regions of the Ukraine  in the east in Zaporozhye and Dniepropetrovsk; in the west in Kirovograd and Ivano-Frankovsk regions. Two thermal power plants were seriously damaged, following a salvo which the Ukrainians counted at 53 missiles and 47 drones.

The next day, June 2, the Russian sources, quoting Ukrainian electricity company bulletins to consumers, reported emergency blackouts and restricted power supply schedules were in effect in Kiev and its surrounding region. On June 5, the situation in Kiev was worse, according to DTEK, the dominant privately owned utility, and Ukrenergo, the state operator of the countrys high-voltage transmission lines.

On June 6-7, The Washington Post  editorial motto, Democracy Dies in Darkness  reported Ukrainian utility managers and state officials as confirming that at least 86% of the countrys electricity generating capacity has now been destroyed. We are catastrophically short of electricity for our needs, the newspaper quoted Sergei Kovalenko, chief executive of the Ukrainian private electricity distributor YASNO, .The power cuts have divided Kiev into the haves and the have-nots  with even residents at some privileged, high-end addresses suddenly finding themselves in the latter category. DTEK has lost some 86 percent of its generating capacity, [DTEK chief executive Maxim] Timchenko said. What makes the situation worse is that many of the electrical facilities have been targeted repeatedly  a cycle of destruction, recovery, destruction, he said. Next week will be better, Ukrenergo spokesperson Mariia Tsaturian said. The week after that could be worse. The scheduled outages will continue  the only question is how severe they will be, Ukrenergo CEO Volodymyr Kudrytskyi said. We are talking about a huge loss of generation, said Yury Kubrushko, founder of Imepower, a Ukrainian energy consultancy. I can hardly see from where Ukraine can get new extra capacity just this winter.

Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/

To advertise its desperation for more foreign money and equipment replacements, DTEK has republished the Washington Post story.

Boris Rozhin, editor-in-chief of the Colonel Cassad military blog in Moscow, has reported that in the east, the Krivoy Rog power station is still working, despite several earlier hits. He said additional strikes are called for.



Source: https://t.me/s/boris_rozhin

On June 7, a video recorded stroll down one of Odessas shopping streets revealed an emergency generating set providing electricity for almost all of the commercial establishments.

This is in no way sustainable, comments a NATO military engineer. Note how each shop has its own genset. The generators in the video are not designed for the duty cycle theyre being run at. Theyll wear out soon enough. The military, including deployed NATO personnel, use the shops and the gensets, too. The idea of pooling their resources, sharing load among gensets, thus reducing wear and tear on the whole network, while collectivizing fuel and maintenance costs, doesnt seem to have occurred to them. To be sure, what follows will be no lack of electrocutions, carbon monoxide poisonings, and fires. We can bet the manifestations of the social pathology were seeing here have been factored in by the General Staff. Their attack point will now be to stop fuel, engine oil, spares, and replacements from getting through. 

Independently of one another, Russian and Ukrainian reporters are confirming the impact of the power losses on the operation of water and sewerage systems in the majority of Ukrainian cities. According to Oleg Popenko, a Ukrainian expert on energy for communal services, Armageddon has already arrived. We just dont feel it yet. But the residents of Poltava, for example, feel it, because since May 5 of this year, 120,000 residents of the city receive water by the hour and use sewerage by the hour. You can imagine what happened in Zhitomir when the central sewerage collector didnt work there for a week, but now in Poltava [its been] a month. And this is the problem with water utilities in 70% of Ukrainian cities. Water utilities are probably more important than rest of the infrastructure in the city. Heat and electricity can be replaced somehow, and you can go somewhere. But if the sewer system breaks down in a city, the city is no longer viable in principle.

The NATO military engineer has compiled his forecast list of Russian targets in the coming days. We should expect the commercial fuel storage and distribution network to be hit. These are legitimate military targets as the Ukrainian military relies on them to support its war effort. The railways should be hit as well. Theres no good military reason to allow them to keep functioning. Given the NATO country endorsements for striking Russian territory targets, I dont see the rationale on the Moscow side for leaving unscathed the rail network connecting Lvov and Kiev to Rzeszow [Poland].

The target list should include the border switchyards and substations connecting the Ukraine to the European transmission lines. Destroying those and targeting the stations transmitting power from nuclear sources will finish the job. There will be no more load balancing after that. The collapse of Ukrainian logistics, not to mention the society, will follow soon after. If the switchyards connecting the nuclear power plants to the grid are smashed, its the end for the Ukrainians.
On Wednesday, 12 June 2024, the NATO Secretary General, Mr Jens Stoltenberg, will visit Hungary. He will meet with the Prime Minister of Hungary, Mr Viktor Orban, in Budapest.

Media advisory

10:10 (CEST) Joint press conference by the NATO Secretary General and the Prime Minister of Hungary

Media coverage

The Secretary Generals press conference with the Prime Minister will be streamed live on the NATO website, and broadcast live on EBU World feed and EBU News Exchange.

Transcripts of the Secretary Generals remarks, as well as photographs and video, will be available on the NATO website.

For more information:

Contact the NATO Press Office

Follow us on X (@NATO, @jensstoltenberg and @NATOPress).
Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg attended the B9 (Bucharest Nine) Summit in Riga on Tuesday (11 June 2024) to discuss preparations for the NATO Summit, as well as boosting support to Ukraine. The Summit was hosted by Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics and co-chaired by Polish President Andrzej Duda and Romanian President Klaus Iohannis.

Mr Stoltenberg emphasised the crucial role B9 countries play in strengthening NATOs deterrence and defence. You host our eight multi-national battlegroups; you have increased the readiness of your forces; you lead by example on defence spending; and you are at the forefront of Allied support to Ukraine, said the Secretary General.

Mr Stoltenberg underlined that there should be no doubt about NATOs ability to defend against any adversaries. NATO has the forces, resources, capabilities, and the political will to defend every Ally, he said. At the NATO Summit in Washington, the Secretary General said he expects Allies to take decisions to further strengthen NATOs deterrence and defence, and agree on a greater role for NATO in coordinating training and equipment for Ukraine.

Since Russias full-scale invasion in 2022, NATO Allies have provided around 40 billion euros worth of military support to Ukraine each year. We must maintain this level of support for as long as necessary to ensure fresh funding every year. Credible, long-term support sends a clear message to President Putin that he cannot wait us out, the Secretary General underlined.

The B9 format was established in the aftermath of Russias illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014. Nine Allies from the eastern flank take part in this format: Bulgaria, Czechia, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia. Finland and Sweden also took part in the B9 Summit in Riga.
(As delivered)

President Rinkevics,

Dear Edgars,

It is great to be back in Riga to meet you again.

And thank you for hosting me and my delegation for our meeting earlier today and also for hosting the B9 Summit later today.

And let me also thank you for bestowing on me the Three Star Order, this is really an honour for me and recognition to the important work that NATO has been doing over the last decade.

For 20 years, Latvia has been a valued and reliable NATO Ally.

You host a Canadian-led battlegroup, strengthening our deterrence and defence.

You contribute to our peacekeeping mission in Kosovo, and our capacity building mission in Iraq.

And on defence spending, Latvia leads by example,

Spending over 2% of GDP on defence,

And with a pledge to increase that figure to 3% by 2027.



Latvia also provides robust military support to Ukraine.

You provide extensive military training to Ukrainian soldiers.

You lead a coalition that works with industry to supply drones.

And you contribute to the Czech-led initiative to provide more artillery shells.

When NATO leaders meet in Washington in July, Allies will take important steps on three issues.

First, Allies will agree to step up our support to Ukraine for the long haul.

I expect that NATO will take the lead in coordinating the provision of equipment and training.

And that Allies will make a financial commitment to support Ukraine for as long as it takes.



Second, we will address our deterrence and defence.

Allies are stepping up our efforts on defence spending.

And I expect around two-thirds of Allies to invest at least 2% of GDP in defence this year.

Since 2014, NATO has implemented the largest reinforcement of our collective defence in a generation.

We have put in place the most comprehensive defence plans since the Cold War.

We have more troops at higher readiness, backed by substantial naval and air power.



We are also stepping up defence production,

And ensuring that Allies are investing more together.

This reduces costs and increases interoperability.

So let there be no doubt as to our ability to deter our adversaries and defend our Allies.

NATO has the forces, resources, capabilities and the political will to defend every Ally.



Finally, we will work on further boosting our partnerships around the globe.

As we have seen in Ukraine, security is not regional, it is global.

So it is essential that we work with our partners on our shared security concerns.

So, President, dear Edgars,

Thank you once again for your hospitality.

I look forward to our discussions at the B9 Summit.

- - - - - - - -

Moderator: Now we have time for a couple of questions. Please also introduce yourself.

Andrejs Leskevics [Current Time Baltics (Radio Free Europe)]: Question for Mr. Stoltenberg. So lately, we hear more and more talks about Russia possibly attacking one of the NATO countries and perhaps even more than right after the beginning of the war two years ago. And Norwegian General Eirik Kristoffersen recently warned about this in media. What can you tell, what can you recommend to Baltic residents about this? How should they act in their everyday life? What should they be prepared for and what NATO is doing to ensure that the region is safe and ready for possible attack? Thank you.

Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg: NATO is ready to protect all Allies and over the last years we have implemented the largest reinforcements of our collective defence in a generation with higher readiness of our troops, with combat troops in the eastern part of the Alliance, battle groups here in Latvia and in other countries in eastern part of the Alliance. So, let there be no doubt, NATO is there to defend and protect all Allies.

And this is the way to prevent an attack. Credible deterrence, strong collective defence is something which is important for NATO, not because we want to provoke a conflict, but because we want to prevent a conflict, we want to prevent an armed attack on a NATO Ally and NATOs core and main task is to preserve peace by delivering credible deterrence at any stage.

Article Five is a legal obligation for Allies to assist in the event of an armed attack. There is no requirement for any unanimous decision. It is also important to remember that we have plans in place and forces available and let there be no doubt, NATO is prepared and ready to defend all Allies. Over the last years, we have implemented the biggest reinforcement of our collective defence just to ensure that we are able to do exactly that.

Journalist [inaudible]: Mr Stoltenberg with your time in office coming to an end and the Washington Summit also approaching in important time for us all in Europe, what are some of the things you still wish to accomplish while in office, what are your priorities? Thank you.

Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg: So first of all, my focus now is to ensure that we have a successful Summit in Washington in July, where we have to make important decisions on deterrence and defence, on support for Ukraine, and also on how to strengthen partnerships with our Indo-Pacific partners to also address the challenges that China poses to our security. The most urgent task is of course to ensure that we provide the support to Ukraine for as long as it takes, and therefore I expect NATO Allies to agree to have NATO in the lead in providing security assistance, training for Ukraine, and also to agree a long term financial commitment to Ukraine, because NATO Allies are providing 99% of the military support to Ukraine already, and therefore, I think it makes sense to have NATO in the stronger coordinating role. Also, to prevent the gaps and delays we saw during the winter.

Ukraine needs predictable, stable flow of military support, also to communicate clearly to Moscow that they cannot wait us out. We will be there for as long as it takes. And by communicating a long-term commitment to Ukraine, we actually make it easier to end this war soon. Because the more obvious it is for President Putin that he cannot wait us out, the earlier he may end up with the conclusion that he has to sit down and accept that Ukraine continues as a sovereign independent nation.

Thank you.
(As delivered)

President Rinkevics, dear Edgars, thank you for hosting us.

President Duda, dear Andrzej,

And also, President Klaus Iohannis,

Thank you for co-chairing this very important B9 Summit.

We have just finished important discussions on our preparations for the upcoming NATO Summit and how to further boost our support for Ukraine.



The B9 countries play a critical role in NATOs strengthened deterrence and defence.

You host our eight multi-national battlegroups.

You have increased the readiness of your forces.

You lead by example on defence spending.

And you are at the forefront of Allied support to Ukraine.





Since 2014, NATO has implemented the largest reinforcement of our collective defence in a generation.

We have put in place the most comprehensive defence plans since the end of the Cold War.

We have more troops on higher readiness, backed by substantial air and naval power.

And there is increased defence spending across the whole NATO Alliance.



So let there be no doubt as to our ability to defend against any adversaries.

NATO has the forces, resources, capabilities and the political will to defend every Ally.

At the NATO Summit, I expect that Allies will take decisions to further strengthen our deterrence and defence.

Agreeing to a greater role for NATO in coordinating training and equipment for Ukraine.

And committing to a long-term financial pledge.

Since Russias full-scale invasion in 2022, Allies have provided around 40 billion euros worth of military support to Ukraine each year.



We must maintain this level of support for as long as necessary.

To ensure fresh funding every year.

Credible, long-term support sends a clear message to President Putin that he cannot wait us out.

So, thank you so much for hosting me. It's always a great pleasure to participate in the B9 meetings. Thank you.

- - - - - - -

Moderator

Thank you, Mr Stoltenberg and we now open the floor for questions and please introduce yourself and to whom you would like to address the question.

Question 1

My question is to the Polish President and Secretary General of NATO. Recently a Polish soldier was killed at the Polish Belarusian border. He was killed by a migrant and we are seeing intensified hybrid operations. So the question is what should be done in order to make borders secure and is it a good idea to create a buffer zone at the Polish Belarus border?

NATO Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg

Let me express my condolences to Poland for the soldier that lost his life and my thoughts goes to his family, his loved ones. Second, I think what we see along the border between Poland and Belarus is an example of different types of hybrid activities which we see as a pattern across the Alliance. Where migrants are used to try to intimidate neighbours but also how we have seen other activities by Russia, by Belarus to try to undermine the unity among NATO Allies in providing support to Ukraine. We have seen different sabotage attempts we have seen cyber attacks and we are also seeing a campaign of disinformation. This makes it even more important that we are united, that we are agile and that we are not intimidated to not provide support to Ukraine, and also that Allies continue to change intelligence, to increase our awareness and also to strengthen our protection of critical infrastructure as Allies have done over the last years.

Then, of course, many of these concrete incidents are actually issues where national authorities have to take actions  police. We have seen arrests across the Alliance, and of course there are ongoing legal processes. But what NATO can do is to increase awareness, exchange information, increase the protection of critical infrastructure, and ensure that we share intelligence in a way that help Allies to address these different types of hybrid threats.

President of Poland, Andrzej Duda [spoken through a translator]

Ladies and gentlemen, first of all, there are no words, which I could use to express, as President of Poland, our sorrow and our pain due to the death of our soldier who died in defence of our homeland, who died in defence of the Polish border who died in service while protecting our border. He was murdered on that border. He was killed, he was stabbed with a knife and this is an absolutely tragic situation for us. So we join in pain with his loved ones. And let me assure you of one thing as Poland we are going to prosecute the murderer until we get them. As long as we get them, as we detained them yesterday. Special guidelines have been released and the actions, the activities are going on. That is how much I can say on this one.

Now, concerning the border, we are protecting our border as much as we can. The Prime Minister announced that there will be a buffer zone created. Let me remind you, that situation of an extraordinary situation was already there before at the border. I do not know the details at this point. I do not know what the Polish government will be willing to propose. So it is difficult for me to answer the question right now but one thing is certain. We should take all the necessary steps to make sure that not only the border is as safe and as tight as it gets but also to make the security of our compatriots stronger, tighten the security of Poland, but also, we should go to all lengths to provide the security to enhance the security of our soldiers and officers who are guarding our border. This is of fundamental importance, which takes precedence over all others. This is the most crucial thing. And this is also what I raised during our meeting today, I described the situation because as you know, ladies and gentlemen, yesterday I went to the vicinity of the border. I met the border guards I also met our soldiers who are on service there as part of the taskforce who guards our border on a daily basis and all these issues were discussed in detail. We also raised the tragic event on the border, we analysed all of that. So such actions for sure will be taken in the nearest future. There will be also special laws introduced. Their aim is to enhance the security and also the possibilities our soldiers will have in order to repel the attacks in the border zone and generally attacks at Polish soldiers. So we are acting all the time. Tomorrow works will start on a draft law which I prepared as part of presidential legislative initiative. This act was prepared by the National Security Bureau.

Question 2

Mr President let me ask you about the presidential draft bill. Your initiative on the act in law concerning the actions taken by the state authorities in case of external danger or threat. Do you expect that all the parties will support this draft bill and that all the parties will agree while working on this draft law? Thank you very much.

President of Poland, Andrzej Duda [spoken through a translator]

Well, we call this a strategic act of law and we work together with the Ministry of Defence on working it out. We worked both with the former government, the government of the United Right, with Minister Mariusz Blaszczak as Defence Minister, but we continued those works, and we cooperated with the current leadership of the Ministry of Defence. We cooperated also with Minister Wadysaw Kosiniak-Kamysz who is the current Minister of Defence. This act stipulates certain provisions, these provisions should be enhanced. They concern the use of weapons by the soldiers, there are federal works now going on in the Ministry of Defence. This week, work is going to start on this project in the Polish parliament and we trust this work will provide a response to all of that what is happening right now. We hope that soldiers will be more protected legally, they will also have more clear possibilities of when they can use weapons in case of a threat. But first and foremost, those new provisions will regulate a lot of other things which we have experienced - experience on due to this war. We want to defend our territory and be able to react quickly.

Question 3

Good afternoon Latvian television I would like to ask everyone to comment regarding the following issue: failure to reach the agreement on all NATO countries supporting Ukraine because not all countries that participated in todays summit believe in victory of Ukraine, such as Bulgaria, for example. And support for Ukraine is at the discretion of separate member states.

President of Latvia, Edgars Rinkevics [spoken through a translator]

Well, you're not entirely right. There is a joint communique that was adopted. And will be distributed by the co-chairs after the summit, which describes in great detail how we are going to continue our support to Ukraine in future in the long run. And what kind of agreements will be required from the member states during the Washington Summit. We are of course aware of some countries who have claimed that they will not provide direct military support to Ukraine. That's nothing new. I mean, such position has been held by those countries for a number of years. But nevertheless, we must work towards achieving a clear agreement during the Washington Summit. With regard to what kind of support Ukraine could expect in future, what was going to be the [inaudible], all of that is described eloquently in the communique or the statement that will be soon excluded by co-chairs. We were aware of these different positions. NATO's aware of it but I don't think anyone left the table not satisfied with the agreements that we reached today.

NATO Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg

I think it's important to remember that since the beginning of this full-fledged war, since the Russian invasion of Ukraine back in February 2022, all Allies have been united. On the morning of the invasion, we agreed a very strong statement where we condemned the illegal Russian invasion of Ukraine, where we expressed our strong support to Ukraine and Ukraine's territorial integrity. And all Allies are providing support to Ukraine in different ways. Part of the support is provided through NATO through our Comprehensive Assistance Package that helps Ukraine to build their future force and also provide different types of non-lethal support. And then Allies are also providing different frameworks. military support to Ukraine, and 99% of the military support to Ukraine is provided by NATO Allies. But some Allies are also focusing on the non-lethal support while other Allies are providing lethal support. Then in the lead up to the Washington Summit, we are now working on a new important decisions to support Ukraine. I expect that we will be able to agree for a NATO stronger coordinating role in supporting Ukraine, providing training and security assistance. I am working for a decision to agree long-term financial commitment, and also that we're able to agree to move Ukraine closer to membership. So yes, of course there are some different views within the Alliance as to prepare for new important decisions at the Washington Summit. But as we have managed many times before, I am confident that we will also manage this time to agree on the exact framework for our support to Ukraine.

President of Poland, Andrzej Duda [spoken through a translator]

Ladies and gentlemen, let me stress one thing, there is no member state in NATO, which would not be supporting Ukraine, because as the North Atlantic Alliance, we are always speaking with one voice and all the decisions which are articulated by NATO are joint decisions. So saying that, this or another member of the North Atlantic Alliance has an extremely different opinion than the rest of NATO, is not really reflecting the common decisions which we are taking together within NATO. Of course, we have different understandings of, first of all, what it means for Ukraine to prevail, because yes there are differences on this perception. And secondly, states providing different kinds of assistance to Ukraine. Some countries are being more resolute, they are providing more advanced and military solutions, there is less. Nevertheless let me highlight that there is no single state which would not be supporting Ukraine as part of NATO.
(As delivered)

Moderator: In recognition of special service to the State of Latvia, and notable contribution to the strengthening of Latvias national security and defence, Chapter of Orders has decided to award the Order of Three Stars and the title of the Commander of the Cross of the Order of the Three Stars upon his Excellency Secretary General of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg.

President of Latvia, Edgars Rinkevics: Secretary General, thank you very much for your service and congratulations.

NATO Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg: Thank you so much.

President of Latvia, Edgars Rinkevics: Dear Secretary General, it is a great honour for me and the whole of the Republic of Latvia to bestow on you the highest award of the Republic of Latvia, the Three Stars Order.

Actually, I think that its hard to realise that it is already 10 years since you are Secretary General of NATO. And those 10 years have been, I would say, very challenging, very dramatic. But we are truly grateful for you, for your personal contribution, to strengthen the security and defence of Latvia, to strengthen the Alliance. (inaudible) I would say also its great to see during those 10 years the Alliance has expanded. And I just want to thank you and your team, the whole Alliance, for your contribution to the security and defence of this region of Latvia, and also for the strengthening of the whole Alliance.

NATO Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg: Thank you so much Mr. President Edgars Rinkevics. Its a great honour to meet you again, and a great honour to receive this Order, which I take as an expression of the relation to NATO that reflects the fact that NATO has adapted and changed. And we have strengthened our collective defence as a response to the fact that we live in a more dangerous world.

And it is really a privilege to serve as Secretary General of NATO, not least because it has been, and continues to be, a privilege to work with Allies, as Latvia. And also you, Mr. President, I worked with you also in a capacity as Foreign Minister for many years. And therefore, it is great to be back here today and to reconfirm the strong commitment of NATO to Latvia and to see once again how committed Latvia is to NATO.

President Edgars, thank you so much for your personal commitment to NATO, thank you for this Order. It is really a privilege to continue to work with you.
Biden launches massive pride media campaign blitz to attract LGBTQ+ voters

President Joe Biden's 2024 re-election campaign has kicked off June's LGBTQI+ "Pride Month" with a massive paid media and on-the-ground organizing blitz to attract non-heterosexual-identifying voters.

The monster voter initiative, named "Out for Biden-Harris," will have a presence at over 200 Pride events across 23 states, including all battleground states, in an attempt to defeat the presumed Republican candidate, former president Donald Trump.

Vice President Kamala Harris first introduced the initiative in May on Instagram, where she quoted gay rights activist and former San Francisco Board of Supervisors member Harvey Milk, the first openly gay man to be elected to public office in California, and praised Biden's commitment to LGBT rights. (Related: Biden White House attacks Republicans for modest restrictions on LGBT pride flags.)

In line with this, Biden proclaimed "Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Intersex Pride Month, 2024" on May 31 to express his unwavering allegiance to every conceivable demand of the "woke" LGBTQI+ community.

"I signed the historic Respect for Marriage Act, which protects the marriage of same-sex and interracial couples. As Commander-in-Chief, I was proud to have ended the ban on transgender Americans serving in the United States military," said Biden.

"We ended the disgraceful practice of banning gay and bisexual men from donating blood," he continued. "We are doing this work here at home and around the globe where LGBTQI+ community members are fighting for recognition of their fundamental human rights [sic] and seeking to live full lives, free from hate-fueled violence and discrimination."

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.

Biden urged the public "to wave their flags of pride high" and concluded that his administration is in support of transgender children and the broader LGBTQI+ community.

Meanwhile, Harris met with approximately 150 LGBTQI+ activists in Los Angeles on June 1. Concurrently, First Lady Jill Biden attended the annual Pride festival in Pittsburgh, where she declared that the LGBTQI+ community is under attack and Trump and the Republicans are to blame.

"This community is under attack. Donald Trump is a bully to the LGBTQ community, to our families, to our country. We cannot let him win," Jill Biden said.

Joe and Jill Biden are also scheduled to host a pro-LGBTQI+ fundraiser in New York City this month.

Biden's campaign trying to rekindle support from the LGBT community

The Biden campaign has been employing fear tactics by focusing on so-called "Christian nationalist ideals" to rekindle support from homosexual and transgender-identifying individuals.

For instance, the campaign claims that "attacking LGBT-identifying Americans and taking away their [so-called] rights" is a fundamental aspect of Project 2025, the conservative Heritage Foundations agenda for a second Trump term.

Specifically, the LGBT-focused newspaper the Washington Blade highlighted proposals within Project 2025, which include removing non-discrimination protections for LGBT-identifying Americans; overturning same-sex marriage and protections against anti-sodomy laws; reversing Title IX to eliminate protections for transgender-identifying students; banning and expelling transgender-identifying military members; banning certain books; restricting IVF and surrogacy; and appointing more judges who are likely to roll back LGBT rights.

"LGBTQ+ Americans couldnt have more at stake this election: Donald Trump and his extremist allies are running to gut LGBTQ+ rights and erase history as their top priorities. LGBTQ+ Americans deserve leaders who will fight for every Americans freedom and dignity. Thats what President Biden and Vice President Harris have done throughout their time in office, and what they will do if reelected, including pressing Congress to pass the Equality Act."

"There has never been a more critical time to protect the rights of all Americans, no matter who you love or how you identify, and Out for Biden-Harris will be critical to not just safeguarding, but strengthening the rights and voice of every single American," Biden-Harris 2024 Campaign Manager Julie Chavez Rodriguez said in April.

Read more stories about gender issues in the United States at Gender.news.

Watch this video as Gabe Zolna of the "Zolna Report" reacts to the news that New Jersey students will be taught about gender identity in schools.

This video is from the ZolnaReport.com channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Biden-appointed judge rules parents cant opt children out of school lessons promoting LGBT ideology.

First it was a day, then a month, now transgender Biden appointee Rachel Levine declares LGBT Summer of Pride lasting three full months.

California to SEPARATE children from parents who dont support LGBT genital mutilation.

Books on gender transitioning recommended to kindergartners in Newsom's California.

New Jerseys new sex education curriculum teaches second graders about transgenderism and gender ideology.

Sources include:

LifeSiteNews.com

WashingtonBlade.com

Brighteon.com
George Clooneys foundation to issue arrest warrant requests for journalists who say nice things about Russia

The Clooney Foundation for Justices Docket Project is pursuing secret arrest warrants for journalists in Europe whose reporting is favorable to Russia in a move that a Kremlin spokesperson has labeled insane.

By now, were all painfully aware that facts and truth dont matter to a lot of people if they dont align with their views, and now this foundation, which was founded by actor George Clooney and his wife, human rights lawyer Amal Clooney, is trying to use legal processes to stop professionals from doing their jobs.

The Docket Projects legal director, Anna Neistat, recently told Voice of America radio that they are attempting to obtain the arrest warrants by appealing to the European countries that have laws against war propaganda. She announced: We are submitting requests to initiate criminal proceedings in countries where this provision exists in the criminal code."

She added: "If the warrant is issued, it essentially becomes an EU-wide warrant through Europol. This means journalists could potentially be arrested and extradited to the country investigating them."

She would not disclose the names of the journalists they are targeting but did admit that they were focusing on the most prominent Russian propagandists.

She seemed to take particular delight in the idea of catching the journalists they are targeting off guard, explaining how they are seeking secret warrants.

"We are asking prosecutors to issue secret arrest warrants... so the names are not revealed. We want these individuals to travel to other countries and be arrested there. Its better if they are left guessing rather than receiving a clear warning," she said.

We are building the infrastructure of human freedom and empowering people to be informed, healthy and aware. Explore our decentralized, peer-to-peer, uncensorable Brighteon.io free speech platform here. Learn about our free, downloadable generative AI tools at Brighteon.AI. Every purchase at HealthRangerStore.com helps fund our efforts to build and share more tools for empowering humanity with knowledge and abundance.

They are also looking into asking the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate certain journalists involvement in what she termed incitement to genocide. Although she conceded that this is legally complex and the court is already overloaded, it appears they are looking into every avenue possible to censor reporters whose information they find inconvenient or unflattering.

Russian authorities complain of double standard

Russian authorities are complaining about a double standard here, saying that Western countries do nothing when Russian journalists are persecuted by Ukraine. Russias First Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, Dmitry Polyanskiy, said that Kiev often boasts about killing Russian journalists. He listed several journalists who have recently died at the hands of Ukrainian special services, including Izvestia war correspondent Semyon Yeremin, who was killed in April by a Ukrainian kamikaze drone. He also named Sputnik war correspondent Rostislav Zhuravlev, Rossiya-24 war correspondent Boris Maksudov, Vladlen Tatarsky, and Darya Dugina.

Russian Security Council Deputy Chair Dmitry Medvedev called out Clooney and his foundation on social media in a posting on X that also denigrated his acting skills. He wrote: A certain mediocre actor called George Clooney has decided to use his Foundation to hunt down Russian journalists all over the world and persecute them.

He added: The effort would be wasted, however: our professional journalists will find him first. They are very attentive and highly trained people. And they are going to have a chat "from dusk till dawn."

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova slammed the move. She pointed out that one of the stated goals of the Clooney Foundation for Justice is protecting journalists; to the Clooneys, this apparently means hounding them by the means of politically and ethnically motivated criminal prosecution."

Sources for this article include:

SputnikGlobe.com

TheDailyBeast.com
Cyprus government investigates claims Zelensky-owned company purchased 5-star casino hotel

The government of the island nation of Cyprus is investigating claims that a corporation allegedly owned by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky recently bought a five-star casino and hotel

This allegation comes from a report from Turkish media outlet OdaTV. According to the report, Film Heritage Inc., a company disclosed by the 2021 Pandora Papers leak to allegedly be owned by Zelensky, purchased the Vuni Palace Hotel in Kyrenia in the disputed Turkish Republic of North Cyprus.

Previous reporting suggests that Film Heritage Inc. was the name of a corporation owned by Zelensky's wife, Ukrainian First Lady Olena Zelenska, and which has held assets in Ukraine, Belarus, Russia, Belize and Cyprus. (Related: Report: Zelensky using proxies to buy LUXURY YACHTS worth $75M with U.S. money.)

The news outlet did not reveal how much Film Heritage paid but said online records show the asking price for Vuni Palace was 150 million British pounds ($191 million). It also reported that the hotel stopped taking reservations online "probably due to the ownership changing process."

The OdaTv report also mentioned that "Volodymyr Zelensky is raising funds by preaching to the world that Ukraine needs help against the 'Russian occupation.' While Western countries were sending money, weapons and ammunition to Ukraine as a unit, Zelensky entered the casino business instead of managing the war. It was known that a company owned by Zelensky bought a casino in Cyprus."

Vuni Palace Hotel disputes claim it is owned by Zelensky-linked company

A spokesman for the hotel told Cyprus Mail on that the hotel is still under the ownership of the North Cyprus-based conglomerate, Oscar Group of Companies. The Oscar Group spokesman stated that the company still owns the Vuni Palace Hotel and that Zelensky is not one of the group's stockholders.

Human knowledge is under attack! Governments and powerful corporations are using censorship to wipe out humanity's knowledge base about nutrition, herbs, self-reliance, natural immunity, food production, preparedness and much more. We are preserving human knowledge using AI technology while building the infrastructure of human freedom. Use our decentralized, blockchain-based, uncensorable free speech platform at Brighteon.io. Explore our free, downloadable generative AI tools at Brighteon.AI. Support our efforts to build the infrastructure of human freedom by shopping at HealthRangerStore.com, featuring lab-tested, certified organic, non-GMO foods and nutritional solutions.

The spokesman asserted that the name was a coincidence and that a corporation by the same name had developed the casino's website. He also said that the corporation had no intention of selling the hotel.

According to Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides, the issue is being investigated by the government, but "so far, nothing of the sort has emerged."

"When the investigation has been completed  we will be able to say more, but at the moment I can tell you that as of five minutes ago, I have been informed that no such thing is emerging. We shall see later," Christodoulides said, adding that the investigation is being carried out alongside other nations.

The Ukrainian embassy also dismissed the report calling it Russian propaganda.

"In reality, this fake information is yet another lie aimed at discrediting Ukraine and its leadership in the eyes of the world community," the Ukrainian embassy said.

"The information itself is false. Its dissemination is also intended to create diplomatic tensions between Ukraine and Cyprus. We urge readers and media professionals to trust only reliable sources and to be cautious of manipulations and Russian propaganda."

Follow Corruption.news for more news about corruption allegations against Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his government.

Watch the video below about Zelensky being caught buying a $75 million luxury yacht with aid money received from the United States.

This video is from the High Hopes channel on Brighteon.com.

More related articles:

Zelensky buys LUXURY MANSION in Egypt via his mother-in-law using Western aid money.

Ukraine uncovers $40 million EMBEZZLEMENT SCHEME involving Defense Ministry officials and private arms manufacturer.

Zelensky and his cronies stole at least $400M from U.S. taxpayers last year.

Zelensky dismisses seven top defense officials in bid to reboot his corruption-ridden Defense Ministry.

Considered the most corrupt national leader in European history, Ukraines Volodymyr Zelensky endorses genocidal Israel.

Sources include:

InfoWars.com

TheGuardian.com

Cyprus-Mail.com

Brighteon.com
German government approves new plans for war, including food rationing and compulsory conscription

Germany is preparing for an all-out war in Europe with Russia, finalizing a new 67-page defense plan full of strict wartime measures that make it clear they are expecting the worst.

The new measures come in the form of updates to Germanys Framework Directive for Overall Defense of 1989, which outlines the measures the country will take should a war break out. The new defense framework was approved by Chancellor Olaf Scholz's cabinet this week and replaces the previous guidelines.

Not surprisingly, a return to compulsory conscription features prominently in their plans, which means that citizens could be drafted at any time during the war. This compulsory military service was abandoned by the country in 2011, but Germany is now one of several nations that is talking about bringing it back.

In addition to the military draft, the guidelines state that skilled citizens over the age of 18 could be forced to work in some types of civilian jobs that would be deemed useful in wartime, such as nursing or baking bread. Meanwhile, hospitals must prepare to take on a significant influx of patients.

In a statement about the new guidelines, Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said: As a result of Russian aggression, we have a completely changed security situation in Europe.

Parts of Germany could be fully evacuated, and the country will advise its citizens to shelter in solid-construction basements, subway stations and underground garages for protection during air raids; they note that attacks could take place with sometimes extremely short warning times.

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.

Food rationing and bans on quitting jobs

Strict food rationing and distribution measures are also included to address potential food shortages during wartime. Calorie-dense staples such as oats, rye and wheat that have long shelf lives could be withheld in secret locations and placed in emergency reserves with a view to giving the German population one hot meal a day. Water might also be stockpiled to use for firefighting purposes.

One of the more shocking elements of the plan is an outright ban on people quitting their jobs in key sectors. In addition, the media would be forced to publish updates, while companies could be ordered to only manufacture goods for defense purposes.

Plan includes support for NATO allies

Updates to the framework also note that Germany may need to come to the aid of its Baltic allies. The cabinet said: Germany is no longer a frontline state, but serves the allied armed forces as a hub for the alliance in the heart of Europe.

The plan notes that Germany could order a major troop movement to the east in order to defend its eastern NATO flank, in addition to hosting and feeding thousands of allied NATO soldiers as they make their way toward the front line through Germany.

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, who has said that his country should be ready for war by 2029, said that these plans are a response to the heightened security threat the world is facing right now.

"The overall defense of Germany is a task to which we all have to make our contribution, state and civil institutions, as well as each and every one of us. We need a resilient society that can deal with the challenges, he said.

Referring to conscription, he said: "In an emergency, we need defensive young women and men who can defend this country."

The German military has been grappling with equipment shortages in recent years, with a parliamentary report that was released in 2023 stating that if the current pace of military revitalization persists, German forces would need half a century to catch up.

Germany is not the only NATO member that is actively preparing for a potential broader war on the European continent. However, Russian President Vladimir Putin believes that this is an overreaction. At a foreign media briefing in St. Petersburg this week, he said: Someone has imagined that Russia wants to attack NATO. Have you gone completely insane? Are you as thick as this table? Who came up with this nonsense, this bulls**t? He added that Russia is only trying to protect itself in Ukraine.

Sources for this article include:

DailyMail.co.uk

RT.com

Telegraph.co.uk

SHTFPlan.com
Rep. Thomas Massie tells Tucker Carlson every GOP member of Congress has an AIPAC babysitter

Kentucky Rep Thomas Massie (R) revealed to Tucker Carlson in an interview released Friday that every GOP congressman has an "AIPAC babysitter" who guides them on how to vote in the interests of Israel.

(Article by Chris Manahan republished from InformationLiberation.com)

Congressman Thomas Massie reveals to Tucker Carlson that his Republican colleagues have an AIPAC babysitter to ensure they vote in the interests of Israel at all times. Its the only country that does this, Massie adds. Follow: @AFpostpic.twitter.com/zNOA35t32u  AF Post (@AFpost) June 7, 2024

"Everybody but me has an AIPAC person -- like your AIPAC babysitter, who is always talking to you for AIPAC," Massie said. "They're probably a constituent from your district but they're firmly embedded in AIPAC."

"Every member has something like this?" Tucker Carlson asked.

"Every Repub--, I don't know how it works on the Democrat side, but that's how it works on the Republican side, and when you come to DC you go have lunch with them and they've got your cell number and you have conversations with them."

"That's crazy," Carlson responded.

"So, I've had four members of Congress say, 'I'll talk to my AIPAC person' -- that's literally what we call them, 'my AIPAC guy,'" Massie said, laughing. "'I'll talk to my AIPAC guy and see if I can get them to, you know, dial those ads back.'"

"Why have I never heard this before?" Carlson said.

"It doesn't benefit anybody," Massie said, "why would they want to tell their constituents that they've basically got a buddy system with somebody who is representing a foreign country, it doesn't benefit the congressmen for people to know that so they're not going to tell you that."

Massie told Carlson no other country does this: "Not only do they not have a Putin guy, they don't have a Britain guy, they don't have an Australian guy, they don't have a Germany dude, it's the only country that does this!"

Carlson for some reason feigned ignorance about all this and went on a tangent about how much he loves the country of Israel.

Watch the full interview below (or on YouTube):

Rep. Thomas Massie doesnt care what you think of him, which is pretty great. (3:19) Where Does US Debt End? (10:32) Why Massie Voted 15 Times Against Funding Israel (14:53) AIPAC (34:04) Mitch McConnell (42:25) Area 51 (50:32) Massie's Relationship with Trump (57:09) Kill pic.twitter.com/VBOiWjq056  Tucker Carlson (@TuckerCarlson) June 7, 2024

Though Massie said he doesn't know if the situation is the same for Democrats, the late Democratic Congressman James Traficant of Ohio said similar in 2009 during an interview with Sean Hannity on Fox News.

"I served in Congress for 17 years," Traficant said, "I've seen members question bills and votes on -- 'How does Israel feel about this?' -- I must have heard that every time there was a significant vote!"

"To suggest as you're doing here tonight that they control our Congress that quote, 'They are influencing and the sole control of influencing of our domestic policy,' is an absurdity, it sounds like you are a kook!" Hannity protested.

"Sean, I'm not suggesting it -- I'm telling it," Traficant responded.

Read more at: InformationLiberation.com
Remember when Hillary Clinton violated federal campaign finance laws and was punished with a mere slap on the wrist plus a small fine?

It has been eight years since two-time failed presidential wannabe Hillary Clinton's campaign was fined $8,000 for violating federal campaign finance laws to try to steal the 2016 election from Donald Trump. Clinton's crimes were arguably worse than what Trump was recently convicted for, and yet Clinton was let off the hook with little more than a slap on the wrist.

Clinton's crimes involved misreporting funding for the infamous Steele Dossier as "legal services" and "legal and compliance consulting." These designations were lies that aimed to conceal the true intent of the payments, which were used to create a phony document falsely accusing Trump of colluding with the Russians to win the 2016 election.

"Actually this 'opposition research' was an attempt to smear her opponent with false and salacious allegations," tweeted entrepreneur David Sacks (@DavidSacks) of Craft Ventures and Glue (artificial intelligence). "Obviously, it was also intended to influence the 2016 election."

Since Trump was just convicted on 34 felony counts for influencing the election with a $130,000 "hush money" payment, one would think that Clinton would have incurred at least the same wrath and punishment. Instead, Clinton still roams free.

"Moreover, Hillary's campaign was headquartered in New York State (out of Brooklyn, NY), which would make it fall under the jurisdiction of New York Penal Law 175.10, the state law which makes it a felony to falsify business records with the intent to conceal the commission of a crime," Sacks added.

(Related: Hillary Clinton is one of Biden's puppet masters who, along with Barack Obama, is secretly running the country from behind the curtain.)

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.

SEC Chairman Gary Gensler committed crimes for Hillary Clinton

The difference between Clinton's crimes and Trump's crimes is that Clinton is a protected political species while Trump is apparently an apolitical underdog candidate who was never supposed to win the 2016 election.

Clinton and her cronies thought they had the 2016 election in the bag until Trump achieved a surprising victory. Ever since then, there has been a political witch hunt against Trump to disqualify or somehow stop him from assuming office again in 2025.

"What is the key distinction between Hillary's campaign violation versus recent news?" Sacks asks. "With Hillary's violation, there wasn't a Manhattan prosecutor politically motivated to bring an unprecedented case to trial."

Another difference between Clinton and Trump is that Clinton has "friends," or at least people who are afraid of being suicided by the Clinton Crime Family, in high places who cover for her. One of them is Gary Gensler, the current chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Gensler recorded the phony transactions on behalf of Clinton, only to later be appointed as top dog of the SEC  coincidence? The answer is hardly.

"In the eye of New York he committed a much greater crime so why don't they pursue it?" asked the "Vincent" X account (@CaliVincent2023) about Gensler and why he is allowed to hold such an esteemed office.

Clinton, by the way, used campaign funds to commit her crimes, for which she still walks free. Trump, conversely, used his own personal funds to pay the $130,000 hush money bill, for which he now bears 34 felony convictions.

"Seems like she can still be prosecuted," tweeted "Nice Guy P" (@RealPJPaul) on X about Clinton.

"All the same things that tolled the statutes of limitations in Trump's case are present here. While we're at it, I'm sure some of Bill Clinton's sexual harassment / assault victims will step up to use the same NY Law E. Jean Carroll used."

Isn't it a great feeling to know that Hillary Clinton will never be president of the United States? Find out more at Corruption.news.

Sources for this article include:

X.com

NaturalNews.com
Clinical psychologist Dr. Jordan Peterson calls out Pride Month as a celebration of HEDONISM

Clinical psychologist Jordan Peterson has criticized Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for his Liberal administration's decision to openly celebrate Pride Month

On June 1, the prime minister's official account on the social media platform X, formerly Twitter, posted to celebrate the beginning of Pride Month.

"As festivities and events kick off #PrideSeason, we continue to stand with 2SLGBTQI+ communities and allies and work toward building an inclusive future where everyone is free to be who they are and love who they love  openly and proudly. #Pride2024," the official account wrote.

In response to the post, Peterson argued that the event celebrates "casual, hedonistic, self-centered sex" rather than love. (Related: Pride month is a cynical exercise in state-enforced homosexuality.)

"Dear @JustinTrudeau and @liberal_party: the celebration of casual, hedonistic self-centered sex is not the celebration of love," Peterson posted. "Pride is not a festival of love. Its a festival of pride. Thats why its called Pride. I believe people when they say what they mean. And now it's a whole bloody season. Not a parade. Not a day. Not a week. Not a month. A season. Why? Because self-absorbed narcissists have no limits. The outer edge of no limits is where the real monsters live. A warning."

Peterson accused Trudeau of backing the "worst medical scandal ever"

Aside from Peterson's criticism of X, he also recently accused Trudeau of participating in the "worst medical scandal ever" by continuously endorsing transgender ideology without banning puberty blockers for children with gender dysphoria.

We are building the infrastructure of human freedom and empowering people to be informed, healthy and aware. Explore our decentralized, peer-to-peer, uncensorable Brighteon.io free speech platform here. Learn about our free, downloadable generative AI tools at Brighteon.AI. Every purchase at HealthRangerStore.com helps fund our efforts to build and share more tools for empowering humanity with knowledge and abundance.

In Canada, the Trudeau administration promotes transgender and gender ideology through initiatives like the "2SLGBTQI+ Action Plan," which allocates CA$100 million ($72.5 million) over five years for related causes.

Additionally, the Trudeau government passed Bill C-4, banning "conversion therapy" and penalizing anyone who attempts to help individuals, including minors, with gender confusion or unwanted same-sex attraction, with up to five years in prison.

However, in May, the British National Health Service (NHS) decided to effectively ban the prescription of puberty blockers to individuals under 18 in the United Kingdom. The NHS emergency ban restricts the prescription of puberty blockers to minors in England, Wales and Scotland until at least Sept. 3. This restriction also applies to prescriptions from private providers within the UK, as well as those registered in the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland.

The decision led Peterson to once again use his social media platform to directly address Trudeau's decision to continue supporting transgenderism and LGBTQI+ ideology.

"Do you see this, you son of a b----? @JustinTrudeau," Peterson posted on X on May 30. "Its time for the liars and the butchers not only to be stopped but to be prosecuted. There is absolutely no excuse for what has been done on the trans front. It is the worst medical scandal ever, I believe. In the same category as the medical experiments under the Japanese and the Nazis in the 30s and 40s."

Find more stories about Pride Month and LGBTQI+ ideology at GayMafia.news.

Watch the video below that shows the band Slash Need's performance during the Toronto Pride event.

This video is from the Red Voice Media channel on Brighteon.com.

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Walmart faces social media backlash over "Pride Always Collection" for Pride Month.

PRIDE month kicks off with MONKEYPOX outbreak in the homosexual community.

Navy SEALs accused of going WOKE after Pride Month post sparks backlash.

Louisiana farmer loses two-thirds of customers for criticizing "Pride Month" on Instagram.

Massachusetts middle school students REVOLT against teacher-led pride month deviancy, tear down signs and flags while chanting "U.S.A. are my pronouns."

Sources include:

LifeSiteNews.com 1

LifeSiteNews.com 2

Brighteon.com
Meta covertly training AI with user data without providing Instagram and Facebook users easy opt-out options

Facebook parent company Meta has begun training its generative artificial intelligence features on user data in a manner that makes it difficult for users to opt-out

Someone with basic knowledge of how user interface/experience (UX) and user behavior works often believe that it's best to use default settings. It's also worth noting that the ability to "opt-out," or for people to remove themselves from a feature that is included by default, is usually a deliberate choice to deceive users.

But when companies make it much harder for users to opt-out, things get a little more suspicious.

Meta's data sharing practices caught people's attention when a Facebook notification was recently sent to users in Europe because according to the notification, EU users will soon be affected by an update to the privacy policy as Meta rolls out new generative AI features in the region.

On a separate page, Meta's generative AI privacy policy explained that it uses "information shared on Metas Products and services," including user "posts or photos and their captions" to train its AI models. The company claimed that it will not use private messages for training data.

A Meta spokesperson claimed that the company is notifying users in accordance with its obligations "under local privacy laws" which is allegedly required under General Data Protection Regulation laws in Europe.

According to the notification received by Philip Bloom, a U.K.-based Facebook user, these changes will take effect on June 26, 2024.

While users in the United States have yet to receive the notification, based on Meta's data sharing policy, it seems to already be in effect. The company has been using generative AI features since September 2023.

Human knowledge is under attack! Governments and powerful corporations are using censorship to wipe out humanity's knowledge base about nutrition, herbs, self-reliance, natural immunity, food production, preparedness and much more. We are preserving human knowledge using AI technology while building the infrastructure of human freedom. 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.

Meta first started with the ability to tag the Meta AI chatbot in conversations on Messenger, Instagram and WhatsApp, and chat with "AI personas" which are characters based on the licensed likenesses of celebrities like social media personality Charli D'Amelio, model and socialite Kendall Jenner and hip hop artist Snoop Dogg.

The company recently expanded its AI-powered features by making Meta AI the default search bar on Facebook, Instagram, Messenger and WhatsApp. Additionally, it has allowed users to chat with the AI about specific posts.

However, if you don't like these features, there is no option to turn them off.

A user on X going by the handle Tantacrul said he was "shocked by the design of @Meta's new notification" informing users that the company wants to use the content they post "to train their AI models."

Tantacrul shared the many steps required to update user settings, adding that the process seems to be "intentionally designed to be highly awkward in order to [minimize] the number of users who will object to it."

How to opt out of data sharing with Meta AI models

If you don't want Meta to access your data, you need to delete your accounts.

But if you want to keep your social media accounts, there are several ways to limit how much data you share. For some users, clicking on the opt-out link will show you a message that says the option is only available to users in certain regions.

Clicking on another link will redirect you to a Meta help center page where you can submit a request to access, delete, or file a complaint about personal information "from third parties being used to develop and improve AI at Meta."

As you fill out the form, you will be given three options related to third-party data being used for improving AI at Meta:

Access, download or correct any personal information from third parties used for building and improving AI at Meta

Delete any personal information from third parties used for building and improving AI at Meta

Submit a concern about personal information from third parties that is related to a response received from an AI at Meta model, feature or experience

Keep in mind that there is no specific mention of opting out of sharing your data with the models on the Meta help center page. Additionally, the options are narrow and relate specifically to third parties.

The form also claims that requests aren't automatically fulfilled and that Meta will need to review your request based on local laws. This means that users in the E.U. or U.K. who fall under stricter privacy laws might have an easier time deleting or accessing their data. (Related: Metas new face camera can be used for ILLEGAL SURVEILLANCE of private citizens.)

After you decide on the relevant option, Meta will require you to fill out your name, country of residence, email and specific evidence explaining why you're submitting your request.

The form will then require you to submit "any prompts you entered that generated a response that included your personal information" or upload a screenshot of the response.

This means you are required to give a specific example of why you wish to delete your data. However, this doesn't guarantee that Meta will fulfill your request.

Visit MetaTyranny.com for more stories about Meta and Facebook.

Watch the video below to find out why Meta wants users to stay distracted in the Metaverse.

This video is from the Red Voice Media channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Sen. Hawley calls out Metas DOUBLE STANDARD  censoring conservatives while ignoring child predators.

Ukraine claims to be developing unstoppable AI-controlled drones that can attack targets on the battlefield.

BlackRock CEO promotes depopulation, substituting humans for machines in developing nations for better quality of life.

U.S., Canadian AI companies COLLABORATE with Chinese experts to shape international AI policy.

Sources include:

ReclaimTheNet.org

SEA.Mashable.com

Facebook.com 1

X.com

Facebook.com 2

Brighteon.com
Just like the deadly mRNA jab, the new DIGITAL I.D. is not mandatory yet, but it will seem that way very soon

Everything related to the plandemic is about getting billions of people injected with billions of deadly protein prions, including the all-but mandatory digital ID . Do you like your rights to travel? They can easily be taken away. Do you like your rights to get treated at a hospital for sickness or injury? That too can easily be taken from you. Do you enjoy having money in a savings account, 401k or retirement account? That too can be "shut off" like a faucet controlled by the globalists. Get ready for the seemingly mandatory digital ID coming right at you like a needle full of poison.

The police-state digital ID enables the communist democrats to freeze all money, mandate permanent lockdowns and force-inject the masses with prions

The Police-State Digital ID will make it ripe for the Feds to seize all of your money or "freeze it" for "national emergency" purposes. This could be anything the Biden Regime stages or causes, like a massive grid-down scenario, a 2nd January 6th "insurrection," or World War III. "The money in your bank accounts will be used to save America," we will all be told (or at least every conservative in the country). That's one major reason the digital ID will be "mandatory" soon, or at least seem like it is.

You will need your Police-State Digital ID to show up at work (unless AI took your job), travel anywhere abroad (or you won't be able to return to the USA), get gas (what's left of it), shop for groceries (if there are any), and use ATMs (which magically won't work).

The Police-State Digital ID replaces the "vaccine passport" the Biden Regime and World Health Organization so desperately tried to install worldwide. The Police-State Digital ID will use face scanners, eye scanners, hand scanners, fingerprint scanners and anything else that prevents anyone from cheating the communist system. This will ensure every brainwashed and brain-dead zombie gets jabbed with millions of toxic prions yearly (or maybe even quarterly) so the Bill Gates dream of reducing the world's population by several BILLION people by doing a "really good job with vaccines" plays out in full.

Human knowledge is under attack! Governments and powerful corporations are using censorship to wipe out humanity's knowledge base about nutrition, herbs, self-reliance, natural immunity, food production, preparedness and much more. We are preserving human knowledge using AI technology while building the infrastructure of human freedom. Speak freely without censorship at the new decentralized, blockchain-power Brighteon.io. Explore our free, downloadable generative AI tools at Brighteon.AI. Support our efforts to build the infrastructure of human freedom by shopping at HealthRangerStore.com, featuring lab-tested, certified organic, non-GMO foods and nutritional solutions.

The Police-State Digital ID instantly deletes the value of cash, so that anyone who has money the communist American government does not know about can't survive by using it. No black market bartering for you. It will also most likely become illegal to use precious metals, like gold or silver, to barter. The feds will need to control this also.

The Police-State Digital ID lets the criminalized government know exactly where you are at all times, what you are spending money on, and how much. This is vital to communism, as the government must know if you are buying guns, ammunition or anything else that you can use to protect your family, land and resources during the big takeover of the Republic.

Land owners with automatic weapons can save America

You see, the biggest threat to the Biden Regime (or whatever it's called when he croaks or can't remember who he is), is conservatives who own large swaths of land and have automatic weapons, grenades and other vital weaponry from wars, gun shows and gun-buying frenzies during gun-grab attempts by Obama and Biden. Imagine the Bundy Ranch rebellion times a million. The Police-State Digital ID would help the Biden Regime know what ranches to invade first, using the armed-to-the-teeth FBI, DHS, CIA and other New World Order 3-letter "agencies."

Tune your internet dial to Preparedness.news for more tips on how to survive the next plandemic, and prepare for the U.S. government coming for your land, guns, food and medicine.

Sources for this article include:

NaturalNews.com

ZeroHedge.com

NaturalNews.com
Putin dismisses allegations that Moscow is plotting an attack on NATO as fearmongering by war hawks

Russian President Vladimir Putin has dismissed allegations that Moscow is plotting an attack on the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) as an allegedly feeble tactic by Western war hawks to sustain their dominance through fearmongering

Speaking to leaders of major news agencies at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, Putin derided the idea of Russia harboring such intentions as ludicrous and aimed at manipulating Western populations into bolstering arms supplies to Ukraine.

Putin scoffed at the notion, questioning the sanity of those who propagate such claims and insinuating that they are driven by ulterior motives. He argued that these narratives serve to maintain Western powers' sense of superiority, particularly in countries like Germany and France, while Russia merely seeks to protect its interests in Ukraine. (Related: Putin denies Bidens claim that Russia plans to attack NATO, calls it COMPLETE NONSENSE.)

"Don't form an image of Russia as an enemy," said Putin. "You have made up that Russia wants to attack NATO. Have you completely lost your mind? Who made that up? It's rubbish. It's absolute nonsense."

Throughout the extensive discussion, Putin reiterated the underlying reasons behind Russia's involvement in Ukraine, citing the 2014 United States-backed coup and color revolution, the actions of the government in Kyiv against the majority ethnic Russian population of the Donbas region and the ineffectiveness of the Minsk peace process. He contended that American involvement in Ukraine stems not from genuine concern for its people but from a desire to assert dominance on the global stage.

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.

Putin asserted that Russia has no intentions of invading Europe but warned of potential retaliation against the U.S. and its allies for arming Ukraine with advanced weaponry. He hinted at the possibility of supplying similar arms to adversaries of the West in strategically significant regions in response.

Additionally, Putin emphasized the need for Western audiences to critically assess the information they receive and cautioned against forming opinions about Russia based on unfounded claims. He urged for a more nuanced understanding of the situation, highlighting the complexities of the geopolitical landscape and the historical context behind Russia's actions.

Putin: Ukraine losing around 50,000 soldiers per month

As the conflict in Ukraine enters its third year, Putin asserted that Russian casualties were significantly lower than those of Ukraine, citing figures suggesting a monthly loss of around 50,000 Ukrainian soldiers.

However, conflicting reports regarding casualties persist, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claiming only 31,000 total Ukrainian military personnel had been killed by February this year. Western intelligence sources suggest the actual figure may be higher. Ukraine also claimed to have killed, wounded or captured over 500,000 Russian soldiers.

Putin directed specific criticism toward Germany for its provision of weaponry to Ukraine, highlighting the moral and ethical shock within Russian society upon the sight of German tanks on Ukrainian soil.

He lamented the potential deterioration of Russo-German relations, particularly in light of Germany's decision to permit the use of German-supplied missiles by Ukraine, aimed at targets within Russian territory to defend the city of Kharkiv, situated just 12 miles from the Russian border.

"If you want to stop the hostilities in Ukraine, stop supplying weapons," said Putin.

Watch this clip of Putin describing how it is not Russia that is escalating the conflict in Ukraine closer and closer to a nuclear war.

This video is from the Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Putin says it is Russias mission to create a new world free from American hegemony.

Putin ready to end conflict with Ukraine if Russia gets to keep territories it currently controls.

US is not a democracy  Putin.

Sources include:

InfoWars.com

DW.com

Brighteon.com
Swiss after-school care center to put TRACKERS on students

An after-school care center in the Zurich municipality of Birmensdorf in Switzerland is planning to track its students with magnetic wristbands to monitor their whereabouts on school grounds.

Beginning June 10, the Letten after-school care center will require third- and fourth-graders to wear magnetic wristbands with Bluetooth technology, which allows childcare staff to track their location and receive alerts if a child leaves the premises without permission during care hours.

The initial test phase will last until the end of summer, with plans to extend the trial to all classes between the summer and fall vacations. Following this period, the project will be evaluated to determine if the system will be permanently adopted. Participation in the project is voluntary, meaning parents can opt their children out if they do not wish to participate.

Joel Giger, the head of Letten's tracking program who supplied the technology and equipment for the tracking system, clarified that children's data is only stored while bracelets are in use and can only be located under school premises. Giger, who funded the project with no financial contribution from the school, also claimed that these magnetic wristbands would help caregivers locate children more efficiently. But all movement data is temporary and deleted daily.

The data system will only record minimal information, including the child's first name, the first letter of their last name, any medical incompatibilities, and their class. This data is encrypted on a separate network and is inaccessible from the internet. (Related: Alarm sounded over rapidly increasing use of SURVEILLANCE SYSTEMS inside schools.)

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.

Giger reveals that the school board independently reviewed and approved all steps, from planning to implementation. And so, the school administration sees the project as mutually beneficial.

"Those responsible  at Birmensdorf school can gain new insights through the pilot project and at the same time offer the company the opportunity to test the product together with specialists on-site as part of the pilot project," said Bettina Kohler, the president of Letten.

Cantonal office does not sound alarmed by the tracking system for children

Despite the assurances given by Giger and Kohler, the project has drawn criticism from data protection authorities in the canton of Zurich.

According to Hans Peter Waltisberg, a spokesperson for the Zurich cantonal government's data protection commission, data processing is justified only if there is a "reasonable relationship" between the intended purpose and the data processing. He noted that "permanent localization of schoolchildren does not seem necessary for their care."

"It should be examined whether a Bluetooth wristband is the appropriate means of localization. For example, the fact that a wristband can also be removed must be taken into account," Waltisberg said.

Moreover, data protection authorities are unaware of similar projects using Bluetooth and magnetic wristbands for schoolchildren in the canton of Zurich.

But just like the school board of Letten, Myriam Ziegler, the head of the Zurich cantonal elementary school office, does not seem alarmed by the tracking system for children. Instead, the cantonal office has provided limited information on the matter and claimed that the design of daily structures is the responsibility of the municipalities.

Learn more instances of harmful surveillance across the globe at Surveillance.news.

Watch this episode of "News Behind The News" discussing how parents need to monitor schools.

This video is from the AMP News channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Parents and school officials of small Irish town unite to BAN SMARTPHONES for children as old as 13.

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Hundreds of public school districts are SUING Big Tech for warping their students' minds into a MENTAL HEALTH DISASTER.

Dallas school district installs AI spying, surveillance systems to keep an eye on students.

Sources include:

Modernity.news

RMX.news

NZZ.ch

Brighteon.com
UN designates Israel as TERROR STATE that murders children

It is official: The United Nations (UN) has added Israel to its official "blacklist" of countries that hurt children in conflict zones due to the Benjamin Netanyahu regime's actions in the Gaza Strip.

Israel now finds itself alongside terrorist-designated entities like ISIS, Al-Qaeda and Boko Haram as far as the UN is concerned, prompting Netanyahu to fume and rage against the UN for siding with supporters of Hamas.

With the official Palestinian children death toll in Gaza now exceeding 15,500, the UN considers Israel to be a terrorist threat. The new UN designation was confirmed by Israeli Ambassador to the UN Gilad Erdan, who says he received official notification from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

"This is simply outrageous and wrong," Erdan wrote in the caption to a video of him speaking via telephone in condemnation of the UN move.

"I responded to the shameful decision and said that our army is the most moral in the world. The only one being blacklisted is the Secretary-General who incentivizes and encourages terrorism and is motivated by hatred towards Israel."

Responding to Erdan's statements later that same day, Guterres spokesman Stephane Dujarric said a UN official called the Israeli envoy as "a courtesy afforded to countries that are newly listed on the annexe" of the annual "Children in Armed Conflict" report.

"It is done to give those countries a heads up and avoid leaks," Dujarric told the press, adding that the official report will be presented to the UN Security Council on June 14, followed by its publishing a few days after that.

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.

Dujarric would go on in a statement to criticize Erdan for recording and leaking the news via social media  see below  which has apparently never been done by a country that is added to the UN blacklist.

"Ambassador Erdan's video recording of that phone call, and the partial release of that recording on Twitter, is shocking and unacceptable  and frankly something I've never seen in my 24 years serving this organization."

I received the official notification about the Secretary-General's decision to put the IDF on the "blacklist" of countries and organizations that harm children. This is simply outrageous and wrong because Hamas has been using children for terrorism and uses schools and hospitals pic.twitter.com/o1civfJFAk  Ambassador Gilad Erdan ???? ???? (@giladerdan1) June 7, 2024

(Related: The Republican-led House of Representatives just voted to sanction the International Criminal Court [ICC] for investigating Israeli war crimes in Gaza.)

Israel could face arms sales restrictions

The Palestinian Authority is thrilled by the addition of Israel to the UN's blacklist for human rights abuses as the Jewish state belongs on "a list of parties engaging in violations against children." This includes maiming, sexually violating and killing children at schools and hospitals.

Some Palestinian rights advocates were previously upset that Israel was not on the list alongside the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Somalia, Syria, Haiti and Russia.

Countries that find themselves on the UN blacklist could face arms sales restrictions in addition to the public shame of being found on the blacklist in the first place.

"Now, faced with the catastrophe in Gaza that the world sees with its naked eyes with the genocide that specifically targets children and women, the UN secretary general no longer has excuses not to place Israel on the blacklist," commented senior Palestinian official Riad Malki, who welcomed the decision.

Since October 7, more than 36,700 Palestinians, many of them women and children, are dead as a result of Israel Defense Forces (IDF) bombardment of the Gaza Strip.

The latest news updates about the situation in the Middle East can be found at Prophecy.news.

Sources for this article include:

X.com

AlJazeera.com

NaturalNews.com
Feds: Over 52,000 special interest aliens, including potential terrorists, have crossed the Texas border since October

Authorities recently reported that over 50,000 "special interest aliens" (SIAs) have been encountered at the United States' borders since Oct. 1, 2023, and Syrian nationals were among those who have illegally entered the Texas border.

The announcement came on the same day the Texas Department of Public Safety (TxDPS) apprehended 31 illegal migrants in Maverick County, right on the border with Mexico. The migrants included two Syrian nationals who had been living in Venezuela. The other 29 were from Colombia, Cuba, Nicaragua, Ecuador, Peru, Honduras, Venezuela and the Dominican Republic. They were taken into custody and brought to the Val Verde Processing Center in Del Rio.

The video that was posted on X, formerly Twitter, by TxDPS spokesperson Chris Olivarez included the Syrians talking about their plight to reach Texas.

One follower commented: "Just walked from Syria wearing a perfectly starched and spotless white shirt," referring to the border crosser who was wearing a clean shirt despite claiming to have walked from Venezuela to Colombia, rode a boat from Colombia to Nicaragua, walked again from Nicaragua to Honduras to Guatemala to Mexico until they reached the Texas border.

Meanwhile, another social media user replied in the thread saying: "Isis undercover operatives."

Chief of U.S. Border Patrol Jason Owens also revealed the significant number of SIAs encountered this fiscal year, with the San Diego Sector accounting for 88 percent of the apprehensions. He referred to them as "special interest migrants," a term initially introduced by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). According to DHS, an SIA is a non-American who, based on travel patterns, might pose a national security risk to the U.S. or its interests, often linked to potential terrorism.

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.

U.S. Fleet Forces Command Admiral Daryl Caudle recently discussed how the surge of SIA is raising national security concerns. He said on Fox News that the frequent attempts by foreign nationals to penetrate military bases occur two or three times a week.

This thing of our military bases getting penetrated by foreign nationals is happening more and more. This is something we see probably two or three times a week, where were stopping these folks at the gate, he said. And this is just Navy alone, where were seeing folks trying to come in.

TOO LATE? Biden finally acting on the border crisis

President Joe Biden has finally decided to do something about the border crisis that he just allowed to escalate throughout his term. He reportedly plans to sign the executive order that will more strictly cap illegal crossings. If the number of crossings average 2,500 a day, then border officials would be able to quickly expel migrants without a chance for asylum.

In December, there was an all-time monthly record of migrant encounters, with 250,000 crossing into the U.S. from Mexico. In the first three weeks of May, the U.S. Border Patrol reported a daily average of 3,700 apprehensions of migrants, according to internal government data obtained by CBS News.

He seemed not to be bothered by the burgeoning number of illegal aliens and the peoples opinion via surveys regarding his "weak border policies." In fact, in his first days in office, Biden used his executive authority to end the "Remain in Mexico" policy of former President Donald Trump that helped curb fraudulent asylum claims that have overwhelmed the southern border. He also made people believe that hes helpless to slow down border encounters that have more than doubled during his tenure and that hes reliant on Congress to help out. (Related: Migrants rushing to cross the US southern border before Biden loses in November.)

Read more about the worsening border crisis at InvasionUSA.news.

Watch the video below that talks about Biden's border order that was influenced by polls favoring Trump on illegal immigration.

This video is from Lori Colley's channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Biden admin claims border island seized by Texas is now federal land.

Biden's ICE to roll out pilot program giving illegal immigrants VALID IDs.

Sources include:

YourNews.com

USAToday.com

LangerResearch.com

Brighteon.com
Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs under CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION for alleged pay-to-play scheme

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes has announced an official criminal probe in Gov. Katie Hobbs, who is accused of participating in an illegal "pay-to-play" scheme.

Mayes wrote a letter from his office's criminal division to President Pro Tempore and Sen. T.J. Shope explaining that the state attorney general's office will, in fact, be probing Hobbs over a criminal scheme involving a housing developer and foster children throughout Arizona who are being sent to group homes.

"Thank you for your referral dated June 5, 2024, regarding Sunshine Residential Homes," reads the letter to Shope, signed by chief counsel Nick Klingerman.

"The Criminal Division of the Attorney General's Office is statutorily authorized to investigate the allegations and offenses outlined in your letter. To that end, the Attorney General's office will be opening an investigation."

BREAKING.? Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs is officially under criminal investigation for alleged "Pay-to-Play" scheme. The Arizona State Attorney General's office says it "will be opening an investigation." pic.twitter.com/EnRXidO8jc  Kyle Becker (@kylenabecker) June 7, 2024

(Related: Back in late 2022, we reported that Hobbs was apparently involved in an election theft operation to make herself governor against the will of Arizona voters.)

Is Katie Hobbs a criminal?

According to reports, the pay-for-play scheme in which Hobbs is a participant involves funneling foster children to group homes that contribute cash to Hobbs are her "dark money" network.

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 Arizona Republic, a media outlet that Kyle Becker describes as "left-wing," reported that all across the board, Arizona is putting fewer children in group homes. In February 2023, the state's Department of Child Safety (DCS) rejected a request to increase the largest group home network by 20 percent.

Just days after that decision was made, Sunshine Residential Homes donated $100,000 to Hobbs and her "dark money" network. Three months later, Sunshine conveniently received a 30 percent increase approval.

State Sen. Jake Hoffman revealed that the state contractor actually donated much more than that, around $400,000, to both Hobbs and other state Democrats. Hobbs and other Democrats also received millions more in state money due to their connections.

DCS also revealed that over the past year, Sunshine increased its rates for child care by a whopping 60 percent. This means that potentially millions more taxpayer dollars are being funneled into the company and Hobbs' pay-for-play network.

The Arizona Republic called on Mayes or the state legislature to investigate Hobbs for official corruption. Mayes took up the quest, as evidenced by the above letter, but there are concerns about how Mayes became AG in the first place.

Keep in mind that this is the same Hobbs who certified her own election despite all the Election Day chaos that was reported out of Maricopa County. This includes the election of Mayes, who became AG with what Becker describes as "a statistically improbable lead of 280 votes."

"R*gged elections have consequences," Becker further wrote on X.

The fact that both AZ Central and the Arizona Republic are calling for an investigation just goes to show that this is not a partisan effort by Republicans to remove Democrats. It is a justice effort to root out the corruption in Arizona politics that is destroying the state.

"My question to these two is: What changed to prompt you to do some real journalism?" someone on X asked of these two media outlets.

"Arizona will likely hire outside legal counsel since Katie Hobbs and Kris Mayes have huge conflicts," wrote another. "Mayes represents DCS and does not supervise her Assistant AGs who prosecute innocent families, forcing their children into such death trap group homes."

The latest news about corrupt politicians and their criminal behavior can be found at Corruption.news.

Sources for this article include:

Twitter.com

NaturalNews.com

Twitter.com
CBP agent warns Bidens immigration executive order will NORMALIZE arrival of 2 million migrants annually

A senior Customs and Border Protection (CBP) source has suggested that President Joe Biden's latest executive order will not significantly curb the influx of illegal immigrants at the southern border . Instead, it will only normalize the entry of two million migrants annually.

The executive order, titled "A Proclamation on Securing the Border," was signed on June 4. The order, which seeks to address the surging numbers of migrant entries into the United States, stipulates that asylum applications will be denied when the seven-day average of migrant apprehensions at the southwest border exceeds 2,500 per day.

However, the CBP source, who spoke anonymously due to a lack of authorization to discuss the matter publicly, argues that this threshold could still allow nearly a million migrant apprehensions per year without limiting asylum eligibility, particularly if cartels or the Mexican government manages border crossings to stay just below this threshold.

The CBP source also stated that "lawful pathways" implemented during the Biden administration have already allowed the entry of nearly one million additional "legal" migrants at U.S. ports, who often enter the country unnoticed. These pathways, the source claims, have accustomed U.S. citizens to around 2,400 crossings daily through land ports and airports, with asylum claims not being more rigorously vetted than illegal crossings. (Related: Bidens policies allowed mass immigration thats now completely destroying America.)

Moreover, the source mentioned that the new executive order does not address the 800 to 1,000 migrants evading capture daily. These lawful pathways, strategic illegal crossings under the threshold, and "gotaways" could result in over two million migrants entering the U.S. annually without even facing the order's consequences.

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.

"Some of the statements contained within the order are outright lies," the source added. "The order attributes low migrant crossings in 2020 to travel restrictions placed by other countries during the COVID pandemicthats a lie. Strong enforcement policies put in place under the previous administration lowered the crossings from previous years in 2020. Under the Trump era Title 42 COVID-19 authority, we removed three million migrants that reached our borders and most countries didnt care who headed to the United States illegally."

Trump's campaign and GOP lawmakers also dismissed the new executive order

In February, Senate Republicans voted against a bipartisan border security deal that included most of the provisions Biden passed anyway in his executive order.

The deal aimed to invest $20.2 billion in improving border security by providing an additional $6.8 billion to CBP, $7.6 billion to Immigration and Customs Enforcement and $4 billion to Citizenship and Immigration Services.

Since then, Biden has been contemplating his next move, which led to the latest executive order. Biden will incorporate some parts of the bipartisan Senate border deal, such as capping asylum requests once encounters reach a certain threshold. The administration also aims to direct migrants to seek asylum at ports of entry via the CBP One app, which schedules around 1,450 appointments daily.

Trump's campaign criticized the order, saying it would be ineffective and that Biden could shut down the border with a single executive action if he truly wanted to. Trump has labeled illegal border crossings as an invasion and blamed Biden for recent violent crimes by migrants, despite numerous studies showing that immigrants generally commit violent crimes at lower rates than native-born Americans.

Even GOP lawmakers largely dismissed the executive order as an election-year maneuver that would do little to change the realities on the ground.

"President Biden's Executive Order is nothing more than a desperate political stunt to try and stabilize his plummeting poll numbers," House Republican leaders said.

Visit InvasionUSA.news for more stories about Joe Biden's soft immigration policies.

Watch this video showing New York City Mayor Eric Adams finally pushing President Joe Biden to do something about illegal aliens.

This video is from the Red Voice Media channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Border Patrol chief highlights smuggling networks control over illegal immigration.

ONLY IN AMERICA: Biden releases $77M to aid illegal immigration.

NYC Mayor Adams: Illegal immigration under Biden has become a NATIONAL CRISIS.

Roughly 200,000 immigration deportation court cases DISMISSED after DHS failed to file paperwork.

Biden regime gags immigration and customs officials so they cant divulge just how bad things are along border.

Sources include:

Breitbart.com

CNN.com

APNews.com

CBSNews.com

Brighteon.com
DEI prosecutor who once said shed never degrade herself for a dolla was just convicted for stealing $15 million in COVID funds

You probably wont be surprised to hear about another DEI fraud case out of the Peach State. Atlanta is quickly becoming a rival to Chicago in the corruption market with its lying, thieving, and dicey left-wing politics. As it turns out, an Atlanta prosecutor who once declared she would never degrade herself for a dolla actually pocketed 15 million dollas in COVID relief funds. She splurged on a Rolls-Royce and diamonds. It seems like discretion and keeping a low profile arent in her playbook, eh?

(Article republished from Revolver.news)

Collin Rugg:

NEW: Atlanta prosecutor who is shown on a podcast talking about integrity, has been jailed for 7 years for stealing $15 million in COV*D relief loans. Remarkable. Shelitha Robertson, who said she would never degrade herself for a dolla, used the PPP loans to buy a Rolls Royce, a 10-carat diamond ring, and a motorbike. Robertson submitted a false loan application claiming she needed money for her four businesses. She also transferred funds to family members. Motivated by greed, Robertson deceptively obtained funds that were designated to provide emergency financial relief to struggling small businesses during the COV*D-19 pandemic, said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. While appearing on her daughters podcast, Robertson talked about integrity. I choose integrity and whatever else it brings. I dont choose selling your soul. Because that would mean I am willing to belittle myself and degrade myself for the love of what? Of a dolla, she said. How my kids view me and respect me, means more to me than earning a quick dollar for me to be something that Im not. Typically, the people who talk the loudest about how good they are, are actually the worst people.

NEW: Atlanta prosecutor who is shown on a podcast talking about integrity, has been jailed for 7 years for stealing $15 million in COV*D relief loans. Remarkable. Shelitha Robertson, who said she would never degrade herself "for a dolla," used the PPP loans to buy a Rolls pic.twitter.com/e7iujLB2rh  Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) June 10, 2024

There definitely seems to be a type in these fraud cases out of Georgia.

And this story wouldnt be complete without a financial connection to another DEI fraud out of Georgia, named Big Fani Willis.

Daily Mail:

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 Williss 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 Robertsons 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.

Revolver has covered this fascinating DEI fall from grace involving many black women working within the justice system, who have sadly turned the entire country into a DMV with their subpar abilities and penchant for stealing and lying.

Revolver:

The American regime is groaning both in public and behind closed doors at the trouble Fani Willis has stirred up for them. But just as Fani deserves her ongoing humiliation, so do all of her enablers. They have asked, loudly and proudly, for every part of this. After all, Fani Willis is the avatar of DMV Americathe combination of racial caste system and kakistocracy that the American regime is determined to erect in what was once the worlds proudest meritocratic society. We have extensively chronicled the decay rotting out America as it pays for bad decisions made decades ago. Weve covered the degradation of Americas power grid, its airports, and even its amusement parks. But just as glaring as any physical decay will be the decay in human capitalthe disappearance of talented and morally upright people who are replaced by farcical parasites who bask in how useless and entitled they are. Back in the mid-90s, when Willis attended law school, her alma mater at Emory averaged a U.S. News ranking in the mid-20sin the top quarter but also well outside the Top 14 that has traditionally designated Americas best law schools. And thats frightful, in fact. We can safely guess that Willis was not an above-average Emory student, or even the median one. All of us know the truth: America has for decades run a pervasive race-based affirmative action racket in which students from preferred races get a huge boost to their college admissions. The odds that Willis scored below Emorys median LSATand perhaps well beloware very high. The median black LSAT score is around 142 points, meaning that any score above 160 represents the top three percent of all test-takers. But if Willis was scoring in the top 3 percent, then frankly, she would have been able to punch a ticket to a top law school, like Harvard or Columbia, or, hell, at least Georgetown. Going to Emory, with the massive admissions boost she could count on based on skin color alone, indicates Williss LSAT score may have been frightful. There are, no exaggeration, hundreds of thousands of lawyers in America who are smarter and better-qualified to be prosecutors in a major American city. But Fani is the one we have. And you know what might be the funniest part? Fani is, in many ways, the cream of the crop. Say what you will about Fani cavorting with her boyfriendshe does, at least, manage to prosecute some actual criminals. That puts her far ahead of recently-departed St. Louis, Missouri, circuit attorney Kim Gardner. During her six-year run as the top prosecutor in Americas deadliest city, Gardner: Let St. Louiss murder rate balloon to 87 per 100,000, more than double the rate of Johannesburg and in the top 10 for all of planet Earth.

Admitted to paying for her personal apartment using campaign funds.

Criminally charged the McCloskeys for brandishing unloaded firearms at a BLM mob, then fundraised off said prosecution in such a glaring manner that a judge kicked her off the case.

Falsely accused police of pulling her over for no reason as an intimidation tacticwhen, in fact, camera footage showed she was driving without working headlights.

Sued her own city under the Ku Klux Klan Act, alleging a vast racist conspiracy against her by the city government and police department.

Illegally spent two years secretly pursuing a nursing degree while still serving as a circuit attorney.

Repeatedly had to drop criminal charges against alleged murderers because her office just could not stop screwing up. In Baltimore, former states attorney Marilyn Mosby hoped to use the Freddie Gray case to launch her national fame. Instead, her shoddy, politically motivated prosecution of local police sent the signal that Baltimore was a free-fire zone, and the city soon became one of the most violent in the world. Then, just as things were getting a bit better, Mosby used COVID as an excuse to get even more lenient on crime.

You can read the entire fascinating breakdown of the DEI DMV that America has become here:

DMV America: The Regimes Fani Willis Problem, and Ours

Really, its quite fascinating how the folks who despise President Trump and label him a fraud are the ones getting caught actually committing fraud and duping the people who trusted them. Clearly, theres a chronic Big Fani Syndrome unfolding in Atlanta, and its the same story in other parts of liberal-run America too.

The good news is that President Trump continues to soar in the polls, as Americans see through the left-wing charade.

Ryan James Girdusky:

State polling has been very consistent for a long time. Trump has led in every 37/38 polls in ARIZONA since August 2023 Trump has led in every poll in FLORIDA since March 2023 Trump has led in every poll in GEORGIA since June 2023 Trump has led in every poll in NEVADA since Oct. 2023 Trump has led in every poll in NORTH CAROLINA since Nov 2023 Trump has led in every poll in OHIO since Aug. 2022 Trump has led in 23/34 polls in PENNSYLVANIA since Nov. 2023 Trump has led in every poll in TEXAS since June 2022 Trump has led in 20/34 polls in WISCONSIN since Oct 2023

State polling has been very consistent for a long time. Trump has led in every 37/38 polls in ARIZONA since August 2023 Trump has led in every poll in FLORIDA since March 2023 Trump has led in every poll in GEORGIA since June 2023 Trump has led in every poll in NEVADA since  Ryan James Girdusky (@RyanGirdusky) June 8, 2024

Read more at: Revolver.news
Justice Department charges whistleblower who exposed illegal GENDER SURGERIES at Texas hospital

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has charged a whistleblower who exposed gender-related surgical mutilation happening at a Texas hospital.

Surgeon Dr. Eithan Haim was indicted on four felony charges over alleged violations of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Last year, he had alerted several media outlets  including the City Journal magazine  that the transgender medicine program of Texas Children's Hospital (TCH) in Houston included minor children among its patients. The ensuing controversy led the Texas Legislature to ban transgender medical procedures from being conducted on minors altogether.

While Haim's brave actions exposed his employer's dangerous and ethically dubious transgender medical practices, they have also drawn unwanted attention from an unlikely source. Federal attorneys in the Biden administration's DOJ have now swooped in on the surgeon, launching legal action against him. (Related: New Hampshire expected to BAN transgender surgeries for minors.)

In June of last year, federal agents showed up outside of Haim's home. The agents informed him at the time that he was being investigated as a suspect in the leaks regarding transgender medicine practice at TCH. It coincided on the same day Haim was to graduate from his hospital's residency program.

Almost a year later, the DOJ decided to proceed with its prosecution of Haim, overseen by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tina Ansari still oversees. The surgeon recounted that U.S. marshals arrived outside his home with a court summons.

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.

"Had three heavily-armed agents at my door  to inform me I was indicted with four felonies  for blowing the whistle about the largest children's hospital in the world lying to the public about their transgender program," Haim wrote on X.

"They wanted to intimidate me into silence using every technique the federal leviathan had at their disposal, but they failed. The only way to lose is to submit to corruption. It's time to fight back harder than ever."

Haim's charges all stem from alleged alleged HIPAA violations

According to the National Pulse, all four of the charges the DOJ filed against Haim stem from alleged HIPAA violations. The outlet added that he would appear in court on June 10.

Haim's attorney Marcella Burke insists that her client went to great lengths to comply with HIPAA standards, even in his leaks to the media. The surgeon reportedly redacted any patient identifying information from the documents he provided to reporters. Even the City Journal's Christopher Rufo, who received documents from Haim, attested to this.

"I can confirm that nothing in the information provided to me identified any individual," Rufo said. "All the documents were, in fact, carefully redacted."

In contrast, the Dallas Express mentioned that Haim's legal team were reportedly not given precise details from the DOJ about the felony charges. The outlet sent requests for comment to the Justice Department and Ansari's office, but received no reply as of press time.

"My client is anxious to get to trial to get his side of the story told," said Burke. "I am confident this will result in the correct decision being made."

The Pulse ultimately pointed out that "the case appears to be less about HIPAA and more about silencing medical whistleblowers who would expose child sex-change practices at hospitals across the United States."

Visit Gender.news for similar stories.

Watch this Sky News report about puberty blockers no longer being prescribed to children in the United Kingdom.

This video is from the GalacticStorm channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

South Carolina Senate bans use of puberty blockers and genital mutilation of children.

Medical associations silent after review finds weak evidence for recommending puberty blockers to kids.

Study: 34% of children put on transgender puberty blockers end up becoming mental cases.

Biden education department unveils Pride seminar for children pushing them to take puberty blockers and mutilate their bodies.

Puberty blockers are QUACK medicine backed by nothing chemical child abuse is now demanded by LGBT pushers conspiring with evil doctors.

Sources include:

JustTheNews.com

TheNationalPulse.com

DallasExpress.com

Brighteon.com
IDF kills at least 210 Palestinians in bloody massacre hostage rescue operation in central Gaza

Israel reportedly rescued four of its hostages from Nuseirat in central Gaza over the weekend, but in the process killed 200 Palestinians as collateral damage.

According to reports, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched a joint land, sea and air attack as part of the mission. Israeli jets were seen dropping bombs in order to target "terror infrastructure."

A few hours later, the IDF announced that a team of police and military commandos were able to capture and return home four hostages who were being held in Hamas captivity at the camp.

Not long after the hostages were returned to Israel, reports started to emerge about the massive Palestinian death toll from the mission. Gaza's health ministry reported "large numbers" of wounded people, most of them women and children, who were sent to the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital for treatment.

All across social media were associated videos showing dead bodies strewn across the streets, many of them visibly missing limbs and other bodies parts  and small children were among them.

In total, the Gaza Government Media reported that 210 people were killed in the attack, though it remains unknown how many of them were actually Hamas militants since all deaths, Hamas or otherwise, in Gaza are calculated together.

An Israeli counterterrorism officer also became fatally wounded during the rescue mission. A police statement indicated that he died not long after the team returned to Israel.

(Related: Israel also struck a UN school in central Gaza, killing at least 40 people, most of them children.)

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.

Mahmoud Abbas calls attack a "bloody massacre"

Responding to the attack, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas issued a statement of condemnation, calling it a "bloody massacre." He also called for an emergency meeting of the United Nations (UN) Security Council.

European Union (EU) foreign policy chief Josep Borrell described the scenes he saw of the attack as "appalling" and urged Israel to accept a ceasefire plan put together by President Biden last week.

During its October 7 attack, Hamas reportedly captured about 250 Israeli hostages, these four representing a mere fraction of the overall number that are still in captivity.

Half of that 250 were traded for Palestinian prisoners during the week-long ceasefire agreement from last November, while another seven were rescued by Israeli forces after that.

There are said to be about 120 Israeli hostages still being held by Hamas, according to IDF spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari.

Since the start of the war, more than 36,800 Palestinians have been killed by IDF, along with another 84,000 who were injured, this according to the latest figures from the Gaza Health Ministry.

"The only way for this to stop would be for the people of the world to unite and stop buying U.S. and Israeli goods," one commenter wrote about the war. "But that ain't never going to happen because the average person has no discipline, no moral compass, and is only interested in the latest photos of themselves they posted to social media."

"The world is a sad and degenerate place ... we may all wear the latest fashions and own the latest accessories. We play at being intelligent beings. But scratch the surface and you find a vicious, primitive animal that only cares about food, domination and sex if they're still capable. Everyone knows this ... every other creature on the planet sure knows this."

Another wrote that this whole situation is "very, very, very shocking and evil" no matter how you slice it.

Israel under Benjamin Netanyahu is committed to finishing its mission in Gaza, no matter what the outside world says about it or how many innocent civilians die. Find out more at Prophecy.news.

Sources for this article include:

RT.com

NaturalNews.com
The 51 intel officials who called Hunters hard drive Russia disInfo still wont apologize, despite the laptop being authenticated by Bidens own DOJ

Intelligence officials who signed a pre-election letter in 2020 alleging that Hunter Bidens laptop from hell scandal had all the classic earmarks of a Russian information operation are standing by their claims, despite the Federal Bureau of Investigation ( FBI ) and Department of Justice ( DOJ ) confirming the device is authentic.

(Article by Jack Montgomery republished from TheNationalPulse.com)

All 51 signatories have been contacted about the letter, but none have recanted. James Clapper, Barack Obamas Director of National Intelligence, said No when asked if he regretted signing the letter, refusing to remove his name or accept he should have waited for more information before branding the laptop Russian disinformation.

Attorney Mark Zaid, representing several signatories, defended the letter, claiming that even today its content is accurate.

It served as nothing more than a warning letter of what we have known for decades: certain foreign governmentsincluding Russiacontinue to try and actively interfere in our domestic affairs and our guard must remain vigilant. Every patriotic American should have signed that letter, he insisted, despite the fact the laptop was not, in fact, a Russian hoax.

Zaid has ties to many prominent never Trump advocates who claim they are considering fleeing the country if Donald Trump is reelected.

OLD NEWS.

Greg Treverton, a former National Intelligence Council chair, tried to dismiss the letter as very old news and also insisted that What we said was true, we were inferring from our experience, and it did look like a Russian operation.

We didnt, and couldnt of course say it was a Russian operation, he added disingenuously.

The laptop letter was laundered through Natasha Bertrand, a then-POLITICO correspondent used by the intelligence community to plant stories in the media since her mid-twenties. The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) was involved in fast-tracking the letter, initiated by Joe Biden staffer Antony Blinken, now Secretary of State.

Read more at: TheNationalPulse.com
Israeli government spends $2 million on covert social media influence operation targeting U.S. lawmakers, American populace

The Israeli government has been implicated in a $2 million influence campaign targeting American lawmakers and the broader populace of the United States.

This operation employs fabricated social media profiles and deceptive websites featuring tailored pro-Israel content designed to resonate with various political beliefs.

Stoic, an Israeli political marketing agency, was contracted by Israel's Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism following Hamas' attack against Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. The firm was provided an estimated budget of $2 million and given the task of increasing U.S. support for Israeli military actions in Gaza.

The ongoing operation utilizes hundreds of bogus accounts across platforms like X, Facebook and Instagram, masquerading as American individuals and disseminating pro-Israel propaganda.

The Israeli disinformation watchdog, the FakeReporter, initially exposed this campaign in March. However, a report released by the organization on June 5 unveils the operation's broader scope, extending beyond social media manipulation. (Related: THOU SHALT NOT CRITICIZE ISRAEL: Social media giants now CENSORING CONTENT that supports people of Gaza and opposes indiscriminate bombings by Israel.)

The report reveals an intricate web of fabricated social media profiles and fake websites promoting pro-Israeli, anti-Arab and anti-Palestinian narratives. Each website caters to distinct political ideologies.

According to the report, one of these websites presents itself as anarchist and anti-establishment, targeting young progressives who align with the principles of leftism and anarchism. The website uses anarchist arguments to oppose the establishment of a Palestinian state in Gaza, East Jerusalem and the West Bank in accordance with the two-state peace solution to the conflict. The website advocates for the rejection of all current state structures and the creation of new states.

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.

Other websites featured pro-Israeli, anti-Palestinian and anti-Muslim content, along with disinformation regarding perceived instances of antisemitism on American campuses.

The campaign's modus operandi was multi-faceted. It commenced with the establishment of several fictitious "news sites" that mimicked legitimate media sources. These platforms, bolstered by associated Twitter, Facebook and Instagram accounts, amassed substantial followings, providing a veneer of authenticity to their fabricated narratives. Among the fabricated stories were accounts alleging sexual assaults by Hamas militants and purported ties between the United Nations Relief and Works Agency and Hamas.

Israeli influence campaign has had minimal impact despite hefty budget

Of particular concern is the targeted dissemination of content aimed at Black lawmakers in the U.S., predominantly those affiliated with the Democratic Party.

Through a network of hundreds of fake accounts and avatars, the campaign inundated these individuals' social media feeds with tailored messaging, urging support for Israel's military endeavors in Gaza.

This revelation has sparked widespread condemnation and calls for accountability. While the Israeli government has yet to formally respond to the allegations, the implications of such covert interference in foreign affairs cannot be overstated. As discussions surrounding foreign influence and political manipulation continue to evolve, the need for transparency and ethical governance remains paramount.

Although Instagram and Facebook claim to have dismantled the operation on their platforms, it persists on X. Nevertheless, analysis conducted by the FakeReporter suggests that despite Stoic's hefty budget, the Israeli influence campaign has had minimal impact due to its haphazard execution.

Learn the latest news coming out of Israel at IsraelCollapse.com.

Watch this clip from "Rising" on The Hill TV discussing the revelation that Israel is waging a "digital war" on social media.

This video is from the AllTheWorldsAStage channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Latest X policy orders earners to confirm their government ID with Israeli verification firm.

Breitbart openly promoting genocide, extreme news bias in support of Israel's ongoing crimes against humanity.

Blinken blames social media for Israel losing PR war; Romney agrees, confirms TikTok ban is to help Israel.

Biden's censorship priorities: Protect Israel's political and financial interests while trampling constitutional free speech.

Report finds overwhelming PRO-ISRAEL BIAS in British media outlets when it comes to Gaza reporting.

Sources include:

TheNationalPulse.com

InformationLiberation.com

Brighteon.com
Nashville school shooter was a violent trans girl who said shed kill for puberty blockers  manifesto finally released

Audrey Hale, the deeply disturbed transgender school shooter who murdered six people at a Christian elementary school in Nashville last March, wrote in her journal that she would kill to get her hands on puberty blockers.

According to dozens of pages from Hales journal obtained by The Tennessee Star, the killer felt deep hatred for her conservative Christian upbringing and harbored significant anger toward her parents. She also described suffering because she could not get puberty blockers.

Hale, who identified as a male named Aiden, killed three adults and three nine-year-old children before the officers who responded to the massacre killed her to put an end to the violence. She wrote multiple entries in her journal with the header My Imaginary Penis and described how she wished she possessed male anatomy so she could have sex with women.

My penis exists in my head. I swear to god I'm a male, the delusional 28-year-old wrote. She also fantasized about what it would be like to have sex as a man by setting up scenes using stuffed animals.

Referring to a stuffed boy doll she named Tony, she wrote: I can pretend to be them [and] do the things boys do [and] experience my boy self as Tony. She went on to describe simulating intercourse between Tony and other soft toys, taking pictures of the events.

This went down just 16 days before she put on combat gear and brought multiple weapons to her former elementary school.

She also lamented the fact that puberty blockers were not available to her when she was a child, something she feels could have helped her.

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.

Id kill to have those resources, she wrote, adding that her mother did not approve of her desire to be a man.

She also said being raised as a girl was torture.

I should not be in this body! she wrote. Nothing on earth can save me never ending pain. Religion wont save.

In a bizarre rambling, she said: If God wont give me a boy body in heaven, then Jesus is a f****t.

There has been a lot of controversy surrounding the release of her writings, and many people believe that officials were reluctant to release them because they thought it would somehow damage the trans community. However, The Tennessee Star and other publications were part of a lawsuit seeking the release of the writings by authorities. A notebook with her writings was recovered from the vehicle she drove to the school to carry out the murders.

Killer describes excitement ahead of mass shooting

In an entry on the same day as the killings, she wrote: Today is the day. The day has finally come. I can't believe it's here. Don't know how I was able to get this far but here I am. I'm a little nervous but excited too, been excited for the past two weeks.

She seemed to take delight in the prospect of killing innocent children, writing: I'm ready ... I hope my victims aren't.

God let my wrath take over my anxiety. It might be 10 minutes tops. It might be 3-7. It's gonna go quick. I hope I have a high death count. Ready to die, she added. She was shot dead 14 minutes after the shooting began.

Like many mass shooters in recent years, Hale had been taking psych meds. She had been prescribed the anti-anxiety drug Buspirone and the antidepressant Lexapro, among others.

Sources for this article include:

DailyMail.co.uk

NYPost.com
WHO director-general wants to intensify SMEAR CAMPAIGN against anti-vaccine movements

World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has called for a more aggressive approach to counteract anti-vaccine movements

Tedros made this remark during a WHO celebration honoring so-called achievements in the 50 years since the organization launched the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI). During the celebration in Geneva, Switzerland, Tedros declared that "vaccines are among the most powerful inventions in history."

"Thanks to vaccines, the smallpox has been eradicated, polio is on the brink and many one-sphere diseases can now be easily prevented, including measles, cervical cancer, yellow fever, pneumonia and diarrhea. With the recent development of vaccines against diseases like malaria, millions more lives can be saved," said Tedros.

"In 1974 fewer than five percent of infants globally were vaccinated. Millions died of diseases such as measles, polio and diphtheria. That was the year WHO launched the expanded program on immunization, or EPI as we all know. Today, about 84 percent of the world's children have received three doses of the vaccine against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis, and diseases which were once a death sentence: smallpox," he continued.

"EPI supported countries to establish standardized vaccination programs [on] smallpox and six other diseases, diphtheria, measles, pertussis, polio, tetanus and tuberculosis. These programs do far more than ever imagined," said Tedros. "Fifty years ago, the EPI program helped millions of children, adolescents and adults access vaccines against 30 diseases, [now,] a new study led by WHO estimates that the EPI has saved at least 154 million lives since 1974 an average of more than 8000 lives a day for the past 50 years. Thanks to immunization, a child born today is 40 percent more likely to see their first birthday than a child born 50 years ago."

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.

Tedros associated the progress of the EPI with partnerships among leaders, scientists, civil society, communities and families. The director-general also acknowledged the critical role of the Global Health Strategy, another WHO initiative that aims to save 40 million lives over the next four years, in supporting vaccine access worldwide. And so, he concluded that "it's time to be more aggressive in pushing back on anti-vaxxers." (Related: Anti-vaxxers, Covid skeptics labeled PSYCHOPATHS while murderous vaccine fanatics target innocent children.)

"You know the serious challenge that's posed by anti-vaxxers, and I think we need to strategize to really push back. I think it's time to be more aggressive in pushing back on anti-vaxxers," he stated. "I think they used COVID as an opportunity, and you know all the havoc they are creating."

COVID-19 vaccine skeptics branded "sick in the head"

What Tedros meant by that is they need to intensify the smear campaign against vaccine skeptics.

These past few years, the WHO labeled vaccine opposition as "misinformation" and "political extremism." Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) critics have often been accused of spreading dangerous falsehoods, despite citing anecdotal reports and statements about the adverse effects of COVID-19 vaccines.

In fact, a 2020 study published in the journal Social Psychology and Personality Science claimed that people who reject the official narrative surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic were "sick in the head" and crazy. Pavel S. Blagov, the author of the study, concluded that those who reject the government's draconian measures are abnormal and scary.

"It was clear from reports in the media very early in the COVID-19 pandemic that some people were rejecting advice to socially distance and engage in increased hygiene. There can be many reasons for this, and I thought that personality may play at least a small role in it," wrote Blagov, an associate professor and director of the Personality Laboratory at Whitman College.

In this context, Blagov's use of "personality" doesn't refer to benign differences like being an introvert versus an extrovert. Rather, he suggests that those who resist government lockdowns and social distancing measures might be categorized under the Dark Triad of personality traits, which include narcissism, Machiavellianism and psychopathy.

Watch the video below of The Patriot Nurse explaining Fauci's psychological pathology.

This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

If you don't believe the official narrative on COVID-19, then you have a MENTAL ILLNESS, claim scientists.

Rep. Jim Jordan exposes ALLIANCE between White House, FB and UK-based censorship group to CENSOR vax skeptics content.

Facebook promised Biden regime any messaging you want in newly released emails asked for talking points on COVID vaccines.

Biden White House pressured Facebook to censor vaccine skeptics on private messaging service WhatsApp.

Biden administration officials pressured Meta to censor private WhatsApp messages of COVID-19 vaccine skeptics.

Sources include:

LifeSiteNews.com

WHO.int

BigLeaguePolitics.com

Brighteon.com
A National Weather Service (NWS) report warns of possible severe storms in portions of Texas this week, bringing flash flood risk and flooding. People with travel activities or plans should carefully consider the weather to avoid potential road dangers.

In early June, parts of Texas and the Western US experienced unusual heat, which caused heat advisories and risks. Due to favorable conditions for fires to spread, wildfire risks were also reported.

Weather conditions are expected to improve in parts of Texas, potentially relieving recent intense heat. However, another concern for Texas residents is the return of severe weather conditions.

Weather outlook in Texas: Where will severe storms unload?

According to a weather report for June 11 to June 13, the latest weather report reveals potential additional storms in the Gulf Coast and portions of Texas this week. In Central Texas, there could be a risk of flash floods and rain showers.

Meanwhile, showers and thunderstorms are likely in the northern and central Plains this week. The forecast also monitors the development of a system in the Upper Midwest, which could bring potential storms and showers on Tuesday.

NWS Austin / San Antonio warns of isolated storm in Austin this week. The main concerns in the region are gusty winds, occasional lightning, and locally heavy downpours. Additionally, thunderstorm outflow is likely in the region, particularly over the Coastal Plains, and winds are expected to reach 30 to 35 mph in some areas.

In addition, an NWS Weather Prediction Center raised concerns over an excessive rainfall outlook for June 11 to June 13. From Florida to the Caribbean, there is a risk of flooding concerns.

This week, homeowners in the Texas Panhandle, South Plains, and North Texas should know about flash flood potential.

Also Read: Florida Weather Forecast: Rainy Periods to Bring Relief from Heat, Drought

Weather in other portions of the USA

Another concern in other parts of the U.S. is an unusual heat and wildfire risk. An NWS report shows that well-above-average temperatures are likely in much of the West. Additionally, the forecast monitors the development of an upper-level high in northern Mexico and northern U.S.

Hotter temperatures are likely in the central California valleys, southern Nevada, Arizona, and southern New Mexico. According to the report, heat advisories are present in the affected areas, with temps likely to soar into the 100s and nighttime lows in the 70s.

Severe storms are likely in the southern Plains and lower Mississippi Valley. These severe storms are packed with strong winds, large hail, and flash floods in the south-central U.S.

On Tuesday, a severe thunderstorm potential is expected to hit the following areas:

Amarillo

Lubbock

Odessa

Wichita Falls

Odessa

Abilene

Waco

Austin

Dallas

Due to potential weather risks, limiting outdoor activities is recommended in the affected areas. Homeowners should limit prolonged exposure to unusual heat for regions with a hotter temperature outlook.

Related Article: 2024 Hurricane Season: Intense Storms Expected in Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean This Year

For more similar stories, don't forget to follow Nature World News.
The latest report raised concerns about the impacts of widespread pesticides on bees' health. Harmful substances can harm the immune system and mobility of stingless bees in Brazil.

Pesticides have had alarming effects on many species, particularly bees, affecting their health, metabolism, and immune systems. Understanding these potential health concerns is crucial to protecting the native stingless bees from population decline.

Pesticides effects on native stingless bees

According to a recent report, researchers warned that pesticide exposure can impair the mobility of stingless bees, highlighting that bees are shown to move slowly or walk less.

Another concern is the morphological changes found in bees' fat bodies. The researchers explained that pesticides significantly changed these species' immune response regulation, energy storage, and metabolism.

In addition, the main risk is a weakened immune system. When bees suffer this health risk, they can become unproductive or likely die. The widespread use of pesticides impairs the activity of significant proteins, crucial for the survival of bee cells and the immune system. As a result, bees are more exposed to environmental stress due to weakened health defense.

The researchers studied the native stingless bees that are found in Brazil. These species are important for pollinating wild plants and crops in the region.

The research report was published in Environmental Pollution.

The report also highlights the long-term consequences of widespread pesticide use. When these native stingless bees suffer from poor immune systems and infections, their colonies will significantly decline, and their pollination productivity will be reduced.

The additional risk of indiscriminate pesticide use is its adverse effects on bee biodiversity and survival in Brazil. In the analysis, the researchers studied the lethal impact of these harmful chemicals on bees' behavior, physiology, and morphology after exposure.

Also Read: 10% of Asian Hornets in the UK Survive During Winter Months for the First, Enough to Maintain Colony: DNA Analysis Shows

Tighter regulation in protecting bees

Due to implications for the stingless bee population in Brazil, the report emphasizes the need for tighter measures or regulations to protect these bees. Additionally, the study findings can offer new insights into protection efforts for public policymakers to potentially implement strict pesticide restrictions and protect sustainable approaches in agriculture.

Urgent approaches are crucial to address the growing concerns about pesticides' effects on native bee species, particularly the decline that could lead to problems in food security.

In addition to discovering the impacts on bees' immune systems, the researchers aim to study the influence of pesticides on other native bee species.

Related Article: North America's Butterflies, Bees Suffer from Population Decline Due to Climate Change, Habitat Loss

For more similar, don't forget to follow Nature World News
By Liu He

BEIJING, June 10 (Xinhuanet) -- As the Dragon Boat Festival approaches, Cai Cai, co-founder of an online cultural product specialty shop, is working overtime to prepare for the bestseller in store -- a Zongzi-shaped decoration, with hand-written calligraphy on it.

Zongzi, or rice dumplings, the signature cuisine of the Dragon Boat Festival in China, is now inspiring more brands and designers to create cultural products.

This Zongzi-shaped ornament has become a hit in our shop since last years Dragon Boat Festival, Cai told Xinhuanet.

The shop has also introduced a special bouquet to match the theme of the Dragon Boat Festival. It is composed of wormwood, Zongzi-shaped ornaments, and five-colored silk strings -- all elements are closely related to this festival and used to ward off evil.

According to the shop, the sales volume of this cultural product is on the verge of surpassing 5,000 in total. Over 200 buyers have expressed their appreciation in the customer feedback section: It has got all the components Im looking forward for this festival; (it) brings a sense of ceremony in my life, etc.

Meanwhile, major museums have launched promotion schemes for Zongzi-themed products and achieved impressive sales figures. The cultural and creative product studio of the Suzhou Museum, for instance, has sold more than 5,000 copies of the original Zongzi-shaped coin purse so far in its Taobao flagship store.

Moreover, a post about purchasing the same coin purse has drawn more than 3,000 likes on Xiaohongshu, a popular lifestyle-sharing social platform in China, stimulating netizens' impulse to purchase and interest in the customs behind it.

This growing trend underscores the enduring appeal of Chinese traditional festivals, offering culture enthusiasts new ways to cherish the conventions of the Dragon Boat Festival.

Our next objective is to launch more festival-themed products, said Cai.
Climate change now determines how many days schools are open because of heat waves, storms, or flooding, and it also affects how well students do in school.

According to a UNESCO assessment published on the World Environment Day, there is no doubt that climate change is interfering with education and having an impact on educational outcomes, especially in Asia.

Every year, the majority of the nations in the region experience school closures due to climate change, which negatively impacts underprivileged people by causing learning loss and dropout rates.

Suspension Of Classes

In mid-May, officials in India announced the closure of all schools nationwide due to temperatures that were over an oppressive 47 degrees Celsius.

In Delhi, privately run schools defied the shutdown order despite having air-conditioned classrooms and school buses-a clear illustration of how the disparity in education operates. But they too had to close a few days later due to another injunction from the local authorities.

The local governments of the bordering northern Indian states of Punjab, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Haryana, whose educational systems are significantly worse than Delhi's, followed suit and ordered an early start to summer holidays.

For the majority of April and May in the Philippines, the heat index-which accounts for humidity-exceeded the danger level of 42 degrees Celsius, resulting in multiple suspensions of classes while in Cambodia, school days are reduced by two hours.

Many schools, especially public ones in Asia's emerging nations, are overcrowding, inadequately ventilated, and ill-prepared to withstand intense heat. Some, particularly in underdeveloped and isolated places, lack fans or even electricity to operate, creating an uneasy, dangerous, and toxic learning environment.

"Over the past 20 years, schools were closed as a result of at least 75% of the extreme weather events impacting 5 million people or more in low- and middle-income countries," the UNESCO report states, citing analysis by the World Bank.

The group claims that exam scores and grades are suffering as a result of high temperatures. In addition, the susceptibility of impoverished families to climate change is resulting in reduced household income, which affects their capacity to pay for education.

Read Also: Climate Resilience in Action: Dr. Darren Burke's Strategies for Nurturing Environmental Awareness

Resilient To Climate Shocks

While closing schools might help ease the current heat wave, when the major monsoon months start in July, officials will likely start closing schools again if there are storms and flooding.

Schools in Southeast Asia will likely experience an increase in class suspensions as the monsoon season approaches and there's a chance of La Nina in the last quarter of this year.

In 2021, a UNICEF research issued warned that children were at incredibly high danger from the effects of climate change, which might result in the closure of schools. However, no indication of adaptive action is present.

In addition to the rise in carbon emissions, it is impractical for schools in the area to invest in expensive infrastructure and air conditioning in an attempt to minimize disruptions from severe weather. The majority of public schools lack even basic drinking water and sanitary amenities.

There are no quick remedies. However, there are steps that can be done right now.

It is necessary to upgrade school building ventilation. Building additional classrooms would help ease the overpopulation of spaces. Therefore, hiring additional teachers is a good idea.

New school buildings shouldn't be constructed in flood-prone locations and need to be resilient to climatic shocks. Long-term interruption to education can be minimized by making investments in digital learning and disaster-resilient infrastructure.

There should be more trees planted in the surrounding neighborhoods especially on school property. Many schools today have completely concrete grounds in order to minimize upkeep, and their grounds are devoid of trees.

Related Article: Deadly Heat Wave Crisis in Asia Forces School Closure Amid Health Warnings
scientists have discovered that a common type of ocean algae, previously overlooked, plays a significant role in cooling the Earth's climate.

This revelation, stemming from research conducted by the University of East Anglia (UEA) and Ocean University of China (OUC), could alter our understanding of the impact these microscopic organisms have on our planet.

The Surprising Climate Heroes: Pelagophyceae Algae

The study, published in Nature Microbiology, identifies the bloom-forming Pelagophyceae algae as key producers of dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP), a compound known for its climate-cooling properties.

Professor Jonathan Todd from UEA's School of Biological Sciences, a co-lead author of the study, expressed excitement over the discovery, noting that these algae were not previously recognized as important DMSP contributors.

The findings suggest that the production of DMSP-and consequently, the release of climate-cooling gases-is likely higher than previously estimated.

A Deep Dive into DMSP and Its Global Impact

DMSP serves as an antistress compound for marine microorganisms, helping them cope with environmental stressors such as salinity changes and oxidative stress.

More importantly, it is the precursor to dimethylsulfide (DMS), a gas that contributes to cloud formation and, thus, the cooling of the Earth's atmosphere.

The study's first author, Dr. Jinyan Wang from OUC/UEA, emphasized the need to reassess the extent of DMSP production due to the significant role of Pelagophyceae in its synthesis.

The research also highlights the importance of these algae in the global sulfur cycle, as they facilitate the transfer of sulfur from the oceans back to land.

The collaborative efforts of UEA and OUC, through the Sino-UK Joint Research Centre, have been instrumental in advancing our understanding of marine and ocean science.

Also Read: Evolution of Brown Algae Has a Big Help to Biofuels

Implications for Climate Change and Future Research

The discovery of alternative DMSP biosynthesis enzymes in diverse and abundant microorganisms, as reported in the same issue of Nature Microbiology, underscores the complexity and significance of DMSP in global climate regulation.

The identification of these enzymes not only sheds light on the biochemical pathways involved but also provides a new perspective on the ecological roles of Pelagophyceae and other algae containing these enzymes.

As the world grapples with the challenges of climate change, this research offers a glimmer of hope.

It demonstrates the intricate ways in which life on Earth, no matter how small, contributes to the delicate balance of our global climate system.

The findings call for a reevaluation of the ocean's role in climate regulation and highlight the need for further research to fully understand the contributions of marine microorganisms to our planet's health and stability.

Potential Downsides to Increased DMSP Production?

The recent discovery that ocean algae, specifically the Pelagophyceae species, contribute significantly to the production of dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) has raised questions about the potential downsides of increased DMSP levels.

While DMSP plays a crucial role in climate regulation by aiding cloud formation and thus cooling the Earth, an overproduction could disrupt marine ecosystems and alter weather patterns due to excessive cloud cover.

Additionally, since DMSP is produced as a stress response in marine organisms, higher levels might indicate increased environmental stress, which could have adverse effects on marine life and health.

Concerns also extend to coral reefs, where DMSP-related bacteria are found, suggesting that fluctuations in DMSP could impact these fragile ecosystems.

Moreover, the global sulfur cycle, which DMSP influences by transferring sulfur from the oceans to the atmosphere, could be affected, potentially impacting atmospheric processes.

Although these potential risks highlight the need for careful consideration, the full implications of increased DMSP production are complex and require further research to understand the balance between its beneficial and detrimental effects on our planet's climate and ecosystems.

Related article: Algenol's Algae-Based Biofuel: The Next Generation in Renewable Energy (VIDEOS)
In an event that has captured the hearts of many, the Ayutthaya Elephant Palace and Royal Kraal in Thailand has become the birthplace of a rare set of elephant twins.

The twins' arrival has sparked joy and a flurry of excitement among conservationists and animal lovers alike.

The Miracle Unfolds

On the night of June 7, 2024, Jamjuree, a 36-year-old Asian elephant, went into labor. The first calf, a robust male weighing 176 pounds, was born without incident.

However, the birth of the second calf, a female weighing 132 pounds, took everyone by surprise, occurring a mere 18 minutes later.

The unexpected arrival of the second calf caused Jamjuree to react with confusion and distress, leading her to attack the newborn female.

In a dramatic turn of events, the mahouts, or elephant keepers, sprang into action to protect the calf. Amidst the chaos, one mahout suffered an injury to his ankle while ensuring the safety of the baby elephant.

Adapting to a New Reality

The initial turmoil has since settled, and Jamjuree has accepted her twin calves. To accommodate their small stature, a special platform has been constructed to aid them in reaching their mother to nurse.

Additionally, the twins are being given supplemental milk via syringe to ensure they receive the necessary nourishment for their growth and development.

The father of the twins, a 29-year-old elephant named Siam, along with the rest of the elephant community, has welcomed the new additions.

In keeping with Thai tradition, the twins will be named seven days after their birth, a ceremony that is eagerly anticipated by those involved in their care.

Also Read: Africa Drought Threat Intensifies, Causing Rise in Elephant Death Tolls Since 2023

A Rare Phenomenon

The birth of elephant twins is an exceedingly rare occurrence, with such events accounting for only about one percent of all elephant births.

The survival of these twins is particularly noteworthy, as elephant mothers typically do not produce enough milk to sustain two calves.

In the wild, this could have led to a tragic outcome, but thanks to the intervention and care provided by the mahouts, these twins have a fighting chance.

The significance of this event extends beyond the rarity of the birth. Asian elephants are an endangered species, with only about 8,000-11,000 remaining in the wild across Southeast Asia and China.

Deforestation, human encroachment, and poaching have severely impacted their populations. The successful birth and survival of these twins represent a glimmer of hope for the conservation of this majestic species.

The Road Ahead

The Ayutthaya Elephant Palace and Royal Kraal, which is home to many of the 80 elephants, plays a crucial role in the conservation efforts for Asian elephants.

Many of the elephants at the center were rescued from street begging, a practice that became prevalent after a 1989 ban on logging left mahouts and their elephants without a source of income. This practice was eventually outlawed in 2010.

Today, the center focuses on providing a sanctuary for these elephants, offering them a chance to socialize, exercise, and promote conservation awareness.

While some conservation groups oppose elephant riding, arguing it is stressful for the animals, the center maintains that the rides allow the elephants to engage in activity and contribute to their well-being.

As the twins grow and thrive under the watchful eyes of their caregivers, they serve as ambassadors for their species, reminding us of the beauty of nature and the importance of conservation efforts.

Their birth is not just a cause for celebration but also a call to action to protect and preserve the Asian elephant for future generations

Related article: Ancient People Hunted Extinct Elephant In Chile, Study Finds
Industrial air pollution is a major public health threat worldwide, affecting not only the body's respiratory system but also the cardiovascular and reproductive systems. In recent years, health experts have warned that some of the long-term repercussions of air pollution are asthma, heart disease, stroke, and cardiovascular diseases. These pollution-driven medical conditions could also lead to death.

Yet, in light of new medical evidence, scientists found that air pollutants are also affecting newborn human babies. According to a December 2023 study led by researchers from the University of New Mexico, industrial air pollution is becoming a risk factor. The study authors said that hazardous airborne particles have been linked to low birth weight or infant weight below the average in the state of New Mexico.

In the past, health authorities have highlighted the potential disadvantages of newborns with a weight below the average new born weight of (between 5.8 pounds, 8 ounces and 8 pounds, 13 ounces). One of these advantages is that a baby's tiny body is weaker compared to a newborn with a normal weight. In addition, a weakened immune system and susceptibility to infection is another risk factor.

Air Pollution and Health

Industrial air pollution, which comes from various sources such as motor vehicles and industrial facilities, contaminates both indoor and outdoor environments. It modifies the natural quality and balance of the atmosphere. Each year, air pollution is responsible for the deaths of approximately 7 million people globally, according to a report by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Aside from humans, animals also suffer from hazardous chemicals or substances from air pollution, with health effects including diseases, birth defects, and lower reproductive rates. These pollutants, which can take the form of gases, liquid droplets, and solid particles, in the air, also harm the health of plants. Due to this threat, this type of environmental pollution can damage or destroy entire ecosystems.

Also Read: Higher Air Pollution Found in Chicago's Western Edge; Health Concerns Likely to Increase

New Mexico's Low Birth Weight

In the study published in the Journal of Environmental Management in December 2023, researchers confirm there was a correlation between industrial air pollution and low birth weight in New Mexico, United States. The findings suggest that maternal exposure to air pollutants and particulate matter, including ozone, carbon monoxide, lead, nitrogen dioxide, and sulfur dioxide can lead to low birth weight.

The University of New Mexico researchers and their colleagues from other institutions explained there is a reason behind the below-average infant weight in New Mexico for decades. The state, where 1 in 10 babies are affected by low birth weight, could be due to maternal exposure to industrial air pollution during pregnancy, the research team says.

Based on the results of the 2023 study, the mentioned air pollutants may be a significant contributor to low birth weight among human offspring, decreasing the chance of meeting the ideal average new born weight.

Related Article: Male Infertility is Linked to Greater Risk of Developing Breast Cancer: UK Study
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Tim Cook meets Indian student ahead of Apple WWDC 2024

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efore kicking off this year's Apple's annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), the company's CEO Tim Cook on Monday shared his experience of meeting with student developers who won 'Swift Student Challenge' and one of them was Indian student Akshat Srivastava, who was present at the meeting.

"Kicking off #WWDC24 in the best way possible -- meeting with student developers who won our Swift Student Challenge. Its amazing to see their creativity and determination on full display," Cook wrote in a post on X.

On meeting Srivastava, the CEO said it was wonderful to meet Akshat this week and see how hes created a whole new way to share his love of classic games with the next generation.

"Akshat is part of a growing generation of developers from all across India who are bringing their best ideas to life through coding, and making an important impact in their communities and around the world," he added.

Srivastava, 22, said that the highlight of his trip to Apple Park in Cupertino was presenting his project to Cook.

"I recently had the incredible opportunity to visit Apple Park in Cupertino, for winning the Swift Student Challenge," Srivastava said.

He also mentioned that Cook's genuine interest and insightful feedback were incredibly "inspiring and made all my hard work feel worthwhile. This unforgettable experience confirmed my passion for technology and motivated me to keep pushing boundaries and making an impact".

Srivastava hails from the city of Varanasi and studying at BITS Pilani K K Birla College in Goa. He started coding at the age of 16 years.

Apples annual Swift Student Challenge recognises the best in student coding, and this year, it has added a new category to its ranks. Out of 350 winning submissions, 50 students have been named Distinguished Winners for building app playgrounds that stand out for their innovation, creativity, social impact, or inclusivity.

This years winners came from all over the globe, representing more than 35 countries and regions.

 Tim Cook meets Indian student ahead of Apple WWDC 2024

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Retail investors emerged as trendsetters in Indian stock market: Experts

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ndian stock markets emerged as a favourite investment destination for retail investors after Covid 19.

Now retail investors are the driving force in the market due to making the right decisions at the right time.

They appear far ahead of Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) and other large investors.

For instance, there was a big rally in the market on June 3 due to the Exit Polls. According to NSE data, retail investors sold shares worth Rs 8,588 crore, while FIIs and mutual funds invested more than Rs 10,000 crore.

On June 4, the day the results of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections were declared, the Nifty fell 5.9 per cent. During that period, retail investors bought equity worth Rs 21,179 crore.

At the same time, FIIs and mutual funds had sold equity worth Rs 12,511 crore and Rs 6,249 crore respectively.

On June 5, after the results, retail investors had invested Rs 3,006 crore and equity worth Rs 6,481 crore was sold by FIIs. However, mutual funds had invested Rs 2,672 crore.

According to experts, "It is important to understand that the major driving force in this bull market, are the Indian retail investors, including HNIs. Big selling by FIIs is getting eclipsed by the aggressive buying of DIIs and retail investors."

"The fact that retail investors bought equity to the tune of Rs 21,179 crore on June 4, the day Nifty tanked 5.9 per cent, indicates the buying power and optimism of the retail investors," they added.

The trend of investing in SIPs is also increasing rapidly in the Indian stock markets. The average monthly SIP figure has reached around Rs 20,000 crore.

 Retail investors emerged as trendsetters in Indian stock market: Experts

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PM Modi signs first file for farmers' welfare

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M Narendra Modi on Monday took charge as the Prime Minister and signed his first file for the welfare of the farmers.

He arrived at the Prime Minister's Office at South Block to a rousing welcome by the staff. The PMO staff had lined up at the entrance and corridor leading up to the PM's office.

PM Modi acknowledged with a humble 'namaste' and thanked them all the way.

After being sworn in as Prime Minister for the third time, PM Narendra Modi signed his first file authorising the release of the 17th instalment of PM Kisan Nidhi.

This will benefit 9.3 crore farmers with a total distribution expected to reach around Rs 20,000 crore.

After signing the file, PM Modi said Ours is a Government fully committed to Kisan Kalyan. It is therefore fitting that the first file signed on taking charge is related to farmer welfare. We want to keep working even more for the farmers and the agriculture sector in the times to come.

PM Modi assumed office for the third consecutive time.

Now all eyes are on the portfolio distribution.

The first Cabinet meeting of new ministers is likely to be held later in the day, said sources.

The new Cabinet includes 30 Cabinet Ministers, five Ministers of State with Independent Charge, and 36 Ministers of State.

On Sunday evening, PM Modi took the oath of office along with 71 ministers in a ceremony held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. President Droupadi Murmu administered the oath of office to the PM and other ministers.

After taking oath PM Modi posted on X that he looks forward to serving 140 crore Indians and working with the Council of Ministers to take India to new heights of progress.

He also said,"...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..."

PM Modi is the second Prime Minister after Jawaharlal Nehru to serve three consecutive terms.

 PM Modi signs first file for farmers' welfare

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India to continue transformation under PM Modi towards becoming 3rd largest economy: CII

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he Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) on Monday said they are confident that under the astute leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the country would continue its economic transformation and emerge among the top three in the world.

In a statement, Sanjiv Puri, President of CII, congratulated PM Modi for assuming charge for the third consecutive term.

Building upon a strong growth rate of 8.2 per cent for 2023-24, the new government under his visionary leadership can usher in the next phase of reforms to make the most of the global opportunities and build on the robust fundamentals of the Indian economy, said Puri.

India is forecast to surpass Japan to become the world's fourth-largest economy in the near future. The government recently said India is expected to overtake Japan and Germany to emerge as the world's third-largest economy by 2027.

This is a pivotal moment for India, and Indian industry is keen to work with the incoming government to further accelerate the developmental journey of the nation, he noted.

Chandrajit Banerjee, Director General, CII, said that under PM Modis visionary leadership, we shall see the unfolding of a golden chapter in Indias development journey.

PM Modi on Monday took charge and signed his first file for the welfare of the farmers.

This will benefit 9.3 crore farmers with a total distribution expected to reach around Rs 20,000 crore.

Banerjee said that the CII would intensify its initiatives for building stakeholder consensus on the next generation of reforms and work closely with the new government on unlocking the potential of Indias demographic dividend through education, healthcare and skill development".

 India to continue transformation under PM Modi towards becoming 3rd largest economy: CII

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Kerala CPI-M 'gifts' its prospective Rajya Sabha seat to Jose K. Mani (Lead)

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he CPI-M's Kerala unit on Monday "gifted" its Rajya Sabha seat to the Kerala Congress-Mani, the third biggest constituent of the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF),

This decision was taken at the LDF meeting held here on Monday evening.

Addressing the media, LDF Convenor E.P. Jayarajan said the CPI-M has a different outlook "as it is considerate to its allies". "Hence we know the feelings of our allies and we have decided to give our seat to the KC-M. The other seat will be given to the CPI," he said.

Election to three seats will be held on June 25. Of the three, the LDF can win two, while the third will go to the Congress-led United Democratic Front.

The question of these two seats had become a contentious issue in the LDF, as the CPI was unwilling to part with its seat that was getting vacant and the KC-M leadership was very keen to ensure that party Chairman Jose K. Mani, whose present term in the upper house of the Parliament is ending in a few weeks, retains his seat.

On Saturday, the CPI-M top brass met the leadership of the CPI and Mani separately and the CPI stood firm that under no circumstances, would they give their seat to anyone.

On the other hand, the KC-M suffered a jolt when its lone sitting MP lost the Lok Sabha polls from Kottyam. With Manis term also ending soon, there will be no representation in Parliament for the KC-M, and hence the party and Mani had been putting pressure on the CPI-M for the Rajya Sabha seat.

Mani, who will be filing his nomination soon, heads the bigger faction of his father K.M. Mani's party. Soon after the death of his father, Mani joined the ruling LDF and his party won five seats in the 2021 Assembly polls. However, Mani suffered a rude jolt when he lost from his fathers traditional seat

The other party faction, led by veteran legislator P.J. Joseph, is with the Congress-led UDF.

 Kerala CPI-M 'gifts' its prospective Rajya Sabha seat to Jose K. Mani (Lead)

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Will introduce new approaches to realise PM Modi's vision of secure Bharat: Amit Shah

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nion Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday assured that his ministry will continue to accelerate and strengthen security initiatives by introducing new approaches to realise Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of a secure Bharat.

Taking to social media after the announcement on the allocation of portfolios among the members of the Union Council of Ministers, Shah also said that as the Minister of Cooperation, he remains committed to empowering farmers and villages.

"Gratitude to PM Shri Narendra Modi Ji for reposing trust and reassigning me the roles of Minister of Home Affairs and Minister of Cooperation," Shah said in a post on X.

"In Modi 3.0, the MHA will continue to accelerate and strengthen security initiatives and introduce new approaches to realise PM Modi's vision of a secure Bharat. Under the astute leadership of Modi Ji, the Ministry of Cooperation will remain committed to empowering farmers and villages with the vision of 'Sahakaar Se Samriddhi'," he added.

Home Minister Shah, during the previous two terms of the Modi government, had been working extensively on establishing a national security mechanism to ensure a safe and secure nation.

He has maintained that, in line with PM Modi's vision, India has made comprehensive changes in the field of internal security in the last 10 years based on its concrete policy.

 Will introduce new approaches to realise PM Modi's vision of secure Bharat: Amit Shah

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P.P. Suneer CPI nominee for Rajya Sabha from Kerala

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he CPI on Monday nominated senior party leader P.P. Suneer to contest the Rajya Sabha polls from Kerala to be held on June 25.

State CPI Secretary and outgoing Rajya Sabha member Binoy Viswam announced the name of Suneer, who is presently the state Assistant Secretary and had unsuccessfully contested against Rahul Gandhi at the Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency in 2019 and lost by a margin of 4.37 lakhs votes.

Election to three seats will be held on June 25.

Of the three, two seats are likely to be won by the ruling Left Democratic Front, while the third will go to the Congress-led United Democratic Front.

For a while, the two seats that the LDF could win had become a contentious issue, as the CPI was unwilling to part with its seat that was getting vacant and the Kerala Congress-Mani, the third biggest party, was very keen to ensure that its Chairman Jose K. Mani returns to the upper house of the Parliament.

There was a first-round meeting of the LDF on Saturday and both these parties stood rooted to their demand for their seats, leaving the CPI-M in a quandary. On Monday at the second round meeting, the CPI-M announced that it was "gifting" its seat to the Kerala Congress-Mani.

Earlier in the day, the Indian Union Muslim League, the second biggest member of the UDF, announced their nominee - Supreme Court lawyer Haris Beeran.

 P.P. Suneer CPI nominee for Rajya Sabha from Kerala

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Jyotiraditya Scindia gets charge of Telecom dept in Modi 3.0 Cabinet

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nion Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Monday was given the charge of Telecom department in the new Union Cabinet led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He was also given the additional charge of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region.

Scindia, who switched to the BJP from the Congress in 2020, was made Civil Aviation Minister in 2021. His induction into the new cabinet of PM Modi solidifies his position within the BJP.

This marks Scindia's second stint in the Cabinet.

In the 2024 general elections, Scindia (53) won the Guna Lok Sabha seat in Madhya Pradesh by a margin of over 5 lakh votes.

Notably, Scindia joined the Modi 2.0 government as Union Minister and got charge of the Civil Aviation department after playing a key role in the 2020 change of government in Madhya Pradesh in which the Kamal Nath-led Congress government collapsed and the BJP gained power.

Born on January 1, 1971, Jyotiraditya Scindia entered politics after his father Madhavrao Scindia's untimely death in a plane crash in 2001.

During his time in the Congress-led UPA government from 2007 to 2014, he served as Minister of State for Communications, Commerce and Industry, and Power.

 Jyotiraditya Scindia gets charge of Telecom dept in Modi 3.0 Cabinet

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Sonowal retains his Ports portfolio, Kiren Rijiju shifted to Parliamentary and Minority Affairs

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nion Minister from Assam Sarbananda Sonowal retained his existing charge of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways while Arunachal Pradesh's Kiren Rijiju has been shifted to Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's third government, as per the portfolios allocated on Monday.

BJP's Rajya Sabha member from Assam Pabitra Margherita, who also took oath on Sunday to become a first-time Union Minister, has been made Minister of State for External Affairs and Textiles.

They are the three MPs from the northeastern states in the new government headed by Prime Minister Modi against five in the previous government.

Sonowal won from Dibrugarh for the second time and Rijiju was elected from Arunachal West Lok Sabha constituency for the fourth time.

In the previous PM Modi government, Sonowal, apart from Ports, Shipping and Waterways, was AYUSH Minister and Rijiju the Minister of Earth Sciences and Food Processing Industries, after previously being the Law Minister.

As the BJP and its ally Naga Peoples Front lost both the Lok Sabha seats in Manipur to the Congress, the state remained unrepresented in the Union Council of Ministry this time. Rajkumar Ranjan Singh from Manipur served as Minister of State for External Affairs and Education in the second Modi government.

BJP's Biplab Kumar Deb and Kriti Devi Debbarman won from Tripura West and Tripura East Lok Sabha seats, respectively, but none of them have been accommodated in the Union Ministry. Pratima Bhoumik from Tripura served as Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment. She did not contest the Lok Sabha elections this time.

Of the 25 Lok Sabha seats in eight northeastern states, the BJP won nine seats in Assam, two each in Tripura and Arunachal Pradesh, while its allies United People's Liberal Party and Asom Gana Parishad in Assam, and the Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) in Sikkim secured one seat each. Apart from Manipur, the Congress won one seat each in Nagaland and Meghalaya from the BJP and its allies, besides winning three in Assam. The ruling Zoram Peoples Movement (ZPM) and the little-known Voice of the People Party (VOTPP) party secured one seat each in Mizoram and Meghalaya, respectively.

 Sonowal retains his Ports portfolio, Kiren Rijiju shifted to Parliamentary and Minority Affairs

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TDP gets back key portfolio of Civil Aviation

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fter a gap of six years, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), a key partner in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government at the Centre, has secured a key portfolio of Civil Aviation.

K. Ram Mohan Naidu, who took oath as a Cabinet minister on Sunday, will have charge of the portfolio, handled by the BJP's Jyotiraditya Scindia in the previous Cabinet.

The TDP, which is the second biggest party in the NDA after the BJP, had reportedly insisted on the portfolio of Civil Aviation.

This development is significant as the new TDP-led government in Andhra Pradesh will be looking to fast-track the development of the greenfield international airport at Bhogapuram near Visakhapatnam and also speed up work on some pending projects.

In 2014 too, when TDP was part of the BJP-led NDA government, it was given the Civil Aviation portfolio.

Senior TDP leader P. Ashok Gajapati Raju was then made the Civil Aviation Minister. Y.S. Chowdary was then inducted as Minister of State for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences. Both the ministers had resigned in 2018 when the TDP walked out of the NDA over the issue of special category status.

This time too, the TDP has secured two ministerial berths. Ram Mohan Naidu, a three-time MP from Srikakulam, has become the youngest-ever Cabinet minister. He is the son of late senior TDP leader K. Yerran Naidu, who had also served as a Union Minister.

Dr Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani, a first-time TDP MP from Guntur, took oath as Minister of State. He has been appointed as Minister of State for Rural Development and Communications.

Andhra Pradesh has received another ministerial berth this time. Bhupathi Raju Srinivasa Varma, a first-time BJP MP from Narsapuram constituency, has been made Minister of State for Heavy Industries and Steel.

 TDP gets back key portfolio of Civil Aviation

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Karnataka BJP leader V Somanna named MoS Railways; Shobha Karandlaje MoS MSME

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enior BJP leader from Karnataka, V. Somanna, has been appointed as Minister of State (MoS) in the Ministry of Jal Shakti and MoS in the Ministry of Railways.

Somanna, a surprise choice by the BJP high command, has been allotted these portfolios considering his track record of effectively implementing government schemes and projects.

The state is lagging behind in terms of railway connectivity compared to other southern states.

Expectations are high from Somanna in Karnataka to improve railway connectivity to northern Karnataka from Bengaluru.

Somanna hails from the Lingayat community and maintains harmonious relations with all prominent Lingayat seers. He was chosen over prominent Lingayat leaders such as former CMs Basavaraj Bommai and Jagadish Shettar.

Meanwhile, Shobha Karandlaje has been appointed Minister of State in the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and Minister of State in the Ministry of Labour and Employment.

Shobha Karandlaje was the Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare in the previous BJP government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Her new role has been given to her considering her past performance and to give representation to the Vokkaliga community from the BJP and coastal Karnataka, a bastion of BJP in the state.

Shobha Karandlaje hails from Puttur in Dakshina Kannada district.

 Karnataka BJP leader V Somanna named MoS Railways; Shobha Karandlaje MoS MSME

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Shambhavi Singh gets emotional on seeing herself on screen: 'Struggle seems worth it'

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hambhavi Singh, who made her debut as the lead in the recently released supernatural thriller '10:29 Ki Aakhri Dastak', got emotional upon seeing herself on screen, expressing gratitude and calling it a dream come true.

Hailing from Bihar, Shambhavi shared: "It all feels like a dream. For a girl from a town like Patna, Bihar, where acting is not considered a stable profession, to make it big and land a lead role is a huge achievement. I could have never imagined this day."

"When I saw myself on the screen, I couldn't control my emotions. All the struggle and pain seem worth it. As soon as I saw myself on screen, I couldn't hold back my tears because I knew I had made it. I promised my parents I would make them proud, and today I can confidently say that I have done something to make them proud. I am so thankful they always had faith in me and trusted me," she said.

She further shared, "From day one, I kept everything under wraps from my family because I wanted them to see me directly on screen. During the screening, I thought about how my parents would react. I know they will definitely love it and be proud of their daughter."

"These are happy tears for my hard work, which is paying off. Im so glad I got to play a lead character like Preeti, who is not just a pretty face but a strong character with many layers," added Shambhavi.

The show also stars Rajveer Singh, Aayushi Bhave, and Krip Suri in pivotal roles.

'10:29 Ki Aakhri Dastak' is airing on Star Bharat.

 Shambhavi Singh gets emotional on seeing herself on screen: 'Struggle seems worth it'

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Former Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan is new Union Agriculture Minister

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ormer Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who took oath as Union Cabinet Minister on Sunday at the swearing-in ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan, is the new Union Agriculture Minister and Rural Development Minister in the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance government.

Chouhan has been allocated Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and Ministry of Rural Development in the distribution of portfolios announced on Monday.

The two ministries have a grassroots imprint.

Narendra Singh Tomar, who was Agriculture Minister in the previous NDA government had resigned in December last year coinciding with the Madhya Pradesh assembly polls.

Following Tomar's resignation, the charge of the ministry was given to the then Union Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda.

Chouhan has vast administrative experience and was Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh from 2005 till the 2023 state assembly elections, except for 15 months when the Congress came to power after the 2018 assembly polls.

Chouhan was elected to Lok Sabha from Vidisha in Madhya Pradesh. He is a six-time MP.

The distribution of portfolios was announced a day after the swearing-in of the NDA government, which scored a hat-trick victory in Lok Sabha polls. The portfolios were allocated on the advice of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

 Former Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan is new Union Agriculture Minister

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We'll achieve target of Nation First with intention of Viksit Bharat 2047: PM Modi

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rime Minister Narendra Modi took charge of the Prime Minister's Office on Monday and said that the government will achieve the target of 'Nation First' with the intention of Viksit Bharat 2047.

The Prime Minister took the opportunity to thank those who have been a part of his team and also exhorted those who wish to join and become a part of the journey of Viksit Bharat for the next 5 years and dedicate themselves to nation-building.

"Together, we will achieve the target of 'Nation First' with one intention of Viksit Bharat 2047", the Prime Minister said.

He also reiterated that his every moment belongs to the nation.

PM Modi said that the government means new energy of strength, dedication, and resolve and expressed confidence that the PMO is primed to serve the people with dedication.

He highlighted that "it is not Modi alone who runs the government but thousands of minds that come together and shoulder the responsibilities, and as a result, it is the citizens who become witnesses to the magnificence of its abilities."

Prime Minister Modi explained that the combination of desire and stability makes for determination, while success is achieved when determination is complemented by hard work.

He further added that if one's wish is stable, it takes the form of a resolution, whereas a wish that constantly takes on new forms is merely a wave.

The Prime Minister expressed the desire to take the nation to new heights and exhorted his team to breach the global benchmark while outperforming the work done for the past 10 years in the future.

"We must take the nation to the heights no other nation has ever achieved," PM Modi exclaimed.

PM Modi highlighted that the prerequisites of success are clarity of thought, faith in conviction and the character to act. "If we have these three things, then I don't believe failure will be anywhere near," he added.

The Prime Minister credited the employees of the Government of India who dedicated themselves to a vision and said that they deserve a huge share in the government's achievements.

"These elections put a stamp of approval on the efforts of government employees," PM Modi said.

He encouraged the team to develop new ideas and boost the scale of the work being done.

The Prime Minister concluded the address by throwing light on the secret of his energy and said that a successful person is one that keeps the student within him alive.

President Droupadi Murmu administered the oath of office to Narendra Modi, followed by other members of his team of ministers on Sunday.

PM Modi reiterated his unwavering commitment to serving the nation and steering it towards prosperity.

 We'll achieve target of Nation First with intention of Viksit Bharat 2047: PM Modi

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S Jaishankar retains Ministry of External Affairs in Modi 3.0

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day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his council of ministers were sworn in at Rashtrapati Bhavan, BJP leader S Jaishankar retained the Ministry of External Affairs.

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 from 2019-2024.

He has been a BJP MP in Rajya Sabha from Gujarat since 2019. Jaishankar, who has made headlines for his witty replies and oratory skills, has been at the center stage in the team shaping India's foreign policy for the past 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 which began 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 has 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.

Recently, Jaishankar also made a deeper foray into politics, by taking part in the election campaign for the BJP. 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.

 S Jaishankar retains Ministry of External Affairs in Modi 3.0

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PM Modi congratulates Prem Singh Tamang for taking oath as Sikkim CM for second consecutive term

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rime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday congratulated Prem Singh Tamang for taking oath as the Sikkim Chief Minister of the Himalayan state for a second consecutive term on Monday.

"Congratulations to Shri @PSTamangGolay on taking oath as the Chief Minister of Sikkim. Wishing him a fruitful tenure and looking forward to working with him for Sikkim's progress," PM Modi posted on X.

BJP MP from Darjeeling, Raju Bista also extended his good wishes to Tamang and emphasised the double-engine government will work together in the state.

"I extend my good wishes to PS Golay ji. Darjeeling and Sikkim not only share borders but we have shared heritage. Whenever Darjeeling needed, Sikkim has helped us like an elder brother. The double-engine government will work together," Bista said.

Meanwhile, Tamang thanked the people of the state for giving them a thumping majority.

When asked about the reason behind the victory, Tamang said that they had fulfilled the promises made in 2019 and did development work in the state that's the reason people have chosen them.

"I thank the people of Sikkim for giving us a thumping majority. The reason behind our victory is that we fulfilled the promises made in 2019 and did development work in the state. National security is our top priority. We are completing 50 years of statehood in 2025, I will speak to the PM on this," the Chief Minister told ANI.

Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya administered the oath of office and secrecy to Tamang and his Council of Ministers during the swearing-in ceremony at Paljor Stadium.

Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) won 31 out of the 32 seats, thus sweeping the assembly polls in the Himalayan state while the opposition Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) was confined to a lone seat.

Tamang earlier described the party's victory as a 'record' as the state reportedly witnessed the most peaceful election of Sikkim and thanked all who favoured the party's return to power.

"In 5 years, we will fulfil all the announcements that we made at the time of the elections. I would like to thank all my workers, they worked hard. I would also like to thank the public. This is the most peaceful election of Sikkim, this is a record," he said.

Tamang won the elections from the Rhenock Assembly seat defeating SDF's Som Nath Poudyal by over 7,396 votes.

The polling for 32 assembly seats in Sikkim was held on April 19 in the first phase simultaneously with the Lok Sabha elections.

This is the third time, Sikkim has witnessed a landslide victory of a political party as similar results were drawn by Sikkim Sangram Parishad and SDF in 1989 and 2009 respectively.

In the 2019 assembly elections, the SKM won 17 seats, while the SDF secured 15 seats out of the 32 seats. SKM won 10 seats in 2014 as it faced its first assembly elections.

Interestingly, SKM had in 2019 joined hands with the BJP-led NDA ahead of the assembly elections but ultimately severed ties and fought the 2019 assembly polls alone.

 PM Modi congratulates Prem Singh Tamang for taking oath as Sikkim CM for second consecutive term

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Naomi Campbell opens up about welcoming children via surrogate

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upermodel Naomi Campbell recently made a surprising revelation about her journey to motherhood.

The 54-year-old icon confirmed that she welcomed both of her children, a daughter aged 2 and a son born in June 2023, through the use of a surrogate, according to People magazine.

This is the first time Campbell has opened up about her decision to leverage surrogacy.

Campbell, known for her fierce presence on the runway, expressed her deep love and devotion to her children in the interview that was obtained by People magazine.

"My babies are everything to me. It's made me fear for the future," she shared.

The supermodel's strong maternal instincts have prompted her to prioritize the well-being and happiness of her children above all else. She hopes for a better world for them and intends to be there for every milestone, including their first day of school.

Embracing single motherhood, Campbell also addressed the misconception that having children is too expensive or not worth the effort.

She encouraged young girls who express uncertainty about motherhood to reconsider their stance, emphasizing that it is possible to overcome economic challenges.

Drawing inspiration from her own mother's journey, she reminded everyone that with determination and resilience, anything is possible.

While Campbell has been private about the details of her children's lives, she did mention in a previous interview obtained by People magazine that her daughter "wasn't adopted, she's my child."

The supermodel's dedication to protecting her children's privacy is evident as she has chosen not to disclose their names, birthdays, or share their faces with the public.

In addition to her personal life, Campbell continues to make waves in the fashion industry. She is set to become the first supermodel to be the subject of an exhibition at the renowned Victoria and Albert Museum in London, according to People magazine.

Titled 'Naomi: In Fashion,' the exhibition will celebrate her career, creative collaborations, activism, and far-reaching cultural impact.

With the work of leading global designers and photographers, the exhibition promises to be a unique exploration of Campbell's influence in the fashion world.

In May, Campbell delighted her fans by sharing the first-ever picture of her baby son on Instagram.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C6zIe0XP3_s/?img_index=1

The heartwarming photos feature Campbell embracing her children as they watch a beautiful sunset together, their backs turned to the camera. The model expressed her gratitude and joy with the caption "#BLESSED."

 Naomi Campbell opens up about welcoming children via surrogate

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'Can't do it alone, need a hardworking team', says Shivraj Singh Chouhan after taking charge

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ormer Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister, Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday said that he needs a hardworking team so that the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare can address the challenges faced by the agriculture sector and the farming community of the country.

We all share equal responsibility and will work together to take India's farming and agriculture to new heights. Any minister can't do it alone. I need a hardworking team to achieve all these tasks, Chouhan told the ministry officials after taking charge.

Chouhan, who became the Union Minister for the first time was allocated the portfolios of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, and Ministry of Rural Development on Monday, a day after he was sworn in Modi 3.0 Cabinet on Sunday.

The 65-year-old leader, popularly known as "mama" (maternal uncle) and "paon-paon wale bhaiya" (foot soldier), governed Madhya Pradesh for over 17 years. He was replaced by Mohan Yadav as Chief Minister on December 3 last year.

With his extensive experience in governance and deep connection with the rural populace, Chouhan's appointment as the Union Agriculture Minister is expected to bring fresh impetus to the government's efforts to address the challenges faced by the people.

Born on March 5, 1959, in a farming family in Jait village, Sehore district, Chouhan's political journey began with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) when he was just 13 years old.

He was first elected to the Madhya Pradesh Assembly from Budhni constituency in 1990 and later became a Member of Parliament from Vidisha in 1991.

He was re-elected from the same constituency in 1996, 1998, 1999, and 2004, winning his fifth Lok Sabha election with an impressive margin of over 2,60,000 votes.

On June 4, he won his sixth Lok Sabha election from Vidisha against Congress' Pratap Bhanu Sharma with a margin of over 8 lakh votes.

 'Can't do it alone, need a hardworking team', says Shivraj Singh Chouhan after taking charge

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Will fulfil whatever responsibility given to me...: Chirag Paswan on being appointed as Minister of Food Processing Industries

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ollowing his appointment as the Minister of Food Processing Industries under the "Modi 3.0" cabinet, Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) (Ram Vilas) Chief Chirag Paswan affirmed that he would fulfil whatever responsibility is given to him by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"I will fulfil whatever responsibility has been given to me by the Prime Minister and I have been given the responsibility of a department which I had also mentioned in my vision document... Ours is an agricultural country, so it is very important that the processing, packaging and marketing of what the farmers produce is good... This will not only provide employment opportunities in large numbers in the country, but the future belongs to this department...", Paswan said while speaking to ANI.

"Today is the time of processing, I think it has a huge scope in India and it will contribute greatly to the development of the country", he added.

The portfolios were announced, earlier today, in a press communique by the President's Secretariat a day after the swearing-in of the council of ministers at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. The portfolios were allocated on the advice of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Chirag Paswan has been appointed as the Minister of Food Processing Industries.

Earlier on Sunday, the LJP (Ram Vilas) Chief was sworn in as a cabinet minister under the third term of the Modi government.

In the 2024 Lok Sabha election, Chirag Paswan won from the Hajipur Lok Sabha constituency.

In the 2014 elections, Chirag Paswan contested from the Jamui Lok Sabha seat. He won the seat, defeating the nearest rival, Sudhansu Shekhar Bhaskar of Rashtriya Janata Dal. Paswan retained his seat in the 2019 elections, defeating his nearest rival, Bhudeo Choudhary.

In the 2024 general election, a total of five LJP (Ram Vilas) MPs won the Lok Sabha elections in Bihar: Veena Devi, Arun Bharti, Shambhavi Choudhary, Rajesh Verma and Chirag Paswan.

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.

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Gratitude to PM Modi for reposing trust: Amit Shah on being reassigned Home Affairs, Cooperation Ministries

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nion Minister Amit Shah on Monday expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for reassigning the roles of Minister of Home Affairs and Minister of Cooperation in the newly formed Bharatiya Janata Party government.

"Gratitude to PM Shri @narendramodiJi for reposing trust and reassigning me the roles of Minister of Home Affairs and Minister of Cooperation," Amit Shah said in a post on 'X'.

Speaking about his role in the Home Ministry, Shah said, "In Modi 3.0, the MHA will continue to accelerate and strengthen security initiatives and introduce new approaches to realize PM Modi's vision of a secure Bharat."

On empowering farmers and villages through the Ministry of Cooperation, Shah said, "Under the astute leadership of Modi Ji, the Ministry of Cooperation will remain committed to empowering farmers and villages with the vision of 'Sahakaar Se Samriddhi'."

The 59-year-old BJP leader who is the trusted confidante of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the party's key strategist served as the Union Home Minister in the previous Modi government.

Shah had won Gujarat's Gandhinagar seat by a huge margin of 7,44,716 votes. Shah gathered 10,10,972 votes beating Congress' Sonal Patel who got 2,66,256.

In the 2023 Lok Sabha elections, he won Gujarat's Gandhinagar seat by a huge margin of 7,44,716 votes. Shah gathered 10,10,972 votes beating Congress' Sonal Patel who got 2,66,256.In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Shah won with a margin of 5,57,014 votes. The seat was previously held by BJP veterans like LK Advani and Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

One of his significant achievements during his term as Union Home Minister in the previous Narendra Modi government, was the abrogation of Article 370, which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir and he played an important role in the passage of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, which aimed to grant citizenship to persecuted minorities from neighbouring countries of Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh.

 Gratitude to PM Modi for reposing trust: Amit Shah on being reassigned Home Affairs, Cooperation Ministries

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Will do everything possible: Modi 3.0 Agriculture Minister on welfare of farmers

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oon after his appointment as the Minister of State (MoS) in the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare under the "Modi 3.0" cabinet, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Bhagirath Choudhary on Monday affirmed that he would do everything possible for the welfare of farmers.

"We will sit and explain to the farmers of this country. We will talk to them, we will listen to them. We will listen to the farmers and what they want, whatever is possible for the welfare of the farmers, we will do", Choudhary told ANI.

Earlier on Sunday, he was sworn in as a minister under the newly formed National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government.

The portfolios were announced on Monday in a press communique by the President's Secretariat a day after the swearing-in of the council of ministers at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. The portfolios were allocated on the advice of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Bhagirath Choudhary, a Jat leader who retained Rajasthan's Ajmer seat with a handsome margin of 3,29,991 votes, was pitted against Congress's Ramchandra Choudhary.

Currently, he is serving as the BJP's Kisan Morcha president.

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.

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Sandra Bullock, Nicole Kidman all set to return for 'Practical Magic 2'

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ctors Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman are in talks to return for 'Practical Magic 2', a sequel to Warner Bros.'s 1998 romantic fantasy, according to Deadline.

Akiva Goldsman, who wrote the original film with Robin Swicord and Adam Brooks, will return to write the screenplay. Bullock and Kidman are set to produce alongside the original's Denise Di Novi.

Gryphon Dunne directed 'Practical Magic', which is an adaptation of Alice Hoffman's 1995 novel. The plot revolves around two sisters, Sally (Bullock) and Gillian Owens (Kidman), who come from a long line of witches.

They were orphaned at a young age and raised by their eccentric aunts, who embrace their magical birth right. However, the Owens family is cursed and any man who falls in love with an Owens woman will meet an untimely demise.

As a result, Sally and Gillian struggle with their abilities and the ramifications of the family curse. Sally tries to live a normal life, away from magic, but tragedy comes when her husband dies. Gillian, on the other hand, leads a wild life while embracing her magical skills.

The sisters reunite when Gillian becomes involved in a risky relationship with Jimmy Angelov (Goran Visnjic), a violent man. To protect Gillian, the sisters accidentally kill Jimmy, triggering a series of extraordinary events as they try to conceal his death and eventually break the family curse.

Stockard Channing, Dianne Wiest and Aidan Quinn also starred in the first 'Practical Magic', which grossed over 68 million dollars worldwide.

Kidman is currently part of in Prime Video's award-winning miniseries 'Expats', directed by Lulu Wang of 'The Farewell'. Her upcoming projects include murder mystery series 'The Perfect Couple', the Amazon series 'Kay Scarpetta', among others.

Bullock is known for 'Bullet Train' and 'The Lost City', as well as the critically praised Netflix films 'Bird Box' and 'The Unforgivable', reported Deadline.

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Will make every effort to ensure better healthcare infrastructure, facilities: JP Nadda on allocation of health ministry

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P Nadda on Monday vowed to make every effort to ensure better healthcare infrastructure and facilities, ensuring no one is left behind in receiving better treatment after he was allocated health ministry, a portfolio he held in the first term of the Modi government.

He also expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for giving him the roles of Minister of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), and Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers.

In a post shared on X, Nadda said that Modi 3.0 is steadfastly committed to the welfare of the people adding that the MoHFW will make every effort to ensure better healthcare infrastructure and facilities.

"Grateful to Hon. PM Shri @narendramodi ji for trusting me with the roles of Minister of Health and Family Welfare, and Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers. Modi 3.0 is steadfastly committed to the welfare of the people. In line with this, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) will make every effort to ensure better healthcare infrastructure and facilities, ensuring no one is left behind in receiving better treatment," he said.

"Additionally, the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers will contribute to every extent to realizing PM Modi ji's vision of 'Viksit Bharat'," the BJP leader added.

BJP chief JP Nadda, who was part of PM Modi's cabinet in 2014, will be the new Health Minister. He also has a Chemicals and Fertilizers portfolio. Earlier, he was Union Health Minister in BJP government from 2014-19.

The party contested the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and several assembly polls under his leadership. He is currently Rajya Sabha MP from Gujarat.

BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi formed the government at the Centre for the third consecutive term.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi took oath for the third consecutive term on Sunday along with over 70 ministers of the new NDA government.

He is the second Prime Minister after former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru to be elected for a third term in a row.

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.

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Veeranna Somanna, Shobha Karandlaje assume charge as ministers in Modi 3.0

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nion Minister of State (MoS) of Ministry of Jal Shakti, and Ministry of Railways Veeranna Somanna along with MoS of Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, and Ministry of Labour and Employment Shobha Karandlaje on Tuesday assumed charge at their respective ministers in New Delhi.

I began my work with the blessings of the late Shivakumara Swamiji and the late Balagangadharanatha Swamiji, Somanna said after assuming the charge.

Bagalkot MP P.C. Gaddigoudar and former MPs G.S. Basavaraju and Umesh Jadhav were present on the occasion when Somanna assumed new responsibilities at the ministry.

Shobha Karandlaje, after assuming charge of her ministry said, that she looks forward to work with her new team for the betterment of the country.

Meanwhile, Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has trusted Karnataka leadership with important ministries.

We will not only bring revolutionary changes in Karnataka but will also work honestly and successfully to bring changes at the national level, he stated.

V. Somanna also thanked Kumaraswamy for the wishes, saying that he would like to have the same coordination with the JD-S Chief in future as well.

 Veeranna Somanna, Shobha Karandlaje assume charge as ministers in Modi 3.0

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Uttar Pradesh on track to become One Trillion Dollar Economy, speed needs to double: Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath

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t a high-level meeting on Monday, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath discussed the ongoing efforts, current results, and future policies aimed at making Uttar Pradesh a one trillion-dollar economy.

Various ministers of the state government were present in the meeting organised by the Planning Department.

In the meeting, the Principal Secretary of the Planning Department and the Consulting Agency Deloitte India provided detailed sector-wise information about the state's current economic environment and potential future outcomes, as well as industry expectations. The Chief Minister emphasised that all ministers and senior officials should make special efforts to enhance ease of living and maximise employment generation.

He encouraged them to study and implement best practices from both the country and the world as needed.

CM Yogi Adityanath said, "Owing to the planned efforts made in the last 7 years, the economy of Uttar Pradesh is in an all-time best position today. The total GDP of the state was 16.45 lakh crores in 2020-21, which has increased to more than 25.48 lakh crores in 2023-24. Uttar Pradesh is contributing 9.2 percent to the national income. Today, Uttar Pradesh is becoming the growth engine of the country, emerging as the second-largest economy in the country."

He said that when assessing the state's economic growth rate against national standards, efforts have yielded commendable results.

"In 2021-22, the growth rate of Uttar Pradesh at current prices was 20.1 percent, while at constant prices it was 9.8 percent. Similarly, in 2023-24, a growth rate of 8 percent was recorded in the state at constant prices and a 12.8 percent growth rate at current prices. These figures indicate that Uttar Pradesh is steadfastly progressing along the path of development. It's imperative for us to further advance our efforts in a meticulously planned manner," he said.

He said that the Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of the state between 2021-22 and 2023-24 has been recorded at around 15.7 percent.

"This situation is encouraging. To achieve the target of One Trillion Dollar Economy (OTDE) by the year 2027, we will have to more than double our growth rate in the next 5 years. All departments will have to intensify their efforts. Better planning will have to be done. Our objective is well-defined, and it requires collective efforts towards implementing the right policies and meticulous execution," he added.

He said that accurate data collection is imperative. "Conduct workshops and training sessions for statistical officers department-wise to ensure precise assessment of various sectors' status. The purity of data directly correlates with our ability to effectively work towards our goals," he said.

He said that prioritizing ease of living and employment generation is paramount for the government. It is imperative for everyone to explore and analyze the best practices from both national and international contexts, implementing them in the state as deemed necessary.

He said that Uttar Pradesh has a lot of potential. "There is a huge landbank. There are adequate water resources. There is fertile land. Today we have a favorable opportunity. We have to take full advantage of it. The progress of all departments should be reviewed relative to the targets set for economic betterment," he said.

CM Yogi said that Uttar Pradesh possesses immense potential with a vast land bank, abundant water resources, and fertile land. Efforts like digital crop surveys have been made. It has to be implemented effectively in all 75 districts. Concrete efforts are needed to double the growth rate of production of grains, fruits and vegetables.

He further said that state-level schemes have delivered promising outcomes in bolstering the state's self-reliance in pulses and oilseed production. "In the year 2023-24, an increase of 9.2 percent in pulses production, 28.8 percent in peanut production and 11.92 percent in milk production has been observed. Additionally, commendable progress has been made in egg and fish production. Various high-yield species varieties have been incorporated into different crops. There is a need to further improve crop diversification and better supply chain management," he added.

The mantra of Reform, Perform and Transform has shown the best results in the secondary sector of the economy.

"MoUs worth Rs 12.7 lakh crore have been signed for the manufacturing sector alone. Industrial power consumption has increased by 6.8 percent. Conduct survey of units established in the Industrial Authority area, and identify unused plots. New industrial corridors are being established. Work has started on 44 new townships. District income estimates should be prepared in a better way for the correct assessment of the unorganized sector," he added.

Yogi said that the state is experiencing rapid advancement in the tertiary sector, encompassing industries such as hotels/restaurants, transportation, communication, real estate, professional services, public services, defense, and other services. Remarkable progress has been witnessed in tourism-related services, with Uttar Pradesh emerging as the state with the highest tourist arrivals in 2022, as per the report by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, released in 2023.

He further said that the state holds vast potential for religious tourism, with Ayodhya, Mathura-Vrindavan, Kashi, Prayagraj, and Naimisharanya serving as significant centers.

"These areas have witnessed significant transformations over the past seven years, leading to an unprecedented increase in tourist footfall. This surge in tourism is poised to greatly stimulate the local economy. Get a study done on this. Additionally, preparations are underway for the upcoming Prayagraj Maha Kumbh next year, which is anticipated to draw millions of visitors and significantly impact the state's economy. A comprehensive study on this event is imperative," he added.

He further said that in addition to targeting domestic tourists, a concrete action plan to attract foreign visitors as well must be devised.

He said that there has been an increase of 36.7 percent in the total (commercial) vehicles registered in the state in 2023-24 as compared to the year 2022-23. The state's share in the total registered vehicles in the country is 12.7 percent. Policy efforts should be made to increase it further.

He said that the unemployment rate of the state, which was 6.2 percent in 2017-18, has come down to 2.4 percent today. "Along with this, there has been an unprecedented improvement in the female labour force. It was 13.5 percent in 2017-18 and today it has reached 31.2 percent in 2022-23," he added.

He said that to achieve the target of OTDE, the state government will have to increase private and public investment further.

"Continue the sequence of policy reforms. Out of the investment proposals of Rs 40 lakh crore received in the Global Investors Summit, projects worth more than Rs 10 lakh crore have been implemented. Review the remaining MoUs, and communicate with investors. We should prepare for the next GBC as soon as possible," he added.

He said that the process of contact and communication with investors should be continued. Also, communicate with new sectors and new investors. Make them aware of the USP of the state. There is a need to further improve investor outreach.

"Investors will need land for the implementation of their projects. All development authorities will have to make extra efforts. Mark the land which is allotted but is not being used. Make appropriate decisions about them. Identify 'sick units' and decide about their proper utilization. The action plan of the industrial cluster should be taken forward," CM Yogi said.

He further added that the target of every department for OTDE is already fixed. "Continuous review of its progress is necessary. Monthly progress review should be done by the Planning Department with the Departmental Minister and ACS/Principal Secretary. One sector should be reviewed every week at the Chief Secretary level. Activate the District Industry Centers further," he added.

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Shivraj Chouhan takes charge as Union Agriculture Minister, vows to work for farmers' welfare

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ormer Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan took charge as Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare on Tuesday.

Union Minister Chouhan said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has resolved to double the income of farmers and the government will take every possible step for the welfare of farmers.

Chouhan pointed out that the first file signed by the Prime Minister after taking charge on Monday was to release the instalment of PM Kisan Nidhi Yojna to benefit 9.3 crore farmers.

He asserted that Prime Minister Modi is a visionary leader and called upon the officials to work on a roadmap for achieving goals set up in the manifesto. He said improving upon the lives of 'Annadatas' should be the mission of the ministry.

The Union Minister also said that the NDA government has been committed to farmers' welfare for the past 10 years and his ministry will continue to work to achieve the goals.

After taking over the charge, Union Minister Chouhan visited various offices in the ministry and interacted with staff at various levels. He exhorted them to work as a team to achieve the government's vision for the welfare of farmers and work in cooperation with each other.

He also visited the Krishi Integrated Command and Control Centre in the ministry and saw facilities to review the agriculture scenario within the country including crop production and drought preparedness.

Later, he held a meeting of senior officials of the ministry and underscored the need for transparency in the ministry's functioning. He also handed the government manifesto for the welfare of farmers and rural development and called upon everyone to work towards its fulfilment.

Ramnath Thakur and Bhagirath Choudhary also assumed charge as Ministers of State in the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. They were welcomed by Secretary, Department of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare, Manoj Ahuja and other senior officials of the ministry.

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WTA Tour: Raducanu makes quick work on return to grass in Nottingham

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June 11 (IANS) Emma Raducanu's decision to skip the French Open to focus on the grass-court circuit paid off in her first outing on the surface, as she romped past qualifier Ena Shibahara in the first round of the Rothesay Open here on Tuesday. Raducanu defeated Shibahara 6-1, 6-4 in a 70-minute encounter.

The 22-year-old Raducanu was playing her first match on grass since Wimbledon 2022. This time last year, she was confined to a mobility scooter as she recuperated from multiple wrist and ankle surgeries.

The British player surged to a 6-1, 5-1 lead in dominant fashion before holding off a late charge from Shibahara to close out the win in straight sets.

Former doubles No.4 Shibahara has been shifting her focus to singles this year and has raised her ranking over 250 places since January to its current No.274. She came into this match with a 30-8 record this season, and her serve-and-volley tactics posed a unique challenge for Raducanu.

"All credit to Ena, she's making it very tricky on the grass courts with the serve-and-volley and it's very tough to find a way past, but I'm pleased with how I dealt with the circumstances today," said Raducanu.

The Briton found a lob to break Shibahara in the opening game and then a superb pass to gain the double break for 4-1. The second of those was part of a seven-game streak in which Raducanu was in full control; Shibahara's strategy was only intermittently effective against the former US Open champion's solidity.

From 5-1 down in the second set, Shibahara raised her game to break Raducanu twice, with the latter also contributing an increased number of errors. But at 5-4, Raducanu regained her focus, coming up with a brilliantly angled return winner en route to breaking Shibahara for the win.

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Electronics & IT industry welcomes Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, MoS Jitin Prasada

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he IT and electronics industry on Tuesday welcomed Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Minister of State Jitin Prasada assuming charge of their ministries, saying it will accelerate India's journey towards becoming a global leader in semiconductors and electronics.

Vaishnaw assumed charge as Minister of Railways, Minister of Information and Broadcasting, and Minister of Electronics and IT, while Prasada took charge as Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, and Electronics and IT.

"We congratulate Ashwini Vaishnaw who has retained his portfolio as Minister of Electronics and IT and the newly-appointed MoS Prasada. Minister Vaishnaws continuity will pave the way in ensuring a step up of support to the sector and MoS Prasadas fresh perspectives will add to the sector's contribution to economic growth and job creation," said Dr V. Veerappan, Chairman, the India Electronics and Semiconductor Association (IESA).

Veerappan said the IESA is looking forward to working closely with MeitY to realise Prime Minister Narendra Modis vision of Viksit Bharat.

Dr Ajai Chowdhry, Co-Founder HCL, Chairman, EPIC Foundation, and Chairman, Mission Governing Board, National Quantum, said the re-appointment of Vaishnaw as Union Minister of Electronics and IT will help the industry to continue in its mission to make the country a global hub for electronics product design and manufacturing.

"An architect for the semiconductor manufacturing movement of the country, Minister Vaishnaw has played an instrumental role in creating a well-oiled ecosystem enabling exports of electronics from India," he added.

Further, the induction of MoS Prasada is only expected to bolster the industry.

"With an immense wealth of knowledge and experience having been on several government committees including IT and Communications, I am sure he will be able to offer a fresh perspective and direction to foster growth for the sector," Chowdhry added.

The next five years will play a decisive role in shaping the next few decades for electronics product design and manufacturing in the country. This is a time for taking collaborative action that can potentially redefine India and the way the world looks at us as a manufacturing hub, the industry experts noted.

India aims to reach $300 billion in electronics production by FY26. Of the $300 billion, exports are expected to increase from the projected $15 billion in 2021-22 to $120 billion by 2026.

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BJP's JP Nadda takes charge as Union Health Minister

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JP leader Jagat Prakash Nadda assumed charge as Minister of Health and Family Welfare in the national capital on Tuesday.

Nadda was accompanied by Anupriya Patel and Jadhav Prataprao Ganpatrao, Ministers of State in the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry.

The 64-year-old also assumed charge as the Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers.

After he was allocated the health ministry, a portfolio he held in the first term of the Modi government, Nadda on Monday vowed to make every effort to ensure better healthcare infrastructure and facilities, ensuring no one is left behind in receiving better treatment. He also expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for giving him the roles of Minister of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), and Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers.

In a post shared on X, Nadda said that Modi 3.0 is steadfastly committed to the welfare of the people adding that the MoHFW will make every effort to ensure better healthcare infrastructure and facilities.

"Grateful to Hon. PM Shri @narendramodi ji for trusting me with the roles of Minister of Health and Family Welfare, and Minister of Chemicals and Fertilisers. Modi 3.0 is steadfastly committed to the welfare of the people. In line with this, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) will make every effort to ensure better healthcare infrastructure and facilities, ensuring no one is left behind in receiving better treatment," he said.

"Additionally, the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers will contribute to every extent to realizing PM Modi ji's vision of 'Viksit Bharat'," the BJP leader added. BJP chief JP Nadda, who was part of PM Modi's cabinet in 2014, will be the new Health Minister. He also has a Chemicals and Fertilizers portfolio.

Nadda served as the Union Health Minister in BJP government from 2014-19. The party contested the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and several assembly polls under his leadership. He is currently Rajya Sabha MP from Gujarat.

Meanwhile, Rashtriya Lok Dal chief Jayant Chaudhary takes charge as the Minister of State (MoS) in the Ministry of Education.

RLD contested the Lok Sabha polls in alliance with BJP in Uttar Pradesh and won two seats.

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Rural development is PM Modi's priority, says Shivraj Singh Chouhan as he takes charge of Rural Development Ministry

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oon after assuming charge as the Union Minister of Rural Development in the "Modi 3.0" cabinet, BJP leader Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday said that rural development is the priority of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"Rural development is the priority of Prime Minister Modi and many schemes are already being run for it... Revolutionary work has been done for rural development in 10 years under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi... Women empowerment is the mission of our government... Many schemes are running for it... Campaigns like making 'Lakhpati Didi' will be included in our roadmap..." Chouhan told reporters.

Earlier today, the former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister took charge as the Minister of Rural Development, a day after the announcement of portfolios under the "Modi 3.0" cabinet.

He also assumed the charge of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare.

Chouhan has been allocated the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and the Ministry of Rural Development in the distribution of portfolios announced on Monday.

The two ministries have a grassroots imprint.

Narendra Singh Tomar, who was Agriculture Minister in the previous NDA government had resigned in December last year coinciding with the Madhya Pradesh assembly polls.

Following Tomar's resignation, the charge of the ministry was given to the then Union Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda.

Chouhan has vast administrative experience and was Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh from 2005 till the 2023 state assembly elections, except for 15 months when the Congress came to power after the 2018 assembly polls.

Chouhan was elected to Lok Sabha from Vidisha in Madhya Pradesh. He is a six-time MP.

The distribution of portfolios was announced a day after the swearing-in of the NDA government, which scored a hat-trick victory in Lok Sabha polls. The portfolios were allocated on the advice of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

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"Over the past year, I have been profoundly impressed by the men and women of the Urbana Police Department  their intelligence, grit, and dedication to community service is impressive. I can only imagine the heights we could reach with adequate support from the city."
A recent Nature Medicine study investigates the effectiveness of precision-guided treatment (PGT) in children at a high risk of cancer.

Study: Precision-guided treatment in high-risk pediatric cancers. Image Credit: S_L / Shutterstock.com

Barriers to precision medicine implementation

The combination of next-generation sequencing (NGS) and targeted anti-cancer therapies has advanced precision medicine for the treatment of cancer.

Although pediatric precision oncology-based research has successfully identified molecular targets in over 65% of children with high cancer risks, the clinical application of this strategy is significantly low. This low clinical uptake of precision medicine could be attributed to physician uncertainty towards the efficacy and benefit-risk balance of PGT.

Previous studies have highlighted the clinical benefits of PGT. However, there remains a lack of data on these treatments' objective response or survival outcomes, thus necessitating additional data to determine when and which patients should receive PGT.

About the study

The Australian ZERO Childhood Cancer Precision Medicine Program conducted a multicenter cohort-based clinical trial. Study participants were recruited between September 2017 and December 2020 from eight pediatric oncology centers in Australia, with prospective data collected between September 2017 and June 2022.

The current study aimed to determine the proportion of pediatric cancer patients to be recommended to physicians for PGT in a clinically relevant time frame. Subsequently, the treatment response and survival rate of patients receiving PGT, as compared to those who were not prescribed PGT, were also assessed.

Study participants of any gender who were younger than 21 years of age with a suspected or confirmed high-risk malignancy were recruited. The possibility of a cure for these patients was lower than 30%.

Patient tumor and germline samples were collected from the test centers. DNA was extracted from the samples, and whole genome sequencing (WGS) of paired tumor-germline was performed. DNA methylation analysis was also conducted on all tumor samples.

Study findings

In the current study, 50-60 individuals, including clinicians, subject matter experts, and scientists, attended weekly molecular tumor board (MTB) presentations. Every patient included in this study was discussed for 10-15 minutes during these meetings.

A total of 384 patients were included in the current study, 67% of whom were recommended to receive PGT, whereas the remaining 29% were included in the non-PGT cohort. Of the 256 patients who were advised to receive PGT, 110 were ultimately treated with PGT, which reflects the highest uptake rate of PGT recorded in pediatric oncology studies.

PGT was associated with a 36% objective response rate and a 26% two-year progression-free survival rate, compared to 12% and 5.2% of patients receiving standard care or targeted agents, respectively. The three-year overall survival (OS) of the PGT cohort was estimated to be 34%.

These improvements have been attributed to targeting fusions and early treatment for children with a higher risk of malignancy. Selection of new anti-cancer agents based on the genomic profile also contributed to improved survival rates.

The current study demonstrated the clinical benefits of PGT compared to non-PGT, unguided therapy (UGT), or standard of care (SOC) treatment using the intra-patient progression-free survival (PFS) ratio as an outcome measure in pediatric precision medicine. Compared to PGT, UGT resulted in a significantly inferior outcome, which emphasizes the importance of molecular evidence-guided therapeutic decision-making in pediatric cohorts.

Although the clinical benefits of PGT compared to non-PGT on PFS were established, the current study failed to demonstrate the impact of PGT on OS. In this context, no significant difference in two-year OS among PGT, non-PGT, UGT, and SOC was observed, which could be due to patients being treated with several different types of therapies. Thus, a more extended follow-up study is needed to elucidate the impact on OS.

PGT informed by comprehensive molecular profiling significantly improves outcomes for children with high-risk cancers.

Conclusions

The current study reports the significant benefits of PGT compared to UGT and non-PGT in terms of response rate and two-year PFS. These findings demonstrate the importance of identifying tumor biomarkers and integrating precision medicine into SOC for pediatric patients. Nevertheless, the current study has some limitations, including its nonrandomized design and relatively small numbers of patients in the subgroup analysis.

In the future, more biomarker-driven interventions must be formulated to improve treatment outcomes in pediatric patients with an increased cancer risk. The effectiveness of combination therapies and the timing of PGT must also be optimized.
As of 2024, 24 states including Virginia and Maryland, and DC have legalized the adult recreational use of cannabis. As laws change, citizens' perceptions of the drug and reasons for using the drug have also shifted. In 2020, 34.5% of adults aged 18-25 reported using cannabis in the previous 12 months, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Health experts seek to better understand the broader implications of legalizations and individuals' motivations and attitudes related to cannabis use.

New qualitative research by Iulia Fratila, assistant professor in George Mason University's College of Public Health, and Liza Berdychevsky, associate professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, describes in what ways young adults (aged 18-30) view cannabis as a recreational and leisure pursuit.

Recreational cannabis legalization and liberalization is shifting across U.S. states. More holistic approaches to understanding perceptions of cannabis benefits and leisure motivations are scarce due to the longstanding criminalization of cannabis. This research provides novel insights into cannabis users' leisure motivations of use and perceived benefits, which can be leveraged strategically in public health and drug education efforts in the societal transition from criminalization to normalization and commercialization trends concerning cannabis." Iulia Fratila, the principal investigator

Participants in Fratila and Berdychevsky's study suggest cannabis can offer a leisure state of mind (e.g., experiencing flow, relaxation, and meditative state) as well as represent a leisure pursuit reserved for free time (e.g., using cannabis as a reward for free, post-obligations time outside of daily demands). Additionally, participants described how cannabis serves as a leisure activity itself (i.e., the act of getting high) and/or as an activity that accompanies other leisure pursuits and socialization (e.g., getting high and going to the movies), while providing pleasurable outcomes (e.g., feeling enjoyment, engaging in humor, enhancing senses).

"Participants discussed the ways that their recreational cannabis consumption represents a controlled and calculated risk-benefit leisure choice that is successfully managed for their overall well-being. Their narratives highlight that this perceived leisure pursuit does not necessarily interfere with their otherwise productive lives," said Fratila.

These insights can inform harm reduction approaches to cannabis education that may be more effective considering the cannabis legalization and liberalization landscape. Health educators and health promoters can discuss cannabis risks and potential negative health outcomes while acknowledging the desired benefits cannabis users anticipate.

Fratila warns about the impacts of widespread legalization and the emerging recreational cannabis markets, which highlights another meaningful implication connected to the study findings. "Under prohibitory regulations, recreational cannabis use has been explicitly framed as deviant, criminal, harmful, life-wrecking, and void of any potentially desirable leisure qualities (e.g., pleasure, socialization). This study showcases the cannabis users' understanding of cannabis as normative recreation and the anticipated leisure benefits," said Fratila.

She further explained, "However, this is a cautionary tale because these desirable qualities may be easily exploited. More specifically, society may be facing a new conundrum with the commercialization of recreational cannabis as the switch from criminalization to commercialization overly simplifies and glamorizes the leisure meanings of cannabis for profitable gain."

Public health experts and scholars will need to be at the front lines, in collaboration with other fields, to monitor how cannabis is repositioned and accommodated in a cannabis-friendly society, according to Fratila. Specifically, it will be important to spearhead effective health promotion efforts that minimize any related harms and maximize well-being.

This was a qualitative research project utilizing hermeneutic phenomenology, a research method to study how experiences affect everyday practices, and in-depth interviewing with 16 individuals (ages 18-30) living in the U.S. states with legalized recreational cannabis.
A new study published in Medical Care today showed that substituting registered nurses (RN) with lower-wage staff (e.g. licensed practical nurses, unlicensed assistive personnel) in hospital care is linked with more deaths, readmissions, longer hospital stays, poorer patient satisfaction, and higher costs of care.

The study, by the Center for Health Outcomes and Policy Research (CHOPR) at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing (Penn Nursing), comes at a time when hospitals are struggling to recruit and retain RNs in hospital care because of poor working conditions. "Nurses in hospitals provide care for the sickest patients. It's high stakes care. The findings show that replacing RNs with non-RN staff is dangerous to patients," said lead-author, Karen Lasater, PhD, RN, Associate Professor and the Jessie M. Scott Term Chair in Nursing and Health Policy.

Though hospitals often cite a low supply of RNs as the reason they cannot hire enough, the latest research shows there is no evidence of an RN shortage in the US. Thus, there is no justification for substituting less qualified staff for RNs.

The researchers studied the outcomes of over 6.5 million Medicare patients in 2,676 general acute care hospitals across the U.S. They found that:

Even a modest substitution in RN care is associated with poorer patient outcomes . A 10-percentage point reduction in the proportion of RNs was associated with 7% higher odds of dying in the hospital; as well as higher odds of readmission, experiencing a longer length of stay, and poorer patient satisfaction.

. A 10-percentage point reduction in the proportion of RNs was associated with 7% higher odds of dying in the hospital; as well as higher odds of readmission, experiencing a longer length of stay, and poorer patient satisfaction. Substituting RN care is associated with avoidable patient deaths . Researchers estimated that if every U.S. hospital reduced RN care by 10 percentage points, nearly 11,000 avoidable deaths among Medicare patients could occur annually.

. Researchers estimated that if every U.S. hospital reduced RN care by 10 percentage points, nearly 11,000 avoidable deaths among Medicare patients could occur annually. Alternative hospital staffing models yield a poor return on investment for hospitals. Hospitals substituting lower-wage staff for RNs will not save money because longer lengths of stay will erase their labor savings.

Hospitals substituting lower-wage staff for RNs will not save money because longer lengths of stay will erase their labor savings. Medicare risks spending millions of dollars annually on avoidable, preventable hospital readmissions. The thousands of preventable readmissions associated with a 10-percentage point reduction in RNs translates to $68.5 million in avoidable costs paid by Medicare.

The public has no way of assessing the adequacy of hospital RN staffing, and in all but two states (California and Oregon) there are no regulations establishing minimum safe RN staffing requirements in hospitals to protect the safety of patients. Rather than replacing RNs with less qualified staff, hospital leaders should focus on improving their work environments to retain RNs." Linda Aiken, PhD, RN, Senior Author, Professor of Nursing and Founding Director of CHOPR

"With roughly half of hospital RNs reporting high levels of burnout, hospitals should focus on fixing the root causes of their burnout  chronic understaffing and poor work environments  not replacing RNs with lesser trained nursing staff that the evidence shows is likely dangerous to patients," said Lasater.

Other recent publications by the Center for Health Outcomes and Policy Research, University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing shows that:

Establishing minimum hospital nurse staffing standards in are in the public's interest:

Lasater, K. B., Aiken, L. H., Sloane, D. M., French, R., Anusiewicz, C. V., Martin, B., ... & McHugh, M. D. (2021). Is hospital nurse staffing legislation in the public's interest?: an observational study in New York State. Medical care, 59(5), 444. https://journals.lww.com/lww-medicalcare/fulltext/2021/05000/is_hospital_nurse_staffing_legislation_in_the.11.aspx.

Lasater, K. B., Aiken, L. H., Sloane, D., French, R., Martin, B., Alexander, M., & McHugh, M. D. (2021). Patient outcomes and cost savings associated with hospital safe nurse staffing legislation: an observational study. BMJ Open, 11(12). https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2021-052899.

Poor hospital nurse work environments pre-dated the pandemic and were strongly associated with nurse burnout and intent to leave their employer.

Aiken, L. H., Sloane, D. M., McHugh, M. D., Pogue, C. A., & Lasater, K. B. (2023). A repeated cross-sectional study of nurses immediately before and during the Covid-19 pandemic: Implications for action. Nursing Outlook, 71(1), 101903. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.outlook.2022.11.007.

The study was carried out by the Center for Health Outcomes and Policy Research at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing. Funding and support for the study was from the National Institute of Nursing Research/NIH (R01NR014855; T32NR007104).
Petrol, Diesel Prices On June 11, 2024: Oil companies have updated petrol and diesel prices for June 11. Fuel prices in the country depend on the prices of crude oil internationally. Fluctuations in crude oil prices lead to changes in fuel prices in India. Check the latest petrol, and diesel prices to know if there is an increase in the amount that customers will have to shell out for a litre.

Government oil marketing companies release the latest petrol and diesel prices every day at 6 am in the country. Today, there has been no change in the petrol and diesel prices in the countrys capital Delhi, and other metros. Companies like Hindustan Petroleum Corporation, and Indian Oil Corporation of India release the prices of petrol and diesel on their websites. Let us know the latest fuel prices.

Petrol Diesel Price Today In India (Check city-wise rate list below)

Mumbai Petrol & Diesel Price

As of June 11, the petrol price in Mumbai continued to exceed the Rs 100 mark, reaching Rs 104.21 per litre, while diesel was priced at Rs 92.15 per litre.

Delhi Diesel Price Today

As of June 11, the cost of diesel is priced at Rs 87.62 per litre.

Delhi Petrol Price Today

As of June 11, the cost of petrol in Delhi is Rs 94.72 per litre.

Kolkata Petrol & Diesel Price

In Kolkata, the price of petrol is Rs 103.94 and the price of diesel is Rs 90.76 per litre.

Chennai Petrol & Diesel Price

In Chennai, the price of petrol is Rs 100.85, while the price of diesel is Rs 92.43 per litre.

Check city-wise petrol and diesel prices on June 11:

Petrol-Diesel Rates in other cities (Petrol-Diesel Rates 11 June 2024)

Noida: Petrol Rs 94.66 per litre and Diesel Rs 87.76 per litre

Gurugram: Petrol Rs 95.05 per litre and diesel Rs 87.91 per litre

Chandigarh: Petrol is Rs 94.24 per litre and diesel is Rs 82.40 per litre

Hyderabad: Petrol is Rs 107.41 per litre and diesel is Rs 95.65 per litre

Jaipur: Petrol is Rs 104.88 per litre and diesel is Rs 90.36 per litre

Patna: Petrol is Rs 105.42 per litre and diesel is Rs 92.27 per litre

Lucknow: Petrol is Rs 94.52 per litre and diesel is Rs 87.61 per litre

Know the price of petrol and diesel through SMS

You can also find out the latest petrol and diesel prices in your city through SMS. If you are a customer of Indian Oil, then you will have to write RSP along with the city code and send it to 9224992249. If you are a customer of BPCL, then you can get information about the new price of petrol and diesel by writing RSP and sending it to 9223112222. Whereas, if you are a customer of HPCL, then you can find out the price of petrol and diesel by writing HP Price and sending it to 9222201122.
Stocks To Watch On June 11: Indian markets may continue to consolidate on Tuesday amid lack of decisive triggers. At 7:43 AM, GIFT Nifty was up 29 points at 23,276 levels.

InterGlobe Aviation: Rahul Bhatias promoter entity, InterGlobe Enterprises, is expected to off load around 2 per cent stake in the company through a block deal on Tuesday, reports said. The stake sale value may be worth around $394 million, where the promoter could sell 7.7 million shares at a likely floor price of Rs 4,266 apiece.

RVNL, Siemens India: The consortium of Siemens-RVNL has received a Letter of Acceptance (LoA) from Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. for engineering, supply, erection, testing and, commissioning of 33 KV Distribution, 750V DC Third Rail Traction Electrification including Traction Substations, Auxiliary Substations and SCADA System for Phase-2A & Phase 2 B.The project is worth Rs 394.2 crore.

PTC Industries: The company has partnerd with leading entities under the DTIS scheme in the Indian Defence and Aerospace sector to advance the Make in India initiative.

APL Apollo Tubes: BluPine Energy has signed a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with APL Apollo Building Products to set up a 61.65 megawatt (Mw) solar plant in Chhattisgarh. APL Apollo Building Products is a subsidiary of APL Apollo Tubes. APL Apollo, along with other off-takers, will hold a 26 per cent stake under the group captive structure in the special purpose vehilce (SPV) of BluPine Energy for this project.

NLC India: The Board of Directors, at their meeting held on Monday, June 10, 2024, approved to raise foreign currency loan through External Commercial Borrowings (ECB) in any foreign currency to the extent of $600 million through Direct route.Besides, the Board okayed to issue of Corporate Guarantee or Letter of Comfort to NLC India Green Energy Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary, and Neyveli Uttar Pradesh Power Limited, a material-subsidiary of the company, based on the requirement. It also gave in-principle approval to invest up to Rs 994.50 crore, in one or more tranches, in NLC India Renewables Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the company.

Vodafone Idea: The debt-ridden telecom company announced that its board will meet on June 13 to consider a proposal to issue equity shares or convertible securities on a preferential basis to vendors. The company has been reporting widening losses and a marginal increase in annual revenue from operations.

Tata Motors: The company is offering substantial savings on a range of sought-after models including the Tiago, Altroz, Nexon, Harrier, and Safari. Discounts and benefits reach up to 55,000 on select MY2024 units.

Power Grid Corp.: The company has successfully implemented the Reliable Communication Scheme under Central Sector for Northern Region from April 1.

One 97 Communications: Paytms founder and CEO, Vijay Shekhar Sharma, is reaching out to his old allies and trusted lieutenants as he looks to revive the firm. Amidst reports of internal discord and regulatory upheaval, Sharma is taking control of various verticals to revive growth, reduce customer attrition, and shore up confidence among partners, merchants, and customers.

PVR Inox: The multiplex chain is focusing on growing its fastest-growing segment  food and beverage (F&B). The multiplex operator is partnering with EazyDiner to offer its customers up to a 25% discount on popcorn, Pepsi, and more for payments made via EazyDiner.

Suzlon Energy: The company clarified that there are no financial irregularities or compliance violations within the organization, following the resignation of its independent director Marc Desaedeleer. Desaedeleer raised corporate governance issues within the company in his resignation letter.

Jubilant Foodworks: The master franchise operator for Dominos in India plans to double its outlets to 4,000 in the next four years. The company is eyeing around 200 new stores in India every year to achieve its medium-term goal.

Infosys: GitHub, a Microsoft-owned developer platform, has partnered with Infosys to launch its first GitHub Center of Excellence (CoE). The collaboration aims to speed up the process of software production partnering with Global System Integrators (GSIs).
Shares of Suzlon Energy rallied over 4 per cent to Rs 49.2 apiece on June 11 after the firm bagged 103.9 megawatt (MW) order from AMPIN Energy Transition to install 33 wind turbine generators with hybrid lattice turbular tower in Fatehgarh, Rajasthan.

As part of the agreement, Suzlon will supply the wind turbines (equipment supply) and execute the project, including erection and commissioning. Suzlon will also undertake comprehensive operations and maintenance services postcommissioning.

Suzlon and AMPIN Energy Transition are committed to the expansion of renewable energy in India. Going forward, we will see the industry add on increasing volumes of hybrid renewable energy projects, which will be the cornerstone of effective energy transition, said Vivek Srivastava, Chief Executive Officer, India Business, Suzlon Group.

Analysts have maintained a Buy rating on Suzlon Energy, citing recent strong order wins. The Independent Director had expressed satisfaction with the companys financial and operational turnaround in his resignation letter.

The letter does not indicate any financial or legal impropriety. The management is actively working to enhance transparency and improve information-sharing processes. They are confident in addressing specific corporate governance issues and aim to strengthen governance and disclosures. We maintain a BUY rating on Suzlon with a target price of Rs 60, ICICI Securities said.

The brokerage firm highlighted that Suzlon Energy has prioritised debt reduction and efficient working capital management over the past 15 months. They also mentioned that the company is committed to ongoing improvements in corporate governance and transparency.

ICICI Securities said, The outlook for the wind industry is positive over the medium to long term, with an expected 10GW of wind opportunities projected for FY23-FY27E. Given the increasing complexity of renewable energy projects, we believe wind energy will play a crucial role in future renewable energy generation.

Brokerage house Nuvama believes multibagger wind energy stock Suzlon Energy is a good to have, not a need to have one. The brokerage finds no reason to stray away from the BUY thesis with an unchanged target price of Rs 53. This recommendation is supported by the structural upturn in the wind sector and the companys financial turnaround.

The stock is now just 5.5 per cent away from its 52-week high of Rs 52.19, hit on June 4, 2024. Meanwhile, it has surged multifold, 271 per cent, from its 52-week low of Rs 13.28, hit on June 23, 2023.

On June 8, Marc Desaedeleer, an Independent Director at Suzlon, tendered his resignation. In his resignation letter, he cited instances where the corporate governance standards practiced by the company did not align with his expectations. Specifically, he noted situations where communications lacked the level of openness and transparency he anticipated.

However, Suzlon Energys CEO clarified that the concerns raised were primarily process-oriented and of a soft nature, which would be addressed in due course. The Suzlon management emphasised that the suggestions put forth by Desaedeleer did not pertain to financial or operational irregularities or non-compliance with the law. Rather, they related to matters that did not meet Desaedeleers personal standards of expectations and desired speed of implementation.

Despite this, analysts have largely maintained a Buy rating on the stock on strong financial turnaround, wind sector potential, and its recent order wins.

With Suzlon turning around its financial position and the operational ramp-up expected in FY25, management is looking to address the needs of the business first and intends to implement such best-in-class suggestions in due course. We, hence, find no reason to stray away from our BUY thesis on Suzlon driven by the upturn in the wind sector and financial turnaround of the company, noted Nuvama.

Suzlon Energy is capable of maintaining its leadership in WTG/turnkey EPC execution leading to 21 per cent OB and 61 per cent PAT CAGR over FY2427E, the brokerage had said in an earlier report. The company is now well placed to capture its previous highs and sustain leadership, it had stated, adding that it expects Suzlon Energy to maintain a market share of around 30 percent and show a strong pickup in order intake and execution.

Morgan Stanley also recently initiated coverage on Suzlon with an Overweight rating, citing it as a significant beneficiary of Indias energy shift towards greener sources. Positioned well to capitalise on this transition, Suzlon could potentially secure wind orders totaling approximately 32 GW or $31 billion over the next five years. According to the brokerage, earnings are expected to soar with a 57 per cent Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) from FY24 to FY27.

Morgan Stanley noted that Suzlon 2.0 is well-positioned to benefit from Indias energy transition. The company has become much stronger after deleveraging and leaner by reducing fixed operating costs. Suzlon achieved debt-free status by raising funds through various methods, including a QIP and a rights issue. By the end of the March quarter, the company had a net cash balance of Rs 1,100 crore.
AP EAMCET Results 2024 Live Updates: What's Next  Online Registration and Payment of Processing Fee  Online Verification of uploaded documents at notified Help Line centres  Exercising the Web Options  Change of options for the candidates  Allotment of Seats  Self-Reporting and reporting at college  Commencement of class

AP EAMCET Results 2024 Live Updates: Steps to Check Scores Step 1: Go to cets.apsche.ap.gov.in. Step 2: On the homepage, click on the AP EAMCET 2024 Result tab. Step 3: Enter your login details and click on submit. Step 4: Your AP EAMCET 2024 result will appear on the screen. Step 5: Review all the marks and check all the information carefully. Step 6: Download and take a printout of it for future reference.

AP EAMCET Results 2024 Declared!

AP EAMCET Results 2024 Live: Cut-Offs The AP EAMCET cut-off will be notified alongside the announcement of the results. A student may seek counselling to get admitted to the courses and colleges of their choice if their score is higher than the AP EAMCET 2024 cutoff.

AP EAMCET Results 2024 Live: How Much is the AP EAPCET Counselling Fee? Last year, students were required to pay Rs 1,200 as the counselling fee. For the reserved category candidates, the fee was Rs 600. It is to be noted that seats will be allotted at AP EAMCET 2024 counselling based on candidates ranks, choices made, and the availability of seats in the institutes.

AP EAMCET Results 2024 Live: Websites to Check Scorecards  cets.apsche.ap.gov.in  manabadi.com  apsche.ap.gov.in

AP EAMCET Results 2024 Live: Girls Outperformed Boys Last Year In the AP EAMCET results last year, 3.99% more female candidates than male candidates qualified in the engineering and agricultural streams.

AP EAMCET Results 2024 LIVE Updates: Minimum Marks Needed to Clear Exam Students must achieve at least 25 per cent to pass the AP EAMCET 2024. There is no minimum passing score for SC and ST students.

AP EAMCET Results 2024 Live: Scorecard Link to Be Activated Soon Once released, candidates may view and download the AP EAMCET 2024 results on the official website, cets.apsche.ap.gov.in.

AP EAMCET Results 2024 Live: Agriculture and Medicine Exam Pattern The test for agriculture and medicine consists of 160 multiple-choice questions. The examination question paper includes 80 questions on botany (40 on botany and 40 on zoology), and 80 questions on physics and chemistry. Each question carries one mark, and there is no negative grading.

AP EAMCET Results 2024 Live: Step-by-Step Guide for Counselling Process Those who clear the exam will next have to apply for counselling. These are the steps to be followed: Registration Process: Qualified candidates must complete the registration process in order to participate in the counselling process. Choice Filling and Locking: Candidates must log into the site after successfully registering in order to select their desired college and course. Students will also need to lock the options. Seat Allocation: The seats will be assigned to candidates based on their rank, preference, and seat availability. Fee Payment: Those who have been assigned a seat must pay the necessary fee within the stipulated time frame. Report to allotted college: This is the final stage, in which shortlisted candidates must report to the designated colleges for the document verification round. They are advised to bring the original documents with them for verification.

AP EAMCET Results 2024 Live: What to Check?  Candidate Name  Roll Number  Exam Paper Number  Name of the Subject  Total Marks Obtained  Result Status

AP EAMCET Results 2024 Live: Normalisation Formula

AP EAMCET Results 2024 LIVE: How was the Exam Conducted? The Andhra Pradesh EAPCET 2024 test is administered for admission to engineering, agriculture, and pharmacy courses. It is a 3-hour computer-based test given online for a total of 160 marks, with applicants solving 160 questions. The examination can be administered in either English/Urdu or English/Telugu.

AP EAMCET Results 2024 Live: Documents Required During Counselling  AP EAMCET Hall Ticket,  AP EAMCET Rank Card,  DOB proof (class 10-mark sheet),  Class 12 Mark sheet and passing certificate,  Transfer certificate,  Andhra Pradesh state residence certificate,  Integrated community certificate (if any),  EWS certificate (if required),  Category certificate (if any),  Residence proof,  Income certificate, and  Local status certificate.

AP EAMCET Results 2024 Live: Agriculture and Medicine Exam Pattern The test for agriculture and medicine consists of 160 multiple-choice questions. The examination question paper includes 80 questions on botany (40 on botany and 40 on zoology), and 80 questions on physics and chemistry. Each question carries one mark, and there is no negative grading.

AP EAMCET Results 2024 Live: How to Check Engineering Exam Answer Key? Step 1: Navigate to cets.apsche.ap.gov.in, the official website for AP EAMCET 2024. Step 2: Click the link for the AP EAMCET 2024 Engineering Answer Key on the homepage. Step 3: A new page will open; log in with your registration details. Step 4: Your AP EAMCET 2024 Engineering answer key will appear on the screen. Step 5: For future reference, download and print the AP EAMCET Engineering answer key 2024

AP EAMCET Results 2024 Live Updates: What About Counselling Process? The AP EAMCET 2024 results are significant since they will determine student ranks, and only students who achieve these rankings will be able to enroll in their preferred college and programme. The counselling will begin shortly after the results are announced, and students must register for the same in order to participate in it.

AP EAMCET Results 2024 Live: How is Rank List Calculated? The AP EAPCET rank list is generated after taking into account the students scores from both the written exam and the class 12 board exam. The marks are calculated in a 3:1 ratio.
In response to a plea demanding a retest for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test Undergraduate 2024 (NEET-UG 2024) owing to suspected paper leaks and irregularities, the Supreme Court today, June 11, issued a notice to the National Testing Agency (NTA) for a response. The plea submitted by ten NEET candidates was examined by the Supreme Courts vacation bench.

The SC stated, The sanctity has been affected, so we need answers, and it has requested an explanation from the NTA over the petition. It has also voiced concern over the claims that the tests integrity might have been compromised. The subsequent hearing for this matter is set for July 8.

According to PTI, the vacation bench headed over by Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah has refused to defer the counselling of qualified candidates for admission to MBBS, BDS, and other programmes.

This year, the NEET-UG 2024 was held on May 5 for around 24 lakh students and the results were announced on June 4, much ahead of its anticipated release date of June 14. Suspicions were aroused when the NEET results showed that 67 individuals, six of whom came from the same or nearby testing centre, achieved a perfect score of 720 marks.

The NTA, which is in charge of administering the exam, is being investigated for issues like such as granting of grace marks for loss of time, mismanagement and general exam handling. To guarantee fairness and openness, proper investigation and re-examination are being demanded by a number of parents, teachers and students.

Stay ahead with all the exam results updates on News18 Website.
Mohan Charan Majhi will be Odishas new chief minister, as decided during the BJP legislature party meeting on Tuesday. The saffron partys first leader for the states top job, he will take oath at the swearing-in ceremony on June 12 that will also be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Majhi, 52, will also get two deputies  first-time MLA Prabhati Parida and six-time legislator KV Singh Deo. He was elected to the state legislative assembly from the Keonjhar seat reserved for STs, and is a strong tribal face.

In his first comments to the press, the CM-designate said he will work towards safeguarding the rights of the tribal community and ensure their development. We will work to safeguard the rights of the tribal people. We will make all the necessary facilities available to them like drinking water etcFor making Viksit Bharat, their development is also very important he told news agency ANI.

Majhi said the double engine government in Odisha will now work as per the BJPs Sankalp Patra and fulfil the promises made to the people of the state. Today, the double engine government has come into the state and now we will work according to the Sankalp Patra, we proposed for Odisha Whoever will do good work, the party will definitely give them a post like CM, that I have got today The government will function properly, we are 100 per cent sure Our party will work to give justice to the people of Odisha and we will fulfil the promises made to the people of the state he said, also thanking the people of Odisha and Hindu deity Jagannath for giving him the opportunity to serve.

His name came up after Union ministers Rajnath Singh and Bhupendra Yadav, who were the observes at the BJP legislature party meeting, discussed with all senior leaders and the newly elected MPs and MLAs. After the announcement, Singh congratulated Majhi and called him a young and dynamic karyakarta.

Delighted to announce that Shri Mohan Charan Manjhi has been elected unanimously as the leader of Odisha BJP Legislature Party. He is a young and dynamic party karyakarta who will take the state forward on road to progress and prosperity as the new Chief Minister of Odisha. Many congratulations to him, he said in a post on X.

He added: Also, it has been decided that two Deputy Chief Ministers will be designated to head the new State Government. Shri KV Singh Deo and Smt. Pravati Parida will serve the state as Deputy Chief Minister. Congratulations to them!

The meeting to select Majhi was held a week after the announcement of the assembly poll results. The BJP got a majority in the 147-member House by winning 78 seats.

Majhi will lead Odisha after the 24-year rule of the BJDs Naveen Patnaik. A number of names were in the running for the CMs post after Sambalpur MP Dharmendra Pradhan became a minister in the third Narendra Modi-led Union Cabinet. But, as usual, the BJP leadership threw a surprise at the last minute.

Top contenders were Suresh Pujari, who was elected from the Brajarajnagar assembly seat; Manmohan Samal, who is the state BJP president; and CAG of India Girish Murmu, who also served as the lieutenant governor of Jammu and Kashmir and Modis former principal secretary when he was the Gujarat CM.

However, several party leaders had also anticipated a surprise as the party made similar announcements in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh. Everything is possible in Odisha as the BJP is a worker-driven party, said a senior party leader.

Party sources said Majhi will first visit the Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri before taking oath on Wednesday. Modi is expected to arrive in Bhubaneswar at 2.30 pm on June 12 and proceed to Raj Bhavan from the airport, they said.

Tight security arrangements have been made in the proposed venue for the swearing-in ceremony. Several dignitaries, including union ministers and chief ministers of BJP-ruled states, are expected to attend the oath-taking ceremony of the new Odisha CM and other ministers.

(With PTI inputs)
Cabinet portfolios were announced on June 10, with key posts such as home ministry, external affairs, finance and defence retained by Amit Shah, S Jaishankar, Nirmala Sitharaman and Rajnath Singh, respectively. Even in infrastructure, the government retained Nitin Gadkari for roads, transport and highways, and Sarbananda Sonowal for shipping and Ashwini Vaishnaw keept railways.

Jyotiraditya Scindia secured the telecom ministry, another key portfolio, while aviation saw a change that was handed over to Ram Mohan Naidu from the Telugu Desam Party (TDP).

Piyush Goyal retains Commerce and Industry portfolio, Dharmendra Pradhan continues to be Union Minister for Education and Hardeep Singh Puri of Petroleum and Natural Gas.

BJP chief JP Nadda, who was part of PM Modis cabinet in 2014, will be the new Health Minister. He also has Chemicals and Fertilizers portfolio.

President Droupadi Murmu directed the allocation of portfolios to 72 members of the Union Council of Ministers, including the prime minister, as advised by Modi, according to an official statement.

What Portfolios Did Modi Keep?

PM Modi has kept several key ministries, including the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, the Department of Atomic Energy, and the Department of Space. Additionally, any ministry not assigned will remain under his purview. All significant policy matters will also be managed directly by him.

Why These Portfolios?

There is a pending demand to ensure pension under the National Pension System is at least half of the last salary drawn. The government may need to revive the asset monetisation efforts and divestment efforts paused along with ally support.

Approximately 8.7 million central and state government employees who have been enrolled in the NPS since 2004 may benefit from these changes if they are implemented.

Prime Minister Narendra Modis previous NDA government formed a committee in March 2023, headed by Finance Secretary TV Somanathan. The committees main objective was to investigate ways to improve pension benefits inside the NPS framework without going back to the Old Pension System (OPS), which is non-contributory.

The Prime Minister has retained the Department of Space and the Department of Atomic Energy. He will oversee the functioning of the department, under which the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) operates, while Jitendra Singh will handle the day-to-day work as the Minister of State.

During Modis second term, the ISRO successfully landed the Chandrayaan-3 land rover near the Moons South Pole  a first for any country. Later, India launched its maiden solar space mission Aditya L-1.

What are the Committees which the PM Forms?

The PM forms the Cabinet committees with selected members of the Cabinet and assigns specific functions to them. The Prime Minister may change the numbers of committees, and modify the functions assigned to them.

Usually, each committee has three to eight members, who are most likely the Cabinet ministers. If the Prime Minister himself is a member of any such committee, he acts as the head of that committee.

The objective of the committee is to resolve issues, formulate proposals for the Cabinet and take decisions on the matters assigned to them.

The Manmohan Singh government had 12 Cabinet committees besides Group of Ministers and Empowered Group of Ministers.

There are eight Cabinet committees at present  the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs, Cabinet Committee on Investment and Growth, Cabinet Committee on Security, Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs, Cabinet Committee on Employment & Skill Development, and Cabinet Committee on Accommodation.
Taking charge as Minister of External Affairs on Tuesday, Minister S Jaishankar reaffirmed the countrys robust stance on issues with neighbours China and Pakistan, saying both the border issue and cross-border terrorism, will be dealt with by India.

Speaking for the first time after assuming office in the NDA government, Jaishankar, said, In any country and especially in a democracy, it is a very big deal for a government to get elected three times in a row. So the world will definitely feel that today there is a lot of political stability in India.

Very big thing in democracy

My remarks to the media this morning. pic.twitter.com/Yn1jah6RfU Dr. S. Jaishankar (Modi Ka Parivar) (@DrSJaishankar) June 11, 2024

As far as Pakistan and China are concerned, the relations with those countries are different, and the problems there are also different. Our focus with regard to China will be on finding a solution for the border issues and with Pakistan, we would want to find a solution to the issue of years-old cross-border terrorism, he added.

Jaishankar, 69, was among the senior BJP leaders, including Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah, Nitin Gadkari and Nirmala Sitharaman, who retained the ministries that they handled in the previous government. Assumed charge as the Minister of External Affairs. Thank PM @narendramodi for assigning me this responsibility, he said on X.

Assumed charge as the Minister of External Affairs.Thank PM @narendramodi for assigning me this responsibility. pic.twitter.com/XVgHgV3kJ4  Dr. S. Jaishankar (Modi Ka Parivar) (@DrSJaishankar) June 11, 2024

As the external affairs minister since 2019, Jaishankar displayed with confidence his ability to clearly articulate Indias positions on a range of complex issues at the global stage. From blunting western criticism of New Delhis procurement of crude oil from Moscow in the wake of the war in Ukraine to crafting a firm policy approach to deal with an assertive China, Jaishankar emerged as one of leading ministers with an impressive record of performance in Prime Minister Modis previous government.

He has also been credited with managing to bring matters of foreign policy to domestic discourse, especially during Indias presidency of the G20. Currently, he is a member of Rajya Sabha from Gujarat. Jaishankar served as Indias foreign secretary from (2015-18), Ambassador to the United States (2013-15), China (2009-2013) and Czech Republic (2000-2004). He was also Indias high commissioner to Singapore (2007-2009). Jaishankar has also served in other diplomatic assignments in embassies in Moscow, Colombo, Budapest and Tokyo, as well in the Ministry of External Affairs and the Presidents Secretariat.

(With agency inputs)
Bhupender Yadav has returned to the Cabinet to begin his second term as the Minister of Environment, Forests and Climate Change in what will be a decisive period for global climate action. Countries are required to ratchet up and submit their updated national climate pledges to the UN by next year, as the world slowly inches towards 1.5 warming.

India has already committed to a Net Zero goal of 2070 and vowed to reduce its emission intensity by 45% by 2030. The short-term goal also includes fulfilling at least half of its energy requirements through renewable energy by 2030, and reaching a non-fossil fuel energy capacity of 500 GW by the end of this decade.

A Member of Parliament (MP) from Alwar, Yadav had represented India in the recently held UN Climate Summit in the UAE, where he reiterated the governments call for equity and climate justice. Delivering the national statement at the high-level segment, he had urged the developed countries to take the lead in ambitious climate action.

India is leading the world in climate action and we will continue to work as the voice of the global south towards climate justice and climate resilience, said Yadav on Monday. As a coal-dependent economy, India has continued to highlight that the energy transition should be just and equitable.

INDIAS CLIMATE AGENDA, CLEAN ENERGY PUSH

Experts hope that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government can provide continuity on positive measures against climate change including push towards renewables, decarbonising of heavy industries and a switch to electric vehicles, while also ensuring a more climate-resilient development.

We look forward to Indias stability on the climate agenda. India must take steady strides to reaching net zero soon in collaboration with state governments and businesses. We have seen a great willingness among businesses to source renewable electricity, but policy and regulatory gaps are making this transition challenging. We therefore urge the incoming government to do all they can to make their term a period of solving hard problems, and rewriting the narrative on climate action, said Dr Divya Sharma, India Executive Director, Climate Group.

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy Ministry, which steers the clean energy push, will now be led by Union Minister Prahlad Joshi, who earlier helmed the Ministry of Coal and Mines. The government had recently announced its ambitious scheme  PM Surya Ghar  to popularise rooftop solar across the country. The Ministry is also steering the National Green Hydrogen Mission to decarbonise the economy.

More fiscal as well as policy support to build the clean energy ecosystem should be big priority for the government. To ensure that transition is just and equitable, the government needs to direct financial resources to states to help shift away from reliance on revenues from fossil fuels which are becoming expensive and to help impacted communities and workers, said Vibhuti Garg, Director, South Asia, Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA). All eyes are now on the budget and how the government is able to balance the need for economic growth and sustainability.

SAFEGUARDING DEPLETING FORESTS, WILDLIFE

The new government is not only expected to take forward Indias climate action agenda, but also safeguard its critical forests and wildlife and combat rising pollution levels in cities and rivers. Merely 21.7% of Indias geographical area is covered by forests. However, over the years, large tracts of the forest land have been diverted for other uses  infrastructure projects, industries, agriculture and habitations. The diversion of forest land nearly doubled from 6,000 hectares to 10,000 hectares a year since 2014. A total 52,932.06 ha of forest land has been diverted from 2019 to 2022, as told to Parliament.

Five years into the launch of the governments ambitious National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), air pollution levels in most Indian cities still exceed national standards and fare worse in WHOs globally-recognized air quality guidelines, showed latest reports. India ranks 112th among 166 countries in the latest preparedness report on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which include clean water and sanitation.

Meanwhile, the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti, which is also steering the governments Har Ghar Jal mission to provide tap water to every household, will be led by C R Patil, who was the Bharatiya Janata Partys (BJP) Gujarat state unit president. I will work towards conservation and enhancement of the water resources of the country, he said on Monday.
Famously called the Challenging Star, Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa, his partner Pavithra Gowda and eleven others have been arrested in a murder case that unfolded in a filmy style.

Both actors, along with 11 others  Pavan, Vinay, Pradosh, Nandeesha, Deepak, Lakshman, Nagaraju, Karthik, Nikhil, Keshav Murthy, and Raghavendra  have been sent to seven days police custody by a city court.

Renukaswamy, known to be an ardent fan of Darshan, was said to have been sending a series of lewd and defamatory texts to Pavithra. In his texts he held Pavithra responsible for Darshans separation from his wife Vjayalakshmi and said that she should stay away from him or face consequences, said a police source.

Renukaswamy was found murdered, with his body dumped in a drain in Kamakshipalya in Bengaluru on June 8. The deceased, the police say, was kidnapped from Chitradurga and kept captive in a farmhouse in Bengalurus Rajarajeshwarinagar, was tortured, and at around 11 pm died from his injuries. He used to work at a pharmacy in Chitradurga.

On June 9, an unidentified body was found being eaten by dogs by a security guard working in a nearby apartment, who reported it to the Kamaskhipalya police. The deceased was later identified as Renikaswamy, police sources told News18.

Another twist in the case came when Raghu Darshan alias Raghvendra, a district president of Darshans fans association, who was arrested in the case along with two others, on questioning began spilling the beans and the story slowly started unravelling.

Tracing the identity of the body using CCTV cameras and forensic analysis led the police to three men who allegedly had kept Renukaswamy captive in a shed. One of them belonged to the Darshan fan association and Renuakswamy was traced through a member of it.

On finding an unidentified body of a male aged around 30 years and the injuries on it, a murder case was registered. We have analysed data using CCTV footage and other technical evidence which helped us identify the deceased as Renukaswamy, Bengaluru police commissioner B Dayananda confirmed in a media conference.

Explaining how the incident took place, a police official said that one of the accused, Raghavendra, went to Chitradurga, picked the victim up forcibly from there, and put him in a godown or shed in Pattanwaddagere, RR Nagar. They assaulted him continuously for over an hour and he succumbed to his injuries at around 11 pm. CCTV footage and technical analysis showed that Darshan and Pavithra were there at the scene of the crime. It was further revealed that Darshans cellphone number was found in the mobile network area of the scene of the crime between 11 pm and 3 am.

Darshan is then said to have left the place.

After this, the accused dumped the body near Kamakshipalya, and on finding the body, we (police) registered a case, said the senior police official.

The police arrested the Kannada film star after they found links and visual footage of Darshan and Pavithra at the location where Renukaswamy was brutally assaulted. It was revealed that first, a black Scorpio with the victims body left the location, followed by a red Thar belonging to the actor, seen in the CCTV footage obtained from cameras from a nearby residential complex. This places them at the scene of the crime and shows them entering around 11 pm and then leaving around 3.30 am. The timing of the vehicle approaching the godown and leaving was on the intervening night of June 8 and 9.

Using new-age digital mapping and identification, the Bengaluru police were able to identify Renukaswamys body and find his cellphone, which they used to access his call detail record (CDR) and social media handles. The investigation into the victims social media accounts also revealed that he had sent several obscene messages to Pavithra Gowda and received a series of calls from the arrested accused, three of whom are known to be working as Darshans personal security personnel.

Darshan was arrested in Mysuru on Tuesday morning while leaving a gym and Pavitra was held in Bengaluru later in the day after their link was established with the case.

According to the timeline of the incident, Pavithra, also a Kannada actor, had been ignoring the indecent texts from Swamy, who was unhappy with her relationship with Darshan. However, it is learned that over the past few months, the deceased not only continued sending lewd texts but also had been threatening her. This was brought to the notice of Darshan and his team. The police are yet to establish a direct link between the murder and the Kannada actor. He has been arrested based on the statements made by the ten other accused apprehended in the murder case.

Confirming Darshan and Pavithras arrest, the Bengaluru police have now launched a full-fledged investigation into the murder case and the involvement of others in kidnapping the victim from Chitradurga to Bengaluru and later disposing of his body in the city.

Darshan, who goes by one name, is the son of veteran actor Srinivas Thoogudeepa, and his brother Dinakar is a director. Having started his cinematic journey as a light boy in the Kannada film industry, he went on to become an assistant for veteran cinematographer BC Gowrishankar. He initially worked in small-budget films and television shows, but his first major role as an actor in a lead role was in the 2001 film Majestic. Hits like Kariya (2003), Namma Preethiya Ramu (2003), Kalasipalya (2005), Gaja (2008), and Saarathi (2011) built his image as a popular star with a large fanbase. He also lent his voice to many Kannada cartoon shows loved by kids.

Not new to controversies, Darshan over the years has had many brushes with the law.

January 2024: Darshan was accused of partying at Jetlag Restobar in Bengaluru past the 1 am deadline to celebrate the success of his film Kaatera. The police filed an FIR in April against Darshan, actors Abhishek Ambareesh, producer-director Rockline Venkatesh, and Dhananjaya, as they reportedly continued a party past the deadline with loud music. Notices were issued to all involved.

November 2023: Darshan was accused of setting dogs on a woman who parked her car near his residence. An FIR has been registered against him under IPC section 289 stating negligence on Darshans part. The police later said that Darshan was not on the scene when the incident happened, but the woman claimed they were the actors dogs.

January 2023: The forest department raided Darshans farmhouse in Mysuru and seized four bar-headed geese and other migratory birds. He was booked under the Wildlife Protection Act (WPA) 1972 for illegally possessing the birds, which fall under Schedule 2 of the WPA.

December 2022: Darshan made a controversial statement during an interview for his film Kranti: The Goddess of Luck does not always come knocking on your door. So, when she does come, grab her, drag her, and lock her in your bedroom without giving her clothes. This comment sparked a massive backlash, including an incident where a fan threw a slipper at him during an event in Hospet.

July 2021: Darshan was accused of assaulting a waiter at a hotel in Mysuru. Allegedly, the waiter was paid Rs 50,000 to cover up the case, and no charges were filed. In the same year, Kannada film producer Bharat filed a complaint against Darshan, stating that he had been threatening him.

March 2016: Vijayalakshmi filed a police complaint stating that Darshan hit her again and threatened to shoot her. Doctors found bruises and a wound on her head requiring four sutures. Darshan claimed he was intoxicated and had no memory of the incident when produced in front of the police.

September 2011: Vijayalakshmi for the first time complained that Darshan had assaulted her. Their relationship turned tumultuous and was marked by multiple separations due to alleged domestic abuse and violence, though they did not formally divorce. Vijayalakshmi filed a case in the family court, which they resolved out of court.

Recent controversy: Pavithra publicly confirmed that she was in a relationship with Darshan for over ten years despite his being married to Vijayalakshmi. Pavithras Instagram post compiling moments with Darshan, captioned One decade down, forever to go. Its been 10 years of our relationship. Thank you, sent Vijayalakshmi into a tizzy, who threatened legal action against her. Pavithra responded with a post showing a diya, expressing her love and care for Darshan over the past decade and mentioning the abuse she and her daughter have faced. Darshan has not spoken on the issue to date.
A Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP with his roots in Odisha, Dharmendra Pradhan returned as the Union minister of education in the third term of Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government.

Pradhan has held the portfolio since 2021. He has been central to formulating and implementing the new National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which is said to be one of the major reforms brought under the Modi government. The policy has been criticised by the Opposition as an attempt to centralise education, which was a state subject and is now in the concurrent list.

The NEP 2020 replaced the previous education policy of 1986, which was brought out by the then Congress government.

There have been several important changes in the higher education system under Pradhan as the minister, including the launch of a Common University Entrance Test (CUET) for admission to undergraduate programmes in central universities. The Foreign Higher Education Institutions (FHEIs) policy that allows foreign universities to set up campus in India is also another crucial policy change brought by his ministry last year.

Pradhan, 54, who has been at the centrestage of the BJPs big win in Odisha in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, has been assigned the education portfolio again clearly since he has been at the helm of all the crucial changes, said a senior official.

In line with the NEP, he is also tasked with establishing the much talked about and awaited Higher Education Commission of India (HECI), a draft bill of which has been pending to be introduced and approved by Parliament. The HECI will replace the University Grants Commission and will have all higher education bodies under it.

In the Modi-led NDA government, Pradhan has held various ministerial positions. He was the Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas from 2014 to 2019. In 2019, he was appointed the Minister of Steel. In 2021, he was appointed as the Minister of Education and Minister of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.

Now, the main challenge that lies before the minister is that of taking the NEP forward and implementing its vision across states. The new policy has often been criticised by the state governments in southern region as well as in other parts of the country such as West Bengal.

The foundational stage curriculum launched as part of the National Curriculum Framework (NCF) in line with the NEP envisaged that children in the age group of 3-8 be taught in the mother tongue. The policy was rejected by the Karnataka state government and opposed in parts by several others.

However, the NDA, now being a coalition government with the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) as an important ally with 16 seats in Andhra Pradesh and the alliance winning some seats in Telangana as well, may change this scenario in these two southern states.

The ministry has also been working on standardising school boards across the country, which it said is being done to bring all boards at par such that students of any board is not at a disadvantage. The move, too, has been criticised by state boards and educators. However, the ministry has tasked its national assessment centre  PARAKH (Performance Assessment, Review and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic Development)  set up under the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) to carry out a study of the learning outcomes of the 200-odd school boards across India.

The study has already been carried out and we have sent it to the ministry as well. The release of the report is awaited for the education minister to take charge, said a senior NCERT official.
The newly elected NDA government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the renaming of 30 places in Tibet, signaling a strong response to Chinas nomenclature aggression in the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh.

Ties between the two neighbours hit a low except for trade ever since the eastern Ladakh border standoff erupted on May 5, 2020, following a violent clash in the Pangong Tso area. The two sides have so far held 21 rounds of military talks to resolve the standoff.

This move comes as a retort to Chinas renaming of 30 places in Arunachal Pradesh earlier in April, a decision that drew strong objections from India. Under Modi 3.0, India aims to assert its territorial claims by assigning its own names to locations in occupied Tibet.

The list comprises 11 residential areas, 12 mountains, four rivers, one lake, one mountain pass, and a piece of land, presented in Chinese characters, Tibetan, and pinyin. Chinas previous actions include releasing lists of standardized names for places in Arunachal Pradesh since 2017, with the latest list containing almost as many new names as the three prior combined.

Despite Chinas repeated claims, India has consistently affirmed Arunachal Pradesh as an integral part and inalienable of the country. The Ministry Of External Affairs has maintained that assigning invented names does not alter this reality. This strong response from India comes as Chinas expansionist policies in regions like the South China Sea have garnered global disapproval.

Taking charge as Minister of External Affairs for the second time, Minister S. Jaishankar today reaffirmed the countrys robust stance on issues concerning China and Pakistan, stating that both border issues and cross-border terrorism, will be dealt with by India.

As far as Pakistan and China are concerned, the relations with those countries are different, and the problems there are also different. Our focus with regard to China will be on finding a solution for the border issues and with Pakistan, we would want to find a solution to the issue of years-old cross-border terrorism, Jaishankar said after assuming office.
Security operations continued on Tuesday in Jammu and Kashmirs Reasi district following the attack on pilgrims that resulted in the loss of nine lives. As many as 11 security teams are actively working in the area, implementing a multi-directional cordon around the Poni-Treyath belt.

Security forces have heightened vigilance in the surrounding areas and have intensified checking and frisking activities in the region. Authorities have detained over 20 individuals for questioning in connection with the incident.

On Sunday, terrorists opened fire at the 53-seater bus, which was on its way from the Shiv Khori temple to the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Katra, causing it to veer off the road and fall into a deep gorge near the Teryath village of the Poni area of Reasi. The bus was ferrying pilgrims from Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Delhi.

READ MORE: CCTV Captures Bus In J&Ks Reasi Moments Before Attack, Disturbing Terror Pattern Emerges Amid Massive Manhunt

Deputy Inspector General of Police, Udhampur-Reasi Range, Rayees Mohammad Bhat said the security forces have got some leads as 11 teams of police, Army and CRPF are jointly working on two different axes to neutralise the fleeing terrorists.

The search operation is going on today in and around the area (where the attack took place) with 11 teams working on the ground apart from a multi-directional cordon laid around the (Poni-Treyath) belt, another senior police officer said.

Earlier, Lt Governor Manoj Sinha visited the injured in Jammu and Reasi hospitals and chaired a high-level meeting to review the security situation. Survivors of the attack are recording their statements as part of the ongoing probe into the attack, while a thorough combing operation is underway to track down the perpetrators, the officials said, adding several persons were detained for questioning. The Resistance Front (TRF), a shadow group of the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba terror outfit, initially claimed responsibility for the attack but retracted its statement later.

READ MORE: Terrorists Continued Firing Even After Our Bus Fell Into Gorge: Survivors Recount Terror Attack In J&Ks Reasi

Among those killed in the attack are two-year-old Titu Sawhney and his mother Pooja from Rajasthan. They were among four people from the state who lost their lives in the attack. Three of the deceased were from Uttar Pradesh. The driver and the conductor of the bus, both from Reasi, were also among the victims. The officials said five of the nine deceased had gunshot wounds. They added that 41 people were injured in the attack and 10 of them had bullet injuries. Some of those injured were undergoing treatment in hospitals across Jammu and Reasi districts.

READ MORE: Lashkar Commander Sajid Jatt Tasked TRF to Carry Out Reasi Terror Attack, Say Sources | Exclusive

Security forces suspect the terrorists are hiding in the mountainous terrains of Rajouri and Reasi, and have intensified combing operations in the region. Operation is continuing for the second day and we are working on various inputs. Multiple teams have been formed to work on two different axes while the investigation part is also continuing simultaneously, the DIG, who is leading the operation, told agencies. Asked about the detention of several persons for questioning, he replied that saying anything on this matter would be premature but we have got some leads and we are following those leads to track down the fleeing terrorists.

Admitting that the area poses a challenge for the security forces given the dense forest, lack of water sources, threat of forest fires, steep slopes and crevices that work as a natural hideout, the officer said that search parties are moving cautiously to avoid any casualty in case of contact with the terrorists. Talking to reporters at the scene late this evening, the officer said 11 teams have fanned out in coordination with the Army and CRPF and a joint effort is on to neutralise the terrorists.

READ MORE: Bus Driver Made Last-Ditch Attempt To Save Pilgrims After Terrorists Sprayed Him With Bullets In J&Ks Reasi

Chaired a security review meeting with the officials of J&K Police and Civil Administration. I assure the people that those behind attack on pilgrims in Reasi and those aiding and abetting them will be punished. pic.twitter.com/5zI8HNn5bV Office of LG J&K (@OfficeOfLGJandK) June 10, 2024

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha condemned the attack, calling it a part of a malicious scheme to disrupt peace in the region. Expressing solidarity with the affected families, the administration has approved ex gratia payments of Rs 10 lakh for the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for those injured. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister Amit Shah have been briefed on the situation, with assurances that those responsible for the attack will face justice, Sinha said.

The attack is a despicable attempt to instigate turmoil in Jammu, but we are resolute in our commitment to safeguard the region, Sinha said during a visit to the injured at the Government Medical College. He also visited Narayana Hospital in Reasi. The Lt Governor also held a high-level security review meeting here later in the day. Chaired a security review meeting with the officials of J&K Police and Civil Administration. I assure the people that those behind the attack on pilgrims in Reasi and those aiding and abetting them will be punished, the Lt Governor wore on X.

(With agency inputs)
NCP leader and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Monday used the partys foundation day platform to thank his estranged uncle Sharad Pawar for leading the party since its inception in 1999, days after the NCP suffered a crushing defeat in the Lok Sabha polls.

Addressing a party function in Mumbai, Ajit Pawar reaffirmed the NCPs stance of not settling for any position lower than a Cabinet berth in the Narendra Modi 3.0 government.

We made it clear to the BJP that we will not accept any post lower than the Cabinet portfolio. They told us that they need to give Cabinet posts to many of its constituents, he said.

In an apparent bid to dispel perceptions of NCPs disappointment over Cabinet berth allocation, he added, We are still a part of the NDA. He also claimed the NDA current strength at 284 will cross the 300 mark in the coming months.

In the recent general elections, the NCP under Ajit Pawar managed to secure only one of the four seats it contested, while the rival faction led by Sharad Pawar won eight out of ten constituencies it contested.

Notably, Ajits wife, Sunetra Pawar, lost to her sister-in-law and sitting MP Supriya Sule in the Pawar stronghold of Baramati.

I wish to thank Sharad Pawar for leading the party for the last 24 years, along with those who have remained with it since its inception, Ajit Pawar said.

He claimed the Opposition tried to create a negative narrative against the NCP and the government during the elections.

Ajit Pawar split the NCP, founded by Sharad Pawar, in July 2023 as he joined the Shiv Sena-BJP government in Maharashtra.

I can assure everyone that our ideology is based on the teachings of Shivaji Maharaj, Shahu Maharaj, Mahatma Phule, and Babasaheb Ambedkar, the Deputy CM asserted.

He acknowledged that party leader Sunil Tatkare preserved the NCPs image by winning the Raigad Lok Sabha seat.

Reflecting on the NCPs electoral setback, Ajit Pawar stated that internal issues need to be addressed and certain aspects require fixing.

He cited examples of TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu and JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar, who leverage their influence to secure benefits for their respective states.

Commenting on the Lok Sabha election results in rural Maharashtra, he noted that the onion issue brought tears to many eyes, referring to the temporary ban on onion exports by the Central government.

Except for Jalgaon and Raver Lok Sabha seats, NDA lost all the rural constituencies facing onion growers anger. We need to work on such issues as well, he added.
Several parts of Delhi experienced massive power outages on Tuesday following a fire at a power grid in Uttar Pradesh, which supplies 1,500MW of power to the national capital. The cause of the fire remains unknown.

Taking to social media platform X, Delhi Power Minister Atishi said the power outage was due to a fire at a sub-station of the Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL) in Mandola, Uttar Pradesh.

There is power outage in many parts of Delhi from 2:11pm. This is due to a fire at sub-station of Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL) in Mandola, UP. Delhi receives 1200 MW of power from the Mandola sub-station, and therefore many parts of Delhi have been affected, Atishi wrote in her post.

There is power outage in many parts of Delhi from 2:11pm. This is due to a fire at sub-station of Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL) in Mandola, UP. Delhi receives 1200 MW of power from the Mandola sub-station, and therefore many parts of Delhi have been affected.The  Atishi (@AtishiAAP) June 11, 2024

The AAP minister informed that the power restoration process has begun, and electricity is gradually returning to different areas.

Additionally, during a press conference with the media, Atishi stated that she intends to request a meeting with the new Union Power Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, as well as the Chairman of PGCIL and the Chairman of NTPC.

This is a very serious issue. I will seek time today from the new power minister of the central government Manohar Lal Khattar, the chairman of PGCIL and the chairman of NTPC, she stated.

#WATCH | Delhi Minister Atishi says, A fire broke out in a sub-station of PGCIL in Mandola, Uttar Pradesh, from where Delhi gets 1,500MW of power and due to the fire there, there has been a power cut in many parts of Delhi This is a very serious issue I will seek time pic.twitter.com/2V6OCjKXAT ANI (@ANI) June 11, 2024

The AAP minister further highlighted the limited electricity production within Delhi, the limited electricity production within Delhi, noting that the majority of the citys electricity is sourced from outside.

It is a matter of great concern that today the national level power infrastructure of our country has failed, Atishi added.

(With inputs from agencies)
At least two terrorists were killed and a civilian was injured in a gunfight with security forces on Tuesday after militants opened fire in Saida Sukhal village in the Hiranagar area of Jammu and Kashmirs Kathua district. On the other hand, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawan was critically injured in a firing by another terrorist holed up in the village, officials said, adding the soldier was shifted to a hospital where he succumbed to injuries during treatment.

Terrorists attacked the village near the International Border on Tuesday evening and injured a civilian. During a subsequent search operation, one terrorist was killed while efforts were being made to flush out the other holed-up terrorists who are believed to have infiltrated from across the border. The other was eliminated later on Wednesday.

Confirming the details, Additional Director General of Police, Jammu zone, Anand Jain said, Two terrorists who appeared to be freshly infiltrated (from across the border) surfaced in Saida Sukhal village around 8 pm and asked for water from a household. The people got frightened and as soon as information was received, a police team headed by a sub-divisional police officer (SDPO) and a Station House officer (SHO) rushed to the village.

One of the terrorists tried to hurl a grenade and was killed in the exchange of fire, while the second terrorist is reported to be hiding in the village, the ADGP added.

The body of the second terrorist killed in the encounter in the Hiranagar area of Kathua was recovered today.

The firing took place following a massive search operation conducted by the security forces in a forest area prompted by reports of suspicious movement in the region. Senior police officers led by the Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) are at the scene of the encounter.

Police said the area has been cordoned off, and a house-to-house search is underway with the assistance of the CRPF.

The officials said an AK assault rifle and a rucksack were recovered from the possession of the slain terrorist whose identity and group affiliation were being ascertained.

A civilian who had suffered grievous injuries in one of his arms in the terrorist firing was evacuated to a hospital, they said.

According to a police statement, the terrorists asked for water from several houses, raising villagers suspicions. When villagers raised an alarm, the terrorists fired randomly, injuring one person.

One family, consisting of a man and his wife, has been evacuated to a hospital. The husband, Omkar Nath, suffered an arm injury and is reported to be in stable condition, while his wife remains unhurt, an official said.

Only one civilian was injured in the terrorist attack, Jain said, putting at rest rumours that three civilians were killed and many others were injured in the incident.

Meanwhile, during the search and cordon operation, the terrorist who was holed up in the village, fired on a security force vehicle at around 3 am, injuring CRPF jawan Kabir Dass, who later succumbed to injuries during treatment.

The incident in the Jammu region comes days after terrorists attacked a bus carrying pilgrims from the Shiv Khori temple to Katra causing it to veer off the road and fall into a deep gorge, resulting in the death of nine persons and injuries to 41 others.

In constant touch and keeping close watch: Jitendra Singh

Speaking about the incident on X, Union Minister Jitendra Singh stated that he is in contact with Kathuas district commissioner.

I am in continuous online contact with DC #Kathua Sh Rakesh Minhas in the wake of terrorist attack on a house in village Saida in Hiranagar sector close to the International Border. I am also in touch with SSP Kathua Sh Anayat Ali Choudhary who is on the spot, Singh wrote.

I am in continuous online contact with DC #Kathua Sh Rakesh Minhas in the wake of terrorist attack on a house in village Saida in Hiranagar sector close to the International Border. I am also in touch with SSP Kathua Sh Anayat Ali Choudhary who is on the spot. The owner of1/2 Dr Jitendra Singh (@DrJitendraSingh) June 11, 2024

The owner of the house that was attacked (name not to be disclosed) is also in touch on mobile phone. Joint police & para military operation is going on. One terrorist neutralised so far. I and my office are in constant touch and keeping a close watch on the developments, the Union Minister added.

This incident come amid heightened security efforts following an attack on a bus carrying pilgrims from the Shiv Khori temple to Katra in Reasi on Sunday. The attack, which occurred two days earlier, caused the bus to veer off the road and fall into a deep gorge, leaving nine dead and 41 injured.

(With inputs from PTI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reposed his faith in the top four lieutenants on Raisina Hill, rewarded the key performers who have acted like the engine of his government in the earlier term and has made it a point to respect the NDA allies in what is Modis first brush with running a true coalition government.

These three mantras reflected in the list of portfolios for the 71 Ministers who took oath alongside the Prime Minister at Rashtrapati Bhawan on Sunday. 24 hours later, soon after the maiden Cabinet meeting chaired by Modi where he stressed upon implementing the 100-day agenda, the government put out the portfolios signaling a combined message of continuity, experience and some young blood. The entry of Shivraj Singh Chouhan into the Union Cabinet and being given the charge of two key rural sector Ministries is also significant. The message was clear from the PM: avoid controversy and perform in the order to rise, and put your expertise to best use.

Raisina Hill Stands Like a Rock

Modi has chosen to continue all four ministers on Raisina Hill who form the apex Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS). Rajnath Singh continues as the Defence Minister after handling the eyeball-to-eyeball confrontation on the India-China border and pushing the Make-In-India efforts to cut down defence import bill, as well as enhance defence exports. Amit Shah continues as the Home Minister after steering through the three new criminal law amendment bills and CAA, while S. Jaishankar remains the chosen one to steer Indian diplomatic efforts at the Minister of External Affairs. Modi has also reposed faith in the senior woman face of the government, Nirmala Sitharaman, for another stint at the crucial Finance Ministry. Sitharaman will present the full budget next month in Parliament.

Rewarding Performers

Ministers who have performed in Modi 2.0 and have been like the engine driving the government have also been rewarded with continuity, and some with additional responsibilities as the PM believes they can shoulder the burden of responsibility. Leading the charge here is Indias Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari since 2014, who will get a record third term in the same Ministry. Gadkari, who once said he had demanded this particular Ministry though the PM was ready to give him one on Raisina Hill, has led the transformative change in Indias highway network as well as pushed the adoption of green vehicles in India.

Ashwini Vaishnaw has seen his responsibilities grow from being the Minister of Railways, and Electronics and IT, to getting additional charge as the Minister of Information and Broadcasting as well. Vaishnaw will now lead the governments effort in getting its message across to the people as well as continue in his successful efforts in the airways and the IT Sector. Another performer has been Jyotiraditya Scindia as the Civil Aviation Minister and he has been given the Ministry of Communications now at a time when the government wants to do a fast country-wide roll-out of the 5G mobile network. Scindia also got the charge of the DoNER Ministry.

The PM has also taken care to bring in new talent to the central level, like the former CM of Madhya Pradesh Shivraj Singh Chouhan who got charge of both the Agriculture Ministry and Rural Development Ministry. Chouhan has led the turnaround in the agriculture sector in Madhya Pradesh and also delivered the state to the BJP both in the assembly and the Lok Sabha elections. This is a rare case where both the Agriculture and Rural Development Ministries have gone to a single Minister. Chouhan will also lead the effort to build three crore more houses in Indias villages under the PM Awas Yojana that was cleared by the Union Cabinet as the first decision of Modi 3.0 on Monday.

Former Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar has also been given two key ministries, Power, and Housing and Urban Affairs. Similarly, BJPs Gujarat President CR Patil has made his debut in the Council of Ministers as the Minister of Jal Shakti  the PM has reposed his faith in Patil to steer his ambitious Har Ghar Jal scheme aimed at bringing drinking water to every household in the country by next year. Other performing Ministers at the Centre, like Bhupender Yadav and Hardeep Singh Puri will continue in their existing Ministries of Environment and Petroleum respectively. Kiren Rijiju has a key responsibility of Parliamentary Affairs in a house that will see some spirited show by the Opposition.

Respecting Allies

Cognizant that this is a government which is truly one bound by coalition dharma, Narendra Modi has given due respect to allies in terms of portfolios after allowing 11 ministerial berths to them and keeping one in abeyance for the NCP. Former Chief Ministers like HD Kumaraswamy and Jitin Ram Manjhi have prestigious portfolios  Heavy Industries and Steel for the former, and the crucial MSME portfolio for Manjhi. TDPs Ram Mohan Naidu has been rewarded with Civil Aviation Ministry, a portfolio held by the TDP in its earlier innings with the NDA.

JDUs Lallan Singh has been given two Ministries  Panchayati Raj, and Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairy. LJPs Chirag Paswan is also a Cabinet Minister with charge of Food Processing, a charge held earlier by his late father Ram Vilas Paswan. Shiv Sena however wont be pleased so much with its sole Minister with independent charge, Jadhav Prataprao Ganpatrao, getting the charge of Ayush Ministry and a junior minister post in Health Ministry. RLDs Jayant Chaudhary has been given independent charge of the important Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and a junior minister in the Education Ministry as well.
Gunfire, shrieks, bloodied seats and a loud thud are what 31-year-old Atul Mishra and his wife, Neha, 29, who were onboard the fateful bus, which fell into a gorge in Jammu and Kashmirs Reasi district after being targeted by terrorists, perhaps remember.

Around 6pm on Sunday, terrorists opened fire at the 53-seater bus, which was on its way from the Shiv Khori temple to the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Katra, causing the driver to lose control over the steering wheel. The bus fell into a gorge near the Teryath village of the Poni area of Reasi. At least nine people were killed and 41 injured in the attack.

ALSO READ | CCTV Captures Bus In J&Ks Reasi Moments Before Attack, Disturbing Terror Pattern Emerges Amid Massive Manhunt

Uttar Pradesh resident Mishra suffered a bullet injury to his head and is undergoing treatment at Government Medical College, Jammu, while his wife, Neha, is yet to recover from the shock.

WORRIED FAMILY

Please pray for my brother who is battling for his life. My bhabhi is still in a state of shock. Only thing which we heard from her was the gun shots, blood in the bus and the fading sight of the bus falling into the gorge," Mansi, Mishras younger sister, who is keeping tab on every development, told News18.

Mansi, a student of Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapith University, couldnt control her emotions while describing the condition of his brother. She said her brother got married on June 7, 2023. Initially, we had planned a grand wedding anniversary in Kashi. But bhai and bhabhi said they wanted to seek blessings of Maa Vaishno Devi. On their insistence, my father and other family members agreed to send them off on a pilgrimage," she recollected.

Mishras father Rajesh Mishra said that after seeing the news of the terror attack on TV, he tried calling them, but couldnt connect due to network issues. Around 12 noon on Monday, we got a call from the district administration, informing about the terror strike. They said that Atul had suffered a head injury, while his wife suffered internal injuries and is in shock," Rajesh Mishra said.

He said his daughter-in-law also narrated the entire episode, saying it will be etched in her memory forever. She told me how the peaceful, serene environment was breached by reverberating noise, which was followed by the shattering of window glasses. It was when people started screaming and the floor and seats of the bus turned red with blood that they realised that it was gunfire. She said they hid behind the seat of the bus. However, even before the terrorist could target them further, it fell into the gorge," said Rajesh Mishra.

He said his wife Sunita has stopped eating and will break her fast only when her son and daughter-in-law are back home safely.

Not only the Mishras, the entire Hanthi Gali near Kashis Kal Bhairav Temple is shocked and worried. Locals want the Indian government to give a befitting reply against this cowardly attack.

-           :        !                             Yogi Adityanath (  ) (@myogiadityanath) June 9, 2024

UP CM CALLS ATTACKS COWARDLY

Among those who died, Ruby and Anurag Verma were from UPs Balrampur district, while four pilgrims were from Jaipur, one from Delhi and the bus driver was from Reasi and bus conductor from Katra. According to the UP government, among those who suffered injuries were largely from the East UP region, including Gorakhpur, Varanasi, Balrampur, Gonda and Meerut in West UP.

UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath strongly condemned the terrorist attack, calling it cowardly". The cowardly attack on pilgrims in Jammu and Kashmir is extremely sad. My heartfelt condolences to the departed souls. My sympathies are with the grieving families. I pray to Lord Shri Ram to grant the departed souls a place at his holy feet and provide speedy recovery to all the injured," Adityanath posted on X.

ALSO READ | J-K Terror Attack: Massive Manhunt Underway; LG Reviews Security Situation After Deadly Assault On Pilgrims

In another post on X, the chief minister said, Instructions have been given to the Additional Chief Secretary Home and Director General of Police of Uttar Pradesh to immediately contact the local administration and ensure proper treatment and safety of the injured in the state."

Keshav Prasad Maurya, Deputy chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, also expressed his strong condemnation of the attack. The terrorist attack on a bus full of devotees going to Mata Vaishno Devi in Jammu and Kashmir is extremely cowardly and condemnable. I pray to God that the injured in the incident recover as soon as possible and that the departed souls find a place at his holy feet. Om Shanti," Maurya posted on X.
Popular Kannada actor Darshan Thugadeepa has been arrested by Bengaluru police in Kamakshipalya over his alleged connection with a murder case.

The 47-year-old was earlier taken into police custody in connection with the murder of an individual identified as Renukaswamy from Karnatakas Chitradurga district, whose body was found on Sunday.

The preliminary investigation revealed that Renukaswamy had sent obscene messages to the actors wife. Police are currently questioning more than 10 individuals. CCTV was examined, and the victim was identified as Renukaswamy from Chitradurga, the Bengaluru Police said.

Darshan was apprehended from his farmhouse in Mysore today and is being brought to the Kamakshipalya police station in Bengaluru for further investigation. Renuka Swamys family is also en route to the police station.

Police sources disclosed that Renuka Swamy had harassed Pavithra Gowda, believed to be close to Darshan. Following Pavithras complaint, Darshan allegedly instructed Vinay, an associate, to bring Renuka Swamy to Bengaluru.

Eight of the accused have implicated Darshan, claiming his presence during Renuka Swamys assault. A wooden log was reportedly used to fatally injure the victim. The perpetrators intended to dispose of the body in the Vrushabhavati valley, but it was discovered stuck and being tampered with by dogs. A case of an unidentified body was initially filed on June 8.
The ministry of external affairs on Tuesday said two Indian nationals recruited by the Russian Army were killed during its ongoing conflict with Ukraine. India has demanded that all such recruitment by Russia must stop, as such activities would not be in consonance with our partnership.

According to the ministry, the Indian embassy in Moscow has pressed the Russian authorities, including the Ministry of Defense, for the early repatriation of the mortal remains of the two Indian nationals.

We regret to state that two Indian nationals who had been recruited by the Russian Army have recently been killed in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. We offer our deepest condolences to the families of the deceased. Our Embassy in Moscow has pressed the Russian authorities, including the Ministry of Defense, for early repatriation of mortal remains, read a statement from the ministry.

In the wake of this news, the MEA also urged Indian nationals to exercise caution while seeking employment opportunities in Russia and said it has demanded that there should be a verified stop to the recruitment of Indian nationals in the Russian Army.

The ministry further said the Centre and the Indian embassy have strongly taken up the matter of the early release and return of all such Indian nationals recruited by the Russian Army.

The Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Embassy in Moscow have strongly taken up the matter with the Russian Ambassador in New Delhi and with Russian authorities in Moscow respectively, for early release and return of all Indian nationals who are with the Russian Army. India has also demanded that there be a verified stop to any further recruitment of our nationals by the Russian Army. Such activities would not be in consonance with our partnership. We also urge Indian nationals to exercise caution while seeking employment opportunities in Russia, the ministry added.
A US national was deceived into buying counterfeit jewellery worth Rs 300 for Rs 6 crore from a shop in Rajasthans Jaipur. An investigation into the matter was launched after the intervention of the US Embassy.

Cherish, a US resident bought a piece of jewellery from Jaipurs Johri Bazaar, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Manak Chowk police station. The jewellery cost her Rs 6 crore.

However, when she displayed the jewellery at an exhibition in the US in April, it was discovered to be fake following which Cherish confronted the sellers.

Upon returning to Jaipur to confront the shop owners  Rajendra Soni and his son Gaurav  who sold her the fake jewellery, ignored her complaints and dismissed the allegations.

Cherish later filed an FIR against the shop owners at the Manak Chowk police station. In retaliation, the accused filed a false case against her.

Distressed by the developments, Cherish sought help from the US Embassy and with their involvement, Jaipur Police began investigating and found that the jewellery was indeed fake.

While the shop owner and his son are currently on the run, the individual who issued the fake certificate for the jewellery has been arrested. A special team of Jaipur police has been formed to apprehend the accused.

The preliminary probe by the police revealed that the shop owners recently purchased an apartment worth Rs 3 crore.

Investigations have revealed that the accused sold silver jewellery with gold polish, worth Rs 300, to the foreigner for Rs 6 crore and provided her with a fake certificate of authenticity. Nand Kishore, who issued the fake certificate, has been arrested, and a search is ongoing for the absconding father and son, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police North Bajrang Singh Shekhawat said.
Women in Karnataka have availed themselves of 227 crore free rides in government non-luxury buses under the Shakti guarantee in the last one year, costing the state exchequer Rs 5,526.64 crore, Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy said on Tuesday.

The Congress government, led by Siddaramaiah, launched the Shakti scheme  one of the five guarantees which the party had promised before the Assembly elections  on June 11 last year.

These promises are said to have yielded rich electoral dividends to the Congress, helping it dethrone the Basavaraj Bommai-led BJP government.

As the government celebrates one year of Shakti guarantee implementation, Reddy said in a statement that 226.95 women travelled free of cost in the government buses.

Most such rides were accounted for by the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation buses (BMTC-71.45 crore), followed by Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC-69.5 crore).

North West Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC) and Kalyana Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (KKRTC) posted 52.12 crore and 33.47 crore free rides, respectively.

KSRTC incurred an expenditure of Rs 2,111.14 crore, NWKRTC Rs 1,352.68 crore, KKRTC Rs 1,125.81 crore and BMTC Rs 937.01 crore, the statement said.

Reddy said several measures have been taken to improve the public transport system such as approval for the induction of 5,800 new buses. In addition, 2,438 new buses have been inducted across the four transport corporations in recent times.

According to the minister, the state inducted new buses with brand name Pallakki, Ashwamedha Classic, Kalyana Ratha and Amogha Varsha.

Approval has been accorded for recruitment of 9,000 posts in the department. In this regard, appointment orders have been issued to recruit 1,844 driver-cum-conductors and technical assistants, Reddy said.

Recruitment for 6,500 posts (KSRTC- 2,500 driver-cum-conductors, BMTC-2,000 conductors, NWKRTC -1,000 drivers and 1,000 conductors) is under process and will be completed soon, the minister said.

The government has also enhanced accident relief compensation from Rs three lakh to Rs 10 lakh to dependents in case of death of any passenger in an accident while travelling in bus operated by state-run corporations, he added.
In India, summers bring a wave of nostalgia. It takes us back to our childhood days when we eagerly waited for vacations to begin. Planning family holidays during the summer season has been a tradition, offering an opportunity to explore the world and create unforgettable memories. Whether wandering on the beaches, hiking through the mountains, or relaxing amid alluring views of snowcapped hills, holidays during this season are no less than escapades from the heat.

Summer travel trend in India

This year, Indians are travelling more than ever before. In 2024, we expect 57% of travellers to plan a domestic trip and 43% will prefer long international vacations. As compared to the 2019 levels, domestic air passenger traffic has already surged by 21% above 2019 levels, whereas international travel spiked by 4%. These statistics imply that people have a strong desire to travel and explore the world despite the intense heat waves and soaring temperatures. And its not just domestic places but international destinations are piquing their interest equally.

Rikant Pittie, Co-Founder, EaseMyTrip, says, People are looking for options to escape the heat and relax while enjoying picturesque views, natural beauty, and diverse experiences. Summer is the peak season, and travel packages have increased in digital digits. Economy and premium economy are the most availed flight categories, and travellers prefer booking three-star properties for stays owing to their amenities and economical price points. However, with the spike in airfares, they are resorting to alternative modes of travel like Vande Bharat and buses. Several trends like coolcations, spiritual tourism, recreational vacations, and adventure tourism are gaining popularity this season. 

Domestic travel on the rise

During the summer season, people prefer choosing destinations with pleasant climates to beat the heat and picturesque landscapes for a relaxing vacation, offering all the services at affordable pricing. In India, Goa, with its sunkissed beaches and vibrant nightlife, continues to remain the favourite of travellers, being the top searched and booked destination. Lakshadweep and Nandi Hills stand second and third, respectively, on the travellers list. Additionally, Udaipur and Rishikesh, offering a wide array of cultural and traditional experiences, are also preferred by them, adds Pittie.

International trips are constant

When it comes to international travel, visa-free destinations are drawing the attention of tourists. Thailand and Sri Lanka remain the favourites. Additionally, Abu Dhabi, Phuket, Singapore, Bali, Bangkok, and Kuala Lumpur are the most searched and booked destinations. However, Baku (Azerbaijan), Almaty (Kazakhstan), and Nagoya (Japan) are making it to the list of options and are receiving traction in terms of search queries. Moreover, with the recent trend of multi-entry Schengen visas, European destinations occupy a prominent position in the summer travel destinations list. Amsterdam, Singapore, London, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Frankfurt, and Munich are the top destinations that Indian travellers are visiting this summer season.

Coolcations to beat the heat

Nowadays, summer travel and coolcations are synonymous. Just when temperatures soar, tourists prefer vacationing in cooler and colder destinations. Hence, Leh Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Kashmir, Kerala, Coorg, and the Northeast regions are the most booked tour packages this year. But this year, theres an altogether new trend. Pittie opines, We are now witnessing the boom of destination dupes. The concept revolves around travellers opting to visit hidden gems, less crowded and less expensive locations similar to that of their international counterparts. For instance, Gulmarg and Khajjiar are preferred as alternatives to the Swiss Alps, Andamans beaches over Phuket, and sprawling tea estates in Munnar bear a strong resemblance to the Cameron Highlands in Malaysia.

Spiritual tourism for inner peace

With spiritual tourism gaining popularity, Ayodhya has also seen a surge in search volumes owing to the Ram Mandir inauguration. In May, there has been a significant 102% Y-o-Y increase in searches for religious destinations like Ayodhya, Ujjain, Badrinath, and Amarnath. An increasing desire for religious exploration and the search for inner peace is reshaping the travel industry and holds a considerable share of bookings for summer travel. Amritsar has the lions share in terms of flight searches, with a 22-25% increase for May 2024 as compared to last year. Varanasi, Puri, and Tirupati follow next, observing a high volume of flight searches, shares Pittie. Known for their historical significance and deep-rooted cultural traditions, they offer unique travel experiences, culinary delights, luxurious wellness amenities, and spiritual immersions.

This year, not just family vacations but solo trips are also showing a rise. In fact, a certain percentage of tourists are also going for drivecations for weekend getaways. However, travel buffs and enthusiasts are opting for immersive, adrenaline-filled experiences like glamping, ski plane tours, paragliding, parasailing, etc. Moreover, the market of health-conscious travellers is increasing. Hence, there has been a rise in demand for wellness retreats and rejuvenating vacations. From yoga sessions in Rishikesh to meditative and recreational retreats in the Swiss Alps, tourists are willing to travel anywhere to seek rejuvenation.

Pittie believes, The Indian travel landscape is booming and this year is going to mark a milestone in its journey. With the rising urge to travel and have exposure to immersive experiences, the summer season travel industry is poised to flourish with a notable surge in searches and bookings by tourists. However, since there is a high demand, its advisable to stay updated with the best prices and deals to plan your vacations well in advance and avoid last-minute bookings that will lead to surcharges in airfares and hotels.

It could be a trip to the cool mountains, self-discovery journeys to pilgrimage destinations, or the nightlife at tropical beaches, travel today is not just about exploring a destination but about embracing the enriching experiences that come along with it. This season, summer travel is about escaping the heat. But its also about fulfilling the desire for a rejuvenating holiday, providing opportunities for global exploration and self-discovery.
With its stunning beaches, vibrant culture, and delicious cuisine, Spain is a top destination for travelers looking to make the most of their summer. Whether planning a relaxing beach getaway or a cultural adventure, Spain has something for everyone. In this ultimate guide, well cover everything you need to know to make the most of your summer in Spain.

Spains beauty is a captivating blend of diverse landscapes, rich history, and vibrant culture. The country boasts stunning natural scenery, from the pristine beaches of the Costa del Sol and the dramatic cliffs of the Costa Brava to the serene countryside of Andalusia and the majestic Pyrenees mountains. Its cities are equally enchanting, with Barcelonas modernist architecture, such as Gaudis Sagrada Familia and Park Guell, contrasting with the medieval charm of Sevilles Alcazar and the Gothic splendor of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela

Planning and Preparations

First and foremost, its essential to plan to ensure you have the best possible experience in Spain. Start by researching different regions of the country to determine which best aligns with your interests. Are you a beach lover? Consider visiting the beautiful Balearic Islands or Costa del Sol. Interested in history and culture? Explore the cities of Madrid, Barcelona, and Seville. Once youve decided on your destination, its time to start planning your itinerary. Make a list of must-see attractions, restaurants, and activities to ensure you make the most of your time in Spain. Dont forget to leave room for spontaneity  some of the best memories are made when you go off the beaten path.

While traveling to Spain, the visa process can become a hassle if the person needs to book it correctly it can take up to 45 days or 60 days which is an extensive period. BLS Internationals visa application procedure can help us to make it simplified. Its efficient and user-friendly technology speeds up the process and ensures that Indian tourists receive the necessary documents smoothly before embarking on their Spanish adventure International will ensure there will be no hassle while boarding a lifetime trip.

Accommodation

Next, consider your accommodation options. Spain offers a diverse range of accommodations to suit all budgets and preferences. Travelers can choose from luxury hotels, mid-range and budget hotels, hostels, and unique options like Paradores, which are state-run hotels in historic buildings. Vacation rentals, guesthouses, and B&Bs provide more personal and home-like experiences. For outdoor enthusiasts, camping and glamping sites are available, as well as rural houses (casas rurales) in scenic countryside locations. Popular neighborhoods in major cities like Madrids Centro and Malasana, Barcelonas Gothic Quarter and Eixample, Sevilles Santa Cruz, and Valencias Ciutat Vella offer convenient access to attractions. Booking in advance, reading reviews, and considering location and amenities will help ensure a comfortable and enjoyable stay.

Food and Drinks

When it comes to dining in Spain, the options are endless. Spains cuisine is a vibrant tapestry of flavors, deeply rooted in its rich cultural history and diverse landscapes. Central to Spanish dining are tapas, small plates such as patatas bravas and gambas al ajillo, offering a variety of tastes. Iconic dishes include paella, a saffron-infused rice dish from Valencia, and the renowned Jamon Iberico, thinly sliced cured ham. Traditional favorites like the Spanish omelet tortilla espanola and cold soups gazpacho and salmorejo highlight the countrys love for fresh, high-quality ingredients. Coastal regions boast delectable seafood, with dishes like pulpo a la gallega and suquet de peix. The Basque Countrys pintxos and a wide range of regional cheeses, including Manchego, add to the culinary richness. Complementing these dishes are Spains celebrated wines from Rioja and the refreshing summer drink sangria, making the countrys cuisine a delightful exploration of taste and tradition.

Take a trip as Spain is a fantastic destination for travelers looking to make the most of their summer. With its beautiful beaches, rich culture, and delicious cuisine, there is something for everyone in this incredible country. By following this ultimate guide, you can ensure you have the best possible experience in Spain and create memories that will last a lifetime. So, pack your bags, grab your passport, and get ready for the summer adventure of a lifetime in Spain!
Kannada actress Pavithra Gowda has been arrested by the Bengaluru police in connection to the Renuka Swamy murder case. This comes hours after the police officials also detained Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa in Mysore in connection to the same case.

What Is Renuka Swamy Murder Case?

Renuka Swamy was found dead at Sumanahalli Bridge in Bengaluru on June 8, 2024. He used to reportedly work at an Apollo Pharmacy branch in Chitradurga. According to police officials, Renuka used to send vulgar messages to Pavithra Gowad, a friend of Darshan. Angry about this, Renuka Swamy was murdered and his dead body was allegedly thrown in a canal at Kamaksshipalya, Bengaluru in front of Darshan.

#BreakingNews | Bengaluru Police arrested actress Pavithra Gowda following Darshan Thoogudeepa's arrest in Renuka Swamy murder case@harishupadhya shares more details @JamwalNews18 | #Karnataka pic.twitter.com/SsSkVr9ZwY News18 (@CNNnews18) June 11, 2024

Eight of the accused have implicated Darshan, claiming his presence during Renuka Swamys assault. A wooden log was reportedly used to fatally injure the victim. The perpetrators intended to dispose of the body in the Vrushabhavati valley, but it was discovered stuck and being tampered with by dogs. A case of an unidentified body was initially filed on June 8.

Earlier today, Darshan was apprehended from his farmhouse in Mysore and is now being brought to the Kamakshipalya police station in Bengaluru for further investigation. Renuka Swamys family is also en route to the police station.

How Is Darshan Related To Pavithra?

Darshan Thoogudeepa is married to Vijayalakshmi. The two tied the knot in 2003 and have a son named Vineesh. However, in January this year, Pavithra left everyone shocked when she shared a video on social media in which she hinted at their relationship. One decade down; forever to go. #10year Its been 10years of our relationship. Thank you , she wrote.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by (@pavithragowda777_official)

As reported by the Economic Times, Pavithra once claimed that even Darshans wife Vijayalakshmi is aware of their relationship. Vijayalakshmi knows about my relationship with Darshan and she has told me several times that it is okay. Now, people are abusing me and my teenage daughter, which is causing me mental pain, she had said.
Anurag Kashyap was one of the co-creators of Netflixs first India originals, Sacred Games. OTT platforms saw a massive boom in popularity after the success of Sacred Games and the crime thriller genre also picked up. However, Anurag now feels that things are not the same anymore and OTTs golden period is now over.

Speaking to Radio Nasha, Anurag said, I think we are past the golden time of OTT. Now OTT is starting to turn into TV. Long-format storytelling has always had potential but now it is not dictated by quality, it is dictated by algorithm. And thats where the problem is. Anurag said that this also happened with TV as TRPs started deciding what kind of television should be made. When shows were being on Doordarshan, they had a certain quality, he added.

Until the time they need new subscribers, they will experiment with new things. When they have exhausted that, then it turns into TV. This is a cycle. I have been around for 32 years now, he said. Now the same multiplexes will play the same film on four screens. They are not supporting the films they were initially doing. When the studios came in, they were also making new kind of films, but then they also started catering to the same formula, Anurag also said.

Me and Vikram (Vikramaditya Motwane) made the first Netflix India show and that kind of a sensibility and support, we will not get anymore. Because that sensibility has changed. People who have no experience in filmmaking are now running the department of shows. And they have come from television. So their sensibility is television. Any creative person will tell you that when you are dealing with them, sometimes its like hitting your head against a wall, he said.

I dont think that the kind of long format I want to make, I will get to make it. And they are also scared. Maximum City is one of the examples. An approved green lit show, that got dropped with no official communication. They only want to do what their algorithm dictates, he said.

Meanwhile, Anurag will be seen in Disney+ Hotstars new series Bad Cop, a classic cop vs villain story with a twist. Anurag recently opened up about what intrigued him about playing a character like Kazbe, who is fearful and deadly with unique quirks.

Anurag said, I loved the idea of this guy (Kazbe) who is in prison and hes operating from there. But hes very emotionally attached to his family. The idea of a villain being so emotionally attached to his family is very contrasting. He may be the villain but he is not the bad guy all the time. In his head, hes trying to do business and hes trying to run a family and hes having fun.

The upcoming series is an adaptation of RTLs German show Bad Cop: Kriminell Gut from 2017. The Indian versions script is penned by Rensil DSilva and directed by Aditya Datt, known for Crakk. In the series, Anurag will portray the character Kazbe, the villain, while Gulshan Devaiah takes on the role of Karan, an intense cop determined to apprehend Kazbe.
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 country 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 its 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 didnt 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 Kapadias 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 dOr, 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 Suris Santosh and Karan Kandharis Sister Midnight were funded by the UK, while Konstantin Bojanovs The Shameless was almost self-funded. However, Chidanands 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 Sens documentary All that Breathes, which won the Golden Eye award at Cannes 2022, that didnt 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, its about the red carpet. Thats 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 Directors Fortnight and Midnight Screenings, said he was also surprised when former FTII chairperson Gajendra Chauhan took credit for Kapadias 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 dont 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.
Aditya Roy Kapur recently surprised fans by featuring in an advertisement with Chunky Panday. Chunky is the father of Adityas rumoured ex-girlfriend, Ananya Panday. Aditya and Chunky collaborated on an advertisement for a beverage in which Chunky attempted to sell the drink to Aditya on a beach. A few days ago, Chunky took to his Instagram to drop BTS photos from the shoot, including a happy selfie with Aditya.

Chunky Pandays Instagram dump caught everyones attention and fans took to the comments section to appreciate the father-in-law and son-in-law bonding. One fan even commented, Apne damad ke sath its joking Pasta ka Akhiri rasta. This specific comment has gained the spotlight because Chunky Panday reacted to it by liking it amid rumours that Ananya and Aditya have broken up.

Ananya Panday and Aditya Roy Kapurs breakup rumours made headlines in April after the actress shared a cryptic note on her Instagram stories which read, 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.

Later, a close friend of the two actors told the Bombay Times, They broke up almost a month ago. They were going quite well, and the breakup came as a shock to all of us. They are cordial with each other. Ananya is trying to move on; of course, theres hurt. She is spending time with her new furry friend. Aditya is also trying to deal with the situation maturely.

However, it should also be noted that Ananya and Aditya have not reacted to their breakup rumours. They also never explicitly spoke about their relationship either.
Hours after Kannada star Darshan Thoogudeepa was arrested in connection to the Renuka Swamy murder case, a video has surfaced online which is likely to mount trouble for the actor. On Tuesday afternoon, Karnataka police released a video in which Darshans car was allegedly seen near the place where Renukas dead body was disposed of.

The CCTV video is from the wee hours of June 9, 2024. In the clip, a Scorpio car, which is said to have Renukas body and Darshans close aides, is seen. Reportedly, this is the car which was going to dispose of the dead body. The video also shows a car which allegedly belongs to Darshan. However, it remains unclear if the actor was inside the car at that time or not.

For the unversed, Renuka Swamy was found dead at Sumanahalli Bridge in Bengaluru on June 8, 2024. He used to reportedly work at an Apollo Pharmacy branch in Chitradurga. According to police officials, Renuka used to send vulgar messages to Pavithra Gowad, a friend of Darshan. Angry about this, Renuka Swamy was murdered and his dead body was allegedly thrown in a canal at Kamaksshipalya, Bengaluru in front of Darshan.

Eight of the accused have implicated Darshan, claiming his presence during Renuka Swamys assault. A wooden log was reportedly used to fatally injure the victim. The perpetrators intended to dispose of the body in the Vrushabhavati valley, but it was discovered stuck and being tampered with by dogs. A case of an unidentified body was initially filed on June 8.

Earlier today, Darshan was apprehended from his farmhouse in Mysore and was brought to the Kamakshipalya police station in Bengaluru for further investigation. Later in the day, Kannada actress Pavithra Gowda was also arrested in the case. She is often linked with Darshan. In January this year, Pavithra left everyone shocked when she shared a video on social media in which she hinted at their relationship. One decade down; forever to go. #10year Its been 10years of our relationship. Thank you , she wrote.
Kannada star Darshan Thoogudeepas fans gathered outside a police station in Bengaluru to extend their support to the actor. Darshan was arrested earlier today in connection to the Renuka Swamy murder case.

In a video that surfaced on social media, hundreds of Darshans fans were seen gathered outside the police station. They were also seen chanting slogans in support of the actor. Watch the video here:

Heights of stupidity. Actor Darshans fans shouting slogans supporting him outside the police station. The actor has been arrested in a murder case. pic.twitter.com/JPbyq8nGSk Harish Upadhya (@harishupadhya) June 11, 2024

Earlier today, Darshan was apprehended from his farmhouse in Mysore and was brought to the Kamakshipalya police station in Bengaluru for further investigation. He is being probed for his alleged links to the Renuka Swamy murder case.

Renuka was found dead at Sumanahalli Bridge in Bengaluru on June 8, 2024. He used to reportedly work at an Apollo Pharmacy branch in Chitradurga. A wooden log was reportedly used to fatally injure the victim. The perpetrators intended to dispose of the body in the Vrushabhavati valley, but it was discovered stuck and being tampered with by dogs. A case of an unidentified body was initially filed on June 8.

According to police officials, Renuka used to send vulgar messages to Pavithra Gowad, a friend of Darshan. Angry about this, Renuka Swamy was murdered and his dead body was allegedly thrown in a canal at Kamaksshipalya, Bengaluru in front of Darshan.

Eight of the accused have implicated Darshan, claiming his presence during Renuka Swamys assault. On Tuesday afternoon, Karnataka police also released a video in which Darshans car was allegedly seen near the place where Renukas dead body was disposed of. The video showed a car which allegedly belonged to Darshan. However, it remains unclear if the actor was inside the car at that time or not.

Meanwhile, Darshans close friend and actress Pavithra Gowda has also been arrested in the case. She is often linked to Darshan. In January this year, Pavithra left everyone shocked when she shared a video on social media in which she hinted at their relationship. One decade down; forever to go. #10year Its been 10 years of our relationship. Thank you , she wrote.

Follow this space for more updates related to Darshans arrest.
Hours after Kannada star Darshan Thoogudeepa was arrested in connection to the Renuka Swamy murder case, a video has surfaced online which is likely to mount trouble for the actor. On Tuesday afternoon, Karnataka police released a video in which Darshans car was allegedly seen near the place where Renukas dead body was disposed of. The CCTV video is from the wee hours of June 9, 2024.

For More: Darshans Presence at Renuka Swamy Crime Scene CONFIRMED; CCTV Footage Reveals Shocking Details

Actor-turned-politician Shatrughan Sinha broke his silence on Sonakshi Sinhas wedding rumours. On Monday, it was reported that the actress is all set to marry her rumoured boyfriend Zaheer Iqbal on June 23 in a ceremony in Mumbai. Although Sonakshi and Zaheer are yet to address the claims, Shatrughan said Sonakshi hasnt told him anything. He added that kids these days do not ask for permission to marry. Instead, they just inform parents of their decision.

For More: Shatrughan Sinha REACTS To Sonakshi Sinha Wedding Rumours: Aaj Kal Bachche Consent Nahin Lete

Kannada actress Pavithra Gowda has been arrested by the Bengaluru police in connection to the Renuka Swamy murder case. This comes hours after the police officials also detained Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa in Mysore in connection to the same case. Renuka Swamy was found dead at Sumanahalli Bridge in Bengaluru on June 8, 2024. He used to reportedly work at an Apollo Pharmacy branch in Chitradurga. According to police officials, Renuka used to send vulgar messages to Pavithra Gowad, a friend of Darshan.

For More: After Darshan Thoogudeepa, His Friend Pavithra Gowda ARRESTED In Renuka Swamy Murder Case

Amitabh Bachchan has been making a lot of noise for his promising performance as battered and bruised, Ashwatthama, in Nag Ashwins Kalki 2898 AD, which also stars Prabhas, Deepika Padukone, Kamal Haasan and Disha Patani. The trailer, which dropped on Monday, has earned Amitabh immense appreciation from netizens for his intense efforts and dedication to his demanding role even at the age of 81.

For More: Amitabh Bachchan Frustrated With His Phone Amid Kalki 2898 AD Trailer Release: Throwing It Out

Bollywood actor Jitendra Kumar finally addressed the claims that he was the highest earning star of Panchayat 3. The series released late last month and Jitendra, aka Jeetu Bhaiya, allegedly drew a salary of Rs 70,000 per episode. In a new interview, Jitendra slammed these reports and said it was unfair to discuss someones pay. Well, I think discussing somebodys salary and financial matters is really unfair, he told Hindustan Times.

For More: Jitendra Kumar BREAKS Silence on Being the Highest Paid Star of Panchayat 3: Nothing Good Comes
Shah Rukh Khan and Gauri Khans youngest son, AbRam Khan, is often spotted with his family members. On Monday, Gauri Khan and AbRam Khan were seen spending some quality time. Occasion? Gauri Khan hosted a private dinner party at her Asian cuisine restaurant, Torii and invited her friends. Videos have emerged online showing the mother-son duo posing for the media before heading home.

While Gauri Khan looked stunning in a black bralette top paired with a beige blazer and wide denim pants, little AbRam was dressed in a casual blue jersey with shorts and white shoes. As soon as the party was over, the mother-son duo walked outside and paused and posed for the shutterbugs.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Viral Bhayani (@viralbhayani)

They were also joined in by Gauris industry friends like actor Chunky Panday, his wife Bhavana Pandey, Shanaya Kapoor, Maheep Kapoor, Seema Sajdeh and others, at the dinner hosted at her Mumbai-based restaurant. While the occasion for the friendly gathering is not known, the attendees looked their best, posing for the paps as they arrived at the restaurant.

Gauri Khan Hosts Dinner At Her Restaurant

On Monday evening, Gauri Khan turned host for a private dinner party at her Asian cuisine restaurant, Torii. While she was the first to arrive with her son, they were followed shortly by the other guests. Actor Chunky Panday and his wife Bhavana Pandey looked adorable as they arrived together. During this time, the paparazzi even asked Chunky to deliver his Mama Mia dialogue from Housefull.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by V BOLLYWOOD (@vbollywood_official)

Next in line was Sohail Khans ex-wife, Seema Sajdeh, with her son, and Shanaya Kapoor with her mother, Maheep Kapoor. The mom-daughter duo looked beautiful in comfy casual wear.

On the other hand, Shah Rukh Khan remained absent from the party. Following his hospitalisation due to a heat stroke in Ahmedabad, the actor has been avoiding media appearances. He is mostly seen covering his face with an umbrella.
Days after becoming a Member of Parliament from Himachal Pradeshs Mandi constituency, Kangana Ranaut has said that obsessive work culture should be normalised. Recently, the actress-turned-politician took to her Instagram stories and shared a video of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in which he was seen addressing his team in the PMO in Delhi after taking oath.

Together we have just one goal  Nation First. Just one intention  2047 Viksit Bharat. I have said this publically, my each and every moment is for the country. I have also promised the country  247 for 2047, Modi said.

Sharing the clip, Kangana slammed Monday memes and wrote, We need to normalise obsessive work culture and stop with the waiting for the weekends and crib about Mondays memes. She further shared that waiting for the weekend is a Western idea and added, Thats all Western brainwashing we are not a developed nation yet we cant afford to be bored and lazy at all.

This comes days after Kangana Ranaut defeated her closest rival Vikramaditya Singh of Congress by a margin of over 74,000 votes in the Lok Sabha elections, to become an MP from Mandi. Previously, the actress shared an Instagram post thanking the people from her constituency for her victory. Heartfelt gratitude to all the people of Mandi for this love and trust This victory belongs to all of you, this is the victory of your trust in Prime Minister Modi and BJP, this is the victory of Sanatan and in the honour of Mandi, she wrote.

Meanwhile, 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.

Later, Kangana also 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.
Karisma Kapoor has come a long way in showbiz, with rich content-driven and commercial films to her credit. After creating a niche of herself, the actress took some time off from her hectic life, stayed away from the limelight. In an new interview, the actress shared it was a conscious decision to do so, as she wanted to focus on her family.

In an interview with Grazia, Karisma shared, I chose to stay away from the limelight- I had young children, and it was important for me as a mother that I didnt want to miss out on those moments. I think thats a choice that each individual needs to make and thats a choice I made.

Back in 2013, in an interview with IANS, Karisma was asked about her childrens response to her star status, she says her daughter treats her like a regular mother. My daughter is the most normal towards me. For her, I am just her mom. I am just a regular mom and the actor comes after that. If she likes something that I am wearing, she tells me and if she doesnt, she still makes it a point to let me know, she said.

Karisma also said that she is more of a disciplinarian than a strict parent. I wont say I am a strict mother, but discipline is important. Timing and routine are important for kids. My children also look forward to that, she said.

She further added, I think it is important to be a friend to your kids. But it is also equally important to set boundaries. My mother was a strong influence, and so was my dad. My mom was my friend whom I couldnt cross.

I try to shield my children as far as possible from the public glare. I want them to have a normal childhood, like we had. We went to school by the school bus, had school food There was no special treatment given to us. The same applies to my children as well, the said.

After being away from the industry for quite a while, Karisma Kapoor made a bumper return with Homi Adjanias Murder Mubarak. The film, which also marked her OTT debut, shows the actress in the role of Shehnaaz Noorani.

Featuring a stellar cast of Pankaj Tripathi, Sara Ali Khan, Vijay Varma, Dimple Kapadia, Sanjay Kapoor, and Tisca Chopra, among others, the murder mystery is set in the background of a crime at the Royal Delhi Club with high society guests under suspicion. After a murder occurs, enters ACP Bhavani Singh (played by Pankaj Tripathi), who investigates the matter and reveals many more secrets and lies.

Fans have been loving the film, with the leading actors also receiving praise for their performances. Murder Mubarak is streaming on Netflix.
Actress Mayuri Deshmukh will be making a comeback in the Marathi TV industry after six years with the serial Man Dhaga Dhaga Jodte Nava. The actress rose to fame from the Marathi serial Khulta Kali Khulena in 2016. It ran for one year. The actress played the lead role of Manasi Deshpande in the serial. After starring in a couple of films like 31 Divas and others, the actress was then seen in the serial Imlie. It aired on Star Plus. She played the role of an antagonist. Now, after six years, the actress will be making a comeback with the ongoing serial Man Dhaga Dhaga Jodte Nava. It will be airing on Star Pravah.

Mayuri Deshmukh will be playing the role of Sukhda in the serial Man Dhaga Dhaga Jodte Nava. Divya Pugaonkar and Abhishek Rahakar are playing the lead roles in the serials. The actress is playing the character of Anandi while Abhishek is playing the role of Sarthak. What will change the relationship between Sarthak and Anandi with the arrival of Sukhda? This will be seen in the coming time. But seeing Mayuri in a Marathi serial after many years is going to be a treat for the fans.

Talking about the character of Sukhda, Mayuri said that she is returning to the Marathi serial after almost six years. To tell you the truth, I am very excited. I try to avoid the same fate in the role as possible, said Mayuri Deshmukh. She explained her role as a beautifully written character. Live life to the fullest, bubbly and very positive. I fell in love with the character the moment I heard about it. Its also a dream come true to work with Star Pravah said Mayuri Deshmukh.

Man Dhaga Dhaga Jodte Nava revolves around the story of the character Anandi who wants to start a new life but things get complicated because people judge her for being divorced. She faces new challenges every day in overcoming the prejudice of society against divorced women. It airs on Star Pravah from Monday To Saturday.
Bollywood actress Noor Malabika Das was found dead in her Mumbai apartment on Monday, June 10. The actress, who appeared in Kajol-led series The Trial, died on June 6 and her mortal remains were discovered four days later. The police suspects suicide. Her funeral was conducted by one of her friends. Her family couldnt attend the funeral, however, in a new interview, they opened up about her mental health.

Speaking with The Times of India, Noors mother Aarti Das said the actress was battling depression. She added that Noor was unhappy with her achievements. She went to Mumbai with big hopes to become an actress. However, she was fighting hard to achieve this.. She added, We understand that Malabika was unsatisfied with her achievements, which forced her to take the extreme step.

Noor was a former air hostess. The actress hailed from Assam and had made her place in the world of Hindi web series. She had leading roles in several web series, including Siskiyaan, Walkaman Upaya, and Charamsukh. In The Trial, she played a supporting role besides actor Kajol.

As per police sources, Noor was found after her neighbors reported a foul smell coming from her apartment. The concerned neighbors soon informed the Oshiwara Police, who then forced their way into the flat. The police found Noors decomposed body hanging from a ceiling fan and have initially ruled the death as a suicide. A detailed investigation is still underway.

As per media reports, the All Indian Cine Workers Association has called on Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Home Minister Devendra Fadnavis to conduct a thorough probe into the alleged suicide.

DISCLAIMER: This news piece may be triggering. If you or someone you know needs help, call any of these helplines: Aasra (Mumbai) 022-27546669, Sneha (Chennai) 044-24640050, Sumaitri (Delhi) 011-23389090, Cooj (Goa) 0832- 2252525, Jeevan (Jamshedpur) 065-76453841, Pratheeksha (Kochi) 048-42448830, Maithri (Kochi) 0484-2540530, Roshni (Hyderabad) 040-66202000, Lifeline 033-64643267 (Kolkata).
Veteran actor Rajinikanth was clicked arriving in Vijayawada ahead of swearing-in ceremony of Andhra Pradesh CM-designate N Chandrababu Naidu. On Tuesday evening, Rajinikanth was photographed stepping out of Vijayawada airport amid high security. Fans began chanting Thalaivaa as soon as Rajinikanth came out of the airport.

The actor was accompanied by his wife Latha Rajinikanth. The ceremony promises to be a star-studded affair with many South stars like Chiranjeevi, Ram Charan, Mahesh Babu and Allu Arjun expected to attend the event. Jr NTR, who is the nephew of TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu, has also been extended an invitation, according to media reports.

#WATCH | Superstar Rajinikanth arrived in Vijayawada this evening, ahead of the swearing-in ceremony of Andhra Pradesh CM-designate N Chandrababu Naidu tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/uBy92hKlaU ANI (@ANI) June 11, 2024

Apart from celebs, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Union Ministers J P Nadda and Bandi Sanjay Kumar as well as several other political leaders are expected to attend the swearing-in ceremony.

Meanwhile, actor-politician Pawan Kalyan is likely to be the deputy to N Chandrababu Naidu, who will take oath as Andhra Pradeshs chief minister on Wednesday, according to sources. People aware of negotiations in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) for ministerial posts said on Tuesday that Kalyan had expressed his interest in taking up the deputy CM post, and that Naidu had assured him of a key role in his cabinet. Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leader Naidu is scheduled to take oath at 11.27 am at Kesarapalli IT Park near Gannavaram Airport on the outskirts of Vijayawada on Wednesday.

Earlier, Pawan Kalyan received a grand welcome as he arrived at Chiranjeevis place in Hyderabad after his historic political win at Pithapuram. The newly-elected MLA also got emotional during the celebration and touched Chiranjeevis feet as a mark of respect. Chiranjeevi hugged him and garlanded him to congratulate the actor-politician on the electoral victory.
During the Dragon Boat Festival season, various places in Anhui are immersed in a rich festive atmosphere with dragon boat races, intangible cultural heritage performances, and the fragrance of zongzi and mugwort, allowing people to experience Dragon Boat Festival customs and appreciate traditional culture through a variety of colorful cultural and tourism activities.

In Peach Blossom Pool of Jingxian County, the annual dragon boat race is in full swing. This year marks the 11th dragon boat race hosted by Jingxian County, known as the "Hometown of Xuan Paper." Forty-nine dragon boat teams are winning rounds of applause from the audiences with their exquisite skills. Since ancient times, Peach Blossom Pool has had a tradition of dragon boat racing, with high participation enthusiasm among villagers. This year, 85-year-old Zhai Daman, though too old to row, gives clear instructions on technique to his descendants.

In Shouxian County of Huainan City, 21 local dragon boat teams compete fiercely in the millennia-old Anfeng Pond, demonstrating a spirited determination to strive forward. Along the banks of the Xin'an River, 24 Chinese and foreign dragon boat teams compete intensely.

During the Dragon Boat Festival holiday, Luogang Park in Hefei hosted a variety of traditional cultural activities including zongzi (rice dumpling) wrapping, opera performances, Hanfu (traditional Han clothing) parades, and mini music festivals. Each day saw the visit of tens of thousands of tourists coming to explore and experience these events.

During this Dragon Boat Festival holiday, people savored the cultural flavors and fostered a deeper love for their country and home through a vibrant array of activities.





Source: anhuinews.com




Sanjay Leela Bhansalis web series Heeramandi, released last month, has garnered positive reviews from both fans and critics. Among the notable performances, Richa Chadha, who plays Lajjo, has received significant appreciation. Despite her minor role, her character left a lasting impact on the audience. Recently, the actress shared insights into her deep involvement with the series and its promotions. She also expressed her surprise at managing the hectic promotion schedules while being seven months pregnant.

In a recent Instagram post, Richa Chadha discussed participating in a meet-and-greet session last month with the media and reuniting with co-stars like Manisha Koirala, Sharmin Segal Mehta and Sanjeeda Sheikh. However, she was thrilled to meet filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali, whom she has often thanked for giving her this splendid opportunity.

In the post, she wrote, Exactly a month ago, we had a meet and greet with the media, to celebrate the success of Heeramandi on Netflix! Was fun to meet all the co-stars but the chief guest was of course, the Sanjay Leela Bhansali who was indeed a sighting as rare as a tiger in Ranthambore! Theres a special story about this day, for which I am grateful to my team and I will make a reel about it tomorrow. Still cant believe I was out promoting in full bloom when in the 7th monthhaha.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Richa Chadha (@therichachadha)

The pictures along with the post showed Richa Chadha dressed in a rust-orange suit. The still also gave glimpses of her meeting with Sharmin Segal, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Manisha Koirala and others.

Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar explores the cultural landscape of the titular area through the stories of a group of courtesans, set during the pre-independence era. In addition to Richa Chadha, the series stars Manisha Koirala, Sonakshi Sinha, Aditi Rao Hydari, Sharmin Segal and Sanjeeda Shaikh. The cast also includes Fardeen Khan, Taha Shah Badussha, Shekhar Suman, and Adhyayan Suman, who portray Nawabs in the show.

On the personal front, Richa Chadha married Ali Fazal in an intimate ceremony during the pandemic in 2020, followed by a spectacular celebration with friends and family in 2022. Earlier this year, the couple announced via Instagram that they were expecting their first child.
Actor-turned-politician Shatrughan Sinha broke his silence on Sonakshi Sinhas wedding rumours. On Monday, it was reported that the actress is all set to marry her rumoured boyfriend Zaheer Iqbal on June 23 in a ceremony in Mumbai. Although Sonakshi and Zaheer are yet to address the claims, Shatrughan said Sonakshi hasnt told him anything. He added that kids these days do not ask for permission to marry. Instead, they just inform parents of their decision.

I am in Delhi right now. After the election results, I flew down here. I havent spoken to anyone about my daughters plans. So your question is, is she getting married? The answer is that she hasnt told me anything about it. Main bhi utna hi jaanta ho jitna main media maine padha hai. If and when she takes me into confidence, my wife and I will give the couple my blessings. We wish her all happiness always, Shatrughan told Times Now.

He added that he trusts Sonakshi would make the right decision for herself. We trust our daughters judgement completely. She would never make an extra-constitutional or illegal decision. As a consenting adult, she has the right to make her own decisions. Having said that, I would like to say that whenever my daughter gets married, I would like to be dancing right in front of the baaraat, he said.

The Kaala Patthar star added that he has been flooded with calls about the rumoured wedding as well but he has limited knowledge on the said wedding. I am being asked by people close to me why I am not aware of this (the supposed wedding), and the media is aware of it. All I can say is, aaj kal ke bachche consent nahin lete maa-baap ke, sirf inform karte hain. We are waiting to be informed, he concluded.

If reports are to be believed, Sonakshi and Zaheer have been planning the wedding for a while now. However, due to the recent Lok Sabha elections, the couple had to delay her plans. Sonakshis father, actor-politican Shatrugan Sinha was contesting in this election from Asansol, West Bengal from TMC party.

A Hindustan Times report claimed the couple is hosting a two-day wedding ceremony. The wedding is going to be an intimate affair, with only the couples families and close friends in attendance. Sonkashi doesnt want to give out much details of her wedding before it happens and wants to keep it just in her close circle. Many of her actor friends will also be marking their presence to be a part of the most special day for the couple, the insider said.

Sonakshi and Zaheer are yet to react to the claims.
Sonakshi Sinhas brother Luv Sinha broke his silence on his sisters wedding rumours with Zaheer Iqbal. It is being said that the actress will tie the knot with her longtime beau on June 23, 2024. Recently, Luv was asked about the wedding rumours when he refused to reveal any details. Im out of Mumbai at the moment, and if its regarding the news published, I have no comment or involvement in the matter, he told ETimes.

Earlier today, Sonakshis father, actor-politician Shatrughan Sinha was also asked about the wedding rumours when he shared that the actress hasnt told him anything. He added that kids these days do not ask for permission to marry. Instead, they just inform parents of their decision.

I am in Delhi right now. After the election results, I flew down here. I havent spoken to anyone about my daughters plans. So your question is, is she getting married? The answer is that she hasnt told me anything about it. Main bhi utna hi jaanta ho jitna main media maine padha hai. If and when she takes me into confidence, my wife and I will give the couple my blessings. We wish her all happiness always, Shatrughan told Times Now.

I am being asked by people close to me why I am not aware of this (the supposed wedding), and the media is aware of it. All I can say is, aaj kal ke bachche consent nahin lete maa-baap ke, sirf inform karte hain. We are waiting to be informed, he added.

While Sonakshi and Zaheer have not confirmed their wedding as of now, if reports are to be believed, they have been planning the wedding for a while now. However, due to the recent Lok Sabha elections, the couple had to delay her plans. Sonakshis father, Shatrugan Sinha was contesting in this election from Asansol, West Bengal from TMC party.

Meanwhile, News18 Showsha has exclusively learnt that Sonakshi and Zaheers wedding wont really be an intimate affair as it will see some of the biggest names in Bollywood gracing their big day to shower blessings and love on the couple. A source close to the couple told us that actors Aayush Sharma, Huma Qureshi and Varun Sharma are likely to attend the wedding. Besides this, Salman Khan has also been sent an invitation. Sonakshi has also invited her Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar co-stars including Fardeen Khan, Taha Shah Badussha, Aditi Rao Hydari and Sharmin Segal Mehta among others.
Bollywood actress Sonakshi Sinha is rumoured to be getting married this month. The Heeramandi star is reportedly marrying her rumoured boyfriend Zaheer Iqbal in an intimate wedding ceremony on June 23. Ahead of the alleged wedding, Sonakshi opened up about being subjected to wedding rumours. In a new interview, Sonakshi admitted she doesnt pay much heed to wedding questions.

I get asked about it all the time, and now, its like it goes in one ear and out the other. Firstly, its nobodys business. Secondly, it is my choice, so I dont know why people are so concerned about it. People ask me about my marriage more than my parents, so I find that very funny. Now, I am just used to it. It doesnt bother me. People are curious what can we do about it? she told iDiva in a recent interview.

On the other hand, Sonakshis father, actor-turned-politician Shatrughan Sinha addressed the rumours of her wedding. Speaking with Times Now, Shatrughan said that he had as much information as the media at this point, adding that Sonakshi hasnt spoken to him about her wedding plans yet.

She hasnt told me anything about it. Main bhi utna hi jaanta ho jitna main media maine padha hai. If and when she takes me into confidence, my wife and I will give the couple my blessings. We wish her all happiness always, he said, before adding, We trust our daughters judgement completely. She would never make an extra-constitutional or illegal decision. As a consenting adult, she has the right to make her own decisions. Having said that, I would like to say that whenever my daughter gets married, I would like to be dancing right in front of the baaraat.

Shatrughan also said, All I can say is, aaj kal ke bachche consent nahin lete maa-baap ke, sirf inform karte hain. We are waiting to be informed.

Meanwhile, a Hindustan Times report claimed the couple is hosting a two-day wedding ceremony. The ceremonies will take place on June 22 and June 23, in Mumbai. Only families and close friends are reportedly invited.
Bigg Boss OTT 3 has been increasing excitement levels among the audience with every day new developments. The show has yet to announce contestants names. However, in a surprising and exciting development, it has been reported that Tridev fame actress Sonam Khan is set to participate in the upcoming season of Bigg Boss OTT. The third season of the hit reality show will be hosted by Anil Kapoor.

Bollywood Life has mentioned in its report that the actress has been approached. Well, nothing has been confirmed till now but her entry into the show will increase the excitement level. Sonam is known for her performances in films like Tridev, Ajooba and many more. Sonam had quit the industry 15 years ago and left India and moved to Switzerland. She was last seen in Insaniyat released in 1994. If reports are to be believed then she will be returning to the showbiz industry after a decade.

To note, Sana Sultan Khan is one of the contestants who has been locked for the show. As per reports, Shivangi Joshi, Anusha Dandekar, Tanushree Dutta, Ahana Deol, Trishala Dutt, Bhavya Gandhi, Sana Sultan, Arhaan Behll, Shehzada Dhami, Pratiksha Honmukhe, Sheezan Khan, Harshad Chopda and others have been approached for the show.

Bigg Boss OTT season 3 is all set to premiere on June 21. The makers have announced the date and since then it has been trending. Makers have been continuously sharing new promos to increase excitement levels. In the latest promo, Anil Kapoor says Ab Sab Badlega.

The video opens with Anil Kapoor trying to walk through the crowd. People in the crowd are wearing masks with different emotions. The promo shows Anil Kapoor narrating his life journey, reflecting on how everyone said, Kya hi baaki hai AK?, to which he responds, Abhi to bas shuru kia hai, as he takes over as the host of Bigg Boss OTT 3. The promo further sets the tone for the most exciting season ever as he drops hints on whats in store for the contestants in the show. Season 3 brings in the theme of Ab Sab Badlega, with a captivating message: Thoda Logic, Thoda Magic.
At a recent press meet in Hyderabad, Vijay Sethupathi praised Power Star Pawan Kalyan, whose party, Jana Sena, won all 21 seats it contested in the Andhra Assembly elections and secured 2 Lok Sabha seats. Sethupathi said, I honestly dont know anything about him, but there were many friends from the Telugu circle who shared content on social media through which I got to know about him. He has proven that he is not just a mass hero in films but also as a person. It is all because of consistency. I asked people what the fuss is all about and they said what he has actually achieved. Despite all the trolling, he has made it.

Meanwhile, pn Friday, the NDA gathered its newly elected MPs in the Parliament to claim leadership of the next central government. Telugu star and JSP President Pawan Kalyan, who contested from the Pithapuram Assembly constituency in AP and won, was also present. A clip from the meeting wherein PM Narendra Modi praises the actor-turned-politician is going viral on the internet. Talking about him, the PM said, Yeh pawan nahi hai. Andhi hai.

Pawan Kalyan, in his speech, said, My heartfelt wishes on behalf of Jan Sena. I am fortunate and grateful for giving this opportunity to be here. Starting 2014, in the the same place. As honourable Chandrababu Naida just said, We want to see Modiji to rule this country for 15 years and its happening. Chandrababu ji, your prophecy came true. Modi ji, you truly inspire the nation. As long as you are the Prime Minsiter of this country, our country will never bow down to anyone.

Sethupathis last Bollywood release was Merry Christmas, starring Katrina Kaif and directed by Sriram Raghavan. Vijay recently said that experience with Shah Rukh Khan in Jawan was special. In a recent interview with Hindustan Times, he talked about the praise SRK gave him but mentioned hes no longer interested in playing villain roles.

Speaking of his bond with Shah Rukh Khan, Vijay Sethupathi said, I learn something from everyone. What I learned from Shah Rukh Khan is that his energy levels never go down. One day, during the shoot, he was unwell but you just cant figure it out unless he tells you. Thats an amazing quality he has. He shared a lot of things about me which I felt very happy about.
Actress Joey King is renowned for her strict fitness regime, disciplined food habits and regular workouts. The Kissing Booth star takes her preparation for films to the next level. This was evident in her recent miniseries, We Were the Lucky Ones. Joey had to undergo significant weight loss for her role as a very, very, very thin Jewish woman. While this transformation was just a part of the show, Joeys friend and former co-star Taylor Zakhar Perez expressed concern about her well-being.

The Kissing Booth co-stars recently appeared on Varietys Actors on Actors, where they engaged in candid conversation, teasing each other and sharing interesting details. They also discussed their most recent roles, including Kings portrayal of a young Jewish woman against the backdrop of World War II in the Hulu miniseries.

When Joey Kings Major Weight Loss Left Taylor Zakhar Perez Worried

During their conversation, Joey King recalled the time she was shooting for We Were the Lucky Ones in Romania, and Zakhar Perez came to meet her, making her feel very happy. You visited me in Romania, where we were filming We Were the Lucky Ones for seven months. I was so appreciative. I missed you so much, and I was so happy you came, she said.

Joining in, the Red, White & Royal Blue star shared how he got worried after seeing her lose so much weight. When I showed up, I was like, Jo, are you OK? Because youve lost a lot of weight, he recounted. Explaining her reasons, King said that her character of Halina Kurc had such a demandsomeone who has limited resources and is going through the Holocaust.

I got very, very, very thin for that show because my character is a Jewish woman passing as an Aryan woman. But at the beginning of the war, theyre living off rations. And then the access to food is so limited Were not actually going through the Holocaust; were portraying a family that is. At the end of the day, we should feel uncomfortable when doing these scenes that require such heavy emotion she explained.

Agreeing with her, Perez added, Its a family of heroes.

For the unversed, King and Perez worked together in the sequels of the beloved Netflix film, Kissing Booth. Ever since they have continued to remain close friends.
Ashwini Vaishnaw on Tuesday assumed charge as Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting, the 35th leader to hold the portfolio since Independence.

He succeeds Anurag Singh Thakur, who held the coveted post for nearly three years in the previous BJP-led government.

Vaishnaw, who also holds key portfolios such as Railways and Electronics and Information Technology, assumed the charge as Information and Broadcasting Minister in the presence of senior officials, including I&B Secretary Sanjay Jaju.

Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting L Murugan was also present on the occasion.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made service to the poorest of poor the motto of his life and the main aim of the government. He has taken measures for welfare of the farmers, youth and empowerment of women, Vaishnaw told reporters after assuming charge.

He said PM Modi has worked to make India the fifth largest economy which has led to people of India blessing his government.

Known to be a tough taskmaster, the 53-year-old bureaucrat-turned-politician was inducted as a minister for the first time in July 2021 and has earned respect of his colleagues.

A Rajya Sabha member from Odisha, he was appointed as deputy secretary in the office of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 2002 when the BJP had an alliance with the BJD.

Vaishnaw is an alumnus of IIT Kanpur.
Modi 3.0 Government Live Updates: The first meeting of Narendra Modis cabinet 3.0 took place on Monday in which portfolios were allocated to 71 ministers who took oath as a part of the Modi-led cabinet.

On Tuesday, Amit Shah took charge as Union Home Minister, Dr S Jaishankar took charge of the Ministry of External Affairs and Ashwini Vaishnaw took charge of the Ministry of Railways and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

Following that, several other ministers like Kiren Rijiju, Sarbanand Sonowal and Arjun Ram Meghwal also took charge of their respective offices.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi assumed office at South Block on Monday following which he signed his first file authorising the release of the 17th instalment of PM Kisan Nidhi, which will benefit 9.3 crore farmers and distribute around Rs 20,000 crores.

In the new cabinet, Amit Shah has retained the Ministry of Home Affairs and Rajnath Singh has retained the Defence Ministry. Besides that, Nitin Gadkari will also continue to lead the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has been allocated the Agriculture Ministry whereas JP Nadda has been given the health ministry.
Senior TMC leader Saket Gokhale on Tuesday said three BJP MPs from West Bengal are in touch with his party and the saffron partys tally in Parliament will soon come down to 237. The comments drew sharp reactions from the state BJP, which dubbed the claim as baseless and said they stand united.

The Trinamool Congress won 29 out of 42 Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal, reducing the BJPs tally from 18 in 2019 to 12 this time. The saffron party faced a significant setback in the state, where it had laid special focus in the run-up to the general elections.

As of today, the numbers in the Lok Sabha are BJP: 240 INDIA: 237. Three BJP MPs in West Bengal are in touch with us and there will be a nice surprise soon. After that, BJP: 237 INDIA: 240. Modis creaky coalition is a temporary structure which isnt going to last very long, Gokhale, a Rajya Sabha MP, posted on X.

In the just-concluded Lok Sabha polls, the BJP with 240 seats fell short of a majority but the NDA secured the mandate with 293 seats. The Congress bagged 99 seats while the INDIA bloc got 234 seats. Following the polls, two Independents who won have also pledged support to the Congress, taking the INDIA bloc tally to 236.

Reacting to Gokhales claim, BJP state spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya said the TMC is daydreaming. Since 2014, the TMC has been daydreaming of becoming the pivotal force in the union government but its hopes were dashed not once but thrice. The BJP and NDA stand united. No BJP MP from Bengal is in touch with the TMC, he said.
Jana Sena Party president Pawan Kalyan is likely to be the deputy to N Chandrababu Naidu, who will take oath as Andhra Pradeshs chief minister on Wednesday, according to sources. People aware of negotiations in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) for ministerial posts said on Tuesday that Kalyan had expressed his interest in taking up the deputy CM post, and that Naidu had assured him of a key role in his cabinet.

Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leader Naidu is scheduled to take oath at 11.27 am at Kesarapalli IT Park near Gannavaram Airport on the outskirts of Vijayawada on Wednesday. A day before that, the Telugu Desam Legislature Party and NDA partners elected Naidu as their leader in the state. Later on Tuesday, leaders of the NDA would meet Governor S Abdul Nazeer and stake claim to form government. There could be an invitation from the Governor to form the government by evening.

The NDA comprising the TDP, BJP and the Jana Sena won a landslide victory in the recently concluded simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in the southern state with a brute majority of 164 Assembly and 21 Lok Sabha seats.

Along with Naidu, some more leaders are likely to be sworn in. The names doing the rounds are TDP general secretary and Naidus son Nara Lokesh and Jana Sena leader N Manohar. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other dignitaries are expected to attend the swearing-in ceremony.

Reviewing the arrangements for the ceremony, Chief Secretary Neerabh Kumar Prasad said the prime minister was expected to leave from Delhi for Gannavaram Airport at 8.20 am and arrive by 10.40 am on Wednesday.

Naidu first became the chief minister in 1995 and went on to have another two terms. His first two terms as chief minister were at the helm of united Andhra Pradesh, beginning in 1995 and ending in 2004, nine years at a stretchm while the third term came after the bifurcation of the state.

(With agency inputs)
Hundreds of BJP leaders, workers and supporters may now have to update their social media profiles, after Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday requested them to remove Modi Ka Parivar suffix from their display names.

Members and supporters of the saffron party, including Union ministers, had added Modi Ka Parivar to their social media handles after RJD president Lalu Prasad Yadav had taken a jibe at the prime minister, saying he has no family. To this, he had retorted that the people of India are his family.

In a post on X, Modi, who took oath as the prime minister for a historic third term, said the election win of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has effectively conveyed the message it was meant to. He said the poll campaign through this social media movement has given him a lot of strength. In fact, he said, it has translated into a third consecutive win for the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), making it a record of sorts.

Through the election campaign, people across India added Modi Ka Parivar to their social media as a mark of affection towards me. I derived a lot of strength from it. The people of India have given the NDA a majority for the third consecutive time, a record of sorts, and have given us the mandate to keep working for the betterment of our nation, he said.

He added: With the message of all of us being one family having been effectively conveyed, I would once again thank the people of India and request that you may now remove Modi Ka Parivar from your social media properties. The display name may change, but our bond as one Parivar striving for Indias progress remains strong and unbroken.
In the newly announced PM Narendra Modi-led Cabinet of the NDA government, Jyotiraditya Scindia will be serving as the Minister of Communications and the Minister of Development of the North Eastern Region. This marks his first time handling these ministries. In the previous Modi government, Scindia was the Civil Aviation Minister.

Scindia succeeds Ashwini Vaishnaw in the Ministry of Communications. He is not a stranger to this department, having served as the Minister of State for Communications in the Congress-led UPA government. His extensive experience in various ministerial roles positions him well to meet the expectations set by his predecessor.

Scindias immediate responsibilities will include implementing the rules for the telecommunications bill and establishing guidelines for the satellite spectrum. Conducting the 5G spectrum auction will be a top priority, along with advancing Indias 6G development as the vision is already set by PM Modi. His reputation as a straightforward and effective minister in the civil aviation sector is expected to aid him in navigating these challenges successfully.

Joining Scindia in the Ministry of Communications is Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani, appointed as the Minister of State. Pemmasani, a newcomer to the cabinet, also holds the portfolio of Minister of State in the Ministry of Rural Development. The MBBS-turned-politician from the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), Pemmasani, who is replacing BJPs Devusinh Chauhan in the cabinet, made headlines for being the richest candidate during the Lok Sabha elections.

Pemmasanis previous experience in organizing party programs in the US and running a successful online learning platform, UWorld, demonstrates his leadership and management abilities. However, transitioning from healthcare to telecommunications could be a significant challenge. His collaboration with the experienced Scindia will be crucial for navigating these complexities and maintaining the momentum of Indias telecom development.

Paritosh Prajapati, CEO of GX Group, said: As our new Telecom Minister has been appointed, there will be some challenges ahead to transform Indias telecommunications landscape. Primary challenges would include expanding digital infrastructure to rural and underserved areas, ensuring affordable and reliable connectivity for all citizens, and fostering innovation in the sector. By addressing these areas head-on, India can drive economic growth, bridge the digital divide, and position India as a global leader in telecommunications technology.

Lt Gen Dr SP Kochhar, Director General of Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), told News18: COAI on behalf of the telecom industry is pleased to welcome Jyotiraditya Scindia as the Minister of Communications and Minister of Development of North Eastern Region. Under the visionary leadership of our PM, the past decade has been marked by significant efforts to revive the industry and bring the digital revolution to the masses. In the continued spirit and vision, we look forward to working with Minister Scindia to advance further policy reforms and spearhead pioneering initiatives that will elevate the digital revolution to the next level, integrating a variety of technological innovations.
Within the portfolio list of Modi 3.0 lie the names of two individuals from minority communities for whom the Narendra Modi government has gone the proverbial extra mile to accommodate them as Ministers.

Ravneet Singh Bittu, a Sikh from Punjab, and George Kurian, a Christian from Kerala, have been made Ministers though they are members of neither house of the Parliament. While Bittu, a three-time MP, lost his election narrowly from Ludhiana, Kurian did not even contest a Lok Sabha election and is not much known in Kerala as well.

Both Bittu and Kurian will now be brought into the Rajya Sabha as MPs by the BJP as some Rajya Sabha seats have been vacated for BJP with Piyush Goyal, Dharmendra Pradhan and Bhupender Yadav winning the Lok Sabha elections this time. Bittu has been given the charge of Minister of State of Food Processing and the Minister of State in Railways. Kurian has been given the charge of Minister of State in Ministry of Minority Affairs; and Minister of State in the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying.

It was important to send a message in Punjab by making Bittu a minister as this is a state where BJP is now fighting alone and has increased its vote share significantly though BJP could not win any seat. Bittu is a three-time MP but Congress never made him a Union Minister in their term  BJP has made him one within months of him joining the BJP, a senior party leader said. Bittu lost by around 21,000 votes to the state Congress chief Raja Amarinder Singh Warring in Ludhiana but had aggressively campaigned in Modis name during the elections.

He is the grandson of former Chief Minister of Punjab, Beant Singh, who was assassinated by terrorists in August 1995. Kurian is a Christian face from Kerala who is the State General Secretary of the BJPs Kerala unit  a state where the BJP has big ambitions after it has won a seat this time in Thrissur where Suresh Gopi has emerged victorious by 75,000 votes and has also become a Minister. Kurians selection is part of BJPs Christian outreach. BJP has also made Rajya Sabha MP and its Tamil Nadu chief, L. Murugan a Minister again, though he lost from Niligris to DMKs A. Raja.
On June 4, the National Testing Agency (NTA) declared the NEET exam results. Many students discovered disparities between their grades shortly after the results were released. In the NEET 2024 test, 67 individuals received a perfect score of 720, although some students also received 718 and 719 marks, which cannot be achieved according to the NEET exams grading system. Medical students are now demanding that the NEET UG 2024 be cancelled since they are dissatisfied with their results. In addition, a lot of people desire to conduct a comprehensive investigation of the situation.

Several students who were not on the cutoff list are now expected to be seeking other career paths. For other pupils, it would mean sacrificing their dreams. But thats when capitalism gets involved. What could be more advantageous than making the most of dire circumstances?

Social media users are sharing an advertisement that criticises the NEET test. Rather than studying for the NEET, newspaper advertising encourages candidates to take the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT).

The ad reads, Disappointed with NEET results? Think beyond NEET, IIT-JEE. Think CLAT! 5 year law from NLUs.

bruh? marketing koi clat walo sey seekhein  pic.twitter.com/0ro2BCEsYA rishxbh (@rishabbhsharma) June 9, 2024

The post had over 1 lakh views on the social media platform at the time of reporting.

The comments section criticised the apparent capitalistic nature of the ad.

A user said, Capitalism is peaking. Last time a shaving blade company tried to capitalise on young toppers looks.

Capitalism is peaking .Last time a shaving blade company tried to capitalise from young topper's looks Min (@TassanMihin) June 10, 2024

Another user said, Kuch bhi ho. Paisa nahi rukna chahiye. (No matter what happens, the money should keep flowing.)

Kuch bhi ho. Paisa nahi rukna chahiye shobit (@mesasike) June 9, 2024

Yet another user stated, Dusre ki aapada me khud ke liye awasar talaash liya inhone (They found an opportunity for themselves in someone elses disaster.)

Dusre ki aapada me khud ke liye awasar talaash liya inhone Harshita Malviya (@Iam007Harshita) June 10, 2024

Following the NEET 2024 grading system dispute, at least two petitions challenging the results have been filed in High Courts. According to the Indian Express, a plea requesting a retake of the test on the grounds that the test paper was leaked was filed with the Supreme Court on June 1.

Last month, the Supreme Court denied a similar motion to delay the publication of the results. In a notable incident, 44 of the 67 top scorers answered a basic physics question incorrectly but were still granted grace marks due to an error in a previous edition of the NCERTs Class 12 textbook.

More than 13,000 applicants disputed the answer key, arguing that the textbook included material that pointed to an alternative answer, in response to a preliminary answer key that the NTA provided on May 29.

NTA stated in a press release that about 3 lakh more people than in 2023 took the test in 2024, adding that the increase in candidates naturally led to an increase in high scorers due to a larger pool of candidates.

Additionally, the NTA official stated that the 2024 NEET was comparatively easier than earlier exams, Indian Express reported.
Job layoffs have become increasingly common, particularly in the tech industry. Companies are resorting to terminating large workforces due to reasons like overstaffing, outsourcing and cost-cutting. This was the case for an India-born software engineer in the US who was laid off and replaced by another Indian. Sharing his experience on social media, the techie opened up about being laid off and replaced.

The one-minute video begins with the engineer introducing himself and revealing that he was recently laid off. Im a software engineer. I work in tech, or at least I used to work in tech until recently until my whole team got laid off, he says. He then recalls his exit interview with his employers, during which he was informed that the company was replacing his position, as well as his entire teams, with employees working in India.

Shocked upon hearing this, the man mentioned that he too is Indian, in an attempt to retain his job, but unfortunately, it was to no avail.

Indian software engineer is laid of and replaced by Indians.  pic.twitter.com/RtlZhU35Fo AlphaFo (@Alphafox78) June 9, 2024

If you keep me around, Im already Indian, right? We can get rid of these crackers and replace them with my friends, he pitched to the company, even offering to relocate to India if they wanted. It was then that his employers informed him that they were seeking individuals who would work for lower salaries.

They are like, no, no, no, you dont get it. We are getting rid of you. We are moving the job to India to be done by Indians, who will do it cheaper there, the man recalled the conversation.

His video went instantly viral, leaving the internet divided. A user wrote, Its not that youre Indian its that you are now 90% less expensive, while another commented, At least he didnt have to train them before he was firedtheres that.

Bro doesnt get it. hes being laid off because hes expensive, another user remarked, while a comment read, Its always hilarious when an ultra progressive gets a heavy-handed reality check. The video has garnered over 3 million views with more than 35,000 likes on the microblogging platform.

There are many layoff stories circulating on the internet, showcasing how employees across various fields have been terminated recently. In a recent example, Google laid off nearly 200 employees from its core team and also shifted some jobs overseas as part of cost-cutting measures.
An IndiGo flight arriving from Chennai was greeted with a traditional water salute at the newly inaugurated terminal of Tiruchirappalli International Airport in Tamil Nadu. The special welcome video was shared by ANI on X (formerly Twitter). The new terminal, starting its operations on June 11, was formally inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier this year in January. During the recent event, staff members of the Airport Authority of India (AAI) were reportedly stationed at the gate, extending warm welcomes to the passengers.

The new terminal is expected to enhance the airports capacity and bolster connectivity to various global destinations. The note attached to the video read, IndiGo aircraft which arrived from Chennai gets a water cannon salute at the newly integrated terminal in Tiruchirappalli International Airport which goes operational today. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated this integrated terminal in January, this year.

#WATCH | IndiGo aircraft which arrived from Chennai gets a water cannon salute at the newly integrated terminal in Tiruchirappalli International Airport which goes operational today.Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated this integrated terminal in January, this year. pic.twitter.com/fReRMKv5pl  ANI (@ANI) June 11, 2024

In response to the post, one user felt that the airport authorities wasted a lot of water, especially in such hot weather.

That's a lot of water wasted in such heat! Manoj Arora (@manoj_216) June 11, 2024

Another found the water cannon salute to be a unique and interesting way to welcome the aircraft.

Unique way of salute Ahmad (@whispererAB) June 11, 2024

An individual suggested using a flower cannon salute instead of water.

Start the flower cannon salute. Ritesh Pathak (    ) (@Ritz1802) June 11, 2024

One more added that instead of following Western countries and wasting water, India could introduce its own traditional and environmentally friendly salute style.

@DGCAIndia n' @Ministry_CA Why waste water to follow western countries, we cud create our own salutation style which suits Indian tradition n environment here.. Amit Raj Chaurasia (@_Quazer) June 11, 2024

The construction of the new terminal at Tiruchirappalli International Airport, which was made on a budget of Rs 1,112 Crore, began in February 2019, The Hindu reported. It is spread across 75,000 square metres, has two levels, which could easily accommodate over 4 million passengers every year. It has 60 check-in counters and 104 immigration counters, with 60 dedicated for arrivals and 44 for departures.

Interestingly, the terminal boasts a traditional design inspired by Kolam. Discussing the diverse designs, Rajavignesh, the creative director responsible for the artworks in the building, informed ANI, We have done a lot of painting works, murals. A total of 100 artists were employed and we have finished the artworks in 30 days.

Meanwhile, the first overseas flight operated by IndiGo arrived from Singapore at 6:40 AM. An hour later, the first domestic flight departed from the terminal for Bengaluru at 7:40 AM.
During the summer season, power cuts are a common issue, affecting not only rural areas but major cities as well. However, some people rely on electricity theft, which leads to excessive power consumption. Recently, something similar was captured in Balotra, Rajasthan, where a house owner and an assistant engineer from the local electricity department were caught involved in a heated physical dispute.

In a video circulating online, the engineer alleges that the electricity used by the resident is illegal, however, the owner argues that the allegations are not true.

The exact reason for the argument is unclear, but the video shows the engineer and a few other men initially assaulting the homeowner. The fight escalates until the house owners wife intervenes and manages to stop the altercation. In the video, the assistant engineer accuses them stating, Avedh connection aap chala rahe ho, main karta hun na karwayi. (You are running an unauthorised connection. I will take action. In response, the homeowner claims, Maine kiya connection, apko pata hai connection kiska hai. (I have not installed any connection, you know whose connection it is).

Sharing the video on Instagram, the user wrote, A video of some locals indulging in a fight with allegedly an assistant engineer of the electricity department over an electricity connection in Rajasthans Balotora went viral on social media.

Reacting to the post, someone suggested, First make illegal multiple connections, electricity theft in the first place, scuffle with electricity department officers and later complain about electricity cuts. Another shared, Privatised electric board needed. Panchayat S4? a comment read. Another wrote, Getting a connection for a new house is a herculean task everywhere, nothing surprising. Since the video was shared on Instagram, it has gone viral and garnered over 1 lakh views.

In Andhra Pradesh, doctors at a government hospital in Manyam district made headlines last year when they were forced to treat patients under mobile phone torches when the power was unavailable. This situation happened after eight road accident victims were brought to the Primary Health Centre at Kurupam during a power outage. With no electricity, medical staff had to rely on flashlights to provide treatment.

Horrified by the scenes unfolding in Kurupam, where doctors are forced to provide treatment to a patient under flashlights during a power outage. Power cuts are causing immense suffering across various sectors in Andhra Pradesh, including households, agriculture, and industry. pic.twitter.com/SCOx3aSIRx N Chandrababu Naidu (@ncbn) September 2, 2023

The incident was criticised by Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president N Chandrababu Naidu, who slammed thethen Jagan Mohan Reddy-led government for failing to address the electricity shortage.
There are countries or Islands that boast of their rich cultural heritage, wildlife and nature. This Island in South Korea is famous for something unimaginable; it has to do with their safety. The citizens of this island cannot even afford to sleep peacefully. As per reports, it is the island of Yeonpyeong in South Korea, where people are unable to live a life of normalcy. The island is located a mere 3 kilometres from the borders of North Korea. The reason behind the claim is that they live in continuous fear of being attacked by the enemy country. More reports state that it started when Pyongyang carried out an attack on the quiet island back in January, successfully threatening their safety. 200 artillery shells were pelted in its waters, which sent the unarmed civilians scrambling to find some safe space in the bomb shelters, which are scattered all over the island.

A resident named Jung Eun Jin said in an interview that she is unable to forget the attack. She revealed, At night, even a small noise makes me anxious. She continued saying that she cannot sleep with the lights off and even keeps the television running, as she is worried that anything can happen here. Eun Jin further revealed, My family isnt here. Im alone.

According to the information given, the North Korean islands are very easy to spot from the shoreline while on a clear day the mainland is visible. So, the residents of the Yeonpyeong island are simply unable to shake off the feeling of threat.

Reports state that the South Korean government built eight state bunkers, following an attack in 2010. The attack reportedly took the life of two civilians and two military officers. The bunkers are fully stocked with a weeks worth of food, medical equipment, gas masks, bedding showers and a screen, which shows images from outside.

Keywords: Yeonpyeong Island, Yeonpyeong Island attack, Yeonpyeong Island constant fear, Yeonpyeong Island lives in fear, Yeonpyeong Island residents
In this day and age, there is a great fear that artificial intelligence will eventually replace humans. But what we are about to reveal to you might amaze you. In the era of technological advancement, Swedish scientists have made a bold claim: they have created a living computer built from human brain tissue. You might be wondering how such a thing is possible.

According to Swedish scientists, the most remarkable aspect of this computer is its ability to share information like a computer chip. If this type of computing is adopted worldwide, it could potentially solve the energy crisis. Companies and universities around the world are now looking into this technology.

The implications of this breakthrough are immense. It opens up new possibilities in computer science and neuroscience, blurring the lines between biology and technology. Even though ethical considerations are at play, the potential benefits in terms of energy efficiency and computing power are undeniable. The creation of a living computer represents a significant milestone in technology. It challenges our ideas about what is possible and raises profound questions about the future of artificial intelligence and humanitys relationship with technology.

It consists of 16 organoids, which are lab-grown clumps of brain cells that exchange information with each other. They work similarly to a conventional computer chip- they send and receive signals through their neurons, which function like circuits. What makes it special, however, is that the living machine uses less energy, because living neurons can use more than a million times less energy than the digital processors currently in use.

When comparing it to the worlds best computers, such as the Hewlett Packard Enterprise Frontier, the scientists found that the human brain, running at the same speed and with 1,000 times more memory, uses 10 to 20 watts- compared to a computer that uses 21 megawatts.

Dr Fred Jordan, co-CEO of FinalSpark, a startup focused on developing solutions using biological neural networks, told DailyMail, This idea is common in science fiction, but there isnt a huge amount of real research on it.
The BRICS nations on Monday expressed grave concern over the unprecedented escalation of violence in the Gaza Strip as a result of Israeli military operations and reaffirmed their support for Palestines full membership in the United Nations.

At a meeting in Russias Nizhny Novgorod, the BRICS foreign ministers reiterated the groupings unwavering commitment to the vision of a two-state solution to the Palestine issue based on international law. Secretary (Economic Relations) in the Ministry of External Affairs Dammu Ravi represented India at the crucial meeting. The BRICS comprises Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Ethiopia, Iran, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates.

The ministers expressed grave concern at the deterioration of the situation in the occupied Palestinian territory, in particular the unprecedented escalation of violence in the Gaza Strip as a result of the Israeli military operation that led to mass civilian displacement, death and casualties, a joint statement issued at the end of the meeting said.

Gaza Aid

BRICS is an acronym for original members of the grouping  Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. The grouping also called for immediate, safe and unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian civilian population throughout the Gaza Strip. It also pressed for the effective implementation of the UN Security Council resolution 2728 for an immediate, durable and sustained ceasefire.

The foreign ministers equally called for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages and civilians who are being illegally held captive. They expressed grave concern over increasing attacks by Israel in Rafah, saying it would compound the dire humanitarian situation. The Ministers further condemned the Israeli military operation in Rafah and its ramifications that directly impact the civilian lives, especially in view of the high density of Palestinian civilians in this location, the statement said.

They also reaffirmed their rejection of any attempt aiming at forcefully displacing, expelling or transferring the Palestinian people from their land, it said. Furthermore, they cautioned against the spill over effects of escalation of tensions to the rest of the Middle East region. They acknowledged the provisional measures of the International Court of Justice in the legal proceedings instituted by South Africa against Israel, it said. The ministers expressed serious concern at Israels continued blatant disregard of international law, the UN Charter, UN resolutions and Court orders, according to the statement.

On Monday, India also wholeheartedly welcomed Egypt, Iran, UAE, Saudi Arabia and Ethiopia joining the BRICS as their representatives attended a key meeting of the grouping for the first time. A significant meeting in the format of expanded BRICS family. India wholeheartedly welcomes the new membership, the spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs Randhir Jaiswal posted on X. The meeting on Monday was the first ministerial meeting following BRICS expansion in 2023 when Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE joined Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa as full-fledged BRICS members.
Noa Argamani, the Israeli woman, who was kidnapped by the Hamas militants from a music concert on October 7 and held hostage for over 240 days, was washing dishes at the time she was rescued by the Israeli troops.

Talking about the rescue operation to a local news channel, Argamani said she was washing dishes when the Israeli soldiers entered the house to rescue her adding that any lapse could have cost her life.

It was scary. The soldiers were brave. In a matter of one second, I may not have been here today, Channel 13 quoted her as saying.

Argamanis captivity became an international headline after her kidnapping video went viral. In the footage, she was seen being driven away by gunmen as she screamed, Dont kill me! No, no, no.

Harrowing footage of her being taken into Gaza on the back of a motorcycle, pleading for her life and reaching desperately towards her boyfriend being marched alongside her on foot circulated across the globe. Her boyfriend Avi Nathan was also seen being manhandled by the Hamas group.

Hours after her rescue, freed hostage Noa Argamani was taken to a hospital in Tel Aviv to see her terminally ill mother, whose heartfelt video asking authorities to free her daughter captured the attention of social media users.

Back in October, shortly after her daughter was abducted Liora, Noas mother, sitting in a wheelchair, was asked in an interview with a local television station how she imagined their reunion.

At least to be able to hug her, Liora answered.

Hospital CEO Ronni Gamzu said the mothers condition was complicated and tough. He said Argamani was able to communicate with her mother, who they believe understood that her daughter had come home.
The UKs prestigious Oxford University has agreed to return a 500-year-old bronze idol of a saint believed to be stolen from a temple in Tamil Nadu to India.

On 11 March 2024, the Council of the University of Oxford supported a claim from the Indian High Commission for the return of a 16th-century bronze sculpture of Saint Tirumankai Alvar from the Ashmolean Museum. This decision will now be submitted to the Charity Commission for approval, said a statement from the universitys Ashmolean Museum.

The 60cm-tall statue of Saint Tirumankai Alvar was acquired by the Ashmolean Museum at the University of Oxford from Sothebys auction house in 1967 from the collection of a collector named Dr J.R. Belmont (1886-1981). The museum says that it was alerted to the origins of the ancient statue by an independent researcher in November last year, following which it alerted the Indian High Commission.

The Indian government made a formal request for the bronze idol believed to be stolen from a temple in Tamil Nadu and found its way to a UK museum through auction. The museum, which holds some of the worlds most famous art and archaeology artefacts, says it acquired the statue in good faith in 1967.

There have been several instances of stolen Indian artefacts being restored from the UK to India, most recently in August last year when a limestone carved relief sculpture, originating from Andhra Pradesh, and a Navaneetha Krishna bronze sculpture originating from 17th century Tamil Nadu, were handed over to the Indian High Commissioner to the UK following a joint US-UK investigation involving Scotland Yards Art and Antiques Unit.
In the first congratulatory message from Chinas top leadership to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for winning a third term, Premier Li Qiang on Tuesday said the sound and steady development of China-India relations is not only conducive to the well-being of the countries but also injects stability and positive energy into the region and the world, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

He said Beijing is willing to work with New Delhi to push forward bilateral relations in the right direction. China is willing to work with India to push forward bilateral relations in the right direction.

This, however, came as the newly elected NDA coalition approved the renaming of 30 places in Tibet, signalling a strong response to Chinas nomenclature aggression in Arunachal Pradesh. The names approved by Delhi, which is based on historical research and affiliation to the Tibet region, will be released by the Indian Army and updated on their maps along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

Modi was sworn in as prime minister on June 9 for a record-equalling third term, heading the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government. The Chinese foreign ministry on June 5 congratulated him on the victory of the NDA coalition in the general elections, saying both countries should look to the future to advance bilateral relations, frozen since the Galwan incident four years ago, on a healthy and stable track.

Relations between the two countries hit a low except for trade ever since the eastern Ladakh border standoff erupted on May 5, 2020, following a violent clash in the Pangong Tso (lake) area near Galwan. We noted the results of Indias general election and extend congratulations on the victory of the BJP led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the National Democratic Alliance, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told a media briefing.

A healthy and stable China-India relationship is in the interest of both the countries, and conducive to the peace and development in this region and beyond, Mao said while responding to a question by the official media seeking Chinas comment on Modis win.

China stands ready to work with India to act in the fundamental interests of the two countries and the two peoples, bear in mind the overall interest of our ties, look to the future and advance bilateral relations on a healthy and stable track, she said.

A day after that, however, China protested over Modis comment that he looked forward to having closer ties with Taiwan. His remarks came in response to a congratulatory message from Taiwan President Lai Ching-te on his election victory.

China views Taiwan as a rebel province that must be reunified with the mainland even by force. India is pressing the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) to disengage from the Depsang and Demchok areas, maintaining that there cannot be restoration of normalcy in its relations with China as long as the state of the borders remains abnormal.

For its part, China continues to maintain that the boundary question does not represent the entirety of China-India relations, and it should be placed appropriately in bilateral relations and managed properly. Once the Modi-led government begins its third term, attention is expected to turn to holding the 22nd round of Corps Commander-level talks to resolve the deadlock over the disengagement in the Depsang and Demchok areas to revive the relations.

Ahead of Indias parliament elections, China last month appointed senior diplomat Xu Feihong as its new Ambassador to New Delhi after 18 months of delay.
Trouble seems to be mounting for NASAs Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams and her team of eight crew members on board the International Space Station (ISS) as a space bug, capable of causing health issues to the stationed astronauts, has been detected at the ISS.

According to NASA, scientists have found a multi-drug resistant bacteria named Enterobacter bugandensis which has evolved and become more potent in the closed environment of the ISS.

Often called a superbug, this bacteria is multi-drug resistant and infects the human respiratory system.

In a new scientific paper funded by an Ames Space Biology grant, Principal Investigator Dr Kasthuri Venkateswaran of NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory strains of Enterobacter bugandensis isolated from the International Space Station (ISS) were studied. Thirteen strains of E bugandensis, a bacterium notorious for being multi-drug resistant, were isolated from the ISS, NASA report stated.

Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams flew to space for the third time on Wednesday along with a colleague, scripting history as the first members aboard Boeings Starliner spacecraft on a 25-hour flight to the International Space Station.

Boeings Crew Flight Test mission carrying Williams, and Butch Wilmore lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida after multiple delays.

Williams, 58, is the pilot for the flight test while Wilmore, 61, is the commander of the mission. The launch marks the beginning of the NASA-Boeing Starliner Crew Flight Test (CFT).

Upon arrival at the ISS, Williams broke into an impromptu dance as she entered the International Space Station and received the Bell Rings welcome along with her colleague Butch Wilmore according to US Naval tradition.

A video of the moment shared by NASA on their social media handle showed Williams entering the ISS docking area first to the loud clapping from the Expedition 71 colleagues as one of them rang the metal bell, clinking of which could be heard over and above the celebratory cheers.
The United Nations Security Council on Monday adopted a U.S.-drafted resolution backing a proposal outlined by President Joe Biden for a ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian militants Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

Russia abstained from the vote, while the remaining 14 council members voted in favor. The U.S. had finalized its text on Sunday after six days of negotiations among the council. Biden laid out a three-phase ceasefire plan on May 31 that he described as an Israeli initiative. Some Security Council members questioned whether Israel had accepted the plan to end the fighting in Gaza.

The resolution welcomes the new ceasefire proposal, which Israel accepted, calls upon Hamas to also accept it, and urges both parties to fully implement its terms without delay and without condition. Were waiting on Hamas to agree to the ceasefire deal it claims to want, U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Linda Thomas-Greenfield told the council before the vote. With every passing day, needless suffering continues.

The resolution also goes into detail about the proposal, and spells out that if the negotiations take longer than six weeks for phase one, the ceasefire will still continue as long as negotiations continue. The council in March demanded for an immediate ceasefire and unconditional release of all hostages held by Hamas.

For months, negotiators from the U.S., Egypt and Qatar have been trying to mediate a ceasefire. Hamas says it wants a permanent end to the war in the Gaza Strip and Israeli withdrawal from the enclave of 2.3 million people. Israel is retaliating against Hamas, which rules Gaza, over an Oct. 7 attack by its militants.

More than 1,200 people were killed and over 250 taken hostage by Hamas on Oct. 7, according to Israeli tallies. More than 100 hostages are believed to remain captive in Gaza. Israel launched an air, ground and sea assault on the Palestinian territory, killing more than 37,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health authorities.

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
David Azadi Scott is a long-time storyteller and theater enthusiast. He was born right here in the beautiful Black Hills but has also spent time living in Utah and Missouri. In his spare time he enjoys writing, exploring the hills, and letting his nerd flag fly with a game of D&D.
One of three people charged in a mass shooting that killed six people and injured a dozen others in Sacramento died in his jail cell early Saturday, authorities say. The inmate was found unresponsive in his cell at the Sacramento County Main Jail, the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office said in a Facebook post . After deputies performed first aid, "fire personnel arrived and continued life-saving efforts, but the inmate was ultimately pronounced deceased at the jail," the sheriff's office said. The office didn't name Smiley Martin as the inmate, but it said the man had been in custody since Martin's April 20, 2022, arrest date, CNN reports.

Martin, 29, faced charges including murder and being a felon in possession of a firearm. He was seriously injured in what authorities said was a clash between two armed groups linked to gangs on April 3, 2022, NBC News reports. His younger brother Dandrae Martin, who received minor injuries, was also arrested. "It is most tragic that Mr. Martin passed away, fighting to defend his innocence in the preliminary hearing process," public defender Norman Dawson said. The sheriff's office said it is investigating the death. It said the county coroner's office "will determine the cause of death and forward its findings as prescribed by law." (More Sacramento stories.)
The US achieved a rare victory at the United Nations on Monday, when the Security Council endorsed the three-phase peace plan that begins with a ceasefire in Gaza. The vote was 14-0; Russia abstained but did not block the measure. The move adds to the international pressure on Israel and Hamas to end the fighting, the New York Times reports. The resolution states that Israel has accepted the US-backed plan's terms and urges Hamas to do so, per the BBC . "Israel has already agreed to this deal," US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said, per the Hill , "and the fighting could stop today if Hamas would do the same."

Israel's acceptance has been muddied, though, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying publicly that the attacks on Gaza shouldn't stop before Hamas' military capability is destroyed and all hostages are released. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Netanyahu on Monday to lobby for the ceasefire, and he was in Egypt earlier in the day to build support for it. "My message to governments throughout the region is: If you want a ceasefire, press Hamas to say yes," Blinken said in Cairo.

Hamas released a statement after the vote welcoming such provisions as a prisoner exchange and reconstruction in Gaza. Russia's ambassador complained that the Security Council doesn't know exactly what the US has agreed to with Israel. The US asked the council to take its word that Netanyahu's government accepts the terms, declining to spell that out in the wording. Despite that issue, Vasily Nebenzya said Russia abstained because the plan had broad support among Arab countries, per the Times. (More Israel-Hamas war stories.)
A new attraction starring the first Black Disney princess is opening at the company's US theme park resorts, and some Disney followers see it as a fitting replacement to a former ride based on a movie that contained racist tropes, per the AP . The new theme park attraction updates Tiana's storyline from the 2009 animated film The Princess and the Frog and is opening this month in the space previously occupied by Splash Mountain. The water ride had been themed to Song of the South, a 1946 Disney movie filled with racist cliches about African Americans and plantation life.

Tiana's Bayou Adventure keeps Splash Mountain's DNA as a log-flume ride, but it's infused with music, scenery, and animatronic characters inspired by the film set in 1920s New Orleans. It opens to the public on June 28 at Walt Disney World in Florida and at Disneyland in California later this year. "For little Black girls, Tiana has meant a lot. When a little child can see somebody who looks like them, that matters," said Neal Lester, an English professor at Arizona State University, who has written about Tiana.

Disney's announcement that it would transform its longstanding Splash Mountain ride into Tiana's Bayou Adventure was made in June 2020 following the social justice protests sparked by the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody. At the time, Disney said the change had already been in the works. But it came as companies across the US were reconsidering or renaming decades-old brands amid worldwide protests. Read the full story.

(More Disney stories.)
Four US college instructors were stabbed Monday while visiting a public park in China. The educators from Cornell College, a private liberal arts college in Iowa, were participating in a partnership program with Beihua University in the northern city of Jilin, CNN reports. Footage after the attack showed a woman and two men conscious on the ground with large blood stains. The video was geolocated to Beishan Park in Jilin city center, a short drive from Beihua University. China's Foreign Ministry confirmed "four foreign teachers at Beihua University were attacked" Monday while visiting the park and were taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Police detained a 55-year-old man surnamed Cui, reports the AP ; police say he bumped into one of the victims and stabbed him, along with his three companions.

"The police initially determined that the case was an isolated incident," a rep said, per CNN, adding the investigation is ongoing. Cornell College President Jonathan Brand said the school had "been in contact with all four instructors and are assisting them during this time." Iowa state Rep. Adam Zabner identified one of the victims as his brother, David Zabner. He said he'd "been stitched up" and is "doing well." The educators were at the park on Monday, a public holiday in China, with a faculty member from Beihua, Brand said, per ABC News. The park is home to "multiple ancient temples," per NBC News.

China and the US have been encouraging colleges and universities to increase exchanges and cooperation. Cornell College began a partnership with Beihua University in 2018. Beihua pays for educators from Cornell to travel to China to live and teach in areas including computer science, math and physics over two-week periods, CNN reports. "Carrying out people-to-people and cultural exchanges between China and the United States is in the common interests of both sides and has received active support and response from various sectors in both countries," said the Foreign Ministry spokesperson, adding "the isolated incident will not disrupt" these exchanges. (More China stories.)
That didn't take long. A month after King Charles III's first official portrait as monarch was unveiled, activists vandalized it with an image of the iconic British stop-motion animation character Wallace of Wallace and Gromit fame . The animal activist group Animal Rising shared footage Tuesday of an individual using a paint roller to apply an image of Wallace's face on top of Charles' own, prompting "gasps of shock from onlookers," per NBC News . A second person applied a speech bubble to the portrait on display at London's Philip Mould & Co. gallery. "No cheese Gromit, look at all of this cruelty on RSCPA farms," it read, per CNN .

Animal Rising said the "light-hearted" act was meant to draw attention to a new report by the group that seeks to hold to higher welfare standards farms inspected by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Animal Rising argues the scheme covers up "cruelty on an industrial scale." King Charles is a patron of the RSPCA, a British charity. "With King Charles being such a big fan of Wallace and Gromit, we couldn't think of a better way to draw his attention to the horrific scenes on RSPCA Assured farms," one of the activists involved said in a statement, per NBC.

The RSPCA said it was "shocked by this vandalism," which served to distract from its mission to help animals. "We remain confident that our RSPCA Assured scheme is the best way to help farmed animals right now," a rep added, per the BBC. Days earlier, in response to the Animal Rising report, a rep said "any concerns about welfare on RSPCA Assured farms are taken extremely seriously and RSPCA Assured will act swiftly to look into these allegations." The gallery said there was no damage to the portrait. The BBC notes the signs were affixed to glass protecting the actual painting. Animal Rising said there was no glue involved, only water. (More King Charles III stories.)
For three decades while serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole, Pamela Smart maintained she had nothing to do with her husband's 1990 murder. That story has finally changed. In a video released Tuesday, Smart says she's learned to take responsibility for the killing through a prison writing class that challenged inmates to go into "[mental] spaces that we didn't want to be in." It's the first time the 56-year-old accused of plotting with her teenage lover to kill Gregg Smart has accepted full responsibility, per the AP . The video shared with WMUR comes as Smart, who has exhausted all appeal options, is petitioning New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu to commute her sentence.

She was 22 when she was convicted of being an accomplice to murder in 1991. Prosecutors said the high school media coordinator had plotted with her 15-year-old lover and three other male students to murder her husband, who was found shot dead in the couple's condo in Derry on May 1, 1990. The students cooperated with prosecutors and pleaded guilty to lesser charges. The shooter, William Flynn, served a 25-year sentence before his release in 2015. Despite her no-parole status, Smart maintained she had no role in the murder plot. She previously admitted her husband would still be alive if not for her affair, per ABC News, but stopped short of admitting full responsibility.

Jailed since 1990, Smart now says she's ready for an "honest conversation" with the New Hampshire Executive Council "about my incarceration, my acceptance of responsibility, and any concerns you might have." She says a prison writing group allowed her to "dig deeper" into her responsibility for the crime. "I found myself responsible for something I desperately didn't want to be responsible for, my husband's murder," an emotional Smart says in the video. "I had to acknowledge for the first time in my own mind and my own heart how responsible I was, because I had deflected blame all the time." Now "I can see so many errors that I made, and I can see how skewed my judgment was and how immature I was," she continues.

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The five-member Executive Council rejected Smart's request for a commutation hearing for a third time in 2022. Smart appealed to the state Supreme Court, which dismissed her petition last year due to a lack of jurisdiction. It's unclear how the council will interpret her new admission. A cousin of the murder victim certainly isn't taking it well. Val Fryatt says Smart accepted responsibility "without admitting the facts around what made her 'fully responsible'" and failed to mention her dead husband's name even once, per the AP. (More New Hampshire stories.)
Hunter Biden has been found guilty on all three federal gun charges he faced in Delaware, reports the AP. The jury in his case delivered the verdict Tuesday morning after deliberating about three hours. Jurors found Biden guilty of lying to a federally licensed gun dealer, making a false claim on the application by saying he was not a drug user, and illegally having the gun for 11 days. (At that point, his girlfriendhis late brother's widowfound it and threw it in a public trash can.)

The stakes: President Biden's son faces up to 25 years in prison when he is sentenced by Judge Maryellen Noreika, though first-time offenders who didn't use their weapon in a violent crime typically do not receive jail time, per the New York Times. Biden also faces up to $750,000 in fines. No sentencing date has been set.
President Biden said last week that he would not consider pardoning son Hunter should he be convicted in his gun case. On Tuesday, after the guilty verdict came down, the president reaffirmed that. "I will accept the outcome of this case and will continue to respect the judicial process as Hunter considers an appeal," he said in a statement, per USA Today. It continued:

"As I said last week, I am the President, but I am also a Dad. Jill and I love our son, and we are so proud of the man he is today. So many families who have had loved ones battle addiction understand the feeling of pride seeing someone you love come out the other side and be so strong and resilient in recovery." He and the first lady will always be there for their son "with our love and support," the president said.
The federal judge who blocked part of Florida's law on transgender care for minors last year struck the law down in a decision Tuesday, saying key parts of it are unconstitutional. "Gender identity is real," Judge Robert Hinkle of Federal District Court in Tallahassee said in his 105-page decision, per the New York Times . The 2023 law banned gender-affirming care for minors and severely restricted it for adults. "Florida has adopted a statute and rules that ban gender-affirming care for minors even when medically appropriate," Hinkle wrote. "The ban is unconstitutional." He also struck down a ban on telemedicine for trans adults and a requirement that they receive treatment only from doctors, not nurses.

Hinkle said the law's sponsors were motivated by "anti-transgender animus," NBC News reports. He quoted the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. in his decision, which likened discrimination against transgender people to discrimination against women and racial minorities in the past, the AP reports. "In time, discrimination against transgender individuals will diminish, just as racism and misogyny have diminished," he wrote. "To paraphrase a civil-rights advocate from an earlier time, the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice." He noted that the state had long allowed treatment for gender dysphoria, "but then the political winds changed."

Hinkle said the state "can regulate as needed but cannot flatly deny transgender individuals safe and effective medical treatment." Jeremy Redfern, press secretary for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, said the state will appeal the ruling, the Washington Post reports. "Florida will continue to fight to ensure children are not chemically or physically mutilated in the name of radical, new age 'gender ideology,'" Redfern said in a statement. (More transgender stories.)
She added that amid the current global unrest, he views New Zealand as a safe place to escape to - despite the family not knowing anyone in the country and their young son starting school in September.



Annie Jacobsen, a US investigative journalist and the author of Nuclear War: A Scenario, has previously claimed that Australia and New Zealand are among the safest places to be living amid nuclear war, largely due to their agricultural resources.

Writing under an alias, the woman revealed that her husband has even been offered a job in New Zealand, although she is currently unemployed.



"DH [dear husband] wants to move us all to NZ because he's had a job offer and he's increasingly concerned about the threat of war (we are in the UK)," she wrote.

"We have one DS [dear son] who is just about to start school in September and is currently getting settled into the idea/going to taster sessions.

"I'm not currently working. I was self-employed previously. I've had a look online and it seems like DH would get the visa for the job offer and we could apply for a NZ Family Visa and try to get residency once there, but I'm unclear about whether I'd need to work to hold that visa.

"I'm not against working at all and we agreed I'd pick up my self-employed business again when DS goes to school but I don't think that would be an option under the working requirements there," she said.

Despite her husband's reassurances that the company would take care of the administration involved, the woman admitted that she believes his "anxiety about the world" is driving his "sudden" decision-making.



"DH keeps saying the company would sort it all but I think it's such a sudden huge decision and I'm worried that he's just forging ahead with it because of his anxiety about the world situation," she continued.

"We've never even been to NZ. We don't know anyone out there; I don't know anything about it or the schooling system. It's so far away as well we wouldn't be able to see friends and family regularly. I'm worried about how DS would adapt.

"I'm not enthusiastic as you can tell but DH thinks it's a smart move. AIBU [am I being unreasonable] to want to dig my feet in about this and say no?"
"This decision reflects our strong commitment to the Republic of Korea, and our need to step up to better support peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, and the Indo-Pacific more widely," Defence Minister Judith Collins said on Tuesday.

"This deployment is an excellent opportunity for our NZDF personnel to utilise their skills, leadership and experience in a multinational environment."

The personnel will take on roles in the UNC Honour Guard and join the UNC Security Battalion operating in the Demilitarised Zone between North and South Korea. They will work alongside contributing nations, including the Republic of Korea, the United States, Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and the Philippines.

"Substantially increasing the size of our deployment to the Republic of Korea reflects the importance New Zealand places on collective security efforts that support peace and stability and the international rules-based system in the Indo-Pacific region, and on the Korean Peninsula in particular," Foreign Minister Winston Peters said.

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TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

The Cabinet discussed the directives of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, to the relevant entities to support Bahraini pilgrims participating in the Hajj pilgrimage by providing them with the necessary services.

Chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister, H.E. Shaikh Khalid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, yesterday at Gudaibiya Palace, the Cabinet reviewed a memorandum submitted by the Minister of Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments regarding the administrative and medical preparations made by the concerned authorities to provide the best services for Bahraini pilgrims to facilitate their pilgrimage and commended the efforts made by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to care for the pilgrims.

During its weekly meeting, the Cabinet also discussed and approved a memorandum submitted by the Ministerial Committee for Legal and Legislative Affairs regarding a draft decision on the allocation of some areas in Wadi Al-Buhair for nature reserves.

To mark the upcoming Eid Al Adha holiday, the Cabinet extended Eid greetings to His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, HRH Prince Salman, the people of Bahrain, as well as Arab and Islamic nations.

Power project

The Cabinet highlighted the importance of opening of the Reactive Power Compensation Project at the Riffa station in conjunction with the celebration of the silver jubilee of HM the Kings ascension to the throne, adding that the project will further the advancement and efficiency of the Kingdoms infrastructure and electrical network and increase production capacity.

It noted the loan agreement to finance the 400-kilovolt transmission line development project between the government of Bahrain and the Kuwait Fund for Development.

The project is part of the Kingdoms commitment to support infrastructure development programmes and plans that contribute to the growth of vital sectors, adding that infrastructural projects are an essential foundation for achieving sustainable economic growth.

Congratulations

The Cabinet extended its congratulations to students across all educational levels following the end of the 2023/2024 academic year and thanked their parents, the Ministry of Education, and its educational and administrative staff for their efforts in serving and supporting the sector, throughout the academic year.
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

The International School of Thrissur, a distinguished Cambridge Pathway residential school, has announced a new collaboration with the Indian Club Bahrain to offer exceptional summer camp activities for children aged 3-14.

This partnership aims to provide an enriching and engaging camp experience that combines fun with learning.

The International School of Thrissur is committed to nurturing young minds through a world-class education that encourages curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking.

With a focus on academic excellence and holistic development, the institution prepares students to excel in an ever-evolving global landscape.

The Indian Club Bahrain, known for its rich legacy of promoting cultural, social, and recreational activities, joins hands with The International School of Thrissur to bring this unique summer camp program.

A highlight of the camp will be its focus on Robotics, designed to equip children with essential 21st-century skills such as critical thinking and problem-solving.

The robotics program, delivered in partnership with a MoE UAE certified company and the STEM.org accredited school, includes the introduction to Robotics; building the first robot and adding sensors for autonomous driving; creating AI projects to detect facial expressions and control robots with gestures; introduction to the Metaverse, including simulating a robot launch; and a capstone takeaway project.

The comprehensive orientation and additional 5-day camp dedicated to robotics are tailored for children aged 3-14, aiming to spark interest and provide foundational skills in robotics, fostering innovation and problem-solving abilities among young learners.

This collaboration between The International School of Thrissur and the Indian Club Bahrain promises a unique opportunity for children to explore, learn, and grow in an environment that encourages curiosity and creativity. Both institutions are committed to delivering a memorable and impactful summer camp experience.
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

BENEFIT, the Kingdoms innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, recently participated in the 2nd Edition of the Visa CEMEA Payment Forum 2024, hosted in Istanbul from May 28th - 30th under the theme Tomorrows Blueprint, Today.

The forum brought together more than 700 attendees from nearly 90 markets across Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa to explore the future of payments, commerce and money movement.

Yousif AlNefaiei, Deputy Chief Executive of Business Development & Services at BENEFIT, joined a panel session titled Capturing New Money Movement Using Visa Direct Capabilities.

The session, moderated by Ali Bailoun, Vice President and Regional General Manager for Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Oman at Visa, also featured other senior leaders from the financial sector.

The panel explored the significance of money movement within the GCC and how the synergy of Alias and Visa Direct can enhance convenience and transparency, thereby elevating the overall customer experience through mobile solutions and cross-network access.

The Global market size of the Remittance was around $740 billion in 2023, the size of the GCCs remittance market is projected to be around $150 Billion in 2024, reflecting the high demand for remittance services.

This presents a significant opportunity for further digitization and tailored solutions, the GCC digital remittance is projected around 23 billion in 2024 representing around 15% from the overall GCC remittance, and it is growing massively BENEFIT boasts over 1 million subscribers, a remarkable figure considering Bahrains population of approximately 1.5 million.

Yousif further emphasized BENEFITs strategic partnerships, including an MoU with India with plans to target Thailand, Egypt, and Jordan, showcasing their commitment to wider reach and diverse remittance options. Our partnership with Visa Direct simplifies payments and expands options by streamlining back-end processes like eKYC, screening, and AML checks.

This, in turn, translates to a more convenient user experience with simpler and potentially 24/7 access to remittance services. Yousif AlNefaiei, Deputy Chief Executive of Business Development & Services at BENEFIT commented, The forum provided a valuable platform to engage in meaningful dialogue and exchange knowledge with a distinguished group of industry leaders.
MONTREAL, June 11, 2024 /CNW/ - A new procedure to combat obesity  the Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty, dubbed the "Endo-Sleeve", or ESG, and the first intervention of its kind  is now being performed in Quebec.

This comes in the wake of a Health Canada approval in February 2024 of the endoscopic device used in the procedure. Medical experts in the field consider the ESG to be a significant advancement in the field of weight-loss surgery, as well as a safe and effective treatment for obesity.

Dr. Lamees Almutlaq (left), Dr. Michel Gagner (right) (CNW Group/Clinique Michel Gagner)

What sets this apart from other bariatric procedures? First, it's minimally invasive. Rather than using scalpels and incisions, surgeons use a long tube known as an endoscope, which is inserted through the mouth to reach the stomach. Sutures are then used to reduce the size of the stomach.

Second, it can be revised to other bariatric procedures if medically necessary. "It's a much safer procedure," says Dr. Michel Gagner, Chief Surgeon at Clinique Michel Gagner in Montreal, where the first ESG in Canada was performed. "Complications are possible, but less frequent and their magnitude is less severe than laparoscopic surgery."

Finally, recovery time after the procedure is shorter compared to other weight-loss interventions, such as a gastric bypass or laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy.

"The Endo-Sleeve could lead to substantial savings for healthcare systems by reducing obesity-related illnesses," Dr. Gagner says, "benefits include improvement in diabetes and potentially reversing type 2 diabetes."

The company behind creating the cutting-edge device for the ESG, says the procedure is completely incisionless, and that patients can expect not to have any scars. They also say patients can lose up to 15-20% of body weight in 1 year. They believe it will be more effective in treating obesity than weight-loss drugs.

"On the spectrum of weight loss options from one extreme to the other, this is the bridge that we were missing," says Dr. Lamees Almutlaq, the surgeon, who performed the first ESG in Canada in May of this year.

SOURCE Clinique Michel Gagner

Clinique Michel Gagner, [email protected], (514) 922-5055
NewswrapIndia: Following his historic third consecutive term, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has assigned portfolios to his 71-member council of ministers. The new Union Cabinet convened its first meeting at the PMs residence, after which the comprehensive list of ministerial allocations was released.

Continuity in Key Ministries

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has retained Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, Nirmala Sitharaman, and S. Jaishankar in their respective high-profile ministries: Home Affairs, Defence, Finance, and External Affairs. These four ministers form the crucial Cabinet Committee on Security, chaired by the Prime Minister.

Notable New Entrants

Shivraj Singh Chouhan: Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister has been assigned the Agriculture and Rural Development Ministries.

 J.P. Nadda: The BJP President returns to the Health Ministry, a portfolio he held during Modis first term.

What the allies got?

H.D. Kumaraswamy (JD(S)): Heavy Industries and Steel Ministries.

 Jitan Ram Manjhi (HAM-Secular): Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Ministry.

 Lalan Singh (JD(U)): Panchayati Raj, Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying Ministries.

 K. Rammohan Naidu (TDP): Civil Aviation Ministry.

 Chirag Paswan (LJP-Ram Vilas): Food Processing Industries Ministry.

Cabinet Ministers

Narendra Modi: Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions; Department of Atomic Energy; Department of Space.

Rajnath Singh: Ministry of Defence.

Amit Shah: Ministry of Home Affairs; Ministry of Cooperation.

Nitin Gadkari: Ministry of Road Transport and Highways; Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers.

J.P. Nadda: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

Shivraj Singh Chouhan: Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare; Ministry of Rural Development.

Nirmala Sitharaman: Ministry of Finance; Ministry of Corporate Affairs.

S. Jaishankar: Ministry of External Affairs.

Manohar Lal Khattar: Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs; Ministry of Power.

H.D. Kumaraswamy (JD(S)): Ministry of Heavy Industries; Ministry of Steel.

Piyush Goyal: Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

Dharmendra Pradhan: Ministry of Education.

Jitan Ram Manjhi (HAM-Secular): Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises.

Lalan Singh (JD(U)): Ministry of Panchayati Raj; Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying.

Sarbananda Sonowal: Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.

Virendra Kumar: Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu (TDP): Ministry of Civil Aviation.

Prahlad Joshi: Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution; Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.

Jual Oram: Ministry of Tribal Affairs.

Giriraj Singh: Ministry of Textiles.

Ashwini Vaishnaw: Ministry of Railways; Ministry of Information and Broadcasting; Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.

Jyotiraditya Scindia: Ministry of Communications; Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region.

Bhupendra Yadav: Ministry of Environment and Forests.

Gajendra Singh Shekhawat: Ministry of Tourism; Ministry of Culture.

Annpurna Devi: Ministry of Women & Child Development.

Kiren Rijiju: Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs; Ministry of Minority Affairs.

Hardeep Singh Puri: Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.

Mansukh Mandaviya: Ministry of Labour & Employment; Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.

G. Kishan Reddy: Ministry of Coal; Ministry of Mines.

Chirag Paswan (LJP-Ram Vilas): Ministry of Food Processing Industries.

C.R. Patil: Ministry of Jal Shakti.

Ministers of State (Independent Charge)

Rao Inderjit Singh: Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation; Ministry of Planning; Minister of State in the Ministry of Culture.

Jitendra Singh: Ministry of Science and Technology; Ministry of Earth Sciences; Minister of State in the Prime Ministers Office; Minister of State in the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions; Minister of State in the Department of Atomic Energy; Minister of State in the Department of Space.

Arjun Ram Meghwal: Ministry of Law and Justice; Minister of State in the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs.

Prataprao Ganpatrao Jadhav: Ministry of Ayush; Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

Jayant Chaudhary (RLD): Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship; Minister of State in the Ministry of Education.

Also read:Election 2024: Modi Wins Third Term with NDAs 293; JD(U) and TDP Kingmakers, INDIA Bloc Takes 234
Warren Redlich is a long time Tesla uber bull but he has fears that Elon Musk will leave Tesla if the 2018 CEO compensation package is not re-approved. The 2018 pay package was approved by over 70% of shareholders in 2018 and then all terms were met where the $2B+ volue of the award increased to $56 billion. The increase was due to Tesla share price and profits increasing by ten times. A Delaware judge rescinded the CEO compensation package in 2024 based on a lawsuit by a shareholder with 9 shares.

Here is what is known about the likely vote to be revealed June 13, 2024. The CEO compensation vote should pass but there is a risk that it does not. It is not known for certain how some institutions will vote.

Warren and Brian Wang discuss what happens if the CEO compensation is not re-approved.

Elon Musk has revealed that so far, ~90% of $TSLA retail shareholders who have voted have voted in favor of reapproving his 2018 compensation package and the Texas redomestication. Retail shareholders own roughly ~45% of all Tesla shares.

747 Million Shares Voted Yes (# is only 90% of the retail voting Yes)

Excluding @elonmusk shares, Tesla need only 20% i.e  231 Million from Institutions

Confirmed Alliance (54.7 Million )

 Ron Barron Funds: 25 Million Shares

 ARK: 7.1 Million

 Morgan Stanley: 22.6 Million

New Alliance (Whom Elon started following) (177 Million )

 JP Morgan: 15.5 Million

 BlackRock: 188.3 Million

 Some Others listed below

Voted YES for Texas & NO for Package

 Norges Investment: 31 Million

Leo Koguan voted NO. : 27.7 Million

Tesla's Thursday, June 13, 2024 shareholder vote starts at 3:30 PM CT (30mins after market closed). Attached link gets you to the livestream. pic.twitter.com/gMoyd8vYHt  AJ (@alojoh) June 10, 2024
George Lopez made an early exit from his last comedy show after hecklers got under his skin.

The iconic comedian left his set at Eagle Mountain Casino in Porterville, California this past weekend when the audience grew noisy during his performance.

Now seriously, I seem like an a------, Im the one working, Lopez told the crowd. Come on, please, just watch the f------ show, thats all you have to do.

Lopez, 63, gave the crowd three chances to settle down before making his departure from the stage on Friday.

Lopezs representative claimed the casino was at fault in the situation stating, 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, in a statement to TMZ.

A spokesperson from the California casino rebutted Lopez teams claim in a press release stating, It was the job of Lopezs private security team to inform casino security if they wanted to escort anyone out which never occurred. Under the casinos discretion, no guests were unruly or providing an unsafe environment.

The spokesperson said Lopez and his security had every opportunity to inform casino team if they wanted a guest escorted out and they did not and cited two prior opening acts who did not have any concerns or issues.

While we did see guests yelling out, we see recordings showing those saying  we love you, can we buy you a drink, etc, Eagle Mountain Casinos assistant general manager Tiffani Sahagun said in the press release. We only want for our guests to have a safe and enjoyable experience, and we want our entertainers to feel safe and enjoy coming to Porterville as well.

The casino is now offering a full reimbursement to those who attended the show.

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Three Essex County men were accused Monday of robbing an Orange pharmacy at gunpoint earlier this year, officials said.

Reginald Ware, 54, Nyiron Williams, 22, and Jamon Crosby, 35, all of Newark, were indicted by a federal grand jury of Hobbs Act robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery, and using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, the U.S. Attorneys Office District of New Jersey said in a statement.

The trio drove together to the pharmacy on Jan. 16 and entered the building within minutes of each other while wearing black masks, the office said. Ware and and Williams each showed their guns and demanded money, authorities said. Crosby then came inside, also holding a gun, and the three men all ordered that the employees hand over their cell phones, the U.S. Attorney alleged.

They then took cash and at least 10 bottles of prescription medication, officials said. They ran out of the store toward a parking lot when they noticed police had arrived, federal prosecutors said.

Ware was immediately apprehended in the parking lot while Williams was caught about two blocks away, investigators said. Crosby taken into custody after breaking into a nearby home, they said.

The guns they allegedly used during the robbery were taken by police, authorities said.

Ware now faces a minimum sentence of 25 years in prison for the using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence charge because he was previously convicted of the same crime in 2012 after he robbed four pharmacies in Jersey City and Union City at gunpoint, the office said.

Williams and Crosby face a minimum of seven years in prison if convicted of the charges, authorities said.

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Bayonne property owners will have to dig deeper into their wallets under the proposed city municipal budget, but only a little, officials say.

The $155.9 million 2024 spending plan calls for $99.9 million to be raised through a tax levy on property owners, up 2.6% from the $97.5 million last year. The $155.9 spending plan is up from $153.5 million last year.

There will be a hearing on the budget, which constitutes one-third of the property tax, at the Bayonne City Council meeting Wednesday night. Budget amendments are expected to be introduced. County and school taxes make up the other two-third of property tax.

Bayonne Chief Financial Officer Donna Mauer said that between county, school and municipal tax hikes, the average Bayonne property owners taxes would rise 4% next year under the proposed budget.

The increase in the (municipal) budget comes mainly from general liability and workers compensation insurance, group health insurance and pension, Mauer said of the whopping 42% increase in those costs, from $18 million to $25.5 million.

Bayonne Mayor Jimmy Davis did not return a call for comment on the budget, which would use $9.75 million from the citys surplus to limit the tax increased to 2.6%.

Some $19.5 million of the citys revenue, or 12.5%, is derived from tax abatements, or payment-in-lieu-of-taxes, payments.

Not surprisingly, police and fire salaries and expenses make up the lions share  $52.3 million, or roughly one-third  of the proposed budget. Police spending would rise from nearly $27.9 million to $30.1 million, an increase of 8%; while the budget for the fire department would decrease from $22.2 million to $21.5 million.

The city council meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. in the council chambers at City Hall, 630 Avenue C.

Dipping into the citys reserves for $9.75 million will reduce the citys surplus to $15.5 million,. Last year the city used $11 million of its surplus.
Book of Xi's discourses on national energy security published

Xinhua) 08:01, June 11, 2024

BEIJING, June 10 (Xinhua) -- A compilation of excerpts from discourses on China's national energy security by Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, has been published by the Central Party Literature Press.

Since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, the CPC Central Committee with Xi Jinping at its core has accelerated the establishment of a new energy system and consolidated the foundation of China's energy security, providing strong support for the country's economic and social development.

Xi's discourses in this regard are crucial for ensuring both the development of new energy and national energy security, promoting the energy revolution, building up China's strength in energy, and securing a safe and reliable energy supply for advancing Chinese modernization.

Compiled by the Institute of Party History and Literature of the CPC Central Committee, the book brings together 217 relevant passages in eight categories from over 130 important spoken and written works between November 2012 and May 2024. Some of these passages are being made public for the first time.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Dreams take off on unforgettable C919 flight from Hong Kong Pub Date:24-06-11 10:58 Source:Xinhua

A round-trip flight carrying 100-plus students from Hong Kong to Shanghai marked the maiden cross-border chartered flight by a C919 airliner. The Chinese homegrown C919 passenger jet carries on it the dreams of these aspiring young students and many more. #C919 Editor:Qin Shuying

Related News Xinhua Commentary: Competitiveness is best... 10 candidates selected for China's fourth ... Interview: China's BRI a game changer of g... China-Hungary joint research center unveil...
One person was injured and an apartment was severely damaged in a fire at high-rise building for senior citizens in Downtown Jersey City late Monday night, authorities said.

Jersey City firefighters responded to the 13-story senior building at 500 Manila Ave., also known as Unico Towers, at 11 p.m. and found a fire in a second-floor unit, Jersey City spokeswoman Kimberly Wallace-Scalcione said.

A 75-year-old was rescued from the apartment and taken to a local hospital to be treated from smoke inhalation and minor burns to the ears and nose, Wallace-Scalcione said. No other injuries were reported.

The cause of the fire, which left the apartment with substantial damage, is under investigation.
When Alessandra Curcio attended a taping Wheel of Fortune in Southern California in 2019, she didnt have any expectations of getting picked for the show. She made the cut, but only won $1,000.

But the Elmwood Park residents love for game shows would lead her to unexpected redemption.

My husband and I were in Los Angeles earlier this month and decided to attend a taping of The Price Is Right, Curcio, 36, said. A few hours later, I was on stage and clean-swept the entire show.

Curcio took home over $65,000 in cash and prizes as she competed in a variety of games and the Final Showcase Showdown.

Funny enough, I ran off stage thinking I didnt win, Curcio said. Drew Carey had to grab me and inform me that I won.

She says the money will go toward a vacation that includes visiting Margaritaville on a cruise, a trip to the Bahamas and island hoping near the coast of New Zealand.

I want this experience to inspire anyone who has ever had dream, she said. All you have to do is try and youll be surprised what you can accomplish.

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State officials on Tuesday identified the woman who died in a crash involving a marked police car over Memorial Day weekend.

Franklin Borough police Sgt. William Grissom was on duty while driving the police car that struck a vehicle carrying two people, one of whom was Deanna DArco, 19, of Vernon, the New Jersey Attorney Generals Office said. DArco died in the crash.

Borough police directed questions about Grissoms status with the department to the state Division of Criminal Justice. Grissom enrolled in the states police retirement pension in 2006 and currently earns a $111,000 yearly salary, according to the pension records.

DArco was a passenger in the vehicle when it was struck by Grissoms car at around 10:41 p.m. on May 27 at the intersection of Route 23 and Walsh Street, the attorney generals office said.

She was taken to Morristown Medical Center and died on May 29, officials said. The vehicles driver was treated for injuries and released.

DArco was a teachers assistant at the Little Learner Academy in Jefferson Township, according to her obituary. An email to the daycare for comment was not immediately returned.

Grissom, officials said previously, sustained non-life-threatening injuries. State officials released no other information on Tuesday about the crash.

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A version of this story originally published in 2019.

Why does the ocean off the Jersey Shore sometimes look incredibly clear and other times murky?

Videos have been popping up all over social media lately showing turquoise water thats similar to the Caribbean or the Florida Keys.

We asked a few marine science experts this question and this is what we found.

What causes the change of color?

Beachgoers get excited when the water off the Jersey coast looks tropical. But what makes that water seem so desirable?

Its simple  less particles like sediment or small plankton, called phytoplankton, according to Josh Kohut, professor of marine and coastal sciences at Rutgers University.

Phytoplankton are single-celled plants that float in the ocean and provide about 40-50% of the atmospheric oxygen we breathe.

Just like plants on land, the plants in the ocean need sunlight and they need nutrients in order to grow, said Kohut.

The arrival of spring begins to provide the needed sunlight, and the nutrients come from a couple of different sources  from the deeper water further offshore and humans.

As that warm water moves offshore its replaced by the cold water down deep, said Kohut, describing a process known as upwelling. And because that deeper water has a lot of nutrients phytoplankton start to grow.

Its essentially like spreading Miracle-Gro on your garden.

Kohut said that once the Miracle-Gro comes to the surface, and the sun provides energy, over time the water will get more and more murky as the plankton bloom.

Whenever there is a plankton bloom, that tends to give it kind of a greenish, yellowish, so somewhere in the blue to green to yellow band of colors, said Anna Pfeiffer-Herbert, assistant professor of Marine Science at Stockton University.

Different species give off different colors. The color comes from pigments they have in their cells, she said.

When you get hundreds of thousands and millions of them in one patch of water then that color becomes intense and visible.

Those turquoise hues that resemble tropical waters you sometimes see off the Jersey coast are caused by plankton blooms.

How humans have an effect

The other source of nutrients comes from humans, and its all the runoff from the land.

Everyone is fertilizing their lawns, all the treatment plants are dumping some nutrients into the water, said Kohut.

Sandy Hook is very influenced by what the Hudson River is doing. Before the rest of New Jersey snickers at that thought, what dumps out of the Hudson actually goes all the way down the coast.

If theres been a lot of rain in the Hudson River watershed  all the way up to upstate New York  for the next month or so youre going to get fresh water coming out of that river that runs along the coast, said Kohut.

Kohut explains that the water quality of the Hudson River is getting better, but in the past, the river water would pick up a lot of goodies as it made its way past New York City.

When the Hudson River is running it picks up all those nutrients as well, he said.

These nutrients also fuel the blooms of phytoplankton.

These blooms are not evenly distributed throughout the water and the intense color will be in a patch that gets spread out by the currents. This may be why the water at one beach is a different color than at another.

If there is a very widespread bloom you may see similar color along the coast, said Pfeiffer-Herbert. But a lot of times part of that patch will be close to the Jersey coastline but not another.

Sediment plays a role

The other source of murky water along the Jersey coast comes from sediment, which includes sand, silt, mud and clay.

When you are seeing beaches, some that are more murky looking and some that are less, a lot of that might have to do with how close it is to an inlet and which way that freshwater-influenced water is going when it gets out on to the coast, said Pfeiffer-Herbert.

Some sediment comes from the rivers  finer-grained silts and clays will stay suspended in the water longer  and gives the water more of a brown and opaque look.

So the further you get from inlets, the clearer the water will get or the less suspended sediment material will be in the water, she said.

In warmer waters down in Florida or the Caribbean, there tends to be less nutrients, Pfeiffer-Herbert said.

Another factor is that there is less stirring of the water, which means the deeper water does not restore the nutrients. The Sunshine State also has less river runoff compared to the Garden State where we have several big rivers.

Just because the waters clear doesnt mean that its free of other types of pollutants, or just because it looks dirty, conversely, it doesnt mean that its polluted in the sense of being harmful at all, said Pfeiffer-Herbert.

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Tim Hawk may be reached at thawk@njadvancemedia.com. Follow Tim on Instagram @photog_hawk.
By Rabbi Elliott Tepperman

As a congregational rabbi for twenty-two years, it saddens me to increasingly be called on to respond to antisemitic incidents. As a parent of two college students, I have heard from my children what it feels like to have Zionist! spat at them or an evening interrupted to teach classmates about the antisemitism inherent in some anti-Zionist rhetoric.

I prefer to spend my time building Jewish community and helping Jews find meaning in Jewish practice. Instead, I frequently find myself discussing the mechanics of antisemitism.

I want Jews to feel safe, proud and free. So I have redoubled my efforts to dismantle the engine of antisemitism and protect Jews from harassment and bigotry. Some members of the New Jersey Legislature propose to enact new laws to create an official definition of antisemitism, and potentially cut off funding to colleges that fail to enforce it. Im writing to say more laws policing speech are not the answer.

New Jerseyans already have strong tools to address antisemitic acts. Our bias intimidation statute makes it a crime punishable by up to 10 years in prison and $150,000 in fines for anyone to intimidate an individual or group of individuals because of  religion  national origin, or ethnicity, which covers both Jewish Americans and Israeli-Americans identities, whether considered religious, ethnic or national. Our Civil Rights Law bans discrimination against Jews and other protected groups, including the creation of hostile environments.

Instead of responding with more laws, we should address the rhetoric fueling antisemitism by deepening relationships and engaging in deep listening, teaching and learning.

Breaking down any mechanism of oppression should begin with listening to the experiences of those facing it. Too often, when Jews speak about having faced antisemitism, their experiences are minimized or they are accused of playing the antisemitism card. Such responses undercut Jews trying to name experiences often not fully or easily understood by non-Jews.

Additionally, it is antisemitic to single out Jews to describe their politics regarding Israel or their stance on Zionism. Why? Because it is prejudice to ask one person to answer for a group to which they belong. And no such litmus test is applied to others, notwithstanding that U.S. policy toward Israel may be influenced as much by the contributions and politics of right-wing Evangelical Christians as by those of Jews.

To address these forms of antisemitism and find partners to help us stop them, we must start with hard conversations. For this kind of communication and loving rebuke, we need to allow hard things to be said, not to police discourse. Words may be suppressible; ideas are not.

The Stop Antisemitism on College Campuses Act would codify the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism. IHRA was written to be a non-legally binding working definition. It was created in Europe to address a pattern of antisemitism related to spikes in Israeli-Palestinian conflict, similar to what we are now seeing in the United States. IHRA can be helpful for these conversations.

But its drafters were explicit, and have recently reiterated, that it should not be a legislative template. Its examples, including requiring of [Israel] a behavior not expected or demanded of any other democratic nation, were intended as starting points for noticing when antisemitism may be occurring. Legislating the definition ignores this.

Our laws do not define other forms of discrimination  racism, sexism, or otherwise  leaving these determinations to the courts, both because of the evolving nature of the offenses and because, as with so much else in both life and the law, context is enormously relevant: the same words can have very different meanings depending on the manner in which, and to whom, they are spoken. Fixed definitions ignore this.

Legislators eager to address antisemitism would do well to follow the example of the U.S. National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism, released by the White House in May 2023 and supported by the mainstream of the American Jewish community. The National Strategy notes the several definitions of antisemitism that can serve as valuable tools to raise awareness and increase understanding.

Definitions other than IRHA include the Nexus Document and the Jerusalem Declaration, among others. There is a need for definitions (plural) as tools to understanding the dynamics of antisemitism, but definitions can get in the way or even cause harm when codified into law.

What these definitions share is an effort to address antisemitism in response to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict  the context animating both the protests on campuses and the concern in Trenton. Understanding when antisemitism is, and is not, fueling the debate over this conflict should be important to everyone, and particularly to Jews, the vast majority of whom feel a deep emotional attachment to Israel as a place of Jewish culture and refuge, and the home of half of world Jewry, including many of our friends and family.

The vast majority of American Jews support some form of a Palestinian state, where Palestinians can also experience sovereignty, dignity and self-determination. We support this because the path to enduring safety for Israel must come through a negotiated peace. To achieve this, we must risk uncomfortable conversations and even misguided or harsh rhetoric. To solve the problems that face Israelis and Palestinians and ensure safety for the region, ideas must flow freely. Policing the discourse  by codifying IHRA or otherwise  undermines this essential project.

This ultimately is why laws proscribing language are counterproductive, even when born of righteous indignation or well-founded fear. They impede the open conversations we need to create trust and understanding.

The Jewish community needs partners in the fight against antisemitism, and partners who support a just, sustainable peace for Israelis and Palestinians. Trust cannot be legislated. It can only ever be earned, through discourse, some of which will be hard to hear.

But that is the work. We cannot suppress or evade our way through this challenging moment. We can only  and we must  rise to it.

Rabbi Elliott Tepperman is the Senior Rabbi at Bnai Keshet in Montclair, where he has served for 22 years.

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A man and woman were arrested Monday and charged in the shooting death of a Paterson man last week, authorities said.

Mathew Amaro, 27, and Tiffany Medina, 26, both of Paterson, face charges in the death of city resident Twahee Howard, according to Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes.

Howard, 44, arrived shortly before 9 p.m. on June 2 at St. Josephs University Medical Center with multiple gunshot wounds after gunfire erupted near Chadwick and Weiss streets. He was pronounced dead a short time later.

During the course of the investigation, detectives learned that Mathew Amaro and Tiffany Medina were involved in the incident, Valdes said in a statement.

Amaro is charged with murder, conspiracy, and possession of a handgun, all first-degree crimes, along with two second-degree weapons offenses, and third-degree possession of drugs.

Medina is charged with first-degree conspiracy to commit murder, and third-degree drug possession.

Attorney information for Amaro and Medina was not listed Tuesday in court records.

Anyone with information about the fatal shooting is asked to contact the prosecutors office at 1-877-370-PCPO or tips@passaiccountynj.org. Paterson police can be reached at 973-321-1120.

Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on X @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
President Joe Bidens son, Hunter Biden, has been found guilty on all three charges related to a gun purchase.

Hunter Biden was charged in Delaware with three felonies stemming from a 2018 firearm purchase when he was, according to his memoir, in the throes of a crack addiction. He was accused of lying to a federally licensed gun dealer, making a false claim on the application used to screen firearms applicants when he said he was not a drug user, and illegally having the gun for 11 days.

On Tuesday, a jury agreed.

He pleaded not guilty and argued was being unfairly targeted by the Justice Department, after Republicans decried the now-defunct deal as special treatment for the Democratic presidents son.

Hunter Biden is also facing a separate trial in California in September on charges of failing to pay $1.4 million in taxes. Both cases were to have been resolved through a deal with prosecutors last July, the culmination of a yearslong investigation into his business dealings.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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A day after a secret audio of Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito telling a filmmaker he doesnt think the political right and the left could live peacefully together in this country, another recording dropped, but this time it was of his wife, Martha-Ann.

Among the things Martha-Ann Alito was fired up over? Looking out her window and seeing a pride flag.

I want a Sacred Heart of Jesus flag because I have to look across the lagoon at the Pride flag for the next month, she told Lauren Windsor, who posed as a religious conservative and secretly recorded the couple.

According to Martha-Ann Alito, her husband asked her not to put up the flag.

I said, I wont do it because I am deferring to you. But when you are free of this nonsense, Im putting it up and Im gonna send them a message every day, maybe every week, Ill be changing the flags. Theyll be all kinds. I made a flag in my head. This is how I satisfy myself. I made a flag. Its white and has yellow and orange flames around it. And in the middle is the word vergogna. Vergogna in Italian means shame  vergogna. V-E-R-G-O-G-N-A. Vergogna.

Shame, shame, shame on you, she added.

EXCLUSIVE UNDERCOVER AUDIO:

Martha-Ann Alito Unfurled



"I want a Sacred Heart of Jesus flag because I have to look across the lagoon at the Pride flag for the next month." pic.twitter.com/okNsW7SPlu  Lauren Windsor (@lawindsor) June 10, 2024

It comes after she made headlines for hanging an upside down American flag outside their home around the time of the Jan. 6 failed insurrection at the Capitol.

After news broke of the flag being flown upside down at their home, reports surfaced of an Appeal to Heaven flag  also carried by insurrectionists who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021  being flown on a flagpole outside Alitos home on Long Beach Island in July and September of 2023.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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KANSAS CITY, Mo.  Juan Soto returned to the Yankees lineup after a three-game hiatus on Monday night and it didnt take long for the superstar to provide a spark.

Soto worked a seven-pitch at-bat in the first inning and grounded a sharp single up the middle off Royals right-hander Seth Lugo.
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  When Michael Tonkin made his Yankees debut back in April, one day after getting claimed off waivers, it felt like there was a chance he wouldnt be back in the clubhouse the next day.

Tonkin threw 26 pitches and took the loss against the Brewers in Milwaukee on April 26, blowing a lead in a save opportunity in the 10th and giving up a walk-off single in the 11th.

Coming off a hectic extra-inning game in a stretch of 17 games in a row without an off day, it was possible that a new face would be in the Yankees bullpen the following afternoon in Tonkins place. Teams are always weighing the importance of a fresh arm, making sure theyre covered.

At that moment, Tonkin seemed expendable. He had been designated for assignment three separate times already that month  twice by the Mets and once by the Twins  with a 5.23 ERA next to his name on the season.

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But the Yankees saw something in the right-hander and stuck with him.

To say that decision has paid off would be quite an understatement.

After pitching a scoreless ninth inning to close out Monday nights 4-2 win over the Royals at Kauffman Stadium  the second save of Tonkins career  the right-hander has a 0.89 ERA in 14 outings (20 1/3 innings) since coming over to the Yankees. Opposing hitters are batting just .162 against the sidearmer and Tonkin has an impressive 0.93 WHIP.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone revealed after the game that he was staying away from Clay Holmes because the closer had pitched in three of the Yankees previous four games. He had no problem handing the ball to Tonkin in that spot, though. Not after hes climbed up his bullpen trust tree expeditiously over these last six weeks.

He likes the fire, Boone said. He likes the competition.  Hes got guts. Hes fearless out there and really, really competitive. Hes fit in well in that room and I trust giving him the ball.

For Tonkin, being on a team where they have faith in him is a luxury that he didnt have back in April. He called his first month of the season chaotic and less than ideal. But its all worth it, he said, because of the position hes in now.

Its good to get in a groove and get comfortable and be in a position where I feel like Im not scared that Im gonna get tapped on the shoulder after every game, Tonkin said. All that kind of helps.

Tonkin, 34, throws two different types of fastballs  a four-seamer and a two-seamer  to go along with a slider. He said that hes thrown the slider at a higher rate since coming over to the Yankees and has continued to get more comfortable with his two-seam fastball again. Its a pitch he started throwing this spring after not using it for seven-plus years.

That pitch mix and his fast-growing confidence are allowing him to blossom from the mop-up man in the back of the bullpen reserved for eating up innings to serving as a legitimate high-leverage weapon.

The biggest thing is the guy fills up the zone and hes not scared to pitch thats for sure, Yankees starter Carlos Rodon said. The proof is in the pudding. You see a guy thats attacking the zone and not walking very many guys, you can tell he has no fear in the way he carries himself on the mound.

And as much as the Yankees have a track record of bringing the best out of all different kinds of arms  pitching coach Matt Blake and the Yankees entire pitching department are considered elite in that area  Tonkin still deserves a lot of the credit.

Its not like weve overhauled him to any big degree, Boone said. Hes come in here and just taken advantage of opportunities and pitched really well. You couple that with fitting in and now getting with our pitching group, who do a good job of maximizing guys arsenal, hopefully we continue to see impactful performance.

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Max Goodman may be reached at mgoodman@njadvancemedia.com.
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Every Spring and Autumn Freemasons from all around Devon meet to support local organisations who require financial assistance, among which are childrens charities, schools, youth centres and locally community-based charities and organisations including hospices, hospital services and cancer charities.

The money is raised through the 'WAKE FUND', a trust conceived by William Alexander Kneel, the Head of the Devonshire Freemasons from 1970 to 1984, the late owner of Kneels Laundry & Dry Cleaners (now Johnsons). Since the idea was initiated, the fund has grown through the continued generosity of Devonshire Freemasons and wise investments.

Today it stands at 2.3 million from which the trustees distribute the income generated, currently around 50,000 each year.

Anthony Eldred, Devonshire Freemasons Charity Steward, said: Since the first disbursement in 2001, over 995,000 has been given by the Devon Freemasons WAKE Fund to charities and other worthy causes throughout Devon, selected by the 119 Masonic lodges within the county.

Over 1,000 charities and organisations have benefited since it started. Charity and service to our communities are fundamental principles. On Friday, May 31, at 7.30pm at the Exmouth Masonic Hall Nicholas Ball, the Head of the Devonshire Freemasons, presented cheques to 20 local good causes amounting to 25,000.

The Head of Devonshire Freemasons Nicholas Ball said: The two WAKE Fund evenings each year are always so special, they bring us much closer to the needs of special groups in the public domain. This year again did not disappoint. There are some wonderfully kind people working for local charities who do so much to make our communities a better place to live.

Their stories make us, as Freemasons feel truly humble and we are delighted to continue our support for them. The Freemasons of Devonshire should be very proud of this fund and of the efforts of the Provincial Benevolent committee.
Crown Point police recovered a stolen motorcycle following a pursuit on Sunday the city's Police Department said in a Monday press release.

A Crown Point police officer running radar enforcement on North Main Street gave chase to a motorcycle that he observed traveling south at over 70 mph in the 34 mph zone, the press release said. The motorcyclist lead the officer onto Summit Street and then onto Delaware Parkway and did not stop when the officer activated his emergency lights and siren.

The chase continued onto 109th Avenue, with the motorcyclist running a red light at Virginia Street, police said. The motorcycle then turned onto northbound Interstate 65, then onto Interstate 80/94 "where police terminated the pursuit due to safety and the volume of traffic."

Several minutes later, according to the release, police were called to the highway near Cline Avenue, where the motorcycle had crashed into the back of a pickup truck.

Police identified the motorcyclist as Gage Daniel Kirchoff, 22, a Crown Point resident who was driving on a suspended license at the time of the incident, and said that the motorcycle had been stolen from Chicago.

Kirchoff, who was injured in the crash, was transported by ambulance to Methodist Hospitals Northlake Campus, police said. He is being preliminarily charged with resisting law enforcement, possession of stolen property, reckless driving and additional license and traffic violations.

GALLERY: The Times Photos of the Week
Visit Chicago Southland, which was previously known as the Chicago Southland Convention & Visitors Bureau, has appointed Mary Patchin its president and CEO.

Patchin has 25 years of experience with the tourism agency, which markets the south and southwest suburbs for leisure travel, conventions, group tours and other visitation.

The Visit Chicago Southland Board of Directors is proud to announce the promotion of Mary Patchin to the position of president and CEO. Her many years of hard work and dedication make this well-deserved, said Visit Chicago Southland Board Chairman Richard Brink. She is the perfect fit to carry on our mission along with moving Visit Chicago Southland into the future.

Patchin is a graduate of Purdue University Northwest, where she studied restaurant, hotel, institutional, and tourism management. Patchin joined Visit Chicago Southland in 1999, starting as a sales associate and working her way up to vice president of sales before she was named the new CEO.

Patchin has helped bring group business like meetings, group tours, social events and sporting events to the Southland, which includes border towns like Lansing, Calumet City and Lynwood. She's also helped coordinate its national sales tradeshow schedule and boost its sales goals.

She's been involved with Visit Chicago Southlands marketing, public relations and finance departments over the years.

She's served as chair of Meet in Illinois, earned the Certified Destination Management Executive Designation by Destinations International in 2012 and was named 40 under 40 in the CVB World by Collaborate Magazine, which is now known as Connect.

She also was known as the Smart Womens Industry Leader of the Year in 2023.

I am incredibly grateful and excited to have the opportunity to continue building on our sales and marketing programs for the Chicago Southland tourism industry, said Patchin. Initially, my primary goal will be to continue focusing on our three-year Strategic Plan, created in 2023, as well as continuing to build strong relationships with our communities, hospitality network, and clients, representing the meetings, sports, group tour and leisure markets.
This was, of course, the easy and correct answer. Roberts knows that the courts legitimacy relies entirely on the trust of the American people. You dont have to wonder if hes a closet liberal (and hes far from it) to expect him and his colleagues to approach the nations most fraught legal disputes with fairness or at least with respect for the separation of church and state.

Justice Samuel Alito cant be bothered with such earthly concerns. In response to Windsors claim that religious Americans have to keep fighting to return our country to a place of godliness, he said, I agree with you. I agree with you.

One side or the other is going to win, he added.

In one sense, this is no surprise coming from the courts leading culture warrior. Alito has long made clear his special solicitude for religious claims, whether before the court or on the flagpole outside his house. Still, it should shock us to hear him lay out his worldview so bluntly. It shows an utter lack of regard for the courts delicate posture of neutrality in the constitutional system and American society.

For a long time, Alito seemed like an outlier on the court, lobbing his sour, grievance-filled dissents from the sidelines. He is now ascendant, writing the lead opinion in the decision striking down the right to abortion and many other precedent-breaking rulings. He is also in good company in the upper reaches of government. Recall that House Speaker Mike Johnson, an evangelical Christian, told an interviewer after he got the job, Go pick up a Bible off your shelf and read it. Thats my worldview.

Perhaps we should be grateful that these aspiring theocrats have fully ripped off the mask. Why submit to the sinful compromises demanded by a pluralistic society when you can just impose your (and Gods) will by fiat? In that regard, this is really the Alito court.
Chemical and manufacturing groups sued the federal government late Monday over a landmark drinking-water standard that would require cleanup of so-called forever chemicals linked to cancer and other health risks.

The industry groups said that the government was exceeding its authority under the Safe Drinking Water Act by requiring that municipal water systems all but remove six synthetic chemicals, known by the acronym PFAS, that are present in the tap water of hundreds of millions of Americans.

The Environmental Protection Agency has said that the new standard, put in place in April, will prevent thousands of deaths and reduce tens of thousands of serious illnesses.

The E.P.A.s cleanup standard was also expected to prompt a wave of litigation against chemical manufacturers by water utilities nationwide trying to recoup their cleanup costs. Utilities have also challenged the stringent new standard, questioning the underlying science and citing the cost of filtering the toxic chemicals out of drinking water.
The Colorado Republican Party last week sent a mass email with the subject line, God hates Pride. The missive denounced Pride Month as a time when godless groomers attack what is decent, holy and righteous. It included a clip of a sermon by a famously misogynist pastor named Mark Driscoll, with thumbnail text proclaiming, in a nod to the slogan of the obscenely anti-gay Westboro Baptist Church, God hates flags. The party also posted on the social media platform X, Burn all the #pride flags this June.

These messages, which have rocked Republican politics in Colorado, are the latest demonstration of how Donald Trumps MAGA movement has thrown state parties into turmoil. But theyve also set off a furious backlash from within the party, an indication that beneath a veneer of pro-Trump unanimity, old-school Republicans are locked in a power struggle with the fanatics, trolls and conspiracy theorists Trump has empowered. Its a strange dynamic: A bloc of conservatives whove mostly capitulated to Trump is still fighting Trumpism, as if the two things can be separated.

In Colorado, Dave Williams, who was elected party chair last year, embodies the Trumpist takeover of the Republican Party. In 2021, as ProPublica reported, Steve Bannon called on election deniers to flood the party at the local level, and in Colorado as elsewhere, they listened. There was kind of a movement in the party  I think it was propelled by Steve Bannon  to really take control, said Chuck Broerman, a longtime Republican official in El Paso County, where Williams lives.

These new party activists, said Broerman, elevated Williams, a hard-right figure known for his anti-gay politics since he was an undergraduate student body president who was impeached for discriminating against an L.B.G.T.Q. campus group.
When Ashley de Azevedo married in 2012, she knew that her U.S. citizenship would make her husband, an immigrant from Brazil, eligible for a green card. What she didnt realize was that to obtain permanent residency, he would need to return to Brazil for 10 years because he had entered the United States illegally.

It was a devastating reality, Ms. Azevedo, 38 said. I was pregnant, and he would miss out on years of our childs life.

So her husband, Sergio de Azevedo, stayed in the United States, vulnerable to deportation but with his wife and his son, whos 12.

Now, a policy under consideration by the Biden administration could provide Mr. Azevedo and other undocumented spouses with a path to permanent residency that would not force them to leave the United States.
The Rev. James M. Lawson Jr., a civil rights strategist for the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. who taught protesters the painful techniques of nonviolence and confronted racial injustice in America for five decades, died on Sunday en route to a hospital in Los Angeles. He was 95 and lived in Los Angeles.

The cause was cardiac arrest, his son Morris Lawson 3rd said.

Armed with Mahatma Gandhis principles of civil disobedience, which he studied as a missionary in India, Mr. Lawson, a Methodist minister whose great-grandfather escaped slavery, joined Dr. Kings Southern Christian Leadership Conference in 1958 as a teacher and organizer. Along with Ralph Abernathy, James L. Farmer Jr., Roy Wilkins and Bayard Rustin, he became one of the chief architects of the 1960s civil rights struggle as it spread through the South.

Dr. King called Mr. Lawson Americas leading theorist on nonviolence. But he was also a traveling troubleshooter in a land of night riders, where African Americans were beaten, shot, arrested and lynched. He led workshops on nonviolence for protesters, sit-ins at segregated lunch counters, picket lines and boycotts at stores that catered only to white customers, and Black voter-registration drives. He was dragged off to jail many times.

Through the turbulent 1960s, the strategy of nonviolence divided African Americans and their allies. Many called it a sign of weakness  futile against entrenched segregation, the brutalities of the Ku Klux Klan and the legal and psychological weapons of Jim Crow. They favored more aggressive, confrontational tactics.
Stephen K. Bannon, the onetime adviser to former President Donald J. Trump who has been ordered to surrender by July 1 to begin serving a prison sentence, celebrated the performance of far-right candidates in the recent European Parliament elections.

Speaking on his War Room podcast on Monday, Mr. Bannon proclaimed that Europes on fire with the right, pointing to strong results for right-wing parties and candidates in France, Germany, Belgium and Ireland.

Other influential figures on the right, including Vivek Ramaswamy, the former Republican presidential candidate, and Matt Schlapp, the chairman of one of the largest conservative advocacy groups in the United States, praised far-right leaders in Europe on Monday for making serious gains in the elections, and they sought to tie the results to domestic politics.

A far-right wave did not fully materialize, as was feared by many in the European political establishment, and voters largely backed centrists in the parliamentary elections.
Keith Rose, a 64-year-old hot tub salesman, arrived at former President Donald Trumps Las Vegas campaign rally yesterday wearing a necklace with a golden pendant shaped like a tiny horn.

Its an Italian horn, a sign of luck, Rose told me, although he clarified that, as a longtime Vegas resident who knows the house always wins, he does not believe in luck. The odds are always going to be against you, no matter what, he said.

Thats the case for Trump these days, he added. The odds are against him because of everything that Democrats are trying to do to keep him down.

The care and keeping of good fortune has always been an inexorable part of Trumps self-image, in politics, business and the law. He told Oprah Winfrey in the 1980s that there was no word more important than luck; he recently declared himself the personal good luck charm for the winner of the Miami Grand Prix.
Four instructors from an Iowa college who were teaching in China as part of a partnership with a local university were attacked and injured in a public park there on Monday, according to Chinese and college officials.

Jonathan Brand, the president of Cornell College, a private liberal arts college in the city of Mount Vernon, said the instructors had been injured in a serious incident while visiting the park. He said in a statement that they were with a member of the faculty of Beihua University, Cornells partner in Jilin City in northeastern China, when the attack occurred.

We have been in contact with all four instructors and are assisting them during this time, Mr. Brand said.

The Jilin police said on Tuesday evening that a 55-year-old man with the surname Cui had been arrested shortly after officers arrived at the scene. Mr. Cui, a resident of Jilin, collided with one of the teachers and began stabbing all four, as well as a Chinese bystander who tried to stop him, the police statement said. The statement did not say what prompted Mr. Cui to carry out the attack.
When the four Israelis woke up in Gaza on Saturday, they had been held hostage by Hamas for 245 days. The buildings in which they were being kept, two low-rise, concrete apartment blocks, looked much like the other nearby residences in a civilian neighborhood full of Palestinian families.

Within a few hours, the captives, three men and one woman, would be reunited with their own families, the result of a risky, long-planned rescue operation in which the full might of the Israeli military would be used to devastating effect.

Im so emotional, one hostage, Noa Argamani, 26, told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel in a phone call after her release. Its been so long since I heard Hebrew.

The rescue effort in Nuseirat involved hundreds of intelligence officers and two teams of commandos who simultaneously stormed the homes in which the hostages were being held, the Israeli military said.
Following the Israeli rescue of four hostages in Gaza on Saturday, Israels military said that three of them had been held in the home of a member of Hamas, which it said showed that the armed group was using civilian homes to shield its activity.

Israeli special forces, backed by the military, intelligence and air force, raided two buildings in a neighborhood in Nuseirat, a refugee camp in central Gaza on Saturday, rescuing Almog Meir Jan, 22; Andrey Kozlov, 27; and Shlomi Ziv, 41, from the home of Abdallah Aljamal, the military said. A fourth hostage, Noa Argamani, 26, was also freed, apparently from a nearby building.

More than 274 people were killed during the raid, according to Gazas health ministry. The Israeli military said that the death toll was less than 100. Neither the Israeli military nor Palestinian health officials provided a breakdown of civilians and combatants killed in the raid.

Mr. Aljamals death was confirmed by Gazas Government Media Office on Sunday, which said he had worked for the Hamas-affiliated news agency, Palestine Now.

On Sunday, the Israeli military said in a statement on the Telegram messaging app: The hostages were held captive by Abdallah Aljamal and members of his family in their home. This is 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.

Israels military has said for months that civilian casualties in Gaza are inevitable because Hamas hides its forces within the population.
The United States is experiencing a moment of extreme tension in which fear and anger are high and false narratives pervade the collective consciousness; culture and the arts have an instrumental role in changing those narratives. That was the potent message conveyed by the opening speaker at the Art for Tomorrow conference in Venice last week.

The American lawyer and social justice activist Bryan Stevenson kicked off the annual forum for cultural discussion, held since 2015, which is organized by the Democracy & Culture Foundation and features panels of experts on important disciplines in conversation with journalists from The New York Times. This years event opened on June 5 at the Palazzo Grassi in Venice and was then held at the 18th-century Palazzo Diedo, the headquarters of Berggruen Arts & Culture, a nonprofit foundation established by the billionaire collector and philanthropist Nicolas Berggruen. Its theme: Imperfect Beauty.

Other topics of debate included the downturn in the art market and potential threats posed to creativity by artificial intelligence.

The opening speaker, Stevenson, sounded alarms around the state of democracy, just five months from the U.S. presidential elections.
Hundreds of people protested against Israel on Monday night outside an exhibition in Lower Manhattan that commemorates the more than 360 people who were killed by Hamas on Oct. 7 at a rave in southern Israel, prompting strong condemnations from public officials.

The location of the demonstration  outside an exhibition featuring portraits of the people killed at the Tribe of Nova trance music festival, along with cars that were charred in the attack and the personal belongings that some music fans left behind  was widely criticized from the city government to Washington.

Mayor Eric Adams of New York visited the exhibition on Tuesday and called the protest despicable.

And Andrew Bates, a White House spokesman, said in a statement Tuesday, The events at yesterdays memorial to those murdered at the Nova music festival are outrageous and heartbreaking.

One of the exhibitions American organizers, Scooter Braun  a powerful music executive who was instrumental in the rise of Justin Bieber  said on Tuesday that the exhibition, October 7th 06:29 AM  The Moment Music Stood Still, had been extended a week, until June 22.
The U.N. adopted a U.S.-backed cease-fire resolution

The U.N. Security Council passed a resolution, brought by the U.S., to call for an immediate truce between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. The move was a sign of the growing frustration with the war among the worlds major powers and their desire to end it.

Fourteen of the 15 council members voted in favor, with Russia  which has veto power  abstaining. In passing the resolution, the council delivered a diplomatic victory to the U.S., which had vetoed three previous cease-fire resolutions.

The Councils proposal was based on a three-phase cease-fire plan laid out by President Biden in May. More than two weeks have passed since Israel presented the deal to Hamas through intermediaries, but Israels government has not formally embraced it.

On Monday, Hamas said that it welcomed elements of the resolution but did not endorse the plan as a whole. Hamas emphasizes its readiness to cooperate with the mediators to engage in indirect negotiations, the group said in a statement. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in the region to press for a cease-fire, met yesterday with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel.
In the summer of 2020, as a reckoning on racial justice swept the country, Disney said it would rip out Splash Mountain, a wildly popular flume ride with a racist back story.

Some people cheered, saying the move was long overdue: After 31 years at Disneyland in California and 28 at Walt Disney World in Florida, the attraction  with its animal minstrels from Song of the South, the radioactive 1946 movie  had to go.

But Disney also faced blowback. Last year, when Splash Mountain finally closed, someone started a makeshift memorial near its entrance  the kind that pops up at scenes of horrific crimes. Distraught fans spirited away jars of the water. More than 100,000 fans signed a petition calling on Disney to reverse its absurd decision.
Investors made clear on Tuesday the depth of their concerns over President Emmanuel Macrons gamble to call for new elections in France, driving up the nations borrowing costs, pushing down stock prices and prompting the Moodys ratings agency to warn it may downgrade French sovereign debt as risks of political instability rise.

Mr. Macrons dissolution of the lower house of Parliament on Sunday after his party was battered by Marine Le Pens far-right party in European Parliament elections has ignited concerns that the government could grind to a stalemate. The turmoil has focused attention on Frances fragile finances, and the prospect of legislative gridlock that could undermine the governments ability to address it.

This decision will not ease the economic challenges facing the country, Philippe Ledent, senior economist at ING Bank, wrote in a note to clients. Public finances and the performance of the French economy will be at the heart of the electoral campaign, he added.

As the head of Frances conservative party on Tuesday called for an alliance with the far right to beat back Mr. Macron ahead of two rounds of national voting that will start on June 30, investors punished French stocks, sending the Paris Bourse down 1.33 percent, after a sharp fall on Monday.
Mistral, a French artificial intelligence start-up, said on Tuesday that it had raised 600 million euros, or about $640 million, from investors, a sign of robust interest in a company seen as Europes most promising rival to OpenAI and other Silicon Valley A.I. developers.

Mistral is now valued at 5.8 billion, according to a person familiar with the investment, an eye-popping sum for a company founded just one year ago by alumni from Meta and Google. The companys valuation has roughly tripled since December, when it raised 385 million.

Investors in the latest round included the venture capital firms General Catalyst, Andreessen Horowitz and Lightspeed Venture Partners, as well as Nvidia, Samsung, Salesforce, Cisco, IBM and BNP Paribas.

Since OpenAI released ChatGPT in November 2022, investors have poured money into generative A.I. technology, which can answer questions in humanlike prose, create images and write software code. Two weeks ago, Elon Musk raised $6 billion for his start-up, xAI. OpenAI has raised roughly $13 billion from Microsoft, while another California start-up, Anthropic, has raised more than $7.3 billion.
During a few weeks each year or so, an international team of scientists spends long days at sea searching for the most endangered marine mammal on Earth: the vaquita porpoise. The species is teetering on the edge of extinction, with recent surveys estimating around 10 individuals in the area where theyve been considered most likely to live.

Results from this years survey, issued on Tuesday, were disappointing: Researchers estimate they saw six to eight individual vaquitas there, the lowest result ever recorded.

Still, the scientific team and the Mexican government cautioned that the population had not necessarily declined, emphasizing that more vaquitas may exist outside the search area. Since at least 2019, the visual surveys have focused on one zone where acoustic monitoring and other research has suggested the remaining animals congregate.

Its worrisome, said Barbara Taylor, a longtime vaquita researcher who led the survey. We just need to go out and find out whether the vaquitas have moved someplace else and adapt the management accordingly.
In the 1970s and 80s, as Asian immigration to the United States soared, grocers like H Mart; Patel Brothers, an Indian grocery founded in Chicago; and 99 Ranch Market, originally focused on foods from China and Taiwan, opened to meet the demand for ingredients that tasted like home. These were tiny mom-and-pop shops in suburban strip malls or outer boroughs with large Asian immigrant populations. They werent fancy, but they were vital to their communities.

Now, those same shops have transformed into sleekly designed chains with in-store roti machines, mobile ordering apps and locations across the country  all aiming to serve the fastest growing ethnic group in the United States and the millions of others who now crave flavors like Shin Ramyun, chili crisp, chaat masala and chai.
In the heart of Flushing, Queens, a second-floor apartment seemed to be a modest hotbed of interest in a local State Assembly race, with three family members donating small amounts of cash to an obscure Democrat, according to campaign records.

A taxi driver, Ahmad Zadran, was listed as a $40 donor to the candidate, Dao Yin. Mr. Zadrans brother was shown as giving $25; his son, Raheem Zadran, was listed as giving $50.

Under New York States new generous system for publicly financing political campaigns, Mr. Yin claimed the Zadrans modest donations as eligible for $1,380 in matching funds. Yet in interviews, the Zadrans said they had not given money to Mr. Yin, nor had they even heard of him.

This is crazy, Raheem Zadran, 27, said. I never donated to this guy. I dont know who the hell he is.
The world of competitive hot dog eating was torn asunder on Tuesday by a divorce of almost unimaginable proportions. Major League Eating, the governing body of whatever sort of sport this is, said it had been forced to part ways with Joey Chestnut, the long-reigning champion of its marquee event, the Nathans Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest.

The split was made public on Tuesday the way shocking celebrity divorces often are: in the pages of The New York Post. In an interview with The New York Times, George Shea, the indefatigable host and promoter of the annual Fourth of July contest in Coney Island, sounded distraught.

Mr. Shea said he was devastated by the separation, which he described as the inevitable consequence of Mr. Chestnuts decision to ink an endorsement deal with Impossible Foods, a rival company that makes vegan hot dogs.

It would be like back in the day Michael Jordan coming to Nike, who made his Air Jordans, and saying, I am just going to rep Adidas too, Mr. Shea said. It just cant happen.
After four years of Donald Trump, Joe Biden was supposed to restore the United States to a position of global leadership. By many conventional standards of Washington, he has delivered. He anticipated Russias invasion of Ukraine and adroitly rallied NATO to stand up to it. In Asia, he shored up old alliances, built new ones and fanned Chinas economic headwinds. After Israel was attacked, he managed to support it while avoiding all-out regional war.

Yet there is more to global leadership than backing friends and beating back foes. Leaders, in the full sense, dont just remain on top; they solve problems and inspire confidence. Mr. Trump barely pretends to offer that kind of leadership on the world stage. But precisely because most U.S. officials do, it is all the more striking where American power stands today. Never in the decades since the Cold War has the United States looked less like a leader of the world and more like the head of a faction  reduced to defending its preferred side against increasingly aligned adversaries, as much of the world looks on and wonders why the Americans think theyre in charge.

When Russia invaded Ukraine, a familiar frisson shot through Washington. After decades of dubious warmaking, the United States would become the global good guy again, uniting the world to resist the Kremlins blatant affront to law and order. In the opening months, the White House scored brilliant tactical successes, enabling Ukraines defense, organizing aid from allies and smoothing Finlands and Swedens entry into NATO. Yet if Russia is paying a steep price for its invasion, the conflict is also dealing a strategic setback to the United States.

The United States now must contend with an aggrieved and unpredictable nuclear peer in Moscow. Worse, China, Iran and North Korea have come closer together to supply Russias war effort and resist what they call U.S. global hegemony. This anti-American entente has already proved strong enough to mitigate the effects of Western aid to Ukraine, and it is raising the price of U.S. military dominance. Russia directly borders six countries that the United States is treaty-bound to defend. The Pentagon, meanwhile, is preparing for a Chinese invasion of Taiwan. The United States is not outmatched, exactly. But it is badly overstretched.
And once she got there, she fell in love. I dragged all my art supplies up there and had this revelation: I can actually do my work outside of New York City, she said. She also discovered that the area had a flourishing art scene. And she had to admit there was something nice about waking up among the trees.

By the time that month was up, the couple had decided to find a house they could buy  and discovered that there were countless other New Yorkers doing the same thing. With few properties available, they took a closer look at a disheveled log house in New Paltz, built from a kit in the 1980s, that they had previously ruled out after looking at the listing photos.
Outside the Odeon in Lower Manhattan on Monday night, the bistros famed neon sign peeked above a tent shielding celebrities from onlookers trying to glimpse the red carpet at the Tribeca Film Festivals 17th annual artists dinner.

Selma Blair shared the spotlight with Scout, her service dog, who has been her companion since her 2018 diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. The actor Blake Lively, who arrived late in Chanel, a sponsor of the night, was apologetic to the photographers for making them wait.

I wouldve bought you Shake Shack or something, she called out to them as she posed.
Elon Musk withdrew his lawsuit on Tuesday against OpenAI, the maker of the online chatbot ChatGPT, a day before a state judge in San Francisco was set to consider whether it should be dismissed.

The suit, filed in February, had accused the artificial intelligence start-up and two of its founders, Sam Altman and Greg Brockman, of breaching OpenAIs founding contract by prioritizing commercial interests over the public good.

A multibillion-dollar partnership that OpenAI signed with Microsoft, Mr. Musks suit claimed, represented an abandonment of the companys pledge to carefully develop A.I. and make the technology publicly available.

Mr. Musk had argued that the founding contract said that the organization should instead be focused on building artificial general intelligence, or A.G.I., a machine that can do anything the brain can do, for the benefit of humanity.
I have analysis paralysis, said my friend Maite, an Argentine who lives in Madrid. Maite is a world traveler but has always been stymied when it comes to Greece. There are too many islands. How do you decide?

There are more than 6,000 Greek islands, so it was a fair question  and one that many potential visitors probably ask themselves. Since I had plans to go to Greece, it was also one I wanted an answer to myself.

I started with a process of elimination: Rule out anything with an airport (too crowded) or uninhabited (too empty). Then add ferry access (I dont have a yacht), lots of beaches, good local restaurants and nice hotels. Plus, a rich history, a welcoming local population, and proximity to other islands (for day trips). Throw in the mythical cave of the Cyclops, and we have a winner. Six thousand became one: Serifos.
Moments before a Miami apartment complex was engulfed on Monday morning in what the mayor called the worst fire in the city in 25 years, residents of the building heard loud noises that sounded like gunshots.

An arrest affidavit released Tuesday said that after hearing the sounds at around 8 a.m., a resident found an employee of the four-story buildings management company lying on the first floor, shot in the abdomen. The employee told him, in Spanish, that he had been shot by the occupant of Unit 307, the witness later told the police. The victim also said that he had seen an explosion after being shot.

That information helped officers track down and arrest a man who they say shot the management company employee and intentionally set fire to the complex, the Temple Court Apartments near downtown Miami. On Tuesday, the Police Department identified the suspect, who was arrested on Monday afternoon, as Juan Francisco Figueroa.

Mr. Figueroa, 73, was charged with attempted felony murder with a firearm, first-degree arson and displaying a firearm while committing a felony, according to the arrest affidavit. Mr. Figueroa was also charged with unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition as a felon. The Police Department said he had been convicted of second-degree murder and two counts of aggravated assault in 1992.
Alvin L. Bragg, the Manhattan district attorney who won conviction of former President Donald J. Trump on 34 felony counts, plans to testify before Congress next month, one day after Mr. Trump is scheduled to be sentenced.

Mr. Bragg will undoubtedly face a grilling from House Republicans, who have rallied behind Mr. Trump since his conviction last month of falsifying business records to cover up a potential sex scandal. G.O.P. lawmakers have perpetuated his false narrative that President Biden ordered his prosecution. Representative Jim Jordan, the Ohio Republican who leads the House Judiciary Committee and is a close ally of Mr. Trump, summoned Mr. Bragg to answer the G.O.P.s accusations.

It undermines the rule of law to spread dangerous misinformation, baseless claims and conspiracy theories following the jurys return of a full-count felony conviction in People v. Trump, Mr. Braggs office said in a statement. Nonetheless, we respect our government institutions and plan to appear voluntarily before the subcommittee.

Mr. Bragg previously suggested his testimony would need to wait until after Mr. Trump is sentenced next month.
On June 10, it was learned from the Anhui Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism that during this Dragon Boat Festival holiday, the festive atmosphere was strong across various regions. The province received 19.376 million visits, generating tourism revenue of 10.19 billion yuan, representing year-on-year increases of 5.7% and 13.9% respectively. June 8 coincided with "China's Cultural and Natural Heritage Day," and during the holiday, various places actively conducted events such as intangible cultural heritage shopping festivals, intangible cultural heritage in scenic spots, and folk culture performances. Dragon boat races in places like Shouxian in Huainan, along the Xin'an River, and Taohuatan in Jing County attracted over 100,000 spectators. The Anhui Museum held a lecture on "The Wuwangdun Tomb and the Origins of Chu Culture," attracting a total of 31,000 visitors. Over 50 foreign experts from 13 countries, including the United States, Germany, and Russia, visited the Zipengshan homestay in Feixi for an immersive experience of the Chinese festival and to feel the charm of Chinese culture. The 90 4A and above scenic spots in "Great Yellow Mountain" received 768,000 visits, with ticket revenue reaching 27.97 million yuan, representing year-on-year increases of 65.6% and 64.3% respectively. Leading scenic spots such as Huangshan, Jiuhua Mountain, and Tianzhu Mountain received 69,000, 77,000, and 38,000 visits respectively, with year-on-year increases of 93.5%, 44.4%, and 90.6%. Rural tourism across the province received 9.818 million visits, generating tourism revenue of 4.51 billion yuan, representing year-on-year increases of 8.3% and 16% respectively. The 100 key "Beautiful Homestays in Anhui" under observation received a total of 16,000 tourists, with revenue reaching 2.672 million yuan, a year-on-year increase of 7.3%. Xidi and Hongcun villages received a total of 46,000 tourists, a year-on-year increase of 18.5%. The Motan Tourism Resort in Hefei became a new favorite, with a total of 157,000 visits.

Source: Anhui Daily
Mr. Biden was speaking just hours after his son Hunter Biden was convicted in Delaware of three felony counts of lying on a federal firearms application in 2018. In a statement issued by the White House, Mr. Biden said he would accept the outcome of this case and will continue to respect the judicial process as Hunter considers an appeal. He also expressed his love and support for his son, who has struggled with drug addiction but who says he has been sober since mid-2019.

Previously, the president had vowed not to pardon Hunter Biden if he were to be found guilty.

He did not address his sons conviction during his remarks on Tuesday.

Mr. Biden has made gun reform a central part of his administration. In June 2022, one month after a mass shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, he signed a bipartisan gun bill intended to prevent dangerous people from obtaining firearms and increase investments in the nations mental health system. The passage of the bill ended nearly three decades of gridlock over gun reform in Washington, although it fell short of many of the sweeping measures sought by Democrats.

At the Everytown conference on Tuesday, Mr. Biden said American politicians needed to do more over gun violence than express their thoughts and prayers.

Look, this is crazy, what were talking about, because whether were Democrats or Republicans, we want our families to be safe, he said. We all want to drop them off at a house of worship, a mall, a movie theater, a school, without worrying its the last time Im going to get to see them. We all want our kids to have the freedom to learn how to read and write in school instead of learn how to duck and cover, for Gods sake.

Eileen Sullivan contributed reporting from Wilmington, Del.
Hunter Biden, the presidents son, was convicted on Tuesday of three felonies: lying to a federally licensed gun dealer, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in jail; making a false claim on the federal firearms application used to screen applicants, with a sentence of up to five years; and possession of an illegally obtained gun from Oct. 12-23, 2018, which carries a maximum punishment of 10 years.

The crimes stem from the purchase of a handgun by Mr. Biden at one of the low points of his troubled life. He had been addicted to crack cocaine, bouncing in and out of rehab, was divorced, hiring prostitutes and having money problems. The New York Times reported last year that Mr. Biden later recounted to friends going into the gun store on a whim and buying the .38 because he thought spending time at a shooting range would help him avoid using drugs.

In purchasing the gun, Mr. Biden had to fill out a form for a federal background check. In response to a question on the form about whether he was using drugs, Mr. Biden said he was not  an assertion that prosecutors successfully persuaded the jury was false.

The first two crimes are essentially the same  that he lied about his drug use to illegally obtain the weapon, and that he falsely claimed that he was not addicted to any stimulant, narcotic drug, and any other controlled substance on the federal form, known as a 4473.
When the judge presiding over Hunter Bidens federal gun trial sentences him, she will have to weigh a number of unusual factors specific to his case.

Mr. Biden was convicted on Tuesday of three violations that rarely go to trial  all stemming from his failure to disclose his use of illegal drugs when he bought a gun in 2018. The charges included illegally possessing a firearm, giving a false statement in buying it, and providing that false statement to a licensed gun dealer responsible for making sure guns are sold only to properly qualified customers.

According to the most recent manual published by the United States Sentencing Commission, which sets recommended sentencing guidelines, someone in Mr. Bidens position would typically face 15 to 21 months imprisonment for offenses related to the unlawful receipt, possession, or transportation of firearms.

From 2019 to 2023, just 52 defendants were sentenced in a similar category as Mr. Biden, and 92 percent were sentenced to serve prison time with a median prison term of 15 months, according to the commissions data. Around 8 percent of people in that category received probation or a fine.
Hunter Biden was waiting for his father on the tarmac.

He had just been convicted on three felony gun charges by a jury in Wilmington, Del., his hometown. His father had hastily rearranged his schedule and rushed up from Washington.

Within hours of the verdict, President Biden traveled home, disembarked from Marine One and embraced his son. The president hugged Hunter Bidens son and wife, as well, and bent over to kiss the head of his grandson, Beau Biden.

To call the relationship between father and son battle tested is an understatement.

Together they have survived the deaths of Mr. Bidens first wife, eldest daughter and eldest son. They have weathered the fallout of crack addiction and alcohol abuse that has plagued Hunter Biden as well as several other members of the family. Over the past three years, they have been targeted by Republicans who have accused them of corruption and financial crimes.

But for all of the challenges that have tested them and ultimately brought them closer together, a guilty verdict in a federal courtroom  rendered in the middle of Mr. Bidens final presidential campaign  is a first.
Jeff Gunter, who is competing in Tuesdays Nevada Republican primary for the Senate and described himself as 110 percent pro-Trump, saw Donald J. Trump endorse one of his primary opponents, Sam Brown, over the weekend. He did not take it well.

Mr. Trump announced his endorsement of Mr. Brown on Truth Social, his social media platform, late Sunday night, after the former presidents rally in Las Vegas.

In a social media post on Monday, Mr. Gunter claimed without evidence, and without details, that a big political check had been sent from the swamp, amounting to a bribe for Mr. Trump.

He suggested that the former president had intended to endorse Mr. Brown at the rally, but refrained because of pressure from fearless MAGA warriors. Then a big check arrived, he claimed  possibly, he speculated, from the National Republican Senatorial Committee or a political action committee aligned with the Senate minority leader, Mitch McConnell  and prompted Mr. Trump to make the endorsement later.
President Biden has approved the deployment of another Patriot missile system to Ukraine, senior administration and military officials said, as the country struggles to fend off Russian attacks on its cities, infrastructure and electrical grid.

Mr. Bidens decision came last week, the officials said, after a series of high-level meetings and an internal debate over how to meet Ukraines pressing needs for bolstered air defenses without jeopardizing U.S. combat readiness.

The new Patriot system  the second that the United States has sent to Ukraine  will come from Poland, where it has been protecting a rotational force of American troops who will be returning to the United States, officials said.

The system could be deployed to Ukraines front lines in the next several days, U.S. officials said, depending on any maintenance or modifications it needs.
When Joseph R. Biden Jr. and Donald J. Trump faced off in the 2020 presidential election, Alexis Figueroa, a hospital worker in Phoenix, would have voted for Mr. Biden, he said, because he seemed like the least controversial of the two candidates.

But with those men back on the ballot in November, Mr. Figueroa is considering a third option: Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Hes going after those who are new to voting, the younger generation not being heard, Mr. Figueroa, now 20, said of Mr. Kennedy, adding that he did not want to vote for Mr. Biden because he did not believe that the president had fulfilled many of his promises.

In a race in which enthusiasm for the top two contenders is low, more Latino voters like Mr. Figueroa are leaning toward third-party candidates, recent surveys show. Mr. Kennedy, who is running a long-shot independent presidential bid, is polling surprisingly well among Hispanic voters in battleground states, pollsters and political observers said, though so far he is officially on the ballot only in California, Utah, Michigan, Oklahoma, Hawaii and Delaware.
A judge on Monday sentenced a California philanthropist to 15 years to life in prison for murdering two children in a hit-and-run collision in a crosswalk while she was driving a Mercedes sport utility vehicle at more than 80 miles an hour, prosecutors said.

The woman, Rebecca Grossman, 60, of Hidden Hills, Calif., west of Los Angeles, was convicted in February of two counts of murder, two counts of gross vehicular manslaughter and one count of hit-and-run driving resulting in death, prosecutors said.

Evidence presented at Ms. Grossmans trial indicated that she had accelerated to 81 miles per hour from 73 m.p.h. just two seconds before she hit the two children, Mark Iskander, 11, and his brother, Jacob, 8, in a 45-m.p.h. zone in Westlake Village, Calif., on the evening of Sept. 29, 2020, Los Angeles County prosecutors wrote in a sentencing memorandum.

Witness testimony indicated that before the crash Ms. Grossman appeared to be racing another Mercedes S.U.V. that was being driven by her boyfriend at the time, Scott Erickson, a former pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers, prosecutors wrote in the memorandum. Ms. Grossman was at a bare minimum, playing with him, in a deadly game of chase, prosecutors wrote.
More than two months after deputies were sentenced for torturing two Black men in central Mississippi, federal prosecutors have widened their investigation and may sue the Rankin County sheriffs department for civil rights violations, a serious escalation that could lead to federal monitoring.

Todd Gee, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi, talked about the possibility at a meeting last month, where he urged local residents who attended to come forward if they had experienced violence or discrimination at the hands of deputies.

More than 50 people, including defense attorneys and civil rights advocates, packed into a library outside Jackson, Miss. Some shared stories of being harassed or falsely accused of crimes by deputies, according to several people who attended the meeting, which was closed to the press.

Information from people like you can make a difference, Mr. Gee told the crowd, according to video of the meeting obtained by reporters.
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators at the University of California, Los Angeles, clashed with law enforcement officers on Monday, sometimes physically, as they attempted to occupy outdoor areas and re-establish a protest encampment in the last days of the spring quarter.

More than 20 of the protesters were arrested on Monday night and were released after being given misdemeanor citations for disrupting the campus.

The demonstration began earlier Monday in the form of a funeral procession, winding its way through campus as protesters read the names of Palestinians killed during the Israel-Hamas war. It was the latest indication that protesters intended to remain vocal, ahead of commencement ceremonies later this week and a Wednesday decision from the University of California regents about who U.C.L.A.s next chancellor will be.

The university has experienced a tumultuous spring. Violent attacks by supporters of Israel began on the night of April 30, followed about a day later by the dismantlement of a pro-Palestinian encampment, involving hundreds of arrests.
The vice president of Malawi and nine other people were killed when their plane crashed in bad weather, the countrys president said on Tuesday.

The plane carrying Vice President Saulos Chilima went missing on Monday morning, prompting a huge search operation in the southeastern African country.

In an address to the nation, the president, Lazarus Chakwera, said that rescue workers had discovered the wreckage in thick forest in the north of the country and that there were no survivors.

Words cannot describe how heartbreaking this is, Mr. Chakwera said from the governments headquarters as a member of Mr. Chilimas political party wept loudly.
A jury in South Florida has ruled that Chiquita Brands is liable for eight killings carried out by a right-wing paramilitary group that the company helped finance in a fertile banana-growing region of Colombia during the countrys decades-long internal conflict.

The jury on Monday ordered the multinational banana producer to pay $38.3 million to 16 family members of farmers and other civilians who were killed in separate episodes by the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia  a right-wing paramilitary group that Chiquita bankrolled from 1997 to 2004.

The company has faced hundreds of similar suits in U.S. courts filed by the families of other victims of violence by the paramilitary group in Colombia, but the verdict in Florida represents the first time Chiquita has been found culpable.

The decision, which the company said it planned to appeal, could influence the outcome in other suits, legal experts said.
The kind of lucrative endorsements enjoyed by foreign athletes are not usually given to Nepals ethnic Sherpas. For them, the profession of Himalayan guide offers a path out of deep poverty, but also a possible route  strewed with avalanches and icefalls  to a premature death.

Mr. Lama could not afford to rest after guiding the Norwegian, he told The New York Times. Life in Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, was expensive. He could not read or write, but he wanted his sons to get the best education, a costly endeavor.
Nearly 30 asylum seekers are stuck in the United Nations-controlled buffer zone between the Turkish-occupied north of Cyprus and the internationally recognized south amid a crackdown by the Cypriot authorities on undocumented migration following a steep uptick in Syrians arriving from Lebanon.

The groups  13 people from Syria and 14 from elsewhere in the Middle East, plus Africa and Asia  are in different locations in the buffer zone, which extends about 112 miles across Cyprus, a Mediterranean nation that is a member of the European Union, and bisects the capital, Nicosia. They arrived in the area, known as the Green Line, on foot from the occupied north.

If the migrants return to the north, an area that covers about a third of the island and is recognized only by Turkey, they face deportation, because the administration there has no legal infrastructure for providing asylum. Crossing into the buffer zone from the occupied north would also constitute a crime of trespassing under that administration and would be likely to lead to their deportation.
Five years ago, when her party won 6 percent of the vote in elections for the European Parliament, Giorgia Meloni tried to pop a bottle of sparkling wine, but the cork awkwardly flopped among some supporters.

This week Ms. Meloni, now Italys prime minister, emerged as a big winner in the elections, and she and dozens of members of her Brothers of Italy party celebrated at a five-star hotel in Rome where waiters carried the wine bottles in silver basins filled with ice. The hard-right party took nearly 29 percent of the vote. The victory was all the more significant because Ms. Meloni was the only leader of a major Western European country to emerge reinforced from the balloting.

For Ms. Meloni, the lift could hardly have come at a better time. All eyes are on Italy this week as Ms. Meloni prepares to host a summit of the Group of 7 major economies for three days starting on Thursday. Its another opportunity to cast herself as a legitimate member of the club of the worlds most influential leaders.

This nation goes to the G7 and to Europe with the strongest government of all, she told supporters early on Monday after the results came in. They could not stop us.
The office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights is profoundly shocked by the impact on civilians of Israels raid in which four hostages were freed, a spokesman, Jeremy Laurence, said on Tuesday. Gazans have described intense bombardment during the operation on Saturday in central Gaza, in which more than 200 Palestinians were killed, according to local health officials. The office also said it was deeply distressed that armed groups in Gaza hold hostages in violation of international law. All these actions, by both parties, may amount to war crimes, Mr. Laurence said.

Israels military said that three of the four hostages rescued on Saturday had been held in the home of a Hamas member it named as Abdallah Aljamal. Mr. Aljamals death was confirmed on Sunday by Gazas Government Media Office, which said he had worked for a Hamas-affiliated news agency, Palestine Now.
The United Nations Security Council on Monday endorsed a cease-fire plan for the Gaza Strip that is backed by the United States, adding weight to an international effort to end the eight-month war. Neither Israel nor Hamas has publicly accepted the plan, but Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken on Tuesday held talks in the region to press for its adoption.

Heres a look at how the cease-fire would work, and at some of the areas of dispute between the warring parties.

What is in the plan?

The plan would unfold in three phases.

Under phase one, there would be a six-week cease-fire and the release of hostages who are older or wounded, or who are women, as well as the return of the remains of some people who died in Gaza while in captivity. In exchange, Palestinian prisoners would be released from Israeli jails.

Israeli forces would withdraw from populated areas of Gaza, and more humanitarian aid would be distributed in the enclave. Civilians, most of whom have been displaced, would be free to return to their homes, including in northern Gaza, an area devastated by Israeli airstrikes and fighting.
U.S. attempts to pressure Hamas to agree to a cease-fire proposal newly backed by the U.N. Security Council have put a spotlight on the armed groups leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, who is believed to have remained in hiding in the enclave throughout the war and is a pivotal voice in the groups decision-making.

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken said on Tuesday in Tel Aviv, during a visit to several countries in the Middle East, that the onus was now on Mr. Sinwar to accept the new cease-fire proposal, which the United States brought to a successful Security Council vote on Monday. Rejecting the deal, Mr. Blinken said, would put Mr. Sinwars political interests ahead of those of civilians.

Hamas could be looking after one guy, Mr. Blinken said, referring to Mr. Sinwar.

Mr. Sinwar was an architect of the Oct. 7 attacks on Israel, in which around 1,200 people were killed and around 240 taken hostage. American and Israeli officials who spent months assessing his motivations say that Mr. Sinwar knew the incursion would provoke an Israeli military response that would kill many civilians, but he reasoned that was a price worth paying to upend the status quo with Israel.

After Hamas agreed to a brief cease-fire late last year, during which more than 100 hostages in Gaza and many more Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons were exchanged, Mr. Sinwar has held out against any further cease-fire deals. More than 36,000 people have been killed in Gaza during the eight months of war, and around 80,000 people have been injured, according to Gazas Health Ministry, which says that the majority of the dead are women, children and older people.

Mr. Sinwars position is not the only question mark in the negotiations. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel also has not said in public that he accepted the proposal the Security Council has endorsed and is under pressure from his far-right coalition partners not to end the war until Hamas is destroyed. Mr. Blinken said on Tuesday that Mr. Netanyahu had reaffirmed his commitment to the plan in private talks in Jerusalem.

U.S. officials said last month that Mr. Sinwar was most likely living in tunnels beneath Khan Younis, a city in southern Gaza that has been devastated by Israeli airstrikes and fighting. Hamas has constructed a network of tunnels beneath Gaza to shield the group from Israeli surveillance and attack.

Israeli officials have said that killing Mr. Sinwar is a top priority, no matter how long it takes; he has not been seen in public since Oct. 7. He has also not released audio and video messages.

That public silence has made it difficult to determine his thinking and the extent to which he retains control of Hamas, some of whose political leaders are based in Qatar. But Israeli and American officials say Mr. Sinwar remains central to the groups decision making.

Image Ismail Haniyeh, center, one of the most senior leaders of Hamas, and Mr. Sinwar, right, in Gaza City in 2019. Mr. Sinwar has been central to Hamass behind-the-scenes decision to hold out for a permanent cease-fire, American and Israeli officials say. Credit... Mohammed Abed/Agence France-Presse  Getty Images

The American and Israeli intelligence agencies that have assessed Mr. Sinwars motivations, according to people briefed on the intelligence, have concluded that he is primarily motivated by a desire to take revenge on Israel and to weaken it. The well-being of the Palestinian people or the establishment of a Palestinian state, the intelligence analysts say, appears to be secondary.

The Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday that Mr. Sinwar had resisted pressure to agree to a deal in recent months, calculating that a continuation of the war would work to his political advantage even at the cost of rising casualties among Palestinian civilians.

The article cited dozens of messages reviewed by the Journal that it said Mr. Sinwar had transmitted to cease-fire negotiators, Hamas compatriots outside Gaza and others. It was not possible to authenticate the messages independently.

We have the Israelis right where we want them, Mr. Sinwar said in one of the messages, identified as a recent one to Hamas officials who were seeking to broker an agreement with Qatari and Egyptian officials.

In another message cited by The Journal, Mr. Sinwar referred to a past war in which a weaker force prevailed over a more powerful adversary: an uprising in Algeria, which secured Algerias independence in 1962 at the cost of at least 400,000 Algerian and 35,000 French lives. That message called the losses necessary sacrifices.

The Journal report quoted what it said was a Sinwar letter, dated April 11, to the overall political leader of Hamas, Ismail Haniyeh, after three of Mr. Haniyehs adult sons were killed by an Israeli airstrike, in which he said that their deaths and those of other Palestinians would infuse life into the veins of this nation.

Mr. Sinwar was imprisoned for murdering Palestinians whom he accused of apostasy or collaborating with Israel, according to Israeli court records from 1989. He was released in 2011, along with more than 1,000 other Palestinians, in exchange for one Israeli soldier captured by Hamas. Six years later, Mr. Sinwar was elected leader of Hamas in Gaza.
The Israeli military said Tuesday that four Israeli soldiers had been killed and several more wounded after militants blew up a building where the troops were operating in the southern Gaza city of Rafah.

Some of the soldiers were in critical condition after the attack on Monday, the military said. Kan, Israels public broadcaster, said that five soldiers had been hospitalized, and that two were in intensive care.

The Qassam Brigades, Hamass military wing, said in a statement that it had booby-trapped the building where the soldiers were operating. Our fighters were able to blow up a house rigged with explosives where Zionist forces had fortified themselves inside, it said.

The apparent ambush targeted an Israeli reconnaissance unit that was scouting what the soldiers thought was a tunnel shaft inside a three-story building, according to Kan. Israeli forces in Gaza have been focusing on destroying tunnels used by Hamas militants.

After the explosives were detonated, Hamas forces attacked with mortar fire as Israeli forces tried to evacuate the dead and wounded, according to both the militant group and the Israeli military.

Fighting in Rafah has raged on and off since early May, when Israeli soldiers moved into the southern city despite strong opposition from the international community. For months, Rafah had housed more than half the residents of Gaza. Israeli forces had directed people to take shelter there from fighting elsewhere in the territory.

Since the Israeli incursion into Rafah, many displaced Palestinians have fled to central Gaza, which in turn has seen clashes and heavy bombardment since Israel announced new military operations there last week. On Saturday, more than 200 Gazans were killed, according to health authorities, in the central city of Nuseirat during an Israeli military operation that freed four Israeli hostages.

In the eight months since Israel launched its offensive in Gaza in retaliation for the Hamas-led Oct. 7 attacks, a total of 298 of its soldiers have been killed, according to the Israeli military. The toll has been many times higher for Gazans: Local health authorities say more than 36,000 people have been killed, a tally that does not distinguish between combatants and civilians.

Myra Noveck contributed reporting.
The unusual love story between a 23-year-old woman from Chinas Hebei Province and an 80-year-old man she met at a nursing home sparked a heated debate in Chinese society.

23-year-old Xiaofang (pseudonym), met the love of her life while working as a volunteer at a retirement home in Hebei Province. 80-year-old Mr. Li (pseudonym) was a resident there and the two quickly became friends after realizing that they shared many interests and hobbies. But, as time went by, their friendship evolved into something more, as Xiaofang was attracted by Mr. Lis maturity, stability, and wisdom, while he was moved by Xiaofangs youthful vitality and kindness. Unfortunately, the young girls family did not approve of her romantic relationship with a man old enough to be her grandfather, but she decided to follow her heart and severed ties with her parents to be with Mr. Li.

Xiaofang and Lis story sparked a heated online debate, with many social media users claiming that they completely understand the young womans disapproval of her relationship, and others commending her on her courage and devotion to Mr. Li.

According to the Chinese website Sohu, the unusual couple recently married in a simple but elegant ceremony. Although neither of their families was in attendance, the two exchanged vows, promising to remain by each others side in sickness and in health.

Although many accused Xiaofang of marrying Mr. Li for money, it was revealed that she was the breadwinner of the family. Because of his advanced age and poor health, Mr. Li can only rely on his modest pension, so its up to Xiaofang to handle most of the financial burdens. Still, she stoically welcomes the challenge, claiming that anything is possible with Li by her side.

Xiaofang constantly posts photos and videos of her and Mr Li on social media, which many interpreted as proof of true love. However, the controversial age gap has also sparked accusations against the 23-year-old woman that she is in this relationship purely for attention and views.

Chinese society appears divided on Xiaofang and Mr. Lis relationship, with some describing it as a love story that transcends age, and others claiming that the age gap is too wide and their romance cannot be authentic. Despite all the noise around them, the two lovebirds carry on with their lives, declaring their love for each other and promising to stay together for as long as they live.
A Colorado man can consider himself extremely lucky to be alive after surviving a gunshot thanks to the silver necklace around his neck.

Last week, the Commerce City Police Department in Colorado posted photos of a bloodied metal necklace with a small piece of metal lodged in its links on its Facebook page. Apparently, it belonged to a local man who had been involved in a heated argument with another person and had been shot at. According to the viral post, the bullet would have pierced the victims neck if not for the silver chain around his neck, which turned what would have likely been a fatal gunshot wound into a minor puncture wound.

Photo: Commerce City Police Department

The .22 caliber bullet was fired during an argument and would have ended up in the victims neck had it not instead become lodged in the chain he was wearing, police wrote. As a result, he suffered only a puncture wound.

Police described the victims luck as just incredible, but some Facebook users were quick to call it divine intervention. Whatever the case, the man should definitely consider himself born again after such a close call.

As for the chain, although it was described as silver, Commerce City Police said that it is most likely a tougher alloy, as pure silver is a soft metal, so it would have been easily pierced by the bullet.

We looked it up, and silver is soft, police wrote on Facebook. So maybe think twice before you knock a knock-off.
The eagerly awaited Tullamore Harbour Masterplan and the Tullamore Regeneration Framework will go to public consultation on Thursday June 13.

Offaly County Council with Waterways Ireland, Consultants Brady Shipman Martin / Faulkner Browns and Grafton Architects are seeking the views of the public on draft plans this is to ensure that the Tullamore Regeneration Framework and the Grand Canal Harbour Masterplan meet the aspirations of the whole community.

The team would like to hear from all stakeholders within the local community of Tullamore.

The Tullamore Regeneration Framework and Grand Canal Harbour Masterplan are Funded by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage under the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund 2020 (URDF), co-funding by Offaly County Council and by Waterways Ireland for the Harbour Masterplan.

The Tullamore Regeneration Framework and Grand Canal Harbour Masterplan are available for inspection in the offices of Offaly County Council, Aras an Chontae, Tullamore Municipal District, Tullamore Library during normal office hours from June 13 2024 to July 11 2024. An open day will be held in Tullamore Library on June 20 from 12pm to 7pm. The reports are available on www.Offaly.ie (links and QR codes below) and links to the website are accessible from the Councils social media on Facebook, X, Instagram and LinkedIn.

The Tullamore Regeneration Framework positions Tullamore Town Centre at the forefront of the towns future development. It aims to serve as a model for regeneration, promoting compact growth, creating healthy and appealing public spaces, enhancing urban resilience, improving permeability, fostering vibrancy, and encouraging sustainable mobility. The multi-disciplinary consultancy team in Brady Shipman Martin and Faulkner Browns delivered the Framework to act as a main driver for compact mixed-use urban development within the town centre of Tullamore and seeks to establish a vision for the development of several key opportunity sites.

The Tullamore Grand Canal Harbour Masterplan, jointly commissioned by Waterways Ireland and Offaly County Council, has provided the prism through which future transformation and regeneration of the harbour area can be envisioned. Grafton Architects as the appointed consultancy team, have culminated their assessment of the study area in a Masterplan that reimagines the harbour area through a catalogue of scaled development opportunities. The Masterplan study area also includes the Grand Canal Harbour and adjacent lands, the Canal Spur Line enabling access into the harbour basin, and Youngs Store - a three-storey former warehouse with an approximate floor area of 275 square metres fronting the canal along Convent Road.

Anna Marie Delaney, Chief Executive, Offaly County Council welcomes submissions on the Plans outlining The Tullamore Regeneration Framework and Grand Canal Harbour Masterplan provide immense opportunity to Tullamore and the wider County to reimagine and reinvigorate the County Town. The plans address the opportunities and challenges within Tullamore and with URDF support creates opportunities for future projects in the Town.

Eanna Rowe, Operations Controller with Waterways Ireland noted the significant milestone being reached with this consultation stage in finalising the Masterplan confirming Waterways Ireland as the Navigation Authority with responsibility for the Grand Canal and Harbour in Tullamore was looking forward to the realisation of the Masterplans vision and that its adoption will provide a framework and template for the full integration of the harbour into the fabric of Tullamore. Mr. Rowe thanked Offaly County Council, the team of consultants led by Grafton Architects, the Department of Housing, Heritage and Local Government as well as all the stakeholders who had contributed to the process thus far.

Pauline Byrne, Brady Shipman Martin said, The Tullamore Regeneration Framework is forward thinking, ambitious, and showcases creative designs for regeneration of Tullamore Town Centre. Utilising a multidisciplinary integrated approach, it encompasses the development of opportunity sites, public spaces and streets, traffic management, urban design and landscape design to formulate the Strategy for the Town. Key to the success of the plan has been Offaly County Council, the local community, and stakeholders who have come together to help shape and implement the plan.

Yvonne Farrell, native of Tullamore and Shelley McNamara lead the team for Grafton Architects. Yvonne reflected when I was a student at St.Philomenas National School on Harbour Street, little did I think that years later, I would be part of a Design Team researching the Harbour, walled-in behind the school. The Masterplan re-images how this hidden treasure of national importance and unique character can contribute to the life and culture of Tullamore.

Submissions or observations with respect to the proposed Tullamore Regeneration Framework and Grand Canal Harbour Masterplan Framework may be made in writing to Tullamore Municipal District, Town Hall, Cormac Street, Tullamore or submitted via email to tullamoremd@offalycoco.ie on or before July 25.
A notable annual event for many years at various locations around the country, the Irish Georgian Society's Traditional Skills 2024 gathering will this June be in the much-loved and very appropriate setting of Birr.

Taking place both inside and outside Birr Theatre & Arts Centre, marquees on Oxmantown Mall will be filled with craftspeople demonstrating their skills, including restorers, suppliers, and experts demonstrating all the meticulous work and appropriate materials needed to restore Ireland's built heritage.

Speakers will give talks inside the Tudor Revival Birr Theatre (designed by the renowned 19th century architect, author and keen amateur actor, James Franklin Fuller).

Offaly's Heritage Buildings Show, which will be co-hosted by Offaly County Council with the Birr & Midlands Chapter of the Irish Georgian Society, will be launched by Hugh Wallace on Saturday June 15th.

This Buildings Show will be fascinating, enlightening and exceptionally well-worth attending - enjoyable for all the family as there will also be craft workshops for children. Indeed as essential for those who are about to embark on the restoration of their period building, as for people more casually interested in sustainable options for heritage-focussed, quality structures. Perhaps for some, being inspired to consider a fresh path in conservation, to those who love history. And others who may be longing to find a refreshing enthusiasm in their working lives, to discovering the opportunities for learning and acquiring restoration skills. Or simply go along and be engrossed in the hearing of and seeing the diversity of talents and knowledge from the heroes who 'make', and who 'do' things constructively with patience: the cherishable few who rescue and revive Ireland's beautiful, built heritage.

From 10am to 5pm on Saturday June 15 and Sunday June 16 you will be able to watch first hand master craftspeople demonstrate the traditional methods and materials needed for the care and conservation of heritage buildings. Skills demonstrated in Birr Theatre & Arts Centre will include: brick making, decorative plasterwork, dry stonewall construction, gilding, ironwork, pole lathe turning, use of lime based mortars, sash window conservation, sign writing, slate roofing, stained glass and fanlight repair, stone carving, thatching and wallpaper making. Admission is free.

To make it a fuller weekend of family enjoyments, add in diversions such as taking an amble around this heritage town for highlights along the fascinating Famous & Notables of Birr Trail.

More information can be found the Georgian Society's website  www.igs.ie
Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Ali Sabry meets Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov

Posted by Editor on June 11, 2024 - 12:32 pm

Sri Lankas Foreign Minister Ali Sabry, currently in Russia to participate in the BRICS 2024 Foreign Ministerial Session with developing countries, held a bilateral meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on June 10, 2024.

During the meeting, the two Foreign Ministers agreed to further enhance bilateral ties, particularly in tourism, higher education, and economic cooperation.

Minister Sabry also raised the issue of Sri Lankan citizens serving in the Russian Armed Forces, seeking assistance in resolving any challenges they may face.

In response, it was decided that the upcoming meeting scheduled for June 26th-27th, 2024, between the Sri Lankan high-level delegation led by State Minister of Foreign Affairs Tharaka Balasuriya and the Deputy Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation, will comprehensively review these issues and take appropriate measures to address them.

Additionally, in accordance with Minister Ali Sabrys request, both parties agreed to halt further recruitment from Sri Lanka.


Free Trade and Protection.

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"President Joe Biden," USA Today reports, "is raising tariffs significantly on electric vehicles, semiconductors and several other goods imported from China, moves his administration says are meant to 'level the playing field' in sectors where the Biden administration has made major investments."

The USA Today story notes, in passing, one of the two real reasons for Biden's latest Trumpian scheme: He's "courting the support of working-class voters in Midwest battleground states including Michigan, the center of the U.S. auto industry."

The other reason is to court campaign donations (financial and in-kind, direct and indirect) from various lobbying groups, including labor unions and American businesses.

"Level the playing field" is code for "tax American consumers so that American businesses and workers don't have to compete with foreign products on price for value."

Tariffs are not levied "on" the tariffed goods. They're levied "on" the BUYERS of the tariffed goods.

If you're in the market for an electric car, computer, solar panel, etc., Biden's plan is to jack the prices up on some of your options (made in China) so that you'll be more inclined to buy from the voters, labor unions, and businesses he's "courting" with your money.

The "investments" Biden brags about making come out of your pocket as well. He's forking over billions of dollars in corporate welfare to build factories for his friends in Big Business and maybe (maybe) provide better jobs for voters he wants to like him more than they like Donald Trump this November.

It's the same game Trump himself played before, and pledges to play again, if he wins the presidential election.

The real case for tariffs, once we set aside "level the playing field" nonsense, is that tariffs let crooked politicians reward their friends and the voters they're targeting ... with your money.

That's also the main argument AGAINST tariffs, but there are others.

One of the most important, to steal a phrase, is the "national security" argument. Trump and Biden have both used "national security" as an excuse for imposing trade restrictions in the past, but they always get it backward.

Free trade promotes peace. The freer the trade, the less likely war is to break out, for the simple reason that when two countries' economies depend on trade with each other, they're less likely to go to war with each other.

The opposite is also true. As Otto P. Mallery wrote, "If soldiers are not to cross international boundaries, goods must do so. Unless the Shackles can be dropped from trade, bombs will be dropped from the sky."

I don't know you; I don't know if your vote is up for sale to the highest bidder.

If it isn't, you should keep in mind what Biden and Trump have both done, and promise to continue doing, to you.

If it is, I hope you can do better than a Pawn Stars style "best I can do is raise your cost of living and increase your risk of death in a nuclear exchange."


Drugs Weapon Criminal Police Edit 2021

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Biden: "Yes."

Muir: "And have your ruled out a pardon for your son?"

Biden: "Yes."

The younger Biden faces up to 25 years in prison for allegedly making false statements (to the effect that he wasn't a drug user) while filling out a form to purchase a gun, and possessing the gun while being a drug user.

Biden SHOULD pardon his son -- not out of fatherly love, but because the charges are both inherently evil and clearly and unambiguously unconstitutional.

Last things first:

The US Constitution declares itself "the supreme law of the land," and according to its Second Amendment, "The right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed." See that period at the end there? There are no added exceptions for drug users, or for anyone else. And as Chief Justice John Marshall pointed out in Marbury v. Madison, "an act of the legislature, repugnant to the constitution, is void."

As a matter of law, prosecutors should never have brought these particular charges against Hunter Biden. As a matter of law, the judge in the trial should have dismissed them the instant they were brought. And as a matter of practical deterrence, the judge should have sanctioned the prosecutors, up to and including seeking their disbarment, for bringing them. Hunter Biden may well be guilty of real crimes, but these aren't real crimes whether the charges accurately describe his actions or not.

On the moral side:

Whether Hunter Biden used drugs and whether Hunter Biden owned a gun were never any of the US government's business.

The right to smoke, snort, inject, or otherwise ingest any substance one pleases is a natural human right that exists independently of, and supersedes, government edict.

The right to acquire and possess arms -- of any kind -- is likewise a natural human right that exists independently of, and supersedes, government edict.

All people had those rights before the Constitution was ratified, and all people will still have those rights after the Constitution and the government claiming that Constitution as the basis for its power, have disappeared.

Those rights belong to you. They belong to me. They belong to Hunter Biden. And they belong to the hundreds of thousands of Americans currently incarcerated for exercising those rights.

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Columbia University Subway Station

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The Columbia Law Review is back online after students threatened a work stoppage over censorship of an article by the first Palestinian legal scholar to publish in CLR. The board had proposed appending a disclaimer that would have undermined the article, Toward Nakba as a Legal Concept. The students rejected the board's proposal by a 20-5 vote.

The Intercept notes: "... within hours of publication, after months of revisions on the lengthy piece, the board of directors took the journal's website completely offline, saying they had concerns about the process."

Sohum Pal, a CLR articles editor, said, "Powerful legal scholarship cannot be silenced...It's already been circulating. It's already gotten far more views or reads than the average law review article. And, yeah, to the extent that they're trying to censor Rabea, that simply won't happen -- that simply hasn't happened and can't."

In a statement received after publication Eghbariah stated: "The fact that the Board could not cite any substantive deficiencies with the piece but rather resorted to allegations about internal processes, which were rejected by CLR editors, tells me all I need to know. This is not only a Palestine exception in action but also a disingenuous attempt to manufacture controversy that undermines and deflects attention from the content of the article."

The full article is back online here.
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This is Chapter 11/Section 2, of the 2024 Serialization of the third printing (2013) of the book by Steven Jonas: "The 15% Solution : How the Republican Religious Right Took Control of the U.S., 1981-2022 . The book was first published in 1996. The second edition was published in 2013 and is available in Kindle on Amazon. A third, printed edition of the book, is currently in preparation and should be in publication sometime next month.

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The Proclamation of Right (Easter Sun day, March 29, 2009) [1]

"Section 3 of the 31st Amendment to the Constitution of the Unit ed States has established that the human aberration homosexuality is a matter of choice. Homosexuality and its associated behaviors, pedophilia, sadism, and masochism, are all abnormal, wrong, unnatural, and perverse, as well as sins against God. They are to be discouraged, avoided, and yes, condemned.

"Despite the measures taken pursuant to Section 3 of the 31st Amendment, in the eyes of God and every right-thinking American, homosexuality and its associated perversions still constitute a plague upon our land and people. Therefore, pursuant to the powers vested in me by Section 6 of the 32nd Amendment to the Constitution, I hereby decree a special national emergency in order to deal appropriately with this plague.

"As of this holy day, in homage to our almighty God, in recognition of His declaration that homosexuality is the worst kind of perversion, I hereby declare that homosexuality, in action or thought, is a crime. The Congress and the legislatures of each state are hereby empowered to enforce this Proclamation in any manner of their choosing. They will be supported by the power of the Federal government to the full extent of the law."

Author's Commentary

Much of the defining language of President Hague's statement was drawn directly from that of an Amendment to the Constitution of Oregon, a state in which the Constitution could be amended through the process of Initiative and Referendum (see Chapter four). First proposed in 1992, adoption of the Amendment was defeated by the voters in that year, but eventually passed, in 1998. The Amendment read (Egan):

"Section 1. This state shall not recognize any categorical provision such as 'sexual orientation,' 'sexual preference,' and similar phrases that includes homosexuality, Quotas (sic), minority status, affirmative action, or any similar concepts, shall not apply to these forms of conduct, nor shall government pro mote these behaviors.

"Section 2. State, regional and local governments and their proper ties and monies shall not be used to promote, encourage, or facilitate homosexuality, pedophilia, sadism, or masochism.

"Section 3. State, regional, and local governments and their departments, agencies and other entities, including specifically the State Department of Higher Education and the public schools, shall assist in setting a standard for Oregon's youth that recognizes homosexuality, pedophilia, sadism and masochism as abnormal, wrong, unnatural and perverse and that these behaviors are to be discouraged and avoided.

"Section 4. It shall be considered that it is the intent of the people in enacting this section that if any part thereof is held unconstitutional, the remaining parts shall be held in force."

Homophobia in the Law

Restrictions had been placed on public and private homosexual behavior and "thought" by Federal and state legislation written pursuant to Section 3 of the 31st (Morality) Amendment. (That Amendment you may recall, following the precepts of former Vice-President J. Danforth Quayle [DeWitt] and other Right-Wing Reactionaries of the Transition Era, declared that homosexuality was a matter of choice [see also Chapter seven].) Some of that legislation was modeled on the provisions of the Oregon measure as well as that of a similar one known as "Colorado Amendment 2," which first made its appearance in that same year.

However, all of this, the President told the people, was not considered to be "enough" to deal with the "threat." Thus, according to Hague, issuance under the Presidential decree power of the Proclamation of Right was absolutely necessary if morality, and by implication the Republic itself, were to be saved and redeemed in the eyes of the Lord.

After Hague issued the Proclamation of Right, some states enacted legislation placing homosexuals entirely outside the protection of the law, and disenfranchising them. A forerunner of this action was the enactment of the "Nuremberg Laws" against the Jews by the Nazi German Reichstag on September 15, 1935, that eliminated most civil rights and liberties protections for Jews living in Nazi Germany).

As Prof. Lucy Dawidowicz once wrote (1975):

"These laws legitimated racist anti-Semitism and turned the 'purity of German blood' into a legal category. They forbade marriage and extra-marital relations between Jews and [other] Germans and disenfranchised those 'subjects' or 'nationals' of Germany who were not of 'German' blood."

Details of just how the determinations of "homosexual" were to be made, by whom, and with what appeals procedures, were not included in any of these statutes. That followed the pattern of the "homo"'quarantine" (they meant "isolation") proposals that were made by some Far Rightists during the Transition Era for dealing with the AIDS problem: no details on who, where, by whom, for how long, at what cost, to be paid for by whom, and so forth. These details had also been ignored in the Colorado and Oregon Amendments and their campaigns. In practice, the legislation passed pursuant to the Hague decree was enforced with what might be politely called "rough justice," usual ly meted out by the Helmsmen (see below).

The Politics of Mythology

It is a fascinating commentary on the projection and use by Right-Wing Reaction of what Alex Poughton referred to as the "Politics of Mythology" (see Chapter six) that in both the old Oregon initiative and the very first Presidential decree issued by Hague, homosexuality was directly linked with "pedophilia, sadism, and masochism." It was well-known at the time of the first introduction of the Oregon measure that the vast majority of sex abusers of children of either gender were heterosexual males, 60 percent of them family members of the abused child, and fewer than 5 percent of them strangers to the victim (Groth).

Further, there was no evidence to show that (presumably sexual, but otherwise undefined) "sadism and masochism" were any more widely associated with the sexual practices of homosexuals than with those of heterosexuals. But once again, in the 90s it was considered unfair to confuse Right-Wing Reactionaries with facts. Both at that time and later, if the Right-Wing Reactionaries in question were homophobic, racist, misogynist, or otherwise xenophobic, and also possibly prone to violence, it was considered unwise to do so as well.

The Politics of Homophobia

As detailed earlier in this book (see Chapters four, six, and seven), homophobia had been a major element in the Republican-Christian Alliance's drive to virtually complete control of the government both at the Federal and state levels. I have previously cited the statement by the Rev. Pat Robertson commenting on tactics and strategy used in the 1992 elections (Right"'Wing Watch): "As an issue in American politics, abortion is no longer current. . . . The 'gay issue,' however, proved promising."

In 1995, in a fund-raising letter (June, 1995), the Reverend Jerry Falwell posed the question: "Has America become 'One Nation Under Gays?'" He then went on to tell his readers that "the radical gay agenda is destroying America!" And what precisely was that country"'destroying agenda?

"Homosexual Demand #1: Passage of a Gay Civil Rights Law.

"Homosexual Demand #2: Massive increase in spending for AIDS research and patient care.

"Homosexual Demand #3: An end to 'family' related discrimination against gays, lesbians, etc.

"Homosexual Demand #4: Acceptance and promotion of the gay life style within the educational system."

And that was it, not underinvestment, the "free market" and its necessarily accompanying greed run wild, or institutionalized and political racism, but those four elements of some imaginary national homo sexual manifesto. They were "destroying America." One could imagine none of those things being done (and they weren't), and the country still being in a pretty bad way (it was). But that didn't stop Falwell or his colleagues in Right-Wing Reaction from using the arguments over and over again. After all, they thought it was good politics, if nothing else.

As early as 1985, at a conference entitled "How to Win an Election," the future patron of Jefferson Davis Hague, Newton Gingrich, spoke about Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. "AIDS," as it was known, was a painfully debilitating condition that almost invariably lead to death. It was later shown that in many of its victims AIDS was associated with a wide variety of diseases that generally weakened the immune system, some of which diseases were sexually transmitted. However, it had been quite incorrectly thought for quite some time that the appearance of AIDS had some special linkage to homosexuality. (The homophobes never abandoned that view.)

In any case, in 1985 when Gingrich addressed the issue AIDS presented as a serious public health threat, one that was poorly understood. An increasing number of people, many of them happening to be homosexual, were suffering terribly from the condition. At that time, addressing a Right-Wing Reactionary political planning conference, the future speaker of the House of Representatives had this to say about it (The Freedom Writer): "AIDS is a real crisis. It is worth paying attention to, to study. It's something you ought to be looking at."

"Ah ha," you might say, "your arch" ''Right-Wing Reactionary" is showing concern about AIDS and its victims, and thinks something should be done to deal with it." Well-- no. Our "Mr. Newt" as the Right-Wing Reactionary political flack Rush Limbaugh inexplicably liked to call him, was not showing concern about this new disease and its victims. Rather he was showing concern about the potential to exploit this growing health and health care problem for Right-Wing political purposes. For he had gone on to say:

"AIDS will do more to direct America (sic) back to the cost of violating traditional values, and to make America (sic) aware of the danger of certain behavior than anything we've seen. For us, it's a great rallying cry (emphasis added)."

As noted in Chapters four (see esp. the quote from Quindlen) and nine, and illustrated here by Robertson, Falwell, and Gingrich, an important part of the Right"'Wing Reactionary strategy was the "Politics of Difference," the development of "enemies," the use of, as Sklar termed it (1995), the "Snake Oil of Scapegoating." The purpose was to provide a focus for rage and a distractor of anger that might otherwise be turned by the American people on the true causes of their dissatisfaction with their lot.

Accomplishing this end proved to be a challenge towards the middle of the Transition Era, following the collapse of the old Soviet Union in 1989. The "Commies," [2] both domestic and foreign, had provided a convenient enemy for over 40 years. But memories of them were rap idly becoming extinct, especially among a US population that had so little appreciation for or understanding of history. Anti-black racism was a constant, of course. But homophobia proved very useful.

The phenomenon of homophobia was in fact perfect for Right-Wing Reactionary political exploitation. It went much deeper into the unconscious of many people than either anti-communism or choice-control in the outcome of pregnancy did. It appealed to the sexual drive, issues of sexual identity, sexual insecurity, the fascination with the ultimate sexual symbol, the gun, especially the pistol. (In right-Wing Reactionary propaganda, homophobia and fear of "gun control" were often closely linked.) These were all issues that psychologically drove the Right-Wing masses in the old U.S.

"The Helmsmen"

As mentioned briefly in the last chapter, early in 2009, appropriately enough on Friday the 13th of February in that year, Hague established an armed force called "The Helmsmen," HM for short. Neither of the military nor of the Federal, state, or local police, the HM was an arm of Hague's new American Christian Nation Party. They were described as "those with their hands on the helm of the ship of God's state."

In this, as noted in the last chapter, in composition, role, and function the HM had much in common with Adolf Hitler's "Brown Shirts," the SA (Sturmabteilung), as they existed before the establishment of the national German government called the Third Reich. They also had much in common with Benito Mussolini's Black Shirts in Italy before the establishment of the fascist state there in 1922. The HM would also quickly come to have much in common with the Latin American "Death Squads" of the latter half of the 20th century.

Following the establishment of the New American Republics in 2011, the HM would come to combine the functions of the SA, its successor in Germany, the SS (Schutzstaffel, the "Black Shirts"), and the Gestapo (Geheime Staats Polizei, Secret State Police), as well as the Death Squads. However, in all of its activities, just as the SS was attached directly to the German Nazi Party, not to any branch the German government, the HM would be attached directly to the ACNP.

Therefore, in addition to a wide variety of responsibilities for forceful political repression, it was also charged with carrying out a variety of "moral policing" duties on behalf of the Party. Since this was the case, of the secret police/public state terrorist organizations known throughout the world, the HM was perhaps, ironically, most similar to the Muslim fundamentalist Iranian "Komitehs." They too combined a supposed "moral" regulatory function with their main role as physically violent political repressors.

There was an interesting historical circle connecting the Helmsmen with the Komitehs. In 1953 in Iran, a coup had overthrown a popularly elected Premier, Muhammed Mussadegh. It was engineered by the old U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and lead on the ground by one Kermit Roosevelt, a son of the 26th President of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt. The CIA replaced Mussadegh with a man who had been an open admirer of Adolf Hitler, Muhammed Reza Shah Pahlevi. He was the son of a former Army officer who himself had taken power from the previous ruler in a coup in 1921.

The "Shah," as he called himself, needed a secret police for political repression, and the CIA created and trained one for him. It was known as Savak. It was also known as one of the most brutal secret police forces in a world of many highly brutal such organizations (many of them trained by the CIA).

In 1979, the Shah's regime was overthrown by an even more repressive one, that of the Islamic Fundamentalist Ayatollah Khomenei. The Savak essentially remained in place for the Fundamentalist regime, which simply converted it into the Komitehs. In the waning days of the old U.S., a group of top-ranking officers of the Komitehs, considered to be an expert in combining the "moral policing" and secret police functions, came over to help train the first core group of Helmsmen. They were returning the CIA's "favor," as it were.

The membership of the HM was originally drawn from the ranks of the armed wings of the various Far Right groupings that Hague had drawn into the ACNP. As far back as 1994, Randall Terry, founder of the militant anti-freedom-of-choice-in-the-outcome-of-pregnancy organization Operation Rescue, had established a "leadership institute" to train "a cadre of people who are militant, who are fierce, who are unmerciful" (Stark). He said at the time that "the battle for America's soul" would produce "turmoil and disruption that will make the civil war look civil." In that he was prescient.

Some of the men and women first recruited to the HM already had significant experience in political violence. This stemmed, for example from the days in which they had destroyed most of the public elective pregnancy termination clinics and had intimidated or murdered enough legal abortion providers to drive the rest, qualified and unqualified, underground. Homophobic violence, of course, was featured by these groups as well. From the perspective of its creators, the HM would get off to a good start.

The HM also attracted many members to its ranks from the well-established Right-Wing Militia movement (ADL). It had experienced virtually unfettered growth from the time late Transition Era Republican leadership had sanctioned its "anti-(Federal)-government" philosophy (although, of course, "not its methods") (Newsday). That growth had been accelerated by the repeal by 2003 of all state laws (which had never been enforced in any case) that banned private militias and armies.

A Curley Oakwood Radio Broadcast Transcript (March 30, 2009)

Thank God, my friends, thank God, my friends, my friends-- Thank God! For through the mouth of Brother Hague, He has spoken. And He has spoken on our beloved and Godblessed nation's greatest problem: the plague of f*ggots! Oops, sorry. I guess I'm just not being politically correct [3] there. I meant to say the plague of fairies.

We are finally going to get some action, some real action, going on here. Now my friends, it's not as if this hasn't been called for a long time. It has. Why way back in the 90s, the good old Rev. Jerry [Falwell] said (1993):

"The battle lines are now drawn. If the gay agenda for America succeeds . . . you as a Christian will lose many of your rights. Our churches will be under attack. We will no longer be one nation under God. There is no middle ground. For Christians, there can be no peaceful co"'existence with those Sodomites whom God has given over to a reprobate mind. IF THE GAYS AND LESBIANS WIN THIS STRUGGLE . . . AMERICA WILL BE ON A ONE WAY STREET TO SOD OM AND GOMORRAH. . . . I am not going to sit back and let our precious nation be swept away by this demonic assault on our Christian values."

At about the same time, the eminent Keith Fournier, the Executive Director of the Rev. Pat's American Center for Law and Justice said (1994):

"There's nothing compassionate or socially desirable in tolerating, much less legislating, immorality, and yet we are coming to believe there is. We have bought the lie of the militant homosexual community-- namely it is 'compassionate' to elevate a disordered appetite to a civil right [emphasis added]."

And finally, ladies and gentlemen, permit me to sum up with a trenchant quote from the well"'renowned John Eldridge of Focus on the Family (Freedom Writer):

"I would not say this in other cultural contexts [4], but the gay agenda has all the elements of that which is truly evil. It is deceptive at every turn. It is destroying the souls and lives of those who embrace it."

Well, at that time Mr. Eldridge felt he couldn't say what was in his heart, in "other cultural contexts," meaning that outside world dominated by the liberalniggerloving media and the cultural elite, if you know who I mean-- are you listening Holly wood? But he could have now, and the President has said it for him.

Well, Mr. President. Now that you've said it, I hope you'll show some cojones (see, I'm multi"'lingual-- no ethnic bias here) and do some thing about it.

And while I'm at it, ladies and gentlemen, let me just mention, let me just comment briefly, on the President's best tool (if I may use that term) for doing something about it, if you know what I mean. I am referring of course to our new arm of discipline, The Helmsmen.

The Helmsmen are the People's Guides. They make sure that the Ship of State is always held on the course designed for it by the President and the Party. We value our freedom and we know how to handle it. But at the same time, we know that there are still plenty of secret liberalniggerlovers, f*ggots, blacks, spics, and other weak-minded people who they influence around. They remember the bad old days when you could say and think just about anything you wanted. And they'll abuse that freedom if left to their own devices.

We know that all men, even the best members of the Party, need guidance; that without it we all will descend directly into sin. So we have the Helmsmen, on the street, in our homes whenever with God's guidance they see the need, in all public places. They are always on the lookout to uphold and defend our nation's bedrock values of God, Church, and Family.

I have a message for you, my friends, and for all of our courageous Helmsmen, who are all my friends. The Helmsmen have a job to do, and they are going to do it. And my oh my, is our country going to be a better place for it. God bless each and every God-fearing American. Good night.

A Connie Conroy Note (February 14, 2009)

Some people think that the Helmsmen were named for the late Senator Jesse Helms. To be sure, we owe a great deal of our thinking to him. It was a national tragedy that he died before he could see the greatest that his type of thinking has produced for our country. He was one of the few men in the old niggerlovingliberal Congress who knew which end was up, that, for example, if there was a national holiday for Martin Luther Coon, the U.S. of A. didn't have long to go. And as it turned out, he was right. The Prez sez that if he had lived, he would have had a very important seat in our government. But it's just coincidence that the Helmsmen are called what they are.

Oh yes. Wish I had a Valentine today.

An Alex Poughton letter

August 18, 2009

Dear Karl,

Curiouser and curiouser. Funny things are happening in the follow"'up to Hague's anti"'gay decree. The homosexual population here has long since either gone to ground or, if they could afford it, moved to another country, if they could find one that would take them. Yet Hague chose to go after them, by making their sexual orientation, de fined as "choice" in the U.S. Constitution of all places, a crime, of all things.

Then, however, he takes no steps to officially enforce this new "law" at the Federal level, although his new "Helmsmen" are rumored to be having an "unofficial" go at it. Neither do very many of the states move to enforce it, although some move quickly to deprive any homosexuals who would dare to let it be known that they are such of any civil rights.

So, the general opinion in the diplomatic and foreign-journalist community is that with the number of closet gays in the Government and the military, if there were to be a real crackdown, it could be very embarrassing. Or that Hague is just sucking up to the Religious Right and showing how devoted to "God's Way" he really is, at least in word if not in deed. Or perhaps it's both.

You know that for years the Religious Right has made a big deal about what a sin, sin, sin homosexuality is. The Bible tells us it's bad, bad, bad, you know, so it must be so, so they tell us. Apropos of that position, although it means nothing here now, I came across an interesting piece written by a liberal churchman in the mid-90s. His view of what the Bible really has to say on the issue was rather at odds with the usual Right-Wing presentation of it back then. I thought I would share a few quotes from the article with you (Gomes).

"Christians opposed to political and social equality for homosexuals nearly always appeal to the moral injunctions of the Bible, claiming that Scripture is very clear on the matter and citing verses that support their opinion. . . . They do not, how ever, necessarily see quite as clear a meaning in biblical passages on economic conduct, the burdens of wealth and the sin of greed.

"Nine biblical citations are customarily invoked as relating to homosexuality. Four (Deuteronomy 23:17, I Kings 14:24, I Kings 22:46 and II Kings 23:7) simply forbid [directly or by implication] prostitution, by men and women.

"Two others (Leviticus 18:19"'23 and 20:10"'16) are part of what Biblical scholars call the Holiness Code. The code explicitly bans homosexual acts. But it also prohibits eating raw meat, planting two different kinds of seed in the same field and wearing garments of two different kinds of yarn. Tattoos, adultery, [incest], and sexual intercourse during a woman's menstrual period are similarly outlawed.

"There is no mention of homosexuality in the four Gospels of the New Testament. The moral teachings of Jesus are not concerned with the subject.

"Three references from St. Paul are frequently cited (Romans 1:26-2:1, I Corinthians 6:9-11, and I Timothy 1:10). But St. Paul was concerned with homosexuality only be cause in Greco"'Roman culture it represented a secular sensuality that was contrary to the Jewish-Christian spiritual idealism. He was against lust and sensuality in anyone, including heterosexuals. . . .

"And lest we forget Sodom and Gomorrah, recall that the story is not about sexual perversion and homosexual practice. It is about in-hospitality, according to Luke 10:10-13, and failure to care for the poor, according to Ezekiel 16:49-50: 'Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sod om, pride, fullness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and the needy.' To suggest that Sodom and Gomorrah is about homo sexual sex is an analysis of about as much worth as suggesting that the story of Jonah and the whale is a treatise on fishing."

As you know, Karl, I'm no biblical scholar. And certainly the "innerancy boys" read what Prof. Gomes read and saw the stuff quite differently. But that really is the point, isn't it? The Bible is open to interpretation. The Fundamentalists are ministers, some of them Baptists. But Prof. Gomes was a Baptist minister too.

There is nothing I can find, even in the Bible, that says that one Baptist minister is any more qualified to give the final word on what the Word is and means than any other Baptist minister. But of course, that kind of reasoning wouldn't stop even one preacher who claims that the Bible is "innerant" from doing so, and proclaiming that he (and it is usually a "he") knows for sure just what it "innerantly" means.

Well, theology and Bible interpretation aside, there's one other curious thing about this whole thing I want to mention. (I do go on so, don't I?) In the grand scheme of things that are going on here, one has to wonder why Hague chose this one as the issue on which to issue his first decree, after having had the decree power for three years or so, what with there being so few identifiable gays and lesbians left here.

I wonder if this was really just sort of a dry run. Try out the technical features of the clause. See how the Congress and what's left of "public opinion" reacts. Well, in the event, all that stuff went very smoothly for Hague. And he relinquished his decree pow er in less than 60 days. But I just wonder if there isn't some thing bigger coming [5].

All the best, Alex

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

References:

ADL: Anti"'Defamation League, Beyond the Bombing: The Militia Men ace Grows, New York: 1995.

Bradsher, K., "Gap in Wealth In U.S. Called Widest in West," New York Times, April 17, 1995.

Dawidowicz, L.S., The War Against the Jews, New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1975, p. 63.

De Witt, K., "Quayle Contends Homosexuality Is a Matter of Choice, Not Biology," New York

Times, September, 14, 1992.

Egan, T., "Oregon Measure Asks State to Repress Homosexuality," The New York Times, August 16, 1992.

Falwell, J., Fund-raising letter: "WARNING: DO NOT ALLOW CHILDREN TO VIEW THE CONTENTS OF THE ENCLOSED SEALED ENVELOPE" [ Author's Note: which contained photos of males kissing in public, women uncovering their upper bodies in public, and mild cross"'dressers], Spring, 1993.

Falwell, J., Fund"'raising letter: "Has America Become One Nation Under Gays?" June, 1995.

Fournier, K.A., "Appetite of Civil Right," Law and Justice, Vol. 3, No. One, 1994, p. 1.

Freedom Writer, "Inside Glen Eyrie Castle," August, 1994, p. 1.

Gomes, P.J., "Homophobic? Re"'Read Your Bible," New York Times, August 17, 1992.

Groth, A.N., cited in Meehan, B.T., and Graves, B., "OCA [Oregon Citizens Alliance] stirs

emotions with its 2nd flier," The Oregonian, September 25, 1992.

Newsday, "Gingrich: Fear of Feds is Genuine," May 8, 1995, p. A5.

Right"'Wing Watch, "Getting Ready for '94 and '96," December, 1992, Vol. 3, No. 3.

Sklar, H., "The Snake Oil of Scapegoating," Z Magazine, May, 1995, p. 49.

Stark, K., "Call It Pro"'Death," The Nation, August 22, 29, 1994, p. 183.

The Freedom Writer, "Newt Set Strategy For Religious Right-- 10 Years Ago!" February, 1995, p. 19.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Author's Notes

1. There is no indication or evidence that J. Danforth Quayle, the Rev. Pat Robertson, the Rev. Jerry Falwell, Newton Gingrich, Pastor Peter J. Peters, Keith Fournier, John Eldridge, the Christian Coalition, or any of the other historical person ages or organizations mentioned in this chapter or elsewhere in this book in a similar manner, would necessarily have supported or approved in any way of the Jefferson Davis Hague's "Proclamation of Right," or any of its predecessor or successor laws, regulations, policies, or procedures, or of any of the events that occurred in the United States or the New American Republics at any time in the future, subsequent to his announce ment of it and the implementation of the policies carried out pursuant to it.

2. "Commie" was a 20th century pejorative vernacular term applied to a wide variety of persons, ranging from members of the tiny Communist Party/USA, through almost any citizen of the old Soviet Union, to many political progressives, whether Communist or communist or neither, both at home and abroad.

3. The term "politically correct" was a left-over from Transition Era Right-Wing Reactionary attack vocabulary. Oakwood and a few others still used it, although the Right-Wing Reactionary state and Federal governments had long since removed any public or private attempts to limit what was then called "hate speech." "Hate speech" was the term used to characterize the increasingly violent and virulent personal verbal attacks upon individuals and groups related to skin color, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and the like, that had taken place with increasing frequency towards the end of the Transition Era.

The Right-Wing Reactionaries of the Era had applied the term "political correctness" in a derogatory fashion to any attempts by liberals and progressives to cause a general or specific moderation of such attacks. Those attempts, it should be noted, were circumscribed, and had had a limited ameliorating effect at best. By the early Fascist Period they had generally come to an end, under a relentless Right-Wing Reactionary onslaught spuriously based on "defending the First Amendment."

Not unexpectedly, the Right-Wing Reactionaries trotted out the First only to defend hate speech, not any other kinds of unpopular speech, such as that of critics of the old Viet Nam War. (Consistent with the concept of freedom of speech, much hate speech could have been circumscribed by invoking the old English common law intentional tort of assault: creating in another the apprehension of imminent physical harm. But the liberals never seem to have made use of that concept, one that is ensconced in our Constitution, of course.)

Be all this as it may, Oakwood and his ilk still went after the long-gone challengers of hate speech years later, using the "politically correct" label, just as during the late Transition Era Limbaugh and his ilk had gone after the long-defunct "Counter-Culture" even though likewise at its peak the latter had had a limited influence on the nation as a whole.

4. Eldridge was speaking, it has turned out, at a secret meeting of anti"'homosexual"'rights groups in the Glen Eyrie Castle outside of Colorado Springs, CO, held in the spring of 1994.

5. Poughton was right. There would be "something bigger coming," two years down the road. Hague was sparing in his use of the decree power under the old U.S. Constitution. But the next time he used it would spell the end of that document in all but name.

(Article changed on Jun 11, 2024 at 10:25 PM EDT)
In Germany, the Christian-Democrat CDU and CSU party is projected to get just about 30% of the vote, similar to 29% in 2019, followed by the far-right Alternative for Germany in second place with 16.5%, up from 11% in 2019. The Social-Democrats of Chancellor Olaf Scholz are following with 14%, and the Greens with 12%.



In countries such as the Netherlands, voting took place on Thursday -- and its exit poll suggests Geert Wilders' PVV party will scoop seven seats -- confirming a swing towards Eurosceptic right-wing parties.



It takes place after a turbulent five years dominated by the Covid-19 pandemic and full-scale invasion of Ukraine -- not to mention a soaring cost of living that came to dominate voter concerns.



They also predict a weakening of the pro-European establishment, with voters turning against the likes of Macron and the German Green party.



If parties that support stricter environmental regulations gain more seats, farmers may face increased pressure to comply with these regulations, potentially escalating protests. Conversely, if parties that advocate for more lenient environmental policies or support for agricultural interests perform well, it might lead to a relaxation of certain measures and possibly a reduction in protests.



The election results could also affect the level of support and funding available for farmers to transition to more sustainable practices, which might either alleviate or intensify their concerns.



Farmers drove hundreds of tractors into Brussels last week to protest against the EUss environmental policies, but the action was shunned by mainstream farming groups who said it did not reflect their members' concerns.



A few days before the European Parliament election on June 6-9, farmers from the Netherlands, Belgium, Poland and Germany travelled to Brussels to protest against EU green policies that organizers said undermine the competitiveness of European farmers.



But, for all the talk of this being the culmination of a pan-European revolution to rid the continent of an out-of-touch political establishment, turnout was weak and the field in front of the stage only sparsely populated with groups brandishing flags from Flanders, the Netherlands, Germany, Italy and Poland.



Among the organizers were the notorious Dutch Farmers Defence Force, whose top members have compared the treatment of farmers to the Holocaust; Germany's second-largest farmers' union, LSV, whose spokesperson has been criticized for being too close to the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD); and a quasi-think tank from Poland founded by a fur-farming magnate.





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Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani said on May 31, his government was working on reconciliation between Ankara and Damascus.

"God willing, we will see some steps in this regard soon," Sudani told a Turkish broadcast media, adding that he was in contact with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad as well as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in regards to reconciliation efforts.

Turkey had been backing armed groups that were fighting in the failed US-NATO war in Syria for regime change which began in 2011 by President Obama. Erdogan publicly announced in 2022 that ousting Assad was no longer his government's goal in Syria. The first high-level direct talks between the two countries, brokered by Russia the same year, were not successful because Damascus demanded an end to the Turkish military occupation of Syria as a prerequisite to restoring diplomatic ties.

Sudani visited Damascus last July, and Erdogan visited Baghdad last month, while also last month the Iraqi premier held security talks with Syria's interior minister, Muhammad al-Rahmoun, in Baghdad.

Sudani said the security of both Iraq and Syria are threatened by areas in Syria "that are not controlled by the Syrian government." The province of Idlib is controlled by HTS, formerly the Al Qaeda branch in Syria, Turkey occupies areas of the border north of Aleppo, and the US occupies areas in the northeast and the border with Iraq. Sudani is identifying HTS, Turkey, and the US as threats to national security of both countries.

In April, Iraq recognized the PKK as a banned international terrorist group. The north of Iraq is "Iraqi Kurdistan", and it has major energy resources. While it is supposed to pledge nominal allegiance to Baghdad, the PKK are headquartered there.

The US partnered with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in the coalition to defeat ISIS in Syria. Turkey views the SDF as an extension of the PKK in Syria, and this has been the reason given for the Turkish military invasion in sensitive areas along the northern Syrian border.

The PKK has been waging an armed campaign against the Turkish state for Kurdish self-rule inside Turkey since 1984 and is considered a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States and the European Union.

The PKK have killed over 30,000 people over three decades of terrorist activity, and crushing US-allied SDF remains one of the top security concerns for Turkey, as Ankara equates it with the PKK.

The main goal of the unfruitful direct talks between high-level Turkish, Syrian and Russian officials in 2022 was largely aimed at eradicating the Kurdish-led autonomous administration in northern Syria.

The Turkish armed forces launched five ground incursions into Syria from 2016 to 2020 -- four against the SDF and one against ISIS -- and it regularly conducts airstrikes in SDF-controlled regions.

Erdo?an declared on May 29, that Turkey will not allow Kurdish-led groups in Syria to establish a semi-autonomous state along its borders following the announcement of upcoming municipal elections by the SDF, who plan to hold elections on June 11 in the northern and eastern provinces of Syria, including Hassakeh, Raqqa, Deir el-Zour and parts of Aleppo.

"Turkey will never allow the separatist organization to establish a terror state just beyond its southern borders in the north of Syria and Iraq," Erdogan said during the Efes-2024 Joint Military Exercise.

On May 28, Erdogan emphasized Turkey's commitment to combating terrorism and maintaining the territorial integrity of Syria and Iraq. Turkey plans to address the Kurdish issue at the upcoming NATO Summit in July.

The Kurdish-led autonomous administration in Syria, which is organizing the elections, sees them as a step towards greater self-governance, which is a red-line for Turkey.

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I served on Schmerelson's Special Education Committee during the 2022-23 school year

(Image by Nicole Thiroux-Petersen) Details DMCA



I vividly remember sitting in Scott Schmerelson's living room the night of May 19, 2015. The polls had just closed and I had gathered with others who had volunteered with his campaign and anxiously awaited the results. Excitement grew as the night wore on and it became clearer that Scott had done the Impossible: David had slain Goliath. Despite the advantages of incumbency and the financial backing of the Charter School Industry, Tamar Galatzan was no longer my representative on the Los Angeles School Board.

For me, the path to this victory had started almost two years earlier in a conference room high atop the District's Beaudry Headquarters. My wife and I had spent two days hashing out an agreement to resolve our complaints about how our daughters' Special Education needs were being handled. While we eventually did reach agreements, the process exposed a system where students' interests were not being put first. Before leaving, we had both decided that I would run for a seat on the LAUSD School Board.

Due to the combined efforts of five opponents, Galatzan failed to earn over 50% of the vote and was forced into the runoff with Scott. Recognizing that Scott was more supportive of Special Education and our public schools, I immediately endorsed him with a promise to work as hard for his campaign as I would have if I had secured a place in the General Election.

As I sat on Scott's couch feeling pride in the part I had played in his victory, I had a front-row view as power changed hands. The first visitor was UTLA President Alex Caputo-Pearl who worked the room like a seasoned politician before meeting privately with the newly elected school Board member. Next up was Jefferson Crain, the LAUSD's Executive Officer, who arrived to meet with Schmerelson behind closed doors. Even as we sat In his living room, Scott was being separated from his constituents as he became Board Member Schmerelson.

The thrill of victory did not last long; the following morning, it became apparent that a second incumbant had fallen in the election. While the Charter School industry had lost Galatzan's seat, their candidate, future-felon Ref Rodriguez, had defeated Bennet Kaiser, the Board's harshest critic of their publicly funded private schools. After all the work put into electing Schmerelson, the makeup of the Board would not change.

As part of the Board's minority, Schmerelson had little hope of forcing reform, but the seat did give him a megaphone to amplify focus on issues facing the District. Unfortunately, this was not a role to which the rookie Board Member was suited. While his credentials as an educator are impeccable, he was not a natural politician. As a school principal, his easy-going style had served him well. In his new role, the vultures on the Board were eating him alive. The animosity between him and former Board Member Monica Garcia was often visible as they sat beside each other on the Board's dais.

In 2017 I rented a room in East L.A. to run for the seat held by Garcia. While Schmerelson privately supported my long-shot candidacy against his nemesis, he abided by the unwritten rule that Board Members should not publicly oppose their colleagues. Garcia had no such respect for tradition and endorsed Schmerelson's opponent in his bid for reelection in 2020. Current School Board Member Tanya Ortiz Franklin, who, like Garcia, received funding for her campaign from the Charter School Industry, has endorsed Dan Chang against Schmerelson in the current election.

Looking back on the past nine years, it is frustrating that many of the issues that formed the basis of my candidacy still plague the district. Special Education Centers like Locrantz are still fighting for survival, charter schools are still not adequately regulated, and School Board meetings are still held when most parents, teachers, and students cannot participate. This lack of progress sometimes makes it easy to forget some of the victories that Schmerelson has achieved during his first term:

While most politicians abandoned the residents of Porter Ranch during the early days of the historic gas leak, Schmerelson's advocacy on their behalf stood out. His efforts to relocate two neighboring elementary schools as quickly as possible while minimizing how students were disrupted were heroic.

When the Charter School Industry-backed majority hid their efforts to hire Austin Beutner behind closed doors without public input it was Schmerelson who called them out. As a result, forces aligned with Nick Melvoin filed a complaint with the District Attorney.

Schmerelson was the first Board Member to support the Teachers' Union (UTLA) during their 2019 strike. His breaking with Beutner and the anti-union majority on the School Board helped to ensure a quick resolution to the impasse minimizing the disruption to students. As a result of the strike, class sizes were reduced, every school has a full-time nurse and every secondary school has a librarian five days a week.

After supporting Schmerelson's bid for re-election in 2020 and defending him against anti-Semitic attacks by the California Charter School Association, I was hoping that the win would embolden him. Unfortunately, I became increasingly disillusioned with his lack of fight.

For the first time since the 2015 primary election, I did not endorse or vote for Schmerelson in March 2024 hoping that a candidate with the ability to fight for public education would emerge. Instead, his opponent in November will be Dan Chang, another shill for the charter school industry who brags about his role in privatizing Locke High School even though the California Charter School Association (CCSA) gave the charter school a Statewide Rank of one out of ten while he was involved in its management. While Schmerelson has not lived up to my expectations, without a doubt a win by his opponent would be much worse for the students of the District. Let's hope Schmerelson gets another four years.

Carl Petersen is a parent advocate for public education, particularly for students with special education needs, who serves as the Education Chair for the Northridge East Neighborhood Council. As a Green Party candidate in LAUSD's District 2 School Board race, he was endorsed by Network for Public Education (NPE) Action. Dr. Diane Ravitch has called him "a valiant fighter for public schools in Los Angeles." For links to his blogs, please visit www.ChangeTheLAUSD.com. Opinions are his own.
Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator

The Emir of Qatar, Tamim al Thani, recently said that he supports the street protests in Idlib, where people are protesting the dictatorial rule of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) terrorist group.

This marks a monumental change in policy for Qatar, and maybe the first step toward restoring diplomatic ties with Syria.

Beginning in 2011, and the Obama administration's US-NATO war on Syria for regime change, Qatar has been a close and loyal ally to the US, and was used as a financial backer of the various terrorist groups brought into Turkey, and trucked across the border to Idlib.

Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber bin Mohammed bin Thani Al Thani, former Prime Minister of Qatar, and foreign minister until 2013, gave an interview in which he admitted Qatar provided the money to bankroll the terrorists in Syria as they attacked the Syrian people and state. He made it clear that the cash delivered was sanctioned, and administered by the US in Turkey. Qatar was not working alone, but under a strictly controlled partnership with the US government.

In 2017, President Trump shut down the CIA operation Timber Sycamore which ran the failed project to overthrow the Syrian government.

Qatar is now turning their back on the terrorists who occupy Idlib. Mohamed al-Julani is the leader of HTS. He is Syrian, raised in Saudi Arabia, fought with Al Qaeda in Iraq against the US, aligned with ISIS founder Baghdadi, came to Syria from Iraq to develop Jibhat al-Nusra, the Al Qaeda branch in Syria.

Once Jibhat al-Nusra became an outlawed terrorist group, Julani switched the name to HTS in order to preserve his support from Washington, DC. Even though the US has a $10 million bounty on his head issued by the US Treasury Department, he is safe and secure in Idlib, where American journalists have visited him for interviews, in which he has sported a suit and tie, wishing to present himself as a western-leaning terrorist that the US can count on.

When the Syrian Arab Army and the Russian military would fire a bullet towards the terrorists in Idlib, the US would denounce it as an attack on innocent civilians. This kept Julani safe and secure, and in charge of humanitarian aid coming across the border from Turkey. The aid was from the UN and various international charities. While the 3 million people living in Idlib are not all terrorists, all the aid passes through the hands of Julani and his henchmen. If you bow down to Julani, you get your share of rations, but if you have complained, you are denied. Those who are cut off from the aid can buy their supplies from Julani at his Hamra Shopping Mall, which he built in Idlib, where he sells all the surplus aid sent to Idlib.

The civilians in Idlib have taken to the streets protesting the rule of HTS. Many people have been arrested by HTS, some tortured, and others killed. The people are demanding that Julani leave. They are asking for freedom and a fair administration. The various aid agencies have complained that HTS will not allow any free programs for women, such as learning employable skills. Women there are not allowed to seek employment, except in places which are only female. HTS rules with a strict form of Islamic law, which they interpret to their benefit.

Saudi Arabia and Syria have established full normal relations, with an exchange of ambassadors. At the Arab League Summit in May in Bahrain, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohamed bin Salman (MBS) met personally with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. They also met at the previous Arab League Summit in Saudi Arabia.

MBS recently announced a humanitarian grant to the UN to repair 17 hospitals in Syria which had been damaged in the 7.8 earthquake which killed 10 thousand in Syria.

MBS also sent spare parts for the Syrian Air commercial planes, which had suffered under US sanctions and were prevented from maintaining their safety by Washington. Recently, the very first planes of Syrians began flying to Saudi Arabia for the first time in 12 years, to perform the Haj pilgrimage.

On May 30, the leader of Iraq said he hopes to announce a Turkey-Syria normalization soon. Turkey, like Qatar, had been supporting the various terrorist groups in Syria in cooperation with the US.

Turkey also has made a turn-around in their position, and has been looking for a way to exit Idlib and the other areas it occupies in Syria, in preparation of a re-set with Damascus.

The relationship between the US and Ankara has remained tense after the US partnered with the Syrian Defense Forces (SDF). Turkey considers the SDF as a branch of the PKK, the outlawed international terrorists group who has killed 30,000 people over three decades, while wanting to establish a Kurdish State.

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Take an award-winning wild-ale brewer, an acclaimed chef and a creative fermentation specialist, throw in some foraged mushrooms, earthy barrel-aged saison, nettle kombucha and kimchi, and what do you get?

A Fathers Day weekend experience like youve probably never had before. At least thats the hope of Justin Leigh, Anthony Dao and Colin Franger, three friends who practice their respective crafts in the environs of the Columbia River Gorge.
More than 3,000 nurses at six Providence Health hospitals are preparing to walk out in a three-day strike beginning June 18 that would impact patients across Oregon.

Providence says it will hire replacement workers to continue operating through the strike. The not-for-profit hospital chain did the same last year, when 1,300 nurses at Providence Medical Center in Portland held a five-day strike.
Two days after a Vancouver police officer shot and killed a man whom police said pointed what appeared to be a firearm at an officer, investigators Monday would not say whether the man was, in fact, holding a gun.

Police initially responded around 1:45 p.m. Saturday to a report that a man near the waterfront had an aggressive dog running loose and that it had bitten someone, according to a news release from the Vancouver police. The male was also described as having a firearm, the release said.
A Lake Oswego father who said he spiked fruit smoothies with his prescription sedative because he wanted his daughter and her three friends to go to bed during a sleepover last summer will spend two years in prison.

Michael Meyden, 57, tearfully apologized and pleaded guilty Monday in Clackamas County Circuit Court to three counts of causing another person to ingest a controlled substance, a felony.

A Clackamas County sheriffs deputy placed Meyden in handcuffs immediately after the hearing as the three victims, who were all 12 at the time, stood in the courtroom gallery behind him. He may get up to about five months off his sentence if he maintains a clean disciplinary record in prison.

The girls and two of their mothers addressed the court and asked Judge Ann Lininger to impose a longer sentence; each count carries a maximum sentence of 10 years.

The girls said Meydens actions represented an extreme betrayal of trust that they have spent months recovering from.

The Lake Oswego police investigation did not identify a motive.

One of the girls said Meydens actions caused lasting harm.

We were taught adults are people we can trust, people we can go to when we need help or when we are scared, she said. Yet adults are not people I can simply trust anymore. They are people who scare me and make me think twice: What if they were to hurt me the same way as Mr. Meyden?

She added: My life has become a living hell because of you and your actions.

Another of the girls said Meydens daughter was her best friend.

I trusted him because he was my best friends dad, she said through tears. He abused that trust.

The third girl looked at Meyden and told him: I am disgusted by the look of your face and your actions and all that you have done. You are horrible and I will always hate you for what you have done.

Meyden laced the smoothies with a sleeping medication, leaving two of the girls sedated and causing them to black out. One of the girls didnt want the drink and later frantically texted her mother and then a family friend to come get her when she became alarmed over Meydens strange behavior that night.

You played Russian roulette with my childs life, the mother of one of the girls told Meyden. She is barely 5 feet tall and on a good day 70 pounds soaking wet and you overdosed her.

She said medical testing showed the level of the drug in her childs system was off the charts.

No decent parent feels the need to drug their own child and her friends, another mother told the court. No decent parent feels the need to go down and confirm children are unconscious. No decent parent puts their hands on drugged and unconcious young girls without nefarious intent.

The Oregonian/OregonLive is not naming the parents to protect the privacy of the victims.

The girls parents took them to Randall Childrens Hospital at Legacy Emanuel in Portland the morning after the sleepover where all three tested positive for benzodiazepine, according to court records and prosecutors.

Medical tests showed Meydens daughter also tested positive for the drug, according to Senior Deputy District Attorney Bryan Brock.

Meyden told the court his plan for a fun and memorable sleepover went sideways when his daughter and her three friends didnt go to sleep by 11 p.m. as he insisted.

He said he wanted the girls settled in bed by 10:30 p.m. and asleep within 30 minutes. He said he wanted them to be well rested for the following day.

Meyden said he just wanted them to go to bed so he could go to sleep.

I was overly fixated on them going to bed, yes, that is true, he said.

He said he accepted responsibility for his actions.

My whole life is destroyed, he told the court. Everything that was important to me up until that point is gone.

Lininger spoke directly to Meyden, telling him he had created some tremendous wreckage through your decisions.

I am hearing you express shame and remorse and I think those are authentic, she said. I think you have created a lot of pain and you rightly note that your own family is suffering a lot.

She said she would abide by the agreement Meyden struck with prosecutors, calling it a significant sentence.

That is accountability you have earned through some terrible, dangerous choices you have made but that is not the last thing that happens in your life, the judge said. You have decades and decades of life ahead in which you may have an opportunity to show your children how a person comes back from terrible choices.

Lininger also praised the girls as strong, articulate young women who experienced an unfathomable injustice.

You came here today and you told the courtroom, the community and Mr. Meyden the impact on you and how you didnt deserve that conduct, Lininger said. You are young people who arent afraid to seek justice and want justice for other people.

During a search of the home, investigators seized computer equipment, a Vitamix blender, a hand-held blender, reusable straws, a mortar and pestle and bottles of a sedative called Temazepam, court records show.

Temazepam is a benzodiazepine used to address insomnia and anxiety and, according to medical experts, can cause too much sleepiness, loss of consciousness and can obstruct the airway.

According to court records, Meyden insisted the girls drink the smoothies; however, one didnt and was able to provide police with an account of what happened next.

She described how Meyden returned to the basement as the other girls slept and moved her arm and then moved one of the other girls body. She told police she stayed awake afraid Meyden was going to harm her friend, according to court filings. At one point, she said she saw Meyden place a finger under her friends nose to see if she was asleep and waved his hand in her face.

Terrified, the girl repeatedly texted and called her parents, begging them to come get her: Mom please pick me up and say I had a family emergency. I dont feel safe. I might not respond but please come get me (crying emoji), Please. Please pick up. Please. PLEASE!! She then called and texted several friends asking for a ride.

A family friend drove her home; she woke her parents who woke the other girls parents. They picked up the two other girls still at Meydens house, court records say.

-- Noelle Crombie is an enterprise reporter with a focus on the justice system. Reach her at 503-276-7184; ncrombie@oregonian.

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At the states urging, the Oregon Court of Appeals agreed in April to put on a fast-track its consideration of the states appeal of a Harney County judges ruling that found gun control Measure 114 unconstitutional.

But it took nearly two months before the state filed its opening brief.

The gun owners who challenged the measure have urged the appellate court to dismiss the appeal because the state missed the initial May 31 deadline the court had set for submitting it.

At issue is the transcript of the eight-day trial that led Harney County Judge Robert S. Raschio to strike down the voter-approved measure last November. Raschio found the measures two major provisions -- a permit to buy a gun and a ban on the sale, transfer and manufacture of magazines holding more than 10 rounds -- both violate Article 1, Section 27 of the states constitution, which establishes a right to bear arms.

Oregon Assistant Attorney General Robert A. Koch said they state had to wait for a final transcript from the Harney County trial to be completed before filing their opening brief in order to appropriately make citations in the brief to trial testimony.

Michael Kron, special counsel to Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum, said state appellate rules make it clear that its impossible to submit an opening brief until the underlying transcript for the trial is approved. Without a final transcript, Kron said the briefing deadline is automatically suspended.

This is just noise, he said, of the gun owners challenge.

Attorney Tony L. Aiello Jr., representing the gun owners fighting the measure, said the Appeals Court allowed for extensions in its filing schedule only for extraordinary circumstances and should now dismiss the state appeal because of the missed May deadline.

The Appeals Court in April had denied a state motion to put a hold on Raschios ruling but did agree, at the states request, to expedite a decision on the states appeal. The court first set a May 31 deadline for the state to file in its opening written brief of arguments.

But Koch said that an initial 2,016-page draft of the trial transcript contained significant errors that needed correcting. The state submitted 20 pages of corrections, and a new transcript was set to be finalized by last Tuesday.

A clerk noted in the Appeals Court record that an amended copy of the transcript was certified and sent to the parties by days end Tuesday. Koch noted in court papers that the state received the fixed transcript at 2:56 p.m. that day.

Koch has argued that the state didnt need to seek an extension to file its opening brief because the state checked with the Appeals Court and learned that the court suspended the timeline for filing briefs pending a corrected transcript.

Aiello said he and his clients received no notice on the docket that the Appeals Court had rescinded, suspended, tolled, or otherwise altered the briefing schedule it ordered.

The state also last week filed a motion to allow its opening brief to run long, up to 15,000 words, beyond the current 10,000-word limit.

Kron said the state filed its opening brief Friday afternoon.

As of 5 p.m. Monday, the appellate courts docket did not show the briefs filing, and the court had not filed any ruling on whether an extended brief was okay or on the gun owners motion to dismiss the appeal.

The gun control measure, which passed with 50.7% of the vote in 2022, hasnt taken effect while the courts consider various challenges.

-- Maxine Bernstein covers federal court and criminal justice. Reach her at 503-221-8212, mbernstein@oregonian.com , follow her on X @maxoregonian, or on LinkedIn.

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The Portland Police Bureau has publicly identified Seth Wingfield of the Special Emergency Reaction Team as the officer who shot a suspect in Northeast Portlands Russell neighborhood last month.

Wingfield, who works out of the North Precinct, has been with the police bureau for eight years.

Wingfield shot Patrick Myers, 44, after officers began serving a search warrant in a sex-crimes investigation, according to police. Myers came out of his home armed with a rifle as officers attempted to serve the warrant, police reported. Myers was taken to a local hospital after being shot.

Myers has been indicted for attempted murder of police officers and on five other charges.

He separately faces six counts of encouraging child abuse in the second degree and one count of encouraging sexual assault of an animal, according to court records.

Wingfield was one of three police officers who actions were found justified by a grand jury last November in the fatal shooting of PoniaX Kane Callas earlier in 2023. Callas was the suspect in the killing of an unarmed security guard at Legacy Good Samaritan Medical Center.

-- The Oregonian/OregonLive; dperry@oregonian.com
Oregon State Police Superintendent Casey Codding and a state police sergeant were legally justified in firing at a murder suspect fleeing in a car with a young child during a high-speed chase on Interstate 5 in late April, Linn Countys district attorney has found.

District Attorney Doug Marteeny said Codding and Sgt. Nickodemus Orly Johnson fired multiple gunshots after the suspect, Elias Huizar, pointed a handgun out of his open drivers side window toward the front of Johnsons marked police car and fired toward the sergeant.
The superintendent of the Newberg-Dundee school district is under increasing scrutiny after he and other administrators waited until late May to tell school board members that the district had overspent its budget by millions of dollars, after previously assuring them that there was no cause for alarm.

School board members are under community pressure to fire the superintendent of two years, Stephen Phillips. About 100 people rallied before a fraught budget hearing Monday night to call for his dismissal.

The board has hired an employment attorney from Portland firm Ogletree Deakins and will meet in a closed-door executive session Tuesday night. On their agenda: consideration of discipline or dismissal of an employee and consultation with legal counsel regarding current or probable litigation.

The budget drama is only the latest in a cascading series of unfortunate events for the Newberg-Dundee district, near the heart of Oregons bucolic wine country.

The recent unrest stretches back to fall 2021, when a group of conservative-leaning school board members voted as a block to ban teachers from displaying LGBTQ+ pride or Black Lives Matters flags in their classrooms, saying they were seeking to avoid political distractions on school property. The board eventually rescinded the ban after a Yamhill County judge ruled that it was unconstitutional.

The original ban touched off national backlash and a series of lawsuits, and led to the previous superintendent, Joe Morelock, losing his job when he refused to enforce it. Board members in 2022 replaced him with Phillips, who came to Newberg with a checkered history.

Phillips resigned as a deputy superintendent in the Beaverton School District in 2018 after he retweeted an incendiary statement that claimed illegal aliens were responsible for the deaths of thousands of American citizens annually, touching off a community outcry.

He then spent several years as the superintendent of the Jewell School District. In March 2024, a former student identified only as Jennifer Doe filed a lawsuit against the district alleging that Phillips and other administrators knew that a teacher was sexually abusing her when she was 14 and didnt promptly intervene, eventually allowing the teacher in question to quietly transfer to a different school district.

Phillips left Jewell in 2022 to move to Newberg, hired by the same conservative-leaning board that had tried to ban Pride and Black Lives Matter signs. The following year, Newberg-Dundee voters summarily ejected the majority of them from office, flipping the ideological tilt of the school board to progressive.

Phillips, though, stayed put. His current salary is $215,000.

During Phillips time at the districts helm, Newberg has seen significant turnover among administrators, including its director of finance, special programs coordinator, director of communications and director of special programs.

Four former district employees have filed complaints against Phillips with the state Labor Bureau, alleging that he created a hostile work environment. Theyve charged that he discriminated against employees because of their age, demoted others without cause and reached out to new employers to threaten and disparage former employees after they left the district.

Rachel Mann, a Labor Bureau spokesperson , said the complaints are still under investigation.

Phillips did not return a call seeking comment Monday and did not attend Monday nights meeting. At a previous budget committee meeting on May 28, he acknowledged that his administration had not provided enough financial oversight, saying Under my watch, we are facing a detrimental budget shortfall.  I am ready to lead through this situation for as long as the board chooses. I know that apologizing is not enough, but I am sorry.

He added that he would forgo any anticipated salary increase for the next year and that the number of employees in the district office would be reduced by 25%.

School board Chair Nancy Woodward said Monday that she and other board members were told in March that the superintendent, along with his finance director and the deputy superintendent, needed more time to finish the budget for 2024-2025.

That didnt raise alarm bells, she said, in part because board members believed they were in position to start the upcoming school year with a surplus of $8.6 million.

But by late May, Phillips, Deputy Superintendent Scott Linenberger and Finance Director Heather Bixby, who is now on personal leave from the district and declined to speak with The Oregonian/OregonLive on Monday, had a different story to tell.

The district was $3.7 million short of what it needed to pay its bills in the current fiscal year, Phillips told school board members, and was staring at a roughly $14 million shortfall for 2024-2025. Those numbers have since been whittled down to $1.7 million and $12.2 million, respectively, after Jackie Olsen, executive director of the Oregon Association of School Business Officials, stepped in to assist.

In a relatively small district like Newberg, which enrolls about 4,000 students and has an overall operating budget for next year thats pegged at $56 million, $12 million is an enormous cut. Olsen said Monday night that one scenario to balance the budget would be to layoff 60 employees, cut 10 days from the school year and postpone adopting new science and health curriculums.

The final decision will rest with administrators and the school board and likely will not be made until August, budget committee members noted on Monday.

By contrast, Portland Public Schools, which is about 10 times the size of Newberg, has a $30 million hole in its budget for 2024-2025. Officials there have said that translates to about 250 fewer jobs across schools and central administration, some of which are being left vacant by retirements.

The Salem-Keizer School District, the states second largest, telegraphed $71 million in cuts for the 2024-2025 school year for months, before announcing in April that it was shedding 392 positions, including 239 teachers. The Silver Falls School District, which has 3,700 students, saw its superintendent and finance director both resign after disclosing that the district was $825,000 short of being able to pay its bills for the current school year.

There are several reasons for the Newberg shortfall, Olsen, Woodward and others said. Property tax collections are lower than previously projected. The district has gone on a hiring spree even though it has lost about 800 students since the start of the pandemic, a costly error since state funding is tied to enrollment. It also overspent its budgets for transportation and special education.

Newberg is also rife with rumors that Phillips wanted to close the 192-student Joan Austin Elementary School and lease the building to George Fox University for use as a child care center, as a way to generate income. Woodward, though, said the board had not even discussed such a step, which could take months to negotiate and finalize.

It is obvious for anyone to see that the budget from last year didnt have enough controls and was overspending, said Woodward, a retired educator who said she was heartbroken over the fallout and its impact on the districts students. It is going to take awhile to get to the bottom of this.

Board members will consider Olsens proposed budget at a public meeting immediately following Tuesdays executive session. The vote to adopt a final budget is scheduled for June 24.

 Julia Silverman covers education policy and schools for The Oregonian/OregonLive. She can be reached via email at 503.804.4466. Follow her on x.com at @jrlsilverman.
The estate of a 33-year-old ironworker who died from catastrophic blunt force trauma after a forklift rolled onto her at the reconstruction site of Benson Polytechnic High School in Northeast Portland filed a $25.5 million lawsuit Monday against the construction company that is overseeing the project.

The estate of Samantha Sam Deschenes faults Andersen Construction for allegedly failing to properly train the forklift operator, failing to have adequate staff on site to properly monitor the work that was underway and failing to enforce policies and procedures to prevent struck-by incidents such as the one that killed Deschenes less than two weeks ago.

Andersen Construction is the sole defendant listed in the lawsuit. A company representative, Gil Rudawsky, didnt comment on the specifics of the suit but said in an email Tuesday our focus continues to be on the health and well-being of our team members, providing support to Samanthas family, and working with safety and health officials as part of the accident review.

According to the suit, Deschenes was working on the site near Northeast 12th Avenue and Irving Street on May 30 at about 3 p.m. when the heavy machinery rolled onto her and pinned her down, crushing her beneath its weight. An ambulance and Portland Fire & Rescue arrived in three to five minutes.

Deschenes was rushed to a local hospital, where according to the suit, she underwent an 11-hour surgery to repair a ruptured aorta. But the suit states that Deschenes brain suffered an unrecoverable lack of oxygen and life support was removed on June 1, which is her listed date of death.

Deschenes, a single mom, is survived by her 9-year-old son and her parents, Carol and Thomas Ruvolo. She worked for REFA Steel Erectors, a subcontractor at the Benson High site. She was a member of Ironworkers Local 29.

The suit seeks damages for Deschenes pain and suffering, including her profound existential terror prior to her death. It also seeks damages for her familys loss of companionship, lost future earnings, funeral and burial expenses, and medical bills, which the suit states amounted to about $500,000.

The suit was filed in Multnomah County Circuit Court by Portland lawyer Joe Piucci and Vancouver lawyer Thomas Phelan.

The modernization of Benson began in 2021 and is scheduled to be complete this summer, according to the districts website. During construction, students have been attending classes at the Marshall campus in Southeast Portland.

After the May 30 incident, Andersen Construction paused work at the site until June 4. The company also said it had grief counselors on site last week for workers.

 Aimee Green covers breaking news and the justice system. Reach her at 503-294-5119, agreen@oregonian.com or @o_aimee.

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A long-stalled southern Oregon casino project pitting competing Native American tribes against each other has caught the attention of congressional appropriators, as opponents push for language in the upcoming Interior-Environment spending bill that would bar the project from moving forward.

Oregons Coquille Indian Tribe has long sought to build the new casino, an effort opposed by other tribes and a bipartisan army of politicians, including Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek, a Democrat; all four senators from Oregon and California; and various members of the Oregon and northern California House delegations.
Portland Commissioner Rene Gonzalez, who is running for Portland mayor and has campaigned on a more punitive approach to homeless camping, is doubling down on his criticism of Multnomah County officials for their decision last week to continue paying for tarps and tents to shelter homeless people.

The countys $4 billion budget for 2024-25, adopted Thursday, will also pay for up to 5 million clean syringes for drug users through the countys health department. Thats the same number of needles funded this year to reduce infections.

Gonzalez sent a campaign email Monday that decried the funding for tents and syringes.

I am the only candidate for Mayor standing up to question the county budget, he wrote. We must ensure our regional dollars are well-spent, especially when there are direct impacts on Portlands livability and the ability for small businesses to thrive.

Last Tuesday, Gonzalez sent a letter to the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners raising these objections, noting that the proliferation of tents in the city has increased the risk of fires and injuries to firefighters. In 2023, at least 372 fires in Portland involved tents or encampments, Portland Fire and Rescue figures show.

Our community is overwhelmed with encampments, including unsanitary conditions and environmental damage, violence and other crimes, and debilitating drug use that such encampments bring to public spaces in our city, he wrote.

Gonzalez took issue with the $515,000 the county budgeted for 5 million syringes for its harm reduction efforts.

In the fiscal year that ends this month, Multnomah County distributed closer to 3.4 million sterile needles, even though it budgeted for 5 million then too. Gonzalez interpreted the latest budget figure as an increase.

The countys approach to the unsheltered homeless population, while well intentioned, continues to perpetuate an environment that enables self-destructive behaviors, Gonzalez told The Oregonian/OregonLive.

In an interview, Gonzalez said he would rather see the county put more money toward expanding shelter access and addiction services. The countys budget includes over $100 million in shelter funding through the Joint Office of Homeless Services.

The priority should be getting the shelter up and running at the scale thats necessary for the problem, Gonzalez said. That shelter needs to come with wrap-around services.

The Joint Office of Homeless Services estimates that it will hand out around 6,500 tents in the next fiscal year, costing around $230,000 of the $750,000 budget for safety supplies. Last year, the county distributed 6,492 tents, officials said.

In a statement to The Oregonian/OregonLive, homeless services Director Dan Field said tents, tarps and hygiene kits are basic supplies to keep people safe on the streets while the county expands shelter access. He disagreed with Gonzalezs assertion that the tents enable self-destructive behavior.

I share the publics concerns about people sleeping in tents on our streets, Field said in a statement. Im as frustrated as everyone else to see our neighbors sleeping on a sidewalk instead of a bed. But the reality is that tents and tarps do not cause or perpetuate homelessness.

Gonzalez has faced backlash for his approach to homeless camping in the past, including his decision in 2023 to temporarily block the citys distribution of tents and tarps, a move that came shortly before a severe winter storm.

In April, Gonzalez pushed a proposal that would ban homeless camping citywide and increase fines or jail time for violations, should the U.S. Supreme Court and the Oregon Legislature do away with current limits on local enforcement.

Commissioner Carmen Rubio, also running for Portland mayor, pushed back against Gonzalezs stance on tents.

In a world in which we are still building out our shelter system, tent bans will only push homeless community members into parks, doorways of small businesses, and under our bridges, she wrote in a statement Sunday. That is not a solution  nor humane.

Commissioner Mingus Mapps, a third candidate for mayor, did not respond to requests for comment by Monday afternoon.

 Austin De Dios covers Multnomah County politics, programs and more. Reach him at 503-319-9744, adedios@oregonian.com or @AustinDeDios.

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Tonights WWE Monday Night Raw will once again feature some big names, and big surprises, including Ilja Dragunov taking on Bron Breakker as the headliner, Sami Zayn facing Otis and more. Will there be any more surprise guests? Raw gets underways on Monday, June 10 at 5 p.m. PT/ 8 p.m. ET and a live broadcast of Monday Night Raw on USA Network, or available on demand shortly after on Peacock.

 The best way to watch tonight is by watching for free with Fubo (free trial), or with DirecTV Stream (free trial). You can also sign up for one month of access to Peacock Premium ($5.99/month), NBCs streaming platform and watch on the cheap shortly after it airs.

What are the matchups for Monday Night RAW tonight?

WWE is bringing in some big-name headliners to help ramp up the action for some major events on the horizon starting tonight. Here are some other showdowns and storylines to keep an eye on when the action jumps off from the Huntington Center in Toledo, Ohio:

 Bron Breakker takes on Ilja Dragunov in the main event

 Sami Zayn battles Otis

 Lyra Valkyria faces IYO SKY

 See the other matchups and a full Monday Night Raw preview on WWE.com.

How to watch Monday Night Raw tonight

When: Monday, June 10 at 8 p.m. PT/ET

TV Channel: USA Network

How to watch live stream online: You can watch with DirecTV Stream (free trial) or with Fubo (free trial) if you want to watch it live for free tonight. Or, you can watch for under $6 by signing up for one month of access to Peacock Premium ($5.99/month, cancel anytime). If you already have a cable or satellite subscription, you can watch the show on USANetwork.com by signing in with your provider information.

You can find out more about which channel USA Network is on in your area by using the channel finders here: Comcast Xfinity, DIRECTV, Dish, Verizon Fios, Spectrum/Charter, Optimum/Altice.
New York, United States (PANA) - The UN Security Council on Monday adopted a resolution aimed at reaching a comprehensive ceasefire deal in three phases to end the war in Gaza, with US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield telling members "today, we voted for peace
A current graduate from Washington State University, who vanished from a Seattle airport over a month ago, may be traveling with a 21-year-old man wanted for not returning his 2-year-old daughter to her mother.

Nadia Erika Cole Vanished from Seattle Airport

Nadia Erika Cole, 21, went missing on May 29 after security cameras captured her leaving Seattle-Tacoma International Airport at 3:08 p.m., according to the Fife Police Department's declaration on X. She was last seen wearing a black North Face jacket, a sage green hoodie, black pants, and white sneakers. Authorities believe she may have been seeing in Fife, a suburb of Tacoma.

Pullman police suspect Cole might be with Aaron Aung, whose 2-year-old daughter, Seraya Aung Harmon, has also been reported missing.

Aaron Breshears from the Pullman Police Department said that Cole is in a relationship with Aung and that her disappearance coinciding with his is "more than a coincidence."

The day Cole disappeared, on May 29, Aung and her family from Moscow, Idaho, were last seen together. He had taken Seraya to Montana for a fishing trip and was expected to return her to her mother in Pullman on Monday, but he failed to appear for the scheduled custody exchange.

On Wednesday, an arrest warrant was released for Aung for first-degree custodial interference after police recorded he disobeyed a Latah County District Court parenting plan.

Cole's family characterized her disappearance as "entirely out of character," according to a declaration issued by a private investigator hired by the family.

On the day she disappeared, Cole left her belongings at an airport gate to use the restroom and was later seen leaving the airport with a "distressed expression."

Her parents, Beata and Kirk Cole, released a statement expressing their deep sorrow and hope for her safe return.

Reward Offered for the Missing 21-Year-Old Woman

Authorities confirmed that Cole had recently graduated from Washington State University. A $1,000 prize is being provided for information leading to her safe return.

The Pullman police are cooperating with the Moscow Police Department in Idaho and the FBI to inspect Seraya's disappearance.

Cole is not Seraya's mother, the family's PI clarified. Seraya's mother, Samara, posted a statement on Facebook expressing her hope for her daughter's safe return.

Cole's Instagram shows her engagement to Aung in November 2023. The police suspect that they are traveling in pairs.

The circumstances surrounding Nadia's disappearance are completely unusual for her, and she is loved by hundreds of people who recognize her. Her disappearance has left Beata and Kirk Cole feeling completely devastated and praying for her safe return.

Anyone with information is asked to call the authorities at 877-220-8129. Aung, with black hair and brown eyes, is 5 ft. tall and 9 in. in height, weighing approximately 135 lbs.

Anyone with information about the three disappearances is encouraged to contact the Pullman Police Department or their local law enforcement agency. Tips can be shared by calling (509) 334-0802. Cole's family also requests that anyone with information contact authorities at 877-220-8129.
A 23-year-old woman speculated of murdering her three roommates in Virginia was arrested after a pursuit on a highway in upstate New York, police reported on Friday.

Suspect in the Alleged Killing of Three Roommates in Virginia Arrested

Authorities had been seeking Alyssa Jane Venable after deputies from the Spotsylvania County Sheriff's Office found two men and a woman dead from "upper body trauma" during a welfare check on Tuesday night in Fredericksburg, Virginia, according to the sheriff's office.

The casualties included Robert John McGuire, 77; Gregory Scott Powell (60); and Carol Anne Reese (65).

The sheriff's office issued a declaration identifying Venable as the suspect in light of the disturbing crime, which was committed by his roommate. A third count of second-degree killing and a charge of firearms were being sought against her.

Over 300 miles from Fredericksburg, New York State Police troopers arrested Venable on Thursday evening. State Police reported that she protested to adhere to with troopers' request to stop her in a gray Honda Civic on Interstate 86 shortly after 5:30 p.m.

After being trailed by troopers, she was hit with a tire deflation device that caused her car to crash and reach speeds of 100 mph. The State Police received assistance from the Steuben County Sheriff's Office.

Venable was taken to a hospital for non-life-threatening wounds, state police said. She is now imprisoned at the Steuben County jail. State Police noted that troopers will proceed with extradition arrangements.

The sheriff's office did not instantly answer a request for comment, and State Police declared they could not comment on a possible intention.

Read Also : Bodies of Two Missing Kansas Women Were Found in Chest Freezers Buried in Cow Pasture

23-Year-Old Woman Arrested in Upstate New York Highway Chase

Venable was captured after police identified a gray 2009 Honda Civic matching her vehicle's description and attempted to stop her. Venable refused to pull over, leading to a high-speed chase that reached 100 mph.

Authorities used a tire deflation device, causing her car to crash. She was taken into custody without further scene and transferred to a local hospital for medication. No other injuries occurred during the chase.

New York State Police are working on obtaining a fugitive warrant for Venable, with extradition arrangements pending. The investigation is ongoing and the New York State Police are expected to release further comment.

The authorities were asked by Jane Venable, the grandmother of the girl who was worried about her granddaughter's safety, to treat her as a person of interest. Being a vulnerable person Jane thinks she'll be sought after.

Officials have expressed concern that both sides of the issue could pose a threat to her. The grandmother has also expressed her desire that the police would consider Venable as someone who also requires immediate aid.

Police and a former colleague claimed that Venable had exhibited violent outbursts before, as per the allegations. Following an incident at a McDonald's where she was employed, she faced charges of assault and battery last month.

Bianca Smith, a former colleague, told the outlet that she would snap at you quickly if something went wrong. "I feel like she was always in shitstorms."

Neighbors noted that Venable had moved into the home about a month ago. It is unclear if the victims were related to her.
An Oklahoma teenager and her family are speaking out after she was assaulted by a shark last month in Galveston, Texas.

Oklahoma Teen Shares Her Experience of Shark Attack

Damiana Humphrey, 19, recounted that she was waist-deep in the water when a 4 to 5-foot shark bit her hand. She described how she punched the shark until it released her.

Upon seeing her hand, she began to panic, as per her statement. Troy, her father, observed that her hand was still attached and her arm was bleeding. Damiana was taken to the hospital, where she underwent surgery on her hand.

"I severed four tendons." The woman stated that she had a large hole in the upper hand that required sewing.

According to Dr. Kesley Banks, the shark came for an examination because it was only able to see movement in murky water while searching for prey. This is what led him to proceed further. The situation was solely due to mistaken identity.

A number of shark attacks have acquired media attention in the U.S. as they near summer. In two separate circumstances in Walton County, Florida, three swimmers, including two teens, were assaulted by sharks on Friday.

Around 2 p.m. local time on Friday, the Honolulu Emergency Services reported that a 25-year-old woman was hospitalized after a shark bite off Oahu's North Shore in Hawaii, where she got emergency medical medication.

After the patient was brought to safety, emergency services arrived at the Haleiwa Small Boat Harbor. According to the agency, EMS treated her for multiple severe wounds before transferring her to the emergency room.

Earlier this month, a 46-year-old man suffered "significant" injuries after being bitten by a shark in Southern California, officials said.

While experts and officials have advised beachgoers to take precautions, such as avoiding swimming at dusk or dawn, Damiana Humphrey said the shark attack hasn't deterred her from getting back in the water.

Oklahoma Teen's Parents Rushed to Her Aid After Hearing Commotions

Damiana Humphrey found herself in the jaws of a shark while in the ocean, prompting panic about potential injuries. She narrated feeling frightened and concerned about the possible loss of her fingers or hand.

The 19-year-old was vacationing with her family in Galveston, Texas when the assault happened. Reacting quickly, she began defending herself. Her parents, Troy and Stacy Humphrey rushed to her aid upon hearing the commotion.

Upon reaching her father, she started screaming and crying. Troy explained that they allowed her to see the wound without alarming others. The shark's bite resulted in four severed tendons in Damiana's hand, which is now in a cast.

Experts suggest shark attacks are uncommon in Galveston and suspect it was likely a blacktip shark that mistook her hand for food.

Damiana's parents express pride in their daughter's bravery. "Her first instinct when she got bit was to protect her brothers and sisters, to get them out of the water first," Stacy comments.

Currently studying nursing in college, Damiana had to put her summer job at the local hospital on hold until she fully recovered.
Selecting the ideal gifts for Dad can pose a dilemma. You strive to provide him with the finest present, yet the array of choices available can often lead to uncertainty.

Top 5 Crossbody Bags for Dads

Our men's crossbody bag measures 34 x 15 x 8 cm (13.8 x 5.9 x 3.1 inches) and has a 4L capacity.

The front section of the main compartment includes a zippered pocket and double-layered 2-grid pockets, while the back section serves as an electronics storage space, fitting an iPad mini, Switch, Kindle, and other items.

The divider features four elastic bands for organizing items like data cables neatly.

This compact sling bag has a layered design with 19 functional zones. Both the front and back have concealed zippered pockets for important items.

The front pocket contains small pockets and a webbing key hook, while the back pocket has three card slots for quick access to IDs, credit cards, and more. Additionally, there is an interlayer for storing items like umbrellas, allowing for dry and wet separation.

Crafted with high-quality PU leather, 100% cotton lining, and classic hardware, along with meticulous workmanship, this medium messenger bag is a reflection of your exceptional style. Its dimensions are approximately 23CM19.5CM5.5CM (9.1"x7.7"x2.2").

This crossbody bag, suitable for both men and women, blends fashion and functionality seamlessly. Its design is sleek and practical, allowing ample space to carry daily essentials effortlessly.

Whether it's your mobile phone, small wallet purse, glasses, passport, travel documents, keys, compact camera, or other necessities, there's plenty of room for everything.

7 x 3.5 x 15 inches / 18 x 9 x 38 cm. The front zipper and buckle pockets give storage for items like iPad mini, iPhone 7 Plus, power banks, etc.

Inside, there are several separate compartments for organizing small items such as tissues, keys, and more effectively. The side mesh pocket is 6 inches tall and can accommodate a bottle with a diameter of 2.4 inches.

Featuring a concealed earphone hole on the front, accessing your earphones is convenient, allowing you to enjoy music anytime, anywhere.

With three D-rings designed on the lower part, the adjustable shoulder strap can be connected to the left or right D-ring according to your preference, making it convenient to wear on either shoulder.

The shoulder strap pouch measures 3.5 x 1.5 x 7.5 inches (L x W x H) and can easily hold phones with screens under 7 inches. The shoulder strap can be adjusted from 31 inches to 39.5 inches.

Read Also : Texas Valedictorian Delivers Emotional Speech After Father's Funeral

Crafted from washed canvas adorned with leather accents, this crossbody bag boasts durability and softness. The canvas material is highly resistant to wear, scratches, and tears, while the main compartment offers a luxurious and gentle feel.

Measuring 13.0 * 11.4 * 4.3 inches (length * height * width), this shoulder bag can hold a 13-inch ultra-thin laptop without the need for additional casing.

While not overly spacious, it's perfectly sized for day trips or shopping excursions. Carry it comfortably using either the handle or the adjustable shoulder strap.

Weighing approximately 650 grams, the strap's full length ranges from approximately 40 to 60 inches.

Brown and black colors are available. Please note that the brown shade may slightly differ. The dimensions are 11.8" x 6.3''x 2.8" (empty), suitable for a 7.9" iPad mini. It weighs 0.4kg.

Please be aware that the bag is of a standard size, not oversized, and fits the 7.9-inch iPad mini perfectly.

It's ideal for everyday use or travel to keep your phone, charger, power bank, wallet, iPad mini, and other small items organized. Please review the size before making a purchase.

The external USB port with a built-in charging cable allows convenient charging of your electronic device anywhere. However, please note that this bag does not include a battery; you will need to insert a power bank into the bag for charging purposes.
On Monday, Moderna declared that its combination vaccine for Covid and influenza generated a stronger immune response in adults aged 50 and over compared to separate vaccines for each virus in a late-stage examination.

Combination Vaccine Produced Higher Levels of Antibodies

The research displayed that the combination vaccine, which uses messenger RNA technology, produced more antibodies than traditional flu vaccines, which have recently become available, as well as Moderna's mRNA Covid vaccine, Spikevax.

The vaccine, designated mRNA-1083, showed a higher immune response against two A strains and one B strain of the flu in older adults compared to popular flu vaccines from GlaxoSmithKline and Sanofi, according to the company.

In March, the Food and Drug Administration suggested that drug manufacturers focus on the three strains H1N1, H3N2, and B/Victoria for the 2024 seasonal flu vaccines.

The current information comes from two segments of a larger research involving about 8,000 participants.

One segment tested the combination against GSK's Fluarix in adults aged 50 to 64, while the other tested it against Sanofi's Fluzone HD in people aged 65 and older. Fluzone HD is a high-dose vaccine for older adults.

Stephen Hoge, President of Moderna, declared that the company desires to initiate the combination vaccine for the autumn respiratory disease season in 2025, or possibly in 2026.

Moderna, based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is relying on new vaccines to counter the essentially reduced demand and sales of its Covid vaccine.

If allowed, this combination vaccine would be Moderna's third marketed product, following the current FDA consent of its respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine.

Moderna also reported that the combination vaccine was found to be safe and tolerable in recent research, with adverse side effects akin to those of the other vaccines in the examination.

The most typical side effects reported were injection site pain, fatigue, muscle aches, and headache, according to Moderna.

The company plans to present the full research outcomes at a forthcoming medical conference.

Combined Covid-Flu Vaccine Could Potentially Be Accessible at Later Time

A combined COVID-19 and flu shot may be available in the future, but not for this year's flu season. Moderna declared positive late-stage examination outcomes for its Covid-flu vaccine, mRNA-1083, which produced a stronger immune response compared to standalone flu and Covid vaccines, even in people aged 65 and older.

This combination vaccine allows both convenience and clinical advantages.

Moderna is the first to report successful results for a combined vaccine. Public health experts emphasize the need for enhanced protection against both viruses, as millions contract the flu and Covid each year, resulting in significant hospitalizations and deaths.

Moderna's Phase 3 trial, involving around 8,000 adults, showed that the combination vaccine obtained an essentially higher immune response and was well-tolerated with common side effects like injection site pain and fatigue.

The study is not yet peer-reviewed, but Moderna plans to present the data at a medical conference and seek FDA authorization by fall 2025.

Sue Peschin, president and CEO of the Alliance for Aging Research, emphasizes that a combined shot could enhance vaccine uptake and public health protection.
The husband of the owner of a New York City day care where a 1-year-old tragically died from fentanyl poisoning has pleaded guilty to federal charges, officials announced Monday.

Suspect Flees the NYC Day Care as Children Suffer Fentanyl Poisoning

In September 2023, Felix Herrera Garcia was spotted fleeing the Bronx day care through a back alley, carrying two heavy shopping bags, while children inside were suffering the effects of fentanyl exposure.

On Monday, Herrera Garcia, 35, pleaded guilty to several federal charges, including conspiracy to distribute narcotics resulting in death, possession with intent to distribute resulting in death, and possession with intent to distribute resulting in serious bodily injury.

Each charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in prison, with a maximum of life imprisonment.

Police authorities hunted Garcia after the Bronx daycare tragedy that affected a total of four children, ranging in age from 8 months to 2 years.

The suspect fled overseas after Sept. 15 triggering a weeklong manhunt that eventually resulted in his arrest.

Garcia was arrested in Sinaloa, Mexico, two weeks after the death of the 1-year-old child, Nicholas Feliz-Dominici, at the El Divino Nino daycare on Morris Ave. near E. 196th St. in Fordham Manor.

The 1-year-old toddler was rushed into the nearby hospital for medical attention, but was later pronounced dead. Aside from Nicholas, three other kids from daycare were also affected by the fentanyl poisoning.

Two other children were rushed by their parents to the hospital; one is an 8-month-old baby, and the other is a 2-year-old child. Both children were given life-saving measures after exhibiting symptoms of lethargy and were given a Narcan drug, as reported by the officials.

Furthermore, a fourth child, who is also a 1-year-old was reported to have experienced lethargy and unresponsiveness about two hours after the parent picked up the child in the brox daycare. The toddler was immediately rushed to the hospital, where Narcan was admitted.

Tragic Details and Legal Consequences

Bronx County District Attorney Darcel Clark announced the guilty plea on the day Herrera Garcia's trial was set to begin.

"Herrera Garcia has now been held accountable in the tragic loss of little Nicholas, the serious injury of Abel, and the harm to Kiara and Jaziel," Clark stated.

Investigations revealed that fentanyl was stored in a trapdoor beneath the day care floor. Additionally, a kilo of fentanyl was discovered on children's play mats.

These dangerous storage methods led to the exposure that caused such harm to the children.

Day Care Owner's Involvement and Ongoing Cases

Adding another layer to the tragedy, Herrera Garcia's wife, Grei Mendez, had removed their 2-year-old son from the daycare before the incident, suspecting he was showing signs of fentanyl exposure.

Despite her concerns, Mendez did not report the suspected exposure to authorities and continued operating the day care for other children. Mendez and her cousin are both facing pending cases related to the incident.

The tragic death of Nicholas Dominici and the suffering of the other children have brought to light the critical importance of safety and vigilance in child care settings.
A college shelter in Los Angeles, LA Room & Board, is opening its doors, offering homeless youth support for LGBTQ+ college students.

The shelter, located in downtown Los Angeles, is taking proactive steps to offer much-needed support to homeless college students in the city.

LA Room & Board Supports Homeless Students

LA Room & Board, located just 3 miles east of downtown Los Angeles, is a sanctuary for young people facing homelessness and food insecurity.

More than just a place to stay, the shelter aims to be a stepping stone toward a brighter future by focusing on helping residents complete their college education.

The shelter's mission is rooted in the belief that education is a crucial pathway to a better life.

Sam Prater, the founder of LA Room & Board, was inspired to establish the shelter after learning from The California Budget and Policy Center that the LA region will face a shortage of 1 million college-educated workers by 2030.

Determined to make a difference, Prater created a space that feels more like a luxury boutique hotel than a traditional dormitory or shelter.

The Dunamis House, one of the shelter's locations, offers 64 beds, an onsite barbershop, a cafeteria with a gourmet chef, study areas, and lounges.

Prater's vision for the shelter was to recreate the best parts of his own childhood, where there was a sense of community, activity, and laughter.

Prater stated in an interview that he wanted to create a place where people felt safe and supported.

A Safe Haven for LGBTQ+ Youth

Prater, who identifies as a gay man, has made it a priority to welcome LGBTQ+ individuals at the shelter. His own experiences growing up in a religious household where he was often labeled and misunderstood have deeply influenced his commitment to creating a safe and inclusive environment.

Prater's empathy for queer youth, who are 120% more likely to experience homelessness, according to the National Coalition for the Homeless, drives his dedication to the shelter's inclusive mission.

One resident, Sherbert Diaz, who identifies as queer, found refuge at LA Room & Board after aging out of foster care.

Diaz described the shelter as a place where he feels encouraged to be himself and listened to. He is currently pursuing a real estate license, thanks to the supportive environment provided by the shelter.

Read Also : FDA To Propose New Front-of-Package Nutrition Labels for US Food Products to Reduce Obesity

Expanding Horizons and Building Futures

Since its inception in 2020, LA Room & Board has grown significantly, now operating three locations across Los Angeles: Excelsior House, Opportunity House, and Dunamis House.

The nonprofit has expanded from a $500,000 budget to over $5.5 million annually, supported by a mix of public, private, and legacy donors.

The shelter's resources help hundreds of students, like Inasha Venhuda, a junior studying business at Cal State LA.

Before finding LA Room & Board, Venhuda was couch-surfing and struggling to afford housing. Her experience at the shelter has been transformative, enabling her to focus on her studies and achieve her first 4.0 GPA last semester.

Venhuda stated that, being in the hands of LA Room & Board, she does not need to worry about her next meal or having a roof above her head. She adds that the family environment here makes her feel like she finally has a home.
A 16-year-old American girl passed away after stumbling and falling more than 300 feet down an embankment during a sightseeing walk in Switzerland, authorities reported on Monday.

16-Year-Old American Girl Dies After Falling During Sightseeing Walk

First responders discovered the girl's body near the Trient River, below a popular walking path, according to a declaration from police in the Valais district.

According to police, the teenager, whose identity remains undisclosed, was with her best friend and the friend's family when she fell on Sunday morning. The friend's father became stuck on a rock wall while trying to help her but was saved unhurt, according to the police.

The emergency response involved two helicopter crews, two regional rescue teams, and emergency psychologists. No other wounded were reported.

The U.S. Embassy in Switzerland and Liechtenstein has not yet answered requests for data. The local prosecutor's office, in cooperation with Valais police, has initiated an inspection into the cause of the girl's fall.

The circumstances happened around 10:30 a.m. in the Gorges Mysterieuses a Tete Noire area, a well-known spot for international hikers near the French border, about 90 miles northwest of the Matterhorn.

The Swiss tourism agency described the Tete-Noire pathway, dating back to 1884, as featuring stone steps and footbridges descending about three-quarters of a mile to the gorge's bottom. The walk offers views of "idyllic waterfalls" and the Grotte aux Nymphes, a natural cathedral formed by giant rock slabs.

Despite being considered safe for visitors as young as six, the path is not wheelchair accessible or suitable for those with physical disabilities.

Valais has experienced dangerous conditions this spring. Police reported that in April, three skiers, including a 15-year-old American boy, were killed in an avalanche on the slopes of Riffelberg near the Matterhorn.

Ongoing Investigators Into the 16-Year-Old American Girl's Fall

Police and the prosecutor's office have initiated an inspection into her passing away. The group of American tourists began their hike along the trail in the Gorges Mysterieuses around 10:30 a.m. on Sunday.

First responders were summoned to the trail after the girl fell. Investigators are working to determine why she fell, but they believe she tripped. Two Air Glaciers helicopters, the Cantonal Valais Rescue Organization, the Muveran-Trient rescue team, and emergency psychologists responded to the accident.

The identities of the victim and the family she was hiking with have not been made public.

This incident follows the discovery of the body of Captain Sean Thomas, a missing Canadian soldier, who was presumed dead after getting caught in an avalanche in April.

Thomas, 30, was one of three people killed in a snow collapse near a popular ski resort in Zermatt, about 73 miles from Trient.

Thomas, an Infantry Officer with the Royal Highland Fusiliers of Canada, was on leave from a Middle Eastern operation. His body was discovered on May 10 by an off-duty Swiss police officer hiking in the area. Thomas' girlfriend, Nicole 'Nikki' Nagy, 25, along with two others, including a 15-year-old boy from Illinois, also perished in the avalanche.
I participated in a FAIR conference in Goteborg (Gothenburg), Sweden, several years ago, and well be doing another conference there this coming Saturday. The organizer for that previous event  which was extraordinarily well attended by members from Denmark, Norway, Finland, and even Germany, as well as from Sweden itself  was Louis Herrey, a member of the Goteborg Ward. He is also the organizer of the event that will take place on Saturday, though one never knows in advance whether it will be as well attended.

Brother Herrey is a coordinator for Seminaries and Institutes in the Church Educational System. Here is a twenty-minute interview with him (in English) on The Many Resources of CES.

Interestingly, Brother Herrey and his two older brothers, Per and Richard, performing under the name of The Herreys and representing Sweden, won the 1984 Eurovision Song Contest with a song called  brace yourself!  Diggi-Loo Diggi-Ley. Its an upbeat dance song, very much in the style of the 1980s. (I am a child of the 1960s, and from California, no less.) According to Wikipedia, Richard and Louis Herrey became the first teenage males ever to win in the Eurovision competition, and they remain the youngest-ever male winners, with Richard having been 19 years and 260 days old and Louis having been 17 years and 184 days of age.

The Swedish group ABBA had already won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1974, ten years earlier. They have a museum in Stockholm, and Im told that the golden shoes worn by The Herreys in the 1984 Eurovision performance  the shoes are important for the story told in Diggi-Loo Diggi-Ley  are on display there.

Here is a video recording of their winning 1984 Eurovision performance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySOCalwr6Yo (Louis is, I believe, the one in dark blue on the audiences left.)

They performed the song again  in London and, this time, in English  at the end of March 2015, in a program of Eurovisions Greatest Hits: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCV7L7Pwv70 Alas, though, you will notice that Louis has lost his hair.

And they still perform sometimes to this very day. Here they are about a month ago, singing their winning song forty years later to a large and very enthusiastic audience as the concluding act at the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7W8awd9ur5g.

Last night, I listened to their cover of Youve Lost that Loving Feeling  one of my very favorite old-time pop songs  and, although the Righteous Brothers will always own that melody, I thought that they did a very respectable job of it. I wanted to share it here but, for the life of me, I just havent been able to find it this morning. Quite the mystery.

I now share another set of photographs just sent to me a few hours ago by Jeff Bradshaw, who is in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, working on an Interpreter Foundation film project called Not by Bread Alone. Yesterday, he writes, among other things, we visited with an artist and a historian. This morning we leave Kananga for Kinshasa.

The question that occurs to me, quite honestly, as I look at the photos that Jeff sends and read what he has to say about them, is this: Am I worthy to be a member of the same church as Latter-day Saints such as these?

Posted from Salzburg, Austria
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James Swans words will be in blue, Bishop Dr. [???] James Whites in green, and Martin Luthers in purple.

***

My debate with anti-Catholics over Protestants and Luthers view of church offices (made farcical by their replies) goes back a long ways. In my 2007 book, The One-Minute Apologist, I made the statement:

A Protestant Might Further Object: . . . The Bible teaches that bishops, elders, and deacons are all synonymous terms for the same office: roughly that of a pastor today. It doesnt indicate that bishops are higher than these other offices. (p. 17)

The format of that book was vaguely like St. Thomas Aquinas Summa Theologica. It included hypothetical objections in every two-page section. Thats what this was. I wasnt maintaining that all Protestants held this view (of course they dont!), or even most. Bishop James White had a field day in one of his critiques of my book (dated 6-13-07):

Just who believes this, I wonder? I have never read any work by any Protestant theologian of any note who has ever made this argument. So, is Armstrong just ignorant of Protestant ecclesiology, or, has he run into some tiny sect someplace that has come up with some new wacky viewpoint? Given that he was once non-Catholic, it is hard to believe he could be so ignorant of the reality regarding the fact that bishop and elder refer to the same office and are used interchangeably in the New Testament, but that this office is clearly distinguished from that of the deacon.

I made one concession as a result in my first reply of 6-14-07:

This is a case of a poor choice of one word (minor point) in the midst of a perfectly valid overall argument (major point); . . . It is true that this was an unwise use of deacon. If I had left out that word, the argument, coming from the hypothetical Protestant, would have been virtually identical to Whites own ecclesiology, since we see above that he equates elder and bishop (and has done so before, notably in this quote): I am an elder in the church: hence, I am a bishop, overseer, pastor, of a local body of believers. (10 January 2001) In fact, this utterance is the reason why I have taken to calling White Bishop White. He said it; I am simply following his own protocol.

The real fun began in my second reply, entitled, James White Deacons-Elders-Bishops Controversy (6-16-24). The most humorous aspect of it was my discovery of a prominent Lutheran (C. F. W. Walther [1811-1887]: the first president of the Lutheran Church  Missouri Synod [LCMS] and its most influential theologian), who did indeed hold a view identical to my hypothetical one. He wrote in 1867:

. . . a Bishop set over the other ministers of the church was really nothing other than a presbyter (Elder), a pastor, who only for the sake of church order was set over the other ministers of the church and who had the additional authority given to him merely by human right. . . . since there is no distinction between such offices according to divine right, so likewise between them and a Lutheran Deacon, to whom the office of the Word is commended. For the call to preach Gods Word publicly is truly the essence of the preaching office. To preach is the highest office (function) in the church, alone on account of which all other functions are necessary. It is also the judge of all other offices. Therefore the office of Lutheran Deacon is no helping office as is, for example, the office of caring for alms, the office of Church Father or Lay Elder. Rather it is the one true office which is specially instituted and established by Christ Himself. . . . . . . A Deacon in the biblical sense is a man who only has a helping office to the ministry of the Word according to human arrangement. But a Deacon who is called to the preaching of the Word of God, as happens in the Lutheran Church, does not attend a helping office, but rather the highest office in Christendom. He is nothing else and nothing less than what the Scripture calls a pastor, Presbyter (elder), or Bishop. He has the same authority and rank of office and the same jurisdiction and the deacons in the biblical sense are also their servants. . . . in the Lutheran Church the deacons who are called for the preaching of the Word of God and for the Administration of the Sacraments are seen as entirely equal to the pastors . . . [my bolding and italics]

Therefore, a major figure in a major Protestant denomination held the view that I proposed as a hypothetical one in my book. James White called me ignorant and this position a wacky viewpoint. It turns out that this position in fact existed in some high Protestant circles (hence, no need to revise my book). Needless to say, Bishop White offered no reply. He has run from me since 1995 and our first debate by regular mail, so that was nothing new. He has ignored me since 2010, after having replied to me (mostly with mere mockery) scores of times from 1996 onwards.

Enter James Swan at this point. He wrote a reply two days later (6-18-07) on Dr. [???] Whites own blog, entitled, Deacons, Elders, Armstrong, andLuther. His particular (typical) goal was to criticize a supposedly inapplicable citation from Luther that I included in my second reply:

On this account I think it follows that we neither can nor ought to give the name priest to those who are in charge of Word and sacrament among the people. The reason they have been called priests is either because of the custom of heathen people or as a vestige of the Jewish nation. The result is greatly injurious to the church. According to the New Testament Scriptures better names would be ministers, deacons, bishops, stewards, presbyters (a name often used and indicating the older members). For thus Paul writes in I Cor. 4 [:1], This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. He does not say, as priests of Christ, because he knew that the name and office of priest belonged to all. Pauls frequent use of the word stewardship or household, ministry, minister, servant, one serving the gospel, etc., emphasizes that it is not the estate, or order, or any authority or dignity that he wants to uphold, but only the office and the function. The authority and the dignity of the priesthood resided in the community of believers. (Concerning the Ministry, 1523, in Luthers Works, Vol. 40: Church and Ministry II, edited by Conrad Bergendoff, Philadelphia: Muhlenberg Press, 1958, p. 35; translated by Conrad Bergendoff; my bolding and italics)

Catholic apologist Dave Armstrong has been attempting to justify his recent blunder in his new book, The One Minute Apologist. . . . If this were simply one of his blog entries or web pages, it wouldnt be that big of deal for him. He would simply change his blatant error (If you visit DAs blog, you know his entries can appear, disappear, or change hour to hour). Problem solved. Unfortunately for him, the error is in a published book. He will have to wait for his second edition to fix it. Thus, weve been subjected to long blog entries, as Dave tries to put forth anything possible to smooth over his error.

Right. Of course, like any thinker should,  and any honest one who can admit his mistakes , I made a concession, one day after Whites criticism-article. I revise materials when I have learned new things and/or changed my mind. I used one word in an unwise way. Guilty as charged! Swan, in his seething anti-Catholic contempt, caricatures this approach as my supposedly constantly changing my blog articles, hoping no one would notice (i.e., equivocating, being deceitful, and not admitting mistakes). He gave me no credit whatsoever for my concession. He would probably think it was insincere.

This is nothing new, coming from him. Hes treated me in this fashion for 22 years now. He didnt grapple with the argument that I actually made. His agenda is always simply to try to make a fool of me and prove that I am a dishonest, incompetent buffoon and miserable example of an apologist. Hes a one-note tune. And here, as always, he will fail in his nefarious goal. I didnt answer at the time because I thought I already had adequately answered in my second reply to White. But now I will, and my case will be all the stronger.

Well, before we thank Mr. Armstrong for such an invincible argument, perhaps we should make sure Luther holds what Armstrong says he does. If he doesnt, then certain conclusions follow as to the value of Daves research. Before we delve into the Luther quote Armstrong utilized, lets take a quick survey of Luthers writings.

Sometime between 1527 and 1528, Luther lectured on 1 Timothy. This Biblical book sets forth detailed information about elders and deacons. Hence, whatever Luther says here specifically has importance as to his view. When one reads through the lectures, it is not simply a passing comment from Luther on elders and deacons. Rather, one finds long discussions as to what these offices mean. Luther clearly distinguishes between the office of elder and deacon: . . .

If youve read my blog or any of my Luther papers, I have stated often that Dave Armstrong has trouble with Luther. The quote he uses once again proves he does not carefully consider his information before hitting publish on his blog. . . . Daves blog is often now you see it, now you dont. I have demonstrated once again, Dave Armstrong struggles with context. In this instance, he has Luthers Works Volume 40, so there is no excuse.

Swan cited several instances of Luther making distinctions between Church offices. They come from pages 283-301 of Luthers Lectures on the First Epistle to Timothy, from vol. 40 of Luthers Works. One would think  if one only read Swans side of things  that this settled the issue. But not so fast. Swans fundamental mistake was that he failed to consider that Luthers thought often developed, changed, contradicted itself, vacillated, or strongly emphasized certain things in specific situations. And that is the case here.

Many have noted the stark difference between Luthers writings before 1525 and the Peasants Revolt, and those afterwards. Before that horrible affair, he was a revolutionary, fire-breathing radical, and a sort of loose cannon (at least from the Catholic perspective). He made wild claims about himself and about received Catholic teaching and practice. After the experience of that war and internal dissensions of Protestantism and concerns about many things, he tempered his rhetoric quite a bit, and  as I have documented  even made some remarkably Catholic statements. See:

Martin Luthers Remarkably Pro-Tradition Strain of Thought [1-18-08]

The Catholic-Sounding Luther: 25 Examples [6-16-08]

Top Ten Remarkable Catholic Beliefs of Martin Luther [1-19-15]

In 2014 I even compiled an entire book of such statements from him: The Catholic Luther : An Ecumenical Collection of His Traditional Utterances, (see the Introduction).

I contend that that Luthers evolving views influenced his conception and understanding of the function of Church offices. Mark Ellingsen (b. 1949), a Lutheran pastor (ELCA) and scholar, wrote an article entitled, Luthers Concept of the Ministry: The Creative Tension (Word & World, 1981, 338-346):

Recent scholarship has generally agreed that two lines of thought about the ordained ministry coexist in tension in Luthers writings. One finds him speaking of the ordained ministry as derived from the priesthood of all believers; yet in other places he speaks of the office as divinely instituted. That such a tension is present is not surprising. Luthers theology is characterized by tensions on many doctrinal loci. . . . he spoke about every doctrine in a variety of ways, depending upon the particular context/concern he was addressing. (p. 339) The present issue, Luthers view of the ordained ministry, can function as a test case for further demonstrating Luthers pastoral approach to theology. We shall see that the two lines of thought in Luther about the ordained ministry are not peculiar to any particular period in his career. Rather both lines of thought are present throughout his career. (p. 340) Carried to its logical conclusion this view of the ministrys authority derived from below implies the model of minister as facilitator of the congregation  the non-directive kind of leadership style about which we have spoken. Yet one also finds the Reformer speaking of the office as divinely instituted, its authority derived from above. This line of thought distinguishes pastor and laity and implies that the pastor is in charge. We now need to identify the presence of these lines of thought in Luther . . . When most Lutherans reflect on Luthers view of the ordained ministry the notion of the universal priesthood usually comes to mind. The crucial text is 1 Peter 2:9,You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, Gods own people, that you may declare the wonderful deeds of him who called you out of darkness into marvelous light. Luther appeals to this text in several places. . . . All that the ordained ministry does, it does in the name of the universal priesthood on behalf of the Church. This theme appears frequently in Luther, particularly in his earliest writings. In his Treatise to the Christian Nobility of the German Nation (1520) he argues that ordination takes place only through the authority of the universal priesthood, not through the bishops authority to ordain. Likewise, in his 1523 treatise Concerning the Ministry, and in several other treatises [he lists three written in 1521 and 1523], this view of the ordained ministry appears. (p. 341) The second strand in Luthers view of the ordained ministry predominates later in his career. Instead of talking about the authority of the office as derived from the universal priesthood, Luther argues that the ministrys authority is given directly by God. It is instituted by Christ Himself [he cites two of Luthers treatises from 1528 and 1530]. This fact sets the minister apart from the universal priesthood. As such, Luther is quite clear at some points in distinguishing clergy from laity [he cites three works from 1529, 1530, and 1532]. His attributing sacramental status to ordination further indicates that the Reformer embraced this second view of the ministry. (p. 343) . . . the emergence of this second view of the ordained ministry as instituted by Christ is merely the product of a development in Luthers thought. Its dominance in the later stages of Luthers life seems to be related to the different pastoral concerns which dominated in this period. His new emphasis seems to be connected with the turmoil in Wittenberg (1521) which ensued as a result

of the Reformation, the Peasants Revolt (1524-1526), and the horrible condition of the local parishes which the Saxon Visitation (1527-1528) revealed. In short, Luther articulated his view of the ministry as divinely instituted in situations when it became apparent that the common life of the church was not proceeding smoothly. The idea of the universal priesthood carried to extremes was not maintaining the office of ministry or keeping the churchs order. In response Luther began to speak of the ministrys authority as an office distinct from the universal priesthood. (p. 344)

Ellingsens thesis (which was one aspect of the topic of his dissertation) corresponds well with my understanding expressed above, and makes perfect sense of the difference between what I cited from Luther and what Swan cited. Swan simply contended  as he always droningly and boorishly does in his attacks against my work  that I distorted Luthers meaning, and that he got it right. The truth of the matter is far more nuanced and complex, and was expressed, I think, correctly by Dr. Ellingsen.

Early Luther (before 1525) had a much more fluid and revolutionary ecclesiology. After 1525 he became more traditional. So, sure enough, my citation was from the early period (1523) and Swans were from the later more conservative period (1527-1528). This explains the difference. It wasnt my alleged distortions and ignorance. It was Luthers complexity and changes according to situation and in reaction to horrible personal experiences.

Note that Ellingsen observed that Luther didnt even give sacramental status to ordination until after 1528. He adopted a more traditional view. His best friend and successor Philip Melanchthon eventually became quite distraught regarding Luthers earlier anti-bishop views. He longed, after 1530, for the return of the bishops that he and Luther had replaced with (not particularly virtuous) German princes.

I had linked to this article, by the way, already in my second reply to Bishop Dr. [???] James White on the subject (6-16-07). So Swan was already effectively refuted two days before he even wrote his attack-piece. Ive simply strengthened that argument all the more in this reply (keep reading).

Lowell C. Greens article, Change in Luthers Doctrine of the Ministry (The Lutheran Quarterly 18 [1966] ) offers further corroboration of Ellingsens thesis:

[I]f we study Luthers writings on the ministry and the priesthood of believers from 1520-25, isolated from his thought in other periods, we can find a strong case . . . that in the early years of the Reformation Luther apparently established the power of the congregation at the expense of the office of the ministry. The congregation appeared to have won, and the ministerial office seemed doomed to extinction in the reformation church. But a reversal set in during the second half of the 1520s, and the office of the ministry was preserved to the developing Lutheran Church. It is unfortunate that some scholars have limited their findings to a certain period in Luthers career. They thereby subject themselves to the danger of rejecting in advance the possibility that Luther might have altered his position through the benefit of added experience. But this is, in fact, what took place. Prior to the Leipzig Debate of 1519, there is little indication that Luthers view of the ministry or priesthood differed radically from that of the medieval church. In the reform treatises of 1520, however, Luther made tremendous changes. The doctrine of the general priesthood of believers emerged in protest to the outward, clerical priesthood of the papal system. The layman needed no priestly intermediary, Luther pointed out on the basis of I Peter 2:9, but through the atonement of Christ had become his own priest before the mercy seat of God. But from here on, the relation of the priesthood of believers and the office of the ministry became a problem. During the next five years Luther tended to subordinate the ministry to the priesthood. Then a change set in. Various causes for the transition might be cited. The lingering consequences of the Wittenberg anarchy of 1521-22, the peasants revolt, the emergence of the enthusiasts and fanatics, and the breakdown of the church that was revealed in the Saxon Visitation, must all have left their mark on Luthers doctrine of the ministry. This becomes most noticeable after the so-called Large Catechism began to take shape, as early as 1528. The ministry was given greater authority . . . in studying Luthers position we must be exact and clear in our thinking, and avoid constructing theories based solely on his formative writings from 1520-25.

When some folks  who cant find anything constructive to do  set out to try to belittle, mock, and trash various of my writings and refuse to interact with them in a true dialogical fashion, it never ends well (at least in cases where I catch wind of it and have enough God-granted patience to respond).

And so, as always, it didnt end well once again for the inimitable James Swan. Hell ignore this (as he has all my refutations of his incessant logic- and fact-challenged nonsense for about 14 years now). But he cant and wont refute it. No skin off of my back. If he doesnt have the courage of his convictions, he doesnt. Only he can change that, with the aid of the Holy Spirit. For my part, Im here to educate and offer food for thought, in the process of defending my expressed opinion over against unwarranted criticism. Thanks for reading!

*
Its not just one of the coolest gaming monitors available right now. The Samsung Odyssey G8 is on sale for $850, down from its regular $1,200 with this opportunity to save $350. (Almost its best-ever price!)

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The Samsung Odyssey G8 monitor has an OLED panel, an aspect ratio of 21:9, a UWQHD resolution of 34401440, and an expansive field of vision, which is ideal for immersing yourself in your gaming worlds.

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Adobe, the maker of Photoshop, Premiere, and other industry-standard tools in the Creative Suite package, has its foot in its mouth. Last week an update to the Creative Cloud terms of service set off alarms across the web as users interpreted the new wording to mean that the company was using their cloud storage files to train its generative AI systems. Not true, says Adobe in a non-apology post.

According to the message from Creative Cloud design leader Scott Belsky and legal, security, and policy lead Dana Rao, its all been a big misunderstanding. The language that customers had noticed, which said that the companys automated systems can access, view, or listen to your Content, sure seems like the kind of thing that enables generative AI systems to be trained. The same kind of AI systems that Adobe has been pushing in Creative Suite for the better part of a year.

The blog makes a few things clear. One, customers own the files and content uploaded to Creative Cloud and edited with Adobes tools. Two, generative AI isnt trained on it. Three, Adobe never scans local files saved on your computer, only the files that are uploaded to Creative Cloud.

Why, and for what purpose, is Adobe scanning the files saved in cloud storage? Thats the point of contention here. According to Belsky and Rao, the reason its using automated scanning systems is to make sure that the files do not contain child sexual abuse material. In less legalistic terms, Adobe is using auto-scanning tools to make sure it isnt hosting child porn. If the system flags an image, video, or other file, it triggers a manual review by a human. Adobe also reserves the right to view user content to otherwise comply with the law, i.e. it gets served a warrant to access private content.

The explanation is an understandable one  no one wants to be associated with child porn even as a third-party platform. The post says that Adobe will update its TOS to clarify on June 18th, a week from today.

That being said, this is a classic non-apology. Despite saying things like we recognize that trust will be earned, at no point does the message express regret, remorse, or error. The writers themselves acknowledge that theyre In a world where customers are anxious about how their data is used, and how generative AI models are trained, which of course includes Adobes own Firefly AI system (also unmentioned).

I think a company thats so intrinsically invested in the creative field, and also working in the contentious world of generative AI, could have seen this one coming.
The Italia Trasporto Aereo (ITA) Airways has successfully launched commercial flight operations to Kotoka International Airport (KIA).



The maiden flight touched down at approximately 19:39 hours to a water cannon salute by the Rescue and firefighting team of the Ghana Airports Company Limited.



In her welcome address, the Managing Director of Ghana Airports Company Limited, Mrs Yvonne Nana Afriyie Opare, congratulated the ITA team on the launch.



The start of flight operations on the Rome/Accra/Rome route, according to her, is a strong expression of confidence in Ghana's aviation sector and greatly strengthens efforts to establish Ghana as a preferred aviation centre and a pioneer in airport operations in West Africa.



The GACL Managing Director also noted that the introduction of the direct flight route signified a new era of convenience and efficiency for travellers, both for business and leisure purposes, offering passengers more options and seamless connectivity between these two vibrant cities.



Mrs Opare spoke about the recent commissioning of Tamale International Airport and Prempeh I International Airport in Kumasi and encouraged interested airlines to explore the opportunities in those markets and tap into all their possibilities.



She gave assurance that as the Operator and Manager of all airports in Ghana, Ghana Airports Company Limited is committed to providing unwavering support to ensure ITA Airways consistently achieves high on-time departure and arrival performance.



Our expectation is that ITA Airways will go the extra mile to deliver exceptional customer service, ensuring a seamless travel experience for passengers, she said.



Mrs Yvonne Opare urged stakeholders to continue to support the GACL as it makes giant strides towards achieving its vision, which aligns with the broader government vision for the aviation industry.



Other speakers at the event included the Vice President of Sales, Pierfrancesco Carino, Ghanas Ambassador to Italy, H.E. Merena Botsio Benyah, Ambassador of Italy to Ghana and Togo, H.E. Daniela dOrlandi, and Reverend Stephen Wilfred Arthur, Director of Economic Regulations and Business Development at the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority.



ITA Airways will operate four weekly flights on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays from Italy to Accra, making it the 24th international airline to operate at Kotoka International Airport.

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The African Regent Hotel hosted a momentous event this past Saturday, the launch of "Entrepreneurial Success," a comprehensive new book by Mrs Mary Anane Awuku.



The book, celebrated for its in-depth exploration of entrepreneurship within the Ghanaian context, promises to be an essential resource for aspiring entrepreneurs, policymakers, educators, and business enthusiasts.



Mrs Mary Anane Awuku, the wife of Mr Sammy Awuku, Director General of the National Lottery Authority, has leveraged her extensive experience and insights to author this seminal work. "Entrepreneurial Success" delves into the core competencies, motivations, challenges, and opportunities faced by Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Ghana. The book launch was graced by a distinguished audience, including industry leaders, government officials, and eminent personalities from various sectors.



Government's Commitment to SMEs



The Special Guest of Honor, Hon. Abena Osei Asare, emphasized the pivotal role of SMEs in Ghana's economic framework. "SMEs constitute over 90% of existing companies, account for 85% of manufacturing jobs, and contribute 70% to our national GDP," she stated. Recognizing their significance, the government is set to launch the SME Opportunities and Growth Fund in July. This initiative aims to assist SMEs in gaining a stronger foothold and to transition select SMEs into larger enterprises, thereby spurring economic growth and job creation. "This group, informed by practical engagements with targeted and existing SMEs in Ghana, will be a guiding light in our path to understanding the dynamism of entrepreneurs and enterprises," Hon. Osei Asare added.



Insightful Review and Endorsements



A noted commentator meticulously reviewed the book and praised its local relevance and practical approach. The reviewer highlighted the book's structure, engaging writing style, and comprehensive entrepreneurial competencies and motivations coverage. "Each chapter is filled with practical examples and case studies from the Ghanaian context, offering actionable insights for entrepreneurs," the reviewer remarked.



Mr. Alex Dadey, Chairman of the Occasion, commended Mrs. Awuku for her dedication to entrepreneurship and wealth creation. Reflecting on his own journey, Mr. Dadey noted the importance of apprenticeship and continuous learning. "Mary has done excellently well. She has followed a path of acquiring skills and knowledge before branching out on her own. Wealth creation should be coupled with philanthropy to solve societal problems, such as poverty eradication," he stated. He also stressed the need for more documentation of entrepreneurial journeys to serve as a guide for future generations.



Content and Structure of "Entrepreneurial Success"



"Entrepreneurial Success" is organized into six well-defined chapters, each addressing critical aspects of entrepreneurship:



Competences for Entrepreneurial Success



This chapter discusses the skills and attributes necessary for entrepreneurial success, highlighting the importance of integrating these competencies into entrepreneurial performance.



Personal Competences



Focused on the individual, this chapter explores seven micro-level competencies that drive entrepreneurial success, providing practical examples and applications.



Leadership, Relational, and Organizational Competencies



This section examines the skills required to lead teams and manage organizational dynamics effectively, crucial for sustaining a successful business.



Motivations for Entrepreneurial Endeavors



This chapter delves into what drives individuals to pursue entrepreneurship, emphasizing proactive rather than reactive motivations.



Challenges Facing Entrepreneurs in Ghana



The author identifies unique Ghanaian challenges that affect SMEs, offering insights into overcoming these hurdles.



Opportunities for Entrepreneurial Growth



Concluding on a positive note, this chapter highlights the growth prospects and avenues available for Ghana

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Governments Spokesperson on Governance and Security, Mr. Palgrave Boakye-Danquah, has said that officials of the Ghana Police Service have the liberty to reopen investigations into the conduct of Mavis Hawa Koomson, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development and Member of Parliament for Awutu Senya East constituency, when she openly fired warning shots at a registration centre in 2020.



According to Palgrave, the public is encouraged to initiate processes for investigations of this nature to commence if they notice that nothing has been done about the instance of politicians and individuals flaunting guns in public.



Phillis Naa Koryoo Okunor, the Parliamentary Candidate for Awutu Senya East on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) was arrested and detained on Friday, June 7 by the Ghana Police Service.



The police, did not give any reasons for her arrest but all indications pointed to the fact that her arrest was in connection to the gun that was found in her car on Sunday, June 2, in Kasoa, where pockets of violence were recorded during the Vote Transfer exercise.



The NDC parliamentary candidate was granted bail on Saturday, April 8 after party supporters besieged the Cantonment Police Station in Accra.



Reacting to the incidence leading to the arrest of the NDC parliamentary candidate, Mr. Boakye Danquah stated that crime has no colour and no matter the apparent delay, the police can still invite the NPP MP, who was also in possession of a gun, flaunting it in public.



Mr. Palgrave made this revelations on Mondays edition of TV3s Big Issue.



He bemoaned how firearms are displayed whether registered or not, especially as Ghanaians approach the crucial December 7 general elections.



Speaking further, he maintained that the NDC Parliamentary Candidate, Ms Naa Koryoo, could have asked for police protection, which is within her rights, instead of securing firearms to defend herself, adding that, the police and the small arms office must withdraw their licenses from irresponsible persons to own guns legally.



He said, "The issue is that the Parliamentary Candidate of the NDC was found in possession of some pump action guns, four rounds pump action guns. I think that should be a concern for every Ghanaian and thats a concern for me even as a security expert that no one in this country whether licensed or even not licensed, should want to be carrying guns around."



Anyone who is a proper gun-lover, you never even show your gun, he said.



He added, If you have been under attack four times, you report to the Ghana Police Service and ask the Ghana Police Service to give you protection, you can request for that, he explained in response to concerns that Ms Naa Koryoo secured those guns legally due to alleged attacks from thugs associated with the incumbent MP, Hawa Koomson.



According to him, every person who violates the laws of Ghana must face the full rigours of the law, positing that no one is above the law.



He said, no one in this country is above the law. You cant take the laws into your hands, even if you have a licensed gun, you cant parade the licensed gun on the streets of Ghana.



In referring to Hawa Koomsons conduct in public in 2020, Mr. Palgrave Boakye Danquah said, We can go into the substance of the issue and invite her. Its not too late, Its never too late. 



It is recalled that, Hon. Mavis Hawa Koomson, Member of Parliament for Awutu Senya East on July 20, 2020, admitted to firing shots at a voter registration centre in her constituency to protect herself.







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The Ashanti Regional House of Chiefs has acknowledged the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party(NPP), Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia for being the first dignitary and non-member of Asanteman to visit the Regional House of Chiefs.



Daasebre Osei Bonsu II who welcomed Dr Bawumia and his campaign team on behalf of the Asantehene Otumfour Osei Tutu said the Ashanti Regional House of Chiefs is overwhelmed with Bawumia's posture.



You are the first dignitary and non-member of Asanteman to visit the Ashanti Regional House of Chiefs and to have our Queen mothers seated before 9 AM, that shows how we hold you in high esteem and we are delighted to have you Daasebre Osei Bonsu II added.



The flagbearer of NPP, as part of his bid to lead the country, has commenced a tour dubbed Bold Solutions for the Future where he has covered 15 Regions so far.



From today, June 10, 2024, Dr Bawumia has started a 3-day campaign tour in the Ashanti region



On his first day, he is expected to meet with the clergy, and Muslim leaders in the afternoon at the Kumasi Central Mosque. Dr Bawumia will subsequently meet traders at the Kumasi Central Market.



The NPP flagbearer will conclude the first day of his campaign activities at the True Vine Hotel with meetings with various professional bodies, including the Ghana Medical Association, Ghana Bar Association, Ghana Journalists Association, University Teachers Association of Ghana, Ghana National Association of Teachers, National Association of Graduate Teachers and Coalition of Concerned Teachers.



The rest are the Ghana Institute of Architects, Ghana Institute of Engineers, Ghana Institute of Surveyors, Ghana Association of Society of Medical Physics, Nurses and Midwifery Association, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ghana, and the Ghana Institute of Planning, among others.





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Its an amazing sight to behold as Assin Central Member of Parliament and the main contender in the New Patriotic Partys presidential election, Kennedy Agyapong joins the flagbearer of the party, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia on his campaign tour in the Ashanti Region.



The duo were spotted in a bus conveying the Vice President and his entourage as they headed to various places to campaign for the NPP and Dr. Bawumia ahead of the December 7 polls.



Some people have described this unity as the best to catapult the ruling party to the top spot in the elections as the business mogul and a very influential leader to many Ghanaians, Kennedy Agyapong, by joining this campaign tour is an open declaration of his support for Dr. Bawumia.



Many Ghanaians are therefore overjoyed that the two leaders are on the same campaign train, sending strong signals about the personality and character of the Vice President that he (Dr. Bawumia) is indeed a unifier and the right leader to lead Ghana to the next level of development and transformation through his digital initiatives and other relieving policies.



Watch video below:





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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









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Police are looking for a group of men on dirt bikes who shot and killed a man in Philadelphia on Monday.

The incident happened at about 8 p.m. at the corner of Potter and Huntingdon streets in the citys Kensington neighborhood, according to 6ABC and NBC10.

Six people could be seen on surveillance video riding three different bikes, news reports said.

The 55-year-old man, who police have not identified, suffered gunshot wounds to his neck, chest and leg. He was taken to a hospital where he died due to his injuries.

Philadelphia Chief Inspector Scott Small told news outlets that there were at least 40 shots fired by two or more people with semi-automatic guns.

After the shooting, all six suspects got back on their bikes and rode away.

The victim was in a group of eight other people but no one else was injured.

Anyone with information is asked to call 215-686-8477.
A historic school funding bill that won passage in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives calls for increasing annual state support to districts by $5.1 billion over the next seven years.

The measure, which passed on a 107-94 bipartisan vote, also provides for nearly $1 billion in tax relief for communities with high tax burdens and includes sweeping changes for cyber charter schools.
By Howard Yune, Napa Valley Register, Calif. (TNS)

Warren Winiarski, whose Stags Leap Wine Cellars played a key role in the 1976 Judgment of Paris that established worldwide fame for Napa Valley wines, died on Friday at age 95.

Stags Leap, the Napa Valley winery that Winiarski co-founded and led for more than 35 years, confirmed his death Sunday evening.

Warrens passion for wine and dedication to quality were truly inspiring, the winery said on Facebook. He was an early pioneer in the Napa Valley wine industry and a mentor and friend to many. He left an indelible mark on the wine industry and our hearts.

Numerous tributes to Winiarski  not only to his winemaking, but also his interests in protecting farmland and the environment  quickly appeared on social media.

His influence extends far beyond the Stags Leap District, having played a pivotal role in shaping Napa Valleys rise to international acclaim, the Stags Leap District Winegrowers wrote Monday on Facebook. We will forever cherish his passion, perseverance for excellence, and the indelible mark he left on our hearts, in addition to the wine industry.

We lost a great man, an incredible environmental advocate, and a Napa Valley icon, the Land Trust of Napa County wrote online. ... He truly made a difference in his lifetime. We were so fortunate to know him, to call him a friend, and to benefit from his wisdom and generosity.

After buying a former prune orchard in 1970, Winiarski replanted the 50-acre property with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot grapevines. Six years later, in May 1976, his Stags Leap winery entered a 1973 Cabernet into the Paris Tasting, a contest that pitted a range of reds and whites from then-upstart California vintners against wines from some of the top French producers, including makers of world-famous Bordeaux wines.

A panel of French judges compared six California Cabernets with four French Bordeaux, and six California chardonnays against four white Burgundies.

Tasters awarded first prizes to the Stags Leap Cabernet, Cask 23, as well as to a 1973 Chardonnay from Calistoga-based Chateau Montelena crafted by another Napa winemaking pioneer, Miljenko (Mike) Grgich. (The Croatian-born Grgich, who went on to co-found the Grgich Hills winery of St. Helena, died in December at age 100.)

The Judgment of Paris was the creation of Steven Spurrier, a British wine merchant who used the contest to advertise his Paris wine shop and school ahead of the U.S. bicentennial in 1976. The victories of American wines shocked most of the people involved, including the judges and Spurrier himself, according to George M. Taber, a Time magazine correspondent who was the only journalist to cover the tasting.

He had his businesses in Paris. He wasnt going to threaten them, Taber told the Napa Valley Register in 2005. He really thought the French would win. It backfired.

That California wines won respect from French judges on French soil was crucial to the rise of the Napa Valleys reputation, Taber added. The tasting wouldnt have been accepted if it was in New York, he said.

Nevertheless, the importance of the victory did not immediately sink in, Winiarski admitted more than three decades later. He was in Chicago  where he had been a college professor before starting his winemaking career  when his wife Barbara called him with news of the Paris judges verdict.

She said, Well, we won, (and) I said, Thats nice, he said at a 2010 forum about the Paris Tasting at the Napa Valley Museum in Yountville, remembering he was unaware the Stags Leap Cabernet had outclassed three top-ranked Bordeaux wines. Even though it was nice to win a tasting, (at the time) the significance of that tasting was not available to me.

However, the contest, publicized by a Time magazine story, eventually became immortalized as the Judgment of Paris and helped launch the ascent of the Napa Valley as one of the anchors of the modern fine-wine industry. The valleys wineries now number in the hundreds, while other nations  from Australia to Spain to Italyto Chile  have become renowned wine producers in their own right.

The Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. received a bottle of the 1973 Stags Leap Cabernet and Chateau Montelena Chardonnay for its collection in 1996, two decades after the Paris tasting.

The grandson of Polish immigrants, Winiarski had left behind a University of Chicago professorship in 1964 to move to a Napa Valley that was only just beginning to re-establish itself as a wine-producing region after the battering the industry endured from Prohibition and its aftermath. The Robert Mondavi Winery opened in Oakville only in 1966 and barely a dozen winemakers were then operating in Napa County, where livestock and nuts generated more annual revenue than grapes as late as the mid-1970s.

The former academic began his new career apprenticing for Lee Stewart at Souverain Cellars, poring over books about winemaking after days at the winery, according to Winiarskis website. He planted his first Cabernet grapes in 1965 on a three-acre Howell Mountain plot, then became the Robert Mondavi Winerys first winemaker in 1966, serving there for two years.

In a 2017 interview with the Register, Winiarski described the responsibility he felt toward rebuilding  and amplifying  his adopted homes winemaking tradition.

It gradually dawned on me that that has to be brought back and restored, he said. That America should be a wine-drinking country.

As Stags Leap wines gained fame along with the wine country, Winarski worked to stay true to a classic Napa style of winemaking based on structure and balance, rather than the increasingly powerful, oaky and higher-alcohol Cabernets that steadily gained popularity, according to the wine writer Dan Berger, a Register columnist.

As Cabernet, in particular, got bigger and richer and more opulent, Warren expressed to me several times that he was bothered by that direction, Berger, who knew the winemaker for 50 years, said Monday. ... He told me that because of his commitment to a house style, all of his wines aimed to be what the 1973 (Paris Tasting) wine was  it was always about structure and balance. It was never about ostentation.

Winiarski sold Stags Leap in 2007, to a joint venture of Chateau Ste. Michelle Wine Estates of Washington state and the Italy-based Marchese Piero Antinori.

During and after the rise of Stags Leap, Winarski supported causes aimed at protecting Napa Countys wine country. He was a vocal supporter of the countys 1968 creation of the Agricultural Preserve, which has strictly curbed suburban-style development on most of the valley floor outside of cities and kept it largely devoted to vineyards.

Nearly half a century after the Ag Preserves formation, Winiarski agreed it had kept the suburbs out of wine country  but he cautioned against allowing tourism to overwhelm winemaking.

As the valley fills up with people who are not anchored in agriculture and vineyards, that might change, he said in 2017.

In his final years, Winarski devoted much of his effort to helping winemakers better prepare for the effects of climate change  a mission that gained urgency after the 2017 wildfires that scorched 168 square miles of Napa and Sonoma counties. (Winiarski lost a house, cottage and barn at his Arcadia Vineyards to the Atlas Fire, one of four fires to ravage the North Bay that October.)

Winarski donated $450,000 in 2021 to UC Davis to research an update to the Amerine-Winkler Index. The index was created in the 1940s to classify grape-growing areas based on how much heat different regions receive from the sun  with more warm days generally preferred to nurture late-maturing red-wine grapes and fewer warm days suitable for early-ripening white-wine varieties  but Winiarski argued that changing climate patterns required changing growers yardsticks as well.

Its time to reassess how much climate change is going to affect grapegrowing, he said. We have to develop the method to better discern what is relevant in climate change and what is not.

The passing of Winiarski and Grgich, the Paris tasting winners, within six months of each other left Berger reflecting on how central they and others were to Napasprominence today.

What these people established was the beginning of a tradition that helped launch the Napa Valley as Americas wine country, he said. ... All these people shared their knowledge; they didnt compete as much as they found themselves to be brethren. They created ideas and systems that made Napa an established place to make great wine.

Napa established the prototype for what a great winemaking region must have.

Complete information on survivors was not immediately available. Winiarskis wife Barbara Dvorak Winiarski, who co-founded Stags Leap and became an artist and philanthropist, died in October 2021 at age 88. The couple had two daughters, a son and several grandchildren.

You can reach Howard Yune at 530-763-2266 or hyune@napanews.com.

(c)2024 Napa Valley Register, Calif.

Visit Napa Valley Register, Calif. at www.napavalleyregister.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Heres a hairy fact that no one talks about.

Going hairless on your arms, legs and pubic area is perfectly fine, but your nose hair is where you should draw the line, as those pesky little hairs hidden inside your nostrils should go untouched.

The nose is a delicate area with numerous blood vessels and mucous membranes, Dr. Don J. Beasley, an Idaho-based board-certified otolaryngologist (also known as an ear, nose and throat specialist), told BuzzFeed.

Plucking or waxing out your nose hairs, especially if its done improperly or without the proper hygiene practices in place, could increase the risk of infection, which will give way to complications such as folliculitis or nasal cellulitis.

You might view body hair as quite a nuisance, but theres a reason your nose comes with those small hairs.

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, Dr. Michael Jacobs, a New York-based board-certified dermatologist and associate professor of dermatology at Weill Cornell Medical College, said to BuzzFeed.

The nose hairs also pose as a physical barrier, which prevents harmful allergens from entering the nasal passages and causing irritation or harm to the respiratory system.

Another protective role the nose hairs take on is one many might not expect  it alerts us to potential dangers.

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, Jacobs explained to the media outlet.

Jacobs also mentioned that nose hairs maintain high moisture levels in the nasal passages.

Nose hairs trap moisture from exhaled air, preventing the nasal passages from becoming too dry, Beasley said to the media outlet. This moisture helps to humidify the air we breathe, making it more comfortable for our respiratory system.

When it comes to waxing your nose hairs and completely removing the hair, youre removing the important filtration system thats designed to keep you healthy and ward off infections such as nasal vestibulitis and nasal abscess, according to 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 to Buzzfeed.

Considering all the risk factors that come with waxing nose hairs  such as the side effects, the temporary pain, ingrown hairs, or partial nose hair waxing that comes with the risk of burning  Jacobs warns against doing it at all.

Plucking and tweezing are also bad.

The method can cause buildup of the nasal abscesses. Aaronson recalled having to perform incision and drainage of nasal abscesses due to plucking nose hairs.

I would not recommend this method of hair removal for the nose, she said to the media outlet.

If you think your nose hairs are out of control and growing out of your nostrils, feel free to carefully trim the hairs that are sitting underneath the nostril with a clean pair of eyebrow scissors or angled scissors with rounded tips.

For a deeper cut inside the nose, opt for an electric trimmer, which is safe and easy to use as well.
By Alex Mann, The Baltimore Sun (TNS)

A Baltimore prosecutor was baffled when a report by state psychiatrists about the sanity of a mother who killed her two young children in 2021 seemingly dismissed the womans bizarre behavior leading up to the kids deaths.

The forensic doctors with the Maryland Department of Health believed Jameria Hall left a burner on to set fire to her apartment to conceal evidence of her childrens deaths, saying that suggested she knew killing them was wrong and thus was sane at the time, prosecutor Tracy Varda said in court.

But the doctors conclusion glossed over a brush found in a pan on the stove, Varda said. Hall told investigators she cut off the childrens hair because she thought it controlled them and placed hair in the pan along with a brush to break the spell she believed relatives had cast on her kids.

That was one of what Varda described as several questionable interpretations by state doctors of evidence in the gruesome August 2021 killings that led the prosecutor to hire an expert to evaluate the state psychiatrists work and ultimately support the defenses position: Hall was suffering from a mental disorder at the time and should be found not criminally responsible by reason of insanity.

Hall, 31, pleaded guilty to two counts each of first-degree murder and child abuse resulting in the deaths of 6-year-old DaNeria Thomas and 8-year-old Davin Thomas. A judge at the same April hearing found Hall not criminally responsible, ordering her to be committed indefinitely to the health department.

Retired Judge Gale E. Rasin, who presides over Baltimore Circuit Courts Mental Health Court program, said Hall suffered from schizoaffective disorder, depressive type  a thought, delusional and mood condition  and found she lacked the substantial capacity to appreciate the criminality of her conduct and  conform her conduct to the requirements of law.

People committed to the health department for crimes of violence go to the Clifton T. Perkins Hospital Center in Jessup, the states maximum security psychiatric facility. Eventually, doctors could recommend Hall for conditional release because of successful treatment, but that decision would fall to a judge and prosecutors would have an opportunity to weigh in.

Nobody today can tell you when, if ever, there will be a recommendation for you to be conditionally released, Rasin told Hall, before asking whether she understood. Yes, Hall responded.

Almost three years ago, homicide detectives were summoned to the grisly crime scene in Southwest Baltimore.

A maintenance worker asked to investigate a foul smell entered an apartment Aug. 24, 2021, and found the decomposing bodies of two children, according to charging documents. Davin was found in a sleeping bag, with a knife still stuck in his chest and a black trash bag over his head. DaNeria was found in the bathtub with an article of clothing wrapped around her neck.

Neighbors recalled hearing children screaming Mommy, no! about five days before their bodies were found.

Police announced charges against Hall less than a day later. Detectives wrote in charging documents that she confessed in an interview at the homicide unit.

In the following days, warning signs of a woman struggling with mental illness emerged.
By Dan Belson, Baltimore Sun (TNS)

The full federal channel into the Port of Baltimore is now open, the Army Corps of Engineers Baltimore District said Monday evening.

The reopening was uncertain for most of Monday if the much-awaited reopening of the federal channel, which has been either shut down or supporting limited vessel traffic since the Key Bridge fell more than two months ago, would come on time.

Army Corps of Engineers spokesperson Cynthia Mitchell said early Monday afternoon that the agency was still awaiting final results from underwater surveys looking for wreckage at the bottom of the Patapsco River that could get in the way of vessel traffic.

The districts commander, Estee Pinchasin, said in a statement posted on the agencys social media accounts over the weekend that crews would sweep the area with sonar, LIDAR and magnetometer to investigate any high spots, ensuring theres no hazard to navigation.

In the statement, which was also sent in a Monday morning news release from Key Bridge Response Unified Command, Pinchasin said the corps remained confident that the channel would be fully restored in the next few days. She described the surveys as the same detailed process used with temporary channels as well as the 400-foot-wide limited-access channel currently used for large vessels.

Key Bridge Response Unified Command released a timeline just over a week after the March 26 collapse eyeing to clear enough wreckage to reopen the federal channel by late May. After successfully refloating the Dali, the ship that hit a support column and caused the bridge to collapse over top of it, that target was reset to Monday at the latest.

The limited-access channel currently open for 24/7 commercial vessel traffic into the port is deep enough to support most cargo vessels, though not at the normal rate seen before the bridge collapsed over top of the main shipping artery.

Crews lifted the final large piece of truss and concrete from the Patapsco River last Tuesday but continued to pull out more wreckage from the mud line throughout the week. The weather, which has previously caused delays in response efforts, became aggressive midweek, with storms throughout the area, including multiple tornadoes.

After skies cleared, crews lifted a 90-ton piece of residual wreckage from the federal channel Friday using the Chesapeake 1000 crane and a hydraulic salvage grab.

Reopening the federal channel has been one of the response crews top priorities since the collapse in March, which also killed six construction workers who were repairing potholes on the section of Interstate 695 when it tumbled into the river.

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The tens of thousands of tons of steel and roadway that fell into the Fort McHenry Channel caused an unprecedented blow to the port, which was effectively closed to vessel traffic in the immediate aftermath of the collapse. Multiple temporary channels opened in the following weeks to allow smaller watercraft to pass through the wreckage, though the largest cargo ships had to wait longer. Some in the logistics industry said they dont expect traffic to rebound to normal until next month, even if the full channel opens on time.

State and federal agencies have already begun working on the next big step of response efforts  building a new bridge.

The Maryland Transportation Authority has started seeking project proposals for a replacement bridge, which is expected to cost up to $1.9 million and take until fall 2028. President Joe Biden has vowed for the federal government to cover that cost in its entirety, though legislation to ensure its 100% funded has not yet been passed.

2024 Baltimore Sun. Visit baltimoresun.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
By Elaine Woo, the Los Angeles Times (TNS)

LOS ANGELES  James M. Lawson Jr., a Methodist minister who became the teacher of the civil rights movement, training hundreds of youthful protesters in nonviolent tactics that made the Nashville lunch counter sit-ins a model for fighting racial inequality in the 1960s, has died. He was 95.

Lawson, who for decades worked as a pastor, labor movement organizer and university professor, died Sunday of cardiac arrest en route to a Los Angeles hospital, his son J. Morris Lawson III told The Washington Post. He was 95.

Recruited by the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., Lawson organized and led weekly workshops on nonviolent action in Nashville and other hot spots of the movement. The workshops trained many future leaders of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, including the late Rep. John Lewis.

I truly felt ... that he was God-sent, Lewis once wrote of Lawson. There was something of a mystic about him, something holy, so gathered, about his manner. ... The man was a born teacher, in the truest sense of the word.

FILE - The Rev. James Lawson Jr. speaks in Murfreesboro, Tenn., Sept. 17, 2015. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, File)AP

Called the leading nonviolence theorist by King, Lawson had studied Gandhis philosophy in India before joining the struggle in the South. He led seminars throughout the region and became a roving troubleshooter for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.

In 1968, he invited King to speak to striking sanitation workers in Memphis, where the charismatic preacher, who had anticipated his own death, was assassinated.

Lawson said he had no regrets about the fateful invitation he extended to King to address striking sanitation workers in Memphis in 1968. King was assassinated there a day after giving his famous Mountaintop speech, in which he spoke of his dream of equality and added, I may not get there with you.

Martin expected his death, Lawson told the L.A. Times in 2004. I dont know if he specifically expected it on that day, but he had known since Montgomery that he could be shot down ... any time.

Lawson worked with various civil rights groups in the South until 1974, when he moved to L.A. to become pastor of Holman United Methodist Church. He led the church for 25 years. He retired in 1999 but remained an activist for peace and social justice.

James M. Lawson Jr., the son of a proud Black preacher, did not always practice nonviolence. As a young boy in Ohio in the 1930s, he smacked a white child for shouting a racial slur at him.

Luckily for Lawson, there were no repercussions  until he got home. Jimmy, his mother said when he told her what he had done, what good did that do? There must be a better way.

Busy in the kitchen, she did not look at him when she delivered her reprimand, but her words resonated. Lawson felt his world just sort of stopped, he later recalled. And somewhere way in the deep of me I heard myself saying, I will find that better way.

Lawson was a pivotal figure in some of the most important campaigns of the movement, including the Nashville lunch counter sit-ins, the first Freedom Ride and the social justice battles he led as pastor of Holman United Methodist Church in L.A.

Rev. James Lawson, Civil Rights era activist and 1961 Freedom Rider, gestures during a labor rally Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2003 in Oakland Park, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee, file)AP

Born Sept. 22, 1928, in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, James Morris Lawson Jr. grew up in Massillon, Ohio, the son of a Jamaican-born seamstress and an itinerant Methodist minister who packed a gun when he traveled in the South. His father believed that I should fight to defend myself, Lawson, the sixth of nine children, recalled in a 2000 interview with National Public Radio.

He was in high school in the 1940s when he staged his first sit-in, targeting a Massillon restaurant that refused to serve Blacks. The owner served him but told him never to come back.

After high school he attended Baldwin-Wallace College, a Methodist college in Berea, Ohio, and joined the pacifist Fellowship of Reconciliation. When he was called to military duty during the Korean War, he refused the draft and was sent to prison for 14 months.

In 1953, Lawson joined a Methodist mission to India and devoted himself to studying Gandhian nonviolence. He was still in India in late 1955 when he read a newspaper story about the Montgomery bus boycott. I saw that as an answer to a prayer, Lawson, in a 1984 Los Angeles Times interview, said of the protest, led by King. My reaction was to start shouting for joy.

He returned to the U.S. in 1956 and enrolled in the Graduate School of Theology at Oberlin College, where he met King in 1957. King, who had come to Oberlin to speak, urged Lawson to join the movement.

In 1958 Lawson moved to Nashville and enrolled in Vanderbilt Universitys divinity program. He also joined the Nashville Christian Leadership Council and began holding workshops on nonviolence.

Lawson relied heavily on role-playing, and often asked students to taunt others with racial insults to help them learn self-restraint. He showed the students how to run an orderly sit-in by filling lunch counter seats in shifts. He also showed them ways to minimize injuries by maintaining eye contact with their assailants and using their bodies to help distribute the blows that were sure to come.

In November 1959, Lawsons students staged three practice sit-ins. We just did it quietly, without press coverage, he told the Times in 2014. We called them part of our discovery process.

After Lewis died in 2020, Lawson, at the age of 91, paid tribute to the congressman alongside three former U.S. presidents at a memorial service at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta. In an eloquent eulogy bookended by the poetry of Czeslaw Milosz and Langston Hughes, he exhorted Americans to practice the politics of the preamble to the Constitution as the only way to honor Lewis life.

Lawson is survived by his wife, Dorothy Wood, and two sons, J. Morris Lawson III and John Lawson; a brother, Phillip; and three grandchildren. His son C. Seth Lawson died in 2019.
Police stopped a Dauphin County man from carrying an antique revolver onto a flight leaving from Philadelphia International Airport on Sunday.

According to a press release from the Transportation Security Administration, a Middletown man was caught with the antique revolver, which was inside one of his carry-on items at one of the airport security checkpoints. They said the old revolver, which was not loaded, was found on top of clothing.
HACCs board of trustees has agreed to start following the Pennsylvania Sunshine Act as part of a settlement deal with the colleges faculty union, which had sued to have the board held in contempt for violations of the open government law.

The settlement agreement heads off a hearing that had been scheduled for this week over the matter, in which the union said the colleges board had continued to hold secret committee meetings despite a judges order last year to publicize them.

Were very pleased with the agreement. This is everything we wanted from the beginning, said Kathy Sicher, a HACC professor and president of HACC Education Association, the faculty union that formed in 2022 as an affiliate of the Pennsylvania State Education Association.

Under the terms of the agreement, HACC will provide at least three days notice for meetings of the board of trustees as well as its committees  sub-groups of the trustees whose recommendations appear to always be accepted by the full board, according to the colleges meeting minutes.

Prior to the settlement agreement, those committee meetings had never been publicly announced, according to the unions suit, despite the Sunshine Acts meeting disclosure rules.

Additionally, the settlement requires HACC to publicly post agendas for its committee meetings and full board meetings at least 24 hours in advance, another Sunshine Act requirement that  as PennLive highlighted last month  the college had not been adhering to.

In a statement to PennLive Monday, HACCs press office said the college believed that it was complying with the Sunshine Act but acknowledged that the court disagreed.

The college felt that any further proceedings would not have been cost-effective and might have resulted in unnecessary expenses that could negatively impact our students, the statement continued.

HACC is one of 15 community colleges authorized by state law to receive millions of dollars in taxpayer funding  but this public support also means it is subject to the Sunshine Act, the states primary government transparency law.

In response to the unions complaint last year, HACC maintained that its committee meetings did not constitute deliberation as defined by the Sunshine Act because the committees could not make unilateral decisions.

Dauphin County Common Pleas Judge John Cherry did not agree with this interpretation, issuing an order last year for HACC to begin providing a public schedule of its committee meetings.

The college initially did so, according to the unions subsequent court filings, but abruptly pulled the committee schedule off its website earlier this year despite the meetings still occurring  leading the union to seek a contempt ruling, which spurred the settlement agreement.

HACCs faculty voted to unionize in 2022 and began negotiating an initial contract over a year ago. Progress was stalled by what the union said was the college administrations insistence on clauses stating that union employees would accept whatever the college gives to non-union workers on a year-to-year basis.

We are starting to talk over those issues, talk about seeing if they would remove them, Sicher said of the contract caveats. We are having robust conversations, but we have not agreed on some of the larger economic issues that impact faculty. But were definitely still at the table bargaining.
A Lebanon man has been charged by South Lebanon Township police with six counts relating to the rape of a mentally disabled 15-year-old girl last year, police said.

David Vazquez, 37, is charged with statutory sexual assault, the rape of a mentally disabled person, indecent assault and corruption of minors, among other charges.

According to a criminal complaint, a woman went to the South Lebanon Township police on October 17, 2023, and said her 15-year-old daughter had been raped by Vazquez. The girl has a developmental delay, mild intellectual disabilities, a speech delay and post-traumatic stress disorder, the criminal complaint says.

The woman was friends with Vazquez for around four years before the incident, but the two had a falling out and blocked each other online. The woman told her daughter not to contact Vazquez; however, Vazquez was communicating with the girl using a PlayStation, police said.

The woman told police she realized her daughter snuck out of her home between 12:30 and 2:30 a.m. Oct. 16, and the girl told her mother the next day what had happened.

The girl told police that Vazquez took her behind an electrical box between sheds and initiated sexual contact, and that she never gave him permission nor asked Vazquez to do what he did, the complaint says. The 15-year old stayed quiet because she knew he is stronger than she, the complaint says.

Vazquez had told the girl to sneak out of the house to meet him or else he would beat her with a belt, the girl later told a SAFE advocate in a Childline report.

State police did DNA testing of the girl and Vazquez. His DNA was found in the underwear that the girl was wearing when said she was raped, the criminal complaint says.

Police got a warrant and arrested Vazquez, and he was arraigned on Saturday.

Vazquez is in the Lebanon County Prison after being unable to post $250,000 bail.
A U.S. District Court judge on Monday sentenced a Schuylkill County man to more than 20 years in prison for the sexual exploitation of children and for escaping from a detention facility.

In November 2020, the man escaped a Harrisburg residential rehabilitation facility while he was serving the remainder of a federal drug trafficking sentence.

Shane Lopez, 29, of Mahanoy City, was arrested in May 2021 in Mahanoy City after his escape. When police seized him, they uncovered evidence of child pornography, and further investigation of his phone and accounts he owned revealed he had more than 1,000 images and videos of child pornography, including a video he made of an 18-month-old, according to a Department of Justice press release.
Authorities fatally shot a bear they say trapped several people in an Essex County, New Jersey, nature reserve on Monday morning, leading officials to shut down a trail in the park temporarily.

Police responded to the South Mountain Reservation around 11:22 a.m. Monday after the bear cornered a mother and daughter in the parks Locust Grove section, Essex County Sheriff Armando B. Fontoura said in a statement.

The animal was shot after it charged at officers who led the woman, child and other visitors out of the reserve. Fontoura said the decision was made to protect officers and others.
By State Sen. Wayne Fontana

Its no secret that this years financial aid application season has been disruptive. Somehow in making

the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, of FAFSA, easier, things managed to get a whole lot more

complicated.

The application launch was delayed nearly three months due to changes implemented by the FAFSA

Simplification Act. The U.S. Department of Education (ED) introduced the 2024-25 FAFSA on December

31, 2023, but has since encountered a number of issues, delays, and errors in processing student

applications.

Here at the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA), we rely on the FAFSA form as the

primary application point to assess student eligibility for a PA State Grant award and other state aid.

When it comes to the PA State Grant, theres been some confusion around deadlines, so we wanted to

take this opportunity to set the record straight.

The June 1 deadline we have been promoting was only for filing the FAFSA to be eligible for a PA State

Grant. Thats for those students who plan to enroll in a degree program or a college transferable

program at a 2-year private college or other college or university.

For students planning to enroll in a community college; a designated Pennsylvania Open-Admission

institution; a business, trade, or technical school; a hospital school of nursing; or a 2-year program that

is not transferable to another institution -- you must submit the FAFSA by August 1.

Now that accurate student records have been provided to states, PHEAA is working to ingest the

350,000+ FAFSAs into our new GrantUs platform. It is anticipated that all FAFSAs completed to date will

be uploaded into the PHEAA system by the first week of July.

Once a students FAFSA is uploaded into PHEAAs system, the student will receive an email from the

GrantUs system inviting them to activate their account to complete the PA State Grant Form, if required.

Most renewal students will only need to activate their account and are not required to complete

additional documentation.

If you have not yet received an email from PHEAA/GrantUs with instructions  dont panic! You still have

time to benefit from the PA State Grant and other state aid - provided that your student filed the FAFSA

by June 1. The good news for families is there is no immediate deadline for the filing of the PA State

Grant Form.

Did you miss the June 1 deadline? You should still fill out the FAFSA because theres other aid that may

be available. Federal student financial assistance such as Pell grants, Direct Subsidized Loans, Direct

Unsubsidized Loans, and work-study employment programs use the information you provide on your

FAFSA to determine your eligibility. School aid programs, including private grants and need-based

scholarships, also use the FAFSA data.

Families that need additional help should check to see if college access professionals in their area are

hosting any events to assist families with FAFSA completion. In Pennsylvania, PHEAA has a team of 13

Higher Education Access Partners strategically located throughout the state. They partner with local high

schools, colleges, and community organizations to help families complete the FAFSA.PHEAA also offers an array of FAFSA and other free financial aid information on pheaa.org, as well as toolkits to further assist families. College financial aid professionals and high school counselors can also be a valuable resource when navigating this process.

Its been an interesting year in the financial aid world ... but your dreams - and our mission - of affordable

access to high education are still very attainable. Were here to help!

Sen. Wayne Fontana, D, represents Pennsylvanias 42nd senatorial district.
Poker Boom Era Fan Favorite Sammy Farha is Back and Deep at the WSOP

Jon Sofen Senior Editor U.S. Copy link

Sammy Farha, a popular figure on televised poker shows during the 2000s, is back at the World Series of Poker (WSOP), and has a shot at winning his first bracelet since 2010 on Tuesday.

The old-school poker player who resides in Texas is among the final 15 players in Event #27: $1,500 Big O. At the time of publishing, he had an above average stack on Day 3, but was among the chip leaders for much of Day 2.

2024 World Series of Poker Hub Bookmark this page! All you need to know about the 2024 WSOP is here. Click Here

It's Been a While

Farha was among the most colorful characters during the poker boom era. He brought life to televised poker, regularly competing on shows such as High Stakes Poker and Poker After Dark. But he hasn't appeared in the public eye much the past decade, although he still grinds cash games in Texas.

In December 2021, he was reportedly involved in a physical fight outside the scandal-ridden Legends Poker Room in Houston.

Sammy Farha

Farha first gained mainstream notoriety when he lost heads up to Chris Moneymaker at the 2003 WSOP Main Event. Moneymaker, with pure air, pulled off arguably the most memorable bluff in poker history in one of the tournament's key hands.

But Farha, who already had won a bracelet prior to 2003, would go on to post some impressive tournament results over the following 7-10 years. He won bracelets in 2006 and 2010, and has nearly $3 million in lifetime live tournament cashes, according to The Hendon Mob, a number that will be increasing on Tuesday. First place is set to pay $306,884, and with 14 players remaining at the time of publishing, he's locked up at least $15,962.

It's been 14 years since Farha last won a bracelet, a drought that could come to an end on Tuesday. But that isn't what's on his mind as he progresses through Day 3, which he explained in an interview with PokerNews during a break.

"You know, I don't think about it because if I win, I win. If I don't win, it's not going to change my life. I play every day to win," he said about potentially ending the bracelet drought.

Winning a bracelet would put Farha back in the spotlight for the first time in a decade. But that doesn't make him all that excited.

"I don't care about the spotlight, I never did," he explained. "I was playing for myself (during the High Stakes Poker days). I mean, I wasn't like the other pros that wanted attention. I was there to win. I got attention for a while, but that wasn't my intention."

The Lebanese poker player, whether he cares or not, will receive plenty of attention should he win the Big O event.

Follow Sammy Farha's Run in the Big O Event at PokerNews

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Event #26: $25,000 High Roller No-Limit Hold'em (8-Handed) is one of the most prestigious tournaments on the 2024 World Series of Poker schedule, so it came as no surprise that the cream of the crop of the poker world headlined Day 2 of the event.

When late registration closed after the first level of play today, 318 entries were recorded at the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas, a slight increase from the 301 entries that the event saw in 2023, thus setting a new record and creating a prize pool of $7,473,000. Of those 318, only 19 players survived the onslaught of the bubble-bursting day, moving on to the third and final day of the tournament.

Bagging the biggest stack at the end of the night was Yingui Li. With a stack of 5,600,000, he was the only one who managed to cross the five-million mark, bringing 70 big blinds into Day 3.

The Chinese player had a breakout year at the WSOP in 2023, securing second place in the $1,500 Badugi and third place in the $25,000 H.O.R.S.E. events. Seemingly not having slowed down this year, Li will be looking to make his third WSOP final table and win his first golden bracelet in the $25,000 High Roller.

Trailing Li closest on the leaderboard is David Stamm, with a stack of 4,955,000. Stamm's best placing at a WSOP event is his ninth-place finish in the $1,500 Badugi event this year, but he is no stranger to high rollers, having made numerous final tables in five-figure buy-in events.

David Stamm

End of Day 2 Top Ten Chip Counts

Rank Player Country Chips Big Blinds 1 Yingui Li China 5,600,000 70 2 David Stamm United States 4,955,000 62 3 Andrew Ostapchenko United States 4,215,000 53 4 Shaun Deeb United States 3,510,000 44 5 Roberto Perez Spain 3,185,000 40 6 Chongxian Yang China 2,885,000 36 7 Samuel Laskowitz United States 2,885,000 36 8 Nick Schulman United States 2,815,000 35 9 Krasimir Yankov Bulgaria 2,545,000 32 10 Jared Bleznick United States 2,425,000 30

Also on the podium is Andrew Ostapchenko, with a bag filled with 4,215,000 chips. Ostopchenko may be best known for his 33rd-place finish at the 2017 WSOP Main Event and will be looking for another six-figure payday. Meanwhile, bracelet collectors Shaun Deeb (3,510,000) and Nick Schulman (2,815,000) also find themselves in the top ten counts.

Other notable names making it through to the finale are bracelet winners and high-roller regulars Ben Heath (1,490,000), Dan Smith (1,050,000), and Joey Weissman, the latter of which bagged up the shortest stack with 680,000 chips, good for less than nine big blinds at the start of Day 3. Meanwhile, $25K Fantasy League picks Dario Sammartino and Philip Sternheimer are also still in contention.

Day 2 Action

The day started with late registration still open for one level, and many notable players sat down with a fresh starting stack. Among them were Dylan Weisman, Yuri Dzivielevski, Chris Moorman, and Joao Vieira, but they all failed to make it to the 48 paid spots.

Also falling short of the money were Hall of Famers Erik Seidel and Daniel Negreanu, as well as the likes of Chad Eveslage, Jason Mercier, and Maria Ho. Eventually, Andy Wilson and Sam Soverel were eliminated at the same time on the bubble, leaving the other 48 players in the money.

Andy Wilson

Once there, Eric Wasserson was the first to pick up the min-cash of $50,637, and he was soon followed by no-limit hold'em crushers Bryn Kenney, Justin Bonomo, and Chance Kornuth. Espen Jorstad, Alexandre Reard, and Boris Kolev all picked up one pay jump but missed out on the final three tables.

At the final three tables, Ihar Soika and Manuel Fritz said their goodbyes before poker legend Phil Ivey got his aces cracked in a preflop all in to finish in 22nd place in yet another deep run at the 2024 WSOP. Dan Sepiol and Selahaddin Bedir were the final eliminations of the night before the remaining 19 players bagged up to return on Day 3.

They have all locked up at least $62,737, but all eyes will be on the massive top prize of $1,667,842 and the accompanying WSOP bracelet.

Remaining Payouts

Place Prize 1 $1,667,842 2 $1,111,897 3 $760,083 4 $529,833 5 $376,762 6 $273,414 7 $202,574 8 $153,302 9 $118,552 10-11 $93,730 12-15 $75,801 16-19 $62,737

The action will resume tomorrow, June 11, at noon local time. The tournament will resume at Level 19, with blinds of 40,000/80,000 and an 80,000 big blind ante. All levels will remain 60 minutes in length and the event is scheduled to play down to a winner.

Make sure to return to PokerNews to find out how the $25,000 High Roller No-Limit Hold'em (8-Handed) concludes and who will capture the coveted golden bracelet.
President Biden issued a touching statement about being a father and supporting his son after Hunter Bidens conviction.

The President said in a brief statement:

As I said last week, I am the President, but I am also a Dad. Jill and I love our son, and we are so proud of the man he is today. So many families who have had loved ones battle addiction understand the feeling of pride seeing someone you love come out the other side and be so strong and resilient in recovery.

As I also said last week, I will accept the outcome of this case and will continue to respect the judicial process as Hunter considers an appeal. Jill and I will always be there for Hunter and the rest of our family with our love and support. Nothing will ever change that.

President Biden didnt do what Trump has done. He didnt attack the courts or delegitimize the justice system. He accepted the verdict, even though it was obviously emotionally painful for him. Joe Biden hasnt abused his power, exerted political pressure, or tried to end his sons prosecutions.

Joe Biden has done and said all of the right things to set a good example for the country. President Biden understands his responsibility to uphold the institutions that are the backbone of democracy.

Biden put America first, even after his sons felony conviction.
Aiken Standard reporter

Matthew Christian is a reporter for the Aiken Standard. He covers the Savannah River Site, city of Aiken, politics and public safety and courts.

Matthew previously covered government and politics for the Morning News in Florence. He is a graduate of the University of South Carolina School of Law and the University of Charleston in West Virginia.

To support local journalism, sign up for a subscription. See our current offers 
Local Junctions proprietors want everybody to feel welcome at their new establishment, whether they were born and raised in Aiken or have just moved here. Read moreLocal Junction a new place to 'hang out' and enjoy Aiken's vibe
YEREVAN, JUNE 11, ARMENPRESS. Glendale Mayor Elen Asatryan will travel to Armenia from June 11-20, 2024, to participate, in part, in the U.S.-Armenia Local Democracy Forum organized by the U.S. State Department with Mayors and Executives from cities around the United States.

According to a statement from Mayor Asatryans office, she will arrive ahead of the delegation on the night of June 11, 2024. The goal of the trip is to enhance bilateral relations, explore economic opportunities, and foster cultural and educational exchanges between Armenia and Glendale, and beyond.

The Mayors itinerary includes visits to Yerevan, Gyumri, and, time permitting, possibly Kapan. The trip will also include meetings with Armenian local government officials, media outlets, business leaders, and community organizations. Asatryan will also participate in panels and discussions focused on strengthening relations with Armenia, sister city relations, democracy, efficient government structures, sustainability, trade, tourism, and technology partnerships.

Reflecting on the trip, Mayor Asatryan stated, "I am thrilled to return to my birthplace Armenia as the Mayor of Glendale - home to the largest concentration of Armenians outside of Armenia, making up roughly 40% of our city's population. As the fourth largest city in LA County and home to the largest immigrant/foreign-born population in California, Glendale and Armenia are intertwined in every way. This trip represents an incredible opportunity to deepen our connections, share knowledge, and create meaningful collaborations that benefit both Glendale and Armenia."

Asatryan last visited Armenia in December 2022-January 2023 to join Armenias Opera House as she helped establish a partnership between Armenias Opera House and Los Angeles Opera. During that visit, Asatryan also visited Glendales Sister Cities Gyumri and Kapan and was the first Glendale elected official to do so since Gyumri and Glendale became sister cities in 2015 and the first city elected official to visit Kapan since 2009.

Upon her return, Mayor Asatryan initiated a review of Glendales current sister city policies, which she felt lacked proper structures, accountability, and staffing to ensure that initiatives, programs, and exchanges actually took place beyond visits and MOUs on paper. This item is scheduled to come to a discussion and vote at the Glendale City Council meeting next month.

If Asatryan garners the support from her council colleagues, this will pave the way for structured committees and more support and productive bilateral relations. Asatryan also called for Glendale to create an Artsakh Fund during the blockade, encouraging larger Glendale organizations to donate and will use the trip as an opportunity to see how the funds can go to refugees from Martuni, Artsakh, who were forcibly displaced from their ancestral lands, the statement reads.

Mayor Asatryan has also noted that she plans to lead a city delegation during her tenure as Mayor and bring along experts and economic opportunities based on sister city needs.
Which came first, the chicken or the egg? Read moreSmith Says: Sleepless nights bring questions
YEREVAN, JUNE 11, ARMENPRESS. The United Nations Security Council has voted to support a US-proposed Israel-Gaza ceasefire plan, BBC reports.

The proposal sets out conditions for a "full and complete ceasefire", the release of hostages held by Hamas, the return of dead hostages' remains and the exchange of Palestinian prisoners.

Fourteen of the 15 Security Council members voted in favour of the US-drafted resolution. Russia abstained.

It means the Security Council joins a number of governments, as well as the G7, in backing the three-part plan that was unveiled by President Joe Biden on 31 May.

According to the report, the resolution states that Israel has accepted the ceasefire proposal, and urges Hamas to agree to it too.

Hamas released a statement on Monday welcoming the Security Council resolution. The group is likely to demand guarantees the plan would lead to a permanent ceasefire and full Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, BBC adds.

According to the text of the US draft resolution, the first phase concerns a hostage-prisoner swap as well as a short-term ceasefire. The second phase includes a "permanent end to hostilities", as well as a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. The third phase focuses on the enclave's long-term outlook, and it would start a multi-year reconstruction plan for Gaza.

The conflict began when Hamas attacked Israeli territory last Oct. 7, killing around 1,200 people and capturing more than 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies. Israel in response launched a military assault on Gaza that has since killed over 37,000 people, according to health officials in the territory.
Its going to be a warm and sunny day as South Carolina primary voters head to the polls across the state June 11, making their picks in contests where more than 136,000 ballots have already been cast early.

In addition to deciding several local races, South Carolina Democrats and Republicans will select their congressional nominees for November and make their party picks for all 170 seats in the state Legislature.

The results could answer some big questions and chart the states political future.

Will U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace survive a fierce Republican primary challenge in her quest for a third term? How will establishment Republicans fare against conservative hardliners known as the Freedom Caucus in the Statehouse? And who will come out to vote?

Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. statewide. There are no COVID-19 restrictions in place.

Heres what you need to know about casting a ballot today:

Who can vote?

South Carolina has an open primary system. This means any registered voter may cast a ballot in either partys primary  but not both.

Thats important in case a contest goes to a runoff.

For example, if you vote in a Republican primary for Congress, you cannot vote in any potential Democratic primary runoff in the same contest two weeks later.

For any race on the ballot, candidates must secure more than 50 percent of the vote to avoid a runoff. If no candidate secures more than 50 percent support, the top two vote-getters will face off in a June 25 runoff.

What races are on the ballot?

All of the states seven U.S. House members are up this year and so are all 170 members of the Statehouse.
This paid press release is brought to you from our partnership with EZ Newswire. The Post and Courier news staff was not involved in its creation.
Dale Morris, Charleston's chief resilience officer, announced on June 11 that he is stepping down from his position at city hall.

Morris has led the city's resilience office since September 2021, when he was hired by then-Mayor John Tecklenburg. In that role, Morris spearheaded the city's efforts to adapt to a changing climate and sea-level rise through new infrastructure projects and long-term planning efforts. His last day will be June 21.

I am incredibly grateful for Dales service to Charleston and the opportunity to work with him," said Mayor William Cogswell in a statement released June 11. "From the original Dutch Dialogues and Climate Action Plan to the upcoming Water Plan, Dales background in economics and policy has been instrumental in bringing attention to our city's flooding problems and he has helped facilitate ideas on how to defend against rising waters."

Before coming to Charleston, Morris spent more than 24 years as a senior economist for the Royal Netherlands Embassy. In that role, he traveled with a Dutch team to New Orleans for the post-Hurricane Katrina redevelopment operations.

"It was a moment where I felt a shift in my career," he said in an interview with the Charleston District of the Army Corps in 2022. "From this point on, I transitioned from solely looking at economic policy to leveraging my economic background to work on climate change, adaptation and flood risk mitigation."

His expertise was invaluable to Charleston as the city reckons with the threat of rising waters, some have said. And his departure has raised concerns about how city officials will pursue climate change mitigation.

Dale Morris came to Charleston at a pivotal moment in time, and his leadership helped the city begin taking steps to address the existential challenge of rising sea levels and flooding, Faith Rivers James, executive director of the Coastal Conservation League, wrote in a statement. It is our hope that this critical work will continue well beyond his tenure.
YEREVAN, JUNE 11, ARMENPRESS. Armenia is loyal to normalizing relations with Azerbaijan and demarcating the state border, based on the mutual recognition of territorial integrity based on the Alma-Ata Declaration.

Armenian Foreign Affairs Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said this in his speech during the concluding session of the Armenia-US strategic dialogue held at the Armenian Foreign Ministry.

"Armenia is loyal to normalizing relations with Azerbaijan and demarcating the state border, based on the mutual recognition of territorial integrity based on the Alma-Ata Declaration. There is a real opportunity, a historic moment, to finalize the draft peace treaty; signing it can open a new door for long-term peace in the region," said Ararat Mirzoyan.

Mirzoyan added that Armenia is also very interested in unblocking all regional communications, based on the principles of sovereignty, full respect of jurisdiction, equality under the law and reciprocity. It is best expressed in the "Crossroads of Peace" initiative, which the Armenian government put forward.
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PHILADELPHIA, PA / ACCESSWIRE / June 11, 2024 / The Board of Trustees of abrdn Income Credit Strategies Fund (the "Fund"), has declared a cash distribution of $0.328125 per share of the Fund's 5.250% Series A Perpetual Preferred Shares (NYSE:ACP PRA) ("Series A Preferred Shares"). The distribution is payable on July 1, 2024, to holders of Series A Preferred Shares of record on June 21, 2024 (ex-dividend date June 21, 2024).The Series A Preferred Shares trade on the NYSE under the symbol "ACP PRA", are rated "A2" by Moody's Investors Service and have an annual dividend rate of $1.3125 per share. The Series A Preferred Shares were issued on May 10, 2021, at $25.00 per share and pay distributions quarterly.Distributions may be paid from sources of income other than ordinary income, such as net realized short-term capital gains, net realized long-term capital gains and return of capital. The actual amounts and sources of the amounts for tax reporting purposes will depend upon the Fund's investment experience during the remainder of its fiscal year and may be subject to changes based on tax regulations. In January 2025, a Form 1099-DIV will be sent to shareholders, which will state the amount and composition of distributions and provide information with respect to their appropriate tax treatment for the 2024 calendar year.You should not draw any conclusions about the Fund's investment performance from the amount of this distribution.In the United States, abrdn is the marketing name for the following affiliated, registered investment advisers: abrdn Inc., abrdn Investments Limited, abrdn Asia Limited, abrdn Private Equity (Europe) Limited, and abrdn ETFs Advisors LLC.Closed-end funds are traded on the secondary market through one of the stock exchanges. The Fund's investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor's shares may be worth more or less than the original cost. Shares of closed-end funds may trade above (a premium) or below (a discount) the net asset value (NAV) of the fund's portfolio. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective.Closed-End Fund Investor Center ( abrdn.com) ###For More Information Contact:abrdn U.S. Closed-End FundsInvestor Relations1-800-522-5465 Investor.Relations@abrdn.com SOURCE: Abrdn Income Credit Strategies Fund 5.25% Series A Perpetual Preferred Shares
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LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / June 11, 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
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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / June 11, 2024 / Alta Copper Corp. (TSX:ATCU)(OTCQX:ATCUF)(BVL:ATCU) ("Alta Copper" or "the Company") is pleased to announce it has filed a technical report titled "Canariaco Copper Project NI 43-101 Technical Report & Preliminary Economic Assessment". The technical report for the 2024 Optimized Preliminary Economic Assessment ("2024 PEA") on its 100% owned Canariaco Project ("Canariaco" or the "Project") was filed and is available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and on the Company's website at www.altacopper.com Canariaco is a world class porphyry copper project, located 102 km northeast of Chiclayo in Northern Peru. The 2024 PEA was prepared by Ausenco Engineering Canada ULC ("Ausenco"), AGP Mining Consultants Inc. ("AGP") and Whittle Consulting Pty. Ltd., ("Whittle"), respectively leading international engineering and mining consultancy firms.Joanne Freeze, President and CEO, commented "We are extremely pleased with not only the robust economic results of our 2024 PEA but also the ESG improvements since 2011. Minimizing the overall footprint as well as impacts on watersheds, arable lands and local communities while maximizing value is a substantial accomplishment. While we are very pleased with the scale of operation providing a long-life, large scale copper project producing annual average copper of 158,000 tonnes per year in the first 10 years, we also look forward to the expansion opportunities of our mineral resource by way of further drilling." Project OpportunitiesAs listed below, there are several opportunities which could improve the economics and impact of the project and should be considered as the project continues along the development and permitting path:Mineral Resource Expansion and EstimationAdditional drilling in several defined project areas of the Canariaco property have the potential to: delineate additional mineral resources; support both an increase and/or expansion of known resources; and, upgrade the portions of the mineral resources currently classified as Inferred to Indicated and/or Measured resourcesA review of deeper zones of the Norte deposit recently identified that 32 of 47 drill holes drilled to 400 metres or more bottomed in mineralization. DDH 07-135 bottomed in 0.55% Cu (over last 10 metres) at 721 metres and DDH 07-141 bottomed in 0.38% Cu (over last 10 metres) at 770 metres. Of the 32 holes drilled to depths between 400 and 770 metres, 27 drill holes intersected grades from 0.31 to 0.74% Cu.Additional drilling is planned to be undertaken deeper on and laterally to the Norte deposit, laterally to and deeper on the Sur deposit as well as to the south of Sur on the Quebrada Verde prospect.Drilling at Norte could extend or better define higher grade zones as well as to provide sufficient data to support potential upgrading of the portions of the mineral resources currently classified as Inferred to Indicated and/or Measured resources. Drilling at Sur is to identify lateral and depth extensions of the known mineralization which could increase the mineral resources substantially. The lateral and depths limits of the Sur deposit are completely unknown with only 15 holes drilled to date. Quebrada Verde drilling will test extensive altered intrusive bodies coinciding with geochemical and geophysical anomalies which are all typical of porphyry deposits and are completely untested by drilling to date. Mine PlanAdditional geotechnical drilling could allow an optimization to the design of pit slopes which would be expected to improve economics especially if able to steepen some of the pit walls and decrease the strip ratio.Metallurgical Test Work and Recovery MethodsIncreasing the overall testwork database could optimize the process parameters. This could result in increased recoveries, lower operating costs and improved concentrate quality. In addition, further flotation testwork should consider alternative technologies such as course particle flotation and/or air induction style flotation machines.Qualified Persons and NI 43-101 Technical ReportThe 2024 PEA summarized here for the Canariaco project was completed by Ausenco Engineering Canada ULC, of Vancouver British Columbia, with mining aspects completed by AGP Mining Consultants Inc.The qualified persons for the 2024 PEA and this News Release are identified below:Mr. Gordon Zurowski, P.Eng. Principal Mining Engineer at AGP Mining Consultants Inc. and an independent Qualified Person as set forth by NI 43-101, is responsible for mine design and mine capital and operating costs. Mr. Zurowski has reviewed the news release against the technical report.Mr. Kevin Murray, P.Eng. Principal Process Engineer at Ausenco Engineering Canada ULC and an independent Qualified Person as set forth by NI 43-101, is responsible for the financial model as well as mineral processing and metallurgical resting, recovery methods, and process and infrastructure capital and operating costs. Mr. Murray has reviewed the news release against the technical report.Mr. Scott Elfen, P.E., Global Lead Geotechnical and Civil Services at Ausenco Engineering Canada ULC and an independent Qualified Person as set forth by NI 43-101, is responsible for the waste management facility and associated capital and operating costs, and the site-wide water management design. Mr. Elfen has reviewed the news release against the technical report.Mr. James Millard, P.Geo., Director, Strategic Projects at Ausenco Sustainability ULC and an independent Qualified Person as set forth by NI 43-101, is responsible for environmental studies, permitting, and social and community impacts. Mr. Millard has reviewed the news release against the technical report.Mr. Jonathan Cooper, P. Eng., Water Resources Engineer at Ausenco Sustainability ULC and an independent Qualified Person as set forth by NI 43-101, is responsible for water management and site water balance. Mr. Cooper has reviewed the news release against the technical report.Joanne Freeze, P.Geo., President, CEO and Director has reviewed and approved the contents of this release for Alta Copper Corp.About AusencoAusenco is a global company redefining what's possible. The team is based across 26 offices in 15 countries delivering services worldwide. Combining deep technical expertise with a 30-year track record, Ausenco delivers innovative, value-add consulting studies, project delivery, asset operations and maintenance solutions to the minerals and metals and industrial sectors ( www.ausenco.com) About WhittleAustralia-headquartered Whittle Consulting has a 25-year proven track record helping mining companies worldwide improve NPVs and sustainability for their operations and projects. It is comprised of
PR-Inside.com: 2024-06-11 21:15:19

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More than 15,750 individual claims filed simultaneously against Amazon, alleging drivers were misclassified as independent contractors.Lawyers continue to sign up other misclassified drivers to participate in arbitration.SAN FRANCISCO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / June 11, 2024 / Today, more than 15,750 Amazon Flex drivers in California, Illinois and Massachusetts deluged Amazon, the e-commerce and delivery giant, with individual wage and hour arbitration actions, alleging that Amazon misclassified them as independent contractors instead of employees. Approximately 450 such claims are already on file with the American Arbitration Association, bringing the total driver claims to well over 16,000. The drivers are seeking compensation for unpaid wages, overtime, and reimbursement for eligible expenses, such as mileage and cell phone usage. (Amazon Flex drivers seeking information about the cases can find out more at Amazon Flex Driver Lawsuits and Arbitrations .)Launched in 2015, Amazon Flex is a cornerstone of Amazon's national delivery operation, which, according to the Wall Street Journal is now the largest U.S. package delivery company, outpacing rivals FedEx and UPS. Since the inception of Amazon Flex, more than 2.9 million drivers in the U.S. have downloaded the Amazon Flex app. onto their phone. A hallmark of Amazon delivery service is to offer Amazon Prime and other customers premium "last-mile" deliveries from Whole Foods, which Amazon acquired in 2017, and Amazon warehouse hubs to customers' doorsteps. However, unlike its main delivery rivals, Amazon classifies the Flex drivers as independent contractors, not employees, requiring the drivers to bear all expenses of their work and engage in work that is uncompensated.The drivers claim that the laws prevailing in California, Illinois, and Massachusetts require that the Amazon Flex drivers should be classified and compensated as employees."As Amazon exerts considerable control over the Flex Drivers in their deliveries and the deliveries are part of Amazon's usual business, the drivers qualify as Amazon employees, not independent contractors, and should be paid accordingly," said Joseph Sellers, partner at Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll PLLC, and attorney for the drivers. "That Amazon fails to pay these Flex Drivers wages and reimburse expenses that the law requires is inexcusable, exploiting some of the most vulnerable workers in our society. By doing so, Amazon gains a competitive advantage in pricing these delivery services that has contributed to its success as the leading package delivery company in the country." Advertising the Flex program as a way for drivers to earn extra money, Amazon pays Amazon Flex drivers for only a pre-set number of scheduled hours in a delivery shift (or "block"), regardless of how long it takes to complete their delivery route. That means if a driver books a 3-hour shift where they might receive dozens of delivery requests that could take 4+ hours to complete, Amazon will pay them for only 3 hours."I came to the United States from Iran for a better life. Amazon Flex promised good money and flexible hours," said Saman Khodaei, a driver who drove for Amazon Flex in Los Angeles and successfully arbitrated his misclassification claim. "Instead, it's a fulltime job. Some days, I worked more than 8 hours because I had to wait in line to pick up my packages before I could start my deliveries. And then I had to check in and wait in line again for my next block of deliveries. It's so competitive, I barely had time to eat or take a break. It should be simple: Amazon should pay drivers for their time to wait, load, check in. It's all a part of the delivery." Amazon, which has a history of misclassifying workers as independent contractors, also requires drivers to arbitrate disputes with the American Arbitration Association. More than 65% of employers in the U.S. mandate such agreements. Unlike court, arbitration proceedings are private and often confidential, which often prevent systemic issues like Amazon's employee misclassification issues from becoming public. Such agreements, like Amazon's, forbid class arbitration and require individuals to file claims individually."Arbitration, unfortunately, limits the drivers' pursuit of justice. So, we're left with little choice but to file almost 16,000 individual arbitration actions at once," said Steven Tindall of Gibbs Law Group. "Amazon required Flex drivers to agree to bring these cases in private proceedings-likely in an effort to keep its business practices from being exposed to public and shareholder scrutiny." Thus far, Amazon Flex drivers have successfully tried seven bellwether arbitration trials, addressing the same misclassification claims. Each driver has been awarded, on average, $9,000 in damages."It's about time that Amazon is exposed for misclassifying employees," said Norva Williams, another driver who successfully litigated her claim through Amazon's arbitration process. "I was excited to work for Amazon, but it quickly became clear to me that it was a racket. I was the one who ended up paying. My hope is that Amazon will be forced to reconcile how it classifies employees and how employees can seek justice." The Amazon Flex drivers are represented by Joseph Sellers, Brian Corman, Rebecca Ojserkis, and Megan Reif of Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll PLLC and Steven Tindall, Ashleigh Musser, Jane Farrell, and Brian Bailey of Gibbs Law Group. The more than 16,000 total claims will be litigated before the American Arbitration Association.About Cohen Milstein Sellers & TollCohen Milstein Sellers & Toll PLLC, a premier U.S. plaintiffs' law firm, with over 100 attorneys across eight offices, champions the causes of real people-workers, consumers, small business owners, investors, and whistleblowers-working to deliver corporate reforms and fair markets for the common good. We have litigated landmark civil rights and employment disputes before the highest courts in the nation and continue to actively shape civil rights and employment law in the United States. For more information visit https://www.cohenmilstein.com/ About Gibbs Law GroupGibbs Law Group LLP is a California based law firm committed to protecting the rights of clients nationwide who have been harmed by corporate misconduct. We represent individuals, whistleblowers, employees, and small businesses across the U.S. against the world's largest corporations. Our award-winning lawyers have achieved landmark recoveries and over a billion dollars for our clients in high-stakes class action and individual cases involving consumer protection, data breach, digital privacy, and federal and Califor
PR-Inside.com: 2024-06-11 15:16:02

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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / June 11, 2024 /BELLAMI, the #1 hair extensions brand, globally, announces the launch of The Ponytail' in collaboration with celebrity hairstylist and long-time brand fan, Andrew Fitzsimons. With BELLAMI's deep-rooted expertise in innovating high quality, luxury hair extensions and Fitzsimons' aptitude for styling Hollywood's elite including Jennifer Lopez, Kim and Khloe Kardashian, Megan Fox and more, the duo has perfected this season's biggest hair accessory: high-fashion, statement ponytails.Andrew Fitzsimons installing BELLAMI 'The Ponytail'"I've been using BELLAMI hair extensions on my clients for years, and I've always been impressed by their superior quality. It is unmatched," says Fitzsimons. "That's why collaborating with BELLAMI to develop The Ponytail' was a natural choice; it can elevate any style within minutes, and it's not just for celebrities - it's accessible to everyone." BELLAMI and Fitzsimons' new ready-to-wear ponytail collection is made of 100% Remy human hair, ensuring long-lasting durability. The high-quality hair works well with styling products and hot tools to achieve a variety of looks ranging from a sleek and polished wet ponytail to a voluminous teased updo and beyond. "The Ponytail" is designed to flawlessly blend with your natural hair while adding length and density. Each ponytail features an inside comb that easily secures the ponytail for maximum comfort without drooping. Whether for a special occasion or weekend getaway, The Ponytail' is the perfect accessory to enhance your look in under five minutes."From social media to the streets, red carpet looks to the latest fashion trends, ponytails are everywhere, and extensions can make this look effortless and sophisticated," says Laure Murciano, BELLAMI VP of Marketing. "Like BELLAMI, Andrew is committed to providing consumers with superior tools to help them achieve professional looks, like those he creates for his celebrity clientele. With our expertise and craftsmanship and Andrew's creativity and styling aptitude, we have brought the ponytail trend to the forefront with these fun and easy-to-use ponytail extensions that are both accessible and high-impact." The collection boasts 23 highly dimensional shades for seamless color matching for all hair colors, in 20" and 24" lengths to deliver an everyday snatched look or red carpet glam. The 24" incorporates additional features for added protection and wearability. "The Ponytail" is available onBELLAMIhair.com in 20" / 100g ($195) and 24" / 120g ($295). BELLAMI is available on Rakuten & Skimlinks via merchant ID: #50794.BELLAMI 'The Ponytail' is available in 23 shades. This is a select view of all shades. ABOUT BELLAMIFounded in 2012, BELLAMI is a global leader in high-end, luxurious, ethically sourced, and sustainably produced full-cuticle 100% Human Remy hair enhancement solutions for consumers and salon professionals. As the largest hair extensions brand in the world, collaborating with certified hair stylists, BELLAMI offers a full range of clip-in extensions and the four pro hair extension methods - sew-in wefts, tape-ins, keratin tips, i-tips. With complete control over their ethical sourcing, manufacturing & quality processes, BELLAMI ensures that every item is a conscious choice for sustainable, high-performing products. BELLAMI's hair enhancement solutions and hair care are available via its e-commerce platform and company-owned stores, the BELLAMI Beauty Bars. BELLAMI is headquartered in Los Angeles, California.ABOUT BEAUTY INDUSTRY GROUPEstablished in 2004, Beauty Industry Group is an industry leader for professionally installed and DIY hair extensions and related beauty products. Beauty Industry Group's professional products are sold in more than 1,200 stores throughout North America and its collective brands service more than 30,000 salons across over 165 countries. Beauty Industry Group has offices in 6 countries and is headquartered in Salt Lake City, UT.ABOUT ANDREW FITZSIMONSAndrew Fitzsimons is an Irish-born, LA-based celebrity hairstylist and brand owner with more than two decades of experience in the beauty industry. His award-winning namesake haircare collection, Andrew Fitzsimons Hair, quickly achieved cult status with celebrities and influencers. As one of the most in-demand hair professionals in the world, Fitzsimons continues to maintain a client roster that includes Kim Kardashian, Khloe Kardashian, Jennifer Lopez, Megan Fox, Hailee Steinfeld, Madonna and many more. The first season of his podcast, Unapologetic with Andrew Fitzsimons and Erica Cody, is available now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts. Follow Andrew on Instagram at @andrewfitzsimons or on TikTok at @iamandrewfitzsimons.Contact DetailsLinsey Tilbor Rubin+1 732-991-5294 ltilbor@ rellmc.com Company Website https://www.bellamihair.com/ SOURCE: BELLAMI
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SAN DIEGO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / June 11, 2024 / Johnson Fistel, LLP is investigating potential claims on behalf of Cummins Inc. (NYSE:CMI) against certain of its officers and directors to hold them responsible for damages they allegedly caused the company to suffer.If you have continuously owned Cummins Inc. (NYSE:CMI) shares, you have certain legal rights as a shareholder. If you want to learn more, please read below or submit your information at:On December 22, 2023, Cummins reached an agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the State of California to settle allegations related to emissions violations. The company agreed to pay a substantial $1.675 billion civil penalty for its actions.California Attorney General Rob Bonta emphasized that Cummins knowingly evaded state emissions tests and requirements, causing harm to public health and the environment. This penalty represents the largest amount ever recovered by the DOJ under the Clean Air Act and is the second-largest environmental penalty secured.If you would like to know more about your rights as a shareholder or how you can participate in holding the officers and directors responsible for the damage that they allegedly caused the company to suffer, please contact Johnson Fistel at (619) 814-4471.About Johnson Fistel, LLP: Johnson Fistel, LLP is a nationally recognized shareholder rights law firm with offices in California, New York, Georgia, and Colorado. The firm represents individual and institutional investors in shareholder derivative and securities class action lawsuits. For more information about the firm and its attorneys, please visit http://www.johnsonfistel.com Attorney advertising.Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.Services may be performed by attorneys in any of our offices.Johnson Fistel, LLP has paid for the dissemination of this promotional communication, and Frank J. Johnson is the attorney responsible for its content.Contact:Johnson Fistel, LLP501 W. Broadway, Suite 800, San Diego, CA 92101James Baker, Investor Relations or Frank J. Johnson, Esq., (619) 814-4471 jimb@ johnsonfistel.com or fjohnson@ johnsonfistel.com SOURCE: Johnson Fistel, LLP
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WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND / ACCESSWIRE / June 11, 2024 / Finance Phantomhas launched the Finance Phantom AI crypto trading robot, marking a significant advancement in the realm of cryptocurrency trading. The new trading robot is designed to leverage cutting-edge artificial intelligence technology to provide users with a robust and efficient tool for navigating the complexities of the cryptocurrency market.TheFinance Phantom AI crypto trading robotutilizes a sophisticated algorithm that continuously analyzes market data, trends, and historical patterns to make informed trading decisions. By integrating machine learning capabilities, the robot adapts to market changes in real-time, ensuring that trading strategies are always optimized for the current market conditions. This adaptability is crucial in the volatile world of cryptocurrencies, where market dynamics can shift rapidly.The primary objective behind the development of theFinance Phantom AI crypto tradingrobot is to enhance trading accuracy and efficiency. By automating the trading process, the robot aims to minimize human error and emotional decision-making, which are common pitfalls in manual trading. This automation not only saves time but also allows traders to execute transactions at speeds that are unattainable through manual efforts.One of the standout features of theFinance Phantom AI crypto trading robot is its ability to conduct high-frequency trading. This capability allows the robot to execute a large number of trades in a short period, capitalizing on small price movements that can lead to significant gains over time. High-frequency trading, powered by AI, has the potential to revolutionize the way trading is conducted in the cryptocurrency market.The Finance Phantom AI crypto trading robot is equipped with advanced risk management tools to protect users' investments. These tools include stop-loss and take-profit mechanisms, which help to mitigate potential losses and lock in profits. By employing these strategies, the robot ensures that trading remains within the predefined risk parameters set by the user.Additionally, the Finance Phantom AI crypto trading robot provides a comprehensive suite of analytics and reporting tools. These tools offer users detailed insights into their trading performance, including metrics such as win/loss ratios, average profit per trade, and overall portfolio performance. This level of transparency is essential for users to assess the effectiveness of their trading strategies and make necessary adjustments.The development of the Finance Phantom AI crypto trading robot involved extensive research and collaboration with experts in both the finance and technology sectors. By combining financial expertise with cutting-edge AI technology, the team behind the robot has created a tool that is both powerful and user-friendly. The robot's intuitive interface ensures that both novice and experienced traders can easily navigate and utilize its features.Security is a top priority for the Finance Phantom AI crypto trading robot. The platform employs state-of-the-art encryption and security protocols to safeguard users' data and funds. Regular security audits are conducted to ensure that the system remains resilient against potential threats. Users can trade with confidence, knowing that their assets are protected by robust security measures.The Finance Phantom AI crypto trading robot is designed to support a wide range of cryptocurrencies, providing users with the flexibility to trade their preferred digital assets. This versatility is crucial in a market that continues to expand with new cryptocurrencies and tokens. By supporting a diverse array of assets, the robot ensures that users can take advantage of various trading opportunities.Integration with major cryptocurrency exchanges is another key feature of the Finance Phantom AI crypto trading robot. The robot seamlessly connects with leading exchanges, allowing users to execute trades directly from the platform. This integration streamlines the trading process, eliminating the need for users to switch between different platforms and interfaces.The launch of the Finance Phantom AI crypto trading robot represents a significant milestone in the ongoing evolution of cryptocurrency trading. The introduction of AI-powered trading solutions has the potential to democratize access to advanced trading tools, leveling the playing field for individual traders and institutional investors alike. By leveraging the power of artificial intelligence, Finance Phantom aims to empower traders with the tools they need to succeed in the fast-paced world of cryptocurrency trading.In addition to its core trading functionalities, the Finance Phantom AI crypto trading robot offers a range of educational resources to help users enhance their trading knowledge and skills. These resources include tutorials, webinars, and articles that cover various aspects of cryptocurrency trading and AI technology. By providing these educational materials, Finance Phantom aims to foster a community of informed and skilled traders.The Finance Phantom AI crypto trading robot is available through a subscription-based model, offering various plans to cater to different trading needs and budgets. Users can choose from a range of subscription options, each providing access to different features and levels of support. This flexible pricing structure ensures that traders can find a plan that suits their specific requirements.Finance Phantom is committed to continuously improving and updating the AI crypto trading robot to keep pace with the evolving cryptocurrency market. Regular software updates and feature enhancements are planned to ensure that the robot remains at the forefront of trading technology. User feedback will play a crucial role in shaping the future development of the platform, with Finance Phantom dedicated to listening to and addressing the needs of its user base.The introduction of the Finance Phantom AI crypto trading robot is poised to make a significant impact on the cryptocurrency trading landscape. By combining advanced AI technology with comprehensive trading tools and educational resources, Finance Phantom aims to provide a holistic solution for traders seeking to navigate the complexities of the cryptocurrency market. The launch of this innovative trading robot underscores Finance Phantom's commitment to driving technological advancements in the finance sector and supporting the growth of the cryptocurrency ecosystem.Contact Information:Contact Person: Mahoni RabdoCompany: Finance PhantomEmail: info@ financephantom.com Website: https://financephantom.com/ SOURCE: Finance Phantom
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New G2D NanoCORR Product Improves Anti-Corrosion Performance with Lower Chemical Dosage And Makes Paint Production More Sustainable; Joins Industry-Leading Paint and Coatings Additive PortfolioSAO PAULO, BRAZIL / ACCESSWIRE / June 11, 2024 /Gerdau Graphene, the nanotechnology company pioneering advanced graphene-enhanced materials for industrial applications, today announced the availability of NanoCORR Shield, the newest product from its G2D NanoCORR line of anti-corrosion paints and coatings additives. Developed with Gerdau Graphene's exclusive G2D technology, NanoCORR Shield is a graphene-enhanced chemical additive designed to increase the corrosion resistance of solvent-based paints and coatings. NanoCORR Shield has demonstrated a 30-70% increase in corrosion resistance when subjected to salt spray testing.Gerdau Graphene NanoCORR Shield Developed with Gerdau Graphene's exclusive G2D technology, NanoCORR Shield is a graphene-enhanced chemical additive designed to increase the corrosion resistance of solvent-based paints and coatings.The addition of a small amount of specially-developed graphene - an ultra-strong carbon nanomaterial - into paints and coatings allows for an increase in the barrier effect against corrosive elements such as water, oxygen, and chlorides. In addition, NanoCORR reduces paint consumption by reducing the nominal thickness of the coating while maintaining the paint or coatings' other characteristics and performance properties.NanoCORR complements the company's growing line of chemical additives for the paint and coatings market, which includes the G2D NanoCORR anti-corrosion additive for water-based paints and coatings; G2D NanoLAV W107, which improves the washability of latex-based paints; and G2D NanoDUR W102, which increases the durability of latex floor paints. In recent testing, NanoDUR W102 demonstrated a 33% reduction in paint consumption and application, reducing the frequency of repainting by up to a third."NanoCORR offers a quality solution to combat corrosion and extend the useful life of metal structures, reducing the need for frequent maintenance and associated costs. Its positive impact goes beyond protection against corrosion, promoting sustainability and economic efficiency in multiple sectors," said Alessandra Zanuto, Technical Manager of Products and Sales of Chemical Additives at Gerdau Graphene."G2D NanoCORR Shield was designed to help producers deliver ultra-high performance paint and coating products while reducing the use of non-sustainable inputs such as heavy metals," said Valdirene Peressinotto, Executive and Innovation Director at Gerdau Graphene. "This product joins our expanding portfolio of additives serving the paints and coatings market and underscores our commitment to developing innovative, sustainable graphene-based solutions for this industry." About Gerdau Graphene: Gerdau Graphene is a Gerdau Next company, Gerdau's new business unit created with the aim of diversifying the company's portfolio with products and services in several segments adjacent to steel. Gerdau Graphene is focused on the development, industrialization and commercialization of chemical additives, mineral additions and masterbatches with carbon-based nanomaterials, such as graphene. Gerdau Graphene delivers solutions that provide performance gains for the paint, cement (concrete and mortar), plastics, rubber and lubricant industries with the incorporation of graphene.Contact InformationAaron EndreEndre Communications for Gerdau Graphenegerdau@ endrecommunications.com SOURCE: Gerdau GrapheneView the original press release on newswire.com
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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / June 11, 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 PINK: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: 2024-06-11 21:45:15

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The storied Moroccan brand, founded in 1910, is bringing its exceptional savoir-faire and experience of 100% Arabica to coffee drinkers in America and around the world.NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / June 11, 2024 / Legendary brand Bacha Coffee enchants coffee drinkers with an exceptional collection of over 200 coffees from 35 of the most consistent and well renowned coffee producing countries around the globe. Renowned for elevating a daily commodity into an extraordinary experience, and revolutionizing the practice of coffee gifting, Bacha Coffee invites you to embark on a sensorial expedition with their selection of loose coffee beans sold by weight, coffee gift boxes, the innovative Coffee Bag collection, gift boxes, coffee accessories and more - all available through their online boutique, BachaCoffee.com Bacha Coffee traces its origins back to 1910 in the spectacular Dar el Bacha palace. Bacha Coffee traces its origins back to 1910 and the Dar el Bacha, a palace hidden in the heart of the old city in Marrakech, Morocco. Nestled behind the millennia-old walls, a coffee room beckoned, shrouded in whispers of secrecy and graced by the likes of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, UK Prime Minister Winston Churchill, filmmaker Charlie Chaplin, entertainer Josephine Baker and other cultural and political names of the day. Uniting over glittering pots of "coffee of Arabica", the Bacha Coffee room offered an escape and was a secret oasis known for its style and beauty, but above all, for its coffee.A Passion for CraftsmanshipToday, driven by a fervent commitment to excellence and a deep reverence for the art of coffee making, Bacha Coffee is dedicated to preserving the timeless traditions of coffee craftsmanship while embracing innovation to meet the evolving tastes of modern coffee connoisseurs.Bacha Coffee offers a collection of more than 200 meticulously sourced Single-Origin, Fine Blended, Fine Flavoured, and naturally CO Decaffeinated 100% Arabica coffees sourced from 35 countries around the world including Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, Central and South America, the Caribbean, Asia, and beyond.Bacha Coffee's expertly trained Coffee Masters work with farmers to gather the best and freshest beans and then process them according to age-old traditional methods. Since each variety of coffee requires a different degree of roasting to bring out its unique taste profile, Bacha Coffee Masters hand-roast each harvest individually before gently air cooling them for the best taste and preservation. By sourcing coffee beans from diverse origins, Bacha Coffee celebrates the unique terroir and flavour characteristics of each region, offering customers an authentic taste that makes it a true haven for coffee lovers.Spoilt for ChoiceDiscover the luxury of choice and 100% Arabica in every cup. The coffees available onBachaCoffee.commirror the extensive list offered in their original boutique in Marrakech and around the world, and invite coffee lovers to venture beyond the familiar to try harvests from unique farms and provenance. Bacha Coffee's retail selection includes loose beans as well as beautifully packaged coffees and single serve coffee bags. Loose beans can be purchased by weight and ground to the specifications of each customer, from 7 different grind sizes.Consider the sought-after single origin Yirgacheffe Heirloom Coffee, a rare Ethiopian harvest that takes centre stage in the history of coffee. Grown at altitudes of over 6,500 feet above sea level, this unique varietal feature delicate notes of cane sugar, lemongrass, and bergamot. Combining two of the finest coffees in the world, Happy Arabia Coffee is a fine blended coffee that features a delicate acidity and rich flavours of red fruits, chocolate, and caramel. Fans of fine flavoured coffees may indulge in the 1910 Coffee, with aromas of freshly picked wild strawberries and jugs of cream perfect for a balmy summer's day.Back to "Slow" CoffeeWhat if we finally took the time to enjoy our coffee? Bacha Coffee allows you to indulge your senses by making the perfect, "slow" coffee at home or on the go, without the fuss. Explore over 30 Single Origin and Fine Flavoured coffees in the brand's exclusive Coffee Bag Collection - individually wrapped, air tight, single-serve pour over coffee bags containing 12g of 100% Arabica each, expertly dosed to ensure a perfectly prepared brew so you only need 3 minutes, a coffee mug and hot water at hand to achieve the perfect pour over. The Explorer Taster box allows you to begin your journey, with a selection of single origin and fine flavoured coffee favourites.A Bespoke GiftBacha Coffee's series of elegant accessories and gourmet delights will elevate any coffee brewing, hosting, or drinking ritual. The exclusive, special edition Bacha Coffee x Alessi La Conica Espresso Coffee Pot pays homage to the heritage of Bacha Coffee and the tradition of Italian design and adds a touch of elegance to any table. Bacha Coffee's selection of gourmet treats, such as Chocolate Covered Coffee Beans, will delight on any occasion.To share the love of coffee, explore artfully curated gift boxes or design your own bespoke hamper according to five sizes and assortments. Each gift includes complimentary gift wrap and a personalised note on Bacha Coffee's signature gift card and envelope.A World of DiscoveryThe Bacha Coffee online boutique ships internationally to over 40 countries and Bacha Coffees are distributed in luxury hotels, restaurants, and airlines worldwide. Bacha Coffee currently has 22 boutiques across ten countries and regions in Europe, Asia, North Africa, and the Middle East. Discover the world of Bacha Coffee and full range of products viaBachaCoffee.com/US . A full press kit with visuals may be accessedhere .All credits for images belong to Bacha Coffee. No royalties payable if Bacha Coffee is stated as the source. Additional images are available on request.About Bacha Coffee:Bacha Coffee was founded in Marrakech, Morocco in 1910 in the spectacular Dar el Bacha palace, where the greatest cultural and political minds of the century gathered over glittering pots of freshly brewed Arabica coffee. The original Marrakech location reopened in 2019 and launched its first international outpost in Singapore in the same year. With unique and exclusive Coffee Rooms & Boutiques, Coffee Bars, Travel Retail, and Takeaway concepts, Bacha Coffee has since expanded exponentially across Asia, the Middle East and Europe. Today, Bacha Coffee serves customers in over 40 countries, including online atBachaCoffee.com Renowned for its legendary 100% Arabica coffees, gifts and coffee accessories, the Bacha Coffee concept also incorporates international di
YEREVAN, JUNE 11, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan received former Prime Minister of France, President of Leaders for Peace organization Jean-Pierre Raffarin.

The Prime Minister welcomed Mr. Raffarin's visit to Armenia and highly appreciated his special attention to Armenia-related issues and the situation in Armenia.

The Prime Minister emphasized the "Traveling University of Peace" training course launched in Yerevan as Mr. Raffarin's initiative, aimed at enhancing the abilities of Armenian youth to manage crisis situations.

Jean-Pierre Raffarin expressed gratitude for the warm hospitality. He mentioned having a meeting with the French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal before visiting Armenia. Prime Minister Attal asked Raffarin to convey his warm greetings to the Armenian Prime Minister. Raffarin emphasized Frances support for Armenia in overcoming challenges and strengthening democracy. He also discussed the activities and goals of the Leaders for Peace organization.

The interlocutors exchanged views on the peace treaty and demarcation process between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the Crossroads of Peace project of the Armenian government and other topics.
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The fund, capitalized in part by the fintech's New Markets Tax Credits (NMTC) allocation, won the fintech its second QLICI of the Year Award from NovogradacLOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / June 11, 2024 / Lendistry announces today that it has received the Qualified Low-Income Community Investment (QLICI) of the Year Award from Novogradac in the Small Business category. Specifically, the lender won the award for its NMTC Loan Fund I ("Small Business Loan Fund" or "SBLF"), an unorthodox fund capitalized by Lendistry capital and NMTC equity. Totaling $23.3 million, these below-market-rate loans created over 300 living wage jobs. The fintech won its first award in the Metro category alongside its fellow investors for the Destination Crenshaw project in 2022.Akin Co. Left to right: Ariel Lawrence (CEO), Jordan Jua, Carter Shaw, and Nicole CompWhile community development entities typically use their NMTC allocations to support one tothree large-scale real estate and development projects, the SBLF is a unique entity that funded fifteen small business loans, impacting marginalized communities across the country. Funded businesses included a women- and minority-owned accounting firm in New York providing tax services, small business, immigration, and incorporation consultations, and a minority-led nonprofit makerspace in Chicago supporting over 75 artists, makers, and creators.Akin, Co., a women-owned general contracting firm in Los Angeles focused on projects located in low-income communities, with a training and employment initiative for previously incarcerated individuals and an initiative to train more BIPOC women in construction trades, was also a notable recipient."We are incredibly honored to have received this loan award. This funding enables us to continue our mission of championing community-centered spaces. We aim to ignite inspiration and motivation in the upcoming generation of construction professionals as well as the neighborhoods we both live and work. This investment will serve as catalyst to not only our business growth, but also make a substantial impact on the City of Los Angeles. We extend a heartfelt thanks to the Lendistry team who believed in our vision and continues to support our journey." Nicole Boone, Lendistry VP of Capital Markets, accepted the award on June 6 at Novogradac's 2024 Spring New Markets Tax Credits Conference in Washington, DC. "New Markets Tax Credits have great potential for impacting small businesses, which are a key component to generating community wealth but rarely benefit from NMTC allocations because they need loans under $5 million to grow," says Boone. "These fifteen businesses are just the beginning, as Lendistry intends to recycle these small loans to increase impact of the NMTC subsidy to at least 100 businesses in critical need of capital." About LendistryB.S.D. Capital, Inc. dba Lendistry ( lendistry.com) is a minority-led fintech that provides innovative lending products and access to grant programs for small businesses nationwide. Headquartered in a Los Angeles Opportunity Zone, Lendistry uses technology and community partnerships to overcome systemic gaps that inhibit access to capital, and to empower its customers with responsible financing options. Based on its reputation for deploying funds efficiently and equitably, Lendistry's leadership is often called upon to share their expertise with both government and private organizations. Lendistry has both Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) and Community Development Entity (CDE) certifications and is a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco. Lendistry SBLC, LLC is an SBA Preferred Lender and the nation's only African American-led SBA designated Small Business Lending Company. In collaboration with The Center by Lendistry, a nonprofit business education organization, Lendistry dedicates itself to providing economic opportunities and progressive growth for underserved urban and rural small business borrowers and their communities.Contact InformationKate KearnsCommunications managercommunications@ lendistry.com SOURCE: LendistryView the original press release on newswire.com
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NEW ORLEANS, LA / ACCESSWIRE / June 10, 2024 / Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF") and KSF partner, former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors that they have untilJune 24, 2024to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Lincoln National Corporation (NYSE:LNC), if they purchased or otherwise acquired the Company's securities between November 4, 2020 and November 2, 2022, inclusive (the "Class Period"). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.What You May DoIf you purchased securities of Lincoln National and would like to discuss your legal rights and how this case might affect you and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, contact KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or via email ( lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com) , or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-lnc/ to learn more. If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in this class action, you must petition the Court byJune 24, 2024 .About the LawsuitLincoln National and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.On November 2, 2022, post-market, the Company released its 3Q 2022 financial results, disclosing a net loss of $2.6 billion for the quarter, compared to a net income of $318 million for the third quarter of 2021 the previous year, due to "net unfavorable notable items of $2.0 billion, or $11.62 per share, related to the company's annual review of DAC and reserve assumptions," and that the Company "incurred a $634 million goodwill impairment to the life insurance business." On this news, the price of Lincoln's shares fell by $17.27, or 33.2%, to close at $34.83 per share on November 3, 2022, on unusually heavy trading volume.The case is Meade v. Lincoln National Corporation, et al., No. 24-cv-01704.About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLCKSF, whose partners include former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is one of the nation's premier boutique securities litigation law firms. KSF serves a variety of clients - including public institutional investors, hedge funds, money managers and retail investors - in seeking recoveries for investment losses emanating from corporate fraud or malfeasance by publicly traded companies. KSF has offices in New York, Delaware, California, Louisiana and New Jersey.To learn more about KSF, you may visit www.ksfcounsel.com CONTACT: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLCLewis Kahn, Managing Partnerlewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com1-877-515-18501100 Poydras St., Suite 960New Orleans, LA 70163SOURCE: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC
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WARNER, NH / ACCESSWIRE / June 11, 2024 / MadgeTech, a leader in reliable, high-quality data logging solutions, is proud to announce the launch of its latest innovation, theHPT Data Logger System . Designed to redefine temperature monitoring in food processing, this new system combines the precision of theHiTemp140-CFdata logger with the versatility of theThermaLockthermowell, setting a new standard for heat penetration testing and temperature distribution monitoring.MadgeTech Announces Release of HPT Data Logger SystemProduct Features:Integrated Solution: The HPT Data Logger System features the new HiTemp140-CF data logger that seamlessly screws into the ThermaLock thermowell, facilitating easy and secure installation.Versatility: Compatible with a wide range of food packaging types, from cans and jars to bottles and flexible pouches, ensuring comprehensive adaptability for all food processing needs.Precision Monitoring: Designed to target the geometric center of food packages-often the coldest spot-the HPT Data Logger System is crucial for effective heat penetration testing and ensuring uniform temperature distribution. Enhanced Product Quality and Safety: With the HPT Data Logger System, food processors can now achieve unprecedented accuracy in temperature monitoring, critical for ensuring product quality and safety. "This system is not just a tool, but a game-changer in the way temperature monitoring is conducted in the food industry," said Meredith Orbacz, Marketing Manager at MadgeTech, Inc. "By enhancing the precision of heat penetration tests and ensuring uniform temperature distribution, we're helping our customers meet stringent safety standards and deliver superior products to the market." Streamlined Operations and Reliability: The HPT Data Logger System is designed for efficiency and ease of use. It requires minimal setup, allowing food processors to streamline their operations without compromising on reliability or performance. "Our goal was to create a system that not only meets the high demands of the food processing industry but also simplifies the process, allowing our clients to focus on production and quality control," added Meredith.To learn more about the HPT Data Logger System, please visit the MadgeTech website.About MadgeTech, Inc.: MadgeTech, based in Warner, New Hampshire, is a global leader in the design and manufacture of high-quality data logging solutions. MadgeTech's products are widely used across various industries, including food processing, pharmaceuticals, and environmental monitoring. MadgeTech is committed to continuous innovation and providing tools that help customers ensure product quality and compliance.Contact Information Meredith OrbaczMarketing Managermeredith@ madgetech.com 6034562011SOURCE: MadgeTechView the original press release on newswire.com
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Durable and Elegant Engineered Board Stock is a Sustainable Alternative to PVCDOWNERS GROVE, IL / ACCESSWIRE / June 11, 2024 /Marketing Card Technology, LLC (MCT), a leading manufacturer of credit, debit, and prepaid payment cards, is now offering open-loop, non-reloadable prepaid payment cards made from sustainably forested wood fiber instead of plastic. The cards are rigid and water-resistant, designed to mimic the look and feel of traditional plastic materials. As part of the qualification process, MCT subjected the material to both rigorous internal testing and third-party testing. Customers have the option of either sustainably sourced virgin fiber or post-consumer recycled fiber. Available features include magnetic stripes, holograms, foils, signature panels, and a variety of specialty inks and coatings.Prepaid cards fanned out against a forest backdrop Push Venkitasamy, President & CEO of Marketing Card Technology, said: "We're excited to bring plastic-free open-loop prepaid cards to the market. More and more card issuers want an alternative to virgin PVC. We find that each brand has unique needs, based on their customer profile, their environmental goals, and the design and function of their cards. We want to give our customers the flexibility to select the material best suited for their unique situation. For this reason, we are always on the lookout for innovative materials that will expand MCT's BetterCore portfolio of card products. Secure payment cards made from sustainably-forested wood fiber are an exciting addition to the BetterCore family." MCT is proud to hold FSC Chain-of-Custody certification (FSC-C197562) from the Forest Stewardship Council for both of its Illinois manufacturing sites. The Forest Stewardship Council is a global independent nonprofit organization that has established a certification program to promote responsible forestry. FSC Chain-of-Custody certification enables the control and tracking of FSC-certified material at every step of the supply chain, from forests to the finished product.Marketing Card Technology is an EMV-Co approved, U.S.-based, and minority-owned provider of card manufacturing and direct mail services. Headquartered in Downers Grove, Illinois, MCT provides plastic and paper cards used for payments, gifting, access, ticketing, ID, membership, and marketing promotions. MCT's direct mail operation in Darien, Illinois, mails up to 1.5 million direct mail pieces daily on behalf of businesses, nonprofits, and public organizations nationwide.Contact InformationPush VenkitasamyPresident & CEOpush@ mctechnology.com 331-801-7557SOURCE: Marketing Card Technology, LLCView the original press release on newswire.com
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Santa Helena environmental and metallurgical programs to rapidly advanceLONDON, UK / ACCESSWIRE / June 11, 2024 / Meridian Mining UK. S (TSX:MNO )(Frankfurt/Tradegate:2MM)(OTCQX:MRRDF) ("Meridian" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an update on its drilling activities at the Cabacal and Santa Helena mines, part of the greater 50km Cabacal Cu-Au-Ag VMS belt-scale project ("the Belt") in Mato Grosso, Brazil.At the Santa Helena Cu-Au-Ag & Zn project ("Santa Helena"), first results are starting to be received following re-initiation of the drilling program, with CD-472 returning a strong interval of 5.0m @ 4.0g/t AuEq from 24.1m ("Figure 1"). Meridian is initiating the environmental impact studies for open-pit development at Santa Helena, as part of its hub and spoke development strategy for the broader belt. The Company also reports that Santa Helena's metallurgical testwork is to commence shortly and focus on developing a flow sheet to optimise production of clean copper + gold-silver concentrate, gold dore and zinc concentrates. Drilling continues and further assays are pending.The infill drilling at the advanced Cabacal Cu-Au-Ag project 1 ("Cabacal") includes holes targeting historical positions where data has been lost and which were not included in the 2022 resource statement 2 . Drilling results defining extensions of near surface Cu-Au-Ag mineralization are highlighted by CD-483's 10.1m @ 2.1g/t AuEq from 9.4m, amongst broader intersections ("Figure 2"). Meridian has now completed over 50,000 metres of drilling at Cabacal which pushes the project database to a total of over 125,000 meters.Highlights Reported TodayMeridian reports further strong shallow mineralized intercepts at Santa Helena and Cabacal deposits; Santa Helena continues to advance as the next open pit target for the hub and spoke development strategy of the Cabacal VMS belt; Shallow high-grade Cu-Au-Ag & Zn mineralization continues to be intercepted; CD-472 returns 12.9m @ 2.2g/t AuEq from 24.1m at Santa Helena; including:5.0m @ 4.0g/t AuEq from 24.1m; Environmental impact, hydrogeological and metallurgical studies commencing; and Cabacal drilling defines more shallow high-grade mineralization; CD-483 returns 10.1m @ 2.1g/t AuEq* from 9.4m at Cabacal. *See technical note for separate AuEq equations for Santa Helena and Cabacal.Mr. Gilbert Clark, CEO, comments: "We are pleased to see a continuing flow of solid results from both Santa Helena and Cabacal. Our focused strategy of investing into the development of near-term production from Cabacal and Santa Helena, whilst continuing "near-mine" exploration, outlines the potential for the Belt to become a multi decade producer. Santa Helena continues to advance as the second open pitable target, and another potential source of quality clean copper concentrates with high grades of gold and silver. With multiple new copper smelters being built internationally and the demand for clean copper concentrates growing, the Cabacal Cu-Au-Ag VMS belt presents one of the only near-term projects of scale that can help bridge this supply gap for clean copper concentrates." Santa Helena UpdateDrilling continues at Santa Helena with two rigs, and the first result has been returned with further results pending. Drilling is continuing with an infill pattern to achieve systematic coverage over the deposit, particularly in up-dip extensions where the system was more sparsely tested. The first result is reported from CD-472 ("Figure 1"), from a position between CD-360 (16.4m @ 0.9g/t AuEq from 6.0m & 11.0m @ 5.2g/t AuEq from 30.0m) and CD-325 (14.9m @ 4.6g/t AuEq from 26.3m). CD-472 crosses a position where only partial sampling records were available from a historical surface hole. The new result has returned:CD-472 (Santa Helena): 12.9m @ 2.2g/t AuEq (1.0g/t Au, 0.5% Cu, 24.6g/t Ag & 1.4% Zn) from 24.1m; including: 5.0m @ 4.0g/t AuEq (1.7g/t Au, 1.3% Cu, 53.7g/t Ag & 1.7% Zn) from 24.1m; 4.7m @ 1.2g/t AuEq (0.1g/t Au, 0.2% Cu, 6.5g/t Ag & 1.9% Zn) from 48.3m; and 11.1m @ 0.8g/t AuEq (0.1g/t Au, 0.1% Cu, 5.3g/t Ag & 1.2% Zn) from 58.9m.By comparison, the historical vertical hole it crosses, PM-15A had returned:2.2m @ 0.9g/t AuEq (0.1g/t Au, 0.1% Cu, 8.0g/t Ag, 1.7% Zn) from 25.0m; 2.1m @ 1.4g/t AuEq (0.3g/t Au, 0.2% Cu, 9.9g/t Ag, 1.9% Zn) from 32.1mThe results provide more continuous sample coverage for resource modelling and show importantly that the sampling gaps are mineralized.The Company has engaged Sete Solucoes e Tecnologia Ambiental Ltda and Hidrovia Hidrogeologia e Meio Ambiente to initiate baseline environmental assessments for open-pit development. The Company's metallurgical consultant, Mr Norman Lotter, is advising on the formulation of a program to test the various mineralization styles.Figure 1: Santa Helena results location map.Cabacal UpdateFurther drill results continue to be delivered from the Company's programs at Cabacal, including holes from the northwest extension, the mine area flank, and the mine area ("Figure 2"). Some of the recent drilling has included further twinning on holes where data has only been partially preserved or lost. The first of these results reported was CD-470, which returned 16.0m @ 12.5g/t AuEq from 53.3m, including 6.4m @ 30.6g/t AuEq 3 . Additional holes have targeted a range of positions (and expected grade distributions), in the Eastern, Central and Southern Copper Zones. Highlights from the recent drilling include:CD-483 (ECZ twin of JUSPD-587): 10.1m @ 2.1g/t AuEq (1.7g/t Au, 0.3% Cu & 1.9g/t Ag) from 9.4m; including: 1.9m @ 8.8g/t AuEq (7.6g/t Au, 0.8% Cu & 4.2g/t Ag) from 12.7m; 18.2m @ 0.9g/t AuEq (0.6% Cu & 1.9g/t Ag) from 26.4m; 4.9m @ 1.2g/t AuEq (0.2g/t Au, 0.7% Cu & 3.1g/t Ag) from 59.9m; CD-478 (Central Area of the CNWE): 6.5m @ 1.0g/t AuEq (0.2g/t Au, 0.5% Cu & 4.0g/t Ag) from 22.5m; 10.7m @ 1.5g/t AuEq (0.4g/t Au, 0.8% Cu & 3.7g/t Ag) from 51.3m; including: 2.5m @ 4.4g/t AuEq (1.3g/t Au, 2.1% Cu & 13.1g/t Ag) from 59.2m; 4.0m @ 1.1g/t AuEq (0.3g/t Au, 0.5% Cu & 2.3g/t Ag) from 65.0m; 3.1m @ 1.4g/t AuEq (0.4g/t Au, 0.7% Cu & 4.0g/t Ag) from 114.3m; CD-477 (CCZ; twin of JUSPD-484; void from 25.1 - 32.7m): 9.8m @ 1.6g/t AuEq (0.4g/t Au, 0.9% Cu & 4.3g/t Ag) from 47.3m; including: 2.8m @ 3.4g/t AuEq (0.6g/t Au, 1.9% Cu & 10.5g/t Ag) from 54.3m; 5.2m @ 1.6g/t AuEq (0.5g/t
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PAWCATUCK, CT / ACCESSWIRE / June 11, 2024 / Norwest Marine is thrilled to announce the acquisition of Connors & O'Brien Marina, marking the addition of a third facility to its impressive roster, which includes Norwest Marine in Pawcatuck, Connecticut, and Shelter Cove Marina in Charlestown, Rhode Island.Nestled on the beautiful Pawcatuck River, Norwest Marine now stands as the largest full-service marina on the river. The combined marinas of Connors & O'Brien Marina and Norwest Marine offer over 200 boat slips and provide winter storage for over 500 boats.As part of its strategic initiative to expand and diversify its coastal marina portfolio, Norwest Marine identified Connors & O'Brien Marina's proximity to Norwest Marine as a pivotal factor in the acquisition. Located just steps away from each other, the accessibility of these marinas is expected to enhance the experience of best-in-class boating in the region.The acquisition of Connors & O'Brien Marina represents Norwest Marine's second property in Pawcatuck, Connecticut, and its third in the New England region, further solidifying its presence in this boating community."We are thrilled to welcome Connors & O'Brien Marina into our growing portfolio," said the Ownership Group of Norwest Marine, Shelter Cove, and Connors & O'Brien Marina. "The added amenities and ideal location of the property make it the perfect fit for our collection of high-quality marinas." For more information, please contact:Daniel C. BarutiManaging PartnerNorwest MarineEmail: dbaruti@ norwestmarine.com Phone: 860.599.2442About the MarinasThe marinas are leading operators dedicated to providing exceptional service and amenities to their boat owners. With a growing portfolio of marinas across New England, they are committed to enhancing the boating experience and providing a full-service marina experience to their boaters.Norwest Marine, 7 River Rd, Pawcatuck, CT 06379 | 150 slips/60 valetShelter Cove, 523 Charlestown Beach Rd, Charlestown, RI 02813 | 65 slips/55 valetConnors & O'Brien, 197 Mechanic Street, Pawcatuck, CT 06379 | 65 slipsContact InformationDan BarutiManaging Partnerdbaruti@ norwestmarine.com 860.599.2442SOURCE: Norwest MarineView the original press release on newswire.com
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A First-In-Class, Broad-Spectrum Antiviral Agent Intending To Revolutionize Treatment of Viral Infections Including RSV, COVID, Influenzas and MoreSHELTON, CT / ACCESSWIRE / June 11, 2024 / NanoViricides, Inc. (NYSE Amer.:NNVC) (the "Company"), a clinical-stage global leader in broad-spectrum antiviral nanomedicines, reports that its clinical stage lead nanoviricide broad-spectrum antiviral drug candidate, NV-387, results in an ideal flat blood concentration profile for an extended time period upon oral administration in two different animal models.This unusual but highly desirable, extended flat time profile of blood concentration of orally given NV-387 enables sustained antiviral effect over a long period of time, allowing infrequent dosing regimens.The blood concentration of NV-387 increased to a peak in approximately the first hour, and then remained almost constant for eight hours or longer, thereafter, the concentration declined to reach baseline at about twelve hours; upon oral administration of a first dose of NV-387. This was found to be the case in studies involving two different animal models, namely, rats and dogs.After repeated dosings, the plateau of the sixth dose lasted for at least 24 hours, thereafter declining to baseline at about 36 hours, in both the rat and dog animal models.The same plateau profile phenomenon was observed in both male and female animals, as well as in both species of animals, namely, rat and dog.The blood concentration profile of NV-387 is indicative of the formation of a buffering reservoir of the drug in the host that releases the drug at a regular rate into the bloodstream.The Company has recently reported that NV-387, when given as a slow bolus intravenous infusion, was found to result in a relatively flat plateau of blood concentration of the drug with very slow decline over a 24 hour period in a cynomolgus monkey model.The flat time profile of NV-387 indicates that even at very high dosings, its blood concentration is unlikely to result in unwanted side effects. Typical drugs result in a rapid rise in blood concentration of the drug in generally the first hour to a peak, thereafter rapidly exponentially decreasing to baseline in 3-6 hours. In order to ensure that the concentration of the drug is sufficiently high to provide antiviral effect at say 2-4 hours from dosing, the drug dose chosen would be relatively high, and can therefore result in a substantially greater drug concentration in the beginning, which can result in unwanted side effects. Therefore, a sustained, nearly flat drug concentration profile is highly sought-after.In the repeat-dose oral NV-387 administration studies in both rat and dog models cited above, two doses were given on the first day (at 0h and 12h), followed by third dose at 24 h, and then daily doses at 24 hour intervals, for a total of six doses in five days.The Company has previously reported that NV-387 when administered orally resulted in strong antiviral effects in several respiratory viruses. In lethal infections with hCoV- NL63 (a model for SARS-CoV-2, cause of COVID), RSV, as well as Influenza A/H3N2, orally administered NV-387 was found to be superior to approved therapeutics where available.In fact, the Company has found that NV-387 enabled complete cure of RSV infection in the mouse model of lethal lung infection with RSV A2.The Company therefore believes that NV-387 is a first-in-class, broad-spectrum antiviral agent that could be a revolutionary single drug for the treatment of a multitude of respiratory viral infections including RSV, COVID, Influenzas and potentially other viruses.The presented non-clinical studies of pharmacokinetics of orally administered NV-387 provide support that the strong antiviral effect seen in these antiviral animal model efficacy studies is the result of NV-387 circulating in the body and exerting its direct antiviral effects."NV-387 is a unique host-mimetic, direct acting antiviral drug that the virus is highly unlikely to escape," said Anil R. Diwan, Ph.D, President, "We were pleasantly surprised that NV-387 is highly active upon oral administration, and now we have found that this is because it indeed crosses into the bloodstream upon oral administration, enabling systemic antiviral effects." He further explained that, "NV-387 may be the very first or one of very few nanomedicines that are effective upon oral administration. Nanomedicines in general are restricted to injectable or topical delivery. NV-387 is thus unique in this respect." NV-387 has recently completed Phase I human clinical safety tolerability studies with no reported adverse events in India, as the Company has reported previously.About NanoViricidesNanoViricides, Inc. (the "Company") ( www.nanoviricides.com) is a development stage company that is creating special purpose nanomaterials for antiviral therapy. The Company's novel nanoviricide class of drug candidates are designed to specifically attack enveloped virus particles and to dismantle them. Additionally, nanoviricides mimick the host-side features that the viruses continue to require in spite of mutations, and therefore the viruses would be highly unlikely to escape the nanvoricide drugs.Our lead drug candidate is NV-387 (drug product NV-CoV-2) for the treatment of RSV, COVID-19, Long COVID, Influenza, Bird Flu H5N1, and other respiratory viral infections. NV-387 has successfully completed a Phase 1a/1b human clinical trial in healthy subjects with no reported adverse events even at the highest and repeated dosages. This trial was conducted by the drug sponsor, Karveer Meditech Pvt. Ltd., our licensee and collaborator in India.The Company is currently focused on advancing NV-387 into Phase II human clinical trials for treatment of RSV infection.Our other advanced candidate is NV-HHV-1 for the treatment of Shingles rash, HSV-1 "cold sores" and HSV-2 "genital ulcers". The Company cannot project an exact date for filing an IND for any of its drugs because of dependence on a number of external collaborators and consultants.The Company is also developing drugs against a number of viral diseases including oral and genital Herpes, viral diseases of the eye including EKC and herpes keratitis, H1N1 swine flu, H5N1 bird flu, seasonal Influenza, HIV, Hepatitis C, Rabies, Dengue fever, and Ebola virus, among others. NanoViricides' platform technology and programs are based on the TheraCour nanomedicine technology of TheraCour, which TheraCour licenses from AllExcel. NanoViricides holds a worldwide exclusive perpetual license to this technology for several drugs with specific targeting mechanisms in perpetuity for the treatment of the following human viral diseases: Human I
PR-Inside.com: 2024-06-11 15:41:07

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Accelerating global private 5G adoption and driving joint IaaS opportunitiesHACKENSACK, NJ / ACCESSWIRE / June 11, 2024 /Pente Networks, a private wireless network orchestration and management software company, announces the Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (TOKYO:6503) ME Innovation Fund, a corporate venture capital (CVC) fund operated jointly with Global Brain Corporation, has invested in Pente's latest funding round to drive Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) and private 5G network growth in a variety of industries.Mitsubishi Electric Corporation"We are impressed with Pente's unique approach to private 5G network deployment, integration, management and scaling. Our investment, combined with technologies we both possess, provides an opportunity for us to stimulate private wireless network expansion, lead the IaaS market and create many new business opportunities together," says Satoshi Takeda, Executive Officer and CDO, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation.Since the introduction of the HyperCore Cloud in January 2023, Pente has taken private networks from a complex telecom solution that only major enterprises and corporations could take advantage of and transformed it into an award-winning, fast, affordable and easy IT service that System Integrators, Managed Service Providers, WISPs and MNO/MVNOs are actively deploying in a multitude of industries. Today, the Pente HyperCore Cloud platform manages millions of IT-grade SIMs for customers around the globe."We are excited about this strategic investment and the ability to closely collaborate with Mitsubishi Electric," says Avi Cohen, CEO Pente Networks. "With their deep involvement in industrial IoT, defense, manufacturing, shipping and transportation markets, there is a tremendous synergy with our companies, and we look forward to expanding our business in Japan and beyond together." The Pente HyperCore was designed as a no-code solution so anyone, even users without telecom expertise, can quickly set up and operate a private network. Pente's solutions are also RAN agnostic, allowing any base station to be used and enabling plug-and-play deployment. By offering private wireless network solutions such as IaaS, Pente has democratized wireless connectivity for enterprises, government, education, and manufacturing and supports social infrastructure by closing the digital divide.Media Inquiries: Claudia Barbiero, VP Marketing & Strategic Partnerships, Pente NetworksAbout ME Innovation FundMitsubishi Electric Corporation and Global Brain Corporation launched the ME Innovation Fund, a corporate venture capital (CVC) fund, in 2022 to invest and partner with startups around the world that have the potential for creating breakthrough innovations. In addition to financing, the fund provides wide-ranging business knowledge and management support as well as creates collaborative technology and partnership opportunities. The fund has a commitment to invest 5 billion yen in capital over the next 10 years.About Mitsubishi Electric CorporationWith more than 100 years of experience in providing reliable, high-quality products, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (TOKYO: 6503) is a recognized world leader in the manufacture, marketing and sales of electrical and electronic equipment used in information processing and communications, space development and satellite communications, consumer electronics, industrial technology, energy, transportation and building equipment. Mitsubishi Electric enriches society with technology in the spirit of its "Changes for the Better." The company recorded a revenue of 5,003.6 billion yen (U.S.$ 37.3 billion*) in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2023. For more information: www.MitsubishiElectric.com *U.S. dollar amounts are translated from yen at the rate of 134=U.S.$1, the approximate rate on the Tokyo Foreign Exchange Market on March 31, 2023About Global Brain CorporationGlobal Brain is an independent venture capital firm that supports startups on a global scale and aims to create new industries through intensive hands-on support, global ecosystem, and open innovation between startups and large corporations. We manage Corporate Venture Capital funds with eight leading companies in each industry and our flagship funds, with assets under management exceeding 170 billion yen.Contact InformationClaudia BarbieroVP Marketing and Strategic Partnerships, Pente Networksclaudia@ pentenetworks.com Public Relations Division Mitsubishi Electric Corporationwww.MitsubishiElectric.com/newsprd.gnews@nk.mitsubishielectric.co.jp Related ImagesMitsubishi Electric CorporationPente NetworksSOURCE: Pente NetworksView the original press release on newswire.com
PR-Inside.com: 2024-06-11 12:00:22

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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / June 11, 2024 /SNOWLINE GOLD CORP. (TSX-V:SGD)(OTCQB:SNWGF) (the "Company" or "Snowline") is pleased to announce the immediate appointment of Mr. Gil Lawson to the Board of Directors as an independent director.Gil Lawson is an experienced mining professional engineer with over 38 years of experience in project development, mine planning, and mine management. Between 1986 and 2020 he held a number of increasingly senior technical and leadership roles at Placer Dome Inc., De Beers Canada, and Goldcorp Inc., including the management of the Musselwhite, Campbell and Snap Lake mines. Between 2017 and 2020 he served as Chief Operating Officer of TMAC Resources, then interim General Manager for Kinross Gold Corporation's Tasiast Mine in Mauritania, and most recently as Chief Operating Officer for Calibre Mining Corporation's Valentine Gold Project. Mr. Lawson's past Board experience includes serving as an independent director for Great Bear Resources where he helped guide the successful sale of the company to Kinross. Mr. Lawson holds a Bachelor of Mining Engineering from McGill University in Montreal, Quebec.Snowline Gold Board Chair Craig Hart stated that "Mr. Lawson's appointment will bring valuable experience, skill sets and new perspectives to the Board as well as adding technical strength in project development which is increasingly relevant to Snowline's growth." Mr. Lawson indicated "I am excited to join the Snowline Gold team as an Independent Director and to work towards advancing this exciting project in Canada's newest gold district. I look forward to adding to the technical excellence of this fast-growing and dynamic team, and ensuring that Snowline's guiding principles of environmental respect, building community, going big and doing things right, shape the future".Snowline Gold CEO Scott Berdahl concluded "We are pleased to welcome Gil Lawson to Snowline's Board of Directors. His appointment adds a significant new dimension that will help to guide our company. His depth of experience in planning, developing and operating mines is highly relevant as we work to explore, expand, and advance our flagship Valley discovery." ABOUT SNOWLINE GOLD CORP.Snowline Gold Corp. is a Yukon Territory focused gold exploration company with a seventeen-project portfolio covering >360,000 ha (>3,600 km2). The Company is exploring its flagship >110,000 ha (>1,100 km2) Rogue gold project in the highly prospective yet underexplored Selwyn Basin. Snowline's project portfolio sits within the prolific Tintina Gold Province, host to multiple million-ounce-plus gold mines and deposits including Kinross' Fort Knox Mine, Newmont's Coffee deposit, and Victoria Gold's Eagle Mine. The Company's first-mover position and extensive database provide a unique opportunity for investors to be part of multiple discoveries and the creation of a new gold district.ON BEHALF OF THE BOARDCraig J.R. HartIndependent Board ChairFor further information, please contact:Snowline Gold Corp.+1 778 650 5485 info@ snowlinegold.com CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTSThis news release contains certain forward-looking statements, including statements about the Company's drill program, results, implied significance of visual inspection of drill core, and surface work and plans for exploring and expanding a new greenfield, district-scale gold system. Wherever possible, words such as "may", "will", "should", "could", "expect", "plan", "intend", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "predict" or "potential" or the negative or other variations of these words, or similar words or phrases, have been used to identify these forward-looking statements. These statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on information currently available to management as at the date hereof.Forward-looking statements involve significant risk, uncertainties and assumptions. Many factors could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from the results discussed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among other things: risks related to uncertainties inherent in drill results and the estimation of mineral resources; and risks associated with executing the Company's plans and intentions. These factors should be considered carefully, and readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what management believes to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure readers that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release, and the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by law.
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TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / June 10, 2024 /SPETZ INC. (the "Company" or "Spetz") (CSE:SPTZ)(OTC PINK:DBKSF) today is pleased to announce it is continuing to improve its cash flow through a debt conversion plan. This plan allows selected vendors and creditors to convert outstanding payments into secured convertible debentures maturing on October 31, 2024 (the "Debentures") and common share purchase warrants ("Warrants").The plan includes the following conversions:Yossi Nevo - 367,523.91 CAD. Ofir Friedman - 119,278 CAD. Miller Thomson LLP- 104,324.3 CAD.The Debentures shall bear interest at a rate of 1% per month, the interest shall be calculated from the issue date, in cash on the maturity date. Spetz reserves the right to repay the Debentures, without penalty, in whole or in part, prior to the Maturity Date, on 30 days prior written notice to the holders of the Debentures in advance of repayment or redemption.The principal amount of each Debenture shall be convertible, for no additional consideration, into Common Shares at the option of the holder at any time prior to the Maturity Date at a conversion price equal to $0.24 per Common Share (the "Conversion Price").In connection with the offering of Debentures, the Company has issued a total of 296,735 Warrants to Yossi Nevo and Ofir Friedman. Each Warrant entitles the holder thereof to subscribe for one common share in the capital of Spetz at an exercise price of $0.24 from the date of issuance continuing up to October 31, 2026.The debentures issued to Yossi Nevo and Ofir Friedman are for the settlement of outstanding salary. The debenture issued to Miller Thomson LLP is for the settlement of outstanding consulting fees.The proceeds from this conversion plan will be used for general working capital purposes, further strengthening Spetz's financial position.About Spetz Inc.Spetz Inc. is a multinational technology company that operates Spetz, a global online, AI-powered marketplace platform that dynamically connects consumers to nearby top-rated service providers in around 30 seconds. Spetz is available in the USA, United Kingdom, Australia, and Israel. The Spetz vision is to reinvent how people around the world connect to services in their moment of need. Connecting them immediately with the top-matched service provider for any need, anytime, anywhere.Spetz Website: www.spetz.app Spetz Investor information: https://investor.spetz.app/ Company Contacts:Ofir FriedmanDirector and Chief Marketing OfficerInvestor RelationsEmail:Investors@ spetz.app Email:ofir@ spetz.app Phone: 647-956-6033NEITHER THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE, NOR THEIR REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDERS HAVE REVIEWED OR ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking StatementsCertain information herein constitutes "forward-looking information" as defined under Canadian securities laws, which reflect management's expectations regarding objectives, plans, goals, strategies, future growth, results of operations, performance, business prospects and opportunities of the Company. The words "plans", "expects", "does not expect", "scheduled", "estimates", "intends", "anticipates", "does not anticipate", "projects", "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or statements to the effect that certain actions, events or results "may", "will", "could", "would", "might", "occur", "be achieved", or "continue" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by the inherent risks and uncertainties surrounding future expectations.Forward-looking statements are necessarily based on a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management as of the date hereof, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. When relying on forward-looking statements to make decisions, the Company cautions readers not to place undue reliance on these statements, as forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties and should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be accurate indications of whether or not the times at or by which such performance or results will be achieved. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ, possibly materially, from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements.SOURCE: Spetz Inc.
Kayla Heagney, 29, was rushed to hospital after starting to feel intense pain across her stomach. But it wasn't long before she made a painful dash to Australia.

Kayla Heagney and Nicola Fox were on holiday in Bali when Kayla began to get intense pain in her stomach. Source: Supplied

They went to Bali to make memories  but not like this.

What was supposed to be a relaxing family getaway turned into a medical nightmare for one Aussie woman who claims hospital staff in Bali were "barely" keeping her alive while her partner fought with their insurer to cover the cost of her medical bills while she lay in "agonising" pain.

Kayla Heagney, 29, travelled from Newcastle to Bali with her partner Nicola Fox, 30, and two-year old son. But last week, just a few days into their trip, she began to feel "pain across the middle of my belly".

As the pain intensified, they rushed to hospital where Kayla was immediately ushered into a bed in the intensive care unit.

"The doctor said there was something seriously wrong with my pancreas, I needed a procedure done immediately and if I didn't then the worst outcome would happen," Kayla told Yahoo News.

Fearing the worst, the couple paid an initial upfront cost of $500 so Kayla could receive treatment.

The couple thought Kayla might die while in hospital in Bali. Source: Supplied

Woman claims she was 'pinned' to hospital bed

The couple stayed in the hospital for over 24 hours and described Kayla's treatment as "inhumane". They believe medical staff were only doing the bare minimum to keep Kayla alive, putting a feeding tube down her nose against her will and giving her medication without explaining to her what it was.

"They pinned her down on the bed and she was vomiting everywhere. Vomit was coming out of her nose through the tube, it was coming from her mouth. The doctor and nurse just threw paper towels at me and left, I had to clean the vomit off her chest," Nicola said.

Given she was hooked up to so many tubes, Kayla claims she was unable to get up and use the bathroom and was given little to eat or drink by hospital staff.

Meanwhile Nicola pleaded with their travel insurance company in Australia over the phone. But with no action in sight, and the pair at this point incurring $5,000 in hospital fees, they went against Balinese medical advice and discharged Kayla in a desperate attempt to get home.

"I was so desperate to get back and get the help I needed here in Australia. So I just used all my strength to hold it together," Kayla said. "I thought I was going to die."

The couple have travelled to Bali previously, but the latest trip turned into a nightmare. Source: Instagram

After the six hour plane journey and two hour car ride back to Newcastle from Sydney, they got Kayla into a hospital where staff confirmed she had acute pancreatitis. Aussie doctors said much of the treatment she received in Bali was not needed, while vital hydration measures simply weren't taken.

Couple's warning to Aussie tourists heading to Bali

The couple, who have both been to Bali numerous times, are now unsure if they would go back after the "traumatic" experience.

"What we experienced in the hospital is definitely not a reflection of the Bali that we know and love... our whole aim is to educate others," Nicola said. "I think it's just really making sure that you are so stringent with insurance. I thought that buying a comprehensive cover was enough.

"We were fortunate that we did have a little bit of money to fall back on, but that money quickly ran out... get the right cover."

The couple says they had taken out insurance with Budget Direct but the insurer was initially unwilling to pay for the medical costs upfront and Kayla and Nicole say they were advised if they left the hospital against medical advice it would potentially void any claim they might make.

When contacted by Yahoo, the company said it couldn't comment on specific cases citing "customer privacy considerations".

"We strive to approach all claims in a fair manner, in line with the terms of our policies while considering the safety of our customers during events. We are now expediting the review of this claim which we received on June 9th," a Budget Direct spokesperson said.

When searching for the right travel insurance an expert urged Australians to read the fine print and make sure all related factors, such as age and pre-existing health illnesses of the traveller, are covered in the plan chosen.

"Comprehensive travel insurance policies differ [so] it's important to take note that not all policies offer the same cover, and some may restrict or exclude certain activities and benefits," 1Cover spokesperson, Natalie Smith told Yahoo News last week. "See if your chosen insurer offers an emergency assistance service. A 24-hour assistance hotline can be hugely beneficial when experiencing a crisis abroad."

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

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PR-Inside.com: 2024-06-11 21:10:30

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ESTES PARK, CO / ACCESSWIRE / June 11, 2024 / Taranis Resources Inc. ("Taranis" or the "Company") ( TSX.V:TRO)(OTCQB:TNREF) is providing an update on its 2024 exploration program at Thor.Deep Drilling ProgramThe Company has engaged Atlas Diamond Drilling ("Atlas", of Kamloops, British Columbia) to conduct drilling at Thor on several deep-seated drill targets. Atlas completed drilling in 2018 at Thor and is familiar with the terrain and project conditions.There are two primary targets that will be explored with deep drilling; both having the potential to discover large, bulk mineable deposits:Intrusive Target - A large 1,300 m x 1,000 m diameter priapic-shaped magnetic-low capped by a magnetite-rich cupola. Limited outcropping related to the periphery of this feature in Broadview Creek show extensive epidote and chlorite alteration accompanied by banded magnetite and amphibole minerals. This unit is also characterized by potassium enrichment, and various feldspar minerals including plagioclase and orthoclase.Tusks - Two conductive features approximately 3 km long each are spatially located around the Intrusive Target. The conductive Tusks do not outcrop at surface, and their geometric disposition suggests they are hypogene alteration related to the Intrusive Target, such as carbonate and sulfide mineralization. These conductive Tusks frequently exhibit bulges upwards into areas of high-grade mineralization such as at the Broadview Mine suggestive of a connection between the epithermal mineralization, the Tusks and also the intrusive Target. About Taranis and ThorTaranis Resources Inc. is a Canadian mineral exploration company. The Thor Project is located in southeast British Columbia, and is comprised of 3,807 hectares of Mineral Tenures and 27 Crown Grant titles to precious and base minerals, many of which include surface rights. Thor is a brownfield mine site, having been mined on a small-scale since as early as 1896. Taranis has demonstrated via extensive diamond drilling that the historical mines are connected as part of a much larger mineralized system. Taranis has completed upwards of 250 drill holes and linked all of the previously known mines into a single, near-surface epithermal deposit that has been recently updated into a NI 43-101 Mineral Resource Estimate. Taranis is now undertaking deep drilling which aims to prove or disprove the presence of a large intrusion-related deposit connected to the known near-surface epithermal veins. Such linked epithermal-porphyry deposits are often world-class sources of critical and precious metals.Qualified PersonExploration activities at Thor were overseen by John Gardiner (P. Geo.), who is a Qualified Person under the meaning of Canadian National Instrument 43-101. John Gardiner is a principal of John J. Gardiner & Associates, LLC which operates in British Columbia under Firm Permit Number 1002256. Mr. Gardiner has reviewed and approved the comments contained within this News Release.For additional information on Taranis or its 100%-owned Thor project in British Columbia, visit www.taranisresources.com Taranis currently has 97,087,027 shares issued and outstanding (109,262,027 shares on a fully-diluted basis).TARANIS RESOURCES INC.Per: John J. Gardiner (P. Geo.)President and CEOFor further information contact:John J. Gardiner681 Conifer LaneEstes Park, Colorado 80517Phone: (303) 716-5922Cell: (720) 209-3049 johnjgardiner@ earthlink.net NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS NEWS RELEASE.This News Release may contain forward looking statements based on assumptions and judgments of management regarding future events or results that may prove to be inaccurate as a result of factors beyond its control, and actual results may differ materially from expected results.SOURCE: Taranis Resources, Inc.
PR-Inside.com: 2024-06-11 16:02:19

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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / June 11, 2024 / Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC is investigating potential claims on behalf of purchasers of Toyota Motor Corp Ltd Ord ("Toyota" or "the Company") (NYSE:TM). Investors who purchased Toyota securities are encouraged to obtain additional information and assist the investigation by visiting the firm's site: bgandg.com/TM Investigation Details:On June 3, 2024, The New York Times published an article, "Toyota and Other Japanese Carmakers Say They Mishandled Safety Tests" which stated that "Toyota Motor [. . .] and other top Japanese automakers said on Monday that internal investigations found they had mishandled vehicle testing on dozens of models over the past decade." The article continued to state that "Toyota said it had failed to gather proper data when doing pedestrian and occupant safety tests for three models, including its popular Yaris Cross sport utility vehicle." Following this news, Toyota American Depositary Shares ("ADSs") fell by $5.34 per ADS, or 2.5%, to close at $212.17 on June 3, 2024.What's Next?If you are aware of any facts relating to this investigation or purchased Toyota securities, you can assist this investigation by visiting the firm's site: bgandg.com/TM . You can also contact Peretz Bronstein or his client relations manager, Nathan Miller, of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC: 332-239-2660.There is No Cost to YouWe represent investors in class actions on a contingency fee basis. That means we will ask the court to reimburse us for out-of-pocket expenses and attorneys' fees, usually a percentage of the total recovery, only if we are successful.Why Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman:Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC is a nationally recognized firm that represents investors in securities fraud class actions and shareholder derivative suits. Our firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors nationwide.Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.CONTACT: Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLCPeretz Bronstein or Nathan Miller,332-239-2660 | info@ bgandg.com SOURCE: Bronstein, Gewirtz and Grossman, LLC
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Lloydminster Well Performance:Shipped 6,203 barrels (bbl) of oil for the month of May. Average daily production rate: 185 bbl/d gross (37.5 bbl/d net) to the Company. Represents an 18.75% working interest ownership.Production Milestone:Production shipping and sales commenced on October 6th, 2023. The 7HZ well has produced over 51,439 bbl of oil. Exceeded the 50,000-barrel production benchmark.Upcoming Drilling Plans:New multilateral well drill is expected to contact over 3,000 meters of oil reservoir in the General Petroleum sand. Spud date to be announced once final permitting is received from the Alberta Energy Regulator ("AER").VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / June 11, 2024 /Trans Canada Gold Corp. (TSXV:TTG)(OTCQB:RCTRF) ("Trans Canada" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that the Company has the results of the eighth (8) full month of oil production, trucking and oil sales to purchasers Altex and Cenovus Energy Ltd. The Lloydminster well has shipped 6,203 barrels (bbl) for the month of May and produced at an average daily rate of 185 bbl/d gross (37.5 bbl/d net) to the Company since being placed on production, representing its 18.75% working interest ownership. Production shipping and sales commenced on the newly drilled well on October 6th, 2023, and the well has now produced over 51,439 bbl and exceeded the 50,000-barrel production benchmark of consistent steady oil production with its multilateral well. Croverro Energy Ltd. is the Operator.The Company has strengthened its land position and completed the purchase of two land and lease acquisitions pursuant to an AMI ("Area of Mutual Interest") in a Farmout Agreement ("Farmout") dated November 1, 2022. This new multilateral well is expected to contact over 3000 meters of oil reservoir in the General Petroleum Sand. The spud date will be announced once final permitting has been received from the Alberta Energy Regulator ("AER").Commented Tim Coupland, "We have now successfully produced over eight (8) months of steady oil production and reached the 50,000-barrel production benchmark. With the completion of the land acquisition, and utilizing our technical proficiency and drilling expertise, we now look forward to drilling our second multilateral well this summer. With global oil prices steadily increasing and the TMX pipeline now opened to start shipping oil, world oil prices are forecasted to remain high which will allow the Company to pursue additional drilling opportunities and new acquisitions." "The Croverro 7HZ Oil Well, producing over 51,439 barrels and surpassing the 50,000-barrel benchmark, underscores the effectiveness of our multilateral drilling approach," said Christian Timmins, Director of Trans Canada Gold Corp. "Multilateral wells enable us to access more oil with fewer surface disturbances while maintaining low operational costs, growing production through land acquisition and drilling." The Company continues to explore additional exploration drilling opportunities in Canada and the United States.ABOUT TRANS CANADA GOLD CORP. - OIL AND GAS PRODUCTION/REVENUE PRODUCING WELLSThe Company is a discovery focused Oil & Gas Resource Development and Mineral Exploration Company that is currently focused on developing and drilling its' production of conventional heavy oil exploration properties, increasing production capabilities, and increasing future oil production revenues through responsible exploration. The Company identifies, acquires and finances with its working interest partners, the ongoing development of oil and gas assets primarily situated in Alberta Canada. The Company has qualified Senior exploration management and Geological teams of professionals, seasoned in exploration production, field exploration and drilling. The Company currently works with Croverro Energy Ltd., who has demonstrated proficiency, expected of an experienced oil and gas technical team that has proven oil production, and revenue success with large multi-lateral wells currently under their supervision. The Company has the necessary manpower in place to develop its natural resource properties and manage its production properties. The Company is committed to minimizing risk through selective property acquisitions, and responsible exploration drilling, and maximizing long term petroleum and natural gas resource assets.FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:Tim Coupland, President and CEOTrans Canada Gold Corp.Tel: (604) 681-3131 astar@ telus.comwww.transcanadagold.com orChristian Timmins, DirectorTrans Canada Gold Corp.Tel: (403) 597-3410Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider, (as the term is defined in the Policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.SOURCE: Trans Canada Gold Corp.
PR-Inside.com: 2024-06-11 22:51:53

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WINDHOEK, KHOMAS / ACCESSWIRE / July 11, 2024 / Trustco Group Holdings Limited ( TTO.SJ) today announced a landmark agreement to convert NAD 4.4 billion (USD 235 million) of debt into equity, paving the way for a planned USD 100 million capital raise in the US markets. The agreement is expected to increase Trustco's net asset value by approximately NAD 1.5 billion (USD 79 million)."This recapitalization is a crucial step towards achieving our growth ambitions as well as complementing our current round of fundraising in the US markets," said Quinton Z. van Rooyen, Deputy CEO of Trustco Group. "Trustco will be well-positioned to attract further strategic investors and create long-term value for our investors after freeing up its balance sheet." Quinton Z. van Rooyen, Deputy CEO of Trustco Group The conversion is also a significant statement of support from the founding family, demonstrating confidence in Trustco's growth plans and strategy. In terms of the conversion agreement, the debt owed to Next Capital and Dr Quinton van Rooyen will be exchanged for new ordinary Trustco shares at a price of NAD 1.17 (USD 0.06) per share, a 350% premium over Trustco's 90-Day Volume Weighted Average Price. This pricing aligns with the Company's audited net asset value per share as of August 31, 2023, and is contingent on obtaining shareholder and regulatory clearances which will include an independent fairness opinion to ensure the transaction's execution aligns with best governance practices.This transaction is the latest development in Trustco's ongoing efforts aimed at strengthening its overall market presence. The previously announced agreement with Riskowitz Value Fund, forming part of a planned USD 100 million capital raise in the US markets, reinforces Trustco's growth trajectory and investment strategy. This influx of capital from two long-standing shareholders, including the founding family, underscores the confidence in the company's approach.Trustco is also increasing its stake in the insurance and real estate portfolios in Namibia. The planned acquisition of an additional 11.35% stake in Legal Shield Holdings will increase Trustco's ownership to 91.35%, with a NAD 468 million (USD 25 million) equity transaction.Concurrently, Trustco's mining investment in West Africa has revealed promising diamond resource estimates prepared by an independent Competent Person. With an estimated in-situ value of USD 763 million, the Meya River Kimberlite Dyke represents less than 5% of the total combined strike lengths of the kimberlite domains within Meya Mining's licensed Area.With a deleveraged balance sheet, Trustco can accelerate its diversification strategy to create value across its multi-sector investment portfolio. Backed by the support of the long-time anchor investors, including the founding family, Trustco has revealed a robust foundation for continued success going forward.About Trustco:Trustco Group Holdings Ltd is an investment entity headquartered in Windhoek, Namibia, which manages a diverse portfolio of investments spanning the insurance, real estate, commercial banking, micro-finance, education and mining sectors. Decisions are biased towards long-term investment performance and short-term hurdles are viewed as catalysts for future growth.Historically, Trustco's investment portfolio has delivered exceptional returns with a CAGR of 68.97% since 1992, with a well-balanced asset mix, with a current average weighting of 34% in US Dollar based assets, while the remaining 66% is invested in Namibia Dollar (1 NAD = 1 ZAR) based assets. Trustco enjoys the backing of a wide range of coinvestors, including 3 610 from Namibia, 1 443 from abroad, and 94 from institutional entities.About Namibia:Namibia is a Southern African country with a population of approximately 3 million and a GDP per capita of USD 5 031 in 2022. The country's economy expanded by 4.2% in 2023 and is projected to expand by 3.7% in 2024, following a recovery of 5.3% in 2022 from the COVID-19 pandemic. With its wealth of natural resources, pro-business environment and increasingly skilled workforce, Namibia offers attractive investment prospects across all sectors.Media ContactOrganization: Trustco Group HoldingsContact Person: Neville BassonWebsite: https://www.tgh.na Email: NevilleB@ tgh.na Contact Number: +264612754501Address: 2 Keller Street, Trustco HouseAddress 2: WindhoekCity: WindhoekState: KhomasCountry: NamibiaSOURCE: Trustco Group Holdings
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RALEIGH, NC / ACCESSWIRE / June 11, 2024 / Sky Cell AG, founded in Switzerland, continues paving the way for sustainable Pharma Logistics. With an industry-leading temperature excursion rate of less than 0.05%, their hybrid container solutions set a whole new standard for excellence.Their hybrid containers (pictured below), maintain inner temperatures for up to 270 hours, all while prioritizing sustainability. Head over to the SkyCell website to learn about their progress towards net-zero by 2040.Working with such a great company with aligning values as Uniphar Logistics has been a pleasure and we can't wait to be a partner in their success and watch them grow over the next several years.Uniphar Logistics, part of the Uniphar Group of companies understands what manufacturers require to be successful in setting up a global supply chain, with our focus on excellence in quality systems, real-time IT solutions, and worldwide stock locations for our Life science customers. Not only do we offer third-party logistics services and back-office support, but Uniphar MedTech also distributes medical products in the EU that can provide a sales channel in multiple countries, for our medical device manufacturers.The Company's vision is to improve patient access to pharmaco-medical products and treatments by enhancing connectivity between manufacturers and healthcare stakeholders. Ger Rabbette, CEO said, "The US market is a huge potential for Uniphar so expanding with a flagship location in North Carolina and bringing in Kay to join alongside Rick to execute our vision as a global leader for our manufacturers." About Uniphar Logistics: We're proudly part of the Uniphar Group, a global leader in life sciences and pharmaceutical distribution with a 2.1 billion footprint. Our ultramodern 65,000 square foot 3PL warehouse in Raleigh, North Carolina, represents our commitment to excellence. This East Coast Hub efficiently serves Uniphar's worldwide life science clients and North American manufacturers, boasting ground coverage to reach 70% of the population within two days. With cutting-edge temperature-controlled storage, including cold chain capabilities, and comprehensive warehousing services, we're dedicated to offering top-tier logistics, technical support, and repairs tailored for the life science industry.Facility Highlights:  Temperature Controlled  ISO 13485 Certified  Service & Repair  24/7 Temperature Monitoring  Kitting  Returns and Reverse Logistics Management  Value-Added Services (VAS)  Re-Labeling  Customer Service  Web Order Entry  Advanced Inventory Management  eAdvanced Shipping Notice  EDI/API Integration  36 ft ceilings  Back-up generator Cold ChainPress Contact: Peyton Kelly info@ unipharlogistics.com SOURCE: Uniphar Logistics
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Created in 2022 by Lawn & Landscape magazine and Best Companies Group, the comprehensive survey and awards program identifies, recognizes and honors the best places of employment in the landscaping industry.CHICAGO, IL / ACCESSWIRE / June 11, 2024 /Visterra Landscape Group, a premier commercial landscaping platform, today announced it has been named a winner in Lawn & Landscape's 2024 Best Places to Work. Ranked sixth in the Large Employer category, Visterra and peer companies are spotlighted in the June 2024 edition of Lawn & Landscape, and will be formally recognized at Lawn & Landscape's Executive Summit and Awards Dinner July 23 in Atlanta.Participating companies were evaluated on workplace policies, practices, and demographics, approximately 25 percent of the total evaluation, and a comprehensive employee survey to measure the employee experience, worth approximately 75 percent of the total evaluation. Best Companies Group managed the overall registration and survey process, analyzed the data and used their expertise to determine the final rankings."Once again, this contest shows the amount of fantastic and professional companies the lawn care and landscape industries have to offer," says Brian Horn, editor, Lawn & Landscape magazine. "These entries get better and better every year, and we are excited to be able to share these stories." Visterra CEO Alan Handley heralded the announcement as a significant and early validation of employee satisfaction, culture, and purpose across Visterra's growing commercial landscaping platform."Earning a place on Lawn & Landscape's coveted Best Places to Work ranking serves as a valuable gauge on the workplace culture we are building at Visterra, and affirms to our employees, customers and stakeholders that Visterra provides not only an exceptional workplace but an outstanding pathway to a successful career in commercial landscaping," Handley said. "We are grateful to land such a high-profile industry honor and thank Lawn & Landscape and Best Companies for their independence and rigid due diligence in the selection process." To be considered for participation, companies had to fulfill the following eligibility requirements:Have 50 percent or more of revenue coming from landscaping services, which includes maintenance, chemical lawn care, irrigation, design/build, hardscapes, tree care and interior landscaping, landscape lighting Be a publicly or privately held business Be a for-profit or not-for-profit business Be based in the U.S. or Canada Have a minimum of 15 full-time or part-time employees working in the U.S. or Canada Must be in business a minimum of 1 year Be willing to be featured in Lawn & Landscape magazine in print and/or online, if your company ranks on the Best Landscape and Lawn Care Companies to Work For lists. ABOUT VISTERRA LANDSCAPE GROUPVisterra Landscape Group is a premier commercial landscaping platform, safely delivering expert landscape maintenance, enhancement, construction, and critical winter services with a reputation for excellence in client service. With incumbent partner leaders guiding day-to-day operations, Visterra continues to grow its platform with a team that prioritizes employee well-being, safety, and career opportunities. Visterra partner companies include Riverside Services serving greater Boston; Dyna-Mist serving north Texas; and Oberson's and GroundsPRO serving Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana. For more information, visit www.vlgllc.com For more information on the 2024Lawn and Landscape's Best Places to Workprogram, visit www.bestcompanieslandscapeandlawncare.com or contact Madelyne Barroso at MBarroso@ BestCompaniesGroup.com ###Contact: media@ vlgllc.com SOURCE: Visterra Landscape Group
The House of Representatives has asked the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to investigate the leadership and management of the failed Heritage Bank to identify possible mismanagement or wrongdoing that may have contributed to the banks failure.

It also directed its Committee on Banking Regulations to probe the circumstances surrounding the failure of the bank.

The resolutions followed a motion of urgent public importance moved by Uchenna Okonkwo (LP, Anambra) on Tuesday during plenary.

Background

The CBN on 3 June revoked the llicence f the bank, citing its violation of Section 12 (1) of the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act (BOFIA), 2020.

Consequently, the CBN appointed Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) as the liquidator, pursuant to Section 12(2) of BOFIA, 2020.

The NDIC announced that depositors of the bank who have alternate accounts within the industry will be paid up to the insured amount of N5 million per depositor using their Bank Verification Number (BVN) to locate their alternate account.

Depositors with funds in excess of N5 million are to be paid liquidation dividends upon realisation of the banks assets and recovery of debts owed to the bank.

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The motion

In the motion, Mr Okonkwo said the liquidation process could disproportionately affect some depositors who have above the N5 million threshold.

He noted that limiting compensation to N5 million is deeply inadequate to alleviate the substantial losses experienced by depositors who had placed their trust in Heritage Bank, exacerbating their financial distress and uncertainty.

The lawmaker said the CBN failed to disclose the status of the bank to the public, in order for depositors to take adequate action.

This lack of transparency has not only eroded public trust in the banking system and regulatory bodies but has also intensified the distress and uncertainty faced by depositors who relied on the bank for their financial security, Mr Okonkwo said.

Without debate, Speaker Abbas Tajudeen put the motion to a voice vote and it was unanimously adopted.

Consequently, the House resolved to:

-Urge the Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) to conduct a comprehensive review of its operations and the effectiveness of its mandate to ensure that it is adequately equipped and resourced to fulfill its role as deposit insurer and investor of failed banks;

-Urge the National Assembly to strongly advocate for fair and compassionate compensation for depositors who have been adversely affected by the unfortunate failure of Heritage Bank. This may entail respectfully;

-Urge the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) conduct a thorough investigation of the leadership and management of Heritage Bank to identify any possible issues of mismanagement or wrongdoing that may have contributed to the banks failure;

-Urge the Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) and other pertinent authorities to carefully reassess the current compensation scheme, with a view to offering more meaningful relief to depositors who have experienced substantial financial losses;

-Urge the Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) on limitations of the current deposit insurance coverage, the Federal House Of Representatives should consider regulatory amendments to increase the maximum insured amount to better protect depositors interests. This adjustment would provide greater financial security for depositors in the event of bank failures;

-Urge the Federal Government of Nigeria on establishment of a robust and well-funded depositors protection fund to provide greater financial security and assurance for depositors in the event of bank failures, and to facilitate timely and fair compensation for affected depositors;

READ ALSO: Heritage Bank customers throng headquarters for payment

-Urge the Committee on Banking Regulations on promoting public awareness and education campaigns to inform citizens about the risks associated with banking and the importance of diversifying their financial holdings. This initiative aims to empower depositors to make informed decisions about their banking relationships and safeguard their financial well-being;

-And mandate the Committee on Banking Regulations in Collaboration with other relevant bodies to set up an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the Heritage Bank case.

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The African Development Bank (www.AfDB.org) has appointed Chioma Onukogu as the Director of Board Affairs and Proceedings in the Office of the Secretary General and the General Secretariat, effective 16th April 2024.

Ms Onukogu, a Nigerian national, brings over 25 years of expertise in corporate governance and international development cooperation. Her extensive experience includes maintaining the integrity of the banks governance structures, resource mobilization and partnerships, managing country operations portfolios, and organizing high-level events.

Before this appointment, Ms Onukogu was the Chief Board Programme and Quality Control Coordinator and Acting Director, Board Affairs and Proceedings, effectively supporting the Secretary General in ensuring a high-performing General Secretariat.

Previously, Ms Onukogu was a Principal Resource Mobilization and Partnerships Officer, preparing key documents for the Mid-Term Review of ADF-13 and the ADF-14 replenishment, mobilizing trust fund resources, and managing partnerships. She also served as Country Programme Officer for Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, Swaziland, and Zimbabwe, coordinating the preparation of Country Strategy Papers and monitoring the Banks portfolio in these countries.

She holds a masters degree in Corporate and Commercial Law from the University of London, a masters degree in international law and diplomacy from the University of Lagos, a Graduate Diploma in Law from the University of Law, London, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Lagos.

Commenting on her appointment, Ms Onukogu said: I thank President Adesina for his leadership, and I am grateful to him for the trust and confidence reposed in me by this appointment. I look forward to working under the leadership of the Secretary General in facilitating the decision-making processes of the governance organs of the Bank and forging better working relationships with the shareholders in their joint effort to deliver high-quality operations in support of the vision of an Africa that is prosperous, inclusive, resilient and integrated.

Akinwumi Adesina, president of the African Development Bank, said: Ms Onukogu is a well-tested hand at the Bank with good and blended work experience, having served in several key Departments across the Bank. Her strong experience in upholding the integrity of institutional and corporate governance structures of the Bank coupled with a strong institutional memory will be very useful in this role.

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The President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has said that Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly known as petrol, refined at the Dangote Refinery, will hit the market by July.

Mr Dangote disclosed this when he received a Senate delegation led by Senate President Godswill Akpabio on a tour of the facility in Lagos on Sunday.

He explained that the date change was due to a delay that prompted the shift from the originally proposed date of June to mid-July.

We had a bit of delay, but PMS will start coming out by the 10th to 15th of July. But then we want to keep it in the tank to make sure that it settles. So by the third week of July, well be able to come out to take it into the market, Mr Dangote said.

The 650,000 barrels per day Dangote Petroleum Refinery commenced production of diesel and aviation fuel in January.

Announcing the commencement of production, the company said the refinery had received six million barrels of crude oil at its two SPMs 25 kilometres from the shore.

The first crude delivery was done on 12 December 2023, and the sixth cargo was delivered on 8 January.

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The company made a further move towards the commencement of the production of refined petroleum products with the receipt of an additional one million barrels of bonny light crude supplied by the Nigeria National Petroleum Company (NNPC Ltd).

Earlier in April, the company commenced supplying petroleum products to the local market.

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The wreck of a plane carrying Malawis Vice President Saulos Chilima has been found with no survivors, President Lazarus Chakwera said on Tuesday.

Mr Chilima and nine others were flying within the country on Monday morning when their aircraft disappeared from airport radars.

The plane, a military aircraft, was flying in bad weather, according to aviation authorities.

Soldiers had been searching Chikangawa Forest overnight and into the morning in an effort to find the plane, according to the BBC.

By Tuesday afternoon, President Chakwera said the Malawi Defence Force commander informed him that the search and rescue operation had been completed and the plane was found.

Mr Chakwera said he was deeply saddened and sorry to inform Malawians of the terrible tragedy.

He said the rescue team found the aircraft completely destroyed.

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The president declared Tuesday a national day of mourning.

Unfortunately, all on board have perished in the crash, the Office of the President said in a statement.

Mr Chilima, 51, was on his way to represent the government at the burial of former cabinet minister Ralph Kasambara, who died three days ago.

Mr Chakwera paid tribute to Mr Chilima, describing him as a good man, devoted father and formidable VP.

I consider it one of the great honours of my life to have had him as a deputy and as a counsellor, he added.

Former First Lady Shanil Dzimbiri was also on the flight, which took off from the capital, Lilongwe, on Monday morning, the BBC reports.

The military is transporting the remains of Mr Chiima and the other victims to the nations capital and funeral arrangements will be announced in due course, the president said.

Mr Chilima had been vice president of Malawi since 2014.

He was widely loved in Malawi, particularly among the youth, AFP reports.

He was arrested and charged in 2022 on allegations that he accepted money in exchange for awarding government contracts. He denied any wrongdoing.

Last month, the court dropped the charges against Mr Chilima.

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People in Australia are warned to remain vigilant when visiting areas where crocodiles are known to roam.

The Irish woman was running on a track in Mackay, Queensland when she spotted the sign, warning people of crocodiles in the area. Source: TikTok

An Irish woman living in Australia has detailed the terrifying moment she learned why her usual running track was extremely quiet, after noticing a warning sign attached to a tree while out for her morning exercise.

The government-issued sign, visible from the track in Mackay, Queensland, warns visitors to be vigilant and to avoid the nearby water as a crocodile has been spotted in the area recently  and the realisation left the expat a little shocked.

"Oh my god. I'm just out for a run, I'm on this lovely track, perfect for running in the morning. I was wondering why there was nobody around," the woman named Tanya said in a video she posted online in the moment.

"Warning, crocodile reported in this area in the last seven days," she continued, reading the message on the sign. And while panning to show her surroundings, she added: "That's all like marshland"  indicating where the predator could be residing.

People warned to 'expect crocs' in Aussie waterways

The video was filmed in April with Queensland's Department of Environment, Science and Innovation (DESI) unable to confirm with Yahoo News the exact location, or circumstances around the specific croc sighting.

However, DESI warns locals and travellers to "expect crocodiles in all northern and far northern Queensland waterways even if there is no warning sign". This includes Mackay where in January a large crocodile reportedly leapt from the water and into a tinnie while a person was fishing at Jane Creek near St Helens Beach, north of Mackay.

The sign (left) warned visitors of a recent croc sighting which is common in Queensland's croc country (pictured right). Source: TikTok/DESI

Visitors and locals urged to remain vigilant in croc habitat

Aussies are continuously warned to remain "extremely vigilant" because "the Mackay region is Croc Country, and people should avoid complacency around waterways".

"Crocodiles are highly mobile and can be found in any river, creek or ocean beach in Croc Country," Senior wildlife officer Jane Burn from DESI warned at the time.

Queensland's croc habitat begins at the Boyne River south of Gladstone, and extends northward, up the east coast and across far north and northwest Queensland to the Northern Territory border, with popular places including Cairns, Mackay and Townsville known to have a large croc population.

Aussies react to expat's video

People visiting Down Under are often vocal about Australia's unique, and often deadly, flora and fauna, so Tanya's reaction comes as no surprise. But in true Aussie fashion, people responded to her video with humour and wit, with very few Aussies expressing concern.

"Just run faster," one joked. "You'll be right, just keep moving," said another. "Just run in zig zag," a third teased.

Some, however, who appeared to be foreigners, agreed the sign would terrify them too. "I'd actually need to sh*t myself in fear," admitted one.

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Cholera is a deadly disease caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae, associated with poor sanitation and limited access to clean water. But it has also been found in seemingly clean places, including affluent neighbourhoods, hotels and restaurants with poor hygiene practices such as handling food with dirty hands and using contaminated water to wash utensils and prepare food.

Cholera outbreaks in Africa have affected 18 countries over the last two years. In southern and eastern Africa, more than 6,000 people have died and nearly 350,000 cases have been reported since a series of outbreaks began in late 2021.

Samuel Kariuki, a microbiologist and director of the Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative (Eastern Africa) and former director of the Kenya Medical Research Institute, explains how the disease spreads, the symptoms, how to protect yourself, and how it can be treated.

How does cholera spread?

Cholera can spread directly or indirectly in several ways.

Contaminated water: Drinking or using water contaminated with Vibrio cholerae bacteria is the most common way cholera spreads. Contamination can occur when sewage and drinking water supplies mix.

Contaminated food: Consuming food, especially raw or undercooked food, that has been contaminated can lead to infection. Food can become contaminated if it is handled by someone who has the bacteria or if it is prepared with

contaminated water.

Poor sanitation: A lack of proper sanitation infrastructure creates a breeding ground for Vibrio cholerae, facilitating its rapid spread within communities.

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Person-to-person transmission: While less common, cholera can spread through direct contact with an infected persons faeces or vomit, or through indirect contact via contaminated surfaces or objects.

What are the symptoms?

Cholera symptoms can appear suddenly, within hours to five days after infection. Symptoms range from mild discomfort to severe and life-threatening conditions.

One of the main signs is severe diarrhoea, often described as rice-water stools, leading to rapid fluid loss from the body and potential muscle cramps due to the loss of essential salts and minerals. Rice water is the starchy water that remains after soaking or cooking rice.

Alongside diarrhoea, vomiting is common and can worsen dehydration.

Dehydration is the most concerning symptom, indicated by a dry mouth, extreme thirst, reduced urination, sunken eyes and low blood pressure, potentially progressing to shock. If untreated, it can be fatal within hours.

Its crucial to recognise these symptoms promptly and seek medical help to prevent severe complications.

How do you protect yourself from cholera?

Ensure you always use safe drinking water. Always use boiled or

chemically treated water for drinking and food preparation, and avoid ice made from untreated water.

chemically treated water for drinking and food preparation, and avoid ice made from untreated water. Always practise hand hygiene. Wash your hands frequently with soap and safe water, especially after using the toilet, after changing diapers, and before eating or preparing food. Handwashing is one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of many infectious diseases, including cholera.

Avoid raw or undercooked food. Consume food that is thoroughly cooked and still hot, and peel fruit and vegetables yourself after washing them with safe water.

Maintain good sanitation practices by ensuring that toilets are thoroughly cleaned. In households with toddlers who use potties, properly dispose of human waste and clean all surfaces thoroughly.

Oral cholera vaccines are available and safe for both children

and adults. These vaccines are valuable tools in cholera prevention, but they must be used with all the other preventive measures.

How can cholera be treated?

Timely and appropriate treatment of cholera is essential to prevent severe dehydration and fatalities. Treatment focuses on rehydration and supportive care:

Rehydration: The primary treatment for cholera is rapid rehydration using oral rehydration salts. This is a simple solution of sugar and salts that is mixed with clean water. It is highly effective in replacing lost fluids and electrolytes and can be administered at home or in a healthcare facility.

Intravenous fluids: In severe cases where dehydration is extreme, intravenous fluids may be necessary. This can quickly restore fluid levels and is vital for patients who cannot keep down oral fluids because they are vomiting.

Antibiotics: Rehydration is the cornerstone of cholera treatment, but antibiotics can reduce the duration and severity of symptoms. They are particularly useful in severe cases and for patients with a high risk of spreading the infection.

Zinc supplements: These supplements can reduce the duration and severity of diarrhoea, especially for children. Zinc is an essential mineral that supports immune function and gut health. The right dose should be prescribed by a medical practitioner.

Cholera is preventable and treatable. Stay informed, take preventive measures, and contribute to a healthier, cholera-free world.

Celestine Wairimu of the Centre for Microbiology Research contributed to this article.

Samuel Kariuki, Chief Research Scientist and Director, Centre for Microbiology Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
In August last year, President Bola Tinubu swore in 45 ministers to oversee the different federal ministries in the country.

Festus Keyamo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), was assigned the portfolio of Nigerias Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development.

Mr Keyamo served in the immediate past administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari briefly as minister of state in the Niger Delta ministry before he was moved to the Ministry of Labour and Employment in the same capacity.

Mr Keyamo took the baton from Hadi Sirika, who alongside his brother Ahmad Sirika, daughter Fatima, and her husband are currently being prosecuted for misappropriation of public funds while he was in office.

The new aviation minister came in at a time of many unresolved issues in the sector such as the controversial Nigeria Air project, concessioning of airports, dollar scarcity/repatriation concerns, high cost of aviation fuel and multiple taxation.

Other contentious issues include rising airfares, law enforcement and safety concerns, flight delays and cancellations, encroachment on airport lands, insufficient transportation services, and touting and hawking at airports.

In the previous administration, Mr Sirika published the Aviation Sector Roadmap with the key components being the concession of four airports, the establishment of a national carrier  Nigeria Air  the development of agro-filled/cargo terminals and the establishment of maintenance, repairs and overhaul centres.

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While some progress was recorded on the plans captured in the roadmap, the aviation sector under Mr Sirika faced several setbacks which prompted some airlines (domestic and international) to stop or reduce their operations in the country.

Promises

To guarantee the growth, development and safety of the Nigerian aviation sector, Mr Tinubu promised Nigerians, among other things captured in his Renewed Hope manifesto, that his government will focus on improving airport runways and other critical aviation infrastructure.

The president emphasised that the modernisation and expansion of existing airport facilities will also be prioritised and that his government shall improve aircraft maintenance, safety measures and incident reporting requirements regarding domestic airlines while ensuring fairness and transparency in ticket pricing for international and domestic airlines.

This, Mr Tinubu said, would include providing compensation to passengers for significant flight delays or cancellations attributable to the conduct of the airline or its staff.

We will also enhance runway and airport security through the use of modern surveillance technology. We will continue with the current administrations plans to establish a new national carrier, Mr Tinubus Renewed Hope manifesto states.

He assured Nigerians that his government will also strengthen the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and other aviation regulatory agencies to maintain standards in the industry.

While delivering his first speech when he assumed office as aviation minister, Mr Keyamo said transparency, team spirit and selflessness are key principles that can lead to the actualization of the mandate given to him by the president for the aviation sector.

I am people-oriented, and my aim is to satisfy people, Mr Keyamo said.

Notable actions/achievements

Less than two weeks into his tenure, Mr Keyamo alongside the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, resolved a protracted land dispute that had delayed the commencement of the construction of the Abuja airports second runway.

Despite an initial deposit made over a year before the commencement of the current administration, Mr Wike said the FCT Administration (FCTA) will pay N825.8 million as compensation to the host Jiwa community and other stakeholders in Abuja.

The decision enabled the project contractors to return to work.

Similarly, amidst heightened concerns among Nigerians over Mr Sirikas poor handling of the Nigeria carrier project, Mr Keyamo in September announced the temporary suspension of all plans for Nigeria Air and airport concessions.

Within a month in office, the minister directed all airlines to vacate the old terminal at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, following a tour of the facility. This prompted the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to announce the relocation of international flight operations from the airports old terminal to the new terminal two, making it fully operational.

The minister identified flaws in the design of the facility that had previously rendered the terminal unusable for many international flights.

Additionally, in partnership with the Nigerian Immigration Service, Mr Keyamo supervised the remodelling of the Arrival Hall of Wing E at Lagos International Airport into a brand-new facility through a Public-Private Partnership.

In January, Mr Keyamo approved the relocation of FAANs headquarters from Abuja to Lagos, citing a need to curb waste of public resources and prevent the rot of FAANs abandoned Lagos building among others. The minister explained that officials of the agency spent about N1 billion in 2023 on Duty Tour Allowance (DTA) and air tickets for travels between Abuja and Lagos.

In February, the minister also ensured the swift repair and reactivation of the Lagos Airport Second Runway (18R), which had been out of service for almost a year.

Amidst funds repatriation difficulties faced by international airlines operating in Nigeria over the past two years, by working closely with the Central Bank of Nigeria, the ministers effort ensured the clearance of the longstanding backlog of trapped funds for foreign airlines.

This resolved an issue that had persisted for years, boosting international airlines confidence to resume flight operations in the country.

Recently, Emirates Airlines, which suspended operations over a year ago due to difficulties encountered in repatriating trapped funds, announced the resumption of flight services to Nigeria from 1 October.

Meanwhile, Mr Keyamo also recently obtained approval from the Federal Executive Council (FEC) to withdraw the ticket payment exemption granted to highly placed Nigerians at the nations airports.

The ministry has been losing huge revenue that ordinarily should not be. With the new system, everybody coming into the nations airports must pay the toll gate fees. Already the president and the vice president have agreed to be part of those that would pay, Mr Keyamo said.

Existing concerns

While several proactive measures aimed at revamping Nigerias aviation industry have been implemented under the watch of Mr Keyamo within his first year in office, several challenges remain.

Some of the existing challenges bedevilling the Nigerian aviation industry include operational costs, debts, poor access to foreign exchange, surging airfares and high cost of aviation fuel among others

The rising cost of aviation fuel, forex scarcity and rising exchange rates have worsened performance in the sector in recent times. The ripple effect is evident in the suspension of operations by some airlines, and the increase in ticket fares, among others.

A review of air ticket prices across major domestic airline companies such as Air Peace, Ibom Air, Max Air, Rano and Value Jet shows that the minimum prices for air tickets have risen significantly in recent months.

Also, some airlines operations have been grounded following high cost of operations and safety concerns.

In April, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), suspended the Air Operator Certificate (AOC) of Dana Airlines over safety concerns. This was announced less than 48 hours after an aircraft (MD82 with registration marks 5SN-BKI) belonging to Dana Air experienced a runway incursion upon landing at the domestic wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos on a flight from Abuja. Fortunately, no fatalities were reported at the time.

Based on this, experts say if the challenges are addressed, Nigeria can develop a robust and efficient aviation sector that supports economic growth and development.

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President Bola Tinubu has sacked Solomon Arase as the chairperson of the Police Service Commission (PSC).

The president replaced him with Hashimu Argungu, a retired deputy inspector general of police, according to a statement by the Special Adviser to the President (Media & Publicity), Ajuri Ngelale, on Monday.

The president also approved the appointment of Onyemuche Nnamani as secretary of the commission and Taiwo Lakanu, also a retired deputy inspector general of police, as member of the commission.

The statement did not disclose the reason for Mr Arases removal from office.

But it comes on the heel of an ICIR investigative report published in February that exposed his alleged involvement in the illegal sale of the lands through a contracting firm, Corpren International Limited, under the guise of developing the police residential estate.

The story was backed by evidence of affidavits and documents of ongoing litigation over the lands located in different parts of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The ICIR story also revealed that Mr Arase enabled Corpran International Limited to obtain nearly N1 billion from the Police Mortgage Bank without collateral.

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It also accused Andy Chime, the owner of Corpran International Limited, of being used to dupe the NPF in the illegal deal.

Police intimidation

Following the publication of the ICIR report, Mr Arase and Corpran International Limited instituted lawsuits against the newspaper and the reporter who authored the story.

Messrs Arase and Chime also wrote a petition to the Nigerian Police Force Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC), accusing the journalists of cyberstalking and defamation of character  leading to the harassment of the journalists by the police.

Read the full statement from the presidency below:

STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE

PRESIDENT TINUBU APPOINTS NEW LEADERSHIP FOR POLICE SERVICE COMMISSION AND NIGERIA POLICE TRUST FUND

President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of DIG Hashimu Argungu (Rtd) as the Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC).

The President has also approved the appointment of Chief Onyemuche Nnamani as Secretary and DIG Taiwo Lakanu (Rtd) as Member of the Commission.

The appointments are subject to confirmation by the Senate.

Other members of the Police Service Commission will be appointed in due course.

Furthermore, the President has approved the appointment of Mr. Mohammed Sheidu as the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Police Trust Fund (NPTF) with immediate effect.

The President expects absolute demonstration of integrity, diligence, and patriotic zeal in the discharge of these important functions for the overall wellbeing of the Nigeria Police and the nation.

Chief Ajuri Ngelale

Special Adviser to the President

(Media & Publicity)

June 10, 2024

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Some civilian staff of the Ministry of Defence Headquarters, Abuja, on Tuesday, protested the alleged brutalisation of their colleagues by military officers posted to the ministry.

The protest, led by Elijah Ajunda, the chairperson of one of the workers unions in the ministry, started at about 8 a.m. at its premises in Abuja.

The protesters numbering about 50 blocked the entrance to the ministry and denied everybody access to the premises except the Minister, Mohammed Badaru, who they requested should address them anytime he reports for work. The minister was reportedly at the Presidential Villa when the protest was in progress.

The workers chanted songs and displayed placards with different inscriptions such as Stop killing civilians, We are of equal state, that you hold gun does not make you superior, and This is part of the intimidation we were talking about.

Mr Ajunda told PREMIUM TIMES that, apart from the headquarters, civilian staff of the ministry in different formations across the country have been facing threats, brutality and sometimes killed by men and officers of the Nigerian Army and the Nigerian Navy over the years without justice being done even though the incidents were reported.

For some time now the military have been brutalising our civilians, intimidating them, both at the headquarters here and various military formations.

It has been reported severally, they would tell us they were investigating, they would tell us they had set up committees, they are doing this and that, but at the end of the day nothing comes out, no report.

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The families of the deceased are still awaiting the report of the committee that they said they have set, he said.

Mr Ajunda said one staff member called Richard was killed by some Navy officers in Lagos in April and that the matter was swept under the carpet.

He also said an assistant director was beaten up on Monday.

Not quite long ago, about two months ago a civilian staff was killed in Lagos, by a navy officer, about four Navy officers, gathered him, brutalised and killed him.

The body of the person we are talking about right now is still in the mortuary.

Just yesterday again, an assistant director equivalent to a brigadier general was beaten by a group of private soldiers in Command Secondary School, and not quite long also, in another barracks, a youth corp member was brutalised by a military man too.

One of our comrades too, Comrade Basi, was beaten by soldiers and he was admitted to hospital, Mr Ajunda said.

The union chairperson said when the protest began in the morning, the military officers locked the gate and deployed their military dogs to threaten them.

When we arrived here today again, the military locked up the gate and deployed their dogs to intimidate us.

That is what we are facing in the Ministry of Defence and we are now saying enough is enough.

We say we can not take it again, enough of military brutality.

Our reporter also saw four dogs with some officers standing at the gate where the protesters were demonstrating.

Permanent Secretary addresses protesters

About five hours later, the Permanent Secretary, of the ministry, Abubakar Kana, came down to address the protesters.

Mr Kana pleaded with them to go back to work and that the minister was away at the Villa holding a meeting with President Bola Tinubu.

The minister is currently having a meeting at the villa. He has expressed his total dissatisfaction with the situation. The minister condemned the act. He sent me to address you and even showed me the video Mr Kana expressed.

The Navy officers who killed Richard are still in detention and the ones who assaulted the man yesterday have been arrested. We plead that you all go back to your work and we promise that this behaviour will end, he said.

After the permanent secretarys address, the protesters agreed to return to work and consequently, dispersed.

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Senate President Godswill Akpabio has identified errors in lines three, five, and 18 of the new national anthem released by the National Orientation Agency (NOA).

Mr Akpabio observed the errors during the plenary on Tuesday and directed the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to immediately correct the errors.

Last Wednesday, the Director-General of NOA, Lanre Issa-Onilu, unveiled the standardised version of the national anthem in Abuja .

Mr Issa-Onilu, during the unveiling, urged Nigerians to pay attention to the words in lines three and five of the anthem as released by the agency.

We call the attention of Nigerians to line three of the first stanza, which reads: Though tribes and tongues may differ.

Note that the words tribes and tongues are in plural.

We want you to also note that line five of the first stanza reads: Nigerians all, are proud to serve.

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The word are, not and is correct Mr Issa-Onilu said at the unveiling.

But, at the plenary, Mr Akpabio said the correction introduced by the NOA was not what the National Assembly passed.

Take note, this is the version that was passed by the National Assembly. What the National Orientation Agency has is not what we passed, he said.

Where you have, Nigerians all, are proud to serve, they said Nigerians all, and proud to serve, that is number one, it should be are.

And then it said though tribes and tongues may differ, they said, though tribe and tongue, I hope you understand and at the end where we said Nigeria shall be blessed, they did not say so. They said Nigeria may be blessed.

We are using the word shall, which is compulsion, that this country shall be blessed. So, tell the National Orientation Agency to drop what they are circulating now. Congratulations to all of us Mr Akpabio added.

The Senate and the House of Representatives hurriedly passed the National Anthem Bill recently reverting to the old anthem introduced at the countrys independence in 1960 but changed by the Olusegun Obasanjo military regime in 1978.

President Bola Tinubu assented to the bill on 29 May.

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Africas share of global trade remains disproportionately small, hovering around 2%-3%. Countries on the continent trade more with the rest of the world than they do among themselves. Africa needs to improve its share of trade to boost growth and reduce poverty.

Aid for Trade is a development initiative that seeks to remove barriers to trade facing developing countries. International trade and development economics professor Bedassa Tadesse, who recently co-wrote a paper on Aid for Trade, unpacks what the initiative is doing to solve Africas trade problems.

Whats Africas state of trade?

Despite the continents immense resources and untapped potential, Africas share of global trade remains small. It is estimated, for instance, that Africa could annually be generating US$21.9 billion more from exports to the world. This limits the continents economic growth and ability to lift millions out of poverty.

Trade among African nations is also low, at about 16% of the continents total trade volume. This is much lower than intra-regional trade levels in Europe (68%) and Asia (59%).

These statistics have serious implications. Enhancing Africas trade within the region and globally could spark development, create jobs and reduce poverty.

A host of challenges get in the way of Africas trade potential. The continent faces infrastructural deficiencies, cumbersome trade regulations, and inadequate logistical support. These barriers inflate business costs and deter trade within the continent and with the rest of the world.

Why is trade with other nations important?

International trade is a powerful tool for economic growth and consumer welfare. It allows nations to use their comparative advantages, tap into larger markets, and benefit from economies of scale. It promotes the spread of knowledge and technology across borders, stimulating innovation and productivity. By fostering cultural exchange and interdependence among nations, trade also contributes to peace and stability.

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To get the full benefits of trade, countries and regions need sound policies and institutional frameworks that ease global market integration and simplify trade.

Whats Aid for Trade, and how does it work?

Aid for Trade is an initiative that is being spearheaded by the World Trade Organisation. Launched in 2005, its aimed at helping developing countries, particularly the least developed ones, to increase trade. The initiative has enhanced the infrastructure and trade capacity of recipient countries, increasing export performance. But there are still challenges around integrating countries into global markets.

The initiatives projects target trade-related challenges in five main areas:

trade policy and regulations: frameworks to enable smooth international trade operations

trade infrastructure: aid for developing roads, ports, communications and energy systems

productive capacity: ability to produce goods and services competitively for the global market

trade-related adjustment: support to manage the impacts of trade reforms and integration into the global economy, such as lower tariffs and fewer preferences.

A staggering US$647.4 billion was disbursed under the initiative to 146 developing countries from 2006 to 2022. In 2022, disbursements from the initiative to developing countries reached US$51.1 billion, benefiting 178,141 projects. Its been seen to lower trade costs, increase trade volumes and create jobs in the countries involved.

Like traditional aid, the beneficiary countries receive demand-driven funding from donors to finance their priority projects. But these must be trade-related, and the package includes technical assistance and technical cooperation. Also, unlike traditional aid, funds allocated may not always translate into direct financial inflows that support a recipients broader development goals.

Has it worked for Africa?

Africa has been the second biggest beneficiary of the Aid for Trade initiative after Asia. Under the initiative, countries on the continent received a total of US$233.18 billion from 2006 to 2022. This accounted for 36% of the total disbursements extended to all developing countries. It covered infrastructure, capacity building, policy and adjustment costs.

Geographical and logistical challenges often inflate trade costs in Africa. Thats why the initiative mostly funds projects like port facilities, trade corridors and telecommunications infrastructure across the continent.

In our recent analysis, we examined the initiatives impact on trade costs. We found that the initiatives trade cost reduction effects were higher among African countries with relatively good infrastructure networks.

What are Africas key success stories?

Aid for Trade projects have improved transport networks, customs procedures and trade-related institutions.

The success stories from Africa include:

The Busia One-Stop Border Post Project between Uganda and Kenya. The project was launched in 2010 with funding from the World Banks East African Trade and Transport Project. It aimed to reduce the average border crossing time by 30%. The project has since cut the average time it takes to cross from Busia (Uganda) to Busia (Kenya) by 80%. The customs processing time in Busia, Kenya, is now down by 98%, while that of Busia, Uganda, has dropped by 69%.

The Chirundu Border Post in Zimbabwe. This pilot project was launched in 2005 with funding and technical assistance from the Japan International Co-operation Agency and the World Bank. The upgrade has enabled faster movement of people, vehicles and goods between Zimbabwe and Zambia.

The East Africa Trade and Transport Facilitation Project. Launched in 2006, it aimed to improve traffic flow on the corridor linking Mombasa seaport in Kenya to Kampala (Uganda), Kigali (Rwanda), the DRC and South Sudan. It was funded by the World Bank at US$260 million, and supported by the African Development Bank, the EU, Japan, and the UK. The project has reduced transit times from Mombasa to Kampala from 15 to 5 days and cut average waiting times at Mombasa port from 19 to 13 days.

These projects are all supported by multilateral agencies and bilateral sources of Aid for Trade funding. Their success shows the initiative can lower trade barriers and enhance economic efficiency across the continent.

What remains to be done?

Africa still faces capacity constraints. It has limited funds for research and development, low capability to negotiate trade issues, and challenges in meeting multilateral trading commitments. Market access difficulties, such as restrictive rules of origin, also continue to undermine the Aid for Trade gains. Weak institutional frameworks, infrastructure deficiencies and widespread corruption still inflate the regions trading costs. Matters are also complicated by poor regional coordination, varying regulations and conflicting standards across borders.

Whats needed are:

institutional capacity

transparency

accountability in aid administration

robust monitoring and evaluation mechanisms.

The Aid for Trade projects should also match the developmental priorities of recipient countries.

Countries need to develop policies that create a favourable business environment. This means reducing bureaucracy, enhancing judicial independence, and protecting investor rights.

Finally, countries should commit to regional cooperation to boost intra-African trade. This includes harmonising customs regulations and standardising trade documentation. It also means investing in continent-wide infrastructure projects that link local markets to major trade hubs.

Bedassa Tadesse, Professor of Economics, University of Minnesota Duluth

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
President Bola Tinubu has congratulated a former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Muhammadu Uwais, on the special occasion of his birthday.

The president celebrated the eminent jurist, who served the nation in many capacities, including as chairman of the National Judicial Council; chairman of the Nigerian Body of Benchers, and chairman of the Board of Governors of the National Judicial Institute.

President Tinubu extolled the courage, wisdom, and fine thread of brilliance, which ran through the illustrious legal career of the elder statesman.

The president commended Mr Uwais for his service to the nation, acknowledging his role in shaping the foundations of Nigerias judiciary.

The president prayed for many more years in good health for the elder statesman and his family.

Ajuri Ngelale

Special Adviser to the President

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(Media & Publicity)

June 11, 2024

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The Senate has passed the N98.5 billion supplementary budget of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) for the 2024 fiscal year.

The budget was considered and approved by the Committee of the Whole.

Thereafter, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the passage of the supplementary budget after majority of the senators supported it through a voice vote at the plenary on Tuesday.

The chairperson of the Senate Committee on FCT, Mohammed Ibrahim, had earlier presented its report on the appropriation bill.

Mr Ibrahim, while presenting the report, explained that the budget would be used for capital projects in the territory.

He said the implementation would last until 31 December.

The senator then urged his colleagues to support passage of the budget for the development of the FCT.

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The breakdown shows that N48.7 billion is for engineering services, N18 billion for education secretariat, N16 billion for public buildings and N16 billion is allocated to the transportation department.

Speaking on the budget, the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, said ir is essential for the development of the FCT.

Mr Bamidele said it will be used to complete ongoing infrastructural projects in the FCT.

He thereafter urged his colleagues to support passage of the budget.

Flashback

The budget was earlier stepped down by the Senate last Wednesday because it lacked proper details.

It was presented again at last Thursdays plenary where it passed second reading even without debate.

On that day, it was referred to the Committee on FCT for further legislative action and the senate president directed the committee to report back to the Senate within two weeks.

The committee however submitted the report in less than one week.

FCT senator complains

The senator for FCT, Ireti Kingibe, raised concerns that she was not consulted despite being the senator representing the territory.

Mrs Kingibe, a member of the Labour Party, said she has been sidelined in the activities of the National Assembly and any issues that concern the FCT.

Responding, Mr Akpabio advised Mrs Kingibe to present her grievance through a motion in a subsequent legislative day.

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Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has suspended the Commissioner for Health in the state, Ngozi Okoronkwo, for gross misconduct.

The Commissioner for Information in the state, Okey Kanu, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday.

Mr Kanu said the suspension of Mrs Okoronkwo, a medical doctor, was to pave the way for an investigation into the allegations of gross misconduct levelled against her.

He did not give details of the allegations raised against the suspended health commissioner.

However, he said Governor Ottis decision to suspend Mrs Okoronkwo was in line with his administrations zero tolerance policy for misconduct.

He said the suspension of the commissioner was also in line with the governors strong adherence to the twin principles of transparency and accountability in governance.

Mr Kanu said the governors stance on misconduct ensures that actions of appointees must at all times advance the good and well-being of residents of Abia State.

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The Abia state Government is committed to good governance and the rule of law under which persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Consequently,the administration is painstaking in investigating and establishing facts of infractions or misconduct uncovered by its internal monitoring and feedback system, he said.

In the light of these developments, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Health, Dr. Ifeyinwa Kalu will collaborate with the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr. Mrs. Ngozi Azodo to run the affairs of the ministry in the interim pending the outcome of further investigations into the allegations against Dr. Ngozi Okoronkwo.

This is the first time a commissioner is publicly known to have been suspended or removed from office outright in the last one year of the administration.

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Some Nigerian senators on Tuesday conducted an on-the-spot assessment of the Nigerian pilgrims accomodations and feeding arrangements in Madinah, Saudi Arabia.

The lawmakers, led by the Senate Chief Whip, Ali Ndume, visited many pilgrims hotels to see how they were being served food.

Briefing journalists after the assessment tour, Mr Ndume said they decided to conduct the exercise out of concern over the alleged poor feeding of Nigerian pilgrims in the holy city.

He said social media has been awash with fake pictures of poor meals being served to Nigerian pilgrims in Saudi.

Another senator, Sharafadeen Alli, from Oyo State, commended NAHCON for the accommodation and feeding arrangements.

 I think the pilgrims are well-taken care of, and as far as their feeding is concerned, we have seen the food. It is basic and not below any standard, he said.

On the death of a female pilgrim from Kwara State last weekend, Mr Alli said she did not commit suicide but fell off the building she was in.

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He said, Then, on the issue of the woman (a pilgrim from Kwara State) who was rumoured to have committed suicide, I would say that from the video footage and information that we have here, its clear that she fell off the top of a building. It wasnt a matter of suicide.

Meanwhile, Abubakar Yagawal, the commissioner of planning, research, statistics, information, and library services at NAHCON, said the commissions team is working tirelessly to meet the pilgrims needs.

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Artist Kehinde Wiley, best known for painting Barack Obamas presidential portrait, has denied sexual assault allegations in a new post on social media, claiming his accuser has pursued him over the years.

Last month, British-Ghanian artist and curator Joseph Awuah-Darko accused Wiley of sexually assaulting him twice in 2021. It almost destroyed me, the artist wrote of the alleged incident on Instagram.

In the post, Awuah-Darko claimed that on June 9, 2021, he was inappropriately groped by Wiley at a dinner hosted by Noldor Artist Residency in Ghana to celebrate Wileys work. He said the groping was unwelcome and unprovoked and that it had happened in front of another guest.

He then alleged that a second assault was much more severe and violent, without going into further detail. However, he later told The New York Times that the sexual encounter began consensually, but that it then moved to a bedroom, where Mr. Wiley forced himself on him after Mr. Awuah-Darko had said he did not want to go further.

Wiley has now responded to Awuah-Darkos allegations in his own June 11 Instagram post, writing: I need to set the record straight about false claims made against me. My accusers disturbing allegations are baseless and defamatory. And while I largely stayed silent, I must bring the truth about how he has pursued me over the years to light.

Alongside screenshots of their private interactions on WhatsApp, Wiley confirmed that he had met Awauah-Darko at a 2021 dinner hosted at his loft space in Ghana.

We were flirting all night, Wiley explained. Around 4am, he came to my hotel room. We had a one time encounter. Everything was consensual.

Kehinde Wiley called the allegations a reckless smear campaign (Getty Images)

Wiley continued: The next day, he left happily, as witnessed by my assistant who arranged his transportation home. He also set me these friendly and flirty text messages. This marked the beginning of years of Joseph aggressively pursuing a relationship with me.

In February 2022, a year after we first met, he traveled 4,377 miles from London to Lagos, Nigeria JUST to attend my birthday party, he claimed. Just last year he repeatedly sought to visit me at my cabin in Upstate New York, which I ignored.

Since our first encounter in 2021, he has consistently sent me messages via phone and Instagram professing his love for me, my talent, and my work.

Calling the allegations a reckless smear campaign, Wiley accused Awuah-Darko of harassing friends and colleagues desperately seeking any information to support his ridiculous campaigns.

He found nothing, Wiley said, adding that Awuah-Darko finally managed to conspire with a person I had a brief consensual encounter with in 2021; this person had also hoped for a more significant relationship.

We live in a world where a single false social media post can destroy someones life, where people are tried and convicted online without regard for the truth. This is dangerous and wrong, Wiley concluded. I encourage all who read this post to take a closer look at my accusers and their motivations.

Wiley has since sent Awuah-Darko a cease and desist letter demanding that he remove the categorically false and defamatory Instagram posts, CNN reports.

Awuah-Darko, meanwhile, addressed Wiley directly in an Instagram post shared on Monday, that read: Sue me and EVERY OTHER victim that has publicly come forward for defamation if you say our claims are false. I dare you. And do it quickly.
A former governor of Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu, has reacted to a revelation that N1.9 trillion was allegedly taken illegally from the treasury of the State Government under his administration.

PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported on Saturday how a forensic audit report showed that a total of N1.9 trillion was allegedly taken away illegally from the treasury of the state government between May 2015 and May 2023.

KPMG International Nigeria Limited, an auditing firm, prepared the report which was released last month.

The administration of the incumbent Governor of the south-eastern state, Alex Otti, contracted the firm to carry out the audit of the state governments finances during the eight-year tenure of Mr Ikpeazu.

This newspaper summed all funds allegedly earmarked for projects or taken from the state governments accounts without due process within the period under review as indicated in the report.

Ikpeazu speaks

But reacting in a statement forwarded to PREMIUM TIMES on Monday, Mr Ikpeazu faulted both the newspapers publication and the audit report.

In the right of reply authored by Michael Nwabueze, the ex-governors former media aide, Mr Ikpeazu described the newspapers publication as misleading and more classically maliciously libellous.

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He said the newspaper ought to know that in the eight years of his tenure as governor, the state did not earn up to N1 trillion from all sources including federal allocations, internally Generated Revenue IGR) and grants.

Mr Ikpeazu said Abia State under his watch earned a total of N630 billion, citing data from the Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) and National Bureau of Statistics as reportedly published by Statisense.

The former governor queried how the N1.9 trillion could have been diverted under his administration, claiming the author of the story failed to do diligent review of the audit report.

Documents incomplete

Speaking on the audit report, Mr Ikpeazu also said the auditing firm relied on documents supplied by Abia State Government and might not have seen other documents to the contrary.

He stressed that, contrary to claims by Governor Otti, what the audit firm did was a process review and not a forensic audit.

He criticised PREMIUM TIMES for going ahead with the story despite the fact that the audit report contained caveats that called for caution on interpretation, application and against use of the report as an instrument of indictment against anyone.

The report

However, in the report criticised by Mr Ikpeazu, PREMIUM TIMES only tallied all funds queried in the 359-page audit report.

Such funds included funds from loans, federal allocations, internally generated revenues and grants.

The report also queried sources of funds such as deductions, withdrawals, allocations, payments and borrowings which allegedly violated the relevant states laws regulating such actions.

This newspaper did not have access to records which the audit report relied on, hence, did not carry out an independent investigation of the issues thrown up in it.

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Two soldiers were taken to hospital on Monday after they were wounded during a gunfight with bandits operating in Tegina, Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State.

The incident was said to have occurred in the early hours of Monday.

Meanwhile, one of the bandits leaders was killed in the gun duel.

PREMIUM TIMES correspondent gathered that the bandits were heading to Mashegu and Wushishi local government areas of the state to rustle cattle when they encountered the soldiers.

The chairperson of Rafi Local Government, Ayuba Katako, confirmed the incident in a telephone conversation with our correspondent.

Mr Katako said the two wounded soldiers were being treated at the IBB Specialist Hospital, Minna.

He added that the military, police and vigilantes maintaining peace and security of lives and property in the state deserved to be commended.

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It happened in my domain. The two soldiers have been taken to the IBB Specialist Hospital, where they are responding to treatment.

The military, police and vigilantes are trying their best to ensure peace and security of lives and property in the state, and they deserve to be commended, he said.

Mr Katako decried the continuous attacks on security operatives and called for patience, support and prayers to overcome insecurity in the state and Nigeria at large.

Meanwhile, the army cantonment in Minna could not be reached, just as the police spokesperson, Wasiu Abiodun, could not be reached when filing the report.

Rafi Local Government is one of the local government areas in Niger State where bandits have been terrorising residents and making it impossible for farmers to work.

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Access Bank completed the acquisition of the controlling stake in African Banking Corporation of Tanzania (ABCT), the parent company Access Holdings said on Monday, nearly eleven months after the transaction was first announced.

Until the deals consummation, ABCT was a subsidiary of London-listed Atlas Mara Limited, an Africa-focused special-purpose acquisition company with stakes in different banks across the continent.

Atlas Mara, formerly the biggest shareholder of Union Bank, sold its interest in the lender to Titan Trust Bank two years ago.

Access Bank said the Tanzanian acquisition is a boost to its push to become the Worlds Most Respected African Bank and is also central to its near-term strategy of aiming for local, regional and international revenue opportunities across trade, payments and specialised commerce for business and retail customers in East Africa.

ABCT, a full-service commercial bank, has been operating in Tanzania for more than twenty years.

Access Bank is looking to consummate the deals for acquiring Standard Chartered Banks majority holdings in the latters subsidiaries in Angola, The Gambia, Sierra Leone and its consumer and private banking business in Tanzania later this year.

In January, Access Bank completed the buyout of African Banking Corporation Zambia Limited; an expansion move it said will create one of the five biggest lenders by total assets with the ambition to be among the top three by 2027.

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Other deals in the pipeline include the purchase of the controlling stake in Ugandan-based Finance Trust Bank Limited and the entire issued share capital of National Bank of Kenya Limited.

This strategic move represents a notable step towards setting a railroad in Tanzania for intra-African trade within the East African region, Africa and the rest of the world, said Access Bank Managing Director Roosevelt Ogbonna.

It underscores our commitment to creating a robust East African banking network, driving positive change and innovation, he added.

READ ALSO: Access Bank advocates innovative financial models to realise SDGs

John Imani, the managing director of ABCT, remarked that completing the transaction provides fresh opportunities for the banks customers, stakeholders and employees while underscoring Access Banks confidence in both ABCT and the Tanzanian market.

The new entity is poised to enhance our service offerings, leveraging Access Banks extensive resources and expertise to deliver even greater value to our clients, he said.

Access Bank plans to combine ABCT with the consumer and private banking business of Standard Chartered Bank Tanzania when acquired to create an enlarged entity within the Tanzanian market.

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The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has ordered an investigation into the death of a suspect accused of kidnapping two women in Aba, Abia State, Nigerias South-east.

The Force spokesperson, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, disclosed this in a statement on Monday night.

Alleged kidnap

PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported that the suspect, Andrew Ochekwo, who was based in the Ogbor Hill Area of Aba, was seen in a video clip inviting the two women to his residence for hook-up, a Nigerian slang a meeting arranged for sex.

The women, Celine Ndudim, a Nigerian, and Afiba Tandoh, a Ghanaian, reportedly visited Mr Ochekwo on 27 April in Aba, the commercial hub of the state.

The two travelled from Port Harcourt, Rivers State, South-south Nigeria, after meeting the suspect on Facebook.

But they later went missing.

A human rights activist, Harrison Gwamnishu, who raised the alarm over their sudden disappearance in a series of posts on Facebook, claimed Mr Ochekwo initially held the victims hostage in his residence.

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Mr Gwamnishu said, after the women went missing, Mr Ochekwo was arrested by police operatives from Aba Police Divisional Headquarters for being in possession of the womens belongings.

The human rights activist said the matter was subsequently transferred to the Anti-kidnapping Unit of the police headquarters in Abia State Command, Umuahia, and later moved to Force Headquarters in Abuja.

Ochekwos sudden death

Mr Gwamnishu would, on 4 June, announce in a Facebook post that Mr Ochekwo had been killed by police operatives while being moved from the police headquarters in Abia to the force headquarters, Abuja.

A day later, the human rights activist said he and the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) of the police from the Force Intelligence Bureau discovered a dead body in a bush near the suspects residence.

He pointed out that some parts, such as the head, two hands and two legs, were missing from the discovered corpse.

He added that a curtain used to wrap the discovered body was the same curtain seen at Mr Ochekwos residence where the missing women visited him, but that a test would be conducted on the body to ascertain if it belonged to one of the women.

Meanwhile, shortly after Mr Ochekwos death went public, many Nigerians accused the police of intentionally killing the suspect to cover up the case and destroy evidence.

Investigation

Mr Adejobi, an assistant commissioner of police, said in the statement on Monday that the IGP has ordered the Monitoring Unit of the Force to conduct a thorough and high-powered investigation into the suspects alleged murder.

The Force spokesperson explained that the order was in response to the numerous allegations, arguments, and counterarguments over the incident.

In light of the public interest and the gravity of the allegations, the IGP has deemed it necessary to institute a meticulous investigation into the roles played by the team which carried out the initial investigation in Abia State, and the Force Intelligence Department Intelligence Response Team (IGP-IRT), to unravel the veritable facts of the matter, he said.

He added that the forces monitoring unit had been given a two-week timeframe to complete its investigation and present a comprehensive report to the IGP for action.

The IGP assures that this case will be handled with the utmost professionalism and integrity, urging all well-meaning members of the public and all stakeholders to remain calm and allow the investigation process to proceed without interference, Mr Adejobi said.

He appealed to those who might have relevant information about the case to assist the police with the same, and assured that such information provided will be treated with the highest level of confidentiality.

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President Bola Tinubu will address the nation in a broadcast on the occasion of Democracy Day at 7a.m. on Wednesday, 12 June.

Television, radio, and other electronic media outlets are enjoined to plug in to the network services of the Nigerian Television Authority and the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) for the broadcast.

Although Nigeria returned to democratic rule on 29 May, 1999, former President Muhammadu Buhari, in 2018, declared 12 June as the new date for the celebration of the countrys democracy.

The decision was to posthumously honour Moshood Abiola, the presumed winner of the 12 June, 1993 presidential election.

Before the new date, Democracy Day was celebrated annually on May 29.

This is the second time Nigeria would celebrate Democracy Day since President Tinubu assumed office in May 2023.

The Nigerian government has declared Wednesday as public holiday to mark the restoration of democracy in Nigeria.

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The Senate has passed the N1.9 trillion budget of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for the 2024 fiscal year.

The upper chamber passed it after considering a report submitted by its Committee on NDDC, presented by Asuquo Ekpeyong, its chairman.

The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced approval of the budget after majority of the senators supported it through a voice vote at the plenary on Tuesday.

The was passed with a borrowing plan of N1 trillion for funding of legacy projects in the Niger Delta region.

The lawmakers also approved N835.2 billion for project development and N38.5 billion for personnel.

Also N29.2 billion was passed as overhead cost and N8.7 billion as cost for internal capital.

The budget was presented to the Senate Committee on NDDC on Monday with an assurance that it would address unemployment, lack of education, poor healthcare system, construction of roads and sustain the economic development of the region.

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Mr Ekpeyong, while presenting the report at Tuesdays plenary, said his committee had scrutinised estimates of the budget as proposed by the commission.

He thereafter urged his colleagues to support the passage.

The senator did not provide budget performance of the NDDC in the previous year.

Contribution

Adeola Olamilekan (APC, Ogun West) commended the committee for the prompt scrutiny of the budget.

Mr Olamilekan, however, sought to know why the committee failed to provide budget performance of the NDDC for 2023

He also urged the committee to ensure that the NDDC management settled its indebtedness with contractors.

Adamu Aliero (PDP, Kebbi Central) queried the borrowing plan of the NDDC.

MR Adamu demanded an explanation on how the planned borrowings will be sourced.

The Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, asked his colleagues to ignore performances of the NDDC in the previous years.

He asked them to concentrate on the new management under Samuel Ogbuku as the managing director.

Mr Jibrin also urged management of the commission to utilise the budget judiciously after the approval.

Adams Oshiomhole (APC, Edo North) said the people of the South-south believed in the current leadership of the commission.

NDDC under the current leadership is doing well and focusing on projects, he said.

Mr Oshiomhole urged his colleagues not to judge the NDDC with the past administrations.

Seriake Dickson (PDP, Bayelsa West) also echoed that the NDDC management is focusing on developing the Niger Delta region through capital projects.

Responding to the arguements, the senate president said the borrowing plan of the NDDC will follow due process and that the Senate will ensure the funds are judiciously utilised.

Before they go and borrow N1 trillion, they must follow due process. This is not the end of the budget. We are still going for an oversight function, Mr Akpabio said.

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The Office of the Head of Civil Services of the Federation (OHCSF) has received a petition by a female official accusing the permanent secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ibrahim Lamuwa, of sexual harassment.

Simisola Fajemirokun-Ajayi, a staff member of the ministry, levelled the allegations against Mr Lamuwa in a petition authored on her behalf by her legal team.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, forwarded Mrs Fajemirokun-Ajayis petition with a cover letter dated 27 May to the OHCSF for action.

As the permanent secretary, Mr Lamuwa is subordinate to the minister, but is the administrative head concerned with the day-to-day running of the ministry. The minister deals with policy implementation as the overall head of the ministry.

The minister, Mr Tuggar, in his letter forwarding Mrs Fajemirokun-Ajayis petition to the OHCSF, expressed concerns about the gravity of the allegations levelled against the permanent secretary and called for an investigation.

I am compelled to write to inform you of a formal complaint against the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Ibrahim Adamu Lamuwa, on allegations of sexual harassment, the minister wrote in the letter shared with PREMIUM TIMES on Tuesday. Bearing in mind the gravity of the matter, I feel it necessary to draw your attention to it and ask that you handle it accordingly.

He assured the HOCSF that he would remain available to provide you with any assistance required in discharging your responsibilities.

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When contacted on Tuesday, the ministers Special Assistant on Media and Communications, Alkasim Abdulkadir, wrote in response to our reporters inquiry on Whatsapp , No comment; the matter is being looked into by the relevant authorities.

The communications department of the ministry declined to provide Mr Lamuwas phone number. Mr Lamuwas lawyer, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, did not answer repeated calls or reply to a message by one of our reporters requesting his clients comments on the allegations.

Complaints against permanent secretary

The petition, authored on behalf of the complainant by her legal team from the law firm renowned lawyer Femi Falana, detailed multiple incidents of alleged sexual harassment by the the permanent secretary.

She alleged that Mr Lamuwas conduct created an unsafe work environment for her, especially as her roles required her to work closely with and report to him often.

She said the top official made inappropriate remarks and advances to her on different occasions, causing her to be apprehensive and uncomfortable with carrying out her duties.

A particular instance is an incident she said occurred on 7 October 2023. According to her, the permanent secretary, on that day, inappropriately suggested a visit to her hotel room at the end of President Bola Tinubus 4D policy review, an event which was ongoing at the time.

She said the top official initially approached her to inquire as to why she did not sleep at the hotel and then informed her that he would want her to come to his room after the event.

Our client explained that she was a nursing mother and needed to go home to care for her baby, her lawyers wrote.

Mr Lamuwa, according to the complainant, pushed further by saying, Is it a big baby or small baby- he suspects its a big baby and would like to find out so he can join.

Despite expressing her displeasure about his conduct to him, Mrs Fajemirokun-Ajayi said he continued this line of inappropriate anecdotes throughout the retreat.

Another incident occurred on 10 November 2023, her petition stated. This time, the complainant said, she was with the permanent secretary at his conference room discussing plans to digitise the ministry. According to her, Mr Lamuwa, in the course of their discussion, invited her for a meeting later that afternoon with a team from Galaxy Backbone.

While the conversation was ongoing, Mr Lamuwa allegedly derailed from the topic of the proposed meeting and instead invited her for a private trip to Hong Kong.

He further assured our client that our clients life would never remain the same after the trip. Our client left the scene in utter shock and disappointment because of the awkwardness of the Permanent Secretary, Amb. Ibrahim Lamuwas discussion.

While our client was about to excuse herself, Amb. Ibrahim Lamuwa thoughtlessly put his arms around our clients arms and demanded a full-frontal hug which she rejected, her petition read.

Harassment persists despite ministers assurance safety

The petitioner also alleged that Mr Lamuwas persistent harassment made her apprehensive about getting raped, raising concerns about her safety in the workplace.

She noted that she had reported Mr Lamuwas allegedly disturbing behaviour to the minister in March 2024, when her fear of getting raped heightened.

The minister, in response, had guaranteed her safety, noting that he had confronted the permanent secretary on the issue and a positive change is expected from this conversation.

However, the harassment persisted afterwards, the complainants lawyers wrote.

Sometime in May 2024, our client went to Amb. Ibrahim Lamuwas office under the Honourable Ministers instruction at about 3:20 p.m. informed the Permanent Secretary to contact his counterpart in the Ministry of Defence for the reports needed for the upcoming US trip.

Upon arriving at the Permanent Secretarys office, our client was informed that he was in his inner room. In her desperate attempt to avoid getting molested, our client returned to her office and interestingly, Amb. Ibrahim Lamuwa demanded that she return to his office at about 3:41 p.m. on the same day.

As instructed, our client immediately returned to see the Permanent Secretary. On arriving at the Permanent Secretarys office, he commented that our client had not been to his office since February because she had grudges against him. He then offered our client to drink tea from his cup whilst forcefully putting his arms around our clients and referring to her as a stubborn woman

Our client again hurriedly left the Permanent Secretarys office for fear of not being molested after repeated demands of a tight hug from him as he had missed seeing her, the letter read.

Other female workers are victims

The petitioner also alleged that many other female workers in the ministry have had similar traumatising experiences with Mr Lamuwa.

According to her some of them have been threatened, discriminated against, and declined certain opportunities after rejecting his advances.

It is pertinent to state that a discreet investigation conducted by our client revealed that more women are with unadorned allegations against the Permanent Secretary, particularly female directors who were almost raped in the hotel rooms and female foreign service officers who have been harassed, threatened and removed from trips, postings and other privileges because they declined to comply with Amb. Ibrahim Lamuwas uncontrolled sexual urges.

Given the above-stated facts, the Honourable Minister would agree with us that sexual harassment, intimidation, oppression, discrimination and abuse of office in any form are unacceptable. They violate your Ministrys policies as well as ethical standards. It includes but is not limited to unwanted advances, inappropriate comments, and any behaviour that creates a hostile work environment, the firm added.

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The Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS) has said that the service did not detain Umaru Mohammed, army general, the former group managing director, executive vice chairman of the Nigerian Army Properties Limited illegally.

The Public Relations Officer, NCoS FCT command, Samson Duza, said this in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja.

Mr Duza said that the Service was a responsible security agency set up by the laws of the federation, with the mandate of keeping the legally interned.

According to him, the attention of the Command, has been drawn to a report by a whistle blowing group demanding for the release of Mr Mohammed, purporting that he was detained without a warrant.

The Service only admits persons legally interned by a competent court of law or a military court martial.

In the case of the said General, he was legally detained by a military court martial, with a valid warrant.

It is rather unfortunate for the said group, acting without knowledge of how the system works, to feed the public with false information born out of crass ignorance.

Asking the NCoS to release the Major General, who was legally interned by a military court martial, is aberration to the criminal justice process, he said.

Duza enjoined the public to disregard the call by the said group as it was committed to safe and humane custody of all persons committed in its care.

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The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Nigerian Army Special Court Martial had convicted Mr Mohammed to seven years imprisonment on Oct. 10, 2023.

NAN reports that the court also ordered the convicted senior officer to refund $2.17 million dollars and N1.06 billion being amount of monies he stole, back to the companys coffers.

The officer was found guilty on 14 of the 18 count charges brought against him and the sentence was based on the provisions of the Criminal Code Act Cap C38 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, and section 174 of the Armed Forces Act cap 20 Laws, 2004.

(NAN)

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The Enugu State Government has tackled the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) over alleged disconnection of power supply to its facilities in the state.

The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Chidiebere Onyia, in a letter forwarded to the EEDC on Tuesday, said that the company earlier issued a notice of disconnection and subsequently disconnected power supply to some of the governments offices and institutions in the state.

Mr Onyia, a professor, accused the EEDC of relying on estimated billing methodology instead of meter billing methodology, which he described as unlawful, malicious, callous and vexatious.

The SSG contended that the use of estimated billing and disconnection of power supply to government offices by the electricity company was in violation of rules of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and Standing Order 2020.

He recalled that, on 7 June, the EEDC via a letter to the state governor, Peter Mbah, claimed that the state government owed the company a total of N1.3 billion.

Mr Onyia, however, faulted the EEDCs claim and argued that electricity bills were those inherited from the previous administration considering that Governor Mbahs administration had diligently and promptly paid all bills received from May 2023 to date, including two months from the carried over bill.

Meanwhile, the EEDC spokesperson, Emeka Ezeh, had earlier on Tuesday, argued that majority of facilities of the Enugu State Government were metered.

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What the law said

Mr Onyia quoted paragraph 13(a) of the NERC Order 2020 which provides that electricity customers who are maximum demand agencies and parastatals but not provided with metres by 1 March 2017 should not pay any electricity bills presented by a DisCo on the basis of estimated billing methodology.

According to him, the paragraph, in its subsection (b), states that no DisCo shall disconnect any maximum demand agencies and parastatals customers that were not metered by 1 March 2024 on the basis of the customers refusal to pay an invoice issued on the basis of estimated billing after the compliance deadline.

Demands

Mr Onyia said, considering the provisions of the NERC Order, the disconnection of power supply to various state governments offices and institutions by the EEDC was unlawful and unacceptable.

Therefore, the government demands detailed bills and the accounts statements/histories of the government agencies that make up the claimed states indebtedness to EEDC for forensic audit investigations.

The government further demands immediate and total metering of all its agencies in line with NERC Order, he said.

The SSG said the state government additionally demanded a refund of its electricity infrastructure investment from which it said the EEDC had profited much money.

He added that the Enugu State Government has also demanded a retraction of the false claim by the EEDC that the government owed the company and immediately reconnect all disconnected government agencies as the basis for a truce between them.

Following the NERC Order NO/197/2020, the government hereby notifies EEDC management that it will no longer pay any electricity bills based on the estimated billing methodology.

The government notes that it has carried out electricity infrastructure intervention projects investment totaling N2,979,334,305.19 from which EEDC collects revenue. The government demands payments for the investment costs and other debts owed by the EEDC to the government, he said.

Sealing of offices

Meanwhile, the Enugu State Government, through its development agency, Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority (ECTDA), sealed offices of the EEDC earlier on Tuesday in the state.

Mr Onyia was silent on the sealing of the EEDCs offices by the ECTDA.

It is unclear if the sealing of the offices of the electricity company was connected to the disagreement between the state government and the EEDC over alleged unpaid electricity bills by the government and disconnection of supply to its offices and institutions in the state.

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The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the final forfeiture of N204.8 million, 15 properties, and eight luxury cars linked to fraudulent activities perpetrated against some Nigerian businesses.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) secured the judgement against Jedidiah Ezenwa and her companies and in favour of the victims of the alleged crimes.

The judge, Inyang Ekwo, issued the forfeiture order in a case initiated by EFCC against Ms Ezenwa, Jedidiah Cement Industry Ltd, Omega Global Resources, Jedidiah Universal Transport Hephz Ltd, Afriinvest Asset Management Ltd, The Guguru Company Ltd, and Josien Holdings Ltd.

The first respondent, a purported foreign currency dealer, had approached the petitioner and victim, Ibrahim Amusan, for a foreign currency transaction involving the purchase of US dollars.

Alleged fraud

According to a statement from EFCCs Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, on Tuesday, apart from Mr Amusan, other victims of the alleged crimes are Afri Invest Ltd, Joisen Holdings Ltd, and Jack Welch Petroleum Services Ltd.

Mr Oyewale said the case began when the victims filed a petition alleging conspiracy, obtaining money under false pretences, fraudulent conversion of funds, and money laundering against Ms Ezenwa.

Investigations, according to EFCC, revealed that Ms Ezenwa solicited funds for foreign currency transactions but instead diverted them for personal use, acquiring numerous properties and vehicles.

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The EFCC stated that Joisen Holdings Ltd transferred N630 million to Hamilton Resources International, which then transferred the naira equivalent to Ms Ezenwas Unity Bank account on her instruction in exchange for US dollars. In total, the petitioners transferred N1.904 billion to Mrs Ezenwas company for foreign currency, which she failed to provide as agreed, EFCC said.

Forfeiture

EFCCs counsel, Ibrahim Buba, earlier secured an interim forfeiture order, which was publicly announced to invite possible legitimate owners of thr assets to make a case to reclaim them. With no objections raised within the court-stipulated timeframe, the EFCC applied for and obtained the final forfeiture order.

Defence counsel Jerry Musa argued that the matter was a breach of contract outside the EFCCs jurisdiction.

However, the judge, Mr Ekwo, dismissed this argument, affirming EFCCs authority to investigate and prosecute the case under section 6 of its Establishment Act.

Mr Ekwo ruled that the assets were proceeds of crime and ordered their final forfeiture to the victims through the Federal Government.

He (judge) thereafter ordered them to be finally forfeited to the victims through the Federal Government, EFCC said in its statement.

Forfeited assets

The forfeited assets, according to EFCC, include a four-bedroom ensuite apartment in Guzape, a choice area in Abuja, a five-bedroom semi-detached duplex in Chevy View Estate, Ajah, Lagos, and several other residential properties in Lagos, Delta State, and Abuja.

The luxury vehicles forfeited include a white SLK 350 Mercedes Benz, a black Hummer Jeep H3, a wine-red BMW X6 SUV, a black CLS 63 Mercedes Benz, a black and white BMW Z40 IL, and a black Mercedes Benz G-Wagon SUV.

ALSO READ: Saraki hails Supreme Court verdict in alleged fraud case

With the final forfeiture order issued in favour of the victims of the alleged crimes, the EFCC is now expected to promptly facilitate the release of the assets to them.

Reaction

The commission described the ruling as a critical step in its efforts to combat financial crimes and deliver justice to the defrauded parties.

Mr Oyewale said the ruling is significant to EFCCs ongoing efforts to fight financial crimes.

This ruling marks a significant milestone in our commitment to ensuring that justice is served and that the proceeds of crime are recovered and returned to the rightful victims, Mr Oyewale said.

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The group believe their stance on a controversial issue prompted the action against them while visiting a popular state forest.

The drivers believe men that confronted them at the edge of the forest let down their tyres. Source: Bob Brown Foundation

Parked at the edge of a remote Aussie forest in the middle of the night, a convoy of drivers were left spooked after their tyres were intentionally let down. They believe their cars were targeted because of the controversial reason they'd entered the wilderness.

The group had stopped on a popular tourist route through the Tarkine forest, a once pristine ancient wilderness thats now being logged for native timber.

It was pitch dark and cold when we found two cars had been tampered with, Dr Colleen Harmsen told Yahoo News from Tasmania.

"We could have been stranded there. If there was an emergency we wouldnt have had transport," another person in the convoy added.

Why was the group parked next to the forest?

Many in the group were environmental campaigners with non-profit Bob Brown Foundation and they were in the forest to protest against the Tasmanian Governments clear-felling of native trees. Around 49 per cent of Tasmania is forested and the issue of whether to protect or log remains is a hot-button issue across the state.

Group members claim they were targeted by men dressed in security uniforms, who they allege were engaged by government-owned logging agency Sustainable Timber Tasmania.

Related: Tourists visiting Aussie World Heritage site face restrictions after controversial act

Before discovering the tyres had been let down, the small group was involved in an altercation with two men in high-vis. Both security guards came over to us. One said: You're greenies, aren't you? You should get back in your car and f*** off, one of the protesters claimed.

Although Harmsen's group managed to send for help and inflate their tyres within two hours, theyve remained in the forest since the incident which occurred on Friday at around 3am.

Harmsen, a veterinarian, has been actively campaigning against logging in her state for over 12 years, and was sentenced to three months jail in 2023 for trespass after a series of protests.

Im not going until [the loggers] go and I hope thats sooner rather than later. Theyve been sending log trucks in on weekends, on the public holiday yesterday. I think theyre desperate to finish logging and get rid of us," Harmsen said.

The protesters are calling for native forest logging to stop inside the Tarkine. Source: Bob Brown Foundation

Logging company declines to respond to group's allegations

Yahoo News has been requesting comment from STT since Friday afternoon, but on Tuesday it said in an email it was not placed to provide comment.

Bob Brown Foundation has claimed the men who confronted the protesters were not licensed security guards and has issued a complaint to police and the Consumer, Building and Occupational Services.

"This cowboy approach against peaceful protestors is irresponsible and dangerous. It is thuggery," the Bob Brown Foundations Scott Jordan claimed.

Yahoo News does not allege the security guards were unlicensed, abused the protesters, or let down their tyres. It is seeking more information from STT about whether it contracted the security guards.

Australian states that remain committed to native forest logging

Native timber logging remains a controversial practice as it's linked to biodiversity loss, extinction and climate change.

Western Australia and South Australia have ceased native forest logging, and Victoria claims to have done the same. But the NSW Labor Government and Tasmanian Liberal Government both remain firm in their commitment to the industry.

In 2023, footage of an ancient tree on the back of a truck sparked international condemnation. But the Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff was reelected in March after promising to log an extra 40,000 hectares of native forest.

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A recent report from SBM Intelligence revealed that the deteriorating security in Abuja has negatively impacted business concerns, leading to an estimated 33 per cent decline in revenue. Residents are nervous, and many can hardly move around at night, which is impacting social and recreational activities. Transport fares have increased, as many people prefer to use taxis or board vehicles in registered motor parks. Food prices have also been affected, as many farmers do not feel safe to go to their farms.

Abuja, Nigerias capital city and seat of power, used to be one of the most secure places in the country. Home to politicians and military officers, one would assume that the city would be protected from criminality, especially armed robbery and banditry. The city has a perception of relative immune from the security challenges plaguing many parts of the country. However, this appears no longer to be the case. The situation is fast changing as Abuja is now facing a surge of insecurity. Communities within it are under siege. Media reports indicate that in the last year, about 87 residents have been killed and another 176 kidnapped. The steady rise in violent attacks within the city since the assumption of office by President Bola Tinubu is fuelling fear and tension among residents. A recent report by a security consulting firm ranked Abuja 11th among cities where frequent abductions occur. Earlier in the year, a military estate was stormed by kidnappers, who abducted two persons during the operation.

They Come in Numbers, Often Dressed in Military Camouflages

Sometime in May, Dawaki, a small community opposite the Gwarimpa Housing Estate, came under attack as armed men numbering over 50 invaded the area. Dressed in military uniform, they reportedly raided six houses and abducted about twenty residents. The next day, another set of hoodlums invaded Shagari Quarters, near Dei-Dei, where they attacked the house of a Customs officer and abducted his pregnant wife, three children and younger brother. Last January, 11 persons were kidnapped in the Sagwari Estate layout in Dutse Alhaji, within the Abuja metropolis. On the 7th of June, gunmen, numbering about 16, invaded another housing estate in Kuchiko Resettlement Area (KRDA) and abducted a resident.

Often described as bandits, these kidnappers come in numbers of 10 to 50, usually dressed in military camouflages. Many of them are men, with a few women. The bandits have become more daring and they operate more in the satellite towns, where most residents live. They once operated for four consecutive days, blocking the Kaduna-Abuja expressway, killing three people, and abducting dozens of others. Residents sometimes sell their properties to pay ransom.

In some of these communities, the villagers, predominantly peasant farmers, are chased away and displaced for the occupation of bandits, who often come to the mainland in search of grains, mattresses and other logistics, including hard drugs such as cannabis, cocaine and tramadol, among others. They operate with a network of informants, including drivers, motorcyclists, cooks, gatemen, artisans and security men.

The Locations of Bandits Around the Metropolis Are Known

Many of the bandits terrorising Abuja environs are part of those displaced from Zamfara, Katsina and Kaduna. They occupy many of the ungoverned spaces that exist outside the boundaries between the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Nasarawa, Kaduna and Niger states. These locations are close to the city. A place like Jibi forests bordering Dei Dei, Mpape towards Ushafa hills, Kuje forests, Karshi corridor and Gidandogo in the outskirts of the FCT are known hideouts of bandits. As mentioned, some of these communities border Niger, Nasarawa and Kaduna states, from where they get access to the Gurara and Shiroro areas. For instance, Gidandogo is very close to Bwari town, where these bandits allegedly get supplies for their daily needs. It is a well-known fact that bandits use old cattle grazing routes as paths to move their victims, often to Kaduna, especially Rijana and Kajuru forests. The base of the bandits in Rijana is said to be huge and already infiltrated by the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) members, with these terrorists providing the bandits support in making local bombs and firearms.

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Peasant Farming Communities Are Chased Away and Occupied

In some of these communities, the villagers, predominantly peasant farmers, are chased away and displaced for the occupation of bandits, who often come to the mainland in search of grains, mattresses and other logistics, including hard drugs such as cannabis, cocaine and tramadol, among others. They operate with a network of informants, including drivers, motorcyclists, cooks, gatemen, artisans and security men. Equally, they operate in small gangs in which the leader provides the guns which they use for their operations.

Insecurity has negatively impacted businesses.

A recent report from SBM Intelligence revealed that the deteriorating security in Abuja has negatively impacted business concerns, leading to an estimated 33 per cent decline in revenue. Residents are nervous, and many can hardly move around at night, which is impacting social and recreational activities. Transport fares have increased, as many people prefer to use taxis or board vehicles in registered motor parks. Food prices have also been affected, as many farmers do not feel safe to go to their farms. Currently, there is very low patronage for real estate in kidnapping-prone areas by investors and tenants.

Political will is, therefore, crucial and must be expressed beyond lip service by using a network of intelligence gathering. Outright combat and kinetic solutions have been helpful but have yet to prove completely effective. Bottom-up, non-kinetic approaches should be considered too. The government is reportedly contemplating the establishment of a group of armed guards to be deployed in the above-mentioned forests.

Security Agents Are Doing their Bit, But More Is Needed

The administration of the Federal Capital Territory has been mobilising the combined efforts of security agencies, but these are far and in between. Security personnel often respond to distress calls from those under attack but only manage to reach there after the attackers have left with their victims. Many residents complain that security officials treat intelligence leads with levity, suggesting that there could be accomplices among them. For instance, residents in Mpape complained that a particular known bandit informant had been arrested many times, only to be released by security agencies each time. Some of the bandit leaders appear to have links with prominent politicians. Often, when their camps are about to be raided, they get advanced information that enables them to escape. After such raids, these bandit leaders appear in videos taunting security agencies, making them appear almost invincible.

Political will is, therefore, crucial and must be expressed beyond lip service by using a network of intelligence gathering. Outright combat and kinetic solutions have been helpful but have yet to prove completely effective. Bottom-up, non-kinetic approaches should be considered too. The government is reportedly contemplating the establishment of a group of armed guards to be deployed in the above-mentioned forests. There is a need to consider innovative approaches and homegrown solutions, such as strengthening the implementation of nomadic education and structural ranching. Self-defence is key. Personal precautions in hiring of domestic personal is important, while increased vigilance will also help.

Uche Igwe is a senior political economy analyst and visiting fellow at Firoz Lalji Institute for Africa at the London School of Economics and Political Science(LSE). He can be reached at u.igwe@lse.ac.uk

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It is a known saying that not all superheroes wear capes, and in the world of banking and finance in Africa, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede and Herbert Wigwe are among those exceptional figures. Their leadership turned Access Bank from a modest institution into one of Africas largest financial entities, showcasing visionary leadership, strategic acumen, and an unwavering commitment to excellence.

A Strategic Vision for Banking

In 1988, Nigerian banking was divided into Merchant and Commercial Banking, with merchant banks partnering with major American financial institutions, bringing an American corporate culture to Nigeria. Despite his legal education, Mr Aig-Imoukhuede quickly realised the value of his background in banking. By 1989, he was recruited to join the launch team of Prime Merchant Bank, demonstrating his abilities and vision early in his career.

As Mr Aig-Imoukhuede delved deeper into banking, he transitioned from a legal role to core banking. His involvement in high-level discussions with President Obasanjo and other government leaders opened his eyes to the potential of banking to support Nigerias ambitious growth goals. This strategic vision was further solidified during an Executive Management Programme at Harvard Business School, where he was inspired by the book Buyout: The Insiders Guide to Buying Your Own Company.

The Bold Acquisition and Initial Challenges

With their extensive banking experience from GT Bank, Aig-Imoukhuede and Wigwe identified Access Bank as a prime acquisition target. Despite ongoing investigations into the banks forex issues, they recognised its solid foundation. They needed $9 million to complete the purchase, contributing $1.8 million from their savings and shares in GTBank and securing the remaining funds from family and friends.

In March 2002, the acquisition of Access Bank was finalised, and Aig-Imoukhuede and Wigwe were approved by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to take on the roles of Managing Director and Deputy Managing Director, respectively. This marked the official beginning of their transformative journey with Access Bank.

Access Bank then embarked on an aggressive expansion strategy. The announcement of the Central Bank of Nigerias (CBN) N25 billion capitalization deadline in 2005 became a pivotal moment for Access Bank. Aig-Imoukhuede and Wigwe mobilised their workforce, quickly raising N15 billion through a public offer. They acquired Capital Bank Ltd. and Marina International Bank Ltd., further strengthening their capital base by converting a $15 million term loan from the Netherlands Development Finance Company (FMO) into equity. Surpassing the capitalization requirement, Access Bank was poised for aggressive growth.

Between 2006 and 2007, the bank continued its capital-raising efforts, issuing a local bond of N11.9 billion and raising N136 billion through public offerings, including a successful and oversubscribed Global Depository Receipt (GDR). In 2008, Access Bank established its UK subsidiary, marking the beginning of its international expansion.

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Aig-Imoukhuede and Wigwe were early adopters of digital transformation, investing heavily in the banks IT infrastructure upgrade, enabling the bank to offer more efficient and secure services.

International Forays and Capital Markets

Access Banks growth was not confined to Nigeria. The bank pursued international expansion, establishing a presence in key African markets. The acquisition of Intercontinental Bank in 2012 was a major milestone, significantly increasing Access Banks assets and customer base. The bank also expanded into the UK, marking its entry into the international banking scene.

In 2012, Access Bank raised $350 million through a Eurobond and divested from non-banking subsidiaries. Recognised as a systemically important financial institution by the CBN, the bank issued a $400 million subordinated note in 2014, transforming into a large, diversified banking institution. With Mr Wigwe taking over as Group Managing Director & CEO in 2014, Access Bank continued to outpace its peers, raising N42 billion through a rights issue in 2017 and issuing another $300 million subordinated note.

The Landmark Merger with Diamond Bank

The 2018 merger with Diamond Bank was a game-changer for Access Bank. This strategic move positioned Access Bank as the largest bank in Nigeria by assets and retail business, with 646 branches and the largest network of ATMs and POS terminals. The merger expanded Access Banks customer base to 38 million and reinforced its retail banking dominance. The integration of Diamond Banks strong retail franchise with Access Banks corporate banking expertise created a more robust and versatile institution.

In 2019, Access Bank issued Nigerias first green bond, underscoring its commitment to sustainable finance. The banks expansion into Kenya, Mozambique, and South Africa between 2020 and 2022 highlighted its strategic focus on becoming Africas gateway to the world. By 2022, Access Bank had successfully executed its five-year strategy, boasting a workforce of over 6,000 professionals serving more than 52 million customers across 17 markets worldwide.

Transformation into a Holding Company

In 2022, Access Bank restructured into a holding company, Access Holdings, to leverage synergies across its various businesses and expand its product offerings in payments, insurance, consumer finance, and pensions. This restructuring was part of a broader strategy to enhance efficiency and drive growth across multiple sectors.

In 2023, Access Holdings launched operations in Paris, marking its foray into the Northern Hemisphere. The groups strategic expansion into new territories reflects its vision to be a pan-African force contributing to economic development across borders. Through its subsidiaries, Access Holdings has played a pivotal role in sectors ranging from finance and banking to agriculture, technology, and healthcare.

Commencing in the second half of 2024, Access Holdings Africa and international expansion strategy will enter a phase of consolidation and efficiency. This aligns with the institutions five-year plan to achieve its 2027 strategic objectives, focusing on strengthening its market position and enhancing operational efficiency.

Tragically, the untimely death of Mr Wigwe marks a significant loss for the banking community. However, his vision and values are deeply embedded in Access Banks DNA. The solid foundation built by Wigwe and Aig-Imoukhuede ensures that the banks operations and strategic direction will continue unabated. The leadership team, inspired by their legacy, remains dedicated to driving Access Banks mission forward, ensuring that the institution thrives and continues to positively impact the continent.

Raphael Adewoye wrote from Lagos.

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In a gesture of clemency, Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State on Tuesday granted freedom to 110 convicts serving various jail terms at the Kaduna Correctional Centre.

At an event in Kaduna, the governor exercised his prerogative of mercy, approving the release of the convicts.

In a statement, Mr Sani was also quoted to have paid tribute to the late legal icon, Gani Fawehinmi, who dedicated his life to advocating for penal reform and decongestion of correctional centres.

In exercise of my power of prerogative of mercy, I freed 110 convicts today to celebrate the 2024 June 12 Democracy Day. I was joined at the Kaduna Correctional Centre, venue of the event, by my dear comrade and colleague in the human rights and pro-democracy struggle, Femi Falana, SAN

I used the opportunity to pay tribute to my mentor and senior comrade, Chief Gani Fawehimni, SAN, GCON (of blessed memory) who devoted his boundless energy and legal skills to advocacy for reform of the penal system and decongestion of our correctional centres. He spent the better part of his life fighting for social justice, especially access to justice for the poor, vulnerable and underserved in our society.

Our administration is concerned about overcrowding in correctional facilities and the fact that many citizens are languishing in such facilities due to their social and economic conditions.

There are many of our citizens who are in such centres due to their inability to pay small fines. Some were also convicted because they could not afford a lawyer. We live in a society where the underprivileged do not have the financial wherewithal to vigorously pursue the course of justice.

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Our administration is anchored on justice and fairness. We are committed to bringing succour to the poor, vulnerable and underserved in Kaduna State.

We have zero tolerance for discrimination. We strongly believe that there is inherent goodness in every person. We believe that everybody deserves a second chance. Persons in custodial centres can turn a new leaf and contribute to the growth and development of our state.

While releasing the inmates, I urged them to reciprocate our administrations gesture by being of good character henceforth. I encouraged them to acquire one or two skills.

Our administration is eager and willing to assist them in acquiring skills. It is not too late for them to be useful to themselves, their families, and to society.

As part of our interventions in supporting the operations of the Kaduna Custodial Centre, I have directed the installation of solar powered street lights in the centre and provision of operational vehicles. I have also directed the Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice to work with the Controller on other areas of need.

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Taraba State Governor, Agbu Kefas, on Tuesday expressed his opposition to the creation of state police in Nigeria.

Mr Kefas said the existing security structure is capable of addressing the security challenges of the nation.

In February, the federal and state governments agreed on the creation of state police at a meeting between President Bola Tinubu and the 36 states of the federation. The Taraba State governor attended the meeting.

Even before that major development, some regions and states had created security outfits such as the Western Nigeria Security Network, codenamed Amotekun, in the South-west, and Ebube Agu in the South-east.

Mr Kefas stated his latest position while hosting the Commandant of the Army Operation Whirl Stroke in charge of Nasarawa, Benue and Taraba states, L G. Leptang, at the Government House, Jalingo.

Mr Kefas, who retired as a colonel, said after serving in the Nigerian army for some years, he knows what the military and other security agencies of Nigeria are capable of doing for national security.

That is why when people are talking about the creation of state police I keep quiet. I know the capability of the Nigerian Army and other security operatives of the country

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I know that you are great assets to Nigeria, but what you need is the necessary support and enabling environment to discharge your duties, Mr Kefas stated.

He said his government was collaborating with neighbouring states and the Republic of Cameroon to form a common front where security issues bothering the states would be discussed.

We have been making ways to collaborate with governors of our neighbouring states and a governor in Cameroon where we can synergise to tackle insecurity at our borders.

The criminals must be fished out for the law-abiding citizens to live in peace, he said.

Speaking earlier, Mr Leptang, a brigadier-general, told the governor that he was in the state with his team to pay a courtesy visit and inform him about some challenges facing the operation.

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The leadership of the House of Representatives has been mandated to intervene in the political situation in Plateau State, where some members of the State Assembly have yet to be sworn in.

The seven lawmakers are part of the 16 members of the House returned by the Court of Appeal after the originally elected PDP members were removed under controversial circumstances.

Nine of the APC lawmakers were subsequently sworn in by Speaker Gabriel Dewan, leaving the others out.

On Tuesday, following a motion moved by the former Deputy Speaker Idris Wase (APC, Plateau), the House resolved that the leadership should intervene to ensure the others are sworn in for the purposes of equity, fairness, and justice.

Moving the motion, Mr. Wase said INEC, in compliance with the Electoral Act and the order of the court, issued certificates of return to the APC members; however, the assembly has yet to comply with the courts order.

Members-elect of the Plateau State House of Assembly have met all the requirements of the law, as contained in Section 94 (1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 and Section 72 (1) of the Electoral Act, 2022, Mr. Wase said.

He alleged that the speaker of the state assembly compelled the remaining members-elect to submit letters of resignation with accompanying court affidavits before they are sworn in.

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The remaining members-elect of the Plateau State House of Assembly are compelled to submit letters of resignation with accompanying court affidavits by the speaker as a condition for swearing-in, which amounts to a mockery of democracy at a time when Nigeria is celebrating 25 years of unbroken democracy.

Mr Wase stressed that failure to address the delays or biases in the swearing-in of these new members-elect is a total denial of the voices of other constituencies in Plateau State and undermines our commitment to justice, fairness, and the principles of democracy and poses a threat to security in the State.

The motion was not debated by the House, and when it was put to vote by the presiding officer, Speaker Abbas Tajudeen, majority of the members supported it.

Background

In the aftermath of the 2023 general elections, the Court of Appeal sacked Governor Caleb Muftwang and 23 federal and state legislators in the state.

The court ruled that the PDP was wrong not to have obeyed subsisting orders from a High Court in Plateau State that asked the party to conduct a new congress.

However, the Supreme Court overturned the decision of the Appeal Court in the case of the governor, while the others whose cases stopped at the latter lost their seats.

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Bandits have freed 40 out of 150 people they abducted three weeks ago at Kuchi in Munya Local Government Area of Niger State.

The villagers, mostly women and children, were released after the payment of ransoms by the community.

Sources in the community said families and friends of the victims contributed money to buy six Honda motorcycles, valued at N1.2 million each, and add an extra cash of N2 million for the bandits.

A reliable source who spoke from Kuchi to a PREMIUM TIMES correspondent in Minna on the telephone on Tuesday said the bandits are still holding on to 110 villagers for whom ransoms are being negotiated.

The source said the bandits have asked for another set of six motorcycles and N2 million cash for the release of another batch of 40 hostages.

They said negotiations were still ongoing between the bandits and community leaders.

The outlaws had invaded the community three weeks ago, during which they killed seven people, including four security agents, and abducted 150 villagers.

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They looted shops, houses and grain barns in a siege the villagers said lasted for over three hours.

Two weeks after the abduction, the bandits demanded an N150million ransom for the release of the victims, angrily rejecting N100,000 offered by the community for each victim.

We have been negotiating with them (bandits), but finally they agreed to collect six Honda motorcycles and N2 million to release two groups totalling 40.

They divided the 150 people they abducted into six groups and said we should bring six Honda motorcycles and N2 million cash for each of the groups. This is after they rejected our initial offer of N100,000 for each person. They have released two groups, remaining four groups, our source said.

ALSO READ: Police rescue kidnap victims in Abuja

According to our source, since the attack occurred three weeks ago, government officials or security agents have not visited the community.

Our community is left without security at the moment, and it has been deserted, the source said.

There has been no official statement from either the government or security agencies over the attack, except the chairperson of the local government, Aminu Najume, who confirmed the abduction on the telephone.

However when contacted on the release of the 40 people, Mr Najume said his council was not involved in the negotiation as it was entirely between the community and the bandits.

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Governor Umar Namadi of Jigawa State on Monday swore in a 34-year-old woman, Nilfa Gambo, as a high court judge for the state.

Mrs Gambo was sworn in at the Council Chambers, Government House, alongside Muhammad Usman as high court judges.

Speaking after the swearing-in, Mr Namadi said all the appointments were based on merit, adding that the new appointees made the state proud as they excelled during the selection interview.

He revealed that NJC had confirmed that Jigawas judges selection process was the best in the country.

He stated that the state government decided to remain neutral during the selection process to ensure the selection of the best candidates.

The governor congratulated the new judges and charged them to serve with diligence and fear of Allah.

Meanwhile, according to a lawyer, Bulama Bukarti, Mrs Gambo rose through the ranks and became what she is before reaching 35.

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I am absolutely thrilled to hear that Nilfa Abdullahi Gambo is among the list of high court judges approved by the National Judicial Council this week. Nilfa is a smart, industrious and kind woman. Her appointment is not just a result of her sheer hard work but also an inspiration to aspiring lawyers and girls in general.

Having graduated from Bayero University Kano, Nilfa was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2013. She then earned an LLM from SOAS, University of London, specialising in International Economic Law with a focus on Africa. She is also a certified mediator and international arbitrator and a member of CIArb UK and ICMC. She previously worked as a research assistant, registrar, and mediator at the NICN under several Judges of the Court.

Nilfa achieved all this before reaching 35 years of age while giving birth and raising four children. And when I tell you that they are all boys, you can imagine what she must have gone through (laughed). She is a testament to the reality that it is not a choice between career or family. Nilfa successfully combined both. She has made not just the Abdullahi Gambo family proud but the whole of northern Nigeria. Some credit, of course, goes to Nilfas supportive husband (you can hold me guilty of a bit of masculinism here).

And once again, it was Jigawa State that did it. When Justice Auwal Yau was appointed, we celebrated him and the whole state for injecting fresh, agile blood into the bench. Now, the same state has produced Nilfa. Jigawa judiciarys vision in appointing younger lawyers as judges will shape the state in great ways and elevate its judiciary members. Mark my words, Mr Bukarti recently posted.

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Some gunmen have killed two police operatives in Akabo, a community in Ikeduru Local Government Area of Imo State, South-east Nigeria.

The incident happened on Tuesday morning, residents told PREMIUM TIMES.

One of the residents, who asked not to be named, told this newspaper that the hoodlums were driving along the road when they met some police operatives at a checkpoint and subsequently opened fire on them.

They shot two policemen dead immediately. One villager who was close to the checkpoint was also killed, the resident said.

Another resident, Ifechukwu Opara, said the gunmen, after killing the victims, moved around villages in the community, shooting continually.

Mr Opara added that although they did not kill more persons apart from the two police operatives and the resident, the sporadic shootings frightened many villagers.

Video clips

A video clip, apparently recorded shortly after the attack, has been circulating on Facebook.

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In the clip, two police operatives were seen lying lifeless in the area. One of them was seen lying face down and lifeless along the road. The second operative was seen lying dead under a tree in the area.

The clip did not show the body of the resident killed during the attack.

Police speak

When contacted on Tuesday morning, the police spokesperson in Imo State, Henry Okoye, confirmed the development to PREMIUM TIMES.

Mr Okoye, an assistant superintendent of police, described the attack as senseless, unwarranted and unprovoked act of violence.

The police spokesperson said the operatives were attacked by the hoodlums, suspected to be members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed affiliate, Eastern Security Network.

The police officers fought gallantly, but unfortunately, two of our personnel and a civilian were fatally hit, he said.

He said the Commissioner of Police in the state, Aboki Danjuma, has mobilised a police tactical squad of the command in the community to track down the killers.

As I am talking to you now, an intense operation is currently going on in Ikeduru Local Government Area with a view of apprehending the hoodlums responsible for the attack, Mr Okoye said.

The spokesperson said the commissioner of police has equally set up a high-powered investigating team to probe the attack and killing.

He said the killing of the operatives was another painful and stark reminder of the sacrifices police officers make in their commitment to secure Nigerians.

Worsening insecurity

Like other states in Nigerias South-east, security has deteriorated in Imo State with frequent attacks by armed persons.

The attacks often target security agencies, government officials and facilities.

The Nigerian government has accused the outlawed IPOB of being responsible for the deadly attacks in the region. But the group has repeatedly denied their involvement in the attacks.

IPOB is a group leading agitation for an independent state of Biafra which it wants carved out from the south-east and some parts of the south-south Nigeria.

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The Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority (ECTDA), Tuesday, sealed the offices of the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) in Enugu State.

This is happening days after EEDC announced that it would disconnect power supply to the Enugu State Government House and those of other state governments as well as institutions in the South-east over N180 billion debts which they allegedly owed the company.

The spokesperson for the EEDC, Emeka Ezeh, disclosed this in a statement forwarded to PREMIUM TIMES.

Mr Ezeh said, on arrival at the EEDC headquarters in the state on Tuesday morning, he and other staff members of the company were surprised to observe that the ECDTA had sealed their headquarters.

We were informed by the security men on duty that in the early hours of today (Tuesday) at about 1:53 a.m., a group of men came and locked up the gates, claiming that the state governor directed the action, he said.

The spokesperson said, apart from the headquarters, their offices in Abakpa, Awkunanaw and Ogui areas were also sealed by the agency.

He said the development was strange given that there was no notice of any sort to the EEDC from the ECTDA.

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According to him, there has not been any clear information or communication from the ECDTA explaining their action.

Disconnection notice

Mr Ezeh suspected that the sealing of EEDCs offices might be connected to the notice issued by the company to commence disconnection of its indebted customers as from Tuesday.

Enugu State Government happens to be one of the indebted customers with over N1 billion owed to EEDC. It is important to state that the majority of the state governments facilities are metered. So, it is not a case of estimated billing, he said.

EEDC has about N180 billion as debt owed the company and has concluded plans to commence disconnection of indebted customers.

ECDTA silent

When contacted on Tuesday, the chairperson of the ECTDA, Uche Anya, told PREMIUM TIMES that he would not immediately speak on the incident because of a meeting he was going to have with the state governor, Peter Mbah.

Pressed to confirm why the ECTDA sealed the offices of the electricity company, Mr Anyanwu said, I will return your call.

He was yet to do so as of the time of filing this report.

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Sea Shepherd has released the results of its 2024 vaquita survey. And there are worrying signs for the world's most endangered marine mammal.

Vaquita, the worlds rarest marine mammal, has survived another year. The population remains "stable" according to monitoring crews, but the 2024 number is the lowest result ever recorded.

During the last count in 2023, expert spotters supported by Sea Shepherd estimated between 10 and 13 of the tiny porpoises remained. This year just six to eight were sighted during a two-week survey.

Among the individuals filmed with a drone were a mother and her year-old baby. But worryingly no new-born calves were seen.

The critically endangered vaquitas have evolved to survive in a small 300 square kilometre refuge in the Gulf of California, Mexico. DNA testing suggests they were never numerous, and at the turn of the last century its estimated there were 500 individuals.

Numbers of vaquita have plummeted over the last 25 years due to illegal gillnet fishing controlled by Mexicos cartels. The nets target a threatened fish called totoaba whose body parts are traded as a commodity in China. But over the last 25 years fishermen have also inadvertently snared vaquita, pushing the species to the edge of extinction.

Efforts to protect vaquita ramped up

In 2021, Yahoo revealed the vaquita was not yet extinct and it was later confirmed between five and 13 vaquitas survived. Two years earlier between seven to 15 individuals were observed.

Despite efforts being ramped up to protect a portion of the vaquita's known territory, known as the Zero Tolerance Area, and remove gillnets, some conservationists remain critical of Mexican government's efforts to protect the species,

Every year international experts join Mexican officials to report on whether the vaquita has survived another year. This year Sea Shepherd praised the work being done to protect the vaquita and vowed to continue the fight.

"We must do everything possible to save the vaquita," Pritam Singh told media on Tuesday (local time) as the results of the May 5 and May 26 survey were released.

A still shows two vaquita documented during a previous survey. Source: Tom Jefferson

Why the vaquita population may not have actually dropped

The 2024 mission, dubbed Operation Milagro, used two ships supplied by Sea Shepherd, which were supported by Natural Protected Areas Commission of Mexico (CONANP) and the Mexican navy.

Both acoustic and visual monitoring were used to detect the animals and create an estimate of the minimum number of individuals that survive.

Barbara Taylor, the veteran vaquita researcher who led the survey, said the species had been declining at 45 per cent a year, but a handful of individuals have continued to defy expectations and survive.

Previous surveys have documented some with nicks and scars from gill nets, leading to a theory some may have learned to avoid being killed by them. None of these individuals were spotted in 2024.

Despite the survey results being low this year, the team has not conceded the population has dropped, because individuals could have moved from their normal distribution area. Further acoustic monitoring efforts are set to take place between June and December in waters not yet surveyed.

Vaquita survival in 'grave doubt' without 'stronger' conservation efforts

Responding to the survey, Alex Olivera from non-profit Center for Biological Diversity told Yahoo News the vaquita's ongoing survival remains in "grave doubt".

"It's good news that fishing gear entanglement hasn't completely wiped out these little porpoises," he said before adding that "stronger" conservation measures are needed.

"Vaquitas still face a threat of extinction from dangerous gillnets in their habitat and the Mexican government's lax enforcement of protective regulations," he said from Mexico.

"It is crucial that President-elect [Claudia Sheinbaum] commits to enforcing these regulations now to save the vaquita."

DJ Schubert, a senior wildlife biologist at the Animal Welfare Institute agreed that more must be done, and said the gillnets that kill vaquita are still widely used in Mexico despite them now being banned.

"While we commend all involved in conducting the survey, the likely decline in vaquita numbers should be setting off alarm bells in Mexico and around the world," he said.

"Given Mexicos ongoing failures to stop illegal fishing and the trafficking of totoaba, the government remains complacent in the vaquitas near-extinction."

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Help businesses create smarter agreements, commit to them more efficiently and actively manage them to realize full value

LONDON, June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The EY organization today announces an alliance between Docusign, an intelligent agreement company, and Ernst & Young LLP (EY US), to provide technology solutions that help businesses to transform agreement data into actionable insights, accelerating contract review cycles and boosting productivity organization-wide.

With virtual and hybrid business operations increasing in pace, technology solutions are needed to help drive automation and ease of communication. The EYDocusign Alliance leverages Docusign CLM (Contract Lifecycle Management) and EY US contract intelligence services to offer intelligent agreement management solutions to help organizations connect and automate how agreements are created, committed to and managed.

The Alliance also helps develop the necessary technology to support EY Law managed services offerings. In addition, Docusign helps scale the EY US contract intelligence offerings, bringing greater insights to clients by unlocking critical data from their agreements through AI capabilities and enterprise technology platform connectors.

Heidi Stenberg, EYDocusign Alliance Leader, Ernst & Young LLP, says:

"This alliance with Docusign helps EY US to not only broaden its enterprise solutions but also increase the value of its service offerings. Through the Alliance, I am thrilled to see that EY US will be positioned to help clients with intelligent agreement management solutions, such as contract intelligence, contract operations and transformation, and technology configuration."

Janine Grasso, Docusign Group Vice President of Partner Development & Alliances, says:

"This alliance with EY US helps Docusign to address intelligent agreement management at scale by delivering innovative legal transformations to our customers. We are excited about the domain capabilities EY US brings to help customers automate their end-to-end agreement workflows and business processes."

For more information, visit ey.com/alliances .

About EY

EY exists to build a better working world, helping to create long-term value for clients, people and society and build trust in the capital markets.

Enabled by data and technology, diverse EY teams in over 150 countries provide trust through assurance and help clients grow, transform and operate.

Working across assurance, consulting, law, strategy, tax and transactions, EY teams ask better questions to find new answers for the complex issues facing our world today.

EY refers to the global organization, and may refer to one or more, of the member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients. Information about how EY collects and uses personal data and a description of the rights individuals have under data protection legislation are available via ey.com/privacy. EY member firms do not practice law where prohibited by local laws. For more information about our organization, please visit ey.com.

This news release has been issued by EYGM Limited, a member of the global EY organization that also does not provide any services to clients.

About Docusign

Docusign brings agreements to life. Over 1.5 million customers and more than a billion people in over 180 countries use Docusign solutions to accelerate the process of doing business and simplify people's lives. With intelligent agreement management, Docusign unleashes business critical data that is trapped inside of documents. Until now, these were disconnected from business systems of record, costing businesses time, money, and opportunity. Using Docusign IAM, companies can create, commit, and manage agreements with solutions created by the #1 company in e-signature and contract lifecycle management.

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NEW ORLEANS, June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Advano, a next-generation silicon-carbon composite anode material innovator for advanced lithium-ion batteries, proudly announces the final stage of commissioning at its industrial pilot plant in anticipation of production later this month. This strengthens the development of an initial strategic partnership with a major Tier 1 battery supplier and marks a significant milestone in the company's mission to revolutionize next generation batteries with its proprietary silicon technology, REALSi. REALSi will accelerate the energy transition into higher performing batteries, catering to diverse applications including electric vehicles, consumer electronics, and grid storage systems.

This milestone achievement is attributed to the vision and expertise of Advano's recently hired critical operations and technology leaders, Chief Operating Officer, Jim Stonecipher and Chief Technology Officer, Dr. Sung H. Lim. Together their teams were instrumental in transferring Advano's proprietary production methodologies from the laboratory to industrial pilot scale for commercial development projects with customers.

Chief Operating Officer, Jim Stonecipher joined Advano with over 30 years of experience in the chemicals space. Jim has held several executive positions with global impact, leading engineering, operations and growth teams at Startup and Fortune 100 companies such as Air Liquide, General Electric, and Celanese as well as advising multiple startup companies in developing their emerging businesses.

Chief Technology Officer, Dr. Sung Lim brings over 20 years of experience in materials synthesis and product development. Dr. Lim's career began at LG Chem, where he worked on advanced coating materials. Afterward, he co-founded a Silicon Valley startup, where he held a R&D leadership role for 12 years, which eventually sold for ~$425 million. In 2018, Dr. Lim joined Lyten, where he worked on pioneering applications of 3D graphene. Following Lyten, he joined Sila Nanotechnologies in 2022, driving the development of next-generation battery materials.

"The industrial pilot facility is a testament to our commitment of enhancing the performance of lithium-ion battery designs with our silicon-carbon composites," said Chris York, Advano CEO. "Under the guidance of our new executive leadership, we are poised to accelerate our efforts in delivering innovative silicon anode materials that will power the next generation of energy storage."

Advano remains committed to pushing the boundaries of innovation in the battery industry and looks forward to delivering a solution that provides sustainable scalability, high-performance, and cost-effectiveness, while addressing the evolving needs of the global market.

About Advano

Founded in 2016, Advano is empowering lives with material solutions for next-generation energy storage. Built upon nearly a decade of research and patented technological innovation, Advano is unlocking more energy storage and faster charge capabilities by adding its proprietary technology, REALSi to today's Lithium-ion batteries. The company is commercializing REALSi in New Orleans, Louisiana, utilizing earth-abundant silicon. Advano is a Y-Combinator graduate and is backed by world-class investors such as Build Collective, Mojo Partners, DCVC, PeopleFund, and Mitsui Kinzoku. Advano's vision is to be the global leader in battery-grade silicon technology, powering the clean energy transition.

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.advano.io

SOURCE Advano, Inc.
Funding will support infrastructure improvements to expand nonprofit's community care hub and improve health equity, access and outcomes for more people

OAK PARK, Ill., June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- AgeOptions, a leader in serving and advocating for older adults, announces its Community Care Hub (CCH) known as Illinois Pathways to Health has been awarded a $468,000 grant from USAging's Center of Excellence to Align Health and Social Care (COE) to expand its service offerings for older adults and caregivers to hospitals and managed care providers.

AgeOptions, a nonprofit based in Oak Park, is an Area Agency on Aging that promotes better health outcomes and quality of life so older adults can live their lives to the fullest and remain in their homes for as long as possible. The grant will bolster Illinois Pathways to Health's contracting efforts and ability to streamline access to and delivery of social care programs and services (including health promotion, falls prevention, caregiver support and nutrition). AgeOptions has recently joined forces with the Coordinated Care Alliance, the statewide network of Care Coordination Units, to offer an even more comprehensive statewide set of services. Funds will support both organizations in their collective work as a Community Care Hub.

Illinois Pathways to Health is one of 20 CCHs nationwide selected through a highly competitive process. AgeOptions will use the funding to put in place the partners, products and data systems needed to sell its services directly to healthcare organizations and reach more people.

"Historically our work has been seen as separate from healthcare. Now there's a growth of recognition that the work we do directly impacts the health of individuals," said Diane Slezak, President and CEO of AgeOptions. "This funding allows us  having cultivated this network  to deliver services and be the one-stop shop for contracting and network involvement for healthcare organizations to ensure their members are receiving the full breadth of service opportunities to live their healthiest best lives."

Rob Mapes, Director of Program and Community Support at AgeOptions, says that the new health care focus on addressing health-related social needs plays to the strengths and purpose of the service providers working with Illinois Pathways to Health.

"The aging network has been connecting older adults and their family and informal caregivers to services and support for 50 years," Mapes said. "We're ready to engage health care providers and payors to expand our work to serve their patients and members."

Mapes added that even if the money the agency received from the federal government were doubled, it still wouldn't be enough to reach all the people who could benefit from services.

"By contracting with health care providers and payors, we expand our ability to achieve our mission. The health plan members will have better health outcomes and the managed care providers can save money. It's a win-win-win."

The grants are supported by the Administration for Community Living (ACL), under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through a cooperative agreement totaling approximately $12 million over a three-year period. The funding is part of the COE's effort to support the development and expansion of sustainable, high-functioning aging and disability CCHs and their networks of social care programs and service providers. The COE will provide the selected CCHs with technical assistance and multilevel capacity-building efforts that promote whole-person care through the alignment of health, public health and social care systems. The COE, supported by the U.S. Administration for Community Living, will support community care hubs in their work to assess and address individuals' health-related social needs and promote whole-person care.

"CCHs provide critical administrative and operational supports for networks of Area Agencies on Aging, Centers for Independent Living and other community-based organizations providing services addressing the health-related social needs of individuals with complex care needs and their caregivers," said USAging CEO Sandy Markwood. "This funding will bolster the vital work CCHs do in their communities every day to align health and social care to meet people's needs."

Alison Barkoff, who leads ACL, pointed out that health care providers increasingly are prioritizing screening for health-related social needs such as food insecurity, housing instability, unaffordable utilities and lack of transportation. Aging and disability networks are critical to connecting people to the services and programs needed to address them.

"It has been truly amazing to see the speed at which this work has advanced, thanks in large part to our network's creation of community care hubs, which are establishing partnerships and contracts between community-based organizations and health care organizations across the nation."

About AgeOptions

AgeOptions advocates, plans, develops and funds programs and coordinates a network of community-based senior service agencies to ensure an effective and efficient system of service delivery. Support is provided through the Older Americans Act, Illinois General Revenue Funds, local funds and individual contributions. In 2023, AgeOptions and its partners served 230,976 individuals in 130 communities within 30 townships that have diverse populations of more than 602,017 older adults. AgeOptions has served older adults of suburban Cook County and their caregivers as an Area Agency on Aging since 1974. For more information, please visit www.ageoptions.org, Facebook and YouTube pages.

About USAging

USAging is the national association representing and supporting the network of Area Agencies on Aging and advocating for the Title VI Native American Aging Programs. Its members help older adults and people with disabilities throughout the United States live with optimal health, well-being, independence and dignity in their homes and communities. For more information, visit usaging.org and follow @theUSAging on Facebook, X and Instagram.

Media contact: Shawn Taylor, media consultant, at 312-371-6260 or email [email protected], or Deb Bukovy, marketing specialist, at 708-383-0258, ext. 368, or email [email protected].

SOURCE AgeOptions
Our guests can now purchase nonstop British Airways flights between London and Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, San Diego and other cities directly at alaskaair.com

SEATTLE, June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Alaska Airlines is expanding our long-standing partnership with British Airways, a founding member of the oneworld alliance, to now enable our guests to purchase convenient, nonstop flights to London directly at alaskaair.com. Guests can buy British Airways flights at alaskaair.com for a seamless travel experience between London Heathrow and Alaska's gateway airports in Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego as well as Chicago and New York JFK.

Buy tickets for British Airways flights to London directly at alaskaair.com.

London is one of the most searched-for international destinations on alaskaair.com, with service between Seattle and London being one of the most in-demand routes for our guests in the Pacific Northwest.

"We're excited to add our longstanding partner, British Airways, to our growing portfolio of alaskaair.com book direct airlines," said Andrew Harrison, chief commercial officer for Alaska Airlines. "London is one the most requested global gateways by our guests and no one serves it better than British Airways and the oneworld alliance."

British Airways offers significant service to London from our key West Coast gateways that can be purchased directly on alaskaair.com: Seattle (two daily flights); Portland (daily flight); San Francisco (two daily flights); Los Angeles (three daily flights); and San Diego (two daily flights). Flyers can also book British Airways nonstop flights from Chicago (three daily flights) and New York JFK (eight daily flights) on our website. British Airways tickets purchased on alaskaair.com are for flights beginning on June 18 and beyond. Starting later this year, guests will also be able to purchase Alaska flights connecting to British Airways, along with flights beyond London on British Airways.

"We are extending our partnership with our fellow oneworld member Alaska Airlines to offer travelers seamless access to British Airways flights to London directly at alaskaair.com," said British Airways Chief Planning and Strategy Officer Neil Chernoff. "It will enhance the travel experience for our customers, providing convenient connections between London Heathrow and Alaska's key gateway airports. We look forward to connecting even more travelers between the Pacific Northwest and the UK capital."

When booking a British Airways flight directly at alaskaair.com, Mileage Plan members earn 100% of the miles they fly  one mile for every mile flown.* For lengthy overseas roundtrips, that's thousands of Mileage Plan miles earned. Our members earn 100% elite qualifying miles (EQMs) when booking partner flights on alaskaair.com, such as British Airways flights.* And status with us equals matching tier status within oneworld and all the benefits that come with it.

All flights purchased on alaskaair.com with the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature credit card earn triple miles, and that includes overseas flights on our partners including British Airways. Every dollar spent is three miles earned when using our credit card to purchase all flights on our site.

In addition to purchasing tickets, Mileage Plan members can also redeem their miles for flights on British Airways.

* Saver or basic economy tickets are excluded.

The Alaska Airlines credit card program is issued and administered by Bank of America, N.A. Visa and Visa Signature are registered trademarks of Visa International Service Association and are used by the issuer pursuant to license from Visa U.S.A., Inc.

About Alaska Airlines

Alaska Airlines and our regional partners serve more than 120 destinations across the United States, the Bahamas, Belize, Canada, Costa Rica, Guatemala and Mexico. We strive to be the most caring airline with award-winning customer service and an industry-leading loyalty program. As a member of the oneworld alliance, and with our additional global partners, our guests can travel to more than 1,000 destinations on more than 25 airlines while earning and redeeming miles on flights to locations around the world. Learn more about Alaska at news.alaskaair.com and follow @alaskaairnews for news and stories. Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air are subsidiaries of Alaska Air Group.

About British Airways

As a global airline and the UK's flag carrier, British Airways has been flying its customers to where they need to be for more than 100 years. The airline connects Britain with the world and the world with Britain, operating one of the most extensive international scheduled airline route networks together with its joint business, codeshare and franchise partners. British Airways flies to more than 200 destinations across 75 countries. Its principal place of business is London, with its main home at Heathrow Terminal 5. In September 2021, British Airways launched its sustainability programme, BA Better World, committing to put sustainability at the heart of everything it does and with a clear roadmap to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050. British Airways is a founding member of the airline alliance oneworld, which serves around 1,000 destinations across the globe. The British Airways Americas press office can be contacted at [email protected]. To book visit BA.com and connect on Facebook @BritishAirways and Instagram @british_airways.

SOURCE ALASKA AIRLINES
Maine's largest brewer streamlines maintenance operations with Limble, reducing operating costs and unplanned work.

LEHI, Utah, June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Limble , provider of the preferred CMMS and Asset Management platform , is pleased to announce the results Allagash Brewing Company has achieved by utilizing Limble's platform across their maintenance organization. Since implementing Limble in early 2023, Maine's largest brewery has seen transformative improvements, including a more than 40% reduction in unplanned work orders.

With rapid growth over the last decade, Allagash's maintenance team had quadrupled in size and began to experience challenges with their antiquated software. Sean Diffley, Director of Engineering at Allagash, reports having spent as many as 10 hours on administrative tasks each week and feeling the lack of robust reporting capabilities.

After researching modern CMMS platforms, Allagash selected Limble for its user-friendly interface, mobile accessibility, and customizable reporting. Within two months, Allagash had transitioned 400 assets into Limble and was already starting to see adoption across the team.

"Limble is so easy to use and the team keeps talking about how fast it is," says Ryan Fisher, Maintenance Manager at Allagash Brewing Company. "That is driving them to use it more and it helps them do their job better."

Today, the Allagash team manages over 2,000 assets through Limble and experiences the far-reaching benefits of more proactive, data-driven maintenance. With detailed asset history, Allagash is optimizing their preventive maintenance program to reduce excessive maintenance and improve machine reliability. They are bringing more maintenance work in-house, minimizing reliance on outside vendors and reducing operating costs.

"We pride ourselves on making it as simple as possible for maintenance teams to reach their full potential," says Bryan Christiansen, Limble's Co-Founder and CEO. "The maintenance function should serve as a model of efficiency, sustainability, and innovation. Boosting visibility with Limble can help demonstrate the value the maintenance team brings to the larger organization."

With access to accurate maintenance data, Fisher has found it far easier to advocate for the resources his team needs. "We have the data we need in front of us," he says. The CMMS proved instrumental in making the case for a new hire and continually offers valuable insights for allocating resources.

Diffley also uses Limble to support budgeting decisions. "As we put more and more data into Limble, including labor hours and the cost of parts, we're getting more and more out of it, which can generate better budgeting for the next fiscal year," he explains.

Allagash's recent accolades include the Brewery and Brewer of the Year honors at the 2023 Great American Beer Festival . Limble collected over 100 badges in G2's Spring Report and ranked #1 on more than 30 Index Reports, including the Results, Relationship, and Usability Reports for CMMS platforms. Limble continues to build its portfolio of customers from the food and beverage sector, averaging over 100% year-over-year growth since 2021.

For more information on Limble's relationship with Allagash and the award-winning brewery's ongoing success story, read the full case study here .

About Limble

Limble delivers software designed by maintenance professionals, for maintenance professionals. Founded in 2015, the company created a modern CMMS that empowers maintenance professionals to implement preventive maintenance, easily manage assets, gain control of inventory, streamline workflows, report KPIs, organize work orders, and realize millions of dollars in cost savings from reduced downtime, parts spend, labor and improved productivity. Thousands of customers worldwide trust Limble including McDonald's, Nike, Pepsi, DHL Global Forwarding, and more.

ABOUT ALLAGASH BREWING COMPANY

Allagash Brewing Company is a Certified B Corp founded in Portland, Maine, by James Beard Award-winner Rob Tod. Since 1995, the brewery has been dedicated to crafting the best Belgian-inspired beers in the world, all while giving back to the community that has supported them along the way. Allagash has been deemed one of the best American Breweries of the decade by Paste Magazine and one of the best breweries in America by Gear Patrol. Their flagship beer, Allagash White, is the most-awarded Belgian-style witbier in the world, earning coveted medals at the Great American Beer Festival, World Beer Cup and Euro Star Beer Awards. Allagash was named "Brewery of the Year" in its category size by the Brewers Association in 2021 and 2023; included on Inc. Magazine's "Best in Business" list as well as Fast Company's list of "Brands that Matter"; received an Ad Age Breakout Brand Leader honor; and named one of Maine's Best Places to Work for 10 years running. Allagash is available in CA, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IL, MA, MD, ME, NC, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, SC, VA, VT, and WI. Learn more on allagash.com and connect with us on our Webby-honored social channels: Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. From Maine, with love.

Media Contact: Emily Ashley, Lumina Communications, [email protected]

SOURCE Limble
The initiative seeks to decrease the number of non-traumatic lower extremity amputations as a result of Peripheral Artery Disease with early detection screenings.

MIAMI, June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Amavita Foundation, the nonprofit arm of Amavita Heart & Vascular Health (Amavita Health) announces the launch of its inaugural initiative, the Miami Initiative to Stop Amputation (MISA). With a mission to tackle the rising rates of amputations due to Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD), MISA aims to educate and empower both patients and healthcare providers in Miami-Dade County through dedicated community outreach and healthcare advocacy.

The Amavita Foundation through the MISA initiative has a goal of reducing non-traumatic lower extremity amputations in Miami-Dade County by 20 percent over the coming decade starting with identifying PAD in its early stages. In advanced stages, amputation might be the only course of action for those suffering from PAD.

Statistics show that 1 in 20 Americans over the age of 50 have PAD, which is characterized by blockages in the arteries of the lower extremities and poses a significant threat to individuals' mobility and quality of life. Left untreated, it can lead to severe complications, including tissue loss and limb amputations. Dr. Pedro Martinez Clark founder of Amavita Health, which supports the Foundation, underscores the urgency of addressing this issue: "Amputations not only impose immense physical and emotional burdens on patients but also incur substantial healthcare costs and increase mortality rates." Mortality three years after an above-the-knee amputation can increase up to 71 percent.

Recognizing the need for early detection and intervention, MISA will focus on raising awareness about PAD within the local community, particularly among minority populations who face a higher risk. Dr. Martinez Clark explains, "Blacks and Hispanics in Miami-Dade County are disproportionately affected by PAD and subsequent amputations. By concentrating our efforts on this condition, we hope to make a meaningful impact on reducing the incidence of amputations."

Cuban American patients were found to have the highest risk of PAD compared with Mexican Americans, followed by Puerto Rican patients, those with a Central American Background, and Dominican American patients. Black men, older than 50 had the highest rates of prevalent PAD.

MISA's comprehensive approach involves collaboration across multiple disciplines, including podiatry, endocrinology, and cardiovascular care. Through educational initiatives and outreach events, the initiative aims to bridge the gap in access to cardiovascular care and empower individuals to take proactive steps toward managing their vascular health.

"The sobering reality is that many of these amputations can be prevented with early detection. Understanding risk factors, and symptoms and working collaboratively with other disciplines is key. Through the MISA initiative, we want to promote education, awareness, and the use of the latest advancements to treat PAD," added Dr. Martinez Clark.

MISA has garnered the attention and support of local U.S. representatives, who recognize the importance of addressing PAD and its impact on the community. Their involvement underscores the collaborative effort between public officials and healthcare advocates to implement effective strategies for reducing amputations and improving vascular health outcomes in Miami-Dade.

The launch of MISA aligns with the American Heart Association's mandate to decrease the number of amputations in the United States by 2030. By adhering to this mandate and leveraging community resources, the Amavita Foundation seeks to drive positive change and improve health outcomes for individuals affected by PAD in Miami-Dade County.

For more information about the Amavita Foundation, the MISA initiative, and upcoming outreach events, visit www.amavitafoundation.org .

About Amavita Foundation

The Amavita Foundation is supported by Amavita Health , a Miami-based cardiovascular practice affiliated with the Jackson Memorial Hospital system and Mercy Hospital. The Foundation strives to raise awareness, provide education, and offer support for individuals affected by peripheral artery disease. With the backing of esteemed medical professionals, the Amavita Foundation is committed to improving the lives of those fighting with this condition through advocacy and collaborative efforts.

About Amavita Heart & Vascular Health Amavita Heart and Vascular Health is a comprehensive cardiovascular practice founded in 2017 by Dr. Pedro Martinez-Clark, an interventional cardiologist with extensive experience in heart disease and peripheral vascular interventions. Amavita is a cardiovascular practice specializing in ambulatory procedures and outpatient laboratory procedures. Utilizing the latest technology, we provide minimally invasive procedures for treating, diagnosing, and performing diseases on an ambulatory basis. Amavita has five locations across Miami-Dade County. For more information, visit https://amavita.health/ .

SOURCE Amavita Heart & Vascular Health
THE HAGUE, Netherlands, June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Amber Implants ('Amber' or 'the Company'), an innovative medical technology company developing next-generation implants for spinal injuries, today announces that it has completed enrolment of its first-in-human clinical trial with its innovative VCFix Spinal System. The VCFix Spinal System is the first device that does not rely on bone cement for the treatment of vertebral compression fractures.

The trial was conducted at two centers in Germany with Prof. Dr. Med. Robert Pflugmacher (Orthopaedic surgeon, Kreiskrankenhaus Mechernich GmbH.) and Dr. Med. Ardeshir Ardeshiri (Neurosurgeon, Wilhelmsburger Krankenhaus Gro-Sand Hamburg) and assessed the safety and efficacy of the VCFix Spinal System for patients suffering from osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures. The device was primarily used in stand-alone configuration without bone cement.

The study enrolled 10 patients, all of whom suffered from severe disabling pain with Disability Ratings of 70% and higher. Following the procedure, typically lasting less than 20 minutes, all the patients saw maximal pain reduction with Disability Ratings reduced to 10% or less and they were able to walk freely without disability at discharge.

The short-term efficacy data, as well as the performance of the device, has shown promising results and will be further assessed in the continuation of this trial. Prof. Dr. Med. Robert Pflugmacher said: "VCFix represents a remarkable innovation, significantly improving the reconstruction of fractured vertebrae". "This technology has proven to be user-friendly and has yielded exceptional short-term outcomes for our patients", added Dr. Med. Ardeshir Ardeshiri.

The Company will soon begin the pivotal clinical trial for the same intended use (i.e., standalone and with and without cement) as well as test the device with a posterior fixation method for high-energy traumatic fractures. Amber is preparing for these pivotal trials in a broader European setting before the end of the year and is building towards Food and Drug Administration ('FDA') clearance for its first indication in early 2025.

Dr. Banafsheh Sajadi, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Amber Implants said: "Short-term efficacy data from the study is very promising, with results even exceeding our expectations. Patients have experienced significant pain relief and regained the ability to walk without discomfort. VCFix has the potential to be a disruptive technology for the millions of patients who suffer from vertebral fractures each year. We are now focused on preparing for pivotal trials in Europe to bring the benefits of this technology to the many more patients who would otherwise suffer from the high rate of complications associated with other treatment options available."

Per year, over 8.6 million people suffer from different types of vertebral fractures. These fractures cause severe back pain, limited mobility, disability, and an increased rate of mortality. Currently, vertebral compression fractures are managed through the injection of Polymethyl Methacrylate (PMMA) bone cement into the affected vertebra and/or with multi-level posterior fixation. This can lead to side effects in up to two-thirds of patients, post-treatment.

The VCFix Spinal System is designed to restore the spine and provide maximum stability to the affected spinal segments. VCFix offers an innovative strategy for managing a wide range of vertebral fractures, with and without cement and with and without posterior fixation. It can be used for a broad range of indications, from osteoporotic low-energy fractures to traumatic high-energy fractures, and would therefore be a disruptive technology for this patient population.

The VCFix Spinal System has received a breakthrough designation from the FDA.

CAUTION: This device is exclusively for clinical investigation and no substantiated clinical benefits have been established.

About Amber Implants

Amber Implants is a medical technology company located in the Netherlands. Founded in 2018, the Company has developed novel spinal implants for Vertebral Compression Fractures (VCFs) and is focused on improving patient outcomes through implants that provide more natural healing and better stability. Amber Implants is committed to delivering a new generation of treatments for traumatic fractures, promising a simpler, more efficient, and safer approach to treating a broader range of fractures.

SOURCE Amber Implants
Mel and Leanne's appointment marks a pivotal moment for Amy's as it embarks on a new chapter of transformation. Post this

Mel Cash joins Amy's Kitchen from her previous role as Chief Marketing and Innovation Officer at Nestle North America, where she helped elevate iconic brands such as Stouffer's and Sweet Earth. Previously at Kellogg, she led the Special K and Morningstar Farms brands. With her unparalleled experience, Mel will lead the charge in redefining Amy's Kitchen's sales and marketing strategies and continuing the brand's dedication to delivering the premium organic food market leadership and growth.

"We are thrilled to welcome Mel to our Senior Leadership Team. Her stellar track record and industry acumen make her the ideal leader to drive our sales, marketing, and communications efforts forward," stated Paul Schiefer, President at Amy's Kitchen.

Amy's Kitchen also celebrates the promotion of Leanne Molter to the role of CFO, succeeding Peter Wong upon his retirement in June. Having previously served as Chief Transformation and Strategy Officer at Amy's, Leanne has been instrumental in shaping Amy's Kitchen's business strategy and spearheading financial transformation initiatives. Leanne previously served as Vice President of Finance at the J.M Smucker Company. She brings over 20 years of CPG experience and financial stewardship to the role.

"To achieve our ambitious objectives, we are delighted to have Leanne spearheading our organizational transformation, and leading finance and information technology. Her strategic foresight and operational prowess have already propelled our business forward, and we are confident she will lead Amy's Kitchen to even greater heights as Chief Financial Officer," remarked Schiefer.

Amy's Kitchen remains committed to its mission of providing wholesome, organic meals while fostering an inclusive and diverse leadership team that reflects the values and aspirations of its community.

About Amy's Kitchen

Amy's Kitchen is an organic prepared food company and Certified B Corporation whose purpose is to make it easy and enjoyable for everyone to eat well. The company is committed to cooking authentic great tasting food with high quality, meticulously sourced organic ingredients so consumers can enjoy them in minutes. Amy's Kitchen offers over 250 varieties of organic frozen and packaged foods, and the company is proud to offer options across gluten free, vegan, dairy free, lactose free, soy free, tree nut free, corn free, Kosher D, Kosher DE, and light in sodium categories. Amy's products are widely available in the U.S. as well as more than 11 other countries around the globe. To find Amy's products near you, please visit https://amys.com/

SOURCE Amy's Kitchen
Available to everyone at no cost, the new Articles of Enslavement collection will help descendants of previously enslaved people make family history discoveries

LEHI, Utah, June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Today Ancestry, the global leader in family history, announced the publication of approximately 38,000 newspaper articles related to enslaved people in the United States from 1788-1867. Featuring details on more than 183,000 formerly enslaved people, the new free collection could help millions of descendants discover more about their families. This collection is the latest step in Ancestry's commitment to make culturally significant history that is at risk of being forgotten available to everyone at no cost.

To help contextualize the African American experience during the period of enslavement, Ancestry turned to experts, academics, and historians like Dr. Karcheik Sims-Alvarado, Assistant Professor of Africana Studies at Morehouse College.

"Greater access to these records on Ancestry will enhance understanding of how chattel slavery and the forced movement of enslaved people became normalized in the United States," shared Dr. Sims-Alvarado. "This collection is invaluable for providing descendants of enslaved individuals with insights into their ancestral histories and their forebears' acts of resistance and resilience, despite the Emancipation Proclamation being largely ignored by enslavers, newspaper publishers, and lawmakers. By piecing together individual stories, researchers can construct a more detailed picture of the lived experiences of Black Americans, enriching our collective understanding of history."

This collection features crucial details about more than 183,000 enslaved people including names, ages, physical descriptions and locations. Many of these original newspaper articles contain never-before seen information about enslaved individuals pre-1870 in communities where courthouse and community records were otherwise destroyed or lost. The newspaper articles within the collection contain sensitive content related to the buying and selling of enslaved people that may be distressing or traumatic for some audiences.

"Family history research can be challenging for Black Americans due to the long history of slavery in the United States and the lack of documentation about those who were enslaved," said Nicka Sewell-Smith, professional genealogist and Senior Story Producer at Ancestry. "Exploring the articles in the context of their original publication can help us understand more about how slavery shaped everyday life in the United States and can help descendants of previously enslaved people unearth key discoveries about their family history."

This collection complements the more than 18 million records already available for free on Ancestry that document the lives of formerly enslaved or newly emancipated individuals. This includes Freedmen's Bureau and Freedman's Bank records, select U.S. Federal Census records, and other records of the enslaved.

To help foster a deeper understanding of the period of enslavement and the role newspapers play in chronicling chapters throughout history, Ancestry is hosting community dialogues and education opportunities, including:

On Thursday, August 1st, 2024 , Ancestry will host a panel discussion, "Genealogy & Journalism: Leveraging Primary Source Records to Amplify Storytelling," at the National Association of Black Journalists convention in Chicago .

, Ancestry will host a panel discussion, "Genealogy & Journalism: Leveraging Primary Source Records to Amplify Storytelling," at the National Association of Black Journalists convention in . We partnered with Bethany Bell from the University of Virginia to equip viewers with critical reading strategies and tools to help prioritize their mental and emotional well-being while reviewing the collection. http://blogs.ancestry.com/cm/enslaved-people-newspaper-collection

Explore the new Articles of Enslavement collection for free here: www.Ancestry.com/Articles-of-Enslavement.

About Ancestry

Ancestry, the global leader in family history, empowers journeys of personal discovery to enrich lives. With our unparalleled collection of more than 60 billion records, over 3 million subscribers and over 25 million people in our growing DNA network, customers can discover their family story and gain a new level of understanding about their lives. Over the past 40 years, we've built trusted relationships with millions of people who have chosen us as the platform for discovering, preserving, and sharing the most important information about themselves and their families.

Contact: Avery Barzizza, [email protected]

SOURCE Ancestry
A Puerto Rican restaurant in Auburn has reopened, with renovations, after its seizure by the state for nonpayment of taxes.

Don Juan Cafe Restaurant, a location of the Syracuse-based chain, reopened May 13, according to its Facebook page. The flaking paint and exposed wood of its facade has been replaced by new siding.

The 24 Chapman Ave. restaurant was seized by the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance in November for a tax debt of $88,088.31, a representative of the department told The Citizen.

"Seizure is typically a last resort and, even at that point, we will work with business owners to allow them to reopen as soon as possible," the representative said.

The restaurant is in the process of paying its debt, the representative said Tuesday. As of June 8, it owes $73,837.49.

The owners of Don Juan Cafe Restaurant could not be reached by The Citizen for comment.

Open since 2015, the restaurant serves roast and fried pork and chicken with rice and beans, stews, mofongo, fritters and more Puerto Rican cuisine.

If you go WHAT: Don Juan Cafe Restaurant WHEN: Open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays WHERE: 104 Chapman Ave., Auburn INFO: Visit facebook.com/donjuancaferestaurantauburn or call (315) 255-1115
WASHINGTON, June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) and the National Alliance of State Pharmacy Associations (NASPA) released the ninth installment of the Pharmacy Workplace and Well-being Reporting (PWWR) trends and learnings report series.1

Launched in October 2021, PWWR serves as a safe space to submit both positive and negative pharmacy workplace experiences in a confidential and anonymous manner. The goal of PWWR is to tell the stories of those who submit their experiences so that the profession may begin to act on the findings and learnings. This report covers the first quarter of 2024.

To date, more than 2,100 reports have been submitted to PWWR from pharmacy supervisors to pharmacy support personnel in nearly every state, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. The learnings from all PWWR report analyses provide a roadmap for pharmacy personnel, employers, and the profession at large to address patient/consumer/co-worker harassment concerns, out of sync metrics and staffing, and barriers to staffmanagement communication.

"This cycle's findings are similar to the reported experiences with the previous eight cycles," said Brigid K. Groves, PharmD, MS, APhA Vice President, Professional Affairs. "Reports this cycle included a new theme of outdated software and broken hardware computer systems in the pharmacy that have led to near miss errors, which are those that were corrected prior to reaching the patient. This learning is a call for a systematic review of all pharmacy prescription processing software and hardware to address and resolve needed updates and replacements."

In this reporting cycle (2024 Q1), 122 reports were received. Positive experiences reported ranged from implementing a just culture approach to patient care in the pharmacy, resolving an insurance issue so a patient was able to afford their medication, and working with a prescriber to identify a medication that was covered by the patient's insurance prior to the patient arriving at the pharmacy. These positive experiences seem like minimal effort at first read; however, each takes time that is not always available. As in past cycles, those who submitted positive experiences indicated that their experiences would have a beneficial long-term effect on their well-being.

The negative reported experiences in this cycle included many of the same threatening and abusive stories described in detail in the previous analyses. As in previous reports, the experiences in the negative reports give highly personal accounts of the difficulties in working in community pharmacy practice. As seen in the table of Root Causes, reporters identified multiple reasons for a given negative experience. There were 507 total root causes listed for the 105 negative experiences reported, averaging nearly 4.8 root causes per event. Nearly all the negative experience reports (95%) were described as a "recurring problem".

As have been the findings since the 2021 launch of PWWR, female reporters were the target of 78% of the discrimination and microaggression incidents; 66% of the sexual harassment incidents; and 80% of the verbal or emotional harassment/bullying incidents reported. A difference observed with this cycle was that several reports of discrimination, harassment, and aggression resulted in staff taking legal action.

"We are deeply committed to addressing the challenges within the pharmacy profession," said Krystalyn Weaver, PharmD, JD, NASPA executive vice president and CEO. "The insights from this report highlight the urgent need for systemic improvements, especially in areas like outdated technology and realignment of the pharmacy business model, and reinforce the importance of creating supportive, respectful environments for all pharmacy personnel. Together, we can drive meaningful change that enhances both workplace well-being and patient care."

PWWR is an ongoing online confidential and anonymous service for pharmacy personnel to report positive and negative experiences across all pharmacy practices. Pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and student pharmacists are encouraged to submit positive and negative experience reports as often as they would like. In-depth analysis reports with trends and learnings will be periodically issued. A short snapshot of submissions will be issued each month. To submit an experience and read PWWR Reports, visit www.pharmacist.com/pwwr.

The Alliance for Patient Medication Safety, a federally listed patient safety organization (PSO), analyzes the reports submitted to PWWR. Reports are protected by the confidentiality and privilege provisions of the Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act of 2005. Actual submitted experience reports to PWWR cannot be disclosed or subpoenaed and are not subject to discovery in a legal proceeding.

1PWWR Reports I through VIII and monthly snapshot reports can be found at www.pharmacist.com/pwwr.

SOURCE American Pharmacists Association
ROLLING MEADOWS, Ill., June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (NYSE: AJG) will be hosting its regularly scheduled quarterly management meeting on Tuesday, June 25, from 8:00 a.m. until approximately 10:30 a.m. CT. This quarter's meeting will take place virtually via conference call. During the call, the company's operating and financial leaders will present background information and commentary on the company's business operations and financial outlook, and will take questions from the investment community.

The conference call will be broadcast live through Gallagher's website at www.ajg.com/irmeeting, and a conference call replay will be available at the same link through July 2, 2024. Any information distributed in conjunction with this meeting will be available on June 25 at 7:45 a.m. CT at https://www.ajg.com/June25materials.

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (NYSE:AJG), a global insurance brokerage, risk management and consulting services firm, is headquartered in Rolling Meadows, Illinois. Gallagher provides these services in approximately 130 countries around the world through its owned operations and a network of correspondent brokers and consultants.

Contact:

Raymond Iardella

VP Investor Relations

(630) 285-3661/ [email protected]

SOURCE Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.
DUBAI, UAE, June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Augnito , a leading provider of Medical Voice AI solutions, has formed an alliance with Dharmendra Ghai , a prominent digital health evangelist based out of Qatar. Ghai's investment and expertise are set to accelerate the development and deployment of Augnito's cutting-edge healthcare technologies, enhancing patient experiences and operational efficiency across the global care continuum.

With his keen eye and deep understanding of multiple markets, Ghai has established himself as an astute investor and trusted advisor to numerous companies. He currently serves on the board of VSee , a leading telehealth platform, and has made notable investments in various digital health companies  including Wellist, Meddy (now HeliumDoc), 4basecare , Mom's Belief , and NimbleHeart . Ghai is also a Digital Health Partner for the esteemed HIMSS (Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society), with an executive education from both MIT and Stanford, and an eHealth Consultant for the Health Ministry of Qatar.

Augnito is at the forefront of SaaS innovation, providing state-of-the-art multi-lingual speech recognition, generative AI, and natural language processing technology to healthcare organizations worldwide. The company's suite of advanced voice-based solutions employs human-centric design principles to meet the evolving needs of both healthcare providers and patients.

Augnito's recent partnerships with leading healthcare institutions in the Middle East, such as King's College Hospital London (Dubai), Cloud Solutions (HMG Group), Prime Healthcare, Dallah Hospitals, King Abdulaziz University Hospital, RAK Hospital, among several others, have showcased the company's commitment to driving innovation and creating significant impact for the region. Augnito's software is built-in compatible for native Arabic speakers (language and accents) and offers seamless enterprise IT solutions coupled with a differentiated approach to customer success.

As an authority in healthcare informatics and innovation, Ghai's insights on regional business strategy, as well as patient security, medical imaging, and mHealth are expected to further accelerate Augnito's growth. The collaboration will facilitate a deeper understanding of the region's nuances and allow the Medical Voice AI innovator to tailor its products to better serve the Middle East.

"We are thrilled to have Dharmendra Ghai as an investor," said Rustom Lawyer, Co-Founder and CEO of Augnito. "His expertise and vision are unparalleled, and we believe that he will be a catalyst in accelerating innovation  enabling us to bring even more refined and intuitive solutions to the market. We look forward to delivering enhanced healthcare experiences in the GCC, for patients and providers alike."

Dharmendra Ghai expressed his enthusiasm, saying, "I am delighted to invest in Augnito, a company that has consistently demonstrated a commitment to innovation and excellence in healthcare technology. Their human-centric solutions and strong leadership team have positioned them at the forefront of the Medical Voice AI industry. I look forward to contributing to their growth and success in the global healthcare market."

Both parties stated their unwavering commitment to ensuring that clinicians have access to the best tools and technologies to deliver superior patient care.

About Augnito

Augnito is an intuitive and advanced Voice-AI solution innovator, revolutionizing clinical documentation in the global healthcare market. Their proprietary AI-based clinical speech recognition, natural language understanding (NLU) C generative AI technologies enable ergonomic data entry with 99% accuracy, anywhere, from any device. Augnito helps streamline clinical workflows, makes healthcare intelligence securely accessible, and ensures that physicians have more time to concentrate on their primary concern: patient care. Their solutions are currently in use at more than 375 hospitals, across more than 25 countries.

For more information or assistance, please visit augnito.ai or email [email protected]

SOURCE Augnito
Factors that drive the growth of the automotive upholstery market include an increase in production and sales of automobiles, along with the growing popularity of lightweight car's upholstery materials.

PORTLAND, Ore., June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Automotive Upholstery Market by Material Type (Leather, Vinyl, Polyester, Nylon, and Others), Application (Seat Cover, Carpet, Dashboard, Others), Sales Channel (OEM and Aftermarket), and Vehicle Type (Passenger Cars and Commercial Vehicles): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2023-2032". According to the report, the automotive upholstery market generated $6.3 billion in 2022 and is anticipated to generate $12.2 billion by 2032, witnessing a CAGR of 7.2% from 2023 to 2032.

Prime Determinants of Growth

The automotive upholstery market has experienced significant growth and transformation, driven by several factors such as the increase in production and sales of automobiles, the growing popularity of lightweight car's upholstery materials, and the rising demand for customization of vehicle interiors. However, the high cost of raw materials, coupled with the stringent government regulation and standards for environmental safety hampers market growth. In addition, technological advancements and innovations in bio-degradable materials, along with the surge in preference for synthetic leather present significant opportunities for market expansion.

Request Sample of the Report on Automotive Upholstery Market Forecast 2032:

https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/A214848

Report Coverage & Details:

Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 20232032 Base Year 2022 Market Size In 2022 $6.3 Billion Market Size In 2032 $12.2 Billion CAGR 7.2 % No. Of Pages In Report 250 Segments Covered Material Type, Application, Sales Channel, Vehicle Type, And Region Drivers Increase In Production And Sales Of Automobiles Growing Popularity Of Lightweight Car Upholstery Materials Rising Demand For Customization Of Vehicle Interiors Opportunities Technological Advancements And Innovations In Bio-Degradable Materials Surge In Preference For Synthetic Leather Restraints High Cost Of Raw Materials Stringent Government Regulation And Standards For Environmental Safety

Procure Complete Report (250 Pages PDF with Insights, Charts, Tables, and Figures)

https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/checkout-final/automotive-upholstery-market-A214848

The polyester segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period

Based on material type, the polyester segment held the highest market share in 2022 and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period 2023 to 2032, owing to its durability and strength benefits, along with the rising focus towards sustainability and reducing carbon footprint. However, the other segment is witnessing significant growth, as there is growing traction in specialty materials, along with the increasing innovations in synthetic leathers opening up new opportunities for the growth of this segment during the forecast period.

The seat cover segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period

Based on application, the seat cover segment held the highest market share in 2022 and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period 2023 to 2032, owing to the surging demand for comfortable seats and seat covers, along with the rising demand for eco-friendly and sustainable upholstery materials. However, the dashboard segment is witnessing significant growth, due to the need for aesthetic vehicle interiors opening up new opportunities for the growth of this segment during the forecast period.

The OEM segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period

Based on sales channel, the OEM segment held the highest market share in 2022, and a CAGR of 7.0% during the forecast period 2023 to 2032, as OEMs work closely with automakers to develop customized upholstery solutions tailored to specific vehicle models and customer preferences. However, the aftermarket segment is witnessing the highest growth rate with a CAGR of 7.5%, owing to the rising vehicle and ownership trends that may deteriorate or require replacement, driving demand for aftermarket upholstery products and services.

The passenger cars segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period

Based on vehicle type, the passenger car segment held the highest market share in 2022 and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period 2023 to 2032, owing to the rise in production of passenger cars especially in emerging economies, such as China and India, along with the changing consumer preferences and lifestyle trends for vehicle upholstery. However, the commercial vehicle segment is witnessing a CAGR of 8.0%, owing to growing competition among automotive brands and dealerships which can lead to innovation in upholstery to meet specific functional requirements beyond aesthetics and comfort.

Asia-Pacific to maintain its dominance by 2032

Based on region, the Asia-Pacific segment held the highest market share in 2022, growing at a CAGR of 7.5%, owing to the increase in the level of automotive production in countries, such as China, Japan, and India, along with the growing preference for comfort and aesthetics in the region. However, the Middle East & Africa is expected to garner a significant CAGR throughout the forecast period 2022-2032, owing to the technological advancements in upholstery material technology, along with the cultural preferences and traditions that influence the choice of upholstery materials and designs in the MEA region.

To Talk With Our Industry Expert @ https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/connect-to-analyst/A214848

Leading Market Players:

Adient Plc

BASF SE

FORVIA Faurecia

Freudenberg Group

Grupo Antolin Irausa S.A.

MarvelVinyls

Sage Automotive Interiors

SEIREN Co., Ltd.

The Acme Group

Toyota Boshoku Corporation

The report provides a detailed analysis of these key players in the automotive upholstery market. These players have adopted different strategies such as new product launches, collaborations, expansion, joint ventures, agreements, and others to increase their market share and maintain dominant shares in different regions. The report is valuable in highlighting business performance, operating segments, product portfolio, and strategic moves of market players to showcase the competitive scenario.

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About Us

Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Portland, Oregon. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of "Market Research Reports" and "Business Intelligence Solutions." AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain.

We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Allied Market Research CEO Pawan Kumar is instrumental in inspiring and encouraging everyone associated with the company to maintain high quality of data and help clients in every way possible to achieve success. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry.

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SOURCE Allied Market Research
BOSTON, June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Ransomware attacks pose a severe threat to businesses, often leading to devastating financial and operational consequences. Adopting a comprehensive cybersecurity playbook is essential to ensure resilience and swift recovery. Elastio , an agentless cloud-native cybersecurity platform, introduces a new playbook that enables clean recovery from ransomware attacks with minimal downtime and data loss.

The Reality of Ransomware and The Need for Resilience

Elastio, a cybersecurity platform, introduces a playbook for ransomware recovery with minimal downtime and data loss. Post this

Ransomware can devastate businesses. Travelex, a leading foreign exchange company, declared bankruptcy after an attack, and 60% of small businesses shut down within six months of a cyber attack.

To combat this, many enterprises invest in preventive measures like IAM solutions, anti-phishing tools, and firewalls. However, as threat actors become more sophisticated at bypassing existing security, attacks may still be inevitable. Even multi-billion-dollar companies like MGM, with advanced ransomware prevention solutions, have fallen victim, incurring $110M in damages last year.

In this environment, businesses must also invest in post-attack solutions to mitigate impact and prevent escalation into devastating events.

R-RPO and R-RTO as Cornerstones of Cyber Recovery

RTO (Recovery Time Objective) and RPO (Recovery Point Objective) are essential metrics for determining the maximum acceptable downtime and data loss a business can endure without significant operational impact.

To stay safe against cyber threats, it's crucial to understand that cyber recovery is not the same as disaster recovery; traditional disaster recovery alone leaves your organization vulnerable to re-attack. Therefore, focus instead on R-RPO (Ransomware Recovery Point Objectives) and R-RTO (Ransomware Recovery Time Objectives).

R-RPO: RPO determines how much data a company can tolerate losing during an unforeseen event, guiding backup policies. However, in a cyber attack, it's not enough to have backups; you need recoverable backups. Ransomware can infiltrate backups, rendering them useless. Testing backup integrity to ensure they are free of ransomware is essential. Follow the 3-2-1-1-0 rule , ensuring zero compromises in backups.

R-RTO: RTO sets the maximum time to restore normal operations after an outage. Beyond operational downtime, failing to meet RTO can also lead to legal costs tied to customer SLAs. Ransomware actors moving laterally across systems increase the time needed to recover and restore operations. Minimizing detection time and ensuring quick recovery from verified clean backups are crucial for meeting your R-RTO.

Be Ransomware R.E.A.D.Y. and Meet Your R-RPO and R-RTO

Assuring that your business is prepared for a ransomware attack and can minimize data loss and downtime to your objectives is a continuous process. Do not wait until after the attack to confirm that you are ready.

Elastio , an agentless cybersecurity platform, recommends the Ransomware READY playbook to ensure your business is always prepared to meet its objectives.

1. R ecognize Assets

What: Automatically discover all assets

Why: Understand your whole environment to prevent threat actors from exploiting unprotected assets with ransomware and malware.

2. E stablish R-RPO Objectives

What: Set Ransomware Recovery Point Objectives (R-RPOs) for assets based on business and regulatory requirements.

Why: Define an acceptable data loss window for each asset with sensitivity to its criticality.

3. A ssess Data Integrity

What: Perform comprehensive deep-file inspections on assets for ransomware encryption and malware.

Why: Identify threats that have bypassed perimeter defenses and verify the integrity of backups.

4. D efend Continuously

What: Integrate threat alerts into your SIEM and always retain the last-known clean backup.

Why: Respond swiftly to threats before they spread and always maintain a viable recovery option.

5. Y ield Improvements

What: Review Ransomware Readiness Reports, which show the extent of your protection coverage and the age of your most recent clean backups, and make necessary adjustments.

Why: Frequently revisit R-RPO targets against actuals and business/regulatory needs.

This playbook helps ensure that your business is always ready to meet its Ransomware Recovery Point and Time Objectives, maintaining resilience against ransomware attacks.

Reach out to the Elastio team to learn how you can make your business Ransomware READY.

SOURCE Elastio
Join The Cause: Best Friends Mobilizes Advocates and Allies to Help Save The Lives of Shelter Pets During National Action Week

KANAB, Utah, June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Best Friends Animal Society, a leading animal welfare organization working to end the killing of dogs and cats in America's shelters in 2025, announces its National Action Week for Animals (NAWA), scheduled for June 10-15, 2024. This nationwide initiative invites animal lovers and advocates to join a collective effort to end the killing of dogs and cats in America's shelters in 2025. To learn more about National Action Week for Animals or to register as a participant, please visit https://bfas.org/nawa.

"Whether you're a seasoned advocate or new to the no-kill movement, your actions can save lives." Post this Cat and dog together Stock can be used for anything The Best Friends primary logo should be your first choice. Examples of where it will be used include: bestfriends.org, PSAs, adoption promotions, network partner marketing materials, video end slates, donor prospecting and lead generation. FOR UNCOATED STOCK

"National Action Week for Animals is more than an event; it's a movement," said Julie Castle, CEO, Best Friends Animal Society. "Whether you're a seasoned advocate or new to the no-kill movement, your actions can save lives. By becoming involved you can help turn your community into a haven for homeless pets in search of a loving home."

Despite recent strides, significant challenges remain. In 2023 alone, while 2.3 million dogs and cats found homes, there were 345,000 fewer adoptions than in 2019, leading to 426,000 dogs and cats being unnecessarily killed in shelters last year.

"Roughly seven million people in America are planning to acquire a pet this year, and if just six percent more people chose to adopt instead of purchase, we could end the unnecessary killing of dogs and cats in our nation's shelters," Castle emphasized. "By providing comprehensive tools and training, we aim to empower individuals nationwide to make a significant impact in their local communities and help us achieve the goal of a no-kill nation in 2025."

Throughout the week, participants will have the opportunity to:

Engage with Online Workshops and Webinars : These sessions will teach advocates how to campaign for no-kill resolutions and build community support effectively. To register, click here.

: These sessions will teach advocates how to campaign for no-kill resolutions and build community support effectively. To register, click here. Participate in Advocacy Actions: From writing to local legislators to organizing community events, these actions are designed to be accessible yet impactful and suitable for all experience levels.

From writing to local legislators to organizing community events, these actions are designed to be accessible yet impactful and suitable for all experience levels. Save Them All  : Support Best Friends' mission to create a no-kill nation in 2025make your pledge by clicking here.

Support Best Friends' mission to create a no-kill nation in 2025make your pledge by clicking here. Join the National Day of Action: Commit to taking one small advocacy action for animals on June 15 to help animals find homes and end the unnecessary killing of dogs and cats in shelters.

"Find your local action team, talk to your local officials, and we'll teach you how," Castle added. "Every action counts, and every advocate matters. Together, we can turn the vision of No Kill 2025 into a reality."

Best Friends is dedicated to demystifying the goal of no-kill in 2025. By breaking it down into tangible steps, NAWA clarifies how each person's efforts contribute to the larger vision. To learn more about National Action Week for Animals or to register as a participant, please visit https://bfas.org/nawa.

About Best Friends Animal Society

Best Friends Animal Society is a leading animal welfare organization working to end the killing of dogs and cats in America's shelters and make the country no-kill in 2025. Founded in 1984, Best Friends is a pioneer in the no-kill movement and has helped reduce the number of animals killed in shelters from an estimated 17 million per year to around 400,000 last year. Best Friends runs lifesaving programs across the country, as well as the nation's largest no-kill animal sanctuary. Working collaboratively with a network of more than 4,700 animal welfare and shelter partners, and community members nationwide, Best Friends is working to Save Them All. For more information, visit bestfriends.org.

SOURCE Best Friends Animal Society
Global multi-asset trading wallet BiyaPay, established in 2019, celebrates its fifth anniversary this year.

SINGAPORE, June 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- BiyaPay has recently announced the acquisition of the New Zealand FSP securities license, enhancing the security and transparency of its financial services. This milestone signifies another significant upgrade for the company. Moving forward, professional investors will be able to trade not only digital currencies but also U.S. and Hong Kong stocks securely on the BiyaPay platform. This service underscores BiyaPay's technology-driven brokerage capabilities, allowing seamless trading of U.S. and Hong Kong stocks and digital currencies on one platform, providing unmatched convenience for investors.

Over the past five years, BiyaPay has evolved, thrived, and succeeded, consistently maintaining its leadership in the global digital currency market. Reflecting on these years, there have been both highs and lows, but BiyaPay's commitment to prioritizing users and pursuing excellence has garnered long-term trust. On this fifth anniversary, BiyaPay aims to share its growth journey, review past experiences, and focus on increasing technological innovation and expanding the global market to offer safer and more convenient financial services. The hard work of the past will not be in vain, and we look forward to a brighter future.

Currently, BiyaPay supports real-time exchange and queries for over 20 fiat currencies and more than 200 digital currencies, as well as real-time trading of U.S. and Hong Kong stocks. As of December 2023, BiyaPay's daily trading volume for U.S. and Hong Kong stocks exceeded $10 million, and the total remittance transaction volume surpassed $1 billion, establishing itself as a trusted multi-asset trading platform for users worldwide.

Global investors have reached a consensus: "On BiyaPay, you can exchange digital and fiat currencies online with no limits." Over the past five years, BiyaPay has continually engaged its loyal users, attracted new customers, and steadily gained recognition in the global market.

Five Years of Growth and Achievements

Since 2019, BiyaPay has transformed from a follower to a market trendsetter, keeping pace with mainstream trends while diversifying its product line to become a comprehensive trading wallet.

With a single wallet, investors can conveniently trade virtual assets like Bitcoin and Ethereum, as well as stocks, options, futures, contracts, and ETFs; manage investments effectively; and evaluate the risks of different assets comprehensively. Looking ahead, BiyaPay plans to offer more diversified products and services in compliance with regulations.

In May 2019, BiyaPay entered wealth management with new financial functions.

From June to July 2020, BiyaPay obtained U.S. MSB and Canadian MSB financial services licenses.

In September 2022, the highly anticipated U.S. and Hong Kong stock trading functions launched.

In January 2023, BiyaPay obtained the RIA license from the U.S. SEC.

In September 2023, BiyaPay launched its digital currency spot trading function.

In November 2023, BiyaPay introduced margin trading.

In March 2024, BiyaPay launched spot leveraged trading.

In April 2024, BiyaPay introduced stock options trading.

In May 2024, BiyaPay obtained the New Zealand FSP securities license.

In early June 2024, BiyaPay upgraded its global remittance function.

BiyaPay CEO Barton Wang stated that acquiring the New Zealand FSP securities license and upgrading the global remittance function are significant milestones. He said, "Global demand for digital currency assets continues to grow, and we are pleased to further meet customer needs in this key area, regardless of their financial background or experience." He also discussed future plans, including expanding BiyaPay's services to new markets and launching new products to meet evolving customer needs.

Exploring More Investment Scenarios

Upcoming support for VISA physical cards, enabling seamless online and offline payments and ATM withdrawals.

Supporting a wider range of local currency transfers, ensuring same-day arrivals globally.

Facilitating digital currency purchases and sales via credit cards and other methods, offering users more convenient and diverse wallet functions.

Providing users with bank accounts, supporting real-time fund transfers with all brokers without the need for additional bank accounts.

Future plans include implementing zero-fee online spot trading for digital currencies.

Expanding investment options to include forex, commodity futures, and more.

Looking Ahead Together

On the fifth anniversary, BiyaPay's CEO expressed confidence about the future: "Our five years of dedication and achievements showcase our team's strength and potential. We will continue to uphold our 'user-centric' approach, enhance technological innovation, expand our global presence, and offer users safer and more convenient financial services."

BiyaPay remains dedicated to creating value for users, driving corporate growth, and writing an even more remarkable chapter. The five-year growth journey is just the beginning. BiyaPay will continue to forge ahead with innovation-driven growth and service-led market success, aiming to become a leader in the global multi-asset trading space.

Simultaneously, BiyaPay will keep a close eye on regulatory and policy requirements, ensuring compliance as its foundation, and providing users with safe, high-quality, and compliant asset allocation services. The company will collaborate with all stakeholders to build a robust financial ecosystem.

About BiyaPay

BiyaPay is a global multi-asset trading wallet that uses USDT as a medium, recharge USDT to exchange for USD, supporting over 20 fiat currencies and 200 digital currencies for exchange, offering secure and fast international remittances; It also supports USDT trading of U.S. and Hong Kong stocks, allowing users to participate in real-time stock trading without the need for offshore accounts. With one account and one fund, users can invest globally in the U.S. and Hong Kong stock markets.

Website: https://www.biyapay.io/

Customer Service Telegram: https://t.me/biyapay001

Telegram Community: https://t.me/biyapay_ch

Customer Service Email: [email protected]

SOURCE BiyaPay
The growing popularity of convenient food options, driven by busy lifestyles, is propelling the bouillon cube market. South Korea, with its strong preference for convenience food, is expected to be a leading contributor to market growth in the coming years.

NEWARK, Del., June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- According to Future Market Insights (FMI), the bouillon cube market is estimated to be worth USD 6.9 billion in 2024. Global bouillon cube demand is set to progress at a CAGR of 4.5% during the assessment period. By 2034, it is forecast that the market value will have reached USD 10.8 billion.

Download the Sample PDF report to explore key market insights and trends: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-19696

Bouillon cubes, with their tiny size, are emerging as a supreme convenience food. With work taking over the lives of the young population, there is felt more of a need for convenience food and products like bouillon cubes are stepping in. The product is also enjoying popularity as a snack for children and being a part of school lunches.

Producers are striving to increase consumer confidence in bouillon cubes through the integration of organic ingredients. As the food and beverage sector embraces organic and non-GMO ingredients, all-natural bouillon cubes are all the rage.

Further refining is done through the increase in the manufacture of vegan and vegetarian bouillon cubes. As the clamor for cruelty-free products climbs, the market stands to benefit. Technology advancement to enhance the taste profiles of the products is being looked at heavily.

There are, however, certain factors that limit growth. Some consumers think that considering the size of the product, the price is not worth it. Plastic packaging and the use of preservatives in the making of the product are other obstacles the market has to overcome.

Key Takeaways from the Bouillon Cube Market

The bouillon cube market value is anticipated to total USD 6.9 billion in 2024.

in 2024. Based on type, vegetable segment held a market share of 45% in 2023.

By distribution channel, supermarkets and hypermarkets segment accounted for a market share of 62% in 2023.

South Korea is projected to record a CAGR of 7.0% through 2034.

is projected to record a CAGR of 7.0% through 2034. China and Japan are poised to register CAGRs of 5.3% and 6.2%, respectively.

"Manufacturers are cognizant of the consumer inclination towards consuming healthy products. Thus, gluten-free and low-sodium versions of the product are making a splash in the market. Producers thus see making the product healthier as the way to go." says Nandini Roy Choudhury (Client Partner for Food & Beverages at Future Market Insights, Inc.)

Who is Winning?

Manufacturers are heavily investing in Research and development activities. Mergers and acquisitions are common strategies for industry players. Some of the prominent companies in the market include Unilever, Nestle S.A., Hormel Foods, Kraft Heinz Company, and Bou Brands LLC.

Recent Developments in the Bouillon Cube Market

In December 2023 , the Knorr's Mini Bouillon Bag was launched. Designed by MullenLowe UK, it is a bag tailored to fit one single Knorr bouillon cube.

Purchase now and gain full access to the Bouillon Cube Industry report, featuring comprehensive Market Forecast, Company Share Analysis, Competition Intelligence, DROT Analysis, Market Dynamics and Challenges, and Strategic Growth Initiatives.

Get More Valuable Insights

Future Market Insights (FMI), in its new offering, provides a thorough, detailed, and unbiased analysis of the global bouillon cube market, presenting historical demand data for the years 2019 to 2023 and forecast statistics for the years 2024 to 2034.

The study provides compelling industry insights based on type (vegetable, beef, meat, fish, and others) and distribution channel (supermarkets and hypermarkets, convenience stores, online retail, and others) across several regions.

About the Food & Beverage Division at Future Market Insights:

Expert analysis, actionable insights, and strategic recommendations  the food & beverage team at Future Market Insights helps clients from all over the globe with their unique business intelligence needs. With a repertoire of over 1,000 reports and 1 million+ data points, the team has analyzed the food & beverage industry lucidly in 50+ countries for over a decade. The team provides end-to-end research and consulting services; reach out to explore how we can help.

About the Author:

Ismail Sutaria (Lead Consultant, Packaging and Materials at Future Market Insights, Inc.) has over 8 years of experience in market research and consulting in the packaging & materials industry. Ismail's strength lies in identifying key challenges faced by the client and offering logical and actionable insights to equip the clients with strategic decision-making power.

Ismail has been an instrumental part of several transformational consulting assignments. His key skills include competitive benchmarking, opportunity assessment, macroeconomic analysis, and business transformation advisory. Ismail is an MBA holder in Marketing and has a Bachelor's Degree in Mathematics.

Ismail is a regular at industry conferences and expos and has been widely covered in electronic and print media. He is a Speaker at our upcoming Talk show - Rise of the Intelligent Packaging. Ismail has been quoted in leading publications, including the European Pharmaceutical Review and the European Adhesive Tape Association.

Explore FMI's Extensive Coverage in the Food and Beverages Domain:

About Future Market Insights (FMI)

Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting service provider, serving clients in over 150 countries. FMI is headquartered in Dubai and has delivery centers in the UK, the U.S., and India. FMI's latest market research reports and industry analysis help businesses navigate challenges and make critical decisions with confidence and clarity amidst breakneck competition. Our customized and syndicated market research reports deliver actionable insights that drive sustainable growth. A team of expert-led analysts at FMI continuously tracks emerging trends and events in a broad range of industries to ensure that our clients prepare for the evolving needs of their consumers.

Contact Us

Future Market Insights Inc.

Christiana Corporate, 200 Continental Drive,

Suite 401, Newark, Delaware - 19713, USA

T: +1-845-579-5705

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Website: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com

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SOURCE Future Market Insights
Jury of internationally renowned architects chose five winning projects out of 743 entries from 54 countries

Winners showcase the potential of brick architecture for sustainable and innovative construction

VIENNA, June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The international biannual Brick Award, created in 2004 by wienerberger to promote innovation and excellence in brick architecture, was held in Vienna for the 11th time. With a total of 743 entries from 54 countries, this year's iteration once again showcased the relevance and innovative potential of brick architecture around the globe.

From the pre-selected 50 nominees, the jury chose winning projects in five categories  "Feeling at home," "Living together," "Working together," "Sharing public spaces," and "Building outside the box"  and an overall grand prize winner, based on criteria such as aesthetics, sustainability, and innovation.

Brick Award 24 honors international pioneers in brick architecture Post this

"Today, architects face several major challenges at once," says Heimo Scheuch, CEO of wienerberger. "They must create spaces that both reduce our impact on the planet and protect us from the effects of climate change, while also making homes more affordable as the costs of living have surged over the last years. To find answers, extraordinary architects explore new ways to utilize material and structure, as this year's Brick Award winners demonstrate.

"Their projects, apart from their aesthetic and structural qualities, are physical manifestations of exactly the kind of innovative spirit that today's challenges require. From saving resources to building into existing environments, these creative minds found solutions by tapping into the still vast potential of brick. We are proud to honor and support these pioneers."

From living quarters to art installations: Winners showcase the potential of brick architecture

The award is endowed with a total of 27,000 prize money  7,000 for the grand prize winner and 5,000 each for the other four category winners.

The grand prize went to the British studio Niall McLaughlin Architects and their project "International Rugby Experience," an exhibition and events center in Limerick dedicated to the sport of rugby, in the Brick Award category "Sharing public spaces." Its design takes inspiration from Limerick's famous churches while still upholding a modern aesthetic, allowing the building to fit within the environment while at the same time enhancing it aesthetically.

The category "Feeling at home" was won by Paraguayan studio Equipo de Arquitectura, whose "Intermediate House" uses compressed soil blocks, allowing for low-emission temperature control.

The prize for "Living together," the category for multi-party housing, went to the Argentinian team of Estudio Arqtipo for achieving a combination of 10 living units on a narrow corner lot while giving every unit a private outdoor space.

In the category "Working together," two collaborating Irish studios  Grafton Architects and O'Mahony Pike Architects  came out first with their new office headquarters for the Electricity Supply Board of Ireland, which succeeded in bridging modern building standards with Dublin's historic aesthetic.

The prize for "Building outside the box" went to a joint project between the studios HANGHAR from Spain and PALMA from Mexico. For an architecture and design festival, they built a temporary artistic brick construction titled "Types of Spaces" in a narrow passageway in the Spanish town of Logrono, which leads visitors through several architectural styles.

The jury consisted of five internationally renowned architects:

Christelle Avenier, France  architect and co-founder of Avenier Cornejo Architectes

 architect and co-founder of Avenier Cornejo Architectes Christine Conix , Belgium  architect and co-founder of Conix RDBM Architects

,  architect and co-founder of Conix RDBM Architects Ingrid van der Heijden , Netherlands  architect and co-founder of CIVIC architects

,  architect and co-founder of CIVIC architects Wojciech Malecki , Poland  architect and founder of Maleccy biuro projektowe

,  architect and founder of Maleccy biuro projektowe Boonserm Premthada, Thailand  architect and founder of Bangkok Project Studio

The BRICK 24 Book

As in previous years, wienerberger has published a book entitled "BRICK 24," which accompanies the architectural competition. It features the 50 shortlisted projects, including the winners. Five essays by international authors complete this overview of contemporary brick architecture. The book puts the spotlight on clay building materials, which are timeless and a perfect fit for forward-looking and innovative architecture. "BRICK 24" is published in cooperation with Park Books.

All information regarding the projects, as well as photos available for download, can be found at www.wienerberger.com.

wienerberger

wienerberger is a leading international provider of innovative, ecological solutions for the entire building envelope, in the fields of new buildings and renovations, as well as infrastructure in water and energy management. With more than 20,000 employees worldwide, wienerberger's solutions enable energy-efficient, healthy, climate-friendly, and affordable living. wienerberger is the world's largest producer of bricks and the market leader in clay roof tiles in Europe as well as concrete pavers in Eastern Europe. In pipe systems (ceramic and plastic pipes), the company is one of the leading suppliers in Europe. By acquiring Meridian Brick, wienerberger further strengthened its position as a leading supplier of facade products in North America. With its more than 200 production sites, wienerberger generated revenues of approx.  4.2 billion and an operating EBITDA of  811 million in 2023.

SOURCE wienerberger
Donation to help close skills gap, address workforce shortage within equipment distribution industry

IRVING, Texas, June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE: CAT) today announced a $500,000 donation to the Associated Equipment Distributors Foundation (AEDF) in support of AEDF's Vision 2025 Campaign. The campaign is designed to address the technician shortage within the equipment distribution industry. It is also focused on strengthening the industry's future by improving programs offered to students across U.S. high schools and technical schools considered underserved in the technical skills space.

Caterpillar Vice President of Distribution Jay Walton (right) presents a check to Associated Equipment Distributors EVP and COO Bob Henderson for $500,000 to the Associated Equipment Distributors Foundation. (PRNewsfoto/Caterpillar Inc.)

AEDF's recent skills assessment of the gap in the North American market for technician labor shows an anticipated 73,500 heavy equipment technician positions will be needed over the next five years.

"Caterpillar understands the importance of closing the skills gap in today's labor market and is focused on helping build solutions," said Asha Varghese, Caterpillar Inc. Corporate Social Responsibility leader. "We believe in supporting AEDF in its Vision 2025 Campaign to make a difference in addressing the critical skills gap and supporting solutions for greater workforce readiness."

Vision 2025 is designed to bring skills-based programs back to high schools to help enable career success for all learning and career pathways. Through AEDF's Vision 2025 Campaign, the AED Foundation has positively impacted thousands of students across the U.S and Canada. The initiative is focused on recognizing at least 200 high school programs as AED Foundation Recognized High Schools, as well as accrediting a minimum of 120 college programs by 2027 to help allow for meaningful job placements for their students. By hitting these benchmarks, the Vision 2025 Campaign is expected to create a strong pipeline of talent that could generate an additional:

10,000 skilled technicians entering the workforce.

5,000 AEDF certified technicians.

500 AEDF certified managers.

"The AED Foundation is grateful for Caterpillar's leadership and investment in our Vision 2025 campaign," said AED Foundation President Emeritus Bob Henderson. "Caterpillar's support, in conjunction with nearly 75 other investors, brings our Vision 2025 campaign to over $7 million. These investments provide the Foundation the sustainability needed to continue to be the heavy equipment industry's leader in workforce development."

About Caterpillar

With 2023 sales and revenues of $67.1 billion, Caterpillar Inc. is the world's leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, off-highway diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines and diesel-electric locomotives. For nearly 100 years, we've been helping customers build a better, more sustainable world and are committed and contributing to a reduced-carbon future. Our innovative products and services, backed by our global dealer network, provide exceptional value that helps customers succeed. Caterpillar does business on every continent, principally operating through three primary segments  Construction Industries, Resource Industries and Energy & Transportation  and providing financing and related services through our Financial Products segment. Visit us at caterpillar.com or join the conversation on our social media channels at caterpillar.com/en/news/social-media.html.

About Associated Equipment Distributors (AED)

Established in 1919, Associated Equipment Distributors (AED) is a not-for-profit international trade association based in Schaumburg, IL representing companies involved in the sale, rental, manufacturing and support of equipment used in construction, mining, forestry, power generation, agriculture and industrial applications. AED enhances the ongoing success and profitability of its member companies through services and information including public policy advocacy, industry education & career development, industry research and analysis, and conferences.

About AEDF

Established in 1991 and directed by AED members, The AED Foundation (AEDF) addresses professional education and workforce development in the industry. This includes AEDF Accreditation of diesel-equipment technology college programs and AEDF Recognition of secondary diesel programs.

SOURCE Caterpillar Inc.
BALTIMORE, June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Transamerica is proud to announce that Catherine Collinson, founding CEO and president of the nonprofit Transamerica Institute and its Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies, and a nationally recognized leader and advocate for a financially secure retirement for all Americans, has received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Plan Sponsor Council of America (PSCA). The leading trade association for providers of employment-based retirement plans recently honored Ms. Collinson, recognizing her enduring contributions to the retirement industry.

"PSCA's Lifetime Achievement Award is designed to recognize those who have made a substantial contribution to the retirement industry, influencing and improving retirement security for all," said Will Hansen, PSCA executive director. "Catherine, through her dedication to research and advocacy for public policy changes for nearly 30 years, exemplifies what this award stands for. We are proud to recognize Catherine for her extensive contributions to the retirement industry that have shaped the landscape of retirement planning for the better."

Since 2002, Catherine Collinson has led the Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies, which later expanded into the Transamerica Institute, a private foundation dedicated to strengthening the U.S. retirement system, expanding access to workplace retirement plans, improving financial literacy, and helping ensure that people can retire with dignity. Under her leadership, the annual Transamerica Retirement Survey, now in its 24th year, has become one of the largest and longest-running studies of its kind. Catherine's expert perspectives have been featured in congressional hearings and public policy discussions, and she is often cited in the media and news articles.

"Catherine's leadership embodies the idea that all Americans can take charge of their financial futures through education, empowerment, and saving and investing," said Maurice Perkins, chief corporate affairs officer at Transamerica. "Her focus on effecting positive change makes this Lifetime Achievement Award a well-deserved recognition of her profound influence in the industry and across the nation."

Catherine's advocacy on behalf of these issues is unwavering. She has worked tirelessly to raise awareness of the Saver's Credit, a little-known tax credit for low- to moderate-income retirement savers. More recently, she has highlighted opportunities created by the SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022 that provide additional incentives for employers that offer retirement benefits and new ways to help workers save, invest, and protect their savings.

"Transamerica extends its congratulations to Catherine Collinson on this remarkable achievement and expresses its gratitude for her years of service and leadership," said Perkins.

Catherine Collinson: A Timeline of Achievements

1995: Joined Transamerica Corporation, marking the beginning of her notable career in retirement and market trends.

1998: Launched the Annual Transamerica Retirement Survey, a pioneering initiative that Catherine played a crucial role in developing.

2002: Founded the Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies (TCRS) to expand the reach and impact of the retirement survey.

2007: Incorporated TCRS as a nonprofit corporation and private foundation, with Catherine at the helm.

2013: Spearheaded the creation of Transamerica Institute, an expansion to include broader research and education on health, longevity, workforce, and financial literacy.

2015: Joined the Leadership Council of the Milken Institute Center for the Future of Aging, enhancing Catherine's influence on national aging policies.

2016: Honored with a Hero Award from the Women's Institute for a Secure Retirement (WISER) for her efforts to give a "hand up" to women struggling for security and dignity in old age.

from the Women's Institute for a Secure Retirement (WISER) for her efforts to give a "hand up" to women struggling for security and dignity in old age. 2018: Recognized by PBS Next Avenue as an Influencer in Aging for her significant contributions to changing society's understanding of aging and longevity.

for her significant contributions to changing society's understanding of aging and longevity. 2020 to present: Expanded the scope and reach of the annual Transamerica Retirement Survey to provide greater insights about the demographic influences on Americans' health and financial well-being and retirement outlook.

About Transamerica

With a history that dates back more than 100 years, Transamerica is a leading provider of life insurance, retirement, and investment solutions, serving millions of customers throughout the United States. Transamerica's dedicated professionals focus on helping people live their best lives through saving, investing, and protecting their loved ones. Transamerica is dedicated to building America's leading middle market life insurance and retirement company, with unique access to the large and growing middle market consumer via World Financial Group and US retirement recordkeeping. Transamerica provides a broad range of quality individual life insurance policies, workplace supplemental insurance benefits, workplace retirement plans, individual retirement accounts, and investment products including mutual funds, annuities, stable value solutions, as well as investment management services.

In 2023, Transamerica fulfilled its promises to customers, paying more than $47 billion in insurance, retirement, and annuity claims and benefits, including return of annuity premiums paid by the customer. Transamerica's head office is in Baltimore, Maryland, with other major operations in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Denver, Colorado. Transamerica is part of the Aegon group of companies. Each Aegon company is solely responsible for its own financial conditions and contractual obligations. Headquartered in the Netherlands, Aegon is an international financial services holding company.

For more information, visit www.transamerica.com .

About Transamerica Institute

Transamerica Institute  is a nonprofit, private foundation dedicated to identifying, researching, and educating the public about retirement security and the intersections of health and financial well-being. It is the parent organization of Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies (TCRS) which conducts one of the largest and longest-running annual retirement surveys of its kind. Transamerica Institute is funded by contributions from Transamerica Life Insurance Company and its affiliates.

For more information, visit www.transamericainstitute.org.

Media inquiries:

Email: [email protected]

Jennifer Galloway

(202) 909-4979

Erin Yang

(303) 383-5295

SOURCE Transamerica
BEIJING, June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- In Beijing, the essay topic for the English test of this year's gaokao focuses on the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. Chinese middle school student Li Hua is asked to offer some suggestions to his foreign friend Jim, who wants to write a piece on this subject. To help enlighten Jim as well as those who are interested in China's development, Global Times invited several foreign experts and observers to share their insights on China's great achievements in various spheres over the past seven and half decades.

On October 1 this year, the People's Republic of China (PRC) will celebrate the 75th anniversary of its founding. At the risk of engaging in hyperbole, it is doubtful the global community in 1949 would have foreseen what the nation would become over time.

I begin with the obvious: The PRC, when it was officially recognized by the United Nations (UN) in 1971, was a long way from asserting itself on the global stage. But with reform and opening-up beginning seven years later, that's where the country has steadily earned its place. Through its growing diplomatic presence across the globe and its ever-expanding economy, China provides nations big and small with assurances that it is, and will remain, a proactive actor.

In 2018, the Brookings Institution reviewed the first four decades of reform and opening-up. It noted that China had been "profoundly transformed" with the Chinese people understanding the clear benefits of an improved standard of living. It added the following: "A clear majority of China's people (often an overwhelming majority) express satisfaction with the regime's policies, are optimistic about the direction of the country and indicate that they expect their children to have a better life than they do." The country eradicated extreme poverty almost four years ago, and the World Bank estimates that China's per capita GDP is now above $12,000. Keep in mind that it was less than $1,000 at the beginning of this century.

Chinese leader has affirmed China is now a moderately prosperous society. What's the next goal? "We are now marching in confident strides toward the second centenary goal of building China into a great modern socialist country in all respects," the Chinese president said.

Alongside domestic growth, efforts have been made to bring prosperity to other nations. Perhaps the most talked about program is the China-initiated Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which started over 10 years ago. Roughly 150 nations are involved. Major infrastructure projects were one defining example of the BRI's initial decade. According to one estimate, China invested more than $1 trillion in the projects. Meanwhile, because the geographical scope of the BRI is constantly expanding, Latin America might become a central player in subsequent years.

Whether it will rival the success of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, which since its creation according to another estimate has created "236,000 jobs and helped Pakistan add 510 kilometers of expressways and 8,000 megawatts of power supply," will become clearer over time.

In what seemed like the blink of an eye, following US president Richard Nixon's historic visit to Beijing in 1972, the two countries established diplomatic relations, commenced high-level exchanges, signed several cooperation agreements and worked together to ensure China's accession into the World Trade Organization. Those accomplishments are just a few examples of how positive bilateral relations between the world's two most powerful nations can foster goodwill.

The global picture in 2024 remains unstable. Military conflicts in the Middle East and Eastern Europe, climate change and chronic economic inequality challenge world leaders to find the right solutions. As those efforts continue, China will be at the center of all the conversations. Its commitment to working with the UN to make the world a better place will continue. So, too, will the development of the Chinese nation.

SOURCE Global Times
In honor of Global Loneliness Awareness Week (June 10-16), the Coalition to End Social Isolation and Loneliness unites thought leaders and policymakers from around the world to tackle the pressing crisis of social isolation and loneliness

WASHINGTON, June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Loneliness has reached epidemic levels globally, with 1 in 4 adults experiencing this issue. In the United States, the crisis is even more alarming: over half of Americans report feeling lonely, and community engagement is plummeting. The need to foster social connection is more critical than ever. In recognition of Global Loneliness Awareness Week (June 10-16), the Coalition to End Social Isolation and Loneliness (CESIL) is engaged in several opportunities to bring awareness and ignite action for a situation described as a public health crisis.

In a powerful collaboration with Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, they are hosting the 3rd annual Global Loneliness Awareness Summit in Washington, D.C. The summit provides an opportunity to hear from thought leaders and policymakers and allows participants to add their voices to the conversation through small group discussions and networking opportunities. This collective effort includes CESIL members from diverse national organizationshealthcare payors, providers, consumers, employers, entrepreneurs, and academicswho are also actively engaging with policymakers on Capitol Hill this week.

"Nobody deserves to feel so alone and isolated that their health suffers". Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) Post this

"This year's summit sparks creativity and innovation, addressing the urgent crisis of social isolation and loneliness. We aim to mobilize leaders to take action with evidence-based solutions that create and strengthen connected communities," said Jillian Racoosin Kornmeier, MPH, Executive Director of the Coalition to End Social Isolation and Loneliness.

The summit highlights how social connections can improve public health, boost civic engagement, and build resilient communities that support everyone's well-being. Participants will share resources, find ways to work together and educate the public about the importance of staying connected. The goal is to spark a new cultural movement centered on connection and positive social values.

"Nobody deserves to feel so alone and isolated that their health suffers. We are more connected now than ever before  yet loneliness prevails," said Senator Tina Smith (D-MN). "The Global Loneliness Awareness Summit will shine a light on how we can invest in programs that foster social connection and improve our well-being, and I am glad to join with other leaders working to address this public health crisis."

Highlights of the program include:

Insightful remarks addressing policy implications and priorities surrounding social isolation, loneliness, and social connection from leaders of the WHO Global Commission on Social Connection, global policy researchers, and esteemed U.S. policymakers and practitioners. They will address the policy implications and priorities surrounding social isolation, loneliness, and social connection.

Engaging in panel discussions on creating a culture of connection, these conversations will feature firsthand perspectives from communities grappling with social isolation and loneliness, especially among vulnerable populations. They will also explore the relationship between the built environment and social connection, as well as strategies for integrating connection values into leadership roles.

Bipartisan leaders such as Senators Tina Smith (D-MN) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Representatives Seth Moulton (D-MA) and Mike Flood (R-NE) will present their perspectives, priorities, and visions for how the U.S. can develop innovative policies, systems, and solutions to bolster social connection nationally.

(D-MN) and (D-NH) and Representatives (D-MA) and (R-NE) will present their perspectives, priorities, and visions for how the U.S. can develop innovative policies, systems, and solutions to bolster social connection nationally. Interactive small group sessions fostering peer-to-peer knowledge exchange and dialogue surrounding the CESIL policy objectives for the upcoming year.

A fireside chat with Yung Pueblo, a New York Times bestselling author, meditation practitioner, and poet renowned for his transformative insights into authentic living and emotional well-being.

On June 12th, CESIL members will head to Capitol Hill to raise awareness of the issue and advocate for crucial policy reforms. Their goal is to address the crisis of social isolation and loneliness, ensuring that all Americans have equal access to social engagement opportunities and support systems.

The Global Loneliness Awareness Summit will be held today at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg Center in Washington, D.C. The event will be held both in person and virtually and is scheduled from 12:00 PM to 7:30 PM ET. To learn more about the summit and get additional details, please visit the Coalition's website. If you'd like to participate virtually, you can register for the event by clicking here.

About the Coalition to End Social Isolation and Loneliness

Since its founding in 2018, the Coalition to End Social Isolation & Loneliness has been advocating for policy change that addresses the detrimental effects of social isolation and loneliness. The Coalition represents over 50 of the most influential consumer groups, patient advocates, health plans, community-based organizations, behavioral health groups, and private sector innovators in the United States, all who share a mission to create a more socially connected nation. Through disseminating research findings, leading public awareness, and advocating for legislative and regulatory interventions, the Coalition envisions a society where every individual will one day have the opportunities and support necessary to be socially engaged. For more information, please visit: endsocialisolation.org

SOURCE Coalition to End Social Isolation and Loneliness
BCB Attendees to Experience the Spirit's Range

NEW YORK, June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Bureau National Interprofessionnel du Cognac (BNIC), the entity promoting, protecting, and developing the Cognac Geographic Indication and its cultureis pleased to be hosting two Cognac seminars at this year's Bar Convent Brooklyn on June 12th, see schedule below:

Wednesday, June 12th, 2024

Cognac for the Senses, with Dan Nicolaescu at 3:15PM

Cognac & Cheese, with Allen Katz and Tia Keenan at 4:15PM

These dynamic back-to-back seminars will be open to all attendees of Bar Convent Brooklyn; though seating is on a first come first served basis. Both seminars will kick off with an introduction to the region, production, and heritage. Guests will then dive into an exploration of the multifaceted spirit through hands-on tasting experiments and pairings.

A range of Cognac brands and expressions will be showcased, allowing guests to discover the range, and categories from the young VS (Very Special) to XO (Extra Old) Cognacs. The seminars are sponsored by the BNIC and will include the following brands: ABK6, Chateau Montifaud, Delamain, Cognac Frapin, HINE, Jean-Luc Pasquet, Larsen, Maison Ferrand, Martell, Merlet, Meukow, and Tesseron.

During the first seminar, Cognac for the Senses, industry expert and Cognac Educator Dan Nicolaescu will guide a sensory experience of Cognacs with water in various forms: sparkling, still, and ice. This will illustrate the individual characteristics and how different results can be achieved by temperature change, dilution, and mineral addition.

To follow, Cognac Educator Allen Katz will be joined by cheese expert Tia Keenan for Cognac & Cheese. During this seminar, attendees will taste through tips and tricks for pairing cheeses with Cognac's multidimensional profile.

For more information about the Cognac seminars or to register for Bar Convent Brooklyn, visit the event website at www.barconventbrooklyn.com.

@BarConventBrooklyn | www.barconventbrooklyn.com

@CognacUSA I cognac.fr/en

ABOUT THE BNIC

The BNIC (Bureau National Interprofessionnel du Cognac) represents, fosters, and protects the Cognac Appellation d'Origine Controlee in France and abroad. In the 150 countries where Cognac is sold, this AOC assures consumers a product of exceptional quality. With a membership that equally represents the agricultural and commercial interests of Cognac, the BNIC is the consultative and decision-making body for the 4,300 winegrowers, 120 distillers, and 265 merchants of the Cognac appellation.

US PRESS CONTACTS

Teuwen

Marisa Jetter Wesoly | [email protected]

MelRose Buckler | [email protected]

Stephanie Teuwen | [email protected]

ABOUT TEUWEN

Teuwen, An Evins Communications Company, is an award-winning wine and spirits public relations and marketing group with insight and influence. A collaborative and creative team of industry experts with unrivaled media, trade and influencer connections, Teuwen produces personalized, strategic and integrated programs with powerful results. Teuwen's capabilities, expertise and knowledge are amplified by the enhanced reach, resources and experience of Evins.

BUREAU NATIONAL INTERPROFESSIONNEL DU COGNAC

23, Allees Bernard Guionnet  BP 900 18  16101 Cognac Cedex France

COGNAC.FR

SOURCE Bureau National Interprofessionnel du Cognac
The Shahul brothers began franchising with Cousins Maine Lobster in 2018, and over the past 6 years, have launched 7 markets with a focus on developing best in class food truck teams that deliver outstanding guest experiences. Co-Founder, Jim Tselikis shared, "Yunus and Thameem are investing in long-term growth for South Florida, leveraging their best leaders to hire, train and develop great local operations teams. They are fabricating all new food trucks and are building new partnerships throughout the region. We are excited to partner with one of our top franchisees to ignite this growth."

The first of the South Florida trucks is set to relaunch this Saturday, June 15th, marking the Shahul's 14th CML food truck to date. Yunus Shahul invites the community to join in the celebration, "We are thrilled to announce the grand re-opening of Cousins Maine Lobster in South Florida! We can't wait to bring our delicious Maine lobster rolls, lobster tacos, and tots to all our local fans! Come experience the taste that made us famous all over again!"

CML invites the community to join them as they celebrate with an official ribbon cutting and launch party at Nobo Brewing Company, in Boynton Beach, FL, chosen for delicious award-winning brews and hosting numerous festivals and charity events in South Florida.

Cousins Maine Lobster  Miami Relaunch Celebration

Saturday, June 15th, 2024

12:00  8:00 PM

Nobo Brewing Company.

2901 NW Commerce park Dr,

Boynton Beach, FL 33426.

More information on upcoming events can be found on the CML Chicago Facebook page.

Miami, FL Cousins Maine Lobster Facebook Page

Cousins Maine Lobster has food trucks and restaurants across the U.S., and they are currently seeking new franchise partners for Southwest Florida. Find more information on franchise opportunities here: https://www.cousinsmainelobster.com/franchise/

DISCLAIMER: This information is not an offer to sell a franchise. An offer can only be made through the delivery of a Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) registered with applicable state authorities.

For more information, contact:

Danielle Donovan, 360PR+

[email protected]

603-560-4303

SOURCE Cousins Maine Lobster
GENEVA, June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Wyss Center for Bio and Neuroengineering in Geneva and Dandelion Science are excited to announce a partnership focused on a cutting-edge generative AI neuromodulation platform that could speed the development of safe, non-invasive ways of treating neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders. The platform harnesses the power of generative artificial intelligence (AI) to synthesize, on demand, precision sensory stimulation therapies.

Dandelion Science and the Wyss Center Geneva announce AI partnership to generate non-invasive brain therapies Post this Dandelion Science and the Wyss Center Geneva announce AI partnership to generate non-invasive brain therapies

Dr. Erwin Bottinger, Director of the Wyss Center, expressed his enthusiasm for the collaboration, stating, "We are delighted to invest in and partner with Dandelion Science. The promise of generative AI as a new therapeutic paradigm for brain disorders is exciting. AI guided neuromodulation is a key focus area for the Wyss Center, to develop smarter therapies for neurologic and mental health disorders by combining artificial intelligence and novel non-invasive neuromodulation techniques targeting deep brain structures. Dandelion's innovative deeptech approach, robust intellectual property portfolio, and exceptional team make them an ideal partner. We look forward to the transformative impact this technology could have on patients worldwide."

The collaboration with the Swiss-based Wyss Center leverages significant resources and capital over four years, providing Dandelion Science with rapid access to diverse clinical partners, extensive expertise in neuroscience and neurotechnology development, and integration into a broader AI and neurotechnology ecosystem.

Adam Hanina, CEO of Dandelion Science and newly appointed Expert-in-Residence at the Wyss Center Geneva, said, "Generative neuromodulation is poised to become a multi-billion-dollar market in the coming years. Dandelion's novel computational approach, which emulates the way in which the brain itself processes information, holds promise for developing therapies that precisely match the complex dysfunctions they are intended to treat. We deliberately sought out the Wyss Center as a research foundation so we could work together as ethical pioneers on this potentially revolutionary technology. The new partnership not only validates Dandelion's efforts but also significantly enhances our capability to innovate and deliver value."

About Dandelion Science

Dandelion Science is a US-Swiss Generative Neuromodulation company, committed to advancing precision therapies for vision and brain disorders. Led by a world-class team, Dandelion's mission is to enhance the lives of people affected by these conditions through the integration of advanced generative technologies and deep scientific expertise. The company boasts extensive intellectual property and has received prestigious funding from the US National Institutes of Health and the Swiss Innovation Agency.

www.dandelion.science

About the Wyss Center

The Wyss Center is an independent not-for-profit translational R&D organization focused on advancing disruptive neurotechnologies to transform the lives of people with neurological and mental health disorders. The Center pursues transformational technologies in artificial intelligence, bio- and neuroengineering to restore essential neural functions and deliver precision therapeutics for people with debilitating neurological and mental health disorders.

Based at Campus Biotech in Geneva, Switzerland, the Wyss Center partners with faculty, clinicians and industry, in Switzerland and internationally, to drive innovation and maximize clinical impact. The Wyss Center was established by a generous donation from the Swiss entrepreneur and philanthropist Hansjorg Wyss in 2014.

www.wysscenter.ch

Corporate Inquiries:

[email protected]

Media contact:

[email protected]

SOURCE Dandelion Science
Stephens brings with him 35 years of healthcare industry experience

KANSAS CITY, Mo., June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Trualta , the leading caregiver education and support platform, has appointed Dean Stephens, a veteran healthcare information technology entrepreneur, to its board of directors.

Healthcare entrepreneur and long-time caregiver Dean Stephens has joined Trualta's board of directors. Post this Stephens joins Trualtas board with 35 years of healthcare industry experience. He will help Trualta as it expands to support paid and family caregivers in partnership with innovative health plans, government organizations, and healthcare providers.

"We are so excited to have Dean join our board of directors," said Jonathan Davis, Trualta CEO. "His entrepreneurial track record in healthcare, particularly driving the adoption of new health IT solutions into health plans and providers, will help accelerate growth and inspire innovation as Trualta scales to serve the country's largest and most innovative payers and providers."

Stephens joins Trualta's board with 35 years of healthcare industry experience. He formerly served as the co-founder and CEO of InterMap Systems, which became Healthline, the consumer health publisher, and founded Talix, a healthcare information technology platform for payers and providers. He also spent 13 years as a healthcare management consultant at Deloitte.

"I think Trualta is the proven market leader in training family caregivers," said Stephens. "Its platform impacts the quality of life for the family caregiver and thus the quality of life of the family member needing care. By emboldening the family caregiver through education and community resources, we can expect the cost of healthcare to decrease, and that addresses the core needs of every health plan, provider, and government healthcare agency. Trualta does it right."

A long-time family caregiver, Stephens is passionate about supporting caregivers and serves on the board of the Caregiver Action Network (CAN).

"I met Dean at the memorial of caregiver advocate John Schall, former Executive Director of CAN," said Davis. "I was immediately drawn to Dean's approachable style, entrepreneurial experience, and passion for caregiving. He quickly became an advisor to Trualta, and now officially joins our board."

Stephens will help Trualta as it expands to support paid and family caregivers in partnership with innovative health plans, government organizations, and healthcare providers.

About Trualta

Trualta is the leading caregiver education and support platform, helping caregivers to build skills, improve confidence, and feel less isolated. It offers articles, videos, and virtual support to improve care at home, and certifies professional caregivers. Trualta partners with healthcare payers and providers, and government and social service organizations to bring its evidence-based offering to families and professionals. It has proven through peer-reviewed research that educated caregivers can improve health outcomes and reduce healthcare costs.

Media Contact:

[email protected]

SOURCE Trualta
The world's leading technology solution for government contract pricing and analysis will unveil a new product, solution enhancements and features at its annual summit, June 11-13

SAN DIEGO, June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Deltek, the leading global provider of software and solutions for project-based businesses, is hosting hundreds of the top federal contract pricing professionals this week, June 11-13, at the Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina in San Diego, California. The Government Contract Pricing Summit (GCP Summit) brings together both government agencies and contractors to discuss best practices, new trends and how to address contract pricing challenges facing the industry.

Now in its 9th year, the GCP Summit is designed for top contract and acquisition professionals from prime contractors, subcontractors, consultants and technology providers, as well as the federal government, to come together under one roof for this unique industry event. Each year, the GCP Summit is an opportunity to network, sharpen skills and collaborate on contract pricing solutions for more efficient acquisitions.

New Solution for Pricing Professionals

This year, Deltek + ProPricer is launching Cost Volume Pro, a new add-on for the ProPricer Contractor Edition solution, addressing the arduous task of preparing complete and accurate submissions in response to RFPs. With Cost Volume Pro, pricing professionals can begin preparing cost volume during proposal kick-off. The new add-on also helps streamline submissions by inserting direct references to cost and pricing data that automatically update, embedding attachments including ProPricer reports and reusing existing justification text for rates and materials that can be shared across all related proposals. Adding Cost Volume Pro to ProPricer Contractor Edition simplifies cost volume generation by reducing human errors and ensuring accurate, compliant responses.

The ProPricer Contractor Edition will also include Dela, Deltek's new AI-powered intelligent business companion that assists in finding resources and best practices within ProPricer. Users can Ask Dela to provide samples of how data should be structured, including industry-proven examples of underlying rate table configurations and how to optimize adoption and use of the platform.

Deltek + ProPricer will host a webinar on July 10 to unveil all the enhancements and features in the new Cost Volume Pro solution.

2024 GCP Summit Speakers & Sponsorship

The 3-day summit features daily general sessions including panels and keynotes, plus dozens of breakout sessions. This year's theme  Forging Trust: Strengthening Partnerships in Government Contract Pricing  brings together more than 60 speakers covering a wide range of topics, from how to navigate government contracting to contract negotiation to pricing policy and compliance, and more. Several Deltek + ProPricer solution-focused sessions will round out this year's agenda.

"Attending the Annual Government Contract Pricing Summit in San Diego, CA, is such an enriching experience. This event brings together industry leaders and experts to discuss the latest trends, challenges, and best practices in government pricing. The insightful sessions and panel discussions provide a deep dive into compliance strategies, pricing methodologies, and regulatory updates. Networking with professionals from diverse sectors facilitates valuable connections and exchanges of ideas. Overall, the GCP Summit is an excellent opportunity to enhance your knowledge and stay abreast of crucial developments in government pricing. I look forward to attending each year," said Rochelle Overstreet, Director of the Enterprise Pricing Office at NASA.

The GCP Summit would not be possible without the participation of sponsors including Ernst & Young and Baker Tilly. These sponsoring partners will be presenting breakout sessions including Enhancing Efficiency & Compliance in Proposal Development, A Guide for a Successful GSA Schedule Audit, and Steering Through Directive Action Requests.

About Deltek

Better software means better projects. Deltek is the leading global provider of enterprise software and information solutions for project-based businesses. More than 30,000 organizations and millions of users in over 80 countries around the world rely on Deltek for superior levels of project intelligence, management and collaboration. Our industry-focused expertise powers project success by helping firms achieve performance that maximizes productivity and revenue. Learn more at www.deltek.com.

SOURCE Deltek
Getac supports new major customers in the rail sector with digitalisation and automation - for safe, sustainable rail operations

News in brief:

DB recently started using S410 rugged laptops for reliable inspection, maintenance and operation of trains and locomotives.

Getac S410 solutions enable fast, efficient processes to get trains back on the rails quickly.

TAIPEI, June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Deutsche Bahn AG is now using Getac rugged S410 laptops for numerous operational workflows. IT-HAUS GmbH, headquartered in Fohren near Trier, Germany has won the corresponding tender with Getac and is now supplying DB. S410 laptops are used specifically for revision and general inspections as well as for maintenance and repairs; they are intended to help minimise train downtimes.

Professionalism in digitisation

Getac's rugged S410 laptops support the digitalisation and automation processes and thus ensure fast and efficient inspection and maintenance. In the event of system-related failures, damage or accidental damage, trains will quickly be made operational again and downtimes further minimised.

Additional Getac S410 applications at Deutsche Bahn include automated reporting and documentation, regular monitoring of safety-relevant equipment and the completion of complex inspection services, revisions and general inspections.

With the Getac S410 laptops, the service technicians can work on different trains with different systems at the same time. This allows the creation of reports for trains involved in accidents and read out the systems in the workshops. When checking engines or searching for faults in and under the trains, a reliable device with an easy-to-read display, illuminated keyboard and various connections (such as RS232 or RJ45) is essential. The S410 also offers robust reliability when working in the workshop, or outdoors, in a wide range of weather conditions.

Furthermore, What was particularly important to the customer was a secure procedure in the event of unexpected failures. Here, the Hot Swap Service from IT-HAUS and the Getac Self-Maintainer programme ensure reduced downtimes.

Intelligent, Safe Maintenance

Getac devices are also being utilised for automated reporting of vehicle components condition directly to the maintenance workshops or for the automatic provision of spare parts. Thanks to digital diagnostics and inspection systems, the Getac S410 provides DB employees with even better support and reduces their workload.

"We are very proud to support Deutsche Bahn with our rugged computing solutions," says Eric Yeh, Managing Director of Getac Technology GmbH. "Our S410 laptops are extremely powerful and reliable, very easy to use and enable a high degree of digitalisation, thanks also to 5G technology. They are ideal for smooth operations in harsh environments and therefore particularly suitable for the challenging tasks in this area."

About Getac

Getac Technology Corporation is a global leader in rugged mobile technology and intelligent video solutions, including laptops, tablets, software, bodycams, automotive video systems and enterprise video analytics solutions. Getac's services and solutions are designed to deliver a world-class experience for all frontline workers in demanding environments. In over 100 countries, Getac serves customers in defence, public safety, fire and rescue, utilities, automotive, raw materials, manufacturing, transportation & logistics. For more information visit: http://www.getac.com; on LinkedIn or YouTube; participation opportunity in the Getac Industry Blog.

Getac and the Getac logo are trademarks of Getac Holdings Corporation or its subsidiaries. Other brands or trademarks are the property of their respective owners. 2024 Getac Technology Corporation.

SOURCE Getac
Accompanied by his wife, Ana Goubaud de Gutierrez, and a group of friends, among them the businessman Jose Suarez Arias-Cachero and the political scientist Eduardo Fernandez Luina, Gutierrez visited the headquarters of the Archivo de Indianos in Colombres, which he has joined as a member of the Association of Friends of the Archive, whose mission is to strengthen ties between Spain and America. During his tour around the monumental building of the Quinta Guadalupe, the director-manager of the Archive, Santiago Gonzalez Romero, presented him with a detailed genealogical work, which dates back to the 16th century.

Dionisio Gutierrez expressed his admiration for the Archivo de Indianos, describing it as "a spectacular work" with "a very special merit," highlighting the importance of reconnecting with ancestors to give meaning to history. "It is not the type of project that is easy to organize, but it has great historical and emotional value," he emphasized.

In addition to his visit, Gutierrez took the opportunity to record an interview with Gonzalez Romero for his weekly program Razon de Estado , broadcast by the international channel NTN24 to the entire American continent, where they discussed various aspects of Asturian emigration to America.

You can download the full press release by clicking here.

For more information, visit fundacionlibertad.com

SOURCE Fundacion Libertad y Desarrollo
ABU DHABI, UAE, June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Department of Health  Abu Dhabi (DoH), the regulator of the healthcare sector, signed a second Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania ("Penn Medicine") to expand partnership in education, research and innovation programmes. Both parties will further collaborate on translational research ecosystem development, as well as launch innovative collaborative research involving "second labs" that leverage and build capabilities in Abu Dhabi and at Penn Medicine in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA in leading-edge areas of science.

DoH and Penn Medicine to expand collaboration on translational research and second labs in Abu Dhabi

The MoU has been signed by Dr. Asma Ibrahim Al Mannaei, Executive Director of the Research and Innovation Centre at DoH and Mick Merritt, Chief Operating Officer and Lead for Global Clinical Programmes, at Perelman School of Medicine at Penn Medicine.

Through this MoU, DoH and Penn Medicine seek to design and develop a translational medicine ecosystem based on Penn's Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics (ITMAT). In addition, the MoU seeks to explore the potential of launching two multi-year collaborative research programmes. One focuses on the expanded application of artificial intelligence to identify new potential antibiotics. The other focuses on longitudinal follow-up and genetic analysis of people with Alzheimer's in Abu Dhabi that will facilitate cross-population comparative analysis and unique attributes that ultimately enable global prevention and early diagnosis.

With the aim of bridging the gap between preliminary research and practical applications in medical practices, translational research seeks to translate research discoveries from laboratory findings and clinical studies into practical applications to improve human health.

Dr. Asma Ibrahim Al Mannaei, Executive Director of the Research and Innovation Centre at the Department of Health  Abu Dhabi, said: "With a successful history of collaboration with Penn Medicine, the Department of Health  Abu Dhabi is thrilled to build on this partnership which underscores the crucial importance of synergy between academia and regulatory bodies in enabling research development and innovation. Abu Dhabi continues to spearhead global collaboration on the global stage and facilitate knowledge and experience sharing in reflection of its commitment to driving forward a future where innovative healthcare solutions are accessible to all."

This collaboration will potentiate the development of a translational medicine and therapeutics ecosystem to further enable capacity development and the creation of novel discoveries and treatments in Abu Dhabi. This will involve the development of research training and educational programmes for healthcare professionals to upskill the workforce in various healthcare domains including medical science, biomedical research and health technology.

Glen Gaulton, PhD, Vice Dean and Director of the Center for Global Health at Penn's Perelman School of Medicine said: "Penn Medicine has become a global leader in precision medicine and innovation that has resulted in more than 25 new drugs and therapies approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in the past several years. These accomplishments were catalysed by the transformational investment in ITMAT 20 years ago which has developed a translational research ecosystem enriched our human capital and incentivised interdisciplinary and translational research. We look forward to collaborating with our colleagues in Abu Dhabi to replicate this structure in parallel with investment in "second labs" to foster interactions focused on specific challenges and opportunities in translational research. This will advance the capacity of Abu Dhabi to pursue its vision to become a true innovator in biomedical sciences and a regional leader that will make a global impact."

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2436070/The_Department_of_Health_Abu_Dhabi.jpg

SOURCE The Department of Health - Abu Dhabi
America's IRA Expert Releases New Best-Selling Retirement Planning Book That Includes Secure Act 2.0 Updates; Hosts Live Virtual Book Launch Party in Celebration

NEW YORK, June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Ed Slott, CPA, the nationally recognized IRA Expert, founder of Ed Slott and Company, LLC and creator of irahelp.com , announces his new book "The Retirement Savings Time Bomb Ticks Louder" is now available. The book has been highly anticipated by consumers and financial industry professionals alike and has already achieved best-seller status in the retirement planning category on Amazon prior to its June 11 publication date. The book is now available for purchase through all major retailers as detailed on irahelp.com/timebomb.

In celebration of the book's publication, Slott is hosting a live, virtual book launch party at 6:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday, June 11. The public is encouraged to attend the event that will feature an author Q&A with special guest Joe Saul-Sehy, creator and co-host of the award-winning "Stacking Benjamins" podcast. To attend the live event, visit irahelp.com/launchparty.

"Whether your retirement dreams are five years away or fifty the single greatest threat standing in your way is taxes," said Ed Slott, CPA, founder of Ed Slott and Company, LLC and creator of irahelp.com. "With untaxed retirement accounts likely to become your largest asset, you face an explosive landscape of costly tax traps, penalties, and a complex maze of rules when the time comes to tap into those savings. I am proud to be releasing my latest book which aims to help more Americans avoid unnecessary tax landmines and defuse the latest threats to retirement savings accounts."

"The Retirement Savings Time Bomb Ticks Louder" is the ultimate guide to reclaiming control of your financial future and keeping more of your moneyno matter what Congress comes up with next. With fully up-to-date information, including SECURE Act 2.0, this book provides an easy-to-follow plan that is an entertaining and informative must-read for any American with a retirement savings account.

"Why pay more in taxes than absolutely necessary?" continued Slott. "As the retirement planning landscape continues to evolve, it can be difficult for Americans to stay on top of the ever-changing laws surrounding retirement and ensure they aren't paying unnecessary taxes. Especially since the SECURE Act 2.0 was signed into law at the end of 2022, there are crucial moves and considerations retirement savers need to be aware ofand this book provides the clarity millions of Americans need."

Coming off Slott's last best-selling book, published in 2021, this new book provides readers with fully up-to-date content, including the most important retirement planning information to know since the SECURE Act 2.0 became law. From the new delayed required minimum distribution (RMD) age to more penalty-free early withdrawals to new RMD requirements for inherited IRAs, readers will gain the knowledge they need to navigate today's retirement planning landscape with confidence.

As a professional speaker, best-selling author and television personality, Slott is known for his unparalleled ability to turn advanced tax strategies into understandable, actionable and entertaining advice. He regularly presents on IRA and estate planning tax strategies at both consumer events and conferences for financial advisors, insurance professionals, accountants and attorneys. His firm, Ed Slott and Company, LLC, is the nation's leading provider of accurate, timely IRA expertise and analysis, helping navigate through the distribution phase of retirement. Additional content resources, including "The Slott Report" blog, are available at irahelp.com, along with a "Find an Advisor" tool for personalized advice from specialized trained members of Ed Slott's Elite IRA Advisor GroupSM, an ongoing study group of approximately 500 of the nation's top financial professionals who are dedicated to the mastery of advanced retirement account and tax planning laws and strategies. To find a member in your area, visit irahelp.com/find-an-advisor .

To order the book, visit irahelp.com/timebomb .

ABOUT "THE RETIREMENT SAVINGS TIME BOMB TICKS LOUDER"

"The Retirement Savings Time Bomb Ticks Louder" is the ultimate guide to reclaiming control of your financial future and keeping more of your moneyno matter what Congress comes up with next. With fully up-to-date information, including SECURE Act 2.0, this book provides an easy-to-follow plan that is an entertaining and informative must-read for any American with a retirement savings account. Written by America's IRA Expert, Ed Slott, CPA, the book shows readers in clear-cut layman's terms how to take back control over their retirement savings and financial future. To order, visit irahelp.com/timebomb .

CONTACT

AdvisorPR

(702) 685-7450

SOURCE Ed Slott and Company
Beat AML is transforming treatment for people with acute myeloid leukemia through a collaborative targeted treatment approach

New trial arm will evaluate lomonitinib, Eilean's precision therapy designed to address AML treatment resistance

DOVER, Del., June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Eilean Therapeutics AU Pty Ltd, a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to discovering and developing best-in-class and first-in-class small molecule inhibitors to target escape mutations in hematologic and solid malignancies, has joined The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) in the groundbreaking collaborative Beat AML Master Clinical Trial.

Eilean's investigational agent, lomonitinib (ZE46-0134) has been selected for a new trial arm for patients with FLT3 mutated relapsed/refractory (R/R) acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Lomonitinib is a highly potent and selective pan-FLT3/IRAK4 inhibitor that targets clinically relevant FLT3 mutations and putative escape pathways. Given the excellent safety profile (with no cytological changes) and ability to rapidly reach steady state, target engagement exposures in a healthy volunteer study, it is anticipated that lomonitinib will have a deeper response (i.e. more CR/CRh) and longer duration of response in R/R AML patients and eventually expand to be the best-in-class FLT3 inhibitor. This will be Beat AML's first phase 1 sub study, as well as its first precision medicine study in patients whose AML has relapsed or not responded to previous therapies.

"The Beat AML Master Trial provides a unique opportunity to contribute to the advancement of science in AML and evaluate the potential of lomonitinib in FLT3 mutated relapsed refractory AML," commented Iain Dukes, Chief Executive Officer of Eilean Therapeutics.

Beat AML is among the first cancer clinical trials to be sponsored by a nonprofit. It brings together a broad global collaboration of the best and brightest clinicians, cancer centers, pharmaceutical companies, and operational and technology partners, all unified to fundamentally change the treatment approach to AML. The trial has generated impressive results, showing superior survival rates and better quality of life when patients receive targeted treatment matched to the genetic mutations or their blood cancer in place of standard-of-care chemotherapy treatment.

"This partnership with Eilean is exactly what LLS envisioned when we began the Beat AML trial," said Ashley Yocum, Ph.D., LLS executive research lead for Beat AML. "Working with partners like Eilean to evaluate their new and potentially breakthrough approaches to AML treatment in the Beat AML framework will speed the process of bringing new treatments to both newly diagnosed patients and those previously treated with other therapies."

About Lomonitinib

Lomonitinib is a highly potent and selective inhibitor of FLT3 ITD, TKD and other clinically relevant FLT3 mutations, as well as IRAK4. FLT3 mutations are the most frequently identified mutations in AML. There are two main mechanisms of resistance to FLT3 inhibitors: the FLT3-ITD-F691L mutation deemed the "gatekeeper" mutation that confers resistance to all currently approved FLT3 inhibitors and the activation of the IRAK4 escape pathway. Lomonitinib inhibits both resistance mechanisms.

About Eilean Therapeutics

Eilean Therapeutics, AU Pty Ltd is a biopharmaceutical company co-founded by OrbiMed, Torrey Pines Investment and Dr. John C. Byrd, focused on the discovery and development of best-in-class and first-in-class small molecule inhibitors that target escape mutations in hematologic and solid cancers. The company is utilizing a proprietary hybrid AI (Expert Systems Inc.), leveraging its key partners proprietary data, chem/bio tools, knowledge and expertise to choose highly valuable molecular mechanism of pathology, to rationally design, accelerate discovery and optimize development of best-in-class and first-in-class therapies. Eilean Therapeutics' goal is to utilize its capabilities and platform to become a leader in developing novel breakthrough medicines to maximize the clinical benefit when treating hematologic and solid malignancies. For more information visit www.eileanther.com.

About The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is the global leader in the fight against blood cancer. The LLS mission: cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease, and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. LLS funds lifesaving blood cancer research around the world, provides free information and support services, and is the voice for all blood cancer patients seeking access to quality, affordable, coordinated care.

Founded in 1949 and headquartered in Rye Brook, NY, LLS has regions throughout the United States and Canada. To learn more, visit www.LLS.org. Patients should contact the Information Resource Center at (800) 955-4572, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET.

For additional information, visit lls.org/lls-newsnetwork. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Eilean Media Contact:

Amy Burd

CSO

[email protected]

LLS Media Contact:

Ryan McDonald

[email protected]

SOURCE Eilean Therapeutics
AKRON, Ohio, June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE) has named Stephen Avila to the role of Vice President of Customer Care, effective June 3.

Avila will lead the work leveraging innovative technologies and data analysis to drive a superior customer experience. He will oversee the company's key functional groups that manage customer accounts and payments, provide customer care and self-service options and drive innovation in all aspects of FirstEnergy's relationship with customers. Avila will report to Michelle Henry, Senior Vice President, Customer Experience.

"Stephen brings a great deal of experience from the highly competitive retail space, effectively using technology, people and processes to drive innovative and scalable solutions to transform the customer experience," said Henry. "We look forward to his fresh perspective and expertise that will accelerate our efforts to meet the customer where they are in their journey and quickly adapt to changes so we can consistently deliver an exceptional level of service."

Avila joins FirstEnergy from Macy's, where he had a 25-year career, serving as Senior Vice President in 2016 and most recently Head of Global Customer Service. In that role, he provided strategic leadership across large, multi-dimensional teams focused on selling, service, credit profitability and overall customer experience. He also led efforts to redefine the service model and utilize technology to create a "service as a differentiator" driver of the business. Under his leadership, he enabled the simplification and optimization of processes and established governance across service platforms and strategies to drive transformation.

Avila earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from the University of Arizona and is certified Six Sigma and Agile Methodologies. He volunteers his time with numerous community organizations, serving on several nonprofit boards focused on improving education opportunities for disadvantaged youth.

FirstEnergy is dedicated to integrity, safety, reliability and operational excellence. Its electric distribution companies form one of the nation's largest investor-owned electric systems, serving more than 6 million customers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia, Maryland and New York. The company's transmission subsidiaries operate more than 24,000 miles of transmission lines that connect the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions. Follow FirstEnergy online at www.firstenergycorp.com and on X, formerly known as Twitter, @FirstEnergyCorp.

Editor's Note: A professional photo of Stephen Avila is available for download on Flickr.

SOURCE FirstEnergy Corp.
SHANGHAI and HEIDELBERG, Germany, June 10, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Full-Life Technologies (Full-Life), a fully integrated global radiotherapeutics company, released preclinical data of its NTSR1-targeting RDC program FL-091 in an oral presentation at the 2024 SNMMI (The Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging) Annual Meeting, held on June 8th to 11th, 2024 at Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada.

Neurotensin receptor 1 (NTSR1) belongs to the family of neurotensin receptors (NTSRs), which modulate the effects of the neuropeptide hormone neurotensin in several areas of the human body including the gastrointestinal system. Overexpression of NTSR1 has been associated with disease progression of multiple types of cancers, including colorectal, breast, pancreatic, and head and neck cancers. This makes it a promising target for diagnostic imaging and radioligand therapy. In this conference, Full-Life first time disclosed the preclinical characterizations of a novel NTSR1-targeting radioligand vector FL-091, which affords favorable biodistribution profiles and encouraging anti-tumor activities for the radioisotopes it carries.

In Full-Life's preclinical studies, FL-091 displayed significantly enhanced binding affinity to NTSR1 when compared to another NTSR1-targeting radioligand vector that is currently under clinical development. Accordingly, its Lutetium-177 and Actinium-225 complexes, 177Lu-FL-091 and 225Ac-FL-091, demonstrated a meaningfully improved in vivo biodistribution profile over their respective counterpart, including higher tumor uptake and faster normal tissue clearance. Importantly, such biodistribution improvement led to superior anti-tumor activities in various xenograft models. These data strongly support FL-091 as a promising radioligand vector targeting NTSR1-positive cancers. Currently, Full-Life's development of the alpha-therapy program 225Ac-FL-091 is ongoing.

For more information, please visit: https://www.full-life.com/media/presentation/25

About FL-091

FL-091 is a novel radioligand vector targeting NTSR1. FL-091 binds to NTSR1 with high affinity and its radioisotope complexes demonstrate therapeutically favorable in vivo biodistribution profiles that have been translated into promising in vivo efficacy in different xenograft mouse models. The development of the alpha therapy candidate 225Ac-FL-091 targeting NTSR1-positive tumors is currently in progress.

About Full-Life Technologies

Full-Life Technologies ("Full-Life") is a fully integrated global radiotherapeutics company with operations in Belgium, Germany, and China. We aim to own the entire value chain for radiopharmaceutical research & development, production & commercialization to deliver clinical impact for patients. The Company endeavors to tackle fundamental challenges affecting radiopharmaceuticals today by pioneering innovative research that will shape the treatments of tomorrow. We are comprised of a team of fast-moving entrepreneurs and seasoned scientists with a proven history of success in the life sciences, alongside radioisotope research and clinical development.

About SNMMI

The Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) is a nonprofit scientific and professional organization that promotes the science, technology, and practical application of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging. SNMMI strives to be a leader in unifying, advancing, and optimizing molecular imaging, with an ultimate goal of improving human health. With 13,000 members worldwide, SNMMI represents nuclear and molecular imaging professionals, all of whom are committed to the advancement of the field. The premier educational, scientific, research, and networking event in nuclear medicine and molecular imaging, the SNMMI Annual Meeting provides physicians, technologists, pharmacists, laboratory professionals, and scientists with an in-depth view of the latest research and development in the field as well as providing insights into practical applications for the clinic.

SOURCE Full-Life Technologies
--Up to 68.2% mean relative reduction in liver fat content from baseline among biopsy-confirmed metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) patients receiving 12-week treatment of ASC41

--Significant and clinically meaningful reductions in liver fat, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and lipids as well as excellent safety and tolerability profile demonstrated by ASC41 in MASH patients

HANGZHOU, China, June 10, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Gannex Pharma Co., Ltd. ("Gannex"), a wholly-owned company of Ascletis Pharma Inc. (HKEX:1672, "Ascletis") dedicated to the research and development and commercialization of new drugs in the field of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), today announced a poster presentation at the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) Congress 2024, held June 5-8, 2024 in Milan, Italy. A copy of the poster is available under the Posters/Publications page of Gannex's website at www.gannexpharma.com.

The poster presentation titled, "ASC41, a selective THR agonist significantly reduces liver fat and ALT in biopsy-confirmed MASH patients after 12-week treatment: an interim analysis of a 52-week serial liver biopsy study", describes significant and clinically meaningful reductions in liver fat, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in biopsy-confirmed MASH patients receiving 12-week treatment of ASC41 tablet, among which the data of ALT and AST notably differentiates ASC41 from other thyroid hormone receptor  (THR) agonists currently at clinical or commercial stages. In addition, baseline characteristics from Phase II clinical trials were comparable between ASC41, conducted in China, and resmetirom, except for lower body mass index (BMI) and more males for ASC41. Please refer to Table 1 below for more details.

Table 1. Baseline Characteristics

Characteristics ASC41 Phase 2 Resmetirom Phase 2[1] PBO (n=14) 2 mg (n=13) 4mg (n=15) Placebo (n=41) 60/80 mg (n=84) Age, years 41.2(11.6) 36.1(11.0) 34.7(6.5) 47.3 (11.7) 51.8 (10.4) Male, n(%) 9(64.3 %) 12(92.3 %) 13(86.7 %) 24 (59 %) 38 (45 %) MRI-proton density fat fraction, % fat fraction (SD) 18.2%(6.7) 17.8%(5.4) 18.9%(7.9) 19.6% (8.2) 20.2% (6.8) Diabetes, n(%) 4(28.6 %) 3(23.1 %) 3(20.0 %) 13 (32 %) 36 (43 %) Body-mass index, kg/m 28.7(3.1) 29.7(4.8) 30.4(5.1) 33.6 (5.8) 35.8 (6.2) ALT (U/L) 77.6(56.2) 65.9(31.2) 84.8(32.6) 60.1 (32.2) 50.0 (29.2) AST (U/L) 47.9(31.6) 44.2(23.0) 53.8(18.2) 38.0 (20.7) 35.1 (17.7) HDL-C (mg/dL) 44.8(8.7) 58.4(6.0) 41.5(6.3) 45.2 (13.4) 43.8 (12.5) LDL-C (mg/dL) 116.0(25.4) 127.5(24.6) 122.61(25.1) 116.9 (30.0) 111.3 (30.4) TG (mg/dL) 156.8(54.0) 180.4(74.3) 228.6(126.5) 161.1 (75.2) 178.5 (82.4) Data are mean (SD) or n (%) unless otherwise stated. [1]. Harrison, S. A., et al.[J] Lancet, (2019).DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(19)32517-6

In Table 1, "PBO" stands for placebo, "MRI" stands for magnetic resonance imaging, "ALT" stands for alanine aminotransferase, "AST" stands for aspartate aminotransferase, "HDL-C" stands for high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, "LDL-C" stands for low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and "TG" stands for triglycerides.

ASC41, a once-daily oral tablet, is a liver targeted small molecule and is highly THR-selective. The oral tablet formulation was developed utilizing Ascletis' in-house proprietary technology. Three Phase I or Ib studies in China were completed in healthy or obese subjects with elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) > 110 mg/dL. A U.S. Phase I study demonstrated no clinically significant drug-drug interactions between ASC41/ASC41-A and most frequently used antidepressants and statins, as well as no significant difference in drug exposure between Americans and Chinese at the same dose.

Table 2. Changes from Baseline (CFB) in LFC, Liver Enzymes and Lipids Biomarkers at Week 12

Parameters Placebo

(n = 14) ASC41 Tablet 2 mg, QD

(n = 13) 4 mg, QD

(n = 15) Mean relative CFB in LFC -13.1 % -55.0 % -68.2 % (p = 0.0001) (p  0.0001) Percentage of patients achieving LFC reduction  30% 21.4 % 92.3 % 93.3 % (p = 0.0002) (p  0.0001) Percentage of patients achieving LFC reduction  50% 21.4 % 46.2 % 86.7 % (p = 0.24) (p = 0.0004) Percentage of patients achieving 5% absolute LFC 0.0 % 30.8 % 66.7 % (p = 0.16) (p = 0.0017) Mean relative CFB in ALT 5.2 % -8.5 % -32.6 % (p = 0.61) (p = 0.0051) Percentage of patients achieving ALT reduction > 17 U/L 21.4 % 30.8 % 73.3 % (p = 0.68) (p = 0.0052) Mean relative CFB in AST 17.3 % -3.6 % -24.2 % (p = 0.67) (p = 0.041) Mean relative CFB in LDL-C 4.3 % -19.4 % -23.4 % (p = 0.0002) (p  0.0001) Mean relative CFB in TC 3.4 % -16.8 % -20.0 % (p  0.0001) (p  0.0001) Mean relative CFB in TG 3.9 % -30.6 % -42.6 % (p = 0.0001) (p  0.0001)

In Table 2, "LFC" stands for liver fat content, "ALT" stands for alanine aminotransferase, "AST" stands for aspartate aminotransferase, "LDL-C" stands for low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, "TC" stands for total cholesterol and "TG" stands for triglycerides.

"93.3% of patients receiving treatment with ASC41 experienced at least 30% relative reduction from baseline in liver fat content as assessed by magnetic resonance imaging, proton density fat fraction (MRI-PDFF), which we believe is a strong predictor of fibrosis reduction." said Dr. Jinzi J. Wu, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Ascletis, "Reductions in liver inflammatory biomarkers ALT and AST, important for assessing hepatic injury and malfunction, LDL-C, total cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG), which may reduce the risk of cardiovascular-related events, combined with an excellent safety and tolerability profile support our belief that ASC41 is a potentially best-in-class THR agonist. We look forward to continuing the clinical development of ASC41."

ASC41 was generally well tolerated, with adverse events (AEs) being grade 1 in majority across all cohorts in the Phase II clinical trial, including the placebo cohort (see Table 3). No treatment-related serious adverse event (SAE) was reported in any patients receiving ASC41 treatment or placebo. As in prior studies, ASC41 demonstrated excellent gastrointestinal (GI) tolerability.

Table 3. Safety Data

Event, n(%) Placebo

(n = 14 ) ASC41 Tablet 2 mg, QD

(n = 13) 4 mg, QD

(n = 15) TEAEs 13(92.9 %) 13(100 %) 15(100 %) Drug-related TEAEs 6(42.9 %) 7(53.9 %) 7(46.7 %) Grade 1 6(42.9 %) 7(53.9 %) 7(46.7 %) Drug-related GI AEs 2(14.3 %) 3(23.1 %) 1(6.7 %) Nausea 0(0.0 %) 0(0.0 %) 0(0.0 %) Vomiting 0(0.0 %) 0(0.0 %) 0(0.0 %) Diarrhea 1(7.1 %) 3(23.1 %) 1(6.7 %) Abdominal distension 1(7.1 %) 0(0.0 %) 0(0.0 %) Abdominal pain (upper) 0(0.0 %) 0(0.0 %) 0(0.0 %) Constipation 0(0.0 %) 0(0.0 %) 0(0.0 %) Dyspepsia 0(0.0 %) 0(0.0 %) 0(0.0 %) Frequent bowel movements 0(0.0 %) 0(0.0 %) 0(0.0 %)

In Table 3, "TEAEs" stands for treatment emergent adverse events, "GI" stands for gastrointestinal, "AEs" stands for adverse events and "QD" stands for every day.

About ASC41

ASC41, a once-daily oral tablet in clinical development for the treatment of MASH, is a liver targeted small molecule which is converted into its active metabolite, ASC41-A, a potent and highly selective THR agonist. ASC41 tablet was developed using Ascletis' in-house proprietary formulation technology. The patent of ASC41 tablet formulation has been granted in the U.S.

About the Phase II Clinical Trial

The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled and multi-center Phase II clinical trial (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT05462353) is being conducted in China and is expected to enroll approximately 180 liver biopsy-confirmed MASH patients to be randomized into two treatment cohorts of ASC41 tablet (2 mg or 4 mg), once-daily and one placebo control cohort at the ratio of 1:1:1 for 52-week treatment and 4-week follow-up. Enrollment included patients with at least 7.5% liver fat content at baseline as measured by MRI-PDFF, as well as F2 and F3 liver fibrosis. The study allows up to 15% of enrolled patients to have F1 liver fibrosis. Two liver biopsies will be performed, one at baseline and the other at the end of 52-week treatment. MRI-PDFF will be performed at baseline, Week 12 and Week 52, respectively. The pre-specified interim analysis was conducted when 42 enrolled patients completed 12-week treatment of ASC41 tablet or placebo. Primary objective is a histological reduction in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) activity score (NAS)  2 points that results from reduction of necro-inflammation (inflammation or ballooning) without worsening fibrosis. Secondary objectives include MASH resolution and fibrosis improvement.

About Ascletis Pharma Inc.

Ascletis is an innovative R&D driven biotech listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (1672.HK), covering the entire value chain from discovery and development to GMP manufacturing. Led by a management team with deep expertise and a proven track record, Ascletis focuses on three therapeutic areas with unmet medical needs from a global perspective: viral diseases, MASH and oncology. Through excellent execution, Ascletis rapidly advances its drug pipeline with an aim of leading in global competition. To date, Ascletis has multiple clinical stage drug candidates in its R&D pipeline. The most advanced drug candidates include ASC22 (CHB functional cure), ASC40 (acne), ASC40 (recurrent glioblastoma), ASC40 (MASH), ASC41 (MASH) and ASC61 (advanced solid tumors).

For more information, please visit www.ascletis.com.

About Gannex Pharma Co., Ltd.

Founded in 2019, Gannex is a clinical-stage, wholly-owned company of Ascletis, dedicated to the R&D and commercialization of new drugs in the field of MASH. Gannex has two clinical-stage drug candidates against two different targets, i.e. THR (ASC41) and fatty acid synthase (FASN) (ASC40).

For more information, please visit www.gannexpharma.com.

SOURCE Ascletis Pharma Inc.
LONDON, June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Today marks the launch of the 18th edition of the Global Peace Index (GPI) from international think-tank, the Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP), revealing that the world is at a crossroads. Without concerted effort, there is a risk of a surge in major conflicts.

Key results

97 countries deteriorated in peacefulness, more than any year since the inception of the Global Peace Index in 2008.

Conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine were the primary drivers of the global fall in peacefulness, as battle deaths reached 162,000 in 2023.

and were the primary drivers of the global fall in peacefulness, as battle deaths reached 162,000 in 2023. 92 countries are currently involved in conflicts beyond their borders, more than at any time since the inception of the GPI.

First of its kind military scoring system suggests that US military capabilities are up to three times higher than China .

. The global economic impact of violence increased to $19.1 trillion in 2023, representing 13.5% of global GDP. Exposure to conflict poses a significant supply chain risk for governments and businesses.

in 2023, representing 13.5% of global GDP. Exposure to conflict poses a significant supply chain risk for governments and businesses. Militarisation recorded its largest yearly deterioration since the inception of the GPI, with 108 countries becoming more militarised.

110 million people are either refugees or internally displaced due to violent conflict, with 16 countries now hosting more than half a million refugees.

North America saw the largest regional deterioration, driven by increases in violent crime and fear of violence.

There are currently 56 conflicts, the most since World War II. They have become more international with 92 countries involved in conflicts outside their borders, the most since the GPI's inception. The rising number of minor conflicts increases the likelihood of more major conflicts in the future. For example, in 2019, Ethiopia, Ukraine, and Gaza were all identified as minor conflicts.

Last year recorded 162,000 conflict related deaths. This was the second highest toll in the past 30 years, with the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza accounting for nearly three-quarters of deaths. Ukraine represented more than half, recording 83,000 conflict deaths, with estimates of at least 33,000 for Palestine up to April 2024. In the first four months of 2024, conflict related deaths globally amounted to 47,000. If the same rate continues for the rest of this year, it would be the highest number of conflict deaths since the Rwandan genocide in 1994.

The global economic impact of violence in 2023 was $19.1 trillion or $2,380 per person. This is an increase of $158 billion, driven largely by a 20% increase in GDP losses from conflict. Expenditure on peacebuilding and peacekeeping totalled $49.6 billion, representing less than 0.6% of total military spending.

Iceland remains the most peaceful country, a position it has held since 2008, followed by Ireland, Austria, New Zealand, and Singapore  a new entrant in the top five. Yemen has replaced Afghanistan as the least peaceful country in the world. It is followed by Sudan, South Sudan, Afghanistan, and Ukraine.

The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) remains the least peaceful region. It is home to four of the ten least peaceful countries in the world and the two least peaceful, Sudan and Yemen. Despite this, the UAE recorded the largest improvement in peacefulness in the region  rising 31 places to 53rd in 2024.

Although most indicators of peacefulness deteriorated over the past 18 years, there was an improvement in the homicide rate which fell in 112 countries, while perceptions of criminality improved in 96 countries.

Steve Killelea, Founder & Executive Chairman of IEP, said: "Over the past decade, peacefulness has declined in nine out of the ten years. We are witnessing a record number of conflicts, a rise in militarisation, and heightened international strategic competition. Conflict negatively affects the global economy, and business risk from conflict has never been higher, compounding the current global economic vulnerabilities.

"It is imperative for governments and businesses worldwide to intensify their efforts to resolve the many minor conflicts before they escalate into larger crises. It's been 80 years since the end of WWII, and the current crises underscore the urgency for world leaders to commit to investing in resolving these conflicts."

Changing nature of conflicts

As conflicts become more widespread and more internationalised, increasing complexity reduces the likelihood of achieving lasting solutions. Ukraine and Gaza are examples of ongoing historical grievances or 'forever wars' without clear resolutions. The number of conflicts resulting in a decisive victory for either side has fallen from 49% in the 1970s, to less than 9% in the 2010s. Over the same period, the number of conflicts that ended through peace agreements fell from 23% to just over 4%.

Another key factor reshaping conflict is the impact of asymmetric warfare technology, making it much easier for non-state groups, as well as smaller or less powerful states, to compete in conflicts with larger states or governments. The number of states using drones rose from 16 to 40, a 150% increase between 2018 and 2023. Over the same period, the number of non-state groups which committed at least one drone attack rose from 6 to 91, an increase of over 1,400%.

Middle East tensions

Due to the Gaza war, Israel's ranking fell to an all-time low of 155th, the largest deterioration in peacefulness in the 2024 GPI. However, over the past decade Palestine has witnessed the largest deterioration, slipping to 145th. Highlighting the growing tensions, Israeli media stories with a negative sentiment towards Palestinians increased from just over 30% in 1999 to 92% in early 2023, while stories with negative sentiment by Palestinian media towards Israelis increased from just under 30% in 1999 to 85% in early 2023.

The conflict has also thrown the entire Middle East region into crisis, involving Syria, Iran, Lebanon and Yemen, with the economic consequences mounting and a high risk of open warfare. A further broadening of the conflict would severely impact the global economy, potentially triggering a worldwide recession. Highlighting the point, Syria's economy shrunk by more than 85% after the start of the civil war in 2011, and the Ukrainian economy shrunk by 29% in the year after the onset of the conflict in 2022.

Global military capability

Since the start of the Ukraine war, militarisation has increased in 91 countries, reversing the trend of the prior 15 years. Given the forward commitments of many countries to military spending, it is unlikely to improve in the coming years.

Changes in the dynamics of warfare have seen troop numbers decrease while technological sophistication has increased. Over the last decade, 100 countries reduced their armed forces personnel, while global military capability increased by over 10%.

First of its kind research by IEP calculates the military capability of countries by combining military sophistication, technology, and combat readiness. It reveals that the US has substantially higher military capability than China, which is closely followed by Russia. Traditional approaches to measuring military capability generally count the number of military assets only.

Regional highlights

Europe remains the most peaceful region, however, it recorded its largest year on year increase in military expenditure since the GPI's inception.

remains the most peaceful region, however, it recorded its largest year on year increase in military expenditure since the GPI's inception. North America recorded the largest regional deterioration in peacefulness with a drop of just under 5%. Both the US and Canada saw significant falls, primarily driven by increases in violent crime and fear of violence.

recorded the largest regional deterioration in peacefulness with a drop of just under 5%. Both the US and saw significant falls, primarily driven by increases in violent crime and fear of violence. Sub-Saharan Africa is now the second least peaceful region behind MENA as it faces several security crises  most notably increasing political unrest and terrorism in the Central Sahel.

Asia-Pacific remains the second most peaceful region with a slight decline in peacefulness. Papua New Guinea recorded the worst deterioration in the region, caused by intensified tribal violence from disputes over territory and land ownership.

remains the second most peaceful region with a slight decline in peacefulness. recorded the worst deterioration in the region, caused by intensified tribal violence from disputes over territory and land ownership. Central America and the Caribbean experienced a minor decline in peacefulness, as countries like Haiti battled high levels of organised crime and civil unrest. Despite this, El Salvador recorded the world's most significant peace improvement.

and the experienced a minor decline in peacefulness, as countries like battled high levels of organised crime and civil unrest. Despite this, recorded the world's most significant peace improvement. South America experienced the second largest fall in peacefulness with a deterioration of 3.6%. The largest changes occurred for the Homicide Rate, Political Terror Scale, and Intensity of Internal Conflict indicators.

NOTES TO EDITORS

For more information and to download the Global Peace Index 2024, visit visionofhumanity.org and economicsandpeace.org. The full GPI report, articles and interactive maps are available at: visionofhumanity.org

X: @globpeaceindex

Facebook: facebook.com/globalpeaceindex

Instagram: instagram.com/globalpeaceindex

About the Global Peace Index (GPI)

Produced by the international think-tank the Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP), the GPI report presents the most comprehensive data-driven analysis to date on peace, its economic value, trends, and how to develop peaceful societies. The report covers 99.7% of the world's population and uses 23 qualitative and quantitative indicators from highly respected sources to compile the Index. These indicators are grouped into three key domains: Ongoing Conflict, Safety and Security, and Militarisation.

About the Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP)

IEP is an international and independent think tank dedicated to shifting the world's focus to peace as a positive, achievable and tangible measure of human well-being and progress. It has offices in Sydney, Brussels, New York, The Hague, Mexico City and Nairobi.

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/792052/4102581/IEP_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Institute for Economics & Peace
New Study from BCG Reveals That When Employees Feel Included at Work, the Likelihood of Burnout Is Halved

Report Highlights Four Key Employee Sentiments That Have the Biggest Impact on Inclusion

BOSTON, June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- At some point in their careers, most, if not all, employees around the world have likely experienced symptoms of burnout at worka state of exhaustion characterized by disenchantment with one's job and a sense of inefficiency. A new report released today by Boston Consulting Group (BCG) reveals that, on average, 48% of workers from eight countries indicate that they are currently grappling with burnout.

Four Keys to Boosting Inclusion and Beating Burnout, Boston Consulting Group (BCG)

Based on a survey of 11,000 desk-based and frontline workers in eight countries (Australia, Canada, France, Germany, India, Japan, UK, and US) and titled Four Keys to Boosting Inclusion and Beating Burnout, the report also reveals that when employees feel included at work, burnout is halved.

Inclusion is central to building and maintaining a successful workforce. Inclusion in the workplace means that employees feel valued, respected, supported, and like they belong. Workers experiencing higher inclusion are also more likely to stay in their jobs, decreasing turnover costs for businesses.

For this research, BCG quantified inclusion as a score of how inclusive an employee finds the workplace to be, using BCG's BLISS Index, a statistically rigorous tool that identifies the factors that most strongly influence feelings of inclusion in the workplace.

Further, the survey revealed four sentiments that have the greatest impact on employees' overall sense of feeling included:

Good access to resources

Senior managerial support

Psychological safety with direct manager

Fair and equal opportunity for success

These signal how much, or how little, people are experiencing inclusion in the workplace. When employees feel that these sentiments are positively addressed in their workplace, they feel more included and less burned out. Unfortunately, these most important sentiments are also the ones where survey respondents indicated the lowest levels of satisfaction.

And while burnout is prevalent across all employee types, it's far higher for certain subgroups. Women, members of the LGBTQ+ community, people with disabilities, and deskless workers experienced up to 26% higher burnout. Moreover, these employee groups reported lower inclusion than employees who were in majority groups or were desk-based.

Feeling included means many different things to many different people. It follows that building inclusion can be daunting. But focusing on these four most important sentiments gives employers a clear starting point to ask workers the right questions and focus their efforts to understand the employee experience.

"Inclusion doesn't end at recruitment. It requires listening to workers on an ongoing basis and addressing their pain points. It must address both the employee offer and the daily experience of employees with their managers," said Gabrielle Novacek, a managing director and partner at BCG and coauthor of the report.

"By focusing on the four key areas and diagnosing where they may be falling short in their current efforts to meet their employees' needs, companies will be able to identify where to invest and innovate to improve feelings of inclusion and reduce burnout. Establishing programs to meet these needs will help employers avoid the costs associated with burnout, be able to attract talent, and reap the benefits of a thriving workforce."

Download the publication here:

https://www.bcg.com/publications/2024/four-keys-to-boosting-inclusion-and-beating-burnout

Media Contact:

Eric Gregoire

[email protected]

About Boston Consulting Group

Boston Consulting Group partners with leaders in business and society to tackle their most important challenges and capture their greatest opportunities. BCG was the pioneer in business strategy when it was founded in 1963. Today, we work closely with clients to embrace a transformational approach aimed at benefiting all stakeholdersempowering organizations to grow, build sustainable competitive advantage, and drive positive societal impact.

Our diverse, global teams bring deep industry and functional expertise and a range of perspectives that question the status quo and spark change. BCG delivers solutions through leading-edge management consulting, technology and design, and corporate and digital ventures. We work in a uniquely collaborative model across the firm and throughout all levels of the client organization, fueled by the goal of helping our clients thrive and enabling them to make the world a better place.

SOURCE Boston Consulting Group (BCG)
This growth is primarily driven by the need to strengthen power distribution networks to keep up with the rising global demand for electricity. Furthermore, the market stands to gain from the increasing capacity of renewable energy sources and substantial investments in industrial production, both of which are expected to boost the demand for High voltage power transformers. Another key factor contributing to this expansion is the growing adoption of high-voltage direct current systems, which is expected to further accelerate market growth during the forecast period.

Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=54126096

Browse in-depth TOC on "High Voltage Power Transformer Market"

204 - Tables

64 - Figures

262 - Pages

High Voltage Power Transformer Market Scope:

Report Coverage Details Market Revenue in 2024 $9.1 billion Estimated Value by 2029 $12.3 billion Growth Rate Poised to grow at a CAGR of 6.3% Market Size Available for 20202029 Forecast Period 20242029 Forecast Units Value (USD Million/Billion) Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, and Trends Segments Covered By Power Rating, By Cooling Type and By End User Geographies Covered Asia Pacific, North America, Europe, Middle East and Africa, and South America Report Highlights Updated financial information / product portfolio of players Key Market Opportunities Development of customized transformers to deploy in HVDC transmission systems Key Market Drivers Pressing need for grid modernization and expansion with increasing electricity demand

By power rating, LPT (> 60 MVA) segment is expected to be the fastest market.

LPT (> 60 MVA) segment is expected to be the fastest growing market largely due to their widespread application across numerous industries and utility services. The demand for LPTs is being primarily driven by the exponential increase in renewable energy installations and increase in grid infrastructure globally. Renewable energy sources like wind and solar power, which are crucial for sustainable and environmentally friendly energy production, require large power transformers to convert fluctuating voltages into stable and usable power for transmission. Projects like the Champlain Hudson Power Express transmission line in the United States, delivering clean hydroelectricity from Canada to New York City, highlight the importance of large power transformers in enabling the transmission of renewable energy over long distances.

Oil immersed segment, by cooling type, to occupy majority of High Voltage Power Transformer Market share.

The oil immersed segment is expected to continue dominating the High Voltage Power Transformer Market share due to several inherent advantages that oil cooling offers over other methods like air cooling. Oil as a coolant is more effective in dissipating heat from the transformer core and windings because of its superior thermal conductivity and higher heat capacity. This enables oil immersed transformers to handle higher power capacities and operate at a lower temperature, enhancing their efficiency and lifespan. Furthermore, oil immersion helps prevent oxidation of the core and coil, thereby reducing maintenance needs and improving reliability. The fluid also serves as an excellent insulator, significantly reducing the risk of electrical faults within the transformer. Despite concerns about potential environmental impacts, such as oil leaks, advancements in containment and bio-based oils are addressing these challenges, making oil immersed transformers a preferred choice for heavy-duty applications in industrial and utility settings where high power output and reliability are critical. This enduring preference secures their majority stake in the market.

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Asia Pacific to emerge as the largest High Voltage Power Transformer Market.

Asia Pacific is expected to emerge as the largest market for high voltage power transformers, driven by several convergent factors that are shaping its energy landscape. The primary driver is the expansive urbanization and industrialization across major economies such as China, India, and Southeast Asia. These countries are experiencing significant growth in their manufacturing sectors and widespread construction of new infrastructure, which necessitates a robust and reliable power supply, thereby increasing the demand for high voltage high voltage power transformers. Moreover, governments in the Asia-Pacific are heavily investing in enhancing their national grid infrastructures to support economic growth and improve the quality of life for their growing populations. According to a recent BloombergNEF report, China accounted for nearly half of all global low-carbon spending. In 2022, the country invested USD 546 billion in solar and wind energy, as well as electric vehicles and batteries. India plans to invest USD 34.2 billion by 2030 in an interstate transmission network (ISTS) to evacuate renewable energy, according to K Sreekant, Chairman and Managing Director of government owned Powergrid Corporation of India (PGCIL). According to data from GlobalData, Energy Monitor's parent business, China invests more in transmission grids than any other country combined. In 2022, China invested USD 166 billion in its transmission infrastructure, while other countries contributed USD 118 billion. Investments in infrastructure updates are driven by the country's aging power infrastructure. All these investments will likely drive the high voltage high voltage High Voltage Power Transformer Market in the Asia Pacific region. This has led to a surge in demand for advanced high voltage high voltage power transformers that can handle the variable outputs of renewable energy sources such as wind and solar. Additionally, the region is characterized by a strong push towards rural electrification, especially in countries with significant rural populations. Programs aimed at extending the electrical grid to remote areas are crucial in increasing the penetration of electricity to underserved regions, further driving the demand for high voltage high voltage power transformers.

Key Market Players of High Voltage Power Transformer Industry:

Key players in the global High Voltage Power Transformer Market include Hitachi Energy (Japan), Siemens Energy (Germany), Schneider Electric (France), Toshiba Energy System & Solution Corporation (Japan), and General Electric (US).

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Related Reports:

Power Transformer Market by Power Rating (Small Power Transformer (Up To 60 MVA), Medium Power Transformer (61- 600 MVA), Large Power Transformer (Above 600 MVA)), Cooling Type (Oil-cooled, Air-cooled), Phase (Single, Three) - Global Forecast to 2029

Oil Immersed Power Transformer Market by Installation (Pad-Mounted, Pole-Mounted, Substation Installation), Voltage (Low, Medium, High), Phase, End User (Industrial, Residential & Commercial, Utilities) and Region - Global Forecast to 2028

Switchgear Market by Insulation (Gas-insulated, Air-insulated), Installation (Indoor, Outdoor), Current (AC, DC), Voltage (Low (up to 1 kV), Medium (2-36 kV), High (Above 36 kV), End User and Region - Global Forecast to 2028

DC Switchgear Market by Voltage (Up to 750 V, 750 V to 1,800 V, 1,800 V to 3,000 V, 3,000 V to 10 kV and Above 10 kV), Deployment Type (Fixed Mounting, Plug-In, and Withdrawable Units), Application, and Region - Global Forecast to 2026

Get access to the latest updates on High Voltage Power Transformer Companies and High Voltage Power Transformer Industry Growth

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NORTHBROOK, Ill., June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Hilco Global is proud to announce that Thomas Boniface, Senior Vice President of Hilco Commercial Industrial (HCI), has been honored as one of The Secured Finance Network's (SFNet) 2024 40 Under 40. This recognition celebrates the best and brightest young professionals in the secured finance industry.

The 40 Under 40 Awards Gala will take place on June 13, 2024, at the iconic Plaza Hotel in New York City, where honorees and industry leaders will gather for an evening of celebration, including cocktails, dining, and a festive recognition ceremony.

Thomas Boniface, Senior Vice President of Hilco Commercial Industrial

Mr. Boniface joined Hilco Global in 2015 and has since played a pivotal role in the company's growth and success. As Senior Vice President at Hilco Commercial Industrial, he leverages his strong financial acumen and deep industrial knowledge to originate new business across various segments, including going concern acquisitions, special situations lending, and asset monetization.

In addition to his business development efforts, Mr. Boniface has been instrumental in supporting Hilco's strategic growth initiatives. His innovative and metrics-based approach has enhanced the company's agility in sourcing investment opportunities, driving growth, and maximizing value for clients.

Before his current role, Mr. Boniface served as Vice President at Hilco Valuation Services, where he significantly expanded the Central US and Canadian markets. His tenure at Hilco has been marked by hundreds of successful transactions across diverse industries, advising a range of stakeholders on complex, multi-asset deals.

Thomas Boniface is also active in several industry organizations, including the Secured Finance Network, Turnaround Management Association, and the Association for Corporate Growth. He is committed to philanthropy through his involvement with Swim Across America and various Hilco Helps initiatives.

"We are thrilled to see Tom recognized for his outstanding contributions to the secured finance industry," said Steven Tanzi, CEO of Hilco Commercial Industrial. "His dedication, expertise, and leadership have been invaluable to our company and our clients."

About Hilco Global: Hilco Global (http://www.hilcoglobal.com/) is a privately held diversified financial services company and the world's preeminent authority on maximizing the value of assets for both healthy and distressed companies. Hilco Global financial services leverage a unique blend of deep restructuring, and principal investing. Hilco Global delivers customized solutions to undervalued, high potential companies to resolve complex and stressed situations and enhance long-term enterprise value.

Hilco Global operates as a holding company comprised of over twenty specialized business units that work to help companies understand the value of their assets and as needed monetize the value. Hilco Global has almost 4 decades of a successful track record of acting as an advisor, agent, investor and/or principal in any transaction. Currently, the company has $3 Billion in assets under management. Hilco Global works to deliver the best possible result by aligning interests with clients and providing them strategic insight, advice, and, in many instances, the capital required to complete the deal. Hilco Global is based in Northbrook, Illinois and has more than 800 professionals operating on five continents with US offices located in Boston, Detroit, Chicago, New York, Philadelphia, and internationally in Australia, Canada, UK, Germany, Netherlands, Mexico and throughout Asia.

SOURCE Hilco Global
Expanding customer value through Copperleaf's Advanced Decision Analytics Software for Asset-Intensive Industries and IFS's Leadership in Enterprise Asset Management

LONDON, June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- IFS, the leading technology innovator in cloud and Industrial AI software, today announces it has entered into a definitive agreement to buy Copperleaf Technologies Inc. (TSX: CPLF).

As the most advanced provider of AI-powered enterprise Asset Investment Planning and Management ("AIPM") software, Copperleaf offers compelling capabilities that add further depth to IFS's position as the foremost global Enterprise Application Software provider for Asset and Service centric industries.

The combination of Copperleaf and IFS is highly complementary, offering organizations an unparalleled breadth and depth of software capabilities. Customers will have access to advanced Industrial AI-powered software to manage every element of the assets that are so crucial to their business - across their lifecycle - in order to drive efficiency and effectiveness in their operations.

Over two trillion dollars of physical and digital assets around the world are managed using Copperleaf software, which provides data and insights to help customers optimize decisions on where and when to invest in their business. Its software is relied upon by some of the world's largest and most respected organizations in the electricity, natural gas, water, energy, pharmaceutical and transportation industries such as: ONE Gas; one of the largest publicly traded, 100 percent-regulated natural gas utilities in the United States, Manitoba Hydro; one of the largest integrated electricity and natural gas distribution utilities in Canada, and National Grid; one of the world's largest publicly listed utilities.

Mark Moffat, CEO of IFS, commented: "IFS continues to build on its position as the global software leader for Asset and Service management, powered by Industrial AI. I am deeply excited about what Copperleaf brings to our extended customer offering. We combine two companies built on the same principles: world class innovative technology with unrivalled time to value, asset and industry expertise delivering exceptional ROI, and organizational cultures that have always put the customer at the center of everything they do."

Paul Sakrzewski, CEO of Copperleaf, added "I am incredibly proud of the work Copperleaf has done to establish and create the business we have today. Our market-leading solution is now utilized by many of the largest and best run asset owners in the world. Our next phase of growth as part of IFS will enable us to accelerate even faster, and offer customers even greater capabilities, thanks to shared values and a commitment to delivering the most advanced and commercially impactful software asset-owners could need."

Darren Roos, Chair of IFS, added "the combination of Copperleaf and IFS creates compelling value for the complex, asset-intensive customers we serve as well as partners, investors and employees". Amos Michelson, outgoing Chair of Copperleaf, also added: "The acquisition is recognition of the investments, and many years of hard work, that have been put into making the business the success it is today. I am confident that the company's future as part of IFS will offer opportunity and growth for all."

Completion of the transaction is subject to customary conditions, including court approval, approval of the Copperleaf shareholders and regulatory approval under the Canadian Competition Act. Subject to the satisfaction of these and the other conditions to closing set out in the arrangement agreement, it is anticipated that the acquisition of Copperleaf will be completed in the third quarter of 2024. Further details about the transaction can be found in the financial press release.

Contact information

EUROPE / MEA / APJ: Adam Gillbe

IFS, Director of Corporate & Executive Communications

Email: [email protected]

Phone: +44 7775 114 856



NORTH AMERICA / LATAM: Mairi Morgan

IFS, Director of Corporate & Executive Communications

Email: [email protected]

Phone: +44 7918 607 299

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JERUSALEM, Israel, June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (The Fellowship) announced the launch of its Faces of Iron campaign to spotlight the devastating, but heroic stories of the Swords of Iron War. Housed on an interactive landing page, the campaign features stunning photography as well as written and video testimony of numerous Jewish men and women who have survived the war, in their own words.

Danny Gerkovich, firefighter and father of young woman and her husband who were killed and their home burned by Hamas terrorists on October 7, 2023. (Credit IFCJ/Avishag Shaar-Yashuv) Portrait of Shuki Yosef, survivor of October 7th, 2023 attacks. (Credit IFCJ/Avishag Shaar-Yashuv) International Fellowship of Christians and Jews' Faces of Iron Logo

"For more than 40 years, The Fellowship has been on the ground providing security and basic needs for the people of Israel. We have been hugely inspired by the holy people in this Holy Land, and the unbreakable spirit of Israel. But we've never seen the amazing levels of selflessness, courage, and unity that the Israeli people have demonstrated since October 7. They've put aside their individual needs for the good of all, coming together to stand with and protect the people and places of Israel, and save lives," said Yael Eckstein, President and CEO of The Fellowship. "Through this campaign, we want to share with the world that there are heroic acts happening every single day in Israel, that God's people are caring for one another, and that the people of Israel cherish and sanctify life. We want to recognize the heroes who may not be on the front page of magazines and newspapers, yet are more than worthy of that position. And we want to show how deeply they appreciate the Christian support for Israel from around the world, which is saving lives  in numerous ways  every single day."

Faces of Iron features extraordinary stories like Shuki's. He was on his way to synagogue at the time of the attacks, and saved eight lives by barricading a bomb shelter using a bicycle frame for nearly six hours. Turning to his faith in this time of greatest need, he whispered the Shema Yisrael (Hear, O Israel) prayer repeatedly, and never let go as terrorists opened fire on the shelter door in an attempt to breach it. Though his quiet, humble life in Kibbutz Ofakim was turned upside down that day, Shuki's incredible courage and quick thinking saved the lives of his neighbors.

Danny, who shares his heartbreaking and courageous story, is a firefighter whose daughter and son-in-law sheltered inside the saferoom of their home during the attacks, while Danny and his wife did the same in their home 50 yards away. Despite having fire equipment nearby, this loving father could do nothing as his daughter's house burned, and she and her husband lost their lives. Even as he was grieving the greatest loss imaginable to any parent, Danny's firefighter instincts took over upon emerging from the saferoom, and he began managing the evacuation of those who had survived. Today, the support of those standing with Israel gives him strength to focus on his new mission: helping rebuild his community of Kibbutz Kissufim.

"In war, you often lose the individual stories of heroism and selflessness, but it's these heroic and extraordinary storieslike Shuki's and Danny'sthat can teach the world so much about the biblical value of hesed  loving kindness  and what it means to be selfless, help others, and give life," Eckstein added.

Since October 7, The Fellowship has distributed more than $75 million in lifesaving humanitarian aid to support security and welfare needs for those impacted by the war and ongoing conflict.

"The Faces of Iron stories exemplify the values of our shared Judeo-Christian heritage  the values of courage, steadfastness, and respect for the sanctity of life. These are precisely the values our Christian donors demonstrate every day through their support of The Fellowship. The Christian community has always stood in solidarity with the Jewish people and Israel, and they are proud to support these heroes," said Robin Van Etten, Global Chief Operating Officer for The Fellowship.

The Faces of Iron campaign will run through October 2024 to mark the first anniversary of the October 7 attacks. Visit the campaign hub at www.ifcj.org/facesofiron to experience these inspiring stories, or learn more about The Fellowship's ongoing war response efforts here.

About the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews

For more than 40 years, the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (The Fellowship) has been the leading nonprofit building bridges between Christians and Jews, blessing Israel and the Jewish people around the world with humanitarian care and lifesaving aid. In 2023, The Fellowship helped more than 2 million people living in poverty, helped thousands make aliyah back to their homeland, Israel, and helped strengthen Israel's security infrastructure. To learn more about The Fellowship's work, visit www.ifcj.org.

About Yael Eckstein

As President and CEO of The Fellowship, Yael Eckstein oversees all programs and serves as the international spokesperson for the organization. With over a decade of nonprofit experience in multiple roles, Yael has the rare distinction of being a woman leading one of the world's largest religious charitable organizations. In 2021, she launched her podcast, Nourish Your Biblical Roots, in which she shares spiritual insights and lessons from the Torah, and invites leading Christian and Jewish thought leaders to discuss Jewish-Christian relations and Israel's significance on the world stage. She is the 2023 recipient of the Jerusalem Post's Humanitarian Award, and in 2020, 2021 and 2023, was named to the publication's list of 50 Most Influential Jews. Born and raised outside of Chicago, Yael is based in Israel with her husband and their four children.

Media Contact: [email protected]

SOURCE International Fellowship of Christians and Jews
SEOUL, South Korea, June 10, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Hugel Inc, a global total medical aesthetics company, announced that the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) for its U.S. International Trade Commission(ITC) investigation issued an initial determination on June 10th (local time) finding that "there is no violation of Section 337" based on Medytox's allegation of unfair practices concerning the importation of certain botulinum neurotoxin(BTX) products into the United States (Inv. No. 337-TA-1313).

The ITC Administrative Law Judge(ALJ) found the evidence did not support Medytox's claim of strain theft and conversion. The final determination is scheduled to be issued in October.

History of the case: In March 2022, Medytox filed a complaint with the ITC requesting an investigation against Hugel and Hugel America, Inc, and Croma-Pharma GmbH. After Medytox verified the evidence submitted by Hugel through the discovery phase, Medytox withdrew the claim for misappropriation of trade secrets regarding the botulinum strain in September and October of 2023 and then withdrew the claims on trade secrets misappropriation of manufacturing processes for botulinum toxin in January 2024.

A Hugel official stated, "Hugel will continue to vigorously defend itself in the ITC investigation until the final determination."

SOURCE Hugel
Opsomer's leadership will further strengthen the practice of statistics and data science at

Westat to bring equitable and representative data to clients.

ROCKVILLE, Md., June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Westat announces Jean Opsomer, PhD, as the new Director of Statistics and Data Science, effective June 1, 2024. Dr. Opsomer is well known and highly respected in the field of survey statistics, a critical area of expertise for Westat. As the author or coauthor of more than 90 peer-reviewed articles, he has introduced several influential statistical methodologies to survey statistics, including calibration and variance estimation methods. More recently, he has been working on innovative statistical modeling applications with researchers throughout Westat.

Photo of Jean Opsomer, PhD, Westat Director of Statistics and Data Science

Altogether, Dr. Opsomer brings three decades of experience applying statistical methods to answer research questions in a wide variety of health and human services studies. He joined Westat in 2018 as Vice President, and earlier, served as faculty and chair of the Statistics Department at Colorado State University.

Dr. Opsomer is a Fellow of the American Statistical Association and of the Institute of Mathematical Statistics and an elected member of the International Statistical Institute. He also serves as an adjunct professor in the Department of Mathematics at the University of Maryland, College Park.

"We are excited to have our respected colleague, Jean Opsomer, in the critical role of director of Statistics and Data Science at Westat and are confident that he will bring expertise and energy to the challenge of producing reliable and representative data to solve society's challenges," says Jeri Mulrow, MS, Vice President and Westat's Data Solutions Sector Lead.

About Westat (www.westat.com)

Westat is a leader in research, data collection and analysis, technical assistance, evaluation, and communications. Our evidence-based findings help clients in government and the private sector accelerate advancements in health, education, transportation, and social and economic policy. Since 1963, our dedication to improving lives through research and our approach to projects grounded in investigative curiosity, equity, statistical and data rigor, adaptive methods, and advanced technology are why clients find exceptional value in our work.

SOURCE Westat
She Joins Philanthropic Services Team to Grow Endowed Charitable Funds for Broward

Link to High Resolution Photo of Jessica Vones, Courtesy Community Foundation of Broward

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Jessica Vones has been named Director of Philanthropic Services at the Community Foundation of Broward. Her focus is on creating and expanding charitable funds and endowments at the Community Foundation by building partnerships with individuals, families and organizations. She works closely with Kelly Marmol, Vice President of Philanthropic Services at the Community Foundation.

Vones also works with professional advisors, including financial advisors, accountants and attorneys, as they craft philanthropy plans to achieve their clients' charitable goals. She also supports members of the Legacy Society of the Community Foundation of Broward. They are individuals who have designated the Community Foundation as the recipient of a portion of their estates.

Vones brings more than a decade of experience in nonprofit development to her new role. She was with Children's Diagnostic & Treatment Center, Fort Lauderdale, for more than eight years, including more than six years as its Director of Development. Most recently, she was Director of Major Gifts for Broward Health Foundation. She began her career as Community Relations Coordinator for the Miami Dolphins and Hard Rock Stadium.

Vones is a graduate of the University of Florida, where she earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Parks, Recreation and Tourism, with a concentration in Event Management and a minor in Business Administration. She is a native of Broward County and attended Western High School.

"I look forward to connecting with all of our wonderful fundholders," said Vones. "As a Mom of two young kids, I'm especially grateful to everyone who contributes and gives back for the next generation to enjoy Broward County."

"We are extremely pleased with the contributions Jessica Vones is already making to shape the philanthropic future of Broward County," said Kelly Marmol, Vice President of Philanthropic Services. "We look forward to working with her on behalf of fundholders and Legacy Society members at the Community Foundation of Broward."

For more information about the Community Foundation of Broward, please email Kirk Englehardt, Vice President of Marketing and Communications at the Community Foundation ([email protected]) or call 954-761-9503, ext. 103. Contact Kelly Marmol at [email protected] or 954-761-9503, ext. 155.

About the Community Foundation of Broward:

Founded in 1984, the Community Foundation of Broward partners with families, individuals and organizations to create personalized charitable funds that deliver game-changing philanthropic impact. 532 charitable funds represent more than $287 million in assets, distributing more than $190 million in grants over the past 40 years. The Community Foundation transforms our community through focused leadership that fosters collaboration, builds endowment, advances equity and connects people who care to causes that matter. The Foundation empowers visionaries, innovators and doers to create the change they want to see in the community  and to BE BOLD. www.cfbroward.org

Media Contact:

Kirk Englehardt

Vice President of Marketing and Communications

Community Foundation of Broward

[email protected]

(M) 786-562-4282 (O) 954-761-9503 x105

SOURCE Community Foundation of Broward
Two new board members bring decades of expertise to expand the impact of Native Forward Scholars Fund.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Native Forward Scholars Fund, the largest direct provider of scholarships to Native students, announced today the appointment of two new members to its Board of Directors. The addition of these two trailblazers, both of whom have made significant contributions across Indian Country, reaffirms Native Forward's commitment to ensuring equity in higher education for Native students and their communities. Both board members have a history of advancing Native visibility throughout their professional careers:

Linda Benally (Dine Nation), Corporate Attorney at Pinnacle West Capital Corporation and member of the American Bar Association Representatives and Observers to the United Nations

(Dine Nation), Corporate Attorney at Pinnacle West Capital Corporation and member of the American Bar Association Representatives and Observers to the United Nations Victoria Adams (Oglala Lakota), Vice President of Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) Administration for Global Impact

Benally and Adams join the 10 existing Board of Directors in their mission to improve higher education outcomes for Native students.

"It is a privilege to welcome Linda and Victoria to our board," said Angelique Albert (Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes), CEO of Native Forward Scholars Fund. "A core pillar of our work is to continue supporting scholars during and beyond their higher education journeys, and these women have carried this shared value throughout their careers. Their expertise and experiences will be essential as we continue to maximize our impact as an organization."

"I am incredibly honored to join esteemed Indian Country leaders on the Native Forward Board and am grateful for the opportunity to use my experience to support the continued growth of such a meaningful organization," said Linda Benally. "As a Dine' Nation citizen, I look forward to working to empower students and prepare the new generation of Native leaders."

"I am honored to join the Board of Native Forward Scholars Fund and support their mission of advancing educational equity for all Native students," said Victoria Adams. "I look forward to engaging with my fellow Board members and Native Forward staff on strengthening our commitments to Native scholars and expanding our organizational impact."

Native Forward Scholars Fund has delivered more funding in direct scholarship dollars and support services to American Indian and Alaska Native students in the U.S. than any other scholarship provider. The Albuquerque-based nonprofit is committed to ensuring that every Native student who wants to pursue higher education has the resources to do so. Over 53 years, it has empowered over 22,000 scholars from more than 500 Tribes in all 50 states and contributed to over 1,700 law degrees and more than 2,200 PhD degrees. Through scholarship funding and holistic support, Native Forward has increased the graduation rates of undergraduate students to 69%, compared to the national average of 41% for Native students, and has boosted the rate for graduate students to 95%. The organization's alumni are among the most influential Native leaders in the U.S., including Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, Pulitzer Prize finalist Tommy Orange, and Dr. Cynthia Chavez Lamar, Director of the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian.

Contact: Jacqueline Lee Rivera

(817) 917-5741

[email protected]

SOURCE Native Forward Scholars Fund
Investors include McLaren Healthcare Corporation, Cone Health, Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, Macmillan Cancer Support and Aviko Radiopharmaceuticals, a private company funded by affiliates of Deerfield Management

MIDDLETON, Wis., June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Leo Cancer Care is delighted to announce that it has secured funding to advance the company to the next stage of its global ambitions for upright radiation therapy.

This investment highlights increasing confidence investors have in the team and the product, which is offering a "more human" way to administer radiation therapy to patients with a range of cancers.

The unique upright patient positioning and CT imaging system, named Marie after Nobel laureate and radioactivity research pioneer Marie Curie, utilizes a fixed radiation beam with patients rotated slowly and smoothly to different beam angles as treatment is administered.

The solution allows patients to remain in an upright position during treatment. Growing evidence indicates that this position reduces internal organ movement in patients receiving upright therapy. This simple shift not only enhances patient comfort but also has the potential to improve treatment accuracy.

Marie removes the need for a gantry while still providing 360 degrees of beam angles. This gantry-less approach enables a significant reduction in spatial footprint and cost, particularly for proton therapy and carbon ion therapy.

Investment will aid expansion into Asia

Stephen Towe, CEO of Leo Cancer Care, said: "This funding marks an important milestone, as it will enable the growth of our business and allow us to build the necessary infrastructure to support our system once it is installed at various sites. The investment will also help us to build a global footprint."

The funds will enable Leo Cancer Care to expand into the Asian markets, particularly in Singapore, Japan, and South Korea, where the company has begun building teams and establishing a commercial presence.

"This funding will help put Leo Cancer Care and our systems for upright radiation therapy firmly on the global stage," he added.

Strategic Investors committed to advancing healthcare

The latest investment from both strategic investors and VCs (venture capitals) reflects the confidence in the innovative Leo Cancer Care system and welcomes a list of partners aligned with the company's goals.

The first is a Leo Cancer Care partner, McLaren Health Care Corporation. McLaren's decision to invest comes after the installation of the first of two Marie solutions for testing purposes in Flint, Michigan.

McClaren Health Care Corporation's investment in Leo Cancer Care has been augmented with McLaren's Chief Administrative Officer, Gregory Lane, taking a seat on the Leo Cancer Care Board of Directors.

Another healthcare provider investing in Leo Cancer Care is Cone Health, a comprehensive health network with over 150 locations across the U.S. dedicated to providing accessible care. Their brand promise, "We're right here with you," which emphasizes personalized care, aligns with Leo Cancer Care's goal to deliver radiation therapy in a more human way.

An investor close to home is WARF (Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation), which is connected closely with UW Health based in Madison, Wisconsin, another early adopter of the technology and based in the same city where Leo Cancer Care has its office in the United States.

The UK's leading cancer care charity Macmillan Cancer Support has joined the list of investors. Macmillan created an impact investment portfolio in 2023, dedicated to supporting startups that are aligned with the Charity's goals. This new partnership will help Leo Cancer Care to keep those living with cancer at the heart of their mission to be the more human way to deliver radiation therapy.

Aviko Radiopharmaceuticals, a private biotechnology company funded by affiliates of Deerfield Management, also joins investors in this financing. In 2023, Aviko joined Leo Cancer Care and Neutron Therapeutics in a multi-year partnership to advance upright patient positioning for boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT).

EDBI, the strategic investment arm of the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), another supporter of Leo Cancer Care's global expansion plan, has joined the round. Leo Cancer Care plans to establish Singapore as a base for its APAC activity and growth in the coming years.

Towe added: "Financing the business is the 'fuel' to keep it going but it is the partnerships we have created along the way that will drive us over the finish line, taking this innovation to those who need it most."

Please note: Leo Cancer Care's upright patient positioning system recently gained 510(k) regulatory clearance in the United States for clinical use, with a similar process underway in Europe. Marie, including our upright CT scanner, is not yet clinically available.

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2391246/4657890/Leo_Cancer_Care_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Leo Cancer Care
SUFFOLK COUNTY, N.Y., June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce (LIAACC) announces a partnership with Trellus Same-Day Local Delivery & Marketplace to distribute $125,000 in JumpSMART grant funding to minority-owned small businesses in Suffolk County. Known as the LIAACC Delivery Grant, the program aims to address unique challenges faced by minority-owned businesses competing against e-commerce giants, providing business owners with reliable, local delivery services.

Minority small business owners can apply for the grant at www.bytrellus.com/jumpsmart Post this The Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce partners with Trellus to launch the LIAACC Delivery Grant.

The LIAACC Delivery Grant aligns with the purpose of the JumpSMART Small Business Downtown Investment Program, made possible through funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). Announced by Suffolk County in September 2023, JumpSMART aims to support the growth of small businesses and the strength and vibrancy of Main Streets through strategic investments. The LIAACC submitted a grant proposal outlining a delivery program to help small business owners reach more local customers, identifying Trellus as a solution provider that could enhance their members' ability to compete and bolster revenue.

After review, Suffolk County approved the distribution of $125,000 in ARPA funds to LIAACC. In the coming months, Trellus will work closely with the LIAACC to distribute the grant funding to eligible members, providing up to $2,500 delivery grants to each recipient. Up to 40 Suffolk County small businesses will receive funding.

"Through our partnership with Trellus, we are investing in the heart and soul of our local economies, ensuring that minority-owned small businesses not only survive but thrive in today's competitive marketplace," said Phil Andrews, LIAACC President. "The LIAACC Delivery Grant not only addresses the immediate challenges posed by the digital divide and the economic impact of the pandemic, but also reinforces our commitment to fostering sustainable growth and resilience within our communities."

Beyond offsetting delivery costs, the LIAACC's proposal called for robust marketing support for small businesses, with the goal of creating awareness around new or expanded delivery services. Trellus will provide marketing assets and paid digital advertising to build consumer awareness, as well as onboarding and ongoing technical support for business owners.

LIAACC's decision to partner with Trellus is in direct response to the disproportionate challenges faced by businesses owned by people of color. Comprehensive research by the Rauch Foundation and HR&A Advisors found that even before the COVID-19 pandemic, minority-owned small businesses faced greater hurdles, from difficulties adopting technology to accessing capital. The economic impacts of COVID further deepened these challenges, leading to increased closures and reduced consumer spending in lower-income communities.

Minority small business owners based in Suffolk County, who are also members of the LIAACC, can apply for the grant at www.bytrellus.com/jumpsmart . Trellus has established a secure online application and questionnaire to confirm eligibility.

"We believe in the transformative power of local businesses, especially those owned by people of color. This initiative is a critical step towards fostering economic resilience and growth in our communities," said Adam Haber, Trellus Co-founder and CEO. "By providing technology and marketing support for local delivery services, we are not just offering a lifeline to businesses; we are investing in the vibrancy and sustainability of our local economies."

About the Long Island African American Chamber

The mission of LIAACC is to advance and promote the economic development for business and to advocate responsive government and quality education, on behalf of all small businesses, with an emphasis on African Ancestry, while preserving the unique characteristics of the Nassau, Suffolk, Queens and Brooklyn Counties that serve its membership. For more information, visit www.liaacc.org .

About Trellus Inc.

Based on Long Island, Trellus Same-Day Local Delivery & Marketplace has been at the forefront of empowering small businesses with reliable and affordable delivery services and e-commerce tools. Trellus supports local economies by keeping jobs, sales, and services within communities. Learn more at www.bytrellus.com or call 1.833.LocalLi (562-2554).

Contact

Sam Negraval

Communications Manager

833.562.2554

[email protected]

SOURCE Trellus
North America's Original Blow Dry Bar Franchise Debuts in Boca Raton, Offers Founders Rate for Mane Squeeze Membership

BOCA RATON, Fla., June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Blo Blow Dry Bar, North America's original blow dry bar and blow dry bar franchise, will open its newest bar on Friday, June 21 in Boca Raton. Located 3013 W Yamato Rd. Suite B-4, the new bar will offer guests five signature styles on its hair menu, a la carte options, a variety of hair treatments, plus five signature makeup looks and a brand-new section of customized looks to provide endless inspiration. Also, for a limited time, the new bar will offer a founder's rate for its signature Mane Squeeze Membership that includes two blowouts a month for $75, $5 off each additional blow out and 10% off retail.

The new bar is owned and operated by local and 22-year-old entrepreneur, Lyndsi Levitt. With the opening of her first Blo Blow Dry Bar, Levitt is already planning to expand, aiming for six more locations in the Boca area. Having previously honed her skills while working at a salon, Levitt's passion for the beauty industry drove her to complete beauty school and earn her cosmetology license. Now, she eagerly embraces the opportunity to run her own establishment and looks forward to expanding her business further.

"I'm thrilled to bring my experience from beauty school and working in a salon to my Blo Blow Dry Bar to create personalized experiences and unforgettable beauty moments for all Boca Raton residents and visitors," shared Levitt. "Owning my own business at such a young age has been a dream since I started in the industry, and I'm excited to open our doors and officially make it a reality."

To celebrate the opening, Blo Blow Dry Bar guests will be able to purchase a single discounted blowout for $34, this offer runs from June 21 to July 21.

Blo Blow Dry Bar is on a mission to create a space where people of all ages, ethnicities, and orientations are welcomed, represented, and made to feel gorgeous while emphasizing the need for self-care and wellness. Combining a sophisticated design with a fun and energetic environment, Blo cultivates a seamless and enjoyable experience for guests upon their arrival, during, and after their services. Expertly trained blo-ers are available for consultation seven days a week to meet the needs of all guests. The brand's hair menu includes five signature styles from sleek and straight to bouncy curls, plus a wide assortment of customized looks including updo's and braids. Blo Blow Dry Bar also offers makeup services from expert artists on hand to help guests look and feel amazing for any occasion.

Blo Blow Dry Bar is open Monday - Saturday 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. For more information on Blo Blow Dry Bar in Boca Raton, please visit https://blomedry.com/blo-boca/ or call 561-367-3919.

About Blo Blow Dry Bar

Blo Blow Dry Bar is North America's original blow dry bar and the world's largest blow dry bar franchise. The company transformed beauty norms and reinvented the salon industry when it launched the "no cuts, no color" concept: only blow outs. Since opening its first location in Canada in 2007, Blo has grown to over 150 locations across the U.S. and Canada and continues to expand rapidly. The brand has also evolved over time, adding makeup services, a membership program, and quality retail products to its bars. With a mission to enhance the lives of those in the community through the power of flawless blow outs and beauty services, Blo Blow Dry Bar offers perfectly styled hair and exceptional customer experiences seven days a week. For more information visit www.blomedry.com.

Media Contact: Kira Obolsky, Fishman Public Relations, (847) 945-1300 or [email protected]

SOURCE Blo Blow Dry Bar and LashKind
TSX/NYSE/PSE: MFC SEHK: 945

TORONTO, June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - Manulife Financial Corporation ("Manulife") announced today that it has priced an offering in Singapore of S$500 million principal amount of 4.275% subordinated notes due June 19, 2034 (the "Notes"). The offering will be made pursuant to an offering circular dated June 11, 2024 and will qualify as Tier 2 capital for Manulife.

The Notes will bear interest at a fixed rate of 4.275% until June 19, 2029 and thereafter at a rate of 1.201% over the then-prevailing five-year SORA OIS rate. The Notes mature on June 19, 2034.

Manulife may, with the prior approval of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (Canada), redeem the Notes in whole, but not in part, on June 19, 2029 and on any interest payment date thereafter at a redemption price equal to par, together with accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the date fixed for redemption. The Notes will constitute subordinated indebtedness, ranking equally and rateably with all other subordinated indebtedness of Manulife from time to time issued and outstanding (other than subordinated indebtedness which has been further subordinated in accordance with its terms).

Approval in-principle has been received from the Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited (the "SGX-ST") for the listing and quotation of the Notes on the Official List of the SGX-ST. The SGX-ST takes no responsibility for the correctness of any of the statements made or opinions expressed or reports contained in this press release. Admission of the Notes to the Official List of the SGX-ST and quotation of the Notes on the SGX-ST are not to be taken as an indication of the merits of Manulife and its subsidiaries or the merits of the Notes.

DBS Bank Ltd. and Standard Chartered Bank (Singapore) Limited, have been appointed as joint lead managers and bookrunners for the offering. Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited and The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited, Singapore Branch have been appointed as co-managers for the offering.

The offering is expected to close on June 19, 2024.

The Notes have not been and will not be registered in the United States under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), or the securities laws of any state of the United States or other jurisdiction and may not be offered or sold within the United States, or to, or for the account or benefit of, "U.S. persons" (as defined in Regulation S under the Securities Act) except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state or local securities law. The offering will be made solely to non-U.S. persons in offshore transactions pursuant to Regulation S under the Securities Act. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy securities in the United States or any other jurisdiction where it is unlawful to do so.

The Notes will not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, in Canada or to any resident of Canada.

About Manulife

Manulife Financial Corporation is a leading international financial services provider, helping people make their decisions easier and lives better. With our global headquarters in Toronto, Canada, we provide financial advice and insurance, operating as Manulife across Canada, Asia, and Europe, and primarily as John Hancock in the United States. Through Manulife Investment Management, the global brand for our Global Wealth and Asset Management segment, we serve individuals, institutions, and retirement plan members worldwide. At the end of 2023, we had more than 38,000 employees, over 98,000 agents, and thousands of distribution partners, serving over 35 million customers. We trade as 'MFC' on the Toronto, New York, and the Philippine stock exchanges, and under '945' in Hong Kong.

Not all offerings are available in all jurisdictions. For additional information, please visit manulife.com.

SOURCE Manulife Financial Corporation
Beijing (Gasgoo)- On June 5, Chinese automaker Changan Automobile, in collaboration with the Thailand Board of Investment (BOI), successfully hosted a "Sourcing Day" event in Bangkok, attracting over 300 Thai suppliers.

Photo credit: Changan Automobile

At the event, Changan Automobile signed letters of intent with more than 70 suppliers, with over 80% being majority-owned by Thai entities. This event underscores the strength and potential of Thailand's local supply chain.

This event demonstrates Changan's commitment to localizing its development in the Thai market. The establishment of manufacturing bases is a key aspect of Changan Auto's global strategy, and integrating the supply chain is crucial for rooting the company in Thailand, fostering development, and serving customers.

Photo credit: Changan Automobile

Since entering the Thai market in November last year, Changan Automobile has made steady progress in product deployment, base construction, and team building. The company has earned widespread recognition and continuous attention for its outstanding product quality and service. Notably, the DEEPAL S07 topped the sales charts for new energy vehicles in Thailand in April, said the company. The construction of the Rayong factory is progressing smoothly, with operations expected to commence in the first quarter of 2025, with an initial production capacity of 100,000 vehicles, expanding to 200,000 vehicles later. By 2024, the company plans to employ over 600 local staff, achieve a localization rate of over 80%, and reach 90% by 2026.

Guided by the "Vast Ocean" plan, Changan Thailand aims to deepen its localization strategy by introducing at least 15 new models by 2030.
Success in a wide range of roles at top providers makes her a great fit to provide oversight and leadership for MBH's growing slate of treatment programs.

WICKENBURG, Ariz., June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Meadows Behavioral Healthcare is excited to announce Jaime Vinck, MC, LPC, has been named President. She will oversee and support all operations for the behavioral healthcare leader. This seasoned professional brings 20+ years of clinical and leadership experience gained from top roles at some of the best behavioral health providers in the country.

Jaime Vinck, MC, LPC Meadows Behavioral Healthcare (MBH) is a network of specialized behavioral healthcare programs, individualized addiction recovery centers, and acute psychiatric care centers located throughout the United States. An industry leader, MBH provides evidence-based treatment for people struggling with trauma, drug and alcohol addiction, sex addiction, eating disorders, mental health issues, and co-occurring conditions. For more information, visit MeadowsBH.com. (PRNewsfoto/Meadows Behavioral Healthcare)

A leader in the behavioral health space for more than 45 years, MBH has a reputation for providing comprehensive treatment for trauma, substance use disorders, mental health issues, eating disorders, sex addiction, and more. In the past 18 months, MBH has increased its patient capacity by nearly 50%, adding new programs  including an acute program and an adolescent treatment center  and expanding existing programs. The company's in-person and virtual outpatient options have also seen tremendous growth. Vinck's leadership will help ensure MBH's clinical excellence continues to keep pace as the company offers help to more people than ever before.

Vinck comes to MBH after serving as CEO of CPF Recovery Ways, where she provided leadership for the company's operations in Utah, Washington, Idaho, Nevada, and Texas. She was also previously part of Acadia Healthcare, serving as CEO of The Sierra Tucson Group and Chief Clinical Officer/Chief Operations Officer, demonstrating her strength in clinical leadership, program development, and treatment operations. An industry advocate, Vinck serves as Vice Chair of the Board of Directors of the National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers (NAATP).

"Having the opportunity to be a part of MBH and to work alongside this talented team is an honor and privilege," Vinck said of the new role, adding, "For two decades, I have been committed to providing high-quality, measurement-based, SUD and mental health treatment in Arizona and across the country. Meadows Behavioral Healthcare has always been the industry leader in quality and innovation, setting the bar for all of us."

Recognized as a mentor to women in leadership positions within the industry, Vinck has been honored at the Licensed Professional Champion Women of Influence Awards sponsored by Inside Tucson Business, and in 2019 she was named one of Arizona's Most Influential Women by AZ Business Magazine. She's also regularly named one of the top leaders in Arizona in both healthcare and behavioral health.

"Mental health and substance use issues continue to rise at an alarming rate in this country," says Sean Walsh, CEO of Meadows Behavioral Healthcare. "We have expanded to help meet that growing need, giving us the opportunity to change more lives than ever before. Having someone like Jaime in this key role is pivotal to our success. Her vast experience is just what we need to lead our clinical programs through this new season."

About Meadows Behavioral Healthcare

Meadows Behavioral Healthcare (MBH) is a network of specialized behavioral healthcare programs, individualized addiction recovery centers, and acute psychiatric care centers located throughout the United States. An industry leader, MBH provides evidence-based treatment for people struggling with emotional trauma, drug and alcohol addiction, sex addiction, eating disorders, psychiatric disorders, and co-occurring conditions. Their full continuum of programs and services deliver personalized treatment plans to people from all walks of life, meeting them at their point of need to help achieve long-term recovery. This treatment approach, which features "The Meadows Model" and is rooted in decades of clinical experience, has established a strong foundation of trust among patients, referring healthcare partners and the local communities served. For more information on all of Meadows Behavioral Healthcare's treatment services, from inpatient to outpatient and virtual levels of care, visit TheMeadows.com or call 800-244-4949.

For more information, contact [email protected].

SOURCE Meadows Behavioral Healthcare
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- OZ Digital Consulting, Florida's premier Microsoft solutions partner, announces Pablo Piovano as its Director of Artificial Intelligence.

In 2022, Piovano earned the title of Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP) in the AI category, giving him early access to Microsoft products, a direct line of communication with their product teams, and enables him to serve as an ambassador at Microsoft-related events. Pablo Piovano's addition to the OZ technical leadership team further strengthens the company's ability to harness the power of AI in client projects.

Amjad Shamim, CEO of OZ Digital Consulting, shared, "I am excited to announce Pablo as our company's Director of AI. His expertise in artificial intelligence technologies will elevate our clients' abilities to unlock new growth opportunities and foster greater innovation." Shamim continued, "I am fully confident in Pablo's commitment to delivering advanced, responsible, and impactful AI solutions."

Pablo Piovano is a computer engineer with more than 15 years of experience in web and mobile application software development, primarily using .NET, Azure, and Microsoft technologies. Piovano shares his expertise by writing publications and participating in webinars on AI, Generative AI, Azure AI Services, and Power Platform.

In his new role, Piovano leads the strategic development and implementation of artificial intelligence solutions in OZ's operations and client offerings. Piovano is responsible for initiatives that allow OZ clients to utilize AI in their organizations immediately, such as improving customer experience and operational workflows.

"It is a pleasure to drive the AI service offering for OZ Digital Consulting," says Piovano. "Witnessing the recent upward trend of AI and the expectations placed on companies to adapt has been quite a long time coming. There's nothing more rewarding than implementing new technology for a client and seeing the impact on their business. I am thankful for the chance to be a part of this global organization."

About OZ Digital Consulting

OZ is Florida's premier boutique Microsoft Partner trusted by over 370 organizations to help accelerate their business with proven Microsoft solutions. With more than 25 years of experience, OZ's deep expertise in Azure Cloud Solutions, Power Apps Application Development, Intelligent Automation, Enterprise Application Integration, Azure Data Strategy and Artificial Intelligence ensure clients get rapid, effective results by being more agile than many traditional consulting firms.

To learn more about the OZ partnership with Microsoft, click here.

SOURCE OZ
NEW YORK, June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Microsol Resources Corporation, a recognized leader in building information modeling (BIM) technology solutions and a leading Autodesk Gold Partner serving the architectural, engineering, and construction (AEC) industries, is pleased to announce the addition of Egnyte to its growing association of technology partners.

Business Risks of Uncontrolled Data Growth and How Egnyte Helps Post this As a leader in BIM technology solutions and an Autodesk Gold Partner, Microsol Resources is always looking for ways to better serve the AEC industries. Partnering with Egnyte allows us to bring advanced cloud-based collaboration, security, and data governance solutions to our clients.

Egnyte transforms where and how companies work with their content. Combining many different software categories into one unified platform gives IT the visibility and control they require while also empowering knowledge workers with the intelligence, automation, and flexibility they crave.

The new partnership draws on the distinct strengths of each company

Microsol Resources' ability to help our clients address customers' content collaboration, security, and compliance requirements all at once, and Egnyte's ability to enable AEC firms to improve file access, security, and management to save time and boost productivity.

"We're excited to partner with Egnyte, a top provider of cloud-based collaboration and data governance solutions," said Emilio Krausz, President of Microsol Resources. "Egnyte's platform streamlines document management enhances collaboration, and ensures data security for our AEC clients. By integrating Egnyte into our portfolio, we offer a comprehensive solution tailored to industry needs, driving productivity and success."

"Partnering with Microsol Resources presents a great opportunity to enable seamless integration of Egnyte's advanced solutions into the workflows of architects, engineers, and construction firms. This partnership reflects our commitment to enhancing collaboration, security, and data governance capabilities with a modern cloud-based all-in-one solution for their clients across all AEC sectors," said Kevin Soohoo, senior director of Architecture, Engineering, and Construction at Egnyte.

This latest partnership reinforces Microsol Resources' dedication to matching business needs with products and support. This is one of many reasons the company has received numerous recent accolades and exceptional customer satisfaction rankings.

To start this new partnership, Microsol Resources is hosting an online event called, Business Risks of Uncontrolled Data Growth and How Egnyte Helps, on June 27, 2024 at 12 pm ET. To register for this event, click here.

For more information about our new partnership with Egnyte or to help you manage, secure, and govern your cloud content, reach out to Anna Liza Montenegro at [email protected] .

SOURCE Microsol Resources Corp.
Tim Kretzschmar assumes a strategic role overseeing the operations of six diverse entities.

DENVER, June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Swinerton Incorporated (Swinerton) is pleased to announce Tim Kretzschmar's promotion to Executive Vice President (EVP) and Chief Operating Officer (COO) of its subsidiary companies, which include Timberlab, Swinerton Energy and Lindgren Development. He will also oversee Swinerton Management & Consulting (SMC) and Griffin Swinerton. Announced in January 2024, Ray Haj will continue as EVP and COO of Swinerton Builders.

"This move marks another milestone toward achieving our long-term goals known as the March to 2030," states Swinerton Chief Executive Officer David Callis. "Tim will support the entire Swinerton Family of Companies in our efforts to diversify our product line and exercise greater control over every aspect of project deliveryincluding the supply chainto withstand market fluctuations and maximize value on each of our projects."

Kretzschmar brings 30 years of trusted construction expertise to his new role, focusing on the integration, efficiency, and growth of the Swinerton Family of Companies. With each subsidiary poised for continued success, Kretzschmar will ensure teams have the necessary processes and support to manage their business and capitalize on new opportunities.

Since joining Swinerton Builders in 2014 as Operations Manager, Kretzschmar has demonstrated strong leadership, technical expertise, and keen attention to client satisfaction. Most recently, he led Swinerton Builder's Denver, Dallas, and Austin offices as Region Manager.

With his promotion to Executive Vice President, Kretzschmar will join the Executive Committee alongside Chief Executive Officer David Callis; EVP and COO of Swinerton Builders Ray Haj; EVP and Chief Revenue Officer Don Adair; EVP and Chief Administrative Officer Lauren Nunnally; EVP and National Director of Self-Perform Services Scott Conrad, and EVP and Chief Financial Officer Brad Peterson.

About Swinerton

Swinerton Incorporated, established in 1888 and 100% employee-owned, includes Swinerton Builders, Swinerton Energy, Timberlab, SAK Builders, MD Builders, and Lindgren Development Inc. Swinerton Builders offers commercial construction, management, design-build, and self-perform services across the U.S. Swinerton Energy specializes in engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) for industrial projects. Timberlab provides mass timber systems with in-house EPC, manufacturing, fabrication, and installation services. SAK Builders offers Division 3 concrete services along the West Coast. MD Builders delivers preconstruction, general contracting, and subcontracting in Northern California. Lindgren Development handles project development, financing, and ownership. For more information, visit: https://swinerton.com/.

SOURCE Swinerton
The Ironclad-commissioned study, which surveyed lawyers from both in-house and law firm settings, also found that corporate legal departments are adopting AI and seeing results at a greater pace than law firms

SAN FRANCISCO, June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Ironclad , the leading digital contracting platform for modern businesses, today announced the inaugural release of the State of AI in Legal Report : a double opt-in survey commissioned by Ironclad and carried out by the independent research firm OnePoll . The report, which surveyed 800 American attorneys and legal operations professionalsevenly split between law firms and in-house roles, explores adoption rates, sentiment, and top use cases for artificial intelligence in the legal field.

Click here to download the full 2024 State of AI in Legal Report.

The report includes five chapters addressing topics like trust and adoption, use cases, risks and roadblocks, top areas of concern, and AI's role in addressing job satisfaction. A few key findings for the report were:

Lawyers are generally trusting of AI and actively using it, citing improvement in quality of work

71% of legal professionals responded that they were trusting of AI, with 74% of respondents saying they use AI for legal work.

92% of those who use AI for legal work say it's improved the quality of their work.

Of them, 90% expect to use AI tools more frequently in 2024 than they did in 2023.

In-house legal teams are further along when it comes to AI, while law firms are more apprehensive

96% of in-house teams' companies allow the use of AI tools, compared to 74% at law firms.

87% of in-house lawyers actively use AI tools for legal work, compared to 60% at law firms.

31% of respondents were concerned that AI could completely or partially take over their jobs - but law firms were five times more likely to ban AI usage than corporations.

In-house teams are more likely to invest in AI than law firms (84% vs. 58%).

Could AI help address the legal burnout problem?

While 19% of respondents said they never feel dissatisfied with their job, over 80% of respondents shared some level of dissatisfaction at work.

59% of attorneys working in private law firms never or rarely feel dissatisfied, and 13% always or often dissatisfied. Meanwhile, 81% of those working in-house said they were rarely or never dissatisfied and 5% were always or often dissatisfied.

'Task overload' is a driving factor for dissatisfaction in the legal industry. 49% of dissatisfied respondents said meeting stressful deadlines is the cause, with 44% identifying having too many tasks to complete in a day as the culprit.

57% of lawyers who feel at least some work dissatisfaction said using AI could help alleviate it, with 49% of AI users stating it saves time during their workday and 41% stating AI helps offload mundane tasks.

Most lawyers are optimistic about AIand believe regulation will help

79% are excited to see what potential AI has for legal.

83% would be more open to using AI tools at their workplace if there was proper regulation surrounding its use.

While almost a quarter of respondents hadn't faced any hurdles yet, the biggest areas of concern surrounding AI was information accuracy (40%), security (37%), and navigating company policies (17%).

Top areas where AI is most useful include tagging metadata and flagging risky clauses in contracts

The top three instances where respondents think AI is most useful is to tag metadata in documents (34%), flagging risky contract clauses (33%), and contract analysis (29%).

Research (50%), summarizing case law (28%), and reviewing documents for litigation (15%) were also top responses.

"There's been a narrative that lawyers are resistant to change and skeptical of new technology," said Ironclad CEO and co-founder, Jason Boehmig. "We've always believed that lawyers are on that cutting edge, they've just needed the right tools. And what this research shows is that AI is going to usher in the next wave of legal productivity on a massive scale."

About Ironclad

Ironclad is the #1 contract lifecycle management platform for innovative companies, powering billions of contracts every year. Salesforce, L'Oreal, OpenAI and other leading innovators use Ironclad to collaborate and negotiate on contracts, accelerate contracting while maintaining compliance, and turn contracts into critical carriers of operational business intelligence. It's the only platform flexible enough to handle every type of contract workflow, whether a sales agreement, an HR agreement or a complex NDA. The company is backed by leading investors like Accel, Sequoia, Y Combinator, and BOND. For more information, visit www.ironcladapp.com or follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter .

Media Contact

Paul Chalker

[email protected]

SOURCE Ironclad Inc.
SAN DIEGO, June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Understanding organisms and issues in the water shed, starting a market for 3rd grade entrepreneurs, creating a folk art program and launching a solar desalination project are just some of the school projects receiving funding from North Island Credit Union Foundation through its Spring 2024 Teacher Grant program.

L-R: Carlsbads Pacific Rim Elementary School 3rd Grade Teachers Barb Nelson, Anne Hampton, Jessica Hamabe and Grant Recipient Jamie Cozens receive a grant check from North Island Credit Union Senior School and Community Development Officer Nancy Banuelos. The grant will be used to fund a marketplace for 3rd grade entrepreneurs at the Carlsbad elementary school.

As part of its commitment to help educators create innovative learning opportunities for their students, the Foundation has provided 10 grants of $500 each to underwrite class projects in San Diego county. The credit union grants will fund a diverse range of programs illustrating the creativity and commitment teachers bring to their classrooms and communities.

"Supporting education is a key focus of North Island Credit Union Foundation's mission and we're excited to support these teachers as they work to engage and inspire their students in new and creative ways," said North Island Credit Union Foundation President Marvel Ford. "We hope these grants encourage our local educators to pursue innovative projects that spark a new passion in their students, which can make a life-long difference."

The Spring 2024 North Island Credit Union Foundation Teacher Grant recipients include:

Grant Recipient School City LCDR John Bannon, USCG ret. Mission Bay High School San Diego Paul Chen Pacific Beach Middle School San Diego Pedro Contreras Los Altos Elementary School San Diego Jamie Cozens Pacific Rim Elementary School Carlsbad Brooke Hermann Limitless Learning Academy Escondido Julie Kusiak Ocean Knoll Elementary School Encinitas Matthew Leader High Tech High School San Marcos Mackenzie Levine Perry Elementary School San Diego Olivia Paolinetti Silver Wing Elementary School San Diego Nimesh Shah Park Village Elementary School San Diego

Photos of all recipients can be found here.

Since the creation of the program in 2012, North Island Credit Union and its Foundation have awarded $195,000 in teacher grants to support innovative learning projects. Up to 20 grants are awarded bi-annually in the spring and fall. Any full-time classroom teacher in San Diego, Riverside, Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino and Ventura County can apply for a grant for a program that has clearly defined learning objectives tied to students' academic needs, displays creativity in education, and targets a significant number of students.

About North Island Credit Union Foundation

North Island Credit Union Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation that serves as the philanthropic arm of North Island Credit Union, a division of California Credit Union operating in San Diego and Riverside Counties. California Credit Union is a state chartered full-service credit union with assets of nearly $5 billion, approximately 200,000 members and 25 retail branches. North Island Credit Union Foundation works to strengthen the financial well-being of our communities by providing targeted resources to non-profit partners effecting meaningful change across San Diego and Riverside counties. California Credit Union funds all administrative costs of the Foundation, enabling it to return 100% of donations back into community programs. Please visit ccu.com/foundation to learn more or make a tax-deductible donation, or follow the Foundation on Instagram @northislandcufoundation.

SOURCE North Island Credit Union
BURLINGAME, Calif., June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The global nuclear fusion market, valued at $331.26 billion in 2024, is on a trajectory of rapid expansion, with projections indicating it will soar to $491.55 billion by 2031, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.8% from 2024 to 2031, as per a recent report by Coherent Market Insights. Fusion works by mimicking the processes that power our sun and other stars to generate energy. It has potential to meet global energy demand for thousands of years without carbon emissions or long-lived radioactive waste. This clean source of energy output makes nuclear fusion an attractive proposition for governments and policymakers looking to transition to greener sources of energy production.

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Market Dynamics:

The growth of the global nuclear fusion market is attributed to increasing investments in fusion technology development and growing support from public and private organizations across the globe. For instance, in 2021, the European Commission announced plans to invest over 650 Mn in nuclear fusion energy research over the next 5 years.

Nuclear Fusion Market Report Coverage

Report Coverage Details Market Revenue in 2024 $4.21 billion Estimated Value by 2031 $491.55 billion Growth Rate Poised to grow at a CAGR of 5.8% Historical Data 20192023 Forecast Period 20242031 Forecast Units Value (USD Million/Billion) Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, and Trends Segments Covered By Technology, By Fuels Geographies Covered North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Rest of World Growth Drivers Addressing climate change concerns

Energy security and diversity concerns Restraints & Challenges Overcoming hurdles towards commercial viability

Technical challenges in sustaining fusion reactions

Market Trends:

Growing focus on commercialization of fusion energy and development of compact fusion reactors is expected to drive the nuclear fusion market growth over the forecast period. For instance, Commonwealth Fusion Systems, a spin-off from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, is developing compact tokamak fusion reactors with the goal of commercializing fusion energy by 2025. The company raised over $1.8 billion in private funding by November 2021 to accelerate this mission.

Additionally, increasing research focus on alternative approaches such as inertial confinement fusion (ICF) using lasers is also expected to support the nuclear fusion market expansion. For instance, the National Ignition Facility (NIF) at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory is conducting research towards ignition and net energy gain using powerful laser beams.

Immediate Delivery Available | Buy This Premium Research Report:

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Market Opportunities:

Inertial confinement fusion uses intense laser or particle beams to compress and heat fuel to extreme temperatures and densities, causing nuclear fusion reactions. This technology holds promise as it could enable compact fusion reactors. Several companies are developing this technology including Zap Energy which is working on developing electric power plants based on inertial confinement fusion.

Magnetic confinement fusion uses magnetic fields to confine the hot plasma fuel in donut-shaped devices called tokamaks. This is currently the leading approach being pursued by several companies and national programs. Tokamaks allow for continuous fusion reactions compared to inertial confinement which works in pulsed modes. International experimental fusion reactor ITER, being built in France, uses magnetic confinement fusion with the aim to demonstrate self-heating by 2035.

Key Market Takeaways

The global nuclear fusion market size was valued at USD 331.26 Bn in 2024 and is anticipated to witness a CAGR of 5.8% during the forecast period 2024-2031. This is owing to growing investments in developing commercially viable fusion reactors to meet increasing energy demands sustainably.

On the basis of technology, the magnetic confinement segment is expected to hold a dominant position over 75% market share during the forecast period. This is because magnetic confinement allows for continuous operation compared to inertial confinement.

On the basis of fuels, deuterium-tritium fuel is anticipated to hold a major share over 60% of the market. This is because deuterium-tritium fuel allows efficient fusion reaction rates.

By region, North America is expected to dominate the nuclear fusion market over the forecast period due to presence of major companies like Zap Energy and high investments in fusion research by the U.S. Department of Energy.

Some of the prominent players operating in the nuclear fusion market include Zap Energy, First Light Fusion, Tokamak Energy, Commonwealth Fusion Systems, among others. These players are investing in developing commercial fusion reactors to tap into this multibillion-dollar opportunity.

Key Developments:

For new technologies to gain market share, the following conditions must be met: applications for the technology must be developed, the cost of development must be attractive to investors in order to justify building the factories and supply chains required to scale them up, customers must want to buy them, and sufficient supply must be available to meet growing demand.

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NEW YORK, June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Eugenia Montesinos, CNM, has been named NYU Langone Health's inaugural director of midwifery services at Tisch Hospital. Montesinos will oversee a division of six midwives in Manhattan while closely collaborating with the team of midwives at NYU Langone HospitalBrooklyn and playing an important role in expanding this service throughout the health system.

Midwives are more than providers; we are supporters, confidants, and advocates for the women we serve, says Eugenia Montesinos, CNM.

NYU Langone's midwives, all of whom are board-certified, with graduate degrees in midwifery, deliver comprehensive care to low-risk pregnant patients through a holistic approach that evaluates mental, physical, and emotional health. For high-risk patients who require close monitoring to reduce the chance of complications due to medical conditions or advanced maternal age, the midwives collaborate with general obstetricians and maternalfetal medicine physicians to provide co-managed care.

"Midwives are more than providers. We are supporters, confidants, and advocates for the women we serve," Montesinos said. "Our holistic, evidence-based approach is both culturally sensitive and equitable. At NYU Langone, midwifery providers embody this approach for every low-risk pregnant person seeking this care."

All deliveries take place at Tisch Hospital and NYU Langone HospitalBrooklyn, where the midwives focus on minimal interventions during the childbirth process. For patients who do experience an escalation of care during their prenatal care or delivery, obstetricians, obstetrical safety officers, and maternalfetal medicine specialists are readily available to assist in their care plan.

"The goal is to provide a safe delivery using the expertise of our teams and hospitals," said Andrew F. Rubenstein, MD, director of the Division of General Obstestrics and Gynecology in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. "Our midwives offer personalized care, emphasizing natural labor methods, within a healthcare system renowned for its safety and best outcomes."

In addition to pregnancy care, NYU Langone's midwives provide routine gynecologic care to women at all stages of life, from adolescence to their post-reproductive years. Their services include wellness visits, pelvic exams, diagnosis and treatment of gynecologic conditions, preventive care and screenings for cancer and sexually transmitted infections, and perimenopause and menopause care. All midwives also have faculty appointments through the NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing.

"Not only do our midwives provide the highest-quality holistic care to patients, but they are also training future generations of midwives," said Ashley S. Roman, MD, chief of obstetrics and vice chair of clinical affairs, obstetrics, at Tisch Hospital. "Eugenia will also collaborate with NYU Grossman School of Medicine to establish educational objectives for medical students and residents, focusing on optimal practices for collaborative patient care alongside midwives."

About Eugenia Montesinos, CNM

Montesinos brings over two decades of experience to this role and has attended over 1,300 births, most recently working in the Department of Midwifery at NYC Health + Hospitals' Metropolitan Medical Center in East Harlem. At NYU Langone, Montesinos is dedicated to setting new standards of excellence in maternal care. She remains committed to reducing health disparities and tackling the maternal mortality crisis in New York City.

Her passion for midwifery ignited after the birth of her second child, under the care of an inspiring midwife. This experience led her to offer the same compassionate, personalized care to every woman she serves, instilling cultural competency and equity into the care she provides.

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AUSTIN, Texas, June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Oracle, Microsoft, and OpenAl are partnering to extend the Microsoft Azure Al platform to Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) to provide additional capacity for OpenAl.

OpenAI is the AI research and development company behind ChatGPT, which provides generative AI services to more than 100 million users every month.

"We are delighted to be working with Microsoft and Oracle. OCI will extend Azure's platform and enable OpenAI to continue to scale," said Sam Altman, Chief Executive Officer, OpenAI.

"The race to build the world's greatest large language model is on, and it is fueling unlimited demand for Oracle's Gen2 AI infrastructure," said Larry Ellison, Oracle Chairman and CTO. "Leaders like OpenAI are choosing OCI because it is the world's fastest and most cost-effective AI infrastructure."

OCI's leading AI infrastructure is advancing AI innovation. OpenAI will join thousands of AI innovators across industries worldwide that run their AI workloads on OCI AI infrastructure. Adept, Modal, MosaicML, NVIDIA, Reka, Suno, Together AI, Twelve Labs, xAI, and others use OCI Supercluster to train and inference next-generation AI models.

OCI's purpose-built AI capabilities enable startups and enterprises to build and train models faster and more reliably anywhere in Oracle's distributed cloud. For training large language models (LLMs), OCI Supercluster can scale up to 64k NVIDIA Blackwell GPUs or GB200 Grace Blackwell Superchips connected by ultra-low-latency RDMA cluster networking and a choice of HPC storage. OCI Compute virtual machines and OCI's bare metal NVIDIA GPU instances can power applications for generative AI, computer vision, natural language processing, recommendation systems, and more.

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About Oracle

Oracle offers integrated suites of applications plus secure, autonomous infrastructure in the Oracle Cloud. For more information about Oracle (NYSE: ORCL), please visit us at www.oracle.com.

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Oracle, Java, MySQL and NetSuite are registered trademarks of Oracle Corporation. NetSuite was the first cloud companyushering in the new era of cloud computing.

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PORTLAND, Ore., June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Proteomics Market by Component (Reagents, Instruments, and Services), and Application (Drug Discovery, Disease Diagnosis, and Others): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2024-2035". According to the report, the "proteomics market" was valued at $32.8 billion in 2023, and is estimated to reach $161.9 billion by 2035, growing at a CAGR of 14.2% from 2024 to 2035.

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Prime determinants of growth

Proteomics focuses on the comprehensive analysis of proteins within a biological system. Unlike genomics, which examines the entirety of an organism's genetic material, proteomics delves into the intricate world of proteins, the functional workhorses of cells. It involves the large-scale study of the structure, function, and interactions of proteins, aiming to understand their roles in biological processes and disease states. Proteomics employs various techniques, including mass spectrometry, protein microarrays, and bioinformatics tools, to identify, quantify, and characterize proteins present in cells, tissues, or organisms.

Report coverage & details

Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 20242035 Base Year 2023 Market Size In 2023 $32.8 Billion Market Size In 2035 $161.9 Billion CAGR 14.20 % No. Of Pages In Report 280 Segments Covered Component, Application, And Region Regional Scope North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, And LAMEA Country Scope U.S., Canada, Mexico, Germany, France, The UK, Italy, Spain, Rest Of Europe, Japan, China, India, Australia, South Korea, Rest Of Asia-Pacific, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, And Rest Of LAMEA. Drivers High Adoption of Proteomics In Disease Diagnosis Rise In the Use of Proteomics for Drug Discovery and Development Increase In Research in Life Sciences. Opportunity Technological Advancement in Proteomics. Restraint High Cost of Proteomics.

2023 Recession Impact Analysis

The global recession had a significant impact on the proteomics market.

The economic uncertainty has negatively impacted the research and development activities in the proteomics market.

However, the proteomics market is expected to recover owing to high adoption of proteomics for the treatment of chronic diseases and drug discovery and development procedures.

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The reagents segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period

By component, the reagent segment held the highest market share in 2023 and is expected to dominate during the forecast period, accounting for more than three-fourths of the proteomics market revenue, owing to high use of reagents for every laboratory research work of proteomics.

The drug discovery segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period

By application, the drug discovery segment held the highest market share in 2023, accounting for more than half of the proteomics market revenue. This is attributed to proteomics being widely adopted to evaluate the drug candidate in various parameters such as safety profile, efficacy, and toxicology during the preclinical trials.

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North America to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period.

By region, North America held the highest market share in 2023, accounting for more than two-fifths of the proteomics market revenue. This is attributed to well-established healthcare infrastructure and rise in the prevalence of chronic diseases. However, Asia-Pacific is expected to register a noteworthy CAGR during the forecast period, owing to developing pharmaceutical industries in the region.

Leading Market Players: -

Bio-Rad Laboratories Inc

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc

Danaher Corporation

Bruker Corporation

Waters Corporation

Perkin Elmer Inc

Horiba Ltd.

Merck KGaA

Agilent Technologies Inc

Li-Cor Inc

The report provides a detailed analysis of these key players in the proteomics market. These players have adopted different strategies such as collaboration, and product launches to increase their market share and maintain dominant shares in different regions. The report is valuable in highlighting business performance, operating segments, product portfolio, and strategic moves of market players to showcase the competitive scenario.

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With Gasgoo Daily, we will offer daily important automotive news in China. For those we have reported, the title of the piece will include a hyperlink, which will provide detailed information.

Images of Huawei, Chery co-developed Luxeed R7 released

On June 11, Huawei's Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Intelligent Automotive Solution BU, Richard Yu, released on Weibo images of the Luxeed R7, the first coupe SUV co-developed by Huawei and Chery. R stands for Revolution, symbolizing breakthrough and disruption. With its sleek coupe design, spacious interior, and Huawei's cutting-edge technology, the Luxeed R7 surpasses traditional luxury car brands in product strength, Mr. Yu said.

Photo credit: Weibo@Yu_Chengdong

Lynk & Co teases photos of ZERO model

On June 10, Lynk & Co's official Weibo account released teaser images of the Lynk & Co ZERO model. The new model is set to debut globally in Gothenburg, Sweden on June 12.

JAC Huaxianzi EVs Zhiai Edition hits market, starting at 59,900 yuan

The JAC Huaxianzi compact EV model launched a new Zhiai Edition (name in Chinese pinyin). Coming with two trim levels, Air and Lite, the new EV is priced at 65,900 yuan and 59,900 yuan, respectively. The model features a five-door, five-seat layout and a battery-powered range of 301 km.

Leapmotor partners with Ambarella for smart driving R&D

Chinese new energy vehicle maker Leapmotor recently signed a strategic cooperation agreement with global semiconductor developer Ambarella in Hangzhou.

Changan Automobile aims to achieve over 80% localization rate in Thailand

On June 5, Chinese automaker Changan Automobile, in collaboration with the Thailand Board of Investment (BOI), successfully hosted a "Sourcing Day" event in Bangkok, attracting over 300 Thai suppliers.

XPENG releases images of MONA series' first model

On June 11, XPENG officially released the official images of the first model in its fire new MONA seriesthe XPENG M03, which is expected to be launched soon.

Tesla vehicles integrate Baidu Maps V20 lane-level navigation in China

Baidu Maps recently launched its V20 lane-level navigation globally, now available in all Tesla models equipped with AMD car chips (including Model S/3/X/Y) in China. This new feature, integrated in the latest onboard software versions 2024.14.8 and 2024.14.9, was released via OTA updates starting June 7.

Nissan Motor posts 2.82% YoY dip in May China sales

Nissan Motor on June 7 announced its sales performance in China for May 2024, reporting a total of 64,233 vehicles sold across its passenger and light commercial vehicle segments, which dipped 2.82% over the previous year but rose 16.96% from the previous month.

BYD opens 300th store in Asia-Pacific region

Recently, BYD celebrated the opening of its 108th store in Thailand, which is also its 300th store in the Asia-Pacific region. This event marks a significant milestone in BYD's expansion in the Thai market and further solidifies its presence in the Asia-Pacific region.

GAC Group posts 25.33% YoY dip in May auto sales, but export volume surge 172.4% YoY

GAC Group reported automobile wholesales totaling 156,518 units in May 2024, marking a 25.33% decline year-over-year. From January to May, the group's total wholesale volume reached 699,529 vehicles, representing a 24.51% decrease compared to the same period last year.

Geely Holding boast 22.2% YoY jump in May 2024 auto sales

Zhejiang Geely Holding Group ("Geely Holding") announced last Sunday that its automobile sales volume reached around 256,556 units in the fifth month of 2024, jumping 22.2% year on year (YoY).

ZEEKR announces foray into Indonesian, Malaysian markets



On June 8, ZEEKR, the premium electric vehicle maker under Geely Holding, announced that it had officially signed cooperation agreements to enter the Indonesian and Malaysian markets. These agreements were signed in Jakarta with PT Premium Auto Prima and in Kuala Lumpur with Sentinel Automotive Sdn. Bhd.
BANGALORE, India, June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Quantum Computing in Chemistry Market is Segmented by Type (Quantum Hardware, Quantum Software), by Application (Chemical Plant, Research Institute, Other): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2024-2030.

The global Quantum Computing in Chemistry market was valued at USD 54 Million in 2023 and is anticipated to reach USD 108.5 Million by 2030, witnessing a CAGR of 10.5% during the forecast period 2024-2030.

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Major Factors Driving the Growth of Quantum Computing in Chemistry Market:

The growth of the quantum computing in chemistry market is driven by the technology's potential to revolutionize molecular simulations and chemical analysis, offering unprecedented accuracy and speed. Quantum computers can handle complex calculations and simulations that are infeasible for classical computers, enabling detailed modeling of chemical reactions, material properties, and drug interactions at a quantum level. This capability accelerates the discovery of new materials, pharmaceuticals, and chemical processes, making quantum computing a valuable tool for research and development in the chemical industry. Additionally, increasing investments in quantum computing technology and collaborations between tech companies and chemical research institutions are propelling the market's expansion.

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TRENDS INFLUENCING THE GROWTH OF QUANTUM COMPUTING IN CHEMISTRY MARKET:

Because it allows for sophisticated simulations and modeling that traditional computers are unable to perform effectively, quantum software at research institutions is a major factor in the growth of the quantum computing industry in chemistry. This program makes it possible for scientists to precisely model chemical reactions and molecular interactions at the quantum level, which is essential for the development of novel substances, materials, and chemical processes. The accuracy and speed of quantum calculations make it easier to address challenging chemical issues like protein folding, catalyst design, and reaction dynamics, which can result in previously unthinkable discoveries. Research institutes are utilizing quantum software to advance chemical research, draw funding, promote cooperation, and quicken the creation of useful quantum computer applications for the chemical sector.

One key element propelling the development of quantum computing in the chemical industry is the progress made in quantum hardware. Recent advances in quantum gate operations, coherence times, error correction, and qubit design have greatly improved the efficiency and dependability of quantum computers. More qubits may be included into quantum systems with improved hardware, boosting their computing capacity and enabling more intricate chemical simulations. Various innovations, including topological qubits, trapped ions, and superconducting qubits, provide different ways to construct scalable quantum computers. The advancement of hardware technology lowers the entrance barrier for high-fidelity quantum simulations, hence increasing the accessibility and practicality of quantum computing for chemists and researchers working in the field.

The intricacy of the issues that need to be solved in chemistry is one of the main causes propelling the development of quantum computing in that field. The exponential increase in complexity that comes with modeling molecular structures and chemical reactions is a challenge for conventional computing techniques, such as classical computers. Superposition and entanglement are two concepts that quantum computers may use to process and simulate these complicated systems more effectively. Because quantum computing can handle several variables and interactions at once, it is ideally suited to address complex chemical processes that would otherwise be computationally prohibitive. For example, it becomes possible to comprehend intricate catalytic reaction pathways and precisely anticipate the behavior of massive macromolecules, which opens up new avenues for chemical study and development.

The need for novel compounds and medications is one of the main forces behind quantum computing in chemistry. Industries including manufacturing, energy, and medicines are always looking for creative ways to create new chemicals, materials, and medications. Through better insights into molecular interactions and the ability to build more powerful medications and sophisticated materials, quantum computing holds the potential to completely transform various sectors of the economy. Quantum simulations, for instance, can be used to find new compounds with certain qualities or to improve catalysts for chemical reactions that use less energy. The capacity to efficiently and precisely simulate intricate chemical systems expedites the process of research and development, satisfying the increasing need for state-of-the-art advancements in these vital domains.

The introduction of quantum computing in chemistry is mostly being driven by the need for a competitive edge. Businesses that use quantum computing technology can outperform their rivals by cutting expenses, speeding up research and development, and improving the accuracy of their chemical analysis. Faster discovery cycles and more effective chemical process optimization are made possible by quantum computing, which shortens the time it takes for new goods to reach the market. This edge over competitors is especially important in sectors like medicines, where being first to market may yield large financial rewards. By strategically using quantum computing, businesses may maintain their competitive edge in innovation, draw in top personnel, and maintain their leadership positions in the chemical sector.

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QUANTUM COMPUTING IN CHEMISTRY MARKET SHARE ANALYSIS:

North America is a market leader for quantum computing in chemistry, especially the United States. Both the governmental and commercial sectors have made significant expenditures in quantum technology, which is the reason for its supremacy. To encourage research and development in quantum computing, the US government has started a number of noteworthy projects, such as the National Quantum Initiative Act. Leading computer giants with American headquarters, like IBM, Google, and Microsoft, have set up specialized laboratories for quantum research, propelling the development of quantum hardware and software. Furthermore, universities and research centers in North America are leading the way in quantum chemistry research and collaborating with business to create useful applications. A vibrant market is created by the region's robust venture capital environment, which helps firms that focus on quantum computing.

Key Players:

D-Wave Solutions

Rigetti Computing

Intel

Anyon Systems Inc.

Cambridge Quantum Computing Limited

Origin Quantum Computing Technology

Quantum Circuits, Inc.

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- The global market for Quantum Cryptography was estimated to be worth USD 3695.1 Million in 2023 and is forecast to a readjusted size of USD 16360 Million by 2030 with a CAGR of 23.4% during the forecast period 2024-2030.

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- Automotive Quantum Computing Market was valued at USD 103 Million in 2022 and is anticipated to reach USD 1127.1 Million by 2029, witnessing a CAGR of 49.0% during the forecast period 2023-2029.

- Quantum Measurement Sensor Market

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- The global Cadmium Free Quantum Dot market is projected to reach USD 10620 Million in 2029, increasing from USD 3842 Million in 2022, with the CAGR of 15.7% during the period of 2023 to 2029.

- The global High-performance Computing System market is projected to reach USD 64890 Million in 2029, increasing from USD 31970 Million in 2022, with the CAGR of 10.7% during the period of 2023 to 2029.

- The global Cloud High Performance Computing (HPC) market was valued at USD 6862.1 Million in 2023 and is anticipated to reach USD 14620 Million by 2030, witnessing a CAGR of 11.3% during the forecast period 2024-2030.

- High Performance Computing (HPC) Storage Market

- The global market for High Bandwidth Memory (HBM) was estimated to be worth USD 767.1 Million in 2023 and is forecast to a readjusted size of USD 4902.4 Million by 2030 with a CAGR of 25.5% during the forecast period 2024-2030.

- The global Chemistry 4.0 market was valued at USD 68220 Million in 2023 and is anticipated to reach USD 145280 Million by 2030, witnessing a CAGR of 11.3% during the forecast period 2024-2030.

- New Chemical Materials Market

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- The global Benchtop Clinical Chemistry Analyzers market was valued at USD 718.5 Million in 2023 and is anticipated to reach USD 1078.3 Million by 2030, witnessing a CAGR of 5.9% during the forecast period 2024-2030.

- Chemical Detection Equipment Market

- Organometallic Chemistry Lithium Reagent Market

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- The global Steam Chemical Indicator market was valued at USD 137.9 Million in 2023 and is anticipated to reach USD 214 Million by 2030, witnessing a CAGR of 6.4% during the forecast period 2024-2030.

- Chemical CDMO Market

- The global Daily Chemical Grade Peach Aldehyde market was valued at USD 519.3 Million in 2023 and is anticipated to reach USD 635.9 Million by 2030, witnessing a CAGR of 3.2% during the forecast period 2024-2030.

- The global Flow Chemistry revenue was USD 70 Million in 2022 and is forecast to a readjusted size of USD 136.1 Million by 2029 with a CAGR of 11.7% during the forecast period (2023-2029).

- The global Lead Chemicals Market revenue was USD 1394.9 Million in 2022 and is forecast to a readjusted size of USD 1517.9 Million by 2029 with a CAGR of 1.2% during the forecast period (2023-2029).

- The wet chemicals market was valued at USD 3.2 Billion in 2021, and is estimated to reach USD 5.9 Billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 6.3% from 2022 to 2031.

- Pine-derived Chemical Market

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Co-CEO of The Permanente Federation honored for leadership efforts to alleviate physician shortages, advocate for value-based care and improve clinical quality

OAKLAND, Calif., June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Permanente Federation today announced that Ramin Davidoff, MD, co-CEO of The Permanente Federation, has been named to Modern Healthcare's 2024 list of 50 Most Influential Clinical Executives. Dr. Davidoff was recognized for providing strategic leadership of the Permanente Medical Groups, which are using technology to create care delivery innovations. These innovations include hospital-at-home supported by remote patient monitoring and augmented intelligence, which uses artificial intelligence to empower workers rather than replace them. Permanente Medical Groups are also working to reduce clinicians' administrative burdens through AI-enabled tools.

"This has been a year of exceptional innovation and transformation by our Permanente physicians" - Ramin Davidoff, MD. Post this Ramin Davidoff, MD, co-CEO, The Permanente Federation; executive medical director and chair of the board, Southern California Permanente Medical Group; chair of the board and CEO, The Southeast Permanente Medical Group; chair of the board and CEO, Hawaii Permanente Medical Group (PRNewsfoto/The Permanente Federation)

The recognition honors licensed clinicians in executive roles who are chosen by their peers and the senior editors of Modern Healthcare for paving the way to better health through their executive responsibility, leadership qualities, innovation, community service and achievements inside and outside of their respective organizations.

"This has been a year of exceptional innovation and transformation by our Permanente physicians as we leverage science, data and technology to help identify and treat disease effectively across our medical groups," Dr. Davidoff said. "We've employed technology to build a team-based approach to care that enables physicians and other clinicians to practice at the top of their license. This honor recognizes our physicians and care teams and demonstrates how integrated, value-based care enables us to deliver nation-leading, high-quality health care to our patients and provides an evidence-based system of care that is more responsive, coordinated, equitable and sustainable than traditional fee-for-service models."

Dr. Davidoff, along with Federation co-CEO Maria Ansari, MD, FACC, leads the work of the self-governed, physician-led Permanente Medical Groups, whose more than 24,000 physicians deliver evidence-based care to 12.6 million Kaiser Permanente members in 8 states and the District of Columbia.

Dr. Davidoff also serves as executive medical director and chair of the board, Southern California Permanente Medical Group, chair of the board and CEO, The Southeast Permanente Medical Group in Georgia and chair of the board and CEO, Hawaii Permanente Medical Group. The Permanente Medical Groups, with Kaiser Foundation Health Plans and Hospitals, comprise Kaiser Permanente. In addition, Dr. Davidoff is a board member of the Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine.

The award pays tribute to Dr. Davidoff for implementing programs within the Southern California Permanente Medical Group that address clinician burnout and enhance physician recruitment. It also recognizes his advocacy on Capitol Hill to protect and advance value-based care, a model that emphasizes and rewards healthy outcomes, clinician performance and patient experience.

Examples of recent transformational innovations under Dr. Davidoff's strategic leadership include:

Leveraging data and augmented intelligence to improve care and reduce administrative tasks so physicians and clinicians can focus on more time with their patients.

to improve care and reduce administrative tasks so physicians and clinicians can focus on more time with their patients. Improving clinical quality by advancing cancer care, including the: Launch of a National Cancer Expert Review Program, providing expert physician consults for 11 cancer types through a service unique to Kaiser Permanente's 12.6 million members Adoption of 154 national oncology drug treatment pathways to ensure all patients receive consistent, expert-level care and a new electronic ordering capability for molecular genomic tests Integration of precision medicine and genomics into routine care to close care gaps in screening for members with genetic disorders Deployment of a genomics module and laboratory data interfaces in Hawaii , Georgia and Southern California , providing a strong foundation for clinical decision support tools for more than 9,000 Permanente physicians

Enhancing Belong@KP, Kaiser Permanente's anti-racism, anti-bias national equity, inclusion and diversity education initiative. This included a 1-day immersive experience that received over 70% participation by Permanente executives.

This included a 1-day immersive experience that received over 70% participation by Permanente executives. Screening for health-related social needs. More than 2.6 million Kaiser Permanente members have been screened for social health vulnerabilities and 350,000 members have connected to social health resources through a community resource directory.

Additional Kaiser Permanente leaders on the Modern Healthcare 2024 list include Jaewon Ryu, MD, JD. Dr. Ryu is CEO of Risant Health, a nonprofit national network for value-based care created in 2023 by Kaiser Foundation Hospitals.

The complete list of honorees and their profiles are available at 50 Most Influential Clinical Executives - 2024 | Modern Healthcare and in the June 10 issue of Modern Healthcare magazine. A digital subscription is required to view the online profiles.

To learn more about Permanente Medicine, visit permanente.org.

About Permanente Medical Groups

The Permanente Medical Groups are self-governed, physician-led, prepaid, multispecialty medical groups composed of more than 24,000 physicians. We are dedicated to the mission of improving the health of our patients and communities. Together with the Kaiser Foundation Health Plans and Kaiser Foundation Hospitals, we are Kaiser Permanente  an award-winning health care system that delivers Permanente Medicine, care that is person- and family-centered, compassionate, evidence-based, technology-enabled, culturally responsive, team-delivered and physician-led, to 12.6 million Kaiser Permanente members. We work collaboratively, enabled by state-of-the art facilities and technology, to provide world-class preventive and complex care centered in eight states  from Hawaii to Maryland  and the District of Columbia.

About The Permanente Federation

The Permanente Federation LLC is the national leadership and consulting organization for the Permanente Medical Groups, which, together with the Kaiser Foundation Health Plans and Kaiser Foundation Hospitals, comprise Kaiser Permanente. The Federation works on behalf of the Permanente Medical Groups to optimize care delivery and spread Permanente Medicine  care that is person- and family-centered, compassionate, evidence-based, technology-enabled, culturally responsive, team-delivered and physician-led. The Federation, based in Oakland, California, fosters an open learning environment and accelerates research, innovation, and performance improvements across the Permanente Medical Groups to expand the reach of Kaiser Permanente's integrated care delivery model and to lead the nation in transforming health care delivery.

SOURCE The Permanente Federation
CALGARY, AB, June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - Reconnaissance Energy Africa Ltd. (the "Company" or "ReconAfrica") (TSXV: RECO) (OTCQX: RECAF) (Frankfurt: 0XD) announces an operations update with respect to activity relating to Petroleum Exploration Licence 73 ("PEL 73"), onshore northeast Namibia, and an update on the joint venture process.

Naingopo Prospect Well Schematic (CNW Group/Reconnaissance Energy Africa Ltd.)

Brian Reinsborough, President and CEO commented: "Our operations teams and contractors are very busy completing the camp and rig moves this week. Since our last update the Jarvie-1 drilling rig has undergone all its maintenance and certification processes with no major issues noted. It has been rigged down and is moving approximately 80 kilometers to the Naingopo location. The conductor hole has been drilled and we continue to track for a spud toward the end of the month. The well is expected to take 90 days to drill, targeting multiple reservoir intervals in the highly prospective Damara Fold Belt. Our joint venture process continues to progress towards closure as we target a completed transaction ahead of the start of drilling of the Naingopo well."

Chris Sembritzky, SVP Exploration commented: "There is tremendous excitement about the upcoming spud of the Naingopo exploration well, which will be the first well to test the Damara Fold Belt. The thorough petroleum systems work that our team has conducted over the last six months gives us increased confidence in finding hydrocarbons in our first well. In the event of success, we have substantial running room with an additional four prospects and 20 leads that have been mapped and defined."

Nick Steinsberger, SVP Drilling and Completions commented: "The operations team is very excited to finalize the preparations to spud the upcoming Naingopo exploration well. All the drilling crews are in place with both Namibian nationals and expats, the majority of whom have worked on the Jarvie-1 before, ensuring operational continuity. All the equipment and services needed to drill the well are either onsite or scheduled to arrive in the next two weeks."

First Damara Fold Belt Well  Naingopo Prospect

The move of the working camp and the drilling rig from the Wisdom Farm 5-1 location are wrapping up, with everything expected to be operational on the Naingopo well site towards the end of the month. The well remains on schedule to begin drilling this month and is targeting 163 million barrels of unrisked prospective oil resources or 843 billion cubic feet of unrisked prospective natural gas resources, net to ReconAfrica, based on the most recent prospective resources report prepared by Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc. ("NSAI") dated March 12, 2024, and available on the Company's website (the "NSAI Report")(1) (2).

(1) There is no certainty that any portion of the resources will be discovered. If discovered, there is no certainty that it will be commercially viable to produce any portion of the resources. (2) Prospective resources are those quantities of oil estimated, as of a given date, to be potentially recoverable from undiscovered accumulations by application of future development projects. Prospective resources have both an associated chance of discovery and a chance of development. For the purposes of the NSAI Report, the volumes and parameters are associated with the best estimate scenario of prospective resources. Prospective resources are the arithmetic sum of multiple probability distributions. Unrisked prospective resources are estimates of the volumes that could reasonably be expected to be recovered in the event of the discovery and development of these prospects.





Joint Venture Process Update

The Company continues to progress its farm out joint venture process which we expect to conclude in the next few weeks.

About ReconAfrica

ReconAfrica is a Canadian oil and gas company engaged in the opening of the newly discovered Kavango Sedimentary Basin in the Kalahari Desert of northeastern Namibia and northwestern Botswana, where the Company holds petroleum licenses comprising ~8 million contiguous acres. In all aspects of its operations ReconAfrica is committed to minimal disturbance of habitat in line with international standards and will implement environmental and social best practices in all of its project areas.

Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements:

Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking information under applicable Canadian, United States and other applicable securities laws, rules and regulations, including, without limitation, statements with respect to the timing of the drilling of the Naingopo well, the depth of the Naingopo well, the time it takes to drill tine Naingopo well, the number of target intervals, the drilling of an additional four prospects and 20 leads, the procurement of all necessary services and equipment, the outcome of the joint venture process as there is no guarantee an agreement will be reached, and the Company's commitment to minimal disturbance of habitat, in line with best international standards and its implementation of environmental and social best practices in all of its project areas. These statements relate to future events or future performance. The use of any of the words "could", "intend", "expect", "believe", "will", "projected", "estimated" and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on ReconAfrica's current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as the Company's actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of the factors discussed in the "Risk Factors" section in the Company's annual information form dated December 4, 2023, available under the Company's profile at www.sedarplus.ca. Actual future results may differ materially. Various assumptions or factors are typically applied in drawing conclusions or making the forecasts or projections set out in forward-looking information. Those assumptions and factors are based on information currently available to ReconAfrica. The forward-looking information contained in this release is made as of the date hereof and ReconAfrica undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Because of the risks, uncertainties and assumptions contained herein, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The foregoing statements expressly qualify any forward-looking information contained herein.

Disclosure of Oil and Gas Information:

The report of Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc. ("NSAI") entitled "Estimates of Prospective Resources to the Reconnaissance Energy Africa Ltd. Interests in Certain Opportunities Located in Damara Fold and Thrust Belt Play Area in Petroleum Exploration Licence 73, Kavango Basin, Namibia as of February 29, 2024" (the "NSAI Report") and the prospective resource estimates contained therein and in this press release were prepared by NSAI, an independent qualified reserves evaluator, with an effective date of February 29, 2024. The NSAI Report was prepared in accordance with the definitions and guidelines of the Canadian Oil and Gas Evaluation Handbook prepared jointly by the Society of Petroleum and Engineers (Calgary Chapter) (the "COGE Handbook") and the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy & Petroleum and National Instrument 51-101  Standards of Disclosure for Oil and Gas Activities ("NI 51-101"). For additional information concerning the risks and the level of uncertainty associated with recovery of the prospective resources detailed herein and in the NSAI Report, the significant positive and negative factors relevant to the prospective resources estimates detailed herein and in the NSAI Report and a description of the project to which the prospective resources estimates detailed herein and in the NSAI Report applies are contained within the NSAI Report, a copy of which has been filed with the Canadian Securities Administrators and is available under the Company's issued profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca .

The prospective resources shown in the NSAI Report have been estimated using probabilistic methods and are dependent on a petroleum discovery being made. If a discovery is made and development is undertaken, the probability that the recoverable volumes will equal or exceed the unrisked estimated amounts is 90 percent for the low estimate, 50 percent for the best estimate, and 10 percent for the high estimate. Low estimate and high estimate prospective resources have not been included in the NSAI Report. For the purposes of the NSAI Report, the volumes and parameters associated with the best estimate scenario of prospective resources are referred to as 2U. The 2U prospective resources have been aggregated beyond the prospect and lead level by arithmetic summation; therefore, these totals do not include the portfolio effect that might result from statistical aggregation. Statistical principles indicate that the arithmetic sums of multiple estimates may be misleading as to the volumes that may actually be recovered.

SOURCE Reconnaissance Energy Africa Ltd.
CHEYENNE, Wyo., June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- RedSense is proud to announce that it has been recognized by Enterprise Security Magazine as one of the "Top 10 Threat Intelligence Solution Providers" in their June edition. This prestigious recognition highlights RedSense's commitment to providing proactive cybersecurity through highly actionable intelligence.

In its cover story, Enterprise Security Magazine emphasizes RedSense's unique ability to combine various types of threat intelligence with network telemetry, all without the need for additional hardware or software. This powerful combination allows RedSense to identify truly relevant threats and make them directly actionable for their clients. By integrating these advanced technologies, RedSense ensures that organizations are well-equipped to face the ever-evolving landscape of cyber threats.

One of the key differentiators of RedSense's approach is its adaptability. The solution can be finely tuned for large, sophisticated threat intelligence groups, providing them with direct data access and the tools needed to stay ahead of potential threats. Alternatively, RedSense is available as a service for smaller organizations and those that prefer to augment their current staff with outside expertise, ensuring they receive top-tier threat intelligence without impacting their existing systems or personnel.

"We are honored to be recognized by Enterprise Security Magazine as a top threat intelligence provider," said Dave Montanaro, CEO of RedSense. "This accolade is a testament to our team's dedication to delivering cutting-edge, actionable intelligence to organizations of all sizes and sophistications. Our goal is to empower our clients with the information they need to protect their digital assets effectively."

For more information about RedSense and its comprehensive threat intelligence solutions, please visit www.redsense.com .

About RedSense

RedSense is a leading provider of threat intelligence solutions, specializing in proactive cybersecurity through actionable intelligence. By integrating diverse types of threat intelligence with network telemetry, RedSense helps organizations identify and respond to truly relevant threats effectively. RedSense caters to both large and small organizations, offering customizable solutions and services to meet the unique needs of each client.

SOURCE RedSense Cyber Threat Intelligence
Beloved Frozen Treat Franchise Expands Presence to 6 Locations in Lone Star State

DALLAS, June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Rita's Italian Ice & Frozen Custard, a beloved brand known for its delicious Italian Ice and Frozen Custard treats, is continuing to expand its presence in Texas with the recent opening of a new location in Arlington, TX with local franchisees Jasmine and Darryl Ward. The Wards are helping to grow the brand alongside existing Dallas area franchisees Dave Lewis, Sean Evans, Jerry Shirer, and Von Shirer.

With a background in public health and education, the Wards were seeking a family-oriented business opportunity where their kids and community could be involved. They were first introduced to Rita's through Jasmine's college roommates, and have since made their own memories with the brand, enjoying frozen treats every summer. Taking their love for Rita's to the next level with franchise ownership was a natural next step for the family, and their location will be a great addition to the thriving Arlington community as the brand continues to grow.

"Darryl and I are excited to have the opportunity to build a legacy for our family with Rita's Italian Ice & Frozen Custard here in Arlington. With our background in public health and education, we are passionate about providing an opportunity for the young people in our community from partnering with local schools to teaching our employees skills that they can carry with them into the future," said Jasmine Ward. "We are proud to be joining the Rita's family as the brand continues to expand throughout Texas. As we opened our doors this spring, it has been wonderful to see all our neighbors spending time together and we are looking forward to what is yet to come."

The Wards are joining a network of franchisees serving Dallas and the surrounding areas including Sean Evans, Jerry Shirer, Von Shirer, and Dave Lewis. Lewis is the owner of Rita's Italian Ice & Frozen Custard in Bedford, TX, which was the first location in the state and has become the number one location nationally in catering volume due to partnerships with local organizations.

"The thriving Dallas-Fort Worth community is the perfect place for Rita's to grow as the summer heats up, and we are excited to have Jasmine and Darryl joining the team as our newest franchisees in Arlington," said President & CEO Linda Chadwick. "As we celebrate 40 Years of Rita's, we are proud to continue to be a part of people's lives and memories as we work toward our mission of delivering happiness to our guests."

Rita's signature Italian Ice is made fresh daily on-site and available in a rotating daily selection from over 80 flavors. Other menu items at Rita's include creamy Frozen Custard, signature Gelati, Concretes, Frozen Coffee, Rita's Blenders, Milkshakes and more.

Rita's is actively looking for additional franchisees to help develop the brand throughout Texas and the South. The brand is seeking to partner with hands-on entrepreneurs who are passionate about the brand and motivated to grow.

To learn more about franchise opportunities at Rita's Italian Ice, please visit: http://www.ownaritas.com/.

About Rita's Italian Ice & Frozen Custard:

Rita's Italian Ice & Frozen Custard opened its doors in Bensalem, Pa. in 1984, and has been dedicated to spreading "Ice, Custard, Happiness!" ever since. Now, Rita's is the largest Italian Ice concept in the world with over 550 shops. Guests around the world visit Rita's to celebrate their everyday moments with freshly made cool treats in a fun-filled atmosphere. Known for its famous Italian Ice, made daily featuring real fruit, and award-winning Frozen Custard, Rita's serves a taste of happiness with each delicious treat. For more information about Rita's Italian Ice, please call 1-800-677-7482 or visit www.ritasice.com.

SOURCE Rita's Franchise Company
RADNOR, Pa., June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The law firm of Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP (www.ktmc.com) informs investors that a securities class action lawsuit has been filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California against Fastly, Inc. ("Fastly") (NYSE: FSLY). The action charges Fastly with violations of the federal securities laws, including omissions and fraudulent misrepresentations relating to the company's business, operations, and prospects. As a result of Fastly's materially misleading statements and omissions to the public, Fastly's investors have suffered significant losses.

If you suffered Fastly losses, you may CLICK HERE or go to: https://www.ktmc.com/new-cases/fastly-inc?utm_source=PR&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=fsly&mktm=r

You can also contact attorney Jonathan Naji, Esq. of Kessler Topaz by calling (484) 270-1453 or by email at [email protected]. The lead plaintiff deadline is July 23, 2024.

CANNOT VIEW THIS VIDEO? PLEASE CLICK HERE or go to: https://youtu.be/MVbQwTvArKo

DEFENDANTS' ALLEGED MISCONDUCT

On February 14, 2024, Fastly issued a press release providing full year ("FY") 2024 revenue guidance in a range of $580 million to $590 million. In that same press release, Fastly's CEO was quoted stating, "[t]his quarter demonstrated the progress we've made in operational and financial rigor resulting in strong gross margins and non-GAAP net income," and "[o]ur go-to-market, packaging and channel efforts through 2023 delivered an inflection in our customer acquisition as we closed out the year. This positions us well for 2024, driving our mission to make every user experience fast, safe, and engaging."

On May 1, 2024, Fastly announced its Q1 2024 results. Despite Fastly's positive statements just weeks before about its performance and near-term business prospects, Fastly reported revenue of only $133.52 million, missing consensus estimates. Fastly also lowered its fiscal year 2024 revenue guidance to a range of $555 million to $565 million, significantly below its previously issued FY 2024 revenue guidance of $580 million to $590 million, and likewise below consensus estimates of $584.62 million for the same period.

Then, on May 2, 2024, Bank of America downgraded Fastly stock from a "Buy" rating to an "Underperform" rating and cut its price target on the stock from $18 per share to a mere $8 per share. On this news, the price of Fastly shares declined by $4.14 per share, or approximately 32.02%, from $12.93 per share on May 1, 2024 to close at $8.79 on May 2, 2024.

WHAT CAN I DO?

Fastly investors may, no later than July 23, 2024, seek to be appointed as a lead plaintiff representative of the class through Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP or other counsel, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP encourages Fastly investors who have suffered significant losses to contact the firm directly to acquire more information. The class action complaint against Fastly, Kula v. Fastly, Inc., et al., Case No. 24-cv-03170, is filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE CASE OR GO TO: https://www.ktmc.com/new-cases/fastly-inc?utm_source=PR&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=fsly&mktm=r

WHO CAN BE A LEAD PLAINTIFF?

A lead plaintiff is a representative party who acts on behalf of all class members in directing the litigation. The lead plaintiff is usually the investor or small group of investors who have the largest financial interest and who are also adequate and typical of the proposed class of investors. The lead plaintiff selects counsel to represent the lead plaintiff and the class and these attorneys, if approved by the court, are lead or class counsel. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision of whether or not to serve as a lead plaintiff.

ABOUT KESSLER TOPAZ MELTZER & CHECK, LLP

Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP prosecutes class actions in state and federal courts throughout the country and around the world. The firm has developed a global reputation for excellence and has recovered billions of dollars for victims of fraud and other corporate misconduct. All of our work is driven by a common goal: to protect investors, consumers, employees and others from fraud, abuse, misconduct and negligence by businesses and fiduciaries. The complaint in this action was not filed by Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP. For more information about Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP please visit www.ktmc.com.

CONTACT:

Jonathan Naji, Esq.

Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP

(484) 270-1453

280 King of Prussia Road

Radnor, PA 19087

[email protected]

May be considered attorney advertising in certain jurisdictions. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.

SOURCE Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP
Demonstrating Confidence and Creating Value

HONG KONG, June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Hangzhou SF Intra-city Industrial Co., Ltd. (Stock Code: 9699.HK), China's largest third-party on-demand delivery service provider, is pleased to announce that the Board of Directors intends to continue to conduct H Shares repurchases by utilising the Share Repurchase Mandate and repurchase H shares in the open market from time to time by using the remainder of the HK$200 million limit for repurchasing H shares as announced in 19 October 2023, which is approximately HK$37 million.

On 19 October 2023, the Board of the Group decided to utilise the 2023 Share Repurchase Mandate passed at the 2022 annual general meeting of the Company held on 6 June 2023 and, it plans to repurchase H shares in the open market from time to time by using up to HK$200 million limit. As at 6 June 2023, the Company had used a total of HK$163,109,888.01 to repurchase 16,082,200 H shares. The H shares repurchased by the Company before 11 June 2024 (being the date on which the proposed amendments to the Rules Governing the Listing of Securities on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited relating to treasury shares will come into effect) shall be cancelled in due course.

Pursuant to the 2023 annual general meeting of SF Intra-city held on 6 June 2024, the Board was granted the powers under the general mandate (the "Share Repurchase Mandate") to repurchase the H Shares. And the Board announced on 6 June 2024, to continue to conduct H shares repurchases by utilising the Share Repurchase Mandate and repurchase H shares in the open market from time to time by using the remainder of the HK$200 million limit for repurchasing H shares as announced in 19 October 2023, which the remainder is approximately HK$37 million.

The Proposed Share Repurchase is intended to be financed by the Group's own financial resources other than proceeds from the listing of the H Shares on the Main Board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited in December 2021. The Group believes that the current financial resources of the Company would able to implement the Proposed Share Repurchase while maintaining a solid financial position.

The Group believes that a share repurchase in the present market conditions will demonstrate the Company's confidence in its own business outlook and prospects and would, ultimately, benefit the Group and create value for the shareholders.

SF Intra-city stated that the share repurchase demonstrates the Group's confidence in its business development and prospects, conveying a positive signal to the market and investors. It will enhance investors' understanding of the Company's potential to increase earnings per share and improve the attractiveness of the Group's financial indicators. This aims to deliver greater value and returns to its shareholders and investors.

SOURCE SF Intra-city
MILWAUKEE, June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Ademi LLP is investigating Diamond (NYSE: DO) for possible breaches of fiduciary duty and other violations of law in its transaction with Noble.

Click here to learn how to join the https://www.ademilaw.com/case/diamond-offshore-drilling-inc or call Guri Ademi toll-free at 866-264-3995. There is no cost or obligation to you.

In the transaction, Diamond shareholders will receive only 0.2316 shares of Noble, plus cash consideration of $5.65 per share for each share of Diamond stock. Upon closing, Diamond shareholders will own approximately 14.5% of Noble's outstanding shares. The transaction agreement unreasonably limits competing transactions for Diamond by imposing a significant penalty if Diamond accepts a competing bid. Diamond insiders will receive substantial benefits as part of change of control arrangements.

We are investigating the conduct of Diamond's board of directors, and whether they are fulfilling their fiduciary duties to all shareholders.

If you own Diamond common stock and wish to obtain additional information, please contact Guri Ademi either at [email protected] or toll-free: 866-264-3995, or https://www.ademilaw.com/case/diamond-offshore-drilling-inc.

We specialize in shareholder litigation involving buyouts, mergers, and individual shareholder rights throughout the country. For more information, please feel free to call us. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

Contacts

Ademi LLP

Guri Ademi

Toll Free: (866) 264-3995

Fax: (414) 482-8001

SOURCE Ademi LLP
Sazwan Foundation To Raise Funds to Support Immediate and Long-term Wildlife Recovery in Western Canada

VANCOUVER, BC, June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - Shilo Sazwan , a seasoned veteran in the natural resources and agricultural industry, is thrilled to announce the launch of the Sazwan Foundation with a mission to support Western Canadian communities in danger from wildfires and the first responders who risk their lives to protect them. This new initiative is dedicated to raising funds and donating money to support immediate and long-term recovery needs for people and places affected by devastating wildfires across Western Canada.

Mr. Sazwan's commitment to community support is unwavering. With a strong history and connection to firefighting, including two years as a volunteer firefighter with the Nisku Fire Department, he has been at the forefront of protecting communities impacted by wildfires for decades. During the devastating wildfires in Slave Lake, Sazwan played a crucial role by providing temporary housing, food, and other vital supplies while awaiting the arrival of the Red Cross. For his leadership and efforts, he received a Medal of Honor for helping the community of Slave Lake, Alberta.

"The need to help individuals, organizations, businesses, and communities recover is as great as ever," Shilo Sazwan said. "Through my new foundation, I aim to support organizations that assist communities in wildfire recovery, as well as support the brave first responders on the front lines, risking their lives to fight the fires."

The Sazwan Foundation Is A Personal Mission



In 2011, a devastating wildfire ravaged the town of Slave Lake, Alberta, forcing a mass evacuation and leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. Amid the chaos, Shilo Sazwan remained in the town, one of the few who stayed behind to coordinate response efforts.

"I remember standing in one neighbourhood, and I was literally the only one there, just watching one house start on fire and then another and another, and there wasn't a single thing I could do to save them," he recounted. "There was no water or power, and I felt helpless. At that moment, I told myself I would do everything possible to ensure everyone has a place to call home."

Determined to make a difference, Sazwan worked tirelessly for 120 hours straight, helping to coordinate every aspect of the firefight, recovery efforts, and support for the first responders who arrived to combat the blaze.

"In recent years, we've seen many tragic stories about wildfires tearing through Western communities, destroying homes and businesses and costing people their lives," Sazwan shared. "These fires are becoming more intense and more likely to cause destruction."

Each year, Canada, particularly the western regions, endures severe wildfire seasons with devastating impacts on people, infrastructure, landscapes, and wildlife. Funds raised through the Sazwan Foundation will support existing charities aiding communities and first responders in need.

About the Sazwan Foundation:

The Sazwan Foundation is a non-profit foundation committed to empowering lives and building hope by addressing the immediate and long-term recovery needs of communities affected by wildfires in Western Canada. By supporting existing charities, the foundation aims to provide critical resources and aid to those in need, fostering resilience and recovery in the face of environmental challenges.

Foundation Website: www.sazwanfoundation.org

About Shilo Sazwan

Born in Calgary, Alberta, Sazwan grew up working in all areas of the fertilizer, calcium, and transportation businesses.

Widely known for developing the sulphur fertilizer industry in North America, Sazwan's family ran Tiger Industries and spent decades spearheading cost-effective, cutting-edge technologies that propelled their products to industry leadership while maintaining the lowest production costs. As Chief Operating Officer at Tiger Calcium, Sazwan oversaw 500 employees and was instrumental in developing multiple fertilizer and calcium plants with custom in-house technologies.

As CEO at Tiger Calcium, he created a logistics division that included over a hundred railcars and trucking fleets. During his tenure, Sazwan achieved 200% plant growth at Tiger and significantly increased the market value, leading to the business selling for nine times EBITDA. Most recently, Sazwan served in executive roles at Canadian agricultural companies Pacific Rim Sulphur and Apex AG.

Under his leadership, Tiger became the most significant contributor to the region's food bank. Sazwan's dedication to aiding communities and first responders affected by wildfires is further demonstrated through his recent establishment of the Sazwan Foundation, which aims to support existing charities assisting those in need.

SOURCE Sazwan Foundation
DUSSELDORF, Germany, June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Sigenergy, a leading energy innovator, and the two solar wholesale companies Solexis and tritec will now jointly market Sigenergy's highly flexible and AI-supported energy solutions. This was contractually agreed between the companies in May this year.

Sigenergy is the first company to offer a 5-in-1 energy solution for private households and businesses that combine solar energy generation, energy storage and intelligent electric vehicle charging in one single device, SigenStor.

Image from left to right: Tony Xu, Founder & CEO of Sigenergy and Frederic Bichsel, CEO of Solexis Image from left to right: Roland Hofmann, CEO at tritec AG and Tony Xu, Founder & CEO of Sigenergy

SigenStor operates on three phases and can individually deliver 5 - 25 kW of power while storing up to 48 kWh of electricity in a single device. Thanks to its modular and stackable design, installation is easy and fast, requiring no additional cabling. This advantage extends to Commercial and Industrial (C&I) projects, saving several days of installation time. With the capability to connect up to 20 systems in one matrix, SigenStor can support large-scale projects in the megawatt range.

Electric vehicles can be charged with up to 130 km per hour using the integrated DC fast charger, which is more than twice as fast as a conventional wallbox. Additionally, an AI-supported energy management system allows customers to easily benefit from features such as self-consumption, energy arbitrage, dynamic electricity tariffs, Virtual Power Plant (VPP) integration, and much more.

As specialized solar wholesalers with strong technical support for their customers, Solexis and tritec are the ideal partners to make this innovative product portfolio available to all installers in Switzerland. Extensive warehousing in Switzerland as well as documentation and service in all languages are the professional basis for a successful utilization of Sigenergy products by Swiss installers. Both companies confirm their prospect of gaining considerable market share with this product portfolio in a short period of time.

The teams from Sigenergy, tritec AG and Solexis will be available for meetings at the upcoming Intersolar/ees in Munich taking place from June 19-21 in Munich, Germany. The Sigenergy booth is B1.579.

For more information about Sigenergy, please visit the website at www.sigenergy.com

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Beijing (Gasgoo)- Chinese new energy vehicle maker Leapmotor recently signed a strategic cooperation agreement with global semiconductor developer Ambarella in Hangzhou.

Photo credit: Ambarella

Under the agreement, Leapmotor and Ambarella will jointly invest in R&D to create full-stack intelligent driving solutions, including perception, decision-making, and control, based on the CV3 platform.

Ambarella's CV3-AD series AI SoCs are renowned for their high performance, low power consumption, and advanced AI computing capabilities, providing a robust technological foundation for autonomous driving systems. The CV3-AD series chips are built using a 5nm automotive process and meet ASIL-B/D functional safety standards. These chips efficiently run a variety of advanced neural network algorithms, including CNN, Transformer, and BEV models.

Leapmotor's Founder, Chairman, and CEO Mr. Zhu Jiangming stated that Ambarella's CV3 platform offers substantial support for Leapmotor's intelligent driving systems. He emphasized that the partnership with Ambarella marks a significant step towards a new era of smart driving and strengthens Leapmotor's international expansion.

Leapmotor has been accelerating its international expansion efforts this year. On May 14, Stellantis led the formation of Leapmotor International, a joint venture in which Stellantis holds 51% and Leapmotor holds 49% of stake. Leveraging Stellantis global distribution network, Leapmotor International plans to launch Leapmotor vehicles in nine European countriesFrance, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Greece, and Romaniastarting in September.
SAN ANTONIO, June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- SilverPoint Senior Living, a leader in senior living management, is pleased to announce a strategic partnership with SGL Acquisitions and the acquisition of two significant properties: WestMark Senior Living in San Antonio and The Eastman Senior Living in Longview, TX, both formerly owned by Brookdale Senior Housing.

"SilverPoint's rapid integration of the WestMark and The Eastman properties marks the beginning of a transformative phase. We are dedicated to enhancing these communities with innovative care and significant improvements aimed at elevating the quality of life for our residents," remarked Shimon G. Levy, Principal of SGL Acquisitions. "Our approach focuses on nurturing resident well-being, fostering vibrant communities, and ensuring excellence in every aspect of our operations."

SilverPoint Senior Living and SGL Acquisitions are committed to preserving the valued traditions of WestMark and The Eastman while implementing modern, thoughtful upgrades to enrich the living experience.

Residents, families, and the broader communities in San Antonio and Longview can look forward to a series of beneficial enhancements and developments as this partnership progresses. This venture marks a promising new chapter for both properties, ensuring the highest standards of senior care and living.

Shawn Corzine, CEO of SilverPoint Senior Living, expressed his enthusiasm for this new partnership, stating, "Adding WestMark and The Eastman to our growing family portfolio signifies the start of an exciting and fruitful collaboration with SGL Acquisitions. We are eager to continue enriching the lives of residents in San Antonio and Longview for many years to come."

SilverPoint Senior Living is renowned for its commitment to high-quality senior living services and enhancing resident well-being. SGL Acquisitions, with its extensive expertise in real estate investments and operational management, is ideally positioned to contribute to a brighter future for WestMark and The Eastman.

To Read More Click here.

For Media Inquiries, please contact:

Kelly Schwennesen

VP of Sales and Marketing

[email protected]

SOURCE SilverPoint Senior Living
Sinotruk SA is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sinotruk established in South Africa, dedicated to providing high-quality integrated solutions for engineering and logistics transportation to South Africa and neighboring countries. Upholding the tradition of Sinotruk, we consistently adhere to a business philosophy of quality first and customer satisfaction, earning the trust and support of a wide range of customers.

Big 5 Construct South Africa is one of the most influential construction, vehicle, and engineering machinery exhibitions in Africa, attracting professionals and industry leaders from around the world to exhibit and visit each year. Big 5 Construct South Africa 2024 was held from June 4 to 6 at the Gallagher Convention Center in South Africa. With its large scale and numerous participating companies, it is an important event in the industry.

At the exhibition, Sinotruk SA showcased its latest product lineup, including Sitrak series C9H 540HP and C7H 480HP high-end long-haul tractor trucks, HOWO series NX 480HP medium- and short-haul tractor trucks, as well as HOWO engineering series 6*4 lightweight dump trucks, mixer trucks, and sprinkler trucks. These exhibits demonstrated the company's latest achievements in product development and innovation. In particular, the customized solutions tailored to the environmental and market needs of South Africa introduced by the company have received significant attention and praise from customers.

In addition to product displays, the booth of Sinotruk SA also featured professional technical exchanges and consulting services, providing customers with the opportunity to engage in face-to-face discussions with professional engineers, explore solutions together, and share the latest industry trends and technological developments.

In the future, Sinotruk SA will further expand its investment in South Africa and neighboring countries. Upholding the concept of "Always Moving, Always Earning," we are committed to providing higher quality products and services to customers in South Africa and neighboring countries. We look forward to developing together with our partners and creating a better future!

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Skanska has divested the E building of the office project Nowy Rynek in Poznan, Poland, for about EUR 79M, about SEK 920M. The buyer is Eastnine AB. The transaction will be recorded by Skanska Commercial Development Europe in the second quarter of 2024. The transfer of the property will take place immediately.

STOCKHOLM, June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of the Nowy Rynek office complex, building E offers a leasable space of 28,800 square meters, which is almost 90 percent let. Office space has been leased by tenants including strong brands such as McKinsey, VML Poland, Softswiss, Bank Pekao SA, BusinessLink and LyondellBasell.

The building uses technologies that reduce consumption of both potable water and energy. It is certified according to LEED Core & Shell, Platinum level, and is also expected to receive WELL Core & Shell, WELL Health-Safety Rating and Building without Barriers.

Nowy Rynek is situated in the central business district of Poznan. Upon completion, it will offer around 100,000 square meters of usable space across five buildings. Nowy Rynek is Skanska's seventh commercial project in Poznan. Although it incorporates several innovative features, Nowy Rynek remains true to the traditional essence and character of its surroundings especially with inner patio filled with greenery and accessible for all.

For further information please contact:

Anna Wisniewska, Marketing and Communications Director, Skanska CDE, tel +48 797 019 460

Andreas Joons, Press Officer, Skanska Group, tel +46 (0)10 449 04 94

Direct line for media, tel +46 (0)10 448 88 99

This and previous releases can also be found at www.skanska.com.

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com.

https://news.cision.com/skanska/r/skanska-divests-the-office-building-nowy-rynek-e-in-poznan--poland--for-about-eur-79m--about-sek-920,c3998690

The following files are available for download:

https://mb.cision.com/Main/95/3998690/2857334.pdf 20240611 PL divestment Nowy Rynek E https://news.cision.com/skanska/i/image-1---nowy-rynek,c3309092 Image 1 - Nowy Rynek https://news.cision.com/skanska/i/image-2---nowy-rynek,c3309093 Image 2 - Nowy Rynek

SOURCE Skanska
Spiro joins Diageo to discuss the impact of creativity for brands & business

CANNES, France, June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Global brand experience agency Spiro will host a panel with Diageo at the Brand Innovators Marketing Leadership Summit during the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.

Spiro's Global President Jeff Stelmach will discuss the power of creativity through experiential amidst rapidly changing technologies as part of the Brand Innovators Marketing Leadership Summit.

Spiro to host panel at Cannes Lions for Brand Innovators Marketing Leadership Summit

"We're thrilled to be at Cannes Lions for the first time, with Brand Innovators, talking with Diageo," said Stelmach. "I'm looking forward to discussing the business power of applied creativity & diving into our notion of a Belief Gap created by deep fake AI and fake news."

Spiro's Global CMO, Carley Faircloth, and Global CCO, John Trinanes, join Stelmach at the summit & festival, celebrating the ideas in 2024 "that shook industries and created change" alongside industry peers.

"We are passionate advocates for the power of creativity," Trinanes said, adding "Brands see Cannes as the center of the experiential universe so it's great to be here to celebrate it."

The festival, now in its 71st year, is where the advertising & communications industry meets to discuss the world's best work through inspirational on-stage sessions and awards recognizing game-changing work. Experiential was added as a Cannes Lions award category only six years ago and continues to be viewed as the epitome of recognition for the creative industry.

About Spiro

Spiro (sp-eye-roh) is a strategically-led, creatively-driven, industry-leading global brand experience agency. We exist to cultivate purposeful connection. We specialize in delivering the world's most powerful bonds between brands & their business and consumer audiences. We work with some of the world's most recognized brands, to design events and experiences intended to sway & stay customer preference. We strive to understand drivers & engagement motivators, design to those behaviors, and ultimately position brands as priority in the hearts & minds of their most important audiences. Come. Experience Brand Gravity, the uniquely Spiro bond between brand & customer. To learn more, visit ThisIsSpiro.com.

Media Contact:

Jenn Joseph

The Encore Agency

602-329-8040

[email protected]

SOURCE Spiro
28 governors prioritize improving mental health and substance use disorder care systems in year-opening addresses.

By Julie Wertheimer, The Pew Charitable Trusts

WASHINGTON, June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- President Joe Biden reflected in his State of the Union in March on the COVID-19 pandemic and how it had wreaked havoc on people's day-to-day lives, spurring "a mental health crisis of isolation and loneliness." Data supports this: As the pandemic unfolded, one 2021 study found that about 4 in 10 adults reported symptoms of anxiety or depression, four times pre-pandemic levels.

Recent months have seen growing bipartisan momentum among state leaders to invest in behavioral health care. Post this A U.S. map that highlights which states have governors who have committed to or mentioned mental health as a top policy priority for their administration for 2024. Those whose governors mentioned mental health in their State of the State addresses are shaded in blue, while the remainder are shaded in gray.

People had struggled to access adequate behavioral health support long before 2020, as these systems have been historically under-resourced and fragmented. As one sign of the worsening of these problems, the suicide rate had increased 30% between 2000 and 2020 and has continued to rise in recent years. In fact, the pandemic exposed and exacerbated existing faults with an influx of people needing care. Overburdened emergency departments, for instance, are too often a landing place for people with mental health emergencies. But they tend to be ill-equipped to serve people in distress, with waiting times for psychiatric hospitalization often lasting weeks, or even months.

Fortunately, recent months have seen growing bipartisan momentum among state leaders to invest in behavioral health care. A review by The Pew Charitable Trusts shows that 28 governors identified behavioral health as a priority in their State of the State addresses in early 2024.

Several specifically committed to strengthening the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, which provides emergency mental health counseling and connections to care, as well as implementing more crisis response teams and providing more alternative treatment options.

"We started this journey with 36 mobile crisis units, with a goal of doubling them," said Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin (R). "And I can tell you, today we are at 97 mobile crisis units in the commonwealth, and still going strong."

The entire chainfrom who is called in the event of an emergency to who responds in such a situation, and where a person in need of immediate intervention and often follow-up services and supports can gois referred to as the "crisis continuum of care."

Although continuity is essential for people in need of behavioral health care, it can be difficult to provide or receive because of the current patchwork of response systems throughout communities. For example, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds (R) acknowledged in her Jan. 9 address "little to no coordination" across the state's 13 mental health and 19 substance use regions.

"Our state is filled with capable professionals who care about getting Iowans the support they need," she said. "But their talent and dedication are short-changed by a fractured system that makes coordination almost impossible."

Reynolds is one of several governors who are working to unify their state's behavioral health care efforts. Maine is another state focused on making progress this year. "I propose that we establish a network of crisis receiving centers across Maine so that any person suffering a mental health crisis can get prompt and appropriate care, instead of being alone or languishing in an emergency department or a jail, as is too often the case," said Governor Janet Mills (D).

People should be able to access proven, effective care regardless of who they are, where they live, or how they request it. Through investment, policy changes, and coordination of local response efforts, more state leaders can play a critical role in ensuring their residents receive quality behavioral health care. These state leaders, from Washington to Maine, are paving the way.

Julie Wertheimer directs research and policy for The Pew Charitable Trusts' mental health and justice partnerships project.

For more information, visit pewtrusts.org/mentalhealthjustice.

Sign up for Burden of Proof: Pew's monthly newsletter about data and strategies that support communities through courts and emergency response.

Contact: Abby Takas, communications, [email protected], 202-540-6521

SOURCE The Pew Charitable Trusts
LA VISTA, Neb., June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Streck is pleased to announce its new partnership with Longhorn Vaccines and Diagnostics to distribute its flagship product, PrimeStore Molecular Transport Media (MTM), worldwide. PrimeStore MTM is an FDA-cleared collection device for inactivation, stabilization and ambient temperature transportation of biological samples.

"Streck is a true innovator in the sample collection field, and one of the most trusted companies in the diagnostic industry," said Jeff Fischer, co-founder and president of Longhorn. "PrimeStore MTM is a natural fit for distribution by Streck, as Longhorn shares its dedication to providing unique stabilization solutions for clinical testing and research."

"Streck is excited to enter the transport media space with a partner whose products have transformed the field," said Matthew Kreifels, vice president of Sales, MarCom and Business Development at Streck. "We look forward to sharing this molecular testing tool with labs worldwide."

Nucleic acid-based testing can rapidly identify infection-causing pathogens, providing the necessary information for health care professionals to quickly implement appropriate and effective treatment strategies. However, the collection, transport and handling of infectious disease specimens is often complicated by safety concerns for personnel involved in testing and the inherent instability of the microbial nucleic acids of interest. With PrimeStore MTM, the transport and testing process is streamlined and safe.

About Streck

Established in 1971, Streck develops quality control and sample stabilization products that help clinical and research laboratories worldwide feel confident in the validity of their results. Streck products are manufactured in La Vista, Nebraska, and delivered to thousands of labs worldwide.

About Longhorn Vaccines and Diagnostics

Longhorn Vaccines and Diagnostics LLC is a closely held One Health company based in Maryland that is developing broad coverage vaccines and diagnostic tools for worldwide public health concerns and to prevent future pandemics. Since its inception in 2006, Longhorn has focused on developing broad coverage vaccines and diagnostic tools that can impact a pandemic on a global scale and at all socio-economic levels. Since pandemics flow between humans and animals, Longhorn caters to both in order to surveil, diagnose, prevent and treat the next infectious disease.

Longhorn Vaccines and Diagnostics Press Contacts:

Jeffrey Fischer

President and Co-Founder, Longhorn Vaccines and Diagnostics LLC

[email protected]

For Media Inquiries:

Alexis Feinberg

Account Director, ICR Westwicke PR

[email protected]

For Investor Relations Inquiries:

Stephanie Carrington

Managing Director, ICR Westwicke IR

[email protected]

Streck Press Contact:

Matthew Kreifels

Vice President of Sales, MarCom and Business Development, Streck

[email protected]

SOURCE Streck
BRESCIA, Italy, June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The 2024 edition of the Red Arrow started at 12:30 pm from the Viale Venezia platform. Shortly before the start, a thunderstorm had threatened to complicate the start of the race, but a few moments before the Time Control of the O.M.'s, as always the first cars to start, the rain became light and the unmistakable odour of the engines in the air gave those present a quintessential atmosphere of the Most Beautiful Race In The World.

The 1000 Miglia 2024 has started

Waiting for the passage of the more than 400 cars built between 1927 and 1957 was a festive crowd, which began to fill the centre of Brescia already by late morning today. There could not have been a more exciting start for the drivers and their navigators, who over the next 5 days will drive the vintage jewels over more than 2200 kilometres, testing themselves in 144 Time Trials, 8 Average Trials, 30 Passage Controls and 21 Time Controls.

"The wait before the race is always nerve-wracking," said Andrea Vesco, in the hunt for his fourth consecutive victory at the 1000 Miglia, from the cockpit of the 1929 Alfa Romeo 6C SS Spider Zagato. "Let's hope it doesn't keep raining so we can pull down the top, but in any case once we get going I hope we settle into the race well as always."

A lot of excitement for Gianmario Fontanella and Anna Maria Covelli, first pursuers of the Vesco Salvinelli duo after their second place last year: '"We are excited, and focused, despite the rain, the atmosphere is beautiful. We look forward to a great result".

After the start, the cars immediately headed up to Brescia Castle for the first Time Trials, before bidding farewell to the city with the Passage Control and Village Parade in Piazza Vittoria. Subsequently, the convoy headed through the vineyards and hills of Franciacorta, where it re-joined the Ferrari Tribute cars that had set off from Iseo. In Franciacorta territory, there were a further six Time Trials in a row, at the end of which Palazzolo sull'Oglio hosted a Passage Control at the foot of Europe's highest round bell tower, a prelude to the entrance into Bergamo territory.

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SOURCE Mille Miglia
NORTHFIELD, Ill., June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Prominently featured in The Inner Circle, Brian McDonagh, MD is acknowledged as a Pinnacle Lifetime Member for his contributions to the Medical field.

Dr. Brian McDonagh, MD, is a renowned medical professional known for his exceptional contributions to the field of medicine, particularly in the treatment of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and peripheral neuropathy. As the founder of Vein Clinics of America, Dr. McDonagh has developed innovative treatment protocols that have brought hope and relief to countless patients.

The neurologist is celebrated for his innovative medical breakthroughs, which have transformed the lives of patients suffering from MS, Crohn's Disease, and Peripheral Neuropathy. His pioneering work has resulted in the development of highly effective treatments that have rapidly alleviated symptoms and improved the quality of life for numerous individuals.

A staunch proponent for Alternative Medicine, Dr. McDonagh is pleased to be recognized for his contributions to the field of neurology. Evident in his work, the doctor notes that he is concerned that the body of neurology will be left behind by Alternative Medicine, of which he has had excellent progress for MS, Migraines, Trigeminal Neuralia, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, and a host of neuropathies.

Dr. McDonagh recommends that his peers examine the work of his mentor, John Lyftogt, MD, in New Zealand, who is considered the father of PIT (Perineural injection treatment). His influence on the doctor has played a major role in shaping his medical journey.

The doctor's journey to medical excellence began at University College Dublin, where he earned his Bachelor's degree and MD. His unwavering commitment to advancing medical knowledge led him to pursue a residency at Tucson Hospital in Detroit, where he honed his skills and expertise.

Reflecting on his inspiration to contribute to the field of neurology, Dr. McDonagh extends his heartfelt gratitude to his four children and eight grandchildren for their boundless love and support throughout his medical career. Their unwavering encouragement has been a source of strength and inspiration.

Dr. McDonagh's commitment to his patients' well-being and his contributions to medical advancements have undoubtedly earned him recognition within the medical community. His philosophy revolves around treating patients like family. His compassionate and personalized care approach ensures that patients receive the highest level of attention and support.

Dr. McDonagh's future projections encompass a commitment to delivering continuous, exceptional care to his patients. His dedication to advancing medical knowledge and improving patient outcomes remains unwavering. Aside from his professional pursuits, Dr. McDonagh finds relaxation in word games, enjoys reading, and has an appreciation for the beauty of opera. These interests reflect his multifaceted approach to life.

Contact: Katherine Green, 516-825-5634, [email protected]

SOURCE The Inner Circle
DEERFIELD, Ill., June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Prominently featured in The Inner Circle, Jeffrey W. Sherman, MD, FACP is acknowledged as a Pinnacle Lifetime Member for his contributions to Medical Innovations and Advocacy.

Dr. Jeffrey W. Sherman, a distinguished figure in the medical field, continues to make significant contributions to healthcare through his expertise in biopharmaceuticals, education, and advocacy.

Jeffrey W. Sherman

With a Bachelor's degree in biology from Lake Forest College and an MD from Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science/The Chicago Medical School, Dr. Sherman has undergone rigorous training in internal medicine and infectious diseases. He completed his internship and residency at Northwestern University and a fellowship in infectious diseases at the University of California-San Francisco (UCSF).

Board-certified in internal medicine and infectious diseases by the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM), Dr. Sherman's expertise is widely recognized. He is affiliated with prestigious organizations such as the American College of Physicians (FACP), Erie Health Foundation, and Center for Healthcare Innovation (CHI).

Dr. Sherman's influence extends beyond clinical practice. He has served as a liaison to the FDA Clinical Trial Transformation Initiative (CTTI) Steering Committee and on the Board of Advisors of the Center for Information and Study on Clinical Research Participation (CISCRP), shaping policy and advancing clinical research methodologies. His philanthropic efforts include involvement with the Global Genes Medical and Scientific Advisory Board and engagement with the National Organization for Rare Diseases (NORD) and the European Organization for Rare Diseases (EURORDIS), highlighting his commitment to addressing rare diseases.

Throughout his career, Dr. Sherman has been dedicated to developing new medicines and advocating for patients with rare diseases. He attributes his success to the support of his mentors, Dr. Lewis Smith at Northwestern and Dr. John Alexander at Searle, and his unwavering dedication to his family.

When not immersed in his work, Dr. Sherman enjoys spending time with his five grandchildren, finding joy in family moments.

Reflecting on his journey, Dr. Sherman embraces the philosophy of "never say never," and "patients come first," embodying resilience and determination in his pursuit of medical innovation and advocacy.

Contact: Katherine Green, 516-825-5634, [email protected]

SOURCE The Inner Circle
Analysis of millions of births shows one-third of birth complications occur during the six weeks following discharge and disproportionately affect Black patients.

CHICAGO, June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The country's maternal health crisis goes far beyond the delivery room. New data shows that dangerous, unexpected birth complications often emerge weeks after the patient and baby have left the hospital, with Black patients experiencing these events at a rate 87% higher than white patients.

The analysis of these birth complications, known as severe maternal morbidity (SMM), draws on data from more than 700,000 Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) commercially insured births. Additionally, the report analyzed data on more than 1.5 million Medicaid births provided by NORC at the University of Chicago.

"One of the many tragedies of America's maternal health crisis is that so many of these events are preventable," said Kim Keck, president and CEO of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (BCBSA). "We need providers, payers, policymakers and community leaders to work in partnership to create a better system of healthone that ensures every mother and baby goes home healthy and remains healthy."

In both data sets, SMM events were higher for Black and Latina patients than white patients in commercially insured and Medicaid populations.

BCBS Data on Rate of SMM Events by Ethnicity in Commercially Insured Population Race/Ethnicity Commercial Black patients 87% higher than white patients Latina patients 7% higher than white patients

NORC Data on Rate of SMM Events by Ethnicity in Medicaid Population Race/Ethnicity Medicaid Black patients 90% higher than white patients Latina patients 6% higher than white patients

Note: The BCBS data and NORC data come from distinct datasets and thus are not intended for direct comparison.

Additional findings from the report show:

Racial disparities increase with age: In both the NORC Medicaid data and BCBS commercial data, SMM rates for Black patients ages 35 to 44 are more than twice as high as white patients.

Six health events account for over three-quarters of SMM events in both commercially insured and Medicaid populations, including sepsis, eclampsia and acute renal failure.

In April, BCBSA released a national health equity policy platform that outlines solutions to meaningfully improve how care is delivered and experienced.

Chief among the solutions identified in the platform is a call for Congress to provide funding to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to help states establish, coordinate and manage SMM Review Committees. Like the state-level Maternal Mortality Review Committees, these new committees would help identify the root causes of SMM events and create focused interventions during every stage of pregnancy.

Other recommendations include expanding access to care for Americans, addressing and mitigating impacts of social determinants of health, and investing in efforts to expand and diversify the health care workforce.

The platform builds on the more than 400 programs that BCBS companies already have in place to address health disparities.

By covering one in three Americans across every ZIP code, we unlock a wealth of data that provides crucial insights into America's health. We publish these findings as part of the BCBS Health of America series. This current report expands on previous studies, examining disparities throughout the entire spectrum of maternal care.

Read the full report, "Improving Postpartum Maternal Health Outcomes," here.

About Blue Cross Blue Shield Association

The Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association is a national federation of independent, community-based and locally operated Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies that collectively provide health care coverage for one in three Americans.

SOURCE Blue Cross Blue Shield Association
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On June 8, ZEEKR, the premium electric vehicle maker under Geely Holding, announced that it had officially signed cooperation agreements to enter the Indonesian and Malaysian markets. These agreements were signed in Jakarta with PT Premium Auto Prima and in Kuala Lumpur with Sentinel Automotive Sdn. Bhd.

ZEEKR highlighted that Indonesia, known as the "Land of Thousand Islands," boasts vast territory and a large population, making it the largest country in ASEAN and a leading global economy. The first ZEEKR store in Indonesia will be located in Jakarta, with additional stores in Surabaya, Bandung, and other major cities under construction. Malaysia, situated at the heart of Southeast Asia, serves as a hub linking ASEAN markets with the Middle East, Australia, and New Zealand. The first ZEEKR store in Malaysia will be in Kuala Lumpur, with stores in key cities like Selangor and Penang also scheduled to open within this year.

ZEEKR stated that Southeast Asia, with its population of 700 million, has become a new battleground for car manufacturers amid the rapid transformation of the global automotive industry.

ZEEKR X; photo credit: ZEEKR

The right-hand drive versions of the ZEEKR X and ZEEKR 009 will be the flagship models entering the markets of Indonesia and Malaysia.

Currently, ZEEKR has entered over 25 major markets worldwide and expects to expand into more than 50 international mainstream markets this year, covering Europe, Asia, Oceania, and Latin America.
LONDON, June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) announced today that it has appointed finance transformation business leader, Simon Bittlestone, FCMA, CGMA, as 91st President of the Institute. He will also serve as 9th Chair of the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants (the Association), the world's largest accounting membership body of public and management accountants.

Simon Bittlestone, FCMA, CGMA, CIMA President and Chair of the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants

Simon Bittlestone, FCMA, CGMA, CIMA President and Chair of the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants, representing AICPA & CIMA, said:

"The world is ripe with opportunities for the accounting and finance profession to create sustainable value, innovate and be inclusive. Despite prevailing uncertainty in the world, these are exciting times for our profession and over the next year I intend to help accelerate and lead its continuous evolution to make the most of these possibilities."

During his year in office, the focus of the profession will be on three critical areas:

Innovation & Transformation. New technologies, including generative AI and robotic process automation, are quickly revolutionising accounting and finance. CIMA and the Association will work on further empowering accounting and finance professionals to cultivate the mindset, skills, and knowledge they need to draw on the enormous possibilities they present.

New technologies, including generative AI and robotic process automation, are quickly revolutionising accounting and finance. CIMA and the Association will work on further empowering accounting and finance professionals to cultivate the mindset, skills, and knowledge they need to draw on the enormous possibilities they present. Value & Sustainability. As businesses further integrate sustainability into their strategies and operations, CIMA and the Association will put great emphasis on promoting the role of accounting and finance professionals as trusted advisors, who are equipped to support organisations to drive meaningful, long-lasting change and sustainable value creation.

As businesses further integrate sustainability into their strategies and operations, CIMA and the Association will put great emphasis on promoting the role of accounting and finance professionals as trusted advisors, who are equipped to support organisations to drive meaningful, long-lasting change and sustainable value creation. Inclusion & Opportunity. Workforce demographics are rapidly evolving, and the profession must adapt to attract top talent. CIMA and the Association's work will focus on fostering an inclusive profession, where anyone with the right aptitude and dedication has the opportunity to join the profession, seize opportunities for growth, and build a fulfilling career.

In this pivotal role, Simon will work closely with Carla M. McCall, CPA, CGMA, who serves as Co-Chair of the Association and Chair of the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA). Together they will work to provide nearly 600,000 AICPA and CIMA members, candidates, and registrants with the tools and resources they need to succeed and catalyse the profession into the future in a world of constant change.

Further commenting on his appointment, Simon added: "It is a great honour to serve the profession and I want to say a huge thank you to CIMA members for putting their trust in me to act as CIMA President and Chair of the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants."

Simon is a business leader with experience in both private and public companies and in the US, UK, and Asian markets, and currently holds a portfolio of advisory and non-executive roles for several technology businesses, investment funds, and charities. Simon's business career includes working for 12 years in the financial analytics industry, a decade of which he spent as CEO of Metapraxis, a finance technology company based in London and New York with a global blue-chip customer base. In the early stages of his career, he worked for technology and services firm Xchanging PLC, now part of CSC, where he qualified as an Associate Chartered Management Accountant and worked on the company's highly successful IPO on the London Stock Exchange in 2007.

Simon first became a CIMA member in 2009 and was admitted to fellowship in 2016, he has been an active ambassador and supporter of CIMA over the last decade. He was a member of CIMA's Audit and Finance Committee in 2016-17 before being co-opted to CIMA Council in 2018. In 2021, he was appointed to the Association's Board of Directors and Audit and Finance Committee and has previously served on CIMA's Thought Leadership and Business Ethics Committee.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2435592/Simon_Bittlestone_FCMA_CGMA_CIMA_President_and_Association_Chair.jpg
LOS ANGELES, June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Schall Law Firm, a national shareholder rights litigation firm, announces that it is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Toyota Motor Corporation ("Toyota" or "the Company") (NYSE: TM) 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. Toyota is the subject of a CNBC article published on June 9, 2024. According to the article, "Shares of Japanese automakers have largely plunged since the country's Transport Ministry found false data used to certify certain models a week ago on Monday." The article continues, "The stock of Japan's largest carmaker, Toyota, fell more than 5.4% last week, after the scandal broke on June 3, but is recovering on Monday. The automaker lost 2.45 trillion Japanese yen ($15.62 billion) in market value last week alone."

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 [email protected].

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 Firm

Brian Schall, Esq.

310-301-3335

[email protected]

www.schallfirm.com

SOURCE The Schall Law Firm
NEW YORK, June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Tuya Smart (NYSE: TUYA, HKEX: 2391), a global cloud platform service provider, grandly opened the 2024 TUYA Global Developer Summit in Futian, Shenzhen. At the main forum, Tuya officially unveiled a new brand "Tuya Ecosystem Partners Exhibition." This brand is a comprehensive exhibition meticulously crafted by Tuya with the goal of bringing together brand power, promoting technological exchange, and deepening industry cooperation. It aims to unite global developers to showcase advanced technologies and achievements, helping brands expand their influence and further explore global business cooperation.

At the summit, Tuya also collaborated with leading companies in the smart industry such as Chli, Huizhu, Links Field, and Silicon Labs to jointly create the unique Tuya Ecosystem Partners Exhibition Area. This area showcased a series of innovative products and solutions integrated with GenAI technology to global developers, helping customers seize business opportunities.

New Brand Released: Tuya Ecosystem Partners Exhibition

During the wave of smart technology, participating in large-scale exhibitions has become a vital path for companies to increase brand influence and broaden market horizons. However, this process also comes with many challenges. For example, companies may face difficulties in obtaining quality resources and ideal locations for their exhibitions. Additionally, the monotony of exhibition forms, the lack of proactive customer attraction methods, and insufficient product innovation capabilities can all become bottlenecks restricting companies.

As a leader in the smart industry, Tuya has remained committed to providing a display platform and building cooperation bridges for global developers. This time, Tuya's launch of a new IP aims to fundamentally solve these industry challenges and help companies achieve breakthroughs.

Leveraging its strong ecosystem integration capabilities, Tuya is able to bring together customers across all industry categories and the entire supply chain to jointly build a vibrant, interconnected smart ecosystem, breaking from the previous situation where exhibitors struggled alone and found it difficult to form synergy. Through its innovative exhibition format, Tuya provides developers with a global stage to showcase the latest and most cutting-edge smart technology achievements, helping exhibitors attract potential customers.

Moreover, the Tuya Ecosystem Partners Exhibition will offer exhibitors more channels for product exposure and brand communication, such as exhibition area live streaming, media interviews, and graphic displays, bringing developers millions of instances of exposure in a very short time, which effectively enhances brand awareness and influence. Developers will also have the opportunity to achieve precise business connections with partners such as global energy storage system integrators, smart appliance brands, core foreign trade OEM/ODM factories, traders, and more, and jointly venture into the smart market.

Tuya Ecosystem Partners Exhibition Ignites the 2024 TUYA Global Developer Summit

The Tuya Ecosystem Partners Exhibition, co-hosted by Tuya and leading companies like Chli, Huizhu, Links Field, and Silicon Labs, presented brand stories and enhanced product experiences in a more immersive and scenario-based manner. It was undoubtedly a highlight of the 2024 TUYA Global Developer Summit, attracting a continuous stream of visitors. At the exhibition, visitors can experience cutting-edge technology applications, enjoy innovative AI interactive achievements, and explore the fascinating aspects AI can bring to life and work.

Tuya  Chli

Founded in 2011, Chli is a high-tech enterprise focused on AI ultra-energy-saving lighting, eye-protection lighting, and urban sites lighting. The company is committed to becoming an "artist of light" and providing reliable, efficient, and healthy lighting products for the intelligent development of humanity.

Chli is dedicated to creating benefits through technology, actively responding to China's national "dual carbon" strategy, and being a pioneer in niche fields. At this ecosystem partners exhibition, Chli's full-spectrum healthy light and AI ultra-energy-saving system shined. For example, their AI ultra-energy-saving system solves difficult problems such as high-power consumption and the management of traditional LED tube lighting. The ultra-energy-saving tube products have average power consumptions as low as 2.5W, with a comprehensive energy-saving rate of over 80%, and have been implemented in hundreds of energy-saving application projects nationwide.

Tuya  Huizhu

Huizhu is a comprehensive hospitality industry solution provider dedicated to offering one-stop smart hotel solutions, and covers the entire process, from smart hardware production and manufacturing, to platform and software integration, to implementation. Over the years, Huizhu has consistently focused on the hotel industry, serving over 50,000 hospitality clients.

With strong product development capabilities and a forward-looking vision, Huizhu has launched a series of "black technology" products, leading the innovation trends in hardware devices. At the Tuya Ecosystem Partners Exhibition, Huizhu's hotel self-service machines and door card activation machines attracted considerable attention. The self-service check-in machine, for example, supports customization, OTA integration, mini-program development, and brand PMS integration, providing a solid foundation for hotels to achieve self-service check-in and further improve operational efficiency.

Tuya  Links Field

Links Field is a global leader in IoT connectivity service solutions, committed to providing reliable and stable global wireless connectivity services to global customers, including eSIM/SoftSIM/Multi-SIM technology, remote OTA code management, DP+ management platform, MCU coding, and more. It has established comprehensive marketing and service support capabilities worldwide.

At the Tuya Ecosystem Partners Exhibition, Links Field showcased its high-quality international wireless connectivity solutions. By using these solutions, customers can more easily manage their smart devices and improve the stability, security, and reliability of their device connections. With GSMA-certified rapid access to global networks, Links Field successfully incorporates global wireless network resources, covering over 220 countries and regions and providing strong support for customers to expand into global markets.

Tuya  Silicon Labs

Silicon Labs is a pioneer in the field of IoT wireless connectivity, providing integrated hardware and software platforms, convenient development tools, and an unparalleled ecosystem to help partners build advanced industrial, commercial, home, and life applications. Silicon Labs leads the industry in high performance, low power consumption, and security, supporting a wide range of multi-protocol solution combinations.

Silicon Labs showcased their wireless connectivity solutions for commercial lighting at the exhibition. This solution is suitable for various devices such as Zigbee gateways, Zigbee downlight drivers, charging piles, and wireless modules. Additionally, with Silicon Labs' latest SoC series products, users can experience unprecedented efficient connectivity. The low power consumption of the SoC series also extends the life of wireless devices, edge nodes, and access points by reducing the frequency of battery replacements, providing users with more convenient and economical options.

Through collaboration with industry leaders such as Chli, Huizhu, Links Field, and Silicon Labs, Tuya has built a platform interlinking the global market and leading the AI technology innovation trend. In the future, Tuya will continue to uphold the concepts of openness and win-win cooperation, working with more industry stakeholders to promote the prosperous development of the smart business ecosystem through the innovative model of the global ecosystem partners exhibition.

SOURCE Tuya Smart
The latest reveal highlights companies that best meet employee needs across 24 industries and four regions.

WASHINGTON, June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- U.S. News & World Report, the global authority in rankings and consumer advice, today announced the 2024-2025 U.S. News Best Companies to Work For . The ratings provide a look at the best publicly-traded companies across industries and regions to help employees and job seekers make decisions about workplaces that may be a good fit for them.

This year's ratings reflect several factors that account for ever-changing employee considerations about what makes a company the "best" to work for. The ratings then analyze that sentiment against other factors including quality of pay and benefits, work-life balance and flexibility, job and company stability, physical and psychological comfort, belongingness and esteem, and career opportunities and professional development.

"The second edition of U.S. News' Best Companies to Work For empowers the employee to choose a company that best meets their needs and requirements," said Carly Chase, vice president, Careers at U.S. News & World Report. "The 2024-2025 list includes companies that received high scores on multiple metrics that make up a positive work environment and everyday employee experience."

With the support of a panel of six experts , U.S. News' methodology analyzes the publicly available employee sentiment and other data that informs how a company supports the everyday experience of its workers. This year, the methodology moved to group companies by Industry Classification Benchmark (ICB) standards, with support based on U.S. News' editorial judgment. The move provides a deeper understanding of the nature of a company's business and main source of revenue.

"Prospective and current employees understand the significant impact their employer has on their quality of life," said Chase. "Whether a new grad seeking a company to launch their career, an established professional looking for a change or an HR professional researching the strengths of their company and others, Best Companies to Work For provides a central space to see which companies are meeting their employees' needs best."

U.S. News expanded its 2024-2025 ratings to include 549 companies across 29 lists. The ratings include the overall Best Companies list, which highlights the top 300 companies overall, 24 industry-specific lists, and four regional lists.

To calculate the U.S. News Best Companies to Work For list, U.S. News only considered companies that were a part of the Russell 3000 index as of June 2023 and had more than 75 Glassdoor reviews written between 2020-2023. Only the top 25% of companies in each region and industry were selected in their respective lists. Relevant data, including employee sentiment and regulatory enforcement data, was gathered from partners Revelio Labs , Good Jobs First's Violation Tracker , and QUODD to calculate the six metrics used in the list. For further details on how the metric scores were calculated, see the methodology .

For more information, including how to find a job in the age of AI , visit Best Places to Work For and U.S. News' expanding Careers offerings and share the ratings on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) using #BCTWF .

About U.S. News & World Report

U.S. News & World Report is the global leader in quality rankings that empower consumers, business leaders and policy officials to make better, more informed decisions about important issues affecting their lives and communities. A multifaceted digital media company with Education, Health, Money, Travel, Cars, News, Real Estate, Careers and 360 Reviews platforms, U.S. News provides rankings, independent reporting, data journalism, consumer advice and U.S. News Live events. More than 40 million people visit USNews.com each month for research and guidance. Founded in 1933, U.S. News is headquartered in Washington, D.C.

SOURCE U.S. News & World Report, L.P.
Investments from Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation, State of Tennessee, and Hersh Family Investments Anchor First Close

TYSONS, Va., June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Veteran Ventures Capital (VVC) is pleased to announce the successful first close of its Fund II, reaching $25 millionhalf of its target raise of $50 million. This milestone, achieved in less than five months, underscores the strong investor confidence in Veteran Ventures' thesis and execution, focusing on investing in dual-use national security technology businesses led by veteran entrepreneurs and leaders.

Veteran Ventures announces first close of its Fund II, reaching $25 millionhalf of its target raise of $50 million. Post this VVC General Partnership

Veteran Ventures first close was supported by significant investments from the Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation (VIPC) and the State of Tennessee. Additionally, the team is honored to receive continued investment and guidance from anchor investor Ken Hersh and the dedicated team at Hersh Family Investments. Their unwavering support underscores the potential and promise of VVC's investment strategy.

Building on Success: Fund I Highlights

Veteran Ventures' Fund II first close builds on the success of VVC Veterans Fund I. "Our inaugural fund has demonstrated the effectiveness of our investment approach, garnering over $130 million in non-dilutive government funding across our portfolio companies," said Managing Partner Derren Burrell. "This achievement has effectively de-risked our investments, providing a strong foundation for continued growth and innovation." Additionally, 60% of Veteran Ventures' portfolio companies have received mark-ups, with several more anticipated in the months ahead. This performance is a testament to the hard work and resilience of Fund I portfolio companies, founded or led by veterans.

Investing in the Future of National Security

Veteran Ventures Capital is dedicated to supporting the next generation of veteran-led businesses that are developing the future technologies critical to national security. The focus on dual-use technologies ensures that portfolio investments not only benefit from the defense sector, but also have commercial applications, driving broader economic impact and opportunity.

VVC Veterans Fund II offers a unique opportunity for investors to be part of a mission-driven venture capital firm that combines financial returns with a commitment to national security. By investing in rapidly growing dual-use technology businesses led by veterans, Veteran Ventures Capital leverages the unique skills, discipline, and leadership qualities inherent in those who have served & defended the nation.

Looking Ahead

Veteran Ventures Capital will be conducting future closes through the 4th quarter of 2024, providing ample opportunity for new investors to participate in the growth underway in Fund II. With the first close of $25 million, VVC is well on its way to exceeding the target raise, already surpassing the Fund I total capitalization in record time.

"With the momentum in our second fund, Veteran Ventures Capital is well-positioned and newly recapitalized to continue its mission of supporting veteran entrepreneurs and advancing national security technology. We look forward to partnering with more investors who share our vision and commitment to build excellent companies making a meaningful impact," said General Partner Josh Weed.

About Veteran Ventures Capital:

Veteran Ventures Capital is a veteran-owned growth-equity investment firm empowering veteran entrepreneurs and leaders working at the nexus of national security and commercial technology. Their team invests exclusively in companies that have military veteran leadership; recognizing their military experience, training, and unwavering character translates into exceptional business acumen and superior risk-adjusted returns for investors.

Founded in 2019, Veteran Ventures Capital is now headquartered in Tysons, Virginia, and remains committed to empowering veteran entrepreneurs nationwide and leveraging the team's extraordinary national security industry experience to shape the leading veteran-led commercial tech companies of the future. Veteran Ventures Capital is now actively raising its second fund with a target of $50 million and hard cap of $100 million.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Craig Jaques

Principal, Veteran Ventures Capital

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Veteran Ventures Capital
DALLAS, June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- VineBrook Homes Trust, Inc. (the "Company") announced today that the Company's 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the "Annual Meeting") was convened on June 11, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. Central Time and adjourned because a quorum of the holders of the Company's common stock was not present in person or by proxy.

The Annual Meeting has been adjourned to July 23, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. Central Time and will continue to be held virtually.

Only shareholders of record, as of the record date, April 1, 2024 (the "Record Date"), are entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting, either in person or by proxy. Proxies previously submitted in respect of the Annual Meeting will be voted at the adjourned Annual Meeting unless properly revoked, and stockholders who have previously submitted a proxy or otherwise voted need not take any further action.

About VineBrook Homes Trust, Inc.

VineBrook Homes Trust, Inc. ("VineBrook Homes") is an externally advised real estate investment trust. VineBrook Homes is focused on acquiring, developing, renovating, leasing and operating single-family rental properties primarily located in the midwestern, heartland and southern United States markets. For more information, please visit www.investors.VineBrookHomes.com.

CONTACTS

Investor Relations

Kristen Thomas

[email protected]

Media Relations

Prosek Partners for NexPoint

[email protected]

SOURCE VineBrook Homes Trust, Inc.
Experience Vyopta and Logitech's Collaboration Insights Live at InfoComm 2024

AUSTIN, Texas, June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Vyopta , a leader in digital collaboration and experience optimization, today announced it has joined the Logitech Collaboration Platform (LCP). Together, Vyopta and Logitech, a provider of software-enabled hardware solutions, will arm organizations with powerful information on their meeting rooms and collaboration spaces via the CollabOS API. With unprecedented visibility into space utilization, leaders can make data-driven decisions to optimize their real estate investment and ensure their workplace infrastructure is meeting the needs of the modern workforce.

"Hybrid work has redefined the modern workplace, making data-driven insights essential both for optimizing employee experiences and rightsizing real estate investments," said Alfredo Ramirez, CEO of Vyopta. "Logitech's API offers access to an enhanced layer of data that seamlessly integrates into Vyopta's intuitive monitoring and analytics platform without needing custom integration. This data helps our mutual customers design workspaces to enhance productivity, employee well-being, and collaboration."

The CollabOS API enables Vyopta to easily integrate with Logitech Tap Scheduler and popular conference platforms to show real-time room availability. If a meeting space is booked and nobody shows up, Tap Scheduler will update its available status, and the room booking will be removed. Conversely, if a meeting is not booked and an employee starts a meeting, even if it is not online, the scheduler will show occupied status, and the calendar will show in use. This functionality ultimately optimizes the use of each meeting space.

"Collaboration with Vyopta integrates critical data revealing valuable insights into how meeting rooms are used," said Sudeep Trivedi, Head of Video Collaboration Alliances at Logitech. "Together, we can empower our mutual customers to optimize their workplaces for improved employee experiences and get the most out of their technology investments."

Vyopta will demonstrate the new functionality during InfoComm 2024, held from June 12 to 14, in booth C6503 in the Central Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Related:

About Vyopta Incorporated

Vyopta, the leader in digital user experience management for collaboration, has helped over 60 million people collaborate better. Its Technology Insights and Space Insights applications have helped identify and address over 9 million issues. Vyopta helps organizations deliver exceptional collaboration user experiences and optimize their technology and real estate investments. Hundreds of organizations worldwide spanning 20+ industries use Vyopta. For more information: https://www.vyopta.com/ .

SOURCE Vyopta Inc
MADISON, Wis., June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Deborah Keller, an accomplished life sciences executive with extensive global experience in drug development, has been appointed Chair of the WARF Board of Trustees. Keller succeeds Dr. Jim Berbee, who will remain a WARF Trustee.

Deborah Keller

Keller served nearly 30 years at Covance Inc., including as CEO of Covance Drug Development. At Covance, Keller was responsible for $3 billion in revenue and more than 12,000 employees in 125 countries involved in all phases of drug development from late discovery to commercialization services to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. Keller retired from Covance in 2016.

"We are honored to have Deborah lead our WARF Board of Trustees," says Erik Iverson, WARF Chief Executive Officer. "Her leadership is evident in all her contributions to WARF and UW and her expertise in drug development is an important complement to WARF and UW-Madison's portfolio of work in this area."

Today, Keller is the founder and principal with Black Frame Advisors LLC, which serves the health care and pharmaceutical industry. In addition, she serves as chair of Avalere Health and as a director for West Pharmaceutical Services Inc. Keller received Fierce Biotech's Top 10 Women in Biotech Award and the Healthcare Business Women's Association Rising Star Award.

"Serving our great public University of Wisconsin-Madison, one of our state's greatest assets, through WARF is a true honor," says Keller. "UW's research community is one of the finest engines of innovation in the world, meeting the complex challenges of today and the future. WARF is a storied organization with a mission to support research and innovation and helping the citizens of Wisconsin and others around the world, ranging from developing life-saving medicines such as warfarin to funding environmental monitoring stations, part of the 'Wisconet,' which aid agriculture and other industry in Wisconsin. The scope of technology and innovation advancements by WARF on behalf of the UW is vast and growing, allowing WARF's 21st century contribution to the Wisconsin Idea."

Keller holds a master's in business administration (MBA) from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She earned two bachelor's degrees, one in business administration - accounting and another in chemistry, at Nazareth College.

Keller was first elected to the WARF Board of Trustees in 2017. Berbee, an emergency medicine physician and entrepreneur, served as Chair since 2018.

Keller lives in Madison, Wisconsin.

About WARF

Incorporated in 1925, the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF) patents and licenses discoveries from UW-Madison research, manages an investment portfolio generated from licensing and investment proceeds, and provides annual grants to the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the Morgridge Institute for Research to support further scientific investigation and research. By driving collaborations among researchers, investors, industry and entrepreneurs, WARF commercializes innovations from campus through various initiatives. WARF Accelerator improves the commercialization potential of university intellectual property through industry engagement and investment in proof-of-concept milestones to validate market potential, demonstrate commercial value and de-risk technology. WARF Therapeutics partners with UW-Madison and Morgridge Institute researchers employing an industry-focused approach to improve the value propositions of drug candidates. WARF Ventures is an early-stage venture fund that invests in startups based on UW/WARF technologies. Learn more at warf.org .

CONTACT:

Jeanan Yasiri Moe

Director of Strategic Communications and Public Affairs

[email protected]

(608) 960-9892

SOURCE WISCONSIN ALUMNI RESEARCH FOUNDATION
PASADENA, Calif., June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- ExchangeRight, one of the nation's leading providers of diversified real estate DST and REIT investments, has announced that the company's Essential Income REIT has entered into a Credit Facility with Wells Fargo, closing on the first $75 million of the revolving line of credit. The Credit Facility may be increased to $400 million upon request of the Essential Income REIT, subject to receipt of commitments for the increased amount.

"This is the next step in the growth of the Essential Income REIT and ExchangeRight's aggregation strategy." Post this PASADENA, Calif.  ExchangeRights Essential Income REIT has entered into a Credit Facility with Wells Fargo, closing on the first $75 million of the revolving line of credit (Tuesday, June 11, 2024).

Securing this Credit Facility with Wells Fargo on behalf of the REIT powerfully advances the execution of ExchangeRight's aggregation strategy by enhancing the company's financing capacity, flexibility, and operational resilience. This facility positions ExchangeRight to optimize the REIT's balance sheet with long-term fixed-rate corporate bond financing, providing the company with greater control to lengthen and ladder the REIT's debt maturities at favorable rates once the time is right.

The REIT may utilize the Credit Facility to finance permitted acquisitions, certain capital expenditures and investments, payments of applicable pre-development and development costs, as well as to support any of its refinancing and working capital needs. These advantages empower the REIT to execute on its investment strategy even more efficiently than it has since its 2019 launch. As of May 31, 2024, the REIT has aggregated a portfolio of 353 net-leased properties diversified across 34 states and 36 primarily investment-grade and historically recession-resilient tenants successfully operating in the necessity retail and healthcare industries.

Joshua Ungerecht, a managing partner at ExchangeRight, shared that this agreement is expected to help optimize the REIT's business operations to provide further protection and value-creation for investors.

"This is the next step in the growth of the Essential Income REIT and ExchangeRight's aggregation strategy," said Ungerecht. "With this new Credit Facility, the REIT will be in an advantageous position to streamline operations and minimize transaction costs, create new opportunities to further diversify debt terms, and lock in long-term financing when rates are favorable. On behalf of the REIT's investors, we are grateful for the relationship with Wells Fargo and for their thoughtful due diligence on the quality of the Essential Income REIT's current portfolio and ExchangeRight's investment and aggregation strategy. We remain committed to steward the trust placed in us by investors, advisors, representatives, and now, Wells Fargo with their provision of this valuable Credit Facility."

About ExchangeRight's Essential Income REIT

The Essential Income REIT, a Maryland statutory trust, is a self-administered real estate company, formed on January 11, 2019, focusing on investing in single-tenant, primarily investment-grade net-leased real estate. The REIT currently pays an annualized distribution rate on new investments of 6.41% for its Class I shares and 6.02% for Class A shares and has fully covered its dividend with Adjusted Funds from Operations since its inception and through its most recently reported period. The Company, through its operating partnership, ExchangeRight Income Fund Operating Partnership, LP, owns 353 properties in 34 states (collectively, the "Trust Properties") as of May 31, 2024. The Trust Properties are occupied by 36 different national primarily investment-grade necessity-based retail tenants and are additionally diversified by industry, geographic region, and lease term. The Company has elected and is qualified to be taxed as a real estate investment trust ("REIT") for U.S. federal income tax purposes. For more information, please visit the Class A website for broker-dealers, registered representatives, and their investors, or the Class I website for RIAs, advisors, family offices, institutions, and their investors. Past performance of the REIT and ExchangeRight does not guarantee future performance.

Media Contact

Lindsey Thompson

Senior Media Relations Officer

[email protected]

(626) 773-3448

SOURCE ExchangeRight
ORLANDO, Fla., June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Westgate Resorts announced today that it has completed a securitization through Westgate Resorts 2024-1 LLC (the "Issuer") for the issuance of $206,000,000 of timeshare collateralized notes to 14 different investors, its seventh securitization since 2012. The notes were offered in a private placement within the United States to qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A and outside the United States in accordance with Regulation S under the Securities Act 1933, as amended.

The securitization was rated by DBRS Morningstar, and four classes of Notes were issued for $69,028,000 of AAA rated Class A Notes, $62,530,000 of A rated Class B Notes, $52,680,000 of BBB rated Class C Notes, and $21,690,000 of BB rated Class D Notes. The Class A Notes have a coupon rate of 6.06 percent, the Class B Notes have a coupon rate of 6.56 percent, the Class C Notes have a coupon rate of 7.06 percent, and the Class D Notes have a coupon rate of 9.26 percent for an overall weighted average coupon rate of 6.8. The advance rate on the transaction was 87.60 percent.

"We are very pleased with the results of this securitization and the enthusiasm of the investor community who continue to find strength in our company and business model. The strong interest from the investment community demonstrates faith in Westgate, our servicing platform, and the experience of our long-tenured management team," said Tom Dugan, Chief Financial Officer of Westgate Resorts. The bonds were sold through Triumph Capital Markets as Sole Structuring Advisor and Joint Bookrunning Manager.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of such jurisdiction. The Notes have not been registered under the Securities Act 1993, as amended, or any state securities law. Unless so registered, the Notes may not be offered or sold in the United States, except pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws.

About Westgate Resorts

Westgate Resorts is the largest privately held timeshare company in the world and one of the largest resort developers in the United States. Founded in 1982 by David Siegel, the company is headquartered in Orlando with 18 themed destination resorts nationwide, featuring more than 13,400 luxury villas and hotel rooms in popular vacation destinations throughout the United States including Orlando and Cocoa Beach, Florida; Park City, Utah; Las Vegas, Nevada; Gatlinburg, Tennessee; Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; Williamsburg, Virginia; Branson, Missouri; and Mesa, Arizona. For more information about Westgate Resorts, visit WestgateResorts.com. Find Westgate Resorts on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook.

MEDIA CONTACT:

The Zimmerman Agency

[email protected]

850-668-2222

SOURCE Westgate Resorts
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Recently, BYD celebrated the opening of its 108th store in Thailand, which is also its 300th store in the Asia-Pacific region. This event marks a significant milestone in BYD's expansion in the Thai market and further solidifies its presence in the Asia-Pacific region.

Photo credit: BYD

Mr. Ke Yubin, Assistant General Manager of BYD's Asia-Pacific Auto Sales Division and General Manager of BYD Thailand, stated, "By 2024, BYD plans to have over 150 stores in Thailand, covering all 77 provinces. The growing sales network not only boosts market confidence but also lays a solid foundation for future sales growth. The opening of the 300th store in the Asia-Pacific region will further strengthen BYD's leading position in the market."

The newly opened store is located in Ubon Ratchathani, northeastern Thailand, covering an area of 13,000 square meters. It features various functional areas, including a new energy vehicle display area, a test drive area, a sales negotiation area, a customer lounge, and an after-sales service area, providing customers with a comprehensive service experience. BYD is committed to delivering a high-quality car buying experience through innovative technology and excellent service. The store is also equipped with advanced charging facilities to ensure convenient charging services for customers after purchasing their vehicles.

Thailand is a crucial market in the Asia-Pacific region. BYD's decision to open the significant store in this country reflects the company's strong commitment and confidence in the long-term development of the Thai market. BYD added that this new store will offer local consumers more convenient and efficient services, further promoting the adoption and development of new energy vehicles in Thailand.
As sophisticated "bad bot" attacks become more prevalent, U.S. auto insurers must evolve their approaches to differentiate between humans, good bots and bad bots, and manage good traffic at point of quote

Key takeaways

LexisNexis Risk Solutions announces the launch of ThreatMetrix for Insurance Quotes to help U.S. auto insurers differentiate between the rise in malicious bot attacks and legitimate human queries at point of quote without adding friction to the consumer experience.

ThreatMetrix for Insurance Quotes includes a crowdsourced repository of 100 billion global digital transactions that can identify and help mitigate bots in near real-time, leveraging the strength of the LexisNexis Digital Identity Network.

In 2023, the percentage of consumers who purchased insurance online was 25% , up from 24% the year prior, with consumers between the ages of 18-29 purchasing insurance online at the highest clip of 54% i . As more consumers transition to digital interactions with insurers, the threat of bot attacks could continue to grow.

, up from 24% the year prior, with . As more consumers transition to digital interactions with insurers, the threat of bot attacks could continue to grow. The rise of AI  a double-edged sword: The technologies generative AI has spawned provide a variety of innovations for legitimate applications and criminal applications.

ATLANTA, June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- LexisNexis Risk Solutions, a leading data, analytics and technology provider, today announced the launch of ThreatMetrix for Insurance Quotes to help U.S. insurers and consumers better combat the rise in cybercrime that continues to plague a number of sectors, including the auto insurance industry. Digital fraud attack rates recorded in the LexisNexis Digital Identity Network platform continued climbing in 2023, increasing 43% year-over-year in North America, maintaining a trajectory first noted in the LexisNexis Risk Solutions Cybercrime Report 2022ii.

Through the use of ThreatMetrix for Insurance Quotes, insurers can now:

Quickly assess if a transaction is a bot or legitimate consumer seeking a quote for auto insurance.

Evaluate the devices visiting insurers' websites without adding friction to the consumer experience.

Identify data-harvesting bot attacks and protect consumers' personal data.

"ThreatMetrix for Insurance Quotes gives insurers the ability to better assess the risk of bot activity for each digital transaction in real time, returning an easy-to-use bot risk score and thresholds that each insurer can customize based on their own risk tolerance, then order LexisNexis Auto Data Prefill with confidence that they are delivering an efficient quoting experience for the consumer," said Kim Brown, associate vice president of product management, insurance, LexisNexis Risk Solutions. "We know that bot attacks are becoming more sophisticated by the day. With consumers increasingly shopping for and purchasing insurance online, insurers who integrate ThreatMetrix for Insurance Quotes in the face of these ever-changing risks can enhance their detection management systems to help their organizations protect consumers and reduce friction during the auto quoting process, while better safeguarding themselves against costly data breaches. And with the evolving nature of these bot attacks, ongoing updates from ThreatMetrix based on what we are seeing in the market can help U.S. insurers stay one step ahead of the bad guys."

About LexisNexis Risk Solutions

LexisNexis Risk Solutions harnesses the power of data, sophisticated analytics platforms and technology solutions to provide insights that help businesses across multiple industries and governmental entities reduce risk and improve decisions to benefit people around the globe. Headquartered in metro Atlanta, Georgia, we have offices throughout the world and are part of RELX (LSE: REL/NYSE: RELX, a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers. For more information, please visit www.risk.lexisnexis.com, and www.relx.com.

Media Contacts:

Chas Strong

LexisNexis Risk Solutions

Phone: +1.706.714.7083

[email protected]

Dean Carney

Brodeur Partners for LexisNexis Risk Solutions

Phone: +1.646.746.5607

[email protected]

i Statista Report: Share of US consumers who bought insurance online in 2023, by age. August 2023

ii LexisNexis Cybercrime Report

SOURCE LexisNexis Risk Solutions
LOS ANGELES, June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Women's March Foundation in Los Angeles proudly announces a nationwide walk-out on June 24th, the anniversary of the overturning of Roe v. Wade, to protest against the patriarchy and demand a society that respects and upholds women's reproductive rights.

**Why June 24th?**

June 24, 2022, marks the day the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, a pivotal decision that led to restrictive abortion bans across the country, endangering the lives and freedoms of women. This date now serves as a powerful reminder of the ongoing struggle for reproductive justice and the urgent need for action.

**What to Do:**

- **At 12 PM**, participants are encouraged to walk out of their workplaces, schools, or homes to speak out about the critical importance of reproductive rights.

- **Wear green** and make noise  silence is never rewarded. This color symbolizes the fight for reproductive freedom and solidarity among advocates.

- **Not in Los Angeles?** Send an email to [email protected] to learn how you can organize your own day of action in your community.

"June 24th is a somber anniversary, but it is also a call to action,", Emiliana Guereca President of the Women's March Foundation. "We cannot sit idly by as our rights are stripped away. We must stand together, stay loud, and show up to defend women's rights. Two years after Roe was struck down we are doubling down on protecting Reproductive Rights across the Country."

This event is not only a protest but also a movement to raise awareness and mobilize communities across the nation. By joining the walk-out, participants will send a clear message to lawmakers and society at large that the fight for reproductive rights is far from over.

The Women's March Foundation invites all supporters of women's rights to participate, whether in Los Angeles or in solidarity from other locations. Together, we can make our voices heard and work towards a future where every woman has the right to make decisions about her own body.

For more information about the walk-out and how to participate, please visit www.womensmarchfoundation.org or contact Cherry Hepburn (310) 200-0124 or [email protected].

About the Women's March Foundation

The Women's March Foundation is a leading organization dedicated to advocating for women's rights and social justice. Through activism, education, and community building, the Foundation strives to create a world where all women are empowered and their rights are protected.

**Media Contact:**

Cherry Hepburn

Director of Communications

Women's March Foundation

Phone: (310) 200-0124

Email: [email protected]

For additional information, visit www.womensmarchfoundation.org.

SOURCE Women's March Foundation
The donation will benefit deserving students who are seeking higher education at colleges and universities.

WASHINGTON, June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Zeta National Educational Foundation (ZNEF), a leading non-profit organization which provides funding to young individuals seeking higher education, recently received a $250,000.00 donation from Macy's for advancement of ZNEF's campaign designed to assist students in their college pursuits. The check awarding reception took place at Macy's Metro Center store in Washington, D.C. Several members of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated, as well as executives from Macy's and The Kasper Group were on hand to witness the presentation of the investment from ZNEF's partners.

Left to Right: Shantelle George, Metro Center Store Manager | Macys;& Simone Laws, Senior Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion | Macys;& Valerie Hollingsworth Baker, Chairwoman | Zeta National Education Foundation;& Kim Sawyer,& Co Director of Partnerships & Sponsorships |& Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated;& Jenny Stein, Vice President of Store Development and Regional Merchandise Planning | The Kasper Group;& Efney Hall, Manager / Assistant to the President and CEO | The Kasper Group

Launched in 2022, a partnership between Macy's and The Kasper Group created an exclusive collection inspired by the signature colors of some Divine Nine Sororities, offering customers an evolving product assortment, in a variety of sizes and styles, to represent their organizations at events year-round. Additionally, members of each sorority are featured in the marketing of their respective signature colored apparel. The initial collection has expanded to include dresses, skirts, blazers, pants and, recently, to include menswear and accessories inspired by the signature colors of Divine Nine Fraternities; the entire collection is available online at macys.com.

To further advance the impact, Macy's anticipates donating approximately $3M to various Divine Nine Fraternity and Sorority foundations by January 2025. To date, Macy's has contributed $1.75M, divided equally, among Zeta National Educational Foundation, Delta Research and Educational Foundation and Sigma Public Education and Research Foundation.

Since 1975, the Foundation, through its partnership with Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated has awarded millions of dollars in scholarships and fellowships for higher education to both Zetas and non-Zetas. The Foundation has processed hundreds of other scholarships as part of its Chapter Designated Scholarship program, which was established in 1980. The Foundation also offers an annual $125,000.00 scholarships, titled The Founders Centennial Scholarship, to a female high school senior pursuing a bachelors degree at an accredited college or university. So far, four students have received the award.

"We thank Macy's for the generous investment in ZNEF as we continue to share our donations with deserving students who are seeking higher education," said Valerie Hollingsworth Baker, Chairwoman of Zeta National Education Foundation. "We are going to continue utilizing these funds to give out scholarships. I believe we have to do more for our children. I am going to lead the charge of giving back to the community. We feel good when the community benefits from our goodwill."

"As we continue to build a brighter future with bold representation as part of our social purpose platform, Misson Every One, we are proud to partner with ZNEF to empower and support these future leaders with scholarships to further their educational journeys and pursuits," said Simone Harris-Laws, Macy's Senior Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion.

ABOUT ZETA NATIONAL EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION

The mission of the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.'s National Educational Foundation is to support higher education achievement through scholarships and conduct community education programs and related research to improve individual and community living standards. The Foundation annually provides financial assistance to worthy students pursuing higher education both at the Undergraduate and Graduate levels.

CONTACT:

Ron Carter

(323) 864-7092

[email protected]

SOURCE Zeta National Educational Foundation
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On June 11, XPENG officially released the official images of the first model in its fire new MONA seriesthe XPENG M03, which is expected to be launched soon.

Photo credit: XPENG

It is worth noting that, from the teaser released, MONA is not a completely new brand, nor does it adopt a new logo; rather, it is a new series under the XPENG X logo. The new car is set to target the market segment priced between 100,000 yuan to 150,000 yuan and will feature XPENG's intelligent driving technologies.

MONA stands for "Made Of New AI". The M03 is not only a cost-effective product aimed at consumers but will also be sold to ride-hailing fleets. The official images show that the new car closely resembles the previously released renderings, giving it a youthful, high-tech look with a distinctive design.

The front of the new car features a T-shaped headlight design and a closed grille, with the XPENG X logo in the center. The side profile of the car is simple, with a waistline running through the door handles and additional lines sketched at the bottom.

The new car also includes hidden door handles, and a blue intelligent driving indicator light is present on the front fender. An innovative small spoiler is located in the D-pillar area on the side, though its function has not yet been revealed. Notably, the car's roof does not currently have LiDAR, indicating it may adopt a pure-vision system in the future. From the previously released rear teaser images, the rear of the new car resembles the front, also featuring a T-shaped light design.

Based on previous information, this M03 may be called "" in Chinese (Chinese pinyin: Xiangwang). It is expected to come with multiple color schemes, including blue, beige-blue, and beige-pink.

The first car in the MONA series is jointly developed by DiDi and XPENG, with DiDi's team responsible for design, part of the R&D, and sales. After XPENG took over, it handled the R&D, supply chain, production, and sales to consumers. According to insiders, the battery supplier for the first MONA car includes BYD, and the car will have a range of over 500km.
Beijing (Gasgoo)- In May 2024, Chinas new energy passenger vehicle market realized a respective 31% and 32.1% year-on-year jump in production and wholesale volumes, which came in at 881,000 vehicles and 897,000 vehicles, according to data provided by the China Passenger Car Association.

In the past month, new energy vehicles (NEVs) accounted for 44.2% of the total passenger vehicles wholesaled by automakers in China, climbing 10.2 percentage points from that of a year ago. Specifically, NEVs made up 59.8% of the monthly wholesales made by Chinese indigenous brands, 32.7% of luxury vehicle brands, and merely 8% of mainstream joint-venture brands in the country.

Powertrain-wise, battery electric vehicles (BEVs) accounted for 59% of the total wholesale volume in May, amounting to 531,000 vehicles. Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) made up 31% (276,000 units) and range-extended electric vehicles (REEVs) at 10% (91,000 units).

Photo credit: Tesla

In the past month, a total of 15 passenger car models achieved a monthly wholesale volume exceeding 20,000 units, 7 of which were NEVs, including the top 5 models. BYD's Song maintained its lead with 82,174 units wholesaled in May, which is followed by the BYD Qin (52,072 units), Teslas Model Y (45,359 units), the BYD Seagull (35,370 units), and the BYD Destroyer 05 (32,883 units).

In May, new energy passenger car companies in China showed strong overall performance. BYD solidified its market-leading position among domestic brands in the NEV market with its dual focus on both BEV and PHEV. REEVs, represented by brands like SERES, Li Auto, Changan Auto, and Leapmotor, performed particularly well.

Photo credit: BYD

In terms of product launches, Chinese automakers are expanding their market base by pursuing multiple new energy powertrain routes. This expansion is reflected in the increase in monthly wholesale volumes, with 16 carmakers achieving a monthly volume surpassing 10,000 units (an increase of 2 companies from the previous month and 4 from the same period last year). These companies account for 88.6% of the total new energy passenger car market in China last month (up from 86.7% last month and 82.1% last year).

The top three NEV sellers in May are BYD (330,488 units), Tesla China (72,573 units), and Geely Auto (58,573 units).

As to retail performance in the past month, Chinas NEV retail volume amounted to 804,000 vehicles, surging 38.5% year on year and 18.7% month over month. NEVs accounted for 47% of the total retail volume of passenger cars in May, which rose 14 percentage points from a year ago.

To be specific, 71.2% of the passenger cars retailed by Chinas indigenous brands in the last month were NEVs. Meanwhile, NEVs constituted 28.4% and 7.5% of luxury brands and mainstream joint ventures retail volume.

Photo credit: Xiaomi EV

Regarding monthly domestic retail market share, mainstream indigenous brands NEVs held a 71% share in May, down 2.1 percentage points year-on-year. Joint venture brands NEVs accounted for 4.5% of the total, down 0.1 percentage points year-on-year. The market share of startup NEV makers, driven by brands like Xiaomi EV, grew by 3.5 percentage points from the previous year to 16.3%. Tesla's share was 6.4% in China last month, which dipped 0.5 percentage points year over year.

In May, a total of 94,000 NEVs were exported by automakers in China, representing a 4% decrease year-over-year and accounting for 24.8% of the total passenger car export volume. BEVs made up 78% of the total NEV exports in the last month.
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Tesla CEO Elon Musk. Grzegorz Wajda/SOPA/Getty Images

The list of Tesla investors who oppose Elon Musk's multibillion-dollar pay package is growing.

The chief investment officer of CalSTRS, a major California pension fund, told CNBC that the fund opposes the figure.

Chris Ailman said Musk needs to focus in on his endeavors.

Another major Tesla shareholder is publicly opposing Elon Musk's multibillion-dollar pay package just days before investors are set to vote on the enormous figure ahead of the automaker's annual shareholder meeting on Thursday.

Christopher Ailman, chief investment officer for the California State Teachers' Retirement System, told CNBC on Monday that the massive state pension fund is voting no on Musk's astronomical compensation package. The package, which was worth $56 billion when investors initially voted on it in 2018, was down to about $46 billion as of Friday's closing price.

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"We need to have a serious salary," Ailman said. "We'll pay him 140 times the average worker pay. How about that deal? I think that's more than fair. "

Ailman skewered the record-breaking compensation package as "ridiculous" and "absurd." A Delaware judge struck down the package in January, calling the final price "unfair" and the process to determine that number "deeply flawed." Investors are now voting on whether to reinstate the package.

CalSTRS, which represents more than one million public school educators in California, has been a Tesla investor since 2000, when the automaker was based in the Golden State. The pension fund currently holds 4.6 million shares in the company.

Ailman praised Musk for building Tesla from the ground up but implored the billionaire leader to let professional managers lead the car company while he focuses on his myriad other pursuits.

"He needs to focus in on, either cars, on X, or on going to Mars. And I think his heart really is in going to Mars," Ailman said.

Story continues

Musk did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

Despite Musk's other endeavors, Tesla remains a car company  and the automaker's output and stock valuation should reflect that, Ailman said.

"Even if these cars had AI in them, they are not worth 60-times earnings. That is absurd," he told CNBC.

Ailman critiqued Musk's board governance at Tesla and the billionaire's penchant for "temper tantrums" but ultimately said he would be disappointed to see Musk leave the car company.

"I love the fact that he owns the company. He is the leader. He is the star. He designed the cars," Ailman told the outlet.

The results of the investor vote will be announced Thursday. One Wall Street analyst told BI this week that the compensation package is likely to fail, which could lead to a drop in Tesla stock. Proxy advisors are recommending investors vote no on the pay package, advice which Tesla's passive investors  about 20% of investors in total  are likely to follow, Bernstein analyst Toni Sacconaghi told BI.

Other institutional investors who had already publicly said they were voting no on the deal told BI last week that Musk's decision to redirect a shipment of highly sought-after Nvidia chips away from Tesla and to X instead solidified their vote.

Regardless of Thursday's outcome, Ailman said CalSTRS has no plans to sell its Tesla shares, even if Musk continues to reach for the stars.

"He wants to go to Mars," Ailman told CNBC. "Let's let him fly away."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Lucknow, June 11 : The parents of children enrolled in government primary and upper primary schools in Uttar Pradesh will now get the results of their wards on mobile phones from this session, an official said.

The decision was taken at the executive committee meeting of Samagra Shiksha, held under the chairmanship of the state Chief Secretary Durga Shankar Mishra, according to an official statement.

There are 1.9 crore children enrolled in government schools run by the Basic Shiksha Parishad.

The Chief Secretary said that special campaigns should be run across the state regarding increasing enrolment in Parishad schools.

From time to time, surprise inspections of all schools should be done, and strict action should be taken against those negligent in their work.

He added that under 'Operation Kayakalp', there has been a historic improvement in the infrastructure facilities in schools in the last five years.

Along with this, attractive learning material has been made available to students, he said.

Now, the entire focus needs to be given to improving the quality of education.

Similarly, consent was given for setting up smart classes in 3,530 upper primary and composite schools of the Parishad and for the procurement and establishment of ICT labs in 1,515 upper primary and composite schools.

Under the Samagra Shiksha (Secondary), an amount of Rs 4.36 crore had been approved in the annual action plan for the year 2024-25, for the establishment of 92 ICT labs and smart classes in government secondary schools, and Rs 6.72 crore for the establishment of 280 smart classes had been received from the government.
United Nations, June 11 : UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemns the heavy civilian casualties in Israel's hostage rescue operation over the weekend, said his Spokesman.

The Secretary-General expresses his extreme sorrow and his condemnation of the deaths of hundreds of Palestinian civilians and injuries to hundreds more that happened in the context of the operation, said Stephane Dujarric, the spokesman, on Monday.

"Any loss of life is a tragedy. And again, we strongly urge all the parties to prioritise the protection of civilians who are bearing the brunt of this conflict, particularly women and children. Everyone has obligations under international law. They must comply with those obligations," Dujarric told a daily press briefing as quoted by Xinhua news agency report.

The UN humanitarian operation needs to be able to resume. The world body continues to call for an immediate cease-fire, full and unfettered access to humanitarian operations, and the release of hostages, he said.

Israeli forces on Saturday rescued four hostages from the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza. The operation left 274 Palestinians dead and 698 others wounded, according to Hamas-run health authorities.

The United Nations welcomes the news that the four hostages are free and reunited with their loved ones. Guterres continues to call for the immediate and unconditional release of all remaining hostages, Dujarric added.
Ramallah, June 11 : Four Palestinians were killed by Israeli army gunfire in the village of Kafr Nimah in the West Bank city of Ramallah, the Palestinian Health Ministry said.

An Israeli special force opened fire at a vehicle near the village before proceeding to storm it, leading to the outbreak of confrontations, according to the Palestinian official news agency WAFA on Monday.

More than 530 Palestinians have been killed by the Israeli army across the West Bank and East Jerusalem since October 2023, when the latest round of Palestinian-Israeli conflict broke out, according to official Palestinian statistics as quoted by Xinhua news agency report.
Jerusalem, June 11 : Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office has welcomed the reported discussions in the White House to negotiate a unilateral deal with Hamas to free five US nationals held hostage in Gaza.

Israel "welcomes any attempt to release our hostages," the Prime Minister's office said on Monday in a statement as quoted by Xinhua news agency report.

US President Joe Biden is considering a unilateral deal with Hamas if the Qatari and Egyptian-brokered talks between Israel and Hamas fail, according to a report by NBC News.

Such negotiations would not include Israel and would be facilitated through Qatari mediators, said the report.

Speaking to reporters in Cairo before departing for Jerusalem, US Secretary Antony Blinken was asked about the report but chose not to confirm or deny its validity.

He emphasised that the best way to free all the hostages is through a ceasefire proposal currently on the table.
Jerusalem, June 11 : The Israeli military has said it has established a new battalion solely focused on operating the country's Iron Dome aerial defence system to better intercept the growing number of drones from Lebanon.

"The establishment of the battalion will enable the expansion of the Iron Dome batteries' deployment and improve Israel's aerial defence," the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on Monday in a statement.

The Aerial Defence Array is "on high alert around the clock and fully deployed across Israel to counter complex and diverse aerial threats on multiple fronts, including rockets, surface-to-surface missiles, and cruise missiles," the military said.

Israel's military has been facing an increasing number of drone attacks from Lebanon, which occasionally evade Israeli radar systems due to their small size and proximity to the border, Xinhua news agency reported.

Earlier on Monday, four drones launched from Lebanon fell within the territory under Israeli control. Two crashed in western Galilee and two in the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights.

The military said interceptor missiles were launched toward the drones but failed to shoot them down.

Israel's National Fire and Rescue Authority said fires caused by the drones broke out in several locations.

Tensions along the Lebanon-Israel border escalated on October 8, 2023, following a barrage of rockets launched by the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah towards Israel in solidarity with Hamas' attack on Israel on October 7.

Since the beginning of the Gaza conflict, the Israeli military has intercepted 150 aircraft fired toward Israel from multiple fronts, according to army figures.
Lucknow, June 11 : A man allegedly strangled his wife at their house in Lucknow's Thakurganj on Monday, the police said.

The man's nephew was a witness to the murder and he lodged a police complaint after which the husband was arrested.

The nephew Ikrar Ahmad said, "I saw my maternal uncle Mohamed Shakil, 38, of a slum area at Hari Nagar killing my maternal aunt Reshma, 36.

Ikrar and his maternal grandmother were sleeping outside their shanty when he saw Shakil reaching there.

He said that it was in the early morning hours that Shakil returned home in an inebriated condition.

He picked up a fight with Reshma. She confronted him for consuming liquor daily and returning home late, he added.

As the brawl escalated, Shakil caught hold of Reshma and pinned her down on a wooden platform.

"I saw Shakil strangling Reshma with a dupatta," Ikrar said.

He added that he got scared and cried for help. Hearing his cries, area residents rushed to the spot and freed Reshma.

"I took her to a nearby hospital in an e-rickshaw. However, doctors referred her to the Trauma Centre of KGMU. She was pronounced dead by doctors at the Trauma Centre," he said.

Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (West Zone), Vishwajeet Srivastava, said a case of murder has been registered against the accused who was being questioned.

Initial investigation revealed that Shakil suspected his wife to be in an extramarital relationship.
United Nations, June 11 : The UN Security Council with near unanimity signed on to a deal proposed by the US for a ceasefire in Gaza in exchange for the release of hostages putting the responsibility on Hamas for ending the conflict with Israel.

The US-sponsored resolution that includes a long-term resolution of the Israel-Hamas war was adopted on Monday with 14 members of the Council, including China, voting for it, while a reluctant veto-wielding Russia abstained, allowing it to go through.

The resolution puts into play a three-phase peace proposal US President Joe Biden made last month in which Qatar and Egypt have a role.

US Permanent Representative to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfiel, said after the vote, "Today, this Council sent a clear message to Hamas: Accept the ceasefire deal on the table."

"Israel has already agreed to this deal and the fighting could stop today if Hamas would do the same," she added.

"Egypt and Qatar have assured the US that they are continuing to work to ensure that Hamas engages constructively," she said.

"And the US will help ensure that Israel lives up to its obligations as well, assuming Hamas accepts the deal."

Israeli diplomat Reut Shapir Ben-Naftaly told the Council, "The war will end if Hamas were to release the hostages and turn themselves in; not one more shot needs to be fired."

The Security Council resolution came amid important developments in Gaza and in Israel over the weekend and the arrival of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Israel to promote the proposal.

Israel's Opposition leader Benny Gantz, who had joined the Israeli war cabinet, resigned on Sunday accusing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of putting his political interests ahead of getting the hostages back and ending the war and failing to come up with a post-war plan for Gaza.

Israeli special forces made a dramatic rescue of four hostages on Saturday from a Hamas-held area in Gaza.

Ben-Naftaly said, "Hamas's refusal to release the hostages through diplomacy has proven that the effort to bring our hostages home must also include military means. And this Saturday was the perfect example of how this can be achieved."

Speaking to reporters outside the Council chamber, Palestine's Observer Riyad Mansour said, "We the Palestinian people are united in seeing the implementation of the resolution."

Asked about the US assurances about Israel being on board, he said, "The proof is in the details and we want to see that this resolution is implemented beginning with the ceasefire and that this ceasefire to be permanent."

At the same time, he said: "We saw the loss of a tremendous number of people" and will continue to seek accountability for the killings.

The Palestine Authority, which nominally governs the occupied Palestine territories, does not control the Gaza Strip which is ruled by a hostile Hamas.

The plan approved by the Council is the latest attempt by the splintered Council to end the bloodshed that began with the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel on October 7 in which about about 1,200 Israelis were killed and about 240 taken hostage.

In Israel's retaliatory attacks, over 35,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to the Hamas-controlled Gaza Health Ministry.

The Biden plan approved by the Council would start with a six-week ceasefire conditioned on an exchange of Israeli hostages, "including women, the elderly, and the wounded" still held by Hamas for Palestinians in Israeli custody, according to Thomas-Greenfield.

During that phase, Israel would have to withdraw its troops from populated areas of Gaza and civilians would be allowed to return to their homes across the territory, while aid would be allowed inside.

In the second phase, under an agreement by Israel and Hamas, "there would be a permanent end to hostilities in exchange for the release of all other hostages still in Gaza, and a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza," Thomas-Greenfield said.

The final phase "would see the start of a major, multi-year reconstruction plan for Gaza, and the return of the remains of Israelis and others still in Gaza to their families," she added.

Reassuring Israel, she said, "As President Biden made clear, Hamas is no longer capable of carrying out another October 7, and the US' commitment to Israel's self-defence is ironclad."

Russia's Permanent Representative to the UN, Vasily Nebenzia, expressed scepticism about the resolution asserting that it was vague and "essentially the Council is giving a carte blanche, signing up to this plan and details that they don't have".

However, Moscow did not want to block it because it had the support of the Arab world, he said.

(Arul Louis can be contacted at arul.l@ians.in and followed at @arulouis)
Bhopal, June 11 : BJP's operation to wrest Chhindwara, the last stronghold of Congress in Madhya Pradesh, had begun six months ago after the grand old party suffered an embarrassing defeat under the leadership of former Chief Minister Kamal Nath.

Kamal Nath, who had brought the Congress back into power (2018) in Madhya Pradesh six months after he was sent from Delhi. He has full control over the state party unit, however, a loss in the Assembly polls weakened his position in the party.

IANS spoke to several people, including from Chhindwara, and a few of them who worked in Kamal Nath's team during the Assembly (2018, 2023) and Lok Sabha election concluded recently, and they were of the view that after the Assembly loss, he (Kamal Nath) was left alone and helpless.

However, the post-Lok Sabha results drama from Bhopal to New Delhi -- rumours about his possible shifting to the BJP, dented his credibility especially when the political circles were abuzz that Rahul Gandhi was upset with Kamal Nath and the latter did not have much say in the party like in the past.

This particular period came as a crucial moment for the BJP to corner Kamal Nath, who till then already had been replaced with Jitu Patwari as the state unit chief.

Returning to power with 163 of the 230 Assembly seats and finding Kamal Nath struggling to get a place in his party, the BJP started tightening its grip on his stronghold Chhindwara.

"BJP destroyed Kamal Nath's base in Chhindwara ruthlessly. They first snatched ground-level workers and then trusted allies. In most of the Assembly constituencies, the entire team, which was working for Kamal Nath was snatched by the BJP. We could not find a replacement for the team broken by BJP," said a person associated with Kamal Nath's team on condition of anonymity.

He also claimed that the disloyalty of top Congress leaders did not have much effect on the ground as their credibility was questioned after they joined the BJP, but the shifting of ground-level Congress workers in chunk dented a lot.

Former MLA Deepak Saxena, a loyalist of Kamal Nath, who had even resigned as MLA for Nath in 2019 from the Chhindwara Parliamentary constituency, had shifted to the BJP ahead of the recently concluded Lok Sabha election, accusing Nakul Nath of disrespecting senior allies of his father Kamal Nath.

Saxena then said that his loyalty would remain with Kamal Nath, but he would not support his son Nakul Nath, who does not know even how to behave with senior party leaders.

Chhindwara Mayor, Vikram Ahakey, for whom Kamal Nath had campaigned during the Municipal elections in 2022, had also disassociated with him in the middle of the campaign for the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections.

However, on polling day (April 19), Ahakey in a viral video was heard appealing to people to support Kamal Nath.

Former journalist Piyush Bable, who is in charge of public relations in Kamal Nath's office, claimed the Nath family was left alone to fight the election.

"He (Kamal Nath) did not get any support from the state or Central leadership of Congress. But, Kamal Nath kept pushing, saying that he had full faith in the people of Chhindwara, which was the only hope for all of us."

Asked why Kamal Nath did not come out to campaign for other Congress candidates even when the polling in Chhindwara was conducted in the first phase on April 19, Bable said, "No one has approached him."

Responding to the buzz that losing Chhindwara to the BJP may be the end of Kamal Nath's politics, Bable added, "The person who has been involved in politics for more than 50 years, and has seen many ups and downs, one loss is not going to affect him."

Kamal Nath had represented the Chhindwara Lok Sabha seat nine times, while his wife Alka Nath and son Nakul Nath each once.

Nakul was the only Congress MP from Madhya Pradesh in the previous term of the Lok Sabha, however, he lost in 2024 to BJP's Vivek Banti Sahu.
Mexico City, June 11 : Four women and two children, including one three-month-old, were killed by an armed group in the central Mexican state of Guanajuato, the State Governor Diego Sinhue Rodriguez Vallejo told reporters.

The armed group attacked the family on Sunday night, reports Xinhua news agency.

Expressing his sorrow over the killings, the Governor called for an investigation into the possible involvement of the National Guard in the incident inside a home in an industrial neighbourhood in Leon City.

This request came after neighbours reported that they had seen members of this public security institution on the roof of the place minutes before the attack. These members allegedly took some belongings.

"It is unacceptable that they may be entering homes without a search warrant if that is the case, and second, we need to review their relationship with what happens minutes after they leave," the Governor said.

The Guanajuato Prosecutor's Office has implemented a search perimeter into the killing, and "there are some suspects," he said.

Jorge Guillen, Leon's public security secretary, confirmed the presence of National Guard members at the scene before the attack.

"Yes, it is mentioned that the National Guard arrived a few minutes before the event; then the attackers arrived ... Everything is in the hands of the Prosecutor's Office," Guillen told the press.
New Delhi, June 11 : Women with sleep loss condition insomnia may be at significant risk of developing ovarian cancer, said experts on Tuesday.

Insomnia is a common sleep disorder that can make it difficult for a person to fall asleep or stay asleep.

People with the condition are also likely to wake up too early and not be able to get back to sleep. They may continue to feel tired after waking up.

"Insomnia, commonly linked to stress and anxiety, may also play a role in the risk and survival rates of ovarian cancer patients. Research suggests that disturbed sleep patterns could heighten inflammation and weaken the immune system, potentially fostering cancer growth," Dr. Kinjal Kothari, Associate Consultant - Obstetrics and Gynecology, Manipal Hospital, Goa, told IANS.

A recent study published in the Lancet shows that treating insomnia in high-grade ovarian cancers can improve survival. The study also proposed that treating insomnia may be able to prevent ovarian cancer.

Cancer incidence and prevalence are on a rising trend. With the trend, there is a blazing need to study the patterns of the disease and ways to improve the survival and quality of life of the patient.

"Sleep disorders are common among cancer patients. It may be a sleepless or abnormal sleep-wake cycle; probably more than half of the patients are affected. The patient's quality of life is negatively impacted," Dr. Karthik K S, Consultant Surgical Oncology, KMC Hospital, Mangalore, told IANS.

Sleep symptoms may also be due to the psychological impact (like anxiety and depression) of the disease on the patient and the family, the doctor said.

"Patients may have sleep loss because of pain and pressure symptoms of the cancer. Side effects and complications of treatment like nausea and vomiting can also affect sleep," Dr. Karthik said.

Dr. M.A. Raja, Director & Senior Consultant - Medical Oncology, MGM Cancer Institute, Chennai told IANS that sleep disorders, such as insomnia, are known to increase the risk of breast and ovarian cancers and negatively affect their prognosis.

"Sleep is essential for the human body, intricately involved in endocrine, metabolic, and immunoregulatory pathways, which are also implicated in various cancers. These shared pathways may account for the increased risk of sleep disturbances among cancer patients, with insomnia being the most prevalent," the doctor said.

Moreover, insomnia often leads to poorer mental health, which can indirectly affect treatment adherence and overall well-being during cancer therapy. Understanding this connection underscores the importance of addressing sleep disturbances in cancer care.

"Developing tailored interventions, such as cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia, could potentially improve outcomes for ovarian cancer patients by promoting better sleep and bolstering resilience against the disease," Dr. Kinjal said.
Elon Musk. Steve Granitz/FilmMagic via Getty Images

Tesla shareholders might have another reason to vote for Elon Musk's pay package this Thursday.

Musk has been touting the benefits of having Tesla be a part of his business empire.

The billionaire has touted access to future IPOs and showcased the synergies between his businesses.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has been pulling out all stops to woo shareholders ahead of Thursday's vote for his massive $56 billion pay package.

Besides campaigning on his social media platform X, Musk has also dangled the opportunity of a guided tour of Gigafactory Texas with him and Tesla's design chief, Franz von Holzhausen.

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But those seem just to be appetizers because Musk has now brought out the big guns  promising shareholders that a Musk-led Tesla will have access to his sprawling business empire.

A ticket to the 'Muskonomy'

The pitch is a smart move for Musk, as it turns what looks like a liability  running half a dozen companies at the same time  into an asset.

Nowhere was that vision clearer than on Sunday, when Musk began touting the benefits of having Tesla as a part of his business universe.

Musk's The Boring Company revealed in an X post that its tunneling machine, the Prufrock-3, had emerged inside the Gigafactory Texas' expansion. The tunnel that is being constructed will soon be used to transport Tesla's Cybertrucks.

"Cybertunnel will be online July," the post said.

It's not just hardware. Musk is looking to leverage the software built by his $24 billion AI startup, xAI.

The billionaire was livestreaming himself playing Diablo on X when he revealed that Tesla's cars could come installed with xAI's chatbot, Grok, in the future.

Story continues

Besides cross-pollinating his companies' tech, Musk is also promising multiple windfalls to Tesla shareholders if they stick with him.

On Saturday, Musk said he would prioritize "longtime shareholders of my other companies, including Tesla" if any of his businesses were to go public.

"Loyalty deserves loyalty," he wrote on X.

Ive mentioned something like this before, but, if any of my companies goes public, we will prioritize other longtime shareholders of my other companies, including Tesla.



Loyalty deserves loyalty.  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 9, 2024

Musk might not have spelled it out, but his X post sounded like a veiled reference to the long-rumored IPO for his satellite internet business, Starlink.

To be sure, this isn't the first time Musk has leveraged his network of businesses.

xAI had earlier sold investors on the benefits of being a part of what it called the "Muskonomy," Bloomberg reported in February, citing a pitch deck it had obtained.

In its pitch deck, the company said that Tesla and X were its strategic partners, and it would provide them with training data.

Similarly, when Musk bought Twitter in October 2022, he quickly brought in software engineers from Tesla and SpaceX to review the social media company's code base.

In fact, some of Musk's lieutenants are still double hatting at his companies. For instance, SpaceX's principal security engineer, Christopher Stanley, is also X's head of information security.

"The right thing for Tesla at this time is for Elon to continue to be at the helm, and this ratification of the compensation plan is exactly about that," Tesla board chair Robyn Denholm told CNBC on June 6.

Representatives for Musk did not immediately respond to a request for comment from BI sent outside regular business hours.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Bengaluru, June 11 : Karnataka Police on Tuesday detained Kannada superstar Darshan in connection with the murder of a 33-year-old man for making derogatory comments on the actor's girlfriend.

Bengaluru, June 11 (IANS) Karnataka Police on Tuesday detained Kannada superstar Darshan in connection with the murder of a 33-year-old man for making derogatory comments on the actoras girlfriend.

Sources confirmed that Darshan had been detained at his farmhouse in Mysuru along with 10 others in connection with the case.

According to police, Darshan is being brought to Bengaluru for further questioning and he will be taken to an undisclosed location.

Police explained that Darshanas involvement was found in connection with the murder of one Renukaswamy, a resident of Laxmi Venkateshwara Layout in Chitradurga.

Police sources said that Renukaswamy made taunting and insulting comments about Drashanas rumoured girlfriend whenever she posted her pictures with the actor.

Enraged by this Darshan had got Renukaswamy picked up from Chitradurga and taken to Bengaluru.

He was kept in a shed belonging to one Vinay and tortured.

Later, Renukaswamyas body was found in the Vrushabhavathi canal near Sumanahalli in front of an apartment building, police said.

The security officer of the apartment complex noticed dogs dragging the body in the canal and informed the police on Sunday, they said.

After identifying the body, the Kamakshipalya police informed Renukaswamyas parents.

Darshanas role came to the fore during the investigation by the police.

Preliminary investigations have revealed that Darshan had called the Chitradurga Fan Association president and asked him to find out the whereabouts of Renukaswamy and bring him to Bengaluru.

Police are suspecting that Darshan had also assaulted Renukaswamy.

The cause of death is being stated as a blow to the head with a weapon, police said.

Further investigation is on in the case.
New Delhi, June 11 : In a significant development, the UGC has taken a policy decision to allow higher education institutions to admit students twice a year, in January/February and July/August, from the next academic year.

UGC Chairman Professor Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar told IANS on Tuesday.

Currently, UGC Regulations allow the Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to admit students in one academic session in a year starting in July/August.

An 'Academic session' is of 12 months, beginning in July/August. Indian HEIs, therefore, follow the academic session that begins in July-August and ends in May-June.

The Chairman of UGC, said, "If Indian universities can offer admission twice a year, it will benefit many students. Such as those who missed admission to a university in the July/August session due to a delay in the announcement of board results, health issues, or personal reasons. Biannual university admissions will help students maintain motivation since they do not have to wait one full year to be admitted if they miss admission in the current cycle. With biannual admissions in place, Industries can also do their campus recruitment twice a year, improving employment opportunities for the graduates."

Earlier UGC had decided in its 571st meeting to permit biannual admissions under Open and Distance Learning (ODL) and Online modes in January and July during an academic year.

After UGC permitted two cycle admissions in a year for ODL and Online modes, as per the information furnished by the HEIs on the UGC DEB portal, in addition to a total of 19,73,056 students were enrolled in July 2022 and an additional 4,28,854 students joined in January 2023. These numbers show that permitting a second academic session in a year has helped nearly half a million students join their degree programmes without waiting for one full academic year.

Considering the tremendous response and interest from the students in ODL and online programmes in biannual admissions, the UGC took the policy decision to allow HEIs which offer programmes in regular mode to admit students twice in a year, either in January/February or July/August from the coming academic year.

With this decision, HEIs offering programmes either in online/ODL mode or regular physical mode will be able to admit students twice in year.

Prof Jagadesh Kumar said those HEIs that have the required infrastructure and teaching faculty can utilize the opportunity to admit students biannually.

However, he made it clear that offering biannual admissions is not mandatory for the HEIs.

"It is the flexibility that UGC provides to the HEIs who want to increase their student intake and offer new programmes in emerging areas. To be able to admit students twice a year, HEIs must make suitable amendments to their institutional regulations," he said.

Biannual admissions will also enable the HEIs to plan their resource distribution, such as faculty, labs, classrooms and support services, more efficiently, resulting in a better functional flow within the university. Universities worldwide already follow a biannual admission system.

"If Indian HEIs adopt the biannual admission cycle, our HEIs can enhance their international collaborations and student exchanges. As a result, our global competitiveness will improve, and we will align with the global educational standards," the UGC Chairman added.

"UGC believes that biannual admissions can substantially increase the Gross Enrolment Ratio and make India a 'Global Study Destination' as envisioned in National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. If HEIs adopt biannual admissions, they need to work on administrative intricacies, good planning for increased use of available resources, and providing seamless support systems for the smooth transition of students admitted at dissimilar times of the year. HEIs can maximise the usefulness of biannual admissions only when they sufficiently prepare the faculty members, staff and students for the transition," Prof Jagadesh Kumar added.
Amaravati, June 11 : Telugu Desam Party (TDP) President N. Chandrababu Naidu was Tuesday unanimously elected as the leader of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Andhra Pradesh.

At a meeting of the newly-elected MLAs of NDA, Jana Sena leader Pawan Kalyan proposed the name of Chandrababu Naidu as the leader of the alliance. All MLAs of TDP, Jana Sena and BJP stood up to support the proposal amid clapping.

TDPas Andhra Pradesh unit president K. Atchen Naidu announced the unanimous election of Chandrababu Naidu as the leader of NDA.

Pawan Kalyan, who was earlier unanimously elected as leader of Jana Sena Legislature Party, hugged Chandrababu Naidu to congratulate him.

The actor-politician said Andhra Pradesh needs the vast political and administrative experience at this crucial juncture to steer the state on the path of development and progress.

Pawan Kalyan recalled his meeting with Chandrababu Naidu in Rajahmundry jail in September last year. He said he had told Chandrababu Naiduas wife Bhuvaneswari that good days will come soon.

BJP state president D. Purandeswari said people gave a massive mandate to the NDA as they were eager to end the destructive and anti-people rule of the YSR Congress Party.

Chandrababu Naidu will take oath as the Chief Minister on Wednesday. The swearing-in ceremony will be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

TDP-Jana Sena-BJP stormed to power with a landslide victory, bagging 164 seats in the 175-member Assembly.

TDP alone won 135 seats while the BJP candidates emerged victorious in eight constituencies.

YSR Congress Party, which had 151 seats in the previous House, was reduced to just 11 seats.

The alliance also won 21 out of 25 Lok Sabha seats
Shambhavi Singh gets emotional on seeing herself on screen: 'All struggle, pain seem worth it'. Image Source: IANS News

Mumbai, June 11 : Shambhavi Singh, who made her debut as the lead in the recently released supernatural thriller '10:29 Ki Aakhri Dastak', got emotional upon seeing herself on screen, expressing gratitude and calling it a dream come true.

Hailing from Bihar, Shambhavi shared: "It all feels like a dream. For a girl from a town like Patna, Bihar, where acting is not considered a stable profession, to make it big and land a lead role is a huge achievement. I could have never imagined this day."

"When I saw myself on the screen, I couldn't control my emotions. All the struggle and pain seem worth it. As soon as I saw myself on screen, I couldn't hold back my tears because I knew I had made it. I promised my parents I would make them proud, and today I can confidently say that I have done something to make them proud. I am so thankful they always had faith in me and trusted me," she said.

She further shared, "From day one, I kept everything under wraps from my family because I wanted them to see me directly on screen. During the screening, I thought about how my parents would react. I know they will definitely love it and be proud of their daughter."

"These are happy tears for my hard work, which is paying off. Iam so glad I got to play a lead character like Preeti, who is not just a pretty face but a strong character with many layers," added Shambhavi.

The show also stars Rajveer Singh, Aayushi Bhave, and Krip Suri in pivotal roles.

'10:29 Ki Aakhri Dastak' is airing on Star Bharat.
Jaipur, June 11 : The bodies of four of a Jaipur-based family, who died in a terrorist attack in Jammu, were brought here on Tuesday.

From here, these bodies will be sent to their native places namely Chomu and Murlipura.

Meanwhile, thousands of people gathered at the platform and in the Chomu and Murlipura areas demanding a government job and compensation for the family of the deceased.

Several political workers were also seen standing at the platform before the arrival of the train. Some protesters also raised slogans against BJP leader Bhupendra Saini.

The family members of the deceased Pooja and Livansh protested outside the Murlipura police station.

The family said the bodies will be accepted only when justice is received. They said that talks are going on with the administration but nothing has been received except assurances.

Satyanarayan, uncle of Pawan who was injured in the terrorist attack, said, "Our demands should be met on the spot. Our discussions have not worked out with the government. Yesterday, we went to the CM House and met the SDM and Collector, however, no assurance has been given to us."

Chomu MLA (Independent) Shikha Meel Barala, who was at a protest site, said, "People have come from all over the town. There is only one voice, take strict action against terrorism. Compensation should be given to the dependents of the deceased. One member should be given a job, and compensation of Rs 1 crore should be given to the family of the deceased. Also, the children of the family, who turned orphans, should be given free education and medical treatment. Jaipur Collector has been requested to fulfil the demands as soon as possible so that the bodies can be cremated."

Four people, who were killed in a terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir, are members of the same family. Rajendra Saini (42), son of Hanuman Sahay Saini, resident of Chomu (Jaipur) and his wife Mamta Saini (40) died in the attack. They have three children who were not informed about their deaths till Monday evening. Rajendra's elder brother Omprakash's daughter Pooja Saini (30), a resident of Harmada (Jaipur) and Pooja's son Livansh alias Kittu (2) also were killed in the attack. Pooja's husband Pawan Saini (32) was injured and was admitted to Narayan Hospital in Katra. He was later discharged from the hospital.

Meanwhile, the protest of the relatives of the deceased continued outside Murlipura police station till the time of filing of this report.

Security at Chomu police station was increased at around noon. Forces from six police stations have been called. Apart from this, a large number of jawans have also been deployed from the police lines.
Patna, June 11 : After the Bihar alliance partners of NDA got four Cabinet berths and four Minster of State (MoS) in Modi 3.0, the people in the state remain optimistic about the overall development and reopening of industries in Bihar.

"Now, we have a double-engine government in the state too and power is distributed among different political parties, we do expect development in the state. Importantly, we want to see the reopening of industries across the state," a local told IANS.

On having Chirag Paswan, Giriraj Singh, Lalan Singh and Jitan Ram Manjhi been inducted as Cabinet ministers, the locals said: "All four of them have been given the responsibility of important ministries. These are such departments in which employment opportunities can be created."

Another local said that there is an immense potential for employment in the food processing industry. "After Chirag Paswan was entrusted with the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, we remain hopeful that there is job creation in this sector and we are able to get jobs," the local said.

Chirag Paswan won the Lok Sabha elections from the Hajipur constituency which is famous for Banana farming. The newly inducted Cabinet Minister has said that several products can be produced with the Bananas and he will work towards this goal.

"To achieve my vision of 'Bihar and Bihari first', I will develop food processing units in the Hajipur region. Besides Banana, Makhana is another product of Bihar which is world famous. There is also scope for the development of its industries too," Chirag Paswan said.

Bihar's Muzaffarpur region is famous for Litchi farming while Seemanchal and Chanpatia regions are known for Jute farming and both regions have scope for development. There are also other areas across the state where the industries have been closed, waiting to be operationalised once again.

"The industries, across the state, which have been closed due to mismanagement of the government need to be open again. These industries must be made operational once again so that people of our state need not to migrate to other states for employment," said a local from the West Champaran area.

The migration of people to other states in search of employment is one of the biggest concerns of the state. However, many locals in West Champaran believe that the Chanpatia model of development is an answer to stop migration.

"During the pandemic, many labourers in the West Champaran region lost their jobs and came back to live in their native places. Many of these locals develop small-scale industries in their homes. The new ministers need to take care of these small-scale industries," the locals of the area said.

They said that most of the people of West Champaran have spent 10 to 15 years in places like Gujarat and Maharashtra and worked in textile factories.

"Most of these people have developed their own units in the Champaran region now while the majority of these have come up in the Chanpatia block. This is how the Chanpatia model of development became famous. But how will these small-scale industries flourish if our own ministers do not come forward and help us," said another local from the Chanpatia area.

JDU MP Lalan Singh was given two portfolios, Minister of Panchayati Raj; and

Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying.

Bihar's Animal Husbandry and Fisheries Department has been in tatters which needs immediate action. "We are not performing that well in this department, especially in fish production. There are a large number of water harvesting areas in Bihar. Both these departments can take the state on the path of progress if the newly inducted ministers play their part in the development of these areas," said a research scholar.

Jitan Ram Manjhi was given the portfolio of Minister of Micro, Small and

Medium Enterprises.

The locals believe that there is immense potential for the industry in Bihar and Manjhi is known for making quick decisions. "An industrial revolution is expected in Bihar under his leadership," one of the locals said.

Giriraj Singh, who was given the Minister of Textiles Ministry, has to do a lot for the textile industry of the state which has seen no push from the successive governments.

"The Textile Industry can be a turning point in the development of Bihar. If Giriraj Singh plans strategy according to the needs of the region," locals said.

They said that Madhubani or Mithila paintings are also popular in the Mithilanchal region. "With the experience of Giriraj Singh, there are strong possibilities for development in this area as well," the locals said.

Moreover, Nityanand Rai has been again given the Minister of State for Home while Raj Bhushan Nishad has been given the Minister of State in the Jal Shakti Department.

Satish Chandra Dubey has been given the Minister of State in the Coal and Mining Department while Ramnath Thakur has been given the Minister of State in the Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department.

Locals added that flood and drought problems are common in Bihar and the Jal Shakti Department can play an important role in solving these problems.

"New schemes and projects can be started by the Department for Water Harvesting and Management which will boost the agriculture and rural development of our state," said the locals.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar also said that he along with the help of Prime Minister Narendra Modi will do everything under his command for the overall development of the state. Will Bihar witness any change in Modi 3.0 or will the state be run as it has been for the last many years? Time will tell.
Lilongwe, June 11 : Malawian President Lazarus Chakwera has appealed to the international community for help in the search and rescue efforts after the plane with Vice President Saulos Chilima on board went missing.

On Monday evening, in a televised address to the nation, Chakwera said that he has sought assistance from neighbouring countries and other countries, including the United States, Britain, Norway and Israel.

He said that the international community has committed to supporting the country's security agencies with high-tech search and rescue technology until the plane is found, reports Xinhua news agency.

Meanwhile, Chakwera said he has ordered continued search and rescue operations as the country awaits international support.

The Malawi Defense Force plane failed to land at its intended destination at Mzuzu Airport in northern Malawi due to adverse weather conditions, and the pilot was advised to return to Kamuzu International Airport in Lilongwe before the aircraft went off the radar around 10 a.m. local time (0800 GMT) Monday, according to Chakwera.

The president appealed to all Malawians to pray for the lives of those on board and their families, saying that he is "holding on to every fibre of hope that there could be survivors."

The search and rescue operation is concentrated in the country's man-made forest, Chikangawa, on the outskirts of Mzuzu City. According to the president, this is where the plane's tracking has indicated its location.

Meanwhile, Chakwera has directed the Malawi Defense Force to keep the public informed of the ongoing developments as the operation continues.

The vice president was travelling to a funeral of the country's former Attorney General and Minister of Justice Ralph Kasambara, who was found dead in a room at a lodge in Lilongwe on Friday.
New Delhi, June 11 : As pro-Khalistan elements continue to spread anti-India feelings through their extremist statements and activities in Canada, the country's High Commissioner in India Cameron MacKay stated on Tuesday that there is no place for hate or for the glorification of violence in the North American nation.

"The Government of Canada is aware of further imagery displayed in Brampton on Sunday. Canada's position is clear: The promotion of violence is never acceptable in Canada," MacKay said on X while replying to a message posted by Canadian minister Dominic LeBlanc on June 8.

Public Safety Minister LeBlanc had expressed concerns over the imagery depicting the assassination of former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in Vancouver,

"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," wrote the Canadian Minister.

MacKay on June 8 had said that he was "appalled" by reports of an event in Canada that celebrated the assassination of the late PM Indira Gandhi.

"There is no place in Canada for hate or for the glorification of violence. I categorically condemn these activities," he posted on X.

The Indian government has repeatedly expressed its deep concern and strong protest at the disturbing actions being allowed to continue unchecked at such events in Canada, saying that it illustrates the political space that has been given in Canada to separatism, extremism and violence.

Last month, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar targeted the Justin Trudeau government for giving refuge to pro-Khalistani elements, asserting that further deterioration in bilateral ties would eventually result in a big loss for Canada.

"Freedom of speech cannot be freedom to advocate violence, freedom of speech cannot be freedom to support separatism and terrorism in a foreign country. It cannot be... A group of Khalistanis have been misusing Canada's freedom laws for years. But when the Canadian government has any political compulsions, they accommodate these people who are also their vote bank," said Jaishankar while speaking at the 'Vishwabandhu Bharat' interaction in Nashik, Maharashtra.

As pro-Khalistani elements continue to indulge in anti-India activities, New Delhi has conveyed to Ottawa on several occasions that democratic countries which respect the rule of law should not allow intimidation by radical elements in the name of freedom of expression.

"Our relations have been spoiled today because of the activities of these people who are even threatening our Ambassador and various diplomats posted in the country. They threw smoke bombs inside the High Commission and, at one time, our diplomats were facing great difficulty in getting out of the building. People who supported terror activities against India have been given refuge in Canada. The government there should have a relook at the entire situation," asserted Jaishankar.
Seoul, June 11 : Unionised workers of Samsung Electronics have decided to resume talks with the company later this week, about two weeks after wage negotiations broke down, industry sources said on Tuesday.

Samsung and representatives of the labour union will meet on Thursday to discuss the schedule and direction of future bargaining, according to the sources.

Since January, the two sides have held several rounds of talks but have been unable to narrow their differences over the wage increase rate, vacation system and bonuses, reports Yonhap News Agency.

After failing to reach a deal on wage hikes, the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU), the biggest labour union with 28,000 members, secured the legal authority to proceed with a strike following a mediation process by the National Labor Relations Commission and a subsequent vote among its members.

Late last month, the NSEU announced a collective action in protest against stalled wage negotiations with the management, threatening a full-fledged strike.

According to union members, they took the day off last Friday as a preliminary step toward a potential general strike.

Samsung has not experienced a strike since it was founded in 1969.
Domestic help sentenced to life for killing elderly Indian in Singapore. Image Source: IANS News

Beijing, June 11 : Four visiting instructors from a US college have been injured in a stabbing attack in a park in north-eastern China, the university confirmed on Tuesday.

Cornell College, which is located in the US state of Iowa, confirmed upon request by DPA that four of its instructors, who are in China as part of a partnership with a Chinese university, were injured "in a serious incident during a daytime visit" to a public park in the north-eastern city of Jilin.

"We have been in contact with all four instructors and are assisting them during this time," College President Jonathan Brand said.

"There were no students taking part in this program," he added.

According to media reports, the four instructors were stabbed in the city's Beishan Park last weekend.

The circumstances of the attack, as well as the victims' condition, remained initially unclear.

The US State Department had been informed and was "monitoring the situation," a spokesman said upon request.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry was initially unavailable for comment, as were police in Jilin.

Photos said to show the victims lying on the ground covered in blood briefly appeared on Chinese social media platforms.

On Weibo, China's version of X, posts relating to the incident appeared to be deleted soon after they were published.

As of Tuesday morning, Chinese state media had not reported on the incident.

According to Cornell College, the four lecturers were teaching as part of a partnership with a Chinese university near Jilin. At the time of the attack, a faculty member from the partner university had also been present.

--IANS/DPA

sd/dan
Hyundai Inster teaser front low

The Inster is described as an "evolution" of the Casper, majoring on interior technologies

Hyundai has announced it will reveal a new electric city car called the Inster later this month, with the new model targeting an official range of 220 miles.

The firm described the model as an evolution of the Casper, a petrol-powered Suzuki Ignis rival that is offered exclusively in South Korea.

Inster will set new standards in terms of driving range, technology and safety features, the company said in a statement.

Preview images released by Hyundai reveal subtle differences compared with the Casper, such as new lighting signatures at the front and rear.

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The Inster was spotted testing in Scandinavia in February, days after Hyundai France boss Lionel French Keogh confirmed to Frances Auto Moto magazine that the car will hit the market by the end of the year.

It reported that the petrol-powered Casper is not bound for European markets, adding that the EV will have greater power and range than the rival Dacia Spring. For reference, the Spring offers 44bhp and 64bhp motors, and a range of up to 137 miles.

The Inster will cost around 20,000 (17,000) in France, according to Auto Moto, although Hyundai has yet to officially announce pricing.

The brand has previously committed to continued production of small cars. Its Europe chief, Michael Cole, told Autocar in March 2023 that the i10, i20 and i30 were all still in our plan, even for the next generation.

Cole added that the next challenge is to evaluate smaller EVs, saying: I believe there's a market below Kona and maybe even in more traditional bodystyles, such as hatchback.

Its in our thinking, rather than necessarily in our long-term plan now. But for the European market, we have to be thinking about that.

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Tel Aviv, June 11 : US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Tuesday as part of ongoing efforts by the US, Qatar and Egypt to negotiate a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

The talks have stalled for months. Blinken's trip in the Middle East aims to garner support for the latest proposal for a ceasefire in three phases.

On Monday in New York, the UN Security Council gave its backing to the multi-stage plan presented by US President Joe Biden.

According to the US, only the Palestinian Islamist Hamas movement has not yet agreed to the plan. However, the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not given clear and public approval to the plan either.

Blinken arrived in Egypt on Monday for the first leg of the tour and later held talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem.

He told Netanyahu that "the United States and other world leaders will stand behind the comprehensive proposal outlined by President Biden," according to a statement issued by the US State Department.

Blinken "updated the prime minister on ongoing diplomatic efforts to plan for the post-conflict period," the statement said.

On Tuesday, Blinken also met opposition leader Yair Lapid and is due to hold talks with Israeli lawmaker Benny Gantz, who just quit the Israeli emergency government formed following the October 7 attacks.

Blinken's Middle East tour is expected to last until Wednesday and also includes a stop in Qatar.

--IANS/DPA

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Bengaluru, June 11 : Karnataka Police arrested Kannada superstar Darshan on Tuesday in connection with the alleged murder of 33-year-old Renukaswamy, a resident of Chitradurga, by the actor and his associates.

The probe revealed that the murdered man was a hardcore fan of actor Darshan.

Speaking to the media, Karnataka Home Minister, Dr G Parameshwara stated on Tuesday that Darshan had been arrested.

Earlier, police had maintained that the actor had been detained for questioned.

"His role has come forward in the investigation, and based on that lead, Darshan is being investigated by the police. Nothing more can be said about the murder. Darshan is in police custody, and considering the seriousness of the case, Darshan has been arrested," Parameshwara stated.

Meanwhile, sources said that actor had allegedly tried to mislead the police by implicating four of his fans after Renukaswamy's body was found in a canal.

When the Kamakshipalya police questioned them, the surrendered accused claimed they committed the crime over a financial dispute.

However, their statements were not convincing, and after being interrogated, they revealed the truth.

When their call records were verified, Darshan's role became apparent.

Preliminary investigations revealed that Renukaswamy was a hardcore fan of Darshan and was disturbed by the conflict between Darshan's first and second wives.

Renukaswamy wanted Darshan to be with his first wife and son and he targeted the second wife whenever she posted her photos with the actor on social media.

Police sources said that actor Darshan and his associates brutally attacked Renukaswamy. He was hit on the head, face, chest, and back.

Burn injuries were also found on his body, and it is suspected that the accused had inflicted burn injuries with a hot iron rod.

Sources said that Renukaswamy had been hit on his private parts as well.

Sources also revealed that more than 10 people were involved in assaulting Renukaswamy and they, including Darshan, had thrown him against the wall multiple times.

He was beaten with belts, iron rods, and sticks.

The deceased's family said that Renukaswamy worked at a pharmacy and got married a year ago, and his wife is pregnant.

The murder came to light on June 9 (Sunday) after an unidentified body was found in a canal and a security guard called the police.
New Delhi, June 11 : Public sector upstream giant Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) will start gas production from its eastern offshore deep-water field in the Krishna-Godavari block KG-DWN-98/2 soon, Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri said on Tuesday after taking charge as a member of the Modi 3.0 Cabinet.

The minister said that oil and gas public sector undertakings have done well. ONGC has floated a tender to get an international tech partner, he added.

He also said that oil production will increase to 45,000 barrels per day very soon.

The focus of the oil ministry under the new government would be on boosting oil and gas exploration, green hydrogen and increasing gas consumption in the country, he added.

The minister ruled out the privatisation of BPCL. "Why would we divest ourselves of highly successful Maharatnas like BPCL," he said.

"BPCL has made more money in the first 3 quarters than the stake sale amount," Puri said.

BPCLas profit after tax for FY 2023-24 came in at 26,673 crores, nearly 13 times higher than the previous fiscal year. Additionally, the companyas planned capital outlay of 1.7 lakh crores over 5 years under aProject Aspirea underlines its commitment to creating long-term value for shareholders.

The combined profit of the public sector oil marketing companies for FY 2023-24 stood at Rs 86,000 crore, over 25 times higher than the extraordinarily difficult previous fiscal year.

For the full 2023-24 fiscal, HPCL reported a record net profit of Rs 16,014 crore as opposed to a loss of Rs 6,980 crore in the previous year. IOCL capped an excellent year with the historically best refinery throughput, sales volume and net profit.

Minister of State (MoS) in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas Suresh Gopi also assumed charge on Tuesday and was welcomed by Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri.

Gopi made history by becoming the first-ever BJP Lok Sabha MP from Kerala and was among the 71 Council of ministers who took the oath of office after PM Modi was sworn in for a record third consecutive term.
Ramallah/Tel Aviv, June 11 : Four members of the armed wing of the Islamist Palestinian organisation Hamas have been killed in an Israeli military operation in the West Bank.

The army said on Tuesday that Israeli security forces had entered a town near Ramallah on Monday evening to arrest a suspect following an attempted attack.

When the troops approached the building in which the suspect and three other Hamas members were hiding, they tried to flee in a vehicle. They then tried to drive towards the soldiers, according to the Israeli account. The soldiers then opened fire. A rifle and explosive devices were found in the vehicle.

Hamas media reported that the four people killed were members of al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas' military wing.

The situation in the occupied West Bank has worsened significantly since the war between Israel and the Islamist Hamas in the Gaza Strip began on October 7.

According to the local Health Ministry, 516 Palestinians in the West Bank have been killed in Israeli attacks, in clashes or their own attacks since then.

--IANS/DPA

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Amaravati, June 11 : Andhra Pradesh's Chief Minister-designate N. Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday declared that Amaravati is the state capital.

Addressing a meeting of the newly-elected MLAs of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), which elected him as the leader, he made it clear that his government would not play with the state's future in the name of three state capitals and would continue development of Amaravati as the state capital.

"Even after 10 years we are not in a position to say where is our state capital," he said, slamming the previous government of YSR Congress Party for putting a halt to the development of Amaravati as the state capital.

In 2019, the Jagan Mohan Reddy-led government reversed the decision by the earlier TDP government to develop Amaravati as the state capital and announced that three state capitals would be developed.

The YSCRP government had mooted Visakhapatnam as the administrative capital, Kurnool as the judicial capital and Amaravati as the legislative capital.

"Our capital is Amaravati," declared Naidu, who is set to take oath as the Chief Minister on Wednesday.

Naidu assured that Visakhapatnam will be developed as a financial capital and a modern city and Kurnool will be developed in all respects.

Revealing that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and NDA leaders will attend the swearing-in ceremony on Wednesday, Naidu said the Centre's help was required for the state's development.

The Chief Minister-designate vowed to complete the Polavaram project. Claiming that the TDP government in the past had completed 72 per cent of the works, he said the remaining works would be completed with the Centre's help.

Stating that their government will be a 'people's government', the TDP chief said there would be no Praja Vedika-like demolitions.

He was referring to the demolition of a meeting hall adjacent to his house, which was built when he was the chief minister.

Alleging that the previous government pursued politics of vendetta, he underlined the need to move ahead with constructive politics.

Naidu said the people gave an unprecedented mandate to the TDP and its allies in the state. "We have won 93 per cent of seats. This is the first time in the country," he said.

Asserting that 57 per cent of people voted for the alliance, the TDP chief said it was now time to live up to their expectations by rebuilding the state.

He was all praise for Jana Sena leader Pawan Kalyan for taking the initiative to ally with the TDP when he (Naidu) was in jail. Later, the BJP also joined hands with them, thus ensuring that the anti-YSRCP votes were not split.

Reiterating that the YSRCP government carried out destruction, Naidu said those who indulged in irregularities would be punished as per the law.

The TDP chief also recalled that his family was insulted in the Assembly. "I called it Kaurava Sabha and came out. I vowed to return to the Assembly after a win in the people's court. People supported me in fulfilling this pledge," he said.

Stating that he served as the Chief Minister for 14 years and Leader of Opposition for 15 years, Naidu said he converted every crisis into opportunity. "Andhra Pradesh has many problems. The state is in complete ruins. All sections have suffered. Farmers have landed in debt," he said.

Naidu also assured that during his visits there will be no closure of shops and roads and putting up curtains. "Chief Minister is also an ordinary man. The post is for service and not for supremacy. I have told (police) not to inconvenience people during the movement of my convoy," he said
Why has China decided to extend its military exercises around Taiwan?.(photo:IN). Image Source: IANS News

Taipei, June 11 : A Chinese man detained by Taiwan after illegally entering a harbour near Taipei on a speedboat has been identified as a former Chinese navy captain, senior officials said on Tuesday.

On Sunday, the Chinese man drove a speedboat directly into the Tamsui River estuary, telling Taiwan's Coast Guard Administration (CGA) officers of his intention to surrender. The intruder was arrested and transferred to prosecutors for questioning.

The Chinese speedboat was detected about six nautical miles from the estuary of the Tamsui River, which leads into Taiwan's capital, Taipei.

Kuan Bi-ling, Minister of Taiwan's Ocean Affairs Council, which supervises the Coast Guard, told reporters on the sidelines of a legislative meeting that the detained Chinese man had previously served as a navy captain.

Kuan said that it remains uncertain whether the Chinese detainee truly wanted to seek freedom or if the approach was an attempt by China to test Taiwan's maritime defences.

"It cannot be ruled out that this is a kind of test," Kuan said, referring to about 18 similar cases in the past year.

However, Kuan said that this time, the detained Chinese individual appeared "quite refined and well-presented," unlike those involved in other cases.

Taiwan's state-run Central News Agency reported on Monday that the Chinese man is approximately 60 years old and surnamed Ruan. He reportedly piloted a speedboat from a fishing port in China's southern Fujian Province, over 200 kilometres away, directly into the mouth of the Tamsui River.

Taiwan's Defense Minister Wellington Koo noted on Tuesday that the mouth of the Tamsui River is a key deployment area during wartime. During peacetime, the site is jointly guarded by both the Coast Guard and the military, but Koo said that it cannot be ruled out that China is using grey zone tactics to test Taiwan's limits.

China regards Taiwan as part of the People's Republic. The island, with around 24 million inhabitants, has had an independent government since 1949.

Tensions across the Taiwan Strait have risen since President Lai Ching-te's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) won the presidential elections in January.

--IANS/DPA

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Anupam Kher calls Rajinikanth God's gift to mankind in new video. Image Source: IANS News

Mumbai, June 11 : Veteran actor Anupam Kher shared a video of himself meeting Tamil megastar Rajinikanth at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's swearing-in ceremony in New Delhi.

Anupam took to his Instagram on Tuesday and shared the video in which he can be seen in the company of the Tamil megastar.

Anupam also expressed his admiration for 'Thalaivar'.

The video shows Anupam walking beside Rajinikanth as they are surrounded by security guards and many other people who were present at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's swearing-in ceremony.

He then heaped praise on Rajinikanth, saying, "The one and only, Mr. Rajini-the-kanth! The one and only! The God's gift to mankind! Waah (wow)."

A shy Rajinikanth looked into the camera and smiled without saying anything.

Anupam wrote in the caption, "God's gift to mankind! The one and only - #Rajnikanth! Jai Ho! (sic)".

The oath-taking ceremony of Prime Minister Modi and his cabinet was held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in the national capital.

The event was attended by the who's who of the country from different walks of life.

Bollywood icon Shah Rukh Khan, Akshay Kumar, Bhojpuri star Ravi Kishan, Telugu superstar Pawan Kalyan, Bhojpuri actor and politician Nirahuaa, actor Manoj Tiwari, actress Raveena Tandon, and others attended the event.
Kolkata, June 11 : A single judge bench of the Calcutta High Court, on Tuesday, extended the stay on any legal proceedings by the police against the Leader of Opposition (LoP) in West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, in a case related to a late-night raid at his rented residence in Kolaghat last month.

Last month amid the Lok Sabha polls, the police carried out a late-night action and raid at the rented residence at Kolaghat in East Madinapur district. Adhikari challenged the action in the single-judge bench of Justice Amrita Sinha.

On May 24, Justice Sinha ordered an interim stay on police action in the matter till June 10. The tenure of that interim stay expired on Monday, following which the matter came up for hearing at Justice Sinha's bench on Tuesday, where the latter finally extended the stay till June 28.

The next date of hearing in the matter will be on June 19.

During the earlier hearing on May 24, Adhikari's counsel argued that the police action late at night was conducted deliberately to harass the LoP amid the Lok Sabha polls. However, the state government counsel claimed that the police action that night was in a different case and the cops were not even aware that the place had been rented by the leader of opposition.

On that day, Justice Sinha observed that it was strange that the police in this case went to the place in the early hours just getting a complaint and without proper investigation. "On how many occasions, do the police act so promptly?" she questioned on May 24.
New Delhi/Bhopal, June 11 : Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister, Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday said that he needs a hardworking team so that the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare can address the challenges faced by the agriculture sector and the farming community of the country.

"We all share equal responsibility and will work together to take India's farming and agriculture to new heights. Any minister can't do it alone. I need a hardworking team to achieve all these tasks," Chouhan told the ministry officials after taking charge.

Chouhan, who became the Union Minister for the first time was allocated portfolios of Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare; and Ministry of Rural Development on Monday, a day after he was sworn in as Union Minister in Modi 3.0 Cabinet on Sunday.

The 65-year-old leader, popularly known as "mama" (maternal uncle) and "paon-paon wale bhaiya" (foot soldier), governed Madhya Pradesh for over 17 years. He was replaced by Mohan Yadav as Chief Minister on December 3 last year.

With his extensive experience in governance and deep connection with the rural populace, Chouhan's appointment as the Union Agriculture Minister is expected to bring fresh impetus to the government's efforts to address the challenges faced by the people.

Born on March 5, 1959, in a farming family in Jait village, Sehore district, Chouhan's political journey began with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) when he was just 13 years old.

He was first elected to the Madhya Pradesh Assembly from Budhni constituency in 1990 and later became a Member of Parliament from Vidisha in 1991.

He was re-elected from the same constituency in 1996, 1998, 1999, and 2004, winning his fifth Lok Sabha election with an impressive margin of over 2,60,000 votes.

On June 4, he won his sixth Lok Sabha election from Vidisha against Congress' Pratap Bhanu Sharma with a margin of over 8 lakh votes.
Rajkot, June 11 : Subhash Trivedi, the head of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the Rajkot TRP Game Zone fire tragedy that killed 28 people, including children, on May 25 reached the city on Tuesday to speed up the investigation process.

"The efficiency of the fire department, the functioning of different municipal departments, and compliance with the General Development Control Regulations (GDCR) and Rajkot Urban Development Authority (RUDA) rules are all being investigated," said Trivedi, the Additional Director General of Police, CID (Crime).

He also said that possible errors on the part of the town planning department are under examination, emphasising the need for a thorough and detailed investigation.

According to Trivedi, numerous individuals and documents have already been examined as part of an impartial investigation carried out by various agencies.

"We are assessing the performance of the fire department and various municipal units, along with their adherence to GDCR and RUDA regulations. The town planning department's role is also under scrutiny," he said.

The popular gaming zone where the fire broke out on May 25 was allegedly being run without requisite approvals.

Acknowledging the tragic loss of innocent lives in the incident, Trivedi said, "Our sympathies go out to the families who lost their loved ones."

Trivedi also emphasised the involvement of multiple agencies in the investigation, which he stressed must be thorough.

"It is crucial that the guilty are punished and the innocent do not suffer. Strict legal action will be taken against anyone found on the wrong side of the law," he said.
CHATSWORTH, Calif.Adult industry trade organization the Free Speech Coalition (FSC) and a group of adult production entities filed a legal challenge Monday in Indiana over the states recently adopted age-verification law, SB17, arguing that it violates the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Indiana attorney general Todd Rokita is named as the defendant in the complaint.

SB17 empowers the state attorney general to file civil suits against platforms with adult content if they do not require visitors to upload a government ID and scan their face, or otherwise verify their age and identity. In addition to challenging the merits of the law, the Free Speech Coalition and its co-plaintiffs have requested an expedited preliminary injunction in the United States District Court Southern District of Indiana.

We will continue to fight for the rights of adults to access the internet free of shame and surveillance, FSC executive director Alison Boden saud. While they may sound reasonable on their face, laws like SB17 have effectively functioned as state censorship. These laws have been a failure on every front, and we must take action to protect both the consumers and producers of expressive works from this harmful government overreach.

Free Speech Coalition has challenged similar laws in Louisiana, Texas, Utah and Montana, and has filed a petition for a writ of certiorari with the United States Supreme Court.

Joining Free Speech Coalition as co-plaintiffs are an array of adult platforms and content producers, including Aylo Premium LTD; Aylo Freesites LTD; Webgroup Czech Republic, A.S.; NKL Associates, SRO; Sonesta Technologies, S.R.O., Sonesta Media, S.R.O.; Paper Street Media, LLC; Neptune Media, LLC; Mediame, SRL; Midus Holdings, Inc.

SB17 is scheduled to go into effect on July 1, 2024.

Read the complaint (Free Speech Coalition et al. v Rokita) here.

Click the following links to read the Motion for Expedited Preliminary Injunction and a Supporting brief.
New Delhi, June 11 : Sultan of Oman Haitham Bin Tarik's call to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday assumes great significance as both countries work on further scaling up the India-Oman partnership during Modi 3.0.

Oman's Head of State, who had travelled to New Delhi last December -- the first visit to India by the Sultanate of Oman's Sultan in over 25 years since late Sultan Qaboos' trip in 1997 -- congratulated PM Modi on his historic third term following the recently-concluded Lok Sabha elections.

During the call, the two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to further deepen and strengthen the India-Oman partnership for the mutual benefit of both countries.

"His Majesty emphasised the centuries-old ties of friendship between Oman and India and conveyed his best wishes for the progress and prosperity of the people of India. Prime Minister thanked His Majesty for his warm wishes and highlighted his historic visit to India in December 2023 which led to the deepening of bilateral cooperation in all areas," the Prime Minister's Office said in a statement.

Sultan Haitham Bin Tarik's India visit in December 2023 marked a significant milestone in the diplomatic relations between the two countries which share a longstanding history of friendship and cooperation, built on the foundation of mutual trust and respect, and strong people-to-people ties going back centuries.

A Joint Vision document titled 'A Partnership For the Future' was adopted during the visit, encompassing a shared vision of the leadership of Oman and India.

It acknowledged the remarkable synergy between Oman Vision 2040 and India's development objectives, under 'Amrit Kaal', affirming commitment to harnessing these complementarities for deepening the partnership between India and Oman.

"The document identifies a range of areas such as maritime cooperation and connectivity, energy security and green energy, space, technologies, and applications, digital payments and financial cooperation, trade and Investment, health, tourism and hospitality, IT & innovation, as well as agriculture and food security with specific action points as part of the future roadmap to deepen ties between both countries for implementation," stated the India-Oman Joint Statement released on December 16, 2023.

Oman, a key strategic partner of India, also remains an important interlocutor at the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), the Arab League, and the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) fora.

India, which is one of the largest markets for Oman's crude oil exports, continues to show its interest in a network of ports and freight corridors in the region that lead into Eurasia and the African continent. This also includes the Special Economic Zone at Duqm (SEZD) located at a distance of 550 kilometers from Oman's capital Muscat.

PM Modi, during his visit to the country in 2018, lauded the Sultanate's efforts to diversify its economy and welcomed the invitation to Indian companies to invest in various sectors in the special economic zones of Oman, including SEZs in Duqm, Sohar, and Salalah.

Last year, National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval visited the strategic port after calling on Sultan Haitham bin Tarik and holding wide-ranging discussions with the Minister of the Royal Office and the country's Foreign Minister.
New Delhi, June 11 : Ashwini Vaishnaw, who assumed charge as Minister of Railways, Minister of Information and Broadcasting, and Minister of Electronics and Information Technology, on Tuesday said that he is determined to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi's expectations for the vision of 'Viksit Bharat'.

"Assumed charge as the Minister of @RailMinIndia, @MIB_India and @GoI_MeitY. Humbled by the responsibility and determined to meet PM @narendramodi Ji's expectations for the vision of 'Viksit Bharat'," Vaishnaw wrote in a post on X.

Vaishnaw after taking charge of ministries, said that the people have once again blessed PM Modi to serve the country.

"Yesterday, on the very first day of his first tenure, the Prime Minister took decisions dedicated to the poor and farmers. A very strong foundation has to be laid for the youth...I express my gratitude to PM Modi for giving me this opportunity," he added.

Meanwhile, top industry bodies have welcomed the appointment of Vaishnaw retaining Railways and IT Ministries, besides getting the key Information and Broadcasting (I&B) portfolio.

"Under the visionary leadership of PM Modi, the past decade has been marked by significant efforts to revive the industry and bring the digital revolution to the masses," said Lt Gen Dr S.P. Kochhar (retd), Director General, COAI.
New Delhi, June 11 : The government is committed to advancing renewable energy initiatives to meet the country's rising energy demands and environmental goals, Pralhad Joshi, Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy and Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, said on Tuesday.

Speaking to the media after taking charge, Joshi emphasised the critical importance of the renewable energy sector for ensuring India's energy security and outlined the vast potential for growth in this field.

He proclaimed, "Achieving self-reliance in terms of fuel and energy by 2047 is our conviction."

"Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we are committed to ensuring food security for the people of India. Reforms will be undertaken to strengthen natural farming," Joshi claimed.

Outgoing Union ministers of concerned ministries Piyush Goyal and Shripad Naik, who were present on the occasion, handed over the charge to Joshi.

Pralhad Joshi represents the Dharwad Lok Sabha constituency in north Karnataka.

Earlier, Shripad Yesso Naik also assumed charge as the Minister of State in the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.

As India starts its journey to fulfilling at least half of its energy requirements via renewable energy by 2030, the country is set to attract over $500 billion worth investment in clean energy by that time.

At the United Nations' 'COP26' session, Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled a five-pronged target for India and its commitment to Net-Zero emissions by 2070.

There is a need to follow a sustainable lifestyle, said PM Modi, emphasising the idea of making 'Lifestyle for Environment' (LiFE) a global mission through bolder steps by the global clean energy fraternity.
New Delhi, June 11 : As the new government takes charge, the IT Ministry has called industry players and key stakeholders to discuss their concerns and suggestions regarding the Digital Competition Bill that aims to tackle the monopoly of Big Tech firms.

MeitY is likely to hold the first meeting on June 13 and a follow-up discussion on June 18 under the chairmanship of Secretary, MeitY, as the industry stakeholders have sent several representations on the Bill to the IT Ministry.

The meeting is likely to be attended by the Joint Secretary, Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA), along with officials from the Competition Commission of India (CCI), according to sources.

Introduced by the MCA in February this year to address anti-competitive practices by Big Tech firms, the Digital Competition Bill has received several recommendations from top industry bodies and other stakeholders.

The IT industry's apex body Nasscom has said it is important to strengthen the existing regulatory framework, like the CCI and the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT), before enacting one more legislation.

Meanwhile, a group of IAMAI members voiced their dissent to the industry body's submission of the draft Digital Competition Bill.

In a letter to the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, four digital companies including Bharat Matrimony, Match Group, ShareChat, and Hoichoi expressed a divergent view from the submission made by IAMAI.
Beirut/Tel Aviv, June 11 : The Hezbollah movement has fired dozens of Katyusha rockets at targets in northern Israel.

The Israeli military confirmed on Tuesday that it had recorded about 50 missiles fired from Lebanon. There were no injuries from the impacts, it said.

In a statement on Tuesday, Hezbollah said that "in response to an Israeli overnight attack in Hermal, eastern Lebanon, fighters bombed the headquarters of the Artillery Regiment and the Armored Brigade of the 210th Golan Division in the Yardun Barracks with dozens of Katyusha rockets".

The Israeli attack on an area at the border with Syria left five killed, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported.

A Lebanese security source said two Hezbollah commanders were among those killed.

Since the war in the Gaza Strip began eight months ago, there have been daily military confrontations between the Israeli army and the Hezbollah militia and other groups in the border area between Israel and Lebanon. There have been deaths on both sides.

The mutual shelling has caused severe destruction in towns on both sides of the border.

Around 150,000 people have been evacuated or left the combat zone. Recently, the situation has escalated even further, and there are fears of a larger military confrontation in the region if the Israel-Hamas conflict continues.

--IANS/DPA

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Berlin, June 11 : At an international reconstruction conference for Ukraine, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has called for a further strengthening of the country's air defence against Russian attacks.

He called on allies to support a German initiative to bolster Ukraine's air defence "with everything possible."

"Because the best reconstruction is the one that doesn't have to happen in the first place," Scholz said at the start of the conference, which is being held in the German capital of Berlin.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky is also attending the conference.

Scholz held out the prospect of far-reaching and long-term commitments for reconstruction in the country, which has been severely scarred by more than two years of costly all-out war and years of simmering conflict before that.

Scholz said he will push for those kinds of commitments at an upcoming summit of the G7 group of wealthy democratic countries, which begins in Italy on Thursday.

The chancellor pointed out that the World Bank estimates that $500 billion in reconstruction aid will be needed over the next decade.

He also called on private companies to participate in investments: "In view of the scale we are talking about here, private capital must be added."

Hundreds of German companies continue to do active business in Ukraine, with automotive firms alone employing about 35,000 people in Ukraine, Scholz emphasised.

Despite the war, there was no reduction in German investment in Ukraine, Scholz said, and the volume of trade had significantly increased since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.

"All of this shows that the business sector understands Ukraine's potential," Scholz said.

--IANS/DPA

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Seoul, June 11 : Senior South Korean and US defence officials visited a key Army unit overseeing missile operations on Tuesday, the defence ministry said, a day after holding nuclear deterrence talks against North Korean threats.

Cho Chang-rae, Deputy Defence Minister for Policy, and Vipin Narang, the acting US Assistant Secretary of Defence for Space Policy, toured the Missile Strategic Command at an undisclosed location after leading the allies' third Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG) meeting in Seoul on Monday.

During the NCG session, the two sides discussed integrating the allies' conventional and nuclear capabilities to boost deterrence and completed a review of joint guidelines regarding their response in the event of a North Korean nuclear crisis.

"This visit took place for the first time between South Korea and the United States to confirm the South's advanced conventional capabilities that can contribute to conventional-nuclear integration -- a key task of the NCG," the ministry said.

Narang said the visit presented a good opportunity to confirm the South's conventional capabilities have made great progress and expressed support for its plan to establish a strategic command, according to the ministry.

South Korea seeks to launch the command later this year, which will serve as an overarching organ of its key military assets, such as ballistic missiles, stealth fighters and 3,000-tonne submarines.

He also reaffirmed that North Korea will face an overwhelming and decisive response if it undertakes a nuclear attack as outlined in the Washington Declaration adopted by President Yoon Suk Yeol and US President Joe Biden during their summit in April last year, it said.

A photo released by the defence ministry showed South Korean and US officials standing in front of a transporter erector launcher of an unspecified missile at the unit.

The NCG was established under the Washington Declaration as part of efforts to enhance the credibility of extended deterrence amid the North's continued push to advance its weapons programs.

Extended deterrence refers to the US commitment to using the full range of its military capabilities, including nuclear, to defend an ally.
Tel Aviv, June 11 : Four Israeli soldiers have been killed in an explosion at a building in Rafah in the south of the Gaza Strip, according to the Israeli military.

The army announced the deaths of the four men, aged between 19 and 24, on Tuesday.

According to Israeli media reports, the soldiers had thrown an explosive device into a suspicious three-storey building in Rafah to detonate possible booby traps. However, an explosion only occurred when the troops had already entered the building.

The building collapsed and buried several soldiers underneath it. Seven soldiers were also injured, some of them seriously.

The army later found a tunnel entrance in the building and said they believed that a high-ranking member of the Islamist Palestinian organisation Hamas had been living there.

During the operation in the coastal strip, Israeli soldiers went from house to house looking for weapons, among other things. According to the military, many buildings have been rigged with explosives.

According to the army, the incident on Tuesday means that 650 soldiers have been killed and more than 3,700 others injured on the Israeli side since October 7.

According to the Palestinian health authority, more than 37,100 Palestinians have been killed in the ensuing war.

--IANS/DPA

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Lucknow, June 11 : The Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh approved the New Transfer Policy for 2024-25 on Tuesday.

Under this policy, Group A and B officers who have completed three years in districts and seven years in divisions can be transferred.

However, the oldest officers in Groups C and D will be transferred first.

The maximum limit for the transfer of Group A and B officers has been kept at 20 per cent, while for Group C and D, the maximum limit is 10 per cent.

Under the new policy, all transfers must be done by June 30, said the government spokesman.

The policy was approved at a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday.

Finance and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Suresh Khanna told reporters that according to the new policy, "Group A and B officers who have served seven years in the division and three years in the district will be subject to transfers.

"The policy stipulates that up to 20 per cent of officers in Groups A and B and up to 10 per cent of officers in Groups C and D can be transferred.

"For Groups C and D, the policy prioritises transferring the longest-serving officers first."

Ministerial approval will be required if it is necessary to transfer more than 10 per cent of Group C and D officers.

Similarly, transferring more than 20 per cent of Group A and B officers will necessitate approval from the Chief Minister.

He stated, "Groups C and D transfers will be managed entirely through the Manav Sampada portal. This system facilitates online arrangements for handing over and taking charge post-transfer.

"Additionally, it allows for the digitisation of service books and officers' salaries."

He also mentioned that, under the existing system, for the eight aspirational districts and 100 aspirational development blocks across 34 districts, filling vacant positions in these areas is the highest priority.
Bengaluru, June 11 : Union Minister of State (MoS) of Ministry of Jal Shakti, and Ministry of Railways Veeranna Somanna along with MoS of Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, and Ministry of Labour and Employment Shobha Karandlaje on Tuesday assumed charge at their respective ministers in New Delhi.

"I began my work with the blessings of the late Shivakumara Swamiji and the late Balagangadharanatha Swamiji," Somanna said after assuming the charge.

Bagalkot MP P.C. Gaddigoudar and former MPs G.S. Basavaraju and Umesh Jadhav were present on the occasion when Somanna assumed new responsibilities at the ministry.

Shobha Karandlaje, after assuming charge of her ministry said, that she looks forward to work with her new team for the betterment of the country.

Meanwhile, Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has trusted Karnataka leadership with important ministries.

"We will not only bring revolutionary changes in Karnataka but will also work honestly and successfully to bring changes at the national level," he stated.

V. Somanna also thanked Kumaraswamy for the wishes, saying that he would like to have the same coordination with the JD-S Chief in future as well.
VEENDEM, The NetherlandsEntrepreneur Eric Idema, founder of ONE-DC and EasyToys, has announced that he will step down as CEO of parent company EQOM Group as of July 1.

The company has experienced rapid growth in recent years, thus entering a new phase that Idema expressed "requires different expertise than mine."



Idema will remain involved with the EQOM Group as a shareholder and as a member of the advisory board. He will be succeeded by Marc van Boven, a veteran of international retail and e-commerce companies such as Weleda, Omega Pharma and Reckitt Benckiser (producer of, among others, Strepsils, Clearasil and Durex).



"I am stepping aside to make way for a new CEO," Idema said. I am extremely proud of all the employees and our business partners. When I started, I never expected that I and EasyToys would come this far. I had to think about it for a long time, but I think it's wise to leave at the peak. The company is entering a new phase and this requires different expertise.

Idema has been responsible for guiding EasyToys to milestone achievements including becoming the much-discussed main sponsor of FC Emmen, and signing a collaboration deal with the Dutch department store HEMA, as well as various branches of Jumbo, thereby placing the company at the forefront of making sex toys available on supermarket shelves. "Breaking those taboos is what I am most proud of," Idema said.

Commented van Boven, "Leading EQOM will be a great new challenge. Eric Idema has laid a fantastic foundation for the further expansion of the company. He has completely transformed the sexual wellness market. I am excited to now work on the further expansion of EQOM as a market leader and this market in general, which affects us all.

Idema will remain active as an investor and wants to use his expertise to advise e-commerce companies. He also looks forward to sharing his knowledge and continuing to give lectures, with the proceeds going to support good causes.

For more information on ONE-DC and EasyToys, visit www.one-dc.com.
New Delhi, June 11 : Mohmad Haneefa, the Independent MP from Ladakh, along with some local leaders met Congress MP Rahul Gandhi in the national Capital on Tuesday, sparking off a buzz about his likely support to the Congress-led INDIA bloc.

Any official statement to this effect is yet to come but speculations are rife over his extending support to the INDIA bloc.

Notably, just two days after the election results, an Independent MP from Maharashtraas Sangli constituency Vishal Patil pledged his support to the Congress party.

He had met party President Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi before announcing support to the Opposition-led alliance.

Mohmad Haneefa, who fought Lok Sabha elections from Ladakh Union Territory as an Independent, dealt a blow to the BJP by snatching this seat from its hold.

Mohmad Haneefa, a rebel National Conference (NC) leader defeated the rivals Tsering Namgyal of Congress and Tashi Gyalson of BJP with an impressive margin.

Out of Ladakhas 1.35 lakh votes, Haneefa received 65,259 while the BJP and Congress bagged 31,956 and 37,397 votes respectively.

Days ago, the Ladakh MP told a publication that he was yet to take a call on supporting any party or alliance at the Centre and would do so after consulting all the stakeholders of the Union Territory as the Sixth Schedule status and statehood were the biggest demands of the people there.

After the June 4 election results, the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) formed its third-consecutive government under the leadership of PM Modi while Congress-led INDIA bloc marked its best performance with 99 seats in the last three Lok Sabha elections of 2014, 2019 and 2024.
Male, June 11 : Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu on Tuesday described his official visit to India to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a "significant success" for the archipelagic nation.

Muizzu, who returned to Male on Tuesday morning, was accompanied by Maldives' Minister of Foreign Affairs Moosa Zameer, and the country's Finance Minister Mohamed Shafeeq during the India visit.

"This trip has been a success for Maldives and for the region as well," Muizzu said while speaking to the Maldives' state broadcaster Public Service Media (PSM) in New Delhi before concluding the trip.

Reflecting on the visit, the Maldives President expressed his delight at being invited and thanked the Prime Minister of India for the invitation.

"The President emphasised that the strong ties between the two nations would bring prosperity to the Maldives and Maldivian citizens, as he expressed optimism for a successful bilateral relationship in the future," said a statement released by the Maldivian President's office, later in the day.

During his visit, Muizzu attended the swearing-in ceremony and the banquet hosted by President Droupadi Murmu in honour of the visiting dignitaries at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Sunday.

PM Modi, in his interaction with the visiting leaders, emphasised that in his third term, India will continue to work for peace, progress, and prosperity of the region in close partnership with other countries, even as it pursues its goal of having a 'Viksit Bharat 'by 2047.

Muizzu also separately met President Murmu and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Monday and discussed strengthening bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

"Look forward to India and Maldives working together closely," Jaishankar posted on X after the meeting.
Lilongwe, June 11 : Malawi's Vice President Saulos Chilima, along with nine other individuals who were on board a military aircraft, have been confirmed dead after the plane went missing on Monday morning, President Lazarus Chakwera announced on Tuesday.

The wreck of a plane carrying the Vice President has been found with no survivors, President Chakwera said.

Chilima, 51, was travelling to a funeral of the country's former Attorney General and Minister of Justice Ralph Kasambara, who was found dead in a room at a lodge in Lilongwe on Friday.

The plane failed to land at its intended destination at Mzuzu Airport in northern Malawi due to adverse weather conditions, and the pilot was advised to return to Kamuzu International Airport in Lilongwe before the aircraft went off the radar around 10 a.m. local time (0800 GMT) on Monday.

Soldiers had been searching Chikangawa Forest overnight and into the morning in an effort to find the plane.

In a news briefing on Tuesday, President Chakwera said the Malawi Defence Force commander informed him that the search and rescue operation has been completed and the plane was found. Chakwera said he was "deeply saddened and sorry" to inform Malawians of the terrible tragedy, the BBC reported.

He said the rescue team found the aircraft completely destroyed.

Chakwera paid tribute to Chilima, describing him as "a good man", "devoted father" and "formidable VP".

"I consider it one of the great honours of my life to have had him as a deputy and as a counsellor," he was quoted as saying by the BBC.
Kolkata, June 11 : Four senior police officers in West Bengal, who were replaced by the Election Commission of India (ECI) before or during the recently-concluded Lok Sabha elections, were reinstated in their posts by the state government on Tuesday.

The four officers include Aminul Islam Khan, an SDPO in the Basirhat subdivision under which the Sandeshkhali police station falls.

Before the Lok Sabha elections, there were several complaints against Khan from the BJP, with the leader of the opposition Suvendu Adhikari accusing the SDPO of acting on behalf of the ruling Trinamool Congress.

The ECI not only removed Khan from the post but also ordered his transfer to any position that was not linked to elected-related duty.

The other officers to be reinstated on Tuesday are the DSP of Howrah Rural Police, Amitabha Konar, SDPO of Kanthi subdivision, Dibakar Das, and the DSP of Darjeeling, Azharuddin Khan.

Sources in the state Secretariat said the process of reinstating bureaucrats and police officers transferred by the ECI started on Monday with the erstwhile District Magistrate of East Midnapore, Joyoshi Dasgupta.

"Gradually, almost all the officers who were replaced by the poll panel will be reinstated in their original positions," said a senior member of the state Cabinet, who did not wish to be named.
New Delhi, June 11 : A gangster of the notorious Himanshu Bhau gang has been arrested by the Delhi Police's Special Cell, police said on Tuesday.

The accused was identified as Sahil Jain aka Chintu, a resident of the Uttam Nagar area, and previously found involved in 19 cases including extortion and under the Arms Act.

Deputy Commissioner of Police, Special Cell, Amit Kaushik said that owing to a sudden increase in extortion calls to the businessmen in Delhi and its surrounding areas in the name of Himanshu Bhau and firing at the offices/homes of the victims who refused to pay up, a special drive was launched against activities of such gangs mainly operating from abroad.

"Concerted efforts made in this regard yielded results in arresting several such active gang members of Delhi-NCR. Further, police teams were deployed to collect intelligence about members of the Himanshu Bhau gang, involved in the incidents of threat, extortion and murders," he said.

The DCP said that it was also found that Himanshu Bhau is operating his gang from abroad and mobilising his associates to arrange arms, ammunition, and transport for his gang members.

aAn input was received regarding one key member of Naveen Bali/Himanshu Bhau gang, namely Sahil Jain, who used to mediate between the victim and gangster for the extortion amount," he said. On June 4, the police managed to arrest Jain.

On his interrogation, it was found that gangster Rahul aka Kala, a close associate of Naveen Bali came out of jail recently and introduced accused Jain to Himanshu Bhau and directed him to remain in constant touch. Therefore, as per Himanshu Bhauas directions, Jain used to mediate between victim and gangster. In a very short span of time, he became a very close associate of Himanshu Bhau," the DCP added.
New Delhi, June 11 : Taking on the Apple-OpenAI collaboration in a big way, tech billionaire Elon Musk said on Tuesday that his own X phone is a possibility with Samsung as a potential partner which cannot be ruled out, as he slammed the integration of ChatGPT in iPhones and other Apple devices.

Reacting to an X user who claimed that "X will partner with Samsung to manufacture an X phone" which will be optimised for the X app, offer an open-source operating system (OS) and a "direct connection to Starlink", Musk said "it is not out of the question".

Musk earlier said that it is "patently absurd" that Apple isn't smart enough to make its own AI, "yet is somehow capable of ensuring that OpenAI will protect your security & privacy".

"Apple has no clue what's actually going on once they hand your data over to OpenAI. They're selling you down the river," the Tesla and SpaceX CEO added.

Apple is yet to comment on Musk's allegations.

Earlier in the day, Musk threatened to ban iPhones from all his companies over the integration of ChatGPT into iPhones and other Apple devices.

Apple on Monday announced that in iOS 18, users will be able to ask Siri questions and OpenAI's ChatGPT will answer.

Musk posted on X that if Apple integrates OpenAI at the OS level, "Apple devices will be banned at my companies".

"That is an unacceptable security violation," Musk added.
Bengaluru, June 11 : Kannada superstar Darshan's second wife, Pavithra Gowda, was questioned by the police on Tuesday in connection with the murder case of the actor's fan, 33-year-old Renukaswamy.

Police sources stated that Pavithra Gowda is being questioned on charges of allegedly conspiring in the crime.

They said police have leads indicating that Pavithra Gowda was present when Darshan and his associates were allegedly attacking the victim.

Sources also said that after Renukaprasad died due to the grievous injuries inflicted allegedly by the actor and his henchmen, Darshan had beaten her up as well, saying that the trouble happened because of her.

The victim, Renukaprasad, used to post derogatory messages on Pavithra Gowda's Instagram every time she used to put up her pictures with Darshan.

Following this, he was kidnapped from Chitradurga, brought to Bengaluru, and later tortured to death, allegedly by actor Darshan and his associates.

Meanwhile, advocate Narayanaswamy clarified that the actor has not been arrested yet.

"My client Darshan has just been called for the investigation of a murder case. Darshan is issuing a statement that he is in no way connected to the incident," he stated.

Anil, another advocate who met the actor at the police station said, "Darshan has been implicated under IPC Section 302. We will know more details after he is produced before the court."

Darshan is the son of the late veteran actor Tugudeepa Srinivas.

Following the untimely death of his father, Darshan started his career from scratch as a light boy and actor in soap operas.

Gradually, he established himself as a hero with his first movie 'Majestic.'

In a few years, he established himself as a successful action hero.

At present, he is one of the most popular and sought-after heroes in the Kannada film industry.

Darshan has a massive following throughout the state but he often landed into controversies.

Darshan was jailed for assaulting his first wife, but after coming back from prison, his fan following surprisingly doubled, and he went on to become a superstar.

However, Darshan was recently seen with his first wife on social media and he was busy with his ambitious project 'Devil.'

When everything seemed to be going in the right direction, Darshan landed in a major crisis with his alleged involvement in a murder case.

Darshan also produces and distributes films. He runs a mini zoo in Mysuru and has a passion for cars and bikes.
Chandigarh, June 11 : Punjab Police busted a trans-border narcotic smuggling network with the arrest of three smugglers and recovered 8 kg heroin from their possession, Director General of Police (DGP), Gaurav Yadav, said here on Tuesday.

Those arrested have been identified as Gursahib Singh, Sajan Singh and Satnam Singh, all residents of Amritsar District.

Apart from the drugs, police also recovered one .30 bore pistol and 26 cartridges from their possession and impounded a car and a motorcycle.

DGP Yadav said Counter Intelligence, Amritsar received inputs that some drug smugglers had retrieved a huge consignment of heroin dropped via drone at the Indo-Pakistan border that falls near Dharamkot Pattan Village.

Police were told that the smugglers intend to further deliver the drugs to supplier Satnam Singh near Kot Khalsa opposite Khalsa College in Amritsar.

Acting swiftly, the police team led by Deputy Superintendent of Police, Balbir Singh, laid a special checkpoint at Adda Khusro Tahli and apprehended Gursahib and Sajan, when they were travelling on their motorcycle and recovered 7.5 kg heroin and 16 cartridges from their possession.

He said later the police laid a trap and arrested drug supplier Satnam Singh from Kot Khalsa and recovered 500 grams of heroin and one .30 bore pistol along with 10 cartridges from his possession and impounded his car.

The DGP said as per preliminary investigations, the accused were directly in touch with the Pakistan-based drug smuggler and were supplying heroin across the state after importing it from Pakistan.

The probe has also revealed that the Pakistan-based drug smuggler used drones to deliver the consignment.

Further investigation is going on to unearth linkages to reveal the entire network.
Raebareli : , June 11 (IANS) Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday thanked the people of Raebareli and Amethi for voting for the INDIA bloc and said that it was a vote against "violence, lies, and arrogance".

While Rahul Gandhi won the Lok Sabha elections from Raebareli, in addition to retaining his seat in Kerala's Wayanad, Congress' Kishori Lal Sharma won from Amethi.

Addressing an 'Aabhar Sabha' here, Rahul Gandhi said that in the recent Lok Sabha elections, people voted against those who planned to change the Constitution.

"People have forced them to touch the Constitution to their foreheads now," he said.

The Congress MP also said that it was for the first time that different parties across the country fought together as one army and it was Uttar Pradesh that showed them the way.

"You have changed the political narrative of the country. But the work is not over yet. In fact, it has only begun. The BJP lost Ayodhya because not a single person from the poor or weaker sections was present in the consecration ceremony. Ayodhya gave a befitting reply in the elections," he said.

Rahul Gandhi also said that had Priyanka agreed to contest the Varanasi seat, the results would have been different there.

He also assured the gathering that though he had been elected from Raebareli, he would make sure that Amethi gets whatever Raebareli gets for development.

Speaking on the occasion, Priyanka Gandhi thanked all the leaders and workers of the Congress and Samajwadi Party and said the results have sent a message that the country wants clean politics.

"You have worked hard for us and now we will work with double the strength for you," she said.

Samajwadi Party leaders were also present on the Congress stage, as Priyanka Gandhi expressed her gratitude to the SP workers.
New Delhi, June 11 : Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan took charge as Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare on Tuesday.

Union Minister Chouhan said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has resolved to double the income of farmers and the government will take every possible step for the welfare of farmers.

Chouhan pointed out that the first file signed by the Prime Minister after taking charge on Monday was to release the instalment of PM Kisan Nidhi Yojna to benefit 9.3 crore farmers.

He asserted that Prime Minister Modi is a visionary leader and called upon the officials to work on a roadmap for achieving goals set up in the manifesto. He said improving upon the lives of 'Annadatas' should be the mission of the ministry.

The Union Minister also said that the NDA government has been committed to farmers' welfare for the past 10 years and his ministry will continue to work to achieve the goals.

After taking over the charge, Union Minister Chouhan visited various offices in the ministry and interacted with staff at various levels. He exhorted them to work as a team to achieve the government's vision for the welfare of farmers and work in cooperation with each other.

He also visited the Krishi Integrated Command and Control Centre in the ministry and saw facilities to review the agriculture scenario within the country including crop production and drought preparedness.

Later, he held a meeting of senior officials of the ministry and underscored the need for transparency in the ministry's functioning. He also handed the government manifesto for the welfare of farmers and rural development and called upon everyone to work towards its fulfilment.

Ramnath Thakur and Bhagirath Choudhary also assumed charge as Ministers of State in the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. They were welcomed by Secretary, Department of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare, Manoj Ahuja and other senior officials of the ministry.
Screen grab: MMA Junkie

Former UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland has quickly become one of the more popular athletes in all of mixed martial arts. But just as quickly, he has become a headache for the UFC due to his controversial antics in press conferences in recent years.

Strickland has consistently shown over the years that he has absolutely zero filter. Whether it be discussing the current state of affairs in the United States, the LGBTQ community, or a general rhetoric of alpha-male ideologies, Strickland has always shown that he is more than willing to speak his mind, regardless of the backlash he may receive.

Even the biggest advocates for Strickland would likely admit that Strickland has crossed several lines in the past. So much so, that the UFC was recently revealed to have held a PR meeting to address some of Stricklands comments ahead of a recent fight.

In the new documentary Fight Inc: Inside the UFC airing on Roku this past week, a portion of a behind-the-scenes PR meeting was shown discussing Stricklands pre-fight comments ahead of his fight last year against Abusupiyan Magomedov.

Ahead of the fight, Strickland said that women being allowed to vote is what is f***** up about the United States, and also called including Germans stupid, and Brazilians dirty.

The clip from Episode Two of Fight Inc: Inside the UFC showed UFC Senior Vice President of Communications Lenee Breckenridge discussing Stricklands comments with Public Relations Senior Manager Christoph Goessing.

First off, I would love to give a little recap of Sean Strickland, said Breckenridge.

Yeah, he had a long speech about not allowing women to vote anymore and that its the reason the country is going downhill, responded Goessing. A couple of choiced comments about Germany, America, and Brazil as it relates to his opponent. I mean, it was about 28 minutes of unadulterated Sean Strickland. He just says it all.

Breckenridge was then seen thanking Goessing for the recap and walking away.

https://twitter.com/mma_orbit/status/1799624041197916329

Its particularly fascinating just how nonchalant these two were about Stricklands comments. Particularly because of just how many people he attacked in the lead-up to that fight.

Thats really only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Strickland. So there are surely many other PR meetings regarding Strickland that have gone on that werent captured.

Despite all of this, UFC President Dana White has assured Strickland, and all other fighters, in the past that he will not censor them on what they say during press conferences.

I dont give anybody a leash, said White back in January after Stricklands homophobic comments. A leash? Free speech. Control what people say, going to tell people what to believe, tell peopleI dont f***ing tell any other human being what to say, what to think. Theres no leashes on any of them.

If White maintains that he will allow Strickland and others to say whatever is on their mind, he could find himself and his company landing in hot water sooner or later. Particularly because the UFC is going to be looking to re-up their broadcast rights deal with ESPN, or potentially other suitors in the very near future.

[MMA Orbit on X, Fight Inc: Inside the UFC on Roku]
Thiruvananthapuram, June 11 : According to a recent study, Kerala created a startup ecosystem valued at $1.7 billion in 18 months till the end of 2023, which is five times more than the global average during the period.

Ecosystem value is a measure of economic impact, calculated as the value of exits and startup valuations.

The Global Startup Ecosystem Report (GSER) 2024 was released at the London Tech Week by the US-based Startup Genome and the Global Entrepreneurship Network.

While Kerala tops India's startup ecosystems as per the GSER-2024, the other states to make it to the list are Telangana, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka.

The GSER-2024 is powered by the world's most quality-controlled dataset on startup ecosystems.

The report pointed out that while the worldwide average growth was 46 per cent during the period under review, Kerala's startup ecosystem clocked 254 per cent compound annual growth from July 1, 2021, to December 31, 2023, compared to the corresponding period ending in 2021.

Kerala was also ranked fourth among Asia's startup ecosystems in the 'Affordable Talent' category that measures the ability to hire tech talent, while the state is in the top-30 list when it comes to the 'Performance' of the startup ecosystems.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the state is building on its dynamic startup ecosystem that has been driving the forefront of transformative innovations.

"We are now pivoting towards Deep Tech, investing in talent and infrastructure to nurture groundbreaking startups in advanced technologies," the CHief Minister said.

Startups in Kerala raised $33.2 million (Rs 227 crore) in 2023, marking a 15 per cent increase from the previous year.

Likewise, software exports reached $2.3 million in 2022-23, prompting Kerala to aim for a 10 per cent share in the country's IT exports, besides creating five lakh new jobs.

The CEO of Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM), Anoop Ambika, said that no other state in the country enjoys similar government support as Kerala.

"Our mission is to take Kerala's startup growth to the world average in the next five years," said Ambika.

KSUM, which was established in 2006 under the Kerala government, works for entrepreneurship development and incubation activities in the state.
New Delhi, June 11 : Cellular Operators' Association of India (COAI), the apex industry association representing leading telecom, internet, technology, and digital services companies, on Tuesday announced its new leadership for the term 2024-25, effective June 2024.

Abhijit Kishore, Chief Operating Officer (COO), Vodafone Idea Limited, will be the Chairperson while Rahul Vatts, Chief Regulatory Officer (CRO), Bharti Airtel, will be the Vice Chairperson of the Association.

"As India heads into the third innings of the Narendra Modi-led government, we hope that the Digital India programme and other progressive policies will further gather momentum and empower every citizen with access to digital resources and opportunities," S.P. Kochhar, Director-General, COAI, said in a statement.

Kishore comes with an experience of over three decades in the telecom industry across functions, organisations and geographies. Before taking on the role of COO, he was heading the Enterprise Business of Vodafone Idea Ltd as the Chief Enterprise Business Officer.

"The telecom industry is growing from strength to strength, and together, we are committed to driving innovation for a more connected, secure and inclusive world. On behalf of the industry, I would like to reiterate our commitment to support the governmentas efforts to bridge the digital divide in the country and further catalyse Indiaas digital transformation," said Kishore.

Vatts is a telecom industry veteran with 29 years of experience and an expert on Telecom & Broadcasting Licensing, Economic Regulations, Spectrum Management and Regulatory Litigation.

As the Chief Regulatory Officer of Bharti Airtel, he heads the Government Relations, Policy and Regulatory interfaces across the companyas business spanning mobility broadband, DTH, Data Center, Submarine Cables, its international subsidiaries and all digital lines of business.

"The telecom sector is going through a transformative phase, and we would work in collaboration with the government and regulators to address issues needing attention. I take this opportunity to thank the previous office bearers and look forward to closely working with the members," said Vatts.
Bengaluru, June 11 : The Karnataka Police on Tuesday named Kannada superstar Darshan as the accused No. 2 and his second wife Pavithra Gowda as the prime accused in the alleged murder of a man named Renukaswamy (33) from Chitradurga, who was a big fan of the actor, sources said.

The police have arrested 13 persons in connection with the case, including Darshan and his wife Pavithra Gowda, the sources said.

The accused were taken to the Bowring Hospital for a medical check-up after which they will be produced before the court where the police are likely to seek their custody for further investigation.

The other accused persons have been identified as Pavan, M. Laxman, Nikhil Nayak, Keshava Murthy, Karthik, M. Deepak Kumar, R. Nagaraju, and Raghavendra, among others.

Darshan was arrested on Tuesday morning in connection with the alleged murder of 33-year-old Renukaswamy, whose body was found in Bengaluru on June 9.

The probe said the deceased was a die-hard fan of Darshan.

While the police earlier maintained that the actor had been detained for questioning, Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara later confirmed the arrest.

"His role came up during the investigation, based on which Darshan is being investigated by the police. Nothing more can be said about the murder now. Darshan is in police custody, and considering the seriousness of the case, he has been arrested," Parameshwara said.

Meanwhile, sources said the actor allegedly tried to mislead the police by implicating four of his fans after Renukaswamy's body was found in a canal.

When the police questioned them, they claimed to have committed the crime over a financial dispute. However, their statements were not convincing.

When their call records were checked, Darshan's role in the case became apparent, sources said.

Preliminary investigations revealed that Renukaswamy was a hardcore fan of Darshan and was reportedly disturbed by the conflict between Darshan's first and second wives.

Renukaswamy wanted Darshan to be with his first wife and son, so he targeted Pavithra Gowda whenever she posted her photos with the actor on social media.

Police sources said Darshan and his associates allegedly attacked Renukaswamy brutally, hitting him on his head, face, chest, and back. The accused also slashed his nose, mouth, and jaw.

Burn injuries were found on the body, hinting at the use of a hot iron rod.

Sources claimed that more than 10 people attacked Renukaswamy, including Darshan, and threw him against a wall multiple times.

The deceased's family said that Renukaswamy worked at a pharmacy and got married a year ago. His wife is three-month pregnant.

The murder came to light on June 9 after an unidentified body was found in a canal.
Nottingham : , June 11 (IANS) Emma Raducanu's decision to skip the French Open to focus on the grass-court circuit paid off in her first outing on the surface, as she romped past qualifier Ena Shibahara in the first round of the Rothesay Open here on Tuesday. Raducanu defeated Shibahara 6-1, 6-4 in a 70-minute encounter.

The 22-year-old Raducanu was playing her first match on grass since Wimbledon 2022. This time last year, she was confined to a mobility scooter as she recuperated from multiple wrist and ankle surgeries.

The British player surged to a 6-1, 5-1 lead in dominant fashion before holding off a late charge from Shibahara to close out the win in straight sets.

Former doubles No.4 Shibahara has been shifting her focus to singles this year and has raised her ranking over 250 places since January to its current No.274. She came into this match with a 30-8 record this season, and her serve-and-volley tactics posed a unique challenge for Raducanu.

"All credit to Ena, she's making it very tricky on the grass courts with the serve-and-volley and it's very tough to find a way past, but I'm pleased with how I dealt with the circumstances today," said Raducanu.

The Briton found a lob to break Shibahara in the opening game and then a superb pass to gain the double break for 4-1. The second of those was part of a seven-game streak in which Raducanu was in full control; Shibahara's strategy was only intermittently effective against the former US Open champion's solidity.

From 5-1 down in the second set, Shibahara raised her game to break Raducanu twice, with the latter also contributing an increased number of errors. But at 5-4, Raducanu regained her focus, coming up with a brilliantly angled return winner en route to breaking Shibahara for the win.
Moscow, June 11 : A detachment of Russian warships will arrive in Cuba on Wednesday for tasks within the framework of cooperation between the two countries, the Russian Navy said on Tuesday.

The group of Russian warships is part of the Northern Fleet, including a nuclear-powered submarine and a frigate with modern weapons on board, said Admiral Alexander Moiseyev, acting commander-in-chief of the Navy, cited by Russia's RIA news agency.

According to Moiseyev, visiting Cuba will only be one of the tasks set for the voyage, reported Xinhua news agency.

The Cuban Foreign Ministry announced earlier that Russian warships would visit the port of Havana from Wednesday to Monday, involving Russian frigate Admiral Gorshkov, the nuclear-powered submarine Kazan, as well as the fleet oil tanker Pashin and the rescue tug Nikolai Chiker.

The visit is within the framework of "historically friendly relations between Cuba and Russia", the ministry said.
Washington, June 11 : A US jury on Tuesday found Hunter Biden, the son of US President Joe Biden, guilty of all three crimes he was charged with in relation to a firearms case.

Biden faces a maximum punishment of 25 years but is more likely to get away with much less being a first-time offender.

President Biden can pardon him, but he has said repeatedly that he will not do so if his son is found guilty.

In a statement on the jury verdict, Joe Biden said, "As I said last week, I am the President, but I am also a Dad. Jill and I love our son, and we are so proud of the man he is today. So many families who have had loved ones battle addiction understand the feeling of pride in seeing someone you love come out the other side and be so strong and resilient in recovery.

"As I also said last week, I will accept the outcome of this case and will continue to respect the judicial process as Hunter considers an appeal. Jill and I will always be there for Hunter and the rest of our family with our love and support. Nothing will ever change that."

This is the first time that the child of a sitting US President has been tried on criminal charges and convicted.

The Junior Biden also faces a second trial in September for tax evasion.

Hunter Biden was charged with two counts of filing false information on forms he filled to buy a firearm in 2018. He had lied that he was not using narcotics at the time. The third count refers to possessing a firearm when he was using drugs.

He was tried in a federal court in Wilmington, the family's hometown in Delaware state. The jury took only three hours to reach the verdict after the two sides wrapped up their final arguments on Monday.

Jill Biden, the first lady and Hunter Biden's stepmother, had attended the trial on most days and was in the court just a few minutes after the verdict was read.

Biden's conviction follows soon after another chapter was added to US history with Donald Trump becoming the first former President to be convicted of criminal charges.

A New York jury had held him guilty on May 31 on all 34 counts of falsifying business records to conceal payments to an adult film star to not speak out about an affair they had in 2005. Trump has denied the affair.

While his sentencing date has been set for July 11, Trump completed a key pre-sentencing interview with the authorities on Monday.

The two convictions are separated not only by the crimes, but also the manner in which the two men and their families have handled them.

Trump has railed the trial calling it politically motivated and has riled against the judge, attacking him personally and his family.

The Biden family has taken it stoically and said before that they will accept the verdict, which, as the jury said, is that Hunter Biden is guilty as charged.

Politically, the conviction is likely to weaken Trump's allegations that the Biden-led White House has weaponised the justice department to stop him from running for the President's post.

As with everything else, Trump has a tenuous relationship with truth. The New York case was a state case, not federal. Two of the other three cases he faces are federal, and the third is a state case again. It's the same justice department that prosecuted the President's son and won a guilty verdict.
Stuttgart : , June 11 (IANS) Two-time Stuttgart Open champion Matteo Berrettini improved his impressive record here on Tuesday when he clawed past eighth seed Roman Safiullin in a three sets first-round thriller. Berrettini came back after losing the second set to beat Safiullin 7-6(8), 5-7, 7-5.

The Italian, playing for the first time since Monte-Carlo in April, saved one set point in the first set and raised his level in the decider. The former World No. 6 fired 13 aces in the third set and fended off all four break points he faced, according to ATP Infosys Stats, to advance after two hours and 57 minutes.

Berrettini clinched the crown in Stuttgart in 2019 and 2022 and will next meet Denis Shapovalov or Matteo Martineau at the grass-court ATP 250. Berrettini has often found his best level on grass. The 28-year-old won the Queenas Club trophy in 2021 and 2022 and advanced to the Wimbledon final in 2021.

"First match after a few months and I was hoping for something easier," Berrettini joked. "I think I am really happy with the way I fought on court. After not playing for months it is not easy to come back and play well and that is what I told myself, just to fight. Just to try to enjoy because I missed it and I am really happy to be back here," he was quoted as saying by ATP Tour.

Marcos Giron earned his first win against a current or former World No. 1 when he defeated Andy Murray 6-3, 6-4 in Stuttgart. The American won 80 percent (33/41) of his first-serve points to set a second-round clash with Jack Draper.

Murray reached the final in Stuttgart in 2022 but will drop out of the Top 100 for the first time since January 2022 next Monday following his 11th tour-level loss of the year. The Scot has won seven of his 46 tour-level titles on grass.

Berrettinias countryman Lorenzo Musetti also advanced to the second round in Germany. The fifth seed defeated French qualifier Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard 7-6(9), 7-6(11). The No. 30 in the PIF ATP Rankings saved two set points in the first set and one set point in the second set. Musetti, who reached the quarterfinals in Stuttgart last year, plays Germanyas Dominik Koepfer in the second round.

In other action, Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech beat American Alex Michelsen 6-4, 7-5, while Australian James Duckworth eliminated Pierre-Hugues Herbert 6-4, 7-6(2). Duckworth next faces second seed Ben Shelton.
Imphal, June 11 : With the deportation of 38 more immigrants from Manipur to Myanmar on Tuesday, a total of 115 illegal Myanmarese migrants, including women and children, have been deported to their country since March 8, officials said.

Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh said in a post on X: "In continuation of the deportation process of immigrants, the Government of Manipur has deported 38 Myanmar nationals to their home country through the Integrated Check Post (ICP), Moreh, today."

"They have been handed over safely to Myanmar authorities by the immigration officers of the Government of India posted at ICP, Moreh. The state government is continuing the identification of illegal immigrants and remains steadfast in its resolve to deport them. Let's keep our borders and country secure," he added.

A Manipur government official said that in two phases on March 8 and May 2, 77 illegal Myanmar immigrants have been deported through the Moreh border in Manipur's Tengnoupal district.

The state government is continuing the identification of illegal immigrants from Myanmar and at the same time, biometric data are also being recorded, he told the media.

The Myanmar nationals fled to Manipur after the military junta seized power in the neighbouring country on February 1, 2021.

The Manipur Chief Minister said earlier that although India is not a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention, it has given shelter and aid to those fleeing the crisis in Myanmar on humanitarian grounds with a systematic approach.

Since the military took over Myanmar more than three years ago, at least 8,000 Myanmarese have taken shelter in Manipur's Tengnoupal, Chandel, Churachandpur, and Kamjong districts, while over 36,000 people have taken shelter in Mizoram.

Following the advice of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the Manipur government has been collecting the biometric details of the Myanmar nationals sheltered in the state. The Mizoram government, however, turned down the MHA's appeal to collect biometric data of the Myanmar refugees.
Chandigarh, June 11 : Former Haryana Chief Minister and Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Tuesday said people had "reduced the BJP to half" in the Lok Sabha elections, and it will be "completely wiped out" in the next Assembly elections slated for October.

The Leader of the Opposition thanked the voters of Haryana for their "peaceful participation throughout the elections and voting in the favour of the Congress". Hooda said the Congress vote share has surged significantly in the Lok Sabha elections in Haryana.

"The party has received the full support of all communities. Compared to other states, the INDIA Alliance has got the highest 47.6 per cent votes in Haryana. The votes of the Congress-led alliance have increased by about 20 per cent while the votes of the BJP have decreased by 12 per cent compared to the last Lok Sabha elections," Hooda told the media here.

He said that the Congress has taken the lead in 46 assembly segments.

Hooda further said the public is "eagerly waiting for the Assembly elections so that the BJP can be ousted from power and a Congress government can be formed".

He said after the "crushing defeat in the Lok Sabha elections, and fearing a complete washout in the Vidhan Sabha elections, the BJP has now remembered the free plots scheme of 100 yards, started during the Congress government".

"The scheme was started during the Congress government, and free plots of 100 yards were distributed to about four lakh poor, Scheduled Caste and OBC families," he said.

"The Congress had planned to give these plots to more than 7 lakh families of the state, but the BJP stopped this scheme as soon as it came to power. Due to this, some of the beneficiary families could not get possession allotted by the Congress. For 10 years, the BJP kept the beneficiaries deprived of the plots. By stopping this scheme, the BJP snatched the right of 100 square yards plots from more than 3 lakh families," Hooda added.

State Congress President Chaudhary Udaibhan said that the BJP has "wasted hundreds of crores of people's money on schemes like Parivar Pehchan Patra (PPP) and property ID, and large-scale irregularities have been detected in these portals. Despite this, no action has been taken against the agencies which were entrusted with this work".
Amaravati, June 11 : The return of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) to power in Andhra Pradesh has brought the spotlight back on Amaravati, giving new hope to farmers and others, who had been fighting for more than four years against the previous YSRCP government's move to shift the state capital.

The return of N. Chandrababu Naidu, who envisioned Amaravati on the banks of the Krishna River as a dream capital and world-class city about a decade ago, has brought cheers to those waging a relentless fight to demand the development of Amaravati as the only state capital.

The landslide victory of the TDP-Jana Sena-BJP alliance and Chandrababu Naidu's announcement that Amaravati is the state capital has come as a big relief for farmers, who had given 33,000 acres of land for development of the state capital in the hope of a bright future.

However, their dreams were shattered after the previous YSRCP government announced that the administrative capital would be shifted to Visakhapatnam.

Even before the swearing-in of the new state government, authorities started laying the ground for the resumption of works on the greenfield capital city after a gap of five years.

Andhra Pradesh Capital Region Development Authority (APCRDA) has started clearing bushes and shrubs around important buildings in Amaravati to signal that the new government will go for a full-scale resumption of works.

The CRDA employed dozens of workers and roped in 83 cranes and tippers to clear bushes around the Secretariat, High Court, Seed Access Road and under-construction buildings like residential quarters for ministers, judges and legislators.

The works on residential quarters and other components of the mega project came to a halt in December 2019 after the YSRCP government reversed the decision of the earlier TDP government to develop Amaravati as the state capital.

Neerabh Kumar Prasad, who took over as the State Chief Secretary four days ago, is overseeing the works currently underway to know the status of the different components of the project.

On December 17, 2023, protests by farmers and women of Amaravati completed four years.

It was on December 17, 2019, that the then Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy announced in the state Assembly that three state capitals will be developed reversing the decision of the previous TDP government to develop Amaravati as the state capital.

The government planned to develop Visakhapatnam as the administrative capital, Kurnool as the judicial capital and Amaravati only as a legislative capital.

The farmers were up in arms and legally challenged the move.

Amaravati Parirakshana Samithi (APS), which is spearheading the movement against three capitals, undertook two padayatra during the last two years to mobilise public support for their demand.

On March 3, 2022, the Andhra Pradesh High Court directed the state government to develop Amaravati as the state capital in six months.

In November 2022, the Supreme Court while hearing the Special Leave Petition filed by the state government, stayed the High Court's directions to develop infrastructure in Amaravati within a stipulated time frame.

The Supreme Court, however, did not stay the other part of the judgement, which had declared Amaravati as the state capital and that the law on three capitals was not valid.

The new government is likely to resume works from Uddandarayunipalem, the place where the foundation stone was laid in October 2015 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Chandrababu Naidu had got the master plan for Amaravati prepared by Singapore.

With nine theme cities and 27 townships, it was planned in an area of 217 square km as a world-class city.

Designed not merely as an administrative capital but as an economic and job-creating hub and tourism centre, it was planned to be developed in three phases -- seed area or core capital, capital city and capital region.

Amaravati then attracted the attention of investors from countries like Australia, Japan, Germany, Singapore and Britain.

Naidu's grandiose plans to build the state capital require an estimated Rs 1.5 lakh crore. Works worth Rs 38,000 crore on projects like roads and state secretariat complex were launched in 2018.

Ever since he came to power in 2019, Jagan Mohan Reddy has been saying that people's welfare and not Amaravati are his priority.

Alleging a big land scam in Amaravati, Jagan had claimed that Chandrababu Naidu and other leaders of TDP resorted to insider trading as they were privy to the information where the new capital was going to be located and purchased prime land at throwaway prices.

The new TDP government put on hold all the works in Amaravati, citing the irregularities committed by the previous YSRCP government in awarding contracts.

The construction activity came to a grinding halt and created an atmosphere of uncertainty, leading to a big slump in land prices.

The World Bank and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) were the first to pull out of a project to fund Amaravati's development.

The World Bank and AIIB had committed $300 million and $200 million, respectively, for the project.

The biggest blow came when a consortium of Singapore companies closed the Amaravati Capital City Startup Project, the agreement for which was signed by the then TDP government.

The government said they mutually decided to cancel the project as the consortium had failed to respond to the concerns raised.

Unfazed by Chandrababu Naidu's criticism that the government is killing a golden goose, YSRCP leaders said that during his five-year rule, only five per cent of works were completed by spending Rs 4,900 crore.

The worst affected by the government's move were farmers of Amaravati, who had been given 33,000 acres of land for building the capital after the government's assurance to return them to developed property.

Anger and unrest had gripped 29 villages of Guntur district.

An estimated 24,000 farmer families had taken to the streets as their hopes of a bright future were shattered.

The real estate market, which was booming till early 2019, came crashing with the land value falling by more than 50 per cent.

Thousands of workers, including a large number of migrants, from states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar were rendered jobless.

Farmers, who voluntarily gave lands ranging from half an acre to 50 acres, were left in the lurch as they felt that Jagan Mohan Reddy did this out of vengeance towards Chandrababu Naidu.

For every acre of cultivable land, the farmers were promised 1,000 square yards of residential plots and 250 square yards of commercial plots with all the infrastructure.

They were also promised Rs.50,000 annuity per acre with an annual hike of 10 per cent.

Nearly all the farmers received the allotment papers but their dreams of owning developed plots remained on paper with the change of government in 2019.

YSRCP's crushing defeat in the 2024 elections and the return of TDP have raised new hope among them.
South Dinajpur: BSF personnel patrolling along the India-Bangladesh Border fence on the eve of Independence Day at Durgapur near Balurghat in South Dinajpur District of West Bengal on Sunday, Aug 14, 2022. (Photo: Abhijit Saha/IANS). Image Source: IANS News

Kolkata, June 11 : A Border Security Force (BSF) jawan was grievously injured in a violent attack by Bangladeshi miscreants close to the Sunder Border Outpost in West Bengal's Nadia district.

Constable Gokul Mondal could have opened fire and caused casualties among the Bangladeshis but didn't do so following the instructions to use only non-lethal weapons to curb cross-border crimes.

Mondal was brutally slashed with sickles on his neck and hip. Despite his injuries, Mondal stood fast till the Bangladeshis raced back across the border.

"The incident occurred on Monday night under the jurisdiction of the Dhantala police station, opposite the Border Guard Bangladesh's (BGB) Polianpur outpost. At around 10.45 p.m., Mondal spotted the movement of 6-7 miscreants in the depth area on the Indian side.

"On seeing this, he alerted the adjacent ambush-cum-patrolling parties to remain vigilant. At around 11.20 p.m., a BSF head constable saw 3-4 miscreants crossing the Indo-Bangladesh Border Road (IBBR) from the Bangladesh side after breaching the improvised fence. He challenged them and ordered them to turn back but they did not pay any heed and continued moving towards the Indian side.

"He again challenged them but this time the miscreants tried to encircle him with the intent to inflict injury. Seeing an imminent threat to life, the head constable, adhering to the usage of non-lethal weapons, fired a round from his Pump Action Gun (PAG). Bu the gun misfired. On hearing the challenge from the head constable, Mondal rushed to his help.

"He was about 20 metres ahead of the head constable and trying to chase away the Bangladeshi miscreants, who were already 450 metres inside the Indian territory. The Bangladeshi miscreants, finding the BSF jawan alone, attacked him using sharp-edge sickles.

"Seeing the situation deteriorating, the head constable tried to fire from his PAG again, but there was another misfire," said A.K. Arya, DIG and spokesperson, BSF, South Bengal Frontier.

As reinforcements arrived, the Bangladeshi miscreants took advantage of the darkness and thick undergrowth and ran back towards their side.

Mondal received grievous injuries on his lower hip, waist, and neck regions. He has been admitted to the hospital where his condition is stated to be critical.

Details about the attack have been shared with the BGB.

"This horrific attack took place deep inside the Indian territory. Bangladesh is a friendly country and the BSF has adopted a Non-Lethal Strategy to avoid casualties along the border. However, this policy seems to have emboldened the Bangladeshi miscreants who attack our jawans frequently.

"One of our personnel nearly lost his arm in one such attack while another was critically injured. Despite repeated protest notes to the BGB concerning illegal intrusions by Bangladeshi smugglers and miscreants, they continue to cross the international border deliberately and illegally after breaching the security grid of BGB, and attack our jawans," the DIG said.
New Delhi, June 11 : Amid the ongoing water crisis in the national capital, residents -- particularly women -- staged a 'Matka Phod' (break pots) protest to vent their anger and desperation against the city government.

The demonstration was led by newly-elected South Delhi MP Ramvir Singh Bidhuri and former MLA Brahm Singh Tanwar. Blaming the AAP government for the water crisis and chaos in several parts of Delhi, they demanded the resignations of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Water Minister Atishi Marlena.

For days, many parts of Delhi have been struggling with a severe shortage of water, leading to conflicts and quarrels among residents. In some neighbourhoods, people could be seen engaging in fracas to fill their water containers.

Residents gathered at the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) filling station in Chhatarpur and raised slogans against the DJB and the Chief Minister.

The protest, organised by BJP leaders, began in Chhatarpur and culminated at the water-filling station. A significant number of women participated in it, carrying pots on their heads and breaking them while raising slogans.

MP Bidhuri slammed the Delhi government's handling of the water crisis and said, "The people of Delhi are desperate for every drop of water. In the past decade, Arvind Kejriwal's government has neither made any arrangements for drinking water nor worked on water conservation, leading to the severe water crisis today. Kejriwal has not taken any steps to increase water production in the past decade."

"They had promised to bring water from Himachal Pradesh and Muradnagar. Along with this, it was promised that rainwater would be harvested by renting the farmers' land on Yamuna river banks, but no work was carried out," he added.

The BJP leader also appealed to Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena to pay a visit to the areas experiencing severe water shortages to get a first-hand account of the "chaotic" situation.

--IANS

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Bengaluru, June 11 : Kannada superstar Darshan and his second wife Pavithra Gowda were remanded to six-day police custody on Tuesday in connection with the alleged murder of a man named Renukaswamy (33) from Chitradurga, who was a big fan of the actor, sources said.

The police had produced Darshan, Pavithra, and other 11 accused persons before the magistrate's court following their medical check-up at the Bowring Hospital. The prosecution sought their custody for further investigation.

The other accused persons have been identified as Pavan, M. Laxman, Nikhil Nayak, Keshava Murthy, Karthik, M. Deepak Kumar, R. Nagaraju, and Raghavendra, among others.

Darshan was arrested on Tuesday morning in connection with the alleged murder of 33-year-old Renukaswamy, whose body was found in a canal in Bengaluru on June 9.

The police said the deceased was a die-hard fan of Darshan.

While the police earlier maintained that the actor had been 'detained' for questioning, Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara later confirmed the arrest.

"His role came up during the investigation, based on which Darshan is being investigated by the police. Nothing more can be said about the murder now. Darshan is in police custody, and considering the seriousness of the case, he has been arrested," Parameshwara said.

Bengaluru Police Commissioner B. Dayananda said earlier in the day that Renukaswamy was hacked to death as he had sent derogatory messages to Darshan's wife Pavithra.

Meanwhile, sources said the actor allegedly tried to mislead the police by implicating four of his fans after Renukaswamy's body was found in a canal.

When the police questioned them, they claimed to have committed the crime over a financial dispute. However, their statements were not convincing.

When their call records were checked, Darshan's role in the case became apparent, sources said.

Preliminary investigations revealed that Renukaswamy was a hardcore fan of Darshan and was reportedly disturbed by the conflict between Darshan's first and second wives.

Renukaswamy wanted Darshan to be with his first wife and son, so he targeted Pavithra Gowda whenever she posted her photos with the actor on social media.

Police sources said Darshan and his associates allegedly attacked Renukaswamy brutally, hitting him on his head, face, chest, and back. The accused also slashed his nose, mouth, and jaw.

Burn injuries were found on the body, hinting at the use of a hot iron rod.

Sources claimed that more than 10 people attacked Renukaswamy, including Darshan, and threw him against a wall multiple times.

The deceased's family said that Renukaswamy worked at a pharmacy and got married a year ago. His wife is three-month pregnant.

The murder came to light on June 9 after an unidentified body was found in a canal.
Chandigarh, June 11 : In a major breakthrough, the Punjab Police's Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF), in a follow-up operation, arrested two more operatives of a terror module operated by foreign-based mastermind Iqbalpreet Singh, alias Buchi, Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav said here on Tuesday.

Those arrested have been identified as Simarjot Singh of Ludhiana and Arshpreet Singh, alias Arsh, of Patiala.

Police teams have also recovered two pistols, along with 11 cartridges from their possession.

The development came close on the heels of the arrest of four members of this module, including key operative Gurwinder Singh, alias Shera, after recovering three pistols along with 13 cartridges from their possession on May 14.

Buchi is a close associate of Ramandeep Bagga, alias Canadian, who was the main shooter in seven target killings that took place during 2016-2017 and is currently lodged in Tihar Jail under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) charges.

The DGP said, that acting on inputs, AGTF teams under the supervision of ADGP Promod Ban raided a house located in Ludhiana and arrested both the accused after recovering weapons from their possession. He said the police have averted sensational crimes in Punjab and neighbouring states with the arrest of both operatives.

Both the arrested accused persons have criminal backgrounds with cases of murder, and attempt to murder, and under the Arms Act and NDPS Act registered against them in Punjab and Rajasthan, he added.
Itanagar, June 11 : The newly-elected BJP-led Arunachal Pradesh government is likely to assume office on June 13, sources said on Tuesday, adding that Chief Minister Pema Khandu is likely to continue for the third straight term.

The parliamentary board of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday appointed senior party leader and former Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad and partyas National General Secretary Tarun Chugh as the partyas central observers to elect the legislature party leader of Arunachal Pradesh.

BJP sources said that Prasad and Chugh would likely arrive in Itanagar on Wednesday when the BJPas newly elected MLAs would meet to elect the legislature party leader.

"On Thursday (June 13), the new BJP government would assume office for the third consecutive term. Pema Khandu is likely to be re-elected the BJP legislature party leader and Chief Minister," the sources said.

Khandu, Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein, and state BJP President Biyuram Wahge returned to Itanagar on Monday from New Delhi to attend the swearing-in of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Union Council of Ministers, as well as consult the central leadership about the new government formation in the state.

The results of the Assembly polls in Arunachal Pradesh, which were held simultaneously with the Lok Sabha election, were announced on June 2, two days before the declaration of results of the Lok Sabha election.

The BJP, on its own, secured 46 seats -- five more than in the 2019 elections -- in the 60-member Assembly for which elections were held on April 19. Of the 46 seats bagged by the BJP, 10, including that of CM Khandu, were won uncontested before the polls. The National Peopleas Party (NPP) headed by Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma won five seats, followed by the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) with three seats, the Peopleas Party of Arunachal (PPA) with two seats, three Independents, and the Congress winning one seat. The NPP, the NCP, and the PPA have already announced their support to the BJP government.

Monpa community leader Khandu, 45, became the Chief Minister in 2016 after he, along with several MLAs, left the Congress for the PPA before joining the BJP. The BJP registered its first electoral victory in the Arunachal Assembly polls in 2019.

--IANS

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Jammu, June 12 : Jammu and Kashmir Police have released a sketch of the suspected terrorist involved in the terror attack on a pilgrim bus near Shivkhori temple in Reasi district in which nine people were killed, the police said.

"Reasi police announces a reward of Rs 20 lakh for any information about the whereabouts of a terrorist involved in the recent attack on the Yatri bus in the area of Pouni," the police said on Tuesday in a statement.

"The sketch of a terrorist has been prepared on the disclosure and description of eyewitnesses."

"Reasi police appeals general public to provide any reliable information on the following contact numbers -- SSP Reasi - 9205571332; ASP Reasi - 9419113159; DySP HQ Reasi -9419133499; SHO Pouni - 7051003214; SHO Ransoo - 7051003213 and PCR Reasi - 9622856295."
Jaipur, June 11 : Around 8 MPs and 24 MLAs of the Congress marked their presence by paying tributes to the late Rajesh Pilot, father of former Rajasthan Deputy CM Sachin Pilot, on his 24th death anniversary in Dausa on Tuesday.

Incidentally, veteran leaders from former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot's camp were also seen on the occasion.

Soon after the programme, Pilot spoke to the media and said that Congress performed well in the Lok Sabha elections in Rajasthan because the booth-level workers worked hard.

"We will work harder on the seats where we lost," he said.

Pilot also said that none of the parties got a clear majority, leading to the formation of a coalition government at the Centre.

"The youth have rejected the double-engine government in Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Rajasthan," he said.

Speaking on the NEET results fiasco, Pilot said, "Many allegations are being levelled against the NTA (National Testing Agency). The clarification given is not satisfactory at all. Lakhs of families are worried about their children's future, yet the government seems least bothered about the matter."

Following the announcement of the NEET-UG 2024 results on June 4, several aspirants and parents demanded an investigation, alleging irregularities and seeking clarification from the National Testing Agency (NTA) on how 67 candidates, including six from the same centre in Haryana, secured the top rank.
Jaipur, June 12 : The Rajasthan government on Tuesday announced an ex-gratia of Rs 50 lakh each for the two families in the state which lost four members in the terror attack on a bus in Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi on Sunday.

Approving the ex-gratia, Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma said that the state government stands with the families who lost their loved ones in the terror attack.

He said that the country follows the policy of zero tolerance under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and those involved in the terror attack will not be spared.

Four people, identified as Rajendra Saini (42), Mamta Saini (40), Pooja Saini (30), and Livansh (2), were killed in the terror attack. They were all residents of Jaipur. Mamta Saini was the wife of Rajendra Saini while Livansh was the son of Pooja Saini.

Pooja's husband Pawan Saini (32) was injured in the attack and has been discharged from the hospital after receiving treatment.

Bodies of the victims were brought to Jaipur on Tuesday.
Jaipur, June 12 : Bharat Adivasi Party (BAP) MP Rajkumar Roat met Rajasthan CM Bhajan Lal Sharma on Tuesday triggering speculations in the political circles in the state.

Sources said that Roat was in Jaipur to submit his resignation from the MLA post and it was merely a courtesy meeting. Later, he met Assembly Speaker Vasudev Devnani and submitted his resignation.

Roat, who recently demanded the Chief Minister's resignation over BJP's defeat in 11 Lok Sabha seats in the state, triggered fresh speculations.

BAP had contested Lok Sabha elections without formally joining any alliance.

Now, speculations are rife about whether Roat would extend his support to the NDA in the Assembly bypolls.

The bypolls will be held in Rajasthan in five seats -- Chaurasi, Khinvsar, Jhunjhunu, Dausa and Devli Uniara, of which three are currently held by the Congress and one by the BAP and another by the RLP.
Tehran, June 12 : Iran's caretaker Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani and Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud have reaffirmed their countries' commitment to improving bilateral relations and cooperation.

In a meeting on the sidelines of the BRICS Foreign Ministers' meeting in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, the two sides also highlighted the necessity to ensure sustainable stability and security in the region, according to a statement released by the Iranian Foreign Ministry on Tuesday.

Bagheri Kani said bilateral ties were reflecting a progressing trend, expressing confidence that Iran and Saudi Arabia were determined to strengthen all-out relations with each other, Xinhua news agency reported.

He stressed that the two countries' determination to develop bilateral ties had impacted all areas of their relations.

He added that greater interaction and solidarity between Iran and Saudi Arabia would be in the two countries' interests and help ensure sustainable stability and security in the region.

The Iranian diplomat also condemned the intensification of Israeli attacks in Gaza, especially in Rafah, calling for "coordinated and consensus-based" actions by Muslim states to show their vigilance and sensitivity in that regard and about Gaza.

The Saudi Foreign Minister, for his part, said the two countries managed to resume ties and reach a stage of strong bilateral cooperation and interaction during the tenure of the late Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi.

He added his country remained committed to continuing talks and cooperation with Iran, pledging more efforts to strengthen the bilateral ties, which are inducive to regional security and stability, according to the Iranian Foreign Ministry.

In April 2023, Iran and Saudi Arabia declared the resumption of diplomatic relations in Beijing after years of estrangement.
Kiev, June 12 : The EU is mulling extending the temporary protection for another year for people fleeing from Ukraine due to the Russia-Ukraine war, the media reported.

According to the report, the European Commission has proposed to prolong the special regime from March 5, 2025, to March 4, 2026, Xinhua news agency reported.

The EU Justice and Home Affairs Council is set to consider the proposal on June 13, it added.

At present, nearly 4.2 million people, who fled Ukraine as a consequence of the Russia-Ukraine war, got temporary shelter in EU member states.

The special regime gives them residency rights, as well as access to the labour market, medical and other assistance.

Temporary protection is an emergency measure by the EU for non-EU citizens in the event of mass displacement due to extreme circumstances.

In March 2022, the EU introduced the temporary protection of Ukrainians fleeing the war, and in September 2023, it was extended until March 2025.
Amman, June 12 : The UN chief, leaders of regional states, and top US diplomat gathered in Jordan, stressing the need to accelerate humanitarian aid delivery to the conflict-ridden Gaza Strip.

At a conference titled "Call for Action: Urgent Humanitarian Response for Gaza," they appealed for intensified efforts to aid the Palestinians in Gaza, Xinhua news agency reported on Tuesday.

The conference, co-organised by Jordan, Egypt, and the UN, aims to develop a collective response to the dire humanitarian situation in the enclave.

In his remarks at the conference, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi welcomed Resolution 2735 adopted on Monday by the UN Security Council, which supports a comprehensive ceasefire agreement and a hostages-prisoners swap deal between Israel and Hamas, as well as the entry of sufficient and sustainable humanitarian aid into Gaza.

He called on countries to compel Israel to stop "using hunger as a weapon" in Gaza and to remove obstacles to delivering humanitarian aid to people there.

For his part, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who also attended the conference, urged support for humanitarian aid programs presented by the Palestinian Authority and other countries to assist the afflicted Palestinian people.

"The (Palestinian) government has presented its programmes for relief, restoration of basic services, institutional reform, and financial and economic stability, and has announced its readiness to take on duties in Gaza, including all crossings into the strip, just as in the West Bank," said Abbas.

He urged the Security Council and the international community to pressure Israel to open all land crossings into Gaza and hand them over to the Palestinian government.

At the conference, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on the international community to support Jordan's crucial role in assisting Gaza residents and as a key regional hub for humanitarian work, praising Jordan for its relief efforts, including dispatching aid convoys, conducting airdrops, and establishing field hospitals.

Speaking at the conference, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced a new aid package worth more than $400 million for the Palestinians.

He also called on Hamas to accept the current ceasefire proposal, which he said "is a version of what Hamas has proposed," while urging Israel to "take further steps to minimise human casualties".

Blinken highlighted US President Joe Biden's call for an immediate ceasefire, withdrawal of all Israeli forces from Gaza, and allowance of humanitarian aid to flow.

In addition, he stressed the importance of releasing detainees, rebuilding institutions to provide services, and reconstruction of the strip, particularly its infrastructure.
Nicosia, June 12 : Cyprus' President Nikos Christodoulides cut short his visit to Jordan, where he was to attend an international conference on Gaza, as uncontrolled wildfires rage in the western Paphos district.

The semi-governmental Cyprus News Agency (CNA) reported on Tuesday that Christodoulides's request for assistance from King Abdullah II of Jordan was met by Jordan's deployment of an unspecified number of aircraft, including two Jordanian helicopters, which are already aiding in the firefighting effort.

According to statements made by authorities, the fires are raging through a cluster of villages in a mountainous area. Three villages have already been evacuated, Xinhua news agency reported.

Cyprus has asked for help from the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism, Israel, and Greece.
"This merger keeps the focus on our customers, bringing together an unmatched combination of in-demand attributes, including grass-fed, animal welfare, and environmental sustainability,"  Marcus Lovell Smith, CEO, Neutral. Post this

With investments from New Zealand-based dairy companies, Fonterra and Canterbury Grasslands, Zeal's U.S. farms focus on farming practices long championed by the New Zealand farming community, leaders in pasture-based rotational grazing. Cows grazing on lush pasture is an environmentally friendly farming practice, and this regenerative approach has additional benefits for animal welfare, water quality, and biodiversity. Zeal combines these techniques to provide customers with premium grass-fed dairy products.

"This merger keeps the focus on our customers, bringing together an unmatched combination of in-demand attributes, including grass-fed, animal welfare, and environmental sustainability," said Marcus Lovell Smith, CEO, Neutral. "We believe we're better together by collaborating on best retail and foodservice business practices to create better agriculture, with better dairy, for a better planet." Lovell Smith, who led Neutral through its initial funding rounds, will remain CEO of the merged company. Additional Neutral investors include Mark Cuban and David Adelman's Darco Capital, which oversaw a celebrity round of investors, including LeBron James, John Legend, and Questlove.

Neutral Foods will continue to drive its rapidly growing foodservice business, which has increased over 500% in the past year. The company recently announced the expansion of its partnership with the popular national restaurant chain Shake Shack to supply its certified carbon neutral milk to over 90 Shake Shack locations in the U.S. Neutral milk is served at 1,200 foodservice locations and is growing in select markets nationwide.

"Merging with Neutral, and its complementary foodservice business, creates a full-service, ethically driven dairy company that is poised to grow rapidly and bring its great products to a wider range of customers, and disrupt the conventional dairy market," added Weldon. The demand for grass-fed milk is driven by consumer focus on health benefits, animal welfare, and sustainability.

Zeal's products include Non-GMO grass-fed Whole Milk and Chocolate Whole Milk sweetened with New Zealand Manuka honey. The company recently introduced Probiotic versions of its Whole and Chocolate milk in select markets. In addition to milk, Zeal also offers New Zealand Organic grass-fed salted and unsalted butter and a newly launched range of cheddar cheeses.

Learn more: eatneutral.com | IG: @eatneutral | zealcreamery.com I IG: @zealcreamery

About Neutral Foods

Neutral Foods, the first certified carbon neutral foods company in the U.S., backed by Breakthrough Energy Ventures, is on a mission to radically reduce the nearly 37 percent of global emissions produced by agriculture and the food system. Started in 2019 in Portland, Oregon, Neutral is a national brand that works directly with farmers to reduce the carbon footprint of agriculture. Neutral Milk is served at 1,200 locations nationwide, from restaurants to coffee shops, bakeries, ice cream parlors, and beyond. Neutral's commitment to authenticity and innovative carbon neutral dairy products makes it a seamless partner for companies seeking to enhance their sustainability efforts without compromising quality.

About Zeal Creamery

Founded in 2020, at the start of the pandemic, Zeal Creamery is a fast-growing, super-premium natural dairy brand. With a focus on the very best natural grocers in the U.S., Zeal provides a range of grass-fed, regenerative, and organic dairy products at over 1,800 Premium Natural Channel grocers such as Sprouts Farmers Market, Fresh Market, Fresh Thyme, Central Market, and Fairway Market. Zeal is committed to providing the freshest and healthiest products that taste good, do good, and are good, using farming practices inspired by the New Zealand farming community, leaders in the free-range dairy industry. New Zealand-based Fonterra and Canterbury Grasslands are among Zeal's shareholders.

Media Contact

Abby Roedel, Neutral Foods, 1 917-209-5454, [email protected], www.eatneutral.com

SOURCE Neutral Foods
Lake County Winegrowers are returning to New York as part of the International Volcanic Wines Conference (IVWC) that will be held on Tuesday, June 18, 2024, from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM at the Altman Building (135 West 18th St, New York, NY). Organized by Volcanic Wines International (VWI), together with Master Sommelier and award-winning author John Szabo, the annual event showcases the most compelling and comprehensive exhibition of wines made from volcanic soils from around the world. The fourth edition of the International Volcanic Wines Conference will feature more than 60 wineries from volcanic wine regions including California's Lake County, Etna, Canary Islands, Oregon, Pantelleria, and Santorini.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif., June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Lake County Winegrowers are returning to New York as part of the International Volcanic Wines Conference (IVWC) that will be held on Tuesday, June 18, 2024, from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM at the Altman Building (135 West 18th St, New York, NY). Organized by Volcanic Wines International (VWI), together with Master Sommelier and award-winning author John Szabo, the annual event showcases the most compelling and comprehensive exhibition of wines made from volcanic soils from around the world. The fourth edition of the International Volcanic Wines Conference will feature more than 60 wineries from volcanic wine regions including California's Lake County, Etna, Canary Islands, Oregon, Pantelleria, and Santorini.

Lake County will be well-represented by some of the region's most respected wine producers. Brassfield Estate and Obsidian Wine Co. each will have a dedicated table at the event. Brassfield Estate, located at the top of High Valley AVA in Lake County, produces 17 varietal wines grown from estate planted vineyards at an altitude matched by only one percent of vineyards in the world. Obsidian Wine Co. is recognized for its Cabernet Sauvignon and other red varietal wines from grapes grown in its famed volcanic vineyard planted along a ridge of black obsidian rock in the Red Hills Lake County AVA.

Attendees of the International Volcanic Wines Conference will enjoy an overview of the high-elevation volcanic region at the Lake County Winegrowers table featuring several additional wineries from the region, such as Hawk and Horse Vineyard, Domaine Helena, Wild Diamond Vineyard, Shannon Family of Wines, and Sol Rouge Winery.

In recent years, volcanic regions have received increased attention for their capacity to produce high-quality wines that are complex and distinct, offering great aromatic and flavor intensity and noticeable aging potential. Within the bigger volcanic frame, Lake County represents a distinct region thanks to its massive and uniform volcanic soil extensions and geologically recent volcanism.

Lake County's higher elevations, drier weather, higher UV exposure, and shorter growing seasons, contribute to the production of high-quality winegrapes and distinct wines, making the region one of the most intriguing corners of California's prestigious North Coast.

About Lake County Winegrape Commission

Established in 1991, the Lake County Winegrape Commission has been instrumental in developing the Lake County region's unwavering commitment to farming high-quality wine grapes, promoting the winegrowers' brand, and creating greater awareness of the winegrowing region within the wine trade and among wine lovers. A state agency with efforts focused on marketing, research, and education, the Commission has launched innovative programs like Master Vigneron Academy, the Elevation of Wine, the International Sauvignon Blanc Symposium, and most recently, Lake County Pruning School. For more information, visit http://www.lakecountywinegrape.org.

About Volcanic Wines International (VWI)

Volcanic Wines International's mission is to lead in defining and establishing a Volcanic Wine Movement by educating the wine trade public about volcanic wine and establishing the volcanic wine brand as a premium category of high-quality wines with a true sense of place. Guided by the original mission and definition of volcanic wines as set out by John Szabo in his category-defining book, Volcanic Wines: Salt Grit and Power, VWI cultivates an understanding of the distinctive geological conditions and natural forces that shape volcanic vineyards and highlights the individuality of the wines that arise from each. Since the first Volcanic Wines International Conference in 2018, there has been growing attention to volcanic wines with consumers and industry professionals alike seeking wines with singular character and compelling backstories showing the success of VWI and their mission.

Media Contact

Irene Graziotto, Colangelo & Partners, 6467195303, [email protected], https://www.colangelopr.com/

SOURCE Lake County Winegrowers
The American Booksellers Associations Childrens Institute in New Orleans is going to be a hard act to follow, if the strong attendance and vibrant opening events are any indication. In her opening remarks on Monday, ABA COO Joy Dallanegra-Sanger said that a record number of booksellers showed up for the annual event, with 40% of the nearly 400 in attendance counted as first-time attendees. More than 254 bookstores from every region in the U.S. are represented at this year's gathering, and 135 publisher's reps and 26 vendor reps are also participating in the conference.

Setting a convivial tone for the meeting, Baldwin & Co. bookstore hosted an in-store party filled with surprise guests, music, and shrimp and grits on June 9. Store owner DJ Johnson greeted visitors, Mardi Gras performer "Chief Fiyo" DeJean wore full Carnival regalia as he twirled and sang his way around the courtyard accompanied by two musicians, and author Renee Watson signed copies of her picture book Summer Is Here, illustrated by Bea Jackson (Bloomsbury). Wrapping up the evening's festivities, a brass band led a procession of revelers out to Elysian Fields Avenue to catch a ride back to the Sheraton New Orleans on buses parked in front of the store.

CI2024s official program began June 10, with full- and half-day bookstore tours, publisher education sessions, the opening keynote, and the annual opening reception and costume party. Booksellers arrived eager to talk with one another about early readers, middle grade, and YA books and authors, and shared ideas around school book fairs, post-pandemic challenges to literacy, and for-profit versus nonprofit business models.

Book People Are Caretakers

After booksellers returned from a day (or half-day) of touring local bookstores around the city, the conference officially kicked off on Monday evening with the opening keynote: Brein Lopez, general manager of Childrens Book World in Los Angeles, engaged in a lively conversation with Meg Medina, the 2023-2024 National Ambassador for Childrens Literature and one of more than 60 authors featured at Ci2024 this week.

Hello, my fellow booksters everywhere, Lopez said. I just want to say, theres 40% of you who are new here, and how important that is, because I see all these people whove been coming here for so long, and we come back over and over again, because its our chance to be able to talk about books, which is so important, and also be able to share ideas and inspiration with other people here. And now you have the opportunity to be able to do the same thing. Its an amazing experience, and we hope you all have that same experience.

Noting that he had been among a group that assisted Carla Hayden, the Librarian of Congress, in selecting the 2023-2024 National Ambassador for Young Peoples Literature, Lopez described Medina as a Cuban-American author who is an amazing storyteller, and she has excellent taste in food and music. Medina's latest book is a picture book, No More Senora Mimi (Candlewick Press), illustrated by Brittany Cicchese, about a girl who is excited that her abuela is moving in with her family to take care of her until she realizes that this will change her relationship with her longtime babysitter.

Asked about her role as National Ambassador, Medina described herself as a caretaker for 74 million U.S. children," trying to connect these young people with their reading lives. She noted that everyone in here is part of the caretaking team of American children, for their reading lives, their literary lives, their imaginations, their sense of their relationships to stories and to other people. Her platform is, she said, talk books, because how you talk about a book with someone else, its from your heart to their heart.

Medina explained that in talking about books, people are actually connecting with one another on an intimate level, building a personal relationship based on trust. I feel that book talking in a classroom, in a school community, in a school library community, public library community, in a family, is a way of connection and creating, Medina said. Lopez added: And in bookstores. We do it every day. Its the best part of the job.

When a customer asks for a particular book, Lopez said, you really are the channeler, to be able to find the thing that is going to help them, to find themselves. Lopez recalled that when he was 14 years old, he would ride his bicycle miles to the B. Dalton Booksellers and scour the shelves to find any gay book I could find. A bookseller there explained to him how he could find books by gay authors by checking the publishers logos on spines. Reading such books changed my life, he declared. It opened up a whole new world to me. That bookseller, long ago, was taking care of me, and I will never forget.

Event Planning for a Changed Children's Market

ABA expanded its publisher education sessions for CI2024, offering a panel on childrens event planning and another on reviving the middle grade market, which has seen a marked decline post-pandemic. Booksellers led both discussions, and publishers and booksellers in the audience discussed how author events and book fairs, literacy benchmarks, and young peoples reading for pleasure have changed in our tumultuous recent years.

On the event planning panel, Lopez, who served as moderator, sparked conversation over whether book publication dates and author schedules can take better advantage of school academic calendars. Publishers take their greatest books, and theyre all publishing on September 3 or at another time thats out of sync with school timing, Lopez said, making it difficult for stores to coordinate book launches and author visits with busy teachers and librarians. Panelist Lupe Penn, of the nonprofit Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, N.C., said her store coordinates 2030 events per year and 6070 school visits annually, including a festival at the end of September to generate excitement at back-to-school time.

Panelists also talked about ensuring accessibility, the pros and cons of electronic and paper order forms for different communities, and the difficulty some families have in affording booksespecially when signed copies are distributed to classrooms and students might be left out. They encouraged publishers and authors to create Ill be visiting your store reels and tag bookstores on social media, which can be linked in newsletters to generate excitement ahead of visits. We sell more books if there is a personal connection and if the author makes an effort, said Angie Zhao, events and marketing manager for bbgb in Richmond, Va. The audience is the parents, and social media makes a world of difference."

They also spoke with publishers about the best venues for getting books into readers hands. Instead of filling up a venue for a seated conversation, for middle graders, [consider] a floating meet and greet so families can come in and out, Penn suggested. A casual event can be easier for families to attend and creates positive word of mouth for future events.

Nahin Cano, manager of Seminary Co-op in Chicago, added that younger kids might not be the only readers looking forward to a bookstore, school, or library event: Im 28 years old, and Im excited to meet a lot of these YA authors. Some of the best events Ive had have been 100 adults my age who are excited to meet their heroes. Attendees at CI2024, who cant wait to peruse the galley room and participate in author receptions, know how she feels.
Penguin Random House has reached an agreement with officials in Crawfordsville, Ind., to expand the size of its distribution facility located in the city. As part of the agreement, PRH will receive $5.6 million in tax incentives. The publisher has shipped titles out of the Crawfordsville center, which employs about 900 people, since 2001.

The planned 650,000-sq.-ft. increase will enable the facility to double its annual shipments of physical print books, PRH said in its announcement, and will result in more rapid and efficient daily deliveries to booksellers across the U.S. In addition, PRH said that the expansion will help the publisher meet it carbon neutrality goals by eliminating the need to move inventory to and from rented offsite facilities, and by allowing PRH to plan its shipments more effectively. No start date for the expansion was announced.

The announcement of the expansion of the Crawfordsville facility follows the decision by PRH to retrofit PRH UKs Grantham Book Services warehouse, located in Grantham, England, into a new operational hub, from which PRH US will fulfill orders from customers in continental Europe. Both initiatives are part of the publishers plan to upgrade its global supply chain. In the U.S., PRH also has two distribution centers in Maryland and one in Reno, Nev.
It's been a painful week for literature and the arts in Philadelphia. A few days after the University of the Arts board of trustees announced on May 31 that the school, located in Center City, was closing its doors, the Free Library of Philadelphia Foundationthe Free Librarys fundraising arm, which finances its programmingabruptly fired all four members of its author events team on June 3. Previously, the team had organized and executed approximately 130 events each year at the FLP, many of which drew huge crowds to its main branch near the Philadelphia Art Museum.

Many of these authors were, in novelist Jennifer Weiners words, a whos who of bold-faced names, from prize winners and celebrities to book club picks and new talent. Disclosing on Facebook that she has appeared on stage at FLP more than a dozen times, Weiner described the teamJason Freeman, Andy Kahan, Laura Kovacs, and Nell Mittlesteadas some of the best in the business, and wrote that they were consummate professionals. The situation, Weiner told PW in an email, has become "a hot mess."

Most of the authors scheduled to appear at FLP this month clearly agree with Weiners assessments. The poets Julian Randall and Kirwyn Sutherland began their event at FLP on the evening of June 6 by reading a statement drafted by the four fired FLP employees. The statement explained that the employees gave 30 days' notice of their collective resignations to the FLP on June 3over what board chair Jeffry Benoliel characterized as a fundamental disagreement on the strategic direction chosen by the Board for the Foundationso as to not disrupt the current seasons series of author events, which wraps up at the end of June.

They were instead fired that day, and Kahan, who led the team and has worked at FLP for almost 25 years, was escorted from the building. The four were locked out of their work email accounts as well.

"We offered our resignations the morning of June 3, and in doing so we offered at least one months notice, because we do believe in this program and what it means to Philadelphia, the statement read. We felt we owed it to our patrons, authors, and colleagues to complete this seasons events. The statement continued: We discussed our concerns with the Free Library and Foundation leadership on numerous occasions, even as recently as the week prior to our resignations.

Five FLP author events scheduled for this month have been canceled by the authors, although the FLP and FLP Foundation have only acknowledged one cancellation on the FLP website, a June 10 event featuring Reverend William Barber II and sociologist Matthew Desmond. After taking down the information about that event on or before Thursday morning, the FLP Foundation sent an email on the evening of June 6 to those who had registered for it, explaining that due to unforeseen circumstances, the event was not going to take place. The decision to cancel was not made lightly, the email declared. By Friday morning, FLP Foundation had reposted the event on the FLP website, but added a caveat that it was canceled.

Author Steven Rowleys June 17 event was canceled quietly, with the information about it simply removed from the FLP website by Thursday morning, June 6. By the weekend, his website no longer listed the FLP event, but instead listed an event scheduled at a new venue, the Center City Barnes & Noble Bookstore, on the same day. Rowleys publisher, Putnam, declined to comment for this story. By the morning of June 12, scheduled events featuring FSG authors Rachel Cusk and Ari Berman no longer appeared on the author events page on FLP's website.

A June 19 dual book launch with Joseph Earl Thomas and John Vercher remained posted on the FLP website for several days, even after Vercher announced on Instagram on June 7 that the event had been canceled, and that the two Philadelphia-based authors were launching their books instead at A Novel Idea on Passyunk, in South Philadephia, on the same date. Explaining that the event was confirmed on Friday, June 7, A Novel Ideas co-owner, Alex Schneider told PW that Vercher had been in touch with the bookstore to host the event five or six minutes after the story broke on Monday.

Were thrilled that he reached out to us, Schneider said. weve always been a big fan of Johns and weve worked with him before. He and Joseph are popular authors. We hope through social media, the publishers, and the authors that people will know that the event is happening here and not at the library. Vercher will appear again at A Novel Idea on July 11. Neither Thomas nor Vercher responded to PWs requests for an interview.

In an email sent to PW on Monday, FLP Foundation executive director Monique Moore Pryor emphasized that the organization itself had not canceled any author events after the four staffers was fired.

I understand that the events of the past week have been confusing to our author community," Moore Pryor wrote. It is my sincere hope that the disruptive actions of a few do not negatively impact any authors decision to participate in this critically important program, which has helped serve our neediest populations for thirty years. We are working closely with the authors representatives to have these rescheduled for future dates. Pryor noted that Foundation employees and volunteers are currently managing the FLP programming, including author events, and that three events that took place last week as scheduled were successful.

One indie bookseller in the Philly suburbs, who requested anonymity, acknowledged that the situation at the FLP is a mess, but added that perhaps the implosion of the FLPs author events programming might ultimately have a positive outcome: This shakes loose the stranglehold that FLP had on major authors in the Philly region in the eyes of publishers, she said. According to this bookseller and others that PW spoke to this past week, many A-list authors scheduled to appear at FLP do not add a stop at any of the Philadelphia metro area's more than 40 bookstores while in town. Several sources told PW that authors appearing at FLP are discouraged from making other stops in the area. Pryor denied this allegation, writing that authors are free to appear where they please. We do not impose any restrictions.

Having the Free Library was obviously a dream for overworked publicists, the bookseller told PW. You could book someone into the Library and then you were done. All those appeals from indie stores on the event grids could be ignored.

This story has been updated with further information.
A recent survey about the reading habits of Canadians conducted by BookNet Canada, which collects and analyzes data about the Canadian book industry, found that a majority of book readers and audiobook listeners in Canada acquired their books for free in 2023.The study, which has been conducted annually since 2013, surveyed 1,247 Canadians about their leisure time and reading habits.

According to the survey, 58% of audiobook listeners obtained their books from free sources, such as the library or YouTube, marking the first time that readers across all formats were more likely to acquire books for free than through paid channels. The trend extended to other formats as well, with 62% of e-book readers and 51% of print book readers finding free sources for their reading material.

"For the first time in our survey, readers across all formats were acquiring books from free sources more than from paid sources," BookNet Canada stated in the survey report.

Overall, 49% of Canadians said they read or listen to books weekly and 31% said dailythe same breakdown as last year. Reading and listening to books came in eighth place on a list of activities respondents said they take part in weekly and seventh place on a list of activities they do daily.

In 2023, 52% of readers read or listened to 15 books, 25% read or listened to 6-11 books, 16% read or listened to 1249 books, and 7% were heavy readers and read or listened to 50 or more books.

However, the preference for print has been dropping since 2019, while audiobook listening has been on the rise. The trend in Canada still trails a similar trend in the U.S., where a recent survey from the Audio Publishers Association found that 38% of American adults listened to an audiobook in the last year, up from 35% reported in 2023. In the U.S., a smaller number of people, 47%, reported finding free sources for their audiobook listening.

Other notable findings from the study include an increase in Canadian readers attending book clubs and book-related events, both online and in-person, as well as a growing interest in abridged audiobooks, audiobooks with sound effects and/or music, and environmentally friendly print books.

The complete survey is available for free from BookNet Canada and includes additional data on readers' free time activities, book discovery and acquisition methods, format preferences, popular genres, and the perceived value of books across formats.

One Canadian publisher, who asked to remain anonymous, called the impact of the surveys results on publishers disheartening. The publisher added: If we want books, people are going to have to pay for books. We have to pay for the world we want, otherwise we'll be left with what people are willing to give us for free."
By Vince Bielski, RealClearInvestigations

June 10, 2024

COLUMBUS, OhioOn a bright morning in May at the Columbus Collegiate Academy Main, orderliness is on display. Students in khakis and blue tops carrying bulging backpacks walk briskly in line through the front doors of the single-story brick building  looking like young people who really want to be there.

In class after class, the predominantly black and Latino student body appears seriously engaged, with pencils in hand or fingers on keyboards. Teachers move rapidly through lessons. Hands shoot up to answer questions. No one is fooling around or disturbing others, which seems remarkable for a middle school full of teenagers.

The academy is one of an estimated 1,000 high-performing urban charters that run on the No Excuses model. Its firm rules for behavior require students to sit up at their desks, remain silent unless called upon, and respect each other, which creates calm conditions for learning.

After another year of disarray in many urban public schools, with the vast majority of teachers reporting that behavior issues were their biggest challenge, proponents say No Excuses charters provide an example of how to restore order and learning.

Instead, they have been banished to the sidelines of public education. Progressive educators who have embraced anti-racism as their guiding principle over the last five years have assailed the charters, claiming they single out students of color for stern discipline. The rhetoric has been inflammatory, alleging that the charters control black bodies and prepare students for prison, despite the high rate of No Excuses graduates who go on to college.

The term No Excuses was coined in the 1990s as a plea for educators to stop using excuses, such as poverty and broken homes, for the turmoil in urban schools that made learning impossible. A group of teachers, including David Levin of the charter network KIPP, brought together ideas from their experiences to fashion a new kind of urban school with a culture of high academic expectations and a precise set of rules and consequences to help students reach them.

Today, the slogan No Excuses is so controversial that many charters avoid it, even while continuing its practices. Other charter networks, like Achievement First, have completely abandoned the No Excuses model and joined the anti-racism crusade, only to see their performance plummet after ratcheting back discipline and lowering academic standards to ensure students pass courses and graduate.

Kindergarten teacher Liz Niehaus with students at KIPP Thrive Academy in Newark, N.J.

No Excuses leaders admit they made mistakes early on in their zeal to improve urban education. Some networks, such as KIPP, pushed discipline too far by publicly shaming students, a stain on the movements record. Others, like Ascend Learning, depended on rote instruction that discouraged students from thinking for themselves and developing the inquisitiveness and agency they would need to succeed in college and beyond.

The criticism spurred many No Excuses charters to change, becoming less rule-bound and more student-led, says Steven Wilson, the founder of Ascend Learning.

One of the things that I admire about these high-performing charters is that they are constantly willing to criticize themselves and evolve, said Wilson, whose book about how anti-racism doctrine is replacing academic instruction will be published this fall. No Excuses practices could really help traditional schools struggling with high levels of misbehavior if they were willing to evolve, too.

But one core principle of No Excuses hasnt changed, according to Doug Lemov, author of a popular No Excuses teaching manual entitled Teach Like a Champion: Equity for marginalized students starts with their high achievement in school.

A Day at Columbus Collegiate Academy

What sets No Excuses schools apart is the priority they place on creating a culture of high expectations thats constantly reinforced. Students at the Columbus academy hear daily pep talks over the public address system about hard work leading to success. They strive to be included among the names of students who are learning rapidly that are posted in the hallway. They also look up at the dozens of college pennants hanging on walls, reminding them to keep their eye on the prize.

Student achievement is prominently displayed at Columbus Collegiate Academy Main in Ohio.

Teachers also must buy in to the demanding culture by acting with urgency in almost everything they do. Urgency is a key concept in No Excuses, as if there isnt a minute to lose in educating these students who enter the school several years behind grade level.

Lessons are tightly scripted to the clock to squeeze in as much learning as possible. Teachers, rather than students, move through the shiny, clean hallways from classroom to classroom during the day because it takes less time and creates less commotion. Kids change rooms for classes like physical education.

Culture-building begins immediately at the start of each year. In the first three days of school, called culture camp, students learn the rules of behavior, such as keeping their eyes on the teacher and a pencil at the ready, and why those rules are key to meeting the high academic standards. Then they practice these skills, like how to show respect to teachers and peers, before they open a textbook.

Its important to be very explicit to students about the expectations and why they are necessary, said Andy Boy, CEO of United Schools Network, which operates the Columbus academy. They feel a sense of relief in that it takes the guesswork out of how to become successful students.

Preparing for a test at Columbus Collegiate Academy Main.

During the year, the charter uses a paycheck system, with students receiving dollars for good behavior and losing them for misbehavior. At the end of each week, kids earning a lot of money can buy items at the school store, dress down in T-shirts, and have fun at the school party on Friday. The money system works, with about 85% of 8th graders making the party cutoff each week, says science teacher Alex Retodo.



Students who earn three deductions in a single class are sent to the culture office, where they talk with staff about why they are acting out and how it disturbs other students. The goal is to quickly get them back in class, and they often return within 20 minutes.

I really like the structure, there are no gray areas, and its the same throughout the school, says Retodo, who gave up plans for medical school to devote herself to the academy. The consequences do help students learn how to control themselves in ways that will be productive for them.

Tyriana Holyfield transferred to the academy in 2023 to escape the rowdiness, bullying, and lack of rigor at a traditional middle school called Buckeye. Holyfield says Buckeye students repeatedly pressured her to stop working hard in class to get good grades, a striving that some black students disparage as acting white. Despite her pleas to teachers to intervene, the bullying continued. There was no discipline, she says. And I wasnt being challenged in class either.

At the Columbus academy, Holyfield has found a more rigorous school where she is excelling. Teachers show they care by pushing her to do better in class, something she hadnt experienced before. Theres homework most nights. I do want to go to college and be a good example for my five siblings, said Holyfield, whose mom works at a nail salon.

Chief Advancement Officer Diana Wakim

Uniteds schools havent been immune to the fallout of the pandemic lockdowns. The extra pressure on teachers, plus the relatively low starting salary, which was recently raised to $49,000, led to an exodus of teachers in 2022-23 and a jump in suspensions. But this school year, both problems receded. At the Columbus academy, 27% of students served at least one suspension this school year.

Uniteds academic results are what make the network of 815 students stand out. In 2019, its three charters outperformed the public schools in their neighborhood on state tests by at least 20 percentage points, an enormous gap. Through the tough pandemic times, two of the United schools widened their lead by 2023.

We outscored them because we work hard and stuck with our mission of high expectations even though it is not super popular, says Diana Wakim, chief advancement officer at United.

No More No Excuses

Other charters like KIPP, the biggest network in the country with 275 schools, buckled under the pressure from progressive staffers, alums, and advocates to drop their No Excuses practices.

Two months after the police murder of George Floyd in 2020 gripped the nation, Levin, the KIPP co-founder, famously issued a public letter, apologizing that its discipline practices perpetuated white supremacy and anti-Blackness and underscoring his commitment to restorative justice and racial equity. KIPP also dropped its Work Hard, Be Nice slogan, since it was seen as bolstering a myth that hard work leads to success even in the face of racism.

KIPP DC, one branch of the national network, embraced Levins "anti-racist" message and suffered academically because of it, says Anaka Osborne, who taught at its AIM middle school for six years. Osborne says the school went from using an effective and balanced No Excuses approach, with teachers demanding much of students but also cutting them a break when problems emerged at home, to a culture of coddling  both during and after the pandemic.

After KIPP DC lowered academic standards and jettisoned its ladder of consequences that had kept classrooms calm, Osborne, who is black and Filipino, decided to quit. Students were making minimal effort and were passed along, she said. When schools lower the bar for black and Latino students, that in itself is racist.

Today, KIPP DC is no longer an academic powerhouse. In 2019, its schools on average outperformed the public school district in math and English. Last year, KIPP DC trailed far behind the district, with only 13% proficiency in math and 18% in English. Levin and KIPP DC did not respond to requests for comment.

Achievement First, a network of 41 schools in New York, Connecticut, and Rhode Island, also unraveled.

It rode a No Excuses program to higher and higher test scores in the five years before the pandemic. The co-founders took the assessments seriously and were key to helping teachers figure out how to improve instruction, according to a former senior leader at Achievement First. In 2019, the charters outperformed the public schools in their three states by double-digit margins, underscoring the Achievement First name.

But as the network adopted what proponents call the anti-racist agenda, its views on testing changed. School leaders said performance on tests would no longer be such a high priority because it doesnt tell the full story of student growth, according to a 2022 memo to staff that was sent after scores plunged. The full story would now stress social and emotional learning and student experience.

Network leaders prioritized reducing suspensions over academics. This meant ditching the discipline system with consequences for unruly behavior and replacing it with "restorative justice" practices, the former senior leader said. The high academic expectations also disappeared: Struggling students who under No Excuses would have been held back, amounting to about 7% of kids, were now all promoted to the next grade.

Students can basically do whatever they want, and nothing really happens to them, said the source, who resigned because he opposed the changes. The less experienced teachers have seen their classrooms descend into chaos.

Achievement First schools are no longer envied for their performance, with test scores in Connecticut and Rhode Island plunging below the state public school averages. In Rhode Island, for instance, the charters in 2019 topped the state in English and math proficiency by 17 and 23 percentage points, respectively. In 2023, under an anti-racism program, the charters lagged behind by three and four percentage points.

Achievement Firsts website does boast that U.S. News & World Report ranks its Hartford High as No. 3 and Amistad High as No. 12 in Connecticut, without providing the year. In the 2024 rankings, Amistad is No. 45 and Hartford didnt make the top 100 cut. Achievement First did not respond to requests for comment.

The Evolution of No Excuses

The No Excuses schools that stood their ground in the face of progressive pressure have had a much stronger run through the pandemic. But they have also evolved.

This research raises questions about the effectiveness of the No Excuses method in college preparedness.

Education scholar Joanne Golann, who embedded herself in a No Excuses charter a decade ago and wrote a book about it, Scripting the Moves, raised serious questions about whether all the rules were blunting the assertiveness of the students. After finding success by following the No Excuses playbook, would these students thrive when left to their own devices in college? Would they have the gumption to challenge the racism they encountered at work or just submit to authority, as they did in school?

Students who were told what to do all the time in No Excuses schools said it didnt translate well to the college environment, where they needed to be independent, make their own decisions, and speak up in class, Golann said.

Wilson, the Ascend founder, says he took Golanns critique to heart, making changes to give students more agency and voice over their education. After students abided by a system that gave them frequent feedback about their behavior in elementary school, they were tired of it and ready for more freedom in middle school. So Ascend dropped its feedback system but kept its high expectations and found that behavior improved because students had learned how to govern themselves, says Wilson.

The Columbus academy retained its behavior grading system but in a modified form. It eased up on rules in recognition that students from poor families need more support. Rather than immediately giving students a deduction for falling asleep in class, for instance, teachers now tell them to take a break, and try to find out if they are having problems at home, says English teacher Jenn Felbaum. Penalties were also dropped for small matters, such as not wearing the proper clothing or not bringing a pencil to school. Equally significant, No Excuses charters also dispensed with their style of instruction that gave teachers maximum control over learning. Teachers had used a didactic approach, showing students how a problem is solved and then asking them to solve it themselves.

Now teachers ask students to struggle through the problem themselves and collaborate with classmates to find answers before they lend a hand. No Excuses leaders say the approach builds self-reliance in students and better prepares them for college.

Students in an advanced physics class.

Brooke, a charter network in Boston that uses some No Excuses practices, says its college-prep program puts the thinking on kids. Its predominately black and Latino students are encouraged to believe that, through hard work, they can be high achievers and go to college. All high school students are required to take at least three AP classes, a practice not found in traditional public schools. Last year, Brooke was the highest-performing open-enrollment high school in Boston.

Since Brookes first graduating class in 2020, 84% of its students started two- and four-year college programs the semester after graduating, far exceeding the percentage for Boston public schools in 2021. At Brookes college signing day celebration, students announce the college they are going to, and everyone in the room is psyched for them, says Kimberly Steadman, Brookes co-director.

We deeply believe all kids can achieve, and we develop this confidence in them by talking about it all the time and celebrating their academic achievements, said Steadman.

Ripe for Expansion?

The final test of No Excuses charters is the all-important college graduation rate of their students. Nationwide, only about 11% of students from low-income families graduate college in six years. KIPP did much better, reporting a rate of 39%, based on students who graduated high school before some of its charters entirely dropped No Excuses.

Success Academy, the star of the No Excuses movement, credits its remarkable rate of more than 80%, which tops the national average for all students, to the 13 advanced placement classes all kids must take starting in middle school and five exams they must pass to graduate.

Success Academy charters in New York City -- "the most No Excuses of them all, a book declares.

Success Academy is the most No Excuses of them all, said Robert Pondiscio, the author of a book about New York Citys largest charter network called How the Other Half Learns. It has the most cohesive culture I have ever seen, and when you nail the culture, almost any program will work.

To be sure, not all No Excuses schools are high performers. Some are unable to complete the difficult task of building strong cultures where students can thrive. But they remain very popular with families. Parents see them as safe havens free from the bedlam of other public schools. Some like Brooke have waiting lists. The United network is gearing up to expand in the next few years.

In a sign that No Excuses may be ripe for a rebound, some charters that turned away from its disciplinary practices are realizing that was a mistake, says Sue Walsh, a former No Excuses school leader.

Well-intended educators embraced a lot of antiracist practices that dont work, said Walsh, who consults with charters. And a goodly number of them are rethinking those moves and coming back to No Excuses.
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India's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader, Narendra Modi gestures to the gathering as he arrives to take the oath of office for his third term as prime minister during the oath-taking ceremony at presidential palace Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on June 9, 2024. [Photo/Aencies]



Given it is the US administration's consistent policy to push India to act as a "counterbalance" to China in the region, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's win in India's general election, which guarantees him a record third straight term, offers a good chance for Washington and its allies to strengthen their anti-China alliance in the strategic "Indo-Pacific" region.

The deepening defense relationship between the US and India was at the top of US President Joe Biden's agenda when he congratulated Modi on the election results. In a call, the two leaders emphasized "deepening the US-India comprehensive and global strategic partnership" and "advancing their shared vision of a free, open and prosperous Indo-Pacific region", the White House said. US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan is also due to visit New Delhi soon "to engage the new government on shared US-India priorities".

Indeed, having formed the Quad security dialogue that also includes Japan and Australia, the US and India have in recent years bolstered their defense and security partnership through information sharing and technology transfer, with the two countries regularly participating in joint military exercises obviously messaging China.

The 2020 China-India standoff along their disputed border seems to have pushed India-US military collaboration to a new high, with the two sides agreeing in 2023 to jointly develop and produce defense equipment to "strengthen the shared security" of the two countries.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said at the Shangri-La defense conference, held recently in Singapore, that "the relationship that we enjoy with India right now is as good or better than our relationship has ever been".

Despite this, it would be unrealistic and even naive to think that India will play the role of a willing pawn in the US-orchestrated geopolitical game against China. The country has always been cautious about not being drawn into any direct confrontation with China.

Just days prior to voting starting in the general election, Modi, in an interview, emphasized the importance of India's relations with China. He said the two countries should urgently address the "prolonged situation" on their border. "I hope and believe that through positive and constructive bilateral engagement at the diplomatic and military levels, we will be able to restore and sustain peace and tranquility at our borders."

A sound and stable China-India relationship serves the common interests of both sides and is conducive to peace and development of the region and the world at large. So long as the two countries proceed from their fundamental interests and those of their people, and bear in mind the overall situation, they will be able to maintain the development of their relations on a healthy and stable track. The US is daydreaming if it wants to use the differences that exist between the two countries to pit India against China.




'The government has put in a lot of effort to provide infrastructure for the industry.'

Photograph: Kind courtesy A M International

AM International, which has interests in petrochemicals, fertilisers and green solutions, has announced expansion plans across segments.

Ashwin Muthiah, founder chairman of A M International and the chairman of Southern Petrochemical Industries Corporation (SPIC), one of India's early agri-nutrient and fertiliser companies, told Shine Jacob/Business Standard about the group's plans in a video interview.

You have said fertilisers and chemicals are your focus areas. What is your market outlook in the segment, considering the geopolitical situation?

We have been part of the fertiliser industry for the last five decades. We have a good grip on this industry.

India has evolved today to become a self-sufficient, cost-efficient producer of fertilisers.

There is a great opportunity for Indian manufacturers to expand capacity to meet the demands of India and become a centre of exporting fertilisers.

The government has put in a lot of effort to provide infrastructure for the industry.

SPIC itself was deep down in South (India) where clean fuel gas was a distant reality.

Today that has become a reality and SPIC has uninterrupted supply of feedstock, which is making us a more efficient manufacturer.

We are growing our capacity because there is enough of local demand.

Our focus is to increase production in all aspects of fertiliser-making, be it urea, phosphate.

We are doing a lot of brownfield and also working with partners and international suppliers, whereby we can have a cost-efficient supply of materials.

We need good talent, capital, and focus on business, we are working on all this.

The geopolitical issues impact our industry as we are basically a commodity player.

We ship materials across conflict zones and it is not easy.

We have to deal with it with our ability to do smart purchasing, improving local efficiency and looking at alternate buying solutions.

Minimising dependence on imports is one of our key strategies.

As far as fertilisers are considered, we will expand our capacity in India and look for tie-ups in supply chain.

Can you explain in detail about your brownfield expansion plans?

SPIC's expansion plans include a Rs 970 crore revamp of its existing urea plant to augment capacity and establish a 150 tonne per day green ammonia plant.

This expansion reflects our commitment to bolstering production capacity, diversifying operations, and driving sustainable growth.

Greenstar Fertilizers, a SPIC group company, will invest Rs 640 crore in a water-soluble fertiliser (WSF) mixing plant in Chennai, a 2500 MTPA (million tonnes per annum) sulphuric acid plant, and the refurbishment of DAP I and II plants in Thoothukudi.

Notably, this investment marks the establishment of the second WSF facility, following the inauguration of the first plant in Thoothukudi in November 2023, operated entirely by female employees.

Further, our group company, Tuticorin Alkali Chemicals and Fertilizers Ltd (TFL) is allocating Rs 290 crore to establish a soda ash and ammonium chloride plant in Thoothukudi.

TFL achieved a significant milestone in 2023, becoming the first company to manufacture green soda ash and green ammonium chloride at its Thoothukudi plant.

According to government estimates chemicals and petrochemicals demand in India is expected to nearly triple and reach $1 trillion by 2040.

How do you see the growth in the sector?

In the petrochemicals industry, we are in the intermediate sector. Not in the upstream segment like oil and gas.

Definitely, our intermediate sector will see growth because of the capacity addition in the upstream side.

Intermediates will benefit from it and India has the potential to have additional capacity in the segment.

We will focus and grow on that and will continuously invest in expanding capacity.

We will also try to look at some regional expansion. We were predominantly focused on the South; we will look at how we can expand in other regions.

We have recently completed Phase 1 of our project to manufacture polyester polyols in-house, providing an opportunity for captive consumption through backward integration.

The initial capacity of our plant is 4,500 MTPA, but we plan to expand it gradually.

Polyester polyols are widely used across various PU applications. We need to go closer to upstream.

On top of expanding our product offering and catering to our customers, Manali Petrochemicals and our step-down subsidiary Notedome, will be able to continue the development of the sustainable products portfolio through this integration.

Our research and development team has successfully engineered multiple products of aliphatic and aromatic polyester polyols for various polyurethane segments.

Are you looking at inorganic opportunities in the petrochemicals sector?

Petrochemicals is a big boy; we are in intermediates and then trying to go into value-added solutions.

Wherever opportunity is there for mergers and acquisitions, we will look at it.

We will be looking at opportunities in the downstream sector.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com
'Have a long way to go even as a small finance bank, both in terms of size, and in terms of fulfilling our aspirations for financial inclusion.'

IMAGE: Text. Photograph: Kind courtesy Suryoday Bank

Suryoday Small Finance Bank (SFB) MD & CEO Baskar Babu Ramachandran tells Manojit Saha/Business Standard in an interview in Mumbai that it will take at least two years before the SFB considers becoming a universal bank.

How do you see the Reserve Bank of India's recent norms on voluntary conversion to universal banks?

It gives a road map, the clarity on what is required for SFB to convert to a universal bank. Those who have the ambition can be transitioned to a universal bank.

Will Suryoday SFB apply for such a conversion?

Before the guidelines, we said that we were not in a hurry to consider the transition to a universal bank.

We have a long way to go even as a small finance bank, both in terms of size, and in terms of fulfilling our aspirations for financial inclusion.

We do not see any disadvantage of being SFB except for maintaining the priority sector lending target of 75 per cent - which we currently are in far excess of the target.

At best, it is the opportunity loss of income of not selling PSL.

There is no immediate requirement for us to become a universal bank, except for a nomenclature change.

But the road map that is given now is important.

Even if we consider it after three years, it gives us the clarity of what needs to be done and what is the view of the regulator in terms of SFBs converting them into a universal bank.

How confident are you that Suryoday will become eligible by the end of FY25?

Assuming we can better it, that is our intent, by the end of the financial year 2024-25 we will be eligible to apply, but we are not even planning to apply in FY26.

For us, it is at least a good 2 years before we consider anything seriously - which is enough time, and we are confident of meeting the ratios by that time.

Then comes the business model - how you secure yourself as a bank in terms of balance of secured and unsecured loans and even for unsecured how robust can your control and process mechanism be.

We cover our microfinance portfolio through the Credit Guarantee Fund for Micro Units (CGFMU) route which is credit insurance.

There is an investment for it, we have to pay 1 per cent of the principal outstanding of the portfolio every year to get it credit insured.

This will come into play when there is an extreme event like demonetisation or the pandemic.

This is the key safety net that we have built.

Suryoday's total loan book is Rs 8,700 crore. How much is the micro-loan book?

Around Rs 5,000 crore is the MFI book. Currently, 80 per cent of the MFI book is covered by CGFMU.

The conversion to universal bank norms also talked about a diversified loan portfolio. Do you plan to bring down the share of unsecured book?

We are covered with the credit guarantee, as it is as good as quasi-secured. Our customers are no longer low-income households, they are graduating.

At least 30-40 per cent of our customers are moving up the economic cycle at a much faster rate than the pace at which the economy is growing.

This means we do not operate at the micro-finance rate.

Our focus this year would be to cover our customers under social security schemes.

What is the ideal mix that you are looking at between secured and unsecured loans?

A 50:50 mix would be ideal. We expect this to happen over the next 18 months. This year we would like to be at 53-54 per cent [unsecured book].

Suryoday's Casa ratio is around 20 per cent, which is on the lower side. How do you plan to improve on that front?

We are focused that Casa needs to be granular. We should be able to take it to 22-23 per cent this year and 26-27 per cent next year.

We will be comfortable at 30 per cent, which will be driven by our product approach and not by paying a higher rate.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com
The tailwind of low price erosion in the US generics market, seen by domestic pharmaceutical companies in calendar year 2023 (CY23), may be reversing slowly, caution analysts.

According to the latest data from US-based Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMMS), price erosion in calendar year 2024 (CY24) on a year-to-date (YTD) basis stood at a high of 15 per cent in the oral solid dosage (OSD) segment compared to a low of 1 per cent in CY23.

This erosion, according to a report by Antique Stock Broking, was the highest in the last three years.

Data for complex generics like injectables and inhalation drugs also showed a price erosion of 6-7 per cent each against positive numbers seen in CY23.

Among individual players, Aurobindo Pharma, Dr Reddys Labs, and Zydus Lifesciences sourced 48 per cent, 47 per cent, and 46 per cent of their total revenues from the US generics segment, respectively, in financial year 2023-24 (FY24).

Others such as Lupin, Sun Pharma, Cipla, Alkem, Alembic Pharma, and Glenmark Pharma, sourced 23-37 per cent of their revenue from US generics during the period, the brokerage's report said.

With a large portion of the revenue base coming from simple generics, companies are likely to see higher erosion in their base business portfolio, Monish Shah and Pranav Chawla of Antique Stock Broking wrote in their report.

Going ahead, the negative surprise of price erosion, analysts believe, is unlikely to improve for the remaining part of CY24.

This is despite higher approvals by the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA), lower product withdrawals, less regulatory action, and higher number of launches by major Indian generic companies.

Analysts believe the high price erosion in the base business may get offset by Revlimid for most companies.

Revlimid is indicated for the treatment of multiple myeloma in adults.

Also, data from the CMMS only represents a fraction of the whole medicine sales in the US as Medicaid and Medicare beneficiaries constitute those above 65 and people with limited income and resources, they said.

The data accounts for roughly 30-40 per cent of the total generics sales in the US.

"While the overall price erosion may not be in double digits but in the range of 5-8 per cent for FY25, it may go higher FY26 onwards, said Mehul Seth, institutional research analyst at HDFC Securities.

Investment strategy

Given the price-related headwind and stretched valuation of the pack, analysts suggest selectively cherry-picking stocks from the pack.

Shares of Glenmark Pharma, Aurobindo Pharma, Zydus Lifesciences, Ipca and Cipla, for instance, surged 87.4 per cent, 87.3 per cent, 112 per cent, 60.7 per cent and 59.2 per cent, respectively, over the last one year.

It was led by limited-period drugs such as Revlimid and Sprivia. This, coupled with a stable pricing scenario in the US, resulted in significant re-rating for leading peers.

By comparison, the Nifty Pharma, and the Nifty50 index soared 47.7 per cent and 22.7 per cent, respectively, during the period.

Considering the risk of price erosion in the US generics business and no positive surprises expected in the domestic market, in terms of pricing upticks or volume gains, the pharma market seems overstretched and is offering a good opportunity to book profits, said Surya Patra of PhillipCapital.

He has a 'Sell' rating on Lupin, Cipla, Ipca Labs, and Zydus Lifesciences due to stretched valuations amid limited growth opportunities.

In Sun Pharma, and Divis Labs, investors may book profit as the companies may face margin pressures ahead, he added.

Aurobindo Pharma remains his preferred pick in the sector.

Mehul Seth of HDFC Securities, meanwhile, said there may be more downside in Dr Reddys stock, as ex-Revlimid, the firm's revenue may struggle to grow post FY26.

He also remains 'underweight' on Lupin as most positive factors have been priced in.

He picks Torrent Pharma, Eris Lifesciences, and Mankind as his preferred picks.

Bitter Pill?

Aurobindo Pharma, Dr Reddys Labs, and Zydus Lifesciences sourced 48 per cent, 47 per cent, and 46 per cent of their total revenues from the US generics segment, respectively, in financial year 2023-24 (FY24)

Others such as Lupin, Sun Pharma, Cipla, Alkem, Alembic Pharma, and Glenmark Pharma, sourced 23-37 per cent of their revenue from US generics during the period

The negative surprise of price erosion, analysts believe, is unlikely to improve for the remaining part of CY24
'Besides Ayodhya, the BJP lost in nine other constituencies with a Ramayana imprint; it tasted success only in Thrissur.'

'In Rameswaram, K Navaskani of the Indian Union Muslim League won with a 44% voteshare in a 84% Hindu constituency.'

'In the 21 seats in the Ayodhya and Varanasi regions, both crucial to the Hindutva project, the BJP won just 7.'

'It won just 3 out of 12 seats around Modi's constituency,' points out Krishna Prasad.

IMAGE: Narendra D Modi greets President Droupadi Murmu after taking the oath of office as prime minister of India for the third time at Rashtrapati Bhavan, June 9, 2024. Photograph: Rahul Singh/ANI Photo

Hindsight is 20/20, and post facto rationalisation is the new gig in town.

After telling us how 'chaar sau paar' was a done deal, we are now being told that 240 is just an anagram of chaar sau bees.

Narendra Modi biographer Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay says 2024 is a 'bigger upset' than Vajpayee's in 2004.

And the scholar Gilles Verniers says the 'biggest setback' of Modi's career 'shatters the myth of his invincibility and that of the BJP in the Hindi belt'.

Maybe, maybe not.

But what the shock result has done is to allow WhatsApp uncles to rush into the restroom to marinate their dentures, change their diapers, and remove the battery from their hearing aids.

Suddenly, the tweetiyas in tribal 'groups' are silent.

The comedian Vir Das asked most aptly: 'Is WhatsApp down?'

Don't know, dude, and can't say for how long, but without a question, the number of supernatural powers being ascribed to Supermanush during Sawan has hit the lower circuit (like Adani stocks when it bumped into the Hindenburg blimp).

From the ocean of data in newspapers, here are a dozen drawing-room myths about Narendra Modi that the salt of this earth have pounded, powdered and packed for the easy consumption of their privileged but deluded brethren.

***

One

'If not Modi, who?': Voters trashed the TINA (There Is No Alternative) trope.

In 304 seats out of 544, they rejected Modi's plea to 'strengthen' him by voting for his party's candidate.

The BJP won the most seats (240), yes, but 40 other parties, including Congress, found favour.

As did seven lone-rangers. A survey by CSDS found more people prefer Rahul Gandhi (36%) to Modi (32%) in Uttar Pradesh.

IMAGE: Modi waves to the 10,000-strong crowd as he arrives to take the oath. Photograph: Rahul Singh/ANI Photo

***

Two

'Modi is world's most popular leader': Voters in Varanasi punctured the persona periodically pumped up by Morning Consult.

His 2019 victory margin of 45.22% plunged by two-thirds to 13.49%, the lowest ever for any sitting PM excluding post-Emergency Indira Gandhi and Chandra Shekhar.

Modi won by 152,153 votes; by contrast Rakibul Hussain of the Congress won in Dhubri (Assam) by 1,012,476 votes.

There are 115 other MPs with a higher victory margin than Modi in the 18th Lok Sabha.

***

Three

'Modi has matched Nehru': The headlines are full of 'Modi 3.0' like the RSS has issued a software update.

But here's the perspective. One, Vajpayee was a BJP PM thrice. So he has been there, done that.

And two, Nehru was prime minister for a full 17 years from August 1947 to May 1964.

Plus, Nehru took oath not three times, but six.

In 1946 as vice-president of the Viceroy's executive council; in 1947 as the first prime minister of the Dominion of India; in 1950 as prime minister of the Republic of India; and then as PM after India's three elections.

Hard for any biological baby to match that.

***

Four

'Modi is BJP's vote magnet': 50-50. BJP and NDA candidates lost in nearly half the seats where Modi campaigned and gave speeches, down from a success rate of 85% in 2019.

In Maharashtra alone, Modi held rallies in 19 constituencies; 15 of the BJP/NDA candidates he batted for, lost.

Modi's roadshow also failed to secure a win in Mumbai North East.

Overall, the BJP gained a mere 23 seats in 7 states compared to 2019; it lost 63 seats in 13 states.

IMAGE: Newly sworn-in Prime Minister Narendra D Modi acknowledges the cheers after taking the oath of office for a third consecutive term. Photograph: ANI Photo

***

Five

'Modi knows everything': As Modi took one giant leap from biological to illogical, he increasingly lost touch with reality.

'Uttar Pradesh has decided to give 100% seats to Modi, to NDA,' he said in February despite access to all manner of inputs.

As early as May 1, India's brand ambassador for gamchas, Professor Yogendra Yadav was categorical that the BJP would fall to below 50.

Professor Ravi Kant of Lucknow University said things were so bad the BJP could end up with 30-35. It got 33.

***

Six

'Modi's vikas fetches votes': People want development, but not just roads, bridges, flyovers.

In the 2023 assembly elections in Karnataka, the BJP lost in every constituency along the newly opened expressway between Bangalore and Mysore. Ditto 2024.

It won a mere two seats out of ten in Vidarbha along the Mumbai-Nagpur expressway.

In Lakshadweep, where the BJP threatened to unleash the Gujarat Model of development, it got exactly 201 votes out of 49,200.

IMAGE: President Murmu addresses the banquet for the leaders of neighbouring countries after the swearing in ceremony, June 9, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

***

Seven

'Modi only spews hate to rally his base': BJP won in three seats (Aligarh, Udhampur, Khargone) where he ranted against mangal sutra, mutton-eating and vote jihad respectively, but it lost in eight seats (Banswara, Ghosi, Nandurbar, Tonk, Mathurapur, Pataliputra, Barabanki, Dumka) where he indulged in Islamophobia.

Then again, the target audience of Modi's speeches are not always those sitting and standing in front of him.

***

Eight

'Ram Temple was Modi's masterstroke': The premature opening of the Temple in January, accompanied by the usual PR blitzkrieg, had little impact across the country, even less in Uttar Pradesh, and none at all in Ayodhya.

Hordes of celebrities and influencers generated buzz with their gush.

With five phases to go, even the President of India -- a tribal and a widow ignored for the January 22 event -- was shepherded in on May 1 to lend a helpful hand. Didn't work.

In the end, the people of Faizabad spoke through their wallets.

Samajwadi Party's Awadesh Prasad, a Dalit standing from a general category seat, won.

***

Nine

'Modi is Hindu hridaysamrat': Besides Ayodhya, the BJP lost in nine other constituencies with a Ramayana imprint; it tasted success only in Thrissur.

In Rameswaram, K Navaskani of the Indian Union Muslim League won with a 44% voteshare in a 84% Hindu constituency.

More importantly, in the 21 seats in the Ayodhya and Varanasi regions, both crucial to the Hindutva project, the BJP won just 7.

It won just 3 out of 12 seats around Modi's constituency.

Mandal trumped Kamandal as the Constitution of India and social justice became centrestage.

IMAGE: Modi greets Nirmala Sitharaman -- one of only two women in his 30-member Cabinet -- after she takes the oath of office, June 9, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

***

Ten

'Digital technology allows Modi's benefits reach the poor': For starters, the BJP lost 71 of the 236 rural seats it held in 2019 (the Congress score went up from 31 to 75; the Samajwadi Party up from 5 to 37).

Secondly, the BJP's voteshare fell in eight out of 11 states and Union Territories that had a rate of growth of under 2% since the 2019 elections; in four out of eight states with a growth between 2% and 4%; and in four out of nine states with a growth of over 4%.

***

Eleven

'Mainstream media matters': News channels and newspapers gave BJP unlimited space and time.

Acres and hours of government advertisements flowed to friendly media outlets before the election schedule was announced.

Modi gave over 70 expansive 'interviews' phase by phase.

Propaganda films received plugs from the PMO handle.

Fake news, innuendo flooded social media. Yet.

Prashant Kishor says YouTube viewership, TV ratings and Google Buzz are all down for Modi.

IMAGE: BJP supporters in Balurghat, South Dinajpur, West Bengal, celebrate as Modi takes the oath as prime minister, June 9, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

***

And finally:

Twelve

'The whole world loves Modi': Yes, only when it needs to do business with India. When he loses it looks at him sternly.

'Billionaire-friendly Modi humbled by Indians who make $4 a day', said Bloomberg.

'Narendra Modi fell to earth after making it all about himself', said a New York Times headline.

But the headline of June 5 was in neighbouring Pakistan, in the Dawn newspaper founded by Mohammad Ali Jinnah: 'India defeats hate. Modi left at mercy of Muslim-friendly allies'.

***

Sources: CSDS Lokniti, The Hindu; Hindustan Times; Sushant Singh on Twitter; Quint and Mid-Day; Ajit Anjum on YouTube and Karan Thapar interview for The Wire; Kunal Purohit on Twitter; The Indian Express.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com
If Tamil Nadu voters preferred the DMK combine, it owed to the Modi-Annamalai combo's ideological battle which often crossed the line of political decency and also challenged 'Tamil pride', argues N Sathiya Moorthy.

IMAGE: The Bharatiya Janata Party's Tamil Nadu president Kuppusamy Annamalai addresses an election rally in Kanyakumari, March 15, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

If there is a definitive outcome of the Lok Sabha polls across the country, it is the emergence of Tamil Nadu's DMK Chief Minister M K Stalin as an electoral brand to bet on.

Three in a row and in five years is not a joke, Stalin has achieved all that, almost effortlessly as his working style and campaign style have proved through all three elections, beginning with the Lok Sabha polls of 2019, followed by the state assembly elections in 2021, and now, this one.

The DMK-led combine, with the Congress as the main ally, won all 39 seats this time against 38 in 2019. Including the Union Territory of Puducherry, where the political fortunes of all friends and rivals cross, it's 40-all for the DMK combine this time against 39 in the earlier outing.

The question is if the same alliance that may continue for the assembly polls in 2026, just two years hence, can continue the winning streak. Translated, can 'Brand Stalin' sustain?

Truth be acknowledged even if post facto, months ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, anti-incumbency against the state government could be touched, felt and even cut.

If it did not affect the outcome, it owed not to the split in the rival BJP-AIADMK alliance votes from 2019 but because Narendra Modi's single-handed ability to convert what was essentially a 'Stalin-centric' election into a 'Modi-focussed' affair.

The Tamil Nadu voter did not have to strain his brain. He only had to restate his position from 2019, which was as 'anti-Modi' as it was earlier too in Jayalalithaa's 'Modi-ya, Lady-ya' sweep in 2014, when the Gujarat CM became the nation's PM.

That is to say, the BJP's defeat in Tamil Nadu is three in a row in 10 years, unlike what is being projected by party leaders in the state and their all-time hyper media analysts from distant Delhi.

IMAGE: M K Stalin, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Rahul Gandhi after the INDIA Bloc leaders' meeting. Photograph: Jitender Gupta/ANI Photo

Post-poll, both the state BJP leadership of defeated Coimbatore candidate K Annamalai and his media friends in Delhi are penning a picture that the BJP has crossed the two-digit mark and for the first time.

Definitely, there is greater recognition for the party in Tamil Nadu over the past 10 years, as happened in the 10 years beginning with the 'Ayodhya demolition' in December 1992.

In the two Lok Sabha polls that the BJP fought in the company of the AIADMK and the ruling DMK, respectively in 1998 and 1999, the 'Vajpayee image' did add an additional 5-6 per cent to the kitty, over and above the party's traditional three per cent vote-bank. The same has been occurring under Modi, too, but with a difference.

To begin with, it's a fallacy to claim that the BJP alliance has won 18-plus per cent vote-share, as if it was for the first time.

In 2014, too, the party polled as much, this time, the figure dropping by a few tens in the decimal.

It is even claimed that the BJP this time has polled 11-plus per cent from the 23 constituencies where it fielded party nominees.

To begin with, to count constituency-wise polling figures of an alliance as that of a particular partner is misleading, to say the least.

Maybe, it suits the Election Commission to use it as a benchmark to grant or withdraw registration status to individual parties.

After winning two Lok Sabha seats this time on the allotted independent symbol of 'Pot', the VCK ally in the DMK combine has qualified for recognition as a 'regional party' with a reserved symbol.

So has the pan-Tamil NTK of actor-politician Seeman.

In the reverse, the PMK ally of the BJP has lost its 'regional status' as it failed to win two seats or record the required poll percentage.

IMAGE: Annamalai at a roadshow in Coimbatore from where he was nominated but lost, April 12, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

Yet, when the chips are down, the BJP cannot claim to have polled 11 per cent vote-share on its own, to become the third largest party in the state after its estranged ally in the AIADMK.

In the BJP combine, the Vanniar-strong PMK and T T V Dhinaran's AMMK, one more breakaway faction of the AIADMK, have a proven vote-bank of five per cent each, respectively concentrated mostly in the northern and eastern districts.

There are also reasons to believe that BJP candidate actor Radhika Sharath Kumar's votes in her southern Virudunagar constituency, belonged to her actor-husband Sharath Kumar, who disbanded his miniscule party to merge overnight in the national party after a thought flashed his mind at 2 am one night.

Even three-time AIADMK chief minister O Panneerselvam (Ramanathapuram) and John Pandian (Tenkasi), both allies of the BJP, had their limited vote-banks across the southern districts.

Even otherwise, John Pandian and another 'independent' party boss, contested on the BJP symbol, 'Lotus', and thus their vote-shares would be counted as that of the party -- and naturally so.

This is despite the fact that the Tamil Maanila Congress of former Congress minister G K Vasan under UPA-II lost its deposit in all three seats it contested from the NDA.

To be fair, the BJP does have substantial vote-banks in these constituencies, including those of OPS and Dhinakaran.

However, more than the political Opposition, Annamalai's detractors in the state party unit cite all these figures and more, to argue that the party's vote-share has not gone beyond the traditional three-per cent mark.

That way, if you deduct the contributions of the PMK, AMMK and those of the others, the BJP's vote-share should be hovering around 6-8 per cent at best in the total NDA tally of 18-plus per cent.

It is not a bad score, considering that these votes came the 'Lotus' symbol's way from the 22 constituencies contested, but for the state party leadership to try and make the national audience and also the high command believe that Annamalai has done it all through his brand of aggressive/offensive politics, as TN unit president, is a myth.

In fact, the BJP state president in 2014, Tamizhisai Soundararajan, who recently quit as the governor of Telangana and lieutenant governor of Puducherry, to try her luck in the Lok Sabha polls, has already taken up cudgels against Annamalai, first, and the party IT wing under his stewardship -- the latter for tarring the fair image and decent names of many a state party leader through the past couple of years.

Tamizhisai lost the prestigious South Chennai seat to DMK incumbent Tamizhachchi Thangapandian just as Annamalai came second to the DMK's Ganapathy Rajkumar by 118,000 votes in Coimbatore.

IMAGE: M K Stalin addresses a media interaction in Chennai, June 4, 2024. Photograph: Riya Mariyam Raju/Reuters

The BJP lost its security deposit in 11 constituencies, yes, but there is no denying the greater visibility that the party has been getting across the state over the past three decades, especially in the last 10-15 years in particular.

It all had begun even with the 'Mandaikadu violence' in Kanyakumari district in 1982, and the sudden appearance of street-corner pandals, pujas and visarjan at the famed Marina beach, all of it leading to communal riots and police firing in Chennai around the time.

The way Annamalai is going about his post-poll explanations that the party would not align with the equally distraught AIADMK in the assembly polls hence sounds as amateurish as his pre-poll statements of the past two years have been.

For instance, now, after seeking to expose the ruling DMK in the state through his 'DMK Files' series, he will have to re-invent himself and the party campaign platform, if they have to make any positive impact on the TN voter.

If it's not Annamalai, it would be a task cut out for his successor, if the high command chooses to replace him, maybe not as a top priority at the time of ministry-formation at the Centre.

In context, whatever impact that TN Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin's so-called criticism of Sanatana Dharma had produced across the north in the Lok Sabha polls months later, that brand of Hindutva politics has not sold nearer home.

Incidentally, if the much-hyped Ayodhya temple consecration could not win the encompassing Faizabad seat, leave aside the larger UP state with its highest number of 80 seats in the country, it is anybody's guess if Udhayanidhi at all was an election issue anywhere in the country -- as Mo-Sha elsewhere and Annamalai nearer home sought to make him out to be.

IMAGE: Narendra Modi holds a roadshow with Annamalai in support of the BJP's Chennai South candidate Tamizhisai Soundararajan, April 9, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

That should shift the focus back to the AIADMK, which has faced its worst election after 1996, when the party lost all 40 Lok Sabha seats.

In the accompanying assembly election, then chief minister Jayalalithaa was defeated in her chosen Bargur seat by a respectable margin of 8,000 votes.

If that result does not ring a bell, it owes only to DMK chief minister M Karunanidhi putting victor Sugavanam in the limelight, through a ministerial appointment or the like.

Losing the security deposit is not new for the AIADMK in assembly elections, but it is for the first time that the party has done it in seven Lok Sabha seats in the state.

Naturally, this means that the party has come third behind the BJP in those constituencies and six others.

For their part, some senior aides of AIADMK boss Edappadi K Palaniswami have joined issue with Annamalai, and said that his arrogance had lost the state for both parties but would have won very many seats had the alliance continued.

Annamalai has been quick to counter their attacks, for he also knows what the AIADMK intends and to whom its message is addressed.

But double-quick was EPS spokesman and former minister D Jayakumar who said that theirs was a 'personal view' -- clearly indicating that all was not well within the party, where the latter's loyalty became suspicious in Coimbatore district, vis-a-vis Annamalai's candidature.

Yet, EPS did post a congratulatory message for Modi on social media -- for party cadres, too, to know.

But he would communicate only with the BJP national leadership and on the specific understanding that he would be their common chief minister candidate and his AIADMK would lead the alliance, as in the past.

That an alliance between the two parties for the assembly poll will become possible if and only if Annamalai is replaced as state BJP boss and EPS is accepted as the chief ministerial candidate of the alliance is the unsaid message.

The BJP national leadership may not rush to take any decision one way or the other, but once the current dust settles down, it may -- only, may -- advise Annamalai to go slow on the AIADMK and inner-party detractors, some of whom are fuming, not at the electoral losses but at the hidden name-and-shame game that the state party IT wing launched against some of them.

Almost simultaneously, EPS's aides have dismissed offers of a patch-up from OPS on the one hand and Jaya's forgotten confidante Sasikala Natarajan, on the other.

Of the two, Sasikala especially has indicated that any reunion of the AIADMK has to be under her stewardship. EPS is not going to agree by miles.

IMAGE: Tamil Nadu Congress {resident Selvaperundagai congratulates DMK President M K Stalin for the election victory in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. Photograph: ANI Photo

It is in such a milieu Stalin's DMK is caught for now. The temptation for the cadres and second and third-line leaders to take things into their hands, as some of them had done in the last two of three years of Stalin's government.

This was at the bottom of anti-incumbency that could be touched and felt until Modi changed the election agenda for the TN voter.

It is this election agenda that would soon return to the forefront, or that is the expectation in rival circles and anticipation in some DMK camps.

Though Stalin had openly warned of strict action against non-performing party office-bearers, as revealed by the Lok Sabha polls results, a 40/40 victory means that he would not be inclined to use the whip at this happy moment -- and never thereafter on this very issue.

It's unlike Karunanidhi, who would mark those men for replacement at a later date, and Jaya, who would not flinch even at the very moment of victorious ecstasy for party cadres.

Even without it all, the government's finances are not in the pink of health, and with the assembly polls not very far away, the chief minister cannot take chances by increasing taxes and tariff any more than already over the past three years.

If the voters still preferred the DMK combine, it owed, one, to the Modi-Annamalai combo's ideological battle which often crossed the line of political decency in contemporary terms and also challenged the hidden 'Tamil pride', which not all Tamils wear on their sleeves -- but in their hearts, as some of them open up, if asked.

Any revival of ED/CBI/IT raids is not going to unnerve DMK ministers, leaders and legislators as pre-poll, and they may wear it on their sleeve as a medallion for their loyalty to the party and the leader.

But court-ordered convictions in pending graft cases may be another matter, but that too may affect only individual leaders, most of them veterans, thus creating space that they refuse to vacate for the younger generation.

Then, there is the hidden factor that the BJP has to understand and accept if they have to make a change.

In rural Tamil Nadu, especially women recognise political parties and even their local/localised leaders who are always out to help them in times of need, only by their poll symbols. And they know only 'Sooriyan', 'Ilai' and 'Kai', respectively the poll symbols of the DMK ('Rising Sun'), AIADMK ('Two Leaves') and Congress ('Hand').

The BJP's 'Lotus' is yet to bloom in their mind's eyes as a natural course, so to say.

For now, DMK's Stalin has succeeded in wooing the women voters of the AIADMK rival from the MGR-Jaya era through his welfare schemes, starting with free bus travel, monthly cash assistance of Rs 1,000 and breakfast scheme for their school-going children alongside the long-existing noon-meal scheme. He has promised a monthly assistance of Rs 1,000 assistance for all students passing out of government schools and enrolling in higher studies, beginning this month. It is the target-group of first-time voters, after all.

N Sathiya Moorthy, veteran journalist and author, is a Chennai-based policy analyst and political commentator.

Feature Presentation: Rajesh Alva/Rediff.com
'This is the victory of the people of Gujarat who want real development, not the hype of development.'

IMAGE: Geniben Thakor, who takes pride in calling herself a grassroots worker, campaigns on a bullock cart for her 2024 Lok Sabha election. All photographs: Kind courtesy Geniben Thakor/Instagram

Geniben Thakor created history when she defeated Bharatiya Janata Party candidate Dr Rekhaben Chaudhari in the 2024 Lok Sabha election from Banaskantha by 30,406 votes. It was the first Lok Sabha seat the Congress had won in Gujarat since 2009.

The 48-year-old two-time Congress MLA from Gujarat's Vav was labellled 'giant killer' after her victory against Banas Dairy chairperson Shankar Choudhary, a powerful dairy co-operative magnate, by 6,600 votes in 2017 and later when she defeated the BJP's Swarupbhai Thakor in the 2022 state assembly election when her party faced its biggest rout in the state winning just 17 of the 182 assembly segments.

"I am just an ordinary Congress worker, an ordinary servant of the people, who has dedicated her life for espousing the Congress ideology and working for the poorest of the poor people of my state," the arts graduate from Jain Vishwa Bharati Institute tells Prasanna D Zore/Rediff.com.

The Congress opened its account in a Lok Sabha election in Gujarat after 10 years. What factors helped you and the Congress win the Banaskantha seat?

I have been a grassroots worker of the Congress and have 20 years of political and social experience working in the field, among the people belonging to all the sections on Gujarat. My work has helped me earn the love and respect of the people of Gujarat and Banaskantha.

All our party leaders and cadres worked under tremendous difficult situations in Gujarat to win the Banaskantha seat. It is not that Geniben Thakor has won; the people of Banaskantha have won; this is the victory of the people of Gujarat who want real development, not the hype of development.

For decades now, our local leaders have raised issues that matter to the people of Gujarat before the state government and ensured that their problems are resolved. Each and every Congress person has been working diligently on the ground and won the love of the people.

IMAGE: Geniben Thakor worships at the Arasuri Ambaji Mata temple, which is one among the 51 Shakti Peethas in India.

It has been widely reported that you crowd-funded your election as you were short of funds. How much money did you collect through crowd-funding and what were your expenses in this election?

I am really very grateful to the people of Banaskantha and to everybody who contributed money to fund my election expenses. This victory wouldn't have been possible without their help.

I had told my party leaders that I will fight this Lok Sabha election but don't have the financial resources for that.

My party workers, Congress leaders and people of my constituency assured me that I don't need money to win this election but also assured to help me financially in their individual capacity. That assurance gave me strength to not worry too much about money and focus on raising people's issues during my campaign.

I was assured not just of financial assistance but their votes also.

Our election management committee took care of all the money that was collected and spent. They would be in a better position to give you the exact figures. But we have been very transparent about the money we collected and spent. Every penny is accounted for.

While the election management committee will be in a position to share these detail I can tell you that we won this election by spending a very small amount.

How do you feel when you get labelled 'Giant Killer'?

It is true that people call me a giant killer. People also call me 'dabang' (fearless). I am no giant killer. I am just an ordinary Congress worker, an ordinary servant of the people, who has dedicated her life for espousing Congress ideology and working for the poorest of the poor people of my state.

I lost my first assembly election from Vav in 2012 but won the same seat twice in 2017 and 2022 when the BJP won a record number of assembly seats in the state.

I believe in working for the people and with the people. Geniben Thakor is nobody without the love and support of the people of Banaskantha and Gujarat.

I have done this from the beginning of my political career and I will continue to do my work in the same vein.

The Congress has won one Lok Sabha seat in 2024 since 2009 when your party had won nine Lok Sabha seats. How big is your victory for the revival of the Congress in Gujarat?

It is not just Gujarat but the Congress has revived itself across India. I can assure the people of Gujarat that the Congress will be forming the next government in Gujarat. The faith of the people of Gujarat in Congress gives me hope that we will form the next government in Gujarat.

We may have won just one Lok Sabha seat in Gujarat but our vote share is good (it stood at more than 31 per cent. In 2019 it stood at 32.6 per cent but the Congress couldn't win any seats).

Our vote share and number of seats will only increase manifold in the days ahead and after the 2027 Gujarat assembly elections we will form the next government in Gujarat.

The people of Gujarat showed tremendous faith in the BJP in 2014 and 2019 giving them all 26 Lok Sabha seats but were disappointed with the performance of the Narendra Modi government in these 10 years of his misgovernance.

Unemployment today stands at a 45-year high, prices of essentials like food grains, vegetates, fuel, cooking gas saw a huge jump denting the spending capacity of the people. Cost of education, health services has gone up too.

The BJP will now have to understand that they just can't win people's faith in the name of Prabhu Shri Ram. They have to work on the ground and solve the everyday issues of the people of Gujarat.

What were the main issues that you fought the 2024 Lok Sabha elections on and what important issues do you plan to raise in Parliament as Banaskantha MP?

Our main election plank was providing potable water for the people of my constituency and enough water and electricity for the farmers.

We also raised other important issues -- and found them resonating among the people -- like security of women in the state, the rising cost of medical services, day-to-day essentials, higher education, local employment opportunities, and how the Narendra Modi government failed to deliver the benefits of all the central schemes for the people of Gujarat. We will ensure that the benefits of central government schemes now reach the people of Gujarat.

I will be raising these very issues as an MP from Banaskantha. In addition, the Congress in Gujarat has its eyes and ears open and we will continue to raise whatever issues the people of Gujarat will ask us to highlight in Parliament.

Would you feel that Prime Minister Modi talking about the 'Congress taking away one buffalo if you have two buffaloes' didn't work for the BJP in Banaskantha?

Such statements from Narendra Modi not only boomeranged against the BJP in Banaskantha but all over India.

The people of India expect their prime minister to talk about development, infrastructure, employmet opportunities, setting up of new industries, bringing in investments and building factories but they were very much disappointed by the way Prime Minister Modi ran his campaign on divisive agendas.

The prime minister should not have used such language during the election campaign.

IMAGE: Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra campaigns for Geniben Thakor.

Did Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's campaign help you cement your victory?

The people of Gujarat have tremendous faith in the leadership of Soniaji, Rahulji and have immense love and respect for Priyankaji. The fact that in every campaign Priyankaji exhorted people to vote for their own benefits, to vote for a party that would ensure your social and economic safety and security mobilised the people of Banaskantha.

With her honest, heart-to-heart connection with the people through her public addresses Priyankaji won the hearts of the people of India.
'Hindutva will not win any elections. Hindutva as a political plank never works.'

IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra D Modi and Cabinet ministers at the swearing-in ceremony, June 9, 2024. Photograph: Adnan Abidi/Reuters

Uttar Pradesh turned in the most unexpected election result, when it gave the Samajwadi Party-Congress combine more seats than the Bharatiya Janata Party which, under Prime Minister Narendra D Modi, had had an incredible run at the hustings in the state, virtually decimating all opposition.

Dr A K Verma, director, Centre for the Study of Society and Politics, Kanpur, believes that the BJP was unable to counter the narrative set by the SP-Congress combine.

"Earlier, the BJP used to have its own agenda and set its own narrative. This time the BJP was trapped into the narrative of the Opposition parties. Especially, the Samajwadi Party and Congress in UP. When the BJP started its counter narrative it became communal in nature. People did not like that in UP," Dr Verma tells Syed Firdaus Ashraf/Rediff.com in the concluding segment of the interview.

Part 1 of the Interview: 'BJP did hit wicket with 400 paar'

What about Hindutva? Will we see that kind of campaigning in future after the BJP's defeat?

This was a media creation. Hindus do not think they are a homogeneous society. They are a caste-divided society.

When you say Islam is in danger then some kind of homogeneity is there but you cannot say the same thing about the Hindu religion as there is so much diversity in the religion.

Everyone's worship (of gods) is different. I worship this lord and my neighbour will worship some other lord.

Hindutva will not win any elections. Hindutva as a political plank never works. The people of Uttar Pradesh are very secular as in 2007 they elected Mayawati, then in 2012 they elected Akhilesh Yadav.

In 2017 they elected the BJP so the focus is on governance. Ultimately they found that Yogi Adityanath was doing good governance so he was elected again in 2022.

The law and order problem was huge in UP which he (Yogi) maintained well so the people elected him again.

Therefore one wonders, with Yogi ruling UP, the law and order is good and then you have Modi in Delhi. They were called the double engine sarkar and yet the BJP lost badly.

This is what politics is all about. It is very uncertain. If you take politics for granted, then this is what happens. And Akhilesh (Yadav, the Samajwadi Party president) capitalised on it which other opponents of the BJP could not do.

There is a lot of appreciation for the good work of the Yogi government on the ground.

I am sorry to say that the BJP forgot the constructive agenda which it achieved in 10 years. They did not emphasise this to the voters. The BJP did not sell their achievements to the people.

What is their vision in the next five years, they were not able to sell to the people. They made statements like India will be a developed country and a $5 trillion economy in 2047. Such statements do not make any sense to the poor people of the country.

There should have been a proper narrative from the BJP as to what they have done and achieved in the last 10 years and what they are going to do in the next five years. This was missing from their campaign.

They should have said that we want 400 paar so that their vision of Viksit Bharat could be achieved. Unfortunately, they did not say anything like this on the ground.

If I am not mistaken Mr Modi spoke about Viksit Bharat and such matters during the first round of the election campaign, but after the second round he started Hindu-Muslim politics.

Therein lies the catch. Earlier, the BJP used to have its own agenda and set its own narrative. This time the BJP was trapped into the narrative of the Opposition parties. Especially, the Samajwadi Party and Congress in UP. When the BJP started its counter narrative it became communal in nature. People did not like that in UP.

Instead of sticking to their original narrative of Viksit Bharat they got embroiled in the narrative set by the Opposition parties.

IMAGE: President Droupadi Murmu and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar with the newly sworn-in Prime Minister Modi and his council of ministers, June 9, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

Will the 2027 UP assembly elections be easy for the SP and Congress now?

It is too early to say, but one thing is for sure: Whatever Modi achieved in the last 10 years it has been demolished in one stroke.

Modi was trying to create class consciousness in India. He was focusing on four classes --women, marginal farmers, subalterns and the youth. Had he not done this, the BJP would have remained a party of 15 percent and not reached a 50 percent plus vote share.

He was trying to bring in a class structure and amalgamate it with the caste structure in which he became very successful.

For example, women, he focused on their well-being and did not bother about their religion or caste.

In the same way, he did good work for marginal farmers, subaltern groups and youth.

Demographically, India is adding one Sudan or Spain every year.

For any government to provide employment, it is a very risky proposition. You can have a short term victory but it can ultimately boomerang.

No government can provide jobs to people in such huge numbers and what Modi did was to provide an alternative, like Startup India, speaking of entrepreneurs and unicorns.

People saw Modi as techno savvy and had faith in him. In UP however, issues like Agniveer backfired, which Akhilesh successfully capitalised on.

IMAGE: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi addresses a media interaction with Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav in Ghaziabad, April 17, 2024. Photograph: Jitender Gupta/ANI Photo

Are the days of Naya Bharat over and will we go back to identity politics?

I don't think it is gone as Modi is sticking to his agenda with a reduced margin. There are coalition compulsions but I feel his coalition partners are also mature and this government will be stable.

With Modi, Nitish and Naidu at the Centre I don't think they will return to identity politics.

Modi will go ahead with Sab Ka Saath Sab Ka Vikas politics.

UP was a special case in this election but then it was a massive jolt to the BJP. They will certainly work on it and find out how to return to class consciousness and not allow identity to take precedent.

You don't believe that Modi ran a Hindu majoritarian government ruthlessly? The Western media highlights this fact, that he is winning by suppressing the minorities.

I don't believe what the Western media writes about Modi or India. I trust Indian journalists more than Western journalists.

Will we see communal politics in future and a Hindu majoritarian campaign in elections?

If there was a Hindu majoritarian way of campaigning which worked, do you think Akhilesh Yadav would have won with these numbers?

Even in Varanasi, Modi won with a reduced margin.

All this Hindu majoritarian way of politics is a bogus Western media set narrative. They do not have the maturity to understand the Indian voter and Indian democracy.

Whenever something goes wrong with a leader, then course correction is done by Indian voters immediately.

Modi won by a reduced margin and there was a message to him that whenever you do an aberration, voters will give you a course correction.
A 13-year-old boy has been apprehended for allegedly sending an email to the Delhi airport falsely claiming that a bomb had been planted in a Toronto-bound Air Canada flight, police said on Tuesday.

IMAGE: Kindly note that this image has been posted for representational purposes only. Photograph: PTI Photo/Rediff archives

The boy sent the threat "just for fun" to check whether it could be traced back to him or not, they said.

After being apprehended, the boy was produced before the Juvenile Justice Board.

"On June 4, a PCR call was received at 11.25 pm regarding a bomb threat e-mail for flight number AC043 scheduled from Delhi to Toronto at the IGI Airport police station," Deputy Commissioner of Police (IGI Airport) Usha Rangnani said.

Based on the information received, the Delhi airport was put on high alert and a full emergency was declared on the premises, she said.

"Guidelines and protocols as per the SOP were properly followed to ensure the safety and security of the passengers. After a thorough search of the flight, the threat e-mail was found to be a hoax," said the DCP.

On a complaint received from Air Canada airline, an FIR was registered in the matter, Rangnani said.

"During the investigation, it was found that the said email id was created hours before the hoax threat was sent and it was deleted after sending the email," she said.

The investigation led the police team to Meerut in Uttar Pradesh.

"The sender of the email turned out to be a 13-year-old boy," the DCP said.

During questioning, the boy told police that he got the idea of sending the hoax bomb threat email after seeing the news about a similar incident at the Mumbai Airport. He wanted to see whether or not the police would be able to trace him if he sent such an email, Rangnani said.

She said the boy created the email id on his mobile phone and used the Wi-Fi connection of his mother's mobile phone to send the email.

"He also revealed that he was very excited when he saw the news about the hoax bomb threat at the Delhi airport the next day but did not share any information with his parents out of fear," she added.

The boy has been apprehended and two mobile phones used for sending the email have been seized from his place, the officer said.
With Prime Minister Narendra Modi taking the oath of office for a historic third successive term, Nationalist Congress Party-SP president Sharad Pawar sought to know whether he had the mandate to lead the country.

IMAGE: NCP-SP president Sharad Pawar addresses party workers on the occasion of the NCP's 25th foundation day in Pune. Photograph: @PawarSpeaks/X

The saffron party fell short of majority in the just-concluded Lok Sabha elections and had to take support of its allies to form the new coalition government at the Centre, he noted on Monday.

The senior politician was speaking at a party congregation in Ahmednagar, around 125 km from Pune, on the occasion of the NCP's 25th foundation day where newly-elected party MPs were felicitated.

"Narendra Modi took the oath as Prime Minister (on June 9). But before taking the oath, did he have the mandate of the country? Did the people of the country give him consent? They (BJP) did not have a majority. They had to take the help of the Telugu Desam Party and Bihar Chief Minister (Nitish Kumar)....because of them he could form the government," Pawar said.

The former Union minister also remarked that the new BJP-led NDA government was different from the earlier ones.

"During the election period, Modi, wherever he went (for campaigning), did not refer to the government as 'Government of India'...it used to be called Modi Sarkar, Modi's guarantee. Today that Modi guarantee is no longer there.

"Today it is no longer a Modi Sarkar. Today, because of your vote, they have to say this is not a Modi Sarkar, it is the Government of India. Today because of you, they have to take a different approach," Pawar told the gathering, referring to the Lok Sabha poll results.

The post of PM is of the country and not of a particular party, he said, adding the incumbent must think of all segments of society, castes and creeds.

"But Modi forgot to do this. I think he did it deliberately. Minorities like Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Sikhs, Parsis are an important part of the country. They must have faith in the government but Modi failed to do this. In a (campaign) speech, he spoke about a class of people having more children. It is clear he meant the Muslims," Pawar said.

"He (PM) said if power goes into the hands of these people, they will snatch away mangalsutras of women etc. Have such things ever happened in the country? He also said the opposition will take away one buffalo if anyone has two, in case they come to power. Should a prime minister talk like this? Modi did not observe restraint when it came to criticising others," Pawar said.

The NCP(SP) chief also spoke about Modi calling him a "bhatakti aatma" (wandering restless soul) and said "it is good, since the soul is eternal and this soul will not spare you."

Modi called the Shiv Sena-UBT "nakli (fake) Shiv Sena", Pawar said, and asked if a person occupying the post of PM should call anyone or any group "nakli".

"His actions show that when the possibility of regaining power diminishes, one becomes restless," Pawar added.

Speaking about the NCP-SP, he said it would create a new and accomplished team to garner the people's support.

"Not only in Maharashtra, but we will also have to work in Haryana and Jharkhand where elections are scheduled to take place in the next three months, and form governments," Pawar said.

He asked party functionaries to strengthen the organisation and protect the interests of marginalised sections of society.

People thought the Ram Temple construction would be relevant in politics but the BJP candidate was defeated in Ayodhya itself, Pawar noted.

"Tomorrow if I visit the Ram temple in Ayodhya, I will not use it for my politics. People of Ayodhya took note of the wrong done by Modi and ensured the defeat of the BJP candidate," he said.

Praising newly-elected Ahmednagar MP Nilesh Lanke, who defeated BJP's sitting MP Sujay Vikhe Patil, Pawar said the former was criticised for not being able to speak English.

"But one can speak in Hindi or his mother tongue," he added.

All eight NCP(SP) MPs will get his guidance at all times, Pawar assured, adding they would be the NCP's "ashtapradhan mandal" (council of eight ministers) in Parliament the way Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj had his ashtapradhan mandal.
The Lok Sabha poll results have come as a reality check for "overconfident" Bharatiya Janata Party workers and many of its leaders as they were happy in their "bubble" and enjoying the glow of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's aura but not listening to the voices on the streets, an RSS affiliated magazine has said.

IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi being welcomed by Union Home Minister Amit Shah as Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, BJP National president JP Nadda look on at BJP HQ after the Lok Sabha election results were announced in New Delhi on June 4, 2024. Photograph: Rahul Singh/ANI photo

An article in the latest issue of Organiser magazine also noted that though the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh is not a "field force" of the BJP, the party leaders and workers did not reach out to its 'swayamsevaks' (volunteers) seeking their cooperation in electoral work.

Neglect of older dedicated workers who worked without the urge for recognition by the new age social media-aided selfie powered activists was also evident in the poll results, it said.

"Results of 2024 general elections have come as a reality check for overconfident BJP karyakartas and many leaders. They did not realise that Prime Minister Narendra Modiji's call of 400 plus (seats) was a target for them and a dare to the Opposition," Ratan Sharda, a life-long member of the RSS, noted in the article.

The BJP with 240 seats fell short of a majority but the National Democratic Alliance secured the mandate with 293 seats in the Lok Sabha polls.

The Congress bagged 99 seats while the INDIA bloc got 234 seats. Following the polls, two Independents who won have also pledged support to the Congress, taking the INDIA bloc tally to 236.

Sharda said targets are achieved by hard work on the field, not sharing posters and selfies on social media.

"Since they were happy in their bubble, enjoying the glow reflected from Modiji's aura, they were not listening to the voices on the streets," he added.

The RSS ideologue also flagged "unnecessary politicking" as one of the many reasons behind the BJP's underperformance in the Lok Sabha polls.

"Maharashtra is a prime example of unnecessary politicking and avoidable manipulations. NCP faction led by Ajit Pawar joined BJP though BJP and split SS (Shiv Sena) had a comfortable majority. Sharad Pawar would have faded away in two-three years as NCP would have lost energy with infighting between cousins," he said.

"Why was this ill-advised step taken? BJP supporters were hurt because they had fought against this Congress ideology for years and were persecuted. In a single stroke, BJP reduced its brand value. After years of struggle to become numero uno in Maharashtra, it became just another political party without any difference," he added.

The BJP fared poorly in Maharashtra as it could win only nine seats compared to the 2019 tally of 23 constituencies out of the total 48. Shiv Sena led by Shinde faction bagged seven seats and Ajit Pawar-led NCP just one.

Without naming any leader, Sharda said the induction of Congressmen into the BJP, who had "actively promoted" the bogey of saffron terror and persecuted Hindus and also called 26/11 'RSS ki sazish' and branded RSS as a terrorist organisation, showed the BJP "in poor light" and also hurt the RSS sympathisers "immensely".

On the question of whether the RSS worked for the BJP in this election or not, Sharda said, "Let me say bluntly, RSS is not a field force of BJP. In fact, BJP, the biggest party in the world, has its own karyakartas".

He said routine electoral work of reaching out to voters, explaining the party's agenda, distributing literature and voter cards are the responsibility of the party.

"RSS has been raising awareness among the people about issues that impact them and the nation. Except during the 1973-1977 period, RSS has not taken part directly in politics," he said.

"This time, too, it was officially decided that RSS workers will organise small local, mohalla, building, office level meetings of 10-15 to request people to go out and vote as a duty. It also addressed issues of nation building, national integration and support to nationalist forces," he said.

In Delhi alone, 1.20 lakh such meetings were held, he added.

"Beyond this, to seek (RSS) swayamsevaks' cooperation in electoral work, BJP workers, local leaders need to reach out to their ideological allies. Did they? My experience and interaction tells me, they did not," Sharda said.

"Was it lethargy, overconfidence, sense of comfort that 'Ayega to Modi hi, Abki bar 400 plus'? I do not know," he said.

"Showing off is more important by posting selfies with a multiplier effect is the new norm," he said, adding, "If BJP volunteers don't reach out to RSS, they have to answer why they thought it was not required?"
Signalling both change and continuity, India's new government, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a third consecutive term, got into work gear on Tuesday with cabinet ministers and ministers of state filing into their respective offices to assume charge.

IMAGE: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar assumes charge for the second consecutive term, at the ministry of external affairs, South Block, in New Delhi, June 11, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

A day after the much anticipated portfolios were announced and two days after Modi and 71 ministers were sworn in at a grand ceremony in Rashtrapati Bhavan, there were flowers and felicitations aplenty in the corridors of power.

Some said it with prayers and a few slogans were heard too. National Democratic Alliance 3.0 took office' a week after election results threw up a majority for the alliance with 293 seats, above the halfway mark of 272, with the BJP getting 240.

In a seamless transition from the previous government to the present one, the four big frontline portfolios stay the same -- Amit Shah for home, S Jaishankar for external affairs, Nirmala Sitharaman for finance and Rajnath Singh for defence.

IMAGE: BJP MP-elect Kiren Rijiju takes charge as Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs. Photograph: ANI Photo

Bharat First and Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (The world is one family) will be the two guiding axioms of Indian foreign policy, Jaishankar said shortly after taking over.

On ties with China going forward, Jaishankar said some issues remained along the border with that country and efforts will be made to resolve them.

"Our focus with regard to China will be on how to resolve the remaining issues," he told reporters.

Bharatiya Janata Party president JP Nadda assumed charge of the health as well as the chemical and fertilisers ministries.

Several ministers made initial statements as they took charge of their ministries.

IMAGE: LJP-Ram Vilas chief Chirag Paswan with his mother Reena Paswan before taking charge as the Minister of Food Processing Industries. Photograph: ANI Photo

Ashwini Vaishnaw who continues to hold the key portfolios of railways and electronics and Information Technology, assumed charge as information and broadcasting minister in the presence of senior officials, including information and broadcasting secretary Sanjay Jaju.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made service to the poorest of poor the motto of his life and the main aim of the government. He has taken measures for welfare of the farmers, youth and empowerment of women," Vaishnaw told reporters.

Donning his MeitY hat as he resumed charge of the ministry, he said the government will push ahead with its tech-driven agenda of cementing India's global lead in semiconductor and electronics manufacturing and as a technology and digital hub.

IMAGE: Union Minister of State (Ind. charge) Jitendra Singh assumes his charge as the Minister of State of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions. Photograph: ANI Photo

Jitendra Singh, who took office as Union Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions at his North Block office, said good governance reforms undertaken in the last decade will continue to increase citizen-centricity and ensure ease of living for every citizen.

Modi is in charge of the ministry.

"Last 10 years have witnessed a series of revolutionary governance reforms happening under the guidance of PM Modi, which were basically inspired by the spirit of 'minimum government, maximum governance' and increasing citizen centricity to bring ease of living for every citizen of the country," Singh told reporters.

Jyotiraditya Scindia, appointed communications minister, said both the telecom sector and the India Post division have key roles to play at the global as well as local stage.

The minister recalled his previous tenure as the minister of state for communications about one and half decades ago.

IMAGE: BJP MP-elect Sarbananda Sonowal takes charge as the Union Minister of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways. Photograph: ANI Photo

"It is also a little bit like coming full circle for me. I worked as a junior minister in this department many many years ago in 2007, 2008 and 2009. Therefore for me it is also a department with which I have had tremendous emotional ties," Scindia said.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, also given the responsibility of minority affairs, said he will make all efforts to take everyone along to ensure smooth functioning of Parliament. There was no need to pull each other down on the basis of numerical strength, he added.

"We need not pull each other down on the basis of numerical strength. People use muscle power outside Parliament, but inside the House, we should use vocal power for good debate," he said after assuming charge in the presence of his predecessor Pralhad Joshi and Ministers of State Arjun Ram Meghwal and L Murugan.

Annapurna Devi, the country's new Women and Child Development Minister, said she will work towards fulfilling Prime Minister Narendra Modi's dream of a Viksit Bharat.

Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat echoed her and said his ministry will contribute towards the vision of making a Viksit Bharat.

Senior BJP leader from Karnataka Pralhad Joshi took over as minister for Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution and said his priority would be to implement the 100-day agenda of the government and further strengthen the food security system.

"I am thankful to the prime minister who has given me the responsibility of this important department which is linked to the common people, where we provide free foodgrains to 80 crore people," Joshi told reporters.

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh pracharak, Haryana's former chief minister and now Union Power minister Manohar Lal Khattar met heads of public sector undertakings in the power sector and other other top brass of his ministry to understand the dynamics of the sector.

However, he did not offer any comments to media persons about the key challenges and his plan of action for at least the next 100 days in the power sector.

Chants of Bharat Mata Ki Jai and Vande Mataram were heard from party supporters when the BJP's Gujarat unit chief Chandrakant Raghunath Patil took charge of the Jal Shakti ministry.

Before doing so, he took to social media to state that the conservation and enhancement of the country's water resources is a "sacred goal".

Promising continuity, new Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav said the Modi government will continue to balance development with environmental protection and conservation

Listing the major achievements of the Modi-led government, he said, "India met the quantitative and qualitative targets set under its Nationally Determined Contributions -- the national climate plan to achieve Paris Agreement goals - nine years ahead of schedule."

All eyes were also on the allies of the BJP who were given ministerial berths.

There were jubilant scenes when Chirag Paswan, the two-time MP from Bihar and chief of Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), took office as minister of Food Processing Industries after a small religious ceremony in the presence of his mother and other family members.

"There is huge potential in the food processing sector, and the 100-day plan will be ready after discussion with ministry officials," Paswan said, underscoring the sector's importance in directly benefiting farmers.

Among the five members of the BJP's allies in the Union Cabinet, JD-S' H D Kumaraswamy has got Heavy Industries, and Steel ministries, Jitan Ram Manjhi (HAM-Secular) has Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Ministry, and Lalan Singh (Janata Dal-United) Panchayati Raj, Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Ministries.

Besides, Telugu Desam Party's K Rammohan Naidu has got the civil aviation ministry.

On Sunday, Modi held the first Cabinet meeting after his government was sworn in. He told his ministerial colleagues that most of them will continue to handle their existing responsibilities.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to travel to Italy this week to attend the annual summit of G7 advanced economies in his first trip abroad after assuming office for the third straight term.

IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi chairs his first Union Cabinet meeting at the start of his third term, in New Delhi, June 10, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

The G7 summit, to be held in the luxury resort of Borgo Egnazia in Italy's Apulia region from June 13 to 15, is likely to be dominated by the raging war in Ukraine and the conflict in Gaza.

US President Joe Biden, his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau are among the top leaders attending the summit.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is also scheduled for a session on the Russian invasion of his country.

People familiar with Modi's planned trip to Italy said he is set to leave for Italy on June 13 and will return late on June 14, adding it will be his first trip abroad after taking charge as the prime minister for the third consecutive term.

There is no official announcement on Modi's visit to Italy yet.

Modi will be accompanied by a high-level delegation that is likely to include External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, foreign secretary Vinay Kwatra and NSA Ajit Doval, the sources said.

The prime minister is set to hold a number of bilateral meetings including with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

Modi had attended the previous G7 summit in Hiroshima in May last year.

On the sidelines of the summit, he had held talks with Zelenskyy and a number of other leaders.

The G7 comprises the US, the UK, France, Italy, Germany, Canada and Japan.

Italy is holding the current presidency of the G7 (Group of Seven) and is hosting the summit in that capacity.

A key focus of the Italian presidency has been to defend the rules-based international system.

Russia's war of aggression on Ukraine has undermined its principles and triggered growing instability, with multiple crises unfolding worldwide, according to Italy.

The G7 will give equal importance to the conflict in the Middle East, with its consequences for the global agenda, it says.

The bloc expanded into the G8 between 1997 and 2013, with the inclusion of Russia. However, Russia's participation was suspended in 2014 following its annexation of Crimea.

In line with its tradition, representatives of a number of countries and international organisations are invited to the summit by the host nation that holds the chair.

Besides India, Italy has invited leaders from 11 developing countries in Africa, South America and the Indo-Pacific region to attend the summit.

Though the European Union is not a member of the G7, it attends the annual summit.
Observing that the sanctity of National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test-Undergraduate, 2024 has been affected, the Supreme Court on Tuesday sought responses from the Centre and the National Testing Agency on a plea seeking holding of a fresh examination on grounds of alleged question paper leak and other malpractices.

IMAGE: Students under the banner of ABVP stage a protest seeking a CBI probe into the alleged NEET-UG results scam, in Nagpur, June 10, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

The top court, however, refused to stay the counselling of successful candidates for admissions to Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery, Bachelor of Dental Surgery and other courses.

Taking note of the allegations, a vacation bench of Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah said what the NTA was supposed to do was sacrosanct. "Sanctity (of the exam) has been affected, so we need answers," he said.

Besides the Centre and the NTA, which conducts NEET-UG, the bench also issued notices to the Bihar government. There were allegations of malpractice in holding the exam in the state.

"How much time do you want...Immediately on the re-opening? Otherwise, the counselling will start," the bench said.

It tagged the plea filed by Shivangi Mishra and nine other MBBS aspirants with a pending petition and asked the NTA to file the response in the meantime.

The top court will resume regular hearings from July 8 after the summer vacation which commenced on May 20 comes to an end.

NEET-UG, 2024, was held on May 5 and results were declared on June 4. It was expected to be declared on June 14.

The NEET-UG is conducted by the NTA for admissions to MBBS, BDS, AYUSH and other related courses in government and private institutions across the country.

"Issue notice. In the meantime, the response will be filed by the National Testing Agency," the bench said.

It, however, did not agree to the submission of lawyer Mathews J Nedumpara, appearing for the students, that the counselling of students be stayed in the meantime.

"Let the counselling start, we are not stopping the counselling... We will not stop the counselling. If you argue further, we will dismiss this (the plea), the bench told the advocate.

It took note of the submission that the fresh plea be tagged with a similar petition filed earlier on which a bench headed by CJI DY Chanrdarchud had issued notices to the Centre and the NTA on May 17 and that the plea was already listed on July 8. The court granted the prayer.

"The allegation is that exam papers were leaked, and large number of students got the exam papers in advance, and they became successful. Twenty three lakh students wrote the examination, and total number of seats available is 1 lakh. This is the most coveted examination. Sixty-seven students got 720 out of 720 marks.

"The sanctity of the examination is so sacrosanct, and something has gone terribly wrong. The court has refused to stay the counselling, i.e. the admission..." lawyer Nedumpara later told PTI Video.

Mishra and nine other MBBS candidates sought a direction to the NTA to recall the results of the examination conducted on May 05 and to conduct the examination afresh after issuing due public notice upon revelation at the end of investigation through a report that large number of examinees are bound to be affected by the declaration of results depriving those qualified examinees of just and fair opportunity to compete in seeking admission in college of their choice.

The plea has also sought a direction to the Centre and the NTA to take effective and meaningful steps to ensure that "malpractices and fraud", in particular leaking of the question papers as has happened in the previous examination, does not happen again.

It said petitioners are young aspiring students hailing from different states and are "shaken at the core" due to the question paper leak. The petitioners are under tremendous stress and anxiety as the alleged paper leak has denied them a level playing field, it said.

"Four individuals, including two MBBS students, have been arrested for allegedly running a paper solver gang for NEET exams at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Mehta Vidyalaya in New Delhi," the petition said.

"Hence, in the backdrop of ...peculiar facts and circumstances, the Petitioners seek kind indulgence of this court urgently in the interest of justice, equity and good conscience," it said.

The plea alleged that NEET-UG, 2024, was riddled with malpractices and various instances of paper leaks have come to the knowledge of the petitioners.

The instances of question paper leak were violative of Article 14 (right to equality) under the Constitution as they gave an undue advantage to some candidates over others who chose to attempt the examination in a fair manner, it said.

On May 17, a CJI-led bench refused to grant a stay on the results of the NEET-UG 2024.

It, however, had agreed to issue notice on the plea for re-examination. Similar petitions are pending in different high courts as well.

One of the petitions before the Supreme Court has specifically referred to the allegations that the paper was leaked in Patna and wrong question papers were given to candidates in Rajasthan. News reports also state that an extraordinarily large number of candidates got a perfect score of 720 out of 720.
Janasena founder and actor Pawan Kalyan is likely to be offered the post of deputy chief minister in the N Chandrababu Naidu-led government in Andhra Pradesh.

IMAGE: TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu and Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan during the NDA MLAs meeting, in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, June 11, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

Telugu Desam Party chief Chandrababu Naidu will be sworn in as chief minister on Wednesday.

According to the National Democratic Alliance sources, the new government may allot five to six ministerial berths to the allies Janasena and Bharatiya Janata Party.

Along with Pawan Kalyan, the party's political affairs committee chairman Nadendla Manohar is also likely to be inducted into the cabinet.

Pawan Kalyan, who won from Pithapuram assembly constituency, began his political journey with his older brother Chiranjeevi who founded the Praja Rajyam party in 2008.

However, he did not remain very active politically after his brother merged Praja Rajyam party into Congress.

Later Pawan Kalyan himself founded the Janasena party in 2014.

Though he did not contest the 2014 elections, Kalyan extended outside support to the NDA alliance of the TDP and BJP, providing some tailwind to their victory.

He contested the 2019 elections but faced a debacle, losing all seats except one, the Razole assembly seat.

In the 2024 polls, the 55-year-old actor-politician played a key role in stitching together the NDA alliance of TDP, BJP and Janasena, and emerged triumphant with a landslide victory.

In a recent NDA meeting at the national capital, Prime Minister Narendra Modi described Kalyan as Aandhi (storm).

TDP leader and Chandrababu Naidu's son Nara Lokesh and TDP Andhra Pradesh president K Atchannaidu are also likely to be sworn in along with the CM designate.

Nara Lokesh, 41, is a former minister who handled the Information Technology ministry of Andhra Pradesh in the erstwhile TDP government between 2014 and 2019.

A Stanford MBA graduate, Lokesh has worked in the Bretton Woods institution of the World Bank before plunging into the state's political landscape.

Though his initial foray into electoral politics in 2014 was a failure after he lost to YSRCP's A Ramakrishna Reddy in Mangalagiri assembly constituency, Lokesh has endeared himself to the electorate in the past five years.

His statewide 'Yuva Galam' padayatra proved key in propelling him to one of the largest victories in the 2024 polls in the Mangalagiri seat by a margin of over 90,000 votes.

BJP will have two berths in the Andhra Pradesh cabinet.

The NDA comprising TDP, BJP and Janasena won a landslide victory in the recently concluded simultaneous Lok Sabha and assembly elections in the state, with a brute majority of 164 assembly and 21 Lok Sabha seats.
The Congress on Tuesday expressed displeasure over Uddhav Thackeray 'unilaterally' announcing Shiv Sena-Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray candidates for the upcoming Legislative Council elections in the Konkan Graduates and Nashik Teachers' constituencies, demanding their withdrawal from the race.

IMAGE: Shiv Sena-UBT chief Uddhav Thackeray speaks to the media during the celebrations of party's victory in the Lok Sabha elections, in Mumbai on Wednesday, June 5, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole claimed he had attempted to contact Thackeray when the candidates were announced, but the Shiv Sena-UBT chief was abroad.

As his remarks earlier in the day caused a flutter and strengthened the perception of a potential rift in Maha Vikas Aghadi, Patole said in the evening that Naseem Khan of Congress and Thackeray spoke over the phone.

"After today's presser, a telephonic conversation has taken place between Congress and Shiv Sena-UBT. Naseem bhai (former Congress MLA Naseem Khan) and Uddhav Thackeray spoke over the phone, and I think a clear solution will emerge," he added.

Patole had also said that Thackeray selected a candidate finalised by Congress for the Nashik Teachers' constituency without consulting coalition partners.

The biennial elections to four legislative council seats- Mumbai Graduates constituency, Konkan Graduates Constituency, Mumbai Teachers constituency and Nashik Teachers constituency-became necessary as the terms of sitting members are expiring in July. Voting will be held on June 26 and results will be declared on July 1.

"Uddhav Thackeray announced the candidates for the Konkan Graduates and Nashik Teachers constituencies without holding any discussions with us. We expected that the candidates and seats will be finalised only after holding deliberations with (Maha Vikas Aghadi) constituents," Patole told reporters.

The Congress leader said he had asked Thackeray to withdraw the Shiv Sena-UBT nominees from these two constituencies.

Patole claimed he had attempted to contact Thackeray when the candidates were announced, but the Shiv Sena-UBT chief was abroad.

"I had hoped that the announcement of candidates would be made after discussing it with us," he said.

The MVA comprises Shiv Sena-UBT, Congress, and Nationalist Congress Party-Sharadchandra Pawar.

According to Patole, the Congress had finalised the candidature of Sandeep Gulve for the Nashik Teachers' constituency and informed Thackeray, but the latter inducted Gulve into Shiv Sena (UBT) without any discussions and fielded him as their candidate.

"I only want to say that if we collectively decide the seat-sharing formula on these four MLC seats, it would become easier for all of us to win," he added.

Patole also emphasised the significance of the Congress' alliance with Shiv SenaUBT.

"This alliance is a crucial step towards our shared goals. We are committed to making collective decisions and believe that the opportunity to find a mutually beneficial solution is still open. I am confident that through constructive discussions, we can reach a resolution," he added.

Detailing the Congress' approach to the upcoming assembly elections in Maharashtra, Patole said their focus is on all 288 segments.

"However, this does not necessarily mean we will contest all of them. Our aim is to bolster the Congress's network, which in turn will serve the interests of the MVA constituents," he added.

Notably, Thackeray's Shiv Sena had fielded Chandrahar Patil from Sangli constituency in recent Lok Sabha polls despite Congress' traditional claim to the seat. This led to Congress aspirant Vishal Patil contesting as an Independent and winning by a significant margin.

For the June 26 elections, the Shiv Sena-UBT has nominated MLC Anil Parab and J M Abhyankar for the Mumbai Graduates and Mumbai Teachers constituencies, respectively. Parab is a former state transport minister, and Abhyankar heads the Shiv Sena-UBT teachers' cell.

Out of 78 seats in the Legislative Council, Shiv Sena (undivided) has 11 members, NCP (undivided) 9, Congress 8, and BJP 22.

The Janata Dal-Unioted, Peasants and Workers Party, and Rashtriya Samaj Paksha have one member each, while four are Independents. 21 seats are vacant.

The vacant seats include 12 members to be nominated by the Governor and nine selected through local body representatives.
The immediate challenge for the Centre and the home ministry is to ensure the conduct of assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir and restoration of its statehood.

IMAGE: Amit Anilchandra Shah is sworn in as a Cabinet minister at Rashtrapati Bhavan, June 9, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

If he were to remain in North Block for over a year, Bharatiya Janata Party leader Amit Anilchandra Shah would become India's longest-serving home minister.

The Congress' Govind Ballabh Pant and the BJP's Lal Kishenchand Advani served as Union home ministers for a little over six years, while Shah and Rajnath Singh, the Union home minister in the Modi 1.0 government, have spent five years each in the North Block.

On Monday, Prime Minister Narendra D Modi handed over to Shah the reins of the crucial ministry of home affairs as well as the ministry of cooperation for a second consecutive term, signalling continuity on key internal security issues.

Under Shah, the immediate challenge for the Centre and the home ministry is to ensure the conduct of assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir and restoration of its statehood. J&K became a Union Territory five years ago.

Another challenge would be the rollout of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita 2023 and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam 2023, which are set to replace the Indian Penal Code, the Code of Criminal Procedure and the Indian Evidence Act.

These laws are scheduled to come into effect on July 1. Shah had piloted these laws in Parliament in 2023.

Apart from 59-year-old Shah, Nityanand Rai, who was minister of state for home in the previous regime, also returned to the government in the same capacity.

Telangana MP Bandi Sanjay Kumar, a former president of the BJP's Telangana unit, will be the second MoS in the ministry, replacing Ajay Kumar, who lost the Lok Sabha polls from Uttar Pradesh's Kheri.

In a post on X, Shah said: 'In Modi 3.0, the MHA will continue to accelerate and strengthen security initiatives and introduce new approaches to realise PM Modi's vision of a secure Bharat.'

The ministry of cooperation will remain committed to empowering farmers and villages with the vision of 'Sahakaar Se Samriddhi', Shah added.

During Modi 1.0, Shah was the BJP's national president.

Under Shah, the party expanded its electoral footprint in the North East, winning in Assam and Tripura, and consolidated its sway in the Hindi heartland, with the BJP forming a government in Uttar Pradesh after 15 years in 2017.

In 2019, with the BJP winning 303 seats, Shah replaced Rajnath Singh as the country's home minister.

In the first few months of taking over, Shah surprised the Opposition by bringing an amendment to nullify Article 370, which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir.

He also played a key role in the enactment of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and emerged as the BJP's voice in Parliament, second only to that of the PM.

Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff.com
A suspected Pakistani terrorist was killed by security forces after the ultras attacked a village near the International Border in Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday evening and injured a civilian, the police said.

IMAGE: Security personnel in position as an operation is going on after some gunshots reportedly heard by villagers in Hiranagar area of Kathua, Jammu and Kashmir. Photograph: ANI Photo

A massive operation is on to flush out the remaining holed-up terrorists who are believed to have infiltrated from across the border.

The incident in the Jammu region comes two days after terrorists attacked a bus carrying pilgrims from the Shiv Khori temple to Katra causing it to veer off the road and fall into a deep gorge, resulting in the death of nine persons and injuries to 41 others.

The terrorists struck Saida Sukhal village near Koota Mode in the Hiranagar sector, over 60 km from Jammu, Tuesday evening, a police spokesperson said, adding one terrorist was killed during the subsequent search operation by the security forces.

An AK assault rifle and a rucksack were recovered from the possession of the slain terrorist whose identity and group affiliation were being ascertained, the officials said.

The operation was on when reports last came in, the spokesperson said.

A civilian identified as Bitu, who had suffered grievous injuries in one of his arms in the terrorist firing, was evacuated to hospital, the officials said.

Union Minister Jitendra Singh said he is in constant touch with top civil and police officials in the district, which is part of his Udhampur parliamentary constituency, and a local villager whose house was attacked by the terrorists.

Earlier, officials said police and other security forces were rushed to the village following suspicious movement of three persons around 7.45 pm.

A couple of gunshots were heard, believed to be fired by the suspected terrorists after some people raised an alarm, they said.

A massive search operation is on to neutralise the terrorists, the officials said, adding senior police officers, including additional director general of police, Jammu, Anand Jain, have reached the site to supervise the operation.

Union Minister Jitendra Singh said, "I am in continuous online contact with DC (deputy commissioner) Kathua Sh Rakesh Minhas in the wake of the terrorist attack on a house in village Saida in Hiranagar sector close to the International Border."

"I am also in touch with SSP Kathua Sh Anayat Ali Choudhary, who is on the spot. The owner of the house that was attacked (name not to be disclosed) is also in touch on mobile phone. Joint police and paramilitary operation is going on", the minister wrote on 'X'.

He also confirmed the killing of one terrorist so far and said, "I and my office are in constant touch and keeping a close watch on the developments."
Several parts of the national capital, including the area housing the Delhi LG secretariat and Chief Minister's residence, faced outages for varying lengths as a substation of power grid in neighbouring UP's Mandola caught fire Tuesday afternoon, officials said.

Image used for representational purpose only. Photograph: ANI Photo

Power distribution company officials said several areas, largely in central and east Delhi, were affected due to the failure. Some areas in north Delhi also faced outages.

"Areas likely Civil Lines, Model Town, Kashmiri Gate, Gulabi Bagh, Shakti Nagar and Vijay Nagar in North Delhi faced outages. The supply was resumed within an hour," said a discom official.

He said the power supply of the LG House and CM's residence was also briefly affected.

Areas in east, central, south and north Delhi like ITO, Laxmi Nagar, Lajpat Nagar, Jamia, Narela, Model Town, Rohini, Gopalpur, Sabzi Mandi, Wazirpur, and Kashmiri Gate also faced outages, he said.

Delhi power minister Atishi termed the occurrence extremely worrying and said she would meet the Union power minister and chairman of Power Grid Corporation to ensure the prevention of such a situation.

In a letter to Union Power Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, Atishi said that because of the fire at Mandola, there was a power outage of nearly two hours in several parts of Delhi, including Wazirabad, Kashmere Gate, Geeta Colony, Harsh Vihar, Preet Vihar, IP Power, Rajghat, Narela, and Gopalpur.

Delhi, besides being the national capital and housing political leaders and the entire Union government machinery, is also the home of more than 3 crore people, she said.

"In this scenario, it is a matter of grave concern that the failure of the national grid caused a power outage of two hours in the national capital. Due to the prevailing heatwave conditions, the need for uninterrupted electricity supply to Delhi is of paramount concern," Atishi said.

The power infrastructure is a vital indicator of the economic development of a country and therefore, it is extremely worrisome that the national power grid experienced such a "massive failure," she added.

Earlier in a post on X, the Delhi power minister said the fire at the sub-station of Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd in Mandola near Loni (Ghaziabad) in Uttar Pradesh had led to power outages in many parts of the national capital.

"There is power outage in many parts of Delhi from 2:11 pm. This is due to a fire at sub-station of Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd in Mandola, UP. Delhi receives 1200 MW of power from the Mandola sub-station, and therefore many parts of Delhi have been affected. The power restoration process has begun and electricity is now gradually returning to different areas.

"The Delhi government has always tried to provide electricity 24x7. A few weeks ago, the peak power demand of 8300 MW was also met without any blackout. But today there was a power cut in Delhi due to the National Power Grid and we will take immediate action on this," she wrote in a statement.

Power discom Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited said in a statement that power supply in its areas was swiftly restored.

The fire incident impacted the power supply at DTL Grid sub-stations in Gopalpur, Sabzi Mandi, Kashmiri Gate and Narela affecting power supply in areas of TPDDL, it said.

"This led to disruption of power in areas like Narela, Bhalaswa, Burari, Badli, Dheerpur, Shakti Nagar, Swiss apartment, Civil Lines, Model Town, Kashmiri Gate, Shahjada Bagh, Delhi University, GTB Nagar area, Mukherjee Nagar & Jahangirpuri resulting into load shedding of 440 MW and affecting approx. 4 Lakh consumers," it said.

The discom started restoration work immediately completed it within an hour, it added.
Will Modi 3.0 also see theaterisation of India's armed forces?

IMAGE: Rajnath Singh takes the oath of office as Cabinet minister, June 9, 2024. All photographs: ANI Photo

Prime Minister Narendra D Modi retained senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Rajnath Singh as defence minister on Monday, with challenges such as addressing concerns over the Agnipath recruitment scheme for the armed forces and continuing the long-pending theatre commands reform process awaiting him in his second stint at the ministry of defence (MoD).

Seventy-two-year-old Rajnath, whose political career spans over five decades, took oath as a member of Modi's Cabinet on Sunday.

In the Lok Sabha polls, Rajnath retained the Lucknow constituency.

Under the previous Modi government, Rajnath assumed the office of defence minister in June 2019. Prior to that, Rajnath had been home minister since May 2014.

IMAGE: Agniveer Vayu trainees march past during their passing out parade at the Indian Air Force's Tambaram Air Force Station in Chennai, June 8, 2024.

During Rajnath's first stint as defence minister, the Modi-led government rolled out the Agnipath scheme in June 2022 for short-term induction of personnel to the armed forces.

Under it, both male and female aspirants between ages 17.5 and 21 are recruited into the cadre below the officer's rank for four years, with a provision to retain 25 per cent of them for 15 more years. Those recruited under the scheme are called Agniveers.

The scheme's announcement triggered violent protests in several parts of the country, with sections of the youth opposing it.

Shortly after the election verdict, which saw the BJP falling short of the majority, the party's alliance partners raised concerns about the Agnipath scheme, which the Opposition had criticised and promised to scrap during the poll campaign.

Addressing the concerns surrounding the scheme will be one of Rajnath's immediate tasks.

IMAGE: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh interacts with armed forces personnel at 4 Corps HQ in Tezpur, October 24, 2023.

Born in July 1951 in Uttar Pradesh, Rajnath served as member of the assembly from 1977 to 1980 and again from 2001 to 2003.

He was minister of education in the UP government from 1991 to 1992. Rajnath also served as minister of surface transport in the Union Cabinet from 1999 to 2000.

Subsequently, he served as chief minister of UP from 2000 to 2002. In 2003, he served as minister of agriculture in the Union Cabinet.

IMAGE: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh with Chief of Army Staff General Manoj Chandrasekhar Pande, Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari, chief of air staff, and then chief of naval staff Admiral Radhakrishnan Hari Kumar, June 14, 2022.

During his previous stint at the MoD, there were indications that theaterisation of the armed forces was seeing forward movement.

Once rolled out, theaterisation will be the biggest military reform in the country. It will see the creation of unified theatre commands within the 1.7 million-strong Indian armed forces. These theatre commands will integrate the Indian Army, Indian Air Force and Indian Navy into one architecture.

The BJP had made a commitment of military theaterisation in its election manifesto.

On May 4, Rajnath said in a media interview that theaterisation was progressing, with a consensus emerging among the three services.

Maintaining the momentum gained by the theaterisation process will be another task facing Rajnath.
LINCOLN  A dispute over overlapping grants to expand broadband  amid a multimillion-dollar effort to bring high-speed internet to every corner of Nebraska  is headed to court.

The internet provider Pinpoint Communications has sued the Gage County Board for its recent decision to deny the company a permit to lay fiber optic cable.

The board had rejected a permit May 1 for the company on the grounds that it was a waste of taxpayer funds to provide a government grant to an area that had already received government funds to deploy broadband service.

The lawsuit, filed May 30 in Gage County District Court, alleges that the county board overstepped its authority in denying the utility permit  a permit that is typically approved without discussion  and invaded the jurisdiction of the Nebraska Public Service Commission, which has jurisdiction over telecommunications issues.

The overlap of government funding involves 11 residences just northeast of Beatrice, and perhaps $200,000 or so in grants to serve that area.

Gage County had hired another internet provider, NextLink, to extend broadband to 95 unserved and underserved sites in rural Gage County as part of an innovative county program. The southeast Nebraska county was utilizing $4 million of its federal American Rescue Plan Act to pay for the work.

Meanwhile, Pinpoint had obtained a $535,000 grant via the states Broadband Bridge program that was approved by the Public Service Commission.

Ironically, the lawsuit by Pinpoint was filed one day after the company won approval from the Gage County Board for a pared-back right-of-way permit to lay cable except in the area of the 11 contested sites.

The lawsuit is the latest salvo in an ongoing flap over a so-called overbuild of broadband internet.

The state and federal governments have embarked on aggressive programs to expand high-speed internet services  fast enough to support business growth  to rural areas that have previously lacked such service or have slow internet speeds.

For instance, the federal BEAD program will deploy $405 million to the state to pay internet providers to expand broadband to rural areas where it doesnt make financial sense, without the grant money, to serve. The state received $80 million in ARPA funds for high-speed internet expansion, and the Broadband Bridge Act, approved by the State Legislature, has doled out about $70 million over the past three years.

Emily Haxby, a member of the Gage County Board who had led the broadband project there, tried unsuccessfully to persuade the PSC to avoid the overlapping grants. Later, the PSC denied a formal challenge to the duplicative grant, ruling it was filed too late, missing a deadline.

Tom Shoemaker, president of Pinpoint, said Gage County shouldnt be allowed to reject a right-of-way permit just because of unhappiness with the PSC.

Their role is just to approve and deny these permits based on public use  not on their unhappiness with the PSC process, Shoemaker said.

His company sued, he said, because there needs to be clarification of a county boards authority as more grants are awarded for broadband deployment. The BEAD grants are expected to be awarded later this year.

In its lawsuit, Pinpoint maintained that the Gage County Board lacks the power to reject such a right-of-way permit and that Pinpoint was treated differently than past applicants for such permit.

(The county board) acted contrary to the public good because they denied at least 11 households access to broadband coverage, states the Pinpoint lawsuit, filed by Lincoln attorney Sheila Bentzen.

Haxby, when contacted, said she could not comment about a pending lawsuit. Gage County Attorney Roger Harris did not return a message.

In rejecting the Pinpoint application, Haxby and other members of the board said it was within the countys jurisdiction to decide who should and shouldnt utilize county right of way.

Besides avoiding a funding overlap, which the grants dont allow, board members said that the countys project would get broadband service to the 11 locations much less expensively than the Pinpoint project, and that the money saved could be used elsewhere in the state.

High-speed internet cables, via the countys project, have reportedly already been laid to the 11 contested locations.
The annual summer week of the Cheshire Fair is one of my favorite childhood memories. The fact that it falls during the week of my birthday doesnt hurt, but it could also be because of the fried dough, memories of Bon Jovi piping through the loud speakers, my favorite ride, "The Scrambler," or Jesse Jean, the 15-year-old boy from Nashua, N.H., who ran his familys concessions trailer. He was everything. Dreamy, in a boy band kind of way, he leaned out over the counter entertaining his audience, which was comprised of four or five innocent, energetic and enchanted young girls staring up at him in awe. He and I were meant to be. I knew it so emphatically that I still scanned each food truck for his aged face when I attended the fair a couple of years ago with my husband and young daughter. Sadly, I didnt see him, but if youre out there, Jesse Jean, call me!

Today, its not just fairs and carnivals that boast a bevy of nostalgic fare on their menus. Any sort of "experience," whether a local fair or an amusement park, features giant turkey legs, cotton candy, fried Oreos, candy apples and more. We had two hungry children at a pumpkin patch just last year. I surveyed each food option, opting for the peanut butter and jelly meal for each kid. At the pick-up window, we were given two individually wrapped, ready-made PB&Js by a popular brand name. These were simply a highly processed PB&J pie, complete with all the bad-ditives. I immediately returned them to their vendor. These were not edible in my book.

Rather than thinking through the calorie count of every item making your mouth water only to calculate just how much exercise youll have to do later, contemplate the quality of the food. Many articles Ive come across discuss how many calories a turkey leg contains only to proclaim that cotton candy is a lower-calorie food. I always find this astounding  sugar is a better food than protein rich lean meat?

Burn baby, burn

"Burning it off" seems to be a reasonable way in which to justify consuming extra portions or treats, but some preliminary findings suggest it might not be that easy. For decades, we have thought that weight maintenance was all about calories in, calories out. Dr. Chris Van Tulleken, author of Ultra-Processed People, not to mention an M.D., Ph.D., has brought to light research supporting that we all, in spite of our chosen (or default) professions, burn the same number of calories. Thats right  barring Olympians, participants in the Tour de France, or mountaineers, among others, we all burn the same number of calories to function. Dr. Van Tulleken argues that our bodies compensate for high levels of activity by cutting down on the energy expended on other activities, like immune and reproductive systems. This is bad news for anyone shopping for calories using exercise as currency.

One of the latest nutrition fads involves focusing on protein as our main source of nutrients. While it may not be apparent as to why, other than the fact that protein is known as the main building blocks for muscle, it also takes more energy to burn protein as we digest it. Picture a rocket powering a space shuttle out of the atmosphere. A large amount of its fuel is used to blast the shuttle out of our atmosphere (or perhaps all of it is spent doing so). I am no rocket scientist here; I leave that to my brother-in-law, but there seems to be a similar phenomenon in our bodies when we metabolize our fuel. A certain number of calories will be used to process the calories we take in. This phenomenon is called the thermal effect of food. When we break down fat, only two to three percent of the calories are used to process it  its fairly easy to break down, right? With protein, we use over a quarter of the calories we take in simply to process it (kind of like the thought that chewing the celery takes more calories than we take in with the actual celery).

This just goes to show that, while one calorie may indeed equal every other calorie on the planet mathematically, all calories are not, in fact, created equal.

Instead of lamenting your fair choices after the fact, try these pre-carnival moves to limit the long-term effects on your waist, not to mention your health.

Arrive happy, not hungry

Like grocery shopping when were hungry, we are willing and able to eat anything that comes into our path when were starving at a fair. Eating a light meal before we arrive will help us make informed decisions when ordering.

Pick protein

While the turkey leg at the fair may pack a punch calorically, its protein and is a better-quality food any day than a Twinkie or fried Oreo, no matter the calorie count. Focusing on leaner, more protein-rich choices will help keep you satisfied for longer, helping us pass up many of the other foods we may pass by.

Stay hydrated

Drinking water before we eat not only makes us fill up with the right amount of food, but leaves us less room to fill our tummies with junk. Grab a bottle when you arrive or bring one with you that you can keep refilling between rides and fun. Opting for water will eliminate additional sugar and calories from sodas and juices.

Dont eat on the run

We can easily eat mindfully at the fair by setting aside a time to sit down with friends to eat, rather than grabbing something on the go. Set a meeting time and place, grab your fare and have a seat. It takes 20 minutes for us to feel full, whether were walking around or sitting down. While multitasking, we may just miss our cue.

BYOFF

Bringing your own fair fare might not sound as fun as sampling snacks from each food venue, but it will help to offset some of the effects of fair gluttony. Bring something healthy that you enjoy, like a sandwich, a bag of almonds or something else easy to cart around. Pair it with a treat or two to have your cake and eat it too, and youll be better off in the long run.

While its not healthy to overly focus on the numbers on the scale or package, paying more attention to the quality of the food we eat rather than the quantity can be most helpful at the end of the day. Or night.

Tagline:

Katharine A. Jameson, a certified nutrition counselor who grew up in Williamsville and Townshend, writes about food and health for Vermont News & Media. For more tricks, tips and hacks, find her on Instagram: @foodforthoughtwithkat.

----

Recipe:

Baked fried dough

Ingredients

 cup warm water

Pinch of granulated sugar, plus  cup granulated sugar, divided

2 teaspoons active dry yeast

3 to 3  cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon sea salt

 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 large egg

3/4 cup whole milk, lightly warmed

4 tablespoons unsalted butter (room temperature) cut into chunks, plus two more for topping

Powdered sugar (to top)

Method

Place a pinch of sugar and yeast in a small bowl. Add warm water.

Whisk until foamy, about three minutes.

Use a standing mixer fitted with a dough hook to combine remaining sugar, flour, baking powder, salt and cinnamon.

In a small bowl, whisk together milk and egg and mix into yeast mixture.

Add yeast mixture to dry ingredients and combine into a rough dough.

Add a little more milk if needed.

Turn mixer on low, add butter until well combined and the mixture turns into a smooth dough.

Cover and let stand 15 minutes.

Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper and spray with olive oil.

On floured work surface, with floured rolling pin, roll dough to a large square.

With floured knife, cut dough into five strips, then cut each strip into about five to six pieces.

Transfer dough to cookie sheets, placing about an inch apart.

Allow to rise for another 15 minutes or so before putting into the oven.

Preheat oven to 425F.

Bake beignets for about 10 minutes, or until lightly golden brown.

Remove from the oven. While beignets are still warm, brush with melted butter and toss with generously with powdered sugar.

Enjoy at home, or bring to the fair!
Robert Beck of Peterborough, N.H. served for 30 years overseas with the United States government in embassies in Europe, the Middle East and Asia. He now teaches foreign policy classes at Keene State Colleges Cheshire Academy for Lifelong Learning. The opinions expressed by columnists do not necessarily reflect the views of Vermont News & Media.
More than 100 people have petitioned the government to help them recover their money from the Phum Khmer Group.

Residents in southern Cambodia who invested in a company that advertised regular returns said they believe they are victims of a scam and are urging government officials to intervene.

More than 100 investors submitted a petition at Svay Rieng Provincial Hall on Monday asking Prime Minister Hun Manet to help them recover their money.

Several people have told Radio Free Asia that the investors were deceived by the Phum Khmer Group, which had promised that its duck farms, animal feed factories, restaurants and real estate holdings would generate a monthly 4% payment for investors.

Some invested between US$40,000 and US$120,000 in 2021, they told RFA, speaking on condition of anonymity for security reasons.

An investor told RFA that he has never received any interest or dividend payments, as promised in the signed contract. He said he filed a court complaint more than a year ago, but hasnt received any response.

Many investors took out bank loans to invest with the Phum Khmer Group, according to another investor, Meak Somara. After her investment of US$15,000, the company made regular payments for a few months and then stopped.

A screenshot of Sothea Soms LinkedIn profile page, June 7, 2024. (RFA)





Phum Khmers chief executive, Som Sothea, no longer responds to messages, she said.

We need to find him. We cannot find him. He has blocked us on Facebook, she said. But more importantly, I want the countrys leaders to help find a way for Som Sothea to come and discuss our case.

Top government officials ought to help find Som Sothea, or seize any remaining funds from Phum Khmer so that investors can at least be partially reimbursed, Meak Somara said.

Embarrassed and afraid

Som Sothea is believed to be a close friend of Duong Dara, a personal assistant to Senate President Hun Sen, the former prime minister who is Hun Manets father and the president of the ruling Cambodian Peoples Party.

Som Sothea advertised his relationship with Duong Dara when he pitched the company to potential investors, several investors told RFA.

Several investors also told RFA that Duong Dara and his younger brother, Duong Virath, all have shares in the Phum Khmer Group. They said the company also pays a monthly operating fee to the Svay Rieng provincial administration.

Duong Dara said on his Facebook page last week that  other than joining company workers in distributing food to the poor on one occasion  he has no involvement with the Phum Khmer Groups business interests.

RFA was unable to reach Duong Dara and Duong Virath for comment on Tuesday. RFA also couldnt reach Som Sothea for comment on the investors complaints.

The widespread suspicion that there are powerful officials with ties to the Phum Khmer Group is enough for the government to open an investigation, according to Ros Sotha, president of the Cambodian Human Rights Action Committee, or CHRAC.

Many victims will come forward to file complaints if the government has a mechanism to accept those complaints, he said. Right now people feel embarrassed and afraid of the officials behind those companies. They are afraid he will be imprisoned and lose all the money.

Mondays petition was the second one sent to government officials, a third investor told RFA.

After the previous petition was submitted in 2022, Svay Rieng officials told investors they did nothing because there were too few complaints about the matter, the third investor said.

I dont have hope that the provincial level can resolve the complaint becauset the owner has someone powerful behind him, he said. Only the top government officials can resolve this.

Svay Rieng Provincial Hall spokesman Ros Sopharith didnt respond to a message on Tuesday seeking more information on the petition.

Translated by Yun Samean. Edited by Matt Reed.
A 55-year-old suspect is arrested; the instructors and a bystander are hospitalized and out of danger.

An image from the social media video clip of people injured in the attacks, the location of which was verified by Reuters.

Police arrested a 55-year-old man in connection with a knife attack on four U.S. university employees and a Chinese person in a public park in the northeastern city of Jilin, authorities said Tuesday.

A man with a knife attacked four teachers from Iowas Cornell College who were teaching at the Beihua University as they were touring the park with a local colleague on a public holiday on Monday, the college's president, Jonathan Brand, said in a statement reported by the Associated Press.

The four Cornell College instructors were rushed to hospital alongside a Chinese national who tried to intervene, and all are now out of danger, according to a statement from China's foreign ministry.

Police have arrested a 55-year old man who they had earlier named as Cui Dapeng, saying the attack happened after Cui "bumped into" one of the men.

"The police have preliminarily judged that this was a random incident but an investigation is ongoing," foreign affairs spokesperson Lin Jian told a regular news briefing in Beijing on Tuesday.

"All the injured individuals were immediately taken to the hospital and were given appropriate critical care. No one's life is in danger," Lin said.

A video clip of people lying on the ground at the scene covered in blood was circulating on X after the incident, but Chinese censors appeared on Tuesday to have shut down comments or posts on the incident.

Violence against foreigners in China is rare, and the countrys foreign ministry said it would continue taking effective measures to ensure the safety of foreigners.

Still, there has been a campaign by authorities to make people suspicious of foreigners, or anyone with foreign connections.

"We don't believe that this isolated incident will disrupt normal cultural and people-to-people exchanges between our two countries," Lin said.

Beishan Park, Jilin, China, in an undated file photo. (AP)





The U.S. State Department said in a statement reported by Reuters and the Associated Press that it was aware of the incident and was monitoring the situation.

Iowa Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks said via X that her office was working with the U.S. Embassy to ensure that the victims receive treatment and leave China safely.

U.S. travel advisory

The attacks came after the State Department issued a Level 3 travel advisory, the second-highest level, warning people to "reconsider" travel to China, prompting some U.S. institutions to shelve their China programs altogether.

While ruling Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping announced last November that his country stands ready to invite 50,000 young Americans to China on educational exchanges over the next five years, the number of Americans studying in China has plummeted, falling to just 700  down from 15,000 six or seven years ago.

Much of the reluctance can be traced back to three years of stringent zero-COVID policies, during which students started heading to democratic Taiwan, where Mandarin is also widely spoken.

Another factor is the online censorship and political restrictions that increasingly affect foreigners in China, making the country less enticing as a destination for overseas study.

An employee who answered the phone at the Beishan police station near the park declined to comment when contacted by RFA Mandarin on Tuesday.

The Jilin municipal police department issued a statement confirming that five people were injured in the attack, and that five people had received varying degrees of injury, and are currently being treated in hospital. None were in critical condition, it said.

An employee who answered the phone at the Jilin municipal government declined to comment. "I don't know about this -- it's not our responsibility and we're not the ones in charge of it," the official said.

According to a 2018 post on the Cornell College website, the college runs an exchange program in which its professors teach subjects including computer science, math and physics at Beihua University for two weeks at a time, while allowing Beihua students to spend time studying at Cornell College, gaining degrees from both institutions.

A journalist who gave only the surname Gao for fear of reprisals said the stabbing attack had prompted plenty of discussion among his friends, despite the lack of visible coverage on social media.

"Anti-American feeling is pretty strong in the northeast," he said. "People there are more easily taken in by government propaganda."

Translated by Luisetta Mudie. Edited by Malcolm Foster.
Seouls joint chiefs of staff believe Sundays encroachment was a mistake as signs arent clearly visible.

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.

South Korean soldiers fired warning shots after a dozen soldiers from North Korea crossed one of the worlds most fortified borders earlier this week, the Souths military said Tuesday.

The incident occurred at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, as the soldiers crossed the military demarcation line, or MDL, that bisects the demilitarized zone, or DMZ, dividing the two Koreas, the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff said, adding that it was likely a mistake.

The area near the DMZ is heavily wooded, and the MDL signs are not clearly visible, Lee Sung Joon, a spokesperson for the joint chiefs, told reporters at a news briefing. Therefore, (they) were moving through the bush in a situation where there were no clear paths, and the South Korean military had been observing them even before they got close to the MDL.

After the warning shots were fired, the North Korean soldiers promptly crossed back over into North Korean territory, which Lee said resulted in the joint chiefs assessment that there was no intent to cross the MDL.

North Korean escapees prepare to release balloons carrying leaflets and a banner denouncing North Korean leader Kim Jong Un for North Korea's latest nuclear test, in Paju, near the border with North Korea, South Korea, on Sept. 15, 2016. (Ahn Young-joon/AP)

A joint chiefs of staff official told RFA Korean that the North Korean soldiers were a mere 50 meters inside South Korean territory and were there for only a short time. He said they were working with tools like pickaxes and it is assumed that they lost their way when they crossed.

Primary enemy

The incident comes at a time when tensions are high on the Korean peninsula, with the North having this year defined the South as a primary enemy, and no longer referring to North and South Koreans as being one race  an ethno-nationalist, pro-unification phrase that has been used in both Koreas over the years.

Since then, the North has tested missiles several times, and recently floated trash-filled balloons over the border, a nod to South Korea-based civil groups decades-old practice of launching their own balloons filled with anti-regime leaflets.

South Korean soldiers examine various objects including what appeared to be trash from a balloon believed to have been sent by North Korea, in Incheon, South Korea, June 2, 2024. (Yonhap via Reuters)

The incident occurred on the same day that the South Korean military made loudspeaker broadcasts audible in North Korea in response to the trash balloons.

The joint chiefs said they would continue to monitor North Korean military movements and take necessary measures in accordance with operational procedures."

Common occurrence

Experts told RFA that border incursions like Sundays happen quite frequently and the Souths assessment of the situation was proper and justified.

Incidents like this have been pretty common along the militarized zone for the entirety of the armistice, said Sydney Seiler, the former national intelligence officer for North Korea at the National Intelligence Council, an U.S. government organization that bridges policymakers with the intelligence community. It would be unnatural or it would be strange to think of this as anything more complex than what's been described.

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, May 29, 2024. (Yonhap via Reuters)

He said one could imagine that North Korea might have wanted to test how South Korea would respond, but suggested that idea was far-fetched considering the circumstances.

Sometimes the simplest answer is the right answer, he said. I don't think it was a significant event.

Gary Samore, the former White House coordinator for arms control and weapons of mass destruction, and Patrick Cronin, the Hudson Institutes Asia-Pacific security chair, both told RFA that they accepted South Koreas assessment of the incident.

Both also acknowledged that outside of Sundays incident, North Korea is currently increasing provocations with the South during a particularly tense period in inter-Korean relations.

Dictators like to play this game of chicken because only they know whether they are serious about the use of lethal force, said Cronin. Meanwhile, democratically elected leaders are subject to harsh reactions from public opinion, which can be easily manipulated into thinking that a strong defense might trigger open conflict.

Translated by Leejin J. Chung. Edited by Eugene Whong and Malcolm Foster.
A civilian wounded in shelling in Kachin state arrives at hospital in Myitkyina on June 10.

Junta troops fired artillery into a village in northern Myanmar, killing a man and wounding seven relatives, residents told Radio Free Asia on Tuesday, as ethnic minority guerrillas in the area near the capital of resource-rich Kachin state said they made advances.

The shelling took place on Monday night in Waingmaw township, where fighting between Kachin Independence Army insurgents and the military intensified in late May.

One shell hit a home in Hkat Shu village, killing Aung Kyaw Soe, 27, and wounding seven members of his family, a resident, who declined to be identified due to security fears, told RFA.

His family was having dinner when the shell dropped right next to the kitchen, he said. Two shells fell on the village, one in that house and the other not far away.

The wounded included four women and three men between the ages of 25 and 62. Four were taken to hospital in the nearby state capital Myitkyina, residents said.

Six people including children were killed in shelling of the same village on May 20 and 21. Nineteen people were wounded at that time, residents said.

The junta has not released any information on the latest shelling or on casualties. RFA telephoned Moe Min Thein, a military council spokesman for the state, but calls went unanswered.

Fighting between the military and fighters from the Kachin Independence Army, one of Myanmars most powerful insurgent forces which is seeking self-determination for the Kachin people, has increased in recent weeks in the area about 20 km (12 miles) south of Myitkyina.

Setbacks

Forces of the junta, which seized power in an early 2021 coup, have faced setbacks in several parts of the country since late last year when allied forces battling to end military rule went on the offensive.

The Kachin force said in March it had captured 40 junta bases across Waingmaw and Momauk townships. By May, it seized a camp only 20 km (12 miles) from Myitkyina in addition to a large part of a major route for trade with China and areas on the border.

The KIA seized two more camps in Waingmaw and Tanai townships on Monday and Tuesday taking their tally to 100 junta-occupied bases across the state, the groups information officer, Col. Naw Bu, told RFA.

The two newly captured camps are on a border road that controls access to amber and gold mines in Tanai township, he said.

A camp on the side of an amber and gold mine in Tanai township was captured yesterday and another at Bum Taung, on the way to Sa Done town, was captured this morning, he said on Tuesday.

The KIA has not released any information on casualties for either side in the two-day battle.

According to data compiled by RFA, a total of 1,942 civilians were killed and 3,866 were injured by junta airstrikes and heavy weapons since the 2021 coup.

Translated by RFA Burmese. Edited by Kiana Duncan.
Hanoi has created as much new land in 6 months as the previous 2 years combined.

Vietnams island building in the South China Sea has reached a record with the total new land created in the first six months of this year equaling that of 2022 and 2023 combined, a U.S. independent think tank said.

The Washington-based Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative (AMTI) said in its latest report that since November 2023, Vietnam has created 692 new acres (280 ha) of land across a total of 10 features within the Spratly archipelago.

In comparison, it created 404 acres (163.5 ha) of land in the first 11 months of 2023 and 342 acres (138.4 ha) in 2022.

Vietnam has reclaimed a total area of about half the area that China has built up, with much of Vietnam's work on reefs China also claims.

Of the two main island groups in the South China Sea, China occupies the Paracels, while the Spratlys, to the south, are contested by several countries.

Vietnam occupies 27 features and has been carrying out large-scale reclamation works on some over the past year.

Among the 10 largest features in the Spratlys, five are being developed by Hanoi, AMTI said. Vietnams features are much smaller than any of Chinas so-called Big Three - Fiery Cross Reef, Mischief Reef and Subi Reef - artificial islands that Beijing developed and fully militarized.

Vietnams overall dredging and landfill totaled about 2,360 acres (955 ha), roughly half of Chinas 4,650 acres (1881.7 ha).

The research group said Vietnams reclamation was a major change. Just three years ago, the total amount of Vietnamese dredging and landfill was less than a tenth that of Chinas.

Vietnams work includes the Barque Canada Reef, or Bai Thuyen Chai in Vietnamese, where the area nearly doubled over six months, from 238 acres (96.3 ha) to 412 acres (166.7 ha), the group said.

Vietnam says little about its work at the features apart from it is to protect them but not to expand them or change structures. There was no immediate government response to the AMTI report.

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A Vietnamese outpost in the Spratlys, May 2024. RFA/str

Runway potential

Six months ago, Radio Free Asia reported on the rapid expansion of Barque Canada Reef from the end of 2021. Chinese think tank the South China Sea Probing Initiative had said Hanoi may be building a second airfield on the reef but the latest satellite imagery shows no sign of that.

Vietnam has one 1,300-meter runway on the Spratly Island, or Truong Sa Lon in Vietnamese, which can handle medium-sized military aircraft.

The Barque Canada Reef measures 4,318 meters in length, which makes it the only Vietnamese outpost so far with the potential to host a 3,000-meter runway like those that China has, the think tank said.

Chinas three largest artificial islands are all equipped with runways that can accommodate bigger military transport, surveillance, and bomber aircraft.

Satellite image of Barque Canada Reef, May 11, 2024. AMTI/Maxar Technologies

Other features under Hanois control that have undergone significant development since November 2023 are Discovery Great Reef, South Reef, Namyit Reef and Pearson Reef, according to the report.

Vietnam has continued implementing a mix of cutter-suction and clamshell dredging, AMTI researchers said.

A cutter suction dredger cuts the seabed into fragments with a rotating head. Material is sucked up by dredge pumps and discharged through pipes across sea and land.

Scientists say cutter suction dredgers are more environmentally destructive and China has been criticized for using them.

The Vietnamese public seems supportive of the island building. Many social media commentators hail the right strategy in the face of Chinas assertiveness in the South China Sea.

Six parties  Brunei, China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam  claim parts of the South China Sea as well as the islands and reefs inside it but Chinas claims are the most expansive.

A Philippine official, asked about Vietnams dredging and landfill work, said that Hanoi was reclaiming features that it occupied before a 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.

Vietnam focuses on minding their own affairs, Philippine coastguard spokesperson Jay Tarriela told reporters.

They do not engage in harassing our fishermen or illegally deploying coast guard vessels and maritime militia in the waters surrounding our occupied maritime features, he said. The Philippines has accused China of harassing fishermen and law enforcement agencies in Philippine waters, especially near the Scarborough and Second Thomas shoals. China says it has indisputable jurisdiction over all the reefs and atolls in the Spratlys.

Edited by RFA staff
A 70-year-old man is arrested for failing to pay a fine linked to the imprisonment of his 2 sons.

The entrance to a vocational and technical school alleged to be a detention facility in Jiashi county, Kashgar prefecture, in China's northwestern Xinjiang region, July 15, 2023.

Chinese authorities arrested an elderly Uyghur man after he couldnt pay more than US$20,000 in fines for his two imprisoned sons, sources in Xinjiang told Radio Free Asia, in what appears to be a new layer of punishment imposed on the mostly Muslim group in northwestern China.

Mamtimin Yasin, a 70-year-old baker, was informed by a court in Xinjiangs Hotan, which sentenced his sons in 2017 to 15 years in jail each for religious extremism, that he had to pay a fine of 150,000 yuan, or US$20,700, as part of their punishment, a person familiar with the situation said.

But he didnt have the money, so court officials arrested him on April 29, said the person who declined to be identified for fear of retribution by authorities.

Officials are telling families of prisoners that their loved ones sentences may be reduced if they pay the fines, saying that the amounts were originally included in court verdicts.

However, Yasins case is one of the first in which those who cannot pay the fine have been arrested.

The first condition of the current policy for forgiveness in prisons is paying the imposed fine, a Hotan county court officer told Radio Free Asia. If they dont pay the fine, then they fail to meet the condition.

Under Chinese criminal law, verdicts must be served to the defendant, the defendant's lawyer and family members. But many families of detainees are unaware of the fines because court officers only inform them orally of the jail terms.

Reopened his bakery

Before his sons were arrested, Yasin spent three decades working as a baker in a small shop in Hotan county.

He retired in 2014 due in part to his age and deteriorating health, but later reopened the bakery to earn money for his medical needs, said the person familiar with the situation.

Yasin revived the business thanks to the support of his old customers.

But when court officials noticed his bakery was doing well, they demanded he pay the fine, said the person with knowledge of the situation.

When Yasin told them he couldnt pay, they accused him of lying and took him away for questioning, he said.

Stacked beds stand in an alleged former detention center known as Yengisheher-2 in Shule county, Kashgar prefecture, in China's northwestern Xinjiang region, July 15, 2023. (Pedro Pardo/AFP)

Yasin hasnt returned, and his shop remains closed, indicating that he is being detained for failing to pay court-imposed fines for his two imprisoned sons, the person said.

A Hotan county court officer contacted by Radio Free Asia confirmed Yasins arrest, citing a dispute with court officials who went to his bakery to collect the money.

The courts Special Execution Division is responsible for collecting the fines, she said.

A Hotan district court official told RFA that prisoners relatives may face civil penalties if they do not pay the fines even though they have the means to do so.

However, she could not provide information about Yasins whereabouts or the exact nature of the civil penalty.

But a second official from the Hotan district court said people could not be locked up for failing to pay a fine.

When RFA inquired about Yasins case, the official said the baker was arrested for being uncooperative and causing trouble for the bailiffs.

The punishment for not letting the law staff do their work properly is a civil penalty, she said, adding that the penalty for such obstruction ranges from 15 days to six months of detention.

Yasmin was sentenced to civil detention and would be released after a short detention period, she added.

Another case

In a similar case, a Uyghur living overseas who is originally from Uchturpan county, or Wushi in Chinese, said authorities in Xinjiang told his elderly father to pay a penalty of 150,000 yuan to cover two 75,000 yuan, or US$10,300, fines imposed on his wife and sister.

Authorities arrested the two in 2017 and sentenced them to 15 years in jail for religious extremism, he said.

But his father, the only family member not in prison, could not afford to pay because he is ill and relies on relatives for support, the source said, adding that he heard the information through unofficial channels, but could not confirm it.

A clerk at the Uchturpan County Peoples Court told RFA that some inmates families had to pay fines for imprisoned relatives.

There is a fine associated with serving a sentence, she said, adding that the amount depended on the nature of a prisoners crime and sentence length.

If the fine is paid, court authorities may shorten the prisoners sentence, she added.

In a photo released by the Xinjiang Judicial Administration in 2018, a Uyghur father tells his son to confess his 'thought crimes' and to follow the Chinese Communist Party for lenient treatment. (Xinjiang Judicial Administration)

An employee at the Hotan Prefectural Law and Justice Center told RFA that proof that fines were paid must be shown to the courts that issued the verdicts.

He said fines were sometimes included in verdicts, and that the amounts varied from 5,000 yuan. or US$700, to 1 million yuan, or US$138,000, depending on the seriousness of the crime and the length of the sentence.

Paying the fine doesnt guarantee an immediate release, he added.

Not informed

Complicating the situation is that extrajudicial verdicts in closed court cases are seldom given to a prisoner's family, so that the relatives must go to the relevant court and ask about any fines, said the employee at the center.

The court will not give them the verdict, but if they ask about the fine, they will be informed, said the employee at the Hotan Prefectural Law and Justice Center.

He declined to say why court orders are not released to family members of those convicted of crimes.

A former Uyghur policeman who now lives in Sweden said authorities do this so that the families of those sentenced do not become belligerent.

Only if it is an open court will they learn about it, or later learn it from the police stations, he said. This tactic of keeping verdicts secret is to threaten the families and prevent them from getting angry and starting to oppose.

Authorities did not have enough time to hold trials or deliver verdicts to families during the mass arrest and detention of Uyghurs and other Turkic peoples beginning in 2017 in Xinjiang under the pretext of preventing terrorism and religious extremism.



A clerk at the Uchturpan County Peoples Court said verdicts for those convicted of political crimes such as extremism are not given to their families.

The main reason is because Chinese authorities are still trying to conceal the detentions of more than a million Uyghurs in concentration camps and those sent to prisons with or without a trial, and dont want the information to leak out of Xinjiang, the former policeman said.

They are concerned that if numerous court actions are exposed, their lies will be revealed to the international community, he said.

Translated by RFA Uyghur. Edited by Roseanne Gerin and Malcolm Foster.
The companies produce aluminum, shrimp and shoes and included 2 based far from Xinjiang.

A screenshot of the Shandong Meijia Group Co., Ltd. website, June 11, 2024. The company was added to the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act Enforcement List by the Department of Homeland Security.

Three more Chinese companies have been banned from exporting their products to the United States due to their alleged use of Uyghur forced labor, bringing the total number of blacklisted firms to 68.

Footwear company Dongguan Oasis Shoes, shrimp producer Shandong Meijia Group and aluminum supplier Xinjiang Shenhuo Coal and Electricity were added to the Entity List under the 2021 Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, according to a statement.

The companies are accused of taking part in labor transfer programs run by authorities in Chinas far-western Xinjiang region. The United States has described the programs as a system of forced labor, but Beijing says they are in fact voluntary poverty alleviation efforts.

We have shown again through todays enforcement actions that the United States is taking concrete steps to keep goods made with forced labor out of U.S. supply chains, Under Secretary of Homeland Security Robert Silvers said in a statement about the blacklisting.

Silvers said American companies must conduct due diligence and know where their products are coming from to avoid importing tainted goods and violating laws against profiting from slave labor.

Robert Silvers, Undersecretary of Homeland Security for Policy, at a conference in Manhattan, New York City, U.S., September 14, 2022. (David 'Dee' Delgado/Reuters)

Only one of the three companies  Xinjiang Shenhuo Coal and Electricity  is based in Xinjiang, where the majority of Uyghurs live and where China denies U.S. claims that a genocide is taking place.

The other two, Shandong Meijia Group and Dongguan Oasis Shoes, are based in coastal provinces, and are accused of transferring Uyghurs from Xinjiang in the west to work in their factories.

Shandong Meijia is in the northern province of Shandong and Dongguan Oasis Shoes is in southern Guangdong Province.

Shandong Meijia Group participated in the program to transfer and receive individuals from persecuted groups, including Uyghurs, out of [Xinjiang] for labor at its factory in Shandong, according to the statement from the Department of Homeland Security.

The statement also quoted U.S. industry groups praising the listing for helping domestic companies avoid competing with slave labor.

Shrimp supply chains have a disturbing pattern of profiting off of the globes most vulnerable populations, said John Williams, the executive director of the Florida-based Southern Shrimp Alliance.

Argentinian red shrimp packed by Uyghurs in Chinese seafood processing plants should not be competing with wholesome products in American grocery stores, he said, adding that the move made clear that low costs cannot replace ethical and legal obligations.

Beijing has repeatedly rejected the claims that Uyghurs are subjected to forced labor in China and has in turn accused the United States of using the allegations as a pretext for protectionist trade policies.
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."
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.
PRISTINA -- On March 24, 1999, NATO launched Operation Allied Force, an aerial bombing campaign to expel Serbian troops from Kosovo. After 78 days, the air strikes ended on June 10 with the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 1244, leading to the withdrawal of Yugoslav forces and the establishment of the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo. The campaign -- aimed at stopping ethnic cleansing that resulted in more than 13,000 civilians killed during the Kosovo War, which took place from 1998-99 -- facilitated the return of more than 800,000 refugees to their homes. Twenty-five years later, Kosovars are still honoring the politicians, UN officials, and others who helped them break free of Yugoslavia by naming town squares, streets, businesses, and even their children after those they consider to be their liberators.

When the bloodshed broke out, 24-year-old Sami Begolli was forced to flee his home. He spent his first week as a refugee in a camp in Blace, in what is now North Macedonia, then a month in the Stenkovec refugee camps near Skopje, and later in Spain. It was an indescribable feeling when we returned. We didn't even think about eating or drinking because of the joy of having come back," he said.

During his months as a refugee, Begolli found solace in statements from William Walker, the then-head of the OSCE's Kosovo Verification Mission. Walker had been accused by Serbian President Milan Milutinovic of fabricating the Racak massacre, which became the focus of an investigation by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY). Next time, I will come back and enter without a passport, Begolli recalls a defiant Walker as saying after being declared persona non grata by the Yugoslav government and forced to leave within 48 hours.

In September 1999, Begolli and his family returned to Kosovo and opened a furniture workshop they named in honor of Walker. The business in Caglavica still bears Walker's name. We chose his name because he expedited NATO's intervention. I have said many times that, without him, things could have been much worse, Begolli says. Walker played a key role in documenting the massacre in Racak, where Serbian forces killed 45 Albanian civilians on January 15, 1999. He described the event as a crime against humanity.

The legacy of NATO's 1999 intervention endures as Kosovo continues to honor its supporters, who were crucial to its independence, declared on February 17, 2008. More than 100 countries, including the United States and many EU members, recognize Kosovo's independence, though Serbia, Russia, and China do not.

Today, wherever you go in Kosovo, you can find driving schools, clothing stores, tattoo parlors, car dealerships, and plumbing services named after these dignitaries, such as the company Klintoni Plumbing Service in Kline.

No one calls us by our name. Everyone says 'The Clintons.' For example, if someone's water pipes are damaged, everyone says, 'Call Clinton,'" explains Shkelqim Bojaj, who has run the business since 2019. Despite the shop initially being named for his father, Bojaj says now that he cannot imagine changing its name, which honors then-U.S. President Bill Clinton.

The NATO intervention completely changed Bojaj's life. At 6 years old, his family was split in half: his father was injured in Kosovo, while Bojaj and the rest of the family fled to Albania. The family reunited only after Kosovo's liberation. It was a very happy moment. Since then, my father has always loved Clinton, said Bojaj.

In Pristina, there is a square named in honor of Clinton, along with a statue of him. Nearby, a clothing store named Hillary honors former U.S. first lady and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

In Ferizaj, Kosovo's third-largest city, a street named after General Wesley Clark, the former supreme allied commander Europe (SACEUR), leads to Tony Blair Square. Clark and the then-British prime minister both played significant and proactive roles during the 1998-99 Kosovo War.

In the capital, a statue of then-U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright -- who was a strong advocate for NATO intervention -- was unveiled five years ago. A year later, Pristina added a statue of former U.S. Senator Bob Dole, who led a U.S. delegation to Kosovo in 1990. Dole later described the visit in a Twitter post as the beginning of a journey towards independence for the people of Kosovo.
A collection of more than 3,000 images showing Iran under the Qajar dynasty (1789-1925) has been leaked online.

The photos were recently confirmed to have come from the archive of Tehrans Golestan Palace.

The photographs were taken mostly in the late 1800s and are some of the first photos ever taken of todays Iran, which was formally known at the time as the Sublime State of Persia.

The leak of high-resolution images caused a sensation in Iran when they were released in early June in a series of Google Drive folders.

Some images from the Golestan Palace archives had been released before, such as the above image, which has previously been wrongly described as a thief being "buried alive.

Other images in the leak have never been published before and come without caption information of any kind.

Historian Hamidreza Hosseini told RFE/RLs Radio Farda that access to the Golestan Palace photos for the general public has previously been so difficult it was "as if they were trying to keep them as far from the public eye as possible.

The release of the photographs drew a sharp response from Irans state media.

One government-linked online news portal criticized the release of the images, saying that in all countries, publishing a museums treasure without permission is criminal in nature.

The photographs are sufficiently old that today they are in the public domain, meaning copyright laws no longer apply. Iran is also still not a signatory to the international Berne Convention for the protection of literary and artistic works.

It is unclear what motivated the leaker to release the images online, but the Golestan Palace has been criticized in the past for limiting access to images to its vast photo archives.

Some images among the thousands that were leaked online appear to have been sexually suggestive, or overtly erotic.

All apparently nude photos have been censored with the same multiple layers of physical covering seen in the image above.

Several of the photographs feature Naser al-Din Shah, a Qajar king who ruled Iran from 1848 until his assassination in 1896.

Naser al-Din was instrumental in kickstarting what has been called the golden age of Iranian photography.

The shah traveled widely in Europe and became an enthusiastic proponent of photography, a technology that was becoming widespread in the West by the mid-1800s.

The shah was a skilled photographer in his own right and is believed to have shot several images included in the leak.

Many of the photos have the clarity and dreamlike depth of field typical of large-format glass plate cameras, which were the gold standard of the day for image quality.

Some images appear to be intentionally goofy, but the long exposure times of early photographic techniques required statue-like poses.

Several photos were taken outside Iran, possibly by the shah or his photographers on some of his many foreign trips.

The above image shows central Tbilisi photographed from across the Kura River, looking toward Mtatsminda.
TBILISI -- As Georgia's ruling party has taken a sharp turn toward authoritarianism and unleashed unprecedented rebukes of its Western partners, Russian officials have responded approvingly, spurring speculation about the once unthinkable: a Georgian geopolitical shift toward Russia.

But analysts in both Moscow and Tbilisi believe the Georgian Dream party's geopolitical signaling is intended, above all, for domestic consumption ahead of Georgia's critical elections this fall.

The ruling party, which faced weeks of mass protests and international criticism over a controversial "foreign agent" law, is walking a delicate tightrope in its messaging. It wants to blame the West -- and by extension, the deeply pro-Western opposition -- for the country's ills. And the party also wants to demonstrate that Georgia will benefit from its accommodating approach to Moscow, while taking care not to cozy up too closely with a country that the overwhelming majority of Georgians still consider their greatest enemy.

Separatist Territories

The difficulty of this balancing act has been on display in recent weeks as a narrative developed that Georgian Dream might be working on a deal to secure the return of the territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which both broke away from Georgia in separatist wars in the 1990s.

The territories are now heavily backed by Russia, which provides critical financial assistance to the de facto authorities in each territory and also stations thousands of troops there. But rumors have long circulated that Russia and Georgia could eventually come to some sort of agreement: Georgia would renounce its Euro-Atlantic aspirations, and Russia would allow Georgia to regain control over its lost territories.

The theory got a breath of new life in the summer of 2023 when Georgia unexpectedly resumed direct flights with Russia and some Georgian Dream deputies dropped hints that, by starting to repair relations with Russia, they would be rewarded by the return of the lost territories.

One Georgian Dream deputy recently made a strong implication that a deal was being discussed, writing on Facebook on May 24 that "we'll suffer both sanctions and threats.... For Abkhazia, for Samachablo [an alternative Georgian name for South Ossetia], for Georgia!"

Speculation has further spiked in recent weeks as Georgian Dream reintroduced a "foreign agent" law at the beginning of April that will establish a registry of foreign-funded NGOs and media organizations. It sparked a crisis with Georgia's European and U.S. partners, as well as domestic opponents, who refer to the legislation as the "Russian law" due to the Kremlin's use of similar legislation to silence critical voices.

Georgia's opposition helped fuel the speculation about the separatist territories. According to the leaders of the Droa (It's Time) party, in early March, they overheard a conversation in a cafe between a Georgian Dream deputy and a Georgian-Russian businessman close to the Kremlin, with the two allegedly discussing the creation of a confederation of Georgia, Abkhazia, and South Ossetia.

In Abkhazia and South Ossetia, it all fed worries that a deal could be made behind their backs. One prominent Abkhaz journalist, Inal Khashig, wrote in late April that "the only motive" he could see for Georgian Dream reintroducing the "foreign agent" law would be a deal with Moscow to regain control over Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

'EU By 2030'

As speculation was mounting, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze made the biggest splash. On May 26, Georgia's Independence Day, he vowed that Georgia would join the European Union by 2030, together with Abkhazia and South Ossetia. While vague promises of regaining Abkhazia and South Ossetia are standard for all Georgian politicians, in the current context, Kobakhidze's statement sounded particularly loaded.

It was at this point that official Moscow weighed in. Russian officials, who previously had been touting Tbilisi's "rational" and "pragmatic" distancing from the West, came out to mock Kobakhidze's claim.

Grigory Karasin, Russia's top envoy for Georgia, called the claim "the devil's logic." Konstantin Zatullin, a senior deputy in Russia's Duma, its lower house of parliament, said Kobakhdize was merely "demonstrating his patriotism." Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova called it a "fantasy" and pointed to statements from the de facto governments -- Russia formally recognizes them as independent states -- refusing the offer.

"They discuss this idea in Georgia, not with Russia," said one political analyst in Russia. (RFE/RL is not naming the analyst due to Russia's labeling of RFE/RL as an "undesirable organization.") "It is not and will not be on the table in Russia."

"Looking at comments from Moscow, they are laughing at Kobakhidze's statements," said Vano Abramishvili, an analyst and head of the Peace Program at the Tbilisi-based Caucasian House NGO.

A deal is unlikely on many levels. Russia's formal recognition of the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia -- which it declared following the 2008 war with Georgia -- amounted to a point of no return, a step that would be difficult to justify reversing.

It would also be hard to implement such a deal peacefully. Even if Moscow and Tbilisi were somehow able to co-opt the regions' leaders to go along with a confederation, there would be widespread, popular opposition to Georgian rule in both Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

In addition, neither Georgia nor Russia trusts the other enough to stay true to such a game-changing deal.

"Under no circumstances is Russia going to give up either Abkhazia or South Ossetia," said Paata Zakareishvili, a longtime activist for rebuilding Georgia's ties with Abkhazia and South Ossetia. "Russia knows well that Georgia can easily change government again, and it will again be anti-Russian. So if they give up Abkhazia and South Ossetia now, it would be very difficult to get them back."

But dropping hints about the possibility of such a deal dovetails neatly with the ruling party's messaging.

One consistent element of Georgian Dream's pitch to voters since it came to office 12 years ago has always been that they, unlike the previous government, would keep Georgia out of war. This narrative underpinned their cautious response to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, which, with time, has taken on a more elaborate and anti-Western tone. Party officials claim that a shadowy "global war party" is seeking to draw Georgia into its war against Russia and that only Georgian Dream is capable of keeping Georgians out of the conflict.

Ahead of critical parliamentary elections in October, Georgian Dream has expanded that narrative to incorporate domestic and social elements. The party has framed the "foreign agent" law and a package of anti-LGBT legislation as necessary to prevent harmful influence from the West via NGOs that are funded by the West and espouse liberal values.

'Subconscious' Campaign

But while criticism of the West could work with some Georgian voters, a pro-Russian orientation would face wide opposition. In a poll taken in the fall of 2023, the largest portion of Georgian Dream supporters favored a foreign policy that was pro-Western while maintaining good relations with Russia. When opposition supporters were asked the same question, the largest segment endorsed a solely pro-Western foreign policy. A fully pro-Russian foreign policy received only scant support: 10 percent among Georgian Dream voters, and one percent among opposition supporters.

Recent polls have also shown the potential allure of a deal with Russia over Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

In a 2021 poll by the Caucasus Research Resource Center, Georgians were asked, if they had to choose only one, whether they would pick control over Abkhazia and South Ossetia or greater integration with the West. A full 78 percent chose the former option.

Floating the idea thus amounts to a preelection "bluff" by Georgian Dream to voters who might be attracted to such a deal, activist Zakareishvili said. And officials are careful not to promise anything openly but instead carry out a "subconscious" campaign with plausible deniability.

"Then, after the elections, they will say, 'Sorry, we didn't say this, Sukhumi [the administrative center of Abkhazia] said this, the South Ossetians said this, the Russians said this. We did not promise you anything,'" Zakareishvili said. "That is, on the one hand, they are trying to deliberately introduce this topic into the campaign, and on the other hand, [they are] not taking responsibility for it."

This involves one discreet, but well-used method of Georgian government "propaganda," wrote columnist Tengiz Ablotia in an analysis for RFE/RL's Ekho Kavkaza. The government deploys "lesser known talking heads and a well-established system of spreading rumors," and "in this way, theses get spread widely among the population, which aren't expressed out loud officially," Ablotia wrote.

But the mockery from Moscow has ended the campaign, he suggested. "After the sharp retorts of Karasin and Zakharova, the Abkhazia topic has completely disappeared from the current political struggle," he wrote. "In response, the [Georgian] authorities, who are waging a war on their own people supposedly to defend independence and sovereignty, are studiously remaining silent."
Bhawani Shankar vividly recounted the harrowing ordeal.

Nine people were killed 53-seater bus, which was on its way from the Shiv Khori temple to the Katra.

Jammu and Kashmir Reasi Terrorist Attack survivor news: In a tragic incident on Sunday, a 53-seater bus traveling from the revered Shiv Khori temple to Mata Vaishno Devi shrine Katra was ambushed by gunfire, causing it to careen off the road and plunge into a steep gorge near Teryath village in the Poni area.

The attack, classified as a terror attack, claimed the lives of nine individuals and 41 injured as the terrorists opened fire at the bus, including members of a family and two cousins from Uttar Pradesh's Balrampur.

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Nine people were killed 53-seater bus, which was on its way from the Shiv Khori temple to the Katra.

Among the injured was Bhawani Shankar, a Delhi's Tughlakbad Extension resident accompanied by his wife Radha Devi and two children  five-year-old daughter Deeksha and three-year-old son Raghav. The Shankar family, hailing from Delhi, visited Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Jammu on Mr. & Mrs. Shankars wedding anniversary on June 6. Luckily, they escaped the horrific incident.

Bhawani Shankar vividly recounted the harrowing ordeal. As bullets rained down from the hills, Shankar courageously shielded his two children, swiftly maneuvering them under a bus seat. In those dread-filled moments lasting 20-25 minutes, fear gripped Shankar as he safeguarded his loved ones from the indiscriminate gunfire. The traumatic experience left an indelible mark, etching memories of horror that Shankar vowed never to forget.

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"I will never forget those 20-25 minutes of horror," said Bhawani Shankar, a survivor of the deadly terror attack on a bus carrying pilgrims in Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi district.

(For more news apart from Jammu and Kashmir Reasi Terrorist Attack survivor news, stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman)
Sidhu Moosewala: Remembering Punjabi Icon on His Birthday

His rise in the music industry was meteoric.

Sidhu Moosewala Birthday News: Shubhdeep Singh Sidhu, known globally as Sidhu Moosewala, was born in the village of Moosa in the Mansa district of Punjab, India, to a Jatt Sikh family. From an early age, Moosewala showed a deep passion for music, influenced by hip-hop icons like Tupac. He started listening to hip-hop in the sixth grade and received formal music training from Harvinder Bittu in Ludhiana.

Moosewala pursued electrical engineering at Guru Nanak Dev Engineering College in Ludhiana, graduating in 2016. Post-graduation, he moved to Brampton, Ontario, Canada, for further studies at Humber College. It was during this period that he released his first song, "G Wagon," in 2017. Later that year, his breakthrough single "So High", a gangster rap produced by Byg Byrd, catapulted him to fame, earning him the Best Lyricist award at the Brit Asia TV Music Awards.

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His rise in the music industry was meteoric. In 2018, he began performing live shows across India and Canada, and released popular singles like "Issa Jatt" and "Just Listen." Moosewala established his independence in the industry with the diss track "Warning Shots" and subsequently released the hit "Legend" under his own record label, winning the Brit Asia TV Kuflink Best Track of the Year Award in 2019. Spotify listed him among the most popular artists in Punjab.

Expanding his repertoire, Moosewala ventured into Punjabi cinema, debuting with "Yes I Am Student" under his production company, Jatt Life Studios. He also announced several other film projects, including "Moosa Jatt" and "Jattan Da Munda Gaun Lagya."

Despite his success, Moosewala faced controversies, including charges of promoting gun culture. He was an active political figure, campaigning for his mother, Charan Kaur, and joining the Indian National Congress in 2021 to contest the Punjab Legislative Assembly election.

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Tragically, Sidhu Moosewala's life was cut short on 29 May 2022, when he was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Jawaharke village, Mansa, at the age of 28. It was Lawrence Bishnoi's gang member Goldy Brar who claimed responsibility for the murder.

On what would have been his birthday, fans remember Sidhu Moosewala not just for his music and films but also for his indomitable spirit and contribution to Punjabi culture. Moosewala's Birthday serves as a reminder of his contributions to music, film, and his community, leaving an indelible marl on the hearts of millions

(For more news apart from Sidhu Moosewala Birthday News, stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman)
On Romanians, from a different perspective

The traditions, customs and hospitality of Romanians impress foreign visitors, as does the breathtaking scenery waiting to be discovered here.

Ils sont fous ces roumains! L Eldorado Roumain!

Ana-Maria Cononovici, 11.06.2024, 14:26

A book has been released recently, first in French and a few years later in Romanian as well, in which the French writer Christine Colonna-Cesari, who has been living in Romania for a while, guides readers towards in-depth knowledge of our country in Ils sont fous ces roumains! L Eldorado Roumain!.

Romania has been known internationally as the country where many Europeans took shelter in the interwar period. Christine Colonna-Cesari, who came to Romania after she retired in 2018, told us more about the perception foreigners have of our country:

Christine Colonna-Cesari: In 2018 I decided to leave France and retire in Romania, because it was a country and a culture that I had long known and appreciated. My plan was to carry on my work as a writer and book editor, I have several books selling in France. I had long intended to put together a nice album showcasing the beauty of Romania, which is still little known in France, where rather stupid stereotypes about this still exist. And I wrote this book in 2019, and then I managed to have it published in Romanian as well.

What does a foreigner find surprising when reaching Bucharest?

Christine Colonna-Cesari: It is quite surprising, first of all, as I already mentioned, the signs are very different from the ones in France, so its quite easy to get lost. Street names and numbers are not easy to see, there are no big signs everywhere, but as far as I could see for Romanians this is not a problem. They are used to it. And there are also other surprising things, which make a big difference. One thing that may seem like a detail is the practice of giving people their change when shopping. When a retailer doesnt have the right coins to give back to a buyer, they dont see it as a big deal, and this is something you dont see in France. For instance, if you want to buy something and you dont have all the small change you need or the retailer doesnt have it, its not a problem, everything is business as usual. You dont see that in France, and the first time this happened to me here I asked the clerk for the change, and they were not happy. So it took some time for me to realise that this is part of the local customs. One other aspect is Romanians space-time management, which is completely different from the way the French do it. Here, people live more outside time, so their commitments related to appointments, dates, times get changed completely at the last minute. And for the French visitors who are not used to this, it is rather disturbing and annoying. But we get used to it and eventually come to understand that this is how things are done here. So these are the first shocks, mainly.

In spite of this, once the initial shock wears off, Christine Colonna-Cesari says the country is charming:

Christine Colonna-Cesari: After that, adjustment is quite easy. I speak English, and most Romanians are very good English speakers, so this helped me a lot. Secondly, the people are very nice and welcoming. You dont see here the social violence that we have in France so I had no problems adjusting. I would like people to remember what I tried to express in this book. The depths of Romanians souls, the depths of their sensibility and creativity. To my mind, Romanians are more drawn to the spiritual than the French are. Romanians are a very artistically inclined nation. You can see more colours here than in France. People have a relationship with nature, with flowers, for instance, they have a fantastic relationship with flowers. Im always surprised to meet men in the street with huge flower bouquets, you dont see that in France. Romanians are also a very polite nation, there are small details that may seem insignificant but when you come from France you notice that people dont push you at the underground or in the street, as they do in France. Public areas are clean, which is not the case in Paris, in particular. Its like going back in time, in the 60s in France, a long-gone gentleness and a certain quality of life, the respect and civilisation that we lost in France and that Ive come to find here.

We also asked Christine Colonna-Cesari about the French-speaking readers response to her book:

Christine Colonna-Cesari: The book was met with surprise and enthusiasm. Everybody says, I had never imagined this is what Romania is like, thank you for showing us Romania from this perspective. Overall, the response is a mix of enthusiasm, congratulations and amazement. People open their hearts and they want to come share these experience, and many of them actually do that. I have French friends who told me, what you describe here is 1960s France, the same respect and gentle way of living. But my book is a lot more than that. I am a very observant person, and I tend to think about what happened in the past and make connections with history. Western Europeans rarely understand what Eastern Europe is about, what its values are. They dont realise this, so they make judgements based on their own criteria, and I would like these values to go beyond borders, to help them understand the foundations of human culture in the past few centuries.

Apart from the writers experiences in Romania, the book also comprises a second part, made up of reports with 220 lovely photos documenting encounters with exceptional people doing exceptional things. (AMP)
June 11, 2024

A roundup of the latest local and international news

Newsflash

Newsroom, 11.06.2024, 13:45

BERLIN The head of the Romanian diplomacy Luminita Odobescu is today participating in a conference on the reconstruction of Ukraine underway in Berlin. The conference, brings together representatives of the governments and the private sector, including 10 Prime Ministers. Urgent solutions for Ukraines energy sector will be our first priority, said Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky who arrived in Berlin on Monday night in order to attend the conference and met chancellor Olaf Scholz. Chancellor Scholz and I are going to talk about the continuation of the assistance in the defence sector, and ways of expanding Ukraines air sector and the joint arms production. Zelensky wrote on a social network. Press agencies have recalled that Germany has recently authorised Ukraine to use German weapons to hit targets in Russia, something it used to be reluctant to in the past like many other countries for fear of conflict escalation. In Germany, Zelensky will be meeting federal president Frank Walter Steinmeier and the Bundestag president Barbel Bas and will be visiting a military base where Ukrainian soldiers are training. On Saturday and Sunday he will travel to Switzerland to attend a high level conference over peace in Ukraine, which brings together over 90 countries and organisations but not Russia and China.

B9 Romanian president Klaus Iohannis has said that Russia will continue to pose the biggest risk to European security and NATO states must be ready to react accordingly. Iohannis has made the statement at the B9 Summit underway in Riga, a summit, which it chairs jointly with the presidents of Latvia and Poland. Iohannis said the states in the eastern flank, part of this format must be prepared as the dramatic regional developments are increasingly calling for thorough coordination and focus. The head of the Romanian state has also pleaded for carrying on support for Ukraine as long as needed. Other vulnerable NATO partners, especially the Republic of Moldova, should get our attention and assistance to strengthen their resilience, Iohannis went on to say. The event in Riga is also being attended by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. The high level meeting of the states in the Bucharest 9 format also known as B9 takes place a month ahead of the NATO anniversary summit in Washington, which marks 75 years since the foundation of the alliance. Bucharest 9 includes Romania, Poland, Bulgaria, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and the three Baltic states: namely the states in the NATO eastern flank. The group was founded upon a Romanian-Polish initiative upon the illegal annexation by Russia of the Crimean peninsula back in 2014.

VOTE The United Right Alliance has got 27% of the votes in the Sundays election for the General Council of the city of Bucharest, followed by the PSD with 26.5% and the PNL with over 12%, according to partial data released by the Permanent Electoral Authority. Nicusor Dan, an independent candidate supported by the United Right Alliance, has been reelected mayor general of Bucharest with 47% of the votes. The PSD has mustered most of the votes nation wise, winning mayor offices, local and county councils. It was followed by their partner in the present ruling coalition, the PNL. Their joint ticket has raked up almost half of the votes. The ultra-nationalist AUR party came second in the European election.

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It's Election Day, and residents have the chance to weigh in on a bevy of elected roles, ranging from the governor's office to the Bismarck Park Board.

North Dakota voters don't need to register -- they just need a valid photo identification to cast their ballots. Valid forms of ID include a driver's license, a non-driver ID, a tribal ID, a tribal letter or a long-term care certificate.

Residents can only vote in one party's primary, but will be able to weigh in on municipal races, nonpartisan races and ballot measures. As of late Monday afternoon, 45,960 absentee, mail-in and early ballots had been cast across the state.

Statewide races to watch

The most competitive statewide race is the Republican primary for North Dakota's seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. Five candidates -- Public Service Commissioner Julie Fedorchak, former Bismarck state Rep. Rick Becker, former Miss America and Bismarck attorney Cara Mund, military veteran Alex Balazs and Williston activist Sharlet Mohr -- threw their hat in the ring after incumbent U.S. Rep. Kelly Armstrong announced he would run for governor.

Recent polling shows Fedorchak leading with 32% support, followed by Becker at 25%. Outside PAC money, largely in support of Becker, has marked the race.

Mund, running as a moderate Republican, emphasized the importance of diverse perspectives. The other candidates, Balazs and Mohr, have received less attention.

Two of the state's most important politicians -- Armstrong and Lt. Gov. Tammy Miller -- are seeking to succeed Gov. Doug Burgum.

Armstrong led Miller in recent polls by 38 percentage points. Armstrong tapped Grand Forks state Rep. Michelle Strinden as his running mate; Miller is joined by Commerce Commissioner Josh Teigen. The governor and lieutenant governor serve four-year terms.

Also on the statewide ballot is a citizen-initiated measure that would essentially prevent people from running for Congress if they could turn 81 during their term.

Bismarck-area races to watch

A Bismarck state Legislature race will be a bellwether for the future of the state party and a referendum on the impact of populist activists in district-level parties across the state.

District Republican Party Chair Justis Amundson and energy industry veteran Dave Charles will attempt to oust incumbent state Reps. Mike Nathe and Assistant Majority Leader Glenn Bosch. Adam Rose will attempt to win Sen. Diane Larson's seat. The slate of challengers received the district party's endorsement in January, which the incumbents opted to forego. All three seats are for four-year terms.

Just one Democrat, Matthew Zimny, is running in the primary; Zimny is seeking the district's state Senate seat.

Burleigh County residents will decide a proposed 1% sales tax that would offset some property tax costs. The tax would amend a half percent sales tax set to expire at the end of 2024 that funded the county's share of the costs to build the Burleigh Morton Detention Center.

The new tax could bring in an estimated $21.6 million annually. Funds would be spent on the detention center, as well as the full budget of the sheriff's office and the state's attorney's office. The County Commission would allocate the remaining $1.7 million. The tax would also increase the revenue from visitors to the county, according to members of the Home Rule Charter Committee.

Perhaps the most notable Bismarck municipal election will be the race for two four-year seats on the city's Park Board. Candidates have shared broad opinions on the financial future of the Park District, which is facing $32 million in debt, primarily from facility expansions and improvements.

Associated General Contractors of North Dakota Executive Vice President Russ Hanson told the Tribune it's important to be prudent while balancing wants and needs. Chief Operating Officer of Bismarcks Downtown Business Association Kate Herzog has said she's skeptical of the use of sales taxes to fund the district and interested in expanding public-private partnerships.

Incumbent Jennifer Odell, state Department of Public Instruction communications officer, said the district is in solid financial standing and operating on a balanced budget. The district's annual budget for 2024 is $26 million. And retired Parks District Community Relations Manager Paula Redmann said the board should go beyond immediately reducing facility spending to address the debt and instead engage with community needs.

What else is on the ballot?

The race to be state superintendent of Public Instruction has four candidates: Incumbent Kirsten Baesler, homeschooling advocate Jim Bartlett, former state Rep. Jason Heitkamp and former university administrator Darko Draganic.

Bartlett, who has promoted the return of the Ten Commandments to school curriculum, won the state GOP's backing in April. Baesler has served in the role since 2013. The top two vote-getters will advance to the November general, where one will win a four-year term.

Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., is running for another six-year term. He is unopposed in the Republican primary and will face off against Democrat Katrina Christiansen, also unopposed, in November. Similarly, State Auditor Josh Gallion is running unopposed as a Republican incumbent for his role, while Grand Forks attorney Tim Lamb is running unopposed on the Democrats' side, and Public Service Commissioner Randy Christmann will field a challenge in November from Democrat Tracey Wilkie of Fargo.

Insurance Commissioner Jon Godfread and State Treasurer Thomas Beadle, both Republicans, are running for additional terms. Democrats haven't put up challengers.

Three additional Bismarck-area legislative districts will be on the ballot on Tuesday: Districts 8, 32 and 34. In District 8, state Sen. Jeff Magrum is unopposed, while state Reps. Brandon Prichard and SuAnn Olson are being challenged by engineer Mike Berg and EMS leader Ken Rensch. No Democrats are running.

In District 32, incumbents state Sen. Dick Dever and state Reps. Pat Heinert and Lisa Meier are all running again. Phillip Jacobs, a former legislative clerk, is challenging Heinert and Meier in the primary, and gynecologist Dr. Shari Orser is running as a Democrat. Dever is the only candidate for state Senate.

Incumbent state Sen. Justin Gerhardt is running for a full term representing District 34 after being appointed to the seat in October following the death of his predecessor. He will square off against Democrat Joshua Johnson in November. State Reps. Todd Porter and Nathan Toman are facing a primary challenge from software engineer David Villafana.

Candidates in Bismarck and Mandan are seeking to fill two seats on their respective city commissions. In Bismarck, Commissioner Michael Connelly, archaeologist Matthew Hull and retired railroad engineer John Risch III are competing for the seats. In Mandan, Commission Vice President Joe Camisa Jr., longtime emergency responder Craig Sjoberg, Commissioner Michael Braun, BEK Communications Product Manager Ryan Heinsohn and retiree Herb Kringen will all be on the ballot. James Froelich, a retired vice president of Missouri Valley Petroleum, is the only candidate for Mandan mayor.

Mandan residents also will decide a ballot measure seeking to create a half percent sales tax for public transit funding. The tax would allocate two-tenths of a cent toward public transportation funding and three-tenths of a cent to public safety. The same proposal failed to make the ballot in Bismarck, which shares a public transit system with Mandan.

Two seats are on the ballot for the Burleigh County Commission and three for the Morton County Commission, with two candidates per seat set to move on to the November general election. In Burleigh County, commission Vice Chair Steve Bakken, commission Chair Brian Bitner, System Specialist for Doosan/Bobcat Amelia Doll and auditor Gregory Heilman will all move on. In Morton County, commission Chair Nathan Boehm and Commissioner Raymond Morrell will move on, having qualified for the ballot. Mandan retiree Paul Tokach has launched a write-in campaign and needs at least 245 votes to make the November ballot. Also in Burleigh County, Larry Kassian is the only candidate to be the next director of the Garrison Diversion Conservancy.

City Attorney Jannelle Combs and Bismarck private practice attorney Amanda Harris are seeking the Bismarck municipal judgeship, which will be vacated by the pending retirement of Judge William Severin. Thomas Jackson of Mandan is the only candidate for that city's municipal judge opening.

In the South Central District, a part of the state court system, Jason Hammes and Marina Spahr hope to fill the position held by the retiring Bruce Romanick, though they will both advance to the November general election. District Judges Daniel Borgen and Lindsey Nieuwsma are seeking additional terms and running unopposed.

Three seats are up for election on the Bismarck School Board -- one two-year term and two four-year terms. Amanda Peterson, DPI director of educational improvement and support, is the only candidate for the two-year term. Donnell Preskey, a government relations specialist at the North Dakota Association of Counties, Realtor Dan Eastgate and Travis Jensen, a yard and inventory specialist at Butler Machinery, are all seeking four-year terms.

The Mandan School Board has four seats up for election -- one rural seat, which board President Sheldon Wolf is running for unopposed, as well as two three-year terms and one one-year term. Incumbent board members Rick Horn, the executive director of the Morton County Housing Authority, and Caroline Kozojed, an assistant professor at the University of Mary, are seeking additional three-year terms on the board, and Bismarck-area physical therapist Amy Schanandore and state Board of Cosmetology Vice President Maureen Wanner are also pursuing those seats.

BEK Communications Social Media Analyst Julie Cronin Skaret, Mandan Planning and Zoning Commissioner Victoria Vayda-Hammond, former board President Tim Rector and Jake Schmidt are all competing for the one-year term.

Incumbents Jennifer Froehlich, who works for the Secretary of State's Office, and Wade Meschke, a school administrator, are seeking additional terms on the Mandan Park Board. They are running unopposed for two open seats.

What's next?

Almost all local races -- city commissions, school boards, park boards and judicial positions -- will be decided on June 11. Candidates for the Burleigh and Morton County commissions will advance to the November general election. The age limits ballot measure will also be decided on the June ballot. Winning candidates for the state Legislature and statewide offices will advance to November.

Residents can find their precinct to vote at https://vip.sos.nd.gov/wheretovote.aspx, or call the Burleigh County Auditor's Office at 701-222-6718 or the Morton County Auditor's Office at 701-667-3380. Most polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
June 11, 2024 UPDATE

A roundup of domestic and international news

Newsflash

Newsroom, 11.06.2024, 20:00

ELECTIONS  The United Right Alliance (ADU) grabbed 27% of Sundays vote for the Bucharest City General Council, followed by the Social-Democratic Party (PSD) with 26.5% and the National Liberal Party (PNL) with over 12%, according to partial results published by the Permanent Election Authority. Nicusor Dan, an independent candidate backed by the United Right, won a new term as mayor general of Bucharest with 47% of the vote. The incumbent mayors of Bucharest Districts 1 and 2, Clotilde Armand and Radu Mihaiu, have invoked irregularities in the organization of Sundays ballot, calling for a recount amidst suspicion of fraud and threatening to file criminal complaints. At national level, PSD won the largest number of mayor offices, local and county councils, followed by their ruling coalition partners from PNL. Their alliance has grabbed nearly half of total votes. The ultra-nationalist AUR party came in second in the European Parliament election.

B9  On the sidelines of the B9 summit in Riga, president Klaus Iohannis said Russia remains the biggest threat to European security, and that NATO states must be ready to act accordingly. The president co-chaired the summit alongside his counterparts from Latvia and Poland. B9 states on the NATO eastern flank should be prepared as regional developments demand increasing attention and coordination, the president also said. Klaus Iohannis added that support for Ukraine must continue for as long as its necessary, and that other vulnerable NATO partners, in particular the Republic of Moldova, should in turn benefit from assistance to consolidate resilience. Attending the Bucharest 9 summit in Riga was also the NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. The meeting was held ahead of the NATO summit in Washington, marking 75 years since the establishment of NATO. B9 comprises Romania, Poland, Bulgaria, Hungary, Czechia, Slovakia and the Baltic States. The group was founded following Russias illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014 at the initiative of Poland and Romania with a view to consolidating security on NATOs eastern flank.

UKRAINE  The two-day international conference on the reconstruction of Ukraine has kicked off in Berlin. Representing Romania is Foreign Minister, Luminita Odobescu. The conference brings together representatives of national governments and the private sector, including 10 heads of government. On the sidelines of the event, Germanys Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, called on private businesses to help rebuild Ukraine at the end of the war. According to World Bank estimates, Ukraine will need 500 bln USD over the next 10 years. Referring to the incentive companies would need to invest in Ukraine, Chancellor Scholz spoke about Ukraines potential in such fields as renewable energies, IT and the pharmaceutical industry. Germany will send anti-air defense systems, missiles and ammo to help shore up Kyivs defenses against Russian attacks on cities and critical infrastructure. The president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, is also attending the conference in Berlin, where he is expected to hold talks with Olaf Scholz and other high-ranking German officials. On Saturday and Sunday, the Ukrainian president will travel to Switzerland to attend a high-level peace conference bringing together representatives from over 90 countries and organizations, with the exception of Russia and China.

CSAT  The president of Romania, Klaus Iohannis, has called a meeting of the countrys Supreme Defense Council (CSAT) on June 20 in Bucharest. The agenda includes an analysis of the transfer of a PATRIOT system to Ukraine, as well as Romanias objectives for the NATO summit in Washington. The Council will also discuss troops and equipment Romania can contribute to missions and operations outside its national territory in 2025, as well as about the status and prospects of the conflict in Ukraine in the wake of Russias unwarranted aggression that spells consequences for Romania as well. The Supreme Defense Councill will also examine other hot topics on the national security agenda.

ESTIMATES  Romanias economy will report a 3.3% economic growth rate this year and 3.8% in 2025, similar to January forecast, the World Banks latest report published on Tuesday reads. According to the document, Romanias GDP growth is also expected to stand at 3.8% in 2026. In May, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD modified its forecast on Romanias economic growth in 2024, warning that taxation remains the biggest vulnerability. Romanias GDP is expected to grow by 3.2% this year, in line with September 2023 estimates, EBRD officials say. In 2025, GDP growth is expected to stand at 3.4%. In turn, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has downgraded its estimate on Romanias economic growth, from 3.8% in October 2023, to 2.8% according to its April forecast. (VP)
The post-election picture

The Social Democratic Party emerges as the big winner of Sundays local and European elections in Romania.

A polling Station in Romania

Stefan Stoica, 11.06.2024, 14:00

The Romanian Social Democrats have reasons to be happy after Sundays local and European elections because the results allow them to negotiate from a position of power any future political-electoral deals ahead of the presidential elections in September and the legislative elections in December.

The Social Democratic Party has by far the largest number of mayor and local and county council seats, and together with their partner in the ruling coalition, the National Liberal Party, they won almost half of the votes for the European Parliament. Acting prime minister and leader of the Social Democrats Marcel Ciolacu hasnt ruled out a political alliance with the Liberals, but the idea that his party wont have a candidate in the presidential elections is not on the table. The Liberals have lost several county councils to their Social Democrat partners, but remain, as their vice-president Rares Bogdan emphasised, Romanias biggest party on the right, with almost 30% of the political vote. Bogdan said that because his party is a responsible party, it will not create internal chaos and instability by leaving the ruling coalition, as some have speculated in the wake of the not-so-good election results.

The Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania won the third largest number of votes for mayor and councils, with almost 7%, thanks to the proverbial discipline of ethnic Hungarian voters in Transylvania. The Unions leader Kelemen Hunor says these are the best results obtained by his party in the last 20 years, even winning seats in the European Parliament.

With their almost 15% in the European elections, the sovereignist and ultranationalist Alliance for the Union of Romanians says the party is the main opposition force in Romania. The partys leader George Simion said the Alliance won 6 seats in the European Parliament and will have councillors in all counties with the exception of Harghita and Covasna, which are home to large ethnic Hungarian communities, adding that the party is confident in the run-up to the presidential elections.

Winning under 9% in the European elections, losing mayor seats and a generally poor political vote  is the grim outcome of the elections for the Save Romania Union, the main party in the United Right alliance. The partys leader Catalin Drula has taken responsibility for the failure and stepped down, with Dominic Fritz, the newly re-elected mayor of Timisoara, taking over temporarily. The United Right remains, however, a force to be reckoned with in Bucharest, where it won most seats in the municipal council and where Nicusor Dan, the candidate it supported, won a second term as city mayor. REPER, on the other hand, a centrist party created by the former prime minister Dacian Ciolos, missed all its election goals.

What happened with both the Save Romania Union and REPER goes to show that in order to be successful in Romanian politics its not enough to be guided by principles and values. Thats even sometimes counterproductive, as shown by the SOS Romania Party, an aggressive, pro-Russian and anti-European conspiracy party that ended up with two seats in the European Parliament.
South Korea will on Tuesday release April figures for current account, highlighting a light day for Asia-Pacific economic activity. In March, the current account surplus was $6.93 billion.

Japan will see May figures for its M2 money stock, with forecasts suggesting an increase of 2.1 percent on year, easing from 2.2 percent in April.

Australia will see May results for the surveys for confidence and condition from NAB; in April, their scores were +1 and +7.

Indonesia will provide April figures for retail sales; in March, sales were up 9.3 percent on year.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Economic News

What parts of the world are seeing the best (and worst) economic performances lately? Click here to check out our Econ Scorecard and find out! See up-to-the-moment rankings for the best and worst performers in GDP, unemployment rate, inflation and much more.
The UN Security Council has adopted a resolution aimed at reaching a comprehensive ceasefire deal in three phases to end the 8-months-old war in Gaza.

14 members voted in favor of the resolution that urges both parties to fully implement the terms of the proposal "without delay and without condition," while Russia abstained from voting on Monday.

Notably, Russia's decision not to exercise its veto power helped the council endorse for the first time such a plan to end the war.

The United States-drafted text calls for Hamas to accept a ceasefire proposal announced last week by President Joe Biden that Washington says has already been accepted by Israel.

However, in the same meeting, Israel vowed to press on with the ongoing military operations in Gaza, and made clear that it won't engage in talks with Hamas, terming it "meaningless."

On the other side, Hamas reportedly welcomed the resolution, and said it was ready to hold talks with mediators.

After a meeting with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in Israel on Monday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Israel was ready to sign an agreement and that next is the turn for Hamas to accept it.

"The Secretary and Defense Minister discussed the proposal to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza as part of a hostage deal, secure the release of all hostages, and surge humanitarian assistance throughout Gaza. The Secretary commended Israel's readiness to conclude a deal and affirmed that the onus is on Hamas to accept," says a statement issued by State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller.

President Biden described the deal as "not just a ceasefire that would inevitably be fragile and temporary" but one that would provide a "durable end to the war."

He added that the terms of the deal had been transmitted by Qatar to the leadership of Hamas.

Signaling a hopeful shift in diplomacy, the US-led initiative brought both Israel and the Palestinian mission on board, avoiding the vetoes from permanent members - including the US itself - which have stalled action on several of the resolutions which have failed to pass since the 7 October terror attacks and kidnappings began the cycle of violence.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
Mexico's industrial production growth eased notably in April, largely due to weaker mining production, data from the National Institute of Statistics and Geography showed on Tuesday.

Industrial production rose a seasonally adjusted 0.6 percent year-on-year in April, slower than the 2.0 percent rise in March.

Among sectors, output produced in construction surged 12.6 percent annually in April, and utility sector production showed a growth of 2.1 percent.

On the other hand, the decline in mining production deepened to 5.1 percent and 4.2 percent, and manufacturing output dropped by 2.1 percent.

On a monthly basis, industrial production decreased 0.5 percent after rebounding 0.5 percent in March.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
The United States and Poland jointly launched a new Ukraine Communications Group based in Warsaw to support Ukraine against Russia's aggression in the information space.

The UCG will bring together like-minded partner governments to coordinate messaging, promote accurate reporting of Russia's full-scale invasion, amplify Ukrainian voices, and expose Kremlin information manipulation.

Representatives from participating countries will begin collaborating in person to support Ukraine's independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity through collaborative efforts to counter disinformation and support fact-based reporting, the U.S. State Department said.

The Kremlin repeatedly uses lies and manipulation to peddle false pretexts for its unjustifiable invasion, obfuscate its war aims, and attempt to fracture worldwide solidarity with the Ukrainian people, it said in a statement. "The UCG is designed to counter these deceptive narratives and reinforce honest coverage of Ukraine's resilience and bravery in the face of Russia's aggression".

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
Overall, the total sales for the top 10 SUVs in May 2024 amounted to 122,741 units, marking a 16.94% year-on-year growth

After taking a look at the top 10 cars in May 2024, here is how the top 10 SUVs performed last month. For May 2024, the Indian SUV market displayed significant growth, with several models achieving impressive year-on-year increases in sales. Heres a detailed look at the top 10 best-selling SUVs and their performance:

Top 10 SUVs May 2024  YoY Comparison

Leading the SUV segment, the Tata Punch, including its electric variant, sold 18,949 units, marking a remarkable 70.34% growth from May 2023. It captured a 15.44% market share in the top 10 list. Hyundai Creta maintained its strong position with 14,662 units sold in May 2024, reflecting a modest 1.47% increase from the previous year.

Maruti Brezza saw a 5.88% growth, with 14,186 units sold compared to 13,398 in May 2023. Mahindra Scorpio, including the N variant, experienced a significant 47.21% rise in sales, with 13,717 units sold. Maruti Fronx recorded substantial growth, with sales increasing by 28.57% to 12,681 units.

Tata Nexon saw a decline of 20.56%, with sales falling to 11,457 units from 14,423 in May 2023. Newly launched Mahindra XUV3XO showed a remarkable 95.12% growth, with sales nearly doubling to 10,000 units from 5,125 the previous year. Maruti Grand Vitara saw steady growth, with sales rising by 9.68% to 9,736 units. Hyundai Venue experienced an 8.68% decline, with sales dropping to 9,327 units from 10,213 in May 2023. Mahindra Bolero saw a slight decline of 1.76%, with 8,026 units sold in May 2024.

Top 10 SUVs May 2024  MoM Comparison

Top 10 SUVs reported a slight 0.37% increase from April 2024s 122,290 units. Tata Punch was slightly down by 1.09% from Aprils 19,158 units. Hyundai Creta recorded a 5.08% decline in sales, with 14,662 units sold in May compared to 15,447 units in April. Maruti Brezza saw a significant month-on-month decrease of 17.10%, with sales falling to 14,186 units from Aprils 17,113 units.

Mahindra Scorpio experienced a 7.36% drop, with sales decreasing to 13,717 units in May from 14,807 units in April. Maruti Fronx sales declined by 11.23%, with 12,681 units sold in May compared to 14,286 units in April. In contrast, the Tata Nexon saw a slight increase in sales, rising by 2.59% to 11,457 units in May from 11,168 units in April.

Mahindra XUV3XO showcased an impressive 149.81% surge in sales, with units sold jumping to 10,000 in May from 4,003 in April. Grand Vitara saw a substantial 27.25% growth in sales, with 9,736 units sold in May compared to 7,651 units in April.

Hyundai Venue experienced a modest 2.27% increase in sales, with 9,327 units sold in May compared to 9,120 units in April. Mahindra Bolero saw a significant decline of 15.84%, with sales dropping to 8,026 units in May from 9,537 units in April.
South Dakota political leaders are condemning Nazi demonstrations that happened June 8 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 statement.

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, South Dakota Searchlight reported.

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.
202466

 Eli Saslow Erin Schaff



Republican Election Clerk Takes on Trump and His Supporters - The New York Times (nytimes.com)



.Cindy Elgan20

Esmeralda202274410.36----3,160----202082% 4007413

Reno150202033,596

MAGA82%

Saslow  Schaff 

.2024----MAGA82%

77. . Mary Jane ZakasMAGA2020

41.5^_^

She came to believe, along with millions of others, that Covid was a creation of the federal government used to manipulate the public and steal elections; that two doses of the vaccine would make men infertile; that Trump had been anointed to lead a government cleansing; that fighting had already begun in underground military tunnels; that Trumps election in 2024 was preordained by God; that he would return to power with loads of gold collected from other countries that had capitulated to his power; that, during his next term, Americans would have free electricity, zero income tax and medbeds powered by a secret technology that could harness natural energy to heal diseases and extend human life; and that the only thing standing in the way of this future was a deep state so malicious and vast that its roots extended all the way into tiny Esmeralda County.



2024



A Republican Election Clerk vs. Trump Die-Hards in a World of Lies

By Eli Saslow

Photographs by Erin Schaff

Reporting from Goldfield, Nev.

June 6, 2024

Cindy Elgan has overseen elections in rural Nevada without incident for 20 years, but now even her neighbors wonder if shes part of the deep state cabal.

Cindy Elgan glanced into the lobby of her office and saw a sheriffs deputy waiting at the front counter. Lets start a video recording, just in case this goes sideways, Elgan, 65, told one of her employees in the Esmeralda County clerks office. She had come to expect skepticism, conspiracy theories and even threats related to her job as an election administrator. She grabbed her annotated booklet of Nevada state laws, said a prayer for patience and walked into the lobby to confront the latest challenge to Americas electoral process.

The deputy was standing alongside a woman that Elgan recognized as Mary Jane Zakas, 77, a longtime elementary schoolteacher and a leader in the local Republican Party. She often asked for a sheriffs deputy to accompany her to the elections office, in case her meetings became contentious.

Hi, Mary Jane. What can I do for you today? Elgan asked, as she slid a bowl of candy across the counter.

I hope youre having a blessed morning, Zakas said. Unfortunately, a lot of people are still very concerned about the security of their votes. Theyve lost all trust in the system.

Id be happy to answer any questions and explain our process again, Elgan said.

Were beyond that, Zakas said. She reached into her purse and set a notarized form on the counter. Elgan recognized it as a recall petition, a collection of signatures from voters who wanted to remove an elected official from office. It had been more than 20 years since the countys last successful recall, and Elgan leaned down to study the form.

Name of public officer for whom recall is sought: Cindy Elgan.

Reasons why: Cindy Elgan has run interference in our elections.

It was an outcome shed feared for the last three and a half years, ever since former President Donald J. Trump lost the 2020 election, and his denials and distortions spread outward from the White House to even the countrys most remote places, like Esmeralda County. It had neither a stoplight nor a high school, and Elgan knew most of the 620 voters on sight. Trump won the county with 82 percent of the vote despite losing Nevada. In the days after the election, some residents began to suspect that he should have won by even more, and they parroted Trumps talking points and brought their complaints to the countys monthly commissioner meetings.

They falsely claimed the election was stolen by voting software designed in Venezuela, or by election machines made in China. They accused George Soros of manipulating Nevadas voter rolls. They blamed undercover activists for stealing ballots out of machines with hot dog tongs. They blamed the Dominion voting machines that the county had been using without incident for two decades, saying they could be hacked with a ballpoint pen to flip the vote and swing an entire election in five minutes. They demanded a future in which every vote in Esmeralda County was cast on paper and then counted by hand.

And when Elgan continued to stand up at each meeting to dispute and disprove those accusations by citing election laws and facts, they began to blame her, too  the most unlikely scapegoat of all. She had served as the clerk without controversy for two decades as an elected Republican, and she flew a flag at her own home that read: Trump 2024  Take America Back. But lately some local Republicans had begun referring to her as Luciferinda or as the clerk of the deep state cabal. They accused her of being paid off by Dominion and skimming votes away from Trump, and even though their allegations came with no evidence, they wanted her recalled from office before the next presidential election in November.

Prophecy says stand your ground and start in your own backyard, Zakas said. Im sorry it had to come to this.

So am I, Elgan said. She took the recall petition back into her office, and over the next several days she continued to flip through the pages in disbelief. She counted at least 130 signatures, which at first glance appeared to be enough to force a recall election if the signatures and corresponding addresses proved legitimate. Nevada allowed a period of 20 days for voters to reconsider and remove their names from the petition. After that, Elgans office would work with the secretary of state to confirm signatures and determine if the petition was successful and whether Elgan still had a job.

This is actually insane, said Angela Jewell, the deputy clerk. This is how democracies end. There must be some way to reason with a few of these people.

Its like talking to that wall right there, Elgan said. Ive given them every fact and document known to mankind, and none of it matters. Theyre too busy chanting their mantras to stop and listen.

She wasnt necessarily surprised by the extent of denial about the presidential election. According to polls, a third of U.S. congressional representatives and more than 60 percent of all registered Republican voters continue to believe President Biden was falsely elected, and even Elgan had wondered about the potential for fraud in other swing states like Georgia or Ohio. She understood how conspiracy theories could grow in places of ignorance  how people could come to doubt or even distrust faraway systems and strangers  but many of the names on the petition were ones she recognized as her friends. A lot of these people really know me, Elgan told Jewell, as she scanned again through the list.

One was a woman she played cribbage with on Saturday nights. Another was a friend of her husbands who had voted to re-elect Elgan several times. Another was the county sheriff. Another was her next-door neighbor of nearly 30 years. And then there was Zakas, who had come to several of Elgans annual Thanksgiving dinners, asked for her pecan pie recipe and offered to give her a childrens book that Zakas wrote about 21 Great Demonstrations of Kindness.

What in the world happened to these people? Elgan asked. What kind of person could actually believe this nonsense?

A few days later, Zakas grabbed her folder of voter registration lists and property maps and began another long trip on the two-lane roads of Esmeralda County. She had traveled more than 10,000 miles in the last three months to promote the recall, driving through dust storms and herds of wild horses to visit hundreds of voters and ask for their signatures. The county had an average of one resident for every four square miles, and some of them had moved to the rugged desert of western Nevada because they didnt want to be found. A few of her trips ended at no trespassing signs riddled with bullet holes, or on roads that disappeared under snowbanks in the high Sierras. Other times, she found residents living in abandoned mining camps or trailers hidden down unmarked roads.

Now she turned toward Goldfield, a self-proclaimed living ghost town where the mine was shuttered and the historic hotel was open only for ghost tours by flashlight. She pulled to the side of the road and checked her list of voter addresses. I could swear this house is supposed to be just beyond the junkyard, she said.

She drove around for another minute and called a friend to ask for directions. I dont think that street exists, she said. But dont worry. Ill keep looking.

She had tried finding easier ways to upend the countys voting system after the 2020 election, when Trump lost Nevada by more than 33,000 votes and his campaign protested the result. Donald Trump won after you account for fraud and irregularities, one of his lawyers said at the time, and even though Nevada found no evidence of widespread fraud and the courts dismissed Trumps lawsuits, Zakas decided to do her own digging. A career in public education had taught her to be skeptical of big government systems. She had taught seven different subjects to three separate grades while working at a country school  sometimes all at once in the same room  and when she didnt trust the curriculum, she believed in writing her own. She was recently retired and widowed, and she started devoting more of her free time to learning about local politics as a rotating tour of election deniers came to speak in Esmeralda County.

She listened to a self-proclaimed cybersecurity expert from Colorado named Mark Cook, who claimed that voting machines could be hacked with a cellphone. She heard Jim Marchant, then the Republican nominee for Nevadas secretary of state, say that Nevadas election officials had been installed by a deep state cabal. She heard local Republican leaders say Dominion machines had stolen votes, even though Fox News had agreed to pay Dominion nearly $800 million to settle a lawsuit for spreading the same lies. And most of all she continued to listen to Trump as his election denialism intensified. We will root out the communists, Marxists, fascists and the radical left thugs that live like vermin within the confines of our country, that lie and steal and cheat on elections, he said during a Veterans Day speech in New Hampshire last year.

Zakas started sending emails to Esmeralda County commissioners about what she considered potential vulnerabilities for fraud heading into the 2024 election: fragile machines, faulty electronic counters, signatures that could be forged and poll workers who might be compromised. We like it the old-fashioned way, she said in one community meeting. You should have to sign in, show your ID and vote on paper. Then it gets hand counted.

That process brings in all kinds of human error, Elgan responded. Theres tons of proof that machines are accurate and secure.

The more Elgan defended the system, the more Zakas became convinced she was hiding something. Eventually, she decided to file recall petitions not just for Elgan but also for the county auditor and the district attorney. Whats required is a complete and total house cleaning, Zakas said.

Now she turned down a dirt road in Goldfield and stopped to visit a voter who was helping to support the recall, Sam Wise, one of the first doctors to live in Esmeralda County in decades. Hed worked at Stanford and then run a rehabilitation center in Las Vegas until he got fed up with the bureaucratic takeover of medicine, he said. He moved to Goldfield to distill whiskey and lost a close election for county commissioner in 2022 after running on what he called a MEGA platform  to Make Esmeralda Great Again, he said.

We need to get rid of these criminals running our voting systems, he told Zakas. Its like a slot machine thats been rigged. We pull the lever, but they decide who wins.

I heard somewhere that Nevadas a test case for manipulating the vote by 10 or 15 percent each year, Zakas said.

And its happening right under our noses, Wise said.

Who would have believed that Cindy  sweet Cindy, our Cindy  could be connected to the deep state umbilical cord? Zakas asked.

She believed it only because she had experienced many similar revelations during the last few years, ever since she heeded Trumps warnings about the corrupt, lying mainstream media and decided to disconnect her television. Her friends introduced her to far-right media platforms online like Mike Lindells Frank Speech and The Elijah List, where each day she listened to a rotation of self-proclaimed patriots, biblical prophets and also sometimes political figures like Lara Trump. They offered Zakas not only conspiratorial ideas but also the promise of a community that extended far beyond the loneliness of her house, with a grandfather clock ticking away in the living room and views out the window of an emptiness that stretched clear into California. Each day, something urgent was happening in the far corners of the internet  something big and dark and secret, and that knowledge fueled her days with both purpose and agency.

She came to believe, along with millions of others, that Covid was a creation of the federal government used to manipulate the public and steal elections; that two doses of the vaccine would make men infertile; that Trump had been anointed to lead a government cleansing; that fighting had already begun in underground military tunnels; that Trumps election in 2024 was preordained by God; that he would return to power with loads of gold collected from other countries that had capitulated to his power; that, during his next term, Americans would have free electricity, zero income tax and medbeds powered by a secret technology that could harness natural energy to heal diseases and extend human life; and that the only thing standing in the way of this future was a deep state so malicious and vast that its roots extended all the way into tiny Esmeralda County.

The whole idea for Cindy and the rest of them is to cripple Trump, Zakas said.

That little tyrant, Wise said. We have no idea how many votes theyre skimming.

But Cindy sure does, Zakas said.

When their allegations werent forcing her out of bed with nausea late at night, or inducing another panic attack, or prompting her husband to search for real estate in California, Elgan sometimes found herself laughing at the sheer absurdity of the countys transformation. For as long as she could remember, nobody had been interested in her job. She sometimes ran for re-election unopposed. What does a clerk even do? her friends sometimes asked. The county had such a nonchalant, trusting relationship with elections that once, after two candidates tied for commissioner in 2002, they settled the race by drawing from a deck of cards. But now two decades later, Elgan was being flooded by emails asking about the license plate numbers of her poll workers and the temperature data of her equipment storage room.

MAJOR VIOLATION CONCERNS, read the subject line of one recent email, which listed dozens of obscure legal statutes and codes. NRS 293B.063, NRS 1960.264, NRS 1977.246, and on and on it went.

Thank you for your thoughtful request, Elgan often replied. She kept her emails concise and factual, and increasingly she saved her unfiltered reactions for her phone calls with Nevadas other election clerks, many of whom were navigating their own crises in the continued fallout of the 2020 election. Lander County commissioners had tried to seize the countys own election equipment. Nye County had voted to count ballots partially by hand. Lyon, Elko and Lincoln Counties had put forward proposals to remove their Dominion machines. The election office in Clark County had been sent a threat letter with traces of fentanyl powder.

About half of the states election officials had quit or resigned since 2020, and several had been replaced by vocal election deniers. Jim Hindle, the new clerk in Storey County, was awaiting a felony trial for allegedly trying to sign over Nevadas six electoral votes to Trump in 2020, and now he oversaw election integrity in 2024.

Welcome to another day at the center of the circus, Elgan said one afternoon in May, on a phone call to Amy Burgans, the clerk in Douglas County.

Are they still calling for your head on a stick? Burgans asked. Whats the latest with the recall petition?

Well confirm signatures at the courthouse next week and then make a ruling, Elgan said. The conspiracy theorists are coming out of the woodwork with their tinfoil hats.

I call them my Kool-Aid drinkers, Burgans said.

She estimated that more than half of the 50,000 people in Douglas County belonged to that category. They believed that elections were rigged and that Biden had been fraudulently elected  and for a while Burgans had thought that, too. She had been working in an administrative job for the county during the 2020 election, and she listened to her family members spread conspiracy theories about Dominion machines and read a friends false Facebook posts about the thousands of dead people voting in Nevada.

Then the county clerk abruptly resigned, and the commissioners appointed Burgans to lead a voting system she didnt trust. She devoted her first several months to learning about the states mandatory election safeguards: machine inspections, signature verifications and the certified canvass to confirm each vote. The reality is Trump lost, she eventually concluded. I did a complete 180. Our elections are more accurate and secure than ever before in American history.

The challenge was convincing anyone else. She offered public tours of the countys voting machines and live-streamed the counting of each mail-in-ballot, but almost nobody bothered to watch. Her best friend continued to send her videos of people lambasting Dominion machines. Her father and two of her adult children said they still didnt entirely trust elections. In the 2022 midterm, one voter sent in his ballot with a death threat written to Burgans, and now the county sheriff was keeping an eye on her house.

This job is hard enough without everyone throwing us under the bus, Burgans said. The responsibility to get it right, the scrutiny  we already feel the weight of our entire democracy.

And meanwhile they just repeat the same lies over and over, Elgan said. Eventually people go: Oh, I think I heard that somewhere before. I guess it must be true.

The only thing we have to give in return are facts, Burgans said.

Elgan had also tried to offer her constituents a series of concessions. She updated the countys Dominion system so that all voters were given a verifiable printed ballot and four chances to double-check their vote before it was cast. The county commissioners asked to confirm the electronic results in 2022 by recounting all ballots by hand, and she reluctantly agreed. They asked her to swear that her recount was accurate, and she swore. They decided they still didnt trust her results and voted to recount a third time, a seven-hour process that confirmed the exact tallies and brought the county within minutes of missing the states deadline to certify elections.

Voters had pushed for her dismissal based on term limits that didnt apply to her position. They had asked all three women who worked in her office to replace her as the clerk, but none felt qualified.

Some days, I drive home after work and I wonder why Im still doing this, she said. Her job was one of the lowest-paid elected positions in Nevada. Her husband was already retired, and they had grandchildren in California. I believe in my bones that we have to protect the integrity of our process, but if Im recalled because of all this, Ill survive, she said.

Of course you will, Burgans said. But if the whole system gives way to disinformation and lies, whats left to protect?

On the morning of the recall verification, Zakas came to the courthouse with her friend Theresa Moller, chair of the local Republican Party. They sat in the galley and said a prayer: Let today be earth moving, Zakas said. Let the ripples stretch far and wide.

A representative from the secretary of states office and the clerk from neighboring Nye County arrived to help run the process, and Elgan carried the recall petitions to a table at the front of the courtroom.

Lets go over some basic ground rules first, said Cori Freidhof, the Nye County clerk.

The petition against Elgan required at least 114 signatures to force a recall election, because that number represented a quarter of Esmeralda County residents who voted in 2022. The petition had been submitted with 142 names, but each persons information needed to be verified against the signature and address that the county had on file.

So today, were checking those signatures, and youre here just to witness, Elgan told Zakas and Moller. Youre not here to debate or interject. Theres an official process that needs to be followed, and we have to trust that process.

Theres more to it than trust, Zakas said. Will I get to know which signatures you are accepting and which ones you are tossing off?

Not today, Elgan said.

I dont like the secret part. Why dont I get my basic right to know what is happening with the recall?

You are just here to witness, Elgan said again.

They started checking the petitions, first for the district attorney and then for the auditor. When they started working on Elgans petition, she volunteered to walk away from the table and sit in the galley. Seeing all those names again, I think Ill just go back there and pray, she said. She walked past Zakas and Moller, sat in the far corner of the courtroom with her husband and pulled up Psalm 86 on her cellphone. Oh God, the proud have risen against me, she read, as Freidhof began to check the names on her petition one by one.

Number 13, the address doesnt match, Freidhof said. We need to verify.

Number 18, no, she said. We need to verify the signature.

They paused at one point for a bathroom break, and Freidhof instructed everyone to clear the room except for one administrator from the clerks office who would guard the petitions. Something fishy is happening, Zakas said, as she walked into the hallway. That woman could be tampering with signatures right now and wed never know. She turned back into the courtroom to watch, which made the employee feel uncomfortable.

Id like to remind everyone that its now considered a felony in Nevada to intimidate election workers, Freidhof said a few minutes later as people filtered back into the room, and then she returned her attention to the signatures.

Number 28, we need to verify the address.

Number 32, signature.

Number 38, address.

Zakas wrote notes in case she needed evidence for a future appeal and rubbed essential oils on her wrists to stay calm. Maybe the addresses were wrong because people had gotten confused and written down their P.O. boxes instead of their physical street address, she thought. Maybe some of the signatures didnt match because peoples handwriting deteriorated with age, or because younger voters had never learned how to sign their names in cursive.

We knew they werent going to make it easy, Zakas whispered to Moller. God might have a different plan. You dont have to knock the bull off its feet all at once. He might want this to go all the way up through appeals to the first district court.

By the time Freidhof finished examining the petition, she had questions about 67 of the 142 signatures. One petition contained a potential fact error on the affidavit, and a notary had signed on the wrong line of the form. It was clear the recall petition would be ruled insufficient.

That concludes our process, Freidhof said.

Well, not quite, Zakas said.

She sorted through the papers in her lap, looking up laws and state statutes and then writing down the numbers of obscure legal codes. There were still six months left until the next presidential election was held in Esmeralda County, and already she was thinking of new ways to dismantle a process she didnt trust.

I know my rights, she said.

There are procedures in place you can still pursue, Elgan said. If you dont like whats happening, you have the right to appeal.

Im aware, Zakas said. And I will.
When it came to tech, Steve Jobs had a clear vision: it had to be simple, minimalist and elegant. And according to those who knew and worked with him, this aesthetic sense developed early and was influenced heavily by Japanese art  especially the modern woodblock prints, or shin-hanga, of Kawase Hasui.

Jobs was just a teenager when he first encountered Kawase's work. He often visited the family home of close friend Bill Fernandez, who would become Apple's first full-time employee, where a number of shin-hanga prints hung from the walls. He was particularly fond of the three Kawase prints in the living room.

"He liked Hasui above all others," says Bambi Fernandez, Bill's mother. "He was standing in front of them and looked at them almost every time he came over. It was so obvious that he was drawn to them."

Steve Jobs was first introduced to shin-hanga as a teenager at the home of his friend Bill Fernandez.

His favorite, she says, was "Senju waterfall, Akame", which depicts a tree hanging in front of a waterfall. Kawase adopted a minimalist style for the print, shedding intricate detail in favor of a modest dynamism. Bill Fernandez believes this reserved aesthetic was a source of great inspiration for Jobs.

"You can see his love of simplicity and elegance throughout his life, like in the products that he developed at Apple," says Fernandez.

"Senju waterfall, Akame" Kawase Hasui (1951)

Shin-hanga

The shin-hanga movement started in the early 20th century as a domestic effort to revive the ukiyo-e tradition of woodblock prints and painting. But it was overseas that these pieces, which mostly depict Japanese landscapes and scenes of peoples lives, experienced huge popularity. Kawase is considered one of the three greats of the genre, along with Katsushika Hokusai and Utagawa Hiroshige.

Watanabe Shoichiro, a major shin-hanga publisher, says what sets the style apart is the subtlety of color and detail. This requires exquisite technical ability and, as a result, the pieces take much longer to produce. Shin-hanga paintings can take five times as long to complete as ukiyo-e ones. Watanabe believes this is what attracted Jobs to the style.

"I think shin-hanga speaks to people like Steve Jobs, people who try to innovate with cutting-edge technology," Watanabe says. "They see the blood, sweat, and tears behind each painting. I guess Steve appreciated shin-hanga."

Steve Jobs bought 25 Kawase prints over two decades of collecting.

"There are certain aspects of shin-hanga that are popular with foreigners, like snowy scenes, torii gates, shrines, and women with umbrellas," says Nishiyama Junko, a curator at Chiba City Museum of Art. "But Steve Jobs collected no such pieces. He liked Hasui. And Hasui liked quiet things the most. It seems these two men shared exactly the same aesthetic tastes."

Steve Jobs' aesthetic sense

Matsuoka Haruo, an art dealer at Gallery Kabutoya in Tokyo's posh Ginza district, helped Jobs buy shin-hanga prints. Jobs first visited the gallery in March 1983, when he was still in his late 20s, dressed in a t-shirt and jeans. He asked Matsuoka to teach him about shin-hanga as he was keen to start collecting.

Matsuoka says Jobs carefully examined every piece but was quick when deciding which to buy.

"Jobs seemed fond of simple, sophisticated works," he says. "He knew precisely what he wanted. Customers usually make choices after consulting with staff, but Jobs was the opposite."

Despite this quick-fire method of buying, Jobs would usually only buy prints that were stocked in the gallery's backroom. The staff would bring out what was available and he picked what he liked out of the selection. But Matsuoka remembers a day when he showed up at the gallery and asked for one piece in particular: Kasawe's "Red sunset."

Completed in 1937, just before the start of World War Two, "Red sunset" depicts silhouettes of soldiers on horseback, strikingly distinct against a red sky. It marks a sharp break from Kawase's usual style. Matsuoka says Jobs didn't explain why he wanted the piece. The gallery didn't have it and had to find it for him.

"Red sunset", Kawase Hasui (1937)

Final favorite

The last time Matsuoka heard from Jobs was in the fall of 2003. By this point, Matsuoka had left the Ginza gallery and set off on his own. One day, he received a message on the answerphone at his gallery.

"Hi, Haru, this is Steve Jobs."

Over two decades, Jobs bought at least 43 shin-hanga pieces through Matsuoka; 25 of them were works by Kawase.

Jobs died in 2011 at the age of 56. His daughter, Lisa Brennan-Jobs, recounts her father's final days in her memoir, "Small Fry." She describes the room in which her father lay in bed:

"There were framed prints by Hasui of twilight and sunset at temples. A patch of pink light stretched out on a wall beside him."
LifeWays brings whole person-centered care to residents of Jackson and Hillsdale counties.
$5 million in federal funding will help 5 Michigan organizations reduce infant and maternal deaths

Five Michigan organizations will receive federal support of about $1 million each to improve maternal and infant health in the state.
Raspberry Pi Holdings announced the pricing of its initial public offering (IPO) on Tuesday, at 280p per share, following the confirmation of its intention to float on 22 May.

The pricing set the company's market capitalisation at 541.6m, as it began conditional dealings on Londons Main Market.

It said the global offer comprised 45,935,065 shares sold by the majority shareholder, Raspberry Pi Mid Co, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Raspberry Pi Foundation, alongside 2,125,115 shares sold by other shareholders, and 11,228,572 shares issued by the company itself.

The issue was expected to raise around 31.4m ($40m), while the total offer size of 166m represented about 30.7% of the companys ordinary shares upon admission.

Raspberry Pi said the global offer was extended to intermediaries via the Peel Hunt REX portal for retail investors in the UK, with 2,421,921 shares issued through the channel, raising 6.8m.

On admission, Raspberry Pi's issued share capital would total 193,415,715 ordinary shares.

An additional 4,593,506 shares could be available through an over-allotment option, which, if fully exercised, would increase the offer size to 178.9m, representing 33% of the company's shares.

The company, its directors, and the principal shareholder had agreed to lock-up arrangements restricting the sale of shares for periods of 180, 365, and 360 days respectively post-admission.

Conditional dealings in Raspberry Pis shares were expected to start on Tuesday at 0800 BST under the ticker RPI.

Unconditional dealings and the company's admission to the premium listing segment of the FCA's Official List and to trading on the Main Market were anticipated to start on 14 June at 0800 BST.

The quality of the interactions during the marketing process has underlined our belief that London has the right calibre and sophistication of investor to support growing, ambitious technology businesses such as Raspberry Pi, said chief executive officer Eben Upton.

The reaction that we have received is a reflection of the world-class team that we have assembled and the strength of the loyal community with whom we have grown.

Welcoming new shareholders alongside our existing ones brings with it a great responsibility, and one that we accept willingly, as we continue on our mission to make high-performance, low-cost computing accessible to everyone.

Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com.
Swedish sustainable mobility company Clean Motion AB is set to accelerate its expansion into the Indian electric vehicle (EV) market, bolstered by a $1 million seed fund investment from India Accelerator's Finvolve initiative. This strategic investment will finance the establishment of a dedicated manufacturing facility in Pune, significantly boosting the companys presence in India.

Through its Indian subsidiary, Clean Mobility Solution India Pvt. Ltd., Clean Motion plans to harness Indias manufacturing strengths to locally produce its flagship product, the Zbee. The Zbee, a three-wheeled passenger EV designed for efficient first and last-mile connectivity, will be customized for the Indian market and also targeted for global exports.

"India is making impressive strides in the EV space and is poised to lead the charge of sustainable mobility at a global level", said Ashish Bhatia of Finvolve. "This investment represents our strategic commitment to the EV sector. We believe Indias favorable manufacturing environment will provide Clean Motion with the necessary impetus for growth, ultimately reshaping the global EV market".

In addition to manufacturing, Clean Motion's expansion plan includes the development of a robust EV charging infrastructure. This infrastructure will feature a network of operation clusters equipped with parking facilities, plug-in chargers, and swappable batteries to support a fleet of Zbee vehicles, enhancing their operational efficiency and accessibility.

"We appreciate the trust that India Accelerator, Finvolve, and other prestigious investors have put in our companys capabilities", said Dr. Deb Mukherji, Managing Director of Clean Mobility Solution India Pvt. Ltd. "Our strategic allocation of resources will enable us to scale our operations effectively, contributing to Indias Make in India initiative and cementing its leadership in global urban mobility solutions".

Cecilia Oskarsson, Trade & Invest Commissioner of Sweden to India, remarked, "Today marks a significant milestone in fortifying business ties between Sweden and India. The integration of Swedens engineering expertise and Indias robust manufacturing capabilities promises to usher in a new era of growth and sustainability in the EV sector. We are immensely proud to support this venture and are confident that it will drive economic growth and environmental stewardship, leading the global transition to cleaner and more efficient transportation solutions".

Clean Motions journey into the Indian market began in 2014 through the India-Sweden Innovations Accelerator program. This program, aimed at promoting green transformation and resource optimization in India, laid the groundwork for the companys current expansion.
Fortis Hospital Bannerghatta Road successfully implanted two hearing devices simultaneously in a single procedure on a 23-year-old Nigerian woman with profound hearing loss. Under the expert care of Dr. H K Susheen Dutt, Senior Consultant  ENT, Cochlear implant, and skull base surgeon, Fortis Hospital, Bannerghatta Road the complex procedure was completed in 9 hours. The patient was discharged 5 days post-surgery and is currently undergoing auditory verbal training in Nigeria with positive results.

Patient Lina (name changed) led a normal, joyful life until 2020, when she experienced a viral fever episode that resulted in hearing loss in her right ear, followed by her left ear, ultimately leading to profound hearing loss in both ears. The hearing impairment was so severe that she struggled to perform daily tasks and lead a normal life. Recognizing the severity of her condition, she travelled from Nigeria with her family to seek expert medical advice and care at Fortis Hospital Bannerghatta, Bengaluru.

Upon thorough evaluation, she was diagnosed with Bilateral Profound Sensory Neural Hearing Loss caused by damage to the inner ear, resulting in severe hearing loss in both ears, rendering her unable to hear even the loudest of sounds. Given the seriousness of her condition, the team of doctors proposed Simultaneous Bilateral Cochlear Implantation Surgery as the best course of action. This involved the placement of two implantable hearing devices simultaneously in a single surgical session.

Dr H K Susheen Dutt, Senior Consultant  ENT Specialist, Cochlear implant and skull base surgeon, Fortis Hospital, Bannerghatta Road, said, While high-gain hearing aids are often effective for severe hearing loss cases, Lina's condition surpassed the capabilities of even the most advanced devices. Despite attempting various high-gain aids, no significant improvement was noted. Her strong desire for improved hearing, coupled with her recent normal hearing history, indicated potential success with cochlear implant surgery. We discussed the procedure with her family, emphasizing the promising outcomes and gaining their consent for bilateral surgery. Typically, cochlear implantation is done in one ear at a time, but we opted for simultaneous bilateral implants for Lina due to the advantages they offer: a more natural hearing experience, enhanced sound localization, and improved speech comprehension, especially in noisy environments. This approach also minimized the need for multiple surgeries, considering the considerable travel and logistical challenges involved. Three weeks post-surgery, Lina's cochlear implants were activated.

She is currently undergoing auditory verbal training in Nigeria, showing remarkable progress. Her previous experience with normal hearing facilitates her rehabilitation, making the training more effective and her adjustment smoother. Cochlear implantation is a highly safe procedure, boasting a success rate exceeding 98% for suitable candidates like Lina.

Mr. Akshay Oleti, Business Head, Fortis Hospitals Bengaluru, added, With our hospitals expertise in advanced medical procedures and our team's dedication to excellence, this successful surgery symbolizes our commitment to providing transformative healthcare experiences for patients seeking medical advice from anywhere in the world. We are honoured to have played a part in restoring Lina's ability to hear and communicate. Her story serves as a beacon of hope for all facing similar challenges. At Fortis Bannerghatta, we remain dedicated to empowering lives through compassionate care and the expertise by our highly skilled experts.
Hisense India, a leading player in the consumer electronics and home appliances sector, has announced the appointment of Pankaj Rana as its new chief executive officer (CEO). With a wealth of experience spanning over two decades in sales, marketing, business development, and general management, Rana brings a robust skill set to his new role.

Prior to joining Hisense India, Rana held influential positions in prominent companies such as LG, Panasonic, Benq, and Reliance Retail, where he played pivotal roles in shaping the mobile phones and television business across India, South Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.

Steven Li, Managing Director of Hisense India, expressed confidence in Rana's ability to drive the company's expansion and growth in the Indian market. Li stated, "His extensive industry knowledge and leadership acumen will be invaluable as we embark on our journey of expansion and growth in India. With Pankaj at the helm, we are poised to achieve new heights of success".

business growth, expanding the customer base, and strengthening the brand's presence in the region. In his new role as CEO of Hisense India, Rana will be responsible for spearheading strategic initiatives, driving overall, expanding the customer base, and strengthening the brand's presence in the region.

Expressing his enthusiasm for the new role, Rana remarked, "I am excited to work closely with the talented team at Hisense India to drive innovation, foster growth, and deliver unparalleled value to our customers".

Rana takes over the reins from Pranab Mohanty, who departed from the company earlier this year. His appointment underscores Hisense India's commitment to bringing in seasoned professionals to lead the company into its next phase of development and success.
Stocks to watch on Tuesday, June 11, 2024: Indian markets are expected to continue consolidating on Tuesday due to a lack of clear triggers. As of 7:43 AM, GIFT Nifty was up 29 points at 23,276 levels. Globally, Japan's Nikkei was up 0.28 percent, while South Korea's Kospi gained 0.55 percent. ASX and Han Seng, however, fell by up to 1.8 percent.

Interglobe Aviation: Interglobe Enterprises, a company associated with Rahul Bhatia, is planning to sell a stake worth $394 million in the parent company of Indigo Airlines, Interglobe Aviation, through a block deal. The entity currently holds a 37.75 percent stake in Interglobe Aviation. This proposed sale, which marks the first time in many years that Bhatia is looking to unlock value, involves the offloading of around 2 percent of his stake in the company.

RVNL: Rail Vikas Nigam Limited has been selected as the lowest bidder by Central Railway for work in the Amla-Nagpur Section, located in the Nagpur division of Central Railway. The project aims to achieve a loading target of 3000 MT. In addition, a consortium of Siemens and RVNL has secured a contract worth Rs 394 crore from Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (BMRC). This contract involves engineering, supply, erection, testing, and commissioning of various systems to be completed within 130 weeks.

Tata Motors: The company is offering significant discounts on a range of popular models, including the Tiago, Altroz, Nexon, Harrier, and Safari. Discounts and benefits of up to Rs 55,000 are available on selected units.

Vodafone Idea: The telecom company, burdened by debt, has announced that its board will convene on June 13 to discuss a proposal to issue equity shares or convertible securities on a preferential basis to vendors. The company has been experiencing increasing losses and only a slight rise in annual revenue from operations.

IRB Infrastructure Developers: Cintra, a subsidiary of Spanish infrastructure group Ferrovial, is expected to sell up to a 5 percent stake in IRB Infrastructure Developers through a block deal. The deal, priced between Rs 63-70.16 per share, represents up to a 10.2 percent discount to the last closing price. The transaction size is approximately Rs 1,900.3 crore at the lower end of the price band.

Jubilant Foodworks: The master franchise operator for Domino's in India plans to double its outlets to 4,000 in the next four years. To reach its medium-term goal, the company aims to open approximately 200 new stores in India annually.

Transformers and Rectifiers India: The company has set a floor price of Rs 699.95 per share for fund-raising through a qualified institutional placement.

Power Grid Corp.: The company has successfully implemented the Reliable Communication Scheme under Central Sector for the Northern Region from April 1.

One 97 Communications: Paytm's founder and CEO, Vijay Shekhar Sharma, is reconnecting with his former allies and trusted team members as he seeks to rejuvenate the company. In the face of internal conflicts and regulatory challenges, Sharma is personally overseeing various areas to boost growth, decrease customer attrition, and restore trust among partners, merchants, and customers.

PVR Inox: The multiplex chain is concentrating on expanding its fastest-growing segment, which is the food and beverage (F&B) section. The multiplex operator has partnered with EazyDiner to provide its customers with up to a 25 percent discount on popcorn, Pepsi, and more for payments made through EazyDiner.

Kalpataru Projects International: The company announced that its board has approved a proposal to raise Rs 300 crore through the issuance of Non-Convertible Debentures (NCDs) on a private placement basis. A total of 30,000 NCDs, each with a face value of Rs 1,00,000, aggregating to Rs 300 crore, are proposed to be issued.

Mphasis: Kotak Mahindra Mutual Fund, Morgan Stanley, and Societe Generale have acquired Mphasis shares worth almost Rs 1,900 crore. Blackstone, the major shareholder in Mphasis, has sold a 15.1 percent stake in the company.

Suzlon Energy: The company clarified that there are no financial irregularities or compliance violations within the organization following the resignation of its independent director, Marc Desaedeleer. In his resignation letter, Desaedeleer raised corporate governance issues within the company.

Bank of India: The bank has acquired a 6.125 percent stake in Clearing Corporation of India Ltd. (CCIL) IFSC, a newly incorporated entity listed in GIFT SEZ, for Rs 6.125 crore. This acquisition reflects the banks commitment to IFSC's growth. CCIL IFSC, promoted by Clearing Corporation of India Limited (CCIL), is set to build and operate a real-time foreign currency settlement system at GIFT City, Indias only operational international financial services centre.

Havells India: The company has announced a strategic partnership with Jumbo Group, a consumer electronics and technology product distributor based in the UAE, to enter the kitchen appliances market. The products will be available on Jumbos e-commerce website, followed by distribution in retail stores at Jumbo Electronics outlets.

Infosys: GitHub, a developer platform owned by Microsoft, has teamed up with Infosys to establish its first GitHub Center of Excellence (CoE). The partnership aims to accelerate the software production process by collaborating with Global System Integrators (GSIs).
Aurm, a pioneering asset protection firm specializing in safe-deposit locker services, has announced the appointment of Vijay Arisetty as its founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Arisetty, renowned for his leadership in establishing MyGate, India's foremost gated community app, brings his wealth of experience to Aurm's mission of revolutionizing safety deposit solutions.

Drawing on his distinguished background as a veteran of the armed forces and an accomplished entrepreneur, Arisetty is poised to spearhead Aurm's endeavors in providing cutting-edge safety deposit lockers. Collaborating with banks and real estate developers, Aurm aims to bridge the gap in safe storage accessibility, particularly for urban affluent individuals and households.

"Aurm is addressing a major gap in the availability of safety deposit lockers in India", remarked Arisetty. "Our aim is to provide state-of-the-art safety deposit boxes enabled with the latest technology that are accessible and provide a secure solution to this problem".

Arisetty's illustrious career path reflects his commitment to excellence and innovation. A graduate of the National Defence Academy (NDA) and a former Indian Air Force pilot, he was honored with the prestigious Shaurya Chakra for his valor during the tsunami rescue operations. Following his military service, Arisetty pursued an MBA at the Indian School of Business (ISB) and gained valuable corporate experience as a Vice President at Goldman Sachs.

His entrepreneurial spirit led to the founding of successful startups, including the logistics venture Pyngcabs and the food-tech startup Kitchens Food. With his multifaceted expertise, Arisetty is well-positioned to lead Aurm in its mission to provide secure, accessible, and automated safe deposit solutions.

Aurm's partnership model with banks and real estate entities ensures fully automated safe deposit storage facilities equipped with military-grade security infrastructure. Active surveillance and intrusion detection systems further fortify Aurm's commitment to safeguarding customers' assets.

"Security and protection run in the company's DNA", Arisetty affirmed. "I see the discipline, eye for detail, and process orientation that veterans bring to Aurm, which is critical to building trustworthy relationships with our customers and partners".
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  The NYPD released bodycam footage on Monday capturing the tense moment in which an NYPD officer discharged his firearm after a man swung at cops with a knife during a warrant execution in St. George.

Marcelino Allende, 30, was wanted by the NYPD in connection with an alleged assault. In seeking out Allende, Det. Genaro Barreiro, who the NYPD identified as the officer who fired his service weapon, along with officers assigned to the Staten Island Warrant Squad, found themselves at Allendes apartment at 101 Daniel Low Terrace around 6 a.m. on March 25.

In the 12-minute video posted to the NYPDs YouTube channel, Carlos Nieves, assistant commissioner of the Public Information Division of the NYPD, provides some brief remarks on the investigations of the Force Investigation Division into determining if officers applied reasonable force under the given circumstances.

Some text prior to the footage provides background details on the investigation and an image of the knife allegedly wielded by Allende. Its just before the four-minute mark of the video that Barreiros body cam footage is shared.

THE LEAD-UP TO THE SHOOTING

Barreiro appears to be making his way down a staircase in the apartment building. Nothing can be heard for some time as the NYPD notes there is a 60-second pre-event video buffer without audio prior to camera activation.

Barreiro stops on a landing and seems to peer in a hallway. In continuing down multiple flights of stairs, Barreiro hurriedly makes his way to the exterior of the building, where several additional officers can be seen.

One of the men reaches for the camera and the audio kicks in. Barreiro appears to be holding a yellow device, possibly a taser, in hand.

Allende comes into view up on what appears to be the fifth floor fire escape.

Im not going in there dude, a distressed Allende says.

Another voice can be heard attempting to ease Allende and urging him to relax.

Stop talking. Stop talking, Allende shouts back.

Officers express concern over a cat, to which Allende grows even more outraged and says the following:

Cat! A f---ing cat! Youre going to shoot me for a cat?! Youre going to shoot me?! Shoot me! But dont shoot the cat.

Well then if you want the cat to be safe you better come down, man, a law enforcement officer says.

Allende expresses concerns over his safety, and the detective tries to reassure him in the moment.

Im about to die. Youre talking about me being safe? Allende says.

Why you gonna die? the detective responds.

Because youre gonna kill  Im not letting you handcuff me, Allende replies.

I aint gonna kill you, I can tell you that for sure, the detective adds.

Its when the detective says as far as Allende is going to go is jail, that the suspect raises his voice and yells out that he is not going.

The suspect curses at an individual who cannot be heard after mentioning that he has no family and nothing to lose.

While officers on the ground begin planning their course of action, Allende can be heard saying how he wants to die.

Barreiro turns to head back into the apartment building and takes an elevator with a fellow law enforcement officer to another floor of the residence. In emerging onto a level, the camera becomes blurred and it is therefore difficult to decipher exactly what occurs next.

Judging from the footage provided, Barreiro and another officer knock on a door and are met by an unidentifiable individual.

The individual then moves aside and allows the officers to enter. The two proceed to a room and clear the obstructions in front of the apartments window.

Immediately afterward, the audio cuts out once again. After another moment, Barreiro turns and runs out of the apartment and the audio comes back into play.

THE ARREST

Sprinting down the hallway and rushing down a couple of floors, Barreiro hurries to a black apartment door and proceeds to kick it in. Allende, wearing a red shirt, comes into view and the door is quickly shut.

One of the responders on scene attempts to kick at the door multiple times to no avail. Inside, Allende can be heard yelling for the officers to stop.

Barreiro takes a couple kicks of his own and its one final effort from his colleague that knocks the door in. As responders rush in, an officer can be heard calling for a taser.

Allende is found in a backroom with a knife in his right hand. Barreiro deploys his taser, though it is difficult to tell if he made a good connection. Regardless, it sends Allende toppling to the floor where a black cat can be seen climbing his left arm.

A screenshot of the bodycam footage released by the NYPD showing the officer-involved shooting in St. George on March 25, 2024. (Courtesy of the NYPD)(Courtesy of the NYPD)

In finding that Allende maintained control of the knife, Barreiro quickly takes his flashlight into his left hand (still holding the taser) and equips his firearm in his right hand. Another officer can be seen with his service weapon drawn.

The cat drops from Allendes arm while responders demand that he drop the knife, to which he yells no. As Allende moves around on the floor, another officer calls for an additional taser deployment.

Leaning forward, Allende swipes at the officers with the knife. Allende falls back while a singular shot is fired by Barreiro, police said. According to the NYPD, it did not strike Allende.

At that very moment, Allende surrenders saying alright.

With Allendes hands in the air, Barreiro effects an arrest. All the while, Allende can be heard repeatedly uttering that he is not resisting.

In concluding the video, Nieves appears on screen once again to inform the viewers that the case will continue to be investigated in the coming months by the Force Investigation Division.

ALLENDES ALLEGED CRIMINAL HISTORY

For this specific incident, Allende was charged with menacing a police officer, criminal possession of a weapon in the third and fourth degree, menacing in the second degree, obstructing governmental administration, resisting arrest, and other related charges.

In addition, Allende faces separate charges stemming from an alleged assault, the initial reason police had come to arrest him.

According to a second criminal complaint, on March 18, Allende allegedly struck an individual in the head and body with the rod of a mop before kicking the victim in the ribs, causing severe bruising and substantial pain.

Back in early March, Allende was arrested by members of the NYPDs Transit Division in Midtown Manhattan on misdemeanor charges, for allegedly possessing drugs and a knife with a blade more than 4 inches long.

At the time, a Manhattan Criminal Court judge granted him release on non-monetary conditions, including that he not be arrested again.

Allende is due in state Criminal Court in St. George on June 18.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Along with a love for wine craft, this vintner encourages self-sustainability and structure. Indeed, as proprietor of Charleston-based Vino Di Vino, one of the few existing New York City-rooted wineries, Rob Rispoli Sr. has his own set of Golden Rules.

Why should one make their own wine? It could be about its thrift.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.   Lori Hesterhagen-Ficarra, a realtor at DiTommaso Real Estate, is shouting news about The Giving Back Project, an initiative aimed at supporting local not-for-profits through partnerships with Staten Island restaurants.

Hesterhagen-Ficarra has spearheaded the project to foster a spirit of giving and collaboration within the community. Beyond her real estate expertise, she is committed to giving back through various charitable endeavors, particularly in support of animal rescue organizations.

The Giving Back Project enlists local restaurants to donate a portion of their proceeds to various charitable organizations. This initiative not only supports the work of the not-for-profits, but encourages community members to dine out locally and contribute to meaningful causes.

Lori Hesterhagen-Ficarra and Dan Ryan. (Courtesy/Lori Hesterhagen-Ficarra. )Staten Island Advance

Hesterhagen-Ficarra has also been creating and printing the flyers that go out on pizza boxes, so that dogs and cats can get adopted.

Also on board at Mangia Pizzeria and Ristorante was Dan Ryan as part of the GRACE Foundations Dan on the Street, a community segment to provide inclusion for GRACE participants.

Its great seeing Lori inspire others to do good, said Ryan. The donations from the restaurants give back to various not-for-profits on Staten Island. The Mom and Pops on Staten Island always go above and beyond to support their community.

PARTICIPATING RESTAURANTS AND THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS

 Mangia Pizzeria and Ristorante: Every first Tuesday of the month, from 4 to 9 p.m., Mangia Pizzeria and Ristorante donates 10% of its sales to local charities.

Beneficiaries have included the Staten Island Giving Circle, Pitbulls & Addicts, the GRACE Foundation of New York, Victory 4 the Voiceless, and Louies Legacy Animal Rescue.

Giving back to our community is a core value for us at Mangia, said Pete Como from Mangia. We are proud to support organizations that make a real difference locally.

 Towne Deli & Pizzeria: This deli donates 10% of all sales to Pitbulls and Addicts, a not-for-profit dedicated to the pet adoption of pit bulls and support for individuals in recovery. Charles Polizzotto said, Its important for us to contribute to the community that has supported us over the years. Partnering with Pitbulls and Addicts allows us to make a positive impact.

 Domenicos Pizzeria and Pasta: Domenicos has made significant contributions to Staten Island Animal Control and Care, aiding in their mission to provide shelter and care for animals in need Chris McEvoy says Supporting Staten Island Animal Control and Care aligns with our values of compassion and community support. We are happy to contribute to their cause.

 Pizzaiolo Pizza and Pasta: Pizzaiolo Pizza and Pasta donates 10% of all sales to the family of fallen NYPD Police Officer Jonathan Diller, who died March 25. Diller, a 31-year-old father and husband, was killed during a traffic stop in Queens. Officer Diller was a hero who served our community with honor. Supporting his family is the least we can do to honor his memory stated Chris McEvoy.

Lori Hesterhagen-Ficarra. (Courtesy/Lori Hesterhagen-Ficarra)Staten Island Advance

Hesterhagen-Ficarras slogan, Selling Homes and Finding FURever Homes, is symbolized with two animal pawprints. I believe in the power of community and the difference we can make when we come together. The Giving Back Project is a way for us to support each other, uplift local nonprofits, and make Staten Island a better place for everyone. My goal is to create a lasting impact that inspires others to give back in any way they can.

For more information about The Giving Back Project, or to learn how you can get involved, contact Lori Hesterhagen-Ficarra at lori.ficarra@gmail.com or 347-723-4240.
A long-shot fundraising drive to save a Catholic elementary school in Passaic County that is closing after 65 years is being called off, according to the organizer.

Parents were stunned in mid-May when church officials announced that Immaculate Heart of Mary School in Wayne, which opened in 1959, would shut down at the conclusion of the 2023-24 school year.

The K-8 school was grappling with declining enrollment and rising costs, officials said.

A GoFundMe account aimed at raising $500,000, enough to offset the deficit cited by Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, was launched May 17 and had raised more than $16,500 as of Friday. However, the pace of pledged donations slowed after an early surge, with only a few hundred dollars reported since the start of June.

The fundraisers organizer announced Saturday that he would be halting the effort and refunding pledges after a survey of families found that interest in continuing to enroll their children is significantly lower than anticipated to where there doesnt seem to be much of a path forward.

I really wish there was better news but these new updates make the odds seemingly impossible to overcome, the organizer, Brian Stieve, posted to GoFundMe.

Some parents met last week with Diocese of Paterson Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney, a spokesperson for the diocese said.

The goodwill and investment of time and energy by so many who love (Immaculate Heart of Mary School) and understand the value of Catholic education is deeply appreciated. We pray that the Lord will guide our efforts to be servants of the gospel through mutual accompaniment in challenging times, the dioceses spokesperson, Jai Agnish, told NJ Advance Media on Friday, prior to the apparent end of fundraising efforts.

Stieve did not immediately respond to a request for comment on MOnday.

Immaculate Heart of Mary Schools last day of classes is June 20.

The schools impending shutdown is the latest setback for Catholic schools in New Jersey, reflecting a state and national trend that has vexed church officials and educators for years. The closing in Wayne comes a year after Immaculate Conception High School in Lodi closed after 108 years.

(New York City Catholic schools, including some on Staten Island, have met similar fates in recent years.)

There are 5,905 U.S. Catholic schools currently in operation, down from approximately 11,000 in 1970, according to the National Catholic Education Association.

Nationwide, enrollment increased in 2022 for the first time in two decades, but has since stabilized. There were 1.63 million students in Catholic schools during the current school year, the group said in its most recent annual report.

The Rev. Mateusz Jasniewicz, who heads Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, told families last month the school was down to 152 students for the current school year and was projecting a decrease to 135 in September.

This reduction, paired with the economic difficulties our families face, has substantially hindered tuition affordability. Additionally, the proximity of excellent, tuition-free public schools significantly detracts from our value proposition, making it increasingly difficult to justify the financial burden associated with private education, Jasniewicz wrote.

The school had set the 2024-25 tuition rate at $7,750 per student in grades K-4 and $8,000 in grades 5-8 before announcing it would close. Families enrolling a second child would have received a sibling discount of $1,750, with a $2,500 discount for three or more students.

Parental costs would have not been limited to tuition. Families at the school had been required to pay $600 per year over the last five years for a building fund. They were also asked to participate in an annual fundraiser by selling at least 30 tickets at $15 each and buy a $35 yearly membership in the Home School Association.

Immaculate Heart of Mary School has a projected deficit of $375,000 for the 2023-24 school year, Jasniewicz wrote. There was also a school fundraising drive  unrelated to the current GoFundMe campaign  trying to raise $10,000 per month that had netted $70,000 in nine months.

Given these distressing financial realities and the negative impact on our ability to fund essential services like utilities, salaries, and benefits, it is clear that continuing operation into the next academic year is untenable, Jasniewicz wrote.

His letter did not note enrollment levels in prior years.

Students at Immaculate Heart of Mary School will get a one-year, $1,500 tuition subsidy if they transfer to other Catholic schools in the Diocese of Paterson, which includes Morris, Passaic and Sussex counties, diocese officials said.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  As Thursdays opening-night showings of The Relentless Patriot, the documentary profiling conservative activist Scott LoBaido, largely sell out in Staten Island theaters and additional shows are added to meet demand, the artist spoke with the Advance/SILive.com Tuesday to reflect on the films goals and merits.

LoBaido, 59, of Stapleton, a well-known and controversial Staten Island artist and ardent supporter of former President Donald Trump, is an often-provocative activist whose antics are at times unusual and often land him behind bars.

Recently, he released 100 penis-shaped balloons bearing the face of prosecutors and judges outside the Manhattan Criminal Courthouse, where Trump was on trial and would later be convicted of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in a historic hush-money trial. Hed go on to address pro-Trump rallies post-conviction.

The Relentless Patriot,' which is being released nationally on Thursday, is conservative, for sure, and it is emotional, but it is not a pro-Trump testimonial, Lobaido told the Advance/SILive.com.

There is a unity aspect to this film, he said. Its not just rah, rah, rah, Trump, Trump, Trump.

Instead, he said the film touches on other subjects near and dear to his heart, subjects that have moved him toward creativity and protest throughout his life: veterans and how important they are . . . our first responders . . . painting flags across America . . . 9/11,' he said. Rudy Giuliani is a narrator. Its got a little bit of everything that Ive done, many of my arrests.

The first project for Ascension Studios, the film is directed by Christopher Martini and produced by Joshua Macciello and Dan Caropreso, with executive producers Arthur Sarkissian and Frank Torchia.

All conservative in their political views, they share a common goal, LoBaido said.

I dont want conservatism to take over the arts, but we do deserve our fair share, and we never really got it, he said. I just think we deserve a fair share in the open-minded, tolerant world of the arts.

The goal, no surprise, is to get people to the theaters, he said: It will prove to the higher-ups that there is an audience for conservative-themed films.

Studio executives will be on hand for the sold-out 7 p.m. show at the Atrium Stadium Cinemas, Eltingville, on Thursday, LoBaido said. Shows added at 7:30 and 8 p.m. are close to sold out, and an 8:30 p.m. showing at the Atrium has been added, according to the theater website. The Relentless Patriot, is also being shown at Regal Bricktown, Charleston. It is not yet available on streaming services.

On Wednesday night, a private premiere is being held in The Times Center, Manhattan, at 6 p.m.

"The Relentless Patriot'' opens to national audiences on Thursday, June 13. (Ascension Studios)Ascension Studios

LoBaido has painted American flags thousands of times in public spaces, worked his paintings and other large visual displays into public demonstrations and protests, and is perhaps known more in some circles for his criminal arrests than he is for his artwork.

In March, Trump made a surprise appearance at the private premiere of The Relentless Patriot, held in the Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach, Florida.

The film delves into both LoBaidos artistic and political sides, the Staten Islander said, admitting with a chuckle that it was tough to fit all the arrests into the 90-minute flick. His 30-plus-year career promoting patriotism (and Trump) through art is chronicled in the film, which details challenges faced in his mission to unite Americans via artwork and advocacy, according to the films marketing.

It is for everybody,' LoBaido insisted. I have my liberal friends and family coming to see it.

LoBaido was also recently arrested in March during a protest of a new city rule affecting restaurant owners. He flung slices of pizza over the fence outside City Hall during the protest against the mandate, which will require restaurants using coal- and wood-fired ovens to install costly emission-cutting devices.

In 2022, his protest of a Drag Story Hour at the Staten Island Childrens Museum in Livingston made headlines. Also in 2022, he was locked up for pouring red paint on the sidewalk outside Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Braggs office to protest Braggs crime policies, and he was again arrested in 2023 for protesting the migrant shelter in Midland Beach.

Trump publicly supported LoBaido back in 2020, when the artist painted a blue line in front of the 122nd Precinct station.
Editors note: This story first appeared on palabra, the digital news site by the National Association of Hispanic Journalists. It was co-published by palabra and WHYYs The Pulse, and was supported by The Commonwealth Fund.

Words by Lygia Navarro | Edited by Ricardo Sandoval

In an afternoon talk this spring, Ashley Cheng addresses a small group inside the East Harlem Neighborhood Health Action Center. She focuses on something few people seem to want to address these days: Were here to talk about the latest information about COVID, variants, how to access the latest vaccines, long COVID and misinformation that you may be hearing.

Cheng is a vaccine uptake project coordinator for a New York nonprofit. Shes on a mission to keep COVID-19 in the minds of vulnerable people in communities where health care is hit-and-miss and misinformation tends to run rampant.

People are beginning to think life is normal again, attendee Maureen Ebron, who has had eight heart attacks and has a pacemaker, tells the group. Some people will have (COVID-19) and wont even take a test. They just gonna call it a cold, because they dont want to deal with it. Its scary.

Chengs employer, the nonprofit Public Health Solutions, hosts public education sessions throughout the city, and is the only entity providing long COVID education in East Harlem, a community dominated by the two ethnic groups  50% of the neighborhood population is Latino and 31% is Black  with the nations highest rates of long COVID.

New York City has three public COVID-19 Centers of Excellence treating anyone with COVID-19 and long COVID, regardless of their ability to pay. There are private long COVID clinics as well, run by hospitals like NYU and Mt. Sinai.

But many New Yorkers have no idea that long COVID care is even available.

Its the same in other cities across the country.

Despite long COVID hitting communities of color the hardest, most long COVID clinics treat majority white patient populations. Last fall, Mt. Sinai was one of nine clinics awarded federal grants of $5 million over five years for their East Harlem clinic, which the hospital said will expand access to care for people of color. Yet despite months of requests for this story, Mt. Sinai hasnt provided information on the new clinics patient demographics or documentation on the federal funding. And in response to a Freedom of Information Act request for details of the grant funding to Mt. Sinai, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services sent me a heavily-redacted set of documents that included only publicly available information.

There is no research yet on why people of color have such high rates of long COVID. The answer is likely a combination of overrepresentation in essential worker jobs (causing higher COVID-19 rates early in the pandemic), pre-existing barriers to health care, lack of health insurance and the absence of public information campaigns on the risks of long COVID. Dr. Monica Verduzco-Gutierrez  who suffers from long COVID and runs a long COVID clinic in San Antonio, Texas  tells me that low cultural competency among physicians contributes to inadequate diagnoses of long COVID in Black and Latino communities.

A list of questions

At the Public Health Solutions seminar, Maureen Ebron, whose daughter and granddaughter suffer from lingering health problems after contracting COVID-19, has come to Chengs session armed with questions: Can you get reinfected while youre already having symptoms of long COVID? she asks.

Definitely, Cheng responds. You can get re-infected with COVID again however many times.

Chengs colleague Mike Hernandez jumps in. Weve only begun to start studying the effects of long COVID and how to treat long COVID, he says, explaining that theres no consensus on what causes the illness or even how to diagnose it. (Physicians) just might attribute it to, Youre fine. Go see somebody else. Or whats worse, they just may say, Youre getting old. Thats what happens. Your joints hurt. You have difficulty engaging in physical activity like you did before.

No, Hernandez adds, emphatically. Its happening to younger people as well.

I want to be honest with you, Hernandez continues telling the group. There is no treatment. But there are things that they can do to try to help alleviate it. For the brain fog, there are some memory skills to try to help that. The worst thing we can do is just let something continue on without having it taken care of.

Ebron picks up the thread, adding that she was surprised to learn that physicians can address specific long COVID symptoms. Brain fog  I never knew that there was stuff that they do for that, she says. Im like: you have long COVID, youre stuck with it. A lot of seniors just think its part of their regular (issues with) heart, diabetes, asthma. That information does need to get out to us in the community.

The information gap

Sabrina Moye is among those lost in the information gap. The 46-year-old of Puerto Rican and African American heritage was diagnosed with long COVID in 2021. (Long COVID is new or worsened health problems lasting or developing more than three months after a COVID infection. The illness can affect the digestive tract, the brain, the heart, blood vessels, blood sugar levels, and many more parts of the body. Experts have identified more than 200 different long COVID symptoms.)

When I ask during a Zoom call if shes been seen at a long COVID clinic, Moye says, I dont know that we have long COVID care in New York City. I dont know that we have a long COVID clinic because Ive never even been referred to one. Ive only been seen by my pulmonologist and my (primary care physician).

When I tell Moye that there are multiple long COVID clinics in the city, shes floored  and incensed. I didnt even know this existed. If theres people who specialize in COVID care, I should absolutely be seen by them. They may have information that can help me get far better than what Ive gotten in three years. Wow. Never even been referred. Never.

Moyes experience illustrates how lack of public information about the illness, about how to prevent it, and about how to find care in New York City, has hindered people of color. To begin with, there is very little public information that could help people defend themselves from  or cope with  long COVID. Add to this an already unequal distribution of health care thats aggravated by language barriers or social reluctance to engage mainstream health clinics. The void is even more alarming given that Moye works for the nonprofit running the East Harlem COVID health information session. And she knows COVID-19 all too well: Moye lost relatives on both sides of her family in the pandemic.

In August 2021, Moye, who is asthmatic, was a frontline employee for a public health organization. Within days, she became deathly ill: COVID just did not agree with my body. I ended up in the hospital: 12 blood clots. Partial lung collapse. Pneumonia, of course, in both lungs. Glucose levels were through the roof. I ended up with sepsis.

Following her encounter with acute COVID-19, Moyes life was transformed. Everything was opposite of who I had been up until that point. Couldnt stand on my own, couldnt bathe myself on my own. Im still pretty young. I didnt expect to be in that space.

Today, Moye deals with a list of overwhelming symptoms: I still have headaches. Im still often on oxygen. I still can only walk three blocks. I still have the lethargy, this extreme exhaustion. My immune system is still compromised. I still have days with the muscle weakness. I still can only walk three blocks. I still cant go up and down the stairs without losing breath or getting winded. Im on a steroid inhaler  and strong doses. Its just never ending. Its always something. Im like, Okay, what else do I do at this point?

Then, in 2022, Moye was reinfected. COVID really did a number on me. My doctor said to me, Hey, please, lets try to keep you COVID-free for a year. I dont know that your lungs can actually take it again.

She still struggles to keep up with the day-to-day of parenting and her job; she works from home, which shes able to do under federal disability law. I have been on a reasonable accommodation ever since (getting COVID-19), she says. Fighting to try to get back to some sense of normalcy, and get back to work, and get back in the office, and get back to doing things that I love doing at one point. Its just been hard. I can have good days and then I have horrible days. Before would be good day, bad day. Now its either good or horrible. Theres no in between.

An unequal burden

Despite her debilitating symptoms, which include needing oxygen most days, Moye has not been seen by a long COVID specialist. This is a failure of care experienced by many Latinos with long COVID, who either arent informed by their doctors about long COVID clinics, or are unsuccessful in their attempts to be referred to the clinics. In fact, Moye receives care at Mt. Sinai Hospital, which just opened its third Manhattan long COVID clinic  in East Harlem, where Moye lived until very recently.

For Moye, its distressing to learn that Latinos and African Americans are hardest hit by long COVID and yet face high barriers to care. I just thought it affected everybody in the same way. If this is affecting one population and not the other, what resources were provided to one group and not the other? It just makes me wonder, what is it within our care  or what is it thats not being done  that we end up with carrying the burden of it all?

Moye has a message for other people of color with long COVID: Theyre not alone in this, she says. (Long COVID) does exist. Dont ignore those things that are lingering, that you may just say, Oh, its just in my head, or, Its just me. Dont allow nobody to say that its just in your head. If you feel something, you know your body, youre living in it: Dont ignore it.

Moye says she does her best to keep moving forward. She has accepted that she really does need oxygen, and uses an oxygen tank when she feels unwell. Shes also committed to protecting her familys health: They recently moved out of crowded public housing to a house outside the city. Now Moye has a backyard, where she can sit in the sun. And breathe.

__

Lygia Navarro is an award-winning disabled journalist working in narrative audio and print, and an editor at palabra. She has reported from across Latin America, as well as on Latine stories in the United States and Europe. Lygia has reported for the CBC, The American Prospect, Business Insider, Marketplace, The World, Latino USA, the Virginia Quarterly Review, the Christian Science Monitor, The Associated Press and Afar, among other outlets. She has also worked as a podcast producer, and her work has been supported by many grants and fellowships.

Michelle Perez is an illustrator and designer based in Providence, Rhode Island. Raised across coasts of the United States, she grounds herself in the stories shes carried with her along the way. Her art seeks to elevate meaningful narratives through bold linework and thoughtful compositions, bridging traditional and digital means of making. @michiperezart

Ricardo Sandoval-Palos is palabras founding editor. He is the public editor for PBS, an intermediary on ethics, integrity and standards between the broadcasters audiences and its creatives and journalists. Ricardo is an award-winning investigative reporter and editor. His reporting in Latin America earned awards from the Overseas Press Club and the InterAmerican Press Association. Hes also co-author of the biography, The Fight In The Fields: Cesar Chavez and the Farmworkers Movement. @ricsand
IN CLASS: This feature is part of an ongoing education column highlighting the various activities that engage school communities.

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Staten Island students from Lavelle Preparatory Charter School leveled up their history class by taking a field trip to Pennsylvanias Gettysburg National Military Park last month.

Students in Michael Tenutos social studies class were able to travel to Gettysburg thanks to a History Field Trip Grant Program through American Battlefield Trust, the largest battlefield land preservation organization in the United States.

The trip provided students with a hands-on history learning opportunity. Through visiting preserved battlefields and walking in the footsteps of the soldiers who fought there, the American Battlefield Trust provides the grant to help students form good citizenship.

The field trip was funded through the History Field Trip Grant Program, which is offered via American Battlefield Trust. (Courtesy/Michael Tenuto)Michael Tenuto

Every year, the Trust receives applications from classrooms across the country to participate in the History Field Trip Grant Program, which offers funding and assistance to K-12 teachers who are planning field trips to battlefields and related historic sites.

These kids get a chance to go to where history was made, where our country was created and defined, said Trust President David Duncan. Battlefields are outdoor classrooms that will teach future Americans about our democratic republic.

Grants are awarded based on a competitive national application process. Tenuto was able to plan and execute the trip and receive reimbursement for expenses related to the experience.

He said he was excited to use the Gettysburg Battlefield as an outdoor classroom that gave students a meaningful and memorable experience.

These kids get a chance to go to where history was made, where our country was created and defined, said American Battlefield Trust President David Duncan. Battlefields are outdoor classrooms that will teach future Americans about our democratic republic. (Courtesy/Michael Tenuto)Michael Tenuto

SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS

Two Staten Island high school student were named recipients of the Amazon Future Engineer Scholarship award.

Henry Zheng, of Staten Island Technical High School in New Dorp, and Kevin Kaferi, of New Dorp High School, each received up to $40,000 in paid tuition to attend the college of their choice and a paid internship offer at Amazon after their freshman year of college.

Scholars also engage in networking opportunities with their peers and Amazon employees, receive skills development and mental health resources, and have access to an emergency grant fund for unexpected financial obligations that might prevent them from attending school.

Applications will reopen in fall 2024.

Here are the eligibility requirements for the scholarship:

Must be a high school senior in the United States who is currently enrolled in or who has completed a high school or college dual degree course where computer science or engineering is the subject. Students who have not taken this course can opt-in to take an assessment offered by Amazon.

Must be planning to earn a bachelors degree in computer science, software engineering, computer engineering, electrical engineering, or other computer science related field of study from an accredited four-year college or from a two-year college with the intent to transfer to a four-year college.

Must be authorized to work in the United States.

Must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.3 on a 4.0 scale (or its equivalent).

Must demonstrate financial need.

SEND US YOUR STORIES

Do you have a story idea for the In Class education column? Email education reporter Annalise Knudson at aknudson@siadvance.com.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Election Day may still be months away, but candidates vying for the congressional seat in New Yorks 11th District are already pulling in major campaign contributions.

Republican incumbent Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-Staten Island/South Brooklyn) is seeking re-election for the second time, having first assumed office in January 2021.
Many Australians were nurtured on the belief that their drinking water was the worlds best. Occasionally, their faith was rattled by debates over chlorination and fluoridation, but it now emerges weve been drinking tap water turned toxic by so-called forever chemicals.

There are now calls for urgent testing following US warnings they are no safe levels of perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in drinking water and were likely to be carcinogenic. The World Health Organisations cancer agency has even gone a step further, classifying PFOA as category one carcinogen.

The Heralds award-winning journalist Carrie Fellner reports that after the Biden administration dramatically lowered its safe limits for drinking water in April following a crusade led by a young woman against forever chemicals, some Australians are likely to have been exposed via suburban drinking water supplies across Sydney and dozens of other locations across Australia.

Testing to date indicates the drinking water supplies of some 1.8 million Australians had been contaminated by forever chemicals. A government-funded 2011 University of Queensland study sampled tap water 34 locations and discovered the chemicals at North Richmond, Quakers Hill, Liverpool, Blacktown, Emu Plains and Campbelltown, along with the NSW regional centres of Bathurst, Wagga Wagga, Lithgow, Gundagai and Yass.
I would explain the brutal facts: the business simply cant support the two roles in the team, and as a result, you will no longer be needing her role. They will ask about the other person so have your reasons clear about why this role needs to go and not the other one. Try to focus on the role rather than the individual. I would acknowledge this must be a shock but reinforce how much you have valued their work and want to support their future career. If you plan to give a reference to any potential future employer, I would mention that too.

Im a small business owner with a dilemma. I have only two employees, and one has been with us a little longer than the other. Im experiencing a significant downturn and have been avoiding the inevitable of having to let someone go, hoping work will pick up, as letting someone go feels very personal. I feel it is probably time for the person with the longer employment to move on and get experience elsewhere, but as they are quite entrenched, I worry it will be difficult for them to see this. Any advice?

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These conversations are never easy, and the person may become upset, angry or shocked. Whatever happens, you just need to remain calm, fact-based and supportive as they work through what you are saying. Also have as much information with you as possible. For example, when do you want them to finish? If they want to finish earlier than that, can they? And will you pay them out? What are their financial entitlements? They might ask whether they are entitled to a redundancy (they are not since you have less than 15 employees), so have all that information on hand. Good luck.

I am stuck in a rut with my manager. We always got on very well until another team member raised an anonymous and detailed complaint about her, and she received a negative 360 review. I suspect she believes Im behind the complaint. She told me I need to look for a new job because I have been in the team too long but does not cite performance issues. Apart from her, I love the job and as Im close to retirement have no desire to find a new one.

Your manager sounds incredibly difficult to work with, and it is a shame she didnt treat the feedback in the 360 review as it is intended, which is as a personal development tool. It is also incredibly poor form to be trying to hunt down anyone who puts in a complaint.

You probably know already you could raise this within your organisation since her behaviour is completely unacceptable. But I get the sense you just want to bide your time until retirement, which I also understand. If that is the case, there really isnt much that will change this managers behaviour. It sounds like her boss needs to be dealing with this much more actively than they are and so you might want to consider letting them know what is going on.
Power also highlights the importance of understanding how your money is invested, particularly in MySuper funds. In most MySuper funds, how your money is invested doesnt materially change according to your age. For example, your investment mix could be the same at age 18 and at age 60, she says.

Kelly Power, CEO of Colonial First State Superannuation.

CFS adopts a lifestage investment strategy for its MySuper funds, including FirstChoice Employer Super and Essential Super.

Lifestage options are designed to automatically allocate and adjust your investment mix according to your age as you grow older, based on your year of birth, Power says. This approach ensures that younger members, who have more time to ride out market fluctuations, are invested in growth assets like property and shares, while older members approaching retirement have a more conservative mix to reduce volatility.

James Walker, executive financial advisor at financial advice firm Viridian Advisory, echoes the importance of considering insurance and fund balance when selecting a super fund.

If someone has existing insurance in place, theyre going to lose those insurances if they opt into another fund, Walker says.

If someone has a very small balance, they might need something a little simpler with lower costs.

Optimising investments

Optimising superannuation investments is key to maximising retirement savings. Power says that CFS is committed to achieving the best investment outcomes for its members, as reflected in the strong performance of their default MySuper options.

For the 12 months to 31 March 2024, FirstChoice Employer Super balanced option (MySuper Lifestage 1965-69) delivered a 14.1 per cent return, while the growth option (MySuper Lifestage 1975-79) delivered a 16.8 per cent return, Power says.

CFS also offers more than 180 investment options for those looking to build their own portfolio, allowing members to tailor their strategy and create a diversified super portfolio with funds from leading investment managers globally.

We encourage members to seek financial advice by using the Find an Adviser tool on the CFS website, says Power. Financial advice fees related to super investments can often be deducted from the super balance, making professional guidance more accessible.

Walker stresses the importance of understanding ones time horizon when determining an allocation strategy.

Often people underestimate their time horizon for investments. If youre 55 and thinking you will retire at 65, you might think you have a 10-year time horizon. But depending on your financial situation, you might have a 40-year time horizon, he says. This longer time frame allows for a higher risk tolerance, leading to potentially greater returns.

Proactive measures for bolstering retirement savings

Proactively contributing to your superannuation can significantly enhance retirement savings. Power says that even small additional contributions can make a big difference over time due to the power of compounding.

Topping up your super with an extra contribution  even if its only a small amount  can make a big difference over time, she says. Super contributions also offer tax benefits, potentially allowing for more funds to be invested and grow.

Power outlines two ways to add to your super: from your before-tax income or from your after-tax income. Additionally, contributing to your spouses super can also be beneficial.

Sometimes couples do this when one of them isnt working, or if one person earns more than the other. The person that makes the contribution may be able to claim a tax offset of up to $540 for the contribution, she says.

Walker highlights recent trends in top-up strategies, such as the use of concessional contributions and downsizer contributions.

A great strategy now is to look back at the concessional contributions youve made. If your super balance is under $500,000 and you havent been able to make a tax-deductible contribution this year, the concessional cap is a great way to top your super up, he says. Walker also calls out the downsizer contribution, which allows individuals over 55 to contribute up to $300,000 from the sale of their home.

James Walker, executive financial advisor at financial advice firm Viridian Advisory.

Historical context and evolution

Australias superannuation system has evolved significantly since its inception. Employers have been obligated to pay super since the 1992/1993 financial year when the Superannuation Guarantee (SG) became operational.

In 1996, total superannuation assets were $245 billion. By 2007, they had surpassed $1 trillion and had exceeded GDP. Today, total superannuation industry assets are fast approaching $4 trillion, underscoring the systems growth and importance.

Planning support

Planning for retirement can be complex, and CFS offers various tools and resources to support its members. We know that retirement planning can be hard to navigate and speaking to a financial adviser can really help, says Power.

CFS provides new guides and a retirement calculator on their website to assist members in planning their financial future.

Moreover, CFS has partnered with Retirement Essentials to simplify the age pension application process and help members understand their entitlements.

Power stresses the importance of member confidence, citing a survey by superannuation industry analyst Core Data, which found that CFS had the highest score for member confidence and comfort about their retirement savings.

Walker also stresses the importance of advice and active management.

Theres no doubt markets are complicated. And if youre going to try and manage the fund yourself, you need to make sure that youre putting in a lot of time and effort to understanding how markets and investments work, he says.

Walker also highlights the risks of overexposure to certain asset classes and the benefits of diversification.

Power leaves us with a potent reminder: The younger you start, the easier it is. Superannuation is not just for the distant future; its a vital part of ensuring financial security throughout your life.

The beauty of making super contributions is the potential to pay less tax and therefore have more funds to invest, while growing your super balance faster thanks to the power of compounding. Just keep in mind that there are limits to the amount you can contribute to super each year.

To learn more, please visit CFS.
The disturbing doctoring of photos of about 50 teenage girls to create fake nude images is part of an epidemic thats causing great harm, experts warn.

Australias eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, on Wednesday said rapidly developing technology is making it harder to determine what content is fake.

eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

It follows the arrest of a teenage boy after manipulated images were shared of girls in years 9 to 12 at Bacchus Marsh Grammar, northwest of Melbourne.

Deepfakes, especially deepfake pornography, can be devastating to the person whose image is taken and altered without their knowledge or consent, no matter who they are, Grant said.

Laws cracking down on the sharing of sexually explicit AI-generated images and deepfakes without consent were introduced to federal parliament on June 5.

However, some politicians remain concerned about the persistent availability of online programs to create deepfake images.

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Several apps offered prompts including undressing someone, body retouch, hot looks, spicy images and pushing the boundaries  usually under subscriber content.

Face swaps, replicating outfits to short uniforms, overlaying faces on pornographic content and inserting sexually explicit photos were accessible within half a dozen clicks.

Bacchus Marsh Grammar, north-west of Melbourne, has said it is counselling students after it was made aware of the production and circulation of video content including images of about 50 students.

Bacchus Marsh Grammar is taking this matter very seriously and has contacted Victoria Police, acting principal Kevin Richardson said in a statement.

Victoria Police officers arrested a teenager over the explicit images circulated online and he was released pending further inquiries.

AAP
Recalcitrant youth on the wrong side of the law in the 1970s would scale the concrete balconies of the hulking remand centre in inner-city Glebe in a desperate bid to escape the building and their brush with justice.

But now, a new generation of intruders is flouting the law and frustrating residents by flocking to get into the abandoned Bidura Childrens Court and Metropolitan Remand Centre as it awaits its date with a bulldozer to make way for a $32 million residential redevelopment.

The buildings concrete walls are covered in graffiti and its glass windows and doors have been shattered. Inside, office chairs, desks, partitions, drawers and bookshelves have been trashed. Credit: Edwina Pickles

Chris Newton, who lives opposite the complex, is among residents who have watched the complex become a magnet for trespassers and vandals since the state government moved out in 2017.

Its a popular adventure site. Ive been here 40 years, so I remember when it was the remand centre, and the kids were trying their hardest to get out of it; now theyre trying their hardest to get into it.
The group terrorised the four occupants and demanded money from them, NSW Police Superintendent Adam Whyte said. Petrol was poured through the home  but not ignited  before the men left in two separate vehicles.

Around 12.45am, the masked men stormed into a home on Mary Wade Place in Carnes Hill where they demanded money from a family, before shooting a 25-year-old man who confronted the intruders.

CCTV footage shows eight masked men wielding pistols, a shotgun and a machete enter a house in Sydneys south-west before shooting a resident in the leg on Tuesday morning.

The other occupants of the home werent injured, but there were scuffles with the intruders, a shotgun was fired at a parked car and the front door of the house was set alight but self-extinguished, Whyte said.

NSW police collect evidence at Carnes Hill, which is now a crime scene after a 25-year-old male was shot. Credit: Kate Geraghty

Generally, these matters are targeted, theyre not random, Whyte said. I suggest one of the reasons that people are going into homes is to get car keys or valuables that are easily accessible, or perhaps to take your vehicle, he said when asked about a spate of recent home invasions.

Police are urging anyone who may have information about the matter, or was in the area at the time with any available dashcam/mobile phone footage, to contact Liverpool Police Station or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

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This article is part of a series on the impact of toxic forever chemicals produced as part of the documentary How To Poison a Planet.

Sydney authorities are monitoring just one site for carcinogenic contaminants in the citys water, as the premier, health minister and chief medico were at pains to stress the safety of our water supply.

Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant confirmed on Tuesday the forever chemical PFOA is cancer-causing, in line with the World Health Organisations classification but in contrast to the federal governments denial that they cause important health effects.

Dr Kerry Chant and NSW Health Minister Ryan Park at Ryde Hospital on Tuesday. Credit: Nick Moir

Her comments come after an investigation by this masthead revealed drinking water across parts of Sydney, Canberra, Victoria and Queensland contain contaminants perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) that the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) warns probably cause cancer with no safe level of exposure.

PFOA is permitted in Australias tap water at 140 times the maximum level the US will allow. Either PFOA or PFOS have been found in the drinking water of up to 1.8 million Australians since 2010, including the Sydney suburbs of North Richmond, Quakers Hill, Liverpool, Blacktown, Emu Plains and Campbelltown, along with the NSW regional centres of Newcastle, Bathurst, Wagga Wagga, Lithgow, Gundagai and Yass.
It was the failed cocaine import that shocked the state  a Brazilian diver found dead on the banks of a port with more than 50 kilograms of cocaine beside him.

Now more than two years later, NSW Police revealed that last month they dug up an entire truck that they believe was used in the failed drug importation operation at the Port of Newcastle.

Organised crime squad detectives excavate the truck as part of investigation into the death of a diver at the Port of Newcastle. Credit: NSW Police

The ongoing police investigation follows the discovery of 31-year-old Bruno Borges Martins body on the banks of the port on May 9, 2022. Passersby performed CPR, but he could not be revived.

Another diver believed to be involved in the operation, 32-year-old Jhoni Fernandes Da Silva, remains missing.
The previous Coalition government was warned at least as far back as late 2021 about the risk that a spaghetti junction in Sydneys inner west would cause two-kilometre-long queues, delays during morning peaks and rat-running by motorists trying to avoid congestion.

Confidential briefing documents by Transport for NSW spelt out the need for measures to avoid forecast congestion that were not adopted, including moveable lanes on the Anzac Bridge and widening part of the Western Distributor motorway by the time the Rozelle interchange opened in late 2023. The opening of the junction triggered traffic chaos.

Moveable lanes were planned for the Anzac Bridge but later shelved. Credit: Rhett Wyman

A briefing document in February last year  a month before the state election  warned that queues would extend up to two kilometres from the Anzac Bridge and Western Distributor during the morning peak without proposed mitigations.

While bus lane changes and other work ran to schedule at the time, Transport for NSW warned that plans to widen the Western Distributor and install so-called tidal flow on the Anzac Bridge would not be finished by the end of 2023 in time for the junctions opening.
City of Melbourne councillors have rejected a plan to give a South Yarra apartment block heritage protection that residents feared would jeopardise their hope to sell the old building to developers and allow more homes to be built.

On Monday, The Age reported the curtain wall-style block on Walsh Street, called Motstone, was one of 16 properties and two new precincts set to receive protection as part of a South Yarra heritage review initiated by Melbourne City Council.

Sarah Creane, a resident of Motstone in South Yarra. Credit: Penny Stephens

But on Tuesday night, councillor Rohan Leppert, who leads the City of Melbournes heritage portfolio, moved an amendment that exempted the 13-apartment building from heritage protections.

Lepperts amendment still said the postwar building met the threshold to be classed as significant to South Yarras heritage, but instead categorised it as non-contributory because council found the higher threshold for demolition ought not apply.
Overwhelming workloads and violence had a flow-on effect on health, with surveyed school leaders showing higher rates of anxiety and depression than the general population. More still reported mental health concerns including burnout, stress and trouble sleeping. Loading More than half (56.04 per cent) agreed or strongly agreed they intended to quit  particularly those with more than 15 years experience. ACU investigator and former school leader Dr Paul Kidson said education experts were beginning to discuss the potential for principals to claim moral injury, which was first identified in US military personnel asked to carry out tasks in war zones that transgressed their own beliefs or values. I suspect that the conversation is going to emerge with even more claims, as it did in the US Army, he said.

Kidson said any cuts to workers compensation would lead to further disillusionment for principals, who were deeply committed but running out of capacity to do their jobs without harm to their wellbeing. We know that these people want to do this job, he said. Thats because they keep turning up, even under these circumstances. But if we assume that theyre going to continue to do that, we are kidding ourselves. Holleran trained at Geelong Teachers College in 1967. He was head teacher and principal of seven schools in rural Victoria and a relief teacher and consultant at many more. He loved his job. But there were years of pressure, then the death of a friend and colleague in a car accident, and then the pandemic. In 2021, he burst into tears at a set of traffic lights and never went back.

I am bloody good at my job, he said. I had planned to work forever in some capacity. But I have had over two years of my life ruined. I have a psychiatric diagnosis of PTSD [post-traumatic stress disorder] with the recommendation that I should not return to my current position or anything similar. It is almost three years since I stopped work. Apart from the odd conversation that I have initiated, there has not been a single call from anyone in the education department asking simply, How are you? In 2021, Owen Holleran burst into tears at a set of traffic lights. He hasnt been back to work since. Credit: Wayne Taylor Holleran has no doubt he was put in positions that could constitute moral injury. He spent 130 weeks on WorkCover, the maximum allowed before changes this year. WorkSafe Victoria accepted 1689 injury claims from the school sector last year, including 446 for mental injury. This was an increase of 76 mental injury claims from the previous year. The data does not specify how many were for stress and burnout.

Kidson said education ministers had agreed in March to address principal wellbeing, but the process was too slow. There doesnt appear yet to be the type of momentum shift that is equivalent to the scale of the need, he said. Its difficult to tell how many claims of moral injury have been successful. The issue is normally part of a larger claim including other psychological issues such as depression and anxiety. But the managing director of educational consultancy the Brown Collective, Stephen Brown, said the UKs key wellbeing report for headteachers now identified moral injury as one of six common sources of stress for educators. The Headrest 2023 report said school leaders were regularly faced with having to make decisions that went against deeply held beliefs and principles due to budget limitations, staff shortages or other constraints.

They increasingly found themselves having to opt not for the best option but what they deemed the least bad choice, the report said. Loading Brown said principals needed more support to deal with their increasingly complex roles. Its a multi-headed Hydra, he said. Throwing money at it and just saying, well, weve responded is not enough. Professor Jane Wilkinson is one of a team of researchers at Monash University conducting a national study of Australian public school principals emotional labour.

Eighteen months into the three-year project, the researchers have heard from principals dealing with suicides, murders and violence from students and parents. Wilkinson said principals were increasingly describing themselves as first responders to define the kinds of work they were doing every day. Principals were working an average of 60 hours a week, and researchers had begun calling them the hard hours, not only due to the sheer volume but also the emotional intensity. Wilkinson said there was clear evidence of moral injury in the critical incidents. Australian Education Union Victorian branch president Meredith Peace said the new workers compensation laws would have a seriously negative impact on education staff. Prior to the changes there were barely enough prevention measures available to principals, teachers and education support staff, and procedures to prevent workers getting injured, she said.
Warning: this report contains the name and image of a deceased Indigenous person, with his familys permission.

A major probe into allegations of serious misconduct following the death of teenager Cleveland Dodd at the notorious Unit 18 has cleared the staff involved, but laid bare the shocking conditions inside the controversial facility and the litany of band-aid fixes.

The 69-page report by the Corruption and Crime Commission, tabled on Tuesday, comes eight months after the 16-year-old became the first juvenile to die in custody in Western Australia.

Cleveland Dodd, 16, (inset) died after self-harming in his cell at the youth Unit 18 wing of Perths maximum-security Casuarina Prison.

Cleveland had threatened to self-harm eight times before trying to take his own life in the early hours of October 12, 2023, one week before his family chose to switch off his life support.
Thats all from us tonight  but we leave you with a story from Perths courts today, in which a 23-year-old has pleaded guilty to killing and torturing kangaroos, but claimed that he did so as part of his Indigenous culture and way of life.

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The Dawesville man, who cannot be named to protect his identity after it was revealed he had been threatened and intimidated by members of the community, appeared in Mandurah Magistrates Court on Tuesday where he pleaded guilty to two animal cruelty charges.

But the young mans family spoke outside court in his defence.

Thats all from us tonight  thanks for following the blog today. Well be back in the morning.
Liberal frontbencher Hollie Hughes has launched an extraordinary attack on shadow treasurer Angus Taylor, accusing him of using his authority to push her off the Senate ticket for the next election and undermining Peter Dutton to bolster his own leadership chances.

Hughes, who holds junior opposition portfolios of mental health and the NDIS, claimed Taylors decision to endorse a challenger to the NSW Senate team was an attempt to boost the shadow treasurers numbers in Canberra for a potential future leadership tilt.

Angus Taylor and Peter Dutton in parliament in March. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

Peter Dutton has run a completely unified team. It beggars belief a senior member would go against the leadership in a successful attempt to disrupt the shadow ministerial team, Hughes said, pointing out the convention of sitting MPs backing incumbent colleagues in candidate selection contests.

This is a message to colleagues that some peoples ambition is more focused on themselves rather than the betterment of the team.
Melbourne doctors have backed calls to overhaul Victorias assisted dying laws, arguing its time for the state to be brought into line with others that have implemented more lenient rules since following in the footsteps of the Andrews government.

But not everyone agrees, including an emergency physician and the states opposition leader, who expressed concern about the erosion of important safeguards in place since June 2019.

Cherryl Barassi wants Victorias assisted dying laws overhauled. Credit: Simon Schluter

The renewed debate comes after Cherryl Barassi, the widow of AFL great Ron Barassi, spoke to The Age about not qualifying for help under the current framework.

St Kilda GP Dr Nick Carr has now chosen to identify himself as Barassis doctor  with her permission  and publicly back his patients call for Victoria to become an example of best practice.
In Italy and France, the respective conservative movements led by Giorgia Meloni and Le Pen drew almost 30 per cent of the vote to finish first in those polls; in the Netherlands, the more hardline Geert Wilders Party for Freedom came in second; and, in Poland, the Law and Justice Party came second. Ultraconservative and nationalist parties also won or made significant gains in Austria, Cyprus and Greece. Several other countries, such as Portugal, will also send nationalist Members of the European Parliament to Strasbourg. Konrad Adam, the founder of the AfD, quit the party in 2021, claiming the movement had been overrun by extremists. Credit: Rob Harris This election also marked the first time that 16- and 17-year-old Germans were able to vote. AfD had major wins in the under-30 demographic, courtesy of a major TikTok campaign, and increased its share of that category by 10 per cent. Krah was the star of the social platform with simple and direct messages. One became rather notorious.

One in three young men in Germany has never had a girlfriend. Are you one of them? Krah asked. His advice continued: Dont watch porn, dont vote green, go outside into the fresh air. Be confident. And above all, dont believe you need to be nice and soft. Real men stand on the far right. Real men are patriots. Thats the way to find a girlfriend! Far-right AFD politician Gabrielle Mailbeck has campaigned on social media to reach a new generation of voters. Credit: X/Gabrielle Mailbeck German intelligence services have classified the AfD as a suspected right-wing extremist organisation. Several branches across Germany have been classed as confirmed extremist groups amid the partys increasingly xenophobic rhetoric. Three-quarters of Germans now say they believe that the AfD poses a threat to democracy, and many took to the streets en masse earlier this year against the partys hardline immigration agenda. Scholz, whose Social Democratic Party won just 13.9 per cent of the European parliamentary vote  its worst result in a nationwide democratic election in more than 130 years  warned that the policies of the far-right populist party must not become normalised.

We should never get used to that, he said. The task must always be to push them back again. Among Adams biggest concerns is the division the AfD is causing. It has pounced on short memories and young voters and pointed out that it gained most of its votes in Germanys eastern federal states. Loading I fear this could tear the country apart again, Adam said. I think for many people, they dont have memories of two Germanies. But it is still so raw for many of us. Initially, the AfD was a minor party with little broad appeal, but a 2015 decision by then-chancellor Angela Merkel to allow more than 1 million refugees from Syria and Iraq into Germany changed the partys prospects. Its platform became primarily anti-Muslim and anti-Islam.

While the partys founders have openly criticised the AfD and some have resigned over its move to the radical right, it shifted its geographic focus, as its anti-immigration stance won increasing support from eastern parts of Germany. Nationally, the AfD gained six European seats at the weekend for a total of 16  one of its best results in a nationwide election, although lower than the 22 per cent share that polls suggested in January. Loading Stefan Lehne, a senior fellow at the analysis agency Carnegie Europe, said two factors had sustained the AfDs popularity. The party taps into growing public unease about Berlins lack of a coherent migration and asylum policy at a time when the number of refugees and migrants arriving in Germany has significantly increased, he said.

The party further leverages growing anti-Islam and antisemitic sentiments, which the established parties rarely, if ever, raise. Lehne said the other factor was that Scholzs government had failed to communicate the chancellors policies on Ukraine, climate change, and Germanys relations with the EU, NATO, and China. All of these issues involve strategic planning, money, and conviction, Lehne said. Scholz, who leads a party that is divided, particularly over Russia, has yet to take a robust and unambiguous attitude toward the AfD. Constanze Stelzenmuller, an expert on German, European, and transatlantic foreign and security policy and strategy at the Brookings Institution, said the warning signs of radicalisation within the AfD had been there for years. Indeed, today, you could say of all the hard-right parties in Europe, the AfD is really the only one thats not trying to pretend it is anything but what it is, which is racist, white, ethnonationalist, Islamophobic and bent on changing the German constitutional order, she said.

Along with Krahs interview, the AfD has been embroiled in several other scandals this year, including a secret meeting of its senior officials to plan the mass expulsion of immigrants, which has raised doubts about the partys commitment to democratic values. Its other controversial figures include Petr Bystron, who was second on the AfDs list of candidates for Europe. Bystron, now an MP, is being investigated by German police and prosecutors on suspicion of money laundering and corruption. He is suspected of taking money from the Kremlin to spout Russian propaganda. In May, the AfD leader in the state of Thuringia, Bjorn Hocke, was fined 13,000 for using a forbidden Nazi slogan in a 2021 speech. Alice Weidel, one of the AfDs leaders, has called for Germany to hold a parliamentary election. Credit: AP Meanwhile, Alice Weidel, one of the AfDs two leaders, demanded on Monday that Scholz call new parliamentary elections  as French President Emmanuel Macron did after his partys dismal European results.

The 45-year-old investment-banking economist, buoyed by her party becoming Germanys second force, declared: People have had enough. Brussels-based Lehne said it was important not to overstate the influence of the AfD, pointing out that the party has become too radical even for Le Pen. Loading The likelihood of the AfD ever attaining power in Berlin is remote in the short term, he said. Even if the party is running in second place in the opinion polls, none of the established parties would consider teaming up with the AfD to form a coalition; the party is too toxic. Despite his lament, Adam doesnt regret forming the party. He stressed that a genuine conservative alternative to Merkels government was needed at the time. But where the AfD has come unstuck, he said, was that it comprised too many people who see excellent earning opportunities and mandates for themselves.
Rome: The Pope has again used a highly disparaging word against gay people for which he had already apologised last month, ANSA news agency said on Tuesday.

Italian media had attributed to the pope the use of the word frociaggine, a vulgar Italian term roughly translating as faggotness, on May 20 during a closed-door meeting with Italian bishops.

Pope Francis has reportedly used a homophobic slur again. Credit: AP

According to ANSA, Francis repeated the term on Tuesday as he met Roman priests, saying there is an air of faggotness in the Vatican, and it was better that young men with a homosexual tendency not be allowed to enter the seminary, [the institution where priests are trained].

Asked about the latest report, the Vaticans press office made reference to a statement it had issued regarding Tuesdays meeting with the priests, in which the Pope reiterated the need to welcome gay people into the Church and the need for caution regarding them becoming seminarians.
Washington: President Joe Bidens embattled son Hunter has been convicted of gun crimes and now faces the prospect of a jail sentence while his father campaigns for one of the most consequential elections in US history.

In another court case that could shake the 2024 rematch between the incumbent president and Donald Trump, Hunter Biden has been found guilty of illegally owning a gun and lying about his drug use on a form he filled out to purchase the firearm in 2018.

Hunter Biden arrives to federal court with his wife, Melissa Cohen Biden, on Tuesday. Credit: AP

The guilty verdict, delivered by a jury after three hours of deliberations, marks the first time the child of a sitting US president has been convicted of a felony  and one that comes with a maximum sentence of 25 years prison, although a lesser sentence is far more likely for a first-time offender.

He also faces a separate trial in September  two months before the November election  on more serious charges relating to his alleged failure to pay $US1.4 million in taxes at a time when he was addicted to cocaine and spending money on drugs, sex workers and luxury items.
PHILIPSBURG:--- In response to the ongoing energy crisis and frequent power outages affecting St. Maarten, Member of Parliament Egbert J. Doran has called for immediate action from the Minister of Education, Culture, Youth, and Sport, Honorable Lyndon Lewis, to support students struggling to study in these conditions. He has proposed that Room 1 on the ground floor of the Government Building be made available after hours as a study space, providing a stable and well-lit environment for exam preparation.

MP Doran has received numerous messages from concerned parents about the difficulties their children face during outages. With exams approaching, students are finding it hard to focus and prepare adequately. Recognizing this issue, MP Doran's proposal aims to alleviate these challenges and offer practical support to families.

"I understand the frustrations that our students and parents are facing," said MP Doran. "Opening up a space in the Government Building after hours could make a significant difference." MP Doran noted that, of course, there would need to be proper supervision but trusts that Minister Lewis would be able to put this provision in place.

In his letter to Minister Lewis, MP Doran emphasized the importance of this initiative not only for academic preparation but also for reducing stress and anxiety before exams. "Providing a stable study environment will help our students prepare better for their exams," MP Doran added.

MP Doran hopes that Minister Lewis will urgently consider this request. This is a time for practical solutions and collective efforts to support our community.
Energy Transitions Commission says countries can triple climate ambition by COP30

If governments reflect today s rapid technological progress and existing national, industry and COP28 commitments when setting new climate targets

In its latest briefing, Credible Contributions: Bolder Plans for Higher Climate Ambition in the Next Round of NDCs,the ETC calls for industry and government collaboration to raise the ambition of the next round of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) by COP30. If we are to limit the impact of climate change, NDCs can and must reflect technical potential and reinforce existing progress by setting more ambitious targets with stronger links to national policies. By setting a clear direction of travel and reducing uncertainty, the next round of NDCs can further accelerate the deployment of clean energy technologies.

Since the Paris Agreement was signed at COP21, countries are required to submit and ratchet up national climate pledges every five years. The next submission is due next year. These NDCs, as they are known, serve as high-level roadmaps for national climate action by establishing targets for emissions reductions over 10-year periods. Success in the low-carbon transition to date has been driven by industry s response to government targets  accelerating deployment and driving down costs. Industry recognises the opportunity in the next round of NDCs and calls on governments to prioritise delivering high-ambition NDCs which will provide certainty, unlock investment and accelerate technology deployment.

Third round of NDCs due in 2025

Global greenhouse gas emissions are currently at an all-time high (~59 GtCO2e)[1] and continue to rise. If fully achieved, current NDC targets set in 2020 are only expected to deliver ~6 GtCO2e of emissions savings per year by 2035. This figure is far from the ~23-30 GtCO2e reduction required by 2035 for a 1.5C-aligned pathway.

According to the ETC, if governments reflect existing policy commitments made at COP28 and at national level, and the latest technological progress in the next round of NDCs, overall ambition levels could almost triple. This would achieve ~18 GtCO2e of mitigation per year in 2035 and put the world on a trajectory to limit warming to 2C.

Rapid progress is being made. Many core technologies of the energy transition have already reached tipping points for self-reinforcing growth and strong national policies support the acceleration of manufacturing and deployment around the world. For example, new wind and solar installations now meet over 90% of global power demand growth. Electric vehicles now make up 18% of global passenger vehicle sales and as much as 20% and 40% of sales in Europe and China respectively. Technologies and policies required to decarbonise heavy industry and long-distance transport are reaching commercial readiness.

Further, at COP28, nearly 200 countries committed to triple renewable energy capacity, double the pace of energy efficiency improvement by 2030 and transition away from fossil fuels in the energy system.

Industry has rapidly scaled up manufacturing and deployment of clean energy technologies with existing policy support and commitments. Higher ambition in the next round of NDCs at COP30 has the potential to reinforce and accelerate this positive feedback loop. Collaboration between industry and government to commit measurable, deliverable, and investable plans is key to driving action. Adair Turner, Chair of the Energy Transitions Commission.

Existing commitments and embedded progress provide headroom for major strengthening of NDCs but going beyond 2C to align NDCs to a 1.5C pathway will require further action still. Faster progress will be required in halting deforestation, phasing out coal from the power system and accelerating project delivery in hard-to-abate industry and transport.

The next round of national climate plans  NDCs 3.0  are due from early next year and will be among some of the most important policy documents produced so far this century. Each country s NDC is for it to decide  they are after all nationally determined, so it s not one-size-fits-all. As the Energy Transitions Commission report underscores, these new plans can serve as powerful blueprints, to propel countries economies and societies forward. Simon Stiell, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

NDCs 3.0 must help to translate ambition into action

Higher ambition from government and industry is needed to stimulate accelerated deployment of clean energy technologies, but ambition alone will not deliver progress. The ETC recommends that NDCs 3.0 define:

 clear and detailed roadmaps for implementation of accelerated climate action backed by strong government policy (e.g., quantitative targets for GW of renewables, phase-out dates for bans on the sale of gasoline or diesel engine vehicles).

 measurable, comprehensive (covering all sectors and GHGs) and granular targets for emissions reductions.

 investable plans, especially for emerging markets, clearly stating the investment and international climate finance required to deliver stated targets.

We welcome the ETC s recommendations for NDCs 3.0 and urge governments to engage with the private sector to inform the development of policy roadmaps and investment plans within their NDCs. If we are to deliver on the next round of NDCs, CEOs and Ministers will need to embrace new forms of public-private problem-solving to advance sectoral transformations. Peter Bakker, President & CEO of WBCSD.

Priorities will differ by country but the ETC s briefing highlights that for all countries, whatever their level of ambition, implementation and financing, a step change in ambition is possible in the next round of NDCs. Backing NDCs with detailed transition plans can unlock the investment and industry action required to achieve these aims.

Tripling ambition in the next round of NDCs is feasible if governments reflect the rapid technological progress made in the energy transition to date and existing commitments they have made. This would put us much closer to the Paris Agreement target. But to limit global temperature rises to just 1.5C, ambition must be set even higher. It would require an immediate halt to deforestation, rapid coal phase out globally and accelerated progress in heavy industry and transport. Ita Kettleborough, Director of the Energy Transitions Commission.

Credible Contributions: Bolder Plans for Higher Climate Ambition in the Next Round of NDCs has been developed in collaboration with ETC members from across industry, financial institutions, and environmental advocacy. The ETC is a global coalition of leaders from across the energy landscape committed to achieving net-zero emissions by mid-century whose members include Arup, bp, HSBC, Iberdrola, National Grid, Octopus Energy, Petronas, Shell, SSE, Rabobank, Vattenfall, We Mean Business, and World Resources Institute.

Download the report: https://www.energy-transitions.org/publications/credible-contributions-bolder-plans-for-ndcs/

Photo  https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2433272/NDC_Energy_Transitions_Commission.jpg

Notes to editors

This briefing builds upon previous ETC work on COP-related analysis, including Keeping 1.5 Alive (2021) (https://www.energy-transitions.org/publications/keeping-1-5-alive/) and Degree of Urgency (2022) (https://www.energy-transitions.org/publications/degree-of-urgency/).

This report was developed in extensive consultation with ETC Members and constitutes a collective view of the Energy Transitions Commission. However, it should not be taken as members agreeing with every finding or recommendation.

For further information on the ETC please visit: https://www.energy-transitions.org

[1] Assuming 28 tonnes of CO2e per tonne of methane.

Logo  https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1935158/3740208/Energy_Transitions_Commission_Logo.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/energy-transitions-commission-says-countries-can-triple-climate-ambition-by-cop30-302167397.html

Contact:

Caroline Randle,

Energy Transitions Commission  caroline.randle@systemiq.earth (+447796140461); Susan Brownlow  susan.brownlow@wordsforindustrypr.com; (+447739456292)

Original-Content von: Energy Transitions Commission, ubermittelt durch news aktuell
Intel suspends expansion of factory plan in Israel



New York, June 10 (AFP) Jun 10, 2024



Intel is halting the expansion of a major factory project in Israel, which was going to pump an extra $15 billion towards a chip plant.

The chip giant in December said it was going to expand an ongoing $10 billion plan at the Kiryat Gat site, in the south of the country, currently under construction.

Solicited by AFP, Intel on Monday gave no reason for the pause for the next phase and made no link to the ongoing conflict with Hamas in Gaza.

"Israel continues to be one of our key global manufacturing and R&D sites and we remain fully committed to the region," the company said in a statement.

It added that "managing large-scale projects, especially in our industry, often involves adapting to changing timelines."

"Decisions are based on business conditions, market dynamics and responsible capital management."

Israel is Intel's third-largest country of operation by asset size, according to its annual report, after the United States and Ireland.

The semiconductor giant has been present in Israel for fifty years, with the opening of a research center in Haifa.

During the 2010s, Intel became the leading employer in Israel's thriving tech sector, according to the company's website.

In 2017, the American company paid $15.3 billion to take control of Israeli start-up Mobileye, which specializes in assistance and autonomous driving.

Intel floated part of Mobileye's capital on the New York Stock Exchange in October 2022, but retains control of the company.

tu/arp/st

INTEL
Phony 'news' portals surpass US newspaper sites, researchers say



Washington, June 11 (AFP) Jun 11, 2024



Partisan websites masquerading as media outlets now outnumber American newspaper sites, a research group that tracks misinformation said Tuesday, highlighting a local news crisis in a year of high-stakes elections.

Hundreds of sites mimicking news outlets -- many of them powered by artificial intelligence -- have cropped up in recent months, fueling an explosion of polarizing or false narratives that are stoking alarm as the race for the White House intensifies.

At least 1,265 "pink slime" outlets -- politically motivated websites that present themselves as independent local news outlets -- have been identified, the US-based research group NewsGuard said in a report.

By comparison, 1,213 websites of local newspapers were operating in the United States last year, according to Northwestern University's "local news initiative" project.

"The odds are now better than 50-50 that if you see a news website purporting to cover local news, it's fake," the NewsGuard report said.

Nearly half of the partisan sites were targeted at swing states, according to an analysis by the news site Axios, in what appears to be an effort to sway political beliefs ahead of the November election expected to be between President Joe Biden and Donald Trump.

Those sites include a network of 167 Russian disinformation sites that NewsGuard said were linked to John Mark Dougan, a US former law enforcement officer who fled to Moscow.

The other sites are backed by conservative as well as influential left-leaning groups such as Metric Media, Courier Newsroom and States Newsroom, the report said.

The rise of pink slime comes amid a rapid decline of local newspapers, many of which have either shut down or suffered extensive layoffs due to economic headwinds.

A study by Northwestern University last year identified 204 counties out of some 3,000 in the United States as "news deserts," having "no newspapers, local digital sites, public radio newsrooms or ethnic publications."

Newspapers are continuing to vanish at an average rate of more than two per week, the study said.

It added that the United States has lost almost two-thirds of its newspaper journalists since 2005.

"With traditional newspapers disappearing... pink slime sites are rushing in to fill the void," NewsGuard's report said.

"Consequently, millions of Americans are left without legitimate local coverage."

Propaganda-spewing partisan websites have typically relied on armies of writers, but generative artificial intelligence tools now offer a significantly cheaper and faster way to fabricate content that is often hard to decipher from authentic information.

These websites underscore the potential of AI-powered tools -- chatbots, photo generators and voice cloners -- to turbocharge misinformation while further eroding trust in traditional media, researchers say.
Elon Musk drops lawsuit against OpenAI and Sam Altman



San Francisco, June 11 (AFP) Jun 11, 2024



Elon Musk on Tuesday dropped his lawsuit against OpenAI and its co-founders Sam Altman and Greg Brockman for betraying the startup's founding mission.

In a California court, Musk had accused the AI firm he helped set up in 2015 of breaching a commitment to creating artificial intelligence that benefits society when it became a for-profit enterprise backed by Microsoft.

A filing by an attorney representing Musk asked the court to dismiss the entire case, without offering a reason.

Neither Musk nor OpenAI had responded to requests for comment at time of publication.

The tycoon, who left OpenAI in 2018, argued in his original complaint that the ChatGPT maker was always intended as a non-profit entity.

But he said recent boardroom changes meant OpenAI was now effectively a subsidiary of software giant Microsoft.

Musk has made similar accusations in the past and both OpenAI and Microsoft have denied them.

OpenAI captured the public's imagination in late 2022 with the release of its chatbot ChatGPT, which can generate poems and essays and even succeed in exams.

The firm has also developed image and video generating tools that are seen as the leaders in their field.

Microsoft, a major investor in OpenAI since 2019, poured billions more into the firm last year.

And the giant firm stepped in when OpenAI's board fired CEO Altman in November last year, hiring him and offering to house any staff members who were unhappy with his ousting.

The OpenAI board reversed course as dissent soared in the company, reinstating Altman and replacing several board members.

OpenAI started life as a non-profit dedicated to developing "artificial general intelligence" (AGI), a vague term loosely defined as a kind of AI that would far outstrip human capabilities on all measures of intelligence.

The idea was for OpenAI to guarantee that such technology would be safe for humanity.

But Musk's legal case said this founding principle had been "turned on its head".

"To this day, OpenAI Inc's website continues to profess that its charter is to ensure that AGI 'benefits all of humanity'," the filing stated.

"In reality, however, OpenAI Inc has been transformed into a closed-source de facto subsidiary of the largest technology company in the world: Microsoft."

Since leaving OpenAI, Musk has joined the chorus of critics warning that superintelligence could spell the end for humanity.

He also launched his own AI firm, xAI, last year and said he wanted to raise $1 billion from investors.

Musk expressed anger with OpenAI on Monday, lashing out at its partnership with Apple.

"Apple has no clue what's actually going on once they hand your data over to OpenAI. They're selling you down the river," Musk said in a post on X, which he also owns.
This wasnt the year for Buffalo to take home its first James Beard award in more than two decades.

Neither Ryan Fernandez of Southern Junction nor Waxlight Bar a Vin won in its respective category during the James Beard Foundations awards ceremony in Chicago on Monday night.

But its still the first year since 2003 that a local restaurant progressed to the final round for a James Beard award, which is often called the culinary equivalent to an Oscar. Only one Buffalo restaurant, Anchor Bar, has previously won a James Beard award.

Masako Morishita, a chef who makes Japanese comfort food at Perrys in Washington D.C., won Emerging Chef, the award for which Fernandez was nominated. Lula Drake Wine Parlour in Columbia, S.C., beat Waxlight to win Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program.

Like the Oscars, to be nominated for a James Beard award is an honor itself.

Im proud of what were doing and Im proud of the attention that were getting, Jess Railey-Forster, co-owner and sommelier of Waxlight, 27 Chandler St., said from the Chicago airport as she traveled back to Buffalo on Tuesday.

At the James Beard awards ceremony, Fernandez heard from several people who intend to travel to Buffalo for a taste of the food and drink scene. A few people shouted, Go Bills! at Fernandez and the crew from Waxlight.

Now that the city as a whole is on the map as a much more diverse food destination, and with all these new restaurants that are opening that are quite good, I really hope we stay on that map, Fernandez said. Its a pretty small community and everybodys very dedicated to what they do  so hopefully more people get nominations or recognition from national news.

The ceremony is a blur for Fernandez. He met famous and well-respected chefs that hes followed for years and ate some of the best food in the country at the after-party.

Im still a little bit starstruck, Fernandez said.

Southern Junction, 365 Connecticut St., and Waxlight started in the same building on Chandler Street that served as an incubator for new businesses. Both restaurants were offering something new to Buffalo at the time. Fernandezs Tex-ish barbecue blends authentic Texas barbecue with South Indian flavors, while Waxlights menu is ever evolving with innovative ingredient combinations and international wines from small producers.

Ryan Fernandez: James Beard-nominated chef draws crowds to Southern Junction with unique 'Tex-ish' barbecue Ryan Fernandez defines his West Side restaurant as "Tex-ish," a blend of Texas barbecue and South Indian flavors, reflecting Fernandezs multicultural life as an immigrant whose childhood played out on the coast of the Arabian Sea.

Railey-Forster said in April that she thinks the James Beard Foundations decision to nominate two Buffalo restaurants as finalists is indicative of what Buffalo has been working toward, and the direction its been moving toward for a few years now.

The food scene in Buffalo has been overlooked for so long, Fernandez said. Because people think of us primarily as a chicken wing and bar food town.

Railey-Forster saw Covid as a turning point for Buffalos food and drink scene as talented natives who had moved away to larger cities started moving back to the area.

Fernandez credits incubator spaces, such as the small kitchen in which he started out at Chandler Street and Westminster Economic Development Initiatives West Side Bazaar and Downtown Bazaar, for fostering new culinary concepts in Buffalo. He believes the lower cost of entry and shared resources between tenants help new restaurants succeed.

It gives a lot more opportunity to people who want to put their ideas out there, Fernandez said in April. Theres more opportunity in Buffalo right now to get in and do something different and its very well-received.
Israel parliament revives law on ultra-Orthodox conscription



Jerusalem, June 11 (AFP) Jun 11, 2024



Israel's parliament voted Tuesday to revive a controversial law to conscript ultra-Orthodox Jews, which is backed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu but criticised by his defence minister.

Lawmakers voted 63 to 57 to press ahead with the legislation, which foresees the gradual and limited increase in ultra-Orthodox Jews doing military service.

The majority of Israeli Jews must serve in the military, but the ultra-Orthodox community has been exempt in favour of religious study.

With the military currently fighting a war in Gaza and engaged in daily cross-border fire with Lebanese Hezbollah, the reform was criticised by Defence Minister Yoav Gallant as not going far enough.

"We must not play petty politics on the backs of the great fighters of the army," Gallant said following the parliamentary vote.

"Bearing the burden of military service is a national challenge," he added.

Netanyahu has for years courted Orthodox and religious nationalist allies, who sit in his coalition government.

Opposition leader Yair Lapid accused the premier of pushing forward with a conscription law without "any value" in order to hold onto power.

The vote amounts to "one of the most despicable moments in the history of the Knesset (parliament)," he wrote on social media platform X, accusing the government of pressing ahead with a "law of evasion".

Following the vote, the legislation must be examined by parliamentary committees before returning to the chamber.

gl-mib/lpa/rsc/dhw
Russian military jet crashes killing two pilots



Moscow, June 11 (AFP) Jun 11, 2024



A Russian military jet crashed during a training flight in the Caucasus region of North Ossetia, killing two people on board, the defence ministry said Tuesday.

A statement said the Sukhoi-34 jet crashed "in a mountainous zone" and added that there was "no damage on the ground". It did not specify when the accident happened.

It said a technical problem appeared to have caused the crash, adding that an investigation had been launched to ascertain the reason behind the accident.

North Ossetia, which borders ex-Soviet Georgia, is about 800 kilometres (500 miles) from the front line in Ukraine.

On June 8, regional authorities said Ukraine targeted a military airfield near the town of Mozdok with drones but three of them were shot down. It was the first such attack in North Ossetia since the special military operation launched by Russia against Ukraine in February 2022.
Israel army says four soldiers killed in south Gaza



Jerusalem, June 11 (AFP) Jun 11, 2024



The Israeli military said on Tuesday that four soldiers had been killed in fighting in southern Gaza the previous day, more than eight months into its war against Hamas militants.

The soldiers were "killed in fighting in south Gaza" on Monday, the military said in a statement, without elaborating on the circumstances of their deaths.

Israeli public broadcaster Kan said that the soldiers were killed in an explosion in a building in Gaza's far-southern city of Rafah.

On Monday evening, Hamas's armed wing, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, said its fighters had "booby-trapped" a building in the Shabura refugee camp in Rafah.

"The Qassam mujahideen were able to detonate a booby-trapped house inside which a Zionist force was holed up ... leaving members of the (Israeli) force dead and wounded," the group said in a statement.

The Times of Israel reported that seven soldiers were also wounded in the blast, five of them seriously.

The latest deaths took to 298 the military's overall losses since its ground offensive in Gaza began on October 27, it said.

The military has been locked in street fighting with Palestinian militants in Rafah since launching its controversial ground assault on the city on May 7.

Foreign governments, including US ally Israel, had opposed the operation, out of concern for the safety of Palestinian civilians sheltering in the city. Well over a million have since fled, seeking refuge where they can.

The Gaza war was triggered by Hamas's unprecedented October 7 attack on Israel, which resulted in the deaths of 1,194 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures.

Israel's retaliatory military campaign has killed at least 37,124 people in Gaza, also mostly civilians, according to the Hamas-run territory's health ministry.
CORRECTED: Israel parliament revives bill on ultra-Orthodox conscription



Jerusalem, June 11 (AFP) Jun 11, 2024



Israel's parliament voted Tuesday to revive a controversial bill to conscript ultra-Orthodox Jews, which is backed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu but has been criticised by his defence minister.

Lawmakers voted 63 to 57 to press ahead with the draft law, which foresees a gradual but limited increase in the number of ultra-Orthodox Jews doing military service.

The majority of Israeli Jewish men must serve in the military, but the ultra-Orthodox community has been exempt in favour of religious study.

With the military currently fighting a war in Gaza and engaged in daily cross-border fire with Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, the reform was criticised by Defence Minister Yoav Gallant as not going far enough.

"We must not play petty politics on the big backs of IDF (army) soldiers," Gallant said following the parliamentary vote.

"Bearing the burden of military service is a national challenge," he added.

Netanyahu has for years courted ultra-Orthodox and religious nationalist allies, who sit in his governing coalition.

Opposition leader Yair Lapid accused the premier of pushing forward with a conscription bill without "any value" in order to hold onto power.

The vote amounts to "one of the most despicable moments in the history of the Knesset (parliament)," he wrote on social media platform X, accusing the government of pressing ahead with a "law of evasion".

Following the vote, the bill will be examined by parliamentary committees before returning to the full chamber for further debate.

gl-mib/dhw/ibz/jd/kir
Israel lawmakers revive bill on ultra-Orthodox conscription



Jerusalem, June 11 (AFP) Jun 11, 2024



Israeli lawmakers voted Tuesday to revive a bill that would increase the conscription of ultra-Orthodox Jewish men only gradually, despite objections from the defence minister and criticism it falls short of the army's needs.

The move by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's governing coalition comes after the Gaza war forced Israel to call up hundreds of thousands of reservists, sending the flashpoint issue of exemptions from mandatory military service back to the top of the political agenda.

Lawmakers voted 63 to 57 to revive the bill, which would set yearly benchmarks for increasing the number of ultra-Orthodox Jewish men serving in the military after it passed a preliminary reading in the Knesset in 2022.

Critics of the bill say it falls far short of the military's needs since Hamas's unprecedented October 7 attack on Israel triggered war in Gaza.

Israel's High Court of Justice has heard several petitions in recent weeks by civil society groups calling for mandatory military service by ultra-Orthodox men but the court has so far issued no ruling.

Hundreds of thousands of Israeli reservists have served for months in the Gaza Strip, in the occupied West Bank or along the northern border with Lebanon where the army has exchanged near-daily fire with Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah.

A growing chorus of Israelis has called for ultra-Orthodox men to share the burden of military service.

Most Jewish Israeli men are required to perform military service, but the ultra-Orthodox community has long received sweeping exemptions in order to study in religious seminaries.

These exemptions have been a source of growing political friction for decades, and the issue toppled a previous Netanyahu-led coalition government in 2018, precipitating years of political deadlock.

Netanyahu currently leads a coalition with two ultra-Orthodox parties and far-right groups.

Breaking ranks with the government, Defence Minister Yoav Gallant voted against the bill's revival, saying such "national changes must be done with broad consensus".

"We must not play petty politics on the big backs of IDF soldiers," Gallant wrote on X after the vote.

Opposition leader Yair Lapid accused the premier of pushing forward with a conscription bill without "any value" in order to hold onto power.

The vote amounts to "one of the most despicable moments in the history of the Knesset," he wrote on X, accusing the government of seeking to enact a "law of evasion".

Following Tuesday's vote, the bill will be sent to a parliamentary committee for approval before returning to the full chamber for two further votes before it becomes law.

gl/ibz/jd/kir
German far-right, far-left MPs boycott Zelensky speech on Russia



Berlin, June 11 (AFP) Jun 11, 2024



German far-right and left-wing nationalist lawmakers boycotted a parliamentary address Tuesday by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who earlier had warned that pro-Russian rhetoric posed a growing danger to EU nations.

Zelensky's speech came at the start of a diplomatic whirlwind tour to shore up support for Kyiv's battle against Russia.

In an illustration of the increasing headwind Kyiv faces to obtain backing, MPs from Germany's far-right AfD and far-left BSW parties boycotted Zelensky's address to parliament.

Both parties made huge gains in Sunday's European elections, with the AfD scoring higher than all three parties in Chancellor Olaf Scholz's coalition, while the BSW, a newcomer which campaigned against weapon deliveries to Ukraine, took just over six percent.

Zelensky cautioned that the parties' stance posed a threat that stretched beyond Ukraine.

"It seems to me that the most important thing is that people did not choose pro-Russian populist rhetoric. But radical pro-Russian rhetoric is dangerous for your countries," Zelensky warned, speaking at a press conference before his parliament address.

The co-leaders of the AfD said they "refused to listen to a speaker wearing camouflage fatigues".

"Ukraine does not need a war president now, it needs a peace president who is ready to negotiate," said Tino Chrupalla and Alice Weidel, adding that AfD MPs had therefore decided to leave their seats empty at the Bundestag on Tuesday.

Not only in Germany but across the EU, the far-right's gains have triggered fears over the future of Western backing for Ukraine.



- 'No dictated peace' -



Ahead of a peace conference for Ukraine in Switzerland, to which Russia is not invited, parties like the AfD are pushing the message that the West's current strategy to arm Ukraine will not bring an end to hostilities.

But Scholz, speaking at a Ukraine reconstruction conference in Berlin, vowed not to let up support for Kyiv.

He urged allies to rush air defence systems to Ukraine to help the country fend off Russia's missiles, and said that Russian President Vladimir Putin will not be allowed to win the war.

"There will be no military victory and no dictated peace," Scholz said, adding that Putin must "end his brutal campaign and withdraw his troops."

Zelensky also pleaded for help.

"Russia's greatest strategic advantage over Ukraine is superiority in the sky. It is missile and bomb terror that helps Russian troops advance on the ground," Zelensky said, adding that "air defence is the answer".

Germany has contributed three Patriot air defence systems to Kyiv, while Zelensky said a total of seven Patriots are needed for Ukraine to shield its urban centres from the storm of Russian missiles.

Later Tuesday Zelensky visited a military training area in Sanitz, northern Germany, where Ukrainian troops are trained on the Patriot systems, along with German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius.

Pistorius promised Ukraine a further 100 Patriot missiles -- which he described as a "significant number" -- as well as additional sniper rifles, anti-tank weapons and drones.

The minister added that he had seen during visits to Ukraine "how crucial air defence is for survival".



- Air attacks -



After almost a year of stalemate, Ukraine has been forced to abandon dozens of frontline settlements this spring, with Russian troops holding a significant advantage in manpower and resources.

Russia on Tuesday said it had captured two more villages in eastern Ukraine: Timkovka in the northeastern Kharkiv region and Miasozharivka, calling it by its Russian name of Artemovka, in the eastern Lugansk region.

Ukrainian prosecutors meanwhile said five people had been wounded in an overnight Russian strike on the frontline town of Kostyantynivka.

With the war at a critical juncture, Zelensky is ramping up a diplomatic offensive for support.

After Berlin, Zelensky will head to the G7 summit in southern Italy, which will be attended by leaders including US President Joe Biden.

G7 leaders hope to agree a deal on using the profits from the interest on 300 billion euros ($325 billion) of frozen Russian central bank assets to help Kyiv.



- Swiss peace summit -



After the G7 meeting, Zelensky will head to Switzerland for the peace summit from Saturday, to be attended by representatives from some 90 countries and international organisations.

Organised at Ukraine's request, the summit's outcome remains uncertain, though Switzerland is hoping to secure a joint final declaration.

However Biden is skipping the summit, with Vice President Kamala Harris attending instead, in a blow to Zelensky who had pushed for the US president to participate.

The Kremlin has repeatedly said it would not participate in any negotiations if Kyiv does not accept Moscow's annexation of the approximately 20 percent of Ukrainian territory Russia currently occupies.

Moscow's key ally China will also be absent from the conference.
Iraq's top Christian leader reinstated as head of church



Baghdad, June 11 (AFP) Jun 11, 2024



Iraq's prime minister reinstated Cardinal Louis Raphael Sako as the patriarch of the Chaldean Catholic church, paving the way for his return to Baghdad a year after a dispute with the president.

Sako, Iraq's top Christian leader and the architect of Pope Francis' historic visit to the country in 2021, is a key interlocutor between the Iraqi government and its Christian minority.

In July last year, Sako left Baghdad and settled in the autonomous Kurdistan region in northern Iraq after President Abdul Latif Rashid cancelled a decree recognising him as head of the Chaldean hurch.

But the church on Tuesday published a recent decree by Prime Minister Mohamed Shia al-Sudani naming Sako as the patriarch, adding that he "will be responsible" for the church's endowment and properties.

"I will return to Baghdad," Sako told AFP.

"I am very pleased because the rule of law prevailed, which gives more hope to Christians about the respecting of their rights," added the cardinal, who met Sudani in April during a rare visit to Baghdad.

For several months before the presidential decree last year, Sako had been embroiled in a war of words with a Christian lawmaker, Rayan al-Kildani.

Kildani is the leader of the Babylon Movement, whose armed wing is part of Hashed al-Shaabi -- a network of largely pro-Iran paramilitaries that were integrated into Iraqi security forces in recent years.

In a country ravaged by repeated conflicts and plagued by endemic corruption, Sako and Kildani both accused each other of illegally seizing Christian-owned properties.

Kildani, who has been under US sanctions since 2019, accused the cardinal of assuming a political role beyond his religious mandate.

Sako, in turn, said the parliamentarian aimed to gain legitimacy as the sole representative of the Christian community.

Iraq's Christian population has drastically declined since the 2003 US-led invasion that toppled strongman Saddam Hussein, dropping from more than 1.5 million people to around 400,000 today.

Many have fled the violence that has plagued the country over the past 20 years.
We want them to look at the union plan again, we want to talk to them. They know that we have our green steel fund ready to go. That will be there to support Welsh steel workers and steel workers across the United Kingdom to ensure a smooth transition to decarbonised steel.
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What this means is that players will be allowed to sprint, move and slide in any direction they please, including backwards  where before you could only do so in a straight line, now you can dive around to get out of the line of fire. And even when the player is prone, a new option will let them slowly turn around from a lying position.
Mr Sunak was asked about and defended a claim weve heard a lot in the past week, that families would face a 2,000 tax rise under a future Labour government. This figure is unreliable however, and based on a number of questionable assumptions. It comes from a Conservative estimate of Labours unfunded spending commitments, but many of the costings behind the calculation are uncertain. Even if the figure was right, we cant be certain this money would be raised by increasing taxes.
When the late Queen Elizabeth II visited Jersey in 2001, she was presented with two dead ducks on a silver tray  part of an ancient tradition dating back to the Middle Ages when six seigneurs  lords of the manor  would pay homage to the sovereign as the Duke of Normandy with the mallards.
A Syracuse-based development firm is bringing back its plan to renovate the historic Hotel Niagara in Niagara Falls, three years after pandemic-related financing problems caused what was a $42 million project to stall out.

But now the project cost will be 21% higher, at $50.8 million.

Brine Wells Development, which has been working on plans to redevelop the 12-story building on Rainbow Boulevard for more than seven years, is again hoping to rehab the century-old landmark into an upscale hotel while still retaining its historic character.

The company says it will restore the hotels exterior, including repairing or replacing the decorative terra cotta, cleaning and polishing the stonework, and restoring the decorative windows. Workers would also restore the interior areas with their original colors  such as in the lobby, restaurant, ballroom, mezzanine and meeting rooms  and would also restore the guest rooms and basement barbershop.

Opened in 1925 after two years of construction, the building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the project is eligible for state and federal historic tax credits, so the renovation will comply with federal and state standards.

Upon completion, it would include 160 guest rooms, as well as a main ballroom, a secondary ballroom, a full-service restaurant, a lounge that opens to the sidewalk, an exterior patio, a rooftop lounge, and a space for private dining and meetings.

To support the project, Brine Wells and its subsidiary, Hotel Niagara Development, are asking for $6.71 million in tax breaks from the Niagara County Industrial Development Agency. That includes $4.38 million in property tax relief over 15 years, $1.98 million in sales tax breaks for purchases over two years, and a mortgage-recording tax exemption of $348,000.

Brine Wells was founded in 2014 to focus on projects in hospitality and historic rehabilitation. It was founded by Edward M. Riley, a 40-year veteran of design, construction, real estate and hotel operations, who previously worked at Pyramid Hotel Group as senior vice president for design, construction and real estate, working on projects such as the Arizona Biltmore Resort in Phoenix, Claremont Resort in Berkeley, Calif., and Fairfax at Embassy Row in Washington

He formerly worked for Interwest Placemaking in Nevada and for Marriott Resorts in Hawaii, and earlier worked in Syracuse for Pioneer Development Co., and as an architect and co-developer of several projects in that city's Armory Square area.

Riley left Pyramid and formed Brine Wells to renovate the Hotel Syracuse, which is now Marriott Syracuse. That $75 million project led to his firms selection by USA Niagara Development Corp. as designated developer for Hotel Niagara in 2017, a year after the state agency paid $4.4 million to acquire the vacant property that had closed in 2004.

This is the second time that Brine has applied for assistance from NCIDA for the project. The company sought and obtained $4.85 million in tax breaks in 2018, and received three six-month extensions that carried it through the end of 2020. But the developer struggled to secure bank financing, particularly after the Covid-19 pandemic struck, decimating the hospitality industry and leaving lenders skittish about extending credit for new projects.

So the project lingered. Now Brine is slated again to acquire the 0.53-acre Niagara Falls site, at 201 Rainbow, for $1 before undertaking its project of extensive renovations.

The 168,160-square-foot hotel will feature 147 standard rooms, 10 junior suites and a presidential suite, plus a partial penthouse and a full basement.

Its main ballroom has 4,892 square feet, along with a mezzanine of 1,848 square feet and five meeting rooms of 390 to 1,020 square feet. The main dining room seats 110, plus a bar for 12, and can be used as a junior ballroom. The pub and sports bar seats 156, while a seasonal rooftop lounge seats 20.

The guest rooms will have new finishes and furniture, while the lobby and main ballroom will be restored to their original design and quality. The new restaurant will serve three meals daily, while a full-service "speak-easy"-themed lounge will open to the sidewalk next to the front of the hotel. Outside seasonal dining will be available on the exterior sidewalk patio. The hotel will also have a gift shop and exercise facilities.

The price tag includes $34 million for construction and renovation, $7.7 million for furniture and equipment, plus $4.69 million in professional fees, legal expenses and finance costs. Funding comes from an $11 million loan, $9.96 million in tax credits, an $8.5 million state grant, $5.4 million in developer equity, and a pair of grants from National Grid and the city of Niagara Falls, totaling $550,000.
Israels war against Hamas in Gaza has killed more than 36,730 people, according to Gazas Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between combatants and civilians in its count. Palestinians are facing widespread hunger because the war has largely cut off the flow of food, medicine and other supplies. U.N. agencies say over 1 million in Gaza could experience the highest level of starvation by mid-July.
The Competition Council is assessing a transaction through which Messer SE&Co intends to enter the ownership of Resity Technologies D.O.O., together with Delta Holding D.O.O., the council reported in a press statement on Tuesday.

According to the council, Messer SE&Co., Germany, has as main activity the production and distribution of industrial, specialty and medical gases. The company is part of the Messer group, present on the Romanian market.

Delta Holding D.O.O., Serbia, owned, prior to the transaction, the company Resity Technologies D.O.O. Delta Holdings deals with accounting, bookkeeping, auditing and tax consultancy. The company is part of the Delta Holding Group, which generates turnover in Romania through the companies in the group.

Resity Technologies D.O.O., Serbia, provides support for several SAP modules and platforms in the IT sector market.

Under Competition Law (21/1996), this transaction must be authorised by the Competition Council, which will assess it in order to establish its compatibility with a normal competitive environment and will issue a decision within the deadlines provided by the law.
The minister of culture, Raluca Turcan, on Tuesday stated that Romania has received a favourable decision for the inclusion with the UNESCO World Heritage List of the Sculptural Ensemble of Constantin Brancusi at Targu Jiu and the Roman Limes / the Frontiers of the Roman Empire - the Danube Limes, in the preparatory documents for the 46th meeting of the World Heritage Committee, which will take place in India at the end of July.

Raluca Turcan added that the result was possible thanks to the sustained efforts of valuable multidisciplinary teams.

"This excellent and long-awaited result was possible thanks to the sustained efforts of valuable multidisciplinary teams, which, under the coordination of the National Heritage Institute, produced two solid files that convincingly argue, in both cases, both the exceptional universal value and the system of management and protection dedicated to its protection," Turcan wrote on her Facebook page.

The minister of culture states that she confidently awaits the final decisions of the World Heritage Committee.

"Together we enjoy and are aware of the responsibility to continue to protect this unique heritage. We confidently await the final decisions of the World Heritage Committee and its recommendations regarding the protection and management of these exceptional values!" Raluca Turcan said.
The presence of Finnish soldiers in Romania is proof that ties among the NATO allies in terms of efforts to strengthen the eastern flank, have never been stronger, Romania's Defence Minister Angel Tilvar said on Tuesday at the certification ceremony of the Finnish detachment carrying out enhanced air policing missions in Romania.

According to a Defence Ministry (MApN) press statement, the event took place at the 57th Capitan Aviator Constantin Cantacuzino Air Base in Mihail Kogalniceanu, in the presence of deputy Chief of Defence Dragos Dumitru Iacob, Finnish ambassador in Bucharest Leena Liukkonen, Chief of Romanian Air Forces Staff Leonard-Gabriel Baraboi, and Deputy Commander of the NATO Combined Air Operations Center (CAOC) Torrejon, Avraam Kazantzoglou.

In his speech, Tilvar thanked the members of the Finnish detachment for their commitment to carrying out this type of missions on national and allied soil, for the first time since Finland joined NATO.

"Your presence in Romania is proof that ties among NATO countries in terms of efforts to strengthen the eastern flank have never been stronger. It is also undeniable proof of the determination of both countries, together with the entire alliance, to co-operate as reliable partners at levels that we could not have imagined 30 years ago, given the current security situation on our borders," the minister is quoted as saying in the statement.

He also thanked the members of the British Royal Air Force detachment who have been in Romania for over two months to carry out enhanced air policing missions.

"The missions that you will carry out together in Romania's airspace will prove that NATO countries are ready and determined to deter any form of aggression and to defend the entire territory of the Alliance against any provocation," Iacob told the Finnish military.

Almost 90 servicepeople (pilots and technical and engineering personnel) of the Finnish Air Force on seven F-18 Hornet aircraft will conduct, jointly with soldiers of the Romanian Air Force and the British Royal Air Force, enhanced air policing missions under NATO command, for approximately two months.
The Ministry of Education on Tuesday put up for consultation a draft government decision approving a strategic framework for the internationalisation of Romania's higher education system.

The strategic framework also envisages a series of internationalisation results, such as: improving education and research quality, transferring knowledge and innovation, increasing the competitiveness of higher education establishments by attracting students and academic staff from all over the world, socio-economic and cultural development of the country.

An essential component of the internationalisation of the higher education system is academic mobility. With support from the Ministry of Education, higher education establishments will have to put forth measures to boost learning mobility.

Among the related priorities to implement the strategic framework for the internationalisation of Romania's higher education system are boosting learning mobility for Romanian students; improving support services for mobility; supporting the initiative of European universities for co-operation; decentralisation of the entry process for citizens of EU third countries; increasing the international visibility of Romania's higher education establishments.

Other priorities relate to the simplification of the recognition and equivalence of diplomas and visa granting; virtual exchanges and online collaborative international learning initiatives; improving collaboration with Romanian academics abroad; promoting study and research programmes geared for sustainable development and the green transition.
The Hamburg Central School District plans to bring back two teaching positions that had been slated for layoffs in the 2024-25 budget that begins July 1.

District officials, who gave layoff notices to 20 teachers and staff in March, learned Hamburg schools are in line to receive an additional $400,000 in state money.

The State Legislature approved the funding in its end-of-the-session bills last Saturday, according to Assemblyman Jon D. Rivera, D-Buffalo. He said the additional funding will help bridge current and future budget gaps and ensure that fewer cuts are needed as positions are added back to the budget.

Those bills await the governors signature.

The funding would supplement the $20 million in foundation aid Hamburg is receiving in the state budget.

Layoffs were part of the way the district dealt with two previous budgets that overestimated revenues and underestimated expenses, when the district used reserves to pay for recurring expenses.

The additional aid will allow the district to fund an elementary health teacher and a teacher in the high school learning center for the next two school budget years, Superintendent Michael Cornell said.

Under the districts long-term financial plan, it will be able to support those positions in the 2026-27 budget, he said.

What I didnt want to do is bring them back this year and then lay them off next year, Cornell said.

He said that all but one of the employees slated for layoffs have found other jobs.

The superintendent said earlier this spring that he spoke to the heads of the Senate and Assembly education committees about the districts plight.

This additional funding for the Hamburg Central School District reflects my commitment to education in Hamburg, Rivera said in a news release. I look forward to working with district officials on creative solutions to sustain programming now and for years to come.

Cornell thanked Rivera for his unwavering advocacy in securing the member item grant for the district, and State Sens. Sean Ryan, D-Buffalo, and Patrick Gallivan, R-Elma, for their support. He also praised the collaboration with, and advocacy of, the Hamburg Teachers Association and New York State United Teachers.

State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli listed Hamburg as susceptible to fiscal stress for the 2022-23 school year.

Hamburgs $83.91 million budget for the 2024-25 school year increases spending less than 1% over the current year and increases the tax levy by 2.96%.
The enlargement of the 57th Air Base is an important step in Romania's efforts to adapt to the new realities of the current and future security environment and a major contribution to strengthening the role of pillar of stability that our country has assumed in the Black Sea region, Chief of Staff of the Romanian Air Force, Major General Leonard-Gabriel Baraboi said on Tuesday.

According to a MApN press release, the start of construction works for a new runway at the "Captain Aviator Constantin Cantacuzino" Air Base in Mihail Kogalniceanu was officially marked in the presence of Minister of National Defence, Angel Tilvar.

The event was also attended by the head of the Directorate of Domains and Infrastructures, Brigadier General Cristian Apostol.

At the end, Minister Tilvar pointed out that the constant allocation to the Defence budget of 2% of GDP, starting with 2017, raised to 2.5% this year, is starting to produce concrete effects.

"These investments will significantly improve the operational and training capabilities of the Romanian and allied Air Forces that will be able to be deployed here, but will also contribute significantly to the economic development of the local communities - the locality of residence, Mihail Kogalniceanu, but also the other administrative-territorial units in the vicinity, by creating new jobs and attracting important investments for the entire county of Constanta," said the minister, according to MApN.

The head of the Romanian Air Force, Major General Baraboi, said that the project to enlarge the 57th Air Base will result in the first military capability and, at the same time, the first complete and complex element of airport infrastructure built by Romania after 1990.

The entire investment project for the modernisation and expansion of the 57th Air Base "Captain Aviator Constantin Cantacuzino" at Mihail Kogalniceanu has a total value of approximately 12.173 billion lei, excluding VAT. At the end of the works, the area of the base will be approximately 2,800 hectares.
The general methodological framework that the Ministry of Education is preparing to adopt, at the proposal of ARACIS, will facilitate the implementation of policies on the social dimension of higher education within universities, Education Minister Ligia Deca said on Tuesday.

According to her, the implementation of a new type of external evaluation in Romania that allows higher education establishments to develop their own standards and performance indicators is an "important" step in securing education quality.

"One of the fundamental principles of quality assurance is the ability to adapt to the diverse range of institutions, programmes and students. Therefore, the implementation of a new type of external evaluation in Romania, which allows higher education establishments to develop their own standards and performance indicators, is an important step in securing education quality. The general methodological framework that we are preparing to adopt, at the proposal of ARACIS, will facilitate the implementation of policies on the social dimension of higher education within universities. Quality education and lifelong learning opportunities are fundamental to educating responsible students who can contribute to a more peaceful, inclusive and sustainable world," Deca wrote in a social media post.

Deca on Tuesday attended the opening of the 14th biennial forum of the International Network for Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education (INQAAHE), hosted by ARACIS at the Polytechnic University of Bucharest.

At the ceremony, she underlined the importance of the quality assurance partnership between the Ministry of Education and ARACIS and discussed the new Law on Higher Education and its impact on the educational mission to generate, certify and transfer knowledge.

She also mentioned the importance of community involvement by carrying out joint activities to the benefit of the higher education establishments and the social, economic and cultural environment.
AGERPRES special correspondent Catalin Alexandru reports: The Black Sea area is vital for the security of the entire Euro-Atlantic space, the region where the war is taking place, and the Republic of Moldova is the NATO partner most affected by this conflict, President Iohannis said on Tuesday at the end of the B9 Summit.

"For us, in Romania, it is very important for NATO's deterrence posture to be very strong and also for the defence capability to be full. (...) Romanians want to be defended and Romanians are defended by NATO. The second issue that I touched on, but also the other speakers (at the summit - ed. note) - support for Ukraine. I reiterated that Romania supports Ukraine, it stands by Ukraine together with other NATO allies as long as it is needed," added Iohannis.

Regarding the Republic of Moldova, Iohannis said that the country is affected by the large number of refugees and hybrid attacks. "I made it very clear that we must help Moldova because it is a partner we want on our side," Klaus Iohannis said.

He also stressed the importance of the Black Sea region.

"This war is fought in the Black Sea region, nowhere else in the world. This is where the war is. That is why it is extremely important for everyone to understand: the Black Sea, the Black Sea area is vital for the security of the entire Euro-Atlantic area," the president said.

President Klaus Iohannis co-chaired the Bucharest 9 (B9) Summit in Riga on Tuesday, together with his Polish and Latvian counterparts Andrzej Duda and Edgars Rinkevics.
Outgoing Bucharest District 1 Mayor Clotilde Armand, who ran for re-election on the list of the United Right Alliance in the June 9 local elections, says that she will file a criminal complaint against Chairman of the Standing Electoral Authority (AEP) Toni Grebla for what she said was a defective way of organising the local and European elections and misrepresentations.

"Political indications are given that the minutes of several problematic sections should be closed quickly, without counting the votes. The election combination produced by the National Liberal Party and the Social Democratic Party led to an increased workload at the polling stations. Amid fatigue, there are many irregularities and misrepresentations that allowed electoral fraud. The electoral process was suspended in 22 counties due to fatigue and heat, and the bags with votes and all electoral materials were handed over and guarded overnight by gendarmes. This generalised chaos was patronised by Toni Grebla," Armand wrote on Tuesday in a social media post.

She added that the AEP chairman should take responsibility for being unable to organise th elections and resign.
Romanian banks are working with Transfond on a new payment scheme, RoPay, through which a beneficiary will be able to request money from a payer, Ionut Chiriac, chapter lead customer journey, Payments division, at ING Bank Romania, said on Tuesday.

"A scheme that is, if anything, more of an additional service on top of the instant payment scheme. It is called RoPay. This new scheme offers the possibility for a beneficiary, whether a merchant, an individual or any beneficiary you can imagine, to ask for money from a payer. If now we are used to transferring money, with the new scheme, practically anyone can ask for money from the other party," said Ionut Chiriac, at a meeting with the press organised by the bank.

He explained that money request schemes exist in Romania at the intra-bank level, but now they want to apply at the national level.

"What we want to do now is to bring this scheme nationwide and basically merchants, payers, to be in this scheme together and be able to transfer money quickly, securely and first and foremost cheaply. And the fees for that scheme have been negotiated, discussed with the Transfond, so that we have a scheme as cheap as possible...The final testing of the systems has been completed between the first two banks that will go into production and they are waiting for the authorisation of the scheme from the National Bank. We hope to receive the National Bank's authorisation by the end of June and sometime in mid-July to come up with the new RoPay payment scheme," said Ionut Chiriac.

According to him, by the end of this year there will be four banks and in 2025 another four banks will enter. The first two banks to enter the system this year are Libra Bank and CEC Bank, and the next two banks will be ING and BRD. In 2025 BCR, Banca Transilvania and Raiffeisen Bank have been announced. He also mentioned that there are other smaller banks working on implementing the payment scheme.
The Senate has ratified, as the decision-making legislative body, the draft law for the ratification of the Agreement between the Government of Romania and the Government of the United States of America on cooperation in the use of travel information, signed on 19 January 2024 in Bucharest.

There were 96 votes "for" and one "against."

The agreement sets out the framework for cooperation on the assessment, analysis and exchange of travel intelligence, with the aim of ensuring the security and protection of the lives and safety of citizens.

The draft law for the ratification of the agreement creates the possibility for the Romanian authorities to implement the ATS-G (Automated Targeting System - Global) programme, which provides Romania with a tool to identify and track known or suspected cross-border criminals, to obtain information on organised crime networks and to detect potential threats to national security.

The transfer of information will be done through channels established by the parties and within the limits of applicable law, solely for the purpose of identifying security risks. The authorities in charge with the implementation of the Agreement are for the Romanian side: the Romanian Ministry of Interior through the General Inspectorate of Border Police/National Passenger Information Unit (IGPF/UNIP) and for the US side: the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) through the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

According to the explanatory memorandum of the draft ratification of the Cooperation Agreement, the implementation of the cooperation document will further strengthen the Strategic Partnership between Romania and the United States of America, allowing the relevant authorities to respond more effectively and quickly to various threats, with the aim of increasing the security of citizens of both countries.
President Klaus Iohannis has asked the Supreme Council for National Defence (CSAT) to convene on June 20 at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace to look into the transfer of a PATRIOT surface-to-air missile system to Ukraine, the Presidential Administration reported on Tuesday.

Also featuring on the agenda of the CSAT meeting will be Romania's objectives for the 2024 NATO Summit; Romania's armed forces and means of defence that can be made available for participation in missions and operations outside the national territory in 2025;

recent developments in and future prospects for the ongoing conflict in Ukraine following the illegal and unjustified aggression of the Russian Federation and the implications for Romania;

ruling on applications for licences to use 5G infrastructure equipment submitted by Bithat Solutions S.R.L. and ASEE Solutions S.R.L .
Save Romania Union (USR) spokesman Ionut Mosteanu accused "a lot of fraud" and "gross irregularities" in the elections in Capital's districts 1 and 2, saying that the recount of votes will be requested to the Municipal Electoral Bureau, the Central Electoral Bureau and even in court.

On the other hand, he criticised the way elections were conducted as a whole and called for the dismissal or resignation of the head of the Permanent Electoral Authority, Toni Grebla.

"I have not seen a worse organised election so far. Toni Grebla should have resigned or will have to be sacked instantly after we finish this election. They made a mockery of the people, they kept people in the stations for over 40 hours. They were not able to make a seemingly simple election. So they made all kinds of changes, they wanted to control it and they failed. There are people who have literally fallen off their feet, there are people sitting with bags. Today is Tuesday, the election ended Sunday night. There are people still standing around handing in bags of votes. It's unprecedented in front of the electoral offices. It's a mockery, it's a defiance of all Romanians, a mockery of every vote cast on Sunday," he said at a press conference.

Mosteanu maintained that there is "a lot of fraud" in districts 1 and 2 and mentioned that USR representatives filed criminal complaints.

"We see minutes transcribed wrongly. We see figures of independents passed to our candidates. We see huge differences between our mayoral candidate's score and our Local Council score. These are unprecedented anomalies. They're frauds, I can say that for sure. I've asked for a recount. The political decision, supported by PNL and PSD in the sector electoral bureaus, is not to recount. We will continue to go to the Municipal Electoral Bureau and the Central Electoral Bureau and then we will go to court. We have seen that they control part of the justice system. I don't think the PNL and PSD control all the justice. I trust in the correct people in justice and I believe that justice will be done in the end," he said.

Mosteanu said that according to USR data, Clotilde Armand and Radu Mihaiu won the local elections.

"The difference is very tight and they are trying to steal these votes. There will be some complicated days ahead. I appeal to the people who are responsible for deciding the fairness of these votes: don't make a mockery of democracy, don't respond to party orders, because they will be held criminally accountable," said the USR MP.
Candidacies for the national chair of the Save Romania Union (USR ) will be submitted this week, and the first round of the internal elections will take place on June 24 and 25, according to USR spokesman Ionut Mosteanu.

The clarifications were made on Tuesday at a news conference, after the meeting of the party's National Bureau convened following Catalin Drula resignation as USR national chair.

Mosteanu said that, under the USR statutes, unlike other parties, the national leader is elected by the vote of all members online. On the other hand, the National Bureau - the executive bureau, the collegial leadership structure of 24 members - is elected by the vote of the delegates of the party's congress.

At Tuesday's meeting, the National Bureau set the calendar of elections. Thus, during this week the candidacies for the leadership of USR will be submitted, and next week the internal campaign will take place. The first round of elections will take place on June 24 and 25, and a possible second round on June 27 and 28.

Mosteanu added that a "quick calendar" of the elections was established and that the party has to regroup for the next elections, so that around July 15 the collection of signatures for the presidential candidate can begin.

He went on to say that USR is "the only chance for development and modernisation" of Romania and that the United Right Alliance won a "good political score" in many localities.

He said that Drula's resignation is "a gesture of honour, a gesture of a mature politician" and thanked him for the work done.

"I know him very well. I have been with him for many years, he is a good politician, a fair, courageous man, a man who will have a lot to say in Romanian politics from here on out," he said.
CHICAGO  St. Louis must wait at least one more year to celebrate another James Beard Award winner.

Rob Connoley, the chef and owner of Bulrush in Grand Center, did not win Best Chef: Midwest at the James Beard Foundations annual awards Monday at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, the so-called Oscars of the food world.

Christina Nguyen, of Hai Hai in Minneapolis, took home the honor.

Connoley was a first-time finalist in the Best Chef: Midwest category, which covers chefs in Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin.

The other finalists were Ann Ahmed, of Khaluna in Minneapolis; Dan Jacobs and Dan Van Rite (jointly), of EsterEv in Milwaukee; and Tim Nicholson, of the Boiler Room in Omaha.

A St. Louis-based chef or restaurant has not won a James Beard Award since 2017, when Kevin Nashan, of Sidney Street Cafe, won Best Chef: Midwest.

Gerard Craft of Niche was the first St. Louis chef to win Best Chef: Midwest in 2015.

Among the multiple St. Louis-based chefs and restaurants announced in January as James Beard Award semifinalists, Connoley was the only finalist for Mondays honors.

Connoley opened Bulrush in 2019 at 3307 Washington Boulevard. The restaurant features a tasting menu of modern dishes inspired by the historical cuisine of the Ozarks.

The ingredients used at Bulrush are rigorously local and seasonal, including some items Connoley and his team forage themselves. The restaurant also follows a zero-waste policy.
Early voting for local, state and federal primary elections will begin across New York State on Saturday and run through June 23.

The biggest primary race in the Buffalo Niagara region is a Republican primary in the 24th Congressional District between incumbent Claudia Tenney and challenger Mario Fratto, who Tenney beat in a 2022 primary. The district stretches from Niagara County to the St. Lawrence Seaway.

For both Tenney and Fratto, it's a question of character in 24th Congressional GOP primary The Tenney-Fratto battle in New York's 24th Congressional District is not exactly a battle of ideas. Instead, it's a rematch between two Trump Republicans who think the worst of each other and aren't shy about saying so.

Another Republican primary to watch is in the 147th Assembly District between incumbent David J. DiPietro and challenger Mitch Martin, an Erie County Sheriffs Office chief. That district stretches across southern Erie County towns and most of Wyoming County.

There also will be Republican town justice primaries in Collins and North Collins, a Conservative town justice contest in Collins, and a Republican primary for clerk/tax collector in the Niagara County Town of Hartland.

Erie County voters can find the early voting locations or check if they are eligible to vote at elections.erie.gov or by calling 716-858-8891. Niagara County voters can check the locations of early voting polling stations and if they are eligible to vote on the Board of Elections website at elections.niagara.ny.us or by calling 716-438-4040 or 716-438-4041.

The absence of a countywide primary in Erie County on June 25 will allow the county to cut the number of early voting polling sites from 38 to 19, resulting in taxpayer savings, according to the county Board of Elections.

The number of Erie County polling sites on primary day will be reduced from 301 to 74  a 70% cutback.

Erie County Elections Commissioners Ralph M. Mohr and Jeremy J. Zellner state that the reduction of polling locations also will reduce the number of election inspectors needed, also a cost-saving measure.

According to the Niagara County Board of Elections, eligible primary voters can cast their ballot early in the federal, state and local primary election if they live in the City of Lockport and the towns of Cambria, Hartland, Lewiston, Town of Lockport Election Districts 1, 2, 3, 8, 10, 11, 12, 14 and 17, Town of Newfane, Royalton, Somerset and Wilson.

Eligible voters can vote at any of the four early voting polling sites in Niagara County  Niagara Falls, Lockport, Wheatfield and Newfane.

The last day to register to vote in the primary election is June 15. Voter registration forms are available on the election boards websites.

The Niagara Board of Elections will have extended office hours for absentee and early mail balloting on June 17, June 18 and June 22. Erie Countys office will not be open for extended hours, according to the Erie County Board of Elections.

The last day to apply for an absentee ballot online is June 15, while in-person applications will be accepted until June 24.

Contested primary elections in Erie and Niagara counties include:

Erie County147th Assembly District Republican Primary: David J. DiPietro and Mitch Martin.

Collins Town Justice Republican Primary: Colleen A. Kinnaird and Walter C. Kain.

Collins Conservative Primary: Colleen A. Kinnaird and Walter C. Kain.

North Collins Town Justice Republican Primary: Wayne E. Luther and William Ross Mortiz.

Niagara County24th Congressional District Republican Primary: Claudia Tenney and Mario Fratto.

Town of Hartland Clerk/Tax Collector Republican Primary: Brandy R. Bedford and Caitlin E. Clark.
Andrew Martin, chancellor of Washington University, discusses the new Neuroscience Research Building, critical brain research and how attracting top scientists can help St. Louis.

This video is part of Winning STL, in which Post-Dispatch Publisher Ian Caso sits down with St. Louis business and civic leaders who, through their time, energy and resources, have bet big on our region.
BONNE TERRE, Mo.  A man convicted of killing his former lover and her husband in what prosecutors described as a fit of rage was executed Tuesday evening in Missouri.

David Hosier, 69, was pronounced dead at 6:11 p.m. following a single-dose injection of the sedative pentobarbital at the state prison in Bonne Terre. Hosier was convicted of the 2009 killings of Angela and Rodney Gilpin in the state capital of Jefferson City.

Hosier turned his head a couple of times and breathed hard twice as the drug was administered. All movement stopped within seconds, even as his spiritual adviser seated next to him, the Rev. Jeff Hood, continued to pray.

Investigators said Hosier had a romantic relationship with Angela Gilpin and was angry with her for breaking it off and reconciling with her husband. Hosier maintained until the end that he was innocent and shouldnt have been convicted on circumstantial evidence.

The way was cleared Monday when Gov. Mike Parson declined to grant clemency, citing Hosiers lack of remorse. Parson, a Republican and former county sheriff, has overseen 10 executions since taking office in 2018. Hosiers lawyers said no court appeals were pending in the hours before the scheduled execution.

I leave you all with love, Hosier had said as part of a final statement released before the execution. Now I get to go to Heaven. Dont cry for me. Just join me when your time comes.

Hosier was the son of an Indiana State Police sergeant killed in the line of duty. Glen Hosier went into a home searching for a murder suspect in 1971 when he was shot to death. Other officers returned fire and killed the suspect.

David Hosier, then 16, was soon sent to military school and enlisted in the Navy after graduating. He served four years of active duty and later moved to Jefferson City, Missouri, where he worked for many years as a firefighter and EMT.

In previous interviews with The Associated Press, Hosier acknowledged having an affair with Angela Gilpin that she ended before getting back with her husband. In September 2009, the two were fatally shot near the doorway to their apartment.

Detective Jason Miles told AP that Hosier made numerous comments to other people threatening to harm Angela Gilpin in the days before the killings. After the shootings, police found an application for a protective order in Angela Gilpins purse, and another document in which she expressed fear that Hosier might shoot her and her husband.

Hosier was an immediate suspect, but police couldnt find him. They used cellphone data to track him to Oklahoma. A chase ensued when an Oklahoma officer tried to stop Hosiers car. When he got out, he told the officers, Shoot me, and get it over with, court records show.

Officers found 15 guns, a bulletproof vest, 400 rounds of ammunition and other weapons in Hosiers car, the court documents state. The weapons included a submachine gun made from a kit that investigators maintain was used in the killings, though tests on it were inconclusive.

A note was found in the front seat of Hosiers vehicle. If you are going with someone do not lie to them, it read in part. Be honest with them if there is something wrong. If you do not this could happen to YOU!!

Hosier said he wasnt fleeing to Oklahoma, but was simply on a long drive to clear his mind. He had the guns because he likes to hunt, he said. He didnt recall a note in the car.

The Missouri Supreme Court upheld Hosiers conviction in 2019.

Hosier wheezed at times when he spoke by phone to AP last week, and his voice was weak. In mid-May, he was taken from the prison to a hospital  a rare move for death row inmates. He was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation.

Hosier was the seventh person executed in the U.S. this year and the second in Missouri. Brian Dorsey was executed in April for killing his cousin and her husband in 2006.

Missouri is scheduled to execute another man, Marcellus Williams, on Sept. 24, even though Williams is still awaiting a hearing on his claim of innocence in the 1998 stabbing death of Lisha Gayle.

In January, St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell requested a court hearing after DNA technology unavailable at the time of the crime showed that someone elses DNA  but not Williams  was found on the knife used in the stabbing.

Williams was hours away from execution in 2017 when then-Gov. Eric Greitens granted a reprieve and appointed a board of inquiry to examine his innocence claim. The board never reached a conclusion and Parson dissolved it last year.

The 59 people Missouri has executed since 2000
Here they go again. The right-wing reactionaries who control the Francis Howell School Board  the same race-baiting culture warriors who pulled statements of racial tolerance off school walls and tried to cancel Black history curriculum  have now yanked a well-regarded educational video series from classrooms on grounds of  wait for it!  wokeness.

The move complicates curriculum planning for one of the largest school districts in Missouri and thumbs a nose at teachers who say the video series is a valuable tool. As usual, the boards ideologues are undermining kids education for the sake of right-wing ideology.

Because five of the Francis Howell boards seven members dont believe in teaching unvarnished history, here is a brief refresher course regarding the districts recent past:

The radicalization of the board began with resistance to mask mandates during the COVID-19 pandemic but quickly morphed into a right-wing project to scrub the mostly white districts curriculum of any discussion of race. Its part of a national movement by cultural conservatives to confront what they allege is the teaching of critical race theory in schools.

CRT, a legitimate law school concept regarding systemic racism in society, isnt actually taught in elementary or secondary schools. But misrepresenting that concept  and falsely claiming that young students are being indoctrinated with it  has become a useful dog whistle for political extremists who view any acknowledgement of societal racism as being an attack on white students.

A move in 2021 to introduce Black history and literature courses in the St. Charles County-based district was the direct impetus for the formation of Francis Howell Families, a political action committee that set out to stack the board with right-wing activists intent on silencing any discussion of race.

Unfortunately, it worked. After taking over the board, the activists ordered the removal of a simple five-paragraph statement opposing racism that had been posted on school hallways  a statement initially created, in part, in recognition of the racial conflicts in the districts recent past.

The all-white board followed up late last year by attempting to scuttle elective courses on Black history and literature. No students were required to take the courses, but even having them offered was apparently too much for the boards ideologues.

Public outcry caused the boards majority to back down from that decision. And the election in April of two new board members who ran in opposition to candidates backed by Francis Howell Families indicates that the culture-war fever among the districts voters might finally have broken.

But the boards activist majority is still in place, still playing its political games.

In its latest stunt, the majority last week canceled the districts subscription to the popular educational video platform BrainPop, which uses animation to teach math, history and other topics. As the Post-Dispatchs Monica Obradovic reports, the boards majority alleged that the videos are  what else?  liberal propaganda.

During that meeting, board member Randy Cook, who led the crusade to drop the series, was vague about what exactly was so offensive about it. But he did illustrate his movements utter contempt for the professional educators who actually do the work of teaching kids.

During the boards discussion, Cook said he had talked to teachers about the video series.

They like it, he acknowledged, then added: You think I should do whatever the teachers say? Why am I here?

Good question. Especially because he went on to refuse to provide evidence of the social agenda he alleges is pushed by the videos.

Im not going to go through and name them all, Cook said, when pressed for examples.

Cook spouted the usual platitudes about how his opposition to the video series was in service to the educational interests of the children. Yet he didnt have a coherent response, or seem to even care, when another board member pointed out that the sudden removal of the video series will gut potentially dozens of courses in which it was part of the core curriculum.

The recent board elections indicate that many parents in the district are tired of this kind of toxic politicization of education. Nothing would demonstrate that better than if the public started crowding into school board meetings in OFallon, Missouri, (the third Thursday of each month) and demanding that members stop using kids to push their culture-war agenda.
I have enjoyed reading Bill McClellan's columns ever since I moved here to work for Monsanto over 26 years ago. However, I would urge readers of this paper to not take his "pledge" and go "cold turkey" regarding national politics "until the election is over." ("Todays politics are a slow-motion trainwreck," June 9.)

Please, it's time to wake up and smell the coffee. Donald Trump refused to accept his 2020 loss to Joe Biden, encouraged his supporters to vandalize the U.S. Capitol, stole a bunch of classified documents, got caught, lied about it, and is a convicted felon.

Trump is a foul-mouthed, vindictive autocrat who has no respect for our rule of law and of America's place as leader of the free world. Trump is also the most anti-Christian individual to ever assume the presidency.

Biden is an intelligent career Democrat and a decent Christian man who has accomplished a lot during this career and his presidency. He respects the institution of the presidency, America's place as a beacon of democracy, and he has a solid vision for this country that is not focused on retribution.

Please don't put your head in the sand. Pay attention to the vitriol that Trump spouts daily and to his anti-democratic plans. Trump is a cancer on the American political scene that we need to move away from. Listen to trusted Republican leaders of the past like Sen. John Danforth and move away from Trump. It's not too late.

Timothy J. Rydel

St. Charles
AJA Unveils Ki Pro GO2 Multi-channel HEVC/AVC Recorder Ahead of InfoComm 2024

Grass Valley, CA (June 10, 2024)  Ahead of InfoComm 2024 in Las Vegas, AJA Video Systems announced Ki Pro GO2, the next generation of its Ki Pro GO multi-channel HD/SD recorder. Sporting an upgraded feature set, the portable, 2RU device facilitates up to

Grass Valley, California( )

Grass Valley, CA (June 10, 2024)  Ahead of InfoComm 2024 in Las Vegas, AJA Video Systems announced Ki Pro GO2, the next generation of its Ki Pro GO multi-channel HD/SD recorder. Sporting an upgraded feature set, the portable, 2RU device facilitates up to four channels of simultaneous H.265 (HEVC) or H.264 (AVC) recording to cost-efficient USB 3.0 drives or network storage with redundant recording and single-channel playback. Ki Pro GO2 helps production professionals produce higher quality images at lower bit rates, allowing for longer recording times. It also provides flexible connectivity, including four 3G-SDI and four HDMI digital video inputs, so they can connect to a wide range of video sources. The device will be on display at AJAs InfoComm booth (C8321) June 12-14, 2024.

Adapting to a range of production scenarios has grown vital to modern productions, whether on set or in a venue, so AJA keeps versatility top of mind when designing new products. Ki Pro GO2 brings professionals all the great features that Ki Pro GO has to offer, with a sleek design and the added flexibility to record in H.265 or H.264, depending upon each productions unique needs, shared AJA President Nick Rashby. The product was inspired by user feedback in several regions across the globe where H.265 is used extensively, and were thrilled to introduce it to the market at InfoComm.

Ki Pro GO2 boasts an extensive feature set for reliable, high-performance recording and playback in a range of environments, from concert tours and sporting events to houses of worship, universities, and beyond. Setup and operation are simple with an HD display for precise monitoring; video monitoring and menu/status overlays with an on-screen keyboard; dedicated record, play, stop, rewind, and fast-forward buttons; and a standard Ethernet LAN connection for remote configuration and control of the device over a network from any web browser using Ki Pro GO2s intuitive web user interface (UI).

Integrated input frame synchronizers ensure users dont have to genlock incoming video signals, while high-quality de-interlacers on each input allow progressive recordings to be made from interlaced inputs. Multi-channel matrix monitoring makes it convenient to monitor multiple camera feeds on a single HDMI or SDI display. Flexible audio functionality supports the capture of up to two channels of embedded audio from 3G-SDI or HDMI inputs, or two channels of Analog Audio from XLR ports, each offering a selection of Line, Mic, or +48V Phantom Power for level control. One of the devices analog audio inputs can also act as a source for Longitudinal Time Code (LTC) insert.

Recording is convenient and cost-effective with Ki Pro GO2, as the device supports a host of off the shelf USB media. Ki Pro GO2 also records in realtime to network storage via its Ethernet connection and FAT or exFAT file systems are supported for cross-platform use when transferring files to workstations, servers, and more. Multi-channel recording functionality ensures individual recordings for each input, so users can drag and drop files directly from a USB drive into their preferred creative software, and group recording is also supported. Clip names are laid out logically, and channel and backup are automatically appended for simple data management. Enhanced Super Out provides a timecode overlay, per channel audio VU meters, and media remaining percentages over SDI and HDMI monitor outputs. The device also facilitates playback of HEVC/AVC files created in supported third-party creative apps.

Ki Pro GO2 feature highlights at a glance:

-- Multi-channel HD/SD H.265 (HEVC) or H.264 (AVC) recording to USB drives and network storage with redundant recording.

-- Intuitive operation with an easy-to-navigate web UI that is compatible with standard web browsers, front panel device buttons, and an integrated HD screen.

-- Flexible connectivity, including 5x USB recording media ports (compatible with off-the-shelf USB 3.2 Gen 1 media), 4x 3G-SDI inputs, 4x HDMI inputs, 4x 3G-SDI outputs, 1x 3G-SDI monitoring output, 1x HDMI monitoring output, balanced XLR analog audio inputs, mic/line/48v switchable, and an Ethernet LAN port.

-- Realtime recording to network storage.

-- Onboard exFAT drive formatting.

-- Built-in frame syncs.

-- Support for HDMI and SDI multi-channel matrix monitoring and HDMI and SDI.

-- Enhanced Super Out for monitoring timecode, media status, and audio levels.

-- Integrated web-browser UI and front panel button controls, with HD resolution video screen for confidence monitoring and menu information.

-- Single-channel H.264 or H.265 playback, including files externally created in DaVinci Resolve, Avid Media Composer, Apple Final Cut Pro, and Adobe Premiere Pro.

-- Selectable VBR recording settings with five options.

-- Timecode SDI RP-188 Input Support: Time of Day or Timecode Value.

-- LTC Support, available using a single channel of Analog Audio In.

-- Two channels of embedded audio per video input.

-- Three-year warranty and AJAs world-class support.

Pricing and Availability

Ki Pro GO2 will be available in early Q3 for $4,749 US MSRP. For more information, visit: www.aja.com/ki-pro-go2

About AJA Video Systems

Since 1993, AJA Video Systems has been a leading manufacturer of cutting-edge technology for the broadcast, cinema, proAV, and post production markets. The company develops a range of powerful, flexible video interface and conversion technologies, digital video recording solutions, and color management, streaming, and remote production tools. All AJA products are designed and manufactured at our facilities in Grass Valley, California, and sold through an extensive sales channel of resellers and systems integrators around the world. For further information, please see our website at www.aja.com.
A combat-ready F-15EX Eagle II landed last week at Portland Air National Guard Base, making the 142nd Wing the first operational unit in the Air Force to field the strike fighter.

This is incredibly exciting, Wing Commander Col. Michael Kosderka said in a video promoting the fighters arrival. Tail number 008 arrived at Portland on June 5 at approximately 12:30 p.m. PT.

The 142nd Wing is the unit that intercepts hostile aircraft over the northwest United States.

This is the first time, to my knowledge, that an Air National Guard base got a major weapons system before the active component, Kosderka said. Its a super big deal.

A combat-ready F-15EX Eagle II prepares to land June 5, 2024, at Portland Air National Guard Base, making the 142nd Wing the first operational unit in the Air Force to field the strike fighter. (142nd Wing/Facebook)

The initial instructor pilots from the Portland-based wing were at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida to fly training versions of the jet, which the Air Force said can exceed twice the speed of sound.

In St. Louis, the first F-15EX bound for the Oregon wing rolled off the Boeing assembly line in March. The Air Force has slated 18 F-15EX aircraft to be operational at the 142nd Wing by the end of 2025.

Boeing said in February the top speed for the F-15EX is 2,225 miles per hour  more than Mach 2.7 at sea level.

The Air Force said in budget documents released in March that it wants to acquire 144 F-15EXs eventually to replace aging F-15C/D models from the 1990s in the active-duty force and Air National Guard inventories.
The Air Forces Next Generation Fixed Wing Helmet sits ready for another testing at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The 46th Test Squadron engineers have begun developmental testing on NGFWH with F-22 Raptor pilots while the aircraft are stationed at Eglin. These tests mark the second round of developmental testing since the Air Force announced the new LIFT-manufactured helmet last year. (Samuel King Jr./U.S. Air Force)

(Tribune News Service)  Air Force helmets offer pilots more capabilities than ever  greater visibility, mounts for night-vision goggles and much more.

But they also offer their share of challenges, including fatigue with long use and even the possibility of injury when pilots perform high-speed maneuvers or eject from planes.

Dayton-area engineers and Cedarville University students have examined the problem. Three Cedarville senior engineering students worked on the issue with an Air Force accommodations group at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in a capstone project in advanced biomechanics technology before they graduated last month.

Jennifer Whitestone, chief scientist for Fairborn defense contractor STI-TEC, was pleased with how the students rolled up their sleeves and got to work.

Whitestone has worked with the Air Force since 1987. She has seen plenty of design students from different universities over the years.

I can tell you, hands down, this is the best team of students Ive ever worked with, she said.

The Cedarville students did their homework, diving deep into the literature to see what previous engineers have done, she said.

The problem is relatively straightforward: As capabilities are added to helmets, so are weight and mass. And that shifts the helmets center of gravity  or cg, as students sometimes call it.

That has consequences for a pilots neck and back, particularly for female pilots, some of whom are smaller and lighter than male counterparts, Whitestone said.

When youre talking about dynamic scenarios, ejections and high-G maneuvers, then youre really putting an extraordinary amount of torque on the neck and the upper back, she said.

Theres also the matter of fatigue when simply wearing a relatively heavy helmet for long periods.

How do we make it so its tolerable for the airman, Whitestone said. And ultimately, thats what were here for.

We really went into the weeds

Josiah Zurick, a Cedarville graduate planning to work for Procter & Gamble in Lima as a process engineer, worked on the project. His goal was to advance the technology, but in a way that worked for pilots.

Zurick said the group used data from CT scans of cadavers provided by the Air Force, analyzing slices of CT images of cadaver skulls to better understand the human head.

The idea was to get a better read on where a heads center of gravity is.

We really went into the weeds of that, said Zurick, 22, of Middlefield, Ohio.

Next year, a new team of Cedarville students will continue this work. Zurick said one goal is to not be forced to calculate a specific individual center of gravity for each pilot. The goal is to take just a few key measurements that will clue us in on where the center of gravity will be.

Whitestone said she and her team arent designers. They make recommendations and offer insights, not new designs, she said. She and her colleagues have looked at ejection seats, body armor, at an array of issues pilots need to deal with, such as bladder relief solutions for women pilots during long sorties.

Work will continue, particularly as new capabilities are added and new needs arise.

I can keep a group of students busy for years to come, she said.

Cedarville graduates Thaddeus Krueger, of Beavercreek, and Kimiye Wenger, of Lititz, Pa., were also part of the project.

When we were given this two-year project, we knew it could become a game-changing helmet for our Air Force pilots, Krueger  who has been accepted into an Air Force flight training program  said in a statement from Cedarville. I was really invested in this project because anything that we can do to keep our pilots safe is worthwhile.

Countless moments of frustration have ultimately improved our communication and organizational skills, Zurick said. But we have a passion to see this project become a reality.

(c)2024 the Dayton Daily News (Dayton, Ohio)

Visit the Dayton Daily News (Dayton, Ohio) at www.daytondailynews.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Army Reserve Col. Reece Roberts listens to a briefing on May 2021 at Camp Williams, Utah. (Sgt. 1st Class Brent C. Powell/U.S. Army Reserve photo)

An Army Reserve colonel pleaded guilty Tuesday in a Utah federal courtroom to charges that he stole more than $62,000 from the Army through a scheme to collect more housing allowance than he was owed while on orders during the coronavirus pandemic.

Col. Reece Dennis Roberts, 53, lied about his and his familys primary residence, fabricated a lease and property listing documents, and submitted more than a dozen fake vouchers to the military between June 2020 and July 2021, according to court documents.

In a hearing with Magistrate Judge Jared Bennett, Roberts pleaded guilty to all four counts against him: making a fraudulent claim against the U.S., conspiracy to defraud the U.S., theft of government property and conspiracy to commit money laundering, according to online court records for the U.S. District Court of Utah.

Sentencing will occur Aug. 29 with Judge David Barlow, according to court records. Roberts could face forfeiture of money and property derived from the proceeds, according to the Justice Department.

After the court proceedings have been completed, the Reserve will review the case to determine whether Roberts will face disciplinary measures, said John Bradley, a spokesman for the Army Reserve.

Roberts, an Iraq War veteran who first entered the Reserve in 1991, received orders to serve on active duty with the 76th Operational Response Command at Fort Douglas, and then changed his primary address to one outside of Utah at which neither he nor his family lived, according to court documents.

He actually lived in Herriman, a town about 40 minutes from his duty station.

A general engineer, Roberts worked with a unit that was tasked with providing support to state and local officials, first responders and federal agencies during the pandemic that began in March 2020, according to his service record and the units website.

Using the fake out-of-state address made Roberts eligible for family separation pay, reimbursements for housing, meals and incidentals, according to court documents.

Through the fake lease agreement, Roberts claimed $3,700 each month for rent, which he or an unnamed accomplice sent through a Venmo account to a third party, who was also in on the scheme.

The case is part of an ongoing effort by the U.S. Attorneys Office to address military pay fraud that occurred during the coronavirus pandemic with the support of the Defense Department inspector general and the Army Criminal Investigation Division.
Jamir Gibbs, 7, of Marion, Ill., smokes a formation of soldiers with 1st Sgt. Beau Detrick of November Company, Recruit Sustainment Program, Illinois Army National Guard Recruiting and Retention Command. Jamir was promoted to Honorary First Sergeant of November Company during a ceremony June 8 at the Illinois Army National Guards Marion Readiness Center in honor of his fight against cancer. (Bradford Leighton/U.S. Army National Guard)

Jamir Gibbs, age 7, became the youngest Illinois Army National Guard honorary 1st Sergeant on Saturday, recognized for bravery in his battle against cancer.

Gibbs suffers from bacterial meningitis from leukemia, which he has been battling for over a year. First Sgt. Beau Detrick found out about Gibbs story from his friend, a teacher at Gibbs school, according to a service news release. He learned that Gibbs was suffering from cancer and that he needed support.

Detrick wanted to help Gibbs stay strong. He sent a video inviting Gibbs to lead soldiers in Army exercises as an Honorary First Sergeant in the National Guard.

Jamir Gibbs of Marion, Ill., poses with 1st Sgt. Beau Detrick after Jamirs promotion ceremony. (Bradford Leighton/U.S. Army National Guard)

Gibbs mother, Amanda Miller, spoke on what the video meant to her son: Sgt. Beau sending that video, it was something so positive in something so negative.

The 49-second clip seemed to encourage Gibbs. Jamir has watched it a few times. It was really uplifting to him, Miller said.

In the ceremony, Gibbs wore an Army uniform. First responders from the Marion, Ill., area also attended to show their support for Gibbs and allow him to try out their gear.

Local firefighters allowed Gibbs to see the inside of a fire engine and operate the firehose. He tried on tactical gear from the state SWAT team and even played fetch with a police dog.

To have made these memories with him, to see him smiling like that. Weve had some dark times this year. These moments are beautiful, Miller said.
A portrait of U.S. Army Air Corps Tech Sgt. Kenneth McKeeman was on display as family and friends adorned his casket with roses during his burial at the Connecticut State Veterans Ceremony in Middletown, Conn., June 7, 2024. McKeeman was a radioman assigned to the B-24 Liberator aircraft which was shot down off the coast of France in 1944. He was declared unrecoverable at the end of the war, but his remains were identified in 2023 as part of the Department of Defenses ongoing mission to account for and return the remains of missing service members. (Timothy Koster/Connecticut National Guard)

MIDDLETOWN, Conn. (Tribune News Service)  With all the color, sound, and solemnity of full military honors, U.S. Army Tech Sgt. Kenneth J. McKeeman of Waterbury was finally laid to rest 80 years after he was killed in France during World War II.

McKeeman, whose remains were only recently identified, was buried Friday at State Veterans Cemetery. Family members said that Friday was his birthday.

Welcome home, McKeemans nephew and namesake, Kenneth McKeeman of Cheshire, said at the graveside service.

Sgt. McKeeman, 23, perished with the entire crew of a B-24 Liberator that the Germans shot down on Frances southern coast in March 1944. He was identified last year from remains exhumed from the Rhone American Cemetery in Draguignan, France, according to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA).

Connecticut National Guard soldiers served as pallbearers and gun salute squad, and two F-35 fighter jets from the Vermont Air National Guard flew over during the service. A National Guard sergeant presented the American flag that had been draped over the coffin to McKeemans niece, MaryAnn LaPorta.

A member of the Connecticut National Guard funeral honors team presents the American Flag to the family of Tech Sgt. Kenneth McKeeman during his burial at the Connecticut State Veterans Cemetary in Middletown, Conn., June 7, 2024. (Timothy Koster/Connecticut National Guard)

LaPorta, 85, said after the ceremony that when she was 5, she saw her mother, one of Kenneth McKeemans sisters, crying while holding a newspaper. Her mother only shook her head when she asked why she was weeping, LaPorta said.

McKeeman was born in Waterbury, graduated from Wilby High School, and entered service in 1942. He was assigned to the 724th Bombardment Squadron, 451st Bombardment Group, 15th Air Force in the Mediterranean and European Theater.

On March 11, 1944, he was serving on a B-24D Liberator that took off from San Pancrazio Airfield in Italy carrying 11 crew members for a mission against the coastal city of Toulon. After dropping its payload, the bomber took a direct hit from German flak just behind the rear bomb bay, according to the DPAA.

Others flying the mission reported seeing a large burst of flame shooting through the damaged Liberators waist windows before the aircraft fell out of control and broke in half, the agency reported. The two sections of the plane fell into the water. Witnesses reported seeing no parachutes before the crash and believed that there were no survivors.

German forces in the area found the crash site near Cape Cepet and recovered remains, which were interred in the Lagoubran Cemetery in France. Beginning in 1945, the American Graves Registration Command exhumed 25 graves from the cemetery. Among the recovered remains were some of McKeemans fellow crewmen and four unknowns. Remains of the unknown service members ultimately were interred in Rhone American Cemetery.

Members of the Connecticut National Guard funeral honors team prepares to fold the American flag that was draped across the casket of Tech Sgt. Kenneth McKeeman at the Connecticut State Veterans Cemetary in Middletown, Conn., June 7, 2024. (Timothy Koster/Connecticut National Guard) The Connecticut National Guard funeral honors team carries the casket of Tech Sgt. Kenneth McKeeman during his burial at the Connecticut State Veterans Cemetary in Middletown, Conn. June 7, 2024. (Timothy Koster/Connecticut National Guard)

DPAA historians and American Battle Monuments Commission personnel exhumed remains identified as X-85 in 2019 and transferred them to the agencys laboratory. Scientists finally identified McKeeman last September, in part through mitochondrial DNA analysis, the agency said.

McKeeman left a wife, Dolores Gorman McKeeman; five brothers, two of whom also were serving in the war; and two sisters, according to the Waterbury newspapers. A Mass was celebrated at the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Waterbury upon news of his death.

U.S. heavy bomber crews suffered many losses in the war. The National Museum of the United States Air Force lists more than 30,000 crew members killed, 30,000 captured, 10,000 wounded, and 8,000 planes lost.

Connecticut Veterans Affairs Commissioner Ron Welch said the ceremony was important for the family and a vital reminder that, We can never forget our fallen.

(c)2024 the New Haven Register (New Haven, Conn.)

Visit at www.nhregister.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Russias President Vladimir Putin and Chinas President Xi Jinping in Beijing on May 16, 2024. (Alexander Ryumin, Pool Photo, AFP/TNS)

All is not quiet on the eastern front.

Russia, China and Iran are forming a despotic triumvirate hellbent on creating a superior world order built on force, autocracy and erosion of rights.

Russian President Vladimir Putins own hidden game in the South Caucuses is emerging, where a rival, undemocratic union is threatening to materialize and supersede Europes fragmented one.

Georgias billionaire prime minister recently passed a draconian new media regulation law, dubbed the Russian law, at a time when neighboring Armenia is seeking economic and security ties with the West instead of Russia.

While protesters against this law were brutally put down and disappeared by Georgias pro-Russian regime, the protesters against Armenias change of stance thrive with Russian backing.

Georgias ruling Dream Party is becoming Europes new nightmare.

Now, Europe must strengthen regional pro-European forces, or risk Russia re-creating its own competing union.

For there is a worrying economic dimension too. Georgia is set to become a haven for sanctioned Russian oligarchs, rubbishing European sanctions, potentially in return for a reintegration of its Russian-backed breakaway regions into Georgia proper  with Putins blessing.

This reintegration has remained the primary goal of Georgias ruling party  one thats enabled them to retain a mandate to lead the country for over a decade. Recent polls show this issue is more important than joining the European Union.

China is benefiting from Georgias realignment and Russias games too. Georgia transferred the tender for a strategic deep-sea port in the Black Sea from a U.S.-led consortium to controversial Chinese firms, boosting Chinas control over data-rich underwater cables beyond the South China Sea.

This move coincides with Chinas ongoing belligerence in the South China Sea amid competition with America. Last year, Chinas Ministry of Natural Resources published a map laying claim to vast areas belonging to the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam.

The waters around Malaysias oil-rich Sabah region were included in Chinas map, further complicating a geopolitical picture where a long-lost dynasty based in the Philippines  the Sulu Sultanate  lay claim to the same region with tremendous financial support from Silicon Valley and Western litigation funders, Therium, who fronted $20 million in legal fees toward a failed $15 billion claim.

The case is now being petitioned in Manhattan, where Therium is expected to be questioned over a $2 million payment to the  now criminally convicted  Spanish arbitrator, Gonzalo Stampa. But the wider geopolitical context in Malaysias Sabah largely mirrors the tussle for Georgias breakaway regions.

After all, Europe and the West will lose these secret wars if we render union with Russia, China or Iran more attractive than partnerships with the West.

Nowhere is this more apparent today than in Armenia, where pro-Western Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, disillusioned by Russias abandonment of ethnically cleansed Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh, has turned to the indifferent West for new allies.

In light of this, former NATO Secretary-General Rasmussen called for Europe to step up its support for Armenia, but apart from French President Emmanuel Macrons recent move to send military aid, it largely hasnt.

To combat these developments, Europe must first reform its institutions and shred pre-accession bureaucracy in order accelerate membership toward its own democratic union.

This includes tightening existing sanctions and issuing new, broad sanctions against Russias emerging middlemen to curb further pivots toward Putin.

Second, Europe must reverse its growing energy dependency to Azerbaijan.

After Europe weaned itself off Russian oil and gas, Azerbaijans autocrat leader Ilham Aliyev emerged as a savior, despite Aliyev forging deeper ties with Putin amid $4 billion in trade.

This runs counter to the consensus that emerged among almost 200 countries at last years COP28 in Dubai. Driven by COP president Sultan Al-Jaber, the UAE Consensus promised to transition away from fossil fuels and transition to green energy. As one of the key signatories, Europe should be doubling down  not only to alleviate its reliance on oil, but as part of a more coherent security strategy.

In a grand bargain, Russias north-south strategic vision with Iran also depends on Aliyev achieving his own east-west vision with its own strategic partner, Recep Tayyip Erdogans Turkey. Both Putin and Aliyev increasingly believe they can help deliver it for each other.

That is why these threats all weave together to support one last imperative: Europe must arm itself well beyond 2% NATO commitments for any sudden geopolitical shifts it remains perilously unprepared for.

Trump-proofing or not, Europes security begins and ends with renewing an appetite among European nations to not only fend for themselves but to demonstrate to hostile powers it has the capacity to deter or use devastating economic and military force when pushed.

Because if integration in the South Caucuses continues to follow Putins vision and significantly enhances Russias relationship with Iran, Europe wont just have a belligerent Russia on its doorstep, but a resurrection of old Soviet powers reanimated by Putin for his war machine.

George Meneshian is a Greek-Armenian International Relations and security expert specializing in the Middle East and the Caucasus. As a former soldier he holds a unique insight into security and defense affairs and has co-authored several books on international relations and diplomacy. He is a researcher at the Washington Institute for Defense and Security and head of the Middle East Research Group of the Institute of International Relations (IDIS) in Athens.
Aaron Scott Byrns, 46, was indicted May 24, 2024, by a federal grand jury in Puerto Rico on charges stemming from accusations that he placed of a hidden camera in a girls' bathroom at a Defense Department school in Aguadilla. (Joshua Magbanua/U.S. Air Force)

A longtime Department of Defense Education Activity employee is facing child exploitation charges after prosecutors alleged that he placed a hidden camera in a girls bathroom at an elementary school in Puerto Rico.

Aaron Scott Byrns, 46, used a cellphone at Ramey Unit School in Aguadilla in an attempt to capture images of girls private areas, the Justice Department said in a statement late last month.

A federal grand jury in Puerto Rico indicted Byrns on May 24. Hes facing one count of production of child pornography, one count of possession of child pornography and one count of video voyeurism, according to court documents.

Laura Soto-Santiago, a federal public defender in Puerto Rico who is listed in court papers as representing Byrns, did not respond to email and phone messages seeking comment.

Aaron Scott Byrns, seen here in a photo from the 2022-23 yearbook for Ramstein Middle School in Germany. A federal grand jury in Puerto Rico indicted Byrns on child pornography charges on May 24, 2024. (DODEA)

A conviction for production of child pornography carries a maximum of 30 years in prison, according to a statement from the Homeland Security Department. Byrns faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted on the possession charge.

Prosecutors allege that the crimes occurred from Dec. 15, 2023, through about April 15. Byrns was jailed pending trial at the request of the government, according to detention orders signed Wednesday.

In the request for pretrial confinement, prosecutors said they had identified 16 video files on Byrns phone containing child pornography, including one that shows his minor neighbor and one that shows him asking a minor to step over the video camera lens to capture her underwear or intimate parts, according to the detention order.

Upon learning of the allegations, DODEA leadership reassigned the individual to administrative duties at the community superintendents office, agency spokesman Will Griffin said in a statement Sunday.

Griffin said Byrns employment with DODEA began in 2011. He did not say at which schools the defendant was previously employed and said it would be inappropriate to comment further while the investigation is still active.

During the 2022-23 school year, Byrns was employed at Ramstein Middle School in Germany. Details on his job were not immediately available, but he was not a teacher at the time.
Staff members of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, Subcommittee on Defense, tour proposed sites on Guam for a planned integrated missile defense system for the island, Aug. 9, 2023. (Shaina ONeal/U.S. Navy)

Guams acting governor has asked for a two-month extension for a comment period on the militarys plan for live-fire missile defense tests for the island over the next decade.

In a letter Monday to the head of the Missile Defense Agency, Acting Gov. Josh Tenorio requested that the 30-day comment period for the environmental assessment on the proposed tests be extended to 90 days.

The Government of Guam recognizes the importance of national security and the role of our island in that mission, he wrote. However, the proposed activities have the potential to significantly impact our environment, our economy and the daily lives of our residents.

An extension of the original July 2 deadline would give the Guam government additional time to review the assessment thoroughly, consult relevant experts, and engage in meaningful discussions with our community stakeholders, Tenorio wrote.

The U.S. military plans up to two live-fire missile defense tests each year over the next decade from Guam and from nearby waters as it develops an integrated defense system for the strategically important island.

The Missile Defense Agency released a 378-page environmental assessment earlier this month that lays out its plan to track and destroy target missiles in cooperation with the Air Force, Army, Navy and Coast Guard.

The first test is slated for the last three months of this year.

The two annual flight tests or tracking exercises would be conducted from Andersen Air Force Base or from a U.S. Navy ship afloat in the Western Pacific, according to the environmental assessment.

The assessment concluded that no significant direct, indirect, or cumulative environmental impacts would occur from the testing.

Tenorio wrote that he was troubled over plans for residents near the land-based test site.

I am most especially concerned about any impacts on land owners, including the possibility of the need to evacuate their properties during testing, he wrote.

Tenorio cited two passages from the environmental assessment that raised the possibility of evacuation.

Out of an abundance of caution, the Department may request some landowners on the boundaries of [Andersen] remain away from their properties during test events to ensure their safety, one passage reads.

A second passage states in part, The Proposed Action may result in temporary public and private land access restrictions in the vicinity of [Andersen]. These temporary restrictions would be rare (one to two times per year) and would be in place for up to four days.

Robert Underwood, chairman of the Pacific Center for Island Security, a Guam-based group that describes itself as an action-oriented research institute, welcomed the idea of extending the comment period.

Acting Governor Tenorios request is critical since the MDA did not issue a draft proposal before this final proposal was released for review, Underwood said in a statement Monday. Fully assessing the community impact requires more than a 30-day notice that the MDA provided, particularly given the impact on landowners and residents in northern Guam.

Indo-Pacific Command has made completion of the Guam Missile Defense System a top priority for the region.

The U.S. territory is home to Andersen, Naval Base Guam and Camp Blaz, a massive Marine Corps base still under construction.

The island would serve as a crucial hub in the event of a conflict with China because of the islands proximity to the highly contested South China Sea.
U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel speaks at the New Sanno Hotel in Tokyo, June 11, 2024, about the benefits of repairing American warships in Japan. (Akifumi Ishikawa/Stars and Stripes)

TOKYO  A plan to repair U.S. Navy vessels in Japan moved forward Tuesday and planners from both countries hope to develop additional programs for military aircraft, missile production and logistics.

A group working to allow Japanese shipyards to repair and maintain U.S. warships rather than send them back to American shipyards  which can take months or years  met for the first time at the New Sanno Hotel.

U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel in opening remarks emphasized that the time saved would be essential in the event of a kinetic situation, or an armed conflict.

I think its worth repeating that committees do not project deterrence; meetings do not produce preparations, Emanuel told the gathering of about 100 people. The real goal is to execute a plan that would leverage each others capacity to enhance each others collective deterrence.

Additional working groups will meet at an undisclosed date to discuss implementing similar programs for military aircraft, missile production and creating a sustainable supply chain for those programs, according to Masaki Fukasawa, head of Japans Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Agency.

Japan and the U.S. have started taking steps towards the same goal, he said during his opening remarks. These ideas would create a mutually beneficial relationship by improving the U.S. militarys readiness and improving Japans resilience, Fukasawa said.

Emanuel has advocated for a ship maintenance program with Japan since at least July; he publicly announced the projects initiation in January.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Congress is drafting the next National Defense Authorization Act, which would fund the projects under discussion by the working groups, Emanuel told reporters after his opening remarks.

The first U.S.-Japan Defense Industrial Cooperation, Acquisition and Sustainment Forum, a two-day event aimed at accelerating military industrial cooperation between the two countries, concluded Monday.

William LaPlante, U.S. undersecretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment, and Fukasawa, his Japanese counterpart, announced during the forum plans to establish the broader working groups, according to a Japanese Defense Ministry news release Monday.

Emmanuel on Tuesday emphasized that competition with the rapidly growing Chinese military, a lack of U.S. shipyards and a prominent backlog in ship maintenance are major concerns for the U.S. and Japan.

Our shipyards back in the States are on average 4,000 days behind on repair and maintenance, let alone competition for new submarines, new aircraft carriers, he said.

Conversely, China has approximately 370 warships now and is expected to grow its navy to 430 in less than six years, Emanuel said.

The ability to match China ship for ship is critical, he said.

Emanuel said he could not state how many or what types of U.S. ships would be eligible for repairs and maintenance at Japanese shipyards, but nuclear-powered submarines and aircraft carriers would be off the table, he told reporters.

Emanuel also shrugged off questions about potential staffing issues due to Japans aging and shrinking population and said the infrastructure to support U.S. military vessels already exists in Japans numerous shipyards. Those shipyards also have a reputation of being timely, under budget and capable of high-quality work, he said.

The U.S. once operated up to 13 public shipyards for military production and maintenance, but now has only four. To match Chinas naval expansion, Japans shipyards are essential, Emanuel said.

Even if you were to say today, right now, that well create more [shipyards] in the United States, it would take you years to get them up and running  and those are years we cant afford, he told reporters.
Ukrainian military recruits shoot on a firing range at an Azov Brigade training camp outside Kyiv in March 2023. (Alice Martins for The Washington Post)

The Biden administration will allow a Ukrainian military unit with a checkered past to use U.S. weaponry, the State Department said Monday, lifting a ban imposed years ago amid concerns in Washington about the groups origins.

The Azov Brigade, known for its tenacious but ultimately unsuccessful defense of the Azovstal steel mill in Mariupol early in Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine, is regarded as a particularly effective fighting force. But it was barred about a decade ago from using American arms because U.S. officials determined that some of its founders espoused racist, xenophobic and ultranationalist views, and United Nations human rights officials accused the group of humanitarian violations.

Now the brigade, a one-time volunteer militia absorbed into the Ukrainian National Guard in 2015, will have access to the same U.S. military assistance as any other unit. The policy shift was disclosed as Kyiv starts the summer fighting season and faces down a Russian military that has intensified its pressure on objectives in eastern Ukraine and the countrys energy infrastructure.

After thorough review, Ukraines 12th Special Forces Azov Brigade passed Leahy vetting as carried out by the U.S. Department of State, the agency said in a statement, referring to the Leahy Law that prevents U.S. military assistance from going to foreign units credibly found to have committed major human rights violations. It is named for former senator Patrick J. Leahy (D-Vt.), who wrote the legislation.

The State Department found no evidence of such violations, its statement says.

A State Department spokesman declined to say when the ban was lifted and whether U.S. weaponry had already reached Azov personnel. Neither Azov leadership nor the Ukrainian government responded to requests for comment.

Canceling the ban had been a top priority for Ukrainian officials, who say the brigade could have been more effective during its defense of Azovstal in 2022 if it had access to U.S. equipment. Members of the brigade also have been barred from attending training organized by the U.S. military.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has long cited racist and ultranationalist elements of the Azov Battalion as an element of his accusation that Ukrainian fighters and their rulers in Kyiv are neo-Nazis. The shift in U.S. policy is likely to reignite those Russian critiques.

The brigades leadership says that it long ago shed those associations and that its commanders have fully turned over since that era.

Within Ukraine, the brigades name has become synonymous with the countrys last stand in the besieged city of Mariupol. Ukraine eventually ordered the remaining troops in the steel factory to surrender to Russian forces to survive. As of early May, more than 900 remained in captivity.

The plight of the remaining Azov prisoners has captured the hearts and minds of Ukrainians, and Free Azov has become a common rallying cry in protests in Kyiv.

Azov seized on its new status as a brigade last year and launched an intensive recruitment campaign across the country that brought in more than 5,000 new troops in around two months. Survivors from Azovstal were among those interviewing and training the recruits, who were grilled on their motivations, background and physical fitness before selection.

Separate from the State Departments vetting process, U.S. appropriations laws have long prohibited the Azov Battalion from receiving American aid. U.S. officials say that because the Azov Battalion of 2014 is distinct structurally from the brigade that is now a part of the National Guard, those restrictions do not apply.

OGrady reported from Kyiv.
Residents of the town of Erbendorf, located in the vicinity of Tower Barracks in Grafenwoehr, Germany, have been instructed to boil their drinking water because of the possibility of E. coli contamination. (Erbendorf)

Update: The order to boil drinking water in Erbendorf was rescinded on Friday, June 14, 2024, following three consecutive clear tests. The municipality will continue to monitor water quality and take action as needed, according to the Erbendorf official website.

GRAFENWOEHR, Germany  A municipality located near U.S. military installations in Bavaria is instructing residents to boil their drinking water because of the presence of potentially harmful bacteria.

The Tirschenreuth health department issued an E. coli warning Monday for urban Erbendorf and its villages Aschenhof, Eppenhof, Grotschenreuth, Hauxdorf, Inglashof, Plarn, Schadenreuth and Strassenschacht, according to the Erbendorf town website.

Erbendorf is just over 10 miles northeast of Tower Barracks in Grafenwoehr, home of the 7th Army Training Command and U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria. The surrounding communities house numerous soldiers, Defense Department civilians and their families.

The garrisons water supply was not affected by the contamination, spokesman Franz Zeilmann said Tuesday.

E. coli is a bacterium commonly found in the lower intestine. Toxic strains may be ingested through raw or undercooked meat products, raw milk and contaminated raw vegetables.

Ingesting a toxic E. coli strain can lead to stomach cramps, diarrhea, fever and vomiting. In some cases, it may lead to hemolytic uremic syndrome, which has up to a 5% mortality rate, according to the World Health Organization website. Cooking food thoroughly and following basic hygiene processes can kill the bacteria, according to the health organization.

The water contamination was likely caused by agricultural runoff from recent heavy rains and was discovered during preventative tests at various sampling points, Daniel Hackl, Erbendorfs deputy water warden, said Tuesday.

Although we do not have detailed information yet, there is no need for panic, Hackl said. We have immediately taken the spring water off the network.

Officials said they hope to have the bacteria flushed within the week. The town will inform residents when the water is safe to drink without boiling through their website.

Stars and Stripes reporter Alexander Riedel contributed to this report.
A Russian Tu-95 Bear bomber in flight over the Arctic Ocean. A Russian military plane is suspected of violating Finlands airspace for about two minutes this week, which would mark a first since the country joined NATO last year in response to the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine. (DVIDS)

STUTTGART, Germany  A Russian military plane is suspected of violating Finlands airspace this week, which would mark a first since the Nordic countrys entry into NATO.

We take this suspected territorial violation seriously and investigations have begun, Finnish Defense Minister Antti Hakkanen said in a statement Monday.

The Russian aircraft was in Finnish airspace for about two minutes early Monday, flying 1.5 miles into Finnish territory, Helsinki said.

The incident happened off the southern coast near the city of Loviisa, Finlands defense ministry said. The Finnish border guard service is handling the investigation.

At the time of Finlands entry into the U.S.-led military alliance last year, Russia lashed out, threatening unspecified countermeasures.

While NATO fighters frequently carry out intercepts of Russian planes in international airspace, it is relatively rare for Russian pilots to cross into allied airspace.

If confirmed, the violation will be the first time since August 2022 that a Russian warplane crossed into Finnish territory. Finland was militarily neutral for decades but reversed course amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Neighboring Sweden wanted to join the alliance simultaneously with Finland, but its accession was delayed until earlier this year.

Both countries based the decision to seek NATO membership on Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
President Joe Biden delivers remarks at the annual Gun Sense University conference in Washington, June 11, 2024. (Nathan Howard/Reuters)

WASHINGTON  President Joe Biden showcased his administrations efforts to cut down on illegal gun trafficking and reduce crime at a gun violence prevention summit on Tuesday, just hours after his son Hunter was convicted of lying about his drug use to illegally buy a gun.

Biden issued a written statement saying he accepted the outcome of the case but did not address the issue during an address on Tuesday to survivors of gun violence, mayors, parents and educators. Biden was to return to Wilmington, Del., later in the day to be with his son.

Biden praised the survivors of gun violence for their determination not to focus on their anger but on what they can do to prevent more tragedies.

Through their words and actions, Biden said the survivors ensure that all the victims of gun violence are not forgotten. They didnt die in vain.

The Democratic president, facing a tough battle against former President Donald Trump to win a second term in the November presidential election, highlighted his administrations efforts to reduce crime ahead of the two-year anniversary of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act.

That act was created in the wake of massacres at a Texas elementary school and a New York supermarket. It established new criminal offenses for the straw-purchasing of firearms by buyers who lie about the guns intended owner, among other provisions.

The Department of Justice has charged more than 500 defendants with violating gun trafficking and straw purchasing provisions of a new gun safety law enacted two years ago, the White House announced on Tuesday.

Biden hailed preliminary data released by the FBI, which showed that murders decreased by 26% in the first quarter of 2024, while robberies fell by almost 18%, and violent crime overall dropped by 15%.

Bidens speech was interrupted by pro-Palestinian protestors. The crowd grew angry, but Biden urged patience, saying innocent children have been lost.

Democrats are deeply divided over Bidens handling of the war in Gaza and the president routinely faces protests at public events.

The White House noted that the Trump administration saw the largest increase in murders ever recorded.

Democrats largely favor stricter gun laws as a way to reduce deaths from gun violence at schools and in cities across the country.

Republicans, with the support of the National Rifle Association, a gun rights group, largely oppose stricter laws, citing the right to bear arms established in the U.S. Constitutions Second Amendment.

Trump, who last month won the endorsement of the nations top gun rights group, has pledged to unravel gun regulations put in place by Biden.

Andrea Shalal contributed to this report.
The House of Delegates meets during a session of the Virginia General Assembly in Richmond on Feb. 24, 2023. (Jay Paul/The Virginian-Pilot/TNS)

(Tribune News Service)  When Donna Lewiss daughter Grace graduates from First Colonial High School in Virginia Beach on Thursday, shell have a picture of her father in her cap instead of one of him standing next to her. Jason Lewis was killed in 2007 while serving as a Navy SEAL in Iraq.

Because of her fathers death, Grace Lewis was eligible for college tuition assistance through a state program that covers higher education costs for some military families. But the rising college freshman may not be able to receive the financial assistance because state lawmakers recently scaled back eligibility standards for the program in an effort to lighten the cost burden on the states public colleges and universities.

The rollout of the reforms to the Virginia Military Survivor and Dependent Education Program has caused a firestorm of pushback from military families who blame lawmakers for disregarding their plight and leaving them stranded without resources promised to them.

The fact that the General Assembly, whose members have been largely insulated from the scars of war, did not believe our sacrifices were worthy of a thoughtful decision-making process before this language was drafted feels like institution betrayal, said Donna Lewis, a member of a new task force charged with addressing the impacts of the recent changes to the program.

The task force met Monday at the Virginia War Memorial building in Richmond for the first of several sessions. Members listened to dozens of people over several hours who gave a snapshot of how VMSDEP has helped their families and how the program changes will disrupt their lives.

The program provides a tuition waiver to spouses and children of veterans who are killed, missing in action, taken prisoner or at least 90% permanently disabled as a result of military service or combat. It also provides up to a $2,200 annual stipend to offset the costs of room, board, books and supplies for qualified survivors and dependents of military service members.

Under changes adopted in the state budget this year, applicants have to be Va. residents, the waiver could only be used for undergraduate degrees and qualifying undergraduate students will have to apply for and use other eligible federal and state financial aid first.

Gov. Glenn Youngkin requested state lawmakers return to Richmond to take up the matter. House Speaker Don Scott confirmed the House would return in special session at the end of this month to discuss what the unintended consequences of the changes to the military survivor and dependent program.

Youngkin created the bipartisan Preserving VMSDEP task force on May 15 to address concerns and the programs long-term sustainability. The group is comprised of veterans, Gold Star family members, legislators, members representing the four branches of armed services and public colleges and universities. Gold Star families are spouses, children, parents, siblings or others whose loved one died in military service.

Todays session will help inform the path forward, said task force co-chair and Va. Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs Craig C. Crenshaw at the start of the meeting.

The reforms were recommended by the State Council of Higher Education for Va. to rein in the tuition waivers cost. Universities across the state, including in Hampton Roads, have been forced to absorb the lost revenue or spread the cost of the waiver to other students, according to the council.

Program enrollment in Virginias public higher education institutions has grown by nearly 350% in the last five years, increasing from 1,385 students in 2018 to more than 6,000 in 2023. The cost of tuition waivers has nearly quadrupled from $12 million in 2019 to $46.3 million in 2022, according to the council.

Changes to the program were made in the budget, which was approved by both houses of the General Assembly and signed by the governor, rather than stand-alone legislation. Students currently enrolled in the program over the past year or who committed to their summer or fall 2024 semester by May 15 will not be affected by the reforms.

Grace Lewis didnt meet the deadline of a formal college commitment to be grandfathered into the assistance program, her mother said at Mondays meeting.

Several members of the public Monday described the new program standards as an attack on Gold Star families and disabled veterans and their families.

Among the speakers was retired Navy Seal Jason Redman of Virginia Beach who was severely wounded while serving in Iraq. His youngest daughter is a student at Old Dominion University using the VMSDEP program. Redmond said the changes will crush families at a crucial time.

When the bulk of our 9/11 war children are coming of college age, the General Assembly and our educational institutions are saying this is too hard too hard to sustain this program for the families who have buried a love one for your freedom, he said.

The states higher education council secured $20 million per year from lawmakers in the two-year budget bill marking the first time funding has been allocated to offset institutions loss of revenue from the tuition waiver.

Aimee R. Guidera, task force co-chair and Va. secretary of education, said the second task force session in July will focus on mechanics of the program and cost projections. The third meeting in August will center on developing recommendations for sustainability.

We will work hand-in-hand with our military families, higher education and other impacted stakeholders to address concerns, develop solutions and honor and respect the courage of those who fight and serve, Guidera said.

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Daniel Sheehan (24) pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court

A former participant in Republican "colour parties" who had hundreds of rounds of ammunition in a shed at his home has been jailed for 18 months.

Last November, Daniel Sheehan (24) pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to the possession of 263 rounds of ammunition in suspicious circumstances.

Sheehan of Churchfield Avenue, Churchfield, Cork, appeared before the three-judge, non-jury court on the single charge that on June 3, 2022, he had in his possession 263 rounds of ammunition in circumstances that give rise to a reasonable inference that he did not have them for a lawful purpose at the same location.

At the Special Criminal Court today, Mr Justice Michael MacGrath sentenced Sheehan to three years imprisonment with the final 18 months of that term suspended for two years.

Mr Justice MacGrath said that Sheehan had been discovered to be in possession of a small amount of cannabis in his own bedroom on the date of June 3, 2022, and that investigating gardai had searched the remainder of his address.

Mr Justice MacGrath said gardai discovered a replica pistol, which was not designed to fire ammunition, as well as the 263 rounds in a bag in Sheehans shed. Sheehan admitted his possession of the ammunition to gardai at the scene.

Investigating gardai noted Republican memorabilia at the scene with Sheehan telling them that his grandfather had instilled a Republican belief in him.

Mr Justice MacGrath said that when questioned by gardai, Sheehan admitted his involvement in Republican activities, with the judge noting that Sheehan had been front and centre at Republican pipe bands and colour ceremonies after being recruited by someone twice his age.

Sheehan said he had amassed the ammunition from nights out shooting with another man and from his interest in war memorabilia.

Mr Justice MacGrath said that Sheehans father had suffered with addiction issues and had passed away in February.

Sheehan, the judge said, had a strong interest in music, poetry and spoken word projects and had been a dedicated volunteer at a studio where he penned a powerful and impactful song for young offenders about young people and their mental health.

Mr Justice MacGrath said the offence had been categorised by the DPP as being in the lowest range of offending, which carried a pre-mitigation headline sentence of between five and seven years.

Mr Justice MacGrath said Sheehan was 21 at the time of the offence, had since stayed away from paramilitary organisations and had admitted his possession of the ammunition to gardai.

Mr Justice MacGrath said Sheehan was a young man with no serious previous convictions and that younger people with a lack of maturity can encounter difficulties in coping with incarceration. The judge added that Sheehan was a strong candidate for rehabilitation and someone who had engaged with probation services.

Mr Justice MacGrath said Sheehan had a good employment record, had accepted his possession of the ammunition and had cut contacts with Republicans.

Mr Justice MacGrath said Sheehan had a good employment record, while the court noted his remorse and regret and also that he was working in construction but hoped to return to the butchering trade.

Mr Justice MacGrath set a headline sentence of six years imprisonment but discounted three years of that sentence in mitigation, saying the court had to consider a possibly unjust incarceration period regarding the presumptive minimum sentence of five years.

The judge then suspended the last 18 months of the three-year sentence for two years in the interests of mitigation and ordered that Sheehan have no contact with those of militant or paramilitaries disposition.

Sheehan had also been charged with membership of an illegal organisation, namely the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann, at a location within the State on the same date. That charge was later dropped by the State.

The State decided to not prosecute the membership charge with Maddie Grant BL, for the DPP, saying the plea of guilty to the ammunition charge would meet the case.

*****

At a previous hearing of the Special Criminal Court, Detective Garda Geraldine Daly said a substantial amount of Republican documentation, literature and posters were found at Sheehan's address.

Det Gda Daly said Sheehan held Republican beliefs from his grandfather and throughout his childhood and that these beliefs were imbedded in him.

The detective said that, through monitoring dissident Republican activities, gardai had become aware of Sheehan, who attended a Republican commemoration in Cork in 2017.

Det Gda Daly said Sheehan was interviewed on five occasions by gardai and that he engaged and co-operated with all questions.

The detective said that, at 16, Sheehan became involved in Sinn Fein but moved to the Republican group Saoradh in 2018.

Sheehan made admissions to gardai that he was then introduced to a more senior member of the dissident community to whom he looked up to as an experienced and intellectual person.

Det Gda Daly said Sheehan had three previous convictions - two for drug possession and one for public order.

Ronan Munro, for Sheehan, said his client was involved with colour parties, marching and pipe bands and that he had been out front and centre about that in public.

The barrister said Sheehan had an interest in collecting war memorabilia through a family connection and had a spent grenade shell in his collection from the World War era.

Mr Munro said his client would regularly go shooting with an Army reserve and had done so since he was 17-years-old and had accumulated ammunition from this activity.

Counsel said Sheehan had been influenced in Republican matters by his grandfather, who had died when his client was between 10 and 11 years old.

Mr Munro said Sheehan had made admissions, had done his Leaving Cert and had a good work history, having worked a number of jobs and being employed in the traffic section of a county council.

The barrister said Sheehan lived with his mother and his sister and that his father had suffered with addiction issues. Mr Munro said his client had since distanced himself from Republican groups and was willing to stay away from that environment.
He used his power to take advantage of me.

John Merrick, of Portmarnock Park, Portmarnock, Dublin pictured at the Criminal Courts of Justice (CCJ) on Parkgate Street in Dublin. pic: IrishPhotoDesk.ie

John Merrick, of Portmarnock Park, Portmarnock, Dublin pictured at the Criminal Courts of Justice (CCJ) on Parkgate Street in Dublin. pic: IrishPhotoDesk.ie

A former Christian Brother has been jailed for a year for the abuse of two pupils in a Dublin school almost 47 years ago.

John Merrick (77) of Portmarknock Park, Portmarknock, Dublin pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to four charges of indecent assault against one sixth class pupil and three charges of indecent assault against his classmate on dates between September 1977 and June 1978. Both men are now 58 years old.

Both men indicated that they wish to retain their anonymity but are happy for Merrick to be named in reporting the case.

Merrick, who entered the Christian Brothers order at the age of 14, subsequently left the order in 1981 after meeting his now wife. He has two children and a number of grandchildren.

John Merrick, of Portmarnock Park, Portmarnock, Dublin pictured at the Criminal Courts of Justice (CCJ) on Parkgate Street in Dublin. pic: IrishPhotoDesk.ie

He has previous convictions from the District Court in relation to similar offending around the same time. These incidences of abuse were reported in 1996 and he was later convicted in 1998, resulting in a six month suspended sentence and a 12 month suspended sentence.

Philipp Rahn SC, defending, told the court that at the time of the convictions from the District Court, Merrick engaged in a sex offender treatment programme and also subsequently engaged in the Restorative Justice Programme.

One of the men took the stand to read his victim impact statement into the record.

He said this was meant to be a victim impact statement but he found it difficult to assess the exact impact the abuse had on him, as he was a little boy in primary school at the time.

He said he cannot bear for anyone to touch him and doesnt know if this would have been the case, had Merrick not touched him inappropriately as a child.

He used his power to take advantage of me, the man continued and said he wondered would he have turned out to a more amiable and trusting person if he had not been molested by Merrick.

The man said he has a short explosive temper and he can be quite blunt and direct. He often wonders, when he compares himself to his siblings, if he may have had a much different temperament, more like his family, had he not been abused as a child.

Would I be more approachable if it were not for the abuse? he said. He spoke of being terrified when his own daughter started school.

He said he has suffered from depression for many years and while he cannot say that this was totally due to Merricks actions, he feels it has contributed to it.

Finally, he spoke of reporting the case  It wont make those feelings go away but I hope that justice can now be served and I can get on with my life.

Judge Pauline Codd said the man had been courageous in delivering his victim impact statement before the court and described it as an articulate account of the impact the abuse had on him. She thanked him and noted that he did not seek to lay all the blame at the feet of the accused.

He has shown a great level of self-awareness and gave a very balanced account of the impact the abuse had on him. It is a tragedy that victims have to live with this for the rest of their life and that is fully accepted by the court, Judge Codd said.

She acknowledged that the law which existed at the time of the offending meant that the maximum penalty available to the court is two years.

She said the law at the time did not acknowledge the impact of such abuse on young children before she added that additional sentencing powers now exist that recognise the seriousness of such abuse.

That was sadly not a feature of society at the time of these events, Judge Codd said.

The judge also noted that the court has no way of knowing what Merricks psychological profile was at the time he was abusing these children. She noted that Merrick was 14 years old when he entered the religious order adding that sexual repression and isolation was rife at the time in the order.

Judge Codd imposed a sentence of 12 months for the offences against the first man and a consecutive 10 month term for the offences against the second man.

She said the most significant aggravating factors in the case where the youth of the two victims at the time and the breach of trust involved. She said the young boys were clearly afraid of Merrick at the time and of what was happening to them.

She acknowledged that Merrick had pleaded guilty and said this was of significance in terms of acceptance of responsibility and had saved the two men from having to give evidence.

They would have been worried as to whether they would be believed, Judge Codd commented adding that guilty pleas are of assistance, particularly in historical case such as this.

Judge Codd also accepted that Merrick has not come to garda attention since and has demonstrated an awareness of the impact of his offending through a letter of remorse he had written for the court.

Judge Codd imposed consecutive sentences totalling 22 months in prison before she suspended the final 10 months of the term on strict conditions for 12 months.
Kinsella told gardai a man named Jimmy gave him money on multiple occasions but that Kinsella did not work for him

Ex-IRA man Nathan Kinsella told gardai that he had a multi-millionaire friend who gifted him hundreds of thousands of euro while he was on the dole but saw nothing "dodgy" in it, the Special Criminal Court has heard.

Kinsella (45) of Richmond in Blackrock, Co Dublin, entered three guilty pleas on tax offences at a November sitting of the Special Criminal Court.

His sentencing was delayed last February after he filed a fresh return that the State said was "not in keeping with the evidence" previously received.

At a previous sitting, Dominic McGinn SC, for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), said the guilty pleas entered related to failures to pay Capital Acquisitions Tax (CAT) for the years 2018, 2019 and 2020.

At that hearing, Mr McGinn said gardai would need to investigate those income tax returns, the basis for them and whether there is an overlap between those figures and the funds processed through Kinsella's accounts on which CAT should have been paid.

Garda Sergeant Adrian Buckley told the court today that there had been three accounts involved in the investigation, two of which were in Kinsellas partners name.

Mr McGinn said that during the period under investigation, 2018 - 2020, a total of 230K had been lodged into the three accounts with Kinsella admitting to gardai he had no taxable income and had been on unemployment payments.

Sgt Buckley said that Kinsella had said in voluntary interviews that he had lived with a friend and that his friend and his family were multi-millionaires who would loan money or gift money to him.

The three-judge court heard that when asked about specific amounts transferred into the three accounts, Kinsella said they had been received by him and then lodged by his partner, Jennifer Dunne.

Kinsella told gardai he believed that there was nothing illegal about the lodgments.

Mr McGinn told the non-jury court that Kinsella told gardai that there was no dodgy money involved in the lodgements, that the accused didnt see an issue with it and that a man named Jimmy gave him money on multiple occasions but that Kinsella did not work for him.

Sgt Buckley said Kinsella told gardai that the lodging of the money fell to his partner of seven years because he did not have a bank card at the time. He said the cash had since been spent.

Sgt Buckley said that Kinsella had 17 previous convictions, with 14 of those for road traffic offences, while Kinsella had also received two sentences of four months each for impeding a prosecution.

Diarmaid McGuinness SC, for Kinsella, said his client had pleaded guilty to IRA membership in 2014, for which he was jailed for two years, and had given an undertaking to disassociate himself from any paramilitary organisation which he had not infringed upon since.

Mr McGuinness said that his client was making a genuine attempt to regularise his position in terms of tax and had entered into an agreement to pay Revenue 50,000 and then a further 1,169 a month for five years.

Mr McGuinness said that his client had entered a very early plea and had answered Garda questions as to the source of the money, which came from someone very well off.

Mr McGuinness said Kinsella and his partner had been living together for seven years and that his client suffered with health difficulties but was attempting to start trading in motor vehicles.

Counsel said Kinsella pleaded guilty to membership of the IRA 10 years ago when it was highly unusual to do so and had been a good prisoner while incarcerated.

Mr Justice Michael MacGrath said the court would adjourn matters to June 28 for sentence finalisation.

The charges that Kinsella pleaded guilty to are that whilst having an address at Tasaggart House, Saggart in Co Dublin, he failed without reasonable excuse to deliver to the Revenue Commissioners a full and true return for the purposes of capital acquisitions tax as required by section 46(2) of the Capital Acquisitions Tax Consolidation Act 2003 on or before October 31, 2018.

He further pleaded guilty to two additional counts of the same offence on or before October 31, 2019, whilst having an address in Dublin, and on or before October 31, 2020, whilst having an address at Richmond, Newtownpark, Blackrock, Co Dublin.

At a previous sitting of the court, Mr McGinn said the State was notified in February that Kinsella had since made income tax returns, rather than CAT returns, to the Revenue Commissioners for the same period covered by the offences.

"The figures are not in keeping with the evidence the prosecution is in possession of in terms of the money on which Capital Acquisitions Tax should be declared and paid," he said.

At that hearing, Mr McGinn said gardai would need to investigate those income tax returns, the basis for them and whether there is an overlap between those figures and the funds processed through Kinsella's accounts on which CAT should have been paid.

Mr McGuinness said his client had filed the income tax returns for 2018 and 2019 following advice from an accountant. He said the returns made were intended to "embrace" all the money received by Kinsella for those two years.

At the Special Criminal Court sentencing hearing today however, Garda Sergeant Buckley told Mr McGinn that Revenue would now conduct their own inquiries into the returns.

Kinsella was jailed by the Special Criminal Court 10 years ago after a garda investigation into paramilitary activity at the funeral of Dissident Republican Alan Ryan.

The defendant had pleaded guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the IRA on September 13, 2012 and was sentenced to two years.

Dissident Republican Alan Ryan was shot dead outside his home in Clongriffin in North Dublin in September 2012. Kinsella was himself shot two months later.
Lam told gardai he had an issue with gambling and owed money. He said he was to bring the boxes to a casino

An elderly man with a gambling addiction told gardai that he was transporting drugs worth almost half a million euro from Donegal to Dublin by bus to pay his debts, a court has heard.

Peter Lam (80) told gardai who asked about his gambling: When I sleep, I dream of Roulette.

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that Lam has a previous conviction in Letterkenny for cultivation and possession of cannabis in 2013 for which he received a three year suspended sentence.

Lam, of Lisburn Road, Belfast, pleaded guilty to possession of the drugs for sale or supply at Busaras, Dublin 1, on October 11, 2021.

Garda Kieran Stapleton told Emmet Nolan BL, prosecuting, that gardai in receipt of confidential information intercepted an elderly Asian male who arrived on a bus from Donegal to Busaras with two large boxes. He told gardai he did not know what was in the boxes.

Gda Stapleton said the boxes were found to contain MDMA valued at 470,982, hidden in pottery boxes and under childrens toys.

Lam told gardai he had an issue with gambling and owed money. He said he was to bring the boxes to a casino and people were to collect them outside.

Gda Stapleton agreed with Garnet Orange SC, defending, that Lam told gardai he dreamed of Roulette when trying to illustrate the dept of his gambling problem.

The garda told counsel there was nothing to his knowledge to suggest Lam was benefiting from the offending on a significant scale. Lam spent 10 months in custody on remand.

Mr Orange asked the court to take his clients guilty plea into account as a significant mitigating factor. He submitted his role was that of a courier in this operation.

He handed in medical reports in relation to Lams health issues, including diabetes, asthma and mild to moderate mixed vascular dementia. He said Lam is taking drugs for this, which have slowed the progress of the dementia.

Counsel said he was not suggesting his client was at deaths door, but he had demonstrable health challenges which would mean difficulties for him.

Passing sentence today/yesterday (MON), Judge Mary O'Malley Costello said it was important society was protected from this type of offending.

Judge O'Malley Costello said the court had to take into account Lam's vulnerabilities, age and health conditions, but nevertheless he had pleaded guilty to a serious offence which has consequences on society and the victims who suffer as a result of the moving and dealing of drugs.

She said drug issues are to be found in every corner of the country, causing everyone to suffer as a result of the knock-on criminality that goes with the drugs trade. It really is a scourge, she said.

The judge said the offending must be punished by the court and there must also be a deterrence so others will not be as reckless as Lam was.

She noted there were people higher up the chain than Lam, but said his role as a courier made him an important cog in the wheel. She said it was not the first time he had come before the courts.

She took into account his co-operation, his guilty plea, his age, health, and lack of English.

Judge O'Malley Costello imposed a sentence of four years and suspended the final ten months. She said he should also be given credit for the ten months he has already spent in custody.
The victims mother, Sabrina Ledwidge, gave evidence of formally identifying her sons body to gardai at the Dublin City Mortuary in Whitehall on the day after his murder.

A young Dublin man killed in a gangland shooting last year died from a gunshot wound to the chest, an inquest has heard.

Brandon Ledwidge (23) was shot dead when he answered the door at his home on Barry Drive, Finglas on November 18, 2023.

The fatal incident occurred when a lone gunman approached the house at around 6.50pm and fired several shots as the door was opened by the deceased.

Emergency services alerted to the shooting tried to save the victims life before Mr Ledwidge was transferred to Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown where he was formally pronounced dead a short time later.

The coroner, Clare Keane, confirmed to relatives of the deceased who attended a sitting of Dublin District Coroners Court on Tuesday that a postmortem had attributed the cause of his death to a gunshot wound to the chest.

The victims mother, Sabrina Ledwidge, gave evidence of formally identifying her sons body to gardai at the Dublin City Mortuary in Whitehall on the day after his murder.

Detective Garda Ciara OSullivan of the detective unit in Finglas, who is acting as family liaison officer in the case, said a full investigation was commenced following Mr Ledwidges death.

The senior investigating officer, Detective Inspector Dara Kenny, sought a six-month adjournment of the inquest under Section 25 of the Coroners Act on the basis that criminal proceedings were being contemplated.

Dr Keane granted the application and adjourned the inquest for further mention to November 11 to obtain an update on the progress of the Garda investigation.

The coroner also offered her condolences to members of Mr Ledwidges family on their loss.

The fatal shooting of Mr Ledwidge, who was known to gardai, was regarded as the first gangland murder in the Republic last year.

One line of inquiry being investigated by gardai is that the victim was targeted because associates believed he was planning to take control of their criminal gang.

The deceased was due to appear in court a few days after he was killed to face three separate charges for the possession of drugs, including heroin and cocaine, for the purpose of sale or supply.

It is understood relatives of the victim were also warned by his former associates to leave their home in Finglas or risk being targeted.

Detectives were also investigating reports that the deceased had been involved in a fist fight with a relative of the prime suspect on the day before he was murdered.

It was reported last year that the chief suspect for Mr Ledwidges murder presented himself to gardai for questioning about the incident after walking into a Garda station in Dublin at the end of November.

Mourners at Mr Ledwidges funeral were told by his brother, Kaci, that his late brother was a party animal who always had a big fat joint in your mouth and a hammer in your pocket.

Before the start of the requiem mass at St Canices Church in Finglas, large groups of masked youth on motorcycles performed wheelies as a tribute to the murder victim.

Later that evening a row broke out in the car park of a pub in Cabra among people who had attended the funeral with two people suffering slash injuries.

They included convicted killer Derek Boyd (29) who had accidentally shot his sister, Sandra, dead in March 2022
George Murray (55) admitted he frightened the life out of the poor man when he pulled the realistic handgun on Tom Maye in Maye's Public House

A man pulled a realistic imitation firearm on a publican in a row over Covid restrictions, leading to the closure of an iconic Dublin pub, a court has heard.

George Murry (55) later admitted he frightened the life out of the poor man when he pulled the realistic imitation Glock handgun on Tom Maye in Maye's Public House on December 16, 2020 and told him he was going to blow (his) fucking head off.

The incident had a significant effect on Mr Maye, who had run the pub for 31 years, but has since sold the business, Maddie Grant BL, prosecuting, told Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on Monday.

The iconic pub on the corner of Dorset Street and Frederick Street North was best known for its big Guinness clock sign.

Murray, with an address at Granby Centre, Granby Row, Dublin, pleaded guilty to one count of possessing a realistic imitation firearm with the intention to make a threat to kill at the Dublin pub. He was jailed for four years.

Murray has been in and out of custody on other matters since this incident and has been in the Central Mental Hospital since last August, the court heard. He has 57 previous convictions.

Detective Sergeant Eoin Treacy told the court that at around 3pm on the day in question, Murray and another man entered the pub, which was operating a door bell system at the time. Covid restrictions were in place, and pubs could only operate as off-licences for take-away customers at that time, the court heard.

Mr Maye (70), the proprietor of the pub, was working behind the counter on the day in question and he told Murray and his companion that the pub was not open for drinking in. Murray left before returning a minute or so later, with some cans in his hand.

He told Mr Maye he was going to sit there for the hour with his drinks. Mr Maye repeatedly told Murray to leave, during which time a customer came into the shop looking to buy cigarettes.

Murray then told Mr Maye: I'll blow your fucking head off, before he produced the imitation Glock from the waistband of his trousers. Mr Maye dived behind the counter while the other customer ran out the door, the court heard.

Murray then left the pub, tucked the gun back into his waistband and started walking down the street. Mr Maye pushed a panic button and gardai arrived within three minutes, the court heard. Murray was quickly spotted and armed gardai pulled their weapons on him before arresting him and confiscating the firearm.

The street was busy with people at the time, the court heard.

CCTV footage of the incident was played in court, while a victim impact statement from Mr Maye was handed in, but not read out.

James Dwyer SC, defending, said Murray had a lengthy history of schizoaffective disorder and polysubstance abuse, which started in his early teens. He has been in and out of mental health care over the last few years, the court heard.

His previous convictions include theft, burglary, criminal damage and harassment offences. He said Murray later told gardai he was just angry and had no intention of killing anyone. The replica gun was a pellet gun, the court heard.

Sentencing Murray yesterday Judge Pauline Codd commended the gardai for their bravery, noting they had no idea they were dealing with a replica gun.

She noted the incident had a serious effect on Mr Maye, whose sleep and wellbeing was affected in the wake of the incident. His family were also very upset on his behalf, the judge said. None of them had any interest in continuing the business and this led to the closure of the business he ran for 30 years.

The judge took into account Murray's psychiatric history. She set a headline sentence of seven years but reduced this to four years. She backdated it to last November.

Murray put his thumbs up and said fair play to the judge.
Patrick Wall (22) mistakenly believed he was allowed to collect his car

A motorist whose car was seized by gardai as part of a burglary investigation burgled the recovery centre where it was being held and took it back, a court has heard.

Patrick Wall (22) mistakenly believed he was allowed to collect his car when he got into the facility and drove it off without permission.

Judge David McHugh spared him jail, giving him a suspended three-month sentence.

Wall, with an address at Fortunestown Lane, Tallaght, pleaded guilty to burglary and unauthorised taking of his own car.

Blanchardstown District Court heard the incident happened at Gannons City Recovery, Longmile Road, Bluebell, Dublin, on May 9 last year.

Garda Sergeant Walter Sweeney said that on May 8, 2023, a grey Volkswagen registered to Wall was seized as part of an investigation into a burglary at Blackhorse Avenue, Cabra.

It was being held at the recovery yard for a garda technical examination when Wall and another man entered two sheds operated by Gannons that were not open to the public. One was the technical examination shed.

Wall did not engage with any staff and the seized car was never returned to gardai.

Blanchardstown District Court

The DPP consented to the case being dealt with in the district court on a plea of guilty only and Judge McHugh accepted jurisdiction after hearing the evidence.

Wall had no previous convictions. On the day, there was a bit of a miscommunication and after receiving a text message, Wall believed he could go and collect his car, his solicitor said.

Wall was not charged with anything in relation to the investigation that led to his car being seized.

The accused had family members in court to support him and they had pooled together 500 as a token of his remorse, the solicitor said.

The accused was a very young man who was married last year, the court heard.

He was very remorseful for the offences, was extremely apologetic and his plea of guilty had saved the prosecution the time of having to bring the case to a circuit court trial.

Judge McHugh suspended the three-month sentence for a year and said but for Walls previous good record, he would have gone to prison.

He marked the sentence on the unauthorised taking charge and took the other count into consideration.

The charges were under section 112 of the Road Traffic Act and section 12 of the Theft and Fraud Offences Act.
Today, gardai served books of evidence on David Amah, 18, of Hazel Grove, Portrane Road, Donabate, Dublin and Michael Andrecut, 22, who both face murder charges, and Juares Kumbu, 18, who is solely accused of a firearms offence

Two more men accused of murdering Tristan Sherry, who was killed after he fatally shot a man in a Dublin restaurant on Christmas Eve, have been sent forward for trial to the non-jury Special Criminal Court.

Today, gardai served books of evidence on David Amah, 18, of Hazel Grove, Portrane Road, Donabate, Dublin and Michael Andrecut, 22, who both face murder charges, and Juares Kumbu, 18, who is solely accused of a firearms offence for removing the shooter's murder weapon.

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) chose the non-jury trial venue because, in this case, "The ordinary courts are inadequate to secure the effective administration of justice."

Finglas father of one Sherry died from blunt force head trauma in Browne's Steakhouse in Blanchardstown. He was injured after shooting Jason Hennessy Sr with a submachine gun.

Mr Hennessy, 48, from Corduff, Blanchardstown, had been having dinner with family and friends before he was shot in the neck and upper body. He died in hospital 11 days later.

The defendants had been refused bail earlier and appeared at Cloverhill District Court today.

Senior prosecutor Tom Conlon told Judge Alan Mitchell that the DPP directed that they all be tried in the Special Criminal Court.

The DPP had furnished a certificate under section 46.2 of the Offences Against the State Act.

The judge agreed to grant a return-for-trial order and legal aid to the three, who will also have senior counsel representation.

He warned the defendant they must inform the prosecution if he intended to use an alibi, and he also ordered gardai to hand over interview videos to the defence.

They will learn the date of their appearance before the Special Criminal Court later and remain in custody, having been denied bail earlier.

Mr Kumbu and Amah did not speak during the hearing, but Mr Andrecut said "Nice one" when served with his book of evidence and later when the judge explained the order.

Michael Andrecut -

Judge Mitchell said that if they face trial together, "there will be large legal teams, and the courtroom will have to be big for this number of accused."

Earlier, in their bail hearings, Detective Sergeant Mark Murphy alleged that the pair were in the restaurant when two gunmen entered and started shooting.

Mr Sherry and Hennessy fell to the ground, and the firearm dropped.

It was ultimately picked up and removed by another person. Several people attacked Sherry with kicks and beat him with chairs and an iron bar, and he was also stabbed in a "sustained attack" for five minutes.

The court heard it continued after the gun was removed. The hearing was told Mr Andrecut, with an address at Sheephill Avenue in Dublin 15, would be raising the issue of self-defence. Mr Amah, of Hazel Grove, Portrane Road, Donabate, Dublin, had informed gardai that he panicked and felt "my life is in danger".

Mr Kumbu, Brookhaven Grove, Blanchardstown, had also been refused bail previously.

A hearing was told he had been at the steakhouse enjoying dinner with the Hennessy family when "two assassins with machine guns came in and started spraying bullets".

Detective Garda Shane Guinan alleged one of the gunmen, Tristan Sherry, was grabbed by Jason Hennessy Sr, who "succumbed to his injuries".

The court heard the gun fell to the floor, but it was picked up and put on a table. Mr Kumbu allegedly picked it up, left the restaurant and was driven away from the scene.

Last week, two other Dublin men also had their cases transferred to the same court.

Noah Musueni, 18, of Corduff Park, Corduff and Wayne Deegan, 26, of Linnetsfield, Avenue, are also accused of murdering Sherry.

Another youth and two other men are before the courts on related charges, including assault, violent disorder and a weapons offence during the incident.

One is Brandon Hennessy, 20, of Sheephill Avenue, Dublin 15, a son of Jason Hennessy Sr.

He has been accused of violent disorder and production of a commercial dustpan and brush with a steel handle capable of inflicting serious injury during the incident.

A court has heard he allegedly "retaliated" after his father was shot.
Chief suspect had previously served time in jail for the killing of a woman

Armed gardai are searching for a convicted killer who is suspected of stabbing a Dublin man to death over the weekend.

Victim Mark Carroll (34) was knifed several times at a house in Scribblestown, Finglas, in the early hours of Sunday.

He had been at the property that night with a small group of people when a row broke out, which escalated into violence.

The father-of-two is understood to have been stabbed three times, including a serious wound to the body, by another male who then fled the scene.

The chief suspect is a local criminal who has previously been jailed for killing a woman.

Since the attack armed gardai have been carrying out searches for the suspect, including a search of his home address.

However, investigators fear the man has gone to ground and efforts to find him are ongoing.

One source said: This man is known to have access to firearms and is the suspect in a fatal stabbing. Because of this, armed officers are leading the search for him.

Father stabbed to death at house in Finglas named locally, as manhunt underway for chief suspect in attack

Tributes have been paid to Mr Carroll since news of his death emerged, with friends describing him as a true gentleman, while family members have said they are numb following the tragedy.

Emergency services were alerted to the scene in Scribblestown at around 1am and Mr Carroll was found with serious injuries.

He was treated at the scene before being taken to James Connolly Hospital where he was pronounced dead a short time later.

Mr Carroll was from Finglas and was visiting the property at the time.

Detectives are continuing to investigate the murder and have been carrying out door-to-door inquiries and canvassing the area for CCTV footage.

No arrests have yet been made as gardai continue to search for the prime suspect.

This individual was only released from prison last year after serving a sentence for killing a woman and has been the victim of an assault since walking free from jail.

One source had told the Sunday World: Gardai have a good idea of what happened at the property at this stage and early on identified the main suspect for this incident.

However, he has gone to ground and hasnt been arrested yet. Gardai are trying to locate him to interview him about the stabbing.

He is a volatile individual to say the least, given his previous convictions and the fact that he is now a suspect for another killing.

Gardai and forensic officers outside a house in Collins Place, Finglas. Photo: Collins

At this stage gardai believe the row broke out over a personal dispute and do not suspect the incident is linked to any wider criminality.

A post-mortem examination has been completed by state pathologist Margot Bolster, while examinations of the scene are being carried out by the Garda Technical Bureau.

Over the weekend a garda spokesperson said: A senior investigating officer has been appointed to lead the inquiry, and an incident room has been established at Finglas garda station.

"Additionally, a garda family liaison officer has been assigned to keep the deceaseds family informed of developments.

Gardai are appealing for witnesses to come forward, particularly those who were in the Scribblestown area between midnight and 1am.

"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.
A post mortem has been completed the results of which are not being released for operational reasons.

A murder probe has been launched following the death of man in a stabbing incident in west Dublin.

Mark Carroll (34) died after being discovered with serious injuries at a house in the Scribblestown area of Finglas at around 1am on Sunday morning.

He was treated at the scene and rushed to hospital where he was pronounced dead a short time later.

A garda spokesperson said a murder investigation is now being led by a Senior Investigation Officer (SIO) from an Incident Room at Finglas Garda station.

A post mortem has been completed the results of which are not being released for operational reasons.

No arrests have been made so far and gardai are continuing to investigate all circumstances surrounding the death of Mr Carroll.

A spokesperson said: Gardai continue to appeal to anyone who has any information on the murder of Mark Carroll to contact Finglas Garda Station on (01) 666 7500 , the Garda Confidential Line on (1800) 666 111 or any garda station.

Gardai are appealing for witnesses to come forward, particularly those who were in the Scribblestown area between midnight and 1am on Sunday, June 9th, 2024.

"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.
Pervert ordered to move after putting terrified female neighbour through seven years of vile torment and terror

A primary school principal has told of her horror after she discovered that the anonymous author of a series of vile sex letters targeting her and sent to her school, was her own next-door neighbour.

Poison pen pervert Philip McGachey (49), appeared before Tullamore Circuit Court on Thursday where Judge Keenan Johnson gave him seven days to vacate the property next to victim Nicola Kilmartin.

During an emotional victim impact statement, Ms Kilmartin said McGacheys continued presence next door to her had left her living in a constant nightmare  beside the man who invaded and took control of my life, terrorising me.

Ms Kilmartin, the principal of St. Marys National School in Cloghan, Offaly, said: I thought when I found out the identity of the person writing these vile letters that my life could begin to improve as I would have closure

I mistakenly thought my home environment would have brought me solace and safety.

But after learning the identity of the person involved, my fear has intensified and the safety of my home invaded at the realisation that the person involved is my next-door neighbour.

There is no escape, no refuge and no hope of ever being able to enjoy the comfort of my own home with my young son.

The fear, intimidation and terror remains the same as it did when I opened each letter in the post.

There is nowhere to hide, no privacy and no hope of moving forward with my life as this mans presence haunts me every day.

Victim primary school principal Nicola Kilmartin

Ms Kilmartin said she had hoped, due to his actions and close proximity to her house, that McGachey would have given her space ahead of his sentencing hearing.

Instead, she said, he continues to torment me.

She said McGachey parks directly outside her house, making it difficult to exit in the mornings despite his own driveway remaining empty.

I feel I am still being watched by him and my every move monitored, she said.

I want to wake up from this living nightmare and to pick up the shattered pieces of my life since everything changed on receipt of the first letter, seven years ago

I want to stop looking over my shoulder, afraid of being watched, stalked and victimised every day.

The court was told the campaign of harassment waged by McGachey, a married Scottish father of one who has lived in Ireland for 20 years and who previously worked in the An Post sorting office in Athlone, spanned a period of six years.

Gda Joanne Martin of Birr Garda station, led by prosecution counsel Kevin White B.L., said the letters were sent to St. Marys National School in Cloghan, Co. Offaly between October 1, 2016 and March 21, 2022.

The first letter was addressed to the former school principal Valerie Daly.

The correspondence, purporting to be from a woman, falsely complained that Ms Kilmartin had made sexual advances towards her husband.

A second and more sexually explicit letter was years later directly addressed to Ms Kilmartin, again purportedly written by a woman, proposing that school teacher take part in a threesome with her and her husband.

A third letter was sent on December 3, 2021 and requested that she have sex with the author and described certain clothes she had worn in school.

The same month, on December 22, a fourth letter was received, again containing the proposal they meet for sex.

A line in the letter read: Can you wear your black tights and high heels, they give me such a hard-on when I see them!

A fifth letter was sent in January 2022, which again mentioned a skirt and tights and outlined various sexual fantasies.

The sixth letter followed in March 2022 stating that the author had seen Ms Kilmartin at the school wearing black tights and a skirt.

In the letter, Ms Kilmartin was referred to as the sexiest teacher in Cloghan.

A final letter, which took a darker tone was received on March 21, 2022 in which Ms Kilmartin was referred to as a whore and a slut.

The court heard Ms Kilmartin attended Birr Garda Station in December of 2021 and gave a statement to gardai in which she said she had been employed by the school since 2016.

Philip McGachey said he couldnt explain his sick actions and wanted to apologise

She told gardai the letters, including the third one which was addressed to her in her then role as acting principal and which mentioned she was living in Athlone, had left her badly shaken up.

She said she was paranoid someone in the school or community was responsible for sending them.

Gda Martin said the letters were sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory for DNA testing and finger-printing.

She said gardai also contacted An Post in an effort to trace where the stamps had been bought.

One stamp used was purchased in Emyvale in Co. Monaghan and gardai obtained footage which showed a male purchasing it.

McGachey was identified when a DNA sample obtained from one of the letters came up as a match with a profile on the DNA database.

Having obtained the match, gardai made inquiries and ascertained that the person responsible was a man living next door to the injured party, Philip McGachey.

Gardai arrested McGachey on March 1, 2023 and detained him on suspicion of harassment.

During interview, he said he couldnt explain what he had done and added: Im extremely upset, embarrassed and ashamed and I want to apologise to Nicola.

In her victim impact statement, Ms Kilmartin said: In 2017 my life was turned upside down when a letter addressed to my boss arrived at my workplace.

This letter claimed I was sexually inappropriate with a parent in my school community.

I wasnt very long in my new role as a teacher and I was horrified that someone would target and humiliate me in front of my boss, damaging my character 

The content of this letter scared me and I became suspicious and paranoid of everyone around me, constantly wondering and worried about my job and why someone would target me in this way.

This letter made me feel worthless and afraid.

Ms Kilmartin said the letters had destroyed her relationship with the parents and the wider community as everybody became a suspect.

I always thought I would find peace of mind once this person was identified, she said.

However, nothing could have prepared me for the shock I received when it turned out the man involved was actually my next-door neighbour.

Prosecuting counsel Mr White advised Judge Johnson that the maximum sentence applicable in the case was 10 years in prison.

Judge Johnson described McGacheys offending as an appalling crime that had turned his victims life upside down.

He described as a serious issue the fact that McGachey continued to live next door to his victim and said at an absolute minimum, he will have to move out of that house, he cannot stay there.

Judge Johnson agreed to a break in proceedings to allow defence counsel Suzanne Dooner to consult with her client.

Ms Dooner said her client would reside in his native Scotland to allow time for the preparation of probation and psychological reports pending sentencing.

Judge Johnson adjourned matters until October 8, advising McGachey to vacate the property adjacent to Ms Kilmartins by noon on Thursday next.

It is a hugely aggravating factor, he said, apart from the fact the letters were obnoxious and disgusting, that this man was her next-door neighbour.

It beggars belief.
Cops bust producers and buyers of highly convincing counterfeit euro banknotes

Europol smashed a sophisticated fake cash factory in Italy on Monday which was sending counterfeit money around Europe.

The Italian Carabinieri, alongside Europol investigators, arrested one counterfeiter and dismantled a serious counterfeiting print operation during an action day on June 10, in Lecce, southern Italy.

The raid resulted in the seizure of over 100k in counterfeit banknotes and over 10k in cryptocurrencies.

Cash factory

At the same time, a number of buyers of large quantities of fake banknotes in Italy and France were also busted.

Detectives from Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and Spain had been tracking the criminal group, which consists of two further accused individuals, since February.

The forgers were responsible for producing highly convincing counterfeit euro banknotes, which they offered for sale via encrypted messenger services, to buyers around Europe.

Cops at work

During the raid, officers seized the print shop used to counterfeit the euro banknotes of various denominations, ranging from 5, 10, 20 to 50.

The machinery was equipped with the tools and materials used to produce highly sophisticated counterfeits, according to cops.

Officers at the scene confiscated printing and cutting machines, as well as raw materials for the banknotes and their security features.

Print factory

Analysis by the European Central Bank confirmed that the forged security features on the banknotes, i.e. holograms, were of the highest quality.

The Carabinieri also seized the vendors electronic devices as well as their online channels used to advertise and sell the fake cash.

Following reports of high-quality counterfeit banknotes in a range of European countries, Europol built up an intense intelligence gathering operation.

Fake cash bundles

Cops tracked 170 sales of the fraudulent money and discovered buyers ordering counterfeit notes via the dedicated communication channel.

The producers would accept payment in cryptocurrencies and arrange for the fake bills to be sent via post.
Justyna Holona set up a GoFundMe page over the weekend for her husband Lukas (ukasz).

The wife of a man with aggressive Stage 4 cancer has launched a fundraiser to help pay for his treatments.

Justyna Holona set up a GoFundMe page over the weekend for her husband Lukas (ukasz), who has been battling melanoma for the past 10 years after being diagnosed in December 2013.

The pair have been together for the past 12 years and have a seven-year-old son Matthew (7).

Over the years, the Dublin-based family has had many ups and downs as Lukas has battled cancer spreads, surgeries and radiation treatment.

Justyna detailed her husbands medical history on the GoFundMe page, explaining: We tried immunosuppressants which only helped for one year.

Lukas takes oral chemotherapy tablets since 2018 which help control the disease in his body but not in the brain.

Lukas is fighting with a spread in his brain since 2022 thats slowly (taking) him away from us.

Lukas, who also suffers from epilepsy, underwent brain surgery followed by extensive radiation last summer, enduring a brain bleed afterwards.

Unfortunately, his cancer came back stronger than ever this year.

Lukas started bleeding in the brain again leaving him unable to function (he has severe left side body weakness - the tumour is on the right side of the brain), Justyna shared.

The father-of-one is now recovering from another brain operation performed in Beaumont Hospital at the beginning of the month.

His cancer is described as very aggressive, and his wife says that there are no further treatment options available for him.

There will be no more further radiation/surgery or medication. I am asking for financial support to allow us to try alternative therapies, Justyna wrote as she set up the GoFundMe page.

Modern medicine has no more to offer and we are not ready to give up, we need more time together!

Some 200 people have donated more than 12,800 to Lukas and his family to date.

To make a donation or to find out more, visit the Help Lukas fight with stage 4 melanoma cancer GoFundMe page here.
The eight-legged creature could be seen scurrying around in grainy imagery whilst it awaited rescue

Dublin firefighters used a special camera to locate a tarantula in a burning building on Monday night.

Firefighters from Phibsborough and Tara Street fire stations were called to reports of a fire in an apartment block near the top of OConnell Street.

Images released showed a large crowd gathered at the corner of Dorset Street and Blessington Street in Dublin city centre.

Dramatic night in Dublin

"Breathing apparatus teams quickly extinguished a kitchen fire, a Dublin Fire Brigade (DFB) spokesperson stated.

"And we rescued one tarantula which was detected on a thermal imaging camera.

DFB to the rescue

The eight-legged creature could be seen scurrying around in grainy imagery whilst it awaited its turn to be rescued.

The Fire Brigade also posted images as they extinguished the fire using a crane as well as water hoses.

Crane shot

Thankfully, there were no reported injuries in the incident.

"Spider cooking chips again, wrote one social media user.

Also on Monday, Dublin Fire Brigade saw one of their veteran officers enter retirement.

After 35 years we have said goodbye to District Officer Ray Murray. Ray worked across many different roles including serving as an Aide de Camp to @LordMayorDublin. Friends and family joined D Watch Phibsborough to say goodbye to "Ruby"...thanks Ray for everything, DFB stated.
Jonathan is described as being approximately 5 foot 7 inches in height

Gardai are seeking the public's assistance in tracing the whereabouts of 38 year old Jonathan Lynch who was last seen in the Drumcondra area of Dublin 9 on Monday 27th May 2024.

Jonathan is described as being approximately 5 foot 7 inches in height with a slim build, brown eyes and brown hair.

When last seen, Jonathan was wearing a green tracksuit with a black trim on the side.

Anyone with any information on Jonathan's whereabouts is asked to contact Ballymun Garda Station on 01 666 4400, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.
Mr Kearney told the court that when passing the hot liquid to his cousin it had spilled on to his left thigh causing 2nd degree burns to the front and back of his leg.

A 13-year-old schoolboys holiday in the Canary Islands was ruined because he had been scalded on a Ryanair flight from Dublin to his holiday destination, Judge Michael Walsh heard today in the Circuit Civil Court.

Barrister Conor Kearney, counsel for Dominik Trela, said that hot chocolate had spilled in flight on the boys left thigh when he had been asked by a Ryanair steward to pass on a cup of hot chocolate to his cousin who had been sitting close to him.

Mr Kearney, who appeared for Dominik with Griffin Solicitors, told the court that when passing the hot liquid to his cousin it had spilled on to his left thigh causing 2nd degree burns to the front and back of his leg.

He said it was not necessary for Dominik, who sued through his father Tomasz, of Whatley Hall Apartments, Archerswood, Clonee, Dublin 15, to prove negligence but under the Montreal Convention he had to prove that an accident had occurred.

Mr Kearney said that his colleague, barrister Kevin DArcy, counsel for Ryanair, had told him that the Ryanair steward involved in the incident was within the precincts of the court and would vigorously contest the case and in such a situation it would be a matter of whose evidence the judge preferred.

If you were to prefer Ryanairs evidence we would not succeed and, although damages of from 5,000 up to 40,000 for such an injury was indicated under personal injury guidelines, in the circumstances I am recommending approval by the court of a settlement offer from Ryanair of 17,750 damages, Mr Kearney said.

He told Judge Walsh that the boys holiday in Tenerife had been spoiled as he had been unable to fully exercise and he had to avoid exposure to the sun and in taking showers Dominik had to be very cautious.

Mr Kearney said that Dominik had been treated well and given first aid by the cabin crew and on returning home had been treated by his GP.

Approving the settlement along with Circuit Court legal costs, Judge Walsh said Dominik could be at a real risk if a contested case proceeded.

It was a nasty injury which no doubt ruined his holiday and he had been left with a very minor mark on his leg, Judge Walsh said.
A dawn service to reflect on the past, celebrate the present and prepare for the future is being planned for Katikati.

In celebration of Matariki, Te Runanga o Ngai Tamawhariua, Katch Katikati, Katikati Community Centre, Project Parore, Western Bay Museum Te Rereatukahia Marae, Katikati Red Cross and Katikati Rotary Club are hosting the event on June 28.

Matariki marks the start of the Maori New Year, signified by the Matariki cluster of stars reappearing in the night sky.

It is a time to remember those who are no longer with us. A time where thanks are given to the provisions provided from the earth, sky, and water.

A time to nurture the earth, sky and bodies of water for the future.

The community of Katikati will have the opportunity to unite and celebrate the Maori new year again, after last years successful Matariki Dawn Service with dedicated organisations involved in the preparations.

Community members will be able to gather along Park Road on Friday, June 28, before dawn breaks and can proceed along the Reserve footpath to a marquee with seating and heating.

The marquee will be strategically placed at the highest point of the reserve on an ancient fortified pa site of Ngai Te Rangi.

Allowing attendees to look out onto the Tauranga Harbour, the water which feeds the local Uretara River, an awa of great significance to both Maori and early settlers of the area.

The view of the Matariki cluster and wider solar system is undisrupted from this position, with the cluster set to sit above the northern parts of Matakana Island towards the horizon in crystal clear views.

Those who attend the celebration will be treated to commentary on how to view and identify the cluster, what these stars mean individually, and culturally, and how their values can be embodied, practised and celebrated by the diverse community.

Committee member, Kylie Watkins from Katch Katikati says its a chance to come together, be unified and to share this intimate moment around the importance of the Maori New Year.

It marks the inaugural gathering and a special opportunity for our community to unite and discover the significance of Matariki.

The Tauranga Western Bay Community Event Fund (TWBCEF) supported the festival with a $12,000 community event grant to ensure its accessibility to the community with no entry fees.

The fund is a partnership between local funders Acorn Foundation, BayTrust, TECT, Tauranga City Council and Western Bay of Plenty District Council with the core purpose of supporting community-led events and those that encourage participation for free or at low-cost.

TECT Chief Executive Wayne Werder says the Tauranga Western Bay Community Event Fund sees value in organisations working together, putting the education of their community at the forefront of this service.

It is great to see the community encouraging locals to learn about Matariki and the principles and ideas of the Maori New Year, says Werder.

Western Bay of Plenty Councils Community and Strategic Relationship Manager, Jodie Rickard says this service provides the community a chance to not only learn, but come together and honour Matariki through traditional ceremonies, performances, and storytelling.

It will bring people from a range of backgrounds and ages together, to connect through participating in a shared experience, says Rickard, doing this helps create a stronger and more cohesive community.

Attendees will also be treated to kapa haka, setting goal intentions and aspirations for the year ahead, as well as warm beverages and refreshments before a Pohutukawa tree is planted, acknowledging past, present and future togetherness, giving us all a chance to celebrate new beginnings for the Maori New Year.

Katikati Matariki Dawn Service Details

Friday, June 28

Gathering from 4.30am  Mihi at 5.15am

Park Road Reserve, Katikati

Free to attend. More information available at Katch Katikati Facebook page.
Waikato Police is announcing a $80,000 reward for information that leads to the location and safe return of missing children Ember, eight, Maverick, nine, and Jayda, 10, Phillips.

The children have been missing since December 12, 2021, when they were taken by their father, Tom Phillips, to a location unknown but thought to be in Western Waikato within Marokopa or the surrounding areas.

Police have concerns for the welfare of the children who have been living in isolation for the past two-and-a-half years, with no connection to others and without formal education and health care. Tom Phillips does not have legal custody of the children, says Acting Detective Inspector Andrew Saunders

He is sought by Police and there is a warrant for his arrest.

Today, police have deployed a team to Marokopa as part of a new phase of the missing person investigation.

Andrew says police will be visible in the community over the coming days and we encourage anyone with credible knowledge of the whereabouts of the Phillips children and who is prepared to assist the investigation team to make themselves known to our officers.

"We believe that Tom and the children are being assisted and were urging anyone whos doing this to please stop, do the right thing and tell Police what you know.

"We are committed to finding these children and were willing to take the step of offering a reward if it will prove the tipping point to help people put the childrens welfare first.

"It is hereby notified that a reward of up to $80,000 will be paid for material information or evidence which leads to the location and safe return of Jayda, Maverick and Ember Phillips.

"The Commissioner of Police will determine the amount of the reward and will apportion it if there is more than one claimant."

Andrew says immunity against prosecution will be considered for anyone who has committed an offence in assisting Tom Phillips, if they provide information or evidence which leads to the location and safe return of the children.

The offer will remain in force until June 25, 2024.

"The Phillips family liaison has been advised of this development in the operation and Police remain in close contact with the family," says Andrew.

Information can be provided to the investigation team by contacting the 105 reporting line, quoting the file number 211218/5611, or by emailing to the dedicated email address op.curly@police.govt.nz

"We wish to reiterate that Tom Phillips faces charges in relation to aggravated robbery, aggravated wounding, and unlawful possession of a firearm as a result of a criminal investigation separate to the missing persons investigation.

"Police consider him to be armed and he should not be approached."

Sightings of Phillips should be reported to Police by calling 111 immediately.

Information can also be provided anonymously to CrimeStoppers by calling 0800 555 111.

Sightings of Tom Phillips and his children.
Sara Barcena Hernandez Granada Tuesday, 11 June 2024, 08:46 Opciones para compartir Copiar enlace

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At around eight o'clock in the morning as the sun begins to peer over the rooftops of Granada it's the start of a new day for most people. However, for health workers at the city's Virgen de las Nieves university hospital it is the end of a long night shift.

On the rooftop of the public hospital around thirty professionals are taking part in Master Chen's tai chi class. This ancient martial art, originally from China, combines gentle movements with breathing, mental concentration and relaxation techniques that help to combat the stress that these healthcare professionals face every day.

Doctors, nurses, assistants, orderlies and administrative staff copy his movements. The beginning of the class was the most intense, aerobic style part, but then gradually the movements became slower and more gentle - almost a kind of dance. Eventually the mind and breathing took centre stage and the atmosphere was one of absolute relaxation.

"Silence. We go down. Now, up. Breathe...". And the teacher ended the tai chi class. It was time to regain strength with a cup of green tea and an apple. "Water is very important for our body," said Chen. As an expert in this martial art (as well as in acupuncture), he recommends always exercising in the morning before work, because "the air is fresher and the energy is better with the sunrise, zen, new".

Healthy living

Many of the participants had never done tai chi before, but signed up without hesitation. Meditation in movement "can only be good". Operating theatre nurse Eugenio Coll starts the day "in a different way". He says, "The energy you release at the beginning of the class is very aerobic, very strong. Then there is a little bit of relaxation and you are more aware of your body. I like that feeling."

This was the second such session at the hospital as the first one, held in a meeting room indoors, proved to be so successful that the location had to be changed for the next classes. The rooftop and adjoining indoor room on the sixth floor proved to be the best option. From now on, every Thursday, from half past seven to half past eight in the morning, the professionals of this hospital centre will be able to join Master Chen here.

After each class, participants replenish their energy with green tea and an apple

Salome Zurita is head of the hospital adminstrative team and is the person behind the initiative. Salome has been doing tai chi for some time and that's how she knows Master Chen. She says that the martial art helps to "be one", something she considers "essential" in her work. "We have a lot of people coming and going, each one with their own position, their pain, their joy, and we have to be as balanced and stable as possible", she says.

However, "it would not have been possible without the head of all this". Maria Fernandez is the director of the initiative, which came out of the hospital's strategy "to promote the collective health" of its workers. The morning classes are intended to make it easier to balance work and family life and participants may leave the one-hour class when they wish.

For now, the Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves is the only one in the province of Granada and Andalucia in general, said Fernandez, which offers its workers anything like this. It is a different way of preventing occupational accidents. But, above all, with the help of Master Chen, the tai chi classes promote the most important thing: a healthy lifestyle.
Alberto Flores Granada Tuesday, 11 June 2024, 23:03 Opciones para compartir Copiar enlace

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A beer costs more than five euros, as does a coffee or a bottle of sparkling water and a gluten-free beer will set you back eight euros. These are the prices that appear on the bill in a restaurant in Granada that has gone viral. In fact it had already been shared more than 300,000 times in just one day.

It is a bill from El Huerto de Juan Ranas, an establishment located in the Albaicin area of the city which has a terrace with direct views of the Alhambra. And in it you can see how the prices of the drinks are over five euros, which is why the social network user X @Mr_Abraham_ decided to share an image of the bill in question accompanied by the comment (in Spanish): "A rip-off. a San Miguel (gluten-free), eight euros."

The post soon attracted more than 600 responses and more than 500 'likes'. To his initial message @Mr_Abraham_ added, "It's on a terrace in the Albaicin with views of the Alhambra. But still." And other users like @SanchezBurgos commented that he had been to Granada a thousand times and "I've never seen anything like this," while others like @GastroFanatic argued that "the views are expensive".

El lenazo: una San Miguel (sin gluten), 8  pic.twitter.com/0pemsFG0oB  Abraham (@Mr_Abraham_) June 8, 2024

"We are in a unique place in the world and we offer the client a global experience with a moment of contemplation of the Alhambra... And that costs money," Manuel del Castillo, owner of El Huerto de Juan Ranas, explained to IDEAL newspaper. He compares the location of his bar to St Mark's Square in Venice or in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, which means that having a coffee or a beer on his terrace is not the same as in a bar located in a narrow street in the city.

"We are in a unique place in the world and we offer a global experience with a moment of contemplation of the Alhambra."

He also points out that the prices of the drinks are posted at the door, so that if someone finds them excessive they can always go elsewhere. "Nobody is cheated here and we offer an impeccable experience and service."

The owner argues that another reason why the drinks are so expensive is also about "optimising" resources: "Many people come in, occupy a table for an hour and a half or two to enjoy the sunset and drink just one beer while there are people waiting to eat more or have dinner. This is a business and what cannot be is that people come to the magic moment and stay for two hours with a coffee."

Manuel regrets that nowadays it is so easy to publish reviews of this kind on social networks. "Nowadays it is published mercilessly and people have the power to do you a lot of harm and that is quite serious. I have a clear conscience because I know that we do it very well and that we offer something unique," he concludes.
Chus Heredia Malaga Tuesday, 11 June 2024, 13:32 Opciones para compartir Copiar enlace

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The Junta de Andalucia has unveiled a plan to revive the Guadalhorce estuary nature reserve by removing debris, and forming new islets and larger lakes.

The regional ministry of environment has put out a tender for 335,470 euros for the works, which will also involve building fishing shelters and cleaning up vegetation to preserve animals in the wetlands.

The deadline for submission of bids has just ended with the evaluation phase to begin soon. The contract is for nine months and is financed by European funds. The project was drawn up by Tragsatec in July last year and is part of the Andalusian Wetlands Plan. The area was declared a nature reserve in 1989 and covers an area of 67 hectares. Now, in addition, the Junta has initiated the procedures to increase the protected area to 145 hectares.

Finca de La Isla: cultivation and extraction of materials

"In the 1960s, La Isla estate was cultivated in its entirety and bordered on an area of marshland which was flooded by the action of the easterly winds; there were also a series of small lakes that extended along the beach. In the 1970s, the cultivated areas were reduced and almost the entire area was devoted to the extraction of materials such as gravel, sand and stone for use in construction. Sand extraction began in 1977 and continued until 1982, creating a series of pools of different sizes which were progressively flooded with water from underground sources," state project plans to give historical context.

Artificial lakes fed by aquifers

These lakes are permanently fed by groundwater. They are of varied characteristics and varying degrees of salinity.

Flora and fauna

The vegetation of this environment is made up of tamarisk, reeds, bulrushes and rushes of different species. And the area is of great ornithological interest as a stopover point for the wintering areas of a large number of birds. Among the species of fauna: the common bittern, the black stork, the Audouin's gull, the white-headed duck and the osprey stand out. But there are many more: little sandpiper, teal, mallard, grey heron, common stonechat, pochard, sandpiper of various subspecies, little plover, coot, little egret, red-billed tern, black-billed and black-headed gull, great cormorant, spoonbill, whimbrel, black-necked grebe, common swamphen, avocet, common scoter... Some of these species are catalogued as vulnerable and even in danger of extinction.

Zoom This is an area of enormous value due to the variety of birdlife it is home to. Salvador Salas

The Guadalhorce estuary is an ecological enclave that is home to a rich and varied fauna of birds, reptiles and amphibians. It is one of the areas in Spain where the greatest number of bird species has been recorded.

Urban tensions

According to the technical document seen by SUR, the location, in an urban environment, with airport, transport and industrial uses, puts pressure on the wetland. Livestock activity, nearby sugar cane crops and intensive groundwater extraction also contribute.

An additional problem is the debris found in the area, which also presents a shortage of suitable resting and breeding sites for the large number of bird species found in the nature reserve.

Insufficient space for birds

Environmental technicians are in favour of enlarging the existing lakes for the reproduction, rest and refuge of the different species of waders that frequent the wetlands, as well as action on existing islets with the same objective, and the smoothing of the slope of the banks overlooking the lakes themselves, which will increase the natural space's capacity to receive birds. "The removal of the debris found in the area is necessary as part of the forest restoration work," a technician said.

Also to be eliminated is an old road in the area, where there are lakes independent of each other, and the so-called old river, a former meander of the Guadalhorce which became independent of the natural course of the river due to the channelling work carried out at the beginning of the 21st century.

Zoom One of the areas to be improved. SUR

It is a very popular place for sport and walking, among other things, due to the large pedestrian walkway and the archaeological work at the Phoenician site of Cerro del Villar.

Current status of the lagoons

"At present the lakes, especially in the Laguna Grande area, are connected to land or have numerous barriers inside them, which reduce the capacity of the lake to accommodate birds, as well as the places of refuge for the fauna, since there are numerous arms that enter the lake from the mainland. This greatly facilitates the entry of land predators into the breeding and roosting islets and prevents the use of the entire lake as a whole by different species of birds that need space on the water surface. The occupation of the existing islets by dead tamarins also leads to a decrease in the amount of land available for most of the birds in the wetland," according to the study.

The old river

The debris removal is focused on the old river (rio viejo) area, where the construction of a new islet is planned, by means of earthworks. In the old river area, the rubble accumulates mainly in six locations, however, there is rubble scattered along its surface.

The enlargement of the existing lakes is therefore vital, as is the creation of islets within them. The big lake (laguna grande) is the main one, although the enlargements of the hidden lake (laguna escondida) and the creation of an islet in the old river also stand out.

Five islets

A total of five islets are planned: two in the big lake to be covered with gravel and boulders; two in the hidden lake, and one in the old river, also covered with gravel.

Vegetation clearing, weeding, embankment work will also be carried out. The machinery to be used in this work will be excavators with caterpillar tracks and buckets. They will need to work at a depth of up to one and a half metres below the water surface. There will also be work to install fish shelters.
Computer image of the viewpoint and walkways that will allow access to the new area of the Roman theatre.

Francisco Grinan Malaga Tuesday, 11 June 2024, 22:35 Opciones para compartir Copiar enlace

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Works to extend the Roman theatre and garum factory visiting area in Malaga have been put out to tender again.

The contract was launched last summer but was not awarded, so the Junta has re-issued it with the same budget: 93,333 euros. After four years of modifications and delays, this will be the first work to extend the archaeological visit in ten years.

In addition, the tender will allow people to visit the remains of one of the few documented buildings in Malaga from the early Roman period, the baths.

Zoom A group of tourists around the glass pyramid that provides a view of the garum basins of the Roman Theatre. Salvador Salas

These ruins, which predate the theatre itself, can be found under Calle Alcazabilla and near the garum basins that belonged to a large fish salting factory that developed on this entire hillside after the theatre fell into disuse in the third century. At present, these large vessels for the production of the famous fish sauce that was exported to Rome can be observed from the glass pyramid opened in the pedestrian area beside the Roman theatre - although this project will allow visitors to go down and access the ruins.

Wooden platform

The project, designed by architects Lola Miralles and Gerardo Ubeda, will be carried out in the southwest area of the Roman theatre. The project envisages that the ruins under the road will be able to be viewed from a higher level, creating a wooden platform that will connect with the existing walkways. The project is scheduled to take six months to complete.

After the first tender was declared void, the regional ministry of culture hopes more companies will this time be interested in the project, which is already several years behind schedule, as the drafting of the project was commissioned in 2020 to the Almeria-based company Union para la Mejora de la Construccion (UMC).

According to the terms of the tender, the maximum budget of 93,333 euros is co-financed by the European Union, with companies having until 21 June to submit their bids.
Ignacio Lillo Malaga Tuesday, 11 June 2024 | Updated 03/07/2024 13:36h. Opciones para compartir Copiar enlace

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For a train along the Costa del Sol. This is the title of a campaign launched by SUR to show its commitment to the future of mobility and sustainable development in Malaga province.

The aim is to demonstrate to the Spanish government - the authority responsible for railway infrastructure - how the people of Malaga province are crying out for the necessary and urgent construction of a coastal railway line that reaches Marbella and Estepona, following decades of neglect from politicians.

Signing the petition The form, in Spanish, will ask you for your name, surname, ID number (DNI/NIE/passport), email address and location. It offers you the option to authorise that your support be made visible to others and to receive information on other campaigns and events organised by SUR. Finally it asks you to fill in the numbers visible in an image before you can click on the red Firmar Peticion at the foot of the page.

The initiative had attracted more than 500 signatures even before its official launch, with signatures from well-known personalities in the business world, tourism, technology, transport, engineering and public works sectors.

Once the campaign achieves massive public support, as can be expected if initial reactions are anything to go by, all the signatures will be sent to the heads of the Spanish government and the ministry of transport, making them aware of the need to build a coastal railway linking Malaga city to the western strip of the Costa del Sol.

The petition, which you can sign here, reminds us that the coastal strip of the Costa del Sol has become one large urban area with one and a half million registered inhabitants, to which must be added the fourteen million tourists who visit the destination every year, and the tens of thousands of temporary residents, both nationals and foreigners.

With this campaign, this newspaper shows its commitment to the future of mobility and sustainable development in Malaga province

This large metropolitan area is already one of the areas in Europe with the greatest growth potential, having established itself as one of the best places in the world to live and work. However, this situation causes a series of demands and tensions in terms of sustainability and infrastructures, which need to be solved and addressed by all public administrations.

The main challenge

Along with employment and access to housing, mobility is the main challenge facing Malaga province. There is a growing need to reduce congestion on roads and pollutant gas emissions, an objective that cannot be achieved without a public transport network that meets the demand of population density, tourist flow and economic activity. Malaga, which has become one of the country's major destinations, is lacking in its rail network, a deficit that requires decisive action and investment.

All signatures will be sent to the heads of the national government and the ministry of transport

As SUR understands it, the initiative for a coastal train should serve not only to connect the city and towns of the Costa del Sol, from Nerja to Estepona, but also to plan a future extension to Gibraltar. With this campaign, this newspaper intends to voice what is an open secret: that this request is massively supported by the people of Malaga, among whom there is a similar consensus as there was in the past for the implementation of the University of Malaga (UMA), for the arrival of the AVE high-speed train or for the Museum of Fine Arts in the old Aduana building. Now the people are aware of the importance of a railway connection along the entire Costa del Sol.

Now, the Spanish government - which has the decision-making capacity and powers - and the rest of the public administrations, whatever political colour they may be, must be receptive to this need. And our public representatives must understand this people's demand as their own, put aside their differences and join forces to achieve the goal of a better, more sustainable, more supportive and fairer Malaga.
News / Health

by Gideon Madzikatidze

Tanyaradzwa Brenda Mutsvangwa was one of Zimbabwe's most successful young leaders to participate at the Best Diplomats Simulation of the United Nations representing the country in Dubai on health issues.

Speaking at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport upon arrival from the global event, the soft-spoken Mutsvangwa expressed her commitment to transform lives through health education, advocacy and awareness."It is high time that we continue making strides amongst nations through exchange critical health ideas and come up with specific solutions to address challenging global health issues," Mutsvangwa said."This is in line with our country's national development agenda which seeks to promote the participation of youths in decision-making, national development processes and cultural diversity," Mutsvangwa added.While in Dubai, Mutsvangwa represented Zimbabwe well during The Best Diplomats Simulation event which is a platform for young leaders and change makers who gather up in an effort to mobilise exchanging ideas and solutions for global health issues.
Jose A. Gonzalez Madrid Tuesday, 11 June 2024, 08:32 | Updated 08:41h. Opciones para compartir Copiar enlace

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"Today is World Environment Day. It is also the day that the European Commissions Copernicus Climate Change Service officially reports May 2024 as the hottest May in recorded history. This marks twelve straight months of the hottest months ever." This is how Antonio Guterres, the United Nations' secretary general started his speech on World Environment Day on 5 June.

At least it has been the hottest year since records began in the 19th century. "We are playing Russian roulette," warned Guterres. In a speech entitled 'The Moment of Truth' at the American Museum of Natural History, the UN chief lashed out at the fossil fuel industry and the other sectors that help them.

"The planet is trying to tell us something, but we are not listening to it," said Guterres. "And theres a fifty-fifty chance that the average temperature for the entire next five-year period will be 1.5 degrees higher than pre-industrial times...In 2015, the likelihood of such a breach was close to zero," Guterres warned. Now the World Meteorological Organisation has confirmed that "there is an 80 per cent chance that this limit will be exceeded in the next five years."

"We are playing Russian roulette with the planet"

However, Guterres did have a positive message: "Passing the threshold for a short time does not mean that the long-term goal has not been reached. It means we have to fight harder," he stressed. He recalled that "this battle" will be won this decade and pointed out where to look: the fossil fuel industry. "Economic logic makes the end of the fossil fuel age inevitable," he said.

He remarked on World Environment Day by encouraging all actors in society. "Every city, region, industry, financial institution and business must be part of the solution," he said, adding, "It all depends on the decisions that today's leaders make - or fail to make." To them he has left the responsibility for the future of the planet and for the first time he urged them to go further: "Many governments restrict or ban advertising of products that harm human health such as tobacco. I call on them to ban advertising by fossil fuel companies."

Cutting off the tap

This call was not Guterres' only plea in his crusade against gas, coal and oil companies. "I call on financial institutions to stop financing fossil fuels," said Guterres.

In the last nine years, the fuel industry (coal, gas and oil) received almost seven trillion dollars - specifically 6.9 trillion dollars or 6.4 trillion euros according to research with data obtained from published company agreements and supplemented with information from Bloomberg and Refinitiv.

12.2 million euros per minute received the fossil fuel industry in 2022

But this is not the only money that the sector has received. Public support in 2022 alone was 12.2 million euros per minute, totalling 6.4 billion euros at the end of the year. "Climate change is the mother of all stealth taxes paid by everyday people and vulnerable countries and communities. Meanwhile, the Godfathers of climate chaos  the fossil fuel industry  rake in record profits and feast off trillions in taxpayer-funded subsidies," said Guterres.

"The godfathers of climate chaos - the fossil fuel industry - rake in record profits and feast off trillions in taxpayer-funded subsidies"

At the end of 2023, the 192 parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) opened the door to the end of fossil fuels, but the addiction to coal, gas and oil is still strong.

The greenhouse gas emissions caused by burning fossil fuels grew to 36.8 billion tonnes of CO2 according to preliminary data from the Carbon Budget Project's science team. This is 1.1 per cent more than in 2022 and "a new record".

The leaders of this sector are another of those singled out by Guterres. "Their huge profits give them the opportunity to lead the energy transition," he said, but added that they have only invested 2.5 per cent of their profits in clean energy. "Money talks and must be a voice for change," he added.

More funding

Thousands of kilometres away from New York, in Bonn, Germany, country leaders are meeting to lay the groundwork for discussions at the next climate summit in Baku, Azerbaijan, in November.

"It is time to put an effective price on carbon and tax the windfall profits of fossil fuel companies"

Climate finance is on the table. The most urgent is to define the new collective quantified collective goal (NCQG) for financing climate mitigation and adaptation. In his speech, Guterres called on them to double adaptation finance and set out a clear plan to start closing the financing gap: "Todays unequal financial flows are sending us spinning towards disaster."

According to the International Energy Agency, investments in clean energy in developing and emerging economies, excluding China, need to reach 1.7 billion dollars per year by 2030. "I urge financial institutions to stop bankrolling fossil fuel destruction and start investing in a global renewables revolution," Guterres said.
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Fulton, N.Y.  A 15-year-old boy was recently arrested after he admitted to attempting to sexually touch and assault two girls only hours apart in May at his high school, police said Tuesday.

A school resource officer at G. Ray Bodley High School informed the Fulton police of the sex offenses on May 13 when they occurred, said Sgt. Lucas Hollenbeck, a spokesperson for the Fulton Police. The boy was arraigned in Oswego County Family Court on May 31.
The past two years around opening day of bass season, weve brought you the story of Thomas Russell, an avid bass angler from Albion, who in 2022 smashed the New York state record with an 8-lb, 5.8-ounce Cayuga Lake smallmouth.

Russell released that fish and caught it again in 2023, in the same spot, except this time around it weighed a hair over 9-lbs. Were keeping Russell on speed dial to see what he comes up with after bass season opens this year on Saturday.

But in the meantime, check out this whopper of a fish tale about another Cayuga Lake angler, Dylan Jones, of Horseheads. Jones bought his first boat this spring and launched it early one morning in late May at Taughannock Falls State Park.

Dylan Jones, of Horseheads, was fishing for panfish on Cayuga Lake in late May using a crappie jig tied to a perch rod that turned into a wet noodle when he hooked this 22.25-inch smallmouth. Jones estimates the fish weighed between seven and eight pounds.Dylan Jones

Jones had already christened his new ride nearly a dozen times since April, jigging for lake trout on the north end of Cayuga Lake. By 11 a.m. hed caught five lakers when the bite fell off a cliff. With full sun and light winds, he decided to stow his trout poles and switch to bass. But he didnt have much luck. In four hours, he caught just one perch.

It was a beautiful day and Jones wasnt ready to hang it up yet. So he grabbed his sons light perch pole and within fifteen minutes landed four perch using a 1/16 oz crappie jig, tossing the jig towards the docks and twitching it back to the boat in about eight FOW.

On the next cast, as the jig was sinking, the rod nearly pulled out of my hands and I barely set the hook in time, Jones said. The fish was pulling the pole with such force that the butt end of the rod was facing the water, and the tip was bent almost 180 degrees.

Dylan Jones, of Horseheads, hooked a whopper of a smallmouth that doubled over his perch rod and nearly spit the hook when it surfaced with some vicious headshakes. The fish measured 22.25-inches in length and weighed between seven and eight pounds.Dylan Jones

The drag sang as the bass dug for the bottom of the lake, but Jones kept reeling and the bass surfaced a couple times with vicious headshakes that threatened to dislodge the hook. Jones snapped some photos while holding the rod with one hand. He figured he had a nice, but standard, Cayuga Lake five-pounder.

After another deep run or two, Jones wore the bass out and guided it into the net

As soon as I reached down and grabbed her lip to remove the jig, reality hit that this was anything but a standard catch, he said.

The fish measured 22.25-inches in length and had an 18.5-inch girth. Unfortunately, his scale wasnt working properly, so Jones didnt get a weight, but he believes the super smallie easily weighed between seven and eight pounds. He took a few more photos and released it.

Dylan Jones, of Horseheads, caught and released this 22.25-inch smallmouth on Cayuga Lake in late May. It had a 18.5-inch girth and weighed at least seven pounds, Jones estimates.Dylan Jones

I was in shock, Jones said. As the days have passed, I realize how insanely old and big this fish was and how lucky I was to land it, given that the hook was tiny, the reel was barely up to the task, and I was characteristically messing around with my camera. I can only hope to find her again someday.

Ive since made a considerable upgrade to my boat scale, Jones added.

Send us your fish pics!

We want to see your catch: bass, perch, two-headed gobies, whatever. Just make sure to provide (1) names of anyone in photo (2) their hometowns (3) fish type (4) where caught (5) length and weight if possible (6) bait used. Throw in some colorful details; we all like a good fish story. Tight lines, yall.



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New Yorks smallmouth bass record holder has a few tips for bass season opener - newyorkupstate.com

Upstate angler smashes his own NY State record, lands monster 9-pound smallmouth bass - newyorkupstate.com

Steve Featherstone covers the outdoors for The Post-Standard, syracuse.com and NYUP.com. Contact him at sfeatherstone@syracuse.com or on Twitter @featheroutdoors. You can also follow along with all of our outdoors content at newyorkupstate.com/outdoors/ or follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/upstatenyoutdoors.
Update: The debate has ended. You can watch the event in its entirety below.

Syracuse, N.Y.  State Sen. John Mannion and DeWitt Town Councilor Sarah Klee Hood, the Democratic candidates for Congress in Central New York, are participating in their first debate of the primary election at 7 p.m. today.

It will be streamed live on syracuse.com and its Facebook page from Syracuse Universitys S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications.

The debate will be moderated by Chris Baker, an editor at syracuse.com. The candidates were not provided debate questions or topics in advance.

Syracuse.com is presenting the debate in association with the Newhouse School. The event will be broadcast from the schools Dick Clark Studios. The candidates will not be given any questions in advance.

Early voting in the 22nd Congressional District primary election begins Saturday, June 15 and continues through Sunday, June 23. The primary election day is Tuesday, June 25. You must be an enrolled Democrat to vote in the congressional election.

The primary winner will face Rep. Brandon Williams, a first-term Republican from Cayuga County, in the November election.

The new 22nd District established by state lawmakers spans all of Onondaga and Madison counties, and a portion of Cayuga, Cortland and Oneida counties. The district includes the cities of Syracuse, Utica, Auburn and Cortland.

Klee Hood and Mannion will also participate in at least two debates on local television.

WSYR-TV (Channel 9) in Syracuse and WUTR-TV (Channel 20) in Utica will air a taped debate moderated by Andrew Donovan at 7 p.m. June 13.

Spectrum News 1 will air a live debate moderated by Susan Arbetter at 7 p.m. June 18 from Onondaga Community College. The debate will not be open to the public.

Got a tip, comment or story idea? Contact Mark Weiner anytime by: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 571-970-3751
Syracuse, N.Y.  The Democratic candidates for Congress in Central New York will meet in their first debate of the primary election at 7 p.m. today. The debate will be streamed live on syracuse.com and its Facebook page.

DeWitt Town Councilor Sarah Klee Hood and State Sen. John Mannion, D-Geddes, will discuss key issues in the campaign at Syracuse Universitys S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications.

The debate will be moderated by Chris Baker, an editor at syracuse.com.

Syracuse.com is presenting the debate in association with SUs Newhouse School. The event will be broadcast from the schools Dick Clark Studios. The candidates will not be given questions in advance.

Early voting in the 22nd Congressional District primary election begins Saturday, June 15 and continues through Sunday, June 23. The primary election day is Tuesday, June 25. You must be an enrolled Democrat to vote in the congressional election.

The primary winner will face Rep. Brandon Williams, a first-term Republican from Cayuga County, in the November election.

The new 22nd District established by state lawmakers earlier this year spans all of Onondaga and Madison counties, and a portion of Cayuga, Cortland and Oneida counties. The district includes the cities of Syracuse, Utica, Auburn and Cortland.

Klee Hood and Mannion will also participate in at least two debates on local television. WSYR-TV (Channel 9) in Syracuse will air a taped debate moderated by Andrew Donovan at 7 p.m. June 13.

Spectrum News 1 will air a debate moderated by Susan Arbetter at 7 p.m. June 18 from Onondaga Community College.

Got a tip, comment or story idea? Contact Mark Weiner anytime by: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 571-970-3751
New York state education officials have announced changes to graduation requirements  one of which would no longer require students to take and pass Regents exams to receive a high school diploma.

The New York State Education Department (NYSED) presented its vision to implement recommendations of the New York State Blue Ribbon Commission on Graduation Measures, which are designed to bring greater equity within the states education system, Commissioner Betty A. Rosa announced on Monday.
The inaugural International Day of Play takes place Tuesday, June 11, 2024, and marks the first annual celebration of United Nations declaration that play is a fundamental birth right. The LEGO Foundation  a research and advocacy arm of the LEGO Group  has partnered with the United Nations to promote the occasion.

The UN adopted the resolution recognizing the first International Day of Play back in March to champion and protect childrens right to play, in partnership with LEGO, Hasbro, Mattel and other toy brands. In addition to supporting kids right to play, the day is also designed to remind adults of the importance of play and playing with their children, to help them learn and bond.

How to celebrate International Day of Play

Go play with your kids!

Ask them to get out their favorite toy, or introduce them to one of your favorite toys from when you were a kid. No need to buy anything new, just grab a board game, some action figures or go outside a toss a ball around.

As a key sponsor of the partnership, LEGO is supporting your International Day of Play Celebrations with a whole website full of activity ideas, including easy free-building activities for all ages and free inspirations for how to use your pile of LEGO bricks at home.

Best LEGO kits for International Day of Play

While its fun to follow step-by-step instructions to create amazing LEGO kits, one of the best ways to play with your little plastic bricks is by dumping out a huge pile of LEGO and letting your imagination guide you. LEGO has some products designed just for that, from its Classic and Creator line. Here are the best products to play with on International Day of Play.

LEGO Classic Brick Box. (LEGO)LEGO

LEGO Large Creative Brick Box - $59.99: 790 pieces, ages 4-99, 5/5 stars from 16 reviews

Creative Vehicles - $54.99: 900 pieces, ages 5+, 4.5/5 stars from 10 reviews

Vibrant Creative Brick Box - $59.99: 850 pieces, ages 4+, 5/5 stars from three reviews

Creative Monsters - $9.99: 140 pieces, ages 4+, 5/5 stars from 20 reviews

LEGO Creator Peacock. (LEGO)LEGO

Creator 3-in-1 Exotic Peacock - $19.99: 355 pieces, ages 7+, 5/5 stars from 39 reviews

Creator 3-in-1 Forest Animals: Red Fox - $49.99: 667 pieces, ages 9+, 4.9/5 stars from 30 reviews

Creator 3-in-1 Majestic Tiger - $49.99: 755 pieces, ages 9+, 4.8/5 stars from 91 reviews

Looking for even more LEGO kits to play with? Weve found all the best-rated LEGO available to buy in 2024.

What is the point of International Day of Play?

According to the LEGO Group, Its a day for the whole world to press pause on the ordinary and do something extraordinary: play together. Kids, families, grownups... the superpower of play beats within all of us  and on World Play Day, we unleash it together. Play is a fundamental human right, it is absolutely crucial to our development and general well-being, and yet, nowadays kids spend less than 5% of their time playing (LEGO World Play Day Study 2023)... Thats why were hosting World Play Day on June 11  to preserve the right to play for all. You can read more about the International Day of Play here.

Play helps kids connect and communicate with others, think creatively and build confidence. Plus, its fun! Dont believe the hype? The LEGO Foundation has been funding research into the importance of play for years. You can learn more on LearnThroughPlay.com.
New York  A retired police officer convicted of murdering four people, including a man he tortured and strangled over stolen drug money, was sentenced Monday to four consecutive life terms in prison.

Nicholas Tartaglione, 56, who had been an officer in the Hudson River Valley village of Briarcliff Manor, was convicted last year. His case drew attention both because of the brutality of the crime and because Tartaglione was briefly a cellmate of Jeffery Epstein, the politically connected playboy who killed himself while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges.

The man Tartaglione tortured was Martin Luna, who he believed had stolen $250,000 from him that was meant to buy cocaine, prosecutors said. The other three victims were friends or family who happened to be out at a club with Luna when Tartaglione and two associates kidnapped them in 2016.

Prosecutors said Urbano Santiago, Miguel Luna, and Hector Gutierrez were forced to watch as Tartaglione strangled Martin Luna with a zip tie. Then, they were executed by gunfire. Investigators found the bodies of the four men buried together on Tartagliones property in Otisville, New York.

Tartaglione worked for various suburban police departments before retiring on disability from the Briarcliff Manor force in 2008, including the departments in Yonkers, Pawling and Mount Vernon. Tartaglione has maintained his innocence, arguing at trial that he simply ran an animal rescue farm and wasnt motivated by money, according to The Journal News.

One of his alleged accomplices in the murders shot himself in his car in 2017 as FBI agents prepared to arrest him. Another man, Joseph Biggs, was sentenced to 16 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to killing one of the victims. Biggs described the killings as a witness at Tartagliones trial.

Tartaglione was not Epsteins cellmate at the time of his death, but his lawyer claimed he was a critical witness in the ensuing suicide investigation. He had shared a cell with Epstein weeks earlier in 2019, when the wealthy financier was discovered with bruises on his neck and then placed on suicide watch.
News / Local

by Staff reporter

FLYING TOO CLOSE TO THE SUN:

Icarus was warned by his father not to fly too close to the sun, as the wax that his wings were made from would melt. But fueled by the adrenaline rush of flying , Icarus failed to rein in his excitement and felt he was the man of the moment. He did pic.twitter.com/SAtoDlmzVf  Nick Mangwana (@nickmangwana) June 11, 2024

INFORMATION and Broadcasting Services secretary Ndavaningi 'Nick' Mangwana has insinuated that controversial businessman Wicknell Chivayo who implicated President Emmerson Mnangagwa in his extensive and secretive dealings is now flying too close to the sun.Mangwana said this on X (formerly twitter)Said Mangwana, "Icarus was warned by his father not to fly too close to the sun, as the wax that his wings were made from would melt. But fueled by the adrenaline rush of flying, Icarus failed to rein in his excitement and felt he was the man of the moment. He did not heed the warnings, Icarus was so intoxicated by the experience of flying and never thought he could tumble from this loft height, so he flew higher and higher getting closer and closer to the sun. The closer he came to the sun, the more the wax in his wings melted. He tumbled into the sea and drowned."Icarus, in Greek mythology, son of the inventor Daedalus who perished by flying too near the Sun with waxen wings.In Greek mythology, Daedalus, was the architect of the labyrinth of Crete. After Theseus, king of Athens and enemy of Minos, escaped from the labyrinth, King Minos suspected that Icarus and Daedalus had revealed the labyrinth's secrets and imprisoned them - either in a large tower overlooking the ocean or the labyrinth itself, depending upon the account. Icarus and Daedalus escaped using wings Daedalus constructed from feathers, threads from blankets, clothes, and beeswax. Daedalus warned Icarus first of complacency and then of hubris, instructing him to fly neither too low nor too high, lest the sea's dampness clog his wings or the sun's heat melt them. Icarus ignored Daedalus's instructions not to fly too close to the sun, causing the beeswax in his wings to melt. Icarus fell from the sky, plunged into the sea, and drowned. The myth gave rise to the idiom, "fly too close to the sun."A leaked voice note by controversial businessman Wicknell Chivayo implicates President Emmerson Mnangagwa in Chivayo's extensive and secretive dealings, which include millions paid for last year's voting materials. In the audio, Chivayo boasts about having significant influence in Zimbabwe, citing his close relationship with Mnangagwa, who he claims promised substantial financial rewards to his associates if they remained patient and stopped opposing his efforts to consolidate power.Chivayo mentions businessmen Moses Mpofu and Mike Chimombe, alleging he deceived them in the voting material deal. The leaked note reveals Chivayo's involvement in unspecified lucrative deals with Zimbabwe's immigration department and the police. He describes himself as a key member of Mnangagwa's inner circle and urges his colleagues to exploit this connection for financial gain, despite past conflicts with Mnangagwa.Chivayo, who had previously fallen out with Mnangagwa and his faction, has been trying to regain favor by supporting the ruling Zanu PF party and its prominent supporters. He claims to be significantly wealthier than before the elections and calls for patience from his associates as they work towards closer ties with the President.Chivayo's wealth sources remain unclear, with his company, Intratek Zimbabwe, known only for failing to deliver on a solar power project.
BEIJING (AP)  Four instructors from Iowas Cornell College teaching at Beihua University in northeastern China were attacked in a public park, reportedly with a knife, officials at the U.S. school and the State Department said.

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Tuesday that the injured were rushed to a hospital for treatment, and that none was in critical condition. Police believe Mondays attack was an isolated incident, based on a preliminary assessment, and the investigation is ongoing, ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said at a daily briefing.

Cornell College President Jonathan Brand said in a statement that the instructors were attacked while in the park with a faculty member from Beihua, which is in an outlying part of the industrial city of Jilin. Monday was a public holiday in China.
NEW YORK (AP)  Donald Trump completed his mandatory presentencing interview Monday after less than 30 minutes of routine, uneventful questions and answers, a person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press. The person was not authorized to speak publicly and did so on condition of anonymity.

The former president was quizzed by a New York City probation officer for a report, required by law, that trial judge Juan M. Merchan can use to help determine Trumps punishment when he is sentenced July 11 in his hush money criminal case.
Aditya Team-BHP Support

Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Mumbai Posts: 18,924 Thanked: 81,640 Times

View My Garage





Annoyed at the different AT gearbox behaviour of different car brands



Each gearbox acts differently. This can get annoying as one might be used to a certain kind of behaviour. Automatics are gaining popularity in India and standardising the behaviour is important as it will make it easier for drivers to shift between cars without having to spend any time learning the behaviour of the gearbox.



Here are some examples of different behaviour of automatic transmissions in different cars.



1. We like BMWs implementation of the ZF box the best. When the paddle shifter is used, it shifts to manual mode. You can keep using the paddles to enjoy a manual shifting experience. However, if you do not touch them for a certain period of time, the transmission will move back to full automatic mode on its own  very convenient indeed. That said, if the paddles are used in Sport mode, it will stay in manual mode till the driver shifts back to automatic mode.





2. In the new Hyundai Creta, just like the BMW, the automatic transmission can put in manual mode by using the paddle shifters. Its DCT has a Sport mode as well. However, unlike the BMW, the Cretas gearbox wont shift back to the fully automatic mode even in the regular D mode if the paddles are not used. It will stick to the manual mode.





3. The Toyota Fortuners gearbox restricts top gear in manual and sport modes. Like in older ATs, the MID in the Toyotas denotes the max gear you are allowed to shift up to. That will be the topmost gear that the car will drive in. You can similarly choose to restrict the AT to 3rd; drive at 4,500 rpm all day long and the box won't upshift.





4. The previous-gen Mercedes GLC class had paddle shifters and a sport mode. When you used the paddles, you would briefly engage a manual mode. However, even in the sport mode, the gearbox switched back to full automatic in a very short period of time. The car's sport mode wasn't exactly exciting in the first place and in the manner that the gearbox shifted back to automatic, it made the transmission's behaviour annoying. The car got a dedicated M mode. To engage it, you needed to press a button on the center console. This was the only way you could drive the GLC with manual control of the gearbox.





5. The old Honda Civic had paddle shifters, but they would not work in the regular D mode. Pulling one of the paddles would have no effect and would leave drivers confused. You had to be in Sport mode to get the paddle shifters to work.





6. DSG gearboxes have a tendency to shift up from the first to second cog very quickly. However, they will not shift down till very late compared to a torque converter, which can be annoying.





7. In the Jeep Compass, the first gear is used for rock crawling. On a regular drive, the car will start in the second gear.





8. CVT gearboxes in certain Honda and Toyota cars have a fake jerk when the paddle shifters are used. In a CVT, the drive should be smooth with no jerks felt.





So, will all manufacturers please decide on standard Automatic Transmission behaviour? Carmakers from all over the globe use automatic gearboxes in their vehicles. Some use transmissions from the same supplier, while some dont. What they do not do is standardise the behaviour of the automatic transmissions.Each gearbox acts differently. This can get annoying as one might be used to a certain kind of behaviour. Automatics are gaining popularity in India and standardising the behaviour is important as it will make it easier for drivers to shift between cars without having to spend any time learning the behaviour of the gearbox.Here are some examples of different behaviour of automatic transmissions in different cars.1. We like BMWs implementation of the ZF box the best. When the paddle shifter is used, it shifts to manual mode. You can keep using the paddles to enjoy a manual shifting experience. However, if you do not touch them for a certain period of time, the transmission will move back to full automatic mode on its own  very convenient indeed. That said, if the paddles are used in Sport mode, it will stay in manual mode till the driver shifts back to automatic mode.2. In the new Hyundai Creta, just like the BMW, the automatic transmission can put in manual mode by using the paddle shifters. Its DCT has a Sport mode as well. However, unlike the BMW, the Cretas gearbox wont shift back to the fully automatic mode even in the regular D mode if the paddles are not used. It will stick to the manual mode.3. The Toyota Fortuners gearbox restricts top gear in manual and sport modes. Like in older ATs, the MID in the Toyotas denotes the max gear you are allowed to shift up to. That will be the topmost gear that the car will drive in. You can similarly choose to restrict the AT to 3rd; drive at 4,500 rpm all day long and the box won't upshift.4. The previous-gen Mercedes GLC class had paddle shifters and a sport mode. When you used the paddles, you would briefly engage a manual mode. However, even in the sport mode, the gearbox switched back to full automatic in a very short period of time. The car's sport mode wasn't exactly exciting in the first place and in the manner that the gearbox shifted back to automatic, it made the transmission's behaviour annoying. The car got a dedicated M mode. To engage it, you needed to press a button on the center console. This was the only way you could drive the GLC with manual control of the gearbox.5. The old Honda Civic had paddle shifters, but they would not work in the regular D mode. Pulling one of the paddles would have no effect and would leave drivers confused. You had to be in Sport mode to get the paddle shifters to work.6. DSG gearboxes have a tendency to shift up from the first to second cog very quickly. However, they will not shift down till very late compared to a torque converter, which can be annoying.7. In the Jeep Compass, the first gear is used for rock crawling. On a regular drive, the car will start in the second gear.8. CVT gearboxes in certain Honda and Toyota cars have a fake jerk when the paddle shifters are used. In a CVT, the drive should be smooth with no jerks felt.So, will all manufacturers please decide on standard Automatic Transmission behaviour? Last edited by Aditya : 10th June 2024 at 17:03 .
News / National

by Staff reporter

The Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) faction led by Professor Welshman Ncube has secured the opposition party's share of government funds allocated under the Political Parties (Finance) Act. This resolution follows months of intense lobbying by various CCC factions, each seeking to have the funds deposited into their respective accounts by the Justice, Legal, and Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Ziyambi Ziyambi.Previously, rival factions led by Jameson Timba and Promise Mkwananzi had approached the government, claiming legitimacy and vying for the funds. However, last week, Prof Ncube's group emerged as the recognized recipients after its secretary-general, Senator Sengezo Tshabangu, was appointed leader of the opposition in Parliament. Furthermore, Speaker of the National Assembly, Advocate Jacob Mudenda, rescinded the appointments of CCC legislators to various parliamentary committees, citing procedural issues in their secondment by Mr. Timba.In an interview with The Sunday Mail, Minister Ziyambi confirmed that the disbursement of funds would occur soon, pending the availability of the Finance Minister, Professor Mthuli Ncube."Once the processes are completed, we will disburse the funds soon. The recipient of the funds was determined in Parliament and is the opposition faction with the majority of members in Parliament," he said.
Serving tech enthusiasts for over 25 years.TechSpot means tech analysis and advice you can trust

In brief: Apple took great pains to avoid saying "AI" during its 2024 WWDC presentation. Still, the new features around "Apple Intelligence" bring generative AI to recent Macs, iPads, and iPhones. The upcoming OS major releases will include image generation, text proofing, and context-aware organization.

Following months of teasing, Apple finally pulled back the curtain on its plans for generative AI at WWDC this week. Starting this fall, the iPhone 15 Pro and all Apple devices with M-series processors will gain beta access to the Cupertino giant's answer to ChatGPT and Copilot.

Apple Intelligence, which arrives this fall in iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia, introduces AI that can rewrite text, create images, and organize information across multiple apps.

Siri will also become a generative AI chatbot and assistant similar to those from OpenAI and Microsoft.

The new text editing features, dubbed Writing Tools and Rewrite, employ functionality akin to Grammarly across most native apps in each device's operating system. Users can automatically proof, summarize, and rephrase text written in Mail, Pages, Messages, or other apps. Settings are granular and include professional, informal, concise, and poetic tones.

Additionally, Apple's generative model automatically organizes emails and notifications based on priority and category. Previews now contain summaries of the entire contents instead of the first few words of the first sentence.

Users can ask Apple Intelligence to create images for emojis, presentations, and text conversations.

The model can transform basic sketches into detailed pictures and suggest images from scratch based on the contents of a writing sample. New photo manipulation tools allow users to remove specific objects without impacting the rest of the composition.

Siri can now understand user queries based on context and the information it reads from various apps. For example, it can retrieve a file, photo, or other information based on a vague description of its contents or who sent it.

Furthermore, Siri can plan trips or other activities by combining information from Messages, Apple Maps, or other apps. The assistant can also quickly change device settings or offer users tutorials on performing a specific task. Like ChatGPT or Copilot, users can talk to Siri through text.

However, Siri sometimes requests permission to refer to ChatGPT, effectively embedding ChatGPT functionality across Apple's systems. This functionality does not require a ChatGPT account, but OpenAI subscribers can link to their Apple accounts to easily take advantage of its paid features. Powered by GPT-4o, the AI can also compose text and generate images for various apps.

The link to OpenAI's tool is always opt-in, but it might signal that Apple's generative AI tools aren't quite as mature as the competition. Future updates will enable Siri to connect to other models.

Like Microsoft and others, Apple tried to assuage privacy concerns by stressing that its generative AI runs tasks entirely on-device without contacting cloud servers most of the time. However, workloads requiring cloud models will use Apple Silicon servers using independently inspected code rather than competing data hubs. The servers won't save information sent from devices, and all software involved must be publicly logged for inspection.

Whether Apple Intelligence can avoid the hallucination problem that has dogged all generative AI models remains to be seen. Furthermore, integrating ChatGPT into the system introduces all of the trustworthiness, privacy, and copyright concerns that have long surrounded OpenAI's tool.

Apple Intelligence will only be available for American English when it launches this fall, with other languages coming later.
Forward-looking: In a breakthrough that could revolutionize how we think about 3D printing, engineers from MIT and the University of Texas at Austin have created a fully functional 3D printer that fits right in your palm.

The 3D printer is no larger than a coin and has the potential to bring rapid prototyping capabilities virtually anywhere. Imagine quickly printing a custom part for your bike or even medical equipment while on the go.

Making this possible is an ingenious millimeter-scale photonic chip that can emit programmable light beams into a reservoir of light-curable resin. When the light hits the resin, it rapidly solidifies into a user-defined 3D shape.

The MIT team's expertise in silicon photonics allowed them to create integrated optical phased arrays on the chip  essentially microscopic antennas that can steer light beams by modulating the speed of the optical signals running through them. This beam-steering capability is what enables the 3D printing magic.

The antenna design also eliminates the need for motors to move the beam's focal point, resulting in a printer without moving parts that saves space. The device features 160 optical antennas, all fitting within a US quarter-sized footprint.

However, the visible light wavelengths required for this technology initially posed a challenge. Researchers at UT Austin addressed this by developing specialty resins optimized to cure under visible light exposure. This innovation was the missing link needed to make chip-based 3D printing viable.

With their proof-of-concept complete, the researchers now have a larger vision: developing chips that can generate entire 3D holographic light patterns to rapidly print complex volumetric objects in one go. The potential applications are staggering  from emergency repairs by first responders to printing medical devices on-demand.

MIT Professor Jelena Notaros said the system is completely rethinking what a 3D printer is. "It is no longer a big box sitting on a bench in a lab creating objects, but something that is handheld and portable. It is exciting to think about the new applications that could come out of this and how the field of 3D printing could change."

If this coin-sized 3D printing technology can be developed into a commercial product, it could decentralize and democratize on-demand fabrication like never before.

Further details about the research can be found in a paper published in the journal Nature.

At the other end of the 3D printing spectrum is another device unveiled in April. Dubbed "Factory of the Future 1.0," it holds the Guinness World Record for being the world's largest 3D printer and can print objects as large as 96 feet long, 32 feet wide, and 18 feet high  at a rate of up to 500 pounds per hour.
A hot potato: There is growing concern over the payout Elon Musk has requested for his involvement with Tesla in 2018. Shareholders in Norway consider the deal excessive and motiveless. They are still in talks but are ready to vote against the substantial multibillion-dollar compensation package.

Tesla shareholders are preparing for their annual meeting scheduled for June 13, and many are eager to express their opposition to Musk's extremely rich payout proposed in 2018. One of the wealthiest men in the world wants $56 billion for his significant involvement with Tesla and the results achieved by the company. The Government Pension Fund of Norway says that's way more than it is willing to pay.

Also known as the Oil Fund, the organization collects the surplus wealth produced by Norwegian petroleum income and is managed globally by the Norwegian Central Bank. The fund recently voted against the Tesla proposal, confirming the decision taken on the matter when the board ratified the original deal.

The Oil Fund appreciates the great value created since 2018 under Musk's watch. However, it is concerned about the enormous size of the award, the performance triggers involved, and the lack of risk mitigation for key personnel. The organization continues to talk with Tesla on the topic but is ready to vote against the compensation package during the upcoming shareholder meeting.

The crux of the argument is this: Musk agreed to defer "performance-based compensation" during his leadership of Tesla until the carmaker achieved $650 billion market capitalization. Tesla was valued at $53 billion at the time of the deal and reached an all-time high of $1.24 trillion in 2021. However, Tesla's market cap now hovers at around $556 billion.

Norway's Oil Fund is part of a growing group of shareholders unwilling to pay Musk since Tesla is the S&P500's worst-performing stock this year, down by 28 percent. A Delaware judge shot down the $56 billion award in January, ruling the award "excessive." The judge sided with an investor, saying Tesla approved the award illegally due to Musk's close relationships and influence over the company's board members. Oil Fund and others believe that the compensation package should be no more than $46 billion according to current performance.

Many shareholders don't want to drown Musk in (even more) money, but Tesla's administration is still trying to push the deal. Tesla chairwoman Robyn Denholm said last week that investors should ratify the award ASAP, or Musk could lose interest in Tesla and abandon the company.

"Elon's unique contributions have built Tesla from a company that was, in 2018, a loss-making, ambitious company with significant hurdles and challenges to overcome into what it is today  a company that is literally changing the world by driving so many critical initiatives that are making our planet more sustainable while at the same time delivering hundreds of billions of dollars of value to all of you who invested in Tesla's dream," Denholm attested. "These contributions should be respected."
It is now confirmed that Apple Intelligence is here and will soon come to iOS 18, but Elon Musk is not buying it. He has picked on OpenAI's integration of ChatGPT and called it a 'security violation.' Musk has spent a good amount of his evening exclaiming how he feels about the situation, even sharing memes.

However, that is not yet all, as the tech billionaire is threatening to ban Apple devices in his companies, including Tesla, SpaceX, X, and more.

Elon Musk Says iOS 18 is a 'Security Violation' on ChatGPT Integration.

After sharing his gameplay on Diablo IV, Musk went against the recent WWDC 2024 announcement, particularly with Apple Intelligence's massive OpenAI integration centered on ChatGPT. In his words, OpenAI's "OS level" integration is an "unacceptable security violation."

In another post, Musk claimed that Apple's actions were "patently absurd," criticizing the company for not making its AI alone. He then rambled on about user privacy and security. Moreover, he said that Apple is clueless about what will happen when it hands over data and information to OpenAI, going as far as to say, "They're selling you down the river."

Furthermore, he shared a meme depicting iPhone data heading to Apple, but OpenAI also has access to it.

Nonetheless, the Community Notes on both posts clarify that Apple does not hand over iPhone data to OpenAI and that ChatGPT is only a choice for users to use within Apple Intelligence.

Its patently absurd that Apple isnt smart enough to make their own AI, yet is somehow capable of ensuring that OpenAI will protect your security & privacy!



Apple has no clue whats actually going on once they hand your data over to OpenAI. Theyre selling you down the river.  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 10, 2024

Apple Devices to be Banned on Tesla, Musk's Companies

However, this did not stop the executive from claiming that Apple devices would be banned in his companies, including Tesla, SpaceX, X, The Boring Company, and more. Musk also went as far as to say that visitors who bring their Apple devices will be asked to leave them, and these will be stored in Faraday cages until they retrieve them.

And visitors will have to check their Apple devices at the door, where they will be stored in a Faraday cage  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 10, 2024

Musk clarified that he is not against Apple but OpenAI, yet he also suggested that his distrust of the company affects Apple device owners.

Apple Intelligence: Here's What Was Unveiled

While it was not new to the public that Apple would launch its AI at WWDC 2024, what speculators and rumors had claimed before the event turned out to be true, as Apple announced Apple Intelligence for all. The company calls it the 'personal intelligence system' for its devices like the iPhone, iPad, and Mac, integrated into iOS 18.

One of the most massive claims from the early reports and talks behind the technology is that Apple Intelligence's features are powered by OpenAI, one of which sees a ChatGPT integration with it.

Siri also got its significant upgrade, which had been missing out for years.

However, Musk is concerned about data access, particularly with OpenAI, a company he does not trust to handle user information well. He is now threatening to ban Apple devices in his companies.
The benefits of generative artificial intelligence in legal work have been proven by a trial by UK law firm Silver Circle. The study reportedly found that lawyers writing their drafts with AI took only half the time it would have taken them to write them independently.

Tara Waters, a London-based associate and the firm's chief digital officer, noted that the Silver Circle firm chose to develop its technique for assessing legal IT solutions because no one else did. She underlined that it establishes a platform for future AI tool reviews.

The trial discovered that attorneys saved 45% of the period it would have needed to write the initial version of a legal brief utilizing generative AI methods, roughly 2.5 hours for each briefing draft.

They also saved 80% of the time required to produce UK corporate filings that required reviewing and extracting information from articles of association and 59% of the time required to draft reports regarding industries and sectors utilizing company filings.

From November to March, Ashurst ran the experiment to assess how much AI helped its attorneys accomplish their jobs, taking into account metrics such as time saved, accuracy, and quality of output.

Although the Ashurst experiment was broadly based, it did not include any customer data or work output. The company invited almost 400 employees to attend, including attorneys at all levels and practice areas and business professionals. Waters stated that after the company has completed testing AI tools, it plans to begin deploying the technology for client-facing work.

Read Also : California Lawmakers Push Measures to Intensify AI Regulations to Fight Algorithmic Discrimination, Deepfakes

Gen AI vs. Human Legal Work

It evaluated three products: one specially created for attorneys, one more general-purpose AI tool, and one built for a specific legal activity. The business stated that it could not reveal the identities of the instruments evaluated.

Some testing was "blind," with a four-lawyer panel analyzing UK case summaries created by humans and AI without knowing which.

The panel failed to recognize half of the AI-created output as AI, whereas it correctly identified human-created stuff.

In 67% of situations, generative AI output was at least as accurate or legally correct as a first draft by a human lawyer. Human output had better average accuracy ratings, while AI material varied more than human-created content in its correctness.

ChatGPT as Lawmaker

AI in legal work continues to be a question that multiple studies try to answer and understand using different approaches.

While Silver Circle's trial focuses on AI-assisted lawyers, a study from Charles Darwin University examined the abilities of OpenAI's popular AI tool ChatGPT in evaluating and creating domestic violence legislation to compare its quality to that of human legal experts, especially those portrayed by the Australian Law Council.

While ChatGPT was useful in categorizing and identifying patterns of domestic abuse, the study found that human drafting is still superior in terms of developing high-quality legislation.

ChatGPT's references frequently drew on US law, emphasizing the significance of contextual awareness and the differences in legal systems between nations.
Apple is staying true to its word in its integration of RCS (Rich Communication Service) to its iMessage and text messaging systems, one that would allow users to connect with others who do not own an Apple device. This feature will be available under iOS 18, expanding more on communicating with other contacts that would no longer use the old-school SMS or MMS.

Now, this brings up the question of the fiasco regarding blue and green bubbles, with Apple cleverly revamping this experience.

Apple RCS Support is Coming to iOS 18's iMessage

WWDC 2024's iOS 18 announcements may have been massive on AI, but a little-known detail that Apple only announced on its news release for the iPhone operating system confirms the arrival of RCS support. It will be available for iPhone's iMessage to use, and this will ensure that despite their contact not owning an Apple device, they will still see the faster, higher-quality experience with this adoption.

As revealed on Apple's iOS 18 Preview, both sides of the conversation will see the 'Delivered' status whenever sending a message to a non-Apple device, which marks that it was sent through RCS.

Moreover, audio messages, images, videos, and more would be available to exchange for iPhone to non-iPhone devices, or vice versa.

No More Green Bubbles, SMS/MMS?

However, the Green Bubbles would remain, representing that the ones they are talking to are non-Apple device users, and the indication that it was sent through RCS is with the read receipts. The text field says "Text Message  RCS" when talking with a non-iPhone user.

That being said, the Blue bubbles will remain for iMessage users across Apple's ecosystem.

Apple's RCS Adoption

For a long time, in Apple's technological developments, it stayed with the traditional SMS and MMS for its regular text messaging experiences, while Apple-to-Apple communication got the iMessage. The company previously expressed that it does not intend to switch to RCS despite the looming legislation in the EU for a universal messaging system and pressure from tech rivals.

Google, Samsung, and more threw shade and criticized Apple's decision to stay with SMS/MMS, only to be met with a whopping decision from Cupertino in 2023.

Apple previously revealed that it is working on adding RCS support for its messaging system, but it did not want Google to help it with this; it wanted the GSM Association.

It was a massive move for Apple as it will finally open up the experience for non-Apple users to get an improved texting experience that would allow cross-compatibility between Android and more. That being said, Apple's RCS support on iOS 18 will still feature Green bubbles, but it will be on RCS and show if the message is delivered, with the Blue bubbles remaining as Apple-to-Apple's iMessage.
Tesla is now facing a massive issue with its Full-Self Driving (FSD) and Autopilot, as the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) complaint was allowed to proceed. This centers on the false advertisement claims case brought forth by the DMV against the company, saying that they misled customers into believing their autonomous driving features.

Tesla has been grilled for many years because of its autonomous driving tech, which has allegedly caused customer accidents and issues.

Tesla FSD's False Advertisement Claims Case Allowed to Proceed

An administrative judge allowed the case regarding Tesla's FSD and Autopilot false advertisement claims to proceed earlier today, as the company failed to dismiss the claims as reported by Bloomberg. This case points to the particular concerns raised by California's regulatory body, the DMV, regarding the false claims the company made about its technology.

This adds to the many regulatory investigations that Tesla is facing now regarding its electric vehicles, from seatbelt issues, steering, faulty brakes, and its autonomous driving tech.

The decision adds on top of a San Francisco ruling behind a proposed class-action suit by customers regarding the same subject of Tesla's false advertisements.

Will California DMV Pursue the Case vs. Tesla?

However, this new case is from the California DMV, recently being granted a chance to proceed with its complaint against Tesla for its alleged false claims regarding the Autopilot and FSD. It is known that Tesla previously emphasized on its First Amendment rights, particularly the free speech clause, to use the FSD term, to which the company already revised as Full-Self Driving (Supervised).

Tesla FSD, Autopilot Issues

Different accidents and crashes have been linked to Tesla's FSD and Autopilot for many years now, with various lawsuits faced by the company that prompted the attention of this problem in a larger scale. One led to Tesla being investigated by US prosecutors regarding their misleading claims and statements behind the autonomous driving features that may or may not have deceived its customers.

However, it is not only the regulatory agencies and US government officials who are doubting if Elon Musk and Tesla's claims about its self-driving technology are real. Adding fuel to the fire, rival automakers of Tesla have also expressed their concerns regarding this technology, questioning if the Autopilot and FSD are even real to begin with.

There are negating arguments behind both sides, as several users attest to the autonomous driving technology from Tesla, while others revealed their experiences that did not see this feature. The California DMV is now given a chanceto pursue this case against Tesla, questioning its alleged false advertisements and claims about the legitimacy of its Auopilot and FSD.
Microsoft's best artificial intelligence tools will now be outsourced to OpenAI for development, effectively giving the AI giant the keys to advance most of the booming technology, as claimed by cybersecurity firm Okta CEO Tom McKinnon.

According to the CEO, Microsoft's move as while OpenAI produces all the fun things, the IT behemoth may end up becoming a consulting body in AI development, directly calling the move "bizarre."





Microsoft has invested a total of over $13 billion in OpenAI so much so that the tech titan said last year that its investment will speed up AI advancements, ensuring that these advantages be broadly used throughout the world.

It comes as a number of the company's key products, like its generative AI chatbot CoPilot and PCs outfitted with generative AI software, begin to use technology developed by OpenAI, the lab that created the artificial intelligence chatbot ChatGPT.

Read Also: Microsoft to Lay Off More Than a Thousand Employees at Azure Cloud Unit: Report

OpenAI in Microsoft

Microsoft's Azure OpenAI service also provides a varied range of prebuilt and vetted OpenAI models, allowing developers to easily create generative AI experiences.

Microsoft and OpenAI's collaboration also extends to cybersecurity, as CoPilot for Security, a generative AI-based security solution, has been shown to be powered by OpenAI's model.

Using security-specific plugins, such as information related to an organization, trusted sources, and global threat data, to respond to a user inquiry. By using plugins as data point sources, security experts may extend the solution's capabilities while also gaining more information and visibility into vulnerabilities.



CoPilot for security will follow responsible AI principles while increasing defender effectiveness and capacity to enhance security outcomes at machine speed and scale.

OpenAI in Apple

Microsoft is not the lone company that has recently collaborated with OpenAI to develop its AI tools as Apple, during its WWDC 2024, unveiled that Apple Intelligence in iOS 18 will be integrated with OpenAI's ChatGPT.

Apple Intelligence enables the iPhone to grasp languages, pictures, and context. In smart concentration mode, an innovative notification system prioritizes important alerts and conceals the rest.

Furthermore, writing capabilities in Notes, Mail, Pages, and third-party apps assist users in writing correctly and minimizing mistakes. Without the need for typing, Apple Intelligence can summarize large texts and make smart email answers.



Apple Intelligence generates AI-generated visuals in a variety of styles using device pictures. These will be utilized as message overlays and standalone applications in a new picture playground. Third-party developers can also take advantage of this capability.

A new AI-powered cleaning tool enhances photo editing in Photos, allowing users to better explore their collection, which includes video content.

Apple Intelligence enhanced Siri with additional actions and a screen-clearing interface. Siri may use App Intents to create more complex multi-step inquiries to find files, display photos, and do cross-application tasks.

Related Article: Microsoft Windows Recall: Security Experts Worried of Privacy Risks, Demos How Easily Data Can Be Accessed
DNA testing company, 23andMe's October 2023 data breach will now reportedly be investigated by the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (OPC) and the United Kingdom's Information Commissioner's Office (ICO).

23andMe, a genetics firm established in the United States, uses home saliva collection kits to analyze customers' DNA and give insights into aspects such as health and heritage.

According to the company's website, more than 12 million DNA testing kits have been sold since 2006. The data protection regulators of the United Kingdom and Canada have stated that they will work together to undertake the probe.





It will investigate the breadth of the information compromised by the incident, as well as the possible impact on those affected.

The effectiveness of 23andMe's protections to secure the information under its control will also be evaluated, as will whether the business gave proper notification of the breach to the two regulators and impacted individuals.

In a statement, 23andMe stated that they aim to comply with the regulators' reasonable requirements on the credential stuffing threat identified in October 2023.

Read Also: Ransomware Attack Disrupts Operations in London Hospitals, Russian Cyber Gang Believed to Be Behind It

23andMe Data Breach

The October 2023 data breach saw millions of users' information exposed on the dark web, sparking outrage among customers who entrusted their data to the company.

Even more worrying, the breach reportedly affected the accounts of notable personalities such as Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk.

While 23andMe has validated the legitimacy of the compromised data, it denies any technological hacking. Instead, they claim that client accounts were compromised through credential-stuffing assaults.

23andMe Shifts Blame

In January 2024, the DNA testing company went as far as to blame the victims of the company's recent data breach incident by sending letters indicating that the users were negligent in not updating their passwords following the incidents.

At the time, the corporation was seeking to deny any culpability for the event in which hackers acquired the sensitive data of around 6.9 million individuals, including genetic and health information.

Following the data breach, a separate investigation claims that thieves leaked around one million data points associated with Ashkenazi Jewish individuals, as well as equivalent data associated with over 300,000 Chinese users.

According to various estimates, the data breach has resulted in the circulation of up to 7 million 23andMe accounts, which may be available for purchase on the dark web.

Following the incident, 23andMe allegedly enhanced its security procedures by demanding the use of two-factor authentication for all new and existing users; 23andMe also updated users' security measures by requiring all consumers to reset their passwords.

At the start of the data breach, hackers could only access roughly 14,000 user accounts. However, by brute-forcing passwords believed to be associated with the desired clients, the hackers got access to this initial set of victims.

Related Article: Ransomware Attack on Frontier Exposes Personal Data of 750,000 Customers Across 25 States
Bill Gates' energy company TerraPower will soon start the construction of a new cutting-edge nuclear power plant in Wyoming, which he believes will transform power generation methods.

Bill Gates' TerraPower Breaks Ground on Innovative Nuclear Reactor

Bill Gates attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the new nuclear power plant in Kemmerer, Wyoming, on Monday. As the co-founder of Microsoft and chairman of TerraPower, Gates aims to introduce an innovative nuclear reactor that utilizes sodium instead of water for cooling.

TerraPower applied to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission in March for a construction permit for this advanced reactor, which, if approved, will function as a commercial nuclear power plant.

The Associated Press reported that the designated site is adjacent to PacifiCorp's Naughton Power Plant. According to the utility company, the plant will cease coal burning in 2026 and natural gas consumption a decade later.

Nuclear reactors operate without emitting greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming. PacifiCorp intends to procure carbon-free power from the new reactor and is currently deliberating the extent to which nuclear energy should be included in its long-term strategic planning.

The groundbreaking ceremony marked the start of construction on the nuclear power plant. Monday's work aims to prepare the site so TerraPower can swiftly construct the reactor after the permit's approval.

Russia is leading the development of sodium-cooled reactors. During the groundbreaking event, Gates said the site would soon become a cornerstone of America's energy future. He emphasized that this project signifies a significant stride towards safe, plentiful, and zero-carbon energy, highlighting its critical role in the nation's future success.

Advanced reactors often utilize coolants other than water and operate under lower pressures but higher temperatures. Although this technology has been available for many years, the US has primarily focused on constructing large, conventional water-cooled reactors for commercial power generation.

Read Also : TerraPower Selects Wyoming Site for Building its Experimental Nuclear Reactor; Project Backed by Bill Gates

Advancing Nuclear Technology

The Wyoming initiative is a departure from this trend. It marks the first effort in almost four decades to establish an advanced reactor as a commercial power plant in the country.

TerraPower president and CEO Chris Levesque emphasized the shift towards advanced nuclear technology, incorporating state-of-the-art computer modeling and physics to create a simpler, more cost-effective, safer, and more efficient plant design.

TerraPower's Natrium reactor demonstration project features a sodium-cooled fast reactor design combined with a molten salt energy storage system. In previous years, the industry favored reliability over innovation and tried-and-tested methods.

However, TerraPower and its founders now advocate for a shift towards innovation. They argued that with increasing electricity demands and the need to address cost challenges, embracing innovation is essential for the future of nuclear energy.

With Bill Gates at the helm, the company's commitment to introducing innovative reactor designs underscores the pressing need for cleaner, more efficient energy solutions.

As the project progresses, it signifies a departure from conventional practices and highlights the importance of embracing innovation to meet evolving energy demands and address environmental challenges.
News / National

by Staff reporter

The faction led by Sengezo Tshabangu within the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) is celebrating the government's decision to allocate political party funds to their group.This move comes after Tshabangu's faction, in competition with a group associated with former CCC leader Nelson Chamisa, demanded a portion of the funds distributed under the Political Parties (Finances) Act.This act enables state funding for political parties with representation in parliament.Tshabangu's faction has been pressing for access to these funds since he took control of the CCC from Chamisa.Reports suggest that Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi has confirmed the government's intention to allocate the funds to Tshabangu's group.Albert Mhlanga, a member of Tshabangu's faction, expressed satisfaction with this development, citing the overdue release of funds, which had impacted the party's operations.The Chamisa faction had previously claimed rightful ownership of the funds, leading to a dispute with the government. However, the government's decision to withhold disbursement was linked to the ongoing ownership dispute within the CCC.Tshabangu's assumption of the interim secretary-general role last year, followed by his takeover of the party from Chamisa, further escalated tensions.His actions, including the recall of CCC legislators and officials, prompted Chamisa to leave the party.Tshabangu has refuted claims of being a Zanu-PF proxy despite allegations from critics.
NASA's James Webb Space Telescope has truly begun unraveling the mysteries of the cosmos ever since it was launched in 2021. Now, it offers scientists an initial detailed glimpse of supernovae from when the universe was younger.

NASA: 'Supernova Discovery Machine'

Utilizing data from Webb, a team of astronomers has discovered 10 times more supernovae in the early universe, surpassing previous detection of such objects. Among these discoveries are some of the most distant supernovae ever observed, which is pivotal.

Christa DeCoursey, a graduate student at the Steward Observatory and the University of Arizona, expressed excitement over Webb's capability, labeling it a "supernova discovery machine." The abundance of detections coupled with the vast distances to these exploding stars mark significant outcomes of the survey.

To achieve these breakthroughs, researchers scrutinized data from Webb's Advanced Deep Extragalactic Survey (JADES) program. According to NASA, Webb's ability to detect extremely distant supernovae stems from their light being stretched into longer wavelengths, a phenomenon called cosmological redshift.

Before Webb's deployment, only a few supernovae were identified above a redshift of 2, corresponding to when the universe was merely a fraction of its current age. However, the JADES sample contains numerous supernovae that exploded even earlier, providing insight into the universe's infancy, particularly when it was less than 2 billion years old.

Read Also : NASA's Picture of the Day Zooms In on the Stunning Vela Supernova Remnant

NASA on the Universe's Teen and Pre-Teen Phases

Unlike previous observations conducted by the Hubble Space Telescope, which focused on supernovae from the universe's "young adult" phase, NASA noted that JADES allowed scientists to observe supernovae from the universe's "teen" or "pre-teen" stages.

This expanded temporal view offered a glimpse into the universe's earlier epochs. The discovery process involved comparing various images captured over a year to identify sources that appeared or disappeared.

These transient objects, which exhibit varying brightness over time, include supernovae. Around 80 supernovae were unearthed in a small patch of sky, demonstrating the effectiveness of the JADES Transient Survey Sample.

Type Ia supernovae hold particular importance due to their known uniform brightness, making them crucial tools for gauging cosmic distances and the rate at which the universe expands.

According to NASA, the team's detection of a Type Ia supernova at a redshift of 2.9 represents a milestone in measuring vast cosmic distances. Analyzing these supernovae aims to ascertain whether their inherent luminosity remains constant across various redshifts, thus affirming their reliability as indicators of cosmic distances.

Supernovae from the early universe offer glimpses into environments vastly distinct from those of the present era. These primordial supernovae, stemming from stars with fewer heavy elements than our sun, provide valuable insights into star formation and explosion processes in extreme conditions.

"Because Webb is so sensitive, it's finding supernovae and other transients almost everywhere it's pointed," Eiichi Egami, a research professor at the University of Arizona and JADES team member, said in a press statement. "This is the first significant step toward more extensive surveys of supernovae with Webb."
The US Air Force (USAF) and Space Force launched a generative AI system similar to ChatGPT to improve Department of the Air Force (DAF) information access.



The AI-powered tool is called the non-classified Internet Protocol Generative Pre-Training Transformer (NIPRGPT), which supports service modernization, according to Interesting Engineering. The software will help personnel communicate, study, and code securely online.

Phenomenal Tool for US Military Modernization

In a statement, DAF Chief Information Officer Venice Goodwine noted that the NIPRGPT will help Airmen and Guardians to develop skills and flexibility simultaneously as part of the multiple DAF and federal modernization programs.



During a media roundtable, DAF Acting Chief Data and Artificial Intelligence Officer Chandra Donelson noted NIPRGPT's positive outcomes despite its development. She lauded the NIPRGPT as a "phenomenal" achievement.



Alexis Bonnell, AFRL Chief Information Officer, emphasized the importance of NIPRGPT as a bridge to provide the team with the best tools while commercial AI solutions traverse security procedures. As more sophisticated capabilities become available, NIPRGPT will let Airmen and Guardians experiment and learn.



The Air Force aims to work with commercial partners to assess the DAF's demand for generative AI before choosing a NIPRGPT provider or technique. Bonnell hopes this will spark our users' interest and experimentation and allow us to evaluate models from vendors. He also expects certain models to excel in particular use cases and struggle in others.



NIPRGPT is based on the Air Force Research Laboratory Information Directorate's Dark Saber program. Air Force and Space Force personnel are working on next-generation, deployable software and capabilities called Dark Saber.

Improving Military AI Performance

In a separate update, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has requested commercial solutions to remove ad hoc approaches to improve AI performance and accuracy in aerospace and defense applications.



DARPA's announcement for the Artificial Intelligence Quantified (AIQ) project highlights the agency's goal to examine and comprehend AI capabilities to provide mathematical performance guarantees, according to Military & Aerospace Electronics Magazine.



Military AI requires the safe and ethical use of autonomous and semi-autonomous technology. The agency acknowledges the challenges in finding ways to ensure AI capabilities and limits. To correctly estimate AI capabilities, the AIQ initiative uses mathematical approaches, measurement, and modeling improvements.



The program will focus on specific problems, problem classes, and natural class capacity levels. Assessment techniques are ad hoc, focus on basic skills, and lack a theoretical underpinning.



AIQ will focus on two technological areas: building rigorous foundations for understanding and assuring AI capabilities and creating AI model assessment methodologies.



The program will include two 18-month periods. The first phase will handle particular issues, while the second will cover class and architecture compositions.



These developments come as the US military investment in AI surges. According to a Brookings Institution analysis, AI-related federal contracts may have increased by approximately 1,200%, from $355 million in August 2022 to $4.6 billion in August 2023.



The US Department of Defense (DoD) drove this considerable growth, per Time. The DoD's AI contract commitment increased from $190 million in August 2022 to $557 million in August 2023.



If each AI contract were fully extended, DoD expenditure on AI-related contracts would rise from $269 million to $4.3 billion. This prospective military budget increase was so large that "all other agencies became a rounding error."
Google released its Gemini Nano AI model for the Pixel 8 and 8a following its teaser in March.

The June Pixel release will provide developers with an AI model. The update also adds Display Port connectivity for the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8a, reverse phone number search for unknown numbers, Pixel Watch 2 fall and crash detection, and Pixel tablet doorbell notifications.

Here's What You Need To Know on Google's June Pixel Update

In the Recorder app, the Gemini Nano should give extensive transcription summaries. Google has not disclosed the properties of the AI model, according to TechCrunch.

Other Pixel Drop improvements include display connection compatibility via the USB-C connection, allowing for wider screen viewing. Users may now check the call history for unknown numbers using a reverse phone number lookup. For this service, Google may use its caller ID database or a third-party database.

Even when the phone is empty, the Pixel 8, 8 Pro, and 8a smartphones' Finding My Device feature can now locate a turned-off device for up to 23 hours.

Notably, older and more affordable Pixel smartphones are getting new features. The call log now has a button for reverse phone number searches to find incoming calls. Pixel Fold, Pixel 6, and future variants will have this enhancement, per The Verge.

The Google June Pixel feature drop also improved HDR+ photo compatibility on Pixel 6 and later smartphones, wherein the best photograph is automatically selected, allowing photo "best moment" recognition. However, the Pixel Fold and Pro versions of the Pixel 6, 7, and 8 smartphones will be the only Pixel models to have manual lens selection during shooting.

#TeamPixel, switch it up with a new #FeatureDrop!



Gemini Nano on #Pixel8 & #Pixel8a

Find My Device when it's dead

Manual lens selection & improved HDR+

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*See video & learn more: https://t.co/CicbVVasCl pic.twitter.com/ISgDbawsuX  Made by Google (@madebygoogle) June 11, 2024

Pixel Watch 2 and Pixel Tablet Updates

Meanwhile, updates on Pixel Watch 2 allow it to detect automobile accidents and send emergency contacts to the user's location. In addition to the watch's fall detection capability, bicycle fall detection has been improved to detect falls from two-wheeled vehicles.

All Wear OS 3 and later devices will get a revised Home app from Google. The updated software allows users to swipe to access their favorite smart gadgets and change temperature or lights, according to Tom's Guide.

The Google June Pixel feature drop allows users to add commonly used devices to the Wear OS watch face, as well as customize blind rotation and fan speed.

Moreover, the PayPal functionality in Google Wallet expands Pixel Watch payment options. This recently revealed functionality lets users utilize PayPal instead of credit cards to make transactions. The expansion of this function beyond the U.S. and Germany remains uncertain.

The Wear OS 3 Google Home app will also be improved for better interoperability with Google Home devices. The Google Home app now has a Wear OS tile for convenient access to smart home devices. Google Home Complications may be added to watch faces for easy control. The upgraded software will now allow fan speed, rotation, and humidifier changes for smart home devices.

For the Pixel Tablet update, public preview tablets will only gain enhanced smart doorbell functionality. While docked in hub mode, the Pixel Tablet may provide more comprehensive doorbell alerts, including a photo of the person at the door. The tablet features an enhanced Google Home favorites widget with fast and customized smart home controls on the home screen.
News / National

by Staff reporter

The Lupane Gas Project in Matabeleland North is set to start during the third quarter of this year, the consultant of the project has said.CEWALE Discovery Investment Environmental Consultant Michael Montana told Southern Eye that the investors were likely to embark on the project after they receive a letter they are waiting for from the Mines and Mining Development ministry.He said the investors got a mining licence but were still waiting for a letter from the ministry as it is part of the process."The investors want to authenticate the whole process hence the reason why the whole thing is on hold. It's because they are waiting for the letter from the ministry."They now have the licence but since it took them long to attain it then it means that they will have to wait for the letter," he said.Montana said it might take the investors three months or so from now to start working on the project.Kusile Rural District Council chief executive Sifiso Hadebe said there had been no movement in the area since the investors have been waiting for the licence."Nothing has happened since the last time. We are also waiting to see whether the investors will come in and start working," Hadebe said.In April this year, Montana bemoaned government's failure to grant the investor mining rights to start work.He said the investors were still waiting for permission from the Mines ministry to embark on the lucrative project.Natural gas reserves were discovered in Lupane several years ago, but commercial exploitation has failed to take off despite the government granting its exploration a national project status in 2007.
New Zealand scraps plan to tax livestock burps, farts



Wellington, June 11 (AFP) Jun 11, 2024



New Zealand's centre-right government said Tuesday it is scrapping a scheme to price greenhouse gas emissions from livestock -- squelching a so-called burp tax.

New legislation will be introduced to parliament this month to remove the agriculture sector from a new emissions pricing plan, it said.

"The government is committed to meeting our climate change obligations without shutting down Kiwi farms," said Agriculture Minister Todd McClay.

"It doesn't make sense to send jobs and production overseas, while less carbon-efficient countries produce the food the world needs."

The New Zealand economy is driven by agriculture with around 10 million cattle and 25 million sheep roaming the nation's pastures.

Just under half of New Zealand's emissions come from agriculture, with cattle the main culprits.

Cattle burps and flatulence emit methane gas while livestock urine leaks nitrous oxide into the atmosphere.

The previous centre-left Labour government had targeted livestock in its drive towards reaching net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

But the plan to tax livestock emissions, announced by then prime minister Jacinda Ardern in 2022, sparked nationwide protests by farmers fearing it would hurt profits.

The new centre-right government, which came to power late last year, said it would remove agriculture, animal processors and fertiliser companies from the emissions pricing scheme, due to start in 2025.

It wants to help farmers lower emissions through technology without reducing production or exports, the agriculture minister said.

A new "pastoral group" would be set up to tackle biogenic methane emissions in the sector, he added.

Farmers welcomed the decision.

But environmental groups rounded on the government, which also announced plans at the weekend to reverse a five-year ban on new oil and gas exploration.

"From pouring oil, coal and gas on the climate crisis fire, the government has now put half of our emissions which come from agriculture into the industry-led too-hard basket," said Greens co-leader Chloe Swarbrick.

Greenpeace accused the government of "waging an all-out war on nature".

"In the last few days, the coalition government has clearly signalled that the most polluting industries, industrial dairy, and new oil and gas exploration, are free to treat our atmosphere like an open sewer," said Greenpeace spokesperson Niamh O'Flynn.

At the weekend, thousands of people also protested in New Zealand's biggest cities against the new government plans to let major infrastructure projects bypass some environmental regulations.
Iceland grants whaling license for 2024 season



Reykjavik, June 11 (AFP) Jun 11, 2024



Iceland's government said Tuesday that it had granted a license to hunt 128 fin whales for the country's sole whaling company amid widespread criticism of the practice.

Iceland, Norway and Japan are the only three countries that allow commercial whaling despite fierce opposition from animal rights activists.

In January, Hvalur, the only whaling group left in Iceland, applied for a five-year permit to hunt whales after its licence expired.

Another company hung up its harpoons for good in 2020, saying it was no longer profitable.

The government said in a statement that the new license would be valid for the 2024 season and permitted the hunting of 128 fin whales -- the second-longest marine mammal after the blue whale -- down from 161 whales the previous year.

"This decision aligns with the Marine and Freshwater Research Institute's 2017 advice and considers the conservative ecosystem factors of the International Whaling Commission," the government said.

"It is based on a precautionary approach and reflects the government's increased emphasis on the sustainable use of resources," it added.

Whaling in Iceland generally takes place between mid-June and September.

With the new license, 99 whales can be hunted in the Greenland/West Iceland region and 29 whales in the East Iceland/Faroe Island region, the government said.

On June 20, 2023, the country suspended whaling for two months following a government-commissioned inquiry that concluded the methods used did not comply with animal welfare laws.

Monitoring by the government's veterinary agency showed that the explosive harpoons used by hunters to catch whales were causing them prolonged agony, with the hunt lasting up to five hours after they had been harpooned.



- 'Shameful' -



In October, Hvalur said the shortened 2023 season, which lasted only three weeks, had ended with 24 whales killed.

Whalers had already struggled in the past to meet the quotas.

It had been unclear whether the food and agriculture minister, Bjarkey Olsen Gunnarsdottir, would grant a license for the 2024 season, and the Humane Society International charity had urged Iceland "to put an end to this needless cruelty for good."

"It is devastatingly disappointing that Minister Gunnarsdottir has set aside unequivocal scientific evidence demonstrating the brutality and cruelty of commercial whale killing and allowed whales to be killed for another year," Adam Peyman from Humane Society International told AFP, calling the decision a "new shameful entry in the conservation history books".

"Whales already face myriad threats in the oceans from pollution, climate change, entanglement in fish nets and ship strikes, and fin whale victims of Iceland's whaling fleet are considered globally vulnerable to extinction," Peyman added.

The CEO of Hvalur, Kristjan Loftsson, did not respond to a request by AFP for comment.

According to a survey last June by the Maskina institute, 51 percent of Icelanders are opposed to whaling, an increase from 42 percent in a poll four years earlier.

Iceland has depended heavily on fishing and whaling for centuries.

But in the past two decades its tourism industry, including whale watching tours, has blossomed.

Japan, by far the biggest market for whale meat, resumed commercial whaling in 2019 after a three-decade hiatus, drastically reducing the need for imports from Iceland.
Ozone-harming gas declining faster than expected: study



Paris, June 11 (AFP) Jun 11, 2024



Scientists said Tuesday that international efforts to protect the ozone layer had been a "huge global success" after revealing that damaging gases in the atmosphere were declining faster than expected.

The Montreal Protocol signed in 1987 aimed to phase out ozone-depleting substances found primarily in refrigeration, air conditioning and aerosol sprays.

A new study has found that atmospheric levels of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), harmful gases responsible for holes in the ozone layer, peaked in 2021 -- five years ahead of projections.

"This has been a huge global success. We're seeing that things are going in the right direction," the study's lead author, Luke Western from the UK's University of Bristol, told AFP.

The most harmful CFCs were phased out by 2010 in the effort to protect the ozone layer -- the shield that protects life on Earth from harmful levels of ultraviolet rays from the Sun.

The HCFC chemicals that replaced them are expected to be eliminated by 2040.

This study, published in the journal Nature Climate Change, examined levels of these pollutants in the atmosphere by using data from the Advanced Global Atmospheric Gases Experiment and US National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration.

Western attributed the steep decline in HCFCs to the efficacy of the Montreal Protocol, as well as tighter national regulations and a shift by industry in anticipation of the coming ban of these pollutants.

"In terms of environmental policy, there is some optimism that these environmental treaties can work if properly enacted and properly followed," Western said.

Both CFCs and HCFCs are also powerful greenhouse gases, meaning their decline also aids in the fight against global warming.

CFCs can last in the atmosphere for hundreds of years, while HCFCs have a lifespan of about two decades, Western said.

Even once they are no longer in production, the past use of these products will continue to affect the ozone for years to come.

The United Nations Environment Programme in 2023 estimated it could take four decades before the ozone layer would recover to levels before the hole was first detected in the 1980s.
French bosses fear far right's vague economic plans



Paris, June 11 (AFP) Jun 11, 2024



French business leaders have been pitched into fresh uncertainty by snap parliamentary elections called by President Emmanuel Macron that risk strengthening the far right.

Federations are treading lightly with their public comments, aware that they could be sitting across the table from National Rally (RN) ministers if the party scores a major breakthrough in the June 30 and July 7 ballots.

Local business group U2P would "respect the people's choice, but the RN has to say more precisely what it proposes on questions with a tax, social and economic effect on small firms," its chief Michel Picon told AFP.

At the last presidential election in 2022, the group had warned that RN chief Marine Le Pen's campaign promises "would have bad consequences for business", he recalled.

At stake are issues such as returning to an official retirement age of 60 -- raised to 64 in a wildly unpopular Macron reform last year -- and a still harsher crackdown on immigration.

"What does this mean for people working for us today?" Picon asked.

"We're business players who don't get involved in politics," said Thierry Cotillard, head of the Mousquetaires/Intermarche supermarket chain.

But "whoever the politicians are, we will fiercely defend our positions," he warned.

Investors have clearly signalled their alarm with heavy selling of French stocks -- the benchmark CAC 40 index of blue chips slumped 1.4 percent on Monday and a further 1.3 percent on Tuesday.

Yields on French government bonds have also spiked, suggesting growing doubts about France's capacity to finance its spending if the RN puts its promises into practice.

Macron's Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire warned that "if the RN carries out its programme, a debt crisis in France is possible".

Earlier Tuesday, he had exhorted business leaders to "stick their neck out" against the far right.



- Risk of 'distrust' -



Centrist Macron's time in office has been marked by reforms aimed at making life easier for businesses and high-profile courting of foreign investment.

By contrast, "we know nothing" about the RN's plans, said the head of one major European industrial firm's French subsidiary, on condition of anonymity.

"We've just seen the beginnings of a reindustrialisation for 10 years, with supply-side policies bearing fruit. Will all that be kept up?" he asked.

Without naming any party, the main employer's federation MEDEF told AFP that "a new campaign is starting in which we do not share certain political visions, which are incompatible with business competitiveness and prosperity for our country and fellow citizens".

Such proposals "would inevitably lead to further deterioration of our public finances, and to tax cuts for households and companies", it added.

The CPME small-business group for its part called for supply-side policies, greenhouse emissions cuts and welfare state reforms to continue.

It also warned of France's staggering three-trillion-euro ($3.2 trillion) debt pile, which ratings agency Moody's said Monday risked a downgrade due to the "potential political instability" from the upcoming election.

"Anyone taking on costly reforms without taking this element into account would be exposing France to a major risk," the CPME said.



- 'Low-carbon electricity essential' -



One sector with particular fears for a far-right victory is renewable energy, which has already been waiting for months on a government roadmap stretching to 2035.

"What's going on is serious," said Jules Nyssen, president of the Renewable Energies Union (SER).

"We're in a state of total instability, just when we need legal guarantees and clarity," he added. "It's going to cost us heavily.

"We have a clear roadmap that we need to eliminate carbon emissions," said Nicolas de Warren, president of the UNIDEN association of big industrial energy users.

"What's essential for us is access to low-carbon electricity at competitive prices, whether it's nuclear or renewable".

In 2022, Le Pen promised a fleet of around 20 new nuclear reactors -- though her 2031 timetable for delivering half of those was seen as unrealistic.

But she is also a committed opponent of wind energy, vowing a moratorium on new construction and the gradual dismantling of existing parks -- plans incompatible with France's climate commitments.

"The laws of economics and energy will catch up" with the RN if it comes to power, one electricity provider said on condition of anonymity.

"We need more cheap energy. Building nuclear takes 10-15 years. What do we do while we wait? And how do we attract battery factories if we don't want any more electric cars?" he added, citing another of Le Pen's bugbears.

burs/tgb/ah/js/jj
News / National

by Staff reporter

The Zimbabwean government has enlisted the support of the business community to combat the influx of smuggled and counterfeit goods in the market, according to Industry and Commerce Minister Mangaliso Ndlovu.Speaking at the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce Matabeleland Chapter Annual Business Awards in Bulawayo, Ndlovu emphasized the importance of innovative technologies for economic growth and resilience.The event, themed "Unlocking New Frontiers for Sustainable Industrialisation and Climate Smart Business Growth," highlighted the detrimental effects of smuggled and counterfeit products on both industry and consumer health. Ndlovu urged businesses to collaborate with the government to address this issue, stressing that collective effort is essential.He also called on the private sector to uphold corporate social responsibility, particularly in mitigating the impact of the El Nino-induced drought. Ndlovu acknowledged the challenges businesses face with the national currency and its effect on their operations.At the awards ceremony, 22 awards were presented. George Kudya of Star Distributors was named Business of the Year, with Lovemore Machipisa of Africa Travel Tours and Butho Dube of Enoch Distribution as runners-up. The Bulawayo City Council won the Public Enterprise of the Year award, and historian Phathisa Nyathi received the Lifetime Achievement Award.
News / National

by Staff reporter

Vendors at the Entumbane bus terminus in Bulawayo are experiencing a significant decline in business as many long-distance buses have shifted to other loading points.Previously bustling with passengers traveling to rural areas like Nkayi, Lupane, Binga, Tsholotsho, and Victoria Falls, the terminus now sees far fewer buses. Transport operators have moved to ranks near Amakhosi Theatre, Emakhandeni (Magetsini intersection), and Makokoba, causing a downturn in foot traffic and sales for the vendors.A long-time vendor, Moyo, noted the dramatic drop in business since the departure of Victoria Falls-bound buses, making it hard to pay council rates while turning a profit. She urged the city council to mandate these buses to return to Entumbane and allow Tsholotsho-bound kombis to use the terminus again. Another vendor corroborated the low bus traffic, mentioning that only buses on the Bulawayo-Binga route consistently use the terminus.Ayanda Sikhosana highlighted the poor infrastructure at the terminus, expressing frustration over the lack of maintenance and inadequate shelters, which have remained unimproved despite regular tax payments. The windy winter conditions often result in stock being blown away, and the area's cleanliness is neglected, forcing vendors to dispose of litter on the pavements. Sikhosana called for the city council to provide well-built sheds similar to those at the Egodini taxi rank and to collect garbage more frequently.The Entumbane Complex and bus terminus, established in 2002 by the Bulawayo City Council to serve as a transport hub for Matabeleland North province, is now struggling due to these operational shifts by bus companies.
LYNNE SPENDER: 1946  2024

The real revolution that is taking place, is in the minds of women like us who simply do not believe men any more, wrote Sydney feminist Lynne Spender, only slightly tongue-in-cheek, to her London-based sister Dale in 1982. Already a feminist and teacher, but not yet a lawyer, Spender went on to become immensely influential as an author, editor, creative industries leader, and mentor to many.

Lynne Spender, acclaimed feminist, lawyer and author.

Spender was born in Newcastle, NSW, in 1946. She grew up on a small property in Windsor with her parents, older sister Dale, and younger brother Graeme. From a young age, she was a determined larrikin, exploring the use of gutter water for washing her hair, inventing pen names for herself, fighting with boys, horse riding, fording flooded creeks, and with Dale, writing and reading voraciously. The teenage sisters endlessly discussed Miles Franklins My Brilliant Career and Sybyllas overwhelming desire to be a writer. These discussions set in motion their close, lifelong trajectory as feminist writers.

A Burwood Girls High School alumni, Spender graduated in 1967 with a BA and Diploma of Education from the University of Sydney. At one of her first secondary school positions, in Gymea, she taught two young women who were to become impactful Australian writers: Kathy Lette and Debra Adelaide. Lette says that it wasnt only that Spender was a good English teacher, but that she liked Lette as an individual, and it was this mutual respect that set her apart. Spender was the first person to suggest to the teenage Adelaide that she should go to university. In Adelaides words, Lynne told me the astonishing news that I was intelligent, and that because I loved reading, studying English at university was the logical thing to do. It changed my life.
News / National

by Staff reporter

Zimbabwe has huge amounts of unexplored and underexploited mineral resource potential and the world's resource companies could be lining up to rebuild Zimbabwe's once-mighty gold mines and metal refineries.Zimbabwe is often painted as a treasure trove for miners, and with solid reason.The southern Africa country, once a big producer of minerals, is hardly undiscovered ground for the world's miners.Rio Tinto digs for diamonds there, while the country's platinum reserves, among the largest on the planet, have attracted Anglo Platinum and Impala Platinum, which are the two largest miners of the metal.The company that later became BHP Billiton was active in the precious metal until the end of the 1990s, while Zimbabwean rock also contains chromite, coal, cobalt, copper, iron ore, nickel, palladium and tin - a rich spectrum of mineral wealth.By far the main event in Zimbabwean mining is gold, and with prices on world markets close to all-time highs, miners are looking forward to start digging again.The gold mining industry in the world is struggling to maintain production growth as finding deposits of the yellow metal has become more difficult, according to the World Gold Council (WGC), cited by CNBC on Sunday.Data from the trade association reportedly shows that mine production rose merely 0.5% in 2023 compared to a year ago.In 2022, the growth was 1.35% in annual terms, whereas the year before it had risen 2.7%."We've seen record first quarter mine production in 2024, up 4% year-on-year," WGC Chief Market Strategist John Reade told CNBC, adding: "But the bigger picture, I think about mine production is that, effectively, it plateaued around 2016, 2018 and we've seen no growth since then."According to Reade, it is becoming harder to find new gold deposits around the world since many prospective areas have already been explored.He pointed out that large-scale gold mining is capital-intensive, and requires significant exploration and development. It takes an average of 10 to 20 years before a mine is ready for production, the market strategist said, adding that only about 10% of discoveries contain sufficient deposits to warrant mining.Gold price hits record high after Raisi deathMoreover, it can take several years to secure government licenses and permits needed for mining companies to start operations.Many mining projects in remote areas require building infrastructure such as roads, power, and water, Reade noted."It's getting harder to find gold, permit it, finance it, and operate it," he said.Around 187,000 metric tons of gold has been mined throughout history, according to the report, with an additional 57,000 tons still unexcavated.The price of gold hit record highs last month, rallying to nearly $2,450 per ounce in the wake of rising global geopolitical tensions.On Monday, the precious metal was trading at $2,330 an ounce.
That, he said, could only change if 12 jurors were satisfied he was guilty of one or two charges of murder. First thing youve seen happening over the last four weeks is a prosecution case that has bumbled and stumbled its way out of the problematic category it started in to an unequivocally mistaken category of hopelessness. Defence barrister Dermot Dann, KC. Credit: Wayne Taylor A series of incredibly desperate and ill-fated tactical manoeuvres by the prosecution culminating in the final address today that was so desperate it broke, time and time again, the well-established rules in this court, the rules of fairness. It was a disgraceful performance.

Dann said that over the past month, the defence case had grown stronger. Prosecution presented half-baked theories: defence Dann said he would take the jury through 17 lowlights of the prosecution case. They include a failure to adduce any evidence of Hills involvement with firearms, his mental health, and the death of Hills family member in a hunting accident in 1995. Dann said the prosecution had also wasted the jurys time. Presenting unnecessary evidence could only have been meant to chew up time, he said.

This included a drone being kilometres away from Bucks Camp in the Wonnangatta Valley, and other parts of the case that were not in contention. Loading The defence barrister also pointed to issues with prosecution evidence including half-baked theories he said included a witness speaking about the vacuum theory, and reconstruction testing by police. The vacuum theory refers to when a close-range gunshot hits someone and sucks their blood back into the barrel of the gun, the court heard earlier. Dann said prosecution witness and blood-spatter expert Mark Gellatly first raised the vacuum theory in the witness box.

Dann said Gellatly should be called gelati [ice-cream] as he melted on the stand when asked where that theory was in his case file. You cant have any confidence about their [the prosecutions] submissions. Its been a shambles, no other word to describe it, and were only just starting the process, Dann said. Court spectator appears to faint The jurors were sent on their lunch break 10 minutes earlier than scheduled after a young man in the public gallery appeared to faint, causing a loud sound. Security guards rushed to his aid.

Thousands of burnt bone fragments Crown prosecutor Daniel Porceddu said Lynn had moved the campers bodies to a second location, where Lynn said he left them in an area where he believed they would be found, covering them in branches to stop animals interfering with them. The Crown labelled this as absolute nonsense and said that the bodies had been placed at the end of a dead-end track miles and miles from the Wonnangatta Valley where the searches were taking place. Forensic evidence found at the Bucks Camp site. This was done, Porceddu alleged, so that Lynn could return to the site later. And he did, Porceddu said.

The Crown then pointed to forensic evidence of the scene  more than 2100 bone fragments found at the site, which had largely been impacted by fire. Due to the fire damage in November 2020, Porceddu said the conclusions of experts including an anthropologist, teeth expert and DNA expert were limited. He noted an insect specialist who inspected the casings of maggots found blow flies had laid eggs at the scene, hatched, and fed on flesh before emerging and flying away. Investigators couldnt determine the causes of the campers deaths. Whatever had caused their deaths had been masked by the changes brought about to their bodies by the burning and fragmentation, Porceddu said.

Despite Lynn leading police to the Union Spur Track site, the Crown said Lynn had continued to conceal the remains and failed to tell police that when he moved the ash and bone fragments with a dustpan, he placed most of them at the base of a fallen tree. Why Lynn burnt the campers bodies Porceddu told jurors they should believe the evidence theyd been presented during the trial would satisfy them beyond reasonable doubt that the accused man had murdered Hill and Clay and immediately embarked on an elaborate plan to obliterate any evidence that would support that. He noted that the prosecution couldnt say what was the motive for the alleged murders, or the precise way Hill had been killed, other than saying Clay had been shot to the head. It is common sense to assume there mustve been a disagreement over events at the campsite, Porceddu said.

The prosecution alleges Mr Hill was killed first in part because Clay wouldve been unlikely to pose a threat to Lynn, other than being a witness to what they allege was Hill being killed first. She was eliminated because she was a witness. In the aftermath of the deaths, the Crown said Lynn had commenced an elaborate, calculated, protracted series of actions to disguise the manner of deaths and any involvement he had in the scene, including obliterating forensic evidence. CCTV footage of Lynn removing the awning from his car. Credit: Victoria Police So extreme was the conduct of burning the bodies of Hill and Clay that it could only have been done in the wake of murder, Porceddu said.

If they [the deaths] were accidental or unintentional, why would you go to the extreme and extraordinary step of burning the bodies of Mrs Hill and Mr Clay? Incinerating their remains is so disproportionate to  accidental killings. Porceddu said Lynn had also failed to call for help, cleaned and burnt Bucks Camp, staged the scene to look like a robbery, took cash from Hills wallet, took phones and a drone, and left. He said a combination of the remoteness of the location and the coincidence of the start of the COVID-19 pandemic meant the missing persons report did not attract the immediate attention of police. The park was then closed over the winter period. During this time, Porceddu said Lynn had painted his car, after it was captured by cameras travelling past Mt Hotham on March 21, 2020, and removed an awning that was visible in a 60 Minutes program about the missing campers broadcast in November 2021. The shotgun and the rifle

Porceddu said there were several reasons why Lynns version of events could not be true. These included Hill rooting around Lynns car in the dark to retrieve the Barathrum Arms shotgun, not the rifle he told police he was filmed by Hills drone using close to camp, and then alerting Lynn to the fact he was doing this after he knocked over a drink bottle in the car, while music was allegedly blaring from the four-wheel drive. Gregory Lynns Barathrum Arms shotgun and his Ruger American rifle, seized by police. If youre a person concerned about firearm safety, snuck up to a campsite to confiscate a gun without him knowing, why are you loading it when all youre looking to do is take it back to your campsite? Porceddu said. At some point, the accused is going to turn the music off and shut the car for the night, and when he does, hes going to notice his gun and magazine is missing. And once that happens, hes going to know it was either taken by Mr Hill or Mrs Clay. Theyre the only ones at the campsite. Hill is supposed to have taken the Barathrum Arms, but left the accused with another gun [a rifle] and ammunition.

If youre going to confiscate a gun from someone youre not on the best terms with ... to eventually report to police  dont you think youd make sure he wasnt left with another gun? Porceddu said. Loading Lynns explanation that Hill had then fired warning shots into the air as Lynn ran to take cover by Hills LandCruiser before a struggle ensued for control of the weapon was also flawed, Porceddu said. The prosecutor pointed out there was a guy rope attached to the bull bar that would have been in his way. Porceddu said Lynn had also repeatedly switched between Hill having his rifle and shotgun during evidence in his police interview and in the witness box.

At certain points, the accused, a man you might think is very careful and methodical, falls down on the detail. Quite simply, the rope ruins the whole account. We urge you to see the accuseds account for what it is, a carefully constructed fiction developed over one year and eight months. What happened when the accused and Hill met Porceddu noted that the onus of proof remained on the prosecution to prove beyond reasonable doubt that Lynn had murdered Hill and Clay. But he said it was entirely up to the jury to reject Lynns version of events.

According to accused, this unfortunate series of events is said to start with one thing  Mr Hill being hostile towards him because he was a deer hunter. He concocts a version of events that puts Mr Hill as aggressor and him as the victim in a campsite spat. But the accused did not know Mr Hill when he made up that story, Porceddu said. When we look at the evidence of those who knew Mr Hill or met him camping ... it quickly becomes clear how fanciful the accuseds story is. The Crown says this account shows that Hill and Lynn chatted cordially when Hill and Clay first arrived at Bucks Camp. All seems fine. But ... on the accuseds account, over a space of ... 24 hours, Mr Hill seemingly goes from cordial to homicidal rage. Campers last contact with the outside world

The Crown says phone records and the evidence of witnesses, including family and friends, show Hill and Clay left for their camping trip on the morning of Thursday, March 19, 2020. Hills wife, Robyn, helped her husband pack, and she gave him a small amount of cash. Porceddu said Hills phone last made contact with the nearby phone network on March 21, 2020. The prosecutor said Hill made his way into the Wonnangatta Valley, as seen by two environmental scientists, who both recall Hill giving way to them. All appeared well, Porceddu said.

Other campers later saw Hill drive into the Bucks Camp campsite, including a NSW man who said he had waved at him. The Crown said on the afternoon of March 20, 2020, weed sprayer Robbie Williams saw a drone flying over the sprayers campsite after hed knocked off for the day. Was it Mr Hills drone? Possibly, although on the other hand, it was at a fair distance from Bucks Camp. In any event, the drone tipped wings at Mr Williams, waving at him, and moved on, Porceddu said. At 6pm that evening, Hill logged onto his amateur radio club to speak to his friends. There is nothing unusual about that conversation, the prosecutor said. He did not mention Clay was there ... which was not unusual, as we heard Robyn Hill [Russell Hills wife] would listen in to ensure he was safe. And amateur radio is not private, he said.

His radio friends did not describe anything different ... he was not upset or angry. [Amateur radio club member Rob] Ashlin said he was as happy as a pig in shit ... he was in his favourite valley, he could not have been happier. This would be the last anyone heard of Mr Hill. Lynn the last person alive at Bucks Camp Robyn Hill tuned in to the amateur radio club chat over following days, but did not hear Russell.

She spoke to friends and her daughters about her concerns and reported Hill missing on Thursday, March 26, 2020. Meanwhile, the Crown said, witness and fellow camper Tom Matthews was camping in the valley near the Wonnangatta River crossing when he heard [at] midnight or roughly on March 20 an automatic transmission petrol vehicle, thought to be a 4WD, towing a trailer, banging on the potholes. He said the car was trying to leave the valley via the river crossing exit, but it was closed, and the car had to turn around. Porceddu said by that time, Hills phone was inside the accuseds Nissan Patrol and travelling about 9.50am on March 21, 2020 near Mt Hotham, consistent with the path of Lynns car.

Its the prosecution case that the accused had driven through the night. Of 11 other vehicles captured travelling in the area between 9.40 and 10am, the accuseds car was identified by both Lynn and police as the only one that travelled up Dargo High Plains Road. He said that about 3pm, Lynns phone reconnected with the network, hitting the Mansfield tower. He remained there, Porceddu said, until midday the following day, March 22, 2020, before heading back to his home in Caroline Springs. From all the evidence, you can conclude on the evening of Friday, 20th March, the accused man, Mr Hill and Mrs Clay were all camping at Bucks Camp.

The accused was the last person left alive at Bucks Camp. The Crown said on the accuseds version of events both Hill and Clay died accidentally. A series of very unfortuante events, like the book series of that name, it is also complete fiction, Porceddu said. You should readily reject it beyond reasonable doubt. What happened when Lynn arrived at Bucks Camp

Porceddu said bank and phone records established that Lynn had left his Caroline Springs home for the alpine region on Monday, March 16, 2020. He is a registered firearm owner, licensed to hunt deer. At the time, he was driving a Nissan Patrol which was then painted a dark colour, with a trailer. He brought camping and hunting gear, as well as a 12-gauge shotgun. Phone data indicates he remained in the High Plains area until about 11am on March 18, 2020. His phone was next seen on the phone network on the afternoon of March 21, 2020, Porceddu said. Weed sprayers earlier gave evidence that on March 18, 2020, they gave Lynn directions to a campsite known as Bucks Camp. Lynn told one of the weed sprayers he was a hunter, while the other noticed he was wearing a deer-hunting cap and gaiters to protect against snake bites. The two men said they later saw the accuseds vehicle parked at the river near Bucks Camp, the prosecutor said.

Who were Russell Hill and Carol Clay? Hill was a retired man who previously worked in the timber industry and later as a driver for Bunnings. He had been married for 50 years to wife Robyn Hill, with whom he had three children. He was a keen amateur radio enthusiast and drone hobbyist.

Porceddu said Hill loved camping in the alpine region, particularly around the Wonnangatta Valley, where he had worked for most of his life. Other campers had described him as a friendly, knockabout fellow who loved to chat, he said. His wife noted that age was catching up to him and hed become slow of over the years. Clay was heavily involved in the Pakenham community and the Country Womens Association, where she was a former president. She first dated Hill as a teenager. The pair resumed their relationship later and went camping together. Porceddu said Clay had not been fond of camping, but had enjoyed the beauty of the outdoors.

One of her daughters described Clays relationship with Hill as loving and caring. Porceddu said there had been a lot of cross-examination by the defence team during the trial about this relationship. He told the jury this was not an issue in the case. Crown prosecutor Daniel Porceddu. Credit: Joe Armao You might have a view about that relationship, you might not ... its not what this case is about, Porceddu said. Lynn burnt bodies to cover up murders: prosecutor

Earlier on Tuesday, Porceddu told the jury the accused had engaged in a protracted series of actions ... to disguise his involvement in and the manner of their deaths. The most extreme of those actions is the burning of the bodies  eight months after they were murdered. This step, along with several others taken by the accused, were designed to obliterate any possibility there could be forensic evidence that could reveal anything in the manner of how they died. A sketch of Gregory Lynn in the witness box at the Supreme Court last week. Credit: Paul Tyquin/Nine News The only reasonable explanation  [of] conduct [to] cover up the deaths ... was that he knew he had murdered them and that if the scene had been left as it was, forensic evidence would reveal that fact.

The trial so far Prosecutors say Hill and Clay were murdered, while the defence says their deaths were accidental. Loading Lynn admits he burnt the bloody Bucks Camp site after the pairs deaths and bundled the two bodies into his box trailer before driving them to a second site, Union Spur Track, north of Dargo. He returned to the second site twice, including in November 2020 to burn the remains.
A 23-year-old has pleaded guilty to killing and torturing kangaroos last January, but claims he did so as part of his Indigenous culture and way of life.

The Dawesville man, who cannot be named to protect his identity after it was revealed he had been threatened and intimidated by wildlife supporters, appeared in Mandurah Magistrates Court on Tuesday where he pleaded guilty to two animal cruelty charges.

A suppression order protects the identity of a man who pleaded guilty to killing kangaroos last January. Credit: Nine News Perth

But outside court the mans family told waiting media he was just trying to do his cultural thing, as well as respect white people and their way of life.

Its problematic for us, the mans brother said.
The state government has unveiled a further tightening of the new firearms laws following a double-murder suicide in Floreat in May, including empowering police to seize guns from those accused of threatening violence.

Under the proposed amendments, the Firearms Act will also be tightened for collectors, with only those who are members of an approved society able to obtain a licence.

The collection of live ammunition will also be prohibited.

Police Minister Paul Papalia said it was designed to prevent such a tragedy reoccurring. Credit: Jesinta Burton

The suite of changes would see police empowered to confiscate firearms from those accused of or alleged to have threatened violence, with domestic violence explicitly addressed in the legislation.
Cardino's Revolutionary Used EV Sales Model Sparks Investor Excitement with 4 Million Seed Round

BERLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Cardino, a pioneer in the used electric vehicle (EV) market, recently announced a triumphant 4 million seed funding round spearheaded by Point Nine. The funding round was supported by an array of distinguished angel investors and notable figures, including key investors from platforms like Rosberg Ventures, Vinted.com, Bolt, HomeToGo, Dance and HeyJobs.

Cardino enables the sale of used electric vehicles via a digital platform, leveraging a solid network of trusted dealers across Europe. This efficient model not only streamlines the sales process but also promotes a sustainable and circular economy by facilitating the transfer of used EVs to new owners.

Private sellers enjoy a free, seamless experience and an impressive 80% likelihood of receiving a binding offer within 72 hours of listing. The company manages all aspects of the transaction, from complementary valuation based on real-time market data to handling logistics, pick-up, and payment processing. The vehicle is collected within seven days and delivered across Europe without the seller ever leaving home.

This significant investment is a testament to the market's confidence in Cardino's innovative business model and its remarkable growth trajectory. Notably, Cardino achieved nearly 50% quarter-over-quarter growth in Q1 of 2024, and its annualized Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) soared to an impressive 100 million. Such figures underscore Cardino's position as a trailblazer in the rapidly evolving landscape of electric vehicles.

Cardino equips car dealerships with an advanced toolkit to efficiently source EVs. The biggest value for dealers is the ease of access to supply from different markets and the high quality of cars with low mileage and no damage. Cardino screens sellers and inspects vehicle condition, history, and battery reports for quality assurance.

The platform provides comprehensive vehicle profiles and enables direct bidding, simplifying the acquisition process, generating competitive prices for buyers and connecting sellers and buyers from different markets.

Nico Rosberg of Rosberg Ventures shared his excitement about the platform's impact, saying: "The future of cars is electric. For that, we need a sustainable used car market. Henrik, Lukasz and the entire Cardino team are doing pioneering work with their platform. Cardino is both efficient and transparent, setting new standards for the entire industry. That is why I am happy to support this mission as an investor."

Cardino is dedicated to revolutionizing the used EV marketplace through its digital-first approach, making the process convenient and efficient for sellers and dealers," says Henrik Sachs and Lukasz Pajak, Founders.

The company was founded in 2022 to transform the used electric car market.

As Cardino's services extend further across Europe, its commitment to innovation and sustainability in the automotive sector remains steadfast. Plans for 2024 include expanding consumer services to France, on the seller side, and enhancing the platforms features, such as the introduction of a proprietary online battery range check to set new benchmarks in the EV market.

About Cardino

Cardino was founded in Berlin in 2022 with a vision to revolutionize the used electric car market. Our goal is to remove all unnecessary difficulties in buying and selling cars for both used car dealers and sellers. Together, we aim to connect sellers and buyers across Europe and ensure used electric cars find new owners at fair prices through a smooth, digital process.

About the Founders

Henrik Sachs is a Cambridge graduate, former Stanford fellow, and ex-McKinsey consultant now building a sustainability stealth start-up with pre-seed funding. He has broad experience in climate technology, including batteries, EVs, and hydrogen. Henrik worked extensively in the sustainability and automotive sectors at McKinsey, as well as McKinsey LEAP in the UK, DACH and Scandinavia. Born in Germany, he lived in the UK and US for several years before coming home to work in Berlin and Munich.

Lukasz Pajak graduated from the SGH Warsaw School of Economics and spent a semester at the National University of Singapore focusing on entrepreneurship and strategic management. He has over five years of experience in marketplace operations, including consulting for digital businesses in the UK, DACH, and Scandinavia. With a deep passion for sustainable mobility and energy transition, Lukasz was one of the first McKinsey LEAP consultants in the CEE office working with finance, automotive, and marketplace/e-commerce clients.
China sees 110 mln domestic tourist trips during Dragon Boat Festival holiday

Xinhua) 08:12, June 11, 2024

An aerial drone photo shows tourists visiting the Slender West Lake scenic spot in Yangzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, June 10, 2024. China saw 110 million domestic tourist trips made during the three-day Dragon Boat Festival holiday, up 6.3 percent from the same period last year, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism said Monday. (Photo by Zhou Shegen/Xinhua)

BEIJING, June 10 (Xinhua) -- China saw 110 million domestic tourist trips made during the three-day Dragon Boat Festival holiday, up 6.3 percent from the same period last year, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism said Monday.

Domestic tourists spent 40.35 billion yuan (about 5.57 billion U.S. dollars) during the holiday from Saturday to Monday, up 8.1 percent year on year, according to the ministry.

Tourists are gravitating toward more flexible and personalized travel options, opting for leisurely-paced vacations, in-depth experiences, and ample relaxation. Yunnan, Qinghai, Gansu, Inner Mongolia, and Guizhou have emerged as the favored destinations for young travelers. These locations are particularly popular for road trips and summer retreats, the ministry said.

The Dragon Boat Festival, also known as Duanwu Festival, is a traditional holiday in China. It is celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese lunar calendar and fell on Monday this year.

Tourists watch a traditional wedding performance at a scenic area in Jiyuan City, east China's Shandong Province, June 10, 2024. China saw 110 million domestic tourist trips made during the three-day Dragon Boat Festival holiday, up 6.3 percent from the same period last year, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism said Monday. (Photo by Miao Qiunao/Xinhua)

Children have fun at a beach in Yantai, east China's Shandong Province, June 10, 2024. China saw 110 million domestic tourist trips made during the three-day Dragon Boat Festival holiday, up 6.3 percent from the same period last year, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism said Monday. (Photo by Sun Wentan/Xinhua)

Tourists watch a teapot tea performance at Jieling Community of Suining City, southwest China's Sichuan Province, June 10, 2024. China saw 110 million domestic tourist trips made during the three-day Dragon Boat Festival holiday, up 6.3 percent from the same period last year, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism said Monday. (Photo by Zhong Min/Xinhua)

Tourists visit the Slender West Lake scenic spot in Yangzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, June 10, 2024. China saw 110 million domestic tourist trips made during the three-day Dragon Boat Festival holiday, up 6.3 percent from the same period last year, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism said Monday. (Photo by Ren Fei/Xinhua)

An aerial drone photo shows tourists viewing lotus in Suining City, southwest China's Sichuan Province, June 10, 2024. China saw 110 million domestic tourist trips made during the three-day Dragon Boat Festival holiday, up 6.3 percent from the same period last year, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism said Monday. (Photo by Liu Changsong/Xinhua)

Tourists on a bamboo raft visit Zhuoshui ancient town in Qianjiang District of southwest China's Chongqing, June 10, 2024. China saw 110 million domestic tourist trips made during the three-day Dragon Boat Festival holiday, up 6.3 percent from the same period last year, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism said Monday. (Photo by Yang Min/Xinhua)

Tourists are greeted by locals wearing traditional costumes in Sanjiao Village, in Shuifu County, southwest China's Yunan Province, June 10, 2024. China saw 110 million domestic tourist trips made during the three-day Dragon Boat Festival holiday, up 6.3 percent from the same period last year, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism said Monday. (Photo by Di Tingxiu/Xinhua)

Tourist ride camels at the Mingshashan and the Crescent Lake, an oasis scenic spot in the Gobi Desert in Dunhuang, northwest China's Gansu Province, June 9, 2024. China saw 110 million domestic tourist trips made during the three-day Dragon Boat Festival holiday, up 6.3 percent from the same period last year, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism said Monday. (Photo by Zhang Xiaoliang/Xinhua)

Tourist ride camels at the Mingshashan and the Crescent Lake, an oasis scenic spot in the Gobi Desert in Dunhuang, northwest China's Gansu Province, June 9, 2024. China saw 110 million domestic tourist trips made during the three-day Dragon Boat Festival holiday, up 6.3 percent from the same period last year, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism said Monday. (Photo by Zhang Xiaoliang/Xinhua)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Day-1 of 3rd term PM Modi signs 1st file for farmers welfare Cabinet nod for constructing 3 crore houses under PMAY





Rs 20,000 crore funds for PM Kisan Nidhi To benefit 9.3 cr farmers

Delhi Bureau & Agencies

NEW DELHI,

TAKING charge as Prime Minister in his third term, Narendra Modi on Monday signed his first file authorising the release of 17th installment of the PM Kisan Nidhi funds amounting to nearly Rs 20,000 crore, which will benefit around 9.3 crore farmers. In the evening, the new Union Cabinet in its first meeting under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved Government assistance for the construction of three crore houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY). After signing on to the release of funds, Modi said, Ours is a Government fully committed to kisan kalyan (farmers welfare). It is, therefore, fitting that the first file signed on taking charge is related to it.

We want to keep working even more for farmers and the agriculture sector in the times to come. The decision signifies the Governments commitment to farmers welfare following the ruling National Democratic Alliances poll win, albeit with some setback, especially in parts of rural India. Modi was sworn in as Prime Minister on Sunday for a record-equalling third term, heading a 72-member Union Council of Ministers. He arrived at the Prime Ministers Office at South Block to a rousing welcome by the staff. The PMO staff had lined up at the entrance and corridor leading up to the PMs office. PM Modi acknowledged with a humble namaste and thanked them all the way. Now all eyes are on the portfolio distribution. The first meeting of the Union Cabinet of Modi 3.0 Government held at the Prime Ministers 7, Lok Kalyan Marg residence.

The meeting was attended by ministers of all allies of the NDA. It has been decided in the Cabinet meeting today to provide assistance to three crore additional rural and urban households for the construction of houses to meet the housing requirements arising out of the increase in the number of eligible families, officials said. The Government of India is implementing the PMAY since 2015-16 to provide assistance to eligible rural and urban households for the construction of houses with basic amenities. Under PMAY, a total of 4.21 crore houses have been completed for the eligible poor families under the housing schemes in the last 10 years.

All the houses constructed under PMAY are provided basic amenities like household toilets, LPG connection, electricity connection and functional household tap connection through convergence with other schemes of the Central and State Governments. Meanwhile, the Congress said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi did no special favour to farmers by releasing the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi fund, which was due to them a month ago but delayed by the poll code. Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh said the release of the 17th instalment of funds, which Modi is touting as the first decision of his new Government, is the legitimate entitlement due to farmers, according to the policy of his Government. If he is genuinely concerned about farmers, the Prime Minister should grant legal status to minimum support price (MSP) for their produce, announce a farm loan waiver and provide guaranteed insurance payment directly into their bank accounts, he said.
Dr Mohan Bhagwat calls for Manipur solution on priority





Staff Reporter

Expressing regret over handling of Manipur issue, Dr Mohan Bhagwat, Sarsanghchalak of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) said, Despite the claims of development brought in last 10 years we must take into account that the issue like Manipur remained unresolved. The conflicts among different caste groups in Manipur is leading to violence. The State is awaiting peace as the gun culture is haunting everyone. The issue should be accorded priority. Dr Bhagwat was speaking during the valedictory function of Karyakarta Vikas Varg-2 of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh at Reshimbag on Monday. Guruvarya Shri Ramgiriji Maharaj, Peethadheesh Mahant of Shri Kshetra Godavari Dham, Bet Sarala, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar; Iqbal Singh, Sarvadhikari of the Varg; Deepak Tamshettiwar, Vidarbha Prant Sanghchalak; Rajesh Loya, Mahanagar Sanghchalak shared the dais. Election process completed, the same Government of NDA came to the power. It did a good work in last 10 years. We have added values to our social, financial, cultural fields and earned name on the global map. But are we approaching the growth in a right manner? While making development, we need to improve our vision. We should take the aspects of our enviroment into account, said Dr Bhagwat.

Dr Bhagwat without mentioning specific incident expressed serious concern over an accident where a drunk woman driver crushed two youths to death, We need to take care of our Sanskruti. It is the biggest challenge before everyone as to how to make younger generation inculcate the sanskars. Dr Bhagwat stated, "Election is a process of building consensus. The structure of Parliament is such that both aspects of any question can be presented. The election process has some restrictions which everyone supposed to follow. No false experiment should be performed. We try to move on consensus but it cant be achieved 100%. In this election, everyone witnessed fierce competition, splits in parties, people abusing each other, misusing technology, spreading fake news during election campaigns is not acceptable. Using technology unnecessarily RSS was dragged in controversy. This should not happen." Suggesting that mere blaming or depending on Governments will take the society nowhere, Dr Bhagwat pointed out, Society should become able enough. The societys role and its participation makes difference. Whenever any country experienced change, it was because of its society. French revolution took place because of the people of that country. People stood united.

I am impressed by the work of Sangh. Dr Hedgewar founded RSS in 1925 and every Swayamsevak contributing in its growth by sacrificing personal life. The Sanskars are being taught by RSS. We have to take this sanskruti and spread it to the masses. We have rich tradition of Sant because of which we are experiencing good sanskars, sari Ramgiriji Maharaj. Dalits were hurt in the past but we have now chance to rectify our mistake. Every person should get respect. The efforts of RSS are ultimately helping our nation to grow. Those should continue, added Ramgiriji Maharaj.

Iqbal Singh introduced Ramgiriji Maharaj and Dr Mohan Bhagwat. Rajesh Loya gave a welcome speech and introduced the special guests. It was the first Sangh Shiksha Varg with a new format and curriculum. It previously had a 7-day Prathamik (Primary) Varg, a 20-day Pratham varsh (first year), 20-day Dwitiya varsh (second year) and a 25-day long Tritiya varsh (third year). Henceforth, it will have a 3-day Prarambhik (initiation) varg, a 7-day Prathamik (Primary) varg, a 15-day Sangh Shiksha Varg followed by a 20-day Karyakarta Vikas Varg-1 and a 25-day Karyakarta Vikas Varg-2.
In Italy's Puglia region, women take the lead in challenging the local mafia at great personal risk





Lecce (Italy), Jun 11 (AP)

It was a scene straight out of The Godfather. On the night of February 1, a bloody goat head with a butcher's knife through it was left on the doorstep of Judge Francesca Mariano's home in southern Italy, with note beside it reading, like this.

Mariano had already received threats, including notes written in blood, after she issued arrest warrants for 22 members of a local mafia clan that operates in southern Puglia, the heel of Italy's boot.

Puglia is known for its olive groves, cone-shaped trulli white-washed houses, and spectacular coastlines that will provide the backdrop when Premier Giorgia Meloni hosts Group of Seven leaders for their annual summit this week.

But the region is also home to the Sacra Corona Unita, Italy's fourth organised crime group. It is far less well-known than Sicily's Cosa Nostra, the Calabrian ndrangheta or the Camorra around Naples, but just as effective in infiltrating everything, from local businesses to government.

And yet, a remarkable array of women like Mariano is challenging its power structures at great personal risk.

They are arresting and prosecuting clan members, exposing their crimes and confiscating their businesses, all while working to change local attitudes and cultural norms that have allowed this mafia to establish roots as deep as Puglia's famed olive trees.

I don't believe anyone who says they're not afraid. That's not true, said Marilu Mastrogiovanni, an investigative journalist and journalism professor at the University of Bari who has written in-depth stories about mafia infiltration for her blog.

Courage is moving forward despite the fear, she said.

The Sacra Corona Unita, or SCU, is the only organised crime group in Italy whose origins are known: A local criminal founded it in the Lecce prison in 1981, in part to push back other mafia groups that were trying to infiltrate the area.

Its name and initiation rites are linked to the Catholic faith, with the corona or crown, referring to the beads of a rosary.

Slowly but steadily, the SCU wove itself into the fabric of Puglia's society, mixing its illicit activities in with legitimate businesses. Today, it has roughly 30 clans and some 5,000 members, almost all of them men.

Drug trafficking is the main business, said Carla Durante, head of the Lecce office of the Anti-Mafia Investigative Directorate, an inter-agency police force. That is always accompanied by extortion, usury. And now, like all over the nation, we have infiltration into the public administration.

The SCU takes the billions of euros it earns from drug trafficking and launders it through legitimate business, often in Puglia's booming tourism industry.

One of the most effective ways to fight it has been by confiscating mob-owned assets. Durante's team sequesters mafia properties, such as vineyards or farms, which are then turned over to local organisations to be transformed into socially useful community centres or projects.

By now we have learned that this is really the most incisive tool, because taking assets away from mafiosi means disempowering them, Durante said. Since 1992, the national office has confiscated more than 147 million in mafia assets.

But the SCU has in some ways become more effective than Italy's other mafia groups in inserting itself into the local community and gaining social acceptance. In recent years, it generally avoided headline-grabbing acts of violence in favour of more nuanced forms of intimidation.

Organised crime is still organised, in the sense that it enjoys a certain consensus in Italy," said Sabrina Matrangola, whose mother, a local politician, was killed by the mob in 1984 after she campaigned to preserve a coastal park from illicit development.

"And as long as there is this consensus, as long as not everyone chooses the right side, and someone will not be willing to roll up their sleeves to help, these places will always be in danger, said Matrangola, who now works as an activist with the group Libera, which converts mob assets to serve the community.

For those who challenge it, danger persists.

Two weeks after Mariano sent out her arrest warrants for a mob crackdown dubbed Operation Wolf, the lead prosecutor on the case, Carmen Ruggiero, nearly had her throat slit by one of the suspects.

Pancrazio Carrino, one of the 22 people named in the warrant, had signalled his desire to collaborate with Ruggiero's investigation.

But when Ruggiero showed up to interrogate him in the Lecce prison, he had other plans: He had chiselled a knife out of a porcelain toilet bowl in his prison cell and hid it in a small black plastic bag in his rectum, planning to cut her jugular during the meeting, according to court documents.

If I had been as lucid that day as I am now, Carrino later told investigators, Carmen Ruggiero would already be history.

In the end, a suspicious guard searched him before he could strike and found the makeshift knife.

Sevens months after the threat, Ruggiero walked confidently into the Lecce prison courtroom for a recent hearing in the case, accompanied by a three-officer police escort.

She has remained undeterred by the death threats, as have the other women who have challenged SCU's power. But they have had to take precautions, including with around-the-clock security.

Mastrogiovanni, the journalist, moved her young family out of her hometown after her reports on her blog Il Tacco D'Italia about SCU's infiltration so angered the local government that at one point, the town was plastered with giant posters attacking her work. One depicted her up to her neck in a hole.

According to the patriarchal culture of the SCU, a woman shouldn't have a voice, all the more if she uses it to write about the mafia, she said.

Mariano, the judge, also lives with around-the-clock police escorts but believes that her job challenging the SCU goes beyond the halls of the courtroom. In her downtime, Mariano uses her passion for writing books, poetry and plays to try to change attitudes at the grassroots level. Recently, she staged a play about the mob in Lecce's Apollo Theatre.

We have to start with communication, which is fundamental to transmit values of dignity, courage, responsibility," she said. The ability to say no, the ability to be indignant in the face of things that are wrong.
MOVING ON





THE message from Mr. Narendra Modis swearing-in ceremony as Prime Minister for the third time in a row is loud and clear -- that the country will keep moving on its set trajectory of growth and development for five more years. Let alone all the doubts, speculations and interpretations of the outcome of the Lok Sabha elections, the numbers spoke the truth and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is back in power with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the lead with 242 seats. No matter the blabbering of leaders of the I.N.D.I. Alliance about government-formation and Mr. Modis failure to win a majority for BJP on its own, the NDA numbers are good enough to form the Government -- with full legitimacy and majority. For the common people, the message, thus, is clear that by all standards, Mr. Narendra Modi is back as Prime Minister -- recreating history whose earlier version the country had seen over sixty years ago. The grandeur of the oath-taking ceremony was regal in every sense. The presence of international and national dignitaries, the spontaneous slogans and clappings as the ceremony progressed communicated a sense of festive enthusiasm in the nation in a symbolic manner.

No matter the changed statistics, the country wanted Mr. Modi to continue as Prime Minister, and it got its wish fulfilled. What is painful, however, is the manner in which the Opposition reacted to the development. There is no denying the Opposition of its right to engage every political ploy to achieve its objectives -- to stop Mr. Narendra Modi from the return to power, and possibly to form a Government of its own. Yet, enough unfortunate indications are available from the Opposition camp that it is all set to apply the same old tool-kit to keep the democratic process disturbed through various tactics and machinations. Even as we agree that the Opposition has a basic right -- and probably duty -- to have its own political ideas and ideals, we cannot understand its habitual refusal to recognise the Government that has come to power through legitimate processes. It is against this background that we deplore the brazen statements by many I.N.D.I.A. leaders that having failed to return with full majority, Mr. Narendra Modi and his BJP have lost moral right to continue and therefore Mr. Modi must quit. The BJP may not have won enough seats for a majority, the combine of the NDA has done so. In the previous two terms -- 2014 and 2019 -- as well, the BJP did not form a Government on its own despite a clear majority, but had chosen to go to the Government with all its alliance partners.

This time, too, the situation is only marginally different -- everything being more or less the same. Unfortunately, the Opposition does not want to recognise this reality -- though, of course, to its own peril in the long run. The Opposition has earned a good chance to redeem itself with the currently improved numbers for its constituents. If it works patiently for some time, it may earn better prospects for itself in the long term. Somehow, this positive possibility seems to be missing from the Oppositions thought-process. For Mr. Narendra Modi, the third term has come as a truly challenging time. For, not only will he be expected to consolidate his positions politically and numerically, but also keep leading the nation in every possible field with his personal worth and value. The glorious swearing-in ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhawan sent out this very message -- that the Prime Minister is not going to leave any stone unturned in the pursuit of his avowed duty -- both as Prime Minister of India, but also as a renaissance leader of the country politically, socially, culturally and historically.
Rs 300 cr supari killing Killers were promisedRs 1 crore, bar license





Staff Reporter :

In the case of the Supari killing of 82-year-old Nagpur businessman Purushottam Puttewar, police investigations have revealed that the contract was valued at Rs 1 crore for assets worth over Rs 300 crore. So far, the police have seized gold and cash collectively worth Rs 17 lakhs, including cars and gold ornaments. Meanwhile, Sarthak Bagde, who was absconding in this case, has been arrested by the police. So far, arrests have also been made in connection with the case, including Archana Manish Puttewar (53), the daughter-in-law of the deceased Purushottam, and assailants Neeraj Ishwar Nimje (30) and Sachin Mohan Dharmik (29), residents of Shaktimata Nagar, Kharbi Road. Archana was working as an Assistant Director in the Town Planning Department of Gadchiroli. Both Sachin and Neeraj have been placed in extended police custody.

A senior police official stated that Archana, with the assistance of a relative, promised Sarthak and Sachin Rs 1 crore to murder Purushottam by running him over with a car. Initially, both were paid around Rs 17 lakhs including gold. Additionally, Archanas relative promised Sachin a space and license for a beer bar. Hence, Sarthak and Sachin enlisted Neeraj in the conspiracy to murder Purushottam. On May 22, a plan was devised to run Purushottam over with a car. Earlier, on May 18, Archana, Sarthak, Sachin, and Neeraj met at a designated location. During the meeting, there was discussion among the four about their roles on the day of the incident. The police possess footage from this day as well. After the murder of Purushottam, Sarthak made a trip to Vaishno Devi. Upon his return to Nagpur on Monday, he was arrested by the police. Meanwhile, as Archanas police custody ended, she was presented in court on Sunday. Police opted not to seek an extension of her custody. As a result, the court remanded her to judicial custody which created a surprise as police refrained from requesting further custody.

Neeraj's lavish spending raises eyebrows

Previously, Ajni police had arrested Neeraj in a hit-and-run case, but he secured bail. Soon after, Neeraj began frequenting pubs with his friends and spent lakhs of rupees on expensive liquor. Police grew suspicious, and when the crime branch detained him, the mystery behind the hit-and-run was unveiled.

Plan hatched in Gadchiroli

Sources revealed that the entire plan behind the Puttewar murder case originated in Wadsa town in Gadchiroli district by a businessman who is close to Archana. At the businessmans behest, Archana facilitated the conversion of numerous agricultural lands into non-agricultural ones with transactions of lakhs of rupees. The businessman acted as a broker for Archana. Archana informed the businessman regarding the ongoing property dispute with her father-in-law. The businessman advised her to eliminate Puttewar and expressed willingness to purchase the property, claimed sources. The businessman was previously accused in the murder of a social worker from Gadchiroli district.
Getting more and more audacious The politics of silence

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The audacity is getting more brazen. From gun wielding elements openly taking part in the Tribal Solidarity March of May 3, 2023 to the systematic attack on Meitei settlements at Torbung then at Churachandpur and which quickly spread to Moreh and Kangpokpi to now targeting the advance security team sent ahead of the proposed visit of the Chief Minister to Jiribam and clearly it should be an open and shut case of outfits under the SoO pact leading the attacks. Even as the systematic attacks on the Meiteis and everything that the Government of Manipur stands for is getting more brazen, the silence of the Prime Minister becomes more and more sinister with each passing day. The political design behind the selective silence of the Prime Minister on the more than one year old ethnic clash is getting clearer day by day and in the process has given room for a number of speculations to do the round. Speculations which do nothing but hit at the understanding of India, which is a union of States with Manipur being one of the princely States to merge with the Indian Union in 1949. The silence of the Prime Minister must be understood against the cacophony of bullets being fired and the systematic arson and targeting of Meitei settlements, rendering thousands homeless. The latest is the case of Jiribam where hundreds are compelled to take refuge in relief centres set up by the State Government. It is against this stark reality that chief of the Rashtriya Swayam-sevak Sangh (RSS), Mohan Bhagwat spoke out about the need to give priority to the Manipur issue. Widely understood as the ideological mentor of the ruling BJP, the statement of the RSS chief, though it has come after one year of the violence erupting, should say something significant. It is not only Manipur and her people who are perturbed by the silence of the Prime Minister but even the RSS and the umbilical cord that ties the two entities cannot be wished away with a wave of the hand. This is the primary reason why The Sangai Express ran a four column story on the observation of Mohan Bhagwat though the reference to Manipur stretched just two paragraphs. It is not just the ideological mentor of the BJP which has emphasised that the issue in Manipur must be given priority, or top billing in the scheme of things of the new BJP led Government, but right wing publications such as Swarajya. It was with a reason why an article in the said right wing publication called for a direct intervention of the Prime Minister in the Manipur issue and which was also carried by The Sangai Express. As things have transpired, it is more than apparent that it is beyond the State Government to resolve the issue, for the issues involve elements from Myanmar which are being actively backed by China, all in the name of having a greater influence in the Indo-Myanmar region.

A clear case of geo-politics having a definitive say in the ongoing ethnic clash and this is primarily the reason why Kuki militants have been able to strike at will, anyplace, anytime. This should also explain why the Kuki militants have been able to sustain the clash for over a year and this should also answer the question of why they never run out of ammunition. These are facts which New Delhi should admit and come to the point that Manipur cannot be made the sacrificial lamb in the politics of the Great Game East. An ethnic clash that has dragged on for over a year and clearly the politics at play is unmistakable and Delhi should have been able to understand and work out which force is sustaining the clash. Delhi may be under the impression that it is the compulsion of geo-politics, the need to keep a check on the growing influence of foreign powers in the Indo-Myanmar region but it is along this line that so many in Manipur have begun to interpret the silence of the Prime Minister as well as the long rope given to the Kuki militants by Central agencies, which are here to guard the Indo-Myanmar border. Such line of politics goes against the understanding of India as a Nation, a country of different States, each unique in its own way and alienating Manipur from the idea of India will not do the country any good. A new Government has been sworn-in, and while it is the same faces which were there when Manipur went up in flames on May 3, 2023, the understanding of the third term of Modi as PM should be made more meaningful.
BJPs information technology cell chief and the co-in-charge of the partys state unit in West Bengal, Amit Malviya is heading to initiate legal proceedings against Santanu Sinha, an RSS associate, over his derogatory social media post accusing Malviya of taking sexual favours.

Santanu Sinha has family links with BJPs former national secretary Rahul Sinha.

Earlier, Malviyas counsel served a legal notice to Santanu Sinha on 8 June asking the latter to tender a public apology and also remove the slanderous social media post within three days from the receipt of the legal notice, failing which legal proceedings, both civil and criminal, will be initiated against him.

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Sources said that the three-day deadline will expire on Tuesday and appropriate legal actions will be initiated against Sinha if he fails to abide by the directions given in the legal notice served to him on 8 June.

Santanu Sinhas social media post had been highlighted by the opposition parties, including Congress and Trinamul Congress, in a major way and both held press meetings on the issue.

The post was written on 7 May on Facebook.

TMC Rajya Sabha MP Sagarika Ghosh on Monday wrote on her social media post: To all those celebrating the swearing in of @narendramodi, a message from Indias only woman chief minister @MamataOfficial . She switched off all her lights and sat in darkness during the entire so called ceremony for a prime minister who has resoundingly lost the mandate and has been rejected by the people: Almost lost in Varanasi, lost in Ayodhya, could not get a majority in spite of a campaign centred entirely on himself. Modi should be replaced . Let the @BJP4India elect a fresh leader.

On Sunday, allegations of sexual exploitation of women by Amit Malviya came to light after senior state BJP leader Rahul Sinhas cousin Santanu Sinha, an ex-ABVP leader and currently chief of Hindu Samhati wrote in his post about Mr Malviya. He alleged that Malviya was conducting his political activities with the Bengal state leadership in lieu of women.

Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate held a press conference on the issue on Monday where she said BJPs IT cell has become a den of anti-women people. She said the BJP-led NDA government has taken over the reins in Delhi and within a few hours such allegations have come to light. The person accusing Mr Malviya is none other than RSS leader. She even mentioned the incidents at BHU.
Kolkata mayor and urban development and municipal affairs minister Firhad Hakim is set to convene a meeting with other party leaders to evaluate the results of the parliamentary elections in Siliguri tonight.

According to Firhad Hakim, despite chief minister Mamata Banerjees popularity among the people of north Bengal, the partys leaders and organization have been unsuccessful in securing votes.

This has prompted the TMC high command to task Hakim with analysing the situation after the partys disappointing performance in recovering Lok Sabha seats, particularly Alipurduar, Jalpaiguri, and Siliguri under the Darjeeling Parliamentary Constituency.

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Sources reveal that TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee suggested that Hakim would review the political state of this region, even though another senior leader and minister, Aroop Biswas, was responsible for organizing the party in this area.

Hakim recently visited this region and spoke with both local citizens and TMC leaders to understand why unexpected results were seen in Alipurduar, Jalpaiguri, and Siliguri during the Lok Sabha polls.

Notably, after gathering information on these areas, Hakim held a meeting with party leaders, which is going on, in Siliguri to night to assess the outcomes of the polls there.

Interestingly, BJP candidate Raju Bista won by a large margin in 46 out of 47 wards under Siliguri Municipal Corporation area. It should be noted that a portion of this area falls under Jalpaiguri Lok Sabha seat.

In 2019, BJP won seven seats in north Bengal; however, they were only able to keep six seats in 2024. The TMC was only able to regain Cooch Behar by defeating ex-Union minister Nisith Pramanik with their candidate Jagadish Chandra Barma Basunia.
Trinamul Congress chairperson Mamata Banerjee has expressed solidarity with the agitating farmers in Haryana and assured them of every support, including launching a joint movement.

While talking to the leaders of the farmers over phone, she said if needed, she would visit the spot. The BJP-led government had killed your member, damaged tractors and other equipment. Though we have not come to power, we have 42 MPs in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha and we are with you and will support your cause. The government in Delhi is a weak government without stability, she told the farmers.

A five member Trinamul Congress delegation comprising Derek OBrien, Mohammad Nadimul Haque, Dola Sen, Sagarika Ghosh and Saket Gokhale went to Khanauri border in Haryana where the farmers have launched a movement. The farmers are protesting against the atrocities of the BJP-led Centre. They showed the used cartridges that had been used to fire at the protesters. They said their houses had been damaged. The Centre had used all sorts of pressure tactics to dissuade them. Road barricades were used to stop them from entering Delhi. Water cannons were used to disperse them.

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While addressing the MPs, both old and new, at her Kalighat residence on Saturday, Miss Banerjee had said that the MPs would not sit idle in Delhi. We will not sit idle and will raise important issues. We will keep a tab on the present government, she said.

Trinamul Congress has expressed its solidarity with the agitating farmers within 24 hours after the formation of the new government. Miss Banerjee had said she would not sit quietly against the Centre which has throughout neglected the interest of the farmers. Narendra Modi had given false assurance that the income of the farmers would go up by three times by 2024. However, this has not taken place.

Earlier too, Miss Banerjee had supported the farmers and some of their leaders had met her in Kolkata.

The state government gives Rs 10,000 to the farmers per annum. It also pays insurance for the crops under the Krishak Bandhu scheme.
Cairn Oil & Gas, Indias largest private oil and gas exploration and production company, part of Vedanta Group, on Tuesday announced the implementation of Alkaline Surfactant Polymer (ASP) for flooding in Rajasthans Mangala oil field in Barmer to enhance recovery.

This will be marking the largest commercial injection implemented in any oil and gas field in India, and amongst the very few done globally, its Corporate Communication statement said here.

This milestone highlights Cairns ability to innovate technology breakthroughs that help recovery from matured fields and accelerate future field development, enabling it to achieve its goal of contributing 50 per cent of Indias oil and gas production.

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ASP is one of the most unique Enhanced Oil Recovery methods where polymer and surfactants are injected into the matured fields to increase recovery. The injection of ASP allows an increase in recovery in matured fields by up to 60 per cent using polymers and surfactants, instead of just 40 per cent using polymers alone.

Cairn implemented this largest commercial injection at the MWP-1 &19 ASP Project site in the Mangala field. The efforts are expected to yield about 20 per cent additional oil recovery in the targeted area.

Over three decades, Cairn has been at the forefront of technology innovations in E&P operations in India. Its highest-producing Mangala Bhagyam Aishwariya (MBA) fields in Barmer, have witnessed significant innovations driven by Cairns team of experts and global partners.

Earlier, Cairn had successfully conducted an ASP flood pilot following which, a Field Development Plan (FDP) was submitted and approved. Moving forward, this technology will be expanded to other fields in the Rajasthan block.

Dr Steve Moore, its Deputy Chief Executive Officer, said, In line with our commitment to boost Indias domestic oil & gas production, we are proud to pioneer the implementation of ASP flooding technology in our flagship Mangala oil field. This innovation is a testament to our commitment to maximising recovery from mature fields, using advanced technologies. This is a big milestone for us and our JV partner, keeping Cairn at the leading edge of technology application worldwide.

The commercial implementation of ASP flooding marks a pioneering achievement in Indias hydrocarbon landscape.

Such technological deployments allow the company to support Indias transition from import reliance to energy self-sufficiency.
The wholesales of Passenger Vehicle (PV) in India spiked by 4 per cent year-on-year to 347,492 units in May as compared to the same month last year, Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) said on Tuesday.

In May 2023, the overall passenger vehicle dispatches from companies to dealers stood at 334,537 units.

Two-wheeler sales rose 10 per cent to 1,620,084 units last month as compared to 1,471,550 units in the year-ago period, the industry body said.

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Three-wheeler dispatches rose 15 per cent to 55,763 units in May as against 48,610 units in May 2023.

Speaking on the development, SIAM President Vinod Aggarwal said, Passenger vehicles have only witnessed a moderate growth, primarily owing to a high base effect of the previous year.

SIAM reported a rise of 31 per cent in two-wheeler wholesales, totaling 17,51,393 units in April compared to the previous years figure of 13,38,588 units.

Utility vehicle sales saw a 21 per cent surge to reach 1,79,329 units compared to the corresponding period last year. However, passenger car dispatches saw a decline of 23 per cent.

Notably, last month, the overall passenger vehicle dispatches from companies witnessed a modest 1.3 per cent year-on-year increase, reaching a record level of 3,35,629 units.
The Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday approved the New Transfer Policy for 2024-25 for the state government employees. The decision was taken in the state Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath here today.

A total of 42 proposals were placed in the Cabinet meeting out of which 41 were approved.

Finance and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Suresh Khanna provided details on the proposals approved during the Cabinet meeting, announcing that the Cabinet has endorsed the Transfer Policy for 2024-25. This policy is consistent with the provisions of last years policy.

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According to the new policy, Group A and B officers who have served seven years in the division and three years in the district will be subject to transfers. The policy stipulates that up to 20 per cent of officers in Groups A and B and up to 10 per cent of employees in Groups C and D can be transferred.

For Groups C and D, the policy prioritizes transferring the longest-serving officers first. Ministerial approval will be required if it is necessary to transfer more than 10 per cent of Group C and D employees. Similarly, transferring more than 20 percent of Group A and B officers will necessitate approval from the Chief Minister.

He stated that Groups C and D transfers will be managed entirely through the Manav Sampada portal. This system facilitates online arrangements for handing over and taking charge post-transfer. Additionally, it allows for the digitization of service books and officers salaries.

He also mentioned that, under the existing system for the eight aspirational districts and 100 aspirational development blocks across 34 districts, filling vacant positions in these areas is the highest priority.

The Cabinet also announced a significant gift for lakhs of state government employees on the occasion. According to the announcement, the government employees retiring on June 30 and December 31 can benefit from the proposed salary hike from July 1 and January 1.

Finance Minister Suresh Khanna said that according to the system that was in place till now, the employees retiring on June 30 and December 31 could not benefit from the salary hikes that was implemented from July 1 or January 1.

The Cabinets approval will not only facilitate salary hikes for such employees but also increase their pension and gratuity. He said that after a decision of the Supreme Court, the judicial employees have already been availing the benefits and now the policy will also benefit other government employees.

The Yogi government has also made minor amendments to the names of 5 universities in the state, dropping the word state from Maharaj Suheldev State University Azamgarh, Maa Shakumbhari Devi State University Saharanpur, Maa Vindhyavasini State University Mirzapur, Maa Pateshwari Devi State University Balrampur and Uttar Pradesh State University Moradabad.

The Uttar Pradesh State University Moradabad has been renamed Guru Jambeshwar University Moradabad.

Higher Education Minister Yogendra Upadhyay said that the state government is committed to developing higher education for the benefit of the states students. For this, along with government universities, private universities are also being promoted.

In this sequence, a proposal to give a Letter of Intent to two new private universities has been passed. One of these is HRIT Ghaziabad, and the other is Future University, Bareilly. Both of them have fulfilled all their standards, he said.
Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva on Tuesday alleged that the water crisis in the national capital is a deliberate conspiracy hatched by the Delhi government.

Sachdeva has accused the government of turning the situation into a revenue generating avenue in connivance with its Ministers and MLAs.

The BJP leader said that presently the Delhi residents are struggling for every drop of water, and the responsibility behind this is with the Water Minister, the Jal Board, and its officials, its chairman, and the Delhi government.

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Delhi BJP Media Head Praveen Shankar Kapoor, who was also present at the press conference, said that hundreds of citys residents are uploading videos showing wastage due to leaks in Jal Board pipelines.

He further criticized the government, alleging that they misled the public with false statements instead of addressing pipeline leakages.

Sachdeva presented some technical images and video clips claiming the theft of water by tanker mafias from the Munak Canal, by the nose of the Kejriwal government.

Sachdeva also displayed images of tankers lined up along the canal, filling up water and claiming that they were involved in selling it at exorbitant prices in water- scarce areas of the city.

The Delhi BJP chief has also sought answers over the presence of the water tankers along the canal .

Sachdeva alleged that the Water Minister repeatedly mentions additional water from Himachal Pradesh but the reality was that the Delhi government lacks storage and treatment facilities for the water.

He noted that the Delhi Jal Board can treat only 900 MGD of water, and any additional water will exacerbate theft, increasing it from 25 per cent to 40 per cent.

The BJP leader further placed a question before the Delhi government asking as to why have the long-pending Chandrawal WTP and Dwarka WTP projects not been started yet.
Urvashi Rautela is ready to take on a new challenge as she signs on for a major film project with acclaimed director Shankar. Known for her impressive career and significant achievements, Urvashi will be mastering the Tamil language for her role in this highly anticipated film.

Urvashi has earned global recognition, from making a splash at the 77th Cannes Film Festival to becoming the first Indian actress to win a WIBA Global Award.

The latest buzz surrounding Urvashi is her new collaboration with director Shankar, known for his work with superstar Rajinikanth. Fans are thrilled with the news.

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Director Shankar expressed his excitement about working with Urvashi, stating, Urvashi Rautela & Aishwarya Rai are my favourite actresses. Urvashi, in turn, shared her admiration for Shankar, saying, Shankar Sir is my ultimate favorite director. His visionary approach and meticulous attention to detail are truly inspiring. If I ever have the privilege of becoming a filmmaker, I would aspire to create films with the same brilliance and precision as Shankar Sir.

Besides the grand Tamil film with Shankar, she is ready to star in Welcome 3 with Akshay Kumar, NBK109 with Bobby Deol, Dulquer Salmaan, and Nandamuri Balakrishna, and Baap, a remake of Hollywoods The Expendables, alongside Sunny Deol and Sanjay Dutt.

She will also feature in Inspector Avinash 2 with Randeep Hooda, Black Rose, and a special project with Jassie Gill. Additionally, she is slated to appear in an international music video, a biopic as Parveen Babi, and as a college politician in the movie JNU. Urvashis collaboration with Jason Derulo on a music video is also highly anticipated.

Stay tuned for more updates on Urvashi Rautelas exciting journey in the film industry.
Bridgerton sensation Nicola Coughlan is once again making headlines, but this time its not for her captivating performance on screen, but rather for her sharp wit and unapologetic self-love.

During a recent Q&A event in Dublin, a brave soul attempted a backhanded compliment, suggesting that Coughlan was brave for baring it all on screen for the hit Netflix series. Without missing a beat, Coughlan fired back with a hilarious response that left the audience in stitches.

Addressing the crowd with a playful grin, she quipped, You know, it is hard because I think women with my body type  women with perfect breasts  we dont get to see ourselves on screen enough. The room erupted in laughter as she continued, And Im very proud as a member of the perfect breast community. I hope you enjoy seeing them.

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This isnt the first time Coughlan has addressed body image and online trolls. In a candid interview with the U.K.s Stylist magazine last month, she revealed her decision to embrace nudity on screen as a powerful statement against body shaming.

It just felt like the biggest fuck you to all the conversation surrounding my body; it was amazingly empowering, she shared.

Coughlans bold stance against body shaming and her refusal to conform to societal standards of beauty have garnered praise from fans and fellow celebrities alike. Her candidness serves as a beacon of empowerment in an industry often plagued by unrealistic beauty standards.

As she continues to charm audiences both on and off screen, Nicola Coughlan proves that true beauty lies not in conforming to a narrow ideal, but in embracing ones uniqueness and celebrating it with unwavering confidence. And with her quick wit and infectious humor, shes not just winning hearts  shes silencing trolls with style.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday assumed charge of the ministries of home affairs and cooperation, and thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for reposing trust and reassigning him the charge of the two ministries.

In a post on X, he said, Gratitude to PM Shri@narendramodiJi for reposing trust and reassigning me the roles of Minister of Home Affairs and Minister of Cooperation.

In Modi 3.0, the MHA will continue to accelerate and strengthen security initiatives and introduce new approaches to realize PM Modis vision of a secure Bharat. Under the astute leadership of Modi Ji, the Ministry of Cooperation will remain committed to empowering farmers and villages with the vision of Sahakaar Se Samriddhi, he added.

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Shah asserted the new government will take its efforts for the countrys security to the next level and build Bharat as a bulwark against terrorism, insurgency, and naxalism.

He made the statement through his social media handle soon after taking charge as Minister of Home Affairs in the fresh list of 30 cabinet ministers under the Modi 3.0 government.

Under the stewardship of PM Shri @narendramodi Ji, I reassumed charge of the Ministry of Home Affairs today. The MHA will remain committed to the security of the nation and its people, as it always has been. Modi 3.0 will take its efforts for Indias security to the next level and build Bharat as a bulwark against terrorism, insurgency, and naxalism, Mr Shah posted on X.

The Home Minister took charge after paying floral tributes at the National Police Memorial in memory of Indias police force personnel who laid down their lives guarding the honour of the nation.

If Mr Shah serves for another five consecutive years, he would become Indias longest-serving Home Minister. Congress Govind Ballabh Pant and BJPs L K Advani served as Union Home Ministers for just over six years each, while Shah and Rajnath Singh, the Union Home Minister during the first Modi government, have each spent five years in the North Block.

Under Mr Shah, the immediate challenge for the Centre and the MHA is to ensure the conduct of Assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir and restore its statehood, which was converted into a Union Territory five years ago.

Another challenge is the implementation of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita 2023, and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam 2023, which are set to replace the Indian Penal Code, the Code of Criminal Procedure, and the Indian Evidence Act.

These laws, piloted by Mr Shah in Parliament in 2023, are scheduled to come into effect on 1 July.

Alongside 59-year-old Shah, Mr Nityanand Rai, who served as Minister of State (MoS) for Home in the previous administration, has also resumed his role in the government.

Mr Rai took charge as MoS Home a few minutes after Mr Shah. Telangana MP Bandi Sanjay Kumar, the former president of the BJPs Telangana unit, will serve as the second MoS in the Ministry, replacing Mr Ajay Kumar, who lost the Lok Sabha election from Uttar Pradeshs Kheri. Mr Bandi will take charge of his office in a few days.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah will meet Andhra Pradesh chief minister-designate N Chandrababu Naidu at the latters residence on Tuesday ahead of the TDP chiefs swearing-in.

The pending issues of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014 come mostly under the Ministry of Home Affairs, and hence the meeting between the two leaders gains significance.

Since Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be attending Naidus swearing-in ceremony, it has created some anticipation in the minds of the people in Andhra Pradesh.

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According to a release by the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), Shah will be arriving a day early prior to the swearing-in ceremony which will be held at around 11:30 am at Kesarapalli IT Park near Gannavaram airport on Wednesday in order to meet Naidu.

The TDP, with its 16 MPs, is now a key ally for the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) fell short of the majority. The two leaders are expected to meet at Naidus residence in Undavalli at 10 pm.

The TDP desperately needs central funds since Andhra Pradesh turned into a revenue deficit state following the bifurcation and its debts have been mounting under the YSRCP government which allegedly had borrowed indiscriminately to finance the welfare schemes launched by the state government.

Moreover, another thorny issue is the promise to grant special category status to the state after bifurcation. However, the last NDA government had offered a special package to the state instead of the special status which had eventually led Naidu to withdraw support from the NDA.

There are other issues such as completion of Polavaram dam, division of assets between the two Telugu states, and water sharing disputes between Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. TDP is also reportedly demanding the Lok Sabha Speakers post, a matter which needs to be sorted out.
Delhi Water Minister Atishi on Tuesday raised questions over Haryana governments claims of providing sufficient water to the national capital.

The Minister, while addressing a press conference here today, said that according to an affidavit filed by Haryana in the Supreme Court, the data reveals that the state is withholding Delhis share of water.

The Delhi Water Minister highlighted that the affidavit shows Haryana has supplied less water through the Munak canal, particularly during the Delhi Lok Sabha elections and the current heat wave.

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She further said that the revelation indicates a deliberate reduction in water supply, impacting Delhis residents during critical times.

For the last few weeks, there has been a heat wave in Delhi and due to this the demand for water in Delhi has increased. Despite this, the amount of water that Delhi should get from Haryana is continuously decreasing, Atishi said.

Whether it is at Wazirabad Barrage or Munak Canal, Haryana is not releasing as much water for Delhi as it has to. Due to this, Delhis water treatment plants are not able to work to their full capacity, she said.

The Minister further alleged that when Delhi government writes to Haryana government and talks to them, they keep claiming that they are releasing water, and she added saying that Haryanas lie has been exposed by the affidavit filed by them in the apex court.

The Water Minister said that the government went to the top court on the issue of water, and it also said that Delhi needs water.

She further said that Himachal Pradesh agreed they could provide water to Delhi, for this Haryana has to give way, and she claimed that Haryana had opposed it.

Atishi has also alleged that during elections in Delhi, Haryana reduced the water, the elections in Delhi were on 25 May, before that, the water supply to Delhi was reduced for 4 days, which reflects in the affidavit, she claimed.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday said that he would not resign over the LDFs defeat in the Lok Sabha polls in the state.

Speaking in the state Assembly today, Chief Minister Vijayan said that he should not be asked to resign over the LDFs defeat in the Lok Sabha polls.

Stating that the election result in the state cannot be considered as anti-Left, Chief Minister Vijayan said that the people only wanted to replace Modi and they voted accordingly.

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He said the voting pattern in the Lok Sabha polls and assembly polls are different and the outcome in the Lok Sabha polls cannot be considered as against the state government.

He asked the Congress leaders who are demanding the resignation of the Chief Minister in view of the stunning defeat of the LDF in the Lok Sabha polls.

Why didnt the Congress Chief Ministers of Karnataka and Himachal Pradesh resign taking the responsibility of their partys defeat in their states, Pinarayi Vijayan asked.

He said the Congress leaders should have given advice to these Chief Ministers to resign from their positions on the ground of the defeat of the party in these states.

He said that AK Antony had resigned as the Chief Minister in 2004, not because of the UDFs defeat in the Lok Sabha polls but due to the organizational issues in the Congress.

Pinarayi Vijayan said he is not worried about the UDF s win in the polls but is concerned about the victory of the BJP in the state.

I dont care about your victory. What is worrying is how the BJP won a Lok Sabha seat in Kerala, he said.
Jyoti Vij has been appointed as the director general of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) on Tuesday.

She will take charge of the FICCI secretariat with immediate effect.

Vij graduated from Shri Ram College of Commerce in 1988 and later received her masters in business economics from the University of Delhi in 1990. Later in 1993, she joined the industry body and has served it in various capacities.

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Speaking on her appointment, Ficci president Anish Shah said, We are delighted to welcome Jyoti Vij in her new role. Her thought leadership, strengths in policy formulation, people skills and long experience in the organisation will add immense value to FICCI.

Vij has worked across sectors and with an assortment of stakeholders around policy and business issues. She currently leads cross-functional teams across a range of Ficci departments, FICCI said in the announcement.

Jyoti regularly interfaces with senior government officials, multilateral organisations, and industry leaders on industry concerns and projects. She is part of several government committees on industry-related issues and has handled numerous multilateral projects. She also contributes to the international inward-investment promotion agenda of the government, it added.

In a separate development, Ficci announced that the secretary general, Shailesh Pathak, Ficci has resigned citing personal reasons.

We thank Pathak for his leadership and contributions to Ficci and wish him well in his new endeavours, Ficci said.
One heavily armed Pakistani terrorist was killed and an operation was underway to neutralise the other two who attacked the inmates of a house in Saida Sukhal village of Hiranagar Sector of Jammu on Tuesday evening.

Additional DGP (Jammu) Anand Jain said that one terrorist has been killed near Koota Morh of Hiranagar.

Reports said that the terrorists forcibly entered a house and asked for drinking water. The owner of the house and his son managed to escape. However, terrorists fired at them.

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Other terrorists of the group have been trapped by the security forces and intense exchange of firing was reported.

This is the second terrorist attack in Jammu in the past three days.

Meanwhile, Dr Jitendra Singh, Union Minister in the PMO, who represents the area in the parliament, said he was in constant touch with the district authorities on the issue.

He wrote on X; I am in continuous online contact with DC Kathua Rakesh Minhas in the wake of terrorist attack on a house in village Saida in Hiranagar sector close to the International Border. I am also in touch with SSP Kathua Anayat Ali Choudhary who is on the spot. The owner of the house that was attacked (name not to be disclosed) is also in touch on mobile phone. Joint police & para military operation is going on. One terrorist is neutralised so far. I and my office are in constant touch and keeping a close watch on the developments.

Earlier in the evening, panic gripped the border village of Seda Sohal in the Hiranagar Sector of Jammu where suspected terrorists fired in the air and disappeared in the forest area.

Confirming the incident, police said that at about 7.45 pm three suspected persons were seen in the village. They fired two to three rounds and escaped towards the forest area.

Army, BSF, CRPF and J&K Police have launched a search operation in the area, reports said.

The Hiranagar Sector in Kathua district is along the international border with Pakistan from where terrorists infiltrate.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged citizens to make Yoga an integral part of their lives and said it offers a sanctuary of calm, enabling us to navigate lifes challenges with calm and fortitude.

In light of the upcoming Yoga Day on 21st June, the Prime Minister on Tuesday shared a set of videos that offer guidance on various Yoga Asanas and their benefits.

In a series of X posts, Mr Modi said: As we approach this years Yoga Day, it is essential to reiterate our commitment to making Yoga an integral part of our lives and also encouraging others to make it a part of theirs.

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He said In ten days from now, the world will mark the 10th International Day of Yoga, celebrating a timeless practice that celebrates oneness and harmony. Yoga has transcended cultural and geographical boundaries, uniting millions across the globe in the pursuit of holistic well-being.

Sharing the videos on X, he said As Yoga Day approaches, I am sharing a set of videos that will offer guidance on various Asanas and their benefits. I hope this inspires you all to practice Yoga regularly.

Last year, the Prime Minister led the historic International Day of Yoga celebrations at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, describing Yoga as a way of life, a living and dynamic concept, and participating in the Yoga protocol exercises with representatives of 180 nations.
Ashwini Vaishnaw, who assumed charge as Minister of Railways for the second time in the BJP-led NDA government under Modi 3.0, on Tuesday underlined his unwavering commitment to realize the long-term vision set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

He has also been assigned portfolios as the Minister of Information and Broadcasting, and Minister of Electronics and Information Technology, apart from the railways ministry.

On Sunday, while Modi took his oath of office for his historic third term as the prime minister of India, Vaishnaw was inducted as a cabinet minister.

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Vaishnaw assumed charge as Minister of Railways at Rail Bhawan on Tuesday.

Jaya Varma Sinha, Chairman & CEO, Railway Board, along with senior Railway officials, welcomed him in Rail Bhavan. Housekeeping staff and other officials of the Railway also greeted and congratulated the Minister for assumption of office.

Addressing the media, Vaishnaw underlined his unwavering commitment to realise the long-term vision set by Prime Minister Modi. He stated, Prime Minister Modi has a special emotional connection with Railways, and he has entrusted me the responsibility to further his transformative vision to ensure that Indian Railways remains an affordable and a convenient mode of transport for the general public.

Vaishnaw, who first became the Railway Minister on July 8, 2021, has started his second term, bringing anticipation and optimism.

During his previous tenure, he initiated and executed numerous transformative projects aligning with the visionary agenda set forth by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. These initiatives encompassed the modernisation and revitalisation of the railway infrastructure, including station transformations, the introduction of new trains, comprehensive station redevelopment programs, the commissioning of new rail lines, and widespread electrification efforts.

Ashwini Vaishnaw (born in 1970) is a Member of Rajya Sabha from Odisha. He was a former IAS officer and served the people of Sundergarh, Balasore, and Cuttack as district collector. He earned Masters in Technology from IIT Kanpur and MBA from Wharton.

Meanwhile, Ravneet Singh assumed charge as Union Minister of State for Railways in Rail Bhawan on Tuesday. He has also been given additional charge as Minister of State in the Ministry of Food Processing Industries. Jaya Varma Sinha, Chairman & CEO, Railway Board, along with senior railway officials, welcomed him on his arrival in Rail Bhawan.

Addressing media, he said, Today I am assuming charge as MoS Railways. I am thankful to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP Party President and Union Health Minister JP Nadda and Minister of Railways, Ashwini Vaishnaw. We will work together with Railway officials.

I also congratulate citizens of the country. Railway connects common people, it plays a huge role. Railways run continuously 24X7. We shall work as a team to take it forward under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Ashwini Vaishnaw ji, Ravneet added.
There was a need for integration of innovative water management practices and community-driven approaches to climate adaptation focusing on the challenges faced in the cold desert region of Ladakh.

This was stressed in a meeting held between the Ladakh administration and representatives of the German Development Co-operation in Leh on Tuesday.

Secretary Rural Development, Union Territory of Ladakh, Amit Sharma, chaired the pivotal meeting with the representatives from German Development Co-operation in a significant step towards enhancing water security and climate adaptation in rural India.

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The meeting was focused on the Indo-German Bilateral Water Security and Climate Adaptation Project, a collaborative initiative, involving the Ministry of Rural Development and the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India.

The Technical Advisor of the German Development Co-operation delivered a comprehensive presentation outlining the Projects objectives, strategies and expected outcomes.

The presentation highlighted the collaborative efforts aimed at addressing water scarcity and improving climate resilience in rural communities across India, with a particular emphasis on the unique challenges faced by the Ladakh region.

Sharma expressed his gratitude for the German Development Cooperations expertise and commitment to sustainable development. He highlighted the importance of such international collaborations in tackling critical issues related to water security and climate change.

Sharma further shared that,This Project is a testament to the strong bilateral ties between India and Germany and reflects our shared commitment to fostering sustainable development in rural areas.

He also advised Sajjad Qadri, Director, Rural Development UT Ladakh, who also happens to be the Nodal Officer of the Indo-German Bilateral Project, to expedite its implementation and ensure its swift execution especially in the ongoing WDC-PMKSY scheme in Ladakh.

The Nodal Officer is tasked with overseeing the various stages of the Project and to ensure coordination with relevant stakeholders, and addressing any challenges that may arise during the implementation phase.

Sharma mentioned that the meeting also provided a platform for discussing the integration of innovative water management practices, capacity-building initiatives, and community-driven approaches to climate adaptation.

Participants and attendees explored various avenues for leveraging technological advancements and traditional knowledge systems to enhance the resilience of rural communities against the impacts of climate change.

Representatives from the German Development Cooperation also reaffirmed their commitment and active participation in this ongoing Project. They emphasised the need for a co-ordinated approach to ensure the successful implementation of project activities and the achievement of desired outcomes.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has resolved to double the income of farmers and the government will take every possible step for their welfare, the new Union Minister for Agriculture and farmers welfare, Mr Shivraj Singh Chouhan said on Tuesday.

Speaking with the media after taking charge of his ministry at the Krishi Bhavan, he said he is happy to say that the first decision taken by the PM yesterday was in the interest of the farmers.

The minister also added that the NDA government has been committed to the farmers welfare for the past ten years and his ministry will continue to work towards achieving the goal.

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Mr Chouhan, a former Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, visited various offices in the Ministry and interacted with staff at various levels, including cleanliness workers. He exhorted them to work as a team for achieving the government vision for welfare of farmers and work in cooperation with each other.

He also visited Krishi integrated command and control centre in the Ministry and saw facilities to review the agriculture scenario within the country including crop production and drought preparedness.

Later, Mr Chouhan held a meeting of senior officials of the ministry and underscored the need for transparency in ministry functioning. He also handed over the government manifesto for the welfare of farmers and rural development and called upon everyone to work towards its fulfilment.

He asserted that PM Narendra Modi is a visionary leader and called upon the officials to work on a roadmap for achieving goals set up in the manifesto. He said improving the lives of Annadata should be the mission of the ministry.

Mr Ramnath Thakur and Mr Bhagirath Choudhary also took charge as Ministers of State in the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
Amid controversy over a float depicting the assassination of former prime minister Indira Gandhi in Brampton, Canadian High Commissioner to India, Cameron MacKay on Tuesday said that promotion of violence is never acceptable in the country.

The Government of Canada is aware of further imagery displayed in Brampton on Sunday. Canadas position is clear: The promotion of violence is never acceptable in Canada, MacKay said in a post X.

Taking note of the incident, Canadian Minister Dominic LeBlanc echoed the countrys high commissioner to India views, saying that promotion of violence is never acceptable in Canada.

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This week, there were reports of imagery depicting the assassination of (former) Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in Vancouver. The promotion of violence is never acceptable in Canada, he said.

Indian origin MP from Oakville, Anita Anand termed the violent imagery disturbing and unacceptable.

The use of violent imagery in relation to Prime Minister Indira Gandhi is disturbing and unacceptable as it promotes and perpetuates hate and violence, Ms Anand said.

The float was part of a parade to mark the 40th anniversary of Operation Blue Star, an anti-terrorist operation sanctioned by Indira Gandhi to neutralise Khalistani terrorists hiding in the Golden Temple in Amritsar.

Following the operation, Indira Gandhi was assassinated by her Sikh bodyguards.

The latest incident has come in the backdrop of diplomatic tension between India and Canada over Ottawas inaction against Khalistani extremists promoting violence against Indian nationals.

India has accused Canada of being a safe haven for Khalistani extremists, who openly call for violence against India.
Ahead of the International Yoga Day on June 21, a special meeting was convened at the headquarters of the Bharat Swabhiman office in Haridwar on Tuesday.

The meeting was presided over by Sadhvi Devpriya, the Chief Central Incharge of the Patanjali Yoga Committee.

Under the guidance of the Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev, the International Yoga Day event is set to take place at the grand yoga hall of Patanjali Yogpeeth, Phase-2.

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This year, the theme for International Yoga Day has been chosen as Yoga for Women Empowerment.

During the meeting, the officers and employees shared their thoughts on the preparations for the Yoga Day event.

Bhai Rakesh, the Chief Central Incharge of the Patanjali Yoga Committee, shed light on various aspects such as the movement of visitors and yoga practitioners, seating arrangements, emergency services, and light refreshments, ensuring the successful organization of Yoga Day.

The meeting saw the participation of incharges from Haridwar, Rishikesh, Roorkee, Dehradun, and other regions.

On this occasion, Swami Parmarthdev, the Chief Central Incharge of the Patanjali Yoga Committee, also shared his views.

The meeting was attended by Swami Arshdev, Swami Bajrangdev, Swami Ishdev, Swami Tirthdev, and Swami Vinaydev among others.
Two tourists were arrested on Tuesday on the charge of indulging in offensive behaviour in an inebriated state while riding a shikara on Srinagars Dal Lake.

The Srinagar Police said: Two accused persons have been arrested while more suspects are being questioned. Further investigation into the matter is underway. The Srinagar Police took cognisance of the matter after a video of unidentified individuals indulging in offensive behaviour while aboard a shikara on Dal Lake in an inebriated state went viral across social media platforms.

The police have registered an FIR in the Ram Munshi Bagh police station.

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The video of tourists consuming liquor in the shikara went viral triggering a controversy earlier this week. It led to strong reactions from religious leaders and politicians in the valley.

The Muttahida Majlis-e-Ulma (MMU) led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq decried public consumption of alcohol on the Dal Lake.

The MMU appealed to hotel owners, houseboat owners, and shikara operators to keep an eye on such wrongdoings and refrain from indulging in this un-Islamic and immoral practice for profit.

It also appealed to the tourists to respect the moral and religious ethos of Kashmir.

The National Conference, scholars, and various other political parties also condemned the unethical behaviour of these tourists and demanded strict action against them.
Switzerland is to host A summit on peace in Ukraine on 15-16 June at a resort near Lake Lucerne in the central part of the country. The Swiss government hopes this summit, hosted at the request of Ukraine, in an idyllic setting, will lay the groundwork for a peace process. In January this year, the Swiss government announced, At the request of the Ukrainian president, Switzerland has agreed to host a summit on the peace formula.

At the same conference, Ukraine President Zelenskky mentioned, it is important for us to show that the whole world is against Russias aggression, and the whole world is for a just peace. It was hoped that a neutral Switzerland could produce what Copenhagen and Jeddah (where two previous summits were held) could not. The Ukrainian President has been calling for heads of nations to attend the summit, hoping it would send a message of global support to Kiev against the Russian invasion.

Moscow had mentioned in early May itself that it has no intent to participate in the summit. As per Kiev, about 110 nations or organizations have confirmed attendance for the summit. From the US, Vice President Kamala Harris would participate. China has refused to attend, claiming the summit does not meet three important conditions: recognition from Russia and Ukraine, equal participation of all parties, as well as fair talks of all peace plans. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the summit would be absolutely futile without Russias participation, which is true.

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Zelenskky visited Singapore for the Shangri-la summit last week. He reiterated his call for Asian nations to attend. Singapore and Manila confirmed attendance. In addition, he accused Russia and China of attempting to derail the summit. He said, Russia, using Chinese influence in the region, using Chinese diplomats also, does everything to disrupt the peace summit. He added, With Chinas support to Russia, the war will last longer. While his accusing Russia would have little impact, bringing China into the fold would. The US had possibly pushed for Zelenskky to attend the Shangri-La summit and highlight Chinese support to Russia on a global platform. The intent appeared to be to break the growing China-EU partnership. Zelenskkys words, It is unfortunate that such a big, independent, powerful country as China is an instrument in the hands of Putin, will resonate in Brussels, as after all, European nations are funding Ukraine to keep Russia at bay.

Zelenskkys comments were reiterated by the US hoping it would impact Europes trade ties with China, including imports of EVs. China understood the US game and responded with anger and disdain. Neither the Indian PM nor External Affairs Minister will attend. India would likely be represented by a foreign office staffer, the level of which remains unknown. This despite strong requests by Ukraine and Europe to India to participate. India has not criticised Russia for the invasion while insisting on dialogue as the way forward. However, without participation of Russia, the summit outcome would have little value. The first summit on Ukraine was held in Copenhagen in June last year with zero output. In August, Saudi Arabia hosted a similar summit, attended by 40 nations, excluding Russia. All founding members of BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) were present. India was represented by its National Security Advisor, Ajit Doval. The Brazilian delegate had rightly mentioned then, Although Ukraine is the biggest victim, if we really want peace, we have to involve Moscow in this process in some form. There was no declaration released at the end of either summit. In the current summit, members of the BRICS grouping will either be absent or have minimal participation (India). The South African President, a member of BRICS, had last year led a delegation of 10 African leaders on an attempted peace mission to meet heads of Ukraine and Russia hoping to resolve their differences. Nothing emerged. Saudi Arabia has also turned down the invite, possibly as a fallout of lessons flowing from its own summit. With the withdrawal of Pakistan, no member of even the SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organization) would be present at the summit. Thus, nations which can influence Russia or are members of groupings with it, are absent, casting doubts on the summit producing any value-addition to ongoing efforts.

None of the current attendees can influence Russia. Meanwhile the conflict expands. With sanction to engage targets within Russia, employing US and European armaments, the war will witness increased attacks and greater loss of lives. Ukraine is aware that it can never roll back Russian forces but only defend its frontlines while targeting Russian military assets within their own state. In such a scenario, expecting Russia to adhere to Ukraines demands is futile. The summit is expected to discuss Ukraines proposals which include Russian withdrawal from its territory, including Crimea, and the establishment of a tribunal to prosecute Russian war crimes. No nation, including the US and Israel, have ever been prosecuted for war crimes, of which both have been accused. With Moscow very clear on its stand, a declaration at the conclusion of the summit would have little value, except possibly highlight unity towards Ukraine, largely from Europe.

Russia has been stating that dialogue is the way forward, while insisting that existing ground realities must remain the basis for talks. It currently controls approximately 20 per cent of Ukrainian territory which it is unlikely to return. Simultaneous would be its conditions on Ukrainian neutrality and removal of Zelenskky. Both Russia and Ukraine are sticking to their positions, unwilling to bend. In such an atmosphere any positive outcome from the summit is unlikely. Dialogue is only feasible when there is space for negotiation between adversaries. The war involves Europe and has limited interest for nations from other continents, hence participation by them would accordingly be less. Those who attend would remain mute bystanders and be there only to mark their presence. Zelenskkys belief that display of unity in a peace summit could result in Russia withdrawing from its territory is utopian. With key nations, including those which possess the power to influence Russia missing, the summit would be just another tabletop discussion with no fruitful result. It appears to be another attempt by Zelenskky to shift attention from Gaza towards his nation.

(The writer is a retired Major-General of the Indian Army.)
The United Nations top court, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), on May 24 issued new provisional measures ordering Israel to immediately halt its military offensive in Rafah, which broke out after Hamasled attacks in October last year, killing 1,200 Israeli people, and taking roughly 250 hostages. Israels military response has, to date, killed nearly 36,000 Palestinians, the vast majority of them being children and women, and caused widespread destruction and a looming famine in the besieged and bombarded enclave of Gaza. Previously, the ICJ had issued similar provisional measures in January and March.

In January, while delivering an interim judgement, the ICJ judges had stressed that they did not need to say for now whether genocide had occurred but concluded that some of the acts of Israel in Gaza amount plausibly to genocide. Rafah is the last remaining stronghold of Hamas in Gaza where about half of Gazas 2.3 million people have taken refuge in recent months. Israel claims that Hamas leaders and many operatives are hiding in Rafah, and also that an unspecified number of the remaining 121 hostages kidnapped are also being held in the city. Israel has been insisting that it has no choice but to carry out an operation in the city to root out the Hamas battalions there, to rescue its hostages, ensure the safety of its citizens, and to prevent the smuggling of weapons and cash into Gaza.

The ICJs May 24 ruling also calls on Israel to allow unhindered access to humanitarian assistance via the Rafah crossing. The court noted that the humanitarian situation in Rafah has deteriorated further since it last issued provisional measures in March and acknowledged that they have proved to be insufficient. The ICJ president, Judge Salam, said that the court is not convinced that evacuation efforts and related measures that Israel has affirmed to have undertaken to enhance the security of civilians in the Gaza Strip, and in particular those recently displaced from the Rafah governate, are sufficient to alleviate immense risks to which the Palestinian population is exposed as a result of the military offensive in Rafah.

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The court also ordered Israel to allow unimpeded access to the Gaza Strip for commissions of inquiry, fact-finding missions, or other investigative bodies mandated by the UN to investigate allegations of genocide. In addition, the ICJ ordered Israel to submit a report within one month on steps taken to implement these provisional measures. The court ordered Israel to report back to it within one month as to how it has implemented the orders. The court also noted with deep concern that many of the Israeli hostages are still in the captivity of Hamas, and called for their immediate and unconditional release. The new provisional measures came in response to a petition filed by South Africa before the ICJ against Israel in December last year, accusing it of orchestrating a state-led genocide against the Palestinian people during its Gaza campaign, violating its obligations under the 1948 convention on genocide to which both are signatories.

South Africa has been insisting on provisional measures to prevent more bloodshed in Gaza as it may take years before the ICJ finally adjudicates on the substance of the accusation whether Israel has committed genocide. The provisional measures ordered by the ICJ in January and March have failed to deter Israel from further committing crimes against civilians. Contrarily, Israels relentless pounding across the shattered Gaza Strip is continuing unabated. The UN agencies, international human rights NGOs, and governments around the world are continuously complaining about Israel not doing enough to ensure the safety and security of innocent civilians in the Gaza Strip and that they receive adequate basic food supplies and other crucial aid.

In view of this, South Africa turned back to the world court once again in May, asking it to impose new provisional emergency measures to stop Israels invasion of Rafah as it had not complied with its previous decision. Interestingly, the current ICJ ruling is being interpreted by different parties differently. While Hamas, the Palestinian Authority, and South Africa are reading the decision as a blanket order to halt the offensive, Israel, the USA and others are of the view that it did not order Israel to cease its military operations in the Gaza Strip. There is even a difference of opinion on this question among the ICJs judges who delivered the majority ruling let alone the dissenting judges. Four of the fifteen judges, two who voted in favour of the ruling and two dissenting, have argued that the key operative clause does not require that Israel immediately halt all military operations in Rafah.

They have concluded that the ruling does not concern other actions of Israel which do not put the Palestinian population at risk of annihilation, either in full or in part. The only judge who expressed a contrary position is the South African ad-hoc judge, Dire Tladi, who wrote that the ruling completely prohibits any offensive Israeli action in the Rafah area. He said that the Court has previously, albeit in implicit and indirect ways, ordered the State of Israel not to conduct military operations elsewhere in Gaza because such operations prevent the delivery of humanitarian assistance and cause harm to the Palestinian people. He, however, emphasises that the prohibition is only limited to offensive actions, and Israels defensive actions, which come in response to specific Hamas attacks, are not prohibited.

Though the ICJs decisions are legally binding, the court lacks real enforcement power. If Israel does not comply, South Africa can approach the Security Council for its enforcement and the ICJ can also refer the matter to it, which could then decide whether to take punitive measures against Israel. But there, the US, Israels main supporter, has veto power and can shield Israel from punishment, as it has done many times during the on-going war. The US has hardly shown any interest in holding Israel accountable for its actions in Gaza or in enforcing international law. After the ICJs ruling, now the attention of the world will understandably be to see whether Israel complies with it like before. The statements of the Israeli officials cast serious doubt on that possibility.

Israel has repeatedly said that it would not comply with any orders from the ICJ as it is fighting an existential defensive war. Given the circumstances, it would be sheer delusion to believe that something tangible is going to happen to end Israels killing rage. Minutes after the ruling was delivered, Israeli warplanes carried out air strikes on a refugee camp in Rafah, killing at least 45 people. Israel seems to be completely unmoved by the horrific loss of life in the Gaza Strip. Israel understands very well that the ICJs enforcement mechanism is very weak. The court solely relies on the Security Council for enforcing its judgments, which is unlikely to take any perceptible action against it as the US would most likely block any such attempt.

The violations of the court rulings by Israel cast serious doubt on the effectiveness of the court. The failure to enforce the ICJs ruling would be a severe blow to the rules-based international order which is already in tatters. However, the court ruling may undermine Israels international standing, which is already facing isolation and criticism in response to its on-going months-long military offensive in Gaza

(The writer teaches international law at Aligarh Muslim University and heads its Strategic and Security Studies Programme)
From Met Gala to Cannes to Oscars to Golden Globes, theres one iconic element that ties them all together: the Red Carpet. As sleek cars queue up at the entrance, journalists from esteemed publications and enthusiastic fans alike eagerly anticipate the grand arrival of their beloved stars; to descend from the sky to grace their presence on the red carpet. The history of the red carpet dates back to ancient Greece, where crimson pathways were rolled out to welcome dignitaries and gods. Cut to today, celebrities are treated no less than idols carrying the weight of hopes and appreciations of thousands of fans. The red carpet has emerged as a symbol of prestige, elegance. It is a Jugalbandi of fashion, celebrity, and charisma. They are often converted into a runway for designers to showcase their work of art.

Over the years, the allure of the red carpet has evolved exponentially, transcending its traditional role as a passageway to now symbolise the pinnacle of aspiration for celebrities seeking recognition and acclaim. The pre award shows at events like Cannes film festival and Met Gala have become a spectacle in itself. Turning into pivotal moments not only for the film and fashion industries but also for the global perception of celebrity. This new brand disruption in the advertising space has given rise to an unprecedented amplification, creating an unheard buzz that reverberates through the global media landscape. The synergy between fashion, celebrity, and charisma surpasses conventional management mantras, catapulting personalities into the spotlight and reshaping the perception of charismatic dynamism.

At events like Cannes and the Met Gala, new forms of identity emerge, reflecting the evolving definition of a charismatic personality. The red carpet, once a symbol of exclusivity, now serves as a platform for stars to showcase their brand endorsement acumen, engaging in a visual dialogue with the lenses that capture their every pose and power address. This fusion of colours, design, and imagery orchestrates a spellbinding display of branding magic, solidifying the red carpet walk as a signature statement of star presence.

The red carpet has become a canvas where the 6Cs  Celebrity, Charisma, Consistency, Continuity, Consciousness, and Couture  are on full display. They converge on the red carpet, offering a glimpse into the intricate web of brand endorsement, fierce competition, ingrained advocacy, and strategic positioning. The presence of Indian celebrities on platforms like Cannes and the Met Gala not only brings diversity to these events but also showcases the timeless beauty of Indian fashion. The star-studded lineup at Cannes this year included renowned Indian personalities like Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Aditi Rao Hydari, Kiara Advani, Naseeruddin Shah, Chaya Kadam, Taha Shah among others. Influencers and entrepreneurs such as Namita Thapar, Diipa Khosla, Nancy Tyagi, Ankush Bahuguna also graced the event underscoring the intersection of films, branding and charisma at Cannes.

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The iconic red carpet was transformed into a runway showcasing the best of Indian fashion, representing the colours, textures, designs and artistic core of India. The saree is a prime example, which the most iconic Indian celebrities have donned on national and international red carpets time and time again. This six yards of elegance serves as a powerful emblem of Indian ethos and identity, asserting its dominance in global fashion aspirations and reaffirming its place in the annals of fashion history. This can be seen evident through iconic brand moments, such as those witnessed at the 2024 Met Gala, where collaborations between the visionary designer Sabyasachi and the icon Alia Bhatt spark global fascination, transcend geographical boundaries. The 23 foot long train of her saree left an indelible mark not just on the Met Red Carpet but also in the minds of global outlookers.

Foreign brands leverage Indian star power to tap into a diverse market, while the coexistence of celebrities, brands, products, perceptions, visibility, and prestige creates a thriving ecosystem of influence and aspiration. What often goes unnoticed is the subtle emergence of a new business model driven by this form of branding. In this digital age, social media influencers are coveted allies, sought after by brands to make appearances on these prestigious red carpets. This further blurs the lines between traditional and digital marketing, amplifying brand moments on the red carpet and extending their reach to a global audience. Netizens around the world, inspired by these red carpet spectacles, strive to recreate the looks presented, fostering a deeper connection with their favourite celebrities and perpetuating the cycle of brand sustainability and dynamism.

Brands recognize the power of aligning themselves with these influencers, whose endorsement can catapult a product or brand into the spotlight within moments. This symbiotic relationship not only amplifies brand moments on the red carpet but also extends their reach to a global audience, as followers eagerly consume and share content featuring their favourite influencers and the brands they represent.

Furthermore, the digital landscape offers unparalleled opportunities for brands to engage with consumers in real-time, capitalising on the immediacy and virality of social media platforms. Live streams, behind-the-scenes content, and interactive experiences allow brands to connect with audiences on a more personal level, fostering a sense of authenticity and intimacy that traditional marketing channels often lack. By harnessing the power of these digital tastemakers, brands aim to elevate their presence on the red carpet and ensure that their message resonates with audiences around the world.

As aspirations soar and connections deepen, the evolution of the red carpet has unveiled a new tapestry of Images and glamour, where every step on the red carpet is a testament to the eternal charm of celebrity, fashion, and cinema coming together. The red carpet sensation represents more than just a glamorous event  it is a catalyst for brand sustainability, dynamism, and the reinforcement of brand image on a global scale. As celebrities continue to captivate audiences on these iconic carpets, the allure of fame and fashion will only continue to grow, shaping the future of celebrity perceptions.

(The writer is Former Additional DG, DFF and Festival Director, IFFI (Views are personal.)

Inputs provided by Zoya Ahmad and Vaishnavie Srinivasan
Four Palestinians were killed by Israeli army gunfire in the village of Kafr Nimah in the West Bank city of Ramallah, the Palestinian Health Ministry said.

An Israeli special force opened fire at a vehicle near the village before proceeding to storm it, leading to the outbreak of confrontations, according to the Palestinian official news agency WAFA on Monday.

More than 530 Palestinians have been killed by the Israeli army across the West Bank and East Jerusalem since October 2023, when the latest round of Palestinian-Israeli conflict broke out, according to official Palestinian statistics as quoted by Xinhua news agency report.

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Global digital operator Veon announced on Monday it is will invest an additional US$1 billion between 2023 and 2027 to help its Ukrainian subsidiary Kyivstar rebuild the countrys digital infrastructure as the Russian invasion continues.

The investment is on top of the US$600 million over three years that Veon pledged to invest in Kyivstar in June 2023.

Veon said the latest commitment will fund investments into network and digital services, including potential acquisitions or the development of new assets, social contributions and partnerships.

Kyivstar CEO Oleksandr Komarov said he hoped the increased investment  which was revealed ahead of the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2024 in Berlin later this week will inspire other attendees at the conference to invest in the countrys recovery effort even as the war continues.

Kyivstar is a significant example of how a socially responsible business with international investors can support a country through war, Komarov said in a statement. With the power we take from our own example, we will join the call at the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2024 for businesses to invest in Ukraine and invest now.

Veon also highlighted Kyivstars progress in investing in digital infrastructure, starting with the fact that it has built 1,895 new LTE base stations and upgraded around 13,200 existing base stations to 4G since February 2022. Kyivstar has also added over 4,100 residential areas to its 4G coverage footprint, extending overall coverage to 95% of the population of territories controlled by Ukraine. The operator is aiming for 98% population coverage in 4G over the next two years.

The telco said it has invested around US$27.4 million in Ukraines energy resilience, installing over 2,300 generators and 113,000 batteries to help keep its network running and customers connected, even when the power infrastructure is under attack.

Kyivstar is also investing in Open RAN technology, having signed a leter of intent with Rakuten Symphony earlier this year to deploy its Open RAN technology for both 4G and 5G.

Kyivstar also invested in Ukraines digital healthcare platform Helsi in August 2022, which it says had 2.5 million monthly active users on web and OTT platforms as of March 2024, serving close to 1,600 medical institutions and 38,000 medical professionals.

Other investments include TV application Kyivstar TV, integration with Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure, and continued rollout of its GPON network, which is due to be expanded to seven new cities in 2024.

Last month, Komarov said Kyivstar had allocated US$90 million to defend against suspected Russian cyberattacks against its network, as well as to recover from the massive cyberattack in December 2023 that damaged Kyivstars networks and cut mobile signal for millions of Ukrainians. Komarov claimed the cyberattack ate up about 3% of annual growth for the telco.
Noted Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa, known also as 'Challenging star', has been arrested in Mysuru in connection with a murder case.

According to media reports, nine of the associates of Darshan too have been arrested. Udayavani reported that Darshan was arrested from his farmhouse.

They were arrested after a youth, identified as Renukaswamy, hailing from Chitadurga, was found murdered.

Initially, his death was suspected to be a case of suicide. However, further investigation revealed that the youth was murdered.

After the alleged murder, the body of Swamy, who worked with a pharmacy company, was thrown into a stormwater drain in Kamakshipalya. The police came to know about the murder after some local residents alerted them.

Media reports suggest that the victim had been posting inappropriate social media messages against actor Pavithra Gowda, who is known to be close to Darshan.

DCP West Bengaluru Girish confirmed that Darshan has been taken into custody for questioning in connection murder.

"In connection with a murder case registered in Kamakshipalya Police Station limits of Bengaluru West division on 9th June, one of the actors of Kannada film industry has been secured and he is being questioned. The details are yet to be ascertained and the matter is under investigation. Renukaswamy (33) from Chitradurga is the victim. Around 10 people are detained and they are being questioned. The details are awaited," news agency ANI quoted Bengaluru Police Commissioner B. Dayananda as saying.
The Ajit Pawar faction of the NCP, which faced a poll drubbing, has passed a resolution demanding that Sunetra Pawar, the wife of party president and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, be sent to the Rajya Sabha and be made a minister in the Union government.

This came as the party rejected the offer for a Minister of State with independent charge for Praful Patel as it expected a Cabinet post. Patel himself told reporters that the post would be a "demotion for him" as he had earlier been a Cabinet minister with the union government.



Ajit Pawar too reiterated that the party decided to wait. He said he had made it clear to the BJP that we would not accept any post lower than the Cabinet portfolio. "They told us that they need to give Cabinet posts to many of its constituents," he said while stressing the party's support for the NDA government.



In the recent general elections, the NCP under Ajit Pawar managed to secure only one of the four seats it contested, while the rival faction led by Sharad Pawar won eight out of ten constituencies it contested.



However, as the party celebrated its 25th anniversary on Monday, a letter written by NCP Pune unit chief Deepak Mankar detailing these demands has been sent to Ajit Pawar.



"Sunetra Pawar should be sent to Rajya Sabha and must be given a state cabinet portfolio (MoS) in order to give strength to the party and the officer bearers," the letter written by Mankar said. Sunetra Pawar had lost from the Baramati Lok Sabha seat to sitting MP Supriya Sule in the recent general elections.



The results came as a huge dampener for the Ajit Pawar faction after its split from the Sharad Pawar last July. Ajit Pawar and eight MLAs joined the Eknath Shinde government, following which the party name and symbol were allotted to the faction led by him. Sharad Pawar now heads the group which has been christened NCP(SP).



However, Ajit Pawar exhorted his supporters to start preparing for the upcoming Assembly elections, assuring that the party will have three members in the Rajya Sabha by mid-July. He also acknowledged that party leader Sunil Tatkare preserved the NCP's image by winning the Raigad Lok Sabha seat.


In the wake of the demand by the Congress that strict action should be initiated against BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya who is accused of sexually harassing women, an RSS member, Santanu Sinha, who is alleged to have made the charges against the BJP leader, came out with a clarification.

Santanu Sinha claimed that the Congress, which he said is  the nastiest and most corrupted political party of the country is spreading a hate campaign against Amit Malaviya and BJP.

I want to give a clear message that the post was not aimed to malign Malviya but as a caution not to get entangled in a honey trap....If my post hurts Malaviya and/or undermines my party for such misinterpretation and edited version, I do express my heartfelt sorrow for the same, he said.

READ MORE: BJP leader Amit Malviya accused of sexual exploitation; he sends legal notice to RSS member

In a statement, Santanu Sinha said, No corner in the post there is any whisper about sexual exploitation of women by Amit Malaviya.

Rather I have there expressed my fear that Mr. Malviya will be drawn to honey trap by the unscrupulous leaders of the party to remain clung to their post despite such debacle in the recently held election. We have bitter experience of such honey trap during the tenure of Mr. Kailash Vijoyborgiya, Mr. Siddhartha Nath Sing, Mr. Pradip Joshi and Mr. Shibprasad.

But to my extreme astonishment, none from the (West Bengal) state BJP has ever tried to know the purport of the post, but played a dubious role. A legal notice sent from the end of Mr. Malviya by his learned Advocate was circulated amongst media, purposely, with a view to create pressure upon me on the one hand, and on the other, to divert their responsibility of the debacle in last parliamentary election in West Bengal, he said in the statement.

He said he does not want the BJP and its office bearers to be undermined in any manner by misinterpretation of his post.
Mohan Charan Majhi, a four-time tribal MLA from Keonjhar district, has been chosen as the Bharatiya Janta Partys first chief minister of Odisha. He will take oath along with two deputy chief ministersK.V. Singh Deo and Pravati Paridaon Wednesday at a ceremony in Bhubaneswar which will be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other central leaders.

Majhi, 52, belongs to the Santhal tribal community. While the tribals constitute 23 per cent of the states population, Majhi will only be third tribal CM after Congresss late Hemananda Biswal and Giridhar Gamang, both of who had shorter tenures.

Majhi, a law graduate, will also be the first chief minister from north Odishas Keonjhar district. He was an active opposition MLA in the outgoing assembly as the chief whip of the party. He was also the governments deputy chief whip during the second tenure of the BJD-BJP alliance government from 2004.

Majhi started his career as a teacher in Saraswati Shishu Mandir. He had an inclination towards the RSS ideology from school days. Majhi started his political career as a gram panchayat sarpanch.

He represents Keonjhar assembly seat from where he had been elected to state assembly for the first time on a BJP ticket in 2000. He is considered very close to Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. So, Pradhan might have played an important role in his selection to the top post.

Initially it was expected that Pradhan might come as the chief minister. The idea was dropped probably because the BJP needed more MPs in Delhi because of the partys reduced strength.

Majhi was elected as the BJP legislature party leader at its meeting in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday. The announcement was made by Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh who had attended the meeting as a central observer along with Bhupendra Yadav.

At the meeting, senior party leader Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo and first time MLA Pravati Parida were announced as the deputy chief ministers. Both could be considered as OBC leaders though Singh Deo, a six-time MLA, is a scion of Bolangir royal family. His grandfather late R.N. Singh Deo, who belonged to C. Rajagopalcharis Swatantra Party, was Odishas first non-Congress chief minister in the late 1960s.

In Parida, Odisha will have its firs woman deputy chief minister. Earlier, Nandini Satpathy of the Congress was Odishas only woman chief minister in 1970s.

While Chief Minister-designate Majhi is from north Odisha, the two deputy chief minister candidates are from western and coastal Odisha. Singh Deo is from western Odishas Bolangir district where outgoing Chief Minister and BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik faced his political careers first defeat this time from Kantabanji assembly segment. Singh Deo represents Patnagarh constituency where he had faced defeat from BJD in 2019. Singh Deos wife Sangita Singh Deo has been reelected as BJP MP from Bolangir Lok Sabha seat this time.

Parida is from Puri district though her constituency Nimapara falls under Jagatsinghpur Lok Sabha seat. She is also considered to be close to Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

Though caste consideration matters less in Odisha politics, the BJP seems to be making experiment on that basis. In 147 member Odisha assembly, the BJP won 78 seats whereas the BJD has been relegated to 51. In Lok Sabha election, the BJP won 20 out of 21 seats of Odisha with BJD reduced to zero while the Congress retained its single seat. The BJP tally in assembly is expected to increase as a few independents with earlier allegiance to the party have again shown inclination towards it.
A day after the shocking terror attack on a bus carrying pilgrims killed nine people, three shadow groups associated with the banned terror outfits Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) claimed responsibility for the brutal act. However, they later backtracked after the images of a 2-year-old victim went viral on social media.

Initially, two offshoots of LeT and JeM - People's Anti-Facist Force (PAFF), Revival of Resistance (both linked to Jaish), and The Resistance Front (affiliated with Lashkar-e-Taiba) - took to social media to assert their involvement in the attack on the bus travelling from Shiv Khori to Katra in Reasi, officials said.



However, as images of the innocent two-year-old victim identified as Titu circulated online prompting widespread condemnation, the terror outfits swiftly retracted their claims and instead shifted blame onto government agencies, PTI quoted a senior official.



The two-year-old's mother Pooja Saini (30) also died after terrorists opened fire at a bus carrying pilgrims in Jammus Reasi district on Sunday evening. Besides Pooja, her paternal uncle Rajendra Saini, 44, and Rajendras wife Mamta, 40, too died. The bus was ferrying pilgrims from Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Delhi.



The officials said five of the nine deceased had gunshot wounds. While 41 people were injured in the attack, 10 of them had bullet injuries.



Meanwhile, a manhunt is for the three foreign terrorists responsible for the deadly attack.



Deputy Inspector General of Police, Udhampur-Reasi Range, Rayees Mohammad Bhat said they have got some leads as 11 teams of police, army and CRPF are jointly working on two different axes to neutralise the fleeing terrorists.



While the focus is on three terrorists, officials have also not ruled out the possibility of a fourth person being present at the spot who acted as a lookout for the three terrorists. The joint operation is led by the police, the Army, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and central intelligence agencies.



According to security forces, the terrorists may have been hiding in the mountainous terrains of Rajouri and Reasi. The area where the accused are reportedly hiding is a dense forest. The lack of water sources, the threat of forest fires, steep slopes and crevices that work as a natural hideout are making the search operations hard. The search parties are moving cautiously to avoid any casualty in case of contact with the terrorists.



"Operation is continuing for the second day and we are working on various inputs. Multiple teams have been formed to work on two different axes while the investigation part is also continuing simultaneously," the DIG, who is leading the operation, told PTI on Monday.



Several people have been detained for questioning but officials said it was too early to reveal details.

Meanwhile, the separatist amalgam Hurriyat Conference has condemned the terror attack and said it "has and will always condemn all forms of violence against humanity. The loss of precious human lives is deeply disturbing".

The incident also triggered anti-Pakistan protests across the Jammu region, including Katra, Doda town and Kathua district. Accusing Pakistan of sponsoring terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, the protesters demanded action against the neighbouring country.


In what appears to be a move to get even with China which has been renaming places in Arunachal Pradesh for years, India is planning to rename several places in Tibet.

New Delhi is expected to soon release a list of places in Tibet that will be renamed, according to a report in The Diplomat. China has reportedly renamed about 30 places in Tibet recently and India is expected to rename an equal number of places.

The information warfare division of the Indian Army is responsible for coining the new names, based on ancient names in Indian languages.

A former intelligence officer has been quoted as saying that as Narendra Modi has been campaigning in the recently concluded Lok Sabha polls projecting his "strongman" image, it is natural that he may authorize the renaming of places in Tibet.

What's in a name?

Although China claims Arunachal Pradesh to be part of its territory, referring to it as "South Tibet" of "Zangnan", India has always rejected the claim and affirmed that the state is integral to its territory. China has been renaming places in Arunachal Pradesh for years. In April this year, China released the fourth list of such names. The places renamed in the state included 11 residential places, 12 mountains, four rivers, and one lake.

Beijing released the first list of six such names in 2017; the second list with 15 names was released in 2021 and the third list came out in 2023.

As India and China are embroiled in a series of border disputes, New Delhi believes that the decision by Beijing to rename places in Arunachal Pradesh is part of the country's plans to strengthen its territorial claim in the region.

"India has accepted Tibet as part Chin since it was forcibly occupied by Beijing, but now Modi government seems prepared to change course to deflate the Chinese cartographical and nomenclature aggression," The Diplomat quoted former Intelligence Bureau officer Benu Ghosh has been quoted as saying.
Yet another massive communications-related investment is coming Malaysias way, this time from ByteDance.

Late last week China's ByteDance, parent of social media app TikTok, said that it plans to invest around US$$2.13 billion to set up an artificial intelligence hub in Malaysia, according to Investment, Trade And Industry Minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz.

As part of the deal, ByteDance will also expand its data centre facilities in Malaysia's Johor state through an additional US$317 million investment,

Writing on Twitter/X, Zafrul noted the investment and said: This additional investment by ByteDance will undoubtedly help Malaysia achieve its target of growing the digital economy to 22.6% of Malaysia's Gross Domestic Product by 2025.

As the Data Centre Dynamics website points out, ByteDance is the anchor tenant at the Bridge Data Centres (BDC) MY06 hyperscale facility in the Sedenak Tech Park, Johor, so, it suggests, may be investing in more space at this facility. However, no specific details have yet been offered.

Thats just one of a number of big data centre announcements from Malaysia of late, as we reported in late May when Malaysian property developer Mah Sing Group joined a growing list of companies planned to develop data centre infrastructure.

And of course, early May saw Microsoft pledging to invest US$2.2 billion over the next four years in new cloud and AI infrastructure in the country.
The union law ministry today finalised the National Litigation Policy that seeks to deal with the problem of pendency of cases in the courts. The first file that Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal signed after taking charge of his ministry pertained to the new litigation policy.

The National Litigation Policy, which has been in the works for many years now, is a part of the 100-day agenda of the Modi government. It will soon be taken up for approval by the union cabinet.

Meghwal, who assumed charge as Minister of State (independent charge) of law and justice, marking a continuity in the ministry since he held the charge in the previous government too, said one of the main priorities for his ministry is to reduce pendency of cases and ensure speedier justice in the Supreme Court, high courts, lower courts, tribunals and consumer courts.

There is the issue of ease of living that applies to all the stakeholders in the litigation process. All the stakeholders are a part of the process, which includes litigants and advocates, the minister told reporters shortly after assuming charge.

The National Litigation Policy has been a project taken up by successive governments. During the tenure of UPA-II, in 2010, the then law minister M Veeerappa Moily had unveiled a litigation policy that aimed at cutting down government litigation. The aim of the policy was to reduce average pendency of cases from 15 years to three years. But it was not implemented and continued to hang fire. The policy was a part of the manifesto of the Bharatiya Janata Party for the Lok Sabha elections.

According to the data available on the National Judicial Data Grid, more than 4.48 crore cases are pending in courts across the country. Government litigation is believed to be one of the main contributors to the pendency.
Assuming charge as external affairs minister for a second time consecutively, S. Jaishankar said Indias global identity will increase during the third Modi regime and added the ministry performed extremely well during the previous term.



Assuming charge of the ministry, Jaishankar told presspersons that the ministry became more people-centric during the past 10 years. In the last decade, this ministry under the leadership of PM Modi has become a very people-centric ministry. You can see that in terms of our improved passport services, community welfare fund support that we give to Indians abroad," ANI reported quoting Jaishankar.

The minister added during the past 10 years, the ministry delivered on the G20 presidency and also took on the challenge of Covid. On whether India will attain a seat in the United Nations Security Council during this term, Jaishankar said, I am fully confident that under PM Modi's leadership, the foreign policy of Modi 3.0 will be very successful. The influence of India has been steadily growing, not just in terms of our own perception but also what the other countries think. They feel that India is truly their friend and they have seen that in times of crisis, if there is one country that stands with the Global South, it is India. He added, We believe that under the leadership of PM Modi, India's identity in the world will definitely increase."

Also on border issues with Indias neighbours China and Pakistan, Jaishankar said a solution would be found. As far as Pakistan and China are concerned, the relations with those countries and the problems are also different. Our focus with regard to China will be on finding a solution for the border issues, and with Pakistan, we would want to find a solution to the issue of years-old cross-border terrorism.

Though foreign heads attended the swearing-in ceremony of the third Modi government, heads of China and Pakistan were not invited for the event despite Indias Neighbourhood first policy. India was the victim of cross-border terrorism on Sunday too as LeT linked The Resistance Front attacked a bus of Hindu pilgrims, killing 10 persons and over 30 persons suffered injuries.

The India-China relationship is currently under a cloud of belligerence and mutual suspicion since April 2020 when border brawls broke out between soldiers of the two sides. India and China are locked in an intense military standoff where more than 1,30,000 troops from both sides are camped in inhospitable high-altitude areas along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
Aam Aadmi Party leader Sanjay Singh on Tuesday urged Bharatiya Janata Party allies Telugu Desam Party or Janata Dal (United) must contest for the Lok Sabha speaker post in the interest of Constitution and democracy.



Addressing presspersons, Sanjay Singh said the BJP allies did not get any significant ministries. Yesterday, the ministry of the BJP-led so-called NDA government was announced. It is being called the Modi 3.0 government. The doubt that the INDIA alliance had, has been proven true. If you look at the ministry, NDA alliance parties didnt get anything. They only got jhunjhuna ministries, Singh said.

Singh said the opposition INDIA bloc will have a crucial role to play if the TDP or JD(U) fields candidates for the Lok Sabha speakers post. "I will urge parties like the Janta Dal(United) and the TDP to at least have the Speaker from your party. This will be in the interest of your party as well as the Constitution and democracy," he said.

Singh added the INDIA bloc should consider the possibility of the TDP fielding its candidate for the Lok Sabha Speaker post and said, If the TDP fields its candidate, the role of INDIA constituents, including the Congress, will be very crucial.

AAP, a constituent of the INDIA bloc, contested 22 Lok Sabha seats across Delhi Punjab, Haryana, Gujarat and Assam. It managed to win just three seats in Punjab and lost the rest. It had contested the seats in Delhi in alliance with the Congress.
A US woman was allegedly duped by a jewellery shop owner in Rajasthan after she purchased jewels from him for a whopping Rs 6 crore and later found they were fake and worth only Rs 300.

According to police, Cherish, a US citizen, purchased the silver jewellery with gold polish from a shop at Johri Bazar in Jaipur. The ornaments were found to be counterfeit when she displayed them at an exhibition in the US in April this year, reported the Business Standard.

Cherish travelled to India and questioned Gaurav Soni, the shop owner. When he denied the allegations, she filed a police complaint and also sought assistance from the US embassy, the report said.

The Jaipur Police have launched an investigation while a search is on for Gaurav and his father Rajendra Soni, who have gone into hiding.

Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Bajrang Singh Shekhawat said a man named Nand Kishore, who allegedly issued a fake certificate of authenticity to the woman, has been arrested.

A few other reports claimed that Cherish met Gaurav on Instagram in 2022. Over the last two years, she paid Rs 6 crore for the artificial ornaments which she believed genuine.
A day after they were sworn in, the Union Ministers were allocated portfolios on Monday, which saw many senior leaders, including Amit Shah and Nirmala Sitharaman, retaining their portfolios. Many took to X to thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi for their new responsibility.

J P Nadda

Union Minister J P Nadda has promised to do everything to ensure better healthcare infrastructure and facilities, his first reaction since portfolio allocation.

The former BJP chief was allocated the portfolio of Union Health Ministry and Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, a day after he took oath as a cabinet minister in Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government.

He took to X to thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his induction into the Cabinet. "Grateful to Hon. PM Shri @narendramodi ji for trusting me with the roles of Minister of Health and Family Welfare, and Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers. Modi 3.O is steadfastly committed to the welfare of the people. In line with this, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) will make every effort to ensure better healthcare infrastructure and facilities, ensuring no one is left behind in receiving better treatment. Additionally, the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers will contribute to every extent to realizing PM Modi ji's vision of 'Viksit Bharat'," Nadda wrote on X.

Before he took over as the BJP President, Nadda had held the same portfolio in the Modi government's first term. His term ended in January. He was given a six-month extension to oversee the Lok Sabha 2024 elections. The 63-year old is the sole representative from Himachal Pradesh in the BJP-led government.

Rajnath Singh

Rajnath Singh, who retained the defence portfolio, too expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his continued trust and confidence in him.

"I shall continue to serve our motherland as India's Defence Minister," Singh said on 'X'. "Safeguarding India's border will remain our topmost priority and we shall continue protecting India's integrity & sovereignty. Under the visionary leadership of PM Modi we shall rededicate ourselves to strengthen 'Make in India' and take defence manufacturing & exports to greater heights," he added.

S Jaishankar

Retaining his position as the new External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar told reporters that it was an immense honour for him to be given the responsibility again.

"In the last term, this ministry performed exceptionally well. We delivered the G20 presidency. We took on the challenges of COVID including, Vaccine Maitri supplies. We also were the centre of crucial operations like Operation Ganga and Operation Kaveri. In the last decade, this ministry under the leadership of PM Modi has become a very people-centric ministry. You can see that in terms of our improved passport services, community welfare fund support that we give to Indians abroad," he said.

Ashwini Vaishnaw

Ashwini Vaishnaw is another minister who retained his post as Railway Minister. He told reporters that railways will have a very big role in the government. "In the last 10 years, PM Narendra Modi has done a lot of reforms in railways. Be it the electrification of railways, construction of new tracks, new types of trains, new services, or redevelopment of stations, these are the major achievements of PM Modi in the last 10 years. And the PM has kept railways in focus because the railway is the common man's mode of transport and a very strong backbone of our country's economy, so there is a lot of focus on railways," he said.

Bhupendar Yadav

Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav too thanked Modi for giving him the responsibility. "I will work with full readiness to discharge this responsibility. Mission LIFE was started by PM Modi in the Glasgow COP as a very big action program for the environmental crisis in the world. Today, Mission LIFE is going on all over the world with the help of sustainable development and mindful consumption. PM Modi's 'Ek ped maa ke naam' campaign should be done with utmost responsibility to keep our Earth green. Many steps have been taken by this ministry in the last 10 years under the leadership of PM Modi and we are moving ahead taking environment and development together," he added.

G Kishan Reddy

G Kishan Reddy, the new Union Minister from Telangana, too reacted to his appointment as the new Union Coal and Mines Minister, stating that he would make efforts to see that there is no shortage of coal in the country.

He said coal plays a key role in the country's development and he would hold discussions with officials to prepare a plan of action for the two departments and the agenda for 100 days. "There used to be power cuts in the country before Narendra Modi (became prime minister). The power cuts were due to the unavailability of coal and, lack of supply of coal. After Modi ji came, he unveiled a new India without power cuts by increasing coal production," Reddy said.

"The country is being made as one without power cuts by increasing power and grid connectivity in all states. Definitely, in the same direction, we will think of avoiding the shortage of coal and how to improve production in the days to come," he said.

Chirag Paswan

The LJP leader too took to X to announce his new responsibility. "Beginning of a new innings with new responsibilities under the leadership of the Prime Minister! I will give a new identity to the Union Ministry of Food Processing Industries in the country and the world with new technology," he said.
Four US instructors from Iowa's Cornell College teaching at Beihua University in northeastern China were stabbed in a public park on Tuesday. A 55-year-old suspect was arrested by the police relating to the incident.

The injured were rushed to a hospital for treatment. None suffered life-threatening injuries, said Lin Jian, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson. The instructors were on a daytime visit to the park when the attack occurred.

Cornell College President Jonathan Brand in a statement said that the instructors were attacked while in the park with a faculty member from Beihua.

Cornell spokesperson Jen Visser said in an email that the college was still gathering information about what happened.

The US State Department in a statement confirmed the incident and said it was monitoring the situation. The attack happened at a time when China and the US were seeking to break down cultural barriers and help bolster relations amid tensions over trade and existing issues with Taiwan.

Meanwhile, the police said that the attacker had bumped into one of the instructors and then attacked them and the three others with them.

A Chinese tourist was also injured while trying to help to stop the attacker, police added. The four were from Cornell College in the US state of Iowa and were teaching at a college in Jilin, police added.

Lin said China has taken effective measures to protect the safety of foreigners. We believe that the isolated incident will not disrupt normal cultural and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries, he added.
Malawi Vice President Saulos Klaus Chilima and nine others on board an aircraft that went missing on Monday were killed in a plane crash. President Lazarus Chakwera confirmed Chilima's death on Tuesday. The wreckage of the plane was located by the search team in a mountainous area in the north of the country.

It is assumed that poor visibility led to the crash. The military aircraft had left Lilongwe at 09:17 am and was scheduled to land at Mzuzu airport at 10:02 am. Reportedly, due to unfavourable weather conditions, the aircraft was asked to return to the capital but went off the radar.

The aircraft was described as a small, propeller-driven plane operated by the Malawian armed forces. Chakwera said that the air traffic controllers told the plane not to attempt a landing at Mzuzu's airport due to bad weather.

"I'm deeply saddened, I'm sorry to inform you all that it has turn out to be a terrible tragedy. The search and rescue team has found the aircraft near a hill... they have found it completely destroyed with no survivors," said Chakwera.

While addressing the nation, Chakwera also said that the crash occurred in a mountainous part of the Chikangawa Forest.

A massive search operation was launched after the VP's aircraft went missing. Around 600 personnel, including soldiers, police officers and forest rangers had been searching for the plane in the Viphya Mountains area, where it went missing.

Chilima was a potential presidential candidate in the upcoming elections in the country next year. He was arrested in 2022 over graft allegations, however, the charges were dropped after the case was withdrawn by the concerned party.
A day after India protested the display of a float depicting the assassination of late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in a Khalistani demonstration in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) last week, Canada reacted to the issue, stating violence is never acceptable.

Cameron MacKay, the High Commissioner for Canada in India, has reacted to the incident on X. His post read:"The Government of Canada is aware of further imagery displayed in Brampton on Sunday. Canadas position is clear: The promotion of violence is never acceptable in Canada."



The controversial float was displayed in a parade to mark the 40th anniversary of Operation Bluestar. It depicted an effigy of Indira Gandhi being fired upon by her bodyguards with a poster stating her punishment had been delivered on October 31, 1984. It also carried the photo of Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the caption, 'punishment waiting'.



The display also featured images of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a pro-Khalistan figure killed in Surrey, British Columbia on June 18, 2023.



India had sharply responded to the float with Indias High Commissioner to Ottawa, Sanjay Kumar Verma, urging all levels of government in Canada to take exemplary action against the public display of violence and hatred. Verma raised the issue with Global Affairs Canada, the countrys foreign ministry.



"Indian nationals living in Canada feel intimidated by such hatred being propagated. Unfortunately, this has happened in Canada time and again. Canadian systems and society have failed to put any cost on the perpetrators," Verma said.



This isn't the first time that such a float has been displayed. Last year, too Khalistani advocates in Canada displayed a float in a parade depicting the 1984 assassination of Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by her bodyguards. Video circulated had shown the tableau featuring Gandhi wearing a blood-stained white saree with her hands up as turban-clad men pointed guns at her. A poster behind the scene read: "Revenge".



Then, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar reacted to the issue, stating that was not good for India-Canada relationship. "I think there is a larger underlying issue about the space which is given to separatists, to extremists, to people who advocate violence," Jaishankar had reacted to the incident.


Kolkata, Jun 11 (PTI) The Indian online gaming industry, valued at over USD 3.5 billion on Monday urged the government to reconsider levying 28 per cent GST on Contest Entry Amount' (CEA) in order to save the domestic industry.

The Skill Online Games Institute (SOGI) argues that this high tax rate is stifling domestic companies and hindering the industry's potential for significant growth.



"The shift from 18 per cent on gross gaming revenue to CEA in October last is not just a financial burden on legitimate domestic platforms but also unintentionally bolstered illegal offshore betting and gambling activities," SOGI Founder President Amrit Kiran Singh said.



"There is a need for the re-assessment of GST policy to curve the unintended consequences of fostering illegal gambling and to support the growth of the domestic online gaming industry," he said.



Singh highlighted concerns that the high tax rate is driving Indian companies out of business, while foreign companies, particularly those from China where there is no such tax, are gaining a competitive edge.

"The government had agreed to review the GST rates on online gaming post-election and so we want it should be done after a complete study rather than looking into revenue spurt it has given due to the shift, " Singh said.



He urged the government that this review be done with a comprehensive understanding of the Indian and global online gaming landscape.



Singh also requested the government to consider the taxation models of other countries like the US, the UK, and China.



SOGI is also collaborating with the University of Oxford to study global regulations and tax structures for online gaming.



SOGI emphasizes the industry's potential for job creation and economic growth. The sector currently employs over 2 lakh people and has grown at a rapid pace of 35 per cent CAGR in the last five years.



With the right regulatory framework, SOGI believes the industry can grow five to sixfold in the near future.
New Delhi (India), June 11: TreeShade Books, a leading publishing house in Delhi, proudly announces the launch of Purple Lotus, the acclaimed debut novel by award-winning journalist and author Veena Rao, to Indian readers. Following its triumphant reception in the United States, this compelling narrative is now set to captivate audiences in India. The book has been launched simultaneously across online and offline stores all over India.



Purple Lotus was first published in the U.S. in 2020, where it received notable accolades including the 2021 American Fiction Award. The novel was also a finalist for the 2021 Georgia Author of the Year and the 2021 International Book Awards in both the multicultural and women's fiction categories. Additionally, it was the winner of the She Writes Press and SparkPress Toward Equality in Publishing (STEP) contest.



The story of Purple Lotus is a profound exploration of personal rebirth and resilience. It follows the life of Tara, an Indian woman who struggles against cultural constraints to discover her true self. Growing up in India, Tara faces neglect and isolation after her parents move to Dubai, leaving her in the care of a troubled uncle. Books become her solace during these formative years.



As an adult, Tara enters an arranged marriage with an Indian-American named Sanjay, who subsequently leaves her alone in India for three years before bringing her to America. Once there, she continues to face emotional and physical isolation, compounded by Sanjays lack of affection and frequent absences. Despite familial pressures to remain in her unhappy marriage, Tara begins to forge her own path through newfound friendships and financial independence. Her journey is a poignant testament to the power of love, family, and personal strength.



Reflecting on her experience while writing Purple Lotus,Veena Rao shared, Writing Purple Lotus was an intensely personal journey for me. I poured my heart into Taras story, drawing from the struggles and triumphs that many women face in their quest for identity and independence. I am thrilled to share this story with Indian readers and hope it resonates with them as deeply as it has with readers in the U.S.



Vikas Misra, Managing Editor, TreeShade Books shared his excitement about the launch, stating, "Veena Rao is an exceptionally talented storyteller with a distinctive voice. As an Indian American author, she offers a profound insight into cultural intricacies, exploring universal themes of identity and human connection through her writing. Purple Lotus is all set to win the hearts of readers in India, just as it has already done in the USA.



Veena Raos evocative storytelling in Purple Lotus has been widely praised for its emotional depth and cultural authenticity, making it a must-read for anyone interested in rich, character-driven narratives. Hailing from India but now calls the Southern United States her home, Veena is the founding editor of NRI Pulse, a popular news publication in Atlanta. She also holds the distinction of being recognized by The Limca Book of Records as the first Indian woman to edit and publish a newspaper outside India. Veena is passionate about promoting South Asian literary voices in the US through her news publication and as a board member of the Traveling South Asian Literary Festival.



To know more please visit: https://www.amazon.in/Purple-Lotus-Veena-Rao/dp/9395106204



(Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with PNN and PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same.). PTI PWR

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Mumbai, Jun 11 (PTI) The Maharashtra government held a road show in Bengaluru on Tuesday, seeking investments into the information technology and IT-enabled services sectors.

Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC)'s joint chief executive Anil Bhandari said the state, known to be one of the most industrially-developed in India, is targeting investments of Rs 95,000 crore in the sector as part of its IT policy adopted last year.

An event was organised at a hotel in Bengaluru -- which is referred as India's Silicon Valley for its IT sector prowess -- in association with industry lobby Assocham.

The event was attended by senior officials from companies like IBM, Adobe, Wipro, J P Morgan Chase and Linkedin, as per the agenda. It also had executives from several realty companies and brokerages.

Maharashtra's development commissioner for industries Deependra Singh Kushwah said the state is looking for investments in emerging technologies like internet of things, Artificial Intelligence, robotics, and augment and virtual reality, as per an Assocham statement.

"With various business-friendly policies, great connectivity, uninterrupted power and water supply and most importantly very talented workforce that will further drive the growth of the IT and ITeS sector in Maharashtra," Kushwah added.

Bhandari said the state, known to be the data centre hub of the country, is targeting to double the capacity in the next 4-5 years and also emphasized its potential to become a hub for global capability centres.

At present, several IT, ITeS and GCC (global capability centre) players are operating from Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur.

Assocham southern region council's chairman and Toyota Kirloskar's executive advisor T R Parsuraman said the chamber is delighted to welcome representatives from Maharashtra to explore opportunities in Karnataka.
New Delhi, Jun 11 (PTI) General insurance companies cannot reject claims for want of documents, the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (Irdai) said on Tuesday.

The master circular is part of reforms in the general insurance business, especially post-de-notification of all the tariffs and policy wordings, ushering in a new era of measures for simplified and customer-centric insurance solutions.

The comprehensive master circular on general insurance business also repeals 13 circulars.

Irdai said the provision of easy-to-understand insurance products tailored to meet the individual needs of the customers, providing them with ample choices and enhancing their insurance experience has now been enabled.

"No claim shall be rejected for want of documents. Required documents are to be called at the time of underwriting the proposal. The customer may be asked to submit only those documents necessary and related to claim settlement (if cashless is not available)," the circular said.

Further, retail customers can cancel the policy anytime by informing the insurer. The insurer can cancel the policy only on grounds of established fraud.

The insurer should refund a proportionate premium for the unexpired policy period on cancellation, the circular said.

Irdai has also provided strict timelines for the settlement of claims, including for the appointment of surveyors and submission of their reports.

It will be the duty of the insurer to obtain timely survey reports, Irdai said.

"Additional options of 'pay as you drive'/ 'pay as you go' to be given as a first choice to the customer in motor insurance," the circular said and added there should be no burden on the customer for disposal of salvage.

It further said that homeowners' "fire" policy should have the option to choose add-on covers such as flood, cyclone, earthquake, landslide, rockslide, terrorism or to opt-out from comprehensive fire and allied peril policy.

Insurers will also have to give a Customer Information Sheet (CIS) to provide clear and concise policy details, including scope of coverage, exclusions, warranties, and claim settlement processes.
New Delhi, Jun 11 (PTI) RSS pracharak and Haryana's former chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Tuesday took charge as union power minister in the Modi 3.0 government.

Khattar has replaced R K Singh who lost election from Arrah in Bihar.

After assuming charge of the ministry earlier in the morning, Khattar met heads of public sector undertakings in the power sector and other top brass of his ministry to understand the dynamics of the sector.

However, he did not offer any comments to media persons about the key challenges and his plan of action for at least next 100 days in the power sector.

As a power minister, Khattar will have to deal with various issues including high power demand and coal supply issues faced by electricity producers across the country.

The power demand has already touched an all-time high of 250 GW in May this year. Earlier, the ministry had projected that peak power demand was estimated to touch 260 GW during this summer.

Many power plants have been maintaining coal stock at lower than normative levels.

Khattar would have to work in close coordination with the ministries of coal as well as railways to ensure adequate supply of the dry fuel at all power stations across the country.

Coal-based thermal power still serves the base load to the national grid, despite having over 190 GW of renewable energy including large hydro (25 MW or above).

Khattar defeated Divyanshu Budhiraja of the Congress in Karnal constituency during the latest general election.

In 2014, Khattar became an MLA for the first time and took over as Chief Minister of Haryana. In March 2024, he was replaced by his confidante Nayab Singh Saini.

According to some accounts, Khattar is considered close to Prime Minister Narendra Modi with whom he worked in the BJP during 1990s.

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 for the first time, Khattar became the state's first non-Jat chief minister in nearly two decades, fracturing Jats' longstanding domination in 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 a rape case.

For his second stint as CM, which lasted four-and-a-half years, the BJP had to take support of JJP after it fell short of majority in 2019 assembly polls.

Khattar's second stint 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 credited for maintaining cordial relations with ally Jannayak Janta Party. However, JJP's tie-up with BJP ended after Khattar was removed from Haryana CM's post.

On the party's move to bring in Nayab Saini as CM in March, Khattar had said 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 a parliamentarian and a Union Minister.
New Delhi, Jun 11 (PTI) Senior Bihar BJP MP Giriraj Singh, who retained the Begusarai Lok Sabha seat, on Tuesday took charge as the Union Textiles Minister in the new Modi government.

Singh has replaced Union Minister Piyush Goyal, who retained the Commerce and Industry Ministry after winning the North Mumbai Lok Sabha seat.

As the Minister for Textiles, Singh is facing the challenge of facilitating the revival of exports from the sector, which registered a de-growth of 3.24 per cent to USD 34.4 billion in 2023-24 compared to USD 35.5 billion in FY23.

In 2021-22, outward shipments of textiles and apparel were recorded at over USD 41 billion.

"The country's textile sector has the maximum potential to create jobs. It also has a sizeable share in global exports. In the coming days, we will perform as per the country's aspirations under the Prime Minister's guidance because this sector is also linked to the farmer...I believe that the textile sector will play a crucial role in employment creation in the present and future as well," the minister said while speaking to reporters after assuming the charge.

Singh retained the Begusarai Lok Sabha seat in Bihar by a reduced margin of over 81,480 votes. He had shifted to Begusarai in 2019, giving up his sitting seat of Nawada, and defeated former JNU students' union leader and CPI candidate Kanhaiya Kumar by a staggering margin of over 4 lakh votes.

In this election, the Left party fielded former MLA Abdhesh Kumar Roy, who garnered 5.67 lakh votes against 6.49 lakh secured by the BJP incumbent.

As a member of the last Lok Sabha, he became the cabinet minister of the newly formed Ministry of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries. Later, he was shifted to the rural development ministry. Now, he has been made the minister for textiles.

The textile industry has around 45 million workers employed, including 3.5 million handloom workers.

India is the world's second-largest producer of textiles and garments. It is also the sixth-largest exporter of textiles, spanning apparel, home and technical products.

The country has a 4 per cent share of the global trade in textiles and apparel. The textiles and apparel industry contributes 2.3 per cent to the country's GDP, 13 per cent to industrial production and 12 per cent to exports.
Chandigarh, Jun 11 (PTI) Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Tuesday said the state government has evolved a foolproof mechanism to ensure uninterrupted power supply to farmers during the paddy sowing season.

He said the state government is firmly committed to ensure uninterrupted power supply to farmers during the paddy sowing period.

Mann on Tuesday chaired a meeting with the officers and said the government will ensure a minimum eight hours of electricity supply to farmers for sowing and irrigation of paddy crops.

The state will set a new benchmark by ensuring regular supply of power to farmers, he said in a statement.

The government has made comprehensive arrangements to meet the increased power demand in wake of the paddy season, he said, adding that the demand is much more than anticipated by the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited.

He also directed power utility companies PSPCL and the Punjab State Transmission Corporation Limited to ensure round-the-clock supply during the ongoing summer season and during paddy sowing period.

A time-bound redressal of power related complaints of farmers and other consumers through a round-the-clock mechanism with adequate manpower has been evolved, he said.

For effective redressal of complaints during the summer season, additional manpower has been deployed, said the CM.

Complaint centres have also been strengthened to ensure that farmers do not face any delay in redressal of their complaints and grievances, he added.
Jaipur, Jun 11 (PTI) Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma on Tuesday asked the energy department officials to ensure timely implementation of all the agreements signed with central government enterprises and other entities to provide uninterrupted power supply across the state.

For strengthening power supply in the state, the agreements signed with various power corporations and central undertakings should be completed on time so that the general public can get smooth and uninterrupted power supply, the chief minister said.

Through several pacts and power purchase agreements (PPAs) signed recently between the Rajasthan government and central government undertakings, power projects of more than 31,825 MW capacity will be established in the state with an investment of Rs 1.60 lakh crore.

The chief minister held a review meeting with the state energy department officials and directed them to monitor these projects on a daily basis.

Also, he said, there should be wide publicity of government schemes so that the general public, farmers and entrepreneurs can get the maximum benefits.

He said that in view of the state's geographical condition, the demand for electricity has been much more than the availability for the past several months. But with the recent agreements, the state government will be able to meet the electricity demand and Rajasthan will come under the category of states having surplus power.

The chief minister asked the officials to establish coordination with the central undertakings and be prepared to streamline the power supply to farmers during the coming rabi season.

In view of the upcoming rabi crop season, the department should keep its preparations complete so that farmers can get smooth power supply for irrigation, Sharma said.

The chief minister further said that his government is committed to provide electricity supply to farmers for irrigation and this goal can be achieved through PM Kusum Yojana.

He said that through this scheme, not only solar pumps will be installed for irrigation but employment will also be generated at local levels.

Each district collector should hold a meeting with the representatives of banks for financial assistance to the farmers in installing solar pumps, he said.

So far, about 3.63 lakh farmers have got the benefit of the scheme.

The chief minister said that the officials should make an action plan keeping in mind the demand of the next 10 years so that future demand can be included in the current projects.

He also issued guidelines for the installation of solar plants on the rooftop of government office premises.
Geneva, Jun 10 (AP) The number of internally displaced people in Sudan has reached more than 10 million as war drives about a quarter of the population from their homes, the UN migration agency told The Associated Press on Monday.

More than 2 million other people have been driven abroad, mostly to neighbouring Chad, South Sudan and Egypt, International Organisation for Migration spokesman Mohammedali Abunajela said. The IOM said the internally displaced include 2.8 million who fled their homes before the current war began.

Imagine a city the size of London being displaced. That's what it's like, but it's happening with the constant threat of crossfire, with famine, disease and brutal ethnic and gender-based violence, IOM Director-General Amy Pope said in a statement.

Sudan's latest conflict began in April last year when soaring tensions between the leaders of the military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces exploded into open fighting in the capital, Khartoum, and elsewhere in the country.

The war has wrecked Sudan, killing more than 14,000 people and wounding thousands of others, while pushing its population to the brink of famine.

Last month, the UN food agency warned the warring parties that there is a serious risk of widespread starvation and death in the vast western region of Darfur and elsewhere in Sudan if they don't allow in humanitarian aid.

Pope called for a unified response from the international community, saying less than one-fifth of the funds the IOM has sought for the response have been delivered.

Together, the number of refugees and internally displaced means that more than a quarter of Sudan's population of 47 million has fled. (AP) RUP

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Sofia (Bulgaria), Jun 11 (PTI) Cooperation between Indian journalists and their counterparts in Europe is an important step towards countering fake news spread on social media, the head of Bulgarias leading media organisation has said.

Kiril Valchev, the director general of the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA), spoke to PTI on Monday about a first-of-its-kind election coverage initiative involving the two leading news agencies.

While BTA covered the recently concluded Indian general election to create greater awareness about the worlds largest democratic exercise across the European Union (EU), PTI has been covering the European Parliament elections from the Bulgarian capital of Sofia.

It is very important to have the full picture and where is our place (in the world), explained Valchev.

This is the most important task of news agencies, to provide the facts, results of elections, and opinions of different political leaders. This is our answer to the problem of fake news and lies in social media. The only way to fight against fake news is with true, real news, he said.

The former lawyer who took over the role as head of the Bulgarian media house three years ago said he feels very strongly about fostering greater understanding between countries and cultures.

It is fair to say that we don't know each other very well. My goal is to add deeper information about each others countries to the global news output, he said.

As a first for BTA, Valchev presided over a mega post-election event at the news agencys headquarters in Sofia on Monday evening, during which reporters from each of the 27 EU member countries connected via video link to present the latest results tally for the European Parliament elections which concluded on Sunday.

We have been a member of the European Union since 2007, and this is the first time that we are doing this because we feel all Bulgarians must really feel like Europeans, he said.

The results, which are not expected to be officially declared till later in the week, were analysed by reporters on the ground across the capitals of all the EU member countries.

An overarching theme that emerged was one of voter apathy and low voter turnout, with a few exceptions, such as the Czech Republic and Hungary, where turnout was higher than in previous elections.

Professor Ingrid Shikova, one of the founders of the Department of European Studies at the St Kliment Ohridski University of Sofia, said that "social media and technology are the likely winners in these elections", adding that this phenomenon is not limited to Bulgaria alone.

"We see that those who are on YouTube, TikTok, etc, are winning," she told BTA in her analysis.

Shikova said that she talks to many young people, and the landscape is varied: "Some of them are seriously engaged, others are indifferent, but we can see that social media largely shapes the civic consciousness of young people, which is not ideal," she said, highlighting the need for more systematic civic education in society.
Wellington (New Zealand), Jun 11 (AP) New Zealand authorities offered a reward and immunity from prosecution on Tuesday to anyone who can help their search for three children who have been missing since their father vanished with them from a remote rural community more than two years ago.

The December 2021 disappearance of Tom Phillips and his children  now aged 8, 9 and 10  has confounded investigators. They are not believed to ever have travelled far from the remote rural settlement where they lived, but there have been no credible sightings of the family for months.

Police officers converged on the township, Marokopa, population 69, to seek fresh leads in a case that has fascinated the country of 5 million people.

Phillips is accused of committing an armed bank robbery while on the run in May 2023. He allegedly shot at a member of the public and fled on a motorbike with a passenger who investigators believe was one of his children. Phillips no longer has legal custody rights for his children, Acting Detective Inspector Andrew Saunders said at a news conference in the city of Hamilton, south of Auckland, on Tuesday.

These are not the actions of a good father, said Saunders. The children have not had access to formal education or healthcare since they went missing, he added, and police have concerns for the welfare of the children who have been living in isolation for the past two and a half years, with no connection to others".

Saunders said that a reward of 80,000 New Zealand dollars (USD 49,000)  large by New Zealand standards  and an offer of immunity from prosecution is targeted at people who already know the family's whereabouts. The authorities have long said they believe that Phillips has had help concealing his family.

The reward, approved by New Zealand's Commissioner of Police, expires in two weeks, Saunders said.

We don't want them waiting months and months to decide, he said. Come forward and tell us where the children are.

It is not the first time Phillips prompted national news headlines after disappearing with his children. The family went missing in September 2021, provoking a 3-week land and sea search after Phillips' truck was found abandoned on a wild beach near where he lived. Authorities eventually ended the search, concluding the family might have died, before Phillips and the children emerged from dense forest where he said they had been camping.

He was charged with wasting police resources and was due to appear in court in January 2022, but weeks before the scheduled date, he and the children vanished again. The police did not immediately launch a search because Phillips, who is experienced in the outdoors, had told family he was taking the children on another trip. He never returned.

Less than a year later, with the trail cold, the authorities said Phillips and the children might have moved elsewhere in New Zealand and changed their names. But the search began again after several sightings of Phillips in 2023 in the same region where he had vanished, including in the alleged bank robbery.

The children's mother was happy the reward had been offered, Saunders said. A spokesperson for the family could not be contacted for comment. (AP) PY

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Melbourne, Jun 11 (AP) China's Premier Li Qiang will visit Australia later this week, officials said on Tuesday, in a further indication that strained bilateral relations are improving.

Li's visit will extend from Saturday to Tuesday, and will be the first by a Chinese premier to Australia since 2017, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said.

Albanese and Li will hold an annual leaders' meeting at Parliament House in the Australian capital Canberra during the visit, an Australian government statement said.

Li, the second most powerful official in China's leadership, will also visit the Australian cities of Adelaide and Perth.

Li's visit follows Albanese's visit to Beijing in November last year, where leaders agreed to resume key bilateral dialogues and to further several areas of cooperation.

China imposed a series of official and unofficial trade barriers that cost Australian exporters up to 20 billion Australian dollars (USD 13 billion) a year after Australia's previous government demanded an international inquiry into the causes of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Most of those barriers have been removed since Albanese's government was elected in 2022.

Premier Li Qiang's visit to Australia is an important opportunity to engage directly on key issues for both our nations, Albanese said in a statement.

Australia continues to pursue a stable and direct relationship with China, with dialogue at its core," Albanese added. (AP) PY

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Singapore, Jun 11 (PTI) Singapore Airlines on Tuesday offered monetary compensation and a full refund of the airfare to the 211 passengers onboard the flag carrier's turbulence-hit London to Singapore flight last month, which led to the death of one passenger and injured many others.

On May 21, Flight SQ321 en route from London to Singapore encountered extreme turbulence. The Boeing 777-300ER aircraft was carrying 211 passengers and a crew of 18 when it made an emergency landing at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport.

Passengers and crew were thrown up to the plane's ceiling before falling back down, leading to the death of one man and injuries to dozens of others.

In a statement, the SIA said compensation offers were sent to passengers on Monday.

Those who sustained "minor injuries" from the incident were offered USD 10,000 (SGD 13,500) in compensation.

For those who sustained more serious injuries from the incident, we have invited them to discuss a compensation offer to meet each of their specific circumstances when they feel well and ready to do so, the statement said.

Passengers medically assessed as having sustained serious injuries, requiring long-term medical care, and requesting financial assistance are offered an advance payment of USD 25,000 to address their immediate needs," the SIA said.

"This will be part of the final compensation that these passengers will receive, it added.

A full refund of the airfare will be offered to all passengers of Flight SQ321, including those who did not suffer any injuries.

They would also receive delay compensation under the European Union or United Kingdom regulations, the SIA said.

No mention of compensation for the 18 crew members on board Flight SQ321 was made, according to a Channel News Asia report.

Singapores national carrier said it also provided all passengers with SGD 1,000 each upon departure from Bangkok to meet their immediate expenses.

It added that it covered the medical expenses of injured passengers and arranged for their family members to fly up to Bangkok when requested.

SIA remains committed to supporting the affected passengers who were on board SQ321, it said.

All affected passengers should have received their offers of compensation via email, along with information on how they may proceed with their claims, it added.

British passenger Geoff Kitchen, 73, died on board, likely because of a heart attack, while others suffered brain and spinal cord injuries.

A 52-year-old Australian dancer was left paralysed from the chest down due to severe spine injuries suffered on the flight.

Kerry Jordan suffered a break in her spine at the C7-T1 segment, which joins the neck with the upper back, reported the Adelaide-based newspaper The Advertiser.

She also suffered a brain bleed, fractures of the C1 and C2 vertebrae at the top of the spine, and fractured ribs.
The Hague (Netherlands), Jun 11 (AP) The International Criminal Court's chief prosecutor appealed on Tuesday for information and evidence of atrocities in Sudan, saying his ongoing investigation seems to disclose an organised, systematic and a profound attack on human dignity.

ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan released a video statement in the aftermath of an attack Sunday by the notorious Rapid Support Forces paramilitary group that forced the closure of a main hospital in the western Darfur region. The group fired shots and looted the hospital in al-Fasher, aid group Doctors Without Borders reported.

The attack came as the RSF, which has been fighting the Sudanese army for a year, intensified its offensive seeking to wrest control of the city, the military's last stronghold in the sprawling Darfur region. Two weeks of fighting last month in and around al-Fasher has killed more than 120 people.

The terrible events in West Darfur, including El-Geneina, in 2023 are among our key investigative priorities, Khan said. In addition, I am extremely concerned about allegations of widespread international crimes being committed in al-Fasher and its surrounding areas as I speak.



A long-running conflict

Sudan's conflict began in April last year when soaring tensions between the leaders of the military and the RSF erupted into fighting in the capital, Khartoum, and elsewhere in the country.

The war has killed more than 14,000 people and wounded thousands more, while pushing its population to the brink of famine. The UN food agency warned the warring parties last month that there is a serious risk of widespread starvation and death in Darfur and elsewhere in Sudan if they don't allow humanitarian aid into the region.

The war also created the world's largest displacement crisis as more than 10 million people have been forced to flee their homes, including over 2 million people who crossed into neighbouring countries, the UN migration agency told The Associated Press Monday.

Khan said he is urgently investigating in Sudan.

The evidence my office has collected to date seems to show credible, repeated, expanding, continuous allegations of attacks against the civilian population, in particular, attacks directed against camps for internally displaced persons, he said.

It seems to show the widespread, prevalent use of rape and other forms of sexual violence. It seems to disclose consistently the shelling of civilian areas, the looting of properties and attacks against hospitals, he added, stressing that he was particularly concerned by the ethnically motivated nature of these attacks against the Masalit and other communities.



The ICC already has an ongoing investigation in Sudan

The ICC has long been investigating atrocities in Sudan, dating back to a previous devastating conflict in Darfur. The court has issued arrest warrants for former Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir on charges including genocide allegedly committed in Darfur between 2003-2008.

The RSF was born out of Arab militias, commonly known as Janjaweed, mobilised by al-Bashir against non-Arab tribes in Darfur. At the time, they were accused of mass killings, rapes and other atrocities, and Darfur became synonymous with genocide.

Khan referred back to the previous conflict in his message Tuesday.

It is an outrage that we are allowing history to repeat itself once again in Darfur, he said. We cannot and we must not allow Darfur to become the world's forgotten atrocity, once again. (AP) PY

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Geneva, Jun 11 (AP) The UN human rights office is citing possible war crimes by Israeli forces and Palestinian armed groups in connection with a deadly raid by Israeli forces that freed four hostages over the weekend.

Office spokesman Jeremy Laurence expressed concerns about possible violations of rules of proportionality, distinction and precaution by the Israeli forces in Saturday's raid at the urban Nuseirat refugee camp.

Palestinian health officials say at least 274 Palestinians, including dozens of women and children, were killed in the operation.

Laurence said Palestinian armed groups who are holding hostages in densely populated areas are putting the lives of nearby civilians and the hostages at added risks from the hostilities. (AP) GRS

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Jerusalem, Jun 11 (AP) Hamas said that one of its commanders in the occupied West Bank was killed in a clash with Israeli forces, while Israel said four soldiers were killed in an explosion in Rafah.

In a statement released late Monday, Hamas said Mohammed Jaber Abdo was killed along with three other fighters in a village near Ramallah, where the Western-backed Palestinian Authority is headquartered.

A joint statement by the Israeli army and police earlier on Monday said undercover forces had tracked down a suspect wanted in an attack on a nearby Jewish settlement.

Violence has surged in the West Bank since the start of the war in Gaza, which was ignited by Hamas' October 7 attack into southern Israel.

Over 530 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire in the West Bank since then, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. Most were killed during violent protests or Israeli arrest raids, which often trigger gunbattles.

Israeli media, citing unnamed security officials, reported that four soldiers were killed Monday when explosives they were using to clear the building were triggered prematurely, causing it to collapse, killing four soldiers and wounding 11. Hamas said that it had booby trapped the building and attacked the soldiers with mortars after the explosion.

On Tuesday, the UN human rights office said both Israeli forces and Palestinian armed groups may have committed war crimes in connection with a deadly raid by Israeli forces that freed four hostages and killed at least 274 Palestinians over the weekend.

Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza has killed more than 36,730 people, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between combatants and civilians in its count. Palestinians are facing widespread hunger because the war has largely cut off the flow of food, medicine and other supplies. UN agencies say over 1 million in Gaza could experience the highest level of starvation by mid-July.

Israel launched the war after Hamas' October 7 attack, in which militants stormed into southern Israel, killed some 1,200 people  mostly civilians  and abducted about 250.



Currently:

 The UN human rights office says Israeli forces and Palestinian armed groups may have committed war crimes during the Nuseirat raid that freed four hostages and killed at least 274 Palestinians

 Blinken returns to Mideast as Israel-Hamas cease-fire proposal hangs in balance after hostage rescue

 How an Israeli raid freed 4 hostages and killed at least 274 Palestinians in Gaza

 What does Israel's rescue of 4 captives, and the killing of 274 Palestinians, mean for truce talks?

 Centrist Benny Gantz is quitting Israel's war Cabinet, citing frustrations with Netanyahu



Here's the latest:



Former hostage Noa Argamani released from hospital

TEL AVIV, Israel  A well-known Israeli hostage who was rescued in a deadly raid into Gaza over the weekend has been discharged from a Tel Aviv hospital.

The Ichilov Hospital said Noa Argamani, 26, was released on Tuesday after undergoing physical and psychological exams.

Argamani will be staying close to the hospital, where her mother, Liora, is receiving treatment for terminal brain cancer.

Argamani emerged as an icon of the hostage crisis after her capture during Hamas' October 7 attack was caught on video. She screamed Don't kill me! as she was forced onto a motorbike.

Her mother had pleaded for her release, saying she wanted to see her only child again before she died. Yaakov Argamani, Noa's father, told Israeli media that Liora is in a very difficult situation and barely registered seeing Noa for the first time.

Argamani was rescued Saturday along with three other hostages. None had serious physical injuries, and the other three were discharged on Monday.

The Gaza Health Ministry said 274 Palestinians were killed and around 700 were wounded during the raid. The Israeli military said it carried out intensive strikes when a firefight erupted as the rescuers withdrew.

Hamas and other militants are still holding some 120 hostages, around a third of whom are believed to have died.



UN cites possible war crimes by Israeli forces and Palestinian armed groups

The UN human rights office is citing possible war crimes by Israeli forces and Palestinian armed groups in connection with a deadly raid by Israeli forces that freed four hostages over the weekend and killed hundreds of Palestinians.

Office spokesman Jeremy Laurence expressed concerns about possible violations of rules of proportionality, distinction and precaution by the Israeli forces in Saturday's raid at the urban Nuseirat refugee camp.

Palestinian health officials say at least 274 Palestinians, including dozens of women and children, were killed in the operation.

Laurence said Palestinian armed groups who are holding hostages in densely populated areas are putting the lives of nearby civilians and the hostages at added risks from the hostilities.

All these actions by both parties may amount to war crimes, he told a regular UN briefing in Geneva.



Blinken says world supports US ceasefire plan

TEL AVIV, Israel  Secretary of State Antony Blinken says the UN Security Council's vote in favor of a Gaza cease-fire plan made it as clear as it possibly could be that the world supports the US-backed proposal to end the fighting.

He spoke to reporters in Tel Aviv on Tuesday after meeting with Israeli officials. Blinken said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had reaffirmed his commitment to the proposal when they met late Monday.

Everyone's vote is in, except for one vote, and that's Hamas, Blinken said.

The proposal, announced by President Joe Biden last month, calls for a three-phase plan in which Hamas would release the rest of the hostages in exchange for a lasting cease-fire and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.

The group is still holding around 120 hostages, a third of whom are believed to be dead.

Biden presented it as an Israeli proposal and urged Hamas to accept it. But Netanyahu has publicly disputed key aspects of it, saying Israel won't end the war without destroying Hamas and returning all the hostages.

Hamas has not yet formally responded to the proposal. The militant group welcomed the UN resolution and supports the broad outline of the agreement but has demanded assurances it will be implemented.

Hamas spokesman Jihad Taha said Tuesday that efforts are continuing to study and clarify some matters to ensure implementation by the Israeli side. He says Israel is stalling and procrastinating and creating obstacles in order to continue the aggression.

On Monday, the UN Security Council voted overwhelmingly to approve the proposal, with 14 of the 15 members voting in favor and Russia abstaining. The resolution calls on Israel and Hamas to fully implement its terms without delay and without condition.



4 Israeli soldiers killed in explosion in Rafah

TEL AVIV, Israel  The Israeli military says four soldiers died in an explosion in the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip.

Israeli media, citing unnamed security officials, reported that the soldiers were killed Monday when explosives they were using to clear the building were triggered prematurely, causing it to collapse, killing four soldiers and wounding 11.

The Hamas militant group said it had booby-trapped the building and attacked the soldiers with mortar rounds after the explosion.

The military targeted the building because they believed there was a Hamas operative inside who was involved in the 2006 kidnapping of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, who was held in Gaza for five years, according to Israeli media.

Israel launched what it says is a limited ground operation in parts of Rafah in early May. Some 1 million Palestinians, most of them already displaced from other parts of Gaza, have fled the offensive in Rafah. The United Nations estimates as few as 2,00,000 to 3,00,000 people still remain in the city.

The military says at least 298 soldiers have been killed since the start of the Gaza ground operation following Hamas' October 7 attack into southern Israel that triggered the war.



Hamas commander killed in West Bank clash

RAMALLAH, West Bank  Hamas says one of its commanders in the occupied West Bank was killed in a clash with Israeli forces.

In a statement released late Monday, Hamas said Mohammed Jaber Abdo was killed along with three other fighters in a village near Ramallah, where the Western-backed Palestinian Authority is headquartered. It said Abdo had spent 20 years in Israeli prisons.

A joint statement by the Israeli army and police earlier on Monday said undercover forces had tracked down a suspect wanted in an attack on a nearby Jewish settlement.

It said that the man was hiding in a compound with three other suspects and that forces opened fire when they tried to run them over with a car and flee. It said weapons were found in the car.

Violence has surged in the West Bank since the start of the war in Gaza, which was ignited by Hamas' October 7 attack into southern Israel.

Over 530 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire since then, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. Most were killed during violent protests or Israeli arrest raids, which often trigger gunbattles.

Israel captured the West Bank, Gaza and east Jerusalem in the 1967 Mideast war. The Palestinians want all three territories for their future state. (AP) NPK

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Tel Aviv, Jun 11 (AP) US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met Monday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his latest trip to the Middle East, where America's top diplomat urged approval of a cease-fire proposal that faced new uncertainty following Israel's hostage rescue operation that killed many Palestinians and turmoil in Netanyahu's government.

With no firm public response yet from Hamas or Israel to the proposal they received 10 days ago, Blinken started his eighth visit to the region since the conflict began in October by meeting with President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi of Egypt, a key mediator with the militant Hamas group. He then flew to Israel for talks with Netanyahu and other Israeli officials.

Blinken once again called on Hamas to accept the plan, which he said has wide international support.

If you want a cease-fire, press Hamas to say yes, he told reporters before leaving Cairo on the trip that also will take him to Jordan and Qatar. Blinken said Israel has accepted the proposal, though Netanyahu has expressed skepticism.

I know that there are those who are pessimistic about the prospects, Blinken said, putting the onus on Hamas. That's understandable. Hamas continues to show extraordinary cynicism in its actions, a disinterest not only in the well-being and security of Israelis but also Palestinians.

While President Joe Biden, Blinken and other US officials have praised the rescue of four Israeli hostages on Saturday, the operation resulted in the deaths of 274 Palestinian civilians and may complicate the cease-fire push by emboldening Israel and hardening Hamas' resolve to carry on fighting in the war that started with its October 7 attack in Israel.

Blinken said the plan is the single best way to get to a cease-fire, release the remaining hostages and improve regional security.

In his talks with el-Sissi, Blinken also discussed plans for post-conflict governance and reconstruction in Gaza.

It's imperative that there be a plan, and that has to involve security, it has to involve governance, it has to involve reconstruction, Blinken said.

Netanyahu and his government have resisted calls for any day after plan that would bar Israel from having some form of security presence in the territory. Blinken said he would urge Israel to come up with alternatives that would be acceptable.

It would be very good if Israel put forward its own ideas on this, and I'll be talking to the government about that, he said. But one way or another, we've got to have these plans, we've got to have them in place, we've got to be ready to go if we want to take advantage of a cease-fire.

The three-phase plan calls for the release of more hostages and a temporary pause in hostilities that will last as long as it takes to negotiate the second phase, which aims to bring the release of all hostages, a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza" and a permanent end to hostilities, according to an American-drafted resolution put before the U.N. Security Council. The third phase calls for reconstruction in Gaza.

The Security Council voted Monday to approve the resolution, which welcomes the proposal and urges Hamas to accept it. The vote on the US-sponsored resolution was 14-0, with Russia abstaining.

But Hamas may not be the only obstacle.

Although the deal has been described as an Israeli initiative and thousands of Israelis have demonstrated to support it, Netanyahu has expressed skepticism, saying what has been presented publicly is not accurate and that Israel is still committed to destroying Hamas.

Netanyahu's far-right allies have threatened to collapse his government if he implements the plan. Benny Gantz, a popular centrist, resigned on Sunday from the three-member War Cabinet after saying he would do so if the prime minister did not formulate a new plan for postwar Gaza.

In the aftermath of the hostage rescue, Netanyahu had urged him not to step down.

Blinken has met with Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, Gantz and Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid on nearly all his previous trips to Israel. Officials said Blinken is expected to meet with Gantz on Tuesday.

Despite Blinken's roughly once-a-month visits to the region since the war began, the conflict has ground on with more than 37,120 Palestinians killed, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not differentiate between civilians and combatants in its counts. Hamas and other militants killed some 1,200 people in the Oct. 7 attack, mostly civilians, and took around 250 people hostage.

The war has severely hindered the flow of food, medicine and other supplies to the Palestinians in Gaza, who are facing widespread hunger. UN agencies say more than 1 million people in the territory could experience the highest level of starvation by mid-July.

In Jordan, Blinken will take part in an emergency international conference on improving the flow of aid to Gaza. (AP) RPA
Atlanta, Jun 10 (AP) The king and queen of the Netherlands began a four-day tour of the US on Monday in Atlanta, where they paid tribute to the late Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. and learned about the history of the church where he served as pastor.

King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima were also scheduled to visit a music studio in the city that is a hub for hip hop artists.

The visit  and its focus on Black cultural sites  comes less than a year after the king apologized for his country's role in slavery and asked for forgiveness during a historic and emotional speech in Amsterdam.

At the King Center, Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s daughter, Bernice King, greeted the king and queen and walked with them to a marble crypt containing the remains of her father and mother, Coretta Scott King, where the couple lay a wreath. Civil rights leader and former Atlanta Mayor Andrew Young also attended the event.

Willem-Alexander called the visit deeply moving for the couple and said the drive for emancipation among people of color was a story of pain and anger, but also one of pride, solidarity and the steadfast belief in peace and reconciliation.

In the Netherlands, too, the fight against discrimination and racism continues to command our full attention," he said, reading from prepared remarks. "Martin Luther King inspires us never to give up. His voice continues to resonate even across the Atlantic.

The couple later met with Black students at Ebenezer Baptist Church, where they learned about the church's role in the civil rights movement and the fight for racial justice. On Tuesday, they are scheduled to visit Savannah State University, the oldest public historically Black college or university in Georgia.

The trip also has an economic motive. In 2023, total trade between Georgia and the Netherlands was $2.9 billion, according to the Georgia Department of Economic Development.

The king and queen met earlier Monday with Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp at the state Capitol, where they and a delegation of Dutch business leaders planned to discuss economic cooperation.

They were scheduled to be on hand later for the opening of a new cold storage facility by Dutch company NewCold.

On Tuesday, they plan to visit the Port of Savannah. The trip concludes with a visit to New York on Wednesday and Thursday.(AP)



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London, Jun 10 (AP) Meta wants to use data from users in privacy-conscious Europe to train its artificial intelligence models, the social media giant said Monday as it faces concerns about data protection while battling to keep up with rivals like OpenAI and Google.

The company, which owns Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, said that in order to better reflect the languages, geography and cultural references" of its users in Europe, it needs to use public data from those users to teach its Llama AI large language model.

Meta's AI training efforts are hampered by stringent European Union data privacy laws, which give people control over how their personal information is used. Vienna-based group NOYB, led by activist Max Schrems, complained last week to 11 national privacy watchdogs about Meta's AI training plans and urged them to stop the company before it starts training Llama's next generation.

AI language models are trained on vast pools of data that help them predict the most plausible next word in a sentence, with newer versions typically smarter and more capable than their predecessors. Meta's AI assistant feature has been baked into Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp for users in the U.S. and 13 other countries, but notably not Europe.

If we don't train our models on the public content that Europeans share on our services and others, such as public posts or comments, then models and the AI features they power won't accurately understand important regional languages, cultures or trending topics on social media, Stefano , global engagement director of Meta's privacy policy, said in blog post.

We believe that Europeans will be ill-served by AI models that are Frattanot informed by Europe's rich cultural, social and historical contributions.

Fratta said other companies including Google and OpenAI have already trained on European data. Meta won't use private messages to friends and family nor content from European users who are under 18, he said.

Since May 22, the company has sent 2 billion notifications and emails to European users explaining its plans and linking to an online form to opt out, Fratta said.

The latest version of Meta's privacy policy is set to take effect on June 26, indicating that training for the next model will start soon after. (AP)



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Beijing, Jun 11 (PTI) Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Tuesday congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his re-election for a third term, saying Beijing is willing to work with New Delhi to "push forward bilateral relations in the right direction".

Li said in a message that the sound and steady development of China-India relations is not only conducive to the well-being of the two peoples but also injects stability and positive energy into the region and the world, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

Li said, "China is willing to work with India to push forward bilateral relations in the right direction.

Modi was sworn in as prime minister on Sunday for a record-equalling third term, heading the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry on June 5 congratulated Prime Minister Modi on the victory of the BJP-led NDA coalition in the general elections, saying that both countries should look to the future to advance bilateral relations, frozen since the Galwan incident four years ago, on a healthy and stable track.

Relations between the two countries hit a low except for trade ever since the eastern Ladakh border standoff erupted on May 5, 2020, following a violent clash in the Pangong Tso (lake) area near Galwan.

"We noted the results of India's general election and extend congratulations on the victory of the BJP led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the National Democratic Alliance," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told a media briefing here.

A healthy and stable China-India relationship is in the interest of both the countries, and conducive to the peace and development in this region and beyond, Mao said while responding to a question by the official media seeking China's comment on Modi's win.

China stands ready to work with India to act in the fundamental interests of the two countries and the two peoples, bear in mind the overall interest of our ties, look to the future and advance bilateral relations on a healthy and stable track, she said.

A day after that China protested over Prime Minister Modi's comment that he looked forward to having closer ties with Taiwan.

Modi's remarks came in response to a congratulatory message from Taiwan President Lai Ching-te on his election victory.

China views Taiwan as a rebel province that must be reunified with the mainland even by force.

India is pressing the People's Liberation Army to disengage from the Depsang and Demchok areas, maintaining that there cannot be restoration of normalcy in its relations with China as long as the state of the borders remains abnormal.

For its part, China continues to maintain that the boundary question does not represent the entirety of China-India relations, and it should be placed appropriately in bilateral relations and managed properly.

Once the Modi government begins its third term, attention is expected to turn to holding the 22nd round of Corps Commander-level talks to resolve the deadlock over the disengagement in the Depsang and Demchok areas to revive the relations.

Ahead of India's parliament elections, China last month appointed senior diplomat Xu Feihong as its new Ambassador to New Delhi after 18 months of delay.
Mumbai, Jun 10 (PTI) Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray held a meeting with party functionaries on Monday here as part of the strategy for the Maharashtra Assembly polls to be held in the second half of the year.

The party won nine seats in the Lok Sabha polls, though it had contested from 21 of the 48 constituencies in the state.

The meeting was attended by party functionaries, including district heads and other key persons.
Bhopal, June 11 (PTI) The Madhya Pradesh cabinet on Tuesday congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi for assuming the top post in the country for the third time in a row.

It also congratulated Chief Minister Mohan Yadav for the ruling BJP's stellar performance in the state in the Lok Sabha elections.

"In this Lok Sabha election, Madhya Pradesh has set a record with the BJP winning all 29 Lok Sabha seats for the first time...the cabinet congratulated chief minister Mohan Yadav for the feat," state Urban Administration and Development Minister and cabinet spokesperson Kailash Vijaywargiya told reporters.

"In the assembly elections, we had won 163 seats, but in the parliamentary elections, the BJP took lead in 260 assembly segments. Average victory (margin) was nearly 3.5 lakh," he said, noting that the party's vote share in the state stood at 61 per cent.

Modi was the first prime minister born after independence to achieve the feat of winning three consecutive terms, the BJP leader noted.

"A person, who was born in an ordinary family, has become PM for a third term. This is a big achievement and therefore we congratulated him also," Vijayvargiya said.

The state cabinet also congratulated the six Madhya Pradesh MPs who were sworn in as Union ministers, and expressed expectation that they will contribute to the state's development.

Shivraj Singh Chouhan (MP from Vidisha), Jyotiraditya Scindia (Guna), Virendra Kumar (Tikamgarh), Savitri Thakur (Dhar), Durga Das Uikey (Betul) and L Murugan (Rajya Sabha MP) have been inducted into the Union cabinet.

Tamil Nadu-born Murugan was elected to the upper house from Madhya Pradesh.
Pune, Jun 11 (PTI) NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar on Tuesday expressed hope that the BJP-led NDA government will remain stable and initiate economic measures to bolster trade and business.

Addressing traders in Baramati, Pawar maintained that he didn't reflect now on his criticism by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during election campaign and that his focus will be to boost trade and economy in the region with suitable help.

"In politics, differences are there, but the economy should be solid. A strong economy boosts trade and businesses, and today we all expect the same. I hope the government will remain stable and it will take steps to strengthen the economy of the country," Pawar said.



Highlighting the election results in Baramati Lok Sabha constituency, Pawar noted that out of 1,250 booths, 1,190 gave a lead to the NCP (SP) candidate, underscoring the voters' discernment.

"This wisdom of voters has been evident not only in this election but since 1967," he added.

In a riveting contest, Pawar's daughter and sitting MP Supriya Sule defeated her sister-in-law Sunetra Pawar, wife of Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, from Baramati.

Pawar mentioned that even New York newspapers reported on the Baramati polls.

"Conflicts happen during poll campaign. We criticised them, (PM Narendra) Modi also criticised us. Modi targeted me personally but I don't think about it now. To boost trade, business and economy, I will take the help of them. I don't feel any hesitation in doing so and I need you to be mentally prepared," Pawar told the traders.

Despite some clarifications given about the cancellation of a traders' meet during elections, Pawar dismissed these concerns as unimportant.

"For me, what is important is how I can bring about transformation in the lives of people who voted in large numbers. During the elections, a lot of things were published and telecast, but I remained silent as I knew that people of Baramati are wise, and that wisdom was evident during the voting at the polling booths," he added.

He hailed the Maha Vikas Aghadi's performance in recent polls which contested 48 seats and won 30 in Maharashtra.

Pawar also underlined the need to leverage public wisdom for the betterment of the state and stressed the importance of focusing on the upcoming assembly polls and boosting trade and businesses.

Citing the success of the IT Park in Hinjewadi, which now exports Rs 11,000 crore and employs over 3 lakh people, Pawar recalled how he advocated for setting an IT industry over a sugar mill in that area.

"It became possible because of a qualified generation and steps taken by the then government. Today, where the IT industry is located in Hinjewadi, a sugar mill was supposed to be set up and I was called for the ground breaking ceremony. I performed the ceremony, but I told the gathering that I wanted to set up an IT industry here and not a sugar mill," he said.



"We have now decided to bring big investments to Baramati, Purandar, Indapur, Daund so that more and more people get employment, and for that, I need your cooperation," Pawar added.

He emphasised the need to separate politics from economic initiatives.

"I am working on a dedicated plan for the same, and we will talk to experts, state, and Central government," he added.

Modi had dubbed Pawar a "bhatakti aatma" (wandering soul) during the poll campaign.

After Lok Sabha poll results were declared, Pawar hit back at Modi, saying, "It is good since the soul is eternal and this soul will not spare you".
New Delhi, Jun 11 (PTI) RITES Ltd, a premier transport infrastructure consultancy firm, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Eastern Railway's Andal Diesel Shed, Asansol Division, West Bengal.

This MoU sets up a framework for collaboration on major schedule repair and maintenance of Diesel-Electric Locomotives owned by RITES and other clients at the Andal Diesel Shed facility, a press statement from RITES said.

The partnership aims at streamlining the repair and maintenance process for diesel locomotives. As part of this collaboration, RITES will secure or identify business opportunities for higher schedule repairs, while the Andal Diesel Shed will execute the maintenance work, it said.
New Delhi, Jun 10 (PTI) The BRICS nations on Monday expressed grave concern over the "unprecedented" escalation of violence in the Gaza Strip as a result of Israeli military operations and reaffirmed their support for Palestine's full membership in the United Nations.

At a meeting in Russia's Nizhny Novgorod, the BRICS foreign ministers reiterated the grouping's unwavering commitment to the vision of a two-state solution to the Palestine issue based on international law.

Secretary (Economic Relations) in the Ministry of External Affairs Dammu Ravi represented India at the crucial meeting.

The BRICS comprises Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Ethiopia, Iran, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates.

"The ministers expressed grave concern at the deterioration of the situation in the occupied Palestinian territory, in particular the unprecedented escalation of violence in the Gaza Strip as a result of the Israeli military operation that led to mass civilian displacement, death and casualties," a joint statement issued at the end of the meeting said.

BRICS is an acronym for original members of the grouping -- Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

The grouping also called for immediate, safe and unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian civilian population throughout the Gaza Strip.

It also pressed for the effective implementation of the UN Security Council resolution 2728 for an immediate, durable and sustained ceasefire.

The foreign ministers "equally called for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages and civilians who are being illegally held captive".

They expressed grave concern over increasing attacks by Israel in Rafah, saying it would compound the "dire" humanitarian situation.

"The Ministers further condemned the Israeli military operation in Rafah and its ramifications that directly impact the civilian lives, especially in view of the high density of Palestinian civilians in this location," the statement said.

An Israeli airstrike last month killed 45 people at a camp for displaced people in Rafah that triggered massive global outrage.

"They also reaffirmed their rejection of any attempt aiming at forcefully displacing, expelling or transferring the Palestinian people from their land," it said.

"Furthermore, they cautioned against the spill over effects of escalation of tensions to the rest of the Middle East region. They acknowledged the provisional measures of the International Court of Justice in the legal proceedings instituted by South Africa against Israel," it said.

The ministers expressed "serious concern at Israel's continued blatant disregard of international law, the UN Charter, UN resolutions and Court orders", according to the statement.

Israel has been continuing its military offensive in Gaza as part of its retaliation to the unprecedented attack on Israeli cities by Hamas on October 7.

Hamas killed around 1,200 people in Israel and kidnapped more than 220 others some of whom were released during a brief ceasefire.

Over 35,000 people have been killed in Gaza in the Israeli offensive, according to Hamas-run authorities in Gaza.

India has been calling for de-escalation of the situation and creating conditions for an early resumption of direct peace negotiations towards a two-state solution to the Palestine issue.
New Delhi, Jun 11 (PTI) AAP asked the ruling NDA constituents TDP and JD(U) on Monday to ensure the Lok Sabha Speaker is from one of the two parties, and said this would be in their interests as well as that of the Constitution and democracy.

At a press conference here, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh said the opposition INDIA bloc will have a crucial role to play in case the Telugu Desham Party (TDP) fields its candidate for the Lok Sabha Speaker post without the BJP's support.

Singh said the BJP gave "jhunjhuna" (less important ministries) to its National Democratic Alliance (NDA) partners while keeping all the important ministries to itself.

"I will urge parties like the Janta Dal(United) and the TDP to at least have the Speaker from your party. This will be in the interest of your party as well as the Constitution and democracy," he said.

The INDIA bloc should consider the possibility of the TDP fielding its candidate for the Lok Sabha Speaker post, Singh said.

"If the TDP fields its candidate, the role of INDIA constituents, including the Congress, will be very crucial," he said.

AAP, a constituent of the INDIA bloc, contested 22 Lok Sabha seats across Delhi Punjab, Haryana, Gujarat and Assam. It managed to win just three seats in Punjab and lost the rest. It had contested the seats in Delhi in alliance with the Congress.

The BJP-led NDA formed its government at the Centre for the third time in a row, winning 293 Lok Sabha seats out of 543, while the INDIA bloc bagged 234.
New Delhi, Jun 11 (PTI) A 17-year-old minor girl was allegedly raped by her stepfather in south Delhi, police said on Tuesday.

A woman reported the incident on Monday claiming her daughter was raped by her second husband in 2019, the police said.

"The caller stated that they used to live in Mumbai earlier where her first husband left her and she solemnised second marriage. After that, she came to Delhi with her child and started residing in the Sangam Vihar area and married another man, who allegedly raped her daughter in 2019 and fled away and then never returned," a senior police officer said.

The caller told the police that she did not report the incident then, they said.

"We have registered an FIR under section 376 (rape) and section 6 of the POCSO Act and investigation is undergoing," the officer said.


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Rishi Sunak doesnt know whether hell still be Britains prime minister the day after next months election. Theres nothing unusual about that.

What is unusual is that hes been forced to deny rumors he could quit even before polling day, amid alarm inside the governing Conservative Party over Sunaks lackluster campaign.

Sunak gets a chance  maybe one of his last  to change the narrative on Tuesday when he releases the Conservatives manifesto, a handbook of policies that forms each U.K. partys blueprint for power.

Despite gloomy polls and bruising headlines, Sunak insists the election is not a foregone conclusion and says resigning has not crossed his mind.

People are going to say what theyre going to say, he told reporters on Monday. The reality is Im not going to stop going, Im not going to stop fighting for peoples votes, Im not going to stop fighting for the future of our country.

The Conservative manifesto is likely to include promised cuts to personal taxes, a chance for Sunak to repeat his claim that a government led by Labours Keir Starmer would raise taxes while a Conservative one would lower them. The Labour Party points out that the tax burden has risen to its highest level in decades during 14 years of Tory rule.

On July 4 British voters will elect lawmakers to fill all 650 seats in the House of Commons, and the leader of the party that can command a majority  either alone or in coalition  will become prime minister.

Sunaks surprise decision to call a summer election  several months earlier than most people expected, even those in his own party  was intended partly to catch the opposition unprepared.

But its the Conservatives who have seemed off-balance from the moment Sunak stood outside 10 Downing St. in the rain on May 22 to announce the start of the campaign.

The Conservatives were already on the defensive after jettisoning two prime ministers without an election in quick succession in 2022: first Boris Johnson, felled by scandals, then Liz Truss, who rocked the economy with drastic tax-slashing plans and lasted just seven weeks in office.

The partys prospects worsened last week when populist firebrand Nigel Farage announced that he would run for Parliament at the helm of the right-wing party Reform U.K., vowing to be a bloody nuisance to the established parties.

While Reform, with its anti-establishment and anti-immigration rhetoric, is aiming to attract disaffected voters from both Conservatives and Labour, its likely to take more votes from Sunaks party.

The intervention of Farage has made it even less likely that Rishi Sunak will remain in Downing Street than was already the case  minimal though those prospects were, said John Curtice, professor of politics at the University of Strathclyde.

Sunak then flew home early from commemorations in France of the 80th anniversary of D-Day so he could resume campaigning. The photos of centenarian World War II veterans and an array of world leaders including U.S. President Joe Biden attending the solemn ceremony on Omaha Beach without him were a publicity nightmare.

Sunak quickly realized his error and apologized.

Paul Goodman, a former Conservative lawmaker who is now a member of the House of Lords, said the irony is that apart from the D-Day gaffe, the Conservatives have run a perfectly decent, conventional campaign, but have little to show for it.

Theyve launched lots of policies, theyve had some hits on Labour, he said. Rishi Sunak actually did pretty well in the debate (against Starmer) last week.  All of this appears to have made no difference at all.

Labour, eyeing a return to power after 14 years in opposition, is running a cautious campaign centered on the single word change. Starmers core message  which dismays some in his left-of-center party  is that he has transformed Labour from its high-taxing, big-spending days into a party of the stable center.

Politics is a relative business, said Philip Cowley, professor of politics at Queen Mary University of London. You dont have to be liked, you just have to be more popular than the other guy. And thats what the Labour Party by and large are managing to pull off.

While opinion polls giving Labour a double-digit lead may change, Curtice, one of Britains leading polling experts, said Sunak was facing a steep mountain to climb even before he called the election.

Arguably the Tories days were numbered the moment that Liz Truss fouled up, he said. Because no government that has presided over a market crisis has survived at the ballot box.

(AP)
South Korean soldiers fired warning shots after North Korean troops briefly violated the tense border earlier this week, South Koreas military said Tuesday, as the rivals are embroiled in Cold War-style campaigns like balloon launches and propaganda broadcasts.

Bloodshed and violent confrontations have occasionally occurred at the Koreas heavily fortified border, called the Demilitarized Zone. While Sundays incident happened amid simmering tensions between the two Koreas, observers say it wont likely develop into another source of animosity as South Korea believes the North Koreans didnt deliberately commit the border intrusion and North Korea also didnt return fire.

At 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, some North Korean soldiers who were engaged in unspecified work on the northern side of the border crossed the military demarcation line that bisects the two countries, South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff said.

Those North Korean soldiers carrying construction tools  some of them armed  immediately returned to their territory after South Koreas military fired warning shots and issued warning broadcasts, the Joint Chiefs of Staff said. It said North Korea had not conducted any other suspicious activities.

South Koreas military has assessed that the North Korean soldiers didnt appear to have intentionally crossed the border because the site is a wooded area and MDL signs there werent clearly visible, Joint Chiefs of Staff spokesperson Lee Sung Joon told reporters.

Lee gave no further details. But South Korean media reports said that about 20-30 North Korean soldiers had entered South Korean territory about 50 meters (165 feet) after they likely lost their way. The reports said most of the North Korean soldiers were carrying pickaxes and other construction tools.

The 248-kilometer (155-mile) -long, 4-kilometer (2.5-mile) -wide DMZ is the worlds most heavily armed border. An estimated 2 million mines are peppered inside and near the border, which is also guarded by barbed wire fences, tank traps and combat troops on both sides. Its a legacy of the 1950-53 Korean War, which ended with an armistice, not a peace treaty.

On Sunday, South Korea resumed anti-Pyongyang propaganda broadcasts from its border loudspeakers in response to the Norths recent launches of balloons carrying manure and rubbish across the border. South Korea said North Korea has installed its own border loudspeakers in response but hasnt turned them on yet.

North Korea has said its balloon campaign was in response to South Korean activists launches of their own balloons to drop propaganda leaflets critical of leader Kim Jong Uns authoritarian rule, USB sticks with K-pop songs and South Korean drama shows, and other items in North Korea.

North Korea is extremely sensitive to any outside criticism of its political system as most of its 26 million people have no official access to foreign news. On Sunday night, Kims sister and senior official, Kim Yo Jong, warned of a new response if South Korea continued its loudspeaker broadcasts and refused to stop civilian leafletting campaigns.

The tit-for-tat over speakers and balloons  both Cold War-style psychological warfare  have deepened tensions between the Koreas as talks over the Norths nuclear ambitions have remained stalled for years.

(AP)
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez says shes worried that former President Donald Trump will imprison her if he wins the presidential election in November. In an interview on Kara Swishers podcast On with Kara Swisher, Ocasio-Cortez said, I mean, it sounds nuts, but I wouldnt be surprised if this guy threw me in jail Hes out of his mind.

The Congresswoman referenced Trumps previous campaign slogan lock her up and emphasized her belief that he will round up people if re-elected. I take him at his word when he says that hes going to round up people. I take him at his word when he threatens journalists. I take him at his word, she said.

Ocasio-Cortez also believes Trump has a legitimate chance of winning against President Biden. Trump does absolutely have a chance to win. That is why I have thrown my support behind Biden early and I support it vociferously, she said.

She stressed the importance of preventing a Trump victory, warning that it could lead to the dissolution of democracy in the United States of America.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
New York City subway cars were filled with dangerous, hateful, and threatening antisemites on Monday before and following a protest outside the a memorial for the victims of the Nova music festival who were murdered in cold blood on October 7.

Footage from the subways show shocking scenes, including one in which one antisemite announces, Raise your hands if youre a Zionist. This is your chance to get out.

Imagine changing the word Zionist to Black and see what reaction politicians would have.

In another clip, filmed near the site of the Oct. 7 memorial, a protestor made clear what the river to the sea chanters mean. I wish Hitler was still here. He would have wiped all of you out, the man said. Ironically, the man himself would have been killed by Hitler too, given his inferior skin color, according to Nazi ideology, which he seems to support.

Thus far, most prominent New York officials  most notably Governor Kathy Hochul  have not said a word regarding the sickening actions of the pro-Hamas protestors. New York City Mayor Eric Adams has thus far had the decency to call out the haters, and in a surprise, somehow Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez called them out, too (must be election season!)

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
By Rabbi Yair Hoffman

NOT SAYING WHY YOU ARE RESTING

Some people have the custom to sleep on Erev Shavuos in order to be able to stay up the entire night on Shavuos. The Mogain Avrohom (OC 290) quotes the Sefer Chasidim that when Erev Shavuos falls on Shabbos, it is forbidden to say that one is resting so that he or she can be awake for the night of Shavuos.

GRASS AND TREES IN SHUL

There is a Minhag mentioned by the Ramah in Shulchan Aruch (OC 494) to place grass, flowers, and trees in Shul on Shavuos. One explanation for this is found in the words of the Levush (Rabbi Mordechai Yaffe):

It commemorates the grass that surrounded Har Sinai at the time of Matan Torah. As the verse states, the sheep and flocks may not graze The indication is that grass grew there. It is a worthwhile Minhag to continue because it helps us relive the experience at Har Sinaian experience that we actually go through once again.

Another explanation is that it commemorates the bringing of the Bikkurim the first fruits, which were made from baskets woven and decorated from and with grasses and flowers (Ziv HaMinhagim).

Another explanation is that Moshe Rabbeinu was saved on the banks of the Yeor which had grassy knolls (Chiddushei HaRim  the Gerrer Rebbe).

The Brisker Rav explained that the decorations are a minimum form of decoration and show us that the only means in which one can acquire Torah is if we are satisified with the minimum and not pursue luxuries and other forms of consumption. Grasses are mentioned in this vein in the Gemorah Eiruvin 22a by Rabbi Adda Bar Ahava (Moadim LSimcha p. 402).

The Minhag of Milchigs

The Ramah mentions that it is the custom to split the meal on Shavuos, where the first half of the meal is comprised of dairy foods and the second half is comprised of meat foods. Although it is no longer the custom to split the meal, we do have the custom to eat dairy foods on Shavuos. The reason for this custom is to remind us that when we received the Torah we were taught the laws of preparing the meat in the proper, kosher manner. Since we were unable to this immediately, we consumed only dairy foods at the time.

Waiting for Nightfall

Although generally we are permitted to bring in Shabbos or Yom Tov slightly earlier than is required, in regard to Shavuos the custom is not to pray immediately but to wait for nightfall. The reason is that we want to count the Omer completely and perfectly. Doing so would entail making sure that the last day is complete.

The Minhag to Stay Up All Night

Although the custom is not mentioned in the Talmud nor in the Shulchan Aruch, the custom has developed in Klal Yisroel to remain awake the entire night of Shavuos and to study Torah. The Seforim HaKedoshim explain that one who stays up all night studying Torah merits Gilui Shechina revelation of Hashems Divine Presence on that night.

The Kaf HaChaim (OC 494) writes that women who have the custom of counting the Omer can indeed partake in perfecting the Tikkunim involved in the Mitzvah of Sfiras haOmer by learning at night as well. Other Poskim explain that there was no Minhag for the women to stay up as well.

No Bloodletting or Testing

The Talmud (Shabbos 129b) tells us that a celestial damager was sent out against the nation of Israel on the day before Shavuos. Its name was Tvoach. By virtue of Klal Yisroel having accepted the Torah, they saved themselves from the destructive fate of Tvoach. On the eve of Shavuos we do not engage in any form of bloodletting because of the dangers involved. Indeed, the sages forbade doing so on every Erev Yom Tov on account of Shavuos. The Minhag is cited by the commentators (Darchei Moshe CM 468:3) and the custom in Klal Yisroel is to avoid it unless there is medical need.

Shavuos Davening

The Shacharis and full Hallel of Yom Tov are recited.

The Piut of Akdamus

The Piut (supplication poem) was written by Rav Meir Ben Yitzchok Shliachtzibbur, a Rishon that is often quoted by Rashi and Tosfos (See, for example, Rashi on Tehillim 73:12 and Tosfos RH 11a). It is a double Aleph Bais poem that describes the greatness of the Creator of the world, the nature of Malachim, and the loftier stature that the nation of Israel has above the angels themselves. One section of it describes how, kavyachol, Hashem is longingly desirous of Klal Yisroel learning Torah and desires their prayers. It ends with the statement that who hear (and absorb the depth and meaning of the piut) will merit to be among that group that will merit fantastic miracles on the great day.

The reading of the Aseres HaDibros takes place on the first day of Shavuos. This is followed with Mussaf and the Birkas Kohanim. On the second day Megilas Rus is read before the reading of the Torah.

Why We Read Megilas Rus

There is a debate among the Poskim as to whether our custom to read the Megillah of Rus on Shavuos is a full-fledged obligation or a Minhag. The reason why we read the book of Rus is to teach us that Torah is only given through hardship and poverty (Yallkut Shimoni 596). Another reason is that the entire episode took place during the Zman HaKatzir  and Shavuos is known as Chag HaKatzir too. A third reason is so that we will have read all three parts of the TaNaCh on the day of Matan Torah (Otzer HaMinhagim).

The Piut is recited in Aramaic so that the Malachim will not understand it, hear it and take it for their own use. It should remain special for the Jewish people alone. It is the only Piut which is recited while the Sefer Torah itself is lying on the Bima. This demonstrates how very special it is.

Yizkor

On the second day of Yom Tov (the first day in Eretz Yisroel) after the Torah is read, a special prayer of Yizkor is recited as is done on all second day Yomim Tovim. We daven for and pledge Tzedakah in the merit of those in our family who have passed on. It is the custom in Klal Yisroel for everyone who still has both parents to leave the shul during the recitation of Yizkor.

YOM TOV HALACHOS

Like on Shabbos, there exists a prohibition of performing Malacha on Yom Tov. The admonition against certain Malachos should be used as a means of coming closer to Hashem as well. What is Malacha exactly, and how can it be used as a tool for greater closeness to G-d?

Malacha is not defined as work, necessarily. Malacha is defined as a certain, specific type of creative act. More precisely, Malacha is defined as the specific creative acts that were necessary to create the Mishkan, the resting place for Hashems concentration of the Shechina Presence here on earth.

Our refraining from such creative acts on Shabbos and Yom Tov is the collective flag of the Jewish people. Just as any nation is proud and salutes its national flag, so too is the observance of Shabbos and the holidays the flag of the Jewish people. The flag symbolizes and embodies our belief that the world was created for a purpose by a kind and benevolent Being who rewards good and punishes evil. A focus on this idea will cause us to become ever closer to Him. Mere contemplation of it when we refrain from Malacha achieves this end.

While the definition of Malacha is the same for both Shabbos and Yom Tov, the Torah made some exceptions for Yom Tov. The Torah states that actions that are necessary for people to eat are permitted on Yom Tov. This is called Ochel Nefesh. Not all actions, however, are permitted for Ochel Nefesh purposes. If the food preparation could have been done with equal freshness and results before Yom Tov, and one had the time opportunity to do it then, then it may only be done with a shinui on Yom Tov itself. There are some Malachos on Yom Tov that are forbidden or very different even when it comes to food preparation.

It is also important to know that one may never do Malacha on Yom Tov during a Bain HaShmashos  twilight that immediately followed a Yom Tov. Why is this so? Because we do not know exactly when the day changes from one to the other. It is forbidden to do Malacha on Yom Tov for another day. Thus we might be doing Malacha on Yom Tov for another day which is forbidden.

One is also, of course, not permitted to perform any Malacha on the first day of Yom Tov for the second day of Yom Tov  even if the preparations involve no Malacha. This is called Hachana and something in which we must be very careful. The Yom Tov is very special and acts performed on it must be limited only to the needs of that Yom Tov.

May it be Hashems will that we merit a complete and full Kabalas HaTorah this year!

The author can be reached at [email protected]
In the first attack of its kind, Hezbollah terrorists on Sunday attempted to down Israeli fighter jets over southern Lebanon by firing anti-aircraft missiles at them, the IDF said.

Baruch Hashem, their attempt was unsuccessful. Shortly later, the IDF killed the terror cell in a drone strike.

The IDF emphasized that the fighter jets were not seriously threatened by the missiles. However, the unprecedented attack is another escalation in Hezbollahs steadily increasing war on Israel.

The elimination of the terror cell that launched the anti-aircraft missiles:

Hezbollah also launched numerous rocket and drone attacks at northern Israel on Sunday, including a rocket barrage of at least 10 rockets in the morning, some of which hit open areas in the northern Golan and caused fires to break out. Shortly later, two suicide drones landed in open areas in Ramat HaGolan, also sparking fires.

In return, the IDF struck two Hezbollah compounds, a rocket launcher and additional terror infrastructure in southern Lebanon

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
The New York Times reported on Sunday that Hamas is moving the hostages around from one apartment to another in order to keep their location hidden. Other hostages are believed to be in tunnels.

According to the report, a fusion cell was quietly formed in Israel after the October 7th assault, where US and Israeli intelligence and military analysts share imagery from drones and satellites and communications intercepts that may shed light on the hostages locations.

However, the chances of additional rescue operations are slight. The location of many of the hostages is unknown. Additionally, Hamas is likely to move any additional hostages being held in apartments into tunnels.

One must remember that the release of the four hostages is ultimately a tactical achievement that does not change the strategic aspect, said Avi Kalo, a lieutenant colonel in the Israeli reserves who once led a military intelligence department that dealt with prisoners of war and missing people. Hamas still has dozens of hostages, the vast majority of whom, if not all, will not be released in operations, but can be rescued only as part of a cease-fire deal.

Sadly, since October 7th, 43 hostages have been declared dead. Israeli officials think that less than 60 are still alive. US officials say there are five US citizens still alive and three bodies of Americans being held by Hamas.

A small group of hostages are being used as human shields for Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. According to NYT, Sinwar is believed to be currently hiding under Khan Younis but the tunnel network there is vast and neither the US nor Israel can determine his precise location.

Hamas leaders have ordered their terrorists that in the case of Israeli forces approaching, the first thing they should do is shoot the captives.

The US military has flown surveillance drones over the Gaza Strip since right after the Oct. 7 attack to aid in hostage rescue efforts. The report quoted a senior Israeli official as saying that US and British drones have been able to gather intelligence that Israeli drones cannot collect. Although the US drones have the same sensors as the Israeli and British ones, the sheer numbers of American aircraft means that more territory can be surveilled more frequently and for longer periods.

Officials added that although drones cant map out Hamass tunnel network -Israel is using highly classified ground-based sensors to do that  their infrared radar can detect the heat signatures of terrorists or other people going into or out of tunnel entrances on the surface.

Intelligence sharing between the United States and Israel related to the war in Gaza initially focused on hostage-recovery efforts, but over time the collaboration expanded, three current or former senior U.S. officials said.

They are part of the largest intelligence effort ever conducted in Israel, and probably ever, Colonel Kalo said of the Americans and the British.
Police have released dramatic footage of the rescue operation for hostages Almog Meir Jan, Andrey Kozlov, and Shlomi Ziv, conducted by the elite Yamam unit and Shin Bet agents in central Gazas Nuseirat on Saturday.

The video captures Yamam officers storming the residence of Journalist Abdallah Aljamal who worked for the Palestine Chronicle. (He had written his last article on Thursday.). Abdallah had been holding the three Israeli men hostage.

In the footage, the hostages identify themselves to the officers before being extracted while under fire.

During the intense fighting at Aljamals home, Yamam officer Chief Inspector Arnon Zmora HYD was tragically killed.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
The military has announced that four Israeli soldiers were killed yesterday by an explosion in a booby-trapped building in Rafah, southern Gaza.

The fallen soldiers are:

 Maj. Tal Pshebilski Shaulov HYD, 24, from Gedera

 Staff Sgt. Eitan Karlsbrun HYD, 20, from Modiin

 Sgt. Almog Shalom HYD, 19, from Hamadia

 Sgt. Yair Levin HYD, 19, from Givat Harel

They all served in the Givati Brigades reconnaissance unit.

An initial IDF investigation reveals that the troops had thrown an explosive device into a suspicious home in Rafahs Shaboura neighborhood to trigger any possible traps. When there was no immediate blast, they entered the three-story building. As two soldiers entered, it exploded, causing part of the building to collapse on some of the soldiers. A tunnel shaft found inside the home suggests it likely belonged to a Hamas operative.

In addition to the four soldiers killed, another seven were wounded, including five seriously, according to the IDF.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
It wasnt an easy night at Sheba Medical Center for the hostages rescued in the daring and miraculously successful operation on Shabbos.

Although initial reports said that the hostages medical condition was good, subsequent reports revealed a much more complex picture. Although the hostages appear healthy, they are suffering from malnutrition and are in a compromised psychological state.

Kan News reported that the three male hostages who were held together, Andrey Kozlov, Shlomi Ziv, and Almog Meir Jan  formed extremely tight bonds with each other. Even after their release, in the hospital, the three were constantly looking out for each other and its clear that after eight months in captivity together they still need each others support.

They endured extremely difficult moments together, with some captors treating them more harshly than others. At some of the places they stayed, they were blindfolded.

The three may also be suffering from Stockholm syndrome to a certain degree. They reported that some of the captors cared about their welfare but in the same sentence, spoke about abuses they endured.

Almog said that on his birthday, his captors cynically presented him with a birthday cake.

Almogs mother, Orit Meir, said in a press conference on Monday that her son learned Arabic and Russian during his captivity  Arabic from Al Jazeera and Russian from his fellow hostage Andrey, who made aliyah only months before he was abducted and spoke limited Hebrew.

She added that his relationship with the other hostages is what really helped to keep his hopes and spirits up. The connection gave them lots of koach and thats what strengthened them during captivity. They didnt lose hope until they were rescued. They constantly felt that the day would come, that they would return home.

Their emotional and psychological recovery will be a slow process as it will take time for them to process their experiences and return to a fully functional life. Dr. Itai Pesach, the director of Sheba Hospital, said that they are suffering from severe nutritional deficiencies and they will need many months of psychological and medical support

Channel 13 reported that Shlomi Ziv told his relatives that he learned Arabic from Al Jazeera and said they were forced to read the Koran and pray every day.

The three also said that they were moved several times from place to place and they ate mostly carbohydrates.

The hostages were unaware of almost anything that had happened in Israel since October 7th and finding out the details has been shocking and painful for them.
A Wall Street Journal report has revealed messages penned by Hamas leader in the Gaza Strip, Yahya Sinwar, to various Hamas terrorists and hostage deal mediators.

According to the report, Sinwar recently wrote to Hamas officials negotiating a hostage deal, We have the Israelis right where we want them.

In a message to Hamas leaders in Qatar, Sinwar presented as an example the civilian casualties during the Algerian war, affirming such casualties are necessary sacrifices.

When the three sons of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh were killed in an Israel Air Force strike in Gaza in April, Sinwar affirmed both their deaths and that of other Palestinians would infuse life into the veins of this nation, prompting it to rise to its glory and honor.

Regarding civilian women and children being taken hostages by Palestinian mobs on October 7, the WSJ report cites his messages to negotiators as saying, Things went out of control. People got caught up in this, and that shouldnt have happened, he claimed.

Sinwar was also reportedly discontent with Hamas officials meeting with other factions in December to debate reconciliation after the war, which he labeled shameful and outrageous.

He reportedly added, As long as fighters are still standing and we have not lost the war, such contacts should be immediately terminated. He further stated, We have the capabilities to continue fighting for months.

Referring to a ground operation in Rafah, Sinwar wrote to Hamas leaders in Qatar that Israels journey in Rafah wont be a walk in the park.

The WSJ report also noted that Sinwars recent messages to Hamas allies illustrate an inclination to die while fighting. He equated the Gaza war to the battle of Karbala in Iraq, which occurred in the 7th century and in which the grandson of the prophet Muhammed was killed. We have to move forward on the same path we started, Sinwar said. Or let it be a new Karbala.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
Anti-Israel protesters chanted Long live the Intifada and waved a Hezbollah flag outside a memorial exhibit honoring the 364 victims of the October 7 Nova Music Festival attack on Monday night in downtown Manhattan.

The protesters, organized by the pro-Palestinian group Within Our Lifetime, clashed with police and yelled Kill another Zionist now, long live the Intifada, Israel go to hell during the citywide day of rage for Gaza demonstration. Six people were issued summonses for disorderly conduct and jumping turnstiles.

When the Zionists decided to rave, a woman leading the chanting yelled and the crowd repeated after her, word for word, next to a concentration camp, thats exactly what this music festival was. Its like have a rave right next to the gas chambers during the Holocaust.

So this exhibit is nothing more than Zionist propaganda to try to justify Israels war against Hamas, the woman and the chanters continued.

Music mogul Scooter Braun, one of the exhibits organizers, denounced the protest in an Instagram post, saying, I dont understand why protesting a memorial for innocent music lovers who were raped and butchered and kidnapped helps. Others, including former Israeli government speechwriter Aviva Klompas and Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine, called the protest evil, vicious, and repulsive.

Rep. Michael Lawler labeled the actions of the protesters disgusting, while Joel Petlin, superintendent of the Kiryas Joel School District, accused them of supporting terrorists. They support the terrorists who perpetrated it, and they want it to happen again, Petlin said.

In response to the protest, the Nova Exhibit announced it would extend its run until June 22. The exhibit recreates the Tribe of Nova festival, which was brutally attacked by Hamas on October 7, killing hundreds of concert-goers. The United Nations has reported that Hamas terrorists also committed rape and sexualized torture during the assault.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
Two Israeli officials have told Axios that Hamas has turned down an Israeli proposal for a hostage and ceasefire deal. The proposal was first outlined by President Biden in a speech two weeks ago, and since then, the White House has been working to build international pressure on Hamas to accept the deal.

According to senior Hamas official Osama Hamdan, the organization has submitted an official response to the proposal, which includes several comments and concerns. However, the Israeli officials did not specify which aspects of the proposal Hamas rejected.

In a joint statement, Qatar and Egypt confirmed receiving a response from Hamas and other Palestinian groups regarding the Israeli proposal. The two nations, along with the United States, will continue their mediation efforts to reach a mutually acceptable agreement.

White House spokesman John Kirby confirmed that the US has also received Hamas response and is currently evaluating it. Secretary of State Tony Blinken is currently in the region, meeting with key leaders to push for a deal. He met with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi in Cairo and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem, reaffirming their commitment to the proposal.

Blinken expressed confidence in the strong consensus among senior Israeli officials to move forward with the proposal. When asked if he received explicit assurance that the deal would be finalized if Hamas accepts the proposal, Blinken responded affirmatively.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
Across the city of Dothan, billboards and signs have been popping up noting that Dothan is a HeartSafe city. There are many churches and businesses that are displaying signage that says, We helped make Dothan HeartSafe.

So what does this mean?

On April 30, 2024, Gov. Kay Ivey proclaimed Dothan the first HeartSafe City in Alabama in a ceremony at the state capitol in Montgomery.

The goal of the HeartSafe initiative is to reduce the number of out-of-hospital deaths from Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA). To do this, the HeartSafe task force strategically worked to place automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in over 71 businesses, churches, and organizations throughout the city, and trained over 7100 citizens in Hands-Only CPR and how to use an AED.

Achieving this goal was led by Southeast Health because being heart-safe is important to increasing the number of individuals trained in hands-only CPR and increasing access to AEDs when someone has SCA, the odds increase that they will have rapid access to life-saving treatment. The sooner care is provided in a cardiac event, the better chance of survival.

To find out which businesses and places helped Dothan become heart-safe, you can view the ever-growing list of HeartSafe designated businesses, churches, and organizations located on the Southeast Heath Foundation website at sehealthfoundation.org.

At the HeartSafe City Celebration on May 21 , Southeast Health CEO Rick Sutton officially announced that the HeartSafe initiative is expanding into Houston County. The HeartSafe task force will continue its work in Dothan but will expand its efforts into Houston County.

Although the goal was achieved, becoming HeartSafe is still an option for businesses, churches, and organizations. They can still apply to be a HeartSafe designation by visiting the Southeast Health Foundation website and completing the designation application or call the Foundation office at 334-673-4150.
The Federal Budget announcement last month provided crucial insights into the Australian Governments migration program for the next financial year.

These changes align with the broader migration strategy and ongoing reforms expected to unfold over the coming years. For employers, particularly small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) owners, understanding these changes is vital for strategic workforce planning and recruitment.

Cap on student visa numbers from 1 January 2025

In recent months, we have seen many changes to student visas as part of the Governments efforts to strengthen the integrity of the migration program. The Government has announced it will impose caps on student visa numbers from 1 January 2025. Details of those caps are expected to be announced following extensive consultation with stakeholders. For employers, particularly those relying on a casual workforce, this means a potential reduction in available student visa holders in Australia. While this might initially pose challenges in sectors heavily dependent on casual labour, it could lead to a more stable workforce as businesses adjust to these changes.

Reduction in work experience for Subclass 482 Temporary Skills Shortage visa holders

Another notable announcement was the reduction of the work experience requirement for the subclass 482 visa. Currently, to be eligible for this visa, an applicant must have at least two years of relevant work experience. From 23 November 2024, this will be reduced to only one year. The interesting thing about this announcement is the timing. Late last year when the Migration Strategy was released, it was indicated that the subclass 482 visa would cease and be replaced with the Critical Skills Shortage visa by the end of 2024. It is unclear whether this change to the subclass 482 visa means the introduction of the new visa will be delayed or whether this change will flow onto the new visa.

New Migration Program planning levels

An additional 7,175 places available for permanent Employer Sponsored visas is good news for employers. But, on the other hand, the reduction in available places for the Skilled Independent visa will see more onshore applicants seeking to achieve permanent residency through employer sponsorship.

Other changes include the Australian Government setting the planning levels for the 2024-25 permanent Migration Program at 185,000 places on 14 May 2024. This program aims to address skill shortages, especially in regional areas, and strengthen social cohesion through family reunification. The program is divided into three streams:

1. Skill Stream (71% or 132,200 places)  focuses on boosting the economy and filling labour market gaps.

2. Family Stream (28% or 52,500 places)  predominantly Partner visas, facilitating family reunification.

3. Special Eligibility Stream (300 places)  for special circumstances, including returning residents.

Notable changes include an increase in Employer Sponsored visas to 44,000 and State/Territory Nominated visas to 33,000. Conversely, the Skilled Independent visa allocation has been reduced to 16,900. The Business Innovation and Investment Program (BIIP) is being phased out, with a new National Innovation visa set to be introduced. The Global Talent visa program is also being scaled down to 4,000 visas as it transitions to the new visa framework. The Family stream maintains its levels with a continued focus on demand-driven Partner and Child visa categories.

Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold to increase from 1 July 2024

Separate from the Federal Budget, the Government announced on 28 May an increase in the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) effective from 1 July 2024. The threshold will be raised from $70,000 to $73,150, marking its second increase since 2013. New employer nomination applications must meet the new TSMIT of $73,150 or the annual market salary rate, whichever is higher. Nominations lodged before 1 July 2024 will not be affected. This increase aims to ensure that the income threshold keeps pace with economic changes and continues to attract skilled workers to help address skill shortages and fill labour gaps, particularly in priority sectors and regional areas.

For SME owners, these migration changes present several key impacts. The increase in Employer Sponsored and State/Territory Nominated visas helps employers fill critical skill gaps more effectively.

Significant allocations for regional visas mean businesses in non-metropolitan areas can better attract skilled workers, addressing local labour shortages and supporting regional economic growth.

Finally, the focus on family reunification and social cohesion can lead to a more stable and committed workforce, as employees with their families settled in Australia are likely to remain longer with their employers.

2024 is certainly shaping up to be an exciting year in the migration space. As a business owner, staying ahead of migration policy changes is part of maintaining a competitive edge.

By Rebecca Macmillan, Practice Director, Holding Redlich

The information in this article is of a general nature and is not intended to address the circumstances of any particular individual or entity. Although we endeavour to provide accurate and timely information, we do not guarantee that the information in this article is accurate at the date it is received or that it will continue to be accurate in the future.

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Together with our member party, Latvia First (Latvija Pirmaja Vieta), we organized a seminar in Riga on the importance of Christian values in the European story.

ECPM President, Valeriu Ghiletchi, started off the seminar by welcoming everyone and by introducing them to ECPM, our work, our MEPs and our values. He explained that the reason for our party's existence is to remind people that Christian values like love, freedom, justice, peace and solidarity promoted by Jesus in his time are also the foundation of our current society and modern systems of law, education, economics and politics. Ghiletchi then focused his attention on one of the ECPM spearheads, namely our work on promoting family-friendly policies. He emphasized the importance of healthy families, and of pro-life, pro-family policies, which create the environment for people to balance work and family life successfully, where institutions strike a balance between the interests of children and that of parents and comes to their rescue when struggling financially.

The second speaker, Jeff Fountain, took the audience through the entire history of European civilization and successfully pointed out how Christian thought and ethic is at the root of many of the systems and concepts we take for granted today. He pointed to the fact that this year, on May 9th there were three celebrations which coincided: Europe Day, the end of the WWII, and Ascension Day. There would not be a Europe Day without Ascension Day and the Great Commission. It was due to the work and faith of the early Christians and Church Fathers that faith had spread all over Europe in the first century. Europe Day is a long-term fruit of the missionary movement, he argued. Then, he continued to show how monasteries are the building blocks of the new order that was being shaped in Europe: they were centers for art, music, law study and commerce. Till this day, the largest and best schools and universities in Europe are connected to, or have their origins in, a monastery or a church. Despite the dark chapters of Christianity, Europe's identity, culture, and values are shaped by the story of Jesus and the Bible.

The Schuman Declaration on May 9, 1950 was a 3-minute speech which laid the foundations to the European house where 450 million people would live in peace and collaboration. Schuman had a deep personal faith which inspired his political thinking. Advised by a friend who told him that the next generation of missionaries will be "saints in suits", he pursued a career in law and politics. He served as prime-minister of France before WWII and was arrested when the Germans invaded Paris. He believed that "love your neighbour" was a democratic principle which, applied to nations, meant serving and loving neighbouring peoples. Similarly, Konrad Adenauer, a close friend of Schuman's and the chancellor of Germany at the time, was also a man of faith and equally believed that reconstruction and friendship were going to be vital for the reconstruction of Europe. Never before had a defeated nation in war been invited at post-war discussions as an equal, but because of it, Germany is a leading force in Europe (and the world) today and has an unbreakable bond with France and the United Kingdom.

The third speaker was Vladimir Gjorchev, member of Parliament from North Macedonia, and an expert on demography trends in Europe. He spoke about demographic trends in Europe as well as in Latvia and presented basic principles regarding demography for a society to function optimally. He mentioned several news articles from press in Europe and around the world, as well as statistical analysis, sounding the alarm about the demographic downturn in Latvia. The demographic disaster Latvia is facing will have serious economical and societal implications, he warned. He offered several examples of how a similar trend in North Macedonia was reversed through key pro-life and pro-natality policies.

The event concluded with a presentation by gynecologist-obstetrician Aiga Rotberga on the value of life, from the very beginning to the natural end. It is not someone's abilities or physical appearance or intelligence that makes their life more valuable or less valuable than that of others, it is the intrinsic human dignity. Even though abortion rates in Europe have been dwindling, they are still taking place in the order of millions (source: guttmacher.org), and France has recently become the first country in the world to make access to abortion a constitutional right. Rotberga argued that these trends, as well as euthanasia regulations, go against provisions of international law which stipulate that everyone has the right to life. As Christian and people of faith, we argue that although we have a body which we own and care for, the right to give and take life does not belong to us, it is God's prerogative.

The audience and speakers engaged in a Q & A session where practical steps were explored and where they were encouraged to use their vote in the upcoming European elections to have their values represented and voices heard in the European Parliament. There were more than 50 people attending, in addition to Latvia First leadership and staff.
Two men who served years behind bars before their convictions were overturned have lost a challenge at the European Court of Human Rights over their rejected compensation claims.

Sam Hallam, who was convicted of murder, and Victor Nealon, who was found guilty of attempted rape, previously brought legal action at the High Court over the Justice Secretarys refusal to award them payouts.

Their compensation bids were rejected on the basis that it was not the case a new or newly discovered fact shows beyond reasonable doubt that there has been a miscarriage of justice.

After losing their challenges in the UK courts, including at the Supreme Court in 2019, the pair took their case to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in Strasbourg, claiming the basis of the compensation refusal violated their right to be presumed innocent until proved guilty.

But in a judgment on Tuesday, a panel of judges at the ECHR ruled with a majority of 12 to 5 that there had been no violation of Mr Hallam and Mr Nealons human rights.The pairs lawyers argued they had suffered a breach of part of Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which says everyone charged with a criminal offence should be presumed innocent until proven guilty.

However, lawyers for the UK government said the decision-maker was required to decide on compensation in accordance with criteria which focused only on the specific effect of a new or newly discovered fact, rather than making a general assessment of guilt or innocence.

In their decision dismissing the pairs challenge, the panel of judges at Strasbourg ruled: It could not be said that the refusal of compensation by the Justice Secretary imputed criminal guilt to the applicant by reflecting the opinion that he or she was guilty to the criminal standard of committing the criminal offence, thereby suggesting that the criminal proceedings should have been determined differently.

To find in the negative that it could not be shown to the very high standard of proof of beyond reasonable doubt that an applicant did not commit an offence  by reference to a new or newly discovered fact or otherwise  is not tantamount to a positive finding that he or she did commit the offence.

Mr Hallam, from east London, served more than seven years after he was sentenced to life as a teenager following his conviction at the Old Bailey in 2005 for the murder of a trainee chef.

Mr Nealon, originally from Dublin, was given a life sentence after his trial at Hereford Crown Court and served 17 years in jail  10 more than the seven-year minimum term, after he persisted in asserting he was innocent.

They were both set free after appeal judges ruled that fresh evidence made their convictions unsafe.

Mr Hallams conviction was quashed in 2012.

Former postman Mr Nealon, who was convicted in 1997 of the attempted rape of a woman in Redditch, Worcestershire, won his appeal in December 2013.
Several journalists have called out Clare Daly after she refused to talk to RTE, after losing her MEP seat.

Outgoing controversial MEP Clare Daly snubbed RTE after losing her seat in the European Parliament election, as she accused them of having "no interest" in talking to her over the past five years.

When asked by a reporter from RTE on camera if she would speak to them, Ms Daly said: "Youve no interest in talking to me for five years, so Ive no interest in talking to you."

Comments which quickly got called out by journalists across the country, who have tried to engage with Ms Daly in the past.

Political editor of The Sunday Times, Hugh O'Connell commented on X: "On the contrary, my colleague @JohnMooneyIRL made strenuous efforts to talk to Clare Daly in recent months".

Ireland and Britan Editor of the Irish Times, Mark Hennessy also reacted to the news on social media: "Every candidate can be forgiven for being in bad temper in defeat, but this is simply not true."

"Youd no interest in talking to me says the former MEP who ignored more calls and emails from journalists than could be counted," another journalist commented on X.
Concerns are being expressed for the welfare of a teenage boy who has been reported as missing from his home in County Donegal.

Gardai are seeking the public's assistance in tracing the whereabouts of 15-year-old Theo Devaney, from Letterkenny, who has not been seen since this Tuesday morning.

Theo, who gardai believe may have travelled to Dublin, is described as being approximately 54 in height and of a slim build. He has black hair, blue eyes and a goatee beard.

It's not known what he was wearing when he was last week.

In an appeal, issued this Tuesday night, a garda spokesperson said both they and Theo's family are concerned for his welfare.

Anyone with any information on Theo's whereabouts is asked to contact Letterkenny garda station on 074 916 7100, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any garda station.
Together with member party Familien Partei Germany and their main candidates- Helmut Geuking and Sarah Drewes- we organized a special event aimed at families and children, on the World Children Day. It was held on the banks of the river Spree, on a ship converted into a restaurant and event venue.

Hundreds of families with children and people of all ages passed by the path alongside the river and stopped to speak to us, play a game, and learn about the work ECPM and MEP Geuking are doing in the European Parliament for children in particular.

The special guest was ECPM President Valeriu Ghiletchi who greeted the Familien Partei volunteers as well as guest families on the ship on behalf of ECPM and then spoke about the importance of children-centred policies at national and international level. His presentation focused on the rights of the children established in several international or European charters: the right to survival, to protection, the right to development and the right to participation.

The right to survival includes the right to be born, and Mr. Ghiletchi emphasized that ECPM is a strong and vocal advocate for children's right to life, from the moment of conception.

The right to protection, development and participation are very important aspects and where a balance must be struck between the best interests of the child and the rights of parents. Mr. Ghiletchi had worked on a PACE report affirming precisely this balance which must be kept. Children have the right to a safe environment, where they can develop in a healthy way and flourish; ECPM believes the best environment for that is within the family. Food, health and education are basic needs to which a child is entitled, which is why at this point Mr. Ghiletchi commended the work of MEP Geuking in the European Parliament fighting child poverty and arguing for universal child allowance.

When it comes to the protection of children, we are adamant that as much as they need to be protected in real life, they also must be protected online. Cyber bullying is a horrible phenomena taking place everywhere, every day, and many times it ends tragically with the bullied child losing their life. Similarly, children are being exposed to graphic content and predators online, which is why we advocate for parental control software, for teaching children how to protect themselves and we support the Better Internet for Kids at European level.

The President ended by reiterating that as a Christian political party, we believe children are a blessing from God. He gives life and he is creating us in our mother's womb, to His likeness. And no matter what that looks like in the end: tall, short, brown, white, with one chromosome more or less, we carry God's image and spirit in us. Because of that, every life is precious, every child brings joy and has a purpose in this world.

MEP Geuking thanked Mr. Ghiletchi for his words of encouragement and briefly spoke about the initiatives he began in the European Parliament and which he and the party would like to complete in case of a new mandate.

Sarah Drewes concluded the moment with sharing her testimony as a mother and underlining the importance of proper support and resources for parents and children, especially for those struggling financially.
Between June 2014 and December 2017, the terrorist group ISIL, also known as Daesh, captured large swathes of territory in Iraq. During that time, its members grossly abused local populations forced to live under its control: abuses that rose to the level of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.



It is crucial that these terrorists, particularly their leadership, be brought to justice, not only for the sake of accountability, but also because shining a light on ISIL atrocities in fair and transparent criminal proceedings will undermine the ideological underpinnings of the ISIL movement and help stop its spread.



That is why, in August 2017, the Government of Iraq called upon the international community to help ensure that ISIL members are held accountable for their crimes in Iraq. In response, the United Nations established the UN Investigative Team to Promote Accountability for Crimes Committed by Daesh/ISIL, or UNITAD.



Working with the government of Iraq, UNITAD collected evidence of ISIL atrocities. Among other work, they excavated 67 mass graves, digitized 18 million pages of ISIL-related paper records and extracted data from a sizable number of seized ISIL digital devices.



UNITADs mandate ends in September, said Ting Wu, United States Deputy Political Counselor at the UN, but There is no disputing the importance of UNITADs work.



We are approaching the 10-year mark since Daesh began committing genocide and crimes against humanity against groups in areas that were once under its control  including against the Yezidis, Christians, Kurds, Shia Muslims, and other minorities, as well as some Sunni Muslims. A decade later, these communities still seek justice.



The United States stands with them, said Counselor Wu. We believe accountability for these crimes will contribute to peace and security in Iraq and the region.



UNITAD provides wide-ranging support to Iraqi authorities. It builds the capacity of the Iraqi judicial system; facilitates mass grave being exhumed; collects evidence; engages victims families and survivors; and analyzes battlefield evidence to help identify perpetrators of atrocities and understand Daeshs structure and operations.



Perpetrators of grave international crimes should not escape justice, said Counselor Wu. United States urges members of [UN Security Council] to work together to ensure that we continue our collective efforts to deliver justice for the crimes of Daesh. We stand ready to work with stakeholders to explore all options.
The International Atomic Energy Agency, the IAEA, has adopted a resolution censuring Iran over its lack of cooperation regarding its nuclear program.



Sponsored by France, Britain and Germany, the resolution passed with 20 votes in favor, 12 abstentions, and two  Russia and China  against.



Among many issues, the resolution noted the IAEA Director Generals great concern that undeclared nuclear material had been present at several undeclared locations in Iran and that its current location(s) are not known to the Agency. The resolution deplored Irans barring of several experienced inspectors, whose input is essential to fully allow the Agency to conduct its verification activities in Iran effectively. The resolution underlined the importance for Iran to resolve safeguards issues which remain outstanding.



In her remarks to the IAEA Board of Governors U.S. Ambassador to the IAEA Laura Holgate called Irans nuclear program a serious challenge to international security.



First, she said, because Iran has failed to provide the legally required cooperation to resolve long outstanding safeguards issues involving nuclear material at undeclared locations. In consequence, the IAEA does not have the confidence needed to assess that Irans declarations are correct and complete.



Second, noted Ambassador Holgate, There is a deeply troubling and steady drumbeatfrom senior Iranian officials threatening that Iran may reconsider its stated nuclear doctrine and asserting that Iran has all the technical capabilities needed to quickly build nuclear weapons should it decide to do so.



Finally, she pointed out that Irans past response to IAEA resolutions was escalation rather than cooperation, including by producing 60% enriched uranium at its Fordow facility. Quoting IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi, Ambassador Holgate said, Iran is the only country that does not have a nuclear weapon that is enriching to this level.



While the United States supports the resolution adopted on June 5, Ambassador Holgate said, It is important that resolutions be tied to a broader strategy. This resolution should be a first step in a strategy aimed at achieving a sustainable, effective solution to Irans nuclear program that includes full cooperation with the IAEA.



Ambassador Holgate called on Iran to step back from its provocative nuclear activities and finally deliver the full cooperation required by its safeguards obligations. She declared, The opportunity for Iran to choose a different path from the one it has taken remains open.
Credit where it's due . . .

The Republicans who oppose the corporate handouts are few and far between but, at the very least, they're ideologically consistent when the call out their GOP colleagues for chasing something shiny & new.

Here's a look at financial criticism and today's conversation . . .



Proposed subsidy to lure Chiefs has sketchy track record



A 2021 analysis by Kansas Legislative Post-Audit (LPA) the auditing arm of the Kansas Legislature, showed only three of the 16 approved STAR Bonds projects (The Hutchinson Underground Salt Museum, Topeka Heartland Park, and Village West Kansas Speedway) have met the Commerce Departments goals of attracting in-state visitors from 100 miles away, and out-of-state tourists.



Some STAR bond projects end up costing taxpayers more money.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . .

https://sentinelksmo.org/chiefs-star-bond-subsidy/

Critics throw flag on billion dollar scheme to lure Chiefs across border - The Sentinel The Kansas STAR bond project would effectively give a new stadium to the Kansas City Chiefs.

'Proven track record': UG Mayor Tyrone Garner welcomes possible Chiefs, Royals move to Wyandotte County Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, Kansas, Mayor Tyrone Garner said Monday he welcomes the idea of the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals moving to Wyandotte County.

'Wyandotte County is open for business': KCK leaders discuss possibility of bringing Chiefs, Royals to Kansas Leaders in Kansas City, Kansas, hosted a meeting to discuss the possibility of the Kansas City Chiefs and Kansas City Royals moving across the state line.

Former Jackson County legislator sheds light on Chiefs, Royals situation It's not just the Chiefs who may find a new homefield advantage across the state line.

Developing . . .
For years, the Indian education institutions followed the traditional education system that focuses on academic achievement and is primarily based on rote learning. However, over the last decade, there has been a gradual transition towards embracing and adding holistic education to the curriculum that focuses on the overall development of a child while enhancing other important factors, such as critical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making skills. Among the extensive number of educational institutions and school chains currently active in India, one organization that stands out from the rest in terms of innovative curriculum and world-class teaching is Mount Litera Zee School(MLZS).Started in 1994 under Zees educational arm Zee Learn, MLZS today has more than 130+ branches in over 110 cities across the country. Apart from quality education, the K12 school chain also puts equal focus on the character-building and personality development of its students. Since its inception in 2018, the Chennai branch of the fastest-growing school chain, MLZS  Navalur, has been carrying forward the tradition by setting a benchmark for progressive and holistic education in India through single-minded devotion to each childs growth and development. The schools operations are based on a core philosophy, which is WRFC What is Right for the Child.One of the major strengths of MLZS Navalur is its curriculum. Each of the MLZ schools follows a proprietary curriculum model known as Litera Octave, a perfect blend of the CBSE National Education Policy (NEP) with international education standards. Another core strength of the school has been its infrastructure. MLZS Navalur leverages technology to incorporate conceptual learning with a proven concept retention rate better than rote learning.Each of the classrooms in the school is equipped with Digital Panel boards with smooth access to the curriculum, broadband, and social media and facilitates both audiovisual as well as art-integrated learning. Even students can access the relevant study materials through social media. The school also is equipped with a lab for AI and Robotics. Various trending technologies, such as AI, robotics, 3D printing, arduino simulation, app development, and so on, are introduced to the kids from Grade 1 itself where young minds are nurtured in the realms of innovation and technology.Apart from that, the school also puts equal focus on introducing the students to entrepreneurship. Capt. Gopinath Dhayalan, Chairman at MLZS Navalur, underscores this commitment, stating, "In addition to our technological offerings, we provide Financial Literacy Program (FLIP) courses to students from Grade 3 to Grade 8. These courses serve as an early exposure for budding entrepreneurs, equipping them with essential financial skills for their future endeavors".
We share this note because it directly impacts Kansas labor and collective bargaining.

Here are the basics according to the Sunflower State legal maverick . . .



Kobach leads 17-state coalition in lawsuit over Bidens temporary farm worker rule

TOPEKA  (June 11, 2024)  Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach is leading a coalition of 17 states in a lawsuit against a Biden administration rule that allows temporary farm workers in the country on H-2A visas to unionize. Under federal law, American farm workers are prohibited from collective bargaining.



Once again, Joe Biden is putting America last. Hes giving political benefits to foreign workers while American workers struggle in Bidens horrible economy. I stand with American workers, Kobach said.



The complaint, filed June 10 in the Southern District Court of Georgia, argues that the U.S. Department of Labors new rule is a rewrite of the National Labor Relations Act. Only Congress has the authority to make changes to the NLRA, according to the lawsuit. Additionally, Kobach argues that the rule creates a situation where hundreds of thousands of temporary foreign-migrant farmworkers would have the right to unionize while millions of American farmworkers do not.



According to the lawsuit, the labor department believes the Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA) grants it the authority to create the new rule. However, the coalition of state attorneys general argues that the statute doesnt give the department the authority to grant H-2A visa workers better working conditions than their American counterparts are statutorily allowed to have.



The final rule goes above and beyond to provide rights to H-2A workers. These are rights American farmworkers explicitly do not have under federal law, the complaint reads. The final rule is simply a backdoor so that the agency can achieve a policy goal that requires legislation that it cannot convince Congress to pass.



Kobach is joined by two private agricultural organizations and attorneys general from Georgia, South Carolina, Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia in the lawsuit.



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Developing . . .


Lots to consider tonight as this update focuses on police action, legal posturing amid campaign season and ongoing inquiry into tragedy.



Check TKC news gathering . . .

1 in custody following standoff that started with police officers witnessing gunfire Police emphasize that shots were not fired at officers during this incident, nor did officers fire shots.

Police justified in February killing of robbery suspect at gas station, prosecutor says Officers learned that Smiley had previously shown up naked at a Hardee's in Olathe with a knife and asked staff to harm him with it.

Family sues after their 8-year-old son was allegedly raped at an Independence summer camp The family of a boy alleges that their son, then 8 years old, was sodomized by another camper while at a summer camp.

KCKPD says no active shooter at Providence Medical Center When police from KCKPD arrived they determined there was no active threat.

Missouri prison health care conditions have gotten deadly, reform group alleges Health care services in Missouri prisons are declining, according to a prison reform advocacy group. The nonprofit says providers are leaving, emergency care is getting denied, and 66 residents have died this year.

'No Labels' election crime complaint sent to Kansas AG TOPEKA (KSNT) - The Kansas Secretary of State's Office has sent an election crime complaint to the Kansas Attorney General's Office, accusing a GOP operative of misrepresenting himself as Chair of third-party group 'No Labels.' A spokeswoman confirmed in an email to Nexstar's Kansas Capitol Bureau on Monday.

Money isn't enough to speed up Missouri's marijuana expungements * Missouri Independent State courts spent less than $700,000 of the $7 million allocated last year for clearing eligible marijuana offenses from criminal records.

Missouri governor turns down clemency for inmate facing execution on Tuesday Missouri Gov. Mike Parson on Monday turned down a clemency request for condemned inmate David Hosier, a move that likely clears the way for his execution.

Kansas City man making waves in local rap music killed in shooting. 'An inspiration' Kansas City rapper Kevion Bifford, known as 2Gunn Kevi, was dedicated to his music career and entrepreneurship after his incarceration, friends said, until he was found fatally shot on May 24.

KC Unsolved: Mission to find answers decade after Kansas City homicide Kansas City police search for answers in a decade-old homicide case that claimed the life of Alonzo Thomas, IV.

Developing . . .
Here's one more example of how humorless and overly anxious people packing heat, seemingly without any proper training represent a danger to us all . . .



A high school senior was left paralyzed from the waist down when a furious father shot him in a Walmart parking lot after the teen fired a toy gun at the mans daughter as part of a controversial trend.



Senior Assassin is an elaborate game of tag, where participating high school seniors are given a target and are usually asked to record tagging their victims and posting it to social media off school grounds.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .
This primary power move deserves a peek as one of Kansas City's strongest unions shares their nod to a lady candidate . . . Here's the word from the Firefighter Union on a primary fight that's just starting to heat up . . .



IAFF Local 42 endorses State Representative Patty Lewis for State Senate



State Reprepresentative Patty Lewis (D-25) announced today that International Association of Fire Fighters Local 42 has voted to endorse her candidacy for Missouri Senate District 7. IAFF Local 42 joins several other labor unions in supporting Lewis campaign, solidifying her position as the strongest pro-labor candidate in the race.



Dan Heizman, President of IAFF Local 42, said that Representative Patty Lewis has a proven record as an unwavering supporter of Missouris Fire Fighters, Paramedics and first responders and is a leader in the area of mental health support for those who serve others. Pattys nursing background provides her a unique insight into a career dedicated to serving others. I look forward to watching her continue to fight for fire fighters and all working people when elected as a senator. IAFF Local 42 is proud to endorse Patty Lewis for Senate District 7.



As a former critical care nurse, I know how important first responders are to ensuring that our communities are safe, State Rep. Lewis said. Im so grateful for their continued support, and look forward to standing with them on the floor of the Missouri Senate.



State Rep. Lewis has earned the endorsement of several of Kansas Citys largest and most active labor unions, including Teamsters Locals 41 and 541, AFT Local 691, IBEW Local 124, IUOE Local 101, Laborers Locals 264 and 663, Pipefitters Local 533, and the Greater Kansas City AFL-CIO. Lewis has represented Missouris 25th House District for four years, and is currently running to fill the vacancy in the 7th Senate District created by a gubernatorial appointment.

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Disney World in Orlando, Florida, has opened a new ride inspired by the movie "The Princess and the Frog." The ride, which started previews on June 28, replaces the old Splash Mountain, a ride based on the 1946 Disney film "Song of the South." This change comes after Disney announced the project in 2020 amidst nationwide protests.

Disney Ride Shifts to Inclusive Theme

The structure of the log-flume ride remains the same, but the theme is completely new. Splash Mountain was criticized for its depictions from "Song of the South," which many viewed as racist due to its portrayal of African Americans and a romanticized view of the South.

The new ride, called Tiana's Bayou Adventure, features Disney's first Black princess, Tiana, and aims to provide a more inclusive experience.

During the preview, theme park content creator Victoria Wade, who is Black, shared her emotional response to the ride. She appreciated the representation and said it was meaningful to see characters that look like her. She also noted the Disney team's effort to incorporate Louisiana culture into the ride's design.

However, not everyone is satisfied with the new theme. According to CNN, some fans miss the old Splash Mountain and have even started petitions to bring it back. Critics argue that while the new ride is visually appealing, it lacks a compelling storyline.

Despite these mixed reactions, Disney continues to update its attractions to reflect more diverse and culturally sensitive themes.

This transformation of Splash Mountain into Tiana's Bayou Adventure at both Disney World and Disneyland in Anaheim, California, which is set to open later, marks a significant shift in how Disney addresses cultural representation in its theme parks.

Related Article: Disney to Open Doors to Breathtaking Polynesian Island Tower This Winter

Disney Plans Massive Investment in Florida

Disney and Florida Governor, Ron DeSantis' appointees have reached an agreement allowing Disney to invest $17 billion in its Florida properties. The significant deal also hints at the possibility of a new theme park.

The agreement follows a lengthy legal dispute between Disney and the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, formerly the Reedy Creek Improvement District. The dispute was primarily about the oversight of the district that provides essential services like fire suppression and law enforcement at Disney World.

On Wednesday, the district's board, appointed by DeSantis, voted unanimously to move forward with the agreement.

As per ABC News, the decision paves the way for a final approval in a public meeting scheduled for June 12. Disney aims to make substantial investments over the next 10 to 20 years, with a planned $8 billion within the first decade.

This includes contributions to local businesses and funding for affordable housing projects.

The deal marks a turning point in Disney's relationship with Florida's governance, following a contentious period where Disney opposed a state law restricting classroom discussions on sexual orientation and gender identity.

The conflict led to changes in the district's governance, culminating in Disney suing the state alleging retaliation for its opposition to the law. The lawsuit was eventually dropped, leading to the current development agreement.
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Linxon has been selected by Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) to build on turnkey basis the 380 kV Taibah power plant substation in Madinah area of Saud. . .
Over six hundred people have died as a result of poor air quality in this country, in one ye
The Polish government has defined a buffer zone on the border with Belarus, which in some places will be 2 km.

This was announced during a press conference on Monday by the head of the Polish government, Donald Tusk, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"We have adopted a resolution, which resulted in the order of the Minister of the Interior and Administration to create a zone on the border with Belarus, which has been loudly discussed in recent days," Tusk said.

He noted that the aim is to complicate the process of smuggling illegal migrants across the border and to create better conditions for border guards, police and military personnel.

Tusk stressed that the government is aware of the growing discomfort of residents of the border regions from the creation of this buffer zone. However, everything possible will be done to help the locals in connection with the hybrid war of Russia and Belarus against Poland.

The head of the Polish government noted that the buffer zone on the border with Belarus would range from 200 metres to 2 km. He added that the places where the buffer zone will be 2 km deep are not long. It will depend on the terrain, including forests, where smugglers arrive and wait for the arrival of illegal immigrants for their further transportation to the west.

Tusk said that Polish border guards and the military have used firearms "more than a thousand times" over the past six months to scare away illegal migrants who tried to force their way through the fence to enter Poland, and in May there were 770 such cases.

He informed that the Minister of National Defence has prepared a draft law on the specifics of the use of firearms at the border so that military, border guards and police officers are not held liable for possible abuse of power in the context of the use of firearms.

As reported, a soldier died in Poland after being stabbed a few days ago by an illegal migrant trying to enter Poland from Belarus.

After several incidents involving injuries to soldiers and border guards, the Polish government decided to send additional forces to the border with Belarus.

Photo: twitter.com/mblaszczak
On Tuesday, June 11, the European Commission proposed to extend temporary protection for people fleeing Russian aggression against Ukraine for another year, from March 5, 2025 to March 4, 2026.

Thats according to the European Commissions press release, Ukrinform reports.

"Given continued Russian attacks on the civil and critical infrastructure across Ukraine, safe and durable conditions for the return of people to Ukraine are not currently in place. The Commission therefore considers that the reasons for temporary protection persist, and that it should be prolonged for another year as a necessary and appropriate response to the current situation," the EC wrote.

The European Commission proposes to extend temporary protection for Ukrainians in the EU from March 5, 2025 to March 4, 2026.

"The Commission will present the proposal to the Ministers at the Justice and Home Affairs Council on 13 June. It is then for the Council to formally adopt the proposal," the press release noted.

Currently, almost 4.2 million displaced persons from Ukraine, third of whom are children, benefit from temporary protection in the EU.

As reported, since the Russian invasion, the EU has been providing Ukraine with political, economic, financial, military, and humanitarian aid. The EU Temporary Protection Directive, activated in the interests of Ukrainian citizens, gives entitles them to legal stay on the territory of the EU, a basic package of social services, and employment.
Last week, Stanford University became a focal point of intense controversy when 13 pro-Palestinian protesters occupied and defaced the president's office.

This bold action, aimed at pushing the university to divest from companies doing business with Israel, has resulted in significant legal and disciplinary repercussions for the involved students. The incident has sparked a heated debate on campus about the limits of protest, the responsibilities of educational institutions, and the broader issue of divestment from companies associated with controversial international policies.

The Incident: Occupation and Defacement

On Wednesday, the protesters stormed into the president's office in Building 10, barricading themselves inside. Their primary demand was for Stanford to divest from companies engaged with Israel, a stance aligned with the broader Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement, which seeks to pressure Israel over its policies towards Palestinians.

The protesters' actions went beyond a simple occupation. According to a Stanford spokesperson, they caused "extensive damage" both inside and outside the building. Photos shared by a reporter from The Stanford Daily revealed graffiti defacing a veterans' war memorial, with slogans such as "Our School Now Bitch" and "F--k Amerikkka" spray-painted prominently. The defacement of the war memorial, in particular, has drawn widespread condemnation from various campus groups and alumni, who view it as a disrespectful act against those who have served in the military.

Legal and Disciplinary Actions

Following their arrest, the 13 protesters were charged with felony burglary. The severity of the charges highlights the university's zero-tolerance stance towards such acts of vandalism and unauthorized occupation. Bail was set at $20,000 for each individual, reflecting the seriousness with which the authorities are treating the incident.

In addition to legal consequences, the protesters are facing strict disciplinary measures from the university. They have been suspended and banned from campus until the end of the semester on June 12. This measure has profound implications, especially for senior students who have been informed that they will not be allowed to graduate. This disciplinary action underscores the administration's commitment to maintaining order and protecting university property, even as it navigates the complex landscape of student activism and free speech.

The Broader Implications: Divestment and Free Speech

The incident at Stanford is part of a larger, ongoing debate about the role of universities in addressing international human rights issues and the extent to which student activism should influence institutional policies. The demand for divestment from companies doing business with Israel is not new and has been a contentious issue on many campuses across the United States. Supporters of the BDS movement argue that divestment is a moral imperative, necessary to pressure Israel into changing its policies towards Palestinians. Opponents, however, see it as an overly simplistic solution that unfairly targets Israel and undermines academic freedom and dialogue.

The actions of the protesters have also sparked a debate about the limits of free speech and protest on campus. While universities are traditionally spaces for robust debate and dissent, the line between legitimate protest and criminal behavior can sometimes become blurred. The occupation and defacement of the president's office raise critical questions about how far students can go in expressing their dissent before crossing into actions that warrant severe legal and disciplinary repercussions.

In response to the incident, various student groups and faculty members have expressed a range of opinions. Some have condemned the protesters' methods while supporting their underlying message, calling for the university to engage in a more meaningful dialogue about its investments. Others have criticized both the protest and the university's handling of it, arguing that the administration's response was too harsh and could stifle free expression on campus.

The recent pro-Palestinian protest at Stanford University highlights the ongoing tensions between student activism, institutional policies, and the boundaries of lawful protest. As the legal and disciplinary processes unfold, this incident will likely serve as a significant case study in balancing free speech and maintaining order within educational institutions. The broader implications for the university's investment policies and its approach to handling student dissent will continue to reverberate, potentially shaping future actions and policies at Stanford and beyond.
In a recent escalation of tensions between federal oversight and university autonomy, Representative Virginia Foxx, a North Carolina Republican and chair of the House Education and Workforce Committee, has taken a firm stance against Northwestern University.

The controversy centers on alleged antisemitic incidents on campus and the university's perceived failure to adequately address them. Foxx has accused Northwestern of obstructing the committee's investigation by withholding critical documents and providing evasive testimony. This clash highlights the ongoing struggle to balance free speech and the protection of students from discrimination in academic institutions. The outcome of this dispute could have far-reaching implications for how universities nationwide handle similar issues.

Background on the Investigation

Representative Virginia Foxx, a North Carolina Republican and the chair of the House Education and Workforce Committee, has been actively pursuing an investigation into alleged antisemitic incidents at Northwestern University. The investigation began after the committee received reports of antisemitic behavior and a pro-Palestinian encampment on campus. The committee's concerns intensified following the events of October 7, which allegedly sparked a rise in antisemitic activities at the university.

To understand the scope and nature of these incidents, the committee requested a series of documents from Northwestern University. These documents were supposed to provide insight into the university's handling of antisemitic incidents and its compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination based on shared ancestry or ethnicity, including antisemitism.

READ MORE : House Republicans Investigate 10 Colleges For Antisemitism, Threaten Funding Cut

Accusations of Obstruction

In a letter sent on Friday, Representative Foxx accused Northwestern University President Michael Schill of obstructing the committee's investigation. According to Foxx, the university's response to the document request has been largely inadequate. Out of the 233 pages turned over by the university, Foxx claims that 78 percent were non-responsive to the committee's specific requests. Only 13 pages were considered responsive and contained information that wasn't already public.

Foxx's letter expressed strong disapproval of Northwestern's actions, calling the obstruction "unbecoming of a leading university." She further criticized Schill's conduct during a May 23 hearing, where he reportedly provided evasive and misleading testimony. Schill's refusal to answer hypothetical questions or straightforward yes or no inquiries was highlighted as a sign of disrespect not only towards the committee but also towards Northwestern's Jewish community.

Potential Subpoena and Broader Implications

Foxx has mandated that Northwestern University meet the document requests in full by June 17. Should the university fail to meet this deadline, Foxx has indicated that the committee is prepared to issue a subpoena to obtain the necessary documents. If this occurs, it would mark the second instance this year where the committee has had to take such drastic measures against an institution of higher education.

The situation at Northwestern University underscores the broader national conversation about antisemitism and the responsibilities of educational institutions to protect their students from discrimination. Title VI of the Civil Rights Act is a crucial tool in this regard, as it mandates that universities must not allow discrimination based on race, color, or national origin.

However, the complexities of campus politics and free speech issues often complicate the enforcement of these protections. Pro-Palestinian activism, which is prevalent on many campuses, sometimes crosses lines into antisemitism, creating a challenging environment for university administrations to navigate. This case highlights the delicate balance between protecting free speech and ensuring a safe, non-discriminatory environment for all students.

Representative Virginia Foxx's investigation into Northwestern University's handling of alleged antisemitic incidents reveals significant tensions between federal oversight and university autonomy. The accusations of obstruction and the potential for a subpoena reflect a serious escalation in the committee's efforts to hold educational institutions accountable under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. As this situation unfolds, it will be crucial to watch how both the university and the committee navigate these challenges, and what implications this case might have for other universities across the country. Ensuring a safe and inclusive environment for all students remains a paramount concern, and this investigation serves as a reminder of the ongoing need for vigilance and accountability in higher education.
ELKO  Cloudy skies didnt dampen the spirits of Elko High School graduates and their families, who celebrated the day with air horns, confetti and streamers.

More than 270 seniors crossed the stage to receive their diplomas in one of the final graduations of the week in the Elko County School District and to the delight of those in the audience who wildly cheered for the Class of 2024.

The new four-day school week did not affect EHS, as graduation remained on its traditional day, starting at 7:30 p.m., hours after rain and thunderstorm passed through the area.

EHS Principal Jon Foss welcomed everyone to the 128th annual commencement, recognizing the seniors academic and scholarship achievements.

He added that the senior class also received over $3 million in scholarships from various organizations, including the Millennium Scholarship, Nevada Promise Scholarship and Seal of Biliteracy.

Senior Class Vice President Marco Romero led seniors, dignitaries and the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Ingrid Lutes, who served as Senior Class President, delivered the In Appreciation speech, thanking the school staff who single-handedly influenced all of the seniors who are here today. There is not one student here who has not used your guidance, your patience and your love to help them reach this point in their lives.

She also thanked friends and family who offered guidance, homework help, taking students to events and rooting on the kids in front of me for the last 18 years. Knowing you are out there means more to us than you know.

Lutes also expressed gratitude for the moments they experienced during the past four years and advised her classmates not to forget the moments to come.

Weve had so many moments that we did not know were moments, Lutes said. So many times with friends, so many events, and so many lessons from teachers that we now know are going to be the moments we will look back on.

We have so many moments coming up to look forward to, we just need to make sure we are intentional when recognizing them, Lutes said.

Rhiannon Worline, who was recognized by the Elko County School Board for having the highest cumulative grade point average in her class, gave the Senior Address and said standing before her students at graduation gave her a mixture of emotions but felt pride and gratitude for her classmates.

My fellow classmates, weve come a long way together, from those virtual days as freshmen to those confident strides we will take today as graduates, she said.

Worline echoed Lutes advice to enjoy the experience, asking her classmates to be present in the moment.

Ive found its been difficult to live in the moment when we are filled with the anticipation of our lives just ahead of us, Worline said. Stopping to cherish and enjoy these experiences now is how well be able to fondly remember this transformative period of our lives.

As we enjoy these last few days of our childhood, lets remember the great, move on from the bad and look high to our future, Worline said.

Elko County School District Superintendent CJ Anderson and School Board Trustees Josh Byers, Matt McCarty and Susan Neal presented diplomas and congratulated students.

The ceremony included a performance of an original medley by senior Choraliers and guitarists.

Additionally, EHSs Golden Grads were represented by members of the Class of 1974.

The evening ended with fireworks from the Elko County Fairgrounds across from Warrior Field.

Elko High School and Owyhee High School were the last schools to hand out diplomas within Elko County on Friday.

Owyhees ceremony was attended by U.S. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., who delivered the keynote address.

Below is a gallery of photos from Elko High Schools Graduation on June 7, 2024.

Elko High School Class of 2024 Elko High School graduates Elko High School Class of 2024 tassle Elko High School flower caps Elko High School audience Elko HIgh School Principal Jon Foss Elko High School graduates celebrate Elko High School color guard Elko High School Senior Class President Ingrid Lutes Elko High School Choraliers Elko High School senior Rhiannon Worline Elko High School senior selfies Elko High School graduate with diploma Klekas family at Elko High School graduation Elko High School graduates Elko HIgh School senior Ingrid Lutes and School Board Trustee Susan Neal Elko High School Senior Class Vice President Marco Romero
The recent halting of a University of California (UC) academic workers' strike has drawn attention to the intersection of labor rights, academic freedom, and political activism.

Members of UAW Local 4811 initiated the strike to support pro-Palestinian protesters and to demand the dropping of criminal and disciplinary charges against arrested members. The strike, which began at UC Santa Cruz, expanded to include five other campuses and over 30,000 academic employees. This article explores the motivations behind the strike, the legal proceedings that halted it, and the ongoing implications for labor rights and political activism in academia.

The Catalyst for the Strike

The strike commenced on May 20 at UC Santa Cruz, driven by the arrest and disciplinary actions against several academic workers involved in pro-Palestinian activism. UAW Local 4811, representing graduate student workers, postdoctoral scholars, and other academic employees, demanded that the UC system drop these charges. The union argued that these actions were not only unjust but also an infringement on the academic workers' right to free speech and political expression.

The work stoppage quickly spread to five other UC campuses: Davis, Irvine, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, and San Diego. The strike highlighted the broader issue of political activism within academic institutions and the repercussions faced by those who engage in such activities. The union's decision to strike underscored a commitment to defending members' rights to political expression and activism without fear of reprisal.

Legal Proceedings and the Temporary Restraining Order

In response to the strike, the UC system labeled the action as "illegal" and sought intervention from the California Public Employment Relations Board (PERB). When PERB did not immediately halt the strike, the UC system escalated the matter to the Orange County Superior Court, seeking a temporary restraining order (TRO) against UAW Local 4811.

On Friday, the court granted the TRO, effectively pausing the strike until June 27, past the end of the spring quarter. The court's decision was seen as a temporary victory for the UC system, which argued that the strike would cause significant disruptions to students' academic progress and critical research projects. Melissa Matella, UC's associate vice president for systemwide employee and labor relations, emphasized the importance of maintaining academic continuity and the detrimental impact the strike could have on students and research.

Matella also reiterated the UC system's stance on lawful free speech activities, noting that while the institution respects the right to protest, the work stoppage was deemed unrelated to employment terms and violated existing agreements. The restraining order has set the stage for a legal battle over the legitimacy of the strike and the broader rights of academic workers to engage in political activism.

Implications for Labor Rights and Political Activism

The halting of the strike raises significant questions about the balance between labor rights and political activism within academic institutions. Union president Rafael Jaime asserted that the fight is far from over, expressing confidence that the law supports their cause and that UAW 4811 is prepared to continue defending their rights in court. The union's stance highlights the ongoing struggle for academic workers to secure protections for political expression without facing punitive measures.

The case also underscores the complexities of labor relations in academic settings, where the boundaries between employment terms and broader political issues can become blurred. The UC system's response to the strike and the subsequent legal proceedings will likely set a precedent for how similar disputes are handled in the future.

Moreover, the situation brings to light the broader issue of academic freedom and the extent to which institutions can regulate or suppress political activism among their employees. As academic workers continue to advocate for their rights and engage in political activism, institutions must navigate the delicate balance between maintaining academic operations and respecting the rights of their employees to engage in lawful protests.

The temporary restraining order halting the UC academic workers' strike has sparked a critical dialogue about labor rights, political activism, and academic freedom. As the legal battle continues, the outcome will have far-reaching implications for the rights of academic employees and the future of political activism within academic institutions. The situation at the University of California serves as a potent reminder of the ongoing struggle to protect the rights of workers while ensuring the integrity and continuity of academic endeavors.
The resignation of Monica Smith, the chief diversity officer for the Universities of Wisconsin, has sent ripples through the academic community, raising crucial questions about the state of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts within higher education.

Smith's tenure, which lasted less than a year, was marked by controversy and political turmoil, highlighting the complex challenges faced by institutions striving to create inclusive environments for all.

The Controversial Appointment

Smith assumed her role in June, against a backdrop of growing political scrutiny over DEI spending in the Wisconsin public university system. Republican state legislators, including assembly speaker Robin Vos, raised concerns about the allocation of funds for DEI initiatives, viewing them as excessive and unnecessary. Vos, in particular, cited Smith's hiring as a key factor that prompted him to block university funding, leading to a six-month standoff that disrupted institutional budgets.

The Compromise and Its Fallout

In December, UW system chancellor Jay Rothman orchestrated a contentious agreement with Vos to address the funding deadlock. The agreement included a three-year freeze on all DEI administrative hires, a cap on DEI staff, and a reorganization that placed the system's DEI offices under the purview of student success. Despite initial resistance from the system board, the deal was eventually approved after a recall vote, raising questions about its long-term implications for DEI efforts.

The specifics of how this deal would impact Smith's position remained unclear. It is uncertain whether her role would have been redefined or affected by the freeze on administrative hires, and whether it means that her position will remain vacant for the next two years. The lack of clarity surrounding these details has fueled speculation and uncertainty about the future of DEI leadership within the university system.

Reflections on Smith's Departure

Smith's resignation has prompted reflection on the challenges facing DEI efforts in higher education. Her departure highlights the delicate balance institutions must strike between advancing diversity and managing political pressures and budgetary constraints. It also raises questions about the role of chief diversity officers and the support they receive from university leadership in driving meaningful change.

In a statement, Smith expressed her commitment to advancing DEI efforts and her belief in the importance of this work. She also acknowledged the challenges she faced during her tenure, citing the need for greater support and resources to effectively address systemic inequities within the university system. Her resignation serves as a reminder of the ongoing struggles and complexities inherent in promoting diversity and inclusion in academia.

As the Universities of Wisconsin system navigates the aftermath of Smith's resignation, it faces critical decisions about the future of DEI efforts. Will her departure lead to a reevaluation of the system's approach to DEI, or will it signal a scaling back of these initiatives in response to political and budgetary pressures? The answer to these questions will have far-reaching implications for the university system and its commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Monica Smith's resignation and the circumstances surrounding it underscore the challenges and complexities of advancing DEI efforts within higher education. Her departure serves as a call to action for institutions to redouble their efforts in creating inclusive environments for all members of their communities. It also highlights the need for greater support and resources to effectively address systemic inequities and promote a culture of diversity and inclusion within academia.
UNODC Supports the Need for Gender Sensitivity in Justice System to Safeguard Rights of Women in Kyrgyzstan

"Equal representation of women in police is an important element of effective work of the police to address violence against women and safeguard rights of women and youth more broadly", said Ms. Jypara Rakisheva, United Nation Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) National Coordinator in Central Asia, at the Women's Power Breakfast side event in Warsaw, during the OSCE Human Dimension Implementation Meeting. "Given the sensitive nature of gender-based violence and the fear of stigmatization, female victims may be more comfortable telling their stories to female police officers."

Participants of the side event elaborated on how the under-representation of women in justice system institutions, as is the case in many countries, has a negative impact on numerous aspects of justice proceedings and contributes to gender discrimination. The experiences of female victims of gender-based violence in a predominantly male justice and penitentiary system were highlighted by many participants in the discussion.

According to the Kyrgyz National Statistics Committee, a reporting on gender-based violence remains low. Victims of crime and violence prefer turning to crisis centers rather than to the police. Some 16,116 people turned to crisis centers and other institution to acquire psychological and social support, when only 4010 cases of gender-based violence were registered by the police in 2017.

The law of the Kyrgyz Republic on "Prevention and Protection against Family Violence" was introduced on 27 April 2017 and includes measures to improve protection for victims of domestic violence and strengthen police and judicial response. It requires police to register a domestic abuse complaint from anyone, not just the victim.

Sharing lessons learned from UNODC's work with the Interior Ministry of Kyrgyzstan, Ms. Jypara Rakisheva outlined that women are often great communicators with strong ability to defuse situations that could potentially turn violent. This statement was confirmed during the joint work on implementing the Law of the Kyrgyz Republic on "Prevention and Protection against Family Violence," establishing a referral mechanism for cases of gender-based violence, and raising awareness among representatives of local government bodies, health system, education, social protection and police responsible for preventing and responding to gender-based violence, in the regions of the country.

In Kyrgyzstan, UNODC has been promoting discussion on policies to increase participation and representation of women in the police force and has supported initiatives to ensure regular dialogue between police and women in local communities since 2014.

With UNODC's assistance in 2017, some 200 female police officers from police departments in all regions of Kyrgyzstan received training on criminal legislation, criminal investigations and crime prevention, including the prevention of violent extremism, gender-based violence and leadership trainings. Expert advice to strengthen data collection and analysis on domestic and other forms of gender-based violence is also part of the project in support of Kyrgyzstan's efforts in monitoring progress towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

The event was co-organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and Penal Reform International (PRI) to promote women's equal representation among staff of justice institutions and to advocate for gender-sensitive justice systems.

For more information:

UNODC ROCA on Twitter

UNODC in Central Asia on Facebook

***

For more information, please contact Vasilina Brazhko (Ms.)

National Communication/PR Officer, UNODC/ROCA

Cell. +996 775 98 78 17, E: vasilina.brazhko[at]unodc.org
June 11 2024

Ongoing demolition of the B-listed Ayr Station Hotel has triggered wider calls for a debate on the future of listed buildings amidst fears of an accelerating loss of heritage.

Built environment charity Save Britain's Heritage has launched a petition urging the Scottish Parliament to engage on the need for stricter safeguards to prevent the same fate from befalling more historic buildings.

The public petition asks MSPs to host an urgent parliamentary debate on the issue amidst concern over a 'loophole' which permits local authorities to demolish protected structures under emergency public safety powers, circumventing planning law in the process.

In the case of Ayr Station Hotel South Ayrshire Council has proceeded to demolish sections of the fire-damaged hotel without first making public the reports and surveys that informed its decision-making process. To prevent this situation from repeating Save is asking for a minimum evidence threshold for councils to meet in addition to a mandatory requirement for local planning authorities to engage conservation-accredited engineers for listed building work.

Save director Henrietta Billings, said: These buildings are gifts to the nation from the past  and we should be taking every step necessary to ensure they are protected from unnecessary demolition  as is intended by the legislation.

It is hoped that tightened legislation will minimise future demolition while maintaining public safety, ensuring that all parties, including Historic Environment Scotland, are armed with all the facts before setting off on a path of no return.

Paul Sweeney MSP, Member of the Scottish Parliament for Glasgow, added: This petition addresses a glaring loophole in existing policy. It is not acceptable that councils can demolish listed buildings in Scotland  using so-called public safety powers  without providing evidence to show that there is no alternative to demolition."

Recent demolitions justified on safety grounds include the John Stirling Maxwell School in Pollokshaws and Dundee's Willison House with a growing list of threatened buildings such as Hillhead Baptist Church and the Vogue Cinema in Possilpark waiting to hear their fate.
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 11th Jun, 2024) Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) President Kashif Anwar has expressed his gratitude for the support of the Chinese Consulate In Lahore, which has always patronized the LCCI in every way.

He said that LCCI had been honored with a friendship award by the Chinese Consul General, first for any Chamber in Pakistan, which is a symbol of the strong relationship of the two organizations.

He was speaking at the certificate distribution ceremony for participants in the Chinese language course here at the LCCI here on Tuesday.

Chinese Consul General Zhao Shiren was the chief guest of the ceremony while LCCI Senior Vice President Zafar Mehmood Chaudhry, and LCCI Executive Committee members Raja Hassan Akhtar and Fareeha Younis amd Ahmed Elahi were also present. Consul General of China Zhao Shiren and LCCI President Kashif Anwar also inaugurated the recently renovated Jinnah Auditorium at the LCCI.

Kashif Anwar emphasized the importance of maintaining good relations with neighboring countries. He highlighted China's consistent support of Pakistan during challenging times. He also stressed the need to adopt new technology from China and source raw materials to boost Pakistans exports.

Kashif Anwar said that the recent visit of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to China resulted in several Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) being signed, which are expected to attract more Chinese investment to Pakistan.

He said that Chinese language course at LCCI was initially planned for two months, but is now being extended to improve participants' skills. He commended the Chinese language instructor, Abdul Azeem, for his dedication and efforts.

Zhao Shiren emphasized the role of language in bridging gaps and enhancing mutual understanding, noting that 30 million people worldwide, excluding China, are learning the Chinese language. He urged the Pakistani government to include Chinese in the national curriculum, asserting that the language would play a significant role in the future.

He appreciated the good working relationship between the LCCI and the Chinese consulate during his three years as Consul General in Lahore. He praised LCCI President Kashif Anwar for his leadership, which earned him the friendship award, and assured continued support for the Chinese language students and teachers.
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 11th Jun, 2024) Over the past three years, National Highway Authority (NHA) has made remarkable strides in addressing complex issues related to Peshawar Northern Bypass project.

These accomplishments represent significant progress in enhancing the region's infrastructure, reducing traffic congestion, and promoting economic growth, said a press release issued here Tuesday.

One of the major challenges resolved was the issue of land possession in Package-2 and 3A.

NHA effectively coordinated with district government officials to address these issues, facilitating smoother project execution. This coordination ensured that land in Mouza Charpariza, Karniza, Daag, Khappa, and Patwar Payan under Package-2 was fully awarded and handed over to the contractor.

Similarly, land in Mouza Badezai for Package-3A was awarded and handed over in August 2023, to achieve complete land possession for the contractor.

NHA also successfully addressed the stoppage of work on two bridges in Package-3A.

Construction had been halted since 2021 due to local land disputes and court stay orders, but these issues have now been resolved, allowing the bridges' construction to be completed.

Additionally, the contract agreement for Package-3B was revived after the District Government assured land provision, overcoming legal and administrative hurdles.

Further progress included the handing over of land in Package-3B.

The District Government Peshawar transferred 2.4km of land out of the awarded 3.

6km on December 23, 2023, and work commenced shortly thereafter.

Moreover, additional land in district Khyber was handed over on June 8 and 9, 2024, to ensuring the project could proceed without further delay.

Another significant achievement was the removal of utilities.

All PESCO pylons and HT/LT lines in Package-2 and Package-3A were removed, clearing the way for uninterrupted construction activities. This crucial step was necessary to maintain the project's momentum and ensure timely completion.

NHA also secured approval for the third revised PC-1 from the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on December 11, 2023.

This revision, required due to enhancements in land and cost components, highlights NHA's commitment to adapting for evolving project needs.

The Peshawar Northern Bypass project offers numerous benefits. It provides an alternative route for through traffic from N-5 and M-1, benefiting localities such as Jamrud, Hayatabad, Landikotal, Torkham, and Afghanistan.

Approximately 35% of city traffic, including nearly all heavy through traffic from N-5 and M-1, will be diverted, significantly reducing congestion on major roads like Khyber road. This diversion will also lead to substantial reduction in vehicle operating costs, travel times, and pollution, promoting a healthier environment.

The achievements underscore the NHA's role in driving infrastructure progress and ensuring vital projects are completed efficiently and effectively.
(@FahadShabbir)

Wilmington, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 12th Jun, 2024) A jury found Hunter Biden guilty on Tuesday of Federal gun charges in a historic first criminal prosecution of the child of a sitting US president.

The 54-year-old son of President Joe Biden was convicted on all three of the counts facing him, CNN and other US media reported.

Hunter Biden was accused of lying about his illegal drug use when he bought a handgun in 2018, a felony.

The verdict comes as his father is seeking reelection and on a day when the president is scheduled to give a speech about gun violence.

It also comes less than two weeks after the conviction on business fraud charges of Donald Trump, the likely Republican presidential nominee in November.

The jury met for about three hours over two days before reaching a guilty verdict.

Hunter Biden did not take the stand during the one-week trial held in the Biden hometown of Wilmington, Delaware.

First Lady Jill Biden attended several days of the trial. The president did not, but said he and Jill were "proud" of their son.

"As the President, I don't and won't comment on pending federal cases, but as a Dad, I have boundless love for my son, confidence in him, and respect for his strength," Biden said in an earlier statement.

The proceedings, along with another case in which Hunter Biden faces tax evasion charges in California, have complicated Democrats' efforts to keep the election focus on Trump, the first former president ever to be convicted of a crime.

- Drug addiction -

In addition to being a political distraction, Hunter Biden's legal woes have reopened painful emotional wounds for the family from his time as a drug addict.

His brother Beau died from cancer in 2015, and his sister Naomi died as an infant in a 1972 car crash that also killed their mother, Neilia, Joe Biden's first wife.

The Yale-trained lawyer and lobbyist-turned-artist was charged with falsely stating when buying a .38 caliber revolver in 2018 that he was not using drugs illegally.

He was also charged with illegal possession of the firearm, which he had for just 11 days in October of that year.

The president's son, who has written unsparingly about his addiction, claimed that at the time he bought the revolver he did not consider himself to be an addict.

Hunter Biden could face up to 25 years in prison, although as a first-time offender jail time is unlikely.

He has long been the target of hard-right Republicans, and Trump allies have investigated him at length in Congress on allegations of corruption and influence-peddling. No charges have ever been brought.

Hunter Biden's business dealings in China and Ukraine have also formed the basis for attempts by Republican lawmakers to initiate impeachment proceedings against his father. Those efforts too have gone nowhere.

The White House has said there would be no presidential pardon for Hunter Biden.
Kano, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 11th Jun, 2024) Gunmen from criminal gangs killed 26 people, including four policemen, and kidnapped dozens more in a raid on a northwestern Nigerian village, the latest in a spate of attacks, police and a local official said.

Katsina is one of several states in northwestern and central Nigeria terrorised by heavily armed gangs, who carry out mass abductions for ransom as well as burning and looting homes.

The gangs, who maintain camps in a huge forest straddling Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna and Niger states, have also undertaken large-scale kidnappings of pupils from schools in recent years.

The criminals -- referred to as bandits by locals -- entered Gidan Boka village in Kankara district at around 2100 GMT on Sunday on motorcycles, shooting and abducting residents.

"Bandits attacked Gidan Boka village on Sunday, killing 26 people and abducting dozens of residents, mostly women and children," Anas Isa, political administrator of Kankara district, told AFP.

"Those killed included policemen and local vigilantes who confronted the bandits," he said late on Monday.

Isa said his office was still working to ascertain the number of people kidnapped.

Police in Katsina confirmed the attack in a statement late on Monday.

"The armed bandits attacked Gidan Boka village, killing 15 people and injuring two others," the police statement said.

"They also ambushed our patrol team and killed four police officers... and two members of the Katsina State Community Watch Corps," it added, referring to a self-defence militia set up by the state to help police.

The criminals also shot dead five residents of nearby Nakwabo village as they were fleeing.

In a statement from his office, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu condemned the "grisly and sinister" attacks and said more would be done to combat armed groups.

Bandits have recently stepped up attacks, particularly in Katsina and Zamfara states.

Last month, the gangs raided four villages in Katsina state's Sabuwa district, killing 25 people, mostly local vigilantes, in apparent reprisals over military offensives on their hideouts, according to a local official.
Lilongwe, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 11th Jun, 2024) Malawi's president on Monday said he was sparing no resources in a search operation for a missing military aircraft carrying the country's vice president Saulos Chilima.

"I know that this is a heartbreaking situation... but I want to assure you that I am sparing no available resource to find that plane and I am holding on to every fibre of hope that we will find survivors," president Lazarus Chakwera said.

The plane, which took off just after 9:00 am (0700 GMT), was carrying 51-year-old Chilima and nine others when it failed to land due to bad weather, according to the leader who was speaking in a televised address to the nation.

Malawi's former first lady Shanil Dzimbiri (Muluzi) was also on board.

The group was travelling from the capital Lilongwe over 370 kilometres (230 miles) to the city of Mzuzu for the funeral of a former cabinet minister.

"Upon arrival in Mzuzu the pilot was unable to land the plane due to poor visibility occasioned by bad weather, and aviation authorities advised their aircraft to return to Lilongwe, but the authorities soon lost contact with the aircraft," Chakwera said.

The head of state dismissed claims published by local media that search operations had been discontinued for the night.

Soldiers are "still on the ground carrying out the search and I have given strict orders that the operation should continue until the plane is found", he said, adding that the army would give the public regular updates.

Chakwera ordered regional and national forces to conduct an "immediate search and rescue operation" earlier in the day.

He said he had already contacted the governments of various countries including the US, Britain, Norway and Israel, who had all offered support "in different capacities".

"Including the use of specialised technologies that will enhance capacity to find the plane sooner."
(UroToday.com) The Society of Nuclear Medicine & Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) 2024 Annual Meeting held in Toronto, ON between June 8th and June 11th, 2024 was host to a prostate cancer novel approaches and combination therapies session. Dr. Hossein Jadvar discussed non-PSMA targets for prostate cancer radiopharmaceutical therapies, including:

GRPR  Gastrin Releasing Peptide Receptor

FAP  Fibroblast Activation Protein (FAP)

PSCA  Prostate Stem Cell Antigen (PSCA)

CD46  Cluster of Differentiation 46

DLL3  Delta-like Ligand 3

GPC3  Glypican-3

hK2  Human Kallikrein 2

STEAP1  Six-transmembrane Epithelial Antigen of Prostate-1

TROP-2  Transmembrane GlycoproteinTrophoblast Cell Surface Antigen-2

TK  Thymidine Kinase

VCN  Vicrostatin

Gastrin Releasing Peptide (GRP) is a mammalian counterpart of amphibian bombesin (BBN; natural 14-AA peptide). Its receptors include:

BB1 (neuromedin-BR)

BB2 (GRPr)

BB3 (orphan)

BB4 (amphibian)

GRP-r is expressed at only very low levels in normal prostate glands but is increased in 45100% of human prostate cancers. Patients with mCRPC + neuroendocrine differentiation (present in 30100% of mCRPC cases) have tumors with high GRP, activation of GRPr, and stimulation of proliferation. There is increasing interest in the use of nonradioactive, cytotoxic and radioactive GRP analogues that target GRP-r-expressing cancers. Nonradioactive GRP-r antagonists can inhibit the growth of androgen-dependent and -independent prostate cancer xenografts. However, the radioactive GRP analogues have shown the most promising antitumor results. 177Lu-labelled GRP-r antagonist (177Lu-RM2) at high doses was able to induce a complete remission in six out of 10 mice with PC-3 xenografts.1,2









In 2013, Roivainen and colleagues published the first-in-human study investigating the safety, tolerability, metabolism, pharmacokinetics, biodistribution, and radiation dosimetry of the 68Ga-bombesin antagonist 68Ga-DOTA-4-amino-1-carboxymethylpiperidine-d-Phe-Gln-Trp-Ala-Val-Gly-His-Sta-Leu-NH 2 (BAY 86-7548). Five healthy men underwent dynamic whole-body PET/CT after an intravenous injection of BAY 86-7548 (138  5 MBq). Three radioactive plasma metabolites were detected. The proportion of unchanged BAY 86-7548 decreased from 92%  9% at 1 min after injection to 19%  2% at 65 min. The organs with the highest absorbed doses were the urinary bladder wall (0.62 mSv/MBq) and the pancreas (0.51 mSv/MBq). The mean effective dose was 0.051 mSv/MBq. BAY 86-7548 was well tolerated by all subjects. The investigators concluded that intravenously injected BAY 86-7548 is safe, and rapid metabolism is demonstrated. A 150-MBq injection of BAY 86-7548 results in an effective dose of 7.7 mSv, which could be reduced to 5.7 mSv with frequent bladder voids.3









As previously noted, 68Ga-RM2 is a synthetic bombesin receptor antagonist that targets the gastrin-releasing peptide receptor. In 2018, Minamimoto et al. published the results of a study of 68Ga-RM2 in patients with biochemical recurrence and negative findings on conventional imaging (n=32). The observed 68Ga-RM2 PET detection rate was 72%. 68Ga-RM2 PET identified recurrent prostate cancer in 23 of the 32 participants, whereas the simultaneous MRI scan identified recurrent disease in 11 of the 32 patients. The investigators concluded that 68Ga-RM2 PET can be used for assessment of GRPr expression in patients with biochemical recurrence. High uptake in multiple areas compatible with cancer lesions suggests that 68Ga-RM2 is a promising PET radiopharmaceutical for localization of disease in patients with biochemical recurrence and negative findings on conventional imaging.4









To date, however, it appears that 68Ga-PSMA-11 still outperforms 68Ga-RM2 PET/MRI scans in the biochemically recurrent setting. As demonstrated in the figure below, 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT was able to detect lymph node and seminal vesicle disease in a patient with no abnormal 68Ga-RM2 PET/MRI uptake.5 Better understanding of these two modalities and how they contrast/complement each other requires further investigation.









In 2021, Baratto et al. published the results of a 50-patient study comparing 68Ga-RM2 PET/MRI to 68Ga-PSMA11 PET/CT (n = 23) or 18F-DCFPyL PET/CT (n = 27) in the biochemically recurrent setting. RM2 PET was positive in 35 and negative in 15 of the 50 patients. PSMA PET was positive in 37 and negative in 13 of the 50 patients. Both scans detected 70 lesions in 32 patients. Forty-three lesions in 18 patients were identified only on one scan: 68Ga-RM2 detected seven more lesions in four patients, while PSMA detected 36 more lesions in 13 patients. The authors concluded that 68Ga-RM2 is a valuable radiopharmaceutical even when compared with the more widely used 68Ga-PSMA11/18F-DCFPyL in the evaluation of biochemically recurrent prostate cancer.6









More recently in 2024, Fernandez et al. published the results of a study evaluating the expression of GRPr and PSMA in a cohort of 17 mCRPC patients, who were referred for radioligand therapy and underwent 68Ga-PSMA-11 and 68Ga-RM2 PET/CT imaging 8.8  8.6 days apart, to compare the biodistribution of each tracer. 68Ga-PSMA-11 demonstrated significantly higher uptake in tumor lesions in bone, lymph nodes, prostate, and soft tissues and detected 23% more lesions compared to 68Ga-RM2. In 4/17 patients (23.5%), the biodistribution of both tracers was comparable. These results suggest that PSMA expression in mCRPC patients was higher compared to GRPr.7









The next biologic target discussed by Dr. Jadvar was Fibroblast Activation Protein (FAP).









FAP inhibitorbased molecular imaging has shown encouraging results in cancer diagnosis, making them innovative targets for FAP inhibitorbased radionuclide therapies. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are a critical and abundant component of the tumor microenvironment. These are involved in tumor progression, including tumorigenesis, neoangiogenesis, metastasis, immunosuppression, and drug resistance. Activated CAFs have fibroblast activation protein (FAP) a receptors, which are imaged using several small FAP inhibitors (FAPIs). Several preclinical and clinical studies have investigated the role of FAPI-based radionuclide therapy in various malignancies. Preliminary results have shown safety in all studies and efficacy to a variable extent.8









In 2019, the results of a dosimetry estimate for 68Ga-FAPI-2 and 68Ga-FAPI-4 PET/CT were published and compared to those from an 18F-FDG-PET/CT. Tumor-to-background contrast ratios were equal to or even better than those of 18F-FDG with these novel tracers.9









The FAP-targeted antibody imaging probe, [89Zr]Zr-B12 IgG, was evaluated by PET/CT imaging in preclinical prostate cancer models. Analysis of patient data documented FAP overexpression in metastatic disease across tumor subtypes. PET imaging with [89Zr]Zr-B12 IgG demonstrated high tumor uptake and long-term retention of the probe in the preclinical models examined. FAP-positive stroma tumor uptake of [89Zr]Zr-B12 IgG was 5-fold higher than the isotype control with mean %ID/cc of 34.13  1.99 versus 6.12  2.03 (n = 3/group; P = 0.0006) at 72 hours. Ex vivo biodistribution corroborated these results documenting rapid blood clearance by 24 hours and high tumor uptake of [89Zr]Zr-B12 IgG by 72 hours. The study investigators concluded that FAP is a promising target for imaging the prostate cancer tumor microenvironment. Validation of [89Zr]Zr-B12 IgG as a selective imaging probe for FAP-expressing tumors presents a new approach for noninvasive PET/CT imaging of mCRPC.10









Whereas Ga-PSMA mainly accumulates in castrate-sensitive and resistant prostate cancer (but not neuroendocrine disease), there is high accumulation of Ga-FAPI-04 targeting fibroblasts across the various subtypes of prostate cancer. This supports the use of FAPI-molecular theranostics across the prostate cancer disease spectrum.









A promising tracer in this space is [68Ga]Ga-FAPI-PSMA, which is prepared by radiolabeling conjugated DOTA-FAPI-PSMA with the short half-life radionuclide 68Ga. This allows for the dual targeting of both PSMA and FAPs, potentially augmenting the diagnostic and theranostic potential of this tracer.11









Additional emerging anti-FAP targeted agents include 68Ga-FAP-2286 (diagnostic tracer), 177Lu-FAP-2286 (radioligand therapy), and 90Y-FAPI-45 (radioligand therapy).









The next biologic target discussed was Prostate Stem Cell Antigen (PSCA), which is highly overexpressed in most primary prostate carcinoma cells and in metastatic and hormone refractory tumor cells. It is expressed on the cell surface in 83100% of local prostate cancers and 87100% of prostate cancer bone metastases. PSCA is also overexpressed in a variety of other tumor entities including gallbladder, urinary bladder, breast, and pancreatic cancer, as well as renal cell carcinomas and gliomas. Expression of PSCA in prostate cancer increases with the Gleason Score, tumor stage, androgen-independent progression, and metastases formation in bone, lymph nodes, or liver. Like PSMA and all other tumor associated antigens, PSCA is not exclusively expressed in tumor tissues. Expression of PSCA was also detected at both the mRNA and protein level in healthy tissues.









In 2014, Knowles et al. evaluated the immunoPET agents, (124)I- and (89)Zr-labeled anti-PSCA A11 minibodies, as PET radiotracers for prostate cancer imaging in xenograft mouse models. Both (124)I- and (89)Zr-labeled A11 anti-PSCA minibody showed high-contrast imaging of PSCA expression in vivo. However, the (124)I-labeled A11 minibody was found to be the superior imaging agent because of lower nonspecific uptake and higher tumor-to-soft-tissue contrast. Partial-volume correction was found to be essential for robust quantification of immunoPET imaging with both (124)I- and (89)Zr-labeled A11 minibody.13









Targeted alpha therapy with astatine-211-labeled anti-PSCA A11 minibody demonstrated antitumor efficacy in prostate cancer xenografts and bone microtumors, as illustrated below:









Another biologic target is Cluster of Differentiation 46 (CD46). It is a multifunctional protein, which functions as a negative regulator of the innate immune system. It is overexpressed in prostate cancer, including primary tumor, castrate-resistant, and neuroendocrine differentiated. It demonstrates low expression in normal tissue (except placental trophoblast). Treatment with abiraterone or enzalutamide in the mCRPC setting upregulates CD46 expression. The CD46 gene is gained in 45% of abiraterone-resistant mCRPC. Antibody-drug conjugates targeting CD46 selectively kill both adenocarcinoma and neuroendocrine prostate cancer cells.14

In 2023, Bidkar et al. evaluated [225Ac]DOTA-YS5, a radioimmunotherapy agent based on the YS5 antibody, which targets a tumor-selective CD46 epitope. [225Ac]DOTA-YS5 suppressed the growth of cell-derived and patient-derived xenografts, including PSMA-positive and deficient models. It demonstrated promising early safety results. Future studies will assess this radiopharmaceutical in human models.15









Another promising CD46-targeting radiopharmaceutical is 212Pb-TCMC-YS5, which allows for targeted alpha radiation delivery to CD46-expressing cells.









Delta-like Ligand 3 (DLL3) is expressed in de novo and treatment-emergent small cell/neuroendocrine prostate cancer and is associated with worse survival outcomes. The PET agent, [89Zr]-DFO-DLL3-scFv has been developed as a radiotracer to detect DLL3-expressing prostate cancers with small cell/neuroendocrine differentiation. AMG 757 (tarlatamab) is a half-life-extended bispecific T-cell engager (BiTE) immunotherapy that redirects CD3-positive T cells to kill DLL3-expressing cells, exhibiting potent and durable antitumor activity.16









Human Kallikrein 2 (hK2) is a prostate-specific enzyme governed by the androgen receptor pathway. 177Lu-labeled humanized IgG1 antibody, hu11B6, internalizes into prostate cancer cells by binding to the catalytic cleft of hK2.17









Six-transmembrane Epithelial Antigen of Prostate-1 (STEAP1) is a novel 339-amino acid cell surface marker that acts as an ion channel or transporter protein and plays a potential role in cell adhesion and tumor proliferation/invasiveness, with high levels of expression in prostate cancer cells. STEAP1 has emerged as a candidate for therapeutic interventions using antibody-drug conjugates, such as 89Zr-MSTP2109A, an anti-STEAP1 internalizing antibody.18





Vicrostatin (VCN) is a novel recombinant disintegrin that displays high binding affinity to a broad range of human integrins and offers substantial competitive biological advantages over other integrin-based antagonists. VCN has emerged as promising theranostic target, as illustrated below:









Presented by: Hossein Jadvar, MD, PhD, MPH, MBA, MSL, FACNM, FSNMMI, Professor of Radiology, Urology, and Biomedical Engineering (Tenured), University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA

Written by: Rashid Sayyid, MD, MSc  Society of Urologic Oncology (SUO) Clinical Fellow at The University of Toronto, @rksayyid on Twitter during the Society of Nuclear Medicine & Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) 2024 Annual Meeting held in Toronto, ON between June 8th and June 11th, 2024





References:
ELKO  Formal charges are pending against a paroled Spring Creek man being held on an open murder charge in the shooting death of a man at an Idaho Street motel.

William L. Kerr, 54, was also charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and being an ex-felon failing to register with law enforcement.

Kerr attended a bail hearing in Elko Justice Court about 14 hours after the Elko SWAT Team arrested him at a Second Street residence. He appeared before Judge Randall Soderquist via videoconference from the Elko County Jail.

At the hearing, Elko County District Attorney Tyler Ingram and Deputy District Attorney Jeffrey Slade represented the state.

Attorney Brea Revier was appointed as Kerrs defense counsel. She told the court there was a conflict of interest in the case and that Kerr was unable to represent himself at the hearing.

The prosecution told the court Kerr may have still been under the influence of a controlled substance and said there was good cause to continue the bail hearing for another day.

According to the Justice Court, a new bail hearing date has not been set.

Although a $100,000 bail was attached to the felony charge of owning or possessing a firearm by a prohibited person, Kerr was ordered to remain in custody at the Elko County Jail without bail on the open murder charge.

The Justice Court is also awaiting a charging decision from the District Attorneys Office.

Kerrs arrest

Kerr was booked into the Elko County Jail at 1:10 a.m. June 11, hours after police were called to the Travelers Motel on Idaho and 12th streets on a report of a shooting.

According to court documents, police said a woman overheard Kerr having an argument on Monday with another person, identified by police as Charles Wanamaker, 56, of Elko, who was supposed to hire him for brickwork. Like Kerr, Wanamaker had a criminal record and was recently released from state prison.

Later, the woman received a call from Kerr, who was in a panic and told her Wanamaker had come at him and Kerr shot him in the neck.

According to the records, Kerr arrived at the womans house with a bag containing the firearm and the clothing he admitted to wearing during the shooting. He asked the woman to drive them by the Travelers Motel to see if there was any police activity.

When they didnt see police, she said left Kerr at the motel and drove to the downtown parking corridor. She then hid Kerrs phone in a pipe.

The woman said she did not want to become involved in a possible homicide and notified authorities about the incident and where to find Kerrs phone.

Police found the man in a room, shot dead with a bullet in his neck below his right ear.

A search warrant was executed on the womans vehicle, where they discovered the bag of clothing and a firearm, a Ruger P85 9mm. Police also found a lanyard with keys to a vehicle registered to Kerr.

Police saw Kerr enter the womans residence and filed a search warrant to enter the home.

The Elko SWAT Team arrived, and officers tried to call Kerr out on a PA system.

When he did not respond, the SWAT team used distraction devices and chemical agents to enter the house and take him into custody. He was found hiding in a bedroom under blankets.

No law enforcement officers were injured as they took Kerr into custody.

Kerr was not cooperative with police, but admitted to dropping the victim off at the motel room; he then stopped the interview.

A background check with the Elko County Sheriffs Office provided records that showed he had not registered with a law enforcement agency since 2022.

Elko Police Chief Ty Trouten praised the cooperation among various agencies, from the police department to the Elko County Sheriffs Office to state police and the Carlin and West Wendover police departments to local fire and rescue departments. He called the cooperative effort one of the strengths of our community here.

He noted that was helpful in solving the case because officers and detectives were investigating four separate crime scenes. Cooperation allows you to do a lot all at once, Trouten said.

Paroled two years ago

This is not Kerrs first run-in with the law.

He was paroled two years ago after serving 16 years in prison for leaving the scene of an accident that injured an Elko police officer in 2005. Kerr was arrested after leading police on a two-hour chase through town, and, at times, driving into oncoming traffic.

The pursuit ended when he rammed his minivan into a patrol vehicle.

Four months before that incident, he was accused of shooting his way out of a clothing store after the owner called police about a suspected shoplifter.

Kerr was locked into the building and then used a firearm to shoot a window and get out.

According to the Nevada Department of Corrections, Kerr began serving time in prison starting Aug. 3, 2005, on consecutive sentences for charges ranging from controlled substance possession and use to battery with a deadly weapon, assault with a deadly weapon, leaving the scene of an accident and failure to stop on the signal of an officer.

Kerr was denied parole four times before it was granted on Feb. 24, 2022. He was released later that year.

Trouten, the Elko police chief, said hed had run-ins with Kerr before.

Its sad because I knew the suspect back from when I was in narcotics. I never thought Id see him again in my career, the chief said. I remember a conversation I had with him back in that time frame. We were dealing with him constantly.

A busy 2024 for law enforcement

This is the second homicide in Elko within the past couple of months and the fourth case to involve the Elko SWAT Team.

SWAT officers and Elko Crisis Negotiators were called to the Peace Park following the shooting of Sterling Crane manager Robert DeMars on April 18.

John Joshua Jauer, 42, was found under a pavilion after he fatally wounded himself.

The SWAT team also responded to a standoff between police and James Ryan Jr., 45, who was involved in a domestic violence incident at a car wash that was witnessed by a police officer on Jan. 24.

Ryan fled to Powder House Road, where the SWAT team and crisis negotiators urged him to turn himself in. But Ryan opened fire on the officers and was killed by SWAT team members.

The officers were reinstated to duty in May following an investigation by the Washoe County Regional Officer Involved Shooting Investigation Team, which agreed with Elko police internal affairs, determining the officers acted in accordance with their training and that there were no violations of Elko Police Department Policy.

In March, the SWAT team was also involved in a raid on the Elko Inn and Studio as part of a continuing investigation into narcotics trafficking.
(UroToday.com) The 2024 Society of Nuclear Medicine & Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) annual meeting featured a session on prostate cancer, and a presentation by Dr. Luke Nordquist discussing the results of COBRA, an assessment of the safety and efficacy of 64Cu-SAR-bisPSMA in patients with biochemical recurrence of prostate cancer following definitive therapy. Between 20-40% of patients with prostate cancer will relapse within 10 years of their primary prostate cancer treatment, as identified by increasing PSA levels. Most relapses will occur within 5 years after definitive therapy, thus early diagnosis of biochemical recurrence with accurate staging is essential to inform the best treatment strategy. Over the last several years, PSMA has been used as an imaging target in prostate cancer.

64Cu-SAR-bisPSMA may offer several advantages over the currently approved PSMA PET agents due to the bivalent structure of SAR-bisPSMA and longer half-life (t 1/2 ) of 64Cu (12.7 hours), compared to the monovalent agents utilizing 18F and 68Ga (t 1/2 < 2 hours):

Clinical/translational evidence has demonstrated higher tumor uptake (2-3x), prolonged retention and detection of additional prostate cancer lesions using 64Cu-SAR-bisPSMA compared to approved PSMA agents.

The COBRA study was a phase I/II study assessing the safety and efficacy of 64Cu-SAR-bisPSMA (200 MBq) in prostate cancer patients with biochemical recurrence and negative or equivocal standard of care imaging. Patients underwent PET/CT on Day 0 and Day 1 (1-4 hours and 24  6 hours post-dose, respectively), interpreted by 3 blinded central readers. The study design is as follows:

The PET/CT results were assessed against a reference standard (histopathology, standard of care imaging, PSA response) that was determined by an independent, blinded, central expert panel. Efficacy endpoints included detection rate and positive predictive value. Additionally, the intended change in prostate cancer treatment due to the 64Cu-SAR-bisPSMA results was recorded.

There were 52 patients that received 64Cu-SAR-bisPSMA (safety set), two replacements (protocol deviations), 50 patients that proceeded to follow-up, 8 patients without a reference standard, and 42 patients with a reference standard (efficacy set). Only one adverse event was related to 64Cu-SAR-bisPSMA (Grade 2 worsening of type II diabetes, resolved). The total number of lesions identified increased from Day 0 (70) to day 1 (129) across three readers, representing an 85% increase in the total numbers of lesions detected:

The Day 0 detection rate range across the readers was 4458% (95% CI 30.071.8), increasing on Day 1 to 5880% (95% CI 43.290.0), representing a 34% increase in patients having a positive 64Cu-SAR-bisPSMA scan on Day 1 (71%) versus Day 0 (53%) across the average of 3 readers. Pelvic lymph nodes had a Day 0 positive predictive value range of 71.487.5% (95% CI 29.099.7) and Day 1 of 50.061.5% (95% CI 15.786.1). The relative decrease in Day 1 positive predictive value was related to the challenges to obtain the reference standard for additional lesions identified on Day 1, where biopsy of all lesions was not feasible and due to the low sensitivity of current standard of care imaging that were used for co-localization:

There was a >80% increase in mean SUVmean and SUVmax, as well as a >5x increase in mean TBR for same day versus next day imaging:

Of note, 64Cu-SAR-bisPSMA detects lesions in the 2 mm range:

Importantly, the 64Cu-SAR-bisPSMA imaging led to clinicians changing their intended treatment plans in 48% of patients.

Dr. Nordquist concluded his presentation by discussing results of COBRA, an assessment of the safety and efficacy of 64Cu-SAR-bisPSMA in patients with biochemical recurrence of prostate cancer following definitive therapy with the following take home messages:

COBRA showed that 64 Cu-SAR-bisPSMA is safe and effective in detecting prostate cancer lesions in patients with biochemical recurrence

Cu-SAR-bisPSMA is safe and effective in detecting prostate cancer lesions in patients with biochemical recurrence Only one treatment emergent adverse event was related to 64 Cu-SAR-bisPSMA, which resolved

Cu-SAR-bisPSMA, which resolved In patients with a negative or equivocal standard of care scan, 64 Cu-SAR-bisPSMA identified lesions (as small as 2 mm) in up to 80% of patients

Cu-SAR-bisPSMA identified lesions (as small as 2 mm) in up to 80% of patients More lesions and more patients with a positive scan were identified on next-day imaging, a feature that currently approved PSMA tracers cannot offer

Higher uptake and contrast was observed in lesions on the next day versus same day imaging

PET results led to clinicians changing the intended treatment plan in approximately half of the patients

Taken altogether, these findings have important clinical implications as the identification of lesions in biochemical recurrence patients can inform different treatment pathways for patient biochemical recurrence

Presented by: Luke Nordquist, MD, Urology Cancer Center, Omaha, NE

Written by: Zachary Klaassen, MD, MSc  Urologic Oncologist, Associate Professor of Urology, Georgia Cancer Center, Wellstar MCG Health, @zklaassen_md on Twitter during the Society of Nuclear Medicine & Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) 2024 Annual Meeting held in Toronto, ON between June 8th and June 11th, 2024
Vietnam Briefing has developed into a premium source for insight on doing business in Vietnam. It publishes business news concerning foreign direct investment into Vietnam, including the most important tax, legal and accounting issues. The Vietnam Briefing Magazine was first published in 2009, and is contributed to by investment professionals based in Vietnam.
An aerial drone photo shows tourists visiting the Slender West Lake scenic spot in Yangzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, June 10, 2024. China saw 110 million domestic tourist trips made during the three-day Dragon Boat Festival holiday, up 6.3 percent from the same period last year, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism said Monday. (Photo by Zhou Shegen/Xinhua)

BEIJING, June 10 (Xinhua) -- China saw 110 million domestic tourist trips made during the three-day Dragon Boat Festival holiday, up 6.3 percent from the same period last year, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism said Monday.

Domestic tourists spent 40.35 billion yuan (about 5.57 billion U.S. dollars) during the holiday from Saturday to Monday, up 8.1 percent year on year, according to the ministry.

Tourists are gravitating toward more flexible and personalized travel options, opting for leisurely-paced vacations, in-depth experiences, and ample relaxation. Yunnan, Qinghai, Gansu, Inner Mongolia, and Guizhou have emerged as the favored destinations for young travelers. These locations are particularly popular for road trips and summer retreats, the ministry said.

The Dragon Boat Festival, also known as Duanwu Festival, is a traditional holiday in China. It is celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese lunar calendar and fell on Monday this year.

Tourists watch a traditional wedding performance at a scenic area in Jiyuan City, east China's Shandong Province, June 10, 2024. China saw 110 million domestic tourist trips made during the three-day Dragon Boat Festival holiday, up 6.3 percent from the same period last year, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism said Monday. (Photo by Miao Qiunao/Xinhua)

Children have fun at a beach in Yantai, east China's Shandong Province, June 10, 2024. China saw 110 million domestic tourist trips made during the three-day Dragon Boat Festival holiday, up 6.3 percent from the same period last year, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism said Monday. (Photo by Sun Wentan/Xinhua)

Tourists watch a teapot tea performance at Jieling Community of Suining City, southwest China's Sichuan Province, June 10, 2024. China saw 110 million domestic tourist trips made during the three-day Dragon Boat Festival holiday, up 6.3 percent from the same period last year, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism said Monday. (Photo by Zhong Min/Xinhua)

Tourists visit the Slender West Lake scenic spot in Yangzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, June 10, 2024. China saw 110 million domestic tourist trips made during the three-day Dragon Boat Festival holiday, up 6.3 percent from the same period last year, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism said Monday. (Photo by Ren Fei/Xinhua)

An aerial drone photo shows tourists viewing lotus in Suining City, southwest China's Sichuan Province, June 10, 2024. China saw 110 million domestic tourist trips made during the three-day Dragon Boat Festival holiday, up 6.3 percent from the same period last year, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism said Monday. (Photo by Liu Changsong/Xinhua)

Tourists on a bamboo raft visit Zhuoshui ancient town in Qianjiang District of southwest China's Chongqing, June 10, 2024. China saw 110 million domestic tourist trips made during the three-day Dragon Boat Festival holiday, up 6.3 percent from the same period last year, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism said Monday. (Photo by Yang Min/Xinhua)

Tourists are greeted by locals wearing traditional costumes in Sanjiao Village, in Shuifu County, southwest China's Yunan Province, June 10, 2024. China saw 110 million domestic tourist trips made during the three-day Dragon Boat Festival holiday, up 6.3 percent from the same period last year, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism said Monday. (Photo by Di Tingxiu/Xinhua)

Tourist ride camels at the Mingshashan and the Crescent Lake, an oasis scenic spot in the Gobi Desert in Dunhuang, northwest China's Gansu Province, June 9, 2024. China saw 110 million domestic tourist trips made during the three-day Dragon Boat Festival holiday, up 6.3 percent from the same period last year, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism said Monday. (Photo by Zhang Xiaoliang/Xinhua)

Tourist ride camels at the Mingshashan and the Crescent Lake, an oasis scenic spot in the Gobi Desert in Dunhuang, northwest China's Gansu Province, June 9, 2024. China saw 110 million domestic tourist trips made during the three-day Dragon Boat Festival holiday, up 6.3 percent from the same period last year, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism said Monday. (Photo by Zhang Xiaoliang/Xinhua)

Editor: ZAD
The U.S. military says it was not involved in the reported killing of two Cuban doctors whom the al-Shabab militant group allege died as a result of a U.S. airstrike in Somalia in February.

The latest quarterly civilian harm assessment published by U.S. Africa Command, also known as AFRICOM, confirms that U.S. forces conducted an airstrike near the town of Jilib on February 15, but denies the strike resulted in the doctors' deaths.

"On Feb. 17, 2024, the command received one (1) report of an online media source stating two (2) civilians were killed as a result of a U.S. military operation in the vicinity of Jilib, Somalia, on Feb. 15, 2024," the assessment read.

"The command completed a review of available information and assessed that the U.S. airstrike conducted on Feb. 15, 2024, did not result in civilian harm."

Without providing proof, al-Shabab at the time said "the aerial bombardment" killed Assel Herrera and Landy Rodriguez. The two had been in the militants' custody since April 2019, when they were abducted from Mandera County in northeastern Kenya.

The doctors were part of a medical team sent to Kenya by Cuba. Al-Shabab published an image purporting to show the body of one of the hostages. VOA Somali has not independently confirmed whether the Cuban doctors have died.

In addition, AFRICOM says it has completed an assessment of two other incidents this year  one January 25 in the vicinity of Galhareeri in Galmudug state and February 22 in Kurtunwaarey in Southwest state. U.S. airstrikes were blamed for causing multiple civilian injuries and fatalities. AFRICOM said the assessments determined that there were no U.S. military operations at the times and places reported.

AFRICOM said it had one open case in this quarter and information on it will be disclosed later this year.

"U.S. Africa Command takes all reports of possible civilian harm seriously and has a process to conduct thorough reviews and assessments using all available information," the assessment said. "The command remains committed to reviewing and assessing any reports of civilian harm."

The United States has supported the Somali government with airstrikes against al-Shabab and has been providing military training for government troops for more than a decade.

In February, the U.S. and Somalia signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the construction of up to five military bases for the U.S.-trained elite Somali National Army forces known as the Danab (lightning) Brigade.
The last time leaders of the worlds seven richest economies met, at the G7 summit in Hiroshima, Japan in 2023, they denounced Chinas rising economic security threats and vowed to support Ukraine against Russias invasion for as long as it takes.

This week in Apulia, Italy, U.S. President Joe Biden wants the group to restrain the same two adversaries while continuing to tackle common global challenges, including infrastructure funding and AI, or artificial intelligence.

However, a shift to the right of the European political landscape following EU parliamentary elections could complicate his plans.

The U.S. is aiming for the G7 to agree on a united front against Chinese overcapacity, when production of goods exceeds demand, in key green technologies and a mechanism to use Russian frozen assets to aid Ukraines war efforts, a source familiar with Bidens plans told VOA.

On Russia, Biden is pushing a plan to give Kyiv tens of billions of dollars up front, using interest from the approximately $280 billion in Russian assets immobilized in Western financial institutions.

Weeks after announcing new tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, or EVs, and other strategic industries, Biden also wants leaders to confront Beijings practice of flooding global markets with cheap exports in those industries.

Much work still needs to be done on both fronts, and officials are scrambling to agree on a final communique before the summit ends.

Shifting political landscape in Europe

With far-right parties gaining support in the European Parliament elections over the weekend, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz have been weakened, while G7 host Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni consolidated her power.

The European far-right has divergent views on China and Russia, adding another layer of uncertainty to the G7s posture. A key factor: whether Ursula von der Leyen can keep her job as president of the European Commission for another five years.

If von der Leyen remains the likely candidate, we can expect continuity on the G7 agenda  she has been forward-leaning on Ukraine and on China, said Liana Fix, a fellow for Europe at the Council on Foreign Relations.

While von der Leyen is in a strong position, her second term is not guaranteed. Snap French parliamentary elections in late June, as announced by Macron on Sunday following his partys loss in the parliamentary election, could be the wild card, Fix told VOA. With the prospects of a far-right government, Macron may be hesitant to confirm von der Leyen just a few days before the French elections.

Russian retaliation

Moscow sees the freezing of its assets by Western financial institutions following its 2022 invasion of Ukraine as theft. It has threatened to retaliate, should the G7 agree to adopt the plan pushed by Biden.

The plan will provide Kyiv with a loan of up to $50 billion, which will be paid back to Western allies using interest earned from Russian assets, estimated at $3 billion a year or more until it is paid, or Moscow agrees to pay reparations.

Its a more aggressive plan than the EU agreed to in May, which would provide Ukraine with the interest income as it is generated annually. Its also riskier  theres no guarantee that Russian assets would be immobilized for the duration it takes to repay the loan. Under EU rules, the sanctions regime that freezes the funds must be unanimously renewed every six months by the blocs 27 member states.

The push comes as Moscow's forces gained strategic advances on the battlefield, and amid war funding fatigue settling deeper among American and European taxpayers. A deal will be an important signal of transatlantic unity against Russia ahead of the NATO summit in Washington next month and give a measure of relief as Kyiv faces the prospects of a changing political landscape in the U.S. and Europe.

This used to be partly about (former president Donald) Trump-proofing support to Ukraine, but may now also be about (Marine) Le Pen-proofing it, considering the possibility of (the far-right) National Rally (political party) winning the French parliamentary election in a few weeks, said Armida van Rij, director of the Europe program at Chatham House.

The prospects of more populist, Putin-friendly politicians coming to power in Europe may help further galvanize support for Bidens loan plan for Ukraine, she told VOA.

Concern over Chinese overcapacity

There is no question that the U.S. and Europe share the concern that China is trying to export its way out of its domestic industrial overcapacity problem, said Desmond Lachman, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute.

G7 finance ministers have highlighted Beijings comprehensive use of non-market policies and practices and said they will consider steps to ensure a level playing field, in line with World Trade Organization principles.

Just as Trump's greater economic nationalism has forced Biden to be more protectionist, the rise of right-wing European parties could add more urgency to address Chinese overcapacity, Lachman told VOA.

However, its unclear if the G7 can agree on how it would do that. EU members that consider China a major export market, particularly Germany and France, are anxious to avoid a trade war.

The European Commission is expected to soon announce planned tariffs on Chinese EVs. The action could prompt retaliation from Beijing, which accuses the West of hyping overcapacity claims to blunt Chinas competitive edge.

AI, migration and international development

Italys Meloni has made AI a key priority of her G7 presidency and invited Pope Francis to a special session to highlight the Rome Call for AI Ethics. The initiative urges governments and companies to follow the six ethical principles for AI: transparency, inclusion, responsibility, impartiality, reliability, as well as security and privacy.

Leaders will discuss how AI impacts labor, sustainable development, foreign policy, disinformation, and election interference.

A strategic partnership with Africa to curb migration to Europe is another key theme of Melonis G7 presidency. In January, she launched the Mattei Plan, an international investment initiative to boost development in the continent, in line with the G7s Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment, which is also known as PGI.

PGI was launched at the G7 2021 summit as Build Back Better World, echoing the Biden administration's domestic agenda. The goal is to mobilize $600 billion in private infrastructure funding by 2027 as an alternative to the Chinese Belt and Road initiative that has increased Beijings political clout in developing countries.

PGI is now focused on developing economic corridors, including the Lobito Corridor that connects the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia and Angola, and the Luzon Corridor in the Philippines.

Following the U.N. Security Council resolution on a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas, the G7 is also expected to again voice its support for peace talks in Gaza.

The president is scheduled to leave for Italy on Wednesday, the day after his son Hunter Biden was found guilty on federal charges of obtaining a gun in 2018 while allegedly addicted to drugs.
Bird flu continues to spread in the Australian state of Victoria, where more than 500,000 chickens have been euthanized. Strict quarantine zones restricting the movement of birds and equipment have also been put in place. Australian health authorities say bird flu spreads mainly among wild water birds.

The highly pathogenic H7N3 strain of avian influenza has been found on four farms, while another virus, H7N9, has been detected at a fifth property over the past seven weeks in Victoria state. The Australian farms have been put into lockdown. At least 580,000 birds have been destroyed as part of sweeping biosecurity controls.

Japan and the United States have temporarily banned imports of poultry from Victoria as a precaution.

In Australia, some supermarkets are restricting the number of eggs that consumers can buy because of disruptions to the supply chain.

Avian influenza is a viral disease found across the world. It spreads between birds or when contaminated animal feed and equipment is moved between areas.

Danyel Cucinotta is the vice president of the Victorian Farmers Federation, an industry group. She told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. Tuesday that the virus can spread quickly.

There is very little we can do and no matter how good your biosecurity is you cannot stop wild fowl coming in. This is a particular flight path for migratory birds. There is housing orders at the moment, which means all birds get locked up. This is about protecting our birds and protecting the food supply chain, she said.

The strains of bird flu identified in the states of Victoria and Western Australia can infect people, but experts insist that cases are rare.

The virus can also infect cows. The United States Department of Agriculture has said that avian flu has infected dairy cows in more than 80 herds across several states since late March.

At least three U.S. dairy workers have tested positive for bird flu after exposure to infected cattle. All three patients are recovering.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the infections do not change its assessment that bird flu is a low risk to the general community and that it has not seen evidence of human-to-human transmission.

Last month, health authorities in Mexico confirmed a fatal case of human infection with an avian flu virus that had been reported in poultry.
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U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday urged Hamas to accept a cease-fire in Cairo, part of growing international pressure to end the eight-month-old conflict with Israel. VOA Congressional Correspondent Katherine Gypson reports.
The Office of the U.N. high commissioner for human rights is accusing both Israel and Hamas of actions that may amount to war crimes during Israels military operation to secure the release of four hostages in the Nuseirat refugee camp in Gaza on Saturday.

We are profoundly shocked at the impact on civilians of the Israeli forces operation, Jeremy Laurence, the high commissioners spokesperson, said Tuesday, noting that hundreds of Palestinians, many of them civilians, were reportedly killed and injured.

The manner in which the raid was conducted in such a densely populated area seriously calls into question whether the principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution, as set out under the laws of war, were respected by the Israeli forces, he told journalists in Geneva.

According to Gazas Hamas-run Ministry of Health, 274 Palestinians were killed and 698 injured in Nuseirat refugee camp during the Israeli raid.

Our Office is also deeply distressed that Palestinian armed groups continue to hold many hostages, most of them civilians, which is prohibited by international humanitarian law, Laurence said. Furthermore, by holding hostages in such densely populated areas, the armed groups doing so are putting the lives of Palestinian civilians, as well as the hostages themselves, at added risk from the hostilities.

All these actions, by both parties, may amount to war crimes, he said.

Responding to criticism of its operation, Israels military said it had attacked threats to our forces in the area, and that a special forces officer was killed in the operation. Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz was more blunt in his rebuke of critics, posting a statement saying, only Israels enemies complained about the casualties of Hamas terrorists and their accomplices.

Some 120 hostages reportedly remain in Gaza, with 43 pronounced dead. A total of 116 hostages of some 250 that were abducted by Hamas militants during its brutal attack on Israel October 7 have been freed.

The fact that the four hostages are now free is clearly very good news. These hostages should never have been taken in the first place. That is a breach of international humanitarian law, Laurence said, adding: they must be freed  all of them, promptly.

At the same time, he admonished Palestinian armed groups for holding hostages in densely populated areas.

Not only are the armed groups putting the lives of Palestinians themselves at risk, but they also are putting the lives of the hostages at risk, he noted.

Responding to the horrific images of death and devastation following Israels military operation, U.N. humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths described the Nuseirat refugee camp as the epicenter of the seismic trauma that civilians in Gaza continue to suffer.

Seeing shrouded bodies on the ground, we are reminded that nowhere is safe in Gaza, Griffiths said in a social media post. Seeing bloodied patients being treated on hospital floors, we are reminded that health care in Gaza is hanging by a thread.

Following the attack on June 8, the World Health Organization conducted an assessment mission to Al Aqsa Hospital in central Gaza. The mission found 270 health workers providing care to an estimated 700 patients. Before the war, Al Aqsa served an estimated 150 inpatient patients daily.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday ceded to opposition pressure to expand a public inquiry into election interference to also probe allegations of treason against some lawmakers for secretly working with foreign governments.

Legislators have been pressing Trudeau's Liberal government to name names following the revelations made last week in a heavily redacted national security committee report.

The report also claimed that China and India meddled in Canadian party leadership campaigns, including that of Trudeau's main rival, Tory leader Pierre Poilievre.

Members of Parliament were expected on Tuesday to pass an opposition motion calling for an independent inquiry that is already looking into foreign interference in Canada's 2019 and 2021 elections to scrutinize possible treason, too.

The inquiry led by Justice Marie-Josee Hogue was launched last September.

"I think it's extremely important that we continue to take foreign interference with all the seriousness that it requires," Trudeau said.

The opposition motion is nonbinding on the government, but he said his Liberals would vote with opposition parties to ask Hogue to further investigate the claims so that "Canadians can have confidence in the integrity of their democracy."

In the House of Commons earlier, opposition parties urged transparency.

"Conservatives are demanding that the government expand the scope of the foreign interference public inquiry to receive all documents and information and reveal the names of which MPs have sold out their country," said Tory MP Andrew Scheer.

Bloc Quebecois MP Pierre Paul-Hus, who presented the motion, said: "We need to know who these members are who are collaborating with hostile foreign countries."

He was echoed by New Democratic Party leader and Trudeau ally Jagmeet Singh, who called the findings "deeply troubling" and demanded accountability. "Canadians ought to know," he said.

The National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians (NSICOP) in a report last week cited "troubling intelligence that some Parliamentarians are 'semi-witting or witting' participants in the efforts of foreign states to interfere in our politics."

This included the secret funding of political campaigns, sharing of confidential information or privileged information on the work or opinions of fellow lawmakers with foreign intelligence officers, and influencing Canadian lawmakers to advantage a foreign state.

The report did not identify Canadians implicated in the schemes, but chided Ottawa for its "slow response to a known threat."

Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc refused to reveal the identities of lawmakers mentioned in the report, saying to do so was itself illegal.

He also said the allegations in the NSICOP report may include uncorroborated or unverified intelligence information.
Hong Kongs top court is losing another judge from overseas.

Beverly McLachlin, a former chief justice of the Supreme Court of Canada, on Monday became the third overseas judge in recent days to announce a resignation from the countrys Court of Final Appeal.

Jonathan Sumption and Lawrence Collins, former justices of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom, announced their resignations last week.

Sumption wrote in an opinion piece published Monday in the Financial Times that Hong Kong, once a vibrant and politically diverse community, is slowly becoming a totalitarian state.

He wrote that the rule of law is in grave danger and that judges are caught in an impossible political environment created by China. He said in the Financial Times that because of Hong Kongs political climate, it is no longer realistic for overseas judges to remain on the court.

Intimidated or convinced by the darkening political mood, many judges have lost sight of their traditional role as defenders of the liberty of the subject, Sumption wrote.

Hong Kong is a former British colony. Judges from common law jurisdictions serve as nonpermanent members at Hong Kongs Court of Final Appeal, which is not under the jurisdiction of mainland China.

However, mainland China enacted a national security law in 2020 in Hong Kong that rights groups and critics say has eroded Hong Kongs judicial independence and has also terminated public protest. Several protesters and activists have been arrested under the law.

John Lee, Hong Kongs city leader, told Agence France-Presse recently that the overseas judges appointments help maintain a high degree of confidence in [Hong Kongs] judicial system. He said their appointments to the court help Hong Kong maintain strong ties with common law jurisdiction.

Seven overseas judges remain on the court.

McLachlin said Monday, I continue to have confidence in the members of the court, their independence, and their determination to uphold the rule of law.
NIZHNY NOVGOROD, Russia, June 10 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Monday attended the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting in the Russian city of Nizhny Novgorod.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, noted that over the past year, BRICS cooperation has been remarkable, rapid and strong.

Following BRICS' expansion, a new era for the Global South to gain strength through unity has come, and the appeal and attractiveness of BRICS has been continuously increasing, he said.

Noting rampant politicization and securitization of economic issues and increasing unilateral sanctions and technological barriers in today's world, Wang called on the participants to follow the trend of history, stand on the side of fairness and justice, and make the right choices.

Looking ahead, the greater BRICS must take greater responsibilities and actions, Wang said, adding that the strategic significance and political effects of the greater BRICS should be fully leveraged to make BRICS a new type of multilateral cooperation mechanism based on emerging markets and developing countries, and open and inclusive to the world.

Wang called for strengthening confidence in multilateralism to draw a new blueprint for future global development; firmly toughening the determination to maintain peace and security to offer new support for the political resolution of hotspot issues; and staying committed to the BRICS original aspiration of openness, inclusiveness, and win-win cooperation to elevate pragmatic cooperation to new heights.

The participants exchanged views in depth on BRICS cooperation and international and regional hot issues. All parties spoke highly of the important role of the BRICS mechanism and the achievements of its membership expansion. They agreed that the accession of more countries to BRICS has accelerated the process of world multi-polarization, and promoted a more just and equitable international order. They also voiced support for the establishment of partner countries.

All parties called for adherence to multilateralism, opposition to unilateralism and protectionism, promoting reform of the international financial architecture, enhancing and improving global governance, and increasing the voice and representation of developing countries.

All parties emphasized resolving disputes peacefully through dialogue and consultations, and supporting all efforts conducive to the peaceful resolution of crises.

A joint statement of BRICS foreign ministers was issued following the meeting.

During the meeting, Wang met separately with Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira, South African Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor, Ethiopian Foreign Minister Taye Atskeselassie, and Iranian Acting Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani.

Editor: WXL
China's Li Qiang will arrive in Australia Saturday, the first visit by a Chinese premier since 2017, in a sign of improving ties, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Tuesday.

During the four-day visit Li will visit the city of Adelaide city, the capital Canberra, and Australia's mining state Western Australia.

Both leaders will meet with Australian and Chinese business leaders at a roundtable in Western Australia, Albanese said at a media briefing in Canberra.

China is Australia's largest trading partner, with Australian resources and energy exports dominating trade flow.

Australia is the biggest supplier of iron ore to China and China has been an investor in Australian mining projects, though some recent Chinese investment in critical minerals has been blocked by Australia on national interest grounds.

Albanese said foreign investment has a role to play in Australia and is considered on a case-by-case basis.

"Chinese engagement, including with the resources sector, has been important for growth," he said.

China imposed trade restrictions on a raft of Australian agricultural and mineral products during a diplomatic dispute in 2020, which has now largely eased.

Albanese said he would like to see the remaining Chinese trade impediments on lobsters and seafood removed.

In his meeting with Li next week in Canberra, Albanese will raise the case of Australian writer Yang Hengjun who was given a suspended death sentence on espionage charges in February, as well as an incident last month where a Chinese military jet dropped flares near an Australian defense helicopter, which Albanese said "was dangerous and should never had happened."

"Welcoming the Chinese premier to our shores is an opportunity for Australia to advance our interests by demonstrating our national values, our people's qualities and our economy's strengths," he said.

"Australia continues to pursue a stable and direct relationship with China, with dialog at its core."
Chinese police have detained a suspect in a stabbing attack on four instructors from Iowa's Cornell College who were teaching at a Chinese university in the northeast city of Jilin, officials said Tuesday.

Jilin city police said a 55-year-old man surnamed Cui was walking in a public park on Monday when he bumped into a foreigner. He stabbed the foreigner and three other foreigners who were with him, and also stabbed a Chinese person who approached in an attempt to intervene, police said.

The instructors from Cornell College were teaching at Beihua University, officials at the U.S. school said.

The injured were rushed to a hospital for treatment and none was in critical condition, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said at a daily briefing Tuesday. He said police believe the attack in Jilin city's Beishan Park was an isolated incident, based on a preliminary assessment, and the investigation is ongoing.

Cornell College President Jonathan Brand said in a statement that the instructors were attacked while at the park with a faculty member from Beihua, which is in an outlying part of Jilin, an industrial city about 1,000 kilometers (600 miles) northeast of Beijing. Monday was a public holiday in China.

The State Department said in a statement it was aware of reports of a stabbing and was monitoring the situation. The attack happened as both Beijing and Washington are seeking to expand people-to-people exchanges to help bolster relations amid tensions over trade and such international issues as Taiwan, the South China Sea and the war in Ukraine.

An Iowa state lawmaker posted a statement on Instagram saying his brother, David Zabner, had been wounded during a stabbing attack in Jilin. Rep. Adam Zabner described his brother as a doctoral student at Tufts University who was in China under the Cornell-Beihua relationship.

"I spoke to David a few minutes ago, he is recovering from his injuries and doing well," Adam Zabner wrote, adding that his brother was grateful for the care he received at a hospital.

News of the incident was suppressed in China, where the government maintains control on information about anything considered sensitive. News media outlets had not reported it. Some social media accounts posted foreign media reports about the attack, but a hashtag about it was blocked on a popular portal and photos and video of the incident were quickly taken down.

Cornell spokesperson Jen Visser said in an email that the college was still gathering information about what happened.

Visser said the private college in Mount Vernon, Iowa, partners with Beihua University. A college news release from 2018, when the program started, says Beihua provides funding for Cornell professors to travel to China to teach a portion of courses in computer science, mathematics and physics over a two-week period.

According to a 2020 post on Beihua's website, the Chinese university uses American teaching methods and resources to give engineering students an international perspective and English-language ability.

About one-third of the core courses in the program use U.S. textbooks and are taught by American professors, according to the post. Students can apply to study for two years of their four-year education at Cornell College and receive degrees from both institutions.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has unveiled a plan to invite 50,000 young Americans to China in the next five years, though Chinese diplomats say a travel advisory by the U.S. State Department has discouraged Americans from visiting China.

Citing arbitrary detentions as well as exit bans that could prevent Americans from leaving the country, the State Department has issued a Level 3 travel advisory  the second-highest warning level  for mainland China. It urges Americans to "reconsider travel" to China.

Some American universities have suspended their China programs due to the travel advisory.

Lin, the Foreign Ministry spokesperson, said China has taken effective measures to protect the safety of foreigners. "We believe that the isolated incident will not disrupt normal cultural and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries," he said.
A Chinese American writer living in Germany is delighted that a dance-drama adaptation of one of her novels is set to be performed on stage in China this month. Yet she can't help noticing that the homeland she left 35 years ago seems to have mixed feelings about her and her work.

Many of Yan Geling's achievements that were documented across the Chinese internet over the past 10 to 15 years on digital news outlets and social media platforms seem to be gone or difficult to find, she told VOA Mandarin this week.

The Flowers of War was published first as a novella in 2007 and then expanded into a novel in 2011. It depicts a group of young women in 1937 taking shelter in a church and attempting to resist the Japanese occupation in Nanking. She approved the book's adaptation for a dance-drama, which was written by Feng Shuangbai. The theatrical show is directed by Lang Kun.

Their two names appear on the Chinese internet and are credited in conjunction with the upcoming Chengdu performance, but Yans name is not included.

Yan said she first noticed about two years ago that large swaths of information about her life and her work were no longer accessible on the Chinese internet. This followed her online WeChat criticism of Chinese authorities' pandemic response and a broadcast interview in which she questioned Xi Jinping's leadership. During a high-profile 2022 incident, a mentally disturbed woman was photographed unlawfully detained and chained in a semiderelict building in Xuzhou city.

She said that before 2022, much information about her and her work could be found on the Chinese internet on popular platforms such as Baidu Baike, the Chinese equivalent of Wikipedia.

"Since I criticized Xi Jinping, it is as if I don't exist," Yan told VOA by phone this week from Berlin. "I'm completely removed from all search engines, and my name no longer exists. I think this whole thing is ridiculous."

VOA reached out to the Chinese Embassy in Washington for comment. The embassy declined to comment, saying it was not "aware of the specifics."

The dance-drama is scheduled to be performed June 21 in Chengdu city at the CDHT CPAA Grand Theater, according to the city's culture office. The play was first performed in China in March 2023 in Yangzhou city, according to the culture office of Yangzhou.

Hengqing Henry Li, a U.S.-based independent economist who was a student leader during the 1989 Tiananmen pro-democracy movement in China, told VOA Mandarin that he noticed about 10 years ago that basic and nonpolitical information previously available about him on the Chinese internet was no longer there.

For example, 10 years ago, he could find and read news accounts about a scientific paper he wrote as a high school student that won a top prize in Beijing. In recent years, he hasn't been able to find those news articles.

"I just disappeared from the Chinese ordinary people's world," Li said.

The New York Times reported this week that a recent review of content published and posted on the Chinese internet from the mid-1990s to the mid-2000s showed much material previously available was gone.

Searching the popular site Baidu Baike recently for information posted during that time frame about well-known tycoons Jack Ma, founder of Alibaba, and Pony Ma, chief executive officer of Tencent, turned up little compared with searches in recent years.

Previously, information about the early career work of Xi in the mid-1990s and early 2000s, before he became China's top leader, was available on Baidu Baike, but the paper said that was not the case now.

Frank Tian Xie, a professor of business at the University of South Carolina-Aiken, told VOA it's likely that the Cyberspace Administration of China has asked and instructed internet service providers in China to erase and reduce access to information about Xi that is related to and was posted before he rose to top power in the nation.

This indicates that the authorities' online internet supervision has been tightened, Xie said.

"Some information was acceptable to Xi before he came to power, but now the Chinese Communist Party doesn't want people to see it again. The CCP authorities are now unwilling to admit and accept some of the practices and statements they made in the past. Some domestic and foreign policies might not have been a problem before, but now they feel embarrassed about them," he said.

Two other examples of inconsistent national policy that authorities apparently are seeking to minimize public access to, Xie said, are related to childbirth and elder care. China now encourages childbirth, contrary to years ago when it promoted a one-child policy. China for decades touted its state-sponsored elder care services, but now encourages children to care for their elderly parents and family members. Xie said that if citizens had historical data, they could easily find inconsistencies in Chinese national policies.

Yan said her livelihood has been harmed by her lower profile on the internet because it makes it more difficult to collect royalties for original writing and creative work. Yet she said she has no regrets about sharing her views publicly to, she hopes, help inform citizens.

Working and writing without censorship is an important principle, she said.

"I have to say it," Yan told VOA. "Otherwise, I feel that, in the last stage of my life, I will regret not saying what I wanted and feel ashamed."

Adrianna Zhang contributed to this report.
The Israel-Hamas war protests have led to rising conflicts between police and the press throughout the United States. Both police and reporters go to protests with jobs to do. But journalists say police often prevent them from doing theirs. Robin Guess reports.
Taiwanese photographer Lin Jai-hang never thought a seemingly routine business trip to China would turn into a 12-hour detention at a Chinese police station.

Lin, who has published several books documenting the lives of gay men, said he was supposed to promote his works at a book fair in Chinas Nanjing City on May 31. But less than half an hour after he began to set up his booth, seven or eight strangers came up to start taking photos of his books and soon they called the police to take Lin away.

The police first went back to my hotel room for another round of search and took me and a staff from the book fair to the police station, Lin told VOA in a phone interview, adding that the police told him he would be detained for 24 hours for spreading obscene images.

They took away my phone, put me in handcuffs, performed a strip search on me, and collected my fingerprints and blood samples, he said.

During the questioning, the police asked Lin a series of personal questions, including his sexual orientation, details about his family, why he photographed gay men, and why he decided to join the book fair. The police then sent me back to a room and I was detained for several hours with other people, Lin recalled.

He was eventually released around midnight, but the police confiscated most of his works. They told me that I was detained because the subjects of my works arent appropriate for public display, he told VOA, adding that the police took away anything related to LGBTQ topics.

Lin isnt the only Taiwanese briefly detained in China in recent weeks. Taiwans Mainland Affairs Council, which oversees cross-strait relations, revealed on June 6 that a Taiwanese citizen was taken away by Chinese police and detained for several days while traveling with a tour group in the southern province of Fujian.

The councils spokesperson Liang Wen-jie said this is the first time a member of a Taiwanese tour group was detained in China and the individual, whose identity remains undisclosed, was released a few days after his tour group returned to Taiwan.

Chiu Chui-cheng, the head of Taiwans Mainland Affairs Council, urged Taiwanese people to be aware of their safety and carefully assess the potential risks if they plan to travel to China, Hong Kong, or Macau.

The Chinese government hasnt publicly commented on the two cases and VOA has reached out to Chinas Taiwan Affairs Office, which manages cross-strait relations, for comment.

Increased security risks

The detentions come as China passed a series of laws aimed at safeguarding national security since last year. Last July, China revised its anti-espionage law that gives authorities more power to punish what they view as threats to national security. In March, Chinas rubber-stamp parliament vowed to adopt several security-related laws in 2024.

Some analysts say the detention of the two Taiwanese reflects Chinas growing concern about Taiwan potentially pursuing independence under President Lai Ching-tes leadership and Beijings attempt to stop this trend.

Beijings efforts to enact a series of new laws related to national security show that they believe its necessary to roll out more forceful measures to safeguard their core interests, said Hung Chin-fu, a political scientist at National Cheng Kung University in Taiwan.

Against this backdrop, other experts say Taiwanese people will face greater risks when traveling to China. With the counter-espionage law and the national security law, there has been an expansion in the range of activities that could bring in law enforcement action in [China,] Ja Ian Chong, a political scientist at the National University of Singapore, told VOA in a written response.

In his view, citizens from countries or places that have higher tension with China may face higher risks of being targeted by Chinese law enforcement. See the earlier detentions of Australians [and] Canadians, Chong said, adding that this means Taiwanese people will also face greater risks in China as tensions between Beijing and Taipei continue to rise.

Hung in Taiwan thinks this trend will create a chilling effect in Taiwan and deter some Taiwanese from traveling to China. Since there is almost no guarantee of personal safety, any Taiwanese person thinking about traveling to China needs to carefully assess whether its worth taking the risks or not, Hung said.

Some Taiwanese activists say the two recent cases reflect the lack of transparency to know where the red lines are, said Lee Ming-che, a Taiwanese activist sentenced to five years in prison on subversion charges in 2017 by a Chinese court.

Taiwanese photographer Lin said the experience has convinced him that the risks of traveling to China are simply too high for artists like him, who focus on subjects considered inappropriate by the Chinese authorities.

I dont think I will consider traveling to China anytime soon because Im worried I could be targeted if they arrest me under a different crime, he told VOA, adding that his experience makes him believe that China is an unfriendly place to LGBTQ artists like him.

As China prepares to hold the annual Straits Forum in the coastal city of Xiamen on June 15, Hung thinks both sides of the Taiwan Strait are unlikely to reduce the increasingly heightened tension through the meeting.

While China will try to continue influencing some Taiwanese people who favor deepening cross-strait exchanges, the effect of their influence campaign will be limited because the overall trend of cross-strait relations is still deteriorating, he told VOA.

A new Cold War is forming between the Chinese government and the Taiwanese government under the leadership of the pro-sovereignty Democratic Progressive Party, Hung said.
Chiquita Brands International must pay $38.3 million in damages to the families of eight Colombian men killed by a paramilitary group in that country, a Florida jury said on Monday.

Chiquita in 2007 was ordered by a U.S. court to pay a $25 million fine to settle criminal charges that it did business with the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC) paramilitary group.

Chiquita pled guilty in that case to paying protection money from 2001 to 2004, which it said it did to protect employees.

The jury in the civil case before the U.S. District Court Southern District of Florida said in the verdict on Monday that Chiquita knowingly provided substantial assistance to the AUC in the form of cash payments or other means of support, to a degree sufficient to create a foreseeable risk of harm.

The men were killed by the AUC, the jury said, and Chiquita did not prove its support for the AUC was the result of impending harm to the company or its employees.

"The verdict does not bring back the husbands and sons who were killed, but it sets the record straight and places accountability for funding terrorism where it belongs: at Chiquita's doorstep," said Agnieszka Fryszman, a lawyer at law firm Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll, who represented the plaintiffs, said in a statement.

Chiquita did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
President Joe Biden picked the worst of all possible worlds when deciding how to withdraw U.S. forces from Afghanistan, the former commander who oversaw the U.S. withdrawal there told VOA.

Retired General Frank McKenzie writes in a new book, The Melting Point, that he briefed President Biden in February 2021 on four military options on Afghanistan: one that would keep about 2,500 U.S. forces in the country and maintain eight bases; one that would reduce U.S. force numbers to 1,800 and drawdown to three bases; one that took out all U.S. forces and kept the embassy in place, and one that pulled out all American forces and the U.S. embassy.

Biden picked the third option, which attempted to keep the embassy, American citizens and at-risk Afghans in the country.

I felt that was the worst of all possible worlds to actually pick that particular approach, McKenzie told VOA in an interview on Monday.

In a speech explaining the decision, Biden said the U.S. could not continue the cycle of extending or expanding its military presence in hopes of better conditions for withdrawal.

While we will not stay involved in Afghanistan militarily, our diplomatic and humanitarian work will continue. Well continue to support the government of Afghanistan. We will keep providing assistance to the Afghan National Defenses and Security Forces, Biden said.

McKenzie also writes in his book that the Doha agreement, signed by then-President Donald Trumps administration and the Taliban in 2020, was one of the worst negotiating mistakes by the United States. Speaking to VOA, he said the negotiations, orchestrated by then-U.S. ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad, committed the U.S. to an exit timeline while not requiring the Taliban to fulfill its agreed-upon conditions.

As Trump announced the agreement, he warned, If bad things happen, well go back with a force like no ones ever seen.

According to McKenzie, Presidents Biden and Trump shared one common policy objective, to get out of Afghanistan without regard to consequences.

McKenzie said Iran and Russia now have a marriage of convenience and raised concerns about what Russia may be giving Iran in return for Iranian drones and missiles to use in its was against Ukraine.

He said Ukrainians should be able to fire anywhere inside Russia that's attacking Ukraine, but with certain limits on areas such as Russian nuclear capable sites.

You can't give them a sanctuary there, he said.

This interview had been edited for brevity and clarity.

VOA: You have a lot of criticism for the Doha agreement, which the Trump administration and the Taliban signed in February 2020. Why do you think it was, as you say in your book, The Melting Point, one of the worst negotiating mistakes made by the United States?

Former CENTCOM Commander Gen. Frank McKenzie: I think because we signed on to an agreement where we committed to a timeline to leave. And that's significant if you don't condition that agreement, and we did not require the Taliban to fulfill the conditions that were imposed on them as part of that agreement. So the agreement potentially could have worked a little bit better had we not been quite so supine in the negotiating process that followed it. And so I think that really did a couple of things that gave new life to the Taliban, because they took it as a schedule that we were leaving. I think we, across two presidential administrations, took it as a schedule for when we were going to leave, and it deflated the Afghan government.

VOA: The former President of Afghanistan, Ashraf Ghani, he has called the primary negotiator for the Doha agreements for the United States U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad, he's called him corrupt, incompetent and full of secrecy. And in your book, you have some similar descriptions of Khalilzad. You used secretive one time, compartmented, not sharing much within the US government. Is it fair to say that you agree with Ghani here?

McKenzie: Well, to the extent that he was highly compartmented, kept his negotiations very secret  That's observable truth from where I sit. The rest of it, I couldn't comment on that.

VOA: Did you feel that he always had the US interests at the center of his negotiations?

McKenzie: Great question. I think, from the way it turned out, clearly, we were not served by the negotiating that he did.

VOA: An internal White House review of President Biden's decision to withdrawal said that Biden's decisions were, I'm quoting them, severely constrained by President Trump's Doha agreement. But you and I have talked about this in several of our discussions. The Taliban was never abiding by the commitment. So to what extent does an agreement that the Taliban is not abiding by severely constrain the Biden administration's decisions?

McKenzie: Let's remember that the Biden administration chose to keep Ambassador Khalilzad on as the principal negotiator. That was a decision they could have revisited. They could have changed the negotiating team. They did not elect to do that. And I think that's a very important thing to consider when you look at the trajectory of the Doha agreement. The fact of the matter was in January 2021, when the Biden team came into office, there were a number of parts of the agreement that the Taliban were not in compliance with, and we did not choose to force it to be in compliance with those agreements.

 I believe that we got into what happened in August of 2021 because two presidential administrations, as unlike as any two in modern American history, shared one common policy objective, to get out of Afghanistan without regard to consequences: President Trump, President Biden.

VOA: You outlined four options for President Biden on what to do with Afghanistan. Your first recommendation was to keep 2,500 US forces and some special operators inside Afghanistan, maintaining eight bases, including Bagram. Your second option was to reduce to 1,800 US forces, and you said that would allow you to have a tenuous hold on three bases, including Bagram. Option three was the complete drawdown, but keeping in the embassy. And then option four was a complete pullout with no diplomatic presence. Biden chose option three, and that is the one that you said offered the highest risk to U.S. interests. What made you say that?

McKenzie: Because were leaving under this plan, were going to withdraw basically the U.S. military, but we're still going to leave a large embassy platform. We're going to leave our citizens, and we're going to leave the at-risk Afghans, tens of thousands so the initiative will shift to the Taliban, and we would be dependent on their good judgment and on their good nature, which we know is in either case, not a good thing for the United States. So I felt that was the worst of all possible worlds to actually pick that particular approach.

VOA: And you have blamed both Presidents Trump and President Biden for what happened in Afghanistan.  But what's interesting is that barring an unlikely third-party presidential candidate victory, one of those two men, either President Biden or President Trump, is going to be the next President of the United States. What concerns do you have with that?

McKenzie: Well, concerns probably wouldn't be the appropriate word. The most important thing for the U.S. military and military four-star generals is to be completely apolitical. The US military needs to be prepared to answer the legal orders of the constitutionally authorized leaders of the country and to express an opinion beyond that is, I think, dangerous to the future of the republic  If you're a four-star officer, you bear a unique burden. It's different, really, than any other grade of officer because of the fact you serve at the very highest levels of the US military, at the nexus, really, where policy, military operations and, in fact, politics come together. So I think it is, it's bad for the country to express an opinion about that, and I'm not going to do that.

VOA: Iran supports Hamas in the region, Hezbollah the Houthis. They also support Russia. ... Where would Russia be in the fight against Ukraine without the support of Iranian drones and missiles?

McKenzie: So I think Iranian drones and missiles have been very helpful to Russia in their fight. They're actually better than some forms of Russian equipment. They've allowed them to gain what we would call volume to their fires, and it's very concerning. And what's also concerning is, and I don't have a good picture, frankly, what Russian technology is flowing back into Iran. But this is not, it's not a freebie. These are two totalitarian nations, so any exchange of something is a quid pro quo. So we should be very concerned about what Russia may be injecting back into IranIt's a marriage of convenience and nothing more.

VOA: The counter-ISIS fight was largely successful because the U.S. and its partners were able to go in Syria, where the fight was. And experts say the fight in Afghanistan failed on many levels because the US was not able to go across the border into Pakistan. Now there's a similar debate here in the Ukraine war concerning Russian forces firing into Ukraine from Russia. What are your thoughts on that? Should Ukrainians be able to fire anywhere inside Russia that's attacking Ukraine

McKenzie: So yes, but with certain limits. So I think (limits are) not necessarily a geographic distance. I would not say, Don't fire further than 10 miles into Russia.  I would argue that you need to be very careful not to attack Russian nuclear capable sites, Russian nuclear command and control facilities, things like that. Aside from that, I would say we should give Ukraine some flexibility in where they strike inside Russia, because, as you said before earlier, you can't give them a sanctuary there. Russian command and control, conventional military control, Russian logistics and other formations are really free of danger there, and I think that has significantly hurt the Ukrainian ability to respond this latest offensive.

VOA: I want to switch to the war in Gaza. Is Israel's battle against Hamas winnable?

McKenzie: So it's winnable if they can fashion a way to a day after that makes sense. That doesn't involve constant combat inside Gaza. And that's going to require vision that may involve troops other than Israeli troops being in there. I think Arab troops would be perfect from being one of a number of different nations. It's going to require significant investment, infrastructure, rebuilding, but provision of basic, basic services. But you got to ensure that Hamas is not part of that equation. I'm intensely sympathetic to the view, to the Israeli view, that you have to eliminate Hamas. At the same time. I think it's a very high bar to say that you're going to get rid of all of all of Hamas because it's a revolutionary movement. There's always going to kill 99 Hamas fighters. The 100th fighter is going to raise a bloody hand and declare the revolution. So I think that's a problem that they set that they have to confront. They've done away with many of the combat formations of Hamas. There are still some left. I think they've been a little less successful at getting after senior Hamas leadership, because they've chosen to hide even when their fighters fight. And I'm sure they're hidden deep underground, protected by Israeli hostages. And of course, the real hostages in Gaza, not just the Israeli hostages, but the population of Gaza itself, which Hamas has no interest in moving out of the line of fire.
The first half of the biggest election year in human history has yielded mixed results for global democracy. Some countries shifted toward one-party autocracy as incumbents consolidated their power. Others staged a semblance of elections with predetermined outcomes. And still others demonstrated the unexpected resilience of popular will in the face of external pressure.

Bangladesh

The January 7 election took place without participation from the main opposition, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), which had long demanded the formation of a neutral caretaker government to oversee the process.

The BNP's boycott ensured a victory for the ruling Awami League and a fifth term for Sheikh Hasina, making her Bangladesh's longest-serving prime minister.

Despite some unrest leading up to the election, voting proceeded without major violence or irregularities. However, the absence of any major opposition, along with the jailing of many BNP leaders and supporters, led the United States and the United Kingdom to declare the elections "not free and fair" and some media outlets to observe that Bangladesh has effectively become a one-party state.

Taiwan

Taiwan's January 13 election saw outgoing Vice President Lai Ching-te of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) winning the presidential race with 40% of the vote. The opposition vote was split between Hou Yu-ih of the Kuomintang (KMT) and Ko Wen-je of the recently formed Taiwan People's Party (TPP), who had initially discussed forming a joint ticket but failed to come to an agreement.

While narrowly holding on to the presidency, the DPP lost its parliamentary majority, giving the populist TPP and its eight seats a decisive role in the divided legislature.

Lai's victory came despite significant election interference from the Chinese Communist Party, which perceives the DPP as more directly supportive of Taiwanese independence.

Although Beijing reacted to the results with strongly worded reiterations of its "One China" principle, as well as increased military activity and diplomatic pressure, both sides have so far refrained from any major efforts to shift the status quo in cross-strait relations.

El Salvador

President Nayib Bukele secured a landslide reelection victory with over 84% of the vote, while his Nuevas Ideas Party took 54 of 60 legislative seats.

While the results broadly reflected opinion polls, critics have pointed to manipulation in Bukele's favor, from the overturning of a constitutional ban on reelection to a reduction of electoral districts.

The president also received near-unanimous support from more than 300,000 Salvadorans living abroad, thanks to a new law allowing remote electronic votes, with multiple locations set up in the United States.

Having presided over a drastic drop in El Salvador's notoriously high murder rate, Bukele maintains overwhelming popularity despite facing criticism over authoritarian measures such as mass incarceration, press censorship and challenges to the constitutional order.

While his victory was welcomed by many foreign leaders for promoting stability, human rights organizations have warned that the country may be becoming a one-party state.

Pakistan

Pakistan's election was marred by reports of widespread electoral fraud, with allegations that the powerful military establishment was intervening in favor of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif of the Pakistan Muslim League-N party.

Despite facing multiple obstacles, including the jailing of former Prime Minister Imran Khan and the banning of its symbols, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Party showed unexpectedly strong results, with its candidates winning 93 of 226 contested parliamentary seats.

Because they were forced to run as independents, the PTI could not claim any of the 60 proportionally reserved seats, leaving the PLM-N with a narrow majority of 114.

Sharif's party has formed a coalition government with Bilawal Bhutto Zardari's Pakistan People's Party (PPP), formerly its chief rival. However, there are fears that a divided parliament and a government with weak legitimacy could lead to instability and a retrenchment of military power.

Indonesia

Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto of the Gerindra Party easily won the presidency with the endorsement of popular outgoing leader Joko Widodo, whose eldest son became Prabowo's running mate.

The former army general received more than 96 million votes, the most ever received by any candidate in an Indonesian election, while the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) retained a narrow parliamentary majority.

Prabowo's victory was initially met with legal challenges from opposing parties, but these were soon dismissed. Due to begin his term in October, the president-elect faces a divided government as well as lingering questions regarding his links to human rights abuses while serving under the Suharto regime.

Iran

Iran's legislative election was the first since the 2022 death of Mahsa Amini in police custody and the ensuing protests against the Islamic regime.

Only about one-third of registered candidates were approved to run by the country's Guardian Council, while moderate and reformist leaders, including former presidents, called for boycotting the elections.

The result was a record low turnout, 42% of eligible voters, and a parliament dominated by conservatives.

Concurrent elections to the Assembly of Experts were similarly dominated by regime hard-liners, including then-President Ebrahim Raisi, who ran as the only candidate in South Khorasan province.

The recent death of Raisi, who was widely expected to succeed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as supreme leader of Iran, is unlikely to change Iran's political dynamics in the short term, with a new presidential election scheduled for June 28.

Russia

Russia's presidential elections took place without any significant challenge to President Vladimir Putin, now entering his fifth term. Liberal opposition leader Alexey Navalny, jailed since his return to Russia in 2021, died under suspicious circumstances shortly before the election, while other opposition candidates such as anti-war politician Boris Nadezhdin were barred from running.

This left Putin with only token competition from candidates including Nikolai Kharitonov of the Communist Party, who refrained from criticizing the president and only differed on domestic policy while supporting the war in Ukraine.

Putin's victory with an alleged 88% of the vote was not recognized as legitimate by most Western democracies.

The election was carried out across Russia as well as in Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine, drawing attacks on polling sites and cross-border raids by Ukrainian-allied forces.

Thousands of Russians at home and abroad also took part in an action dubbed Noon against Putin, endorsed by Navalny before he died, calling for supporters to arrive at polling stations simultaneously to cast a protest vote.

Mexico

Climate scientist and former Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum of the left-wing Morena Party secured the presidency with nearly 60% of the vote, defeating conservative rival Xochitl Galvez and center-left candidate Jorge Alvarez Maynez. In a historic victory, Sheinbaum will become the first female president and the first Jewish president of the largely Catholic country.

As the chosen successor of outgoing President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, Sheinbaum is expected to continue his social welfare policies, which have successfully reduced poverty and inequality. However, she faces challenges in addressing Mexico's deteriorating security and rising cartel violence, highlighted by the killing of 20 local candidates in the run-up to the election. Sheinbaum's presidency will also be tested in navigating relations with the United States on issues such as tariffs, migration, and drug trafficking.

India

Although it remains the largest party in India's parliament, Prime Minister Narenda Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party suffered an unexpected setback in losing its absolute majority. With only 240 out of 543 seats, the BJP must rely on the smaller parties in its National Democratic Coalition (NDA) to form a government.

Under Modi's tenure, India has seen economic growth and increased assertiveness on the international stage, along with the suppression of journalists, rising Hindu nationalism and threats to the Muslim minority. Despite fears that another BJP term could mean further democratic backsliding, the 232 seats won by the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance, led by the secular India National Congress, will enable it to maintain a strong opposition.
Baghdad has gone a week without reports of American restaurants being damaged by apparent Iran-backed mobs, an indication that the Iraqi government is curbing a recent wave of assaults that have dented its projected image as welcoming to Western investment.

After the last reported mob assault, damaging a restaurant of U.S. chain Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) on Baghdads Palestine Street on June 3, Iraqi authorities reported arresting several rioters. Armed Iraqi security personnel were seen guarding the restaurant the next day.

The mob attacks began in the Iraqi capital in late May and involved masked men vandalizing and setting off small bombs outside American restaurants, including a branch of U.S. chain Lees Famous Recipe Chicken and a branch of American-style Jordanian chain Chili House. No injuries were reported. Some other U.S. and British businesses also were targeted.

The Iraqi interior ministry published a Facebook photo on June 5, showing eight men whom it says were arrested under Iraqs anti-terrorism law for alleged involvement in the attacks. The men were dressed in yellow prison uniforms with their faces blurred.

In a report published Friday, the Associated Press cited two officials of Iranian-backed Iraqi militias as saying their supporters carried out the assaults in retaliation for U.S. support of Israel in its war against Hamas. An earlier report by the Washington Institute for Near East Policy noted that the behavior and apparel of the perpetrators resembles that seen in past incidents involving Raba Allah, a vigilante unit of Iran-backed militia Kataib Hezbollah (KH).

U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Alina Romanowski condemned the violent attacks against U.S. and other international businesses in Baghdad in a May 30 post on the X platform. She also urged the Iraqi government to conduct a "thorough investigation, bring to justice those who are responsible and prevent future attacks.

In an interview published Friday by news agency Rudaw, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce vice president for Middle East affairs, Steve Lutes, described the attacks as troubling. He also welcomed the Iraqi governments efforts to crack down on them.

Anthony Pfaff, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Councils Iraq Initiative, discussed the factors behind the timing of the recent assaults and assessed their impact on Mondays edition of VOAs Flashpoint Global Crises program.

Flashpoint Global Crises:

The following interview transcript has been edited for brevity and clarity.

VOA: Why have we seen Iraqs Iranian-backed militias change their tactics in fighting the American presence in their country?

Anthony Pfaff, Atlantic Council: Shortly after Kataib Hezbollahs January strike on the U.S. Tower 22 base in Jordan, killing three American soldiers, the group said it was going to cease those kinds of attacks because it did not want to embarrass the Iraqi government [which has a partnership with the U.S.].

There was a sense at the time that not only the Iraqi government was exerting pressure on KH for that escalation, but also Tehran was worried about escalating too much with the U.S. in the midst of the war in Gaza. So, you saw a drop off in attacks against U.S. soldiers in the region.

Now, groups like KH are taking advantage of Iraqi popular sentiment that is against U.S. support for Israel, and they are trying to make it appear as if these attacks on American restaurants are part of a popular uprising. Such an uprising would accomplish their goal of putting pressure on the U.S. presence in the Middle East in general, and in Iraq specifically, to diminish it, if not drive it out.

The Iranian-backed militias think this strategy will allow them to deflect their responsibility for the attacks, and thus avoid both the kind of pressure that the Iraqi government might otherwise put on them, and the kind of retaliation that the U.S. might engage in.

VOA: You visited Iraq two months ago. What have you learned about public sentiment toward Iranian-backed militias urging people to boycott and damage U.S. businesses?

Pfaff: My sense is that there is not a lot of Iraqi support for the Iranian-backed militias.

I believe the Iraqi government and the Iraqi people do not want to be in the middle of a conflict between Iran and the United States. They have no interest in that. They want to posture themselves as a nation of opportunity rather than a problem.

That lack of Iraqi support for the Iranian-backed militias has been diminishing their ability to operate to some degree.

The Gaza war also has been triggering such a strong Iraqi sentiment against Israel, that some of these recent attacks could be perceived as a spontaneous expression of popular anger. But I seriously doubt that.

It would not be difficult for the Iranian-backed militias to falsely portray the attacks as a popular uprising and to take advantage of that narrative to go after these softer targets as a way of diminishing the U.S. presence in Iraq.

VOA: How credibly can Iraq make the case that it is a place of opportunity for U.S. investment in light of the attacks?

Pfaff: In terms of the impact on U.S. businesses, a lot of the targeted locations are franchises often licensed to an Iraqi company. So there is not a lot of revenue coming out of Iraq to the U.S. through the businesses that are being attacked.

The revenue that stays inside of Iraq is now being denied to those Iraqi companies. So the ones that these militias are really harming  the Iraqis operating and owning these businesses  are the first casualty of the assaults.

Another casualty is Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani. His clear message when he traveled to the U.S. in April was that he wants to attract U.S. business to Iraq.

As he visited Washington and Houston, he signed memorandums of understanding with about a dozen U.S. companies to help them not just develop the Iraqi energy sector but other sectors as well. This kind of security situation, of course, is going to dampen the enthusiasm for that.

Some U.S. businesses may find ways to get around the security problem by having a shell company or other group work for them in Iraq without being American-branded. But overall, this is not good for Iraq's future economic prospects.
Jurors in Hunter Bidens gun trial began deliberating Monday whether the presidents son is guilty of federal firearms charges over a revolver he bought in 2018 when prosecutors say he was addicted to crack cocaine.

He's charged with three felonies in the case that has laid bare some of the darkest moments of his drug-fueled past. Prosecutors have used testimony from former romantic partners, personal text messages, and photos of Hunter Biden with drug paraphernalia or partially clothed to make the case that he broke the law.

No one is above the law, prosecutor Leo Wise told jurors in his closing argument as first lady Jill Biden watched from the front row of the Wilmington courtroom.

Jurors deliberated for less than an hour before leaving the courthouse for the day. Deliberations were to resume Tuesday morning.

President Joe Biden's son has publicly detailed his struggle with a crack cocaine addiction before getting sober more than five years ago. But the defense sought to show that that he did not consider himself an addict when he bought the gun and checked no on the form that asked whether he was an unlawful user" of drugs or addicted to them.

'Overwhelming' evidence

The case has pitted Hunter Biden against the U.S. Justice Department during his father's reelection campaign. The charges were brought by special counsel David Weiss, who was nominated by Republican former President Donald Trump to be U.S. attorney for Delaware and led the yearslong investigation.

Before the case went to the jury, the prosecutor urged jurors to focus on the overwhelming evidence against Hunter Biden and pay no mind to members of the president's family sitting in the courtroom.

All of this is not evidence, Wise said, extending his hand and directing the jury to look at the gallery. People sitting in the gallery are not evidence.

Jill Biden and other family members left the courthouse shortly after deliberations began. The first lady sat through most of the trial, missing only one day last week to attend D-Day anniversary events with the president in France. At one point Monday, Hunter Biden leaned over a railing to whisper in his mothers ear.

Defense attorney Abbe Lowell told jurors in his closing argument that prosecutors had failed to prove their case. Lowell said his client may have a famous last name, but he is still presumed innocent until proven guilty like any other defendant.

With my last breath in this case, I ask for the only verdict that will hold the prosecutors to what the law requires of them"  a verdict of not guilty, Lowell said.

Hunter Biden's lawyers have suggested he was trying to turn his life around at the time of the gun purchase, having completed a detoxification and rehabilitation program at the end of August 2018. The defense called three witnesses, including Hunter's daughter Naomi, who told jurors that her father seemed to be improving in the weeks before he bought the gun.

Closing arguments came shortly after the defense rested its case without calling Hunter Biden to the witness stand. He smiled as he chatted with members of his defense team and flashed a thumbs-up sign to a supporter in the gallery after the final witness  an FBI agent called by prosecutors in their rebuttal case.

The trial has put a spotlight on a turbulent time in Hunter Biden's life after the 2015 death of his brother, Beau, from brain cancer. The proceedings have played out in the presidents home state, where Hunter Biden grew up and where the family is deeply established. Joe Biden spent 36 years as a senator in Delaware, commuting daily to Washington, and Beau Biden was the state's attorney general.

Hunter Biden's ex-wife and two former girlfriends testified for prosecutors about his habitual crack use and their failed efforts to help him get clean. One woman, who met Hunter Biden in 2017 at a strip club where she worked, described him smoking crack every 20 minutes or so while she stayed with him at a hotel.

Excerpts from book

Jurors have also heard him describe at length his descent into addiction through audio excerpts played in court of his 2021 memoir, Beautiful Things." The book, written after he got sober, covers the period he had the gun but doesnt mention it specifically.

A key witness for prosecutors was Beaus widow, Hallie, who had a brief, troubled relationship with Hunter after his brother's death. She found the unloaded gun in Hunters truck on October 23, 2018, panicked and tossed it into a garbage can at a grocery store in Wilmington, where a man seeking recyclables inadvertently fished it out of the trash.

The prosecutor pointed to text messages he said showed Hunter trying to make drug deals in the days around time of the gun purchase. In one message, Hunter told Hallie he was smoking crack. Thats my truth, Hunter wrote.

Take the defendants word for it. Thats his truth, Wise said. He urged jurors to reject the defense's suggestion that Hunter did not really mean what he was texting at the time and was simply trying to avoid being with Hallie.

You dont leave your common sense behind when you come into that jury box, Wise said.

The defense told jurors that there was no actual witness to drug use by Hunter during the 11 days that he had the gun. Lowell also sought to discredit testimony from Hallie and another ex-girlfriend. He told jurors to consider their testimony with great care and caution, noting that they were given immunity agreements in exchange for taking the witness stand for prosecutors.

Joe Biden said last week that he would accept the jurys verdict and ruled out a presidential pardon for his son. After flying back from France, the president was at his home in Wilmington for the day and was expected in Washington in the evening for a Juneteenth concert. He was scheduled to travel to Italy later this week for the Group of Seven leaders conference.

Last summer, it looked as if Hunter Biden would avoid prosecution in the gun case altogether, but a deal with prosecutors imploded after the judge, who was nominated to the bench by Trump, raised concerns about it. If convicted, he faces up to 25 years in prison, though first-time offenders do not get anywhere near the maximum, and its unclear whether the judge would give him time behind bars.

Hunter Biden also faces a trial scheduled for September on felony charges alleging he failed to pay at least $1.4 million in taxes over four years.
NIZHNY NOVGOROD, Russia, June 10 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Monday met with Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira in the Russian city of Nizhny Novgorod.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, noted that this year marks the 50th anniversary of China-Brazil diplomatic relations, a significant year for the development of bilateral relations.

Both sides should grasp the strategic importance of the China-Brazil relationship, enhance its mutually beneficial nature, and highlight its comprehensiveness, Wang said.

He added that both sides should work together towards building a China-Brazil community with a shared future, promote the further alignment of the development strategies of both countries and send a positive expectation for the healthy and stable development of China-Brazil relations.

China has always prioritized Brazil in its diplomacy and is willing to work with Brazil to systematically summarize the successful experiences of the past half-century and elevate the comprehensive strategic partnership to a new level, Wang said, adding that this conforms to the wishes of both peoples and the expectations of the international community, and contributes to global peace and development.

China values Brazil's significant influence in the Latin American region and is willing to jointly promote cooperation between China, the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), and the Southern Common Market, Wang said.

He added that as the China-Latin America Forum approaches its 10th anniversary, showing a trend of comprehensive advancement, both sides can work together to start an even more fruitful decade for the forum.

Wang noted that China and Brazil, as major developing countries, need to make just, balanced, and constructive voices on international hot issues. Recently, the two countries jointly issued six common understandings on the political settlement of the Ukraine issue, which has gained understanding and recognition from more and more countries.

Noting that this year marks the inaugural year of the "greater BRICS cooperation," Wang said China is willing to work with Brazil to actively promote BRICS cooperation, enabling the BRICS mechanism to play a greater role in global governance and in safeguarding the interests of developing countries.

Vieira noted Brazilian Vice President Geraldo Alckmin's recent successful visit to China and the seventh meeting of the Brazil-China High-Level Coordination and Cooperation Committee, stressing that Brazil highly values its relationship with China, is ready to closely engage in high-level exchanges with China, strengthen cooperation in various fields including trade and economy, and define a new positioning for bilateral relations to open new prospects for the next 50 years.

Brazil appreciates China's active role in promoting BRICS cooperation, values China's influence in international affairs, and supports the major initiatives proposed by China, Vieira said.

He added that Brazil and China share similar stances on many issues, and the joint statement on the six common understandings on the political settlement of the Ukraine issue is of significant importance.

Brazil is willing to continue strengthening cooperation with China on multilateral platforms such as the United Nations, G20, and BRICS, he said.

Noting that Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva firmly believes that dialogue and cooperation between China and CELAC are of great significance, Vieira said the China-Latin America Forum is a beneficial platform, and Brazil is willing to work with China to arrange forum activities and promote its new development.

The two sides also exchanged views on the Gaza situation and other issues of common concern.

Editor: WXL
Medical workers in Malawi's public health facilities started a nationwide sit-in strike Monday to push the government to meet their longtime grievances, which include special allowances and improved conditions of service. The strike forced patients in many hospitals to return home without receiving medical care. Strike organizers said some medical workers could treat patients with critical conditions.

In some public health facilities medical workers were seen singing and dancing outside the hospitals.

While some patients like Nelia Banda of the Mbwatalika area returned home without receiving attention.

She said Medical workers told me that they will not attend to me because they are not working today. They said I should come again on Monday next week. I am pregnant and yesterday I fell because of high blood pressure but I havent been assisted here.

The strike is a result of the failure of negotiations between the medical workers and government authorities on worker demands dating back to February of this year.

The government had told the medical workers that it would increase their allowances and improve their working conditions instead of meeting the 15% salary increase that medical workers were demanding.

The increase was meant for risk allowance, top-up allowance and professional allowance. Put simply, this is income that medical workers receive for working overtime or for performing duties outside their normal schedule.

Daniel Nasimba is the general secretary for the Physician Assistants Union of Malawi (PAUM), one of the organizers of the strike.

He said some staff members at the hospital were allowed to attend to patients with emergencies.

He said, At least we have people. Every department has someone who can attend to any emergency that can come in. What is happening now is called a sit-in. Its not a complete shutdown of the health service. We are all at work, nobody is at home.

Nasimba said the workers will not return to duty fully  until the government honors its promise.

However, the Malawi government has obtained an injunction stopping the strike.

Organizers of the strike, the National Organization of Nurses and Midwives and the Physician Assistants Union of Malawi, said in a statement released Monday evening that they were consulting their legal team about the matter.
Malawis president says Vice President Saulos Chilima and everyone traveling with him on a plane that went missing Monday have died. In a televised speech Tuesday, the president said the plane crashed in a dense forest in northern Malawi.

President Lazarus Chakwera said he received the sad news from the head of the armed forces, who had been leading the search for the missing plane since Monday morning.

The plane carrying Chilima and nine others crashed on its way back to Lilongwe after it failed to land at an airport in northern Malawi because of bad weather.

Chakwera said the death may cause anger and pain, which he said he well understands. Chakwera said he feels the same way because he had used the same aircraft on some trips.

An aircraft that others used just the day before. And aircraft that the crew had just operated successfully just hours before. And yet despite the track record of the aircraft and the experience of the crew, something terrible went wrong with that aircraft on its flight back to Lilongwe, sending it crashing down and killing everyone on board, he said.

Chakwera hailed the 51-year-old Chilima as an excellent vice president and counselor over the past four years of his presidency.

All of us as a nation that found his leadership and courage a source of inspiration, and I know others who were on that flight were men and women of honor who served their country with distinction and whose families are left with broken hearts today, he said.

Former first lady Shanil Dzimbiri, the ex-wife of former President Bakili Muluzi, was among those killed. Dzimbiri was a member of Chilimas United Transform Movement party.

Chakwera has said that he will detail funeral arrangements for all 10 people killed in the crash later.

And later today my office will announce an arrangement that has been made for our beloved vice president and the others to rest in a dignified manner worthy of the cherished place they had in our lives and our nation, he said.

Chilimas death comes at a time when the relationship between the president and his vice president was starting to normalize. as the two were seen together during public functions.

Last month, the government dropped corruption charges against Chilima over accusations that he received kickbacks from a businessman in exchange for government contracts.
Hamas has responded to the U.S.-backed proposal for a cease-fire in Gaza through the Qatari and Egyptian mediators. Qatar and Egypt are looking over the response and have confirmed they will continue mediation with the United States. The U.S. says it is evaluating the Hamas response.

According to Hamas and the smaller Islamic Jihad militant group, they are ready to "deal positively to arrive at an agreement," prioritizing a "complete stop" to the war.

Both Israel and Hamas have asked that the plan support their discordant goals, which poses questions about the ability for the deal to be finalized.

"The Hamas response reaffirmed the group's stance any agreement must end the Zionist aggression on our people, get the Israeli forces out, reconstruct Gaza and achieve a serious prisoners swap deal," a Hamas official said.

Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is in the Middle East for talks involving a cease-fire and post-war plans in Gaza.

In those discussions, the United States says it is providing additional humanitarian assistance to Palestinian civilians in Gaza and the surrounding region in response to dire humanitarian conditions.

Today, I'm announcing an additional $404 million in new aid to Palestinians, in addition to the more than $1.8 billion in development, economic and humanitarian aid that the United States has provided Since 2021, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced on Tuesday at a humanitarian assistance conference hosted by Jordan.

He also urged other donors to increase their contributions.

Humanitarian aid

According to international rights groups and U.S. officials, more than a million people have been displaced from Gazas southern city of Rafah in the last month alone and many of those have been uprooted multiple times. Ninety-five percent of the population there cannot access clean drinking water. Most of Gaza's sanitation system has been destroyed, and fewer than a dozen of its 40 hospitals remain open.

The new U.S. funding will provide essential support to vulnerable Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank, and the surrounding region. This includes food, safe drinking water, health care, protection, education, shelter, and psychosocial support.

Jordans King Abdullah said Tuesday that providing humanitarian aid for the Palestinians in Gaza is a test of our humanity and sincerity as Jordan, Egypt and the United Nations convened a conference on improving the flow of aid.

We cannot abandon Gaza, he told the conference. It should be everyones priority, because history will judge us by our actions.

King Abdullah discussed with Blinken in a separate meeting on Tuesday the comprehensive cease-fire and hostage release deal that the State Department said "offers a concrete roadmap for ending the war in Gaza."

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said all available routes for bringing humanitarian aid into Gaza must be operational, and he stressed that land routes are absolutely crucial.

More than 1 million Palestinians in Gaza do not have enough clean drinking water and face desperate levels of hunger, Guterres said.

The U.N. chief said the speed and scale of the carnage and killing in Gaza are beyond anything he has seen in his years as secretary-general.

The horror must stop. Its high time for a cease-fire along with the unconditional release of hostages, Guterres said.

Cease-fire deal

Earlier on Tuesday, Blinken said that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reaffirmed his commitment to a proposed multistage cease-fire in Gaza. At the time, Hamas had not presented a response.

"Everyone's vote is in, except for one vote, and that's Hamas'," Blinken had told reporters in Tel Aviv before Hamas's response. "It is on Hamas to move forward with this proposal or not."

Blinken said the U.N. Security Councils approval of a U.S.-drafted resolution calling on Israel and Hamas to implement the cease-fire deal made it as clear as it possibly could be that this is what the world is looking for.

After the 14-0 vote Monday, with Russia abstaining, Hamas issued a statement welcoming that the council has "affirmed a permanent cease-fire in Gaza" and indicating a willingness to engage in indirect negotiations over implementing the principles "that are consistent with the demands of our people and resistance."

Blinken spoke after a meeting with Israeli politician Benny Gantz, who left Netanyahu's emergency government Sunday while saying Netanyahu is mismanaging the war. Both Gantz and opposition leader Yair Lapid stressed the need to secure a deal, in comments posted on X after their talks with Blinken.

Meanwhile, Blinken welcomed reform announcements by the Palestinian Authority in a meeting with Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa in Jordan on Tuesday.

Blinken reaffirmed the United States support for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with security guarantees for Israel," said the State Department.

The top U.S. diplomat also met briefly with family members of some of the hostages held in Gaza.

Blinken said the United States is determined to bring home the hostages, and that the proposed cease-fire is the best way to do that.

In its initial phase, the three-phase cease-fire proposal calls for a halt in fighting, the release of some hostages from Gaza, the release of some Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, a surge in humanitarian aid for Palestinians, the withdrawal of Israeli troops from populated areas of Gaza, and the return of Palestinian civilians to their homes and neighborhoods.

The second phase envisions a permanent cessation of hostilities in exchange for the release of all other hostages in Gaza and a full withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza.

The final phase includes a multi-year reconstruction plan for the Gaza Strip, much of which has been devastated by eight months of Israeli bombardment. It would also provide for the return of the remains of any deceased hostages still in Gaza.

The October 7 Hamas terror attack resulted in the deaths of about 1,200 people in Israel, mostly civilians, according to official Israeli figures. Hamas militants took about 250 hostages, 116 of whom remain in the Palestinian territory, including 41 the army says are dead.

Israel's military response has killed more than 37,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's health ministry, which does not distinguish between fighters and civilians in its figures.

State Department Bureau Chief Nike Ching contributed to the report. Some information for this report was provided by The Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse.
The Rev. James Lawson Jr., an apostle of nonviolent protest who schooled activists to withstand brutal reactions from white authorities as the Civil Rights Movement gained traction, has died, his family said Monday. He was 95.

His family said Lawson died on Sunday after a short illness in Los Angeles, where he spent decades working as a pastor, labor movement organizer and university professor.

Lawson was a close adviser to the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., who called him the leading theorist and strategist of nonviolence in the world.

Lawson met King in 1957, after spending three years in India soaking up knowledge about Mohandas K. Gandhis independence movement. King would travel to India himself two years later, but at the time, he had only read about Gandhi in books.

The two Black pastors -- both 28 years old -- quickly bonded over their enthusiasm for the Indian leaders ideas, and King urged Lawson to put them into action in the American South.

Lawson soon led workshops in church basements in Nashville, Tennessee, that prepared John Lewis, Diane Nash, Bernard Lafayette, Marion Barry, the Freedom Riders and many others to peacefully withstand vicious responses to their challenges of racist laws and policies.

Lawsons lessons led Nashville to become the first major city in the South to desegregate its downtown, on May 10, 1960, after hundreds of well-organized students staged lunch-counter sit-ins and boycotts of discriminatory businesses.

Lawsons particular contribution was to introduce Gandhian principles to people more familiar with biblical teachings, showing how direct action could expose the immorality and fragility of racist white power structures.

Gandhi said that we persons have the power to resist the racism in our own lives and souls, Lawson told the AP. We have the power to make choices and to say no to that wrong. Thats also Jesus.

Years later, in 1968, it was Lawson who organized the sanitation workers strike that fatefully drew King to Memphis. Lawson said he was at first paralyzed and forever saddened by Kings assassination.

I thought I would not live beyond 40, myself, Lawson said. The imminence of death was a part of the discipline we lived with, but no one as much as King.

Still, Lawson made it his lifes mission to preach the power of nonviolent direct action.

Im still anxious and frustrated, Lawson said as he marked the 50th anniversary of Kings death with a march in Memphis. The task is unfinished.

Civil rights activist Diane Nash was a 21-year-old college student when she began attending Lawson's Nashville workshops, which she called life-changing.

His passing constitutes a very great loss, Nash said. He bears, I think, more responsibility than any other single person for the civil rights movement of Blacks being nonviolent in this country.

James Morris Lawson Jr., was born on Sept. 22, 1928, the son and grandson of ministers, and grew up in Massillon, Ohio, where he became ordained himself as a high school senior.

He told The Tennessean that his commitment to nonviolence began in elementary school, when he told his mother that he had slapped a boy who had used a racial slur against him.

What good did that do, Jimmy? his mother asked.

That simple question forever changed his life, Lawson said. He became a pacifist, refusing to serve when drafted for the Korean War, and spent a year in prison as a conscientious objector. The Fellowship of Reconciliation, a pacifist group, sponsored his trip to India after he finished a sociology degree.

Gandhi had been assassinated by then, but Lawson met people who had worked with him and explained Gandhis concept of satyagraha, a relentless pursuit of Truth, which encouraged Indians to peacefully reject British rule. Lawson then saw how the Christian concept of turning the other cheek could be applied in collective actions to challenge morally indefensible laws.

Lawson was a divinity student at Oberlin College in Ohio when King spoke on campus about the Montgomery bus boycott. King told him, You cant wait, you need to come on South now, Lawson recalled in an Associated Press interview.

Lawson soon enrolled in theology classes at Vanderbilt University, while leading younger activists through mock protests in which they practiced taking insults without reacting.

The technique swiftly proved its power at lunch counters and movie theaters in Nashville, where on May 10, 1960, businesses agreed to take down the No Colored signs that enforced white supremacy.

It was the first major successful campaign to pull the signs down, and it created a template for the sit-ins that began spreading across the South, Lawson said.

Lawson was called on to organize what became the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, which sought to organize the spontaneous efforts of tens of thousands of students who began challenging Jim Crow laws across the South.

Angry segregationists got Lawson expelled from Vanderbilt, but he said he never harbored hard feelings about the university, where he returned as a distinguished visiting professor in 2006, and eventually donated a significant portion of his papers.

Lawson earned that theology degree at Boston University and became a Methodist pastor in Memphis, where his wife Dorothy Wood Lawson worked as an NAACP organizer. They moved several years later to Los Angeles, where Lawson led the Holman United Methodist Church and taught at California State University, Northridge and the University of California, Los Angeles. They raised three sons, John, Morris and Seth.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said Lawson taught Southern California activists and organizers and helped shape the civil rights and labor movement locally just as he did nationally.

Today Los Angeles joins the state, country and world in mourning the loss of a civil rights leader whose critical leadership, teachings, and mentorship confronted and crippled centuries of systemic oppression, racism and injustice," Bass said in a statement.

Lawson remained active into his 90s, urging younger generations to leverage their power.

Civil rights leader Rev. Al Sharpton, founder and president of the National Action Network, called Lawson the ultimate preacher, prophet, and activist.

In his senior years, I was privileged to spend time with him at his church in Los Angeles, Sharpton said. He would sit in his office and tell me inside stories of the battles of the 1950s and 1960s that he Dr. King and others engaged in. Lawson helped to change this nation  thank God the nation never changed him.

Eulogizing the late Rep. John Lewis last year, he recalled how the young man he trained in Nashville grew lonely marches into multitudes, paving the way for major civil rights legislation.

If we would honor and celebrate John Lewis life, let us then re-commit our souls, our hearts, our minds, our bodies and our strength to the continuing journey to dismantle the wrong in our midst, Lawson said.
Water frost atop volcanoes on Mars has been detected for the first time.

News of the water formations, scientists said, could play a role in human exploration of the Red Planet.

The journal Nature Geoscience published the Mars frost discovery study Monday. Pictures of the frost were taken by the European Space Agencys Trace Gas Orbiter.

The extinct volcanoes with the frost are on the Tharsis plateau, an elevated region nearly 5,000 kilometers wide near Mars equator.

We thought it was impossible for frost to form around Marss equator, as the mix of sunshine and thin atmosphere keeps temperatures relatively high at both surface and mountaintop  unlike what we see on Earth, where you might expect to see frosty peaks, said lead author Adomas Valantinas, who made the discovery as a doctoral student at the University of Bern in Switzerland. He is currently a postdoctoral researcher at Brown University in the United States.

Olympus Mons, one of the volcanos where the frost was found, is the largest in the solar system, scientists say, and stands almost three times taller than Mount Everest, Earths highest peak.

"We saw a shiny, blue deposit there, a particular texture that we only see in the early morning and during the cold seasons," Frederic Schmidt of France's Paris-Saclay University told Agence France-Presse about the frost discovery.

Scientists say the ice covering the water is the thickness of a hair, but what lies beneath is massive.

The ESA said the amount of water lying beneath the daily thin frost of the volcano summits is enough to fill 60 Olympic swimming pools.

Determining how the frost forms, the ESA said, could allow scientists to reveal more of Mars remaining secrets, including where water exists and how it moves between reservoirs.

Finding water on the surface of Mars is always exciting, both for scientific interest and for its implications for human and robotic exploration, said Colin Wilson, an ESA scientist. Even so, this discovery is particularly fascinating. Mars low atmospheric pressure creates an unfamiliar situation where the planet's mountaintops arent usually colder than its plains  but it seems that moist air blowing up mountain slopes can still condense into frost, a decidedly Earthlike phenomenon.
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange will begin his final appeal against extradition from Britain to the United States July 9-10, a judicial spokesperson said Tuesday.

Londons High Court granted Assange permission to appeal the extradition last month.

The Australian-born Assange, 52, has been held in high-security Belmarsh prison since 2019.

If he loses this appeal, Assange  who is accused by the U.S. of exposing sensitive secrets that endangered the lives of American operatives but who has become a figurehead for free speech advocates  could be swiftly extradited to the U.S.

He is wanted by the U.S. government on 18 charges, almost all under the 1917 Espionage Act, for publishing hundreds of thousands of secret U.S. documents from 2010 about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The U.S. called the security breaches the largest of their kind in U.S. military history.

Assanges lawyer, Edward Fitzgerald, has accepted U.S. assurances that Assange would not face the death penalty, but in written submissions to the High Court, he asked to know if his client could use the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution at trial, which protects freedom of speech and freedom of the press.

But James Lewis, an attorney representing the U.S., told the court that the amendment does not apply to anyone in relation to publication of illegally obtained national defense information giving the names of innocent sources to their grave and imminent risk of harm.

Assange spent nearly seven years living in Ecuadors embassy in London before his hosts withdrew his asylum status in 2019. London police immediately arrested Assange at the Ecuadorian embassy for breaching bail conditions on unrelated charges, as well as on behalf of U.S. authorities.
Hamas has welcomed a UN Security Council resolution proposed by the U.S. backing a plan for a cease-fire in Gaza, saying it is ready to cooperate with mediators over implementing the principles of the plan. We talk to University of California Los Angeles professor Saree Makdisi. In the balloon warfare between North Korea and South Korean activists, one Seoul-based group has honed its tech expertise to develop smart balloons capable of dispersing leaflets and electronic speakers hundreds of kilometers across the border. An aircraft carrying the Malawis vice president and nine others has gone missing. And people from all walks of life played colorful pianos at New York's Fosun Plaza in downtown Manhattan on Monday at a launch event for the Sing for Hope Pianos.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday called for the immediate release of all staff held in Yemen by de facto Houthi authorities.

The Iran-backed rebels on Monday announced that theyd arrested 13 U.N. staffers, claiming that their employer was linked to the CIA and that they had been conducting "espionage" operations in the country for years.

Four other U.N. personnel have been detained in the country since they were arrested in 2021 and 2023. They have had no access to their agency or families.

Meeting with Special Envoy to Yemen Hans Grundberg on Tuesday, Guterres said that he rejects the allegations and is deeply worried about the conditions the detainees are being held in.

This is an alarming development that raises serious concerns about the Houthis commitment to a negotiated solution to the conflict. The United Nations condemns all arbitrary detention of civilians, Guterres said in a statement. I demand the immediate and unconditional release of all detained U.N. personnel.

The 13 detainees are from numerous organizations including the U.N. Childrens Fund (UNICEF), U.N. Development Program (UNDP) and UNESCO.

The Houthis seized control of Sanaa in September 2014, prompting a Saudi-led military intervention on behalf of the government the following March.

The long civil war has led to a humanitarian aid crisis in which, according to U.N. data, 17.6 million people face food insecurity and many young children suffer from stunted growth. Aid workers are much needed in Yemen and their detentions can lead to detrimental effects.

U.N. officials met on Monday with chief Houthi negotiator Mohamed Abdul Salam in an effort to secure release of the aid workers.
A United Nations diplomat has encouraged the Taliban to attend a conference on Afghanistan later this month, stating that it would help return much-needed global attention to the crisis-ridden country.

Malick Ceesay, the head of the Pakistan-based liaison office for the U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), told an unofficial dialogue between religious scholars from the two countries that the Ukraine war and Gaza hostilities had dramatically shifted the international attention from Afghanistan.

And thats a concern for the United Nations. We dont want Afghanistan to be forgotten, Ceesay said at the Tuesday meeting, hosted by the independent Center for Research and Security Studies in the Pakistani capital.

We are hopeful that this time around, the Islamic Emirate will send its representatives (to Doha) to be able to engage with the international community in a constructive and effective manner, the U.N. diplomat said, using the official title of the Taliban government in Kabul.

The two-day U.N. conference of special envoys on Afghanistan will commence in Doha, Qatar, on June 30. According to a U.N. spokesperson, it aims to increase international engagement with the Taliban and Afghanistan at large "in a more coherent, coordinated and structured manner.

The meeting will be the third in the tiny Gulf nation's capital since U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres launched the process in May 2023. He did not invite the Taliban to the first session, and Afghanistans de facto rulers declined an invitation to attend the second this past February.

The Taliban have publicly stated their intention to send a delegation to the "Doha III" conference, saying they have shared their conditions with the U.N. and will make a formal announcement after reviewing its final agenda.

While they have not revealed their conditions, the Taliban had asked the U.N. in the run-up to the second Doha meeting that their delegates would be accepted as the sole official representatives of the country, meaning that Afghan civil society representatives, womens rights activists, and members of opposition groups would not be present.

They also sought a meeting between their delegation and the U.N. at a very senior level. Guterres rejected the conditions as unacceptable. The international community has not recognized the Taliban government as Afghanistans legitimate rulers, and the country remains under U.N. sanctions.

Ceesay said Tuesday that the Talibans restrictions on womens access to education and employment and a lack of inclusivity in the Taliban government continue to raise questions about the Afghan authorities legitimacy.

These are all tied together. The Islamic Emirate leadership knows that this is the reason why the recognition is not coming, he said.

The Muslim U.N. diplomat criticized the Taliban's assertion that their treatment of women aligns with Islamic law.

Islam never says that women should not go to school, and Islam never says that women should not go to work. Which (version of) Islam and which Quran says that? It's not found in there, he added.

Ceesay said that UNAMA is engaging with all Afghans to help them achieve a broad-based governance system that includes everybody.

Islamic Emirate is doing a fairly notable job on that, but we want it to increase more so that every Afghan citizen will feel that they belong to the country and the government belongs to them, not just one-sided, 90% one ethnicity. Thats not fair, he stated.

The conservative Taliban are ethnically Pashtun, the majority community in Afghanistan.

Ceesay said the Taliban have allowed Afghan females to work in some public offices related to passport, immigration, healthcare, and agriculture. But those concessions have been "overshadowed" due to bans on the remaining women's access to employment and girls education beyond grade six, he added.

The reclusive Taliban supreme leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada, who governs the country through edicts based on his harsh interpretation of Islam, has dismissed international criticism and calls for reforming his policies.

In the run-up to the third Doha conference, pro-Taliban social media activists have posted audio of a recent speech by Akhundzada in which he vowed not to budge on his stance under foreign pressure, come what may.

Who are you to meddle in our land, system, and policies? I am not here to take your orders nor will I take a single step with you or deal with you regarding the Sharia (Islamic law), Akhudzada said.
The United States is imposing sanctions against three individuals in Guyana, including a public official, on accusations of corruption, according to the State Department.

A Tuesday statement names Guyanese official Mae Thomas, businessman Nazar Mohamed and his son Azruddin Mohamed, as well as their company, Mohameds Enterprise. Guyanese news media reports say all three have previously denied wrongdoing.

The State Department says Mohameds Enterprise defrauded the government of Guyana by failing to declare gold imports and exports and avoiding payment of more than $50 million in duty taxes.

It said Thomas, the former permanent secretary to Guyanas minister of home affairs, and the current permanent secretary to the Ministry of Labor, misused her position to assist Mohameds Enterprise and Azruddin Mohamed in exchange for cash and high-value gifts.

Gold is one of Guyanas main exports and the countrys gold is sold and traded on international markets, including the U.S., Canada, United Arab Emirates and the European Union.

Todays action underscores our commitment to holding accountable those who seek to exploit Guyanas underdeveloped gold sector for personal gain, said Brian Nelson, U.S. under secretary of the Treasury for terrorism and financial intelligence.

The sanctions prohibit Americans from conducting transactions with the designated individuals and companies and freeze any of their property or assets that are under U.S. jurisdiction.
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)

Editor: JYZ
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stressed the need for air defenses and rebuilding the countrys energy system as he spoke Tuesday at a reconstruction conference hosted by Germany.

Zelenskyy said Russian forces have targeted Ukraines energy infrastructure, with drone and missile attacks destroying half of Ukraines energy generation capacity since winter.

He said that after two years of war, Ukraines military has shown it can hold on the frontlines and maintain access to the Black Sea.

"Russia's greatest strategic advantage over Ukraine is superiority in the sky. It is missile and bomb terror that helps Russian troops advance on the ground," Zelenskyy said. "Air defense is the answer."

He said Ukraine expects it will secure billions of dollars in aid for its military and infrastructure needs.

The conference in Berlin comes days ahead of a peace conference in Switzerland where 90 countries and organizations will work on a framework for carrying out a peace plan and how to involve Russia and Ukraine in a peace process.

Russia is not attending the talks in Switzerland.

There is also a summit of NATO leaders set for early July in Washington, where NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Tuesday he expects allies will agree to have the alliance lead in providing security assistance, training for Ukraine, and also to agree a long term financial commitment to Ukraine.

Stoltenberg told reporters during a visit to Latvia that NATO allies already provide 99% of military support to Ukraine, so it makes sense for the alliance itself to play a larger role in coordinating efforts and preventing gaps in aid deliveries to Ukrainian forces.

Ukraine needs a predictable, stable flow of military support, Stoltenberg said.

Some information for this report was provided by Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
BLANTYRE, Malawi (AP)  Malawis vice president and nine others were killed in a plane crash, the countrys president said Tuesday.

The wreckage of the military plane carrying Vice President Saulos Chilima was located in a mountainous area in the north of the country after a search that lasted more than a day. There were no survivors of the crash, Malawian President Lazarus Chakwera said in a live address on state television.

Hundreds of soldiers, police officers and forest rangers had been searching for the plane that also carried a former first lady after it went missing Monday morning while making the 45-minute flight from the southern African nation's capital, Lilongwe, to the city of Mzuzu, around 370 kilometers (230 miles) to the north.

Air traffic controllers told the plane not to attempt a landing at Mzuzu's airport because of bad weather and poor visibility and asked it to turn back to Lilongwe, Chakwera said. Air traffic control then lost contact with the aircraft and it disappeared from radar, he said.

Seven passengers and three military crew members were on board. The president described the aircraft as a small, propeller driven plane operated by the Malawian armed forces. The tail number he provided shows it is a Dornier 228-type twin propeller plane that was delivered to the Malawian army in 1988, according to the ch-aviation website that tracks aircraft information.

Around 600 personnel were involved in the search in a vast forest plantation in the Viphya Mountains near Mzuzu, authorities said.

Chilima was serving his second term as vice president. He was also in the role from 2014-2019 under former President Peter Mutharika. He was a candidate in the 2019 Malawian presidential election and finished third, behind the incumbent, Mutharika, and Chakwera. The vote was later annulled by Malawis Constitutional Court because of irregularities.

Chilima then joined Chakweras campaign as his running mate in an historic election rerun in 2020, when Chakwera was elected president. It was the first time in Africa that an election result that was overturned by a court resulted in a defeat for the sitting president.

Chilima had previously been facing corruption charges over allegations that he received money in return for influencing the awarding of government procurement contracts for the Malawi armed forces and the police, but prosecutors dropped the charges last month. He had denied the allegations, but the case led to criticism that Chakweras administration was not taking a hard enough stance against graft.

___

Imray reported from Cape Town, South Africa.
The United States says it has not abandoned Zimbabwe contrary to President Emmerson Mnangagwas remarks in Russia that America is currently strongly supporting Zambia and Malawi in order to spite Zimbabwe where it imposed targeted sanctions on some ruling party officials for alleged corruption and human rights violations.

In a statement, the Charge d'Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Harare, Ms. Elaine French, shrugged off suggestions by Mnangagwa that America is isolating Zimbabwe in favor of the other two nations.

French said, The United States has been and will continue to be a reliable partner with the people of Zimbabwe. Our more than $5 billion in health, humanitarian, and development assistance since Zimbabwes independence has rehabilitated health clinics, provided lifesaving medications, and now has helped families make ends meet during this devastating drought. The United States is not running away. It is making good on its commitment to support the health and prosperity of Zimbabwes 16 million people.

She said America is currently providing needed help in tackling a devastating drought that has crippled the southern African nation, and has over the years poured in over $5 billion for various projects.

She noted that in January this year, the US committed an additional USD$11 million in food and security support to Zimbabwe.

" In addition, in 2024 US Presidential Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief PEPFAR committed another USD$209 million to the HIV response in Zimbabwe," said French.

USA Embassy says Zimbabwe is not under sanctions as only 11 individuals are under restrictive measures imposed on those said to be involved in corrupt activities and election rigging.

We are supporting what our president said while in Russia. Apart from that we want USA to remove all targeted sanctions imposed on Zanu PF officials which are hurting the whole nation, said Marapira.

In his remarks, Mnangagwa praised Putin for defending the sovereignty of Russia, adding that he is my dear brother.

Mnangagwa was captured in a video telling Putin in St. Petersburg on the sidelines of an investment summit that he is looking for strong support from Russians as Americans, Britons and others have dumped Zimbabwe.

He said, We are anxious to have more comprehensive and concentrated relations between ourselves. Yes, we are a very advanced country; but there is a lot that we can learn from you and there is a lot that will benefit from that relationship. And there is a lot that we can open for the Russian Federation to participate in our economy, especially in the mining sector and agriculture. There is a lot that we can afford for you to participate.

And in that process, the West will run away. You see, the West has just begun consolidating its power in Zambia, our next neighbour. You know, there was a time when Zambia and Zimbabwe were one; it was called Northern and Southern Rhodesia. It was made one by the British, but they are now separate. And the Americans are consolidating their power in that country, both in terms of security and in terms of financial support to Zambia to make sure that we feel lonely.

Mnangagwa said despite the USAs move to back Zambia and Malawi, Zimbabwe wont give up in strengthening relations with Russia.

Correspondent Annahstatia Ndlovu also contributed to this article
Weve just witnessed a vast rewriting of history, aimed at manipulating public opinion to justify NATOs current treatment of Russia. A misleading vision of the June 6, 1944 landings has given rise to a commemoration of events that never existed as they were presented to us.

According to the organizers of the commemorations - in other words, according to Nato, which supplied most of the extras, including heads of state and government - the Allies were united in the fight against Nazism and the defense of freedom. In reality, the aim of the Anglo-Saxon landings was not to liberate France, but to replace Nazi occupation with the Allied Military Government of Occupied Territories (AMGOT).

Rewriting history

While the United Kingdom had accepted the presence of Charles De Gaulle and his Free French on its territory, the United States never recognized him as the leader of the French Resistance during the Second World War. On the contrary, it maintained an embassy in Vichy until April 27, 1942, four months after entering the war. Worse still, on November 22, 1942, they negotiated an agreement with Admiral Francois Darlan, representing the collaborationist government. It would prevent De Gaulle from coming to North Africa and transfer, in Philippe Petains name, colonial authority from France to the United States at the end of the war.

The Anglo-Saxons had already imposed AMGOT on Italy, and had tried to install it in the territories of the French Empire in North Africa. They were about to extend it to Norway, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Belgium and Denmark. To this end, they trained civil administrators in Charlottesville and Yale.

Informed of what the Anglo-Saxons were up to, Charles De Gaulle rushed back to London from Algiers. Three days before D-Day, on June 3, 1944, he transformed the French Committee for National Liberation (CFLN), which he had chaired, into the Provisional Government of the French Republic (GPRF). He quarrels harshly with the British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill. He refused to record a speech written by the Anglo-Saxons outlining their vision of the landings, and to send the 120 FFL liaison officers alongside the landing troops. Likewise, he rejected the Anglo-Saxon project for a United Nations Organization (UNO), which was to establish a directoire of the United States and the United Kingdom over the whole world [1]; a project that resurfaced in 1950 with the Korean War, in 1991 with "Desert Storm", and again in 2001 with the attacks in the United States. In the end, he agreed to register vague support for the landing, but not for AMGOT, to send only 20 liaison officers, and succeeded in thwarting the Anglo-Saxon plan for Onu [2]

.

In his Memoires de guerre, Charles De Gaulle writes: "President Roosevelt kept the document [the proposed agreement between the CFLN and the Allies for the liberation of France] on his table from month to month. Meanwhile, in the United States, an Allied military government (AMGOT) was being set up to take over the administration of France. All kinds of theorists, technicians, businessmen, propagandists and former Frenchmen naturalized as Yankees flocked to this organization. The steps [Jean] Monnet and [Henri] Hoppenot thought should be taken in Washington, the observations the British government was making to the United States, the urgent requests Eisenhower was sending to the White House, all failed to bring about any change. However, since something had to be done, Roosevelt decided in April to instruct [Dwight] Eisenhower that the Commander-in-Chief would have supreme power in France. As such, he was to choose the French authorities who would collaborate with him. We soon learned that Eisenhower was urging the President not to burden him with this political responsibility, and that the British disapproved of such an arbitrary procedure. But Roosevelt, with a few changes to the letter of his instructions, had maintained the essence of them.

To tell the truth, the Presidents intentions seemed to me to be of the same order as Alice in Wonderlands dreams. Roosevelt had already ventured into North Africa, under conditions far more favourable to his designs, with a political enterprise similar to the one he was contemplating for France. Nothing remained of this attempt. My government exercised unfettered authority in Corsica, Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia and Black Africa. The people Washington had counted on to stand in the way had disappeared from the scene. No one cared about the Darlan-Clark agreement [transfer of power from the French colonial Empire to the United States], which was considered null and void by the Comite de la Liberation Nationale [Free France], and which I had solemnly declared at the Consultative Assembly that, in Frances eyes, did not exist. I regretted for him and for our relations that the failure of his policy in Africa had not been able to overcome Roosevelts illusions. But I was sure that his project, carried over to Metropolitan France, would not even begin to be applied there. The Allies would meet in France no other ministers and no other civil servants than those I would have set up. They would find no French troops other than those under my command. I could confidently challenge Eisenhower to deal validly with someone I had not appointed. In fact, he wouldnt even dream of it.

In the end, 30,000 Allied soldiers took part in the landings on June 6, 1944, of whom only 177 were French (the fusiliers marins of the Kieffer commando). It wasnt until August 1 that the 20,000 men of General Philippe Leclerc de Hauteclocques 2nd Armored Division (2 DB) landed in Normandy, between Sainte-Marie-du-Mont and Quineville, an area the Allies called "Utah Beach". They rush to Paris, which rises up and liberates itself.

Amalgam with the war in Ukraine

The commemoration of the falsified version of the D-Day landings was an opportunity for President Joe Biden and his master of ceremonies, President Emmanuel Macron, to draw a parallel with their equally falsified presentation of the current war in Ukraine.

For the record, no Russian delegation was invited. On the contrary, the Ukrainian army, which fought alongside the Nazis, was.

Joe Biden, Emmanuel Macron and their guests presented the United States as the victors of the Second World War, whereas it was the Soviet Union that took Berlin and overthrew the Third Reich. They ignored the sacrifice of 8,6 million Soviet soldiers. On the contrary, they have focused their narrative on the 292,000 dead soldiers of the United States (mainly in the battle against Japan after the defeat of the Nazis). Two completely different war efforts.

In passing, they recalled the murder of 6 million Jews by the Nazis, whether in the "Shoah by bullets" or, from 1942 onwards, in concentration camps. A way of ignoring the murder of 18,2 million Soviet Slavic civilians (distinct from the 8,6 million deaths mentioned above), also considered "sub-human" and designated as the main targets of the Nazi extermination project. Not a word either about all the other target categories, such as other Slavs or Gypsies.

Speaking to Volodymyr Zelensky, US President Joe Biden declared: "Ukraine is being invaded by a tyrant, and we will never give up on him (...) We cannot give up on dictators, its unimaginable (...) The soldiers of D-Day did their duty, will we do ours? (...) We must not lose what has been done here".

Far from being a "dictator", Russian President Vladimir Putin was re-elected in March with 88.5% of the vote. The ballot was conducted in a sincere manner, even if, according to Westerners, the election campaign left little room for his opposition. On the contrary, Volodymyr Zelensky has not been President of Ukraine since his term expired on May 21. He has banned the 12 opposition political parties [3], sent his rival, General Valeri Zaloujny, to the UK as ambassador, and failed to hold elections. He remains in power, however. He may be considered the head of Ukraines provisional government, but certainly not the elected president.

He illegally commands his countrys armed forces, whose main leaders are "integral nationalists". The latter claim to be the founder of "integral nationalism" [4], Dmytro Dontsov, and his henchman, the Nazi Stepan Bandera. During the Second World War, Dontsov was administrator of the Reinhard Heydrich Institute, responsible for implementing the Final Solution of the Jewish and Gypsy questions, while Bandera, at the head of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN), massacred at least 1.6 million Ukrainians, mainly from Donbass and Novorossia. Former Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky took part in this masquerade as a Nazi follower.
For ten years I always said to myself, I wish I kept a diary. And then I realized I have been keeping a diary. I dont think I could write out something more in-depth than what weve shared in episodes. Photo: Lucas Michael for New York Magazine

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In Las Culturistass inaugural episode, hosts Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang promised with tongues firmly planted in cheeks, Were gonna attack culture, were gonna improve culture, were gonna irrigate culture. It was 2016, they were two little-known comedians making their way through New Yorks burgeoning queer alt-comedy scene, and the podcast was one among many attempts to get noticed by a wider audience. We started this podcast with the idea that it was going to be just for us, Rogers says. We did not think this was going to be a thing.

A thing is exactly what the show became. The following year, Las Culturistas held its first live show in New York featuring more than 50 comedians. Its since become a women-and-queers cultural staple with an enormous and passionate fan base, and, since 2022, a live annual awards show. Partly a parody of the EGOTs, the Las Culturistas Culture Awards is the only time each year the pair is in a room with their listeners. Throughout the ceremony, Rogers and Yang celebrate the podcasts annual highlights (via segments like reading their iconic Kraft Mac & Cheese ad as a group) and flex their impressive Hollywood networking skills. Cate Blanchett, Andy Cohen, and Ariana Grande  the type of people who used to be only discussed on the show  have sent in video acceptance speeches in the past.

A lot has changed about the Las Culturistas universe since they first vowed to attack culture. The most alluring aspect of the podcast was Rogers and Yang approaching it like a mutual diary. Over the years, theyve shared nearly everything with listeners; stories about their sex lives, personal opinions on Taylor Swift, which drag queens annoy them, and what drugs they or their guests did that weekend were all on the table. But with the podcast winning multiple awards, Yang starring on SNL, and Rogers cementing his Prince of Christmas status through a Showtime special and Capitol Records album, the pair have begun to reassess the overly candid approach of the podcasts infancy.

Now, armed with more fame, success, and viral advice from Tina Fey, Rogers and Yang are gearing up for the 2024 Culture Awards at Kings Theatre in Brooklyn on June 15. According to showrunner and executive producer Lauren Mandel, the guests will include Hannah Einbinder, Cole Escola, Julio Torres, Josh Sharp and Aaron Jackson, Heather McMahan, Julia Fox, and Tomas Matos, plus Sabrina Carpenter, who is set to make a special video appearance as the personification of summer. Its going to be big, its going to have culture, and it will be the kind of whimsical delight that leaves nasty questions of authenticity at home in favor of glorious stupidity. Thank God theres still space for that.

Right before the pandemic began, I remember a topic on Las Culturistas was how to record the podcast moving forward. Matt had just moved to L.A., so the options were either to record episodes on separate coasts via Zoom or bank non-topical episodes when you were together. How do you think of those two mediums now?

Matt Rogers: The way I think about it is, How can we accomplish getting an episode out week to week? That is what we do, and we make the best of whatever situation it is. Ideally, Bowen and I are in the same place  not just for the podcast but for friendship. Sometimes, virtual is the only way to accomplish it and then we make the best of it. But do I like doing the podcast virtually? No. The energy when were in person with each other or with the guest makes the podcast what it is.

Bowen Yang: Which is not to devalue moments that come out of a virtual recording setup where we will have wonderful conversations. I tend to not necessarily mind the one-on-one episodes where its just Matt and I on Zoom, because we have been able to modulate our friendship and our dynamic in enough ways now to have it work outside of real-time spatial concurrence.

M.R.: The Zoom episodes with guests feel more like interviews in a way that I personally dont like. When Las Culturistas feels like a conversation between two or three people, thats whats fun about it. The pandemic forcing us virtual made it seem like this was an interview podcast, and its not. Online, were quietly listening and then giving space after an answer to really absorb, and thats not who we are. Were not interviewers. Were comedians, were fools, were clowns.

Im curious about the one-on-one episodes. Prior to 2019, those were extremely uncommon. What was the benefit to including episodes that just feature the two of you chatting?

B.Y.: Matt and I are true variety people. We do well in different configurations, whether its Matt singing original, beautiful Christmas songs onstage by himself or me being on this multi-cam live sketch show.

M.R.: Youre not saying the name of the show. Classic Bowen to downgrade what that is.

Its like when someone went to Harvard and they say, I went to school in Boston.

B.Y.: [Laughs.] Matt and I enjoy the different hats. That all gets poured into the show, where we have thoughtful or not-so-thoughtful conversations about things that happen, as they happen. Sometimes, thats best served by him and I just having a conversation that is frivolous and maybe sometimes emotional, too vulnerable, a little cringey, whatever. By keeping the podcast low-concept, it has given us a high ceiling to try all these different kinds of things.

M.R.: Any given episode of the show is one we wanted to put out. There are extensive conversations about the people we have on the show or if we just dont want to deal with it and would rather talk to each other. If its me and Bowen fucking around stoned, or its an interview with 

Katie Couric.

M.R.: You said that, I didnt say that. Bitch!

B.Y.: Wait, what did he say?

M.R.: You really are one of the girls, arent you?

You guys talked to Katie Couric!

[Both laugh.]

M.R.: You are! I see you, bitch. Dont clutch those pearls.

Thats what I mean when I try to distinguish us as comedians and then also interviewers: Dont expect a good interview from us. And please note that Im clapping my hands and punctuating it: Do. Not. Expect. A. Good. Interview. From. Us. Ever.

Bowen, you mentioned getting too vulnerable; I do think one of the original aspects of Las Cultch that was so intoxicating for so many people was that it was diaristic. What was the value of that vulnerability?

B.Y.: It goes back to the low-concept thing. The best decision we ever made with the podcast was before the podcast even started: We had all these ideas that were incredibly complicated and high-concept, then Matt was like, What if its just the two of us as ourselves talking about pop culture? That gave us so much latitude to react in the moment so it would always end up being personal. Over the years, weve learned to temper the response a little bit in a way that benefits everybody.

During the early days, I heard about your trying LSD and about Matts breakup with Henry. It felt like the listener was getting a record of your lives off the show  why was that worthwhile?

M.R.: It was a classic case of not knowing any better. We started this podcast with the idea that it was going to be just for us. We did not think this was going to be a thing. It was a totally different world. We were anti-Reputation, by Taylor Swift. And we were so wrong.

You mentioned my breakup with Henry. At the time, I felt like I wasnt saying anything that the people listening didnt already know because they were my friends. There was a lack of care for him in my oversharing, and that became an issue in our relationship. But several years later, I went through one of the most difficult times of my life with another person. I was keeping so much back from the podcast. Thats when I realized things had changed  not only because of the way it affects other people but also because Im now very aware that a lot of people listen to this, and its hard.

When you refer to it as diaristic, for ten years I always said to myself, I wish I kept a diary. And then I realized I have been keeping a diary. I dont think I could write out something more in-depth than what weve shared in episodes. But now were very conscious of it  very conscious of it  and if thats uncool and makes the podcast different from when it started, I cop to that.

I do feel I have to throw two words out: Honesty Zone.

B.Y.: Yes.

What did you feel you werent able to do on the podcast that you were trying to create with it?

B.Y.: I have employed Honesty Zone in professional settings. Ive used Honesty Zone at SNL with producers. Honesty Zone for the podcast is something specific, but Honesty Zone in any other setting, professional or personal, is about giving space for honest thoughts to be shared. If we were just completely engineering the artifice of the show and the friendship, then that would come off as instantly legible by the listener. Honesty Zone is our way of figuring out where the supply-and-demand curves meet in terms of how honest the audience wants us to be. And sometimes, the demand for honesty is way higher than what we are able to supply.

M.R.: There are real stakes in our careers now because were talented and have worked really hard. So if that comes at the expense of someones experience, then adjust what you want from us. Also, the podcast is not that fucking different. Maybe were just not being completely reckless anymore.

Now I have an instinct to do Honesty Zone: Jason, what do you think about how the podcast has changed?

I think its different in a way that is necessitated by your careers, and thats part of why I wanted to talk.

B.Y.: Thats accurate. And I think thats okay.

M.R.: Im angsty about it, though. There is definitely an attitude out there that weve sold out or were not giving what we used to give. It bugs me because Im like, Every single week for almost nine years at this point, we have come out here. I dont know what podcasts with people who are actually advancing in their careers are more diaristic than ours. Someone please tell me and Ill probably show you people who have burned bridges, and were not willing to do that.

So why start Honesty Zone on Instagram Live?

M.R.: Because were stupid. Were dumb! Because were stoned. I want to talk to my sister!

I think there is a value, emotionally, to sharing. Watching the Instagram Lives, it seemed you were excited to give edgier opinions and stories.

B.Y.: I think that is accurate. Matt and I both have our individual death drives. We have our ways of courting danger or walking to the edge. I was just talking about this in therapy today. I feel like I have built the guardrails for myself in the past year on the pod, off the pod at my day job  I still wont name it. I do feel like there is this sense of restricted vernacular. We are finding the words in real time, and Honesty Zone is a way to release the valve. It is us acknowledging that things have been slightly more muzzled than they were in the beginning.

Ive heard authenticity is dangerous and expensive.

M.R.: Can you imagine being put in a position where you are Ayo Edebiri and you are hosting Saturday Night Live and the musical guest is Jennifer Lopez and then something you said on a podcast years ago is national news and then you have to go knock  let me take a deep breath  on her  another deep breath  door 

B.Y.: On Jennifer Lopezs door 

M.R.: And explain yourself? Like, Im sorry, but that is a parable Im going to learn from 1,000 percent. And guess what? It might not even matter because anything Ayo said, I bet weve said worse!

On the podcast, youre thinking, How do I speak on the podcast? And, The audience knows Im thinking about how Im speaking on the podcast. Its a brainfuck. How do you approach it?

B.Y.: I mean, count on Tina Fey to change gay mens lives once again. She really dropped a bomb and then walked away, and weve been assessing the damage ever since. We love her, obviously.

I dont know how Matt feels, but I feel like Im so fascinated by this journey for myself: The hidden frequency of a lot of the episodes since that one has been me figuring out what to say and how to say it. And I have gotten a little too candid about my own life, about opinions I have or other people have. I contend there is honesty in us figuring it out. There is something deeply, for lack of a better word, authentic about that. That is the meta-narrative now for the podcast, and I think that is a really valid and interesting one in 2024.

M.R.: I just dont like to be called inauthentic. I think its really insulting. It really chaps my ass.

B.Y.: Im not offended by it anymore  for me, personally, I know that is not something other people decide for me.

M.R.: Youre 100 percent right. I also think youve been way better known than me for a few more years so youve had more time to marinate in that, whereas people caring about what I might say and the fact that there might be stakes associated with that is a new thing for me. But I will say with my full chest what I think and what I believe. I never lie. I do think The Tortured Poets Department is one of her best albums. Thats just one of many things lately that people have been like, Theres no way he can possibly be telling the truth.

B.Y.: Radical Optimism is my favorite Dua Lipa album, for the record, as well.

M.R.: By the way, lets check in at the end of the year when Spotify Wrapped comes out and then tell me I didnt tell the truth about what Ive liked this year. Heres something for you: Not every pop girlie who wants to be on the podcast has been on the podcast. How about that?

B.Y.: Matthew!

M.R.: Im sorry! We dont say yes to everyone. Guess what? If someone puts out mid work, were not going to talk to them about it!

B.Y.: I think the solution for the honesty question is to have Jason ask these questions on the pod.

Matt, youve contended with the audience throughout our talk today, and you sometimes express when you dont agree with certain audience feedback on the pod. You didnt like when they said you didnt like Brian Jordan Alvarez. Do you remember that?

M.R.: Yeah, I do. We had a fucking incredible time. Maybe they were picking up on the fact that I had been in Vegas for 72 hours and didnt sleep.

I think my and Bowens relationships to the audience are a little bit different. I think there is a familiarity between me and the Kayteighs because I am not super A-list famous. I think they feel the need to, in a way, keep me close to them. I take it very personally when they feel disappointed in me. Im also very sensitive  not to say Bowen isnt, but Bowen has had to build up different armors. Im building up those armors now. It can come across as maybe a little bit combative, but its because Im hurt by the insinuation that Im not doing a good job at this anymore. And I do think this is a very vocal minority, but its something Im in my head about. And thats Honesty Zone.

B.Y.: Matt, I wish I could get you out of that cell. My relationship with the audience is that I recede a bit. I feel like Matt is, in a lot of ways, the main character of Las Culturistas. I am there as an audience surrogate, to receive his opinions and validate them or sometimes challenge them. Thats where I am right now because I am receding just in general in my life; in the real world, Im going to withdraw a bit. The podcast will always reflect something about where we are in our lives as friends and as individuals.

Yang and Rogers at the 2023 LCCAs. Photo: Sachyn Mital

You both describe having a complicated relationship with your audience. When you do a live show, like the Culture Awards, do those complexities color being in the same room with your fans?

B.Y.: At this point, the Culture Awards is the only live show I do in the year, my day job notwithstanding. Since the pandemic, I have not done really any live shows, and for now, Im really grateful for the Culture Awards for being this beautiful extension of the podcast. It is also budding in its own way and separating from that initial mass, so I am isolating it and treating it as its own project. Part of that is me being this performer in front of an audience based on material that Ive written  its not that someone else has written me as a panda talking next to Joe Biden  and being in a self-engendered environment for me to perform in. I really, really like that. I think Ive spoiled myself for the rest of my life and career by performing exclusively in that space.

M.R.: The root of my frustration at the disappointment the audience might feel or about their perceptions about the podcast changing is because I love them so much. Theyve given us everything. And I feel like when I go on tour for my Christmas shows [starts tearing up] I know where all those people came from, and so [chokes up], oh God, I dont know why Im feeling like this. We just want to do a good job, and when so many people come and so many people give you so much love, you want to give everything back. It feels like so much love in the room and so much excitement in the room. Everyones in it to be themselves and laugh at this stupid shit.

Where does Las Culturistas go from here?

B.Y.: I think between Matt and I, there is a vision for how we put the essence of Las Cultch into other things. To go back to your medium question, I think the beautiful thing about our friendship is that it is not confined to any one particular medium.

M.R.: The podcast is going to continue being what it is, and I think that what it is is what its been.

Related
Brian Steel. Photo: Christian Monterrosa/AFP via Getty Images

A judge has held Young Thugs attorney in contempt of court on the 88th day of the sprawling RICO trial against the Atlanta rapper. Heres everything we know, including how the Georgia state Supreme Court got involved.

Ex Parte up in here

June 10, 2024: Young Thugs attorney, Brian Steel, was held in contempt for calling out an ex parte meeting between the judge, prosecution, and their star witness. The stunning moment occurred in Fulton County Superior Court after a lunch recess on Monday, June 10, when Thugs attorney, Brian Steel, confronted Judge Ural Glanville about a private meeting between the judge, the prosecution, and star witness Lil Woody, real name Kenneth Copeland, per Law&Crime editor Cathy Russon. By the end of the day, Judge Glanville had sentenced Steel to remain in custody for a maximum of 20 days, from 7 p.m. on Fridays to 7 p.m. on Sundays, from June 14 to August 18.

Back from lunch . Jury not present. Steel says this morning, prosecutors, Woody and Woody's stand in lawyer met with the judge in chambers this morning without the defense knowing.



Judge not happy. Wants to know how Steel found out about it saying that was an ex parte meeting. pic.twitter.com/YAKHpdf6c2  Cathy Russon (@cathyrusson) June 10, 2024

Im kind of disturbed because all of that was an ex parte conversation, Glanville told Steel in court. How did you find out about that conversation? Steel alleged that Lil Woody had admitted to killing Donovan Nut Thomas when speaking with the judge and the prosecution. Glanville warned Steel that he had five minutes to reveal his sources or he would be held in contempt of court.

BREAKING: WATCH - Here is the moment #YoungThug's attorney Brian Steel was taken into custody for contempt. The deputy whispered in his ear (I assume he told him he wouldn't cuff him.) He was held in contempt for not revealing his source that told him what happened in an ex pic.twitter.com/Ad7ryx3vxA  Cathy Russon (@cathyrusson) June 10, 2024

Before being taken into custody, Steel argued that a meeting with a witness without the defense present violated procedural rules. Youre not supposed to have communication with a witness whos been sworn, he told the court, requesting a mistrial, per the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Lil Woody himself spent the weekend behind bars after refusing to testify, even though he has an immunity deal that depends on his testimony. According to Steel, the prosecution warned Lil Woody that he could be in custody for the duration of the trial or however long it takes for the defendants cases to go through the courts. If thats true, what this is is coercion, witness intimidation, ex parte communications that we have a constitutional right to be present for, Steel told the judge. Refusing to tell Glanville about how he learned of the meeting, Young Thugs attorney was escorted out of the courtroom. You are removing me against his will, my will, and youre taking away his right to counsel, he said as he was led away.

Still in contempt, Steel was eventually allowed back into the chambers at the behest of the DA and given an end-of-day deadline to tell Glanville who had leaked the information or else be taken into custody once more. According to reports, a sea of attorneys gathered outside the courtroom in support of Steel, including Ashleigh Merchant, president of the Georgia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. Steels law partner and wife, Colette Resnik Steel, filed a notice of appeal and a motion for bond. Lil Woody, for his part, was released from custody.

Steel stays home pending appeal

June 12, 2024: The Georgia Supreme Court granted the Steel familys Supersedeas Bond, meaning Steel will not spend any time in jail pending the appeal of his contempt charge. Brian Steel had asked, should the court not grant his Supersedas Bond, to use his jail time to spend time with Young Thug and further prepare the rappers defense. Thats not happening now. Furthermore, the Georgia Supreme Court granted a writ of certiorari, which means theyre the court that will be hearing the appeal. The highest court in the state will now be looking at Steels charge of contempt. Although the appeal in this case arises from a collateral order of contempt, it is undisputed that the nature of the underlying action is a criminal prosecution, the writ states.

UPDATE: Brian Steel has been granted Supersedeas Bond by the Supreme Court of Georgia.



He will not need to go to jail, while waiting for his Contempt order to be appealed. https://t.co/mcKZfYqOd6 pic.twitter.com/pOkV1gkC0q  THUGGERDAILY  (@ThuggerDaily) June 12, 2024

Brian Steels emergency motion has been transferred to the GA Supreme Court by the GA Court of Appeals.



Although the appeal in this case arises from a collateral order of contempt, it is undisputed that the nature of the underlying action is a criminal prosecution. #YSL @ajc pic.twitter.com/LRysOeBkbE  Jozsef Papp (@JozsefPapp_) June 12, 2024
Dining chat: A waiter gave our anniversary bubbly to the table next to us. What should we have done?
It was a long weekend for the 15 candidates of the Waterford City South LEA. After all the tallies, counts and transfers, the six sitting councillors retained their seats on the council.

Cllr Donal Barry was the first to make it over the line, topping the poll with 1,291 votes on the first count, which came through late on Saturday night, June 8.

Frank Quinlan, FG, who was elected at the Local Election 24 at SETU Arena. Photo: Joe Evans

Early tally indications had been promising for the Independent, and he was the first and only councillor to be returned on the first count.

On Sunday morning, June 9, Sinn Fein Councillor John Hearne followed suit, elected on the second count with 1,065 votes. The Larchville-Lisduggan man was overcome with joy knowing that his community had rallied around him.

Long Wait

The next 10 hours would prove to be an arduous trial for the remaining candidates, with count after count eliminating the lowest performing candidates.

Fianna Fail's Jason Murphy was the third councillor to be elected, having reached the vote quota of 1,058 on the 10th count. The Larchville native was delighted with the vote of confidence: "Ive never lived anywhere else, I owe it to the people here who have voted to keep me in for another five years.

Around 8.30pm, the final count was announced. Slowly at first, then all at once, the three final councillors were elected in one fell swoop.

Cllr Joeanne Bailey (Sinn Fein), Cllr Frank Quinlan (Fine Gael) and Cllr Seamus Ryan (Labour) were surrounded by family, friends and supporters as the returning officer Paul Johnston called out their names within moments of one another, causing a mini stampede for assembled journalists and photographers.

Cllr Bailey was delighted to have won her first election after being co-opted to Waterford Council in 2021 following the departure of fellow party member Breda Brennan (Brennan also contested this election, but was unsuccessful).

Cllr Bailey told the Waterford News & Star: "I am overwhelmed and so, so happy that people have put their faith in me for the next five years. I promise I will work day and night to make people proud for giving me the vote."

Joeanne has been in Sinn Fein for 19 years, having first joined Ogra Sinn Fein.

"I met both members that are here today, I met them in my first meeting in Waterford and that was it.

"I was hooked and I've been on many campaigns with them so it was just so good that they came in behind me on my own campaign."
The Lady Belle Pub, 13 Grattan Square, Dungarvan has been granted permission for a section 254 license for an outdoor dining area following dispute with Waterford Council.

The development was originally refused by the council in December 2022. An appeal was subsequently made by proprietors of the pub, who said:

Since purchasing the pub 30 years ago we have made various improvements and investments including a major investment to install a modern kitchen (120,000) and we hope our outdoor seating area can remain in place.

There is ample room for a double buggy and wheelchair users to remain on the path. I have always worked to secure the betterment of the town.

The matter was taken to An Bord Pleanala. The boards inspection report outlines: The proposed development would directly impede the use of the footpath by pedestrians.

The proposed use of this area for outdoor dining in the manner proposed is not acceptable. I recommend that the decision of the planning authority to refuse permission be upheld."

A subsequent board order decided to not accept this inspectors recommendation to refuse a license, as the board was satisfied that the location of a seating area on Crossbridge Street would be in accordance with Policy BH 12 and DM 19 of the development plan.

Permission was granted with four conditions.
Mourners gathered for the funeral of a Waterford toddler yesterday afternoon, Monday, June 10.

The Mass of the Angels took place for two-year-old Elizabeth (Lizzie) Troy in St. Gobnait's Church.

Lizzie, who has a twin sister, Freyja, died in a tragic accident on Wednesday, June 5, at her home in Dungarvan.

Emergency services were called and they rushed the toddler to University Hospital Waterford, where she was later pronounced dead.

She is survived by her heartbroken parents Nathan Troy and Mary Caitlan Rigney, her twin sister Freyja, grandparents Lisa and Declan OKeefe and Kathleen and Martin Troy, great grandparents Willie and Mary Rigney, great aunt Betty McEvoy, aunts Lydia and Jessica Troy and her uncles Joey and Kelvin Troy and Michael Phelan.

Gardai confirmed that her death was a "tragic accident". A file is to be prepared for the Coroner's Court and a Family Liaison Officer (FLO) has been appointed to provide support and assistance to the family.

Since the community has learned of Lizzie's death, tributes have poured in from people locally, and across the country as they show love and support at a very difficult time for her loved ones who mourn her.

"May God comfort you all at this sad time. God love you all and her little sister. I have twin grandchildren next door, so there are no words. I will pray and think of you all," said an anonymous message, signed by "a Kerry Nanna".

Another message, written by a Limerick family, reads, "Utterly heartbroken for you all on Lizzie's passing, may ye find solace in the time ahead. Heaven has gained a beautiful angel, thinking of you all at this very sad time, there are no words to describe the sadness, be kind to yourselves."

A Galway dad also shared his condolences, "I am so sorry for your huge loss. I was heartbroken when I heard this news. I will remember Lizzie and you all in my prayers. RIP Lizzie."
Independents dominate taking 8 seats

Fine Gael increases Council footing

Roche wins first seat for Social Democrats

Wipeout for Green Party as Metro Mayor loses seat Fianna Fail's 'fall'

As the tallying began in SETU Arena on Saturday morning, June 8, no one expected: the Fianna 'fall', the Independent councillors to make up a quarter of Waterford City and County Council, the first Social Democrat, nor a Green Party that definitely did reduce, but not Reuse nor Recycle.

From first thing Saturday morning until just before 11pm on Sunday night, the Arena had a steady crowd coming and going to support their potential representatives. Whether it was the security approach or the modern-day technology and technicality of tallying, or the accessibility of content with WLR FM providing an extremely successful live stream to the people of Waterford, there was a calm atmosphere all around and the usual election buzz and cheers were somewhat quieter this time around.

It was only when two or more candidates were deemed elected in the same count that true excitement captured everyones attention.

Fianna Fail Drop

Some of the major upsets over the weekend included how poorly Fianna Fail performed, however, they still came away with five seats out of 32, which isnt as poorly as how the Green Party performed.

Speaking as the count came to a close on Sunday night, Minister for Mental Health and Older People, Mary Butler TD said she's "a little bit disappointed" at the Fianna Fail result for Waterford, adding that the candidates worked extremely hard throughout the campaign.

In 2019 Fianna Fail took eight seats in the Council Chamber, so it is a considerable drop in representation for the party.

"There's always winners and losers. I suppose if you're to look at it overall from a national perspective, I'm really happy with the Fianna Fail vote in general."

The Minister also said the national story of the day is the decline in the Sinn Fein vote, which wasn't reflected in the Waterford results as Sinn Fein gained an additional seat.

Green losses

Despite the Green Party's support of the North Quays development, and a recent visit from the Minister for Transport, and Green Party Leader, Eamon Ryan, to view its progress, its entirely possible that what the people of Waterford actually wanted was delivery on Waterford Airport, and Minister Ryan doesnt appear to have an urgency about dealing with the business plan thats been in his Department for months now.

Looking at the Green Partys recent presence in Waterford, it cant be denied that they were in an ideal position to have a positive influence on Waterfords future with an MEP, a TD and two local councillors. Over the course of the weekend that all changed and now it's only Marc O Cathasaigh, TD, whose role is safe.

European wait

At the time of going to print MEP Grace O'Sullivan's votes were still being counted in Cork for the Ireland South elections. In the early stages of the count, O'Sullivan stated her possibility of being re-elected was "slipping away", but that was fluctuating as the count went on with an increase in expected first-preference votes and some strong transfers.

No Green Party councillors were elected to Waterford City and County Council, meaning the current Metropolitan Mayor, Cllr Jody Power, lost his seat, along with his colleague, Cllr Cristiona Kiely.

Underdogs

The Independent councillors each deserve the recognition for coming up trumps against the well-established political parties, not so much in rural areas, but most definitely across the city with a total of eight seats.

Serving the previous Council as an Independent Councillor, Mary Roche had a struggle to keep her seat. She will continue her role as a councillor, with her new Social Democrat hat, being the first representative to take a seat for the party in Waterford.

Considering Sinn Fein ran 18 candidates, it could be considered an upset that they didnt have more than seven winning seats, but one of those seats was won by first-time candidate, Donnchadh Mulcahy, who represents Sinn Fein for the first time since the 1920s in the Lismore district.

Content

Reflecting the slow and steady pace of the count, Labour held their own by knowing where their strengths lie. This meant choosing not to run a labour candidate in the Comeragh district where former Councillor Ger Barron retired from in recent weeks.

Of the directly elected councillors in the Local Elections 2019, 22 representatives have been deemed re-elected and will return to their seats for the next five-year term. This begs the question, if the Waterford people re-elected these candidates, are they content with their local politicians?

It seems the politicians were content with how things landed, and not a recount in sight.
The former headmaster of Cranbrook School, Nicholas Sampson, has settled a legal dispute with the schools governing council for an undisclosed sum following his dramatic resignation from the prestigious all-boys institution in March.

In a public statement released on Tuesday, Sampson said he had also lodged a detailed complaint with the ABC Ombudsman regarding a Four Corners program about the private school in Bellevue Hill in Sydneys eastern suburbs that aired earlier this year.

Nicholas Sampson, headmaster at Cranbrook School in Bellevue Hill, resigned in March.

Sampson resigned from his $1 million a year position at the school on March 8 amid claims he was aware a teacher had sent sexually explicit messages to a former student at another school but failed to notify the council.

Those allegations came days after the airing of an episode on the ABCs investigative program that raised questions about the treatment of female staff at Cranbrook and included claims of bullying and misogyny at the school.
The year was 2000. Y2K didnt blow up the world. My friend Petar and I  both in our early 20s, both in our first jobs out of university that called for shirt and ties  were having lunch mid-week at Teo Chew Palace: a Chinese restaurant at the back of the William Street shopping centre in Northbridge. Like many Northbridge Chinese restaurants at the time, Teo Chew Palaces lunch offering was dim sum: the Chinese brunchtime ritual of drinking tea while working your way through various small plates of savoury and sweet  and sometimes both  dishes. It was Petars first time at dim sum and he was good-naturedly (I think) scolding me for only bringing him along now, along the lines of Why the [redacted] didnt you tell me about this sooner, [redacted]?

I laughed and apologised. As someone whos eaten dim sum his entire life, going out for dumplings, steamed buns and cups of tea just seemed normal, as it would for almost anyone with southern Chinese heritage. I didnt twig that someone with Petars European background wouldnt be exposed to dim sum unless someone showed him.

Weekend queues have long been a feature outside Six Fortune, Canton Bay and other dim sum restaurants in Northbridge and suburbia. Credit: Max Veenhuyzen

So when I wrote last weeks review on Canton Lane and how the Belmont restaurant (and other suburban dining options) posed a serious threat to Northbridges lock on the dim sum game, I might have made some assumptions about readers (collective) familiarity with dim sum and how it works.

And when people get confused, they tend to freeze. Which in this instance, might mean not going to Canton Lane (which you definitely should) or taking a step outside their comfort zone and trying dim sum for the first time.
The flexibility meant our zodiac trips and shore landings were frequent and often spontaneous  within 10 minutes of White spotting something interesting, wed be kitted up and on the water. This is just one of the ways a private yacht experience surpasses that of a cruise ship. Antarctic regulations permit a maximum of 100 people on a landing point at one time, so ships carrying several hundred passengers must stop for a lengthy period to facilitate visits for all. With only 12 guests, we were able to travel freely and stop and smell the whales breath, as White liked to say. On a smaller vessel such as this, the crew can afford to be flexible and not be ruled by a strict itinerary. Credit: EYOS/mosaicstudios.io While sailing, we felt truly alone. In one week, I counted on one hand the number of other vessels we passed. We spent the week journeying up and down the Antarctic Peninsula and discovered things they dont tell you about on television: the sheer stench of a penguin colony; the gunshot-esque cracks of mini avalanches. We watched adelie and gentoo penguins waddle up penguin highways to search for their chicks among colonies of thousands. We saw seals lazing on beaches and fighting with peers  seals are solitary mammals, warned one fellow explorer, who bore the scars of getting too close to one. Penguins are entertaining to watch  just dont get too close. Credit: EYOS/mosaicstudios.io We passed through the narrow Errera Channel at sunset with humpbacks off the bow and chased the sun to Wilhelmina Bay where we tried out ocean kayaking. Following the weather one day, we diverted from our original plan for a landing at picturesque Neko Harbour. If you hear my tsunami warning, run up the hill, White said as we hiked past a gentoo colony to a viewpoint. On one particularly memorable Zodiac trip, an inquisitive humpback dived underneath our vessel, turning to flash us her white belly as we bobbed in stunned silence.

Made for extremes Hanse Explorer isnt your usual private superyacht, most of which are built for the kinder climates of the Mediterranean or Caribbean. Shes purpose-built for traversing the most unforgiving climates and conditions. We think of her as a small passenger ship because were solidly built from steel, we have ice class and we have commercial equipment thats oversized for safety, Captain Bratash said. The yachts strength was demonstrated when the captain deliberately steered into a small iceberg, cracking the ice. The Hanse Explorer is purpose-built for unforgiving climates, with a steel construction and ice class. Credit: EYOS/mosaicstudios.io What the yacht has in terms of resilience, she mirrors in comfort. Its an intimate experience with just six guest rooms  three doubles, two twins and one master with a private terrace  which have all the comforts youd expect. Communal areas offer large windows for watching the passing scenery. The main deck has a dining room, a terrace and a lounge where White gave daily debriefs and talks on topical issues such as climate change. The lower deck features a gym, a sauna with portholes and an equipment room where guests store outdoor kit, while the upper deck has an al-fresco lounge and a hot tub on the bow  a scenic spot for sundowners.

A polar plunge Life onboard Hanse Explorer was relaxed and efficient. The crew moved like shadows  always present but rarely seen. Pop out for a breakfast and your room would be cleaned before your return; your fresh laundry folded neatly on the bed. Come back from an excursion and the sauna would be heated and freshly baked cakes and hot chocolate with Baileys would be waiting in the lounge. Meals were taken communally around a large dining table that was creatively decorated every day with themes ranging from Polynesia to pirates. Every day we enjoyed hearty buffet breakfasts, family-style lunches and four-course dinners. Perfecting the polar plunge. Credit: EYOS/mosaicstudios.io The ambience was relaxed; within a day, guests were lounging in their thermals. We provide the superyacht level of service, but we aim to create an atmosphere of home onboard, so guests are totally comfortable, said Captain Bratash, from Ukraine, whos been at the yachts helm since 2016.

Between excursions, the enthusiastic crew organised experiences such as kayaking and the polar plunge. As a fair-weather swimmer, I was apprehensive about entering the freezing water in just a swimsuit but, spurred on by the cheers of my peers, I jumped. The shock was quickly replaced by an adrenaline rush so intense that I plunged again the next day. Loading On our final day, White took us to a remote bay and suggested we take a moment to reflect. The snow sparkled in the sun and icebergs bobbed in the shallows as penguins played on top of them. The only sounds were the call of a skua overhead and the chirp of a delighted chick reuniting with its parent, back from sea with a belly full of krill. I felt a deep connection with nature  and it clicked. Why do people travel across the globe and spend six-figure sums for this experience? Total freedom. As it turns out, this is something that money can buy  you just need a private yacht to get there. How to do it Charter trips on board Hanse Explorer are managed by EYOS Expeditions, which hosted Rachel Ingram. The yacht will spend the Northern Hemisphere summer in the Pacific before travelling to Papua New Guinea and then back to Antarctica. For more information or to book, contact EYOS Expeditions (eyos-expeditions.com) or contact info@eyos.com. Prices start from $US70,000 ($106,000) per week for a book-by-cabin charter or from $US245,000 ($372,600) plus 35 per cent expenses for a full private charter. Flights are extra.

Where the worlds most travelled superyachts went in 2023 Last year, BOATPros Global Fleet Tracker followed the journeys of almost 7000 superyachts, with a cumulative 18.7 million nautical miles recorded between them. These were the four most travelled: Hanse Explorer

This 48-metre superyacht began the year in Antarctica, before heading to the Caribbean via the Falkland Islands. The Northern Hemisphere summer was spent exploring Scandinavia and the Arctic, before the long journey back to the White Continent. Gene Chaser

Owned by DNA sequencing scientist Dr Jonathan Rothberg, Gene Chaser completed a full circumnavigation in 2023, with stops in the Galapagos, Tokyo, Bali, Rhodes and Madeira, among others.
TV presenter, doctor and author Michael Mosley sat down before losing consciousness in the 40-degree heat only metres away from safety, according to interim findings from a coroner.

An initial examination, based on CCTV footage and forensic evidence of Mosleys death, suggests he died of natural causes, the London Telegraph understands.

Doctor and broadcaster Michael Mosleys body was found on a Greek island. Credit: AP

Police have ruled out foul play or criminality, according to sources.

Police are also investigating CCTV footage that appears to show Mosley disappearing from view as he made his way down a hillside on the Greek island of Symi close to where his body was later found.
New York: The United Nations Security Council has backed a proposal outlined by US President Joe Biden for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip and urged the Palestinian militants to accept the deal aimed at ending the eight-month-long war.

Hamas has welcomed the adoption of the US-drafted resolution and said in a statement that it was ready to co-operate with mediators over implementing the principles of the plan.

Russia abstained from the vote, while the remaining 14 Security Council members voted in favour of the resolution supporting a three-phase ceasefire plan laid out by Biden on May 31 that he described as an Israeli initiative.

Today we voted for peace, US ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield told the council after the vote.
By Grainne Ni Aodha, PA

Counting continued at a steady pace in the South constituency of Irelands European elections after the first of 14 MEPs were elected on Monday night.

Fine Gaels Sean Kelly became the first of five MEPs in the 10-county constituency to be elected after two days of sorting and counting at Nemo Rangers GAA Club in Co Cork.

He surpassed the quota of 114,761 with 8,000-odd votes to spare.

Sean Kelly became the first MEP to be elected in Irelands European elections. Photo: Jonathan Brady/PA.

The result of the second count did not see anyone elected and so Ciaran ORiordan, on 2,485 votes, was eliminated.

Of Mr Kellys transfers, his running mate John Mullins received 2,633 votes, while Fianna Fails Billy Kelleher received 1,963 votes.

Fianna Fails Cynthia Ni Mhurchu received 770 votes and Michael McNamara received 523 votes.

Several people have remarked on the erratic nature of transfers in Irelands European election.

It may be some time before the next MEP is revealed. Photo: Jonathan Brady/PA.

Returning officer Martin Harvey said he expected that candidates on the lowest number of votes will be eliminated one at a time, rather than in groups.

Three different people will check and give their opinion on who can be eliminated, can they be eliminated together, he said.

Weve an e-count system here on the computer and then the four minds are put together whove done the calculations, and we check to see are we all right, and Im glad to tell you were always right. We always have the same answer.

He said it would be much later this evening or Wednesday morning before the next candidate is elected, who is expected to be Mr Kelleher.

Billy Kelleher is expected to be the next candidate to be elected, though counting is still underway. Photo: Jonathan Brady/PA.

Mr Harvey said that once candidates are eliminated, each count will take around an hour.

Hard to say where second preferences are going, but Id be very surprised if anything happened before 9pm or 10pm tonight, he said of when the next MEP would be elected.

I dont see us being out of here until Thursday at lunchtime at the earliest.

Asked whether there was a childrens fun day planned in the hall for Thursday, he gestured to the count and said: This is a fun day.

Mr Harvey said that some of the staff reckon the count could finish on Wednesday, and added: If we can save the fun day, wouldnt that be great?
One of the more eye-catching aspects of this election cycle has been the utterly ginormous ballot paper in the Midlands North West constituency.

Voters in this constituency were faced with 27 candidates on a ballot paper measuring 73cm in length.

The question is this  if you took every single one of the valid ballots and laid them down flat, one-by-one, could it cover from one end of the constituency to the other?

Lets start at the tiptop of the constituency with Irelands most northern point  Malin Head in Donegal. Then we go down through the constituency and land in the far right corner of Laois, to a place called Rossmore.

We could save time and go a straight line through Northern Ireland but wed be leaving the constituency if we did that. So lets take a detour through Sligo.

The total journey is 414 kilometres. Now lets do the maths.

The valid poll was 679,946 voters. If you laid each 73cm ballot out, thats a total of 49,636,038cm. Converting that to kilometres, that is just over 496km of ballot.

The distance would be covered surely, and with 82km to spare. Thats enough leeway to pay a visit to beautiful Ballina in north Mayo.
Hollymount Independent councillor Patsy OBrien was among those elected in the Claremorris electoral area, topping the poll, when he exceeded the quota of 1,954 on the first count - picking up 2,739 first preference votes.

Joining Cllr OBrien in the six seats are: Cllr Richard Finn (Independent), Cllr Damien Ryan (Fianna Fail), Cllr Paul Lawless (Aontu), Cllr Michael Burke (Fine Gael) and Cllr Alma Gallagher (Fine Gael) - who is the first woman to be elected to the Claremorris LEA. Outgoing councillor Tom Connolly (Fine Gael) missed out on a seat.

Cllr OBrien, who was first elected to Mayo County Council in 2004, has been involved in politics for 47 years. This is his first election as an Independent.

Independent Cllr Patsy O'Brien celebrates after he topped the poll in the Claremorris electoral area. Picture by: John O'Grady

Following his election, Cllr OBrien was coy when asked the question of if he was interested in running for the next Irish general election.

I dont make any promises, the former Fine Gael councillor told The Western People.

At the moment, my aim is to represent the people of South Mayo. It is up to the public - if they feel that I have a role in the future then I will listen and discuss it with them.

I have been involved in politics a long time so I know the mechanics of it. I will relate to people and I will do whatever I feel is best for the area that I have represented for the last 20 years.
Wirestock Creators // Shutterstock

6 books that explain the history and meaning of Juneteenth

After decades of being celebrated at mostly the local level, Juneteenth  the long-standing holiday that commemorates the arrival of news of emancipation and freedom to enslaved Black people in Galveston, Texas, in 1865  became a federal holiday in 2021. In honor of this year's Juneteenth, The Conversation reached out to Wake Forest University humanities professor Corey D. B. Walker for a list of readings that can help people better understand the history and meaning of the observance. Below, Walker recommends six books.

'On Juneteenth'

Combining history and memoir, Annette Gordon-Reed's "On Juneteenth" offers a moving history of African American life and culture through the prism of Juneteenth. The award-winning Harvard historian presents an intimate portrait of the experiences of her family and her memories of life as an African American girl growing up in segregated Texas. The essays in her book invite readers to enter a world shaped by the forces of freedom and slavery.

Reed's exploration of the history and legacy of Juneteenth is a poignant reminder of the hard history all Americans face.

'O Freedom! Afro-American Emancipation Celebrations'

William H. Wiggins Jr.'s "O Freedom! Afro-American Emancipation Celebrations" is the historical standard for African American emancipation celebrations. It offers an accessible and well-researched account of the emergence and evolution of Juneteenth.

Wiggins brings together oral history with archival research to share the stories of how African Americans celebrated emancipation. It explains how Juneteenth is part of the tapestry of emancipation celebrations. These celebrations included such dates as Jan. 1 in North Carolina; April 3 in Richmond, Virginia; and April 16 in Washington, D.C.

What began as a local holiday has evolved into a national celebration.

Juneteenth celebrations are known for the variety of programs and events that highlight African American history and culture. In the 1960s, students at Prairie View A&M University in Prairie View, Texas, informed faculty that classes would not be held on Juneteenth. In Milwaukee, the local Juneteenth parade includes a group known as the Black Cowboys riding their horses along Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. Juneteenth celebrations also feature cultural fairs and exhibitions, artistic performances and historical reenactments. Lectures and public conversations, community feasts and religious services are also part of the celebrations.

'Juneteenth'

Ralph Ellison, perhaps best known for his novel "Invisible Man," offers multiple meanings of Juneteenth in African American and American life in his posthumously published novel "Juneteenth."

The ambivalence of Juneteenth is of a freedom delayed but not denied. Ellison's spiraling novel captures this in the entangled and tragic lives of the racist Senator Sunraider  previously known as Bliss  and the minister who raised him, the Reverend A. Z. Hickman. For Ellison, Juneteenth represents more than just a celebration of emancipation. It also represents the shared fate of white Americans and African Americans in the quest to create a just and equal society. The promise and peril of Juneteenth is elegantly captured in Hickman's words, "There's been a heap of Juneteenths before this one and I tell you there'll be a heap more before we're truly free!"

'Festivals of Freedom: Memory and Meaning in African American Emancipation Celebrations, 1808-1915'

Mitch Kachun's book, "Festivals of Freedom: Memory and Meaning in African American Emancipation Celebrations, 1808-1915," traces the history of emancipation celebrations and their influence on African American identity and community. Juneteenth joined a longer tradition of emancipation celebrations. Those celebrations included ones at the end of the trans-Atlantic slave trade in the United States on Jan. 1, 1808. They also included the August First Day/West India Day celebrations that marked the abolition of slavery throughout the British Empire on Aug. 1, 1834.

With an eye for historical detail, Kachun narrates a complex history of how Juneteenth and other freedom festivals shaped African American identity and political culture. The celebrations also displayed competing meanings of African American identity. In Washington, D.C. in the late 19th century, different groups of African Americans held distinct celebrations. These variations underscored tensions around political ideals, status and identity. Kachun's book reminds us that Juneteenth served as a crucible for forging a collective and contested sense of African American community.

'Rites of August First: Emancipation Day in the Black Atlantic World'

Similar to Kachun's book, Howard University historian Jeffrey R. Kerr-Ritchie's "Rites of August First: Emancipation Day in the Black Atlantic World" reminds readers of a broader history and geography of emancipation celebrations.

Kerr-Ritchie focuses on how various African American communities adopted and adapted West India Day celebrations. He also explores how they created meaning and culture in celebrating the abolition of slavery in the British West Indies. Kerr-Ritchie's book details how these celebrations moved across political borders and boundaries.

'Juneteenth: The Story Behind the Celebration'

Contemporary invocations of Juneteenth often overlook its military history.

Edward T. Cotham Jr.'s "Juneteenth: The Story Behind the Celebration" fills the void by exploring the Civil War origins of Juneteenth.

Cotham renders explicit the military context leading up to the events on June 19, 1865, in Galveston. This is when enslaved Black people there finally got word that they had been freed more than two years prior. Cotham reminds readers that the history of Juneteenth involves ordinary actions of many individual people whose names may not be widely known.

Collectively, these books about Juneteenth offer fresh perspectives on the history and culture of African Americans on a quest to fully express their freedom. Juneteenth is also an invitation for all Americans to continue to learn about and strive for freedom for all people.

This story was produced by The Conversation and reviewed and distributed by Stacker Media.

Originally published on theconversation.com, part of the BLOX Digital Content Exchange.
Tharisa Mine 'SLAPPs' environmental activists

CALS is set to appear in the High Court in Mahikeng representing two environmental justice activists threatened with a SLAPP suit

The Centre for Applied Legal Studies (CALS) represents two environmental justice activists facing an interdict from Tharisa Mines in Marikana. We argue that this infringes on their rights to freedom of expression and constitutes strategic litigation against public participation  otherwise known as a SLAPP suit. The matter was postponed to 13 June 2024 for hearing before the High Court in Mahikeng.

In March this year, Tharisa Mine approached the High Court in Mahikeng for an urgent interdict against two environmental justice activists, Oridile Kgatea and Rodney Kotsedi. The mine sought to interdict the activists from making defamatory statements, gathering at the mines premises or threatening anyone connected with the mine. Despite opposition to the urgent application, on 20 March 2024, the Court partially granted an interim interdict against the activists.

On Thursday, 13 June 2024, the High Court is set to hear the application for a final interdict. The activists are represented by the Centre for Applied Legal Studies (CALS). We argue that the activists are representing their community and attempting to exercise their environmental and civil rights. The application by the mine constitutes strategic litigation against public participation  otherwise known as a SLAPP suit. The application seeks to intimidate and silence the activist from speaking out against various violations by the mine, which escalate on a daily basis.

In November 2022, the Constitutional Court recognised the existence of SLAPP suits in our law as a form of abuse of court process. SLAPP suits are used around the world as a tactic to threaten, silence and distract environmental activists and take up their already limited resources. They often take the form of defamation cases which usually have no prospects of success and instead seek to discourage members of the public from exercising their rights.

This application falls squarely into the definition of a SLAPP suit as adopted by the Constitutional Court and amounts to an abuse of court process. The mine has failed to prove it has been defamed or suffered any loss or harm from statements made to the media and the interviews it relies on do not portray any false or misleading information. Furthermore it has failed to provide evidence of the unlawful incidents it seeks to interdict against the activists.

Far from defaming the mine, the activists have instead attempted to vindicate their communitys rights to protest and to an environment not harmful to their health or wellbeing. It is clear the mine seeks to silence those trying to hold them accountable for harm related to mining activities, such as damage to houses from blasting and contamination of drinking water, among others. These issues are the subject of a pending inquiry in respect of the Mine Health and Safety Act.

The application violates the rights to freedom of expression and the right to protest guaranteed in the Constitution, says Sithuthukile Mkhize, head of Civil & Political Justice at CALS. The activists are entitled to raise awareness of human rights violations and to hold the mine accountable for failing to comply with the Constitution and other legislation. The application has no merit and stands to be dismissed as a SLAPP suit.

The mine operates on communal land and its operations continue to have a negative impact on the community of Mmaditlhokwa village, says Mazi Choshane, attorney at CALS. The community has lodged a number of complaints that blasting is taking place within 500 metres of their homes, causing damage to houses and also releasing dust which is a health and safety violation. It is these complaints which have led the mine to institute urgent legal proceedings against the community.

This case is part of CALS ongoing campaign against SLAPP suits and activist victimisation in our strategic mission of contributing to the expansion of the agency of activists and other marginalised actors. CALS is represented in the matter by Adv Modise Shakung.

Read our founding papers in the matter here.

The matter will be heard in the High Court in Mahikeng on 13 June 2024.

For inquiries, please contact:
Welcome to Virology

The field of virology has become increasingly relevant worldwide, particularly with the advent of novel viruses, such as COVID-19. These viruses have devastating effects, impacting social, economic and political systems. Intersecting causes, including poverty, inequality, climate change and the state of healthcare systems, have worsened the impacts of viruses such as SARS, H1N1, influenza and Nipah. Moreover, viruses such as Ebola and West Nile strains have re-emerged. In the Global South, these coincide with HIV and Aids and tuberculosis. The latter two remain leading causes of mortality. New vaccines, as well as testing and diagnostic tools, are needed, particularly in resource-constrained settings.

Figure 1: A virologist inspects a sample

Researchers at the University of Witwatersrand provide innovative clinical and diagnostic services in virology. The area offers exciting opportunities for research and undergraduate and postgraduate studies. The universitys location in a major urban node with multiple health concerns allows for developing innovative diagnostic methods for rapidly identifying emerging and re-emerging viral pathogens in national, regional, and global design.

The dedicated virology departments laboratory investigates and diagnoses viral infectious diseases through serological and PCR-based tests. The division is a joint initiative with the National Health Laboratory Services, providing diagnostic and consultative services to the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital (CMJAH), Nelson Mandela Childrens Hospital, Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, and other surrounding hospitals and clinics. In response to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in 2020, several members of the department have actively contributed their virological expertise in pivotal capacities, including the Ministerial Advisory Group, SAHPRA, Covid-19 Working Groups, as well as participation in the National Genomics Surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 consortium.

Head of Division Professor Raveen Parboosing

Professor Raveen Parboosing graduated from the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) and was later admitted into the Fellowship of the College of Pathologists of South Africa in 2003. Professor Parboosing is actively involved in undergraduate and postgraduate education, supervising 40 students pursuing their studies.

His research interests are clinical virology, epidemiology, drug discovery and nanotechnology. Professor Parboosing completed a Masters in Epidemiology at Columbia University in New York. He has worked closely with the researchers in the Discipline of Pharmaceutical Sciences at UKZN to pursue new ways to treat HIV and other pathogens. In recognition of his extensive work, he was awarded the 2023 Merck medal by the South African Chemical Institute.

Professor Parboosings PhD examined emerging nanotechnology, particularly in treating HIV. Nanotechnology is a fairly new discipline that involves understanding, designing, engineering, and fabricating materials at the atomic and molecular levels. The current HIV and Aids treatment modality includes a drug combination to work on different mechanisms. While this treatment has been a remarkable success, challenges remain. The daily requirement to take medication over a lifetime often results in poor patient compliance and treatment adherence. This leads to ineffective drug levels in the body and further virus replication. Drug resistance occurs, mainly caused by the high genetic diversity of HIV-1 and its continuous mutation.

Figure 2: Professor Raveen Parboosing, Head of the Division of Virology in the School of Pathology

As latent HIV cells are usually concentrated in specific anatomic sites, there is a need to explore new approaches for developing non-toxic, lower-dosage treatment modalities that provide sustained dosing coverage and effectively eradicate the virus without lifetime treatments.

The virology teams significant achievements in public health

Wits scientists, Drs Florette Treurnicht, Jinal Bhiman, Catherine Scheepers and Mrs Ramuth Magalutcheemee, from the Department of Virology in the School of Pathology, made significant contributions to SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 genomics surveillance in South Africa.

Figure 3: Professor Florette Treurnicht

A continent-wide collaboration on genomics surveillance shows the power of African science and how most COVID-19 variants were introduced into Africa. More than 300 authors from Africa and elsewhere collaborated on this study, forming the largest consortium of African scientists and public health institutions working to support data-driven public health responses in Africa.
Coleg Cambria baker achieves slice of victory in first ever Britains Best Cake contest

This article is old - Published: Tuesday, Jun 11th, 2024

A skilled apprentice has achieved a slice of success in the first ever Britains Best Cake competition.

Coleg Cambria learner Naomi Spaven, from Mold, won the Fruit Cake category with a delicious dark chocolate, orange and ginger Bara Brith.

Naomi, who works as head baker at Wylde Bakery in Bebington, was also named among last years Rising Star finalists by the BIA (Baking Industry Awards).

Currently studying a Level 3 Apprenticeship with the college, she was joined at the event  held at the Birmingham NEC  by judge Daryl Stephenson, a Cambria work-based learning assessor and one of the most respected names in the industry, with more than 20 years experience.

Naomi, who turned to baking following the death of her mum three years ago, said she was thrilled to win the section and finish second in the overall standings.

I honestly was over the moon to win Best Fruit Cake, especially with the recipe being a Bara Brith! she said.

Ive made this cake countless times over the years and Im so pleased that the judges enjoyed eating it as much as I enjoyed baking it.

The support I have received from Daryl and the college has been second to none, and I wouldnt have even known these competitions existed without his guidance. Its been great to be able to study for a qualification whilst working too.

Ive already started planning my bakes ready for next years competition!

Daryl, who regularly visits her on the Wirral to assess progress and support her academic journey, said she is a star of the future.

I obviously didnt judge Naomis category but was there running my eye over other competitors and she was up there with the very best of them, he said.

Its a pleasure to see how talented, hard-working and passionate she is, she has come a very long way in just a few years and is already making her mark in the UK and on the international stage.

Daryl, from Ruabon, added: It was an honour to be on the judging panel, especially as this is the first time British Baker has ever held these awards, and for one of our students to be among the winners was the icing on the cake!

Naomi will soon begin a new role at Cambrias Ial Restaurant in Wrexham, as lead baker and patisserie chef.
FOI flurry reveals 45k spent by Welsh Government on Metaverse tourism project

This article is old - Published: Tuesday, Jun 11th, 2024

Welsh Governments dabble into the Metaverse has cost around 45k, several FOIs have revealed.

In mid May Welsh Government announced that Wales had become the first UK nation to launch in the metaverse, giving virtual visitors from across the world a taste of what they can discover here for real.

According to the Welsh Government there are 600 million global visitors annually across a number of metaverse platforms, with Wales one being hosted on the platform Spatial.

As we reported at the time the Welsh world had been created in partnership with Swansea-based Meta architects, iCreate, but no pricing details or ongoing costs were released.

It appears the launch prompted a mini flood of Freedom of Information requests (not from Wrexham.com) over the costs and other details of the project.

Most of the FOIs ask how much the project cost, with the generic answer, The Wales Metaverse was commissioned by Visit Wales for digital tourism marketing activity and development was delivered by a third-party contractor specialising in the field. We cannot disclose, due to commercial confidentiality, a detailed breakdown of costs and hours attributable to the developer however, we can confirm that in total i.e. technical development, licence fees and hosting for the next six months, the project has been delivered for less than 16,000.

Another FOI requests hours spent on it, if there was a cost benefit analysis (and to provide it) and what the expected user figures are. Those are not answered in detail but a narrative reply is given, Regarding cost benefit analysis, the activity is part of Visit Wales core digital marketing activity, which seeks to reach new audiences. The Metaverse entry point is housed on the Visit Wales website, the anchor for all campaign marketing activity. Part of this project activity was the additional highlighting of Wales for creativity and innovation and will be evaluated through audience reach.

Viewing figures for the first two weeks have been approximately 4,800 and the positive media attention garnered over the same period has included coverage in Europe and the US across over 30 titles covering national news and travel and specialist tech.

Regarding players expected in coming years, this is a trial running for six months, so will be reviewed at that point before longer term activity is considered.

If you would like to discuss how Visit Wales uses data and insights to inform competitive digital marketing, we would be happy to have a follow up conversation if that is something that would be of interest.

At the time Welsh Government detailed how Visit Wales is using billboard ads in the virtual world of Roblox, and one of the FOI replies also explains more will be spent on related promotion, In terms of promotional spend, the Wales Metaverse will be promoted as part of Visit Wales digital campaign activity (and will equate to approximately 30k over the next six months) which drives potential visitors to the Visit Wales website to inspire holiday planning. The Metaverse entry point is housed on the Visit Wales website, where visitors can also be inspired by the widest range of information around visiting Wales in real life.

At the time of writing there were now 5,300 views  an extra 500 from when the FOI responses were collated.

You can view the site here, with the entry point embedded in it that does take a short while to load: https://www.visitwales.com/metaverse

(Welsh Government deem Wrexham.com useful for press releases, such as the Metaverse launch, however again that appears part of earned coverage rather than part of the 30k promo)
Oh yes it is! Community theatre company returns to Wrexham with legendary panto

This article is old - Published: Tuesday, Jun 11th, 2024

Oh yes it is! A local theatre company is set to bring back its legendary pantomime to Wrexham after several year gap.

Tip Top Productions will stage five performances of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at the William Aston Hall at Wrexham University from Thursday 5 December  Saturday 7 December.

The community theatre company, which already has productions scheduled for both Storyhouse and Theatr Clwyd this year, is looking forward to returning to its roots in Wrexham and re-establishing the much loved Christmas tradition.

The Pantomime will one again be written and directed by local Panto legend Peter Swingler OBE, founder and former chair of Tip Top who has producing the festive favourites since the 1970s.

Speaking about bringing Tip Tops Pantomimes back to Wrexham, Peter said: I am thrilled to return to Wrexhams William Aston Hall, where my pantomime journey began in 1973.

My history with the venue includes collaborations with the Wrexham Pantomime Company and the Kathie Dougall Pantomime Company, and the establishment of the renowned Grove Park Theatre pantomime in 1981.

The William Aston Hall also played host to Tip Tops inaugural Christmas production, Cinderella, way back in 1995.

I am very much looking forward to getting started on the production, starting with auditions which will be held in June.

In addition to Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs, Tip Top are returning to Theatr Clwyd with the classic Broadway musical Sweet Charity from 12  15 June as well as bringing back perennial favourite Bouncers which will run at Storyhouse in Chester from 7  10 August.

The company will also be returning to Storyhouse once again in October with Tip Top at The Musicals, a special celebration of the best of the West End and Broadway with songs from musicals old and new.

Roles up for grabs are  Snow White, Prince RobRyan, Nurse Kitty Littler (the Dame), Queen Caroline (Snow Whites nasty stepmother), Hunstman (assistant the Queen), Simon (a young, comedy role) and a loveable rabbit character, appealing especially to younger audience members.

Anyone interested in auditioning for these roles should contact Peter Swingler via email at swinglerp@gmail.com. Separate auditions for children to play the Seven Dwarfs will be held in September.

Full details of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Sweet Charity and all other upcoming Tip Top Productions shows can be found at www.tiptopproductions.co.uk where tickets can be booked online.
One year ago, in the early morning of June 14, 2023, a fishing trawler with over 750 refugees on board sank off the Greek Peloponnese peninsula. More than 600 people drowned, including many women and children trapped inside the ship.

The overloaded fishing boat shortly before capsizing [Photo by Griechische Kustenwache]

The shipwreck off the Greek harbour of Pylos was not simply a tragic accident, but the result of a murderous pushback by the Greek Coast Guard, as research by journalists and NGOs has shown.

Despite knowing that the overcrowded trawler was in distress at sea, the coast guard did not initiate rescue measures in good time. According to the investigations so far, it then capsized the ship itself by tying it to a patrol boat and pulling it back and forth in order to tow the refugees into Italian waters.

The illegal pushbacks by the Greek government are part of a systematic policy by the European Union and its border police Frontex to seal off Fortress Europe. However, those actually responsible for this crime were not prosecuted, but survivors of the shipwreck were put before the courts.

Nine refugees from Egypt were arrested immediately after their rescue and charged as alleged smugglers. The case was based solely on interviews with some of the survivors directly after the shipwreck, which were conducted by the same coast guard suspected of causing the deaths.

On May 21, the court of appeal in the southern Greek city of Kalamata acquitted the accused refugees. The nine men, aged between 20 and 40, had served 11 months in prison, although they were innocent victims who had narrowly escaped death on the sinking ship.

The Kalamata court declared that it had no jurisdiction over the accusation that the defendants had formed a criminal organisation and caused the shipwreck. They accepted the lawyers argument that the ship was in international waters at the time of the sinking and not on Greek territory.

The judges also found that the allegations of human trafficking and illegal entry were not substantiated. The refugees had never planned and had never been paid to smuggle the passengers of the fishing vessel Adriana from Libya to Greece. Nor did they enter Greek territory themselves but were brought there by the intervention of the Greek coast guard.

According to a report by the Greek news website ThePressProject (TPP), the defendants testified that they had set off from Libya to Italy, not Greece. Their goal was a better life to help their families. All of them testified that they did not know why they ended up in prison, while one of the defendants testified that he was taken from the hospital and immediately taken to prison.

According to TPP, a sea rescuer and witness in the trial, Jason Apostolopoulos, said it was a shame that in the biggest shipwreck in Greek history the victims and not the perpetrators were on trial.

According to TPP, there were attempts to restrict the presence of observers and the press at the trial. In the courtroom, which was too small, those present had to stand and were repeatedly asked by the police to leave the room. Only at the request of the defence lawyers were 10 additional seats made available for journalists. Supporters and relatives of the Pylos victims had gathered outside the courtroom and demonstrated in favour of the acquittal of the defendants.

Despite the acquittal, the Egyptians initially remained in administrative detention on the grounds that their asylum applications had not yet been approved. The lawyers lodged an appeal against this. Four were finally released on May 29 and another four a week later. One survivor is still being held because his asylum application has been rejected.

Responsibility of the EU

At the same time, an investigation is underway at the Piraeus Naval Court, where 49 survivors have filed a lawsuit against the Greek coast guard and authorities. But even after a year, there has been little progress in the proceedings, although the facts are overwhelming.

The Greek coast guard is not the only perpetrator in this case. It is working on behalf of Frontex and the EU, in which Germany plays a leading role. Under the leadership of EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (Christian Democrat, CDU), the imperialist pro-war policy and the asylum and refugee policies, which are two sides of the same coin, have been drastically intensified.

In April, the European Parliament adopted the Common European Asylum System (CEAS). As the WSWS commented, this:

effectively suspended the right to asylum and turned the immigration policies of the extreme right into law. The measures adopted provide for Europes external borders to be hermetically sealed off. This means that refugees will have to undergo their asylum procedure outside the EU in closed, militarily guarded detention centres.

Von der Leyen, who is seeking another term in office and is hoping for support from the far-right camp, has worked closely with right-wing Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Italian fascist Giorgia Meloni and the criminal regimes in Libya, Tunisia and Egypt to keep refugees out of Europe.

The nine innocent Pylos survivors had fled Egypt, where the dictator Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, known as the Butcher of Cairo, imprisons and murders political opponents.

French ministerial official Fabrice Leggeri, who headed Frontex from 2015 to 2022 and was responsible for covering up pushbacks, is now running for the European elections in third place on the list of the far-right Rassemblement National. He described his candidacy as a logical step to protect Europes borders. According to an analysis by Die Zeit, which compared him to the former German head of the domestic intelligence service Hans-Georg Maassen, a notorious right-wing extremist, he uses the words human rights like a swearword.

In Germany, all parties represented in the Bundestag (parliament) support the EUs deportation and asylum policies. This includes the Left Party, which, sitting in the state government in Thuringia, orders brutal deportations, as it did previously when in the Berlin state executive.

In the European election campaign, the Left Party attempted to present itself as an opponent of border policy in order to capitalise on the widespread outrage among young people about the inhumane Frontex actions. It therefore put up the well-known sea rescuer Carola Rackete, who had become a symbol of resistance to the EUs attacks on refugees in 2019, as its lead candidate.

Rackete had captained the rescue ship Sea-Watch 3 into the harbour of Lampedusa with around 40 refugees on boarddespite a ban by the Italian authorities. She was immediately arrested and vilified by right-wing extremists across Europe.

The Left Party sought to use Rackete as a figurehead. However, Rackete recently told the press that she would not speak out against the refugee policy in the EU. As an ecologist, I will not work on the topic of migration in the EU Parliament. That is not my political expertise, said Rackete at an event organised by the Italian Alliance of Greens and Left in Milan. In other words, anyone who voted for the left-wing candidate Rackete in the hope that she will stand up to the EU anti-refugee policy will be bitterly disappointed.

However, opposition to the attacks on refugees is urgently needed. The seabed in southern Europe is already a huge mass grave. In the last 10 years, 30,000 refugees have drowned in the Mediterranean. According to the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), at least 3,760 people died or disappeared on the sea route last year alone. The number of victims has risen significantly compared to previous years, although the number of unreported cases is likely to be very high. In addition, there are thousands of refugees who are abandoned in the desert in North Africa and die of thirst.

It will probably never be possible to determine how many people actually lose their lives while fleeing. Sea rescue and the recording and reporting of victims have been largely stopped and criminalised in recent years.

The human rights organisation Aegean Boat Report (ABR) was the most recent victim of repression. The Norwegian NGO has been documenting arrivals and pushbacks of refugees in the Aegean for several years and exposes the targeted violations of asylum law in Greece. In order to stop this work, Greece has issued an international arrest warrant against the head of ABR, Tommy Olsen, and against Panagiotis Dimitras from the NGO Greek Helsinki Monitor.

As has now become known, the authorities on the island of Kos initiated proceedings against the two human rights activists a year and a half ago. This was reported by the Greek newspaper Efimerida ton Syntakton (Efsyn). Among other things, the two are accused of forming a criminal organisation and facilitating the entry and stay of refugees simply because they had informed the relevant authorities about the arriving asylum seekers.

Olsen denied the accusations and stated that he would not be travelling to Greece for the trial because he had well-founded concerns that he would not receive a fair trial.

Meanwhile, Aegean Boat Report is continuing its work. According to the latest data from ABR, the number of refugees who arrived on the Aegean islands in May increased by 67.5 percent compared to the previous month of April. Overall, the number of arrivals this year has risen by 193 percent compared to the first five months of 2023.

In May, the organisation registered 50 illegal pushbacks by the Greek Coast Guard in the Aegean Sea; 1,226 people, including children and women, were denied the right to asylum. During these pushbacks, the refugees are usually set adrift at sea on flimsy life rafts without engines.

Normalisation of death

This ongoing policy of death, which the EU has been pursuing for decades, is outrageous and inhumane. But as sad and angry as it is, it is necessary to understand its political logic.

The capitalist system is in a deep crisis worldwide, to which the ruling class of Germany, the EU and the US have only one answer: conducting war to enforce their geopolitical and economic interests by military force; pursuing class war to defend their profits and shift the costs of war onto the working class; and implementing dictatorial measures to suppress the growing opposition to war and poverty.

The death, abuse and demonisation of refugees, which dominated much of the final phase of the European election campaign, plays a central role in this:

The deaths of thousands of innocent people are being normalised. Any empathy with refugees fleeing from countries destroyed and shattered by imperialist wars is suppressed and criminalised. Just like the Israeli genocide against the Palestinians in Gaza and the slaughter of hundreds of thousands of soldiers in NATOs proxy war against Russia in Ukraine, the mass deaths in the Mediterranean are intended to inure the public to the fact that human life is worth nothing on the altar of profit and imperialist geopolitics.

Refugees serve as a lightning rod for the social crisis. Although the costs of housing, educating and integrating refugees are low compared to the rising levels of military spending and exploding wealth of the rich, they are being scapegoated for the decades-long crisis in the education system, falling social spending and rising rents.

The agitation against refugees is grist to the mill of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD). It strengthens the extreme right, which is needed by those in power to intimidate any social and political opposition and establish a dictatorship. This is why all the establishment partiesincluding the recently founded Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW), a split-off from the Left Partysupport the EUs isolationist policy inspired by the far right.

The attack on refugees serves to divide the working class. They are living witnesses to the devastating imperialist policies in the Middle East and Africa. They know what war and dictatorship mean. They know how their homes and schools have been destroyed in the name of human rights. They have been through the brutal asylum and refugee labyrinth and have often lost family members or friends. Today, refugees from Afghanistan, Syria and Egypt live and work side by side with European workers in factories, logistics and construction.

If the German government now again preaches war-readiness, massively rearming and fuelling the war in Ukraine and the genocide in Gaza, then it must expect massive opposition from the working class, especially among those with direct experiences of war. The EU states therefore prefer these people to disappear before they arrive in the Mediterranean. It is a soundless and silent murder. Those who reach Europe despite the hurdles and dangers are to be deported as quickly as possible.

The Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei (Socialist Equality Party, SGP) opposes this policy with an internationalist and socialist programme. Its manifesto for the European elections stated:

Fortress Europe, which is being expanded further and further with metres-high walls, barbed wire fences and inhumane detention centres at the external borders, is resulting in the death of thousands of refugees.

The SGP demands equal rights for refugees and immigrants and fights for the international unification of the working class. Justice for the victims and survivors of the Pylos tragedy and an end to the mass deaths in the Mediterranean can only be achieved if the workers themselves stop the pro-war policy of the ruling class. This requires the building of a revolutionary world party in which workers unite regardless of their origin.
On June 4, independent presidential candidate Dr. Cornel West conducted an extended interview with far-right personality Mario Nawfal on X Spaces, a live audio chat feature on the social media network owned by billionaire Elon Musk.

Dr. Cornel West, who is running for U.S. president as a third-party candidate in 2024, gives the keynote address at the "#BLM Turns 10 People's Justice Festival" on Saturday, July 15, 2023, at the Leimert Park neighborhood in Los Angeles. [AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes]

Notably, Wests interview with Nawfal was conducted less than a month after Nawfal hosted neo-Nazi Nick Fuentes. Nawfals interview with Fuentes was the first major appearance Fuentes made after he was reinstated by Musk to the platform last month. In announcing the interview with Fuentes, which also featured InfoWars founder Alex Jones, Nawfal wrote, I dont agree with MOST of what Nick Fuentes says, but EVERYBODY deserves a voice!

In the nearly four-hour-long interview, Nawfal, who has 1.5 million followers, provided Fuentes an open venue to espouse his antisemitic and racist perspective. One of Nawfals self-described tough questions for Fuentes was, What is the most controversial belief that you currently hold? After Fuentes railed against Jewish influence and demanded that only Christians should be in power in America. ... All Christian legislators, presidents, and Supreme Court Justices, Nawfal asked Fuentes to expound on his second most taboo belief, which Fuentes used as an opportunity to talk about being a race realist.

In his own two-hour interview with Nawfal, West never once brought up his interviewers cozy relationship with fascists and neo-Nazis. Instead, West thanked Brother Mario for hosting him, I look forward to learning, I look forward to listening, my brother, taking it in and trying to critically assess, before proceeding to adapt to his right-wing audience.

West was asked several times to comment on the recent Trump verdict, including at one point by a pro-Trump MAGA operative, who asked West how he planned to restore faith in the US justice system following the verdict.



West replied, Thats the crucial question, brother, very very much so. After pontificating on his experiences from the chocolate side of town, West called for more fairness and integrity, which he said would provide people with the evidence that the system can entertain the possibility of integrity.

Turning to the Bidens recent Trump-style executive order aimed at eliminating the right to asylum, West chastised Bidens and Trumps tone, while not offering any actual policy or political differences. West said that as president he would set a tone, a framework, a vibe so people have sense, whether or not they can come in or not. West reiterated that while he would seek more humane policies, recognize that its not just going to be open border, wide open, absolutely right.

While West offered up his usual rhetorical critiques of US imperialism and wealth inequality, he emphasized multiple times and at length that he was not a socialist, but instead, adopted some insights from the socialist tradition.

There are people who say, Oh, you sound like you are a socialist, West said, adding, Well, no, Im just a Christian just trying to make sure people are treated right, and theres some deep insights coming out of a socialist tradition. ... But that is part of the tone too

West went on to defend the capitalist system, saying that if Adam Smith came back, he would say this is not capitalism at all. This is a monopoly-centered oligopoly-driven obsessed with short-term profit, not long-term profit tied to common good that he talks about.

Asked by a right-wing X user if West could expand on previous statements where he described himself as a non-Marxist socialist because Marxism and Christianity ... cant be reconciled, West replied, I appreciate it, appreciate it, as I said before, as a jazz man I pull from a variety of different traditions, you have to be improvisational

West said that while he resonated with the socialist tradition because it puts working people and poor people at the center, he would never join the Black Panther Party, because they, themselves, had their own atheistic proclivities, and Im Christian, Jesus-loving free Black man.

West went on to attack Marx for being an atheist and not spending enough time talking about democratic processes, so you ended up with communist parties that run roughshod too often over rights and liberties, but that is another issue.

In addition to repeating the right-wing canard that the originator of the materialist conception of history and author of Capital is somehow responsible for the crimes of Stalinism and its progeny, West never offered a similar critique of capitalism and the fascism it produces.

This is not an oversight. While paying lip service to the working class and poor, West rejects any class analysis of society, trading instead in the snake oil of racial politics and self-promotion. This is shown in his selection of Melina Abdullah, a proponent of identity politics, as his running mate.

Wests appearance on Nawfals program follows other appearances on far-right platforms. In February, West appeared on a panel hosted by the Libertarian Party of California, an experience he recounted in his latest interview rhapsodically, I was at the state convention, Libertarian, in California ... wonderful dialogue.

When West announced his election campaign one year ago, the WSWS described his program as a pragmatic and bankrupt muddle. This has been clearly demonstrated in the course of his campaign, including the interview with Nawfal.



In addition to hosting The Roundtable Show, the Dubai-based 30-year-old Nawfal hosts The Crypto Roundtable. He is also the CEO of International Blockchain Consulting and founder of Froothie, an Australian-based Global Health and Wellness Brand.

Nawfal presents himself as a citizen journalist on X, where he is frequently boosted by its billionaire owner Musk, who has himself frequently appeared on Nawfals program. In reply to a June 5 post by Nawfal that declared in all caps, TRUMPS SHOW OF SUPPORT IN SAN FRANCISCO: SOLD OUT! Musk replied, The [San Francisco] Bay Area is shifting towards Trump, which Nawfal then retweeted multiple times.

A few weeks after hosting Fuentes and before hosting Cornel West, Nawfal brought on Robert F. Kennedy Jr., perhaps the most pro-genocide candidate running in the US presidential election. In the over 40-minute-long interview, Nawfal did not once raise the topic of the US-backed Israeli genocide in Gaza but devoted several questions to the topic of cryptocurrency and Kennedy Jr. being censored.
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature

Latin America

Protesting teachers attacked by police in Mexico City and Oaxaca

Last Monday, a protest by striking teachers in the city of Juan Bautista, near the city of Oaxaca in southern Mexico, was attacked by right-wing vigilantes armed with sticks and machetes; shots were also fired. The attack took place as the teachers, members of section 22 of the teachers union CNTE, were blocking the Francisco Madero avenue. Several teachers were wounded by bullets.

When the news reached a protest rally of Mexico City workers, they marched on Mexico Citys government house and were attacked by police who had been sent to remove them from the location. The CNTE is a dissident faction of the official teachers union, SNTE.

Chileans march in Santiago demanding a free Palestine and end to genocide

Hundreds of people demonstrated Saturday in Chile for the protection of children in Palestine and in support of the inhabitants of the Gaza Strip, an area that since eight months ago has been under siege by Israel. The march was peaceful, with no incidents with the police.

The two-mile demonstration took place in central Santiago. Marchers, students and workers, carried signs calling for an end to the genocide in Gaza and an end to Zionist occupation of the West Bank.

The march comes as students across Chile fight for their colleges to suspend agreements with Israeli institutions. Chile is home to nearly half million Palestinian immigrants.

Ecuador farm communities protest burning of natural gas in Amazonian forest

On Wednesday, June 5, scores of indigenous farmers rallied in Quito at the headquarters of the Supreme Court demanding that natural gas burning cease. The protesters pointed out the environmental damage that is being caused to the jungle and to the health of their communities. Previously the court had ordered that the more than 500 gas burning installations that permanently burn gas be shut down, but the order has been ignored.

The natural gas is a byproduct of oil extraction. Originally the court had set a date of October 31, 2023 for the burning to cease, however the administration of President Noboa ignored the court order.

Argentine university workers conduct 48-hour strike

University workers across Argentina carried out a 48-hour strike last Tuesday and Wednesday. The strike ended with no results, given that the Milei administration refuses to negotiate above the 8 percent wage increase for April, and 9 percent in May, half of what the strikers demand. A spokesperson for the university workers union (CONADU) declared that the struggle will have to get deeper but gave no details.

United States

Telecom workers in West Virginia authorize strike against Altice-Optimum

Members of two local unions in the Beckley and Logan region of West Virginia have voted overwhelmingly to grant strike authorization against the telecommunications company Altice USA, paving the way for a walkout unless a favorable contract is forthcoming. The old four-year agreement for Communications Workers of America (CWA) Locals 2002 and 2007 expired in April and a two-month extension will come to an end on June 28.

Workers first unionized in 2019 and got their first contract in 2020. They are demanding increased pay and benefits from Altice in the current round of negotiations.

Altice is a European-based telecom group owned by billionaire investor Patrick Drahi. In 2015 it began to buy up telecom companies in the United States as Altice USA. It is now the fourth-largest telecommunications provider in the United States and operates in southern West Virginia under the brand name Optimum.

North Carolina airport contract workers demand an end to poverty wages

Contract workers at North Carolinas Charlotte Douglas International Airport staged a demonstration June 4 to demand an end to poverty wages, obtain affordable healthcare and better working conditions. Workers are currently seeking to organize under the Service Employees International Union.

Lashonda Barber, a driver at Charlotte Douglas, told the rally, Without us, American Airlines wont fly. Yet we struggle to survive on poverty wages while the CEO makes $15,000 an hour. Im trying to support my son, my daughter, my grandbaby and mother on $19 an hour. Its not enough. You know that doesnt work, especially when others only make $14.

This action follows a one-day strike heading into Memorial Day weekend by contract workers to press their demands. While the workers are employed by various contractors, they took aim at American Airlines and its CEO Robert Isom, who made $31.4 million in 2023. The Charlotte Douglas International Airport is one of the largest hubs for American Airlines with hundreds of daily flights.

Canada

Amalgamated Transit Union blocks Toronto transit strike at last minute as talks continue on sellout framework agreement

Toronto Transit Commission Bus [Photo: Steve Harris, Flickr]

With less than 30 minutes to go last Thursday night before a strike deadline that would have seen almost 12,000 subway and bus drivers, mechanics and maintenance workers shut down public transit across the city of Toronto, Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 113 President Marvin Alfred told reporters that industrial action was indefinitely on hold while the union and the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) continued to hammer out the details of a so-called framework agreement.

Union officials did not notify their membership about any details of the negotiations nor has any date been set for information sessions or a ratification vote. Nonetheless, union president Alfred instructed his members to stand down from any strike action. He later told reporters he expected the demobilized workers would accept whatever final deal was placed before them.

In leaks to the press, it was reported that the proposed contract would offer a mere 13 percent wage rise spread over three years with new job-security language to prevent parts of routes along Torontos borders from being transferred to other municipal transit authorities.

TTC CEO Rick Leary, for his part, told reporters, We still have to dot the is and cross the ts. You can imagine theres a lot of wording that has to be confirmed. But thats a normal process when it comes to bargaining and negotiating. And over the coming weeks, well do that. Like his union counterpart, Leary also boosted the framework agreement and arrogantly took for granted that workers would ratify the eventual deal.

The threatened strike action would have been the first since the right to strike was stripped from TTC workers in 2011 by the provincial Liberal government just as workers were moving into strike action. However, in May 2023, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice finally ruled on an action brought by both the ATU and the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE). The court struck down the anti-strike legislation passed 13 years ago as unconstitutional.

In the run-up to last weeks strike deadline, many workers had expressed demands for significant wage and benefits improvements to catch up after 13 years of sub-standard contracts and the alarming rise in the cost of living in recent years. Over the past several years, workers across the country have regularly surprised union executives by voting against deals that had been enthusiastically recommended to them.
The following comments from a long-time postal worker in Alberta emerged from a recent discussion with the World Socialist Web Site. We encourage all Canada Post workers who want to speak out against management harassment and the complicity of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers in enforcing concessions to contact us by filling out the form at the end of this article.

A Canada Post office in Winnipeg, Manitoba [AP Photo/Trevor Hagan]

Around 50,000 postal workers are currently working under contracts that expired more than three months ago. The Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) is dragging out talks with management while refusing to call a strike vote, making clear that their goal is to impose another round in a long series of concession-filled contracts. A group of postal workers has declared their support to form a rank-and-file committee. A meeting will be held on June 16 at 1 p.m. Eastern to discuss a founding statement. Fill out the form at the end of this article to participate.

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Basically, modern Canada Post has been a nightmare, to say the least. I have worked for this company for 17 years. After 2011s contract, which myself and a very small minority voted against, it was almost like management doubled in size. And they were there to bully. It was unbelievable.

And at the time we got robocalled by the union president, Danny Lamont, to vote yes for this [Conservative Prime Minister Stephen] Harper contract. He said this is the best were going to get, and weve been in modern post hell ever since.

When I first started at this depot, it had 128 routes, three supervisors and one superintendent. Now, today, that same depot has 45 routes, 5 supervisors, one superintendent and one manager. You get my drift? We have been slashed and reduced by at least two-thirds of our workforce. And the workloads are incredible.

People cannot finish the routes and they are getting bullied. I just witnessed this last week on Tuesday, a temp got pulled off the floor. I used to be a shop steward, but thats a target on your back now. So I stopped being a shop steward about three years ago. But I said, this guys allowed representation. He was taken in, and another supervisor came over to me and said, Were allowed to have a conversation. And I said, Yeah, but hes allowed representation in that conversation. Another supervisor from another area followed the temporary employee, and he was scolded and they closed the door. And he was told not to bring back mail anymore and that he had to speed up and do it within 8 hours. No more overtime.

The volumes are unbelievable and we keep having restructures. The depot I work at now had a restructure and we lost two routes and gained a supervisor. How does that happen?

I am very vocal and I talk a lot and I have been financially bullied by this corporation to the point where I do not trust any supervisor, any superintendent, any manager. I have called out and emailed over the last three years Doug Ettinger [Canada Post President & CEO] and got his mouthpiece Susan Thomas emailing me back. I have been called a whistleblower.

Stuff has just gone crazy, so I am calling out these people because I want it to escalate to something. I think we have a lawsuit, but I have already said too much on that front. You speak out and you get suspended.

One day in 2019, I was talking to the supervisor on the floor in front of my work area. I got in there at about noon. He did a reach around with his hand exposed to a female carrier that he was always flirting with when she was passing by him on his backside. I said, What was that? And he asked me if I knew what a box grab was. So I filed paperwork that we had a conversation that I thought was inappropriate for a supervisor on the floor to be having with me.

I went to the female letter carrier and I told her what had happened. She said she had not noticed, and did not want anything to do with it. So I said I felt uncomfortable, and that I was going to write up a statement and keep her name out of it. My statement clearly identifies her anonymously as female letter carrier. I put the statement in and I go on holidays. Three days into my holidays, I get a call from a shop steward saying, [Letter carriers name]s got a 2-4, about this claim of yours. But first of all, how did he know it was her?

I get back to work and confront the superintendent on this. He says, well, clearly your statement says her name. I said, Did you read it? Because it clearly doesnt and put the letter down in front of him. And he doesnt have anything to say. He just says, We determined there was nothing there and thats that.

The pandemic was a joke, too, because our business exploded. We had to follow rules and the management side got to make up the rules. And the rules were while we are at desks we do not have to wear masks, but when you are at cubicles you better wear those masks. I have pictures of managers not wearing their masks, and these are the people who have been promoted up the ranks.

Then I developed shingles, coincidentally, a month after I reported this guy for doing the box grab in front of me. So Im off for probably a good seven months at the start of the pandemic. I go back in September and we were super busy. Like, I have never seen it that busy. Every day there were five tons of parcels. Everything was shut down, but the postal service was making tons of money.

We have 23 vice presidents apparently. They are called chief of peoples safety officers, just made up titles. All these guys have alliances.

We are only supporting our management that gets things done. There are a lot of good people that work on both sides that actually get stuff done. But I talked to one regularly at my new depot and he says, We feel the same. We are fed up. We are the ones that are burned out because we get everybody coming to us.

And if you do not comply, then you get suspensions without pay. Because I have graduated [due to having so many suspensions], I do not get one-day or three-day suspensions anymore. I get five automatically.

I just had 2-4s served to me the other day from the superintendent at the depot I work at. I have heard lots about her, she punishes people daily. She is the worst in suspensions ever. I know her history just from people coming in there and telling me.

A lot of the time they will talk to you like you are a child and demean you on the work floor in front of others to see how you react. And as soon as you overreact to that, its a suspension without pay, they can emergency suspend you.

We have a grievance system that is so bizarre and the management takes advantage of it and stockpiles grievances. Now we are at a 3 to 5 year wait before your grievance is heard. Even if you win your grievance, you are financially dependent on those suspensions coming five years down the road.

We are getting bigger yet Post is shrinking its service. But Canada Post will suspend you in a heartbeat and then they have to replace you with two, maybe three temps. And thats how temps get paid nothing. I am paid $30 an hour, but a temp is paid $19 an hour. When you do the math, they have to hire 2 to 3 temps to cover an experienced person and Canada Post is losing money.

If you are a temp, you work for two-and-a-half years before you are permanent, if you last that long. Because right out of school you are not called. So depending on when you are released out of school, you get no training until you are thrown on the job maybe three or four months later, and you forget everything you learned in training, right? So now you are in an impossible situation, unless you ask for help and say, Im the new guy and theres no way Im able to do a whole route. But a lot of them do not vocalise that. So now they are stuck and they do not know what to do.

The new supervisors are restructuring the depots. If a supervisor manages to figure out how to manipulate the computer using outdated information from three or ten years ago, if he goes back far enough he can find reduced numbers that can allow him to readjust and rebuild the route. So here, we lost two routes. We went from 1,100 points of call to 1,400 points of call now. So again, everythings down to the minute at Canada Post.

Granted not everybody uses our service nowadays, most of our mail is ad mail, a huge dependency of Canada Post which has screwed the newspaper business. Canada Post has attacked these other industries and has gotten away with it.

On the other hand, if what we were supposed to be doing is servicing the customer, then the number of routes should be growing because Canada is growing. So why arent Albertans getting the service they deserve? Why are we still allowing this management to walk all over us and change up the future of Canada Post?
Yesterday, the federal court-appointed monitor in charge of overseeing the UAW bureaucracy issued a bombshell status report revealing that it has been conducting a growing investigation into ongoing, systematic corruption within the administration of UAW President Shawn Fain and that an investigation is underway against Fain personally for misuse of union resources.

United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain, left, speaks as President Joe Biden looks on during a campaign stop at a phone bank in the UAW Region 1 Union Hall, Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024, in Warren, Mich. [AP Photo/Evan Vucci]

According to the report, Fain and the bureaucracy are obstructing and interfering with [the monitors] access to information needed for [the] investigative work. The report quotes a June 7 email from the Department of Justice which reads, The Unions position is making it difficult, if not impossible, for the Monitor to fulfill his mandate to remove fraud, corruption and illegality from within the UAW. The report does not explain why the monitor has withheld information about these months-long investigations from the rank and file for at least four months.

The investigation includes accusations of corruption against Fain and the International Executive Board (IEB) by two leading members of the bureaucracy, Secretary-Treasurer Margaret Mock and Vice President Rich Boyer. Mock was sidelined and Boyer relieved of oversight over the unions Stellantis department, and both have told the monitor it was because they refused to authorize the misuse of union resources by Fain and the IEB. In April, the monitor began investigating another IEB member, a Regional Director, after receiving allegations of potential embezzlement.

Nor do these appear to be isolated incidents, as serious as they would be on their own. The monitor stresses the seriousness of the allegations and the high-level concern that the monitor witnessed throughout the union as a result of them. According to the monitor, the reaction of the bureaucracy to these initial reports has been to hide the evidence: The union has not cooperated in producing documents that are relevant to the investigation in a complete and timely manner. This has handicapped the monitors lawyers ability to properly question UAW leadership during interviews, forcing them to to conduct those interviews without the benefit of the full production of potentially relevant and contemporaneous documents.

The monitor went to great lengths to avoid bringing this information to public light, concerned over the anger it would generate among rank-and-file autoworkers.

The report explains, The monitor has attempted for months to garner the Unions cooperation in gathering the information needed to conduct a full investigation, but the Union has effectively slow-rolled the monitors access to requested documents. It adds that the monitor has taken a collaborative posture with the UAW from the beginning of the monitorship, and that the monitor even gave a draft of the report to the UAW itself a full month before it went public on Monday! According to a footnote, the monitor sent the report to the UAW and its lawyers on May 10, 2024 and request[ed] the unions feedback.

Evidently that feedback was to start guarding the evidence, or worse. The monitor explains that it has requested 116,000 documents from the UAW leadership in the new investigation but that the UAW has produced a very small portion (approximately 2,600 documents) and with more than 80% of those documents only produced on June 6, 2024, days before the issuance of this report.

Elsewhere in the report the monitor writes that by early April 2024 the Union had produced just 18 documents. The monitor details its polite attempts to assist in speeding the pace of production, but these evidently came to no avail.

According to the monitor, the UAW has made three basic arguments to justify its efforts to block the investigation and bar the release of some 115,000 documents.

Originally, the UAW claimed these documents could not be made public because they were subject to attorney-client privilege because they related to the [UAW] General Counsels preparation of its response to the Monitors February 2024 document request. In a footnote, the monitor explains that it offered the UAW a deal: It would exclude all such documents provided other documents related to potential corruption were handed over. This offer was rejected, the report reads, as was the Monitors attempt to determine what other documents the Union contemplates withholding.

Next, the UAW bureaucrats argued that the 120,000 documents were privileged as relating to collective bargaining, which forced the monitor to remind the court that part of the governments investigation leading up to the Consent Decree involved allegations of corrupt payments made by Fiat Chrysler to senior Union officials in order to undermine collective bargaining.

Then, according to another footnote, the UAWs lawyers argued that the Monitors power is limited to charging misconduct, but does not extend to investigating suspected misconduct in aid of potential charges, which would make it impossible to ever uncover any wrongdoing.

The UAW monitor, the courts and the Biden administrations Department of Labor have worked assiduously to protect and revamp the bureaucracy to better control the rank and file.

Mack Trucks autoworker and socialist candidate for UAW president Will Lehman objected throughout the 2022 UAW presidential elections that the votes of rank-and-file members and retirees were being suppressed by grossly inadequate notice of the election, a refusal by the union to maintain accurate records, and a communication system skewed in favor of the entrenched bureaucracy. When Lehman filed a lawsuit to demand an extended voting schedule and adequate notice for the rank and file in November 2022, it was opposed by the monitor law firms (Jenner & Block and Crowell & Moring) and denied by US District Court Judge David Lawson.

As a result of this deliberate refusal to provide adequate notice, turnout in the first round of voting was only 9 percent, the lowest of any nationwide union election in American history. Both before and after the election, the monitor rejected Lehmans formal complaints of violations of democratic election requirements by the bureaucracy, often after long and unjustified delays.

When Lehman appealed the monitors rejection of his complaints to the Biden administrations Department of Labor, the department delayed a decision until the last possible moment before rejecting Lehmans concerns on concocted procedural grounds. Lehman responded by filing a lawsuit against the Department of Labor, arguing that its decisions were arbitrary and capricious. That lawsuit, which is still pending before Judge Lawson, was fully argued and briefed as of December 2023. Lawson has not issued any ruling, despite guidelines on the court website indicating that decisions are typically issued within six weeks after the case is submitted.

In a statement to the World Socialist Web Site, Lehman said:

The revelations about the ongoing corruption within the Fain administration are proof that the bureaucracy cannot be reformed, it must be abolished. We, the rank and file, cannot put our faith in any figure within the bureaucracy. The bureaucracy is not going to put power back in our hands, nor will the courts, and we have to take it ourselves. We confront poverty wages, mass firingsincluding at Stellantisand dangerous conditions at work. A strikebreaking judge has ordered University of California academic workers to halt their walkout to defend the free speech of protesting students, and on June 6 a 28-year-old UAW member named Daulton Simmers died when molten metal fell on him at Caterpillars foundry in Mapleton, Illinois. The same happened to workers like Steven Dierkes under Ray Curry; since Fains installation, things have only gotten worse.

As for the ongoing investigation, we demand the public release of all the documents mentioned by the monitor in its investigation. The monitor says the UAW is illegally prohibiting release of 115,000 documents potentially related to corruption, collaboration with management and the misuse of dues? We have a right to that information, and there is no reason to keep it from us! The same goes for the over 2,000 documents the monitor says it did receive. That information must be given to the rank and file. The whole court oversight and corporate monitorship of the UAW prove the process to be a total fraud. If there is going to be a change, we are going to have to make it ourselves.
The Postal Workers Rank-and-File Committee (PWRFC) held an online Zoom meeting on Sunday Oppose CWU-Labour Party collusion with Kretinskys Royal Mail takeover: Organise a rank-and-file fightback!

World Socialist Web Site reporter Tony Robson opened the meeting saying it was the first time postal workers in Britain had been brought together to oppose the take-over by Daniel Kretinskys EP Group since the board of International Distribution Services (IDS)parent company of Royal Mailaccepted an improved 3.5 billion offer.

While the buy-out has several stages to run after receiving initial clearance from the Conservative government, Robson said the past month had already laid down the battle lines.

Communication Workers Union (CWU) leaders Dave Ward and Martin Walsh are accommodating EP Groups bid through their engagement policy, while the Labour Party had signalled support for Kretinskys private equity firm taking sole ownership.

Daniel Kretinsky, Dave Ward, Royal Mail [Photo: Top left: EP Holding / Bottom left: WSWS / Right: CC BY 2.0]

Opposition among postal workers was demonstrated at last months CWU Live Q&A event on the take-over. The online chat saw postal workers rounding on Ward and the unions postal executive for their engineered sellout of the 2022-3 national dispute, making them a target for the biggest attack since privatisation in 2013.

Robson stated, Ward and the bureaucracys greatest fear is that opposition will assume the form of an organised rebellion to remove him from office, rejecting his insistence that there is no alternative to the dictates of the capitalist market. This is precisely the fight which must be undertaken, which the rank-and-file committee set out in our May 20 statement.

Ian, a delivery worker from Greater Manchester, commented on Wards token objection to the takeover on the grounds that Royal Mail should not be in the hands of an overseas equity owner, We need to remember that it is not a single individual trying to buy-out IDS. A number of financial vehicles have been set up to buy the company. The CWUs constant referral to one person and that persons nationality is disgusting. Its small-minded bigoted nationalism and its racist. We should be calling the CWU out on it. Postal workers are in a fight against capitalism.

The behind-the-scenes political conspiracy conducted by the CWU and Labour Party were reviewed. Labour shadow business secretary Jonathan Reynolds had met Kretinsky at the World Economic Forum in Davos and has approved the take-over based on worthless assurances to safeguard its British identity and safeguard its workforce.

The CWU has ditched its formal commitment to renationalisation. Ward and Walsh met with EP Group last Tuesday, describing the closed-door meeting as useful and constructive and boasting that next time they would be in the room with the billionaire oligarch.

The warnings made by the PWRFC about the agenda of EP Groups asset strippers had been confirmed over the past fortnight, with Kretinsky describing the USO (six-day mail service) as a death grip and defending future price hikes on first class stamps. He has outlined a major assault on front door delivery, with 20,000 Amazon-style drop boxes and lockers, geared to converting Royal Mail into a dedicated parcel network based on thousands of job losses.

As for the CWUs claim to be shaping the right agreement through a new ownership/business model giving all employees a stake in the future of the business Robson recalled this was the same mantra used during last years sellout.

Wards call for a joint stake in the business should spell W-A-R-N-I-N-G in flashing neon lights. The CWUs most recent partnership with Royal Mail was last Aprils Business Recovery, Transformation and Growth Agreement. It began with the words: Royal Mail and CWU will jointly rebuild and transform the business to protect and grow good quality jobs and make the company successful again.

That agreement was a bonfire of postal workers rights.

Jim, based at the Midlands Super Hub, told the meeting about staggering levels of casualisation at the companys flagship parcel sorting centre which opened last year. He estimated that for every postal worker directly employed there were five agency workers. This explodes the CWUs myth to have mitigated Royal Mails attacks and protected workers against a gig economy.

Robson explained, The CWU is blocking any fight and is trying to secure its status as corporate partners with EP Group and an incoming Labour government. Labour is backing the takeover and a Starmer government would be Tory rule under a different name.

Wards alternative business model is of a piece with leader Sir Keir Starmers Industrial Strategy Council between government, business and the trade unions that will be used to oversee increased productivity, police industrial struggles and suppress opposition to war.

Robson said Starmers Labour Party is committed to escalating the NATO war against Russia in Ukraine, warning its defence of the genocide in Gaza showed there was no line it would not cross. He warned: There will be no money for health, education and social services, only for the war machine, and this will encounter mass opposition.

Sir Keir Starmer, leader of the Labour Party, during a visit to Dover, Kent, where he set out Labours border security strategy. May 10, 2024 [Photo by Keir Starmer/Flickr / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Anne, from a large mail centre in west London, agreed: Starmers Labour and the CWU are both behind Kretinsky. The CWU are not working for the members. It looks as though they are taking money under the table and working for the bosses. There is no difference between Ward and Walsh. She described brutal work practices at Royal Mail: They are keeping workers in hell, there is real cruelty, what you are saying is right. They are using the PDAs (hand-held devices) and CCTV to spy on and intimidate workers.

The meeting discussed a proposed draft motion to organise workplace meetings in opposition to the shambolic gate meetings being arranged by CWU officials supposedly to update members on the take-over. The resolution (see below) was discussed by those in attendance and is being circulated at delivery offices and mail centres as part of a rank-and-file fightback.

George, a delivery worker from Glasgow, suggested that members could withhold their dues from the CWU in protest over its collusion with the company. Robson pointed out that Wards salary of 143,000 places him easily in the top 5 percent of income earners in the UK, with a direct stake in the exploitation of his own members. But the CWUs unaccountable apparatus had to be dismantled by a rank-and-file movement built up from below at every mail centre and delivery office, challenging the dictates of the corporate oligarchy.

Concluding the meeting, Robson encouraged postal workers to support the campaign of the Socialist Equality Party in the general election to prepare the necessary political fight by the working class against an incoming Labour government of austerity and war.

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Model resolution

This gate meeting demands the immediate resignation of the entire CWU Postal Executive over their collusion with Royal Mail-IDS and their announced policy of engagement and backroom talks with asset stripper Daniel Kretinskys 3.5 billion takeover bid.

We further call for a campaign of non-compliance with the Business Recovery Transformation & Growth agreement rammed through by the CWU on the basis of disinformation and lies, including bogus threats of administration.

None of the issues that led to 18 days of strike action have been resolved, they have only worsened. A toxic workplace environment, impossible workloads, management bullying and massive breaches of the USO have all been ratified by the CWU.

We call for a work-to-rule, with a complete ban on overtime. The workforce has been cut to the bone, with around 10,000 co-workers driven to quit. This has been used to entrench a two-tier workforce agreed by the CWU with new entrants hired on inferior terms and conditions and gig economy contracts leading to huge attrition rates.

An overtime ban is needed to oppose industrial-scale health and safety breaches and an unofficial policy of forced overtime that has lengthened the working day. CWU officials must not be allowed sanction the loss of paid meal break time to supposedly mitigate the later start and finishing times which have torn up any work-life balance. This race to the bottom must be halted!

We resolve to establish a rank-and-file committee to draw up our list of grievances. We encourage our brothers and sisters across Royal Mail at delivery offices, mail centres to do likewise and share their information to co-ordinate our response. Our rights and the defence of a mail service for the public must take priority over the profits of the corporate oligarchy.
On June 1, an explosion in a Western Sydney public housing complex claimed the life of a young woman, seriously injured another five people, and left numerous homes damaged or destroyed.

Neighbours of the Whalan townhouse complex spoke to World Socialist Web Site reporters last week about the dire conditions and poor maintenance of public housing, as well as their firsthand experience of the terrifying incident.

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Gail

Gail, who lives in a townhouse next door to the complex that was destroyed, told WSWS reporters:

Im still traumatised. I was sitting at the dining room table and all my light fittings just fell out. The glass sliding doors at the back just shattered. Theres little holes in the ceiling.

Next door to me, his ceiling nearly came down on his head, but hes all right.

In line with the comments of experts and other residents, Gail thought a gas leak was likely the cause of the explosion. She pointed to longstanding issues with getting maintenance done: We could smell gas for months and months. We called the gas company out, but they couldnt find anything.

She was concerned that, even after the explosion, housing authorities were showing a shocking level of disregard for the safety of residents. She said: The housing department said I can come back here. But theres no electricity or gasyou cant have a shower, you cant cook. Its just ridiculous.

They reckon theres not much damage in my place, but theres cracks all along the driveway which werent there before.

They said theyre going to fix my back doorI mean theres more than the back door in this place. As far as Im concerned, theyve got to pull them all down.

Shattered glass door in Gails home

Once they pull [the next-door building] down, which theyll have to, theyre going to see more damage. I reckon walls are going to fall out in my place.

Gails daughter, who also lives in public housing, said, The department of housing puts a band-aid on things.

Ive got a property out at Willmot [a nearby suburb]. My whole back wall is like a sponge and the moisture is coming through my bedroom. Ive got watermarks on my ceiling.

Major repairs have to be done, but theyve come out and put two little plates on the back wall. Whats that going to do?

Maintenance dont follow up on where the problems coming from. They just fix it and get out as quick as possible. My back fence is a rotting wooden fence. They just put a brace on one bit of wood and they nail another bit of wood on, but they wont replace it. A band-aid is all it ever is.

Gail agreed, saying, once you get to a certain age and they put you in these over-65 homes. They forget about you. They dont do anything. You call maintenance and they never come out. Nothing ever gets done.

Sandra and her husband live across a lane behind the devastated building. She said Its just been a shock. Its a disaster. Ive never heard anything like it. This gas leak has apparently been going for years and not fixed up.

They were watching TV when the explosion happened: My husband was in the lounge room. He was actually facing the explosion, I think thats why his hearings gone.

You cant explain what it was like. At first I thought [the neighbours] tree had fallen down and [my husband] said, that wasnt a tree. We looked across and couldnt believe our eyes.

Were living in there. Were hoping that theyll board up the windows at least, because it was a bit cold last night. The windows were all blown out. Were just lucky we had those fly-screens on, they really saved us.

Were waiting for the housing department. Weve owned this house for 50 years, its not public housing, and were insured, but [the housing department] havent done an assessment, so we cant do anything yet.

Pointing to the ceiling under the eaves of the house, she said, all this has got to come down. Its all asbestos. Its very scary.

They fixed the tiles in the roof last night. They got up at five oclock in the night, because we complained and complained, and we said if it rains tonight, the ceilings will all come down.
Sundays European elections saw a surge in the vote for far-right and neo-fascist parties. The European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) coalition, led by the Brothers of Italy (FdI), the Identity and Democracy (ID) coalition of Frances National Rally and the Alternative for Germany won 146 seats altogether. This is over one-fifth of the EU Parliaments 720 seats and a 28-seat increase from the previous record vote for the far right in the 2019 European elections.

French far-right leader Marine Le Pen speaks as Jordan Bardella, president of the French far-right National Rally, listens at the party election night headquarters. [AP Photo/Lewis Joly]

The result is a humiliating disavowal by voters of the current social-democratic and liberal parties that dominate the European Union (EU) and the EU Parliament.

These parties campaigned as defenders of the decades-long EU austerity diktat, supporters of Israels genocide in Gaza and promoters of a massive escalation of the US-NATO war with Russia in Ukraine. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz recently announced plans to bomb Russia with NATO missiles, and French President Emmanuel Macron has moved to send troops to Ukraine to fight Russia.

Scholzs Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) fell to 13.9 percent of the vote. This is its worst election result in 137 years, when the young SPDs activities were largely banned under Bismarcks Anti-Socialist Laws. Their Green coalition partners lost 8.6 percentage points, falling to 11.9 percent. Together with the 5.2 percent of the Free Democratic Party, the German government parties won only 31 percent of the vote. The far-right AfD took 15.9 percent of the vote and 15 seats, coming second behind only the right-wing Christian-Democrats (30 percent).

In France, with 31.4 percent of the vote, Marine Le Pens neo-fascist RN trounced Macrons party, which collapsed to 14.6 percent of the vote, as well as the Socialist Party (PS, 13.9 percent) and Jean-Luc Melenchons France Unbowed (LFI, 9.9 percent).

Macron reacted Sunday night by suddenly dissolving parliament and calling snap legislative elections for June 30July 7. The RN is set to make large gains and possibly form Frances first-ever neo-fascist government.

What political dynamic has underlain the rapid growth of the far-right parties? It is not the emergence of mass, middle-class fascist movements like the Nazi Brown Shirts, the Italian fascist Black Shirts, or the French Nazi-collaborationist Milice units. Europes far-right wave is not the product of mass fascist sentiment in the working class or in the broader population.

In fact, military aggression and genocide, the policies championed by European fascism, face mass opposition. Polls have found 68 percent in France, 80 percent in Germany and 90 percent in Poland oppose Macrons call to send troops to Ukraine to fight Russia. And popular opposition to the Gaza genocide, which has triggered protests across Europe, is so deep that even EU governments that arm Israel feel compelled to issue a few hypocritical and insincere criticisms of the ongoing mass murder.

The rise of the far right is the product rather of the systematic disenfranchisement of the workers by nationalist, bureaucratic organizations that the media and the ruling class promote as the left. Unlike the far rightwhich tries to exploit mass discontent with the existing political system, denouncing it as a conspiracy against the nation and expressing reservations about unrestrained war with Russiathese parties of the affluent middle class exude complacency and self-satisfaction.

Even in the face of war between nuclear-armed powers, genocide and the surge of police state and fascistic forms of rule, these organizations insist that popular opposition must be tied to debilitating alliances with parties of capitalist government and allied union bureaucracies. Whatever criticisms they make of the far right, they are far more hostile to Trotskyism and to building a revolutionary movement in the European working class for socialism.

Yesterday, David North, the chairman of the International Editorial Board of the World Socialist Web Site (WSWS), replied to the complaints of Yanis Varoufakis, the former finance minister of Greeces SYRIZA (Coalition of the Radical Left) government, on his personal defeat.

Would it not be appropriate for [Varoufakis] to examine his political responsibility, and that of the pseudo-left tendencies, for the resurgence of the fascistic right? The betrayals of Syriza, Podemos, Corbynism, et al. have provided an opportunity for the extreme right.

Their treachery is epitomized by SYRIZA, which came to power in 2015, pledging to stop EU austerity policies, only to flagrantly betray its promises. Forming a government alliance with the far-right Independent Greeks (ANEL) party, it adopted a further EU austerity package slashing living standards and built EU prison camps for refugees. After leaving power in disgrace in 2019, SYRIZA is now led, fittingly enough, by former Goldman Sachs banker Stefanos Kasselakis.

Such treachery and fecklessness, repeated in various guises in every country, is opening a path for the far right. For a long time, the German Left Party served the SPD-led government as a left-wing fig leaf. It expressed verbal criticism but supported the war and attacks on the working class. Now, with 2.7 percent, it has achieved its worst result in a European election. Even in the province of Thuringia, where it still has Bodo Ramelow as prime minister, it only achieved 5.7 percent.

From the Left Party there emerged the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW), which combines limited criticisms of the war in Ukraine with xenophobia and social demagoguery and explicitly rejects socialism. It received 6.2 percent of the vote nationwide and as much as 13.9 percent in the former territory of the Stalinist East German regime.

In France, Melenchons LFI lost half its vote in the 2022 presidential elections, when it had 20 percent and a majority in working class districts of almost all Frances largest cities. It consistently rejected making any appeal to mobilize its electorate in strikes and struggles, even during last years mass strikes against Macrons pension cuts, when two-thirds of French people supported blocking the economy with a general strike against Macron. It insisted that protests against the Gaza genocide had to be based on a perspective of supporting LFI members maneuvers in parliament.

LFI works entirely within the ever more authoritarian framework of Frances police state. Melenchon pledged during the 2022 elections to serve as prime minister under either Macron or a neo-fascist president. In these elections, LFI allied with the Stalinist French Communist Party and with pro-Ukraine war PS candidate Raphael Glucksmann, issuing only verbal complaints even as the Macron government threatened to prosecute its members for statements of solidarity with Gaza.

Critical conclusions must be drawn from this continuing surge of the far right in European politics. In the absence of a Marxist-internationalist revolutionary leadership in the working class, the neo-fascists grow uninterruptedlyeven amid mass strikes and protests.

The far right enjoys support from powerful sections of the capitalist media and ruling class because it gives the sharpest and clearest expression to the needs of imperialism in a period of war, genocide and capitalist crisis.

Their promotion of nationalism and police-state rule divides workers along national lines, legitimizes militarism, and promotes violent hostility to socialism. As the French RNs shift on the Russia warnotably its decision not to vote against military aid to Ukrainemakes clear, the neo-fascists do not oppose imperialist war, but are preparing to adjust themselves to the military escalation being prepared by NATO.

Stopping the rise of the far right requires undertaking the struggle to build Marxist-Trotskyist revolutionary parties in countries across Europe, the International Committee of the Fourth International, fighting to unify the working class in a movement against imperialist war and genocide, and for socialism and workers power.

The German section of the ICFI took part in the European elections with its own list to fight for this perspective. In its election appeal , the Socialist Equality Party (SGP) wrote:

It is not possible to prevent a third world war and defend democratic rights and social achievements by appealing to governments. The interests of the vast majority can simply no longer be reconciled with the greed for profits and the imperialist appetites of the ruling class. To end war and inequality, the masses must intervene independently in the political process, break the power of the banks and corporations, and place them under democratic control.

The SGPs campaign was of great importance in preparing the working class and youth for the inevitable class struggles to come. It has familiarised hundreds of thousands with its socialist programme through rallies, leaflets, WSWS articles and videos on social media. Now it is crucial to actively build the party, and sections of the ICFI across Europe and internationally: this is the only way to successfully lead the struggle against war, exploitation and fascism.
Details have begun to emerge of Israels massacre at the Nuseirat refugee camp in Gaza Saturday, in which 274 people were killed and hundreds more were injured.

Palestinians help a wounded man after Israeli strikes in Nuseirat refugee camp, Gaza Strip, Saturday, June 8, 2024 [AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi]

The Washington Post confirmed Sunday that Israeli forces used civilian vehicles in the military operation and that the operation was staged near the humanitarian port built by the US military. Gazas Government Media Office reported that Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers pretended to be refugees before opening fire on the camp.

The massacre was carried out under the pretext of a hostage rescue, although nearly as many hostages (three) were killed during the massacre as were rescued (four).

According to US media accounts, the massacre, which killed or injured nearly 1,000 and destroyed nearly 100 buildings, aimed to simply destroy everything in the path of the Israeli commando team. The air force started shooting to give them a corridor, a wall of fire, retired IDF Maj. Gen. David Tsur told the Washington Post.

The IDF boasts of close US collaboration in the massacre. It reported that the US hostage cell played a decisive role in freeing the hostages and that it used high-precision American technology that had not been used before in the process of freeing the hostages.

The Pentagon denied direct US military participation in the attack. The pier facility, including its equipment, personnel and assets, were not used in the [Israeli militarys] operation to rescue hostages in Gaza, said Pentagon spokesman Pat Ryder.

He admitted, however, there was some type of helicopter activity by the IDF near the pier, but claimed this was not associated with the US military.

The Euro-Med Monitor reported that massive, indiscriminate air and artillery attacks were launched by the Israeli army during the operation in order to conceal the withdrawal of Israeli forces.

The massacre sent a flood of wounded people into Gazas overloaded hospital system. We placed the injured along the internal corridors and in between beds. There is no room at all inside this hospital. We had them sleep in external tents, Dr. Khalil al-Dakran of Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital told Al Jazeera, noting that there are four times more wounded people at the hospital than beds.

Its a nightmare at Al-Aqsa, said Samuel Johann, a Doctors Without Borders coordinator in Gaza. 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. How many more men, women and children have to be killed before world leaders decide to put an end to this massacre?

Israel committed a massacre in Nuseirat, said Khalil al-Degran, spokesman for Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital on Saturday. In this terrible state  the hospital cannot absorb the number of dead and injured. The hospital has been at full capacity for weeks.

Karin Huster of Doctors Without Borders told the Associated Press in an interview, 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 Kids completely gray or white from the shock, burnt, screaming for their parents. Many of them are not screaming because they are in shock.

Some 274 Palestinians were killed during the massacre and another 700 were wounded. The dead included 64 children and 57 women. The streets are filled with dead bodies, one witness told the Associated Press. Eighty-nine homes or residential buildings had been bombed during the massacre.

In an interview given to The Intercept, witness Abu Nasser declared, The area turned to ashes I couldnt find my wife and started calling out to those around me to ensure they were still alive.

Paraphrasing Nasser, The Intercept wrote, The streets were filled by a swarm of quadcopter drones equipped with small arms. Tank tracks could be heard nearby. U.S.-made Apache attack helicopters hovered. Nearby homes were hit with missiles.

Nasser continued, We heard people crying for help in the bombed houses They had martyrs and injuries, but we couldnt help them The street was filled with civilian body parts  and many injuries bleeding out without ambulances being able to reach them.

Martin Griffiths, UN under-secretary-general for Humanitarian Affairs, declared that the Nuseirat camp is the epicenter of the seismic trauma that civilians in Gaza continue to suffer. He added, The images of death and devastation following Israels military operation there prove that each day this war continues, it only grows more horrific. Seeing shrouded bodies on the ground, we are reminded that nowhere is safe in Gaza. Seeing bloodied patients being treated on hospital floors, we are reminded that healthcare in Gaza is hanging by a thread.

Since the start of the genocide, at least 37,124 Palestinians have been killed and 84,712 injured in Gaza, with countless more missing and presumed dead.

In a statement Sunday, Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) called for an independent international inquiry into Israeli massacres at Palestinian hospitals, where hundreds of mass graves have been discovered.

Israel has attacked nearly every hospital in Gaza. Hundreds of health workers and patients have been killed and detained. The discovery of mass graves in two hospitals further demonstrates that the protected status of healthcare in Gaza under international law has totally failed, with harrowing results, said MAPs director of advocacy Rohan Talbot.

The families of the dead deserve to know the truth of what happened to their loved ones, and to have justice wherever serious violations of international law have occurred. This can only be achieved through thorough, prompt and impartial investigations, he said. The international community must therefore demand access to Gaza for independent investigators and forensic experts, so that evidence can be preserved and accountability pursued, Talbot added.

Non-stop Israeli bombardment across the devastated Palestinian territory has continued in the aftermath of the raid. Israeli bombardment from the air, land, and sea continues to be reported across much of the Gaza Strip, resulting in further civilian casualties, displacement, and destruction of houses and other civilian infrastructure, the United Nations reported Monday.
The 12-person jury in the trial of Hunter Biden began deliberations on Monday afternoon, the sixth day of the proceedings against the son of US President Joe Biden in federal court in Wilmington, Delaware.

Department of Justice prosecutor Leo Wise gave a one-hour summary followed by a 90-minute closing argument by Bidens attorney Abbe Lowell, before Delaware District Court Judge Maryellen Noreika delivered instructions to the jury.

The younger Biden has been charged with three offenses in connection with his purchase and possession of a .38 caliber Colt Cobra revolver while he was allegedly a drug addict in 2018. He has pleaded not guilty to all counts.

Prosecutors charge that Biden lied on his gun application and lied to a federally licensed gun dealer on October 12, 2018, by stating he was not a drug user or addict at the time.

The present trial is one of two cases against Hunter Biden that began with an investigation launched five years ago by David Weiss, the US attorney for Delaware appointed by then-President Donald Trump. In the second case in Los Angeles federal court, Hunter Biden faces charges for nine tax offenses.

In August 2023, Weiss was appointed as a special counsel in the Hunter Biden investigations by Attorney General Merrick Garland. The appointment of Weiss was made after a plea agreement on the gun and tax charges was blocked by Judge Noreika, the judge overseeing the present trial.

If convicted on the gun charges, the presidents son could face a maximum of 25 years in prison and fines of up to $750,000. Legal experts say, however, as a first-time offender who was in possession of the gun for less than two weeks and never used it, it is unlikely Hunter Biden will receive anything close to the maximum sentence.

President Joe Bidens son Hunter Biden leaves after a court appearance, Wednesday, July 26, 2023, in Wilmington, Delaware. [AP Photo/Julio Cortez]

While the charges against him are quite serious, the trial of the younger Biden, along with the media attention it is receiving, is part of ongoing internecine conflict and political warfare within the US ruling class. Coming quickly on the heels of the conviction of Donald Trump on 34 felony counts over hush-money payments to a porn star, the trial of Hunter Biden is generating a similar stream of prurient details about prostitutes, drug dealers and crack pipes.

As in the Trump hush-money trial and conviction, the prosecution of Hunter Biden for illegally completing a firearm application has the effect of degrading public consciousness and avoids the real crimes committed by both political parties.

Far more media attention has been devoted to Hunter Bidens false affidavit than to indicting the massive war crimes committed by his father in arming and sanctioning Israeli genocide in Gaza, in which tens of thousands have died.

Judge Noreika, appointed by Donald Trump in 2018, scuttled the plea dealwhich would have resulted in a misdemeanor conviction on two tax offenses and a pretrial diversion agreement on the gun offenses. Now the case is being used to undermine President Bidens campaign for reelection.

The trial is the outcome of a years-long and so far unsuccessful campaign by Republicans to connect the corrupt business practices and substance abuse by Hunter Bidenwho has publicly acknowledged his addictionsto his father.

Hunter Biden was trading on his fathers role as vice president when he obtained a well-paid post at Burisma in 2014, while Joe Biden was in charge of Ukraine policy for the Obama administration. In both Ukraine and in subsequent dealings in China in 2016, he had no apparent qualifications for business relationships other than his fathers position in government. But these issues have been pushed into the background by the present trial.

Meanwhile, Republicans face considerable political contradictions in the case. As pointed out by the New York Times on June 5, the trial of Hunter Biden on gun charges undermines their views on gun rights and on a weaponized Justice Department.

In a tacit acknowledgment of the political motivations behind the prosecution, Judge Noreika blocked efforts by the defense to refer to the reasons for the multiple and excessive charges against Biden being presented to the jury.

In his closing argument, Prosecutor Wise sought to present the case as open-and-shut against Biden, saying, The defendant knew what he was doing, when he answered no on the gun form. Wise bolstered this presentation with references to Bidens repeated entry into rehab before and after the gun purchase and this was proof that he knew he was addicted to crack cocaine at the time.

To prove their case against Biden, the prosecution must convince the jury that Biden was both an addict when he purchased the revolver and that he deliberately lied during the process.

The prosecution has relied on the testimony of witnesses to make their case. Among the witnesses have been Bidens ex-wife Kathleen Buhle, a girlfriend, Zoe Kestan, and Hallie Biden, the widow of his brother Beau Biden, all of whom confirmed his addiction to crack cocaine as far back as 2015.

While Hallie Biden discovered the gun in Bidens car and disposed of it in a grocery store parking lot garbage can, she said on cross-examination that she did not witness him smoking crack at any time in October 2018 when he purchased the weapon.

Other witnesses included former Delaware State Police lieutenant Millard Greer, who tracked down the gun and ultimately retrieved it from Edward Banner, who was known to rummage through trash looking for recyclables. Banner also testified that he found the gun in the garbage can and stored it at home on a top shelf.

Another witness was Gordon Cleveland, the clerk at StarQuest Shooters & Survival Supply in Wilmington who sold the gun to Biden for $900. When Cleveland asked if he was an unlawful user of or addicted to marijuana, stimulants, narcotics or any other controlled substance, Biden said, No.

In his closing argument, defense lawyer Lowell attacked the credibility of the governments witnesses. He said the prosecutors were determined to punish Hunter Biden, who he referred to as a remorseful and sober man, for the crime of being a drug addict.

Hunter Biden did not take the witness stand in his own defense.

In an interview in Normandy with ABC News David Muir on Thursday, President Biden said he would accept the jury verdict in his sons trial and he will not use presidential powers to pardon Hunter Biden if he is convicted.

The jury will continue deliberations on Tuesday.
On Sunday night, United Auto Workers Local 4811 called off the strike by tens of thousands of University of California academic workers in an abject surrender to the strikebreaking order issued by an Orange County Superior Court judge last week.

Graduate student workers on strike at UCLA in Los Angeles, California, May 28, 2024.

The strike started on May 20, when rank-and-file graduate students, teaching assistants and other academic workers demanded action after Zionist thugs attacked protesting students at UCLA and police destroyed an encampment set up to protest the US-backed Israeli genocide in Gaza.

None of the issues academic workers struck over have been resolved. As this is being written, platoons of police officers have been been deployed to the UCLA campus to violently disperse anti-genocide protesters.

Although the UAW apparatus tried to limit the strike to one or two campuses, threats by rank-and-file workers to carry out wildcat strikes forced the UAW to expand the strike to six out of the universitys 10 campuses last week, involving 30,000 of the UC systems 48,000 unionized academic workers.

Fearing that the UAW was losing control, Judge Randall Sherman issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) to halt the strike at the nations largest public university system until a June 27 hearing. Since the UAW already agreed to end the strike by June 30, the TRO effectively ends the strike.

In a letter sent to UC workers late Sunday night, UAW Local 4811 President Rafael Jaime ordered: All striking academic workers should return to work Monday morning, in compliance with the court order.

The UAW bureaucracy is acting as the enforcer of the judges totally illegitimate compulsory labor order. The Republican-appointed judges claim that the strike has done irreparable harm to UC students is a fraud. Far more harm has been done by the UC administrations suspension of the First Amendment and its decision to allow police to beat up and arrest students.

In an effort to cover over the UAW bureaucracys unilateral decision to capitulate, the Local 4811 presidents letter tries to blame workers themselves. Unions have sometimes chosen to defy court orders, and over the weekend members on every campus have held department and campus-wide meetings to discuss how our union should respond. Based on these conversations, the Joint Council, made up of elected rank-and-file members from every unit and campus, met this evening to chart our path forward and voted to comply with the court order.

There was not the slightest democratic character to these proceedings. Academic workers who spoke with the WSWS said the local meetings were poorly attended, and union officials made it clear that anyone defying the court order would not have any union protection against victimization. The fight, they claimed, would be continued, through impotent appeals to the Democratic Party-controlled Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) to find UC guilty of labor violations for ordering the police crackdowns.

The union local is circulating an open letter to the university to convey that we will continue to organize and fight against UCs unlawful behavior, up to and including another strike if necessaryonce our right to strike over serious unfair labor practices is affirmed by PERB and the courts.

The truth is that the UAW apparatus, which has endorsed Bidens reelection, welcomed the courts intervention.

As one UC San Diego worker told the WSWS:

The union told us to go back to work starting Monday. Basically, this means the union wants us to proctor final exams this week (since this week is finals week) and grade them as usual. I dont think there are any plans to go back on strike. Personally, I think the union is using the TRO as a convenient way to duck out of a political struggle they never wanted to support anyways.

The intimate connections between the UAW bureaucracy and the Biden administration were further revealed last week when Bloomberg reported that US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan pressed the German government to investigate allegations of union suppression at a Mercedes Benz plant in Alabama at the direct request of the United Auto Workers president.

According to the report, Sullivan asked German officials in a call preceding last months union vote at the Vance plant to examine complaints filed by the UAW under a law aimed at preventing German companies from violating labor standards abroad, the two sources said.

They said he did so at the personal urging of UAW President Shawn Fain in the run up to the crucial election, which the union lost. ... The request shows how close the White House and the UAW have become as the 2024 election nears, Bloomberg noted.

The UAW apparatus has emerged as a critical instrument of Bidens blood-soaked administration, which is relying on the discredited labor bureaucracy to hold back opposition to US imperialisms wars for global domination, which stretch from the Middle East to the US-NATO proxy war in Ukraine and in the Pacific against China.

The decision by UC workers to strike over explicitly political demands to protect their students and oppose the US-backed slaughter of the Palestinians was an initial signal of the entry of the working class as the central social and political force to stop war and dictatorship.

But the struggle immediately confronted the sabotage of the UAW apparatus and the repression of the capitalist courts and police. This raises the need to break the grip of the pro-war and pro-capitalist union bureaucracies through the building of rank-and-file committees to link up academic workers with workers in the auto, aerospace, weapons and other industries.

It will be the workers and their children who die in the wars; it will be public education, Social Security and other vital programs that will be gutted to pay for these wars; and it will be the democratic rights of the working class that are destroyed to suppress all forms of opposition to these wars. The fight against capitalist exploitation must be combined with the fight against imperialism through the building of a mass anti-war movement based on the working class and the fight for international socialism.

Lazarus, an academic worker, told WSWS reporters:

No matter how many students are protesting, no matter how many workers are protesting, it continues. Thats why I think the connection to the workers, the worker strikes, that is needed. It needs to expand. It needs to escalate, because thats the only way we can possibly be heard. The only thing they look at is money and production.

A UC Irvine grad student worker majoring in biology added:

The grad students strike was bringing up the genocide against the Palestinians and free speech. Theyre taking away somebodys freedom of speech. I completely support all the protests and everything thats been going on, especially those who have lost family and its deeply near home. Its not right.
The following resolution was passed at a meeting of the Postal Workers Rank-and-File Committee on May 23. Since the meeting, several Australia Post workers have sent in statements of support for Bogdan Syrotiuk, which are also published below.

Australia Post worker delivers mail in Sydney

Resolution of the Postal Workers Rank-and-File Committee

The Postal Workers Rank-and-File Committee calls on Australia Post workers to join the global fight for the freedom of Ukrainian socialist and anti-war activist Bogdan Syrotiuk. We demand his immediate release from prison, and that the fraudulent charges under which he is held be dropped.

Bogdan is a political prisoner of the fascistic Zelensky regime, and faces the possibility of a life sentence. He was arrested on April 25 by the SBU, Ukraines Gestapo-like state security service, and falsely accused of high treason and serving the interests of Russia.

This is a complete lie. Bogdan is an intransigent opponent of the reactionary Putin regime and its invasion of Ukraine.

The 25-year-old is leader of the Young Guard of Bolshevik-Leninists, a Trotskyist organisation active in Ukraine, Russia and throughout the former Soviet Union. As such, he fights for the perspective of socialist internationalism, seeking to unite workers in Ukraine, Russia, and globally against the ruling capitalist elites of all countries. This is the only means of ending the bloodbath that has already claimed hundreds of thousands of lives in Russia and Ukraine.

The politically motivated frame-up of Bogdan stands as an unequivocal refutation of the claims of global imperialism, echoed by the corporate media and many among the so-called left, that the US/NATO war against Russia is about defending democracy and human rights in Ukraine.

His arrest is the latest example of the Zelensky regimes brutal repression of left-wing movements, whose opposition to the war is finding a growing response within the Ukrainian working class.

Such repression is not unique to Ukraine, but part of the growing international assault on democratic rights, as imperialism escalates its military operations throughout the world in an accelerating drive towards a third world war.

In Australia, this has been spearheaded by the Albanese Labor government, which is totally committed to the war plans of US imperialism, and is preparing the country to play a leading role in a war against China.

The attack on democratic rights can be seen in the crackdown on student protests, in the US, Australia and internationally, against Israels genocide in Gaza. The police-state methods used today against students will be used tomorrow against every form of protest and strike action by the working class.

This means that the fight to free Bogdan is a matter of burning importance for every single worker.

We urge Australia Post workers to sign the online petition, post a statement of support for Bogdan Syrotiuk and bring this campaign to the attention of your co-workers.

****

A postal worker wrote:

I am writing to protest and demand the release of 25-year-old Bogdan Syrotiuk who leads the Trotskyist Young Guard of Bolshevik-Leninists in the Ukraine. His arrest by the fascistic Zelensky regime is a direct attack on the conscious efforts of Bogdan to unite the Ukrainian and Russian working class in socialist opposition to their reactionary rulers. The trumped-up charges against Bogdan for treason are directed both at him and the World Socialist Web Site for the crime of politically exposing the ruling-class interests motivating Zelensky and Putin and urging for the unity of the working class against such an agenda. Opposition to imperialist war is being criminalised, as is voicing the call, Workers of the world unite! Opposition to the one percenters demand that working-class youth be sacrificed to the national interest is being criminalised. The jailing of Bogdan is an attempt to handcuff and silence working class opposition around the world. It is no accident that the official government charge against Bogdan refers to the WSWS, which represents the only conscious movement of the international working class. Bogdan and the WSWS do not represent the foreign interests of Russia or Putin as the Zelensky regime claims. Rather they represent the interests of the revolutionary working class. Comradeship not nationalism. Peace not imperialist war. These are aims foreign to the one percenters but inherent in the international working class.

David wrote:

I urge all postal workers around the world to demand the immediate release of Ukrainian socialist Bogdan Syrotiuk from prison.



The charges by the Ukrainian secret police (SBU) that Bogdan is an agent of Putin are a lie. As a leader of the Young Guard of Bolshevik-Leninists (YGBL), Bogdans political opposition to the war is based on the fight to unite the working class in Russia and Ukraine in a common struggle against the US-NATO-backed fascistic government of Ukraine and the nationalist oligarchy that rules Russia. The war in Ukraine and genocide in Gaza by the Zionist regime of Netanyahu, fully backed by the US and all the major imperialist powers, represent the start of a third world war that threatens to escalate into a nuclear catastrophe. Here in Australia, the Albanese Labor government has lined up behind the US-NATO war in Ukraine against Russia and is backing US preparations for war against China in this region. From the very start of the Gaza massacre, Albanese and Labor have supported Israels right to defend itself, and Albanese has publicly denounced student encampments opposing the genocide, slandering them as antisemitic. The attacks on student protesters and the arrest of comrade Bogdan for opposing war and genocide are part of a massive assault on the democratic rights of workers and youth everywhere. The working class is going to be made to pay for these wars through the destruction of its living standards and their children will be forced to fight in them. For the ruling class, this means all opposition to the war drive must be suppressed. For their part the unions have done nothing to fight against the genocide or Labors war preparations against China in this region. Not a single strike has been called to stop weapons shipments to Israel! Workers and youth must take up the fight for international socialism as the only way to stop capitalisms descent towards fascism and World War Three. Bogdan was imprisoned by the Ukrainian government because he is part of the international Trotskyist movement that fights for this revolutionary perspective. The working class must demand his immediate freedom.

Juan wrote:

I support the fight for the release of Bogdan Syrotiuk. The charges against him are a complete fraud, because Bogdan has made clear his opposition to both the Putin governments invasion of Ukraine and the US-NATO-backed fascistic regime of Zelensky. Bogdan has taken a courageous stand, fighting to unite Russian and Ukrainian workers and youth against war. His arrest shows the real state of democratic rights in Ukraine. Zelensky has cancelled elections, fearing growing opposition to the war. Anti-worker laws have been enacted that allow employers to sack workers at will. Workers are prohibited from undertaking any strike action and face brutal punishment if they do. More and more anti-democratic measures are being used against workers all over the world, as the drive to world war ramps up. Here in Australia, protests against the Gaza genocide have been denounced and shut down by governments and police. This is on top of the fact that workers already have no right to strike except over wages and conditions, and only during enterprise bargaining periods, with the approval of the industrial courts. War abroad means vicious attacks on the democratic rights and social conditions of the working class at home. In Australia, the Labor government, aided by the unions, is seeking to make workers pay for its war drive and has overseen a massive decline in wages and living standards. This includes the demand for increased productivity, that is, profits, through endless restructuring operations at companies like Australia Post, where thousands of posties have been driven out over recent years. To defend their jobs and living conditions, and to oppose war, workers need to fight for socialism, based on the international unity of the working class. This is the perspective fought for by Bogdan Syrotiuk. I call on my class brothers and sisters at Australia Post and beyond to sign the petition to demand Bogdans release and to actively fight throughout the working class for his freedom.
Poe on spending on anti-POGO operations

The scale and breadth of illegal POGO operations in the country have become appalling and costly for Filipinos.

The recently discovered POGO hub in Porac, Pampanga was too expansive that authorities estimate they will need more than a week to inspect the entire facility.

For every operation against a POGO, the government spends millions for the personnel needed, food and shelter of the rescued, deportation of undesirables, filing of court cases, and other related expenses.

We reiterate our call for a resolute policy banning POGOs. This will not only bring a permanent halt to their illegal activities, but will also plug the utilization of government resources, which could have otherwise been spent on useful social services for our people.

We have seen enough: POGOs have done us more harm than good.
Some of the areas most talented chefs from the LGBTQ+ community will come together to cook for a special Pride Month dinner at Amilinda, 315 E. Wisconsin Ave.

The five-course dinner event, called Out! To Dinner, will take place at 6:30 p.m. June 18. Dominique Leah of Chicagos Lexington Betty Smokehouse will present the first course, the second course will be by Vanessa Rose of Ardent and Mother's/House of Bridges, the third course will be by Dana Spandet of Flour Girl & Flame, the fourth course will be by Gregory Leon of Amilinda, and Nick Hoover of Carbon Steak will present the fifth course.

Amilinda recently served a special Pride brunch, and chef-owner Leon said that after the success of hosting dinners featuring rising-star chefs and all women chefs, he wanted to give a platform to fellow LGBTQ+ people.

Its Pride Month, and I wanted to highlight our community, said Leon. In the nine years weve been in business, weve never done a dinner like this. Visibility is really important right now with the election and with the hatred toward members of the community. This is a chance for us to stand up and say, Hey, were here. Don't be afraid.

Tickets for the Out! For Dinner event are $100 with an optional beverage pairing available for $30. They can be purchased online at exploretock.com/amilinda. Proceeds from the dinner will benefit the Queer Food Foundation, a national organization that promotes, protects and funds queer food spaces.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Out! For Dinner at Amilinda will showcase talents of LGBTQ+ chefs
EXCLUSIVE: Farah Pahlavi, Empress of Iran, is ready to tell her story in a big way.

Under a newly announced collaboration with Women of the Movement producers Serendipity Group and John Powers Middleton, who Her Majesty has authorized her life rights to, a documentary and a scripted project are currently in the works. The doc project recently began shooting in Washington, D.C., with production expected to continue throughout the year. The scripted project is being developed simultaneously.

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Im interested in [Serendipty] wanting to tell my story through a documentary and a scripted project, but I want them to go beyond that. I want to show what Iran is and who the Iranian people are. I want them to talk about my country, especially its history and culture which is very important to me, says Pahlavi, who was married to the late Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi for 20 years before he died in exile in Egypt in 1980.

She continued, Many young people and people from the United States dont know about our country and what they do know is mostly negative, especially with everything thats going on there now. I hope these projects will spark an interest in our country and our civilization by people all over the world.

HIM Farah Pahlavi

On behalf of Serendipity, the projects will be produced by co-founders Rosanna Grace and Nicole Tabs as well as John Powers Middleton for Middleton Media (Women of the Movement, Manchester by the Sea), David Clark for Mazo Partners (Women of the Movement) and Ivan Herrera (Bantu Mama).

The untitled projects will explore the life of the last Empress of Iran, Shahbanou Farah Pahlavi. It will focus on showing the resilience of a woman who, despite an exile lasting more than 45 years, and mourning the loss of her husband and two children, remains deeply devoted to her duty as a sovereign and attached to her homeland. She never remarried or gave up her Iranian identity. Her marriage to the Shah goes far beyond a union between a man and a woman, or between a subject and her sovereign; it is a union of a citizen with her homeland. Until death tore them apart.

Grace reached out to Her Majesty and her private secretary Kambiz Atabai following the death of Mahsa Amini, whose death in 2022 while in custody of Irans Gasht-e Ershad morality police (she was arrested for not wearing a hijab) sparked a wave of anti-Islamic Republic protests. Serendipity had just come off its latest project, the 2022 ABC miniseries Women of the Movement, which highlighted Mamie Till, the devoted mother of Emmett Till.

The common thread between Amini and Pahlavi: women standing up and fighting for what they believe in. Grace says she was interested in Her Majestys story because of her strength and unwavering devotion to womens rights. Under the Pahlavi dynasty (1925-1979), women had more freedom, including the right to vote. Rulers both before and after have extensively restricted womens rights.

Learning about Serendipitys focus on telling historically accurate stories, Pahlavi agreed to the collaboration. Middleton boarded the project at a later time.

It is a great honor and privilege for us to share this very important and profound story. We believe it is the perfect time to tell the tale of Her Majesty Farah Pahlavi, not just as a Queen, but as a woman, mother and wife. We are excited to present this narrative to audiences around the world, reads a joint statement from producers.

Although she has no preference as to who shed like to see play her in the scripted project, Pahlavi is looking forward to sharing stories about the late Shah and showing a side of him most did not know.

I want people to see what sort of a human being he was. He loved his country, his people. From what we were during his period, how much Iran developed in every way; for women and young people and villages in what we call the White Revolution. There was also so much negative publicity. I dont say that everything we did was perfect but his late Majesty really cared and brought Iran into that position. But now of course, since things have happened, we always say, If we had done this differently, but as my friend says, You cant put Paris in a bottle of water. 

She added, With all that has happened to his late Majesty and our country, he never said a bad thing against his people or his compatriots.

HIM Farah Pahlavi visits the late Shahs tomb in Egypt

The documentary and series are the only authorized works about Pahlavis life that can be told from her point of view. A previously announced project from Random Access Media, titled The Last Shah, is said to be taking a look at Irans last royal family and is inspired by Netflixs The Crown. But it has no connection to Pahlavi.

According to Variety, which first reported on The Last Shah in May, the project tells the heroic and ultimately tragic story of a wife, mother and queen trying to save her husband, the Shah of Iran, her family, her dynasty and her homeland. Told from the point of view of Empress Farah Pahlavi, its an epic struggle for the survival of Irans monarchy at the crossroads of the modern world.

When asked about The Last Shah, Pahlavi was unaware of it. I havent heard that they are doing a show about his late Majesty, she said.

On the same day of that announcement, a helicopter crash killed Irans President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Amir-Abdollahian, among other top officials. No official cause has been released, but theories mainly surround the effects of bad weather and the age of the Bell 212, as well as the possibility of foul play.

When I heard the news, my first thought was that maybe they have done it themselves because they do so many things themselves, Pahlavi says. But later on, many Iranians, young Iranians, said that this person was someone who ordered many executions and hanging of dissidents. He was really a very terrible, rude person in the history of our country.

Pahlavi, who in her heyday was compared to Jacqueline Kennedy thanks to their fashion sense, made her debut as the Shahbanou of Iran on her wedding day in December 1959 wearing a gown designed by Yves Saint Laurent during his time at Dior Maison, with accessories (crown, necklace and earrings) created by Van Cleef and Arpels.

When the Shah and Shahbanou were forced to flee Iran before the 1979 revolution, they were limited as to what they could take with them. The wedding dress, along with many of her ensembles and jewels, stayed behind. Many can be admired today at the Royal Clothes Museum in Tehran.

(L-R) Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis; Shah of Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi; Shahbanu of Iran, Farah Pahlavi; and President John F. Kennedy

Her Majesty looks forward to debunking many of the inaccurate stories about her family via the two new projects, which include tales about the cargo her family did and did not leave Iran with when they went into exile.

I heard someone on TV a few years ago say that someone very close to the President was saying that we were in two airplanes when we left Iran and that the second plane was full of cases filled with stones and jewelry. I was worried they might steal [the actual jewels], which were left behind and the banks were closed for a few years. Fortunately, some compatriots from Iran sent me emails after it was reported in the news confirming the jewels were at the museum, she said.

Pahlavi lost more than that including thousands of books and photographs as well as paintings. Compatriots outside of Iran sold and gifted artwork to her that she said her children cannot keep. So, she created the Shahbanou Farah Pahlavi Foundation in 1976 which houses many of the artifacts she collected in exile for everyone to enjoy.

I thought the foundation could tell the history and culture of Iran and one day, hopefully, when things change in Iran, all these things can go back, she said.

At 85 years old, Pahlavis days are busy with emails, telephone calls and paperwork for the foundation, though she emphasizes that at her age shes getting tired.

Im thinking of what is important to do before I leave this world, she said. But the whole day Im busy, which makes me happy because it gives me energy. If Im able to do one positive thing, it gives me energy.

Amid her busy schedule, Her Majesty counts on her longtime companion to bring a smile to her face. His name is Mowgli, a King Charles Spaniel that was gifted to her by grandaughter Noor, the first daughter of the Queens eldest son Reza Pahlavi, Crown Prince of Iran and his wife Princess Yasmine. When picking a name for her puppy, she was inspired by Noor who had a dog of the same breed named Baloo from the Jungle Book.

More than 60 years ago when I was a chieftain of the Cub Scouts in Iran, I was Baloo myself, she recalls. My daughter Farahnaz suggested my dog should be named Mowgli, and so it is.

HIM Farah Pahlavi and Mowgli, her beloved King Charles Spaniel

When shes out and about, Pahlavi also relishes bumping into her fellow Iranians during her travels who remember her fondly. She recalls a doctor in the U.S. who left for Iran a few years ago and visited a leper colony  as she did extensively in the late 1960s to help break the stigma against those infected  and bumped into people who remember her and sent along messages of gratitude which she refers to as such a great present for me to hear.

Her Majesty is equally motivated by young Iranians who are learning about her via social media without restrictions from the regime. Pahlavi touts the internet for allowing people to research history without the blockages for anyone wanting to learn more.

When these people came to power, they said so many stories and nonsense about the past and also, there were groups, not only Iranians but foreigners, because Iran was not working for their interests, Pahlavi shared. Oil became our luck and our problem. When oil was in our hands, we could take extraction, the price and everything. Some countries were not happy about that and they started to criticize the regime. So, if you want to compare our regime to what the Islamic Republic had done, many of these people didnt say anything against the Islamic [Republic] for many years. Fortunately, now they say things.

She continued, Now with the internet and the iPhones, although many things are forbidden [in Iran], they see movies and things of the past. I wonder how they find these films about the past like His Majestys travels, his speeches, and my travel to different parts of Iran. The young people see what we really were and it touches me very much. Many of them were born after everything and they share their sympathy via emails and sometimes I also call them. It makes me so happy to still be alive and hear all this. As I always say, the seeds that you plant with love and care never perish.

HIM Farah Pahlavi with a group of school children in Iran

When asked if while looking back on her life story for the documentary and the scripted project she had any regrets. She said, Theres no use in thinking of that. It is done. I dont want to be presumptuous but in all the reactions from people both inside and outside [Iran], the sympathy I feel from them is what gives me a lot of energy.

Family is also of utmost importance to Her Majesty and she often thinks of their future.

What I wish for them, first of all, is that they have a happy life. And also that one day, they could see their country free, and they could go back, she said.

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FILE - Jennifer Aniston arrives at a screening of "The Morning Show" during PaleyFest, April 12, 2024, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. Aniston will soon become a children's author. The Friends star has a 4-book deal with HarperCollins Publishers and animation studio Invisible Studio for a series of works featuring the animated dog Clydeo, based on the actor's own rescue pet, Clyde. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, File)

NEW YORK (AP)  Inspired by her beloved dog, Jennifer Aniston will soon become a children's author.

The Friends star has a four-book deal with HarperCollins Publishers and animation studio Invisible Studio for a series of works featuring the animated dog Clydeo, based on the actor's own rescue pet, Clyde. The first book, Clydeo Takes a Bite Out of Life, with illustrations by Bruno Jacob, is scheduled for release on Oct. 1.

Clydeo is already a favorite on social media, with more than 100 million views across platforms since Aniston first posted about him on Instagram in 2021. "Clydeo Takes a Bite Out of Life, billed as a deliciously fun-filled journey of self-discovery and self-confidence, will tell of Clydeo's discovery that he's a gifted cook.

I could not be more thrilled to be taking Clydeo and his stories to publishing, where he will hopefully inspire children and dog lovers alike with his adorable journey to find his true passion, Aniston said in a statement.
The dating life of violin sensation and YouTuber Lindsey Stirling has always been a popular topic of conversation among her fans. The 37-year-old violinists last reported public relationship had been with ex-boyfriend Ryan Weed when she participated as a celebrity contestant in Season 25 of Dancing with the Stars.

Here are all the details about Stirlings relationship with Ryan Weed and what happened between the couple.

Who was Lindsey Stirling dating?

As per Closer Weekly, Lindsey Stirling was dating Ryan Weed in 2017, a relationship that lasted almost two years. Stirling and Weed had reportedly started dating in the summer of 2016. Unfortunately, not a lot is known about Reeds professional life, but several reports claim that he works for Carlston Co., a fragrance house based in Los Angeles. There have also been speculations that before Weed moved to Los Angeles, he used to run a kayak rental service in Honolulu called Hawaii Beach Time.

What happened between Lindsey Stirling and Ryan Weed?

Lindsey Stirling talked about her split with ex-boyfriend Weed while rehearsing with her pro partner Mark Ballas on the fourth episode of Dancing with the Stars Season 25 which aired on October 2, 2017. Stirling said, My relationship of a year and a half came to an end a week ago. She opened up about going through a rough couple of weeks and how hard the breakup had been for her. The reason for the breakup had not been disclosed by either Stirling or Weed. But from her conversation with Ballas, fans could infer that it had been a very loving relationship that came to an unfortunate end.

Stirling had previously dated filmmaker Devin Graham in 2011 and they stayed on friendly terms after their split. As of 2024, there has been no official confirmation about Lindsey Stirling dating anyone and the violinist currently appears to be single. She remains active on all her social media accounts and the most recent music video she released was Evil Twin, which she posted on YouTube on May 17, 2024.

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Obsessed with Fame, TikToker Left Trail of Violent Video Evidence Detailing Abuse of Wife He Murdered

Ali Abulaban is slated to be sentenced for two convictions of first-degree murder on June 28

Facebook Ana and Ali Abulaban

Even the TikTok-famous couples fights were public.

Ali Abulaban had close to 1 million TikTok followers when he brutally killed his wife, Ana Marie Abulaban, and the man he believed to be her lover in 2021.

In a livestream to a social media account prior to her murder, Abulaban holds his phone with one hand, and, towering over his wife, who was sitting quietly on the couch, he points an object at her. Looking into the camera, he says: Dont get married guys, I threw my whole life away for her.

In comments to the livestream, viewers tell him to be strong and just tc bro, meaning to take care. Another implies that police may be on their way, and: When they get there just keep your mouth shut.

Peacocks original documentary TikTok Star Murders  premiering Tuesday, June 25  pieces together never-before-seen footage of many more of the California couples private fights recorded on Abulabans cell phone, along with the videos he posted to tell the story of a publicly disintegrating relationship with deadly consequences. (The trailer, obtained exclusively by PEOPLE, is shown below.)

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At first, it all seemed so perfect, Anas friend, Rachel Marie Britt, tells Peacock.

Known for his viral comedic impressions of characters like Skyrim and Scarface, Abulabans videos  posted under the username @JinnKid  often included appearances by his beautiful, young wife.

He gained popularity in late 2019, but as his follower count ticked upward, his mindset unraveled, say those interviewed in the documentary.

Her light was surrounded by a lot of darkness, says Britt.

facebook Ali and Ana Abulaban

Related: Trial Nears for TikTok Star Accused of Killing Estranged Wife After Spying on Her and Man Using Daughter's iPad

Sometimes, after fights, clothes were strewn all over the house. Once, after he allegedly hit Ana, the left side of her face bruised over, as shown in the documentary.

In one recording featured in the documentary, Ana shakes her head. Ali, this marriage is not healthy anymore, she tells her husband.

I gave you this life, hes heard saying in another recording. Im going to show you how much you need me.

A month before her murder, Ana filed a police report accusing her husband of domestic violence, Deputy District Attorney Taren Brast said in pretrial hearings for his murder trial, per The Los Angeles Times.

The couple was estranged by October 2021, when Ali  who had previously downloaded an app with a listening device on their five-year-old daughters iPad  overheard the voice of a man he believed to be having an affair with his wife.

gofundme Ana Abulaban and Rayburn Barron

Related: Mom Describes Reaction When TikTok Influencer Son Allegedly Called Her and Confessed to Murdering Wife

Breaking into the San Diego apartment, he shot the man  Rayburn Barron, 29  three times, killing him and fatally struck his 28-year-old wife in the head, per The L.A. Times.

He immediately called his mother, telling her that he had murdered them, Dalal Warra later testified at her sons murder trial, per NBC San Diego. He sent her a photograph as proof.

I hung up the phone and I literally fell on the ground," Warra told the jury in May, per CBS 8.

In an unusual turn, Abulaban also took the stand in his own defense, reportedly testifying that he said he used drugs and admitting to punching his wife on a previous occasion.

Related: Former TikToker Convicted of Killing Wife and the Man He Thought She Was Cheating with in 2021

At trial, he confessed to killing both Ana and Barron.

"I'm shooting and I can't stop, he said of murdering his wife and her friend on a televised court proceeding on Court TV. "I just snapped.

He added: My gun was in my hand and next thing I'm shooting."

The jury deliberated on Abulabans intent behind their killings, ultimately determining that he had premeditated both actions.

In May he was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder.

Abulaban, who is scheduled for sentencing June 28, faces up to life in prison.

'TikTok Star Murders streams exclusively on Peacock Tuesday, June 25.



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ANNECY, France  Jose Miguel Ribeiro, Nuno Beato and David Doutel and Vasco Sa, iconic figures in modern-day Portuguese animation, will unveil new projects at this years Annecy. They will be joined by newer talents  Vier Nev, behind A Mind Sang  Joao Carrilho, Patricia Figueiredo and Natalia Azevedo Andrade  who together deliver an eloquent snapshot of the burgeoning state of Portuguese animation.

Over the last 30 years, Portuguese animation has won ever more prizes for usually 2D short films of dazzling beauty, experimentation and sometimes social point. The career of Regina Pessoa, who delivers a masterclass at Annecy, is a case in point.

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Animation remains in Portugal a vocational passion. In one case in point, Ribeiro, after scoring praise and plaudits with feature film Nayola, will present a short film, The Flower and the Fish, which marks another new direction in vastly eclectic career.

Yet Portuguese animation is in the throes of industry take-off. That cuts several ways, but most especially in a step-up in every more ambitious feature film and TV production.

To be presented at Annecys 2024 MIFA Feature Films pitches, Beatos Speransa takes place on a large canvas, weighing in as the story of a plucky nine-year-old girl from a tabanka village in sixteenth century Western Africa in what is now Guinea-Bissau, just after an enormous fort was opened in nearby Cacheu in order to facilitate the slave trade practiced by the Portuguese crown.

Sardinha em Lata, behind Beatos My Grandfathers Demons and now Speransa, has The No Sleep Over, an episode in series Alices Diary, in this years Annecy TV competition. In all, Sardinha has six feature films, no less, in different stages of development.

Una, a highlight at a Portuguese Projects Pitch on June 12, marks the feature film debut of David Doutel and Vasco Sa, producers at Portuguese creative powerhouse BAP  Animation Studios whose own shorts as directors, such as Soot (2014), Augur (2018) and Garrano (2022), have dazzled for their beauty.

With Una, Doutel and Sa gain increasingly urgent social point linking the rebellion of young Una against a smoke belching lithium mine in her village mountain valley to other attempts to push back against the ravages of rampant eco-destructive capitalism around the world.

Also, from a broader perspective, the project arises from the increasingly prevalent phenomenon of eco-anxiety in youth, affecting their belief in an optimistic future, Doutel adds.

Meanwhile, new companies and new talents emerge in Portugal. Dark Woods, a TV Special, is the first IP from production house Fly Moustache; The Dance of the Fanchonos builds on Vier Nevs break-out success with A Mind Sang.

The Portuguese Projects Pitch selection is rounded up by works by two other relatively new talents: Limbo, directed by the Oporto-based illustrator and animator Patricia Figueiredo, behind the 2014 animated short Foi o fio; and There Might Be Nothing Here, from Natalia Azevedo Andrade, a writer-director of animated shorts Within (2015) and Thorns and Fishbones (2019).

Brief details of the projects:

MIFA Feature Film Pitch:

Speransa, (Esperanca, Nuno Beato, Sardinha em Lata)

Beatos follow-up to Annecy 2022 Contrechamp entry My Grandfathers Demons, and a second feature from him which looks set to to make telling use of the counterpoint between 2D and stop motion, if first-look concept art is anything to go by. In sixteenth century west Africa, a plucky young girl, 9, sees her village attacked. Separated from her family, she is dispatched to a slave ship where she and other prisoners rebel. As Portuguese, I feel obliged to help ensure that the heavy mark that Europe left in Africa, initiated by my ancestors, is never forgotten or undervalued. I would like the following generations to learn to look at history in a more humane and inclusive way, Beato tells Variety.

MIFA Short Film Pitch:

The Flower and the Fish, (Jose Miguel Ribeiro)

A 2D short film adaptation of Afonso Cruzs book marking the latest work written and directed by Ribeiro, a director behind milestones in Portuguese animation such as The Suspect and recent Annecy feature hit Nayola. Produced by Ribeiros label Praca Filmes, plus Frances JPL Filmes and Belgiums S.O.I.L., The Flower and the Fish is film about two children, a fish, and a flower in a canvas to explore the duality that exists in everything, says Ribeiro. The abstract backgrounds and characters are inspired by painters Wassilly Kandinsky and Antoni Tapies, he adds.

Portuguese Project Pitches:

The Dance of the Fanchonos, (A Danca dos Fanchonos, Vier Nev, COLA Animation)

Set to use the same slight of eye multistable perception seen in Nevs celebrated A Mind Sang, Dance expands from the stream of consciousness narrative of that short to an animated short film about three queer people living and suffering under Salazars 1932-74 New State dictatorship. Marta sees her sexuality through the frightening legend of the lesbian ghost Henriqueta. Valentim wants to escape the country and be a dancer. Ze is the victim of arrebentas [straight men who pretended to be gay in order to out and blackmail queer men]. Their stories contextualize the Estado Novo homophobia within a larger history of queer oppression, says Niev. Made in 2D digital and produced by Bruno Caetano and Susana Antonio for COLA Animation.

Dark Woods, (Joao Carrilho, Fly Moustache)

Sasha and Chewie, her loyal dog, move to the countryside. While Sasha deals with her grief and frustration, they encounter a mystical creature in the Dark Woods, pushing her to confront her fears and unlock her inner magic, the synopsis says.

A TV special written by Nuno Soler, adapting illustrator Estrela Lourencos book, Dark Woods. Her visual style, characterized by her soft color palette and rounded lines, brings a child-like nostalgia which we wanted to convey in our film, says production coordinator Sara Antonio. Dark Woods encapsulates all the essential elements for a captivating kids narrativemagic, adventure, and comedy  while thoughtfully exploring contemporary issues such as mental health, nature protection, and the fear of the unknown, she adds.

Limbo, (Patricia Figueiredo, Animais)

An 10-minute essay on limbo made with a mix of 2D and paper-cut animation and photography, as a tongue-in-cheek narrator explores limbo. The concept of Limbo is used in so many situations and its so open to interpretation. Maybe what can set this title apart is the curiosity about which Limbo the film talks about. Is it a feeling or a place? Is there someone stuck in there? Is it going to be a heavy subject or is it actually very silly? says Figueiredo who cites the influence of Paul Driessen and Don Hertzfeldt, two big references for me, not only visually but also because of their humor and the way they tell stories.

There Might Be Nothing Here, (Talvez Nao Hana Nada Aqui, Natalia Azevedo Andrade, Aim Creative Studios)

After a shipwreck, confronted by strange outer space life, astronaut Rita becomes catatonic, and must rely on the confident Carla, very different from herself, to accomplish a mission she doesnt understand.

I sometimes struggle to find representation of these topics of mental health and codependency  they are often portrayed with a doom and gloom that doesnt feel necessarily authentic to me. I wanted an approach that doesnt glorify it, that speaks to the audience at eye level, while being uncompromising as a piece of film, says Andrade. The short is co-written, illustrated and co-animated by Hungarys Gabor Mariai and co-produced by Hungarys Boddah.

Una, (David Doutel & Vasco Sa, BAP  Animation Studios)

After the arrival of a mining company to her small mountain village, UNA, a 9-year-old girl, decides to stage a protest with her friends. Their actions spiral out of control, and Una embarks on a journey that will change everyones future.

Written by Regina Guimaraes, BAP  Animation Studios go-to screenwriter  animated in 2D digital painting and oil paintings, and a call for action from BAP in what co-writer-director David Doutel calls a visually ambitious film about how a single action of a 9 year old girl can change the future of an entire community.

As children grow up in a world flooded by apocalyptical news, we are working on UNA, feeling it can resonate as an inciting and utopian film for all the struggles we all have ahead, he adds.

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Savages: How Claude Barras Went From His Oscar-Nominated Zucchini to the Jungles of Borneo for Next Stop-Motion Epic

In live-action filmmaking, a continuity error may be very annoying, but is usually straightforward to fix  simply reshoot the scene again. In the painstakingly slow world of stop-motion animation, where seconds of footage can take months to shoot, it can be something of a headache. So when Claude Barras realized that that hed filmed several segments of his new film, Savages, with his lead character, the teen girl Keria, not carrying the rucksack shed had on earlier in the story, he had a problem.

In the end, and following a lengthy brainstorming session, the addition of a large farting monkey proved to be the perfect solution.

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We decided that the monkey was going to steal the bag and give it back to her, Barras explains. And while the loud accompanying fart may not appear entirely necessary, it also served a purpose. We wanted to introduce a bit of humor, because the film is obviously quite dark, he says.

Savages, which screens in competition in Annecy (it screened out of competition in Cannes), arrives eight years after Barras critically adored directorial debut, My Life as a Zucchini, which bowed in the 2016 Cannes Directors Fortnight. It went onto international acclaim, picking up two Cesar awards and an animated feature Oscar nomination.

Like My Life as a Zucchini, Savages is an animated visual spectacle, with adorable, wide-eyed characters living in a sumptuously colourful world. Also like Barras previous feature  about a young boy sent to an orphanage  it packs a sizable emotional punch, both in the story and the way its told.

Taking inspiration from his grandparents, who lived around nature in the Swiss Alps, Barras set his tale  for which he started sketching ideas while on the year-long tour with Zucchini  in Borneo, on the edge of a rainforest in process of being destroyed. Theres conflict between loggers and local tribes, between Keria and her father, who works for a palm oil plantation, with her younger cousin Selai, and with herself and her own nomadic roots. And in the middle of it all, theres a baby orangutan called Oshi.

Its a much bigger world than that of Zucchini, with Barras noting that there are more characters, a lot of animals, and a lot of outdoor locations, all of which required a lot of extra work. Around 300 people were involved in the production, which he estimates cost around $14 million (more than Zucchini, but at 20 minutes longer, still the same cost-per-minute).

During the making of Savages, Barras became a parent, which he says took him away from the production, with his focusing more on the puppet-making and some remote art direction. His daughter is now two-and-a-half, and Oshi the baby orangutan  a creation screaming out for a Shaun the Sheep-style spinoff  is now her favorite character.

Savages arrives during what feels like a purple patch for stop-motion animation, with Brit powerhouse Aardman last year releasing its long-awaited Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget and now readying another Wallace & Gromit feature, and Guillermo del Toros Pinocchio winning the animated feature Oscar in 2023.

For Barras, whose puppets would lose much of the charm without their lovingly handmade aesthetics, despite the advances in 3D animation (which he says can now make something look like its stop-motion), theres a growing interest in his preferred technique.

Maybe its a paradox, but I feel that stop motion is for people who really like to let go, while 3D is for control freaks, he notes. Because with 3D you can endlessly redo and make something better, but with stop-motion, you make things, you put things together, you place the light and then you shoot, you cant do endless takes.

And with 3D animation, you wouldnt need to add any farting monkeys.

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Widow Of British TV Producer Who Took His Own Life Speaks Out: He Was My Best FriendJohns Life Is Now A Legacy

Trigger warning: this article contains mention of suicide and other disturbing topics.

The widow of John Balson, who tragically took his own life after working on a Channel 4 true crime series last month, has said the TV producers life is now a legacy.

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In an emotional statement penned by Balsons widow Yumeno Niimura, she paid tribute to a dedicated, loyal and hardworking husband, who was my best friend and the love of my life it took me 32 years to find.

Johns life is now a legacy, she said. My love for him will never die and will continue with me forever. I cant move on from my love for John, and I never will. Love is the only thing that never dies.

Niimura said there has been an outpouring of love and support from Balsons close friends and family since he died. She paid tribute to his parents, who have chosen to continue to love me, my daughter, and our unborn baby as an extension of their love for their son.

Balson took his own life on May 17, a month after he stopped working on Channel 4s In the Footsteps of Killers Season 3 citing extreme pain and dizziness, which he was eventually told by medical professionals was likely vestibular migraine disorder. Deadline revealed earlier today that Channel 4 has instructed a law firm to examine the circumstances surrounding the 40-year-olds death. The shows producer, Alaska TV, has said staff welfare is treated with paramount importance.

A failure of the industry

Niimuras statement took aim at the TV industry for the way in which it treats freelancers and the mechanisms by which it engages them, and said she hopes no one else experiences what we went through earlier this year.

The loss of John Balson is not just his life; its a failure of the industry, she said. The industry can find a replacement the next day, but there will never be another John Balson.

Niimura added that Balson had told her that small production companies have unrealistically low budgets, and often force extra work and unrealistic assignments on freelancers like him.

She said her husband was genuinely excited when he landed the In the Footsteps of Killers producer job and we were so proud as he was one of two people selected from over a hundred candidates.

But things started deteriorating when he was required to commute to an office two hours away three times a week, she added. Balson later told her he had received threats from someone associated with a person he was researching and had been blamed by the production for a family declining to take part, before he stopped working all together a few weeks prior to his death. Alaska has not addressed these allegations directly, citing Channel 4s ongoing investigation.

Niimura said Balson believed stress at work was one of the reasons behind the excruciating pain he experienced in the weeks leading up to his death.

Its inevitable that he took on a massive amount of pressure, she added. The saddest and cruellest part of life is when the person who gave you the best memories becomes a memory. My three-year-old daughter will never remember the cherished moments she had with him.

An inquest into Balsons death wont take place for months and charities warn that no single factor should be attributed to the reasoning behind someone taking their own life. According to his recent medical history, which Deadline has seen, the experienced producer and journalist, whose past credits included Netflixs When Missing Turns To Murder and CBS Realitys Murder: First On Scene, had struggled over the past few years working long days in Japan and then often working late nights in the UK, dealing with difficult topics and contributors. He did not have a history of mental health issues, his family said.

Alaska said it gives colleagues access to support resources. Its statement added: It was with great sadness that we learned of Johns passing  an extremely talented and thoughtful Director, he will be hugely missed by us all. The wellbeing of our all staff is of paramount importance, and whilst were unable to comment further given the investigation with Channel 4, our thoughts and love are with Johns family and friends at this very difficult time.

A gofundme page has been set up for Balsons family and donations can be made here.

Suicide is preventable and support can be found via the Samaritans, National Suicide Prevention Helpline and other organizations. The Film and TV Charitys Support Line is open 24 hours a day and is available to everyone working in the industry, whether freelance or employee. It provides in-the-moment help from trained counsellors, as well as access to other mental health support. Partners and adult children of people working in the industry are also able to access help. Call 0800 054 0000 or visit www.filmtvcharity.org.uk to start a Live Chat.

In the U.S., a list of helplines can be found here and information on suicide prevention from the National Institute of Mental Health can be found here.

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Candy, jerky, jewelry and more: Michigan Makers opens in Green Oak Village Place

BRIGHTON  A store filled entirely with Michigan-made items has come to Green Oak Village Place.

Michigan Makers Marketplace, which opened June 1, carries items from over 100 vendors.

Heather Fulghum created Michigan Makers after she had trouble finding craft shows for her daughter to sell jewelry at during the pandemic.

Three and a half years ago, I started Michigan Makers craft shows," Fulghum said. "For the last three years, we've been looking for a storefront so we can showcase all of our vendors."

Products range from trinkets and clothing to food and treats. Some notable vendors include Crunchy Bits and Bites, which produces freeze-dried candy; Otter Wear, which specializes in dog bandanas; and Detroit Jerky, which makes vegan jerky.

Heather Fulghum and her children run Michigan Makers Marketplace.

Michigan Makers offers seven different boutiques, with products like candles, jewelry, purses, signs and furniture.

We had an application process a few months ago ... and we had over 600 applications," Fulghum said. "We chose the first 100."

Vendors operate on a three-month contract. After the first three months, they're given the opportunity to renew or cancel their contract. New vendors are drawn from the waitlist.

We have a huge waitlist, Fulghum said. We still have about 500 (vendors on it)."

Fulghum reports business has been booming among customers as well. Hours are 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sundays. Since opening, "so many people" have come in, Fulghum said.

Over 100 Michigan-based vendors display their wares, which range from food to apparel, in Michigan Makers Marketplace.

Four years ago, she said, she never imagined Michigan Makers would reach this level of success.

I've always wanted to start a store, but I really didn't have a reason or an idea to create it until I started the vendor shows, she said.

When her realtor showed her the old Charming Charlies building in Green Oak Village Place, whose decor matched the logo for Michigan Makers, Fulghum was pulled away from another lease option in Howell.

It had bright pink doors, she said. I just felt like, this is it.

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Even though the store just opened, Fulghum said they're already outgrowing the 6,000-square foot space.

We're hoping to add more vendors to this current spot and then, maybe in the future, opening a second store."

 Ari Hickman is a sophomore at Brighton High School and a freelancer for The Livingston Daily. Contact the newsroom at newsroom@livingstondaily.com.

This article originally appeared on Livingston Daily: Michigan Makers opens in former Charming Charlie's in Green Oak Township
For the first time, a Columbia-area restaurant has won a prestigious James Beard Award.

Lula Drake Wine Parlour, located on Columbias Main Street, was presented with the Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program honor at Monday nights James Beard Awards ceremony at the Lyric Opera in Chicago.

There were two James Beard finalists from the Midlands in the running Monday night: Robbie Robinson of West Columbias City Limit Barbeque, who was up for Best Chef - Southeast, and Lula Drake Wine Parlour in the wine category.

The winner in the Best Chef - Southeast category was set to be announced later in Monday nights awards program.

The James Beard Foundation Awards were established in 1990 and, according to the foundations website, are among the nations most prestigious honors recognizing leaders in the culinary and food media industries, and those in the broader food systems. Beard, himself, was a culinary expert and prolific cookbook author who helped pioneer cooking on television.

Gardner opened Lula Drake in November 2016, and in the years since it has become widely known for its unique, precisely curated wine offerings. The cozy, tony wine bar and restaurant has been a popular draw in the 1600 block of Columbias Main Street, perhaps the key block in the revitalization of Main Street that has accelerated in the last decade-plus.

According to the Beard Awards, the Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program honor are presented to an establishment that demonstrates exceptional care and skill in the pairing of wine and other beverages with food while contributing positively to its broader community. That would include the selection, preparation, and serving of wine, cocktails, spirits, coffee, tea, beer or any other beverage with outstanding hospitality and service that help inform and enhance a customers appreciation of the beverages.

In January, Kitwanda Kiki Cyrus and Tyrone Cyrus, of Columbias Kikis Chicken and Waffles, also were nominated as semifinalists for Best Chef - Southeast in this years Beard Awards. However, they did not move on to the finalist round.

This was the second consecutive year that Columbia had three semifinalists in the running. The 2023 semifinalists included City Grit Hospitality Groups Sarah Simmons, Aaron Hoskins and Elie Yigo; Jessica Shillato of Spotted Salamander Cafe and Catering; and Lula Drake, which was nominated for Outstanding Hospitality the first time around. Both Lula Drake and City Grit advanced to the finalist round in 2023.

After long looking on as neighboring Charleston and Greenville gathered Beard honors, this was the first time Columbia had nominees in back-to-back years.

Robinson started City Limits as a food truck back in 2016, and the business made a name for itself with both Texas- and Carolina-style barbecue. Then, in 2023, City Limits found a more permanent, brick-and-mortar location on Methodist Park Road in West Columbia.

Per the James Beard Awards, the Best Chef honors are presented to those who set high standards in their culinary skills and leadership abilities, and who are making efforts to help create a sustainable work culture in their respective regions while contributing positively to their broader community.

This story will be updated.
Delaware may adopt a state cocktail. Here are 7 other state symbols you might not know

Since Delaware has already adopted a state bird (blue hen), marine animal (horseshoe crab) and bug (ladybug, which is actually an insect)  is the Small Wonder ready to officially add a state cocktail?

Legislation introduced House Bill 444 on Thursday, June 6, with thirsty plans to designate "Orange Crush" as the state cocktail.

The primary sponsor for the bill is Rep. Peter Schwartzkopf, D-Rehoboth Beach.

The bill states: "Orange Crush has been made famous and become synonymous with Dewey Beach, Delaware" and "The Starboard in Dewey Beach, Delaware perfected the Orange Crush and serves the most Orange Crush cocktails of any bar in Delaware every beach season."

Mick Purzycki (left) and Andrew Price with their Uncle Biff's Orange Crush.

HB 444 states Orange Crush is made with fresh-squeezed orange juice, orange Vodka, Triple sec, and lemon-lime soda with crushed ice.

The Starboard VIP card: Long line at this popular Dewey Beach bar? There's a way around it, but you need one of these

While parched Delawareans await the possibility of Delaware getting a new state cocktail, here's a look at some interesting and lesser-known state symbols you may not have known were adopted, according to delaware.gov/guides/facts.

Wait, Delaware already has a state beverage?

Courtney Rovillard, of Long Neck, hands out gallons of milk at the Food Bank of Delaware's drive-thru event held at Crossroad Community Church near Georgetown.

While legislators are fighting for Delaware to designate a state cocktail, milk has been the state beverage since June 3, 1983. That means the First State might end up with two official drinks on tap.

Delaware state dinosaur wears gold chain

The Theropod dinosaur Dryptosaurus (Dryptosaurus aquilunguis) is selected as Delaware's state dinosaur by students at Shue-Medill School. The Theropod is on display at the Delaware Museum of Nature & Science on Wednesday, June 22, 2022.

Not only did Delaware get a state dinosaur on June 29, 2022  the design of the state's dino is fresh to death. The Dryptosauridae (Drip-tuh-sore-uh-dee) wears a derby hat, sneakers and a gold chain with a huge letter "G" medallion. The dino (and all their "drip") sprang from the imagination of students at Shue-Medill Middle School. The students wrote House Bill 390 and successively convinced legislators that Delaware needs to adopt the Dryptosauridae, a dino whose bones have been found in the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal.

Delaware state has its own star

You can view the First State's official star, Delaware Diamond, with a telescope.

On June 30, 2000, Delaware flexed its space muscles by adopting a star, the Delaware Diamond. That followed a contest sponsored by what was then the Delaware Museum of Natural History (now the Delaware Museum of Nature and Science) and won by 12-year-old Amy Nerlinger in the summer of 1999.

Delaware Diamond, which is a 12th magnitude star, is near Ursa Major with coordinates of right ascension 9h40m44s and declination 48142. The Diamond can be viewed with a telescope or binoculars and it's the first star on the International Star Registry to be registered to an American state.

Why does Delaware have a state macroinvertebrate?

Because Delaware has a thing for insects, the state crowned the stonefly as the state macroinvertebrate on May 4, 2005. It might sound strange that Delaware recognizes a state fly, but the state did it to raise awareness of water quality issues and to celebrate citizen action programs like Delaware Stream Watch that aim to make our waterways less polluted.

The decision to choose the stonefly was supported by several schools: Gunning-Bedford Middle School, Salesianum High School, Delcastle Technical High School, Dickinson High School Environmental Club, The Independence School, Springer Middle School, St. Andrews School, and The Charter School of Wilmington.

Have you seen the Delaware state butterfly?

The Delaware state butterfly is the tiger stallowtail butterfly.

There are three state insects in Delaware and one of them is the large, yellow and black-stripped tiger swallowtail butterfly. The swallowtail was selected as the state butterfly on June 10, 1999. The insect is native to Delaware and can be found in woods, along streams, rivers, wooded swamps, and in cities and towns across the state. Students at Richardson Park Learning Center in Wilmington selected three different butterflies and then 1,611 out of 3,175 public and parochial students all over Delaware voted to suggest to the legislature that the tiger swallowtail represent the state.

Do you eat the Delaware state dessert?

Pastry chef Rachel Diener preparing her 'Deconstructed Peach Pie' at Heirloom Restaurant in Lewes.

Considering how popular funnel cake is, you might think that'd be Delaware's official dessert. But guess again. It's Peach Pie. This tasty treat has represented the state since July 30, 2009. The origins go back to peach farming being an important part of the state's agricultural history. Delaware was the country's top producer of peaches for part of the 18th century. At its peak, the state shipped 6 million baskets of peaches to market in 1875. Due to the state's peachy history, students at St. John's Lutheran School in Dover suggested that peach pie by recognized as the state's official symbol.

Delaware fireworks for 4th of July 2024: Here's a guide where you can watch them

Wilmington kids select Delaware state fossil

The state dinosaur and fossil may sound the same, but they're two different things. Delaware's state fossil is belemnite, which is basically an extinct squid with a conical shell. The creature is a member of the phylum Mollusca, which includes clams, snails, squids and octopuses. Folks can find Belemnite fossils around the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal. That's where Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary School (Wilmington) students of Kathy Tidball found fossils and lobbied to honor the ancient creature as a state fossil. Their wish was granted on July 12, 1996.

If you have an interesting story idea, email lifestyle reporter Andre Lamar at alamar@gannett.com. Consider signing up for his weekly newsletter, DO Delaware, at delawareonline.com/newsletters.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Delaware may get a state cocktail. Discover 7 other state symbols
On the first day that Jason Sampsell ever tried skydiving solo, something crazy he wanted to do to celebrate his coming retirement, a fatal accident occurred over DeLand. A midair collision sent a parachutist hurtling to his death.

Lt. Jason Sampsell, Orange City Police Department

"We lost a skydiver that day. It was my first jump," Sampsell recalls, with sadness in his voice.

It was on April 1 when DeLand police said a 42-year-old Brazilian skydiver collided with another midair and fell to his death on Lexington Avenue near the DeLand Municipal Airport.

Sampsell was asked by his instructors, did he still want to go? Yes, was his simple answer and the airplane lifted off taking his group to 13,500 feet.

"Of course, that's in the back of your mind," he said of the accident.

'He is a tremendous human being'

Orange City police Chief Wayne Miller said he was not surprised that Sampsell still proceeded with the jump right after the skydiving accident.

"I have known Jason to dive several hundred feet underwater in caverns, swim with sharks, spearfish in the ocean and get bit by poisonous fish, capture alligators, snakes, and other wild animals  with his bare hands," Miller said. "Now he is diving out of perfectly good airplanes!"

"When he told me about a month ago that he was going to get his skydiving license which was a minimum of 25 jumps from 10,000 feet high, I said 'of course your are ... why does this not surprise me,'" Miller said.

Miller said that in his more than 30-year law enforcement career, Sampsell always displayed enthusiasm, dedication and initiative to any endeavor he has been associated with.

"I have always been impressed with Lt. Sampsell's dedication to any endeavor he has been involved with," Miller said. "I've learned a lot from him and I believe he is a tremendous human being."

Jason Sampsell, a lieutenant with the Orange City Police Department, took up skydiving to mark his retirement as a longtime policeman.

'I want to live my life. I never want to become stagnant.'

Why celebrate leaving a 31-year law enforcement career by jumping out of a perfectly good airplane?

Sampsell, 53, a lieutenant with the Orange City Police Department, said he has always enjoyed living his life outdoors, pushing his personal abilities.

He has hiked part of the Appalachian Trail, part of the Slaughter Trail at Slaughter Mountain which rises more than 4,000 feet. He has scuba-dived since he was 14, and still spearfishes 20 miles off the coast of Daytona Beach, where he has encountered Great White Sharks, hammerheads, and goliath grouper.

"I want to live my life. I never want to become stagnant," Sampsell said. "We begin to grow at the edge of our comfort zone, so skydiving was just something I wanted to do."

Skydiving bug bit him 20 years ago

Sampsell's dad was a skydiver in the 1960s, and 20 years ago he gave his nostalgic father "who was up there in age" a skydiving present. So they did a tandem jump at Skydive DeLand.

Lt. Jason Sampsell of the Orange City Police Department is retiring after 31 years in September. He is taking up skydiving as a fun thing to do, something that makes him feel free he said.

The hobby would have probably stuck with Sampsell then but life got in the way, he said.

"You know, your job, your career. And so, 20 years later, I'm coming to the end of my career, and I am like, I've always wanted to do it (skydiving)," Sampsell said. "I'd rather do something, as opposed to living the rest of my life saying I wish I would have always tried that."

So, on April 1, with knots in his stomach, an anxious Sampsell left his home for the DeLand Municipal Airport to do his pre-retirement jump.

"Let's just say that, yeah, you have the nervousness," Sampsell said. "And I hate that feeling, Hate it, but I don't let it stop me."

Skydiving programs at Skydive DeLand

Sampsell was drawn even more to skydiving during the summer when he operated guard patrol vehicles that picked up skydivers after jumps at the airport.

"That's when I decided to just walk in and ask them how much it will cost to jump," Sampsell said.

Sampsell started his skydiving experience with the Accelerated Free Fall course and after seven jumps, he is working on getting a license as a skydiver so he can jump out of an airplane anywhere in the United States or the world.

On its website, Skydive DeLand lists its courses and the prices for skydiving enthusiasts.

It's $229 for tandem skydiving where you parachute from an airplane attached to a professional skydiver/instructor. It is $369 for the first Accelerated Free Fall jump and course. But there is also a seven-jump Accelerated Free Fall package valued at $1,350.

The website also lists the requirements that skydiving enthusiasts need to meet. For example, you must be at least 18, weigh less than 220 pounds, take no drugs or alcohol before jumping, and plan on a 3- to 4-hour day.

'Live your life with no regrets'

Sampsell said there is always an inherent danger in anything we do as human beings. As a longtime policeman, for example, yes, there were moments of terror. But those didn't stop him from enjoying a long career.

Sampsell started as an unpaid policeman, then became a patrol officer, a narcotics investigator, a SWAT team member and then graduated from Blackwater Sniper School in 2007.

"I spent half my life doing it, 31 years just in law enforcement and add another six with the military," he said. "You know, I always say we live one time. We go around once, so make it worth your while, we all have a story to tell, just make sure your story is worth listening to."

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Florida police lieutenant goes skydiving as part of his September retirement fun
How friendly is Delaware to the LGBTQ+ community? New report ranks Delaware's inclusivity

Out Leaderships 2024 State LGBTQ+ Business Climate Index was recently released, and while Delaware has made significant progress in terms of LGBTQ+ inclusivity in recent years, there's still more work to be done.

In its sixth year, Out Leaderships report gauges the business climate for LGBTQ+ people by using a variety of factors to rank LGBTQ+ inclusivity in each state to determine where individuals in the community can live and work in welcoming atmospheres and the level of hardship and discrimination queer communities face.

Time and again, our research has demonstrated that businesses that operate in LGBTQ+-friendly environments benefit from stronger talent pools, see increased employee satisfaction and productivity, and enjoy robust customer loyalty. Put simply, inclusive states build strong economies, said Todd Sears, founder and CEO of Out Leadership

Southern Delaware Roller Derby members skate through Delaware's first Pride Parade on June 1, 2019, in downtown Dover.

According to Out Leadership, discrimination against LGBTQ+ people creates serious challenges for talent mobility, retention and development  and creates brand risk. The organization's annual index serves to highlight gaps in inclusivity and show where states can work to better protect queer individuals and subsequently increase best practices for businesses.

As we enter an election year, the political and cultural environment in the United States has become increasingly polarized with LGBTQ+-friendly states becoming increasingly inclusive while the worst states for equality become ever more hostile to equality and freedom, said Sears. For the second year in a row, the average Out Leadership LGBTQ+ Business Climate Score across has declined, and for the third year running more states have become less friendly to LGBTQ+ Americans  an incredibly dangerous trend.

2024 State LGBTQ+ Business Climate Index methodology, scoring

A vibrant pride flag gracefully dances in the wind along Delaware Street, symbolizing inclusivity, love, and the celebration of diversity, as New Castle embraces and supports the LGBTQ+ community on June 20, 2023.

The 2024 State LGBTQ+ Business Climate Index ranks all 50 U.S. states across the five categories of legal and nondiscrimination protections, youth and family support, political and religious attitudes, health access and safety and work environment and employment, which are also measured in each state. Each of the five sections is totaled up to 20 points and accounts for 1/5 of the index total, resulting in a final score out of 100 when combined. More information about what is assessed in each section can be found by viewing the full report or visiting outleadership.com/driving-equality/us-state-ceo-briefs/.

As a note, Out Leadership discloses that some of the analysis in the report and the accompanying briefs for each state may include legislative updates that occurred after April 15, given the fluctuating nature of public policy, and are not reflected in the scores provided by the data at that time.

National overview of LGBTQ+ trends

Wilmington celebrates Pride Month with flag raising at Rodney Square, Wednesday, June 15, 2022

The 2024 State LGBTQ+ Business Climate Index found that LGBTQ+ equality is decreasing across the U.S. for the second year in a row. The average score of all 50 states in 2024 is 62.77, a 1.12% decrease from 63.48 in 2023. Out Leadership cites anti-trans legislation as a major factor for the decline in scores, with over 500 anti-LGBTQ+ bills already introduced in 40 states in 2024 alone, according to the American Civil Liberties Union.

The most significant changes in scores for states between 2023 and 2024 were driven by legal and nondiscrimination protections, youth and family support and political and religious attitudes. States with the largest score increases  like Michigan, Georgia and Oregon  adopted pro-LGBTQ+ legislation and saw elected officials standing up for LGBTQ+ rights. States with decreased scores  like Florida, Indiana, Kansas and North Carolina  were impeded by ongoing anti-LGBTQ+ legislation.

Out Leaderships research shows that polarization across the nation continues to expand as states that exemplify LGBTQ+ equality continue to thrive and states that are hostile toward queer rights and issues continue to jeopardize the communitys ability to live and work, the organization said.

According to the 2024 index, New York is the highest-ranking state in LGBTQ+ equality for the third year in a row with a score of 93.67. Arkansas is the lowest-ranking state with a score of 27, the lowest score received by a state in the indexs six-year history.

LGBTQ+ students fighting for change: 'A change in school culture': A year after speaking out, Concord HS GSA continues advocacy

LGBTQ+ trends in the Northeast

Hailey Foster, left, of Dover and Geena Handy of Camden celebrate Delaware's first Pride Parade in downtown Dover on June 1, 2019.

While Delaware is more progressive compared with other states, its LGBTQ+ protections compared to other regional states are still lacking.

Rankings for states in the Northeast are as follows:

New York at No. 1 with 93.67

Connecticut at No. 2 with 93.27

Massachusetts at No. 3 with 92

New Jersey at No. 4 with 90

Vermont at No. 5 with 89.50

Maine at No. 6 with 88.67

Rhode Island at No. 7 with 85.70

Maryland at No. 8 with 82.83

New Hampshire at No. 9 78.33

Delaware at No. 10 with 72.43

Pennsylvania at No. 11 with 66.27

LGBTQ+ resources, services: Find LGBTQ+ health care, support services and more with our guide to Delaware resources

Out Leadership found that the Northeast has the lowest percentage of those who are out at work (49.6%). LGBTQ+ workers in urban environments are more comfortable sharing their personal lives than the same demographic in the rest of the country. Workers in this region are more likely to engage in or hear negative conversations about LGBTQ+ people at work, with non-LGBTQ+ people being 23% more likely to report observing or experiencing negative conversations about the queer community compared to the nation.

More Northeast outcomes include:

Workers in this region are the least likely to hear LGBTQ+ negativity from state leadership. They are 61% less likely to report that leadership in their state talks about LGBTQ+ in predominantly negative terms.

LGBTQ+ people and allies living in rural areas are reported to care the least about diverse teams when looking for jobs, 49% less likely than nationwide.

Those in the Northeast are 20% more likely to list supporting LGBTQ+ Pride celebrations as one of their top three ways businesses can demonstrate their support for the community.

LGBTQ+ trends in Delaware

Happy Pride!

Delawares score of 72.43 out of 100 makes the First State a low-risk state out of the five categories of no risk, low risk, moderate risk, notable risk and high risk.

Delaware scores for each of the five sections are:

An 18 out of 20 for the legal and nondiscrimination protection section, placing it in the no-risk category

A 16.43 for the youth and family support section, placing it in the low-risk category

A 16 for the political and religious attitudes section, placing it in the low-risk category

A 15 for the health access and safety section, placing it in the low-risk category

A 7 for the work environment and employment section, placing it in the notable-risk category

Rehoboth Beach employees painting the sidewalks on Baltimore Avenue in rainbow colors.

Out Leadership includes a section titled impact of LGBTQ+ discrimination on business talent for each state. Delaware results are as follows:

There is no brand risk incurred by companies doing business in Delaware, which has strong LGBTQ+ protections and a positive reputation for equality

There is no client risk, meaning there is no reason to believe that LGBTQ+ or strong ally clients would pull business from companies in Delaware, where pro-LGBTQ+ state leaders regularly speak out against discrimination.

There is a low risk when it comes to talent. Delaware has comprehensive hate crime and nondiscrimination protections, along with favorable laws surrounding adoption and surrogacy, but there relatively high levels of reported workplace harassment, which could make LGBTQ+ professionals reconsidering working in the state

There is no marketing risk when it comes to affirming and marketing to the LGBTQ+ community in Delaware due to Delawareans favoring LGBTQ+ rights and protections

There is no future risk in that Delaware has no recent history of negative bills filed, and we would not expect that to change in the foreseeable future, said Out Leadership

Happy Pride!: Pride Month 2024: History and events to check out in Delaware

Out Leadership reports that 7.5% of Delaware residents identify as LGBTQ+, which is a conservative personal income of $2.8 billion that businesses cant afford to ignore. The report adds that it costs companies an average of $10,440 to replace an employee in Delaware, which is only more incentive to make LGBTQ+ employees feel welcome at work, in turn attracting more top LGBTQ+ talent.

If Delaware strengthened the enforcement of discrimination laws, one estimate suggests that Delawares economy could increase by 3%, or $2.1 billion. Millennial and Gen Z consumers prefer to do business with companies with LGBTQ+-friendly advertising and policies, with 54% saying theyre more likely to choose an LGBTQ+-inclusive brand over a competitor.

As of 2017, a poll found that 58% of Delawareans supported same-sex marriage, which Delaware was the 11th state to legalize and did so two years before the case of Obergefell v. Hodges legalized same-sex marriage nationally. The same poll found that 68% of Delaware residents supported an anti-discrimination law covering gender identity and sexual orientation, while 21% of residents were opposed. In situations of a religious-based refusal to serve LGBTQ+ people, 60% of respondents were opposed to the practice while 28% were in favor of it.

The current legal status of LGBTQ+ people in Delaware

A sitting area outside of the New Castle Presbyterian Church, adorning a pride flag and a sign labeled, "We Love Our Neighbors". (New Castle, June 20th, 2023)

The following information details how LGBTQ+ people are protected by law in Delaware and shows where there is room for improvement and stronger protections.

The legal status of the lesbian, gay and bisexual community in Delaware:

Delaware has a comprehensive nondiscrimination law inclusive of sexual orientation and gender identity, which applies to employment, insurance, public accommodations, housing and public works contracts

The state recently outlawed the panic defense policy, which seeks to justify a defendants actions based on their discomfort with LGBTQ+ people or perceived LGBTQ+ identity

Anti-bullying and harassment laws protect LGBTQ+ students

Delaware law allows any unmarried adult or married couple to petition a court for adoption of a child; second parent adoption is only permitted if you are married. Secular adoption agencies cannot decline prospective parents based on religious beliefs, although religious institutions may claim an exemption. Surrogacy contracts are legal for same-sex couples

Delawares hate crime laws have specified sexual orientation as a protected class since 2001, and gender identity since 2013

The state banned conversion therapy for minors in 2018, making Delaware the 15th state to do so

LGBTQ+ legislation: New Delaware bill seeks to include asexuality and pansexuality under sexual orientation

The legal status of the transgender community in Delaware:

Delaware requires an affidavit from a medical or mental health professional to amend a birth certificate, which must state that the applicant has had surgical, psychological, hormonal or other treatment appropriate for gender transitioning. Neither name change nor surgery are required.

If someone wanting to amend the gender marker on a drivers license is also planning on changing their name, the latter must be completed first. A licensed provider must sign a specific request form for the gender marker change.

Delaware bans insurance exclusions for transgender healthcare and requires insurance to cover gender affirmation surgery.

Got a tip or a story idea? Contact Krys'tal Griffin at kgriffin@delawareonline.com.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Out Leadership's 2024 Business Climate Index ranks state inclusivity
Downtown Durham residents woke up to the sound of church bells on June 1.

But instead of a hymn, the melody You can take me hot to go! rang out from the century-old bell tower of Duke Memorial United Methodist Church.

Katelyn MacDonald, a member and leader in the congregation, was playing queer popstar Chappell Roans hit HOT TO GO! to celebrate the first day of Pride Month.

MacDonald, who usually plays the bells on Saturday mornings, said she and the other members of the congregation with access to the bell tower enjoy the freedom to play whatever they want to.

So she played the popular queer anthem, then left for choir rehearsal at 10 a.m.

By 11:30 a.m., MacDonalds phone was blowing up. She opened it to see dozens of texts from a group chat of her friends.

Katelyn, is this you? one friend asked.

Church goes viral on TikTok

It was. A TikTok of the 116 year-old church bells ringing out H-O-T-T-O-G-O! in Durham was going viral. Now, it has more than 7 million views and 1.5 million likes.

Even Roan reposted it.

I might actually sob. The full acceptance and appreciation for our queerness from the one place we expected to reject us, one user said in a comment.

MacDonald filmed herself playing the bells that morning, so she posted a separate her point of view video on her TikTok account. That video gathered nearly 5 million views and hundreds of comments saying they had seen the original video.

Duke Memorials lead pastor, Rev. Heather Rodriguez, did not know MacDonald had played HOT TO GO! on the bells until she saw the viral TikTok. But Rodriguez said she is grateful MacDonald played a song that would be recognizable to and supportive of our queer community as she blurred the lines between sacred and secular in this important, fruitful way.

Since June 1, MacDonald has played other songs by Roan, including Good Luck, Babe! Pink Pony Club and Red Wine Supernova. As a queer and transgender person, MacDonald sees herself in Roans music and thinks young queer people look up to the 26-year-old star because of her authenticity.

It was the first day of Pride Month, so it just seemed natural to me to play something that was queer, and I felt comfortable doing so because I had the support of my pastor, but also it reflected my church community faithfully, she said.

A church that would see them in this way

When the Pride Month decorations that First Presbyterian Church in Durham had put up were vandalized last week, MacDonald said Duke Memorial came together to help replace what had been torn down.

Duke Memorials welcome statement explains that the church embraces those of every age, race, ethnic background, nationality, gender identity, sexual orientation, family or socioeconomic status, educational background, and physical or mental ability.

Rodriguez acknowledged that many members of the LGBTQ+ community experienced religious trauma. She said Duke Memorial has officiated queer weddings and advocated for the inclusion of queer church members in church leadership positions. They have also participated in Durhams Pride Parade, among other initiatives.

Rodriguez said a member of the congregation who works at a local gay bar had patrons showing them the video, having no idea they, the bartender, even attend a church, let alone are a member of ours.

Another members brother and his husband, in Colorado, said how the video moved quickly through their local community  and how proud they were to claim us, Rodriquez said in an email statement. Youve seen many of the comments on social media  what surprised and moved me were the number of folks who were emotional about a church that would see them in this way.

MacDonald graduated from Duke University Divinity School with her master of divinity in 2021 and plans to be a pastor. She is a second generation pastors kid and is on track to become an ordained elder in the United Methodist Church.

Chappell Roan in North Carolina

But she still wants the church to accept and love gay people better.

Its ironic because the call is coming from the church building and sounding out into the community, but it feels more like the people who really need to hear it are the ones inside the building, MacDonald said.

Roan will be in North Carolina on Wednesday to perform a sold-out show at Red Hat Amphitheater in Raleigh. Originally planned to be held at The Ritz, the show was moved to the larger outside venue due to high demand. Resale tickets to her show are going for several hundred dollars.

MacDonald did not get tickets for Roans Raleigh show and does not expect to go, but she hasnt given up hope. She is leaving town for a conference on Thursday  and is making two travel plans just in case.
Who invented air conditioning? Everything you ever wanted to know about your AC unit

If you live in the Phoenix area, it is likely hard for you to imagine what it would be like to live without air conditioning during the summer.

It would not be strange if occasionally, with heartfelt gratitude, you wondered about who invented this essential cooling system, or perhaps you might admire how science and engineering allow this device to circulate cooler air throughout your home or car.

So, if you're part of that group of curious people wanting to know more about the history of air conditioning and the science behind it, here are the answers to your questions.

Who invented air conditioning?

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the idea started with John Gorrie, an 1840s inventor from Florida who believed cooling cities would help avoid diseases like malaria.

His first cooling systems relied on transporting ice from frozen lakes into the humid state, which was later realized as not too efficient. Gorrie then started experimenting with artificial cooling, which laid the foundation for modern AC.

About half a century later, an engineer named Willis Carrier was asked to solve a humidity problem at a Brooklyn publishing company that was causing magazine pages to wrinkle. So, he designed a system based on cooling coils that controlled humidity by heating or cooling water. He called it "Apparatus for Treating Air," and patented it.

Carrier's technology evolved into smaller and more affordable devices that could be installed at home, and by the end of the '60s, most newly built homes had central air conditioning, boosting population growth in hot states like Arizona.

Battle the Arizona heat: 6 easy air conditioner tips to keep the cool air coming in

How does air conditioning work?

In simple words, think of your air conditioner as your refridgerator. Except the interior of the fridge is your entire house or car.

Air conditioners use the same operating principles and basic components as your refrigerator, according to Energy Saver, a consumer resource created by the U.S. Department of Energy for saving energy. A fridge transfers heat outside of its interior cool, and similarly, AC uses energy to transfer heat out of your home and keep the inside cool.

An air conditioner is made of two coils, one indoor and one outdoor. The indoor coil is called the evaporator and the outdoor coil is called the condenser.

The evaporator is in charge of pulling heat out of indoor air using the help of a liquid refrigerant that evaporates into a gas, thus cooling your home. The condenser then releases the collected heat outside and reverts the hot refrigerant gas to a liquid.

The result is a continuous cycle of heat being removed from indoor air, cool air returning to the home, and heat being released outside the home.

Air conditioners use the same operating principles and basic components as your refrigerator, according to Energy Saver.

Other components of an AC unit include:

Thermostat: This controls system operation.

More components of the outdoor unit: This is a fan that dissipates the heat outside and a compressor that pumps the refrigerant between the evaporator and the condenser.

More components of the indoor unit: This is a fan that circulates the cooled air.

Copper tubing : This allows refrigerant to flow between the indoor and outdoor units.

Expansion valve : This regulates the amount of refrigerant going into the evaporator coil.

Ductwork: This allows air to circulate from the indoor unit out to the various living spaces and back to the indoor unit.

What temperature should I set my thermostat to?

Brianna Callaway, a spokesperson with Valley Services, a Phoenix-based HVAC repair company, said residents should be able to set their AC at the temperature they feel most comfortable with. Yet, she recommended residents keep it set at the same temperature when they are at home and move it up or down as little as they can.

"I would say most people like to keep it around 75 degrees," Callaway said. "When you're gone, you could leave it around 79 or 80, but if you're at home, we recommend keeping it at the same temperature."

Is your air conditioner old? Here's how to know if you need a new AC unit

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Who invented air conditioning? Everything you ever wanted to know
King and Queen to visit Channel Islands after doctors give him the OK

The King and Queen will undertake a summer tour to the Channel Islands, visiting Jersey and Guernsey for the first time during their reign after doctors signed off on travel.

The King, who is undergoing treatment for cancer, will fit in a whistlestop two-day trip to the islands, where he is known as the Duke of Normandy.

He is working his way back to a programme of public engagements after months being kept behind closed doors for health reasons this year, with this considered another step back to normality.

The visit will feature one significant break with tradition  they will not accept the traditional gift of two dead ducks on arrival, it is understood.

When the late Queen Elizabeth II visited Jersey in 2001, she was presented with two mallards on a silver tray  part of an ancient tradition dating back to the Middle Ages when six seigneurs, or lords of the manor, would pay homage to the sovereign as the Duke of Normandy.

Queen Elizabeth is presented with two mallards on a silver tray - FIONA HANSON/PA

The King and Queen will not be given the same gift, The Telegraph can confirm.

They will travel to Jersey on July 15 and then to Guernsey the next day for the short trip, the States of Jersey and Guernsey announced.

It is the couples first visit to the Bailiwicks of Jersey and Guernsey  the two Crown Dependencies off the north-west coast of France  since the King acceded to the throne.

The Kings title of Duke of Normandy dates from when William the Conquerors son, Henry I, seized the Duchy of Normandy, including the islands, in 1106.

Charles, who resumed public-facing duties in April despite his continued treatment for cancer, returned from the busy D-Day commemorations in Normandy last week.

He has a number of high-profile appearances ahead of him, including Trooping the Colour, the Garter Day ceremony and a likely appearance at Ascot in June.

The post-General Election trip will finish before the planned State Opening of Parliament on July 17, which is also the Queens 77th birthday.

The visit will highlight the relationship between the Channel Islands and the Crown which stretches back centuries.

On Jersey, Charles and Camilla will visit the capital, St Helier, and attend a special sitting of the States Assembly and the Royal Court, followed by a large-scale open-air expo.

On Guernsey, the King and Camilla will attend a special sitting of the States of Deliberation and ancient ceremony of homage to the monarch, held outdoors on the St Peter Port seafront where islanders can watch the events.

At official functions, islanders raise the loyal toast to The Duke of Normandy, our King.

The King and Queen will also head to the Crown Pier to learn about the islands heritage and traditions, biodiversity initiatives, local food and the work to promote the language of Guernesiais  also known as Guernsey French.

St Helier, the Jersey capital - GEOFF PUGH FOR THE TELEGRAPH

Bailiff of Guernsey Sir Richard McMahon said: It will be a great privilege to welcome Their Majesties to the Bailiwick for the first time as King and Queen, the year after their coronation.

Their visit this summer shows just how special the relationship between the Crown and the Islands is.

Deputy Lyndon Trott, Chief Minister of Guernsey, said: As is well known, His Majesty also has a special interest in global efforts to combat climate change.

We are looking forward to showcasing our initiatives to support those efforts and promote sustainability across a range of sectors.

That includes the pioneering green finance initiatives of our main economic sector, which have a global impact.

Time constraints mean the couple will not be able to travel to the islands of Alderney and Sark, which are part of the Bailiwick of Guernsey.

Deputy Bailiff of Jersey Robert MacRae announced the visit to members of Jerseys parliament, the States Assembly, on Tuesday morning.

The Lieutenant-Governor of Jersey, Vice Admiral Jerry Kyd, added that Charles and Camilla are looking forward greatly to the trip.

He said: The binding benefits of this special relationship remain as strong as ever and I know Their Majesties are looking forward greatly to their visit next month.

The Crown Dependencies are not part of the UK but are self-governing possessions of the British Crown.

Charles and Camilla, as Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall, last visited the Channel Islands during the Diamond Jubilee year of 2012.
Hermina Glass-Hill, Susie King Taylor Women's Institute and Ecology Center, speaks during the official dedication of Taylor Square on Saturday, February 10, 2024.

This letter is by Hermina Glass-Hill of Midway.

Juneteenth is about freedom, and it is our countrys second Independence Day.

In February, the city of Savannah dedicated Taylor Square in honor of Susie King Taylor, a freedom seeker who succeeded in her escape from slavery. Come Juneteenth (June 19), the Susie King Taylor Museum in Hinesville will display copies of the Emancipation Proclamation as well as General Orders No. 3, the legal decree that enforced freedom to 250,000 enslaved people in Galveston, Texas by Major General Gordon Granger on June 19, 1865.

This is a part of history that everyone in the Coastal Empire, not just Black residents, needs to know. The museum will also display special artifacts relating to Susie King Taylors life as an enslaved girl in antebellum Savannah and Midway, including herbal medicines, kaolin pipes, shackles, a slave tag, and other Civil War-era artifacts.

Juneteenth is about freedom and the museum focuses on Taylors journey from slavery to freedom and into the turn of the 20th century. Taylor self-emancipated by escaping her Liberty County plantation in 1862 before President Lincolns issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation on Jan. 1, 1863, and the issuance of General Orders No. 3 by Major General Gordon Granger on June 19, 1865.

More: Plans for Juneteenth? Pooler, Port Wentworth and Tybee celebrations offer variety of experiences

For more than a century, African American/Gullah Geechee families across the United States have been celebrating Juneteenth, also known as Independence Day, Freedom Day, or Jubilee Day. In 2021, President Biden signed legislation making Juneteenth a federal holiday. Food, fun, and freedom are the order of the day! The dedication of Taylor Square in Savannah last February makes Juneteenth even more special, signifying freedom for all.

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Letter: Susie King Taylor's history is worth knowing this Juneteenth
This Manitowoc couple aims to add a missing piece to the recovery community. They'll hold a fundraiser at Washington Park June 22.

MANITOWOC  Stacy Rendon praises the Lakeshore areas recovery homes, but says theres a need for faith-based accommodations as well.

Stacy and her husband Raul run a ministry called ZION, or Zealous Individuals Off Narcotics. It's part of the nonprofit Creating4Jesus Inc. The couples goal is to raise funds to open a Christ-centered recovery home, in addition to raising funds for other local needs.

Stacy and Raul began doing street ministry about six years ago, she said.

My husband was an addict 15 years ago, Stacy said. He got pulled out thanks to God. Now, hes eight years clean. We started doing street ministry, bringing food to addicts or the homeless, to show them they are loved and are not forgotten.

More recovery news: A new location, drop-in center and director. How Manitowocs Lighthouse Recovery Community Center continues to offer pathways to recovery.

ZION also holds weekly Disciples of Hope meetings at the RoseThorn Coummunity Church, 1015 S. 11th St. Volunteers serve a meal and take time to pray and help those struggling with addiction to find purpose in life and to support them.

Stacy said ZION also offer to pay to send and support people at Christian recovery homes in nearby communities until the nonprofit can raise the funds to build one in Manitowoc.

The recovery homes we have are amazing, but we know there is a need and desire for this type of home in our area, she said. We know there is a need because we see people coming to our ZION meetings from other homes. This will be giving them that missing piece.

Hamilton residency: Trio of diverse artists to spend two-week residency at Hamilton Wood Type & Printing Museum

The ministry will host the ZION Rally fundraiser from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. June 22 at Washington Park, 1115 Washington St., in downtown Manitowoc. The event will include music, bands and artists, as well as food trucks. The event is free, but donations will be accepted.

Learn more at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090955014709, or call 920-629-1843 or send an email to ZION.helps.today@gmail.com.

Contact reporter Patti Zarling at pzarling@gannett.com or call 920-606-2575. Follow her on X @PGPattiZarling and on Instagram @PGPatti.

This article originally appeared on Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter: ZION Ministries in Manitowoc to hold event at Washington Park
Architect, interior designer and hotelier Bill Bensley is sticking both his middle fingers up. His screw you gesture and mock-horrified grimace are targeted not at anyone in the room, but at lazy, cliched ideas of what luxury should look like.

Ive been there, done that, he says of marble floors and grandiose chandeliers. Everybodys seen all that stuff before.

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Speaking from the new home he designed for himself, his partner and their five Jack Russells in northern Thailands Chiang Mai, hes wearing a plain red T-shirt thats spattered with paint. The sides of his head are shaved. At 65, hes youthful, exuberantstill in full possession of the energy necessary to lead a one man war against the blandification of luxury. His clarity of vision has helped to establish him as one of the worlds only brand names in hotel design.

If you design a hotel for everybody, you design it for nobody, says Bensley, who is behind a fresh crop of new hotels opening over the next two years. Unfortunately, off-white is 90 percent of the sales in interiors. Its a shame. People are missing out.

Born in Orange County, Calif., he attended the State Polytechnic Universitys Landscape Architecture, and later Harvards Graduate School of Design. Since 1989, his eponymous studio BENSLEY, with offices in Bangkok and Bali, has taken on more than 200 projects. Many of those hotels, resorts, spas, homes, bars and palaces are the best in Asia. Bentley was tapped for the Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle in Thailand, the Capella Ubud in Bali and Rosewood Luang Prabang, Laos. Hes behind the Royal Istana Palace in Malaysia. Last year, his Shinta Mani Mustang project opened in remote northern Nepal as part of the Bensley Collectionwhich includes his passion project, Shinta Mani Wild in Cambodias Cardamom Mountains (a hotel he co-owns with business partner Sokoun Chanpreda).

Shinta Mani Wild is Bensley passion project. This tent is National Geographic themed.

While his maximalist, vintage, often quirky, designs at those destinationsimagine Suessian sculptures made of brass horns, throne like toilets in leather, Edwardian whimsywithstand any accusation of blandness, his work is often compared to the stylized sets of a Wes Anderson movie. Its a compliment hes happy to take as shorthand for beauty, color, and attention to detail.

Any relationship to Wes Anderson is a huge compliment, he says. Im such a big fan of his. His last movie, I didnt understand a word of it, but it was mesmerizing to me.

Still, Bensley wants to deny any definable signature. Every single client who comes to me wants to have something thats better than the hotel we opened three months ago. Everybody does. So if you stick to the same style, you also stick to the same details and style of work. That doesnt do anybody any good. Its a good thing not to have a particular style, he says.

So perhaps more than the designs themselves, Bensleys real talent is his ability to convince clientswho are often corporate investors that think with their walletsto take design risks. Even he admits that sometimes its impossible.

We did a JW Marriott in Jeju, a tiny island in South Korea, which we opened last year, and the client wanted us to do something that was very Aman, which, to me, is the blandest of everything, he cackles, making the sign of a crucifix with his fingers and play-acting horrified screams like hes being attacked by vampires. I did it to the best of my ability. If anyone says anything weve done is bland, it will be thatI get along with most people, but there is always somebody who thinks they know better and you really wonder, Well, why the fk did you hire me for?

Bensley lives with his partner and their five Jack Russells in Chiang Mai.

Luxury hotels make other mistakes that Bensley finds even more offensive than unoriginality. I just came back from India, Im doing a lot of work there. Everywhereeverywhere you see those tiny little plastic bottles. You walk in the front door of the Taj hotel and they serve you a tray of little plastic bottles. That is immediately a total turn-off for me. Give me something in a glass.

For him, not only does the luxury hospitality mentality lack literal color, there is also a grayness of imagination. He laughs when I mention the sudden rise several years ago of hotel staff telling new arrivals Welcome home (which lacks sincerity when you hear it everywhere) or placing their hand over their heart when interacting with guests (unnecessary, odd, embarrassing for all concerned).

This is something at Shinta Mani we absolutely tell our guys not to do, he says. We tell them not to say How was your flight?all those meaningless questions. If someone asks a question, it should be something theyre really interested in.

Capella Ubuds 22 fantastical tents are chock-full of patented Bensley design and drama.

The trend Bensley is glad to see catching on is that travelers are much more conscious of how they spend their money, much more than 10 years ago, he says. Theyre concerned about who is paying back in the community, who is treating their people right, who is doing conservation and doing the right thing in the world.

Thats so important because, no matter how exotic the design, you cannot impress wealthy guests with design alone. After all, their homes in many cases out do the 5-star hotels they stay in.

The experiences we create have very little to do with decoration, says Bensley. What I strive for is to teach people something in each particular place. If someone can come away and theyve learned something new, theyre going to remember your hotel. Its learning about conservation or how poor a lot of South-east Asia is. People might come from nicer places than the hotels weve built but theyre not going to learn the same things.

Kozala Zamba will open in the Congo in 2025.

Hes currently excited about Kozala Zamba, a new project hes working on with the Congo Conservation Company in the Congo, expected in 2026. It consists of four tiny camps, spanning Nouabale-Ndoki National Park and Odzala-Kokoua National Park, which will help provide greater protection against illegal logging and poaching.

The last time I was there, it took a 42-kilometer march through water up to our knees to get there, he says. But by doing that, you really understand how the jungle works. Im marching with the BaAka, the Pygmies, spending time with them, understanding what building materials they use, how they build their houses, how they respect their jungles. That absorbs very deeply into me.

In Udaipur, where hes working on the new Ritz Reserve on a lake Pichola Lake (December 2025), he researched the local stone, textiles, glass and plaster work, which he calls probably better than anywhere else in the world. In Luang Prabang, where he is currently renovating his Bensley Collection property, he spent a week making drawings of his favorite columns, pedestals and steeples in the region. He plans to reopen the resort as a new Shinta Mani at the end of 2025. The next Shinta Mani will then be in Kathmandu.

Im like a kid in a candy shop, I want to eat everything, he says. He wants to give it all back, too. For almost 20 years, hes been helping 22 villages to the north of Siem Reap in Cambodia via the Shinta Mani Foundation, which aids work in education, skills training, microfinancing, water and healthcare, as well as wildlife conservation.

DDT has been reintroduced into the farms, he says. Were seeing cerebral cancer in five and six year old kids. Its horrible whats happening there. In my final years, my big goal is to help people like that as much as we possibly can. This year, Ill probably end up building 60 to 80 homes for these guys. Ive started a formula program for babies. Many young mums in Cambodia have to go back into the fields to tend the rice, so theyll stop breastfeeding, and their babies are on rice and water from three months old, so many of the kids are stunted and not getting proper nutrition. Weve got great donors, like the Walton and Bezos families. I had lunch last week with Bill Gates; hes a fantastic guy and he made a donation. Were using all of that money very wisely.

He also donates from his featured designer roles for Baker-McGuire furniture and with Jim Thompson Fabric. He operates Painting With A Purpose, which has raised $250,000 from auctions at Four Seasons Bangkok and W Hotel Bangkok. The money goes to his foundation and Wildlife Alliance, the NGO whose armed rangers protect the 865-acre forest and wildlife around Shinta Mani Wild.

So is making a difference to peoples lives and healing the environment more satisfying than building a new hotel? Yes, he grins, mouthing the words silently, like he doesnt want the hotel owners who pay him big bucks to design their properties to hear where his real priorities lie. Way, way more satisfying.

Bensleys paintings support his numerous philanthropic efforts.

So could it be that the three-pronged Bensley attackout-of-the-box design, cultural erudition and philanthropyis the formula to reanimating the corpse of luxury weve been waiting for? Perhaps. In 2020, he published a Sensible Sustainability Solutions white paper for the global industry, pushing for hotels to have a purpose beyond just selling rooms.

I said luxury is dead, Bensley recalls. But really what I meant is Lets dig deeper.

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Traditional Japanese societal norms have long reinforced the expectation that women should abandon their careers once they have children to become full-time homemakers and caregivers. However, this antiquated notion felt too limiting to Shoko Fujiwara, a single mother of three and entrepreneur. She believed strongly that each family member should be able to thrive and live authentically.

Driven by this conviction, Shoko founded the Mama55 Project, a company dedicated to empowering mothers through flexible remote employment opportunities in telemarketing. Her goal was ambitiousto spark a societal shift where mothers could maximize their power and potential without sacrificing family life.

The results have been remarkable. Annually, Shokos company provides more than 1,000 mothers with the freedom and flexibility to work from home while raising their children. Through the Mama55 Project, she is paving the way for a more equitable future where motherhood and career ambitions are no longer viewed as mutually exclusive in Japanese culture.

Changing the gender norms

Ingrained cultural norms have historically placed the role of breadwinner squarely on mens shoulders, resulting in a gender-based division of labor that relegates many mothers to unpaid work inside the home. As a result, Japanese men spend fewer hours on domestic work than their counterparts in any other wealthy nation, according to a report by The New York Times.

Even taking paternity leave was frowned upon, until recent government policy changes started to have a positive impact: In 2023, 24.4% of dads reported taking paternity leave in Japan, up from just 9.6% in 2019.

Of course, these paradigms come at a cost for women, who are often placed in the role of default parent and caretaker, which limits their own career options.

Japan is still a male-dominated society, and I think there are many areas where we [as women] limit ourselves, Shoko tells Japanese outlet Neomamaism, in an interview that has been translated from Japanese. For example, some women may think that they cant do telemarketing because they feel theyre not good at it. However, when women become mothers, they make compromises, and become tougher and stronger. I want them to believe in the strength mothers have and to cherish their own potential.

Shoko believes its about finding confidence. Personally, I think that having money to earn yourself, even if its only 5,000 or 10,000 yen a month, gives you confidence and increases your freedom of choice, which is a good thing, she adds. Its really the little things. Buying a cup of coffee with your own money, buying cute clothes for your child. These things add up to confidence, so I run my business with the hope that people will cherish even the smallest things.

Creating flexible jobs for mothers

Based in Setagaya Ward, Japan, Mama55 supports working mothers by offering them flexible work in sales, no experience required. Our main business is telemarketing contract work, providing mothers all over the country with work that can be done from home using an AI calling system. An AI calling system may sound complicated, but in simple terms, it involves calling companies based on a list, providing information about B2B services, and helping with new business development, she explains.

Since we work with partner companies with a wealth of marketing experience, we have extensive training and manuals. We provide thorough know-how in a short four-hour online training session, so even those with no experience can get to work smoothly.

Shoko intimately understands the challenges of juggling work and childcare responsibilities. Its hard to stick to a schedule, so its hard to balance work with childcare, and I felt stressed working in a constantly changing situation, she says, citing child illnesses and daycare pickups. Which is why she set out to create something betternot just for herself, but for mothers everywhere.

Today, Shoko often hires mothers who may only have pockets of time between parenting duties, as well as those living in remote areas. Her goal? Offering women the flexibility and supportive community they need. By doing so, I think you can work and have peace of mind for a long time. We want to continue listening to the voices of moms and providing even more support.
NEW MEXICO (KRQE)  New Mexico residents will be able to visit New Mexico state parks for free on Friday, June 14.

LIST: Summer activities offered at ski areas and mountain resorts in New Mexico

The opportunity is in recognition of National New Mexico Day. New Mexicos State Parks are cherished by generations of residents across our great state, Toby Velasquez, State Parks director, said in a news release.

Residents will have to show a valid New Mexico ID to get free day-use access. The entrance fee waiver for the 35 parks does not include camping or rental fees. For information on state parks in New Mexico, 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 KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos.
Miami! We finally won!: This chef was just named among the best in the country

Valerie Chang, the Peruvian-born chef whose restaurant Matys in Midtown Miami has earned national praise, won a James Beard Award on Monday.

Chang won in the category of Best Chef: South.

At the ceremony in Chicago, an enthusiastic Chang thanked her parents, who emigrated to the U.S. from Peru.

I love you, Peru! she said.

She also gave a shoutout to Miami, which has suffered from a James Beard Award drought for its chefs and restaurants. Former Miami Herald food editor Carlos Frias earned James Beard Awards for writing in 2018 and 2022.

I cant believe Im standing here, Chang said. Miami! We finally won! We got something for Miami.

Only one other Miami contender made it to the finalist round. Caracas Bakery owners Manuel and Jesus Brazon, who fled Venezuela in 2008, were semifinalists in the Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker category but lost to Atsuko Fujimoto of Norimoto Bakery in Portland, Maine.

Chang got her start with her brother Nando and father Fernando in the beloved Peruvian-Japanese Itamae inside a Design District food hall in 2018. The siblings together were nominated for a James Beard Award for Rising Star Chef of the Year in 2019 for Itamae.

The pair didnt win but Nando always recognized his sisters potential. Back in 2019 he told the Miami Herald that he deferred to her judgment: Whatever Val thinks should go, should go. In terms of being a chef, shes always been head and shoulders ahead of anyone else in the family.

Chef Valerie Chang, here with her brother Nando and father Fernando, is the force behind Matys. She is a 2024 nominee in the Best Chef: South category for the 2024 James Beard Awards.

She opened her own Peruvian spot, named for her grandmother, in March 2023. It was named best new restaurant in 2023 by Bon Appetit and Esquire. Food & Wine ranked it the No. 15 restaurant in the country.

Miami chef Valerie Chang is getting personal, Bon Appetits Kate Kassin wrote. She wanted to create a space where she could highlight Peruvian cooking traditions that honor her grandmother Maty. Chang is the driving force behind this new venture, serving up dishes that are warm and soulful, like a vibrant cebiche mixto with black grouper and crisp calamari or the fluffy tortitas de maiz. A fried snapper arrives curled dramatically around cornmeal-dusted fish nuggets, and a whole roasted dorade sits pretty on an ode-worthy aji amarillo beurre blanc.

Changs interest in the kitchen began at a young age. When her father moved to the United States in 1998, she became her grandmothers kitchen helper. When she finally joined her father in the U.S., he had become an accomplished sushi chef and she spent her weekends watching him work. Eventually she ended up in Las Vegas in Thomas Kellers restaurant Bouchon, later in Barcelona before finally reuniting with her family in Miami.

This is my calling. This is what I was born to do, she told the Herald in 2019.

Matys

Where: 3255 NE First Ave., Miami

Hours: 4-10 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday and Sunday; 4-11 Friday-Saturday

Information: matysmiami.com or 786-338-3525
June 11 (UPI) -- Six members of a 1944 high school graduating class met up at a Denny's restaurant in Oregon for their 80th class reunion.

The Salem High School Class of 1944 alumni gathered over the weekend at the Salem eatery that has hosted most of their reunions for the past several years.

The class members in attendance were Bill Juza, Doris Ritchey Powers, Trudie Meier Gavette, Gayle Crozier Priem, Gladys Dalke Welty and Iris Wall.

The reunion opened with the group memorializing five classmates who died in the past year, before moving on to introductions of family members and the reading of a poem written by Gavette -- an annual tradition at the reunions.

The class was recognized by Guinness World Records last year as the longest running class reunion, but lost the title when Guinness learned of the members of a 1938 kindergarten class from Alameda, Calif., who held their 83rd reunion in 2023.
The hamburger. A humble sandwich that's an endlessly customizable American icon. Want some bacon on it? Sure; how about an egg, too? Or maybe some onion rings on the patty instead of just onions.

And everyone has their favorite place for a burger, too -- from fast food to the local diner, or maybe something fancier at a sit-down restaurant.

According to Reader's Digest, the best hamburger isn't always where you would think -- it might come from the corner gas station. But the publication is here to help with its "The Best Burger in Every State" listing.

Here's what burger joints Reader's Digest has as the finest in Ohio and neighboring states.

A Galley Boy is served with fried mushrooms and a vanilla shake at Swensons at 40 S. Hawkins Ave. in Akron.

What's the best burger in Ohio? The Galley Boy burger at Swensons Drive-In

Here's what Reader's Digest has to say about the Galley Boy at Swensons Drive-In:

"Youd be hard-pressed to find someone in Ohio who hasnt tried a Galley Boy from Swensons Drive-In. This double-patty burger is served on a buttery toasted bun with cheese and two secret sauces. Though the popular drive-in (with multiple locations across the state) has never shared what exactly those secret sauces are, they best resemble tartar sauce and barbecue sauce. The burger is finished off with a signature olive on a toothpick for a recognizable flair."

Founded in Akron in 1934, Swensons has spread across Ohio and into Indiana.

The restaurant has six locations in the Akron-Canton area, six in Greater Cleveland, five in Columbus, two in Cincinnati, one in Youngstown and one in Indianapolis.

In Indiana? Bru Burger Bar is best

Here's what Reader's Digest has to say about Bru Burger Bar:

"With nine locations in Indiana, plus extra in Kentucky and Ohio, Bru Burger Bar is a convenient place to stop when youre in the Midwest. Featuring a signature grind of sirloin, chuck, and brisket, plus locally sourced produce (some even grown in Brus own greenhouse), the chef-crafted burgers will have your mouth watering in no time. Cheese lovers should look out for the Garlic Three-Cheese, a combination of Swiss, American, mozzarella, roasted garlic, and truffle aioli that makes for a decadent dining experience."

In Ohio, the restaurant has locations in Cincinnati, Montgomery and Westerville (north of Columbus).

Kentucky's best burger? Mussel & Burger Bar

Reader's Digest writes:

"Located in Louisville is Mussel & Burger Bar, featuring 15 different burgers made with 100-percent-certified Black Angus beef, ground in-house daily. Try the decadent Southern Bell topped with pimento cheese, remoulade sauce, and fried green tomatoesit wont disappoint. Breakfast lovers will gravitate toward the BBB, stacked high with a fried egg, maple-glazed pork belly, caramelized onions, aged white cheddar, and maple syrup aioli, all on a house-made bun."

Millers Bar takes the top spot in Michigan

According to Reader's Digest:

"Just outside of Detroit is Dearborn, where Millers Bar has been grilling up some of the best burgers in town since 1941. Made with a special blend of meats and topped with a thick slice of Velveeta cheese, burgers here are served commando style on wax paper with a side of pickles and white onions. Place your order and pay at the bar counter (cash only) by the honor system, then get ready to dig in."

Pennsylvania's primo burger comes from Burgatory Bar

What Reader's Digest writes about Burgatory Bar:

"Head to one of Burgatory's Pittsburgh-area locations for a specialty burger. Get ready to Meat Your Maker with one of the most popular options, a dry-aged Wagyu beef patty with a sweet onion crust, topped with aged Gruyere cheese, roasted tomatoes, organic field greens, and truffled shallot aioli. Or try making a custom creation from the expansive selection of toppings. While youre there, wash down your burger with a specialty milkshake to round out the experience."

In West Virginia? Fat Pattys is the place to go

Reader's Digest writes:

Head to one of the three Fat Pattys locations in West Virginia (theres also one in Ashland, Kentucky) for a tasty selection of starters, build-your-own pizzas, and, of course, burgers. Keep it simple with the Patty Burger, or try a slightly more adventurous fan favorite, the Raspberry Popper Burger. The latter starts off with a fresh beef patty and is topped with lettuce, tomato, onion, cream cheese, sauteed jalapenos, and the signature Fat Pattys raspberry melba sauce for a sweet-and-spicy finish.

This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: Ohio's best hamburger comes from Swensons Drive-In, says Reader's Digest
Southwest's Big Birthday Sale Has Flights Up to 50% Off  but You Have to Book Soon

The deal ends June 13.

Stephen M Keller/Courtesy of Southwest Airlines

Southwest Airlines has a whirlwind of promotions to celebrate its birthday, with up to 50% off flights this fall and winter.

"Our Wanna Get Away Week provides some of our best deals of the year to earn points, said Southwests vice president of marketing, Jonathan Clarkson, in a statement. Rapid Rewards Members also can get early access to this sale by booking on mobile devices or through the Southwest app to get first access to millions of seats."

The sale, which ends on Thursday, June 13, at 11:59 p.m. PT, has up to 50% off the base fare on flights across its network, excluding any government taxes and fees. Flights within the continental U.S. can be booked for travel between Aug. 6 and Dec. 18, while flights to Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and international destinations can be booked for travel between Aug. 20 and Dec. 17. The following blackout dates apply:

Continental U.S. flights: Aug. 30, Sept. 2, Nov. 22 to 27, Nov. 29 to Dec. 2

Travel to Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and international destinations: Aug. 29 to Sep. 3, Nov. 21 to 25

Travel from Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and international destinations: Aug. 29 to Sep. 3, Nov. 29 to Dec. 3

To see the savings applied, travelers must use the promo code BDAY when searching for flights on Southwests website. On flights that count toward the sale, a green banner will read, Score! Promo code BDAY has been applied. Enjoy your extra savings below!

Travel + Leisure tested the promo code across many one-way flights in its Wanna Get Away fare class:

Raleigh-Durham to Orlando: $48 ($79 without the promo code)

Phoenix to San Diego: $83 ($149 without the promo code)

Nashville to Destin: $86 ($155 without the promo code)

Los Angeles to Honolulu: $162 ($252 without the promo code)

Baltimore to Montego Bay: $196 ($275 without the promo code)

Throughout the rest of the week, Southwest has ongoing promotions exclusively for its frequent flier members, including up to a 50% discount when purchasing Rapid Rewards points and up to 1,000 bonus points on purchases via its online shopping portal.





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Read the original article on Travel & Leisure.
Be sure to check out your mail, as a Corpus Christi celebrity might be featured on a stamp.

Daisy, a Kemp's ridley sea turtle at the Texas State Aquarium, is one of six sea turtles to be featured on the new Protect Sea Turtles Forever stamps set.

A dedication ceremony for the stamps was held at the aquarium Tuesday, where people were able to purchase the stamps and even see Daisy in her habitat.

People wait in line to purchase new stamps featuring a sea turtle from the Texas State Aquarium Tuesday, June 11, 2024.

Aside from Daisy, the stamps showcase a leatherback, an olive ridley, a green sea turtle, a loggerheard and a hawksbill.

Daisy the first sea turtle to join the Texas State Aquarium in 1990, according to Communications Manager Amanda Pruett.

Daisy, a Kemp's ridley sea turtle at the Texas State Aquarium, is one of the many sea turtles featured in a new set of stamps that were unveiled at the aquarium Tuesday, June 11, 2024.

Before she was to be released, the verterinarian team discovered Daisy had cataracts  making it difficult for her to hunt prey or spot predators in the wild. The team ended up keeping Daisy and she can be found swimming around the Islands of Steel exhibit.

President and CEO Jesse Gilbert said for the past five to six years, the aquarium's sea turtle rescue program has released more than 3,100 sea turtles back to the Gulf of Mexico after rehabilitation.

He said he is proud of the aquarium playing a small part in sea turtle conservation.

Maverick Goodman, 4, poses for a photo as he sticks his head out of a cut-out of a loggerhead sea turtle at the Texas State Aquarium Tuesday, June 11, 2024. Goodman and his family were visiting from Stephenville, Texas.

"I think this stamp shows the power of the sea turtle and how connected people are to these beautiful animals," Gilbert said. "Right now, we're developing plans to start a training center where you can come and be part of the training and learn how to be part of conservation in the field. That should be coming in the near future."

To purchase the stamps, visit your local post office or visit store.usps.com/store/stamps.

RELATED COVERAGE

More: Students get taste of Texas State Aquarium Wildlife Rescue program

More: Beat the heat: Here's where to cool off in Corpus Christi

John Oliva covers entertainment and community news in South Texas. Contact him at john.oliva@caller.com or X @johnpoliva.

Consider supporting local journalism with a subscription to the Caller-Times.

This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Texas State Aquarium's first sea turtle featured on USPS stamps
Columbus vintage clothing store is expanding after less than a year. What will be new?

A Columbus vintage clothing store is expanding after opening in Highside Market last fall.

Silver Hanger owners Owen Cotthaus and Felix Rosario opened the store in hopes of bringing the vintage trend popular in major metropolitan areas like Atlanta to Columbus.

Felix Rosario and Owen Cotthaus opened a new vintage clothing store, Silver Hanger, in Highside Marker on Oct. 6, 2023.

Now, less than a year after opening, the store will take over the space previously occupied by the popup Dragonfly Toys & Gifts in the development. Highside Market is a mixed use development featuring new construction along with historic preserved structures at 211 13th Street.

This expansion adds another 300 square feet to Silver Hanger bringing it to 745 square feet in total.

Silver Hangers expansion marks a significant milestone and a step forward for their business, said Chris Woodruff, president of The Cotton Companies.

The stores open floor plan is designed to expand their inventory and incorporate aspects to foster community engagement, Woodruff said.

Silver Hanger offers vintage clothing, streetwear, footwear accessories and home goods. But the added space allowed Cotthaus and Rosario to introduce new sections including a designer and streetwear section along with a collegiate section that primarily features gear from the University of Georgia, the University of Auburn and the University of Alabama.

Felix Rosario and Owen Cotthaus opened a new vintage clothing store, Silver Hanger, in Highside Marker on Oct. 6, 2023.

Another benefit the expansion provides Silver Hanger is the ability to host pop-up events with other vintage sellers and local businesses. Hosting events was a goal for Silver Hanger from the beginning, Cotthaus previously told the Ledger-Enquirer.

Its a great way for us to collaborate more with others in the vintage and fashion industries and further engage with this special community in Columbus, he said in a news release.
Is your $100 bill a counterfeit? Sonora wants you to check

SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage)  Are you certain that the $100 bill youve been holding onto is the real deal? Sonora residents may want to double-check.

According to a statement issued to the public by the City of Sonora on June 10, the Sonora Police Department has received multiple reports of counterfeit $100 bills circulating within the city. To combat the rise of the decoy dough, the City is urging all residents, especially local businesses, to be vigilant and take the necessary steps to identify and avoid these fraudulent bills.

Businesses are encouraged to educate their employees on how to identify counterfeit bills, the City said. Utilize counterfeit detection pens or markers and follow the identification tips provided above to prevent the circulation of fake currency.

San Angelo 17-year-old dead following 2-car crash

To this end, the City shared tips provided by the United States Treasury for detecting counterfeit cash. It recommends using these methods:

Color Shift in Ink  Hold the bill and tilt it back and forth. Observe the numeral in the lower right-hand corner. Genuine bills will shift in color from green to black.

Watermark  Hold the bill up to the light. A genuine bill will display a watermark in an unprinted space to the right of the portrait.

Security Thread  Hold the bill up to the light to see an embedded security thread. For $5, $20 and $100 bills, the thread is located to the left of the portrait. For $10 and $50 bills, it is to the right of the portrait.

Ultraviolet Glow  Under ultraviolet light, different denominations will glow different colors: $5 glows blue, $10 glows orange, $20 glows green, $50 glows yellow and $100 glows red.

Microprinting  Look for minute microprinting around the portrait and on the security threads of the bill.

Websites and online tools provided by the federal government, such as this interactive money identification guide offered by the U.S. Currency Education Program or this .pdf chart created by the U.S. Secret Service, may also provide useful tips for identifying counterfeit money.

The Sonora Police Department also offered guidelines for what to do should you discover that you have received a counterfeit bill. According to the City, these guidelines are as follows:

Do not put yourself in danger.

Do not return the bill to the passer.

Delay the passer with an excuse if possible.

Observe and note the passers and companions descriptions, as well as their vehicle license plate numbers if possible.

Contact your local police department or call your local Secret Service office immediately.

Write your initials and the date in the white border area of the suspected counterfeit bill.

Do not handle the counterfeit note excessively. Place it in a protective cover, such as a plastic bag or envelope, until you can hand it over to a law enforcement agent or Secret Service agent.

Stay alert and report any suspicious activity to help keep our community safe, the City said. Thank you for your cooperation.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ConchoValleyHomepage.com.
$100K settlement for mom who called 911 for help, got punched instead

DENVER (KDVR)  Three years after a Denver mom called 911 for help but ended up punched and arrested, the city council approved a $100,000 settlement for what she went through.

The settlement comes after a lawsuit filed in state district court by Lidya Ryans, who claimed she had sought police help to get her husband to leave their home after a dispute about the care of her disabled son but ended up facing prosecution for charges that were ultimately dropped.

Today marks the end of a very long journey for Ms. Ryans, her attorney, Cameron Bedard, said. Shes been heroic in standing up for her rights and it shows the city what one mom can do when she stands up for her rights. Today is her day to have her rights vindicated.

Colorado district attorney faces disciplinary hearing

On April 20, 2021, the officers were dispatched to Ryans home for a call coded as nature unknown. According to her lawsuit, Ryans had called 911 not to report a crime, but to ask for assistance in making sure her husband left their home peacefully.

Mother calls police for help with home dispute

The couple had been involved in a dispute about the care of Ryans son. Ryans was concerned that her then-husband might wake her 19-year-old mentally disabled son, who has permanent brain damage and struggles with emotional regulation.

The lawsuit states that her son was experiencing one of his regular mental health episodes, in which he becomes overwhelmed and yells and cries in tantrums. These tantrums often precede seizures.

Ryans had just put her son to bed and wanted to ensure he was not awakened by her husband, whom Ryans was demanding to leave the couples home.

Denver police had previously placed an annotation in their 911 call records identifying Ryans home as one where a person with mental health issues lives. That annotation further instructs the Denver Police Department to always send a CIT (Crisis Intervention Team) officer to Ryans home.

By the time the three Denver police officers arrive, they were told by Ryans, as heard on body camera video, that they were no longer needed: I just told her (dispatcher) you couldnt come in my house, get out of my house, I didnt ask you to come in here.

Screen grab of Denver Police Department body camera video showing a woman and an officer speaking inside a home

Moments earlier, police had asked if they could come in through an open door, and Ryans can be heard yelling no. But the officers entered anyway and without a search warrant. Once inside, body camera video obtained by the Problem Solvers shows Ryans being verbally combative with officers, trying to assess why theyve been called to the home.

One officer yells, You called the police, and Ryans responds, I said get out. I didnt allow you to get into my s. That is against the law.

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My son has a traumatic brain injury, she yells to police when her non-verbal son walks into the room and appears to hit a female officer in a possible effort to help his mother.

At that point, Ryans lawsuit alleges at least one officer punched her in the head, and two of them shoved her up against a wall and finally pushed her into a glass fixture that shattered on the floor.

Ryans would be arrested and accused of assaulting a law enforcement officer.

Charges dismissed against mother in Denver case

It would take 21 months, but the Denver District Attorneys Office ultimately dismissed the charges against Ryans.

The District Attorney ultimately did right by Ms. Ryans, dismissed her charges, and then Ms. Ryan sought justice in the civil courts by pursuing a civil rights, excessive force, malicious prosecution and unlawful home entry claim, Bedard said.

On Monday, Denver City Council approved the $100,000 settlement in Ryans case.

Ryans was one of two excessive force settlements approved by the council on Monday. A second case was settled for $400,000 after a Denver deputy broke an inmates wrist with nunchucks.

Councilwoman Shontel Lewis read the following statement about the settlements at the council meeting: After consistent feedback from my constituents, I see it as my responsibility to ensure that the public is aware of every tax dollar being approved as an expenditure and payment of funds for a settlement with the City and County of Denver. My office is tracking every dollar by department and as a running total. With the approval of 24-0770 and 24-0771 the city will approve $100,000 and $400,000 respectively, to settle cases brought against the Denver Police Department and the Denver Sheriffs Department, bringing the 2024 total for tax payer dollars in city settlements to $3,026,000. I want it to be clear to everyone watching that we are paying attention, that we are watching how the city spends our money, and that we are making decisions for the future with this knowledge.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Hours before House Speaker Tim Moores campaign confirmed his plans to run for a congressional seat last fall, he stood before reporters and TV cameras on a patch of land overlooking the interchange of two interstates near Charlotte Douglas International Airport.

Moore announced he had earmarked nearly half of a $100 million discretionary fund to add lanes to the interchange of I-85 and I-485. The funds will help fix a traffic bottleneck in the newly formed congressional district where he is running for a House seat.

State officials had ranked the project behind dozens of other pressing transportation needs across the state and werent planning to tackle it until 2033. But Moore got it fast-tracked, he said.

An aerial view of Interstate 85 and Interstate 485 during rush hour near Charlotte Douglas International Airport in Charlotte, NC on March 26, 2024.

We had the funds, simple as that, said Moore, a Cleveland County Republican, at the news conference on Nov. 2. This has been something weve been working on here for over a year really, and we finally in this years budget had the money to be able to allocate it.

That money wasnt in his chambers budget proposal that passed in April, or the state Senates counter proposal approved a month later. The $100 million  an appropriation not tied to specific projects  was tucked inside a 786-page supplement to a 625-page compromise budget bill.

It was not made public until Sept. 20, the day before lawmakers voted on it and six weeks before Moore announced the interchange funding.

At that point in the budget approval process, no lawmaker could propose changes before the vote. Democrats who were locked out of the final budget talks had no idea the $100 million had been added, they say. The budget passed with the votes of all Republicans and a few Democrats.

I didnt know it was that rich, state Senate Minority Leader Dan Blue, a Raleigh Democrat, said of the discretionary fund.

The $100 million is one example of state lawmakers in the past several years adding major spending to state budgets just before they go to a final vote, giving little time for public scrutiny and no opportunity for removal.

The budget, which lays out a spending plan for public dollars, is arguably the most significant piece of legislation passed each year. Last years budget was just under $30 billion.

Technically, lawmakers pass a two-year budget in odd-numbered years, but they adopt substantial budget modifications the next year.

In two of those budget modification years  2018 and 2022  North Carolina legislative leaders skipped the public process of developing a budget entirely. They negotiated behind closed doors a final budget that they then rolled out for votes, something veteran observers of state government say theyve not seen before.

The late, high-dollar spending creates distrust among the public while making it more difficult to root out flawed policies and government waste, open government advocates say.

There should not be spending of public tax dollars that has not been discussed openly, debated openly and available for public comment and response, said Ann Webb, Common Cause North Carolinas policy director.

Moore, whose nearly 10-year tenure as House speaker is expected to end after this legislative session, did not respond to News & Observer questions about such budget spending in April, May and June.

A budget fund with a politicized history

The NCDOT contingency fund that Moore pulled the $45 million from has been under a dark cloud since the 1990s. The budget item has long been called a slush fund for the House speaker, Senate leader and the NCDOT secretary  whether they be Democrat or Republican  who traditionally split the money.

N.C. House Speaker Tim Moore listens during a press conference Wednesday, March 29, 2023, where he and the House Republican budget chairs talked about their state budget proposal.

Don Carrington, the retired executive director and lead investigative reporter for The Carolina Journal, a conservative John Locke Foundation publication, often wrote about the contingency fund, saying it puts political interests over transportation safety.

It was wrong when I wrote about it, said Carrington, who retired in 2020. Its still wrong now.

Moores spending, as described by an N&O reporter, looks like another example of a political move, he said.

If safety is the main concern, then it wouldnt need a special push from the leader of the House, Carrington said.

Lawmakers created the fund in the mid-1980s. For decades they deposited roughly $10 million a year, with legislative leaders spending often going into favored lawmakers districts.

That wasnt the only area where politics were influencing road building. Some appointees to the N.C. Board of Transportation who were big campaign fundraisers had steered projects near their or their families businesses and had to resign after news reports exposed it.

In 2009, then Gov. Bev Perdue signed an executive order intended to depoliticize transportation spending. The order banned board members from voting on individual projects and required DOT experts to develop a data-driven formula to determine where transportation dollars should go.

Since then, transportation needs are evaluated, prioritized and placed on the Statewide Transportation Improvement Programs list of projects for the next 10 years. The list is updated every two years and approved by the transportation board, a process that allows transportation needs that have become more urgent to move up the list.

The contingency fund for lawmakers continued, even after Republican and Democratic gubernatorial candidates called for an end to it in 2008. Lawmakers annually placed roughly $10 million into the fund, including Republicans when they took control in 2011.

An aerial view of Interstate 85 and Interstate 485 during rush hour near Charlotte Douglas International Airport in Charlotte in March.

GOP House and Senate leaders sought to bump it up to $22.5 million in 2019, budget records show, but Gov. Roy Cooper, a Democrat, vetoed that budget. Two years later, they increased the fund to $62 million in a budget that Cooper signed.

But the most dramatic change happened in 2023 with an unknown budget writer inserting $100 million, bringing the account to $112 million. And unlike past years, lawmakers didnt give NCDOT Secretary Joey Hopkins a cut of the $100 million, said Jamie Kritzer, an NCDOT spokesman. Cooper let that budget pass without his signature because it included money for the Medicaid expansion hed sought for years.

Hopkins did not respond to numerous requests for comment through a family member and Kritzer. Cooper appointed him to the job in October after he had served in a variety of NCDOT positions for more than 30 years, including chief operating officer.

Senate leader Phil Berger, a Rockingham County Republican, said he didnt request the $100 million increase and wasnt sure who did. He agreed to it because the state had a $3 billion surplus last year, and the money was going to projects that had a demonstrated need and NCDOT approval, he said.

Kritzer said all the projects require NCDOT approval. But Moore didnt wait, announcing it ahead of the boards December meeting, when it was formally approved, records show.

It would upgrade a congested interchange that drivers have complained about for years. Regional and state transportation officials began eyeing it for improvements in 2018.

The $45 million Moore committed to the interchange project on the edge of his hoped-for congressional district is by far the largest award from the fund since 2020.

It is nearly $38 million more than the next most expensive project: $7.25 million committed to better connect downtown Pembroke to the UNC Pembroke campus and the Lumbee Tribes state headquarters.

An NCDOT spreadsheet of projects paid for by the contingency fund over the past four fiscal years shows the majority of them were at the request of Republican lawmakers in the House and Senate.

Setting up Speaker Moore for success

Moore and his Republican colleagues reconfigured the 14th Congressional District as part of redistricting in October. By the time they were done, much of a previously Democratic-leaning district held by a freshman Democrat, U.S. Rep. Jeff Jackson, was shifted out of Mecklenburg County, adding more Republican voters. Jackson opted to run for state attorney general.

The 14th District now incorporates all of Cleveland County, where Moore lives, and stretches west into Polk County. The interchange is a major eastern gateway to the congressional district, which now includes a new casino near Moores hometown of Kings Mountain. Moore had done legal work for Skyboat Gaming, a company that had partnered with the Catawba Nation Indian tribe to develop the casino.

At the time of his announcement, Moore had serious competition in the Republican primary for the 14th District: Pat Harrigan, a Green Beret and businessman who built up name recognition in 2022 with an unsuccessful bid against Jackson.

A month later, Harrigan opted to run for another Republican-leaning district  the 10th  when Rep. Patrick McHenry decided not to seek re-election.

Moore subsequently cruised to an easy victory over two lesser-known candidates in his partys primary. He is expected to easily win the U.S. House seat in the general election against Democrat Pam Genant, a registered nurse and Army veteran.

Budget limit goes away

Two top budget writers for their respective chambers, Rep. Jason Saine of Lincoln County and state Sen. Ralph Hise of Mitchell County, said they supported adding $100 million to the long controversial DOT fund.

Saine said he also supported Moore putting $45 million of it into the Charlotte interchange.

Is it a political decision? Probably, he said. Is it an obvious one also because it is a jammed up intersection?

Rep. Jason Saine, left, talks with Rep. John Torbett during the N.C. House session in Raleigh, N.C., Wednesday, June 21, 2023.

The $100 million came from the general fund, which pays for a wide array of services, including education, health care and public safety. There are competing uses for that fund. A $100 million pot of money, for example, would provide for a third of the funding to keep hundreds of day care centers open for another year as federal COVID relief funds expire this month. It could provide an $1,100 bonus to teachers at a time of rising turnover or $1,300 bonuses to state employees at a time of increasing vacancies.

Berger, like House leaders Saine and Hise, defended the practice of inserting hundreds of millions of dollars in spending into the final budget so close to final votes.

Theres a lot that goes into putting a budget together, Berger said. Every bit of it is not supported by every member that voted for it. But when you are deciding to vote or not support I think youve got to balance whether or not overall if theres more good than questionable.

There used to be more guardrails on this states budgeting process. In resolutions legislators passed each session from the late 1980s to 2003, both chambers agreed to limit what could be included in the final version of compromise budget bills  known as conference reports  to what had first appeared in either chambers versions.

For years it was standard for lawmakers to develop budget bills with a more open process involving subcommittees and hearings in those subcommittees. That openness sometimes exposed wasteful spending and worse.

In 2003, for example, budget subcommittee hearings for public safety spending helped expose criminal misspending within the John A. Hyman Memorial Youth Foundation, a nonprofit founded by then U.S. Rep. Frank Ballance.

Prosecutors said Ballance diverted money from the foundation he co-founded, which received state funds to fight drug and alcohol abuse in lower-income communities, to his law firm and family. The Warren County Democrat and former state senator received a four-year prison sentence.

Former U.S. Rep. Frank Ballance is handcuffed by FBI special agent Chuck Stuber after he turned himself in at the United States District Court building in Raleigh.

Even today, when the House and Senate release their own budget proposals, there are opportunities for revisions. And rank-and-file lawmakers, the public and journalists spot spending items that sometimes dont survive the scrutiny.

That happened last year when the House budget proposal included a special retirement benefit for the executive director of the Conference of District Attorneys. Lawmakers dropped it as the budget was heard in the House Appropriations Committee.

The Democrat-led Senate began adding wiggle room to the rule prohibiting big changes to the budget bill in 2003, saying matters that were germane to what had been passed in the House or Senate could be considered. But the House stuck to the original rule until 2011, after Republicans took control of the General Assembly.

Its a rule lawmakers ought to return to and codify, said Ran Coble, the retired executive director of the nonpartisan N.C. Center for Public Policy Research, which closed in 2021. It served as a watchdog over the legislature.

This would protect rank-and-file legislators from last-minute surprises that cant be easily untied from the budget items and other measures that had already been agreed on, Coble said.

Coble said Republican leaders have backslid on budget transparency since gaining control of the legislature for the first time since Reconstruction. Budget bills have swelled, with those in 2021 and 2023 exceeding 600 pages. An N&O review of budgets going back to 2001 shows only two others exceeded 400 pages, in 2015 and 2017.

Its natural that when party control changes, the party thats been out of control for a long time wants to enjoy the results of being in control, Coble said. I dont fault them for that, but the changes away from that relatively fair process are a loss.

This is the first in a series of News & Observer reports called Power & Secrecy exploring the rise of both in the N.C. General Assembly since 2011, when Republican lawmakers won control of both chambers for the first time since Reconstruction.
Thanks to new 3D technology, passengers will no longer be required to stick to 100ml liquid limits - Getty

British holidaymakers face a summer of confusion, as the Department for Transport has instructed all airports to revert to old 100ml liquid rules  despite the fact that many airports now have new 3D scanners in operation.

In December 2022, the Government ordered all UK airports to roll out a new generation of high-tech security scanners, meaning passengers boarding flights from UK airports would no longer need to adhere to the strict 100ml hand luggage liquid limits, which have been in place since 2006.

The new scanners will enable passengers to travel with liquids up to two litres per container  additionally, you will no longer need to remove liquids from your hand luggage at security. Laptops and tablets will also be able to remain in the bag.

Some smaller airports (see full list below) had successfully introduced the new scanners by the June 2024 deadline, but a number of the UKs bigger airports have now been given an extension to 2025 as they failed to hit the deadline.

However, on Sunday June 9, the Department for Transport instructed those airports that have introduced the new scanners to revert to pre-existing 100ml liquid rules, amid concerns that the checks werent secure enough. Confused? Heres everything you need to know about airport liquid rules, and when they are likely to be lifted.

What is the latest Government advice on airport liquids?

A Department for Transport spokesperson said: From 0001 on Sunday June 9 2024, 100ml restrictions on liquids will temporarily be reintroduced for passengers travelling from six regional airports where Next Generation Security Checkpoints (NGSC) are in full operation.

This temporary move is to enable further improvements to be made to the new checkpoint systems and will only affect a small number of passengers. For most passengers, security measures will remain unchanged.

Passengers should continue to check security requirements with their departure airport before travelling.

This means that, until advised otherwise, anyone flying out of any UK airport this summer must continue to follow the pre-existing 100ml liquid rules. It is unknown when this instruction will be overturned.

Karen Dee, chief executive of the AOA, said the change had been made with very little notice and created uncertainty for travellers just as airports enter their busiest periods of the year.

Travellers will soon be able to say goodbye to the plastic bag at security - Getty

Which airports have the new scanners in place?

In early 2023, London City Airport and Teesside International Airport became the first British airports to roll out the cutting-edge scanners, enabling passengers to board flights without removing liquid miniatures or electronics from their bags.

Newcastle, Leeds Bradford, Aberdeen and Southend have also introduced the new scanners and had relaxed their rules on liquids prior to the DfTs latest advisory.

Birmingham Airport also completed the roll-out of the new scanners in May 2024, but with a partial regulatory limit, so it had not rolled out the new, more relaxed rules. In recent days the airport has seen lengthy queues outside the terminal, which have been blamed on confusion around the liquid allowance. EasyJet has advised passengers flying from Birmingham to arrive an hour earlier than usual, to ensure they dont miss their flight.

Bristol says the new scanners will be operational from June 14, Luton Airport says roll-out is in its final phase, while Belfast City and Belfast International airports both also said that installation was in its final stages.

What about Heathrow, Gatwick and Manchester?

The Telegraph contacted all of the UKs international airports for a status update. Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester and Stansted confirmed that while progress had been made in installing the new security lanes, the full programme would not be completed until later in 2024 or early 2025. All other regional airports said progress was underway and to follow existing rules, for now.

Im flying soon, what should I do?

Passengers should adhere to the existing liquid rules until informed otherwise. This means carrying liquids no greater than 100ml, and removing them from your hand luggage in a see-through bag at security.

ABTA has warned holidaymakers and business travellers to prepare for trips by following existing rules for hand luggage and airport security. A spokesperson said: Our best advice is to prepare for your travels with the existing rules in mind. That way, youll be ready to comply whatever the scenario, avoiding any unnecessary delays through security and any difficulties when returning from your destination.

Which airports overseas have the technology in place?

Amsterdam Schiphol, Helsinki, Frankfurt, Rome Fiumicino, Milan (both Linate and Malpensa), Cork and Shannon are among the European airports to have rolled out the new technology. However, not all have scrapped their 100ml liquids limit; Amsterdam, for example, still recommends that liquids should be divided into 100ml containers or else could be confiscated.

Dublin, Madrid Barajas, Palma de Mallorca and Barcelona El-Prat plan to follow later in the year, and Paris-Orly and Geneva have been trialling the tech in recent months. A number of other airports, like Munich and Malaga, have 2025 or 2026 as scheduled completion dates. Further afield, many airports in the USA, the Middle East and the Far East have had the tech in place for years.

Why does the 100ml liquid limit exist?

The in-flight liquid limit was introduced in 2006 after British police foiled an Islamist terror plot to detonate explosives on transatlantic flights. They planned to smuggle liquid explosives disguised as soft drinks in their hand luggage, in what would have been the deadliest terror attack since 9/11. After the foiled plot, the Government raised the terror threat from severe to critical and as a precautionary measure banned hand luggage on all planes.

The hand luggage allowance was soon relaxed, but the liquid ban remained  not just in Britain but in countries around the world. To this day, you cannot get through UK airport security checks with any liquids over 100ml in volume, and any that do meet regulations must be sealed in a transparent resealable bag. But that is all changing.

Which liquids will I be able to take on a plane?

All liquids, including creams, cosmetics, aerosols and alcohol will be allowed on board. However, note that explosive, toxic or flammable liquids are not permitted in either hand or hold luggage.

This story was first published in March 2023 and has been revised and updated.

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A 12,000-year-old hidden forest was unearthed in Manitowoc County. Here's what to know about it.

Did you know that Manitowoc County is home to a 12,000-year-old hidden forest on the shores of Lake Michigan?

The Two Creeks Buried Forest State Natural Area is located about 30 miles southeast of Green Bay. Once encapsulated under silt and clay deposited during Wisconsin's glacial period, the ancient forest now provides a "unique, precise record of the multiple glacial advances and retreats in this area during the Wisconsinan stage of glaciation," the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources says.

Today, natural erosion of the shoreline has exposed logs and other remains of the once-buried forest, spilling them onto the beach among modern driftwood, said Scott Schaefer, interim director of UW-Oshkosh Fox Cities' Weis Earth Science Museum. Layers of clay, silt, sand and the buried forest are visible on a steep bluff along the lakeshore, providing scientists and nature lovers alike with an illuminating look into our geological past.

These logs could be samples from the Two Creeks Hidden Forest buried thousands of years ago.

Here's what to know about this unique natural area:

How old is the Two Creeks Buried Forest?

According to the Wisconsin DNR, unearthed wood at the site has been radiocarbon-dated at 11,850 years old.

In April, a small group of geologists and a landowner found two wood fragments that could be about 13,500 years old. Differences in color, texture and most notably density characteristics clued in geologists that the wood was not from recent times.

These specimens will be on display at the Weis Museum (1478 Midway Rd., Menasha) during Menasha's 150th anniversary celebration on Tuesday, June 25. Schaefer will conduct free tours from 3 to 7 p.m.

How did the Two Creeks Buried Forest form?

Wisconsin is well-known for its glacial landforms, created when glaciers spread across the state over the course of 20,000 years  from about 32,000 to about 12,000 years ago, Schaefer said. Scientists call this the "Wisconsin glacial episode," a cold climate period in the most recent ice age.

After the glaciers reached their maximum extent around 20,000 years ago, the climate started to change, and the glaciers retreated. The climate was warming but in inconsistent patterns, varying between warmer and colder conditions, each lasting hundreds to a few thousands of years.

During a warm phase about 14,000 years ago, a "mature boreal-like forest of black and white spruce, hemlock, pine, various mosses and other plants developed in the Two Creeks area near Lake Michigan," the DNR says.

Shortly after, an advancing glacier blocked the northern Lake Michigan drainage way. This caused lake levels to rise, flooding the forest and covering the ground with silt and clay, preventing the forest from decomposing. Later, when the southern end of the glacier reached the area, it flattened the forest, leaving behind another clay layer embedded with logs and other debris, the DNR says.

These layers are now visible from the bluff at Two Creeks Buried Forest and contain long-buried branches, logs, and stumps of spruce, pine and hemlock trees. Conifer needles, cones, mosses and terrestrial snails are also present in the layers.

The site provides evidence that periods between substage glacial advances were long enough for forests to develop, the DNR says. The forest is a unit of the Ice Age National Scientific Reserve and a popular study site for geologists, botanists, glacial ecologists and climatologists.

Can I visit the Two Creeks Buried Forest?

Yes, the Two Creeks Buried Forest is owned by the DNR and was designated a State Natural Area in 1967.

There's a historical marker at the location, and visitors can park in the northwest corner of the site and walk freely on the grounds. The DNR strictly prohibits the removal of any material from the site.

Where is the Two Creeks Buried Forest?

The Two Creeks Buried Forest State Natural Area is located off State 42 in Two Rivers.

The forest is about 100 miles north of Milwaukee and 30 miles southeast of Green Bay.

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: What to know about Two Creeks Buried Forest in Manitowoc County
WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU)  Police are investigating an incident after they say a 12-year-old assaulted another child in Wilkes-Barre.

According to the Wilkes-Barre City Police Department, on June 7 around 12:20 p.m., officers were called to a house on Coal Street for a report of an assault.

PD: Fight between five teens at Wilkes-Barre park

Once on the scene, police said they learned the victim, an 11-year-old girl, was assaulted while walking home from school.

The victim claimed she didnt know the name of the suspect except they were a 12-year-old girl who attended the same school as the victim, officers stated.

The investigation is ongoing.

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16-year-old hiker gets split up from family as wildfire burns on trail, WA cops say

A 16-year-old hiker got separated from their family as an approaching wildfire burned on a trail nearby in Washington, deputies said.

The wildfire was reported June 8 on the north shore of Lake Chelan, the Chelan County Sheriffs Office said in a Facebook post.

Deputies responded to the area by boat after there were reports of the fire crossing the Chelan Lakeshore Trail, where hikers were known to be.

Authorities checked docks and helped seven hikers from Moore Point, a starting point for the trail.

As they did, they learned a 16-year-old had gotten split up from their family on the trail and was missing.

Another hiking group later sent a satellite emergency activation to Global Rescue saying the missing teen was with two other hikers, deputies said.

Deputies said the group reported needing medical help near the Meadow Creek area, which is southeast of Moore Point.

The teen was picked up by deputies in a boat and returned to their family at Prince Creek.

Lake Chelan is about a 215-mile drive northeast from Seattle.

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Catapult shots launched during what is believed to have been the longest siege in medieval English history have been unearthed at Kenilworth Castle, Warwickshire.

The eight well-preserved boulders, which weigh as much as 16st, were launched during King Henry IIIs siege of the castle in 1266, when England was in the grip of civil war.

The discovery was made during building works to improve accessibility to the Grade I-listed building, with some of the projectiles found just below the surface.

Its not every day we get lucky enough to stumble across historical remains like this by chance, said Will Wyeth, a properties historian at English Heritage. Imagine the surprise of the team when we unearthed these impressive stone projectiles that are nearly 800 years old.

The catapult shots were capable of causing significant damage - RICHARD LEA-HAIR

The shots vary greatly in size, with the largest weighing 16st 8lb and the smallest just 2.2lb.

Archaeologists were quickly able to date them to the medieval siege, based on similarities to stones discovered in the 1960s.

Mr Wyeth said they would have been capable of causing serious damage, with records showing that one of Henrys wooden siege towers, containing around 200 crossbowmen, was destroyed by just one well-aimed missile.

The King besieged Kenilworth Castle for 172 days during the Second Barons War, when a number of noblemen, led by his brother-in-law, Simon de Montfort, the Earl of Leicester, rose up in an attempt to curb his power.

A 14th Century illustration of the siege

De Montfort had been granted custody of the castle in 1244, and after he was killed at the Battle of Evesham in 1265, his supporters continued to use it as a base for their resistance.

After the Kings messenger to the rebels returned with a severed hand, Henry decided to recapture the castle by force, launching a siege that lasted from June 25 until December 13, 1266.

He deployed a vast arsenal of weaponry in his attacks, including 60,000 crossbow bolts and nine siege engines, in an attempt to breach the strongholds 14ft thick walls.

The rebel garrison, inside, was equipped with similar launching devices, and it is the stone projectiles fired from both sides that have been discovered outside the West castle walls.

After almost six months the rebels succumbed to starvation and disease before surrendering to the King, who then gave the castle to his son, Edmund, Earl of Lancaster.

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19,000 unaccompanied migrant children have come to Tenn. since 2015; most ended up with family

Migrant children coming to Tennessee are ending up predominantly in Davidson and Rutherford Counties. (Photo: John Partipilo)

Migrant children coming to Tennessee are ending up primarily in Davidson and Rutherford Counties. (Photo: John Partipilo)

Almost 19,000 unaccompanied migrant children have crossed the United States border and ended up in Tennessee since 2015.

Most of the children coming to the state have been placed with family members like a parent or sibling, with a vast majority arriving since the coronavirus pandemic.

The placement of unaccompanied migrant children made headlines in Tennessee three years ago when news reports emerged of the abuse of some of the children placed in a Chattanooga facility.

There were also news reports of a late-night flight to Chattanooga transporting children to Tennessee around the same time, prompting many state Republican leaders to express concern over the lack of transparency from the federal government about the childrens presence.

The unaccompanied children have ended in many of the states counties, but slightly less than half have ended up in the two Middle Tennessee counties home to Nashville (6,926 children) and Murfreesboro (1,112).

This data comes from New York Times obtained from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services after filing a lawsuit. It was released to the public at the end of the year. The data covers documented unaccompanied minors crossing the border between Jan. 1, 2015, and May 28, 2023.

The Times used this information to publish a series of stories revealing how many of the children who crossed the border without their parents ended up working in brutal jobs, such as food processing plants making Cheetos and Lucky Charms, often in violation of child labor laws. In Tennessee, The Times discovered a 12-year-old migrant child working as a roofer.

The newspapers articles were honored with the Pulitzer Prize for investigative reporting in May.

The placing of migrant children

Since 2021, nearly 400,000 children have crossed the U.S. border without their parents, with most fleeing countries suffering from economic turmoil.

A vast majority of these children are from Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador. This trend is also reflected in Tennessee, where 96% of the unaccompanied migrant children come from those three countries.

The post 19,000 unaccompanied migrant children have come to Tenn. since 2015; most ended up with family appeared first on Tennessee Lookout.
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)  Buffalo police said theyve arrested two people in relation to the theft of nearly $12,000 in tools and equipment on Seneca Street.

Police said the thefts took place nearly a week ago, on June 5. According to police, two men entered a construction site on the streets 900 block by climbing a security fence before proceeding to cut the lock on a shed containing tools. Police said this took place at approximately 3:40 a.m.

The suspects, who are both Buffalo residents, were identified as 26-year-old Colton Schultz and 31-year-old Richmond Gibson. They were arrested the following day and charged with grand larceny, criminal trespassing and criminal mischief. Schultz was additionally accused of criminal possession of stolen property.

Police said the tools and equipment have been recovered and returned to their owner.

Latest Local News

Evan Anstey is an Associated Press Award, JANY Award and Emmy-nominated digital producer who has been part of the News 4 team since 2015. See more of his work here and follow him on Twitter.

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HANFORD, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE)  Two men have been arrested after assaulting and robbing around $200 worth of items from someone in Hanford, the Hanford Police Department said.

On June 2, at around 4:20 p.m., officers say an individual was assaulted and robbed in the 500 block of Cameron Street. The victim was approached by two men while walking westbound. One suspect, identified as Isaiah Salas, displayed a black handgun with an extended magazine and challenged the victim to fight.

Police say as the victim attempted to flee, Salas and the second suspect, later identified as Christian Martinez, pursued him. Salas struck the victim in the head with the handgun, causing the victim to fall, while Martinez physically attacked him.

According to investigators, while the victim was being assaulted on the ground, items were taken from them valued at $200. Both Martinez and Salas fled the scene in a gray four-door sedan with tinted windows and silver rims.

Detectives say the suspects were identified during the investigation, and they were both taken into custody without further incident.

Anyone with additional information on this case is encouraged to contact the Street Crimes Unit at the Hanford Police Department at 559-585-4724.

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***Learn about dangerous highways in the video above.***

PLAIN TOWNSHIP, Ohio (WJW)  Two men face charges after investigators say a driver crashed into a Stark County sheriffs cruiser and led a short chase Tuesday morning.

The crash happened just after 7 a.m., while a Stark County sheriffs deputy was stopped at a traffic light at the intersection of Middlebranch Avenue and Schneider Street NE in Plain Township, according to a release from the sheriffs office.

Investigators say the sheriffs cruiser was rear-ended by a 2017 Ford Focus. The driver then got out of the Ford and tried to run, but he was quickly apprehended, according to the sheriffs office.

Macedonia festivals on hold; Summerfest tarnished after Saturday shooting, says mayor

The driver, identified as Nickolas Hamilton, 30, of Louisville, was charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated, assured clear distance, driving under suspension, failure to stop after an accident and possession of drug abuse instruments.

Investigators say Hamilton also had several outstanding warrants for his arrest.

A passenger, identified as Robert Pinkerton, 55, of Canton, was arrested for multiple outstanding warrants. Hes also charged with obstruction of justice.

The sheriffs deputy and both suspects were treated for non-life-threatening injuries at local hospitals. Hamilton and Pinkerton were later taken to the Stark County Jail.

Mother pleads guilty to killing 3-year-old son

Thankfully, injuries sustained were not life-threatening. I am proud of our teams swift response in managing the situation effectively, Stark County Sheriff George Maier said in the press release. We remain committed to upholding the safety of our roadways and this case serves as a crucial example of why our work is so important.

The crash remains under investigation at this time. Anyone with additional information should call the Stark County Sheriffs Office at 330-430-3800.

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CENTERVILLE, Utah (ABC4)  Two girls allegedly broke into a Centerville elementary school and got away with several ukuleles early last week, authorities said.

Lt. Allen Ackerson with the Centerville Police Department said the break happened on Monday, June 3, around 9:30 p.m. at Centerville Elementary near 350 North 100 East. The two girls allegedly used a rock to shatter a window of an outside classroom and climbed inside.

A still from surveillance shows two girls in the area of Centerville Elementary where a reported break-in occurred. (Courtesy: Centerville Police Department)

Ackerson said the girls spent about an hour inside the classroom before leaving with ukuleles in hand. Investigators said one of the girls may have cut herself on the glass as some blood was found at the scene.

As investigators continue to follow leads, Ackerson asked the public to report anything related to the break-in.

If anyone knows of any young girls who recently acquired some ukuleles and maybe have unexplained injuries, we would definitely be interested in talking to them, said Ackerson.

Ackerson also asked the public to keep an eye on Utahs public schools, especially when school isnt in session.

Thats where their kids go, right? [The public can] help us keep an eye on them and make sure they stay unvandalized, especially during the summer when there are less people attending, explained Ackerson.

Anyone with information about the break-in can call the Centerville Police Department at 801-291-8441.

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2 NE Ohio men going to prison for running illegal gambling ring, not paying the IRS millions

2 NE Ohio men going to prison for running illegal gambling ring, not paying the IRS millions

**Video above: Attempted robbery, shooting led Akron police to unrelated illegal gambling operation earlier this year

CLEVELAND (WJW)  For years their lifestyles included extravagant gambling trips, luxury vehicles, country club memberships and stacks of cash and silver at multiple properties. All the while the two Northeast Ohio men were running illegal gambling businesses in Canton and working hard to thwart the IRS.

Whats to come for gambling in Ohio? State lawmakers evaluate next steps

Monday, the U.S. Attorneys Office, Northern District of Ohio announced Christos Karasarides Jr., 59, of Canton and Ronald DiPietro, 65, of Clinton were sentenced to years in prison and ordered to pay back millions in restitution.

They were previously found guilty this year of money laundering, gambling, tax, obstruction and conspiracy crimes that ran from 2009 through July 2018 and beyond.

The men were among 10 people indicted last July for various illegal gambling crimes.

Along with others, the two had illegal businesses like Skilled Shamrock and Redemption, where customers could come and play slots. Skilled Shamrock alone, according to court documents, raked in about $34 million between 2012 and 2017, netting a $7 million profit. None of which was taxed.

The IRS was onto the two, and DiPietro, a now former certified public accountant, helped his business partner falsify his tax returns. Karasarides also asked multiple people to lie for him during the investigation into his affairs, court documents showed.

In total, Karasarides caused a tax loss to the IRS of $5.4 million and DiPietro caused a tax loss to the IRS of $4.7 million, the U.S. Attorneys Office said in a statement.

Canton man who left lottery ticket in truck for a week wins $2 million

Karasarides was sentenced to a little more than 21 years in prison and must pay $5,541,520 to the federal government, and also give up his house and more than $400,000 in cash. DiPietro has to serve a little more than nine years in prison, and is ordered to pay a restitution of $4,763,520. Both men are seeing three years of supervision upon release.

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20-year-old motorcyclist dies after hitting two semi trucks on I-82 west of Tri-Cities

A 20-year-old motorcyclist died Monday night after hitting two semis on Interstate 82 near Prosser.

Wyatt D. Collins of Toppenish was riding his Triumph Street motorcycle east on the interstate about four miles east of Prosser when he began passing two semi trucks hauling trailers, according to a Washington State Patrol.

WSP investigators say he was passing unsafely.

Collins hit one of the trucks and then struck the second one about 8:15 p.m. He was thrown from the bike.

He was rushed to Prosser Memorial Hospital where he died.

The two truck drivers  Sukhdarshan S. Bassan, 48, of British Columbia, and Leandro J. Dominguez, 31, of White Swan  were not injured.
Multiple candidates are vying for the Colorado House District 65 seat after Rep. Mike Lynch, R-Fort Collins, chose to run for a different office.

In January, Lynch announced his candidacy for the 4th Congressional District. There are three candidates vying for the House District 65 spot, including Democratic candidate Will Walters, who is unopposed in the primary election, and Republican candidates Lori Garcia Sander and Trent Lane Leisy.

The primary election determines each party's candidates for the Nov. 5 general election.

More: Your guide to the 2024 Colorado primary election

House District 65 encapsulates multiple municipalities including Wellington, Windsor and part of Fort Collins.

To find your legislator, click here.

What's the difference? A voter guide to districts for Colorado's House and Senate, U.S. Congress

The Coloradoan conducted a brief Q&A with Leisy and Sander via email.

Lori Garcia Sander, Republican

Lori Garcia Sander, House District 65 candidate.

You can learn more about Sander on her campaign website.

What are the main issues you plan to focus on if elected?

I'm focusing on the economy, education, and safety of Coloradans. I will work to keep legislation focused on pocketbook issues that affect Colorado's taxpayers and citizens. I'll focus on decreasing regulations, taxes, and fees that hurt small businesses; inviting teachers, administrators, and parents to the table when discussing legislation that affects classroom instruction and schools; and ensuring that we support law enforcement for safety in our communities. Additionally, I'll work to protect our agriculture and oil and gas industries.

Can you provide a brief description of your career experience thus far and if you've run for a political office before?

I just retired after 25 years in education where I was a teacher and a school and district administrator in rural and suburban schools in both Weld and Larimer counties. Prior to working in education, I was employed during my college years at a bank as a teller and supervisor. I've never run for a political office before, but I've volunteered on many campaigns for candidates running for school and town boards and state and federal offices.

Campaign finance

As of a report filed May 30, Sander's campaign had received $14,885 and spent nearly $7,500. The report also noted $512.50 in nonmonetary contributions.

Trent Lane Leisy, Republican

Trent Leisy, House District 65 candidate.

You can learn more about Leisy on his campaign website.

What are the main issues you plan to focus on if elected?

If elected to Colorado House District 65, I will focus on doing everything I can to end illegal immigration, sanctuary cities, child and human trafficking, protect our farmers, the 2nd Amendment, parental rights, our children, and most importantly, will never compromise with evil.

Can you provide a brief description of your career experience thus far and if you've run for a political office before?

For the past two decades, I have worked in agriculture selling corn seed to farmers across five states. I'm a Navy veteran and have served on the school board in Weld RE-4 and am currently serving on the Weld County Council. In October 2023, I announced my run for Colorado U.S. House District 4. I felt it was best for myself, the people of Colorado House District 65, and the MAGA movement that I change races.

How much funding have your raised for your campaign so far?

According to the Secretary of State's records, Leisy has $0 in campaign funds.

Background check discovery

As part of a standard background check on all the candidates, The Coloradoan did find a distraint warrant for Leisy of $28,627.00.

A distraint warrant is a legal document giving a department of revenue the power to collect delinquent taxes or seize and sell sufficient property to satisfy delinquent taxes, according to the Colorado Department of Revenue, which is listed as the plaintiff for Leisy's distraint warrant in online court documents.

When asked about the distraint warrant, Leisy replied via email:

"This is from a tax bill from 2022. No, I have not paid this bill and will not pay it until the state legislature decides to spend my tax money effectively. I am done with my tax dollars being used to hurt me by increasing ridiculous tax rates and give free money to illegal aliens. Once that occurs, I will pay my tax bill. I posted a video about it on my website that you can view."

According to the Colorado Department of Revenue, when all other legal options have been exhausted, the department may take the following actions to collect unpaid taxes upon the issuance of a distraint warrant:

Filing a judgment or lien with the county to prevent the sale of assets.

Referral to a third-party collection agency.

Seizure of assets such as wages, bank accounts and property such as cars, boats or real estate.

Applying your state or federal income tax refund to the tax debt.

Answers in this article have been lightly edited for clarity, accuracy and style.

This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Colorado House District 65: Q&A with Lori Garcia Sander, Trent Lane Leisy
Florida Democrats expect to have a full complement of state House and Senate contenders filing as candidates during this weeks qualifying period, with the robust roster seen as a pivotal step toward reviving a party now at an historic low.

Qualifying began noon Monday and continues until noon Friday. And while some House and Senate districts may look out of reach for Democrats because voter registration skews heavily Republican, the party still sees value in having a full field of candidates.

Earlier this year, the party put up billboards around the state seeking candidates and officials since then have been tutoring contenders in the basics of campaigning.

In 2022, we left seats unchallenged, which resulted in low turnout for Democrats, said Danielle Hawk, director of candidates and campaigns for the Florida Democratic Party. She ran unsuccessfully that year for a congressional seat in the Gainesville area.

When we have candidates running everywhere, we give Democrats in every corner of the state a reason to show up and vote on Election Day, she added.

The party tried a similar tactic in 2020, fielding candidates in all but one of the 131 legislative seats then on the ballot. It didnt change the partys minority standing in the Legislature, but President Biden did unseat President Trump that year nationally.

Trump, though, carried Florida by 3.3%, more than double his 2016 margin.

2022 election continues to haunt Democrats

For Florida Democrats, though, its the dark memories of the 2022 elections that continue to haunt. More than 30 legislative seats that year drew no Democratic candidates, an early sign of what would prove to be a political debacle for Floridas once-dominant party.

In November, Gov. Ron DeSantis was reelected by a 19 percentage point margin  the largest gap in a Florida governors race in 40 years.

DeSantis flipped counties that Biden had won: Miami-Dade, Palm Beach, Hillsborough, Pinellas and Duval. Turnout was a factor with registered Republicans casting ballots while plenty of Democrats gave the 2022 election a pass.

In Miami-Dade, the biggest Democratic county in the state, 61% of registered Republican voted compared to only 46% of registered Democrats, state records showed.

Election results left Democrats with no statewide officeholders. And when the dust settled, Republicans had picked up four congressional seats and Democrats were left facing GOP supermajorities in the state House and Senate.

Democrats, though, also must contend with a changing Florida electorate.

Well before the 2022 election, signs of trouble for Florida Democrats were evident. But at the end of 2021, Republicans edged out Democrats in registered voters statewide for the first time in modern Florida history.

Since then, the GOP has built up a more than 900,000-voter advantage over Democrats.

Chair of the Florida Democratic Party Nikki Fried speaks in front of the Joseph Woodrow Hatchett U.S. Courthouse and Federal Building on April 30, 2024.

Democrats think ... there's a chance

Democratic leaders though, say that this year, theres a chance. Having candidates running down ballot who are organizing in their communities will boost the top of the ticket, Hawk said.

The party already has fielded candidates in every one of the states 28 congressional districts, whose qualifying period was in April. Now, Democrats are expected to file in the 120 House seats and 20 Senate contests set for the ballot in November.

Democrats say the lineup will help motivate Democrats and no party-affiliated voters, who now make up 26% of the states electorate. In a polarized political year, NPAs could prove critical in many races.

NPAs can narrow the margins that are going to decide the outcome of many of these races, said Eden Giagnorio, a Florida Democratic Party spokeswoman.

Milestone reached as Florida turns red: Florida's growing GOP dominance dims presidential fight in state

Republican Party of Florida Chairman Evan Power poses for a portrait in front of the Historic Florida Capitol building on Thursday, Feb. 8, 2024.

Power, the Republican chair, predicted, Republicans keep adding Republicans and we are going to win in November, and we are going to win big.

But he conceded that by Fridays qualifying end, the GOP will likely have bypassed some House and Senate contests, especially when the partisan voter balance would make them longshots.

We are focused on winning, not moral victories, Power added.

Democrats say driving their turnout in more community-focused legislative and congressional races translates into more votes for Biden, helping him compete against Trump the presumptive GOP nominee.

And they could help the Democratic nominee against Republican U.S. Sen. Rick Scott in November.

Democrats will choose among a crowded field of candidates, led by former Miami U.S. Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, in the August primary.

Running for office is a deeply personal decision and it requires huge sacrifice by our candidates, Hawk said. When the state party has someone to help them along the way and the party is willing to invest in them, they know they dont have to do it alone.

John Kennedy is a reporter in the USA TODAY Networks Florida Capital Bureau. He can be reached at jkennedy2@gannett.com, or on X at @JKennedyReport.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Florida Democrats say full field of contenders will help drive turnout
25-year-old Wisconsin man tells deputy he didnt want to get his vehicle towed, arrested for 5th OWI & drug charges

COLUMBUS, Wis. (WFRV)  A man in central Wisconsin reportedly did not pull over for a deputy because he did not want to get his car towed so he drove to a parking lot before getting arrested for his 5th OWI.

The Columbia County Sheriffs Office posted on its Facebook page about a recent OWI arrest. On June 10 around 1 p.m., a deputy saw a vehicle driving on Highway 151 with several equipment violations and tried to pull over the vehicle.

Officials say that the vehicle did not pull over and continued into the City of Columbus. Eventually, the vehicle stopped and the driver reportedly told the deputy that he did not want to get his vehicle towed so he kept driving until he got to a parking lot.

Sheriff: Two kayakers in Wisconsin hang onto tree after overturning near dam, rescued

The release says the driver showed signs of impairment and the deputy did an OWI investigation. There was probably cause to arrest the driver for Operating While Intoxicated, according to authorities.

The driver, a 25-year-old man from Sun Prairie, was arrested and sent to the Columbia County Jail on the following charges:

OWI 5th

Failure to install IID

Possession of Cocaine

Possession of Drug Paraphernalia

Violation of Probation

Resist Officer  Failure to Stop

Operating While Revoked (criminal)

Authorities say that the driver will also be getting traffic citations related to the incident. The Columbia County Sheriffs Office said that impaired driving continues to be commonly happening in the county. Columbia County Sheriffs Office on Facebook

No additional information was provided.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton.
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)  Three Jamestown residents were charged with endangering the welfare of a child Monday afternoon for allegedly having 12.3 grams of crack cocaine at a residence, the Jamestown Police Department announced.

Around 12:20 p.m., the Jamestown Metro Drug Task Force and Southern Tier Regional Drug Task force conducted a search warrant at a Forest Avenue apartment with the JPD SWAT Team.

A two-year-old child, Gerald Samuels, 18, Janya Samuels, 19, and 21-year-old Simeon Leeper, who is currently on parole through New York State, were inside the residence, officials said.

Police said the crack cocaine was located in the kitchen. All three were arrested and transported to the Jamestown City Jail. While in jail, Gerald Samuels was allegedly found to also be in possession of 9.2 grams of fentanyl.

Courtesy: Jamestown Police Department

Gerald Samuels was charged with the following:

Fourth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance

Fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance

Endangering the welfare of a child

Janya Samuels and Leeper were both charged with endangering the welfare of a child.

All three are held pending arraignment in the Jamestown City Court.

Latest Local News

Katie Skoog joined the News 4 team in April 2024. She is a graduate from the University at Buffalo. You can view more of her work here.

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Crista Eggers, left, the campaign coordinator for Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana, accepts petitions from a volunteer, Samantha Chavez of Omaha, in June 2022. If the group is successful in its bid, Nebraska will join Florida and South Dakota in asking voters this fall whether to legalize some marijuana use. (Paul Hammel/Nebraska Examiner)

Crista Eggers, left, the campaign coordinator for Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana, accepts petitions from a volunteer, Samantha Chavez of Omaha, in June 2022. If the group is successful in its bid, Nebraska will join Florida and South Dakota in asking voters this fall whether to legalize some marijuana use. (Paul Hammel/Nebraska Examiner)

Nebraskan Crista Eggers is running up against a July 3 deadline. If she can get at least 87,000 names onto each of two petitions before then, she can put an initiative on the states November ballot that would legalize pot for medicinal purposes.

The petition effort is personal. Her 9-year-old son, Colton, has epilepsy and severe seizures, and medicinal cannabis can be prescribed to treat such conditions.

Im a caregiver to a child that needs medical cannabis access. Ninety-five percent of our people collecting [signatures] are Nebraskans who know someone who needs access and needs this issue on the ballot, said Eggers, an Omaha resident and the campaign manager for Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana.

If the group is successful, Nebraska will join Florida and South Dakota in asking voters this fall whether to legalize some marijuana use. In Florida and South Dakota, where medical marijuana is already allowed, voters will be asked to legalize adult recreational use.

South Dakota voters approved a constitutional amendment legalizing cannabis for recreational and medicinal use in 2020, alongside a separate initiative legalizing medical marijuana. The constitutional amendment was later overturned by the state supreme court; the medical marijuana initiative went forward without a challenge. The 2022 election saw South Dakota voters reject another attempt to legalize recreational cannabis. This fall will mark the third straight election in South Dakota with a recreational marijuana measure on the ballot.

Thirty-eight states and the District of Columbia allow the medical use of cannabis products, and 24 plus the District of Columbia allow adults to use it recreationally, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Cannabis is still illegal under federal law, but 74% of Americans now live in a state where marijuana is legal for either recreational or medical use according to the Pew Research Center, and 54% live in a place where it is legal for recreational use.

Many states, especially left-leaning ones, have legalized marijuana through legislation, but there are some states where the state legislators still dont want to touch this issue of cannabis legislation, particularly in more conservative parts of the country, said Beau Kilmer, co-director of the RAND Drug Policy Research Center.

Thats why its not a surprise when cannabis issues go through the ballot initiative process, Kilmer said.

In Kansas, where legislative efforts to legalize marijuana have repeatedly foundered since 2021, conservative legislators again this session blocked a measure to legalize medicinal use, with one Republican lawmaker, state Sen. Mike Thompson, saying the substance could cause more suicides and human misery, according to the Kansas City Star.

Kansas is one of the 24 states that dont allow citizen-initiated ballot measures.

But the destigmatizing of marijuana use has advanced so far that even some conservative states have legalized it through legislative action: Since 2020, four of the five states to legalize cannabis for medicinal purposes  Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi and Virginia  have done so through the legislature.

Making it to the ballot

Nebraska is one of only three states  Idaho and Kansas are the others  where marijuana and all cannabis products, including CBD products, are illegal.

Nebraska legislators have shown little interest in changing course, Eggers said.

To circumvent that legislative opposition, she needs signatures from 7% of the states 1.2 million voters to put the question on the ballot. She also needs signatures from 5% of registered voters from at least 38 of Nebraskas 93 counties. Along with Eggers, some 25 paid staff and 200 volunteers are helping with the effort.

Eggers and her group came close to getting a cannabis measure on the ballot in 2020, after collecting 200,000 signatures. However, the states Supreme Court invalidated the measure, saying that the petition violated the states single-subject rule for ballot initiatives.

The Supreme Court ruled that the petition would have required changes in several state laws, including those regarding possession, public use and insurance coverage.

A second attempt in 2022 was gathering steam when a major donor died in a plane crash that year.

A lot of money goes into collecting signatures, from filling up peoples gas so they can go county to county, printing petitions and the amount of manpower that goes into gathering signatures, Eggers said. The issue isnt support. We have the support. It has truly come down to not having funding to hire people to help towards signature collection.

Recreational cannabis

Last year, three states legalized pot recreationally. Voters in Ohio, a red state, approved a ballot measure, while lawmakers in the blue states of Delaware and Minnesota passed legislation.

In all, 13 states plus the District of Columbia have legalized marijuana legislatively.

The ballot initiative in Florida, which requires a supermajority of 60% to pass, is being backed by John Morgan, a lawyer and Democratic fundraiser who supported the successful 2016 effort to legalize medical marijuana with more than $8 million of his own money.

Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis opposes the measure. So do some in the states medical marijuana industry. Nick Garulay, CEO of My Florida Green, said he worries that legalizing recreational marijuana could bring more competition, and could make it hard to separate those who want to use it recreationally from those who are sick and rely on cannabis for medication.

Rob Mikos, a professor at Vanderbilt University Law School and an expert on drug law, agreed that in some cases, the passage of recreational cannabis can lead to a decline in medical cannabis patients.

But there isnt enough data to definitively say how adult-use recreational cannabis has affected the medical market in the places that have legalized both medical and recreational cannabis, he said.

For Eggers, the month of June is crucial. As of June 10, she had about 65,000 signatures on each petition, about 30,000 short of the total she expects to need for each.

We know this can get done, but theres definitely an urgency over the next few weeks, she said.

I call our campaign horrifically beautiful, Eggers said. Its horrific weve been at this for such a long time for suffering Nebraskans. But beautiful because weve found support in almost all corners of the state.

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SALEM LAKES, Wis. (WFRV)  A 36-year-old Wisconsin woman died after crashing an ATV into a ditch in southeastern Wisconsin on Sunday night.

According to the Kenosha County Sheriffs Office, authorities responded to a single ATV crash in the 8600 block of 234th Avenue in the village of Salem Lakes shortly before 9:15 p.m.

Victim of substantial battery incident at Wisconsin Resource Center in Oshkosh dies, homicide charge referred to suspect

Callers reported seeing the woman lying next to the ATV and added that she was not conscious or breathing.

The woman, later identified as 36-year-old Samantha Pageau, suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead on the scene by the Kenosha County Medical Examiners Office.

Thermal imaging helps Fond du Lac County deputies arrest four men accused of entering vehicles in a mobile home community

Authorities are continuing to investigate what caused the crash. The Kenosha County Sheriffs Office offered its heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of those impacted by the event.

No additional details were provided.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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The suspect has been arrested, while the victims are receiving treatments for non life-threatening injuries

Getty Stock photo of Beishan Park in Jilin, China

Four American instructors from Cornell College were injured following a stabbing attack in Beishan Park in Jilin, China, on the morning of Monday, June 10.

According to NBC News, Chinese police confirmed the suspect has been arrested and the victims are receiving treatments for non life-threatening injuries.

Cornell Community, We have learned that four Cornell instructors teaching as part of a partnership with a university in China were injured in a serious incident during a daytime visit to a public park while accompanied by a faculty member of the partner institution, a statement obtained by PEOPLE from Cornell College read.

We have been in contact with all four instructors and are assisting them during this time. There were no students taking part in this program. Questions should be directed to Jen Visser in the Office of Marketing & Communications.

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Google Maps Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa

PEOPLE contacted the Chinese Foreign Ministry for comment on the incident, but did not receive an immediate response.

According to CNN, police arrested and identified the suspect as a 55-year-old man with the last name of Cui.

"Cui collided into a foreigner while walking in Beishan Park, and then stabbed the foreigner and three fellow foreigners with a knife, as well as a Chinese tourist who tried to stop him," Jilin city police said in a social media statement translated by Reuters.

CNN reported that the instructors had been taking part in a partnership program with Beihua University in Jilin, in northeastern China.

Videos and photos shared on social media showed a woman and two men lying on the ground at the park. One of the men was pictured covered in blood.

Per The New York Times, foreign ministry spokesperson, Lin Jian, said the victims received treatment at a hospital after the stabbing.

Meanwhile, Iowa state Rep. Adam Zabner confirmed to CNN that his brother, David Zabner, was one of the four instructors who had been attacked.

Im just extremely grateful that my brother is okay and that he survived this attack, he said of his brother, who was on his second visit to China with Cornell. The hope of my family is to get my brother back home as soon as possible and get them healthy. And we really just want to thank the US State Department for all their help, and also our federal delegation from Iowa who have been particularly helpful.

He added that his brother is doing well and has been stitched up and seems to be recovering.



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Jilin Bridge and Century Square in 2004 Credit - Wikimedia Commons

Police in China arrested a suspect on Tuesday after four American teachers were stabbed the previous day in broad daylight in a Chinese park.

The educatorswho are affiliated with Iowas Cornell College, a small liberal arts college about two hours east of Des Moines, and were in China as part of a partnership with Beihua University in Jilin, a northeastern provincewere injured in a serious incident while they were visiting a public park accompanied by a Beihua faculty member, school president Jonathan Bard announced in an email on Monday to the Cornell community. We have been in contact with all four instructors and are assisting them during this time, Bard said, adding that no students were taking part in the program.

A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson acknowledged the incident Tuesday. He said that all the victims were sent to the hospital as soon as possible and received proper treatment and that the case is under investigation.

Local police issued a notice on Tuesday, according to Hong Kong newspaper Sing Tao and Radio Free Asia, that said five people suffered varying degrees of non-life-threatening injuries at Beishan Park around 11:40 a.m. on Monday. The notice identified the suspect as Cui Dapenga male resident of Longtan District, Jilin City. After police announced an arrest hours later, state media reported, a preliminary investigation found that Cui had collided with one foreigner while walking in the park and proceeded to stab them and three foreigners with them as well as a Chinese tourist who attempted to intervene.

A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department told TIME that it is aware of the stabbing of three U.S. citizens in Jilin and is closely monitoring the situation. U.S. Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns posted on X on Tuesday that the fourth American is a non-citizen resident and that a consular officer visited all the victims in hospital. White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan added that the U.S. is working with Chinese authorities to ensure that the victims needs are met, & appropriate law enforcement steps are being taken.

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds posted on X that she is in touch with Iowas federal delegation and the State Department and said: Please pray for [the victims] full recovery, safe return, and their families here at home.

U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson, whose district includes Cornell College, posted on X that she was horrified the schools faculty members were brutally stabbed and that her team is working to bring the injured Iowans home safely. Hinsons colleague Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, also a Republican from Iowa, posted that her office is in touch with one of the impacted families and is requesting to speak with the U.S. Embassy to ensure that the victims first receive quality care for their injuries and then get out of #China in a medically feasible manner. Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, offered a message similar to Reynolds.

Iowa State Rep. Adam Zabner told Reuters and CBS News that his brother David was among the victims and that the group was on its way to visit a temple when they were attacked by a man with a knife. David, the state representative said, was wounded in the arm but is recovering in hospital and doing well. Other victims have not yet been publicly identified.

Videos purportedly of the aftermath of the stabbing have circulated on X, showing at least three people on the ground bleeding, surrounded by onlookers. Chinese social media posts on the topic appeared to be censored.

In a since-removed post on Weibo, Hu Xijin, former editor-in-chief of the state-run Global Times, said he hoped the foreign victims were random targets and that their stabbing was accidental. The suspects motive remains unclear.

On Xwhich is blocked to the Chinese public but used by many government officials, Chinese companies, and state mediaHu posted that he condemned the attack. He also insisted that it was an isolated case, and he emphasized that the Chinese publics general sentiment toward foreigners is friendly.

Washington and Beijing have emphasized in recent months how increasing people-to-people exchanges, which have significantly declined since the pandemic, can help to improve the U.S.-China relationship thats been strained by geopolitical tensions.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
The 4 different ways Republicans are reacting to the Hunter Biden verdict

The 4 different ways Republicans are reacting to the Hunter Biden verdict

Hunter Biden has been convicted on three felony gun charges.

Republicans seem divided on what to make of it.

Some of them are celebrating it, while others say it's a ruse. Some even seem to be defending him.

Hunter Biden was convicted on Tuesday of three federal charges related to him purchasing a gun while using illegal drugs.

It's the first time that the child of a sitting US president has been convicted of a crime. And it comes less than two weeks after former President Donald Trump was convicted on 34 felony counts in New York.

One might expect Republicans to be unanimously cheering the decision  to the extent that it will affect the presidential election at all, it's likely to hurt President Joe Biden more than it helps.

Yet that's not how all Republicans are reacting.

That's because much of the party has argued in recent years that the Biden administration has targeted former President Donald Trump, and the conviction of the president's son complicates that idea.

"This trial has been nothing more than a distraction from the real crimes of the Biden Crime Family," said Trump spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt following the verdict.

Also, some Republicans happen to like guns.

Here are the four different ways the GOP is responding to the conviction.

It's not enough

While Republicans who go with this line aren't criticizing the conviction, they argue that there's much more out there.

Todays verdict for Hunter Biden is only the beginning in @HouseGOP's pursuit for accountability. I continue to support our investigations into the real crime, the Biden familys corrupt influence peddling scheme.  Daniel Webster (@RepWebster) June 11, 2024

Congressional Republicans have long been investigating the Biden family, aiming to eventually impeach the president on charges of influencing-peddling related to his son's business dealings  though it appears increasingly unlikely.

Some Republicans are also pointing out that Hunter Biden initially had a plea deal with the federal government, only for it to fall apart.

They want you to forget DOJ was giving Hunter Biden a sweetheart deal with FULL immunity for ALL crimes against the United States until the Judge asked questions.  Eric Schmitt (@Eric_Schmitt) June 11, 2024

It's a sham or a smoke screen

More than a few Republicans are arguing that the conviction is some sort of smoke screen or ruse  either to cover up for more grave crimes supposedly committed by the Biden family, or to create the appearance of impartial justice.

"Hunter Biden just became the Deep State's sacrificial lamb to show that Justice is 'balanced' while the other Biden crimes remain ignored," wrote Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia.

The biggest crimes of the Biden Crime Family remain untouched.



Millions of dollars from foreign influence peddling into Joe Bidens bank account.



Hunter Biden just became the Deep States sacrificial lamb to show that Justice is balanced while the other Biden crimes remain  Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (@RepMTG) June 11, 2024

Similarly, Stephen Miller  a top Trump advisor on immigration-related matters  argued that the conviction constituted an "easy op for DJ to sell to a pliant media."

"This is all about protecting Joe Biden and only Joe Biden," Miller wrote.

The gun charges are a giant misdirection. An easy op for DOJ to sell to a pliant media that is all too willing to be duped. Dont be gaslit. This is all about protecting Joe Biden and only Joe Biden.  Stephen Miller (@StephenM) June 11, 2024

It's justice served

Some Republicans, believe it or not, are indeed satisfied with the result.

Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana said that Hunter Biden's actions had given "law-abiding, Second Amendment-loving gun owners a bad name," while praising the conviction as the right decision.

It is people like Hunter Biden who lie on background checks that give law-abiding, Second Amendment-loving gun owners a bad name. It is right that he got convicted. No one is above the law, not even the president's son.  U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (@SenBillCassidy) June 11, 2024

Rep. Josh Brecheen, a freshman House Freedom Caucus member from Oklahoma, also celebrated the verdict.

BREAKING: Hunter Biden has just been convicted of all 3 felony charges in his federal gun trial.



I am glad to see that justice has been served.



Nobody is above the law, including the Presidents son.  Congressman Josh Brecheen (@RepBrecheen) June 11, 2024

Former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan  a GOP Senate candidate who got in trouble with Trumpworld for urging people to respect the verdict in Trump's case  simply said "we must respect the legal process."

We must respect the legal process. Today and everyday.  Governor Larry Hogan (@GovLarryHogan) June 11, 2024

It's a travesty

Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, an idiosyncratic libertarian, isn't a fan of the gun charges.

"There are millions of marijuana users who own guns in this country, and none of them should be in jail for purchasing or possessing a firearm against current laws," said Massie.

Hunter might deserve to be in jail for something, but purchasing a gun is not it.



There are millions of marijuana users who own guns in this country, and none of them should be in jail for purchasing or possessing a firearm against current laws.  Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) June 11, 2024

And top Trump ally Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida  without elaborating  said that the conviction is "kinda dumb."

The Hunter Biden gun conviction is kinda dumb tbh.  Matt Gaetz (@mattgaetz) June 11, 2024

Read the original article on Business Insider
Four U.S. college instructors from Iowa's Cornell College were stabbed in China Monday school officials said. File Photo by Stephen Shaver/UPI

June 10 (UPI) -- Chinese officials said on Tuesday that a 55-year-old man was arrested in the stabbing of four U.S. private school instructors affiliated with Iowa's Cornell College on Monday.

Authorities said the suspect, a local identified only by his last name Cui, "collided" with a foreigner at Beishan Park in Jilin City, located in northeast China. That's when the man allegedly stabbed the college instructors along with a Chinese tourist who tried to stop him.

Chinese officials did not go into details about the suspect's apprehension but its foreign ministry said none of the injuries caused on Monday were life-threatening.

"We have learned that four Cornell instructors teaching as part of a partnership with a university in China were injured in a serious incident during a daytime visit to a public park while accompanied by a faculty member of the partner institution," Cornell President Jonathan Brand wrote to students and staff.

"We have been in contact with all four instructors and are assisting them during this time. There were no students taking part in this program."

The school in China was identified as Beihua University, a state-owned public university in Jilin City, the Des Moines Register reported. The attack occurred in Beishan Park, where a temple is located.

Graphic video and photos published on social media show people in a group on the ground covered in blood. Some of the victims are seen with cellphones to their ears. One, a man, is heard speaking English.

State Rep. Adam Zabner said that his brother, David Zabner, was one of the victims.

David Zabner, a doctoral student at Tufts in Massachusetts who previously taught at Cornell, was stabbed in the arm and is recovering at a hospital.

"He has not yet been released this morning but he's doing OK," Rep. Zabner told CBS News.

"Horrified that multiple Cornell College faculty members were brutally stabbed in China," U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson, whose district serves the school, posted on X. "My team has been in communication with Cornell College & will do everything in our power to bring these Iowans home safely. Join me in praying for their health & safety."

Gov. Kim Reynolds wrote on X: "I am in touch with Iowa's federal delegation and the state department in response to this horrifying attack. Please pray for their full recovery, safe return, and their families here at home."

Sen. Joni Ernst wrote on Twitter: "We are in touch with the college and the State Department, and stand ready to further assist these Iowans."

Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks of Iowa said in a statement that she was requesting to speak with the U.S. Embassy in China to ensure that the victims receive "quality for their injuries and then get out of #China in a medically feasible manner."

Cornell College is a private liberal arts college founded in 1853 in Mount Vernon, 18 miles east of Cedar Rapids, with 1,074 students in 2022-2023.
Four Miami-Dade police officers have been indicted by a grand jury in connection with a 2019 shootout with suspects in a hijacked UPS truck that resulted in the deaths of a hostage delivery driver and a bystander, the Miami-Dade Police Department said Tuesday.

The chaotic December 5, 2019, gun battle sent a spray of bullets across a crowded South Florida intersection as at least 18 officers from three jurisdictions pursued a pair of jewelry heist suspects who had hijacked the UPS truck and led authorities on a lengthy vehicle chase.

The indictment is under seal, police said Tuesday.

The Miami-Dade Police Department is aware that four of its officers were recently indicted by a Broward County grand jury, the department said in a release. Since grand jury proceedings are not disclosed under Florida law until otherwise ordered by a judge, the information that we have is limited. Our department respects the legal process to ensure transparency and accountability for our community.

Earlier this week, the South Florida Police Benevolent Association, a police union, said the indictment was expected.

Were extremely disappointed that after almost five years, these officers are finding themselves indicted for something they had seconds to decide, South Florida Police Benevolent Association president Steadman Stahl said.

The names of the indicted officers and the specific charges they face have not been publicly released.

In a statement to CNN, the Broward County State Attorneys Office said: Grand jury proceedings are secret under Florida law, and any proceedings or actions taken by a grand jury are not public until a judge makes them so. We are not at liberty to comment at this time.

Stahl pointed to the officers indictments  as well as the indictment of a former school resource officer who was found not guilty for not entering an active mass shooting scene at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in 2018  and warned that the prosecutions send mixed messages to law enforcement.

It sends a chilling effect to officers in Broward County that their state attorneys office prosecutes one officer for not responding to an active shooter and now indicting officers for responding to active shooters. As the process moves forward, we will monitor it and defend our officers, Stahl said.

Aerial footage shows law enforcement vehicles sprawled across the Miramar intersection where the shootout took place. - WSVN

The 2019 confrontation began with an armed robbery at a jewelry store in Coral Gables, near Miami. The two suspects, Lamar Alexander and Ronnie Jerome Hill, then hijacked the UPS truck and took its driver hostage, leading police on a 30-mile chase that spanned two counties and was punctuated by occasional gunfire from the delivery truck.

The chase ground to a halt at a traffic-packed intersection in Miramar, where gunfire wizzed between the suspects and police, some of whom were using their vehicles as impromptu shields.

In the end, four people were shot and killed, including the two robbery suspects, a bystander, and hostage UPS driver Frank Ordonez, who relatives say had been filling in for a colleague who had called out from work that day.

The bystander, Richard Rick Cutshaw, was a local union field representative who was caught in the crossfire as he was driving home from work, according to Don Slesnick, a lawyer for the Office and Professional Employees International Union where Cutshaw worked.

At least 13 police officers were shot at, but none were injured, Stahl said at the time.

CNNs Elizabeth Wolfe contributed to this report.

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MIAMI - The Miami-Dade Police Department said Monday that it expected four of their officers to be indicted by a grand jury in the fatal shooting of a UPS driver and a bystander during a shootout in 2019.

The UPS driver, Frank Ordonez, 27, died in a confrontation between police and two carjackers. The shootout broke out in the middle of busy road in the city of Miramar, in Broward County.



On Dec. 5, 2019, Ordonez was taken hostage by two men, Lamar Alexander and Ronnie Jerome Hill, who stole his truck after robbing a Coral Gables jewelry store. They led police on a high-speed chase from Miami-Dade County into Broward County.

The pursuit ended when the UPS truck encountered heavy traffic at an intersection on Miramar Parkway.

Police got out of their vehicles and approached the truck with their weapons drawn, using bystanders' vehicles as cover.

Seconds later, a barrage of gunshots rang out. A total of 20 officers, from different agencies, fired into the carjacked UPS truck. More than three dozen rounds were fired.

The suspects, Alexander and Hill were killed, along with Ordonez and a bystander, Richard Cutshaw.

Ordonez's family wants the officers involved to be held responsible.



"Justice right now is not in our vocabulary because we lost a civil suit and appeal... and we are waiting on a grand jury that hasn't given us a date. So, there's no justice, as far as we're concerned," said Joe Merino, Ordonez's stepfather.



The Police Benevolent Association released a statement on Monday saying it was "extremely disappointed that after almost five years, these officers are finding themselves indicted for something they had seconds to decide."

"It sends a chilling effect to officers in Broward County, that their state attorney's office prosecutes one officer for not responding an active shooter and now indicting officers for responding to active shooters," the statement continues. "As the process moves forward, we will monitor it and defend our officers."

The officers expected to be named in the indictment have not yet been identified.

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(The Hill)  Four instructors from Iowas Cornell College who were teaching at a university in Jilin City, China, were stabbed Monday, according to officials.

Local police said a 55-year-old man with the surname Cui was walking in Beishan Park on Monday when he bumped into a foreigner and stabbed the person and the three others who were with him, The Associated Press reported.

The man also stabbed a Chinese citizen who approached in an attempt to intervene, law enforcement said.

Officials at the Iowa college confirmed that the teachers were instructing at Beihua University in Jilin.

They were rushed to a hospital for treatment and none was in critical condition, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said in a briefing, per the AP.

He added that the stabbing is believed to be an isolated incident, but the investigation is ongoing.

The colleges president, Jonathan Brand, said in a statement shared by the school that the four instructors were in a serious incident during a daytime visit to a public park while accompanied by a faculty member of the partner institution.

We have been in contact with all four instructors and are assisting them during this time, Brand wrote. There were no students taking part in this program.

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Adam Zabner, a member of the Iowa State House of Representatives, wrote in a statement online that his brother was one of the instructors and was wounded in the arm.

I spoke to David a few minutes ago, he is recovering from his injuries and doing well, he said, later adding that his family would like to see David home in Iowa as soon as possible.

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) posted online that she has been in touch with Iowas federal delegation and the State Department in response to the horrifying attack.

Please pray for their full recovery, safe return, and their families here at home, she said.

The AP noted that the State Department said it was aware of the reports and monitoring the situation.

The news wire also reported that news of the incident was suppressed in China since the government maintains control over information that could be considered sensitive.

The Associated Press contributed reporting.

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  One person is facing charges due to the Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD)s Street Racer Initiative.

JANUARY: MNPD Street Racer Initiative leads to multiple charges filed, dozens of traffic stops Friday night

According to the department, 20-year-old Cesar Sandoval was arrested on one charge of felony reckless endangerment for being involved in a May takeover of the intersection of Nolensville Pike and Elysian Fields Road.

Cesar Sandoval (Source: MNPD)

The department added that Sandoval was involved as a driver/slider, allegedly driving his car in the intersection while a pedestrian chased after him. Other pedestrians watched in what MNPD described as a pit area.

FEBRUARY: 5 arrested on 18 charges related to Street Racer Initiative, MNPD says

Sandoval allegedly also operated a social media account that featured posts of intersection takeovers as well as other street racer activity. As of publication, Sandoval is the 45th person to be arrested for street racing since March 2023.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
5 things to watch in Tuesdays primaries in Nevada, South Carolina and beyond

Voters will head to the polls on Tuesday in four states for congressional primaries that will test the influence of former President Trumps endorsements.

Nevada, South Carolina, Maine and North Dakota are holding primaries for congressional as well as state and local races, and Trump has made endorsements in all the key contests. They will determine if a few incumbents can hang on against serious primary challengers and nominees for key seats the GOP is targeting in November.

Here are the five races to watch for from Tuesdays primaries:

Does Trump score a win in Nevada?

For months, Trump largely stayed out of the crowded Republican primary for Nevada Sen. Jacky Rosens (D) Senate seat, one of the prime potential pickup opportunities for the GOP this year.

But he issued a last-minute endorsement late Sunday night for retired Army Capt. Sam Brown, who is seen as the front-runner for the nomination. That came after a rally the former president gave in Las Vegas earlier in the day in which he praised Brown, who was in attendance, as a good man but stopped short of endorsing him.

Numerous candidates are seeking the nomination, but Browns most notable opposition comes from former U.S. Ambassador to Iceland Jeff Gunter and former state Assembly member Jim Marchant.

Both Gunter, who served during the Trump administration, and Marchant, the 2022 Nevada GOP Secretary of State nominee who has been an ardent backer of Trumps false election fraud claims, have tried to demonstrate themselves as more loyal to Trump than Brown, who at least initially distanced himself from Trump.

Brown had already gained the support of many Senate Republicans, and many early votes had already been cast before Trumps endorsement, but the added boost puts Brown in an even stronger position.

Can Mace avoid a runoff?

Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) has generated considerable controversy over her past term as a House member representing South Carolinas 1st Congressional District. Shes faced accusations of flip-flopping on issues and been attacked over switching from opposing Trump to supporting him and joining with other Republicans to oust former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.).

Shes facing two primary challengers on Tuesday, chiefly from former state official Catherine Templeton. Veteran Bill Young, who founded a nonprofit supporting homeless veterans, is also challenging Mace.

But Mace appears to be the favorite to win her primary as she seeks a third term in office with support from top GOP leaders, including Trump, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster (R). Templeton does have the backing of longtime Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.).

Polling has also shown Mace holding an advantage over Templeton and Young. She led in an Emerson College Polling/The Hill survey from last month with 47 percent to Templetons 22 percent and Youngs 7 percent.

Still, Mace could be forced into a runoff in this race because candidates in South Carolina are required to receive a majority of the vote to advance, raising the chance that Mace could be well ahead of her opponents but short of the majority. If necessary, the runoff would be held on June 25.

Who will face off against Golden in Maine?

Maines 2nd Congressional District is a battleground area that Trump carried in both 2016 and 2020 despite Democratic Rep. Jared Golden having represented the district since 2019. Republicans will target it in November to try to flip one House seat red in an otherwise mostly blue New England.

Golden narrowly won reelection in 2022 with 53 percent of the final vote count against his predecessor, former Rep. Bruce Poliquin (R).

Two candidates are facing each other for the GOP nomination to challenge Golden this year: state Reps. Austin Theriault and Mike Soboleski.

Theriault, who is a former NASCAR driver, is the favorite to win the nomination. He has endorsements from Trump, Johnson and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.), and has significantly outraised Soboleski.

An April poll that Theriaults campaign commissioned showed him leading with 30 percent to Soboleskis 7 percent, though most respondents said they were undecided.

But the Sun Journal in Lewiston, Maine, reported that Soboleski has received the support of many conservatives in the district, including the 2020 GOP nominee, former state Rep. Dale Crafts.

Who will be Burgums likely successor?

North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum (R) announced in January after an unsuccessful presidential bid that he would not seek a third term in office as governor, opening up the race for his successor.

The contest quickly drew two candidates who are major players in the state: Rep. Kelly Armstrong (R) and Lt. Gov. Tammy Miller (R). Armstrong has served as North Dakotas lone House member since 2019, and Miller has served in the states second-highest office since Burgum appointed her to the position last year.

Armstrong has racked up most of the key endorsements in the race, including from Trump, North Dakota Sens. Kevin Cramer and John Hoeven, and the state GOP. He has also led comfortably in the few polls taken of the primary.

But Miller has the support of Burgum, who endorsed her shortly after she entered the race in February. She also previously served as the chief operating officer of the governors office before becoming lieutenant governor.

Whoever wins the Republican primary is almost certain to be elected the next governor of the solidly red state.

Do hard-right Republicans score a win?

No incumbent member of the House has yet lost a primary for renomination this election cycle, but a group of far-right House Republicans are trying to help pull off an upset against Rep. William Timmons (R-S.C.).

Timmons is facing a challenge from state Rep. Adam Morgan (R), who founded the South Carolina state Houses Freedom Caucus. Morgan has received the support of several of the most conservative members of the U.S. House, including Freedom Caucus Chair Bob Good (R-Va.), Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) and Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pa.).

Timmons has a strongly conservative voting record, but Morgan is trying to portray Timmons as a do-nothing moderate. He told NBC News in an interview that Timmonss support for keeping McCarthy as Speaker was a factor in deciding to run.

Timmons has received backing from many high-profile Republicans, including from Trump, Johnson, McMaster and Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette. McMaster and Evette campaigned for Timmons on Monday.

Timmons has also outraised Morgan considerably, but past elections suggest some potential vulnerability. He only narrowly avoided a runoff in his primary in 2022 in a four-person race.

But with a two-person race this year, the primary will be another test of a battle between factions of the GOP.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Machiavelli knew from experience and his extensive reading that there was a long history of nations with republican governments falling victim to ambitious individuals who sought to subvert their nations practices and institutions so they could rule alone and unchecked. (Photo: Jeniffer Solis/Nevada Current)

Policy, politics and progressive commentary

A United States president sought to remain in office after his term ended, maintains a worshipful following and has declared he will operate as a dictator only on day one if reelected. His cunning and manipulation of American politics and its legal system have, so far, blocked efforts to hold him accountable.

That sort of activity has been called Machiavellian, after Renaissance writer Niccolo Machiavelli, who lived from 1469 to 1527. He wrote a notorious little treatise called The Prince, in which he advises sole rulers  his phrase for authoritarians or dictators  as well as those who aspire to sole rule to use force and fraud to gain and maintain power.

But scholars of Machiavelli like me know there is much more to his analysis. His 16th-century writings discuss not only princely rule but also republican governments, in which citizens select leaders directly or indirectly for specified terms. He instructs republican citizens and leaders, including those of the United States, to recognize how vulnerable the governments they cherish are and to be vigilant against the threats of tyranny. Machiavellis advice is as relevant now as it was then.

Machiavellis republican experience

Machiavelli knew from experience and his extensive reading that there was a long history of nations with republican governments falling victim to ambitious individuals who sought to subvert their nations practices and institutions so they could rule alone and unchecked, with all others serving at their behest and on their authority.

For example, he was from the city-state of Florence in what is now Italy. Florence had had a republican tradition for centuries, but about 30 years before Machiavellis birth, banker and politician Cosimo de Medici had subverted that system. Cosimo had used his familys wealth to propel himself to political power by exerting influence over officeholders so that he was the ultimate decision-maker.

Cosimos descendants inherited his political power. They briefly lost their grip on power just long enough for Machiavelli to participate for about a decade as an official and diplomat in a restored republic. Machiavelli was in office when the republic collapsed with the return of the Medici family to power.

Removed from office, Machiavelli wrote The Prince. He prefaced it with a dedicatory letter to the young member of the Medici whom the family had designated as the new ruler of Florence. Commentators have long disagreed about what Machiavelli sought by so obviously pandering to an autocratic ruler.

The Discourses, Machiavellis republican writing

That puzzle is all the more perplexing because elsewhere Machiavelli expresses his commitment to republican government. He wrote another book, less well known and much less pithy than The Prince, entitled Discourses on Livy. In the Discourses, Machiavelli uses the work of the ancient Roman historian Livy to examine how the Roman republic was overthrown by a single leader.

At its founding, Rome was a kingship, but when subsequent kings became tyrannical, the Roman people overthrew the monarchy and established a republic, which had a remarkable history and lasted almost 500 years.

The Roman republic collapsed in 44 BCE when Julius Caesar declared himself dictator for life. Machiavelli wrote that Julius Caesar was the first tyrant in Rome, with the result that Rome was never again free.

Julius immediate successor Octavius, who assumed the name Caesar Augustus, ruled as the first of a long line of emperors.

Lessons from the demise of the Roman republic

The key lesson of Machiavellis examination of Roman history in the Discourses is this: A republic is fragile. It requires constant vigilance on the part of both the citizens and their leaders.

That vigilance is difficult to maintain, however, because over generations, citizens and leaders alike become complacent to a key internal threat that haunts this form of government. Specifically, they fail to grasp early enough the anti-republican designs of exceptionally ambitious citizens among them who harbor the desire to rule alone.

Machiavelli provides instructive examples of how Rome failed to protect its republican practices and laws against such a threat. When the republic was young, Rome allowed candidates to nominate themselves for high offices. This practice worked well because only worthy candidates put themselves forward. Later, however, the practice of self-nomination allowed into office those who wanted to promote their own popularity rather than respond to the needs of their country.

Machiavelli said that leaders and citizens devoted to the republic should have closed off this easy route to power to such candidates. But Rome failed to act. Because of its complacency, Caesar was able to build on the popularity that his predecessors had amassed and to transform Rome into a tyranny.

The point of no return

If republican citizens and leaders fail to be vigilant, they will eventually be confronted with a leader who has accumulated an extremely powerful and threatening following. At that point, Machiavelli says, it will be too late to save the republic.

Machiavelli uses the examples of Caesars assassination in Rome and Cosimos exile from Florence to underscore this lesson. In each case, the supporters of their respective republic, finally perceiving the danger of tyranny, initiated an attack on the peoples idol. In each case, that effort led not to a restoration of republican freedom but rather to its elimination.

In Rome, Augustus used the publics sympathy and devotion for the martyred Caesar to seal the republics demise. In Florence, Cosimo himself was welcomed back from exile to become Florences leading man.

The fate of the American republic

For Americans, the question is whether, as a result of public complacency, the republic will be lost. Will the American republic fall to the same perils that Machiavelli identified in ancient Rome and Renaissance Florence?

Perhaps an opportunity exists to breathe new life into the nations republican practices and institutions. Perhaps there is still time to reject through elections those who seek office only to enhance their own power.

Or perhaps it is so late that even that approach will not work. Then, Americans would be left to mourn the demise of their republic and to affirm Machiavellis counsel that republics fail through complacency. Such an outcome for one of historys most exemplary republics would stand as a wretched testament to Machiavellis political insight.

The Conversation

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

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Most Washington K-12 students failed to meet basic math and reading proficiency standards in recent years, according to a new report.

The analysis from the Annie E. Casey Foundation shows that in 2022, 66% of Washington fourth graders were not proficient in reading and 72% of eighth graders were not proficient in math.

A spokesperson for the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction pointed to progress the state is making based on other measures and called into question the methodology and the narrative being pushed by the Foundation in their messaging to the media.

National reports like this one can sometimes overlook key differences in states data collections and definitions, leading to comparisons across states that are portrayed as apples-to-apples but actually arent, said the spokeswoman, Katy Payne. These high-level comparisons are often not sophisticated enough to capture key nuances.

The foundations report has been released nearly every year since at least 2005 and uses data from the National Assessment of Educational Progress, which was established by Congress to monitor student achievement across the country.

Stephan Blanford, executive director of Childrens Alliance, the foundations partner in Washington on the report, acknowledged that tests  which provide the basis for the proficiency statistics  are problematic for a bunch of different reasons.

But they give us an imperfect picture of the performance of schools, Blanford added.

You could throw the baby out with the bathwater if you totally discount the value of test scores. They do tell us something, he said.

Data from all 50 states, published annually by the foundation, show Washington students doing marginally better than the national average. Across the United States in 2022, 68% of fourth graders were not proficient in reading and 74% of eighth graders were not proficient in math.

Were rising in the rankings, Blanford said. But I always take that with a grain of salt, because were competing with some states that dont invest hardly at all in their children. Its a low bar.

Payne touted Washingtons rise in the rankings and said test scores in Washington have trended upward for the past two years. Test scores dropped during the pandemic across the globe, she pointed out.

A more sophisticated analysis of how our students are doing would measure recovery since that drop, Payne said.

While a 50-state report looking at the same data is not yet available for the past two years, Blanford said that in his conversations with district leaders and teachers, disruptions in schools are at levels that theyve never seen right now.

The Kids Count Data Book also looks at metrics related to economics, families and health to come up with state rankings of child well-being. Despite ranking 14th overall, Washington was 26th in education.

Washington eighth graders also experienced a significant loss in math proficiency during the pandemic, according to the report. The share of eighth grade students proficient in math from 2019 to 2022 declined by 12 percentage points.

Payne said math score recovery increased from 2022 to 2023 and the percentage of Washington eighth graders who take high-school level math in middle school is considerably higher than the national average.

Blanford said he was particularly concerned about the national numbers for students of color and low-income students.

Black and Native American students, in particular, are struggling. In 2022, 89% of American Indian and Alaska Native eighth graders were not proficient in math and the same was true for 91% of Black eighth graders. State demographic data was not included in the report.

Blanford also flagged the number of kids who arent in an early learning setting. From 2018 to 2022, 57% of Washington kids ages 3 to 4 were not in school. Theres a tight correlation between involvement in early learning and K-12 success, Blanford said.

Payne said the state hit record-high rates of kindergarten readiness this fall.

We have made progress in every area identified in this report, and we will continue our efforts advocating and pushing for more, she added.

The report comes at a time when Washington parents are increasingly pulling their kids out of public school.

Related: WA charter school performance on par with other public schools, state report says

Blanford said thats unfortunate because the fewer kids in a public school, the fewer dollars the school gets, which leads to a vicious spiral to the bottom, he said.

I am primarily concerned about parents and children who dont have the option of private schools and making sure the schools are successful for them, Blanford said. My firm belief is that if you make schools successful for them, then you make it successful for all kids.

The post 72% of Washington eighth graders not proficient in math, report shows appeared first on Washington State Standard.
Five people have been arrested in the disappearance of an 8-month-old baby in Kentucky, according to our CBS affiliate WLKY TV and WFIE TV.

On June 6, Kentucky State Police opened a missing child investigation for Miya Tucker Rudd, of Reynolds Station.

>> Man shot, killed after allegedly charging toward Ohio police with knife

Police believe Miya was last seen in the care of her parents, Cage C. Rudd, 30, and Tesla Tucker, 29, both of Reynolds Station.

While conducting a search warrant and welfare check, police could not find Miya, according to Kentucky State Police

Police arrested Cage and Tesla on June 6. They are in custody at the Daviess County Detention Center in Owensboro.

Telsa, Miyas mother, and Cage, Miyas father, were both facing initial charges of drug possession and abandonment of a minor, according to Kentucky State Police.

On June 7, they received additional charges, including several drug trafficking and possession charges, and child abuse.

Police have since arrested Ricky Smith, 56, Billie Rudd Smith, 49, and Timothy Roach, 37, both stations reported.

Ricky, Miyas grandfather, is facing charges including child abuse, drug trafficking, and having weapons as a convicted felon. He is in custody at the Daviess County Detention Center.

>> ODOT worker killed in work site crash

Billie, Miyas grandmother, was arrested for a domestic violence warrant.

On June 9, police arrested Timothy Roach, 37, of Owensboro, after he allegedly threw unprescribed suboxone under a car at the Smith residence, both stations reported.

Roach is facing drug charges. Information on Roachs connection to the family was not immediately available.

Billie and Roach are in custody at the Ohio County Detention Center.

Police are still searching for Miya. She has brown hair and green eyes.

On June 11, state police utilized cadaver dogs in the search for Miya, WFIE TV reported.

If you have any information on the missing child, contact the Kentucky State Police at (270) 826-3312.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce received an $800,000 wire transfer from billionaire donor Hank Meijer days after it endorsed his son, then-Rep. Peter Meijer (R-Mich.), in a contentious 2022 primary, according to previously unreported internal emails reviewed by The Hill.

Within days of the transfer, the Chamber spent $381,000 on Media Advertisement  Energy and Taxes  Mentioning Rep. Peter Meijer, according to a report filed with the Federal Election Commission (FEC).

But because the ad  titled Thank you, Rep. Peter Meijer  does not explicitly advocate for his election or defeat, the pro-business lobbying giant did not have to legally disclose the donation from Hank Meijer, the co-chair and CEO of the Meijer chain of superstores. It also did not have to disclose any other potential contributions behind the $1.8 million it told the FEC it spent on electioneering communications that cycle.

Emails obtained by The Hill lay out the timeline of the endorsement, donation and ad buy just weeks before the Aug. 2, 2022, House GOP primary in Michigan. Campaign finance experts told The Hill that the emails pull back the curtain on a surge of dark money in U.S. elections, spending where the ultimate source of the money is not publicly disclosed.

Theyre exploiting a legal loophole to help them conceal the sources of election spending in this race, said Saurav Ghosh, director of federal campaign finance reform at the nonprofit watchdog Campaign Legal Center (CLC), which filed a complaint during the 2020 cycle alleging an individual later identified as Hank Meijer tried to obscure separate donations by using a limited liability corporation (LLC) to donate to another super PAC supporting his son.

And theyre doing it in a very sophisticated way, but ultimately the voters suffer as a result, Ghosh added.

Nonprofits such as the Chamber are not legally required to publicly disclose their donors. The Supreme Court recently ruled nonprofit disclosure requirements violated donors First Amendment rights and risk deterring donors who dont want their names to be public.

Under federal campaign finance law, however, it is illegal for a campaign and spender to coordinate on so-called independent expenditures  election communications such as an ad. But the involvement of a candidates family member is not de facto coordination, campaign finance experts told The Hill, and so long as the group does not coordinate with the candidate, campaign or its agents on an endorsement, or spending touting that endorsement, they would legally be in the clear.

Both the Chamber and John Truscott, a Meijer family spokesman, insisted the donation complied with all applicable laws. But neither the Chamber nor Truscott answered specific questions about the timing of or discussion around the donation, the terms of the contribution and how that money was used.

The personal contribution made two years ago to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Voter Education Fund was in full accordance with all laws and regulations, Truscott told The Hill.

A Chamber spokesperson told The Hill that the organization operates consistent with all applicable campaign finance laws, including restrictions related to coordinated activities and requirements around donor disclosure and timely reported this advertisement to the FEC, providing all information required by law.

But the timing of the donation so soon after the endorsement raises some serious questions about the arrangement between the Chamber and Hank Meijer, said Anna Massoglia, a dark money expert and the editorial and investigations manager at the nonpartisan money-in-politics tracking nonprofit OpenSecrets.

It is not unheard of for the parents of candidates to fund super PACs or other outside groups that spend in support of their children, and it is perfectly legal so long as disclosure and coordination rules are followed, Massoglia said.

The biggest question  would be what agreements, if any, are in place behind the scenes with this. Is this explicitly giving money for an endorsement or their support? Or was this a big coincidence that the timing was so close?

Ghosh, Massoglia and other campaign finance experts argue the status quo of dark money disclosure hurts everyday citizens who are unable to see the people behind the massive campaigns or see evidence about their motives.

Thats the essential problem with political activity by these entities: Theyre a black box, Ghosh said.

While unprecedented sums of dark money poured into the 2022 election, the 2024 election is on track to set a new record.

More than $210 million in dark money contributions have already been funneled into political groups during the 2024 election cycle, according to Massoglia. Thats up from $170 million at the same point during the 2022 election cycle and more than double the amount tracked at this point in the 2020 election cycle.

Its important for voters to be able to have information about whos funding groups that are spending to influence their vote or influence their opinions generally, so that they can better evaluate the information theyre consuming from those groups, Massoglia told The Hill.

Voters may trust the Chamber because of its reputation as a pro-business group, as a trade association, and not realize who all is actually behind [an ad], she added.

How the Chamber came to back Meijer

Peter Meijer was in a tough spot.

One of 10 House Republicans who had voted to impeach former President Trump for incitement of insurrection on Jan. 6, 2021, he faced a Trump-endorsed challenger in the GOP primary in early August 2022.

Against the backdrop of this heated primary, the Chamber endorsed Meijer on July 11, a Monday.

The Meijer company is a member of the Chamber, and Hank Meijer is a member through his business, Truscott, the Meijer family spokesperson, told The Hill. The company is also a member of the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce, Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce, Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce and the Indiana Chamber of Commerce.

On the morning of Friday, July 15, John Van Fossen, vice president of government relations for the Meijer company, sent an email to Neil Bradley, the U.S. Chambers chief policy officer.

Everything is being processed, Van Fossen said.

That afternoon, a Chamber staffer sent Bradley an email that said, Hank Meijers office called me an hour ago  they are wiring in $800k Monday. This will be for VE  correct? referencing the Voter Education Fund.

Correct. Bradley responded.

Late Monday, July 18, in an email with the subject line Contribution Form  H.G. Meyer/Meijer, Nancy Duchaine, an associate at Greenville Partners  an organization that supports the Meijer familys financial and philanthropic endeavors  emailed the Chamber to say, Our approver was held up in meetings today so you will see this come through tomorrow.

Attached is the contribution form to accompany the $800,000 donation wired out earlier today, Duchaine had sent in an email earlier that evening.

The following morning, a Chamber staffer sent Bradley an email with the messages that said, 800k confirmed in writing below.

thx, Bradley responded.

A few days later, on Thursday, July 21, the Chamber started running an ad on energy and tax issues that mentions Peter Meijer.

Bradley, Van Fossen, Duchaine and Peter Meijer did not respond to requests for comment.

The Chambers ad

The ad praises Peter Meijer but stops short of using the eight specific words and phrases established in the Supreme Courts 1976 decision in Buckley v. Valeo that would require the Chamber to report the ad as an independent expenditure, and thus disclose the source of the funds: vote for, vote against, elect, defeat, support, reject, cast your ballot for or Smith for Congress.

Fourth-generation west Michigander, steadfast conservative leader. In Congress, Peter Meijer always puts west Michigan first, the ads narrator says.

Thats why hes fighting against the liberal policies that are failing our nation, fighting for increased domestic energy production to lower gas prices and fighting to stop Bidens reckless tax increases on our families. Call Peter Meijer. Ask him to keep up the fight for west Michigan, the ad continues.

This was the only ad buy the Chamber reported making between April and October of 2022, although its YouTube page includes ads that summer thanking then-Rep. Rodney Davis (R-Ill.) for his work on energy and taxes posted two weeks before he lost his primary to a Trump-backed incumbent, and praising Sen. Joe Manchin (I-W.Va.), who was serving as a Democrat at the time and was not up for reelection that cycle.

The U.S. Chamber is in a constant state of raising money, endorsing candidates, and engaging in issue advocacy to advance our priorities and the efforts of elected officials who champion them, the Chamber spokesperson told The Hill.

Linguistic limbo is a common practice for dark money groups to circumvent disclosure requirements. Groups can run issue ads that praise or attack candidates without disclosing their donors, so long as they dont invoke the magic words.

Dark money groups and politically-involved nonprofits are also increasingly donating to super PACs or spending money on issues ads that dont have to be disclosed to the FEC, Massoglia said, which makes it more difficult to track the ultimate source of dark funds flowing into elections.

Meijer would go on to lose the GOP primary three weeks after the Chamber endorsed him. While he ran for the Michigan Senate GOP nomination this election cycle, he dropped out in April.



Only two House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump for his actions on Jan. 6 remain in Congress.

Chamber falls under specific disclosure rules

As a 501(c)(6) tax-exempt nonprofit, the Chamber is not legally obligated to disclose its list of members or the source of any donations or dues it receives, although it does have to file an annual report to the IRS with top-line totals.

The Chamber takes in and spends a lot of money each year: It reported nearly $210 million in revenue in 2022 on its most recent Form 990, and OpenSecrets found the group spent more than $81 million on federal lobbying that year.

The Chamber also weighs into elections, although critics say its political operation is less potent than it was before the 2020 election cycle, when it endorsed 23 first-term Democrats for reelection, enraging and alienating many of its traditional allies in the Republican Party.

The Chamber also endorsed Meijer in October 2020 but did not report any electioneering communications mentioning Meijer after that endorsement or post any ads mentioning Meijer on its YouTube page.

Ghosh described the emails as one of the rare instances where you do see whats happening on the inside and how a group is making the buys its making.

Theres always the machinery behind it. But because of the lack of transparency around these groups, you never get to see that machinery, Ghosh added.

Hank Meijer previously accused of obscuring donations

Hank Meijer has previously been accused of obscuring donations to a political group supporting his son.

In October 2020, just a few weeks before the 2020 general election, CLC filed a complaint against Montcalm LLC, which contributed $150,000 to the Congressional Leadership Fund, a super PAC aligned with Republican congressional leadership, less than two weeks after incorporating.

The campaign finance watchdog alleged the ultimate source of the funds, which was later revealed to be Hank Meijer, funneled them through a straw donor to obscure their involvement.

Montcalm LLC donated another $100,000 to the super PAC on the day the complaint was filed.

After CLC filed the complaint, Truscott told MLive that Meijer had made the donation with the full expectation that his name would be made public.

The Congressional Leadership Fund ultimately attributed both contributions from Montcalm LLC to Hank Meijer on reports filed to the FEC. The super PAC spent nearly $1.2 million that cycle against Peter Meijers Democratic opponent, according to OpenSecrets.

The FEC dismissed CLCs complaint last month after concluding [Hank] Meijer was the true source of the contribution purportedly made in Montcalms name, and Meijer should have been disclosed as the true contributor at the time of making the contribution.

Ghosh called the FECs decision to dismiss the complaint inexplicable given their finding.

It sets terrible incentives for others to do the same to avoid disclosure, said Ghosh.

Fight over disclosure rules

Both Democratic and Republican groups benefit from dark money contributions and spending, including House and Senate party leadership-aligned super PACs that rake in tens of millions of dollars from undisclosed sources each cycle.

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), a leading advocate for the disclosure of dark money pouring into elections, told The Hill that the identity of billionaires spending to influence elections is information voters deserve to know, especially when that billionaire is a candidates own father.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is doing the dirty work of billionaires and Big Oil via a massive litigation, lobbying, and electoral spending operation intended to influence the federal government. The Chamber regularly dumps dark money into American elections to sink candidates who support fighting climate change and growing the middle class, Whitehouse told The Hill.

Senator Whitehouse has a long history of only objecting to spending when he doesnt agree with the message or source, a Chamber spokesperson told The Hill.

Whitehouse has consistently reintroduced the DISCLOSE Act, which, among other provisions, would compel dark money groups that donate to super PACs or spend on communications that refer to a federal candidate to disclose contributions topping $10,000. The Senate version of the bill has 51 Democratic and independent co-sponsors, and the House version has 156 Democratic co-sponsors.

But as recently as 2021, the Supreme Court has ruled disclosure requirements infringe upon nonprofit donors First Amendment right to free speech.

In July 2021, the Supreme Court ruled that a nonprofit donor disclosure requirement in California was unconstitutional. Chief Justice John Roberts said in the majority opinion that it would have a chilling effect on donors who may be deterred if their names were made public.

Californias disclosure requirement imposes a widespread burden on donors associational rights, and this burden cannot be justified on the ground that the regime is narrowly tailored to investigating charitable wrongdoing, or that the States interest in administrative convenience is sufficiently important, Roberts wrote.

Taylor Giorno was the money-in-politics reporter at OpenSecrets before joining The Hill as the business and lobbying reporter.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
84-Year-Old Woman Injured in N.Y.C. Shooting While Sitting in Walker Alongside Group: They Were in Shock

"... It's appalling that gun violence remains a common theme in our communities, said N.Y.C. city council member Farah Louis in response to the shooting

Woman's walker at the scene of N.Y.C. shooting

An 84-year-old woman was sitting in her walker when she was injured in a shooting in Brooklyn on Monday, June 10.

The woman, who has not been identified, was at the corner of Foster and Brooklyn avenues in Brooklyn when she was hit by a stray bullet after a man opened fire at a group of people around 6:30 p.m. local time, according to WABC-TV, News 12 Brooklyn and NY Daily News.

One of the bullets hit the womans left arm. Afterwards, she was taken to the hospital for treatment and is in stable condition, according to the outlets.

As many as 20 bullet shell casings were found at the scene, according to WABC-TV.

Police are still searching for the suspect in the shooting and are asking community members to help them identify the suspect. Officials also told News 12 that the woman was not the intended target, but the reason behind the shooting remains unclear.

The New York City Police Department did not immediately respond to PEOPLEs request for comment on the incident.

A pair of nearby witnesses told NY Daily News that they were in their home when they heard roughly a dozen shots fired just outside in the street. When they ran out to see what happened, they said they saw about four old ladies and one gentleman were running up the street shouting, Theyre shooting! Theyre shooting! "

They were in shock, one man told the outlet of the group. I took my undershirt off and tied her wounds up. He said as they waited for the ambulance to arrive, the 84-year-old woman called her family to let them know what happened.

She was strong and she was on the phone with family members, another man recalled to the outlet. She was even being humorous about it. She was saying, If you had been here theyd have shot you, too! "

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

In response to the news, City Council member Farah Louis shared a statement on Facebook, writing, It is horrific that an elderly person was harmed in such senseless violence and it's appalling that gun violence remains a common theme in our communities.

We cannot stand idly and allow this to be a part of our daily lives, she continued. My thoughts and prayers are with this elderly woman as we wish her a safe and swift recovery. Violence has no place in our community!

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Read the original article on People.
ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC)  An Abilene man accused of robbing a convenience store has been arrested.

Mathew Austin was taken into custody on a warrant for Aggravated Robbery Monday in connection to a robbery at Yes Way in July 2023.

Court documents state officers initially attempted to contact Austin as he was driving at a high rate of speed following the robbery.

Austin led police from Tye city limits into Abilene, where the documents state he and a passenger exited the vehicle and fled on foot.

Officers caught the passenger, and the documents state he had a backpack full of money taken from the Yes Way, as well as a gun. A second gun was also found in the vehicle.

The documents states this passenger identified Austin as the driver of the vehicle, and a witness was able to confirm Austin entered the store wearing a mask and gloves and brandishing a firearm while the passenger held open the door.

Austin now remains in the Taylor County Jail on a $100,000 bond.

BigCountryHomepage.com is choosing to withhold the identity of the passenger until additional charges are filed.

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ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC)  An Abilene preschool employee accused of possessing child pornography is now facing Federal charges.

Mark Eichorn was re-arrested on the Federal charges in connection to lewd images of children allegedly found on his cell phone last month.

Abilene preschool employee accused of being a sugar daddy to children

Court documents state Eichorn was acting as a sugar daddy for children in another state, paying them to send the lewd images.

Now, the Abilene Police department states Homeland Security Investigations and the U.S. Marshals Service have now decided to re-arrest Eichorn on federal charges. He will have a federal detention hearing later this week.

Abilene preschool employee accused of possessing child pornography

Eichorn was employed as Preschool Teacher Assistant at St. Johns Episcopal School prior to his arrest.

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Colonel Vadym Sukharevskyi, Commander of the Unmanned Systems Forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, has acknowledged a healthy competition among Ukraine's unmanned aerial vehicle producers.

Source: Sukharevskyi at a press conference in Kyiv, writes Interfax-Ukraine news agency

Details: When asked whether it makes sense to unify different types of drones from different manufacturers that are currently in Ukraine, he said: "The number of producers represents healthy typical competition. As users of this product, we would like to see more of these brands and products available to help us understand and apply the best practices."

Details: According to the Ministry of Defence, contracts for products from more than 125 producers were signed today.

Quote: "The fact that there is currently no single "Shahed UAV" in Ukraine is wonderful (Sukharevskyi alludes to the fact that in comparison to Russia, Ukraine has a wider array of UAV models in use at the front  ed.)."

Details: Sukharevsky added there is an understanding that in the future Ukraine will have reached the best possible version of the drone.

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Brian Howey and Nate Rosenfield are examining the power of sheriffs offices in Mississippi as part of The New York Timess Local Investigations Fellowship.

More than two months after deputies were sentenced for torturing two Black men in central Mississippi, federal prosecutors have widened their investigation and may sue the Rankin County sheriffs department for civil rights violations, a serious escalation that could lead to federal monitoring.

Todd Gee, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi, talked about the possibility at a meeting last month, where he urged local residents who attended to come forward if they had experienced violence or discrimination at the hands of deputies.

More than 50 people, including defense attorneys and civil rights advocates, packed into a library outside Jackson, Miss. Some shared stories of being harassed or falsely accused of crimes by deputies, according to several people who attended the meeting, which was closed to the press.

Information from people like you can make a difference, Mr. Gee told the crowd, according to video of the meeting obtained by reporters.

He explained that if deputies misconduct had been going on for years it could be evidence of a pattern of civil rights violations that could lead to a case against the department.

Rather than focusing on individual acts of misconduct, pattern or practice investigations determine whether civil rights violations have become part of an agencys overall culture. Prosecutors can sue a department and seek a consent decree, a legally binding agreement that would force the department to implement reforms.

Rankin County came to national attention last year after deputies, some from a unit that called itself the Goon Squad, tortured two Black men in their home and shot one of them in the face, nearly killing him. Six officers pleaded guilty and were sentenced to federal prison in March.

An investigation by The New York Times and Mississippi Today last fall revealed that nearly two dozen residents experienced similar brutality when Rankin deputies burst into their homes looking for illegal drugs.

Sheriff Bryan Bailey of Rankin County, who has led the department since 2012, has vowed to remain in office despite calls for his resignation from the local chapter of the N.A.A.C.P. and others in the community.

The Rankin County Detention Center in downtown Brandon

Department officials did not respond to requests for comment on the federal investigation. Sheriff Bailey has denied knowledge of his deputies decades-long reputation for violence.

At the community meeting, some residents expressed concern that the sheriff had not been held accountable.

You could sense the frustration, said Dr. Ava Harvey, a local pastor who attended the meeting. Something needs to be done because the trust is broken.

Federal prosecutors held meetings like these in other cities across the nation as they were preparing lawsuits against police departments for civil rights violations  in Minneapolis after a police officer killed George Floyd and in Ferguson, Mo., after an officer fatally shot Michael Brown, an unarmed Black teenager.

The consent decree in Minneapolis requires officers to use de-escalation tactics whenever possible, limits the use of tear gas during protests and prohibits officers from stopping drivers for broken taillights. In Ferguson, the police department is now required to limit when officers use force and end discriminatory policing.

Representatives from the Justice Department declined to comment on their investigation in Mississippi or on the community meeting.

Angela English, the president of the Rankin County chapter of the N.A.A.C.P., who helped coordinate the meeting, said prosecutors asked people who did not want to detail their stories publicly to speak privately with investigators. The U.S. attorneys office plans to host more meetings, she said, noting that the prosecutors are still in the process of gaining the trust of the community.

A lot of people are still afraid of what may happen to their families as a result of them talking, she said. As long as people like Bryan Bailey are still in charge  and this happened on his watch  then theres still going to be that level of mistrust.

In a statement to The Times and Mississippi Today two weeks ago, the Rankin County sheriffs department said it had conducted an internal review of its deputies.

The review came after the news organizations reported that, for a generation, Rankin County deputies had terrorized local residents accused of drug possession. More than 20 people said deputies had beaten, strangled, waterboarded or burned them during home raids and traffic stops.

In multiple cases, people said they had filed complaints about their experiences  or told Sheriff Bailey personally about the abuse  only to be ignored.

A photo of Christopher Mack in front of the Rankin County jail that he said was taken after he was beaten by officers.

Beyond the deputies who were sentenced, at least four others who were present when someone was allegedly tortured by officers have left the department in recent months. Three were fired for refusing to cooperate with an internal investigation, and another resigned in good standing, according to Mississippi Department of Public Safety records. In December, another deputy resigned to avoid being terminated after violating department policy and procedures, records show. Sheriffs department officials did not respond to requests for comment on why the deputies left.

The department conducted another review in late May after The Times and Mississippi Today unearthed a private text thread where deputies discussed beating criminal suspects, traded memes about rape and posted pictures of rotting human corpses they had found on the job.

Department representatives said Sheriff Bailey was not aware of the private group chat.

We are confident that the actions of our current employees are and will remain proper as they serve the citizens of Rankin County, department officials said in a statement.

In recent months, more local residents have come forward to the press claiming they had been abused by deputies, and at least three people have filed federal lawsuits against the department accusing deputies of using excessive force against them in jail or during arrests.

In a lawsuit filed against the department two weeks ago, Christopher Mack said that in 2021 deputies beat him for 45 minutes at the county jail after he refused to share information about drugs and gangs with deputies.

Several jail inmates assisted the deputies during the beating, Mr. Mack said in an interview. Pictures he said were taken just after the beating show his eyes blackened and his back bruised. Red splotches on his forehead and nose show the imprint from a deputys boot, he said, and he was hospitalized and treated for a broken rib.

It mentally messes with me every day, Mr. Mack said, adding that since the incident he has been diagnosed with an anger disorder that can result from trauma and that he now takes epilepsy medication to treat seizures. I stay angry. I just stay angry all the time.

After the attack, Mr. Mack said, Sheriff Bailey asked him who had beaten him. Mr. Mack said that when he told the sheriff it was his own deputies, Sheriff Bailey cursed and walked away.

The department did not respond to requests for comment on the lawsuit.

Residents have come to the local chapter of the N.A.A.C.P. before with complaints about the conduct of deputies, according to Ms. English. Until recently, many were too frightened to take action, but as more come forward, Ms. English said, their neighbors become more emboldened to speak out.

People are tired of it, she said. They are not going to allow it to happen anymore.
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  An accused drunk driver allegedly drove off from a hit-and-run minutes before getting on the freeway the wrong way and killing two people, police suspect in documents the 8 News Now Investigators obtained.

Martin Andino, 37, faces more than a dozen charges for his alleged actions on June 1. Around 2:15 p.m. that day, Andino allegedly side-swiped another car before getting on Interstate 11 outside Boulder City, documents said. A person was able to take photos of Andinos car driving off from the first crash.

In their report, state police indicate Andino allegedly drove several miles northbound in the freeways southbound lanes before the double-fatal collision. Virginia Whiting, 19; of Glendale, Arizona; and Antonio Aguilera, 21; of Phoenix, Arizona, died in the crash, the Clark County coroners office said.

Andinos two young children were also injured in the crash, police said.

Andino reportedly told police he had four alcoholic drinks two hours before the crash, police said. Andino later changed the number to two drinks. Police said they found an open alcoholic drink in the vehicle.

A preliminary hearing was scheduled for June 18. A Boulder City judge set Andinos bail at $500,000.

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These acts will not be tolerated: Fresno arson suspect arrested

These acts will not be tolerated: Fresno arson suspect arrested

FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE)  The Fresno Fire Department announced Tuesday the arrest of arson suspect Curtis Carlton Evans.

Fire officials say Evans was arrested in connection with an arson fire that occurred on Thursday, at 2251 N Lodi Ave.

Curtis Calrton Evans.

Man wanted after starting fires in Fresno, officials say

Evans was charged with 11 felony counts of arson and is currently being held at the Fresno County Jail.

Investigators say he may be responsible for other fires and could face additional charges as the investigation continues.

This investigation was a joint effort by the Fresno Fire Department, Fresno County Fire, North Central Fire, and local law enforcement partners.

Fresno Fire Chief Billy Alcorn has stated Anyone setting intentional fires in our community will be investigated, arrested, and prosecuted. Our firefighters work incredibly hard to respond to numerous emergency service calls each day and intentionally set fires have the potential of delaying their responses to those true emergencies within our community. These acts will not be tolerated.

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How to actually enjoy your time at the airport, according to a travel host who flies 100,000 miles a year

How to actually enjoy your time at the airport, according to a travel host who flies 100,000 miles a year

Travel expert Samantha Brown has tips to help you enjoy waiting in airport terminals.

Brown, a seasoned traveler, emphasizes stress reduction by arriving early for flights.

She suggests exploring terminals, people-watching, and helping others to enhance the experience.

Enduring the airport is an essential part of air travel, and I think I speak for most when I say it's typically not a great experience.

From navigating busy terminals and security checkpoints to waiting for your plane to board at a packed gate, going to the airport is possibly the least enjoyable part of any trip.

But it doesn't have to be that way, travel expert Samantha Brown told Business Insider.

Brown has hosted several travel shows worldwide over the past 25 years, including Travel Channel's "Great Vacation Homes" and her Emmy-award-winning PBS show, "Samantha Brown's Places to Love." She recently partnered with Klarna on a summer travel trends report with packing essentials and a trip itinerary based on hot destinations.

Travel host Samantha Brown in Cambodia. Joey Hadden/Business Insider

Brown estimates she's been to more than 90 countries and flies 100,000 miles a year on average. Unlike most, she said she loves airports and has four tips for making the most of your time in terminals.

Being stuck in an airport is inevitable for air travelers, so you might as well enjoy it.

Arrive early to eliminate stress

Although she loves airports, Brown expressed that, like most of us, she dislikes the pre-terminal check-in and TSA experience. But she said this is mostly due to stress, which can be avoided by arriving early.

"If you do not allow enough time, you will be stressed out," she said. "However, that stress goes away when you actually plan."

The check-in area in JetBlue's Terminal 5 at JFK Airport. Joey Hadden/Business Insider

For example, during peak travel seasons like summer, she arrives at the airport three hours before boarding time.

Once she gets through security, Brown said she walks to her gate to ensure it's correct. Then, she can relax until her boarding time.

"I have never regretted how much time I've spent in the airport," she added.

Think of the airport as a mall

Inside an airport terminal in Denver. John Greim/LightRocket via Getty Images

"Airports are my teenage mall," Brown said. "Some feel like cities in themselves, like the Denver airport is bigger than Manhattan."

With miles of stores, restaurants, coffee shops, and gates to explore, Brown said she likes to put on AirPods and take long walks through terminals before a flight. After years of doing this, she said she feels "at home" inside an airport.

People walk through a slew of shops and restaurants in an airport terminal. Joey Hadden/Business Insider

People-watch to pass the time

On her long terminal walks, Brown said she loves to people-watch.

"I love to check out the different gates, and I will play a guessing game of who's waiting and where they look like they're going?" she said.

People wait at a gate at an airport in NYC. Joey Hadden/Business Insider

Help others in need

In airports, you tend to see other travelers keeping to themselves, only worrying about getting where they're going.

"So many people are traveling, and they forget how hard it is for other people to be in these massively overwhelming terminals with thousands of people," she said.

Brown shifts the tone by helping other travelers  especially when flying solo.

Coffee shops and restaurants in a terminal at JFK Airport. Joey Hadden/Business Insider

"When I am solo traveling, I'll look around and see if there's a mom who's busy with kids, or a caretaker with someone who's elderly, or if there's someone with a walker," she said. "And I will go up to them and say, 'I'm getting a cup of coffee. Do you need one?'"

Brown added that she has also helped families board with strollers.

Brown said that people are grateful for her assistance, which makes her feel good.

Brown's tips may help you avoid stress and enjoy your time at the airport by changing your perspective.

"We're all in this place for a short moment," she said. "We're all going somewhere else. It's magic."

Read the original article on Business Insider
On Friday, the University of Kentucky Board of Trustees will vote to hand over the keys to President Eli Capilouto, leaving the governance of UK to him and him alone. This will remove any semblance of an effective faculty voice in shared governance. I write to you in my position as the final elected Chair of the University Senate Council, which will be abolished. I am thus the last person within the University to speak as a representative of all the faculty. The takeover this Friday concerns me. It should concern you, too. You should care because this isnt just quibbling over regulations, this is a president deliberately and deceitfully disenfranchising organized faculty governance for no apparent reason.

It is a dangerous and reckless program. The President has manufactured an emergency, demanding that his Trustees act rushed and uninformed. The faculty, through the University Senate, offered four times to help. Four times we were ignored. The resulting rules, penned by anonymous hands, are incomplete nonsense: sloppy, uncoordinated, and lacking critical guidance. They threaten academic rigor, student rights, and institutional integrity, remnants of a once-cohesive system dismembered in pursuit of expediency. Deans, driven by revenue targets, can propose courses and degrees devoid of academic rigor or student protections. Review is not by faculty, but by growth-obsessed administrators focused on expanding our healthcare delivery system. Well-run flagship universities do not flail about as we are about to do. Even if there is triumph over this chaos, there was no reason for the chaos in the first place. This is how doors fly off of airplanes, Mr. President.

It was wrought by dishonest means. None of the reasons ever given for this action support the actual measures taken. The President orchestrated messaging designed to set students and staff against faculty. He organized listening sessions where he reported what he wanted (the voices of staff and students) and disregarded the rest (the clear concerns of faculty, who were only allowed to participate with their Deans present). The fog continues to the end. On Friday, the Trustees will see almost 300 pages of previously secret documents, first revealed to them only days ago, and written with no input outside of central administration. No faculty, no staff, no students. In particular, the President reneged on a promise to keep existing faculty representatives involved and in place, substituting representatives handpicked by the Deans and the Provost.

It is clear that the President has failed his faculty. Faculty morale is already at an all-time low and still in palpable decline, witness the University Senates more than two-to-one approval last month of a motion expressing no confidence in our President. In addition, each year the University Senate administers an anonymous survey, evaluating the Presidents performance in the preceding year. This years poll was just completed, results will be published Wednesday at https://universitysenate.uky.edu/facultys-evaluation-president. Please look fast! After Friday I am sure it will be taken down. More than 800 faculty responding (a record) rate President Capilouto overall much more poorly this year. Contrast statements in this paper by the President and Board Chair that only a few faculty are concerned. I have, until now, found our President to be a forthright and admirable leader. It is sad and disappointing that he leaves a legacy tarnished at the tail like this for no apparent reason.

I walk to work each day on the path to Memorial Hall, where  literally written in stone  is our commitment together to shared governance and personal responsibility and accountability. Apparently, these monuments are an insufficient bulwark against the reckless and dishonest conduct of the President and his administration, for which all of Kentucky will be the poorer.

Douglas Michael is a Professor of Law at UK, where he has served for 35 years as a faculty member and over 30 years in administration and faculty governance.
WALTON COUNTY, Fla. (WKRN)  A Florida official said shark attacks are rare, but this weekend three people were bit on Floridas Emerald Coas where a lot of people from Middle Tennessee vacation.

Authorities said one victim had her leg and arm amputated. News 2 asked Florida officials whats different about sharks this summer.

Folks were venturing back into the water Monday, June 10 after two teenagers and a 45-year-old woman were bit by a shark in Walton County, Florida.

SEE ALSO: Multiple shark attacks reported in Florida panhandle

I grabbed my son. He grabbed his daughter, running toward the beach, said one of the medical professionals who witnessed the attack and jumped in to help. And then I looked toward the left as we were running toward the beach, and I saw cloudy red water from the shark attack.

The two attacks happened within 90 minutes of one another  one near Watersound Beach, and the other two at Rosemary Beach. According to the Walton County Sheriffs Office, two victims are still hospitalized and in stable condition, but their lives are forever changed.

Theres a healthy amount of sharks out there right now. Given the conditions, warm water, lots of food, they are going to be there, said Daryl Paul, beach safety director of Panama City Beach Fire & Rescue.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

Out of an abundance of caution, Paul shut-down miles of water access for a period of time this weekend, saying his main concern every year is rip currents, which warranted for 237 rescues last year alone. This summer, his lifeguards are seeing more bull sharks, too.

They do tend to have higher testosterone levels, so they are a bit more aggressive, said Paul. If they bite you, stay calm, try to exit the water best you can, try to wave for help, something like that, but dont panic.

Beach officials also said your best bet is to swim near a lifeguard, as they are always looking for rip currents and sharks.

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The founding principles of the United States of America have established and enshrined a land of hope and freedom based upon Judeo-Christian values, a guest columnist writes.

In March 2023, the Oklahoma Advisory Committee on Founding Principles (OACPF) formed itself to offer advice to the Oklahoma State Department of Education on the topic of promoting in our schools the founding principles and culture of this great nation.

The founding principles of the United States of America have established and enshrined a land of hope and freedom based upon Judeo-Christian values. That is a historical observation. It is entirely uncontroversial to promote fidelity to that founding. Whats more, to encourage knowledge about this founding, and gratitude for it, need not be seen as anything other than historical fact, and certainly not a zealous religious campaign seeking converts. It is good, healthy and productive to promote gratitude for the founding principles that guide our country still. Enshrined in those founding principles is the relationship of faith leading to virtue leading to freedom, all of which together helps create a citizenry capable of self-governance.

More: Proposed education rules' real purpose is to shut down Oklahoma schools, create chaos | Opinion

We, the members of the OACFP, are delighted to see the proposed rules from the state Education Department that are under consideration by Gov. Kevin Stitt. Our nation is at a critical juncture that begs for a deeper commitment to its own founding principles. State schools Superintendent Ryan Walters proposed rules are an opportunity to encourage commitment to the founding principles that have defined our national identity. These rules are not merely administrative changes, but a reaffirmation of the principles that make us a strong country and which have served us well since our founding.

The Declaration of Foundational Values is a profound and necessary step. It acknowledges that education is not just about academic proficiency but about shaping individuals who pursue truth, goodness, and beauty  universal virtues rooted in our Creator's design. By emphasizing that these virtues are objective and attainable, Superintendent Walters is championing a vision of education that forms the mind and touches the soul. This approach aligns perfectly with the ethos of our nations founding documents, which invoke divine guidance and recognize the inherent dignity of people. Moreover, the rule emphasizes the primacy of parents in their childrens education. In an era where parental rights are often overshadowed, this declaration emphasizes the rightful role of parents as the primary educators of their children, with schools supporting that role. This is a crucial affirmation of family values and the natural order established in creation.

More: Legislators' lack of action on Ryan Walters administrative rules is 'truly reprehensible!' | Opinion

The proposed rule on voluntary prayer is equally commendable. In line with the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Kennedy v. Bremerton School District, it safeguards the rights of students and teachers to engage in voluntary prayer. This rule provides a precious minute each day for reflection, meditation or prayer. This practice instills discipline, respect and a sense of purpose among students, grounding them in a tradition that values contemplation and personal responsibility. This is not about coercion but about protecting religious freedom and allowing expressions of faith in the public square.

We, the members of the OACFP, urge Gov. Stitt to sign these rules into law. Superintendent Walters vision for our schools is bold and rooted in the timeless values that have underpinned our society since its inception. By enacting these rules, Oklahoma will affirm our commitment to a brighter future for our children, one that honors our past and prepares them to lead with integrity and wisdom.

Rev. Stephen Hamilton

Fr. Stephen Hamilton is a Catholic priest serving in Edmond, and is the chairman of the OklahomaAdvisory Committee on Founding Principles (OACFP). Members are Michelin Butler-Lopez, Derwin Romani, Wade Burleson, Dr. Howard Hatcher, Aiya Kelley, Jackson Lahmeyer, Bob Linn, Jesse Leon Rodgers and Silvie Tacker.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Advisory group says education rules are enshrined in founding principles
According to a new study published on Monday, June 10, African elephants refer to one another with "individually specific calls"

Getty African Elephants walking across the savanna of the Massai Mara, Kenya

Humans aren't the only animals to use names.

According to a new study published in Nature Ecology & Evolution on Monday, June 10, African elephants also refer to one another through unique sounds.

Per NBC News, the study found that elephants can hear their names over long distances across the savanna when they speak to one another using low rumbles.

The research also discovered that the elephants learn to recognize and address their mates using their names instead of just imitating sounds.

Here we present evidence that wild African elephants address one another with individually specific calls, probably without relying on imitation of the receiver, the study abstract read.

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Getty A family or herd of African Elephants marching in line at Amboseli National Park, Kenya

Related: Alligator Wrestling Tourist Attractions Hurting Not Helping Gator Conservation, Study Finds

To get the results, the study used machine learning to demonstrate that the receiver of a call could be predicted from the calls acoustic structure, regardless of how similar the call was to the receivers vocalizations, adds the abstract.

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Scientists achieved this by following a herd of elephants in jeeps at Kenyas Samburu National Reserve and Amboseli National Park, to closely observe the animals who called out and the ones who responded.

"We've had several incidents where we've been with these elephants and the matriarch of the family will give a call, and everyone in the family will answer, co-author and Colorado State University ecologist George Wittemyer, said per ITV News.

"Then several seconds later, she'll give seemingly a very similar call and nobody in the family would answer except one individual."



Henrik Karlsson/Getty An African savanna elephant

Related: Woman Who Cared for Captive Elephant for 36 Years Reunites with the Animal After 10 Years Apart

According to ITV News and NBC News, researchers then played recordings of the names to individual elephants and disovered that the animals responded more energetically by flapping their ears and lifting their trunks whenever they heard their own noises.



Just like humans, elephants use names, but probably dont use names in the majority of utterances, so we wouldnt expect 100%, study author and Cornell University biologist Mickey Pardo said, per NBC News.

Moreover, scientists say that animals with complex social structures and family groups are more likely to use individual names as it helps them reunite after a separation.

If youre looking after a large family, youve got to be able to say, Hey, Virginia, get over here!  Duke University ecologist Stuart Pimm, who was not involved in the study, told NBC News.

Elephants are incredibly social, always talking and touching each other  this naming is probably one of the things that underpins their ability to communicate to individuals, Wittemyer added, per the outlet. We just cracked open the door a bit to the elephant mind.

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AG asks court to allow absentee voting law to remain in place while lawsuit is considered

A roll of "I voted" circular stickers. (Getty)

The Alabama Attorney Generals Office filed a request Friday asking the court to reject a request for a preliminary injunction in the lawsuit over the states absentee voting law.

Filed in the United States District Court of Alabama, the Attorney General argued in a 25-page filing that the plaintiffs have not shown they would likely succeed on the merits of the case and that the injunction would harm the state.

SB1 strikes a balance between security and accessibility, deterring fraudulent conduct while insulating vulnerable voters and the electoral system from manipulation, the filing states.

Messages were left with representatives for the plaintiffs and the Attorney Generals office Monday afternoon.

SB 1, sponsored by Sen. Garlan Gudger, R-Cullman, makes a person receiving a payment or gift for distributing, ordering, requesting, collecting, completing, prefilling, obtaining or delivering an application a Class C felony, punishable by up to 10 years in prison. If a person knowingly pays or provides a gift to a third party to distribute, order, request, collect, prefill, complete, obtain or deliver, then it would be a Class B felony, punishable by up to 20 years in prison.

Civil Rights groups, including the ACLU of Alabama and the Alabama State Conference of the NAACP, filed a lawsuit to block the bill on April 4, which cited the states history of voter suppression and said that volunteers could be punished.

Voter assistance is a vital means of political expression in Alabama that allows civic leaders to promote and build political power among historically disenfranchised communities, the lawsuit said. And yet, the state has historically and consistently engaged in efforts to restrict voter assistance, including through criminal prosecutions of groups and individuals seeking to create political change through civic engagement.

In the filing, the Attorney Generals office attorneys wrote that the law did not obstruct speech because a person doesnt speak by distributing or submitting another voters ballot application.

The attorneys also wrote that the plaintiffs have not proven that they would suffer irreparable injury if they do not receive a preliminary injunction.

The Attorney General also wrote that an injunction would harm the state.

Plaintiffs refusal to acknowledge the role of absentee ballot applications in voter fraud and the publics substantial interests in election integrity generally and combating voter fraud specifically betrays the weakness of their position, they wrote.

According to the Heritage Foundation, a right-wing leaning think tank, only 25 cases of voter fraud have taken place in Alabama since 2000.

The office also wrote that the law was not vague, in contrast to claims by the plaintiffs.

The attorney generals office cites a declaration from Justin Grimmer, a political scientist from Stanford. Among the news articles cited by Grimmer is an article from the Alabama Reflectors sister news site, the Virginia Mercury, on a nonprofit organization mailing erroneous ballot applications.

The post AG asks court to allow absentee voting law to remain in place while lawsuit is considered appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
The technology could have a chilling effect on voters, in particular the youth vote, said Nevada Secretary of State Francisco Aguilar. (Photo: Ronda Churchill/Nevada Current)

Policy, politics and progressive commentary

Nevada Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar participated in a project with the Institute for Advanced Studies earlier this year that tested the use of chatbots in Nevada.

Speaking on a virtual panel last week with the bipartisan group Issue One, Aguilar said one chatbot was asked what do I need to do to register to vote in Nevada?

Despite the fact that the state allows for same day voter registration, the chatbot gave the incorrect information around the timeframe.

The consequences of a chatbot giving people the wrong information about the election is  voter disenfranchisement at its best, he said.

Given that a young voter might be the one most likely to use chatbots to get election information, Aguilar said if the technology remains unregulated it could have a chilling effect on voters, in particular the youth vote.

In the chatbot exercise, We lost a young voter, he said. We lost an opportunity to engage somebody  In this presidential cycle, that vote could be significant.

Aguilar, a Democrat, along with Jiore Craig, a senior fellow at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, and former Washington Secretary of State Kym Wyman, a Republican, spoke recently about the use of artificial intelligence, the rise of misinformation on social media platforms and attacks on election workers.

While emerging technologies, like AI, are more accessible, they are unregulated and could be easily exploited by extremist groups and foreign adversaries promoting distrust in elections, the panelists warned.

The panel was held as the group awaits for the U.S. Supreme Court to rule in Murthy v Missouri. The case could determine if governments violate the First Amendment by urging social media companies to take down misinformation around Covid and elections.

Carah Ong Whaley, the director of Election Protection with Issue One, said already there are few safeguards to ensure incorrect and blatantly false information isnt generated and shared online.

Social media platforms essentially have zero accountability for hosting and promoting deep fake content, she said. Election officials across the country are bearing the brunt of the toxic information environment. Their responsibilities have expanded into correcting false information and monitoring threats of physical violence.

Despite increasing threats to election workers and democracy itself, Aguilar said representatives with artificial intelligence companies are prioritizing their investment above all.

Craig said democracy is undermined when tech companies refuse to commit to data transparency and when they gut their trust and safety teams

Election officials and groups promoting accountability have tried to combat disinformation spreading on social media platforms.

Craig said that only goes so far.

We can have the most beautiful messages in the world to counter or inoculate, but if we dont have messengers to reach those voters were really wasting our time she said.

Local news can attempt to cut through misinformation. However, Wyman said reporting could be undermined with the proliferation of fabricated websites designed to look like real media outlets.

When incorrect information is shared in traditional media outlets, Aguilar said election workers still bear the brunt of the backlash.

We came out with guidance on how were going to tabulate ballots to get the information to Nevadans when they want it on Election night, he said. Because inaccurate information has been put out there, what my team has gone through with the backlash of that inaccurate information has been pretty significant.

Aguilar said his office has looked at other opportunities to increase trust among voters while recruiting poll workers. He said that has included partnering with trusted groups to promote correct election information.

We did polling and found veterans and firefighters are the most trusted advocates when it comes to elections, he said. If were talking about veterans and getting them engaged and being poll workers, they are there seeing the process, experiencing the process and then talking to their friends and family members about the process and how secure it is.

The post Aguilar joins officials warning about threat of AI misinforming voters appeared first on Nevada Current.
An engine failure aboard an Air Canada Express commuter flight from Sacramento International Airport caused the pilots Tuesday to turn around and return to the capital citys airport.

The plane  Air Canada Express flight 7121  took off bound for Vancouver, British Columbia, about 40 minutes late at 9:52 a.m., according to FlightAware, an online plane tracking system. The plane operated by Jazz Aviation is a CRJ-900LR, a regional jet that seats 76 passengers, and was built by Bombardier in 2005.

However, the small jets left engine, a General Electric model CF34-8C5, failed shortly after takeoff and a crew of four people aboard was diverted. The jet safely landed about 10:35 a.m., according to archived audio dispatch calls reviewed by The Sacramento Bee.

Lindsay Myers, a spokeswoman for the countys airport system, said the plane had a known mechanical issue overnight and was flying to Vancouver for mechanics to take a look.

The problem got worse, Myers said, as the unscheduled flight commenced and the pilot landed again safely.

Air Canada representatives did not respond to a request to comment.

No injuries were reported.
The Air Force says new federal standards governing "forever chemicals" will be incorporated into future cleanup efforts and may lead to more testing for on- and off-base residents who have had their water supplies contaminated.

In April, the Environmental Protection Agency enacted new drinking water standards that set limits on exposure to PFAS -- perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, chemicals that do not degrade in the environment and can build up in the body, hence the nickname forever chemicals. They have led to warnings of adverse health effects such as kidney and testicular cancer, increased cholesterol levels and changes in liver enzymes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The new EPA rules will inform the Air Force's own cleanup standards for bases and nearby water supplies that may have been tainted by PFAS through practices such as the military's use of aqueous film forming foam -- a flame suppressing substance known as AFFF used since the 1970s for petroleum fires -- that seeped into ground and drinking water.

Read Next: Watch 'Band of Brothers' Cast Members Jump into Normandy for D-Day's 80th Anniversary

Since 2015, the Department of the Air Force has found that 191 of 204 installations that it inspected had released PFAS into the environment. That has raised concerns in recent years that nearby communities or those residents who may have water supplies contaminated by the chemicals.

Air Force officials said in a press release last week that "the new standards could mean more sampling of off-base drinking water supplies."

"If the [Department of the Air Force] identifies drinking water wells with PFAS above the action level and attributable to [Department of Defense] mission activities, it may implement a response action such as connecting the residence to municipal water supply or installing filtration systems," the news release said.

The Department of the Air Force will also have quarterly sampling "to guarantee that delivered water remains below action levels," such as the threshold set by the EPA, the service added.

The military is required, under the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act, to stop using the PFAS-laden firefighting foam by October 2024, although there is the possibility for an extension.

But the Department of the Air Force, which includes the Air Force and Space Force, is also looking past just firefighting foam and is analyzing other PFAS contaminants "by systematically evaluating non-AFFF sources of PFAS" at active-duty bases as well as Air National Guard, Space Force and already closed installations, it said.

"The [Department of the Air Force] is working with [the Department of Defense] to prioritize cleanup at locations that pose the greatest risk to human health and will continue to accelerate cleanup efforts in partnership with regulatory agencies and affected communities," the news release added.

Earlier this year, the Department of Defense named more than 30 locations -- the vast majority of them Air Force installations -- where cleanup efforts will start or are underway.

Related: Air Force Missileers Get New Workplace Inspections, Health Tracking Amid Ongoing Cancer Cluster Study
By Frank Phiri

BLANTYRE, Malawi (Reuters) -Malawi's Vice President Saulos Klaus Chilima and nine others, including former first lady Shanil Dzimbiri, were killed when the military plane they were travelling in crashed, President Lazarus Chakwera said on Tuesday.

The aircraft carrying Chilima, who was seen as a potential candidate in next year's presidential election, went missing on Monday.

"I'm deeply saddened, I'm sorry to inform you all that it has turned out to be a terrible tragedy. The search and rescue team has found the aircraft near a hill. They have found it completely destroyed with no survivors," Chakwera said in an address to the nation.

The plane left the capital Lilongwe at 09:17 a.m. (0717 GMT) on Monday but was unable to land at Mzuzu airport as scheduled at 10:02 a.m. due to poor visibility.

It was ordered to return to Lilongwe but went off the radar and aviation authorities could not make contact with it.

Chakwera said all passengers on board were killed on impact and that the military was bringing their remains back to the capital.

"Despite the track record of the aircraft and the experience of the crew, something terrible went wrong with that aircraft on its flight back to Lilongwe, sending it crashing down and leaving us all devastated," he said.

Images shared online showed security and rescue personnel on the crash site on a hillside with debris scattered around the tail of the Dornier 228-202K military transport plane, its tail number MAF T03 still visible.

Reuters has not been able to authenticate the pictures.

Chilima, 51, returned from South Korea on Sunday after participating in the Korea-Africa summit, and was travelling with the other passengers on Monday morning to attend the funeral of Malawi's former justice minister in the north of the country.

"Dr. Saulos Klaus Chilima was a good man, a devoted father and husband, a patriotic citizen who served his country with distinction, and a formidable vice president," Chakwera said.

Chilima, a former director of Airtel Malawi, was the leader of the United Transformation Movement party. He partnered with Chakwera to form the ruling Tonse Alliance and ran as his running mate in their 2020 victory.

Relations between the two, however, had become tense ahead of the 2025 presidential election in which the vice president was expected to challenge the president.

Chilima was arrested in 2022 over graft allegations. However, a court dropped the charges against him last month after the director of public prosecutions filed a notice for the case to be discontinued. Chilima denied wrongdoing.

(Reporting by Frank Phiri in Blantyre; Writing by Tannur Anders and Alexander Winning; Editing by Bate Felix, Angus MacSwan and Christina Fincher)
Flying through a thunderstorm can be a scary experience even for the most experienced travelers. There's a number of risks with doing so, and passengers aboard an Austrian Airlines flight on June 9 learned that firsthand.

The flight was traveling to Vienna from Palma de Mallorca in Spain when, according to the airline, the plane was badly damaged by hail when it flew through a "thunderstorm cell," per CNN. It resulted in much more than just turbulence, as the plane was pelted with hail that broke windows and knocked pieces of the plane clean off.

Miraculously, the plane landed safely in Vienna less than half an hour later, but it wasn't until the 173 passengers deplaned that they realized just how bad it was. Most of the plane's nose was missing entirely, while the top of the cockpit was bent and the cockpit windows were cracked.

It was a scary and entirely unintended incident, as the storm "was not visible on weather radar," the airline told CNN. "According to current information, the two front cockpit windows of the aircraft, the nose of the aircraft [the 'radome'], and some paneling were damaged by the hail," they said.

A passenger on the flight described the scene aboard the aircraft to ABC News. "I think we were about 20 minutes from landing when we got into a cloud of hail and thunderstorm, and the turbulence started," Emmeley Oakley said. "We could definitely feel the hail coming down on the plane and it was quite loud and of course super rocky for a minute."

Some people started screaming, prompting the flight attendants to spring into action and calm everybody down. "It was a pretty uneventful flight for 90 percent of the trip," Oakley said. "It wasnt until we exited that we saw the nose was missing! The pilots really did an excellent job keeping things as smooth and safe as they could."

It was certainly an unforgettable experience that could've been much worse.
Bars in a prison. A staircase can be seen behind them.

A prison corridor in Holman Correctional Facility in 2019. (File)

Legislators pleaded with staff from the Alabama Department of Corrections to address the ongoing safety concerns within its prisons, while approving payments to attorneys to represent employees accused of fostering a dangerous culture and environment.

I know I have said this before, but you know, I have gotten another call from another constituent where the son was beat up because the gangs are running our prisons, and the prison guards are bringing the drugs to the gang members, and the cell phones, said Rep. Chris Pringle, R-Mobile. These people call me, and they are crying their eyes out because they got a videotape of their son who had just been raped or beaten up.

Members of the Contract Review Committee approved two legal services contracts for Wallace, Jordan, Ratliff & Brandt, LLC, paying the Birmingham firm $400,000 to represent corrections officers and administrators in two ongoing cases.

Albert Jordan will be paid by the state to defend the DOC and its employees against a civil rights complaint filed by Frankie Johnson, which states that he was repeatedly victimized while in the DOC custody.

According to the complaint, Johnson was incarcerated at Donaldson Correctional Facility in Bessemer alongside his adversaries, including one who had assaulted him previously at another prison. In December 2019, Johnson was stabbed at least nine times from as many as 13 people housed at Donaldson.

The complaint also states that Johnson was then stabbed repeatedly by another person in March of 2020 when he was restrained with shackles and handcuffs during a therapy session.

Dangerous conditions that were well known to prison staff led to Johnsons serious injuries, the lawsuit states, and they exhibited deliberate indifference to his safety and failed to protect him.

Jordan will also represent Gwendolyn Givens, warden at the Donaldson prison in 2021. Elizabeth McElroy, a personal representative of Kenneth Cedrick Gilchrist Jr. filed a lawsuit on his behalf. He died in October 2021 after he was stabbed by another inmate.

Gilchrist had pleaded with staff for medical attention for at least an hour, according to the lawsuit, but staff never took Gilchrist to the medical unit.

Unsafe conditions in the states prisons come from not only continued violence but also from overcrowding and inadequate number of corrections officers, according to criminal justice reform advocates.

The legislative committee also approved two architectural and design contracts for renovations and upgrades to Alabama prisons to bring them into compliance with the American with Disabilities Act. Those went to Goodwyn Mills Cawood, LLC, and JMR+H Architecture PC, both based in Montgomery.

Work became necessary because of a court order stemming from a lawsuit filed against the DOC, alleging that the health care is inadequate for people with disabilities who are incarcerated.

Overall, more than 300 people died in 2023 while in DOC custody. Lawmakers took some initial steps to address the situation in the most recent legislative session. SB 322, sponsored by Sen. Clyde Chambliss, R-Prattville, established several positions focused on communicating with constituents about the status of their loved ones who are incarcerated in prisons.

The bill  which cleared the legislature and has been signed by the governor  was the result of public hearings that legislators hosted allowing people in the public to speak about the experiences of those currently incarcerated.

Please, God, we have to do something to protect these prisoners, Pringle said during Thursdays meeting. It is insane what is going on in our prison system.

Sen. Dan Roberts, R-Mountain Brook, said that another meeting is planned in July to hear from the public about additional concerns.

I am hopeful that we are making progress here, he said.

The post Alabama approves two legal contracts to represent DOC in deaths in prison appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Jayden Neal plays with LEGO blocks at Faulkner University Pre-K in Montgomery, Ala., Tuesday, May 21, 2024. Alabama's child well-being ranking rose to 39th, but the improvement mainly reflects other states worsening. (Alabama Reflector Photo by Stew Milne)

Alabama has improved its overall child well-being ranking, climbing to 39th from 45th last year, according to the 2024 KIDS COUNT Data Book.

Apreill Hartsfield, a policy and data analyst for VOICES for Alabamas Children, said that while it appears Alabama is doing better than previously, child well-being hasnt improved as much as the data suggest.

Theres really two different stories there. One is how we rank with other states. So, while our ranking has improved, really, the other side of that story is that weve actually maintained ground, which is good, but other states have grown much worse than we have, said Hartsfield.

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The 50-state report by the Annie E. Casey Foundation evaluates data on childrens well-being. The report analyzes 16 indicators across four areas  economic well-being, education, health, and family and community factors  and ranks states annually based on these metrics.

The report focuses on the ongoing lack of reading and math skills among students, an issue exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, with 19% of Alabama eighth graders who scored at or above proficient in math in 2022, a 3% decline from 2019. Reading proficiency remained steady at 28% for fourth graders scoring at or above proficient from 2019 to 2022.

But the pandemic is not the sole cause of declining test scores, according to the report. There are still concerns about the U.S. education overall. Compared to peer nations, U.S. students lag in reading, math, and digital problem-solving.

Looking through a national lens, Alabamas rankings are climbing, yet the states child well-being outcomes still need attention, said Rhonda Mann, executive director of VOICES for Alabamas Children, in a statement.

The report suggested continued investment in the 2019 Literacy Act, which requires children to read at grade level by third grade, and the 2022 Numeracy Act, which provides support to schools with low math scores. The 2025 Education Trust Fund budget will provide $48 million for implementation of the 2019 Literacy Act and $28 million for the 2022 Numeracy Act.

But the pandemic is not the sole cause of declining test scores, according to the report. There are still concerns about the U.S. education overall. Compared to peer nations, U.S. students lag in reading, math, and digital problem-solving.

Rep. Danny Garrett, R-Trussville, chair of the House Education Trust Fund Budget Committee, said there are additional investments being made into Alabamas educational system, as well. The state is increasing funding for schools with at least 10% English as a Second Language (ESL) student population, for example, as well as providing funding for auxiliary teachers in underperforming schools.

Were expecting and hopeful that all these investments were making and the continual resources that were providing will continue to show improvement in those results. Thats certainly where our attention is, Garrett said.

Chronic absenteeism has also increased, particularly among children in poverty who struggle to return to regular school activities. Child poverty in Alabama increased by 5% from 2019 to 2022, with Alabama ranking 45th in the nation at 22%, and nearly one third of children lived in families with no full-time, year-round employed parent  a 6% decrease since 2019.

To improve learning outcomes, the report recommends ensuring students have access to low- or no-cost meals, reliable internet, study spaces, and time with friends, teachers and counselors.

The report also noted improvements. Alabama ranked third nationally for insurance coverage, with 3% of children lacking health insurance and there was a 27% decrease in children living in high-poverty areas.

Hartsfield said that while having 97% of children with health insurance is good, there are more nuanced factors that go with that.

Hartsfield said that for children in rural areas, even if they have insurance, there may be a lack of health services. She also said its important for parents to have insurance as well and make investments in keeping rural facilities open.

Thats one step, but we also have to take it a step further and look at how they are able to actually access health care, and part of that goes along with making health insurance coverage accessible for everybody, covering more of our working Alabamians, she said.

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The post Alabama rises in child well-being rankings, but challenges remain appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE)  The Albuquerque Police Department arrested two men suspected of shooting from a vehicle over the weekend. According to APD, Enzo Jimenez and David Arias fired several bullets near Louisiana and Gibson. No injuries were reported related to those shots.

Albuquerque man takes plea deal in May 2023 fatal shooting

Police say they also found two pistols, several magazines, and almost 200 rounds of ammunition. Jimenez is now facing four counts of shooting from a motor vehicle while Aries is facing four counts of conspiracy.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE)  The Albuquerque Police Department (APD) says one of their officers is on administrative leave after being arrested and accused of driving while intoxicated.

A New Mexico State Police sergeant arrested APD officer Jordan Hernandez around midnight on Sunday, June 9, the department says. State Police saw Hernandez driving his patrol car at a high rate of speed. The incident occurred on Bobby Foster Road, near Mesa del Sol, and State Police accuse Hernandez of going approximately 112 miles per hour, according to the criminal complaint.

Accused DWI drivers back on New Mexico roads after officer no-shows

Hernandez normally works within APDs Foothills Area Command. Now, APD says theyre conducting an internal investigation and have placed Officer Hernandez on administrative leave.

Its always disappointing to learn that one of our officers is accused of breaking the same laws they are sworn to enforce, APD Chief Harold Medina said in a press release. We will move forward with an internal investigation, while criminal charges are handled by the judicial system.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Newly released audio recordings of Justice Samuel Alito appear to capture him speaking candidly about the limits of the investigation the Supreme Court conducted into the leak of his draft majority opinion in the 2022 case that ended the federal constitutional right to abortion.

And in a separate recording, the justices wife, Martha-Ann Alito, said she was unfazed by a recent controversy over flag displays at the couples homes in suburban Virginia and on the New Jersey shore.

Liberal activist and documentary filmmaker Lauren Windsor posted the audio on X Monday and shared it with Rolling Stone. In the exchanges, Windsor posed as a conservative hostile to abortion rights and supportive of the Alitos. She also expressed outrage at the disclosure in POLITICO in May 2022 of the courts forthcoming opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization and lamented the courts failure to publicly identify anyone responsible.

Its hard, Alito told Windsor during an exchange at a Supreme Court Historical Society event in June 2023. You know, you cant name somebody unless you know for sure, and we dont have the power to do the things that would be necessary to try to figure out, nail down exactly [who did it]. And even then we might not be able to do it. We dont have the power to subpoena people to testify, to subpoena records, phone records or other things like that. We dont have that authority.



The day following POLITICOs report on the draft opinion, Chief Justice John Roberts confirmed its authenticity and ordered an investigation, which was conducted by the courts marshal, Gail Curley.

In January 2023, the Supreme Court announced that the inquiry was unable to identify a person responsible by a preponderance of the evidence. However, the probe found numerous deficiencies in physical and electronic handling of sensitive information at the court.

Were not a law enforcement agency, you know, Alito told Windsor. People have certain rights to privacy, so law enforcement agencies can issue subpoenas, get search warrants, all that sort of thing, but we cant do that. Our marshal did as much as she could do, but that was limited.

Earlier in the same exchange last year, Alito said partisan rifts in the country were disturbing and blamed the press for increasingly negative perceptions of the court.

Asked how the country can become less polarized, Alito responded: I wish I knew. I dont know. Its easy to blame the media, but I do blame them because they do nothing but criticize us. And so they have really eroded trust in the court.  American citizens in general need to work on this to heal this polarization because its very dangerous.

Altio said he doubted the court was in a position to bring the country together.

I dont think its something we can do, he said. We have a very defined role and we need to do what were supposed to do. But this is a bigger problem. This is way above us.



Supreme Court spokespeople did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the recordings.

James Duff, the executive director of the Supreme Court Historical Society, issued a statement decrying the recordings.

"We condemn the surreptitious recording of justices at the event, which is inconsistent with the entire spirit of the evening," Duff said. "Attendees are advised that discussion of current cases, cases decided by this court, or a justices jurisprudence is strictly prohibited and may result in forfeiture of membership in the society."

Last week, at another Supreme Court Historical Society dinner, Windsor spoke with Alito again and said negotiation with the left may be pointless. The conservative justice seemed to concur, but then qualified his answer.

I think youre probably right: One side or the other is going to win. I mean there can be a way of working, a way of living together peacefully, right? Its difficult because there are differences on fundamental things that cant be compromised.

When Windsor told Alito that she believed that people need to fight to return our country to a place of godliness, the justice replied: I agree with you. I agree with you.

In a lengthy exchange with Martha-Ann Alito at the same dinner, Windsor asked about the blowback the couple has received after the New York Times reported on two flag displays that have been associated with Donald Trumps bid to overturn the 2020 election. The justice said in a letter to Congress that he is not fond of flying flags and that his wife put them up.

In Windsors recording, the justices wife sounded unrepentant, describing her critics as feminazis and threatening libel lawsuits against the press.

Theres a five-year defamation statute of limitations, Alito said. Dont get angry. Get even. She also expressed deep resentment about newspaper criticism of her fashion choices early on and said her husbands efforts to rein in her penchant for flying provocative flags have largely fallen short.

He never controls me, she told Windsor.

Martha-Ann Alito did say she has deferred to her husband in recent days by not seeking, for now, to counter an LGBTQ pride flag flying near their home. I want a Sacred Heart of Jesus flag because I have to look across the lagoon at the pride flag for the next month, she said. I said, When you are free of this nonsense, Im putting it up.

Windsor also recorded Roberts at the same fundraising event at the court last week, but he declined to take the bait when she said she believed the Supreme Court should be guiding America on a path as a Christian nation.

I dont know that we live in a Christian nation, the chief justice said. I know a lot of Jewish and Muslim friends who would say: Maybe not. It's not our job to do that. It's our job to decide the cases as best we can.

Roberts also rejected the popular perception that the country is living in an era of extreme polarization.

I have been here almost 20 years. There have been quieter times, the chief justice said. The Civil War  we did that. During Vietnam, people were getting killed.  This is all right. I mean, it's not all right, but it's not like it's dramatically different.
A secret tape has exposed what Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alitos wife, Martha-Ann, really thinks behind closed doorsand the truth isnt pretty. In the span of just a few minutes, Alito promised revenge on the media, flung around terms like femnazis, lauded her German heritage, and went off about Pride flags. It was a mess.

Alito has been in and out of the news in the last month, after her high-ranking husband blamed her for hanging an upside-down American flag outside of their home, a symbol favored by the Stop the Steal movement following the 2020 presidential election. She supposedly hung the flag in response to a neighbors F Trump sign, which sparked the rather unneighborly spat. Alito also engaged in some light menacing as part of the feud, prompting the neighbor to call the cops on the Alitos. Still, Justice Alito has refused calls to recuse himself from cases relating to the January 6 insurrection.

Journalist Laura Windsor recorded Martha-Anns and her husbands comments during the Supreme Court Historical Societys annual dinner earlier this month. A copy of the tape was published on Monday by Rolling Stone.

Windsor first approached Martha-Ann, posing as a Christian conservative, to express her sympathy over everything that youre going through, referring to the highly publicized flag hanging.

Its OK because if they come back to me, Ill get them, Alito said cheerfully. Im gonna be liberated and Im gonna get them.

What do you mean by they? Windsor asked.

There is a five-year defamation statute of limitations, Alito said, letting out a laugh.

I dont know what you mean by they, like by get them? Windsor pressed.

The media! Alito said, going on to complain about her coverage in The Washington Post style section from nearly two decades ago.

It appears Alito doesnt forget about the journalists whove gotten on her bad side. In 2016, Alito was reportedly enthusiastic about Trumps promise to expand U.S. libel laws to make it significantly easier to sue news outlets for their coverage, one GOP operative told Rolling Stone.

While maintaining her cheerful tone, Alito also took aim at any woman who suggested her husband shouldve prevented her from hanging an Appeal to Heaven flag, a symbol revived by a Christian nationalist sect and favored by January 6 insurrectionists, at their vacation home.

The other thing the femnazis believe, that he should control me, Alito said about her husband. So, theyll go to hell. He never controls me.

When Windsor asked what someone who has the same flag should do, Alito responded simply, Dont get angry, get even.

There was one group that Alito seemed to admire, and its not exactly one that people are often openly praising. Look at me, look at me. Im German, from Germany. My heritage is German. You come after me. Im gonna give it back to you. And there will be a way, it doesnt have to be now, but there will be a way they will know. Dont worry about it, she said.

When Windsor tried to ask Alito about the political divide in the United States and her thoughts on the radical Left, about which her supposedly nonpolitical husband had plenty to say, Alito cut her off to complain about Pride flags.

You know what I want? I want a Sacred Heart of Jesus flag because I have to look across the lagoon at the Pride flag for the next month, she said.

And hes like, Oh please, dont put up a flag. I said, I wont do it because Im deferring to you. But when you are free of this nonsense Im putting it up, and Im gonna send them a message every day. Maybe every week Ill be changing the flags. Theyll be all kinds, she said, fantasizing about the day when she could finally antagonize her neighbors who support the LGBTQ+ community.

Alito even explained she had invented a flag that says, Vergogna, which means shame in Italian. Shame, shame, shame on you, Alito added darkly.

One can scarcely believe that her husband ruled in favor of allowing businesses to discriminate against people who identify as LGBTQ+.
We will always be there for Hunter: President Joe Biden releases statement after son found guilty

The president said he is proud of who Hunter is today (AP)

President Biden on Tuesday said he accepts the outcome of the first of two criminal cases against his son, Hunter Biden, after a jury found Hunter guilty on three charges related to his purchase and possession of a handgun in 2018.

Biden issued a statement declaring his continued support for his only surviving son just minutes after a jury in Wilmington, Delaware unanimously convicted Hunter Biden on three felony gun charges, a historic decision that marks the first time a sitting presidents child has been found guilty of a crime.

"As I said last week, I am the president, but I am also a dad. Jill and I love our son, and we are so proud of the man he is today, he said.

The younger Biden, a 51-year-old Yale-educated attorney and lobbyist turned visual artist, has admitted to struggling with addiction for decades. His father said he can relate to the many families who have had loved ones battle addiction and he shares the feeling of pride at seeing a relative come out the other side and be so strong and resilient in recovery after overcoming alcohol or drug dependency.

The president added that he will accept the outcome of this case and will continue to respect the judicial process while his son considers whether to appeal the conviction.

He also said he and First Lady Jill Biden will always be there for Hunter and the rest of our family with our love and support.

Nothing will ever change that, he added.

The jury verdict against Hunter Biden represents the first time the child of a sitting president has been convicted of a crime and comes less than two weeks after his fathers likely 2024 opponent, former president Donald Trump, was found guilty of 34 felonies by a New York City jury after a monthlong trial.

While Trump and his family members have routinely assailed the legal proceedings against him, President Biden has vowed not to intervene in the cases against his son and has said he would not use his authority to pardon him.

Hunters attorney, Abbe Lowell, said in a statement that he and his client were naturally disappointed by the jurys verdict but stressed that they respect the judicial process and would continue to vigorously pursue all the legal challenges available.

For his part, Hunter Biden said he was more grateful today for the love and support from his family, friends and community than he was disappointed by the outcome.

Recovery is possible by the grace of God, and I am blessed to experience that gift one day at a time, he added.
American Tourist, 16, Dead After Falling Over 300 Feet from Popular Walking Trail in Switzerland

Police said the girl was walking with a group along the Gorges Mysterieuses trail in the Tete-Noire gorge near the Trient River on June 9

Getty Stock photo of the Trient River in the canton of Valais in Switzerland

Authorities in Switzerland say an American teenager has died after falling more than 300 feet while sightseeing.

The 16-year-old girl was hiking with a friend and the friend's family in Valais just after 10:30 a.m. local time on Sunday, June 9, when she "stumbled" and fell about 100 meters (328 feet) down an embankment, according to a French-language news release from Valais police, translated by both CBS and NBC News.

Police said the group was walking along the popular Gorges Mysterieuses trail in the Tete-Noire gorge near the Trient River when the incident occurred.

Per NBC News, "two helicopter crews, two regional rescue teams and emergency psychologists" all responded to the scene. Rescuers eventually found the teens body in a riverbed below the trail. Authorities have not released her identity.

Related: California Man Dead After Falling 300 Feet Off Cliff While Hiking with Wife Along Oregon Coast

Police said the friends father was also rescued after getting stuck on a rock wall while attempting to save the teen. He was not injured.



An investigation into the incident is ongoing. It is unclear how the girl stumbled and fell from the trail.

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Created in 1884, the Tete-Noire pathway features 120 kilometers (74.5 miles) of walkways and bridges that lead to the bottom of the gorge, where visitors can find waterfalls and a hidden grotto, according to the Swiss governments tourism website.

The return path is a centuries-old international trade route that connects Martigny in Switzerland and Chamonix in France.

Related: Motorcyclist Dead After Crashing Into Concrete Barrier and Falling 30 Feet Off Bridge

Sundays incident occurred in the same canton where another American teen died in April after the 15-year-old was caught in an avalanche near the Swiss Alpine ski resort of Zermatt.

Two other people were reportedly also killed in the April incident, and a 20-year-old Swiss man was seriously injured.



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WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  China is promising to work with the U.S. to investigate a stabbing that sent four U.S. college instructors in China to the hospital.

Chinas foreign minister is not reporting a motive and calls the incident isolated.

All four instructors were from Cornell College in Iowa, three of them were American. All are in stable condition.

Chinese police say the man bumped into a foreigner at a public park early Monday morning when he began stabbing the victims, including one Chinese national who tried to intervene.

On Twitter, the U.S. ambassador to China sad he was angered and deeply troubled by the stabbing. He says he visited the victims in the hospital.

A spokesperson from the office of Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) said, The U.S. Consulate General in Shenyang has confirmed to Senator Grassley that its working to advocate for the attack victims, with the Consul General planning a personal meeting with them at the hospital. Senator Grassley stands ready to assist.

Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa) says at least one of the American victims is expected to return to the U.S. in the next 24 hours and says so far Beijing is being very cooperative.

What I dont want people to do is jump to a conclusion that there was something more than a random unprovoked attacked, until we have that information this is what we have, says Miller-Meeks.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Amnesty for Catalan separatists goes into effect in Spain

The logo of the human rights organization Amnesty International is pictured in Berlin. Sebastian Kahnert/dpa

A controversial amnesty for Catalan separatists has entered into force in Spain.

The "Law for institutional, political and social normalization in Catalonia," published in the Spanish Official Gazette on Tuesday, means that separatists who fled abroad to escape the Spanish justice system can return home without fear of arrest.

Most notable among these figures is former regional government leader Carles Puigdemont, who was wanted for holding what the Spanish authorities regarded as an illegal referendum on Catalan independence nearly seven years ago.

The adoption of the amnesty law in parliament at the end of May was preceded by heated debates and several votes in both houses of parliament, and led to street protests.

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez had promised the "Catalanistas" the amnesty and other concessions in order to secure the votes of two separatist parties for his re-election last November.

Separatist leader Puigdemont's liberal Junts party and the left-wing ERC are both still seeking Catalonia's secession from Spain. However, Sanchez wants to prevent this and defuse the conflict through dialogue.

Some 400 or so people are expected to be covered by the law.

After the Catalonia referendum in autumn 2017, the conservative central government placed the region under its administration. Puigdemont fled with some of his supporters and has been living in exile in Belgium ever since.
Amy Dowden to compete in Strictly Come Dancing following cancer treatment: My heart is so happy

Amy Dowden to compete in Strictly Come Dancing following cancer treatment: My heart is so happy

Strictly Come Dancing has announced its cast of professional dancers for 2024  and while it has been overshadowed by scandal  one special name has appeared on the list after a prolonged absence.

Amy Dowden, who was too ill to compete in last seasons show as she underwent treatment for stage three breast cancer, will be returning for the new season after being told in February that she has no evidence of disease.

The Welsh dancer, 33, celebrated the news following the BBCs official announcement, telling her Instagram followers that she cannot wait to be back doing what she loves the most: dancing.

My heart is so happy, she wrote. The best team on and off the dance floor. Feel blessed and more excited than ever. Bring it on!

Professional dancer Vito Coppola, who will also dance in this years competition, wrote on Instagram about how much the Strictly cast had missed Dowden in the previous season.

Beautiful Amy we are so happy to have you back. We have missed you. Be ready because I am going to lift you very high, he said. We love you and I am sure I can speak for all us when I say that it was not same without you.

Dowdens friend and fellow Strictly pro Diane Buswell said she was so happy to have the dancer back on the dancefloor where she belongs.

Dowden photographed in May 2024 (Getty Images for Deichmann)

In May 2023, Dowden was diagnosed with an aggressive form of stage three breast cancer finding a lump in her breast the day before her Maldives honeymoon with fellow professional dancer Ben Jones. She underwent a mastectomy, chemotherapy and fertility treatment for nine months, and was told she had no evidence of disease in February.

Along the way, Dowden had been sharing frank health updates with her social media followers, as well as appearing on Strictly on several occasions to surprise her co-stars by reading out the terms and conditions for voting.

Dancer made several surprise guest appearances on Strictly during her cancer treatment (BBC)

She has since been credited for her work in raising awareness of breast cancer symptoms through sharing her story.

The news of Dowdens return has been overshadowed by the departure of Giovanni Pernices, whos name was not included in the casting announcement. He will not be competing after he faces a flurry of allegations over his teaching methods.

The Welsh dancer will be returning to Strictly for the 2024 season (BBC/Ray Burmiston/PA)

The Italian professional dancer, who had been on the show since 2015, has faced controversy after several former celebrity contestants have made complaints about Pernices behaviour and teaching methods, following the departure of his former partner Sherlock actor Amanda Abbington. The actor withdrew from the competition in 2023 citing personal reasons but has gone on to call Pernice awful.

Strictly Come Dancing will return this autumn to celebrate its 20th anniversary with Shirley Ballas, Motsi Mabuse, Craig Revel-Horwood and Anton Du Beke back in the judging chairs.
By Sabine Siebold and Maria Martinez

BERLIN (Reuters) - Budget infighting within Germany's governing coalition is jeopardising its plan to meet defence commitments to Western allies even as tensions with Russia rise and a NATO-sceptic Donald Trump bids for a second term as U.S. president.

Since the 1990s Germany has thrown off its post-World War Two aversion to military action. But it has faced criticism  not least from Trump in his first term  for repeatedly missing a NATO target of spending 2% of its economic output on defence. Days after Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Chancellor Olaf Scholz surprised allies by announcing a "Zeitenwende"  German for a historic turning point - with a 100-billion-euro ($107 billion) special fund to bring the military back up to speed.

But while top-ups from that fund will allow Berlin to meet the 2% target over the next three years for the first time since the end of the Cold War in 1990, there is uncertainty about how to achieve the spending goal when the fund is exhausted in 2028.

Moreover, Germany's military top brass warns the Bundeswehr needs additional funds right now to be combat-ready in five years, when they believe Russia will be capable of attacking NATO member-state territory.

With Europe's largest economy at just over 4 trillion euros in gross domestic product, the current defence budget of 52 billion euros is some 28 billion below the NATO target.

"We have to remember that during the Cold War, under chancellors Adenauer, Brandt and many others, Germany spent more than 3% of GDP on defence," NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told German public broadcaster NDR last week.

He said higher defence spending by Europe's biggest economy now makes a big difference for the alliance.

"So we have done it before, not because we enjoy investing in defence, but because it is necessary to secure peace."

Germany's fractious coalition of left-leaning Social Democrats (SPD), pro-business liberals and ecologist Greens are struggling to find the money to comply with the NATO target, given self-imposed rules that limit the amount of state borrowing they can take on.

"There's a broader strategic question about the long-term trajectory of defence spending in Germany and how compatible or not that is with the country's institutional fiscal rules," said Mujtaba Rahman, Eurasia Group managing director for Europe.

PASSING THE BUCK

For now, Scholz has sided with liberal Finance Minister Christian Lindner in rejecting calls by Defence Minister and SPD ally Boris Pistorius to increase annual defence spending next year by 6.7 billion euros to initiate more investment - in effect, postponing a solution till after the 2025 election.

"The next government will be elected in 2025 and will have to provide an answer to then continue the Zeitenwende," said Marcel Schlepper, military expert at the Ifo institute.

Aside from the political uncertainty that creates, each year the annual spending upgrade is delayed, the sharper the uplift will ultimately have to be to meet the 2% target: Projections show that shortfall will have reached 40 billion euros by 2028.

Andreas Schwarz, an SPD member of parliament's budget committee, said that without extra funding Pistorius would be left next year with a relatively meagre 500 million euros for investments in defence procurement.

"He needs the 6.7 billion euros to keep investing, to encourage the defence industry to ramp up capacities and deliver to the troops what they urgently need," he noted, adding that some of the military's most pressing purchases such as ammunition, air defences and rocket artillery might be affected. The country's arms makers, faced with constant calls to expand production capacities, are not pleased either.

CRUNCH TIME

Defence industry officials argue that Germany has saved hundreds of billions of euros since the Cold War by not meeting the NATO target, creating a need for greater investment now.

The defence industry association, headed by Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger, reminded Scholz of his 2022 pledge to from now on reach the NATO goal. "The current mid-term planning sees the defence budget frozen at 52 billion euros for the coming years, a sum that in two years time already will only cover the Bundeswehr's fixed costs and leave no space for additional purchases," the association said in a statement last week.

It estimated a further 100 billion euros would be needed by 2028 to plug gaps in the military's inventory, which include air defence systems, long-range missiles and ammunition.

For now, such a prospect appears dim. A defence source told Reuters the chancellery had warned the defence ministry that it cannot expect to receive any fresh financial authorisations until 2028, a year reflected for the first time in the mid-term financial planning being worked on now together with the 2025 budget.

Instead, the chancellery suggested defence officials talk to arms makers and convince them to start producing weapons for the Bundeswehr at their own cost and without a contract, accepting that payment wouldn't come until 2028, said the source - adding the idea was greeted with disbelief at the defence ministry.

A spokesperson for the defence ministry said she could neither confirm nor deny this information. A spokesperson from the chancellery said it was false.

One military source said army leaders regarded the outcome of the budget row as a litmus test of politicians' commitment to a genuinely transformational "Zeitenwende".

"We are at a crunch point," said the source. "Either we get onto the autobahn and drive full speed, or we come to a standstill."

($1 = 0.9301 euros)

(Reporting by Sabine Siebold and Maria Martinez; additional reporting by Andreas Rinke and Andrey Sichev; editing by Mark John and Mark Heinrich)
Amid high ginger prices, Tolentino presses need to increase supply, improve post-harvest facilities

The Department of Agriculture (DA) has acknowledged that the high prices of ginger in Metro Manila and neighboring provinces is caused by rising demand for the commodity from manufacturers, coupled by low supply due to slower importation.

These were the reasons cited by DA Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa when asked by Senate Majority Leader Francis 'Tol' Tolentino on his program 'Usapang Tol' about the factors pushing up the prices of ginger.

De Mesa, who is also DA spokesperson, explained how importation, which is necessary to complement domestic production of ginger, has steadily gone down to 400 metric tons so far this year, from about 5,000 metric tons back in 2021. He added that the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) is currently investigating why imports are going down.

Tolentino and De Mesa agreed that increasing ginger production and supply, and improving post-harvest facilities, such as storage and refrigeration systems, should be prioritized to meet growing demand.

Currently, ginger farm gate prices range from P120 to P150, while the prevailing market price is between P250 to P260.

Tolentino first called the attention of the DA when it was reported that ginger prices in some public markets have reached as much as P320 per kilo.

Finally, the senator acknowledged that the growing popularity of ginger-based products, such as turmeric tea, has contributed to the high demand for the agricultural commodity.

"This is a good sign that our countrymen are getting health conscious, as proven by the high demand for this type of beverage. There are medicinal claims that ginger indeed can help improve our health," Tolentino remarked.
A mob of anti-Israel protesters chanted Long live the Intifada during a depraved celebration Monday night outside a downtown Manhattan exhibit that memorializes the murder and rape victims of the Oct. 7 Nova Music Festival, where 364 people were killed by Hamas terrorists.

The deranged pro-terror crowd lit flares and waved a flag associated with the Iran-backed Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah in front of the Nova Music Festival Exhibition on Wall Street during what was billed by organizers as a citywide day of rage for Gaza, according to video from the scene.

The mob of anti-Israel protesters lit flares and chanted Long live the Intifada outside a downtown Manhattan exhibit. FNTV

The group lit red and green flares. FreedomNewsTV

The protesters also yelled Israel go to hell and clashed with police during the gathering that drew swift backlash from Israel supporters.

The demonstration, organized by pro-Palestinian group Within Our Lifetime, began in Union Square, where some protesters unfurled a Long live October 7th banner, according to social media footage.

One of the exhibits organizers, music mogul Scooter Braun, condemned the demonstration in front of the venue late Monday in a social media post.

I dont understand why protesting a memorial for innocent music lovers who were raped and butchered and kidnapped helps, he said in an Instagram Story. Go see the @novaexhibition and see the truth instead of standing outside listening to yourself.

Others offered sharper words for the protesters.

How utterly evil do you have to be to protest outside a site that memorializes the 1,200 victims of October 7? former speechwriter for the Israeli government Aviva Klompas tweeted.

Tonights vicious targeting of the exhibition is not pro-peace. It is repulsive and vile, added Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine in a post on X. I condemn it in the strongest possible terms.

US Rep. Michael Lawler (R-NY) also called the actions of the protesters disgusting.

The crowd of demonstrators clashed with police. FreedomNewsTV

Theres only one reason why these protesters would march in front of a Manhattan exhibit in memory of those killed at the Nova music festival on October 7th, Joel Petlin, superintendent of the Kiryas Joel School District, said in a social media post.

They support the terrorists who perpetrated it, and they want it to happen again.

Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt said in April that a call for intifada is to call for violence against Israelis and Jews and Israel.

Protesters marching and rallying on Wall Street. FreedomNewsTV

Following Mondays protest, the Nova Exhibit announced it would remain open until June 22 after it was supposed to wrap up on Sunday.

The exhibit was unveiled in April to give New Yorkers an idea of the terror that Hamas inflicted on Israel on Oct. 7, including when the Tribe of Nova festival in southern Israel was attacked.

The installation sets out to recreate an event dedicated to peace and love that was brutally cut short by Hamass attack on Israel from Gaza on that fateful day, according to its website.

The exhibit memorializes the victims of the Oct. 7 Nova Music Festival massacre. X / @martinlieberman

On top of the hundreds of concert-goers killed at the festival, a United Nations envoy said in March there are reasonable grounds to believe that Hamas terrorists committed rape and sexualized torture during the horrifying assault in southern Israel.

A few blocks from the exhibit at Zuccotti Park, one man who was purportedly an Israel supporter was surrounded and taunted by about a dozen protesters who called him a Zionist.

At another point, police and protesters also faced off when officers demanded protesters get outside the barriers lining the street.

The protests against Israel have been ongoing since the Jewish state was attacked by Hamas terrorists last year. X / @UJAfedNY

Several smoke bombs were set off and a yellow-and-green flag of the Iran-backed terror group Hezbollah was raised during the protest, according to video.

Six people were issued summonses during Monday nights madness  three for disorderly conduct and three for jumping turnstiles, the NYPD said.

The protests against Israel have been ongoing since the Jewish state was attacked by Hamas terrorists last year, leading to the slaughter of 1,200 people and an ensuing military campaign in Gaza by the Israel Defense Forces.

Protesters shouted Shame at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center on the Upper East Side earlier this year and also berated actor Alec Baldwin last year as he walked by a demonstration.

Anti-Israel agitators have also blocked city roadways and occupied transit hubs during the months of protesting.

Additional reporting by Dorian Geiger
"How do you shorten Apple Intelligence?" Thats the question Ive asked several Apple employees at WWDC 2024, and their practiced responses have become comically absurd.

We just say Apple Intelligence, they tell me. Yah, but do you say that every time? The AI acronym is right there! Id retort. The usual response is a stiff smile and clenched teeth, like a human programming error in real-time. (Yes, I'm aware it's just overly aggressive media training in action.) One person suggested they also say "personal intelligence"  yes, a phrase that's longer than Apple Intelligence.

There's no doubt Apple Intelligence means many things to the company. It's an effort to compete with Microsoft's (still unproven) Copilot and Google's Gemini. It's a way to make Apple seem "hip" with ChatGPT. And it should enable a slew of new features for consumers. But Apple Intelligence is never "AI" to Apple.

Normally, I'd chalk this up to a silly branding quirk. But it becomes a problem as we cover Apple Intelligence. It's a long phrase that's just begging to be shortened to "AI," but then how do you distinguish that abbreviation from ChatGPT, Copilot and the general concept of AI? During the WWDC 2024 keynote, Apple only mentioned the phrase "artificial intelligence" three times: Twice while referring to its previous AI-powered features, and another while referring to "other artificial intelligence tools" like ChatGPT.

At this point, I've just decided to call Apple Intelligence "Apple AI." It's shorter and it differentiates the product from competitors. And yes, it just means "Apple Apple Intelligence," but everyone still says "ATM machine" and "PIN number." It's not my fault Apple decided to co-opt the acronym "AI."

Catch up here for all the news out of Apple's WWDC 2024.
New Zealand has scrapped a burp tax on cow emissions, dealing a blow to the legacy of the former Left-wing government.

The tax was originally proposed by Jacinda Ardern, the former prime minister, to temper the greenhouse gas emissions produced by the flatulence and burps of cows and sheep.

But it proved deeply unpopular among farmers, who felt unfairly targeted by Ms Ardern and her Labour Party.

The tax will be thrown out at the end of this month as new legislation is introduced to the parliament in Wellington.

It doesnt make sense to send jobs and production overseas, while less carbon-efficient countries produce the food the world needs, said Todd McClay, the agriculture minister.

New Zealands economy is heavily reliant on agriculture and its 10 million cattle and 25 million sheep.

But the presence of so much livestock comes at a price, with nearly half of the countrys emissions produced by agriculture.

Methane-emitting cattle flatulence is the main problem, as well as livestock urine which leaks nitrous oxide into the atmosphere.

Sparked nationwide protests

Ms Arderns government had targeted livestock in its drive towards reaching net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

But the plan to tax livestock emissions sparked nationwide protests by farmers fearing it would hurt profits.

Under the plans unveiled by the government, which was elected late last year, agriculture, animal processors and fertiliser companies would be removed from the emissions pricing scheme, due to start in 2025.

Farmers will be encouraged to lower emissions through the use of technology without cutting production or exports, and a new pastoral group is to be set up to tackle biogenic methane emissions, the agriculture minister explained.

Mr McClay said the move to scrap the tax would not change New Zealands climate change obligations, but environmental groups have reacted furiously to the news.

Greenpeace accused it of waging an all-out war on nature.

Niama OFlynn, a Greenpeace spokesman, said: In the last few days the coalition government has clearly signalled that the most polluting industries, industrial dairy, and new oil and gas exploration, are free to treat our atmosphere like an open sewer.

Shane Jones, resources minister, said the announcement on Sunday to reverse a ban on oil and gas exploration was made in response to declining natural gas reserves and the inconsistency of sustainable sources such as solar, wind and hydro.

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Arizona in recent years has been following the California model of electing more and more Democrats.

Our states Democrats now command the governors seat, the mayors offices in Phoenix, Tucson and Flagstaff. And they could possibly flip the Legislature in November.

Whether they do or not, theyll want to learn an important lesson from the Democrats next door, the ones who almost exclusively run California:

Dont think youre smarter than the economy.

California's minimum wage is an economic drag

California Democrats decided to play God with their economy and created some of the highest minimum wages in the country.

The state minimum wage is $16, third highest in the nation behind the District of Columbia and Washington State. Last September, California also slapped its fast-food industry with a new $20 minimum wage.

California inflated the value of labor in their state well beyond its real price, and that has distorted the economy and produced serious repercussions.

Almost every week brings new evidence that Californias soaring minimum wage is a drag on business and a job killer.

The latest comes from Sundays Los Angeles Times, which reported that the price of labor is wiping out the states asparagus industry, once considered the King of Vegetables in the Golden State.

At its peak, California cultivated 37,000 acres of asparagus. Now that number is down to less than 3,000, the newspaper reported.

Wage laws tanked its asparagus industry

California asparagus can no longer compete with asparagus produced in Mexico, thanks to higher minimum wages.

The decline really began with the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement, which was later replaced by the 2019 U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, industry spokesperson Cherie Watte told the trade publication The Packer.

In 2022, when acreage had begun to decline roughly 10%-15% per year, California raised the minimum wage to $15 per hour, and eliminated the overtime exemption for agriculture.

The resulting regulations in California  both minimum wage and removal of our overtime exemption  were the final nails in the coffin, Watte said.

We just cannot produce a highly labor-intensive commodity in a state with such high labor rates and labor regulations.

Craig Rolandelli, whose family grew California asparagus for five decades, has had to switch his business from growing the vegetable to importing it from elsewhere, he told The Times.

NAFTA is not to blame for Californias asparagus slump. I would blame it on the cost of doing business in California. At $10 an hour, we were competing with Mexico. At $12 an hour, we were competing with Mexico.

Once that wage exceeded $12, California asparagus growers could no longer compete with Mexico, where the daily minimum wage is roughly $14, the Times reported.

Higher wages have tanked pay, killed jobs

This has created consequences that state Democrats surely did not anticipate.

For instance, 56-year-old Maria Pineda told The Times she says prayers hoping the California asparagus industry survives.

A native of El Salvador, she is an asparagus packer in Turlock, Calif., east of San Jose. As The Times reported:

Although she believes that legislators may have had good intentions in trying to look out for her and other workers welfare, she said the law ended up hurting her. She used to work 10- to 12-hour days, making more money then than she does now and was able to better provide for her family.

Expect painful boycotts: If Arizona voters pass immigration law

A new analysis by Stateline, a nonprofit news network, finds that states with lower wages and lower cost of living such as Texas, Florida and Arizona are producing more new jobs than high-wage, high-cost-of-living states such as California, New York and Washington State.

Employers have been less willing to create jobs in higher-wage states, Statelines Tim Henderson reports. Couple that with the options more and more employees have to work remotely, and they are choosing to relocate to less expensive states.

The result, California has crashed to the very bottom in job creation, he wrote.

Yet California keeps hiking the minimum wage

That wont stop Golden State Democrats. California and its cities are poised to impose their will even further on the free market. The consequences be damned.

In March, Long Beach voters chose to increase the hourly minimum wage for hotel workers to $23. That will eventually rise to $29.50 an hour by 2028.

The Los Angeles City Council is considering raising the hourly minimum wage for hotel and airport workers to $30 by 2028.

San Diego labor unions are pushing for a $25 minimum wage for hotel, janitorial and convention workers in that city.

And this fall California voters will decide whether to raise the states minimum wage to $18 an hour. In a January poll, nearly 60% of voters said they support the proposal.

California is courting trouble with its indifference to economic principles, said Tom Manzo, president and founder of the California Business and Industrial Alliance.

You can only raise prices so much, he told Fox Business. People are not going to pay $20 for a Big Mac. Its not going to happen.

Phil Boas is an editorial columnist with The Arizona Republic. Email him at phil.boas@arizonarepublic.com.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona will lose if it follows California's minimum wage disaster
Arkansas to get $12.7 million as part of Johnson & Johnson talc baby powder settlement

LITTLE ROCK, Ark.  Arkansas will get more than $12 million as part of a nation-wide lawsuit settlement over the marketing of baby powder.

Attorney General Tim Griffin announced Tuesday that the state will receive more than $12.7 million from health products company Johnson & Johnson as part of a larger $700 million settlement.

J&J subsidiary proposes paying about $6.48B over 25 years to settle talc ovarian cancer lawsuits

The settlement is tied to a suit claiming that J&J misled consumers about the safety and purity of talc-based baby and body powder products sold by the company for decades.

In addition to the payouts, Johnson & Johnson agreed to stop the production, marketing and sale of Johnsons Baby Powder, Johnson & Johnsons Shower to Shower and other products in the United States.

I thank my offices Consumer Protection Division for their diligence and effort as part the coalition of 42 states that came together to hold the company accountable, Griffin said in a release.

J&J proposes paying $8.9B to settle talcum powder lawsuits

Arkansas was one of 42 states involved in the lawsuit, which was led by the attorneys general from Texas, Florida and North Carolina.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark.  A proven education program for Arkansas schools that gives them a chance to impact their communities in innovative ways is being added to more schools across the state.

The Division of Elementary and Secondary Education of the Arkansas Department of Education said Tuesday it will provide startup grant funding for 11 schools to add EAST programs to the 2024-2025 school year.

Little Rock Zoo, EAST Initiative select Arkansas schools to participate in Project Zoo

EAST, which stands for Education Accelerated by Service and Technology, began in 1996 in Greenbrier as an education innovation using self-directed project-based learning for students, with those projects developed to aid communities.

EAST programs are now in more than 200 Arkansas schools and have begun being added to out-of-state schools as well.

Recent EAST projects include students mapping helicopter landing zones in Johnson County to expedite medical helicopter access, raising public awareness of the Uyghur Genocide in China at Searcy High School and 3D printing animal habitats for the Crowleys Ridge Nature Center by Jonesboro students.

LISA Academy holds 10th annual Arkansas STEM Festival

The schools receiving funding are:

Brookland Middle School

Carlisle High School

Fox Meadow School of Creative Media, Jonesboro

Friendship Aspire Academies, Southeast Pine Bluff

Friendship Aspire Academies, Little Rock Middle School

Mayflower High School

Poyen High School

Sloan-Hendrix High School, Imboden

Southwest Middle School, Searcy

University Heights School of Medical Arts, Jonesboro

William Jefferson Clinton Primary School, Hope

Officials said that in the 2022-2023 school year, EAST students contributed 17,990 volunteer hours across 1,285 community partners, adding that technical training was provided to 7,610 students through 110 unique opportunities.

US News & World Report names 5 Pulaski County schools to its Best list

The ADE funding will be used to install an EAST classroom environment and provide professional development for the curriculum. Specific classroom resources are based on predictions of what students will need to resolve community problems.

We focus on tools that are not typical for the student experience, giving them an opportunity to work with standard tools that are used in the various industries outside the school environment, EAST VP of IT Jerry Prince said. This hands-on approach allows students to explore their interests while becoming change agents for their communities.

Arkansas legislators celebrate STEM students at the Capitol

Information on the EAST Initiative may be found at EASTInitiative.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 KARK.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark.  The Arkansas Food Bank is getting a big boost thanks to a donation from Arvest Bank.

The bank raised $54,787 through its Million Meals Campaign and will be able to help provide over 273,000 meals, with every dollar raised able to provide five meals for Arkansas families.

Ordinance passed to create a food commission for Little Rock to combat food insecurity

Arkansas ranked first among the most food-insecure states in the nation, based on rates from 2020 to 2022.

It really raises awareness about hunger as much it helps us to buy food and distribute it out to our 300 hundred agencies for our service areas. Arkansas Food Bank CEO Brian Burton said.

This year, the campaign raised $524,451 which will help provide 2.6 million meals through the banks 85 food partnerships.

Our fight against hunger isnt just about filling empty stomachs but about nourishing communities and empowering individuals, Ron Witherspoon with Arvest said. We are very grateful to our customers, community members and associates for their continued support of such an important initiative.

Federal study shows Arkansas leads US in food insecurity; What some are doing about it

The Million Meals campaign takes place annually from April through May to help food partners meet the increased need during the summer months when many children dont have the benefit of free meals at their schools.

Donations collected during the campaign also go toward communities in Oklahoma, Kansas and Missouri.

Little Rock summit addresses solutions for food deserts in Arkansas

For more information, visit Arvest.com/MillionMeals.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark.  Leaders with the Arkansas Republican Party are telling voters they will need to officially pick a side before the next time there is a GOP primary.

During the party convention over the weekend, Arkansas Republicans voted to pass a rule change that will require anyone casting a ballot in a party primary to be a registered Republican.

Arkansas voting access group sues state over recent wet signature rule

Jennifer Lancaster, the new chair of the party state convention, said the intent of the move is the keep Democrats or other outside votes from casting a primary ballot for the least conservative candidates.

Lancaster also noted that other states that have made this kind of move, like Florida, have seen benefits that appeal to more conservative voters by moving to closed primaries.

For those people who look to Florida and like what a lot of their politicians like Matt Gaetz and DeSantis do, if conservative voters are wanting to be more like that, I think its important they understand why its so critical we have closed primaries, she said.

Arkansas Supreme Court upholds 2021 voting restrictions that state judge found unconstitutional

While the move to limit primaries to only registered Republicans has strong support in the party, some members have voiced concerns on the rollout of the move.

State Sen. Justin Boyd (Rep.  Ft. Smith) said that while he agrees with the concept of the closed primary in principal, he wants to make sure that voters who have chosen the GOP for years are not turned away at the ballot box over new paperwork.

What I dont want to happen is have a 90-year-old woman in Fort Smith, whos been voting in the Republican primary since before it was cool to vote in the Republican primaries, whos disenfranchised because she didnt know to update her registration, Boyd told KARK 4 News.

Figures from the Arkansas Secretary of States office show that Republican party officials may have a big job ahead of them.

Records show that while more than 266,000 voters casts ballots in the GOP presidential primary this spring, there are only around 132,000 voters registered as Republican.

Study shows Arkansas ranks last in voter turnout, how ballot measures intend to bring numbers up

Those looking to check their voter registration can do so online.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark.  Arkansas is set to receive millions of dollars in federal funding to help reduce flood risks around the state.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency announced Tuesday that Arkansas has $20 million available for flood mitigation through the agencys 2023 Swift Current funding opportunity.

Cleanup underway after severe weather causes flooding in Maumelle

Officials said the funding is designed to get money in circulation as soon as possible after a flood disaster to help communities make upgrades to reduce future flood risk. The funding specifically supports people who have National Flood Insurance Program policies and have suffered repetitive and substantial flood damage.

The money can be used for property acquisition, demolition, elevation and relocation, FEMA officials said. Arkansas was added to the eligibility list due to the state having a federally declared major disaster related to flooding in 2023.

The funding is included in the Biden administrations Justice40 Initiative to deliver 40% of federal benefits to disadvantaged communities.

Benton homeowner concerned flood water is cracking foundation

The funding announcement also comes on the same day a study found Arkansas was the seventh in the nation for flood events in 2023, a 32.1% increase over previous years, according to the study authors. The study continued that nationally, 2023 was the third-highest year for damages caused by flooding at $9.3 billion.

Arkansas, along with Massachusetts and Texas, were all added to the FEMA eligibility list on Tuesday.

Along with the 18 other states and one Tribal Nation already selected, Arkansas, Massachusetts, and Texas will now have faster access to funding to make communities safer from the climate crisis, FEMA administrator Deanne Criswell said.

Bryant neighbors fed up with flooding issues in Oak Glenn area, call on city for needed fixes

Officials point potential Arkansas applicants with questions to the FEMA Region 6 website; subapplicants should contact their Arkansas hazard mitigation officer.

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ALTUS, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA)  Arkansas State Police are assisting the Altus Police Department in a death investigation.

According to a press release, Altus police were notified that Christina Steffen, 35, was discovered unresponsive in her home. When Altus police arrived, they found Steffen had died. The release says the Franklin County coroner confirmed Steffens death at the scene.

Steffens body was sent to the Arkansas State Crime Lab to determine the cause of death. Arkansas State Polices criminal investigation division is investigating the death.

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ATHENS, Ala. (WHNT)  Athens State will hold its annual Flag Day Ceremony Friday, June 14 at noon to honor the United States flag and our nations armed forces.

The event will take place in the Sandridge Student Center Ballroom, with J.D. Manders set as the guest speaker. Additionally, the Limestone County Honor Guard will present the colors, and Jerry Crabtree will lead the Pledge of Allegiance and recognize our Veterans.

NC man arrested after being accused of sending inappropriate photos to Lauderdale County child

Music will be provided by the Athens State Community Band and the Athens State Community Choir. The ceremony is free to attend, and lunch will be provided.

Contact advancement@athens.edu or 256-233-8215 for more information.

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The state's legislative auditor says the Minnesota agency charged with issuing COVID-era frontline worker checks didn't comply with some requirements for the program, resulting in some payments to individuals who were ineligible and others whose eligibility couldn't be confirmed.

The Office of the Legislative Auditor's report on the Minnesota Frontline Worker Pay Program, released Tuesday, found the Department of Labor and Industry didn't verify hours and in-person work requirements in order to be eligible for the payment, relying on an employee's self-reported work details.

Auditors also found some fraudulently received payments, including people who used the name of individuals who had died before the application window opened.

"This program was set up as a zero-sum game with a fixed amount of state funding ... to be divided equally among all eligible applicants. The more applicants were approved, the less each applicant received," Legislative Auditor Judy Randall said. "Each ineligible applicant who receives payment necessarily reduced the amount of the payment that eligible applicants received."

The report also said the Department of Revenue did not verify adjusted gross income requirements for all applicants. The legislative auditor estimated that roughly 40% of the more than one million people who received payments of $487 through the program were either ineligible or they could not confirm their eligibility.

The agencies pushed back on the findings in the report, noting that the payments were more than a year late to frontline workers and the Legislature designed the program to favor expediency over stringent verification requirements that would have caused further delays.

"The Legislature fully considered the risk of this frontline worker program and chose to proceed knowing some risk exists," said Department of Labor and Industry Commissioner Nicole Blissenbach, adding that the law didn't require the department to verify an employee's self-reported information.

The Legislature passed the frontline worker program in 2022 after two sessions of debate. Legislators agreed to set aside $500 million for workers who put themselves most at risk by logging at least 120 hours of in-person work in close proximity with people outside of their home between March 15, 2020, and June 30, 2021.

Eligible workers included those who met income limits and worked in health care, the courts, child care, public schools, retail, food services, public transit and manufacturing. The state was flooded with applications for the program, ultimately shrinking the total size of checks to meet the need.

Roughly 85% of those who applied for the program received a payment, according to the legislative auditor's office, but some of those applicants were nonresidents, used the names of deceased individuals or applied with so-called "disposable emails," which could be used temporarily for committing fraud. Others didn't meet hours requirements or didn't work with people outside of the home.

The auditor's office said the Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) did comply with program requirements.

The auditor recommended that the departments of Revenue and Labor go back and determine whether those applicants whose eligibility could not be determined at the time should have received payments. They also said the Revenue department should recoup payments made to applicants who fraudulently received a check.

"The Legislature should consider the amount of risk the state is willing to accept when establishing programs quickly and with eligibility conditions that rely on self-attestation," the report added.

Rep. Emma Greenman, DFL-Minneapolis, said the Legislature spent two years debating the program and intentionally designed it to make sure workers who put their health and safety on the line didn't have to wait any longer. At the time the legislation was passed, Labor department officials testified that they wouldn't be able to verify all self-reported employee data.

"There was an urgency that everyone around the table felt about getting the money to the folks who needed it quickly and feeling like we were a year behind," Greenman said.

But Senate Tax Chair Ann Rest, DFL-New Hope, said she was frustrated by the fact that the taxpayers ultimately had to foot the bill for some of these fraudulent checks.

"Something was let slip through that should have been an easy enough thing to do as brushing your teeth in the morning," Rest said. "We were in times of turmoil but that does not excuse our carelessness with regards to the burden we are placing on the taxpayer."
Photo illustration by Getty Images.

Affordable housing has become one of the most pressing issues in Montana in the past couple of years  so important that Gov. Greg Gianforte has created two special task forces to examine the problem and propose solutions.

However, a new performance audit by the Montana Legislative Audit Division shows that the Montana Board of Housing, the state agency most responsible for doling out money and approving projects that could help develop more affordable housing for the neediest of Montanans, is out of step with national practice, lacks the data to understand where the housing needs are most acute, and lacks transparency that could undermine its decision.

The audit report, released Tuesday, also showed that a longstanding practice of dividing the money regionally between urban and rural projects could be exacerbating the housing problem because it doesnt factor in where housing needs are most critical.

Auditors found that Montana has an estimated deficit of 37,000 affordable rental units for low-income residents. However, the board lacks data to pinpoint where those needs are the greatest, and the auditors found that the board also seems to lack the methodology that would help prioritize or even incentivize those projects. Instead, the auditors found that most decisions the board made seemed to be based on the preference of the board, driven by the overarching principle of spreading money equally between rural and urban areas.

Agencies typically do not respond to the audit finding until after they appear before the Legislative Audit Committee, but a response letter is often included as part of the report. In this case, Cheryl Cohen, the executive director of the Montana Board of Housing submitted a 18-page response, nearly as long as the audit itself. In the letter, the Board of Housing, appointed by the governor, said it only agreed with part of the four major recommendations in the report.

Low-income Housing Tax Credit program

The federal government gives money to address low-income housing, usually through tax credits in a program called Low-income Housing Tax Credit programs. That program gives each state the flexibility to develop housing programs to fit the needs of the state, and Montana runs the program through the Board of Housing, which is a quasi-governmental board run through the Department of Commerce.

The federal governments top priority is funding projects that give preference to projects that serve the lowest- income tenants and remain affordable for the longest period of time.

We also found that the board does not always give preference to projects serving the lowest-income Montanans and does not adequately consider specific housing needs, such as underserved populations, auditors said.

The auditors criticized the board because while many of the projects meet the minimum requirements for federal funding, they do not always prioritize projects that would serve those most in need, nor does the board try to incentivize projects that would target underserved populations.

The board lacks a full understanding of where affordable housing is most needed in Montana. Many members think any project meeting minimum requirements is worth supporting because theres such a great need for housing across the state, the audit said. Some members focus mainly on spreading tax credits evenly across the state when voting for projects.

Analysis developed and completed by the Legislative Audit Division shows that even among Montanas urban areas, the need for affordable housing varies widely, and the Board of Housing does not take that into consideration, nor does it necessarily even have the data to see the differences.

Billings, Bozeman, Butte, Great Falls, or Missoula: There is a concentration of high need in those cities. However, this is not the case for all major Montana cities. For example, Helena and Kalispell do not show the same level of need as some of the other major cities. This does not imply that Helena and Kalispell do not require affordable housing, the report said. Instead, our model indicates that the need in those cities is lower compared to other major cities in Montana.

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However, the Board of Housing pushed back on the suggestion.

The auditors plainly prefer a top-down approach in which the board conducts a statewide study and prioritizes areas based upon the boards determination of degree of need. The board has discussed and considered the approach previously, and while it may have some advantages, it also has disadvantages. Such a study would be costly and, by the time any study is completed, it is already outdated, the response letter said.

Urban vs. rural

Auditors questioned the boards policy of trying to spread the money equally among all parts of the state, saying that it tended to miss targeting those most in need. Furthermore, even when funding in rural areas, the money didnt always target those areas that showed the greatest need.

About two-thirds of proposed projects were in areas above the statewide average. However, the board funded more than half of the projects developers proposed in areas with below-average need, the audit said.Some more needy areas, like Miles City and the Fort Belknap reservation, had no proposed projects. Staff explained that there are many challenges outside the boards control in where developers choose to site projects, such as a lack of available land and high construction costs.

Auditors suggested the board develop specific criteria for projects that would incentivize those projects to make them more attractive to developers.

Based on federal data, the auditors showed that Montana scored among the lowest in the nation when it comes to funding projects that targeted residents with the lowest income, and it scored considerably lower when compared to neighboring states.

The board emphasizes the geographic distribution of tax credits, regardless of where in Montana or which populations have the most acute need. The main reasons for this are a lack of understanding of the LIHTC program and Montanas affordable housing needs along with a lack of formal policy incentives and outreach efforts, the audit said.

But the Montana Board of Housing defended itself in the response letter saying that its current approach to the states housing needs allows it to meet emerging demands and challenges.

By determining areas of greatest need and dictating project type or location based upon the board study or determination, the board would risk incentivizing less feasible, lower quality, more expensive and lower capacity projects. This would undermine obtaining the maximum leverage from the housing credit, said the reply letter.

Transparency

Auditors also compared Montanas procedures to other states and found that its nearly impossible to determine how funding decisions are made in the Treasure State. The auditors recommended the Montana Board of Housing develop objective criteria that would help the public understand how projects are prioritized and funded.

Within certain federal requirements, states have considerable flexibility in what they prioritize and how they award tax credits. In Montana, LIHTC projects must meet minimum criteria to be considered by the board. However, final award decisions are made based only on board discretion, contrary to standard practice across the country, the auditors said. The lack of structure in the boards tax credit award decisions reduces transparency and increases the risk of favoritism by board members. During meetings, some board members asked relatively few questions about projects and provided little or no reasoning for voting for the projects they did. It was unclear whether and how targeted income and other criteria affected the likelihood of a tax credit award. Many board members prioritized the geographic distribution of tax credits over other factors like project type or whom a project serves. Some board members specifically favored projects proposed in their own communities.

The decisions by the Montana Board of Housing not only created a lack of transparency and set Montana apart from other states, but it also appears to have a discouraging affect on the number of projects the board receives. The auditors report that many developers who could bring low-income housing projects to the board may not because they do not understand how projects are prioritized. Auditors said that challenges staff members.

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While some developers spoke positively about the board, others expressed concerns about transparency and board engagement in our survey and interviews. For example, developers described the boards decisions as based entirely on their own personal criteria and that they were subjective, the audit said. Many developers perceived a desire by the board to spread tax credits throughout the state and board members personal preferences to be most meaningful to the boards decision-making process. Additionally, when award decisions are made solely at board discretion, it is difficult for staff to advise unsuccessful applicants on how to improve in the future.

The Montana Board of Housing pushed back on the auditors, saying that auditors did not fully understand the process.

While transparency and decisions is desirable, it is not the only goal, the board responded. Each board member reviews and considers hundred pages of information and data regarding the characteristics of and need for proposed projects. Under the circumstances, board members have not always fully articulated their reasoning but that does not mean that there has been favoritism.

Board governance

The audit also examined the operation of the Montana Board of Housing, and said that it lacks some of the policies and education that other boards receive. For example, it was unclear to auditors how much work had been done on conflict-of-interest policies. Many who were interviewed by auditors said that they believed board members had a connection to certain projects, or showed favoritism to their own areas, at the expense of other proposals.

Board members with connections to LIHTC applicants have recused themselves from voting on those projects in the past. However, they did not recuse themselves from discussions about the projects. Some developers consider this inappropriate and a conflict of interest. They believe these board members influence on the discussion remains strong, even if they dont vote. Developers also called attention to the number of recent LIHTC awards in Billings and Great Falls, where two board members each reside. Board members should be aware of perceived favoritism in voting on projects in their home communities, especially when award decisions are based solely on the discretion of the board. Since some board members do not fully understand conflicts of interest, including the impact of a mere appearance of one, potential conflicts of interest may go undisclosed and unaddressed.

But the Montana Board of Housing pushed back on that comment too, saying that more transparency in its decision making process, including scoring projects, could open the board and the programs to costly litigation.

The board strongly disagrees with any approach that eliminates board discretion and subjects the program, the process and the board to an award of tax credits through litigation procedures and encourages legal challenges and award determination by courts or administrative law judges rather than the board, the response letter said. The board understands the desire to assign scores or numbers to projects. Scoring creates an appearance of greater objectivity. The highest score wins. It does not transform in overwhelmingly objective determination into an objective one; rather, it simply hides the inherent objective veil.

23P-04-Low-Income-Housing-6-5-2024 (1)

The post Auditors find Montana may not target housing funds to those most in need appeared first on Daily Montanan.
Augustana College students will canvas 300 Port Byron homes Thursday, June 13, in the colleges next chapter of helping local municipalities with inventorying water service lines.

Seventeen students will work on the Port Byron project through Sept. 1, 2024. Augustana sustainability manager Peyton Heisch, a leader on the water line project, said students will use the historical marker of copper for all homes in the village newer than 1986 as well as past survey data to determine which houses should be included in the canvassing event, according to a college release.

Augustana student research assistants Adriana Reyes and Erik Bergren at a canvassing event of Rock Island neighborhoods. Reyes, a junior geography major, is the GIS specialist on the Port Byron project.

Augustana students and faculty first partnered with the city of Rock Island in July 2022 to identify and inventory lead water service lines in the city. The project, which emphasized engaged learning and a commitment to the community, was spurred by the Lead Service Line Replacement and Notification Act, the Illinois law adopted in 2022 which requires cities to inventory lead service lines, implement replacements and coordinate financing strategies to fund the work. The law also requires the prioritization of low-income neighborhoods.

The Rock Island project finished in November 2023, following the presentation of findings and funding proposals to city leaders. That project included more than 12,000 residential homes, accounting for 25% of the inventory citywide. Project leaders used predictive modeling to estimate the remaining 75%.

Both projects emphasize all three components of Augustanas strategic plan, Bold & Boundless, which prioritizes engaged learning, maximizing student potential and connecting through partnership, the college said.

The water line inventory project is multi-disciplinary and allows Augustana students to strengthen their data collection and people skills as they connect with residents in our community with the aim of improving the water quality for our region, Heisch said. Its an incredible opportunity, and we have benefitted from these experiences as much as the coordinating cities have.

The water line inventory projects are led by Augustanas Upper Mississippi Center and the Center for the Advancement of Community Health and Wellness. Student researcher Adriana Reyes, a junior geography major, is the GIS specialist on the Port Byron project.

Partnering with Port Byron on the service line project will allow more students and residents to learn about safe drinking water and provide students with real-world experience, she said.

Port Byron residents received a postcard included in their water bills in early June describing the inventory project in advance of the June 13 canvassing event. Augustana students will provide a draft inventory to the village by the end of June and a draft prioritization plan by late July.

Heisch said the college is gathering data and findings, with a goal of completing this work by Sept. 1. Port Byron received a $30,000 grant from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and an extension to aid the village in adhering to the Illinois law. In 2023, 260 Illinois systems received grant funding ranging from $20,000-$50,000 per award to assist in creating the inventory. The original deadline for this work was set as April 15, 2024.

Additional EPA grants in Rock Island County include $50,000 each for Moline and East Moline and $30,000 for Hampton.

Per the Illinois law, cities have two years to create a replacement plan, and then up to 20 years to replace the lead lines.

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VERONA  D.M. Conners neighbors promised they would be back, and they followed through.

Last month, Stuarts Draft rock quarry D.M. Conner owners Benny Conner and Debbie Henderson asked the Augusta Board of Zoning Appeals to expand. The board did not approve or deny the request, instead pushing consideration back to July.

The reason for the delay was a violation of a previous special use permit. In the May meeting, several of Conners neighbors pointed to Conner quarrying what was supposed to be a buffer between the quarry and untouched land.

The quarried buffer, rather than the expansion, came back to the board on June 6. Conner and Henderson asked the board to modify their previous permit so they could reclaim the quarried 100-foot buffer.

In the old days I used to always deliver the product or load the highway trucks. I never prepared the permits, Conner told the board. The state mining board forgave me and didn't fine me. I'm hoping that y'all can forgive me for a mistake I made that I didn't know it was a mistake at the time.

Derek Hutchinson, one of Conner's neighbors, pushed back during the public hearing, The special use permits matter because they are our protection. It truly blows my mind that we would simply say oops. If you break a rule for OSHA, do they simply say oops?

He felt the consequence of violating the permit should be restoring the property as close as possible back to what it originally was  flat, trees planted, grass planted. I don't think that's too much to ask for our community.

Melissa Golladay, another neighbor, felt the application was vague and wanted a time limit for reclamation in writing. Clifford Knous pointed to other sections of the property that lacked 400 trees and shrubs per acre as not being reclaimed and expressed safety concern with "walls," where the lower-elevation quarried land butts up against higher, unquarried land.

An example of a "wall" separating the quarried and unquarried land.

I think it all should be shut down until at least 25% of that is put back, Knous said.

The board asked Conner to reply to the concerns. According to Conner, the company has reclaimed some land, having made a lake and two ponds, then hydroseeding and planting trees around them. The application's reclamation includes hydroseeding for plants, but this wouldnt happen until late September or early October to maximize the chances of the seed taking root.

Boardmember Thomas Bailey moved to approve the request, especially since this being overseen by the department of mining. I'm thinking the applicant will, you know, do all he can to reclaim it properly.

BZA Chair George Coyner noted D.M. Conner has been a mining operation for 60-some years, then added a needed operation too. The board traveled to the property earlier on June 6 to see the buffer in person.

A public relations manager for the Virginia Department of Energy told The News Leader the Mineral Mining program oversees quarry inspections. According to the most recent inspection report, conducted in April, the quarry has had "backfilling and grading operations being performed along a section of the southwestern and southeastern permit boundaries. These operations have already been performed along the entire southern permit boundary."

The request was unanimously approved.

Benny Conner returns to the Augusta County Board of Zoning Appeals.

This was not the end of the discussion, however. The next item on the BZAs agenda was a request from Acre Sand and Stone President Charles Barger.

According to the application included in the BZA agenda packet, Acre Sand and Stone was granted a permit to mine land previously quarried by D.M. Conner in 1999. This permit put a 100-foot buffer around operations. In 2008, the board approved a permit to remove a portion of the buffer adjacent to D.M. Conner.

When D.M. Conner purchased more land in 2017, they gave Acre Sand and Stone permission to mine up to the property line. Thinking the 2008 permit and D.M. Conners permission were enough, Acre quarried into their 100-foot buffer along the new D.M. Conner property line, not aware this would be a violation of the current operating conditions of the permits.

We very much apologize for that, Barger told the board. We didn't mean to do it, but that's what happened, and now we want to go back as a safety issue to stair step and bench this high wall and get it to be safer. We do that with all of our operations, and this is no exception.

Chuck Barger, president of Acre Sand and Stone, at a meeting in February.

The reclamation would include work on a steep wall Barger said had been on the property since Acre acquired it in 2000.

Hutchinson, Melissa Golladay, and John Golladay each pushed for the board to enforce their permits but focused their comments on D.M. Conners operations rather than Acre.

Hutchinson emphasized the BZA is responsible for enforcing its permits, not the state operation. According to the Virginia Department of Energy representative, D.M. Conner has "never been issued a violation from Virginia Energy in association with the mentioned buffer," but the organization does "not enforce or inspect for local restrictions or setbacks. That responsibility falls to the county."

Boardmember Thomas Thacker moved to approve Acres request, saying, To me, it looks like, yes, mistakes have been made, but if we don't approve them, they're going to stay like they are. At least we're moving in the right direction to reclaim them and make them safe. I don't see any other alternative than to go this route and start the reclamation project.

The board unanimously approved Acres request as well.

D.M. Conner's expansion request is expected to come before the board in July.

Lyra Bordelon (she/her) is the public transparency and justice reporter at The News Leader. Do you have a story tip or feedback? Its welcome through email to lbordelon@gannett.com. Subscribe to us at newsleader.com.

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This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: Augusta BZA allows quarries to reclaim land they dug without approval
Authorities search for 5 wanted in connection with armed robbery on Blue Line train

Authorities search for 5 wanted in connection with armed robbery on Blue Line train

CHICAGO  Police are searching for five people who officers believe violently attacked and robbed a passenger on a CTA Blue Line train over the weekend.

Chicago police say the attack unfolded just after 1:30 p.m. on a train in the 530 block of South Racine Avenue, on the Near West Side.

According to police, five people, who are all believed to be between 16 and 18 years of age, approached a passenger on the train and pulled out a gun before demanding his property.

Read more: Latest Chicago news headlines

Officers say the victim refused the groups demands, and that is when they began kicking and beating him before stealing his shoes.

On Monday, Chicago police shared photos of the individuals who are believed to have been involved.

Police are searching for five people who officers believe violently attacked a passenger on a CTA Blue Line train on Saturday, June 8.

Male, believed to stand between 5-foot-7 and 5-foot-9, weighing between 160 and 180 pounds. Seen wearing a black sweatshirt with two cartoon characters on the chest, black pants and black shoes.

Male, believed to stand between 5-foot-7 and 5-foot-9, weighing between 140 and 160 pounds. Seen wearing a white t-shirt with a gray fan emblem, black pants and black and brown shoes.

Male, believed to stand between 5-foot-7 and 5-foot-9, weighing between 140 and 160 pounds. Seen wearing a plain white t-shirt, black pants with a white stripe on the side and grey shoes.

Male, believed to stand between 5-foot-7 and 5-foot-9, weighing between 140 and 160 pounds. Seen wearing a white t-shirt with a purple and gray logo on the chest, dark pants, blue and white colored gym shoes.

Male, believed to stand between 5-foot-7 and 5-foot-9, weighing between 140 and 160 pounds. Seen wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt, dark pants and black shoes.

Officers also provided the following descriptions of the five individuals:

Male, believed to stand between 5-foot-7 and 5-foot-9, weighing between 160 and 180 pounds. Seen wearing a black sweatshirt with two cartoon characters on the chest, black pants and black shoes.

Male, believed to stand between 5-foot-7 and 5-foot-9, weighing between 140 and 160 pounds. Seen wearing a white t-shirt with a gray fan emblem, black pants and black and brown shoes.

Male, believed to stand between 5-foot-7 and 5-foot-9, weighing between 140 and 160 pounds. Seen wearing a plain white t-shirt, black pants with a white stripe on the side and grey shoes.

Male, believed to stand between 5-foot-7 and 5-foot-9, weighing between 140 and 160 pounds. Seen wearing a white t-shirt with a purple and gray logo on the chest, dark pants, blue and white colored gym shoes.

Male, believed to stand between 5-foot-7 and 5-foot-9, weighing between 140 and 160 pounds. Seen wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt, dark pants and black shoes.

Police advise the public to remain aware of their surroundings and stay free from distractions. According to officers, anyone who is confronted by an assailant should try to remain calm.

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Authorities warn the public never to pursue a fleeing assailant and instead work to remember any unique physical characteristics of the offenders.

Police say those who fall victim or witness a crime should call 911 immediately and provide authorities with a detailed description of the offenders.

Anyone with information on the attack is asked to contact Mass Transit Detectives at 312-745-4447 or dial 911.

Those with information that could help detectives in their investigation can also leave a tip at CPDtip.com. Tips can be filed anonymously.

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Baby and toddler among 6 family members shot dead at home in Mexico

A baby and a toddler were among six members of the same family murdered in a central Mexican state plagued by cartel-related violence, a local official said Monday.

Authorities say armed attackers burst into a home in the city of Leon in Guanajuato on Sunday night and opened fire at the family.

"Unfortunately two children and four women died," state governor Diego Sinhue Rodriguez told reporters.

Two men survived because they saw the attackers coming and hid on the roof, he said.

Members of the Guanajuato Ministerial Crime Investigation Police Unit arrive at the scene where six members of a family, including an eight-month-old baby and a two-year-old boy, were murdered Sunday night in Leon, Guanajuato State, Mexico, on June 10, 2024. / Credit: MARIO ARMAS/AFP via Getty Images

Guanajuato is one of Mexico's most violent states due to turf wars between rival cartels involved in drug trafficking, fuel theft and other crimes. In Guanajuato, with its population just over 6 million, more police were shot to death in 2023 - about 60 - than in all of the United States.

In April, a mayoral candidate was shot dead in the street in Guanajuato just as she began campaigning. In December, 11 people were killed and another dozen were wounded in an attack on a pre-Christmas party in Guanajuato. Just days before that, the bodies of five university students were found stuffed in a vehicle on a dirt road in the state.

For years, the Santa Rosa de Lima cartel has fought a bloody turf war with the Jalisco cartel for control of Guanajuato.

Mexico has recorded more than 450,000 murders since 2006, when the government deployed the military to fight drug trafficking, most of them blamed on criminal gangs.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Three North Texas lawmakers were censured by the Texas House GOP Caucus for campaigning against fellow Republican caucus members.

The lawmakers  Arlington Rep. Tony Tinderholt, Fort Worth Rep. Nate Schatzline and Midlothian Rep. Brian Harrison  could have faced stiffer penalties. Instead the five-member Caucus Executive Committee voted to censure and condemn their conduct in the strongest terms, according to letters shared on X by a reporter for The Texan. Versions of the letters sent to Harrison and Schatzline notifying them of the censure was later obtained by the Star-Telegram. Rep. Steve Toth, a Houston-area Republican, was also censured.

Its silly that theyve done this, trying to uphold a rule that is nothing more than an incumbent protection program, Schatzline said in a Tuesday interview.

He defended campaigning with statewide Republicans to fight against liberal Republicans and elect true conservatives.

Were proud of what we did, Schatzline said.

Tinderholt was not immediately available for comment.

The censures follows a heated primary season during which Gov. Greg Abbott and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton aimed to unseat a number of Republicans who opposed their priorities. Abbott campaigned against a number of House incumbents who do not support his school choice plan that would create a voucher-like program called education savings accounts. Paxton campaigned against fellow Republicans who voted for his impeachment. Paxton was later acquitted in his Senate trial.

In a news release late Monday, Tinderholt, Schatzline, Harrison and Toth announced theyd been censured. Theyd previously raised alarms about possible expulsion from the caucus.

We were notified tonight we have been CENSURED by the Texas House GOP Caucus for campaigning with Gov. Abbott, Sen. Cruz, Lt. Gov Patrick, AG Paxton, and Comm. Miller against liberal incumbents, the four lawmakers said in a joint statement. We wouldve happily been expelled from the Texas House GOP Caucus, which worked with Democrats to help re-elect liberal Speaker Dade Phelan.

We are proud to have helped many true conservatives join the Texas House; something we will continue to do, regardless of any absurd caucus rules designed to protect the uniparty swamp. At a time when Republicans should be unifying against Democrats, the Caucus is divisively punishing conservatives. Despite this action, we will continue fighting for Republicans in November  and for LIBERTY!

Caucus rules prohibit lawmakers from financially supporting or campaigning for an opponent against another member of the Caucus, the letter reads. The rules were adopted to eliminate discord and promote solidarity, the letter reads.

You may wish to disregard them, but it is our responsibility as officers to carry them out to the best of our abilities and enforce them when necessary, the letter reads. There were certainly punishments that would have been more severe and, while we believe your actions warrant those, we recognize it is in the best interest of the Caucus to come together and move past your efforts to divide us.

Ahead of the 89th Legislative Session, our mission as a Caucus Executive Committee is to unify our membership so that we can pass sound conservative policies on behalf of the Texans we all represent. We hope you will set aside your grievances and join us in that effort moving forward.

The censure comes after Rep. Glenn Rogers, a Graford Republican whose district includes Mineral Wells and Weatherford, sent a May 28 letter to caucus leadership raising concern about the lawmakers involvement in the Republican primaries. Abbott campaigned against Rogers after he opposed Abbotts education savings account priority.

He wrote that removal of rogue members would allow subsequent campaigning against them in future election cycles.

This would help preserve the integrity of the Caucus, the Texas House and the State of Texas, Rogers said in the letter.

Texas GOP Caucus Chair Tom Oliverson, a Cypress Republican who is running for House Speaker, said caucus leadership is required to investigate complaints alleging rule violations. In 2022, there was a similar situation when the caucus voted against expulsion.

In their defense, I would say, I was there in 2019 when this rule was adopted, and I dont think we ever contemplated a circumstance where you would have that many statewide elected officials and the party also intruding into a members primary race, Oliverson said in an interview. I think it speaks to the fact that if theres any work left to be done on this matter, its not the matter itself. Its the rule not working as it was intended.

Oliverson said, speaking as an individual member of the Texas House, he personally thinks the rules should be repealed.

As caucus chair, I think my obligation is to make sure, my duty is to make sure that all the members have a voice and a process by which they can participate in amending our bylaws to make them work better, he said.

He expects the matter to be brought up for discussion, possibly at the caucus October retreat ahead of the legislative session that begins in January 2025.

Harrison, whose district spans Ellis County, called the censure pathetic and a joke. The letters note that Harrison and Schatzline were found to have participated or assisted in the campaign of an opponent against another member of the Caucus.

The rules prohibiting funding or campaigning against a fellow caucus member are profoundly stupid, he said, noting that hed always choose to fight for real Republicans over liberal Republicans who have betrayed our voters for far too long.

The caucus is effectively worthless, Harrison said.

As far as Im concerned, this censure is a badge of honor, Harrison said.

Harrison didnt say one way or another whether he plans to remain a caucus member.

Lets let the dust settle from the censure, he said. And look, as far as Im concerned, Im considering many options going forward. But what I am committed to doing is what I promised my voters, and thats to maximizing the Liberty in their lives and to reducing the crushing burden of government at all levels. Thats what I care about. I dont give a rip honestly about some association in Austin.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
The Bail Project, a national nonprofit that helps thousands of incarcerated people get out of jail as they await trial, closed its Atlanta branch on Monday due to a new Georgia law that strictly curtails the freedom to post bail for others.

The law, Senate Bill 63, limits people and organizations from posting more than three cash bonds in a year, restricting that ability to dedicated bail companies. It also requires cash bond for an additional 30 crimes, many of which are usually considered misdemeanors, including possession of marijuana, failure to appear in court, and trespassing. The law goes into effect in July.

For four years, The Bail Projects Atlanta branch provided free bail assistance and pre-trial support to thousands of low-income people, the majority of whom are people of color. Nationwide, The Bail Project says it has paid $81 million to free more than 30,000 people.

Were deeply dismayed by Georgias lawmakers pursuit of this regressive approach to public safety, which flies in the face of evidence showing that cash bail does not enhance safety. Cash bail perpetuates a two-tiered system of justice in Georgia  one for the rich and another for everyone else, the organization said in a statement.

Senate Bill 63 was signed into law in May by Gov. Brian Kemp, who said in his signing ceremony that the bill ensure dangerous individuals cannot walk our streets and commit further crimes," the Associated Press reported.

A number of criminal justice organizations have spoken out against the law and the American Civil Liberties Union of Georgia has threatened to sue.

Instead of passing Senate Bill 63, The Bail Project said Georgia lawmakers could have chosen to adopt evidence-based policies to address court delays and invested in community services to reduce reliance on pretrial incarceration, as other states have done. Instead, they opted for a path that perpetuates more incarceration, racial inequity, trauma, and harm. Shame on them."
Bail revoked for North End restaurant owner accused of shooting outside pastry shop

A North End restaurant owner accused of a brazen shooting outside a popular pastry shop in 2023 had his bail revoked in court on Tuesday.

55-year-old Patrick Mendoza was re-arrested over the weekend after Boston Police said he cut off his GPS bracelet and threatened to injure someone.

Officers recovered Mendozas electronic monitoring device directly from his person, which appeared to be cut, police wrote in the report. Officers asked Mendoza why he cut the bracelet and he replied, Im tired and sick of it.

Im sick of it: North End restaurateur charged in shooting accused of cutting off GPS bracelet

Mendoza originally posted bail and awaited trial under home confinement. He was first arrested in July 2023 for a shooting outside Modern Pastry.

Surveillance video allegedly shows Mendoza shooting at a victim from his bike.

At the time of the shooting, he co-owned Monicas Trattoria.

Mendoza has a status conference hearing on July 17 where a judge could re-issue bail. The DAs office says for the time being, Mendoza will remain behind bars until September 11.

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Baltic States to disconnect from joint energy system with Russia and Belarus in 2025

On 8 February 2025, the Baltic countries will separate their energy systems from a shared system with Russia and Belarus, and on 9 February, they will link themselves to the European power grid.

Source: Russian Interfax

Quote: "The desynchronisation process, which lasted about 20 years, will be completed after the operators of the electric power systems of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania announce to Russia and Belarus that they will no longer continue to work in a joint synchronous space from the new annual period beginning on 8 February," Jaanus Uiga, Estonian Deputy Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, told reporters.

On 9 February, the Baltic republics will join the continental European electricity grid via the Lithuanian-Polish connection. The entire project costs 1.6 billion. The EU money covers three-quarters of the costs.

Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia are the remaining EU countries that have yet to join the continental European network.

Currently, all three Baltic nations are part of the BRELL (Belarus  Russia  Estonia  Latvia  Lithuania electric system), whose frequency is monitored by the Russian system operator.

The Baltic countries are planned to officially withdraw from the BRELL in August 2024, with synchronisation with the continental European energy grid taking place in February 2025. Previously, synchronisation was scheduled until the end of 2025.

Background:

Kadri Simson, European Commissioner for Energy, endorsed Ukraine's position on the necessity for an ENTSO-E decision to boost the throughput of interstate crossings for power imports to Ukraine from European countries.

Because of the synchronisation of the Ukrainian power system with continental Europe's ENTSO-E power system, Ukraine was able to receive 27,000 MWh of emergency assistance and attract 285,000 MWh of imports to maintain power during the winter.

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The Baltic states will disconnect from the energy system shared with Russia and Belarus to join the European grid in February 2025, Interfax Russia reported on June 11.

Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania are the only EU countries not yet connected to the continental grid, instead being part of the BRELL system, which comprises the three Baltic states, Russia, and Belarus.

The Baltic nations initially aimed to join the European system by the end of 2025. However, following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, they advanced the timeline by nearly a year.

Estonian Deputy Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Jaanus Uiga said the countries would disconnect on Feb. 8, 2025, and join the European system the following day through the Lithuanian-Polish connection.

"The desynchronization process, which lasted about 20 years, will be completed after the operators of the electric power systems of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania announce to Russia and Belarus that they will no longer continue to work in a joint synchronous space," Uiga remarked, as reported by Interfax Russia.

Tensions between the Baltic states and Russia have escalated significantly since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

A coalition including the Baltic states, Poland, Norway, and Finland agreed on May 24 to establish a "drone wall" to bolster their collective borders.

This development follows an earlier announcement by Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk in May, confirming Poland's contract to join the European Sky Shield Initiative.

This initiative, currently comprising 21 countries, aims to develop an Iron Dome-style air defense system to protect NATO members across Europe.

Read also: Russias Su-57  hype vs. reality

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
A Baltimore prosecutor was baffled when a report by state psychiatrists about the sanity of a mother who killed her two young children in 2021 seemingly dismissed the womans bizarre behavior leading up to the kids deaths.

The forensic doctors with the Maryland Department of Health believed Jameria Hall left a burner on to set fire to her apartment to conceal evidence of her childrens deaths, saying that suggested she knew killing them was wrong and thus was sane at the time, the prosecutor, Tracy Varda, said in court.

But the doctors conclusion glossed over a brush found in a pan on the stove, Varda said. Hall told investigators she cut off the childrens hair because she thought it controlled them and placed hair in the pan along with a brush to break the spell she believed relatives had cast on her kids.

That was one of what Varda described as several questionable interpretations by state doctors of evidence in the gruesome August 2021 killings that led the prosecutor to hire an expert to evaluate the state psychiatrists work and ultimately support the defenses position: Hall was suffering from a mental disorder at the time and should be found not criminally responsible by reason of insanity.

Hall, 31, pleaded guilty to two counts each of first-degree murder and child abuse resulting in the deaths of 6-year-old DaNeria Thomas and 8-year-old Davin Thomas. A judge at the same April hearing found Hall not criminally responsible, ordering her committed indefinitely to the health department.

Retired Judge Gale E. Rasin, who presides over Baltimore Circuit Courts Mental Health Court program, said Hall suffered from schizoaffective disorder, depressive type  a thought, delusional and mood condition  and found she lacked the substantial capacity to appreciate the criminality of her conduct and  conform her conduct to the requirements of law.

People committed to the health department for crimes of violence go to the Clifton T. Perkins Hospital Center in Jessup, the states maximum security psychiatric facility. Eventually doctors could recommend Hall for conditional release because of successful treatment, but that decision would fall to a judge and prosecutors would have an opportunity to weigh in.

Nobody today can tell you when, if ever, there will be a recommendation for you to be conditionally released, Rasin told Hall, before asking whether she understood.

Yes, Hall responded.

Mommy, no!

Almost three years ago, homicide detectives were summoned to the grisly crime scene in Southwest Baltimore.

A maintenance worker asked to investigate a foul smell entered an apartment Aug. 24, 2021, and found the decomposing bodies of two children, according to charging documents. Davin was found in a sleeping bag, with a knife still stuck in his chest and a black trash bag over his head. DaNeria was found in the bathtub with an article of clothing wrapped around her neck.

Neighbors recalled hearing children screaming Mommy, no! about five days before their bodies were found.

Police announced charges against Hall less than a day later. Detectives wrote in charging documents that she confessed in an interview at the homicide unit.

In the following days, warning signs of a woman struggling with mental illness emerged.

About three years before killing her children, Hall turned her parents gas oven to high, ignited the stove burners, assembled a shrine of family photos and left their house to burn. She pleaded guilty to arson and was sentenced to a year in prison.

Before long, she was back raising her kids.

In four episodes of a podcast Hall recorded, BMoreE Charming, she spoke of trying to start a line of T-shirts and cosmetics, reads her children a bedtime book, and explains the arson case as her mental breakdown. Hall also spoke of her struggles with mental illness.

My anger develops my anxiety; my anxiety develops my stress; my stress triggers my depression, she said. I fall into depression when I just cannot control the stress.

Halls plea hearing April 17, held over Zoom, provided the most details to date about her struggles leading up to the childrens killings.

Her boyfriend told investigators he observed a change in Halls behavior about a week before the killings, Varda said.

She told him she thought her family was plotting to kill her, the prosecutor said.

The last time the boyfriend saw Hall before the killings, she ordered him into the trunk of her car and drove him around for hours, Varda said. At one point, she locked him in a storage unit.

The state psychiatrists chalked up the behavior to anger issues. They also said Hall had a financial motive to kill.

A health department spokesman declined to comment on Halls case, but said in a statement the department is committed to working with the courts, providing medically appropriate and timely responses when doing mental health examinations.

I was hearing voices

Mary Pizzo, one of Halls attorneys, who led the public defenders forensic mental health division for 11 years before retiring recently, called it unusual for the prosecution to disagree with a report from health department doctors.

Troubled by the doctors conclusions, Varda dug in.

The prosecutor said she watched Halls police interview from the arson case. She subpoenaed records from the hospital Hall went to after the murders, reviewed Halls detention records, listened to jail calls Hall made with her incarcerated brother before the killings, and examined Halls Facebook page, which featured pictures showing happy, cared-for children.

What I was finding was just not making sense with what was in the report, Varda said.

In a jail call after Hall was arrested, she described suffering hallucinations when she stopped medication.

I was hearing voices thinking the kids were other people for real, Hall said. It was crazy.

The calls between Hall and her incarcerated brother in the two weeks before the killings were illuminating to an expert that prosecutors hired to review the health department doctors report. Varda said the prosecutions expert concluded the calls showed Hall was suffering from psychosis.

One call offered a grim foreshadow.

She said This is a life and death situation. I got to act on it because I got to save us, Varda said, quoting the call.

In another, Hall described her son as the storm and daughter as the rainbow child.

Ive been talking with mommy about spirit s, Varda recalled Hall saying on one call. Then theres just rambling. Then shes talking about love and finding her final destination.

Its just really heartbreaking

Hall appeared for court by video from Maryland Correctional Institution  Women in Jessup. She hung her head for much of the hearing, at times becoming emotional. Pizzo wrapped her arm around Hall. When Davins love for the Ninja Turtles cartoon was discussed, Hall burst into tears.

Relatives expressed dismay over the outcome of Halls case.

Hearing all these testimonies from the states attorney, doctors, some of that stuff is untrue, the childrens grandmother, Jennifer Jordan, said in court. Its just really heartbreaking.

The childrens father, Devin Thomas, didnt have much to add.

Just imagine losing yall children to the significant other, or whatever  the person who said they loved them, Thomas said.

The hearing, however, focused primarily on the conflicting findings from doctors.

Nothing that any psychiatrist can say and nothing that I can say today can take that horror and pain and your suffering away, Rasin said. The intention of all this information being put out there was just that, to give you information.

While the health department doctors believed Hall was criminally responsible, a forensic psychiatrist hired by the defense came to the opposite conclusion. Only the report by the defenses doctor was admitted as evidence in the hearing.

Before finding Hall not criminally responsible, Rasin lauded Varda for conducting an extraordinary investigation into Halls mental health.

Ive never seen anything like this, that a prosecutor would go to these lengths to look at every single bit of available evidence, whether its jail calls or interviews, and finally seeking her own expert, which doesnt happen very often, Rasin said.

Calling it a tremendously serious and tragic case, Halls other attorney, public defender Deborah Levi, said the defense is grateful that the State and the Court acknowledged the serious mental health illness underlying this tragedy.

The judge did not mince words when speaking about the work of the health department doctors, who suggested Hall was malingering, or faking symptoms.

However, Hall previously was deemed incompetent to stand trial and sent to Perkins for treatment to restore her ability to assist in her own defense. She spent about a year there under the treatment of psychiatrists and other mental health professionals, who diagnosed her with schizoaffective disorder.

Varda and Rasin said the health department forensic doctors ignored her treatment teams observations and diagnoses.

I dont understand, frankly, how [the doctors] could have come to this result, frankly emphasizing and exaggerating certain facts, Rasin said.

____
The shipping lane into the Port of Baltimore fully reopened Monday evening, allowing full capacity cargo traffic into the port for the first time since the Francis Scott Key Bridge was struck and collapsed in March.

The bridge was struck in a key central support pylon by a large cargo ship, sending the entire structure into the Patapsco River and killing six roadway workers. The Army Corps of Engineers and other recovery teams have worked for months since removing an estimated 50,000 tons of debris from the water so crucial trade can fully resume.

Yet again, Baltimore was counted down and out, Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott (D) told The Washington Post. And yet again, Baltimore proved the world wrong.

Workers moved quickly to partially reopen the channel, getting smaller ships in and out of the port just days after the bridge disaster via newly dug shallow channels. The full recovery also came faster than expected, in about three months instead of the anticipated six.

Officials said a total of 56 federal, state and local agencies participated in the salvage operations, including about 500 specialists from around the world who operated a fleet of 18 barges, 22 tugboats, 13 floating cranes, 10 excavators and four survey boats.

I cannot overstate how proud I am of our team, said Col. Estee Pinchasin, Baltimore district commander for the Army Corps of Engineers. It was incredible seeing so many people from different parts of our government, from around our country and all over the world, come together in the Unified Command and accomplish so much in this amount of time.

The Port of Baltimore was the East Coasts busiest for automobile shipments before the bridge collapse, as well a crucial coal and farm equipment terminal. With the wreckage removed and the ship that downed the bridge floated to port, effectively no evidence of the disaster remains except for the lack of bridge deck itself.

The bridge collapse was met with broad support for federal and state assistance. President Biden has committed federal funds to rebuilding the bridge, which carries Interstate 495 around the city. Maryland highway officials hope to have the new span open by 2028.

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 worker with Bmore POWER, a harm reduction and opioid education group, demonstrates how to use a fentanyl test strip in this 2019 file photo. File photo by Ian Round/Capital News Service.

Allergan Finance has agreed to pay Baltimore City $45 million within the next month to settle a lawsuit that claims the opioid distributor helped fuel the citys opioid epidemic, the city said Monday.

It comes just months after the state won $38 million from Allergan as part of the national settlement of a lawsuit against multiple pharmaceutical companies over the opioid crisis. That payment will be spread over seven years, according to a press release from the city.

Baltimore, which had been pursuing its own lawsuit since 2018, opted out of the national lawsuit. The wait paid off: The city said it would have received $7 million from Allergan over seven years if it had shared in the national suit.

Allergans two opioid drugs, Kadian and Norco, made up less than half a percent of the opioids distributed to Baltimores pharmacies, the release said. But it shares the blame with other pharmaceutical companies who drove the opioid epidemic, Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott (D).

We are fully aware of the devastating toll that the actions of these defendants have taken on our City, and we have shown our commitment to ensuring that they pay their fair share to tackle the harms they have left in the wake of their greed, Scott said in the statement.

The city said it is still pursuing legal action against Johnson & Johnson, McKesson, Cardinal Health, AmerisourceBergen, Walgreens, CVS, Teva and former Insys CEO John Kapoor. A trial date has been set in Baltimore City Circuit Court for Sept. 16.

Baltimore has committed to using $5 million of the settlement for the Peer Navigator Program and another $5 million for Charm City Care Connection, according to the statement. The mayor will create an advisory board to oversee how the rest of money will be spent.

Harm reduction advocates applauded both the creation of a board and the Charm City Care Connection funding, but are hoping the city is effective in its spending.

Im really, really happy to see and hear about the city setting up an accountability board, to have input on how those funds are spent, said Zach Kosinski, the director of harm reduction at Behavioral Health System Baltimore.

Candy Kerr, the communications director at the Baltimore Harm Reduction Coalition, was most excited to see that $5 million of that is going to go to Charm City Care Connection, because that organization is going to be instrumental in the coming years for harm reduction work in the city.

Kerr wants some of the funding to go into organizations like the Baltimore Harm Reduction Coalition.

I hope that a lot of [the money] does go to harm reduction organizations, they said. Because we have evidence-based solutions that we can implement, that can be implemented in the city, that can change the amount of people that are dying from overdose.

Kosinski wants the funding to go into existing organizations as well.

We should be supplementing, not supplanting. Its important to not just replace existing funding streams with this new funding to support programs that will reduce opioid overdose and the impacts of opioids, Kosinski said.

But its important to meaningfully expand the services that we already have and also to venture into new innovative practices that are really going to turn the curve on that overdose crisis that were experiencing, he said.



The post Baltimore wins $45 million settlement in suit against opioid manufacturer appeared first on Maryland Matters.
BARABOO - Lawn chairs and blankets were stashed along the streets of downtown Baraboo last Friday as the city prepared for its annual Big Top Parade the following day.

In 1884, the Ringling Brothers produced their debut circus performance in the community, and residents are proud of that history.

Today, they're in the spotlight for something that leaves them deeply frustrated.

During Baraboo High School's graduation ceremony May 31, video footage shows a man who rushed the stage and pushed school district Superintendent Rainey Briggs away before Briggs could shake hands with his daughter. The incident has picked up international press, with many speculating it was racist because Briggs is Black, the father is white, and the father was quoted as wanting to prevent Briggs from touching his daughter.

A "Welcome to Downtown Baraboo" sign sits outside the Sauk County Courthouse on June 7.

The Journal Sentinel is not naming the father to avoid identifying his daughter.

It's not the first time the city of about 12,500 has found itself in an uncomfortable light. In 2018, a group of male high school students were captured in a photo appearing to make a Nazi salute, and in 2021 a former student filed a federal lawsuit  settled by the district  claiming years of harassment and discrimination.

More: Baraboo is facing controversy for graduation push. Past incidents have marred the city too.

Baraboo, which lies along the Baraboo River in Wisconsin's Driftless region, is popular with tourists due to its circus roots and proximity to Wisconsin Dells and Devil's Lake State Park.

A sign in downtown Baraboo depicts the city's annual Big Top Parade, this year held June 8. The community is where the Ringling Brothers produced their first circus performance in the late 1800s.

On Friday, visitors to the community acknowledged they had heard what happened at the graduation. As for residents, those interviewed expressed frustration with the father's actions and embarrassment and hurt that their community is again being judged. They grappled with how to both condemn what happened as not reflective of the city, and acknowledge they have work to do to repair trust.

"Part of me wants to fight and say, 'Let me show you how great we are. We're not like this,'" said Julie Westegaard, whose son Max graduated in the same ceremony. "But another part of me is just so tired. I'm tired of having to fight hatred."

Baraboo residents say they're mortified by graduation ceremony incident

Westegaard said there was confusion and a moment of fear when the man approached the stage during the ceremony. She and her family ducked down, wondering if there was a gun present. As it became clear the man was pushing Briggs out of the way, people in the audience began to boo and shout, she said, before he was escorted out of the room and the ceremony continued on.

More: Father of Baraboo, Wisconsin, high school graduate seen pushing superintendent during ceremony

Westegaard also is involved with the local group Queers and Allies, which aims to promote the health and well-being of LGBTQ+ people. She said she feels "humiliated" that people who have acted poorly are shaping the opinion of Baraboo.

"This community is amazing. There's a reason I moved here. This is where I want to be," she said. Now, "people will say, 'Oh, that's where a bunch of racists and Nazis live."

Rachel Frank, an employee of Seek Boutique downtown who was chalking a message for Pride Month outside the store, said she feels for the man's daughter and the rest of the graduates. In her other job at a local cafe, she said, everyone coming in has been upset at his actions.

Rachel Frank, who works at Seek Boutique in downtown Baraboo, chalks a welcome message for Pride Month outside the store June 7.

Kristen Philipp, the boutique's co-owner, said as more people from larger and more diverse cities have started to visit Baraboo, it's important to her to promote the accepting community she believes she lives in.

"There's always a select few that make themselves louder than anybody else," Philipp said. "And unfortunately, they're the ones who get all the attention."

Kendra Griffin, a resident of nearby Lodi who was having lunch downtown, said the incident was mortifying.

"This is not a reflection of the overall culture in this area," Griffin said. "I think, like anywhere, there are just bad people."

Community reflects on controversies, moving forward

Though community members described the man as a bad actor who doesn't represent their values, they were conscious that the city's past issues are weighing on the current conversation.

It's not clear yet how much race played a role in what happened at the ceremony. In interviews, people described general discontent with school district administration because of problems like bullying happening in the schools, but declined to elaborate on the record. Still, "when you're a white guy in a school that's almost all white and your superintendent is African American ... it looks like racial hatred," Westegaard said.

More: Parent who disrupted Baraboo graduation had 'past issues' with superintendent, police report says

Baraboo Mayor Rob Nelson, who also owns a used bookstore downtown called The Village Booksmith, said in his store Friday that incidents over the past several years served as a catalyst for residents to "take a good, hard look in the mirror" at their biases and prejudices.

Following the release of the photo with the Nazi salute, the community formed the Baraboo Acts Coalition, which aims to make the area safe for people with diverse backgrounds. Today, the group continues to offer book discussions, educational events and other gatherings that "keep those themes of inclusion, awareness and sensitivity before us so we don't forget that," said longtime Baraboo resident Keri Olson, who was involved in the community response to the photo.

Baraboo Mayor Rob Nelson is pictured in his bookstore downtown, The Village Booksmith, June 7.

PJ Kruschel, a small business owner and president of Downtown Baraboo Inc., said past events have pushed Baraboo to reflect, identify its issues and work on them.

"If anything, I think it's brought us even closer together to work toward bettering ourselves, becoming more vibrant and more welcoming," he said. "This (incident) is the opposite of what we're trying to do."

Still, Kruschel urged outsiders not to paint the city with broad strokes. One person's actions in other, larger cities aren't made out to represent the entire population, he said.

"People are going to say what they say and think what they think, people who have never been to our town," he said. "It's sad that this is what makes the spotlight when we have so many wonderful people in our community doing so many wonderful things ... they deserve way more attention than this one person."

Nelson, too, said there are people all over the world that make bad choices every day, and that "it's somewhat arbitrary the ones that social media decides to seize on at any given moment."

"I feel like every community has lots of work to do on these issues," he said. "Because Baraboo, for better or for worse, got thrust into the spotlight a couple times, hopefully we can take advantage of that spotlight to help lead the way and show other communities how they can embrace the richness of their community."

Madeline Heim is a Report for America corps reporter who writes about environmental issues in the Mississippi River watershed and across Wisconsin. Contact her at (920) 996-7266 or mheim@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Baraboo residents speak out about high school graduation incident
JERUSALEM, IsraelWith centrist party leader Benny Gantzs exit from Israels government, the War Cabinet lost a centrist voice and the Biden administration lost its preferred interlocutor with Jerusalem. But how might Gantzs decision substantively reshape the direction of the war and prospects for a hostage deal?

On Sunday, the former Israel Defense Forces (IDF) chief of staff announced his long-anticipated withdrawal from the emergency government and War Cabinetboth formed in the wake of Hamas October 7 attackciting a lack of direction in the resulting eight-month war against the militant group. Strategic and fateful decisions are made by the government out of political considerations, Gantz said, calling on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to set a date for new elections. Unfortunately, Mr. Netanyahu is preventing us from approaching true victory.

The decision followed months of growing rifts within the three-member War Cabinet, as the prime minister doubled down on his vow to deliver an absolute victory against Hamaswhat his critics have deemed a lofty and vague goaland Gantz pushed Israel to adopt a hostage deal that has yet to materialize. Last month, the opposition leader threatened to pull his party from the unity government by June 8 if Netanyahu failed to put forward a plan for postwar governance in Gaza. But he chose to delay his announcement after the rescue of four Israeli abductees from central Gaza over the weekend.

A daytime operation by the IDF, Israels internal security service, and police secured the safe return Saturday of Noa Argamani, 26; Almog Meir Jan, 22; Andrey Kozlov, 27; and Shlomi Ziv, 41, to Israel after more than eight months in Hamas captivity. Netanyahu seized on the opportunity provided by the rescue to urge Gantz to forgo his planned exit from the government. This is the time for unity and not for division, the Israeli premier wrote on X, formerly Twitter. We must remain united within ourselves in the face of the great tasks before us. I call on Benny Gantzdo not leave the emergency government. Dont give up on unity.

But the centrist partys withdrawal was a long time coming, as Gantzs sway over the War Cabinet, which includes Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, eroded with each passing month of the war. The rescue operation, though endorsed and celebrated by Israeli officials from across the political spectrum, didnt reverse Gantzs stated reasons for leaving the government.

This great operation doesnt change the strategic situation, Matan Kahana, a member of the Knesset representing Gantzs National Unity party, told The Dispatch. In the big picture, there are still 120 hostages in the Gaza Strip. We cant be so unrealistic to believe that we will be able to rescue all of these 120 in operations like we did last Shabbat. We know that the majority of hostages will only come back through a deal. In the last few months, we realized that our influence has reduced. Netanyahu makes decisions not based on what Israel needs, but based on his political survival.

The biggest questionwhether Israel should accede to a ceasefire agreement with Hamas to secure the release of its remaining hostages, and what such a deal might look likeremains in limbo with Gantzs departure. National security chief Itamar Ben-Gvir and Minister of Finance Bezalel Smotrich, far-right party leaders in Netanyahus governing coalition, have both threatened to topple the government if a deal to end the war is reached, arguing that a complete military victory against Hamas should take precedence over the release of hostages.

The exact contours of such an agreement are still unknown, but the prime ministers office on Monday rejected claims that Israel had offered Hamas a permanent halt to the fightinga consistent demand of the terror group in internationally mediated ceasefire talks. Israels Western allies now worry extremist voices in the government will wield outsize power over the trajectory of the war, with Netanyahus coalition holding a narrow 64-seat majority in the 120-member Knesset.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Israel this week against the backdrop of this unfolding political drama. In meetings with Netanyahu and Gallant Monday night, Blinken made another push for a ceasefire agreementdespite Hamas reported rejection of Israels latest proposal. Blinkens visit also follows one of President Joe Bidens fiercest rebukes of the Israeli premier yet in an interview last week, when he said there was every reason to believe that Netanyahu was prolonging the war for political reasons.

Ironically, it may be recent public fighting with the Biden administration that secures Netanyahus political survival. Throughout the war, the prime minister has sold an image of himself as the man who can tread a fine line with Washingtonstanding up to its criticisms of Israels campaign in Gaza while also maintaining mostly consistent American support. Netanyahu is scheduled to address the House and Senate on July 24 after receiving a bipartisan invitation from all four congressional leaders last month.

In spite of his spats with the White House or perhaps because of them, the prime ministers popularity at home has recovered somewhat after a major dip following October 7. A poll by Israels Channel 12 last month found that Israelis preferred Netanyahu over Gantz as premier by a margin of 36 percent to 30 percentthe Likud heads first lead in more than a year. How Gantzs withdrawal from the government will influence his approval rating, and whether Netanyahu will move to hold new elections before the wars end, both remain to be seen.

A confrontation with the Biden administration is just wonderful news for Netanyahus reelection campaign, and we are definitely in the midst of his reelection campaign. Its only a matter of time until he himself will decide that its time for an election, Nadav Eyal, a prominent political commentator at Israeli news outlets Yediot and Ynet, told The Dispatch. Netanyahu is managing to convince voters that there are no alternatives, and even if they dont like him, hes the only person whos committed to the idea that Israel needs to completely and utterly defeat Hamas.

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Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky delivers a speech at the German Parliament (Bundestag). Zelensky is in Berlin for the International Ukraine Reconstruction conference in Berlin. Hannes Albert/dpa

In an emotional speech to Germany's parliament on Tuesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky drew parallels between the violent occupation of his country by Russian troops with Germany's painful Cold War history of division.

Zelensky cited those divisions to underscore the need for Ukraine and the country's European supporters to continue fighting against the ongoing Russian invasion.

"Divided Europe was never peaceful. And a divided Germany was never happy," Zelensky told lawmakers in the Bundestag.

"And that's why you can understand us, the Ukrainians. You can understand why we are fighting so hard against Russia's attempts to divide us and to divide Ukraine. Why we are doing everything, simply everything, not to allow a wall between the parts of our country. No country should be condemned to have barbed wire tearing its body apart for decades."

Zelensky made renewed appeals for support, and argued that Russian forces must not be allowed to continue their march through Ukraine and toward the rest of Europe.

"It is in our common interest that [Russian President Vladimir] Putin personally lose this war," Zelensky said in a speech that was repeatedly interrupted by applause. "And that is precisely why we must all work together to force Russia to change. And that is possible, because there are no walls that will not fall."

Zelensky, dressed in a military style jumper, spoke from a lectern that stood just behind three large flower arrangements in the Ukrainian colours blue and yellow. At the end of his speech, he was hailed with a standing ovation that lasted several minutes.

'Give diplomacy a chance'

Zelensky also addressed an upcoming Ukraine peace conference in Switzerland in his remarks on Tuesday, saying that he hoped there would be progress toward an eventual deal to end the conflict.

"We want to give diplomacy a chance and have brought together around 100 countries," Zelensky said. "Ukraine has never relied solely on the strength of its weapons."

During another speech earlier on Tuesday to a Ukrainian reconstruction conference being hosted in Berlin, however, Zelensky argued that the only way to get Putin to negotiate for peace is to deny him the chance to make gains by force.

Russia was not invited to participate in the gathering in Switzerland and the Kremlin has dismissed the talks as meaningless.

Earlier on Tuesday, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said he hoped the conference could lay groundwork for eventual talks that might include Russia.

"These are not yet negotiations about an end to the war, because for that Putin would have to show that he is prepared to end his brutal campaign and withdraw troops," Scholz said at a joint press conference with Zelensky.

"But perhaps a way can be found to start a process during which Russia will one day also take a seat at the table," Scholz added.

The German chancellor stressed that only Ukraine will decide when to engage with Russia and would not be forced into huge concessions by its supporters. Germany will remain firmly on the side of the Ukrainians, he said.

Air defence a key issue

The Ukrainian president was greeted with prolonged applause from members of Germany's parliament, the Bundestag. He entered the packed plenary chamber alongside German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

Scholz and ministers from his coalition government also attended the speech.

The Ukrainian president thanked Germany for supporting his country, particularly acknowledging Germany's supply of Patriot air-defence systems, which he credited with saving "thousands" of lives.

Earlier, both Zelensky and Scholz had made appeals for further supplies of air-defence systems to Ukraine to fend off constant Russian airstrikes. Zelensky acknowledged that Ukraine's energy infrastructure has been particularly badly hit by Russian attacks.

Zelensky said at least seven more Patriot air-defence systems are urgently needed to defend Ukrainian cities. He repeatedly thanked the German government on Tuesday for their support.

German far right boycott speech

A few rows of empty seats in the otherwise packed parliamentary chamber stood out on Tuesday, as nearly all far-right lawmakers from the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party staged a boycott of Zelensky's speech.

They were joined by members of the upstart populist Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW), which broke away from the hard-left Die Linke (The Left) party and has been campaigning on a platform combining left-wing economic policy with some hard-right stances.

Both the AfD and BSW have vehemently opposed military aid for Ukraine. A number of AfD members in particular have expressed support for Russia and admiration for Putin.

Leaders of both parties attacked Zelensky personally in statements, accusing him of standing in the way of peace with Russia.

Politicians from mainstream German parties expressed disgust with both the AfD and the BSW for the stunt.

"The Kremlin probably ordered the absence. I have rarely experienced such disrespect," Social Democrat (SPD) Dirk Wiese told the Rheinische Post newspaper.

Thorsten Frei of the Christian Democrats (CDU), meanwhile, said "the AfD and BSW are once again underlining their contempt for the victims of the Russian war of aggression."

Scholz expressed concern about rising support for the far right at the press conference with Zelensky, but stressed that he does not think gains will do anything to threaten European support for Ukraine.

"An overwhelming majority of citizens support parties that also agree that Ukraine must be supported," Scholz said.

"That applies to Germany, but it also applies when we look at the European Parliament as a whole," he added.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky delivers a speech at the German Parliament (Bundestag). Zelensky is in Berlin for the International Ukraine Reconstruction conference in Berlin. Bernd von Jutrczenka/dpa
NEOSHO COUNTY, Kan. (KSNW)  A bicyclist was seriously injured in a crash in Chanute late Tuesday morning.

Park City getting stores, aquarium, and butterflies

According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, at 11:52 a.m., a 39-year-old man from Chanute was driving a 2016 Chevrolet Camaro southbound on Santa Fe Avenue.

At the same time, a 67-year-old man, also from Chanute, was riding a bicycle southbound on the sidewalk west of Santa Fe Avenue.

This embedded content is not available in your region.

The KHP says when the Camaro turned right into Sante Fe Park, the bicyclist collided with the side of the Camaro.

The driver had no apparent injuries. The bicyclist had suspected serious injuries and was taken to an area medical center.

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President Bidens antisemitism czar Deborah Lipstadt accused the media on Tuesday of unconsciously being complicit in spreading antisemitic views during an interview with the Washington Post, which she called out specifically.

Governments are standing up to address antisemitism, she said while discussing what has changed regarding anti-Jewish bias since the 1930s.

The bad news is that we have not seen that in the whole of society, not to knock my hosts, The Washington Post, or the media in general, and even the Washington Post, to a certain degree, in particular, has fostered that view, Lipstadt said.

Im not suggesting that they consciously spread antisemitism, but when they talk about rich New York City Jews forcing [the New York Police Department] to clear encampmentsI worry.

The event, The State of Antisemitism, was moderated by Jonathon Capehardt, an associate editor at The Post. Lipstadt is Bidens special enjoy to monitor and combat antisemitism, as well as a leading historian on the Holocaust.

During the event, Lipstadt discussed the stark rise in antisemitism since October 7. According to a recent report by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), the group recorded 7,524 antisemitic incidents in the U.S. in 2023 compared to 3,697 in 2022.

Asked about Lipstadts criticism, a Washington Post spokesperson said in an email it routinely reports on those with power, wealth and influence trying to effect change in politics and policy.

Lipstadt has previously criticized the media, including during a November press briefing at the State Department, when she said that she has noticed a strange phenomenon where journalists only talk about anti-Semitism within a larger context.

Ive noticed it in other countries as well. Is that when decrying antisemitism, a event or an incident that is clearly and unequivocally anti-Semitic, what journalists will often do, and not just journalists, politicians as well, is theyll decry antisemitism and all sorts of other forms of prejudice, she said at the time.

Her office did not respond to a request for specifics on which outlets and articles were helping spread antisemitism.

Since October, House Republicans have placed an intense spotlight on college campuses in an attempt to stomp out perceived antisemitism at colleges across the country. Members of Congress, including Speaker Mike Johnson, have visited Columbia and other universities that had large encampments.

The protestors at these universities have insisted that their movement is anti-Zionist and not antisemitic, pointing out that many Jewish students have joined the movement too.

There has also been a rise in Islamophobia in the months since Hamas attacks Israel on Oct. 7.

During Tuesdays event, Capehardt also asked Lipstadt about the ceasefire deal the U.N. Security Council agreed to yesterday. Lipstadt declined to comment on the specific deal, but said a cessation of violence and peace in the region would help lead to a leveling off of antisemitism.

Lipstadt also commented on the surge of far-right parties in Europe in this weekends EU parliamentary elections, specifically on those parties histories of antisemitism and anti-immigrant rhetoric. And she suggested the involvement of some immigrant students in campus protests could bolster the anti-immigrant agenda.

There is also a concern in certain placesthere are certain places, including in this country, where we see recent migrants, where we see recent arrivals, where we see foreign students engaging in these behaviors which gives fodder to people who want to blame everything on immigrants, she said.

In recent months, Republicans, including former President Trump and Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), have called for the deportation of foreign students in the U.S. who have participated in pro-Palestine protests, should be deported.

Updated: 9:37 a.m. on June 12

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President Joe Biden greets attendees after speaking at a campaign event on April 16, 2024 in Scranton, Pennsylvania. President Biden, who grew up in Scranton, will be in Pennsylvania for three straight days of campaigning. (Photo by Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/Getty Images)

President Joe Bidens reelection campaign is launching an outreach initiative for senior voters in Pennsylvania, as the candidates for president try to woo this huge segment of the states electorate.

Seniors for Biden-Harris has events scheduled in three Pennsylvania cities over the next week; in Lancaster, Scranton and Philadelphia, where the campaign will spotlight the Biden administrations policies that benefited senior citizens, such as reducing costs of prescription drugs, capping insulin prices for seniors at $35, and pushing for Social Security and Medicare.

During his March 7 State of the Union address, Biden said he would seek to prevent any attempts to reduce entitlement programs. If anyone here tries to cut Social Security or Medicare, or raise the retirement age, I will stop you, he said.

Seniors for Biden Harris will also focus on what presumptive GOP nominee Donald Trump has said about what he would do if elected to another term in office.

For example, Trump said during a March 11 interview on CNBCs Squawk Box show there is a lot you can do in terms of entitlements, in terms of cutting, and in terms of also the theft and the bad management of entitlements, when asked how he would approach Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security.

Earlier in the 2024 campaign, Trump renewed his calls to repeal the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, saying Republicans should never give up trying to overturn the 2010 health care law, and calling it a catastrophe. Trump later said in an April video post he was not running to terminate the ACA.

The senior vote is one that presidential candidates must win in Pennsylvania, the state with one of the largest senior populations among 2024 battlegrounds. Bloomberg reported Bidens campaign has been courting senior voters by organizing bingo games in key states and running TV ads during shows with large senior viewing audiences, such as the Price is Right.

The over 10 million seniors across battleground states are a force to be reckoned with and will be essential to our work to reelect President Biden  a leader who knows that being president is about the American people, not himself, Biden campaign manager Julie Chavez Rodriguez said in a statement.

The campaign plans senior-focused events across the country as part of the seniors initiative, including a pickleball tournament in Virginia, a pancake breakfast in Georgia, bingo in Arizona, and a phone bank with second gentleman Douglas Emhoff in New Hampshire.

In Pennsylvania, the campaign plans a press conference in Philadelphia with former U.S. Rep. Bob Brady on Thursday, a roundtable in Scranton with former Mayor Jim Connors on Friday and an event in Lancaster next Monday with state Rep. Mike Sturla (D-Lancaster), which will include an organizing event with local retirement communities.

A March Quinnipiac University poll showed Biden leading Trump 53% to 45% with Americans 65 and older. Among voters between 50 and 64, however, Trump edged out Biden, 54% to 41%.

A May 7 AARP Pennsylvania election survey found 80% of voters 50 and over considered a candidates position on Social Security the most important, followed by Medicare (73%), helping people stay in their homes as they age (69%), and the cost of prescription drugs (67%).

The candidates, both senior citizens themselves, are set to meet for the first of three debates on June 27.

Biden beat Trump in Pennsylvania in 2020 by just over 80,000 votes.

Update: This article was updated at 7:45 a.m. June 11, 2024 with additional details from the campaign.

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President Biden on Tuesday made an impassioned plea for additional measures to curb gun violence across the country, drawing a contrast with the inaction of congressional Republicans and former President Trump.

Biden delivered remarks at Everytowns Gun Sense University in Washington, D.C., just hours after a jury in Delaware found his son, Hunter Biden, guilty of three felony counts after he lied about his use of illicit drugs when obtaining a gun in 2018, and then unlawfully possessed the firearm for 11 days.

The president was set to depart for Delaware at the conclusion of his remarks.

The timing of the presidents speech overlapping with his sons conviction was purely coincidental. Biden made no mention of his sons case in his remarks, instead focusing on actions he has taken in his first term to reduce gun violence and steps he has long advocated for moving forward.

Look, no single action can solve the entirety of the gun violence epidemic. But together, our efforts, your efforts, are saving lives, he told attendees. We can help rally a nation with a sense of urgency and seriousness of purpose. Were changing the culture. Weve proven we can do more than just thoughts and prayers.

The president highlighted passage of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act in 2022, which enhanced background checks for gun purchasers between the age of 18 and 21, made obtaining firearms through straw purchases or trafficking a federal offense and clarified the definition of a federally licensed firearm dealer.

He also touted his creation of a White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention, which drew roars from the crowd, and newly released FBI data showing the violent crime rate declined in early 2024.

Biden reiterated his call for Congress to institute a ban on assault weapons. He also called for universal background checks on gun purchases and for the requirement of safe storage of firearms in the home.

Look, unfortunatelycongressional Republicans oppose all of these, he said. Every one of these.

Biden also admonished Trump, the presumptive GOP presidential nominee, for saying earlier this year that a school shooting in Iowa was just horribleBut we have to get over it, we have to move forward.

Hell no, we dont have to get over it, Biden said. Weve gotta stop it. Weve gotta stop it and stop it now.

Biden and his reelection campaign have increasingly tried to lean into the idea that crime is down nationwide during his presidency, seeking to combat a popular argument from Republicans that violent crime is rampant in major cities.

The campaign is also hoping to draw a clear contrast with Trump over his record on gun violence.

Trump often pledges to voters that he will protect their Second Amendment rights if reelected, and he has spoken annually at the National Rifle Associations gatherings.

Bidens speech on Tuesday was briefly interrupted by protesters over the violence in Gaza. Supporters drowned out the demonstrators with chants of four more years, though Biden acknowledged their message.

Look, they care. Innocent children have been lost, he said.

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Biden will work with French leaders, no matter who they are, White House says

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden will work with the democratically elected leaders of France, no matter who they are, White House spokesman John Kirby said on Tuesday.

French President Emmanuel Macron rolled the dice on his political future on Sunday, calling snap legislative elections for later this month after he was trounced in the European Union vote by Marine Le Pen's far-right party.

"France is our oldest ally. And we will always work with whoever the French people decide to elect as their representatives," Kirby said.

(Reporting by Jarrett Renshaw; editing by Jonathan Oatis)
Biden hosts Juneteenth celebration: White House lawns never seen anything like this before

President Biden on Monday marked the upcoming Juneteenth holiday with a concert on the White House lawn, striking a celebratory note even as he warned of GOP-led efforts to roll back rights for Black Americans.

Biden, Vice President Harris, second gentleman Doug Emhoff and dozens of federal and state lawmakers gathered on the South Lawn for a concert that featured performances by Kirk Franklin, Gladys Knight, Trombone Shorty, Doug E. Fresh and Patti Labelle.

White House lawns never seen anything like this before, Biden remarked, calling it a fitting tribute to Juneteenth.

Gospel singer Kirk Franklin dances with Vice President Kamala Harris during a Juneteenth concert on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Monday, June 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

Biden, in 2021, signed legislation that made Juneteenth a federal holiday. The holiday marks the ending of slavery in the United States. It is celebrated each year on June 19, which is when the last enslaved Africans in Galveston, Texas, learned of their emancipation.

Amid the jubilation and dancing at the White House, Biden warned of old ghosts in new garments trying to take us back.

Taking away your freedoms, making it harder for Black people to vote or have your vote counted. Closing doors of opportunity, attacking the values of diversity, equity and inclusion. If you can believe it, banning books about Black experience, Biden said.

Trying to erase and rewrite history, he continued. Our history is not just about the past, its about our present and our future. Its whether that future is a future for all of us, not just for some of us.

Patti Labelle performs during a Juneteenth concert on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Monday, June 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

The White House announced new initiatives to preserve Black history earlier Monday, just days before Juneteenth.

The president and his reelection campaign have repeatedly credited Black voters with securing Bidens victory in 2020. Last month, the president visited Philadelphia, where he specifically sought to contrast his record of investing in the Black community with that of former President Trump.

A poll published last month conducted by The New York Times, Siena College and The Philadelphia Inquirer found Biden leading Trump among Black voters, 63 percent to 23 percent, which would be a significant decrease from his 2020 margins.

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A new report from the Win Without War Education Fund, a progressive foreign policy advocacy group, details how the U.S. governments failure to intervene in Gaza has allowed an Egyptian company to exploit American citizens and Palestinians desperate to secure passage away from the Israeli militarys ceaseless bombardment.

For nearly eight months, there was only one way out of Gaza: the Rafah crossing, a thin strip of land on Gazas southern border. The crossing has since been seized by the Israeli government, preventing the transfer of essential aid and humanitarian workers, as well as blocking the only means of escape. Before Israel seized the crossing, the only way to use it would be to get your name on a list that is maintained by the Egyptian government.

To expedite the process, many families turned to one company, Hala Consulting and Tourism Services, which promised to help get peoples names on Egypts listfor a steep price. Hala is part of the Orjani Group, which is owned by Ibrahim Al Arjani, a close ally of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi, and one of the most powerful men in Egypt.

By the end of April, Hala had raked in at least $88 million by charging people to cross, according to an investigation from The Times. By the time Israel seized the border crossing days later, the price for a coordination fee had ballooned from $4,000 to $10,000 per name.

The burden of this cost was far too steep for most Gazans, who have been forced to leave their homes, families, and friends amid the ruins of their cities. Instead, the price was thrust onto their family members and allies in the United States, who turned to private charities as a last resort for fundraising.

Once Hala received money to add a family member to the list, it would still take up to a month for that person to move to the top of the list. In that time, a lot could change, as the dangers in Gaza are ever present.

Family members of those trapped in Gaza were forced to pay Halas exorbitant fees because the U.S. government has refused to pressure Israel to stop its relentless assault. Washington has even failed to expedite the evacuation of U.S. citizens.

Texas attorney Maria Kari, who works with hundreds of Americans who are trapped, or have family members trapped, in Gaza, said that the State Department has been slow and at worst unresponsive to her efforts to secure humanitarian parole for her clients and their families.

One woman interviewed for the WWWEF report, identified only by her first name, Shifa, turned to GoFundMe to raise money to get the names of her 50 family members in Rafah on the list after exhausting all other options.

Weve exhausted absolutely every avenue to save their lives, Shifa, a Palestinian American lawyer, told WWWEF. We submitted correspondence to the State Department. Weve submitted all the applications to expedite this process. Weve reached out to immigration attorneys. We have done it all; no response.

Because of the high costs, waiting period, and lack of government support, Shifa was forced to make difficult decisions about which family members to prioritize. Time is of the essence. Weve exhausted every avenue possible, she said. Theyre waiting to either leave or die.
President Joe Biden talks with his son, Hunter Biden; wife Melissa Cohen Biden; and grandson Beau, as he arrives at the Delaware Air National Guard Base in New Castle on Tuesday. Manuel Balce Ceneta via Associated Press

WASHINGTON  President Joe Biden abruptly altered his schedule Tuesday afternoon to head home to Wilmington, Delaware, hours after his son, Hunter Biden, was found guilty on gun possession charges.

Joe Biden was to be in Washington, D.C., all day, but hours after a federal jury in Wilmington returned a guilty verdict on all three counts, the White House announced that he would leave the Washington Hilton, where he delivered remarks at a gun violence conference, and go directly to Joint Base Andrews. There, he boarded Marine 1 for the short flight to Wilmington.

Biden did not mention his sons legal problems at all in his 20-minute speech to the hundreds of attendees at the Gun Sense University conference sponsored by Everytown for Gun Safety.

He spoke about the actions he has taken to reduce gun violence and thanked the activists for their work. Were going to get there. I have no illusions about how difficult it may be, but I also have illusions about the people in this room, he said. Youre changing the attitude of the public. I really mean that.

The president has not yet spoken about the verdict Tuesday, although he did release a statement shortly after it was announced in the courtroom.

Jill and I love our son, and we are so proud of the man he is today, Biden wrote, referring to first lady Jill Biden, who was frequently in the courtroom during the trial. So many families who have had loved ones battle addiction understand the feeling of pride seeing someone you love come out the other side and be so strong and resilient in recovery. As I also said last week, I will accept the outcome of this case and will continue to respect the judicial process as Hunter considers an appeal. Jill and I will always be there for Hunter and the rest of our family with our love and support. Nothing will ever change that.

Biden plans to leave Wednesday morning for the G7 conference of the worlds largest democratic economies in Italy.
The News

Harry Sisson might be the biggest TikTok creator backing President Joe Biden with his whole chest. And, as hell tell you, its not the most receptive audience these days.

I gotta be honest, it doesnt feel good, Sisson said of watching a contingent of young liberals turn against Biden. It doesnt feel good at all.

The 21-year-old college students TikTok account, which has more than 890,000 followers, is a mix of snappy updates breaking down political news, dunking on former President Donald Trump, and defending Biden. He even got to meet the president last month. (I hear a lot of great things about you, Biden told the creator as the two shook hands.)

Sisson isnt the sole Biden defender left on the app, but his particular brand of sustained pro-Joe content is a rarity on the platform. TikTok was already considered relatively hostile territory before the president signed a bill that would force the apps Chinese parent company ByteDance to sell it or face a national ban; TikTok officials said that since November, theres been twice as much pro-Trump content as pro-Biden content on the platform.

I think Biden and the administration needs fighters for him, Sisson told Semafor in an interview. Theres just so much misinformation and so much unjustified disdain toward him. He just doesnt get the credit he deserves.

The president was never known for having a passionate youth following, but he nonetheless won the voting bloc by more than 20 points in 2020. As younger left-leaning voters began to increasingly oppose Bidens handling of Israels war on Hamas, some TikTok creators who rubbed elbows with the president months before became more critical of him. When the Biden campaign joined TikTok, the account was quickly inundated with comments denouncing Genocide Joe.

But Sisson, who described his content to Semafor as annoying for Republicans with a laugh, still categorizes himself as firmly team Biden. That makes him a valuable resource for a campaign trying to reach the kind of disaffected young voters who congregate primarily online.

Sisson said his account gained momentum in October 2020 when he posted a video hitting back at criticism of a photo of Biden kissing his adult son Hunter on the cheek. Does this look like an appropriate father/son interaction to you? one tweet about the image read.

I really dont think you wanna go down the road of trying to paint Joe Biden as creepy, because have you seen Donald Trump? Sisson asks in the TikTok. The video, which has nearly 15 million views, then cuts to several photos of Trump showing similar affection toward his adult daughters. (Reuters found that some of the photos were misleading or edited.)

When that video took off, Sisson started taking the power of the platform more seriously. I was thinking, wow, this could have a real impact on politics. Maybe this is where the future of advocacy lies, he said.

The Sisson method is simple: Hes there when Biden needs a shot in the arm. When right-wing media latches onto a Biden gaffe, he boosts a clip of Trump stumbling over his words. When Trump was convicted on May 30  a development on which Biden commented, but wont dwell  Sisson cranked out dozens of videos about the verdict.

There isnt a man alive who loves Joe Biden as much as Harry Sisson, TikTok creator V Spehar, who hosts Under the Desk News and has known Sisson for years, told Semafor. A lot of people think hes paid by the administration or hes a shill  hes not! He just fucking loves Joe Biden.

Sisson said hes done some paid work for groups including Planned Parenthood, but its not all that often and not all that lucrative. FEC filings show that liberal PACs Democracy Defense Action and MeidasTouch have paid him for social media consulting a handful of times.

One challenge for Sisson, and therefore Biden, is that TikTok is tilting more to the right, though conservatives still prefer other platforms. Sisson said hes seen an influx of MAGA commenters on his posts since Trump joined the platform earlier this month  and that being a pro-Biden creator can feel like swimming against the tide. Trumps campaign account quickly overtook the Biden campaigns follower count, and the convicted former President has also vowed to never ban TikTok, despite the fact that his administration was the first to suggest doing just that in 2020.

Sisson is acutely aware that much of the platform disagrees with his unwavering support of Biden. Day-to-day, he said, its just lunatics in his comments. But he also said hes been the target of bomb threats, swatting incidents, and endless death threats.

It doesnt bother me anymore, he said. If youre taking time out of your day as a 40-year-old white guy to come comment on my page, then I suppose Im doing something right. Or maybe you just dont have that much going on.

Carolines view

Bidens TikTok struggles illustrate a larger challenge hes up against this November: The right is largely unified behind Trump, while the left is fraught with infighting. And the further left you go, the less acceptable it is to support Biden.

The left has so many purity tests for the party, Spehar said. If you say something wrong at all, you can be canceled and persecuted by your own party.

Talking about Biden didnt always come with so much baggage. Bidens first two years were bangers, man, Spehar said. He was pumping out hit after hit after hit.

But right now? Its just not cool to like Biden. And the way some young people have turned away from the president worries even his most devoted fans.

The Biden campaign knows this is a space they need to play in, and the president has had his moments with TikTok influencers. His administration tried early on to leverage TikToks vast audience  roughly one third of young Americans regularly consume news on the platform  by bringing some of its stars into the fold. Bidens White House, sometimes in collaboration with the DNC, has invited TikTok influencers to the Oval Office, the State of the Union address, and even exclusive briefings on the war in Ukraine. But the push to force TikTok to divest or be banned has raised tensions with some of those figures.

Theres a core hypocrisy to the Biden administration supporting the TikTok ban while at the same time using TikTok for his campaign purposes, Kahlil Greene, who is known on TikTok as the Gen Z Historian, told the Associated Press. Greene is a creator who has previously been invited to White House events, but said the invites stopped coming when he started criticizing the president more openly.

Sisson encourages his own followers to look at the bigger picture: To see so many of my fellow young people out there being like, You know what, Im just gonna sit out, or Im gonna vote third party, is just crazy to me, he said. Womens reproductive rights are probably more important than a ban that may or may not happen.

Room for Disagreement

The Biden campaign said it recognizes that the youth vote has been under increased scrutiny of late, but pointed to multiple polls that still find Biden leading Trump with the group by a significant margin, even as the race looks worse for Biden in others.

President Biden is the only candidate fighting for young voters  their economic futures, the ability to make their own health care decisions, and to live free from the threat of gun violence are all at stake in this election, Biden campaign spokesperson Seth Schuster said in a statement to Semafor that also touted a robust youth engagement program that included trusted messengers across digital platforms.

And while media coverage has highlighted young peoples anger toward Bidens policies on the Israel-Gaza war, polling shows theyre much more concerned about issues such as gun violence, abortion, and the economy. One recent CBS News poll of Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin found that young voters who want Mr. Biden to tell Israel to stop its military actions in Gaza are still voting for him, at about the same rate as younger voters overall.

Notable

For Politico, Elena Schneider covers a new outside group trying to shore up the youth vote for Biden: Dont PAC Down.

In The Washington Post, Drew Harwell details the extraordinary deal TikTok officials offered the US government in 2022 to head off a potential ban  including a kill switch the feds could pull if they felt the app remained a threat. The Biden administration turned it down.

In The Los Angeles Times, Noah Bierman digs into the latest anti-Biden wildfire among TikTok creators.
U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks about Russia's "unprovoked and unjustified" military invasion of neighboring Ukraine in the East Room of the White House on February 24, 2022 in Washington, DC. | Drew Angerer/Getty Images

WASHINGTON  President Joe Biden on Tuesday touted his administrations efforts to reduce gun violence as the second anniversary of bipartisan gun safety legislation he signed into law approaches.

Never give up on hope, Biden said during an annual conference hosted by the advocacy group Everytown for Gun Safety.

The speech came hours after the presidents son Hunter Biden was found guilty in a federal court in Delaware of lying on paperwork related to purchasing a gun and unlawfully possessing that gun, according to media reports.

The federal jury found Hunter Biden, who has struggled with drug addiction, guilty on three related felony charges: lying to a licensed gun dealer, falsely stating on an application for a gun that he was not using drugs and for unlawfully having the gun for 11 days.

He could face up to 25 years in prison, though as a first-time offender his sentence is expected to be much less severe.

The president has avoided publicly commenting on his sons case and he did not mention the verdict in his speech.

Gaza protest

Shortly after Biden began his speech, he was interrupted by a protester who accused the president of being complicit in the high death toll of the Israel-Hamas war that has killed 35,000 Palestinians since Oct. 7, according to the Health Ministry in the Gaza Strip run by the Hamas-controlled government. An agreement over a U.S. backed cease-fire deal remains elusive.

The crowd immediately drowned out the protester. A group of protesters was removed, according to a White House pool report.

Biden tried to calm the crowd.

Thats alright, he said. Folks, its ok, look they care, innocent children have been lost, they make a point.

Law nears second anniversary

Biden went back to his speech, and thanked the gun safety advocates and survivors who have turned their pain into advocacy.

Youve helped power a movement, Biden said.

The gun safety law Biden signed in 2022 was the most comprehensive federal gun safety legislation in nearly 30 years. It stemmed from two deadly mass shootings less than two weeks apart in 2022.

One was at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, where 19 children and two teachers were murdered, making it the second-deadliest mass shooting since the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre in 2012.

The other was in Buffalo, New York, where a white supremacist targeted a Black neighborhood and killed 10 Black people in a grocery store.

The 2022 law provided $750 million for states to enact red flag laws, which allow the courts to temporarily remove a firearm from an individual who is a threat to themselves or others as well as $11 billion in mental health services for schools and families. The law cracked down on straw purchases, illegal transactions in which a buyer acquires a gun for someone else.

The bill also requires those who are under 21 and want to purchase a firearm to undergo a background check that takes into account a review of juvenile and mental health records. It also led to the creation of the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention.

The Justice Department also announced Tuesday it has charged more than 500 people under provisions of the gun safety law to target the unlawful trafficking and straw-purchasing of firearms.

The statutes directly prohibit straw purchasing and firearms trafficking and significantly enhance the penalties for those crimes, providing for up to 15 years in prison, according to the Justice Department.

Criminals rely on illegal gun traffickers and straw purchasers to obtain the weapons they use to harm our communities, Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement.

More work to do

Biden acknowledged that more needs to be done on gun safety legislation and he called on Congress to ban assault weapons and require universal background checks and safe storage of firearms. In a divided Congress, any gun-related legislation is unlikely to pass.

The last time Congress passed major gun legislation was 1994, when then-President Bill Clinton signed a ban on assault weapons that spanned 10 years. When it expired, Congress did not renew the ban.

Biden also took a jab at his rival, former President Donald J. Trump, and said that he wont tell people to get over a mass shooting.

After a school shooting in Perry, Iowa, the presumptive GOP presidential nominee said during a campaign speech in Sioux City, Iowa, that while the school shooting that left two dead  an 11-year-old student and the principal  was a terrible thing that happened, his advice was to get over it. We have to move forward.

The post Biden touts gun safety record to advocates, as son found guilty on felony charges appeared first on Michigan Advance.
President Joe Biden speaks Tuesday to a conference hosted by Everytown for Gun Safety in Washington hours after his son Hunter Biden was convicted of three gun-related felonies. (Screenshot from CSPAN livestream.)

WASHINGTON  President Joe Biden on Tuesday touted his administrations efforts to reduce gun violence as the second anniversary of bipartisan gun safety legislation he signed into law approaches.

Never give up on hope, Biden said during an annual conference hosted by the advocacy group Everytown for Gun Safety.

The speech came hours after the presidents son Hunter Biden was found guilty in a federal court in Delaware of lying on paperwork related to purchasing a gun and unlawfully possessing that gun, according to media reports.

The federal jury found Hunter Biden, who has struggled with drug addiction, guilty on three related felony charges: lying to a licensed gun dealer, falsely stating on an application for a gun that he was not using drugs and for unlawfully having the gun for 11 days.

He could face up to 25 years in prison, though as a first-time offender his sentence is expected to be much less severe.

The president has avoided publicly commenting on his sons case and he did not mention the verdict in his speech.

Gaza protest

Shortly after Biden began his speech, he was interrupted by a protester who accused the president of being complicit in the high death toll of the Israel-Hamas war that has killed 35,000 Palestinians since Oct. 7, according to the Health Ministry in the Gaza Strip run by the Hamas-controlled government. An agreement over a U.S. backed cease-fire deal remains elusive.

The crowd immediately drowned out the protester. A group of protesters was removed, according to a White House pool report.

Biden tried to calm the crowd.

Thats alright, he said. Folks, its ok, look they care, innocent children have been lost, they make a point.

Law nears second anniversary

Biden went back to his speech, and thanked the gun safety advocates and survivors who have turned their pain into advocacy.

Youve helped power a movement, Biden said.

The gun safety law Biden signed in 2022 was the most comprehensive federal gun safety legislation in nearly 30 years. It stemmed from two deadly mass shootings less than two weeks apart in 2022.

One was at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, where 19 children and two teachers were murdered, making it the second-deadliest mass shooting since the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre in 2012.

The other was in Buffalo, New York, where a white supremacist targeted a Black neighborhood and killed 10 Black people in a grocery store.

The 2022 law provided $750 million for states to enact red flag laws, which allow the courts to temporarily remove a firearm from an individual who is a threat to themselves or others as well as $11 billion in mental health services for schools and families. The law cracked down on straw purchases, illegal transactions in which a buyer acquires a gun for someone else.

The bill also requires those who are under 21 and want to purchase a firearm to undergo a background check that takes into account a review of juvenile and mental health records. It also led to the creation of the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention.

The Justice Department also announced Tuesday it has charged more than 500 people under provisions of the gun safety law to target the unlawful trafficking and straw-purchasing of firearms.

The statutes directly prohibit straw purchasing and firearms trafficking and significantly enhance the penalties for those crimes, providing for up to 15 years in prison, according to the Justice Department.

Criminals rely on illegal gun traffickers and straw purchasers to obtain the weapons they use to harm our communities, Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement.

More work to do

Biden acknowledged that more needs to be done on gun safety legislation and he called on Congress to ban assault weapons and require universal background checks and safe storage of firearms. In a divided Congress, any gun-related legislation is unlikely to pass.

The last time Congress passed major gun legislation was 1994, when then-President Bill Clinton signed a ban on assault weapons that spanned 10 years. When it expired, Congress did not renew the ban.

Biden also took a jab at his rival, former President Donald J. Trump, and said that he wont tell people to get over a mass shooting.

After a school shooting in Perry, Iowa, the presumptive GOP presidential nominee said during a campaign speech in Sioux City, Iowa, that while the school shooting that left two dead  an 11-year-old student and the principal  was a terrible thing that happened, his advice was to get over it. We have to move forward.

The post Biden touts gun safety record to advocates, as son found guilty on felony charges appeared first on Missouri Independent.
President Joe Biden speaks to a conference hosted by Everytown for Gun Safety in Washington on June 11, 2024. (Screenshot from CSPAN livestream.)

WASHINGTON  President Joe Biden on Tuesday touted his administrations efforts to reduce gun violence as the second anniversary of bipartisan gun safety legislation he signed into law approaches.

Never give up on hope, Biden said during an annual conference hosted by the advocacy group Everytown for Gun Safety.

The speech came hours after the presidents son Hunter Biden was found guilty in a federal court in Delaware of lying on paperwork related to purchasing a gun and unlawfully possessing that gun, according to media reports.

The federal jury found Hunter Biden, who has struggled with drug addiction, guilty on three related felony charges: lying to a licensed gun dealer, falsely stating on an application for a gun that he was not using drugs and for unlawfully having the gun for 11 days.

He could face up to 25 years in prison, though as a first-time offender his sentence is expected to be much less severe.

The president has avoided publicly commenting on his sons case and he did not mention the verdict in his speech.

Gaza protest

Shortly after Biden began his speech, he was interrupted by a protester who accused the president of being complicit in the high death toll of the Israel-Hamas war that has killed 35,000 Palestinians since Oct. 7, according to the Health Ministry in the Gaza Strip run by the Hamas-controlled government. An agreement over a U.S. backed cease-fire deal remains elusive.

The crowd immediately drowned out the protester. A group of protesters was removed, according to a White House pool report.

Biden tried to calm the crowd.

Thats alright, he said. Folks, its ok, look they care, innocent children have been lost, they make a point.

Law nears second anniversary

Biden went back to his speech, and thanked the gun safety advocates and survivors who have turned their pain into advocacy.

Youve helped power a movement, Biden said.

The gun safety law Biden signed in 2022 was the most comprehensive federal gun safety legislation in nearly 30 years. It stemmed from two deadly mass shootings less than two weeks apart in 2022.

One was at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, where 19 children and two teachers were murdered, making it the second-deadliest mass shooting since the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre in 2012.

The other was in Buffalo, New York, where a white supremacist targeted a Black neighborhood and killed 10 Black people in a grocery store.

The 2022 law provided $750 million for states to enact red flag laws, which allow the courts to temporarily remove a firearm from an individual who is a threat to themselves or others as well as $11 billion in mental health services for schools and families. The law cracked down on straw purchases, illegal transactions in which a buyer acquires a gun for someone else.

The bill also requires those who are under 21 and want to purchase a firearm to undergo a background check that takes into account a review of juvenile and mental health records. It also led to the creation of the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention.

The Justice Department also announced Tuesday it has charged more than 500 people under provisions of the gun safety law to target the unlawful trafficking and straw-purchasing of firearms.

The statutes directly prohibit straw purchasing and firearms trafficking and significantly enhance the penalties for those crimes, providing for up to 15 years in prison, according to the Justice Department.

Criminals rely on illegal gun traffickers and straw purchasers to obtain the weapons they use to harm our communities, Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement.

More work to do

Biden acknowledged that more needs to be done on gun safety legislation and he called on Congress to ban assault weapons and require universal background checks and safe storage of firearms. In a divided Congress, any gun-related legislation is unlikely to pass.

The last time Congress passed major gun legislation was 1994, when then-President Bill Clinton signed a ban on assault weapons that spanned 10 years. When it expired, Congress did not renew the ban.

Biden also took a jab at his rival, former President Donald J. Trump, and said that he wont tell people to get over a mass shooting.

After a school shooting in Perry, Iowa, the presumptive GOP presidential nominee said during a campaign speech in Sioux City, Iowa, that while the school shooting that left two dead  an 11-year-old student and the principal  was a terrible thing that happened, his advice was to get over it. We have to move forward.

The post Biden touts gun safety record to advocates, as son found guilty on felony charges appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
President Joe Biden speaks to a conference hosted by Everytown for Gun Safety in Washington on June 11, 2024. (Courtesy of CSPAN livestream, screenshot.)

WASHINGTON  President Joe Biden on Tuesday touted his administrations efforts to reduce gun violence as the second anniversary of bipartisan gun safety legislation he signed into law approaches.

Never give up on hope, Biden said during an annual conference hosted by the advocacy group Everytown for Gun Safety.

The speech came hours after the presidents son Hunter Biden was found guilty in a federal court in Delaware of lying on paperwork related to purchasing a gun and unlawfully possessing that gun, according to media reports.

The federal jury found Hunter Biden, who has struggled with drug addiction, guilty on three related felony charges: lying to a licensed gun dealer, falsely stating on an application for a gun that he was not using drugs and for unlawfully having the gun for 11 days.

He could face up to 25 years in prison, though as a first-time offender his sentence is expected to be much less severe.

The president has avoided publicly commenting on his sons case and he did not mention the verdict in his speech.

Gaza protest

Shortly after Biden began his speech, he was interrupted by a protester who accused the president of being complicit in the high death toll of the Israel-Hamas war that has killed 35,000 Palestinians since Oct. 7, according to the Health Ministry in the Gaza Strip run by the Hamas-controlled government. An agreement over a U.S. backed cease-fire deal remains elusive.

The crowd immediately drowned out the protester. A group of protesters was removed, according to a White House pool report.

Biden tried to calm the crowd.

Thats alright, he said. Folks, its ok, look they care, innocent children have been lost, they make a point.

Law nears second anniversary

Biden went back to his speech, and thanked the gun safety advocates and survivors who have turned their pain into advocacy.

Youve helped power a movement, Biden said.

The gun safety law Biden signed in 2022 was the most comprehensive federal gun safety legislation in nearly 30 years. It stemmed from two deadly mass shootings less than two weeks apart in 2022.

One was at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, where 19 children and two teachers were murdered, making it the second-deadliest mass shooting since the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre in 2012.

The other was in Buffalo, New York, where a white supremacist targeted a Black neighborhood and killed 10 Black people in a grocery store.

The 2022 law provided $750 million for states to enact red flag laws, which allow the courts to temporarily remove a firearm from an individual who is a threat to themselves or others as well as $11 billion in mental health services for schools and families. The law cracked down on straw purchases, illegal transactions in which a buyer acquires a gun for someone else.

The bill also requires those who are under 21 and want to purchase a firearm to undergo a background check that takes into account a review of juvenile and mental health records. It also led to the creation of the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention.

The Justice Department also announced Tuesday it has charged more than 500 people under provisions of the gun safety law to target the unlawful trafficking and straw-purchasing of firearms.

The statutes directly prohibit straw purchasing and firearms trafficking and significantly enhance the penalties for those crimes, providing for up to 15 years in prison, according to the Justice Department.

Criminals rely on illegal gun traffickers and straw purchasers to obtain the weapons they use to harm our communities, Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement.

More work to do

Biden acknowledged that more needs to be done on gun safety legislation and he called on Congress to ban assault weapons and require universal background checks and safe storage of firearms. In a divided Congress, any gun-related legislation is unlikely to pass.

The last time Congress passed major gun legislation was 1994, when then-President Bill Clinton signed a ban on assault weapons that spanned 10 years. When it expired, Congress did not renew the ban.

Biden also took a jab at his rival, former President Donald J. Trump, and said that he wont tell people to get over a mass shooting.

After a school shooting in Perry, Iowa, the presumptive GOP presidential nominee said during a campaign speech in Sioux City, Iowa, that while the school shooting that left two dead  an 11-year-old student and the principal  was a terrible thing that happened, his advice was to get over it. We have to move forward.

The post Biden touts gun safety record to advocates, as son found guilty on felony charges appeared first on Nebraska Examiner.
President Joe Biden speaks to a conference hosted by Everytown for Gun Safety in Washington on June 11, 2024. (Screenshot from CSPAN livestream.)

WASHINGTON  President Joe Biden on Tuesday touted his administrations efforts to reduce gun violence as the second anniversary of bipartisan gun safety legislation he signed into law approaches.

Never give up on hope, Biden said during an annual conference hosted by the advocacy group Everytown for Gun Safety.

The speech came hours after the presidents son Hunter Biden was found guilty in a federal court in Delaware of lying on paperwork related to purchasing a gun and unlawfully possessing that gun, according to media reports.

The federal jury found Hunter Biden, who has struggled with drug addiction, guilty on three related felony charges: lying to a licensed gun dealer, falsely stating on an application for a gun that he was not using drugs and for unlawfully having the gun for 11 days.

He could face up to 25 years in prison, though as a first-time offender his sentence is expected to be much less severe.

The president has avoided publicly commenting on his sons case and he did not mention the verdict in his speech.

Gaza protest

Shortly after Biden began his speech, he was interrupted by a protester who accused the president of being complicit in the high death toll of the Israel-Hamas war that has killed 35,000 Palestinians since Oct. 7, according to the Health Ministry in the Gaza Strip run by the Hamas-controlled government. An agreement over a U.S. backed cease-fire deal remains elusive.

The crowd immediately drowned out the protester. A group of protesters was removed, according to a White House pool report.

Biden tried to calm the crowd. Thats alright, he said. Folks, its OK. Look, they care. Innocent children have been lost, they make a point.

Law nears second anniversary

Biden went back to his speech, and thanked the gun safety advocates and survivors who have turned their pain into advocacy.

Youve helped power a movement, Biden said.

The gun safety law Biden signed in 2022 was the most comprehensive federal gun safety legislation in nearly 30 years. It stemmed from two deadly mass shootings less than two weeks apart in 2022.

One was at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, where 19 children and two teachers were murdered, making it the second-deadliest mass shooting since the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre in 2012.

The other was in Buffalo, New York, where a white supremacist targeted a Black neighborhood and killed 10 Black people in a grocery store.

The 2022 law provided $750 million for states to enact red flag laws, which allow the courts to temporarily remove a firearm from an individual who is a threat to themselves or others as well as $11 billion in mental health services for schools and families. The law cracked down on straw purchases, illegal transactions in which a buyer acquires a gun for someone else.

The bill also requires those who are under 21 and want to purchase a firearm to undergo a background check that takes into account a review of juvenile and mental health records. It also led to the creation of the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention.

The Justice Department also announced Tuesday it has charged more than 500 people under provisions of the gun safety law to target the unlawful trafficking and straw-purchasing of firearms.

The statutes directly prohibit straw purchasing and firearms trafficking and significantly enhance the penalties for those crimes, providing for up to 15 years in prison, according to the Justice Department.

Criminals rely on illegal gun traffickers and straw purchasers to obtain the weapons they use to harm our communities, Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement.

More work to do

Biden acknowledged that more needs to be done on gun safety legislation and he called on Congress to ban assault weapons and require universal background checks and safe storage of firearms. In a divided Congress, any gun-related legislation is unlikely to pass.

The last time Congress passed major gun legislation was 1994, when then-President Bill Clinton signed a ban on assault weapons that spanned 10 years. When it expired, Congress did not renew the ban.

Biden also took a jab at his rival, former President Donald J. Trump, and said that he wont tell people to get over a mass shooting.

After a school shooting in Perry, Iowa, the presumptive GOP presidential nominee said during a campaign speech in Sioux City, Iowa, that while the school shooting that left two dead  an 11-year-old student and the principal  was a terrible thing that happened, his advice was to get over it. We have to move forward.

The post Biden touts gun safety record to advocates, as son found guilty on felony charges appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
President Joe Biden speaks to a conference hosted by Everytown for Gun Safety in Washington on June 11, 2024. (Screenshot from CSPAN livestream)

WASHINGTON  President Joe Biden on Tuesday touted his administrations efforts to reduce gun violence as the second anniversary of bipartisan gun safety legislation he signed into law approaches.

Never give up on hope, Biden said during an annual conference hosted by the advocacy group Everytown for Gun Safety.

The speech came hours after the presidents son Hunter Biden was found guilty in a federal court in Delaware of lying on paperwork related to purchasing a gun and unlawfully possessing that gun, according to media reports.

The federal jury found Hunter Biden, who has struggled with drug addiction, guilty on three related felony charges: lying to a licensed gun dealer, falsely stating on an application for a gun that he was not using drugs and for unlawfully having the gun for 11 days.

He could face up to 25 years in prison, though as a first-time offender his sentence is expected to be much less severe.

The president has avoided publicly commenting on his sons case and he did not mention the verdict in his speech.

Gaza protest

Shortly after Biden began his speech, he was interrupted by a protester who accused the president of being complicit in the high death toll of the Israel-Hamas war that has killed 35,000 Palestinians since Oct. 7, according to the Health Ministry in the Gaza Strip run by the Hamas-controlled government. An agreement over a U.S. backed cease-fire deal remains elusive.

The crowd immediately drowned out the protester. A group of protesters was removed, according to a White House pool report.

Biden tried to calm the crowd.

Thats alright, he said. Folks, its OK, look they care, innocent children have been lost, they make a point.

Law nears second anniversary

Biden went back to his speech, and thanked the gun safety advocates and survivors who have turned their pain into advocacy.

Youve helped power a movement, Biden said.

The gun safety law Biden signed in 2022 was the most comprehensive federal gun safety legislation in nearly 30 years. It stemmed from two deadly mass shootings less than two weeks apart in 2022.

One was at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, where 19 children and two teachers were murdered, making it the second-deadliest mass shooting since the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre in 2012.

The other was in Buffalo, New York, where a white supremacist targeted a Black neighborhood and killed 10 Black people in a grocery store.

The 2022 law provided $750 million for states to enact red flag laws, which allow the courts to temporarily remove a firearm from an individual who is a threat to themselves or others as well as $11 billion in mental health services for schools and families. The law cracked down on straw purchases, illegal transactions in which a buyer acquires a gun for someone else.

The bill also requires those who are under 21 and want to purchase a firearm to undergo a background check that takes into account a review of juvenile and mental health records. It also led to the creation of the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention.

The Justice Department also announced Tuesday it has charged more than 500 people under provisions of the gun safety law to target the unlawful trafficking and straw-purchasing of firearms.

The statutes directly prohibit straw purchasing and firearms trafficking and significantly enhance the penalties for those crimes, providing for up to 15 years in prison, according to the Justice Department.

Criminals rely on illegal gun traffickers and straw purchasers to obtain the weapons they use to harm our communities, Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement.

More work to do

Biden acknowledged that more needs to be done on gun safety legislation and he called on Congress to ban assault weapons and require universal background checks and safe storage of firearms. In a divided Congress, any gun-related legislation is unlikely to pass.

The last time Congress passed major gun legislation was 1994, when then-President Bill Clinton signed a ban on assault weapons that spanned 10 years. When it expired, Congress did not renew the ban.

Biden also took a jab at his rival, former President Donald J. Trump, and said that he wont tell people to get over a mass shooting.

After a school shooting in Perry, Iowa, the presumptive GOP presidential nominee said during a campaign speech in Sioux City, Iowa, that while the school shooting that left two dead  an 11-year-old student and the principal  was a terrible thing that happened, his advice was to get over it. We have to move forward.

The post Biden touts gun safety record to advocates, as son found guilty on felony charges appeared first on Utah News Dispatch.
President Joe Biden speaks to a conference hosted by Everytown for Gun Safety in Washington on June 11, 2024. (Screenshot from CSPAN livestream.)

WASHINGTON  President Joe Biden on Tuesday touted his administrations efforts to reduce gun violence as the second anniversary of bipartisan gun safety legislation he signed into law approaches.

Never give up on hope, Biden said during an annual conference hosted by the advocacy group Everytown for Gun Safety.

The speech came hours after the presidents son Hunter Biden was found guilty in a federal court in Delaware of lying on paperwork related to purchasing a gun and unlawfully possessing that gun, according to media reports.

The federal jury found Hunter Biden, who has struggled with drug addiction, guilty on three related felony charges: lying to a licensed gun dealer, falsely stating on an application for a gun that he was not using drugs and for unlawfully having the gun for 11 days.

He could face up to 25 years in prison, though as a first-time offender his sentence is expected to be much less severe.

The president has avoided publicly commenting on his sons case and he did not mention the verdict in his speech.

Gaza protest

Shortly after Biden began his speech, he was interrupted by a protester who accused the president of being complicit in the high death toll of the Israel-Hamas war that has killed 35,000 Palestinians since Oct. 7, according to the Health Ministry in the Gaza Strip run by the Hamas-controlled government. An agreement over a U.S. backed cease-fire deal remains elusive.

The crowd immediately drowned out the protester. A group of protesters was removed, according to a White House pool report.

Biden tried to calm the crowd.

Thats alright, he said. Folks, its ok, look they care, innocent children have been lost, they make a point.

Law nears second anniversary

Biden went back to his speech, and thanked the gun safety advocates and survivors who have turned their pain into advocacy.

Youve helped power a movement, Biden said.

The gun safety law Biden signed in 2022 was the most comprehensive federal gun safety legislation in nearly 30 years. It stemmed from two deadly mass shootings less than two weeks apart in 2022.

One was at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, where 19 children and two teachers were murdered, making it the second-deadliest mass shooting since the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre in 2012.

The other was in Buffalo, New York, where a white supremacist targeted a Black neighborhood and killed 10 Black people in a grocery store.

The 2022 law provided $750 million for states to enact red flag laws, which allow the courts to temporarily remove a firearm from an individual who is a threat to themselves or others as well as $11 billion in mental health services for schools and families. The law cracked down on straw purchases, illegal transactions in which a buyer acquires a gun for someone else.

The bill also requires those who are under 21 and want to purchase a firearm to undergo a background check that takes into account a review of juvenile and mental health records. It also led to the creation of the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention.

The Justice Department also announced Tuesday it has charged more than 500 people under provisions of the gun safety law to target the unlawful trafficking and straw-purchasing of firearms.

The statutes directly prohibit straw purchasing and firearms trafficking and significantly enhance the penalties for those crimes, providing for up to 15 years in prison, according to the Justice Department.

Criminals rely on illegal gun traffickers and straw purchasers to obtain the weapons they use to harm our communities, Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement.

More work to do

Biden acknowledged that more needs to be done on gun safety legislation and he called on Congress to ban assault weapons and require universal background checks and safe storage of firearms. In a divided Congress, any gun-related legislation is unlikely to pass.

The last time Congress passed major gun legislation was 1994, when then-President Bill Clinton signed a ban on assault weapons that spanned 10 years. When it expired, Congress did not renew the ban.

Biden also took a jab at his rival, former President Donald J. Trump, and said that he wont tell people to get over a mass shooting.

After a school shooting in Perry, Iowa, the presumptive GOP presidential nominee said during a campaign speech in Sioux City, Iowa, that while the school shooting that left two dead  an 11-year-old student and the principal  was a terrible thing that happened, his advice was to get over it. We have to move forward.

The post Biden touts gun safety record to advocates, as son found guilty on felony charges appeared first on Kentucky Lantern.
President Joe Biden speaks to a conference hosted by Everytown for Gun Safety in Washington on June 11, 2024. (Screenshot from CSPAN livestream)

Policy, politics and progressive commentary

WASHINGTON  President Joe Biden on Tuesday touted his administrations efforts to reduce gun violence as the second anniversary of bipartisan gun safety legislation he signed into law approaches.

Never give up on hope, Biden said during an annual conference hosted by the advocacy group Everytown for Gun Safety.

The speech came hours after the presidents son Hunter Biden was found guilty in a federal court in Delaware of lying on paperwork related to purchasing a gun and unlawfully possessing that gun, according to media reports.

The federal jury found Hunter Biden, who has struggled with drug addiction, guilty on three related felony charges: lying to a licensed gun dealer, falsely stating on an application for a gun that he was not using drugs and for unlawfully having the gun for 11 days.

He could face up to 25 years in prison, though as a first-time offender his sentence is expected to be much less severe.

The president has avoided publicly commenting on his sons case and he did not mention the verdict in his speech.

Gaza protest

Shortly after Biden began his speech, he was interrupted by a protester who accused the president of being complicit in the high death toll of the Israel-Hamas war that has killed 35,000 Palestinians since Oct. 7, according to the Health Ministry in the Gaza Strip run by the Hamas-controlled government. An agreement over a U.S. backed cease-fire deal remains elusive.

The crowd immediately drowned out the protester. A group of protesters was removed, according to a White House pool report.

Biden tried to calm the crowd.

Thats alright, he said. Folks, its ok, look they care, innocent children have been lost, they make a point.

Law nears second anniversary

Biden went back to his speech, and thanked the gun safety advocates and survivors who have turned their pain into advocacy.

Youve helped power a movement, Biden said.

The gun safety law Biden signed in 2022 was the most comprehensive federal gun safety legislation in nearly 30 years. It stemmed from two deadly mass shootings less than two weeks apart in 2022.

One was at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, where 19 children and two teachers were murdered, making it the second-deadliest mass shooting since the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre in 2012.

The other was in Buffalo, New York, where a white supremacist targeted a Black neighborhood and killed 10 Black people in a grocery store.

The 2022 law provided $750 million for states to enact red flag laws, which allow the courts to temporarily remove a firearm from an individual who is a threat to themselves or others as well as $11 billion in mental health services for schools and families. The law cracked down on straw purchases, illegal transactions in which a buyer acquires a gun for someone else.

The bill also requires those who are under 21 and want to purchase a firearm to undergo a background check that takes into account a review of juvenile and mental health records. It also led to the creation of the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention.

The Justice Department also announced Tuesday it has charged more than 500 people under provisions of the gun safety law to target the unlawful trafficking and straw-purchasing of firearms.

The statutes directly prohibit straw purchasing and firearms trafficking and significantly enhance the penalties for those crimes, providing for up to 15 years in prison, according to the Justice Department.

Criminals rely on illegal gun traffickers and straw purchasers to obtain the weapons they use to harm our communities, Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement.

More work to do

Biden acknowledged that more needs to be done on gun safety legislation and he called on Congress to ban assault weapons and require universal background checks and safe storage of firearms. In a divided Congress, any gun-related legislation is unlikely to pass.

The last time Congress passed major gun legislation was 1994, when then-President Bill Clinton signed a ban on assault weapons that spanned 10 years. When it expired, Congress did not renew the ban.

Biden also took a jab at his rival, former President Donald J. Trump, and said that he wont tell people to get over a mass shooting.

After a school shooting in Perry, Iowa, the presumptive GOP presidential nominee said during a campaign speech in Sioux City, Iowa, that while the school shooting that left two dead  an 11-year-old student and the principal  was a terrible thing that happened, his advice was to get over it. We have to move forward.

The post Biden touts gun safety record to advocates, as son found guilty on felony charges appeared first on Nevada Current.
President Joe Biden speaks to a conference hosted by Everytown for Gun Safety in Washington on June 11, 2024. (Screenshot from CSPAN livestream.)

WASHINGTON  President Joe Biden on Tuesday touted his administrations efforts to reduce gun violence as the second anniversary of bipartisan gun safety legislation he signed into law approaches.

Never give up on hope, Biden said during an annual conference hosted by the advocacy group Everytown for Gun Safety.

The speech came hours after the presidents son Hunter Biden was found guilty in a federal court in Delaware of lying on paperwork related to purchasing a gun and unlawfully possessing that gun, according to media reports.

The federal jury found Hunter Biden, who has struggled with drug addiction, guilty on three related felony charges: lying to a licensed gun dealer, falsely stating on an application for a gun that he was not using drugs and for unlawfully having the gun for 11 days.

He could face up to 25 years in prison, though as a first-time offender his sentence is expected to be much less severe.

The president has avoided publicly commenting on his sons case and he did not mention the verdict in his speech.

Gaza protest

Shortly after Biden began his speech, he was interrupted by a protester who accused the president of being complicit in the high death toll of the Israel-Hamas war that has killed 35,000 Palestinians since Oct. 7, according to the Health Ministry in the Gaza Strip run by the Hamas-controlled government. An agreement over a U.S. backed cease-fire deal remains elusive.

The crowd immediately drowned out the protester. A group of protesters was removed, according to a White House pool report.

Biden tried to calm the crowd.

Thats alright, he said. Folks, its ok, look they care, innocent children have been lost, they make a point.

Law nears second anniversary

Biden went back to his speech, and thanked the gun safety advocates and survivors who have turned their pain into advocacy.

Youve helped power a movement, Biden said.

The gun safety law Biden signed in 2022 was the most comprehensive federal gun safety legislation in nearly 30 years. It stemmed from two deadly mass shootings less than two weeks apart in 2022.

One was at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, where 19 children and two teachers were murdered, making it the second-deadliest mass shooting since the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre in 2012.

The other was in Buffalo, New York, where a white supremacist targeted a Black neighborhood and killed 10 Black people in a grocery store.

The 2022 law provided $750 million for states to enact red flag laws, which allow the courts to temporarily remove a firearm from an individual who is a threat to themselves or others as well as $11 billion in mental health services for schools and families. The law cracked down on straw purchases, illegal transactions in which a buyer acquires a gun for someone else.

The bill also requires those who are under 21 and want to purchase a firearm to undergo a background check that takes into account a review of juvenile and mental health records. It also led to the creation of the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention.

The Justice Department also announced Tuesday it has charged more than 500 people under provisions of the gun safety law to target the unlawful trafficking and straw-purchasing of firearms.

The statutes directly prohibit straw purchasing and firearms trafficking and significantly enhance the penalties for those crimes, providing for up to 15 years in prison, according to the Justice Department.

Criminals rely on illegal gun traffickers and straw purchasers to obtain the weapons they use to harm our communities, Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement.

More work to do

Biden acknowledged that more needs to be done on gun safety legislation and he called on Congress to ban assault weapons and require universal background checks and safe storage of firearms. In a divided Congress, any gun-related legislation is unlikely to pass.

The last time Congress passed major gun legislation was 1994, when then-President Bill Clinton signed a ban on assault weapons that spanned 10 years. When it expired, Congress did not renew the ban.

Biden also took a jab at his rival, former President Donald J. Trump, and said that he wont tell people to get over a mass shooting.

After a school shooting in Perry, Iowa, the presumptive GOP presidential nominee said during a campaign speech in Sioux City, Iowa, that while the school shooting that left two dead  an 11-year-old student and the principal  was a terrible thing that happened, his advice was to get over it. We have to move forward.

The post Biden touts gun safety record to advocates, as son found guilty on felony charges appeared first on Pennsylvania Capital-Star.
President Joe Biden speaks to a conference hosted by Everytown for Gun Safety in Washington on June 11, 2024. (Screenshot from CSPAN livestream.)

WASHINGTON  President Joe Biden on Tuesday touted his administrations efforts to reduce gun violence as the second anniversary of bipartisan gun safety legislation he signed into law approaches.

Never give up on hope, Biden said during an annual conference hosted by the advocacy group Everytown for Gun Safety.

The speech came hours after the presidents son Hunter Biden was found guilty in a federal court in Delaware of lying on paperwork related to purchasing a gun and unlawfully possessing that gun, according to media reports.

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The federal jury found Hunter Biden, who has struggled with drug addiction, guilty on three related felony charges: lying to a licensed gun dealer, falsely stating on an application for a gun that he was not using drugs and for unlawfully having the gun for 11 days.

He could face up to 25 years in prison, though as a first-time offender his sentence is expected to be much less severe.

The president has avoided publicly commenting on his sons case and he did not mention the verdict in his speech.

Gaza protest

Shortly after Biden began his speech, he was interrupted by a protester who accused the president of being complicit in the high death toll of the Israel-Hamas war that has killed 35,000 Palestinians since Oct. 7, according to the Health Ministry in the Gaza Strip run by the Hamas-controlled government. An agreement over a U.S. backed cease-fire deal remains elusive.

The crowd immediately drowned out the protester. A group of protesters was removed, according to a White House pool report.

Biden tried to calm the crowd.

Thats alright, he said. Folks, its ok, look they care, innocent children have been lost, they make a point.

Law nears second anniversary

Biden went back to his speech, and thanked the gun safety advocates and survivors who have turned their pain into advocacy.

Youve helped power a movement, Biden said.

The gun safety law Biden signed in 2022 was the most comprehensive federal gun safety legislation in nearly 30 years. It stemmed from two deadly mass shootings less than two weeks apart in 2022.

One was at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, where 19 children and two teachers were murdered, making it the second-deadliest mass shooting since the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre in 2012.

The other was in Buffalo, New York, where a white supremacist targeted a Black neighborhood and killed 10 Black people in a grocery store.

The 2022 law provided $750 million for states to enact red flag laws, which allow the courts to temporarily remove a firearm from an individual who is a threat to themselves or others as well as $11 billion in mental health services for schools and families. The law cracked down on straw purchases, illegal transactions in which a buyer acquires a gun for someone else.

The bill also requires those who are under 21 and want to purchase a firearm to undergo a background check that takes into account a review of juvenile and mental health records. It also led to the creation of the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention.

The Justice Department also announced Tuesday it has charged more than 500 people under provisions of the gun safety law to target the unlawful trafficking and straw-purchasing of firearms.

The statutes directly prohibit straw purchasing and firearms trafficking and significantly enhance the penalties for those crimes, providing for up to 15 years in prison, according to the Justice Department.

Criminals rely on illegal gun traffickers and straw purchasers to obtain the weapons they use to harm our communities, Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement.

More work to do

Biden acknowledged that more needs to be done on gun safety legislation and he called on Congress to ban assault weapons and require universal background checks and safe storage of firearms. In a divided Congress, any gun-related legislation is unlikely to pass.

The last time Congress passed major gun legislation was 1994, when then-President Bill Clinton signed a ban on assault weapons that spanned 10 years. When it expired, Congress did not renew the ban.

Biden also took a jab at his rival, former President Donald J. Trump, and said that he wont tell people to get over a mass shooting.

After a school shooting in Perry, Iowa, the presumptive GOP presidential nominee said during a campaign speech in Sioux City, Iowa, that while the school shooting that left two dead  an 11-year-old student and the principal  was a terrible thing that happened, his advice was to get over it. We have to move forward.

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Biden and Trump's reactions to historic trials couldn't be more different

Biden and Trump's reactions to historic trials couldn't be more different

President Joe Biden said he would respect the "outcome" of his son's criminal trial.

Hunter Biden is the first child of a sitting president to be convicted of a felony.

Biden's response is starkly different from how Trump responded to his own conviction.

President Joe Biden on Tuesday underlined his belief that you can't just say the justice system is "rigged" because you don't like a verdict, offering a starkly different response to a historic trial than former President Donald Trump.

Biden reiterated his respect for the judicial process after a Delaware jury found his son Hunter Biden guilty of three felony counts of lying on gun-purchasing forms and unlawfully owning a firearm.

"I will accept the outcome of this case and will continue to respect the judicial process as Hunter considers an appeal," Biden said in a statement released by the White House.

It's the first time in the nation's history that a sitting president's child has been found guilty of a felony. Based on the case's particulars, Hunter Biden's legal team faced a stiff challenge in securing an immediate acquittal, but the appeals process could be much more favorable to them.

Biden has also made it clear he won't use his pardon power, one of the few presidential powers that is virtually unquestioned. It's expected that Trump would use his sway over the Justice Department to scuttle the other pending federal cases against him.

In contrast to Biden, Trump lashed out repeatedly before, during, and after his Manhattan criminal trial that resulted in him becoming the first former president to be found guilty of a felony. The former president repeatedly put forward a theory, without evidence, that Biden and the Justice Department were involved in the local case brought against him.

"This was a disgrace. This was a rigged trial by a conflicted judge who was corrupt," Trump told reporters in the Manhattan courtroom hallway after a jury found him guilty on all 34 counts.

After the Trump verdict, Biden said Americans can't say they respect the rule of law only when they agree with a jury's verdict.

"It's reckless, it's dangerous, and it's irresponsible for anyone to say this was rigged just because they don't like the verdict," Biden said. "Our justice system has endured for nearly 250 years, and it literally is the cornerstone of America  our justice system. The justice system should be respected, and we should never allow anyone to tear it down. It's as simple as that."

Trump and Biden's responses are not the only difference.

Members of the Biden family, led by the first lady, Jill Biden, regularly attended Hunter Biden's trial. In comparison, Trump's wife, Melania, never appeared in the Manhattan courtroom, despite the swarm of Republican lawmakers and vice presidential hopefuls who showed up to support her husband. Some of Trump's adult children did attend the trial.

Trump and Republicans will have to tread carefully going forward

Trump and Republicans have spent years assailing Hunter Biden, who's been made central to House Republicans' ongoing impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden. Despite years of probes, Republicans have yet to produce direct evidence that Biden participated in an alleged influence-peddling scheme when he was vice president.

But many Americans have sympathy for Hunter Biden's struggle with his drug addiction. Trump himself experienced this when he went after the former vice president's son directly during a 2020 presidential debate.

"My son, my son, my son  like a lot people, like a lot of people you know at home  had a drug problem," Biden said in response to Trump needling him about Hunter. "He's overtaken it, he's fixed it, he's worked on it. And I'm proud of him. I'm proud of my son."

Biden's defense of his son was one of the standout moments of the debate.

Ahead of his rematch with Trump, Biden will have to juggle defending his son with his normal campaign duties. Just hours after the verdict, Biden was set to give a previously scheduled address calling for stricter gun laws.

Hunter Biden's sentencing is expected to take place in mid-October. He could face up to 25 years in prison, but legal experts don't expect him to spend time behind bars as a first-time offender. He faces separate federal-tax charges in September.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Biden urged to press contrast with Trump on policies to help renters

Homeowners historically vote more heavily than renters. (Photo: Hugh Jackson/Nevada Current)

Policy, politics and progressive commentary

Democratic U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna of California, along with housing organizers, is urging President Joe Biden and other congressional candidates to make the housing crisis a top priority, especially in Nevada and other presidential battleground states.

While the housing crisis isnt new and addressing high rents has long been a priority for renters, recent polling in five battleground states, including Nevada, indicated it could energize voters this election.

I believe a comprehensive housing agenda that speaks to rents and the difficulty that people have in getting into homes and buying homes will help us mobilize the communities we need to win this election, Khanna said. It will also speak to an economic contrast with Donald Trump. He is the candidate of landlords and big real estate. Our candidate, President Biden, is the one whos going to help renters and working families.

Khannas remarks were made last week during a virtual press conference organized by the Center for Popular Democracy and Right to the City Action to discuss the role housing will  and could  play in elections this year.

A new poll the groups commissioned from HIT Strategies showed renters want candidates to talk about how they will address the housing crisis.

Joshua Doss, a senior research manager at HIT Strategies, said the results showed Trump is significantly less popular among renters in battleground states. Yet, homeowners, a demographic he has higher favorability with, are more enthusiastic about voting, Doss said.

Homeowners historically vote more heavily than renters.

The poll surveyed 500 voters in each battleground state: Nevada, Arizona, Michigan, North Carolina and Pennsylvania. The survey was weighted to get a larger representation of renters and voters aged 18 to 35.

As is the case with younger voters in general, (renters) are significantly less enthusiastic about the upcoming election, with only about 60% saying they would vote versus almost 80% of homeowners, saying they will vote, he said.

Despite the high cost of housing at the top of mind for many voters, the responses showed its hardly being talked about compared to abortion access and immigration.

There is a massive gap between how high of a priority the cost of rent and housing is to voters and how much they are saying they are hearing about it from the politicians in their orbit, Doss said. This is especially true for renters.

Housing policy hasnt typically been the focal point in previous election years. Even if candidates had policy positions, questions around housing werent common during the Democratic presidential candidate debates in 2019.

The recent poll showed that if candidates mobilized a group who already lean Biden on favorability, it would mean they could energize a group that is more racially diverse and younger, Doss said.

Biden has made moves to address the housing crisis.

In March, he traveled to Southern Nevada to announce his Fiscal Year 2025 budget request included calling for $258 billion in housing investments, which includes expanding rental assistance for low-income families, and direct $20 billion for an innovation fund for housing expansion to support construction of affordable multifamily units.

Bidens proposals have received praise from national housing groups such as the National Low Income Housing Coalition. By comparison, the group was critical of Trumps housing policies during his term, including a proposal to cut housing benefits, eliminate the national Housing Trust Fund and slash funds for tenant-based rental assistance.

Voters who were polled also want to see candidates championing progressive solutions like rent stabilization and support for housing choice vouchers, Doss said.

Analilia Mejia, the co-executive director at the Center for Popular Democracy, said that while the polling only provides a glimpse to the angst, the anxiety renters feel, the results further confirm what organizers with the group have seen and heard when they knock on doors and engage with voters.

She added that less than six months out from an uncomfortably close election the polls show that if candidates bring the housing affordability crisis faced by renters to the forefront, it could sway voters.

President Biden not only has a moral imperative to address the concerns of every single community demographic and voting bloc across this nation, but there is now a political imperative to make sure we address the concerns of the many, Mejia said.

The post Biden urged to press contrast with Trump on policies to help renters appeared first on Nevada Current.
Nearly a year ago, President Joe Biden's sweeping one-time student loan forgiveness plan was struck down by the Supreme Court. That setback, however, hasn't kept the Biden administration from enacting a plan to forgive billions in student loans.

In 2022, the Education Department unveiled a new, incredibly generous income-driven repayment (IDR) plan that allows many students to receive federal loan forgiveness more than a decade sooner than other similar programs. Several groups sued to stop the new plan's implementation, but a federal judge ruled last week that all but three suing states didn't have standing in the case.

Another, more impactful decisionthis time on whether to grant a preliminary injunction in a different, similar lawsuit seeking to halt the programis expected in the coming weeks from the District Court of the Eastern District of Missouri.

Biden's new IDR plan, called the SAVE plan, is extremely generousmuch more so than the REPAYE plan, its predecessor. Under REPAYE, borrowers were required to contribute monthly payments of 10 percent of their discretionary income (calculated as all income above 150 percent of the federal poverty line). Forgiveness would then be granted after 20 or 25 years of consistent payments depending on the kind of loans the borrower originally took out.

In contrast, the SAVE plan only requires payments of 5 percent of discretionary income, now calculated as earnings above 225 percent of the federal poverty line. Borrowers with balances of less than $12,000 will then receive forgiveness after just 10 years of paymentswith late and incomplete payments counting toward the total.

According to the Penn Wharton Budget Model, the program is estimated to cost taxpayers as much as $360 billion over the next decade, nearly as much as the $400 billion price tag for Biden's one-time forgiveness plan.

In March, a group of 11 states sued to halt the implementation of the SAVE plan, arguing that the SAVE plan is "a second attempt to avoid Congress and pass an illegal student debt forgiveness." However, a federal judge found that just three states, South Carolina, Texas, and Alaska, had standing to bring the lawsuit.

The legal effort against the SAVE program is far from over. Earlier this month, a federal court heard oral arguments in a similar lawsuit, headed by Missouri, attempting to halt implementation of the SAVE plan.

The post Can Biden's New Student Loan Program Be Stopped? appeared first on Reason.com.
Bill to make Google & Facebook pay California publishers for news reemerges with new language

Good morning and welcome to the A.M. Alert!

AB 886 REEMERGES WITH AMENDED LANGUAGE

After nearly a year of lying dormant, amendments are breathing new life into AB 886, the bill to make tech companies like Google and Meta pay California news outlets for content linked on tech platforms.

Last year, Assemblywoman Buffy Wicks, D-Oakland, requested that the California Journalism Preservation Act be held for consideration after it met with significant headwinds from the tech sector.

Meta has warned that it will remove California news from its Facebook and Instagram platforms if AB 886 becomes law, much as it did when Canada passed a similar law. And Google already has begun experimenting with removing California news from its search platform.

So whats different?

To begin with, the bill now gives the tech platforms the opportunity to pay into a fund rather than have the matter go through arbitration.

The bill also changes how the money is parceled out. Rather than basing payouts on how many articles are displayed to California residents, the bill now bases those payments on the number of California journalists employed, similar to the Canadian law. The bill also directs that payouts should be made for reporters who are employed for the specific purpose of producing California news.

One of the criticisms of AB 886 is that the bill would predominantly benefit major media outlets at the expense of small news organizations, including many ethnic media outlets.

To address that concern, AB 886 has been amended to steer 1% of the total funds collected exclusively to small publishers  in addition to the money they already otherwise would receive. And while the bill requires large publishers to spend 70% of these funds on journalists and other staff, for publications with five or fewer employees that number is reduced to 50%.

Small publications also would be allowed to count part-time employees and freelancers as new employees for the purposes of the bill.

The bill currently sits in the Senate Judiciary Committee. As of Monday afternoon, it did not have a hearing scheduled.

Full disclosure: AB 886 is supported by The Sacramento Bees parent company, McClatchy, which also publishes The Fresno Bee, The Modesto Bee, San Luis Obispo Tribune and Merced Sun-Star.

AB 1955 HEADED TO THE SENATE FLOOR

After a relatively brief Senate Appropriations Committee hearing, AB 1955 is bound for the Senate floor, where it is expected to pass on a party-line vote.

The bill would ban California school districts from enacting parental notification policies, described by critics as forced outings because they result in transgender or gender-nonconforming children being outed to their parents without their permission.

Since last summer, several school districts across the state have passed such policies, some of which are tied up in litigation by the state Department of Justice, which has argued that the policies violate California student privacy and nondiscrimination laws.

Mondays Appropriations Committee hearing was fairly short.

The bill author, Assemblyman Chris Ward, D-San Diego, presented the legislation. Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, a Democrat who is running for governor in 2026, testified in support, saying the bill would have only a nominal cost to the California Department of Education.

Thurmond said the bill calls for no new funding for Department of Education positions and no new hires.

But thats not the whole story, argued the opposition witnesses. They warned that millions of angry parents could tie the state up in litigation if AB 1955 becomes law. That point resonated with Sen. Kelly Seyarto, R-Murrieta, who told Ward, You can almost be assured that there will be numerous lawsuits.

Ward responded that litigation is speculative and that he crafted AB 1955 after seeing how the courts have handled the various existing legal challenges. He added that inaction also could be very expensive. Chino Valley Unified School District, the first district to enact such a policy, has already spent more than half a million dollars in legal expenses defending that policy in court, Ward said.

Sen. Aisha Wahab, D-Hayward, said there is a lot of misinformation circulating about the bill. She moved to have the legislation sent to the Senate floor.

Senate Minority Leader Brian Jones, R-Santee, attempted to introduce a substitute motion to send AB 1955 to the committees suspense file, where controversial bills often go to die a quiet death. However, that motion failed. The bill then was passed to the Senate floor on a party-line vote.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

The nations most-populous, wealthy, innovative, diverse, and internationally touristed state needs more significant formal influence on global policy decisions made in Washington, D.C. America needs to hear and heed the perspectives of its economically most-vibrant and globalized state of the union. The U.S. Senate marginalizes or ignores California, the worlds largest minority-majority democracy, at its peril.

 California Second Gentleman Markos Kounalakis, calling for better California representation in the U.S. Senate, in a column for Washington Monthly. Kounalakis husband, Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, a Democrat, is running for governor in 2026.

Best of The Bee:
CHARLESTON, WV (WVNS)  A bill went into effect during the first week of June 2024 that will extend partial disability benefits to members of the West Virginia Municipal Police Officers and Firefighters Retirement System.

The bill was passed during the 2024 regular legislative session, and will extend partial disability benefits for firefighters and police.

More than $80 million for WV college students, higher education establishments approved

These men and women put their lives on the line every day for us. The least we can do is help support them and their families should something happen to them in the line of duty. Delegate Geno Chiarelli | R-Monongalia, Lead Sponsor of House Bill 5188

Previously, disability benefits were only offered by the Firefighters Retirement System and the West Virginia Municipal Police Officers if one of the members was fully disabled, however the passing of the new law will extend benefits. One of which will include the West Virginia Deputy Sheriff Retirement Plans partial disability benefit, which will be 45 percent of the average full monthly compensation for the person involved during the year the individual contributed to the plan before their disability.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WVNS.
NC's Tier designations (Map: commerce.nc.gov)

A bill authorizing a study about how North Carolinas 100 countys are ranked based on economic well-being received a favorable report in the House Local Government Committee on Tuesday. House Bill 1044 has bipartisan support. It was referred to the House Appropriations Committee.

The rankings are especially important to the states low-wealth, rural counties because the data used to decide them determine eligibility for government funding and other assistance.

Currently, the states 40 most distressed counties are designated as Tier 1, the next 40 as Tier 2 and the 20 least distressed as Tier 3. Those designations are based on a countys average unemployment rate, median household income, percentage growth in population and adjusted property tax base per capita.

Jake Johnson, R-Polk, called HB 1044 one of the most important bills his colleagues have probably never heard about. Johnson is a primary bill sponsor along with House Democratic Leader Robert Reives.

There are more than 30 government programs that use the tier system to determine eligibility, Johnson said. Billions of dollars have moved through such programs since the tier system was established in 2007, he said. The tier system is incorporated into those programs to encourage economic activity in less prosperous areas of the state.

What we saw during COVID over the past few years was some of the metrics that we were using were not accurately reflecting the rankings of those counties, Johnson said. Thats also difficult because theres a cap on the amount of counties that can be in each rank. So what this bill would do is go back and look at what metrics were looking at, and how those affect those rankings.

Johnson said the North Carolina Collaboratory at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill will look at how data is collected, how to ensure accuracy, then recommend adjustments. The Collaboratory will consult with the Department of Commerce, the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Public Instruction.

If were going to be sending billions of dollars through this system, which we have, and well assume continue to do, weve got to know whether its right on the front end, Johnson said. I think its a wise investment.

HB 1044 calls for the study to focus on changing the criteria used to rank counties, changing the way in which tier designations are assigned and changing the time frame in which counties are ranked.

I think this is a great bipartisan effort going forward to make sure that the moneys getting where it needs to go and counties are accurately reflected, Johnson said.

Rep. John Torbett, R-Gaston, said it will be important for the working group to take a close look at counties that have both pockets of poverty and prosperity.

Johnson said the study will be thorough. A lot of studies we do up here is a way to put things on the back burner, he said. I will say with with pretty good solid confidence this will result in a bill next year, whether that bills for better or for worse, it will be the result of this study.

The post Bill to revamp how counties economic health is measured gets nod in House committee appeared first on NC Newsline.
Happy Tuesday and welcome to another edition of Rent Free. This week's stories include:

A new bill introduced by Sen. John Fetterman (DPa.) and Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester (DDel.) aims to help localities reform their zoning codes through consultation with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The University of California, Berkeley, at long last, gets the California Supreme Court's blessing to move forward with a contentious redevelopment of People's Park.

Austin considers applying an "equity overlay" to its "missing middle" reforms, much to the alarm of some YIMBYs who say the new overlay will only reduce new housing construction.

But first, our lead story on whether a proposed California bill would give "more teeth" to the state's builder's remedy law or defang it entirely.

YIMBYs Divided on Reforms to 'Builder's Remedy'

Over the past few years, developers across California have been dusting off a little-used provision of state housing law called the "builder's remedy" to try to get massive residential projects approved in communities that are out of step with state housing law. They've had limited success.

The builder's remedy law prevents communities without state-approved "housing elements"lengthy plans outlining how local laws will change to accommodate new housingfrom denying residential projects just because they're inconsistent with local zoning codes.

In theory, this would allow developers to build projects of unlimited density in the 183 jurisdictions that don't have a state-compliant housing element. In practice, ambiguities in state law and persistent local intransigence have seen most builder's remedy projects stalled in the courts or negotiated down to smaller projects with fewer units.

Proposed Fixes

Enter Assembly Bill (A.B.) 1893, authored by Assemblymember Buffy Wicks (DBerkeley) and supported by California Attorney General Rob Bonta, which aims to make the builder's remedy process more predictable and functional for developers and a little less scary and offensive for cities.

"The message to local jurisdictions is clearthe days of shirking your responsibility to your neighbors are over," said Wicks in an April press release, when her bill was first introduced.

For developers, Wicks' bill attempts to clarify the kinds of standards local governments can apply to builder's remedy projects, streamline project approvals, and lessen project costs. For cities, Wicks' bill would impose density caps on builder's remedy projects and limit the areas where they could be built.

Given the difficulty that developers have had in getting builder's remedy projects approved, the bill would seem to offer a win-win compromise.

Uncertain Improvements

But many YIMBY housing advocates are skeptical of the bargain the bill tries to strike: its process improvements are minimal and its density caps will undermine many builder's remedy projects.

"When we look at the uncertainty that they're trying to take away, it's like 5 percent of the uncertainty," says Sonja Trauss, the executive director of YIMBY Law. Meanwhile, "there are whole [categories] of builder's remedy projects that are possible now that would become just off the table."

The current builder's remedy law says that local governments can't disapprove projects for being inconsistent with local zoning, but they can require they abide by development standards consistent with meeting state housing goals, without defining what those development standards are.

A.B. 1893 attempts to clear this up by saying that cities can only apply "objective development standards" that don't make a project physically impossible and don't add to a project's "actual costs."

Trauss argues that this will do little to prevent builder's remedy projects from ending up in court. A city eager to prevent a builder's remedy project could impose expensive or impractical development standards and argue they don't increase costs. A developer will disagree and sue over standards. At the end of the day, projects still end up in court.

Two Steps Back

Meanwhile, the bill would impose density caps on projects of between two to three times the base density allowed by existing zoning. Builder's remedy projects could also only be built on land currently zoned for housing, retail, office, or parking. Current law has no such restrictions.

Some builders' groups complain that these density caps would make many builder's remedy projects financially infeasible.

"Builder's remedy only applies when a jurisdiction's housing element doesn't comply with state law and if it does not comply with state law, chances are it has very low base density," says Andrew Malick of the Council of Infill Builders.

Being able to build at three times a city's existing duplex densities, he says as a way of an example, isn't that much of enticement.

These density caps could also discourage cities from more broadly reforming their zoning codes.

Builder's remedy projects are intended to work as a stick: If a city doesn't broadly reform its zoning code to be more development-friendly, it runs the risk that it will have no ability to say no to residential mega-projects totaling thousands of units.

But if builder's remedy projects are capped at lower densities, there's less of an incentive to adopt a compliant housing element or risk a builder's remedy project.

Much Ado About Affordability

A.B. 1893 also takes a contradictory approach to lessening project costs by lowering the affordability requirements of builder's remedy projects.

Current law says that a builder's remedy project must make 20 percent of its units affordable at below-market-rates to low-income households (households making up to 80 percent of area median income) or 100 percent of units affordable to moderate-income households (households making up to 120 percent of area median income).

A.B. 1893 would change that former requirement so that builder's remedy projects would have to include 10 percent of units affordable to very low-income households (households making up to 50 percent of area median income).

So, in short, the share of units that would have to be below market rate is lower, but the actual rents developers would be able to charge on them would also be lower.

"That seems like progress in one respect and retrogression in another respect," says Christopher Elmendorf, a law professor at the University of California, Davis.

The bill would eliminate all affordability requirements for smaller builder's remedy projects of ten units on single-acre sites. That theoretically would enable smaller "missing middle" projects to use the builder's remedy process.

But this provision too could be undermined by a proposed amendment that would allow local governments to apply their own affordability mandates to builder's remedy projects. One tactic local governments use to stymie development is to require new projects to have a very high share of affordable, below-market-rate units.

"It is far too easy for bad actor local jurisdictions to enact high [inclusionary zoning], or deeper levels of affordability requirements that would undermine the effectiveness of a Builder's Remedy tied to their local requirement," wrote YIMBY Law and YIMBY Action (another housing advocacy group) in a May 10 letter to Wicks.

The current public version of the bill does not include this provision but that version also hasn't been updated since April 30. Its inclusion is still reportedly under discussion. Wicks' office did not respond to multiple requests for comment about the bill.

The Devil Is in the Details

YIMBY housing advocates look more positively on provisions of A.B. 1893 that would allow builder's remedy projects to make use of incentives and waivers offered by the state's density bonus law, and streamlined approval processes created by new state laws S.B 423 (which covers projects in cities behind on their state housing production targets) and A.B. 2011 (which covers projects along commercial corridors).

Those latter laws allow qualifying projects to skip onerous environmental reviews required by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Currently, builder's remedy projects still have to comply with CEQA.

Trauss argues A.B. 1893 should be amended to create a second, voluntary builder's remedy process, with its alleged additional legal clarity and density caps. Developers could still opt to use the existing process.

Elmendorf says that, in theory, a builder's remedy process that includes some density caps but offers a smoother process isn't inherently a bad idea, but the "devil is in the details, and the details are still being worked out."

A.B. 1893 has passed the California Assembly and is currently being considered by the California Senate.

A New Federal Zoning Bill Tries To Make Up for Past Mistakes

In the 1920s, the federal government produced model zoning legislation and encouraged states to adopt it. These state zoning enabling acts helped create today's regime of red tape and restrictions on new housing production.

Now, a new federal bill attempts to undo some of the damage.

This past week, Sen. John Fetterman (DPa.) and Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester (DDel.) introduced the Reducing Regulatory Barriers to Housing Act. The bill would direct the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to publish model zoning frameworks that state and local governments could use to guide their own zoning reforms.

These frameworks would include recommendations for increasing density limits, shrinking minimum lot sizes, allowing more types of housing "by right" (meaning projects are subject to public hearings and discretionary approval processes), and even creating state zoning appeal bodies that could approve projects that have been rejected at the local level.

The bill also directs HUD to provide technical assistance to localities looking to adopt recommended policies in the framework.

Most other YIMBY bills introduced at the federal level have had bipartisan support. The Fetterman-Rochester bill currently only has Democratic sponsors at the moment, but it does have wide industry support. Affordable housing groups and industry trade associations (rarely on the same side of federal housing policy) both support the bill.

"There are a whole host of communities across this country that would like to engage in this policy work but lack the staff, lack the capacity, lack the resources to do so on their own," says Mike Kingsella of Up for Growth, which supports the bill. "I think this is the exact right role for the federal government to play in supporting local governments and zoning jurisdictions to tear down barriers and create more homes."

California Supreme Court Rules Noisy Students Not Pollutants After All

After a ruling by the California Supreme Court, the University of California, Berkeley, will be able to proceed with building a 1,200-unit student housing project on the site of the famous People's Park, reports CalMatters.

For the past three years, the project has been held up by legal challenges from neighborhood groups who argued that the university had violated the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) by approving the project without studying the polluting noise that the new student residents would make.

In 2023, a California appellate court agreed with that argument and paused the People's Park project. That ruling generated immense controversy from CEQA watchers, who worried that such an expansive reading of the law could be used to stall basically any housing project.

"Family housing, which may mean a colicky infant crying for the first three months of her life, is that a CEQA impact? How about crime rates for different kinds of housing?" Jennifer Hernandez, a land use attorney with the law firm Holland and Knight, told Reason last year.

In 2023, the California Legislature passed a very narrow bill declaring that residential noise doesn't count as an environmental effect that needs to be studied under CEQA. Given that law, this latest Supreme Court ruling allowing the People's Park project to go forward wasn't a surprise.

Nevertheless, some legal scholars have argued the decision marks a turning point whereby California courts will be less willing to endorse the broadest possible scope of CEQA.

Austin Considers Handicapping Zoning Reform With 'Equity Overlay'

Austin, Texas, has earned a lot of YIMBY plaudits for the zoning reforms it passed over the last year that, in part, allow three-unit homes on all residential lots and shrink the city's minimum lot size down to 1,800 square feet.

But now, the city council has paused implementation of the latter reforms in census tracts that are "vulnerable to displacement" and is considering a permanent "equity overlay" that would limit new development in the same areas.

Over at his Austin Politics Newsletter, Jack Craver argues these policies are based on outdated data and the flawed premise that areas with lower land values will see the most new development under Austin's latest zoning reforms.

Quick Links

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul's last-minute decision to "indefinitely" pause implementation of a plan to toll drivers entering lower Manhattan has commuters breathing a "sigh of relief" and transit advocates incensed at the loss of toll revenue that would have been dedicated to subway improvements.

The YIMBY Act unanimously passes the House Financial Services Committee.

The Cincinnati City Council has given final approval to a suite of zoning reforms that will allow multi-unit development in more areas of the city.

National Public Radio covers a developer's plans to build the country's tallest building in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Over at National Review, Judge Glock covers the alarming growth of government-sponsored mortgage companies.

Over at Bloomberg, a takedown of the bad economics of the "15-minute city."

The post Will This Bill Save or Scuttle California's Builder's Remedy? appeared first on Reason.com.
A police officer walks near a police station that was destroyed after a battle between Israeli troops and Hamas militants on Oct. 8, 2023, in Sderot, Israel. A U.S. House caucus formed this month with the goal of planning for the region after the Israel-Hamas war ends. (Photo by Amir Levy/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  A bipartisan group of U.S. House lawmakers has launched an effort to spur planning for what the Gaza Strip will look like the day after the Israel-Hamas war, even as agreement over a U.S.-backed ceasefire proposal remains elusive.

Democratic Reps. Brad Schneider of Illinois and David Trone of Maryland, along with Republicans Ann Wagner of Missouri and Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington, formed the Gaza Working Group with the goal of involving Congress in discussions about the future of Israeli-Palestinian relations, according to a joint press release sent to reporters Tuesday.

The four leaders formed the Abraham Accords Caucus in 2022 following the 2020 agreement to normalize relations between Israel and the three Arab states of Bahrain, Morocco and the United Arab Emirates. The companion caucus in the U.S. Senate is led by Democratic Sens. Jacky Rosen of Nevada and Cory Booker of New Jersey, alongside GOP Sens. James Lankford of Oklahoma and Joni Ernst of Iowa.

As leaders of the Abraham Accords Caucus, we have an obligation to envision and work towards a future in which Israel  and all of the Middle East  is free of the evil that is Hamas, McMorris Rodgers said in a statement.

Trone called the working group a promising start.

Moving forward, we must work together to ensure Hamas is no longer in power by establishing a free and fair democracy in Gaza, secure the safety of Israel and surrounding nations and provide hope and diplomacy for their people, he said in a statement.

The group did not detail or endorse a specific plan for the Gaza Strip after the conflict, but rather aims to convene meetings to engage executive branch officials, diplomats and experts to deliberate and ask questions regarding pertinent issues.

The groups first meeting was a frank, off-the-record exchange with Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Michael Herzog, according to the joint release. The group met with Herzog on June 4, according to Schneiders spokesperson.

Wagner said stabilizing the region is important to maintaining a united front to counter Iran and its proxies.

It cannot be the United States job to rebuild Gaza, but together with Israel we can choose who sits at that table, Wagner said in a statement.

Ceasefire talks

The lawmakers announcement comes as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken was in the region for his eighth visit since the start of the conflict, this time to urge agreement on the latest cease-fire proposal outlined by President Joe Biden on May 31.

Blinken told reporters in Tel Aviv Tuesday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reaffirmed his commitment to the proposal.

So everyones vote is in, except for one vote, and thats Hamas. And thats what we wait for, Blinken said.

Fourteen nations on the 15-member United Nations Security Council, including the U.S., endorsed the proposal Monday. Russia abstained.

The Israel-Hamas war has been ongoing since Hamas militants infiltrated Israels southern border on Oct. 7, killing roughly 1,200, according to Israels figures.

The death toll from Israels continued offensive in the Palestinian territory of Gaza reached 36,379 at the end of May, according to the Health Ministry in the Gaza Strip run by the Hamas-controlled government.

The post Bipartisan U.S. House caucus planning for post-war Middle East appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
A police officer walks near a police station that was destroyed after a battle between Israeli troops and Hamas militants on Oct. 8, 2023, in Sderot, Israel. A U.S. House caucus formed this month with the goal of planning for the region after the Israel-Hamas war ends. (Footage by Amir Levy/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  A bipartisan group of U.S. House lawmakers has launched an effort to spur planning for what the Gaza Strip will look like the day after the Israel-Hamas war, even as agreement over a U.S.-backed ceasefire proposal remains elusive.

Democratic Reps. Brad Schneider of Illinois and David Trone of Maryland, along with Republicans Ann Wagner of Missouri and Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington, formed the Gaza Working Group with the goal of involving Congress in discussions about the future of Israeli-Palestinian relations, according to a joint press release sent to reporters Tuesday.

The four leaders formed the Abraham Accords Caucus in 2022 following the 2020 agreement to normalize relations between Israel and the three Arab states of Bahrain, Morocco and the United Arab Emirates. The companion caucus in the U.S. Senate is led by Democratic Sens. Jacky Rosen of Nevada and Cory Booker of New Jersey, alongside GOP Sens. James Lankford of Oklahoma and Joni Ernst of Iowa.

As leaders of the Abraham Accords Caucus, we have an obligation to envision and work towards a future in which Israel  and all of the Middle East  is free of the evil that is Hamas, McMorris Rodgers said in a statement.

Trone called the working group a promising start.

Moving forward, we must work together to ensure Hamas is no longer in power by establishing a free and fair democracy in Gaza, secure the safety of Israel and surrounding nations and provide hope and diplomacy for their people, he said in a statement.

The group did not detail or endorse a specific plan for the Gaza Strip after the conflict, but rather aims to convene meetings to engage executive branch officials, diplomats and experts to deliberate and ask questions regarding pertinent issues.

The groups first meeting was a frank, off-the-record exchange with Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Michael Herzog, according to the joint release. The group met with Herzog on June 4, according to Schneiders spokesperson.

Wagner said stabilizing the region is important to maintaining a united front to counter Iran and its proxies.

It cannot be the United States job to rebuild Gaza, but together with Israel we can choose who sits at that table, Wagner said in a statement.

Ceasefire talks

The lawmakers announcement comes as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken was in the region for his eighth visit since the start of the conflict, this time to urge agreement on the latest cease-fire proposal outlined by President Joe Biden on May 31.

Blinken told reporters in Tel Aviv Tuesday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reaffirmed his commitment to the proposal.

So everyones vote is in, except for one vote, and thats Hamas. And thats what we wait for, Blinken said.

Fourteen nations on the 15-member United Nations Security Council, including the U.S., endorsed the proposal Monday. Russia abstained.

The Israel-Hamas war has been ongoing since Hamas militants infiltrated Israels southern border on Oct. 7, killing roughly 1,200, according to Israels figures.

The death toll from Israels continued offensive in the Palestinian territory of Gaza reached 36,379 at the end of May, according to the Health Ministry in the Gaza Strip run by the Hamas-controlled government.

The post Bipartisan U.S. House caucus planning for post-war Middle East appeared first on Kentucky Lantern.
A police officer walks near a police station that was destroyed after a battle between Israeli troops and Hamas militants on Oct. 8, 2023, in Sderot, Israel. A U.S. House caucus formed this month with the goal of planning for the region after the Israel-Hamas war ends. (Footage by Amir Levy/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  A bipartisan group of U.S. House lawmakers has launched an effort to spur planning for what the Gaza Strip will look like the day after the Israel-Hamas war, even as agreement over a U.S.-backed ceasefire proposal remains elusive.

Democratic Reps. Brad Schneider of Illinois and David Trone of Maryland, along with Republicans Ann Wagner of Missouri and Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington, formed the Gaza Working Group with the goal of involving Congress in discussions about the future of Israeli-Palestinian relations, according to a joint press release sent to reporters Tuesday.

The four leaders formed the Abraham Accords Caucus in 2022 following the 2020 agreement to normalize relations between Israel and the three Arab states of Bahrain, Morocco and the United Arab Emirates. The companion caucus in the U.S. Senate is led by Democratic Sens. Jacky Rosen of Nevada and Cory Booker of New Jersey, alongside GOP Sens. James Lankford of Oklahoma and Joni Ernst of Iowa.

As leaders of the Abraham Accords Caucus, we have an obligation to envision and work towards a future in which Israel  and all of the Middle East  is free of the evil that is Hamas, McMorris Rodgers said in a statement.

Trone called the working group a promising start.

Moving forward, we must work together to ensure Hamas is no longer in power by establishing a free and fair democracy in Gaza, secure the safety of Israel and surrounding nations and provide hope and diplomacy for their people, he said in a statement.

The group did not detail or endorse a specific plan for the Gaza Strip after the conflict, but rather aims to convene meetings to engage executive branch officials, diplomats and experts to deliberate and ask questions regarding pertinent issues.

The groups first meeting was a frank, off-the-record exchange with Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Michael Herzog, according to the joint release. The group met with Herzog on June 4, according to Schneiders spokesperson.

Wagner said stabilizing the region is important to maintaining a united front to counter Iran and its proxies.

It cannot be the United States job to rebuild Gaza, but together with Israel we can choose who sits at that table, Wagner said in a statement.

Ceasefire talks

The lawmakers announcement comes as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken was in the region for his eighth visit since the start of the conflict, this time to urge agreement on the latest cease-fire proposal outlined by President Joe Biden on May 31.

Blinken told reporters in Tel Aviv Tuesday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reaffirmed his commitment to the proposal.

So everyones vote is in, except for one vote, and thats Hamas. And thats what we wait for, Blinken said.

Fourteen nations on the 15-member United Nations Security Council, including the U.S., endorsed the proposal Monday. Russia abstained.

The Israel-Hamas war has been ongoing since Hamas militants infiltrated Israels southern border on Oct. 7, killing roughly 1,200, according to Israels figures.

The death toll from Israels continued offensive in the Palestinian territory of Gaza reached 36,379 at the end of May, according to the Health Ministry in the Gaza Strip run by the Hamas-controlled government.

The post Bipartisan U.S. House caucus planning for post-war Middle East appeared first on Nebraska Examiner.
A police officer walks near a police station that was destroyed after a battle between Israeli troops and Hamas militants on Oct. 8, 2023, in Sderot, Israel. A U.S. House caucus formed this month with the goal of planning for the region after the Israel-Hamas war ends. (Amir Levy | Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  A bipartisan group of U.S. House lawmakers has launched an effort to spur planning for what the Gaza Strip will look like the day after the Israel-Hamas war, even as agreement over a U.S.-backed ceasefire proposal remains elusive.

Democratic Reps. Brad Schneider of Illinois and David Trone of Maryland, along with Republicans Ann Wagner of Missouri and Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington, formed the Gaza Working Group with the goal of involving Congress in discussions about the future of Israeli-Palestinian relations, according to a joint press release sent to reporters Tuesday.

The four leaders formed the Abraham Accords Caucus in 2022 following the 2020 agreement to normalize relations between Israel and the three Arab states of Bahrain, Morocco, and the United Arab Emirates. The companion caucus in the U.S. Senate is led by Democratic Sens. Jacky Rosen of Nevada and Cory Booker of New Jersey, alongside GOP Sens. James Lankford of Oklahoma and Joni Ernst of Iowa.

As leaders of the Abraham Accords Caucus, we have an obligation to envision and work towards a future in which Israel  and all of the Middle East  is free of the evil that is Hamas, McMorris Rodgers said in a statement.

Trone called the working group a promising start.

Moving forward, we must work together to ensure Hamas is no longer in power by establishing a free and fair democracy in Gaza, secure the safety of Israel and surrounding nations and provide hope and diplomacy for their people, he said in a statement.

The group did not detail or endorse a specific plan for the Gaza Strip after the conflict, but rather aims to convene meetings to engage executive branch officials, diplomats and experts to deliberate and ask questions regarding pertinent issues.

The groups first meeting was a frank, off-the-record exchange with Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Michael Herzog, according to the joint release. The group met with Herzog on June 4, according to Schneiders spokesperson.

Wagner said stabilizing the region is important to maintaining a united front to counter Iran and its proxies.

It cannot be the United States job to rebuild Gaza, but together with Israel we can choose who sits at that table, Wagner said in a statement.

Ceasefire talks

The lawmakers announcement comes as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken was in the region for his eighth visit since the start of the conflict, this time to urge agreement on the latest cease-fire proposal outlined by President Joe Biden on May 31.

Blinken told reporters in Tel Aviv Tuesday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reaffirmed his commitment to the proposal.

So everyones vote is in, except for one vote, and thats Hamas. And thats what we wait for, Blinken said.

Fourteen nations on the 15-member United Nations Security Council, including the U.S., endorsed the proposal Monday. Russia abstained.

The Israel-Hamas war has been ongoing since Hamas militants infiltrated Israels southern border on Oct. 7, killing roughly 1,200, according to Israels figures.

The death toll from Israels continued offensive in the Palestinian territory of Gaza reached 36,379 at the end of May, according to the Health Ministry in the Gaza Strip run by the Hamas-controlled government.

The post Bipartisan U.S. House caucus planning for post-war Middle East appeared first on New Hampshire Bulletin.
A police officer walks near a police station that was destroyed after a battle between Israeli troops and Hamas militants on Oct. 8, 2023, in Sderot, Israel. A U.S. House caucus formed this month with the goal of planning for the region after the Israel-Hamas war ends. (Footage by Amir Levy/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  A bipartisan group of U.S. House lawmakers has launched an effort to spur planning for what the Gaza Strip will look like the day after the Israel-Hamas war, even as agreement over a U.S.-backed ceasefire proposal remains elusive.

Democratic Reps. Brad Schneider of Illinois and David Trone of Maryland, along with Republicans Ann Wagner of Missouri and Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington, formed the Gaza Working Group with the goal of involving Congress in discussions about the future of Israeli-Palestinian relations, according to a joint press release sent to reporters Tuesday.

The four leaders formed the Abraham Accords Caucus in 2022 following the 2020 agreement to normalize relations between Israel and the three Arab states of Bahrain, Morocco and the United Arab Emirates. The companion caucus in the U.S. Senate is led by Democratic Sens. Jacky Rosen of Nevada and Cory Booker of New Jersey, alongside GOP Sens. James Lankford of Oklahoma and Joni Ernst of Iowa.

As leaders of the Abraham Accords Caucus, we have an obligation to envision and work towards a future in which Israel  and all of the Middle East  is free of the evil that is Hamas, McMorris Rodgers said in a statement.

Trone called the working group a promising start.

Moving forward, we must work together to ensure Hamas is no longer in power by establishing a free and fair democracy in Gaza, secure the safety of Israel and surrounding nations and provide hope and diplomacy for their people, he said in a statement.

The group did not detail or endorse a specific plan for the Gaza Strip after the conflict, but rather aims to convene meetings to engage executive branch officials, diplomats and experts to deliberate and ask questions regarding pertinent issues.

The groups first meeting was a frank, off-the-record exchange with Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Michael Herzog, according to the joint release. The group met with Herzog on June 4, according to Schneiders spokesperson.

Wagner said stabilizing the region is important to maintaining a united front to counter Iran and its proxies.

It cannot be the United States job to rebuild Gaza, but together with Israel we can choose who sits at that table, Wagner said in a statement.

Ceasefire talks

The lawmakers announcement comes as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken was in the region for his eighth visit since the start of the conflict, this time to urge agreement on the latest cease-fire proposal outlined by President Joe Biden on May 31.

Blinken told reporters in Tel Aviv Tuesday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reaffirmed his commitment to the proposal.

So everyones vote is in, except for one vote, and thats Hamas. And thats what we wait for, Blinken said.

Fourteen nations on the 15-member United Nations Security Council, including the U.S., endorsed the proposal Monday. Russia abstained.

The Israel-Hamas war has been ongoing since Hamas militants infiltrated Israels southern border on Oct. 7, killing roughly 1,200, according to Israels figures.

The death toll from Israels continued offensive in the Palestinian territory of Gaza reached 36,379 at the end of May, according to the Health Ministry in the Gaza Strip run by the Hamas-controlled government.

The post Bipartisan U.S. House caucus planning for post-war Middle East appeared first on North Dakota Monitor.
A police officer walks near a police station that was destroyed after a battle between Israeli troops and Hamas militants on Oct. 8, 2023, in Sderot, Israel. A U.S. House caucus formed this month with the goal of planning for the region after the Israel-Hamas war ends. (Footage by Amir Levy/Getty Images)

Policy, politics and progressive commentary

WASHINGTON  A bipartisan group of U.S. House lawmakers has launched an effort to spur planning for what the Gaza Strip will look like the day after the Israel-Hamas war, even as agreement over a U.S.-backed ceasefire proposal remains elusive.

Democratic Reps. Brad Schneider of Illinois and David Trone of Maryland, along with Republicans Ann Wagner of Missouri and Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington, formed the Gaza Working Group with the goal of involving Congress in discussions about the future of Israeli-Palestinian relations, according to a joint press release sent to reporters Tuesday.

The four leaders formed the Abraham Accords Caucus in 2022 following the 2020 agreement to normalize relations between Israel and the three Arab states of Bahrain, Morocco and the United Arab Emirates. The companion caucus in the U.S. Senate is led by Democratic Sens. Jacky Rosen of Nevada and Cory Booker of New Jersey, alongside GOP Sens. James Lankford of Oklahoma and Joni Ernst of Iowa.

As leaders of the Abraham Accords Caucus, we have an obligation to envision and work towards a future in which Israel  and all of the Middle East  is free of the evil that is Hamas, McMorris Rodgers said in a statement.

Trone called the working group a promising start.

Moving forward, we must work together to ensure Hamas is no longer in power by establishing a free and fair democracy in Gaza, secure the safety of Israel and surrounding nations and provide hope and diplomacy for their people, he said in a statement.

The group did not detail or endorse a specific plan for the Gaza Strip after the conflict, but rather aims to convene meetings to engage executive branch officials, diplomats and experts to deliberate and ask questions regarding pertinent issues.

The groups first meeting was a frank, off-the-record exchange with Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Michael Herzog, according to the joint release. The group met with Herzog on June 4, according to Schneiders spokesperson.

Wagner said stabilizing the region is important to maintaining a united front to counter Iran and its proxies.

It cannot be the United States job to rebuild Gaza, but together with Israel we can choose who sits at that table, Wagner said in a statement.

Ceasefire talks

The lawmakers announcement comes as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken was in the region for his eighth visit since the start of the conflict, this time to urge agreement on the latest cease-fire proposal outlined by President Joe Biden on May 31.

Blinken told reporters in Tel Aviv Tuesday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reaffirmed his commitment to the proposal.

So everyones vote is in, except for one vote, and thats Hamas. And thats what we wait for, Blinken said.

Fourteen nations on the 15-member United Nations Security Council, including the U.S., endorsed the proposal Monday. Russia abstained.

The Israel-Hamas war has been ongoing since Hamas militants infiltrated Israels southern border on Oct. 7, killing roughly 1,200, according to Israels figures.

The death toll from Israels continued offensive in the Palestinian territory of Gaza reached 36,379 at the end of May, according to the Health Ministry in the Gaza Strip run by the Hamas-controlled government.

The post Bipartisan U.S. House caucus planning for post-war Middle East appeared first on Nevada Current.
A police officer walks near a police station that was destroyed after a battle between Israeli troops and Hamas militants on Oct. 8, 2023, in Sderot, Israel. A U.S. House caucus formed this month with the goal of planning for the region after the Israel-Hamas war ends. (Footage by Amir Levy/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  A bipartisan group of U.S. House lawmakers has launched an effort to spur planning for what the Gaza Strip will look like the day after the Israel-Hamas war, even as agreement over a U.S.-backed ceasefire proposal remains elusive.

Democratic Reps. Brad Schneider of Illinois and David Trone of Maryland, along with Republicans Ann Wagner of Missouri and Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington, formed the Gaza Working Group with the goal of involving Congress in discussions about the future of Israeli-Palestinian relations, according to a joint press release sent to reporters Tuesday.

The four leaders formed the Abraham Accords Caucus in 2022 following the 2020 agreement to normalize relations between Israel and the three Arab states of Bahrain, Morocco and the United Arab Emirates. The companion caucus in the U.S. Senate is led by Democratic Sens. Jacky Rosen of Nevada and Cory Booker of New Jersey, alongside GOP Sens. James Lankford of Oklahoma and Joni Ernst of Iowa.

As leaders of the Abraham Accords Caucus, we have an obligation to envision and work towards a future in which Israel  and all of the Middle East  is free of the evil that is Hamas, McMorris Rodgers said in a statement.

Trone called the working group a promising start.

Moving forward, we must work together to ensure Hamas is no longer in power by establishing a free and fair democracy in Gaza, secure the safety of Israel and surrounding nations and provide hope and diplomacy for their people, he said in a statement.

The group did not detail or endorse a specific plan for the Gaza Strip after the conflict, but rather aims to convene meetings to engage executive branch officials, diplomats and experts to deliberate and ask questions regarding pertinent issues.

The groups first meeting was a frank, off-the-record exchange with Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Michael Herzog, according to the joint release. The group met with Herzog on June 4, according to Schneiders spokesperson.

Wagner said stabilizing the region is important to maintaining a united front to counter Iran and its proxies.

It cannot be the United States job to rebuild Gaza, but together with Israel we can choose who sits at that table, Wagner said in a statement.

Ceasefire talks

The lawmakers announcement comes as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken was in the region for his eighth visit since the start of the conflict, this time to urge agreement on the latest cease-fire proposal outlined by President Joe Biden on May 31.

Blinken told reporters in Tel Aviv Tuesday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reaffirmed his commitment to the proposal.

So everyones vote is in, except for one vote, and thats Hamas. And thats what we wait for, Blinken said.

Fourteen nations on the 15-member United Nations Security Council, including the U.S., endorsed the proposal Monday. Russia abstained.

The Israel-Hamas war has been ongoing since Hamas militants infiltrated Israels southern border on Oct. 7, killing roughly 1,200, according to Israels figures.

The death toll from Israels continued offensive in the Palestinian territory of Gaza reached 36,379 at the end of May, according to the Health Ministry in the Gaza Strip run by the Hamas-controlled government.

The post Bipartisan U.S. House caucus planning for post-war Middle East appeared first on SC Daily Gazette.
A police officer walks near a police station that was destroyed after a battle between Israeli troops and Hamas militants on Oct. 8, 2023, in Sderot, Israel. A U.S. House caucus formed this month with the goal of planning for the region after the Israel-Hamas war ends. (Footage by Amir Levy/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  A bipartisan group of U.S. House lawmakers has launched an effort to spur planning for what the Gaza Strip will look like the day after the Israel-Hamas war, even as agreement over a U.S.-backed ceasefire proposal remains elusive.

Democratic Reps. Brad Schneider of Illinois and David Trone of Maryland, along with Republicans Ann Wagner of Missouri and Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington, formed the Gaza Working Group with the goal of involving Congress in discussions about the future of Israeli-Palestinian relations, according to a joint press release sent to reporters Tuesday.

The four leaders formed the Abraham Accords Caucus in 2022 following the 2020 agreement to normalize relations between Israel and the three Arab states of Bahrain, Morocco and the United Arab Emirates. The companion caucus in the U.S. Senate is led by Democratic Sens. Jacky Rosen of Nevada and Cory Booker of New Jersey, alongside GOP Sens. James Lankford of Oklahoma and Joni Ernst of Iowa.

As leaders of the Abraham Accords Caucus, we have an obligation to envision and work towards a future in which Israel  and all of the Middle East  is free of the evil that is Hamas, McMorris Rodgers said in a statement.

Trone called the working group a promising start.

Moving forward, we must work together to ensure Hamas is no longer in power by establishing a free and fair democracy in Gaza, secure the safety of Israel and surrounding nations and provide hope and diplomacy for their people, he said in a statement.

The group did not detail or endorse a specific plan for the Gaza Strip after the conflict, but rather aims to convene meetings to engage executive branch officials, diplomats and experts to deliberate and ask questions regarding pertinent issues.

The groups first meeting was a frank, off-the-record exchange with Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Michael Herzog, according to the joint release. The group met with Herzog on June 4, according to Schneiders spokesperson.

Wagner said stabilizing the region is important to maintaining a united front to counter Iran and its proxies.

It cannot be the United States job to rebuild Gaza, but together with Israel we can choose who sits at that table, Wagner said in a statement.

Ceasefire talks

The lawmakers announcement comes as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken was in the region for his eighth visit since the start of the conflict, this time to urge agreement on the latest cease-fire proposal outlined by President Joe Biden on May 31.

Blinken told reporters in Tel Aviv Tuesday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reaffirmed his commitment to the proposal.

So everyones vote is in, except for one vote, and thats Hamas. And thats what we wait for, Blinken said.

Fourteen nations on the 15-member United Nations Security Council, including the U.S., endorsed the proposal Monday. Russia abstained.

The Israel-Hamas war has been ongoing since Hamas militants infiltrated Israels southern border on Oct. 7, killing roughly 1,200, according to Israels figures.

The death toll from Israels continued offensive in the Palestinian territory of Gaza reached 36,379 at the end of May, according to the Health Ministry in the Gaza Strip run by the Hamas-controlled government.

The post Bipartisan U.S. House caucus planning for post-war Middle East appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
Police Officer walks near a police station that was destroyed after a battle between Israeli troops and Hamas militants that have take the station on October 8, 2023 in Sderot, Israel. On Saturday, the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched the largest surprise attack from Gaza in a generation, sending thousands of missiles and an unknown number of fighters by land, who shot and kidnapped Israelis in communities near the Gaza border. The attack prompted retaliatory strikes on Gaza and a declaration of war by the Israeli prime minister. | Footage by Amir Levy/Getty Images

WASHINGTON  A bipartisan group of U.S. House lawmakers has launched an effort to spur planning for what the Gaza Strip will look like the day after the Israel-Hamas war, even as agreement over a U.S.-backed ceasefire proposal remains elusive.

Democratic Reps. Brad Schneider of Illinois and David Trone of Maryland, along with Republicans Ann Wagner of Missouri and Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington, formed the Gaza Working Group with the goal of involving Congress in discussions about the future of Israeli-Palestinian relations, according to a joint press release sent to reporters Tuesday.

The four leaders formed the Abraham Accords Caucus in 2022 following the 2020 agreement to normalize relations between Israel and the three Arab states of Bahrain, Morocco and the United Arab Emirates. The companion caucus in the U.S. Senate is led by Democratic Sens. Jacky Rosen of Nevada and Cory Booker of New Jersey, alongside GOP Sens. James Lankford of Oklahoma and Joni Ernst of Iowa.

As leaders of the Abraham Accords Caucus, we have an obligation to envision and work towards a future in which Israel  and all of the Middle East  is free of the evil that is Hamas, McMorris Rodgers said in a statement.

Trone called the working group a promising start.

Moving forward, we must work together to ensure Hamas is no longer in power by establishing a free and fair democracy in Gaza, secure the safety of Israel and surrounding nations and provide hope and diplomacy for their people, he said in a statement.

The group did not detail or endorse a specific plan for the Gaza Strip after the conflict, but rather aims to convene meetings to engage executive branch officials, diplomats and experts to deliberate and ask questions regarding pertinent issues.

The groups first meeting was a frank, off-the-record exchange with Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Michael Herzog, according to the joint release. The group met with Herzog on June 4, according to Schneiders spokesperson.

Wagner said stabilizing the region is important to maintaining a united front to counter Iran and its proxies.

It cannot be the United States job to rebuild Gaza, but together with Israel we can choose who sits at that table, Wagner said in a statement.

Ceasefire talks

The lawmakers announcement comes as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken was in the region for his eighth visit since the start of the conflict, this time to urge agreement on the latest cease-fire proposal outlined by President Joe Biden on May 31.

Blinken told reporters in Tel Aviv Tuesday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reaffirmed his commitment to the proposal.

So everyones vote is in, except for one vote, and thats Hamas. And thats what we wait for, Blinken said.

Fourteen nations on the 15-member United Nations Security Council, including the U.S., endorsed the proposal Monday. Russia abstained.

The Israel-Hamas war has been ongoing since Hamas militants infiltrated Israels southern border on Oct. 7, killing roughly 1,200, according to Israels figures.

The death toll from Israels continued offensive in the Palestinian territory of Gaza reached 36,379 at the end of May, according to the Health Ministry in the Gaza Strip run by the Hamas-controlled government.

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The post Bipartisan U.S. House caucus planning for post-war Middle East appeared first on Michigan Advance.
SDEROT, ISRAEL - OCTOBER 8: Police Officer walks near a police station that was destroyed after a battle between Israeli troops and Hamas militants that have take the station on October 8, 2023 in Sderot, Israel. On Saturday, the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched the largest surprise attack from Gaza in a generation, sending thousands of missiles and an unknown number of fighters by land, who shot and kidnapped Israelis in communities near the Gaza border. The attack prompted retaliatory strikes on Gaza and a declaration of war by the Israeli prime minister. (Footage by Amir Levy/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  A bipartisan group of U.S. House lawmakers has launched an effort to spur planning for what the Gaza Strip will look like the day after the Israel-Hamas war, even as agreement over a U.S.-backed ceasefire proposal remains elusive.

Democratic Reps. Brad Schneider of Illinois and David Trone of Maryland, along with Republicans Ann Wagner of Missouri and Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington, formed the Gaza Working Group with the goal of involving Congress in discussions about the future of Israeli-Palestinian relations, according to a joint press release sent to reporters Tuesday.

The four leaders formed the Abraham Accords Caucus in 2022 following the 2020 agreement to normalize relations between Israel and the three Arab states of Bahrain, Morocco and the United Arab Emirates. The companion caucus in the U.S. Senate is led by Democratic Sens. Jacky Rosen of Nevada and Cory Booker of New Jersey, alongside GOP Sens. James Lankford of Oklahoma and Joni Ernst of Iowa.

As leaders of the Abraham Accords Caucus, we have an obligation to envision and work towards a future in which Israel  and all of the Middle East  is free of the evil that is Hamas, McMorris Rodgers said in a statement.

Trone called the working group a promising start.

Moving forward, we must work together to ensure Hamas is no longer in power by establishing a free and fair democracy in Gaza, secure the safety of Israel and surrounding nations and provide hope and diplomacy for their people, he said in a statement.

The group did not detail or endorse a specific plan for the Gaza Strip after the conflict, but rather aims to convene meetings to engage executive branch officials, diplomats and experts to deliberate and ask questions regarding pertinent issues.

The groups first meeting was a frank, off-the-record exchange with Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Michael Herzog, according to the joint release. The group met with Herzog on June 4, according to Schneiders spokesperson.

Wagner said stabilizing the region is important to maintaining a united front to counter Iran and its proxies.

It cannot be the United States job to rebuild Gaza, but together with Israel we can choose who sits at that table, Wagner said in a statement.

Ceasefire talks

The lawmakers announcement comes as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken was in the region for his eighth visit since the start of the conflict, this time to urge agreement on the latest cease-fire proposal outlined by President Joe Biden on May 31.

Blinken told reporters in Tel Aviv Tuesday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reaffirmed his commitment to the proposal.

So everyones vote is in, except for one vote, and thats Hamas. And thats what we wait for, Blinken said.

Fourteen nations on the 15-member United Nations Security Council, including the U.S., endorsed the proposal Monday. Russia abstained.

The Israel-Hamas war has been ongoing since Hamas militants infiltrated Israels southern border on Oct. 7, killing roughly 1,200, according to Israels figures.

The death toll from Israels continued offensive in the Palestinian territory of Gaza reached 36,379 at the end of May, according to the Health Ministry in the Gaza Strip run by the Hamas-controlled government.

The post Bipartisan U.S. House caucus planning for post-war Middle East appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
A police officer walks near a police station that was destroyed after a battle between Israeli troops and Hamas militants on Oct. 8, 2023, in Sderot, Israel.

A police officer walks near a police station that was destroyed after a battle between Israeli troops and Hamas militants on Oct. 8, 2023, in Sderot, Israel. A U.S. House caucus formed this month with the goal of planning for the region after the Israel-Hamas war ends. (Amir Levy/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  A bipartisan group of U.S. House lawmakers has launched an effort to spur planning for what the Gaza Strip will look like the day after the Israel-Hamas war, even as agreement over a U.S.-backed ceasefire proposal remains elusive.

Democratic Reps. Brad Schneider of Illinois and David Trone of Maryland, along with Republicans Ann Wagner of Missouri and Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington, formed the Gaza Working Group with the goal of involving Congress in discussions about the future of Israeli-Palestinian relations, according to a joint press release sent to reporters Tuesday.

The four leaders formed the Abraham Accords Caucus in 2022 following the 2020 agreement to normalize relations between Israel and the three Arab states of Bahrain, Morocco and the United Arab Emirates. The companion caucus in the U.S. Senate is led by Democratic Sens. Jacky Rosen of Nevada and Cory Booker of New Jersey, alongside GOP Sens. James Lankford of Oklahoma and Joni Ernst of Iowa.

As leaders of the Abraham Accords Caucus, we have an obligation to envision and work towards a future in which Israel  and all of the Middle East  is free of the evil that is Hamas, McMorris Rodgers said in a statement.

Trone called the working group a promising start.

Moving forward, we must work together to ensure Hamas is no longer in power by establishing a free and fair democracy in Gaza, secure the safety of Israel and surrounding nations and provide hope and diplomacy for their people, he said in a statement.

The group did not detail or endorse a specific plan for the Gaza Strip after the conflict, but rather aims to convene meetings to engage executive branch officials, diplomats and experts to deliberate and ask questions regarding pertinent issues.

The groups first meeting was a frank, off-the-record exchange with Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Michael Herzog, according to the joint release. The group met with Herzog on June 4, according to Schneiders spokesperson.

Wagner said stabilizing the region is important to maintaining a united front to counter Iran and its proxies.

It cannot be the United States job to rebuild Gaza, but together with Israel we can choose who sits at that table, Wagner said in a statement.

Ceasefire talks

The lawmakers announcement comes as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken was in the region for his eighth visit since the start of the conflict, this time to urge agreement on the latest cease-fire proposal outlined by President Joe Biden on May 31.

Blinken told reporters in Tel Aviv Tuesday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reaffirmed his commitment to the proposal.

So everyones vote is in, except for one vote, and thats Hamas. And thats what we wait for, Blinken said.

Fourteen nations on the 15-member United Nations Security Council, including the U.S., endorsed the proposal Monday. Russia abstained.

The Israel-Hamas war has been ongoing since Hamas militants infiltrated Israels southern border on Oct. 7, killing roughly 1,200, according to Israels figures.

The death toll from Israels continued offensive in the Palestinian territory of Gaza reached 36,379 at the end of May, according to the Health Ministry in the Gaza Strip run by the Hamas-controlled government.

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The post Bipartisan U.S. House caucus planning for post-war Middle East appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
A police officer walks near a police station that was destroyed after a battle between Israeli troops and Hamas militants on Oct. 8, 2023, in Sderot, Israel. A U.S. House caucus formed this month with the goal of planning for the region after the Israel-Hamas war ends. (Footage by Amir Levy/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  A bipartisan group of U.S. House lawmakers has launched an effort to spur planning for what the Gaza Strip will look like the day after the Israel-Hamas war, even as agreement over a U.S.-backed ceasefire proposal remains elusive.

Democratic Reps. Brad Schneider of Illinois and David Trone of Maryland, along with Republicans Ann Wagner of Missouri and Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington, formed the Gaza Working Group with the goal of involving Congress in discussions about the future of Israeli-Palestinian relations, according to a joint press release sent to reporters Tuesday.

The four leaders formed the Abraham Accords Caucus in 2022 following the 2020 agreement to normalize relations between Israel and the three Arab states of Bahrain, Morocco and the United Arab Emirates. The companion caucus in the U.S. Senate is led by Democratic Sens. Jacky Rosen of Nevada and Cory Booker of New Jersey, alongside GOP Sens. James Lankford of Oklahoma and Joni Ernst of Iowa.

As leaders of the Abraham Accords Caucus, we have an obligation to envision and work towards a future in which Israel  and all of the Middle East  is free of the evil that is Hamas, McMorris Rodgers said in a statement.

Trone called the working group a promising start.

Moving forward, we must work together to ensure Hamas is no longer in power by establishing a free and fair democracy in Gaza, secure the safety of Israel and surrounding nations and provide hope and diplomacy for their people, he said in a statement.

The group did not detail or endorse a specific plan for the Gaza Strip after the conflict, but rather aims to convene meetings to engage executive branch officials, diplomats and experts to deliberate and ask questions regarding pertinent issues.

The groups first meeting was a frank, off-the-record exchange with Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Michael Herzog, according to the joint release. The group met with Herzog on June 4, according to Schneiders spokesperson.

Wagner said stabilizing the region is important to maintaining a united front to counter Iran and its proxies.

It cannot be the United States job to rebuild Gaza, but together with Israel we can choose who sits at that table, Wagner said in a statement.

Ceasefire talks

The lawmakers announcement comes as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken was in the region for his eighth visit since the start of the conflict, this time to urge agreement on the latest cease-fire proposal outlined by President Joe Biden on May 31.

Blinken told reporters in Tel Aviv Tuesday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reaffirmed his commitment to the proposal.

So everyones vote is in, except for one vote, and thats Hamas. And thats what we wait for, Blinken said.

Fourteen nations on the 15-member United Nations Security Council, including the U.S., endorsed the proposal Monday. Russia abstained.

The Israel-Hamas war has been ongoing since Hamas militants infiltrated Israels southern border on Oct. 7, killing roughly 1,200, according to Israels figures.

The death toll from Israels continued offensive in the Palestinian territory of Gaza reached 36,379 at the end of May, according to the Health Ministry in the Gaza Strip run by the Hamas-controlled government.

The post Bipartisan U.S. House caucus planning for post-war Middle East appeared first on Washington State Standard.
Bird flu is rampant in animals. Humans ignore it at our own peril

Mark Naniot remembers 2022 as the summer from hell.

As the co-founder of Wild Instincts animal rescue in Wisconsins Northwoods, Naniot and his team spent the season sweating in gloves, gowns, smocks and masks and going through what felt like endless rounds of disinfection as they moved between the cages of the sick and injured animals they cared for.

The precautions were necessary for a trio of infectious diseases occurring with some frequency in wild animals that summer: Covid-19 was still making life difficult, and a devastating contagion called chronic wasting disease was showing up in deer in the area.

Then, there was H5N1 bird flu to contend with. Its highly, highly transmissible, said Naniot, who has been involved in animal rescue for 35 years.

Since it was first discovered in birds in 1996, H5N1 has shown itself to be a Swiss Army Knife of a virus, evolving the necessary tools to break into the cells of a growing list of species. So far, it has infected and killed millions of wild and farmed birds. Its also been found in at least 26 different kinds of mammals, including, most recently in the United States  cows, cats and house mice.

The voraciousness of the virus prompted Dr. Jeremy Farrar, chief scientist of the World Health Organization in April to call it a global zoonotic animal pandemic.

Along the way, people have been a kind of collateral damage. Humans can be infected, but we arent really the intended targets.

That could all change quickly, however.

Influenza actually makes mutations, in the sense of making errors copying its genome, at a higher rate than a coronavirus like SARS-CoV2, said Dr. Jesse Bloom, a computational biologist who focuses on influenza viruses at the Fred Hutch Cancer Center in Seattle.

These errors dont always work in favor of the virus. Most of the time, viruses with errors wont work or be fit enough to continue to copy and survive. But every once in a while, a random error can result in a change to the virus that give it an advantage in its environment, and that version of the virus will continue to spread and grow.

If humans happen to be that environment, and H5N1 changes at the right place at the right time, suddenly the animal pandemic could become a major problem for people, too.

Naniot had seen wild birds come into Wild Instincts rescue with H5N1  bald eagles, hawks and owls  but nothing had prepared him for the red fox kits.

The baby foxes were brought in stumbling and uncoordinated, making him think they might have gotten into some kind of poison. Then the seizures started.

They would have these severe, severe seizures, Naniot said. Screaming very loud, whole-body tremors.

The first seizures lasted for 20 to 30 seconds at a time. And then it would get longer and longer and longer, he said.

Naniot hadnt known his young patients could get bird flu. Further research clued him in to the fact that foxes had recently joined a growing list of species that could succumb, usually after eating the flesh of infected dead birds.

The severity of the seizures is something I really hadnt seen before, Naniot said. Its a very sad thing to see, the progression of the disease.

Risks to humans

Though H5N1 is known to have infected nearly 900 people in the past 30 years, these infections have been sporadic and usually self-limiting. The virus can still be deadly, however: More than 50% of people who are known to have been infected with H5N1 have died.

Still, the virus isnt particularly good at infecting humans. Even when virus manages to get into a person and cause symptoms, it rarely gets passed to someone else.

We call these dead-end infections, said Dr. Scott Weese, a veterinarian and expert in zoonotic infections, at the University of Guelph in Canada.

The way a dead-end infection happens, Weese explains, is that a person is around a large amount of the virus, or their immune system is too weak to resist, and H5N1 gets in. But it is not a virus thats well-adapted to humans, so it never really builds up in respiratory secretions  the fluid that coats the nose, throat, and lungs  which would give it a way out through coughs, sneezes or even exhaled breath.

There have been at least three of these have apparently dead-end infections in dairy workers in the US, who worked closely with infected milk cows. Two of the workers developed conjunctivitis, or eye infections. In one case, the worker reported getting splashed with raw milk in their eyes. A third developed respiratory symptoms after close contact with cows. All were successfully treated with an antiviral medication. None developed severe symptoms or infected others.

Using a strain of H5N1 from the recent cattle outbreak, scientists recently confirmed that this version of the virus is unlikely to transmit through the air. In experiments with ferrets, which are considered the gold standard for studying how viruses transmit in people, researchers at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention grew a sample of the same H5N1 virus taken from a farmworker with the flu in Texas to experimentally infect six of the animals. Then, three healthy ferrets were placed in the same enclosures with three of the sick animals. These animals could touch, nose and lick the sick animals, and all of them became ill.

Next, the CDC tested airborne transmission by putting three healthy ferrets into an enclosure where they could breathe the same air as sick animals but couldnt touch them. Only one of those three animals became ill, suggesting that the virus carried by cattle in the current outbreak is not well adapted to respiratory spread, the CDC wrote in a news release on the study.

So far, that seems to be whats happening in the real world, too. Though more than 80 dairy herds have tested positive across at least 12 states, the number of human infections has apparently been low, though theres been little testing to confirm that.

These early ferret experiments are good news, the CDC noted, because it means the virus would need to change to become an infection spread person-to-person through the airborne droplets. The agency said it plans to repeat the tests.

As Covid has shown, all of this could change in the the rub of an eye or a small cough. The more opportunity the virus has to spread, the more opportunity it has to change in ways that will help it pry its way into human cells.

Its really important to understand everything we know today is a snapshot of today, and these viruses can change very quickly, said Dr. Rick Bright, an immunologist and former director of the US Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority in an interview with CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta for the Chasing Life podcast.

They can adapt, and they can spread very easily when they do change, said Bright, who is now CEO of Bright Global Health.

Dr. Erin Sorrell, a virologist and a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, says that while humans have been exposed to seasonal strains of the flu, and flu vaccines help build immunity H1 and H3 flu strains, H5N1 would look pretty different to our bodies.

Our existing immunity to H3 and H1 is not necessarily going to protect us against exposure to an H5 virus, she said.

The CDCs ferret study also had some sobering findings. In contrast to seasonal flu, which makes ferrets sick, but doesnt kill them, H5N1 killed all the ferrets that were infected.

While the three cases of A(H5N1) in the United States have been mild, it is possible that there will be serious illnesses among people, the CDC wrote in its conclusions on the study.

Dead birds are collected in July 2023 along the coast in the Vadso municipality of Finnmark in Norway following a major outbreak of bird flu. - Oyvind Zahl Arntzen/NTB/AFP/Getty Images

In the more than two dozen human infections with H5N1 virus worldwide since 2022, with the most recent iteration of the virus, theres been a wide spectrum of severity. Fourteen illnesses were severe or critical, seven were fatal, six were mild and eight didnt have any symptoms at all, according to the CDC.

Dr. Seema Lakdawala, a microbiologist and immunologist at Emory University who specializes in the flu, thinks the difference in symptom severity may be due to previous exposure to seasonal viruses. Her experiments in ferrets suggest that our bodies wouldnt necessarily be totally defenseless. In her lab, ferrets with previous exposures to seasonal flu strains didnt get as sick when exposed to new flu viruses compared to those with no prior exposure to seasonal strains. She says she hasnt tested this with any of the strains involved in the cattle outbreak, however.

So while we probably dont have any antibodies  the immune systems front-line soldiers  at the ready to fight off an H5 infection, there are memory cells in our tissues that might recognize parts of a new flu virus and respond.

How much help we might get from past exposures to flu viruses is difficult to predict, however, which is why vaccination would still be important to tune up our immunity.

Plans to stop the virus from spreading

The US has vaccines against H5 viruses in its Strategic National Stockpile, and last month, government officials said 4.8 million doses are being filled and finished so they would be ready for use, though theres no plan to give them to anyone yet.

Finland has already ordered 20,000 doses of a different H5 strain  H5N8  which, will be used as soon as theyre available to protect workers who might be vulnerable to the virus, such as scientists and those in direct contact with infected animals on mink farms, local officials told health and science news outlet, STAT News.

For now, the CDC maintains its assessment that the risk to the general public from H5N1 is low, though people who work with infected animals have a higher risk and should wear protective clothing and take additional precautions to avoid getting sick. The Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response, or ASPR, has made that protective equipment available to states for use on farms, and the USDA has made additional funding available to farms to support efforts to safeguard their livestock from disease.

But so far, wearing this equipment is voluntary, and there are concerns that it might be difficult for farm workers to wear the full recommended kit, which includes coveralls, an apron, a mask, eye protection, a head covering, gloves and boots during the summer, which is again expected to break heat records.

The government has also said it is working on the development of a rapid test for H5N1.

Bright thinks severity of symptoms may depend on how much virus a person is exposed to when they are infected. Touching contaminated milk or the body of a dead bird and then rubbing your eyes or nose might deliver a smaller dose of the virus, and ultimately result in milder symptoms. Whereas ingesting large amount of virus  as some animals do when they scavenge for food or as humans in some countries do when consuming dishes made with duck blood  could lead to severe disease.

The virus is able to infect a number of internal organs. So it doesnt just locate, say, in the lungs, as we would think most influenza viruses would, Bright said. Its also been found in the brains and then the spleens, the intestines, and the heart and throughout the body of those animals.

Dr. Richard Webby, who directs the WHOs Collaborating Centre on the Ecology of Influenza in Animals and Birds at St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital, agrees.

Its at the top of the list in terms of bad guy viruses, he said, noting that the virus is nerve-loving, or neurotropic. So it goes to the brain and causes very, very severe disease.

Infected animals often behave strangely or aggressively. Ducks waddle in circles, twisting their necks, writhing on the ground.

I would hate to see it in humans, Webby said.

So far, the virus hasnt made the changes that would enable it to become a fully human pathogen, said Dr. Michael Osterholm, who directs the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota. Its unclear whether it ever will.

Ive been a student of this virus. And I surely have been amazed at how its changed over the course of the last 20-some years, but at the same time, you know, Im looking for evidence that it is likely to become a virus infecting humans and then transmitted by humans to other humans. And we just havent seen that yet, he added.

Naniot at the Wisconsin animal rescue said they tried to save about seven infected fox kits in the summer of 2022, but all of them died.

Other rescue organizations in their network had a few foxes infected with H5N1 that survived, but they ultimately went blind.

While all the precautions they took to safely work with the animals were arduous, Naniot said hes grateful they were effective. They never spread the virus to any of the other animals in the facility  including themselves.

Unfortunately, its kind of like when Covid went through, you know, it first started someplace, he said.

Naniot says he hasnt encountered any infected animals since 2022, but hes watching the news closely in case any cow herds become infected in Wisconsin, knowing that he could easily see H5N1 again.

It spread kind of like wildfire, and its a highly, highly contagious disease.

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Black Mom Came With All The Smoke After She Claimed Boston-Area School Allowed Kids to Bully Her Son

A Black mother demands accountability from the suburban Boston school district that allegedly ignored multiple racial bullying incidents targeting her son.

Lawyers for Civil Rights filed a federal civil rights complaint on June 3 with the U.S. Department of Educations Office of Civil Rights on behalf of Nita Holder and her 12-year-old son, David Palacio.



According to the complaint, the Melrose Public School District and Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School failed to prevent and fix its racially hostile environment. Palacio, now a seventh-grader, experienced racial harassment for a year, including white students calling him the N-word on several occasions and physical assaults.

He was repeatedly called racial slurs and the administration did nothing but blame and discipline him, and they should be held accountable, Holder said. An investigation cant take back the trauma David faced at a formative time in his life, but it can begin the process of ensuring Melrose is better for future Black students.

The complaint highlighted four racial bullying incidents. In one example, Palacio was eating lunch outside the library on Sept. 8, 2023, when two white students approached him. They physically attacked Palacio after one of them called him the N-word. Six teachers restrained Palacio, but only one stepped in to stop the two white students. One of the teachers took Palacio to the vice principals office, and he was given a one-day suspension.



...The schools response in support of the racist perpetrators essentially endorsed and condoned the racist assault against David, the complaint states, adding that school officials didnt bother to investigate the incident.



According to the complaint, this racial bias and injustice made school a living hell for him. The complaint noted, The schools inaction created a strong impression that Black students like David could be insulted and violently attacked without any consequences for the racist perpetrators. This unleashed further racial violence targeted at David.



CBS Boston reports that Melrose Public Schools interim Superintendent John Macero said, We take any allegation of individual or systemic discrimination very seriously in Melrose Public Schools and we are committed to fostering a safe and equitable educational environment for all.



Is the school district really committed to changing the environment? Its history casts doubt.



According to Boston.com, the school district, which is 75 percent white and 5.5 percent Black, has a history of ignoring racial bullying complaints. The U.S. Department of Education found in 2015 that Melrose failed to comply with its obligation to fix its racially hostile environment, which prompted the departments Civil Rights Office to begin monitoring the district under an agreement that expired in 2016.



Palacio isnt alone. Other Black students have complained about the school districts racist environment. Recently, an 11-year-old fifth grader at the Melrose Winthrop Elementary School, says classmates cut off her braids at school.



The school district says it plans to cooperate with federal officials. But Holder isnt waiting for school officials to clean up its racist environment. She moved her son to a school in Boston.



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The percentage of Black people in Sacramentos homeless population, already vastly overrepresented, has again increased.

Although only 9% of Sacramentos general population is Black, Black residents now comprise a whopping 35% of Sacramentos homeless population, the report found. That number jumped from 31% in 2022, the last time the federally-mandated homeless census count was performed.

Almost 60% of homeless people living in households with children were Black. Twenty percent of the homeless who died last year in Sacramento are Black.

This is devastating, year after year, the numbers of Black Californians who are falling into homelessness, said Dr. Kara Young Ponder, director of community engagement and racial justice at University of California, San Francisco Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative, on hearing the Sacramento figures Friday. Its devastating to see these numbers rising.

The Sacramento figure surpasses the percentage of Black people experiencing homelessness statewide by nearly 10%. In California, 26% of the homeless population is Black, nearly four times the states Black population of 7%.

Ponder laid out the systemic causes that have left so many unhoused in her February report, Toward Equity: Understanding Black Californians Experiences of Homelessness.

Historic barriers to housing, employment, credit and health care, long the products of systemic racial bias, also create a pipeline to homelessness for many Black Californians living on the streets.

That pipeline is accelerated by jail or prison. Incarceration increases the risk for homelessness because of the impact of criminal justice records on every aspect of life: educational opportunities, employment, and housing, the Ponder report read.

Nearly eight in 10 homeless Black Californians had served jail time at some point in their lives, similar to other groups, according to the report. Black Californians, however, were more likely to report a prison stay than their white counterparts.

More affordable and accessible routes to housing, increased pay, clean-slate programs for those with past criminal histories, and more effective laws to combat housing discrimination are among Ponders prescriptions to tackle the crisis.

Until then, Black Californians on the margins of housing and homelessness tend to be deprioritized when they search for shelter, Ponder said.

Long waiting lists for available affordable housing contain other landmines, she said, pointing to poor or incomplete credit history or a prior criminal record that can derail the search for a roof and a bed even before the hunt for housing has begun.

When you consider (leaving) homelessness, you think about the requirements needed to get back into housing  waiting lists, who gets a voucher, who doesnt get a voucher, Ponder said. Its hard to get housing or a room. Its even harder for Black Americans.

Black people are also overrepresented in Sacramentos homeless deaths. Of the up to 227 homeless people who died last year, 44 were fully Black, or 20%. Thats more than double their makeup in the general county population.

They included Eddie Anderson, 63, who died of cardiovascular disease outdoors at a camp along the American River Parkway in January.

Sandra Ross, 68, died in a Stockton Boulevard hotel, also of cardiovascular disease.

Allen Seaside Walley, 55, died in July when he was hit by a vehicle in the River District. Lonzie Washington, 54, died of cardiovascular disease and meth at a River District shelter being used as a Sacramento County warming center during a December cold snap.

Of the Black people counted in the latest count, only half were in shelters. Many are on the city waiting list for a shelter.

The list is 2,500 people long.

The Bees Phillip Reese contributed to this report.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday announced more than $400 million in new humanitarian aid for Palestinians in Gaza as he again called on Hamas to accept a ceasefire proposal that he described as the most effective way to address the humanitarian devastation.

The top US diplomat, speaking at an emergency humanitarian aid conference in Jordan, also called on nations to give more aid to support those in the war-torn strip.

The humanitarian situation on the ground in Gaza has become catastrophic over the eight months of Israels war against Hamas. The Israeli government has restricted access and items that have been able to make their way into the strip. Humanitarian aid organizations have had to contend with a destroyed infrastructure inhibiting their ability to deliver the critically-needed aid, and aid workers have been caught in the crossfire.

The crisis in Gaza is immense, Blinken acknowledged.

Only one third of the current United Nations appeal is funded. That leaves a shortfall of approximately $2 billion to $3 billion. Every country can help fill this gap. Yet some who expressed great concern over the suffering of the Palestinian people in Gaza, including countries with the capacity to give a lot, have provided very little  or nothing at all, Blinken said without naming specific countries. It is time for everyone, everyone, to step up.

The new $404 million in funding from the US will go toward food, safe drinking water, health care, protection, education, shelter, and psychosocial support, according to a media note from the State Department.

In his remarks Tuesday, Blinken said that particularly in recent months, Israel has taken some important steps to open more crossings, to address obstacles to the delivery of assistance, but it can and must do more.

As we conveyed directly to the Israeli government, it is crucial to speed up the inspection trucks and reduce backlogs, to provide greater clarity on and shorten the list of prohibited goods, to increase visas for aid workers and to process them more quickly, to create clearer, more effective channels for humanitarian groups to deconflict with IDF operations, to surge life-saving medicine and equipment, to provide everything necessary to repair water and sanitation systems, he said.

And Israel must take further steps to reduce civilian casualties, even as it confronts an enemy that started this war with the barbaric slaughter of civilians on October 7, Blinken said.

Despite Blinkens claims about the important steps taken by the Israeli government, humanitarian workers say that the situation on the ground has only worsened, particularly as the Israeli military has stepped up operations in Rafah, where millions of Palestinians previously fled. Blinken himself acknowledged in his remarks Tuesday that more than a million people have been displaced from Rafah alone, in the last month alone  many of whom had already been uprooted multiple times.

The situation is back to one of the lowest points, which is quite shocking at this point, said Arnaud Quemin, the Middle East director at Mercy Corps.

There was an ecosystem for humanitarian aid work in Rafah  some non-governmental organizations and UN agencies provide logistical facilities, others provide transportation, everybody works together to make that possible, he described to CNN. But with the Israeli military operation happening since the beginning of May, it could not function anymore, it just ground to a halt.

International officials and humanitarian workers have described the situation in Gaza as unprecedented in its complexity and scope. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said at the conference Tuesday that the speed and scale of the carnage and killing in Gaza is beyond anything in my years as Secretary-General.

The top US diplomat in his remarks stressed that the US sees Hamas as the sole obstacle to a ceasefire that would alleviate the humanitarian suffering.

Today, as we gather, one, and only one, thing stands in the way of the deal happening, and thats Hamas, he said. So my primary and first message today to every government, to every multilateral institution, to every humanitarian organization that wants to relieve the massive suffering in Gaza: get Hamas to take the deal.

Others also emphasized the need for a ceasefire in order to enable humanitarian work.

The status quo cannot hold. Without a political agreement supporting a ceasefire, the humanitarian assistance system is pushed to a point of collapse, said Mirjana Spoljaric, the president of the International Committee of the Red Cross, at the conference on Tuesday.

This story has been updated with additional reporting.

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US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is due to attend a humanitarian aid conference for the Gaza Strip hosted by Jordan on Tuesday, as he continues his Middle East tour to secure a deal to end the war between Israel and Palestinian militants Hamas.

The conference, dubbed "Call for Action: Urgent Humanitarian Response for Gaza," has been organized by Jordan, Egypt and the UN.

The meeting will be attended by the leaders, foreign ministers and officials of 75 countries as well as representatives of international organizations including the International Committee of the Red Cross, according to the conference website.

"The war in Gaza is now in its eighth month, with massive loss of life among civilians and suffering for the entire population of over 2.3 million Palestinians across the Strip," the organizers said.

"Famine is imminent in many parts of Gaza; trauma is widespread; every part of Gaza is in ruins. No place is safe in the Strip, and access to food, water, shelter, or medicine is practically non-existent."

In order to ease the suffering of the civilian population in the sealed-off Palestinian territory, the conference aims to "seek commitments for a collective, coordinated response to address the humanitarian situation in Gaza," among other things.

The Gaza war was triggered by the unprecedented Hamas attacks on October 7, which saw militants killing some 1,200 people across southern Israeli communities and taking another 250 hostage to Gaza, in what was the worst massacre in the country's history.

Israel responded with massive airstrikes and launched a ground offensive into Gaza at the end of October. More than 36,500 Palestinians are said to have been killed in the ongoing fighting, and much of the coastal strip has been rendered uninhabitable for those who remain.

Aid organizations on the ground have stressed for months that the amounts of aid reaching the civilian population are nowhere near enough.
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  The top U.S. diplomat is in the Middle East is pushing for more international pressure on Hamas to agree to a new ceasefire deal.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken says the world is now waiting on the terrorist group to accept the proposal.

If you want a ceasefire, press Hamas to say yes, said Blinken.

This is Blinkens eighth trip to the region since the Israel-Hamas war began.

If you want to alleviate the terrible suffering of Palestinians in Gaza, press Hamas to say yes, he added.

The U.N. Security Council passed a U.S.-sponsored resolution Monday endorsing a ceasefire proposal that would lead to the release of all hostages and an end to the fighting.

It also calls for reconstruction in Gaza.

The only party who has not said yes is Hamas. Thats who everyone is waiting on, said Blinken.

The Palestinian ambassador to the U.N. largely celebrated the plan.

Our position has always been to have an immediate ceasefire to stop the killing of our people, said Riyad Mansour, Palestinian Ambassador to the U.N.

Israel accepted the proposal, but Blinken said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remains skeptical.

Blinkens mission to ultimately win over Hamas support for the plan faces another hurdle following Israels rescue operation that saved four hostages but killed hundreds of Palestinians.

I think this is a critical moment, said Blinken.

Blinken plans to meet with Benny Gantz Tuesday who resigned from Netanyahus war cabinet over the weekend.

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Blinken says its 'on Hamas' to accept cease-fire deal after meetings with Israeli leaders

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Tuesday that it is "on Hamas" to accept a deal including an immediate cease-fire in Gaza as he met with Israeli leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in Tel Aviv. Photo courtesy Secretary Antony Blinken/X

June 11 (UPI) -- Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Tuesday that the pressure is on Hamas to approve a deal that would implement an immediate cease-fire in Gaza as he met with Israeli officials in Tel Aviv.

Speaking to reporters Blinken referenced the United Nations Security Council's vote on Monday to approve a U.S.-drafted resolution calling for a cease-fire and the release of hostages.

That resolution passed with 14 votes in favor and zero votes opposed, with Russia abstaining from the vote.

"So everyone's vote is in, except for one vote, and that's Hamas. And that's what we wait for. It is on Hamas to move forward with this proposal, or -- or not," Blinken said, adding the deal is what "virtually the entire international community wants to see, and of course what so many families want to see.

"It's also what the people of Gaza so desperately need," he continued.

Met with @IsraeliPM Netanyahu and Defense Minister @yoavgallant to reiterate the U.S. commitment to the deal on the table that would achieve a ceasefire in Gaza, secure the release of all hostages, and surge humanitarian aid. pic.twitter.com/Qthqxkv2FU Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) June 11, 2024

In Tel Aviv on Tuesday, Blinken met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli President Isaac Herzog as well as opposition leader Yair Lapid and Benny Gantz, who left Netanyahu's war cabinet over the weekend over conflict related to Israel's handling of the war in Gaza.

In Israel today, I met with @YairLapid, @GantzBe, and @Isaac_Herzog to underscore that a ceasefire agreement that secures the release of all hostages would benefit both Israelis and Palestinians. pic.twitter.com/2uT2lo9Vmz Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) June 11, 2024

When asked about Israel's commitment to the deal, Blinken said he received assurances despite vocal opposition from some conservatives in Netanyahu's government.

He also said a statement by Hamas apparently in favor of the deal was "a hopeful sign" but "not dispositive."

"Everyone has said yes except for Hamas," Blinken said. "If Hamas doesn't say yes, then this is clearly on them, on them in terms of a vote to continue to war, not end it; on them in terms of the safety, the well-being of hundreds of thousands, millions of Palestinian women, children and men in Gaza."

Blinken will be attending a conference in Jordan with representatives of Egypt and the United Nations on creating a consistent humanitarian response in Gaza. He will then join President Joe Biden in Apula, Italy for the G7 Leaders' Summit on Thursday and Friday.
By Maayan Lubell and Nidal al-Mughrabi

JERUSALEM/CAIRO (Reuters) -Hamas formally responded on Tuesday to a U.S. ceasefire proposal for the eight-month-old war in the Gaza Strip, and Israel said the response was tantamount to a rejection while a Hamas official said the Palestinian group merely reiterated longstanding demands not met by the current plan.

Egypt and Qatar said they had received Hamas' response to a proposal outlined by U.S. President Joe Biden on May 31 but did not disclose the contents.

The Hamas official, who declined to be identified, told Reuters the response reaffirmed its stance that a ceasefire must lead to a permanent end to hostilities in Gaza, withdrawal of Israeli forces, reconstruction of the Palestinian enclave and release of Palestinian prisoners in Israel.

"We reiterated our previous stance. I believe there are no big gaps. The ball is now in the Israeli courtyard."

The United States has said Israel accepted its proposal, but Israel has not publicly said this. Israel, which has continued assaults in central and southern Gaza, among the bloodiest of the war, has repeatedly said it would not commit to an end of its campaign in Gaza before Hamas is eliminated.

An Israeli official said on Tuesday the country had received Hamas' answer from the mediators and that Hamas "changed all of the main and most meaningful parameters."

The Israeli official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Hamas "has rejected the proposal for a hostage release that was presented by President Biden."

Earlier a non-Israeli official briefed on the matter, who declined to be identified, said Hamas proposed a new timeline for a permanent ceasefire with Israel and withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, including Rafah.

The U.N. Security Council on Monday backed a U.S. resolution supporting the proposal outlined by Biden. Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri told Reuters on Tuesday before mediators received the group's response that Hamas accepted the Security Council resolution and was ready to negotiate over the details of a ceasefire.

Also on Tuesday, Hamas and its ally Palestinian Islamic Jihad expressed "readiness to positively" reach a deal to end the war in Gaza in a joint statement on Tuesday, which some interpreted as acceptance of Biden's proposal.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in Tel Aviv to meet Israeli officials, called this a "hopeful sign" but said it was not conclusive.

More important "is the word coming from Gaza and from the Hamas leadership in Gaza. Thats what counts, and thats what we dont have yet," Blinken told reporters in Tel Aviv.

CEASEFIRE PLAN

Biden's proposal envisages a ceasefire and phased release of Israeli hostages in Gaza in exchange for Palestinians jailed in Israel, ultimately leading to a permanent end to the war.

This would be a three-phase plan starting with an initial six-week ceasefire with an Israeli military withdrawal from populated areas of Gaza and the release of some hostages while "a permanent end to hostilities" is negotiated through mediators.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the Israeli officials remarks on Tuesday. Earlier U.S. officials said they were reviewing Hamas response, as did Qatar and Egypt.

For months, negotiators from the U.S., Egypt and Qatar have been trying to mediate a ceasefire in the enclave of 2.3 million people.

Israel is retaliating against Hamas, which rules Gaza, over an Oct. 7 attack by its militants.

More than 1,200 people were killed and over 250 taken hostage by Hamas on Oct. 7, according to Israeli tallies. More than 100 hostages are believed to remain captive in Gaza.

Israel launched an air, ground and sea assault on the Palestinian territory, killing more than 37,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health authorities.

(Reporting by Daphne Psaledakis in Tel Aviv, and Nidal al-Mughrabi in Cairo; writing by Cynthia Osterman; editing by Josie Kao)
Blinken says Netanyahu backs US proposal for ceasefire in Gaza

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu supports the plan presented by the US for a ceasefire in the Gaza war, according to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

"I met with Prime Minister Netanyahu last night, and he reaffirmed his commitment to the proposal," Blinken told journalists in Tel Aviv on Tuesday.

When asked whether Netanyahu would pledge his continued commitment in the event that the Palestinian militant Hamas movement agreed to the plan, Blinken replied in the affirmative.

At the end of May, US President Joe Biden surprisingly presented a three-stage plan for a ceasefire in the Gaza war. The plan envisages the release of a certain group of Israeli hostages during the complete ceasefire. In return, Palestinians imprisoned in Israel would be released.

In the next phase, the fighting would then cease permanently and the remaining hostages would be released.

According to the draft, the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip would begin in a final phase.

Blinken also held talks with Defence Minister Yoav Gallant and other high-ranking Israeli government representatives. "And I think there is a strong consensus, again, behind moving forward with the proposal," he continued.

According to the US, only Hamas has not yet agreed to the plan. However, the Netanyahu government has not yet given its clear and public approval to the plan either.

The UN Security Council has now backed the plan. On Monday, it adopted a resolution to this effect.

Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu (R) meets with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Amos Ben-Gershom/GPO/dpa
A Russian intelligence operative already identified as heading a Kremlin disinformation campaign in Africa has also been courting European journalists to spread Moscow's false narratives across the continent, Bloomberg reported on June 11.

According to documents and comments from government officials obtained by the news outlet, Artem , identified as a Russian operative, has covered travel costs for some journalists to visit Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine.

Bloomberg also says he appears to have on occasion paid for planted news articles.

Russian disinformation operations are nothing new in the West but officials in recent months have flagged several cases of particular concern.

Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala announced on March 27 that pro-Kremlin Ukrainian oligarch Viktor Medvedchuk and pro-Kremlin propagandist Artem Marchevskyi had been sanctioned for attempting to spread pro-Russian disinformation through a website called Voice of Europe.

Earlier in March, Latvia's State Security Service (VDD) began investigating Tatjana Zdanoka, a Latvian member of the European Parliament accused of spying for Russia.

"The documents provide deep insight into the operations and methods of one Russian intelligence operative involved in influence campaigns in Europe," Bllomberg wrote.

"There will be many others like him running similar operations across the continent and elsewhere."

In the lead-up to the global summit on Ukraine's peace formula, Switzerland has experienced a rise in cyberattacks and disinformation, Swiss government representatives reported on June 10.

The summit will take place in Burgenstock from June 15-16. Ukraine hopes the event will address several key areas, such as energy security, the exchange of captives, the return of kidnapped children, and global food security.

Amidst the increase in cyberattacks, Swiss President Viola Amherd was asked how the government has responded.

"We haven't summoned the ambassador," she said. "That's how I wanted it, because the disinformation campaign is so extreme that one can see that little of it reflects reality."

Read also: UK Foreign Secretary Cameron held video call with Poroshenko impersonator

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Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s anti-vaccine website promoted a flawed study suggesting that the COVID-19 vaccines contributed to excess mortality across the world. (Jose Juarez / Associated Press)

The paper published by the respected British Medical Journal earlier this month was eye-opening, to say the least. It questioned why excess deaths in Western countries remained unusually elevated during the COVID-19 pandemic even after vaccines were introduced in 2021.

The implication seemed clear: Rather than reducing cases and deaths, the COVID vaccines had fueled the tragic tide.

That finding was picked up within 48 hours by the Telegraph, a conservative British daily. It leaped across the Atlantic Ocean to the New York Post, a part of the Murdoch media empire, one day later.

Various news outlets have claimed that this research implies a direct causal link between COVID-19 vaccination and mortality. This study does not establish any such link.

British Medical Journal

Since then, it has been widely spread on social media by the anti-vaccination camp. The repetitions have become increasingly febrile, with some tweets blaming the vaccines for tens of millions of deaths.

Here's what you need to know: There is no truth to this finding, or to the anti-vaccine camp's interpretation of the BMJ paper.

The journal, which posted the paper on its Public Health webpage on June 3, has acknowledged that. In a public statement issued June 6, after the faulty interpretation began to spread worldwide, the journal observed: "Various news outlets have claimed that this research implies a direct causal link between COVID-19 vaccination and mortality. This study does not establish any such link."

On the contrary, the journal wrote, "Vaccines have, in fact, been instrumental in reducing the severe illness and death associated with COVID-19 infection."

Alas, the journal's warning came too late. As I write, the Telegraph's June 4 tweet hawking its misleading story has received 1.5 million views on X (formerly-Twitter), but the BMJ's warning notice, only 388,000 views.

These figures are proof positive of the old saw (attributed to Winston Churchill, among many others) that "a lie can make it halfway around the world before the truth can get its boots on."

Some researchers argue that the original paper, by a team of Dutch scientists, was so shoddy and inconsequential that it should not have been published at all.

Read more: Column: Two Rutgers professors are accused of poisoning the debate over COVID's origins. Here's why

Among the critics is Ariel Karlinsky, an Israeli economist and statistician whose data constituted the core of the Dutch paper. Karlinsky has written that the BMJ should retract the paper and "open an inquiry into what happened there with editors and reviewers." The journal hasn't responded.

The use that anti-vaccine propagandists have made of the BMJ paper underscores the dangers of disinformation in public health today.

A recent study in Science analyzed the impact of what its authors labeled "vaccine-skeptical" published content on vaccine refusal. The authors examined anti-vaccine posts on Facebook during the first three months of the COVID vaccine rollout in early 2021.

They found that posts flagged by third-party fact-checkers as false received a relatively minimal 8.7 million views in that period. Posts that were not flagged by fact-checkers but "nonetheless implied that vaccines were harmful to health  many of which were from credible mainstream news outlets  were viewed hundreds of millions of times."

The flagged posts were more likely to inspire vaccine resistance, the authors wrote. Although unflagged posts individually had less impact on vaccine sentiment, the volume of those posts was so immense that cumulatively they did more damage to vaccine rates.

A single vaccine-skeptical article in the Chicago Tribune  headlined "A healthy doctor died two weeks after getting a COVID vaccine; CDC is investigating why"  was viewed by more than 50 million users on Facebook, more than 20% of the platform's U.S. user base. That was "more than six times the number of views than all flagged misinformation combined."

It's also true that articles that may be innocuous or inconclusive at their core can be distorted and magnified into explicitly anti-vaccine messages by being passed through the anti-vax network.

Something of the kind happened with the BMJ paper. Its language alluding to "serious concerns" about the impact of vaccines and "containment measures" such as lockdowns on excess deaths was transmogrified into the Telegram's headline stating that "Covid vaccines may have helped fuel rise in excess deaths" and similar language in the New York Post.

Read more: Column: RFK Jr. gets around to blaming the Jews

The anti-vaxx camp, in repeating these claims, did so after removing or minimizing most of the qualifying language. The headline on a report published by Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s anti-vaccine organization, Children's Health Defense, stated that the COVID vaccines "likely fueled rise in excess deaths," attributing that conclusion to "mainstream media."

The CHD report cited a blog post by anti-vaxx crusader Meryl Nass, republishing the Telegraph article. The Nass post was headlined "The Dam Has Broken," suggesting that major news sources were now accepting the dangers of the COVID vaccines.

Nass, by the way, is a Maine physician who has had her license suspended and been fined $10,000 for having prescribed ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine, two medicines known to be useless in treating COVID-19, to patients.

Put it all together, and the evolution of the BMJ paper into a brief claiming that the COVID vaccines are harmful to health plays into the most extreme anti-vaccine disinformation in circulation  such as the incredibly ignorant and dangerous recommendation by Joseph Ladapo, the anti-vaccine quack appointed as Florida surgeon general by Gov. Ron DeSantis, that no one under 65 take a COVID vaccine.

The medical and immunological communities have overwhelmingly concluded that the COVID-19 vaccines have massively reduced hospitalizations and death from the disease. A December 2022 report card by the Commonwealth Fund concluded that after two years of administration, the vaccines had prevented more than 18 million additional hospitalizations and more than 3 million additional deaths.

This is the progress placed at risk by the torrent of anti-vaccine propaganda purveyed by RFK Jr.'s organization and other vaccination opponents.

That brings us back to the BMJ paper and its manifest flaws.

"Excess deaths," the metric purportedly examined by the Dutch authors, is simply the number of deaths in a country during a given period over and above those that would have been expected "under normal conditions," based on historical patterns.

In more than 40 Western countries during the three peak years of the pandemic, the authors reported, there were 1.033 million excess deaths in 2020, about 1.26 million in 2021 and 808,000 in 2022.

The authors expressed perplexity about why excess deaths actually rose in 2021, despite the arrival of the vaccines and the implementation of social anti-pandemic measures, and remained elevated the following year. "Government leaders and policymakers," the authors wrote, " need to thoroughly investigate underlying causes of persistent excess mortality."

The authors further commented that "consensus is also lacking in the medical community regarding concerns that mRNA vaccines might cause more harm than initially forecasted." That's a gross misrepresentation.

The consensus in the medical community is indisputably that the vaccines are safe and effective. Although they do cause occasional side effects (as do all vaccines), the health threats caused by COVID-19 itself are immeasurably more hazardous.

The truth is that the factors causing elevated excess mortality throughout the pandemic are not mysterious, but well-understood. Statistical data scientist Jeffrey S. Morris of the University of Pennsylvania put his finger on some of the most important.

Read more: Column: Meet the most dangerous quack in America

One is that far more people were exposed to COVID-19 in 2021 than in 2020. By the end of 2020, according to the World Health Organization, there were about 10,000 cases and about 238 deaths per million population; one year later, there 35,186 cases and 683 deaths per million. Furthermore, the COVID variants that appeared in 2021  the Delta and Omicron waves  were far more transmissible and virulent (causing more hospitalization and death) than the initial variants.

Also in 2021, many of the most stringent anti-pandemic measures implemented in 2020  school closings, lockdowns, business closures, mask mandates  were getting lifted by local authorities. This raised the level of exposure to the virus in the general public.

As for the vaccines, the Dutch authors seemed to conjecture that vaccination happened as if with the turning of a switch in January 2021. Of course that's untrue.

Figures compiled by the independent statistical clearinghouse Our World in Data  which were used by the Dutch researchers  show that the vaccines were rolled out only gradually through 2021. By mid-year, only about 20% of the population of countries that submitted figures had received even a single dose; by the end of 2021, nearly 50% were still unvaccinated.

"Even with a 100% effective vaccine, we would have seen high levels of morbidity and mortality from COVID-19 in 2021, leading to high number of excess deaths," Morris observes.

Statisticians have shown that the peaks and valleys of excess mortality during the pandemic coincide almost exactly with the emergence and peaks of Delta, Omicron and other variants of concern, indicating that excess deaths are almost certainly the result of COVID, not the COVID vaccines.

One other data point: As the British actuary Stuart McDonald points out, of the 47 countries surveyed by the Dutch researchers, the 10 with the lowest rates of excess deaths are those with the highest vaccine uptakes, such as Canada (83% vaccination rate in 2022 and only 5% excess deaths in 2020-22) and Germany (76% vaccinated and 6% excess deaths). By contrast, those with the lowest vaccination rates tended to have the most excess deaths, including North Macedonia (40% vaccinated at 28% excess deaths) and Albania (45% vaccinated, 24% excess deaths).

Is there a remedy for claptrap like the BMJ article? Sadly, very little. Qualified scientists and epidemiologists have risen up almost as one to expose the flaws of the BMJ paper. But the first line of defense against disinformation must be scientific journals themselves. In this case, if not for the first time, the BMJ has failed its responsibility for being a gatekeeper of sound science.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
(Bloomberg) -- The rift between Senator Bob Menendez and his wife at his bribery trial deepened when his lawyer suggested she schemed behind his back to secure a Mercedes-Benz and that the New Jersey Democrat broke up with her at one point over too much drama.

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The 2018 split between Menendez and Nadine Arslanian was brief  they married in 2020  but the senators lawyer revealed the breakup as he questioned the prosecutions star witness at his New York corruption trial. Menendez is accused of accepting 13 gold bars, the car and almost $500,000 in cash for using his influence to help two businessmen on trial with him and a third who pleaded guilty.

Menendezs lawyers have argued during the trial that Nadine, who began dating the senator in 2018, took the gold bars without the senators knowledge and hid the extent of her financial distress before they were married in 2020. She is undergoing treatment for breast cancer and will be tried later.

Menendez lawyer Adam Fee advanced this blame-the-wife defense when questioning Jose Uribe, a businessman who pleaded guilty in the case. Uribe testified that he bribed her with $15,000 in cash for the Mercedes and later made monthly payments on the car. Uribe sought the senators help in influencing two criminal investigations in New Jersey, he told jurors in New York.

Fee asked if was true that Nadine never mentioned Menendez when she sought Uribes help in securing the car. Uribe said he didnt recall her saying that.

You were aware that Senator Menendez had broken up with Nadine in December 2018 because she was causing too much drama? Fee asked Uribe, without elaborating on when they reconciled.

Uribe said he was not aware of such a breakup.

Attacking Credibility

Menendez is on trial with New Jersey developer Fred Daibes and Egyptian American businessman Wael Hana, whose lawyer also cross-examined Uribe.

Fee and Hana attorney Ricardo Solano tried to undermine the credibility of Uribe, 57, the only insider to testify about directing bribes to Menendez, 70. Uribe had said Hana, who is accused of bribing Menendez to protect a meat inspection monopoly he received from Egypt, was willing to pay as much as $250,000 to the lawmaker.

Solano depicted Uribe as a liar who was falsely implicating Hana and Menendez in a bid for leniency after pleading guilty to crimes including bribery, wire fraud and tax evasion on March 1.

And before reaching his plea deal with prosecutors earlier this year, Uribe pleaded guilty in 2011 to insurance fraud and theft by deception, prompting New Jersey regulators to bar him from the industry.

Fee said Uribe had engaged in lies for years, and had misled jurors in his three days of testimony.

Youre a very good liar, arent you? Fee asked. Uribe disagreed.

Despite the industry ban stemming from the 2011 case, Uribe continued to run insurance firms in the name of his son and a woman he regarded as a daughter, Ana Peguero. He testified that he paid for the Mercedes to protect an associate under indictment and forestall a fraud investigation of Peguero. Solano suggested that Uribe was actually protecting himself, not Peguero.

Was the real concern about yourself and that you would be found to be engaged in criminal conduct? Solano asked.

Im concerned about my daughter Ana, Uribe said. Im concerned about a young lady being hurt.

Menendez, a three-term senator, vows to beat the charges. His popularity has collapsed since he was indicted last year. He didnt seek the Democratic nomination for his seat this month and instead filed to run as an independent in November.

The former chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Menendez is also accused with Hana of acting as an agent of Egypt. In his testimony, Uribe said that Hana told him he was acting as an Egyptian agent.

Solano asked whether Uribe first told prosecutors that Hana made that assertion about two weeks ago in one of 20 or so debriefings. Uribe conceded that was correct.

The defense lawyers tried to nail Uribe on other inconsistencies in his testimony, including the amount of money that he said Hana agreed to pay Menendez in bribes.

(Adds statement from lawyer starting in first paragraph.)

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New Mexico authorities continue finding the bodies of possible migrants near the U.S.-Mexico border in the desert outside of Sunland Park as the El Paso-Juarez Borderland remains in the grasp of "dangerously hot" weather.

The El Paso-Las Cruces region, southern New Mexico and far West Texas are under an excessive heat watch until Friday, June 14. The watch is for "dangerously hot conditions" with possible temperatures of 105 to 110, the National Weather Service Office stated.

An excessive heat watch is usually a precursor to an excessive heat warning. The watch is issued several days in advance, Jason Laney, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, said.

Bodies of possible migrants continue to be found in June 2024 in the southern New Mexico desert. In this photo, firefighters help the New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator transport the body of migrant found dead in the desert about two miles north of the Mexican border in September 2023.

A body was found Monday afternoon, June 10  making it the eighth death in just over a week since May 31 in the desert surrounding Sunland Park and Santa Teresa as lines of 100-degree days loom in the forecast for the rest of June.

The Sunland Park Fire Department reported on X that its off-road rescue crew assisted the Dona Ana Sheriff's Office and New Mexico's Office of the Medical Investigator with Monday's body recovery in the desert off Highway 9 and the Pete Domenici Highway outside Santa Teresa.

Desert border deaths: 'It's heartbreaking': Day after day, New Mexico investigator recovers migrant remains

Just before midnight on Saturday, June 8, another body had been found in the desert near Gila and Carrizo drives in Sunland Park, SPFD reported.

On the evening of June 5, the U.S. Border Patrol found two other bodies in the desert off McNutt Road, the Sunland Park Fire Department, which assisted with the recovery, stated on X. Four bodies were found the prior weekend.

The border wall is visible just a few miles south of Sunland Park, New Mexico, on Oct. 14, 2023. Migrants continue died in this stretch of desert in 2024.

The deaths are under investigation by law enforcement in New Mexico. Names, countries of origin and causes of death have not been disclosed.

Development: Preferred route picked for $79M New Mexico highway from Santa Teresa to Sunland Park

The desert outside of Sunland Park and Santa Teresa  just west of El Paso  is a potentially dangerous smuggling zone for undocumented migrants who can become debilitated by the heat while hiking over rough terrain after climbing over the 30-foot-tall border fence.

Many of the previous migrant deaths in the Borderland have been due to dehydration and heat stroke. In some cases, migrants were believed to have gotten heat illness, disoriented and lost in the desert just a few hundred yards from residences.

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: More dead migrants found in border desert in Sunland Park, New Mexico
"This is a horrible, tragic accident from everything that we are able to determine," Hopkins Police Capt. Craig Kreiling said of Waeys Ali Mohamed

gofundme Waeys Ali Mohamed

The body of a 4-year-old boy who went missing in Hopkins, Minn., on Sunday, June 9, was found on Monday, June 10, per the Hopkins Police Department press release.

Waeys Ali Mohamed was found dead in Minnehaha Creek off the 7800 block of Powell Road on Monday at about 10:40 a.m., the Hopkins Police Department said, per CBS News. He was discovered around 500 yards from his apartment building.

Mohamed was an autistic, non-verbal preschooler who went missing after he left his apartment on his own on Sunday morning around 7:30 a.m.

Authorities issued an emergency alert on Sunday morning, and law enforcement from Hennepin and Ramsey counties, the FBI, firefighters, drone pilots and State Patrol aircraft, multiple K-9 units, search and rescue teams and hundreds of civilians were involved in the search, Hopkins Police Department Captain Craig Kreilin said, per Kare 11.

"We provided a great deal of public resources towards this, but what was truly meaningful in this case is the amount of community members that came out to help. And I think that speaks volumes to the community that we have here in Hopkins that we want to help one another," Kreiling said, according to CBS News. "This is a horrible, tragic accident from everything that we are able to determine."

Mohamed likely died from an accidental drowning, Kreiling said authorities are working with the Hennepin Countys sheriff and medical examiner's office to determine the child's cause of death.

"There's a lot of rumor and conjecture about this case, about different things that have gotten posted on social media. What I can say is we have evidence that Waeys left this apartment building on his own accord, and there is no room to try to blame anybody else right now," Kreiling said.

Related: Mich. Woman with Autism Was Found Dead in River in April, Police Now Say Man Strangled Her

gofundme Waeys Ali Mohamed

A GoFundMe page was created to assist the childs mother with afterlife expenses. Our aim is to gather donations to assist a single mother financially as she navigates this challenging time, began the donation description.

It's impossible to fully capture who Waeys was in words. He was a vibrant, funny, and kind-hearted young boy who brought joy to everyone around him! read the description.

facebook Waeys Ali Mohamed

Related: Florida Parents Arrested After 3-Year-Old Toddler with Autism Drowns in Pond

Per Star Tribune, a small memorial was installed Monday night near the bridge crossing Minnehaha Creek, with several local residents paying their respects to the preschooler. "It's just horrible that a young life was snuffed out early and I feel so sorry for the family," said Hopkins resident Barbara Addington, per the outlet.

Jaylani Hussein, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, added, "People in the community feel gut-wrenched and were hoping to hear good news, but they felt, as the time went by, that it was not good news.

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.

A representative for the Hopkins Police Department did not immediately respond to PEOPLEs request for more information on Monday.



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A brew of ancient coca is Bolivia's buzzy new beer. But it's unclear if the world will buy in

A coca vendor works at a legal coca leaf market in La Paz, Bolivia, Thursday, April 18, 2024. Bolivias government has revived a years-long battle to get the U.N. to decriminalize the coca leaf, an effort to win global recognition for its Indigenous traditions and expand its local market of coca-related products. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)

TRINIDAD PAMPA, Bolivia (AP)  If it were anywhere else in South America, the nondescript house with buckets of coca leaves soaking in liquid could be mistaken for a clandestine cocaine lab.

But this is La Paz, Bolivia, and the fruity aroma of coca steeping in barrels signals that you've arrived at the government-authorized El Viejo Roble distillery, which for years has been making liquor from coca leaves and is now gearing up to launch a new coca-infused beer.

It remains questionable whether Bolivia can persuade the world to accept the hardy green leaf best known beyond its borders as the main ingredient of cocaine. But a recent landmark decision by the World Health Organization to study coca's non-narcotic benefits has rekindled the old hopes of Bolivian farmers, makers and sellers.

Exporting is a desire that my people and I have had since I was a child, said Lizzette Torrez, leader of one of Bolivia's main coca-grower unions.

Within Bolivia, the worlds third-biggest producer of the coca leaf, and of cocaine, the ancient leaf has inspired spiritual rituals among Indigenous communities for generations  and more recently, among the well-heeled, a deluge of coca-related products, including El Viejo Robles new star $2 brew.

Beer can be bitter, but with the sweet touch that we give it with coca makes it is more palatable, manager Adrian Alvarez said from the distillery, where workers bottled the brew that will soon join El Viejo Robles coca-flavored vodka and rum, old classics they sell to the government and visitors.

The reach of Alvarezs beverages, along with other coca-infused products, remains limited to artisanal fairs in Bolivia and Peru, countries where the leaf is legal  so long as it's not used to make cocaine. As for the rest of the world, a United Nations convention classifies coca leaf as a narcotic and imposes a blanket prohibition on drugs.

Bolivia's government is reviving its decadeslong push not only to destigmatize the plant and make it legal to export but also to create a global market for coca liquor, soap, shampoo, toothpaste, baking flour and more. Its efforts received a major boost last fall when WHO announced it would launch a scientific review of the coca leaf, the first step in a lengthy process to decriminalize the leaf worldwide.

The procedures have been initiated for the first time in history, Juan Carlos Alurralde, general secretary of Bolivias vice presidency, told the AP. The leaf will be seriously investigated.

The last time that WHO undertook a study of the coca leaf was in 1992, but detailed findings were never made pubic.

Officials from Colombia and Bolivia unveiled the research proposal alongside WHO representatives in Vienna earlier this spring. They have until October, when a committee meeting on the study will kick off in Geneva, to submit research about coca's medicinal and nutritional properties.

The study will also consider Bolivias efforts to commercialize coca, determining the maximum amount of the cocaine alkaloid that coca products could contain on the world market.

Experts have to evaluate whether it results in dependency, Alurralde said.

Nearly 80 kilometers (50 miles) north of La Paz, where the high-altitude bush paints the hills of Trinidad Pampa green, coca growers, known as cocaleros, welcomed news of the WHO review. For them, chewing coca leaves is a daily habit likened to drinking coffee.

It helps me to harvest without fatigue and support my family, said farmer Juan de Dios Cocarico, stuffing a wad of coca into his mouth as he ripped leaves off the stalk.

Global decriminalization, cocaleros say, would bring more export revenues as an economic crisis looms due to the rapid depletion of Bolivias foreign-exchange reserves.

This is a coca-growing town that lives off coca, said Frido Duran, a leader of coca growers in Yungas, a region northeast of La Paz. We are convinced that this (WHO) study will vindicate all that our grandparents taught us.

Across Bolivia, the leaf sustains 70,000 cocaleros and generates some $279 million each year as the farmers sell the foliage in bulk to be chewed as a mild stimulant, incorporated into religious ceremonies or transformed into goods marketed as a modern-day miracle cure that relieves altitude sickness, boosts stamina and dulls hunger.

For Bolivia, cocaleros are largely subsistence farmers who say they have few viable crop options.

For the United States and other Western countries that long have blocked Bolivia's attempts to decriminalize the leaf, cocaleros are maligned as the cause of many of the world's drug problems.

With each iteration of U.S. policy the coca cultivators of Bolivia were forced into whatever policy guideline was good for U.S. bureaucracy, said Kathryn Ledebur, director of the Andean Information Network, a Bolivia-based research group. During the war on drugs, coca farmers were drug traffickers, then narco-terrorists.

Bolivias focus on removing the leaf from the U.N. blacklist stems from its skepticism about coca-eradication schemes, which authorities say have brought little more than violence since then-U.S. President Richard Nixon launched his war on drugs in 1971.

Unable to force cocaleros to sacrifice their meager livelihoods by planting substitute crops, Bolivian authorities started licensing farmers to grow coca instead.

In requesting the study of the coca plant at the U.N., Bolivia's President Luis Arce urged nations to seize a new opportunity to correct this grave historical error."

Washington said it was open to WHOs study, but signaled it wasn't supporting legalization.

A legal coca leaf market, said the U.S. Office of National Drug Control Policy, doesnt keep illegal ones from sprouting up. In a statement responding to questions from The Associated Press, the agency cited U.S. government figures showing that as coca cultivation in Bolivia doubled from 2006 to 2021, illicit cocaine production also surged by 175%.

As of 2022, the U.N. said Bolivia had 29,900 hectares (115 square miles) of coca crop, of which only 22,000 were legal.

The country's former President Evo Morales, a longtime leader of coca growers unions who famously threw the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency out of Bolivia in 2009, used his office to develop Bolivia's state-regulated coca market and and lobby the U.N. to lift its ban.

The leftist icon clinched a diplomatic victory in 2013 when the U.N. agreed to let Bolivia rejoin its global narcotic drug treaty with a carve-out for traditional uses of coca leaves.

But Morales' push for a WHO study ended when violent protests rocked Bolivia in 2019, leading to his resignation and exile after 14 years in power.

___

Associated Press writer Isabel DeBre in Buenos Aires, Argentina, contributed to this report.
BRICK  Wearing white shirts and red pins that read "no school" in black letters, dozens of Brick residents gathered in the township's Civic Plaza on Monday night to protest a church's plan to lease its Sunday school.

Leaders of the Fellowship Chapel of the Jersey Shore, located at 170 Duchess Lane, hope to rent their Sunday school building to help pay bills. The church's congregation has shrunk in recent years, Pastor Cliff Whitehead said before the Brick Board of Adjustment.

Whitehead is seeking a variance from the board in order to rent the four-classroom Sunday school building. He is hoping to rent the building to a group known at the Liberty School Association.

Fellowship Chapel Pastor Cliff Whitehead (right) and attorney Richard Sciria discuss plans to rent the church's Sunday school building before the Brick Board of Adjustment on June 10, 2024.

"We thought they were a good fit," he told the Board of Adjustment on Monday.

Liberty School Association's Facebook page says the group is a Brick-based religious organization that serves homeschool families. Classes, which accommodate students in kindergarten through eighth grade, are held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Thursday.

Attorney Richard Sciria, a Red Bank-based attorney who represents Fellowship Chapel, told the Brick board that schools are considered beneficial and serve the "public good" under New Jersey land-use laws. Liberty School Association would have no more than 30 to 40 students using the Sunday school building, he said.

Fellowship Chapel in Brick is seeking approval to rent out its Sunday school building.

While schools are permitted in some cases within the Duchess Lane neighborhood, the school does not meet all the requirements under Brick's land-use codes. The variance request is seeking relief from certain rules about landscaping, buffers and building setbacks from roads, Sciria said.

Brick residents gathered Monday, June 10, 2024 at Civic Plaza to hear a plan by Fellowship Chapel of the Jersey Shore in Brick to rent its Sunday school building to a home school organization.

"We submit these conditions are minor in nature," he said. "We are not seeking any site plan changes at all to the currently existing site. The only changes we are doing to the site is to update the handicap ramp to be compliant with ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) requirements and restripe some of the parking lot."

Under the church's proposal, the Sunday school would accommodate the Liberty students Mondays through Thursdays between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. The students would be dropped off by their parents or guardians. No buses would be used for transportation, according to church officials.

Community members are pushing back. About 80 residents pooled their resources and hired attorney Edward Liston of Toms River to fight the variance application before the Board of Adjustment.

The Brick Board of Adjustment hears plans by Fellowship Chapel officials to rent out the organization's Sunday school to a homeschool organization during a meeting on June 10, 2024.

"There has been public outcry that this application will set a precedent for a subsequent owner to be able to allow this approved school use to expand with more students, transportation, more traffic, pretty much opening the door for other schools," Sciria said. "This is completely inaccurate. If the board grants this application, Fellowship Chapel, or any owner, must comply with the terms, conditions and limits of this resolution, even if they are subsequent owners."

The board did not hear from the crowd Monday, as members ended the three-hour meeting at 10 p.m. The next meeting on Fellowship Chapel's application will be held at 7 p.m. Aug. 12 at Civic Plaza, 270 Chambers Bridge Road, Brick.

Amanda Oglesby is an Ocean County native who covers education and the environment. She has worked for the Press for more than 15 years. Reach her at @OglesbyAPP, aoglesby@gannettnj.com or 732-557-5701.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Brick residents oppose Fellowship Chapel's school rental plan
Darien Harris spent 12 years in prison for murder but was freed last year after it was discovered an eyewitness against him was legally blind. Court records show the man denied under oath that he had vision problems. In fact, he had advanced glaucoma and had been declared legally blind nine years previously. A second eyewitness denied Harris was the shooter. Harris is now suing the Chicago Police Department for violating his civil rights.

The post Brickbat: Injustice Is Blind appeared first on Reason.com.
The US Embassy confirmed that the participation of American military personnel in the May 26 event was canceled following a statement by Bidzina Ivanishvili, the founder of Georgian Dream. This clarification was issued in response to a query from the media platform Publika."The US participation in the government event on May 26 was canceled due to the ruling party's false narratives about the US, as presented in the April 29 statements of the honorary chairman of Georgian Dream.The US remains a strong supporter of Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity and wants to see Georgia firmly integrated into the Euro-Atlantic community. We call on the Georgian government to return to this path," the Embassy stated.Preliminary data from the National Statistics Office of Georgia reveals that foreign direct investment (FDI) in the first quarter of 2024 totaled $201.4 million, a significant 64.4 percent drop compared to the same period in 2023. This decline is attributed to decreases across all three components of FDI: share capital, reinvestment, and debt obligations.Breaking down these components, share capital amounted to $75.9 million, representing 37.7 percent of the total FDI. Reinvestment reached $92.5 million, accounting for 45.9 percent.Turkey was the leading investor, contributing $42.4 million, or 21.0 percent of the total. The Czech Republic followed closely with $41.5 million (20.6 percent), and the United States with $33.7 million (16.7 percent). Collectively, the top five investor countries accounted for 85.5 percent of the total investment volume.Sector-wise, the energy sector attracted the highest FDI in the first quarter of 2024, receiving $78.7 million, which is 39.1 percent of the total. The trade sector followed with $39.5 million (19.6 percent), and the transport sector with $38.8 million (19.3 percent).
FILE - A pedestrian passes the Court of Final Appeal in Hong Kong, on March 30, 2022. A British judge who resigned from Hong Kong's top court last week said he stepped down because the rule of law in the city is in "grave danger and judges operate in an impossible political environment created by China. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung, File)

LONDON (AP)  A former chief justice of the Supreme Court of Canada is stepping down from Hong Kong's top court, city officials said Monday, the latest overseas judge to resign from the court amid concerns about judicial independence.

Hong Kongs judiciary confirmed said Beverly McLachlin will complete her term as a non-permanent overseas judge at Hong Kong's Court of Final Appeal, without giving more details.

Canadian media outlets reported McLachlin noted in her statement that she has reached 80 years of age and will retire from that position when her term ends in July. She said she intended to spend more time with her family and she continues to have confidence in the members of the court and their independence, the reports said.

Also Monday, a British judge who resigned from the same court last week said he stepped down because the rule of law in the city is in "grave danger and judges operate in an impossible political environment created by China.

Jonathan Sumption, who had served as a non-permanent overseas judge on Hong Kongs Court of Final Appeal, described a growing paranoia of the authorities and judges being intimidated by a darkening political mood in the Asian financial hub in an article published by the Financial Times on Monday.

Hong Kong, once a vibrant and politically diverse community, is slowly becoming a totalitarian state. The rule of law is profoundly compromised in any area about which the government feels strongly, he wrote. "The least sign of dissent is treated as a call for revolution."

He wrote that he remained on the court in the hope that the presence of overseas judges would help sustain the rule of law, but I fear that this is no longer realistic.

McLachlin and Sumption were the latest of several overseas judges who have quit Hong Kong's highest court in recent years.

Hong Kong, a former British colony, is a common law jurisdiction, unlike mainland China. After the city returned to Chinese rule in 1997, non-permanent overseas judges have consistently served on its top court. Fifteen such judges served in 2019. About seven remain following McLachlin's departure next month.

The city government expressed its strong disagreement with Sumption's comments in a lengthy statement Tuesday. It insisted the city's courts are not under any political pressure from Chinese authorities or the local government when handling cases, and said the rule of law in the financial hub has not declined.

Andrew Cheung, chief justice of the citys top court, said in a statement that any suggestion that judicial decisions has or could be compromised is a serious allegation and should not be lightly made. He said there is tension between protecting fundamental rights and safeguarding national security, but the citys judiciary is committed to both causes.

It is one thing to disagree with a courts decision, but it is quite another to suggest that fundamental rights have been compromised because of political concerns, he said.

Hong Kong's leader, John Lee, doubled down in his weekly news briefing, saying the professional duty of judges is to interpret and apply law in accordance with legal principles and evidence, regardless of their political views about a certain law.

Lee said Sumption in 2021 wrote about people's confusion between democracy and the rule of law and his latest statement appears to be contradictory to his previous stance.

Lee also said some British officials and politicians have attempted to weaponize the U.K. judicial influence to target China and Hong Kong and the city should not allow that.

It is sad and disappointing that our judges are abandoned by a few overseas counterparts and have been so unfairly treated," he said.

In 2022 another British judge, Robert Reed, stepped down while saying the administration "has departed from values of political freedom, and freedom of expression.

Another judge, Lawrence Collins, resigned last week, telling The Associated Press that his departure was because of the political situation in Hong Kong. But he said he continues to have the fullest confidence in the court and the total independence of its members.

Rights groups and critics say Chinese authorities' enactment of a 2020 national security law has eroded Hong Kong's judicial independence and all but wiped out public dissent. Many pro-democracy activists have been arrested under the law.

In May, a Hong Kong court found 14 pro-democracy activists guilty of conspiring to commit subversion in the citys biggest national security case to date. They were among 47 activists accused of attempting to paralyze Hong Kongs government and topple the citys leader by securing the legislative majority necessary to indiscriminately veto budgets.

The Beijing and Hong Kong governments have insisted that the law has helped bring back stability following huge anti-government protests in 2019.
Bling Bishop Lamor Whitehead should spend 12 years in prison for several frauds, including swindling a parishioners mother out of her life savings, Manhattan federal prosecutors argue.

The politically connected pastor continues to show an utter lack of remorse for his crimes, and has even taken to selling documents to subscribers on the Patreon site that were given to his defense under seal, prosecutors said in a Monday court filing.

Whitehead, 46, is asking for time served and supervised release, in part because of conditions at Brooklyns notorious Metropolitan Detention Center  but prosecutors scoffed at that request, pointing out that hes been in the jail only for a few weeks as he awaits his sentencing next Monday.

Jurors in Manhattan Federal Court found Whitehead guilty of five counts in March, including wire fraud, attempted extortion and lying to the FBI. Prosecutors say the bishop kept on lying, both on the witness stand and after the trial, and are asking for a 151-month sentence.

Lamor Whitehead presented himself to the world as a religious leader, a preacher of the prosperity gospel whom God had made wealthy, federal prosecutors wrote. These trappings of wealth and success  which aided and were a part of the defendants frauds in this case  were phony. The defendant was living a lie. His extravagant lifestyle was a facade, funded by crimes for which he has now been convicted.

Judge Lorna Schofield threw Whitehead in jail May 20, after prosecutors argued he violated the terms of his bond by disparaging victim Pauline Anderson and her son, and by hawking the prohibited court documents in an April YouTube stream.

The jury could not get this at all. You guys could not get this at all. This is exclusive paperwork, he said in the now-removed April 30 video, according to court documents. And all of this paperwork, we will have it on the Patreon.

Patreon is a site where content creators provide exclusive material to different tiers of paid subscribers.

Last week, Whitehead tried to leverage what New York federal defendants often refer to as the MDC discount  when a judge shaves months or years off a sentence to account for the notoriously hellish conditions at Brooklyns federal jail.

Prosecutors argued that he should get no leniency because his complaints about the jail are outdated, false, unsourced or not specific to the defendant, but in any event are largely irrelevant here, as he has been detained only for a matter of weeks and will most likely be designated to a different facility after he is sentenced.

The pastor, a self-described mentee of Mayor Adams, is known for his flashy clothing and jewelry. Hes also a convicted fraudster who started his church after his 2013 release from state prison.

His blustery personality started drawing public scrutiny in May 2022, after he became involved in the unsuccessful attempt to broker an accused subway shooters surrender, angering police and defense attorneys alike. In July of that year, a trio of armed robbers famously robbed him of his bling during a livestream of one of his services in Brooklyn.

The jury found him guilty of a string of loan frauds that netted him $6 million, of fleecing Anderson out of her $90,000 life savings, and of lying about his ties to Adams to extort and try to defraud Bronx body shop owner Brandon Belmonte in a real estate deal.

Whitehead did not just steal from fellow alleged criminals; he did not just steal from faceless financial institutions; he did not just steal from trusting parishioners. He stole from all of them. He stole constantly. And he did it all by himself. Even money he brought in legitimately was, in truth, a product of his frauds, prosecutors wrote.

To the extent Whitehead received public attention and had followers, it was because of his flashy, expensive, luxury lifestyle  his mansion, his Rolls-Royce, his expensive suits. All of those things, too, were funded by his crimes.
As budget talks between NC Republicans break down, House to move its own version forward

It is House vs. Senate in the latest North Carolina state budget battle.

Now the House might vote on its own  yet to be revealed  budget next week. Republican leaders have total control of the General Assembly, so the House and Senate supermajorities work out deals together on a budget adjustment bill.

Republican House Speaker Tim Moore said that negotiations have broken down with Republican Senate leader Phil Berger over passing a compromise budget adjustment bill this session.

The state already has a two-year spending plan passed in 2023 that allocates money for raises, district projects and other funding, but typically passes an adjustment bill in even years, during the legislative short session, ideally by the new fiscal year start of July 1.

Some raises coming July 1 anyway

As sure as June is here and the summer sun shines down, the budget will likely be late again.

Most state employees are set to get 3% raises starting July 1, The News & Observer reported, but Moore wants to see additional raises for some workers as well as a bonus for retirees.

Weve reached a really tough point in negotiations. And the House is really committed to making sure that we do something for our state employees and for our teachers. And we dont have the Senate there, Moore told reporters after the House session on Tuesday.

And we feel like its important, if nothing more, than to go ahead and make a statement. So were going to move forward with a budget on the House side. Im hopeful that well be able to get a resolution with the Senate as well, Moore said.

He described pay for state employees and teachers  our new teachers as well as veteran teachers  as the sticking points.

Moore wouldnt say what else are priorities for the chambers in budget talks, but Berger told reporters on Thursday that the House wants to spend more money from savings than the Senate does.

The problem, as we see it, is that the extra billion dollars that were projected to collect should be a gracious plenty to handle the things that we need to do, over and above the budget that we just adopted several months ago, Berger said.

Significant differences of opinion

Moore said that while House leaders will continue to negotiate with the Senate, he intends to move a budget bill through committees and to the floor for votes sometime next week.

Asked what the House would do if the Senate decided to just adjourn and not pass a budget adjustment bill, which isnt required, he said the Senate is entitled to take whatever position they would like.

My goal is to work to come up with a budget, a consensus budget with my friends in the Senate. But we do have some significant differences of opinion, Moore said.

He said that Republican leaders wanted to reach a consensus, as opposed to theprocess of the House and Senate taking turns presenting and passing budget bills before a final deal is made behind closed doors. That process gives the public more time to read the budget proposals and comment during public committee meetings, usually over several weeks. When negotiators only produce what is known as a conference report, only the negotiators know what is being decided until the final bill is revealed.

Moore said the conference report process was more efficient than passing separate bills first.

As far as the House moving ahead this time without the Senates input, Moore said that he and other House budget leaders have agreed that this was the best course of action.

The 2023 budget was more than three months late because of a breakdown in negotiations between the House and Senate.

In previous budget years, before Republicans gained a veto-proof supermajority, the battle was waged between Republican leaders and Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper.

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BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)  A Buffalo man was arraigned Friday afternoon on charges following an alleged sexual assault at Shoshone Park in March, the Erie County District Attorneys Office announced.

Lamont Love, 34, was arraigned on charges of first-degree sexual abuse and third-degree assault.

Officials said around 10:30 p.m. on March 3, Love was riding a bicycle and approached the victim while she was walking in Shoshone Park on the 1900 block of Hertel Avenue. He allegedly jumped off of his bicycle and attacked the victim.

Love is accused of subjecting the victim to sexual contact by forcible compulsion, the district attorneys office said.

The victim escaped the attack and reported the incident to police.

A temporary order of protection was issued on behalf of the victim remains in effect.

Love is scheduled to return for a pre-trial conference on July 2. Prosecutors requested for him to be held without bail. The court set bail at $25,000 cash, insurance company bail bond or partially secured surety bond, officials said.

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Katie Skoog joined the News 4 team in April 2024. She is a graduate from the University at Buffalo. You can view more of her work here.

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Jose Uribe, front, toasts Sen. Bob Menendez and his wife Nadine at one of several dinners he and his friends treated the couple to during what prosecutors say was a wide-ranging bribery scheme that started in 2018. (Photo courtesy of the U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of New York)

Throughout his month-old bribery trial, Sen. Bob Menendezs defense attorneys have repeatedly insisted the favors federal prosecutors have deemed bribes were merely constituent service the Democrat did in a long career dedicated to public service.

But co-defendant Jose Uribe torpedoed that notion in one blink-and-miss-it sentence in Manhattan Monday, Uribes second day on the stand.

I saved your little a** not once, but twice, Uribe said the senator told him in Spanish.

Uribe testified that Menendez told him this during a summer 2020 dinner Nadine Menendez, the senators then-girlfriend and current wife, had suggested to celebrate their successful deal.

Under a two-part arrangement first forged with co-defendant Wael Hana in the spring of 2018, Uribe said, he and his friends wanted the senator to accomplish two things for them. First, kill the states insurance fraud prosecution of Elvis Parra, Uribes friend and a trucking company owner. And two, end the related, expanding investigation that threatened Uribes own business, Phoenix Risk Management. In exchange, Uribe, Parra, and Parras business partner Bienvenido Hernandez were to pay Hana $200,000 to $250,000, while Hana would buy Nadine a Mercedes-Benz convertible, Uribe testified.

Uribe testified he had spent more than two years trading texts and calls about the scheme with Nadine Menendez and had so many restaurant meetings  with the Menendezes and others associated  that the courtroom erupted in laughter when Judge Sidney H. Stein interrupted Uribes retelling of one rendezvous to say: Another restaurant?

The night Menendez made the little a** comment, Uribe told jurors Menendez acted like a person that was proud and confident that he managed to get this done.

Most of Mondays testimony seemed intended to underscore what the senator knew and did, during a trial where both sides agree Nadine Menendez routinely acted as an intermediary who connected her powerful partner with deep-pocketed friends and acquaintances who wanted his influence.

Uribe first took the stand Friday and offered a bombshell in his first few minutes of testimony, telling jurors flat-out that he bribed Menendez and his wife in a bid to obtain the senators influence. He pleaded guilty in March and testified against his co-defendants in a cooperation deal.

Monday, he shared the tawdry details of the alleged schemes, telling jurors that Nadine Menendez arranged for Uribe to meet the senator in September 2019 in the backyard of her Englewood Cliffs home, where the two men talked for about an hour over glasses of Grand Marnier about an insurance fraud probe by the New Jersey Attorney Generals Office, Uribe testified.

I beg him to please do anything in his power to learn about the investigation and stop it, Uribe testified.

Uribe said Menendez asked him to write down the names of the pertinent people and companies, but neither man had any paper. Menendez rang a little bell he had on a table and called for Nadine by summoning mon amour, Uribe testified.

Nadine brought paper, Uribe jotted down the details, and the senator stuck it in his pocket for a meeting he mentioned he had scheduled the next day to discuss the investigation, Uribe said.

Later, Uribe testified, Menendez called him to say, That thing that you asked me about, theres nothing there. I give you your peace.

What did you understand him to be talking about? prosecutor Lara Pomerantz asked.

My family was safe and I was in peace. I was happy, Uribe said.

Gurbir Grewal, the former New Jersey attorney general who met Menendez the day after the Englewood Cliffs meeting between Uribe and Menendez, told jurors last week he doesnt discuss open criminal cases with any outsiders and cut the senator off during that meeting when he realized where it was going. He did nothing in response to Menendezs request, Grewal testified.

But Uribe told jurors Monday that he, Parra, Hernandez, and Hana considered Menendezs intervention to be successful. Parra, who faced jail time, instead got probation when he pleaded guilty in June 2019. The men met for a celebratory dinner, and Hernandez and Parra paid Hana $125,000 in cash, Uribe said.

He was happy. We were happy for him, Uribe said. Being that part one is done, then I didnt have doubt that part two was going to be completed.

Uribe continued to pay for Nadine Menendezs car and had no idea his criminal troubles werent over until June 2022, when FBI agents came knocking on his door, seized his phone, and told him he was under investigation, he testified.

Six months later, Nadine Menendez mailed Uribes attorney a brief note and a $21,000 check, saying it was repayment for Uribes personal loan, Uribe testified. He told jurors he and Nadine never had any agreement that she would repay the money  and that the $21,000 was less than hed spent so far on her car anyway.

Uribe spent most of Monday under direct questioning by Pomerantz. Hanas attorney Ricardo Solano Jr. started cross-examining him as the dinner hour approached, underscoring Uribes admissions that Uribe  not Hana  reached out to Nadine Menendez directly, hosted a fundraiser for the senators re-election campaign that raised $50,000, and bought Nadine Menendez the car.

The trial is expected to resume Tuesday morning, with cross-examination of Uribe continuing.

The post Businessman describes asking Sen. Menendez for help in killing criminal probe appeared first on New Jersey Monitor.
Gov. Gavin Newsom and lawmakers are in the homestretch of hammering out a budget deal in which the fate of some 11,000 subsidized child care slots hangs in the balance.

In a tough budget year with the administration and lawmakers grappling with a $45 billion deficit, after years of increasing investments in child care for the Golden States low-wage earners, Newsom wants to hit pause for an indefinite period toward achieving an agreed-upon 200,000 subsidized child care slots by 2026.

The proposal would freeze the number of available slots at 119,000 and also claw back funding for some 11,000 additional slots already authorized, saving $1.4 billion over two years.

Lawmakers in their budget road map want to fund the slots for low-income families for which award letters have already been issued and instead are calling for a pause in authorizing the remainder of the new slots for two years.

The money is much needed to help parents who work long hours and whose schedules dont coincide with child care centers and must turn to family providers for care, providers and union representatives contend.

We want the Legislature and the governor to advocate for fair pay but also (to add) those slots because without those slots its very hard for workers to be paid, said Yolanda Thomas, a child care provider in Contra Costa County and member of the Child Care Providers United negotiating team, the union representing 40,000 workers in child and family care.

The union ratified its first contract with the state in 2021.

The budgets just keep on getting balanced on the backs of working families and if you look at it, providers are working families as well and were mirroring our parents, said Thomas. If we dont get paid, we wont be able to stay open, and in the end the parents are the ones that suffer.

Dozens of California union representatives for child care providers and parents are expected to join lawmakers for a Tuesday evening candlelight vigil at the state Capitol to draw attention to fair pay for industry workers and to urge the Newsom administration and the Legislature to authorize additional subsidized child care slots.

Dueling arguments

Newsom noted during his budget revision presentation in May that right now we dont want to cut programs but we want to hold the line.

The administration continues to work with the Legislature to reach an agreement regarding the continued expansion of state-subsidized child care slots, said H.D. Palmer, a Department of Finance spokesman on Monday.

Sen. Caroline Menjivar, D-San Fernando Valley, who is the chair of a budget subcommittee on health and human services among several other committee assignments, said the state made a commitment to reach 200,000 new subsidized child care slots.

And in rejecting the indefinite pause were stating we are not going back on that promise, the senator said in a statement. Codifying the goal to 200,000 slots ensures no one can propose any future indefinite pauses.

Tough decisions must be made as the state faces a serious deficit, she noted.

Still, In this budget, it is imperative that we honor our commitment to fund the 11,038 child care slots we have already issued award letters for. Providers have already invested resources and committed to contracts in anticipation of the awarded money. Rescinding funding now impacts families, youth, and the system as a whole, including employers of child care agencies who are predominantly Black and brown women. Honoring award letters, that providers made infrastructure changes as a result of, is the just thing for us to do, she said.

During his budget revision presentation, Newsom said he would say to families seeking child care slots that we have more work to do and that the state has been doing more.

I mean, the idea that we had a 200,000 (goal), I remember we called it a stretch goal, a couple years ago. Then it was 100,000; then I said well do (150,000) and then we went back, maybe we can achieve this 200,000, Newsom said.

So, I would tell them, our resolve remains firm but reality check that the state would not take away the existing slots, the governor said. Were going to protect that.

Child care deserts

Child care providers note that all child care slots are not created equal and some families find themselves in child care deserts, especially when in need of child care during non-traditional hours.

Subsidies vary by county with rates set at a percentage of what it costs a provider to give care. Families pay the difference for services if the subsidy does not fully cover what they get charged for care.

Providers like Thomas still take children if families cannot make up the difference. Five of her nine families currently receive a state subsidy for child care. The remaining four families are also in need and are on a waiting list, she said.

One such family with a special-needs child needs wrap-around services  more services than just child care  and the mom, a health-care worker, lost her job after the pandemic. The mom has found a job in another city where she is unable to find services for her child and relies on Thomas for long hours of child care.

Every little bit helps, Thomas said. Its a choice of not being able to work because you need child care or not working because you dont have child care. Its a double-edged sword.

This field is not glamorous, Thomas added. You have to take care of what really matters and for us as family home day care providers, we have to sustain financial deadlines (as well). We need the state to show up.
California inmate dies after fight, being shot with less lethal round

An inmate at a Northern California prison died in early June after a fight with another inmate and after receiving a less lethal round to the head from guards, according to the California Dept. of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

Prison officials say Jarray Birdon and another inmate were in a fight at around 7:20 a.m. on June 5 at High Desert State Prison, near Susanville.

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During the fight, Birdon was struck several times in the face and head area by the aggressors fists and knee before falling to the ground, officials said.

Staff issued verbal orders to stop and get down and eventually used one less lethal 40mm direct impact round and chemical agents to stop the fight, prison officials said.

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Birdon had injuries consistent with being hit in the head with the round, the other inmate had a fractured right hand, and no staff were injured, officials said.

Birdon, 38, was taken to a hospital outside of the prison complex and was later pronounced deceased at 12:41 p.m. on June 7.

No information about the other inmate was provided.

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Officials said the officer who fired the round is on administrative leave and that the Office of the Inspector General and the Office of Internal Affairs were notified.

Birdon had served a nearly three-year prison sentence starting in early 2008 and was currently serving a sentence of more than 16 years after being received from Sacramento County in 2013, CDCR said.

The High Desert State Prison is located almost 200 miles northeast of Sacramento and houses around 1,700 incarcerated people.

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FILE - State Sen. Nancy Skinner, D-Berkeley, speaks at the Capitol in Sacramento, Calif., on June 13, 2022. Skinner authored a bill that would require marketplaces  like eBay and Nextdoor to start collecting bank accounts and tax IDs of high-volume sellers who advertise online but collect payment off the platforms. The measure is part of a legislative package of 14 bills to address the retail theft issue. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, File)

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP)  A California bill that would require marketplaces like eBay and Nextdoor to start collecting bank accounts and tax identification numbers from high-volume sellers who advertise online but collect payments offline was fast-tracked by Democratic lawmakers with committees voting on it Tuesday.

The idea is that thieves will be less likely to resell stolen merchandise if authorities can track them down.

The measure is part of a legislative package of 14 bills to combat retail theft in the state. The California Retailers Association says the issue has reached crisis levels, though its challenging to quantify because many stores dont share their data.

The proposal would be voided if voters pass a tough-on-crime ballot initiative, which qualified for the November ballot on Tuesday but still needs certification this month by the Secretary of State.

Proponents, including district attorneys and some big box retailers, said the data collection proposal would shut down organized theft rings seeking to resell stolen goods and would close a loophole in existing laws that dont require platforms to track offline transactions.

The rules under the bill would apply to sellers who make at least $5,000 profit and engage in at least 200 transactions in a year.

Opponents say the measure's new requirement is so broad and vague that some platforms would have to start collecting sensitive information from all users, harming California's e-commerce businesses.

This is basically going to force businesses out of California, said David Edmonson of TechNet, a technology advocacy group. I imagine most sellers will have to think long and hard about whether or not they want to provide that information to the online marketplace just to be able to sell, you know, household products.

Nathan Garnett, general counsel of OfferUp, a mobile marketplace that connects local buyers and sellers so they can complete transactions in-person, said the proposal would significantly benefit big box retailers and cripple classified ad sites ability to do business in the state.

In the case of OfferUp, its 11 million users in California would have to hand over their personal information before they could list something like a used coffee table or an old truck on the platform, Garnett said.

Opponents say the measure also runs contrary to a federal law that went into effect last July, which requires online marketplaces like Amazon to verify high-volume sellers on their platforms as part of an effort to tamp down the amount of goods being stolen from brick-and-mortar stores and resold online.

The federal law was negotiated to protect classified websites, and there was no legal loophole, said Carl Szabo, the general counsel of an Internet trade group NetChoice. The group, which represents companies including Facebook parent Meta and Etsy, filed a lawsuit against Georgia last week to halt the implementation of a state law that would establish similar requirements.

Requiring platforms to monitor all transactions, including those happening offline, is an impossible task, Szabo said.

Democratic California state Sen. Nancy Skinner, who authored the measure, said law enforcement needs the tool to go after professional reseller schemes, citing a case in San Diego in which a couple made roughly $8 million from selling stolen goods online. Online marketplaces are also already collecting information from users through the privacy policy they have to agree to in order to use the platforms in the first place, she added.

The only people they would have to get that information from are high-volume sellers, not every single person who uses their site, she said.

The proposal is part of a legislative package that would increase penalties for organized crime rings, expand drug court programs and close a legal loophole to make it easier to prosecute auto thefts, among other things.

Lawmakers are racing to deliver the bills to Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom in a few weeks. Once signed, the bills would take effect immediately  a new get-tough-on-crime strategy in an election year seeking to ease the growing fears of voters while preserving progressive policies designed to keep people out of prison.
California Assemblywoman Buffy Wicks wrote legislation that would force Big Tech companies to pay news outlets for use of their content. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press)

California lawmakers have revived legislation to charge online platforms for the news articles they publish, a proposal that stalled last year amid divisions within the journalism industry and intense opposition from Google and other tech companies.

New amendments published Monday to Assembly Bill 886 are meant to address concerns from small publishers and make the plan more similar to the way Canada charges platforms for distributing news content.

The bill, also known as the "California Journalism Preservation Act," would require digital advertising giants to pay news outlets a fee when they sell advertising alongside news content. Publishers would have to use 70% of those funds to pay journalists in California.

Read more: Column: News business needs help in California. Is government the answer?

The changes call for calculating payments based on the number of journalists a news outlet employs, similar to Canada's model, rather than on how many impressions an article generates, as originally proposed. And they call for creating a fund that platforms pay into, which would distribute the money to news outlets. Google is paying $74 million annually into a fund for the news industry under the law that took effect last year in Canada.

"What we learned with the Canada version is that it's possible, and that news is of value, it's critical," said Assemblymember Buffy Wicks (D-Oakland). "And that we should be doing everything we can to ensure that our publishers are compensated for the work that they're providing."

New amendments in Wicks' bill also would give an additional boost to small publishers by making them eligible for funding beyond the per-journalist payout and allowing them more flexibility in how they spend the money they would receive under the program by dropping the portion they must spend paying journalists to 50%.

The bill is sponsored by the California News Publishers Assn., of which the Los Angeles Times is a member. Publishers argue that online search and social media platforms are harming the journalism business by gobbling up advertising revenue while publishing content they don't pay for.

The changes to the bill mark a key development since the bill was put on pause last year in the face of massive opposition from Google and other companies. Google argued the legislation would upend its business model and wrote in an April blog post that the bill "undermines news in California." The search giant flexed its muscle against the bill earlier this year by removing links to California news sites from its search results for some users.

Read more: Why Google's lobbying in California skyrocketed this year

Google did not respond to an email seeking comment on the latest changes to the bill.

But the amendments are unlikely to be the final modifications. Lawmakers often ramp up negotiations on difficult issues as they approach the end of the legislative session in August. The bill is scheduled for a hearing on June 25 in the Senate Judiciary Committee, its next big hurdle.

State Sen. Tom Umberg (D-Orange), who chairs that committee, said he expects further changes as negotiations continue. He said he would like to see the bill pass but wants to make sure it strikes the right balance between what the news industry needs and what the tech platforms can pay for.

"I believe that we could screw this up so that we make it so expensive that the platforms don't carry [journalism] content," Umberg said. "That would be catastrophic. So I don't know where we hit that sweet spot."

A separate bill seeking to aid the journalism industry would impose a new tax on Amazon, Meta and Google for the data they take from users and pump the money from this "data extraction mitigation fee" into news organizations by giving them a tax credit for employing full-time journalists.

As a tax measure, Senate Bill 1327 would require approval from two-thirds of the Legislature and presents a political challenge in an election year. Nonetheless, state Sen. Steve Glazer (D-Orinda) said his bill is compatible with Wicks' legislation, and he remains hopeful lawmakers can find a way to help the journalism industry.

"I continue to have many conversations with her and others about how we have to solve the problem," Glazer said. "There's lots of ways to try to go at it."

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Auburn Union School District Board Trustee Jayson Wedge, the subject of a recall effort among district parents and teachers, delivered bizarre, vaguely threatening remarks to the Auburn City Council during a public comment period Tuesday night.

Wedge first addressed Auburn Mayor Rachel Radell-Harris and the citys four council members about the concerns they voiced earlier this year about the state of the school district.

Wedge and AUSD Board President Greg Holt became subjects of the recall effort after they supported an abrupt decision to close Rock Creek Elementary School and transition all other schools in the district to TK-8 schools, despite widespread concern from district parents and local elected officials, such as Radell-Harris.

I was really disappointed with the council, Wedge said. You guys find yourself in almost the same situation coming up, and I encourage you, this isnt to threaten you or anything ... now is the time to take swift actions, to pass the buck down the road, and try to come up with alternate solutions. You guys need to cut budgets.

He then pivoted to the topic of Pride Month, admonishing the board for recognizing it after Radell-Harris opened the meeting Tuesday with a Proclamation declaring June as Pride Month in the city of Auburn. City Councilwoman Michelle Sierra-Sammons also wore a Pride shirt to the meeting.

Wedge took issue with both.

As elected officials, we are not elected to take part in social or political movements, Wedge said. And with this Pride Month, this was a social and political movement that you guys took part in, and I would like to make my own statement on that.

Wedge heads the Placer County chapter of the group Freedom Coalition, a right-wing group of freedom advocates who promote the conspiracy theory that the COVID-19 public health lockdowns were a way for the U.S. government to install more 5G towers across the country to control the electorate.

Ive been attacked, Ive been called a racist, Ive been called a bigot, Ive been attacked for the love that I have for Jesus Christ, and recently, Ive been slandered as being a part of anti-government groups. So I really hope you guys dont support any of that.

In a sudden turn of tone, Wedge sought to declare his own proclamation instead: Any forms of witchcraft, any forms of idolatry, any forms of child sacrifice will not be tolerated, and your days are numbered.

He then left the podium without elaborating on any such cases of witchcraft, idolatry or child sacrifice.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  A security camera captured the moment a bold suspect grabbed an expensive package and took off, right in front of a FedEx driver who had dropped it off seconds before.

The theft happened around noon on June 3 in the Misty Meadows neighborhood when 33-year-old Columbus resident Kyle Dorsch was expecting his new Apple smartwatch to be delivered, he said. Shipping was being handled through FedEx.

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The website kind of gave me an estimated delivery time of when it would be here and right as the truck pulled up, I saw him pull up, Dorsch said.

As Dorsch walked toward his front door to get his delivery, his doorbell security camera was rolling too. As the delivery driver walked up the driveway, the camera also captured a blue car stopping by the house.

We did notice that car down the street, probably 20 to 30 minutes before the truck came through the neighborhood, so they were aware the package was coming somehow, Dorsch said.

A blue car pulled up in front of Kyle Dorschs house moments before the theft. (Courtesy Photo/Kyle Dorsch)

The FedEx driver made his way to Dorschs porch. By the time he dropped the package off and knocked on the front door, the camera caught the suspect already running up the driveway. The thief jumped up the stairs  startling the FedEx worker  before quickly snatching the package and running away. The camera caught a glimpse of the blue car speeding off moments later.

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The entire exchange happened before Dorsch even opened his front door.

Before I could even get to the door, it was gone, he said. I only saw the back of him as he was popping back into his car. I spoke with the FedEx station that the package came from and they said that its been happening quite a bit around Columbus. Theyre not sure how tracking numbers are getting leaked or addresses.

FedEx Communications Specialist Francesca Sacco did not answer questions about the specific theft affecting Dorsch, nor regarding tracking numbers potentially being leaked to thieves in Columbus. Instead, she commented on technology for customers that the company added to ensure reliable delivery of their packages.

These tools have proven very helpful in combating porch piracy and improving the overall customer experience, Sacco said. Our flexible solutions like picture proof of delivery, FedEx Delivery Manager, and the FedEx mobile app offer customers a convenient experience, with more control over the timing and location of their deliveries.

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Since these technologies didnt stop the porch pirate in Dorschs case, he turned to police and then took matters into his own hands.

Filing the police report, they said it was going to take five to seven days for somebody to get back to me, Dorsch said. I didnt want to just sit here, so I started looking around, seeing if somebody posted it for sale online.

A security camera captures the moment a suspect stole a package right in front of the FedEx driver that dropped it off. (Courtesy Photo/Kyle Dorsch)

A security camera captures the moment a suspect stole a package right in front of the FedEx driver that dropped it off. (Courtesy Photo/Kyle Dorsch)

A security camera captures the moment a suspect stole a package right in front of the FedEx driver that dropped it off. (Courtesy Photo/Kyle Dorsch)

He found the watch on Facebook Marketplace within hours of it being taken. Dorsch said that a listing had photos of the box taken on someones lap in a car, and they were wearing khaki shorts matching the ones on the suspect who stole it. He noted that the Facebook profile hosting the sale had FedEx package handler listed as their job description.

Theres just too many coincidences for it to not be who we think it is, Dorsch said. We had somebody else try to reach out to them and they seemed very paranoid about it, so we stopped getting responses  We just checked on it again yesterday and they did mark the item sold, but we dont know whether it was truly sold or if they marked it because they had no takers on it.

The Apple watch was part of an upgrade through Dorschs cell service provider, AT&T. Thankfully, Dorsch wasnt left empty-handed. He reported the profile to FedEx, and provided AT&T case numbers from the delivery company as well as Columbus police. The cell carrier also took action on the stolen watch, using the IMEI number it had on record for the device.

So they got everything reversed, they got the upgrade reversed, so Im able to purchase another one, likely directly from the store this time, Dorsch said. And the watch that was stolen, they had to blacklist, so it cant be activated by anybody.

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Still, that means whoever potentially bought the stolen watch received a broken product.

They listed it for $600 and it retails new for $799, Dorsch said. I feel bad if they sold it, that persons out hundreds of dollars and they might not be as lucky as I am as far as getting it recovered somehow.

A Columbus police spokeswoman told NBC4 that investigators were still working on the case, but they had no additional information to share as of Tuesday. Dorsch said since filing the report, he has not been contacted by a detective either.

If its somebody inside at FedEx, I hope theyre found, Dorsch said. You know in my case, it looks like everything worked out to where I can order a new one. But I do feel bad for the people that are working hard to afford these things and theyre being taken.

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(Bloomberg) -- Canada and India have increased their security exchanges in recent months over the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, including visits to India by senior Canadian officials to share a robust set of evidence on the case, according to people with knowledge of the matter.

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But diplomatic relations between the two countries remain in a deep freeze ahead of the Group of Seven leaders summit in Italy this week, where both Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be in attendance.

David Vigneault, head of Canadas intelligence agency, visited India twice in the first few months of this year, sharing telephone numbers and other evidence related to the murder of Nijjar, said Indian officials asking not to be named because the discussions are private.

The intelligence chief was followed by more Canadian officials and discussions between the two sides, the people said, without giving further details of the conversations.

Indias Ministry of External Affairs didnt respond to a request for comment on the visit of the Canadian security officials and the discussions between the two sides. An official with Global Affairs Canada confirmed that Vigneault had traveled to India but declined to give details on the nature or substance of the meetings.

Nijjar, an Indian-born Canadian citizen who advocated for a separate Sikh homeland known as Khalistan, had been designated a terrorist under Indian laws. He was assassinated in Surrey, British Columbia, in June 2023.

A few months later, Trudeau publicly alleged that his government had credible evidence the Indian government had orchestrated the killing. In May, Canadian police arrested four Indian nationals on murder charges linked to Nijjars death.

So far, India has refused to launch a formal investigation to probe the involvement of Indians and its intelligence agencies. Instead, Modis government reacted furiously to Trudeaus allegation, forcing Canada to downsize its diplomatic presence in India and temporarily suspending visa services to Canadians.

At a media briefing in early May, the Indian foreign ministry repeated New Delhis charge that Canada had not taken Indias concerns on the issue of Sikh separatism seriously. India has long maintained that separatists, extremists and those advocating violence have been given political space in Canada, Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for Indias External Affairs Ministry, told reporters.

By contrast, India has launched a probe on similar allegations made by the US on a thwarted assassination attempt of a US-based Sikh leader also declared a terrorist under Indian laws.

Despite the increased contact among security agencies, Trudeaus government has not seen any indication Modi is ready to improve diplomatic ties, said Canadian government officials who spoke on condition of anonymity. Trudeau has repeatedly called on Modi to work with his government in investigating all the circumstances around Nijjars killing.

A sign of how far apart the two countries remain was evident in the recent public exchanges between their leaders. After Modi was reelected on June 4, Trudeau posted a statement on X congratulating him for the victory and said Canada stands ready to work with India to advance the relationship between our nations people  anchored to human rights, diversity and the rule of law.

Modi responded four days later, saying he looks forward to working with Canada based on mutual understanding and respect for each others concerns.

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These candidates who won seats in the European Parliament this week aren't who you might expect

Far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) top candidate for the European Parliament elections Maximilian Krah leaves a polling station on an e-scooter after casting his vote in the European and local elections in Dresden, Germany, Sunday, June 9, 2024. (Robert Michael/dpa via AP)

LONDON (AP)  He has no political experience. No high-profile endorsements. No party affiliation.

What Fidias Panayiotou does have are 2.6 million followers on YouTube and more on TikTok. And now he has won a seat in the European Parliament representing Cyprus, one of several unusual candidates who launched improbable campaigns only to snag membership in the 720-seat legislature.

"I wasnt planning on voting, but since Ive been seeing you on TikTok, Ill vote for you, said a driver Panayioutou stops, interviews and posts about.

Social media played an outsized role in the victories of a few candidates, prompting chatter in the political classes about its apparent role as an equalizer for unknown hopefuls as voters in dozens of democracies go to the polls this year, including in Britain, France and the United States.

Voters in the parliament's 27 countries in recent days also elected candidates who are in prison, have been kicked out of their delegation and withdrew from the election only to win seats, anyway.

Here's a closer look at unusual candidates-turned-MEPs  members of the European Parliament, representing some 400 million eligible voters.

Cyprus

Panayiotou's initial claim to fame was a hug he gave to billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, plus an assortment of humorous videos. His election, fueled only by his popularity on social media posts, shook up the island nation's political class in what many saw as a snub to deep-rooted party culture.

The 24-year-old who goes only by his first name, Fidias, won almost a fifth of the votes in Sunday's election, placing him third behind traditional party candidates of the center-right DISY party and the communist-rooted AKEL. Its a first in a country where the mighty political parties have long earned iron-clad loyalty by meting out favors.

AKEL Secretary-General Stefanos Stefanou lamented the outcome, which he called a new reality in which citizens opt for non-politics as a political choice to register their disenchantment with the countrys political culture.

Spain

Armed with a pair of social media accounts and staunch anti-immigrant discourse, a social media influencer rocked Spains far right by snatching up three of the country's 61 seats in the European Parliament.

The driver was a national-populist figure known by the pen name of Alvise Perez, 34, founder of the Party is Over party. The 34-year-old was completely unknown to Spaniards outside the tight internet circles of the country's far-right until election eve.

Now he'll take along two allies to fill the seats he has won in the powerful European legislature that meets in Strasbourg, France and Brussels.

Perez celebrated with some loud supporters in front of a backdrop covered with his partys unorthodox logo: a cartoon drawing of a squirrel wearing a Guy Fawkes mask popularized by the 2005 movie V for Vendetta. Fawkes is the best-known member of the foiled 1605 plot to blow up the British Parliament and has since been associated with protest movements.

The party is over because, I am sad to say, Spain has become a party for criminals. Spain has become a party for the corrupt, mercenaries, pedophiles and rapists, Alvise told the hooting crowd.

The Party Is Over won over 4% of the ballots cast in Spain and pulled in 800,000 votes. It matched the three seats won by other established parties, including the junior member of Spains leftist coalition government. Spain's far-right Vox party scored six seats on Monday, doubling its 2019 share, but it would have likely done better if Alvise had not launched his rogue effort.

Germany

Maximilian Krah, the top candidate for Germanys far-right Alternative for Germany, was kicked out of his delegation for a series of campaign scandals  and was elected anyway.

The 47-year-old MEP since 2019 announced Monday on X, formerly known as Twitter, that the newly elected lawmakers from his party voted to exclude him from their group.

I think this is wrong and sends a devastating signal to our voters, especially our young voters, Krah said.

The Alternative for Germany, or AfD, finished second in Germany with 15.9% of the votes. 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 Krah and the partys other top candidate for the European Parliament, Petr Bystron.

Krah, who works at a law firm and lives in the eastern German city of Dresden, was under scrutiny after authorities in Brussels searched his offices at the European Parliament in connection with an assistant who was arrested last month on suspicion of spying for China. German media have also alleged that he, as well as Bystron, has close links to Russia.

Last month, Krah raised the ire of his party and beyond when he told an Italian newspaper that not all members of the Nazis elite SS unit, which was involved in major war crimes during World War II, were war criminals. The party said said at the time that his missteps had led to massive damage and that he would resign from its board. Krah tried to downplay the decision.

Its not the end of the world," he said.

Greece

A jailed politician won one of seven European Parliament seats earned by Greece's governing conservative New Democracy party.

Fredi Beleris, a member of Albania's ethnic Greek minority who has dual citizenship, had been elected mayor of the Albanian town of Himare last year. But he was never sworn in because he was arrested on charges and sentenced to two years beginning in March.

Beleris has denied the charges, and allies have described his detention as politically motivated.

Italy

Italian activist Ilaria Salis, 40, was elected to the European Parliament as a candidate from the Green and Left Alliance (Italian acronym AVS) from house arrest in Hungary, where she is on trial and charged with assaulting far-right demonstrators.

More than 170,000 voters wrote Salis' name in on the ballot in a bid to bring her home from Hungary, where she has been detained for a year and four months.

She cant believe it. We need to complete the job, and do everything possible to bring her home as soon as possible, said Angelo Bonelli, spokesman for the European Greens and lawmaker for the AVS party.

Salis became a cause celebre in Italy after images emerged of her handcuffed and chained in a Hungarian courtroom.

Poland

Two candidates from the opposition Law and Justice party won seats despite their previous convictions on abuse of power charges.

Former Interior Minister Mariusz Kaminski, 54, and his former deputy, Maciej Wasik, 58, were briefly imprisoned earlier this year before being pardoned by President Andrzej Duda, who is aligned with the conservative party.

A third, Grzegorz Braun of the far-right, anti-Ukraine Confederation party, won a seat after extinguishing candles on a menorah that were lit for the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah in the halls of the Polish Parliament in December.

___

Contributing to this report were Associated Press writers Menelaos Hadjicostis in Nicosia, Cyprus, Joseph Wilson in Barcelona, Kirsten Grieshaber in Berlin, Elena Becatoros in Athens, Colleen Barry in Milan, Italy and Vanessa Gera in Warsaw. Laurie Kellman is a member of the APs Trends and Culture team, with a focus on global affairs. Follow her at http://www.twitter.com/APLaurieKellman
Career criminal from Mass. sentenced to over 7 years in prison for threatening interracial couple

A Massachusetts resident was sentenced to nearly a decade in prison on Monday for harassing an interracial couple on social media he didnt know in 2021.

48-year-old Stephen DeBerardinis of both Boston and Dedham was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs to 90 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release.

He previously pleaded guilty to charges related to the threatening and harassment of the couple back in March.

According to Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy, DeBerardinis used Facebook messenger to send racist and threatening messages to an interracial couple, a Black man and a white woman, he wasnt Facebook friends with.

Court documents say the messages included vulgar racial epitaphs and profanities along with pictures of brass knuckles saying SNITCHES GET STITCHES if the couple called the cops. His personal Facebook page was also littered with racist rhetoric, according to officials.

A subsequent investigation showed DeBerardinis was arrested more than 100 times in 24 years, including prior state convictions for threats, intimidation, false reports of a crime, impersonation of a police officer, and larceny, among other crimes.

Authorities found over 70 knives, 22 brass knuckles, swords, bullets, black powder for guns, stun guns, rifles and a number of other weapons after searching his home.

The toxic brew of racist hate, threats of violence and use of social media to amplify vile and violent attitudes is a corrosive danger to every law-abiding member of our community, Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy said. This defendants horrifying and vicious threats were not only imperiled the safety and well-being of the victims here, but they were also a broadside attack on the values of equality and respect that our nation upholds. This office is deeply grateful for the victims courage to report this incident to law enforcement and assist us in prosecuting this important case,

Stephen DeBerardinis is a career criminal with multiple felony convictions who continued to demonstrate a blatant disregard for the law by sending a series of horribly racist, hate-motivated threats of brutal violence to an interracial couple he had never met, said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division.

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Bank Respublika and Dutch Entrepreneurial Development Bank have concluded another major agreement

One of the largest commercial banks of Azerbaijan - Bank Respublika and the Dutch Entrepreneurial development bank (FMO) have signed another major loan agreement.

According to the agreement, the international development finance institution will provide the Bank with a loan in the amount of 25 million US dollars for a period of 4 years and the funds will be provided in national currency.

The funds will enable enhanced credit support for the real economy sector, which is a priority for both the Bank and the nation's economy. The loan will support local micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) engaged in agricultural sector as well as young entrepreneurs and women entrepreneurs.

The signing of this agreement is another indicator of the confidence of international financial institutions in the professionalism, quality of service, operational work, as well as in the long-term stability of Bank Respublika.

Bank Respublika - is one of the five leading banks in Azerbaijan with the wide branch network. The development of international cooperation is one of the priority areas of the banks activities. Today, the banks international partners include more than 30 financial institutions around the world.

You can get more detailed information on the official website of the bank, as well as on facebook, instagram, linkedin, telegram pages or by calling the Bank's Call Center at 144.
Former Carroll County teacher gets one year probation for inappropriate relationship with student

GREEN FOREST, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA)  A former Green Forest teacher who had an inappropriate relationship with a former student has taken a plea agreement and been sentenced, according to court documents.

Dustin Lee, 46

(Courtesy: Carroll County Jail)

Dustin Lee, 46, pleaded guilty to contributing to the delinquency of a minor and endangering the welfare of a minor. He was sentenced to one year of probation and ordered to pay $1,190 in fines.

Lee was arrested at his mothers house in Van Buren on January 9, 2023, and transported to the Carroll County Jail on January 11, according to a news release from Green Forest Police Chief John Bailey.

Green Forest English teacher arrested for possible inappropriate behavior with student

A probable cause affidavit said a school resource officer with the Green Forest Police Department was contacted by the superintendent of the district to meet with him. The SRO spoke with the superintendent about inappropriate messages between Lee and one of his students.

The student was interviewed on January 6, 2023, and confirmed that Lee sent the messages to her.

She said Lee sent messages wanting her to leave class so they could meet in his classroom. He also offered to take the student to dinner, gave details about his sex life and sent at least one nude photo.

When asked during the interview if Lee ever touched her, she said he would occasionally lean on her and rest his hand on her breast.

Case delayed for former Green Forest teacher accused of inappropriate behavior with student

A detective spoke with Lee on January 7, 2023, where he admitted to messaging the student but said he didnt send the messages he was accused of sending.

Lee said he abused a medication that has similar side effects to Ambien and would often not remember doing things. He also admitted to not sending a nude photo to the student.

Lee reportedly picked up his phone during the interview saying he would show police the messages but put it back down saying it was about to die. When the detective told Lee they were going to seize the phone, he grabbed it and said Youre not taking my f***ing phone.

The affidavit said the detective eventually got the phone.

As part of his plea agreement, Lee is ordered to have no contact with the student involved, commit no misdemeanor offenses and refrain from entering the property of any Arkansas school instructing children in grades kindergarten through 12th.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KNWA FOX24.
Cows graze a recently harvested corn field in western Iowa. (Photo by Jared Strong/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

A financially troubled cattle farmer in northeast Iowa who is awaiting sentencing in federal court was recently fined by state regulators for endangering a creek and groundwater.

Michael Butikofer, 54, operates an open feedlot south of Farmersburg in Clayton County with a capacity of more than 1,700 cattle, according to an Iowa Department of Natural Resources order.

In a March 2023 inspection of the facility  known as Fawn Hollow  a DNR officer discovered that an unspecified amount of manure had overflowed from a storage basin and went into an underground tiling inlet that flows to nearby Howard Creek. Butikofer has since removed that inlet.

Further, the officer noted manure stockpiles that were too close to a water well and a sinkhole. The cattle operation is located in the Driftless Area, which has porous bedrock and is more susceptible to groundwater contamination.

A confinement building that had been converted from an open feedlot building was also located too close to two sinkholes.

The DNR ordered Butikofer to pay a $4,000 fine, keep manure and bedding stockpiles at least 400 feet away from sinkholes and wells, and verify that there is no risk of manure discharging again from the property.

Butikofer can appeal the decision. He has reverted the confinement building back to an open feedlot building and now has fewer than 1,000 cattle at the site, said Brian Jergenson, a senior environmental specialist for the DNR.

Legal troubles

Butikofer pleaded guilty in December to three federal criminal charges of theft of livestock, wire fraud and false bankruptcy declaration. He faces up to 30 years in prison when he is sentenced in October.

Court records show that Butikofer is paid to raise cattle for other people, and that in recent years when he became unable to make payments on his debts, he sold cattle he didnt own and used that money to pay.

He was also accused of fraudulently obtaining more than $200,000 in emergency assistance funds in the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, and of using part of a federal disaster loan to pay for a bankruptcy attorney. In 2022, he allegedly made false statements about his finances in those bankruptcy proceedings.

Separate from his recent criminal prosecution, in 2020 a federal judge ordered Butikofer to pay three of his former workers about $250,000 for unpaid wages and mistreatment.

The men were from South Africa and traveled to work for Butikofer on a temporary basis in 2018. They sued him the next year, alleging that Butikofer verbally abused and physically threatened them.

The lawsuit claimed Butikofer derided them as third world trash and dumb South Africans if their work did not meet his expectations. He allegedly threatened to hang one of the workers by his neck and to use a shock collar on another worker so that he would work faster, court records show. Butikofer also allegedly pushed a worker toward a corn auger and threatened to throw him into it.

The post Cattle farmer who faces prison time is fined by DNR appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
School officials in Florida have banned a book about book banning.

The Indian River County School Board voted to remove "Ban This Book" by Alan Gratz from its shelves in a meeting last month, overruling its own district book-review committee's decision to keep it.

The children's novel follows a fictional fourth grader who creates a secret banned books locker library after her school board pulled a multitude of titles off the shelves.

Cover of "Ban This Book."

Indian River County School Board members said they disliked how it referenced other books that had been removed from schools and accused it of "teaching rebellion of school board authority," as described in the formal motion to oust it.

The book, which had been in two Indian River County elementary schools and a middle school, was challenged by Jennifer Pippin. She's the head of the area's local chapter of Moms for Liberty, a national conservative group that has become one of the loudest advocates for removing books they deem inappropriate.

The book has also been challenged at least one other time in Florida, by someone in Clay County, but school officials there decided to keep it in circulation.

Gratz, its author, called the Indian River County decision "incredibly ironic."

"They banned the book because it talks about the books that they have banned and because it talks about book banning," he said in an interview with the USA TODAY NETWORK - Florida. "It feels like they know exactly what they're doing and they're somewhat ashamed of what they're doing and they don't want a book on the shelves that calls them out."

A full house attends an Indian River County School Board meeting held Feb. 22, 2022, to consider banning certain books from the school libraries. Moms for Liberty, a conservative parents' rights group, circulated a list nationwide of books it thought should be removed.

The school board's decision

The school board voted to remove the book by a 3-2 vote, but that could've gone in the other direction months before.

Board members Jacqueline Rosario and Gene Posca, who voted in the majority, were backed by Moms for Liberty during their campaigns, according to Treasure Coast Newspapers. The third "yes" vote came from Kevin McDonald, who was recently appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Photo of Kevin McDonald, as provided by Stories of Joy Photography and used by TCPalm.

Moms for Liberty leaders have vocally supported DeSantis  and vice versa. Still, the appointment came with more drama than usual.

It all started when School Board member Brian Barefoot resigned, saying he was moving out of the district he was elected to represent. He tried to rescind that resignation the next day, after being told by a Treasure Coast Newspapers reporter that his new home was actually in the same district.

He didn't succeed.

After McDonald's appointment, Barefoot told TCPalm that he never received a courtesy call letting him know about it or received official acknowledgement of his resignation.

Barefoot had been on a list of school board members DeSantis wanted to target in the 2024 election, saying those members don't protect parental rights or shield students from "woke" ideologies, according to the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. McDonald had been running for Barefoot's seat.

"We are elected  I was appointed, vote of one  we are here to represent the parent's decisions, and the school board is the final authority for our citizens," McDonald said at last month's meeting, explaining some of his disagreement with the book.

"The title itself and the theme challenges our authority. And it even goes so far as to not only to mention books that are deemed inappropriate by school boards, including ours, it not only mentions them but it lists them."

Florida Freedom to Read, one of the state's loudest book access advocates, called the removal "truly absurd" in a social media post, adding, "This is what happens when you lose a nonpartisan majority."

Community members filled the chambers of the Indian River County School Board on Monday, Feb. 28, 2022, to voice their option of the removal of certain books from all school libraries. The media specialists are recommending five of the challenged books be removed from all school libraries because they are not K-12 appropriate.

Not everyone agrees with decision

At the same time, BookLooks.org, a book-rating website that is tied to Moms for Liberty and is commonly cited by those challenging books in schools, only gives "Ban This Book" a mild "1" rating out of five for inappropriateness.

"This book encourages activism of young children," the rating said in its "summary of concerns." Regardless, Pippin's book challenge accused the book of containing sexual conduct.

School Board members opposed to the removal had a different opinion.

"It does not depict or describe sexual conduct, period. Maybe it refers to other books that do but it does not do that itself," said Teri Barenborg, the School Board chair. "It's a cute little book about a little girl that's trying to defy establishment. Does she go about it in the right way? No. Does she learn her lesson? Yes."

The main character, student Amy Anne, broke several school rules in the process of circumventing the board's decisions, like taking pulled books from the librarian's office to use in her own secret library.

Author Alan Gratz.

McDonald accused the author of justifying such behavior because it was levied against the school board she disagrees with: "That lesson alone is at the heart of corruption in our society," he said.

Gratz, the author, said the criticism took things out of context "deliberately just to get a book off the shelf."

"Clearly, that's not the message of the book," Gratz said. "But they were making 'good trouble,' as John Lewis would say, and these kids know the difference between good trouble and bad trouble."

McDonald was referring to a scene on the last page, where the main character is ironically reflecting on how the books were removed with fears they would "encourage kids to lie, steal, and be disrespectful to adults." Instead, she thought, it was the book banning that prompted such behavior, which she had been punished for.

It was the school board in the book that set off the "good trouble," Gratz said, breaking their own rules in removing books outside of the usual review process.

While Indian River County School Board members are given the final say in library content decisions, he compared that plot point to how they decided to pull his book despite it going through a review process when it was purchased and after it was challenged. Reviewers included both parents and school officials.

That also irked Barenborg.

"We've had several eyes on this book before it came to us," she said. "Yet we're going to be the five people that determine that we know all those people who determined the book was OK before it got to us. I have a hard time with that."

Another criticism about "Ban This Book," from School Board member Posca: "This book is really just a liberal Marxist propaganda piece."

"I am liberal, guilty as charged," Gratz rebutted, laughing. "I'm not a Marxist by any stretch. I think this is just the case of someone using hot-button political words to try and score points with supporters."

Ultimately, it was Amy Anne finding the confidence to speak up at the public comment portion of a School Board meeting that led members to reinstating the books.

"It doesn't teach rebellion against the school board; it teaches civic engagement," Gratz said. "If that means opposing what your school board is doing, that means opposing what your school board is doing."

Community members filled the chambers of the Indian River County School Board on Monday, Feb. 28, 2022, to voice their option of the removal of certain books from all school libraries. The media specialists are recommending five of the challenged books be removed from all school libraries because they are not K-12 appropriate.

'Ban This Book' not the first banned book

"Ban This Book" is not the first book that's been removed from public schools in Indian River County.

More than 140 books have been removed from school shelves following an objection, according to a list obtained through a public records request. Moms for Liberty's Pippin had filed all those objections.

As previously reported by the USA TODAY NETWORK, Florida controversially twice picked Pippin, a public school student parent herself, to partake in a group to develop a state-sponsored training program on book removals for school librarians and media specialists.

Other removed books that she challenged include classics like "The Bluest Eye" by Toni Morrison, "Slaughterhouse-Five" by Kurt Vonnegut and "The Kite Runner" by Khaled Hosseini.

She also got Anne Franks Diary: The Graphic Adaptation pulled from a high school. And, in response to her objection to a children's book that showed the bare behind of a goblin, the school district drew clothes over it.

Indian River County is not the only place in Florida that has seen a surge in removals. Multiple measures signed by DeSantis have prompted local school leaders across the state to pull books in wildly varying ways, fearing running afoul of state law. It's also prompted multiple lawsuits.

Meanwhile, DeSantis and other conservatives have raged against the "book ban" term. DeSantis says removals are being exaggerated, slamming "mainstream media, unions and leftist activists hoax of empty library bookshelves and political theater...."

At the same time, he's bashed the explicit content found in certain school library books and pushed a law geared at limiting how many books someone can challenge if they're not a student's parent or guardian.

But Gratz said the "heart of the problem" is that those trying to remove books aren't trying to protect children.

"They don't want these books to exist," he said. Especially, he added, books by and about communities of color and the LGBTQ community. "Now they don't want my book on the shelf because it would tell kids that these books exist: The books they can't even get in the library."

This reporting content is supported by a partnership with Freedom Forum and Journalism Funding Partners. USA TODAY Network-Florida First Amendment reporter Douglas Soule can be reached at DSoule@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Florida school board bans book about book bans
Trigger warning: this article includes mention of suicide and other topics that readers may find disturbing.

Channel 4 has ordered an independent investigation into the death of a producer who took his own life after working on the UK broadcasters true crime series In the Footsteps of Killers, Deadline can reveal.

More from Deadline

John Balson died on May 17, having spent weeks experiencing intense physical pain and mental anguish. Deadline has spoken with his family and they have given us permission to publish this article in order to raise awareness of the dangers of overwork in factual TV, which was one of Balsons wishes.

Channel 4 said it was deeply saddened by Balsons death and has instructed British legal firm Reynolds Porter Chamberlain (RPC) to investigate, pledging to take whatever action is appropriate. The broadcaster is in contact with Balsons family. No decision has been made over whether the show will be broadcast.

During his time working on In the Footsteps of Killers in the first four months of 2024, Balson, a 40-year-old father of one whose wife is pregnant with their second child, told his family he received threats from someone associated with a person he was researching. According to his wife, he felt he was blamed by the production for a family declining to take part in the show and became exhausted leading to intense physical symptoms associated with vestibular migraine disorder, while his mental health deteriorated.

Alaska TV, the London-based producer behind In the Footsteps of Killers, said the wellbeing of its employees was of paramount importance, but declined to comment further, citing the ongoing investigation. An inquest into Balsons death wont take place for months and charities advise that no single factor should be attributed to the reasoning behind a person taking their own life.

According to his recent medical history, which Deadline has seen, the experienced producer and journalist, whose past credits included Netflixs When Missing Turns To Murder and CBS Realitys Murder: First On Scene, had struggled over the past few years working long days in Japan and then often working late nights in the UK, dealing with difficult topics and contributors. He did not have a history of mental health issues, his family said.

He started work in January on the third season of In the Footsteps of Killers, a true crime show in which Silent Witness actor Emilia Fox and criminologist David Wilson investigate famous cold cases.

After his symptoms started in March, Balson sought help from a number of medical professionals and twice went to accident & emergency. A few weeks before he died, he was told he likely had a form of vestibular migraine disorder. He stopped working around a month before he died and Alaska declined to comment on whether they were aware he was suffering at this time.

Intended as both a lesson-learning exercise and duty of care review, Channel 4 told us RPCs thorough investigation will be as swift as circumstances allow. Balsons family will be briefed on the learnings from the investigation. In the interim, Channel 4 programs boss Ian Katz has offered support to Balsons family and the network has made a donation to them.

To avoid pre-empting the findings of the investigation, Channel 4 declined to say whether Alaska had broken its Supplier Code of Conduct, which includes a section that reads: Due care must be taken over the physical and emotional welfare and the dignity of all people who take part in or are otherwise involved in your business. The investigation is the second that Channel 4 has ordered in the past year and poses further questions about how below-the-line staffers are treated on its shows. Last May, Deadline revealed that the network had severed ties with two of its biggest stars, Dick and Angel Strawbridge, after ordering an investigation into their conduct.

Beyond providing a statement, Alaska declined to answer several of Deadlines questions. The company, which is run by Paul Sommers and Chris Fouracre, said it had never had a complaint of this nature before. A spokesman said it gives colleagues access to support resources including a specialist TV production psychologist, recommended Screenskills courses (including on mental health), and help and guidance from industry bodies including the Film and TV Charity.

Balsons tragic death, events leading up to it and his desire for the dangers of overwork in factual TV to be made public will likely reopen debates around duty of care and conditions for TV workers, especially in the fast-paced world of true crime and factual. Only last year, an Association of True Crime Producers was launched by a group of British execs, and Deadline recently analyzed the work being done in the space to improve conditions. Anonymous sources in the true crime space detailed experiences to us including delayed trauma and being threatened by relatives of contributors.

The Channel 4 statement read: Channel 4 was deeply saddened by the news of Johns death, and our thoughts are with his wife and family at this incredibly difficult time. John was a highly respected and much-loved professional  both amongst his colleagues at Alaska TV and those who worked with him across the industry  and will be sorely missed. We are in ongoing contact with Johns family and offering them our support. We are also in a dialogue with [the union] BECTU and have engaged an external law firm to undertake a thorough investigation, which will be as swift as circumstances allow. We will take whatever action is appropriate in response to its findings.

While we do not employ production staff directly, the wellbeing of all those working on the productions we commission is vitally important and is something we take very seriously. We are committed to supporting our production partners in ensuring those productions are safe and professional workplaces, with safeguarding measures in place. Our Supplier Code of Conduct outlines our commitments and is well communicated to all production companies we work with.

Alaskas statement added: It was with great sadness that we learned of Johns passing  an extremely talented and thoughtful Director, he will be hugely missed by us all. The wellbeing of our all staff is of paramount importance, and whilst were unable to comment further given the investigation with Channel 4, our thoughts and love are with Johns family and friends at this very difficult time.

Bectu, the union, has repeatedly campaigned for better working conditions and shorter hours in TV. It launched a campaign titled Eyes Half Shut in 2017, which called on the industry to come together and form a commission dedicated to reducing the industrys reliance on a long-hours working culture.

Bectu Head Philippa Childs said: We are deeply saddened to hear of this tragedy and our thoughts are with Johns family, friends and everyone impacted. The industry must take urgent steps to address the unhealthy and counterproductive long-hours culture that leaves workers feeling isolated, burnt out and unable to sustain a healthy work/life balance.

A gofundme page has been set up for Balsons family and donations can be made here.

Suicide is preventable and support can be found via the Samaritans, National Suicide Prevention Helpline and other organizations. The Film and TV Charitys Support Line is open 24 hours a day and is available to everyone working in the industry, whether freelance or employee. It provides in-the-moment help from trained counsellors, as well as access to other mental health support. Partners and adult children of people working in the industry are also able to access help. Call 0800 054 0000 or visit www.filmtvcharity.org.uk to start a Live Chat.

In the U.S., a list of helplines can be found here and information on suicide prevention from the National Institute of Mental Health can be found here.

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White House senior advisor Tom Perez paid a visit last week to the Latin American Chamber of Commerce of Charlotte.

Perez, who is also director of the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, met yesterday with a group of about 30 LACCC members, small-business owners, corporate executives, nonprofit representatives and local government officials. Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles and City Council member Marjorie Molina were in attendance.

ALSO READ: Womans History Month: How Grace Nystrum is connecting local organizations

They toured LACCCs future economic development hub, Spark Centro, in the citys Albemarle Road corridor and discussed the project as well as its future impact on those who live on Charlottes east side.

Marta Tataje, member on LACCCs board of directors, said the Albemarle corridor is one of Charlottes most diverse areas with about 80% of its residents being Black, Latino or Asian. Its high school graduation and employment rates are in line with the county averages, but the average household income there is significantly less, Tataje said.

Read the full story on CBJs website here.

(WATCH BELOW: New U.S. citizens receive celebration from Latin American Coalition)




CHICAGO  Chicago aldermen are set to consider the citys largest police misconduct settlement ever: a $50 million deal for four men imprisoned after detectives allegedly forced their false confessions as teens.

The hefty sum would go to four men who were originally convicted in a 1995 double murder. The men were arrested and tried as teens and spent half their lives in prison, but were exonerated in 2017 and certified as innocent after new fingerprinting technology did not connect them to the scene.

The council Finance Committee unanimously approved the settlement recommended by city attorneys Monday, setting it up for a final vote by the full City Council Wednesday.

The four men  Lashawn Ezell, Charles Johnson, Troshawn McCoy and Larod Styles  were accused of robbing and murdering Khaled Ibrahim and Yousef Ali. They were coerced to give false confessions by Chicago Police Department detectives, their federal lawsuits allege.

Ibrahim and Ali were fatally shot on a December night by a pair of attackers at their used car dealership, Elegant Auto. The attackers then stole two cars and sped away from the lot at 75th Street and Western Avenue.

Ezell, Johnson, McCoy and Styles allege police interrogated them for hours, away from guardians and handcuffed, and tricked them to confess only after they were terrified, confused and utterly worn down.

Johnson told police during one interrogation that he and his co-defendants planned to steal cars from the lot and strip them for parts. Witnesses later identified him as the shooter at the trial. He and Styles were sentenced to life without parole. McCoy was given a 55-year sentence, while Ezell was sentenced to 20 years in prison and released after 10 years.

Together, they spent 73 years in prison, city attorney Jessica Felker said Monday. But when authorities again examined fingerprints from one of the stolen cars with new technology a decade after the convictions, they were unable to match the four men with the evidence, Felker added.

Instead, the fingerprint evidence was matched to a convicted felon whose mother lived near the spot where the stolen car was abandoned. The Cook County states attorneys office has since interviewed the man, but declined to press charges against him.

Johnsons lawyers argued he had signed a confession only after he was told it was a routine document that would lead to his release. In addition, the details in the confessions from the men, which formed the bulk of the prosecutions case, did not match up, they said.

The mens lawsuits argue Chicago failed to identify and track officers who committed misconduct, such as obtaining coerced and false confessions. Their suits name detectives James Cassidy and Kenneth Boudreau, whose history of getting suspects to give dubious and ill-gotten confessions has been detailed in past Tribune stories.

Cassidy, the first defendant named in the mens lawsuits, was one of the detectives sued for allegedly framing an 8-year-old boy in the infamous 1998 murder of 11-year-old Ryan Harris. Cassidy was also sued by the exonerated Englewood Four who courts determined were wrongfully convicted in a 1994 rape and murder. Those exonerated men similarly claimed Cassidy fed and coerced false confessions.

The four men originally convicted of double murder were first interviewed by police after Cassidy claimed an anonymous caller told him McCoy was involved in the crime, Felker said.

If the deal is approved Wednesday, the city would pay the men $21 million and the citys insurance provider would pay another $29 million. The $50 million total would make it the largest police settlement in the citys history, though other settlements for single individuals surpass the size of the payouts each man will receive.

The record had been previously set in March when the city settled with the family of Nathen Jones for $45 million. Jones was left unable to walk, talk and care for himself at 15 years old after a car he was a passenger in crashed during a police chase that violated department policy.

Aldermen have approved around $300 million to settle Chicago police-related lawsuits since the start of 2021.

Police routinely pushed false confessions by intimidating suspects, concealing exculpatory information, sleep deprivation and other illegal tactics, the four men allege. For Ezell, arrested as a 15-year-old, the prison time he faced left him stripped of the basic pleasures of human experience, his lawsuit says.

He missed the opportunity to begin living independently, to share holidays, births, funerals, and other life events with loved ones, to have girlfriends, to fall in love, to marry, and to pursue a career, and the fundamental freedom to live his life as an autonomous human being, the lawsuit says.

Out of prison now, he has struggled with the stigma of being branded a violent criminal, the lawsuit added.

The committee also approved three additional settlements totaling over $9 million.

A $5.8 million settlement moved forward for four current and former Department of Water Management employees who alleged they faced rampant racism while working at the department.

The plaintiffs lawsuits allege they were given worse assignments, denied promotions and faced harassment because of anti-Black discrimination. Racism in the departments top ranks has long been an open secret, according to one plaintiffs lawsuit. City attorneys reached the proposed settlement just weeks before what would have been a potentially embarrassing trial.

Aldermen also voted to advance a $2 million settlement for the mother of Ronald Johnson III, who was shot and killed by a Chicago police officer in 2014. The lawsuit alleged Officer George Hernandez used excessive force when Hernandez fatally shot Johnson as Johnson ran away from him.

In 2016, the Independent Police Review Authority ruled Hernandez was justified in the shooting because evidence supported the officers belief that Johnson had a gun. Johnsons family has alleged police planted a gun at the scene to cover up misconduct. City attorney Caroline Fronczak on Monday said video of the shooting did not conclusively show whether or not Johnson had a gun.

Aldermen also approved a $1.25 million settlement for a woman whose car was struck by a falling light pole at the intersection of East Illinois Street and North McClurg Court. The woman, who suffered a concussion, alleged the light pole was poorly maintained.

_____
Gov. Jim Justice's Chief of Staff Brian Abraham gave an update on June 6, 2024 to the media on an investigation into the death of a Boone County teen. (Office of the Gov. Jim Justice | Courtesy photo)

Last week, Gov. Jim Justices administration gave an update on a horrible case out of Boone County where a 14-year-old girl died after several state agencies failed her.

Justice said during an earlier press briefing that Child Protective Services had no idea about the child, who was found in a skeletal state. Then he walked back those comments in a press briefing two weeks later, blaming lawyers from the Department of Human Services for giving him the wrong information.

On Thursday, Justices Chief of Staff Brian Abraham said the state had mishandled communication with the media and promised improvements to better protect children. They could start by providing records.

CPS officials say there are records that CPS was called to the same home, once in 2009 and again in 2017, but they have not provided them to the media. DoHS Secretary Cynthia Persily said that those cases had nothing to do with Kyneddi Miller, the child who died.

If CPS is called to a home because of concern over one child shouldnt the person responding be concerned with all children in the home?

DoHS will not give West Virginia Watch records to show if CPS was called about Kyneddi, or if they visited the home. Persily said in a statement that it was essential to recognize that confidentiality protocols, mandated by both state and federal law, are designed and implemented so that people can report suspected child abuse without fear of retaliation.

Were not asking for information on children, or the names of people who called to report them. What were asking for is the information about whether the family was reported to CPS and if CPS showed up.

During Thursdays news conference, Abraham said that according to the law, CPS doesnt have to share those records with the media.

Our lawyer disagrees. Weve been waiting weeks for DoHS to respond to our lawyers email to fulfill our records request.

WCHS reported that a West Virginia State Police trooper who was called to the home was worried about the child, and provided an audio recording of the officer radioing in that he was going to make a CPS referral. WCHS also reported that the troopers GPS tracker showed his cruiser in the Boone County Department of Health and Human Services  where the local CPS office is located  parking lot for about eight minutes.

Abraham said that he interviewed the troopers who visited the home, and that there was no police report from the trooper because they said the child was in good health, she was unharmed, that she was not in any way malnourished, nor did she display any aches about any abuse or neglect. However, he said the troopers went to the office to make informal contact because they were concerned about the childs mental health after she told them she was scared to be around people because of COVID-19.

He said the trooper found it odd that a child of that age  probably around 13 years old in March 2023 when they responded  would be scared of something like that.

Theres just something so off about this explanation. In the audio, the trooper doesnt say informal contact; he says he is making a CPS referral. Which did he do? Do we accept what he said on the call or his memory a year after it happened?

If the trooper was worried enough to tell CPS, why did he not make a formal report? And if he wasnt making a formal report, what did he expect CPS to do? Did he not share his concerns with the family? Did the family ignore his concerns, and thats why he decided to go to CPS? Wouldnt a parent ignoring a childs mental health issues be something CPS should be concerned about? CPS told Abraham there is no record of the trooper stopping in the office.

One positive that may come from this horrible situation is that lawmakers agree there needs to be better oversight of children who are homeschooled.

Kyneddi had been homeschooled since 2021, but a public records request to Boone County Schools showed that her mother, Julie Anne Stone Miller, never submitted any assessments that showed Kyneddis progress.

Truancy officers can use those records to raise concerns about a childs status, but school districts arent required to follow up on the missing documentation.

One more time  school districts in West Virginia are not required to follow up if a homeschooled childs assessments are never, ever turned in.

The state board of education is looking at strengthening the guardrails around homeschool requirements, said the State Superintendent of Schools Michele Blatt.

Remember just a few months ago when Democratic lawmakers tried to strengthen homeschooling guardrails? Raylees Law, which would stop children from being removed from schools to be homeschooled if a child abuse or neglect investigation was made by a teacher or school personnel, was not passed.

Raylees Law was named after 8-year-old Raylee Browning, who died from abuse and neglect in 2018 after her parents removed her from school, even though staff at her elementary school had notified CPS of potential abuse.

The handling of this Boone County case keeps getting more and more wild. I didnt even get into half of it. But we  and many other news outlets  are covering this because the state continues to fail children. Not, as Abraham claimed at Thursdays press conference, to feed interest and create content.

Were holding the government accountable, and West Virginians should be interested in that and aware of how many children keep dying because they fall through the cracks that lawmakers could easily close, but refuse to because they worry the system will be abused.

Id rather the system be abused than children.

The post Children shouldnt have to die for West Virginia lawmakers to take action appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Illustration:Jianan Liu/HuffPost; Photo:Getty Images

Donald Trump has no greater enemy than the United States federal bureaucracy  what he calls the deep state. And he has a plan to bend it to his will if hes elected in November.

The plan, to create something called Schedule F, would make tens of thousands of civil servants easier to fire, fundamentally changing the nature of the federal government  and, some worry, paving the way for authoritarianism.

Schedule F is a new category, or schedule, of federal workers who are exempt from codified job protections, like being hired and fired based on merit and having the ability to appeal disciplinary action.

The majority of federal civil service employees, from climate scientists to bank examiners to IT specialists, are covered by these protections; some positions, like postal workers and intelligence officers, are currently exempt. That system ensures that experience and skill, rather than political favoritism or personal connections, guide hiring and firing decisions within the federal government.

But conservatives have long complained that the president should exercise more control over the federal bureaucracy, and Trump in particular has said it needs to be brought to heel.

Trump created Schedule F in an October 2020 executive order. Under that order, federal workers involved in confidential, policy-determining, policy-making and policy-advocating positions  a vague description that would include at least tens of thousands of people  would be stripped of their civil service protections and reclassified as at-will appointees, meaning they could be hired or fired for any reason, or none at all.

Because the order came so late in Trumps presidency, only a handful of agencies created lists of specific jobs that would be eligible for conversion to Schedule F. And President Joe Biden reversed the order before any jobs could actually be converted.

But Trump has explicitly said hell pursue Schedule F again if hes elected. In a campaign video last year, Trump referred to Schedule F as an effort to remove rogue bureaucrats.

I will wield that power very aggressively, he said.

Federal employees, political scientists, union leaders and watchdog groups told HuffPost that Schedule F could lead to a chilling effect. At-will employment, they said, would make it harder for government workers to raise concerns that go against their bosses political loyalties. That could lead to a degradation of public services like disaster relief, financial regulation and the administration of government benefits.

You can see where it can grind work to a halt, because even people who are trying to do the right thing [would] be afraid that if they do something wrong, theyll be out of a job, said Joe Spielberger, a policy counsel at the Project on Government Oversight who has raised alarms over how the implementation of Schedule F would harm key welfare programs like Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.

Schedule F would be the fundamental element of an authoritarian agenda, he said, allowing Trump to take control of the vast federal bureaucracy and reverse generations of reforms.

Donald Moynihan, a professor of public policy at Georgetown University, signed on to an open letter in April arguing Schedule F would open the door to politicization and patronage throughout the federal workforce. Hetold HuffPost, This feels like the biggest problem that the fewest people understand about a potential second Trump administration.

In the hands of a president who is not committed to democratic norms, taking control of the bureaucracy is a tried and tested way to work toward authoritarian government.

In the hands of a president who is not committed to democratic norms, taking control of the bureaucracy is a tried and tested way to work toward authoritarian government.Donald Moynihan, professor of public policy, Georgetown University

The Lightbulb Moment

The push for Schedule F started with what one Trump staffer called a lightbulb moment. In 2019, James Sherk, a top White House adviser on civil service and labor policy, was frustrated by reports of federal workers pushing back against the Trump policy agenda. He started reading through existing U.S. law on federal labor rights, and realized that the language about exceptions from civil service protections could actually be interpreted quite broadly.

Such a change in interpretation would be a break from decades of precedent. Presidents only bring around 4,000 political appointees with them at the start of a new term, and many additionallyrequire Senate confirmation. These appointees are generally classified as excepted  theyarent required to complete standardized competitive civil service exams, butthey also arent afforded standard civil service protections. (The excepted portion of the federal workforce includes more than a million federal workers under various schedules, though the vast majority of them come from the United States Postal Service, the military, and Department of Veterans affairs.)

But Sherk argued that the excepted service should grow much larger, to include the most important federal workers  the people who are telling all the rest of the bureaucracy what to do, he said in a 2022 interview. In his view, the change would make the federal government more accountable to the White House, and therefore, the American people.

Nothing in [federal law]says that you can only take away the civil service protections of political appointees, Sherk said.

Sherk estimated that Schedule F would have applied to 1% to 3% of the federal workforce, or about 50,000 workers, had Biden not unwound it. But the number actually affected if Trump pursues Schedule F again could be much larger. A Government Accountability Office review of the few agencies that did start making Schedule F conversion lists found that agencies thought anywhere from 2% to 68% of their employees were eligible to be rescheduled.

The agency that found over two-thirds of its workers could be reclassified was the very policy-focused Office of Management and Budget. The Office of Personnel Management  the executive branchs human resources office, and the office that would be responsible for actually overseeing the reclassification of workers under Schedule F  had approved the reclassification of OMB jobs ranging from IT specialists and office managers to attorneys, policy analysts and economists, according to government records obtained by the National Treasury Employees Union and the watchdog group American Oversight.

But the documents provide just a glimpse at the changes Schedule F could bring.

We dont know yet what we dont know, which is why were going to court, said Ron Fein, chief counsel for American Oversight, which has sued the Biden administration to release more records related to Schedule F. The group shared records it obtained with HuffPost, and NTEU has released similar documents publicly.

Last year,Republicans in both the House and Senate introduced legislation to make every executive branch employee at-will. And multiple former Republican presidential candidates expressed support for Schedule F, including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who as a presidential candidate said of the so-called deep state, Were going to start slitting throats on day one.

Project 2025, the 900-page right-wing agenda-in-waiting for Trump cooked up by the Heritage Foundation and dozens of other arch-conservative organizations, refers to plans to reintroduce Schedule F in several sections. And one member of the projects three-person leadership team is Paul Dans, the former chief of staff at the OPM during the Trump administration.

The Project 2025 team has signaled that potential staffers in a second Trump White House would need to be on board: A questionnaire for potential new hires in a Trump administration asks applicants if they agree that the President should be able to advance his/her agenda through the bureaucracy without hinderance from unelected federal officials.

Neither Sherk nor representatives for Project 2025 responded to HuffPosts requests for comment. And Trumps campaign said in an all-purpose statement to HuffPost, unless a message is coming directly from President Trump or an authorized member of his campaign team, no aspect of future presidential staffing or policy announcements should be deemed official.

Wearing The Wrong Hat

For civil servants, the prospect of being rescheduled to Schedule F raises concerns about political pressure and interference  and frustration at yet another distraction keeping them from their work.

The only person Im loyal to is the American public, the American depositor, and the safety of our system, said Vivian Hwa, a senior economist at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, where she helps ensure banks complex financial models comply with the law. Hwa is also the union president for Washington, D.C.-based FDIC employees.

We shouldnt have to worry about other things, like, I might be fired if I say the wrong thing to the wrong person, or, I now have to compete with that guy for my job because that guy happens to wear a red hat or a blue hat, Hwa said.

Hwa doesnt touch policy, she told HuffPost, but her team does a lot of analytical work that could inform policy.

Hwa said being rescheduled could make her colleagues feel pressure to politicize their work, or else fear being replaced by someone more politicallyaligned with higher-ups. Had Schedule F been in place in 2007, she said, she may have reconsidered her decision to enter the civil service.

If I had known that signing up for a government job meant that you have to lean left or lean right depending on whos in the office, I think that would change the calculus a little bit, knowing that you dont have that job security, she said.

The only person Im loyal to is the American public, the American depositor, and the safety of our system.Vivian Hwa, union leader and FDIC senior economist

As a risk analyst at the Commodities Futures Trading Commission, Malcolm Alexander-Neal assesses clearinghouses to make sure they comply with financial regulations. Like Hwa, his job isnt political, but he sees that it could be considered related to policy-making  and that the prospect of being stripped of civil service protections felt dangerous and counterproductive.

Taxpayers should understand, that would be disruptive to the work I do, he said.

Alexander-Neal, who is president of the union for CFTC employees, stressed that there already are safeguards in place to make sure federal workers keep taxpayers best interests in mind and report up the chain of command to political appointees. Injecting politics at the level of financial examiners could lead to a huge increase in turnover and a loss of institutional knowledge, he said, as well as deal a severe blow to morale and recruitment.

There would be a huge perception of more politicization, and an erosion of public trust, Alexander-Neal said. If Schedule F had been around at the start of his government career, he added, I wouldnt have been as interested.

The Civil Service Atom Bomb

Sherk has answered criticisms about Schedule F politicizing the civil service by saying political discrimination is forbidden under the executive order.

Schedule F expressly forbids hiring or firing based on political loyalty, he told The New York Times last year.

The Trump-era executive order noted that existing law forbidding disciplinary action on the basis of various factors, like race or political affiliation, would still be applicable under Schedule F.

Moynihan, the public policy professor, is skeptical. He compared Sherk to Robert Oppenheimer, and Schedule F to a civil service atom bomb.

Sherk is not going to determine how the tool will be used, Moynihan said. And the people in Trump world who will actually be in charge, the chief of staff and Cabinet-type positions, now have that tool, and theyre going to use it for their purposes.

As Dans, likely a key player in the implementation of any Trump agenda, told Spectrum News last month: There is a league of folks within the government that is highly partisan and really working against democracy, and they need to be excised from the government properly.

Trump has repeatedly voiced even more politically charged rhetoric. He recently reposted a speech excerpt in which he promised to demolish the deep state, drive out the globalists, and liberate America from these villains once and for all.

As Steven Wasserman, a veteran federal prosecutor, told HuffPost, rhetoric about the deep state raises concerns that Trump could attempt to undermine the civil service protections that prevent the government from being used for political revenge.

Wasserman spoke to HuffPost in his capacity as president of the National Association of Assistant United States Attorneys, a role in which he represents about 1,000 dues-paying federal prosecutors on issues they care about  which have recently come to include civil service protections. He said he worries that Schedule F could be used to exert political pressure on civil servants decision-making, including at the Justice Department.

Thats the concern, when taken to its logical extreme  that the government is used to favor certain people and disfavor other people, he told HuffPost last week.

Thats kind of classic authoritarianism, and not something you see in a representative democracy, Wasserman added. Theres a number of steps that need to occur before you slide in that direction  but once you strip away those protections, and you allow political pressure and influence to permeate and impact decision-making, it becomes a slippery slope.

The first Trump administration had a record of targeting the civil service over its perceived politics.

In 2019, the Department of Agriculture announced that two of its research and grant-writing offices  the Economic Research Service and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture  would be moved from Washington, D.C., to Kansas City. Hundreds of researchers, economists and other experts were given just days to decide whether they wanted to pick up their families lives and cross the country or lose their jobs. Many went with the latter option. The workforce at the new locations was less experienced, and NIFA in particular lost a significant number of Black employees, the GAO found.

In a speech to a Republican fundraiser during the upheaval, then-White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney bragged that although its nearly impossible to fire a federal worker, more than half of the affected workers had decided to quit or retire as a result of the relocation.

By simply saying to people, You know what, were going to take you outside the bubble, outside the Beltway, outside this liberal haven of Washington, D.C., and move you out into the real part of the country, and they quit, Mulvaney said. What a wonderful way to streamline government and do what we havent been able to do for a long time!

That same year, the headquarters and D.C.-based staff for the Bureau of Land Management were similarly ordered to move to Grand Junction, Colorado. In that case, nearly 90% of affected workers decided not to move and instead resigned or retired. The move cut the number of Black employees at the agency headquarters by more than half, a GAO investigation found.

Within a couple of years, after Biden had taken office, Interior Secretary Deb Haaland announced the BLM would move back to D.C., and acknowledged that the relocation under Trump had led to a significant loss of institutional memory and talent.

Biden signaled in the first days of his presidency that he recognized federal workers concerns about Schedule F.

In his first week in office, he issued his own executive order rescinding the Trump order establishingSchedule F, and in April of this year, OPM finished a lengthy rule-making project putting up roadblocks against future efforts to gut the bureaucracy. OPMs rule stated that civil service protections cannot be taken away by an involuntary move and specified that existing law about civil service protections for civil servants engaged in policy-making apply to noncareer, political appointments.

Still, bothsides have acknowledged that thisnew OPM rule could just as easily be undone by another rule, should any president decide to pursue Schedule F in the future. There have been various congressional efforts to codify civil service protections against Schedule F, but they havent made it to Bidens desk.

Hwa, the FDIC senior economist, saidthe prospect of Schedule F returning is scary  not just for her and her colleagues, but for the proper functioning of her agency and the American regulatory state. Its one thing to lose a job, she said, but its another altogether for whole agencies to slide downhill.

Agencies that have a mission thats broader than the political whim of the day  protecting the environment, or our financial system, or consumers, or the Census  should be disconnected and independent of any political influence, she said. Its not some weird deep state conspiracy. These are people just doing their jobs, doing them neutrally and serving the public.

Related...
China just showed how easily one of its massive drills around Taiwan could escalate into something worse

China conducted massive drills around Taiwan last month, surrounding the island.

It demonstrated how easily China can launch a drill with little to no warning.

These exercises could easily escalate.

Last month, China conducted large-scale military exercises around Taiwan with the intent to send a message.

As elements of the Chinese joint force surrounded the island democracy for the two-day event, it became clear how easily one of these massive drills could escalate into conflict, giving China the ability to launch a blockade or quarantine of the island with little to no warning.

The Chinese armed forces have been able to "essentially start mounting an increased tempo of these large-scale drills that have a lot of the makings of a blockade," Tom Shugart, a former US Navy officer and current adjunct senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security think tank, said.

He added that the May exercise showed that China's fleet "is very well suited" for a blockade or quarantine of Taiwan.

The Department of Defense has identified a blockade as a possibility, noting in its most recent report on the Chinese military that "PLA writings describe a Joint Blockade Campaign in which the PRC would employ blockades of maritime and air traffic, including a cut-off of Taiwan's vital imports, to force Taiwan's capitulation."

If effectively executed, such action would potentially have immediate and dire consequences for Taiwan's economy, cutting off its trade and shipping. Such a move could force its military into action without necessarily triggering a military response from the US and its allies, possibly leaving it to stand alone.

After the most recent Chinese military drills, US Indo-Pacific Commander Adm. Samuel Paparo said the US observed the exercises closely, learning from them and assessing that they "looked like a rehearsal" for a military action against Taiwan.

There has long been speculation that the US would respond with force to a Chinese invasion of Taiwan, but the US response in the case of a blockade or quarantine, actions short of an amphibious assault, remains unclear.

The Taiwan M109 speed boats maneuver on the sea during a military drill on January 31, 2024, in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Annabelle Chih/Getty Images

China's recent exercise "Joint Sword" focused on "joint sea-air combat readiness patrols, joint seizure of comprehensive battlefield control, and joint precision strikes on key targets," according to Chinese state media reports. The training included mock strikes by fighter jets with live ammunition and drills with various naval vessels, including frigates and destroyers.

The exercise appeared similar, in many respects, to the drills in April 2023 and notably tamer than the August 2022 drills, which occurred after then-US Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan. The latest exercise lasted only two days compared to seven.

And the Chinese-declared zones for May's drills were also only along the edges of Taiwan's contiguous zone, compared to the 2022 drills, which featured large exclusion zones that crossed into Taiwan's airspace and waters. During those exercises, China also fired missiles over the island, a highly provocative action.

Yet the latest exercise came with almost no warning, suggesting China can continue conducting such drills surrounding Taiwan at its leisure and prepare for and launch them with minimal notice.

"This is less a distinct operation and more just a step up in tempo," Mick Ryan, a retired Australian major general and strategist focusing on evolutions in warfare, told BI.

"What this shows us," Ryan said, "is that they have an ongoing operation which they can kind of turn the temperature up and down on with more fidelity now than they have been able to previously."

An outdoor screen shows a news coverage of China's military drills around Taiwan, in Beijing on May 23, 2024. JADE GAO/AFP via Getty Images

That would help China, were it to suddenly pursue a more aggressive course, maintain the element of surprise, which its war doctrine emphasizes as a key component of its fighting plans.

By increasing the frequency of and normalizing its military presence around Taiwan, China is adopting what experts and military officials, including retired Adm. John Aquilino, the former head of US INDOPACOM, have referred to as a "boiling frog" strategy.

The strategy essentially involves stepping up and maintaining aggression in the area so that the critical point when China actually decides to enact a blockade or quarantine is less discernible.

Such an event would be an act of war, but it still leaves the US and its allies in an odd place, weighing options as to how to respond, especially if it is short of large-scale violence.

Think tanks have played out war games of different Taiwan invasion scenarios, some of which have resulted in heavy losses for US, Japanese, and South Korean forces, as well as China's military. An all-out invasion isn't the only option though, as the recent drills demonstrated.

"The exercise really highlights the vulnerability of Taiwan to a lot of other scenarios than just invasion," Shugart said, noting that regardless of when or if one of these large drills transitions into a blockade, the most concerning issues are how easily that could occur and how China continues to use its military presence to create a new normal in the area.

A screen grab captured from a video shows the Chinese People's Liberation Army's Eastern Theater Command launching large-scale joint military exercises around Taiwan with naval vessels and military aircraft in China on May 24, 2024. Gui Xinhua/PLA/China Military/Anadolu via Getty Images

And within that new norm, China could create a situation in which Taiwan, exhausted and overwhelmed, is fractured, its resolve ultimately degraded.

Per a report published last month by war experts from the American Enterprise Institute and the Institute for the Study of War, an aggressive Chinese coercion campaign  short of war and more likely than a full-scale invasion  would involve boosting the Chinese military presence and pressure around Taiwan and possibly even a blockade or quarantine.

The report asserted that the US is ill-equipped for such an event, instead overly preoccupied with preparing for a potential amphibious assault, and that "Taiwan is strategically vital to the larger US-led coalition to contain" China, arguing that a "US-friendly Taiwan links America's allies in the northwestern Pacific with US partners and allies to the south."

However, a China-controlled Taiwan "would become a springboard for further PRC aggression and would seriously compromise the US-led coalition's ability to operate cohesively."

Read the original article on Business Insider
By Kirsty Needham

SYDNEY (Reuters) -China's Li Qiang will arrive in Australia on Saturday, the first visit by a Chinese premier since 2017, in a sign of improving ties, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Tuesday.

During the four-day visit Li will visit the city of Adelaide city, the capital Canberra, and Australia's mining state Western Australia.

Both leaders will meet with Australian and Chinese business leaders at a roundtable in Western Australia, Albanese said at a media briefing in Canberra.

China is Australia's largest trading partner, with Australian resources and energy exports dominating trade flow.

Australia is the biggest supplier of iron ore to China and China has been an investor in Australian mining projects, though some recent Chinese investment in critical minerals has been blocked by Australia on national interest grounds.

Albanese said foreign investment has a role to play in Australia and is considered on a case by case basis.

"Chinese engagement, including with the resources sector, has been important for growth," he said.

China imposed trade restrictions on a raft of Australian agricultural and mineral products during a diplomatic dispute in 2020, which has now largely eased.

Albanese said he would like to see the remaining Chinese trade impediments on lobsters and seafood removed.

In his meeting with Li next week in Canberra, Albanese will raise the case of Australian writer Yang Hengjun who was given a suspended death sentence on espionage charges in February, as well as an incident last month where a Chinese military jet dropped flares near an Australian defence helicopter, which Albanese said "was dangerous and should never had happened".

"Welcoming the Chinese premier to our shores is an opportunity for Australia to advance our interests by demonstrating our national values, our people's qualities and our economy's strengths," he said.

"Australia continues to pursue a stable and direct relationship with China, with dialogue at its core."

(Reporting by Kirsty Needham; editing by Shri Navaratnam, Rashmi Aich and Michael Perry)
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 11. The assets of Azerbaijan's PASHA Capital reached 114.13 million manat ($67.34 million) in the first quarter of 2024, Chairman of the Board of Directors at PASHA Capital Jeyhun Hajiyev said, Trend reports.

He made the remark during today's press conference on the results of activities for 2023 and strategic plans for the upcoming period in Baku.

"The majority of the total amount came from cash and short-term assets, which added up to 40.63 million manat ($23.98 million). The company's investments in securities experienced significant growth, reaching a total of 71.13 million manat ($41.97 million). This highlights the company's strategic focus on diversification and maximizing profitability.

Trade and other receivables amounted to 549,281 manat ($324,082), while the value of property and equipment was estimated at 439,471 manat ($259,289). It is also worth noting that the company's intangible assets amounted to 525,614 manat ($310,113)," he emphasized.

To note, the investment company PASHA Capital was founded in June 2012. PASHA Capital offers its clients a wide range of services, including brokerage services, consulting, and research; underwriting; margin trading; advisory services; as well as other incidental investment services.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Chinese premier to visit New Zealand, Australia and Malaysia

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese speaks at a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra, Tuesday, June 11, 2024. China's Premier Li Qiang will visit Australia later this week, officials said, in a further indication that strained bilateral relations are improving. (Mick Tsikas/AAP Image via AP)

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP)  Chinese Premier Li Qiang will visit New Zealand, Australia and Malaysia starting Thursday, officials said.

Li will visit the three countries from June 13 to 20, a Chinese Foreign Ministry statement said Tuesday.

Australia earlier announced that Li would land in the Australian city of Adelaide on June 15 and leave Perth on June 18.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Li are to hold an annual leaders meeting at Parliament House in the Australian capital, Canberra, during the visit.

The New Zealand and Malaysian governments have yet to announce Li's itinerary in their countries.

Li's visit to Australia and New Zealand will be the first by a Chinese premier, the second most powerful official in Chinas leadership, in seven years. A Chinese premier hasn't visited Malaysia since 2015.

Lis Australian trip follows a visit by Albanese to Beijing last November, when leaders agreed to resume key bilateral dialogues and further several areas of cooperation.

China imposed a series of official and unofficial trade barriers that cost Australian exporters up to 20 billion Australian dollars ($13 billion) a year after Australias previous government urged an international inquiry into the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Most of those barriers have been removed since Albaneses government was elected in 2022.

Albanese said he would push for barriers to Australian lobster to be lifted and for imprisoned Australian democracy blogger Yang Hengjuno to be freed.

Premier Li Qiangs visit to Australia is an important opportunity to engage directly on key issues for both our nations, Albanese said.

Australia continues to pursue a stable and direct relationship with China, with dialogue at its core," he said.

New Zealand officials say their discussions with Li will focus on their aim to double the value of the nation's exports to China in a decade.

New Zealand has traditionally sought to balance its trade relationship with China with the interests of its Western allies in the Five Eyes intelligence sharing partnership, who have more assertively decried Chinas growing influence in the region. Malaysia has similarly resisted taking sides in the U.S.-China rivalry.

Australia has more vocally sided with its most important security ally, the United States, in challenging China's expanding influence.

___

Associated Pess writer Charlotte Graham-McLay in Wellington, New Zealand, contributed to this report.
Insights from The Economist, Science, and Nature

The News

Chinese scientists felt pressured to engage in unethical research practices out of fear of losing their jobs, a study found.

The Chinese governments 2015 Double First-Class Scheme called on universities to boost their global rankings by publishing more articles in international journals. One faculty head reportedly told academics they should leave as soon as possible if they did not meet publication targets, according to science journal Nature.

Citing such pressures, academics admitted to falsifying data, plagiarizing, exploiting students without offering authorship, and bribing journal editors. However, other Chinese scientists said the paper painted an overly negative picture and that its author only spoke to a small sample of academics.

SIGNALS

Semafor Signals: Global insights on today's biggest stories.

Chinese universities incentivize quantity over quality

Sources: The Economist , Queen Mary's University

Research in China suffers from the problem of bad incentives, The Economist argued. Chinese universities have published more scientific papers than any other country since 2017, partly owing to researchers being rewarded for quantity over quality: About 46% of around 50,000 retracted studies collated by CrossRef and Retraction Watch are from China. University leaders tend to be government officials who are good at chasing targets but poor at fostering good science, a professor at Hangzhou Dianzi University told the magazine. The problem may not be exclusive to China: A 2023 paper found that the UKs performance-based funding allocation system incentivized poor quality research, with papers published just before evaluation deadlines featuring in lower-impact journals and receiving fewer citations.

Chinese universities may be turning away from international journals

Source: Science

Chinese academics are encouraged to publish in international journals, but this trend may be reversing as researchers try to build up a portfolio of home-grown journals. Thats partly because authors have to pay journals to get their papers published, and China wants to capture some of that spend, the co-author of a 2023 report on the Chinese science publishing market told Science. The Chinese government and universities may also want to move away from Western-dominated research agendas so they can focus on topics that better serve the countrys interests, a higher-education researcher at the University of Hong Kong argued.

Critics say some unethical studies arent being retracted fast enough

Sources: Nature , The Guardian

Fraudulent research practices arent the only problem: Advocates told Nature that unethical studies on Chinese minority groups like the Uyghur arent being retracted fast enough. In 2023, the Dutch academic publisher Elsevier retracted a 2019 article by Chinese and Danish researchers titled Analysis of Uyghur and Kazakh populations using the Precision ID Ancestry Panel after an investigation revealed they had not obtained ethical approval to collect genetic samples. Given how coercive the overall environment has been for the Uyghurs [in China], its not really possible for Uyghurs to say no [to the collection of their DNA], an Asia expert at Human Rights Watch told The Guardian.
A federal jury in Florida has found Chiquita liable for funding a Colombian terrorist group and must pay millions to the families of victims.

Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia, a right-wing paramilitary group that operated during the countrys civil war, disbanded in 2006 but not before it was deemed a terrorist organization by the United States.

The lawsuit, which was originally filed in 2008, said payments from the multinational fruit company allowed the group to operate. Among the groups human rights abuses was the killing of people believed to support left-wing rebels.

The families of eight men who were killed by the group filed a lawsuit against Chiquita, arguing its funding of the group made it responsible for the deaths. The South Florida jury agreed and ordered them to pay their families $38.3 million dollars.

This verdict sends a powerful message to corporations everywhere: profiting from human rights abuses will not go unpunished. These families, victimized by armed groups and corporations, asserted their power and prevailed in the judicial process, said Marco Simons, general counsel at EarthRights International and one plaintiffs lawyer.

Chiquita had previously pleaded guilty to making $1.7 million in security services payments to the AUC between 1997 and 2004, despite its status as a terrorist organization, and agreed to pay a $25 million fine, the Justice Department said.

The company claimed it only made the payments because it was extorted by the AUC and feared for its workers safety.

Chiquita said it plans to appeal the verdict.

_________
Paramilitary troops of the Colombian United Self-Defense Forces (AUC) train in the mountains near Catatumbo, in Colombia on 29 January 2000.

Paramilitary troops of the Colombian United Self-Defense Forces (AUC) train in the mountains near Catatumbo, in Colombia on 29 January 2000. Photograph: Carlos Garcia/AFP via Getty Images

A Florida court has ordered Chiquita Brands International to pay $38m to the families of eight Colombian men murdered by a paramilitary death squad, after the US banana giant was shown to have financed the terrorist organisation from 1997 to 2004.

The landmark ruling late on Monday came after 17 years of legal efforts and is the first time that the fruit multinational has paid out compensation to Colombian victims, opening the way for thousands of others to seek restitution.

Related: Warlord behind 1,500 murders returns to Colombia after 12-year sentence in US

It also marks the first time a major US corporation has been held liable for such rights abuses in another country and could lead to a series of similar lawsuits involving rights violations across the world.

This verdict sends a powerful message to corporations everywhere: profiting from human rights abuses will not go unpunished, said Marco Simons at EarthRights, one of the law firms representing the families of those killed by the paramilitaries.

Chiquita pleaded guilty in 2007 to funding a specially designated global terrorist for secretly paying the United Self-Defence Forces of Colombia (AUC) $1.7m over seven years at the height of Colombias brutal conflict, but had never before been ordered to pay compensation to victims.

The rightwing AUC sprang up in the 1980s to protect landowners from leftist rebels such as the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), but went on to become the worst perpetrators of human rights violations in the south American nation  and one of the countrys largest drug-traffickers.

Until it disarmed as part of a 2004 peace process, the AUC was responsible for most of the civilian lives lost in Colombias brutal, six-decade-long conflict, which left 450,000 people dead and millions displaced.

Chiquita has argued that it was extorted by the AUC and that the payments were necessary to protect its employees from armed Marxists.

Court documents show that Chiquita continued paying the AUC after it had been designated an international terrorist organisation in the US in 2001 and that executives saw the payment as the cost of doing business in Colombia.

Related: Colombian elite backed death squads, former paramilitary commander says

New evidence presented to the Florida courts also showed that Chiquita allowed the AUC to use its ports to import automatic rifles and its banana boats to smuggle cocaine across the seas, human rights lawyers at International Rights Advocates (IRAdvocates) said.

The civil cases were brought by the family members of trade unionists, banana workers and activists who were tortured, killed and disappeared by paramilitaries as they sought to control the vast banana-producing regions of Colombia.

Some victims were forcibly disappeared by the AUC merely for being suspected of sympathising with the rebels, the rights firms said.

Among the victims who presented evidence was the widow of a union leader who was tortured, decapitated and dismembered by the AUC in 1997.

Its a triumph of a process that has been going on for almost 17 years, for all of us who have suffered so much during these years, said another of the victims, who asked not to be named. Were not in this process because we want to be. It was Chiquita, with its actions, that dragged us into it. We have a responsibility to our families, and we must fight for them.

The case was a bellwether trial, said Terrence Collingsworth, executive director of IRAdvocates, one of the legal firms representing the victims.

If the other pending cases are not resolved by negotiation, a second bellwether trial is scheduled for 14 July.

These brave women and the other Plaintiffs in this case have demonstrated that corporate criminals like Chiquita can be held accountable through courage and perseverance. Hopefully, this verdict will inspire others to fight for corporate accountability, Collingsworth said in a statement. In my experience, corporations operating in the global economy will do whatever they can get away with. We just showed them that there are real consequences for corporate outlaws.

A spokesperson for Chiquita said the company would appeal the ruling, adding in a statement: The situation in Colombia was tragic for so many, including those directly affected by the violence there, and our thoughts remain with them and their families. However, that does not change our belief that there is no legal basis for these claims. While we are disappointed by the decision, we remain confident that our legal position will ultimately prevail.
Curra McCoy is one of millions of students who missed weeks of school over the past few years. Instead, the Baltimore teen often slept in or played on her phone. She did a whole lot of nothing, for the most part. McCoy blames her absences on boredom, which led to her not doing well in some classes. That made her dislike school even more.

When I dont do nothing, I dont feel like doing nothing at all, the 18-year-old said. So I stopped trying.

Chronic absenteeism  when students miss at least 10% of the school year  has become an epidemic in Americas schools. Though educators and advocates hoped attendance would improve after the instability of the pandemic, in many cases it has become more pervasive and intractable. From 2018 to 2023, the rate of chronic absenteeism nearly doubled, from 15% to 26%.

The problem, which has contributed to lower performance even among students who arent chronically absent, became one of the most pressing challenges this past school year. The American Enterprise Institute, a right-leaning think tank, has described it as the biggest problem facing schools right now. And its not just low-income kids who are missing class time: Students across the socioeconomic spectrum are skipping school at record-high rates.

Why has the problem become so grave? The causes are usually complex and multidimensional. Here are five key explanations:

COVID made school attendance hard. Why arent kids (or teachers) returning to class?

Kids are bored and disconnected.

McCoy, the Baltimore teen, loved math when she was little. She appreciated its simplicity, the fact that its a universal language.

But as she got older, she says, she started slacking. The instruction became boring, zapping her energy and will to put in effort. In eighth grade, she decided math was no longer for her. By the time she got to high school, she began failing some of her classes.

We barely had any activities, said McCoy, who added she learns best when she gets one-on-one support. When I started getting worse at math, I just stopped coming.

Curra McCoy, right, attributes much of her improved attendance to one of her Concentric mentors, Raiana Davis, left.

A nationally representative poll published in April found that nearly 2 in 3 teens say school is boring. Just 2 in 5 of the roughly 1,000 respondents said they liked going to school, and almost a third said going is a waste of time. Such disengagement leads to absences. And sometimes, schools strategies for handling absenteeism  like fines for truancy  exacerbate rather than solve the problem.

In her junior year, McCoy started getting tutored and mentored through a company called Concentric Educational Solutions, whose staff also occasionally visited her home to check in with her. Her attendance began to improve, as did her grades. She appreciated the personalized attention she got from her tutors, especially a mentor named Raiana Davis. Davis would check in on days she had slept in, McCoy explained. It just made my energy change.

McCoy graduated early this month, and she wants to become an engineer. She plans to enroll in college or pursue her career through the Navy.

Theyre struggling with mental health.

Many children decide not to attend school because of poor mental health. These challenges, especially among adolescents, have worsened in recent years: More than 4 in 10 teens reported in 2021 that they felt persistently sad or hopeless. One analysis in Los Angeles found anxiety and depression were the top health-related reasons kids missed class.

School avoidance  when children refuse to attend or struggle being in school for the entire day  is a growing problem. USA TODAY has reported on this type of refusal becoming pronounced since the COVID-19 pandemic.

One student, Anna, described the heart palpitations and body shakes she felt in the mornings as she approached her high school campus. It wasnt that she didnt want to go to school, she told USA TODAY, but that she couldnt.

Its scary because its not voluntary at all, said Anna, who asked to be identified only by her first name because of stigmas faced by people with mental illness. Its just kind of happening to you.

Refusing to attend: School avoidance is becoming a mental health crisis.

Theyre being bullied.

Bullying, which is pervasive in many schools, prompts kids to avoid school, too. Just a third of teens in the April EdChoice poll said they felt their school was adequately addressing bullying. Separate research reveals students who are bullied are more likely to miss class.

In a recent segment, NPRs "Morning Edition" featured a sophomore in Colorado named Neomi who has been chronically absent. Asked what was behind the absences, Neomi cried as her mother explained she had been bullied and taunted after a breakup. Her peers laughed and talked behind her back. "I don't have friends, the sophomore said. I don't have any people."

When students have limited connections with adults, their odds of missing school are greater. Surveys have found that fewer than a quarter of teens and preteens say many or all of their teachers try to understand what their lives are like outside school.

Theyre confused about the rules.

During the pandemic, families were instructed to keep kids out of school at any sign of illness. The rules evolved as society gained a better understanding of COVID-19. The ever-shifting protocols fueled confusion over what to do when a child has the sniffles or complains about a headache.

Hedy Chang, founder and executive director of Attendance Works, says such puzzlement has persisted among parents. We were pretty dramatic about quarantining and staying home, and I still think theres a lot of confusion, she said. At the same time, we said to people: If youre worried about being ill, shift to online learning.  Thats just as good as learning in person.

Those messages have had lasting effects, according to Chang, and many schools no longer have a virtual option for sick days.

USA TODAY regularly visited a pair of elementary schools in Virginia last year to understand, among other questions, why chronic absenteeism has persisted. One school distributed thermometers so parents could check if children who said they werent feeling well were truly too sick to attend class. It also hosted educational coffee hours and published a checklist on its homepage to help families determine what to do when a child appears symptomatic.

The other school discovered higher absenteeism rates on Mondays  a day many students parents had off work. Perhaps parents were keeping their children home that day because it was the only time they could spend together, school officials concluded. That finding hinted at another ripple effect of the pandemic: the perception among some families that school is optional.

During quarantines and closures, kids learned through their computers at home. Daily in-person attendance has felt less crucial to certain parents ever since. That attitude plays out in different ways for different families. A single mom who needs her high schooler to care for her 2-year-old while she is at work might request the teen skip school. An affluent family that wants to go on a two-week vacation might choose to do so during school days to avoid the crowds.

Whatever your chronic absenteeism level was pre-pandemic, it tended to double, said Chang, alluding to the problems impact across income levels.

As absences have worsened across the board, theyve also exacerbated disparities, according to Chang. High-income families are more likely than lower-income ones to be able to afford resources  such as summer test prep and tutoring  to make up for lost time.

Theyre navigating family, safety or transportation challenges.

Some kids arent showing up for school because of family hardships or fears about campus safety. Housing insecurity and poverty continue to disrupt low-income students routines.

Many schools have made it more difficult to enter buildings over fears of active shooters and other dangers, Chang said. These well-intended policies have, in some cases, created divisions between families and educators.

Logistical problems are another obstacle. USA TODAY shadowed during some home visits with Concentric in Baltimore this spring. The companys staff stops by the residences of families whose children have been flagged by their schools as chronically absent. At one home, a mom named Lynetric Brightful was parking just as the Concentric van pulled up. Her son hadnt been showing up for school, and Aaris Johnson, the Concentric engagement specialist and driver, asked her, What resources can we help you get?

Aaris Johnson, Concentric's director of home visits in Baltimore, knocks on the door of a chronically absent student in April, but no one is there. He leaves a pamphlet explaining what resources are available.

Brightful explained that she works two jobs and has to leave the house early  before her son wakes up. Its difficult to ensure he attends class by the 7:45 a.m. start time, especially since he has to take a couple of city buses to get there, trekking through dangerous neighborhoods often before sunrise. Her husband recently died, and she has no one else to rely on for help. She had lost another job because she was staying home in the morning to drive her child to school.

School transportation options are limited in Baltimore, a problem that has hit more and more districts across the country. Nationally, school bus ridership is in decline, in part because of staff shortages, service changes and delays.

Brightful began to cry when Johnson told her his organization would try to provide support. She had been desperate for a solution, and it seemed as if no one was willing to help. Without better transportation, she feared her son would continue to miss school.

"I have to do what I have to do to live, she said. I'm trying my best.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Chronic absenteeism is plaguing schools. Five reasons for the trend.
Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) vented his fury at an Army official over President Donald Trumps refusal to deploy the National Guard during the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection, footage obtained by MSNBC showed on Monday. (Watch the video below.)

D.C. has requested the National Guard, and its been denied by DOD. Id like to know a good fucking reason why its been denied, Schumer can be seen telling then-Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy on the phone. We need them fast. Weve all had to, Ive never seen anything like this. Were like a third-world country here. We had to run and evacuate the Capitol.

Schumer is seen in the frame with then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) after the two were evacuated to Fort McNair as the violence unfolded.

Trump, who called the perpetrators warriors in a recent speech, has falsely claimed that he called in the Guard but was blocked by Pelosi. She had no authority over the National Guard in D.C.; Trump did.

Later, Schumer tells Pelosi of his progress in trying to secure troops to defend the Capitol.

I spoke to the secretary of the Army, and hes given the full OK to get the National Guard, Schumer said. Im going to call up the secretary of defense.

An urgent Schumer then repeatedly asks acting Attorney General Jeff Rosen in his law enforcement responsibility if hell persuade Trump to make the rioters leave but appears dissatisfied with Rosens response.

No, no, no, Schumer snaps. Please answer my question. Answer my question!

In another snippet, Pelosi tells Vice President Mike Pence, And we were disappointed that the fact that it took so long to approve the National Guard. But Im glad to hear that thats at least moving.

Troops finally arrived around 5:40 p.m., when most of the violence had subsided.

Trump, the Republican candidate headed for a rematch against President Joe Biden this November, has been charged with conspiring to overturn his 2020 election loss, resulting in a violent coup attempt.

Rep. Jason Crow (D-Colo.) told MSNBC host Katy Tur that the footage is a stark reminder for everybody about the chaos, the brutality, the violence of that day. We cant forget what happened. We cant forget the fragility sometimes of our system. ... This was an insurrection. Theres no other way to classify it.

H/T Mediaite

Related...
SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage)  The City of San Angelo has issued a public statement addressing concerns of fake employees after receiving multiple reports from residents asking if it is sending workers into citizens homes to test their water.

The statement, released on June 11, said that City employees do not test water inside of homes are not allowed to enter private properties.

Is your $100 bill a counterfeit? The City of Sonora wants you to check

Weve received several phone calls asking if City employees are being sent to test water inside citizens homes, the City said. Our employees do not test water inside homes and are not permitted to enter private residences.

The City asks anyone who encounters someone impersonating a City employee to report the individual by calling the San Angelo Police Departments non-emergency dispatch number at (325)-657-4323 or contacting the Water Customer Service at (325)-657-4315.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ConchoValleyHomepage.com.
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET)  The City of Bakersfield is searching for a new assistant city manager.

Bakersfield is the ninth-largest city in California and keeps growing and so is the citys management team.

City of Bakersfield awarded $22 million for city-wide improvements

The salary range for the position is between $83.03 to $100.94 an hour. Some of the Assistant City Manager duties include:

Oversight of department operations and implementation of strategic business plans

Implementing innovative solutions and industry best practices

Driving efforts to develop Bakersfield CARES organizational culture

Sponsoring City-wide initiatives: Plans, organizes, integrates, directs and coordinates activities

Assists the City manager

If youre interested in working for the City, you can submit your application on GovernmentJobs.com. Visit the link for a thorough job description.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17.
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  The City of El Paso and Fort Bliss are scheduled to sign a partnership agreement to help soldiers transitioning to civilian life apply for City Jobs.

The signing is scheduled to take place at 2 p.m. Wednesday, June 12 at City Hall. Mayor Oscar Leeser and Fort Bliss Garrison Commander Col. Brendan Gallagher are scheduled to sign the agreement, according to a news release sent out by the City.

In the Army, the garrison commander is the equivalent of the city manager.

The partnership is part of the U.S. Armys Partnership for Your Success (PAYS) Program, which is a strategic partnership giving transitioning soldiers an opportunity for employment with the City of El Paso after their service in the U.S. Army, according to the news release.

With this proclamation, the U.S. Army Reserve will share the City of El Paso job employment opportunities throughout the nation with soldiers transitioning and looking for employment in El Paso, according to the news release.

For more information about the Citys Division of Veteran and Military Affairs visit, www.ElPasoTexas.gov/Veteran-Resources/Veteran-and-Military-Affairs/.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 11. The official visit of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev to Egypt and his talks with his Egyptian counterpart, Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, were the focus of attention in the country's influential newspapers, portals, and TV channels, Trend reports.

An extensive report by the official news agency MENA on the visit, along with articles titled "The President of Azerbaijan points out the high level of relations with Egypt", and "The leader of Azerbaijan called Egypt an important partner country", were published in widely read Egyptian newspapers such as Al-Ahram, Al-Gomhuria, Youm 7, Akhbar Al-Youm, Masrawy, and Al-Dostour.

The editorials echoed the main arguments advanced by our president and his Egyptian counterpart in their joint press statement.

The statements of President Ilham Aliyev, emphasizing that this official visit, following last year's visit of Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to Azerbaijan, will give an impetus to the development of Egyptian-Azerbaijani relations and that the political dialogue between the two friendly countries is of a regular nature, were conveyed to Egyptian readers.

As the Azerbaijani head of state said, the leaders agreed to continue the political dialogue.

The articles also emphasized that President Ilham Aliyev stated that he discussed the processes in the South Caucasus with his Egyptian counterpart.

According to the articles, the Azerbaijani head of state added that Azerbaijan and Armenia have made certain progress in delineating their state borders, successfully agreeing on a section that extends nearly 12.7 kilometers, and through negotiations, four villages in the Gazakh district of Azerbaijan, which were under occupation for 30 years, have been returned to Azerbaijan.

As the articles pointed out, positively evaluating the villages' return, the President of Azerbaijan also expressed the opinion that there are good opportunities for progress in the negotiation process.

The articles mentioned that the Azerbaijani head of state also invited the Egyptian president to the upcoming 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) in Baku.

He expressed satisfaction that this invitation was accepted and also highlighted that he congratulated his colleague on Egypt's successful chairmanship at COP27.

Saying that he sought to learn from Egypt's experience in this area, President Ilham Aliyev noted the constant contact of delegations from the two countries.

The official visit of President Ilham Aliyev received extensive coverage in the Shorouk, Al-Watan, Masr Times, Al-Gomhuria, Maspero, Al-Qahira, and Al-Balad newspapers and portals.

The articles in these media outlets emphasized the Azerbaijani head of state's support for Cairo's official position on the Palestinian issue.

The publications included the following quote from the President of Azerbaijan:

"The settlement of Palestinian-Israeli relations and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state were always at the center of attention during our chairmanship of the Non-Aligned Movement. A number of events were held, and Azerbaijan's position is unequivocal  an independent Palestinian state must be established, and East Jerusalem should be its capital. Today's tragedy in Gaza must be stopped as soon as possible, the war must be stopped; and all issues must be resolved through negotiations. I told President El-Sisi that we support Egypt's efforts in these directions and that the initiatives put forward by Egypt should be taken into account."

Egyptian media also devoted significant coverage to El-Sisi's statements on ensuring peace and security in the South Caucasus.

Readers were informed that the President of Egypt reiterated to his Azerbaijani counterpart the importance of efforts to ensure peace and security in the South Caucasus and expressed support for these efforts.

He added that these efforts would make a significant contribution to the development of the countries and peoples of the region.

The articles noted that the heads of state of the two friendly countries emphasized the rapid development of economic, humanitarian, and cultural ties, as well as the broad prospects for mutually beneficial cooperation.

The parties discussed existing opportunities for cooperation in construction, transportation, pharmaceuticals, oil, and infrastructure, and highlighted the importance of the joint commission between Azerbaijan and Egypt and the organization of its next meeting.

A decision was made to hold the next meeting of the commission in the near future.

The meeting of President Ilham Aliyev with Sheikh of Al-Azhar, Grand Imam Ahmed Muhammad At-Tayeb in Cairo as part of his official visit was also the focus of media attention in Egypt and other Arab countries.

The materials of the Al-Ahram, Dostor, Al-Qahira, and Ash Sharq Al-Ausat newspapers (Saudi Arabia), as well as reports shown on Egypt1 state television, ExtraNews, and Nile1 TV channels, pointed out that at the meeting, President Ilham Aliyev emphasized that developing relations with Arab states is a priority for Azerbaijan's foreign policy.

The President of Azerbaijan highlighted that the country will host COP29 this year and proposed holding the next meeting of religious leaders in cooperation with Al-Azhar within the COP29 framework.

The Grand Sheikh of al-Azhar al-Sharif expressed his gratitude to the head of state for this visit, and noted that relations between Egypt and Azerbaijan are at a very good level.

He hailed Azerbaijans fully ensuring its territorial integrity and sovereignty.

Expressing his appreciation for the invitation to COP29, Ahmed Mohammed Ahmed El-Tayeb mentioned that he will be pleased to participate in this event.

Recalling that the 2nd Summit of World Religious Leaders was held in Baku, the Sheikh of al-Azhar al-Sharif personally thanked President Ilham Aliyev for Azerbaijans contributions to Islamic solidarity, and underscored the ongoing joint efforts to hold a meeting of religious leaders within the framework of COP29.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
City leaders meet behind closed doors on homeless projects, as opponents protest outside

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  City of San Diego leaders held a closed door meeting Monday about the future of potential homeless shelter.

The plan to buy a facility near Little Italy that could house more than 1,000 people has gotten some pushback in the community.

San Diego mayor unveils homeless shelter plan  the largest yet

Outside City Hall Monday, a small group of people protested the plans.

City leaders meet behind closed doors on homeless projects, as opponents protest outside (FOX 5/KUSI)

New conceptual renderings from the owner of the Kettner and Vine proposed homeless shelter in Little Italy shows what it could look like to house 1,000 homeless people amid the bustling downtown area.

Conceptual renderings of Kettner and Vine proposed homeless shelter in Little Italy (Courtesy: Doug Hamm)

Conceptual renderings of Kettner and Vine proposed homeless shelter in Little Italy (Courtesy: Doug Hamm)

City leaders met for a four-hour long closed session on Monday to discuss several big items on the agenda, possibly the biggest being the large homeless shelter.

The Council will meet with its negotiators for an update on the price and payment terms for the Citys potential acquisition of an interest or estate in the real property located at 3554-3590 Kettner Boulevard, San Diego, California, the agenda reads.

The negotiations Monday were for price and payment terms for potential acquisition of the property, located at 3554-3590 Kettner Boulevard, which is where the city plans to create its largest homeless shelter with 1,000 beds in the 65,000 square foot facility.

That plan has been met with a lot of opposition, along with the plan to turn the former H Barracks into a safe sleeping site.

Glorias revised city budget funds at-risk Housing Commission programs

Outside City Hall, a small group of people protested the plans, including Derek Falconer, president of Point Loma Cares, who said the community groups plan to litigate the Mayors proposals should they go through.

The neighborhood groups claim businesses and residents in the area have had violent and biohazardous encounters with the unhoused in the areas, and they are concerned these behaviors will continue with increased crime and business thefts and assaults, if the shelters are approved.

Neighbors hold townhall meeting over proposed mega-shelter in Middletown

Its clear many San Diegans agree something needs to be done, but it seems city leaders and residents cant agree on what that something is.

Some of our business owners are scared to open up their doors, Kevin Arnold, president of the San Diego Neighborhood Coalition said. They [unhoused people] are threatening people, and the community has had enough. Arnold said his new coalition is member-based and represents several San Diego neighborhoods, with approximately 100 members.

If you want to complain about encampments, weve got to have a solution. This is our solution, Mayor Todd Gloria said during a press conference last week, where protestors were outside chanting.

Our city desperately needs solutions. These are not the solutions we need, Falconer said.

City Council is expected to vote on the Mayors proposed budget in Tuesdays City Council meeting, where we are expected to learn how each City Council member feels about the Mayors new homeless shelter proposal.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
The mayor of Kosovos capital is offering to pay residents to adopt stray dogs as their numbers swell into the thousands.

Perparim Rama, the mayor of Pristina, said he will pay residents 50 (42) a month  about a third of the Balkan countrys minimum wage  for every stray dog they take.

An estimated 4,000 stray dogs roam the citys streets, with animal rights groups saying the numbers are the result of uncontrolled breeding and abandonment.

While some of them are tagged and appear quite placid, others have made walking in the capital intimidating and dangerous, with big dogs snarling at passers-by.

Last summer, a two-year-old child was bitten on the face by a stray dog in Mother Teresa Square, right in the heart of the city.

Many people have reported being menaced or chased by strays.

Pack of dogs in Pristina - ERMAL META/AFP

Keeping a dog is costly and not everyone has the money, Mr Rama, who was born in Pristina but moved to Britain aged 16 and trained as an architect, told the Agence France-Presse news agency. That is why we are helping families that adopt strays.

Authorities have begun rounding up the street dogs, with the mayor saying that they will continue every day until we remove them all.

The strays will be sent to large shelters where they will be vaccinated, sterilised and prepared for adoption.

With 2 million a year at the councils disposal to address the issue, we can seriously expect to solve the problem...if the calculation of the number of stray dogs in the capital is correct, the mayor said.

One of the first people to take up the offer was Sami Haxhaj, a 52-year-old mechanic. He took the bold decision to adopt 10 strays and has built a row of kennels for them at his home in a village west of Pristina. I want to do something for them. I am happy that I provided them with a roof over their heads and enough food and space, he said.

But the project has come in for criticism.

Opponents say that strays are used to living on the street, can be dangerous and may not adapt well to living in a home.

Sami Haxhaj, who has adopted 10 strays and built kennels for them - ARMEND NIMANI/AFP

Corralling them in shelters as they await adoption will result in the spread of diseases and could result in the dogs becoming aggressive towards each other over food, animal rights campaigners say.

Only a tiny proportion of locals are interested in adopting the strays, a survey by an animal welfare organisation suggests.

Many residents live in apartments unsuitable for a large, boisterous stray that is accustomed to roaming the city.

Families in Kosovo receive just 10 a month per child in state support. Some Kosovars say it is not right that people who adopt a dog should be paid 50 a month, or five times the amount that parents receive for a child.

We must be drowning in cash to give money for dogs, said Mirsad Balaj, a 65-year-old local man. All dogs should be sterilised so they dont breed anymore or the entire state budget will be going to the dogs.

Elza Ramadani, the head of the Animal Rights Foundation, a local organisation, said officials should instead tackle the roots of the problem, namely uncontrolled breeding and the abandoning of dogs by a large number of people.

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Republican supporters of Donald Trump, including the House speaker, Mike Johnson, center, attend the ex-presidents hush-money trial in New York last month.

Republican supporters of Donald Trump, including the House speaker, Mike Johnson, center, attend the ex-presidents hush-money trial in New York last month. Photograph: Curtis Means/AP

Donald Trump is posing new threats to prosecutors, judges and the rule of law in the US by ratcheting up vitriolic attacks on the American legal system, which many Republican allies and far-right media are loudly echoing, ex-prosecutors and historians said.

Fears are growing that Trumps conspiratorial screeds on his Truth Social site and interviews on rightwing media falsely charging that his conviction in the New York hush-money case was rigged and a scam, are eroding trust in the US justice system and could precipitate violence, pre- or post-election.

Related: Trump to escalate blame on trial judge Juan Merchan if sentenced to prison

Ominously, Trumps blistering attacks on the verdict have been quickly amplified by a large swath of his Republican allies in Congress including the House speaker, Mike Johnson, and Maga media stars, many of whom have recycled Trumps false claims that the trial was politically driven by Democrats, and are mimicking Trump about seeking retribution.

The ex-presidents bogus charges that he is the victim of a political witch-hunt have singled out the Manhattan district attorney, Alvin Bragg, who brought the charges, Judge Juan Merchan who presided over the trial, and President Joe Biden.

If they can do this to me, they can do this to anyone, Trump warned the day after the verdict.

Trump has also talked about having Biden and his family investigated by a special prosecutor if he wins. In an interview with Sean Hannity of Fox News on 6 June, he escalated his evidence-free charges. Look, when this election is over, based on what theyve done, I would have every right to go after them, and its easy, because its Joe Biden and you see all the criminality, he said.

Experts see dangers in the GOP marching in lockstep with Trumps incendiary claims.

Its hardly unusual for convicted politicians to say theyve been charged for political reasons, the Harvard government professor Steven Levitsky, who co authored How Democracies Die, told the Guardian.

Whats different here and very important is that in healthy democracies most mainstream politicians distance themselves from such attacks. The GOP has gotten to the point where most Republican leaders are echoing Trumps charges of a rigged justice system.

Likewise, former justice department officials say Trumps scalding attacks are ominous.

The denigration of judges, jurors and prosecutors by Trump is certainly a threat to the rule of law, Ty Cobb, a former justice department official and White House counsel in the Trump years, told the Guardian. Trump has certainly taken this to a new and lamentable level.

Cobbs point was highlighted when Trump unleashed a tirade of invective on 30 May right after a 12-member jury reached a unanimous verdict that Trump was guilty of falsifying records to hide $130,000 in hush money to a porn star he allegedly had an affair with to avoid a campaign scandal in 2016.

Outside the Manhattan courthouse, Trump called the verdict a rigged trial by a conflicted judge who was corrupt.

Johnson, in a Fox & Friends appearance after Trumps conviction, made the unusual suggestion that supreme court justices could be helpful in an appeal.

I do believe the supreme court should step in, obviously, Johnson said. I think that the justices on the court  I know many of them personally  I think theyre deeply concerned about that as we are.

Trump, who plans to appeal his conviction and maintains he is innocent, in an angry Truth Social post on 6 June called on the supreme court to annul his guilty verdict.

Ex-justice department officials, judges and historians are alarmed by the crescendo of false claims by Trump and his Maga allies denouncing the verdict and the legal system.

The suggestion by Trump and his sycophants that the New York case is somehow attributable to Biden is absurd and would be laughable if not so demented and purposeful, said Cobb. The Biden administration had no involvement in the charging or presentation of the case and bears no responsibility for it whatsoever.

Certainly the potential for violence is there, Cobb added. Crazies are incentivized. Many Trump loyalists are begging Trump lawyers or other Trump insiders to dox the jurors  Violence is a serious possibility.

John Jones, the president of Dickinson collage and a former federal judge, said that Trumps rhetoric leading up to his sentencing [on 11 July] and after is going to have the propensity to cause unrest and potentially violence.

Trump has taken the old axiom that Republicans are the law and order party and hes turned it on its head, and seems to be doubling down.

Similarly, Levitsky observed that Half of US politicians are calling the justice system a sham, and stressed that this reflected Trumps dominance of the GOP and its radicalization.

Congressman Jamie Raskin said the Republican reaction to Trumps conviction was an utterly cultish and tribalistic response to the ordinary working of the rule of law. They keep describing the verdict as rigged and fraudulent but cant explain any element of the process that was actually in error. This is just an attack on the jury system.

This is not going to play well with the American people. Donald Trump exhibits spectacular disrespect for the rule of law. He openly teases and embraces political violence. Raskin added that the overwhelming Republican reaction to Trumps conviction revealed theyre headed over the cliff with Donald Trump. Trumps derangement has spread throughout the Republican camp.

Raskins point is underlined by the large volume and character of the attacks on the verdict and the legal system by top Republican Trump allies such as Representative Jim Jordan, who heads the House judiciary committee. Jordan moved fast to bolster Trump, announcing he wanted to hear from Bragg and prosecutor Matthew Colangelo at a 13 June hearing on the unprecedented political prosecution of President Trump.

Not to be outdone, Johnson at a 4 June press conference unveiled a three-pronged approach to attack Bidens justice department. Johnson proposed taking on the Department of Justice using congressional oversight, appropriations and legislation.

All those things will be happening vigorously, because we have to do that, Johnson said.

The GOPs lockstep embrace of Trumps conspiratorial charges was displayed when the Republican former governor of Maryland, Larry Hogan, publicly urged people to respect the verdict, which immediately prompted top Republican National Committee officials to attack Hogan, who is running for a Senate seat.

Significantly, in congressional testimony before Jordans committee on 4 June where he faced heavy political fire, the attorney general, Merrick Garland, defended the justice department against repeated attacks from the GOP and noted there had been an extraordinary spike in threats against career civil servants.

Trumps furious attacks on the legal system bode ill for the country and Trump, say experts

In his rage to escape responsibility for his misconduct, Donald Trump is burning down the rule of law, the former justice department prosecutor Paul Rosenzweig told the Guardian. Whatever happens to Trump himself, America will be the worse for it.

Raskin too fears Trump is sanctioning violence.

Trump keeps saying it would be a breaking point for his followers if hes jailed or put under house arrest. Hes telegraphing his desire for violence as a response to his potentially being jailed. These are threats against our society.

Some ex-justice department officials foresee Trumps nonstop attacks on the legal system boomeranging on him too.

For Trump to continue bashing our criminal system and specific people within it, now that he has suffered 34 felony counts, is not going to play out well for him, said Donald Ayer, a deputy attorney general during the George HW Bush presidency. No one can reasonably think the jurors were biased or that the trial was unfair or lacking in evidence. 

Ayer added that: It is starting to dawn on normal people who have voted for him in the past that Trump is simply a scofflaw who just attacks all rules claimed to govern his actions, even when there is no rational basis to do so.
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  Clark County has reached a proposed $80 million settlement with Gypsum Resources, the company involved in developing land next to Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, according to a news release early Monday evening.

The settlement follows developer Jim Rhodes victory in court involving County Commissioner Justin Jones, who was accused of deleting text messages in 2019 related to the development. A May 24 ruling in Clark County District Court found that Jones willfully destroyed evidence and did so because he viewed that evidence as being favorable to Gypsum.

County commissioners will consider the settlement at a June 18 meeting.

The land in question is on Blue Diamond Hill, about three and a half miles from the Red Rock Visitors Center. Clark County approved the development in October 2023 after a decade-long fight.

Blue Diamond Hill can be seen in the center of this photo taken from inside the scenic loop area of Red Rock Canyon. (Photo: Duncan Phenix  KLAS)

In light of the recent court decision finding the willful destruction of evidence against the County and a recent Supreme Court ruling on government land use decisions, this settlement avoids the risk of a potential judgement in excess of $2 billion in damages to taxpayers and the risk of future liability while addressing concerns about population growth in that area and preserving the scenic and natural landscape, the countys statement said.

By allowing lower-impact development and redirecting traffic, the agreement aims to maintain public access to the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, benefiting both current and future generations, according to the statement

The settlement agreement would reduce the number of houses from 5,026 down to 3,500, and also divert traffic so the entrance to the development would be on State Route 160 (Blue Diamond Road) instead of SR159  the extension of Charleston Boulevard that runs through Red Rock Conservation Area.

There is also a provision that would allow the county to buy 192 acres  described as the most environmentally sensitive land owned by developers  for $1.

An aerial photo shows the Blue Diamond Hill Gypsum Mine outside of Las Vegas.

While an $80 million payment is significant for the County, by reprioritizing and reallocating funds for planned capital projects and other economic development projects not yet underway, the settlement will not have a detrimental impact on services nor will it require a reduction in staff, the countys statement said.

It was Jones who led the effort to stop the Gypsum Resources plan to develop near Red Rock. Rhodes, owner of Rhodes Homes and the developer of Spanish Hills, Rhodes Ranch, Tuscany Village and other projects, secured county approval for the project in 2011, but the battle continued for years. At one point, a state law was approved to stop the development, but the Nevada Supreme Court ruled that law was unconstitutional.

Clark County Commissioner Justin Jones. (KLAS)

When Jones was elected to the commission, he moved to deny the project. The commission vote was unanimous.

The lawsuits filed since point to Jones conflicts in the matter. He did pro bono work for Save Red Rock, a conservation group formed to stop the development. Save Red Rock sued the county to stop the development

A year ago, Rhodes filed a lawsuit in federal court over Jones actions. But that lawsuit was rejected and then refiled in District Court.

Rhodes sought $2 billion in damages, with an additional $400,000 per day in interest.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Hajime Sato, chef-owner of the award-winning sustainable sushi restaurant Sozai in Clawson, earned a coveted James Beard Award.

Sato was named Best Chef: Great Lakes at the Monday evening Restaurant and Chef Awards at the Lyric Opera House in Chicago. Sato was up against chefs in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Ohio.

Hajime Sato, chef-onwer of Socai in Clawson won a James Beard Award in the Best Chef Great Lakes category.

The James Beard Awards are considered the highest honor in culinary excellence and are often referred to as the Oscars of the industry.

This is Sato's second time as a James Beard finalist. Sato landed a spot in the 2023 James Beard Foundation Awards category for Outstanding Chef.

Chef choice rolls are a popular menu choice at Sozai restaurant in Clawson on January 19, 2022. Sozai is a new Japanese restaurant in Clawson. Chef Hajime Sato spends hours sourcing sustainable ingredients for his dishes, even if it means searching internationally for ethically caught seafood products. Chef Sato's efforts are not confined to the food. The sushi bar is made from local reclaimed wood and he makes his own pottery to serve his culinary creations on.

The category presenters said Sato was the first sushi chef to win a regional best chef award.

Sozai is known for serving sustainable sushi.

Sato noted in his acceptance speech that this is his second time being nominated, but a couple of years ago, he "didn't know much about James Beard."

"But something changed after James Beard ... people started listening to me. I've been doing ocean conservation and sustainable sushi for 15 years," Sato said. "Oceans (are) not in good shape. As you know, Earth is not in good shape. And a small restaurant like me cannot really do that much. But everybody here ... nominations, winners, everybody, now you have a voice, just like I didn't have a voice, but because of James Beard, you have a little bit more voice."

Sato's win is Michigan's first Best Chef category win since 2011, according to the James Beard Award website, when Alex Young, formerly of Zingerman's Roadhouse in Ann Arbor, was honored as Best Chef Great Lakes. In 2003, chef Takashi Yagihashi of the former Tribute restaurant in Farmington Hills took home the award for Best Chef: Midwest. Chef Jimmy Schmidt in 1993, then owner of the Rattlesnake Club in Detroit, was named Best Chef: Midwest. At the 2022 Restaurant and Chef Awards, Warda Bouguettaya, owner of Midtowns Warda Patisserie, won the title of Outstanding Pastry Chef.

Sozai was named the Detroit Free Press 2022 Restaurant of the Year. The small sushi spot in a Clawson strip mall noted for serving sustainable seafood was also named to Bon Appetits 50 Best New Restaurants 2022 list. Before opening Sozai in 2021, Sato who grew up in Japan, had opened a restaurant in Seattle for more than 25 years.

Michigan chef semifinalists who did not make it as 2024 finalists for Best Chef were Doug Hewitt, Freya, Detroit; Ji Hye Kim, Miss Kim, Ann Arbor; Dan Klenotic, Bellflower, Ypsilanti and John Yelinek, Ladder 4 Wine Bar, Detroit.

At the annual awards restaurants and chefs across the country are recognized for their achievements and skills in several categories.

In nationwide categories, Hamissi Mamba and Nadia Nijimbere, the husband-and-wife team behind Detroits Baobab Fare and Waka food truck were finalists for Outstanding Restaurateur. Both owners made the list of semifinalists in the 2022 and 2023 Best Chef awards, Great Lakes category. The 2024 award ultimately went to Kelly and Erika Whitaker, co-founders of Id Est Hospitality Group in Boulder, Colo.

Mamba and Nijimbere, both refugees from Burundi, in 2021 opened Baobab Fare restaurant on Woodward in Detroit's New Center area. Soon after its opening, the restaurant received many accolades, including being named the 2022 Detroit Free Press No. 1 Best New Restaurant.

Charlie Mitchell, who hails from Detroit and is the executive chef and co-owner of Clover Hill restaurant in Brooklyn Heights, New York, won Best Chef: New York category. The New York chef with Detroit ties launched his career while working at Forest restaurant in Birmingham. Mitchell is no stranger to prestigious awards. In 2022, Mitchell received two honors from the Michelin Guide New York. Mitchell was named the 2022 Michelin Guide New York Young Chef Award winner, and the restaurant also received its first Michelin star. Mitchell is the first Black Michelin-starred chef in New York City and the first male, Black Michelin-starred chef in America, according to the coveted guide.

Harley Peet, who also hails from Michigan, of Bas Rouge in Maryland, was named Best Chef Mid-Atlantic.

While the James Beard Awards honor chefs and restaurants who excel in their craft, they also honor those in the overall industry including food media.

Ahead of Monday's chef and restaurant awards the James Beard Award media awards on Saturday. Lyndsay C. Green, the Detroit Free Press dining critic, was nominated along with Mike Jordan of Atlanta Magazine and Dara Moskowitz Grumdahl of Mpls.St.Paul Magazine for the Jonathan Gold Local Voice Award. The award is named after the late Los Angeles Times restaurant critic, who died of pancreatic cancer in 2018. Mike Jordan won the award.

At last year's media awards, Green received a James Beard Award for "Emerging Voice" and the Detroit Free Press own Coldwater Kitchen took home a James Beard Foundation media award for best documentary. The documentary follows the Food Tech program at Lakeland Correctional Facility in Coldwater, Michigan.

For a list of all James Beard Award winners, go to jamesbeard.org.

Contact Detroit Free Press food writer Susan Selasky and send food and restaurant news to: sselasky@freepress.com. Follow @SusanMariecooks on X (formerly Twitter.) Support local journalism and become a digital subscriber to the Free Press.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Clawson's Sozai chef, owner Hajime Sato wins James Beard Award
Some residents in an Ohio apartment complex complained to the city council last week about safety and living conditions, only to receive eviction notices from the complex not long afterward.

The residents of Parkview Arms Apartments and Oxfords Vice Mayor and Chantel Raghu feel the notices were given in retaliation, our news partners at WCPO-9 TV reported.

The complaints detailed insect infestations and issues relating to drug use.

I found roach carcasses everywhere, said Lacey Hill, a former resident of Parkview Arms apartments, who talked about her breaking point and why she decided to move out in January. When my child couldnt take a bath, because she was so scared to literally take a bath, because roaches were coming out of the walls.

Hill showed WCPO-9 TV videos from inside her apartment which showed several roaches in the bathroom and in the kitchen.Last week, Gary Landrum showed reporters inside of a now vacant apartment, where they saw roaches, holes in the wall, and a dirty carpet.

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Walking into something nasty, said Landrum. If the job doesnt get done, it just goes away.

Landrum said residents deal with property management not fulfilling maintenance requests, which go unanswered.

We knew this was going on, but its very challenging to get residents to want to speak out about it, said Raghu.

Raghu spoke in support of residents last week during a city council meeting after some residents like Landrum spoke about their experiences living at Parkview Arms.

Since the meeting, we get termination notices, said Landrum, showing his notice that says non-payment of rent.

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Landrum said not only did he pay his rent, but he never got a notice about his rent being late. He feels he got the eviction notice because he publicly criticized the property management company at the city council meeting.

Raghu agrees the eviction notices feel targeted.

Yes, I think those four people, for them all to get a notice on the same day and on top of it the claim is that they were overdue on their rent, but they were never given a three-day notice that they were overdue on their rent, said Raghu. They were never given an opportunity to comply with that, so this is something that is retaliatory in my opinion, and under the guise of not paying rent.

WCPO-9 TV reached out to LSJ Management, the property management company behind Parkview Arms, but was told the property manager was not in the office. When Reporters visited the apartments last week, they spoke with a representative from the property management company who did not want to be named but said she was unaware of any concerns regarding safety and management.

Raghu said the city may need to intervene even sooner, possibly even suing the complex owners.

I think we would have to talk as a council, said Raghu. It really seems that this is pretty brazen behavior and very dangerous behavior too, very clear retaliation. Its my opinion that that time is now.

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Last week, she said the property has been a high drain on police, fire, and EMS resources and she wants to introduce legislation to allow the city to get more involved.

We need to make sure that we have the tools in our pocket to hold the property, the property owners accountable, she said.

She wants to introduce a property nuisance ordinance, which would allow city officials to deem problem properties a nuisance.

The issue came to a head after a fire in a unit inside the complex two weeks ago. Oxford City Manager Doug Elliott said tenants had torn out their smoke alarm after it allegedly had been regularly going off.

Elliott said issues with smoke detectors were a major issue at the property during the citys last inspection in 2022, but issues were resolved after the inspection.

A lot of the smoke detectors were not there and many of them were not operable, he said during a city council meeting.

Currently, four residents are facing eviction after speaking out about the apartment complex.
Climate scientist responds to commenter saying volcanoes are responsible for planet's overheating: 'I have some bad news for you'

In Dr. Katharine Hayhoe's recent tete-a-tete with a dismissive social media user, cooler heads prevailed as the exchange became Dr. Hayhoe vs. the volcano.

In a video for The Cool Down, Dr. Hayhoe, a renowned climate scientist, addressed the social media commenter's cynicism and belief that it is not necessary to take action as far as our changing climate is concerned.

"Climate changes everyday," the commenter wrote. "No need to act, just wait for the next volcano."

"I have some bad news for you," Dr. Hayhoe responded. "Volcanoes temporarily cool the Earth. Emphasis on 'temporarily' and 'cool.'"

Dr. Hayhoe went on to explain that ironically, fiery, erupting volcanoes actually work to briefly cool the planet. She detailed that a large volcanic eruption produces aerosol particles that act like an umbrella and reflect the sun's energy back to space.

According to NASA, this can temporarily block enough sunlight to induce a brief  typically one to two years  cooling period that can be felt across the globe. While it might feel hot in the immediate vicinity of an erupting volcano, it's not going to contribute net heat to the atmosphere.

"So, no, volcanic activity is not responsible for the current warming," Dr. Hayhoe concluded the video. "And even if we had a huge volcanic eruption, it would just cool off the planet by a little tiny bit for a very short amount of time."

Dr. Hayhoe did point out that all geologic activity around the world does produce some heat-trapping gases as well, with a pollution equivalent of about three medium-sized U.S. states.

In short, volcanoes are not the fiery climate monsters many may think they are. In fact, they may eventually help to cool the planet in a more significant way. The Netherlands is exploring using heat from an extinct volcano under the Wadden Sea to warm homes, setting the country up to become a leader in geothermal energy production if it is successful, and Iceland has been mastering geothermal and volcanic energy for generations.

Planet-warming carbon pollution from human activities is far greater than that from volcanoes, but we can all work to lessen our effect on our warming planet.

Dr. Hayhoe says some of the most impactful actions individuals can take are to start a conversation about why climate change matters and what people can do, join a climate action group, or change where you keep your money.

Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the coolest innovations improving our lives and saving our planet.
The clock is ticking: Utah plans to execute first death row inmate since 2010

The Capitol in Salt Lake City is pictured on Monday, May 6, 2024. (Photo by Spenser Heaps for Utah News Dispatch)

Utah is preparing to execute its first death row inmate since 2010, after a judge signed a death warrant for 48-year-old Taberon Honie on Monday.

Honies execution is scheduled for just after midnight on Aug. 8 by lethal injection at the Utah State Prison, with the state planning to use a combination of ketamine, fentanyl and potassium chloride.

The clock is ticking, said Glen Mills, communications director for the Utah Department of Corrections, on Tuesday during a news conference.

Honie was convicted in 1999 for sexually assaulting then murdering 49-year-old Claudia Benn, the mother of his ex-girlfriend. According to court documents, Benns three grandchildren were inside the home at the time.

Utahs 5th District Court Judge Jeffrey Wilcox signed the warrant on Monday, rejecting arguments from Honies attorneys that the lethal cocktail the state plans to use is experimental.

Honie is challenging the proposed method in a case pending before the Utah Supreme Court, and Mills on Tuesday acknowledged there could be circumstances that could delay the execution.

Honie could also request a clemency hearing, which Mills said would have to come within seven days after the warrant was signed. But as of now, the state is moving forward with its plan.

We are going to proceed as though this is going to take place on Aug. 8, he said.

In a statement to the Associated Press, Honies attorney Eric Zuckerman explained his concerns over the lethal injection.

The state has not provided any details about this novel procedure, including the drug doses. And the state says it will not revise its written procedures, making it the only jurisdiction to move forward with an execution without accurate written procedures, Zuckerman said.

In response to the attorneys concerns, Mills defended the states decision.

Weve worked with our medical professionals who are confident that the drug combination  will be equally or more effective, he said.

The last inmate executed in Utah was Ronnie Lee Gardner in 2010. Gardner was sentenced to death in 1985 for shooting Michael Burdell, an attorney, and wounding Nick Kirk, a bailiff, in a failed attempt to escape from court, where he was already facing another murder charge.

The post The clock is ticking: Utah plans to execute first death row inmate since 2010 appeared first on Utah News Dispatch.
BARNSTABLE  A 36-year-old man testified on Tuesday morning in Barnstable Superior Court that he was sexually abused by a former Cape Cod priest while working on a science class project at the church.

He said he was about 13 in the spring of 2002 when he was seated at the table in Our Lady of Victory in Centerville completing a report about a classic "egg drop" experiment. Then-priest Mark Hession sat beside him and put his hand on top of his shorts, then placed his hand underneath his shorts to stroke his penis he said.

"I didn't know what feeling I was feeling at the time," said the 36-year-old man. "It was a weird feeling of enjoyment because my body was naturally enjoying it, but I was not, so I was confused."

Former Cape Cod priest Mark Hession, left, sits with his attorneys Paolo Corso, center, and Frank Corso of Corso Law LLC as they listen to Cape and Islands Assistant District Attorney Alexandra Halprin Isaacs give her opening statement to the jury Tuesday morning in Barnstable Superior Court. Hession faces two counts of rape and one count of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14.

Hession, who served as the church's parish priest from 2000 to 2014, faces two counts of rape alleged to have happened between 2005 and 2009 and one count of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14 alleged to have happened sometime in 2002. A count of intimidating a witness was dropped.

He pleaded not guilty to the charges in January of 2021.

Tuesday was the first day of testimony in the jury trial.

The Times does not identify an accuser unless that person has given permission to be identified.

'The closest thing to God'

The accuser said Hession also raped him, saying he was forced to receive and perform oral sex. At the time, he never told anyone about the alleged abuse, saying he trusted Hession and calling Hession "the closest thing to God."

"He explained this is a part of 'boy time'," the man testified.

Before the accuser took the stand, attorneys on both sides gave their opening statements to a jury of seven women and eight men.

At the time, the man  as a 13-year-old  lived with his grandmother, who worked at the church as a secretary, while his mother and stepfather struggled with substance abuse. He went to the church after school and stayed for hours doing homework while his grandmother worked.

The defendant told the boy the alleged abuse "was normal," said Cape and Islands Assistant District Attorney Alexandra Halprin Isaacs.

For years, the defendant manipulated the boy, Isaacs told the jury.

"He told him that he could go to hell, he told him ... that he was powerful and knew a lot of powerful people."

And the defendant told the boy that no one would believe him, she said.

Cape and Islands Assistant District Attorney Alexandra Halprin Isaacs gives her opening statement to the jury Tuesday morning in Barnstable Superior Court in the trial of former Cape Cod priest Mark Hession.

Defense: 'Simply not true'

Paolo G. Corso, Hession's defense attorney, said his client vehemently denied the allegations.

"The accusations against Mr. Hession are false. They did not happen and they are simply not true," said Corso.

The man making the allegations performed odd jobs at the church as a volunteer before he was hired as a maintenance person beginning in 2008 until 2011, Corso said.

Both the accuser and his grandmother were later fired from the church, said Corso. The jury will "hear the reasons for their termination, but it certainly has nothing to do with the allegations that are presented here today," said Corso.

Corso alleged that the accusations stem from the accuser's "financial struggles," saying that's "why we're here, for money."

Paolo Corso of Corso Law LLC gives his opening statement on Tuesday in Barnstable Superior Court. Corso represents former Cape Cod priest Mark Hession who faces two counts of rape and one count of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14.

He also pointed to what he called inconsistencies with the accuser's story. He said the first time the man reported the alleged 2002 assault in October 2018, he said he was 18 at the time. Then, a year later in September 2019, Corso alleged the accuser reports the incident to the police and said he was 15, before later saying he was 13 in December 2019 and giving "much more detail."

"As you listen to his versions, as you listen to the different stories, I implore you to think that the hardest thing to keep track of is a lie," said Corso.

Hession is also represented by Frank C. Corso. Both lawyers are from Corso Law LLC.

A trial expected to take 5 to 6 days

Judge Mark C. Gildea is presiding over the matter. He previously has said attorneys on both sides estimate it could take five to six days to try this case and present all the evidence.

Hession is on a 2021 list compiled by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Fall River of publicly accused religious leaders connected to the diocese. The "publicly accused" list means that the religious leaders have been publicly named in media reports, third party lists prepared by advocacy groups and/or other dioceses and religious orders as having allegations against them involving sexual abuse of a minor. For a name to appear on the "publicly accused" list, the Diocese of Fall River lacks sufficient information to make its own determination whether the accusation was credible, according to the diocese.

Barnstable Superior Court Judge Mark Gildea, right, listens to Assistant Court Clerk Scott Colgan as he reads the indictments against defendant Mark Hession to the jury.

Who is Mark Hession?

Hession was ordained in 1984. In 2009, he delivered the homily at the funeral for U.S. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy in Boston.

Hession served at 12 different institutions in the Cape Cod and Fall River areas.

On the Cape, besides Our Lady of Victory, Hession served at Our Lady of the Assumption in Osterville; St. Joan of Arc church in Orleans; and St. Patrick church in Falmouth, according to the Diocese of Fall River.

Off-Cape, he served at St. Patrick Parish in Wareham; Holy Name Church and Holy Rosary Chapel, both in Fall River; St. Marys Parish in New Bedford; Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River; St. Joseph Church in Taunton; Our Lady of Mt. Carmel in Seekonk; and Holy Family parish in East Taunton.

He has been suspended from "active priestly ministry" by the Diocese of Fall River since 2019. That move came after parishioners of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Seekonk complained that he had sent inappropriate communications, according to previous reporting by the Times.

The diocese said then in a statement that Hession was placed on leave because of conduct inconsistent with standards of ministerial behavior and in direct violation of the Code of Conduct for priests."

Zane Razzaq writes about housing and real estate. Reach her at zrazzaq@capecodonline.com. Follow her on X @zanerazz.

Gain access to premium Cape Cod Times content by subscribing.

This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Former Cape Cod priest rape trial starts with 36-year-old's testimony
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 11. The Baku Initiative Group will hold a press conference on New Caledonia themed Decolonization, International Diplomacy, and the Role of Communication in the Modern World", Trend reports.

As is known, French security forces reacted violently to a peaceful protest by the indigenous Kanak people of New Caledonia, resulting in more than 10 civilians being killed and hundreds injured and arrested.

Access to New Caledonia was closed by decision of the French government, and an illegal curfew is still in effect.

To hide the atrocities committed by the French police and gendarmerie from the world community, the fundamental rights of the Kanaks, the owners of the island, were grossly violated, and their freedom of speech was limited.

In order to break through the information blockade and learn about what is happening on the island from the local officials, the Baku Initiative Group is organizing a hybrid press conference.

Therefore, the mentioned conference involving a group of journalists from around Africa, prominent bloggers and civil society activists, as well as journalists from New Caledonia, in total, over 20 foreign media representatives, as well as roundtable discussions will be held.

The purpose of the conference is to draw the attention of the world community to the human rights violations that have become widespread in New Caledonia, including in other French colonies, as well as to discuss the establishment of joint cooperation in the field of communications to combat the new stage of colonialism - neo-colonialism, which is still ongoing in Africa. Local officials from New Caledonia will answer questions from journalists.

The conference will take place on June 13 at 16:00 (GMT +4).

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
CMPD finds 18-year-old with autism who was reported missing

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department has located an 18-year-old who was reported missing.

Dubai Leroy Litaker was last seen on Monday at approximately 12 p.m.

Family members told police that Litaker walked off from an appointment he was at with his family on Randolph Road.

ALSO READ: 9-year-old boy found safe after being reported missing in west Charlotte

He was last wearing a navy blue Under Armor t-shirt with a logo, blue jean shorts, and black gym shoes.

Police said Litaker has autism and is verbal.

On Tuesday around 10:40 a.m., CMPD said they found Litaker walking down Monroe Road. He was evaluated by MEDIC but was otherwise unharmed, they said.

VIDEO: 9-year-old boy reported missing in west Charlotte




The Charlotte City Councils plan aims to focus on a holistic set of solutions to housing issues, including job training.

The Charlotte City Councils plan aims to focus on a holistic set of solutions to housing issues, including job training.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools is planning a teacher village that will provide affordable housing for its employees and has asked the city for $1 million in startup money to begin the project.

But teachers say higher salaries are what they need most.

The first complex, comprising one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, is expected to open in June 2027, with around 100 units. Priority will be given to educators in hard-to-fill roles, such as special education teachers. The district plans to build up to four villages on land it already owns and each will cost $30 million to $40 million.

This will not cost CMS anything, school board member Melissa Easley told The Charlotte Observer. Instead, the project will be funded through collaborations between the county, city and private investors. The district is also pursuing federal grant funding.

Reactions have been mixed, with many teachers frustrated at the need for affordable teacher housing in the first place. Meanwhile, district leaders say theyre searching for creative ways to attract and keep good teachers with the tools they have at their disposal.

What teachers have to say

Educators are struggling to pay their bills, and this is a Band-Aid, said Ayumi Nagano, a former CMS educator. Its a slap in the face because what really needs to happen is they need to pay teachers more.

Nagano previously taught special education and high school math in CMS before leaving the district due to low pay.

I loved teaching, but it was like I cant afford to do this anymore, she said. It was a sacrifice.

The sentiment has been echoed by current and former CMS educators on social media in the days since the proposal came to light.

The idea of having a little pod for teachers with affordable housing tagged onto it  it can almost be insulting because theyre saying that they know theyre not paying us a livable wage, Angela Browder, a former CMS special education teacher, said.

Browder left the district last year after six years because she lived too far away from the school where she worked.

I would like to see more advocacy from CMS and more programs for teachers, Browder said.

Mechelle Vaughn is an elementary school teacher whos been with the district 15 years. She appreciates the steps the district has already taken to help teachers with the cost of living, but a sustainable solution will require action in Raleigh.

Im grateful that the district is trying to find solutions because they cant control teacher pay, Vaughn said. We do what we can with the county supplement, but the state holds the purse strings.

The state-determined base pay for beginning teachers in North Carolina was $39,000 this school year. Next year, it will be $41,000. With the added county supplement, starting teachers in CMS are projected to make around $48,600 during the 2024-25 school year.

North Carolina ranks 42nd in the nation for starting teacher pay according to a new report from The National Education Association, up four spots since last year. Meanwhile, the state fell to 38th nationally for overall teacher pay last year and is projected to fall to 41st this year.

North Carolina continues to trail neighboring states like Georgia, South Carolina and Virginia when it comes to teacher pay.

While the housing proposal may help some teachers, Vaughn says higher salaries are whats needed to fix the problem.

Its almost like putting a Band-Aid on a gunshot wound. It may stop some of the bleeding, but the person is still going to bleed out, Vaughn said. I hope that this starts a conversation and the public joins our fight because soon, there wont be enough teachers in the classroom.

What the district has to say

CMS officials have been weighing how to make things more affordable for its teachers for a while since the state hasnt raised teacher salaries to match the cost of living.

For example, the estimated income for a renter to afford most one-bedrooms in Charlotte is $61,000 per year, according to a 2022 study from Smart Asset.

Over the past 10 months, the vision for teacher villages has come together in earnest, Easley said.

The county can only do so much, so were trying to think of ways we can recruit and retain the best teachers, she said.

The district decided to zero in on housing costs since many teachers expressed housing affordability was a problem for them, she added.

The plan is to expand beyond the first 100 units if all goes well. Teachers are not required to live in the new teacher villages, but Easley says it can give options to educators who need them.

CMS leaders have continually called on the North Carolina General Assembly to increase teacher salaries, officially asking for a raise of 5% in this years CMS legislative agenda. However, with a new bill pouring an additional $463 million into the states private school voucher program, Easley says the state is choosing not to prioritize public education.

The amount of money that they just put into vouchers could give teachers a raise, and theyve chosen not to do that, Easley said. The state controls teacher pay, so we have to come up with creative, out-of-the-box solutions to help our teachers.

The district hasnt officially released comprehensive plans for the project but is slated to do so mid-July.
Hats and shoulder boards lay on the ground as 224 newly minted officers leave after the U.S. Coast Guard Academy's 132nd Commencement Ceremony in New London, Conn., in 2023. (Petty Officer 2nd Class Lanola Stone/U.S. Coast Guard Academy)

NEW LONDON, Conn.  An official with the U.S. Coast Guard Academy says the Coast Guard lied to her and victims of sexual assault in damning new allegations about the coverup of the investigation known as Operation Fouled Anchor.

That led to Shannon Norenbergs decision to resign as the service academys Sexual Assault Response Coordinator  a job she held since 2013  and speak out about her unintended role surrounding the investigation and the Coast Guards lack of disclosure to Congress.

Her story will prompt new scrutiny of the Coast Guard ahead of a major hearing with Commandant Linda Fagan. On Tuesday, Fagan will testify for the first time in almost a year, this time before the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations chaired by U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn. As the sole witness, lawmakers are expected to question her about Fouled Anchor and the services current handling of sexual misconduct reports within the New London academy and service.

Norenbergs claims are part of a lengthy public statement posted late Sunday. She provides a detailed account of being tasked with reaching out to victims as Fouled Anchor was still underway but feeling like she was not able to provide them with necessary resources  and receiving talking points with false information.

As a sexual assault survivor herself, she said she believed her job would provide victims with a legitimate pathway for accountability and recovery. But after CNNs report last summer about Fouled Anchor, she started to reexamine that time and, a few weeks ago, located old records related to it.

Norenberg claims that the Coast Guard lied to her and used me to lie to victims and used me in a coordinated effort to discourage victims of sexual assault at the Academy from speaking to Congress.

We werent sent out there to help these people, I realized. We were sent out there as part of an elaborate coverup of Operation Fouled Anchor designed to hide the existence of the investigation from Congress and the public, Norenberg said in the statement. The whole thing was a cruel coverup at the expense of the victims, with the entire purpose being to preserve the image of the Coast Guard and avoid scandal. And the Coast Guard used me as part of their plan.

The Coast Guard lied to me

Norenberg said she learned of what would become known as Operation Fouled Anchor when she was flown in for a meeting at Coast Guard headquarters in Washington, D.C., in late 2018.

At this briefing, she said, she was informed about the details of the investigation, which at that point had been underway for four years. As the academys sexual assault response coordinator, she would input names into case management system used across the military services called the Defense Sexual Assault Incident Database. She said she was never asked to put names discovered through Fouled Anchor into the system.

Norenberg said she was asked to call victims who were already interviewed during Fouled Anchor to set up in-person visits on what was described to her as an apology tour. In her statement, she provided a photo of guidelines for how to handle phone calls and a list of talking points for when she was traveling to meet with them. Norenberg said she traveled with a Coast Guard attorney and an agent with the Coast Guard Investigative Service for several months in 2019.

The way it was pitched to me was that this would be a kind of apology tour, where we would apologize in-person to the victims for what happened to them, update them on the outcome of their cases, offer them some closure, and offer services to help them heal, she wrote. Apology was not the term the Coast Guard used, however. Instead, we were to offer the victims an Official Expression of Regret.

In the statement, Norenberg included a list of talking points to one of the most frequently asked questions from the victims they met with: Is anyone being held accountable? The recommended answers were that criminal action was not available and the only option is personnel actions. They also suggested giving a general statement that actions of Academy officials from the time are under review.

For these visits, Norenberg said, she was initially told to provide them with CG-6095 forms, which was the formal way of reporting sexual misconduct and would allow them to more easily access services from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs related to military sexual trauma. But she was later told they would not offer them.

She said if victims signed and submitted those forms, Norenberg would have been required to put them into the DSAID case management system, and Congress would have ultimately taken notice about the spike in reports.

Some of the other talking points included telling victims that Congress and the Department of Homeland Security have been briefed on the general outline of the investigation, what was found, and what disposition decisions were made. But Congress was unaware of Fouled Anchors existence until years later, in 2023.

The inevitable result would have been Operation Fouled Anchor being discovered by Congress. To prevent Operation Fouled Anchor from being discovered by Congress, Coast Guard leaders deliberately withheld VA military sexual trauma benefits and services from the survivors we were sent around to meet with, Norenberg said. Worse, we offered them absolutely nothing to replace those lost benefits and services. We just left the victims to fend for themselves.

In the post, Norenberg apologized to the sexual assault survivors at the academy and also posted a video to a Youtube channel where she says she will post stories of survivors. She is also starting a nonprofit to help with legal services for military victims of sexual trauma.

Responding to Norenbergs allegations, the Coast Guard said in a statement that victims were offered debriefs about the investigations looking into their allegations as a part of Fouled Anchor in 2019.

The Coast Guard said congressional briefings were being contemplated when there was initial preparation for the meetings held with victims but added that they were held 10 months after the talking points were drafted and that congressional notifications had not been made.

The statement also said that another former official who was involved in the meetings said the topic of disclosing the investigation to Congress did not come up in discussions with any victims.

Furthermore, the Coast Guard is not aware of anyone telling members of that team to lie regarding any aspect of Operation Fouled Anchor, the statement said.

Upon becoming aware of these allegations, the Coast Guard contacted the DHS OIG and OIG confirmed that it would investigate the allegations raised by Ms. Norenberg as part of its inquiry into Fouled Anchor, the statement continued, referring to the Office of the Inspector General at the Department of Homeland Security.

Upcoming hearing on Coast Guard oversight

On Tuesday, Fagan will testify before Congress for the first time in almost a year. Several congressional committees, as well as the Department of Homeland Securitys Inspector Generals office, have been investigating since CNN reported on the existence of Fouled Anchor.

In congressional testimony last summer, Fagan apologized for the Coast Guards inaction and failure to disclose to Congress. She recently released a 90-day internal review addressing the culture problems within the service and its academy as well as reforms they plan to implement.

Adm. Karl Schultz served as commandant from 2018 to 2022, during which time Operation Fouled Anchor was underway and concluded. Fagan took the helm in June 2022. She told Congress last year she knew of the investigation generally but became aware of the full scope of the investigation only when CNN started asking questions.

As the Commandant has testified, we regret not providing to Congress the 2020 report into investigations of prior sexual misconduct at the Coast Guard Academy. Congressional and Inspector General inquiries into the Coast Guards handling of the investigations and the report continue, and the Commandant remains committed to transparency and cooperation with these inquiries, a Coast Guard spokesperson said in a February statement.

Blumenthals committee has requested internal documents as well as testimony from officials but has received only some of the records, and many of them are redacted or duplicates.

Some of the documents publicized earlier this year shed light on the behind-the-scenes decision-making that went into not disclosing the findings to Congress for years.

The 25-page tranche of documents from 2018 included discussions about whether to notify Congress about the existence of Fouled Anchor, a plan to provide victims with recovery services and timelines of the investigation.

The documents included handwritten notes, such as a pro and con list about whether to tell Congress. The email from the senators notes the Coast Guards confirmation that then-Vice Commandant Admiral Charles Ray wrote them.

Since revelations about Fouled Anchor, past and present cadets testified before Blumenthals panel about their experiences with reporting sexual harassment and assault during their times at the New London academy, describing it as a corrosive pattern within the Coast Guard.

My experiences are not isolated events. There are hundreds of similar stories within the academy and throughout the fleet involving officers and enlisted members alike, retired Lt. Melissa McCafferty, who graduated from the academy in 2011, said at the December hearing. As a result, there exists a corrosive pattern of sexual assault, harassment, abuse, bullying, intimidation and retaliation. This is insidious, this is pervasive, and this is continuing to this day.

In the six months since that hearing, Blumenthal and Ranking Member Ron Johnson, R-Wis., have expressed growing frustration as it seeks more answers from Coast Guard leadership.

In the nearly seven months since our inquiry began, it appears the Coast Guards actions can only be explained by either its indifference or another shameful attempt to cover up the embarrassing truths of its mishandling of cases involving sexual assault and sexual harassment, Blumenthal and Johnson wrote in an April letter to Fagan. Simply put, the Coast Guards lack of responsiveness stands in stark contrast to your previous commitments to be fully transparent with Congress and the American people.

The story has been updated with a statement from the Coast Guard.

Connecticut Mirror is a content partner of States Newsroom. Read the original version here.

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The post Coast Guard lied to hide sexual assault inquiry, whistleblower says appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
Coast restaurants fail inspection for issues like fish safety, presence of bugs or rodents

Four restaurants and kitchens in South Mississippi were cited for critical violations the first week in June, one for bugs, rodents or animals present.

Dedeaux All In, 23010 Standard Dedeaux Road, Pass Christian, had a scheduled inspection June 3. It was cited for:

 Food contact surface not cleaned and sanitized, a repeat offense

 Insects, rodents or animals present

This was the first C dating back to 2022.

For the second week a restaurant was cited for not providing required records that show shell stock tags and parasite destruction.

This part of the inspection deals with two items that fall under the Food and Drug Administration Food Code.

Oyster tags must be kept for 90 days after the container is empty and they have to be kept in chronological order according to harvest date. This is checked at every inspection by the Mississippi Health Department.

If a restaurant sells sashimi grade fish, it must show parasite destruction letters from the seafood supplier on how the parasites are destroyed in the raw fish. This is checked every year at the permit inspection.

While regulations havent changed, the health department said a restaurant may have a new manager who may not be as up to date as they need to be on the regulations.

McElroys Harbor House, 695 Beach Blvd., Biloxi, had a scheduled inspection June 6. It was cited for: Required records available shell stock tags parasite destruction. It was reinspected June 13 and scored a B when the violation was corrected.

This is the first C dating back to 2012.

Restaurants and other food service establishments in Mississippi are rated A if they pass the health department inspection, B if all violations are corrected during the inspection and C if the violations are critical.

While some restaurants are able to correct issues during the inspection, others are cited for a critical violation for the same offense.

SAI Country Store, 12431 Mississippi 67, Biloxi, had a scheduled inspection June 7. It was cited for: Food contact surface not cleaned and sanitized. Corrected during the inspection was: Adequate hand washing facilities supplied and accessible.

This was the fifth C since 2013 and the third since 2019.

Ruby Tuesday and Ruby Tuesday Catering at 6736 Mississippi 63, Moss Point, was inspected June 3 for a permit. It was cited for: Improper cold holding temperatures. This is the only C dating back to 2011.

Most restaurants, kitchens and food trucks had no violations this month. For the first nine days of June, 69 restaurants, nursing homes and other kitchens in District IX in South Mississippi scored an A for no violations, and 15 a B.
Collaborationist and former mayor of Kupiansk dies after attempt on his life

Hennadii Matsehora, collaborationist and former mayor of the city of Kupiansk in Kharkiv Oblast, has passed away after an attempt on his life.

Source: Matsehoras mother Liudmyla on social media; Russian Telegram channels

Details: The mayors mother said that he had died on 10 June.

Russian Telegram channels report that Matsehora died without regaining consciousness in a hospital in Moscow.

Background:

On 8 June, Defence Intelligence of Ukraine reported an attempt on Hennadii Matsehora's life in the city of Staryi Oskol in Russia's Belgorod Oblast without specifying the details. Russian Telegram channels reported that Matsehora had been shot near the house he resided in.

Mayor of Kupyansk Hennadiy Matsegora, member of the OPFL (Opposition Platform  For Life) party, previously made an agreement with the Russian occupiers on the transfer of power in the city.

The Kharkiv Oblast Prosecutors Office served the former mayor of Kupiansk with a notice of suspicion of encroachment on territorial integrity and inviolability of Ukraine by an individual who serves as a government member, and also notified him that he was suspected of state treason.

Later he fled to Russia and was arrested, Ukrainian authorities say.

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College professor pleads not guilty to all charges related to Jewish protesters death

The college professor accused of causing a Jewish mans death during dueling protests over the Israel-Hamas war in Thousand Oaks last year has pleaded not guilty.

Loay Abdel Fattah Alnaji, 51, of Moorpark is accused of striking Paul Kessler, 69, with a megaphone at a protest at Thousand Oaks and Westlake boulevards on Nov. 5, 2023, causing Kessler to fall and hit his head on the sidewalk.

Kessler later died from injuries sustained during the confrontation, according to Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko.

College professor arrested in Jewish demonstrators death

Alnaji pleaded not guilty to all charges on Monday.

Alnaji is charged with felony involuntary manslaughter, felony battery causing serious bodily injury, and the special allegation that he personally inflicted great bodily injury, Nasarenkos office said in a news release.

During a two-day preliminary hearing in May, prosecutors presented a DNA analysis of blood found on the megaphone Alnaji was carrying, which, they say, matched Kessler. They also presented video and audio from Kesslers phone showing the moments before he was injured.

Attorney Ron Bamieh, left, listens to his client, Loay Abdelfattah Alnaji, a professor of computer science at Moorpark College, in Ventura County Superior Court on Nov. 17, 2023, in Ventura. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, File)

Paul Kessler, a Jewish man who died after an altercation with a pro-Palestinian demonstrator in Thousand Oaks on Nov. 5, 2023. (Kessler Family)

Loay Alnaji is shown in a Nov. 5, 2023, photo taken by RMG News.

A woman leaves flowers at a makeshift shrine placed at the scene of a Sunday confrontation that lead to death of a demonstrator Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023, in Thousand Oaks, Calif. Paul Kessler, 69, died at a hospital on Monday from a head injury after witnesses reported he was involved in a physical altercation during pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian demonstrations at an intersection in Thousand Oaks, a suburb northwest of Los Angeles, authorities said. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel)

Alnajis defense attorney, Ron Bamieh, doesnt dispute that an altercation occurred but insists his clients actions didnt cause Kesslers fatal injury.

While he may have been pushed or hit by a megaphone, thats not what caused his fall, Bamieh told reporters after Alnajis arrest. Its clear that when he fell, my client was six to eight feet away from him.

Bamieh also implied that Kessler may have instigated trouble at the rally.

Alnaji remains free on $50,000 bail. If convicted of all charges, he faces a maximum of four years in prison.

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Election workers help facilitate in-person voting in a Denver jail. (Photo courtesy of Denver Elections)

Ahead of the November election, county clerks and sheriffs across Colorado need to plan to hold a day of in-person voting at every local jail to meet the requirements of a new law.

Senate Bill 24-72, which Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signed into law at the end of May, requires county sheriffs to designate someone to help eligible voters in jails cast their ballots. The designee is responsible for informing confined individuals of their eligibility and coordinating with the county clerk to set up a temporary, in-person voting center at their local county jail. Voters in jail must also receive information on candidates and measures included on the ballot so they can know who and what theyre voting for.

Jasmine Ross, civic engagement manager at the Colorado Criminal Justice Reform Coalition, said of the 5,205 eligible confined voters in the state for the 2020 general election, only 557 cast a ballot  about a 7% turnout rate. In the 2022 elections, only 231 of the 4,876 eligible confined voters cast a ballot. With the implementation of the new law starting this year, Ross said she anticipates turnout will increase drastically.

Even though Colorado has implemented such great laws and everything like that, people were still being disenfranchised, Ross said. So with this new legislation mandating in-person voting, we know that everyone will have the opportunity, or a better opportunity, to have access to their voting rights.

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The new in-person voting procedures are not required to be in place for the June 25 primary elections. The general election in November will be the first election with full implementation of in-person voting in jails, though some counties already have experience helping people in jail vote.

Maysa Sitar is Denvers voter accessibility administrator, meaning she helps support voters in extreme situations including overseas and military voters, voters with disabilities, voters in care homes and voters in jails. Denver held in-person voting for confined voters for three elections in 2023, as well as the presidential primary in February. Between elections, Sitar said her team is in jails checking voter registrations.

As an elections division, we do not determine whos guilty of a crime, its not our role, Sitar said. The courts determine that, and our role is to provide easy and accessible voting to every single eligible voter.

Sitar said running in-person voting in jails during some of the smaller elections has helped Denver solve any issues as they arise. She said their experience can help inform other counties around the state to be successful in November.

Many of the voters in jails are excited to have the opportunity to vote, Sitar said, and most people have very positive reactions to the election divisions presence.

Some of them have been in the position of having a felony in the past and have served their time for that, so having known what it was like to have the right to vote taken away, some of them are grateful to be able to vote now, Sitar said. We definitely run into people who are voting for the first time and thats always a really fun experience to get to talk to them about what that means to them.

Ross said the law mandates one day of in-person voting for a minimum of six hours at each facility. One of the reasons she said the new legislation is important is because many detained people are deterred from voting just because they dont know if they are eligible.

With the new law, people in jails will be able to verify their eligibility, register, and vote all at once. People who arent eligible to vote in jail wont be penalized just for checking.

For the 2023 municipal elections in Denver, Ross said the confined voter turnout was just under 80%, compared to a 38% turnout for the entire election.

With this program that we were able to build, what really moves me when Im doing this work is just always hearing the stories of first-time voters and the impact that this program has, Ross said. This program uplifts our folks inside and their way of thinking and also makes them feel a part of society. This is what we talk about when we are referring to rehabilitation.

Weld County Clerk and Recorder Carly Koppes said shes always had a strong partnership with the sheriffs team in working to get eligible voters in jail their ballots. When the sheriffs office is taking new people into jail during an election year, part of their intake process includes checking if they want to register to vote.

Koppes said moving forward, Weld County will bring in people who recently retired from the sheriffs department to work as election judges in jails.

They already know the environment, they already know the processes and procedures and protocols within that environment, and we feel it is a good way to make sure that the sheriff and his employees feel comfortable and also the inmates feel comfortable as well, Koppes said.

With this program that we were able to build, what really moves me when I'm doing this work is just always hearing the stories of first-time voters and the impact that this program has.

 Jasmine Ross, civic engagement manager at the Colorado Criminal Justice Reform Coalition

Her office has also already provided election and candidate information to people voting in jails, so she said they will continue working with printers to make sure blue books and other voting materials are properly distributed. Koppes said shell also look to share any other nonpartisan guides on the elections that might be helpful to voters in jails, which could be easier now that people in Weld County jails have access to tablets.

El Paso County Clerk and Recorder Steve Schleiker said he and El Paso County Sheriff Joseph Roybal met in early June to talk about implementing the new law, and decided to hold their in-person voting on a Saturday to ensure nobody in jail will miss the opportunity to vote in-person due to a court date or other obligation. He said his office will coordinate with the sheriffs office to provide posters and other materials informing when in-person voting will be held in the jail.

Schleiker said safety and security for staff as well as the incarcerated voters will be the primary concern as they work to implement in-person voting in the El Paso County jail. He will have four full-time staff members help coordinate voting in the jail, bringing two laptops, a ballot printer, four voting booths, an accessible ballot marking device, as well as a translation device that can help people communicate in over 84 languages.

Inmates who wish to cast a ballot will be escorted to our vote center, ensuring their safety and the integrity of the voting process, and back to their assigned pod, Schleiker said in an email.

El Paso Countys jail is the largest in the state, and Schleiker said many people detained there are not residents of the county or even the state. While these people cant vote in El Paso Countys elections, he said he will ensure they can vote legally on the ballot they are eligible to vote with.

In order to make sure people in jails are actually given the opportunity to vote, Ross said accountability within the legislation was key. If county sheriffs and clerks fail to hold a day of in-person voting, they will be fined $5,000 for each election they miss.

County clerks have to submit their election plan for the November election to the secretary of state by July 18, including details on how they plan to implement in-person voting in jails. A spokesperson for the secretary of states office said the office is developing training materials to support counties as they implement the new requirements.

Ross said the main concern she has with implementation is determining the best way that counties can distribute election materials to ensure voters get candidate information. While some people expressed concerns around safety when the bill was making its way through the legislature, Ross said Denver has had no incidents as long as theyve held in-person voting in jails.

Sitar said planning ahead is key to running in-person voting in jails successfully, and following the typical procedures elections teams would at any other voting center. Koppes said keeping in regular contact with the sheriffs team and those who will be conducting the elections in jails will be helpful, too.

Koppes said it will also be important to prepare for all possible scenarios, such as a lock down occurring during in-person voting.

We always have to plan for the worst case, we do that in normal election planning anyways, Koppes said. Its just continuing to do those same types of good practices all of us clerk and recorders in the state already do, now just obviously in a very new environment.

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POWELL, Ohio (WCMH)  The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is teaming up with a local organization to help save lives.

The zoo is hosting its summer blood drive with Versiti Blood Center of Ohio on June 12 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the zoos Africa Event Center. The drive allows anyone who can to come out and donate blood, while raising awareness about the need for donations.

This embedded content is not available in your region.

According to the Columbus Zoos social media page, anyone who donates blood will receive a BOGO voucher for a Zoombezi Bay ticket. The zoo held its last blood drive in March with Versiti, collecting 41 units from 34 donors which is saving up to 123 lives, according to the zoo. The zoo now has a goal to save at least 130 lives at the upcoming drive.

Along with the buy one, get one vouchers, anyone who gives blood will also enjoy free snacks following donation. Walk-ins are welcome for the drive, but you can also sign up for a specific spot as well. To claim your time to donate blood, click here.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander-in-Chief of Ukraine's Armed Forces, discussed the situation on the battlefield and the needs of the Ukrainian military with Rob Bauer, Chair of the NATO Military Committee, on 10 June.

Source: Syrskyi on Telegram

Quote: "Today, during my conversation with Admiral Rob Bauer, Chair of the NATO Military Committee, we discussed in detail the situation on the battlefield and the needs of our troops.

Having just returned from the combat zone, I personally assessed the situation on various fronts and spoke with brigade commanders on the ground.

It is important to have a shared understanding of the situation with our partners."

Details: Syrskyi thanked NATO for their support and noted that he is counting on further expanding cooperation for global security.

Background:

Bauer believes that Ukraine should be able to properly defend itself by striking Russia with Western weaponry without having its range limited.

He also mentioned that NATO leaders will focus on three key issues related to Ukraine at the summit in Washington but will not discuss its membership in NATO or possible accession timetables.

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From left: Artist Lakey Goff of Hot Springs Village, Capitol Arts and Grounds Commissioner Michael Harry and state Sen. Kim Hammer, R-Benton, discuss the upcoming "monument to the unborn" on Capitol grounds on Tuesday, June 11, 2024. (Tess Vrbin/Arkansas Advocate)

The Arkansas Capitol Arts and Grounds Commission agreed Tuesday to recommend that the Secretary of State approve its proposed location for a monument to the unborn on the Capitol complex.

Act 310 of 2023 authorizes the Secretary of State to decide where to place a suitable monument commemorating unborn children aborted during the era of Roe v. Wade. The law states that Arkansans had at least 236,243 abortions while Roe v. Wade was in place from 1973 to 2022.

Lakey Goff, the artist behind the idea of a living wall of flora and fauna for the monument, proposed placing the monument in the grassy space behind the Capitol and to the north of the Supreme Court building, near a set of picnic tables. Goff and the commission spent last months meeting debating two other possible locations before deciding to compromise.

The monument is likely to occasionally draw crowds, such as the annual March for Life led by abortion opponents, so the monument should be placed in a highly accessible space, commissioner Michael Harry said.

I think this new location can accommodate that, whereas the other two locations could not have, Harry said. It would have been a logistical nightmare.

Several areas of the Capitol grounds are no-monument zones, but Goff said she ensured the space is legally available for a new monument before proposing it.

Goff also said the land is important spiritually because it was once the site of a prison that housed both Union and Confederate soldiers during the Civil War.

We are anointed to redeem this land by preaching the good news of Jesus, finding the broken part and setting the captives free, Goff said. People will be set free from this living wall monument.

Secretary of State John Thurston will have the final say on the monuments location.

The commission chose Goffs design in December from a pool of nine monument designs submitted for consideration. Goff said the idea was partially inspired by a similar installation at New York Citys Liberty Park, which overlooks the National September 11 Memorial and Museum.

The state will not use public money to construct the monument because Act 310 established a trust fund to raise money via gifts, grants and donations. Fundraising for the wall began last month, and Goff said she is aware of someone who has promised to be a monthly contributor.

Construction is not allowed to begin until 10% of the necessary funds have been donated, Harry said.

Goff told the commission she estimates construction will cost very roughly between $250,000 and $500,000.

Little Rock contracting firm Nabholz will be the project manager for the monument, and landscape architects from Development Consultants, Inc. of Little Rock will work on the project, Goff said.

Some commissioners expressed concern about whether the trust fund will accumulate enough money to complete the monument, which will include waterfall sounds from an underground sound system. Republican Sen. Kim Hammer of Benton, who co-sponsored Act 310 in the Legislature, said he would give the commission a personal commitment that construction would not begin until the trust fund has enough money for completion.

Rep. Mary Bentley, R-Perryville, also sponsored Act 310 and was also present at Tuesdays meeting.

In 2019, Bentley sponsored the states near-total abortion ban that went into effect upon the Supreme Courts overturning of Roe v. Wade in June 2022.

Hammer co-sponsored a 2015 law authorizing the construction of the Capitols Ten Commandments monument, which has been the subject of ongoing federal litigation. Several plaintiffs have claimed this monument violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, which prohibits government entities from favoring an establishment of religion.

The post Commission recommends space for Arkansas Capitols upcoming monument to the unborn appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 11. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has signed a decree "On the approval of the list of licenses and permits not required for conducting relevant work in the areas of activity of the Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping Company Closed Joint-Stock Company," Trend reports.

According to the decree, the "List of licenses not required for conducting relevant work in the areas of activity of the Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping Company Closed Joint-Stock Company" has been approved.

Additionally, the "List of permits not required for conducting relevant work in the areas of activity of the Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping Company Closed Joint-Stock Company" has also been approved.

The Cabinet of Ministers was tasked with addressing the issues arising from this decree.
COMSTOCK TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD)  Authorities are investigating the cause of multiple fires inside an apartment in Comstock Township Tuesday morning.

The Comstock Township Fire Department said it was called around 4:45 a.m. Tuesday for a report of a water leak at an apartment on E. Michigan Avenue between 30th Street and 33rd Road.

Investigators found multiple fire locations inside the apartment. However, the fires burnt out on their own. A fire near a water line damaged it, causing the water leak, according to the fire department.

The fire department said the apartment was currently rented, but no one was home at the time of the fire.

This embedded content is not available in your region.

Anyone with information is asked to call the fire marshal at 269.345.9244.

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EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  Reports of black mold at a Socorro ISD middle-school campus were allegedly brushed off after a group of teachers independently gathered and sent samples to a laboratory for testing.

The district said common mold was found at William D. Slider Middle School, but black mold was never detected. The district also says the school was thoroughly cleaned and no mold has been reported since.

A former teacher at Slider Middle School said after an educator saw what appeared to be black mold in one of their classrooms in August 2023, they raised concerns to administrators. When they were told the cabinets would be replaced by leadership, the teachers took and sent samples from classroom 206 to Sun City Analytical Inc.

The test came back positive on Aug. 16, 2023 for Stachybotrys mold, commonly known as black mold, according to a report obtained by KTSM.

KTSMs source said when this information was brought up to the principal he contacted the district.

The district then took their own samples from classroom 208 to Eurofins laboratory on Aug. 22, 2023 where the analysis identified the substance as Aspergillus/Penicillium, better known as common mold, according to a report obtained by KTSM.

Our source, who did not want to be identified out of fear of retaliation, said: I had joint pain, and I was getting like puffy hands. I felt exhausted, brain fog, like I was forgetting what I was saying in the middle of teaching. Other people were feeling like burning skin, itchy skin, same thing, brain fog. The kids were coughing.

A pulmonology care physician with Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center said black mold exposure symptoms feel like heightened allergies for some and could be more serious for others with respiratory or underlying health problems.

Some people might have some coughs or some shortness of breath or a little chest tightness, particularly if they have an underlying respiratory condition. Its all about removing yourself from the situation and then trying to treat the problem, Dr. Patrick Kicker said.

KTSM reached out to SISD who said in a statement:

There was a report of possible mold in a limited area of Slider Middle School. The district tested the substance, and the presence of common mold was confirmed. Black mold was not detected. At that time, our maintenance team thoroughly cleaned the rooms, repainted surfaces with mold resistant paint, replaced all cabinetry, and changed air filters and cleaned the HVAC systems that service the affected rooms. Parents and employees were notified of the report and the actions taken to address the situation. There have been no reports of mold since.

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ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC)  As part of an approved $28 million bond to upgrade Abilenes recreation centers, the city is looking into the logistics of teardowns and rebuilds.

City of Abilene getting $28 million worth of recreation centers after bond passes election

Above: (Left to right) GV Daniels Recreation Center, Caesar Chavez Recreation Center (courtesy of the City of Abilene)

In a briefing Monday morning, the city proposed simultaneous demolition which could cut costs of reconstruction by about 5%.

However, concerns have come forward in the way of job stability for city park employees.

To avoid laying off city parks employees, city manager Robert Hanna proposed an undisclosed plan.

The good news is we put together a plan that would give anybody who wants to stay an opportunity to stay with the City of Abilene. So really, trying to keep our people. Theyre good employees that work hard, and I want to make sure they have a safe harbor when this happens, Hanna said.

Parents are also concerned about taking away after school programs. GV Daniels Rec Center hosts a 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. after school program and transportation for Thomas, Taylor, and Purcell elementaries, and Craig middle; and the Caesar Chavez Rec Center hosts a program for Ortiz students.

A public hearing for the closure of the GV Daniels and Caesar Chavez rec centers will be held this Thursday morning from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. in the second floor council chambers at Abilene City Hall  located at 555 Walnut Street.

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Man convicted of killing former lover and her husband is executed in Missouri

This photo, provided by Missourians to Abolish the Death Penalty, shows inmate David Hosier, Friday, June 7, 2024, at Potosi Correctional Center in Potosi, Missouri. Hosier is scheduled to be executed Tuesday, June 11, 2024, for the deaths of a Jefferson City couple in 2009, but he has long questioned how he could be convicted on circumstantial evidence. (Missourians to Abolish the Death Penalty via AP)

BONNE TERRE, Mo. (AP)  A man convicted of killing his former lover and her husband in what prosecutors described as a fit of rage was executed Tuesday evening in Missouri.

David Hosier, 69, was pronounced dead at 6:11 p.m. following a single-dose injection of the sedative pentobarbital at the state prison in Bonne Terre. Hosier was convicted of the 2009 killings of Angela and Rodney Gilpin in the state capital of Jefferson City.

Hosier turned his head a couple of times and breathed hard twice as the drug was administered. All movement stopped within seconds, even as his spiritual adviser seated next to him, the Rev. Jeff Hood, continued to pray.

Investigators said Hosier had a romantic relationship with Angela Gilpin and was angry with her for breaking it off and reconciling with her husband. Hosier maintained until the end that he was innocent and shouldnt have been convicted on circumstantial evidence.

The way was cleared Monday when Gov. Mike Parson declined to grant clemency, citing Hosiers lack of remorse. Parson, a Republican and former county sheriff, has overseen 10 executions since taking office in 2018. Hosiers lawyers said no court appeals were pending in the hours before the scheduled execution.

I leave you all with love, Hosier had said as part of a final statement released before the execution. Now I get to go to Heaven. Dont cry for me. Just join me when your time comes.

Hosier was the son of an Indiana State Police sergeant killed in the line of duty. Glen Hosier went into a home searching for a murder suspect in 1971 when he was shot to death. Other officers returned fire and killed the suspect.

David Hosier, then 16, was soon sent to military school and enlisted in the Navy after graduating. He served four years of active duty and later moved to Jefferson City, Missouri, where he worked for many years as a firefighter and EMT.

In previous interviews with The Associated Press, Hosier acknowledged having an affair with Angela Gilpin that she ended before getting back with her husband. In September 2009, the two were fatally shot near the doorway to their apartment.

Detective Jason Miles told AP that Hosier made numerous comments to other people threatening to harm Angela Gilpin in the days before the killings. After the shootings, police found an application for a protective order in Angela Gilpins purse, and another document in which she expressed fear that Hosier might shoot her and her husband.

Hosier was an immediate suspect, but police couldnt find him. They used cellphone data to track him to Oklahoma. A chase ensued when an Oklahoma officer tried to stop Hosiers car. When he got out, he told the officers, Shoot me, and get it over with, court records show.

Officers found 15 guns, a bulletproof vest, 400 rounds of ammunition and other weapons in Hosiers car, the court documents state. The weapons included a submachine gun made from a kit that investigators maintain was used in the killings, though tests on it were inconclusive.

A note was found in the front seat of Hosiers vehicle. If you are going with someone do not lie to them, it read in part. Be honest with them if there is something wrong. If you do not this could happen to YOU!!

Hosier said he wasnt fleeing to Oklahoma, but was simply on a long drive to clear his mind. He had the guns because he likes to hunt, he said. He didnt recall a note in the car.

The Missouri Supreme Court upheld Hosiers conviction in 2019.

Hosier wheezed at times when he spoke by phone to AP last week, and his voice was weak. In mid-May, he was taken from the prison to a hospital  a rare move for death row inmates. He was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation.

Hosier was the seventh person executed in the U.S. this year and the second in Missouri. Brian Dorsey was executed in April for killing his cousin and her husband in 2006.

Missouri is scheduled to execute another man, Marcellus Williams, on Sept. 24, even though Williams is still awaiting a hearing on his claim of innocence in the 1998 stabbing death of Lisha Gayle.

In January, St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell requested a court hearing after DNA technology unavailable at the time of the crime showed that someone elses DNA  but not Williams  was found on the knife used in the stabbing.

Williams was hours away from execution in 2017 when then-Gov. Eric Greitens granted a reprieve and appointed a board of inquiry to examine his innocence claim. The board never reached a conclusion and Parson dissolved it last year.
A Japanese developer said a nearly-completed condo building in Kunitachi, Tokyo Prefecture, will be demolished after local residents complained it was blocking their view of Mount Fuji. Photo by BottonDown/Pixabay.com

June 11 (UPI) -- A Japanese development firm announced it will demolish a nearly-completed condominium building after neighbors complained it was blocking their view of Mount Fuji.

Osaka-based developer Sekisui House said the 10-story, 18-unit building in Kunitachi, Tokyo Prefecture, will be demolished just weeks before the first residents were due to move into their units.

The developer had earlier made concessions including reducing the plan from 11 stories to 10 and reducing the height of each floor after locals complained it would block their view of Mount Fuji, the tallest mountain in the country.

The company said in a statement provided to Kyodo News that the decision was made to demolish the building, known as Grand Maison Kunitachi Fujimi Dori, due to "insufficient consideration for the impact on the scenery."

"We were aware of the culture that values scenery, but we failed to consider it adequately. We also apologize to the contracting parties," the statement said.

The developer said the would-be condo owners who purchased units in the building for about $446,000 each will be provided with financial compensation.
Conflict marred more countries last year than at any time since World War II

Wars in Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan and Ethiopia pushed conflict deaths to a 30-year high - YASUYOSHI CHIBA/AFP via Getty Images

There were more countries engaged in conflict in 2023 than at any time since World War II. Across the world, 92 countries are now involved in conflicts outside of their borders, according to new data from the Institute for Economics & Peace.

The IEPs annual Global Peace Index report found that violent conflict has been on the rise in recent years, reversing the historical trend of recent decades.

In 2022, 92 countries were involved in at least one internationalised intrastate conflict, up from 59 in 2008.

There are worrying signs that militarisation is likely to increase in the near future, said Steve Killelea, Founder & Executive Chairman of IEP.

The very high number of smaller conflicts means that the risk of an outbreak of more major conflicts is higher now than at any other point since the inception of the index.

The number of conflicts  driven mostly by civil war  grew throughout the Cold War period and then broadly declined over the period of globalisation from the mid-1990s onward.

However, after the global financial crash in 2008/9, conflict has picked up again markedly  this time led (just as it was in the 1930s) by conflict between states.

But although conflicts are again on the rise, deaths from conflict remain low in historical terms.

The report found that the wars in Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan and Ethiopia had pushed conflict deaths to a 30-year high of around 200,000 a year in 2022 but this is just a fraction of what it was for much of the later half of the last century.

Although the number of deaths from armed conflict is now at a 30 year high, the total number of conflict deaths remains considerably lower than at many points in the post-World War II era, say the authors.

They add: The average number of deaths per year between 1946 and 1999 was almost 210,000, compared to just under 69,000 per year between 2000 and 2022.

However, the trend is on the rise again and given the increasing big power rivalries there is a real risk of a return to the level of fatalities seen in the Cold War era.

There has also been a considerable shift by region, with more middle ranking economies becoming involved in conflict.

The most striking example of this is in sub-Saharan Africa, where 36 of the 42 countries in the region were involved in at least one external conflict between 2018 and 2022, compared to just seven countries for the period from 2002 to 2006, says the report.

Another trend is that wars between states dont tend to end conclusively any more, leaving the possibility of further escalation.

The number of conflicts ending in ceasefire has remained steady, which points towards many conflicts being left unresolved, says the report.

Coinciding with this is a decrease in the percentage of conflicts that end through a clear victory.

One fear is that current trends spiral just as they did in the early part of the last century.

One possible scenario is that increasing conflict triggers broad-scale increases in militarisation, which further increases the risk of conflict, Mr Killelea said.

The sheer number of conflicts globally is making it harder for the international community to properly address so many problems simultaneously.

The IEP pointed out that In 2019, the Russia-Ukraine, Israel-Hamas, and subnational conflicts in Ethiopia wars were minor conflicts, but have each grown.

The impact of an escalation in Gaza or Ukraine could potentially have devastating humanitarian and economic consequences for the world, said Mr Killelea.

Conflicts are also being shaped by technology, further fuelling the ability of small groups to engage in asymmetric warfare.

Between 2018 and 2023 the number of states using drones rose from 16 to 40, a 150 per cent increase.

Over the same period, the number of non-state groups who committed at least one drone attack rose from six to 91, an increase of over 1,400 per cent.

Not surprisingly, deaths from drone strikes have also boomed.

In 2023, there were over 3,000 deaths from drone strikes, an increase of 168 per cent since 2018.

One area of improvement has been in terrorism, says the report.

Terrorism deaths peaked in 2015, hitting around 11,000, but have since fallen to around 8,500.

Although terrorism  like conflict generally  is a rare cause of death globally, many people worry about it, allowing it to loom large in their minds.

In the UK, 47 per cent of people said they worried very much or a great deal about terrorism, according to Our World in Data.

Yet in 2021, there was just one terrorism-related death, compared to 134,802 deaths caused by cancer in England alone, Our World in Data reported.

Overall, deaths from terrorism have decreased dramatically in western Europe over the last 50 years and  with the exception of 9/11  remain exceptionally low in North America.

But the picture in sub-Saharan Africa, south Asia and the Middle East and North Africa the reverse is true. In all these regions deaths from terrism have climbed markedly in recent decades.

Mr Killelea said the increase in terrorism in the central Sahel region is the greatest concern in sub-Saharan Africa.

The risks in this region are exacerbated by the looming threat of ecological crisis, with the impact of climate change possibly leading to an increase in conflict and more people becoming refugees or internally displaced, he added.

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Rep. Elise Stefanik has positioned herself in the months since Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7 as a champion in the fight against antisemitism. After going viral for asking university presidents whether calling for genocide against Jewish students was against their codes of conduct last December (an exchange her office helpfully packaged), the Republican from New York was hailed even by some liberal Jews as an ally.

Since then, she has questioned more university presidents and leaders of public schools on antisemitism. Per Politico, she raked in more than $7 million during the first quarter of the year, fueled by her support from prominent Jewish Republicans in the wake of her grilling of university presidents over campus antisemitism. Last month, she went to Israel to address the Knesset Caucus for Jewish and Pro-Israel Students on Campuses Around the World, where she chastised U.S. President Joe Biden and praised former President Donald Trump, whose support for Israel she described as historic. On the same trip, she met with Israels President Isaac Herzog. Her political star is on the rise, too: Trump is reportedly considering her to be his running mate.

I would love to be able to write a piece detailing the ways in which this is the culmination of a career spent dedicated to Jewish safety, or a reflection of her deep concern for Americas religious minorities. Sadly, I cannot do that, as Stefanik has, for years now, consistently pushed and defended antisemitic rhetoric. This is to say that though she presents herself as a champion against antisemitism, in reality, Stefanik is spreading it.

To be clear: I am not saying Stefanik is an antisemite. I do not know, and do not care, what is in her heart and mind. I only know her words and deeds, which include boosting antisemitic conspiracy theories and smears. Presumably, given that she is a politician, she has done this because it serves her political ends.

Most egregious, to my mind, is her embrace of rhetoric similar to great replacement theory. This is the white supremacist, antisemitic conspiracy that alleges that there is a plot by shadowy elites to bring immigrants into the country to change its demographic makeup. This change, the story goes, would redound to those elites and the lefts political advantage. In 2017, that theory was behind the chant of Jews Will Not Replace Us as neo-Nazis marched in Charlottesville, Virginia. In the 2018 Tree of Life mass shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue, before carrying out the deadliest attack against Jews ever in the history of the United States while yelling, All Jews must die, the shooter reportedly posted a screed against HIAS, a Jewish nonprofit that resettles refugees, alleging, HIAS likes to bring invaders that kill our people.

One might thus imagine that anyone concerned about antisemitism in the United States would, at minimum, stay as far away from this conspiracy theory as possible. And yet, in 2021, Stefanik adapted this despicable tactic for campaign ads, as her regional paper, the Times Union, put it at the time. The ads referred to radical Democrats granting amnesty to illegal immigrants to create a permanent liberal majority.

Similar rhetoric was espoused by the person who carried out a mass shooting that killed 10 people in Buffalo, New York, in the spring of 2022, bringing attention back to Stefaniks use of it. But evidently, this was not enough to convince Stefanik that such language was harmful, or that whatever political gains might come from it were not worth the potential harm to Jews and other minorities living in this country; she neither renounced nor apologized for the language, and has continued to use antisemitic political rhetoric.

For example, in April of this year, the same month that she grilled Columbia University President Nemat Shafik about antisemitism and the safety of the Jewish students for whom she is purportedly so concerned, Stefanik tweeted, George Soros is trying to fund the downfall of America by buying elections for radical Far Left politicians and corrupting the next generation to support terror groups, implying that the Hungarian-born Jewish billionaire philanthropist is attempting to secretly control American democracy.

There will be some who argue that criticizing Soros is not antisemitic. And they are correct! It isnt antisemitic to criticize what Soros is saying and doing. In this tweet, however, Stefanik is not offering criticism, but conspiracy: wildly overstating what Soros is saying and doing, and implying that a lone Jewish person is, through money and power, trying to corrode the American nation. A cartoon depicting a Jewish person pulling puppet strings with dollar signs over the United States would have been just as subtle.

There is also an added irony in all of this, which is that Stefanik has, in some moments, spoken over Jews about antisemitism, erasing actual Jews from the conversation on Jewish safety. (Stefanik is Catholic.) For example, in March, after Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, the highest-ranking Jewish elected official in the United States, called for new elections in Israel, Stefanik put out a statement that read, Israel is not only fighting for its right to exist, its fighting for the rights of Jewish people everywhere. Instead of meddling in Israeli sovereign elections, Chuck Schumer should follow House Republicans lead in supporting our most precious ally in their darkest hour. Evidently, Jewish people everywhere did not include Chuck Schumer.

In all this, she is joined by Trump himself, who regularly denounces Jews who dont vote for him (to date, thats a group that includes most American Jews), and who, along with others in his campaign, likewise espouses antisemitic conspiracy theories. Trump also famously downplayed the white supremacist march on Charlottesville, dined with white supremacist Holocaust denier Nick Fuentes, and hired Steve Bannona man crucial to bringing online white-supremacist and neo-Nazi support to Republicansto be his senior adviser in the White House. Stefanik was nevertheless an early backer of Trumps 2024 campaign and has become a top ally of the former president.

Her office did not respond to my request for comment.

Stefanik is, of course, not alone in her party in using this rhetoric and pushing these conspiracies while defending Israel. Still, perhaps it is worth stating plainly that all the viral moments and Knesset caucuses together cannot take out what she has helped put into our political water. Antisemitic conspiracy theories and smearslike, for example, that shadowy forces are trying to change U.S. demographics, or that a Jewish billionaire is attempting to fund the downfall of the countryerode trust in democracy, in our institutions and between Americans. But beyond that, they endanger Jewish people. And yet, even with ample evidence of this, Stefanik has repeatedly returned to those smears.

One might think all this would damage Stefaniks credibility as a soldier in the fight against antisemitism. But the fight against antisemitism has evidently helped Stefanik raise money. It has helped raise her political profile. It may soon help make her the vice president. It only seems fair to ask that she, in turn, finally help the fight against antisemitism. Not siding with antisemitism in that fight might be a start.
A fight over the White House plan to mandate minimum staffing levels in nursing homes is escalating, as the Biden administration seeks to ward off challenges in Congress and in the courts.

On Capitol Hill, lawmakers in both chambers have introduced joint resolutions under the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to overturn the rule.

The policy has exposed a division among Democrats, especially front-line members from rural states.

The Senate measure, led by Sens. Jon Tester (D-Mont.), James Lankford (R-Okla.) and Joe Manchin (I-W.Va.), has a significant chance of passing the Democratically controlled Senate.

A CRA resolution isnt subject to the 60-vote filibuster and needs only a simple majority of votes. If Tester, Manchin and all the chambers Republicans vote for the resolution, it will pass  though President Biden will likely veto the measure.

At a time when nursing homes across Montana are struggling with workforce shortage issues, it makes no sense for unelected bureaucrats in the Biden Administration to hand down a one-size-fits-all policy that would force these critical facilities to shutter their doors. Thats why Im teaming up with Republicans to shut this rule down, Tester said in a statement.

Manchin, who is retiring, called the rule overly demanding and unrealistic.

Tester is running for reelection in a red state and is one of the Senates most vulnerable Democrats. He has been outspoken about the need to block the rule from taking effect.

Last fall, he and Manchin led a letter to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) demanding the agency rescind the rule.

That letter was signed by Democratic Sens. Maggie Hassan (N.H.), Jeanne Shaheen (N.H.) and independents Kyrsten Sinema (Ariz.) and Angus King (Maine).

None of those senators have spoken in favor of the CRA, and their offices did not answer when asked if they support it.

However, King recently joined with Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) to express concern about the mandates impact on veterans and ask the Department of Veterans Affairs to produce a report on the issue.

The senators argue the mandate wont fix workforce shortage problems or solve care quality problems and will force many rural nursing homes to shut their doors.

In the House, a CRA resolution is backed entirely by Republicans. But Democratic Reps. Jared Golden (Maine) and Chris Pappas (N.H.) opposed the rule when it was initially proposed.

The arguments from both chambers echo industry groups that say any federal standard is unfeasible because of a nationwide staffing shortage made worse by the pandemic.

Under the requirements unveiled in April, all nursing homes that receive federal funding through Medicare and Medicaid will need to have a registered nurse on staff 24 hours per day, seven days per week and provide at least 3.48 hours of nursing care per resident per day.

The rules will cost nursing homes $43 billion over the next decade, according to estimates from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

President Biden in his 2022 State of the Union address announced a slate of nursing home reforms and vowed staffing minimums would be among them. Advocates have been calling for such a requirement for more than two decades, arguing that residents are safer and have better care with more staff, but until now the industry had been able to successfully resist those efforts.

According to the industry trade group American Health Care Association (AHCA), only 6 percent of nursing homes currently meet all four requirements in the rule.

David Grabowski, a professor of health policy at Harvard Medical School and a nursing industry expert, said the political backlash has been disappointing to see.

I have never thought of the effort to improve nursing home quality as a partisan issue so I guess steps to impede high-quality care can also be bipartisan, Grabowski said in an email.

He noted that the opposition from rural members is misguided. Rural areas have historically suffered from workforce shortages, but the rule has specific carve-outs and other protections for rural nursing homes.

For example, there is a longer ramp-up period for rural nursing homes to comply with the new rules. Additionally, the rule contains language that if rural nursing homes are facing a local labor shortage, they are exempt from the policy.

Nonrural facilities must meet the requirements by May 2027, and rural facilities have five years, until May 2029.

The new rule is far from perfect but lots of research supports the idea that many U.S. nursing homes often operate at levels that pose risks to the health and safety of their residents. I would rather have seen members work to improve the legislation to strengthen staffing rather than work to overturn it, Grabowski said.

But a congressional resolution is not the only threat to the new policy. A lawsuit filed by AHCA in Texas asks a judge to overturn the rule.

The complaint argues Congress never gave the CMS the authority to impose such onerous and unachievable mandates on practically every nursing home in the country.

The lawsuit was filed in federal court in Amarillo, Texas. The district court in Amarillo has only one judge, Matthew Kacsmaryk.

Kacsmaryk, an appointee of former President Trump, is the same judge who suspended approval of the abortion pill mifepristone and has ruled against the Biden administration on several other issues, including immigration and LGBTQ protections.

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Florida black bear: Credit: Tim Donovan, FWC

Quality Journalism for Critical Times

Among the bills that Gov. Ron DeSantis will soon have to act on is a measure that would allow people to kill bears in self-defense, and conservation and environmental groups in Florida are urging their members to ask the governor to veto it.

The bill (HB 87), dubbed the Self Defense Act, says that an individual would not be subject to any administrative, civil, or criminal penalty for killing a bear if that person reasonably believed it was necessary to avoid an imminent threat of death or serious bodily injury to themselves or another person, their pets, or their dwelling.

Panhandle House Republican Jason Shoaf sponsored the measure. He made national news when discussing what bears he was referring to in a committee meeting during the legislative session earlier this year.

Were talking about the ones that are on crack, and they break your door down, and theyre standing in your living room, growling and tearing your house apart, Shoaf said on January 30. When you run into one of these crack bears, you should be able to shoot it, period. And you shouldnt have to pause or be afraid that youre gonna get arrested or harassed or pay fines and penalties. Thats just crazy.

In a message to its members, Sierra Club Florida chapter director Susannah Randolph says the premise of the bill is faulty.

It was built upon Rep. Jason Shoafs bald-faced lie that Florida faces an epidemic of crack bears that are ingesting illegal drugs and destroying peoples homes, and that Floridians dont already have the right to defend themselves, Randolph writes. There have been zero people killed by crack bears in Florida, and there are zero reasons why HB 87 should be signed into law. Tell Gov. DeSantis to protect our black bears and veto this horrible bill today!

A form letter that Defenders of Wildlife urges Floridians to send to DeSantis argues the proposed law is unconstitutional.

Article IV, section 9, of the Florida Constitution establishes the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and grants the FWC the regulatory and executive powers of the state concerning wild animal life, freshwater aquatic life, and marine life. This Act violates this provision of the constitution because it specifies that a person who kills a bear under ill-defined conditions is not subject to any administrative, civil, or criminal penalties under certain circumstances.

The organization adds in the form letter that, instead, the Legislature should appropriate $600,000 to Franklin and other rural and underserved counties to enable regular trash pick-up and provide bear-secure trash receptacles which would effectively eliminate human-bear interaction and the need for this Act.

Nightmare

In a separate form letter, Florida Conservation Voters notes that the bill will be a nightmare for law enforcement, and it could lead to dangerous situations for residents. They add that it will result in numerous defenseless, orphaned cubs who will be left to starve.

More than 38,000 people have signed a petition listed on change.org urging the governor to veto HB 87.

Other groups with form letters for the public to send to DeSantis include the Florida Springs Council and Florida Wildlife Federation.

Black bears (the only bear that lives in Florida) were labelled an endangered species by the FWC in the 1970s but, after decades of statewide protections and management, the agency determined in 2012 that they no longer faced a high risk of extinction and they were removed from the state threatened list, according to a legislative analysis.

FWC estimated the statewide bear population at approximately 4,050, according to a 2017 report  the last time it provided an estimate.

The measure passed mostly along party lines in the House and Senate, with a few Republicans joining Democrats in opposing it. Still, on the Senate floor, Miami Republican Ana Maria Rodriguez said that while bears might be more prevalent in the rural areas of the state, a bear appeared on the streets of South Florida last year.

To me, this bill is about safety and protecting our families on our property, she said. I dont live in North Florida. I live in the southernmost district. I live in Homestead, but I actually had a bear on my block, which is pretty rare. But I do think that its important for each and every Floridian in each and every district, not just North Florida, have the ability to protect their families.

The Legislature sent HB 87 to DeSantis on Friday, June 7. He has until June 22 to either sign or veto the bill. If he doesnt act, the measure will become law on July 1.

The post Conservationists amp up the intensity in calling on DeSantis to veto bear-shooting bill appeared first on Florida Phoenix.
Conservationists commence ambitious 'rewilding' project with release of 40 at-risk rhinos: 'This is just the beginning'

Conservationists have just released 40 southern white rhinos on a private reserve in South Africa as part of a larger effort to rewild this animal across the continent.

The non-profit conservation group African Parks announced its donation of the rhinos to the Munywana Conservancy, and they are now roaming its 29,866-hectare (73,800-acre) reserve. The move was part of an effort by African Parks to place 2,000 of these animals into secure, protected areas across Africa over the next decade, Good Things Guy reported.

Southern white rhinos were once thought to be extinct, but in 1895, a small group of less than 100 individuals was discovered in South Africa. Thanks to over a century of protection efforts, around 18,000 exist today.

However, these gargantuan mammals have lost much of their historic range and are listed as near threatened. According to African Parks, white rhinos, which include two distinct subspecies with distinct ranges  the southern white rhino and the northern white rhino  are still under extreme pressure due to poaching and habitat loss.

Continued conservation work, like the donation by African Parks, will help ensure that they don't end up like the northern white rhino, of which only two survive in the wild. Meanwhile, three species of rhino  black, Javan, and Sumatran  are critically endangered.

Safeguarding our surviving rhinos isn't just the right thing to do from a species conservation perspective  it also can help provide income for local communities through ecotourism opportunities.

Rhinos are also important contributors to the savannas where they live. By munching on large amounts of vegetation, they help shape the African landscape and keep the ecosystem in balance. This not only benefits the other animals but also provides services to humans, who rely on the natural resources within these habitats for food, fuel, and income.

Plus, savannas store about 30% of the world's terrestrial carbon, so safeguarding these ecosystems can benefit our quest to curb the overheating of our planet.

Luckily, there are flickers of hope for rhinos. In November 2023, conservationists welcomed a critically endangered Sumatran rhino baby in a national park in Indonesia. That same month, zookeepers at the Chester Zoo in England cheered the birth of a critically endangered eastern black rhino.

As for the rewilding of southern white rhinos, "This is just the beginning of a long-term partnership with African Parks where we can play our part in making a tangible contribution to the future of the southern white rhino in Africa," Damian Aspinall, chairman of WeWild Africa, said in a statement. WeWild Africa is one of several organizations that helped with the first translocation.

Peter Fearnhead, CEO of African Parks, added, "The crux of the solution, and the ultimate success for rewilding these 2,000 rhino(s), lies in the existence of safe, well-protected and effectively managed areas across Africa, of which the Munywana Conservancy is an excellent example."

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 11. Elchin Mammadov has been appointed rector of the Military Institute of Internal Troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Azerbaijan, Trend reports.

The President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed a corresponding decree.

The decree comes into force on the date of its signing.
Constitutional amendment draft could make history by granting rights to nature: 'Protection at the system level is necessary'

Aruba is on the brink of declaring that the environment  not just humans  deserves protection, shifting how we may view our relationship with the natural world, according to Inside Climate News.

Proposed by Ursell Arends, Aruba's minister of nature, new constitutional amendments aim to grant legal protections to nature, affirming its rights to protection, conservation, and restoration of ecosystems and biodiversity. Simultaneously, the amendments would acknowledge every individual's entitlement to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment  a monumental shift in the nation's approach to environmental policy.

If passed, this legislation would make Aruba only the second country globally, following Ecuador, to recognize such rights within its constitution.

The proposed constitutional changes come in response to a growing global movement recognizing the interdependence between humans and the natural world.

"Protection at the system level is necessary because it takes into account the interrelationships between species and their abiotic environment," the memorandum issued with the draft bill said. "Protection at the individual or species level disregards these mutual relationships."

This movement aims to protect natural areas like forests, rivers, and lakes by allowing them to "fight" against pollution and exploitation in court through representatives. For example, Spain's Mar Menor lagoon was granted legal personhood to protect it from harmful pollution, ensuring it can exist and evolve naturally.

This approach can change how people view and interact with the environment, shifting from seeing nature as an object that serves people to recognizing its intrinsic value and rights.

Arends expressed optimism about the bill's prospects, citing widespread awareness of the environmental challenges facing the island and the critical role nature plays in sustaining its economy and way of life.

Aruba, with its economy heavily reliant on tourism and its unique ecosystem under threat from factors like waste management and overheating, stands to benefit significantly from such legislative measures.

The proposed amendments also mandate regular environmental assessments and reports to lawmakers, underscoring the government's commitment to upholding these rights over time. Working closely with local and international partners, including the Global Alliance for the Rights of Nature and the U.S.-based Earth Law Center, Aruba is laying the groundwork for a historic legislative shift  one that could set a precedent for environmental rights worldwide.

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Constitutional conventions: a relic of old or a chance for reform? Its time for voters to decide

Rep. Robert Craven, a North Kingstown Democrat, is seen on the floor of the Rhode Island House of Representatives on May 9, 2024. (Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current)

Shall there be a convention to amend or revise the state constitution?

The states House of Representatives Monday unanimously approved two resolutions sponsored by Judiciary Committee Chairman Robert Craven, a North Kingstown Democrat, on the once-in-a-decade opportunity.

One resolution would place the convention question on the Nov. 5 ballot. The other creates a 12-member commission that would prepare a report by Sept. 1 on the potential constitutional questions and considerations should voters want to make changes to the states governing documents.

Both of Cravens resolutions now head to the Senate for consideration where companion legislation is sponsored by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairwoman Dawn Euer, a Newport Democrat.

Euers resolution to put the convention question on the ballot was advanced to the floor, but has not been scheduled as of Monday. The legislation to create a bipartisan commission will be considered by the Senate Judiciary Committee Tuesday evening.

Rhode Island is one of five states, along with Alaska, Hawaii, Iowa and New Hampshire, where people automatically have the chance to vote to hold a constitutional convention every 10 years. The General Assembly may also propose amendments during any election year.

The convention question typically goes on the ballot in years ending in the number four, but voters have not agreed to convene one in the last three decades. The states most recent convention saw delegates create an Ethics Commission, restore felons voting rights, and clarify Rhode Islanders rights to the shoreline.

That was in 1986.

Its crazy because conventions used to be really common in the 19th century and even in the first half of the 20th, John Marion, executive director of Common Cause Rhode Island, said in an interview Monday.

But Marion said constitutional conventions started to fall out of fashion mostly because of political polarization.

Thats led to a real hesitation toward opening up some of our governing documents, he said.

Should a majority of Rhode Islanders want to move ahead with a convention, Marion said the state would have to set up a special election to select 75 convention delegates to represent each of the state House districts.

If that were to play out this time  a year from now wed see that election, he said. We wouldnt see a convention until around 2026.

Cases for and against a convention

Once the delegates meet, any issue could be brought forth for debate  and there are plenty of proposals that could come up.

Rhode Island Republican National Committeeman Steven Frias named term limits, stronger access to public records, and a line-item veto for the governor as examples of possible changes to be considered.

Frias said delegates could also use the convention as an avenue to create an inspector generals office something Rhode Island Republicans have sought for the past two decades. GOP lawmakers tried to add the position in the fiscal year 2025 budget, but the push was rejected by the House on June 7.

A constitutional convention gives the public a chance to change how our state government operates, he said in an interview Monday afternoon. If youre happy with how things are going: vote no. If you think we can do better: vote yes.

Sen. Sam Zurier, a Providence Democrat, told Rhode Island Current he would like to see delegates amend the constitution to include a judicially enforceable right to an education.

We have in the Senate passed measures to put that measure on the ballot, but the House of Representatives doesnt agree, he said. Sometimes there are certain ideas that are stuck in gridlock and a convention could bring those to the voters.

But the Rhode Island chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union opposes the possibility of a constitutional convention, claiming that it could roll back many of the states civil protections.

This is not a hypothetical concern, said Executive Director Steven Brown. We saw it the last time Rhode Island had a constitutional convention in 1986.

Brown was referring to a proposal that would have banned abortions in Rhode Island except in life and death scenarios.

Theres no reason to believe that in light of the polarized climate we live in today that similar types of ideologically charged issues will not come out of a convention, Brown said. Theres this very utopian view of citizens meeting and coming up with grand ideas, but a constitutional convention is just as political as the General Assembly  if not more so.

The right to life amendment cleared the convention, but was defeated at the ballot box, with 66% of voters choosing to reject it.

Frias called the ACLUs concerns unfounded, saying that any referendums to ban abortions would likely be struck down as they have in ballot measures across several red states.

I think the ACLU is fighting yesterdays battles instead of focusing on todays realities, he said.

Zurier acknowledged the theoretical risk to holding a constitutional convention, but pointed out any final proposals will have to be approved by voters.

I wish my friends at the ACLU had a great trust for the voters, he said.

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Construction on Highway 50 to close major Sacramento exits. Heres when and where

Construction on Highway 50 will block drivers from using several major exits in Sacramento, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Crews will be performing work on the concrete slabs and median this week, the CHP said on the Fix50 Highway Enhancement Project website. Nearby residents can expect loud construction noises as work is underway.

The speed limit in the work zone is 55 mph, as opposed to the usual 65 mph.

The CHP will be patrolling the area to issue citations to motorists that exceed that limit, the Fix50 site said.

What Sacramento roads will be affected by construction?

Here is a list of which highway on-ramps, off-ramps, auxiliary lanes and streets will be affected during the construction, according to the Fix50 website.

Eastbound auxiliary lanes from Interstate 5 to 16th Street

Eastbound Riverside Boulevard on-ramp

Eastbound 15th Street off-ramp

Eastbound 16th Street on-ramp

Westbound and eastbound No. 1 and No. 2 lanes from 26th Street to Stockton Boulevard

Eastbound No. 1 and No. 2 lanes from 26th Street to 34th Street





Westbound No. 3 and No. 4 lanes from 65th Street to 59th. Street





Westbound 65th Street on- ramp

Westbound 59th Street on-ramp and auxiliary lane

Westbound Howe Avenue on ramp and auxiliary lane

Westbound No. 3 and No. 4 lanes from Howe Avenue to 65th Street

When will roadwork take place?

Crews will be working on around the clock on Highway 50.

Day crews will work from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. and night crews will work from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m.

Roadwork will continue through Friday, according to the Fix50 website.

What is Highway 50 expansion project?

Work on the Highway 50 Design-Build Multimodal Corridor Enhancement Project, also known as the Fix50 Highway Enhancement Project, started in March 2021.

The construction project includes a new sound wall and new high-occupancy vehicle lanes from the Interstate 5 interchange to Watt Avenue to help reduce emissions to tackle climate change.

Crews will also widen ramps and connector ramps, widen bridges and increase vertical clearance at overcrossings, replace freeway pavement with continuously reinforced concreate pavement, the Fix50 site said.

In total, the project is expected to cost $483.5 million, with $390.2 million of that coming from Senate Bill 1 funding and $28.4 million from Local Measure Tax funding.

What do you want to know about life in Sacramento? Ask our service journalism team your top-of-mind questions in the module below or email servicejournalists@sacbee.com.
Marilu Mastrogiovanni poses in front of a murales dedicated to Gloria Anzaldua, an American scholar of Chicana feminism, cultural theory, and queer theory, during an interview at the Bari's university, Monday, May 20, 2024. Investigative journalist, Professor of Investigative Journalism, has reported extensively on the infiltration of the Sacra Corona Unita in the local community and city hall for her blog "Tacco d'Italia." Her reports so angered the local government that they plastered the town with giant posters attacking her work and one depicted her up to her neck in a hole in the ground. After various threats, she was put under police escort and eventually decided to move her family to Bari where she now teaches investigative journalism in the Master in Journalism course at the University of Bari. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

A remarkable group of women is challenging the power structures of the Sacra Corona Unita, Italys fourth main organized crime group that operates in southern Puglia, the heel of Italys boot.

They are doing it at great personal risk, arresting and prosecuting clan members, exposing their crimes and confiscating their businesses, all while working to change local attitudes.

Here is a look at some of these women:

Carla Durante

Durante heads of the Lecce office of the Direzione Investigativa Anti-Mafia, Italys inter-agency anti-mafia police force, but her rise in the ranks was met with obstacles from the start.

When she told her high school Latin teacher that she wanted to become a police officer, the response was typical of the macho ethos of southern Italy at the time: How vulgar.

The reception wasnt much better in Durantes first job, as a cop in a small mountain town in southern Calabria that was dominated by the ndrangheta mafia. The locals in Taurianova were hostile to all law enforcement officers and were not afraid to show it.

For example?

When they torched my car, she says matter-of-factly.

Now back home, Durante is battling the local Sacra Corona Unita mafia, and hitting its leaders where it hurts most: confiscating their ostentatious properties, farms and front companies used to launder drug trafficking profits.

We have learned that this is really the most incisive tool, because taking assets away from mafiosi means disempowering them, she says.

___

Marilu Mastrogiovanni

Mastrogiovanni is an investigative journalist and journalism professor at the University of Bari. She has reported extensively on the infiltration of the Sacra Corona Unita mafia in local Puglia communities and public administrations for her blog Il Tacco dItalia.

Her reports so angered the local government in her hometown that at one point, the town was plastered with giant posters attacking her work, one of them depicting her up to her neck in a hole. After various threats, she was put under police escort and eventually decided to move her family out of town.

According to the patriarchal culture of the Sacra Corona Unita, a woman shouldnt have a voice, all the more if she uses it to write about the mafia, she said.

Is she afraid?

I dont believe those who say they arent afraid. It is not true, she says. Courage is going forward in spite of fear.

___

Rosanna Picoco

Picoco volunteers for the anti-mafia group Libera, activism that was inspired by a childhood event.

When she was in elementary school near Lecce, three bombs exploded in her school one night. Local store owners had created the first anti-racketing association in town, refusing to pay off local mobsters, and the bombs were a clear warning from the Sacra Corona Unita that their children were at risk.

But instead of backing down, the parents did something remarkable that stayed with Picoco forever.

The next morning our parents  all of them  accompanied us to school, she recalls. In the whole town, no one remained silent, and I think this has always marked me: The importance of not turning away, of being on the side of being active citizens.

Picoco now volunteers with Libera, a national network of anti-mafia associations that, among other things, takes legal possession of confiscated mafia assets and turns them into socially useful projects and products.

At a Libera store in Mesagne, the Puglia town where the Sacra Corona Unita was founded, Picoco sells wine made from grapes grown in vineyards confiscated from the mafia. The bottles bear the names of mafia victims.

___

Maria Francesca Mariano

Mariano is the preliminary investigations judge at the Tribunal of Lecce. At the age of 24, she became the youngest woman judge in Italy. Now 55, she lives under a 24-hour police escort.

In July 2023, she issued arrest warrants for 22 members of the Lamendola clan of the Sacra Corona Unita organized crime group, on accusations of mafia association, drug trafficking and other charges.

Then, in October, she began receiving letters written in blood with death threats and satanic messages. On Feb. 1, a bloody goat head skewered with a butchers knife was left on her doorstep with a note reading, like this.

Police added a bullet-proof car to her security apparatus.

She still has her day job as a judge but in her down time, Mariano writes books, plays and poetry about the mafia in Puglia.

The mafia has social consensus, she says. If we want to disassociate the phenomenon of organized crime, it is not enough to work in a courtroom. We have to start with the people.

___

Carmen Ruggiero

Ruggiero is a Lecce prosecutor. She leads a prosecution team in the case of Operation Wolf against the 22 defendants from the Lamendola clan of the Sacra Corona Unita.

She has not relented in her efforts following threats on her life but now appears in the Lecce prison courtroom accompanied by a three-man police escort.

Shortly after Judge Mariano sent out her arrest warrants, Ruggiero went to the Lecce prison to question one of the defendants who had signaled his desire to collaborate.

Instead, Pancrazio Carrino had chiseled a knife out of a porcelain toilet bowl in his prison cell and hid it in a small black plastic bag in his rectum, planning to cut her jugular during the meeting, according to court documents following the incident.

Carrino told investigators he had asked to use the bathroom so he could retrieve the makeshift knife and hide it in his underwear until he could strike. But a suspicious police officer searched him when he came out and took it away.

If I had been as lucid that day as I am now, Carrino said later, Carmen Ruggiero would already be history.

Ruggiero declined to be interviewed, saying her work speaks for itself.

___

Sabrina Matrangelo

A daughter of a mafia victim, Matrangelo is now a Libera activist. She was 15 when her mother, Renata Fonte, was assassinated as she came home from a city council meeting in the Puglia town of Nardo.

Fonte, a city councillor for culture, had become a vocal anti-mafia spokeswoman as she tried to protect 1,000 hectares of parkland along the Puglia coastline from illegal development.

Mobsters fired three bullets and killed her, but her legacy lives on: Thanks to her efforts  and the outrage that erupted after her killing  the park remains a protected area and Fontes daughter, Matrangelo, has taken up her cause.

These places will always be in danger, Matrangelo said from a lookout point above the sea in the Porto Selvaggio Nature Reserve.

And so the battles of those who shed blood for these civil struggles must walk on our legs, must be perpetuated by our everyday courage, she said.
He could have died: OKC woman wants justice after boyfriend stabbed

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  An Oklahoma City woman wants a man accused of stabbing her boyfriend outside a northwest metro grocery store to be held accountable.

Court documents say Oklahoma City Police officers responded to an assault call on May 30. An affidavit notes a victim was on the south end of a store near NW 41st and May Avenue and bleeding from a stab wound.

The doctors said Steven could have died, the victims girlfriend, Shelly Hoffman, told News 4 on Monday. Seriously, he could have died.

Documents note that a witness told police that Hoffman and suspect Don Johnson had been arguing because Johnson said she owed him money, but she refused.

Don Johnson. Image courtesy Oklahoma Co. Jail.

Hoffman denied that she owed Johnson anything. The affidavit says that since Hoffman refused to pay up, Johnson confronted her boyfriend and told him that since he couldnt hurt a female, Johnson was going to make her boyfriend pay for it.

He stabbed him with a shredded butcher knife, said Hoffman.

Logan County deputies investigating alleged murder-suicide

Documents say that in addition to stabbing Hoffmans boyfriend, Johnson also held a knife to his throat. The witness told police that Johnson said he was going to kill the victim, but the witness begged him not to.

To see him bleeding like that, man it was horrible, said Hoffman.

Documents say officers were able to track Johnson down to an apartment complex behind the same store. An affidavit notes he was wearing different clothes than he was seen wearing 30 minutes prior in a video provided from a gas station near the crime scene.

Apartment complex where police found Johnson {KFOR}.

After clearing the apartment, documents say officers found a knife on top of a bathroom toilet with fresh blood on it. In the same bathroom, officers found the clothes matching the description Johnson was seen wearing in the gas station video.

I think he needs to go to prison for attempted murder, said Hoffman.

Johnon is being held in the Oklahoma County jail on a $50,000 bond.

The Oklahoma County District Attorneys office has charged Johnson with assault and battery.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
In the wake of four overturned homicide cases in Hamilton County over the past 18 months, Prosecutor Melissa Powers recently announced the creation of a conviction integrity unit to evaluate wrongful conviction claims.

In the recent Enquirer article, "Critics dismiss Hamilton County integrity unit as 'political stunt,'" two things caught my attention.

First, that the "integrity unit" supposedly established by our prosecutors' office is totally fake. Its not anything similar to "real" integrity units that other prosecutors have established; it is a mirror image. If the best practice is to have someone from outside be the units head, then the one here is one of the longest-serving employees. If there are parameters and practices that work best  do the opposite. This is just an election-year stunt from a very tired and inbred office.

Tired and inbred? Practices  usually not the "best"  have been handed down for generations. Yes, literally. One party has held the office for almost a century. And with a "win at all cost" mentality that elevates convictions over justice.

That brings us to my second point, the sign. The sign, reproduced in the article, hangs in the prosecutors office. It states the directions given to then-Colonel Joshua Chamberlain, one of the real heroes of the Civil War, to hold his regiments position at Gettysburg at all cost. Chamberlain and his men (20th Maine) did so at great cost, and by his bravery and ingenuity. When they literally ran out of ammunition, Chamberlain led a bayonet charge, with empty guns, that so surprised the enemy that they surrendered. He was awarded the Medal of Honor.

Chamberlain was a rhetoric professor at Bodoin College who volunteered for the war to end slavery. He was wounded many times. After the war he was elected governor of Maine for five (one-year) terms, then became the president of Bodoin. He was a true citizen hero.

But holding Little Round Top against a pro-slavery army at Gettysburg is not the same as being a prosecutor. A prosecutors job is not just convicting people. The prosecutors client is justice. It is a win when a guilty person is convicted; it is equally a win when an innocent person is set free.

But the sign implies that our prosecutors are led to believe that they are "holding the fort" against evil. Unfortunately, that tends to be the mentality there. But it is wrong, as the recent spate of reversals of improper convictions uncovered by The Enquirer shows.

Our prosecutors office is long overdue for change. It has been held by an uninterrupted string of Republicans for more than 90 years. There have been both good and bad occupants of the office. But no party should hold an office forever. Reform would start with removing that sign and establishing a real ethics office.

Mark Painter served for exactly 30 years as a judge (Ides March 1982Ides March 2012). He was elected to the Ohio Court of Appeals in 1994, serving until 2009. Previously, he served on the Hamilton County Municipal Court for 13 years. In 2009, he was elected by the General Assembly to the United Nations Appeals Tribunal. He was the only American on the seven-member court. He is the author of six books and hundreds of nationally published opinions.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: County prosecutor's win-at-all-cost mentality elevates convictions over justice | Opinion
SAN FRANCISCO (KRON)  A San Francisco couple has been cited after their dog attacked a child in May, the San Francisco Police Department said. The child was hospitalized after the attack, but their injuries were not life-threatening, police said.

The victims family filed a police report at about 4 p.m. on May 23, alleging that the attack happened the day before just after 5 p.m. The child was walking with a caretaker on the 2700 block of Lombard Street when the dog attacked, police said.

The people handling the dog did not exchange information with the victim at the time of the attack, SFPD said.

Bay Area county launches new tactic in response to uptick in burglaries

A woman who claims to be the mother of the 4-year-old victim told KRON4 that the dog in question is a white husky mix. It pinned her son to the ground and bit his left arm, she said.

The dog owners claimed they did not speak English and declined to say whether the dog was vaccinated, the woman said. The boy received five stitches and had to take several vaccine shots.

The victim is now terrified of dogs, his mother said.

SFPDs Vicious and Dangerous Dog Unit located the dog and its owners, who live in San Francisco. They were cited for failure to provide information after a dog bite and failure to report a dog bite.

According to the police, there will be a hearing to decide what is next in this case. Euthanization is on the table, according to SFPDs website.

If the hearing officer determines that restrictions imposed by Article 1, Section 42.2 of the San Francisco Health Code are not sufficient to protect the health, safety and welfare of the community the dog may be ordered humanely euthanized, the website said.

SFPDs Vicious and Dangerous Dog Unit investigates 600-800 dog bites per year.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4.
The first presidential debate is set to take place June 27 at CNNs studios in Atlanta. The event was always going to occur, but that didnt stop Donald Trump from spending weeks goading his opponent into accepting the details. Now it seems that the presumptive GOP presidential nominee may be trying to weasel his way out of the situation.

Fox News host Sean Hannity floated the idea Monday night, wondering aloud if Trump should pass on the debate.

I think well see the return of Jacked-Up Joe, Hannity began, speculating about Bidens abilities. Whatever Joe drank, ate, took before the State of the Unionmaybe it was just Red Bull and caffeine pills. I dont know. Whatever it was, that was not the normal Joe. We never saw it before, and we havent seen it since. But we will see it for the debate.

Now, there are some even saying, Mark, that Donald Trump might be wise to just pass on the first debate, wait until hes nominated, then debate him, Hannity said, speaking to Harris Poll chairman Mark Penn. What would you say to that?

Id say he accepted it. He accepted it in the lions den. If I were Donald Trump, I would have done some better negotiating here, but I dont think he can back out now without really looking cowardly, Penn replied.

Hannity then took it a step further, suggesting that Trump would be better off during the debate if moderators muted his mic.

Joe might have done Donald Trump a favor, and I say this affectionately, by insisting that when its not his turn to speak that they mute his microphone, cause I think that was a mistake in the first debate in 2020, Hannity said, recalling Trumps terrible performance the first time the pair squared off in the last election.

Hannity has held a close relationship with Trump for years. The two reportedly exchanged upward of 80 text messages between the 2020 election and Bidens 2021 inauguration, with Hannity acting as a pseudo-adviser to the former president. Trump, however, has stayed surprisingly mum on the debate, even with the reality of the event just two weeks off.
Photo: Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan

BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 11. Prime Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ali Asadov met with a delegation headed by Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Albania, Minister of Infrastructure and Energy Belinda Balluku on June 11, the press service of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan said, Trend reports.

During the meeting, both parties expressed their contentment with the progress of the amicable relationship between Azerbaijan and Albania in different areas.

Furthermore, they emphasized the importance of the first meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation between the Government of Azerbaijan and the Government of Albania held in Baku.

The parties discussed issues related to the prospects of expanding cooperation between the two countries in economic, trade, energy, investment, transportation, cultural, medical, tourism, and other spheres.

Minister of Energy of the Republic of Azerbaijan Parviz Shahbazov also participated in the meeting.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Cranberry Township man charged with pulling gun during road rage incident

A Cranberry Township man is accused of pulling a gun during an act of road rage.

Jairo Cardona-Mancia nearly hit another car on June 1, according to police, at the intersection of Route 228 and 19.

The other driver told police that Cardona-Mancia flashed a gun at him.

Police stopped Cardona-Mancia at the Cranberry Mall. He allegedly had a gun, a knife and suspected crack cocaine in his car at the time.

The gun was reported stolen to the Louisville Metro Police Department in Kentucky in June 2022, according to court documents.

Cardona-Mancia is facing multiple charges including disorderly conduct, receiving stolen property and carrying a firearm without a license.

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Corrections & Clarifications: An earlier version of this story misstated Rep. Jared Golden's district. He represents Maine's 2nd District.

Voters in four states on Tuesday will head to the polls to choose which candidates in a slate of congressional and state primaries will battle it out in contentious races this fall.

The results of close races in Nevada and Maine could determine which party controls the House and Senate next year and with it significant power over the agenda for the 2024 White House winner. Contests in South Carolina and North Dakota are almost certain to decide the general election winner in heavily Republican areas.

Heres a look at some of the most competitive and influential races to watch across the country on Tuesday.

South Carolina

Republican Rep. Nancy Mace faces a competitive primary challenge for South Carolinas 1st congressional district from former state cabinet official Catherine Templeton. The race is shaping up to be a proxy fight between former President Donald Trumps MAGA wing of the Republican party and establishment conservatives.

It also features one of the nearly 20 Republicans who have been mentioned as possible Trump vice presidential picks.

Mace has received criticism from members of the GOP for voting with seven other House Republicans in 2023 to oust then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif. McCarthy had backed Mace when she initially ran for Congress in 2020, but the Charleston-area Republican lawmaker argued that McCarthy had not kept his promises.

American Prosperity Alliance, a group aligned with McCarthy, ran an ad against Mace in the race. And McCarthys political action committee, Majority Committee PAC, has donated $10,000 to Templetons campaign.

Templeton, who served as head of the state health and environment department under then-Gov. Nikki Haley, has received endorsements from former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C.

Mace, meanwhile, received the backing of Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson. But its unclear how far Trumps support will go in her coastal district. While the ex-president won the South Carolina GOP presidential primary, he lost the 1st District to Haley by more than 20 points.

Polling from the end of May showed Mace with a double-digit lead over Templeton. However, if she doesnt garner 50% or more of the vote on Tuesday, the race will head to a runoff.

Nevada

The balance of power in the U.S. Senate hangs on a handful of key races in November, including for first-term Democratic Sen. Jacky Rosens Nevada seat.

Democrats currently hold a narrow 51-49 majority in the upper chamber but races like Rosens are ripe for Republican upsets.

Rosen is favored to win her primary on Tuesday against program manager Troy Walker and former California tax official Mike Schaefer.

In the GOP race, retired U.S. Army Capt. Sam Brown is facing off against Jeff Gunter, the former ambassador to Iceland during the Trump administration and former Nevada state Rep. Jim Marchant.

Trump on Sunday posted on Truth Social an endorsement for Brown, a move that drew raised eyebrows because the former president didn't make the announcement in person while campaigning in Las Vegas during a rally that same day. The National Republican Senatorial Committee and Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo have also backed Brown.

Nevadas primaries will also tee up a slew of competitive House races.

Seven Republicans are running to compete against third-term Democratic Rep. Susie Lee in the 3rd District, bordering California at the southern tip of the state. Nevada State Treasurer Daniel Schwartz is among the most notable candidates in the race. His opponents include former state Sen. Elizabeth Helgelien, policy analyst Drew Johnson and composer Marty ODonnell.

Directly north, Air Force veteran David Flippo is facing off against North Las Vegas Mayor John Lee for the GOP nomination in the 4th District. Lee, a former Democrat who switched parties in 2022, has received endorsements from Trump and Lombardo. Whoever wins the Republican matchup will face third-term Democratic Rep. Steven Horsford.

Maine

Two Republicans are vying to take on third-term Democratic Rep. Jared Golden in Maines 2nd District, encompassing the northern half of the state. Golden is one of just five Democrats in Congress who hold districts that Trump won in the 2020 election.

The Cook Political Report has rated the November race as a toss-up.

Feb 18, 2017; Daytona Beach, FL, USA; ARCA Series driver Austin Theriault (52) celebrates winning the Lucas Oil Complete Engine Treatment 200 at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

The GOP candidates, Austin Theriault and Mike Soboleski, are both first-term state lawmakers. Theriault, a 30-year-old former NASCAR driver, has received endorsements from Trump and House Speaker Johnson. He is favored to win the Republican primary.

North Dakota

One of the biggest decisions North Dakota voters must confront on Tuesday isnt about who is running, but about who can appear on the ballot in the state. Voters will decide on a controversial ballot measure that would set an age limit for congressional candidates. If passed, the measure would prevent people who would reach the age of 81 by their last year in office from running.

Meanwhile, GOP contests for governor and a U.S. House seat are all but certain to decide the general election winners in the deep red state.

Rep. Kelly Armstrong, R-N.D., is running against Lt. Gov. Tammy Miller for governor, after current Republican Gov. Doug Burgum - another Trump vice presidential prospect - announced he would not seek a third term in office. Armstrong has the support of the states Republican Party, while Miller garnered Burgums endorsement.

Five Republicans are clamoring to take Armstrongs open House seat, including former state Rep. Rick Becker, veteran Alex Balazs, Public Service Commissioner Julie Fedorchak and former Miss America winner Cara Mund. Balazs won the state party endorsement.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Critical primaries in 4 states Tuesday could loom large for November
Are crowds at Northern California lakes too unruly? Everybodys in the same boat, officials say

As crowds head to cool off in the water early this summer, authorities at Discovery Park, Folsom Lake and other capital region waterways are taking steps to prevent incidents such as the ones that have occurred recently at other Northern California watering holes.

There have been various incidents reported since Memorial Day involving fights and other unruly crowds at Northern California waterways that have led to arrests, injuries, and even death.

A fight broke out at Lake Berryessa on Saturday that left one person dead from a gunshot wound and five others with stabbing injuries. One person among the injured was arrested on suspicion of grabbing his gun from his vehicle during the melee, according to the Napa County Sheriffs Office.

On Tuesday, deputies identified the suspect as Gabriel James Chavez, 25, of American Canyon. He was charged with murder in his first court appearance Tuesday.

In Stanislaus County on Sunday, 75 to 80 people had a confrontation with deputies who were patrolling near Woodward Reservoir. At least six people were arrested.

And, around Memorial Day, officials on the Nevada side of Lake Tahoe shut down Zephyr Cove and several other beaches after numerous reports of fights among tourists.

Even UC Davis Chancellor Gary May sent a letter apologizing on behalf of college students who left behind trash at Lake Shasta during the holiday weekend, which officials said will take months to clean.

I am disappointed by the significant amount of trash left behind, and the disregard these students showed, May wrote in a June 5 letter to Douglas Winn, a Shasta-Trinity National Forest assistant recreation officer and lake manager.

Forest officials spent about six hours picking up trash after students from UC Davis and the University of Oregon after they rented about 130 houseboats and camped on Slaughterhouse Island, Winn told the Redding Record Searchlight.

Behave accordingly, and enjoy yourselves

Sgt. Elmer Marzan of the Sacramento County Regional Parks said he believes the countys waterways are safe in part because alcohol is banned in certain spots along the American River Parkway and at Discovery Park near the confluence of the American. Officials also restrict drinking along the waterways during major summer holidays.

Weve been fortunate that we havent had anything of that magnitude that occurred at Berryessa or Tahoe, Marzan said.

Barry Smith, Chief Ranger of the Gold Fields District of California State Parks, pointed to an alcohol ban at Folsom and Natoma lakes  as well as state park-specific rangers who patrol the area  as key factors in preventing lakefront incidents.

Folsom Lake beaches are especially crowded in June and on the days temperatures first heat up above 90 degrees, Smith said, but he noticed a change in how crowds behave since the shoreline alcohol ban was enacted in 2003. Officials also hold boating DUI checkpoints several times during the summer.

I saw the change where beaches were really rowdy to where families started to come back, Smith said.

While authorities are not able to prevent all alcohol consumption at the lake, Smith said that the complete ban at the lakes means that lakegoers are more thoughtful about their consumption.

By patrolling continuously, rangers can also evict people for alcohol usage early in the day, preventing incidents that tend to occur as the day wears on.

On Sacramento County waterways, where alcohol consumption is legal in many spots, authorities emphasize responsible drinking.

We encourage folks: Watch your consumption of alcohol, because alcohol is usually a contributing factor in events that kind of spark something, Marzan said. Go ahead and behave accordingly, and enjoy yourselves.

Water levels also have an effect on lake attendance and crowds. High water levels early in the summer and in good water years tend to draw more people to the lake, Smith said.

Its an excitement, Smith said. People come out, theyre excited, and so it gets overrun sometimes.

These high water levels also minimize space available for parking and shorten shorelines. What was once a 100-yard shoreline can get down to 25 to 30 yards, forcing visitors into tighter quarters.

Smith said attendance at state-run spots has normalized from the height of the COVID-19 pandemic when beaches were overrun almost every day. Since the pandemic has ebbed, weekends have gone back to being the busiest days of the week.

Our visitors need to be reminded that you sometimes have to curb that excitement and be respectful, Smith said. Everybodys in the same boat and wants to come out to the lake.

The Bees Ishani Desai contributed to this story.
(COLORADO)  Colorado State University (CSU) scientists have discovered a way in which elephants are just like people; they call each other by name.

According to a study published in Nature Ecology and Evolution, researchers from CSU used machine learning to record and analyze elephant vocalizations and verified that Wild African Elephants address each other with name-like calls. When researchers played the recorded calls, the elephant with the corresponding name responded with a call or approached the speaker that had broadcasted the sound. Calls meant for other elephants received less of a reaction.

Courtesy: Colorado State University Researcher, George Wittemyer. Photo shows elephants crossing a river.

Courtesy: Colorado State University Researcher, George Wittemyer. Photo shows recording of elephant sounds.

Courtesy: Colorado State University Researcher, George Wittemyer. Photo shows elephants napping together.

Courtesy: Colorado State University Researcher, George Wittemyer. Photo shows two juvenile elephants.

Courtesy: Colorado State University Researcher, George Wittemyer. Photo shows elephant leading calves away from danger.

Dolphins and parrots call one another by name by imitating the signature call of the addressee, said lead author Michael Pardo, who conducted the study as a postdoctoral researcher at CSU and Save the Elephants, a research and conservation organization based in Kenya. By contrast, our data suggest that elephants do not rely on imitation of the receivers calls to address one another, which is more similar to the way in which human names work.

Learning to produce new sounds is rare among animals but essential for identifying individuals by name. Arbitrary communication, where a sound represents but does not imitate an idea, greatly enhances communication and is an advanced cognitive skill.

If all we could do was make noises that sounded like what we were talking about, it would vastly limit our ability to communicate, said co-author George Wittemyer, a professor in CSUs Warner College of Natural Resources and chairman of the scientific board of Save the Elephants.

According to Wittemyer, the use of arbitrary vocal names is evidence that elephants may be capable of abstract thought.

In the video below, Wittemyer explains how the insight into elephant communication came about.

Kurt Fristrup, a research scientist at CSUs Walter Scott, Jr. College of Engineering, developed a new signal processing technique to detect subtle differences in elephant calls. Fristrup and Pardo then trained a machine-learning model to accurately identify which elephant each call was directed to, using only the sound of the call.

Elephants are expressive animals, and their reactions are easy to read for those familiar with them, according to Wittemyer. When researchers played back samples, the elephants responded energetically and positively to recordings of their friends and family calling to them. They did not react enthusiastically or move toward calls directed to others, demonstrating they recognized their names.

In the video below from Pardo, researchers play a recording of the low, rumbling vocalization of an elephant to the individual associated with the name, and the elephant responds with a vocalization and flapping ears.

The four-year research included 14 months of intensive fieldwork in Kenya, following elephants in a vehicle and recording their vocalizations. Researchers captured about 470 distinct calls from 101 callers directed at 117 receivers in Samburu National Reserve and Amboseli National Park.

Gaining insight into elephant communication and cognitive abilities can strengthen the case for their conservation. Elephants are classified as endangered, as poaching for their ivory tusks is still a problem today. Additionally, encroaching development has caused excessive habitat loss. Because of their size, they need a lot of space and when their territory is limited by development, they can be destructive to property and hazardous to people.

Research into the area of elephant communication is in the early stages, but Wittemyer dreams of a day when we can communicate back.

Its tough to live with elephants when youre trying to share a landscape and theyre eating crops, Wittemyer said. Id like to be able to warn them, Do not come here. Youre going to be killed if you come here.

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Toxins in the blooms are harmful to people and animals.

The Granite State hasnt been spared from the global trend of more frequent cyanobacteria blooms, the often-toxic growths that can kill pets and threaten human health.

With climate change and excess nutrients getting into water bodies, we can expect more and more cyanobacteria blooms every year, said Kate Hastings, the cyanobacteria harmful algal bloom program manager for the Department of Environmental Services.

If you see blooms, its safe to assume theyre producing some toxins, said James Haney, a University of New Hampshire biological sciences professor who has for years studied cyanobacteria.

If youre preparing to go camping out in the West, you learn about grizzly bears, Haney said. If youre preparing to recreate on the waters in the Northeast, in New Hampshire, or practically anywhere nowadays, you have to familiarize yourselves with what these cyanobacteria look like.

Cyanobacteria resources

Climate change is exacerbating the blooms in a few ways. Rising temperatures mean longer growing seasons and less ice cover, creating a larger stretch of time each year suitable for cyanobacteria growth, Hastings said.

Surface waters are also warming, she said, which can stratify lakes  making them form separate thermal layers  and starve the lake bottoms of oxygen.

That condition allows phosphorus thats previously been bound to sediments to release into the water column into a form that the cyanobacteria are able to use to fuel their growth, Hastings said.

In 2023, the DES recorded its most blooms ever, affecting 47 lakes. But the record numbers are also a sign of greater awareness.

The more informed the general public is, the more reports we get, which is great, because we want to communicate about it, Hastings said, but it makes it hard to use our data set to understand if cyanobacteria are actually increasing in New Hampshire or if were just getting better at tracking it.

The blooms can produce toxins that can kill pets and cause a variety of health problems in humans: rashes, fevers, headaches, mouth blisters, vomiting, acute liver damage, and more, according to the DES.

They can also produce neurotoxins that cause tingling, numbness, and, in severe cases, seizures, Hastings said.

The acute, short-term safety risks of exposure to cyanotoxins are better understood than the impact of long-term exposure, a gap that Haney and his researchers are trying to bridge.

The primary root of exposure is ingestion, Hastings said, which can happen while swimming in affected waters. Pets are more likely to drink lake water, and children are more likely to swallow water while swimming, putting them more at risk. Aerosol exposure can also pose risks.

Ive observed people kayaking through cyanobacteria blooms on the surface and just assuming that it wasnt harmful, Haney said. It can have great harm.

The department relies on residents reporting potential blooms, which can take on a variety of colors  blue, green, yellow, white, brown  and appearances  scum, blotches, spilled paint. If you think youve spotted a bloom, you can report it to the department through an online form.

Residents can check Healthy Swimming Mapper, a tool created by DES, for up-to-date information on reported blooms. They can also sign up for email alerts about individual water bodies and statewide updates.

Alerts should be treated as statements to be on the watch for a potential cyanobacteria bloom, according to the DES. Warnings mean that cyanobacteria have been found at a concentration where harmful toxins could be present and threaten public health. The department advises residents to avoid water bodies under warnings.

Residents should note, though, that just because a water body doesnt have an alert issued doesnt mean its necessarily clear. When in doubt, stay out, the department advises.

For property-owners interested in assessing general lake health, LakeSmart is a free, voluntary resource. Residents can fill out a form to receive an individualized report of suggestions. After they make updates, they can submit photos or receive a visit from an evaluator for further advice.

This story was originally published by the New Hampshire Bulletin.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Cyanobacteria can produce dangerous toxins. Heres what to know.
Cyclist dies after being struck  3rd deadly crash on Sacramento roadways in 12 hours

A cyclist who was struck Tuesday morning at a North Natomas intersection died from his injuries, the third fatal vehicle crash involving a non-motorist in the city in less than 12 hours.

Police and firefighters were called to the crash involving a vehicle and a bicycle at a stop sign about 7:30 a.m. at Club Center and Banfield drives in the Natomas Park neighborhood, according to authorities.

The cyclist, a male of an unknown age, was struck and taken to a hospital where he later died, according to police.

The victims identity was expected to be released by the Sacramento County Coroners Office once relatives were notified of the death.

Councilwoman Lisa Kaplan, who represents the Natomas area, noted that her office was aware of the crash and said that police were investigating.

Please drive, bike & walk safely as there has been 3 deaths in the city these past 24 hours between vehicles & bike/walkers, Kaplan added, referencing another fatal cyclist collision in south Sacramento, as well as a fatal pedestrian crash outside of Arden Fair mall that both occurred Monday night.

The driver remained on scene and cooperated with investigators, the Sacramento Police Department said. Drugs and alcohol were not factors in the crash, the agency said.
Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala said on June 10 that Russia may be linked to an attempted arson attack on Prague city buses last week.

A 26-year-old man was arrested on Saturday in connection with the thwarted plot and charged with terrorism. According to police, he had been in Czechia for five days prior to the failed attack.

Fiala stated during a news conference that the attack might have been organized and funded by Russia.

"It is part of a hybrid war waged against us by Russia against which we have to defend ourselves and which we must stop, he said. Russia is repeatedly trying to sow unrest, undermine citizens' trust in our state."

The Russian embassy in Prague has not yet responded to the allegations.

Multiple sabotage and collaboration attempts have been uncovered in recent months. In May, the Polish government arrested nine people from a Russian spy ring in connection to alleged sabotage plots.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said in an interview that acts of alleged sabotage include "beatings, arson, and attempted arson," not just in Poland but in other countries as well. Tusk explained that the group planned, for example, to set fire to a paint factory in Wroclaw, western Poland, and an Ikea center in Lithuania.

Read also: Poland says no external force behind fatal arms plant explosion

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(Bloomberg) -- The Czech Republic accused Russia of organizing and financing a failed arson attack by a foreigner who tried to set public buses on fire in Prague last week.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Speaking in a televised briefing after a meeting of the countrys security council, Prime Minister Petr Fiala said authorities in several European Union nations have in recent weeks uncovered information that Russian intelligence services may be planning various sabotage actions across the bloc.

There is a suspicion that the attack was organized and financed most likely from Russia, he said. Its part of a hybrid war that Russia is waging on us, against which we have to defend ourselves and which we have to stop.

Czech police detained a man of South American origin after he unsuccessfully attempted to start a fire in a garage owned by the Prague city transport company, the CTK newswire reported on Monday.

A court ordered that the man, whose identity wasnt released, remain in custody, according to police chief Martin Vondrasek. He may face as long as life in prison for an attempted terrorist act, he said.

In March, Czech counter-intelligence services said they uncovered a Russian network trying to influence politics and public opinion across the continent, including by making payments to European politicians through a Prague-based website, Voice of Europe.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

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SPARTA, Wis. (WFRV)  A dairy farm in western Wisconsin will pay over $200,000 in fines for violating state wastewater laws at a concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO) they own and operate.

According to a release from the Wisconsin Department of Justice, Attorney General Josh Kaul announced that Phil Mlsna and Mlsna Dairy Supply Inc. will pay $209,641.47 for allowing the Wisconsin Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit for their CAFO to expire in 2015.

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The WPDES permitting system is in place for a very good reason: to protect clean water, said AG Kaul. As this case highlights, violations of our wastewater laws can result in significant penalties.

Mlsna Dairy Supply reportedly continued operating its large CAFO without a permit for years, during which time it was not subject to the laws the other legally permitted CAFOs within the state are required to follow.

Wisconsins wastewater laws are in place to protect our environment and ensure safe, clean water for Wisconsinites. Violations of those laws are serious offenses, as they can contaminate our waters, harm wildlife, and jeopardize public health, said Wisconsin DNR Assistant Deputy Secretary Mark Aquino. We appreciate the efforts of the Wisconsin DOJ to hold violators accountable and protect our natural resources.

Additionally, Mlsna Dairy Supply constructed a sand separation system without plans and specifications approved by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Mlsna Dairy Supply was found liable for all 2,501 days on which the state alleged that they violated Wisconsins wastewater laws.

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Judge Mark Goodman held a court trial from November 6, 2023, to November 8, 2023, to receive evidence regarding the forfeiture he should assess for Mlsna Dairy Supplys violations.

On May 16, 2024, Judge Goodman issued an order requiring defendants to pay a total of $209,641.47 in forfeitures, surcharges, court costs, and attorney fees.

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Dangerous weekend in Mercer County, as two shootings occur on the same night

PRINCETON, WV (WVNS)  It was a scary weekend in Mercer County, as two different shootings happened on the same night.

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M.T. Hatfield, the Detective Corporal at Mercer County Sheriffs Department said, Friday, at approximately 11:00 P.M., I got a report of shots fired right there in the area of U.S. Route 19 over in Bluefield. Throughout the investigation, it was learned that an individual was shot and was later pronounced deceased.

After about an hour or two, yet another shooting happened on Kee Street in Princeton.

While it was not exactly a safe weekend, Detective Corporal Hatfield told 59News how the Sheriffs Department is combatting the issue of gun violence. Theres been a little bit of a rise in gun violence here within the last couple of years within Mercer County and within the state and this country, said Hatfield. We are doing everything we can, as far as submitting evidence [and] tracking guns to keep a hold on it that way. To stay safe, be aware of your surroundings. Be vigilant, to a degree, and just pay attention.

Bluefield woman sentenced to prison for drug crime

Hatfield also commented there is no need for citizens to worry and that this week will be treated like business as usual.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 11. Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov within the framework of his work visit to Germany, met with the country's Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock on June 11, Trend reports.

The Ministers noted the great importance of Azerbaijani-German ties and the countries' interest in further expansion of cooperation.

Furthermore, during the meeting, it was highlighted that, under the auspices of the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29), Azerbaijan and Germany have potential chances for collaboration. The importance of the joint successful organization of the Petersberg Dialogue, as well as the ongoing Bonn Conference was noted in this context.

During his remarks on the post-conflict era, when Azerbaijan and Armenia are working to normalize their relations, Minister Bayramov highlighted both the challenges and opportunities inherent in the peace process. It was noted that, an impediment to the conclusion of the peace deal is the Armenian constitution's continuing claims over the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.

The meeting also touched upon various regional matters that are of shared concern.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
DANVILLE, Ill. (WCIA)  A 28-year-old Danville man was sentenced to nine years in prison for possession of child pornography.

Daniel Richards pleaded guilty to three counts  all class 2 felonies  in April.

The rapid response and thorough investigation by the Illinois State Police led to a successful prosecution in this case. Child pornography is a serious crime and puts the children depicted in the images in grave danger, States Attorney Jacqueline Lacy said.

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Illinois State Police initially received a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that involved Richards, accusing him of uploading child pornography to the internet. In collaboration with the Attorney Generals Office and Vermilion County Authorities, ISP tracked down more evidence following this tip. Richards eventually confessed that he had obtained and shared several images and videos of child pornography.

Following his term in the Illinois Department of Corrections, Richards will serve one year of mandatory supervised release.

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Daughter of Poltava's convicted ex-mayor charged with collaborating with Putin's party

The daughter of Oleksandr Mamai, the former mayor of Poltava who was convicted of corruption in 2023, was arrested on suspicion of collaborating with Russian President Vladimir Putin's ruling United Russia party, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) reported on June 11.

The SBU did not name the suspect, but Suspilne reported, citing sources, that it was Nataliia Veretennikova.

Mamai received a five-year suspended sentence in 2023 after being convicted of abuse of office and forgery.

Veretennikova is suspected of managing an advertisement agency in Saint Petersburg that did PR work for United Russia during the Russian elections in 2022 and 2023.

According to the SBU, Veretennikova remotely ran the business from Kyiv and earned 35 million rubles ($392,000) for her work on the campaigns.

Law enforcement authorities reportedly seized three apartments from Veretennikova and a minivan, as well as shares in two Ukrainian companies.

Veretennikova has been charged with collaboration and faces up to 12 years in prison if convicted.

Read also: Ukraines military intelligence launches cyberattack against United Russia party

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On This Day, June 11: George Wallace tries to block integration of Univ. of Alabama

Alabama Gov. George Wallace blocks the enrollment of two Black students to the University of Alabama on June 11, 1963. File Photo by Warren K. Leffler/U.S. News & World Report Magazine/U.S. Library of Congress

On this date in history:

In 1776, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Robert Livingston and Roger Sherman -- the so-called Committee of Five -- were appointed by the Continental Congress to write a declaration of independence for the American colonies from England.

In 1919, Sir Barton became the first horse to win thoroughbred racing's Triple Crown.

In 1927, U.S. President Calvin Coolidge welcomed Charles Lindbergh home after the pilot made history's first non-stop flight across the Atlantic Ocean, New York to Paris.

In 1955, French auto racer Pierre Levegh's Mercedes crashed into a crowd of spectators at the 24 Hours of Le Mans race at Circuit de la Sarthe in Le Mans, France, killing 84 people, including the driver. It was the deadliest auto racing crash in history.

Anti-Ku Klux Klan demonstrators, protesting a scheduled march by the KKK on July 17, 1988, burn an American flag. On June 11, 1990, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down an anti-flag-burning law passed by Congress the year before. UPI File Photo

In 1963, for a brief moment, Gov. George Wallace blocked the enrollment of two Black students to the University of Alabama. His acts of defiance would be short-lived as President John F. Kennedy federalized the Alabama National Guard, instructing them to end Wallace's blockade of the school.

In 1967, protests and violence erupted in Tampa, Fla., after a police officer fatally shot 19-year-old Martin Chambers on suspicion of burglary. The race riots lasted three days, during which multiple businesses burned to the ground and a sheriff's deputy -- Sgt. Don Williams -- died of a heart attack.

On June 11, 1919, Sir Barton became the first horse to win thoroughbred racing's Triple Crown. File Photo courtesy of Wikimedia

In 1967, the Six-Day War between Israel and its Arab neighbors ended with a U.N.-brokered cease-fire. The Israeli forces achieved a swift and decisive victory.

File Photo by Debbie Hill/UPI

A flash mob of giant Jurassic Park dinosaurs grab the attention of everyone in the area at the 115th American International Toy Fair at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City on February 17. On June 11, 1993, "Jurassic Park" opened and broke the record for the biggest three-day opening weekend with an estimated $48 million. That record has since been surpassed hundreds of times. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI

In 1985, Karen Ann Quinlan died at age 31 in a New Jersey nursing home, nearly 10 years after she lapsed into an irreversible coma. Her condition had sparked a nationwide controversy over her "right to die."

In 1987, Margaret Thatcher became the first British prime minister in 160 years to win three consecutive terms.

Aviator Charles Lindbergh appears in the open cockpit of airplane at Lambert Field, in St. Louis, Miss., ca. 1920s. On June 11, 1927, U.S. President Calvin Coolidge welcomed Lindbergh home after the pilot made history's first non-stop flight across the Atlantic Ocean, New York to Paris. File Photo by Library of Congress/UPI

In 1990, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down an anti-flag-burning law passed by Congress the year before.

In 1993, Jurassic Park opened and broke the record for the biggest three-day opening weekend with an estimated $48 million. That record has since been surpassed hundreds of times.

Joined by British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, President Ronald Reagan does his best to hang onto his dog Lucky in the White House Rose Garden on February 20, 1985. Photo by Jim Hubbard/UPI

In 1994, after 49 years, the Russian military occupation of what had been East Germany ended with the departure of the Red Army from Berlin.

In, 2001, Timothy McVeigh was executed in Terre Haute, Ind., for the April 19, 1995, Oklahoma City bombing that killed 168 people and injured hundreds.

In 2004, Ronald Reagan reached his final resting place at his library in Southern California, closing a week of ceremony and tribute to the late president.

UPI File Photo

In 2011, the leader of al-Qaida in East Africa, Fazul Abdullah Mohammed, was killed in a shootout with Somali soldiers at a checkpoint in Mogadishu.

In 2018, the Federal Communications Commission allowed net neutrality rules enacted under the Obama administration to expire. The rules had required Internet service providers to enable access of all content and applications regardless of the source and without favoring or blocking particular products or websites.

In 2021, a Massachusetts lobster diver survived being swallowed up and then spat out by a humpback whale off the coast of Cape Cod.

File Photo by Aaron Kehoe/UPI
WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  Police arrested a man accused of stealing over $3,800 in items  mostly consisting of Red Bull  from CVS stores in Northwest D.C.

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) found and arrested 58-year-old Darryl Lamond Quander on Monday.

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He was wanted for stealing Red Bull, among other items, over a couple of months. MPD said he stole from different CVS stores around D.C.

Below is the timeline and list of retail thefts he committed:

Feb. 26: CVS located at the 1400 block of P St., NW, for stealing $413 of Red Bull.

Feb. 27: CVS located at the 1000 block of 16th St., NW, for stealing $57.45 of Red Bull.

March 2: CVS located at the 1000 block of 16th St., NW, for stealing $140.00 of Red Bull.

March 4: CVS located at the 1000 block of 16th St., NW, for stealing $150 of Red Bull.

March 5: CVS located at the 1000 block of 16th St., NW, for stealing $123 of Red Bull.

March 13: CVS located at the 1000 block of 16th St., NW, for stealing $100 of Red Bull.

March 21: CVS located at the 1000 block of 16th St., NW, for stealing $215 of Red Bull.

March 24: CVS located at the 1000 block of 16th St., NW, for stealing $276 of Red Bull and other things.

April 3: CVS located at the 1400 block of P St., NW, for stealing $540 of assorted merchandise.

April 3: CVS located at the 1400 block of P St., NW, for stealing $162 of Red Bull.

April 4: CVS located at the 1400 block of P St., NW, for stealing $166 of Red Bull.

April 7: CVS located at the 1000 block of 16th St., NW, for stealing $273 of Starbucks products and Red Bull.

April 9: CVS located at the 1400 block of P St., NW, for stealing $144 of Red Bull.

April 13: CVS located at the 1400 block of P St., NW, for stealing an undetermined amount of Red Bull and dog food.

April 21: CVS located at the 1100 block of Vermont Ave., NW, for stealing $99.76 of Red Bull.

April 22: CVS located at the 1000 block of 16th, NNW, for stealing $288 of household goods and shampoo.

April 24: CVS located at the 1400 block of P St., NW, for stealing $258 of Red Bull.

April 29: CVS located at the 1000 block of 16th, NW, for stealing $336 of body wash and shampoo.

He was being charged with 19 counts of second-degree theft.

MPD said anyone who sees a retail theft happening should call 911 and should not intervene.

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PRINCETON, WV (WVNS)  A shooting that left one man dead in Mercer County remains under investigation.

On Saturday, June 8, 2024 at around 1:00 A.M., members of the Princeton Police Department were dispatched to a home on Kee Street due to a man who had reportedly been shot.

Once on scene officers were able to identify the victim as 52 year old, Shaileshbhai Patel. He appeared to be suffering from a gunshot wound in the upper chest area.

Dangerous weekend in Mercer County, as two shootings occur on the same night

The Princeton Fire Department and Princeton Rescue Squad came to scene for medical assistance. Patel died at the scene.

The victim was taken to the West Virginia State Medical Examiners Office in Charleston for autopsy.

The Princeton Police Department is urging the public to come forward with any information they might have regarding this incident and to call them at 304-487-5000 or after hours on the non-emergency line of Mercer County Dispatch at 304-425-8911.

The investigation is still ongoing.

Stick with 59News for more updates.

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EUFAULA, Ala. (WRBL)  The Eufaula Police Department is investigating what led to the deaths of a woman and child after their bodies were discovered in a submerged vehicle near Old Creek Town Park.

Eufaula Police says on Sunday, they received a call about the possible location of two women and a 4-year-old who were reported missing on June 1. The EPD started searching the water area near Old Creek Town Park around 8:30 p.m. and found a vehicle submerged 12 feet deep.

Houston County Rescue Divers were called in to verify the finding and hooked the vehicle up for extraction. After the vehicle was recovered, a female and a small male child were found dead inside.

The police department says officers and Houston County Divers are continuing to search the area for a possible third person. This is a developing story. WRBL will continue to share more updates when additional details are available.

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By Nazrin Abdul

The Minister of Transport of Kazakhstan, Marat Karabayev, met with Hernik Khololey, the Director General for International Cooperation of the European Commission, and Kestutis Yankauskas, the Ambassador of the European Union (EU) in the country, in Astana, Azernews reports citing the Ministry of Transport of Kazakhstan.

During the meeting held in Alma-Ata, the opening of the EU-Central Asia coordination platform along the Middle Corridor was discussed.

The development of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route was discussed at the meeting, and issues related to studying the potential of the Trans-Kazakhstan corridors and investing in new infrastructure projects were addressed.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 11. On June 11, the Azerbaijan Defense Minister, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov, received the delegation led by the Secretary General of the Federal Minister of Defense of Austria, Arnold Kammel, who is paying an official visit to Azerbaijan, Trend reports, referring to the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry.

Colonel General Z. Hasanov welcomed the guests, representing a friendly and partner country, and expressed satisfaction with seeing them in Azerbaijan. The Defense Minister gave detailed information about the demining work carried out in the liberated territories after the victory in the Patriotic War under the leadership of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Ilham Aliyev.

The meeting emphasized the importance of strengthening strategic ties and expanding security relations. The participation of servicemen of the Azerbaijan Army in various courses, seminars, and trainings organized by Austria as part of the Eastern Partnership program of the European Union was mentioned as well.

The Defense Minister invited the Austrian guest to the 5th Azerbaijan International Defense Exhibition, ADEX, to be held in Baku in September 2024.

Arnold Kammel expressed his gratitude for the warm reception and noted the necessity of developing military cooperation between Azerbaijan and Austria.

The meeting discussed the current state of relations between Azerbaijan and Austria in military, military-technical, and military educational fields and emphasized the importance of organizing staff talks and mutual visits to develop joint military cooperation.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Young Thug, whose real name is Jeffery Lamar Williams, and his lawyer, Brian Steel, watch Judge Ural Glanville speak during the hearing of key witness Kenneth Copeland at the Fulton County Superior Court in Atlanta on Monday, June 10, 2024. (Miguel Martinez/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)

ATLANTA (AP)  A Georgia judge has ordered a lawyer for rapper Young Thug to spend the next 10 weekends in jail after finding him in contempt.

Defense attorney Brian Steel represents the rapper, who is currently on trial in Atlanta on charges including violation of Georgia's anti-racketeering and gang laws. Fulton County Superior Court Chief Judge Ural Glanville on Monday ordered Steel jailed after the lawyer refused to tell him how he found out about a meeting between the judge, prosecutors and a prosecution witness.

The dramatic move is the latest twist in a trial that has dragged on for over a year with no end in sight and has been plagued by problems.

Young Thug, a Grammy winner whose given name is Jeffery Williams, was charged two years ago in a sprawling indictment accusing him and more than two dozen other people of conspiring to violate Georgias anti-racketeering law. He also is charged with gang, drug and gun crimes and is standing trial with five of the others indicted with him.

Jury selection in the case began in January 2023 and took nearly 10 months. Opening statements were in November and the prosecution has been presenting its case since then, calling dozens of witnesses.

Steel addressed Glanville in open court Monday, saying he had been informed of a meeting in the judge's chambers that morning and made several claims regarding the sum and substance of the communication that the Court found troubling, Glanville wrote in an order finding Steel in contempt and ordering him jailed.

Only the judge, a court reporter, prosecutors, an important state witness and that witness' attorney were present for the meeting and Glanville expressed serious concern with how this information was improperly disclosed to Steel. Glanville told Steel several times that if he didn't reveal how he learned of the meeting and its substance he would be held in contempt, and Steel repeatedly refused, the order says.

Glanville ordered Steel to serve 20 days in the Fulton County Jail by spending the next 10 weekends there, reporting at 7 p.m. on Fridays and being released at 7 p.m. on Sundays beginning this Friday and continuing through Aug. 18.

Steel asked Glanville if he could serve his days in the Cobb County Jail, where Young Thug is being held, so he and his client could work on the rapper's defense, and Glanville said he had no problem with that and would talk to the sheriff, news outlets reported.

Steel on Monday filed a notice of appeal of the contempt order to the Georgia Court of Appeals. He also filed a motion asking Glanville to reconsider and rescind the order of contempt or to grant him bond while his appeal is pending.

Steel's motion says that the judge and prosecutors held a meeting with a sworn witness who had been granted immunity and who had been held in contempt after asserting his Fifth Amendment privilege. Steel's motion says he disclosed in court that he was aware of that meeting and proceeded to move for a mistrial.

While the judge says Steel had information he shouldn't have had, Steel's motion says the information was not declared confidential by any court order and that in finding him in contempt Glanville has imposed an illegal and inherently inconsistent punishment for this criminal contempt.

Kenneth Copeland, the witness who took part in the meeting with the judge and prosecutors, had been jailed over the weekend after he refused to testify Friday even though he had an immunity deal with prosecutors and had agreed to testify, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. Copeland returned to the stand Monday and was released from custody as long as he agreed to continue testifying Tuesday, the newspaper reported.

Steel told Glanville that he had heard that a prosecutor told Copeland he could be held in jail until all the cases against all the defendants in the indictment were completed.

If thats true what this is is coercion, witness intimidation, ex parte communications that we have a constitutional right to be present for, Steel said in court, according to the newspaper.

I still want to know, how did you come upon this information, Glanville asked. Who told you?

What I want to know is why wasnt I there, Steel responded.

After another defense attorney in the case asked for a transcript of the meeting in the judge's chambers, Glanville said there was nothing improper about the conversation and that he was more concerned about the disclosure.

Young Thug has been wildly successful since he began rapping as a teenager and he serves as CEO of his own record label, Young Stoner Life, or YSL. Artists on his record label are considered part of the Slime Family, and a compilation album, Slime Language 2, rose to No. 1 on the charts in April 2021.

But prosecutors say YSL also stands for Young Slime Life, which they allege is an Atlanta-based violent street gang affiliated with the national Bloods gang and founded by Young Thug and two others in 2012. Prosecutors say people named in the indictment are responsible for violent crimes  including killings, shootings and carjackings  to collect money for the gang, burnish its reputation and expand its power and territory.
Defense claims man killed by former Las Vegas detective was a dangerous, deviant, porn addict

LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  The jury trial of a former Las Vegas cop accused of killing her ex-son-in-law began Monday, with her defense claiming the victim was a dangerous, deviant, porn-addict.

A jury trial began Monday for a woman accused of shooting and killing her former son-in-law in 2019. Pamela Bordeaux, 60, is charged with murder with the use of a deadly weapon.

Bordeaux is also a retired Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department detective.

The 8 News Now Investigators previously obtained police body camera video showing Bordeaux surrendering to police after the deadly shooting on April 22, 2019.

I shot him, Bordeaux told officers.

Sean Babbitt, 32, was on a court-approved visit with his child, according to police documents. His ex-wife and son were upstairs while he and Bordeaux were downstairs, police said.

Prosecutors said Bordeaux shot Babbitt at least ten times.

Bordeauxs defense team argued that Babbitt was a danger and filed a report from clinical and forensic psychologist John Paul Garrison on May 28.

Details in this article may be considered disturbing.

Reader discretion is advised.

Mr. Babbitts impulsive behavior, addiction to extreme pornography, and inadequate therapy significantly contributed to his propensity for violence. The perception of imminent danger felt by Ms. Bordeaux is consistent with the evidence of Mr. Babbitts escalating and volatile behavior, Garrison concluded.

Garrison reviewed multiple records pertaining to Babbitt after his death, according to the report.

Garrison referred to emails and text messages between Babbitt and his ex-wife, in which Babbitt admits to sexually deviant behavior.

As he found pornography less satisfying, he continued down the porn rabbit hole,' the report stated. He detailed watching pornography involving animals having sex with humans.

Babbitt also referred to his online persona, Max, Garrison wrote.

In an October 15, 2015, text exchange, Babbitt stated, Yes, I watched videos of women having sex with dogs and horses, according to the report.

The report also referred to another text message that Garrison said Babbitt sent after his ex-wife asked which animals he watches.

Girls with dogs, girls with horses, and one that had a girl with a pig. Again, I can clarify anything that you need clarified, Babbitt texted, according to the report.

Incest-roleplays were also mentioned in Garrisons report.

Babbitt referred to multiple personality disorder being a possibility, said he was shooting heroin, and discussed a tattoo of his ex-wifes name after their divorce, according to Garrison.

Garrison referred to a handwritten and notarized letter from Babbitt dated October 11, 2015 which stated that Babbitt terminated all parental rights.

I am an unfit parent, Babbitt wrote in the letter, according to Garrison.

Bordeauxs bond was previously set at $1 million, which she posted.

The jury trial is expected to last approximately two weeks.

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Learning isnt just about the curriculum offered. Its also about students feeling connected to and supported by their institutions. When institutions represent a single cultural identity, students with minority identities can feel excluded and are less likely to thrive. (Getty Images)

This commentary is republished from The Conversation.

Just four years ago, following the murder of George Floyd, almost every college and university in the U.S. had at least one diversity, equity and inclusion  or DEI  program. Many had existed long before. These programs ranged from DEI-related degrees and professional training to resources for culturally, linguistically and neurologically diverse students. But in the last year and a half in almost every state, 159 institutions have reduced or eliminated these programs.

New legislation in states like Texas and Florida has banned DEI programs outright. In other states, institutions are shuttering programs preemptively to avoid political pressure. This will have lasting effects.

In Texas, dozens of professional faculty and staff have already been fired. Minority students have lost access to community groups, cultural centers and resources. Furthermore, following the Supreme Court ruling in 2023 that race could not be considered in admissions decisions, scholarships for students with diverse racial identities have disappeared.

(Getty Images)

Lawmakers can roll back DEI programs, but they cannot remove identity from the learning context. Colleges and universities continue to admit increasingly diverse student populations. Without programs of support, I believe these students are more likely to be harmed rather than helped by college.

Eliminating DEI programs could have serious consequences for teaching and learning. As a scholar who researches the relationship between identity and learning, my work has shown that inclusivity is a prerequisite for how students form their identities in relation to the content they learn. For example, learning math becomes especially difficult, if not impossible, if a student does not identify positively with the subject. Math identity isnt just based on competency. Its also based on societal expectations, such as stereotypes of who is most likely to become a mathematician based on demographics  including racial, ethnic and gender identities.

Why identity matters in learning

Research shows that Black students are more likely to stay in college and earn a degree if they attend a historically Black institution versus a predominantly white one. Why? Because learning isnt just about the curriculum offered. Its also about students feeling connected to and supported by their institutions. When institutions represent a single cultural identity, students with minority identities can feel excluded and are less likely to thrive.

In general, how we view ourselves relies heavily on external validation. In fact, child psychologists strongly caution parents from labeling children by their character traits or behavior so that their identities do not become prematurely limited. For learning to take place, students need to identify with the content, which becomes especially difficult when they feel like their identities are not welcomed in the learning environment.

Effective teaching emphasizes students identities in order to make important connections with the learning. For example, we know that fewer women graduate in STEM fields than men. This is not because they cant succeed in STEM  science, technology, engineering and math  but because they arent as likely to identify with the field. Many studies demonstrate that targeting students with certain identities for support increases their academic performance as well as the performance of other students.

More evidence of the link between identity and learning comes from the Gallup-Purdue Index. The large survey of more than 30,000 college graduates measured the academic experiences that most prepared them for life. Near the top of the results: My professors cared about me as a person. The goal of DEI programs is to make sure everyone feels cared about as a person. Eliminating these programs means further marginalization of students with specific identities who have historically faced discrimination.

How DEI programs ensure everyone gets to learn

Through my research, I have found that DEI training increases teachers awareness of diverse identities, helping them to design courses that are interesting and relevant to everyone. DEI programs also often include the creation of dedicated spaces and initiatives so that students can experience connection and support from other students like them, even when it feels like their identities are not otherwise welcome on campus.

A Gallup and Lumina Foundation report found that Black students are more likely to feel discriminated against than other students, and Black and Hispanic students are the most likely to have thought about stopping out. If all students do not feel safe and welcomed, they cannot learn.

Lawmakers can roll back DEI programs, but they cannot remove identity from the learning context. Colleges and universities continue to admit increasingly diverse student populations. Without programs of support, I believe these students are more likely to be harmed rather than helped by college.

The Conversation

The post How DEI rollbacks at colleges and universities set back learning appeared first on Kentucky Lantern.
Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.), the top Democrat on the House Rules Committee, slammed his GOP colleagues for their acceptance of the Hunter Biden verdict Tuesday after arguing former President Trumps guilty verdict was the result of a rigged system.

Hunter Biden was convicted Tuesday on three counts related to failing to acknowledge drug use when purchasing a weapon.

The contrast today is just staggering. Apparently, when a Republican is convicted, its weaponization. But when a Democrat is convicted  the presidents son, no less  thats justice. I mean, give me a break. Hunter Biden was found guilty by a jury of his peers, just like Donald Trump, because this is our justice system at work, McGovern said.

After the verdict this morning, how can any Republican in their right mind argue that the Biden administration is weaponizing the [Justice Department] to hurt Republicans and to help Democrats? They just convicted the presidents own son, he added, noting ongoing prosecution of Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez (N.J.) and Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar (Texas) on charges related to abusing their offices.

Following Trumps conviction last month on 34 charges connected with concealing hush money payments to an adult film actor ahead of the 2016 election, congressional Republicans vowed to hold back funding from the Justice Department and even local prosecutors.

Some have, without evidence, claimed that the White House and Justice Department were involved with the state-level prosecution of Trump, something both have denied. The department forcefully pushed back on the claims in a letter this week noting it has no record of any communications with the Manhattan district attorneys office.

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said he had a three-pronged plan to take on the justice system writ large following the verdict.

Trump himself has suggested he would be justified in seeking revenge for the case if he is reelected.

President Biden said Tuesday he accepted the outcome of his sons trial, though an appeal is said to be on the horizon.

As I said last week, I am the President, but I am also a Dad. I love our son, and we are so proud of the man he is today, President Biden said in a statement.

As I also said last week, I will accept the outcome of this case and will continue to respect the judicial process as Hunter considers an appeal.

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Democratic donors are test-running a series of party-style campaign events aimed at getting young voters to the pollsa nice idea, but some of their tactics seem downright dystopian.

Over the past few months, The Voter Project has been hosting parties in Pennsylvania, fine-tuning strategies under the banner Stand Up Strong 24, according to The Washington Post.

Turning people out to cultural events is not a hard thing to do. The key thing is to make it fun and keep out the doom and gloom, Kevin Mack, the groups lead strategist told the Post.

Stand Up Strong 24 recently held an event in Philadelphia that had all the usual fixings of a community event, including beer, free giveaways, and music.

But there was one more thing: a raffle giving away one months rent to lucky attendees. A total of $8,000 was distributed, according to the Post.

Democrats are so desperate to reunite with young voters that theyve resorted to paying them. Somehow, throwing money at the problem seems easier than making substantial policy changes.

Unfortunately for Biden, his glacial work to erase crippling student loans for millions of people hasnt proven to be enough to keep young voters, especially not in the face of his disastrous Israel policy, which has actively backed the countrys catastrophic military campaign in Gaza.

For the Biden campaign, youth voter turnout may be the key to keeping the White House in November. In 2020, an astounding young voter turnout, higher than in any presidential election in nearly 50 years, lifted Biden to victory. Without their support, 2024 could look a lot like 2016with even more dangerous results.

Its undeniable that community events are essential tools in building public power and engaging young voters. Just look at the massive pro-Palestinian rallies across the country! If only Biden could think of some way to tap into that  oh well.
Democrats hold deeply divided views on the pro-Palestinian student protests that have roiled college campuses in recent months, according to a new POLITICO-Morning Consult poll, and a generational gap appears to be driving the fault line.

While 50 percent of surveyed Gen Z and millennial registered voters say they hold a favorable view toward the campus demonstrations, the same is true for only 44 percent of all Democrats, with 36 percent of Democrats feeling unfavorable. The poll, conducted in the waning days of universities spring terms, shows younger voters are splitting from the Democratic base to support student activists and express more sympathy for Palestinians.

That generational divide hits a pain point for President Joe Biden as he struggles to galvanize young voters and unify a base at odds with itself just months before the 2024 presidential election. As Biden looks to piece together a fragile coalition  drawing support from Republicans and independents while shoring up liberal support  he has little room to maneuver on an issue that has become increasingly fractured.

Thats in part because of how complicated voters views are of the protests. Even though more than one-third of Democrats say they have an unfavorable view of the campus protests, the poll suggests a significant portion of them may actually support the students positions  just not their tactics.

Nearly three-quarters of Democratic respondents, 74 percent, say they broadly believe protesters on campus are in the right. But 48 percent of Democrats say they also think activists are taking things too far, compared to 26 percent who say students are doing the right thing in their demonstrations.

On the other hand, Republicans remain largely united in their opposition: 72 percent hold an unfavorable view of the protest encampments, building takeovers and commencement disruptions against the war in Gaza. Fifty-two percent of Republicans say that protesters are plainly in the wrong, and 31 percent believe students are in the right but taking things too far.



There is a right to protest, Biden said during his first official remarks addressing student protests early last month. But there is not a right to cause chaos.

Voters between 18 and 34 years old break with all surveyed Democrats on how universities should respond to protests and where their sympathies lie in the conflict abroad. Just over half of young voters, 52 percent, strongly or somewhat support the expulsion of students who violated the law or school rules while protesting, compared to 61 percent of all Democrats.

And roughly one-third of young voters say they are equally sympathetic to both sides of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, much fewer than the 43 percent of Democrats who feel the same way. Voters aged 18 to 34 are the only age group with greater sympathy toward Palestinians than Israelis, according to the poll.

I worry very much that President Biden is putting himself in a position where he has alienated not just young people, but a lot of the Democratic base, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) told CNNs Christiane Amanpour after the presidents remarks in May.

The poll does have one potentially positive sign for Biden, though: The Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and the campus protests that have become a proxy for attitudes toward it, are low on voters list of electoral issues compared to factors such as the economy, national security and jobs.

Even as the issue has dogged Biden for months, with protests following him at many of his public appearances, pro-Palestinian protests at universities nationwide do not appear to be steering voters decision-making this election.

Sixty-seven percent of all voters, and 70 percent of Democrats, say that campus demonstrations are important in deciding their 2024 election vote  nearly 30 percentage points lower than the top-ranked issue, the economy.



Protests have mostly let up as schools have let out for the summer  but tensions are still flaring, including at UCLA on Monday, where 25 protesters were arrested. Demonstrations are expected at the Democratic and Republican national conventions this summer, and theyre likely to return to campuses in the fall.

The poll (toplines, crosstabs) was conducted May 28-29, surveying 3,996 registered voters via online interviews. The overall margin of error is plus or minus 2 percentage points.
House Democrats this week are launching a concerted campaign to hit back at Project 2025, a sweeping conservative effort to advance right-wing policies and expand the powers of the presidency in the event that voters return former President Trump to the White House for a second term.

The Democrats are alarmed by both the scope of Project 2025, which touches on virtually every facet of American life, and the policy changes it proposes, including the elimination of certain federal agencies, the overhauling of others and the stocking of all departments with loyalists to conservative causes.

The critics say the conservative playbook, originating from the Heritage Foundation, poses a threat to the very workings of government and democracy that have presided in Washington since the nations founding, demanding an orchestrated counterstrategy to ensure it never gets off the ground. Theyre creating a new task force with that goal in mind.

Americans dont understand just how far down the road to a dystopic, right-wing theocracy we are right now, said Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.), who is spearheading the effort. And that, for me at least, is the priority: making sure people know it, and making sure were ready to confront it.

The idea was conceived, Huffman said, after members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus were briefed by several liberal advocacy groups on the specifics of Project 2025. Those groups, including Accountable US and the Center for American Progress, will coordinate with the Democratic task force to get their message out heading into Novembers elections.

It just occurred to me that this stuff is so significant and urgent that we really need to do more to spotlight it, certainly for the American people in the months ahead, but also for Congress, Huffman said. Because in the unthinkable event that Trump wins the presidency, this stuff is going to move very quickly. And if were reacting to it, were losing.

Launched two years ago by the Heritage Foundation, Project 2025 aims to disassemble the federal government and replace it with a smaller, more nimble version  stocked with right-wing officials at every level who would work to advance the agenda of the next conservative president, be it Trump or someone else. The project arose as part of the conservative outcry that deep state bureaucrats across federal agencies had acted to stymie Trumps policy agenda in his first term, including his efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election.

The project seeks to eradicate the so-called administrative state and fill the newly empty spots with conservative loyalists. It features four pillars: laying out a right-wing policy road map for the next conservative president to follow, providing a political strategy for adopting that agenda within 180 days, recruiting an army of conservatives who will work in that administration, and offering a training component to ensure that political appointees are ready on day one.

The group says it is not promoting any one candidate, and isnt advising Trump  the Republicans presumptive 2024 nominee  on any specific policies.

Project 2025 does not speak for any candidate or campaign, and it is ultimately up to the president to decide which policies to implement, a Project 2025 spokesperson said in an email Monday.

Yet the coalition includes more than 100 conservative groups outside of Heritage, a number of which are led by former Trump administration officials. That list includes the Center for Renewing America, led by Russell Vought, who served as Trumps head of the Office of Management and Budget and is now mentioned as a potential chief of staff in a second term; America First Legal, headed by Stephen Miller, a former Trump speechwriter and senior adviser; and the Conservative Partnership Institute, where Mark Meadows, Trumps former chief of staff, serves as senior partner.

A President today assumes office to find a sprawling federal bureaucracy that all too often is carrying out its own policy plans and preferences  or, worse yet, the policy plans and preferences of a radical, supposedly woke faction of the country, Vought wrote as part of the sprawling handbook laying out the Project 2025 vision.

The cast of figures behind the campaign has not been overlooked by Democrats, who see the enterprise as a road map for Trump to dismantle the pieces of the government that resist anything he might try in a second term.

This is not fringe stuff, or things that are not right at the fulcrum of Trump and his team, Huffman said. This is who they are; theyre telling us what theyre going to do.

The Democrats exact strategy for pushing back against Project 2025 remains up in the air. Huffman said it will likely consist of a series of public forums, in coordination with liberal outside groups, designed to educate the public on the different elements of Project 2025 that are the most troubling. That, in his mind, is a long list.

In terms of prioritizing, thats a hard thing to do. Every one of these things is like a hair-on-fire priority, Huffman said.

The Project 2025 spokesperson rejected the Democrats criticisms that the document expands executive powers in ways that would allow a future president to abuse them.

This is simply projection, the spokesperson said. President Joe Biden is the one who is abusing executive power and we are currently living under his dictatorship.

Huffman, who is unique on Capitol Hill for questioning the existence of an omnipotent god, suggested hell focus on the elements of Project 2025 that aim to promote religious tenets as policy guides  which is really just this Christian nationalist agenda, he said.

Hell be joined on the task force by a number of other prominent Democrats who bring their own policy focuses, including Rep. Diana DeGette (Colo.), head of the House Pro-Choice Caucus; Mark Pocan (Wis.), chair of the Congressional Equality Caucus; Ted Lieu (Calif.), vice chair of the House Democratic Caucus; Pramila Jayapal (Wash.), head of the Congressional Progressive Caucus; Nanette Diaz Barragan (Calif.), chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus; Judy Chu (Calif.), chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus; and Jamie Raskin (Md.), a former professor of constitutional law who led Trumps second impeachment following the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol.

This is not a leadership task force, but they know about it, Huffman said. And well be passing along our recommendations and concerns to them for sure.

The Democrats have a steep road ahead as they seek to counter the message coming from Trump and the conservative groups backing him, which include fundraising juggernauts. But Huffman said hes confident that his partys message will win out in the end.

They are preparing to advance plans that are deeply unpopular with most of the American people, he said. Weve just got to make sure that thats known and understood.

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Senior Senate Democrats see the annual funding bill for the Supreme Court as a way to force Supreme Court Justice John Roberts to adopt ethics reforms in the wake of controversies surrounding conservative Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas.

Specifically, some Democrats want to tie Supreme Court funding to the justices adoption of an ethics code in the funding bill overseen by the Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee, which has jurisdiction over the high courts budget.

I think the court is really wildly out of line now, particularly in not even having a process for a fact-finding for allegations of ethical misconduct, said Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), the chair of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Federal Courts and Oversight.

Only nine people in the entire U.S. government have no process, and ironically its the ones who are supposed to be in charge of process of law, so its not a tenable position for the court to remain in, and if it takes a little bit of a nudge from the Appropriations Committee, I would welcome that, he said of adding Supreme Court ethics requirements to its annual funding bill.

Tension between Senate Democrats and conservative Supreme Court justices have escalated in recent weeks amid reports that two flags associated with the Jan. 6 attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 election were displayed at Alitos Virginia home and New Jersey beach house.

On Monday, Rolling Stone magazine reported a secret recording of Alito speaking at the Supreme Court Historical Societys annual dinner when he appeared sympathetic to the idea that Americans need to return our country to a place of godliness and observed the nation as one of fundamental differences that cant be compromised.

One side or the other is going to win, he was recorded saying at the event.

This is likely to fuel Democrats perception of Alito as a partisan and reenergize attempts to rein in the conservative justices, who now have a 6-3 majority.

Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), the chair of the Financial Services and General Government Committee, wanted to move forward with language last year requiring the court to adopt an enforceable ethics regime.

Van Hollen still supports the proposal, according to sources familiar with the discussion among Senate Democrats.

The language under consideration would make some funding for the court contingent on the Supreme Court adopting an enforceable set of ethics standards and would not affect any funding for the courts security.

But the bold tactic to pressure Roberts does not currently have the support of Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Patty Murray (D-Wash.), who had a deal with Senate Republicans last year to exclude controversial policy riders from the spending deal.

Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), the vice chair of the Appropriations Committee, who is negotiating the spending deal with Murray, has warned against adding Supreme Court ethics reform to its annual funding bill.

I think to do that would compromise the independence of judiciary, Collins said when asked about tying court funding to ethics reform.

Senate Democratic sources say Murray wants to keep the appropriations process on track and will likely renew her agreement with Collins to keep so-called poison pills out of the appropriations bills so they can pass out of the Senate Appropriations Committee with the same levels of bipartisan support they had last year.

Were talking, were trying to figure out the best path forward, so were working on it, she told The Hill of her negotiations with Collins.

Murray is holding back from endorsing the idea of adding Supreme Court ethics language to appropriations legislation to maintain bipartisanship on the committee.

She is a co-sponsor of the Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal and Transparency Act, which would require the Supreme Court to adopt a binding code of conduct and create a mechanism to investigate alleged violations. The bill has more than 40 co-sponsors, but not a single Republican has signed on so far.

Some Democrats are taking a closer look at using the appropriations process as leverage over Roberts after the chief justice rebuffed a request by Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Whitehouse to meet with them to discuss Alitos recusal from Trump-related cases and the courts adoption of an enforceable code of conduct.

Roberts in a letter to the senators said that such a meeting would be inadvisable given what he cited as separation of powers concerns and the importance of preserving judicial independence.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), another member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, called on Roberts in a recent letter to use his authority, which includes the power to assign the drafting of majority opinions, to pressure Alito and Thomas to recuse themselves from cases related to Trump.

Senate Democrats are coming under growing pressure from groups on the left to investigate Alito after The New York Times reported that an upside-down American flag, a symbol of the Stop the Steal movement, was displayed at Alitos home after the 2020 election.

More than 60 national organizations, including the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and the AFL-CIO, wrote a letter to senators Monday urging them to use the full power of the Senate Judiciary Committee to investigate and respond swiftly to these newest developments in the ongoing ethics crisis at the U.S. Supreme Court.

The groups also called on the Senate to pass robust judicial ethics reform legislation and to immediately launch an investigation into the latest issues surrounding Justice Alitos behavior and issue findings into potential violations of the Code of Conduct for Supreme Court justices.

The groups also cited reporting by ProPublica that Thomas received hundreds of thousands of dollars in gifts and hospitality from a wealthy Republican donor.

The watchdog group Fix the Court last week reported that Thomas received $4 million in gifts during his time on the court, citing the reporting by ProPublica.

The other signatories included Alliance for Justice, the American Federation of Teachers, the League of Conservation Voters, the NAACP, the National Womens Law Center and Planned Parenthood Federation of America.

Durbin last week said hes not ready to subpoena Alito or Thomas  or Roberts  despite the pressure from progressives.

Senate Democratic aides note that any subpoena of Supreme Court justices would need 60 votes in the Senate to be enforced, something unlikely to happen given Republican opposition.

They dont understand Senate rules, Durbin said of progressive groups that want him to subpoena Alito and Thomas. Under Senate rules to issue a subpoena, you either have to do it on a bipartisan basis or you have to have 60 votes on the Senate floor to enforce it.

Theres a limitation on the Senate side you dont find on the House side, he said.

Durbin said theres more were considering but ruled out subpoenas.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Recruits from the Des Moines Regional Police Academy breathed heavy as they did full body exercises at the side of their desks in a fluorescent-lit room Monday morning  the first of many steps in the months-long training process to become a police officer.

Later, the recruits composed themselves with their arms behind their backs as family members watched while they were sworn in as one of the most ethnically and racially diverse recruit classes ever in Des Moines history.

Additionally, the Des Moines Regional Police Academys 84th recruit class have members that are fluent in at least seven languages in addition to English. Languages spoken by the 17-member class include Spanish, Telugu, Burmese, Swahili, Kirundi, Kinyarwanda and French.

The Des Moines Regional Police Academys 84th recruit class at its swearing-in ceremony.

Our community changes, our community evolves, and we have to evolve with it, Lt. Rodrigo Santizo, an officer assigned to the Des Moines Regional Police Academy, told the Register. Its extremely important for our department to represent the people were serving. Representation absolutely matters and it should to every agency out there.

The new class is a microcosm of the changes happening in Des Moines.

The city's nonwhite population increased 39% between 2010 and 2020, according to the decennial census, driven primarily by immigrants and refugees moving to Des Moines for work or to escape war-torn countries or refugee camps. Communities of color made up 39% of the city's population in 2020. That's up from 30% the decade prior, census data shows, and more than 100 languages are now spoken in Iowas capital city.

The city has been a magnet for resettlement, behind only Charleston, South Carolina, among U.S. metro areas with the fastest-growing foreign-born population, according to Heartland Forward, a think tank focused on Midwestern issues. Des Moines' low cost of living, jobs in both high- and low-skilled industries, robust nonprofit organizations and established immigrant communities make it an attractive place, contributing to its continued growth.

More: See renderings of future home of Des Moines City Hall, Police Department

The Des Moines Police Department wants to make sure to bridge language barriers in the community so residents who dont speak English feel comfortable interacting with police, Santizo said.

Its comforting to the community when you show up in uniform (but) sometimes its intimidating, said Santizo, who also is fluent in Spanish. But once you hear somebody who can communicate with you, speaks your language, it really drops down a lot of the barriers that might come with the presence of a police officer.

The Des Moines Regional Police Academys 84th Recruit Class doing full body exercise drills at the side of their desks before the ceremony.

Experts say it's logical to predict the next decennial census in 2030 will show diversity in Des Moines has continued to grow.

I think it brings some comfort knowing that their community is being represented in this department, Santizo said. "That's important to us."

Recruits will train until academy graduation in late November, city spokesperson Peter Zemansky said. Courses include legal responsibilities of an officer, as well as scenario based training such as de-escalation and crisis intervention training, he said. Recruits also will learns skills like as tactical driving and conduct physical training throughout the academy.

After graduation, the new officers will train in the field as probationary officers.

Jose Mendiola is a breaking news reporter for the Register. Reach him at jmendiola@dmreg.com.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Newest Des Moines police recruit class one of most diverse on record
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 11. Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov took part and made a speech at a conference on Ukraine's reconstruction within the framework of his work visit to Germany, Trend reports.

In the course of the speech, detailed information was provided on humanitarian aid provided by Azerbaijan in connection with the situation around Ukraine, rehabilitation programs, and reconstruction works being carried out, stressing that the country will continue to provide its relevant assistance.

Furthermore, noting that Azerbaijan has always supported the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, the Minister emphasized that from the first days of the situation around Ukraine, the country has supported the early cessation of military actions as well as finding a diplomatic solution to the conflict based on international law. Expressing deep regret over the serious humanitarian consequences of the conflict, Jeyhun Bayramov noted that Azerbaijan was one of the first countries to provide humanitarian support to Ukraine and is still sending medicines, foodstuffs, power generators, etc. A total of $40 million worth of aid has been provided to Ukraine.

However, it was noted that Azerbaijan is implementing a program of medical and socio-psychological rehabilitation for children affected by the conflict in Ukraine, and a total of 154 children have participated in the program since the reconstruction conference last year. Azerbaijan supports infrastructure reconstruction projects in Ukraine; in particular, the reconstruction of a school building in Irpin has already been completed. It was also noted that Azerbaijan, as a country combating the threat of mines in the territories liberated from occupation, consistently supports the strengthening of solidarity with mine-affected countries, and assistance is provided to Ukraine in demining.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Governor Ron DeSantis addresses the audience ahead of his bill signing at Cornerstone Classical Academy Monday morning. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis was at the Cornerstone Classical Academy in Jacksonville, FL Monday, March 25, 2024, along with local and state leaders to sign into law Florida House Bill 3 which bans Floridians younger than 16 from "addictive" social media platforms but with exceptions for those who are 14 or 15 and get parental permission.

Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday declared open war on the state's largest public employees union, United Teachers of Dade, a hyperbolic, tactical offensive in the administration's broader efforts to transform Florida public education into a decentralized network of charters and private schools and to tilt the curriculum in a decidedly conservative direction.

During a winding news conference in Hialeah that was slated to be about teacher pay raises, DeSantis cast United Teachers of Dade and teachers unions more generally as outdated, corrupt organizations that indoctrinate children and fail to represent the best interests of teachers. Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nunez called union leaders "activists that double as union hacks" who bully their members, and Education Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr. said the unions should "stop focusing their energy ... on woke ideology (and) on protecting pornographic materials."

Florida Republicans have targeted teachers unions with legislation that imposes onerous new requirements for them to remain in existence. In effect, public-sector unions can now face decertification if their dues-paying members fall below 60 percent, while other parts of the law make it harder for unions to retain paying members and actually collect their dues  a two-pronged attack.

Although those union-busting changes were characterized as needed accountability and transparency measures imposed on public unions that have run amok, the law's real-world effects reveal more partisan intentions: police and public-safety unions are exempt from the new legal requirements. Unlike teachers unions, which have been beleaguered for years under hostile governors and legislators, public-safety unions remain some of the most politically powerful employee organizations in the state (the Florida Fraternal Order of Police actually boasts on its website that it's the "largest and most powerful union in both the State of Florida and the nation").

Like other public-sector unions, they also flex their muscle in political campaigns, in collective bargaining with local governments and in debates about public policy. They also happen to frequently back Republicans, including DeSantis. "Thank you is not enough," Florida's FOP president said of DeSantis last year. But it's teachers unions, not police unions, that now live and die by their proportion of dues-paying membership, a number public-safety unions don't even have to report to the state.

Standing behind a lectern that read "Raising Teacher Pay," the message from DeSantis was clear: There are financial inducements to leaving unions and the old (read: "liberal") ways of public education behind. Parents get vouchers to send their children outside the public school system. Charters get a cut of the tax revenue. And compliant teachers can nab bonus checks. And conversely, of course, there are consequences to resistance: just look at the United Teachers of Dade.

DeSantis on Monday touted the state's "Civics Seal of Excellence" online course, a certification program that teachers can take and receive $3,000. The lessons, put together with heavy input from Hillsdale College, a private Christian conservative school in Michigan that shares DeSantis' goal of transforming public education, represent a kind of projection from DeSantis as he accuses unions of indoctrination. They include an introductory course with DeSantis as a featured speaker, a lesson on "Totalitarian Regimes and the American Republic" apparently taught with help from Nunez, the lieutenant governor, and comments from others including William Bennett, a Republican and former U.S. Education Secretary. Any notion this is a non-partisan program is dispensed with in the very first course.

Monday's event itself telegraphed the true tension at work: DeSantis, as he often does, appeared not at a traditional public school but a charter  his preferred future for Florida public education.

Nate Monroe is a Florida columnist for the USA Today Network. Follow him on Twitter @NateMonroeTU. Email him at nmonroe@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: DeSantis' war on unions targets Florida public education | Nate Monroe
When the Shiloh police officers first arrived at the scene of a double-fatal crash in January on Hartman Lane, they didnt immediately know the chain of events leading up to the three-vehicle crash, according to police reports.

They also had to sift through conflicting statements from those involved in the crash, the department said in a news release two days after Carol Isbell, 82, and her 60-year-old daughter, Lana Watson, died.

But details have since been gathered and charges have been filed against two people in connection with the crash on Jan. 27, according to records obtained by the Belleville News-Democrat under an Illinois Freedom of Information Act request filed with the Shiloh Police Department.

On the night of the crash, Shiloh police had called the Metro East Crash Assistance Team to get help with the investigation.

This team, which is a cooperative unit comprised of officers from area police departments, filed a report that concludes with an opinion describing what happened. The team used the vehicles event data recorders, also known as black boxes, to get information about the speeds the vehicles were traveling.

Watson, a Shiloh resident who was known for helping unhoused people, was driving a 2017 Nissan Rogue south on Hartman Lane to take her mother home to an assisted living center in Shiloh. It was about 8:39 p.m. and she was on a section of the road that was unlit.

The driver of the Nissan failed to turn on their headlights or taillights, making the Nissan difficult to see in the dark with light rain in the area, the Metro East Crash Assistance Team report states.

As the Nissan headed south at an estimated 29 mph after turning onto Hartman Lane from Durham Drive, a 2011 Ford F150 pickup truck also was going south. The truck was going about 64 mph in a 45-mph zone just prior to the collision. The Fords front drivers side bumper hit the rear passenger side bumper of the Nissan, according to the report.

The off-centered force from the collision between the Ford and the Nissan caused the Nissan to rotate counterclockwise and slide approximately 60.77 feet on the wet road surface, the report states. The Nissan slid into the northbound lane, where it entered the path of travel of (a 2023 Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck), causing the Chevrolet to collide with the passenger side of the Nissan.

The Silverado was going about 42 mph just prior to the collision, according to investigators.

The driver of the Chevrolet failed to maneuver to avoid that collision, as they only had approximately 1.03 seconds to observe the Ford vs. Nissan collision, the Nissan move into the Chevrolets path, and react to avoid the Nissan, the report states.

Watson and Isbell were pronounced dead on the scene.

Charged in connection with the crash were:

Eric T. Benton, 34, of Fairview Heights, was driving the Ford pickup that first collided with the Nissan, police said. He was given three traffic citations on April 23: speeding 15-20 mph above the limit, speed too fast for conditions and failure to reduce speed, according to St. Clair County court records. Benton could not be reached for comment and court records do not list a defense attorney for him.

Katherine E. Kellow, 32, of Belleville, was driving the Chevrolet pickup that collided with the Nissan, police said. She was charged on April 23 with driving under the influence intoxicating compound, which is a misdemeanor, according to St. Clair County court records.

A Shiloh police officer stated in a report that he could smell the odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from Kellows breath. Also, police reports show that blood and urine samples were collected from Kellow.

Kellow is represented by Belleville attorney Gregory Skinner, who described the crash as a tragic accident.

My client wasnt culpable in any way, Skinner said.

Shiloh Police Chief Rich Wittenauer also said Kellow was not at blame for the crash.

Her blood alcohol level was very low, but it was tested hours after the incident, he said. There was medication in her bloodstream as well and she provided a prescription for that. Either way, you shouldnt be operating a vehicle on some medications.

But, yes, its fair to say that she is in no way culpable.

The charges against Benton and Kellow were filed after police were told by the St. Clair States Attorneys Office that felony charges would not be filed.

Benton has a court date of June 20 and Kellow on Oct. 2.

Allison F. Stenger, a St. Louis attorney representing Bob Watson, the husband of Lana Watson and son-in-law of Carol Isbell, declined to comment on the charges filed but released this statement:

We loved Lana and Carol deeply, and at times the grief has seemed impossible to bear. We have endured because of the love and support of our family and friends in this unimaginably difficult time.
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.

This article was originally published by Michigan Advance, a States Newsroom affiliate.

The post In Detroit, Harris lights into Trump over conviction: Cheaters dont like getting caught appeared first on Missouri Independent.
Detroits planning director is under investigation after cutting corners in a rush to paint murals across downtown in advance of the NFL draft, and, according to email correspondence obtained by the Free Press, nearly moved forward with painting on historic buildings, brushing off the possibility of a violation.

Detroit officials and a New York-based artist group quickly commissioned the murals as part of the city's pre-draft beautification efforts. But in the process, officials bypassed the approval process mandated by the city charter to install the first phase of Detroit Be the Change murals through Street Art for Mankind Corp., which selected artists from around the world to design murals. The group repeatedly pressed city officials for a signed contract, according to emails the Free Press obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request.

Following multiple exchanges, Antoine Bryant, planning and development director, signed the six-figure contract, leaving him mired in controversy after neglecting the city's approval process. Because of the department's handling, Detroit City Council refused to pay for the art because it violated the city charter.

As a result, the Detroit Board of Ethics initiated an investigation into Bryant after Outlier Media and BridgeDetroit reported a review of emails. Questions surrounding the project spurred a community outcry when local artists realized none of the muralists were from Detroit.

Emails obtained by the Free Press show frenetic communication between city officials and Thibault and Audrey Decker, co-founders of Street Art for Mankind. Records show that artists began work with no contract, and were told that they should not have begun. The Free Press initially sought a slew of emails regarding the project but the city estimated it would cost $17,000 to turn over the records. In a follow-up, the Free Press narrowed its request, seeking less information at a reduced cost.

Because the project was completed without councilors' initial approval, Detroit City Council in January rejected a $215,000 contract to pay the muralists. Bryant had admitted to executing the contract and apologized to council members in a November memo, records show.

The entire process culminated very quickly. SAMs unexpected return and quick commencement of work do not excuse PDDs failure to follow all required purchasing protocols," Bryant said in the November memo. "I take full responsibility for the missed processes and procedures. I apologize for all mistakes made and sincerely hope your honorable body will approve this request for payment for the services that have already been performed in good faith.

People walk past a large mural near along West Lafayette Boulevard and Shelby Street in downtown Detroit on Monday, June 10, 2024.

Street Art for Mankind officials have failed to respond to requests for comment since January, and the Free Press can find no evidence that the city has paid for the work.

Bryant under investigation

The Detroit Board of Ethics is tasked with resolving complaints regarding potential violations of the citys ethics ordinance. Executive Director Christal Phillips said the board met June 4 and voted to open an investigation into Bryant for "possible violations" of the ethics policy.

"This recommendation was based on Mr. Bryant's execution of a $215,000 contract with Street Art for Mankind Corp. without proper approval from Detroit City Council," Phillips said in an email.

Specific violations have yet to be determined, but Phillips confirmed the board will investigate at least five areas: willful neglect of duty; self-interested regulation and participation; improper use of city property; incompatible employment or rendering of services, and representation of a private person, business or organization.

"My recommendation to open an investigation would have been presented to the Board of Ethics months ago, but without a full board we could not achieve a quorum to hold a meeting," Phillips said.

The board had two vacancies earlier this year. The board's June 4 meeting was the first time it had a full board since April 2023, Phillips said.

Bryant was under attack for another matter in the January City Council meeting when the payment was rejected. Council President Pro Tem James Tate told members that Bryant bypassed Council once before by approving a sales amendment for the Brodhead Armory without their approval.

"I'm very concerned about the way that this planning director has operated. I've also talked about the lack of communication and a connection that this individual has tried to make, even with the planning and economic development standing committee chair and other members. So I am concerned about the way that he has approached this and other projects," Tate said in the January meeting.

Corporation Counsel Conrad Mallett provided an opinion last year that the planning director, at that time, had the authority to approve an extended timeline for the sale, according to the mayor's office.

Inside their correspondence

Emails dating to September 2023 show Rochelle Riley, who leads the citys Office of Arts, Culture & Entrepreneurship, coordinating with other city officials to launch the project. But enraged artists aired their frustrations after one in particular, Sydney James, noticed the project launched, Outlier Media first reported. James told the Free Press she was frustrated at the lack of community engagement and failure to include Detroit artists.

"The most important takeaway for me and for the artists in the community. It exposed what needed to be adjusted. If there is a policy in place, it hasnt been enforced," James said, adding that artists are working on proposing a policy to city officials to ensure there's fair pay and equitable access in proposals to commission art.

By early October 2023, Thibault Decker asked Riley and Bryant to return a signed contract. Riley, a former longtime Free Press columnist, noted the planning department was paying for the project and would need to sign off on it.

"Could you let me know if we could have this document signed back to us today please?" Decker said.

After learning the group had begun work, Riley wrote back, Your team is working without the contract between you and PDD??

Yes ... that was the point of my message, Decker said. We returned it signed and completed. But have not received it back countersigned yet.

Oh, Thibault, Riley said. Then you should not have begun working. Antoine will look at it first thing in the morning, but at this point, you will have to live with the contract he signs.

Historic building debate

Audrey and Thibault Decker were given a final contract for review and approval on Oct. 20, 2023, from Eric Larson, CEO of the Downtown Detroit Partnership, in an email with Riley and Bryant. Larson served as a liaison, helping the partners secure space on Ilitch-owned properties amid discussions about whether they could paint on historic buildings, which needed approval from the Historic District Commission.

I fear, gentlemen, that this project is lost unless we find four other buildings right away that are NOT in a local historic district, Riley said, telling partners days prior that they could not work on some of the historic buildings without approval from the commission.

Bryant suggested moving forward.

Or we could begin on the buildings, get the work (mostly) complete, while still filing for the November meeting. Worst that would happen is that we would get 'cited,' which I can address internally, Bryant said.

Your call, my liege. Then let's get these projects started!!! Thank you!! Riley responded.

Ultimately, the murals were painted in other locations.

A depiction of Detroit artist Bakpak Durden, created by Australian artist Smug, along the Fisher Freeway in downtown Detroit, April 18, 2024.

At one point, Riley told Decker she was unsure why he did not understand "the local artist problem," suggesting he should have approached her if he had difficulty reaching artists. James said she was approached by Street Art for Mankind through an Instagram message to design a mural on Oct. 5, 2023, before it was too late. But she did not see the notification.

"It was not an email, it was no formal communication. It was a (direct message). I realized that after," James said.

Riley told Decker the city has "dozens of world-class artists from Detroit" to choose from.

"Next time, use your partner!" Riley wrote.

Decker later said local artists would be included a second phase.

"Folks are raving. We have tamped down Sydney James' effort to discredit," Riley wrote in an Oct. 11 email.

Like the Deckers, Bryant did not respond to requests for comment. Instead, Detroit's chief operating officer, Brad Dick, told the Free Press that the city has "complete confidence" in the planning director.

"The Law Department has indicated they will be providing Mr. Bryant counsel" in the ethics investigation, Dick said in a statement.

The contract gets signed

The emails show that Bryant signed the contract after multiple requests from Thibault Decker. In early October, Decker asked city officials to follow through on "promises made to send us the contract signed by all parties."

"This is the second time we are promised it for a Monday but fail to receive it," Decker said in an Oct. 10, 2023, email.

Riley responded, saying Bryant signed it the prior day. However, the next day, Decker claimed the group had not received it.

"Can we please have a bit of respect for SAM and now receive this contract duly signed and executed today before Antoine leaves?" Decker wrote.

On Nov. 1, 2023, Decker wrote that the "lack of communication" was beginning to concern the group.

Larson emailed the Deckers the finalized contract for their review and approval on Oct. 20, 2023, noting he was here to help but the required paperwork would need to go through the city. Larson also told Bryant that if the Deckers approved the contract, he would be required to submit it to City Council to be approved at the following weeks meeting. The contract was not on the agenda until Jan. 16.

Mallett previously told the Free Press that the city would not publicly discuss the issue in light of a possible lawsuit. Mallett warned council members in January that the city could face liability  including possible damages on top of the murals' cost  but no claim is known to have been filed.

Update: This story has been revised to include news of an opinion by Corporation Counsel Mallett that Bryant was within his authority on the Brodhead Armory.

Dana Afana is the Detroit city hall reporter for the Free Press. Contact: dafana@freepress.com. Follow her: @DanaAfana

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Emails show how city rushed to install murals; investigation underway
According to Eversources latest report, there are about 470 megawatts of distributed energy projects, overwhelmingly solar, in line for interconnection. If those projects were built, they would more than double the amount of solar power New Hampshire has today.

New Hampshire trails other New England states in building out renewable energy sources. But solar projects are in development all across the state. More than a hundred have cleared the first hurdle of the development process: finding a location. But theyve been stuck for several months, waiting in line for something called an interconnection study.

Before any energy project can be built, utilities study how it will fit into the power system as a whole and whether they will need to upgrade the poles, wires, substations and transformers that deliver the new electricity to homes and businesses to handle more power.

Power, utility lines in NH

Solar developers say the queue for those studies at Eversource, the states largest utility company, has become something like I-93 on a holiday weekend: slow and frustrating.

According to Eversources latest report, there are about 470 megawatts of distributed energy projects, overwhelmingly solar, in line for interconnection. If those projects were built, they would more than double the amount of solar power New Hampshire has today.

Three developers - Rewild Renewables, Lodestar Energy and Kearsarge Solar - have filed a complaint with New Hampshires Department of Energy, alleging Eversource has delayed their projects, violated state laws around supporting small-scale energy projects, and prevented municipalities from saving money on energy and cutting greenhouse gasses.

In the complaint, filed in March, the companies said they had submitted interconnection applications for 28 projects over the course of 19 months. None of those projects had received an interconnection agreement at the time the complaint was filed. For 20 of the projects, the companies said, Eversource had not yet moved past deeming their applications complete. According to a filing from Eversource in May, one now has an interconnection agreement.

There is no engineering or electrical reason for them being held up, said Matthew Doubleday, the director of interconnection at Rewild Renewables. They could move forward. But for some reason, whether its resources or something else, theyre not proceeding.

Doubledays company, which is based in New Hampshire and primarily works on community solar projects, has ten projects in Eversources queue. Two of them, submitted in February and June of last year, are the only projects in line on a particular substation, meaning they should be first in line, according to Doubleday. Eversource hasnt studied either yet, he said.

Community solar projects everywhere are facing interconnection hurdles. What's unique about New Hampshire is this is the only state right now where the hurdle that we're facing is actually getting into study, Doubleday said.

Eversource building

Eversource has defended itself against the companies assertions, asking New Hampshires Department of Energy to dismiss their complaint.

Eversource is doing everything within its capabilities to process the project Applications as expeditiously as possible and meeting all legal and regulatory requirements while doing so, the company wrote in response to the complaint.

The company also noted in their response that the solar developers have changed the sizes of some projects and have withdrawn others, which has slowed the process. In response to developers complaints the company said longer wait times are not unheard of for large project proposals that are materially changed, sometimes multiple times by the applicant, nor is it necessarily unreasonable given the factors described in this response.

An influx of interest

Utilities in New Hampshire have seen historic increases in interconnection applications.

Alec OMeara, a spokesperson for Unitil, said between 2019 and 2021, the company was processing about 200 applications a year, on the high end. In 2023, they processed 900. That company is managing the extra applications by contracting third-party staff during busy times and aiming to move more of the application process online.

Colin Manning, a spokesperson for the New Hampshire Electric Co-Op, said theyve seen applications more than double over the past five years, and theyve tried to streamline the process and educate members about what needs to be included in applications.

Liberty Utilities declined to comment on their interconnection queue.

At Eversource, the company went from processing 20 applications a week to receiving about 100, sometimes more than 200, over the course of the past five years, according to spokesperson William Hinkle.

The utilitys engineering department used to handle interconnection as part of its broader work. Now, three people work full-time and one person works part-time on customer care, which handles interconnection applications, with the help of staff on other teams. Eversource also says theyve brought on contractors, updated their software systems and updated training for staff.

Hinkle said 95% of interconnection applications  mainly smaller projects  should be approved in a matter of days.

Medium-sized projects are using a fast-tracked process, which Hinkle said takes roughly 60 to 90 days. Its larger projects that are seeing the long wait times.

Doubleday says he acknowledges Eversource is dealing with an increase in their interconnection workload.

But thats a reality everywhere, across many states, he said. It's been nearly two years since they've seen that uptick, and the queue has only grown. We haven't seen much improvements in projects moving through the queue in a way that is industry standard.

ReWild Renewables has projects with Eversource in Massachusetts, and Doubleday says they havent seen the same level of delay there, particularly for projects that are first in line on their substation. Utilities in Maine, which has similar electric grid considerations to New Hampshire, are also moving more quickly, according to Doubleday.

When asked about the average length of time to process interconnection applications in the three states it works in, Eversource said timelines are fairly consistent across Massachusetts, Connecticut and New Hampshire. Hinkle noted that projects often have too many variables to provide an average timeframe, and for larger projects the timing could be controlled by the regions grid operator.

Barriers to interconnection

Although developers say theyre experiencing particularly difficult interconnection issues in New Hampshire, the process of hooking new energy sources up to the grid is a nationwide issue, said Sam Evans-Brown, the director of Clean Energy New Hampshire.

The process is now emerging as the primary impediment to moving forward with the clean energy transition, he said.

Across the U.S., states and grid operators are handling interconnection differently as many struggle with the jump in applications and work to develop a more efficient process. How quickly that happens could influence the reductions in climate-warming emissions the country is able to make in the coming years.

In Texas, which led the country in wind power added and came in second for solar added over the last decade, the grid operator uses an approach called connect and manage. Developers can take on the risk of having their power output curtailed if the grid is congested, instead of studying and building out broader upgrades ahead of projects.

In some states, utilities have begun studying projects in groups, so that developers can allocate the costs of upgrades among multiple projects. Eversource says that method is underway in Massachusetts, and just starting to get off the ground in New Hampshire.

New Hampshire is one of 17 states that currently has a D grade from Freeing the Grid, an initiative that rates interconnection procedures across the country run by the Interstate Renewable Energy Council and Vote Solar. Each other New England state has a C. New Mexico is the only A state.

Freeing the Grid says New Hampshire does not have any of the criteria they consider for grading. That includes having specified timetables for interconnection reviews, sharing data, and having specific processes for resolving disputes. Whats saving New Hampshire from an F grade is that it has statewide interconnection procedures at all.

In New Hampshire, we just have a paradigm under which the utilities get to decide the timetable, said Evans-Brown. They get to decide the standards. They get to decide down to what equipment you're going to install at the point of interconnection.

And utilities, he said, arent very incentivized to hasten the interconnection process. They arent allowed to own facilities that generate energy, except for a small exception. The companies generally make a profit by building infrastructure. Doing interconnection studies doesnt directly make money. So advocates argue that utilities are not motivated  at least, not by profit  to improve interconnection processes.

In fact, it costs them money to hire staff to do more of these studies. And so they have an active interest in trying to do it as cheaply as possible, Evans-Brown said.

Clean Energy New Hampshire has advocated for a new regulatory model in New Hampshire that would compensate utilities based on their performance on different benchmarks, one of which could be the speed that theyre able to connect generators to the grid.

Legislation offers a potential solution

A bill to implement that died in the state senate this year.

But an effort to get the states Department of Energy to implement interconnection rules has moved forward.

That proposal comes after an investigation into interconnection from the states Department of Energy, which was directed to study the issue by a 2022 law. Their investigation culminated in a report, which recommended creating working groups to further study the issue and make recommendations.

The department opposed an initial version of the bill that would have required officials to implement interconnection rules by the end of 2024, arguing that timeline was unreasonable and that the legislature should allow working groups to come to a consensus on how those rules should look.

Now, the Department of Energy would have 15 months to submit draft rules. Lawmakers say they should set cost-effective, timely and predictable processes for customer generators wishing to interconnect to the states electric grid.

The bill has the blessing of both the House and the Senate, but it remains to be seen whether Gov. Chris Sununu will sign it into law.

These articles are being shared by partners in The Granite State News Collaborative. For more information visit collaborativenh.org.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Developers: NHs process to connect power slows clean energy projects
Before the sun rose on June 3, Kris Van Meteren submitted paperwork creating No Labels Party of Kansas, Inc.

Van Meteren then recorded a video of himself calling a No Labels party convention. Sitting in what appears to be a home office, wearing a blue suit and tie, he nominates himself as party chair.

Are there any other nominations? Van Meteren says to silence. Hearing none, the chair will call nominations closed and will accept a motion to elect myself chair by acclamation.

By 11 a.m., the longtime Kansas Republican operative had filed certificates of nomination placing Echo Van Meteren, a Republican state Senate candidate in Leavenworth and his wife, and Sen. Marci Francisco, a Lawrence Democrat, on the ballot line of No Labels  a third party that publicly weighed running a centrist presidential candidate but abandoned the idea.

Kris Van Meterens nomination effort quickly imploded, leaving behind a morass of confusion, accusations and questions of criminal wrongdoing.

Two days later, Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab, a Republican, invalidated the nominations. In letters to Echo Van Meteren and Francisco, the states top elections official wrote that Glenda Reynolds, a former Democratic state legislative candidate, is the current chair of No Labels, which Kansas recognized as a minor party in January.

Because Kansas law requires minor parties to nominate their candidates at conventions called by the party chair, and since Schwab determined Van Meteren doesnt lead No Labels, the nominations were invalid.

Van Meterens strange scheme of attempting to take over a political party to guarantee his spouse and a longtime Democratic lawmaker spots on the general election ballot has drawn attention to the intricacies and potential loopholes of Kansas election law. It has also put a spotlight on Van Meteren, well known in Kansas Republican politics as the owner of The Singularis Group, a marketing firm used by GOP candidates.

This is clown car stuff, said Mark Johnson, a Kansas City attorney who has long worked on election issues. He said he couldnt recall ever encountering a similar situation.

Kansas law makes falsely impersonating a political party officer a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to a year in jail. A spokesperson for the Kansas Secretary of States Office said the office on Monday made a referral to Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach, who has the authority to prosecute election crimes. A timeline of events released by Schwabs office on Monday says the two candidate filings may have violated the false impersonation law.

A Kobach spokesperson didnt respond to a request for comment.

Van Meteren on Monday provided The Star with a video of his party convention, which he previously provided to the Kansas Reflector. In a lengthy Facebook post last week, he outlined his version of events.

I believe that, at the end of the day, I will be found to have been on the right side of the law  even if its law that swamp dwellers themselves wrote but now find politically distasteful, Van Meteren wrote.

Van Meteren told The Star in an email that he welcomes a review of his actions and that he has read the statute they accuse me of violating (impersonating a party officer, a Class A Misdemeanor) and, apart from its doubtful constitutionality, am confident I will not be found to be in violation of that statute.

Kris Van Meteren during what he says was a No Labels party convention.

Schwab originally recognized No Labels Kansas in January after it submitted signatures of registered voters equal to 2% of votes cast in the 2022 election for governor  a little over 20,000 votes.

Nationally, the party was considering whether to nominate a presidential candidate amid public concerns with both President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump. In early April, the party announced it had failed to line up a suitable candidate.

While No Labels decided against a presidential campaign, the party in Kansas now had official recognition. Van Meteren wanted to harness that recognition.

Van Meteren, who was the executive director of the Kansas Republican Party in the 1990s, often plays a behind the scenes role in state politics. His firm is responsible for many of the fliers and other campaign materials from GOP candidates that end up in mailboxes around election time.

But Van Meteren has also been a divisive presence within the party. A falling out in recent years with his previous business partner, the Republican strategist Jared Suhn, led to heated litigation that played out in public view.

This year, Echo Van Meteren is running in the Republican primary for Kansas Senate District 5, a narrow district that runs from Leavenworth to Bonner Springs. Her primary opponent is Jeff Klemp, a Lansing businessman who she has portrayed as a tool of the business lobby. Democratic Sen. Jeff Pittman currently holds the seat and is seeking reelection.

By nominating his wife as a No Labels candidate, Kris Van Meteren would have been able to assure she had a spot on the general election ballot even if she lost the primary. That outcome could have risked splitting the Republican vote.

Echo Van Meteren, a Republican Kansas Senate candidate. Her husband, political operative Kris Van Meteren, attempted to nominate her as a No Labels candidate.

In Franciscos case, Van Meterens nomination could have split the Democratic vote. Francisco represents Senate District 2, which includes parts of Lawrence, Lecompton and rural Jefferson County. She faces a Democratic primary challenge from Rep. Christina Haswood of Lawrence.

The Republican candidate, David G. Miller, stood to benefit from having Francisco on the November ballot if she loses the primary to Haswood. In 1998 Miller mounted an unsuccessful primary challenge of Republican Gov. Bill Graves. Van Meteren was Millers campaign manager in the campaign.

To hear lefty reporters breathlessly tell it, Im a half-crazed, ultra-conservative gypsy who showed up in politics yesterday, bent on swindling the good people of Kansas into buying some kind of dangerous electoral snake oil, Van Meteren wrote last week.

Obviously, potentially giving general election voters more options is such dangerous medicine. The buzz phrase du jour within the political establishment is election interference and fever swamp dwellers are seizing the opportunity to accuse me of it.

Van Meteren said neither Echo, Francisco nor anyone else knew in advance or participated in his plans to nominate them on the No Labels ticket. Echo Van Meteren didnt respond to a request for comment.

Francisco said in a statement the nomination came as a complete surprise and that she had never considered running for any party nomination except the Democratic nomination.

Sen. Marci Francisco, a Lawrence Democrat. Republican operative Kris Van Meteren tried to nominate her as a No Labels candidate.

Impersonation?

Even if a candidate had participated with Van Meteren, his No Labels nominations appear to fall short in at least two areas, according to Johnson. The first is Van Meterens claim to be the partys legitimate leader.

No Labels submitted a petition and a copy of its bylaws to Schwabs office in August 2023. The documents, provided to The Star in response to a records request, list Reynolds, a Whitewater resident, as chair.

Its bylaws require a majority of committee members to conduct business. In addition to appearing alone on the video of what Van Meteren says is the party convention, he wrote on Facebook that no one else participated in his plan, seemingly ruling out the possibility that he acted with a quorum.

Van Meteren wrote in an email that four of the five recognized political parties in Kansas are incorporated and that he followed the lead of those parties in filing articles of incorporation for No Labels Kansas. He said he also registered the organization as a not-for-profit with the IRS.

He referred to No Labels purported bylaws and said he has asked Schwabs office for documents backing up Reynolds status as chair but had yet to receive any records.

Until such time as those documents are made available, reviewed, determined to be legitimate, and verified as carrying legal weight superseding the filing of Articles of Incorporation, I contend that I remain the chair of No Labels Kansas Party and request that the Certificates of Nomination I filed be immediately reinstated, Van Meteren wrote.

But even if Van Meteren were the No Labels chair, state law requires nominations to be signed by both the presiding officer of the party convention and the party secretary. The certificates of nomination submitted by Van Meteren bear only one signature  Van Meterens.

The certificate of nomination filed by Kris Van Meteren for Echo Van Meteren.

Additionally, the No Labels state party bylaws authorize the party to only put forward presidential electors, not candidates for state or local offices.

No Labels said in a statement it has no connection to Van Meteren.

No Labels Kansas did everything it was supposed to do according to state law: party leadership was designated and adopted; bylaws were submitted to the Secretary of State at the outset along with petition signatures. Unfortunately, this person now appears to be shamefully impersonating a No Labels official, No Labels chief strategist Ryan Clancy said.

We dont know him, have no affiliation with him and we hope Kansas state election officials hold him fully accountable for any violations he has committed. This is the kind of nonsense that undermines voters faith in our democracy and it has to stop.

Clarity on law sought

Over the past week, the spectacle has prompted calls for more clarity on what Kansas law says about third party candidates.

Rep. Pat Proctor, a Leavenworth Republican who chairs the House Elections Committee, said last week that recent news had made it clear that reform is needed in how third party and independent candidates are placed on the ballot.

Pittman, the Leavenworth senator, on Friday sent a letter to Kobach asking for his legal analysis.

While there have been some opinions offered, someone in your official role could help with providing transparency and clarification for the voters in my district, Pittman wrote. This in turn helps ensure public trust in the accountability of the electoral process.

Johnson, the attorney, said Van Meteren tried to be clever, adding that usually when people try to be clever it backfires.

Theres the word of being too clever by half, Johnson said. I think this is being too clever by way more than half.

The Kansas Senate chamber.
A dish best served cold? Nancy Mace faces revenge from Speaker she helped ouster in primary race

A feud between Kevin McCarthy (left) and Nancy Mace continues as Mace heads into her primary on Tuesday (AP)

Nancy Mace is coming to terms with the fact that revenge is a dish best served cold as she fends off a primary challenge from Kevin McCarthy  the former House Speaker that she helped oust last year.

Voters will cast their ballots on Tuesday in primary races across five states, including the Republican representatives South Carolina House district.

Tuesdays primary results will serve as a bellwether for the November presidential election. But they will also provide a chance for McCarthy, the former House Speaker, to seek political retribution against eight GOP defectors who sided with Democrats last October and got him kicked from his post.

Mace was part of the group known as the Gaetz eight, and McCarthy, who has retired from Congress, has since endorsed her primary opponent.

Its about revenge, Mace told NBC News on Monday. Its also about honesty and integrity. And my vote to oust Kevin McCarthy was about trust.

Groups linked to McCarthy have been pouring money into supporting his defectors opponents across the states. Three of these groups spent $4m on ads against Mace, NBC News reported.

McCarthy has been backing the GOP primary challenger to Florida rep. Matt Gaetz, who also voted for his ouster.

The former House Speaker was asked on CNN last week whether he was on a political vengeance tour but denied the accusation.

Meanwhile, Maces primary rival, Catherine Templeton, told the Post and Courier last month that she decided to run for Congress because of what she did, meaning her vote against McCarthy.

Templeton, who served in former South Carolina governor Nikki Haleys cabinet, confirmed that she asked McCarthy to help raise money for her.

In November, Rep Tim Burchett, fellow member of the Gaetz eight, told Newsmax that McCarthy was plotting to use $17m that he apparently had in his coffers to mess with a lot of people like my and Nancy Maces campaigns, Im sure.
(John Lamb/Getty Images)

LINCOLN  A dispute over overlapping grants to expand broadband  amid a multimillion-dollar effort to bring high-speed internet to every corner of Nebraska  is headed to court.

The internet provider Pinpoint Communications has sued the Gage County Board for its recent decision to deny the company a permit to lay fiber optic cable.

The board had rejected a permit May 1 for the company on the grounds that it was a waste of taxpayer funds to provide a government grant to an area that had already received government funds to deploy broadband service.

The lawsuit, filed May 30 in Gage County District Court, alleges that the county board overstepped its authority in denying the utility permit  a permit that is typically approved without discussion  and invaded the jurisdiction of the Nebraska Public Service Commission, which has jurisdiction over telecommunications issues.

The overlap of government funding involves 11 residences just northeast of Beatrice, and perhaps $200,000 or so in grants to serve that area.

Another provider hired

Gage County had hired another internet provider, NextLink, to extend broadband to 95 unserved and underserved sites in rural Gage County as part of an innovative county program. The southeast Nebraska county was utilizing $4 million of its federal American Rescue Plan Act to pay for the work.

Meanwhile, Pinpoint had obtained a $535,000 grant via the states Broadband Bridge program that was approved by the Public Service Commission.

Ironically, the lawsuit by Pinpoint was filed one day after the company won approval from the Gage County Board for a pared-back right-of-way permit to lay cable except in the area of the 11 contested sites.

The lawsuit is the latest salvo in an ongoing flap over a so-called overbuild of broadband internet.

The state and federal governments have embarked on aggressive programs to expand high-speed internet services  fast enough to support business growth  to rural areas that have previously lacked such service or have slow internet speeds.

For instance, the federal BEAD program will deploy $405 million to the state to pay internet providers to expand broadband to rural areas where it doesnt make financial sense, without the grant money, to serve. The state received $80 million in ARPA funds for high-speed internet expansion, and the Broadband Bridge Act, approved by the State Legislature, has doled out about $70 million over the past three years.

Emily Haxby, a member of the Gage County Board who had led the broadband project there, tried unsuccessfully to persuade the PSC to avoid the overlapping grants. Later, the PSC denied a formal challenge to the duplicative grant, ruling it was filed too late, missing a deadline.

Seeking clarification of countys authority

Tom Shoemaker, president of Pinpoint, said Gage County shouldnt be allowed to reject a right-of-way permit just because of unhappiness with the PSC.

Their role is just to approve and deny these permits based on public use  not on their unhappiness with the PSC process, Shoemaker said.

His company sued, he said, because there needs to be clarification of a county boards authority as more grants are awarded for broadband deployment. The BEAD grants are expected to be awarded later this year.

In its lawsuit, Pinpoint maintained that the Gage County Board lacks the power to reject such a right-of-way permit and that Pinpoint was treated differently than past applicants for such permit.

(The county board) acted contrary to the public good because they denied at least 11 households access to broadband coverage, states the Pinpoint lawsuit, filed by Lincoln attorney Sheila Bentzen.

Haxby, when contacted, said she could not comment about a pending lawsuit. Gage County Attorney Roger Harris did not return a message.

In rejecting the Pinpoint application, Haxby and other members of the board said it was within the countys jurisdiction to decide who should and shouldnt utilize county right of way.

Besides avoiding a funding overlap, which the grants dont allow, board members said that the countys project would get broadband service to the 11 locations much less expensively than the Pinpoint project, and that the money saved could be used elsewhere in the state.

High-speed internet cables, via the countys project, have reportedly already been laid to the 11 contested locations.

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The post Dispute over overlapping broadband grants is now heading for court appeared first on Nebraska Examiner.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 11. Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov met with Bulgarian Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Dimitar Glavchev in Berlin within the framework of the conference on Ukraine's reconstruction, the statement of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry said, Trend reports.

In the course of the meeting, the sides noted the great importance of the development of bilateral relations between the countries based on strategic partnership and emphasized that efforts will be stepped up to further strengthen the partnership in various directions, especially in the fields of energy, agriculture, tourism, transport, infrastructure, innovation, and mutual investment. It was noted that the transportation of Azerbaijani natural gas to Bulgaria through the Greece-Bulgaria interconnector, growing cooperation in the energy sector, including green energy, and joint efforts within the "Solidarity Ring" have made a significant contribution to the relations.

Bayramov emphasized the importance of political consultations between Azerbaijan and Bulgaria in terms of maintaining a permanent political dialogue.

The Minister also informed his counterpart about the current situation and realities in the region in the post-conflict period and about the large-scale reconstruction and construction works carried out in the territories liberated from occupation.

The sides stressed the importance of intensifying the political dialogue between the two countries in terms of identifying new promising areas of cooperation, as well as the importance of strengthening cooperation within international organizations, including in the field of inter-parliamentary cooperation.

The parties exchanged views on other topics of mutual interest as well as regional issues.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Cassandra Hult and Jose Santiago fought a lot during their short but turbulent marriage.

Santiago would turn up dead in a Milwaukee cemetery after an especially intense argument with his wife years ago.

Hult was questioned several times by police, but wasn't arrested. She eventually left the state and carved out a new life for herself in the Southwest.

Prosecutors say in court papers Hult confessed to her house mates and a new lover she was the one who pulled the trigger, and killed Santiago, 27.

Hult, 28, was in a Milwaukee County courtroom Monday, some four years after Santiago's execution-style slaying, answering to charges she shot her husband in the back of the head and left for him dead.

She is charged with first-degree reckless homicide. The charge against Hult also includes a modifier for use of a dangerous weapon, which means she can be subject to additional penalties if she is convicted.

During a preliminary hearing Monday, Circuit Court Judge Jeffrey A. Wagner found there was sufficient probable cause to bind the case against Hult over for trial.

Hult pleaded not guilty through her attorney, Theodore O'Reilly, of Milwaukee.

Her bond was set at $500,000. She remained locked up at the Milwaukee County Jail.

Hult's next court appearance is set for July 10.

More: Suspect in death of mother of 10 is back in Wisconsin. Here's what we know

More: Chrystul Kizer pleads guilty in 2018 Kenosha County homicide, avoids possible life sentence

A jogger found the body of Jose Santiago in a black Lincoln LS as she ran through St. Adalbert Cemetery in Milwaukee's south side on March 23, 2020. Santiago's wife, Cassandra Hult, has been charged with first-degree reckless homicide in his death.

Here's what authorities believe happened:

According to a May 6 criminal complaint, a jogger spotted a black Lincoln LS as she ran through St. Adalbert Cemetery on March 22, 2020. A man was sitting in the driver's seat. She didn't think much of it and kept going.

The next day, she jogged through the cemetery in the early afternoon and saw the vehicle again in the same spot. She went through the cemetery around 6 p.m. and, again, it appeared to not have moved.

The jogger approached the car window and saw the person inside was unresponsive and called 911.

The man had been shot in the back of the head. A spent casing from a .380 pistol was found in the rear driver's side seat.

Milwaukee police Detective Jake Puschnig testified Monday that forensic testing conducted on two McDonald's cups found in the car turned up fingerprints and DNA for both Santiago and Hult.

More: 'Justice system failed,' judge says as Milwaukee man gets life for killing woman in 2022 during argument

Hult told investigators she and Santiago had been married for about a year and a half, and that they often fought.

One of those fights erupted on the morning of March 22, 2020.

She said they argued that day when she found texts on Santiago's phone with other women and confronted him. Hult told investigators Santiago kicked her out of the car, and that afterwards she went to stay at her grandmother's home on Milwaukee's north side.

She mentioned nothing about going to McDonald's.

Cellphone tower records show both Santiago and Hult's phones were in the same general area at the time the jogger first spotted Santiago in his car, according to the complaint.

Hult also gave inconsistent accounts on what else she did that day, the complaint said.

More: Facing mostly white juries, are Milwaukee County defendants of color truly judged by their peers?

Hult resurfaced a year later in Buckeye, Arizona, where she had been with a woman and her daughter. Hult got into a heated argument on Sept. 27, 2021 with the woman, who told Hult to leave. She left, but the war of words continued on FaceTime.

During the argument, Hult threatened to kill the woman and blurted out that she had killed her husband back in Milwaukee, the criminal complaint said.

The woman's daughter also told Buckeye detectives Hult confessed to her she executed her husband and left him on the south side, according to the complaint.

On May 2, a man told police he had met Hult in Las Vegas in January 2022 and that they quickly began a romantic relationship. Shortly afterwards, she moved in with him in Sacramento, California. While he was in a relationship with her, Hult confessed "multiple times" that she killed her husband, the criminal complaint said.

A warrant for Hult's arrest was issued May 6, court records show.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: DNA on McDonald's cups tie Milwaukee woman to husband's killing
Dnipro hospital says it has received 29,000 injured soldiers since start of full-scale war

Mechinkov Hospital, a regional medical center in the city of Dnipro that treats front-line soldiers from Donbas, has received around 29,000 injured troops since the start of the full-scale war, hospital director Sergii Ryzhenko told the Kyiv Independent.

The 200-year-old Mechinkov Hospital is known for treating the most complex injuries, and many of the doctors and nurses working there since Russia invaded Donbas in 2014.

The facility receives about 50 soldiers per day, doctors told the Kyiv Independent. Around 82% of the wounded arrive unconscious. According to the hospital's own figures, 95% of these injured soldiers have been kept alive.

The demand for medical care has skyrocketed since the beginning of the full-scale war in 2022.

Only one to five soldiers arrived at Mechnikov Hospital per day between 2014 and 2022, Ryzhenko told the Kyiv Independent. The hospital treated over 3,000 soldiers in the first eight years of the war.

Ryzhenko still performs surgeries himself and said that staffing needs at the hospital are growing increasingly urgent as medical personnel face burnout and exhaustion.

Read also: At Ukraines key hospital for wounded soldiers, surgeons work non-stop to save lives

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
In this image provided by the Baker County Sheriff's Office, a vehicle is seen after it went into an embankment on U.S. Forest Service Road 39 on June 3, 2024, in Oregon. A dog helped his owner get rescued after the crash by traveling nearly four miles to the campsite where the man was staying with family, which alerted them that something was wrong, authorities said. (Baker County Sheriff's Office via AP)

BAKER COUNTY, Ore. (AP)  A dog has helped his owner get rescued after a car crash in a steep ravine in mountainous northeastern Oregon, authorities said.

A man was driving with his four dogs on a remote U.S. Forest Service road on June 2 when he crashed into a ravine below, the Baker County Sheriff's Office said in a news release on Facebook. One of the dogs traveled nearly four miles to the campsite where the man was staying with family, which alerted them that something was wrong, the release said.

His family located his car the following day and called 911 as they couldn't reach it in the steep terrain. When authorities arrived, they found the man about 100 yards (91 meters) from the car after they heard him yell for help. He had been able to crawl out of the car after the crash, the release said.

U.S. Forest Service employees used chainsaws to clear a path through the vegetation for search and rescue teams, who set up a complex rope system spanning from one side of the ravine to the other. Once they were able to reach the man, authorities put him in a rescue stretcher and hooked it onto the ropes, which were then used as a pulley system to transport him to the other side of the ravine as a stream raged below, photos shared by the sheriff's office showed.

The man was airlifted to a regional hospital, authorities said. His three other dogs were found alive at the scene of the crash.
WASHINGTON  The Justice Department said Tuesday it could find no emails about Donald Trumps criminal case between senior department officials and anyone inside the Manhattan District Attorneys Office.

The department searched for the communications in response to demands from House Republicans, who have claimed Trumps guilty verdict in his hush money trial had been orchestrated by the federal government at the behest of President Joe Biden.

U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland called the claim a conspiracy theory at a House Judiciary Committee hearing on Capitol Hill last week, prompting Republicans to renew their demands for correspondence between the department and the Manhattan DA.

You come in here and you lodge this attack, that its a conspiracy theory that there is coordinated lawfare against Trump, Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) said. And then when we say fine, just give us the documents, give us the correspondence. And then if its a conspiracy theory, that will be evident.

In a Tuesday letter to Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), Assistant Attorney General Carlos Uriarte said the department had searched for email communications between DOJ leadership and the DAs office regarding any investigation or prosecution of Trump, and had found none.

As the Attorney General stated at his hearing, the conspiracy theory that the recent jury verdict in New York state court was somehow controlled by the Department is not only false, it is irresponsible, Uriarte wrote. Indeed, accusations of wrongdoing made withoutand in fact contrary toevidence undermine confidence in the justice system and have contributed to increased threats of violence and attacks on career law enforcement officials and prosecutors.

A spokesperson for Jordan said he is weighing all options as to what comes next. Republicans have laid the groundwork to hold Garland in contempt of Congress over his refusal to hand over audio of President Bidens interview with former special counsel Robert Hur.

Republicans have claimed that all of Trumps legal problems  from the New York case over falsifying business records to cover up hush money payments to hide an affair, to his two federal cases for hoarding classified documents, obstructing justice and trying to steal the 2020 election  are the result of Democrats weaponizing the government against their top political opponent.

At the hearing, Gaetz claimed Garland had dispatched a DOJ official named Matthew Colangelo to the Manhattan DAs office to help the office nail Trump. Colangelo left the DOJ in 2022; he had previously worked with Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg in the state attorney generals office. Republicans said the career change was suspicious.

In his letter, Uriarte said there were no emails about Trump between Colangelo and the DAs office before or after he left.

Department leadership did not dispatch Mr. Colangelo to the District Attorneys office, and Department leadership was unaware of his work on the investigation and prosecution involving the former President until it was reported in the news, Uriarte wrote.
BECKLEY, WV (WVNS)  The first weeks home with a new baby can be exhausting. Some parents may feel theyve done something wrong if they cant get their baby to stop crying, but Dr. John Johnson, a pediatrician and owner of Beckley Pediatric Associates, said crying is normal.

Its tiring raising a baby. Theres no doubt, said Dr. Johnson on Monday, June 10, 2024. Theyre going to wear you out, when theyre first born and theyre going to cry a lot, because its the only way they communicate.

Dr. Johnson warned new parents to never shake a baby.

The American Society for the Positive Care of Children estimated that 3,000 to 4,000 American babies suffer from Shaken Baby Syndrome each year, and one fourth of the babies die.

Shaken Baby Syndrome occurs when a baby is injured from being shaken by a caregiver, and it is 100 percent preventable.

Dr. Johnson said a babys head size means that even shaking with very little force behind it can cause serious injury.

Their head is way bigger than the rest of their body, and their neck muscles are weak, explained Dr. Johnson. So any time you shake a baby with that large of a head, it causes that back-and-forth movement, kind of a whiplash, which can tear blood vessels inside of the head, causing bleeding, pressure, brain damage, blindness, and even death.

He added that injuries caused by shaking are more likely to be fatal or serious to a newborn than an injury caused by making hard impact with a wall, as an example.

New allegations emerge on Quantez Burks death at Southern Regional Jail

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data showed babies younger than a year old are at highest risk of being shaken, and Dr. Johnson said it is a more widespread form of child abuse than many people in southern West Virginia may realize.

While many resources are available for parents who feel overwhelmed due to alcohol or drug abuse, and agencies offer workshops to install car seats and to provide parents with information on making a home baby proof, many parents who struggle with a crying baby may believe help is unavailable in the region.

Dr. Johnson urged new parents to call their pediatrician if they are concerned about a baby crying. He said it is also a good idea to ask another adult to help care for the child.

If youre frustrated, I would say, get them checked, advised Dr. Johnson. Call in reinforcement. Back off, because it doesnt take much pressure to hurt them.

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Parents who do not have a support network may reach out to a local church or to a Child Protective Services caseworker for assistance in dealing with a crying child.

CDC officials advise parents who feel frustrated by a crying baby to realize that crying is normal and not a sign that the parent is failing.

Shaking a baby is not normal behavior, however, and is a form of child abuse.

According to CDC officials, an upset parent should make sure that a crying child is healthy, fed and dry.

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If rubbing, rocking and soothing the baby does not help the baby to stop crying, CDC officials advised that a parent who is overwhelmed should put the baby in a crib, on her back, in a safe place and walk out of the room.

The parent may take time to calm down outside of the room, checking on the crying baby every five to ten minutes until the parent feels calm enough to pick the baby up again.

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Donations pour in during the Salvation Armys annual fan drive

OKLAHOMA CITY, Ok (KFOR)  Its that time of year again when the Salvation Army hosts their annual Summer Fan Drive!



Folks lined up and brought their donations to Rococo on Western on Monday.

The Salvation Army has partnered with the Bricktown Rotary for over a decade giving back to the community every year.

Police investigate shooting in Norman

The Salvation Army said theyve already collected 100 fans for Oklahomans in need.

If you arent able to donate a fan or money in person, go to TSAOK.ORG to donate online.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
'We don't owe (him) anything': Ottawa County debates appointment of Kleinjans to committees

OTTAWA COUNTY  As the newest member of the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners settles into his role, the question of his appointment to committees is causing some controversy.

A motion was put forth Tuesday, June 11, to remove Rebekah Curran from the Area Community Service Employment and Training Council and appoint new District 2 Commissioner Chris Kleinjans. Curran agreed to the change.

During discussion, Commissioner Doug Zylstra proposed an amendment to the motion, moving to also appoint Kleinjans to the West Michigan Airport Board, Ottawa County Parks Board and Macatawa Area Coordinating Council.

Chris Kleinjans listens to public comment on May 28, 2024, in Ottawa County.

I think this is a great start," Zylstra said. "I think, for me, Id like to see Chris get more experience and have more opportunities to contribute to this board."

The amendment would remove Roger Belknap from the Ottawa County Parks Board and Gretchen Cosby from the Macatawa Area Coordinating Council. The West Michigan Airport Board slot is currently vacant.

The motion was seconded by Roger Bergman.

Id encourage everyone to vote no on this," said Chair Joe Moss. "Commissioner Zylstra has not brought up a single thing about this to me before and the people who are serving, who Ive spoken to recently, have indicated that they would like to continue where they are."

Bergman said he supported the motion because other commissioners were given an opportunity to serve on several committees when they were first elected. Of note, Kleinjans will serve on two board committees: the planning and policy committee and the strategic planning committee, according to reporting from MLive.

I think we owe it to Chris to have an opportunity to learn some of these other committees and their tasks, he said.

I would just say that we dont actually owe Commissioner Kleinjans anything, said Vice Chair Sylvia Rhodea. He was not elected at the same time as the rest of this board."

Curran asked if an adjustment could be made to the motion to appoint Kleinjans to the vacant spot on the West Michigan Airport Board, to which Moss replied it was still in process.

The motion to amend failed 7-3. Kleinjans first abstained from the vote, but was told by legal council that wasnt an option. He, Zylstra and Bergman voted yes. Commissioner Kendra Wenzel was absent.

As the newest member of the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners, Chris Kleinjans, settles into his role, the question of his appointment to committees is causing some controversy.

Zylstra proposed another amendment to just add Kleinjans to the airport board.

That one is still in process, thats why I didnt bring it to the board today, Moss said.

My understanding is theres only three commissioners who can serve on that board, unless Im mistaken, Zylstra said. Its either myself, Commissioner Cosby or Commissioner Kleinjans, is my understanding. Maybe I have that wrong.

Moss said he believes that's wrong and has requested information to get clarity on those particular details.

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The ensuing vote tied, so the amendment failed.

The original motion to remove Curran from ACSET and appoint Kleinjans in her place passed unanimously.

Residents were markedly unhappy with Rhodeas remark about "not owing Kleinjans anything."

I would actually agree with that comment  however, you do owe the residents and the voters of Ottawa County some consideration when you make these determinations, said Rebecca Patrick from Allendale Township.

You owe us a diverse representation on these boards and committees, you owe us a board of commissioners who doesnt hoard representation for just a few people on these boards. You owe them leadership that values collaboration, good faith, collegiality and partnerships, because we all benefit when our leaders operate that way.

Joe Spaulding of Holland Township addressed the board via Zoom.

(Rhodeas) ideas exclude me from having any agency, as well as my neighbors in local government.

... If you want to believe that we live in a representative republic, the full depth of what that means is that Chris carries the weight with him of over 30,000 people inside District 2. And you Sylvia, just on video, spat in all of our faces. Thats unacceptable."

When Spaulding began, for a second time, to discuss race, the Zoom call was cut off.

 Contact reporter Tess Ware at tware@hollandsentinel.com.

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Ottawa County debates appointment of Kleinjans to committees
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 11. Speaker of the Azerbaijani Parliament Sahiba Gafarova, as part of her official visit to the Republic of Belarus, has met with Speaker of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of this country Natalya Kochanova and Chairman of the House of Representatives Igor Sergeenko, Trend reports.

First, a one-on-one meeting was held between the parties.

Then the meeting continued in an expanded format with the participation of delegations. The important role of high-level relations between the heads of state of the two countries in the development of relations between Azerbaijan and Belarus was noted at the meeting, it was emphasized that mutual visits and signed documents ensured the further deepening of relations between the countries. To date, about 150 documents have been signed between Azerbaijan and Belarus, covering issues of political, economic, social, humanitarian, scientific, technical and regional cooperation, which have created the fundamental basis for the development of bilateral relations.

At the meeting, satisfaction was expressed with the successful cooperation of legislative bodies both on a bilateral basis and in international parliamentary organizations. During the conversation, it was noted that a memorandum of understanding on cooperation was signed between the parliaments, which contributed to the development of relations between legislative bodies.

Speaker Sahiba Gafarova provided information on the restoration of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the country, the destruction committed in our territories that were under occupation, and the restoration work currently being carried out there. The agreement reached on the participation of Belarusian companies in the ongoing reconstruction work was highly appreciated.

During the conversation, it was noted that this year marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Belarus from the fascist invaders, that the Azerbaijanis also showed courage in liberating the Belarusian lands, which the Belarusian people have never forgotten and highly appreciate.

The meeting also discussed the upcoming COP29 in Baku in November this year. Sahiba Gafarova invited the Belarusian side to take part in the Parliamentary Conference, which will be organized by the Milli Majlis together with the Inter-Parliamentary Union within the framework of COP29.
DOTHAN, Ala (WDHN)  A disconnect between the local union of Brightspeed, an internet service provider, and their corporate office may have been fixed.

On Tuesday, Brightspeed reached an agreement with its employees and their union, CWA 3792, focusing on work-life balance, wages, and a cap on overtime hours.

According to CWA 3792 President Jerry Sain, the agreement states that employees will get a wage increase of one and a half percent over a five-year period. This increase will compete against locations such as North Carolina and Virginia.

Sain says employees can now only work limited back-to-back weekends and get a weekend off. The agreement also allows employees to have Christmas Eve as a paid holiday.

This agreement came with the threat of a strike on the horizon after the companys labor agreement expired in late March, forcing employees to work on a temporary contract. This started the fight for new rights.

RELATED: Brightspeed union workers in Dothan could go on strike

Since the contract expired, employees have held two informal pickets  one in Dothan and another in Enterprise.

Employees and the CWA will vote to approve the agreement on Monday, June 17.

Similar agreements have been made between Brightspeed and employees in North Carolina and Virginia.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDHN - wdhn.com.
Drive-by shootout involving teens one of four shootings in 24 hours, Gulfport police say

Gulfport Police arrested six suspects and responded to four separate shootings within 24 hours that police said left a 16-year-old dead, two victims injured, and cars, residences and even a detectives vehicle hit with gunfire.

It is unclear if any of the shootings are connected, Gulfport Police Lt. Jason Ducre said.

Gulfport Police arrested four juvenile suspects after a drive-by shooting Monday evening hit several cars  including an unmarked detectives vehicle  with gunfire, police said.

Police said they also arrested two suspects in another shooting that struck a car with gunfire early Tuesday in the 100 block of Faust Drive.

Authorities made no arrests in two more cases  one that killed a 16-year-old in the 100 block of Darby Street and another that left two victims with gunshot wounds in the 3300 block of 39th Avenue.

Teenagers arrested after drive-by shootout

Police responded about 5:30 p.m. Monday to the 1300 block of Dedeaux Road where they said a 17-year-old and 16-year-old exchanged gunfire in the parking lot of a Big Boy Store.

No one was injured, police said.

Four suspects exchanged gunfire again before fleeing the scene, police said.

Police charged a 17-year-old with four counts of drive-by-shooting, another 17-year-old with four counts of drive-by shooting and one count of aggravated assault, a third 17-year-old with three counts of drive-by shooting and a 16-year-old with three counts of drive-by shooting and one count of aggravated assault.

Detectives in the area witnessed part of the shooting, police said, and the gunfire also hit an unmarked detectives vehicle.

Detectives pursued one car, identified another vehicle and arrested two 17-year-olds after a brief low-speed chase, police said.

Police said they arrested another 17-year-old and a 16-year-old at a nearby residence.

The four juvenile suspects were transported to the Harrison County Adult Detention Center with bonds set between $750,000 and $1,250,000, police said.

Two arrested, another vehicle hit by gunfire

Authorities arrested two suspects and charged them with aggravated assault after officers found another vehicle struck multiple times by gunfire in Gulfport, police said in a news release Tuesday afternoon.

Gulfport Police responded about 1:27 a.m. Tuesday to a shooting in the 100 block of Faust Drive, according to the release.

An investigation found a verbal altercation between suspects and victims led to gunfire, police said.

Police arrested Traevone Bailey, 20, and Rashann Thomas, 31, at a traffic stop, according to the release. Both face two counts of aggravated assault.

Bailey and Thomas were transported to the Harrison County jail and held on $500,000 bonds.

Two struck by gunfire Monday night at apartment complex, police say

Two people were hit by gunfire Monday night at an apartment complex in the 3300 block of 39th Avenue, police said.

Those victims were very uncooperative and police have no leads, Ducre said Tuesday morning.

The extent of the injuries is unclear. Authorities released no further information on the case.

16-year-old dies after Gulfport shooting

A 16-year-old died Monday after a shooting in the 100 block of Darby Street, police said.

Christopher Brown, 16, of Gulfport died of a single gunshot wound, Harrison County coroner Brian Switzer said.

Police responded to the scene at 1:28 a.m. Monday and found Brown suffering from the gunshot wound, according to a news release.

Police have made no arrests in that case, Ducre said Tuesday morning.

Police ask anyone with information on the shootings to call the Gulfport Police Department at 228-868-5959 or Mississippi Coast Crime Stoppers at 877-787-5898.
An Elma driver is accused of causing a three-vehicle crash while under the influence that led to the death of a 46-year-old man.

Pierce County prosecutors charged Matthew Geiger, 37, with vehicular homicide for the June 5 crashon State Route 410 at State Route 167 near Sumner. Jesse Schweickert, a Buckley man, died as a result, court documents show.

Thecrash happened just before 4:20 a.m., a previous News Tribune story reported. Charging documents show that a Washington State Patrol trooper was dispatched to the scene where a Chevrolet Blazer SUV was on its side a white Ford was nearby. The third vehicle, a Honda Pilot, was partially in the bushes.

The driver of the Ford told the trooper she had been drivingwestbound on State Route 410 and a vehicle driving towards her down the embankment. She saw two vehicles in front of her hit each other, and she had no time to stop, prosecutors wrote.

A man, later identified as Geiger, was walking around the scene with an unfastened robe on. He was dazed and confused, prosecutors wrote. The trooper reported Geigers speech was slurred. Geiger said he did not know what happened and identified the Chevrolet as his vehicle.

The trooper found Schweickert slumped over to the rear of his Honda where a Port of Seattle police officer was performing CPR. There was severe damage to the vehicle. Schweickert was pronounced deceased at the scene, prosecutors wrote.

Investigators learned that Geiger was driving north on state Route 167 to eastbound state Route 410 when his car went off the roadway and into the median. Geiger allegedly struck Schweickerts Honda, which was traveling west on state Route 410. The Honda was taking the southbound state Route 167 exit when Geigers vehicle crashed into it, documents show.

The womans Ford struck Geigers vehicle after the initial crash, causing it to roll. There was no impact between the two vehicles, prosecutors wrote.

Geiger was unable to maintain a consistent story about where he was coming from or where he was going, prosecutors wrote in charging documents. Geiger allegedly had bloodshot and watery eyes. He denied using medications, drinking alcohol or using drugs, prosecutors wrote. Geiger provided Preliminary Breath Test sample of a 0.157. The legal limit in Washington is .08.

Geiger was arrested and taken to a local hospital for his injuries.
A Stone Mountain man will spend the rest of his life behind bars after pleading guilty to several drug charges.

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On Monday, Albert Ross aka Big, 53, of Stone Mountain, received two life sentences for his involvement in a massive drug conspiracy.

The US Attorneys Office for the Middle District of Georgia said Ross was the leader of a violent drug trafficking organization that sent 2,000 kilograms of cocaine from Mexico and distributed the drugs in middle Georgia.

According to court documents, Ross admitted that he was the leader of the organization. Working with co-conspirators, investigators learned that Ross directed individuals to transport large amounts of cocaine from Texas to be distributed to Ross customers and associates. Ross organization was supplied cocaine by a source in Mexico affiliated with the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion (CJNG). Money for the cocaine purchases was given to couriers in Atlanta who would then deliver the money to Ross cocaine supplier in Mexico, officials said.

Agents learned that Ross and his co-conspirators flew to Mexico City in August 2019 to meet with Ross cocaine supplier and his cartel boss to negotiate a deal where they would supply Ross organization with 200 more kilograms of cocaine per month.

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The DAs office said a text thread found on Rosss iPhone read that in under one month between March 14 and April 4, 2020, Ross was supplied with 112 kilograms of cocaine. During the same period, Ross sent over $2.5 million in payment for the drugs to his cocaine source in Mexico. In 2018, Ross received 1,300 kilograms of cocaine from a different Mexican supplier. Once the cocaine arrived in metro Atlanta, Ross stashed the dope at an elderly family members home, who had previously been shot picking up drugs at Rosss direction.

Co-defendants Lonnie Bennett, 44, of Atlanta, and Brandon Payne, 30, of Atlanta, sold cocaine supplied by Ross out of their stash house on Pittman Road in College Park, authorities said. Co-defendant TaMichael Darden, 43, of Athens, made over 20 trips from Athens to the Pittman Road stash house to buy cocaine that he later sold throughout middle Georgia.

In Dec. 2018, DEA agents received information from a confidential source that Ross was moving a large amount of cash from illegal drug sales from Atlanta to California using a private plane. Agents said they spotted men leave Rosss Bouldercrest Road stash house and board a plane at Peachtree DeKalb Airport with four suitcases and two backpacks. DEA and FBI agents in California were waiting and seized more than $2 million in drugs from the luggage.

On Sept. 23, 2021, Ross was arrested at his home in Stone Mountain. Agents found over $300,000 in cash wrapped in tinfoil and vacuum-sealed in black trash bags inside Rosss bedroom closet. Inside an Atlanta area bar owned by Ross, agents found more than $600,000 in drugs. As part of this entire investigation, authorities seized $3,164,210 in cash, 73 guns, 165.22 kilos of cocaine, 1.32 kilograms of fentanyl, 11.25 ounces of heroin, 1.39 kilograms of crack cocaine, 12.57 pounds of crystal methamphetamine, 25.35 pounds of marijuana and 198 dosage units of controlled substances.

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Ross has a prior felony drug conviction in Fulton County Superior Court and numerous felony arrests for drug trafficking.

Ross was sentenced to serve the statutory maximum of life imprisonment for each count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana for which he pleaded guilty on Jan. 22. Hes ordered to serve five years of supervised release and pay a $1 million fine.

IN OTHER NEWS:
Big win for our children: Durham budget will help schools increase teacher, staff pay

Durham Countys new budget will raise taxes to give the school district all but a tiny fraction of the over $27 million increase it had requested.

The Durham County commissioners vote Monday night was 4-1, with Commissioner Brenda Howerton voting no. She said the tax increase is too burdensome for seniors and low-income people.

Its too much to ask, Howerton said.

But the majority said Durham needs strong schools to flourish.

Our communities will be healthier and safer. Our quality of life will be better, Commissioner Heidi Carter said. And thats the kind of thing that I think we should consider tax increases for.

Commissioner Wendy Jacobs called the budget a big win for our children, our teachers and school workers, our parents and our entire community.

The budget more than doubles the $13 million increase County Manager Kimberly Sowell initially suggested in May, which would have required a more modest 3.25-cent tax-rate increase.

Instead, commissioners approved an increase of 4.65 cents for a new tax rate of 79.87 cents per $100 of assessed property value.

It will allow the school district to give raises across the board:

$8.9 million for increasing wages for classified staff, the group affected by this school years budget mistakes.

$4 million for teacher raises.

$1.3 million to restore masters degree pay supplements.

$799,320 to partially fund extra pay for hard-to-staff jobs like those serving exceptional children.

The rest of the $27 million increase will be spent on state-legislated items, pre-K or pass through to charter schools.





That increases per-pupil spending to $5,368, a $718 increase, according to budget director Keith Lane.

Catty Moore, Interim Superintendent of Durham Schools, fields questions following her introduction at a press briefing on Wednesday, February 14, 2024 in Durham, N.C.

Taxes will be pushed higher

The entire budget totals $966 million, and will also increase pay by at least 3% for the countys 2,400 employees.

Separately, the city manager has requested a 3.85-cent tax rate hike, much of which will also go to increasing wages.

For a $400,000 house, the median sales price this year, the county increase adds $186 and the proposed city increase adds $154 a year to the tax bill, which would total $5,580. Check the impact on your property online.

Board of County Commissioners Chair Nida Allam and Vice Chair Nimasheena Burns said the state has chronically underfunded its public schools, producing the current crisis that has led workers to threaten resignations and strikes next school year if they were not given raises.

When the state failed its residents, the county stepped up and delivered, Allam said. We are recognizing that education is the key to unlocking opportunities and building a brighter future for our youth.

The folks in Raleigh do not care, Burns added.

But the extra local spending has raised concerns.

Will my children in Durham be in any better position next year than they are today? Howerton asked last week. What will be the outcomes?

Burns was more blunt.

I have no hope for Black children in Durham Public Schools, Burns said during the same budget work session.

Burns said Monday night the school board has lost the communitys trust with the financial mismanagement that led to the superintendents and finance directors resignations in January.

I need yall to do to them what you did to us and put their a---s out of office, Burns said.

Burns and Howerton were not re-elected in the spring primary and will leave office in December.

The Durham County Board of Commissioners, from left: Heidi Carter, Nimasheena Burns, Nida Allam, Brenda Howerton and Wendy Jacobs.

School workers have applied pressure

The Durham Association of Educators joined the school board and Interim Superintendent Catty Moore in the push for more money, delivering over 1,000 handwritten letters to county commissioners last week.

DAE President Symone Kiddoo told The News & Obsever the budget reflects what educators need to be able to stay in this profession.

We just feel really seen by the decision makers in this county, she said after the vote.

The contingent from DAE gave several lengthy standing ovations, then left after the vote to joyously march to a bar on the opposite side of downtown.

Board of Education Chair Bettina Umstead, in a news conference late Monday night, said its been a challenging year for everyone.

The majority of this budget is going towards salaries. So I hope that folks here know that we value them and we want you to stay with our public schools, Umstead said.

Impact on future budgets

But county leaders said they worry about the ballooning school budgets effect on future budgets.

We have consistently done this every single year, and the board that comes after us is about to inherit this horrible, horrible problem that were laying at their feet, Burns said last week.

Pay increases arent typically withdrawn, so the 14% larger schools budget will be the base off of which leaders work next year. Plus, the county tax office will reevaluate properties next year, driving property values higher. Jacobs said it was unsustainable.

This makes us extremely nervous because were starting in a hole, Deputy County Manager Claudia Hagar has said about next year.

The school spending is not just coming from the tax increase.

In what Carter described as an act of fiscal wizardry, the county will deploy $2.7 million from reserves and $6 million of the federal money received under the American Rescue Plan Act, Lane said last week.

The budget fully funds all but about half of the schools $1.4 million request for hard-to-staff positions, which was added at the last minute. Sowell said she will soon meet with Moore to discuss cost-cutting measures.

It is my hope that we would help them find that, Sowell said of the remaining $600,000 or so.

Moore said she felt confident that was possible.
Dutch king and queen get a red-carpet welcome in Georgia, and a chance to show off their dance moves

King Willem-Alexander, center, and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands are greeted by Mayor Van Johnson in Savannah, Ga., on Tuesday, June 11, 2024. The Dutch royals are visiting Georgia and New York during four-day U.S. tour that mixes stops at cultural sites with meetings focused on strengthening economic ties. (AP Photo/Russ Bynum)

SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP)  The king and queen of the Netherlands on Tuesday received a red-carpet welcome from Savannah's mayor, chatted with crane operators on the dock of one of America's busiest seaports and danced onstage with students from Georgia's oldest historically Black college.

King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima spent the second day of their U.S. tour in Georgia's founding city, a tourism magnet for its wealth of historic architecture and a growing powerhouse in global trade.

The Dutch royals stepped from their motorcade Tuesday morning and onto a red carpet that had been rolled across the sidewalk outside Savannah's gold-domed City Hall, where Mayor Van Johnson greeted them.

We are so honored today to have his majesty the king and her majesty the queen here in our beautiful city, Johnson said to kick off a roundtable discussion between city staff and Dutch dignitaries. Today is a day for us that creates and speaks of opportunities  opportunities that we can explore and opportunities that we can expand.

The Dutch royals' trip to Georgia has featured a mixture of stops at cultural sites and meetings focused on strengthening economic ties.

In Savannah, the king and queen took a stroll beneath majestic live oaks draped with Spanish moss in the prized historic district of the city founded by British colonists in 1733. At Savannah State University, Georgia's oldest historically Black public college, the royal couple climbed onstage with students and danced during a marching band performance.

Afterward, they toured the Port of Savannah, the fourth-busiest U.S. seaport for cargo shipped in containers. The giant metal boxes are used to transport goods ranging from consumer electronics to frozen chickens. Savannah handled 4.9 million container units in 2023, more than any U.S. port other than New York, Los Angeles and Long Beach, California.

The king and queen chatted with crane operators on the dock as containers were being loaded onto a mammoth cargo ship behind them. Then they sat in a shaded tent for a recap of discussions held earlier in the day between Georgia and Dutch representatives on ways to make seaports more efficient and environmentally sustainable.

Total trade between Georgia and the Netherlands was $2.9 billion last year, according to the Georgia Department of Economic Development.

Georgia sent $1.8 billion in exports, including medical instruments and automatic data processing machines, to the Netherlands in 2023. The state imported $1.2 billion in goods from the Netherlands, including aircraft parts and malt beer.

The Dutch royals' four-day U.S. trip began Monday in Atlanta, where the king and queen met with Gov. Brian Kemp at Georgia's state Capitol, toured the burial site of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and visited a recording studio in a city known for hip-hop artists.

The king and queen were scheduled to spend Wednesday and Thursday in New York to wrap up their U.S. tour.
The ABC Commission is fining an east Charlotte bar and restaurant $2,500 after social media posts showed what officers called inappropriate sexual behavior.

According to the violation report, officers with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department performed a compliance check at the Queen Sheba Bar and Restaurant last September.

The report said an officer questioned the bars promoter about a pillow fight event.

ALSO READ: Charlotte nightclub fined after Instagram post shows sex act inside

CMPD said videos of the event showed sexual acts taking place during the event. However, the promoter said she did not know about it and could not control how people danced.

Channel 9 reporter Joe Bruno reached out to Queen Sheba about the incident but has not heard back.

If the bar does not pay the $2,500 penalty, it will lose its ABC permits for 25 days starting on July 5.

VIDEO: Charlotte nightclub fined after Instagram post shows sex act inside












The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has pledged 1 billion euros ($1.07 billion) to assist Ukraine in repairing its damaged energy infrastructure, EBRD President Odile Renaud-Basso said on June 11.

Renaud-Basso said an agreement would be signed on the sidelines of the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Berlin.

She emphasized a shift toward supporting distributed energy capacities, highlighting the importance of not only generating energy but also distributing it effectively.

"Efforts will now be focused on distributed energy capacities, not just on generating capacities, as was the case last year," Renaud-Basso said in comments reported by Ukrinform.

The EBRD has been actively supporting Ukraine, having invested 3.8 billion euros ($4 billion) between 2022 and 2023, with the investment reaching 4 billion euros ($4.3 billion) by February 2024.

In December 2023, the bank's board approved a 4-billion-euro capital increase to bring its capital base to 34 billion euros in order to sustain support for Ukraine long-term.

The latest tranche of aid will particularly benefit decentralized heating in Ukraine's Lutsk Oblast. Renaud-Basso underscored the significance of such assistance, stating that it enables people to remain in the country and continue supporting the war effort amid ongoing conflict.

Russian missile and drone attacks have reportedly destroyed 9 gigawatts (GW) of Ukraine's capacity.

The peak energy consumption last winter was 18 GW, and "half of that is gone now," President Volodymyr Zelensky said at the same conference on June 11.

In an interview with the Kyiv Independent on June 9, Executive Director of Ukraines largest privately-owned energy company DTEK Dmytro Sakharuk, said Ukrainians could face up to 20 hours of blackouts a day under a worst-case scenario if the country cannot repair and properly defend its energy infrastructure from Russian attacks.

Read also: Worst-case scenario in Ukraines energy system very close to realistic, largest private energy company says

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
EBRD to provide nearly 25 million euros to restore Mykolaiv water supply, mayor says

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) will give Ukraine nearly 25 million euros ($26.8 million) to restore the water supply in Mykolaiv, Mykolaiv Mayor Oleksandr Sienkevych announced on June 11.

In a Facebook post, Sienkevych said the current water supply and drainage system had reached the end of its operational life, and Russian attacks on infrastructure had "largely destroyed" it.

"As a result (of the ERBD funding) we expect increased reliability of the city's water and sewerage infrastructure, improved quality of centralized water services, reduced water loss in the city's distribution networks and increased energy efficiency of the enterprise," he added.

Following the start of Russia's full-scale invasion, the EBRD invested 3.8 billion euros (nearly $4 billion) in 2022-2023, reaching 4 billion euros ($4.29 billion) by February 2024.

In December 2023, the bank's board approved a 4-billion-euro ($4.29 billion) capital increase, raising its capital base to 34 billion euros ($36.5 billion) to sustain long-term support for Ukraine.

The EBRD also announced on June 11 that it will provide Ukraine 1 billion euros ($1.07 billion) to support the country's damaged energy infrastructure. Speaking at the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2024 in Berlin, EBRD President Odile Renaud-Basso said an agreement would be signed on the sidelines of the event.

"Efforts will now be focused on distributed energy capacities, not just on generating capacities, as was the case last year," Renaud-Basso said in comments reported by Ukrinform.

Read also: Russias Su-57  hype vs. reality

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 11. On June 11, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Jeyhun Bayramov, as part of his participation in the Conference on the Restoration of Ukraine, met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmitry Kuleba, Trend reports with reference to the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry.

During the meeting, current issues of Azerbaijani-Ukrainian cooperation, as well as the current situation in the region, were discussed.

Jeyhun Bayramov informed at the meeting about the construction and restoration work carried out by Azerbaijan in its territories liberated from occupation, the mine threat, and also spoke about the steps taken to normalize relations with Armenia.

The Ukrainian side thanked for the humanitarian support and restoration work provided.

During the meeting, views were also exchanged on other bilateral and regional issues of mutual interest.
FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE)  Graduation is probably the most important event for students but in the Washington Unified School District another ceremony may be just as eventful.

The districts multilingual program celebrates students who master the English language.

The Washington Unified School District celebrated one of its largest classes ever with 144 students who have gone through the process of being reclassified from English learners to being fluent in English.

We love to honor that and celebrate that every year. we invite the students and their families to come. Its a really big deal, said Laura Silva, the Coordinator for the Multilingual Learner Program for Washington Union High School.

Teachers in the district start working with English learner students early as language development is integrated throughout core classes.

Students are learning how English works and foundational literacy skills, things that help them to get more practice in reading, writing, listening and speaking in English, Silva said.

The work is all designed to help students pass the English language proficiency assessments for California, known as the ELPAC.

I had no confidence in passing the ELPAC. I gave up on myself because I doubted I was ever going to make it because I kept retaking it and I was always failing, said Rosa Lopez a recent graduate of Washington Union High School.

Lopez who is 17 years old has been working to become proficient in English since fourth grade. She says learning the language is only part of the challenge.

Everyone would be making fun of me and I was really insecure about who I was and where I was coming from, she said.

Her classmate, 18-year-old Maria Rodriguez faced the same challenges. As a seventh grader, she left her family in Mexico and came here to pursue a dream.

I want to be a doctor and in Mexico, I dont have the opportunity to major education, Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez was so discouraged that she left Fresno and went back home, when she came back as a junior in high school, she was able to pass the ELPAC.

I was crying and I called my mom and I said Mom I passed the test. Im successful I know English now. I can be more. I can study here, it makes me so happy, Rodriguez said.

Lopez also passed the ELPAC and both graduated from Washington Union High School. They credit not only their teachers but other staff for their success.

I think its every teacher on this campus leveraging their relationship they have with these students and encouraging them and helping them out, said Juventina Gamino, an English language Development teacher at the school.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to YourCentralValley.com | KSEE24 and CBS47.
A group of academic workers at University of California, Davis marched in protest on campus Tuesday, alongside pro-Palestinian protesters against the war in Gaza, opposing last weeks court decision that allowed the school system to stop their strike.

Im not surprised that the UC is trying to do this, but were not going to stop fighting, said UC Davis grad student and United Auto Workers Local 4811 vice chair Emily Weintraut.

Orange County Superior Court Judge Randall J. Sherman ruled Friday in favor of the University of Californias move to halt UAW 4811s strike with a temporary restraining order. The university system said the strike caused irreparable harm to students and campus operations, and that the strike was an illegal breach of their contract.

The unions strike began at UC Santa Cruz last month and spread to other campuses, including UC Davis, UCLA and UC Irvine. The union has alleged unfair labor practices and violations of First Amendment rights regarding the treatment of students protesting Israels role in the war in Gaza.

UC officials had two previous attempts at stopping the strike fail at the Public Employment Relations Board before Fridays decision. Weintraut and other speakers Tuesday accused UC officials of finding a favorable court to rule in their favor.

This is unprecedented, what they did. I dont think weve ever seen a public employer circumvent PERB like this and go around it, Weintraut said.

The unions strike is officially halted, Weintraut confirmed, while union members participating in the march were doing so on their own time between work shifts.

From the beginning, we have stated this strike was illegal and a violation of our contracts mutually agreed upon no-strike clauses, said Melissa Matella, the UCs associate vice president for systemwide labor relations in a statement Friday. We respect the advocacy and progressive action towards issues that matter to our community and our communitys right to engage in lawful free speech activities  activities that continue to occur across the system. However, UAWs strike is unrelated to employment terms, violates the parties agreements, and runs contrary to established labor principles.

The march through the UC Davis campus began at the Memorial Union Quad, feet from the pro-Palestinian encampment that began May 6, and finished at Emil Mrak Hall which holds the offices of the schools administration. Roughly 120 people participated. It was a mix of union members and Palestine supporters protesting against the school, alleging its support of Israel amid the conflict in Gaza.

There was no run-in with campus police or school officials during the march. There were a handful of counter-protesters recording videos on their phones, including members of the Davis October 7th Coalition. The campus was mostly quiet because it was finals week.

The pro-Palestine encampment has been in discussion with school officials over their demands to divest in organizations that support Israel. The encampment has also called for chancellor Gary May to step down from his position at the school or his seat on the board of directors of Leidos, a defense technology company.

The encampments talks with the administration are ongoing. Its unclear if the encampment will remain when the school breaks for summer, or if the administration will use the end of the school year to wait out the encampment.

I think that could be a strategy, said UC Davis law student Stanford McConnehey, the encampments media liaison. But the power that we have on this campus in the coalition among undergraduate, graduate, professional students and academic workers in the union is strong. And so in one way or another this fight is going to continue until Palestine is liberated.

McConnehey said he couldnt disclose if the encampment would last beyond finals week without an agreement with the administration.
Jordan's King Abdullah (R) meets with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on the sidelines of the "Call for Action: Urgent Humanitarian Response for Gaza" Conference. The conference is organized by Jordan, Egypt and the UN. It aims to find ways in which the international community can respond more effectively to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Chris Setian/Royal Hashemite Court RHC/dpa

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sissi said on Tuesday that Israel is directly responsible "for Gaza's unprecedented humanitarian crisis" and that "it is a deliberate result of a destructive war of revenge against the strip."

Israel must stop using hunger as a weapon and allow flow of aid into the Strip, he said during a humanitarian conference taking place by the Dead Sea in Jordan.

UN emergency relief coordinator Martin Griffiths said that the UN estimates that $2.5 billion are needed to provide aid for people in the Gaza Strip between April and the end of the year.
The European Investment Bank (EIB) will provide Ukraine with 100 million euros ($107 million) to assist with the restoration and modernization of the country's social infrastructure, it was reported on June 11.

Kyiv signed a financing agreement with the European Investment Bank under the Recovery III project at the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Berlin.

"The European Investment Bank plays an important role as a financial partner of Ukraine in the implementation of a number of projects in many sectors of the economy," Ukraine's Deputy Finance Minister, Olga Zykova, said during the signing in comments reported on the Finance Ministry's website.

"In this difficult time for our country, sustainable economic development, along with meeting the basic needs of citizens and returning Ukrainians home, is impossible without efficiently functioning key critical and social infrastructure facilities."

In April, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said Ukraine will receive 560 million euros ($596 million) from the EIB for a number of projects this year.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said that Ukraine will need at least $42 billion in international aid to support its budget in 2024.

Foreign aid is crucial for Ukraine as the economic pressure caused by the full-scale Russian invasion mounts. The besieged country received $42.5 billion in external financing last year, allowing it to function amid the ongoing war.

Read also: Worst-case scenario in Ukraines energy system very close to realistic, largest private energy company says

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
El Paso Community Foundation provides 52 teachers with funding for classrooms

EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  The El Paso Community Foundation is giving El Paso and Las Cruces educators funding for their classrooms.

The Foundation will host a Classroom Fund Grantee Reception at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 11 at the Foundation Room, located at 333 N. Oregon St.

The Classroom Fund is a project to provide funding for educators to purchase classroom materials, according to the news release by the Foundation.

The Foundation says it has granted $50,000 for the project and will distribute the funding to 52 El Paso and Las Cruces educators.

The project raises money for basic supplies for art, specials needs and technology materials, according to the Foundation.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
COFFEE COUNTY, Ala (WDHN)  A new independent report using data from the state of Alabama shows that the Elba City Schools superintendent is among the top 10 lowest-paid superintendents in the state.

According to a report from Flourish, Elba City Schools Superintendent Chris Moseley makes approximately $121,000 in 2024. The average salary of a superintendent in Alabama is a little over $170,000.

Flourish, an independent data and communication website that gathered information from the Alabama Education Lab says Elba City Schools superintendent has the seventh-lowest salary in the state.

The lowest in Alabama is Breakthrough Charter School in Marion, Alabama, which will reportedly pay its superintendent $78,000 in 2024.

The report from Flourish shows that Mobile County has the highest-paid superintendent in the state, with a salary of approximately $334,672.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
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, 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.

The post Election workers worry that federal threats task force isnt enough to keep them safe appeared first on Michigan Advance.
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.

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, 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 Aaron 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.

The post Election workers worry that federal threats task force isnt enough to keep them safe appeared first on Virginia Mercury.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 11. The repatriation of 6 Azerbaijani citizens, 5 of them children and one woman, held in camps located in the Syrian Arab Republic was carried out on June 4 this year, the statement of the Azerbaijani Ombudsman's Office said, Trend reports.

Reports indicate that representatives from the Ombudsman's office visited with repatriates housed in the Social Services Agency's social service facilities to assess their rights, learn about the social services they receive on the job, and answer any questions they may have.

The meeting with the repatriates allowed for an evaluation of their mental health, research into their issues and needs, and the formulation of suggestions to safeguard their rights.

The institution's leadership and employees kept the Ombudsman's representatives apprised of the steps done and those still to be taken in order to facilitate the repatriates' rehabilitation.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
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.

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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.

The post Election workers worry that federal threats task force isnt enough to keep them safe appeared first on Minnesota Reformer.
Pennsylvanias second federally-funded electric vehicle charging station has opened in Venango County.

The station, located at the Emlenton Truck Plaza at the Route 38 exit on I-80, was expanded under the federal National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program. It has four ports capable of providing 150 kW of power to four vehicles simultaneously.

Pennsylvania is now the third state to open multiple NEVI-funded stations, after New York and Ohio, government officials said.

After being one of the first states in the nation to begin construction on an EV charging station under the NEVI program, were now getting even more done, said PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll. Under Governor Josh Shapiros leadership, our investments in electric vehicle infrastructure are paving the way to a greener, cleaner future with more options available for Pennsylvania travelers.

NEVI funding supports the Commonwealth and federal goal of expanding EV charging along the previously designated Alternative Fuel Corridors (AFCs), which Pennsylvania has over 1,800 miles of. Per guidance from U.S. DOT, NEVI formula funds must first be used to build out designated AFCs (meaning there must be no more than 50 miles between stations and less than 1 mile from an AFC exit) and meet U.S. DOT minimum standards and requirements.

Pennsylvania is stepping out as a NEVI leader by demonstrating how federal funds can strengthen existing EV charging stations to deliver fast, reliable, and equitable infrastructure. said Executive Director of the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation Gabe Klein. The latest NEVI station also highlights Pennsylvanias plan to further enable east-west charger connectivity to reduce critical corridor gaps and ensure EV drivers can charge and travel seamlessly across the state.

Once AFCs are fully built out, PennDOT will shift to expanding EV chargers to Pennsylvanias community charging infrastructure.

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The teacher was arrested last month and is being held without bail until his trial

Anne Arundel County Police

An elementary school teacher accused of sexually abusing his students has recently been indicted by a federal grand jury in Maryland on dozens of charges.

Matthew Schlegel, 44, who worked as an elementary school teacher in Severna Park, Md., faces 55 charges of sexual abuse of at least eight children under his instruction, according to documents obtained by CBS News, WBFF-TV and the Capital Gazette.

Schlegel was initially arrested last month at his home on 36 counts, which included seven counts of child sex abuse and 14 counts of fourth-degree sex offense, per the outlets.

According to charging documents obtained by the Capital Gazette, police launched an investigation into the alleged sexual abuse involving Schlegel and one of his female students at Severna Park Elementary School in March 2024.

At least seven other students came forward after that with their own claims of abuse, which allegedly occurred from August 2022 to March 2024, often during school hours, authorities allege. Schlegel was removed from the classroom on March 15 as a result of the investigation.

The Anne Arundel District Attorneys Office and Anne Arundel Public Schools did not immediately respond to PEOPLEs request for comment.

During a court hearing on May 28, a judge ruled to deny Schlegel bail ahead of his trial, saying the "statement of facts, if true, are heinous," per WBFF-TV.

Peter ONeill, the former teachers attorney, argued in court that Schlegel should be allowed bail, claiming he's not a flight risk because of his connections in the town. More than 30 people  including Schlegels wife and family members, friends and former students  attended Schlegel's court hearing on his behalf, per WBFF-TV and Capital Gazette.

Prosecutors, however, described the suspect as "crafty and skilled at grooming children, per the outlets.

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 civil case from the families of the alleged victims against Schlegel and the county school system, Anne Arundel Public Schools, has also been filed, ONeill told the Capital Gazette.

Schlegel has been a teacher in the Anne Arundel County Public Schools since 2008 and began teaching at Severna Park Elementary School in 2016, according to CBS News.

If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor.



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Read the original article on People.
Fact checked by Nick BlackmerFact checked by Nick Blackmer





Key Takeaways

The FDA approved Eli Lilly's donanemab, a monoclonal antibody drug for early-stage Alzheimers disease.

Clinical trials showed that donanemab slowed Alzheimers progression by 29% over 18 months.

According to Lilly, Medicare will cover the treatment and amyloid PET scans for eligible patients.







The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Tuesday approved donanemab, Eli Lillys monoclonal antibody drug for early-stage Alzheimers disease. The approval comes less than a month after the drug gained unanimous backing from an FDA advisory committee. This new drug will be sold under the brand name Kisunla.

Like Leqembian FDA-approved drug for Alzheimers made by Eisai and BiogenLillys Kisunla may slow the progression of Alzheimers symptoms. Aduhelm, also made by Biogen, was approved in 2021 but discontinued due to concerns over its efficacy, side effects, and high cost.

These three drugs all work in the same way: by removing amyloid plaque deposits from the brain, which may be one cause of Alzheimers disease.

This is real progress. Todays approval allows people more options and greater opportunity to have more time, Joanne Pike, DrPH, Alzheimers Association president and CEO, said in a press statement. Having multiple treatment options is the kind of advancement weve all been waiting forall of us who have been touched, even blindsided, by this difficult and devastating disease.

In 2023, around 6.7 million Americans had Alzheimers disease, according to one estimate. This number is projected to double to 13.9 million people by 2060. There is currently no cure for the disease.

Related: How Does Lilly's Alzheimer's Drug Compare to Aduhelm and Leqembi?

Safety and Efficacy of Kisunla

The clinical trial to support Kisunlas application for approval included 1,736 patients between 60 and 85 years of age. Researchers found that Kisunla slowed the progression of Alzheimers by 29% over 18 months, compared to a placebo.



In a meeting last month, an FDA advisory panel said that Lilly's new drug is effective at treating Alzheimers patients at the early stages of the disease and that the benefits outweigh its risks.

During the trial, three patients taking Kisunla died after developing brain bleeding and swelling known as amyloid-related imaging abnormalities (ARIA). Several cases of ARIA occurred with both Aduhelm and Leqembi as well, which is why regular brain imaging is required for the drugs.

To reduce ARIA risks, Eli Lilly said it plans to ask patients to get a brain scan after the first infusion since most patients who had the condition did so in the first few weeks of the clinical trial.

Reisa Sperling, MD, a professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School who spoke at the FDA meeting, said it will be "important to minimize the risk of ARIA with careful monitoring and to have detailed discussions with patients and care partners regarding individual risk-benefit and allow patients and their care partners to make informed decisions for themselves and their loved ones,



The FDA panelists noted that almost all of the trial participants were White, which means theres not much information on the effectiveness of the drug in other populations.

Related: Prevention of Alzheimer's Disease

Who Is Eligible for Kisunla?

Kisunla is approved to treat people with mild cognitive impairment as well as people with mild dementia stage of early symptomatic Alzheimer's disease, if an amyloid PET scan confirms that they have amyloid buildup in the brain.

During the trial, Lilly required patients to stop taking Kisunla if their amyloid levels dropped below a certain level. The FDA advisory committee expressed concerns about the need for more follow-up testing and whether patients whose amyloid returned would again be eligible for the drug. However, the approval didn't specify how follow-up testing should be conducted.

Related: What to Know About Discontinuing Alzheimer's Drugs

How Is Kisunla Administered?

Like Leqembi and Aduhelm, Kisunla is given as an infusion at a clinic or hospital, which could be a barrier for some patients. Leqembi is given every two weeks, while Kisunla is given monthly.

Eisai and Biogen have recently submitted an application to the FDA for an autoinjector version of Leqembi to be used as a maintenance treatment following a certain number of infusions. Neuroimmune, the original developer of Aduhelm, also reacquired the rights to the drug from Eisai and Biogen last year and is also working on an injectable version of Aduhelm.

Related: Changing the Way an Alzheimer's Drug Is Administered May Make It More Effective

While Kisunla is not a cure for Alzheimers disease, patient advocacy organizations and health experts welcome this drug as a pathway to developing better treatments.

This can give hope to patients suffering from Alzheimers and their families to have something new on the horizon to try," Cathryn Ann Devons, MD, a geriatric medicine specialist at Phelps Hospital in Sleepy Hollow, NY, told Verywell last month.



How Much Does Kisunla Cost?

The price for each vial of Kisunla is $695.65. For a six-month treatment, Lilly estimates the total cost to be $12,522.

However, the total cost will vary based on when the patient completes treatment. In the trial, 69% of the participants completed treatment at 18 months, which could cost over $48,000.

According to Lilly, insurance coverage for Kisunla and amyloid PET scans are available for eligible patients on Medicare.







What This Means For You

The FDA approved Eli Lilly's Kisunla (donanemab) to treat early symptomatic Alzheimer's disease. Medicare is expected to cover the treatment for eligible patients.







Read the original article on Verywell Health.
Elon Musk is beefing with Apple and Tim Cook again. It's not the first time the Tesla CEO picked a fight with the iPhone giant.

Elon Musk criticized Apple and its CEO years ago before appearing to patch things up during an Apple HQ visit with Tim Cook.

On Monday, Musk slammed Apple for its OpenAI partnership and threatened to ban iPhones and MacBooks at his companies.

Here's a history of the beef between the Tesla CEO and the tech giant.

The story of Musk's beef with Apple dates back several years.

The first signs of Musk's one-sided beef with Apple came in 2015 when he joked that Apple employed Tesla's rejects.

"They have hired people we've fired," Musk told German newspaper Handelsblatt. "We always jokingly call Apple the 'Tesla Graveyard'. If you don't make it at Tesla, you go work at Apple. I'm not kidding."

In the interview with the news outlet, the Tesla CEO shrugged off reports that Apple was looking into making its own electric car  which the company has since reportedly scrapped  and took a dig at some of Apple's latest products.

"Did you ever take a look at the Apple Watch?" Musk said. "No, seriously: It's good that Apple is moving and investing in this direction. But cars are very complex compared to phones or smartwatches. You can't just go to a supplier like Foxconn and say: Build me a car."

But in the years since, Musk has continued to pick fights with Apple and its CEO Tim Cook. After a recent period that seemingly seemed peaceful, the Tesla CEO set things off again with social media posts on June 10 that slammed the company for partnering with OpenAI, the AI company Musk cofounded and had a falling out with.

Here's a history of Musk's criticisms of Apple and its CEO.

In 2016, Musk reportedly tried to take CEO Tim Cook's job.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Apple CEO Tim Cook. Britta Pedersen-Pool/Getty Images, Steve Granitz/WireImage

According to Tim Higgins' book "Power Play: Tesla, Elon Musk, and the Bet of the Century," Tim Cook had suggested that Apple acquire Tesla in 2016.

At the time, Musk reportedly said he wanted to be CEO and Cook allegedly agreed, until Musk clarified that he wanted to be CEO of Apple  not just Tesla.

According to the book, which cited a source who had heard Musk's retelling of the exchange, Cook said "Fuck you" before hanging up the phone on Musk.

Both Musk and Apple have denied the reports, saying the two CEOs have never spoken.

"There was a point where I requested to meet with Cook to talk about Apple buying Tesla," Musk said on Twitter when the book came out last year. "There were no conditions of acquisition proposed whatsoever. He refused to meet. Tesla was worth about 6% of today's value."

Six years ago, Musk said Apple's devices don't "blow people's minds" like they used to.

Tim Cook visits an Apple store in New York City on September 16. Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

In a 2018 interview with Recode's Kara Swisher, Musk said Apple's products have grown stale.

"There's not many products you can buy that really make you happier," he said. "I still think, obviously, that Apple makes great phones. ... I still use an iPhone and everything. But Apple used to really bring out products that would blow people's minds, you know? And still make great products, but there's less of that."

Musk compared Apple to Tesla, saying Tesla planned to avoid Apple's pitfalls when it comes to consumer interest.

"I don't think people are necessarily running to the store for the iPhone 11," Musk said. "But I think with Tesla, we really want to make products that people just love, that are heart-stopping."

He doubled down his criticisms of Apple's technology in 2020.

Musk said recent software updates weren't great in 2020. John Raoux/AP Photo

In 2020, Musk criticized the iPhone's software while speaking at the Satellite 2020 conference.

"Technology does not automatically improve," Musk said. "People are used to the phone being better every year. I'm an iPhone user, but I think some of the recent software updates have been not great."

He continued to say that the software seemingly "broke" his email system.

A key Apple executive deleted his Twitter account amid Musk's changes to Twitter.

Former head of Apple marketing Phil Schiller deactivated his Twitter account. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Phil Schiller, the senior Apple executive who runs the company's App Store, deactivated his Twitter account in November 2022, shortly after Musk reinstated Donald Trump's account.

Schiller had hundreds of thousands of followers on the site and had formerly served as the company's head of marketing. His decision to delete his account spawned headlines and raised eyebrows across the industry.

Musk has slammed the tech company for its App Store fees.

Musk has criticized Apple for its App store fees many times. Loren Elliott/Reuters

"Did you know Apple puts a secret 30% tax on everything you buy through the App Store?" Musk tweeted in November 2022.

It was one of many times the billionaire has criticized Apple for its App Store fees.

In 2021, he called the fees a "de facto global tax on the Internet," and in November 2022, he tagged the Department of Justice's antitrust division in a criticism of the fees.

Now that he owns X, formerly Twitter, Apple's fees could have an impact on Musk's business and his plans to generate revenue by charging users $8 per month for verification on the social media site.

The tech company controls app distribution for the iPhone and iPad, and takes between 15% and 30% of most in-app purchases made on iOS apps. The company typically requires that developers use in-app payment systems, though it has slightly softened that requirement for certain apps like Netflix and Spotify.

Elon Musk seemingly declared "war" on Apple in a since-deleted tweet in 2022.

Elon Musk tweeted a meme seemingly declaring "war" on Apple. He has since deleted it. Elon Musk

The billionaire accused Apple of monopolizing the market and opposing free speech in a series of tweets.

"Apple has mostly stopped advertising on Twitter," Musk posted on Twitter in November 2022. "Do they hate free speech in America?"

In a series of tweets, Musk accused Apple of being politically biased, called for Apple to publish all actions it has taken toward censorship, and asked his followers for support in his fight against the largest tech company in the world.

The Tesla CEO and "Chief Twit" later added that Apple had "threatened" to take Twitter off its App Store and "won't tell us why."

A spokesperson for Apple did not respond to a request for comment at the time.

Musk took aim at Cook in 2022.

Apple CEO Tim Cook. Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic

Musk said Apple stopped spending ad money on Twitter in 2022, but Cook never publicly responded.

"What's going on here @tim_cook?" Musk tweeted in November 2022.

In the first quarter of 2022, Apple was the top advertiser on Twitter, accounting for 4% of the social media company's revenue, according to The Washington Post.

Up until Musk's takeover, Twitter and Apple appeared to enjoy a symbiotic relationship. Apple has frequently used the site for product announcements, and Apple even integrated tweets in its iOS operating system in 2011.

In a op-ed with The New York Times, Yoel Roth, Twitter's former head of trust and safety, said that "the calls from the app review teams had already begun" when Musk's rollout of paid verification badges led to chaos, with users impersonating public figures and major companies.

But Musk didn't seem afraid of the consequences of beefing with Apple.

Musk hasn't ruled out creating his own version of the iPhone. Taylor Hill/Getty Images

In the past, Musk has said he doesn't see Apple as a threat to Tesla.

Musk said in November 2022 that he'd create his own smartphone if Apple booted Twitter off the App Store.

"I certainly hope it does not come to that, but, yes, if there is no other choice, I will make an alternative phone," Musk posted on Twitter.

Musk hinted that his next step could be an iPhone following Apple's WWDC event.

After a user on X, formerly Twitter, posted that they foresee the platform partnering with Samsung to manufacture an X phone, Musk responded, "It is not out of the question."

Musk seemed to let go of his beef with Apple after he visited its headquarters on November 30, 2022.

The circular Apple Park headquarters building is visible from the roof of the visitor center. Paul Chinn/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images

Days after declaring "war" on Apple, Musk posted a video that appeared to show him at Apple's campus in Cupertino, California. New York Times reporter Kate Conger also posted on Twitter at the time that Musk and Cook were spotted together on Apple's campus by employees.

"Thanks @tim_cook for taking me around Apple's beautiful HQ," Musk posted on Twitter later that day.

In an interview with GQ several months later in April 2023, Cook opened up about his relationship with Musk and said he felt "very strongly about engaging with people regardless of whether they agree with you or not."

"I actually think it's even more important to engage when there's disagreement," Cook said in the interview.

Since then, Musk seemed to quiet down about his criticism of Apple and its CEO  at least temporarily.

Musk has never shied away from picking a fight online.

Apple CEO Tim Cook is one of many public figures the billionaire has publicly called out. Eric Gaillard/Reuters

The billionaire has been known to start his fair share of feuds on X, and he's never appeared hesitant to speak his mind.

Musk has public feuds with both Mark Zuckerberg and Sam Altman. Most recently, the billionaire sued OpenAI accusing it of betraying its original mission of being open-sourced and "developing AGI for the benefit of humanity."

Musk has also publicly argued with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Stephen King on X. The billionaire also seems to have a tense relationship with Don Lemon. After Lemon interviewed Musk and asked some tough questions, including about antisemitism on the platform and his ketamine use, the billionaire abruptly canceled X's partnership with the former CNN host.

Musk has also personally called up CEOs of companies that have pulled ads from X to complain, Financial Times reported in November 2022.

Now, Musk is threatening to take action against Apple users after denouncing its partnership with OpenAI.

Musk most recently took aim at Apple's partnership with OpenAI. Beata Zawrzel/Getty Images

After Apple announced a partnership with OpenAI at the WWDC conference on Monday, Musk published a number of posts on X denouncing Apple's move to integrate ChatGPT as an opt-in feature across its software on iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia.

"If Apple integrates OpenAI at the OS level, then Apple devices will be banned at my companies," Musk wrote. "That is an unacceptable security violation."

He also added that anyone visiting his companies would have to store their Apple devices in a Faraday cage, which is a type of container that blocks electromagnetic transmissions.

Musk, whose Grok AI chatbot is a ChatGPT competitor, also mocked Apple's artificial-intelligence chops, posting that it wasn't "smart enough to make their own AI."

Musk also took hits directly at Apple during and after the WWDC event.

Musk seemed unimpressed with Apple's offerings, based off his commentary on X. JIM WATSON/AFP/Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

In addition to multiple posts slamming Apple's partnership with OpenAI, Musk also made it clear he wasn't impressed with the company's other offerings.

During the event, Musk replied to a post on X about the crowd cheering when Apple introduced an iPhone home screen revamp with, "Um ok."

He also responded to a post from Cook that promoted Apple Intelligence with disinterest in its offerings.

"Don't want it," the Tesla CEO said."Either stop this creepy spyware or all Apple devices will be banned from the premises of my companies."

Apple has yet to comment on Musk's criticisms.

In the meantime, it appears that Musk's one-sided beef with the company will continue.

Apple's Apple Intelligence features are scheduled to roll out later this year alongside the new iPhone lineup. Tesla, SpaceX, and X employees will likely be waiting to see whether their boss makes good on his word and bans the company's devices.

Read the original article on Business Insider
By Mike Scarcella

(Reuters) - Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk on Tuesday moved to dismiss his lawsuit accusing ChatGPT maker OpenAI and its CEO Sam Altman of abandoning the startup's original mission of developing artificial intelligence for the benefit of humanity and not for profit.

Attorneys for Musk asked the California state court to dismiss the lawsuit, originally filed in February, without giving a reason for the move, according to a filing in San Francisco Superior Court.

A Superior Court judge there was prepared to hear OpenAIs bid to dismiss the lawsuit at a hearing scheduled for Wednesday.

OpenAI and an attorney for Musk did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Musk dismissed his case without prejudice, which means he could refile it at another time.

The lawsuit marked a culmination of Musk's long-simmering opposition to OpenAI, a startup he co-founded and that has since become the face of generative AI through billions of dollars in funding from Microsoft.

Musk last July founded his own artificial intelligence startup, xAI, which raised $6 billion in series B funding in May to reach a post-money valuation of $24 billion.

The lawsuit said Altman and OpenAI co-founder Greg Brockman approached Musk to make an open source, non-profit company, but the startup established in 2015 is now focused on making money.

OpenAI "set the founding agreement aflame" last year when it released its most powerful language model GPT-4, the lawsuit said.

Musk in the lawsuit asked a judge to force OpenAI to make its research and technology available to the public and to prevent the startup from using its assets, including GPT-4, for the financial benefit of Microsoft and others.

OpenAI had argued in a court filing that the lawsuit was based on incoherent claims, describing it as a contrived attempt by Musk to advance his own AI interests.

"Seeing the remarkable technological advances OpenAI has achieved, Musk now wants that success for himself," OpenAI's attorneys said.

Musk in a filing in April said OpenAI was trying to advance arguments that are based on disputed facts that are beyond the scope of the lawsuit.

(Reporting by Mike Scarcella; editing by Jonathan Oatis and Stephen Coates)
Before Florida A&M University announced a questionable $237 million donation, they received a striking email from the donors bank, raising a red flag that the historic gift may not be legitimate.

Internal emails recently released by the university to The Sun News show that weeks before donor Gregory Gerami presented an oversized check at FAMUs graduation ceremony, a Raymond James Financial Services executive told FAMU officials that previous assurances they provided of Geramis account balance were not accurate.

On February 1 and March 1, 2024, Raymond James issued a letter to client, Gregory Gerami, reflecting the balance in his account, Kirk Bell, a senior vice president at Raymond James, wrote on April 12. Effective April 10th, 2024, Raymond James will no longer provide a value for the securities in Mr. Geramis account and no longer stand by the verification of deposit letter you may have received.

... To the extent that Mr. Gerami has or does provide you with official account statements from Raymond James, we do not believe the pricing of certain securities was accurate.

The email does not list the dollar amounts they had represented were in the account of Gerami, a relatively unknown Texas hemp farmer whose donation would have been the largest ever to a historically Black college or university. The promised gift was quickly met with skepticism, particularly after The Sun News reported that Gerami was the anonymous donor whose $95 million to Coastal Carolina University quickly fell apart in 2020.

The situation has since cast a pall over FAMU with one high-ranking official resigning, the president publicly putting a pause on moving forward with the donation and the universitys board of trustees ordering an outside investigation.

Bells letter was emailed to Audrey Simmons-Smith, director of development for the FAMU Foundation, and Shawnta Friday-Stroud, the former executive director of the FAMU Foundation and vice president for university advancement who recently resigned from those positions in light of her role in accepting the controversial donation.

Revocation of Verification of Deposit Letter- Gregory Gerami by David Weissman on Scribd

Simmons-Smith emailed Bell back, including FAMU President Larry Robinson on her email, to confirm receiving the letter and thanking him for an opportunity to discuss the matter. But its unclear if any further conversation took place.

The university has stopped answering questions about the donation due to the ongoing investigation, and Bell did not return a request for comment. Chelsea Peeler, a Raymond James branch operations coordinator included on several emails between FAMU officials and Gerami, declined to comment.

How does donor explain Raymond James letter?

Gerami told The Sun News Monday that he never received any clarity on why Raymond James sent that letter, and FAMU officials never asked him about it other than to tell him they received it.

Gerami said Raymond James held the private stocks in Batterson Farms Corp, the hydroponic hemp farming company he started in 2021, that he intended to donate to FAMU, and the letters he had the bank provide to the university in February and March were to verify the value of those stocks in his account at the time.

Gerami, via the Isaac Batterson Family 7th Trust, transferred 15 million shares of Batterson Farms Corp to the FAMU Foundation on April 15, emails show. The stock certificate listed the value at $15.85 per share, leading the university to present the gift as worth more than $237 million.

Gerami has told The Sun News he stands by that valuation, but admits its based on an internal report and no third-party valuation has been completed. That internal valuation is what Raymond James accepted to determine the value of stocks in his account, Gerami said.

Gregory Gerami (fourth from left), president and CEO of Batterson Farms Corp, recently announced a $237 million donation to Florida A&M University at schools 2024 graduation ceremony. Its the largest ever for a historically Black college or university. But many are skeptical after a similar donation he pledged to Coastal Carolina University in 2020 collapsed.

Gerami provided The Sun News with a summary of his companys internal valuation that just describes anticipated revenue based on current hemp farming contracts  without providing any proof the contracts exist  and total costs. The calculations value Batterson Farms Corp at more than $1.5 billion.

C. Zachary Meyers, a West Virginia-based certified valuation analyst who reviewed the report at The Sun News request, said it falls short of being a valuation or even a calculation of value.

Even if a qualified person typed this up, there is no semblance of credibility because the end result is an assumed share price multiplied by the number of shares, Meyers said. There would be no level of assurance with the value being pontificated.

Gerami told The Sun News hes hired an independent valuation firm to provide a qualified appraisal of Batterson Farms.

While discussing the letter from Raymond James with The Sun News, Gerami revealed that Carta, the platform he used to transfer the stocks to the FAMU Foundation, also sent a letter stating that Batterson Farms Corp was no longer permitted on its platform. He declined to talk about that further, but said he didnt believe it would impact the donation since the shares were already transferred.

Carta notified Gerami on May 14 it was terminating his contract for use of their software services for misrepresentations in violation of the terms of service, a Carta spokesperson confirmed.

Warnings after donation announced

Other internal FAMU emails released to The Sun News show people who previously interacted with Gerami warning university officials after the May 4 announcement that the donation was unlikely to end well.

Erich Horner, a gift officer at North Carolina State University, emailed Friday-Stroud that he knew of five other schools, including University of Mississippi, that Gerami had made similar promises to, but it always falls through. Horner was working at Ole Miss when Gerami attempted to make a donation, he said.

I believe him to be a fraud and Im happy to discuss further, Horner wrote, adding that he hopes hes wrong.

Horner did not respond to a request for an interview.

In addition to Coastal Carolina University, The Sun News has previously identified Miles College, an HBCU in Alabama, and University of Texas at Austin as other schools where Gerami discussed donations that werent made.

Gerami has told The Sun News his team assessed possible donations to about 15 other colleges and universities before choosing FAMU.

He declined to discuss what happened at Ole Miss and didnt want to address Horners claims.

It says he believes (Im a fraud), not that hes sure, Gerami said. Until he knows, until you can prove it, thats all speculation.

Ron Overton, the president of an Arlington, Texas church, emailed FAMU President Larry Robinson multiple times, saying hes known Gerami since he was a child and claiming that Geramis life is one complete fabricated lie.

Gregory Gerami (left), president and CEO of Batterson Farms Corp, shakes hands with Florida A&M University President Larry Robinson. Gerami recently announced a $237 million donation to FAMU, the largest ever for a historically Black college or university. But many are skeptical after a similar donation he pledged to Coastal Carolina University in 2020 collapsed.

Overton admits in the email that he hasnt spoken to Gerami in at least three years, but he has no reservations in stating that he likely has very little money to his name, much less $237M to donate to any one.

He was aware of Geramis interactions with CCU back in 2019 and tried to warn them before they made their announcement, but he was ignored, Overton wrote.

FAMU got bamboozled big time; admit it and move on, he said.

Overton did not respond to a request for an interview.

Gerami said he and his family attended church with Overton, and he briefly attended Overtons church, but hes not as close to him as Overton describes in his emails. He described the pastor as someone who likes to insert himself into situations he knows nothing about.

FAMUs investigation into the donation is set to be completed by Aug. 30, according to the professional services agreement included within the emails. The board hired law firm Buchanon, Ingersoll and Rooney to conduct the investigation at a cost not to exceed $52,000. The Florida Board of Governors is providing oversight of the investigation.

Gerami told The Sun News Monday he hasnt been contacted as part of the investigation, but hell answer questions if he is contacted.
EMPORIA (KSNT)  The Emporia Fire Department (EFD) is conducting water rescue training Tuesday.

The EFD announced the training on social media. They said residents should expect an increased presence of emergency vehicles in the area of Sodens Grove. The fire department said these training exercises are crucial to stay prepared for real-life emergencies.

The EFD is asking residents to avoid the training area.

27 News spoke to Emporia Fire Department Battalion Chief Ryan Conley about the training. He said the city has a water rescue team of 10 to 15 people who are trained to be swift water rescue technicians. He said the team must do a week-long class with a classroom portion and a hands-on portion.

When we get our first heavy rain and the water comes up we like to get our water rescue team on the water, we kind of take advantage of it when it does Conley said. Good safe conditions for us to be in the water, so were definitely going to be on the water.

Over 650 Kansas cattle sent to landfill or buried in 2023

On Monday, the EFD and Lyon County Sheriffs Office had to rescue a man who got stuck in floodwater at the Cottonwood River. On arrival, first responders found a truck stuck with water up to its hood. A water rescue team was deployed to rescue the driver.

The river is expected to rise above flood stage late this evening to a crest of 25.5 feet early Wednesday morning, NOAA reported. It will then fall below flood stage Wednesday afternoon.

For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here.

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(COLORADO SPRINGS)  The El Paso County Sheriffs Office (EPSO) has released the names of two of the deputies involved in the shooting that took place on Tuesday, June 4, in unincorporated El Paso County.

According to EPSO, the communications center received a call around 10 a.m. on June 4, reporting an ongoing disturbance between several adults, including one reportedly armed man, in the 4300 block of Chamberlin South, near Academy and B Street. One man was identified as possibly having a warrant out for his arrest.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: UPDATE: CSPD investigating EPSO officer-involved shooting

When deputies arrived, they encountered an armed man, and during the encounter, two deputies fired at least one round, according to EPSO. The suspect then allegedly fled in a stolen and unmarked EPSO vehicle.

Using tracking technology, the vehicle was located at the Sienna Place Apartments, where deputies arrested the suspect without incident and gave him medical aid before an ambulance transported him to the hospital.

The two deputies involved in the incident have been identified by EPSO as Deputy Chad Johnson, who has been with EPSO since 2013, and Sergeant Jared Harmon, who has been with the office since 2004. Both have been placed on administrative leave, per EPSO policies, as the Colorado Springs Police Department investigates the officer-involved shooting.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 11. Azerbaijan ranked among the TOP-3 gas suppliers to Turkiye in 2023, selling it 10.25 billion cubic meters (bcm), or 20.32 percent of the total volume of gas received by Turkiye from all suppliers, Trend reports via a report by the Turkish Energy Market Regulatory Authority (EPDK).

The EPDK report's data showed that the volume of gas supplied from Azerbaijan to Turkiye in 2023 exceeded the 2022 figure by 17.8 percent.

The leader in gas supplies to Turkiye last year was Russia, with 42.27 percent of the total volume of gas purchased by Turkiye.

Algeria accounted for 11.86 percent, while the remaining suppliers were Iran, Qatar, and other countries.

To note, Azerbaijan exported 8.7 bcm of gas to Turkiye in 2022.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Estonian Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur announced on 11 June that Ukraine would receive a military aid package consisting of Mistral short-range air defence systems and the matching missiles.

Source: Estonia's Defence Ministry, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Announcing the package, Pevkur stressed that Ukraine urgently needs air defence assets to repel Russia's ongoing brutal attack and that such assistance is also in Estonia's interest.

"We have designed the assistance package in such a way that Ukraine will benefit from it as much as possible without compromising the combat capability of the Estonian Defence Forces and that we can resume the necessary supplies as soon as possible," he added.

Estonia does not disclose the exact amount of military assistance for security reasons.

Mistral is a French-made advanced anti-aircraft missile system. It is available in both portable versions (man-portable air defence systems) and on launch platforms for vehicles, ships, and helicopters.

The system has a range of up to 6 kilometres and is designed for protection against relatively low-flying aircraft and helicopters.

Background:

Estonia has provided Ukraine with Javelin anti-tank guided missile systems, howitzers, artillery, anti-tank mines, anti-tank rocket launchers, mortars, vehicles, communications equipment, field hospitals, medicines, personal protective equipment and dry rations.

In March, Estonia announced a 20 million military aid package to Kyiv.

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European officials are reportedly considering ways to retain gas supply through the Russia-Ukraine pipeline when the contract with Gazprom expires (which Ukraine has absolutely refused to renew), as this is still critical for numerous countries of the bloc.

Source: Bloomberg, as reported by European Pravda

Details: The contract with Gazprop for transit through the Russia-Ukraine pipeline will expire at the end of 2024. Kyiv has categorically refused to continue the contract. This presents a difficulty for the few EU states, particularly Slovakia and Austria, that continue to receive Russian gas via the pipeline.

According to Bloomberg, European governments and company executives are discussing measures to continue gas deliveries in Ukraine.

One of the reported options is for European corporations to purchase gas from Azerbaijan, which will then be transferred to Europe via Russian pipelines. Ukraine should be interested in this since it earns from transit and wants to ensure that the infrastructure is maintained and operational.

In an interview with Bloomberg, Oleksii Chernyshov, chief executive of the Naftogaz group, dismissed any solution that would need continuous cooperation with Gazprom, but did say that buying petrol from Azerbaijan "might have some future".

The idea of buying gas for Europe in Azerbaijan may conceivably appeal to Russia if it was structured as a swap. Such agreements are occasionally utilised in the oil and gas industry when it is hard to physically transport petroleum from one location to another. As far as we know, Azerbaijan no longer has excess gas output and is already exporting it to Europe via pipelines. Baku is interested in growing exports, but this will necessitate infrastructure renovation and new long-term contracts.

The agency's sources claim that these talks are still "in the early phase" and that the actual movement will begin at the end of the year, when time will begin to run out.

Earlier, there were reports that Slovakia, one of the states that continues to rely on Russian gas, was looking for a replacement in Azerbaijan.

The EU is also planning limitations on Russian liquefied natural gas.

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Europes far right won ground in the EU elections. Can they unite to wield power?

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni casts her vote for the European Parliament elections, in Rome, Saturday, June 8, 2024. Nearly 400 million European Union citizens have been going to polls this week to elect members of the European Parliament, or MEPs, in one of the biggest global democratic events. (Mauro Scrobogna/LaPresse via AP)

BRUSSELS (AP)  The next European Parliament will have more hard-right members than ever before, occupying close to a quarter of the 720 seats. But they will have to overcome differences if they want to maximize their influence on the EU policies that roil their constituents: migration, climate rules and farming.

The loose centrist coalition that has controlled the European Unions only directly elected body for decades maintained a narrow majority in last week's voting. But stunning results by far-right parties in France, Germany and beyond have jolted the bloc, which was founded after the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II.

Parties such as Frances National Rally, the Brothers of Italy, and Alternative for Germany (AfD) must work together to have a significant impact on EU policy.

Their members are currently spread across different groups in the European Parliament: the nationalist European Conservatives and Reformists, the Identity and Democracy Group  home to the most hard-right factions  plus a large number of unaligned parties.

Under the latest projections Tuesday, the European Conservatives and Reformists will have 73 lawmakers and Identity and Democracy will have 58. The currently unaligned AfD should have 15 members, and Hungarys ultranationalist Fidesz will have 11.

AfD, which is under surveillance in Germany for suspected extremism, booted out controversial MEP Maximilian Krah this week in a bid to get back into the Identity and Democracy Group.

Russia vs. Ukraine  the far-rights major schism

Bundling disparate forces across 27 EU countries wont be simple, especially because of deep-set divisions over the war in Ukraine. European Conservatives and Reformists politicians closely back Kyiv, in line with mainstream EU policy, while Identity and Democracy Group members tend to be pro-Russian.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, whose party has neo-fascist roots, has successfully courted mainstream conservatives with strong support for Ukraine and NATO, while repeatedly rallying the right to unite. She has presided over a broad right-wing coalition in Rome for almost two years and has emerged as the European far-rights biggest power broker.

As well as deepening ties with center-right European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Meloni has reached out to Marine Le Pen of France's National Rally, the biggest face in the generally more radical Identity and Democracy Group.

Another key player is Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban  a close ally of former U.S. President Donald Trump and the closest EU ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin  who has put the brakes on numerous EU aid packages for Kyiv.

Orban was forced out of von der Leyens European Peoples Party in 2021 because of a clash of values. Identity and Democracy has invited Fidesz to join their ranks, though Orban has expressed interest in joining European Conservatives and Reformists. His position on Ukraine makes that unlikely.

Le Pen and Meloni  an uneasy rapprochement

Le Pen, who is more staunchly anti-EU and anti-establishment, previously slammed Meloni for her proximity to von der Leyen. But she has softened, as part of a broader National Rally rebranding over the past decade to appeal to a wider public. Traditionally, the party has close ties to Russia.

The two grandes dames of the European far right differ on social issues. Melonis government has pursued policies supporting traditional family models that LGBTQ activists in Italy have slammed as discriminatory.

By contrast, Le Pen has tried to distance herself from the antisemitism, racism and homophobia of the party her father founded 50 years ago. In recent years, she dropped a pledge to revoke equal marriage rights and hired several top political advisors who are gay. She also backed France enshrining abortion as a constitutional right last year.

Unity tricky but not prerequisite for influence

Despite their differences, the far-right parties do share political goals, such as curbing immigration and further sealing the blocs borders. They also want to curb the EUs more ambitious flagship climate policies, which the radical right has widely slammed for shunting unfair costs onto drivers and farmers.

Sophia Russack, a researcher from the Center for European Policy Studies think tank, believes the three camps will nevertheless probably stay divided rather than team up.

Seat numbers are not everything. It matters a lot in the European Parliament how united you are, Russack told the Associated Press.

In a parliament you need 50% to make and to shape decisions. So they wont decide. But of course, what they can do is to set a different tone, to change the narrative and to slowly kind of normalize their far-right thinking and far-right stances, she said.

___

Associated Press reporter Lorne Cook contributed.
Insights from Politico, CNBC, BBC, and European Council on Foreign Relations







The News

The rise of the far right in the most recent European Parliament elections could have implications for the blocs policy toward China and Russia, but there is unlikely to be a radical shift in approach.

Russia appeared to greet the election results optimistically, and suggested a weakening of the anti-Russian bloc, Politico reported, but the situation is far from clear-cut.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who is likely to hold onto the post, has vowed to continue her effort to de-risk Europe from China and to take an assertive economic approach.

SIGNALS

Semafor Signals: Global insights on today's biggest stories.

Beijing may be skeptical of Europes right

Sources: Politico, Nikkei Asia

The growth of the far-right may not be a welcome change in Beijing, Politico noted, citing the views of Chinese scholars and government advisors. While Europes hard-right populists are seen as more favorable to China, fissures within the bloc reflect a muddied stance. Right-leaning groups tend to be against the globalist agenda that is the basis of Chinas relationship with the EU; but French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz  perhaps the elections biggest losers  are among the European leaders most amenable to a conciliatory stance with Beijing. Notably, Scholz spoke out against imposing tariffs on Chinese EVs just a day before his party was crushed in the election.

Russia has high hopes for Europes right-wing rise

Sources: Politico, Agence France-Presse, BBC, Semafor

The Kremlin said it was attentively observing the gains of far-right parties within the EU, and expressed hope that Europes populist leaders might erode the blocs support for Ukraine. I hope Macron understands that the French are rejecting him for fanning the war against Russia in Ukraine, one pro-Kremlin analyst said, Politico reported. Hard-right leaders, however, are split on their stance toward the Russia-Ukraine conflict, BBC noted. While Italys PM Giorgia Meloni has always pledged support to Kyiv, Frances Marine Le Pen takes a more Russia-friendly approach. while Putins strongest ally in the EU, Hungarys Viktor Orban, was one of the least successful right-wing leaders at the election.

Right-wing parties may not find common ground on China, Russia

Sources: CNBC, European Council on Foreign Relations

Europes various right-leaning parties differ on key geopolitical issues  notably on the war in Ukraine, but on policy toward China, too, diminishing their ability to cause a broad change within the EU. Nationalist right-wing parties also tend to lean on specific charismatic figures who put their countrys sovereignty above working as a coalition, which is how things get done in the bloc. They respond to different localized crisis agendas, analysts at the European Council on Foreign Relations noted, and so are unlikely to find ways to coordinate. Its partially up to the far right and the extent to which they can organize themselves to assert influence, one analyst told CNBC.
The European Commission has proposed to prolong the temporary protection for people fleeing Russian aggression against Ukraine for another year, from 5 March 2025 to 4 March 2026.

Source: This was reported by the Commission's press service on Tuesday, European Pravda writes

Details: Safe and sustainable conditions for the return of citizens to Ukraine have not yet been created in view of the continuing Russian attacks on civilian and critical infrastructure across the country, so the Commission considers that the reasons for temporary protection remain and that it should be prolonged for another year.

The ultimate aim is to ensure that all those fleeing Russian aggression can find protection in the EU and that the nearly 4.2 million people already using temporary protection in the EU member states are provided with as much stability as possible in the current circumstances.

The Temporary Protection Directive grants Ukrainians the right to reside in the European states, and allows them access to the labour market, housing and social, medical and other assistance.

It also helps the member states to manage the arrival of migrants in an orderly and efficient manner.

The Commission will present the proposal to ministers at a meeting of the EU Council on Justice and Home Affairs on 13 June. The Council will then formally adopt the proposal.

The EU activated the Temporary Protection Directive on 4 March 2022 by a unanimous decision of the member states, and it was automatically extended for one year, and then the Council extended it for another year, until 4 March 2025.

Currently, almost 4.2 million people displaced from Ukraine are enjoying temporary protection in the EU, with the third of them being children.

Background:

On 10 June, Polish President Andrzej Duda signed an amendment to the law on assistance to Ukrainian citizens in connection with the ongoing war in the country, which extended the period of legal stay of Ukrainian citizens in Poland.

The draft amendments to the law were developed by the Ministry of the Interior and Administration of Poland and approved by the Polish Parliament in May.

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Evansville Chief of Police Phil Smith address the media disclosing information about the resignation of Officer Michael Eric Dockery and his misuse of the law enforcement technology called Clearview AI at EPD headquarters Tuesday, June 11, 2024.

EVANSVILLE  An Evansville Police Department officer resigned earlier this month after an audit showed he used Clearview AI facial recognition technology for "personal purposes" over a span of months, Chief of Police Phil Smith disclosed during a news conference Tuesday.

Smith told reporters that the officer, Michael Eric Dockery, had used the powerful software suite in ways that violated Clearview AI's terms of service, an outcome that some privacy advocates have long pointed to as a potential risk for departments that adopt the technology.

Dockery, a nearly 5-year veteran of the department, resigned on June 5 after Smith placed him on a 21-day unpaid suspension, according to a Police Merit Commission meeting agenda. Smith said he recommended that Dockery be fired, but Dockery resigned before the merit commission could take such a step.

The revelation that an officer had misused facial recognition software pushed the department to institute new safeguards against abuses, Smith said, including the introduction of mandatory, quarterly audits. The incident involving Dockery was "not a criminal matter," according to Smith.

The Courier & Press first published a report about the EPD's use of Clearview AI tools last year after the newspaper reviewed police records and company documents. At the time, public officials outside the department said they knew little about how the technology was used.

The EPD has maintained that the software is a highly effective investigative tool and that its officers and detectives use it responsibly.

Clearview AI, a New York-based technology company, operates one of the most powerful facial recognition suites in the world and has obtained billions of what it has called "face print" images from social media sites, mugshot repositories and even payment transaction applications.

More: Experts voice concern over police use of facial recognition tech in Evansville

Law enforcement agencies who purchase the software can compare images obtained during investigations with Clearview AI's database without the need to obtain a warrant. Exactly who Dockery searched and why was not immediately clear.

Last year, the Courier & Press reported that EPD detectives have cited Clearview AI results in court records when they sought a person's arrest, a practice that had gone largely unpublicized and that has drawn criticism from some legal and privacy advocates.

FILE N Hoan Ton-That, chief executive of Clearview AI, tests the facial recognition application in New York, Jan. 10, 2019. Clearview AI, the facial recognition software maker, on Monday, May 9, 2022, settled a lawsuit brought by the American Civil Liberties Union and agreed to limit its face database in the United States primarily to government agencies and not allow most American companies to have access to it. (Amr Alfiky/The New York Times)

Smith: Misuse discovered while preparing to renew Clearview AI software licenses

Reading from a prepared statement on Tuesday, Smith said Dockery's improper use of Clearview AI software first hit the department's radar in March.

"When we were in talks with Clearview AI about renewing our subscription  and we were looking into how many licenses to renew  we performed an audit on the usage of Clearview AI by our officers," Smith's statement read, in part. "At that point, we observed an anomaly of very high usage of the software by an officer whose work output was not indicative of the amount of inquiry searches that they had."

According to Clearview AI, its facial recognition software suite requires law enforcement officers to enter a "case number" before they can perform searches. Smith said Dockery exploited that safety process to perform the improper searches.

"A closer look at the digital footprint left behind revealed that this officer was utilizing an actual case number associated with an actual incident to disguise the searches of people that had nothing to do with the incident," Smith said. "We further located the images that this officer searched for, and they were unlike the types of images searched during legitimate investigations."

According to Smith, Dockery ran photos depicting nine different people through Clearview between April 2023 and December 2023 that had no connection to police investigations.

Three of the people reportedly told the police that they knew Dockery and had asked him to run their photos through Clearview AI, which Smith said still constituted an improper "personal use." The six others were unaware at the time. During the probe, EPD contacted all nine and notified them about the searches, Smith added.

The internal probe regarding Dockery is closed, according to Smith, and it found that Dockery had not violated any state or federal laws by performing the unofficial searches.

In response to a reporter's question on Tuesday, Smith said the EPD had submitted the necessary paperwork to secure renewals of its Clearview AI software licenses. The department had not discussed the incident with Clearview AI.

"You guys are the first people we talked to," Smith told reporters. "We thought it was very important to speak to our community about it first and let our community know because we stood before everyone when we got the software and said that we would be using it the right way, and if we weren't, that we were going to take swift action. And we wanted to let the community know that we meant that."

Going forward, Smith said the EPD would perform quarterly audits of Clearview AI usage. Under Indiana's Access to Public Records Act, documents related to such audits would likely be available for public review if a formal request is filed with the department.

Houston may be contacted at houston.harwood@courierpress.com

This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Police chief: Evansville officer misused Clearview AI technology
Ex-N.Y. cop sentenced to life in prison for brutal murder of 4 people

Nicholas Tartaglione, 56, was sentenced to four consecutive life sentences for a quadruple homicide in April 2016. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI

June 10 (UPI) -- A former New York police officer-turned drug dealer was sentenced to four consecutive life sentences on Monday for the brutal murder of four men in April 2016.

Nicholas Tartaglione, 56, was convicted by a jury last year on 11 counts murder, four counts of kidnapping resulting in death and out count each of kidnapping conspiracy and narcotics conspiracy.

Tartaglione was a police officer in Westchester County near New York City until he retired and turned to a life of drug dealing.

Prosecutors accused him of murdering Martin Luna, 41, by strangulation and executing Urbano Santiago, 35; Miguel Luna, 25; and Hector Gutierrez, all on April 11, 2016.

"Nicholas Tartaglione brutally and senselessly murdered Martin Luna over money, and then ruthlessly executed Urbano Santiago, Miguel Luna, and Hector Gutierrez simply because they were in the wrong place at the wrong time," U.S. Attorney Damian Williams for the Southern District of New York said Monday in a statement.

Martin Luna was targeted on accusations of owing Tartaglione some $250,000 meant to purchase cocaine.

Prosecutors said Tartaglione conspired to kill Martin Luna. Tartaglione arranged for a meeting with Martin Luna, who unknowingly brought his two cousins, Santiago and Miguel Luna, and family friend Gutierrez.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York described in a statement following Tartaglione's conviction in April 2023 as "pure torture."

Tartaglione then strangled Martin Luna to death with zip ties and forced one of his victim's nephews to watch. After, Santiago, Miguel Luna and Gutierrez were driven to a remote wooded area where they were forced to kneel and were executed. They were shot in the back of their heads before buried in a mass grave that was not located until December 2016.

In handing down his sentence Monday, Judge Kenneth Karas called Tartaglione a "monster," according to the Justice Department.

"Today's sentence of four consecutive life terms justly reflects the pain and suffering each victim underwent at Tartaglione's hands," Williams said. "I hope that this outcome brings some measure of closure to the victims' families and to their community."
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FILE PHOTO: Tunisian coast guards try to stop migrants at sea, off Sfax

By David Lewis

NAIROBI (Reuters) - Tunisian border guards have rounded up migrants and passed them to counterparts in Libya where they have faced forced labour, extortion, torture and killing, according to a confidential U.N. human rights briefing seen by Reuters.

The two nations are vital partners in the European Union's efforts to stem the flow of migrants across the Mediterranean from North Africa into southern Europe.

Hundreds of migrants in Tunisia were caught in a wave of detentions and expulsions to Libya in the second half of last year, according to the briefing, dated Jan. 23. It was based on interviews with 18 former detainees as well as photographic and video evidence of torture in one of the facilities.

Tarek Lamloum, a Libyan human rights expert, said such transfers had taken place as recently as early May. About 2,000 migrants detained by Tunisia had been passed to the Libyans this year, he said, citing interviews with more than 30 migrants

The U.N. briefing, which has not been previously reported, was shared with diplomats in the region.

"Collective expulsions from Tunisia to Libya and the associated arbitrary detention of migrants are fuelling extortion rackets and cycles of abuse, which are already widespread human rights issues in Libya," the U.N. briefing said.

Libyan officials were demanding thousands of dollars in exchange for releasing some migrants, according to the briefing.

"The situation serves the interest of those who prey on the vulnerable, including human traffickers," it added.

Neither Libyan nor Tunisian authorities responded to requests for comment on the U.N. briefing.

A spokesperson for the U.N. mission in Libya said they could not comment. On April 16, Abdoulaye Bathily, then the top U.N. official there, said he was "deeply concerned about the dire situation of migrants and refugees in Libya who endure human rights violations throughout the migration process".

The European Union said last year it would spend 800 million euros through 2024 across North Africa to stem the flow of migrants across the Mediterranean. Immigration was a leading concern for voters in European elections last week that saw far-right parties make gains.

In the first four months of this year, arrivals of migrants in Europe via the central Mediterranean were down over 60 percent from the same period of 2023. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on June 4 the decline was "above all" due to help from Tunisia and Libya.

Rights groups, however, say the EU policy of farming out immigration control to third countries in return for aid leads to abuse and fails to address the underlying issues.

In May, Tunisia's President Kais Saied said hundreds of people were arriving every day and his country was coordinating migrant returns with neighbours. The government has in the past said it respects human rights. Libyan authorities say they work with neighbours to solve migration issues.

Reuters was unable to verify independently the accounts of abuse in the U.N. briefing.

A U.N. fact-finding mission concluded last year that crimes against humanity had been committed against migrants in Libya in some detention centres managed by units that received backing from the EU.

A spokesperson for the European Commission did not provide answers to questions sent by Reuters.

BURNED ALIVE, SHOT

The latest U.N. briefing said there was a pattern where Tunisian border officials coordinated with Libyan counterparts to transfer migrants to either al-Assa or Nalout detention facilities, just over the border in Libya.

Migrants are held for periods varying from a few days to several weeks before they are transferred to the Bir al-Ghanam detention facility, closer to Tripoli, the briefing said.

The facilities are managed by Libya's Department to Combat Illegal Migration (DCIM) and the Libyan Coast Guard.

The U.N. report said that the DCIM has continuously denied U.N. officials access to the locations.

Migrants interviewed for the U.N. briefing came from Palestine, Syria, Sudan and South Sudan. Getting information from African migrants was harder as they were being deported and communication with them was more complicated.

Three of the migrants interviewed had scars and signs of torture, the briefing said.

The U.N. briefing from January described the conditions at al-Assa and Bir al-Ghanam as "abhorrent".

"Hundreds of detainees have been crammed in hangars and cells, often with one functional toilet, and no sanitation or ventilation," it said.

At Bir al-Ghana, officials allegedly extorted migrants $2,500-$4,000 for their release, depending on their nationality.

In the al-Assa facility, border guards burned alive a Sudanese man and shot another detainee for unknown reasons, witnesses told the U.N., according to the January briefing .

Former detainees identified people traffickers among the border guard officials working there, it added.

"The current approach to migration and border management is not working," the January briefing said, calling for Libya to decriminalise migrants who enter the country illegally and for all international support for border management to adhere to human rights.

(This story has been refiled to correct the name to 'Lamloum', not 'Lamloun', in paragraph 4)

(Reporting by David Lewis; Additional reporting by Tarek Amara in Tunis, Ahmed Elumani in Tripoli; Editing by Daniel Flynn)
What to expect from the rain in Tampa Bay this week

What to expect from the rain in Tampa Bay this week

A messy glob of tropical moisture sitting near Floridas west coast will bring a mix of rain and humidity to Tampa Bay this week.

On Tuesday, forecasters with the National Hurricane Center said it was watching the rough patch for possible tropical development. But they said that was unlikely and wouldnt occur until days from now, after the weather had passed over Florida and into the Atlantic Ocean.

Regardless of development, heavy rainfall is expected across portions of Florida during the next few days, according to the hurricane center.

Earlier forecasts called for as much as 10 inches of rain in the Tampa Bay area, but on Tuesday the amount of rainfall in the forecast declined. The National Weather Service said it anticipates up to 6 inches in Tampa Bay through Friday and 8 inches through Sunday.

Southwest Florida is expected to get even more rain  up to 15 inches in Fort Myers, for instance  and forecasters are warning of possible flooding and rising rivers in that part of the state.

Rainfall in the Tampa Bay area is welcome news. For weeks, the area has sweltered under record-breaking heat and a drought (though typical for this time of year). Should the rainfall remain manageable and spread out, meteorologists say it will be beneficial for Tampa Bay.

So what can Florida  and Tampa Bay  expect from the blob of moisture during its long, leisurely stay? Heres a breakdown of what to know.

Where is all the rain coming from?

The area of rough weather is being described as a plume of tropical moisture, according to Spectrum Bay News 9.

It extends from the Caribbean Sea, spreading toward the eastern Gulf of Mexico and into the Florida peninsula, said Ross Giarratana, a meteorologist from the National Weather Services Tampa Bay office.

Think of it as a firehose of soggy air being transported straight from the tropics.

Any of these storms and showers that develop really will have some high rainfall totals in a short period of time, Giarratana said.

The hurricane center said in a Tuesday afternoon forecast that the patch of weather has just a 10% chance of tropical development by Thursday and a 20% chance over the next week. On Wednesday, the hurricane center said it was watching another disturbance in the southwest Gulf. Forecasters said the low pressure system has a 20% of developing in the next week as it moves west, near Mexico. It poses no threat to Florida.

This Atlantic season has yet to see a named storm. Its the slowest start to hurricane season in more than a decade. The first named storm will be called Alberto.

However, top hurricane academics Tuesday said the sleeping giant will soon awaken.

In their June forecast update, researchers at Colorado State University maintained their initial forecast for an extremely active Atlantic hurricane season. The renowned climate school in April predicted 11 hurricanes would spin up this season, the most ever expected in the institutions nearly three decades of early season forecasting.

It has been two months since their initial prediction, and university experts are sticking with that number. Record-warm Atlantic temperatures and an arriving La Nina weather pattern are to blame, researchers said.

The forecast has changed. Will there be flooding?

While forecasters anticipated rainfall amounts up to 10 inches in Tampa Bay earlier this week, Kyle Hanson, a meteorologist for Spectrum Bay News 9, said the moisture has shifted further south and likely wont cause as much rain here.

Hanson said rainfall is likely to come in patches for the next few days.

Itll start raining for a half an hour, then itll stop, and that can happen again at some point in the day, Hanson said. Then itll just be kind of off and on like that through about Friday.

A flood advisory was issued for a portion of southwest Pasco and northern Pinellas counties Tuesday afternoon, when heavy rains were expected to cause urban and small-stream flooding. Additionally, portions of South Florida are under a flood watch through tonight.

The weather services Southeast River Forecast Center is expecting heavy rains in Central and South Florida could produce minor flooding, and even flash floods in some areas.

The Manatee River at State Road 64 is expected to reach 10.5 feet on Thursday. Minor flooding begins at 11 feet. The Myakka River at Myakka State Park will, at 6.9 feet, be a hair away from minor flooding, which occurs at 7 feet.

Horse Creek near Arcadia was expected to reach a minor flooding stage at 13.8 feet.

Giarratana said the weather service is watching for areas that receive multiple rounds of rain, especially urban areas, which are most vulnerable to flooding.

Areas with concrete and buildings rely more heavily on drainage systems as opposed to green areas that can naturally soak up water.

Should flooding occur, you should not walk or drive through waters. It takes just 6 inches of moving water to knock a person off their feet, the weather service said.

Floodwater also may be deeper than it appears, and can hide sharp objects, electrical wires and chemicals, the weather service said. If you find yourself caught in floodwaters, get to the highest ground possible and call 911.

Will the rain end our drought?

The rain the area is experiencing this week is not uncommon for this time of year, Hanson from Bay News 9 said.

Were due for this, Hanson said. We havent had an event like this yet this year.

The rainfall expected in South Florida is less likely, Hanson said. However, because of the areas proximity to the tropics, it can happen every so often.

Its certainly an event, and certainly something that does not happen often  you could say this is like a once-a-year type of event, Hanson said.

While the rainfall amounts are high, theyll be over multiple days in a widespread area, which should lower the chance of flooding.

The showers wont be like last year, when 25 inches of rain fell on Fort Lauderdale in a single day, flooding streets and stalling cars. That kind of rainfall is more like a once-every-1,000-years occurrence.

Because of the drought, the ground should be able to soak up the water. When the ground is more saturated, it becomes more difficult for the ground to slurp up rainwater.

The United States drought monitor shows portions of Tampa Bay are running from abnormally dry to a moderate drought. Areas to the south, like Manatee and Sarasota counties, are in a severe drought.

According to the Southwest Water Management District, from Jan. 1 to June 9, the districtwide rainfall deficit was about 10 inches.

The areas current low water levels will certainly benefit from the forecasted rain this week, the water management district said in an email to the Tampa Bay Times.

Hanson said the rain may not entirely pull the area out of a drought, but he expects more rain in the near future. The rainy season may settle in after this weeks storms pass through.

From here on out, Hanson said, were going to see more wet weather than we have been seeing previously.

Times staff writer Max Chesnes contributed to this report.
The idea smells more of campaign politics than a really well thought out and principled tax policy proposal," said an economist with a right-leaning think tank. (Photo by Mark Makela/Getty Images)

Policy, politics and progressive commentary

WASHINGTON  Economists across the ideological spectrum raised doubts about the cost and workability of former President Donald Trumps proposal over the weekend to exempt tips from federal taxes if he wins in November.

During a campaign rally Sunday in Las Vegas, where hundreds of thousands work in the hospitality industry, Trump promised service workers that they would no longer have to pay federal taxes on tipped income if the presumptive Republican nominee wins a second term.

The roughly 6 million tipped workers in the U.S., as of the latest data available from 2018, make up a small fraction of the countrys 150 million taxpayers, but campaigning on tax cuts for certain demographics is increasingly a top issue leading up to Novembers presidential election.

This is the first time Ive said this, and for those who work at hotels and people that get tips, youre gonna be very happy because when I get to office we are going to not charge taxes on tips, on people making tips, Trump said to cheers at the rally.

Trump said he will do that right away, first thing in office, though changing the tax code would require an act of Congress.

Tax code due for update

Large portions of the sweeping 2017 tax law that Congress passed along party lines during the Trump administration are set to expire at the end of 2025, and lawmakers and advocates are already trotting out their priorities.

Tipped workers made an average $6,000 on top of their base wages in 2018, and together they paid about $38 billion in taxes on tips, according to the latest Internal Revenue Service figures. In 2018, the IRS collected about $7 trillion in overall taxes.

In terms of the macroeconomic impact, its pretty small, said Erica York, senior economist and research director at the right-leaning Tax Foundation.

If you think of it in terms of what Congress is going to be debating next year, one of the big challenges that lawmakers are going to face is the revenue impact. Every dollar of tax revenue for one type of tax cut is $1 less for another type of tax cut. So its going to be a real exercise in prioritizing trade-offs across different policies, York said.

Trump has vowed to extend all tax cuts enacted under his watch, but the cost of extending them over the next decade would reach $4.6 trillion, according to estimates from the Joint Committee on Taxation and nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.

Trumps proposal to tipped workers smells more of campaign politics than a really well thought out and principled tax policy proposal, York added. And I think the elephant in the room for both candidates is that they havent fully addressed what are you going to do about these huge expirations that are scheduled to happen next year?

The Trump campaign did not respond to requests for further detail.

Incentivizing tipped work

Andrew Lautz, associate director for the Bipartisan Policy Center, said while tipped workers are a small slice of the tax base, youre talking about a potentially large chunk of revenue that youre giving up on an annual basis, depending on how the policy would be rolled out.

Our current tax system is certainly not designed to treat all income equally, but this proposal, if it were enacted into law, would sort of add a new category of income that is not subject to tax, Lautz said. And you know what economic theory would say is that, all else equal, making that change would incentivize people to have tips which are not taxed under this proposal versus regular wage income.

There is also the potential for misuse, he added.

If Donald Trump is president again next year, and even if hes not, but this proposal sort of catches interest from policymakers in Congress, its very well possible that this could be on the table, Lautz added.

Janet Holtzblatt, senior fellow at the left-leaning Tax Policy Center run by the Urban Institute and Brookings Institution, said Trumps proposal to eliminate taxes on tips is unusual.

Because tips are a substitute for the wages and salaries that the rest of us get, and if you dont tax tips, youre basically not taxing tip workers (on) their wages, making it a tax advantage on their earnings. Those of us who dont work in industries where tips are paid, we would not get the same tax advantage, Holtzblatt said.

Minimum wage

Several localities wage laws allow employers to pay service workers hourly rates well below the federal minimum wage.

Holtzblatt said the solution is for localities to raise the minimum wage for service workers for multiple reasons.

Tips are not always a predictable form of income, she said. And theres a great deal of variation, the tips that the server gets at the top-notch restaurant are going to be very different than the tips the person in the diner gets.

President Joe Bidens reelection campaign responded to Trumps wild campaign promise by saying that Biden supports increasing the minimum wage and eliminating the tipped minimum wage, a much bigger deal than Trumps proposal, a campaign spokesman wrote in a Monday email to States Newsroom.

Ted Pappageorge, secretary-treasurer for Culinary Workers Union Local 226, which has 60,000 members in Las Vegas and Reno, Nevada, said the organization has for decades fought for tipped workers rights and against unfair taxation.

Relief is definitely needed for tip earners, Pappageorge said in a statement over the weekend. But Nevada workers are smart enough to know the difference between real solutions and wild campaign promises from a convicted felon.

The post Experts skeptical of Trumps promise to end taxes on tips appeared first on Nevada Current.
By Rachael Levy and Hyunjoo Jin

(Reuters) - A Tesla shareholder vote on Thursday on whether to reinstate CEO Elon Musk's $56 billion pay package that was shot down by a Delaware judge will not provide a quick resolution, irrespective of the tally's results.

Tesla's board is hoping shareholder approval will give the electric vehicle maker the legal ammunition it needs to reinstate the package, though that is far from certain. The company has also said if the compensation plan is rejected by shareholders, it expects Musk would only accept a pay package that is similar in size to the voided one.

Here is what we know about the potential outcomes:

WHAT HAPPENS IF SHAREHOLDERS VOTE YES?

Musk's pay package is not reinstated automatically. Tesla has said it will seek to reverse Delaware judge Kathaleen McCormick's ruling in January that invalidated the compensation package as unfair to the company's shareholders.

McCormick found that the Tesla shareholders who in 2018 voted in favor of granting the pay package were not fully informed on how beholden many directors were to Musk and how this affected the compensation negotiations.

Tesla included McCormick's ruling in its disclosures to shareholders ahead of the vote on Thursday, and has said it plans to argue that an affirmative result would show that shareholders back the package with full knowledge of McCormick's criticisms.

Zohar Goshen, a professor at Columbia Law School, said it was unclear whether such a move would convince McCormick. "It's hard to estimate how the court will rule because there is too much noise around this decision," Goshen said.

If Tesla fails to convince McCormick to change her ruling, which she has not yet made effective, Tesla plans to appeal all the way to the Delaware Supreme Court, a process that will take many months.

Tesla is also asking for shareholder approval at its annual meeting on Thursday to move its corporate domicile to Texas, outside the reach of Delaware courts. It has said it does not plan to use the move to ignore McCormick's ruling, and she has accepted those assurances.

Tesla could also face more litigation from some shareholders. One of them this month filed a lawsuit challenging the upcoming shareholder vote on Musk's pay package and the change of domicile.

WHAT HAPPENS IF SHAREHOLDERS VOTE NO?

Tesla has said it is "determined" to pay Musk for his previous work through the 2018 plan or a new one, to ensure he devotes his time and energy to the company.

It can still try to reverse McCormick's decision in Delaware, but it will have a weaker hand if shareholders reject the package. Given the appeal could take Tesla beyond next year's annual shareholder meeting, this could give the board some breathing space before it has to negotiate a new pay package with Musk.

Tesla argues that the costs to shareholders will be significantly greater if the pay package is not reinstated. The company booked a $2.3 billion accounting charge to issue it in 2018. It estimates that to give Musk a new package with the same economic benefit, the accounting charge it would have to take would be more than $25 billion because of the rise in Tesla's shares since 2018. It has said the new package would have to be less than 10% of the size of the 2018 plan to avoid a new charge.

Tesla has also warned that if McCormick's ruling stands, shareholders would bear the cost of its legal fees. The legal team representing the Tesla investor who challenged Musk's pay is asking for $5.6 billion out of the Tesla stock Musk would have received as a fee, though the company is challenging that request.

WILL TESLA LOSE MUSK IF HE DOES NOT GET THE PAY PACKAGE?

Board chair Robyn Denholm said in a regulatory filing last week that reinstating the pay package was necessary for "retaining Elon's attention and motivating him."

Skeptics say Musk's 13% stake in Tesla, worth some $75 billion and accounting for a big chunk of his wealth, as well as his two decades at the company, make it unlikely that Musk will walk away. He could also face shareholder lawsuits if he is shown to be neglecting his CEO duties.

Samantha Crispin, a corporate attorney at global law firm Baker Botts, said it would be hard to predict how Musk, who draws no salary from Tesla, will respond. "That's the $56 billion question," she said.

(Reporting by Rachael Levy in Washington and Hyunjoo Jin in San Franscisco; Editing by Greg Roumeliotis and Jamie Freed)
Explainer-What is Chevron deference and why did the Supreme Court overturn it?

A general view of the skyline of Manhattan as seen from the One World Trade Center Tower in New York

By Alexandra Alper and Jody Godoy

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. Supreme Court decided on Friday to overturn a 40-year-old legal doctrine used by the federal government to defend some of its regulatory actions in court.

The doctrine, known as "Chevron deference," had been sharply criticized by businesses.

WHAT IS CHEVRON DEFERENCE?

The doctrine called for judges to defer to federal agency interpretations of U.S. laws deemed to be ambiguous.

The doctrine, among the most important principles in administrative law, arose from a 1984 Supreme Court ruling involving oil company Chevron. Conservatives and business interests had opposed it while liberals, favoring robust corporate regulation, championed it.

WHAT HAS THE SUPREME COURT DECIDED?

The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 on Friday to overturn the doctrine, calling it "unworkable" and saying it is the job of courts, not agencies, to interpret laws.

The court's conservative justices were in the majority, with the liberal justices dissenting.

The case was brought to the Supreme Court by fishing companies who had sought to avoid bearing costs associated with a government-run program to monitor for overfishing of herring off New England's coast. The suit is part of a broader conservative project to strip away regulatory power from federal agencies.

Here are some of the viewpoints the justices considered before their ruling:

THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which represents more than 300,000 businesses, had argued that Chevron deference has let Congress "outsource core policy decisions (particularly controversial ones) to agencies through broadly worded statutes." That has given the agencies, it said, "free rein to enact their own new regulatory requirements through sweeping rulemakings or after-the-fact enforcement actions."

The group said that, in turn, results in "onerous new burdens on businesses."

In one example that is currently in the courts, the Chamber of Commerce sued the U.S. Federal Trade Commission to challenge a new rule barring noncompete clauses in employment contracts. Such rules "often raise major legal and policy questions on which Congress would be expected to have a view, without specific congressional authorization," the Chamber of Commerce said.

The Democratic-led FTC banned the agreements in April, calling the action necessary to rein in the increasingly common practice of requiring workers to sign "noncompete" agreements, even in lower-paying service industries such as fast food and retail. In one well-known example, sandwich chain Jimmy John's agreed to stop enforcing such agreements in 2016.

E-CIGARETTES

E-cigarette manufacturers, distributors and retailers also asked the Supreme Court to rein in Chevron deference. They have accused the U.S. Food and Drug Administration of reaching "far beyond" its legal authority to essentially ban all non-tobacco flavored e-cigarettes, which these companies say have been used by millions of addicted cigarette smokers to transition away from traditional cigarettes.

In a brief, the group asked the Supreme Court to at least limit the scope of Chevron deference "to ensure lower courts properly discern congressional intent and enforce statutory provisions as written."

The FDA initially considered e-cigarettes as having some promise in helping adult smokers transition away from conventional cigarettes, but anti-smoking groups urged the agency to restrict flavored e-cigarettes amid a rise in youth vaping.

DEMOCRATIC SENATORS

Democratic U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse, Mazie Hirono and Elizabeth Warren have issued a full-throated defense of the doctrine, describing it as key in allowing Congress to rely on agency "subject matter expertise" to help carry out the broad policy objectives of lawmakers as U.S. industries grow more complex.

"Administrative regulations reined in dangerous industry activities, and our society became safer and more prosperous," the senators said, describing the bid to overturn the doctrine as "a decades-long effort by pro-corporate interests to eviscerate the federal government's regulatory apparatus, to the detriment of the American people."

The senators also took aim at the "theatricality of the industry-funded campaign" against the doctrine. They cited a dissent written by a judge on the Denver-based 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals who described Chevron deference as the "Lord Voldemort of administrative law," invoking the fictional wizard from the Harry Potter books who is so evil people that are afraid to utter his name.

(Reporting by Alexandra Alper in Washington and Jody Godoy in New York; Editing by Will Dunham and Rosalba O'Brien)
I explored an Arizona ghost town with an abandoned dentist's office, schoolhouse, and laundromat. The spot felt like stepping back in time.

On a recent road trip across the American West, I made a stop at The Gold King Mine and Ghost Town.

The ghost town is part of the mining town of Haynes, Arizona.

Today, visitors can explore an impressive collection of old buildings, antiques, and automobiles.

I will never turn down a visit to a ghost town.

Whether exploring an abandoned castle in the Australian jungle or opening the door to an old miner's cabin in my home state of Colorado, the deserted destinations feel like traveling back in time.

So, on a road trip across the American West in the fall of 2023, I had a few ghost towns I was eager to visit.

Some were deserted  like an abandoned water park in the desert of California. Others were bustling with tourists eager to dive into history.

On that latter list was The Gold King Mine and Ghost Town, a former mining town where visitors can explore a handful of abandoned buildings, mining machinery, and antiques.

Jerome, Arizona's charming downtown drew me in, but The Gold King Mine and Ghost Town, a site with abandoned buildings, antiques, and automobiles, was what enticed me to stay.

The entrance to The Gold King Mine and Ghost Town. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

The ghost town is dotted with old buildings. Some are original to the site, while others came from nearby towns.

The exterior of an old dentist's office. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

It's only a 5-minute drive from downtown Jerome, but the abandoned mining town is technically located in the town of Haynes, Arizona.

A screenshot of the town of Jerome, Arizona, and the location of The Gold King Mine and Ghost Town. Google Maps

I knew I was getting close to the ghost town when I spotted dozens of old abandoned vehicles.

Abandoned cars on the drive to the ghost town. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

After driving up the dirt road, I arrived at the site's entrance and paid $12 for my ticket.

A sign outlines the cost for visitors of the ghost town. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

I was handed a brochure with the town's history and map. A few paragraphs on Gold King Mine's past wasn't enough, so I tracked down Jay Harshman, the self-proclaimed "main guy."

A view of The Gold King Mine and Ghost Town. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

Harshman told me he grew up in the region. After a stint in the corporate world, he returned to central Arizona and has worked at the ghost town for the past two years.

A wood barn at The Gold King Mine and Ghost Town. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

Harshman is a jack of all trades. He tinkers with old machinery, takes care of the property's farm animals, cuts wood, restores old buildings, and shares the town's history with anyone willing to listen.

A three-cylinder generator that Harshman is working to get up and running again. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

"There's a lot that we do every day, and every day is not the same," he told me. "That's why I fell in love with it."

Jay Harshman shows a visitor how to pan for gold. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

Harshman said the old mining town of Haynes was active between 1890 and 1938. While gold, silver, iron, and platinum could be found in the mines, its main commodity was copper.

A sign for Haynes, Arizona. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

Haynes was small, Harshman said. The average population was 300, with a height of 504 residents. On the other hand, Jerome had an average population of 2,000 and reached 15,000 people during the same period.

A group of people on a balcony of the St Charles Hotel in Jerome, Arizona, circa 1895. Herbert and Dorothy McLaughlin Historical Collection/FPG/Archive Photos/Getty Images

As we walked through the ghost town, Harshman said the area where we stood wasn't where people lived. It was where the mining happened.

A sign depicting the former entrance to a mine. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

Above us, on the side of the mountain, was where 305 structures and the town of Haynes formerly stood.

Residents would have lived on the hillside in Haynes, Arizona. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

Today, The Gold King Mine and Ghost Town are filled with structures, old vehicles, machinery, and antiques, but Harshman said not all of it was original to Haynes.

A former laundromat. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

A mine's elevator shaft and headframe were part of the original town, he said.

Parts of the ghost town that are original to Haynes, Arizona. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

A nearby boarding house was also an original Haynes building, as are the assay office and jail bars that can be spotted in the ghost town.

An abandoned house in the ghost town. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

These structures, and so many more, exist at the site today thanks to a man named Don Robertson, Harshman said.

Don Robertson, the owner and founder of the historic Gold King Mine and Ghost Town. Wolfgang Kaehler/LightRocket/Getty Images

Robertson grew up in Iowa and came out to the West in the 1960s. According to Harshman, he fell in love with Wild West culture and started collecting things.

A table of old tools Don Robertson collected. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

When Robertson had gathered too much, Harshman said he searched for a place to store his collection.

A view of the Gold Mine King and Ghost Town. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

That's when he found The Gold King Mine.

Don Robertson in his workshop. Wolfgang Kaehler/Getty Images

Robertson came to Haynes in 1978 and made a 100-year leasing deal with the two corporations that continue to own the land today.

The Gold King Mine and Ghost Town. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

Robertson brought his belongings and, in 1982, opened it up to visitors.

A handful of old automobiles at The Gold King Mine and Ghost Town site. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

"His whole purpose of revitalizing this town was to show people what kind of things people were working with and living with back in the day," Harshman said.

Don Robertson at The Gold King Mine and Ghost Town in 2019. Wolfgang Kaehler/Getty Images

Beyond an automobile collection and antiques, Robertson also preserved historical buildings from nearby towns.

The exterior of an old dentist's office. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

The outhouse, for example, came from Wickenburg, Arizona.

The outhouse at The Gold King Mine and Ghost Town. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

Visitors can step inside a schoolhouse moved from Perkinsville, Arizona, which is filled with its original desks.

The exterior of the schoolhouse. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

In another area of the ghost town is a dentist's office. Harshman said it was where Jerome's first dentists, Joseph and Raymond Pecharich, worked. Inside, the chair, equipment, and paperwork are all part of the original building.

Side-by-side images of the interior of the dentist's office. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

Elsewhere, a service station was relocated from Cottonwood, Arizona, once known as Clemenceau.

The old service station at The Gold King Mine and Ghost Town. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

And there is a shoe repair store from Wickenburg, Arizona.

Images of the exterior and interior of the shoe repair store. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

Today, Harshman is continuing Robertson's mission by helping restore Ma's Kitchen, which was named by Robertson. Its original frame and floors were once part of a communal kitchen for miners in Haynes.

The interior of Ma's Kitchen. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

Harshman took me inside, where I spotted an old pie safe, a vintage telephone, and a decades-old jar of vaporizing ointment.

Two items inside Ma's Kitchen. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

As we continued to explore the property, I spotted more old automobiles and interesting antiques.

The interior of the laundromat at the ghost town. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

I walked by farm ducks, said hello to friendly goats named Bonnie and Clyde, and overheard visitors amazed by the items in each building.

Farm ducks at the ghost town. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

"A lot of people are cooped up in apartments or cities, especially people our age, and don't know what half this stuff does or that everything here was used for purpose," Harshman said. "Nothing is a prop."

Two automobiles in the ghost town. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

I agreed. Walking through The Gold King Mine and Ghost Town felt like stepping back in time  an experience I don't often encounter in my normal city life.

The author at the ghost town. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

Read the original article on Business Insider
Fact Check: About Those $8,700 Stimulus Checks the IRS Is Supposedly Issuing to Qualifying Americans

Claim:

The IRS is issuing $8,700 stimulus checks to qualifying Americans in 2024.

Rating:

Rating: False

In June 2024, Google's trending searches list displayed an enticing search string reading, "irs $8700 stimulus check irs gov." The trending search indicated the IRS was issuing $8,700 stimulus checks to qualifying Americans through its website, IRS.gov.

The list displayed other trending searches alongside the search about stimulus checks, including North Korea sending balloons carrying manure and trash into South Korea, and a woman partially swallowed by quicksand on a Maine beach.

A rumor in Google trending searches claimed the IRS was issuing 8700 dollar stimulus checks to qualifying Americans.

A list of Google's trending searches as of June 11, 2024.

The mention of stimulus checks might remind some U.S. readers of the COVID-19 economic impact payments and child tax credit payments from 2020 and 2021. Those genuine payments came directly from the IRS.

To be clear, this rumor claiming the IRS was issuing $8,700 stimulus checks in 2024 is false. If the stimulus check offering were real, prominent news websites would widely cover the developments. We found no credible news reports about any new stimulus checks in June 2024.

Snopes contacted the IRS by email to ask about the false rumor. In response, IRS media relations specialist Robert Marvin directed us to a news release from July 2023 warning of text-message and email scams playing off the genuine economic impact payments from 2020 and 2021. Part of that news release read, "But while the stimulus payments ended long ago, the related scheme has evolved and changed as scam artists look for new ways to adjust their message to trick people."

Scams Promising Stimulus Checks, Subsidies, Incentives and Benefits

As of this writing, it's not entirely clear why the search about $8,700 stimulus checks from the IRS trended in the first place. In the past, similar false claims of free money for Americans originated in scammy paid ads displayed to users on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube or some other social media platform or website. Those paid ads claimed the current U.S. president, Congress, the IRS or some other government-affiliated person or body approved or would be issuing money or checks in the form of a stimulus, subsidy, incentive or benefit.

Users who clicked on those past paid ads landed on websites not affiliated with the government. Those websites asked users to fill out surveys, apparently to refer users to companies in the case they qualified for various services for homeowners, seniors or other groups of consumers. Depending on the ad, a commission fee might have been the goal of the people managing the false ads, perhaps for the referral and collection of user data.

Genuine Assistance Programs

The official government website USA.gov warns, "The government does not offer free money or grants to people for personal needs." Readers looking for legitimate websites offering federal assistance programs should refer to the following information from the same USA.gov page:

Federal assistance programs can provide financial help with living expenses or business costs. Use these free, official government websites to search for programs you might be eligible for: Each program has its own eligibility rules, application process, and deadlines.

USA.gov says consumers can report to the FTC any "free money" scams they receive in the form of texts, emails, ads or websites.

Sources:

"Advance Child Tax Credit Payments in 2021." Internal Revenue Service, https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/advance-child-tax-credit-payments-in-2021.

"Avoid 'Free Money' from the Government Scams | USAGov." USA.gov, https://www.usa.gov/no-free-money.

"Economic Impact Payment Information Center." Internal Revenue Service, https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/economic-impact-payment-information-center.

Kim, Hyung-Jin, and Kim Tong-Hyung. "Bizarre Psychological Warfare Using K-Pop and Trash Balloons Raises Tensions between the 2 Koreas." The Associated Press, 11 June 2024, https://apnews.com/article/north-korea-south-loudspeaker-trash-balloons-kpop-460f4e3d6a036a26595891210287924c.

LaMagdeleine, Izz Scott. "No, Standard Medicare Doesn't Cover 'Grocery Benefit Programs.'" Snopes, 26 Mar. 2023, https://www.snopes.com//news/2023/03/26/medicare-grocery-benefit-programs/.

Liles, Jordan. "Beware of '$3,600 Stimulus for Homeowners' Scams." Snopes, 7 Dec. 2021, https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/stimulus-homeowners-facebook/.

"Quicksand Doesn't Just Happen in Hollywood. It Happened on a Maine Beach." The Associated Press, 6 June 2024, https://apnews.com/article/maine-beach-quicksand-supersaturated-sand-4bd10fd737d283d939d99e026e209884.
Fact Check: Trump Allegedly Told Rallygoers, 'I Don't Care About You, I Just Want Your Vote.' Here's the Context

Claim:

At a June 2024 rally in Las Vegas, former U.S. President Donald Trump said, "I don't care about you, I just want your vote. I don't care."

Rating:

Rating: Correct Attribution

Context:

Viral video clips of Trump typically omitted context that made it clear he was joking.

On June 9, 2024, a video clip of former U.S. President Donald Trump on the campaign trail went viral in which he reportedly told his audience, "I don't care about you, I just want your vote. I don't care." Dozens of posts on X containing the clip racked up millions of views collectively. "Freudian slip of the century," one X user commented.

Trump: Do you feel the breeze? I don't want anybody going on me. We need every voter. I don't care about you. I just want your vote. I don't care. pic.twitter.com/IirvQs123c  Acyn (@Acyn) June 9, 2024

The clip is authentic, meaning that it was not AI-generated or digitally altered. Trump made the remark at a Las Vegas campaign rally, where he spoke for about an hour. The clip only lasted 15 seconds. We were able to find complete footage of the rally on C-SPAN, and the quote in question begins at minute 49:03.

Many Trump supporters on X reacted angrily to the clip, claiming that it presented the quote out of context.

Why did you cut of the clip when he said youd do exactly what you did? pic.twitter.com/MD5j5btnHd  Travis (@Travis_4_Trump) June 9, 2024

The missing context is that during the course of the speech, Trump commented several times on the excessively hot temperatures in Las Vegas on June 9  which exceeded 100 F  at one point saying that the Secret Service had expressed concern for the crowd's safety. Trump joked about not wanting members of the crowd to leave, claiming he didn't care about them, only their vote. The crowd met this with laughter. The more complete quote is as follows:

And by the way, isn't that breeze nice? Do you feel the breeze? Cause I don't want anybody going on me, we need every voter. I don't care about you, I just want your vote. I don't care. See now the press will take that, they'll say he said a horrible thing.

We've published multiple fact checks on quotes attributed to Trump, including that he once said a candidate under federal investigation "has no right to be running," and that he published a farewell message in April 2024 saying he could be "thrown in jail."

Sources:

Campaign 2024: Former President Trump Holds Rally in Las Vegas | C-SPAN.Org. https://www.c-span.org/video/?536150-1/president-trump-holds-rally-las-vegas. Accessed 10 June 2024.
The Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation held an international scientific and methodological conference on "Spiritual values and cultural heritage of the Turkic peoples" in the Visit Center of the Tanbaly Museum-Reserve of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The event, organized under the auspices of the Foundation, with the support of the Ministry of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Akimat of the Almaty region, the State Historical, Cultural and Natural Museum- Reserve "Tanbaly", is timed to coincide with the 20th anniversary of the inclusion of Tanbaly monuments in the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List (2004).

Within the framework of the event, the first meeting of the Advisory Council of Restorers and Architectural Historians established under the auspices of the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation in order to preserve and popularize the Turkic cultural heritage both in the countries of the Turkic world and beyond was held.

The event was attended by Advisor to the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Malik Otarbayev, President of the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation Aktoty Raimkulova, Chairperson of the Culture Committee of the Ministry of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kumis Seitova, the team of the State Institute of History and the State Historical, Cultural and Natural Reserve-Museum Tanbaly, as well as over 20 historical scientists from 6 countries.

At the conference with the participation of leading experts in Turkology (archaeologists and historians) from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkiye, Uzbekistan, as well as other Turkic peoples, prospects for regional cooperation in the field of research and protection, as well as restoration of the Turkic archaeological heritage were discussed.

Speaking at the conference president of the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation Aktoty Raimkulova noted that this conference is a single platform that unites archaeologists, historians, specialists of the Turkic world and promotes mutual exchange of experience. She underlined that the agenda of the conference includes issues such as the preservation of the cultural heritage of the Turkic peoples, as well as the development of strategies for its promotion on a global scale.

Aktoty Raimkulova highlighted the holding of the first meeting of the Advisory Council of Restorers and Architectural Historians, established under the auspices of the Foundation, within the framework of the event: "The activities of the Council include participation in the study and preservation of cultural heritage sites of the Turkic peoples, as well as in the development of restoration as an integral part of the field of preservation of architectural monuments, assistance to research and publishing activities of specialists and architectural scientists for the study and restoration of immovable cultural heritage, which will contribute to the popularization of the cultural heritage of the Turkic world".

President of the Foundation Aktoty Raimkulova expressed confidence that the conference will become a bright stage in the preservation and promotion of the Turkic cultural heritage, as well as in the development of the scientific and practical potential of the Turkic world.

The event also included the opening of the scientific and restoration laboratory of rock paintings in the visit center of the State Historical, Cultural and Natural "Tanbaly" Museum-Reserve.
Former President Donald Trump has falsely claimed over and over this year that Iran was so impoverished because of his policies as president that it did not provide any money to terror groups like Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in the Palestinian territories.

Iran was, as you know, they were broke. They werent funding Hamas, and they werent funding anything. They werent funding Hezbollah, Trump, now the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, said in a May interview with right-wing host Dan Bongino.

In a June interview with Phil McGraw, the personality known as Dr. Phil, Trump claimed Hamas would have never perpetrated its October attack on Israel if he had still been president, because Iran was broke and Iran wasnt funding Hamas and they werent funding any of the terrorists  Hezbollah, all of them, theres like 28 of them.

Facts First: Trumps claim that Iran wasnt funding Hezbollah, Hamas or any other terror group during his presidency is false. Irans funding for such groups did decline in the second half of his presidency, in large part because his sanctions on Iran had a major negative impact on the Iranian economy, but the funding never stopped entirely, as four experts told CNN this week. Trumps own administration said in 2020 that Iran was continuing to fund terror groups including Hezbollah.

Trump could have fairly said that his sanctions on Iran had made life more difficult for terror groups (though its unclear how much their operations were affected). Instead, he continued his years-old practice of exaggerating even legitimate achievements.

Pompeo said Iran continued to fund terror in 2020. Experts agree

Research institutions in the US and Israel have reported that Irans financial relationship with Hamas actually grew stronger in 2017, the first calendar year of Trumps presidency, after several years of frostiness related to divisions between Tehran and Hamas over the war in Syria.

The Trump administration began imposing sanctions on Iran in late 2018, pursuing a campaign known as maximum pressure. But Trump-appointed Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said himself in 2020 that Iran was continuing to fund terror groups.

So you continue to have, in spite of the Iranian leadership demanding that more money be given to them, they are using the resources that they have to continue funding Hezbollah in Lebanon and threatening the state of Israel, funding Iraqi terrorist Shia groups, all the things that they have done historically  continuing to build out their capabilities even while the people inside of their own country are suffering, Pompeo said in a May 2020 interview, according to a transcript posted on the State Departments website.

Earlier that week, during a visit to Israel, Pompeo told reporters that the Trump administrations effort to limit the money the Iranian regime has available to inflict harm around the world has borne fruit, it has been successful, but added, Were going to stay at it. There is still work to do on that file as well. He said, Even during this pandemic, the Iranians [are] using the ayatollahs, the regimes, resources to foment terror across the world even when the people of Iran are struggling so mightily.

Four experts told CNN this week that Irans funding for Hezbollah and Hamas never vanished under Trump.

It absolutely did not and has not, said Ali Vaez, Iran project director at the International Crisis Group.

Definitely it didnt stop. It decreased, yes, said Hanin Ghaddar, senior fellow at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy.

I would say it slowed down, but it never stopped entirely, said Colin Clarke, director of research at The Soufan Group.

Iran has never ceased funding many of its core proxy groups such as Hezbollah, said Phillip Smyth, who studies Irans proxies. They are hyper-focused on continuing these relationships and proxy building efforts. However, sanctions do take a toll on some of their operations/abilities to build proxies.

A funding cut, but funding continued

Iran does not disclose how much money it gives to Hezbollah, Hamas and other foreign armed groups. Brian Hook, who served as the State Departments special representative for Iran under Trump, claimed in 2019 that Iran has provided Hezbollah almost $700 million annually and gave more than $100 million a year to Palestinian terrorist groups like Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

Hook declined in June 2020 to publicly say how much less money Iran was spending on foreign activities than it had before Trump launched the pressure campaign, but he pointedly noted media reports about Iranian proxies receiving less than they had before. Pompeo also touted this reduction in August 2020.

In 2019, The Washington Post published an in-depth report explaining that, because Irans financial situation had been worsened by Trump policy, Hezbollah had seen a sharp fall in its revenue and is being forced to make draconian cuts to its spending, according to Hezbollah officials, members and supporters. Reuters published a report in 2020 about how Iran had slashed its payments to Shiite militia groups in Iraq because of the impact of the US sanctions and the Covid-19 pandemic.

And Iran reduced its publicly disclosed military budget under Trump. The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, which monitors countries military spending, reported that Iranian military spending declined 20% between 2018 and 2020.

Still, theres no doubt Irans unspecified spending on foreign armed groups continued to some significant extent even after these cuts. The State Departments report on international terrorism in 2020 made clear that Iranian support for terror entities endured in the last calendar year of Trumps term.

Iran continued to support acts of terrorism regionally and globally during 2020. Regionally, Iran supported proxies and partner groups in Bahrain, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen, including Hizballah and Hamas, the report, released in 2021, said. Senior (al Qaeda) leaders continued to reside in Iran and facilitate terrorist operations from there. Globally, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force remained the primary Iranian actors involved in supporting terrorist recruitment, financing, and plots across Europe, Africa, and Asia, and both Americas.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Delays and glitches in the rollout of a new federal financial aid form have complicated things for prospective and returning college and university students nationwide, especially those in the greatest need of financial aid.

The launch of a revamped Free Application for Federal Student Aid form, meant to update and streamline the process, has been riddled with issues. This year's form did not open for applications until months later than usual. That has delayed financial aid decisions for millions nationwide. A glitch requiring a Social Security number for parents of students also added to the delays.

In Tennessee, several schools mounted campaigns to keep students updated on the latest changes and push them to complete their FAFSA. The state also extended its FAFSA filing deadline by several months to Aug. 1. But the application isn't just for securing federal aid  it's also required for all students who wish to receive any form of financial aid for college, including scholarships, grants and other assistance.

So how will this affect enrollment and finances at school across the state? With an untold number of students still completing the FAFSA and financial aid process, the full impact will not be seen until well into the fall semester. Still, there are some early indicators the delays are taking their toll in Tennessee.

What to know: Haven't completed your FAFSA? The Tennessee deadline for aid is extended to Aug. 1

Fisk University, a highly-ranked, private and historically Black university in Nashville, gained Metro Council approval earlier this month to repurpose roughly $8.5 million in federal pandemic relief money to cover a financial shortfall. The money is left over from $10 million originally earmarked for renovating Fisk's historic Burrus Hall. The request, in part, was driven by FAFSA issues, according to Fisk President Agenia Clark. She said Fisk's finances are stable, but also acknowledged recent setbacks.

"Much like other colleges and universities across the nation, Fisks financial stability has been challenged by post-pandemic shortfalls in enrollment patterns, gifts and contributions and FAFSA processes," Clark said in an email.

The Tennessean reached out to several private and public schools around Tennessee to ask how they're navigating FAFSA issues and how they are supporting students. Here's what they had to say.

$8.5 million: Nashville OKs use of COVID-19 relief funds to stabilize rocky Fisk University finances

Austin Peay State University

Austin Peay State University, a public university in Clarksville, introduced a "tuition guarantee" that locked in tuition rates for full-time freshman enrolling for the first time. The students were able to use a tuition calculator offered by APSU that helped them understand the cost of tuition amid FAFSA delays.

"To mitigate the FAFSA delays, Austin Peay developed a calculator and gave guaranteed early award estimates to students in order to help them plan for the fall semester," Randi Robinson, APSU's executive director of student financial aid and scholarship, said in an email. "If a students final eligibility came in lower than the estimate, we are funding the difference."

Robinson said most of the estimates were accurate, and helped alleviate uncertainty for students and families. Summer semester enrollment was not impacted at APSU, since it relies on the 2023-24 FAFSA information. However, Robinson said it is too soon to tell how the delays will affect fall enrollment.

People walk across the Austin Peay State University Campus on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2020, in Clarksville, Tenn.

Belmont University

FAFSA delays have not had a major impact on summer enrollment at Belmont University, a private Christian school in Nashville, according to Vice President for Enrollment Services Chris Gage. He expects its 2024-25 enrollments to be within 1% of the current academic year's figures. Still, there is still uncertainty.

"Belmont's undergraduate applications for fall 2024 are at an all-time high," Gage said in an email. "With FAFSA delays, we will not have a complete picture of how that translates into enrollment yield until after classes begin."

Fisk University

Clark, the Fisk University president, said the university is bracing for impact from FAFSA issues because a high percentage of the students it serves are depending on financial aid.

"While the interest in attending Fisk has grown, the FAFSA failure has resulted in significant delays in getting student aid letters to interested students and interested students can't make a decision until they have letters from Fisk and all of their schools of interest," Clark siad. "We are in a stage of 'not knowing' and that is very uncomfortable for a small university that is tuition dependent."

Clark did not provide any concrete numbers on enrollment or financial impacts so far.

A look inside the common area inside Mary D. Shane dormitory at Fisk University in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022.

Lipscomb University

Lipscomb University spokesperson Kim Chaudoin said it's still too early to assess the impact of FAFSA delays on the the private Nashville university's enrollment and finances. "Keeping our current and prospective students informed about the FAFSA delays and the status of packaging as well as encouraging them to complete the FAFSA to maximize their aid have been important priorities for us over the past few months," she said.

The university used one-on-one conversations with university representatives, in-person sessions during campus visits, emails, newsletters and frequent updates on the university website and social media to provide updates. It also used a direct mail campaign.

Middle Tennessee State University

A person walks in front of a mural on the Wiser-Patten Science Hall at Middle Tennessee State University on Friday afternoon Nov. 10, 2023, in Murfreesboro, Tenn, as leaves change across campus and yellow leaves carpet the grass.

MTSU quickly took action when the first rumblings of FAFSA issues began early last year, according to Becca Smitty, director of MT One Stop. Her department handles student enrollment and connects them with resources across the public university, which is based in Murfreesboro.. The team created a dedicated FAFSA updates page on the university website, along with communicating with parents and students via email, social media and recruiting events. The school also promoted a video from MTSU President Sidney McPhee emphasizing the importance of filing their FAFSA so they wouldn't miss out on financial aid.

Smitty, like others, said the school won't know the full impact of the FAFSA delays until the fall semester beings.

"Fall enrollment has been impacted nationwide by the delays. Our most impacted population, those underserved and low-income families, typically come through orientation in late summer," she said.

Tennessee Technological University

Last year, Tennessee Tech created a "FAFSA Simplified" team that offered webinars and live virtual events to make sure students and families could navigate the financial aid process with support. The public university, based in Cookeville, also extended the timeline for when it offers scholarships to accommodate the FAFSA delays.

"As a result of these efforts, the university is trending ahead of last years registration numbers for freshman orientation and is on pace to welcome another large freshman class this fall," Mary McCaskey, the university's associate vice president for enrollment and student success, said in an emailed statement.

University of Tennessee

The University of Tennessee System has five campuses across Tennessee, with its main campus in Knoxville. It also has campuses in Chattanooga, Pulaski, Martin and the Health Science Center in Memphis. Each campus has been proactive in communication with students and families as FAFSA delays have rippled nationwide, according to Bernie Savarese, who serves as the system's vice president for academic affairs, research and student success.

He said comprehensive enrollment data for this fall will not be available until several weeks after the semester begins, but all campuses are seeing strong enrollment and positive indicators for new students. He also does not anticipate any significant financial issues for the system as a whole.

"Our campuses are closely monitoring the FAFSA process for new and continuing students and are providing targeted support to ensure students can enroll as planned," he said in an email.

Vanderbilt University

Students walk past the Faye and Joe Wyatt Center at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn., Monday, Nov. 27, 2023.

Vanderbilt University, the state's largest private university, said it does not anticipate any negative enrollment or financial impacts from FAFSA processing issues at its main Nashville campus, according to spokesperson Julia Jordan.

"We communicated with students via email, text and our websites, informing them of issues with the FAFSA and how Vanderbilt would respond in assisting students," she said in an email. "We have also responded to emails and phone calls from families who are concerned about delays with the FAFSA."

More information at FAFSA, Tennessee resources

Information on the FAFSA, scholarship opportunities at several public schools in Tennessee and more resources can be found at FourTheFutureTN.com/FAFSA.

The FAFSA application, along with more information, can be found at StudentAid.gov.

Reach children's reporter Rachel Wegner at RAwegner@tennessean.com or follow her on Twitter, Threads and Bluesky @RachelAnnWegner.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: FAFSA delays: Tennessee schools ramp up outreach amid uncertainty
DENVER (KDVR)  Sen. Faith Winter will be subject to an ethics investigation by a Colorado Senate panel after she appeared intoxicated at a community meeting in Northglenn earlier this year, according to the Senate Democrats.

Winter was part of an April 3 panel focused on a proposed mental health transitional living facility, which was garnering community pushback because of its location near a school and a church. Winter, a Democrat, is the assistant majority leader in the Colorado Senate and represents portions of Adams, Broomfield and Weld counties  including Northglenn.

GOPs Valdamar Archuleta condemns Colorado party chair

Winter arrived late for the meeting and stumbled in her speech at points. After, Winter told The Colorado Sun she was seeking alcoholism treatment.

According to Andy Bixler, the Senate Democrats public information officer, fellow senators are launching an ethics investigation into whether she committed an ethical breach by showing up in her official capacity while under the influence of alcohol. The Senate panel will be made up of James Coleman, president pro tempore of the Senate Democrats; Dylan Roberts, a Democrat; Paul Lundeen, Senate minority leader; Bob Gardner, assistant minority leader; and Julie Gonzales, the Senate majority whip, who will also serve as the panels chair.

Northglenn council pushed for ethics complaint against Faith Winter

On April 4, Winters apologized for her actions at the town hall and stepped down from her role as chair of the Transportation and Energy committee to focus on my health, she said at the time. On May 1, Northglenn City Council unanimously approved a resolution authorizing the mayor to file an ethics complaint against Winter with the Colorado Senate.

In their resolution, Northglenn council members alleged that individuals were suggesting to Winter that she find a ride home after the April 3 meeting instead of driving herself.

The ethics complaint filed by Northglenn council focuses on Winters conduct as an elected representative of the city, with the resolution language stating she undermined the integrity of her office as a Senator representing the constituents of the City, and demonstrated an inability to perform her legislative duties in a manner that promotes public confidence.

While the City is sensitive to the disease of alcoholism, there is simply no excuse for showing up to a community meeting under the influence of alcohol, the Northglenn mayors letter reads. From the City Councils perspective, this is at a minimum a dereliction of her legislative duties under Rule 41(a.5) as set forth below.

Possibility of ranked-choice voting in Colorado faces a hurdle with new law

That rule states that the person who holds a legislative office is to be respectful of the confidence placed in that member, and shall perform his or her legislative duties at all times in a manner that promotes public confidence in the integrity and independence of the Senate and of the General Assembly.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
The V-22 Osprey that crashed off the coast of Japan last November has brought the aircrafts safety record back under scrutiny  but this time without one of its most vocal defenders.

Air Force Maj. Jeff Hoernemann had piloted the Osprey for more than a decade. Each time a new accident or incident occurred, youd find him online, defending the warplane through his Reddit account, UR_WRONG_ABOUT_V22.

This image provided by the Hoernemann family shows Air Force Maj. Jeff Hoernemann as he flies a CV-22B Osprey in support of Operation Freedom's Sentinel in 2021. He died in an Osprey crash in November. (The Hoernemann Family via AP)

In November he and seven others were killed when their Air Force Special Operations Command CV-22B Osprey crashed off the coast of Japan.

The Japan crash has reverberated deeply within the Osprey community and left the grieving families with the need to maintain a delicate balance. They know the crews were passionate about the Osprey, because it is fast and performs like no other aircraft in the fleet. But the crashes keep happening, and none of them can stomach the idea of another family facing this kind of grief.

Would Jeff want it grounded forever? No, he absolutely would not, his mother, Cathy Hoernemann, said in an interview with The Associated Press. But I cant sit on my hands and wait for the next story of another crash, because I feel in my heart that if things continue like they are, its a matter of time, and its going to happen again, and then another family will be destroyed.

On Wednesday, the House Oversight Committees national security subcommittee will hold a hearing on the Ospreys safety record and whether the program has adequate Pentagon oversight. Its the first of several reviews and congressional investigations prompted by the November crash.

The V-22 Osprey is first-generation tiltrotor technology for the U.S. military, which allows operators to fly long distances fast like an airplane, then tilt its massive rotors and engines to land on target like a helicopter. Its been in design since the 1980s but only started military operations in 2007.

There are about 400 Ospreys across the Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force, at a cost of about $80 million each, and manufacturers Bell Flight and Boeing arent making more. A new generation tiltrotor aircraft is in the works by Bell that incorporates substantial design changes, including engines that do not rotate to a vertical position, which is an aspect of the Osprey thats been a flashpoint in past accidents.

In the months since the Japan crash theres been a sense that this accident produced a sea change in confidence in the Osprey. It also exposed an uneven divide among the services on the Ospreys role in their fleets moving forward. After a monthslong grounding following the November accident, the Marine Corps moved aggressively to get its Ospreys back in the air. The Air Force has taken a slower, more cautious approach  and its leadership is already talking publicly about looking for a different aircraft to carry out its special operations mission in the future. The Navy said its Ospreys also have not returned to their mission of flying passengers to aircraft carriers, and at a May Senate appropriations hearing a senior Navy acquisition official said each variant still has flight restrictions.

The Marine Corps, which bought hundreds of Ospreys to replace the CH-46 helicopter, plans on keeping the aircraft in its fleet until at least 2050. Families who spoke to the AP said that if the Osprey is going to keep flying they want Bell Flight, Boeing and the Pentagons V-22 joint program office to make the design changes necessary to make the aircraft safe.

Theyve tried through lawsuits and media attention, and through the late and outspoken North Carolina Republican Rep. Walter Jones, who over two decades of hearings and investigations and until his death in 2019, would not let attention on the programs challenges fade.

Despite intermittent fixes, V-22 components wear out faster than anticipated or fail in unexpected ways, causing flight risks. Instead of committing to a design overhaul, the answer to date has been to train Osprey pilots to fly around the problems.

I believe that continuing to fly under the circumstances is a big risk, but of necessity as the services are completely dependent on the V-22, said Rex Rivolo, a former Osprey program evaluator who has raised safety concerns about the aircraft for the past two decades.

Trish Brows husband, Lt. Col. John Brow, was killed in one of the Ospreys earliest major accidents, an April 2000 crash in Marana, Arizona, that killed 19 Marines.

In the blurred months afterward, a fellow Osprey pilot, Lt. Col. Keith Sweaney, reached out to her.

He told me that they were making changes as far as rate of descent, that it was going to be safer for them moving forward, Brow said.

Sweaney died not long afterward, in a North Carolina Osprey crash in December 2000 that killed him and three other Marines.

When he crashed, that was shocking, Brow said.

After the Marana crash, Brow and Connie Gruber, whose husband, Marine Corps Maj. Brooks Gruber, died in the same accident, settled one of the first Osprey family lawsuits with Bell and Boeing for an undisclosed amount.

Since then there have been 10 more fatal Osprey accidents and other crashes where the aircraft was destroyed but all on board lived.

Its a gut punch every time one of those happens. Why? Just because youre like, Oh God, here it comes again, Brow said. You just want to shake your head and say, Cant you guys get it right? "

Last month, four more families filed a new lawsuit against Bell, Boeing and the Ospreys engine manufacturer, Rolls Royce. The lawsuit stems from a 2022 crash in Glamis, California, that killed five Marines and accuses the manufacturers of failing to meet safety standards and address known parts failures that contributed to the accident.

When an Osprey crash would occur, Amber Sax would turn to her husband, Osprey pilot and Marine Corps Capt. John Sax, for an understanding of what happened and reassurance from him about its safety.

She worried privately about the risks. But she knew her husband loved flying the Osprey so much hed turned down a slot to fly Marine Corps fighter jets to get the MV-22 instead.

When news of the Glamis accident spread, Amber was at home pregnant with their second child.

I never, ever once had a conversation with John of I dont want you flying these, I dont want you doing this anymore. Lets get out. What are our options? I never once said that to him, Sax said. But when I was waiting for the knock on the door, and I didnt know whether it was him or not, all I kept thinking was, as soon as he gets home, Im telling him, I dont think I can do it. Youre going to have to walk me through this. Are you going to keep flying this aircraft?

Sax was one of the five Marines killed, and his wife is among those now suing.

Both Boeing and Bell declined to comment, citing the ongoing litigation.

Cathy Hoernemann learned about her sons Reddit account at his funeral, when fellow Osprey pilots shared stories about how much theyd loved him. She has submitted a statement to the subcommittee about her concerns with the Osprey.

Every fatal crash has occurred because something went wrong during flight, not due to enemy fire, which has hit hard, she said.

I decided that if Im going to honor my son and not let this go down as just another really bad accident, that I cannot look these young men and women in the eye and wait for another mishap, Hoernemann said.

These men and women get in these planes on a daily basis, trusting, just like Jeff did, youre going to go home, that its going to work like it should. It should be safe, she said, her voice halting. It should be safe.
Elaine Concannon has been battling her 91-year-old mothers credit card company for more than a year after she said dozens of fraudulent charges totally more than $3,000 suddenly showed up on her statement in 2022.

Its terrible for anybody that has an elderly parent, Concannon said. She was 89 [years old] at the time and she kind of just put it aside.

Concannon said the problem started after her mother vacationed in Florida with her grandchildren in the fall of 2022. The following month, Concannon said dozens of charges totally $3,062.67 appearing to be from various Texas energy companies showed up on her mothers statement. Concannon said her mother has never been to Texas and doesnt know how her credit card information became compromised.

She didnt do anything wrong. She was having fun at Disney [World] and then someone started having fun with her credit card, Concannon said.

Concannon tried to dispute the charges with Citibank for more than a year. Documents show the case was closed by Citibank because the familys information wasnt sufficient to resolve the dispute. A Citibank spokesperson told Boston 25 theyre looking into the situation.

Concannons issue comes on the heels of a recent report that says Massachusetts residents over the age of 60 lost more than $70 million to fraud in 2022. The cybersecurity website VPNPro analyzed 2022 fraud data from the FBI and FTC and found Massachusetts had a total of 1,653 fraud victims over the age of 60 with an average loss of $42,408 lost per victim.

As a retiree or soon-to-be retiree, youre one of the markets [criminals] go after, said Rob Fitzgerald, a cybersecurity consultant with Blue Mantis. They want you for your 401k, your real estate trust or your social security check. They can grab your credentials and your credit cards and before youre even aware, they can max those [accounts] out.

VPNPro found people aged 60 and older were 517 percent more likely to be victims of an online tech support scam than those aged between 18 and 59. The most successful types of fraud targeting seniors involved investment scams, business imposter scams and romance scams, VPNPro found.

Better Business Bureau spokesperson Paula Fleming said its important for grown children to have conversations with parents about preventing fraud.

Sit down and show them these scams are happening. Give them examples. Tell them to not provide personal or financial information over the phone.

The BBB has a section on its website dedicated to helping older adults avoid scams, including a list of red flags they should watch for:

Free, low cost, or buy one, get one deal

Request for unusual payment types (i.e. prepaid debit cards or wired funds)

Claims that you only pay postage or administrative fees

Pressure to act now and/or aggressive tones

Deals that must be secured with a credit card or bank account information

Sure-fire investment opportunities

Charities that send 100% of your donation directly to the victim

Concannon recommends families pay close attention to older parents bank accounts and credit card statements.

If you have elderly parents just start watching their credit card bills as they come in, she said.

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Glass water pipes, also known as "bongs." (Photo by Getty Images).

Last year the Minnesota Legislature decriminalized drug paraphernalia, even if it contains drug residue. The change represented a step back from the drug war tactics of previous decades, with an eye toward treating substance abuse as a public health problem, rather than a criminal justice concern.

But one obscure relic of the war on drug paraphernalia got overlooked, and was not included in the decriminalization bill: a provision in state law that treats bong water  the water at the bottom of a smoking device, used to cool and purify the intoxicating smoke  as a controlled substance, no different than the uncut version of whatever illicit drug the bong was used to smoke.

People dont consume bong water, but some prosecutors still use it as evidence to charge drug defendants with more serious crimes than they otherwise would be eligible for.

Just ask Jessica Beske.

On May 8, the 43-year-old Fargo resident was pulled over for speeding on Highway 59 in Polk County, Minnesota, according to charging documents. Deputies smelled marijuana and searched the car, where they allege they found a bong, a glass jar containing a crystal substance, and some items of paraphernalia, including pipes.

The residue on the paraphernalia tested positive for methamphetamine, as did the water in the bong and the substance in the glass jar. Deputies further reported that the bong water weighed 8 ounces and, somewhat confusingly, that the crystal substance weighed 13.2 grams in total with the packaging.

Beske says the packaging is the glass jar, and that the reason deputies included the jar in the weight is that there wasnt a measurable quantity of substance in it. She maintains she had no drugs on her, only paraphernalia containing residue. Thats precisely the sort of offense that lawmakers decriminalized in the 2023 bill.

But the Polk County prosecutor has instead charged her with first-degree felony possession, which carries a penalty of up to 30 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine.

Its because of the bong water.

For charging purposes under state law, 8 ounces of bong water is considered the same as 8 ounces of pure methamphetamine. Thats well over the 50-gram threshold necessary to trigger a first-degree felony offense.

The legislative intent behind the weight-based thresholds is to approximate whether a person is an end user or a dealer, said Kurtis Hanna, a longtime Minnesota drug reform advocate. The fact that some county prosecutors are subverting that clear intent and are charging end users as though they are wholesalers, ruining their lives in the process, is shameful.

Deputies also seized Beskes car and $2,400 in cash and intend to permanently forfeit them under a state law that allows authorities to take vehicles used to transport controlled substances intended for distribution or sale, and cash that represents the proceeds of a controlled substance offense.

Beske says she won the cash at the casino that night, and when she was pulled over she had a tax form from the casino to prove it.

The charges are baffling to her. Its against common sense, she said in an interview. Its against everybodys common sense.

The war on paraphernalia

Bong water was written into law following a 2009 state Supreme Court case, State vs. Peck, in which a divided court ruled that water in a pipe could be considered a drug mixture under the legal definition, and hence could count toward substance weights used to determine offense severity.

The justices relied, in part, on the testimony of a Minnesota State Patrol officer who claimed that drug users keep bong water for future use either drinking it or shooting it in the veins.

Three of the courts seven justices dissented. Bong water is usually discarded when the smoker is finished with consumption of the smoke filtered through the bong water, they wrote. A person is not more dangerous, or likely to wreak more havoc, based on the amount of bong water that person possesses.

The 2009 decision garnered national headlines and made the state the butt of countless jokes. The following year, legislators passed a bill exempting bong water quantities of less than 4 ounces from the legal definition of mixture. Despite unanimous support in the Senate and the votes of all but two House members, then-governor Tim Pawlenty vetoed it.

Pawlenty, who was by then preparing for a presidential run, defended the veto on The Daily Show by saying he did it at the behest of law enforcement.

The bong water exception was reintroduced the following year. It was opposed by the Minnesota County Attorneys Association, with the groups executive director testifying that drug traffickers would mix methamphetamine into water, transport it, and then evaporate the water to sell the meth.

But the bill passed again and was signed into law by newly elected Gov. Mark Dayton. The 4-ounce standard remains on the books today. Kurtis Hanna says its a purely arbitrary limit: There doesnt seem to be any good reason why 4 ounces is ok, but 5 is not.

An uncommon offense

Bong water prosecutions dont appear to be common, but they do happen. In 2013, a Waseca man spent seven months in prison on a 6.5 year sentence for possessing half an ounce of bong water that tested positive for methamphetamine.

But he was released when attorneys discovered that neither his prosecutor, his defense lawyer nor the judge in the case realized that the bong water in question was well under the possession threshold.

Reached via phone, Robert Small, the current executive director of the Minnesota County Attorneys Association, asked somewhat incredulously if anyone was actually charging bong water cases in the state today. When informed of the Polk County case, he suggested contacting the county attorney there and said he couldnt offer any other relevant information.

Scott Buhler, the assistant county attorney prosecuting Beskes case, said I will not comment on any pending cases. The criminal complaint filed in Ms. Beskes case speaks for itself. He added that his office simply enforces the laws of this state as written.

A zealous prosecution

Buhler gained statewide attention in 2014 when the Star Tribune reported he was one of the few attorneys in the state charging people for violating an archaic law requiring them to pay taxes on illicit drugs.

I simply charge it a lot because it leaves all options available regarding plea bargaining and sentencing, he said at the time. Lawmakers tried, but ultimately failed, to repeal that tax during this legislative session.

That philosophy may explain why hes throwing the book at Beske. In addition to first-degree possession, he charged her with a violation of the illicit drug tax law, which carries the potential for seven years in prison and a $14,000 fine. She was also charged with refusing a drug test at the time of her arrest.

But that tough-on-crime mentality is increasingly out of step in a state where marijuana is legal and lawmakers on both sides of the political aisle have acknowledged that harsh criminal penalties dont address addiction or underlying mental health issues.

Earlier this year a drug policy report commissioned by the Legislature concluded that arresting people for drug use does not deter future use, crime recidivism, arrest, or incarceration, and that imprisonment does not impact rates of drug use or arrest. It noted that people released from prison are at a heightened risk for drug overdose.

Beske acknowledges she has a substance abuse problem. She says it began while she was in the process of leaving an abusive ex.

The only thing Im guilty of is using substances to lessen my mental suffering caused by a sick and abusive predator, she said. Addicts  women especially  are made to feel like public enemy number one, when in fact most of us have been victims of serious crime that will never be prosecuted.

The thought of 30 years in prison makes her despair. Its just gonna make my life worse and make me want to use drugs more, she said. Thats why people use drugs mostly, is to cope.

This story was originally produced by the Minnesota Reformer which is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network, including the Daily Montanan, supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity.

The post Fargo woman facing 30 years in prison for bong water appeared first on Daily Montanan.
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA)  A Fayetteville man was sentenced to 18 years in prison on Friday for injuring a police officer who was trying to arrest him, according to court documents.

Logan Dorman, 23

(Courtesy: Washington County Detention Center)

Logan Dorman, 23, pleaded guilty to first-degree battery against a police officer, being a felon in possession of a firearm, resisting arrest, three fleeing charges, possession of methamphetamine, two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia and two counts of possession of a controlled substance among other charges.

He was sentenced to 30 years at the Arkansas Department of Correction on the battery charge with 12 years suspended. The sentences from numerous other cases will run concurrently with the battery sentence.

Court documents say Dorman dragged an officer who was holding onto him and his vehicle. The officer hit his head on the concrete, causing serious injury and required nine staples to close.

Decatur man arrested for attempted capital murder in connection with alleged road rage incident

The prosecutors short report said while fleeing from police, Dorman purposely hit another persons vehicle, causing up to $5,000 in damage.

Dorman knowingly resisted law enforcement attempting to affect an arrest by repeatedly pulling his arms free and crashing both himself and the officer into a vehicle, the report said.

While police tried to arrest him, the report said Dorman fled on foot twice.

The report also mentioned that Dorman broke into multiple vehicles stealing more than $1,000 of property and had stolen credit cards, more than 10 grams of meth, and usable amounts of clonazepam and alprazolam.

The prosecutor said Dorman violated the terms of his probation by committing new felony offenses and failing to pay his court-ordered obligations.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KNWA FOX24.
A federal advisory panel on Monday voted in favor of recommending Eli Lillys new drug that is under consideration for its potential to slow the progression of Alzheimers disease.

The Food and Drug Administrations (FDA) Peripheral and Central Nervous System Drugs Advisory Committee met Monday to discuss Eli Lillys donanemab.

The committees voting members were asked to vote on the question, Do the available data show that donanemab is effective for the treatment of Alzheimers disease in the population enrolled in the clinical trials with mild cognitive impairment and mild dementia?

The drug works by binding to and removing amyloid plaques, which are believed to damage brain cells and contribute to cell death.

In data presented to the committee, representatives for Eli Lilly noted a 29 percent slowing in disease progression compared to a placebo group when rated by the Clinical Dementia Rating ScaleSum of Boxes scoring system. This was observed after 76 weeks of administration.

When scored using the Integrated Alzheimers Disease Rating Scale (iADRS) assessment, a 22 percent slowing in disease progression was observed compared to the placebo group within the same time frame.

All 11 voting members of the committee voted yes on the question of whether the available data supported donanemab as an effective treatment for mild dementia. Several members said they voted yes as they felt there was an acceptable level of risk when compared to the data.

Some members, however, expressed concern with the lack of Black and Hispanic participants in the trial.

A future with more approved Alzheimers treatments is a tremendous advancement for people eligible for these drugs. Progress with treatment is happening, Joanne Pike, president and CEO of the Alzheimers Association, said in a statement.

Now we need more types of treatments, targeting a variety of aspects of the disease, with greater efficacy and safety, Pike added. This will lead to possibilities for combination therapies that address the complexity of the disease.

The progressive consumer rights group Public Citizen spoke out against approving donanemab following the committees vote. The group argued in a testimony that the results of the study, particularly the results using the iADRS scale, indicated the drug was unlikely to be clinically meaningful.

The advisory committee meeting was very disappointing. The essential issue was not the specifics of the potential prescribing information for donanemab but whether the drug should be approved to begin with, Robert Steinbrook, director of Public Citizens Health Research Group, said in a statement following the vote.

The FDA has approved two other Alzheimers treatments in recent years, although one is no longer being sold. The agency approved Biogens Aduhelm in 2021, making it the first Alzheimers treatment approved in 20 years. However, evidence that the drug actually worked was lacking, and Biogen ultimately gave up ownership of Aduhelm earlier this year.

Last year, the FDA approved Leqembi, also made by Biogen, after it was shown to moderately slow the progression of Alzheimers.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, June 11. The Ministries of Energy of Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan have signed an interdepartmental agreement on cooperation for the Kambarata-1 hydropower plant (HPP) construction project, Trend reports.

According to the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan, the document was signed following the International Investment Energy Forum in Vienna.

In total, five documents related to the energy sector were signed at the forum, and a coordinating donor committee was established for the construction of Kambarata-1 HPP.

The International Investment Energy Forum in Vienna focused on the Kambarata-1 HPP construction project. The forum was organized by the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan with the support of the World Bank Group and the assistance of the Austrian government. During the forum, Kyrgyzstan also presented other initiatives related to clean energy.

More than 200 representatives and leaders of international financial organizations, delegations from Central Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and private investors participated in the event.

To note, the Kambarata-1 on the Naryn river is the largest hydroelectric project in Kyrgyzstan and is expected to become one of Central Asia's largest hydropower ventures. Once completed, the HPP will have a capacity of 1,860 MW and will produce 5.6 billion kWh of electricity per year. Preliminary estimates indicate that the dam will be 256 meters high and that the reservoir will hold more than 5.4 billion cubic meters of water.
TechCrunch

Fidelity Investments, one of the world's largest asset managers, has confirmed that over 77,000 customers had personal information compromised during an August data breach, including Social Security numbers and driver's licenses. The Boston, Massachusetts-based investment firm said in a filing with Maines attorney general on Wednesday that an unnamed third party accessed information from its systems between August 17 and August 19 "using two customer accounts that they had recently established. We detected this activity on August 19 and immediately took steps to terminate the access, Fidelity said in a letter sent to those affected, adding that the incident did not involve any access to customers Fidelity accounts.
FILE - The U.S. District Courthouse for the District of Minnesota is shown on Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021, in St. Paul, Minn. Attorneys for LGBTQ+ youth, teachers and major publishers asked a federal appeals court Tuesday, June 11, 2024, to affirm a lower court order that blocked key parts of an Iowa law that bans books depicting sex acts from school libraries and classrooms for all grades, and forbids teachers from raising gender identity and sexual orientation issues with younger students. (AP Photo/Nikolas Liepins, File)

MINNEAPOLIS (AP)  Attorneys for LGBTQ+ youth, teachers and major publishers asked a federal appeals court Tuesday to affirm a lower court order that blocked key parts of an Iowa law banning books depicting sex acts from school libraries and classrooms.

The law, which the Republican-led Legislature and GOP Gov. Kim Reynolds approved in 2023, also forbids teachers from raising gender identity and sexual orientation issues with younger students. It resulted in the removal of hundreds of books from Iowa schools before U.S. District Judge Stephen Locher blocked its enforcement in December, calling it incredibly broad.

Iowa students are entitled to express and receive diverse viewpoints at school. But the State  taking aim at already vulnerable LGBTQ+ students  seeks to silence them, erase from schools any recognition that LGBTQ+ people exist, and bully students, librarians, and teachers into quiet acquiescence, attorneys for the students wrote in a brief ahead of Tuesday's oral arguments before a three-judge panel of the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Paul, Minnesota.

In addition to schools removing books with LGBTQ+ themes from libraires, they also shut down extracurricular clubs dealing with those issues and removed pride flags from classrooms, the students attorneys wrote. Students had to censor themselves about their gender identities and sexual orientations, according to the attorneys.

Attorneys for the state of Iowa argued that the law is constitutional and that the state has a right to enforce it.

The governments interest in ensuring an education suitable to students age and in preventing minor students exposure to inappropriate material is a legitimate, compelling, even substantial one. And removing from school library shelves books that describe or depict sex acts is reasonably related to that legitimate interest. they wrote in their brief.

Iowa enacted its law amid a wave of similar legislation across the country. The proposals have typically come from Republican lawmakers, who say the laws are designed to affirm parents rights and protect children. The laws often seek to prohibit discussion of gender and sexual orientation issues, ban treatments such as puberty blockers for transgender children, and restrict the use of restrooms in schools. Many have prompted court challenges.

The organization Iowa Safe Schools and seven students, represented by the American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa and Lambda Legal, sued to challenge the law in November. A separate challenge was filed later the same week by the Iowa State Education Association teachers union, publisher Penguin Random House and four authors. The cases were combined for Tuesday's hearing before the federal appeals court.

Iowa Solicitor General Eric Wessan argued that the plaintiffs lack standing to challenge the law because it can be enforced only against school districts and their employees, not students. He said in his brief that the law, when it comes to curating books in public school libraries, regulates government speech, not private speech, and therefore is not subject to First Amendment protection.

No matter which way the court rules, either it will be extending the government speech doctrine to public school libraries for the first time, or it will be, for the first time, finding some type of First Amendment protected right for school library books in the 8th Circuit," Wessan told the three judges. "Either way, new ground is going to be broken."

Frederick Sperling, an attorney for Penguin Random House, urged the appeals court to affirm the lower court's ruling that the law is unconstitutional on its face in all circumstances.

Judge James Loken pointed out that the 8th Circuit historically has disfavored facial challenges and prefers narrower challenges to laws as applied in specific sets of circumstances. He suggested that winning limited challenges would send adequate messages to school districts about what they can do.

The question before this court is not whether some of the books the state defendants can point to can be constitutionally removed from school libraries," Sperling said. "They can, and they have been under existing law before the adoption of (the new law). The question thats actually before this court is whether this overbroad and vague statute is constitutional. And its not.

Attorneys for the students labelled the prohibition on instruction about gender identity and sexual orientation for students from kindergarten through the sixth grade as a  Dont Say Gay  law, using a nickname that has stuck in other states like Florida.

But Wessan argued that the provision only allows enforcement against schools, not students, and that the sole student-plaintiff young enough to be affected by it  a fourth grader  has not been disciplined or threatened with discipline.

The appeals panel took the case under advisement and did not say when it would rule.
Two Florida medical oversight boards held a meeting about proposed rules for treating gender dysphoria for minors in the state on Feb. 10, 2023. (Photo by Issac Morgan/Florida Phoenix)

Quality Journalism for Critical Times

Floridas ban on puberty blockers and hormone replacement therapy for transgender minors and restrictions for adults are both unconstitutional, a federal judge ruled Tuesday.

U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle, who presided over the case in Tallahassee, sided with the plaintiffs in the class action  parents of transgender minors and transgender adults  who argued the measure violated the U.S. Constitution because it solely targeted transgender people.

The federal courts have a role to play in upholding the Constitution and laws. The State of Florida can regulate as needed but cannot flatly deny transgender individuals safe and effective medical treatment  treatment with medications routinely provided to others with the states full approval so long as the purpose is not to support the patients transgender identity, Hinkle wrote.

Those restrictions came into place following Gov. Ron DeSantis approval of SB 254 in May 2023 and promulgation of rules from the Florida Board of Medicine and Florida Board of Osteopathic Medicine enacting that law. Those boards and Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo were named as defendants.

The measures banned minors use of puberty blockers and hormone replacement therapy, common treatments for gender dysphoria. Additionally, the law said only physicians, psychologists, and psychiatrists could treat adults seeking gender-affirming care, with the added requirements of frequent in-person visits, tests, and authorization through a consent form that contained false information about the harms of hormone replacement therapy.

However, the law didnt impose the same restrictions on cisgender women needing to take testosterone or cisgender men needing to take estrogen.

Appeal incoming

The state plans to appeal the ruling, said Jeremy Redfern, press secretary to DeSantis. An appeal would go to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.

Through their elected representatives, the people of Florida acted to protect children in this state, and the court was wrong to override their wishes, Redfern wrote in a statement to Florida Phoenix.

We disagree with the courts erroneous rulings on the law, on the facts, and on the science. As weve seen here in Florida, the United Kingdom, and across Europe, there is no quality evidence to support the chemical and physical mutilation of children. These procedures do permanent, life-altering damage to children, and history will look back on this fad in horror.

Redfern wrote that the state would continue to fight to ensure children are not chemically or physically mutilated in the name of radical, new age gender ideology.'

In his 105-page ruling, Hinkle noted that there were no complaints from patients, no adverse results in Florida, just a political issue.

However, the ruling does not lift the state ban on gender-affirming surgery for minors and restrictions on surgery for adults. Thats because the plaintiffs didnt challenge the statutes relating to surgery for minors, and the adult plaintiff had not sought surgery and so lacked standing to challenge those restrictions.

Relief for plaintiffs

Plaintiff Gloria Goe (they used pseudonyms to protect the privacy of their children) is the mother of an eight-year-old (at the opening of the case) transgender boy. During the opening day of the trial on Dec. 13, she testified that she feared her son would be swallowed by depression if forced to go through puberty without medical treatment.

This ruling lifts a huge weight and worry from me and my family, knowing I can keep getting Gavin the care he needs, and he can keep being the big-hearted, smiling kid he is now. Im so grateful the court saw how this law prevented parents like me from taking care of our children, Goe wrote in a press release.

Attorneys with GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders, Human Rights Campaign Foundation, National Center for Lesbian Rights, Southern Legal Counsel, and the Lowenstein Sandler law firm represented the plaintiffs.

Hinkle compared the discrimination transgender people face nowadays to racism and misogyny.

Some transgender opponents invoke religion to support their position, just as some once invoked religion to support their racism or misogyny, Hinkle wrote. Transgender opponents are of course free to hold their beliefs. But they are not free to discriminate against transgender individuals just for being transgender. In time, discrimination against transgender individuals will diminish, just as racism and misogyny have diminished.

Democrats reaction

The Florida Democratic Party issued a written statement welcoming the ruling.

Transgender Floridians have a right to exist  period. Today, were thankful that equal protection under the law truly means protection for everyone, and that Floridians can continue to have access to the medical care they need, party chair Nikki Fried said.

Rons obsession with the LGBTQ+ community has always been about politics and power, not policy or medical facts. With every law that the courts overturn, it becomes clearer that his failed run for the presidency was built on unconstitutional extremism that has no place in our democracy. Florida Republicans should learn from this ruling  stay the hell out of doctors offices and focus on making Florida more affordable for everyone instead.

The post Federal judge blocks ban and restrictions on health care treatments for trans people appeared first on Florida Phoenix.
A federal judge has issued an injunction blocking enforcement of a state law that requires extensive financial disclosure by Florida's mayors and city council members.

U.S. District Court Judge Melissa Damian entered the preliminary injunction, preventing members of the Florida Commission on Ethics from enforcing the new requirement.

Damian's ruling comes in a federal lawsuit filed by a group of city and town officials, claiming the rule violates the First Amendment.

Municipal officials feared that the added disclosure requirement would discourage residents from running for municipal office, and potentially could create vacancies on city and town councils or commissions.

About 125 municipal officials statewide resigned, including four in Brevard County, before the new requirements took effect in January.

Among them was Peter Miravalle III, who resigned after one year on the Grant-Valkaria Town Council because of the disclosure requirement.

Miravalle said he is glad the requirement is being challenged in court, and is elated the injunction was issued.

"I believe it was an overreach" to require extensive financial disclosure requirements for an unpaid municipal council member like him. "I believe it was out of line. They painted it with a broad brush."

Among the more than 170 elected officials in Florida who are plaintiffs in the case are five each from Indialantic and Indian Harbour Beach, plus two from Melbourne.

Requirement changes

Former Grant-Valkaria Town Council Member Peter Miravalle III resigned after one year from his unpaid position on the Town Council because of a new state requirement for extensive financial disclosure reports from municipal elected officials.

Law triggers resignations: Form 6 fallout: New financial disclosure requirements lead elected officials to resign

For the past 50 years, municipal elected officials have been required each year to file a Form 1 financial disclosure, which lists the officials employers, primary sources of income and major assets.

Last year, the Florida Legislature enacted a new law, Senate Bill 774, requiring them to file a Form 6, which is a significantly more detailed form that state legislators and county elected officials file. Form 6 also requires disclosure of the amount of their net worth; the amount of their income, including from their primary jobs; the value of each of their assets; and the amounts of each liability.

The deadline for submitting the disclosure form was set at July 1, with a requirement for an annual filing.

Candidates for elected municipal office also were required to file the form before they qualified for a spot on the ballot. Many cities and towns in Florida are in the midst of the candidate qualifying process.

"These additional disclosures have nothing to do with the officials duties and are not relevant in any way to possible breaches of the public trust," said Jamie Cole, the lead attorney representing the more than 170 elected municipal officials from throughout Florida who challenged the law as a violation of the First Amendment.

What the judge said

Jamie Cole, an attorney representing municipal officials challenging the new financial disclosure law, said the Form 6 disclosure "is the most intrusive form of financial disclosure that I am aware of in the entire nation."

Damian, the Fort Lauderdale-based federal judge, wrote that it wasn't apparent in the court filings why the more stringent requirement for local officials was in the state's interest.

Damian ruled that the elected municipal elected officials have demonstrated a reasonable likelihood that they will succeed on the merits of their claim.

The judge's 33-page ruling found that this is a First Amendment issue, because, "where, as here, a law compels disclosure of financial information the speakers would not otherwise have disclosed, the law burdens speech and does fall within the purview of the First Amendment."

Cole said the Form 6 disclosure "is the most intrusive form of financial disclosure that I am aware of in the entire nation, requiring more disclosure of quintessentially personal financial information than is required of the president of the United States, members of Congress and elected officials in every other state. Most municipal elected officials receive little to no compensation for their public service, yet they are being asked to disclose their precise net worth, income and assets."

Among those who resigned before the new disclosure requirements took effect in January were Grant-Valkaria Town Council members Miravalle and Cathy DeMott, and Melbourne Village Town Commission members Gary Ingram and David Jones. In addition, Indialantic Town Council member Julie McKnight decided not to seek reelection when her second two-year term ended in 2023 because of the new disclosure requirements.

Miravalle said he is still interested in being active in municipal affairs in Grant-Valkaria, and has applied for a position on the town's Planning and Zoning Board  which requires filing the less extensive Form 1 financial disclosure.

Cole called the preliminary injunction "a significant step in the plaintiffs efforts to ultimately obtain a ruling that the Form 6 disclosure requirements are unconstitutional." He said there is no indication when such a final ruling might occur.

Under the disclosure requirements in Senate Bill 774, any official who fails to comply would be subject, after a 60-day grace period, to fines of $25 a day up to $1,500. After an investigation and public hearing, the noncompliant official could be subject to a civil penalty of up to $20,000 and, among other things, a recommendation of removal from office.

Florida Sen. Jason Brodeur, R-Lake Mary, who sponsored the bill in the Senate, has defended the requirement, saying that city officials have a say on how taxpayer dollars are spent, just like state legislators.

Brodeur maintained the "taxpayers deserve transparency. If a simple disclosure that hundreds of other elected officials already do makes someone quit, then voters should be glad."

Cole has filed another lawsuit, representing the same plaintiffs, in the state's Circuit Court in Tallahassee, challenging the Form 6 requirements, based on the right to privacy found in the Florida Constitution. That case is pending.

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: Judge blocks enforcement of financial disclosure rules for city officials
A federal district court has blocked Florida from enforcing a law that bans medical care for transgender children, calling it unconstitutional.

Gender identity is real, District Judge Robert Hinkle wrote, going on to say Floridas law banning care for transgender youth and restricting it for transgender adults violates their equal protection rights.

The 2023 law, passed by Floridas Republican-led legislature and signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, prohibits doctors and nurses from prescribing medication, including hormones or puberty blockers, to anyone under 18.

The State of Florida can regulate as needed but cannot flatly deny transgender individuals safe and effective medical treatmenttreatment with medications routinely provided to others with the states full approval so long as the purpose is not to support the patients transgender identity, the order states.

The transgender plaintiffs and their parents argued the law violated their constitutional rights.

In a 105-page order, Hinkle agreed, writing: Whether based on morals, religion, unmoored hatred, or anything else, prohibiting or impeding a person from conforming to the persons gender identity rather than to the persons natal sex is not a legitimate state interest.

The order does not address the state laws ban on gender-affirming surgery for minors or surgery restrictions for adults as the lawsuit did not challenge those provisions, Hinkle noted.

Simone Chriss, transgender rights initiative director at the nonprofit Southern Legal Counsel law firm, called the move a victory for the state of Florida in a statement.

The federal court saw Floridas transgender minor healthcare ban and adult restrictions for what they arediscriminatory measures that cannot survive constitutional review, Chriss said. Todays ruling blocks the state of Floridas cruel campaign to deny fundamental rights and basic healthcare to its transgender citizens.

In a statement following the order, DeSantis office said the state will appeal the ruling.

Through their elected representatives, the people of Florida acted to protect children in this state, and the Court was wrong to override their wishes, the statement said.

We disagree with the Courts erroneous rulings on the law, on the facts, and on the science. As weve seen here in Florida, the United Kingdom, and across Europe, there is no quality evidence to support the chemical and physical mutilation of children. These procedures do permanent, life-altering damage to children, and history will look back on this fad in horror.

CNN has reached out to the Florida Department of Health for comment.

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A federal judge ruled Floridas ban on gender-affirming care for transgender kids is unconstitutionaland in a Tuesday order noted some state politicians behind the controversial law plainly acted from old-fashioned discriminatory animus.

U.S. District Judge Robert L. Hinkle, in a 105-page decision, also called out Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, state Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo, and other lawmakers for playing politics with peoples medical treatment. He compared the discrimination against transgender people to racism and misogyny, quoting the late civil rights activist Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

Transgender opponents are of course free to hold their beliefs. But they are not free to discriminate against transgender individuals just for being transgender, Hinkle wrote. In time, discrimination against transgender individuals will diminish, just as racism and misogyny have diminished. To paraphrase a civil-rights advocate from an earlier time, the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.

The Florida law had prohibited puberty blockers and hormonal treatments for minors, even with parental permission, though children receiving treatment when the statute went into effect last May could continue to get care. (A ban on gender-affirming surgery for minors remains.)

The statute, SB 254 and related Boards of Medicine rules, also restricted care for transgender adults.

Hinkles order stems from a lawsuit filed anonymously by a group of children and their parents, including Susan Doe, a 12-year-old transgender girl in Jacksonville, and Gavin Goe, an 8-year-old transgender boy in Lee County, Florida.

Miami Meteorologist Blasts DeSantis Over New Climate Change Law

One adult plaintiff, 27-year-old Lucien Hamel, said he was unable to get testosterone because of the Florida statutes restriction on who can prescribe it for gender dysphoria. Under the law, only a physiciannot an advanced practice registered nurse or other medical professionalcould provide care.

And because consent forms had to be signed with the doctor in person, transgender patients could not use telehealth to initiate treatment.

If a provider violated any of these provisions, they could face criminal prosecution and the termination of their medical license.

Hinkle underscored that the defendantsincluding Ladapo and the Florida Board of Medicinehad argued that the many professional organizations that have endorsed treatment of gender dysphoria were wrong.

The defendants say, in effect, that the organizations were dominated by individuals who pursued good politics, not good medicine, Hinkle wrote. If ever a pot called a kettle black, it is here. The statute and the rules were an exercise in politics, not good medicine.

Hamel and other plaintiffs lauded the decision on Tuesday.

Im so relieved the court saw there is no medical basis for this lawit was passed just to target transgender people like me and try to push us out of Florida, Hamel said in a statement.

This is my home. Ive lived here my entire life, he said. This is my sons home. I cant just uproot my family and move across the country. The state has no place interfering in peoples private medical decisions, and Im relieved that I can once again get the healthcare that I need here in Florida.

Signs displayed in windows at Spectrum Health in Orlando, Florida. Thomas Simonetti for The Washington Post via Getty Images

Susan Does mother said: This ruling means I wont have to watch my daughter needlessly suffer because I cant get her the care she needs.

Seeing Susans fear about this ban has been one of the hardest experiences weve endured as parents, the mom continued. All weve wanted is to take that fear away and help her continue to be the happy, confident child she is now.

On Tuesday, DeSantis office released a statement vowing to appeal Hinkles order.

Through their elected representatives, the people of Florida acted to protect children in this state, and the Court was wrong to override their wishes, the governors spokesperson said, adding, These procedures do permanent, life-altering damage to children, and history will look back on this fad in horror.

In his ruling, Hinkle noted that DeSantis and quite a few members of the Florida Legislature view transgenderism and gender-affirming care as morally wrong.

Enforcing this moral view is not, however, a legitimate state interest that can sustain this statute, even under rational-basis scrutiny, Hinkle wrote. The Supreme Court made this clear in a series of cases addressing gay and lesbian issues.

He further quoted the discriminatory comments of DeSantis and his ilk.

A House member, for example, loudly referred to transgender witnesses at a committee hearing on a related bill as mutants and demons, Hinkle wrote.

Other House members, the Governor, and the Surgeon General have said there is no such thing as transgender identitythat transgender identity is just ideological or made up or wokeism, Hinkles added, before quoting one legislator who declared, I can say Im a porcupine, but that doesnt make it so.

Nation Gripped by Mystery of Missing Florida Woman Who Went to Start New Life Overseas

Hinkle, an appointee of former Democratic President Clinton, said the overwhelming weight of medical authority supports treatment of transgender patients with puberty blockers, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Medical Association, and American Academy of Family Physicians.

He pointed out that state lawmakers spread falsehoods, equating gender-affirming care to extraordinarily rare mastectomies and castrations, to pass the legislation.

Thus, for example, the Governor said gender-affirming care means castrating a young boy, youre sterilizing a young girl, and youre doing mastectomies for these very young girls. He said we cannot allow people to make money off mutilating our children, Hinkle wrote.

According to Hinkle, another House member claimed: [W]ere talking about taking little children and they put them to sleep on a gurney. They cut off their breasts. They sever their genitalia. They throw them in the trash.

Probably about as far removed from reality as any statement by any legislator ever, Hinkle wrote. Nobody who voted for the bill expressed disagreement or called these speakers out.

The defendants, Hinkle continued, have not shown that a majority, if not motivated also by anti-transgender animus, would have made the same decision.

Meanwhile, Hinkle concluded that Gender identity is real.

Those whose gender identity does not match their natal sex often suffer gender dysphoria, he wrote. The widely accepted standard of care calls for appropriate evaluation and treatment.

Florida has adopted a statute and rules that ban gender-affirming care for minors even when medically appropriate. The ban is unconstitutional.

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Jamie Cole, the attorney leading the lawsuit challenging the new financial disclosure law, said not even federal officials deal with a financial disclosure form as intrusive as Form 6, the financial disclosure form tied to SB 774.

Floridas controversial financial-disclosure law targeting municipal officials has been temporarily blocked after a federal judge found that the state failed to demonstrate how the expanded disclosure requirements would combat corruption.

Southern District Court of Florida Judge Melissa Damians Monday ruling in a lawsuit detailed shortcomings in the states arguments for SB 774, including a failure to provide any evidence, data or studies backing its efficacy.

Passed during the 2023 session of the Florida Legislature, the law requires every municipal and city elected official to file a Form 6, a public disclosure of the officials exact net worth, including the value of any 401(k) plans and personal assets and liabilities worth over $1,000.

By the time SB 774 came into effect on Jan. 1, about 125 elected officials had resigned over the disclosure form's expansive requirements.

Palm Beach Town Council members had signed on to the Weiss Serota Helfman Cole + Berman-led suit in February, citing concerns over the the legislation's extensive disclosure requirements.

"We want to be ethical, but this is an overreach," former President Margaret Zeidman said during the council's February meeting.

The judge sided with plaintiffs, saying compelling the disclosures was an infringement of municipal officials' freedom of speech rights, which is protected by the First Amendment.

Damian's preliminary ruling on the suit brought on behalf of elected officials means that instead of filing the expanded "Form 6" financial disclosure, officials will instead file the less restrictive "Form 1" financial disclosure.

The legislature would require municipal officials to fill out a Form 6, a public disclosure of an officials exact net worth, 401(k) plans and personal assets and liabilities over $1,000.

Before the new law was passed, municipal and city officials were only required to fill out a Form 1, a limited financial disclosure form that did not require them to list their net worth or the exact values of their personal property, except for properties valued at more than $10,000.

The lawsuit argued that the expanded disclosure violates the privacy rights of elected officials, potentially putting their safety at risk for crimes such as identity theft, burglary and extortion. It also deters citizens from running for office, the lawsuit claimed.

Attorneys for the municipal officials said they had requested a temporary injunction because of the potential irreparable harm associated with the First Amendment infringement.

The states counsel argued that the law was created to increase transparency, reduce corruption and combat what they said was a steady, upward trend in the number of ethical complaints against elected officials. They also argued that the Florida Commission on Ethics had advocated for this type of legislation for years, and claimed the change would not deter citizens from running for office.

The state also argued that the law did not infringe on an elected officials freedom of speech since it served the states interest, and thus, the publics interest.

The judge noted that the state had failed to provide any evidence detailing a connection between expanded financial disclosure laws and corruption, beyond the ethics commission's support of the legislation.

Citing the lack of evidence, the court had directed the Florida counsel to file specific evidence of the Florida legislation establishing a connection between Form 6 and the states interests, the judges ruling stated.

But instead of providing such evidence, the state instead had launched a new argument, stating that SB 774 did not implicate the First Amendment.

According to the judges ruling, the state argued that considering the history, substantial consensus, and simple common sense, it had sufficiently proved that the law addresses the states interest in reducing corruption, boosting public confidence for the state government, promote voter knowledge and shape Floridas political community for the better.

Jamie Cole, the attorney leading the litigation effort, said the change made "absolutely no sense," as the new argument avoids the central argument of the case  whether or not the state was justified in limiting the First Amendment rights of elected officials by requiring the financial disclosures.

Damian concurred, noting that in changing its argument, the state had not only directly contradicted "their own positions, arguments and authority," but had practically waived its first argument. She said the new argument, "at best, ignore Plaintiffs' Motion (and, at worst, misrepresents what it says)" in arguing that the law does not implicate the First Amendment.

She also noted that the state had not proven the ineffectiveness of the less-intrusive Form 1.

Cole told the Palm Beach Daily News that the state's ethics commission, the defendant in the lawsuit, now has two options: Either it appeals the injunction at the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, or if it chooses not to appeal, face a final hearing and judgment from Damian.

"Hopefully, either they won't appeal, or we would prevail at the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals and the right to be free from compelled speech, which is protected by the First Amendment will be preserved," Cole said.

Diego Diaz Lasa is a journalist at the Palm Beach Daily News, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach him at dlasa@pbdailynews.com.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: Judge temporarily bars Florida's controversial financial-disclosure law
Floridas bans on medical care for transgender minors have been deemed unconstitutional by a federal judge. U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle ruled on Tuesday, striking down a significant legislative priority of Governor Ron DeSantis.

The 2023 law (HB 1421), alongside state board rules, barred minors from accessing medical treatments for gender dysphoria, including puberty blockers and hormones.

In his 105-page decision, Judge Hinkle declared, Florida has adopted a statute and rules that ban gender-affirming care for minors even when medically appropriate. The ban is unconstitutional.

READ: Federal judge blocks Florida transgender minor treatment ban, says gender identity is real

Attorneys representing transgender plaintiffs contended that the law, signed by Gov. DeSantis, was an act of discrimination and exhibited animus against transgender individuals. In contrast, the state maintained that the law targeted specific treatments rather than transgender people.

Judge Hinkle noted, It is clear that anti-transgender animus motivated the bill sponsors and at least a significant number of legislators... Transgender opponents are of course free to hold their beliefs. But they are not free to discriminate against transgender individuals just for being transgender. In time, discrimination against transgender individuals will diminish, just as racism and misogyny have diminished. To paraphrase a civil-rights advocate from an earlier time, the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.

In addition to invalidating the rules banning minors from receiving medical treatment for gender dysphoria, Judge Hinkle also struck down regulations that required transgender adults to obtain treatment exclusively from physicians, rather than other health providers.

Those receiving treatment when the law was adopted in May 2023 are now allowed to continue. Surgery, which is rare for minors, is still blocked.

Gov. DeSantis Press Secretary Jeremy Redfern released a statement on the ruling:

Through their elected representatives, the people of Florida acted to protect children in this state, and the Court was wrong to override their wishes. We disagree with the Courts erroneous rulings on the law, on the facts, and on the science. As weve seen here in Florida, the United Kingdom, and across Europe, there is no quality evidence to support the chemical and physical mutilation of children. These procedures do permanent, life-altering damage to children, and history will look back on this fad in horror. Under Governor Ron DeSantis, Florida will continue to fight to ensure children are not chemically or physically mutilated in the name of radical, new age gender ideology. We will appeal this ruling.

READ: Kicked out of public life: Transgender Floridians say new laws are forcing them to leave the state

Despite state legislative pushback, major medical organizations, such as the American Academy of Pediatrics, support the use of treatments like puberty blockers for children with gender dysphoria.

This ruling follows Hinkles previous decision from last year, which struck down Floridas ban on Medicaid covering treatments for gender dysphoria. The state is currently appealing that ruling.

While the U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals permitted a similar Alabama ban on medical treatment for transgender minors to take effect, the Florida case is distinct. The Alabama case did not argue that the laws were based on anti-transgender bias.

Over 24 states at the time of this story have passed legislation that bans best practice medication and surgical care for transgender youth, according to the think tank Movement Advancement Project, though currently, not all bans are in effect.

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A federal judge on Tuesday blocked Florida's ban on health care for transgender children and restrictions for transgender adults.

"Florida has adopted a statute and rules that ban gender-affirming care for minors even when medically appropriate. The ban is unconstitutional," Tallahassee-based Senior U.S. District Court Judge Robert Hinkle wrote in his order.

Hinkle named the following measures in state law (SB 254) and subsequent rules unconstitutional: prohibiting gender-affirming care, prohibiting licensed medical personnel from providing gender-affirming care and requiring unnecessary medical tests, appointments and forms, among others.

The order does not address surgeries; the plaintiffs did not challenge the ban on surgery for minors, according to the ruling.

Department of Health Surgeon General Dr. Joseph A. Ladapo leads a discussion with doctors and researchers while talking about the Cancer Connect Collaborative, an initiative spearheaded by Casey DeSantis to improve cancer research and treatment Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2024.

The plaintiffs, four transgender adults and seven parents of transgender minors, prevailed against Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo, the Florida Board of Medicine, the Florida Board of Osteopathic Medicine and other state leaders, according to the ruling.

The ruling by Hinkle, an appointee of President Bill Clinton, comes as a blow to Gov. Ron DeSantis' anti-woke agenda, which has included anti-LGBTQ legislation in health care, saying gender-affirming care is experimental and lacks evidence.

"The defendants say gender dysphoria is difficult to diagnose accurately  that gender identity can be fluid, that there is no objective test to confirm gender identity or gender dysphoria, and that patients treated with GnRH agonists or cross-sex hormones have sometimes come to regret it. But the defendants ignore facts that do not support their narrative," Hinkle wrote.

Judge: Governor, lawmakers 'overtly biased against transgenders'

The governor's comments, and those of some legislators, during the legislative process behind the law were quoted in Hinkle's ruling and cited as being "overtly biased against transgenders."

Senior U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle of Tallahassee.

"This is a politically fraught area. There has long been, and still is, substantial bigotry directed at transgender individuals. Common experience confirms this, as do some of the comments of legislators recounted above. And even when not based on bigotry, there are those who incorrectly but sincerely believe that gender identity is not real but instead just a choice. This is, as noted above, the elephant in the room," Hinkle wrote.

In a statement, the governor's press secretary said the state will appeal.

"Through their elected representatives, the people of Florida acted to protect children in this state, and the court was wrong to override their wishes," Jeremy Redfern said in a text message to the USA TODAY Network-Florida.

"We disagree with the Court's erroneous rulings on the law, on the facts, and on the science. As we've seen here in Florida, the United Kingdom, and across Europe, there is no quality evidence to support the chemical and physical mutilation of children. These procedures do permanent, life-altering damage to children, and history will look back on this fad in horror."

He went on, "Under Gov. Ron DeSantis, Florida will continue to fight to ensure children are not chemically or physically mutilated in the name of radical, New Age 'gender ideology.' "

Same judge had issued preliminary injunction last year

In the ruling, Hinkle called out the state for continuously referring to Europe as supportive evidence for the anti-trans health care legislation.

"The assertion is false. And no matter how many times the defendants say it, it will still be false. No country in Europe  or so far as shown by this record, anywhere in the world  entirely bans these treatments," Hinkle wrote, adding that the treatments are available in appropriate circumstances in all the countries cited by the defendants, including Finland, Sweden, Norway, Great Britain, France, Australia and New Zealand.

Last year, almost to the day, Hinkle issued a preliminary injunction for the parents of the transgender children to administer drugs that can delay the onset or continuation of puberty, and cross-sex hormones  testosterone for transgender males, and estrogen for transgender females  which promote the development of characteristics that align with a patient's gender identity.

That decision paused the prohibition on puberty blockers and hormone therapy for three plaintiffs in the case: Jane Doe on behalf of Susan Doe, Gloria Goe on behalf of Gavin Goe, and Linda Loe on behalf of Lisa Loe. The plaintiffs were represented by the Southern Legal Counsel, GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders, the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, the National Center for Lesbian Rights and Lowenstein Sandler LLP.

This ruling means I wont have to watch my daughter needlessly suffer because I cant get her the care she needs," said Jane Doe, on behalf of herself and her daughter Susan Doe.

"Seeing Susans fear about this ban has been one of the hardest experiences weve endured as parents. All weve wanted is to take that fear away and help her continue to be the happy, confident child she is now, she added.

This embedded content is not available in your region.

Ana Goni-Lessan, state watchdog reporter for the USA TODAY Network  Florida, can be reached at agonilessan@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Florida ban on transgender care for minors unconstitutional: Judge
A federal judge on Tuesday blocked Florida's ban on health care for transgender children and restrictions for transgender adults.

"Florida has adopted a statute and rules that ban gender-affirming care for minors even when medically appropriate. The ban is unconstitutional," U.S. District Court Judge Robert Hinkle wrote.

Hinkle ruled as unconstitutional several provisions in state law SB 254 and subsequent rules unconstitutional: prohibiting gender-affirming care, barring licensed medical personnel from providing gender-affirming care and requiring unnecessary medical tests, appointments and forms, among others.

The order does not address surgeries; the plaintiffs did not challenge the ban on surgery for minors, according to the ruling.

The plaintiffs, four transgender adults and seven parents of transgender minors, prevailed against Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo, the Florida Board of Medicine, the Florida Board of Osteopathic Medicine and other state leaders, according to the ruling.

The ruling by Hinkle, an appointee of President Bill Clinton, comes as a blow to Gov. Ron DeSantis' agenda, which has included anti-LGBTQ legislation in health care saying gender-affirming care is experimental and lacks evidence.

"The defendants say gender dysphoria is difficult to diagnose accurately  that gender identity can be fluid, that there is no objective test to confirm gender identity or gender dysphoria, and that patients treated with GnRH agonists or cross-sex hormones have sometimes come to regret it. But the defendants ignore facts that do not support their narrative," Hinkle wrote.

Hinkle's ruling quoted comments by the governor and legislators during the legislative process behind the law and said they were "overtly biased against transgenders."

"This is a politically fraught area. There has long been, and still is, substantial bigotry directed at transgender individuals. Common experience confirms this, as do some of the comments of legislators recounted above. And even when not based on bigotry, there are those who incorrectly but sincerely believe that gender identity is not real but instead just a choice. This is, as noted above, the elephant in the room," Hinkle wrote.

In a statement, the governor's press secretary said the state will appeal.

"Through their elected representatives, the people of Florida acted to protect children in this state, and the court was wrong to override their wishes," Jeremy Redfern said in a message to the USA TODAY Network-Florida.

"We disagree with the Court's erroneous rulings on the law, on the facts, and on the science. As we've seen here in Florida, the United Kingdom, and across Europe, there is no quality evidence to support the chemical and physical mutilation of children. These procedures do permanent, life-altering damage to children, and history will look back on this fad in horror."

Same judge had issued preliminary injunction last year

In the ruling, Hinkle called out the state for continuously referring to Europe as supportive evidence for the anti-trans health care legislation.

"The assertion is false. And no matter how many times the defendants say it, it will still be false. No country in Europe  or so far as shown by this record, anywhere in the world  entirely bans these treatments," Hinkle wrote, adding that the treatments are available in appropriate circumstances in all the countries cited by the defendants, including Finland, Sweden, Norway, Great Britain, France, Australia and New Zealand.

Last year, almost to the day, Hinkle issued a preliminary injunction for the parents of the transgender children to administer drugs that can delay the onset or continuation of puberty, and cross-sex hormones  testosterone for transgender males, and estrogen for transgender females  which promote the development of characteristics that align with a patient's gender identity.

That decision paused the prohibition on puberty blockers and hormone therapy for three plaintiffs in the case: Jane Doe on behalf of Susan Doe, Gloria Goe on behalf of Gavin Goe, and Linda Loe on behalf of Lisa Loe. The plaintiffs were represented by the Southern Legal Counsel, GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders, the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, the National Center for Lesbian Rights and Lowenstein Sandler LLP.

This ruling means I wont have to watch my daughter needlessly suffer because I cant get her the care she needs," said Jane Doe, on behalf of herself and her daughter Susan Doe.

"Seeing Susans fear about this ban has been one of the hardest experiences weve endured as parents. All weve wanted is to take that fear away and help her continue to be the happy, confident child she is now, she added.

Ana Goni-Lessan, state watchdog reporter for the USA TODAY Network  Florida, can be reached at agonilessan@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Florida ban on transgender care for children ruled unconstitutional
Laman Ismayilova

Days of Azerbaijani Culture have started in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Azernews reports.

Organized by the Azerbaijan Culture Ministry, the event opens a new page in the history of cultural ties between the two countries.

From musical numbers to theater plays, the Days of Azerbaijani Culture features a large-scale program, which became another celebration of Azerbaijani culture and art in the fraternal country.

On June 11, the Uzbekistan Writers' Union will host a conference themed "Muhammad Fuzuli and Alisher Navoi: our common literary and spiritual values."

On the same day, an Azerbaijani corner will open in the Uzbekistan National Library.

Also, a gala concert with the participation of the Azerbaijani and Uzbek cultural figures will take place at the Uzbekistan Palace of International Forums. Here the guests will have a chance to treat Azerbaijani traditional pastries and sweets.

The Days of Azerbaijani Culture on June 12 will be remembered for an exhibition "Azerbaijani National Heritage in Pearls of Art" at the Uzbekistan Gallery of Fine Arts and the play "I am who I am" to be staged by Azerbaijan State Yugh Theater at the Uzbek State Institute of Art and Culture.

On this day, Uzbek art lovers will also enjoy Uzeyir Hajibayli's operetta "The Cloth Peddler".

The Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater will present this world-famous work at the Uzbekistan State Academic Theater.

On June 13, the Azerbaijan Cultural Center named after Heydar Aliyev in Tashkent will host a presentation of the book "The Sword and the Pen" by well-known author of historical novels Mammad Said Ordubadi.

The Azerbaijani Culture Days will leave an indelible mark in the memory of the fraternal Uzbek people, who are always interested in our literary and cultural riches.

Recall that the last time the Days of Azerbaijani Culture were organized in Uzbekistan was in 2022.

The holding of the Uzbek Culture Days in Baku in 2023 was another step towards strengthening Azerbaijani-Uzbek relations.

The large-scale event featured gala concerts, theatre performances, book presentation, exhibition and other events that aimed to highlight Azerbaijani-Uzbek relations.
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, June 11. The Ministry of Energy and the Ministry of Economy and Commerce of Kyrgyzstan have signed an agreement with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) for the second phase of a solar energy development project, Trend reports.

According to the Ministry of Economy and Commerce, the document was signed following the International Investment Energy Forum in Vienna.

The second phase is expected to include projects for two solar power plants with a capacity of 100150 MW each in the Batken and Talas regions.

This agreement solidifies the ongoing partnership between the Kyrgyz government and IFC to establish a solar power park with a maximum capacity of 500 MW across various project stages. The objective is to enhance the utilization of sustainable energy sources in order to fulfill the rising need for electricity.

In the first phase of this cooperation, IFC assisted Kyrgyzstan in conducting a comprehensive analysis and structuring a pilot solar power project with a capacity of 100150 MW, planned for the Kochkor district in the Naryn region.

Currently, IFC is helping to conduct an international tender to attract a private investor. Four major international companies have submitted applications for the announced tender, and an evaluation is underway to determine the list of qualified candidates. The next stage of the tender is expected to begin in the coming weeks.

The project is focused on boosting domestic electricity production in Kyrgyzstan, expanding the range of energy sources, and minimizing greenhouse gas emissions. It aligns with the country's Energy Sector Development Strategy until 2035, developed with the assistance of the World Bank, which includes the development of 1,500 MW of renewable energy in the coming years.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.  A federal judge has ruled that Floridas new restrictions on gender-affirming treatment for children are unconstitutional, and that Gov. Ron DeSantis and other Republican lawmakers who supported them were not acting in the interest of public health.

By refusing to allow children to access treatments, Tallahassee-based district court Judge Robert L. Hinkle wrote in a ruling handed down Tuesday that DeSantis and Republicans who voted for the measure responded in a way that was similar to racism and misogyny.

Enforcing this moral view is not, however, a legitimate state interest that can sustain this statute, Hinkle  an appointee of President Bill Clinton  wrote, partly borrowing from arguments that lawyers for the plaintiffs gave during trial in December.

The ruling is a major win for a coalition of human rights groups that filed the federal lawsuit arguing the ban violated equal protection rights. "Todays ruling affirms the principle that individuals should be able to make informed decisions about their own personal medical treatments without discrimination by the State, Thomas Redburn, the lawyer representing the plaintiffs, said in a statement.

In response to Hinkle's ruling, Jeremy Redfern, a spokesperson for DeSantis, said the court was wrong to override the wishes of the people, which were conveyed through their elected representatives, and the state of Florida will appeal.

"We disagree with the Courts erroneous rulings on the law, on the facts, and on the science," Redfern wrote in a text. "As weve seen here in Florida, the United Kingdom, and across Europe, there is no quality evidence to support the chemical and physical mutilation of children. These procedures do permanent, life-altering damage to children, and history will look back on this fad in horror."

Hinkles ruling also struck down restrictions for adults that were included in FL SB254 (23R), which DeSantis signed into law just over a year ago. They include requiring that only doctors, as opposed to other medical professionals, prescribe medicine for gender-affirming treatment and requiring annual x-rays without regard for circumstance.

The law was the result of a presentation that Florida Surgeon General Joseph A. Ladapo gave to the state boards of Medicine and Osteopathic medicine in 2022 that compelled the two boards to approve similar restrictions by making new rules. DeSantis then asked the Legislature to codify the board rules, saying that gender-affirming care includes castrating and sterilizing children, and mastectomies for girls. Hinkle noted in the ruling that surgeries on minors are extremely rare.

In the ruling, Hinkle wrote DeSantis comments about castration were false, and they proved that the governors intent of the measure was not to protect the public.

Whether based on morals, religion, unmoored hatred, or anything else, prohibiting or impeding a person from conforming to the persons gender identity rather than to the persons natal sex is not a legitimate state interest, Hinkle wrote.

The plaintiffs in the case were four transgender adults and seven parents who appeared on behalf of transgender children, and it was the second major lawsuit filed against efforts by Florida to block transgender care. Hinkle in June of last year issued a separate ruling striking down rules made by the state Agency for Health Care Administration that banned Medicaid from covering gender-affirming care.

Hinkle in June 2023 had also issued a preliminary injunction in the case he decided Tuesday that blocked part of the ban on transgender treatments for children for the plaintiffs. The state appealed that ruling and that decision is pending, although Hinkle's more expansive ruling could make that appeal moot.
Julie Fedorchak, a candidate for North Dakota's at-large U.S. House seat, delivers remarks during a press conference after text messages surfaced, falsely claiming she withdrew from the race on June 11, 2024. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)

Julie Fedorchak, a Republican candidate for North Dakotas at-large U.S. House seat, alleged election interference during a news conference Tuesday afternoon after multiple text messages surfaced saying she had dropped out of the race.

Fedorchak said the text messages were sent to thousands of North Dakotans and the campaign is in the process of filing a complaint with the Federal Election Commission, requesting an investigation into the incident.

This is, at minimum, election fraud, and its a desperate tactic to influence and discourage voters, Fedorchak said.

Live election coverage

Follow our live updates on Election Day here.

She also said the campaign has no evidence any other campaign was behind the text messages, but the investigation should sort that out.

Campaign manager Sean Cleary pointed the finger at former lawmaker Rick Becker but acknowledged he did not have evidence to confirm that.

It just really lines up with everything else weve been seeing from the Becker camp, Cleary said.

On Tuesday morning, Beckers campaign told the North Dakota Monitor the candidate had nothing to do with the messages.

This text certainly is misleading. Its not from the Rick Becker campaign and Rick condemns any effort to try and mislead or misinform the voters, the Becker campaign said in a statement.

(Screenshot provided by Fedorchak campaign)

The messages included a manipulated video made of clips of Fedorchak withdrawing her name from nomination from the NDGOP convention after two ballots failed to receive a majority of delegates.

We expect a full investigation of this matter to get to the bottom of it, Fedorchak said. These kind of tactics just cant be tolerated for this election or for any election.

Fedorchak said she didnt receive the text messages personally, but friends and family in the Fargo area received the messages and alerted the campaign.

Fedorchak called on her opponents to denounce these kinds of false campaign ads.

When asked whether she will contest the election results, if she were to lose, Fedorchak said: Well see. We expect the results to go our way. I think North Dakotans are going to see through this and I expect a whole surge this evening to get out and vote, at least I hope they do. I hope that thats the response that people have because this is absolutely not a North Dakota value.

Becker, Fedorchak, Cara Mund, Alex Balazs and Sharlet Mohr are on the Republican ballot for U.S. House in Tuesdays North Dakota primary election.

The winner will compete against either Democrat Trygve Hammer, the party endorsed candidate, or Roland Riemers.

Balazs won the Republican endorsement at the state convention in April, but only after Becker had encouraged delegates to spoil ballots by voting for him on the first ballot. Becker was not eligible for the endorsement for violating party rules. Balazs had a narrow lead over Fedorchak in a second vote before Fedorchak withdrew.

Polling has shown Becker and Fedorchak far ahead of the other three candidates going into todays vote, but with many voters undecided.

The North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party also condemned the misleading messages. On Monday, messages encouraged Democrats to vote for Becker

This blatant attempt to deceive North Dakotans is disgusting, said Dem-NPL spokeswoman Laura Dronen. We dont know who sent these messages, but as we move to the general election we all must be vigilant. In our digital age rife with deep fakes and AI-generated images, disinformation and lies spread like wildfire.

The post Fedorchak claims election interference over false text messages appeared first on North Dakota Monitor.
Feds say ex-Ald. Ed Burke used his power on dark path of corruption, seek 10 years in prison

Feds say ex-Ald. Ed Burke used his power on dark path of corruption, seek 10 years in prison

Federal prosecutors are asking for 10 years in prison for former Chicago Ald. Edward Burke, arguing in a lengthy filing late Monday that the 80-year-old Democratic machine stalwart was steeped in corruption and highly adept at abusing his office for personal gain.

Again and again, Burke used his significant political power to solicit and receive bribes from entities with business before the city of Chicagoall so he could obtain legal business for his private law firm and financially benefit his close personal associates, prosecutors wrote in their 51-page filing. To this day, Burke has expressed no remorse for his crimes; indeed, he continues to deny he did a single thing wrong.

The sentence requested by the U.S. attorneys office would mean that Burke could very well die in prison. But a lengthy term behind bars is warranted, prosecutors say, given the mountain of evidence in the case  including hundreds of undercover recordings  that captured Burke in his own words and make it obvious that Burke was no novice when it came to corruption.

Burke operated as a seasoned professional when it came to identifying new potential clients for his law firm and exploiting his power and position in order to secure their business, prosecutors wrote.

To bolster their argument about the cost of Burkes crimes, prosecutors estimated the overall financial loss he caused amounted to nearly $830,000.

Shortly before the midnight deadline, lawyers for Burke asked in a filing of their own for an alternative to incarceration such as a period of home confinement, writing Burke is a fundamentally decent man who did a lot of good for his city over a six-decade career.

They also argued the trial evidence showed Burke did not receive a single penny from his offenses, nor did he cause any serious financial harm to any party. Even the witnesses who were allegedly being shaken down testified Burkes demeanor was respectful, professional, and friendlynever aggressive, threatening, nor intimidating, Burkes filing stated.

Burkes sentencing before U.S. District Judge Virginia Kendall on June 24 will be closely watched in Illinois political circles. Hes the most powerful politician to face jail time here since former U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert was given 15 months in 2016 for paying hush money payments to cover up decades-old sexual abuse of minors.

Burkes fate will certainly be of keen interest to former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, who faces his own racketeering trial in October. Madigan, who like Burke was a Southwest Side Democrat steeped in the old Chicago political machine, was dethroned in 2021 in the midst of the federal investigation following a nationwide 36-year record run as the leader of his legislative chamber.

Meanwhile, a jury in December found Burke, the longtime leader of the powerful City Council Finance Committee, guilty of a series of schemes to use his considerable City Hall clout to try and win business from developers for his private property tax law firm.

Among them were efforts to woo the New York-based developers of the massive, $600 million renovation of the Old Post Office, extorting the Texas owners of a Burger King who were seeking to renovate a restaurant in Burkes 14th Ward, and intervening on behalf of Charles Cui, a developer in Portage Park who wanted help getting a pole sign approved for a new Binnys Beverage Depot location.

Burke was also found guilty of attempted extortion for threatening to hold up a fee increase for the Field Museum because he was angry the museum had ignored an internship application from his goddaughter, who is the daughter of former 32nd Ward Ald. Terry Gabinski, Burkes longtime friend.

The jury acquitted Burke on one count of conspiracy to commit extortion related to the Burger King project.

Also convicted was Cui, whose sentencing is set for next month.

The jury acquitted Burkes longtime 14th Ward aide, Peter Andrews, of all counts alleging he helped Burke pressure the Burger King owners into hiring Burkes law firm by shutting down their restaurant renovation.

Burkes high-profile, six-week trial featured some 38 witnesses and more than 100 secretly recorded videos and wiretapped recordings, offering a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at one of Chicagos top political power brokers at work.

At the heart of the case were dozens of wiretapped phone calls and secretly recorded meetings made by Daniel Solis, the former 25th Ward alderman who turned FBI mole after being confronted in 2016 with his own wrongdoing.

In closing arguments, prosecutors put up on large video screens a series of now-notorious statements made by Burke on the recordings. Among them: The cash register has not rung yet, They can go (expletive) themselves, and Did we land the tuna?

Several letters in support of Burke were made public last month, including one from former mayoral candidate Paul Vallas who wrote Burkes professional impact on Chicago is a great legacy.

In their filing late Monday, Burkes attorneys attached dozens of more letters of support from people of all walks of life, including former U.S. Attorney Dan Webb, ex-Chicago police Superintendent Garry McCarthy, and current and former City Council colleagues like Ald. Nicholas Sposato, 38th, and former 40th Ward Ald. Patrick OConnor.

Burkes wife Anne, formerly the chief justice of the Illinois Supreme Court, described Burke as a devoted husband and father who encouraged her to finish college and go to law school. He also helped a hundred or more struggling city kids with tuition and jobs, she wrote.

He has always seen his role as taking care of people, whether they need money, or a job, or help fighting insurance companies, she wrote.  I am devastated by the prospect that I will not be with Ed at the end of our lives. Please find compassion through the Holy Spirit in your decision.

Webb, a high-profile litigator who defended former Illinois Gov. George Ryan, said he has been personal friends with the Burke family for 40 years and urged the judge to evaluate the totality of the person being sentenced.

At no time did I ever see any indication that he was other than a dedicated public servant, always interested in serving the citizens of the City of Chicago, Webb wrote.

McCarthy wrote that while he respects the jurys decision it is hard to reconcile the Ed Burke that I know with the allegations in the case.

A lifetime of service by the Burke family has come crashing down on them, McCarthy wrote. The public humiliation has been overwhelming. Fifty-four years as the longest serving Alderman in Chicagos history. Hundreds, if not thousands of personal touches to make life better for his constituents. The strain on Mr. Burke has at times been unbearable, and yet he has put on a brave face for his family.

Even Bill Kurtis, the longtime broadcaster, said he followed Burkes devotion to his role on the City Council and his dedication to his constituents that made a lasting impression.

I have thought Ed Burke was the model of what an alderman should be, Kurtis wrote. I still think that.

In their filing on Monday, however, prosecutors quoted the late U.S. District Judge James Zagel, who in sentencing former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich to 14 years in prison, said he was responsible for corruption that tore the fabric of the state.

Prosecutors said Burke did similar damage, and that a lengthy sentence was necessary to deter others  including some of those very supporters who wrote letters singing Burkes praises.

Burke no longer holds public office. But it is apparent from the character letters received so far that there are those who lurk in the bowels of city government and walk in its corridors of power who are still strong allies of Burke, the prosecution filing stated. It would be naive to think that there is anything stopping Burke, the consummate political insider with his coterie of misguided friends and well-wishers, from engaging in the same type of conduct in conjunction with public officials in the future.

Burkes lawyers also argued his age and declining health should qualify him for a lighter sentence. Burke was previously treated for prostate cancer, suffered a mini-stroke in 2018 that caused him to fall, has recently experienced seizures and currently suffers from hypertension, anxiety and depressed mood, according to the defense filing.

At age eighty and with several serious acute and chronic medical issues, Mr. Burke would be an expensive prisoner to house for any length of time, and even a short sentence is likely to amount to a death sentence, his attorneys wrote.

Prosecutors called that notion dead wrong.

High-level public officials in this city and in this state like Burke need to receive a simple, undiluted, and unequivocal warning loud and clear: You will pay dearlyregardless of your ageif you choose the dark path of corruption that Burke decided to walk for many years, the prosecution filing stated.

jmeisner@chicagotribune.com
Feds want 10 years in prison for ex-Ald. Edward Burke, saying he was no novice when it came to corruption

CHICAGO  Federal prosecutors are asking for 10 years in prison for former Chicago Ald. Edward Burke, arguing in a lengthy filing late Monday that the 80-year-old Democratic machine stalwart was steeped in corruption and highly adept at abusing his office for personal gain.

Again and again, Burke used his significant political power to solicit and receive bribes from entities with business before the city of Chicagoall so he could obtain legal business for his private law firm and financially benefit his close personal associates, prosecutors wrote in their 51-page filing. To this day, Burke has expressed no remorse for his crimes; indeed, he continues to deny he did a single thing wrong.

The sentence requested by the U.S. attorneys office would mean that Burke could very well die in prison. But a lengthy term behind bars is warranted, prosecutors say, given the mountain of evidence in the case  including hundreds of undercover recordings  that captured Burke in his own words and make it obvious that Burke was no novice when it came to corruption.

Burke operated as a seasoned professional when it came to identifying new potential clients for his law firm and exploiting his power and position in order to secure their business, prosecutors wrote.

To bolster their argument about the cost of Burkes crimes, prosecutors estimated the overall financial loss he caused amounted to nearly $830,000.

Shortly before the midnight deadline, lawyers for Burke asked in a filing of their own for an alternative to incarceration such as a period of home confinement, writing Burke is a fundamentally decent man who did a lot of good for his city.

They also argued it was clear from the trial evidence that Burke did not receive a single penny from his offenses, nor did he cause any serious financial harm to any party. Even the witnesses who were allegedly being shaken down testified Burkes demeanor was respectful, professional, and friendlynever aggressive, threatening, nor intimidating, Burkes filing stated.

Burkes sentencing before U.S. District Judge Virginia Kendall on June 24 will be closely watched in Illinois political circles. Hes the most powerful politician to face jail time here since former U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert was given 15 months in 2016 for paying hush money payments to cover up decades old sexual abuse of minors.

A jury in December found Burke, the longtime leader of the powerful City Council Finance Committee guilty of a series of schemes to use his considerable City Hall clout to try and win business from developers for his private property tax law firm.

Among them were efforts to woo the New York-based developers of the massive, $600 million renovation of the Old Post Office, extorting the Texas owners of a Burger King who were seeking to renovate a restaurant in Burkes 14th Ward, and intervening on behalf of Charles Cui, a developer in Portage Park who wanted help getting a pole sign approved for a new Binnys Beverage Depot location.

Burke was also found guilty of attempted extortion for threatening to hold up a fee increase for the Field Museum because he was angry the museum had ignored an internship application from his goddaughter.

The jury acquitted Burke on one count of conspiracy to commit extortion related to the Burger King project.

Kendall is scheduled to sentence him June 24.

Also convicted was Cui, whose sentencing is set for next month.

Meanwhile, the jury acquitted Burkes longtime 14th Ward aide, Peter Andrews, of all counts alleging he helped Burke pressure the Burger King owners into hiring Burkes law firm by shutting down their restaurant renovation.

Burkes high-profile, six-week trial featured some 38 witnesses and more than 100 secretly recorded videos and wiretapped recordings, offering a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at one of Chicagos top political power brokers at work.

At the heart of the case were dozens of wiretapped phone calls and secretly recorded meetings made by Daniel Solis, the former 25th Ward alderman who turned FBI mole after being confronted in 2016 with his own wrongdoing.

In closing arguments, prosecutors put up on large video screens a series of now-notorious statements made by Burke on the recordings. Among them: The cash register has not rung yet, They can go (expletive) themselves, and Did we land the tuna?

Several letters in support of Burke were made public last month, including one from former mayoral candidate Paul Vallas who wrote Burkes professional impact on Chicago is a great legacy.

In their filling late Monday, Burkes attorneys attached hundreds more letters of support from people of all walks of life, including former U.S. Attorney Dan Webb, ex-Chicago police Supt. Garry McCarthy, and current and former City Council colleagues like Ald. Nicholas Sposato, 38th, and former 40th Ward Ald. Patrick OConnor.

In their filing on Monday, however, prosecutors quoted the late U.S. District Judge James Zagel, who in sentencing former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich to 14 years in prison, said he was responsible for corruption that tore the fabric of the state.

Prosecutors said Burke did similar damage, and that a lengthy sentence was necessary to deter others.

Burke no longer holds public office. But it is apparent from the character letters received so far that there are those who lurk in the bowels of city government and walk in its corridors of power who are still strong allies of Burke, the prosecution filing stated. It would be naive to think that there is anything stopping Burke, the consummate political insider with his coterie of misguided friends and well-wishers, from engaging in the same type of conduct in conjunction with public officials in the future.

Burkes lawyers also argued his age and declining health should qualify him for a lighter sentence.

At age eighty and with several serious acute and chronic medical issues, Mr. Burke would be an expensive prisoner to house for any length of time, and even a short sentence is likely to amount to a death sentence, his attorneys wrote.

Prosecutors called that notion dead wrong.

High-level public officials in this city and in this state like Burke need to receive a simple, undiluted, and unequivocal warning loud and clear: You will pay dearlyregardless of your ageif you choose the dark path of corruption that Burke decided to walk for many years, the prosecution filing stated.

____
Late Festival of the Arts director was cheerleader of our community

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD)  David Abbott is described by his friends and coworkers as kind, strong and a ray of sunshine. They say he was an innovator in and out of the Grand Rapids art community.

Abbott died Sunday morning at the age of 60 during his seventh battle with cancer. This time it was pancreatic cancer.

Former Festival of the Arts leader David Abbott dies

He was the first executive director of the Grand Rapids Festival of the Arts and held leadership roles with LaughFest and ArtPrize. Abbott was also a youth leader at his church.

David Abbott speaks with News 8 about his battle with cancer.

He was authentically himself with everyone and in every space that he occupied, Courtney Failer, a previous vice chair with the Festival of the Arts, said.

She said she knew him before they worked together. She described him as innovative and joyful, going on to say that he brought the best out of everyone.

Youd have a meeting with David and hed throw out all these grand ideas and wed say, David, we cant do that, and hed say, Well, sure you can,' Failer said. He was a cheerleader of our community, of people.

She said she will never forget his motto: Life is short, dress well.

He was a force for good, he was a force of love, he was a force of innovation, Failer said.

Abbott helped others dress well at his full-time job as a style consultant at Fitzgeralds Mens Store, where he worked with the general manager Jesse Jirod.

He tried to make everybody feel as comfortable as they can and prepared for those events, Jirod said.

Former Festival of the Arts leader faces seventh round with cancer

He had known Abbott since he was a kid, but said he got closer to Abbott around 15 years ago. Jirod said he learned from Abbott to embrace life to its fullest.

A file courtesy image of David Abbott.

He just cared how every shirt went with every tie, with every jacket. And every day it meant something to him to get dressed and it really was his passion, Jirod said. It was tough to pick up Monday morning here a new week and to go on business as usual, because its not usual.

Abbott died on the last day of this years Festival of the Arts. The current board chair, Missy Bush, said it felt like a message.

We felt David smiling on us all day, it was beautiful, the sun was out, it wasnt too hot, it was perfect, Bush said.

The festival plans on honoring Abbot at next years event with a regional art award. More details will be available soon.

A celebration of Abbotts life will be held Sunday at 3 p.m. at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Grand Rapids.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com.
By Anne Kauranen and Riham Alkousaa

HOILOLA, Finland (Reuters) - Only the whine of mosquitoes mars the tranquility of this idyllic spot amid the rolling forests and blue lakes of eastern Finland, on the European Union's longest border with Russia.

But Finnish authorities fear the peace and quiet of places like Hoilola could soon be shattered by the arrival of large numbers of asylum seekers - part of what Helsinki sees as a "hybrid war" being waged by Russia against the West.

Finland is deploying more border guard patrols, drones and electronic detectors and is building fences along sections of the border. In Helsinki, parliament is expected to approve before its summer recess tough new legislation that critics say will violate the country's human rights commitments.

Late last year Finland shut all crossing points for travellers along its 1,340 km (833 mile) border with Russia indefinitely after some 1,300 migrants from nations such as Syria and Somalia arrived via that route.

Since then, only a few dozen asylum seekers have crossed the heavily forested border into Finland, but Helsinki believes the Kremlin stands ready to funnel more migrants across at any time - something Moscow has strongly denied.

Under the planned new legislation, Finnish border guards will be able to call on thousands of reservists to help patrol the frontier, to detect migrants' phone signals, to send the migrants to detention centres and - most controversially - to push them back into Russia without accepting their asylum applications.

"Finland cannot just allow the opening of such a new route (for migrants) into Europe," Finnish Interior Minister Mari Rantanen, from the nationalist Finns Party, told Reuters.

"But overall this is not about a migrant route: this is about a situation in which the authorities of another country are helping or even pressing and pushing migrants to Finland's border," said Rantanen.

Relations with Moscow, once relatively cordial, have deteriorated sharply since Finland's decision to join NATO following Russia's invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022.

TWO FRIENDS

The tale of Syrian friends Mohammed, 25, and Mahmoud, 27, is illustrative of the challenge now facing Finnish authorities.

They entered Finland via the Salla crossing last November after riding through the snow in temperatures of -20 Celsius (-4 Fahrenheit) on bicycles they said they had bought for $350 each from Russian middlemen at the last Russian checkpoint. Walking between the Russian and Finnish border stations is forbidden.

Mohammed, who fled first to Egypt to avoid the Syrian military draft and then paid $2,500 for a student visa to Russia, insisted he had entered Finland "completely legally".

"I entered the Russian checkpoint legally and they gave me an exit stamp. In Finland, I showed them the exit stamp and they immediately let me in," he told Reuters, adding that he had then asked for asylum on the Finnish side.

Mohammed and Mahmoud said they had first paid $5,000 each to a Syrian smuggler to reach Germany via Belarus but had got beaten up and then pushed back by Polish and Lithuanian border guards. Echoing Finland's accusation against Russia, Poland and the Baltic states have accused Belarus, a Moscow ally, of similarly funnelling migrants to their shared border since 2021.

"Suddenly there was news that the Finnish border (with Russia) had opened. It was also on Telegram and there were smugglers already publicising their services to send people to Finland," Mahmoud recalled.

The Syrian friends are still awaiting a decision from Finnish authorities on their asylum applications.

Despite the increased tensions with Moscow, Finnish border guards still hold regular meetings with their Russian counterparts, deputy commander Samuli Murtonen said, as he made sure his German shepherd patrol dog did not cross the 10-metre (32 ft) forest clearing to the Russian side of the frontier.

"The basic issue is that, in their view, anyone who stays in Russia legally can leave the country," he told Reuters, adding that previously Russian border guards had not let anyone cross without a valid visa for the European Union.

'PROVOCATION'

Russia, for its part, has accused Finland of manufacturing the border situation by inviting the migrants itself.

"We believe that the deliberate provocation of a 'migration crisis' on the Russian-Finnish state border is necessary for the Finnish authorities to implement the plans of NATO and, above all, the United States to deploy military field infrastructure and deploy foreign troops on their territory, including in areas bordering Russia," the head of the Russian Federal Security Service's (FSB) border service, Vladimir Kulishov, told the state-run RIA news agency on May 28.

Rantanen dismissed that assertion as absurd. She provided no evidence for her February claim, which she said remained valid, that thousands of migrants were still in the border area waiting to cross into Finland, citing classified intelligence.

Her ministry has acknowledged that plans for temporary legislation to push migrants back into Russia would breach Finland's international human rights commitments.

Amnesty International said on Monday the plans undermined access to asylum and risked "serving as a green light for violence and pushbacks at the border".

Mahmoud, meanwhile, said it was clear to him that Russian border authorities had controlled their exit to Finland, allowing only a limited number of migrants through at a time.

"If Russia wants to drown Finland with refugees, it can. It can send tens of thousands of refugees," he said.

(Reporting by Anne Kauranen in Helsinki and Riham Alkousaa in Berlin, additional reporting by Andrius Sytas; Editing by Gareth Jones)
Finland steps up security of its closed border with Russia

Finland is bolstering its border security in response to migration pressures from Russia by increasing the number of patrols, deploying more drones and electronic detectors, and erecting fences along certain border sections.

Source: Reuters, as reported by European Pravda

Details: The Finnish parliament is expected to approve strict new legislation on border security with Russia before the summer recess.

The planned legislation will allow Finnish border guards to deploy thousands of reservists to patrol the border, detect migrants' phone signals, send migrants to detention centres and  most controversially  send them back to Russia without accepting their asylum applications.

Finland cannot simply allow a new route for migrants to Europe to be opened, Finland's Interior Minister Mari Rantanen said.

"But overall this is not about a migrant route: this is about a situation in which the authorities of another country are helping or even pressing and pushing migrants to Finland's border," the minister stressed.

Recently, the Finnish Border Guard Service said it regularly observes "aerial objects" on the Russian border, which is currently closed indefinitely due to migration pressure from Moscow.

Background:

In April, the Finnish government decided to keep the border with Russia closed to counter the hybrid migration crisis.

It was also reported that the Finnish Border Guard had launched an investigation into about two dozen cases related to the organisation of illegal entry into Finland through the border with Russia.

Since last autumn, Russia has been gathering asylum seekers on Finland's eastern border, which means that it is turning people seeking asylum or a better life into a tool to achieve its own goals.

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Thai rescuer carries a survived chicken from a fire at the Chatuchak weekend market in Bangkok, Thailand, Tuesday, June 11, 2024. Hundreds of caged animals died Tuesday after the fire struck Chatuchak Weekend Market, one of the most famous markets in Thailands capital. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

BANGKOK (AP)  Hundreds of caged animals died Tuesday after a fire struck Chatuchak Weekend Market, one of the most famous markets in Thailands capital.

The fire was reported early in the morning and quickly swept across more than 100 shops in the market's pet section, according to the Bangkok government.

Officials said it took them about an hour to bring the fire under control. There are no reports of human casualties, but Thai media reports suggested that the fire killed several hundred animals, including puppies, fish, snakes, birds and rabbits, kept in cages and locked inside the shops.

The cause of the fire is being investigated, said Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt, who visited the scene after the fire was put out. Officials could be seen at the site in the morning, inspecting the charred shops or breaking metal gates to bring out animals that survived the fire.

Officials said they are still working on estimating the cost of damage, and that affected shop owners could register for compensation.

The sprawling weekend market is a major tourist draw, bringing in shoppers from all over the world to browse its hundreds of shops and stalls for items ranging from food and drink to clothing, furniture, plants, books and pets.

Wildlife organizations have often accused some vendors of involvement in the trafficking of rare and endangered species, such as turtles, tortoises and birds.
By Leonardo Benassatto

CORUMBA, Brazil (Reuters) - As Jose Cleiton and Brandao Amilton ride their horses into the vastness of the Pantanal grassy wetlands of Brazil, a wall of smoke towers from the horizon far into the sky above.

The worst of the dry season is still far off, but already these Brazilian wetlands are so dry that wildfires are surging.

The number of Pantanal fires so far this year has jumped tenfold from the same period last year according to Brazil's National Institute of Space Research (INPE).

"It's hard to breathe. It's hard for newborn children. The heat gets stronger and stronger," said Amilton, a local fishing guide. "The Pantanal is already hot and it gets hotter, drier, with smoke, the weather gets very bad."

The men guide cattle across the flood plain, hoping for a better chance of survival. "The way the fire is coming, it could surround them and burn them to death," said Cleiton, a farmer.

The Pantanal wetlands, roughly 10 times the size of the Florida everglades, are home to jaguars, tapirs, caimans and giant anteaters. Weak rains since late last year have disrupted the usual seasonal flooding, leaving more of the region vulnerable to fires.

As the region approaches the riskiest season for wildfires, which usually peak in September, experts are warning that the blazes so far this year are worse than the start of a record 2020, when a third of the Pantanal burned.

More than 3,400 square km (1,315 sq miles) of the Pantanal have burned from Jan. 1 to June 9, the highest level on record, according to the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro's satellite monitoring program, with data going back to 2012.

The contrast with record flooding in Rio Grande do Sul, three states to the south, may be jarring, but scientists say they are part of the same phenomenon  an unusually strong El Nino pattern, worsened by climate change.

"Climate change has supercharged El Nino," said Michael Coe, a climate scientist at the Woodwell Climate Research Center. "Now we are in a different realm."

(Reporting by Leonardo Benassatto; Writing by Dani Morera Trettin; Editing by Brad Haynes and Sandra Maler)
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, June 11. Kyrgyzstan and Malaysia are considering the possibility of launching direct flights between the countries, Trend reports.

According to the press service of the State Civil Aviation Agency under the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan, a Kyrgyz delegation led by the Director of the State Civil Aviation Agency, Daniyar Bostonov, and the Commercial Director of Manas International Airport, Aman Mamaev, is currently in Malaysia.

Direct flights between Bishkek and Kuala Lumpur will be discussed during the visit. Meetings with Malaysian aviation officials, major airline CEOs, and KLIA (Kuala Lumpur International Airport) representatives are also planned.

As part of the working visit, the Kyrgyz delegation has already met with representatives of the Ministry of Transport of Malaysia. During the meeting, the Kyrgyz delegation presented a detailed presentation on the development of civil aviation in the country, confirmed the provision of fifth freedom rights to Malaysian airlines, allowing them to use Bishkek as a transit point, and informed about Kyrgyzstan's tourism potential.

The Malaysian side, in turn, confirmed their readiness to encourage their airlines to conduct passenger and cargo flights between the capitals of the two countries.

As a result of the meeting, the parties agreed to make the necessary amendments to the intergovernmental air service agreement between Kyrgyzstan and Malaysia.
The first joint production plant of the German arms manufacturer Rheinmetall and the Ukrainian state-owned enterprise Ukroboronprom in Ukraine became operational, Strategic Industries Minister Alexander Kamyshin announced on June 10.

The news came as Kyiv aims to localize weapons production in 2024. Rheinmetall previously said it plans to open at least four production plants in Ukraine.

The facility will enable faster repair of foreign-supplied equipment and their subsequent return to the front line. In the future, the plant will also produce new armored vehicles, according to the minister.

The location of the plan was not disclosed, presumably due to security concerns.

"What is important is that this will support not only our Armed Forces but also our economy. Ukrainian specialists will work at the plant under the supervision of German colleagues," Kamyshin said.

"Taxes are paid in Ukraine, and we obtain new technologies."

The Ukrainian government announced last October that Rheinmetall and Ukroboronprom would join forces to repair, maintain, and ultimately produce armored vehicles in Ukraine. Their joint venture was registered on Oct. 18, 2023.

The first Fuchs armored personnel carriers could be produced in Ukraine by late summer 2024, Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger said in December.

The German manufacturer also plans to open factories in Ukraine for the production of artillery shells, gunpowder, and anti-aircraft weapons.

Read also: The Invisible War: Inside the electronic warfare arms race that could shape course of war in Ukraine

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) Chairman Gary I. Burke speaks during a June 3 ceremony in Oregon City to honor five Cayuse men who gave their lives in 1850 to stop hostilities between Oregon Territory militia men and the Cayuse Tribe. Standing next to Burke is CTUIR member Isaiah Welch, who repeated the chairmans words for the crowd to hear. (photo/courtesy CTUIR)

On June 3, the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Reservation (CTUIR) and Oregon City officials commemorated five Cayuse men who were wrongfully arrested and executed in the 19th century.

The event marked the dedication of a historical interpretive panel and a boulder at McLoughlin Promenade, overlooking the site where the men were put to death by hanging in 1850 near Willamette Falls.

According to CTUIR historians, Marcus Whitman, who established the Whitman Mission in the Walla Walla Valley, was suspected of coveting Cayuse lands and spreading diseases among the Cayuse people in 1847.

On November 29, 1847, Cayuse tribesmen attacked the mission, resulting in the deaths of thirteen people, including Whitman. The attack prompted a militia to form, leading to the Cayuse War.

In 1850, five Cayuse men volunteered to discuss the killings at Whitman Mission but were arrested, tried, and hanged. The five men were Tiilakaaykt, Iceyeeye Sileis, ooa Saqiin, Tamahas and okomooc.

The journey to honor these men began in 1991 when then-CTUIR Board Trustee Armand Minthorn collaborated with former Oregon City Mayors Dan Fowler and Alice Norris. The effort aimed to find ways to honor the men.

Last Monday, more than 100 people, including members of the CTUIR and local leaders, gathered despite cool temperatures and strong winds to honor the men. The site, chosen for its proximity to where the men were detained, tried, and hanged, holds significant importance to the CTUIR.

The five Cayuse men that we are remembering today have a very important role in the history of the Cayuse people. We are here because of these five men who gave their lives for the future of their people. They made the ultimate sacrifice, said CTUIR Chairman Gary I Burke in a press release. Their last breaths were here in Oregon City, on this day, June 3, 174 years ago. For more than three decades, individuals from our Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla who descend from the families of these men, leaders and headmen, and elected officials have worked to remember these five men, their lives, and their deaths.

Efforts to identify the graves are ongoing, complicated by conflicting historical accounts and changes in infrastructure and landscape over time. The interpretive panel at the site lists the names of the five men and narrates their story.

Later, the late CTUIR Trustee Les Minthorn, who descended from the families of the hanged men, expressed the CTUIRs desire to find the ancestors remains and bring them home for proper burial.

In 2021, the Oregon City Commission approved funding for the tribute project, which commenced on May 6, 2024, and was completed just before the June 3 dedication ceremony.

We are here today to acknowledge a wrong that occurred in our community in 1850 and its part of our collective history. We are here to reflect and to never forget, Oregon City Mayor Denyse McGriff said during a reception at the Museum of Oregon Territory after the ceremony.

The event concluded with a proclamation by Mayor McGriff and city commissioners, declaring June 3, 2024, as the Cayuse Five Day of Remembrance in Oregon City.

About the Author: "Native News Online is one of the most-read publications covering Indian Country and the news that matters to American Indians, Alaska Natives and other Indigenous people. Reach out to us at editor@nativenewsonline.net. "

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Fla. Mom and Her 4-Year-Old Son Killed by Ex in Broad Daylight Murder-Suicide in Front of Bank

Odalys Bancroft was "beacon of kindness and love," a GoFundMe page in her and her son's honor reads

GoFundMe Odalys Bancroft with son Theodore Couto

A Florida man fatally shot his ex-girlfriend and her 4-year-old son in broad daylight outside a bank before turning the gun on himself.

On Friday, June 7, Odalys Maria Bancroft, 43, was driving a minivan carrying her 4-year-old son, Theodore Couto, when she stopped at a drive-thru ATM at Chase Bank in West Kendall around 7:37 a.m., Miami-Dade police said in a press release shared with PEOPLE.

Moments later, police say a man pulled up in a vehicle next to hers and opened fire towards the minivan. The man, later identified as Bancrofts 41-year-old ex-boyfriend, Michael Andres Pineda Lozano, then turned the gun on himself and died by suicide, according to the release.

A Miami-Dade police sergeant driving in the area at the time responded to the scene after hearing gunshots, police said. He reportedly arrived to find the woman and child dead inside the minivan and the man dead on the passenger side of the van.

Police said the 4-year-old boy was Bancrofts son and had no relation to the shooter.

According to her LinkedIn profile, Bancroft most recently worked as the director of regulatory affairs with the Jackson Health System. Her profile also states she graduated with a masters degree in nursing from the University of Central Florida in 2022.

Bancroft was an employee at the hospital system since 2015 and was an accomplished nurse, according to a company statement obtained by the Miami-Herald.

Odalys has been a valued member of our team, known for her unwavering dedication, kindness, and exceptional talent, Jackson Health President and CEO Carlos Migoya said in the statement, per the outlet.

Theodore's aunt said the family celebrated his pre-K graduation just days before the murders. They didnt deserve to die like this, the aunt, who requested anonymity, told WSVN.

A GoFundMe campaign has been created to help support the family with funeral expenses.

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Odalys' family is profoundly devastated by the sudden loss of her and her beloved son, Theodore, fundraiser organizer, Olga Kovtoun, wrote.

She was a beacon of kindness and love, and those fortunate enough to know her will remember her as a remarkable woman and devoted mother. Their lives are forever changed by this heartbreaking tragedy.

If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.



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Fla. Mom Killed Her Baby in Exact Spot Where Husband Proposed to Her: 'Sorry for What I'm About to Do'

Maria Rodriguez-Barnes was sentenced to life in prison on June 5 after being convicted of killing her 5-month-old son in 2020

Okaloose Department of Corrections Maria Rodriguez-Barnes

A Florida mother will spend the rest of her life in prison after being convicted of killing her infant son at the same place where her husband had proposed to her, according to multiple news outlets.

On June 5, an Okaloosa County jury found Maria Rodriguez-Barnes, now 35, guilty of first-degree premeditated murder in the 2020 death of her son, the Sacramento Bee, Northwest Florida Daily News and WKRG report, citing prosecutors.

According to Rodriguez-Barnes arrest report, which was reviewed by PEOPLE, she drove her 5-month-old son, Jaxxon Gunner Rodriguez Barnes, to the parking lot of The Boardwalk in Fort Walton Beach, Fla., on March 25, 2020. There, police said she shot her son once in the chest and then shot herself in an attempt to die by suicide, though she survived.

During opening statements, Assistant State Attorney Michelle Sandler said that Rodriguez-Barnes planned to kill her son after she learned her husband intended to file for divorce, according to Northwest Florida Daily News. The prosecutor added that she specifically chose the location since her husband had proposed there.

The Okaloosa County Sheriffs Office said in a press release at the time that Jaxxon was discovered dead inside the back of his mothers pickup truck by deputies when a crew of workers called authorities. They then discovered 5-month-old Jaxxon Rodriguez-Barnes in a seated position in the left rear floorboard of the truck, slumped over a pillow.

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Deputies recovered a 9mm handgun, shell casings and handwritten notes inside her car, per the sheriffs office. The details of the notes were redacted in the arrest report.

According to the Sacramento Bee, Sandler said in court that prior to the murder, Rodriguez-Barnes told her husband, Im sorry for what Im about to do. She also reportedly contacted family members about her plan before the incident.



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A British Airways service from London to Texas turned back just as the aircraft reached North America, resulting in passengers enduring a nine-hour flight to nowhere.

Flight records show that the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, headed to George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, had just crossed the Canadian border before backtracking on Monday.

British Airways later said the turnaround was a precaution due to a minor technical issue and it had apologized to customers on the flight.

The exact cause of the issue was not specified by British Airways, but several outlets reported that it was connected to the aircrafts engines.

The flight left London Heathrow at 9.27am BST on Monday, and landed again at the same airport at 6.54am the following day  a total of nine hours and 27 minutes in the air.

Flight records show that the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, headed to George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, had just crossed the Canadian border before backtracking on Monday (PA Archive)

Similar, successful flights to Houston only take about 30 to 40 minutes longer on average.

The Independent understands that the issue was not serious enough to have the plane grounded immediately but required inspection and potential engineering work.

Rather than grounding at Houston or another US airport, the flight returned to London where British Airways has technicians and resources to resolve the issue.

A statement from British Airways read: The flight returned to London Heathrow as a precaution due to a minor technical issue. It landed safely and customers disembarked as normal.

Weve apologized to our customers for the disruption to their journey.

The Independent understands that all passengers were rebooked onto alternative flights to Houston, including any missed connecting flights in the US.

Hotel accommodation and information on how to claim for any additional expenses, were also provided.
Floridas restrictions on gender-affirming care for minors and adults are unconstitutional, a federal judge ruled Tuesday.

The decision overturns the law banning gender-affirming care for minors, including puberty blockers and hormone therapy, that Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis signed last year.

It also relieves transgender adults of the requirement that patients see a physician in person for any transition-related care, a rule that was particularly burdensome given that most people received care from nurse practitioners and use telehealth appointments.

U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle in Tallahassee sided with the 11 plaintiffs, including four transgender adults and seven parents of transgender children.

The State of Florida can regulate as needed but cannot flatly deny transgender individuals safe and effective medical treatment  treatment with medications routinely provided to others with the states full approval so long as the purpose is not to support the patients transgender identity, Hinkle wrote.

The 105-page order in Doe v. Lapado is the first time a federal court has weighed in on the constitutionality of restrictions on gender-affirming care for adults. Last year a federal judge struck down Arkansas ban for minors as unconstitutional.

Gender identity is real. Those whose gender identity does not match their natal sex often suffer gender dysphoria, wrote Hinkle, a 72-year-old who was nominated by Democratic President Bill Clinton. Florida has adopted a statute and rules that ban gender-affirming care for minors even when medically appropriate. The ban is unconstitutional.

The plaintiffs challenge, however, did not include the states restrictions on gender-affirming surgery, and the state still prohibits those procedures for minors and has some restrictions for adults.

In the order, Hinkle criticized DeSantis and some state legislators who plainly acted from old-fashioned discriminatory animus and described the frenzied rhetoric of legislators who mischaracterized the kinds of care that transgender people seek as castration and mutilation.

Hinkle quoted an unnamed state House member who ranted about the dangers of gender-affirming care and falsely described it as doctors taking little children and they put them to sleep on a gurney. They cut off their breasts. They sever their genitalia. They throw them in the trash.

Hinkle blasted the state legislators and wrote that this statement is probably about as far removed from reality as any statement by any legislator ever.

He instead cited the nearly two dozen American medical associations that support gender-affirming care for minors and adults and wrote that not a single reputable medical association has taken a contrary position.

Transgender opponents are of course free to hold their beliefs. But they are not free to discriminate against transgender individuals just for being transgender, Hinkle wrote in the ruling. In time, discrimination against transgender individuals will diminish, just as racism and misogyny have diminished. To paraphrase a civil-rights advocate from an earlier time, the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.

DeSantis signed the ban after the state medical boards  filled with DeSantis political appointees  first passed its own rules to ban that care in late 2022. Florida became the first state in the nation to pass such a ban.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, shown here at his Jan. 9 State of the State address in Tallahassee, signed the law restricting gender-affirming care for minors and adults that a federal judge struck down Tuesday. Gary McCullough/Associated Press

The Sunshine State passed six anti-LGBTQ bills in 2022 that included a ban on drag performances and a ban on transgender people using bathrooms in schools and government buildings. Under DeSantis helm, Florida enacted a slate of anti-LGBTQ bills amid a record-breaking two years of such legislation in states across the country.

Last June, Hinkle issued a preliminary injunction against the states ban for minors, applying only to the three plaintiffs. In the order, he warned that the minors would suffer irreparable harm if they were not allowed to access treatment. That same month, he also struck down Floridas prohibition on Medicaid coverage for treatments for gender dysphoria.

Hinkle has generally ruled in favor of LGBTQ+ rights. In 2014, he ruled that Floridas 2008 amendment barring same-sex marriage was unconstitutional.

But in the decade after same-sex marriage became federally protected, the right wing has pivoted to attacking transgender people and particularly the rights of transgender minors.

To date, more than 20 states, all of which have Republican-controlled legislatures, have passed bans and restrictions on gender-affirming care for minors, forcing families to make difficult decisions about how to best care for their child. And the courts have thus far issued mixed rulings.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit, based in Atlanta, allowed Alabamas ban to go into effect, and the 6th Circuit, based in Ohio, ruled that Tennessee and Kentucky could enact their bans as well. But other appeals courts have blocked bans on transgender athletes joining teams that correspond with their gender, and the 11th Circuit sided with a Florida drag brunch spot, Hamburger Marys, to stop the states drag ban from taking place.

In November, LGBTQ+ advocates asked the U.S. Supreme Court to weigh in on Tennessees ban on gender-affirming care. The Supreme Court intervened in an Idaho ruling in April, focusing on how the state could enforce its ban on gender-affirming care and for whom.

But neither the Supreme Court nor any U.S. Court of Appeals has yet to weigh in specifically on the constitutionality of restrictions for transition care, Hinkle wrote.

Tuesdays decision in Florida returns decisions about transgender medical care to the patients and their families, Simone Chriss, an attorney for the plaintiffs in the case and the director of the transgender rights initiative at Southern Legal Counsel, told The Tampa Bay Times.

The ruling restores some balance in terms of respect and dignity and decency in a state that has never been more in need of those things right now, Chriss said.

Related...
The Florida Association of Crime Stoppers is doubling down on a tool that helped solve two murder cases that went cold in the state: playing cards.

The cards, which debuted Monday at a news conference at the Falkenburg Road Jail in Tampa, feature the faces and names of 45 homicide victims, two hit-and-run victims and six missing persons, as well as information on how to report anonymous tips to Florida Crime Stoppers.

More than 5,000 decks will be printed and shipped to over 100 jails and prisons across the state, according to Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody, putting them in front of more than 100,000 inmates. The decks will also be shown in a digital format across the states probation offices, which are visited by 1.2 million offenders each year.

Moody, whose office worked with Florida Crime Stoppers to release the decks, said that even one missing piece of information could be the key to solving one of these crimes.

If you know something that can bring one of these perpetrators to justice, please speak up, Moody said.

The Florida Sheriffs Association, Florida Department of Corrections and cold case nonprofit Season of Justice also collaborated on the initiative.

Three Tampa cold cases are included in the deck: the 2019 shooting of James William Earl, 32; the 2022 shooting of Willie Carraway, 45; and the 2023 shooting of Yitzian Torres-Garcia, 7.

Its going to be a year (since Torres-Garcia was killed) and we have no tips yet, said Marisol Ayala Hernandez, Torres-Garcias grandmother. Somebody has to talk about this, and well catch the people.

Torres-Garcias case is the most recent in the deck. The earliest case is the murder of Eileen King, 17, whose remains were found in the Withlacoochee River in 1979.

Tina Johnson-North, James Earls mother, said she hopes the initiative can bring justice and closure for her sons death and to the other families who have lost loved ones.

I feel very grateful, she said. Out of the thousands of people that have passed away, unsolved crimes, my son was chosen.

The deck also includes the cases of Shirley Badger Trenner, 61, who was stabbed in Clearwater in 1985; Jill Marie Vanwormer, 19, who disappeared in Pinellas County in 1986 and whose remains were discovered four years later in a Hernando County forest; and Yvonne Davenport, a 23-year-old dancer in the Tampa-St. Petersburg area who was murdered in 1987.

In addition, there are cards for Lynette Campbell, 35, who disappeared in Tarpon Springs in 1996 and was found dead two weeks later; and Dominique Lewis, who disappeared in St. Petersburg in 2007 and was found dead in a Brooksville forest weeks later.

The cold case deck is a revival of a 2007 initiative between Florida Crime Stoppers, the Department of Corrections, the Attorney Generals Office and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. That partnership led to the distribution of more than 200,000 decks of cold case playing cards across three editions.

This isnt just a hopeful experiment, its a proven concept, said Nassau County Sheriff Bill Leeper, president of the Florida Sheriffs Association. We are turning playing cards into a catalyst for justice.

The previous sets of cards led to the resolution of two cold cases, according to Florida Department of Corrections Assistant Secretary of Community Corrections Joe Winkler: the Fort Myers murder of James Foote, 53, in November 2004, and the Bradenton murder of Ingrid Lugo, 34, in December 2004.

In Lugos case, authorities had been stumped after discovering her body in an East Manatee County retention pond, Florida Crime Stoppers president Frank Brunner said. Her ex-boyfriend, Bryan Curry, was a person of interest in the case, but police were unable to find a hole in his alibi, so they let him go.

Brunner said that after including Lugos case in the first deck of playing cards, Crime Stoppers received a tip from an inmate that Curry was bragging about how he tricked the cops while in jail on an unrelated charge. He was convicted in Lugos death in March 2008 and sentenced to life in prison.

Brunner said the playing cards are targeted to inmates in part because those who are incarcerated may have knowledge about cold cases that others may not, either because they have heard discussions about the crimes or because they were involved in some way.

The playing card initiative is the latest in a series of efforts by the Florida Attorney Generals Office to solve the states more than 20,000 cold cases.

In 2020, Moodys office consolidated various Florida tip hotlines into a single statewide number, and in 2021, it nearly doubled the maximum reward amount for tips in murder cases from $5,000 to $9,500.

This February, Moody announced a dedicated cold case investigations unit to aid local law enforcement around the state in finding the culprits of unsolved murders.

Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister ceremonially received the first deck of the cold case cards.

Im grateful that the initiative is launched here, Chronister said. I am hopeful that this will help us solve just one crime, just one homicide, and bring closure to just one family member.

Anyone with information on the cases can reach out through the statewide anonymous tip line at **TIPS (8477), the Florida Crime Stoppers website or the Florida Crime Stoppers app. Tipsters who give information leading to an arrest can receive up to $9,500.
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  Florida deputies are searching for a man accused of sneaking into a 91-year-old womans home and sexually battering her early Sunday morning.

According to the Marion County Sheriffs Office, the woman was awoken to find a man sneaking through her home in Reddick, and in a cruel act of violence, she was beaten and sexually battered.

As my detectives continue to work tirelessly to identify this individual and process the evidence, we must unite to protect our most vulnerable citizens, Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods said. If you know someone who lives alone, ensure their doors are locked, help them install security cameras, and check in on them.

Inside the Ride: Tianas Bayou Adventure serves as a love letter to New Orleans culture, encourages riders to dig a little deeper

Residents who live nearby spoke with NBC affiliate WESH, saying an incident like this is unusual for the town.

What he did was just wrong and the whole town aint gonna like it, Reddick resident Jeffery Morris told WESH.

Reddick is a small town with roughly 500 residents, and following the news, each neighbor has been keeping a watchful eye out for anything unusual.

To touch her. Push her down or do anything like thats a coward act, Sylvester Nelson, another resident said.

Its somebodys mother and grandmother, Morris said.

According to WESH, both Morris and Nelson believe the suspect wont get away for long since Reddick is such a small town, adding that people there usually get along and stick up for one another.

Florida man encounters aggressive bull shark while on a jet ski

One way or another, hes going to pay. Hes not going to stay around. Thats how it works in a little town, Morris said.

Sheriff Woods also promised the suspect would not get away.

To the person responsible, I will find out who you are. I would tell you to turn yourself in, but I know you aint gonna do it. But I will find you, the sheriff said.

The sheriffs office is asking Reddick residents who may have seen anything suspicious or noticed anything unusual on their security cameras to contact MCSO at 352-732-9111.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, June 11. Kyrgyzstan's Parliamentary Committee on the fuel and energy complex, subsoil use, and industrial policy has approved a bill lifting the ban on uranium and thorium mining in the country in its first and second readings, Trend reports.

According to the parliament, to lessen the harmful effects of mining on the environment, the state will oversee the use of advanced mining technology for uranium and thorium when the law is passed. Once these technologies are identified, the relevant state agencies will mandate their adoption by subsoil users.

During the discussion, deputies raised issues regarding environmental, technical, and industrial safety in the mining sector. They emphasized the need to focus on training highly qualified specialists, exchanging experiences, and bringing back experienced specialists currently working abroad.

The deputies stressed that representatives of state bodies must take necessary measures to protect the environment and ensure the safe operation of tailing storage facilities.

To note, a moratorium on these activities was introduced in Kyrgyzstan in 2019. In February 2024, President Sadyr Japarov discussed plans to develop the Kyzyl Ompol deposit with residents of the Tong and Kochkor districts.
With the many recent shark attacks in the Southeastern region of the country, including one from Walton County along the Florida and Alabama border that has garnered national attention, its important to note past shark attacks on the island. Shark sightings arent as infrequent as many might think for this popular beach destination.

In 2021, The Island Packet reported shark attacks off the island on two separate occasions.

In May 2021, a 26-year-old man was swimming at Burkes beach on Hilton Head when he suddenly felt pressure as teeth bit into his flesh. This shark, which was estimated to be about 5 feet long, bit Wyatt Bowman in his heel and lower ankle. When emergency medical services arrived, they told him the bite was serious. Following orthopedic surgery, Bowman was unable to walk in the three to four weeks following, as previously reported by The Island Packet.

In August 2021, a lifeguard was bitten near the Barrington Arms Villas complex at Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort on Hilton Head while doing a check for currents, which was said to be routine. The lifeguard was reported to have had several lacerations following the incident and was treated at a hospital in Savannah for non-life-threatening injuries. At the time, Lowcountry shark expert Chip Michalove noted that it was likely a blacktip shark, according to a previously published story by The Island Packet.

In February of 2022, The Island Packet reported when the same Hilton Head charter captain, Chip Michalove, caught and tagged another 10-foot great white off the island. One of his boat mates, Ben Friedman, jumped into the ocean with the shark to retrieve a fishing line that had been snagged on a barnacle under the middle of their boats hull. Friedman was successful in freeing the line and remained unharmed.

In the summer of 2018, an 11-year-old Hampton County boy named Jei Turrell was bitten by a shark at Hilton Head, according to The Island Packet. A 5-foot shark sunk its teeth into his forearm while he and his brother were splashing in waist-deep water on a Hilton Head beach.

It was reported that shark attacks doubled in 2017 in South Carolina with 10 recorded attacks, eight of which were in Hilton Head. Documented shark attacks in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans along the U.S. coasts have been on the rise in recent years, a trend that researchers say has occurred because more people are visiting the beach with warming temperatures, an improving economy, and a recovering shark population that was nearly annihilated from overfishing in the 1980s and 90s.

Hilton Head Island is known to have shark sightings and feeding-time can even be seen along the islands beaches on occasion. When fish begin popping out of the water along the shoreline or further out, sharks may well be in the area.
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection and an environmental group are battling in a federal lawsuit about whether the state violated the Endangered Species Act because of sewage discharges into part of the Indian River Lagoon that is a key area for manatees.

Attorneys for the department and the group Bear Warriors United filed competing motions for summary judgment Friday in the lawsuit, which began in 2022.

Bear Warriors United contended in its filing that the department has not adequately regulated sewage-treatment plants and septic systems, leading to discharges that killed seagrass  a vital food source for manatees  in a northern stretch of the Indian River Lagoon. The filing said the department has known for decades that the septic tanks and wastewater plants it authorizes release human nitrogen that causes such problems as algae blooms in the lagoon.

Read: Madeline Soto case: State to seek death penalty against Stephan Sterns

DEP thus authorizes the destruction of the lagoons ability to sustain seagrass and other macroalgae which are essential food sources for the manatees survival, the groups attorneys wrote. As such, DEPs regulatory regime for septic tanks and wastewater plants directly and indirectly results in the ongoing unlawful take of manatees, in violation of (a section of the Endangered Species Act), and this court must issue an injunction requiring compliance with the ESA (Endangered Species Act) to prevent further take of manatees.

But in their motion, attorneys for the department said the state has taken a series of steps in recent years to try to reduce discharges into the lagoon and disputed that it has violated the Endangered Species Act. The motion said the departments actions are not the proximate cause of any harm to manatees, which are classified as a threatened species.

The record shows that DEP has not authorized or entitled any party to cause a violation of water quality standards, the states motion said. It has, instead, worked diligently to restore an impaired water. There is no proximate cause. DEP is entitled to judgment as a matter of law because with no dispute of material fact, it has not violated the ESA.

Read: Scattered rain returns to Central Florida

Florida had a record 1,100 manatee deaths in 2021, with many of the deaths linked to starvation because of a lack of seagrass. The largest number of deaths, 358, were in Brevard County, the focus of the lawsuit.

The state had 800 manatee deaths in 2022, before the number dropped to 555 in 2023, according to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission data. As of May 31, a reported 315 manatees had died this year.

U.S. District Judge Carlos Mendoza has scheduled a November trial in the lawsuit. But if Mendoza grants either sides motion for summary judgment, it would short-circuit the need for a trial.

Read: Iconic Daytona Beach ramp, toll booth closes for construction

The lawsuit involves part of the Indian River Lagoon from the Melbourne Causeway in Brevard County to Turnbull Creek in southern Volusia County. The Bear Warriors United filing Friday alleged that manatee starvation and death from lack of food is a direct result of DEPs regulatory regime for human wastewater and violates the ESA.

But the departments lawyers wrote, for example, that the agency only assumed oversight of a septic-tank regulation program in 2021. The program had been managed by the Florida Department of Health.

Plaintiff cannot point to any instance where DEPs supervision has been inadequate, or where any alleged omission in its supervision has caused harm to a protected species, the state motion said. To the contrary, DEP has presented record evidence showing that it has fully and diligently implemented its responsibilities after it assumed the  program.

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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (WFLA)  A Florida mother is accused of nearly drowning her toddler in a bathtub.

The Daytona Beach Police Department said it responded to a disturbance around 12:45 p.m. on Friday, June 7. According to investigators, the disturbance stemmed from the toddlers father finding the child unresponsive in a bathtub.

This woman drowning her own child almost, and she wants to also take my own child, the 911 caller said.

According to a report obtained by NBC affiliate WESH, the childs father found the toddler unresponsive in the tub and began performing life-saving measures. Police said he was able to revive the child, who is now stable at the hospital.

Investigators said they determined that the childs mother, 29-year-old Karina Mustafa, was responsible for the circumstances leading to the near-drowning.

According to the affidavit, Mustafa told police she held the toddler underwater for under a minute.

.she pushed (the toddler) down into the water and wanted to keep them in the water but (the child) would not stay in the water, the arrest report said.

Mustafa was arrested and charged with child cruelty and abuse. She is being held on no bond.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
FOLEY, Ala. (WKRG)  Foley city leaders are working to secure grant funding for a project that they say would help to keep pedestrians safer.

Escambia County Sheriffs Office seeks help in identifying burglary suspect

The project: to extend sidewalks along Alabama 59 between Azalea Avenue and Pride Drive.

(City of Foley)

According to officials, the project is much-needed and would help improve access for walkers and bicyclists around the city.

Its something that we need to do, Hellmich said. People walk up and down the grassy area there all the time. It will help us with our connectivity because we have a lot of east-west sidewalks, but we dont have anything north-south there.

All that is needed to make this project happen is state approval.

UPDATE: 32 dogs rescued from alleged dog fighting ring, 29 people arrested

The city council voted on Monday, June 3 to apply for a grant through the Alabama Department of Transportations Transportation Alternatives Program to get funding for the sidewalk extension. The release explained that if the state approves the grant, the city would extend sidewalks along the highway from Azalea Avenue south to Pride Drive, near Foley High School, a distance of about 1.25 miles.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Three years ago, President Joe Biden signed Juneteenth National Independence Day into law to commemorate the end of slavery in the United States on June 19 annually.

The holiday  on a Wednesday this year  closes federal facilities and gives federal employees a day off.

California officially recognized Juneteenth as a state holiday in 2023, giving state workers the option of taking the day off in lieu of a personal day.

But how Californias local governments, including those in the Sacramento area, mark the day of liberation is a mixed bag: Celebrations in one, observances in another, official public holidays in still other jurisdictions.

A Black advocate in Folsom is part of a statewide movement to urge California cities to designate Juneteenth an official public holiday in alignment with federal law and Californias designated state holiday.

Juneteenth is not just a Black-only holiday. This is a federal holiday, said Michael Harris, part of National Juneteenth Observance Foundation-California. The advocacy group seeks to expand cities official marking of the federal holiday across Californias 58 counties, focusing on cities with populations of 100,000 or more.

To have a law thats quasi-optional makes no sense. This is the only federal holiday thats treated this way, Harris said. All other federal holidays, its a day off and its celebrating a holiday. But Juneteenth is quasi-optional. You can opt not to celebrate it.

Who has Juneteenth off?

Juneteenth commemorates the date when Union Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, in 1865 to announce the end of the Civil War and an end to slavery, two years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. Texas marked the date an official holiday in 1980, but the date, also known as Jubilee or Emancipation Day, had long been celebrated unofficially in the Lone Star State.

Bidens signature in 2021, a year after the police killing of George Floyd in 2020 that triggered a national reckoning on race, the holiday officially celebrated the freedom of enslaved Black people more than 150 years after slaverys end.

Nearly every U.S. state  47 of 50  observes the day in some fashion; 28 including Nevada, Oregon and Washington, give its state workers the day off, according to information compiled by Pew Research Center.

Los Angeles, San Jose, San Diego and San Francisco  which has observed the day with parades and events for nearly 80 years  are among the California cities that followed the federal and states lead. Locally, so is Davis, where city offices will close for the federal holiday.

Sacramento, which has a long tradition of Juneteenth community celebration, does not declare Juneteenth a city holiday. But cities across the region in the years since 2020 including Elk Grove have issued proclamations calling on residents to observe and celebrate.

Last week, Woodland, the Yolo County seat, officially observed the day for the first time, honoring Black settlers in the county in the 1850s, as well as Black Woodland residents who helped build the citys historic opera house; and founding members of Woodlands Greater Second Baptist Church, long a touchstone of Woodlands Black faith community.

The Juneteenth holiday bill brought by Assemblymember Reggie Jones-Sawyer, D-South Los Angeles, and California Legislative Black Caucus member, was signed into law in September 2022.

Gov. Gavin Newsom remarked at the time, Juneteenth marks a defining moment: the true emancipation of enslaved Black Americans.  This is history we cant ignore. We have to face it head on. Newsom added that even as Juneteenth exposes our worst demons, it represents our better angels, those who persisted, and those who fought for true freedom, even in the face of unimaginable injustice and despair.

Harris said confronting that history is a key reason for the statewide Juneteenth effort, to look at the Civil War, examine its costs and honor those who fought and died for emancipation.

The Confederacy seceded from the Union. They had their own government, their own military, and we had four years of war, Harris said. Juneteenth represents the last of those battles, to go plantation to plantation freeing those who had been enslaved. We should be on the forefront and celebrate it.
Fond du Lac County Sheriff's Office uses drones to aid in arrest of suspected vehicle thieves in Eden

A Fond du Lac County Sheriff's Office drone with thermal imaging aided deputies in finding four suspects that were hidden from their view.

EDEN  Four Fond du Lac men were arrested early Tuesday on suspicion of entering and stealing from vehicles in the village of Eden.

Around 1:18 a.m. June 11, Fond du Lac County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to a report of several people entering vehicles in the Manor Hill Manufactured Home Community and searched the area on foot and via squad cars.

The sheriffs office's Communications Center received another report, and when deputies checked the area, they heard and saw several people matching the callers' descriptions running away from the area.

A sergeant from the department's small unmanned aerial system (sUAS) team searched the area using a sUAS with thermal imaging and located four people hiding in tall grass near the mobile home community. He directed deputies to their location, where they were arrested without further incident.

High-speed chase: Florida man arrested in Fond du Lac County on suspicion of trying to flee officers in high-speed pursuit

Evidence recovered from the suspects was consistent with vehicle entries and thefts, the sheriff's office said, and deputies determined a nearby vehicle was associated with the individuals: the ignition appeared to have been tampered with, and deputies suspected it was stolen from the city of Fond du Lac.

The suspects are being held in Fond du Lac County Jail, each for several counts of theft and one count each of operating a motor vehicle without owners consent  party to a crime.

Shooting: Fond du Lac police seek man suspected of shooting man in the leg Saturday

One of them was out on bond through Fond du Lac County on four other cases, including resisting and obstructing an officer, misdemeanor bail jumping, retail theft, and battery. Another had outstanding warrants through Fond du Lac and Winnebago counties for resisting and obstructing an officer, misdemeanor bail jumping, neglecting a child, retail theft, battery, and disorderly conduct. One is on community supervision through the Wisconsin Department of Corrections  Probation and Parole.

Fond du Lac Police Department, Wisconsin State Patrol and the village of North Fond du Lac Police Department assisted the sheriffs office with the incident.

Contact Daphne Lemke at dlemke@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Fond du Lac Reporter: Drones aid in arrest of suspected Fond du Lac County vehicle thieves
Former GB News presenter says Ofcom killed his career over Covid vaccine claims

Mark Steyn's broadcasts were said to be a 'harm to viewers'

Mark Steyn, the former GB News presenter, has accused Ofcom of killing his career after he questioned Covid vaccines on air.

The presenter left GB News after the media regulator found two of his programmes, which featured discussions about the vaccine rollout, breached its guidelines.

Mr Steyn, 64, has asked a High Court judge to quash the decisions, claiming they had a chilling effect.

Speaking in court for Mr Steyn on June 10, his lawyer Jonathan Price said: The rulings against his show have killed his career, killed his career in the UK and given rise to what he describes as crude defamation ... recycled through the London papers as if they had the force of criminal convictions.

Canadian presenter Mr Steyn joined GB News in 2021 but left in 2023, claiming that it wanted him to pay fines to Ofcom after the rulings against him.

Ofcom had found that on April 21, 2022 statistics from the UK Health Security Agency were presented in a materially misleading way in a broadcast which received four complaints.

Evidence of a causal link

It ruled that the show incorrectly provided definitive evidence of a causal link between receiving a third Covid-19 vaccine and higher infection, hospitalisation and death rates.

The presentation was made without sufficient counterweight and was found to be a potential harm to viewers.

Ofcom also took issue with a broadcast on Oct 4, 2022, when Mr Steyn interviewed US author Naomi Wolf during a show which received more than 400 complaints from viewers.

Ms Wolf claimed that the vaccine rollout was akin to mass murder, and comparable to the actions of doctors in pre-Nazi Germany.

Ofcom ruled this amounted to an unchallenged conspiracy theory, and Ms Wolfs unopposed claims were a harm to viewers.

He had two heart attacks

Mr Steyn claimed that GB News attempted to push him to pay the fines personally and he left. His departure also came after he had two heart attacks  one while presenting his show.

He attended court in London alongside Ms Wolf on Tuesday to hear Ofcoms defence.

Jessica Boyd KC said there was no realistic basis for the court to rule that the regulator had obviously gone wrong in its decisions.

She added: Both decisions were correct in concluding that the programmes could cause potential harm to the rights of viewers by distorting their understanding of issues which were likely to have a significant bearing on their health decisions in the context of a continuing pandemic.

Ms Boyd argued that Ofcoms decisions did not seek to hamper free expression.

A judgment is expected in writing at a later date.

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Former German Environment Minister and executive director of the United Nations Environment Programme Klaus Toepfer delivers a speech during the sustainability congress in Hamburg. picture alliance / dpa

Klaus Topfer, a former German environment minister and longtime politician with the centre-right Christian Democrats (CDU), has died. He was 85 years old.

Topfer, who led the Environment Ministry from 1987 to 1994, died on Saturday after a short but serious illness. A CDU spokeswoman confirmed his death to dpa on Tuesday.

He is credited with leaving a lasting mark on German environmental party, and was viewed as the "green conscience" of the Christian Democrats for decades, remaining outspoken in his advocacy for sustainable policies well into old age.

He took over the ministry less than two years after it was created in the wake of the April 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster in the Soviet Union, which sent radioactive fallout into the air over Europe.

Then-chancellor Helmut Kohl responded by combining environmental issues and nuclear reactor safety programmes into a single ministry.

As early as 1988, Topfer was advocating for a future without nuclear energy as well as fewer fossil fuels.

He was replaced as environment minister in 1994 by Angela Merkel, then a rising star in the CDU who went on to lead the country from 2005 to 2021.

Topfer was born in Silesia, in what is now Poland, in 1938. He moved with his family to the town of Hoxter in western Germany after World War II.

After stepping down from the Cabinet, Topfer went on to work with the United Nations in several capacities between 1996 and 2006.

At the end of his life, Topfer again lived in Hoxter along with his wife.
DUSHANBE, Tajikistan, June 11. Tajikistan plans to achieve effective results in the water agenda at COP29, President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon said, Trend reports.

He made the remark during the opening ceremony of the III International Conference dedicated to the International Decade of Action "Water for Sustainable Development, 2018-2028" in Dushanbe.

"Since the 26th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention on Climate Change in Glasgow in 2021, followed by Sharm El Sheikh and Dubai, Tajikistan, in cooperation with partner countries and international organizations, has been actively working to strengthen water in the climate agenda. We express confidence that this year we will achieve effective results in this direction within the framework of the next climate summit in Baku, Rahmon said.

The President also mentioned that the Dushanbe Water Process will play an important role as a platform for dialog between various stakeholders for comprehensive preparations for the UN Water Conference in Dushanbe in 2028. The opportunities of this platform can also be used for the preparations for the UN Water Conference in 2026.

To note, the Dushanbe Water Process is an initiative of the Government of Tajikistan to support the achievement of the goals of the International Decade for Action "Water for Sustainable Development, 2018-2028". A series of conferences, jointly coordinated by the Tajikistani government and the United Nations, are held every two years to put it into action.

Furthermore, in November this year, Azerbaijan will host the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29). This was decided at the plenary meeting of COP28 held in Dubai on December 11 last year. Within two weeks, Baku, having become the center of the world, will host about 70,00080,000 foreign guests.

The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change is an agreement signed at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in June 1992 to prevent dangerous human interference in the climate system. The acronym COP (Conference of Parties) stands for Conference of Parties, which is the highest legislative body overseeing the implementation of the Framework Convention on Climate Change. A total of 198 countries are parties to the convention. Unless the parties decide otherwise, COP is held annually. The first COP event was held in March 1995 in Germany's Berlin, and its secretariat is based in Bonn.

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Gov. James Thompson is sworn in to his second term as governor Jan. 8, 1979, with wife Jayne and infant daughter Samantha at the Illinois State Armory in Springfield. Former governor Dan Walker is in the background.

Former Illinois Gov. Jim Thompson, a figure who literally and figuratively towered over state government and politics for more than a decade, died Friday evening from an apparent heart attack. He was 84.

Thompson, a moderate Republican from Chicago, was the states longest-serving governor, holding the office from 1977 to 1991. He was affectionately known as Big Jim, both referencing his six-foot-six frame and his larger-than-life personality.

He was someone who was a U.S. Attorney, had never run for public office and yet was this commanding physical presence just in terms of his just his size and his presence, said Kent Redfield, a retired professor of political science at the University of Illinois Springfield. And then (he) turned out to have a real feel for politics and operated very easily between the folksy down home and being part of Springfield.

Longtime observers of Illinois government and politics credit Thompson with presiding over the modernization of state government and spearheading what was at the time the largest capital construction program in the states history. He was also known to be an effective administrator with an ability to eye and attract talented people to work in state government.

Before running for political office, Thompson made his name as the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois. In that office, he secured several high-profile convictions for public corruption, including that of former Gov. Otto Kerner and Chicago Ald. Tom Keane, who was Mayor Richard J. Daleys floor leader. He also took part in the investigation of Republican Vice President Spiro T. Agnew, who eventually pleaded no contest to tax evasion.

Thompson used this record as a springboard to run for political office. Though Thompson was a newcomer, he quickly displayed a natural skill for retail politics.

With a divided Democratic Party  Illinois Secretary of State Michael Howlett, backed by the Chicago Democratic machine, knocked off incumbent Gov. Dan Walker in the Democratic primary  Thompson was elected with 65% of the vote in 1977. He would go on to be reelected three more times.

Former Gov. Jim Edgar, who succeeded Thompson in 1991, said his predecessor was the best retail politician I've ever met and that he turned out to be a very effective administrator.

His instincts were as good as anyone I've ever dealt with in politics or in life, Edgar said. He had the ability to listen to everything but then to sort it out and to come up with what was the best policy.

Edgar, who was elected to the Illinois House the same year as Thompson was elected governor, credited Thompson with springboarding his career and eventually allowing him to run for governor. But it didnt start out that way.

I was a legislator and I was mad at him, Edgar recalls. We were fighting over something and I thought he kind of pulled the rug out from under us. And he called me and I thought 'I don't want to talk to him. This is the last guy I want to talk to.'

At the insistence of his wife, Edgar returned the call. Thompson wanted Edgar to become his legislative liaison. Knowing the freshman lawmakers future political ambitions, Thompson promised he would eventually find a place on the statewide ticket for Edgar.

After some negotiation, Edgar accepted the offer. A couple years later, Thompson tapped Edgar to be Illinois Secretary of State after incumbent Alan Dixon was elected to the U.S. Senate.

He kept his word on that and that also gave me the opportunity to be governor, Edgar said. I was just kind of an obscure freshman legislator. I worked in the legislature before and knew people, but the fact that he kind of took a chance on me, that that was a huge thing.

Taking a chance on people he considered talented  even if the persons resume wasnt as long  would become a theme throughout Thompsons tenure. Many credit him for finding effective department heads who would often shape state government and politics for decades to come.

Among them was Greg Baise, who served Thompson as a traveling aide, scheduler and personnel director, where he oversaw the governors patronage-related hires. Thompson later appointed him director of the Illinois Department of Transportation.

He was a skilled person in handling the levers of power on the governmental side, Baise said. His political instincts were second to none. And he had an ability to recognize talent  and he brought good people to government.

Baise, who managed President Ronald Reagans Illinois presidential campaign in 1984 and Thompsons final reelection campaign in 1986, said that Thompson had a unique understanding of how to win as a Republican in Illinois.

He understood that he couldn't get elected with just Republican votes in this state, that he had to appeal obviously to the independents, but he also had to go out there and get the labor votes, Baise said. Remember, this is a guy who gets the AFL-CIO to go neutral in 1986, in his last election.

Thompsons ability to break bread with Democrats as well as his fellow Republicans was also fondly recalled. A Chicago native, Thompson knew how to work within the rough-and-tumble politics of the nations third largest city. But, he also knew his way around the state and county fair circuit in central and southern Illinois.

There's sort of an irony that he passes away the week of what would have been the State Fair, an event that he truly loved and enjoyed in that regard, Baise said.

In 1988, Thompson teamed up with House Speaker Michael Madigan to secure votes for a plan to publicly fund a new stadium for the Chicago White Sox, whose ownership was threatening to move the team to Tampa, Florida if a deal wasnt struck.

On June 30, with minutes to spare before midnight, when votes needed for passage would increase from 60 to 71, Thompson worked the House floor, twisting Republican arms to switch votes from nay to aye.

Those opposed to the plan were singing 'Na, Na, Na, Hey, Hey Goodbye' to the Sox. But Thompson had the last laugh.

The legislation passed 60-55, with the official time marked 11:59 p.m. Though the actual time was 12:03 a.m. As a result, new Comiskey Park, now known as Guaranteed Rate Field, was constructed and the White Sox remained in Chicago.

Thompson also had a legacy as a builder, spearheading the effort to pass and implement Build Illinois, which was the largest capital construction program in the states history at the time.

Among the buildings constructed during his tenure was the James R. Thompson Center, which opened in downtown Chicago in 1985. The building, designed by architect Helmut Jahn, was renamed in Thompsons honor in 1993.

It was considered an important statement of architecture by some and an eyesore by others. Thompson defended the building to his death. The state has been attempting to sell the structure in recent years.

Like the modern design of the building that bears his name, Thompsons legacy includes modernizing state government.

Thompson clearly gets credit for  in that long period of time that he was governor  professionalizing state government, for bringing in directors that had expertise, Redfield said. And the state government expanded in terms of its functions and its size.

State government looked much different after Thompson than before, he added.

Thompson also had a hand in the expansion of Chicagos McCormick Place convention center and the construction of what is now the United Center, home to the NBAs Bulls and the NHLs Blackhawks.

He also played a role in the restoration of Navy Pier, which now consistently ranks among the states top sites for tourism.

Those from all over the Illinois political world have chimed in on Thompsons passing and the legacy he leaves behind.

In a statement, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker said that Thompson will be remembered as one of the titans in the history of state government.

As the longest-serving governor in Illinois history, Big Jim was known to treat people he encountered with kindness and decency, Pritzker said. He dedicated himself to building positive change for Illinois, and he set an example for public service of which Illinoisans should be proud.

Illinois Republican Party Chairman Tim Schneider said that Thompson treated others with legendary kindness, and created lasting positive change for Illinois over his 14 years as Governor.

He helped send a corrupt governor to jail as a prosecutor, rebuilt the states infrastructure, saved the White Sox, and presided over a healthy and prosperous Illinois, Schneider said. Our thoughts and prayers are with Jayne and his family at this time.

Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan and his wife, Shirley, said they considered Thompson a cherished friend and that he should be credited with the modernization of Illinois government.

He was a hard-nosed political figure and a compassionate leader, they said in a statement. We were honored to serve with him.

Governor Thompson was a friend, mentor and an exemplary statesman who loved Illinois, said Illinois House Minority Leader Jim Durkin, R-Western Springs. He was a hands-on Governor who loved the process of getting things done in Springfield, and his accomplishments still stand strong today. Our state was fortunate to have such a dedicated leader.

Thompson is survived by his wife, Jayne, and daughter, Samantha.

The Associated Press contributed to this article. Contact Brenden Moore: 788-1526, brenden.moore@sj-r.com, twitter.com/brendenmoore13.

A Thompson timeline:

* 1936: Born May 8 in Chicago.

* 1959-64: Prosecutor, Cook County states attorneys office.

*1964-69: Associate professor, Northwestern University Law School.

* 1969-70: Department chief, Illinois attorney generals office.

* 1970-71: First assistant U.S. attorney.

* 1971-75: U.S. attorney for Northern Illinois.

* 1976: Married June 19 to Jayne Ann Carr.

* 1976: Elected 39th governor of Illinois by defeating Democrat Michael J. Howlett.

* 1978: Re-elected governor by defeating Democrat Michael Bakalis.

*1982: Re-elected to third term by narrowly defeating Democrat Adlai Stevenson III.

* 1985: Becomes the longest-serving governor in state history on Feb. 4.

* 1986: Re-elected to fourth term by defeating Stevenson.

Gov. James Thompson, left, and House Minority Leader Lee Daniels confer on the floor of the House chamber in 1990.

This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Former Gov. James R. Thompson remembered as 'titan' in state government
Exhibits in the criminal trial of former Adair Police Chief Bradley Wendt suggest he knowingly used his position as chief to sell machine guns through his for-profit business. (Gun photo and Facebook text messages from U,S. District Court files)

Text messages and emails from a fired Iowa police chief, recently convicted of illegally dealing in automatic weapons, indicate he knowingly used his position in law enforcement to acquire machine guns for himself and his for-profit business.

This chief (of) police gig is awesome, Bradley Wendt wrote to an associate in 2019, according to court exhibits. Send machine guns to my own gun store. LOL.

In February, a federal jury convicted Wendt, 47, of conspiring to make false statements to the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, eight counts of making such false statements himself, and illegal possession of a machine gun.

Beginning in 2017, Wendt served as the chief of police in Adair while also working as the owner of BW Outfitters, a federally licensed firearms dealer with locations in Anita and Denison. Prosecutors allege that between July 2018 and August 2022, Wendt used his position as Adairs chief of police to obtain machine guns for his own personal use and profit, acquiring weapons for concocted law enforcement purposes and then selling them to others through his private company.

Wendt was also accused of selling guns to the Adair Police Department at a profit and of renting out city-owned guns for his personal profit.

Generally, machine guns made after May 1986 are illegal to transfer and possess  but an exemption exists for law enforcement agencies, which can buy machine guns for their official use. Dealers can also acquire machine guns to demonstrate to a police department for the departments potential purchase.

If a police department wants to purchase, or receive a demonstration of, a machine gun, it must submit a letter to the ATF, referred to as a law letter, expressing its need for and interest in the machine gun.

Between July 2018 and August 2022, Wendt wrote nearly 40 such law letters, requesting the purchase or demonstration of 90 machine guns for the Adair Police Department, which had a total staff of two full-time officers, Wendt included.

In the law letters to purchase machine guns for his two-man department, Wendt claimed to be buying the machine guns for the official use of his department and asserted he was not acquiring them for resale.

Wendt: Im building a machine gun arsenal

At trial, prosecutors said the evidence showed Wendt purchased an M134 motor-driven Gatling gun  capable of firing 50 rounds per second and typically used on military helicopters  that he mounted to his personally owned, armored Humvee.

In his initial efforts to facilitate that sale, Wendt allegedly wrote a letter, as chief of police, to himself as the owner of BW Outfitters, claiming the Adair Police Department was considering purchasing the weapon due to its ability to lay down suppressive fire.

In another instance, prosecutors alleged, Wendt purchased three machine guns for $2,000 each, then sold two of them to a Florida buyer for a total of $50,000. Those guns had been registered to the Adair Police Department.

Wendt now faces up to five years in prison on the conspiracy count, five years in prison for each of the eight false-statement charges, and up to 10 years prison for illegal possession of a machine gun. Sentencing is scheduled for July 1.

Included in the evidence presented at trial was a series of Facebook text messages Wendt exchanged with others between 2019 and 2022, including some in which he boasted of owning a sh ton of machine guns, and of using a loophole in the law that enabled him to acquire weapons through his position as chief of police.

Machine guns are worth bank money, Wendt wrote to Noah Schilling, currently a Shelby County deputy. Paid 4k for MP5SD. Can sell for 20k.

Wow! Schilling replied. How the f you do that? Where the fyou buy that for 4k?

They dont make anymore, Wendt responded. Bought thru PD. Checked it out. Wasnt what PD wanted so (I) keeps it at BW (Outfitters)  Loop holes. Perfect. Legal. ATF guy told me how to do it.

Fing smart! Well played, good sir, Schilling replied.

Im building a machine gun arsenal, Wend told the deputy in a separate exchange. This chief (of) police gig is awesome  Send machine guns to my own gun store. LOL.

That would be so badass, Schilling replied. U got all the cool s!  Ha ha ha! Yea, a chief gig would be pretty awesome if you had a money-making gun store. The chief pay isnt real great.

Just need the title, Wendt replied.

Schilling said Tuesday his assessment of Wendts actions was based on the chiefs claim that he was taking advantage of a loophole in the law and so his actions were legal.

In my vision, if you can buy something for $4,000 and turn around and sell it for $20,000 and, you know, make 16 grand on something, thats kind of a smart choice, Schilling told the Iowa Capital Dispatch. If its not legal, you shouldnt do it, but he said it was legal, it was a loophole. So thats a genius idea  if its legal.

Chief status lets me sign for machine guns

In a separate exchange with another individual, Wendt was asked whether he was getting rich, to which he replied, Oh ya, and indicated he was in the process of acquiring more automatic weapons.

In April 2019, Wendt wrote to a third individual and explained his situation, saying he was sticking with the boring police chiefs job in Adair for the pay and benefits and his access to machine guns.

Got two years left on my IPERS, figured better finish it, Wendt wrote, referring to the Iowa Public Employees Retirement System. 25k for two ten-hour shifts a week and free dental health vision insurance. I can be bored for that. And chief status lets me sign for machine guns for my indoor range. Win win.

In a 2021 exchange with a fourth individual, Wendt inquired about the possibility of purchasing machine guns.

We can make them, the individual replied. (But) you gotta know someone in power in LE office, referring to law enforcement by the acronym.

LOL, Wendt replied. Im chief of police, bitch.

In a 2020 series of messages, Wendt asked others about how to retrofit his personally owned Humvee, which had a gun turret, to accommodate a machine gun. When informed that such a task could cost $60,000 to $100,000, Wendt instructed a man to see if we can get it done. Ill need a tax deduction this year the way guns (are) selling for sure.

FBI Omaha Special Agent in Charge Eugene Kowel said in a written statement about the case that Wendt committed a stark abuse of the position of trust he held in Adair.

Brad Wendt exploited his position as chief of police to unlawfully obtain and sell guns for his own personal profit, Kowel said. When so many law enforcement officers in our country are working to protect our communities and uphold the law, Brad Wendt did exactly the opposite.

State records indicate that the City of Adair did not fire Wendt when he was indicted in December 2022, but instead placed him on administrative leave. The records indicate that Mayor Joanne Byars and the city council agreed that if Wendt was acquitted of the charges, he could return to work as a part-time police officer.

His employment was terminated with his conviction in February. He then collected more than $900 in unemployment benefits before the city challenged those payouts by pointing to workplace misconduct.

A judge recently ruled that Wendt was not entitled to the benefits given the nature of his crimes and his on-the-job misconduct  but since the city failed to challenge the payment initially, he will not have to pay back the money. The city, however, may be billed for that expense.

The post Former Iowa police chief could face prison for gun sales: Im chief of police, b-   -. appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
Former Macomb County Clerk Carmella Sabaugh, who went from stay-at-home mom to four decades as a public servant, including 24 years as the county clerk/register of deeds, died Saturday.

She was 85 and died of natural causes at her home in Rochester with family present, the family said.

The county offices she oversaw made numerous advances and technological improvements, including putting campaign finance reports online, creating kiosks to shorten in-office wait times for things like a birth record or concealed pistol application and efficiencies for those summoned for jury duty. Her efforts won the office dozens of national achievement awards.

Macomb County Clerk/Register of Deeds Carmella Sabaugh shows off the new kiosks that are to pay Macomb County jurors in cash the day they serve. The cash is to start being dispersed in August 2015. Photo taken in July 2015 in the jury room. Christina Hall/Detroit Free Press

Sabaugh's name has appeared on countless documents after she was first elected county clerk/register of deeds in 1992. But her political career began years earlier in the city of Warren.

Sabaugh served on the City Council from 1975-79. She was elected Warren City Clerk in 1979.

She was the Democratic candidate for Michigan Secretary of State in 2006. In 2016, after decades serving at the county level, Sabaugh, then 77, withdrew her name from seeking reelection, saying she was retiring, with plans to spend time with her children and grandchildren and to visit relatives in Italy.

While public service was her calling, one of her sons, Macomb County Circuit Judge Matthew Sabaugh, said in an email to the Free Press on Monday: "These accomplishments only begin to summarize how truly special our mother was."

"Carmella was a lover of life and of all people. She cared for all those around her. As the youngest of her five children, I remember her as a loving mother who would do anything for us and always challenged us to be our best," he wrote.

"Coming of age in the 1960s, she was a trailblazer for women in the workplace. Opportunities for women were not so widely available in her time. Although she had received a scholarship to attend college, finances forced her to forgo college to work and support herself. After getting married and raising a family, Carmella wanted to contribute to her local community in Warren. She went from stay at home mother to being elected to the city council."

He wrote that his mother, also remembered as an accomplished seamstress and cook known for her Italian dishes and caramel corn, was on a first-name basis with friends and neighbors and her enthusiasm "was infectious." He stated she had "great taste. She loved good food, spirited conversation and being around friends and family. She was a mentor for young people in her office and helped many women get elected to public office."

He wrote that his mother's motto was "your vote is your voice!" and that she spearheaded voter registration efforts to encourage people to cast a ballot, regardless of political party.

"She believed the best democracy was through maximum participation. It is only fitting that she left this earth in an election year!" he wrote. "She was amazing in so many ways. I remember her relentless positivity. In the bloodsport of politics, she never got bogged down in the mud. She persevered, focusing instead on doing the best job for the public."

Carmella Sabaugh the Macomb County Clerk / Register of Deeds is photographed with voting kit and the the application to vote slips that do not have the citizenship checkbox on it, on Wednesday, September 12, 2012, in Mt. Clemens Mich.

Sabaugh wrote that when he was appointed as a district court judge in 2008 in Warren, his mother told him: "The office is not yours, it belongs to the people. You are only a caretaker. Try your best to leave it better than you found it."

Carmella Sabaugh was born in Detroit in 1938 and orphaned with her two sisters in her early childhood, according to her son and her online obituary.

She married Richard Sabaugh in 1960 and moved to Warren, where they raised five children: Rick, Mike, Renee, Jeanine and Matt. She is survived by her former husband of 27 years and their children; 13 grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, a sister, nieces and nephews.

"I think people will remember her as a great public servant with a record of accomplishment," said Todd Schmitz, Sabaugh's chief deputy for 14 years, who is currently an assistant prosecutor in the county. "Godspeed, madam clerk."

Improvements implemented under Sabaugh's tenure were many, including many firsts. A sampling of the changes included: offering mobile offices in communities; the clerk's office being open one night a week; working with the court on electronic filing and the one-day, one trial system for jurors; modernizing customer payments, and creating a real estate search system.

Republican County Clerk/Register of Deeds Anthony Forlini, who has many employees in his office who worked for Sabaugh, said Sabaugh was "very well respected by everybody ... She certainly made her mark on Macomb County."

His office posted about Sabaugh's death on its Facebook page, stating that she was raised by an aunt and uncle, graduated from Denby High School and was honored as Italian American Woman of the Year in 2005 by the Italian Cultural Center.

County Executive Mark Hackel said Sabaugh swore him in when he became county sheriff and again when he became executive, saying "you were kind of honored to have her do that."

He said Sabaugh cared about people. He recalled a time when a man called the sheriff's office on a weekend very upset, saying he needed his marriage license. The clerk's office was closed. Hackel said he called Sabaugh, who went to the courthouse to get the man the document he needed.

"She made that happen," he said. "She made good on her promise."

Memorial visitation is scheduled for 3 p.m.-8 p.m. June 23 at Wujek-Calcaterra & Sons, Inc., 36900 Schoenherr Road, Sterling Heights. A memorial Mass will be held at 11 a.m. June 24 at St. Andrew's Catholic Church, 1400 Inglewood Ave., Rochester, per the funeral home's website. Memorial contributions may be made to Leader Dogs for the Blind in Rochester.

Contact Christina Hall: chall@freepress.com. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter: @challreporter.

Support local journalism. Subscribe to the Free Press.

Submit a letter to the editor at freep.com/letters.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Former longtime Macomb County Clerk Carmella Sabaugh dies at 85
Former St. Johns County Sheriff David Shoar has cast his name into the District 7 Senate race.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

According to News Service of Florida, Shoar opened a campaign account on Friday to run for the seat that will be vacated by term-limited Sen. Travis Hutson, R-St. Augustine.

House Appropriations Chairman Tom Leek, R-Ormond Beach, is also running for the seat and has gained support from Republican leaders like Gov. Ron DeSantis and incoming Senate President Ben Albritton, R-Wauchula.

Read: Its a nightmare: Florida family claims childs medical condition led to child abuse accusations

The district is made up of St. Johns, Putnam, Flagler and part of Volusia counties.

Shoar was first elected sheriff in St. Johns County in 2004 and served until 2020. After that, he joined the law firm Woolsey Morcom in 2023 as the director of investigations, according to the firms website.

Other candidates running for the District 7 seat include Republican Gerry James, Democrat George Anthony Hill and unaffiliated candidate Michael Levon Gist.

Floridas primary election will be held Aug. 20.

News Service of Florida helped contribute to this article.

Read: Clay County leaders hosting meetings on how to spend dollars from Community Development Block Grant

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The former San Luis Obispo consignment store owner who pleaded guilty to embezzlement must pay her victims more than $300,000 in restitution but didnt get jail time, a decision that angered many of her former customers.

Andrea Ruth Bowen-Gardner, 53, was sentenced to two years of probation and 1,040 hours of community service after pleading guilty to embezzling money from at least 69 customers at her consignment store Timeless Treasures, along with writing multiple bad checks from the date her store opened in 2016 to May 2019, when it abruptly closed.

Its heart-wrenching to see all of these people whove gone through this, Betsy Nash told the judge during Bowen-Gardners sentencing. It not just that she stole money. Its history as well.

Nash was just one of the dozens of customers who entrusted Bowen-Gardner to sell their family heirlooms and valuables, only to not receive payment for the item or have the items returned.

The outside of Timeless Treasures, Andrea Bowen-Gardners consignment shop in San Luis Obispo, before it was closed in May 2019.

Bowen-Gardner was ordered to pay at least $338,764 in restitution to her victims  an amount that could be raised in future hearings if more claims come forward.

But Kevin Rock, who helped Bowen-Gardner open the consignment store by lending her $34,000, doubts shell pay any of it back. Shes on her third bankruptcy claim  the first two were dismissed because scam victims contested her filings  and he said he believes she deserved jail time.

I know the felon over there will not follow the rules, Rock told the Judge Crystal Seiler. Ill never get my time back. Im pissed she won.

Kevin Rock speaks during Andrea Bowen-Gardners sentencing on June 10, 2024, for three felony counts of embezzlement and one felony count of writing a bad check. Bowen-Gardner pleaded no contest to the crimes after being accused of consigning items at her store, Timeless Treasures, and not paying consigners once their items sold.

Timeless Treasures victim faces homelessness after valuable items disappear, she says

The worst part for Janine Farr-Edelman and Colleen Craig, victims of the Timeless Treasures embezzlement, was the way Bowen-Gardner defended herself when asked for updates on items.

Craig told the judge that Bowen-Gardner would accuse her of violating their contract and threatened to file a restraining order against her. She also said Bowen-Gardner taped a conversation between the two without Craigs knowledge and threatened to send it to the Sheriffs Office and have Craig arrested simply for asking what had happened to my things.

I was so taken aback by her attacks, I began questioning my safety, Craig said, adding that Bowen-Gardners behavior was unnerving.

Farr-Edelman said Bowen-Gardner and her husband both said they didnt want her in the store  despite Farr-Edelmans valuable items being sold there  and Bowen-Gardners husband called her a bad person.

Thats when Farr-Edelman asked for her items back, and when Bowen-Gardners husband showed up with only half of Farr-Edelmans belongings  the most expensive piece was gone  he berated her when she asked where the rest of her items were.

Now, Farr-Edelman is facing homelessness. The money she had was tied up in family assets  namely a collection of paintings valued at $500 to $40,000 each  and with several of the paintings sold off without repayment, she is in eviction court Thursday.

I dont know where Im going to be living, and to hear how badly she treated everyone ... it makes my heart sick that this person would be able to walk away with just a slap on the hands, Farr-Edelman said. That doesnt seem fair to the damage.

Janine Farr-Edelman speaks during Andrea Bowen-Gardners sentencing on June 10, 2024, for three felony counts of embezzlement and one felony count of writing a bad check. Bowen-Gardner pleaded no contest to the crimes after being accused of consigning items at her store, Timeless Treasures, and not paying consigners once their items sold.

Rock told the judge he has lost trust in local businesses and in himself after what he endured because of Bowen-Gardner.

He said he used to refer friends to consign items at Timeless Treasures, and when his friends would report that they werent paid for items, Bowen-Gardner would call them crazy.

He paid two of those friends out of his own pocket so that he could keep his own integrity, he said.

It wasnt just a bad business, he told the judge. It was a bad person running a business.

Rock said he not only lost money to her, but he also lost a friendship for three years when Bowen-Gardner convinced him to take her side when another investor sued her over how she ran the business.

But now, Rock said, he knows she was a fraud.

Andrea took my kindness for weakness. She took my money as if it was hers. She took all the energy that I put in the store and used it for her own personal greed, Rock said. Shes a thief, liar and con-artist. She has no remorse and no consciousness.

Kevin Rock holds his binder of evidence against Andrea Bowen-Gardner for financial crimes she committed while operating the consignment store Timeless Treasures, during her sentencing on June 10, 2024. She pleaded no contest to three felony counts of embezzlement and one felony count of writing a bad check.

Bowen-Gardner must complete her community service hours within her two years of probation. She is not allowed to have a checking account and is not allowed to be employed or have a position in an organization where she has financial responsibilities.

If she violates her probation, the judge said, she faces significant time in jail or prison depending on the violation.

For Teena Colebrook, who Bowen-Gardner must pay at least $150,500, the conviction and sentencing is bittersweet, but mostly bitter, because she is not getting the jail time she truly deserves.

It is my hope  faint though it is  that she will reflect on the damage, extreme stress, huge financial loss and trauma she has caused me and many others while she completes her community service hours and makes restitution to all the victims.

But, Colebrook added, she is doubtful the restitution will actually be paid. Her trust in Bowen-Gardner  and the legal system  has been diminished, she said.

San Luis Obispo Superior Court Judge Crystal Seiler listens to victim impact statements on June 10, 2024, during Andrea Bowen-Gardners sentencing for three felony counts of embezzlement and one felony count of writing a bad check. Bowen-Gardner pleaded no contest to the crimes after being accused of consigning items at her store, Timeless Treasures, and not paying consigners once their items sold.

Andrea Bowen-Gardner, right, and her attorney Jeremy Cutcher sit during Bowen-Gardners sentencing on June 10, 2024, for three felony counts of embezzlement and one felony count of writing a bad check. Bowen-Gardner pleaded no contest to the crimes after being accused of consigning items at her store, Timeless Treasures, and not paying consigners once their items sold.
FILE - Trump campaign attorney Jim Troupis speaks during a hearing to discuss election security, Dec. 16, 2020, on Capitol Hill in Washington. The Wisconsin Supreme Court on Tuesday, June 11, 2024, suspended Troupis from a state judicial ethics panel a week after he was charged with a felony for his role in the 2020 fake electors scheme. (Jim Lo Scalzo/Pool Photo via AP, File)

MADISON, Wis. (AP)  The Wisconsin Supreme Court on Tuesday suspended former President Donald Trumps Wisconsin lawyer from a state judicial ethics panel a week after he was charged with a felony for his role in a 2020 fake electors scheme.

Liberal advocates have been calling for Jim Troupis to step down from the Judicial Conduct Advisory Committee, saying he is unsuitable due to his role advising the Republicans who attempted to cast Wisconsin's electoral votes for Trump after he lost the 2020 election in the state to Democrat Joe Biden.

Troupis, a former judge, Kenneth Chesebro, another Trump attorney, and former Trump aide Mike Roman were all charged by state Attorney General Josh Kaul last week for their role in the fake electors plot.

Troupis did not return a voicemail or text message seeking comment Tuesday.

The Wisconsin Supreme Court, in its order, notified Troupis and the judicial advisory committee that he was temporarily suspended from serving on the panel effective immediately. The court did not give a reason for the suspension.

Justice Rebecca Bradley, one of the court's three minority conservative members, did not participate. Bradley was one of four conservative justices on the court who reappointed Troupis for a second term on the panel in March 2023. Liberals now hold a 4-3 majority on the court.

Troupis has been a member of the judicial committee since 2020 and was reappointed to a second three-year term 15 months ago. The committee is charged with giving formal opinions and informal advice to judges and judicial officers related to the state's code of judicial conduct. The advice involves whether possible actions would be in compliance with the code.

The committee rarely issues formal written opinions and has not issued one since 2019, according to its website. Informal opinions are offered several times a year, the committees chair Winnebago County Circuit Judge Bryan Keberlein, said in December.

Calls for Troupis to be replaced on the judicial commission echo those from Democrats who want one of the fake electors, Bob Spindell, to be removed from the bipartisan state elections commission. The Republican Senate majority leader who appointed Spindell has refused to rescind the appointment.

The 10 Wisconsin fake electors, Troupis and Chesebro all settled a civil lawsuit that was brought against them last year.

Troupis said after the settlement that the alternate elector ballots were a reasonable course of action given that the 2020 results were appealable to the U.S. Supreme Court. He said the settlement was made to to avoid endless litigation and he did not make any admission of wrongdoing.

Documents released as part of those settlements showed that the strategy in Wisconsin replicated moves in six other swing states.

At Troupis urging, Chesebro drafted memos in the final months of 2020 detailing how to prepare fake elector certificates and how they should be signed. Troupis was also involved with communicating with the White House about the plan.

After Wisconsins fake electors met on Dec. 14, 2020, Troupis contacted U.S. Sen. Ron Johnsons staff and asked that Johnson deliver the documents from the fake electors in Wisconsin and Michigan to Vice President Mike Pence. A Pence staff member refused to accept them.

Biden won Wisconsin in 2020 by fewer than 21,000 votes. Trumps campaign tried to overturn the results by arguing, in lawsuits filed by Troupis, that tens of thousands of absentee ballots legally cast should not have counted. The Wisconsin Supreme Court rejected the Trump lawsuit on a 4-3 ruling, upholding Bidens win.
(FT. CARSON, Colo.)  On Monday, Fort Carson held a large-scale training exercise that integrated air, ground, cyber, and space-based systems called Ivy Mass.

There were 31 different Department of Defense organizations who took part in the convergence of forces, all demonstrating how the Ivy Division uses converging effects to win on todays modern battlefield.

Major General David S. Doyle, the Commanding General for the 4th Infantry Division and Fort Carson said it is crucial training; especially as threats continue to develop overseas.

So this is one of those things where we synchronize and consolidate all the things that the United States military has to be able to fight and win, he said. So, by training to do this, were better prepared to do it when the time comes.

This Ivy Mass training marked the largest joint task force training using all military branches in Fort Carsons history.

Spectators from the Pentagon and contractors from army defense companies were also on-site to look for ways to improve military tech. But also, to view the Armys latest acquisition; an M7A4 Bradley vehicle. It features a tethered drone that can knock out radio signals, pinpoint flight durations, and serve as a target locator.

We have to be prepared to fight any adversary Some of those have capabilities that are very similar to ours, whether its tanks, or aircraft, or electronic capabilities, or cyber capabilities, Maj. Gen. Doyle explained. So, if were not prepared to deal with all of that, we will not be able to do the job that we need to do. Thats why we focus on bringing all of our combat power to bear.

Those serving on the front lines say it helps to understand how their network of allies operates on the battlefield.

Were not going to go out and win the war alone wherever the battle is, Cpt. John Sullivan, an Apache Pilot in the Army said. If I can remain hidden behind a hill and an air force jet can go up and take care of that asset.

It is not just soldiers who share this sentiment. Marines say they too have a lot to gain from the cross-training.

We are all part of the same Department of Defense and the ability to work these systems in a peacetime environment and garrison allows us to work out some of the hiccups, Staff Sgt. Matthew Faley. We do have and learn from these, develop more robust systems, continue joint communication operations like comes to fighting enemies outside of the States.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado.
LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM) Four children were found living in a filthy Lancaster County home and two people are facing charges, according to police.

Inside the home of Sarah Clinger, 32, and her boyfriend Ulysiss Torres, 28, both of Columbia, police found feces on the floor, rotten food, trash and bugs, Manheim Township Police said in the charges filed.

A one-and-a-half-year-old was inside a dirty pen on the floor that had no secure bottom and they would sometimes even sleep in there, police said. In a five-year-olds room, police said there was a ripped-up, dirty mattress with no coverings and clothes were everywhere, according to the complaint. Police did not specify the ages of all four children.

Police were dispatched to an apartment along the 1000 block of Habecker Road just after 6 p.m. Friday for a child-family offense in progress, police said in the complaint.

Man wanted for Lancaster County Pokemon card theft

Clinger and Torres were both home when police arrived and searched the home. Police learned that when Clinger is working and not home, Torres then watches the children.

Dark-colored stains that appeared to look like feces were on the floor, which was also wet and slippery, police said. Flies and cockroaches were throughout the home, including the fire-alarm, that had to be removed and under it was cockroach feces.

The crib for the newborn was in the duos room, which police said was filled with clothes, rotten food, beverages, trash and cigarette butts.

One of the children will regularly leave the apartment without anyone knowing and the neighbors would get them and bring them back to a home that was empty. The child was recently almost hit by a vehicle, police said.

The duo faces four felony charges of endangering the welfare of children.

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Both of them are locked up in Lancaster County Prison with bail set at 10% of $15,000. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 13.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Four Cornell College instructors are being treated for injuries after a "serious incident" in a park in Jilin, China. (Photo courtesy of Cornell College)

A suspect has been apprehended in an incident where four Cornell College instructors, one of whom is the brother of Iowa Rep. Adam Zabner, were injured Monday during a visit to a public park in Jilin City, China.

The instructors from the Mount Vernon college were teaching at Beihua University as part of a partnership between the two universities, Cornell College President Jonathan Brand said in a statement. They were injured in a serious incident during a trip to the park where they were accompanied by a faculty member from Beihua University. No students were involved in the program, Brand said.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said in a Tuesday press conference that none of the instructors are in critical condition, and while investigation into the incident is still being conducted, early assessments indicate it was an isolated incident.

The Associated Press reported Tuesday that Jilin City police have detained a suspect in the stabbing, a 55-year-old with the surname Ciu. According to a police statement, Ciu was walking through a park Monday when he bumped into a foreigner, after which he stabbed that individual and three others.

David Zabner, Adam Zabners brother and a PhD student at Tufts University who was in China as part of the partnership, was wounded in the arm during the altercation, the representative said in a social media statement. The lawmaker indicated David was recovering from his injuries and doing well, and that he had thanked Beihua University for its warm welcome and the local hospital for the care it showed him.

My family is incredibly grateful that David survived this attack, Adam Zabner said in his statement. Wed like to see David home in Iowa as soon as possible.

The representative also thanked the State Department and Iowas federal delegation, who he said are also working hard to bring the instructor home. U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks posted on social media that she and her office are in contact with an Iowa family involved in the incident, as well as the State Department and U.S. Consulate in China, to make sure the victims are receiving quality care and to work on plans to return them to the U.S.

U.S. Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns said on social media he is angered and deeply troubled by the incident, and he and others are doing what they can to support the victims.

Cornell College, located in Mount Vernon, began its partnership with Beihua University in 2018, according to a news release from the time, in which the Chinese college would provide funding for Cornell College instructors to live and teach in China over a two-week period. Instruction would touch on computer science, math and physics.

Jian said in the press conference that China is thought of as one of the safest countries in the world, and this incident wont have an impact on people-to-people exchanges between China and the U.S.

We have and will continue to take effective measures to keep all foreign nationals safe in China, Jian said in the press conference.

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The post Four Cornell College instructors in treatment after serious incident in China appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
DUSHANBE, Tajikistan, June 11. Tajikistan aims to become a "green country" by 2037, President of the country Emomali Rahmon said at the opening ceremony of the Third High-Level International Conference on the International Decade for Action Water for Sustainable Development, 2018-2028 in Dushanbe, Trend reports.

"Our goal is to turn Tajikistan into a "green country" by 2037. In this context, alongside the full utilization of renewable energy sources, we have adopted the "Country's Natural Greening Program until 2040," according to which more than two billion seedlings will need to be planted during this period," Rahmon said.

He also emphasized that Tajikistan is doubling efforts to transition to a "green" economy, with water resources playing a key role in achieving this goal.

"Over 98 percent of Tajikistan's electricity is generated from the country's hydropower resources. By 2032, we intend to increase this figure to 100 percent, meaning that electricity production will be entirely based on "green energy" resources," Rahmon stated.

Tajikistan, he said, places a premium on cross-border cooperation on water-related matters.

To note, the Third Dushanbe Conference is part of a series of conferences held every two years by the Government of Tajikistan in cooperation with the UN to support the implementation of the goals of the International Decade of Action.
Four instructors from a prestigious American college were stabbed in a public park on Monday in northeastern China, during a visit to a partnering university.

The instructors from Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa, were injured in the attack by an unknown assailant during a walk in a park in Jilin City, part of Jilin province in northern China, according to the school.

The four were with a faculty member from their partner institution, Beihua University, when they were injured in a serious incident, school president Jonathan Brand said in a statement to the college community.

We have been in contact with all four instructors and are assisting them during this time, Mr Brand said. He also confirmed that the school was in coordination with the US State Department.

"The U.S. Department of State and our embassies and consulates abroad have no higher priority than the safety and security of U.S. citizens overseas. We are aware of the stabbing of three U.S. citizens in Jilin City, a State Department spokesperson told The Independent.

We are providing all appropriate consular assistance. A consular officer visited the victims on June 11, they continued. We are in touch with local authorities and are closely monitoring the situation."

Images and a video of the injured, which were shared on social media, have reportedly been censored on Chinese platforms.

Iowa representative Ashley Hinson said in a post on X: My team has been in communication with Cornell College and will do everything in our power to bring these Iowans home safely.

Join me in praying for their health and safety.

Iowa governor Kim Reynolds said: I am in touch with Iowas federal delegation and the state department in response to this horrifying attack. Please pray for their full recovery, safe return, and their families here at home.

Iowa senator Joni Ernst also said her team was closely following reports that personnel from Cornell college in Mt Vernon were stabbed in China.

We are in touch with the college and the State Department, and stand ready to further assist these Iowans. Praying for a speedy recovery for all, she said on X.

My team and I are closely following reports that personnel from Cornell College in Mt. Vernon were stabbed in China.



We are in touch with the college and the State Department, and stand ready to further assist these Iowans. Praying for a speedy recovery for all.  Joni Ernst (@SenJoniErnst) June 10, 2024

According to CBS News, Iowa representative Adam Zabners brother David is one of the injured in the stabbing incident.

He told the outlet that his brother had been stabbed in the arm at Beishan Park and was recovering in hospital. He has not yet been released this morning but hes doing ok, he said.

It was not clear if the instructors were specifically targeted.

The partnership between Cornell College and Beihua University started in 2018. A news release from the same year noted that Beihua University funds Cornell professors trips to China, where they reside and teach computer science, mathematics, and physics over a two-week period.
A silhouette of the state of Texas near the stage at the 2024 Texas GOP Convention in San Antonio, on May 23, 2024. Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune

Ronald Reagan called it his Eleventh Commandment: Thou shalt not speak ill of any fellow Republican.

In 2019, the Texas House Republican Caucus took it a step further and codified a rule to bar campaigning against fellow GOP incumbents.

But as turmoil between factions of the Texas GOP continues, four Republicans have now been reprimanded for violating the rule.

On Monday night, the Texas House Republican Caucus executive committee censured Reps. Brian Harrison of Midlothian, Nate Schatzline of Fort Worth, Tony Tinderholt of Arlington and Steve Toth of The Woodlands for campaigning against fellow Republican incumbents.

The four censured members announced the punitive measure against them in an email late Monday night with Harrison deriding the action as a joke on social media.

A caucus staffer confirmed that the groups five-member executive committee voted unanimously to censure the four members.

The four censured members faced a fine, suspension or expulsion from the caucus until the end of this legislative session. The caucus executive committee, however, chose to censure the four members. The censured members and the entire caucus was notified by email Monday night, said Jordan Wat, executive director for the caucus.

We believe the situation is now closed and the matter is no longer active, Wat said.

In their statement, the four censured members said they had been punished for campaigning against liberal incumbents alongside statewide elected officials like Gov. Greg Abbott, Attorney General Ken Paxton, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller.

We are proud to have helped many true conservatives join the Texas House; something we will continue to do, regardless of any absurd caucus rules designed to protect the uniparty swamp, the statement read. At a time when Republicans should be unifying against Democrats, the Caucus is divisively punishing conservatives.

The four members publicly disobeyed the ban on campaigning against fellow Republicans, joining a bus tour orchestrated by Gun Owners of America to campaign against Reps. DeWayne Burns of Cleburne, Justin Holland of Rockwall, Stephanie Klick of Fort Worth, John Kuempel of Seguin, Lynn Stucky of Denton and House Speaker Dade Phelan of Beaumont.

Toth had also donated $500 to the campaign of Andy Hopper, who successfully ousted Stucky, and Tinderholt gave $1,300 to Matt Morgan who took out another Republican incumbent Jacey Jetton of Richmond.

Paxton, a member of the partys right-wing who is politically aligned with the censured members, criticized the executive committees action.

The outrage slowed you down from kicking them out of the caucus. Then, you show such cowardice and believe that censuring them is the best way to save face, Paxton said on social media. The establishment Republicans in the Texas House have not learned their lesson even after 15 incumbents were sent packing.

Rep. Glenn Rogers, R-Graford, told the Tribune he was the one who filed the complaint.

[Farris] Wilks and [Tim] Dunn candidates have a history of getting away with things with just a slap on the wrist, due to fear of retribution, he wrote in a statement. The House has been the only body to ever hold them accountable. Imagine the loss of accountability with [the] election of a compliant speaker.

Wilks and Dunn are West Texas oil and fracking billionaires who have powered the GOPs right wing for the last decade and a half, often ousting GOP incumbents who dont align with their stringent religious views. All four of the censured members have received funding from the billionaires.

Rogers lost his reelection campaign in March to conservative activist Mike Olcott. Political action committees funded by Wilks and Dunn, spent heavily against Rogers in his district.

But as the intraparty fighting in the Texas GOP continues, the four censured members pledged to push the issue, deriding the caucus rule prohibiting campaigning against incumbents and pledging to continue fighting for Republicans in November.

We wouldve happily been expelled from the Texas House GOP Caucus, which worked with Democrats to help re-elect liberal [House] Speaker Dade Phelan, they wrote.

Phelan, a Beaumont Republican who leads the chamber, has become a lightning rod for the partys right wing who blame him for the failure of school voucher legislation and for the chambers impeachment of Paxton. In retaliation, Paxton and other statewide leaders like Abbott targeted Phelan and his allies in the chamber, knocking off 15 GOP incumbents and replacing them with candidates whose policy views more closely align with them.

Phelan survived his primary challenger but was forced into a runoff in May and had to spend millions of dollars to survive the onslaught in what has been deemed the most expensive Texas House race in history.

The complaint raised even more intrigue because two members of the caucus executive committee have announced their plans to challenge Phelan for the speakers gavel. Those members are the caucus chairman Tom Oliverson of Cypress and caucus treasurer Shelby Slawson of Stephenville.

Oliverson and Slawson have criticized Phelan for being insufficiently conservative and working too closely with Democrats, despite Phelan overseeing the passage of some of the most conservative legislation in state history on abortion and guns. They have pledged to run a more conservative chamber and would likely rely on the votes of the censured members and their allies to build a winning coalition.

The ban on campaigning against fellow GOP House members had been a long-standing practice, intended to bar Republicans from going after their own in an effort to keep a majority in the House.

Rogers, who lost his reelection campaign in March after being deemed insufficiently conservative by the partys right wing, said in filing the complaint that he just wanted to see the bylaws enforced.

The censure may be the start of a new fight, however. Following criticism of the rule by some in the party's right wing, Oliverson said on social media he would vote to get rid of it.

"I am hearing from a lot of members who would like to revise or even eliminate the rule," he wrote. "Personally I think it fails to meet its stated objectives of deterrence and unity and I would vote to repeal it as a member."

Just in: Former U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyoming; U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pennsylvania; and Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt will take the stage at The Texas Tribune Festival, Sept. 57 in downtown Austin. Buy tickets today!
Four American college instructors were injured in a stabbing attack in a park in China on Monday, officials say.

The educators from Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa, were hurt in the northeast Jilin province as they participated in a partnership program with the local Beihua University, according to the college. Chinas Foreign Ministry on Tuesday described the incident as a random attack, according to Reuters.

Hong Kong Convicts 14 Pro-Democracy Activists of Subversion

We have been in contact with all four instructors and are assisting them during this time, Cornell College President Jonathan Brand said in a statement to CNN. He said no students from the small liberal arts school were taking part in the program.

Graphic video footage appearing to show the aftermath of the attack was shared on Chinese social media Monday and has since circulated on other platforms. The clips show two men and a woman lying on the ground, all of whom are conscious and using cell phones.

One of the men has a large amount of blood on his clothes, while another holds a bloodied hand to his lower back, possibly compressing a wound.

Beijings Foreign Ministry confirmed four foreign teachers at Beihua University were attacked in Jilins Beishan Park on Monday morning. All of the victims were taken for medical treatment and none of them are thought to have sustained life-threatening injuries.

The police initially determined that the case was an isolated incident and are currently under further investigation, ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said at a news conference. Jian added that the incident would not affect normal exchanges between the peoples of the United States and China.

Its not clear if a suspect has been arrested or what the motive may have been for the assault. The State Department has said it is aware of the reported stabbing incident and is monitoring the situation.

Iowa state representative Adam Zabner told CBS News that his brother, David Zabner, was among the victims. He said his brother, who was taking part in his second trip to China with Cornell, had been part of a group who were visiting a local temple when a man with a knife attacked. He said David was stabbed in the arm and is now recovering in a hospital.

Im just extremely grateful that my brother is OK and that he survived this attack, the lawmaker told CNN.

Iowas Gov. Kim Reynolds said in a statement that she is in touch with Iowas federal delegation and the state department in response to this horrifying attack. Please pray for their full recovery, safe return, and their families here at home, she added.

Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-IA) similarly said her team is working to bring the victims home safely and encouraged others to join her in praying for their health and safety. She wrote on X that shed been horrified to learn the Cornell faculty members had been brutally stabbed in China.

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The 105th session of the Congress of Mayors in Paris

PARIS (Reuters) -France's conservative Republicans party chairman Eric Ciotti on Tuesday called for a country-wide alliance between his party's candidates and Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally (RN) in forthcoming parliamentary elections.

"We say the same things so let's stop making up imagined opposition", Ciotti told TF1 television.

Ciotti spoke to RN party leaders Le Pen and Jordan Bardella before announcing the move, which he said was aimed at ensuring the Republicans (LR) can secure enough seats to still form a parliamentary group.

"We need some sort of alliance and that's what I am offering", Ciotti said. He added: "This is what the vast majority of voters wants."

The call from Ciotti, who hails from the more conservative branch of LR, may drive a wedge through the party. More centrist members of the party have already said they would not countenance such a move.

Olivier Marleix, LR's chief in the lower house of parliament, said he would not support "any arrangement" with a far-right movement.

Marleix demanded Ciotti's resignation.

National Rally is widely expected to emerge as the strongest force after snap elections starting in three weeks, although the party may fall short of an absolute majority.

(Reporting by Tassilo Hummel; editing by Richard Lough)
FREDERICK, Md. (DC News Now)  Peggy McNeill felt honored when she got the news that she won the National Legacy for Life Award.

McNeill said the recognition came as a complete surprise.

The description of the winner, I was listening, I thought thats a fabulous person who is that and then I heard at the end my military experience and I started to shake like, I was so surprised and so honored, McNeill said.

Frederick airport kicks off new summer fun series

The award highlights McNeills leadership and transforming the field of nursing through the current and future generations of nurses.

But McNeill said her success is not only hers to share.

You dont get where you are because you did it by yourself, she said. So I think all of the people that I get to work with, all of the people that Ive worked with in the military, even the patients that you get to take care of like its such a privilege.

After 40 years of serving her community, she encourages other aspiring nurses to always volunteer when they can.

When you volunteer, it transcends the work and I think it can give you great satisfaction that you might not get from what you see in day to day because people will appreciate volunteerism, McNeill 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 DC News Now | Washington, DC.
All students in the Boise School District will get free breakfast beginning next school year, an initiative administrators said will ensure kids have access to nutritious meals at the start of each day.

The districts school board approved the program as part of its budget for the 2024-2025 school year.

Administrators said providing free breakfast to all students will help reduce the stigma around getting free meals and ensure all students have food to eat in the morning.

Christy Smith, the district supervisor for food and nutrition services, in a news release said the initiative could help reduce food insecurity among students.

It sends an important message to our students and families that good nutrition is critical to a healthy student and healthy learning environment, she said.

Two years ago, a federal COVID-19 relief program that allowed school districts to offer free meals to all students expired. Once the program ended, students had to start paying full-price for their meals again unless they qualified for free or reduced-price meals. Administrators in school districts in the Treasure Valley worried it would lead to more students going hungry, though districts have said they never deny students a meal, even if they dont have money.

Students who arent eligible for free or reduced-priced meals in the Boise School District will still have to pay for lunch at most of the districts schools, which ranges from $2.60 to $3.10. Some schools in the district with a large percentage of low-income students automatically qualify for offering free lunch for all students.

The Boise School District also offers meals during the summer at several of its schools. Idaho lawmakers this year rejected another program that could have helped feed more than 100,000 low-income kids this summer with millions of dollars in federal funds this past session.

Studies show that a well-nourished child who starts the day with breakfast is more likely to be at school, a better learner, and ready to participate in the classroom, Deputy Superintendent Lisa Roberts said in the Boise news release. By offering breakfast to all students, regardless of their financial status, we are fostering equality and inclusivity within our school communities.
On a recent Thursday afternoon, off Interstate 80 on the corner of P and 30th streets, orange and white cones directed interstate traffic away from the grassy area near the ramp where the crew of contracted workers were laying large gravel rocks atop all the flat adjacent state land.

A large truck would first unload the huge pile of rocks onto the site, followed by a backhoe that would grab from the pile and spread it along the grassy patch of grass.

The sight was truly astounding. Never missing out on a moment to be nosy, I ran across the street to the workers and asked them why they were doing this.

Its because of the homeless problem, a worker told me.

The scene encapsulated Californias struggle with homelessness. The state has spent more than $20 billion in five years on homelessness and yet the latest federal data showed that homelessness increased in 2023.

Now here before me was another cost of homelessness. The state paying money to landscape spaces constructed to make the homeless congregate somewhere else - people the state isnt housing either, despite the billions allocated to do so.

And Governor Gavin Newsoms administration isnt exactly forthcoming about what they are doing along its highways to direct our most desperate residents somewhere else.

Caltrans has used rock landscaping for a few years to help beautify areas along the state highway system throughout the state and has noted numerous benefits, Caltrans spokesperson Dennis Keaton said in a statement. In addition to helping prevent safety hazards by discouraging people from accessing the location, this kind of landscaping also helps prevent weed growth, reduces the need for watering and helps limit exposure for crews who are maintaining the right-of-way.

Indirect, passive language isnt fooling anybody. Anyone seeing this state work will know its purpose. Its the language of a problem California cant solve.

Keaton said Caltrans has performed similar work in Sacramento County on northbound I-5 at the Richards Boulevard on-ramp, northbound State Route 51/Business 80 at H and T Streets, and eastbound Highway 50 at the 15th and Broadway off-ramps. Potential respites for the homeless are instead hostile outcroppings of rock.

The work is part of the Clean California initiative started by Newsom in 2021. Newsom has touted the effort for having cleared 2 million yards of litter from California roadways.

According to a Caltrans statement, grants towards the project have funded nearly 300 projects statewide to revitalize and beautify under-served communities, some of which are already complete and now sources of community pride.

Its money that doesnt seem to represent progress.

The state has committed to spend $1 billion toward the Clean California project, which could lead to another pile of rocks in Sacramento. What a lovely sight.

At a state legislative hearing last week, Newsom administration officials were grilled by legislators frustrated by a lack of relevant information to questions of where all that state money toward homelessness is going.

You come to a budget committee, and theres no numbers, said Assemblymember Phil Ting, D-San Francisco, in the Los Angeles Times.

How many people have we helped? How many people are off the street?  Because thats what the public wants to know. Whats the money been spent on?

Caltrans isnt about to solve any homeless problems with this so-called landscaping. This rock increases the chances of someone experiencing homelessness trying to camp out in an adjacent neighborhood..

A little transparency from the Newsom administration would help. Where is all the money going?

Being silent or providing indirect answers on the issue doesnt make it easier to swallow. It creates a false sense of accomplishment that no one is buying anymore.
Multiple freight train cars fell off a Texas railroad track on Monday afternoon in Gregory, resulting in the closure of several roads and an emergency evacuation in the immediate area.

Four train cars carrying vinyl chloride, a hazardous material, derailed along Farm-to-Market Road 2986 near Highway 181 on Monday according the Texas Division of Emergency Management. Nearby residents and businesses were evacuated but no leaks or injuries were reported as of Tuesday morning. Union Pacific Railroad workers work to repair the tracks on Tuesday, June 11, 2024, in Gregory, Texas.

Gregory police were notified at about 12:20 p.m. Monday of four train cargo tankers that derailed on State Highway Spur 202 near the U.S. Highway 181 access road, according to a written statement provided by Gregory Police Department Chief Baudencio "Buddy" Cardenas.

Each of the four railcars contained 90 tons of vinyl chloride, according to a news release issued by the City of Corpus Christi on Monday night. The train was traveling slowly when four cars tipped off the rails. No injuries or leaks were reported.

The materials originated from OxyChem and were being transported by Union Pacific, Cardenas added.

Robin Tysver, a spokesperson for the freight train company, which hauls mixed commodities by rail system across Texas, said the cause of the derailment is still under investigation.

The company received notice from the train operating crew at about 12:30 p.m. central time that about six Union Pacific railcars derailed in Gregory, she said.

In response, Union Pacific maintenance, hazardous materials crews and railroad investigators arrived to work on restoring the railway system and safely unload the product from the cars.

There was no threat to life or the environment, Tysver noted.

"There will be an investigation and a cause determined that could take weeks or months," she said. "We will file a report with the Federal Railroad Administration and will be looking at all factors."

Following the derailment, Spur 202, Farm to Market 2986 and the immediate area was blocked off within a 300-foot radius, Cardenas said.

Later, a half-mile radius was blocked, and Highway 181 from Sunset Road to Farm-to-Market Road 2986 was shut down in preparation for crews to remove the cargo from the road, he said. Traffic was rerouted to County Road 3667 and County Road 1612.

Immediate and continued air quality testing was conducted, with zero detected, Cardenas said. Police said there was no report of leaks or damage to cargo.

Other Texas agencies also responded to the incident, including the Gregory Volunteer Fire Department, the San Patricio County Office of Emergency Management, the Texas Department of Transportation, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Texas Division of Emergency Management, San Patricio CLO and Bee CLO.

The mayor of the City of Gregory, Estella Boyce, ordered an emergency evacuation as a precautionary measure for the safety of the residents living within a half-mile of the incident, Cardenas said. Accommodations were made with the American Red Cross for the placement of any residents who had to evacuate.

Initial evacuations included 19 people from one residence and one business, the City of Corpus Christi news release said.

According to a post that was shared on the Volunteer Fire Department's Facebook page, the mandatory evacuation included the Havens and Glades Apartments and the 600 blocks of 3rd, 2nd, Mission, Franklin and North streets to ready the area for a HAZMAT investigation. A shelter was set up at First Baptist Portland church and at the Gregory Housing Authority for residents needing shelter, it said.

All cargo was placed upright and back on the track with no damage at about 2 a.m., Cardenas said, with all roads reopened and the evacuation lifted.

The City of Corpus Christi Office of Emergency Management will continue to monitor the situation, the City's news release said.

This is an ongoing investigation. Additional details will be reported.

More: #TBT: San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railway first crossed Nueces Bay in 1880s

More: #TBT: Old Tex-Mex railway spur crossed Oso Bay into Flour Bluff

This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Freight trains derail in Gregory on Monday, spurring road closures
Marine Le Pen's anti-immigration party is expected to emerge as the strongest force after Emmanuel Macron called snap elections - Thomas Padilla/PA

Frances mainstream conservative party signalled the end of a decades-long ban on working with the hard-Right as its leader sought an alliance with Marine Le Pen ahead of snap elections.

Eric Ciotti, the leader of the Republicans, suggested the party should work with Ms Le Pens National Rally (RN) to win a Right-wing majority in the French parliament in the vote later this month.

Emmanuel Macron called the snap election on Sunday after suffering a humiliating defeat to RN in the European elections.

Mr Ciotti faced a fierce backlash, with several MPs quitting his party in protest at his willingness to end the so-called cordon sanitaire, in which mainstream parties co-operate to keep the hard-Right out of power.

The Republican leader said he was willing to enter a government with Ms Le Pen, insisting their parties say the same things adding that any opposition between them was imagined.

This is what the vast majority of our voters want. They tell us reach a deal, he said

Eric Ciotti, leader of the Republicans, said 'the majority of our voters' want a Right-wing alliance - STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN/POOL/AFP/Getty Images

An alliance with the Republicans could help the anti-migrant and Eurosceptic National Rally to a majority in the National Assembly after two rounds of voting on June 30 and July 7.

National Rally, which is expected to win the snap vote, is looking for allies in case it fails to reach an absolute majority, which would mean it could name the prime minister and make Mr Macron a lame duck.

Mrs Le Pens party welcomed Mr Ciottis offer but it risks destabilising LR, which was in power for large periods of French history.

Philippe Gosselin, a Republicans MP, said he would quit rather than work with the National Rally.

It is unthinkable for me [and many Republicans MPs] that there could be the slightest agreement, the slightest alliance, Mr Gosselin said.

An LR parliamentary source estimated that only about a sixth of Republicans lawmakers would accept such a deal.

What Eric Ciotti is saying is valid only for himself, he must leave the leadership of the Republicans, Olivier Marleix, who heads the Republicans group of the lower house of parliament, said.

The Republicans, the heirs of Charles de Gaulle and Jacques Chiracs parties, is a shadow of its former self with far fewer Assembly MPs than National Rally.

Senior figures have already deserted the party to join Mr Macrons centrists, which also gutted support for the centre-Left socialist. Others have joined Ms Le Pen.

Mr Macrons camp said that Mr Ciottis comments were shameful. They were reminiscent of the 1938 Munich Agreement signed by France and Britain with Nazi Germany, said Gerald Darmanin, interior minister, and a former LR member.

National Rally would win 235 to 265 seats in the National Assembly according to current polling. It is a huge jump from its current 88 but short of the 289 needed for an absolute majority, according to the survey by Toluna Harris Interactive for Challenges, M6 and RTL published Monday.

The same poll has LR with 40-55 seats, so the two combined are not guaranteed to gain an absolute majority.

All French political parties have been rushing to find alliances since Mr Macron called snap elections, which led to a drop in the value of the euro, French stocks and bonds.

Divided Left-wing parties have pledged to work together and nominate joint candidates in the elections, but are yet to strike a formal deal.

Mr Macron has said he is in the election to win it and that calling it was the right decision, in the interest of the country.

He has ruled out resigning even if his party loses the vote.

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DUSHANBE, Tajikistan, June 11. The President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon and the UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs Li Junhua have discussed issues related to climate change, Trend reports.

According to the press service of the Tajik president, the discussion took place on the sidelines of the 3rd International Conference on the International Decade of Action "Water for Sustainable Development, 2018-2028" in Dushanbe.

"Thanks to effective cooperation between Tajikistan and the United Nations, especially with your office, our initiatives have gained wide support in the international arena. The adoption of ten resolutions related to water and climate by the General Assembly is confirmation of these statements," Rahmon said.

During the meeting, the sides also discussed environmental protection and increasing the capacity for generating 'green energy'.

It was emphasized that Tajikistan supports the efforts of the UN Office on Economic and Social Affairs to strengthen multilateral cooperation in science, technology, and innovation and to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

Both parties expressed their readiness to develop cooperation in digitization, science and education, healthcare, culture, and social protection.

Emomali Rahmon and Li Junhua also discussed the importance of adopting global initiatives, such as declaring 2025 the "International Year of Glaciers Preservation" as well as establishing the "International Trust Fund for Glaciers Protection Issues".

To note, the Third Dushanbe Conference is part of a series of conferences held every two years by the Government of Tajikistan in cooperation with the UN to support the implementation of the goals of the International Decade of Action "Water for Sustainable Development, 2018-2028".
(Bloomberg) -- French far-right leader Marine Le Pens National Rally party and lawmaker Marion Marechal are in discussions over the possibility of joining forces to take on French President Emmanuel Macron in upcoming legislative elections.

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Aligning their movements, which opposed each other in European elections, would rekindle political ties two years after Marechal turned her back on her aunt.

Le Pen said shes ready to build a coalition that could also extend to the conservative Republicains to gain power in the French parliament. Speaking in an interview on TF1 on Monday, she also confirmed National Rally President Jordan Bardella is the partys choice to become prime minister.

The National Rally dealt Macron a severe blow in European Parliament elections on Sunday, winning 31.4% of the vote, compared with less than 15% for his group. Combined with the 5.5% garnered by Marechals party, that took the far-right score to about 37%.

The president responded to the defeat by dissolving the National Assembly and announcing a legislative ballot on June 30, with a second round on July 7. He said he had heard peoples concerns and was confident the French people would make the most just decision for itself and for future generations.

A poll of first-round voting intentions by Harris Interactive for Challenges, M6 and RTL published Monday puts the National Rally on 34%, with Macrons group trailing on 19%. The results are based on a survey of 2,744 adults and suggest Le Pens would become the biggest party in the National Assembly.

During the campaign, Marion Marechal showed a constructive attitude, Bardella said Monday following talks between the two parties. I wanted to talk to her about the possibility of building a wider coalition, a national union as I call it, to beat Macron.

Bardella all but ruled out campaigning with Eric Zemmour, a more hardline rival and former TV pundit, who teamed up with Marechal in the run-up to the last presidential election in 2022. Emerging from the meeting, Marechal said she will discuss with Zemmour the conditions for cooperation laid out by the National Rally.

I have a choice to make on whether to insert my ideas into the National Rally or go it alone, she said. I want to find a way to combine and return to Jordan Bardella and Marine Le Pen.

During the 2022 election campaign Marechal said that Le Pen had fallen into a strategy of opposing elites against the people to Macrons benefit, while Zemmour had brought together French people from all backgrounds and social status. She also backed his view that the main battle is one of civilization, meaning the migratory, cultural and demographic question.

Macrons group currently has the most seats in the lower house of parliament, though is short of an absolute majority. The National Rally is the biggest opposition party, with 89 lawmakers, while Zemmours Reconquete! party has none.

The Republicains wont participate in a coalition, cooperation or collaboration with Macrons ruling party, the head of the conservative group, Eric Ciotti, has said. Both Bardella and Marechal said Monday they have reached out to the conservatives about joining their efforts.

(Adds comment from le Pen in third paragraph)

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French far-right Rassemblement National (RN) party president Jordan Bardella addresses militants after the first results announcement during an evening gathering of French far-right party Rassemblement National (RN) on the final day of the European Parliament election, at the Pavillon Chesnaie du Roy in Paris. Julien De Rosa/AFP/dpa

Parties across the political spectrum in France are rushing to form broader alliances for the snap parliamentary elections called by President Emmanuel Macron following his bruising defeat in the European elections.

Macron said he plans to win the parliamentary elections by expanding his centrist alliance. "I'm going for victory," Macron said in an interview with the newspaper Le Figaro on Tuesday.

In the next few days, he wants to "reach out to all those who are ready to govern." His alliance needs to broaden its base and formulate its line more clearly, he said.

Macron dissolved the National Assembly on Sunday evening in response to the defeat of his centrist camp in the European elections and the resounding victory of the right-wing nationalists.

New parliamentary elections are to be held in two rounds on June 30 and July 7.

Right-wing alliance

Conservative Republicans leader Eric Ciotti said his party should join forces with the right-wing nationalist National Rally (RN).

"We need an alliance," Ciotti said on broadcaster TF1 on Tuesday after talks with the leadership of Marine Le Pen's party, which won the EU election.

An alliance between the party of the centre-right and the right-wing nationalists would be a break with the position of maintaining a firewall against the extreme right.

It is unclear how many in the party are behind Ciotti's decision.

Some party called for his resignation shortly after his television appearance. The debate about a collaboration with RN is likely to put Ciotti's party, which has been in a downward spiral for years, to the test.

Meanwhile, National Rally leader Jordan Bardella has held talks with leaders of the far-right party Reconquest.

Popular Front

Late on Monday evening, the Left Party, Socialists, Communists and Greens agreed in principle to form a joint Popular Front movement. They said in a statement that they would therefore put forward only one candidate in each constituency, and not compete against each other.

"We want a programme of social and ecological transformation to build an alternative to Emmanuel Macron and fight the racist project of the extreme right," the statement said.

However, the left-wing alliance is far from a done deal. While the left-wing parties stood together in the last parliamentary elections two years ago and formed a joint parliamentary group, the alliance was effectively broken up in the dispute over the position on the Gaza war.

Macron defends new elections

Macron defended his decision on Sunday to dissolve the National Assembly after his defeat in the European elections. His camp received less than half as many votes as Le Pen's eurosceptic National Rally.

"I'm only thinking of France. It was the right decision, in the interests of the country. And I say to the French, don't be afraid, go and vote," Macron told the newspaper.

Macron intends to present his party's election programme at a press conference that has been postponed from Tuesday to Wednesday.

Macron's position as president is not at stake. In the interview with Le Figaro, Macron did not want to consider the possibility of resigning in the event of a victory for the right-wing populists in the parliamentary elections.

The right-wing party does not determine the constitution, he said. "The institutions are clear, and so is the place of the president, regardless of the result."

Shift in balance

The National Assembly is one of two French chambers of parliament. It is involved in legislation and can topple the government with a vote of no confidence.

Macron and his allies currently have 250 of the 577 deputies. The left-wing camp has 149 seats, the National Rally 88 and the Republicans 61.

A total of 289 seats in the lower house of parliament are required for an absolute majority.

It is not yet clear how the balance could shift in the new election. Should a camp other than Macron's gain an absolute majority, the president would be forced to appoint a prime minister from their ranks.

French far-right Rassemblement National (RN) party president Jordan Bardella smiles as he addresses militants after the first results announcement during an evening gathering of French far-right party Rassemblement National (RN) on the final day of the European Parliament election, at the Pavillon Chesnaie du Roy in Paris. Julien De Rosa/AFP/dpa
Fresno got sued over secret budget committee. Is there more transparency now? | Opinion

Reality Check is a Fresno Bee series holding those in power to account and shining a light on their decisions. Have a tip? Email tips@fresnobee.com.

The last-minute deal-making that typically precedes the adoption of Fresnos next budget will be less opaque this year than in the recent past.

For that, residents partially have Fresno City Council President Annalisa Perea to thank. Perea, and an investigation by the local news nonprofit Fresnoland into a backroom council subcommittee in existence since at least 2018 that resulted in a lawsuit by the American Civil Liberties Union and First Amendment Coalition.

The biggest change implemented by Perea was to disband the subcommittee that formerly met with the mayor and his administration to reconcile council amendments (motions in City Hall parlance) to the proposed budget, a process Mayor Jerry Dyer likened to making sausage in the back room.

In its place is  nothing. Perea opted not to appoint a budget committee or set up an informal work group.

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Instead of being hashed out behind closed doors, each council budget motion will receive a public airing during Wednesdays meeting.

This is something new, Perea said. Last year after (department) budgets were presented, there was no more opportunity for the public to discuss motions or to say, I like 1, 2 and 3 but please reject 4 and 5.

This will be the chance for the council to discuss motions, to make motions and to vote on motions, but only after having heard from the public. This is also an opportunity for the mayor to hear from the community in regards to what their thoughts are on the motions.

Another change is all council budget motions must be verbally presented. Last year, Pereas first on the council, she said some were submitted to the clerks office after the fact.

In this budget process every motion that a council member wants to make will need to be voiced publicly, Perea added.

Keep in mind that under Fresnos strong-mayor system, Dyer has final say in which tweaks to his proposed budget get adopted and which get orphaned before the $2 billion spending plan goes before the city council for final approval.

Last year, the seven council members put forth a combined 120 budget motions of which 75 (with a price tag of nearly $30 million) wound up being either entirely or partially funded in the final version.

Not as much budget sausage

During this years belt-tightening, there isnt nearly as much sausage to be made. In a show of austerity, council members submitted 24 combined motions that would require a $9.4 million outlay. (Seven motions did not contain specific dollar amounts.)

The most expensive tweak to Dyers budget  $3.5 million  was proposed by Councilmember Mike Karbassi for the realignment of Beechwood Avenue in northwest Fresno. Followed by Councilmember Tyler Maxwells $2 million allocation to fund the Eviction Protection Program.

Fresno City Council President Annalisa Perea and Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer place carnations on the bronze bust of Martin Luther King Jr. during garlanding ceremony Jan. 12 at Courthouse Park.

After listening to public comment during Wednesdays meeting, council members will have the chance to alter existing motions, or propose new motions, before they all get voted upon by the seven-member body. Those that get at least four votes are submitted to the mayor.

Since theres no longer a subcommittee, I asked Dyer how his administration will discuss and negotiate council budget motions.

Based on the reduced number of motions made this year as compared to recent years, I plan on meeting with council members individually and collectively when needed in order to prioritize the needs of council members while maintaining a balanced budget, Dyer responded via email.

The councils final budget vote is scheduled June 20, with June 27 held in reserve just in case the sausage-making hits a snag.

Fresno adopts San Jose model

The lawsuit filed by the First Amendment Coalition and American Civil Liberties Union against the city for the secret budget committee that met during the previous five budget cycles remains in the discovery phase.

David Loy, the First Amendment Coalitions legal director, said it is permissible for Dyer to meet with individual council members since the mayor is not subject to the Brown Act. However, the information discussed cannot be distributed to or talked about among a council majority.

If one council member talks to the mayor, thats not a Brown Act violation, Loy said. But if one council member talks to three other council members and says, Hey, Im going to talk with the mayor. What should I tell him? that is a problem because youve got a majority of the city council conversing about city business outside of an open and noticed meeting.

By hashing out budget motions before the entire council, Fresno is adopting the San Jose model. Out of Californias 10 largest cities, the other eight appoint a budget subcommittee that holds public meetings.

Just convene a committee, hold a meeting and open it to the public. Why is that so hard? Loy asked.

That is how its done in other cities. Other cities with strong mayors do it that way, and I dont see any reason why Fresno cant.

I asked both Perea and Dyer that question, framed a little differently due to their respective roles. Perea didnt answer directly; Dyer didnt answer at all. (The lawsuit might have something to do with that.)

Thats more or less what we do right now, Perea said, and I do believe the city of Fresno has the most robust budget process in the Central Valley, if not beyond.

Fresno certainly has a more robust budget process than Clovis or Fresno County. No argument there. This year, its also a shade or two more transparent.
After a 2020 dispute between Fresnos biggest healthcare system and a physicians group put in jeopardy the central San Joaquin Valleys only Level I trauma center status, the two sides have reached a settlement following a lawsuit.

Community Health System announced Monday in a press release a $1.2 million settlement with the Central California Faculty Medical Group, now called Inspire Health Medical Group. The agreement is the result of a lawsuit filed in September 2021 by CHS alleging breach of contract, breach of good faith and fair dealing, and intentional contract interference.

While the $1.2 million settlement CCFMG will pay does not fully address the disruption caused by the unprecedented neurosurgeon walkout, it does reinforce that business disputes should never impact patient care and the health of our community, Craig Wagoner, chief operating officer of CHS, said in the release.

Community Health System (formerly Community Medical Centers) is the largest, locally-owned healthcare system in the central San Joaquin Valley and owns downtown Fresnos Community Regional Medical Center as well as Clovis Community Medical Center.

2020 doctor walkout in Fresno

Trauma services were interrupted at the downtown hospital in September 2020 when the Central California Faculty Medical Group, a physicians group contracted by CHS, announced that a contract for six neurosurgeons expired at midnight on Sept. 2, 2020. Stalled negotiations between CCFMG and CHS led to the discontinuation of critical trauma services for several days.

The doctor walkout forced the hospital to transfer at least 21 patients out of Fresno during the COVID-19 pandemic and the Creek Fire, according to The Fresno Bees reporting on the dispute in 2020. The trauma center at Community Regional Medical Center in downtown Fresno was put at risk by the interruption of services.

The suit was one of four separate lawsuits involving multiple different physicians groups that piled up during fall 2021.

By putting this unfortunate dispute behind us, we hope to repair the relationship with CCFMG that Community has had for decades and focus on providing the best possible care for the Central Valley, Wagner said.

Inspire Health statement on settlement

Inspire Health Medical Group is a group of 300 doctors physicians that provides care at 20 local hospitals and healthcare facilities, including Community Health System, according to its website.

In an email statement to The Bee, a spokesperson for Inspire Health Medical Group stressed that its focus since its inception in 1979 has been to ensure patients have access to the highest caliber physicians and that medical students in Fresno have access to outstanding faculty and mentors.

Although CCFMG believes that its actions, at all times, were appropriate, it also believes providing the highest caliber physicians and staff best serves our community at this time, the statement said. As such, we look forward to closing this chapter in our history in order to dedicate valuable time and resources to what matters to us most, caring for our patients and the people of the Central Valley.

At the advice of counsel, we have no other statements at this time, the statement concluded.

The suit was scheduled to go to trial July 1, court records show.
Diplomats of the Bucharest Nine (B9), a group of central and eastern European NATO allies, discussed the possibility of excluding Hungary from future meetings of the club, the Financial Times (FT) reported on June 11, citing its undisclosed sources.

The Bucharest Nine is a group of central and eastern European NATO members, namely Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Hungary, and the Czech Republic. It was established in 2015 in response to Russia's aggression against Ukraine in Crimea and Donbas.

Riga will host the B9 summit on June 11. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg is expected to join the leaders.

At recent meetings, Hungary vetoed the group's joint conclusions on increasing aid for Ukraine and approving any steps related to Kyiv's NATO membership, the FT wrote.

One of the newspaper's sources described the discussions at gatherings as "tough," saying that it will be difficult to organize future meetings if they do not become more collaborative.

Budapest once again refused to support the draft statement agreed upon by other countries, the officials told FT.

The discussions about Hungary's exclusion from the club are "very serious," another source said.

"We are likely meeting in this format for the last time," one of the people told the FT.

Budapest has repeatedly opposed Ukraine's accession to NATO and the EU, sanctions on Russia, undermined Western aid efforts for Ukraine, and maintained close relations with Moscow throughout the full-scale war.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban claimed in late May that NATO's current direction might result in a clash with Russia, adding that Budapest is working to redefine its position in NATO so that it could refrain from any actions outside of the alliance's territory.

Read also: FT: Hungary holding up EUs use of frozen Russian assets for Ukrainian defense

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The G7 countries will set up a fund to support Ukraine using the proceeds of frozen Russian assets.

Source: Nikkei

Details: The fund will be created under the auspices of an international organisation, such as the World Bank. The United States, the United Kingdom, Japan and other countries will make contributions in the form of loans. Profits from the investment of frozen assets will be used to repay these loans.

The Fund will provide assistance to Ukraine in the form of donations, so the country will not be obliged to repay the money.

The G7 leaders intend to reach an agreement on this issue at the summit in Italy.

For reference: The total amount of Russian assets frozen by the West is US$300 billion. Two-thirds of the frozen assets are located in the EU, with the majority of them belonging to the Belgian clearing centre Euroclear.

Background:

Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, said that the first 1.5 billion of proceeds from frozen Russian assets would be transferred to Ukraine in July.

Ukraine is trying to obtain information about the accounts in a Belgian bank that hold the money of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation in order to further confiscate these funds in its favour. The amount in question is 190 billion.

The United States is ready to provide Ukraine with a US$50 billion loan to be repaid with the proceeds of frozen Russian assets if the EU can extend sanctions against Moscow indefinitely.

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GA teen accused of trying to stab sister in the head with knife

A north Georgia teen facing a felony charge after police say she tried to stab her 15-year-old sister in the head with a steak knife.

Police said Shala Vinson, 17, of Rome, tried to stab her sister on Sunday, June 9 during the afternoon.

The attempted stabbing was witnessed by the girls 13-year-old brother at their home.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Police did not elaborate on what led up to the attempted stabbing.

Vinson is being charged with aggravated assault under Georgias Family Violence Act, which is a felony.

She also faces a third-degree cruelty to children charge, which is a misdemeanor.

Though she is 17, Vinson is being charged as an adult.

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DUSHANBE, Tajikistan, June 11. The Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) is committed to contributing to Tajikistans growth and prosperity, said the banks President and Group Chairman, Muhammad Al Jasser, at the National Development Council (NDC) meeting chaired by President Emomali Rahmon, Trend reports.

"The success of Tajikistan is our success. IsDBs strategic framework for Tajikistan will boost our ongoing cooperation and enhance our interventions in the country," Al Jasser stated.

He emphasized continued support for Tajikistan's national development, highlighting key projects like the Rogun hydropower plant, which promotes green energy and water management and unlocks the country's immense potential.

Al Jasser reaffirmed the IsDB's support for the national development drive, emphasizing significant investments in green infrastructure, education, and agriculture.

"I applaud the efforts of the Government of Tajikistan to diversify the economy and enhance the role of the private sector. This is evidenced by the increased private sectors contribution to the gross domestic product. With a strategic framework to enhance cooperation and a focus on leveraging the nations young talent, natural resources, and visionary leadership, we are dedicated to supporting Tajikistans crucial role in Central Asia," he said.

The Islamic Development Bank Groups support for Tajikistan has been steadily growing over the years, covering 105 projects with a total investment of $915.5 million. About 50 percent of the financing has gone to infrastructure projects ($532 million), followed by education (16 percent, $150 million), and agriculture (15 percent, $136.4 million).
Gabby Petito, the 22-year-old who was killed by fiance Brian Laundrie in 2021, wrote a letter asking him to stop calling her names and telling him she would "always have (his) back," according to recently released FBI documents.

The letter is among over 300 pages of documents related to the investigation. The handwritten letter is not dated.

In the letter, Petito referenced a fight between the couple and alluded to stressors that Laundrie had been experiencing.

"You know how much I love you, so (and I'm writing this with love) just please stop crying and stop calling me names because we're a team and I'm here with you," Petito wrote, in part. "I'm always going to have your back. ... I just love you too much, like so much it hurts. So you in pain is killing me. I'm not trying to be negative but I'm frustrated there's not more I can do."

A letter from Gabby Petito to Brian Laundrie. / Credit: Federal Bureau of Investigation

Petito and Laundrie, both from Florida, were on a cross-country trip that she documented on social media when she was killed in 2021. Petito last posted on social media on August 25 and was reported missing by her parents on Sept. 11 after not hearing from her outside of a few strange text messages. On Sept. 15, Laundrie was named a person of interest in her disappearance. An arrest warrant was later issued.

Petito's remains were found in Wyoming on Sept. 19 and identified two days later. Her death was ruled a homicide via strangulation.

It wasn't until Oct. 20 that Laundrie's remains were found by the FBI at a Florida reserve where they had been searching for him. The FBI also found personal items, including a notebook where he claimed responsibility for Petito's death. The remains were identified the next day, and a month later, Laundrie's attorney announced that he had died by suicide.

Gabby Petito and Brian Laundrie. / Credit: CBS2

The Petito family and the Laundrie family engaged in a wrongful death lawsuit filed after authorities concluded that Laundrie had strangled Petito. Petito's family also alleged that Laundrie's family knew their daughter was dead weeks before her remains were found, and knew where her body was.

The Petito family received a $3 million settlement that their attorney said would go to the Gabby Petito Foundation, which is dedicated to searching for missing people and curbing domestic violence.

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A makeshift memorial dedicated to Gabby Petito from September 20, 2021 in North Port, Florida. - Credit: Octavio Jones/Getty Images

Nearly three years after Gabby Petitos remains were discovered following her disappearance while on a cross-country trip with her then-fiance Brian Laundrie, the FBI has released more than 350 pages of documents from the investigation surrounding the incident. Appearing just over 100 pages into the release is a letter that Petito wrote to Laundrie, who was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound a month after Petito was found.

In the handwritten letter, which doesnt note when it was written, Petito wrote: You know how much I love you, so (and Im writing this with love) just please stop crying and stop calling me names, because were a team and Im here with you. The document goes on to address an apparent argument or disagreement that occurred leading up to their trip, with Petito apologizing for getting upset over a dumb piece of paper.

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Just try to understand. Yes I can be a child sometimes, I know, but its cause you give me this energy and I just love you too much, she wrote. Like so much it hurts. So you in pain is killing me. Im not trying to be negative but Im frustrated theres not more I can do.

The final few sentences of the letter find Petito looking ahead, telling Laundrie: You know as soon as were unpacked and I come back from N.Y. [indistinct] myself Im going to come work with you cause theres not much else here.

The hundreds of other pages include several redacted documents outlining the FBIs investigation into Petitos disappearance and what was later ruled as her death from strangulation. A number of the records recount witness interviews, descriptions of gas station and store footage, and photographs of the items authorities recovered in September 2021 while executing a search warrant.

Earlier this year, Petitos family reached a settlement in an emotional distress lawsuit against Laundries parents. Petitos family claimed that Laundries parents already knew that their son had killed her and didnt say anything to her parents, even amid a search effort to find their daughter when she was missing.

Petito was found murdered in Grand Teton National Park on Sept. 19, 2021. This was 18 days after Laundrie arrived back in Florida without her and one week after Petito was initially declared missing. Laundrie  along with his written confession to strangling Petito and his belongings  was found in a Florida environmental park on Oct. 20, 2021.

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Gabby Petito Wrote Letter to Brian Laundrie Pleading for Him to Stop Calling Her Names

In the letter, Gabby Petito urges to Brian Laundrie to "stop crying" and expresses her love for him

Gabby Petito Instagram Gabby Petito

Before she was strangled to death by her fiance, Gabby Petito wrote Brian Laundrie a letter imploring him to stop calling her names.

The letter was recently released by the FBI, along with hundreds of other documents related to the murder investigation in a file that was reviewed by PEOPLE.

Petito, 22, was found dead in September 2021 near Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming, over a week after she was reported missing. Laundrie, who had been named a person of interest, was found dead by suicide in Florida a month later, along with a backpack that the FBI said contained a notebook in which he admitted responsibility for her death.

The letter written by Petito released as part of the FBIs collection of evidence does not contain a date, but provides a first-hand account of the relationship between the two.

You know how much I love you, the letter opens. ...Just please stop crying and stop calling me names because were a team and Im here with you.

FBI Gabby Petito letter

In the emotional letter, Petito expresses concern that she is frustrated there isnt more she can do when Laundrie is in pain and that she loves him too much.

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Find Gabby/Facebook Gabby Petito, left, and Brian Laundrie

Petito and Laundrie had been on a cross-country van trip, traveling through multiple national parks and documenting it on social media.

Petitos subsequent disappearance was the subject of intense nationwide media attention.

Related: Gabby Petitos Dad Disliked Missing White Woman Syndrome Term. Now Hes Helping Families of Color Find Loved Ones (Exclusive)

Her family is now working to help families of missing people of color, who do not always receive the same level of attention.

We want to help all missing people, her father Joe Petito previously told PEOPLE. If the media doesn't continue doing this for all the people then that's a shame because it's not just Gabby that deserved that."



If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.

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Read the original article on People.
IndyStar's three-part story, "The Rise and Fall of Indiana's Casino King," follows the career of the former farm boy from rural Indiana who rose from obscurity to become the state's most powerful gaming executive.

In doing so, Rod Ratcliff built a Statehouse influence operation virtually unrivaled in modern Indiana history.

Here are some of the highlights.

Part 1: Building a Statehouse money machine

Ratcliff turned a group of farmers into his first funders, then sent a small army of lobbyists to the Statehouse. He aimed for a horse track, ended up with a riverboat casino, and made deep inroads with lawmakers. It was the beginning of a 30-year, multi-million dollar influence campaign.

Read Part 1: The rise and fall of Indianas casino king. How Rod Ratcliff built a Statehouse money machine.

Part 2: As cash flows, an empire grows

After learning some valuable lessons from his first project, Ratcliff applied a similar formula to fend off competition and improve the fortunes of his gambling ventures. He continued to find ways to funnel money to state lawmakers, despite a ban on campaign contributions. With a monopoly on horse racing and the value of his casinos on the rise thanks to new laws, he was prepared to make his biggest move yet.

Read Part 2: A growing empire: Money kept flowing to lawmakers as Ratcliff strengthens casino holdings

Part 3: A big bet unravels

To achieve his most audacious plan yet, Ratcliff employed all of his previous influence tactics at the Statehouse  and then supercharged them. His big gamble appeared to pay off, until federal investigators raided the offices of a Maryland political consultant and stumbled upon an illegal campaign finance scheme that led to Indiana.

Read Part 3: This issue is going to come back to haunt us. Ratcliff's biggest bet yet unravels

How we reported it

IndyStar reporters Tony Cook and Kayla Dwyer analyzed nearly 30 years of lobbying disclosures, campaign finance data, and IRS political organization reports to find that Ratcliff, his companies and his close associates spent at least $12.3 million on lobbyists and political contributions. That doesn't include millions of dollars in other benefits to state officials, some of which strayed into ethical gray areas.

The story also relied on years of IndyStar reporting, including prior interviews with Ratcliff, court documents, property records, and information provided by current and former lawmakers, lobbyists, investors, regulators and others who followed Ratcliff's activities at the Statehouse.

How to support our work

An important part of our mission is informing readers about how their government works. We strive to do this with compelling storytelling and independent journalism. Stories like this one require years of reporting and institutional knowledge. If you would like to support our work, please consider subscribing.

Support local journalism: Subscribe to IndyStar today

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Inside Indiana gambling industry rise, and fall of the man who built it
California prosecutors joined retailers this year to qualify a ballot initiative that would roll back parts of Proposition 47, the decade-old law that reduces penalties for theft and drug possession.

Now the big question is: How long can rural sheriffs and the board of Walmart share a common vision for fighting crime?

Law enforcement officials have been calling for changes to Prop 47 since voters approved it in 2014.

Retailers, including small shops, grocery chains and big-box behemoths, have grown more concerned about the policy since a pandemic-era spike in some forms of retail theft. They qualified Prop 47 for the November ballot through a coalition that combined the DAs political reach and the retailers cash.

Now Gov. Gavin Newsom and Democratic leaders are plotting to get the measure off the ballot ahead of a June 27 deadline by pulling the coalition partners in opposite directions. The Democratic-led Legislature is moving forward with a suite of bills addressing many of the retailers concerns, with a new crime category for serial theft and a crackdown on the resale of stolen goods.

The DAs have called the proposals inadequate, arguing the only way to combat retail theft is to make changes to Prop 47, and the only way to make changes to Prop 47 is to take it back to the voters.

Last week, Democrats announced they would change the bill package to revoke the laws if voters approved the initiative.

If a ballot measure purporting to address retail theft and fentanyl issues is approved by voters this fall, aspects of these laws simply wont be applicable and there will be conflicts, Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, a Democrat, said at a press conference this afternoon. We should solve our crime problem with carefully considered legislation that addresses the problem, because thats how to solve this  not through blunt force, but through informed fixes.

The ballot measure coalitions head said the move to add amendments appeared to be designed to force retailers to choose between the two lawmaking efforts. There is absolutely no policy rationale for including them, except to put pressure on supporters and divide those seeking criminal justice reforms, Greg Totten, CEO of the California District Attorneys Association, said in a statement.

Some of those differences have already emerged in reactions to the Legislatures amendments. Rachel Michelin, head of the California Retailers Association, told POLITICO the legislative package addresses many of her members main concerns on retail theft and is on board with the new urgency clauses in the bills, which would make them effective immediately.

She was irked by the inoperability clauses that would revoke the laws if the ballot measure were to pass in November. On one hand I get it  its politics, she said. But on the other hand, its frustrating.

Michelin represents a range of small and large retailers across the state, but not necessarily the views of some of the big box stores like Walmart and Home Depot that put up millions of dollars to qualify the ballot measure and have not yet commented on the legislative developments.

Yolo County DA Jeff Reisig, on the other hand, raised the alarm this weekend about what he called an imminent threat to our combined efforts to reform Prop 47, posting on X that the inoperability clauses are designed to punish the voters of CA & anyone who might support the enhanced accountability sought by the ballot measure.

Republican leaders in the Legislature have also been highly critical of the inoperability clauses, noting that they supported the substance of the bipartisan package but cant support the versions with the new amendments.

These bills are good. They passed both houses, actually, with very strong bipartisan support, Assembly Republican leader James Gallagher told POLITICO. Let's get them passed without any gamesmanship, without any last-minute shenanigans.

For the law enforcement officials behind the initiative, taking a hard line against Sacramento Democrats largely comes without cost: Many of the most vocal officials represent conservative-minded voters who are more adamant about tough-on-crime policy.

But the stores, which would likely saddle the eight-figure cost of a ballot campaign, also answer to shareholders and consumers  meaning they may be more likely to consider the pragmatic benefits of a compromise (namely, not spending millions to boost the measure this fall).

While theres a lot of things that have been said publicly and privately, I also think theres a lot more clarity about where people are at and where the conversations need to be had, said the California Grocers Associations Daniel Conway. Chief among them: Going back to the ballot is probably the fundamental sticking point.
Gaza civilian deaths in Israel's hostage raid may be war crimes, UN says

Aftermath of Israeli strikes at the area where Israeli hostages were rescued on Saturday, in Nuseirat refugee camp

GENEVA (Reuters) -The U.N. human rights office said on Tuesday the killings of civilians in Gaza during the Israeli operation to free four hostages, as well as Palestinian armed groups' holding of captives in densely populated areas, could amount to war crimes.

Israel said the operation, accompanied by an air assault, took place on Saturday in the heart of a residential neighbourhood in central Gaza's Nuseirat area where Hamas had kept the hostages in two separate apartment blocks.

The operation killed more than 270 Palestinians, according to Gazan health officials.

"The manner in which the raid was conducted in such a densely populated area seriously calls into question whether the principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution - as set out under the laws of war - were respected by the Israeli forces," Jeremy Laurence, spokesperson for the U.N. human rights office, said.

Laurence added that the holding of hostages in such densely populated areas by Palestinian armed groups was "putting the lives of Palestinian civilians, as well as the hostages themselves, at added risk from the hostilities."

"All these actions, by both parties, may amount to war crimes," he said.

In response to the statement, Israel's Permanent Mission to the United Nations in Geneva accused of U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights of "slandering Israel".

"The toll of this war on civilians is first and foremost the product of Hamas's deliberate strategy to maximize civilian harm," the mission said.

The conflict in Gaza was triggered when Hamas fighters charged into Israel on Oct. 7 and killed some 1,200 people, according to Israeli tallies. Israel's subsequent bombardment and invasion of Gaza has killed more than 37,000 Palestinians, according to health authorities in the Hamas-run enclave.

Gunmen took around 250 hostages back to Gaza on Oct. 7, more than 100 of whom were released in exchange for about 240 Palestinians held in Israeli jails during a week-long truce in November.

There are 116 hostages left in the coastal enclave, according to Israeli tallies, including at least 40 whom Israeli authorities have declared dead in absentia.

(Reporting by Gabrielle Tetrault-Farber, editing by Thomas Seythal, Andrew Heavens and Ros Russell)
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 11. Latvia is interested in developing mutually beneficial bilateral cooperation with Turkmenistan, a source in the Ministry of Economics of Latvia told Trend.

"Central Asia, including Turkmenistan, is one of the priorities of Latvia's development cooperation policy. There is potential to cooperate with Turkmenistan in the framework of regional Central Asian projects," the source said.

The representative of the Ministry noted that although Latvia's foreign trade turnover with Turkmenistan in 2022 is small, it is possible to observe more and more growth trends in 2023.

"In order to promote economic relations between the two countries, the Latvia-Turkmenistan Intergovernmental Commission on economic, industrial, and scientific-technical cooperation issues has been established, which is an important tool for the development of cooperation in economic and other sectors. It is important to activate the work of the Entrepreneurs' Business Cooperation Council, which can serve as an important additional tool in promoting cooperation between business contacts and merchants," the source stressed.

Furthermore, the ministry said that an active, high-level dialogue and regular exchange of visits between Latvia and Central Asia took place in 2023.

"In the scope of the bilateral Working Group between the Republic of Latvia and Central Asian countries, including Turkmenistan, a joint communique was signed in Riga on June 12, 2023. Latvia and Turkmenistan agreed to strengthen their trade ties and emphasize the importance of transport and logistics in ensuring international trade and connectivity between the countries," the representative added.

Meanwhile, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan Ahmet Gurbanov recently met with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Latvia to Turkmenistan (with residence in Tashkent) Reinis Troksa.

During the talks, the parties reviewed the current state and prospects for further development of cooperation between Turkmenistan and Latvia in the political, trade, economic, cultural, and humanitarian fields, as well as exchanged views on a number of topical issues on the international agenda.
The State Election Board rejected a state takeover of Fulton County elections following a lengthy performance review after a tumultuous 2020 presidential election brought some unwanted national attention to Georgias most populous county. After the 2020 general election, Fulton County poll workers sorted absentee ballots during a pilot audit. File/GPB

The Fulton County and Cherokee County election boards are the latest venues for Republican grievances challenging the legitimacy of vote tabulations and the partisan makeup of local boards.

The latest election board drama is part of the lingering fallout from the controversial 2020 presidential election in which Joe Biden upset Republican Donald Trump by fewer than 12,000 votes in Georgia.

GOP-appointed Fulton election board member Julie Adams alleged in a recent lawsuit that she was denied access to election records necessary for certification of the May 21 primary.

In addition, the Cherokee County Commission voted last week to maintain the equal partisan split on the election board despite the efforts of the local Republican party to gain control.

Adams abstained from voting on May 28 claiming the Fulton election board had illegally permitted its staff to run elections in a county plagued by shoddy election operations in recent years.

In her lawsuit, Adams argues that election board members like herself have the authority to refuse to certify election results. After the 2020 election, a number of Georgia Republicans who embraced Trumps unfounded claims about massive voter fraud have publicly pushed back on election boards certifying results in subsequent elections.

Election experts predict this years primary provides a template for what will happen in the November general election, especially if the GOP loses in a rematch of the 2020 contest between Biden and Trump.

Adams lawsuit claims she abstained from certifying the results because she was not provided access to lists of absentee ballots returned, digital images of ballots, or records showing the number of votes cast by specific Dominion Voting System machines and other election information.

Adams is asking a judge to determine that elections board members are not required to certify results.

Its time to fix the problems in our elections by ensuring compliance with the law, transparency in election conduct and accuracy in results, she said in a statement.

According to the nonprofit group Protect Democracy, Adams lawsuit is doomed to fail because Georgia law does not give local board members the discretion to refuse to certify election results. The organization asserts that local election boards have a purely ministerial role in certifying election results.

The process of election certification is not, as Adams alleges, an opportunity for verification or auditing of the resultsthis happens throughout the counting and canvassing processand there are other mechanisms in state law to address alleged errors, irregularities, or fraud, the Democracy Project statement reads. Adams refusal to certify and subsequent lawsuit marks the latest attempt by a local election official to circumvent their legal obligation to certify election results in order to disrupt election processes, spread unfounded claims about our elections, and undermine confidence in election results.

Peter Simmons, Georgia policy advocate at Protect Democracy, said Adams lawsuits are part of a steady drumbeat of claims seeking to distort elections and cast doubt on the integrity of their conduct.

Adams legal challenge is supported by the Trump-aligned America Policy First Institute think tank.

We believe that all of these concerted anti-democratic efforts are intended to send a certain political message that (their) intention is to empower bad actors to overturn the 2024 election if its unfavorable to them, Simmons said Friday in an interview with the Georgia Recorder.

Georgia Democratic Party Chairwoman Nikema Williams said her party will continue to counter the messages of doubt being spread by officials like Adams.

The Democratic Party of Georgia will continue to combat Trumps efforts to undermine our democracy and ensure local elections are certified, which is required by law. said the U.S. congresswoman from Atlanta.

Fultons politically partisan debate could mark a trend among Georgias local election boards.

Local officials in Cherokee, a conservative northern suburb of Atlanta, appointed a little-known Democrat to fill one of the four election board seats that have traditionally been split evenly between Democrats and Republicans. The chair of the board is selected by the other members of the board.

Cherokee Republicans failed to gain the edge they sought on the county board, while the local Democratic Party was disappointed the county commission refused to reappoint the member it had nominated to serve.

Despite the commissions appointment of supposed moderate Democrat Scott Little, local Democrats questioned the legitimacy of someone they claimed had voted for GOP candidates in prior elections.

Another fight over the makeup of local election boards occurred in Spalding County in December 2021 following the passage of the states 2021 election law overhaul. Three Black women representing the Democratic Party on the Spalding board were replaced by three white Republicans.

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Georgia man in custody for involvement in Feb. 7 shooting in Nashville

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  A Georgia man wanted for a February shooting that injured a man on Hillview Heights in Nashvilles Berry Hill neighborhood is now in custody.

According to a release from the Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD), 25-year-old Devin Lauderdale is now in custody in Atlanta. Lauderdale was identified by Special Investigations detectives as one of two involved in a Feb. 7 shooting.

Michigan fugitive arrested in Nolensville after tense moments

The victim was not critically injured, though he was shot in the hip and arm.

Lauderdale was reportedly the passenger inside a Hyundai Elantra. That vehicle then approached the victim as the victim was walking home from work. The driver then exited the vehicle and chased the victim before firing at him.

Lauderdale jumped into the drivers seat and fled the scene once the shooter returned to the vehicle, according to investigators.

CRIME TRACKER | Read the latest crime news from Middle Tennessee

MNPD added that the investigation is still ongoing. Lauderdale will soon be returned to Nashville where he is charged with attempted criminal homicide.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Chairman of the Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU) Friedrich Merz speaks during a press conference after the CDU Federal Executive Committee meeting in the Konrad Adenauer House. The CDU was the strongest party in the 2024 European elections. Sebastian Christoph Gollnow/dpa

German centre-right opposition leader Friedrich Merz expressed his opposition on Tuesday to potentially forming coalitions with populists or far-left parties in order to keep the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) out of power in eastern German states.

Merz said he doesn't think his Christian Democrats (CDU) should consider working with the upstart populist Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW), which broke away from the hard-left Die Linke (The Left) party and has been campaigning on a mix of left-wing social policy and anti-immigrant views. Wagenknecht has also demanded an immediate end to military aid for Ukraine.

Merz accused the party's founder, Sahra Wagenknecht, of holding extreme far-right views on some issues and far-left views on others. Merz doubled-down on the CDU's policy against co-operating with either the AfD or Die Linke.

"We do not work together with such far-right and far-left parties," Merz said during an appearance on German television on Monday evening, claiming both labels apply to Wagenknecht. "We want to win majorities."

But the state-level CDU party in the central state of Thuringia continued to signal an openness to working with the BSW, despite Merz's comments.

State parliamentary elections in Thuringia, Brandenburg and Saxony are scheduled for September. All three states are located in the former communist East Germany, where support for the AfD - as well as Wagenknecht's BSW - is particularly strong.

There are concerns that very broad-based coalitions may be required to keep the AfD out of power in all three states.

The AfD ran well ahead of all other parties in the former East Germany in Sunday's European Parliament election results.

Wagenknecht responded on Tuesday by calling Merz childish.
Chairman of the Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU) Friedrich Merz speaks during a press conference after the CDU Federal Executive Committee meeting in the Konrad Adenauer House. The CDU was the strongest party in the 2024 European elections. Sebastian Christoph Gollnow/dpa

German centre-right opposition leader Friedrich Merz expressed his opposition on Tuesday to potentially forming coalitions with populists or far-left parties in order to keep the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) out of power in eastern German states.

Merz said he doesn't think his Christian Democrats (CDU) should consider working with the upstart populist Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW), which broke away from the hard-left Die Linke (The Left) party and has been campaigning on a mix of left-wing social policy and anti-immigrant views. Wagenknecht has also demanded an immediate end to military aid for Ukraine.

Merz accused the party's founder, Sahra Wagenknecht, of holding extreme far-right views on some issues and far-left views on others. Merz doubled-down on the CDU's policy against co-operating with either the AfD or Die Linke.

"We do not work together with such far-right and far-left parties," Merz said during an appearance on German television on Monday evening, claiming both labels apply to Wagenknecht. "We want to win majorities."

But the state-level CDU party in the central state of Thuringia continued to signal an openness to working with the BSW, despite Merz's comments.

State parliamentary elections in Thuringia, Brandenburg and Saxony are scheduled for September. All three states are located in the former communist East Germany, where support for the AfD - as well as Wagenknecht's BSW - is particularly strong.

There are concerns that very broad-based coalitions may be required to keep the AfD out of power in all three states.

The AfD ran well ahead of all other parties in the former East Germany in Sunday's European Parliament election results.

Wagenknecht responded on Tuesday by calling Merz childish.

"What Friedrich Merz is doing is political kindergarten and will further weaken the CDU in the east," Wagenknecht said.

"Olaf Scholz is the worst chancellor in the history of the federal republic, but Friedrich Merz - especially with the Greens as a coalition partner - would not be an improvement," she said.

The CDU boss also appeared blind to the political realities on the ground in eastern Germany, BSW secretary general Christian Leye told Die Welt newspaper.

"It's not as if we are desperate for a government constellation with the CDU," Leye said.

Wagenknecht has left the possibility of forming a coalition with the CDU open, saying only that her BSW would not support a continuation of "business as usual."

Thuringia's CDU leader Mario Voigt, who wants to become state premier in the autumn and will need coalition partners to do so, took a different position.

"Friedrich Merz has spoken for the federal level," he said.

In Thuringia, the party wants political change and is first looking at what specific issues move people: "Then we will discuss with whom we can solve the problems together," he said.

Voigt also said he has good relations with Thuringia BSW leader Katja Wolf, whom he praised as "a pragmatic local politician."
German Minister of Defense Boris Pistorius (C) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Manuela Schwesig (L), Minister President of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, welcome German and Ukrainian soldiers during their visit to a military training area to learn about the training of Ukrainian soldiers on the "Patriot" air defence missile system. Jens Buttner/dpa

German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius has promised Ukraine further arms deliveries, including the delivery of small arms like sniper rifles.

"We will make this possible without delay," Pistorius said on Tuesday during a joint visit with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to a military training area in the north-eastern state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, where Ukrainian soldiers are being trained on the Patriot air-defence system.

Support is also being provided for anti-tank weapons, components for artillery ammunition and in the field of drones and drone defence.

In addition, another 100 Patriot missiles will be provided as part of a German initiative together with Denmark, the Netherlands and Norway.

A total of 32 have already been delivered, and 68 will follow in the coming weeks.

Pistorius pointed out that he had promised an aid package of almost 500 million ($537 million) a fortnight ago. The package includes wheeled howitzers, 350 drone systems, 300 artillery tubes and urgently needed ammunition for air defence.

Zelensky expressed his gratitude for the support and honoured some of the Ukrainian soldiers, all of whom have combat experience in the war, with medals and decorations.

Most of the soldiers trained at the site come from temporarily occupied territories in Ukraine.

"They are motivated to train quickly, to return to win back their homes and bring back victory," said Zelensky, who arrived by helicopter from Berlin, where he took part in an international reconstruction conference for his country and then gave a speech in the lower house of parliament, or Bundestag.

Germany had previously supplied Ukraine with two Patriot systems and associated missiles.

The Patriot air-defence missile system can be used to combat enemy aircraft, ballistic missiles and cruise missiles. The defence missiles can hit targets at a distance of around 100 kilometres at altitudes of up to 30 kilometres.

German Minister of Defense Boris Pistorius and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky soldiers in front of "Patriot" anti-aircraft missile systems during their visit to a military training area. Jens Buttner/dpa

German Minister of Defense Boris Pistorius and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky greet each other during their visit to a military training area to learn about the training of Ukrainian soldiers on the "Patriot" air defence missile system. Jens Buttner/dpa
The leadership of the parliamentary faction of the far-right AfD (Alternative for Germany) said that the party ignored the speech of Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Bundestag, because he is a "war president" and Ukraine needs something else.

Source: n-tv, as reported by European Pravda

Details: The leaders of the AfD faction in the Bundestag, Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla, said they "refuse to listen to a speaker wearing camouflage fatigues."

Quote: "Zelensky's term in office is over. Now he is in office only as a president of war and a beggar," they added, stating that Ukraine now needs a president of peace who is willing to negotiate.

Weidel and Chrupalla repeated the Russian narrative, claiming that the Ukrainian president's tenure had ended.

The Alternative for Germany's leadership had previously agreed to boycott Zelenskyy's speech in the Bundestag, as did Sahra Wagenknechts Alliance, a German far-left party. Nonetheless, four AfD MPs were present for the Ukrainian president's speech.

On 11 June, the President of Ukraine arrived in Germany to attend a conference on Ukraine's recovery, the URC2024, and negotiations with Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

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Thomas Haldenwang, President of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, in an interview with dpa Deutsche Presse-Agentur GmbH. Michael Kappeler/dpa

The threat of Islamist terrorist attacks in Germany is currently significantly higher compared to previous years, partially due to the Gaza war, according to Germany's domestic intelligence agency.

"The risk of jihadist attacks is higher than it has been for a long time," the head of the domestic intelligence services, Thomas Haldenwang, told dpa.

Haldenwang stated that the risk of attacks has increased due to several factors. He highlighted the threat posed by radicalized individuals.

Additionally, he mentioned the influence of the Islamist Taliban takeover in Afghanistan as well as the strengthening of Islamic State offshoot Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

The burning of the Koran in Scandinavia and Israel's military operation against Hamas in the Gaza Strip were also cited by Haldenwang as contributing to the "radicalization spiral."

"The situation in the Middle East following the terrorist attack by Hamas is certainly contributing to the heightened threat posed by Islamist terrorism," Haldenwang said.

"Germany is more in the focus of jihadists than other European countries because, along with the US, our country is considered to be one of the most important supporters of Israel."

In May, a 25-year-old Afghan man injured five people with a knife at a rally organized by the anti-Islam movement Pax Europa in the south-western German city of Mannheim. He also stabbed a police officer who later died from the injuries. Investigators suspect that the motive behind the attack may be linked to Islamist extremism.

"The security situation is very tense," Haldenwang said, adding that his agency had never underestimated the threat of Islamist terrorism.

Haldenwang said Germany was currently facing three main challenges: the threat of Islamist terrorism, the rise of right-wing extremism contributing to social tension, and the influence and espionage activities of foreign states.

Additionally, there is the threat of increasingly violent left-wing extremism, he added.
A leading German politician has called for reunification 2.0 after the countrys eastern region voted almost exclusively for the hard-Right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party at the EU elections.

Hendrik Wust, governor in the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia, proposed sending west Germans to the east on exchange programmes, saying some know their way around Majorca better than Saxony or Thuringia.

Mr Wust, a member of the centre-Right Christian Democrats (CDU), argued that exchange creates trust and opens up prospects for greater mutual understanding.

His comments come after the EU elections laid bare a growing east-west divide among German voters.

In the east, all but three constituencies voted for the AfD.

To the west of the former border, the CDU, Germanys traditional party of power, dominated the vote.

Even including Left-wing Berlin, the AfD emerged with 27 per cent of the vote in the east, well ahead of the CDU on 21 per cent.

And, in another sign of the divide, the Bundis Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW), a party set up by a former east German Marxist less than six months ago, strolled into third in the east with 13 per cent.

Named after its charismatic leader, the BSW combines a hardline stance on immigration with Left-wing attitudes to wealth redistribution.

Olaf Scholzs Social Democrats, plus coalition partners the Greens and the Free Democrats, were more or less wiped off the map to the east of where the Iron Curtain once split the country.

While the AfD and the BSW have their differences on welfare policies, both parties share a pro-Kremlin bent in their foreign policy and reject allowing in more refugees.

On Tuesday, MPs from both parties caused a scandal when they boycotted a speech by president Vlodomir Zelensky of Ukraine in the Bundestag, Germanys parliament.

An MP for the BSW justified the move as an act of solidarity with Ukrainians whom Mr Zelensky is using as cannon fodder.

German academics point to mistakes made after reunification that are fuelling populism in the east.

There was mass unemployment in the east after reunification when industrial locations were shut down. That meant that democracy could never put its roots down, Benjamin Hohne, a researcher at the Technical University in Chemnitz, told The Telegraph.

Now, with massive transformations taking place in areas such as climate policies, East Germans are afraid of losing the wealth they have struggled to build up. The AfD are the only party that offers a big narrative that promises a return to the good old days, he added.

Wages in the east have stagnated at about 80 per cent of the level of those in the west for years, while there is still not a single one of Germanys blue chip DAX companies that has its headquarters in the east.

At the same time, billions of euros of west German tax money have been poured into rebuilding the east, with wealthier Germans still contributing to a so-called solidarity tax to pay for eastern infrastructure.

Bodo Ramelow, governor in the eastern state of Thuringia, has said that west Germans often look down on the east due to the fact that so much public money has been spent there.

On social media I see people asking why East Germans arent more grateful, Mr Ramelow said after Sundays vote. But East Germans dont need to apologise for anything  The fact that some people expect gratitude from them is worsening the problem.

However, not everyone is convinced that the popularity of the AfD can be explained by modern events.

Partys appeal has roots in xenophobia

British historian James Hawes has argued that the partys appeal has its roots in a xenophobia that existed among east Germans since they colonised land east of the river Elbe that was once inhabited by Slavs starting in the 12th century.

A survey published by the University of Leipzig last year similarly concluded that a strong east Germans affinity for authoritarianism explained the partys success.

This autumn, the rift between east and west could move closer to a permanent divide.

At elections in three east German states, the AfD are on course to emerge as winners.

In Saxony and Thuringia, where the partys positions are so extreme that they have been put under observation by Germanys domestic spy agency, the AfD are set to take more than 30 per cent of the vote.

With Ms Wagenkenchts BSW also polling in double digits, a watershed moment may occur: a new state government could be formed without a single party founded in the west.

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Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky delivers a speech at the German Parliament (Bundestag). Zelensky is in Berlin for the International Ukraine Reconstruction conference in Berlin. Bernd von Jutrczenka/dpa

Most German lawmakers from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) and the upstart populist Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) boycotted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's speech on Tuesday to Germany's parliament, the Bundestag.

Only four of the AfD's 77 lawmakers turned up in the Bundestag chamber in Berlin ahead of Zelensky's speech after party leaders told them not to attend. None of the 10 members of the BSW showed up, either.

Leaders from mainstream German political parties expressed disgust with both the AfD and the BSW for the stunt.

Both the AfD and BSW have vehemently opposed military aid for Ukraine. A number of AfD members in particular have expressed support for Russia and admiration for Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"We refuse to listen to a speaker in a camouflage suit," the AfD's co-leaders Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla said. "The government should not give him a stage for reconstruction begging. The citizens are paying more than enough for military aid, EU aid and welfare benefits for Ukrainian" refugees.

The AfD leaders claimed that what Ukraine needs is a peace president who is willing to negotiate.

The BSW, which broke away from the hard-left Die Linke (The Left) party and has been campaigning on a platform combining left-wing economic policy with some hard-right stances, also denounced Zelensky.

"Unfortunately, President Zelensky is currently helping to promote a highly dangerous spiral of escalation and is accepting the risk of a nuclear conflict with devastating consequences for the whole of Europe," the party claimed in a statement. "He should therefore not be honoured with a special event in the German Bundestag."

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky delivers a speech at the German Parliament (Bundestag). Zelensky is in Berlin for the International Ukraine Reconstruction conference in Berlin. Hannes Albert/dpa

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky delivers a speech at the German Parliament (Bundestag). Zelensky is in Berlin for the International Ukraine Reconstruction conference in Berlin. Hannes Albert/dpa
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 11. Turkmenistan and South Korea have signed a solid package of bilateral documents, Trend reports.

According to an official source, the signing ceremony of bilateral documents took place as part of a meeting between President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov and President of South Korea Yoon Suk Yeol, who arrived in Ashgabat on a two-day state visit.

List of signed documents:

- cooperation agreement between the Turkmenhimiya State Concern (Turkmenistan) and Hyundai Engineering Co., Ltd. (South Korea) on the implementation of necessary measures and works for the successful commissioning and stable operation of the polymer plant in Kiyanli;

- a framework agreement on cooperation between the Turkmengaz State Concern (Turkmenistan) and Hyundai Engineering Co., Ltd. for the design with the condition of 'construction with full readiness' of commercial gas treatment facilities with a production capacity of 10 billion cubic meters and wells, acquisition and construction project at the IV stage of Galkynysh field;

- memorandum of Understanding between the Emergency Ambulance Center of the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry of Turkmenistan and the Chilgok Hospital at Kyungpook University of the Republic of Korea;

- memorandum of Understanding between the Scientific-Clinical Center of Oncology of the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry of Turkmenistan and the Chilgok Hospital at Kyungpook University;

- memorandum of understanding between the Municipality of Ashgabat and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport of the Republic of Korea on cooperation in the field of energy infrastructure and the development of new cities;

- memorandum of understanding between the State Bank for Foreign Economic Affairs of Turkmenistan and the Export-Import Bank of Korea and the Korea Trade Insurance Corporation;

- memorandum of understanding between the Governments of Turkmenistan and the Republic of Korea on assistance to the activities of the joint cooperation Commission;

- memorandum of understanding between the Governments of Turkmenistan and the Republic of Korea on the establishment of a base to stimulate trade and investment.

The heads of state of the two countries also signed a joint statement on the results of the state visit of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol to Turkmenistan.

Meanwhile, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol visited Turkmenistan as part of a working visit to Central Asian countries such as Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.

In line with these visits, South Korea plans to hold a six-party summit with Central Asian countries next year, namely Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan, and hold the first series of meetings in South Korea.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks during the opening ceremony of the recovery conference in Berlin, Germany, Tuesday, June 11, 2024. Germany is hosting a conference to gather support for Ukraine's recovery from the destruction wreaked by Russia's war, sending a new signal of solidarity with Kyiv at the start of a week of intense diplomacy. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)

BERLIN (AP)  Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday appealed for short-term help in repairing his country's electricity network and long-term investment in its energy system at a conference to gather support for Ukraine's recovery from the destruction wreaked by Russias war.

Starting a week of intense diplomacy that will also see him travel to the Group of Seven summit of Ukraine's leading Western allies in Italy and a global peace summit in Switzerland, Zelenskyy also renewed his calls for more help in repelling missile attacks by Russian forces. Hours later, Zelenskyy thanked Germany for its support in a speech to lawmakers in Berlin.

The two-day Ukraine Recovery Conference in Berlin follows up on a similar gathering in London a year ago.

The German hosts say it is bringing together 2,000 people from national and local politics, business and other areas, arguing that the task of supporting Ukraines recovery is too big for governments alone.

Among other immediate problems, sustained Russian attacks on Ukraine's power grid in recent weeks have forced energy companies to institute nationwide rolling blackouts.

Zelenskyy told the conference that, in the coming month, Ukraine needs equipment for heating and electricity plants that are currently out of action. This will allow us to respond to the situation here and now, he said.

According to the president, nine gigawatts of electricity generating capacity have been destroyed  including 80% of thermal power and one-third of hydroelectric power  while the peak consumption in Ukraine last winter was 18 gigawatts. Energy, he said, continues to be one of (Russian President Vladimir) Putins main targets.

Looking beyond Ukraine's immediate problems, Zelenskyy said foreign investments in energy would be mutually beneficial.

Ukraine has all the natural foundations for modern energy, but without your financing and investments, we wont be able to realize this, he said.

This is not about grants, but about high-yield investments for your companies, about a large market for your equipment, about loan programs for your institutions, all of which could create tens of thousands of new jobs, he added.

That message was echoed by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who said the World Bank has estimated that rebuilding and modernizing Ukraine will require investments of nearly $500 billion over the next 10 years.

The reconstruction of Ukraine is and also must be a business case, Scholz told participants. He said that is illustrated by Ukraine having exported excess electricity to the European Union since 2022  that makes clear what goes for the reconstruction of Ukraine as a whole: it benefits all concerned.

Scholz, whose country has become Ukraine's second-biggest weapons supplier after the United States, appealed anew to other allies to help strengthen Ukraine's air defense, because the best reconstruction is that which doesn't have to take place.

Since Russia launched a spring offensive around Kharkiv, Zelenskyy has insisted Ukraine urgently needs seven more U.S.-made Patriot air defense systems.

Germany and other NATO allies recently said they would allow Ukraine to use weapons they deliver to Kyiv to carry out limited attacks inside Russia. During a news conference with Scholz on Tuesday, Zelenskyy said that it's time to lift remaining restrictions on weapons systems supplied to Ukraine and their use.

The Berlin conference also focuses on support for reforms that Ukraine has embarked on in its bid to join the EU.

On Monday, the head of the State Agency for Restoration of Ukraine, Mustafa Nayyem, announced his resignation on Facebook. He cited systemic obstacles that prevent me from exercising my powers effectively and accused the government of bogging his agency down in red tape.

Ukraine hasnt had a minister dedicated to reconstruction since Oleksandr Kubrakov was dismissed in May. Nayyem complained that Ukraines prime minister barred him from attending the Berlin conference.

Zelenskyy, making his third visit to Berlin since Russia's full-scale invasion started in February 2022, stressed the common interest of Ukraine and Germany in Putin losing the war as he addressed the German parliament.

Looking ahead to the peace summit in Switzerland, Zelenskyy said that we want to give diplomacy a chance and have gathered around 100 countries for this."

Ukraine has never relied solely on the power of weapons," he added.

All but a handful of lawmakers from the far-right Alternative for Germany, as well as members of the new BSW party  both of which oppose weapons deliveries to Ukraine  stayed away from Zelenskyy's speech.

Alternative for Germany co-leaders Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla said in a statement that Ukraine doesn't need a war president now; it needs a peace president who is ready to negotiate so that the dying stops and the country has a future.

___

Arhirova reported from Kyiv, Ukraine.

___

Follow the APs coverage of the war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
Sahra Wagenknecht, party leader of the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) and member of the Bundestag, gives a press conference after the European elections. Kay Nietfeld/dpa

German populist politician Sahra Wagenknecht, whose newly founded Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) party debuted with 6.2% of the vote in the European Parliament elections, again called for an end to aid for Ukraine on Tuesday.

"We need ceasefire negotiations instead of more taxpayers' money from Germany for weapons to prolong the war," Wagenknecht said on Tuesday, as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was in Berlin for an international conference on Ukraine's reconstruction.

Wagenknecht accused Zelensky of refusing negotiations so far, but said that German have already footed a "war bill" of "at least 53 billion" ($57 billion).

"Instead of alternately financing destruction and reconstruction, we need a peace conference with all parties at the table," she said.

Russia launched an all-out invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and is currently occupying about a fifth of Ukrainian territory.

Wagenknecht, a former leader in the hard-left Die Linke, split to form her own populist party whose politics combine left-wing social policies with anti-immigration positions and EU scepticism.
Getting drunk, using both armrests, and standing up during turbulence are among the most annoying things you can do on a plane, a pollster found

Getting drunk, using both armrests, and standing up during turbulence are among the most annoying things you can do on a plane, a pollster found

YouGov polled over 1,000 people about some of the most annoying common behaviors on planes.

According to YouGov, letting your kids play in the aisle was the least acceptable of 30 options.

That was closely followed by getting drunk and standing up during turbulence.

If you want a harmonious plane journey, best not let your kids play in the aisle, get drunk, or watch a movie without headphones, an online survey from pollster YouGov found.

YouGov questioned 1,152 American adults about 30 common passenger behaviors and whether they considered them acceptable.

The polling company asked respondents to answer the question: "Do you consider it to be generally acceptable or unacceptable for a passenger to do the following while flying on a commercial airline?"

According to the survey's respondents, the worst behavior is letting children play in the aisle, with 86% of those surveyed finding it unacceptable.

It was followed by getting drunk or leaving your seat during turbulence, both of which 82% of those polled found unacceptable.

Last year, Dutch airline KLM said passengers were causing more problems and that alcohol was usually to blame. 2023 saw around 2,000 unruly passenger incidents in the US  more than double pre-pandemic figures.

Though not exhaustive, YouGov's list included a number of other behaviors that most respondents found unacceptable, such as leaving trash in the seatback pocket, using both armrests when someone is sitting next to you, and not paying attention to the safety demonstration.

However, other actions were a lot more divisive.

For example, 55% and 53% of respondents said that removing your shoes and climbing over someone to get to the bathroom were unacceptable. A respective 30% and 32% found these acceptable, meaning around 15% of people were undecided.

People were most split when it came to bringing a small dog on board, which 37% said was acceptable and 40% said was unacceptable.

In April, a United Airlines flight diverted after a dog pooped in the aisle, and staff spent two hours cleaning it up.

Some of the behaviors YouGov asked about were largely seen as acceptable like 51% saying it's OK to ask to switch seats, versus 26% seeing that as unacceptable.

You also shouldn't have a problem waking a seatmate to use the bathroom or using a laptop on a tray table.

However, only 19% of people said it was unacceptable to close the window blind during takeoff and landing  despite this being against safety protocols.

Airlines have this instruction so that passengers and crew can see if there are any problems with the plane. For example, the Japan Airlines fire in January might not have been evacuated as quickly if the windows had been shut since it would've taken longer to notice the problem.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Gibson County, TN sheriff indicted on 18 counts of official misconduct

UPDATE: Sheriff Paul Thomas surrendered at 1 p.m. Wednesday in Nashville, Metro Nashville Police said.

More details here: State says indicted TN sheriff set up inmate labor scheme

***

MEMPHIS, Tenn.  The sheriff of Gibson County, Tennessee has been indicted on 18 felony counts of official misconduct.

Sheriff Paul Thomas turned himself in Tuesday morning to the Gibson County Jail. He was released on $25,000 bond, attorney Bill Massey said.

The indictment by a Gibson County grand jury alleges that Thomas profited or benefited from labor by inmates in his custody between May 1 and Oct. 31, 2022. It also alleges that several inmates were improperly guarded to prevent their escape.

South Memphis intersection targeted by crime operation

Local media reports state the FBI conducted search warrants on Thomas home and the county jail in September 2022.

Gibson County is in West Tennessee, about an hour and a half northeast of Memphis. Thomas has served as the countys sheriff since 2014.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
A woman seeking asylum reaches for a bottle of water after crossing the U.S.-Mexico border with a child in San Diego last week. (Eugene Garcia / Associated Press)

For more than 20 years, I have held one position constant when it comes to immigration policy: We should have one.

I am less concerned about the number of immigrants we take in every year than I am about the fact that we  voters, policymakers, politicians, what have you  dont pick a number.

Id be fine with 1 million or 2 million immigrants a year. Id also be fine with a temporary freeze on most immigration. I think preferences for skilled immigrants are entirely defensible. I also think a generous asylum policy is morally preferable to a narrow one.

But for me, the priority isnt the number or kind of immigrants we take in; its making a decision about the number and kind and sticking to it.

Read more: Opinion: Could the guilty verdict cost Donald Trump the election? Sure it could

If the number is too high or low, policymakers can change it. If they dont change it, voters can elect a politician or party who will. But if Congress says the number is 1 million per year, that should be the actual number.

The late Democratic Congresswoman Barbara Jordan of Texas, who chaired the U.S. Commission on Immigration Reform in the 1990s, put it succinctly: The credibility of immigration policy can be measured by a simple yardstick: People who should get in, do get in; people who should not get in are kept out; and people who are judged deportable are required to leave.

Credibility is important for any government endeavor, but its especially so for immigration because few issues share its capacity to sow public discontent. The sense that immigration is out of control breeds distrust, incites nativism and fuels panic and conspiracy theories.

Read more: Goldberg: Trump and Biden agreed to debates. That's a lot less important than it was made out to be

It was ever thus. In colonial America, Benjamin Franklin repeatedly warned of the danger posed by unchecked German immigration, worrying that  they will soon so outnumber us , that  we  will not in my opinion be able to preserve our language, and even our government will become precarious." In 1798, Congress passed the Alien and Sedition Acts, which are remembered for their assault on free speech but were driven by the fear that French and other immigrants (i.e., Aliens) were an enemy within. The Naturalization Act  part of the Alien and Sedition Acts  made it harder for immigrants to become citizens and vote.

Later chapters in this old story include the Know-Nothings, all manner of panic over the Irish, the Yellow Peril and of course replacement theory. The same sentiments are now driving the surging prospects of far-right parties in Europe and the domestic success of Donald Trump despite  or because of  all his ugly rhetoric about vermin and blood poisoning.

Thats why President Bidens ham-fisted mishandling of the border crisis is arguably his greatest liability after his age. Indeed, I would argue that the former informs attitudes about the latter, in that the impression of lawlessness at the border fuels the sense that he is weak and overwhelmed.

As Europes travails demonstrate, this is not just an American problem. Large-scale immigration roils politics and society everywhere it occurs.

Moreover, despite Americas struggles with immigration past and present, this country is not anti-immigrant. As of 2022, the United States had roughly 46 million foreign-born residents, more than half of them citizens, accounting for about 14% of the population . (Chinas immigrants, by contrast, amount to about 0.04% of its population.) There is no country in the world better at absorbing and assimilating people, and we should take deep patriotic pride in that.

Thats important to bear in mind because the rhetoric on both sides of the debate makes restoring credibility to our immigration system harder. Contrary to Pat Buchanans dire prophecies, Mexican Americans have not shown much interest in a Reconquista of the American Southwest. And notwithstanding the constant shrieks about Americas nativism and xenophobia, the melting pot continues to burble along.

As a rule, normal Americans are far more sensible and decent on this issue than our leaders. Increasing numbers of Latinos want stronger enforcement of the border and immigration laws, which is a sign that the loudest voices on both sides are detached from reality. Indeed, if Trump wins this years election, it will be partly because working-class Latinos have assimilated into the culture and politics of the rest of the American working class.

The editorial stance of the National Review, where I worked for two decades, was always that if responsible politicians dont deal with immigration responsibly, irresponsible ones will exploit the issue to get elected. If the 2016 election wasnt enough to prove that, 2024 might be.

@JonahDispatch

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
WASHINGTON  Eight years after a credible effort to dump Donald Trump as their presidential nominee because of his vulgarity, Republicans today appear stuck with the newly convicted felon for November, with no realistic means of taking the nomination away from him at their convention next month, even if they wanted to.

There will be no move to, no mechanism for and no interest in removing Trump at the convention, said Richard Porter, a Republican National Committee member from Illinois.

To Fergus Cullen, a former RNC member as a onetime chair of the state party in New Hampshire, the key element of that analysis is no interest in.

The residents of Jonestown chose suicide rather than leave, he said, likening Trump to the infamous cult leader Jim Jones. He has a death grip on the RNC and the delegates. Even if polls showed him losing 65-35, they would choose to go down with him.

Trump campaign officials did not respond to HuffPost queries.

Republicans who vocally opposed the coup-attempting former president as the 2024 nominee often mentioned that his various criminal cases could put the party in the position of having a convicted felon at the top of the ticket on Nov. 5.

Not only has that warning come to pass, but there also is now the possibility that their nominee could even be staring down an actual jail sentence when RNC members and delegates meet in Milwaukee next month for the Republican National Convention.

The judge in Trumps New York criminal case, Juan Merchan, has scheduled sentencing for July 11, just four days before the convention begins, after a jury convicted him on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in an attempt to hide a hush-money payment to a porn actor to prevent her story from hurting his 2016 campaign. Though Trump could receive probation as a first-time offender, his decision to go to trial rather than plead guilty and his continuing lack of remorse could result in a stretch behind bars, legal experts said, although Merchan is likely to allow him to remain free until his appeal of the May 30 verdict is decided.

But within the Republican National Committee, which, like other groups allied with Trump, has taken to calling all prosecutions against him politically motivated witch hunts, even the prospect of a nominee facing incarceration is not sparking any effort to depose him.

Even if there was such a movement, and I have not seen such, most all delegations are bound by state law on one or more ballots at this stage of the process, said Ohio RNC member Jim Dicke.

Most state parties and some state laws do, in fact, require that delegates at the national party convention vote for the candidate who won their state or congressional district, at least for the first ballot or two. Nevertheless, the Republican Party is a private entity that can change its own rules at it sees fit.

I suppose that the Convention Rules Committee could propose a new rule that would release all delegates, but that seems unlikely, Oscar Brock, an RNC member from Tennessee. The Trump campaign will have practical control of the Rules Committee.

After his election in 2016, Trump and his allies made sure that people personally loyal to Trump moved into party slots at the local, state and national levels. Similarly, grassroots-level Republicans attending the party convention this summer are overwhelmingly loyal to Trump.

The situation was almost exactly the opposite in 2016, after Trump unexpectedly defeated 16 more established Republican candidates for the nomination despite a background as a New York City developer and a reality TV game show host with no political experience.

Almost none of the 168 members of the Republican National Committee were personally loyal to Trump that year. Nor were a majority of convention delegates, most of whom were decades-long activists in Republican politics.

Supporters of Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas show their appreciation for the former presidential candidate on the third day of the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland. Toni L. Sandys/The Washington Post via Getty Images

Republicans who disliked and distrusted Trump  primarily religious conservatives and abortion opponents  believed that they could persuade enough RNC members and convention delegates to change the partys rules to permit delegates to vote according to their conscience rather than mirroring how primary voters in their state had voted earlier that year.

That effort led to Sen. Mike Lee of Utah urging Rules Committee members to unbind the delegates so they could vote against Trump. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, the 2016 primary candidate whom Lee and other anti-Trump Republicans were hoping to nominate instead, in his convention speech never endorsed Trump. Instead, he told delegates and Americans in general to vote your conscience.

But party leaders, including then-chairman Reince Priebus, decided that jettisoning Trump would enrage his supporters, leading to huge losses that November for Senate, congressional and state legislative races.

Kendal Unruh, the founder of the Free the Delegates group that lost its convention floor fight to replace Trump, said the party is now basically Donald Trumps party.

The delegates elected this time to the Republican National Convention were rock-solid Trump supporters who will never waver from their support, she said. In 2016, we stood a good chance because enough of the delegates truly did not want Trump and wanted another option.

Three years before Trump became the first former president in American history to be convicted of a crime, he became the first president to refuse to hand over power peacefully after losing reelection. Instead, he falsely claimed the election had been stolen from him and tried to overturn the results, which would have effectively ended American democracy, by coercing his own vice president and Congress to award him a second term.

Trump faces two criminal indictments based on that Jan. 6, 2021, coup attempt and his actions in the preceding weeks. One indictment is federal and one is a state case in Georgia. He is under a second federal indictment for his refusal to turn over secret documents he took with him to his South Florida country club upon leaving the White House.

He is unlikely to go to trial on any of the other three cases before the November election thanks to his legal maneuvers to delay proceedings. However, the federal Jan. 6 case could result in an evidentiary hearing this summer or fall featuring a string of his top aides and former aides publicly testifying about his actions leading up to Jan. 6 and on the day his supporters attacked the U.S. Capitol.

Whether that evidentiary hearing might happen depends on the Supreme Courts decision on Trumps claim that he cannot be prosecuted for his coup attempt because it was an official action he took while president, making him immune.

Related...
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Leading up to another Supreme Court ruling that could critically change reproductive rights in the U.S., Washington Gov. Jay Inslee has set the record straight on the states rules on abortion care.

In a press conference held on Tuesday morning, the state leader asserted that emergency abortion services will remain legal in Washington state despite the looming decision in Idaho and Moyle, et al. v. United States  and the overturn of Roe V. Wade in June 2022.

Unintended target? Gresham family home hit by gunfire

That was a wrong decision, but we have to deal with it, Inslee said. Their folly has led to the biggest clawback of civil rights in American history. Anti-abortion states have weaponized this decision in an effort to deprive women of rights, including in the state of Washington.

In late April, the Supreme Court began hearing arguments in a case that spurred from Idahos abortion restrictions. The state prohibits abortions, with an exception for emergency situations in which the pregnancy has become life-threatening  which has caused a grey area for some medical professionals.

How close to death must somebody be before a doctor is able to step in and provide care? Sarah Prager, professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at University of Washingtons School of Medicine, said during Inslees press conference.

According to documents obtained by the Associated Press, there have been several cases of pregnant individuals being turned away from emergency rooms since the overturn of Roe V. Wade in May 2022.

Salem City Council OKs $728M budget after protests, public outcry

AP News reported that women in states with certain abortion restrictions have suffered from miscarriages or the death of their newborns as a result of hospital staff that dont want to be penalized for treating them.

Simultaneously, the Emergency Medical Treatment & Labor Act requires hospitals that receive Medicare to provide stabilizing treatment to patients regardless of whether they can pay.

The Biden administration has argued that Idahos abortion ban violates federal act, while Idaho officials have argued the law was made for uninsured patients and doesnt necessarily permit emergency abortions.

Spikes rip apart stolen semis tires along I-205 in 2-state pursuit

Since the Dobbs decision, Inslee said Washington has seen a 50% increase in out-of-state residents who visit in search of abortion care. The Supreme Court has yet to issue a decision on its first reproductive rights case in about two years, but Inslee asserted the states protections will remain the same.

Unless we have clarity, you can end up with some litigant starting a lawsuit that affects Washington women that ends up in U.S. Supreme court and you just cannot trust the Donald Trump court to protect and appropriately interpret Washington state law, 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 KOIN.com.
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee speaks to reporters during a news conference in Seattle, Tuesday, June 11, 2024, as abortion rights supporters listen. Inslee announced that Washington state will spell out in state law that hospitals must provide abortions if needed to stabilize patients, a step that comes as the U.S. Supreme Court is expected to rule this month on whether conservative states can bar abortions during some medical emergencies. (AP Photo/Gene Johnson)

SEATTLE (AP)  Gov. Jay Inslee on Tuesday said Washington will spell out in state law that hospitals must provide abortions if needed to stabilize patients, a step that comes as the U.S. Supreme Court is expected to rule this month on whether conservative states can bar abortions during some medical emergencies.

There is no indication that patients have been denied emergency abortions in Washington, but the Democrat said during a news conference in Seattle he wanted to remove any doubt that hospitals were required to provide those services if necessary.

This is a preventative against the Supreme Court decision, Inslee said. If your health is going to be damaged in any way as a result of not getting emergency services, you ought to have that right to get those emergency services."

Most Republican-controlled states have imposed restrictions on abortion since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade two years ago, eliminating the right to terminate a pregnancy under federal law. Fourteen have banned abortion at all stages of pregnancy with limited exceptions.

Among them is Idaho, which bans abortion except in life-threatening situations, with doctors subject to felony charges and up to five years in prison for violations. The Biden administration sued to block Idaho's ban, arguing that federal law requires hospitals that accept Medicare to provide emergency abortions when a patient's health is threatened, though not necessarily their life.

The Supreme Court has allowed Idaho's ban to go into effect as it considers the case, with a ruling expected by the end of this month.

Most Democratic-controlled states have adopted laws or issued executive orders seeking to protect abortion access, including Washington, which stocked a three-year supply of abortion medication in case federal court rulings limit its availability.

Washington has also increased funding for reproductive care clinics, barred the State Patrol from cooperating with out-of-state abortion investigations, and adopted a shield law to protect patients who obtain abortions in Washington from extradited to face charges in another state.

Abortion rights advocates say the bans have already affected the emergency care provided to pregnant women. More women whose conditions are typically treated with abortions must now be flown out of state for care, since doctors must wait until they are close to death to provide terminations within the bounds of state law.

Washington's administrative code says hospitals must provide emergency services to patients, but so far does not say specifically that includes emergency abortions. Inslee directed the state Department of Health to change that.

Washington state hospitals are already required by state law to provide emergency care to people experiencing these types of pregnancy complications, the Washington State Hospital Association said in a written statement Tuesday. Washington hospitals are providing this care, including to people who have crossed the border from Idaho in need of care.

The number of women coming to Washington from out of state for abortions since the Supreme Court overturned Roe has jumped by 50%, Inslee said.

Dr. Sarah Prager, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Washington, said Tuesday she has treated patients who have traveled to Washington in the past two years after they were unable to obtain care at home  including one with a preterm rupture of membranes and infected uterus, another with a complicated ectopic pregnancy that was about to burst, and a third who was bleeding from an incomplete miscarriage.

When I or any doctor has a sick patient in front of me, I shouldn't have to pause and consult with the hospital's legal team to figure out if I'm able to act, Prager said. These moments wasted can cost patients their health, their future fertility and even their life.

Abortion opponents say doctors have mishandled maternal emergency cases and argue that the Biden administration has overstated the danger to undermine state abortion bans.

We want the highest standard of care for women, and we do make an exception for abortion to save the life of the mother," including in cases of ectopic pregnancy, said Esther Ripplinger, president of Human Life of Washington. But when you say health is threatened  that's an interesting proposal, because now, health can mean, 'Oh, I've got a headache, I need an abortion.' ... We need to be very specific about what is that emergency and what is not.

___

Associated Press reporter Geoff Mulvihill contributed from Cherry Hill, New Jersey.
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, June 11. Uzbekistans trade turnover volume with Czechia amounted to $158.1 million from January through April 2024, Trend reports.

According to Uzbekistan's Statistics Agency, this number has shot up by 38.9 percent compared to the same time last year (a whopping $113.8 million in JanuaryApril 2023).

Uzbekistan's exports to Czechia totaled $19.8 million from January through April 2024, a 45.5 percent increase over the same period the previous year ($13.6 million in JanuaryApril 2023).

Uzbekistans imports from Czechia reached $138.3 million from January through April 2024. This figure has increased by 38 percent year-on-year ($100.2 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 trade between the two countries hit it off with China, raking in a whopping $3.9 billion during this period. Russia comes in second with a trade turnover volume of $3.8 billion, trailing behind Kazakhstan with $1.2 billion.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark.  As cleanup continues a month after a tornado slammed Hot Springs and other parts of Garland County, Arkansas officials are authorizing new reliefs for local residents.

On Tuesday, Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders issued an official disaster declaration for Garland County tied to the May 8 severe storms and tornado.

Scariest moment of my life EF-2 tornado flips Garland County home

By issuing the declaration, the governor makes the county to be eligible for Public Assistance disaster relief under Arkansas law.

The EF-2 tornado that hit Hot Springs had a path length of 12.2 miles and was the 12th tornado the Natural State saw in May. A tornado with an EF-2 rating would be considered strong and have gusts of winds ranging from 111-135 miles per hour.

National Weather Service says Hot Springs hit by EF-2 tornado overnight

The National Weather Service issued a tornado warning just after midnight on May 8 that started in rural Garland County before heading into Hot Spring and Saline Counties.

While there was a great deal of destruction connected to this storm, no injuries tied to the severe weather were reported.

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The Irish government just announced new rules around cement usage, mandating that more planet-friendly materials be used, WorldCement.com reported.

"This landmark decision marks a significant milestone in the journey towards developing a net-zero carbon society by 2050, as outlined in the national policy position," the site wrote.

The new requirements call for 30% clinker substitution in concrete for all government and public works projects as well as the phase-out of more polluting "high-clinker cement" variations. Clinker is the binding agent that sets and hardens cement, which the European Cement Association describes as "the backbone of cement production" and "essentially a mix of limestone and minerals that have been heated in a kiln."

As the heating process used to create clinker contributes the most planet-overheating air pollution in the cement manufacturing process, scientists have been hard at work trying to develop alternatives.

These alternatives include olivine, a class of magnesium-rich, rock-forming mineral common in the Earth's upper mantle.

Scientists have also developed production methods that require less heat, significantly lowering the carbon dioxide output in the process.

Other approaches to creating more planet-friendly cement have included plants that capture the carbon dioxide they produce and redirect it back into the manufacturing process.

According to at least one study, cement production accounts for a whopping 8% of all global planet-overheating air pollution. (The study's title, slightly confusingly, refers to concrete instead of cement. Cement is the main ingredient in concrete and where all the air pollution in concrete comes from.) The International Energy Agency has labeled the cement industry "Not On Track" to meet climate goals.

As is the case with all for-profit industries, the construction industry cannot be relied on to reform itself, which is why these new rules from the Irish government are such a big deal. The technologies to make cement less polluting are being developed  in order to force the industry to implement them, governments need to step in and mandate it.

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Employees at Stockton City Hall say they have been harassed and threatened by associates of 209 Times  a social media page and self-proclaimed news source  and some city council members have enabled the alleged bad behavior, a civil grand jury report found.

Those were two of the multiple findings the San Joaquin County Grand Jury published on Monday revealing potential Brown Act violations, ongoing bullying and intimidation from individuals connected to 209 Times, and a lack of public access to Fair Political Practice Commission (FPPC) filings.

The grand jury is comprised of 19 citizens who are impaneled annually for a one-year term. It is the grand jury's duty to address citizens concerns regarding the operation of local government entities.

Stockton City Council members Michele Padilla, left, Dan Wright, Mayor Kevin Lincoln, councilmen Michael Blower and Brando Villapudua listen to public comment about the removal city trees for sidewalk repair, during a city council meeting in downtown on June 13, 2023.

The grand jury said it began an investigation of potential Brown Act violations by members of the Stockton City Council in 2022-2023 and continued that investigation in 2023-2024. They also received and investigated complaints regarding a "threatening and ineffective work environment" in Stockton's city government. Those complaints were largely associated with 209 Times, according to the report.

"Witnesses reported receiving constant emails, letters, phone calls, and comments made in public demanding actions from associates of this (social media platform)," the report said. "When those associates are not satisfied, the result is insulting and misleading reports posted on social media."

In the grand jury's report, 209 Times is referred to as "social media platform (SMP)."

During its investigation, the grand jury conducted interviews with citizens, current and former council members, city employees, consultants, and FPPC attorneys.

Jurors also examined the city charter, the city's code of conduct, city council meeting minutes, court case records, policies and procedures of neighboring city governments, and media reports.

Their conclusion?

"The efficient and ethical governing of the city of Stockton is under attack by both external and internal forces. This must be stopped," the report states. "Externally, individuals utilizing a (social media platform) have consistently attempted to undermine the local democratic process by misleading the Stockton electorate and attempting to affect election results through unethical influence."

"Internally, members of the Stockton City Council, who support the efforts of that (social media platform), are complicit in the deterioration of comradery, trust, respect, and ethical governing in Stockton," the report states. "The continued violations of the tenets of the Brown Act by council members undermine the provision of good government to the citizens of Stockton."

In California, governing bodies must respond to grand jury findings within 90 days.

"The city has received the civil grand jury report and is reviewing and evaluating it for appropriate action and response," Stockton Mayor Kevin Lincoln said in a statement on Tuesday.

209 Times did not respond to a request for comment by deadline.

Brown Act violations, threats, and political favors at city hall

The 16-page grand jury report begins with a recount of a spring 2023 court battle between District 5 Councilman Brando Villapudua and Motecuzoma Sanchez  the founder of 209 Times and a political consultant who has worked with numerous elected officials in Stockton and San Joaquin County government.

In March 2023, Villapudua was granted a temporary restraining order against Sanchez after the councilman accused the 209 Times founder of harassing and threatening him. Court documents filed by Villapudua stated that Sanchez harassed and threatened the councilman into supporting the removal of City Manager Harry Black and others.

In court filings, Villapudua alleged Sanchez tried to influence his decision on Blacks performance review, sending texts before and during the March 1, 2023 city council meeting to Villapudua.

Stockton City Councilman Brando Villapudua, left, and Motecuzoma Sanchez appear in Department 3A of the San Joaquin County Courthouse in downtown Stockton on Thursday, May 4, 2023.

After the meeting, Villapudua said he went to Valley Brew on the Miracle Mile. Villapudua alleged that Sanchez rushed in behind him and confronted him about closed session items.

In his plea for protection, Villapudua stated that Sanchez knew confidential information about a closed session item, leading him to believe that someone on the city council had violated the Brown Act to leak the information to Sanchez.

The presiding judge ruled that a permanent restraining order would be inappropriate as it would prevent a citizen from contacting their elected representatives. However, the grand jury said the filing of the restraining order brought to light that there had been a violation of the Brown Act by someone in attendance at a closed session of the Stockton City Council.

"The city attorney hired an outside firm to conduct an investigation to determine whether a Brown Act violation had occurred and to identify the source," the report states. "The grand jury has been informed that the investigation resulted in findings that a Brown Act violation had occurred. However, neither the investigative report nor its findings were released to the public."

Although council members have received Brown Act training, the grand jury said leaders continue to show a disregard for the law, which prohibits the release of confidential information from discussions that occurred during closed session meetings.

In another incident, the grand jury said a member of the Stockton City Council appeared to have violated the Brown Act when they disclosed the findings of the firm's investigation to the public on official city letterhead.

On March 4, District 1 Councilwoman Michele Padilla distributed a press release on official city letterhead, stating that she was "forced to blow the whistle on a cover up in city hall" regarding the March 2023 Brown Act violation.

Padilla has used city letterhead to make public statements on at least two other occasions since October 2023, The Record found.

However, city letterhead should only be used when a council member is representing the city and the city's official position, according to principles outlined by the League of California Cities.

"The use of official city stationery by an individual council member misleads the public to believe the content reflects an official city position," the report states.

The grand jury also noted that after being elected, a council member tried to appoint the political consultant to several city committees and commissions.

Campaign finance documents show Padilla owed $1,000 to Tecuani, LLC, Sanchezs political consulting firm, for services during her 2022 campaign. During her first year in office, Padilla nominated Sanchez to the Charter Review Advisory Commission. She also sought to nominate him to the Planning Commission this spring, but her motion was not seconded by a council member and the motion died.

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Some city council members have allowed 'campaign of harassment'

In regards to claims of a threatening work environment at city hall, the grand jury report found:

"City government is hampered by a threatening work environment created by the continued harassment and bullying by this (social media platform). Their actions have affected every level of city government."

"Members of the Stockton City Council have enabled this (social media platform) to continue a campaign of harassment through their continued association with and appointment of their associates to city boards and commissions."

"City employees have lost confidence in the city councils ability to ensure a non-toxic and non-threatening working environment."

"The practice of agendizing the performance review of chartered officers at every closed session council meeting creates a perception of unstable government in the eyes of city employees and the public."

"The city does not provide citizens electronic access to all Form 700 filings."

"There are employees of the mayors office that are not bound by the same employment standards as city staff."

Grand jury says city council should 'stop enabling' 209 Times

In regards to claims of a threatening work environment at city hall, the grand jury said it is recommending:

"The city council should stop enabling the (social media platform) from interfering with effective city government through their continued association and/or support of individuals associated with the (social media platform).

"By March 31, 2025, the city council should adopt rules for handling unlawful threatening communications received by city officials and employees. Unlawful threats, not covered under the First Amendment, should be referred to the district attorneys office."

"By March 31, 2025, the city should adopt an ordinance similar to the City of San Franciso Campaign and Governmental Conduct Code Section 1500 et seq., to strengthen election transparency. That ordinance requires political consultants and candidates to file reports directly to the city in all municipal elections listing business relationships, financial investments, and who they pay for political help or receive in-kind support from, as well as indicating who they support in elections."

"By March 31, 2025, the city should not agendize chartered officers' performance reviews on an ongoing basis, but set them annually or for specific situations which require notice by law."

"By March 31, 2025, the city should amend its policies and procedures to make all Form 700 filings available to the public online."

"By March 31, 2025, the city shall enact a policy that all employees of the mayors office are under the same mandated employment rules and laws as the rest of the city staff."

Report found multiple Brown Act violations by city council members

In regards to Brown Act violations, the grand jury said it found:

"There have been multiple and continued Brown Act violations regarding the release of confidential discussions that occurred during council closed sessions."

"Violation of closed session confidentiality leaves the council unable to carry out their responsibilities in the best interests of the public because they are not able to have free and open discussions due to the atmosphere of distrust."

"The city council lacks rules preventing the use of any electronic communication devices during closed sessions."

"There is a lack of transparency concerning Brown Act violation investigation findings that have been funded by citizen tax dollars."

"The use of official city stationery by an individual council member misleads the public to believe the content reflects an official city position . "

"The council has received training regarding the Brown Act, but some members have demonstrated open disregard for that training."

"The Brown Act includes provisions to assess penalties for violations by the city council. The public has received no information that any penalties have been assessed."

New city ordinances, council policies recommended

In regards to Brown Act violations, the grand jury said it is recommending:

"By March 31, 2025, the city should amend its closed session policies and procedures to minimize the risk of revealing confidential information. There should be a requirement that no phone, electronic communication or recording devices be allowed in the room when it is a closed session. Additionally, each attendee should sign a pledge of secrecy on entering each meeting as an immediate and continual reminder that the rules of the Brown Act apply."

"By March 31, 2025, the city should develop a city ordinance regarding Brown Act violators that includes an impartial process for determining whether the Brown Act confidentiality requirement related to closed session has been violated and appropriate sanctions for the violator, including but not limited to, mandatory public censure and removal from committees and commissions."

"By March 31, 2025, the city should enact a policy that all findings of Brown Act violations investigations must be released to the civil grand jury within seven days of receipt by the council."

"By March 31, 2025, the city should amend their policies and procedures regarding the use of city stationary."

Additionally, the grand jury found that the confidentiality of a hotline city employees use to report instances of fraud, waste, and abuse has been "compromised." It is recommending that by March 31, 2025, the city hire an independent third party to investigate the reporting process "to regain employee and public trust in the system."

Record reporter Hannah Workman covers news in Stockton and San Joaquin County. She can be reached at hworkman@recordnet.com or on Twitter @byhannahworkman. Support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record at https://www.recordnet.com/subscribenow.

This article originally appeared on The Record: San Joaquin Grand Jury warns of a crisis in Stockton's city government
(FOX40.COM)  A 30-year-old man was arrested after allegedly stealing over $1200 worth of merchandise from a Northern California Safeway and leading police on a high-speed pursuit.

Around 3 p.m. on June 9, the Folsom Police Department said it received a call about a theft from the Safeway on Prairie City Road in Folsom. The caller reported they saw the suspect load a cart full of items and leave the store without paying for them. They provided a description of the suspect and vehicle: a black Toyota headed toward US Highway 50.

NBA star spotted playing pickup game at Folsom gym

Additionally, the caller provided dispatchers with a license plate number, according to FPD. An officer responded to westbound US Highway 50 and located a vehicle with the same license plate number being driven by a driver who matched the suspects description. Police said the vehicle was traveling at high speed and weaving in and out of traffic.

An officer attempted to pull the vehicle over, however, the vehicle exited US Highway 50 at Zinfandel Drive and continued to drive dangerously onto Olson Drive, according to FPD. Video recorded by FPD shows the pursuit in part. Eventually, the vehicle turned into a parking lot on the 11000 Block of Olson Drive and surrendered.

FPD said Eric Kephart of Elk Grove was arrested for alleged grand theft and evading a police officer. He was booked at Sacramento County Jail and all items were returned to Safeway.

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Karl and Carol Moody planned to spend retirement living on the water in Grande Lagoon, a subdivision in southwest Escambia County. In 2011, they finished building their home and for most of the next decade enjoyed it.

Then their dream soured.

It has been a nightmare, Karl Moody said. We've been dealing with this for a long time. We actually moved out in very late 2019, so the engineers could take the house apart and see what the heck is going on here.

Moody says what engineers and experts found was a house that was structurally unsound and didnt meet Florida code. Its a SIPs house, meaning it was built with structural insulated panels that are meant to be energy efficient and more green than other materials. Only, the SIPs floor panels had not been properly sealed together, which allowed moisture to get in and rot the floors, Moody said.

Because we're on the intracoastal, we're built up on pilings, and the floors, over time, disintegrated. We began to see stains on the wood and tile floors, then it started cracking, he described. Tiles started popping up, and then our islands sank because it's collapsing down on itself. Carol put an egg on our (kitchen) island one day, and it rolled off, and we're like, Whoa, what is going on here?

Grande Lagoon: Neighborhood hit by Sally struggles in aftermath of powerful storm surge

The Moodys say they initially worked with the general contractor they hired to build their house, Halley Lovato with custom home design/build firm Highpointe DBR, to fix the problems. What they found, they said, was that he was the source of the issues. The Moodys said through a series of administrative mistakes, lack of oversight and shoddy work construction, problems were missed or ignored and the house fell apart, including roof, window and door leaks due to bad framing.

The house also took a hit from Hurricane Sally in 2020. Moody said the damage was worse than it should have been because of the construction problems.

Karl and Carol Moody recently sold their Grand Lagoon home for just about lot price instead of tearing it down. The Moodys settled a civil lawsuit against the builder, Highpointe DBR, but are seeking further action by the Contractor Competency Board so others can be warned.

Messages left with Highpointe DBR seeking comment from Lovato have not been returned.

The Moodys took their complaints to the Escambia County Contractors Competency Board and the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR). Karl Moody said he was surprised when both entities told him that a civil lawsuit would be the best way to hold the builder accountable and county and state options to address it are limited.

The county contractor competency board said they would schedule a hearing to determine probable cause for his complaint after a civil suit was settled. The DBPR said there was little they could do.

The matter you described appears to be civil in nature and does not fall within our statutory jurisdiction. Therefore, we are unable to take further action, Anissa McDuffie-Henry with the DBPRs Division of Regulation wrote in response to the Moodys' complaint.

The Moodys did file and recently settled a civil action against Lovato over the poor construction of their home. During the litigation, Moody said he found that at the time Lovato built their house he wasnt licensed with the state or county, but legally qualified to build the house under another persons license.

He also said there were other issues, like subcontractors working without contracts and Lovato not pulling a permit for repairs that were made before the seriousness of the problems were discovered, not to mention the condition of his home was so bad, he and his wife moved out for good.

Moody said because of the extent of the issues they experienced he is still pushing his complaint against Lovato with the Escambia County Contractor Competency Board because he wants a public record with the county of what he and his wife went through so others will have that information.

Now that the civil litigation is settled, the competency board held a hearing on Moodys complaint during their June 5 meeting. The board determined there was probable cause that Lovato had done work on the house without pulling a permit and they scheduled a disciplinary hearing on the matter.

Moody said he feels its like a slap on the wrist in light of the extent of the construction problems he and his wife have faced and doesnt understand why more cant be done.

We're beyond upset, Moody said. The house they delivered did not meet Florida code. I have an engineers certified statement saying that, is that not a violation?

According to Escambia Contractor Competency Board member Alton Lister, theres not much the county can do because Lovato never pulled a permit.

If you don't have a permit, we can't find you in violation of doing work that was wrong during the permit, Lister explained. The first step is you have to have a permit. If you don't have a permit, we can find you in violation of not having a permit, but if you do something wrong, that particular infraction just falls under the big infraction of you didn't get a permit to begin with, so you have to start there.

Lister said he understands the Moodys' frustration and said thats why the board points some people to settle complaints through civil court. Lister said Lovato can be fined for the county violation and that they will put information about what happened on the countys website so theres a public record for others looking for information on a contractor.

Thats a change that came about after local contractors Matthew Banks and Jesse LaCoste were arrested for allegedly bilking customers out of tens of thousands of dollars for work that was unfinished or never done at all.

We're very limited to the scope of what is given to us, Lister said. It's all based on county ordinances and the state Florida building code. We are here for the citizens of Escambia County, and I would say that this particular board is really trying to do its best to stand up for the citizens.

In the meantime, the Moodys have moved. They sold their house in Grande Lagoon for just above lot price. They now live in Montana, in another SIPs home they had built, but say there no issues.

Where I am now, we have a SIPs house out here, but only the walls, and that build went really well. We had an awesome builder, Moody said. I think people just need to know what kind of general contractor (Lovato) is. We dont want other people to go through what we went through.

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Escambia County Grand Lagoon home builder Highpointe DBR under fire
Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) is angling to be Donald Trump's running mate. One of his gambits has been to invent a silver lining to segregation. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)

Jim Crow was not the problem.

Jim Crow was meant to be the solution.

The problem was Rutherford B. Hayes winning the electoral college but losing the popular vote in 1876. To get over the hump  there was a filibuster contesting the results  Hayes agreed to remove federal troops from former Confederate states.

In short: The Reconstruction era wasnt ended because Black Americans had achieved equality. It was ended because Hayes wanted to be president.

Despite being a former Union soldier, he withdrew protection and offered up Black people to the whims of the Souths white supremacists who were still angry about losing the Civil War.

Read more: We must remember the heroes of the AIDS epidemic, not just the trauma

They werent going to be allowed to reinstate slavery. So thats where the solution came in. A set of segregationist laws, known as Jim Crow after a minstrel show character, were white Southerners best attempt to restore their former way of life. Back when everyone knew their place.

This arrangement worked out for Rutherford B. Hayes. Not for Black Southerners or for the country as a whole.

Read more: Granderson: Whose lives matter to Texas' governor?

Fast-forward a century and a half. The laws are long dead, and their harms still haunt us. If we can agree on anything as a nation, surely it would be that were better off without slavery or slavery lite.

So anyone who feels the need to downplay Jim Crow to gain acceptance from a crowd should probably reevaluate who they are trying to win over.

Last week, Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.), a Black Republican who wants to be Donald Trumps vice president, told voters : You see, during Jim Crow, the Black family was together. Referring to the agency that evolved into the Department of Health and Human Services, he continued: It was the Democrat policies under H.E.W., under the welfare state, that then helped to destroy the Black family.

He is trying to sell Trumpists on the idea that Black people were better off when more than half of us lived under the thumb of the KKK and in poverty .

Its bad enough that Donalds wants power so bad that hes willing to romanticize legislated Black oppression. But what are his chances of actually clawing his way upward? His run for House speaker was so short that Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene didnt have enough time to complain about him.

Apparently undeterred, Donalds is now trying to become Trumps pick for vice president by looking for Jim Crows silver lining. Those racist laws had no silver lining. Black families were suffering because of them. Whenever Black communities started to thrive too much, white supremacists were able to murder residents and burn down businesses without being held accountable  as happened in Tulsa, Wilmington, Atlanta

In 1919 a union made up of Black sharecroppers had formed to negotiate for better working conditions and pay. Their community in Arkansas was greeted by a racist mob hundreds strong, which left more than 200 Black people dead, including children. The mob abducted and tortured 12 men, forcing them into a false confession of insurrection when in fact they were just pursuing the American dream.

A case representing six of them (Moore vs. Dempsey) eventually reached the Supreme Court, which found in 1923 that they had been denied due process because a mob dominated their trial. The Arkansas governor commuted their death sentences to prison terms, and they were allowed parole in 1925.

They had committed no crime but spent six years incarcerated. More than 200 other members of their community committed no crime but were executed by a mob.

When current-day Black conservatives talk about the "Democrat plantation," I wonder whether they have a name for the one they live on. Because I do.

To suggest the Black community was better off after federal troops left the South, you have to ignore lynchings. To make the argument that Black people had it better during Jim Crow would require someone to overlook the fact that the authors of the laws had fought a war to keep Black people from being citizens.

In the decades following 1870, when the 15th Amendment gave Black men the right to vote, the Hayes administration did nothing as Southern states passed laws aimed at suppressing their voices. There were literacy tests that white southerners were exempt from. Poll taxes white people did not have to pay. Laws restricting where Black people could stand in public.

Even after the 19th Amendment finally gave women the right to vote in 1920, Jim Crow laws prevented many Black women from doing so.

So if someone like Donalds tries to tell you that Black people had it better during the Jim Crow days, remember this: Those laws were written to keep us in our place.

@LZGranderson

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Greek police deny having crucial Michael Mosley CCTV four days before he was found

CCTV footage of Dr Mosley before he apparently took a wrong turn, which shows him walking past a cafe in the village of Pedi - BBC

Greek police have denied they were in possession of CCTV footage showing Dr Michael Mosleys final movements four days before his body was found.

The doctor and broadcaster was missing for five days on the Greek island of Symi after going for a hike alone, without his phone and with only a small bottle of water.

A Greek news website claimed the Hellenic Police force had footage placing Dr Mosley in the same location his body was later discovered days before he was found.

The clip, which was filmed from a bar near where the 67-year-olds body was discovered, is said to have been handed to police on Wednesday.

The clip is described by The Sun as grainy footage in which Dr Mosley is seen struggling on the rocky terrain.

He is apparently seen walking towards the wall between the hills and beach, before sinking to the ground in the spot he was eventually found.

Live News, a local media site, reported that the owner of a beach bar handed the CCTV in to authorities.

A police officer said the body was hard to identify in the footage as it appeared as a small dot, according to Live News.

Hellenic Police confirmed the force had seen the footage but claimed it was given to them after Dr Mosley was found.

The TV doctor is believed to have died of heat exhaustion after losing consciousness while walking in 40C temperatures, Greek police said.

An examination, based on CCTV footage and forensic evidence, suggests he died of natural causes, The Telegraph understands.

Police have ruled out foul play or criminality, according to sources.

Officers are now investigating the footage that appears to show Dr Mosley disappearing from view as he makes his way down a hillside, close to where his body was later found on the island of Symi.

Dr Mosley sat down before losing consciousness only yards away from safety, interim findings from a coroner found.

He was found 50 yards away from the resort on Sunday morning, five days after his wife reported him missing.

Issuing a statement on Monday, local police said: The Headquarters of the Hellenic Police announces that todays TV report, which refers to possession and non-utilization by the Hellenic Police, does not correspond to reality.

The reality is that the video material came into the possession of the Greek Police after [Michael Mosleys] body was found. It is emphasised that the preliminary investigation material so far does not show that the British presenter fell from a height.

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The Anne Arundel County Circuit Courthouse in Annapolis. Photo by Bryan P. Sears.

Jasmine M. Jackson, a longtime employee in the Anne Arundel County Register of Wills office, was sworn in Tuesday to run the office that was considered vacated after former Register of Wills Erica Griswold pleaded guilty last week to misconduct in office.

The change in leaders came exactly one week after the first-term Griswold, 51, pleaded guilty after being charged in January with cashing a $6,645 check to her office that was intended to pay estate taxes.

Anne Arundel County Orphans Court Chief Judge Vickie Gipson said the Attorney Generals Office advised court officials that the guilty plea triggered a provision in the state constitution that made the office vacant. Gipson said the orphans court is responsible for filling the vacancy and we acted accordingly.

With all of the confusion that was going on with the previous situation, we were concerned about having some consistency within the office. Shes very well respected, Gipson said of Jackson. She has over 16 years of experience with the office, so she understood how previous administrations had run things, and how the issues that might have arisen during the current administration.

Overall, we just thought that she was an excellent candidate. And as a chief auditor, she pretty much knows almost everything you need to know, as far as probate law in the state of Maryland, the judge said.

Jackson was sworn in late Tuesday morning. The Register of Wills Office did not make her available for comment. Griswold, in a statement posted by WBAL, extended her sincere apologies to my constituents, my colleagues, my staff, and my family.

Anne Arundel County Register of Wills Erica Griswold. Photo courtesy maryland.gov.

Last week, I decided that the best way forward was to accept a plea deal regarding the charge of misconduct in office, her statement said. While I humbly take full accountability for my actions, I want to assure everyone that my intentions were never to deceive or misuse public funds.

Griswold is scheduled to be sentenced July 18 in Anne Arundel County Circuit Court. At her plea hearing, prosecutors asked for 18 months suspended jail time, three years of supervised probation and 50 hours of community service.

Her attorney, Peter ONeill, said at the time that Griswold plans to have completed her community service before sentencing, which could lead to her probation being unsupervised, and he said she has already made restitution. ONeill also said he plans to offer substantial mitigation on behalf of Griswold at sentencing.

Griswold was elected in November 2022 and sworn in a month later as register of wills for Anne Arundel County, a position that pays more than $146,000 annually. The office is a state agency responsible for overseeing estates and ensuring proper taxes are collected. Tax payments to the office are typically made out to either the office or in the name of the register of wills.

Griswold was charged in January with three counts related to the alleged theft of an inheritance tax payment. The charges included misconduct in office; theft by a fiduciary; and theft of more than $1,500 and less than $25,000.

They stemmed from an incident in her office in June 2022, when an employee came to Griswold seeking guidance on a $6,645 estate payment check that arrived without an invoice. Rather than search office records to find the proper destination for the check, Griswold told the employee she had been expecting the check and took it. Six days later, Griswold cashed the check at Chase Bank on Forest Drive in Annapolis and kept the cash for her personal use, according to a statement of facts at her plea hearing.

Griswold repaid the $6,645 on Feb. 23, 2023, about one month after criminal charges were filed, the statement said.

Even though the register of wills office was vacated last week by the guilty plea, Gipson said court officials moved quickly to choose a replacement.

We were trying to act expeditiously in consideration for how destabilizing that situation could be, and we wanted to make sure that the interest of the citizens of Maryland were protected by having a register put in place who could fully function in that position, said Gipson.

We are hopeful and expect to have good things come from the new register and look forward to working with her, she said.

The post Griswold out as Anne Arundel Register of Wills after pleading guilty to misconduct appeared first on Maryland Matters.
A Guatemalan national has been arrested and charged with raping a child in Massachusetts, federal authorities said Tuesday.

Yader Alexander Morales-Quevedo, 24, of Guatemala, was arrested by deportation officers in New Bedford on May 28, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said in a statement on Monday. He will remain in federal custody pending the outcome of his removal proceedings.

Morales-Quevedo is accused of raping a minor in Bristol County.

He unlawfully entered the United States on an unknown date at an unknown location, and without being inspected, admitted or paroled by a U.S. immigration official, federal authorities said.

Yader Alexander Morales-Quevedo will have his day in court, but he is facing some very serious charges, Enforcement and Removal Boston Field Office Director Todd Lyons said in a statement. He posed a significant threat to the children in our Massachusetts communities. ERO Boston will continue to prioritize public safety by arresting and removing egregious noncitizen offenders from our New England neighborhoods.

Morales-Quevedo was arraigned on child rape charges in New Bedford District Court on Aug. 30, 2022. The court later upgraded the charges, and he was arraigned in Bristol County Superior Court on Jan. 3, 2023 on charges of rape of a child and for child in nude, lascivious pose/exhibit, officials said.

To report crimes or suspicious activity regarding child sex offenders, call the ICE Tip Line at 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or complete the online tip form.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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Wang Yi attends BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting

Xinhua) 08:18, June 11, 2024

NIZHNY NOVGOROD, Russia, June 10 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Monday attended the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting in the Russian city of Nizhny Novgorod.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, noted that over the past year, BRICS cooperation has been remarkable, rapid and strong.

Following BRICS' expansion, a new era for the Global South to gain strength through unity has come, and the appeal and attractiveness of BRICS has been continuously increasing, he said.

Noting rampant politicization and securitization of economic issues and increasing unilateral sanctions and technological barriers in today's world, Wang called on the participants to follow the trend of history, stand on the side of fairness and justice, and make the right choices.

Looking ahead, the greater BRICS must take greater responsibilities and actions, Wang said, adding that the strategic significance and political effects of the greater BRICS should be fully leveraged to make BRICS a new type of multilateral cooperation mechanism based on emerging markets and developing countries, and open and inclusive to the world.

Wang called for strengthening confidence in multilateralism to draw a new blueprint for future global development; firmly toughening the determination to maintain peace and security to offer new support for the political resolution of hotspot issues; and staying committed to the BRICS original aspiration of openness, inclusiveness, and win-win cooperation to elevate pragmatic cooperation to new heights.

The participants exchanged views in depth on BRICS cooperation and international and regional hot issues. All parties spoke highly of the important role of the BRICS mechanism and the achievements of its membership expansion. They agreed that the accession of more countries to BRICS has accelerated the process of world multi-polarization, and promoted a more just and equitable international order. They also voiced support for the establishment of partner countries.

All parties called for adherence to multilateralism, opposition to unilateralism and protectionism, promoting reform of the international financial architecture, enhancing and improving global governance, and increasing the voice and representation of developing countries.

All parties emphasized resolving disputes peacefully through dialogue and consultations, and supporting all efforts conducive to the peaceful resolution of crises.

A joint statement of BRICS foreign ministers was issued following the meeting.

During the meeting, Wang met separately with Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira, South African Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor, Ethiopian Foreign Minister Taye Atskeselassie, and Iranian Acting Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Fatime Letifova

On June 10, the Azerbaijan Defense Minister, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov met with the Minister of Defense of Georgia, Mr. Irakli Chikovani, who is on an official visit to Azerbaijan, Azernews reports.

The delegation first visited the graves of the National Leader Heydar Aliyev and prominent ophthalmologist, academician Zarifa Aliyeva in the Alley of Honor and laid flowers. In the Alley of Shehids (Martyrs) the visitors laid flowers at the graves of Shehids, who sacrificed their lives for the independence and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. Wreath was laid at the Eternal Flame monument.

Then, the Azerbaijan Defense Ministry hosted a solemn welcoming ceremony, the Ministers passed along the guard of honor. The national anthems of Azerbaijan and Georgia were performed. In accordance with the protocol, the Georgian Minister signed the Book of Honor.

Colonel General Z.Hasanov greeted the Georgian delegation and expressed satisfaction with seeing him in Azerbaijan. The Defense Minister noted that there is traditional friendship and mutual trust between the two nations. The Minister emphasized the positive impact of the sincere relations between the two heads of state on joint cooperation.

Speaking about the work in the liberated territories done after the Patriotic War, the Minister stressed that more than 12 percent of Azerbaijans territory is covered with mines. It was noted that as a result of the explosion of mines, 361 civilians and servicemen were wounded, 68 of them died.

Colonel General Z.Hasanov noted that relations established on the basis of strategic partnership with Georgia are developing and rising. The Minister noted that Azerbaijan and Georgia are planning to conduct a total of 21 joint events in the military sphere throughout 2024.

The Defense Minister invited his Georgian counterpart to the 5th Azerbaijan International Defence Exhibition ADEX to be held in Baku in September this year.

Expressing his satisfaction with his first visit to Azerbaijan as the Defense Minister and Vice Prime Minister, Mr. I.Chikovani expressed his gratitude for the sincere reception and hospitality. He noted the importance of holding such meetings in the development of existing relations between Azerbaijan and Georgia and the expansion of relations.

The Minister of Defense of Georgia emphasized that restoration of territorial integrity of Azerbaijan is very important for Georgia as well.

The meeting emphasized importance of increasing the intensity of joint exercises. It was noted that the Eternity computer-assisted Command and Staff Exercises and Caucasian Eagle exercise held in a tripartite format contribute to the development of friendly relations between military personnel, and at the same time provide an opportunity for mutual experience exchange.

The sides expressed confidence that defense cooperation between Azerbaijan and Georgia will contribute to ensuring peace and stability in the region.

The meeting of the Defense Ministers discussed the prospects for the development of cooperation in the military, military-educational fields, regional security and other issues of mutual interest.
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, June 11. Uzbekistan Airports and Italy's EU Wings signed an agreement on cooperation, Trend reports.

According to Uzbekistan Airports, the Italian EU Wings Srl company will perform line maintenance on airplanes at Uzbekistan's international airports of Tashkent, Bukhara, Navoi, Urgench, Namangan, and Fergana. Among the aircraft types the company will service are the are the Airbus 319, 320, 321, 330, Boeing 737, 767, 777, 787, Embraer RJ 170/190, and ATR 42/72.

Within the framework of the agreement, EU Wings will provide maintenance services at Uzbekistan's airports in accordance with the airlines' requirements. This will create favorable conditions for attracting new foreign air carriers to the airports of Uzbekistan, as well as provide an opportunity to organize additional jobs.

Meanwhile, Uzbekistan Airports and EU Wings started cooperation on March 26 of this year. Within the framework of the MRO Central Asia conference and exhibition on repair and maintenance held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan Airports and EU Wings signed a memorandum of understanding.
Rochester police officers shattered Marvin Taylor's car window after he refused to exit the vehicle during a traffic stop. Taylor said he did not get out of his car because an officer approached with his gun drawn and refused to tell him why he was being stopped.

A Rochester police officer approached a routine traffic stop last month with his gun drawn. Minutes later, the cop shattered the mans car window.

Marvin Taylor said police would not say why they pulled him over.

The 22-year-old Black man left the May 7 incident with two traffic tickets, an obstruction of governmental administration charge and a reported sprained shoulder after police dragged him from the car and restrained him on the pavement.

Rochester police released body-worn camera footage from the traffic stop on Tuesday  a week after Taylor uploaded a short cellphone video clip of the incident to social media.

Motorist says police wouldn't explain why they stopped him

In a press release, RPD said the officers saw Taylor driving with an expired inspection sticker on Morrill Street. As they began to run his license plates, the officers said Taylor turned onto Remington Street and Dale Street without using his turn signal.

Police claim Taylor failed to immediately stop for the officers near the intersection of Remington and Dale. However, it is not clear that Taylor significantly delayed pulling over after making his full turn onto Dale Street. The addresses given by police show the man pulled over less than a block away  about 10 houses or less  from where they initiated the stop.

The car apparently traveled less than 500 feet after making the turn they said he didn't signal. And Taylor was not charged with eluding police.

Police said they broke his window and pulled him out of the car because Taylor ignored their orders to roll down his rear windows, which were tinted, and step out of the vehicle.

Taylor said he just wanted to understand why he was stopped. He was almost home; he lives nearby.

I feel like it was just motivated by power, he said in an interview last week. They just want to be in charge. When I didnt want to get out of the car, that triggered them.

More: Two traffic stops, two outcomes: Comparing Doorley and Taylor incidents

Body-worn camera shows how traffic stop on Dale Street escalated

The body-worn camera footage starts with two police officers approaching Taylors car, one on each side. One of the officers  on the drivers side of the car  came with his gun drawn.

That officer immediately orders Taylor to roll down his back windows. The other officer explains they cant see inside his car.

Taylor responds by asking why the first officer has pulled out his gun.

Because you werent pulling over, the officer says. Roll down your back window now.

Marvin Taylor recoils in his seat after Rochester police officers break his car window during a May 7 traffic stop. Police said Taylor refused to roll down his windows or exit the car. Taylor said police never told him why he was pulled over.

Taylor refuses and asks several times why he was pulled over. Neither officer provides reasoning for the traffic stop. Both order Taylor to get out of the car.

When he refuses and again asks why, the first officer says, Because I said so. Because youre not complying with me  Im not explaining anything else.

The back-and-forth lasts about two minutes.

Related Story: Caught on Camera: DA Sandra Doorley defies police orders in traffic stop

Smashing glass and a baseless claim about drugs?

After warning Taylor that he would break his window for access, the first officer does just that  smashing the glass toward the man and unlocking his car while other responding officers drag him to the pavement.

Video shows Taylor screaming for help.

Bro, you got drugs on you, an officer says to him. Taylor denies that and though police search his car, illicit drugs are not found. Police have not levied any drug charges.

Later video shows a police lieutenant asked Taylor why he did not comply with the officers commands.

He wasnt trying to give no reason, Taylor said. Why would I just get out?  Because he had a gun. Thats the reason why (I didnt). Why would I roll down my window if he got a gun out? My window was cracked.

You dont understand, bro, he continued. Im not even trying to be funny though, but youre not a Black man. I get pulled over almost like every other day.

Police released Taylor with an obstruction of governmental administration charge and two tickets for the expired inspection and failure to use a turn signal.

Marvin Taylor: 'The situation was not supposed to play out like that'

RPD said the incident is under review, but in a statement, the agency shifted blame to Taylor.

Our officers are tasked with doing an incredibly dangerous job on a daily basis, Chief David Smith said. Situations, like these, in which a motorist refuses a reasonable direction to lower the windows creates an unsafe situation for everyone involved. Cooperation from the motorist would easily have prevented this incident from escalating.

Taylor said the traffic stop stained his reputation.

He does not have a criminal record. But because of the obstruction of governmental administration charge, he had to go to court. Get fingerprinted. Stand for a mugshot.

I feel like, what was the purpose of this? he said. I feel like they wanted me to be in the system. The situation was not supposed to play out like that.

 Kayla Canne reports on community justice and safety efforts for the Democrat and Chronicle. Follow her on Twitter @kaylacanne and @bykaylacanne on Instagram. Get in touch at kcanne@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Body-worn camera footage shows how Rochester NY traffic stop escalated
South Koreas military fired warning shots when a group of around 20 North Korean soldiers crossed the nations land border over the weekend, Seouls Joint Chiefs of Staff said Tuesday.

The northern troops crossed the military demarcation line inside the DMZ separating the two countries at around 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, according to a JCS spokesman. The breach took place amid heightened tensions between the two countries over the waves of balloons carrying trash and excrement which Kim Jong Uns regime has floated southwards over the border.

North Korean Filth Balloons Blow Up Peace Deal With the South

JCS spokesperson Colonel Lee Sung-jun said Seoul did not consider the incursion to be intentional because the soldiers immediately headed north after the warning shots. He also said the current dense foliage inside the DMZ can make the demarcation line difficult to see, according to the Yonhap News Agency.

The agency also reported that an unnamed JCS official said the North Korean troops were carrying pickaxes and other tools and may have inadvertently lost their way inside the DMZ.

It comes after South Korea resumed loudspeaker broadcasts of anti-Pyongyang propaganda along the border for the first time in years. Seoul resurrected the practice as part of its retaliation to the more than 1,000 trash balloons floated into the South in recent weeks.

North Korea says it started sending the balloons in response to the activists in the South who have themselves used balloons to send propaganda leaflets denouncing Kims rule into his tightly controlled country.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Guns, deepfakes and occupancy limits: 16 new Colorado laws go into effect in July

DENVER (KDVR)  Hundreds of bills were passed and signed into law during the 2024 Colorado legislative session, and over a dozen of these will go into effect on July 1.

The new laws range from a ban on residential occupancy limits to a ban on carrying guns in certain areas.

Apple, Samsung must let customers repair their own phones under new Colorado law

FOX31 has compiled a list of all the new laws going into effect soon.

Occupancy limits

House Bill 24-1007, Prohibit Residential Occupancy Limits, stops local governments from enforcing occupancy limits in most situations.

This removes a decades-old law limiting how many members of different families can live together under one roof.

Gender-related crimes

Senate Bill 24-189, Gender-Related Bias-Motivated Crimes, adds gender identity and gender expression to the definition of what qualifies for a bias-motivated crime.

It also redefines sexual orientation when it comes to bias-motivated crimes.

Guns in sensitive spaces

Senate Bill 24-131, Prohibiting Carrying Firearms in Sensitive Spaces, bans people from carrying firearms in certain places.

What new gun laws passed in Colorado this year?

Specifically, it prohibits people from knowingly carrying firearms in state legislative buildings, local government buildings and courthouses. The ban also extends to the parking lots of these spaces.

Deepfakes of candidates for office

House Bill 24-1147, Candidate Election Deepfake Disclosures, requires the disclosure of the use of deepfakes, or fake images of other people created using artificial intelligence, in ads and other communications related to elections.

For example, if one candidate wanted to use a deepfake image or video of another candidate, they would have to disclose that.

False slates of presidential electors

House Bill 24-1150, False Slates of Electors, makes it an explicit crime to falsely create a slate of presidential electors or serve in a false slate of electors.

This would apply to five existing crimes, each of which is punishable by a maximum fine of $10,000.

Protecting victims of sexual offenses

House Bill 24-1072, Protection of Victims of Sexual Offenses, changes what evidence is allowed about alleged victims of sexual assault during criminal proceedings.

$100K settlement for mom who called 911 for help, got punched instead

Specifically, it prohibits any evidence of the victims manner of dress or hairstyle, among other things.

Other laws

Ten other laws are going into effect:

The next group of laws passed during this years legislative session will go into effect on Aug. 7.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Jordan's King Abdullah (R) meets with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi on the sidelines of the "Call for Action: Urgent Humanitarian Response for Gaza" Conference. The conference is organized by Jordan, Egypt and the UN. It aims to find ways in which the international community can respond more effectively to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Chris Setian/Royal Hashemite Court RHC/dpa

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has urged all parties involved in the war in Gaza to reach a ceasefire agreement.

"The horror must stop, it's high time for a ceasefire along with unconditional release of hostages," he told a humanitarian aid conference for the Gaza Strip held by the Dead Sea in Jordan.

"I urge all parties to seize this opportunity and come to an agreement," Guterres added.

"The speed and scale of carnage and killing in Gaza is beyond anything in my years as Secretary General," he said. "Nowhere is safe, conditions are deplorable."

The conference is organized by Jordan, Egypt and the UN. It aims to find ways in which the international community can respond more effectively to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Jordan's King Abdullah (L) meets with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on the sidelines of the "Call for Action: Urgent Humanitarian Response for Gaza" Conference. The conference is organized by Jordan, Egypt and the UN. It aims to find ways in which the international community can respond more effectively to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Chris Setian/Royal Hashemite Court RHC/dpa

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres speaks during a press conference at the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip. Gehad Hamdy/dpa
People wait to receive a meal from the World Food Program in Port-au-Prince, Haiti - ORLANDO BARRIA/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Waves of hunger are flooding the streets of Haiti. Sometimes I ask people for a bite when I see them eating. But they humiliate me, said Heugenie.

The 70-year-old made her living selling vegetables on the side of the street, until her stall was destroyed by the lawless gangs that roam the capital Port-au-Prince.

Now, she has no choice but to beg for scraps, along with thousands of others who shelter displacement camps that have been erected across the capital.

I had my work before, but the gangs forced me out. Now Im living in this situation that makes me cry now I have nothing.

Amid the security crisis, the poorest nation in the Americas is on the brink of famine as it battles the worst levels of food insecurity on record.

Nearly half the population  5 million people  in Haiti are acutely food insecure, of which 1.6 million are classified as facing emergency food insecurity conditions, says the World Food Programme (WFP).

Jean-Martin Bauer, the Haiti country director for WFP, said that the crisis had reached boiling point.

These are the highest numbers weve had since the 2010 earthquake, he added. This problem has snowballed over recent years, its been under the radar.

Haitis rampant levels of food insecurity are among the highest in the world, with the incidence of hunger tripling since 2016.

In its latest Hunger Hotspots report, published last week, the UNs Food and Agriculture Organisation said there was urgent need for assistance to prevent starvation in 18 countries including Gaza, Sudan and Haiti.

Pedestrians walk past a dead body, wrapped in plastic and dumped in the street  a daily reminder of the gang violence - Orlando Barria/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Haiti is no stranger to instability and has suffered a litany of recent crises. Following the assassination of the President in 2021 and an earthquake five weeks later, civic order completely broke down with the country falling into gang law.

Businesses, hospitals, schools, government buildings and police stations have all been ransacked. Safe access to the countrys main import terminals have also been severed, bringing the countrys supply chains to a halt.

Mr Bauer said that the capital city Port-au-Prince is now experiencing levels of malnutrition that are typically only experienced in war zones. The price of a food basket in the city is up 27 per cent since January, according to the WFP, with residents forced to skip meals.

When you have violence at this scale, everything shuts down. If people are not able to work, they will not have any food to eat, its that simple, said Bauer.

Ive always been used to seeing high rates of malnutrition in remote, isolated areas, he added. But here in Haiti, the highest rates of global acute malnutrition are in the capital and this was before any of this happened.

A worker from the World Food Program prepares meals for refugees in Port-au-Prince - ORLANDO BARRIA/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Haiti has been facing very high levels of hunger for years, with over 4 million people experiencing acute food insecurity since 2020, said Bauer.

Just two years ago, the United Nations warned that 20,000 people in one of Haitis biggest slums  the capitals impoverished Cite Soleil  were facing famine, or catastrophic levels of hunger, meaning that residents could face death from starvation.

Margherita Fanchiotti, Director of Program Development, Quality and Impact at Save the Children International, said that if the current situation continues to deteriorate, it may end up being far more widespread than it was at the end of 2022.

The root of Haitis hunger crisis can be traced back to the 1980s, when the United States imposed sweeping economic reforms that stripped the country of its agricultural self-sufficiency, and fostered a near total reliance on US food imports, say experts.

Imports now make up 80 per cent of the rice that Haiti consumes, with consumer prices for major food products 30 to 77 per cent higher than in the surrounding Latin America and Caribbean region, according to the WFP.

World Food Program employees prepare meals for delivery to camps, where thousands of families await food - ORLANDO BARRIA/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Haitis existing poor agricultural performance has been further aggravated by gangs extending their web of control across agricultural areas in the north, particularly the Artibonite, known as the bread basket of Haiti.

The insurgents have attacked irrigation systems, stolen crops and demanded taxes for farmers to access fields, displacing tens of thousands of people and causing a devastating impact on access to critical basic food supply.

Around 3,000 hectares of the Artibonites farmland was abandoned in 2023, according to WFP estimates.

I met market women in [the Artibonite] who told me that they were being racketeered, kidnapped and sometimes even raped by members of the armed groups in that area, said Mr Bauer.

As a result, youve got towns in this part of Haiti where food is rotting because it cant be taken to marketersand then youll find hospitals with children suffering from acute malnutrition.

Port-au-Princes international airport reopened in mid-May after nearly three months of closure, creating optimism that aid could begin to flow more freely throughout the country.

Right now, weve been able to use the containers that we placed in Port-au-Prince ahead of the crisis, but those have been running low, said Mr Bauer. Things are tentative.

Haitians wait to receive food donations at the Isidor Jean Louis College, which has been turned into a community kitchen - ORLANDO BARRIA/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Over a two-week period in May, the WFP managed to distribute 615 metric tons of rice, beans, and vegetable oil to nearly 93,000 people in Cite Soleil. A small win in what often appears to be an overwhelming situation.

But Mr Bauer warned that theres still a high level of insecurityits not as though the skies have cleared.

Dr Reginald Fils-Aime, director of strategic planning at Zanmi Lasante, Haitis largest healthcare provider outside of the government, said that the dysfunctionality of the breakdown of many state institutions has made this the worst situation that he has seen in [his] lifetime in Haiti.

The scale of the situation and the inability of the law and order forces to respond has never lasted so long. This duration now is unique, said Dr Fils-Aime.

Severe shortage of food isnt the only emergency in the capital, with the gangs also destroying much of Haitis health system, including warehouses and pharmacies.

Hospital are currently facing pressure due to the closure of other health services - Orlando Barria/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

The shortages have impacted the hospitals, where around 40 per cent of medical staff have been forced to leave the country due to the extreme levels of insecurity and violence.

Jean-Baptiste Marion, Head of Mission at Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) in Haiti, said hospitals are lacking critical medical equipment, including trauma kits.

Mr Marion said his team in the capital may soon have to close their operating theatre. Were working on a week to week basis, he told The Telegraph.

He said that a priority should be to put more emphasis on restoring basic public services across the capital, such as drinking water, sanitation and garbage collection.

Only addressing the security issue will not be successful if they dont also address the infrastructure, said Marion. The complete water distribution system of a city of 3.5 million people [metropolitan Port-au-Prince] is not working.

Ms Fanchiotti said that creating humanitarian corridors for aid remained a priority.

To make sure that we can provide not only medicine, medical equipment, but also to transport staff and patients, she said. Because the roads arent safe, it means that people suffering with chronic diseases cant reach the hospitals.

Deteriorating security has all but stopped public services, like waste collection - Orlando Barria/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

It is not just the capital where life is perilous.

The rural south of the country has effectively been cut off by armed gangs which run kidnap and extortion rackets.

The south is isolated from Port au Prince, said Mr Bauer. He added The issue has been compounded by the waves of displaced families that have fled to the rural south.

More than 100,000 were forced to flee their homes in Port-au-Prince in the month of March alone, according to UN migration agency IOM.

This is a concern for us because the South is already an area with elevated levels of food insecurity, said Mr Bauer.

Nadesha Mijoba, Country Director at Haitian Health Foundation (HHF)  based in Jeremie, the capital of the Grand-Anse department and one of the poorest areas in the country said that the people in the rural villages across the south have lost hope and faith in their political leaders.

She said humanitarian corridors were desperately needed to allow the flow of aid directly to the south.

This is what conflict does to a country, said Mr Bauer. Hunger is an outcome of the problems Haiti is facing, but its also the cause of it.

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U.N. backs ceasefire: Yesterday, the United Nations Security Council threw its support behind a U.S.-brokered ceasefire deal. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reportedly said behind closed doors that he would support this ceasefire, though he has publicly made noises that contradict that commitment. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken says the ceasefire agreement "is down to one person"meaning Yahya Sinwar, Hamas' leader.

As I wrote in Roundup last week, the plan has three phases. "The first, which would last for six weeks, would include a 'full and complete ceasefire' as well as total withdrawal of Israeli forces from populated areas of Gaza and the release of many hostages taken by Hamaswomen, the elderlyin exchange for 'hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.' Phase two would involve negotiations between Israel and Hamas, but also the release of all remaining hostages and the total withdrawal of Israeli forces. The temporary ceasefire would be made permanent. Phase three would involve rebuilding the Gaza Strip."

The ceasefire was approved by 14 of the 15 Security Council member states, with Russia abstaining. The U.S. had rejected three previous ceasefire plans that ended up before the Council. This current draft, which Israel may find fault with as it may leave too much of Hamas intact, also rejects "any attempt at demographic or territorial change in the Gaza Strip, including any actions that reduce the territory of Gaza."

"We will continue until all of the hostages are returned and Hamas's military capabilities are dismantled," said Israel's representative to the U.N., gesturing at the tension between the ceasefire plan and her country's post-October 7 aims.

Human shields: "Following the Israeli rescue of four hostages in Gaza on Saturday, Israel's military said that three of them had been held in the home of a member of Hamas, which it said showed that the armed group was using civilian homes to shield its activity," reports The New York Times.

Now, international observers have been attempting to suss out what the raid's collateral damage looks like. Gaza's health ministry, which is controlled by Hamas, claims 274 people were killed by Israel as they extracted hostages. The Israel Defense Forces says the death toll was a fraction of thataround 100but neither side has given a sense of the civilian-militant breakdown.

Scenes from New York: A man named Omar Khan, who claimed to be a wine expert and ingratiated himself to the oenophiles of New York City by hosting dinner parties (and asking for funds to host parties that never happened), has been sentenced to two years in federal prison for his role in defrauding his diners.

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"In many new apartments, even a space to put a table and chairs is absent. Eating is relegated to couches and bedrooms, and hosting a meal has become virtually impossible," writes Nolan Gray for The Atlantic. "This isn't simply a response to consumer preferences. The housing crisisand the arbitrary regulations that fuel itis killing off places to eat whether we like it or not, designing loneliness into American floor plans."

Eithan Haim "is facing a four-count federal felony indictment for blowing the whistle on Texas Children's Hospital, where he worked while a resident," reports The Free Press' Emily Yoffe. "At TCH, he discovered the hospital was secretly continuing gender transition treatments on minorsincluding hormonal intervention on patients as young as 11 years oldafter publicly declaring, in March of 2022, it would no longer provide such services."

Equity vs. truth at Wikipedia:

Was the outrage that followed after former Wiki CEO Katherine Maher went viral for saying that "our reverence for the truth might be a distraction" not enough? Because Wikipedia is doubling down. Your telos is either truth or equity. You can't be both equitable and truthful. pic.twitter.com/pGQ8LyAYoV  Melissa Chen (@MsMelChen) June 11, 2024

Apple and OpenAI announced a partnership yesterday, with ChatGPT/operating system integration coming later this year. "If Apple integrates OpenAI at the OS level, then Apple devices will be banned at my companies," Elon Musk wrote on X (formerly Twitter) in response to this news. "That is an unacceptable security violation."

Inside Ikea's labor force issues (and how the company turned things around).

The post Up to Hamas appeared first on Reason.com.
Hamas accepts UN ceasefire resolution, ready to negotiate over details, official says

CAIRO (Reuters) -Hamas accepts a UN Security Council ceasefire resolution and is ready to negotiate over the details, senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri told Reuters on Tuesday, adding that it was up to Washington to ensure that Israel abides by it.

Hamas accepts the UN security council resolution in regard to the ceasefire, withdrawal of Israeli troops and swap of hostages for detainees held by Israel, he said.

"The U.S. administration is facing a real test to carry out its commitments in compelling the occupation to immediately end the war in an implementation of the UN Security Council resolution," Abu Zuhri said.

(Reporting by Nidal Al MughrabiWriting by Tala RamadanEditing by Peter Graff)
Yahya Sinwar appears more interested in cementing his own position than securing peace in Gaza

The mastermind behind Hamass Oct 7 attacks on Israel is stalling ceasefire talks and using the mounting Palestinian death toll to his advantage, leaked messages show.

Correspondence between Yahya Sinwar, the terror groups military leader, and officials tasked with brokering a ceasefire with Qatari and Egyptian officials indicate he is more interested in securing his own future than peace.

We have the Israelis right where we want them, Sinwar said in one of dozens of messages to ceasefire negotiators obtained by The Wall Street Journal.

The messages display a calculated disregard for human life and a belief on the part of Sinwar that Israel has more to lose from the eight-month war than Hamas.

More than 37,000 people, mainly civilians, have been killed in Gaza since the start of the war, according to Hamas-controlled health authorities. The number of combatants killed remains unknown.

The messages revealed by The Wall Street Journal appear to support the view that Sinwar is willing to put his political objectives above the preservation of human lives.

In one message to Hamas leaders in Doha, he cites civilian losses in national-liberation conflicts in places such as Algeria, where hundreds of thousands of people died fighting for independence from France, saying, these are necessary sacrifices.

In a separate letter, sent on April 11 to Ismail Haniyeh, a Hamas political leader, whose three sons were killed in an Israeli air strike, Sinwar claimed their deaths and those of other Palestinians would infuse life into the veins of this nation, prompting it to rise to its glory and honour.

A recent analysis appears to show a decline in the rate of women and children being killed from more than 60 per cent in October to below 40 per cent in April, coinciding with a change in Israeli battlefield tactics.

However, the reported deaths of at least 274 Palestinians in the Nuseirat refugee camp during the rescue of four Israeli hostages on Saturday has fuelled international anger about Israels handling of the war and whether it is doing enough to protect civilians.

In response, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) condemned the cruel and cynical tactics of Hamass leadership to endanger the local population by hiding hostages among them.

On Tuesday, Hamas responded to a US-backed Israeli ceasefire proposal transmitted to Qatar two weeks ago which would first allow for a six-week truce to exchange some of the remaining 120 Israeli hostages for more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners.

A source said the terror groups response contained amendments to the Israeli proposal including a timeline for a permanent ceasefire and the complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Gaza Strip.

It is understood there is a split between the groups political leadership which would be open to the six-week truce and the military leadership which wants a full ceasefire.

The three-stage peace deal, which sets out a framework for the eventual release of all hostages, a permanent ceasefire and full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, has stalled over the terms of how to proceed after the first phase and bring an eventual end to the war.

The fine details of how the war ends could determine the political future of the Israeli and Hamas leadership and, for Sinwar, possibly his physical survival.

During a trip to Israel on Monday, Antony Blinken, the US secretary of state, urged top officials to accept and implement a plan for post-war Gaza. He also pushed for more international pressure on Hamas to agree to a ceasefire proposal.

My message to governments and people throughout the region is this: If you want to alleviate the terrible suffering in Gaza, to get all the hostages home, to put Israelis and Palestinians on the path to durable peace  then press Hamas to say yes to the ceasefire, he said in a statement on social media.

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TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, June 11. The Central Bank of Uzbekistan and Asian Development Bank (ADB) discussed the issues of fact-finding on the program of development of the inclusive financial sector, Trend reports.

The matter was discussed during a meeting between the Central Bank of Uzbekistan and the Asian Development Bank mission headed by Senior Financial Sector Expert Andrew McCartney.

The sides also reviewed consultations on the evaluation of the National Strategy of Financial Inclusion 20212023.

During the meeting, the ADB representatives discussed selecting partner banks, financing microfinance institutions, and technical help for the enterprise development company to implement the program.

In addition, both parties plan to organize meetings and roundtables with the participation of government organizations, banks, financial institutions, and other stakeholders within the framework of the development of the new National Strategy for Financial Inclusion.

Earlier, Uzbekistan and the ADB signed a memorandum on the implementation of the program for 20252027.

The program includes projects that are of mutual interest to both parties and aligns with the Uzbekistan-2030 development strategy with the implementation of $3.5 billion.
The News

Hamas has submitted a response to the United States proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza, the White House confirmed Tuesday without offering specific details.

Both Egypt and Qatar confirmed they had received the Hamas response and were reviewing it, according to a post on X by the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The US ceasefire plan calls for an initial six-week pause on fighting and a phased release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza and Palestinian prisoners held in Israel. Ultimately, the plan is designed to become a permanent ceasefire, and to support negotiations for the reconstruction of Gaza.

The UN Security Council endorsed the plan on Monday; Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has yet to formally respond to the plan.

Know More

In the Middle East this week, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken had said that reaching a ceasefire deal was contingent on Hamas agreeing to the terms, however there is concern both Hamas and Israel may not reach a deal based on the US proposal, despite the United Nations backing.

John Kirby, the White Houses national security spokesperson, said on Tuesday that it was helpful Hamas had submitted a response and that the administration was evaluating it.

After it submitted a response on Tuesday, a senior Hamas official told the BBC that the group required an Israeli commitment to a permanent ceasefire. But the actual wording or nature of the response is not yet clear.

Netanyahu has faced pressure from some far-right members of his government coalition to continue the war in Gaza despite Israels growing isolation on the world stage.

After the Security Council vote, Israel said it would continue its offensive in the strip to ensure that Gaza doesnt pose a threat to Israel in the future, said Israels representative to the UN.
FILE PHOTO: Aftermath of Israeli strikes at the area where Israeli hostages were rescued on Saturday, in Nuseirat refugee camp

CAIRO (Reuters) - Mediators Egypt and Qatar received a response from Hamas and Palestinian groups to a U.S. ceasefire plan for Gaza, the Egyptian and Qatari governments said on Tuesday as an official briefed on the matter said Hamas proposed a new timeline.

The statement from Egypt and Qatar did not disclose what the response said, but the official, who declined to be identified, said Hamas proposed a new timeline for a permanent ceasefire with Israel and withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, including Rafah.

Asked about the response, a Hamas official, who asked not to be named, said: "We reiterated our previous stance. I believe there no big gaps. The ball is now in the Israeli courtyard."

Egyptian officials were not immediately available for further comment.

The Egyptian ministry said Doha and Cairo, along with the U.S., will continue their mediation efforts until a deal is reached, adding that they will study the response and coordinate the next steps with concerned parties.

The Egyptian statement came shortly after Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad released a statement in which they expressed "readiness to positively" reach a deal to end the war in Gaza and said they submitted their response to Qatari and Egyptian mediators.

The United Nations Security Council on Monday backed a proposal outlined by U.S. President Joe Biden for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

On Friday, U.S President Joe Biden laid out what he called a "three-phase" Israeli proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza which would include negotiations for a permanent ceasefire in the Palestinian enclave as well as an exchange of some Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners.

(Reporting by Nidal al-Mughrabi, Adam Makary and Jaidaa Taha; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
A man griefs next to his dead relative who was killed in the Israeli airstrikes, ahead of the funeral ceremony at Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir Al-Balah. Omar Ashtawy/APA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

The Palestinian Islamist group Hamas said it has sent its response to the US proposal for a ceasefire in the Gaza war to Qatari and Egyptian mediators.

Hamas and the militant group Palestinian Islamic Jihad also announced in a joint statement on Tuesday evening that they would "act positively" in order to reach an agreement to end the war. Their response was sent to Qatar and Egypt, the statement said.

The exact content of their response to the mediators initially remained unclear.

It stated that the priority for Hamas and Islamic Jihad was to completely end the war in the Gaza Strip and that Israel's army should withdraw completely.

It continued: "The Palestinian delegation voiced willingness to deal positively in order to reach an agreement that ends this war against our people, out of the sense of national responsibility."

The comments come amid the latest push by mediators, including the US, Qatar and Egypt, to negotiate a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu supports the plan, according to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and only Hamas has yet to give the green light.

At the end of May, US President Joe Biden surprisingly presented a three-stage plan for a ceasefire in the Gaza war. The plan envisages the release of a certain group of Israeli hostages during the complete ceasefire. In return, Palestinians imprisoned in Israel would be released.

In the next phase, the fighting would then cease permanently and the remaining hostages would be released.

According to the draft, the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip would begin in a final phase.
Hamas still to accept latest Gaza ceasefire deal as US ups pressure

Jordan's King Abdullah II (C) meets with United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken on the sidelines of the "Call for Action: Urgent Humanitarian Response for Gaza" Conference. The conference is organized by Jordan, Egypt and the UN. It aims to find ways in which the international community can respond more effectively to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Chris Setian/Royal Hashemite Court RHC/dpa

The latest ceasefire deal for Gaza currently being put forward by the United States is gaining momentum amid a diplomatic push by Washington in the Middle East, but the Palestinian Islamist Hamas movement has yet to give the green light.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu supports the plan, according to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

"I met with Prime Minister Netanyahu last night, and he reaffirmed his commitment to the proposal," Blinken told journalists in Tel Aviv on Tuesday.

When asked whether Netanyahu would pledge his continued commitment if Hamas eventually agrees to the plan, Blinken replied in the affirmative.

Details of the plan

At the end of May, US President Joe Biden surprisingly presented a three-stage plan for a ceasefire in the Gaza war. The plan envisages the release of a certain group of Israeli hostages during the complete ceasefire. In return, Palestinians imprisoned in Israel would be released.

In the next phase, the fighting would then cease permanently and the remaining hostages would be released.

According to the draft, the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip would begin in a final phase.

Positive signs from Israel

Blinken also held talks with Defence Minister Yoav Gallant and other high-ranking Israeli government representatives. "And I think there is a strong consensus, again, behind moving forward with the proposal," he continued.

According to the US, only Hamas has not yet agreed to the plan. However, the Netanyahu government has not yet given its clear and public approval to the plan either.

The US ceasefire plan does not contradict Israel's war aims, according to an Israeli government official.

"Israel will not end the war before achieving all its war objectives: destroying Hamas' military and governing capabilities, freeing all the hostages and ensuring Gaza doesnt pose a threat to Israel in the future," the Israeli official said on Tuesday.

"The proposal presented enables Israel to achieve these goals and Israel will indeed do so."

The UN Security Council has now backed the plan. On Monday, it adopted a resolution to this effect.

Blinken's diplomatic efforts

Blinken met Israeli President Isaac Herzog earlier Tuesday as part of ongoing efforts by the US, Qatar and Egypt to negotiate a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

The talks have stalled for months. Blinken's trip in the Middle East aims to garner support for the latest proposal.

Blinken arrived in Egypt on Monday for the first leg of the tour and later held talks with Netanyahu in Jerusalem.

On Tuesday, Blinken also met opposition leader Yair Lapid and is due to hold talks with Israeli lawmaker Benny Gantz, who just quit the Israeli emergency government formed following the October 7 attacks.

Blinken's Middle East tour is expected to last until Wednesday and also includes a stop in Qatar.

Wall Street Journal exclusive report on Hamas head's motives

While Hamas has yet to agree to the latest deal, an exclusive report by the US newspaper the Wall Street Journal said that this is because the head of the Islamist movement in the Gaza Strip, Yehya al-Sinwar, expects to benefit from continued fighting and rising casualties among Palestinian civilians.

The newspaper reported on Monday that this was based on messages recently sent by al-Sinwar to Hamas representatives involved in ceasefire negotiations

The Wall Street Journal said it had access to dozens of messages, which it was not clear whether they were text, voice or other types of messages.

We have the Israelis right where we want them, he reportedly said in recent messages to negotiators, the newspaper reported.

Al-Sinwar has shown "a cold disregard for human life and made clear he believes Israel has more to lose from the war than Hamas," the newspaper wrote.

"[Al-Sinwar] isnt the first Palestinian leader to embrace bloodshed as a means to pressure Israel. But the scale of the collateral damage in this war  civilians killed and destruction wrought  is unprecedented between Israelis and Palestinians," the newspaper wrote.

Al-Sinwar planned the Hamas attacks on October 7 in the Israeli border area that triggered the current Gaza war, but very early messages to the ceasefire negotiators showed that he had been surprised by the brutality of the Hamas fighters and other Palestinians and also by how easily they had committed atrocities, the newspaper continued.

Things went out of control, he had written in one of the messages, referring to the gangs taking civilian women and children hostage. People got caught up in this, and that should not have happened.," the newspaper cites one of his messages as saying.

Despite Israel's fierce efforts to kill him, al-Sinwar lives in an undisclosed location in the Gaza Strip. The messages also showed that he was prepared to die in battle, the newspaper continues.

Head of UN's call for deal

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has urged all parties involved in the war in Gaza to reach a ceasefire agreement.

"The horror must stop, it's high time for a ceasefire along with unconditional release of hostages," he told a humanitarian aid conference for the Gaza Strip held by the Dead Sea in Jordan.

"I urge all parties to seize this opportunity and come to an agreement," Guterres added.

"The speed and scale of carnage and killing in Gaza is beyond anything in my years as secretary general," he said. "Nowhere is safe, conditions are deplorable."

Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu (R) meets with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Amos Ben-Gershom/GPO/dpa
We should all be happy Hunter Biden was convicted - but not for the reason some think | Opinion

Hunter Biden is a convicted felon. Or, to those of us mindful about the way we speak about those who go through the criminal justice system, he is a man convicted of crimes by a jury in a federal court  even with his father in the White House.

Issac Bailey

Hunter was convicted of making a false statement during a firearms sale and a false statement on a firearms record, and illegal possession of a firearm. These are the kind of charges that would usually concern strict Second Amendment proponents, especially since theyre rare under such circumstances. Because Hunter Biden is on the left politically and most strict Second Amendment proponents are on the right, few of them have been running to his defense.

Hunter, who has long struggled with drug addiction, faces up to 25 years in prison, though analysts say first-time offenders are unlikely to spend any time behind bars.

Lets be frank. This is only news because Hunter is President Joe Bidens son. He isnt a governor, senator or House m member. Hes not an elected official on any level. Hes not an actor, preacher, college president. Hes a public figure only because of his fathers political shadow. And still, Republicans hounded him for years, primarily to damage his father. They even argued against a plea agreement Hunter Biden had secured with prosecutors, which would have saved taxpayers the expense of a federal trial.

They didnt care about his personal struggles or how hard it is to kick a drug addiction.

Lets be even more frank. Hunters conviction highlights one of the many differences between the two men who will face off again in November to lead this country.

Federal prosecutors serving in the Biden administration secured a conviction against Bidens son  without interference from his father. Theres little chance Donald Trump Jr. would have been prosecuted by a Trump Department of Justice. His father would not allow it, and would not care if it undermined DOJ independence.

President Biden has made clear he will not pardon his son, who is awaiting sentencing.

If by chance prosecutors found a way to successfully prosecute Donald Trump Jr. while his father was in office, President Trump would immediately pardon his son, not caring if it showed favoritism for the elite, which so many everyday Americans despise.

Thats not a small difference between the presumptive Democratic and Republican presidential nominees. It speaks volumes about them as men, as well as leaders.

For all the talk about conspiracies and the law supposedly being weaponized, that should matter  and greatly. We all should be ecstatic that a man with as many connections as Hunter Biden was forced to face a jury of his peers to be held to account for his actions instead of being protected by the system. Poor people face the system every day. The system rarely affords them the kinds of privileges men like Hunter Biden have had for their entire lives.

That speaks to a more important divide. Republicans howled because Trump was held to account in Manhattan,, even as they conceded his guilt. They conjured conspiracy theories, conflated state and federal court to muddy the discussion. They pretended only conservatives are prosecuted. They were angry.

Few Democrats and liberals are in an uproar about Hunter Bidens conviction. They arent making excuses for him. They arent vowing to undermine the constitution and pursue revenge prosecutions next year, the way Trump and many of his supporters have about his conviction.

Famed attorney and anti-death penalty activist Bryan Stevenson has said the system often treats the rich and guilty better than the poor and innocent. Unfortunately, thats true. But not this time, and not when former President Trump faced a Manhattan jury.

I hope this becomes a trend, then a norm  that ones station in life wont determine how one is treated by the legal system, no matter if one is a Republican or a Democrat. That we cant even agree on that is the most concerning thing of them all.

Issac Bailey is a McClatchy Opinion writer in North and South Carolina.
**UPDATE: Police confirmed on Tuesday afternoon that Alexis Bedford was found safe, according to the Harrisonville Police Department.

KANSAS CITY, Mo.  Police are searching for a missing teenage girl after she disappeared Monday night, according to the Harrisonville, Missouri Police Department.

Missouri man set to be executed Tuesday after 2009 killings

Alexis Bedford, 14, was reported missing on Monday at 9 p.m. Police said she has black hair and brown eyes and was last seen wearing a light gray sweater, black leggings and red Grinch slippers.

Police ask that if anyone has information regarding Bedfords location, they contact the Harrisonville Police Department at (816) 380-8940 or their local police department.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Harvard Scientists Say There May Be an Unknown, Technologically Advanced Civilization Hiding on Earth

What if  stick with us here  an unknown technological civilization is hiding right here on Earth, sheltering in bases deep underground and possibly even emerging with UFOs or disguised as everyday humans?

In a new paper that's bound to raise eyebrows in the scientific community, a team of researchers from Harvard and Montana Technological University speculates that sightings of "Unidentified Anomalous Phemonemona" (UAP)  bureaucracy-speak for UFOs, basically  "may reflect activities of intelligent beings concealed in stealth here on Earth (e.g., underground), and/or its near environs (e.g., the Moon), and/or even 'walking among us' (e.g., passing as humans)."

Yes, that's a direct quote from the paper. Needless to say, the researchers admit, this idea of hidden "crypoterrestrials" is a highly exotic hypothesis that's "likely to be regarded skeptically by most scientists." Nonetheless, they argue, the theory "deserves genuine consideration in a spirit of epistemic humility and openness."

The interest in unexplained sightings of UFOs by military personnel has grown considerably over the past decade or so. This attention grew to a peak last summer, when former Air Force intelligence officer and whistleblower David Grusch testified in front of Congress, claiming that the US had already recovered alien spacecraft as part of a decades-long UFO retrieval program.

Even NASA has opened its doors for researchers to explore mysterious, high-speed objects that have been spotted by military pilots over the years.

But several Pentagon reports later, we have yet to find any evidence of extraterrestrial life.

That hasn't dissuaded these Harvard researchers, though. In the paper, they suggest a range of possibilities, each more outlandish than the next.

First is that a "remnant form" of an ancient, highly advanced human civilization is still hanging around, observing us. Second is that an intelligent species evolved independently of humans in the distant past, possibly from "intelligent dinosaurs," and is now hiding their presence from us. Third is that these hidden occupants of Earth traveled here from another planet or time period. And fourth  please keep a straight face, everybody  is that these unknown inhabitants of Earth are "less technological than magical," which the researchers liken to "earthbound angels."

UFO sightings of "craft and other phenomena (e.g., 'orbs') appearing to enter/exit potential underground access points, like volcanoes," they write, could be evidence that these cryptoterrestrials may not be drawn to these spots, but actually reside in underground or underwater bases.

The paper quotes former House Representative Mike Gallagher, who suggested last year that one explanation for the UFO sightings might be "an ancient civilization thats just been hiding here, for all this time, and is suddenly showing itself right now," following Grusch's testimony.

The researchers didn't stop there, even suggesting that these cryptoterrestrials may take on different, non-human primate or even reptile forms.

Beyond residing deep underground, they even speculate that this mysterious species could even be concealing themselves on the Moon or have mastered the art of blending in as human beings, a folk theory that has inspired countless works of science fiction.

Another explanation, as put forward by controversial Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb, suggests that other ancient civilizations may have lived on "planets like Mars or Earth" but a "billion years apart and hence were not aware of each other."

Of course, these are all "far-fetched" hypotheses, as the scientists admit, and deserve to be regarded with plenty of skepticism.

"We entertain them here because some aspects of UAP are strange enough that they seem to call for unconventional explanations," the paper reads.

"It may be exceedingly improbable, but hopefully this paper has shown it should nevertheless be kept on the table as we seek to understand the ongoing empirical mystery of UAP," the researchers conclude.

More on UFOs: New Law Would Force Government to Declassify Every UFO Document
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, June 11. Uzbekistan and the US talked about launching a joint platform to identify new sectors and promote industrial cooperation projects, Trend reports.

The news followed a meeting between President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev with US Trade Representative Katherine Tai.

During the meeting, the sides discussed topical issues of further strengthening bilateral relations of strategic partnerships, expanding trade, and economic and investment cooperation.

The parties noted the intensification of business contacts, steady growth of mutual trade and investment indicators.

Both officials discussed issues related to Uzbekistan's accession to the WTO, the resumption of the GSP system, the deepening of practical interaction within the framework of the C5+1 format, and the framework agreement on trade and investment.

Meanwhile, Uzbekistan's trade turnover with the US reached $257.3 million from January through April 2024. This figure shows a 31.2 percent growth year-on-year ($196.1 million in JanuaryApril 2023).

Uzbekistan's exports to the US totaled $69.4 million, while imports from the US reached $187.9 million during this period.
Details remain scant on plans for a security camera network to help prevent crime in Columbus, but if the concept is anything like what cities have done before then at least one study shows it may not prove all that effective in the first place.

In his State of the City address on May 21, Mayor Andrew Ginther said that by early 2025 his administration will establish a network of private and public security cameras that can be monitored in real-time. The network, Ginther said, could be used to get a bird's eye view of incidents before police cruisers arrive and would help law enforcement track crime suspects and locate missing persons.

But Ginther did not go into detail about what the system will look like or how it will operate. Neither did Downtown Columbus Inc., a nonprofit civics organization that is helping to create the camera network. More details on the program could be made public this summer, which will also include safety measures other than cameras, Amy Taylor, president of Downtown Columbus Inc. said in a prepared release.

Related Columbus crime article: Shootings, stolen cars and assaults. How safe was Columbus in 2023?

Security cameras keep an eye on the south side of COSI along the Scioto River in downtown Columbus. Mayor Andrew Ginther announced plans in May for a new private and public camera network to help fight crime in Columbus. Specifics have yet to be revealed on the network.

"Details are still being finalized, but we expect this initiative to act as a modern-day neighborhood watch to ensure a safe and inclusive downtown Columbus," said city spokeswoman Melanie Crabill. "These cameras will show whats happening as events are unfolding, and this information has proven invaluable in delivering the best possible results for our residents and businesses."

Detroit's surveillance camera network

While officials have yet to offer specifics on Columbus' plans, Detroit launched a surveillance camera network called "Project Green Light" in 2016. Both Columbus police Chief Elaine Bryant and 1st Assistant Chief LaShanna Potts were formerly with the Detroit Police Department.

Detroit boasts that their surveillance camera program led to a 23% reduction in violent crime. The U.S. Department of Justice, however, found otherwise.

Detroit's camera system had "no statistically significant effects" on disorder or violent crime, according to the study published online with the DOJ's National Institute of Justice. The cameras did show an effect at deterring property destruction, but otherwise were found to have "no effects," meaning it is "unlikely to result in the intended outcome" and could even have a negative impact, according to the study.

Unintentional shootings by kids: Ohio trails only Texas, Florida in unintentional shootings by kids: Can that be changed?

It's common for policing ideas to take off without much evidence to back them up, said Bryce Peterson, an adjunct professor at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York and a researcher in CNAs Center for Justice Research and Innovation.

When Detroit's camera project launched with a few dozen participants, Peterson said at first it did yield quicker response times by police and a reduction in crime. But as time passed and more businesses joined, it became clear the surveillance program wasn't going to help prevent crime much, Peterson said.

"As the program grew and grew and there are thousands who are now part of it, it became harder and harder to find the same sort of general benefit," he said. "Not only that, but what they found was when you add more cameras you actually increase the number of crimes being reported."

Columbus' camera network

Once Columbus' camera network is up and running, Crabill said the city would continually evaluate its effectiveness and assess what's being reported and gathered by police.

One-way cameras could prove effective is by helping police investigate crimes that have already occurred, said William Pelfrey, a professor who studies policing and crime analysis at Virginia Commonwealth University. Although research is "still pretty nascent," Pelfrey said he's heard anecdotes of how broader camera systems can help police "find a bad guy who commits an offense and runs away," and that such a system could allow police to access footage remotely and instantly instead of sending an officer to collect it from a business owner in person.

A City of Columbus staff member watches video feeds of traffic at the Columbus Traffic Management Center in Columbus on April 2, 2019. It is unknown if the traffic management system will be integrated into a new network of security cameras that the city is planning to link together.

As long as Columbus' camera network operates simply as a high-definition version of security cameras that already exist, Pelfrey said there shouldn't be a problem.

But if the city starts to rely heavily on facial recognition software or only places cameras in minority neighborhoods, Pelfrey said it could lead to troublesome outcomes. There have been at least seven instances in the United States where a wrongful arrest was made due to facial recognition software and most people arrested were Black, according to the American Civil Liberties Union.

"If it's just a camera on a post, then it's not much different from what we tolerate now ... But we may be getting into 'Minority Report' territory 10 or 15 years from now," Pelfrey joked, referencing the 2002 Tom Cruise movie in which police use technology to predict who will commit a crime before it happens.

More on Columbus crime: 2023 sees mixed results in first year of Columbus violence prevention initiatives

Civil liberties, Crabill said, will be a top priority for Columbus as it develops its camera network. The city will work with a consultant and Downtown Columbus Inc. "to develop policies that both promote public safety while protecting personal privacy," Crabill told The Dispatch.

Privacy should still be a major concern among Columbus residents as the city prepares to implement a surveillance network, said Lisa Femia, an attorney for the Electronic Frontier Foundation, an international digital rights group based in San Francisco that tracks law enforcement use of technology.

City of Columbus photograph that was used during Mayor Andrew Ginther's State of the City speech when he was announcing how public and private security cameras could be used to deter crime. (Credit: City of Columbus)

To start with, Femia said central Ohioans should ask who has access to surveillance data the cameras are collecting. If it includes police, the city, private business owners and even neighboring states, then residents should seek limits on the number of people who have access and the length of time that information is kept.

If strong restrictions aren't in place, Femia predicted a world in which someone comes to Ohio for an abortion and then heads home to a state that has outlawed the medical procedure where a woman could face punishment. The same could be true for firearms enthusiasts, Femia said, who could travel to a state with looser regulations to buy the guns they want before returning home.

"If you have cameras all over that are monitoring where people go, what they're doing ... watching them go to places of worship and reproductive health clinics, then it could really chill core First Amendment activity," Femia said. "This is all very sensitive information and kind of eliminates your basic expectation of privacy."

mfilby@dispatch.com

@MaxFilby

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Are you being watched? What to know about the new Columbus camera network
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 11: Students at Carter's Kids Playground Build And Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony on April 11, 2019 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Araya Diaz/Getty Images for Carter's Kids)

Via Mary Hennigan and Arkansas Advocate:

The experience of growing up in Arkansas has worsened in most areas of child well-being according to the latest Annie E. Casey Foundation report.

The groups latest KIDS COUNT Data Book, released Monday, shows 2022 was the deadliest year on record for child deaths in Arkansas. Child poverty and low educational performance persisted.

The report uses information from 2022 to analyze nationwide data from 16 indicators in four domains: family and community, education, health and economics. The report then ranks states by overall child well-being. Arkansas position at 45th is down two slots from its ranking the last two years.

Arkansas has ranked as one of the countrys 10 worst states for overall child well-being nine times in the last decade. The only year it didnt rank in the bottom 40, it came in at 39.

The recent drop in rankings results from a combination of Arkansas indicators worsening and other states improving at a quicker rate, leaving the Natural State to fall farther behind, said Pete Gess, economic policy director at Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families (AACF).

Keesa Smith, Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families

AACF is a member of the KIDS COUNT network, and staff provided a report preview last week and offered policy solutions. Executive Director Keesa Smith spoke to the connectedness between the indicators.

If you start with the big piece of data, which is the number of children living in poverty, that speaks to a situation already that families are trying to overcome that will lead to additional problems, Smith said.

The ability to secure affordable housing, purchase healthy food and access transportation for well-paying jobs all start with the states poverty level, Smith said.

By the reports count, approximately 150,000 of Arkansas 683,000 children were living in poverty in 2022. While the percentage of children in poverty, 22%, went unchanged this year, state officials have the ability to improve that number, Gess said.

We could cut childhood poverty in half  simply if we had spent less than what we have given away in tax cuts over the past decade, he said. Those tax cuts, of course, have gone mostly to the wealthy. If we had used that and targeted it at child tax credits, most children would be lifted out of poverty in Arkansas.

Report highlights

Arkansas performed worst when it came to health, and one standout statistic came from the child and teen death rate.

From 2019 to 2022, the rate at which children and teenagers died in Arkansas increased by 26%. At 44 deaths per 100,000 children and teens in 2022, Arkansas rate was the third-highest in the country, and well above the national average of 30 deaths, according to the report.

It was the deadliest year for Arkansas kids on record, said Camille Richoux, AACFs health policy director.

The state data isnt broken out into cause of death, but firearm-related deaths have become the leading cause of death among U.S. teens in recent years. Deaths from accidents such as car crashes account for most child deaths.

Richoux referenced other research that suggested Arkansas had one of the highest firearm injury rates as well. She said children and teens often have easy access to unsecure firearms and arent safely taught how to handle them.

Six percent of children in Arkansas were without health care in 2022, according to the report. This data doesnt include children who were disenrolled from Medicaid during the states unwinding process, which started in April 2023.

Richoux said there is more work to be done than what the latest report shows as one in five children in Arkansas recently lost access to Medicaid.

The teen birth rate in Arkansas decreased 17% from 2019 to 2022, but the states rate of 25 births per 1,000 females remained one of the highest in the nation. In combination with low-birth weights, these statistics were troubling for AACF staff when considering Arkansas high maternity and infant mortality rates.

Laura Kellams, Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families

This is a really important indicator, not only for those young people who are becoming parents before they plan to, but also for their young children who are so much more likely to live in poverty, said Laura Kellams, AACFs Northwest Arkansas director.

Arkansas teens arent necessarily more sexually active than teens in other states, Kellams said. The difference in Arkansas is the lack of education they receive about safe sex and their ability to access contraceptives.

A post-pandemic education analysis

The latest national report marked the third year of the COVID-19 pandemic and the return of some sense of normalcy. The data highlights how the pandemic affected children and families, specifically related to education and learning loss.

Arkansas education performance ranked 36th nationwide, one position higher than in the last report, and data showed that students struggled to keep up with standardized testing measures.

From 2019 to 2022, the percent of Arkansas eighth graders who scored below proficient in math increased by 11% to 81%, ranking the state 43rd in the country. Most fourth graders, 70%, scored below a proficient reading level in 2022, a slight increase from pre-pandemic numbers.

Olivia Gardner, AACFs education policy director, noted that while standardized tests are a useful tool when marking achievement, theyre not perfect measurements.

We have research that shows more affluent students perform better than low-income students because [low-income students] lack resources, Gardner said.

Olivia Gardner (Courtesy of Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families)

Pre-K attendance also decreased from 2019 to 2022, according to the report. Whereas half of children ages 3 and 4 were previously not attending preschool, that percentage has risen to 57%.

To improve students classroom experience, AACF staff recommended universal low- or no-cost meals, a reliable internet connection, a place to study or spend time with friends, and access to high-quality teachers and counselors. AACF also suggested an expansion of intensive, in-person tutoring and policy measures that invest in community schools.

Of the 16 measured indicators, Arkansas outcomes were worse than the national average in 13.

All members of AACFs staff noted it is necessary for state officials to make intentional investments that will act as preventative measures when it comes to child well-being.

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The News

The European Union is set to generate millions of euros more from the high rejection rates of visa applications by African visitors with a new increase in non-refundable fees.

Citizens of the 26 member states within Europes Schengen area have unhindered borderless access within the area, while most travelers from elsewhere require visas. A 12.5% price hike that takes effect on June 11 increases the cost of a short-term (90 days) visa application to 90.

But while the price hike applies equally to all non-EU residents who require a Schengen visa, it raises the prospect of the bloc making disproportionately more money from its rejection rates for applicants from Africa, analysts say.

Of the 130 million the EU earned in 2023 from rejected visa applications, about 42% of that was from applicants living in Africa, even though the continent accounts for 24% of Schengen visa applications, according to London-based research firm LAGO Collective. Prospective visitors who apply from Ghana, Senegal and Nigeria receive rejection rates of between 40% and 50%, LAGO estimated, based on data from the European Commissions migration and home affairs office.

We found a relationship between the GDP of countries and rejection rates for short-term visas, Marta Foresti, LAGOs founder, told Semafor Africa. A similar rejection trend in 2024 with the new price would deepen long-standing inequality of outcomes between consumers paying for the same service from high and low-income countries, Foresti said.

Know More

African migration to Europe is aggravated by factors like the effects of climate change on resources and productivity, scarce economic opportunities in struggling economies, political instability, and violent conflict.

While these encourage dangerous attempts to reach Europe across seas and deserts, most African migration is via regular channels, the Africa Center for Strategic Studies in Washington DC notes.

Yet Africans applying to visit Europe for short-term stays, such as business engagements or conferences, continue to face a stumbling block.

Average rejection rates for African applicants are generally 10 percentage points higher than the global average, Mehari Taddele Maru, a researcher at the EU-owned European University Institute in Italy, found. Seven of the top ten countries with the highest rejection rates for Schengen visa applications in 2022 were in Africa.

Alexanders view

The EUs more expensive visa and its potentially disproportionate impact on Africans comes as the bloc takes a tougher stance on migration.

New rules approved by the EU Commission in April impose a higher standard for screening non-EU nationals at borders, including the collection of biometric data, and health and security checks. Border fences set up by member states within the Schengen area have become longer in the last decade, stretching from 315 km to 2,048 km as of 2022.

Higher visa prices could be another type of fence, which when combined with high rejection rates, will continue to enrich European consulates at the expense of residents of low income countries who nevertheless have legitimate reasons to be in Europe.

Africas high rejection rate is sometimes explained as a consequence of visitors overstaying their visas. But there is no evidence to suggest that a higher rejection rate leads to a decrease in irregular migration or visa overstays, Maru argues. In essence, an unexplained bias against Africans is at play.

The costs of rejection to African entrepreneurs, career professionals, artists and other seekers of the EUs short-term visa calls for a reform of the approval process, Foresti told me. Consulates with high unequal outcomes should review their decision-making to ensure systematic discrimination against some countries isnt an underlying cause.

And should some EU members enforce high rejection for short-term visas to dissuade overstays by residents of particular African countries, more paths to legal migration should be considered, she argued.
Former President Donald Trump was allowed to attend his pre-sentencing interview Monday under highly unusual circumstances, appearing virtually from his residence in Mar-a-Lago with his counsel Todd Blanche present by his side, the Associated Press reported.

Defendants such as Trump, who are out not jailed, are usually required to appear alone and in person for a probation interview, lawyers told Business Insider. However, authorities insist the same accommodations are potentially available for anyone.

In New York, the pre-sentencing interviews that probation officers have with defendants and prosecutors, respectively, are conducted so that the officer can write up a report with their sentencing recommendation. Although he may use it to inform his decision, Judge Juan Merchan can ultimately use his discretion to determine the nature of Trumps punishment.

The preemptive Republican nominee is due to be sentenced July 11 after being convicted of 34 felonies related to his falsifying business records to cover up a hush payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels. He could be sentenced to anything from probation to up to four years in prison.

Martin Horn, a former commissioner of the New York City Department of Corrections and Probation who now lectures at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, told The Daily Beast Monday that the cushy conditions of Trumps meeting were highly unusual. Having a counsel present during such a meeting can influence the way the interview goes, what the defendant says and ultimately how the report is written, he said.

Others who represent people convicted of crimes agree.

Pre-sentencing interviews with probation officers influence sentencing, and public defenders are deprived of joining their clients for these meetings. The option of joining these interviews virtually is typically not extended to the people we represent either, said a statement from the Legal Aid Society, Bronx Defenders, New York County Defender Services, and Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem. All people convicted of crimes should be allowed counsel in their probation interview, not just billionaires. This is just another example of our two-tiered system of justice."

The interview is also a chance for the defendant to express remorse for their crimes so they can earn a lighter punishment. However, Trump has vehemently denied his attempt to hide his hush money payment to Daniels right before the 2016 presidential election. In fact, his campaign exploited his lack of remorse in a fundraiser email on Monday.

Can you believe this, Friend? the email read. Im actually about to speak to a probation officer after my RIGGED CONVICTION! My only crime? Putting the AMERICAN PEOPLE, ahead of the COMMUNISTS, MARXISTS, AND FASCISTS that want to see our country DESTROYED, The Daily Beast reported.

"I've never been present at a probation interview," said Legal Aid attorney Sam Roberts, who estimated he's had over 3,000 clients do these interviews.

"Defendants are prejudiced daily by damaging statements they make without counsel present," Thomas Eddy, an attorney from Rochester, New York, told Business Insider. "How much trouble do you think Trump would get into today if Blanche wasn't there to muzzle him?"

A spokesperson for the city said that defendants have had the option to conduct their pre-sentencing interview virtually since before the pandemic began in 2020. Ivette Davila-Richards, a deputy press secretary for Mayor Eric Adams, added that defendants have also always had the provision to have their lawyer present, provided that the judge signs off.

She said claims that Trump was receiving special treatment were ridiculous.

Trump has not been given any special treatment, Davila-Richards said. He is being treated as any defendant convicted of a crime. Its just since hes so high-profile, everyone is making it bigger than what it is.
Hiker whose phone recorded her being swept away found dead below Utah waterfall

Hiker whose phone recorded her being swept away found dead below Utah waterfall

A Utah hiker whose phone was found with a video of her being swept away by rushing waters has been found dead at the foot of a waterfall, according to the Utah County Sheriff's Office.

The sheriff said in a statement that a pair of hikers were walking in the area near Horsetail Falls  about 35 miles south of Salt Lake City  and found a small dog with a cell phone and some personal items that they found suspicious. At around 3 p.m. on Friday, the hikers called for emergency responders, fearing that someone might have fallen into the water of Dry Creek and could be in trouble.

One of the hikers reportedly found a video on the phone that showed a young woman standing near the water when the current grabbed her and swept her away, according to authorities.

Law enforcement and rescue workers responded to the site and, using a helicopter from the Utah Department of Public Safety, managed to find the womans remains stuck under some trees in the water about 100 yards below Horsetail Falls shortly after 5 p.m. the same day.

The woman who died was identified as Cynthia Ann Grimwood, 19, of Springville, Utah.

Cynthia Ann Grimwood, 19, was killed on 8 June when she was swept over Horsetail Falls in Utah after she was carried away by the current in Dry Creek (Facebook/Cynthia Ann Grimwood)

AllTrails, an app used by hikers, rates the 4.2-mile trail Grimwood was hiking as hard and sheriffs officials believe she may have entered the water to cool off after her trek.

The sheriff's office said the area was full with heavy snow melt runoff and conditions were treacherous.

Rescue crews were forced to overcome steep rock walls to access the spot where Grimwood's body came to rest. Because it was already late in the day when Grimwoods remains were located, the sheriff's office decided it would be safer to remove her body the following day.

Volunteers with Utah Search and Rescue stayed overnight near the site to monitor for any change in the situation, according to officials.

The following day, rescue workers recovered Grimwoods body, which was then take to a medical examiners office for an autopsy.

Rescue workers in Utah County, Utah, at Horsetail Falls, where the body of Cynthia Ann Grimwood, 19, was located after she was swept away above the falls on 8 June, 2024 (screengrab/KSL News)

On behalf of all who were involved in the search for and recovery of Cynthia we express deep condolences to her family at her loss, the sheriff said in a statement.

The same day Grimwood was recovered, a 9-year-old boy from Arizona fell into the Provo River near Bridal Veil Falls, approximately 45 miles south of Salt Lake City and 21 miles from Horsetail Falls.

The boy was recovered rom the water after an hour-long search and was pronounced dead at a local hospital.

In a daring rescue attempt, a firefighter from Orem leapt into the water and grabbed the boy while he was holding onto a rope. The swift current pulled him against the rope, which burned through [his] hands, and he was not able to hold on, according to the sheriff's office. A second firefighter threw another rope, which the firefighter managed to grab. He managed to return to the shore with the boy, but it was too late to save the child.
An abandoned concrete barge has been sitting off the coast of DuPont for more than 60 years. If you time it right, at low tide you can follow a long sandbar littered with barnacled logs and metal debris from an old wharf that sat in the Nisqually Reach and climb inside or on top.

The ships walls are scaly with slick black mussels and oysters peppered with crustaceans. Water drips off rusting steel beams that splay out from what remains of the concrete interior. Gulls and bald eagles squawk overhead as long-legged birds dip for fish in the surf nearby.

Not much is known about how the barge got there, what it carried, why it was made of concrete and how it came to rest, now split in half at the end of the Nisqually Spit. The News Tribune talked to nearly a dozen researchers and historians to find the answers.

Kaz Griffin of Tacoma climbs aboard The Cement Ship, the remains of a scuttled concrete barge on the beach in DuPont, Washington, on Wednesday, June 5, 2024.

The search for truth about Concrete Hulk

Theres been a lot of speculation about the The Cement Ship or Concrete Hulk over the years, and finding its history has stumped many archivists.

The News Tribune reached out to the DuPont Historical Society, Navy Region Northwest, the National Archives and Records Administration, the National Archives at Seattle, the Tacoma Public Library, the Foss Maritime Co., the Foss Waterway Seaport Museum and Pretty Gritty Tours before finding some answers. Most of those organizations had little to no information about the ships origins and history, sometimes to the surprise of their own researchers.

Carol Estep, with the DuPont Historical Society, told The News Tribune last week there wasnt much information about the ship in the citys archives. A visitor told her a couple years ago it might have been a cement oil barge used by the Navy.

Cmdr. J. Overton, with the Navy Region Northwest, told The News Tribune the local Navy museum had no information on the ship but believed it was a U.S. Army ship rather than a Naval vessel and recommended contacting the National Archives.

From there, the Branch Chief of the National Archives, Onaona Guay, told The News Tribune its textual-reference archivists suggested the barge was likely a merchant ship called the Captain Barker, but did not find any direct record matches in their archive branch.

A later search of the National Archives in Seattle found the Cement Ship in a list of merchant vessels of the United States under the name Captain Barker, according to director of Archival Operations Valerie Szwaya. It was built as a water tender in 1919 by the Great Northern Concrete Shipping Co. in Vancouver, Washington. Later it served as Foss 103 Barge and was home-ported in Seattle, Szwaya said.

Spencer Bowman is a reference and archivist librarian with the Tacoma Public Librarys Northwest Room. Bowman told The News Tribune after reviewing Northwest Room collections, including shipwreck literature, Foss maritime histories and the Ships and Shipping Database, Regrettably, I found very little information on this cement ship, which was very surprising.

The book Exploring Maritime Washington by Erich Ebel briefly listed the ship as a water tender built in 1919 that was later renamed Captain Barker and sunk in the 1970s, Bowman said. He recommended contacting the Foss Waterway Seaport Museum.

Nikola Troup, the operations and collections coordinator of the Foss Waterway Seaport Museum told The News Tribune on Friday she couldnt find any mention of Captain Barker or Foss 103 in Foss logs or the museums database.

Foss Maritime chief operating officer Chris Mack Jr. told The News Tribune on Friday the company also did not have any supporting information on the ship nor any records of ownership.

Michael Ogle of Tacoma, brings his brother William Ogle of Carmel, Indiana, explore around The Cement Ship, a scuttled concrete barge on the beach in DuPont, Washington, on Wednesday, June 5, 2024.

A concrete ship experiment gone wrong

Chris Staudinger is co-founder, researcher and tour guide of Pretty Gritty Tours. Staudinger said after he received questions from locals about the concrete barge a few years ago, he started his own deep-dive investigation. What he found was consistent with other sources: The ship was indeed built by the Great Northern Concrete Shipbuilding Co. in 1919 and named the Captain Barker.

Staudinger pointed to a blog article written by concrete-ship enthusiasts Richard Lewis, an Irishman, and Erlend Bonderud of Norway, who have chronicled the history of concrete ships around the world, including the Captain Barker and several sister ships built in the same time period.

One of The Crete Fleet blogs titled, WWI Concrete Water Tank Boats - Built in Vancouver, Washington and published Aug. 13, 2023 explores the history of the first ocean-going concrete tank boats built to transport fresh water in the United States following World War I. Concrete ships were built as an experiment after a scarcity of vessels during wartime combined with a shortage of steel, the article said. Staudinger said people were also interested in exploring the durability and affordability of concrete as a shipbuilding material.

The Great Northern Concrete Shipbuilding Co. of Vancouver built five tank boats designed to carry 52,000 gallons of fresh water each. They were launched between Feb. 20, 1920 and May 31, 1920, according to the article. Only two of those ships survived more than one year and the rest sank as a result of storms.

The boats were not properly constructed for sea trips, and the trip down the coast should never have been undertaken, sea captains told the News-Pilot on Jan. 29, 1920 after the fact.

Staudinger said the shape of the ships made them ride too low in the water and made them easy to tip. He also believed there were no baffles inside the ships, which would have prevented the volume of water inside from causing a rocking motion with its kinetic force, thus making it less likely to flip over.

The interior of The Cement Ship, a scuttled concrete barge on the beach in DuPont, Washington, on Wednesday, June 5, 2024.

Captain Barker was one of the ships to survive longer than a year. It launched on March 3, 1919 but was placed in dry dock after its first sea trials found its steering ability unsatisfactory, according to The Crete Fleet article. Enos Crawford was assigned captain on Jan. 18, 1920 and the Captain Barker arrived in Astoria from Vancouver on Jan. 21, 1920, towed by tugboat USAT Slocum.

In October 1921 Captain Barker was offered for sale at Fort Canby, Astoria, and in June 1923 it was bought by Rouse Towboat Co., which was part of Foss Launch and Tug Co., with the plan to have the ship towed from Astoria to Seattle for use in local waters, the article said.

It was renamed Foss 103 and used as a sludge-disposal barge. In the mid-1960s it was scuttled as breakwater at the end of Nisqually Spit. At some point the boat split in two, likely the result of yawing in the tide, the article said.

A petition to dissolve the Great Northern Concrete Shipbuilding Co. was filed Oct. 9, 1920, bringing an end to the building of concrete tanks in Vancouver, according to the article. Another one of the ships sisters wrecks, the Captain Bootes, survives today in the breakwater of Everett, Washington.

Staudinger said Foss 103 was scuttled intentionally in an effort to stop ship traffic and waves from eroding the Nisqually Reach shoreline.

This one was especially favorable for the action because of it being concrete, he said. They knew it was going to stick around for longer.

Each of the tank boats cost about $80,000 at the time, which equates to about $1.4 million today, according to The Crete Fleet article.

Walkers on the DD-Wilkes Observatory Trail, where a cutoff down a steep hillside takes you to The Cement Ship, a scuttled concrete barge on the beach in DuPont, Washington, on Wednesday, June 5, 2024.

If you visit

At the lowest tides you can walk to the Concrete Hulk by parking at DuPont Civic Center and following the Sequalitchew Creek Trail through a forested canyon to Puget Sound along Pebbles Beach. The trail follows the historic route of the Dynamite Train, which was owned by the DuPont Co. and ended at a wharf on Puget Sound to ship dynamite worldwide.
LECOM Senior Living Center has been fined $182,160 after an incident Jan. 30 in which a resident attempted suicide after hoarding about 100 muscle-relaxing pills.

It comes less than a year after the Pennsylvania Soldiers' and Sailors' Home was fined $176,348 after two residents suffered second-degree burns when physical therapy staff used an electrical stimulation device with a defective cord.

These are the two highest fines imposed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on Erie County nursing homes since at least 2021, and rank among the highest CMS fines imposed statewide over the past two years.

"Medicare may impose penalties on a nursing home when there's a serious health or fire safety citation, or if the nursing home fails to correct a citation for a long period of time," a CMS spokeswoman said.

The incident at LECOM Senior Living Center, identified as Millcreek Manor by CMS and the Pennsylvania Department of Health, was reported during a state Health Department survey Feb. 23.

LECOM Senior Living Center resident hoarded muscle relaxers

A review of the facility's records showed that the resident, who was not identified in the report, was found unresponsive in their room Jan. 30, according to the survey. They were taken to a local hospital and successfully treated for an overdose of the muscle relaxer Tizanidine.

In a state Health Department interview Feb. 20, the resident said they would pretend to take their regular doses of the medication and hide the tablets.

"(It) wasn't hard, as many nurses didn't stay in the room while he/she took the pills and he/she easily slipped them into the sheets," the state Health Department report stated.

Sometimes the nurse would remain in the room, so the resident came up with a way to have their pills delivered in separate cups. The resident would stack an empty cup on top of the one with the pill in it, then fish it out of the trash after the nurse tossed away the cups.

After the suicide attempt, staff found a box in the resident's room with about 100 Tizanidine tablets in it.

The staff knew this particular resident was a suicide risk, according to the survey. The resident had been diagnosed with major depression and had attempted suicide three previous times, including twice in the previous five months.

The policy at LECOM Senior Living Center is that staff remain at bedside with a resident until all medications are taken.

LECOM Senior Living Center officials declined comment for this article. In the survey, the facility's administrator confirmed Feb. 20 that there were no staff competencies (special qualifications) for medication administration.

Because the facility had failed to implement sufficient safety measures to prevent hoarding pills and there were two other residents with histories of suicide attempts, the state Health Department determined there was what it calls an Immediate Jeopardy situation.

Changes were immediately put into place. Staff members were required to observe and ensure medications were swallowed, psychiatric services were offered for all residents with suicidal thoughts, mental health inpatient services were offered, and all nurses were trained on proper medication administration.

Soldiers' and Sailors' Home residents burned with E-stim device

The state Health Department also declared an Immediate Jeopardy situation at the Pennsylvania Solders' and Sailors' Home in May 2023 after two residents were burned by a malfunctioning electrical stimulation device, according to a May 23, 2023, state Health Department survey.

The first resident's burn was not documented until April 30, 2023  33 days after it occurred  "when nursing staff was made aware by the resident that the scab over the burn reopened, and that he/she had been burned by the E-stim device when staff 'hit the wrong button and it went zap,'" according to the state Health Department survey.

The second resident's burns were detected by physical therapy staff on April 19, when they noticed blisters on the resident's back due to the E-stim pads. This discovery launched an investigation in which the first resident's burns were found.

Both residents suffered second-degree burns, which included blisters, a darker skin tone, and a shiny, moist appearance, according to the survey.

The Pennsylvania Soldiers' & Sailors' Home, 560 E. Third St., was fined $176,348 by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services following an incident where two residents were burned by a malfunctioning electrical stimulator.

A document review determined that nine other residents were treated with the E-stim device but did not suffer burns. An inspection of the E-stim devices determined that one of the devices had a "bad cord," meaning it had an open connection.

Even when the burns were discovered, the malfunctioning E-stim device remained in service until May 1, 2023. There was no evidence that the therapy staff had completed safety checks of the device before using it on residents, the survey reported.

Because the malfunctioning device was not immediately removed from use after the two incidents, an Immediate Jeopardy situation was declared, according to the survey.

The facility's corrective plan included not using E-stim until new devices were obtained, educating staff on how to respond to adverse effects of the device, updating staff on E-stim procedures, and evaluating residents who receive E-stim for adverse reactions.

Messages left with the Soldiers' & Sailors' Home were not returned. The facility was also fined $8,500 by the state Health Department in connection with the incident.

Nursing home advocate: Inspections, fines tell part of the story

Families who have relatives in a nursing home or who are looking to place them in one shouldn't rely solely on inspection reports and fines when making a decision, said Shamberg, the Pennsylvania Health Care Association CEO.

"You also should contact the facility and talk with the administrator or members of leadership to find out what is really happening," Shamberg said.

Shamberg, whose organization advocates for Pennsylvania long-term care facilities and their residents, said the large fines can cause problems as well as serve as a deterrence.

More: Sarah Reed Senior Living fined $201,769 since 2021 for incidents injuring four patients

His staff pointed to a CMS proposal that would allow a facility to be fined per day and per instance at the same time.

"When you see large fines and penalties like what you have at those two facilities, it is less revenue for patient care, less for frontline staff," Shamberg said. "It could hurt the quality of care."

Contact David Bruce at dbruce@timesnews.com. Follow him on X @ETNBruce.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Nursing homes fined for serious lapses in patient care
House Freedom Caucus Chairman Scott Perry (R-PA) and Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-TX) depart after a press conference on the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) on July 14, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania is imploring House Speaker Mike Johnson to reconsider and reverse his decision to appoint fellow Pennsylvania U.S. Rep. Scott Perry and Rep. Ronny Jackson of Texas to the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.

Perry, who is under federal investigation, would be a threat to intelligence oversight, Houlahan wrote in a letter shared with the Capital-Star.

She cited testimony before the House Select Committee on Jan. 6 from Cassidy Hutchinson, an aide in former President Donald Trumps administration, who testified that Rep. Perry was a crucial part in the planning of January 6 and that Rep. Perry asked Trump for a pardon before he left office  indicative of someone who at a minimum believes himself to be above the law and above service to country, Houlahan (D-6th District) writes in the letter.

Johnson (R-La.) appointed Perry (R-10th District) and Jackson (R-TX), both of whom are considered loyal to Trump, to the committee on June 5. There was almost immediate pushback from members of Congress on both sides of the aisle over the appointments, which Punchbowl News reported Johnson made at Trumps urging.

Houlahan, an Air Force veteran who also serves on the intelligence committee, notes that the body has oversight of intelligence gathered from military branches and federal agencies including the FBI and the CIA, and plays a critical role in safeguarding our national security and upholding the Constitutional principles that protect American democracy.

The FBI seized Perrys cell phone in 2022 as part of an investigation into attempts to overturn the 2020 election. In December 2023, a federal judge ruled that Perry must disclose nearly 1,700 records from his personal cell phone to the investigation being conducted by special counsel Jack Smith.

That investigation calls into question Rep. Perrys judgment and portends his lasting entanglement in ongoing federal criminal investigations and prosecutions, Houlahan writes in the letter. Appointing him to the committee which oversees the FBI while he is under investigation amounts to a disqualifying conflict of interests, she adds.

Perrys office did not immediately reply to a request for comment on Tuesday.

Jackson, Trumps former White House physician, was demoted from Navy Admiral to Captain in 2021, Houlahan notes in the letter, after a Department of Defense Inspector General report found he had engaged in alcohol-related misconduct, misused a sedative and mistreated subordinates in the White House medical unit. Jackson has disputed the allegations.

This behavior would disqualify any non-member of Congress from carrying any security clearance, let alone accessing the numerous extraordinarily sensitive compartmented security clearances that will be afforded to Rep. Jackson as part of his responsibilities on the Intel Committee, Houlahan argues in the letter.

Jacksons office did not immediately reply to a request for comment on Tuesday.

Jackson and Perry, Houlahan argues, are unqualified for the committees sacred duty, and both have histories that make them more easily compromised by adversaries, if they are not already, creating a potentially grave risk to our national security.

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The post Houlahan asks Johnson to reverse Perry, Jackson appointments to House intel committee appeared first on Pennsylvania Capital-Star.
WASHINGTON  Deporting 11 million people. Banning abortion pills nationwide. Deploying U.S. troops against American citizens.

This is a sampling of Donald Trumps plans for a second presidential term. Theyre not strictly his plans; the far-right Heritage Foundation provided him with a 920-page Project 2025 blueprint that he intends to follow. It is full of radically conservative policy proposals, and is ultimately aimed at recruiting Trump loyalists to government jobs to destroy the so-called deep state  a supposed secret network of federal civil servants working with rich and powerful industry leaders to control the U.S. government.

Some of Trumps plans are so extreme  reintroducing firing squads?  that its hard to believe theyre real. But the GOP presidential hopeful has been clear about his agenda, and unlike 2016, this time hed enter the White House with a radical policy road map and a team of advisers eager to fill top administration posts and begin rolling it out on day one.

He hasnt explicitly said hed abide by Project 2025, but hes already shown that he will. In his first rally since his May 30 felony conviction for falsifying business records, the twice-impeached former president on Sunday lashed out at migrants coming into the United States illegally. His harsh characterizations mirrored those laid out in the policy guidebook.

Horrified by the prospect of any of Trumps plans becoming reality, House Democrats on Tuesday are launching a new congressional task force to prepare for a scenario in which Trump defeats President Joe Biden and begins dismantling the federal government, purging tens of thousands of federal workers and replacing them with vetted conservatives.

The goal of the Stop Project 2025 Task Force is twofold: to inform the public about how dangerous a second Trump term would be, and to do everything possible from a legislative perspective to prepare for the worst.

We have to mount the resistance in real time, Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.), who came up with the idea for the task force, told HuffPost. If were caught off guard by it, were going to be too late. This time theyve figured it out. Theyre going to be coming fast and furious.

Reps. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) and Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) are launching the Stop Project 2025 Task Force to try to warn the public about the risks of a second Trump presidency. Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call via Getty Images

Huffman said the task force will co-host a series of public forums with think tanks and scholars leading up to the Nov. 5 election. Each hearing will be led by a different Democratic lawmaker and spotlight specific sections of the Project 2025 policy book.

Most Americans dont realize what Trump is planning to do if he gets back into the White House, Huffman said, and if they did, they would want nothing to do with it. Trump could get moving with a lot of his plans even before inauguration, he added, given that his team has already vetted and proposed people for key roles.

For people who think something like The Handmaids Tale could never happen here, I think its happening in real time, Huffman warned. I believe were really close to having our democracy replaced by a dystopian, right-wing theocracy.

Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts called the Democrats task force amusing.

Project 2025 will not be stopped by an unserious, mistake-riddled press release or a task force of House Democrats lacking a basic understanding of federal governance, Roberts said in a statement.

Its amusing how those on the Left seem surprised that conservative policy organizations advocate for conservative policies, he said. Yet instead of addressing the issues caused by this administration and Congress, House Democrats are dedicating taxpayer dollars to launch a smear campaign against the united effort to restore self-governance to everyday Americans.

A Trump campaign spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.

Other Democratic task force members are Reps. Ted Lieu (Calif.), vice chair of the House Democratic Caucus; Nanette Barragan (Calif.), chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus; Judy Chu (Calif.), chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus; Mark Pocan (Wis.), chair of the Equality Caucus and Labor Caucus; Diana DeGette (Colo.), co-chair of the Pro-Choice Caucus; Jamie Raskin (Md.), co-chair of the Congressional Freethought Caucus; and Pramila Jayapal (Wash.), chair of the Progressive Caucus.

House Democrats arent the only ones in Washington worried that people outside of the Beltway bubble arent aware of Trumps day one agenda.

National Security Action, an advocacy group led by foreign policy experts from the Obama administration, is out with a new issue paper, titled American Carnage, that sounds all the alarms on Trumps national security agenda.

His policy plans on this front include withdrawing from NATO, starting a war in Mexico, carrying out mass executions, pulling the U.S. out of the Paris Climate Agreement and pardoning the pro-Trump violent extremists who participated in the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.

People should be alarmed, said Michael McFaul, a political science professor at Stanford University and the former ambassador to Russia under President Barack Obama.

Our greatest comparative advantage over adversaries in the world, including Russia and China, is we have allies. That has served us well, McFaul told HuffPost. Trump doesnt believe in allies. He wants to challenge that. Thats why its so disruptive.

Former U.S. Ambassador Michael McFaul, shown here at a briefing in the Ukrainian president's office on Sept. 8, 2023, in Kyiv, says he's concerned that many countries will start "hedging their bets" on their U.S. ties. Viktor Kovalchuk/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images

McFaul said he regularly travels overseas and is constantly asked by nervous allies who is going to win the presidential election in November. He said he worries that if Trump is reelected, many countries will start hedging their bets on whether they can rely on Americans to be their allies and will start leaning on other countries, such as China.

Nov. 5 will be one of the most important elections since the 1930s for the trajectory of what the United States is going to do in the world, said the former ambassador. Trying to go it alone wasnt a great idea in the 1930s, but trying to do it in the 21st century has radically negative consequences for our country.

Wendy Sherman, a former U.S. deputy secretary of state and the first woman in this position, said theres a reason why Biden so often talks about democracy.

Its to remind people that, without you even being aware of it, you can lose your freedoms, she said. You can lose your democracies.



Sherman said most people probably arent focused on the November election right now. This is why its vital, she said, that lawmakers, journalists and others keep spelling out why Trumps plans are so threatening to the country.

Its just critical that there is information, information, information, Sherman added. People all of a sudden will say, A-ha, this is serious. This is whats really at stake here.

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Democrats are already preparing to push back against Donald Trumps use of executive power if he wins control of the Oval Office, with the hope of crafting the sort of pre-written resistance playbook they lacked when he first won office in 2016.

Rep. Jared Huffman, D-Calif., is spearheading a task force to oppose Project 2025, the plan crafted by conservative groups to replace much of the current federal bureaucracy with reliably right-wing personnel and pursue dramatic policy changes through administrative fiat.

Project 2025 is the clearest signal we could possibly ask for in terms of what Trump would do in a second term, and it is alarming in every way, Huffman told Semafor. Weve got work to do to make sure people know about it and make sure they take it seriously.

Members of the task force plan to work with advocacy groups like Accountable U.S., Planned Parenthood Action Fund, and the Center for American Progress on research and disseminating polling, messaging, and organizing round tables within the next three months. Huffman said hes briefed Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries and expects Democratic Reps. Ted Lieu, Nanette Barragan, Jamie Raskin, Mark Pocan, and Pramila Jayapal to be part of the task force.

The Brennan Center was also mentioned in materials announcing the group, but a spokesman for the legal advocacy organization reached out to say it isnt now working with the task force, and it doesnt have plans to do so and were not consulted ahead of the announcement.

The Trump campaign has carefully insisted that the proposals contained in Project 2025 do not represent its official positions, even as Democrats have treated them as a blueprint for a GOP government in waiting.

The initiative, led by the Heritage Foundation, calls for fundamentally reshaping the government by making it easier to fire workers currently classified as civil servants. It would also restructure law enforcement agencies such as the FBI and Department of Homeland Security that have attracted conservative ire, while pushing policy on everything from immigration to abortion in a rightward direction.

I really think that this is like a Chinese menu of horrible things, Huffman said of Project 2025.

Kadias view

The fact that Democrats are making contingency plans for a Trump presidency five months before Election Day underscores the anxiety the party is feeling as polls show a tight presidential race, despite the former presidents recent felony conviction. As Huffman told Semafor, the party is worried that a second-term Trump would arrive ready to execute the sorts of plans his fractious, often disorganized White House was unprepared to at the start of its first go-around.

They have an agenda ready to go, Huffman said. They have come up with, you know, the most strategic, well organized policy blueprint they can put together. And 2016 was nothing like that. So honestly, its a huge difference, because this time they are prepared.
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, June 11. Uzbekistan and the World Bank discussed jointly developed projects, in particular the development of cities and their infrastructure in the regions (improving water supply, roads, creating new jobs, etc.), Trend reports.

The discussions took place during a meeting between Uzbekistans First Deputy Minister of Economy and Finance, Ilkhom Norkulov, and a World Bank delegation led by Christophe Pusch, head of the practice of urban development, disaster risk management, sustainable development, and land resources in the Europe and Central Asia region.

During the meeting, the sides talked about increasing the efficiency of cities and ensuring economic growth by supporting urbanization processes, as well as project financing mechanisms.

In addition, the parties discussed the contribution of projects to the processes of sustainable economic development as well as projects formed in the field of development of the use of land resources, in particular in the field of efficient land use and cadastre.

Meanwhile, the World Bank's total loan amount for Uzbekistan amounts to $4.5 billion.

A total of $3.5 billion has already been allocated to Uzbekistan, while $567.1 million can still be drawn down. The country also has $3 billion in debt to the bank.
Across Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska, nearly 79,000 households have a federal Housing Choice Voucher and have used it to find a home.

Housing vouchers offer vital support for Kansas families, but some landlords are reluctant to rent to those receiving assistance. (Getty Images)

Recently, a Manhattan resident contacted all five city commissioners of the Little Apple to express their frustration with suddenly being asked to vacate their long-term residential unit.

The individual described how difficult it is to find adequate housing elsewhere in the city because many landlords refuse to accept prospective tenants who use public assistance to afford housing in the private market. This is a practice commonly referred to as source of income discrimination.

Housing denied

Income discrimination in Manhattan, Kansas, rentals.

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This resident participated in the Housing Choice Voucher program. The HCV program is funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and administered by local public housing agencies, such as the Manhattan Housing Authority. Established under Section 8 of the 1937 National Housing Act, the voucher program is the federal governments largest program for assisting very low-income families, the elderly, and the disabled to afford decent, safe, and sanitary housing in the private market.

With this assistance, HCV tenants are able to find housing appropriate for their income and composition, such as single-family homes, duplexes, and apartments.

Only one-third of the 2.2 million housing voucher households in the United States are protected by a source of income nondiscrimination policy. This leaves nearly 1.5 million HCV households  largely composed of disabled and elderly folks, and single parents  vulnerable to being denied or asked to vacate their rental unit due to unwillingness of landlords to participate.

Inspired by the courage of the person who contacted their city commissioners, I decided to investigate why source of income discrimination occurs and estimate the acceptance rate of HCV tenants in Manhattan relative to the nation.

According to a 2018 report by the Urban Institute, there are two broad reasons why landlords refuse to accept prospective HCV tenants: stigma surrounding housing assistance recipients and bad experiences with the program.

Potential neighbors and landlords of HCV families fear their property values will decline and their community will experience a rise in crime  common prejudices held against people of color, as well as low-income and disabled people. Landlords also worry that that families receiving housing vouchers are more likely to damage the property and fail to pay rent than other tenants. These feelings exist despite a lack of evidence. In fact, HCV families live in their units an average of seven to eight years, compared with the two to three years unassisted tenants tend to reside in a rental unit.

Landlords are also concerned about their ability to charge HCV households the same rent unassisted tenants pay, evict bad tenants in the event of a lease violation, and control who they lease to.

However, HUD explains that landlords can charge the full rent no matter who the tenant is.

The onus is on the local public housing agencies and the prospective housing voucher tenants to determine an affordable rent given their monthly income and assistance. Furthermore, landlords can subject HCV tenants to the same screening and eviction processes agreed to by unassisted tenants, and there is no requirement that properties with such tenants exclusively lease to publicly assisted families.

In the same article by the Urban Institute, the group found that in cities from four states plus Washington D.C., an average of 53% of landlords denied leasing to prospective HCV tenants. However, in two of these cities  Washington, D.C., and Newark, New Jersey  source of income nondiscrimination policies are in effect. In the three cities without such protections  Fort Worth, Texas; Los Angeles; and Philadelphia  an average of 73.7% of landlords refused to accept HCV families.

To compare these national survey results to the acceptance rate of HCV tenants in Manhattan, I called a randomly selected group of landlords and property management companies with rental units in the city. The U.S. Census Bureaus American Community Survey estimates there are 14,561 rental units in Manhattan, of which my sample of respondents oversees 4,998  34.3% of the rental market in the city.

Based on information gathered from each landlord and property management company I surveyed, 3,610 units (72.2%) of their rental market share are unavailable to prospective housing voucher households.

The consequences of this widespread denial of housing to very low-income families are antithetical to the mission of public housing agencies, which aim to foster socioeconomically integrated communities where upward mobility and self-sufficiency will not be obstructed by place. With much of the market unavailable to voucher-holders, communities without source of income nondiscrimination policies are likely to see further concentration of low-income people into crowded, dilapidated housing in neighborhoods that lack access to public accommodations such as mass transit, food stores, parks and well-resourced schools.

To combat these adverse effects, a growing number of cities and states are enacting policies that protect people from source of income discrimination. Thanks to the brave housing voucher tenant who contacted the city commissioners, Manhattan is beginning to consider this policy route.

This article is one of four that will be published in the following days and is meant to explain the housing voucher program from the perspective of participants in Manhattan. I hope readers develop an appreciation for the effect this program has on their communities, specifically the people it helps  tenants and landlords.

Kelm Lear is an intern at the Manhattan Housing Authority. He is in the masters of public administration program at Kansas State University. Through its opinion section, the Kansas Reflector works to amplify the voices of people who are affected by public policies or excluded from public debate. Find information, including how to submit your own commentary, here.

The post Housing vouchers help shelter Kansas families. But too many landlords discriminate against them. appeared first on Kansas Reflector.
A jury convicted Hunter Biden of three felony counts in Delaware on Tuesday, marking the first time the child of a sitting president has been convicted of a crime.

Biden was found guilty of lying on gun paperwork and possessing a gun while battling an addiction to illegal drugs, all in violation of federal laws. The jury only deliberated for three hours before returning the guilty verdict.

Because they are federal crimes, his father, President Joe Biden, has the authority to offer him a pardon or at least commute his sentence to a lesser punishment. The White House has ruled out a pardon in the past, and the president confirmed to ABC News this week that he would not pardon his son.

President Biden responded to the verdict shortly after it was handed down, noting that he will accept the outcome of the case and will continue to respect the judicial process as Hunter considers an appeal.

The trial, which lasted just over a week, centered around a gun Hunter Biden owned for 11 days in October 2018 while he used crack cocaine and alcohol. Two of three counts involved Bidens filing of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) paperwork stating he was not a drug user and lying to a licensed gun dealer. The third count regarded his possession of the gun while he battled an addiction to drugs.

Hunter Bidens legal team has argued he did not consider himself to be an addict when he filled out the paperwork, attempted to paint his addiction as a battle with his mental health, and maintained that the trial was politically motivated. Hunter Biden possessing an unloaded gun for 11 days was not a threat to public safety, but a prosecutor, with all the power imaginable, bending to political pressure presents a grave threat to our system of justice, Bidens lawyer, Abbe Lowell, told CNN in September.

Witnesses in the trial included his ex-wife Kathleen Buhle; Bidens late brother Beau Bidens widow, Hallie Biden, whom Hunter later dated; his ex-girlfriend Zoe Kestan; and his daughter Naomi Biden.

Hunter Bidens exes detailed finding him smoking crack and their attempts to get him clean. Jurors were shown photos of Biden holding a crack pipe, a video from his phone weighing crack on a scale, and tests from his exes about his habitual crack usage.

Hallie Biden testified she found Hunters unloaded gun in his truck on Oct. 23, 2018, and tossed it into a Wilmington grocery store garbage can. I didnt want him to hurt himself, and I didnt want my kids to find it and hurt themselves, she told jurors, explaining her brief relationship with Hunter following the death of her husband and his brother Beau from brain cancer.

She testified that she did not see Hunter use drugs between a 2018 trip to a California rehabilitation center and the day she threw out the gun  which included the day he bought the gun. However, texts between Hunter and Hallie Biden show he told her he was waiting for a dealer and smoking crack, sent within the two days after he bought the gun.

Lowell said there was no connection between Hunter Bidens previous drug use and that of his state when he purchased the gun. Lowell pointed to a detoxification and rehabilitation program Hunter completed at the end of August 2018. There is no evidence of contemporaneous drug use and a gun possession, Lowell filed in court papers. Naomi Biden testified about the rehab program, saying she visited him at the rehab center and recalled him feeling hopeful.

Lowell added in the filing: It was only after the gun was thrown away and the ensuing stress that the government was able to then find the same type of evidence of his use (e.g., photos, use of drug lingo) that he relapsed with drugs.

Hunter Bidens conviction comes less than two weeks after his fathers Republican opponent in the 2024 presidential race, Donald Trump, was convicted of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. Trump and his allies have repeatedly insisted that the Justice Department is doing President Bidens political bidding  despite its current investigations into multiple Democratic lawmakers, and its probe into the presidents son.

Lowell has accused the Justice Department of succumbing to political pressure from Trump and Republican lawmakers. Hunter Biden is also the subject a separate tax case that he will also go on trial for after a deal with prosecutors fell through last summer after Trump-appointee U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika raised concerns about the deal.

Biden faces up to 25 years in prison, although being a first-time offender, he will likely get much less. He also faces a tax trial in September over felony charges alleging he didnt pay $1.4 million in taxes over four years.

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From the The Collision on The Dispatch

Welcome to a(nother) special emergency edition of The Collision! Dont worry, well have our regularly scheduled issue out on Thursday, too.

On Tuesday, a jury of his peers found Hunter Biden, the last living son of President Joe Biden, guilty on three felony gun charges.

As weve noted in this newsletter before, the younger Biden was indicted in Delaware last year by the Department of Justice (DOJ) for lying about his drug use on a federal firearms application form, lying about his drug use to a federally licensed gun dealer, and for possession of a firearm while being a user or addict of illegal drugs. (He also faces a separate federal indictment on tax charges in California, with that trial set to begin in September.)

Although the maximum sentence for these three offenses is a total of 25 years in prisona number you will no doubt hear a lot in the coming weeksfederal guidelines recommend a much shorter sentence. On the gun possession charge, for example, which is the most serious, the guidelines recommend 10 to 16 months in prison for someone with no criminal history. Federal judges are not bound by these recommendations, but the judge is required to consider them to calculate an appropriate sentence. And if she chooses to depart from the recommended sentence, she must publicly explain why. U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika, who presided over the trial, did not yet set a sentencing date.

That said, Hunter is likely to appeal the verdict. We are naturally disappointed by todays verdict, said Abbe Lowell, Hunters attorney, in a statement. We respect the jury process, and as we have done throughout this case, we will continue to vigorously pursue all the legal challenges available to Hunter.

In a pretrial motion, he argued both that he was the victim of selective prosecution and that barring drug users from owning guns violates the Second Amendment. As we wrote last week when discussing Donald Trumps avenues for appeal, however, selective prosecution claims rarely succeed.

Bidens Second Amendment arguments are more interesting. Last year, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit held that the same law Biden was convicted of violating was invalid as applied to an admitted marijuana user pulled over with a gun and a joint in his car, since law enforcement lacked evidence that he was high at the time. In doing so, the court also wrote that our history and tradition may support some limits on an intoxicated persons right to carry a weapon, but it does not justify disarming a sober citizen based exclusively on his past drug usage.

The jury read its verdict just hours before President Joe Biden was set to speak at an event in Washington and encourage congressional lawmakers to pass more gun control legislation. In a statement Tuesday, the president said that he and his wife Jill love our son.

As I also said last week, I will accept the outcome of this case and will continue to respect the judicial process as Hunter considers an appeal, added Biden, who changed his plans to travel to Wilmington on Tuesday afternoon.

Biden said in an ABC News interview last week that he would not pardon Hunter if he were convictedthough anchor David Muir did not ask whether the president would consider commuting his sons sentence. And if Biden were to lose the election in November, there likely wouldnt be many political ramifications for an 82-year-old, lame-duck president who spares his son jail time as he leaves office.

The Trump campaign, meanwhile, released its own statement Tuesday afternoon that suggested the prosecution of Hunter had been a distraction for more serious crimes implicating his father. This trial has been nothing more than a distraction from the real crimes of the Biden Crime Family, which has raked in tens of millions of dollars from China, Russia and Ukraine, Trump press secretary Karoline Leavitt said. Crooked Joe Bidens reign over the Biden Family Criminal Empire is all coming to an end on November 5th, and never again will a Biden sell government access for personal profit.

The genesis of both the gun and tax charges on Hunter Biden is a plea deal that was struck last year between his attorneys and the Justice Department but quickly fell apart. David Weiss, the DOJ attorney who was later named special counsel, initially charged the younger Biden with two misdemeanor tax evasion countsplus a felony gun chargein a deal that would have allowed Biden to face probation on the tax charges and pretrial diversion on the gun charge. But as we covered in our very first issue of The Collision, there was a dispute between the special counsel and Hunters lawyers in June 2023 about whether this deal would prevent Weiss and the DOJ from pursuing further charges. Eventually, however, the disagreement seemed resolved.

Until it wasnt. Noreika paused the plea deal in order to figure out some inconsistencies, but it didnt take long for the entire deal to collapse. Bidens legal team insisted that their client receive immunity from future charges; the Justice Department said no. (A pair of IRS whistleblowers from earlier in the year suggested the DOJ had slow-walked its investigation into Hunters unpaid back taxes, and emails uncovered by the New York Times indicate Weiss changed his mind and began pushing to bring tax charges after the whistleblowers went public.)

By August 2023, Weiss had requested and was granted special counsel status by Attorney General Merrick Garland, and the plea deal was out the window. A month later, the DOJ indicted Biden on the felony gun charges, followed by the felony tax charges in December.

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(Bloomberg) -- Hunter Biden was found guilty of gun charges by a federal court jury in Delaware, becoming the first child of a sitting US president to be convicted of crimes.

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The son of President Joe Biden was convicted of three counts of violating federal gun laws for illegally checking a box on a form stating that he wasnt an active drug user at the time he bought the firearm.

The week-long trial against Hunter Biden, 54, was punctuated by dramatic, emotional testimony from his family members and ex-lovers, who described his drug-fueled lifestyle when he was in the throes of addiction to crack cocaine from 2015 to 2019.

There have been two overarching themes emphasized by the prosecution during this trial: this defendants illegal choices and the rule of law, Special Counsel David Weiss told reporters after the verdict.

Ultimately, this case was not just about addiction, Weiss said. This case was about the illegal choices the defendant made while in the throes of addiction.

The verdict came less than two weeks after Joe Bidens chief rival for the presidency, Donald Trump, was found guilty by a New York jury of 34 counts of falsifying business records. Its unclear what, if any, impact the cases will have on the November election.

Hunter Bidens legal problems represent political and personal turmoil for his father as he runs for reelection. The gun case was the first of two criminal trials he faces, with the next being scheduled for Los Angeles in September on charges he violated tax laws.

Hunter Biden said in a statement that he is more grateful today for the love and support I experienced from family and friends than disappointed by the outcome. Recovery is possible by the grace of God, and I am blessed to experience that gift one day at a time, he said.

His lawyer said they will vigorously pursue all the legal challenges to the verdict.

President Biden has said hell respect the jurys verdict in the case and ruled out a pardon for his son.

I will accept the outcome of this case and will continue to respect the judicial process as Hunter considers an appeal, the elder Biden said in a statement. So many families who have had loved ones battle addiction understand the feeling of pride seeing someone you love come out the other side and be so strong and resilient in recovery.

Two of the gun counts carry a prison term as long as 10 years, and another is punishable by as many as five, though judges rarely impose maximum sentences.

A juror who asked to remain anonymous told reporters after the verdict that the jury was initially split 6-6 when they began deliberations on Monday. Those who were against a conviction just wanted more time to talk about the evidence and politics never came into play during the deliberations, the juror said.

Many family members, including First Lady Jill Biden, attended the trial, during which prosecutors read salacious excerpts from Hunter Bidens memoir, Beautiful Things.

Biden was charged by Weiss for illegally buying and possessing a gun on Oct. 12, 2018, after he checked no to a question about whether he was an active unlawful user of any controlled substance.

The government showcased evidence that Biden was addicted to crack cocaine, but failed to tie him to drug use on the specific day he bought the gun and filled out the form.

Unlawful use doesnt have to be on a specific day, prosecutor Leo Wise told the jury during closing arguments on Monday. If he used drugs in the days and weeks preceding the purchase, hes met the test for active addiction.

Hunter Bidens lawyers argued that he didnt knowingly violate the law because he may have thought he was clean at the time he purchased the gun. They also suggested that Biden may have been lying when he sent texts in the days after buying the gun indicating that he was looking to buy and use crack.

Weiss was nominated by Trump to serve as the US attorney for Delaware and kept on by Biden. He was appointed as a special counsel by Attorney General Merrick Garland in 2023 to manage the cases against Hunter Biden.

Weiss on Tuesday said Garland ensured that his office had the independence it needed to bring the case.

Hunter Biden and Weiss had agreed to a plea deal last year to resolve the gun and tax allegations, but the agreement fell apart under questioning by the judge overseeing the case. Bidens lawyers and supporters have argued that Weiss then bowed to political pressure by Trump and conservatives in bringing the charges.

The case is US v. Biden, 23-cr-00061, US District Court, District of Delaware (Wilmington).

(Updates with more comments throughout.)

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Hunter Bidens conviction on federal gun charges is the needle that pops former president and convicted felon Donald Trumps inflated and ludicrous claims of a rigged American justice system.

The evidence against President Joe Bidens son, like the evidence against Trump in his hush money case, was strong. And as in Trumps case in New York City, the prosecutors, the defense attorneys and, most important, the jurors did their jobs in Wilmington, Delaware.

They found the younger Biden guilty of buying a gun he knew he wasnt supposed to posses while knowingly lying on a federal form, saying he wasnt addicted to drugs. Hes guilty, he can appeal and the justice system worked as its supposed to work.

Hunter Biden's conviction neuters Trump's 'rigged trial' arguments

Hunter Biden, son of President Joe Biden, leaves his federal gun trial on June 11, 2024, in Wilmington, Del.

The system worked in Trumps case as well, but the Republican Party's presumptive presidential nominee and his minions have done everything possible to obscure that fact with lies and utter nonsense. Trump continues to rail against the judge in his case, to claim a state prosecution was somehow directed by President Biden  which isnt how anything works  and to whine endlessly about how hes being persecuted.

Throughout Trumps trial, shameless Republicans showed up to gripe and grouse and run cover for their new-felonious leader. They stood in clusters outside the Manhattan courthouse, all dressed the same to mirror Trumps suit-clad look, and babbled conspiratorial garbage while casting aspersions on the jurors who were their doing their civic duty.

Hunter Biden has been found guilty. But his drug addiction reflects America's problem.

Democrats didn't rally like cult members at Hunter Biden's trial

First lady Jill Biden, Hunter Biden and his wife, Melissa Cohen Biden, leave his federal gun trial in Wilmington, Del., on June 11, 2024, when a jury convicted him of lying on a federal screening form about his drug use, lying to a gun dealer and possessing the gun.

None of that happened in Hunter Bidens trial. The president has expressed support and love for his son, whose struggles with drug addiction are well documented, but he hasnt protested the case, called the prosecution unjust or done a thing to get in the way of the process.

Democrats didnt rally to Bidens sons side or stand like dimwitted lemmings outside the federal courthouse to rail against some make-believe injustice.

Look at the juxtaposition between Trumps response to his conviction and President Bidens response to his sons conviction.

Trump again called his trial rigged and a hoax, said the judge is a devil and said: These are bad people. These are, in many cases, I believe, sick people.

Following Hunter Bidens conviction, the president said in a statement: I will accept the outcome of this case and will continue to respect the judicial process as Hunter considers an appeal. Jill and I will always be there for Hunter and the rest of our family with our love and support.

If the DOJ is out to get Trump, why did it also get Biden's son?

President Joe Biden on May 31, 2024.

In Trumps desperate, spider-filled mind, President Biden has weaponized the Department of Justice against him. Again, Trumps conviction came in a New York state court, not in federal court, so that assertion lies somewhere between dumb and ignorant.

But now, are Trump and his MAGA Republican toadies actually going to argue that this weaponized Justice Department  this supposedly devious arm of the Democratic Party  hauled off and convicted the son of the sitting Democratic president?

Republicans think Trump is Jesus: Marjorie Taylor Greene compares Trump to Jesus. Which Bible is she reading?

Hunter Bidens conviction is no joke. He could be sentenced up to 25 years in prison.

And, further eviscerating Trumps the-justice-system-is-rigged fantasies, Biden faces another trial on federal tax charges in September.

Trump's claims of a rigged justice system do untold damage

Our justice system isnt rigged. Its working as it should, holding people accountable regardless of who they happened to be.

Trump will undoubtedly keep saying otherwise, doing untold damage to Americans' faith in one of the central parts of our democracy.

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.

His farcical claims will undoubtedly continue, and the embarrassing chorus of Republicans behind him will keep echoing the same pathetic bull.

But any person with brains enough to rattle can look at the jurys verdict in Hunter Bidens case and see that justice, while it can be imperfect, remained blind in these two high-profile cases.

The difference is one accepts it while the other whines and dissembles like witless fools.

Follow USA TODAY columnist Rex Huppke on X, formerly Twitter, @RexHuppke and Facebook facebook.com/RexIsAJerk.

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: Hunter Biden verdict kills Trump's claims of DOJ conspiracy
Hunter left court hand in hand with his stepmom, Jill Biden, and wife, Melissa Cohen Biden on Tuesday, June 11. He was convicted of three felonies following an emotional trial that rehashed his past drug addiction

Anna Moneymaker/Getty First lady Jill Biden, Hunter Biden, and Melissa Cohen Biden hold hands leaving the federal courthouse on June 11, 2024

Hunter Biden calmly departed a federal courthouse on Tuesday, June 11, flanked with support. He was making his first public appearance since becoming a convicted felon.

The first son was seen exiting the J. Caleb Boggs Federal Building in his hometown of Wilmington, Del., shortly after his conviction, smiling slightly as he walked hand-in-hand with his stepmother, first lady Jill Biden, and wife, Melissa Cohen Biden.

The visual summarized the historic nature of Hunter's trial, which saw the first-ever child of a sitting president found guilty of committing crimes.

Related: Hunter Bidens Guilty Verdict Live: President Biden Schedules Last-Minute Delaware Trip

Anna Moneymaker/Getty First lady Jill Biden, Hunter Biden, and Melissa Cohen Biden hold hands leaving the federal courthouse on June 11, 2024

Hunter, 54, was convicted of lying about his drug use to illegally obtain a gun in 2018, then possessing that gun for 11 days while addicted to a controlled substance.

The only surviving son of President Joe Biden reportedly spiraled into a crack cocaine addiction after the death of his older brother, Beau, in 2015. Hunter detailed his "tortuous path" to sobriety in his 2021 memoir, Beautiful Things.

Related: Joe Biden Gets Emotional Discussing Son Hunter's Memoir About Substance Abuse: 'It Gave Me Hope'

Anna Moneymaker/Getty Hunter Biden and wife Melissa Cohen Biden arrive to the Wilmington courthouse on June 11, 2024, hours before Hunter's conviction

The Biden family showed up in force throughout the trial, sitting front row in the courtroom to show support for Hunter.

Spotted at the courthouse since proceedings began on June 3 were Dr. Biden; Melissa; Hunters younger half-sister, Ashley Biden; Hunters eldest daughter, Naomi Biden; Hunter's son-in-law, Peter Neal; Hunters uncle, James Biden; James wife, Sara Jones Biden; Hunters aunt, Valerie Biden Owens; and the first ladys sister, Bonny Jacobs.

The first lady, who loyally attended the weeklong trial, missed the verdict reading by a few minutes on Tuesday, but arrived shortly afterward to support her son.

Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP/Shutterstock Beau, Jill and Hunter Biden attend one of Joe Biden's vice presidential debates

Related: Will Hunter Biden Go to Jail? What to Know About a Possible Sentence After His Conviction on Gun Charges

While President Biden did not attend any hearings, he released a statement quickly after the verdict was revealed.

"As I said last week, I am the President, but I am also a Dad," he wrote. "Jill and I love our son, and we are so proud of the man he is today. So many families who have had loved ones battle addiction understand the feeling of pride seeing someone you love come out the other side and be so strong and resilient in recovery."



The president continued: "As I also said last week, I will accept the outcome of this case and will continue to respect the judicial process as Hunter considers an appeal. Jill and I will always be there for Hunter and the rest of our family with our love and support. Nothing will ever change that.



Related: Joe Biden Rules Out Pardon for Hunter as He Vows to Respect Any Verdict in Son's Federal Gun Trial

Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Hunter Biden speaks to reporters in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 13, 2023

Hunter's sentencing date has not yet been set, but the hearing is expected to land in mid-October  just before his father's tough reelection battle against presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump. (Trump is also awaiting a sentence after he was convicted in May of concealing a scheme to corrupt the 2016 presidential election.)

The president's son faces up to 25 years in prison and up to $750,000 in fines for the gun charges. He is unlikely to receive the maximum sentence, but the decision rests solely in the hands of Trump-appointed District Judge Maryellen Noreika.

Hunter will stand trial once more this year, in Los Angeles, on nine federal tax charges. If convicted of all charges, he could be imprisoned for up to 17 years.

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A brief history of tragic presidential relatives, from Alice Roosevelt to Hunter Biden

A Delaware jury found Hunter Biden, the son of President Joe Biden, guilty on June 11, 2024, of three felony counts related to lying on a federal firearms application in 2018  making him the first child of a president to be convicted of a felony.

While Hunter Biden marked on the application that he was not using illegal drugs at the time, the jury determined that he was, in fact, lying about his drug use.

Joe Biden and his wife, Jill, issued a statement shortly after the jurys announcement, saying that they supported Hunter and that they would continue to respect the judicial process as Hunter considers an appeal.

The president has previously said that he would not pardon his son if he were found guilty of a federal crime.

Joe Biden has long defended his son amid his drug addiction and other personal issues, including a paternity scandal and ongoing court battle over child support.

The president responded to the news of Hunters charges on June 20, 2023, by saying he is very proud of my son.

I am a scholar of the American presidency and have looked at how the children and other family members of presidents have been thrust into the nations spotlight, often unwittingly. Their shortcomings, vices and sometimes even physical appearance have been fodder for gossip columns, political opponents and comedians.

Hunter Biden is not the first child of a president to be charged with a crime. Jenna and Barbara Bush pleaded no contest in 2001 to misdemeanor charges of underage drinking and using a false ID. Amy Carter was arrested for protesting in 1985, and before his father was president, Donald Trump Jr. was arrested for public drunkenness in 2001.

But nearly all presidents have had incidents involving their kids and other family members that attracted public scrutiny. Some of the events fall into questionable prank category, like when Tad Lincoln, the son of Abraham Lincoln, sprayed dignitaries with fire hoses.

Other incidents are less innocuous and amusing.

Hunter Biden, center, accompanied by his mother, first lady Jill Biden, left, and his wife, Melissa Cohen Biden, walks out of court after hearing the verdict on June 11, 2024. Associated Press

Youthful indiscretions

James Madison raised his troubled stepson, John Payne Todd, as his own. Todd regularly engaged in gambling, drinking and womanizing. Madison went deeply into debt trying to pay off Todds vices, including once bailing him out of debtors prison. In the mid-1800s, Todds debts eventually forced his widowed mother to sell the family estate, Montpelier.

Todd even had a lawyer visit his mother on her deathbed to rewrite her will, making himself her sole heir.

A colorized portrait of former President Theodore Roosevelts family features his oldest daughter, Alice, in the center. Stock Montage/Getty Images

Alice Roosevelt, the oldest child of Theodore Roosevelt, also presented some complications for her father during his presidency in the early 1900s.

Alice had a strained relationship with her father and his second wife, Edith. When her parents suggested sending her to a boarding school, Alice responded: If you send me, I will humiliate you. I will do something that will shame you. I tell you I will.

In a time when women were expected to be demur, Alice smoked, drank, partied and even sometimes wore a pet snake as an accessory.

Theodore Roosevelt once said, I can do one of two things: I can be president of the United States or I can control Alice Roosevelt. I cannot possibly do both.

Alice was later banned from the Taft White House after burying a voodoo doll in the likeness of the new first lady, Helen Herron Taft, on the property.

Neil Bush, son of George H.W. Bush and brother to George W. Bush, also has a colorful history.

Neil was the director of a large savings and loans company that collapsed in 1988, after it made improper and illegal loans. This cost taxpayers more than US$1 billion at the time and resulted in an embarrassing payout to federal banking regulators.

People also criticized Neil because of his ties to Chinese investors and his limited knowledge about industries that employed him, leading to accusations of influence peddling.

Neil Bush, like Hunter Biden, was also the subject of paternity accusations during his divorce.

Thats my brother

Presidential brothers have been another particular sore point for some presidents.

Lyndon Johnsons brother, Sam Houston Johnson, was often quite talkative after he had a few drinks. The president eventually had to use the Secret Service to follow his brother to ensure he didnt disclose any embarrassing information to the press .

Billy Carter, former President Jimmy Carters brother, reveled in his notoriety. As the presidents brother, he toured the country to make money and hawk his own Billy Beer.

He urinated on a runway before the press corps while waiting for people.

When Carter was running for reelection in 1980, Billy took money from the Libyan government and became a foreign agent for the country  while also making inflammatory and antisemitic statements to justify his behavior.

Billys association with Libya ultimately led to a Senate investigation and complicated his brothers failed reelection campaign.

Former President Bill Clinton comforts his half-brother Roger in 1994, shortly after their mothers death. POOL/AFP via Getty Images

Roger Clinton, the younger half-brother of former President Bill Clinton, also engaged in questionable activities. In the 1980s, before the Clinton presidency, Roger sold cocaine to an undercover officer.

Later, during the Clinton administration, Rogers Secret Service codename was Headache.

Bill Clinton pardoned Roger for his drug offenses right before leaving office in January 2001.

Keeping it in the family

Presidents are like everyone else. They, too, have family members who do or say things that eventually become stories for the dinner table  or tales people want to push under the rug.

Hunter Biden could potentially serve a maximum of 25 years in prison for this crime, though that is unlikely, since he is a first-time offender. He could also face a fine of US$750,000.

And he is still not free of other controversies. The Republican-controlled House is focusing its impeachment inquiry of Joe Biden on Hunters business deals in foreign countries. However, Republicans  who quickly responded to Hunters verdict as evidence of broader wrongdoing in the Biden family  have yet to produce evidence that fuels their impeachment case.

Hunter Biden has said that he is accountable for his actions, and I do not think it is fair to conflate the administration with the activities of an adult son.

He is not the first presidential relative who has caused turmoil, and he wont be the last.

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: Shannon Bow O'Brien, The University of Texas at Austin

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Shannon Bow O'Brien 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.
Hunter Biden Found Guilty on 3 Felony Charges for Falsely Swearing He Was Not an Addict in 2018 Gun Purchase

Hunter Biden was found guilty Tuesday of three felony charges related to his 2018 federal handgun purchase application, on which he lied by saying he was not a drug user during a time when he was addicted to crack cocaine.

The .38-caliber Colt Cobra Special was in his possession for 11 days and was never fired before it was dumped in a trashcan, according to his lawyers.

The 54-year-old faces up to 25 years in prison and is the first son of a sitting president convicted in federal court. The guilty verdict came after about three hours of deliberations in federal court in Wilmington, Delaware.

Two of the counts carry a maximum prison sentence of 10 years, while the third has a maximum of five years. Each count also carries a maximum fine of $250,000. No sentencing date has been set.

The trial, which lasted over a week, shined a light on Hunter Bidens drug addiction after he checked no on a federal gun purchase form. Prosecutors argued that President Bidens son knowingly lied on the gun application form that he did not use controlled substances before walking out of a Wilmington shop in 2018, armed.

Hunter Bidens ex-wife Kathleen Buhle, his late brother Beaus widow Hallie Biden, and an ex-girlfriend all took the stand to testify about his problematic drug use over the years. Hallie Biden was the one who discovered the gun in Hunter Bidens truck and during the trial, she testified that he was using drugs in 2018 when he purchased the firearm.

Naomi Biden, who was called to the stand by the defense, testified that her father seemed great at the end of 2018. She said she did not notice any signs of drug use but knew that her father struggled with addiction after his brother passed away.

Hunter Biden still faces another federal trial in California in September for allegedly avoiding paying taxes. Bidens legal challenges come as the president is seeking reelection in 2024 against Donald Trump.

Biden has shown support for his son, saying in a statement as the trial began that Hunters resilience in the face of adversity and the strength he has brought to his recovery are inspiring to us.

The president has the authority to pardon his son but said in an ABC News interview last week that he has no plans to do so.

The post Hunter Biden Found Guilty on 3 Felony Charges for Falsely Swearing He Was Not an Addict in 2018 Gun Purchase appeared first on TheWrap.
Hunter Biden, the President's only surviving son, stood trial in Delaware on three felony charges connected to his 2018 firearm purchase. He allegedly made false statements and illegally possessed the firearm due to his reported drug use at the time.

On Tuesday, June 11, the jury, which consisted of 12 individuals, including a substitute teacher, a former Secret Service employee, and several gun owners, went into deliberation.

After just a few hours, the jury came back with a verdict in Hunter Biden's gun trial.

Why Was Hunter Biden On Trial?

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President Joe Biden's son, Hunter Biden, was on trial after a four-page indictment accused him of lying on paperwork for purchasing a Colt Cobra revolver in 2018.

As reported by The Washington Post, the indictment alleges Hunter falsely claimed he was not addicted to or using illegal drugs, knowing this was untrue. The required form asked: "Are you an unlawful user of, or addicted to, marijuana or any depressant, stimulant, narcotic drug, or any other controlled substance?" Hunter answered, "No," although it is believed he was using drugs at the time.

Hunter has previously been candid about his addiction, leading many to speculate that the cocaine found in the White House last year belonged to the President's son.

Jury Finds Hunter Biden Guilty

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Hunter Biden faced three felonies in connection to his alleged revolver purchase in October 2018.

Two of these charges allege that he provided false statements regarding his drug use on a federal gun form, stating he was neither using nor addicted to controlled substances despite an alleged addiction to crack cocaine. The third charge relates to the unlawful possession of the firearm, which he purportedly held for 11 days before Hallie Biden discarded it.

The jury has found Hunter Biden on all three counts. Two of those counts carry a maximum sentence of 10 years, and one carries a maximum sentence of 5 years. However, as he is a first-time offender, it is unlikely that he will receive the maximum sentence.

The verdict comes after attorney Abbe Lowell claimed "nothing on the form about the definition of a user" and that Hunter's drug use "did not start until later."

Lowell also told the jury that Hunter's behavior when purchasing a gun in Delaware was "totally inconsistent" with how he had acted while under the influence of drugs.

Hallie Biden Takes The Stand In Gun Trial

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Throughout Hunter Biden's trial, many witnesses testified, including Hallie Biden, who disposed of his gun.

On Thursday, June 6, 2024, Hallie testified as to why she decided to dispose of the gun, claiming she "panicked."

"I wanted to get rid of them," she told the jury, per CBS, referring to the gun and the bullets she found. "I didn't want him to hurt himself or the kids to find it and hurt themselves."

I took it to a grocery store up the road, and I threw it away ... into a trash can, she explained as the court showed surveillance footage of her in the grocery store parking lot. I was so flustered. I realize it was a stupid idea now.

Also, in her testimony, the 50-year-old, who dated Hunter shortly after Hunter's brother-in-law passed away, admitted that she used crack cocaine herself after the President's son introduced the drug to her. "It was a terrible experience that I went through, and I'm embarrassed and ashamed, and I regret that period of my life," she said, per CBS.

Hunter Biden's Ex Testified

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In addition to Hallie Biden, Hunter Biden's ex-wife Kathleen Buhle testified, claiming that although she did not witness him using drugs, she discovered narcotics in their home and his car.

In her testimony, Buhle, who was married to Hunter Biden for 20 years, mentioned that although she couldn't specify the exact times she saw paraphernalia or witnessed Hunter using drugs, she first became aware of his drug use in July 2015 when she found a crack pipe in an ashtray on their porch in Washington, D.C.

"On occasion, she found a broken pipe, something to clean the pipe, white powder, white crystal remnants, and other drug paraphernalia," NBC reported during the trial. "She would also search Bidens car for drugs when he left it for his daughters to use because she didnt want her daughters driving a car with drugs in it."

The two divorced in 2017. They share three daughters.

President Joe Biden's Son Faces Nine Federal Tax Charges

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In addition to the gun trial, Hunter Biden faces nine federal tax charges that are separate from the current case. The tax charges, filed by Weiss' office in the Central District of California, accuse Hunter Biden of a "four-year scheme" to avoid paying at least $1.4 million in federal taxes.

These tax charges are not admissible in his Delaware gun trial, and Hunter has pleaded not guilty to them.
Insights from The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and Reuters

The News

US President Joe Bidens son Hunter has been found guilty on all charges in his federal gun trial.

Prosecutors argued Hunter lied on an application to buy a gun in 2018 about his substance use. He is facing separate tax-related charges in California; the trial is slated for later this year.

Abbe Lowell, Hunters attorney, said the team is naturally disappointed by todays verdict, and that they respect the jury process and will continue to vigorously pursue all the legal challenges available to Hunter.

President Biden said after the verdict he will accept the outcome of this case and will continue to respect the judicial process.

Hunters conviction came weeks after former president and current presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump was convicted on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to unfairly influence the 2016 presidential election.

SIGNALS

Semafor Signals: Global insights on today's biggest stories.

Hunters legal troubles could hurt his fathers campaign

Sources: The New York Times, Reuters

The net effect of the firearms and tax cases against Hunter could undercut Bidens advantage over Trump on ethical issues, conservative New York Times columnist Bret Stephens wrote. Its definitely not a good look, Kate Andersen Brower, an expert on the history of the presidency, told the BBC; the trial certainly exposed a side of the Biden family in contrast with the presidents personal image, and he has kept his distance from the trial. And in a February Reuters poll, 23% of respondents said Hunters legal problems made them less likely to vote for his father. Meanwhile, allies of the president are worried that the trial could prove a distraction for voters away from issues they care about.

Biden and Trumps trials showcase a tale of two parties

Sources: Financial Times, The Wall Street Journal

The Trump and Biden cases are a tale of two parties, columnist Edward Luce wrote for the Financial Times. The president could pardon his son  a grace Trump has extended to several political allies and associates charged with crimes  but has insisted he will not. If Biden is, as some right-wing pundits and politicians have alleged, rigging the system, he has a funny way of showing it, Luce wrote. Many Republicans have tried to portray the Biden family as corrupt for years, and have tried to link Hunters alleged misdeeds to his father. But the Biden campaign doesnt think voters will ultimately see Hunters legal woes in the same light as Trumps conviction and remaining felony charges, one adviser told The Wall Street Journal.

Hunter may not spend time in jail, despite conviction

Sources: Newsweek, The BBC

Despite the conviction, Hunter Biden is unlikely to face jail time, a defense attorney told Newsweek. Conviction for this type of crime generally does not result in a prison sentence, he said. But the presidents son faces a maximum sentence of 25 years, and other attorneys think it is possible he will spend some time incarcerated. Ultimately, the judge has wide discretion in handing down a punishment.
UPDATED with POTUS statement: Hunter Biden, the son of President Joe Biden, was found guilty Tuesday of three felony counts related to the purchase of a gun in 2018.

A jury in Wilmington, DE, rendered its verdict after three hours of deliberations. The verdict was covered across all major news networks, although news cameras were not allowed in the courtroom. Broadcast networks also broke into programming for special reports.

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Biden faces up to 25 years in prison and a fine of up to $750,000. His sentence is likely to be much less than that given he is a first-time offender.

Bidens trial was the latest criminal proceeding that has infused the 2024 presidential race. It started just days after a New York state jury convicted former President Donald Trump of 34 felonies. While Trump and his allies lashed out at the verdict as the result of a rigged political process, President Biden has been cautious about what he says about the judicial process related to his son. Republicans have long made Hunter Biden a political target, but President Biden said in an interview last week that he would accept his sons verdict and had ruled out a pardon.

Biden was charged with three felonies, including accusations that he lied on federal paperwork by saying that he was not using or addicted to drugs when he acquired the firearm. Biden has long acknowledged an addiction to crack cocaine, but has since gotten sober.

First Lady Jill Biden was among those who has been present during some of the proceedings, along with other family members. She was also at the courthouse today.

Hunter Biden said in a statement, I am more grateful for the love and support I experienced this last week from Melissa, my family, my friends and my community than I am disappointed by the outcome. Recovery is possible by the grace of God, and I am blessed to experience that gift one day at a time. His attorney, Abbe Lowell, said that they respect the jury process and will continue to vigorously pursue all the legal challenges available to Hunter.

The president said in a statement, As I said last week, I am the president, but I am also a Dad. Jill and I love our son, and we are so proud of the man he is today. So many families who have loved ones battle addiction understand the feeling of pride seeing someone you love come out the other side and be so strong and resilient in recovery.

As I also said last week, I will accept the outcome of this case and will continue to respect the judicial process as Hunter considers an appeal. Jill and I will always be there for Hunter and the rest of our family with our love and support. Nothing will ever change that.

Hunter Bidens attorneys claimed that their client did not consider himself an addict at the time he filled out the form for the gun purchase. But prosecutors presented extensive evidence detailing the seamier aspects of his life when he was in the throes of using, including playing portions of the audio version of his memoir, Beautiful Things. Biden possessed the gun for 11 days, until Hallie Biden, his brothers widow who he had briefly dated, found it and threw it in the trash.

Biden also faces tax charges in Los Angeles, in a case that is scheduled for trial this fall.

Biden did not testify in his own defense. Last year, it looked as if he would plead guilty to charges as part of a deal with prosecutors, but it fell apart as the judge presiding questioned the arrangement. Republicans at the time also accused the Justice Department of arranging for leniency for the presidents son.

The president has not been at the courthouse. Later today, Biden is scheduled to speak at Everytown Gun Sense University to talk about gun violence prevention.

On NBC News, correspondent Laura Jarrett said, Its obviously a devastating blow to Hunter Biden and the Biden family, but its not entirely unexpected as the evidence here was really challenging for the defense.

CNN interviewed one of the jurors, who said that the initial vote among the dozen was 6-6. This morning, it was 11-1. That holdout was eventually convinced by late morning.

Coverage of the verdict quickly turned to the potential political impact. On CNN, Kate Bedingfield, the former White House communications director under Biden, said that everybody in this country can relate to having somebody in their family that they love struggling with addiction, and the challenge that puts your family through. She noted that was a point that Joe Biden made during the 2020 presidential debates.

This really undermines the argument that Trump has been making about Joe Biden weaponizing the justice system, she said.

On Fox News, anchor Harris Faulkner said that she cant imagine a world we live in, a current president who is running for reelection, bringing this case up as a reason to reelect him, before pointing to the presidents dismal poll numbers. Biden, however, has rarely brought up his sons troubles unless asked about it.

Legal commentator Jonathan Turley claimed that everyone is taking the presidents denial of any intent to pardon with a grain of salt. This is before the election. If he were a lame duck president, things may change dramatically.

Stephen Miller, senior adviser to Trump, floated a conspiracy theory that the Hunter Biden trial was an easy op for the DOJ to sell a pliant media that is all too willing to be duped. Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed David Weiss as special counsel in the case last year.

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WILMINGTON, Delaware  Hunter Biden, the son of President Joe Biden, was found guilty Tuesday of three felony charges stemming from his purchase of a handgun in 2018.

Biden, 54, is the first child of a sitting U.S. president ever to be convicted in a criminal trial. The president said last week that he would not pardon his son.

The jury of six men and six women issued its unanimous verdict after three hours of deliberations.

Biden remained perfectly still as a court clerk read the verdict aloud. Before leaving the courtroom, he hugged his lawyers and kissed his wife, Melissa Cohen Biden. He and his wife, along with first lady Jill Biden, departed from the courthouse a few minutes later in Secret Service SUVs.



Biden faces a maximum prison sentence of 25 years but is much more likely to receive two years or less  or even no prison time at all, because he is a first-time offender and the crimes involved only a single gun that was never used violently. Judge Maryellen Noreika, who oversaw the trial, will determine the sentence. She said she expects to conduct sentencing in about four months.

Biden also faces federal criminal charges for allegedly failing to pay more than $1.4 million in taxes on time. A trial in that case is scheduled to begin in September in Los Angeles. Special counsel David Weiss brought both the gun case and the tax case after years of investigating the presidents son.

Speaking to reporters after the verdict, Weiss defended the prosecution and hinted that his team wont seek a severe sentence.

No one is above the law, Weiss said. "However, Hunter Biden should be no more accountable than any other citizen convicted of this same conduct. The prosecution has been and will continue to be committed to this principle."

Weiss was originally appointed as Delawares top federal prosecutor by Donald Trump and was later made a special counsel by Attorney General Merrick Garland.

The gun-related charges spawned from Bidens purchase of a Colt revolver at a Wilmington gun shop in October of 2018. At the time, prosecutors said, Biden was in the throes of addiction to crack cocaine. Prosecutors alleged that he signed paperwork at the time of the purchase falsely claiming he did not use illegal drugs. It is illegal for drug users to possess guns, and it is illegal to lie on gun-purchasing forms.

Prosecutors said Biden possessed the gun for 11 days before his brothers widow, Hallie Biden, found it and threw it in a trash can outside a high-end grocery store. A man who scavenges through trash cans for recyclables then found the gun and later provided it to police.

Biden is sure to appeal the conviction. In pretrial motions, his lawyers contended that the federal law barring drug users from having guns is unconstitutional under the Supreme Courts increasingly expansive view of the Second Amendment right to bear arms. Noreika, a Trump appointee, rejected the constitutional argument, but Bidens team is expected to raise it again on appeal.

Biden's lawyers also filed motions during the trial asking Noreika to toss out the charges based on a lack of proof. Those motions, which are rarely granted, remain pending.

The trial began on June 3. Among the witnesses called by prosecutors were three of Bidens former romantic partners, all of whom testified about his frequent drug use in 2018.

The trial reached its emotional apex on Friday, when one of Bidens daughters, Naomi Biden, took the stand for the defense to testify about his condition around the time that he bought the gun. She said she saw him in New York shortly after the date he bought the gun, and that he seemed to be doing well.

But during cross-examination, prosecutor Leo Wise confronted her with text messages she exchanged with her father when he was in the city. In one exchange, he texted her around midnight and again around 2 a.m., seeking to retrieve a borrowed truck. In another exchange, she told her father, Im really sorry, Dad. I just cant take this.

When she texted her father that she missed him and wanted to see him, he apologized for being unreachable.

Hunter Biden declined to testify in his own defense.

After the verdict, Biden said in a statement: I am more grateful today for the love and support I experienced this last week from Melissa, my family, my friends, and my community than I am disappointed by the outcome. Recovery is possible by the grace of God, and I am blessed to experience that gift one day at a time.

His lead attorney, Abbe Lowell, expressed disappointment in the verdict. We respect the jury process, and as we have done throughout this case, we will continue to vigorously pursue all the legal challenges available to Hunter, Lowell said.

The conviction is sure to be a source of deep pain for the president, who has long worried about the impact of the case on his only surviving son. The president fears not only that his son may be incarcerated, but also that the case could imperil his sobriety.

As I said last week, I am the President, but I am also a Dad, the president said in a statement after the verdict. Jill and I love our son, and we are so proud of the man he is today. So many families who have had loved ones battle addiction understand the feeling of pride seeing someone you love come out the other side and be so strong and resilient in recovery.

As I also said last week, I will accept the outcome of this case and will continue to respect the judicial process as Hunter considers an appeal, the president continued.

The verdict comes just weeks before the first presidential debate, scheduled for June 27. The president will face Trump, who is himself a newly convicted felon. Its the latest episode of a campaign season that has become inextricably linked with the criminal justice system, though the Trump campaign was largely silent during the Biden trial after years of attacks on the presidents son.

Biden nearly avoided facing trials on both the gun charges and the tax charges. Last year, Weiss office and Bidens legal team struck a tentative deal in which Biden would have pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor tax charges and submitted to drug testing and other monitoring. Under the deal, prosecutors would have deferred the gun charges and eventually dropped them if Biden remained out of trouble.

But the deal fell apart after Noreika asked questions about its details.

Bidens lawyers have contended that Weiss  a federal prosecutor originally appointed by Trump  brought overly harsh charges in both cases as a result of pressure from Republicans.

Eugene Daniels contributed to this report.
Hunter Biden, son of U.S. President Joe Biden, leaves the J. Caleb Boggs Federal Building on June 11, 2024 in Wilmington, Delaware. Credit - Anna MoneymakerGetty Images

For the first time, a sitting Presidents son has been convicted of a felony in a criminal trial.

A federal jury in Delaware on Tuesday found Hunter Biden guilty for lying about his drug use when buying a gun in 2018. Prosecutors had presented the jury with photos, testimony and messages that showed Biden had a .38 caliber Colt Cobra revolver for about 11 days during a period he had previously acknowledged he had been struggling with drug addiction.

The jury deliberated for about three hours over two days and found Biden guilty of three felonies including making a false claim on a gun purchase form that he was not a drug user, lying to a federally licensed firearms dealer, and unlawfully possessing the weapon for 11 days.

First Lady Jill Biden arrived at the courthouse in Wilmington to show her support for Hunter Biden shortly after the verdict was read on Tuesday morning. His aunt Valerie Biden Owens and his uncle James Biden were also at the courthouse Tuesday. During closing arguments on Monday, President Biden had arranged his schedule so he would be at his home about 5 miles from the federal courthouse for most of the day before returning to the White House for a concert marking Juneteenth on the South Lawn.

Biden is the first sitting president to have to contend with running the country while their child was being prosecuted by their own Justice Department. The jury's decision is not only a crushing blow to the President and his family, but throws an unpredictable wrench in a presidential race that could be a nail biter. Hunter Bidens conviction comes less than two weeks after a Manhattan jury found former President Donald Trump guilty of 34 felony counts for falsifying business records to cover up hush money paid to a porn star. Democrats have expressed hope that Trump's new status as a felon will undermine his appeal to swing voters. It's unclear if the conviction of the current President's own son will shift the contours of the contest.

Biden has repeatedly said he would not interfere with the judicial process in his sons case, vowing to accept the jurys verdict and ruling out using his authority to pardon Hunter. I will accept the outcome of this case and will continue to respect the judicial process as Hunter considers an appeal, President Biden said in a statement released after the guilty verdict on Tuesday.

In his statement, Biden spoke directly to Hunter Bidens struggle with drug addiction, saying that so many families who have had loved ones battle addiction understand the feeling of pride seeing someone you love come out the other side and be so strong and resilient in recovery. Biden said that he and the First Lady will always be there for Hunter and the rest of their family. Jill and I love our son, and we are so proud of the man he is today, Biden said.

After the verdict, Hunter Biden said in a statement that he is disappointed by the outcome but more grateful for the love and support shown by his family and friends. He also referenced his efforts to recover from drug addiction. Recovery is possible by the grace of God, and I am blessed to experience that gift one day at a time, he said.

Bidens defense team had argued in court that Biden bought the gun during a period of sobriety while he was swinging back and forth between drug use and rehabilitation. The defense also claimed that the federal form was too vague about what defined a drug user or how long before purchasing a gun a person was expected to have not used illegal drugs

But the jury believed Justice Department prosecutors had shown enough evidence that Hunter Biden was a drug user at the time of the purchase to convict him.

In his closing argument, prosecutor Leo Wise told jurors that no one was above the law and that the jury should take into account Hunter Bidens pattern of drug use; evidence presented during the trial suggested he had used drugs weeks before purchasing the gun and in the days after.

The trial shined a harsh spotlight on Hunter Bidens internal family turmoil, particularly in the years following the death of his older brother Beau Biden from brain cancer in 2015. Hunters daughter Naomi as well as his brothers widow Hallie were called to testify and exposed the turbulent times Hunter Biden went through as he struggled with drug addiction after his brother died.

Hallie Biden had a brief, combustible relationship with Hunter Biden after Beaus death. She told the jury how she found an unloaded handgun while searching Hunters truck in October 2018 and was worried Hunter might use it on himself or that her children might find it. So, she said, she took the gun and threw it away into a garbage can at a Wilmington grocery store. That set in motion a chain of events that resulted in Hunter Biden being charged with federal drug crimes.

Hallie had testified that she didnt see him use drugs during the days immediately around the gun purchase. But prosecutors showed the jury a text message about drug use the day before he bought the gun and another message sent the day after.

Hunter Biden also faces federal tax charges in Los Angeles for allegedly failing to pay at least $1.4 million in taxes on income from foreign businesses. He has pleaded not guilty to those charges. That case is set to go to trial in September.

The gun charges were brought after a years-long investigation by Department of Justice Special Counsel David Weiss, the U.S. Attorney for Delaware who was appointed by former President Donald Trump. Weiss initially began investigating Hunter Bidens tax affairs in December 2020, weeks after Joe Biden won the 2020 election.

The decision by Weiss to bring the gun case to trial drew surprise in some legal circles, as its an offense thats rarely prosecuted. Hunter Biden had previously reached an agreement with the Justice Department to plead guilty to two misdemeanor tax charges and avoid prosecution on the gun charge if he was willing to submit to probation, enter a diversion program, remain drug-free for 24 months, and agree to never own a firearm again. But that deal fell apart in court in July 2023.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  After a weeklong trial and about three hours of jury deliberations, the son of a sitting president has been found guilty.

Hunter Biden walked out of a courtroom holding First Lady Jill Bidens hand. A Delaware jury convicted him of lying about his drug use when he bought a gun in 2018.

Special Counsel David Weiss spoke after the conviction.

No one in this country is above the law, Weiss said.

Prosecutors showed the jury text messages about drug dealers and played audio of Hunters own memoir describing drug use.

This case was not just about addiction. This case was about the illegal choices the defendant made while in the throes of addiction, Weiss said.

The defense argued Hunter didnt consider himself an addict when filling out the gun purchase forms.

The president said in a statement he accepts the outcome of the case and respects the judicial process. He went on to say: I am the President, but I am also a Dad. Jill and I love our son, and we are so proud of the man he is today.

Hunter Biden also released a statement saying hes grateful for his familys support during this trial but disappointed by the outcome.

He faces up to 25 years in prison, but it might not be that long. Syracuse University Law Professor Lauryn Gouldin says sentencing guidelines for first-time offenders are shorter.

Potentially a year or two in prison. But the guidelines are just recommendations for judges. Judges can take into account other circumstances, Gouldin said.

Republicans have largely supported the verdict.

We think that this is a long day in coming, Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa.) said.

Democratic Congressman Jamie Raskin says you wont see Democrats respond like Republicans did after former president Donald Trumps conviction.

You dont hear a single peep out of any Democrat. Why? We believe in the rule of law, Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) said.

Hunter Bidens lawyer says theyll pursue all legal challenges available.

A sentencing date has not been set yet. The judge said that could be about four months out.

This case isnt the end of Hunter Bidens legal troubles. Hell be back in court this September in California for a federal trial over allegedly avoiding taxes.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Hunter Biden has been charged with three felony counts tied to a handgun purchase in 2018, and faces up to 25 years in prison and $750,000 in fines.

All major TV networks broke into regularly scheduled programming with the verdict shortly after 11 am ET. You can watch ABC News report above.

More from TVLine

According to The New York Times, President Joe Bidens son was found guilty of lying on a federal firearms application in 2018, saying that he was not using or addicted to drugs at the time of the purchase.

Hunter, who has long been forthcoming about his addiction to cocaine, is now sober.

The guilty verdict comes as his father enters the final months of his reelection campaign, and two weeks after the Republican challenger for the White House, former President Donald Trump, was found guilty on all 34 felony counts in his hush money trial.

Just last week, President Biden told ABC News David Muir that he would accept the verdict and would not attempt to pardon Hunter. (According to the Times, first-time offenders who did not use their weapons to commit a violent crime typically receive no jail time.)

As I said last week, I am the President, but I am also a Dad, POTUS reiterated in a statement Tuesday. Jill and I love our son, and we are so proud of the man he is today. So many families who have had loved ones battle addiction understand the feeling of pride seeing someone you love come out the other side and be so strong and resilient in recovery. As I also said last week, I will accept the outcome of this case and will continue to respect the judicial process as Hunter considers an appeal. Jill and I will always be there for Hunter and the rest of our family with our love and support. Nothing will ever change that.

Biden and Trump will soon meet for the first debate of the 2024 election cycle, to be held on Thursday, June 27, and air on CNN. Jake Tapper and Dana Bash will moderate.

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Hunter Biden has been found guilty on all gun counts. Far-right Republicans are still whining.

Hunter Biden has been found guilty on all gun counts. Far-right Republicans are still whining.

Far-right commentators couldnt help but whine on social media moments after Hunter Biden became a convicted felon - despite asking for years for his conviction.

The jury unanimously convicted Biden Tuesday on all three of his felony counts in the gun case. The decision was historic and marked the first time the child of a sitting US president has been found guilty of a crime.

Rightwing commentators and allies of former president Donald Trump have argued that the justice system is biased against conservatives in general and Trump in particular. Trump was convicted of 34 felonies in New York state court for falsifying business records in an effort to influence the outcome of the 2016 election.

They unloaded after the conviction with complaints and conspiracy with one even saying it benefits Hunters dad: This is all about protecting Joe Biden.

First lady Jill Biden, Hunter Biden, son of U.S. President Joe Biden, joined by his wife Melissa Cohen Biden, leave the J. Caleb Boggs Federal Building on June 11, 2024 in Wilmington, Delaware (Getty Images)

Hunter Biden guilty. Yawn. The true crimes of the Biden Crime Family remain untouched, Charlie Kirk, the founder of the rightwing youth organization Turning Point USA wrote on X. This is a fake trial trying to make the Justice system appear balanced. Dont fall for it.

This is a tiny consolation of justice. Really, it should be much more... The most egregious thing that Hunter Biden has done is money laundering to hide the selling out of his country to foreign interests by the promise of access to his father, Buck Sexton said on his podcast with Clay Travis.

Delaware jury just found Hunter Biden guilty on all three counts of lying on a federal firearms form. This doesnt undo any of the treason Joe Biden and the Uniparty have committed, Paul A. Szypula wrote on X.

Hunter Biden guilty.



Yawn.



The true crimes of the Biden Crime Family remain untouched.



This is a fake trial trying to make the Justice system appear "balanced."



Don't fall for it.  Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) June 11, 2024

Former Trump administration immigration official Stephen Miller added that the Justice Department is running election interference for Joe Biden thats why DOJ did NOT charge Hunter with being an unregistered foreign agent (FARA) or any crime connected with foreign corruption. Why? Because all the evidence would lead back to JOE. DOJ is Joes election protection racket.

Theres no evidence that the president has been involved in his sons foreign business dealings, which has been the subject of the House Republicans floundering impeachment probe into the president.

The gun charges are a giant misdirection. An easy op for DOJ to sell to a pliant media that is all too willing to be duped. Dont be gaslit. This is all about protecting Joe Biden and only Joe Biden, Miller claimed.

The chair of the House Oversight Committee James Comer said that the conviction of Hunter Biden was a step toward accountability.

HUNTER BIDEN GUILTY ON ALL 3 CHARGES



Now can we put him on trial for the actual crimes people care about like the foreign bribes in China, Ukraine, and other countries that he took on behalf of Joe Biden?  DC_Draino (@DC_Draino) June 11, 2024

But he added that until the Justice Department investigates everyone involved in the Bidens corrupt influence peddling schemes it will be clear department officials continue to cover for the Big Guy, Joe Biden.

Republican Florida Representative Matt Gaetz wrote on X that The Hunter Biden gun conviction is kinda dumb tbh.

The difference here is they know Joe will pardon Hunter before sentencing, former one-term Congressman Madison Cawthorn wrote on X. They needed this guilty verdict so the left could rush to the media and pretend theres not a double standard in our justice system. But Hunter will get probation, and Biden will try to throw Trump in prison. Just watch.

The president said in a statement that I will accept the outcome of this case and will continue to respect the judicial process as Hunter considers an appeal. Jill and I will always be there for Hunter and the rest of our family with our love and support. Nothing will ever change that.

Kentucky Representative Thomas Massie said: Hunter might deserve to be in jail for something, but purchasing a gun is not it. There are millions of marijuana users who own guns in this country, and none of them should be in jail for purchasing or possessing a firearm against current laws.

Kash Patel praises the justice system for the guilty verdict against Hunter Biden and condemns it for the verdict against Trump pic.twitter.com/tnJr2zgVaG  Molly Crane-Newman (@molcranenewman) June 11, 2024

Hunter Biden said in a statement: I am more grateful today for the love and support I experienced this last week from Melissa, my family, my friends, and my community than I am disappointed by the outcome. Recovery is possible by the grace of God, and I am blessed to experience that gift one day at a time.

We are naturally disappointed by todays verdict, Abbe Lowell, Bidens defense attorney, said. We respect the jury process, and as we have done throughout this case, we will continue to vigorously pursue all the legal challenges available to Hunter.

He added: Through all he has been through in his recovery, including this trial, Hunter has felt grateful for and blessed by the love and support of his family.
The only surviving son of Joe Biden now faces up to 25 years in prison following his historic conviction on three felony charges related to his possession of a gun while addicted to a controlled substance

Matt Slocum/AP Photo Hunter Biden arrives at the Wilmington federal courthouse on June 7, 2024

Hunter Biden has been convicted of three felony charges, leaving his fate in the hands of a Trump-appointed judge as he faces a potential prison sentence and hefty fines.

A Delaware jury reached its guilty verdict in Hunter's federal gun trial on Tuesday, June 11, after three hours of deliberations spread across two days.

Related: Hunter Biden Gets Emotional as Daughter Naomi Testifies About His Sobriety Journey: I Knew He Was Struggling

Joe Biden's only surviving son, 54, became the first-ever child of a sitting president to answer to criminal charges when the Justice Department accused him of lying about his drug use to obtain a weapon in 2018, then possessing the weapon for 11 days while addicted to a controlled substance.

The charges could warrant up to 25 years in prison and $750,000 in fines, though first-time offenders rarely get the maximum sentence and often avoid jail time altogether.

The final sentencing decision rests with District Judge Maryellen Noreika, who was appointed to the bench by Donald Trump with support from both of Delaware's Democratic senators.

Related: Joe Biden Spent Weekend with Son Hunter Before Start of Federal Gun Trial, Riding Bikes and Attending Church

Hunter's trial, which began in Wilmington, Del., on Monday, June 3, was attended by several of his loved ones.

Matt Slocum/AP Photo Hunter Biden arrives at the Wilmington federal courthouse on June 7, 2024

Spotted at the courthouse since June 3 were Hunters stepmother, Jill Biden; Hunter's wife, Melissa Cohen Biden; Hunters younger half-sister, Ashley Biden; Hunters eldest daughter, Naomi Biden; Hunter's son-in-law, Peter Neal; Hunters uncle, James Biden; James wife, Sara Jones Biden; Hunters aunt, Valerie Biden Owens; and the first ladys sister, Bonny Jacobs.



Anna Moneymaker/Getty Hunter Biden and his wife, Melissa Cohen Biden, arrive at the federal courthouse in Wilmington, Del., on June 11, 2024

Ahead of closing arguments, Rev. Christopher Alan Bullock  a family friend who preaches at the Canaan Baptist Church in New Castle, Del.  paid a visit as well to pray with Hunter inside the courthouse.

Related: Jill Biden and Daughter Ashley Attend Start of Hunter's Federal Trial, Which Falls on First Lady's Birthday

Hunter's previous romantic partners were also summoned by prosecutors to testify about his drug usage and character.

Zoe Kestan, a dancer who dated Hunter in 2018, was called to the court to describe his behavior in the months leading up to the gun purchase in question. She described him sympathetically, as a distressed man whose difficult situation fueled near-constant crack cocaine usage.

Hunter's first wife of nearly 25 years, Kathleen Buhle  with whom he shares daughters Naomi, Finnegan and Maisy  offered succinct testimony, telling the court that his substance abuse and cheating contributed to their divorce in 2017.

RYAN COLLERD/AFP via Getty Images First lady Jill Biden arrives for the first day of Hunter Biden's criminal trial in Wilmington, Del., on June 3

Related: Inside the Friendship Between Joe Biden's Daughters-in-Law Before Tragedy and Scandal

Hallie Biden, the widow of Beau Biden who developed a romantic relationship with Hunter amid their grief, also testified, detailing the turbulent period of their lives.

Hallie was offered immunity from prosecution before taking the stand, The Washington Post reported, allowing her to admit that after growing closer to Hunter, she began using crack cocaine, too. The two attended meetings for addicts and tried getting clean together, though Hallie was able to curb her addiction before him.

She said that during their relationship, she feared Hunter was suicidal. When she found the gun that he purchased in his car, she said she "panicked" and threw it in a dumpster.

It was a terrible experience that I went through, she testified. Im embarrassed and ashamed and I regret that part of my life.

Related: Hunter Biden Talks Past Romance with Brother Beau's Widow: 'It Came Out of a Real Overwhelming Grief'

AP Photo/Matt Rourke (2) Hallie Biden and Kathleen Buhle after testifying in Hunter Biden's federal gun trial

Trump-appointed U.S. Attorney David Weiss began investigating Hunter in 2018, during Trump's presidency. Weiss was asked to continue the investigation after President Biden was elected, and in August 2023, Attorney General Merrick Garland boosted Weiss to special counsel status.

In September, a federal grand jury approved a three-count indictment against Hunter related to his possession of a firearm.

Three months later, the special counsel indicted him on nine federal tax charges related to alleged tax evasion. That case is scheduled to go to trial in Los Angeles this fall, and could result in a 17-year prison sentence if he's convicted.

Related: Hunter Bidens Daughter Naomi Slams Jesse Watters Ugly Comments About How Joe Biden Parents: Crosses the Line

Demetrius Freeman/The Washington Post via Getty Images President Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden during the 2024 White House Easter egg roll

President Biden, 81, previously committed to respecting the outcome of Hunter's legal battles. As a feature of honoring jurors' judgments, he said he will not use his presidential power to pardon his son.

His statement draws an important contrast between himself and Trump, a newly convicted felon who has painted himself as a victim and disparaged the criminal justice system.



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Read the original article on People.
A jury in Delaware has found the presidents son guilty of illegally owning a gun in 2018.

The government said Hunter Biden was addicted to drugs when he bought a pistol that October, and that he lied on a federal form when he checked a box saying he wasnt an addict. Jurors agreed, and Biden now faces time behind bars.

The case has major political significance, coming as former President Donald Trump and the entire Republican Party mount an all-out assault on the U.S. justice system over its supposed weaponization by President Joe Biden against Trump, who faces federal charges for hoarding classified documents and trying to steal the 2020 election.

The Department of Justice has thrown the book at Hunter Biden, hitting him with illegal gun ownership charges that are rarely prosecuted as a standalone case without some other misconduct related to the firearm. The weeklong trial humiliated the first family, the guilty verdict could send the presidents son to prison, and he still faces another trial this fall for allegedly failing to pay his taxes on time.

During closing arguments on Monday, prosecutor Leo Wise reportedly gestured toward first lady Jill Biden and other members of the Biden family in the court gallery, saying: Respectfully, none of that matters.

Hunter Biden had originally struck a plea deal with prosecutors last year, but the agreement fell apart under questioning by District Judge Maryellen Noreika, which revealed a disagreement between Bidens legal team and prosecutors about whether the government would still pursue other charges against Biden related to his international business deals.

So Biden pleaded not guilty, even though he didnt deny buying the gun and he admitted in his 2021 memoir that he was constantly smoking crack cocaine around the time of the purchase. The government used the memoir to make its case, and also called to the stand Bidens ex-wife, an ex-girlfriend, and his late brothers widow, Hallie Biden, with whom he had a disastrous affair.

In his memoir, Beautiful Things, Biden wrote about his life unraveling after his older brother Beau Biden died of brain cancer in 2015. He would leave his family for weeks, saying he was attending a rehab clinic, only to hole up in hotel rooms and smoke crack every 15 minutes.

By late 2016, Biden wrote, I possessed a new superpower: the ability to find crack in any town, at any time, no matter how unfamiliar the terrain. During the trial, prosecutors played recordings of Biden narrating that line and others from the audiobook. (Biden wrote that he sobered up in 2019 after meeting his now-wife, Melissa Cohen Biden.)

Bidens legal team tried to argue that he was not necessarily on crack or addicted to drugs at the exact moment he bought the gun, contrary to the story he told in his own book, which has been corroborated by pictures and messages that were taken from his laptop. (Biden only had the gun for 11 days before Hallie Biden, his girlfriend at the time, found it and threw it away.)

The terms user or addict are not defined on the form and were not explained to him, Bidens attorneys said in their trial brief. Someone, like Mr. Biden who had just completed an 11-day rehabilitation program and lived with a sober companion after that, could surely believe he was not a present tense user or addict.

Bidens attorneys also argued before the trial that the form asking about drug use was itself unconstitutional under the modern judiciarys understanding of the Second Amendment, but Noreika rejected that argument.

The jury found Biden guilty on three counts: lying about his drug use on a federal form used in firearm sales that he was not addicted to a controlled substance, making that same lie to a federally licensed gun dealer, and illegally possessing a firearm even though he was an addict. Biden faces a maximum possible sentence of 25 years in prison, though its likely he would receive a lighter sentence, and he could appeal the case.

Bidens attorney, Abbe Lowell, said in a statement that they would continue to vigorously pursue all the legal challenges available to Hunter.

In a statement, Joe Biden said he loved his son and would respect the judicial process.

I will accept the outcome of this case and will continue to respect the judicial process as Hunter considers an appeal, he said. Jill and I will always be there for Hunter and the rest of our family with our love and support. Nothing will ever change that.

Hunter Biden thanked his family and friends in a statement after the verdict.

I am more grateful today for the love and support I experienced this last week from Melissa, my family, my friends, and my community than I am disappointed by the outcome, he said. Recovery is possible by the grace of God, and I am blessed to experience that gift one day at a time.

In their impeachment inquiry against President Biden, Republicans looked for evidence that the president participated in his sons business deals, but they heard instead from witnesses who said the elder Biden avoided getting involved. As part of the inquiry, they also interviewed IRS investigators who claimed the Justice Department slow-walked its case against Hunter Biden, though other officials involved in the matter have disputed their complaints.

The lead prosecutor, Delaware U.S. Attorney David Weiss, was appointed by Trump. Attorney General Merrick Garland elevated Weiss to special counsel status last year after Hunter Bidens plea agreement collapsed.

Trumps campaign, meanwhile, suggested the trial was a sham.

This trial has been nothing more than a distraction from the real crimes of the Biden Crime Family, which has raked in tens of millions of dollars from China, Russia and Ukraine, Trump campaign spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said. Crooked Joe Bidens reign over the Biden Family Criminal Empire is all coming to an end on November 5th, and never again will a Biden sell government access for personal profit.

Need help with substance use disorder or mental health issues? In the U.S., call 800-662-HELP (4357) for the SAMHSA National Helpline.

Related...
Hunter Biden, the president's son, was convicted Tuesday of federal gun crimes, including lying about being drug-free when he purchased and briefly owned a gun while he was addicted to crack cocaine.

The guilty verdict, handed down by a jury in Delaware after about three hours of deliberations, capped a weeklong trial in which prosecutors elicited testimony from Biden's ex-wife, an ex-girlfriend and his sister-in-law turned lover. All spoke in graphic detail about his addiction to drugs and alcohol, with First Lady Jill Biden often sitting in the front row.

Biden was on trial for three felony charges, and the jury convicted him of all three. In addition to lying on a federal background check form and giving a false statement to a federal firearms dealer, he was convicted of possessing a gun while being an illicit drug user.

As the verdict was read by Judge Maryellen Noreikas clerk, Biden sat impassively. Afterward, he kissed his wife, Melissa Cohen Biden, and hugged his lawyer, Abbe Lowell.

The proceeding was swift, with the first lady reaching the courthouse only after the judge had dismissed the jurors. Wearing sunglasses, she walked toward the room where her stepson was huddled with other relatives and his legal team.

President Biden said he will "accept the outcome of the case and will continue to respect the judicial process" while his son considers an appeal of the verdict.

"Jill and I will always be there for Hunter and the rest of our family with our love and support. Nothing will ever change that," he said in a statement.

Lowell said in a statement that he was "disappointed" by the jury's decision and would "continue to vigorously pursue all the legal challenges available."

Holding the hands of his stepmother and his wife, Hunter Biden, 54, left the J. Caleb Boggs Federal Building in downtown Wilmington without speaking to reporters. He issued a brief statement saying he was "more grateful today" for his wife and family's support "than I am disappointed by the outcome."

David Weiss, the special counsel appointed by Atty. Gen. Merrick Garland, said Tuesday afternoon that the case was about more than Hunter Biden's well-documented drug and alcohol addiction.

"This case was about the illegal choices [the] defendant made while in the throes of addiction, his choice to lie on a government form when he bought a gun, and the choice to then possess that gun," Weiss said. "No one in this country is above the law. Everyone must be accountable for his actions  even this defendant."

Outside the courthouse, The Times spoke to two jurors  a 51-year-old woman from northern Delaware and a 68-year-old man from the southern half of the state. Speaking on condition of anonymity, both said there was clear evidence that Biden knowingly lied about his drug addiction in order to buy the gun.

Both said that Biden's text messages from the time period, including telling his sister-in-law that he was "smoking crack," were pivotal in reaching a decision. When deliberations began Monday afternoon, the panel was split 6-6, said the male juror. The number became 11-1 on Tuesday morning before the final juror decided the evidence showed Biden was guilty.

"I just think he needs help," said the female juror, who called the trial "a waste of a taxpayer dollars," adding, "I say fine him. I don't think anyone who is a nonviolent drug addict should be in prison."

Biden's sentencing has not been scheduled, but the judge said it would probably take place in about 120 days. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison, but as a first-time offender, Biden would be unlikely to receive much, if any, time.

In an election year, the verdict was sure to be seized on by the president's political opponents and to be spun as vindication for Republican leaders who last year criticized a plea deal on similar charges. The deal unraveled under questioning by Noreika  the same judge who presided over the trial  and prosecutors indicted Biden again.

Biden, who lives in Malibu, will face a second trial in Los Angeles in September on federal charges of tax evasion and failing to pay his taxes on time.

Tuesday's verdict comes less than two weeks after his father's opponent in the presidential election, Donald Trump, was convicted by a New York jury of falsifying business records in a scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election through hush money payments to an adult film actor who said the two had sex.

The president's reaction was a sharp contrast to that of Trump, who has repeatedly attacked the judge overseeing the hush money case and decried the outcome as "rigged" by President Biden and his allies.

The male juror said that despite repeatedly noticing the first lady in the courtroom, he rarely thought of the fact that Hunter Biden was the president's son.

"You are looking at him. You are looking at his family," the juror said of the experience in court. But he said he "tried to block the rest of it out" because Biden "was just like everybody else."

"It was not politically motivated. Politics played no part in this whatsoever. Again, we just went by the evidence," the juror said.

Read more: She's Hunter Biden's rock. She may also be his secret weapon with the jury

The testimony the jurors heard was largely related to the question Biden answered on a background check form at a Delaware gun store on Oct. 12, 2018: "Are you an unlawful user of, or addicted to, marijuana or any depressant, stimulant, narcotic drug, or any other controlled substance?"

Biden checked "No."

Lowell, the defense attorney, emphasized that his client had recently completed a rehab program in L.A. and lived with a sober companion in Nichols Canyon. The gun salesman did not perceive Biden to be under the influence or glassy-eyed, and no witness saw him using drugs in the days after, when he owned the Colt Cobra revolver.

Lowell contended that the gun was never fired and remained locked up until Hallie Biden, his brother's widow, found it on the morning of Oct. 23, 2018, and in a panic, disposed of it in a trash bin outside a nearby grocery store. Biden, who was dating Hallie Biden at the time, urged her to retrieve the gun once he discovered it missing, asking her, "Are you insane?"

When Hallie Biden returned to the supermarket, the gun was gone from the trash can, and Biden instructed her to contact police.

But prosecutors told jurors that there was "overwhelming evidence" of Biden's drug use in the years before and the months after the gun purchase.

Read more: A hometown jury decides Hunter Biden's fate: 'It's time to end this case'

Over several days, prosecutors presented wrenching details. Biden's ex-wife, Kathleen Buhle, testified that she found a crack pipe in 2015 at their home and would regularly search his car for drug paraphernalia. Zoe Kestan, a former girlfriend, told jurors about the night she met Biden at a Manhattan strip club, where she was working at the time.

Within minutes of going to a private room with him in 2018, she recalled, he began smoking crack. That night kicked off a bicoastal relationship in which the pair holed up in a string of luxury hotels  the SoHo Grand, the Mercer, Four Seasons in Manhattan, the Chateau Marmont and the Roosevelt in Hollywood  where he abused crack every 20 minutes and summoned dealers to feed his habit, Kestan testified.

"If this evidence did not establish that Hunter Biden is a crack addict and an unlawful user, then no one is a crack addict and an unlawful user," said assistant special counsel Derek Hines in his closing argument.

After Hallie Biden asked him where he was in mid-October 2018, a day after buying the gun, Biden replied that he was "waiting for a dealer named Mookie" who hangs out at 7-Eleven in downtown Wilmington. Later, he told her that he was "smoking crack."

The male juror noted that, according to testimony by an FBI agent, Biden was at the 7-Eleven in the general time period when he bought the gun. "What was he doing?" the juror said. "The defense wants us to believe that he was just there to buy a cup of coffee, but I didn't buy that."

Hallie Biden testified that she saw Hunter Biden either late in the night or early in the morning on Oct. 23, 2018, and that he looked exhausted. Inside his truck, she said, she discovered drug paraphernalia and "remnants" of crack cocaine, along with the gun. She put the gun inside a leather pouch that she said she found in his vehicle  the same pouch that federal investigators tested last year, finding trace amounts of cocaine.

Under cross-examination by Lowell, Hallie Biden's memory appeared shaky at times  she couldn't say what "paraphernalia" she found in the car, and she acknowledged that Biden often lied to her about his whereabouts. She also said she did not see Biden use drugs in this time period.

But her testimony seemed to undercut defense attorneys' contention that he was in a period of sobriety when he owned the revolver.

"He said he was 'smoking crack,'" Hines reminded jurors in his closing argument. Pointing to this and Biden's candid 2021 memoir, "Beautiful Things," which offers a searing account of his addiction to crack and subsequent recovery, Hines said: "Believe his words in his book because he knew ... he was an addict and an unlawful user."

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 11. President of France Emmanuel Macron might resign if the right-wing parties win in the parliamentary election, Trend reports.

According to European media, citing government sources, Macron has stated that if his party fails to retain its relative majority in the upcoming parliamentary election, he may "sacrifice his term".

On June 9, French president dissolved the National Assembly and scheduled early parliamentary election.

"I am calling for early parliamentary elections. The first round will be held on June 30, with the second round on July 7," the president said in an address to the French people.

By doing so, Macron acknowledged the severe defeat of his party, Renaissance" in the European Parliament elections, where it garnered only 15.4 percent of the vote, half as much as the opposition right-wing National Rally party, which received 32 percent of the vote.
Hunter Biden with Jill Biden (left) and his wife, Melissa Cohen Biden, as he departs court in Wilmington, Delaware, on 10 June.

Hunter Biden with Jill Biden (left) and his wife, Melissa Cohen Biden, as he departs court in Wilmington, Delaware, on 10 June. Photograph: Jim Lo Scalzo/EPA

Hunter Biden, the eldest living son of the US president, was found guilty Tuesday on all three felony counts he faced relating to buying a handgun while being a user of crack cocaine.

Biden received the verdict in court as his friends and family, including the first lady, Jill Biden, stood in support.

The jury reached its verdict after about three hours of deliberation over two days. It followed a weeklong trial in the Biden familys home town of Wilmington, Delaware, that featured sometimes excruciating testimony about his addiction habit, from some of his closest relatives. Hunter Biden chose not to take the witness stand in his own defence.

Joe Biden said Tuesday: I will accept the outcome of this case and will continue to respect the judicial process as Hunter considers an appeal.

Jill and I will always be there for Hunter and the rest of our family with our love and support, he continued. Nothing will ever change that.

The president has previously said he would not pardon his son should he be convicted. He has also praised his sons resilience and strength throughout his recovery from addiction.

No sentencing date is set yet, though the maximum time in prison Hunter Biden could face is 25 years, which would be far more than expected for a first-time offender.

In a statement, Hunter Biden said hes more grateful for his family and friends for their support than he is disappointed by the verdict.

Recovery is possible by the grace of God, and I am blessed to experience that gift one day at a time, he added.

His attorney Abbe Lowell said they were naturally disappointed by the verdict, but respected the process and would vigorously pursue all the legal challenges available to Hunter.

The Trump campaign sent a statement to CNN that the trial was nothing more than a distraction from the real crimes of the Biden Crime Family.

Hunter Biden was accused of making two false statements when filling out a form to buy a Colt revolver in October 2018: first by stating untruthfully that he was not addicted to or using drugs, and then by declaring the statement to be true. A third charge alleged that he then illegally owned the gun for 11 days, before his sister-in-law and then lover, Hallie Biden, threw it in a trash bin in a panic.

Lowell argued that the prosecution had provided no evidence that he had taken crack cocaine  which he later admitted in a memoir to having been addicted to before going into rehabilitation  in the month that he bought and owned the gun.

The defence lawyer also established that no one had seen Hunter use the drug in that period.

But messages retrieved from Hunters mobile phone undermined the argument that he had not been ingesting drugs in the period before and after purchasing the weapon. The day after he bought the gun, he sent a text to Hallie Biden saying he was meeting a known drug dealer called Mookie. Then, a day later, he revealed in another text that he was sleeping on a car and smoking crack.

His daughter, Naomi Biden Neal  testifying in his defence  told the court that her father had seemed sober in the weeks before the purchase. But the prosecution introduced more text messages that betrayed a strained and fraying relationship between the pair, including one in which Naomi told her father he had driven her to a breaking point.

The prosecution called other members of the Biden family, including his former wife, Kathleen Buhle, to whom he was married for 24 years, and Hallie Biden, the widow of his brother Beau, as it tried to show that Hunters drug use had continued during 2018 and 2019.

The testimony painted a portrait of Hunter Biden falling deeper into addiction as he struggled to cope with the death of Beau, who died from brain cancer in 2015.

After the breakup of his marriage, he formed a romantic relationship with Hallie Biden, who admitted to having smoked crack with him.

Summing up on Monday, prosecutor Leo Wise said Hunter Bidens text message showed him trying to make drug deals before and after his gun purchase.

Related: Hunter Biden gun trial: key takeaways

Calling the evidence against the defendant personal, ugly and overwhelming, he noted that Hunter Biden told Hallie Biden on 14 October 2018, two days after buying the gun, that he had been smoking crack. Thats my truth, he quoted Hunter as writing.

The evidence had included lurid testimony of Hunter Biden smoking crack pipes, backed up by photographs shown in court.

Zoe Kestan, Hunters former girlfriend who met him at a gentlemans club, told the court last week that he frequently withdrew money to fund drug purchases.

She said he would smoke what she presumed was crack every 20 minutes or so and that she had seen him smoke it over several days in Malibu, California, in September 2018, the month before he bought the gun.

The proceedings were witnessed by Hunters stepmother, Jill Biden, who was present every day apart from last Thursday, when she flew to Normandy in France to attend the 80th anniversary of D-day with her husband.

Lowell told jurors that the fact that Hunter Biden had a famous last name did not mean he was less entitled to his rights than any other defendant, urging them to find him not guilty.
The presidents son, Hunter Biden, has been found guilty in his federal gun trial in Wilmington, Delaware, after days of emotional testimony about the first sons drug use.

After approximately three hours of deliberations, 12 jurors unanimously convicted him on all three felony gun charges, a historic decision that marks the first time a sitting presidents child has been found guilty of a crime.

I am more grateful today for the love and support I experienced this last week from Melissa, my family, my friends, and my community than I am disappointed by the outcome, Hunter said in a statement about an hour after the verdict was read. Recovery is possible by the grace of God, and I am blessed to experience that gift one day at a time.

He remained calm and still as the verdict was read, then turned to hug members of his legal team and kiss his wife, Melissa Cohen Biden. He left the courthouse holding hands with his stepmom, first lady Jill Biden, who missed the actual reading of the verdict. They all left the scene in a black SUV without issuing a statement.

I will accept the outcome of this case and will continue to respect the judicial process as Hunter considers an appeal, Joe Biden said in a statement. Jill and I will always be there for Hunter and the rest of our family with our love and support.

Special Counsel David Weiss said in a statement following the verdict: No one in this country is above the law. Everyone must be accountable for their actions, even this defendant. However, Hunter Biden should be no more accountable than any other citizen convicted of this same conduct.

He added: This case was not just about addiction, a disease that haunts families across the United States, including Hunter Bidens family. This case was about the illegal choices the defendant made while in the throes of addiction.

Hunter was indicted in September after the plea deal hed inked with prosecutors blew up over a federal judges concerns. At trial, jurors heard deeply personal evidence about the severity of his drug use, with prosecutors using his own texts and his memoir, Beautiful Things, in addition to the testimony of his exes, to accuse him of knowingly lying on a form to buy a gun on October 12, 2018.

Hunter could now face years behind bars. The charges carry a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison and fines of up to $750,000. But there is no minimum sentence, and non-violent first-time offenders usually do not receive severe punishments.

Hunter was accused of buying and owning a gun while being addicted to crack cocaine, flouting federal law, which states that those who use illicit drugs may not own firearms.

Prosecutors successfully argued that Hunter lied on a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives form when he purchased a 38 Colt Special revolver, a speedloader, and cartridges at the gun store in StarQuest Shooters and Survival Supply in Wilmington.

Hunter Biden, left, arrives at the federal court with his wife, Melissa Cohen Biden, June 6, 2024, in Wilmington (AP)

Hunter had the gun for 11 days before it was dumped in a trash can outside a grocery store by Hallie Biden, the widow of his brother Beau Biden, on October 23, 2018. Hallie and Hunter were in an on-and-off relationship at the time. Crack and alcohol were both issues during the relationship, Hallie testified.

She also spoke of her own drug use, which began after she was introduced to crack cocaine by Hunter. It was a terrible experience; Im ashamed and I regret that period of my life, she said on Thursday.

But the key issue during Thursdays testimony was how she found  and then discarded  the 38 Colt Special, speedloader, and cartridges.

I panicked and I wanted to get rid of them because I didnt want him to hurt himself or my kids to hurt themselves, she told the court. I was so flustered ... I realize it was a stupid idea now, she added.

She said she was going to pretend she hadnt taken the gun, but that Hunter had soon texted her about it.

Are you insane, he wrote. Tell me now. This is no game. And youre being totally irresponsible and unhinged. He added: Its hard to believe anyone is that stupid.

Hallie Biden departs from federal court, Thursday, June 6, 2024, in Wilmington (AP)

Hallie subsequently returned to the grocery store to get the gun, but it had been taken away by an elderly man searching for recyclables. Delaware police were later able to track down the man and retrieve the firearm.

Hunter was charged with gun crimes years later when prosecutors were working on unrelated tax charges against him.

Two of the three counts Hunter faced were connected to the ATF form he filled out to purchase the gun, which includes questions regarding the buyers criminal record, if they are purchasing the gun for themselves, as well as their mental health and drug use.

Hunter was charged with making a false statement on the form as well as lying to a licensed firearms dealer.

The final count was about owning a gun while being an addict, which is also a crime under federal law. Prosecutors argued that Hunter knew he was an active drug user when he bought and owned the firearm.

Prosecutor Derek Hines said during opening arguments that when the defendant filled out that form, he knew he was a drug addict.

He added: The law does not require us to prove that he was using drugs on that very day. Just that he knew he was a drug user or a drug addict.

First lady Jill Biden departs from federal court, June 7, 2024, in Wilmington (AP)

Meanwhile, the defense, led by attorney Abbe Lowell, argued that the prosecution had to prove that Hunter was using drugs at the time he bought the firearm, noting that the form asks if you are an active user of drugs.

It does not say have you ever been. It does not say have you ever used, Lowell said during opening arguments.

Lowell added that a person who recovers always calls themselves an addict, regardless of whether they have recovered or not, meaning that Hunter may have referred to himself as such when he purchased the gun, but that it doesnt mean he was an active user. He also noted that the gun was never loaded and was only left in its lockbox on a single day.
Hunter Biden has been found guilty on all three counts. Heres how the verdict will affect the election

A television monitor shows the verdict in the Hunter Biden trial in the Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House in Washington, DC, June 11, 2024 (AFP via Getty Images)

After a years-long investigation by a Department of Justice prosecutor appointed under former president Donald Trump, a Delaware jury has found Hunter Biden guilty on three separate criminal charges related to his purchase of a revolver from a gun shop in Wilmington six years ago.

Prosecutors alleged that Hunter, the youngest and only surviving son of President Joe Biden, lied on an eight-page form he had to fill out to buy the .38 caliber revolver. It is a federal crime to lie on the form, known as an ATF Form 4473, which prosecutors said he did when he checked a box indicating that he wasnt a user of illegal drugs.

They also separately alleged that he violated a separate criminal law by making a false statement regarding his status as a drug addict during the transaction to the licensed gun dealer, and by possessing the gun while he was addicted to drugs.

Were the charges serious? Yes. Any gun-related criminal charge is generally serious, even in a country with relatively lax laws governing the possession and acquisition of firearms.

The week-long trial, held in a federal courthouse not far from where President Bidens re-election campaign is based, marked a low point for Hunter. The Yale-educated attorney-turned-businessman has struggled with drug and alcohol addiction for decades, by his own admission.

And its just the latest chapter in a long-running saga which Republicans hope will end with Hunters troubles helping to oust his father from the White House and usher in a restoration of Donald Trump  despite Trumps status as a convicted felon.

Since 2019, when it became clear that Joe Biden would be a candidate in the 2020 election against Trump, Hunter Biden has been a cudgel which the GOP has sought to wield against his father. It started with the now-infamous phone call between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, during which Trump pressured Zelensky to announce investigations into both the elder Biden and his son.

He never got what he tried to extort from Zelensky. But that didnt stop Trump from repeatedly and brazenly lying about Hunters overseas business work and accusing Joe Biden of having profited from it, despite there being no evidence that anything of the sort took place.

Hunters status as a right-wing hate object became even more solidified in October 2020, after the New York Post obtained and reported on emails from a copy of a hard drive purportedly from a laptop that used to belong to him. The laptop was allegedly abandoned at a Delaware computer repair shop run by a Trump supporter who provided copies of the drive to various high-profile pro-Trump figures, including disgraced ex-New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani.

This led to a dramatic reaction and fallout. The then-management at Twitter mistakenly (in their words)  and briefly  limited sharing of the Post story because they believed the email in question had been stolen as part of a hack-and-dump operation akin to what Russian intelligence services had done to prominent Democrats four years earlier. An open letter by more than 50 ex-intelligence experts said such a hack-and-leak operation had all the hallmarks of a Russian disinformation operation, although there is no proof that it was. It then became an article of faith among the Trumpian faithful that one of the only reasons that Trump lost the election  to the extent that any of his supporters believed that hed lost to begin with  was because voters werent aware of the presidents errant sons errant computer.

Since then, targeting Hunter has been de rigeur for any Republican hoping to make his or her bones as a fighter for Trumps cause.

To that end, theres been an entire cottage industry constructed around Hunter. One ex-Trump administration aide has spent much of the last four years publishing increasingly bizarre streams of content from a copy of the hard drive he obtained. Republicans in Congress have also spent much of the last two years mining through Hunters stolen data in hopes of finding any way to credibly accuse his father of anything that would justify impeaching him to repay Democrats for the two righteous cases they brought against Trump during his tumultuous quadrennium in the White House.

The only real effect the GOP-led probes focus on Hunter had was in pressuring a Trump-appointed judge to throw out a plea deal hed reached to avoid this trial because it would have precluded the government from trying him on charges that hed violated the Foreign Agents Registration Act  despite little evidence outside the fever swamps thatd ever violated that law.

After the deal fell apart, the Trump-appointed prosecutor whod been pursuing Hunter got appointed to a special counsel role, letting him bring a second set of charges against him for alleged tax law violations in California.

But the Congressional investigations into President Biden havent laid a glove on him leaving Hunter to bear the brunt of the Republican vendetta against him, having stood trial for charges that legal experts say would never have been brought outside of a larger case involving far more serious crimes.

The GOP will attempt to use the outcome of this trial to tar Joe with Hunters misdeeds, just as Donald Trump tried to during their second debate four years ago.

It didnt work then, and it wont work now.

Hunter Biden may have done wrong. But hes not on a ballot this fall. And Americans know that.
By Tom Hals and Jack Queen

WILMINGTON, Delaware (Reuters) -President Joe Bidens son Hunter Biden was convicted by a jury on Tuesday of lying about his illegal drug use to buy a gun, making him the first child of a sitting U.S. president to be convicted of a crime.

A 12-member jury in Wilmington, Delaware - the Bidens' hometown - found the defendant guilty on all three counts against him.

Hunter Biden, 54, lightly nodded his head after the verdict was read but otherwise showed little reaction. He then patted his lawyer Abbe Lowell on the back and hugged another member of his legal team.

First lady Jill Biden and Hunter's wife Melissa held his hands as they left the courtroom.

Lowell said in a statement they would "vigorously pursue all the legal challenges available to Hunter." Biden still faces a separate tax case in California.

Hunter Biden, seen at a Wilmington food hall after the verdict, referred Reuters reporters to his statement when asked for further comment but said, all is good.

How could it not be? he added, motioning to a child on his lap he did not identify.

The trial took place against the background of a Nov. 5 election pitting Democrat Joe Biden against his Republican predecessor Donald Trump, who was himself found guilty at a landmark New York state trial last month.

At trial, prosecutors offered an intimate view of Hunter Bidens years of struggle with alcohol and crack cocaine abuse, which they said legally precluded him from buying a gun.

After about three hours of deliberation, the jurors found Hunter Biden falsely claimed to be free of illegal drugs when he filled out a government screening document for a Colt Cobra revolver in 2018 and then illegally possessed the weapon.

In a statement Hunter Biden said he was more grateful for the love and support he had received than he was disappointed by the guilty verdict. He said he was "blessed" to experience the gift of recovery "one day at a time."

U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika set no date for sentencing, but added it would usually be within 120 days. That would place it no later than about a month before the Nov. 5 U.S. presidential election.

Joe Biden issued a statement saying he accepted the outcome of the case and would respect the judicial process as his son considers an appeal.

Hours after the verdict, Hunter and his wife and son met the president's helicopter when it landed at a Delaware Air National Guard Base in New Castle. The president embraced his son and hugged and kissed his daughter-in-law and grandchild.

Sentencing guidelines for the gun charges are 15 to 21 months, but legal experts say defendants in similar cases often get shorter sentences and are less likely to be incarcerated if they abide by the terms of their pretrial release.

In an audio interview with CNN, a juror identified only as No. 10, said: "In deliberating, we were not thinking of the sentencing and I really don't think that Hunter belongs in jail."

The juror said: "No politics came into play and politics was not even spoken about. The first family was not even spoken about. It was all about Hunter."

FOCUS ON TIGHT WHITE HOUSE RACE

The trial followed the May 30 criminal conviction of Donald Trump, the first U.S. president to be found guilty of a felony.

Trump, convicted on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to cover up a sex scandal, has claimed without evidence that the multiple criminal prosecutions he faces have been orchestrated by Joe Biden in a bid to block his reelection.

On Tuesday, Trump's campaign showed no signs of changing its tack.

This trial has been nothing more than a distraction from the real crimes of the Biden Crime Family," Trump campaign spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said in a statement.

Congressional Democrats had pointed to the Hunter Biden trial, as well as ongoing federal prosecutions of two Democratic members of Congress, as evidence that President Biden was not using the legal system for partisan ends.

The president himself said last week he would not pardon his son if convicted.

The Delaware trial included prosecution testimony by Hunter Bidens ex-wife, former girlfriend and sister-in-law, who gave firsthand accounts of his spiraling addiction in the weeks before and after he bought the gun.

Prosecutors also showed text messages, photos and bank records that they said showed Biden was deep in the throes of addiction when he bought the gun and knowingly broke the law by answering no to being a drug user on a government screening form.

Bidens lawyers sought to show he was not using drugs when he bought the gun and did not intend to deceive because he didnt consider himself a drug user when he filled out the form.

The defense called Hunter Bidens daughter, Naomi Biden, who testified that her father seemed to be doing well when she saw him shortly before and after he bought the gun.

The Hunter Biden case was brought by U.S. Department of Justice Special Counsel David Weiss, a Trump appointee.

At a press conference afterwards, Weiss said the case was not just about addiction but also about the illegal choices Hunter Biden made while in the throes of addiction.

"His choice to lie on a government form when he bought a gun, and the choice to then possess that gun. It was these choices, and the combination of guns and drugs, that made his conduct dangerous," Weiss said.

Weiss has also charged Hunter Biden with three felony and six misdemeanor tax offenses in California, alleging he failed to pay $1.4 million in taxes between 2016 and 2019 while spending millions on drugs, escorts, exotic cars and other high-ticket items.

Hunter Biden has pleaded not guilty to those charges. A trial is scheduled for Sept. 5 in Los Angeles.

(Reporting by Tom Hals and Jack Queen in Wilmington, Delaware; Additional reporting by Jeff Mason in New Castle, Delaware; Editing by Amy Stevens, Noeleen Walder and Howard Goller)
WILMINGTON, Del.  A federal jury convicted Hunter Biden of federal gun charges, a historic first for the offspring of a sitting president, after a trial featuring wrenching emotional testimony about his drug use from his ex-wife and sister-in-law.

President Joe Biden's son faces up to 25 years in prison for three charges  lying on a federal screening form about his drug use, lying to a gun dealer and possessing the gun  although first-time, nonviolent offenders typically get shorter sentences.

The 54-year old businessman and attorney's case came after a plea deal fell apart in July 2023 that could have resolved gun and taxes charges without prison time. Hunter Biden still faces another federal trial starting Sept. 5 in California for allegedly avoiding taxes.

Hunter Biden in a statement following the verdict said he was "disappointed by the outcome" but "grateful" for his family and loved ones. Biden's criminal charges coincide with his father campaigning for reelection.

Catch up with live updates from the USA TODAY Network.

A look back at USA TODAY's Hunter Biden fact checks

Hunter Biden has long been a subject of misinformation online, with social media users speculating about his drug use, financial dealings and federal indictments. From miscaptioned videos to false claims about his conviction, viral claims have repeatedly misrepresented the president's son and his relationship with the law.

In the wake of Bidens conviction on three federal gun charges, the USA TODAY Fact Check team recapped some of the false and misleading claims that have gone spread most widely  and whats actually true.

Read more: After Hunter Biden's guilty verdict, a look back at viral falsehoods

Joe Biden doesn't address Hunter Biden case in first public comments since verdict

Joe Biden gave remarks on gun violence in Washington on Tuesday, just hours after his son was convicted in his felony gun trial.

The president spoke at Everytown for Gun Safety Action Funds Gun Sense University, where he called for banning assault weapons, instituting universal background checks and passing other gun control measures.

Joe Biden was specifically addressing gun violence in his remarks. Hunter Biden was not accused of physically harming others in the felony case.

 Marina Pitofsky

What kind of gun did Hunter Biden buy?

The gun Hunter Biden purchased and held onto for 11 days in 2018 is a .38 caliber Cold Cobra, known as a 38 special. The revolver is a rimmed, centerfire cartridge designed by Smith & Wesson that can range in price from a couple hundred to a thousand dollars.

The handgun is known for its accuracy and is often used for small-game hunting, recreational target shooting, and personal defense. The president's son told Delaware State Police he bought it for target practice in 2018.

 Rachel Barber

Can Joe Biden pardon Hunter Biden?

Joe Biden said he would not pardon Hunter Biden while he was on trial for federal gun charges last week, according to a wide-ranging exclusive interview with ABC News.

ABC anchor David Muir, interviewing Biden in France for the 80th anniversary of D-Day, asked whether he would accept the outcome of his sons trial.

Yes, the president said.

Muir also asked if he would rule out a pardon for his son.

Yes, the president said.

 Bart Jansen

Why was Hunter Biden discharged from the military?

Less than a year after he was commissioned in 2013, Hunter Biden was administratively discharged from the Navy after testing positive for cocaine on a drug test.

On the presidential debate stage in 2020, former President Donald Trump falsely claimed Hunter Biden was dishonorably discharged from the Navy.

"Hunter got thrown out of the military," Trump said. "He was thrown out, dishonorably discharged for cocaine use."

An administrative discharge is standard procedure after failing a drug test. It is different from a dishonorable discharge, which is usually the result of misconduct.

 Rachel Barber

Hunter Biden's guilty verdict adds to Joe Biden's distractions

Hunter Biden's felony conviction on Tuesday could continue to distract President Joe Biden during pivotal weeks of his 2024 reelection bid, with the first presidential debate against former President Donald Trump fast approaching and the president's son's second federal criminal trial coming shortly before Election Day.

Although not a part of his father's campaign and not on the ballot himself, Hunter Biden's conviction on three gun related charges could also complicate Joe Biden's campaign's labeling of his opponent, Trump, as a felon who should not return to the Oval Office.

 Sarah D. Wire and Phillip M. Bailey

What's next for Hunter Biden?

Hunter Bidens conviction in his federal gun trial is not the end of his legal drama.

Still pending are the 54-year-old's sentence, his potential appeal and a Supreme Court case that could overturn the law behind his charges. The president's son  a lawyer, businessman and author  also faces a second federal trial on tax charges set to begin Sept. 5 in Los Angeles.

Biden faces a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison for the three charges: lying on a federal screening form by denying, lying to a gun dealer and possession of a firearm while using or addicted to unlawful drugs. But sentences for first-time and nonviolent offenders are typically shorter than the maximum possible.

 Bart Jansen

GOP lawmakers both celebrate and downplay Hunter Biden verdict

For the Republicans who have long sought to prove wrongdoing by President Joe Biden and his family, Tuesdays jury decision finding the presidents adult son, Hunter, guilty on all charges was welcome news.

However, the fanfare was somewhat muted  at least, less than one might expect from a Congressional cohort that has been probing the Biden family's business ties for more than a year and with a presidential campaign already in full bloom ahead of November's Election Day.

House Republicans spearheaded an investigation in 2023 and early 2024 into Hunter Bidens ties to foreign businesses as part of an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden. They say Joe Biden benefited financially from Hunter Bidens business deals, but have not unearthed evidence that supports that claim and the inquiry has largely fizzled out.

 Riley Beggin and Ken Tran

David Weiss speaks publicly after verdict

Justice Department special counsel David Weiss said in a three-minute statement that the verdict reflected that no one in the country is above the law. He thanked Attorney General Merrick Garland for ensuring his independence of the investigation.

Ultimately this case was not just about addiction, Weiss said. This case was about the illegal choices the defendant made while in the throes of addiction.

Weiss did not take questions from the media, noting DOJ has "additional trial work to be done" on the Hunter Biden case.

 Bart Jansen and Isabel Hughes

Juror: Oh man, I dont want to be here.

A couple of the jurors who heard the Hunter Biden trial are speaking publicly about their deliberations.

One woman who served said she feared the case would be politically charged once she realized the trial involved the presidents son.

Oh man, I dont want to be here, she said. I was expecting all of us to be at each others throats because you know of who his father is and how the political climate is in this country, she said.

But after being selected, evaluating the evidence and returning guilty verdicts, she said there was not a problem with deliberations.

It turned out much better than what I expected, she said. There was not fighting, none of that in the jury room.

Another juror agreed that politics played no role in any jurors vote.

It was just following the evidence, the juror said. We just had to find out the truth.

 Xerxes Wilson and Bart Jansen

Jurors: First vote was split even

Two jurors who presided over Hunter Bidens criminal trial said they took an evenly split vote on count one shortly after receiving the case for less than an hour of deliberation on Monday afternoon.

From there, they studied the elements of the charges in the jury instructions and talked, jurors said. They deliberated for about two hours after returning guilty verdicts.

We broke it down and heard other peoples opinions, one juror said after issuing the verdict. That is what moved me to guilty on all three.

 Xerxes Wilson

Juror says Hunter Biden case was a 'waste of taxpayer dollars'

A female juror who lives near New Castle, Delaware said she felt the case should not have been prosecuted. She said Biden needed rehab, definitely not imprisonment."

In my opinion this was a waste of taxpayer dollars, the woman said as she left the courthouse. They could have just fined him.

 Bart Jansen

Here's how Hunter Biden, his lawyer Abbe Lowell reacted to verdict

Biden issued a statement thanking his family for their love and support during the trial while saying he was disappointed by the outcome.

Recovery is possible by the grace of God, and I am blessed to experience that gift one day at a time, Biden said.

His lawyer, Abbe Lowell, said he respected the jurys verdict, but he would continue to vigorously pursue all the legal challenges available to Hunter.

 Bart Jansen

Donald Trump advisor comments on Hunter Biden's conviction

Kash Patel, a national security advisor for former President Donald Trump, said in a statement Tuesday that "Hunter Bidens guilty verdict is a rare example of constitutional justice, one not where individuals receive biased treatment based on their last name. The jury was able to consider the prosecution and the defense evidence in full, in accordance with due process."

Patel alleged without evidence that the former president did not receive the same treatment in his New York hush money trial, when he was convicted on 34 felony counts.

 Erin Mansfield and Marina Pitofsky

Joe Biden reacts to Hunter Biden's verdict

President Joe Biden released a statement on Tuesday following Hunter Biden's conviction, saying that "I will accept the outcome of this case and will continue to respect the judicial process as Hunter considers an appeal."

He added that "(first lady Jill Biden) and I will always be there for Hunter and the rest of our family with our love and support. Nothing will ever change that.

 Joey Garrison

How many kids does Hunter Biden have?

Hunter Biden has five children. He has three daughters with his ex-wife Kathleen Buhle named Naomi Biden, Finnegan Biden, and Maisy Biden. In 2019, he welcomed a son with his second wife Melissa Cohen, Beau Biden IV., named after his late older brother.

It was also revealed that he had secretly fathered another daughter with an Arkansas woman named Lunden Roberts in 2018. Her name is Navy Roberts. President Joe Biden first publicly acknowledged his granddaughter in 2023.

 Rachel Barber

Read Hunter Biden's verdict

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When will Hunter Biden be sentenced? Judge Maryellen Noreika doesn't immediately set date

Maryellen Noreika, the judge who presided over Hunter Biden's case, didn't set a sentencing date for the president's son on Tuesday.

"Usually when we do sentencing it is 120 days out, but we will get in touch with you," she said before the courtroom adjourned.

Xerxes Wilson

What is Hunter Biden guilty of?

The president's son was convicted on three firearms felonies. In October 2018, Hunter Biden walked into a gun shop north of Wilmington, Delaware, and purchased a revolver. People who purchase firearms are required to fill out a standardized form that asks whether they are an unlawful user or are addicted to controlled substances, narcotics and other listed substances. Biden is accused of answering "no" to that question on the form.

But Biden has been open about his longtime struggles with crack cocaine addiction. He's written about it in his 2021 memoir, "Beautiful Things," and discussed it during a court hearing last year, stating he's been sober since 2019.

Biden faces a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison, although first-time and non-violent offenders are often given shorter terms.

 Xerxes Wilson

2024: Hunter Biden guilty verdict adds to president's distractions ahead of Trump debate

Hunter Biden looks to lawyer, wife after verdict announced

Hunter Biden pat Abbe Lowell, his lawyer, on the back after his felony conviction was announced. He then turned to look at his wife, Melissa Cohen Biden and hugged other members of his defense team.

He was holding his wife's hand as he was ushered into elevators after the court adjourned.

 Xerxes Wilson and Esteban Parra

What's next for Hunter Biden? Sentencing, likely appeal and looming trial on tax charges

Hallie Biden received texts about drugs from Hunter Biden

Hallie Biden, the widow of Beau Biden, testified during the trial about how her brother-in-law introduced her to drugs. She also walked the jury through a series of text messages in the days after Hunter Biden bought the gun on Oct. 12, 2018.

A text the next day said he was behind a baseball stadium in Wilmington waiting on a dealer named Mookie.

Hallie Biden later texted Hunter Biden, stating that she tried calling him 500 times in the past 24 hours. He eventually responded: I was sleeping on a car smoking crack on 4th Street and Rodney.

Hunter Biden called Hallie Biden stupid for trashing gun

Hallie Biden told the jury she found the gun in Hunter Biden's car 11 days after he bought it. Rather than risk their kids finding it, she put the gun in a leather case and drove to a grocery store, where she threw it into a trash can.

I realized it was a stupid idea now, but I was just panicking, Hallie Biden said.

Hunter Biden confronted her when he discovered what she had done.

Its hard for me to believe anyone is that stupid, Hunter Biden said in a text. Do you want me dead? he asked in a later text.

Prosecutors entered into evidence the Colt Cobra .38 caliber revolver that Hunter Biden purchased in October 2018.

Retiree found gun in grocery store trash can

An 80-year-old retiree, Edward Banner, who scavenged trash containers for aluminum cans, found the gun outside Janssens Market in Greenville. A state police lieutenant tracked him down and asked whether hed found anything unusual.

I definitely remember finding that, Banner said.

FBI chemist found cocaine residue on Hunter Biden gun pouch

Forensic chemist Jason Brewer testified that he found cocaine in the residue on the leather pouch that held Hunter Bidens gun. Two spots on the pouch had a minimal amount of off-white powder, which Brewer pointed out in a picture prosecutors projected onto a screen in Bidens trial on gun charges.

Cocaine was identified within the residual white particles I sampled, he told the jury.

Hunter Biden, the son of U.S. President Joe Biden, leaves the J. Caleb Boggs Federal Building on June 6, 2024 in Wilmington, Delaware. The trial for Hunter Biden's felony gun charges continues today with additional witnesses.

Hunter Biden trial followed collapse of plea deal for gun and tax charges

A plea agreement that fell apart last July offered the possibility Biden could avoid jail time for all of the charges. Noreika rejected the deal because of disputes between prosecutors and defense lawyers about Bidens protection from future charges.

Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed the U.S. attorney in Delaware, David Weiss, a special counsel to continue an independent investigation. Biden's lawyer, Abbe Lowell, argued unsuccessfully the charges should be dismissed because no new evidence had emerged since the plea agreement.

The gun indictment charged Biden with knowingly deceiving a firearms dealer by buying a Colt Cobra 38SPL revolver. He was charged with falsely filling out a federal form denying he was addicted to any narcotics. And he was charged with knowingly possessing the revolver despite the restrictions against people addicted to drugs owning firearms. The three charges carried a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison.

The tax indictment charges Biden with three felony tax offenses and six misdemeanors. He allegedly engaged in a scheme in which he failed to pay at least $1.4 million in self-assessed taxes from 2016 through 2019, and also evaded tax assessment for 2018 when he filed false returns.

The previous agreement would have allowed Biden to plead guilty to two misdemeanor tax charges, which could have resulted in no jail time, and enter a pretrial program for a gun charge that could have been dismissed if he complied.

But Republicans blasted the agreement as a sweetheart deal and Hunter Biden became a lightning rod for criticism of his father.

Where does Hunter Biden live?

Hunter Biden lives in southern California. There, he faces tax charges in a separate trial set to begin Sept. 5.

His felony gun trial took place in Delaware because in 2018 he purchased the revolver and ammunition from a gun shop in Wilmington.

 Rachel Barber

Who is Hunter Biden?

Hunter Biden is President Joe Biden's youngest son. He's faced three firearms felonies in Delaware.

The first two relate specifically to the form he filled out to purchase a gun in 2018, accusing Biden of lying about this drug use on the form. The third charge pertains to Biden's possession of a firearm while he was allegedly an unlawful user or addicted to controlled substances.

 Xerxes Wilson

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Hunter Biden trial recap: Joe Biden's son convicted on all charges
Will Hunter Biden go to prison? Heres what happens next after his conviction.

Hunter Bidens conviction on three felony gun-related charges presents complicated legal and political challenges  for his father, President Joe Biden, and for the justice system as a whole.

The verdict is certain to ripple across an already tense and unsettled political landscape, coming just two weeks after Donald Trumps own conviction on felony charges in New York.

Heres a look at some of the key questions about what comes next.

What happens now?

There are several routine steps that all federal defendants must complete following a conviction. First, Biden will have to sit for an interview with a probation officer from the U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services System. He will be asked about his personal history, mental health and the circumstances that resulted in his conviction, among other questions.

The probation office will use that information to write a presentence report for Judge Maryellen Noreika, who oversaw the trial and will handle the sentencing. After the verdict was issued on Tuesday, Noreika said she expects to hold a sentencing hearing in about four months.

At some point before the sentencing hearing, prosecutors and Bidens lawyers will each submit sentencing memos to the judge that recommend punishment and summarize Bidens personal and family history, his relationship to his community and any factors related to his conviction, such as his history of substance abuse.

After reviewing the presentence report and the sentencing memos, the judge will impose a punishment for Biden at a sentencing hearing. Though Biden faces a maximum of 25 years in prison for the three counts, the judge has a menu of other sentencing options short of prison, including probation, home detention or even a curfew.



Is Biden going to prison?

The likelihood that Biden is sentenced to prison is pretty low, said Jeffrey Brown, co-chair of Dechert LLPs enforcement and litigation practice, who previously served as co-chief of the general crimes unit in the Manhattan U.S. attorneys office.

I think he has a lot of sympathetic factors in his favor that would argue for a non-incarceratory sentence, Brown said. Those include Bidens lack of criminal history, the likelihood that many people, including some prominent figures, will write to the judge in support of him and the fact that the charges against him arent ones that commonly go to trial.

The judge must consider sentencing disparities, Brown said, and Id be surprised if theres a lot of precedent for people going to trial, getting convicted and sentenced to prison for this offense.

If hes sentenced to prison, will he be able to remain free while he appeals?

Biden has a significant chance of being able to delay any prison sentence while he appeals the verdict, Brown said. He predicted that if Biden does receive a prison sentence, it will be fairly short, and judges sometimes allow defendants to delay shorter sentences while they appeal  otherwise, a defendant might serve the entire sentence before the appeal is resolved.

Even if Biden cant delay any prison sentence, Brown said, he may not end up in prison by Election Day. Thats because his sentencing hearing likely wont take place until October, and after that he would need to be designated to a prison facility and receive a surrender date, making it a close call whether Biden would be ordered to report to prison by early November.

Everything would have to go very quickly and smoothly for him to be in jail on Election Day, Brown said.

Can Hunter Biden still vote for his dad?

It depends. If Biden is registered to vote in Delaware, its highly unlikely. The state only permits felons to vote after they complete their entire sentence  including any period of probation or supervised release, which would typically last at least a year. That means if Biden is sentenced roughly four months after his conviction, he will be ineligible to vote this election cycle.

But Biden has been living recently in California. If he is registered there, its a different story. The state allows felons to register and vote so long as theyre not serving time in a local, state or federal prison or detention facility. Given that Noreika signaled that shell hold a sentencing hearing in October, Biden would almost surely have a chance to cast an early ballot, if not vote on Election Day itself, before any potential prison sentence kicks in.

Can Joe Biden pardon his son?

The president said last week that he would not pardon his son.

But he can always go back on that promise. And a pardon is not his only option.

Presidents have nearly unfettered power to pardon federal crimes, and they can use the pardon power  which is enshrined in the Constitution  for virtually any reason and for any person except, perhaps, themselves.

He could also commute any prison sentence that his son receives, leaving the criminal conviction intact while sparing his son time in a federal lockup.

The real question for the president is his view of the politics. Pardoning his son after a jury conviction would fuel Republicans claims that Democrats have tilted the justice system in favor of their allies and against their adversaries. It would also seem to conflict with Bidens paeans to the sanctity of the criminal justice system following Trumps own jury conviction in Manhattan.

Trump himself wielded the pardon power almost exclusively for the benefit of political allies and friends. But Bidens choice appears certain to arrive at the most sensitive moment of his reelection campaign at a time his opponent is facing federal charges in Washington, D.C., and Florida.

There is precedent, though, for politically controversial pardons of family members  issued, of course, after an election. In January 2001, on his final day in office, President Bill Clinton pardoned his brother Roger Clinton Jr. for a 1985 drug conviction.

What about Hunter Bidens other criminal case?

Special counsel David Weiss, the Trump-appointed federal prosecutor who brought the gun case, has also indicted Biden in a separate case in California. In some ways, that case, which is scheduled to go to trial in September, poses a more serious threat: It charges him with a vast array of tax crimes spanning years, including failing to pay millions of dollars worth of taxes on time despite living an extravagant lifestyle.

His conviction in Delaware is unlikely to have much of an impact on the proceedings in California. While prosecutors could use the underlying evidence that led to his Delaware case as part of an effort to show Bidens state of mind during the years he was allegedly skirting his taxes, evidence of unrelated criminal proceedings or past convictions are typically not permitted into evidence. Thats because it could prejudice the jury into convicting someone based on evidence unrelated to the charged crimes.
On Tuesday, June 11, 2024, Hunter Biden was found guilty on three charges in his trial relating to a 2018 gun purchase.

As The Blast previously reported, the President's son was accused of lying on federal paperwork when applying to purchase the handgun.

The required form asked: "Are you an unlawful user of, or addicted to, marijuana or any depressant, stimulant, narcotic drug, or any other controlled substance?" Hunter answered, "No." However, many testified that he was using cocaine months before the purchase.

The jury deliberated for one hour on Monday and two hours on Tuesday before reaching a verdict. Following the guilty verdict, Hunter Biden has released a statement.

Jury Comes Back With A Verdict

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On Tuesday, June 11, the jury, which consisted of 12 individuals, including a substitute teacher, a former Secret Service employee, and several gun owners, delivered a historic verdict.

After three hours of deliberation, they found Hunter Biden guilty on all three charges. This news comes shortly after former President Donald Trump was found guilty on 34 counts in his hush money trial.

Following Hunter's guilty verdict, a Trump ally told NBC News, I think this wont matter a ton, but it undercuts the argument of a two-tiered system of justice.

That said, the more that argument exists and is pushed, the worse it is for Trump, they added. Its too close to threats to democracy and drives that issue  the only issue where Biden enjoys a lead.

Hunter Biden's Reaction In The Courtroom

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According to NBC, Hunter Biden entered the courtroom after he was told the jury had reached a verdict. He sat down and drank water as he looked down, appearing to be taking notes as he waited for the foreman to deliver the verdict.

He then looked straight ahead at the jury and nodded slightly as the guilty verdict was read. After the courtroom was dismissed, he smiled and hugged his lawyers, Abbe Lowell and David Kolansky.

After the verdict was read, Hunter Biden, First Lady Jill Biden, and his wife, Melissa Cohen Biden, walked out of federal court together but did not speak to the media.

Hunter Biden Breaks Silence

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Per NBC, Hunter Biden broke his silence regarding the verdict: I am more grateful today for the love and support I experienced this last week from Melissa, my family, my friends, and my community than I am disappointed by the outcome. Recovery is possible by the grace of God, and I am blessed to experience that gift one day at a time.

Hunter's lawyer, Abbe Lowell, added that the defense team is "naturally disappointed."

"We respect the jury process, and as we have done throughout this case, we will continue to vigorously pursue all the legal challenges available to Hunter," he said. "Through all he has been through in his recovery, including this trial, Hunter has felt grateful for and blessed by the love and support of his family.

President Joe Biden Releases Statement

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In a statement released by the Biden Administration, the President of the United States reiterated that while he is the President, he is "also a Dad" and "loves" his son.

"Jill and I love our son, and we are so proud of the man he is today," he said in a statement, per CNN. "So many families who have had loved ones battle addiction understand the feeling of pride seeing someone you love come out the other side and be so strong and resilient in recovery."

Joe Biden then reiterated what he said last week about not pardoning his son. "I will accept the outcome of this case and will continue to respect the judicial process as Hunter considers an appeal. Jill and I will always be there for Hunter and the rest of our family with our love and support. Nothing will ever change that," the President added.

What Happens Next?

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Hunter Biden was found guilty on all three charges tied to possession of a gun while using narcotics and can face up to 25 years in prison. Two counts carry a maximum prison sentence of 10 years, while the third has a maximum of five years. Each count also carries a maximum fine of $250,000.

The sentencing date will be announced at a later time.
Hunter Biden has spent the last week in a Delaware federal courtroom listening closely as prosecutors reveal salacious details of his long struggle with drug abuse. And his family has been right there with him.

First lady Jill Biden has attended almost daily, usually seated next to her stepsons wife, Melissa, and surrounded by several family members and close friends eager to show their support. On Monday, at least 25 people made up Bidens courtroom fan clubsqueezing into three rows in the gallery and spilling into a fourth.

From what I have seen, if one of their backs is against the wall, they are there for each other, Jill Bidens former press secretary Michael LaRosa told The Daily Beast. Thats who this family is.

The first familys presence was so palpable that Assistant U.S. Attorney Leo Wise was forced to address their presence at the start of his closing arguments on Monday, urging jurors to ignore them and instead focus on the evidence showing Biden lied about his drug addiction on a form to buy a gun.

All of this is not evidence, Wise said before waving his hand around the packed courtroom, adding that jurors may recognize the regular attendees. People sitting in the gallery are not evidence.

Prosecutor Urges Jurors to Ignore Hunter Bidens Fan Club as Deliberations Begin

But the family affair at the federal courthouse is hard to ignore.

On the first day of trial, Jill Biden was reportedly visibly emotional as prosecutors played experts of Hunter Bidens audiobook in which he delves into lurid stories of his addiction to drugs and alcohol. At one point she reportedly put her arm around her daughter, Ashley.

Despite attending a D-Day commemoration ceremony with President Joe Biden in France on Thursday, Jill Biden returned to court on Friday before jetting off the next day for a state visit in Paris.

This is what she does best, said LaRosa, who served as her press secretary for a little over a year in 2021. She shows up for her kids regardless of public scrutiny or politics. She has been in Hunters life since he was 5-6 years old. She helped raise him. So mom always comes first for her.

Melissa Cohen Biden and Kevin Morris walk outside the federal court on the day of Hunter Biden's trial on criminal gun charges, in Wilmington, Delaware, U.S., June 10, 2024. Hannah Beier/Reuters

LaRosa said that the show of familiar support for Biden is not unusualbecause the family always puts each other over politics.

Things that would normally be private for them have taken on a much more public significance and, because of that, there is extra incentive to be there for each other. Thats what you are seeing, he added. Thats who this family is.

The prosecution and defense cases themselves have also forced the internal Biden dynamics out into open court. Three family members had to tell jurors about their relationship with the presidents son and his dark struggles with addiction, including Hunters 30-year-old daughter, Naomi, who briefly hugged her father after testifying for his defense.

Prosecutors allege that Biden, 54, lied on an October 2018 federal firearms application when he was asked whether he was addicted to drugs. Defense attorneys, however, insist that Biden did not knowingly lieand was in a deep state of denial about his drug use at the time.

Jurors will likely have sympathy for Hunter and his family being there for him could serve to bolster that feeling, said Jill Huntley Taylor, a professional trial consultant who is not connected to the Biden case. Jill Biden is a proxy for Joe, showing he has the love and support of his family. It could demonstrate the frailty of humans, even those with resources and support.

MAGAs Scared Senseless That Hunter Biden Will Be Acquitted

Rev. Christopher Bullock, a long-time family friend who has attended two days of the trial, sitting directly behind the first lady, told The Daily Beast that while the Biden family is feeling Hunters pain they are also aware that their every move is on displayboth for the jury and the press.

You see laughter, you see tears, deep concern, hugging one another, holding hands, Bullock said. They are not saying much but they are engaged they are aware people are watching their every move. Its strength on display.

Their support was not unusual either, he said. They stick together through thick and thin and they always gather around each other.

Bullock, the pastor of the Canaan Baptist Church of New Castle, has been among the rotating cast of allies on Bidens side of the courtroom. President Joe Bidens brother James and his wife were also among them. During breaks in the trial, the group has reportedly been seen hugging, fist-bumping, and laughing in the courtroom hallway. Afterward, some of themincluding Bidens daughter, Maisy, who did not attend courteven accompanied Hunter to dinner.

We prayed with him today, Bullock said after court on Monday. Hunter was strong but concerned. I think the power of prayer resonated with him, and I hugged him and he hugged me, and we were both in the prayer circle and were serious about it.

While he wasnt sure if the jury saw their prayer circle, he believes theyre aware of the large support for Biden in court. California defense attorney Mark Sedlander added that if the jury was not fully aware of Bidens fan club before Monday, they would be after the prosecutions closing arguments.

They likely felt they needed to address the 25-person elephant in the room, Sedlander, who is not connected to the case, told The Daily Beast. Legally, the jury should not consider it, and for good reason, judges instruct juries to consider only the evidence. But jurors are people. And they tend to notice what happens in the courtroom, even if it is not in evidence.

So, even though the presence of Mr. Biden's friends and family is not evidence, the jury will likely consider it during deliberations, even if unconsciously, he added. If it has any effect on deliberations, it would likely be favorable for Mr. Biden.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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A federal jury in Delaware today found Hunter Biden guilty of three felonies based on his purchase of a revolver from a Wilmington gun shop in October 2018. That outcome is not surprising, since Biden had publicly admitted that he was a regular crack cocaine user around the time of the transaction. But Biden can still challenge the verdict by arguing that his prosecution violated the Second Amendmenta claim that pits him against his own father.

The central charge against the president's son was a violation of 18 USC 922(g)(3), which makes it a felony for an "unlawful user" of a "controlled substance" to receive or possess a firearm. The two other charges, also felonies, involved Biden's misrepresentation of himself as a legal gun buyer. Biden faces combined maximum penalties of up to 25 years in prison, although his actual sentence is apt to be much shorter, assuming he is incarcerated at all.

In his 2021 memoir Beautiful Things, Biden described a crack addiction that extended from the spring of 2018 into 2019, featuring several "bullshit attempt[s] to get well." His defense hinged on the improbable and legally iffy suggestion that he bought and possessed the gun during a brief window when he was sober and did not view himself as an illegal drug user or addict.

To prove that Biden violated Section 922(g)(3), his lawyers argued, "the government must show" that he was using crack "on the day of his firearm purchase." They said that point was also crucial in establishing that Biden had lied when he answered "no" to a question on the form required for gun purchases from federally licensed dealers: "Are you an unlawful user of, or addicted to, marijuana or any depressant, stimulant, narcotic drug, or any other controlled substance?"

That argument contradicted both the Justice Department's reading of the statutes and relevant case law. Under federal regulations, the department notes, a buyer violates Section 922(g)(3) if he has used an illegal drug "recently enough to indicate that the individual is actively engaged in such conduct." Federal courts have said "a temporal nexus is required between the drug use and the firearm possession," it says. "Courts now examine the 'pattern and recency' of the defendant's drug use in determining if there is a temporal nexus between the possession of the firearm and drug use." But they "do not require contemporaneous use."

In the 2009 case United States v. Burchard, for example, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit upheld a jury instruction that said "the Defendant must have been engaged in the regular use of a controlled substance either close in time to or contemporaneous with the period of time he possessed the firearm." The instruction added that "the law does not require that the Defendant used the controlled substance at the precise time he possessed the firearm." Rather, "an inference that Defendant was an unlawful user of a controlled substance may be drawn from evidence of a pattern of use or pattern of possession of a controlled substance that reasonably covers the time a firearm was possessed."

In Biden's case, prosecutors supported that inference with passages from his memoir, testimony of people close to him, and text messages indicating that he was using crack shortly before and shortly after he bought the revolver. They also cited cocaine residue on the leather pouch in which Biden kept the gun. Although Biden's lawyers emphasized that the government had not presented eyewitness testimony about his crack use during the 11 days that he possessed the revolver, the jurors evidently thought that was not necessary to establish Biden's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

As a matter of statutory law, this always seemed like an open-and-shut case. But as a matter of constitutional law, the validity of Biden's prosecution is less clear.

In a motion to dismiss the gun charges, Biden's lawyers argued that Section 922(g)(3) is inconsistent with the Second Amendment. Last year in United States v. Daniels, they noted, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit overturned a marijuana user's conviction under that law, rejecting the government's argument that his prosecution was "consistent with this Nation's historical tradition of firearm regulation"the test that the U.S. Supreme Court established in the 2022 case New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen. Several other federal courts likewise have ruled that prosecuting cannabis consumers for illegal gun possession failed the Bruen test.

U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika, who presided over Biden's case, rejected his pretrial motion last month, saying he had failed to show that Section 922(g)(3) is unconstitutional on its face. But she said Biden could still challenge the law as applied to him if he was convicted.

That could prove to be a challenge for Biden. Unlike the typical cannabis consumer, he concedes that his drug use was excessive and out of control. While it is unreasonable to assume that all drug users are so irresponsible that their possession of guns would pose an intolerable threat to public safety, the argument is more plausible in Biden's case.

However you view Biden's suitability as a gun owner back then, his brief possession of a revolver did not injure or threaten anyone. Defense attorney Abbe Lowell emphasized that Biden never loaded the gun or removed it from the lockbox in which he kept it. The only plausible public safety threat, Lowell said, arose from an "incredibly stupid" decision by Hallie Biden, the widow of Biden's brother Beau. Hallie, whom Hunter had started dating in 2016, testified that she removed the gun from his pickup truck and tossed it into a trash bin behind a grocery store because she was worried that he might harm himself.

When Hallie returned, the gun was gone. Lowell noted that Hunter, whom the prosecution portrayed as a public menace, was "the very person" who urged Hallie to contact the police about the missing gun, which brought his firearm possession to light.

Given these facts, one might reasonably question whether Biden's conduct merits a prison sentence even without considering the Second Amendment implications. Special Counsel David Weiss initially charged Biden with just one count of illegal gun possession, and he was willing to drop even that charge once Biden successfully completed a pretrial diversion program. After that deal collapsed under Noreika's scrutiny last July, Weiss filed the two additional charges related to Biden's misrepresentation on the purchase form, both of which are based on the same underlying conduct. That decision increased Biden's potential prison sentence from zero to 25 yearsa striking example of the prosecutorial power that has made the right to trial by jury mostly theoretical.

Republicans complained that Weiss' original deal with Biden, which also included a plea agreement that recommended a probation sentence for two misdemeanor tax charges, reflected political favoritism. After that episode, Weiss, who now is also pursuing a separate tax case against Biden, seemed determined to refute such criticism by throwing the book at him.

Critics may laugh at the contention that Biden is now the victim of "selective and vindictive" prosecution. But even if Biden escapes serious time, the fact that he was prosecuted at all for violating Section 922(g)(3) marks his case as highly unusual.

Judging from survey data on drug use and gun ownership, something like 20 million Americans are committing that felony right now. The Justice Department prosecutes only a minuscule percentage of those potential defendants. That is partly because such cases are not a high priority, which tells you something about the logic of treating this offense as a felony that is currently punishable by up to 15 years in prison (thanks to legislation that Biden's father signed in 2022, which also created a new potential charge in cases like this). But the main reason that gun-owning drug users are rarely prosecuted is that the government generally does not know who they are.

By chronicling his crack addiction in a best-selling memoir, Biden exposed himself to these charges once his gun ownership was revealed. But even at that point, federal prosecutors did not have to pursue the case, let alone treat a single gun purchase as three felonies. Here is where Weiss' eagerness to show that Biden would not get a pass simply because he is the president's son may have played a role.

Is that fair? Compared to the defendant in Daniels, who received a sentence of nearly four years after he was caught with guns and the remains of a few joints during a traffic stop, Biden probably will get off lightly. But he already has fared worse than the millions of drug users who own guns without attracting the government's attention.

The haphazard, wildly uneven enforcement of this widely flouted statute, which criminalizes conduct that violates no one's rights, would be troubling even if it did not arbitrarily strip people of their gun rights. Yet the Biden administration has steadfastly defended Section 922(g)(3), arguing that cannabis consumers, even in states that have legalized marijuana, are ipso facto so dangerous and untrustworthy that they are excluded from "the people" whose "right to keep and bear arms" is guaranteed by the Second Amendment.

The president has ruled out a pardon in this case, which would be politically disastrous. But he surely does not believe that his son deserves the sort of stiff punishment that Congress has authorized. And if that is true of Hunter Biden, it is also true of many other, less privileged drug users who are unlucky enough to be prosecuted for trying to exercise their Second Amendment rights.

The post Hunter Biden's Gun Conviction Does Not Resolve a Constitutional Dispute That Pits Him Against His Father appeared first on Reason.com.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 11. The French presidential administration has dismissed reports of President Emmanuel Macron stepping down following the victory of right-wing parties in the parliamentary election, Trend reports via foreign media.

The French president is reportedly not in talks with his team about this.

Earlier reports from European media suggested that Macron could potentially step down in the event of a victory for right-wing parties in the parliamentary election.

Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
After deliberating for approximately three hours spread over two days, jurors in Wilmington, Delaware, reached a guilty verdict against Hunter Biden.

The charges stemmed from his 2018 purchase of a firearm, wherein he was accused of falsely denying drug use on his application and unlawfully possessing the firearm for 11 days.

As the guilty verdict was read in Hunter Biden's gun trial, the President's son had a reaction that has raised eyebrows amongst Americans.

Hunter Biden Found Guilty On Three Charges In Gun Trial

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On Tuesday, Hunter Biden was found guilty on all three felony counts connected to his purchase of a revolver in 2018. Prosecutors claimed that the President's son lied on a mandatory gun purchase form that he was neither unlawfully using drugs nor addicted to them.

Two charges carry a maximum penalty of 10 years, while one carries a maximum penalty of five. Yet, given his status as a first-time offender, it's likely that he'll receive a reduced sentence if he receives a prison sentence at all. He may serve on parole instead.

'No Visible Reaction' To Guilty Verdict

Hunter Biden holding a cell phone

NBC News said Hunter Biden had "no visible reaction" to the verdict. Many family members, including Jill Biden, were not in the courtroom when the news was read. The First Lady arrived at the courthouse just minutes after the jury's verdict was announced, missing the verdict's reading in the courtroom.

Some family members were in the elevator when they met with reporters and learned the guilty verdict had already been handed down.

There is a "small smattering" of protesters "taunting" the press and "the Biden family as they come in and out every day just repeating Republican talking points as it relates to the Biden family in general," per NBC.

The Associated Press reported that Hunter hugged both of his attorneys following the verdict. He then kissed his wife, Melissa, and they exited the courtroom hand in hand.

Additionally, Hunter left the courthouse holding hands with the first lady and his wife, and no one spoke to reporters. They got into the SUVs waiting outside the courthouse, and drove off.

Americans React To The President's Son's Reaction

Hunter Biden seen at Trial in Wilmington, DE

Following Hunter Biden's guilty verdict, many took to social media to express their thoughts on how the President's son reacted to the decision.

"Nobody is crying or melting down," one X user wrote. "Jill Biden and Hunter rush to the car without taking any questions from the press pool outside?" another questioned as they were confused by their reactions.

"After the verdict was read, [Hunter] nodded and patted his lawyer on the back and hugged him. Doesnt sound like hes too worried about it. Wonder if he knows the fix is in, and he wont see jail time," another wrote in an X post.

On the contrary, ABC News Chief Washington Correspondent Jon Karl said the "one-word response [he] got from a very close friend of Hunter Biden's is 'stunned.'"

President Joe Biden On Hunter Biden's Trial Outcome

Joe Biden Visits Arlington National Cemetery on Memorial Day

Shortly after news broke that Hunter Biden was found guilty on all three charges in his gun trial, President Joe Biden released a statement similar to his past statements on the situation.

As I said last week, I am the President, but I am also a Dad," he began, per CNN. "Jill and I love our son, and we are so proud of the man he is today. So many families who have had loved ones battle addiction understand the feeling of pride seeing someone you love come out the other side and be so strong and resilient in recovery."

The President of the United States said he would "accept the outcome of this case and will continue to respect the judicial process." He also confirmed that Hunter will be appealing. "Jill and I will always be there for Hunter and the rest of our family with our love and support. Nothing will ever change that," he concluded.

Who Testified During The Gun Trial?

Melissa Cohen Biden holds hands with Hunter Biden

Hunter Biden's guilty verdict comes days after attorney Abbe Lowell claimed "nothing on the form about the definition of a user" and that Hunter's drug use "did not start until later." However, Hunter Biden's ex-girlfriend testified that he was seemingly using it in the months leading up to the purchase.

When Zoe Kestan, Hunter's ex, took the stand, she told the jury that she witnessed the President's son smoke crack cocaine every 20 minutes or so in early 2018, months before he purchased the gun. An FBI agent also testified that the 54-year-old was texting about smoking crack in the days leading up to the purchase.

Hunter Biden never took the stand. He faces up to 25 years in prison.
Federal investigators accuse a south Florida man of traversing two continents, stealing license plates and obscuring a security camera to kidnap his estranged wife at her apartment in Spain earlier this year. But the man and his former attorney say he has never stepped foot in Spain and have insisted he is innocent.

David Knezevich, 36, was arraigned and pleaded not guilty on Monday to a kidnapping charge in federal court in Miami  four months after his wife was last seen in Madrid, according to court records.

His wife, Ana Maria Knezevich Henao, has not been heard from since February 2, the day a man wearing a face covering and helmet  who prosecutors allege was Knezevich  entered her apartment building in Madrid and spray-painted the lens of a building surveillance camera. About an hour later, the man emerged from an elevator with a suitcase, according to the criminal complaint.

Before Knezevichs arrest in Florida in May, his attorney at the time, Kenneth Padowitz, told CNN that his client has never been to Spain and had nothing to do with the incident.

But investigators allege Knezevich has been tied to the crime using the can of spray paint, security camera footage, stolen license plates and rental car records, as well as messages he sent to a woman hed met on a dating app.

If convicted, the husband faces a maximum sentence of life in prison.

How FBI investigators built their case

Knezevichs current attorney, Jayne C. Weintraub, filed a request on Monday to the court for a hearing on the courts order of detention, asking to cross-examine an FBI agent regarding new evidence and allegations in the case since a detention hearing last month.

The couple had lived in Florida and were planning to divorce, but the separation had become tense because Knezevich didnt want to evenly split their assets, the criminal complaint said. Padowitz, however, told CNN in February that the split was amicable.

Henao had moved to Spain in December and had been living in an apartment in an apartment in Madrids upscale Salamanca neighborhood, court documents said.

When Henao disappeared from her apartment in February, Knezevich was far away in his native Serbia, Knezevichs former attorney Padowitz has said. But federal officials said records show Knezevich flew from Miami to Turkey in January and then went to Belgrade, Serbia, where he rented a small car on January 29.

Security camera footage shows a man in a motorcycle helmet, who investigators allege is David Knezevich, spray painting a security camera at Ana Henao's Madrid apartment on February 2. - U.S. Attorneys Office, Miami/AP

The owner of the rental car agency told investigators that when the car was returned in mid-March, someone had tinted its windows and added a new license plate frame, and it had traveled nearly 4,800 miles, the criminal complaint said.

Toll booth cameras captured images of the same model Peugeot, with tinted windows, near Madrid in the late night and early morning of February 2 and 3. It had license plates stolen from another vehicle on the Madrid street where Henao was living, the complaint said.

Shortly after 9 p.m. the night of Henaos disappearance, a man wearing a face covering and helmet but with physical characteristics resembling Knezevich entered her apartment building and partially obscured the surveillance camera with spray paint, investigators said.

Spanish investigators identified the brand of spray paint and determined that a Madrid retailer had sold the same paint, along with two rolls of duct tape, to a man who resembled Knezevich the same day Henao was last seen, the criminal complaint said.

Prosectors allege video shows a man resembling David Knezevich in a Madrid hardware store on February 2, 2024. - U.S. Attorneys Office, Miami/AP

Henao, a US citizen originally from Colombia, was in constant communication with her loved ones while overseas. She was planning a trip to Barcelona with her friends on February 5, her brother told CNN, but she abruptly stopped communicating and never showed up for the trip.

Two days before the trip, her friend Sanna Rameau received a puzzling WhatsApp message from Henao indicating she was abruptly leaving town with a man she had just met.

The message, seen by CNN, read: I met someone wonderful!! He has a summer house about 2h (hours) from Madrid. We are going there now and I will spend a few days there. Signal is spotty. Ill call you when I get back.

Henao and Rameau had spoken by phone just hours before her disappearance but she had not mentioned meeting a dreamy stranger, Rameau told CNN.

Investigators allege the texts sent from Henaos phone were really sent by her husband. He is believed to have asked another Colombian woman whom he had met on a dating app to help translate the messages into Colombian, court documents said.

The message he sent to the unidentified Colombian woman to translate was the same one sent from Henaos phone saying shed met a new guy, court documents said.

CNNs Faith Karimi and Al Goodman contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Hy-Vee has announced that the company will provide shuttles through Sept. 1 to help customers affected by store closures, according to a Monday news release from Hy-Vee.

(OurQuadCities.com)

No business wants to close a location and that certainly includes Hy-Vee, the release says. Over the past several weeks, we have listened to community leaders and residents about the impact of our store closures in Cedar Rapids, Waterloo and Davenport. Unfortunately, these three stores have each been losing significant amounts of money for several years, and they are simply not feasible for us to operate any longer. However, we have been working to implement viable solutions to ease the transition for the community.

Hy-Vee will help customers who live near those three stores:

Free transportation

Hy-Vee will provide a free shuttle from each impacted store location to the Hy-Vee store where pharmacy prescriptions will be transferred. This will allow customers to get groceries and receive their medications at the Crossroads Hy-Vee in Waterloo, Oakland Road Hy-Vee in Cedar Rapids, and West Locust Hy-Vee in Davenport.

Free shuttles will run three days a week from June 24 through Sept. 1. (After that, we will reevaluate their use by the community.) Pick up/drop off will occur in the parking lot of each impacted store. The shuttle will run round trip as follows:

Mondays: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Wednesdays: 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Saturdays: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Free grocery delivery

Hy-Vee will provide free Aisles Online grocery delivery to residents within a one-mile radius of each store that is closing for up to one year when they sign up for the service. Customers can register for the service today through Sept. 1 by calling Hy-Vee Customer Care at 800-772-4098. A computer, smartphone, tablet or iPad, as well as a credit card are needed to sign up for this service. An account will be set up similar to how other delivery services operate. A minimum order of $24.95 will be required when placing a grocery order for free delivery.

Continuation of free pharmacy delivery

Hy-Vee will continue to provide free pharmacy delivery to Cedar Rapids, Waterloo and Davenport residents. We have done this for the past several years for all residents in these cities and will continue to do so, according to the release. Customers are encouraged to visit with our store pharmacy teams if they have additional questions about this service.

No lease restrictions

Hy-Vee is actively working with landlords to try to fill the spaces at each location so that the property does not stay vacant once we close our store. We are not placing a use restriction on any of these three locations, the release says.

Increased food bank assistance

Hy-Vee is partnering with HACAP in Cedar Rapids, River Bend Food Bank in Davenport and Northeast Iowa Food Bank in Waterloo to fund, supply and staff several food distribution events in July and August to help local families in need while school is out for the summer. In Cedar Rapids and Davenport, we will support a mobile food pantry in the parking lot of the First Avenue Hy-Vee and Hy-Vee on Rockingham Road twice a month. Notification for the events will be provided to neighborhoods surrounding each location in late June. In Waterloo, additional protein, like meat and peanut butter, will be donated by Hy-Vee to the food bank to assist families in need since a mobile unit is not available at this location.

We value our customers and communities, the release says. As a major employer in the area, we remain committed to supporting our local schools, food banks and other nonprofit organizations. Its what weve always done and will continue to do.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Karim Ahmad Khan, chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), is pictured during a meeting at the ICC. Christophe Gateau/dpa

The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Karim Khan, has seen clear indications of atrocities in the Darfur region of Sudan.

In an urgent appeal issued on Tuesday in The Hague, Khan called on international organizations, partners and national authorities to collect evidence and information and hand it over to him.

Every day, he said, his investigators receive information from Darfur that points to what he called an organized, systematic and serious attack on human dignity.

The Hague-based Tribunal has been investigating genocide in Darfur since 2005, when it was mandated to do so by the UN Security Council.

In 2009, the court issued an international arrest warrant for the then president of Sudan, Omar al-Bashir, on suspicion of genocide. One focus of the investigation is a massacre in West Darfur in 2023.

Khan cited continued and constant attacks on the civilian population and especially on refugee camps, massive and widespread rape and other types of sexual violence, bombing of residential areas, looting and attacks on hospitals.

The crisis is worsening, the suffering is increasing, the chief prosecutor said. UN experts are already talking about a new genocide.

The background to the new wave of violence is the bloody power struggle between Sudan's de facto leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his former deputy, now rival, Mohammed Hamdan Daglo.

According to UN figures, it has led to the flight of almost 10 million people. Large parts of the capital Khartoum have been destroyed and fierce fighting is currently taking place, particularly in the province of North Darfur.

Khan said the international community must not allow Darfur to once again become the world's forgotten atrocity. He called for the collection of photos, videos and audio recordings and for contact with witnesses.
ICC prosecutor appeals for evidence of atrocities in Sudan after rebels attack hospital in Darfur

FILE - Sudanese soldiers from the Rapid Support Forces unit, led by Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, the deputy head of the military council, secure the area where Dagalo attends a military-backed tribe's rally, in the East Nile province, Sudan, on June 22, 2019. The RSF, attacked the South Hospital in al-Fasher, the capital city of North Darfur province on Sunday, June 9, 2024 opening fire on medical staff and patients, Doctors Without Borders said in a statement. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla, File)

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP)  The International Criminal Court's chief prosecutor appealed Tuesday for information and evidence of atrocities in Sudan, saying his ongoing investigation seems to disclose an organized, systematic and a profound attack on human dignity.

ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan released a video statement in the aftermath of an attack Sunday by the notorious Rapid Support Forces paramilitary group that forced the closure of a main hospital in the western Darfur region. The group fired shots and looted the hospital in al-Fasher, aid group Doctors Without Borders reported.

The attack came as the RSF, which has been fighting the Sudanese army for a year, intensified its offensive seeking to wrest control of the city, the militarys last stronghold in the sprawling Darfur region. Two weeks of fighting last month in and around al-Fasher has killed more than 120 people.

The terrible events in West Darfur, including El-Geneina, in 2023 are among our key investigative priorities, Khan said. In addition, I am extremely concerned about allegations of widespread international crimes being committed in al-Fasher and its surrounding areas as I speak.

A long-running conflict

Sudans conflict began in April last year when soaring tensions between the leaders of the military and the RSF erupted into fighting in the capital, Khartoum, and elsewhere in the country.

The war has killed more than 14,000 people and wounded thousands more, while pushing its population to the brink of famine. The U.N. food agency warned the warring parties last month that there is a serious risk of widespread starvation and death in Darfur and elsewhere in Sudan if they dont allow humanitarian aid into the region.

The war also created the worlds largest displacement crisis as more than 10 million people have been forced to flee their homes, including over 2 million people who crossed into neighboring countries, the U.N. migration agency told The Associated Press Monday.

Khan said he is urgently investigating in Sudan.

The evidence my office has collected to date seems to show credible, repeated, expanding, continuous allegations of attacks against the civilian population, in particular, attacks directed against camps for internally displaced persons, he said.

It seems to show the widespread, prevalent use of rape and other forms of sexual violence. It seems to disclose consistently the shelling of civilian areas, the looting of properties and attacks against hospitals, he added, stressing that he was particularly concerned by the ethnically motivated nature of these attacks against the Masalit and other communities.

The ICC already has an ongoing investigation in Sudan

The ICC has long been investigating atrocities in Sudan, dating back to a previous devastating conflict in Darfur. The court has issued arrest warrants for former Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir on charges including genocide allegedly committed in Darfur between 2003-2008.

The RSF was born out of Arab militias, commonly known as Janjaweed, mobilized by al-Bashir against non-Arab tribes in Darfur. At the time, they were accused of mass killings, rapes and other atrocities, and Darfur became synonymous with genocide.

Khan referred back to the previous conflict in his message Tuesday.

It is an outrage that we are allowing history to repeat itself once again in Darfur, he said. We cannot and we must not allow Darfur to become the worlds forgotten atrocity, once again.
The Snake River Plain in southern Idaho represents the greatest wind resource potential in Idaho, according to Idahos Office of Energy and Mineral Resources 2024 Energy Landscape Report. Idahos wind production grew 1,184% from 2008 to 2021, and wind makes up 17% of Idaho's electricity. Wind energy in Idaho is provided by nearly 550 turbines, including the ones on this wind farm in Power County. (U.S. Department of Energy)

The Lava Ridge Wind Project is moving forward under a new plan that shrinks the project to nearly half of its originally proposed size.

The Bureau of Land Management on June 6 issued its final environmental review, which selected an alternative model for the project after taking into consideration input from landowners, ranchers, Native American tribes and public officials. The finalization for the preferred alternative would take place later this summer, Magic Valley Energy spokesperson Amy Schutte told the Sun.

Magic Valley Energy, an affiliate of LS Power, seeks to build the wind development about 25 miles northeast of Twin Falls. The original proposal for the wind project would have sat on 197,000 acres of land, and consisted of 400 turbines up to 740 feet in height. The bureaus preferred alternative shrinks the project to sit on 104,000 acres of land, consisting of 241 turbines with a maximum height of 660 feet.

According to the BLM, the preferred alternative reduces potential impacts to sage grouse, large wildlife migration routes, cultural resources, Jerome County Airport and agricultural aviation uses, public land ranchers, and private landowners.

The alternative also addresses concerns from Friends of Minidoka, a nonprofit organization based in Jerome that preserves the Minidoka National Historic Site, a site of a former concentration camp for Japanese Americans during World War II.

The organization opposed the wind development, arguing it would cast an imposing view on their site, the Idaho Statesman reported. Under the original proposal, it would have been as close as two miles away from the site. In the alternative, the closest wind turbine would be nine miles away from the historical site.

Luke Papez, senior director of project development for LS Power, said in a news release the preferred alternative is a balance between protecting environmental resources and the demand for domestic energy production.

Our goal is to meet rising energy demand while forging strong relationships and partnerships within the local community, Papez said in the release. This goal is crucial to ensure sustainable and beneficial development for the Magic Valley region of Idaho.

The two images are visual simulations of the preferred alternative, showing the view of the Lava Ridge Wind Project from the Minidoka National Historical Site. (Bureau of Land Management)

Idaho officials oppose Lava Ridge Wind Project

Since the early stages of the projects development, the wind project has sparked controversy. Idaho lawmakers in 2023 passed a resolution expressing concerns about the project.

Thursdays BLM decision sparked renewed opposition from Idaho public officials.

The same day the decision was issued, Idaho Gov. Brad Little, Lt. Gov. Scott Bedke, U.S. Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch and Congressman Mike Simpson all issued statements in a news release opposing the Bureau of Land Managements decision.

The Biden administration has a goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, or when the amount of greenhouse gas emissions produced in the country equals the amount of greenhouse gasses removed from the atmosphere.

Little said he does not agree with the bureaus decision, calling it the latest example of the Biden administrations unsound energy agenda.

It may not matter in Washington, D.C., but it matters to those of us who live here, Little said.

Bedke said he is concerned that the project would benefit Californians, rather than Idahoans.

Our public lands have long been utilized for multiple uses that meet the needs and fulfill the benefits of Idahoans, Bedke said in the release. Ranching, farming, and recreation are a major part of the Magic Valleys heritage. While domestic energy production is an emerging part of a necessary conversation, the BLM disregarded Idahoans input on a project that is in our backyard and, instead, favored Californians energy needs.

Simpson, Risch and Crapo all said they would continue to fight against the wind project.

On Friday, Idaho Attorney General Raul Labrador announced an administrative appeal with the Federal Aviation Administration, asking the agency to reconsider its determinations that the Lava Ridge project poses no hazard to aviation in the area.

The people of Idaho have overwhelmingly demanded action and deserve better than to be ignored by federal bureaucracies, Labrador said in a news release. Yesterdays appeal is my offices first of many steps in fighting this ill-conceived project that threatens Idahos agriculture, wildlife, and waterways.

Energy independence, jobs and taxes

Despite opposition from elected officials, Idaho environmental advocates say the wind project has a lot to offer Idaho.

Peter Richardson, the chair of Idaho Energy Freedom, told the Idaho Capital Sun that rather than benefitting people out of state, the Lava Ridge Wind Project would help Idaho become more energy independent.

Thats because Idahoans consume about 61% more electricity than is generated, resulting in the need to import energy from other states, according to FindEnergy, a nationwide energy data tracker. While 40% of the states electricity comes from Idaho utilities, nearly 40% more comes from out of state electricity providers, according to Idahos Office of Energy and Mineral Resources Energy Landscape Report.

Idaho is in the business of exporting a lot of things, from potato chips to computer chips, Richardson said. If electricity is one of those things that we export, that is a good thing.

For more information and to review documents related to the Lava Ridge Wind Project, visit the BLMs National NEPA Register.

Idaho Conservation League Climate Program Manager Adrian Gallo told the Sun the project would help provide more electricity options for utilities that rely on hydroelectric power.

We dont produce enough electricity statewide, he said. While weve historically relied on hydropower for most of our electricity production, because of droughts, things are getting worse. Hydropower production is decreasing, and we can no longer rely on the old way that we produce electricity.

Gallo said that in addition to more Idaho-produced energy, the Lava Ridge Wind Project would strengthen the regions economy over the next 30 years.

The BLM estimates construction of the project would generate $21.9 million in annual tax revenue and contribute $138.9 million in total economic output to local and regional economies.

Millions of acres of BLM-administered land across the country are already surrendered to coal, oil and gas development, Gallo said. Thats going to keep harming those communities that are nearby, and we have an opportunity to bring clean energy to the state while bringing in tax revenue and increasing our resiliency on the grid.

Conservation Voters for Idaho Program Director Ryan McGoldrick told the Sun that clean energy resources are needed in Idaho as one of the fastest growing states in the country.

For these projects to be successful though, we need community buy-in, McGoldrick said. Unfortunately, its clear that Magic Valley residents have not felt heard during the development of Lava Ridge. Regardless of the final decision, I hope the shortcomings of this project dont turn Idahoans against beneficial projects elsewhere.

Idaho Capital Sun, like the Oregon Capital Chronicle, is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Idaho Capital Sun maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Christina Lords for questions: info@idahocapitalsun.com. Follow Idaho Capital Sun on Facebook and Twitter.

The post Idaho wind project moves forward at half of original proposed size appeared first on Oregon Capital Chronicle.
Immigration group pleads for help bringing deported relatives back to the U.S.

Omar Toumbou of Maryland speaks at a press conference hosted by the Ohio Immigrant Alliance on the U.S. Capitol grounds Tuesday, June 11, 2024. (Courtesy of Lia Chien/States Newsroom)

WASHINGTON  The Ohio Immigrant Alliance at a Tuesday press conference at the U.S. Capitol called on members of Congress to bring deported family members back home to the United States.

Present at the event were relatives of those deported asking for both Congress and President Joe Biden to reform the American immigration system and allow their loved ones to return, many of whom had lived in the U.S. for decades.

Lynn Tramonte, director of the Ohio Immigrant Alliance, and Suma Setty, a senior policy analyst at the Center for Law and Social Policy, a D.C.-based nonprofit fighting for policy solutions for low-income groups, also launched their new book, Broken Hope: Deportation and the Road Home, at the event.

I just wanted to take a minute to ask you guys to think about what if somebody told you tomorrow, you had to walk away from everybody, and everything that you had built for 20 years? said Tramonte. Thats what deportation is. Its an extreme consequence for a paperwork violation.

Wafaa Hamdi, an Ohio resident, also spoke to the gathered crowd, flanked by her young niece and nephew at her side.

Her sister, Tina Hamdi, of Dayton, Ohio, was deported in 2017 to Morocco, after serving a drug-related sentence that resulted from an abusive relationship, according to the National Immigrant Justice Center, a nonprofit that advocates for migrants and works with pro bono lawyers.

Tina came to the U.S. when she was 3 years old, and had resided under DACA status  a program for undocumented people brought to the United States as children  until her incarceration. She hasnt seen her children in eight years, Wafaa Hamdi said.

Theres a lot of kids, a lot of people in general, that have a loved one that they cannot see and that they used to go to sleep or wake up to every day and they no longer get to, said Wafaa.

Tinas son also spoke up. Im here because I miss my mom, he tearfully said.

Longtime simmering issue

Deportation in the U.S. has been a contentious issue and top priority for presidents in recent decades.

Under President Barack Obama, average annual deportations increased by over 26,000 compared to the George W. Bush administration, according to the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse of Syracuse University, a data research center.

When former President Donald Trump took office, deportations to Africa increased by 74 percent compared to the Obama administration, according to Tramonte and Setty. Trump also enacted several travel bans from primarily African and Muslim countries during his first year in office.

This year, TRAC found that deportations are up 50% under the Biden administration compared to the Trump administration levels in 2019, according to the publication Border Report. Many of these migrants had crossed the southern border.

Omar Toumbou, a Maryland resident, spoke to the effect historical Western colonization in Africa has had on deportations. Toumbous uncle, Abdoulaye Thiaw, was deported to Mauritania.

Starting here with the will to want things to change will allow us to really start to break down these issues on a larger scale, to really understand what colonialism has truly done to the continent, and how its created such a broken, fractured structure to where countries dont even have stabilization within their own governments, said Toumbou.

Toumbou pointed to damaging effects of Western colonization, like political and economic instability, as the primary driver of Africans fleeing to the U.S. He said reformed immigration policies must take into account the systemic violence many Africans have fled.

A lot of these things are a result of decades of neglect and also decades of blatant assault on Africa as a continent, he said. We need to change the way that we actually look at the continent as a whole.

Central process advocated

The National Immigrant Justice Center launched its Chance to Come Home campaign in 2021. Its mission is for the Biden administration to establish a central process through the Department of Homeland Security for deported individuals to apply to return to America.

Biden signed a similar order in 2021 for deported veterans to apply to come back.

Democrats including Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey, and Reps. Emanuel Cleaver of Missouri, Adriano Espaillat of New York and David Trone of Maryland support NIJCs campaign and urged Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to establish a central system.

Members of the Ohio delegation have also taken steps to protect those from Mauritania from deportation. Over half of Mauritanians coming to Ohio settled in Cincinnati.

In January, Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown and Reps. Mike Carey, Joyce Beatty, and Greg Landsman introduced the TPS for Mauritania Act of 2024 to grant Mauritanians in the U.S. Temporary Protected Status, which allows migrants to stay and work in the United States temporarily. Many other activist organizations called on President Biden last year to halt all deportations to Mauritania.

For now, several issues plague those facing deportation from the U.S.

Demba Ndiath, an Ohioan whose close family member was deported to Mauritania, said language barriers, inadequate translators, and a lack of financial services for legal services make it difficult for people to argue their case to stay.

Tramonte pushed for overall immigration court reform in the U.S. and called for support for NIJCs Chance to Come Home campaign.

The Ohio Immigrant Alliance also planned to meet with the Ohio congressional delegation to push for immigration justice.

The stories of those far away were top of mind for everyone at Tuesdays event. Ndiath reminded listeners that they were making a difference for their loved ones.

I wish they could see everybody whos here, he said. Standing up for them, meeting with members of Congress, advocating for them. I think were building hope for them.

The post Immigration group pleads for help bringing deported relatives back to the U.S. appeared first on Nebraska Examiner.
Immigration group pleads for help bringing deported relatives back to the U.S.

Omar Toumbou of Maryland speaks at a press conference hosted by the Ohio Immigrant Alliance on the U.S. Capitol grounds Tuesday, June 11, 2024. (Photo by Lia Chien/States Newsroom)

WASHINGTON  The Ohio Immigrant Alliance spoke Tuesday at the U.S. Capitol and called on members of Congress to bring deported family members back home to the United States.

Present at Tuesdays press conference were relatives of the deported asking for both Congress and President Joe Biden to reform the American immigration system and allow their loved ones to return, many of whom had lived in the U.S. for decades.

Lynn Tramonte, director of the Ohio Immigrant Alliance, and Suma Setty, a senior policy analyst at the Center for Law and Social Policy, a D.C.-based nonprofit fighting for policy solutions for low-income groups, also launched their new book, Broken Hope: Deportation and the Road Home, at the event.

I just wanted to take a minute to ask you guys to think about what if somebody told you tomorrow, you had to walk away from everybody, and everything that you had built for 20 years? said Tramonte. Thats what deportation is. Its an extreme consequence for a paperwork violation.

Wafaa Hamdi, an Ohio resident, also spoke to the gathered crowd, flanked by her young niece and nephew at her side.

Her sister, Tina Hamdi, of Dayton, Ohio, was deported in 2017 to Morocco, after serving a drug-related sentence that resulted from an abusive relationship, according to the National Immigrant Justice Center, a nonprofit that advocates for migrants and works with pro bono lawyers.

Tina came to the U.S. when she was 3 years old, and had resided under DACA status  a program for undocumented people brought to the United States as children  until her incarceration. She hasnt seen her children in eight years, Wafaa Hamdi said.

Theres a lot of kids, a lot of people in general, that have a loved one that they cannot see and that they used to go to sleep or wake up to every day and they no longer get to, said Wafaa.

Tinas son also spoke up. Im here because I miss my mom, he tearfully said.

Longtime simmering issue

Deportation in the U.S. has been a contentious issue and top priority for presidents in recent decades.

Under President Barack Obama, average annual deportations increased by over 26,000 compared to the George W. Bush administration, according to the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse of Syracuse University, a data research center.

When former President Donald Trump took office, deportations to Africa increased by 74 percent compared to the Obama administration, according to Tramonte and Setty. Trump also enacted several travel bans from primarily African and Muslim countries during his first year in office.

This year, TRAC found that deportations are up 50% under the Biden administration compared to the Trump administration levels in 2019, according to the publication Border Report. Many of these migrants had crossed the southern border.

Omar Toumbou, a Maryland resident, spoke to the effect historical Western colonization in Africa has had on deportations. Toumbous uncle, Abdoulaye Thiaw, was deported to Mauritania.

Starting here with the will to want things to change will allow us to really start to break down these issues on a larger scale, to really understand what colonialism has truly done to the continent, and how its created such a broken, fractured structure to where countries dont even have stabilization within their own governments, said Toumbou.

Toumbou pointed to damaging effects of Western colonization, like political and economic instability, as the primary driver of Africans fleeing to the U.S. He said reformed immigration policies must take into account the systemic violence many Africans have fled.

A lot of these things are a result of decades of neglect and also decades of blatant assault on Africa as a continent, he said. We need to change the way that we actually look at the continent as a whole.

Central process advocated

The National Immigrant Justice Center launched its Chance to Come Home campaign in 2021. Its mission is for the Biden administration to establish a central process through the Department of Homeland Security for deported individuals to apply to return to America.

Biden signed a similar order in 2021 for deported veterans to apply to come back.

Democrats including Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey, and Reps. Emanuel Cleaver of Missouri, Adriano Espaillat of New York and David Trone of Maryland support NIJCs campaign and urged Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to establish a central system.

Members of the Ohio delegation have also taken steps to protect those from Mauritania from deportation. Over half of Mauritanians coming to Ohio settled in Cincinnati.

In January, Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown and Reps. Mike Carey, Joyce Beatty, and Greg Landsman introduced the TPS for Mauritania Act of 2024 to grant Mauritanians in the U.S. Temporary Protected Status, which allows migrants to stay and work in the United States temporarily. Many other activist organizations called on President Biden last year to halt all deportations to Mauritania.

For now, several issues plague those facing deportation from the U.S.

Demba Ndiath, an Ohioan whose close family member was deported to Mauritania, said language barriers, inadequate translators, and a lack of financial services for legal services make it difficult for people to argue their case to stay.

Tramonte pushed for overall immigration court reform in the U.S. and called for support for NIJCs Chance to Come Home campaign.

The Ohio Immigrant Alliance also planned to meet with the Ohio congressional delegation to push for immigration justice.

The stories of those far away were top of mind for everyone at Tuesdays event. Ndiath reminded listeners that they were making a difference for their loved ones.

I wish they could see everybody whos here, he said. Standing up for them, meeting with members of Congress, advocating for them. I think were building hope for them.

The post Immigration group pleads for help bringing deported relatives back to the U.S. appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
As Republican Scott Fitzpatrick mounted a campaign for Missouri state auditor, he vowed to go further than his predecessors and audit school districts over how theyre teaching students.

Fitzpatrick, who was elected in 2022, is now following through on part of that promise and last month launched an audit into the Independence School District, one of Missouris biggest school systems.

The probe, which began on May 14, will look into the districts finances. But it will also go further and examine the school districts overall performance as it relates to providing a quality education to students, his office said.

The move marks a significant shift by the state Auditors Office. While previous auditors have audited schools to ensure against the waste of taxpayer money, Fitzpatricks investigation into the performance of Independence schools is uncommon if not unprecedented.

It comes after the Independence School District last year became the largest district in the state to move to a four-day school week in an attempt to attract teachers. Lawmakers targeted the move this year and passed legislation requiring voters to decide whether large school districts can shift to four-day weeks. Republican Gov. Mike Parson signed the bill into law last month.

Fitzpatrick spokesperson Trevor Fox said in an email that the audit was still in its early stages, but that it would provide an objective and unbiased review of how the district is performing.

An audit is never a bad thing but is instead an effective accountability tool that can provide parents and residents of the district with a more detailed understanding of how effectively their tax dollars are being used to educate our young people, he said.

Parents and taxpayers will have a better understanding of where the district is excelling and where it needs improvement, Fox said. The factors that led to the audit included the districts size, geographic location, and unique aspects including the 4-day school week, he said.

However, Fox said that the audit has been on the offices audit schedule since January and predates any actions from lawmakers and Parson.

Dale Herl, the superintendent of the Independence School District, said that the auditors office told the school board it initiated the audit because of the shift to a four-day week. He criticized lawmakers for targeting four-day weeks and said it was ironic that an audit shortly followed.

The fact that they told us the reason were getting audited was because we went to the four-day school week does make this situation unlike anything that Ive ever seen from the state Auditors Office, he said.

The Missouri Auditors Office has historically looked for waste, fraud and financial accountability in state agencies. Auditors have had the power to audit school districts since 2008. However, unlike most audits, Fitzpatrick launched his Independence probe unilaterally without a citizen-led petition.

Fitzpatrick said in a news release that the audit is part of a plan to review the performance of schools across the state. Previous auditors have only audited an average of one school district each year, he said.

School districts, he said, are rarely audited on their efficiency and effectiveness.

Fitzpatricks most recent predecessor, Democrat Nicole Galloway, issued just more than 20 audit reports related to public school districts and charter schools during her time in office. But Galloway never audited a school over its curriculum  something that Fitzpatrick vowed to do on the campaign trail.

Fox said that Fitzpatricks office was still conducting survey work, which includes reviewing the districts policies and compliance with state and federal laws. Once that is finished, the office will establish an audit plan.

He signaled that the districts curriculum could be part of the audit.

For curriculum, to the extent that there are rules and regulations on how it is determined, that is also something the SAO (state Auditors Office) has full discretion to audit, Fox said.

While serving as state auditor, Fitzpatrick has garnered respect from lawmakers of both parties for how hes handled the office  a rarity for statewide officeholders.

Supporters of Fitzpatrick also point to his time in the state legislature  where he served as budget chair of the Missouri House in 2017 and 2018  and his previous role as state treasurer as indicators of his financial expertise and willingness to work across the aisle.

A testament to Fitzpatricks bipartisan support, lawmakers unanimously approved legislation this year that would expand the auditors powers to investigate certain political subdivisions such as smaller ambulance and sewer districts. Parson has not yet signed or vetoed the bill.

Fitzpatrick made school district oversight one of his top priorities during his campaign for auditor. During a candidate forum in Lake Ozark in 2022 and on his campaign website, he said he was concerned about the large percentage of Missouri students who test below proficient or advanced in math and science.

He had promised to review school costs and compare the performance of Missouris schools with the amount of taxpayer money allocated to those schools.

But in addition to looking at performance in schools, Fitzpatricks campaign rhetoric also caught the attention of some critics. Some worried that he would use the auditors office  and school districts  to promote partisan politics.

Fitzpatrick had previously said on his campaign website and in a 2022 interview with The Star that he wanted to investigate schools for lessons on gender, sexual identity and so-called critical race theory.

Ill ensure schools are following the law and keeping politically divisive curriculum like Critical Race Theory, and discussions relating to gender or sexual preferences out of the classroom, Fitzpatrick wrote on his campaign website at the time. The quote no longer appears on the website.

Critical race theory is a college-level academic theory that is not widely taught in Missouris K-12 schools, but the phrase has become a shorthand among conservatives for any lesson that delves into systemic racisms role in U.S. history or politics.

Fox, in the email to The Star, distanced the Independence audit from those issues, pointing to the fact that Missouri lawmakers have not passed legislation that would ban lessons on critical race theory or systemic racism. Lawmakers have tried to pass similar legislation over the last several years.

While Auditor Fitzpatrick anticipated the legislature would act to provide statutory guidance on the types of curriculum you are referencing, they have not yet done so, Fox said. Any information related to the use of inappropriate curriculum will be considered within the context of relevant laws, rules, policies, and regulations.

Herl, in a phone interview, said that the Auditors Office told the district that the audit would not probe the districts curriculum and that he was not concerned about any potential investigation into its lessons. He added that he didnt think audits are necessarily a bad thing.

I think we do a phenomenal job in the Independent School District and weve always had clean audits previously, he said. If there are things that we can do betterits a way that we can find out how we can operate better and possibly more efficiently.

Rep. Robert Sauls, an Independent Democrat, in an interview, declined to criticize Fitzpatricks audit before the results are released. However, he said he trusted the school board and the Missouri Department of Secondary and Elementary Education or DESE.

Its pretty hard to know what the audit is going to show, he said. For the most part, I would say that I trust the locally elected school board and DESE to kind of come up with a curriculum that meets standardsand well just see what the audit says.

Sauls, who filed legislation this year aimed at requiring voters to decide whether schools can go to four-day weeks, said he hopes that the audit will study how four-day weeks have affected the district.

That was at least my hope that the audit would go in that direction as opposed to the curriculum thats being learned, he said. The main question I would have and what I hope the question that he gets into is has the four-day impacted education? And Id be interested to see those results.

The legislation Parson signed last month requires school districts in charter counties  Jackson, Clay, St. Louis, Jefferson and St. Charles  or districts that serve more than 30,000 residents, to receive approval from a majority of voters in the district by 2026 in order to keep a four-day week or to begin offering it.

It would directly affect the Independence School District and much of the debate inside the Missouri Capitol centered on the districts decision to shift to a four-day week.

Under current state law, school board members can decide whether a district shifts to a four-day week. The legislation would not affect smaller districts in more rural parts of the state.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 12. The Slovenian government will allocate 2.5 million euros in humanitarian aid to residents of the Gaza Strip, the website of the Slovenian government says, Trend reports.

"The Slovenian government has decided to allocate an additional two and a half million euros through various United Nations programs to provide emergency humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people," Prime Minister of Slovenia Robert Golob said.

It is reported that the country's authorities will allocate 1 million euros to the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). Another 1 million will be allocated to the UN World Food Program, and 500 thousand euros will be allocated to Slovenian organizations participating in humanitarian programs in the Middle East conflict zone.
A new state-by-state report released by the Annie E. Casey Foundation shows Indianas child well-being ranking has dropped from 24th in the nation to 27th. (Getty Images)

A new state-by-state report shows Indianas child well-being ranking has dropped  in part due to Hoosier kids dismal math and reading scores, as well as increased rates of youth deaths.

Although Indiana continues to rank in the bottom half of states for its rates of teen births and children living in high-poverty or in single-parent households, those numbers are showing improvement.

The 2024 KIDS COUNT Data Book ranked Indiana 27th among states, three places lower than last year. Its still a slight improvement, however, compared to 2022 and 2021, when the state ranked 28th and 29th, respectively.

In specific categories covered in the latest report, Indiana came in 15th for economic well-being, 17th in education, 31st in family and community, and 32nd in health.

Indiana has significant opportunities and challenges ahead in supporting the well-being of our children, said Tami Silverman, president and CEO of the Indiana Youth Institute.

We should celebrate the progress weve made, especially in economic well-being areas such as parental employment rates and housing affordability; and we must acknowledge the disparities that persist for our kids, Silverman continued. Every child in Indiana should have access to quality education, regardless of their background or circumstances. By addressing these disparities head-on, we not only invest in the future of our children but also in the economic prosperity of our state.

The report is prepared by the Annie E. Casey Foundation in conjunction with organizations across the county, including the Indiana Youth Institute. It rates states in 16 wide-ranging areas, which are lumped together under the categories of health, education, economic well-being, and family and community support.

Gaps in reading and math

The education portion of the latest edition  focused on student achievement  reiterates low numbers familiar to Hoosier education officials.

Just 32% of fourth graders nationally were at or above proficiency in reading in 2022, the latest year for which numbers were available. That was down from the 34% who were proficient in 2019, before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Scores were even worse for eighth grade math. Nationwide, only 26% of eighth graders were at or above proficiency in math two years ago, down from 33% in 2019.

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aecf-2024kidscountdatabook-2024

In Indiana, one-third of fourth graders performed at or above proficiency in reading  a four percentage-point decrease from the 2019 rate of 37%, the report showed.

Further, only 30% of Indiana eighth grade students performed at or above proficiency in math, marking an 11% decrease from 2019, ranking the state 11th nationally.

Among Indiana fourth graders in 2022, Black students had an average reading score that was 23 points lower than that of white students. Students eligible for the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) had an average reading score 18 points lower than those not eligible for NSLP, according to the KIDS COUNT report.

Meanwhile, eighth grade Black students in Indiana had an average math score that was 31 points lower than white students. Hispanic students in the same grade had an average math score that was 19 points lower than their white peers.

The Casey Foundation report contends that the pandemic is not the sole cause of lower test scores, though. Rather, the foundation says educators, researchers, policymakers and employers who track students academic readiness have been ringing alarm bells for a long time.

U.S. scores in reading and math have barely budged in decades. In Indiana, state education officials have repeatedly pointed out that Hoosier literacy exam scores have been on the decline since 2015.

During the 2024 legislative session, state lawmakers took decisive action as part of an ongoing push to improve literacy and K-12 student performance.

Paramount among the new laws passed was one to require reading-deficient third graders to be held back a year in school.

Stats on youth health and family life

Health-focused portions of the report show that  after peaking in 2021  the national child and teen death rate stabilized at 30 deaths per 100,000 children and youth ages 1 to 19.

But in Indiana, the death rate has continued to rise. While 29 deaths per 100,000 Hoosier children and youth were recorded in 2019, the rate increased to 36 deaths in 2022, per the report.

The Indiana Youth Institute (IYI) has already drawn attention, for example, to higher rates of mental health crises such as depression and suicidal ideation among the states youth. According to IYI data, one out of every three students from 7th to 12th grade reported experiencing persistent sadness and hopelessness. One out of seven students made a plan to commit suicide.

The most recent data available additionally show that nationwide and in Indiana, the child poverty rate improved and economic security of parents increased back to pre-pandemic levels.

Between 2018 and 2022, roughly 113,000  or 7%  of Hoosier children were reportedly living in high-poverty areas. Thats a drop from 10% between 2013 and 2017, according to the report.

From 2019 to 2022, teen births per 1,000 declined from 21 to 17, and the percentage of children in single-parent families also dropped from 35% to 32%.

Still, some gains

Advocates pointed to some bright spots for Hoosier kids and their families in this years national report, as well:

Between 2019 and 2022, more parents (75%) had full-time secure employment in Indiana  which surpassed both the national average and that of the four neighboring states: Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan and Ohio.

In 2022, fewer children (22%) lived in households that faced a high housing cost burden, spending 30% of their income solely on housing expenses, in comparison to the national average (30%).

In 2022, more Hoosier teens (95%) between the ages 16 and 19 were either enrolled in school or employed, an improvement from 93% in 2019.

Far fewer children under 19 (5%) were also uninsured. Indiana saw the fifth-highest decrease nationally in uninsured children between 2019 and 2022  a 29% improvement.

The report offers several recommendations for policymakers, school leaders and educators that include chronicling absenteeism data by grade, establishing a culture to pursue evidence-based solutions and incorporating intensive, in-person tutoring to align with the school curriculum.

Kids of all ages and grades must have what they need to learn each day, such as enough food and sleep and a safe way to get to school, as well as the additional resources they might need to perform at their highest potential and thrive, like tutoring and mental health services, said Lisa Hamilton, president and CEO of the Annie E. Casey Foundation. Our policies and priorities have not focused on these factors in preparing young people for the economy, short-changing a whole generation.

The post Indianas overall child well-being scores decline in new national report appeared first on Indiana Capital Chronicle.
By Jatindra Dash and Krishna N. Das

NEW DELHI (Reuters) -Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has retained all key cabinet ministers in their portfolios in the new government, signalling that he still calls the shots despite having to rely on coalition allies for a majority in parliament.

Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) fell well short of the majority mark on its own in the election that ended this month, but the government announced there will be no change in personnel at the four senior-most ministries - finance, home affairs, defence and foreign affairs. The party also retained other key ministries like commerce and agriculture.

Delhi was abuzz with talk of haggling by the allies for key portfolios in the lead-up to Modi taking office for a rare third straight term, and analysts said there could be some anger over the cabinet choices but no immediate fall-out.

"He has managed to prevail over his allies to keep all the important portfolios to demonstrate continuity, and they seem to have gone along," said Tarun Basu, director of the New Delhi-based Society for Policy Studies think tank.

"Despite this outward projection, there will inevitably be internal pulls and pressures within the coalition, though these may not come out in the public so quickly."

Only 5 out of the 30 cabinet seats were given to the allies, in ministries including civil aviation, food processing, steel, animal husbandry, and small and medium enterprises.

The BJP won 240 of the 543 seats in the lower house of parliament in the election. The alliance it leads won a total of 293 seats, crossing the majority mark of 272 seats.

"We believe that the distribution of seats displays continuity at its best and equitable treatment of allies, which is a big plus," PhillipCapital analyst Anjali Verma wrote in a note.

Aside from the Hindu nationalist BJP, the two main constituents of the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) are two regional parties focused on getting funds for their states, Andhra Pradesh in the south and Bihar in the east.

Andhra-based Telugu Desam Party did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Bihar's Janata Dal (United) said it had given its "unconditional support to the NDA government".

"People are saying many things but we are not concerned about cabinet portfolio allocations as its a special prerogative of the prime minister," said spokesperson Abhishek Jha.

"(But) we are hopeful of getting something special for Bihars development."

The BJP said it respects its partners and their aspirations, but added that all the allies had given a free hand to Modi.

"It's a pre-poll alliance and the plan for the next five years has been deliberated and discussed with everyone," said BJP spokesperson Syed Zafar Islam.

"The focus is to ensure there is momentum in the economy, and continuity is important. There is no condition for their support - they also want the economy to be accelerated, for lots of jobs to be created."

The leaders of the allied parties, Chandrababu Naidu of Telugu Desam and Nitish Kumar of the Janata Dal, are veteran politicians who are known to have views that could be at odds with the BJP and its agenda of muscular Hinduism.

"Modi will need to moderate his positions on certain ideological issues that do not align with the views of his allies ... who are past masters in coalition politics," said Basu of Society for Policy Studies.

"These leaders ... are bound to have their pound of flesh although they may not be vocal about their differences unless they reach a stand-off point."

(Reporting by Jatindra Dash in Bhubaneswar and Krishna N. Das in New Delhi; Additional reporting by Shivangi Acharya in New Delhi and Rishika Sadam in Hyderabad; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan)
Singapore Airlines has offered compensation for passengers injured when a flight from London to Singapore encountered severe turbulence last month.

One 73-year-old British man died and dozens more were injured when the plane dropped 54 metres in just 4.6 seconds, with people flung across the cabin when the aircraft encountered sudden extreme turbulence at 37,000ft above Myanmars Irrawaddy basin.

In a Facebook post on Tuesday, the company said it will pay $10,000 (7,800) to those who sustained minor injuries while onboard.

For those with more severe injuries, the airline has offered an advance payment of $25,000 to address their immediate needs, and has committed to further discussions to meet their specific circumstances.

It is not yet clear how many people will be entitled to these higher payments. More than 100 people ended up in hospital in Bangkok, where the troubled plane made an emergency landing, after the incident.

The health facility in the Thai capital said they were treating patients for conditions including spinal cord, skull, bone and muscle injuries  six Britons were among those in intensive care.

Meanwhile Geoff Kitchen, a grandfather from Gloucestershire in the UK, was killed after a suspected heart attack when the plane dropped  flight crew tried for 20 minutes to revive him, but were sadly unsuccessful.

It felt like something from a movie, not real life, Bradley Richards, a 29-year-old Openreach engineer from Essex, told The Telegraph last month, recounting the horror on board.

I remember waking up and blood was just pouring from my head; there were kids screaming and people running around everywhere, he said. It was all so traumatic. I remember I felt the back pain straight away. I tried to use my cushion  one of the ones they hand out on flights  to stem the blood pouring from my head.

Singapore Airlines has already said it would offer all 211 passengers on board a full refund, including those who were unharmed, and people will also get compensation as per UK and European Union regulations.

In the aftermath of the incident, the company also gave passengers some 580 and covered medical expenses. It also arranged for friends and family to fly to Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, to support their loved ones.

The freak incident in May has also brought attention to seatbelt practices while flying.

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.
Photo by iStock / Getty Images Plus

Washington medical providers must continue to perform emergency abortion services for patients, Gov. Jay Inslee emphasized on Tuesday.

As the country awaits a U.S. Supreme Court ruling over how a federal law governing emergency medical treatment affects abortion in states with bans and other strict limits on the procedure, Inslee issued a directive to the Washington State Department of Health to clarify its requirements.

Although current law protects emergency reproductive health care, Inslee said a new rule written by the Department of Health will provide necessary guidance to Washington hospitals and will affirm that the states position on providing these services remains unchanged, regardless of the Supreme Court ruling.

You shouldnt have to die to get health care in the state of Washington, Inslee said. If your health is jeopardized by not having access to these abortion services, the hospital has an obligation to provide them.

Following the Supreme Courts decision two years ago in the Dobbs case, overturning of Roe v. Wade, Idaho enacted a near-total abortion ban.

In Idaho and Moyle, et. al. v. United States, the Supreme Court will decide whether the states ban supersedes the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act, which requires hospitals to evaluate and treat patients with emergency conditions, including necessary stabilizing treatment to pregnant people.

Inslee was joined on Tuesday by Dr. Sarah Prager, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Washington School of Medicine. Prager called efforts in other states to limit when physicians can provide medically necessary care, like abortions, mind-boggling.

How close to death must somebody be before a doctor is able to step in and provide care? Prager said. When I or any doctor has a sick patient in front of me, I shouldnt have to pause and consult with the hospitals legal team.

Inslee has been outspoken against Idaho Gov. Brad Little, a Republican, and the states laws restricting abortion access, arguing that more patients would end up coming to Washington for care, straining the states system.

A study by University of Washington researchers, published last month, found that following the fall of Roe v. Wade, one large network of clinics in Washington has seen a 50% increase in out-of-state patients traveling here for abortions.

Since Dobbs, Inslee and the state Legislature have provided more funding to train people to perform this reproductive health care, enacted health data privacy laws, stockpiled the abortion pill mifepristone, and boosted protections for out-of-state patients who receive services in Washington and the states medical providers who perform them.

Still, in Tuesdays directive, Inslee said, it is vital for state government to inform and reassure the public that our state law protects their right to access abortion care.

The Department of Health rule will apply to all patients, regardless of whether theyre Washington residents, Inslee said.

We have to be aggressive, we have to be robust in our response, and we have to be clear, Inslee said. This will direct the Department of Health to make sure Washington women have all three.

The post Inslee affirms WAs position that hospitals must provide emergency abortion services appeared first on Washington State Standard.
These 5 graphics show the significant impact of 3,400 books banned from Iowa schools

In the year since the Iowa Legislature passed Senate File 496, restricting the types of books available to students in Iowas public schools, 3,399 books have been pulled from school shelves.

And while a temporary injunction last December put a hold on enforcing the new law, most of those books havent been returned to shelves, according to data the Des Moines Register collected from public records requests sent Iowas 325 public school districts.

More than 91% of districts answered the Registers questions. Heres what weve learned:

Amount of books removed varies considerably from district to district

Many districts did not remove books from their libraries under SF 496. In fact, a majority did not.

Those that didn't cited a variety of reasons: Some did not find any books they felt needed to be removed under the new law. Others had not removed books before the injunction went into effect and decided to wait until the legal battle was sorted out.

Thirty-six percent of Iowa's school districts said they had removed at least one book because of the new law.

About a quarter of those that did remove books kept the number in the single digits, while the median number of books removed was 20  half of schools pulled fewer books from their shelves and half removed more.

A handful of schools culled significantly more books, with three removing more than 100 titles from their collections: Clear Creek-Amana (230), West Burlington (142) and Clear Lake (126).

(After the injunction, Clear Creek-Amana returned nearly all of those books to the shelves. Clear Lake reshelved 25, while West Burlington reshelved none.)

Wide variety of books removed from Iowa schools

Nearly 1,000 unique titles have been pulled from the shelves of Iowa school districts, many of them in multiple districts.

Several books show up often on lists. Six have been removed from more than 50 districts, including Jodi Picoults "Nineteen Minutes" and John Greens "Looking for Alaska."

Picoult, Ellen Hopkins ("Crank", "Identical"), Sarah J. Maas ("A Court of Thorns and Roses") and Colleen Hoover ("Regretting You," "It Ends With Us") appeared on lists more than 100 times apiece. Picoult had 13 books pulled from Iowa schools; Hopkins, 18; Maas, 14; and Hoover, 24.

Authors of classics, such as George Orwell, James Joyce and William Faulkner, appear on districts' lists of removed books multiple times, as do popular modern authors such as Stephen King, Margaret Atwood and Neil Gaiman.

Since the injunction, at least 1,200 removed books have been returned to school libraries, just over one-third, while more than 2,000 remain banned.

In most cases, districts that restored books have put back all or nearly all of the books they removed under SF 496.

The full list of books removed, according to responses to the Registers public records request, and whether they have since been reshelved can be found below.

Bans extend far beyond the scope of recent book challenges

This isnt the first time the Register has sent records requests on this issue to Iowas school districts. Last year, the Register found that, since 2020, few school districts had received a public request challenging any of the books in their libraries.

One hundred challenges had been filed in the state in the three-year span studied, encompassing 60 titles in 36 districts. Less than a quarter of those challenges resulted in restrictions on or outright removal of the challenged content.

Supporters of the new law argued the challenge process was too complicated, potentially dissuading those with complaints from voicing their concerns.

But after the passage of SF 496, the number of books that have been removed is more than 100 times the number removed or restricted through challenges in the preceding three years.

Tim Webber is a data visualization specialist for the Register. Reach him at twebber@registermedia.com and on Twitter at @HelloTimWebber.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa's book ban battle: The data on nearly 3,400 removed books
CHICAGO  An ironworker who fell from scaffold at a hospital construction site last week remains in the Intensive Care Unit with life-altering catastrophic injuries with his wife at his side, a statement announcing a lawsuit on his behalf says.

Jeffrey Spyrka, a 36-year-old father of three, was critically injured in the fall from scaffolding at the future University of Chicago Medical Center cancer center amid high winds. A second ironworker, David ODonnell, was killed.

Spyrkas injuries are unimaginable, attorneys said in a statement.

Callous acts of negligence and misconduct: First lawsuit filed in ironworkers fall

The fact that he survived the fall is simply a miracle. But he has a long battle ahead, the statement from GWC Injury Partners said. Ashley has not left the hospital since her loving husbands tragic fall. Her and her young childrens futures are certainly going to be difficult, but Ashleys focus is to ultimately bring Jeff home in whatever condition God has planned for him, where she and their children will love him and take care of him as long as possible.

Spyrka and his wife have been married eight years and have been together since they were 16 years old, attorneys said. He had an impeccable safety record as a Local 1 Ironworker, they said.

The family credits the medical staff who rushed to help almost immediately after the men hit the ground with saving Spyrkas life. At the same time, they mourn ODonnells passing, remembering him as a friend, a building trades brother and an amazing young man.

The Occupational Safety & Health Administration is inspecting four firms connected with the project.

A GoFundMe account has been established to assist the Spyrka family with expenses.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
By Michelle Nichols

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday named and shamed Israel's armed and security forces, Palestinian militants Hamas and Islamic Jihad, and Sudan's warring parties for killing and maiming children in 2023, adding them to an annual global list of offenders for violations against children.

In a report to the U.N. Security Council - seen by Reuters - Guterres also called out the armed forces of Israel and Sudan for attacking schools and hospitals and Hamas and Islamic Jihad for abducting children.

The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, who have been fighting the Sudanese armed forces since April last year, was also named for recruiting and using children, committing rape and other sexual violence and attacking schools and hospitals.

The report, compiled by Guterres' envoy for children and armed conflict Virginia Gamba, covers six grave violations - killing and maiming, sexual violence, abduction, recruitment and use, denial of aid and attacks of schools and hospitals.

The list attached to the report aims to shame parties to conflicts in the hope of pushing them to implement measures to protect children. It only reports on violations verified by the United Nations.

"In 2023, violence against cildren in armed conflict reached exreme levels, with a shocking 21% increase in grave violations," the report read. "The number of instances of killing and maiming increased by a staggering 35%."

"The highest numbers of grave violations were verified in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Myanmar, Somalia, Nigeria and Sudan," found the report, describing verification as "extremely challenging."

Russia's armed forces and affiliated groups stayed on the list, after being added last year, for killing and maiming children in Ukraine and attacking schools and hospitals.

Russia's U.N. mission did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but Moscow has denied targeting civilians since it invaded Ukraine in 2022.

GAZA, SUDAN, UKRAINE

Israel's U.N. envoy Gilad Erdan said on Friday he had been notified that Israel's military had been added to the list, describing the decision as "shameful." Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad could not immediately be reached for comment.

The report attributed 5,698 violations to Israel's armed and security forces, 116 to Hamas and 21 to Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

The U.N. verified the killing of 2,267 Palestinian children - most in Gaza between Oct. 7 and Dec. 31 - but said the process of determining attribution was ongoing, adding: "Most incidents were caused by the use of explosive weapons in populated areas by Israeli armed and security forces."

So far, it said Israel's armed and security forces were responsible for killing 206 children. The U.N. verified 136 violations against Israeli children, attributing 116 to Hamas.

There were 371 verified attacked on schools and hospitals in 2023, of which Israel's forces were responsible for 340, according to the report. The U.N. also verified five instances of military use of ambulances by Israeli forces and one case where Hamas had used a health center for military purposes.

Israel is retaliating against Hamas over an Oct. 7 attack by its militants. More than 1,200 people were killed and over 250 taken hostage by Hamas on Oct. 7, according to Israeli tallies. More than 100 hostages are believed to remain captive in Gaza.

Israel's invasion and bombardment of Gaza since then has killed more than 37,000 people, according to Gaza's health ministry. Thousands more are feared buried dead under rubble, with most of the 2.3 million population displaced.

In Sudan, the U.N. verified 1,721 violations - including the killing of 480 and maiming of 764, most during crossfire between the Sudanese armed forces and the Rapid Support Forces. It also verfied 85 attacks on schools and hospitals.

Sexual violence was verified against 114 girls in Sudan, of which the U.N. said the RSF was responsible for 57 cases.

Sudan's armed forces and the RSF did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

In Ukraine, the U.N. verified the killing of 80 children and maiming of 339 - of those it said Russian forces were responsible for killing 59 and maiming 228.

It also attributed 249 attacks on schools and hospitals to Russian forces and 70 such attacks to the Ukrainian armed forces, who also used two schools and one hospital for military purposes.

(Reporting by Michelle Nichols, additional reporting by Nafisa Eltahir)
From the The Morning Dispatch on The Dispatch

Happy Tuesday! We can see that some of you tech whizzes have already figured this out on your own, but commenting avatars are officially available again! Click the red My Account button in the top-right corner of the website, navigate to the Commenting Preferences tab, and upload a picture.

Newsletters and articles with three or more authors now also include the Oxford comma in the byline, but were guessing that our editors care much more about that bug fix than you do.

Quick Hits: Todays Top Stories

A Sabbath Hostage Rescue

The words "released" are written on a poster of Noa Argamani in Hostage Square in Ramat Gan, Israel, minutes after it was announced that she was rescued from Gaza on June 8, 2024. (Photo by Alexi Rosenfeld/Getty Images)

The news spread almost instantaneously through much of Israel early Saturday afternoon: In a daring daytime raid, an elite team of Israel Defense Forces (IDF) troops, the Israeli police, and Shin Betthe Israeli security servicehad rescued four Hamas-held hostages from captivity in central Gaza.

Images ping-ponged across social media of the four IsraelisNoa Argamani, 26; Almog Meir Jan, 22; Andrey Kozlov, 27; and Shlomi Ziv, 41reuniting with their family and friends and, at least in Argamanis case, drinking her first Coca-Cola after eight months of Hamas captivity. Across the country, Israelis celebrated, from beaches where a lifeguard announced the successful rescue to city streets where people spontaneously paraded through neighborhoods waving Israeli flags.

But for many other Israelis, the day was passing as a Saturday normally does: without access to phones or other technology in observance of the Jewish Sabbath. But after 246 days waiting on the hostages return, one more day was one too many to wait to share the good news. Handwritten signs cropped up in observant communities, informing Sabbath-keeping neighbors of the rescue. Enjoy the rest of your Sabbath, one sign read after a note about the four rescued hostages.

The weekends surprising raiddetails of which are still somewhat hazy as the fog of war liftsbriefly forestalled an entirely unsurprising political announcement: that centrist party leader Benny Gantz was leaving Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus War Cabinet. Gantzs Sunday pronouncement will likely deepen Bibis reliance on his far-right flank as the rescue brings the question of a broader hostage deal back to the fore.

At 11 a.m. local time on Saturday morning, Israeli special forces conducted what IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari called a high-risk, complex mission based on precise intelligencewhich the U.S. reportedly helped Israel collectto rescue four hostages who were abducted from the Nova music festival on October 7 and being held in two separate apartment buildings in the built-up Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza. A video of Argamani pleading for her life as Hamas terrorists dragged her away from her boyfriendwhose whereabouts are still unknownbecame a symbol of the horrors of the Hamas attack.

Map via Joe Schueller.

Argamani was moved through several apartments in Gaza with other hostages during her time in captivity, she said, but was being held by herself in a Palestinian familys apartment at the time of the raid. On Saturday, Israeli forces overwhelmed the armed terrorists guarding her as she was washing dishes for her captors. At first, I thought they were making fun of me, she said of the IDF troops announcing themselves. And I didnt move. But then he asked me, Can I throw you over my shoulder? and I realized what was happening.

The mission to rescue the three male hostages was not so straightforward. As IDF body-cam footage showed, terrorists fired on the Israeli forces as they attempted to retrieve the three hostages sheltering in a room together in the home of Hamas terrorist Abdallah Aljamala one-time contributor to Al Jazeera and the U.S.-based nonprofit, the Palestine Chroniclewho was killed in the raid along with his wife and father. We came to save you, one Israeli troop says to the hostages who were visibly flinching at the sound of gunfire. Stay calm. The soldier then offers a reassuring fist bump.

As the gun fight expanded, IDF ground troops deployed and the Israeli air force began bombarding the areas from which Hamas fighters targeted the retreating Israeli forces and hostages. The truck carrying the three male hostages to the helicopter reportedly broke down after being shot at by Hamas operatives, forcing the troops to switch vehicles with the hostages while under heavy fire. A police commander, Arnon Zamora, died later on Saturday from wounds suffered in the firefightand the mission was later renamed Operation Arnon.

The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministrywhich an Associated Press report recently found is overstating the number of women and children killed in Gaza during the warclaimed at least 210 Palestinians were killed in the gunfight and air strikes that ensued when Hamas fired on the troops and hostages. Hagari, the IDF spokesman, said that number was under 100. I dont know how many from them are terrorists, he told reporters.

As our old friend David French explained, the terrorist organization has committed grave war crimespractically guaranteeing civilian casualtiesat every turn. When Hamas took hostages, it committed war crimes, he posted on Threads. When it hid the hostages amongst civilians, it committed more war crimes. When its fighters fight IDF soldiers still wearing civilian clothes (making it harder to distinguish civilians and terrorists), it commits still more war crimes.

The hostages remain in the hospital in Israel, and though early reports indicate they are malnourished, their ultimate physical and psychological conditionsand the details of their time in captivityare still unclear.

Hamas still holds an estimated 120 hostages, living and dead, and may change its tactics for hiding them, now that seven total have been rescued from above-ground apartments. Intelligence-gathering on the hostages locations is difficult and rescue operations like last weekends are extremely raremaking it unlikely such missions could successfully retrieve all the remaining Israelis and, indeed, Americans, still in captivity. Hamas has routinely rejected ceasefire agreements that would free the hostagestheir most important bargaining chipincluding the most recent U.S.-backed, three-stage plan that reporting indicates was originally proposed by Israel.

Netanyahus government and War Cabinet have been divided for months over whether it is better to pursue the war to the bitter endwhatever that meansand put less emphasis on the return of all the hostages, or to strike somealso undefinedceasefire-for-hostages deal with Hamas to secure the hostages return. And as Charlotte explained further in a piece on the site today, two of the far-right party leaders in Netayahus government, Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir and Minister of Finance Bezalel Smotrich, have threatened to pull out of the governing coalition if Bibi cuts a deal.

War Cabinet member and centrist party leader Benny Gantzwho favors a hostage deal with Hamaslast month gave Bibi an ultimatum, insisting the War Cabinet approve a plan for the war before June 8, Saturday, or Gantz would step down. No such plan materialized, and though Saturdays rescue delayed Gantzs resignation, it did not prevent it entirely. Strategic and fateful decisions are made by the government out of political considerations, Gantz said Sunday, accusing Netanyahu of preventing us from achieving real victory. He also called for new elections.

Amid Israels governmental chaos, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken was in the Middle East this week, making his eighth visit since October 7. Leaving Egypt for Israel on Monday, he articulated the ultimate problem: Hamas intransigence. My message to governments throughout the region, to people throughout the region, he said, is if you want a ceasefire, press Hamas to say yes.

But for Almog Meir Jan, who had 246 days stolen from him by the terrorist group, it was already too late to fully recover his former life: His father died, seemingly of a heart attack, just hours before Meir Jan set foot back on Israeli soil. My brother died of grief and didnt get to see his son return, Meir Jans aunt, Dina Jan, said. The night before Almogs return, my brothers heart stopped.

Worth Your Time

Higher education institutionsincluding many Ivy League schoolshave reinstated standardized testing requirements and moved away from diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programsbut not before they did serious damage to their reputations as purveyors of truth. Its amazing to watch such an abrupt volte-face, Megan McArdle wrote in the Washington Post. Whats even more amazing is how far things went beforehand and how long the correction took to arrive.  See how the Harvard admissions officers who, forbidden to forthrightly cap the number of White and Asian students, instead insisted that Asian applicants deserve lower personal ratings than other candidates. Most of the obfuscations are not this offensive, but they are all corrosive, and the thicker theyre slathered on, the more they weaken the underlying institution.  All this comes at a heavy cost, both internally, as it becomes harder to do good work in any area where its dangerous to find the wrong answer, and externally, as the public loses trust in the entire enterprise. It is good for our elite institutions, and for us, that they are trying to pull themselves back from the brink. A strong society requires strong truth-seeking institutionsand strong truth-telling ones, too.

What is artificial intelligence going to do to music? Just as The Bomb reshaped all of warfare, weve reached the point where AI is going to reshape all of music, James OMalley argued in Persuasion about Suno, an AI tool that can create originalif still mediocremusic from a user-inputed prompt. If this was the limit of AI capabilities there wouldnt be many reasons for real musicians to lose any sleep over it. But remember the complaints that the first AI image generators couldnt get the number of fingers right? Or that the first deepfakes wouldnt blink? We dont hear those complaints any more because the technology very rapidly improved. And there is every reason to believe the same is going to happen to AI-generated music.  However, I do think there are reasons to be optimistic about the future of music. Because the AI tools are also exciting.  When the AI era properly begins, it might not all be bad. We might start to hear things weve never heard before. And wont that be  good  for human creativity? We highly recommend taking a listen to the AI-generated song at the end of the article.

Presented Without Comment

BBC: YouTube Prankster Voted in as Cyprus [Member of European Parliament]

Also Presented Without Comment

Reason: Texas Public Library Cant Remove Books About Butts and Farts, Federal Court Rules

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New York Times: FDA Warns Against Microdosing Mushroom Chocolate Bars Linked to Severe Illnesses

In the Zeitgeist

Scholastic announced late last week that Suzanne Collins will return to her Hunger Games series, publishing a new novel next March15 years after the final installment was published in the original trilogy about a dystopian U.S. society in which children fight to the death.

The new novel will be the second book in Collins prequel series, and Lionsgate will produce the film adaptation scheduled for release in November 2026. Seems like a good time to rewatch all the films from the beginning and wonder again why we werent more alarmed that these terrifyingif entertainingbooks and films were made for 12-year-olds:

Toeing the Company Line

In the newsletters: Kevin explored () what conservatism has to do with risk aversion, the Dispatch Politics crew took a look at how the Federal Reserves interest rate policy could affect the election, and Nick used the example () of two protests at Lafayette Square outside the White House to examine what kind of choice we face in November.

On the podcasts: Jonah speaks with our old friend David French on The Skiff () about the controversy surrounding his canceled panel at the Presbyterian Church of Americas general assembly. On todays episode of Advisory Opinions , Sarah and David discuss the laws of war in light of Israels hostage rescue before turning to what the First Amendment has to say about t-shirts.

On the site: Charlotte reports on the implications of Gantzs departure from the Israeli government, Kevin critiques inflation denialism in the media, and Chris lays out what to expect during the upcoming Republican and Democratic conventions.

Let Us Know

Should Israel pursue a ceasefire-for-hostage deal or continue prosecuting the war against Hamas, even if it risks most remaining hostages?

Read more at The Dispatch

The Dispatch is a new digital media company providing engaged citizens with fact-based reporting and commentary, informed by conservative principles. Sign up for free.
The Escale Cabinet of Wonders, a trilogy of metiers dart timepieces, was inspired by the collections of Gaston-Louis Vuitton, third-generation patriarch of the Maisons founding family.

Now, the Escale arrives at its next stop, exploring the panorama of timekeeping in its most fundamental configuration of hours, minutes and seconds. On the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the Escale at Louis Vuitton, the Maison reveals the new cartography of this collection, featuring a time-only, three-hand model for the first time in a decade of Escale. The landscape of the latest Escale is characterised by highly textured and tactile surfaces, an elevated approach to case design and sophisticated finishes, while its movement comes from the rich terrain of traditional Swiss horlogerie.

Louis Vuitton Escale  Louis Vuitton

A Shared Savoir-faire

Four new models define the new Escale, time-only watches that bring added dimension to the collections earlier scope of complicated timepieces. Two are in rose gold with textured dials, sophisticated yet discreet, an everyday companion. The other two are in platinum, further decorated with ornamental and precious stones for an exalted touch. These models introduce a profundity in design approach and reinforce the integration of the Maisons heritage and values within the fine watchmaking collection.

Louis Vuittons historic and unparalleled savoir-faire in trunkmaking is the anchor point of the new Escale. As seen in other Escale models over the past decade, the lugs make continuous allusion to the iconic trunks of the Maison, resembling the angled form and riveted exterior of the brass brackets and corners that reinforce the Louis Vuitton trunks.

Louis Vuitton Escale  Louis Vuitton

These brass reinforcements are echoed on the dial, which has been completely redesigned to create new and stronger affinities between Escale and the Maisons most famous creations. Angled and riveted markers in polished gold are hand applied at each quarter, holding together the central dial and outer minuterie. The minuterie itself is punctuated with gold studs to evoke the nails of the lozine that runs along the exterior of a Louis Vuitton trunk. A brushed finish and subtle concave camber are the final touches that give the minuterie exceptional visual texture and readability.

Accommodating this dial, exceptionally rich in detail and complexity, is no easy task. The tip of the seconds hand on all the Escale models is shaped to follow the curve of the dial, minimising the possibility of parallax error and allowing the seconds to be read with great precision. This precision is supported by the chronometer-certified cal. LFT023, whose 50-hour power reserve is assured by energy-efficient solutions such as crafting the seconds hand in titanium rather than gold. Special tools were developed to overcome the high elasticity of titanium without marking its surface, resulting in a seconds hand that is perfectly curved, which is then treated with a PVD colour process to match the gold hour and minute hands.

Louis Vuitton Escale  Louis Vuitton

A new dial texture, seen in the rose-gold models, is a direct reference to the finely grained surface of the Louis Vuitton Monogram canvas. Custom dial stamps were developed and refined over several material essays in order to perfectly convey the suppleness and tactility of canvas on a metal dial. Light plays across the faceted hour indexes and along the groove dividing the central dial and the minuterie, guiding the eye over the expanse of textures and finishes.

Crafted By Skill

Just below the 12 oclock hour marker, under the Louis Vuitton logo, is one word that encapsulates everything there is to be known about the Escales creative rebirth: PARIS. The home of the Maison and some of its most celebrated workshops, Paris is the greatest repository of Louis Vuittons savoir-faire. The reworked hands of the Escale are an immediate clin doeil towards the couture and leather goods domain of Louis Vuitton. Shaped like finely tapered needles, their delicate form calls to mind the intricate nature of the craft that takes place in the Maisons specialised ateliers, while their precise lines and sharply polished facets mirror the rigour and discipline of their master artisans.

Louis Vuitton Escale  Louis Vuitton

The rose-gold Escale with silvery dial comes on a calf-leather strap that draws undiluted inspiration from Louis Vuittons leather goods expertise. Inspired by Nomade leather, a natural leather originally introduced in 1999, the strap will gain a beautiful patina over time while losing none of its comfort and material performance, just like some of the most coveted Louis Vuitton leather products of all time. Fine yellow stitching, reminiscent of classic Louis Vuitton leather goods, outlines the shared artery of craftsmanship and hand-worked detail that animates all the creations of the Maison. In the platinum versions of the new Escale, lapidary work and gem-setting elevate the collection with rare materials and techniques.

One model features a dial of meteorite, carefully selected to highlight the contrasting textures and natural mineral tones of this otherworldly material. Another model juxtaposes the near-fluid shine of an onyx central dial with the geometric sparkle of a bezel and case set with baguette-cut diamonds, forming an ethereal halo that draws the gaze towards the inky depths of the black dial. Both models come with white-gold hands and markers, creating a monochromatic symphony of light and shade that invite discovery and delight the eye.

Louis Vuitton Escale  Louis Vuitton

Each new Escale timepiece comes with an engraved serial number on a slim cartouche in contrasting gold riveted to the periphery of the transparent caseback, an allusion to the engraved serial number plates that identify each Louis Vuitton trunk. When the watch is worn, the engraving rests directly on the wrist, a sensory link between the wearer and the patrimony of artisanal craftsmanship at Louis Vuitton.

Designed for movement

Escale is synonymous with the art of travel, the philosophy that lies at the heart of Louis Vuitton. When travel transcends its utilitarian purpose and opens the way to self-discovery, the destination is secondary and the journey itself rises to primacy. An escale is more than just another stopover  it evokes the imagination and the memory of a moment that lingers in the mind; it captures the essence of the art of travel.

Louis Vuitton Escale  Louis Vuitton

Every aspect of the redesigned Escale is infused with intention, from the play of case finishes to the curve of the sapphire crystal. An octagonal crown is topped with a dome, echoing the shape of a trunk rivet, and emblazoned with the Louis Vuitton Monogram. Fluted on alternating sides to facilitate winding and setting, the crown is seamlessly set against a satin-brushed case middle, which then gives way to hand-polished and brushed lugs with decorative rivets. Each of these components has been conceived with contrasting finishes relative to its adjacent elements, bestowing a deliberate yet organic grace to the watch as a whole. These finishes are applied by hand, requiring a skilled touch to alternate between techniques when one surface finish transitions precisely to the next.

Balance is key when integrating a variety of textures

within the 39mm confines of the case, a diameter chosen for its supreme versatility and ideal proportions relative to the wrist. The natural dynamism and human desire to find expression in motion is translated through the dome of the dial crystal, a dome which segues into the polished bezel in a single smooth curve. From the front, the curve of the crystal is barely discernible, allowing the time to be read with utmost ease and clarity. On the reverse, a sapphire crystal caseback reveals the minutely calibrated and regulated cal. LFT023 beating within.

Louis Vuitton Escale  Louis Vuitton

First introduced in the 2023 Tambour models, the cal. LFT023 is the first proprietary automatic three-hand movement designed by La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton in conjunction with movement specialists Le Cercle des Horlogers. Its contemporary aesthetic emphasises the modernity of the Maisons watchmaking vision, whilst still incorporating references to in-house patrimony with the mainspring barrel and 22K rose-gold micro-rotor, which are decorated with the motifs of Louis Vuitton.

Timekeeping performance is an essential hallmark of the cal. LFT023, with each example of this movement certified by the Geneva Observatory as a high-precision Swiss chronometer. This core value of Louis Vuitton fine watchmaking is declared at the base of the dial with the phrase FAB. EN SUISSE  a statement of provenance and of manufacturing integrity.

Louis Vuitton Escale  Louis Vuitton

Mechanically and conceptually, the new Louis Vuitton Escale is an open ticket to self-discovery. Through travel, we discover the space that is around us. Through Escale, you define the time that is yours.
An Italian anti-fascist campaigner facing jail in Hungary could be freed after being elected as a MEP in the European Parliament elections.

Ilaria Salis, 40, has been held in Budapest since February last year for allegedly attacking far-Right protestors at a rally, which she denies.

The teacher from Monza is facing an 11-year jail sentence but could benefit from strong European Parliament immunity rules, which cover alleged crimes committed before the election.

The case caused outrage in Italy after she was pictured manacled and with a chain around her waist in a Hungarian court. She was put on the candidates list of the Green and Left Alliance party before her election.

Ilaria Salis has been held in Budapest for allegedly attacking far-Right protesters - Marton Monus/REUTERS

The Italian government secured her transfer to house arrest following the outcry.

The Telegraph has asked the Hungarian government, which reacted angrily when she was put on the party list, if it will release the MEP.

Giorgia Meloni, the hard-Right prime minister, is friendly with Viktor Orban, Hungarys nationalist leader, who hopes to join her European Parliament group after the election.

However, allying with Mr Orban, especially if he attempts to defy EU law, could risk her relationship with Ursula von der Leyen, the centre-Right European Commission president.

Mrs von der Leyen said she wanted to work with pro-EU and pro-Ukraine parties after the election and only those that respected the rule of law.

Mr Orban has railed against EU sanctions on the Kremlin for the war in Ukraine and has been accused of eroding democratic standards in his many years in power. His Fidesz party won the European elections in Hungary but shed votes to a pro-EU party.

The GUE/NGL group in the European Parliament, which Ms Salis will join if she takes up her seat, said it had been in contact with her father after her election.

Her defence team said her election to the EU Parliament meant she could ask for immunity.

We have had six MEPs elected, and among these is Ilaria Salis, Nicola Fratoianni, one of the partys leaders, said on Monday.

Now we want Ilaria here in Italy  free, and with immunity, ready to carry out her mandate, he said.

Ms Saliss legal team can request immunity before July 16.

With the election, she acquires parliamentary immunity under the EU Treaty that provides for the exemption from any form of detention and suspension of criminal proceedings for parliamentarians, her lawyer, Eugenio Losco, told AFP.

Ilaria Salis has a right to this immunity, which the legal team will request once she is officially proclaimed an MEP, he said.

Her trial began last month.

Elsewhere, an ethnic Greek Albanian was elected as a MEP in Greece despite being in jail in EU candidate country Albania, where immunity does not yet apply.

In March, Fredi Beleri, was sentenced to two years in prison for buying votes ahead of his election as mayor of the Albanian town Himara in May 2023.

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Italy is planning an aid package of 140 million euros ($150 million) to support the recovery of Ukraine's infrastructure, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said on June 11 at the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Berlin.

The funds will be allocated for Ukraine's "infrastructure, railways, healthcare, agriculture, and mine clearance," and 45 million euros ($48 million) of that will be used for the reconstruction of Odesa, the minister said.

The world's government and business leaders, as well as representatives of international organizations and civil society, have gathered in the German capital for a two-day Ukraine Recovery Conference.

The event is attended by President Volodymyr Zelensky, who used the opportunity to call on international partners to provide further air defenses and energy aid to help the country withstand Russian attacks on the energy infrastructure.

Speaking at the conference, Tajani said that Italy and Ukraine will sign a cooperation memorandum today, June 11.

The minister also confirmed that Italy is preparing a military aid package that will include a new SAMP/T air defense system in addition to the one provided last year by France and Italy.

Attacks earlier this year against Ukraine's energy infrastructure destroyed several thermal power plants across the country, including the key power Trypillia plant, the main electricity supplier to Kyiv, Zhytomyr, and Cherkasy oblasts.

Read also: Ukraine wants to restore energy facilities damaged by Russia by winter with allied help, Zelensky says at Berlin conference

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
In Italy's Puglia region, women take the lead in challenging the local mafia at great personal risk

Judge Maria Francesca Mariano is escorted by plain clothes police as she arrives at the Apollo Theatre in Lecce, Italy, before the performance of her latest play "Your Honor, on the side of the guilty", Monday, May 20, 2024. Mariano is living under 24 hour police escort after receiving death threats. In July 2023 Mariano issued the arrest warrants for 22 members of the Lamendola Clan accused of mafia association, drug trafficking, attempted homicide, possession of illegal weapons. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

LECCE, Italy (AP)  It was a scene straight out of The Godfather. On the night of Feb. 1, a bloody goat head with a butchers knife through it was left on the doorstep of Judge Francesca Marianos home in southern Italy, with note beside it reading, like this.

Mariano had already received threats, including notes written in blood, after she issued arrest warrants for 22 members of a local mafia clan that operates in southern Puglia, the heel of Italys boot.

Puglia is known for its olive groves, cone-shaped trulli white-washed houses, and spectacular coastlines that will provide the backdrop when Premier Giorgia Meloni hosts Group of Seven leaders for their annual summit this week.

But the region is also home to the Sacra Corona Unita, Italys fourth organized crime group. It is far less well-known than Sicilys Cosa Nostra, the Calabrian ndrangheta or the Camorra around Naples, but just as effective in infiltrating everything, from local businesses to government.

And yet, a remarkable array of women like Mariano is challenging its power structures at great personal risk. They are arresting and prosecuting clan members, exposing their crimes and confiscating their businesses, all while working to change local attitudes and cultural norms that have allowed this mafia to establish roots as deep as Puglias famed olive trees.

I dont believe anyone who says theyre not afraid. Thats not true, said Marilu Mastrogiovanni, an investigative journalist and journalism professor at the University of Bari who has written in-depth stories about mafia infiltration for her blog.

Courage is moving forward despite the fear, she said.

The Sacra Corona Unita, or SCU, is the only organized crime group in Italy whose origins are known: A local criminal founded it in the Lecce prison in 1981, in part to push back other mafia groups that were trying to infiltrate the area.

Its name and initiation rites are linked to the Catholic faith, with the corona or crown, referring to the beads of a rosary.

Slowly but steadily, the SCU wove itself into the fabric of Puglia's society, mixing its illicit activities in with legitimate businesses. Today, it has roughly 30 clans and some 5,000 members, almost all of them men.

 Drug trafficking is the main business, said Carla Durante, head of the Lecce office of the Anti-Mafia Investigative Directorate, an inter-agency police force. That is always accompanied by extortion, usury. And now, like all over the nation, we have infiltration into the public administration.

The SCU takes the billions of euros it earns from drug trafficking and launders it through legitimate business, often in Puglias booming tourism industry.

One of the most effective ways to fight it has been by confiscating mob-owned assets. Durantes team sequesters mafia properties, such as vineyards or farms, which are then turned over to local organizations to be transformed into socially useful community centers or projects.

By now we have learned that this is really the most incisive tool, because taking assets away from mafiosi means disempowering them, Durante said. Since 1992, the national office has confiscated more than 147 million in mafia assets.

But the SCU has in some ways become more effective than Italys other mafia groups in inserting itself into the local community and gaining social acceptance. In recent years, it generally avoided headline-grabbing acts of violence in favor of more nuanced forms of intimidation.

Organized crime is still organized, in the sense that it enjoys a certain consensus in Italy," said Sabrina Matrangola, whose mother, a local politician, was killed by the mob in 1984 after she campaigned to preserve a coastal park from illicit development.

"And as long as there is this consensus, as long as not everyone chooses the right side, and someone will not be willing to roll up their sleeves to help, these places will always be in danger, said Matrangola, who now works as an activist with the group Libera, which converts mob assets to serve the community.

For those who challenge it, danger persists.

Two weeks after Mariano sent out her arrest warrants for a mob crackdown dubbed Operation Wolf, the lead prosecutor on the case, Carmen Ruggiero, nearly had her throat slit by one of the suspects.

Pancrazio Carrino, one of the 22 people named in the warrant, had signaled his desire to collaborate with Ruggieros investigation. But when Ruggiero showed up to interrogate him in the Lecce prison, he had other plans: He had chiseled a knife out of a porcelain toilet bowl in his prison cell and hid it in a small black plastic bag in his rectum, planning to cut her jugular during the meeting, according to court documents.

If I had been as lucid that day as I am now, Carrino later told investigators, Carmen Ruggiero would already be history.

In the end, a suspicious guard searched him before he could strike and found the makeshift knife.

Sevens months after the threat, Ruggiero walked confidently into the Lecce prison courtroom for a recent hearing in the case, accompanied by a three-officer police escort.

She has remained undeterred by the death threats, as have the other women who have challenged SCUs power. But they have had to take precautions, including with around-the-clock security.

Mastrogiovanni, the journalist, moved her young family out of her hometown after her reports on her blog Il Tacco DItalia about SCU's infiltration so angered the local government that at one point, the town was plastered with giant posters attacking her work. One depicted her up to her neck in a hole.

According to the patriarchal culture of the SCU, a woman shouldnt have a voice, all the more if she uses it to write about the mafia, she said.

Mariano, the judge, also lives with around-the-clock police escorts but believes that her job challenging the SCU goes beyond the halls of the courtroom. In her downtime, Mariano uses her passion for writing books, poetry and plays to try to change attitudes at the grassroots level. Recently, she staged a play about the mob in Lecces Apollo Theater.

We have to start with communication, which is fundamental to transmit values of dignity, courage, responsibility," she said. The ability to say no, the ability to be indignant in the face of things that are wrong.
New Jacksonville parents not only bring home bundle of joy but bundle of scratch-off cash

Victoria Oakley and John Stanhill display their oversized check along with their dog, Maya, at Florida Lottery headquarters in Tallahassee. The Lottery announced Tuesday that Stanhill's 500X The Cash scratch-off ticket won a $1 million prize.

A Jacksonville couple expecting their first baby recently took home not only their new bundle of joy but a bundle of cash.

John Stanhill, 46, won a $1 million prize from the 500X The Cash scratch-off game and chose to receive his winnings as a one-time, lump-sum payment of $640,000, the Florida Lottery announced Tuesday.

He bought his $50 ticket from Duval Exxon at 1403 Third St. N. in Jacksonville Beach and came forward to collect on April 29, according to the Lottery. A state law allows for a 90-day grace period to release winners' names unless waived.

Accompanied by Victoria Oakley and the couples family dog, Maya, at the Lottery headquarters in Tallahassee, Stanhill said it came just three weeks before the couples first baby was due.

This just couldnt have happened at a better time! Stanhill told the Lottery.

Once Oakley gave birth to their new son, she said, We won the lottery  and then we won the lottery again with our beautiful, healthy baby boy! All in three weeks time!

500X The Cash lottery: Jacksonville man claims $1 million scratch-off prize same day he gets an eviction notice

The couple told Lottery staff they are overjoyed.

Our lottery win has been such a huge relief for us. Weve been able to fully focus on being new parents by putting our financial worries at ease, the couple said. We were able to start a college fund for our baby and plan on paying off student loans. We are over the moon with everything thats happened!

Here's John Stanhill's winning 500X The Cash scratch-off ticket.

The 500X The Cash scratch-off game features two top prizes of $25 million and 160 at $1 million. Both of the top prizes remain unclaimed, while there are still 128 available at $1 million, according to the Lottery website.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Florida Lottery scratch-off win goes to pregnant Jacksonville couple
Jail inmate re-captured after escaping custody while at Tyler hospital, police say

TATUM, Texas (KETK)  A man is now facing additional charges in Tatum after police said he assaulted an officer and escaped custody at a Tyler hospital.

Wanted Palestine man jailed after police find meth hidden in washing machine

According to officials, Antwuan Jefferson was arrested for robbery and assault on Sunday after he had robbed the victim and taken an undisclosed amount of money.

Jefferson was incarcerated in the Rusk County Jail before an officer was reportedly instructed to take him to a Tyler hospital for medical treatment.

This medical treatment had nothing to do with the arrest or his incarceration in the Rusk County Jail, officials with Tatum PD said.

Mugshot of Antwuan Jefferson courtesy of the Rusk County Jail.

Jefferson allegedly assaulted an officer after being seen by medical professionals at the hospital, and attempted to take a firearm from the officer. Officials said the officer retained the firearm, and Jefferson escaped custody.

According to authorities, Jefferson ran into the parking lot and to the street before a police officer and a Texas DPS trooper were able to capture him.

Police reported that no one was injured or required medical treatment, and Jefferson was taken back to the Rusk County Jail where he was charged with robbery, assault causing bodily injury, assault on a peace officer and escape while arrested.

His bond has not yet been set, as of Tuesday morning.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KETK.com | FOX51.com.
James Lawson, storied civil rights activist and chief strategist for Martin Luther King Jr., has died. Lawson was 95 years old.

As a young man, Lawson gained national attention when he refused to report for the draft in 1951 during the Korean War. He was arrested and spent 14 months in prison. After his release, Lawson traveled to India for three years to learn Mahatma Gandhis principles of civil disobedience. He brought the practice of nonviolent protest back to the United States, where he led lunch counter sit-ins in Nashville. The city became the first in the south to desegregate its downtown.

Lawson met King in 1957. It was King who encouraged Lawson to take his new lessons to Nashville, where he established workshops in church basements attended by other leaders such as John Lewis, Diane Nash, Bernard Lafayette, the Freedom Riders and more.

His death has impacted many. Bernice King, Martin Luther King Jr.s daughter, remembered him on social media, where she wrote, The world wont get no better if we just let it be. Rev. #JamesLawson Jr. embodied these lyrics. He was a courageous nonviolent strategist who taught many to meet injustice with what my father called soul force. My condolences to his family. May his legacy live on.

The world wont get no better if we just let it be.



Rev. #JamesLawson Jr. embodied these lyrics.



He was a courageous nonviolent strategist who taught many to meet injustice with what my father called "soul force."



My condolences to his family.



May his legacy live on. pic.twitter.com/d7WO2QRltb  Be A King (@BerniceKing) June 10, 2024

Her brother Martin Luther King III tweeted, @ArndreaKing and I were saddened to hear about the passing of Rev. James Lawson. I always have had tremendous admiration and deep respect for all he contributed to the civil rights movement. We are praying for his family and the many, many others he inspired through his courageous leadership. His legacy left an indelible mark on humanity.

Chef Jose Andres wrote, A great human Rev. James Lawson Jr. with a great vision! Non violent protest! Peace should be the only way forward. What is good for me must be good for you! You respect me as I will respect you.love and peace!

Academic and 2024 independent presidential candidate Cornel West tweeted, We just lost a moral giant and spiritual genius- Rev. James Lawson, one of the greatest freedom fighters of our time! His courage and compassion was incredible! His prophetic witness shall forever burn in my heart!

Reverend James Lawson is my hero, comedian Paula Poundstone wrote, before adding, I guess James Lawson has died. For those not familiar with him, read THE CHILDREN, by David Halberstam. He was a real live hero.

Numerous politicians were also among those mourning Lawsons death.

Im deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Reverend James Lawson, a civil rights icon and steadfast advocate for the nonviolence movement. As a fellow member of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, Reverend Lawson was a trusted voice we could lean on in times of  James E. Clyburn (@RepJamesClyburn) June 10, 2024

The Rev. James Lawson was a battle-tested soldier in the nonviolent army for truth, justice & equity. Working to redeem the soul of America, his decades of mentorship & thought leadership helped move our nation forward.



Sending up my prayers for his family & all who loved him. https://t.co/OUrDCktPc6  Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (@SenatorWarnock) June 10, 2024

In a 2015 TEDx Talk, Lawson explained that not everyone believed in the potential of nonviolent protest at first. We had people who dont believe its possible, he said. So one of my first tasks, in my own mind, was to persuade them that theres enough history of the sit-in and of nonviolent practice. The famous quote [from] Diane Nash is, I didnt think nonviolence would work, but nobody else was trying to do anything about this system.'

Lawson was also the man who organized the 1968 sanitation workers strike that brought King to Memphis, Tennessee, where he was assassinated. Lawson, then a pastor at Centenary Methodist Church, invited King to speak to the workers. The revered civil rights icon was shot the next day.

What was left unsaid on that day, perhaps, might have been how much I appreciated his life and his leadership and to the extent to which I understood that to be indeed a carrying of the Cross that very few people recognized or understood, Lawson said.

In the same talk, Lawson recalled an early moment from his childhood that spurred his future activism. I had my first racial insult hurled at me as a child, he began. I struck out at that child and fought the child physically. Mom was in the kitchen working. In telling her the story she, without turning to me, said, Jimmy, what good did that do?'

And she did a long soliloquy then about our lives and who we were and the love of God and the love of Jesus in our home, in our congregation. And her last sentence was, Jimmy, there must be a better way. In many ways, thats the pivotal event of my life.

Lawson was born to Philane May Cover and James Morris Lawson, Sr. on Sept 22, 1928. He graduated from Baldwin-Wallace College in 1951 and Boston University in 1960, and studied at Oberlin Colleges School of Theology from 1956-1957 and Vanderbilt University from 1958-1960.

He moved to Tennessee at Kings urging and worked with students at Vanderbilt as well as at the quartet of schools that make up the oldest Black centers of higher education in the south: Fisk University, Meharry Medical College, Tennessee State and American Baptist Theological colleges. More than 150 students were arrested in February 1960 before Nashvilles leaders gave in to their demands.

The protests were not easy. Bernard LaFayette, a former roommate of Lewis at American Baptist Theological Seminary (now American Baptist College), told the Associated Press that during a protest, This guy spat on Jim Lawson. And what did Jim Lawson do? He asked him for a handkerchief.

Former Fisk student Angeline Butler chimed in, Well, he took off his glasses, and he needed to wipe them clean, and he didnt have a handkerchief. So he asked the guy to give him a handkerchief, and the guy felt so guilty that he did! LaFayette added that the offended man was wearing a motorcycle jacket and Lawson soon engaged him in a conversation about two-wheeled vehicles.

Lawson and student leaders (including Lewis and Nash) organized the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) in 1960. He also brought King to the city that April. During his visit, King spoke to students at Fisk and said he came to the city not to bring inspiration, but to gain inspiration from the great movement that has taken place in this community.

After segregationists had Lawson removed from Vanderbilt, he and his wife, Dorothy Wood Lawson, moved to Memphis, where Lawson led the Holman United Methodist Church. The pair eventually moved to Los Angeles after Kings assassination, where Lawson taught at California State University, Northridge and UCLA. He and his wife raised three sons together.

The SPLC joins the world in mourning the loss of the Rev. James Lawson Jr., a civil rights activist who led sit-ins, marches and Freedom Rides.



Today we remember the Rev. James Lawson Jr. as we continue pushing for equality and justice. Rest in power. #TheMarchContinues pic.twitter.com/lG4I8efpxN  Southern Poverty Law Center (@splcenter) June 10, 2024

Civil rights nonprofit the Southern Poverty Law Center also remembered Lawson on X (formerly Twitter). The organization tweeted, The SPLC joins the world in mourning the loss of the Rev. James Lawson Jr., a civil rights activist who led sit-ins, marches and Freedom Rides. Today we remember the Rev. James Lawson Jr. as we continue pushing for equality and justice. Rest in power. #TheMarchContinues.

Lawson is survived by his wife, two sons, a brother and three grandchildren. His son C. Seth Lawson died in 2019.

The post James Lawson, Civil Rights Activist and MLKs Chief Strategist, Dies at 95 appeared first on TheWrap.
(FOX40.COM)  In an effort to fight food insecurity in the Sacramento area, FOX40 has partnered with Sacramento Food Bank and Family Services for the A Jar Goes Far peanut butter drive.

On Thursday, June 13, FOX40 will host a drop-off drive at its building in Sacramento along with a phone bank where people can make donations via a simple phone call.

Why peanut butter? It is a great source of protein, it is popular with children and can last for several weeks.

Three ways to make a donation

There are three ways that you can help in the A Jar Goes Far donation drive, hosted on June 13 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

1. Drop-off donations: You can donate unopened peanut butter jars at a drive-thru drop-off drive at the FOX40 building at 4655 Fruitridge Road in Sacramento. Tap here to load Google Maps directions to FOX40.

2. Donate over the phone: You can also make a monetary donation on the same day and hours by calling 916-779-3409. Staff from FOX40 and Sacramento Food Bank will be answering calls and helping guide callers through the simple process.

3. Donate online: Sacramento Food Bank and Family Services has a dedicated webpage where you can make your monetary donation to the A Jar Goes Far drive. Tap here to make a donation.

Your donation of peanut butter of any brand or your monetary donation will be key to helping the Sacramento Food Bank stock its shelves to help provide nutrient-rich foods to families this summer.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40.
After a period of solid growth, Armin Strom gets its 15th anniversary celebrations going with Gravity Equal Force Ultimate Sapphire Purple

This year marks the 15th anniversary of high-end Swiss independent brand Armin Strom, at least the modern-day incarnation of it. Thats right, a decade and a half ago two childhood friends  master watchmaker Claude Greisler and entrepreneur Serge Michel  took over the small business set up by watchmaker Mr Armin Strom in Burgdorf, the village where they grew up.

Serge Michel Founder and Claude Greisler Co-Founder  Armin Strom

In the years since, Michel and Greisler have grown the company with some distinction, establishing a fully integrated manufacture that now employs 38 people in the nearby city of Bienne. There they are able to design, develop and impressively hand-decorate their own in-house calibres that often incorporate performance-enhancing mechanisms like the brands Resonance technology.

And the company now produces 400 or so watches per year, often in limited runs that sell out quickly on or before launch, such is their appeal to collectors.

Earlier this year, Greisler stated that, as part of its anniversary celebrations, the brand is going to release a new timepiece that truly encapsulates our 15 years of know-how and innovation. At WorldTempus, we have a hunch that we might see this creation at Geneva Watch Days at the end of August.

In the meantime, Armin Strom has whetted our appetites by unveiling a fresh eye-catching take on a fan favourite: Step forward the Gravity Equal Force Ultimate Sapphire Purple.

Gravity Equal Force Ultimate Sapphire Purple  Armin Strom

Instant Hit

With its minimalist design, well-finished automatic movement  including a chronometry-improving, stop-work de-clutch system  and wearable proportions, this model became an instant hit with the watch fam when it was launched five years ago.

The first versions of this 41mm piece featured a solid, off-centre hours and minutes dial that incorporated small seconds. Opposite this was the visible micro-rotor and mainspring barrel, supported by distinctive finger bridges, with a matte-finished mainplate forming an unbusy backdrop to all these elements.

Since those early pieces, we have been treated to various guises of Gravity Equal Force, which have featured guilloche decoration, colourful dial and movement treatments and the use of sapphire. Impressively, the new Gravity Equal Force Ultimate Sapphire Purple manages to encompass all three of these.

Gravity Equal Force Ultimate Sapphire Purple  Armin Strom

First off, there is the visually-arresting, purple-toned mainplate that boasts a beautiful barleycorn guilloche motif. This gorgeous pattern was engine-turned by hand at Comblemine, the dial workshop of revered Finnish watchmaker Kari Voutilainen.

Meanwhile, the striking purple hue  applied via a 3D PVD process  is rich and vibrant, but doesnt detract from the splendour of the guilloche. While the brand has made at least one purple-inflected unique piece in the past, this is the first time Armin Strom has used the colour on a serially produced model.

And elevating this edition further is the off-centred hour and minute dial disc which has been made out of transparent sapphire crystal. The choice of this material lets the gears driving these indications become visible underneath the hand-finished, Super-LumiNova-filled steel hands.

Gravity Equal Force Ultimate Sapphire Purple  Armin Strom

Trademark Finishing

Through the display back, the part of the mainplate that remains visible is also coloured purple. In fact, front and back, Armin Stroms trademark fine hand-finishing is all over this piece: Polished bevels on the bridges, black polished screws, polished countersinks, perlage and a diversity of graining as well as Geneva waves on the three-quarter bridge.

Priced at CHF 27,500, Gravity Equal Force Ultimate Sapphire Purple comes on a light grey nubuck leather strap with purple stitching. It will be produced in limited quantities: 25 pieces per year. As things stand, there are only a few more pieces up for grabs in the production run for 2024, so get in touch with Armin Strom if youre considering snapping one up.
JAY-Zs Roc Nation Criticized For Philadelphia School Voucher Campaign: Its To Convince Poor Black Parents To Leave The Public Schools

JAY-Zs Roc Nation Criticized For Philadelphia School Voucher Campaign: Its To Convince Poor Black Parents To Leave The Public Schools | Photo: Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images

An announcement on Friday that Roc Nation was launching a new, multi-million dollar initiative to provide scholarships for Philadelphia students caused controversy as the details became apparent. Many are slamming the company for supporting a school voucher program, which critics maintain is harmful to public education.

After scholarship announcement, details emerge

XXL tweeted about the initiative on Friday, announcing, Jay-Zs Roc Nation will spearhead an educational campaign in Philadelphia that helps students K-12 from low-income households secure about $300 million in scholarships to attend the citys private schools. The tweet added that Roc Nation would hold events to bring awareness to Pennsylvania Award for Student Success (PASS)Senate Bill 757legislation helping to increase education opportunities for underprivileged youth in lowest-performing public schools.

Jay-Z's Roc Nation will spearhead an educational campaign in Philadelphia that helps students K-12 from low-income households secure about $300 million in scholarships to attend the city's private schools. Events will be held by Roc Nation to bring awareness to Pennsylvania pic.twitter.com/yRmaaUC3jo  XXL Magazine (@XXL) June 7, 2024

While this was initially presented as a huge benefit for Philadelphia students, the plans details were quickly picked apart by various organizations, experts and concerned commenters. Philadelphia City Council member Isaiah Thomas explained in a tweet that these scholarships arent going to be paid for by Roc Nation, they would be paid for by taxpayers.

What people may not realize is these scholarships arent going to be paid for by Roc Nation, they would be paid for by taxpayers. Roc Nation is not donating $300M, theyre leading an advocacy effort fighting for Harrisburg to pass legislation that will create these scholarships. https://t.co/dBR9XXPsR7  Councilmember Isaiah Thomas (@CMThomasPHL) June 10, 2024

Jay-Z supporting Republican led legislation in Philadelphia was not on my 2024 bingo card, read another comment about the story.

Jay-Z supporting Republican led legislation in Philadelphia was not on my 2024 bingo card.  jonathan from booktube (@beblackbeloved) June 7, 2024

Read the fine print

Journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones dissected the program in tweets responding to the story. Urging readers to read the fine print of the proposal, Hannah-Jones explained that the proposal was a school voucher program, noting that voucher programs have not been shown to improve results for poor Black children because most cannot get into high-quality private schools. Hannah-Jones further explained Roc Nations role in the program. Roc Nation is not funding this, it is just launching an educational campaign that maybe it is being paid to do. The purpose of Roc Nations involvement, she concluded, was to convince poor Black parents to leave the public schools while also noting that it is a lie that these programs do not take from public-school funding. Fewer kids in the classroom means fewer dollars to the school.

I really wish rich, out-of-touch folks who nothing about education would just stop. 1) Read the fine print. THIS IS A GOVT VOUCHER PROGRAM. Voucher programs have not been shown to improve results for poor Black children because most cannot get into high-quality private schools. https://t.co/EAvAGFuYo1  Ida Bae Wells (@nhannahjones) June 7, 2024

HuffPost reported that the Roc Nation plan is meant to drum up support for the Pennsylvania Award for Student Success program, a Republican-pushed proposal in the Pennsylvania Senate that would give low-income students in low-performing schools with scholarships to attend the school of their choice. Democrats in the Pennsylvania House, meanwhile, are pushing a different bill that would send an additional $5.1 billion to the states public schools over the next seven years, a proposal that some Republicans criticize for lacking accountability for how the money will be spent.

Roc Nations managing director of philanthropy, Dania Diaz, said the company wants to empower the youth and families with the knowledge to pursue their scholastic dreams, make their voices heard and become the leaders of tomorrow in a statement, per HuffPost.

In a phone interview with the outlet, CEO Desiree Perez said Roc Nation is not backing any particular bill or any political party. What we are backing is education.

There has been a long debate over improving educational opportunities and decreasing disparities in areas like Philadelphia and across the country. While there are no easy answers, many say solutions like the school voucher program being promoted by Roc Nation wont solve the problems and may make them worse for the students in public schools in Philadelphia and around the nation.
For more than four weeks, Sen. Bob Menendez has been a mostly peripheral figure at his bribery and corruption trial. On Monday, at federal court in Lower Manhattan, the New Jersey Democrat became the main character.

Prosecutors star witness, businessman Jose Uribe, told the jury for the first time that Menendez helped drive the wider conspiracy that ensnared the senator; his wife, Nadine Menendez; and two co-defendants.

In his testimony, Uribe, who pleaded guilty before the trial began and is cooperating with prosecutors, described Menendez as a Godfather-like character who lorded his power over others and, by his deeds and demeanor, appeared to many as an all-powerful figure with vast influence in all walks of life.

Menendez, in Uribes telling, rarely asked any questions and provided only a blinkered view into his plans and actions. But months after allegedly delivering on the key pieces of the bribery scheme, Menendez, during a 2020 dinner with Uribe, sat back, his hands crossed over his stomach, and reminded the businessman of all hed done.

I saved your a** twice. Not once, but twice, Menendez told him in Spanish, Uribe testified.

Nadine and her adult daughter, who were also at the dinner, had just excused themselves to use the bathroom. Before they returned, the senator bragged that it had not been difficult work, but Uribe said his body language suggested that he was proud and confident that he got this done.

Uribe, who first took the stand on Friday, described a series of meetings with Bob and Nadine Menendez as he sought the senators help in quashing the prosecution of an associate and a state investigation that he feared would ultimately lead back to his businesses and the close friends who nominally ran them. Those concerns, Uribe said, led him to leverage his relationship with Nadine Menendez  most notably the Mercedes-Benz convertible he purchased for her  into audiences with the senator and, eventually, the interventions that led to the Menendezes being charged with conspiring to accept gold bars, bricks of cash and a swishy car in exchange for an assortment of political and legal favors. (Nadine Menendez, who is being treated for breast cancer, is being tried separately, likely in July.)

Lawyers for Bob Menendez have sought to portray him as an afterthought in the matter. In their opening arguments, they urged the jury to consider the question Wheres Bob?  asserting that he was either unaware or not involved in the machinations alleged by prosecutors. It was his then-girlfriend Nadine driving the bus, they said, with the senator evincing only a partial, passive awareness of her actions.

Uribe told a different story.

In one meeting on the patio in Nadines backyard in September 2019, the night before Menendez met with New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal, Uribe said the senator asked him to write down the names of the people and businesses at the heart of Uribes worries.

In Uribes telling, after a brief chat, Menendez called out mon amour to Nadine, who was inside the home, while ringing a little bell set up on their backyard table. Nadine emerged with paper and disappeared back inside before Uribe began to write.

The senator did not offer much information in return, Uribe said. The next morning, Uribe texted Nadine  according to phone records  thanking her for everything you do for me and saying he was praying todays meeting is in GODs hand. Uribe said he did not know, even then, with whom Menendez would be sitting down.

Hours later, though, he received another message from Nadine, this time asking him to meet the senator at Menendezs New Jersey apartment building. (The couple was not yet married and kept separate residences.) Uribe recalled entering to see Menendez chatting in the lobby with a receptionist. The two then walked toward a quieter corner and began to chat.

The thing you asked me about, there doesnt seem to be anything there, Menendez said, according to Uribe, who took it to mean that, while nothing was formally settled, he should no longer be concerned about a probe into his businesses or associates.

New Jersey businessman Jose Uribe exits federal court in New York City on June 10, 2024. - Victor J. Blue/Bloomberg/Getty Images

Uribe said he left optimistic but unsettled. He had come through for Nadine, buying her a new car after she had totaled her old one in a fatal accident  a detail that has not been disclosed to the jury  and was desperate for her to help him stop and kill his looming legal troubles.

Peace, as Uribe described it, came in time. About eight weeks later, he received a phone call at his home from a 202 area code  from Washington, DC. Menendez was on the other line, Uribe said, and told him the good news.

That thing you asked me about, theres nothing there, Menendez told him. I give you your peace.

Uribe became emotional as he spoke about the call. His work had come good. His fears were vanquished  all thanks, he said, to Bob Menendez. He texted Nadine, I got a call and I am a very happy person.

GOD bless you and him for ever, she replied.

Days later, Uribe and an associate met with the couple at a local restaurant. Prosecutors showed the court a picture of the foursome smiling widely with champagne glasses raised  the bubbly had been sent to their table by other diners. One cause for celebration, Uribe said, went unspoken.

Instead, they toasted the engagement of Nadine and Bob, who would get married in 2020.

It was the right place to be that day, an emotional Uribe told the court.

Their gatherings slowed when the Covid-19 pandemic hit a few months later. The dinner when Menendez crowed about taking care of Uribe would not happen until August 2020, when they met to eat outside.

Nearly two years would then pass with Uribe keeping in touch with the Menendezes as he tried to finagle a new insurance brokers license. His first one had been voided as part of a separate criminal probe years earlier. Not much came of those efforts, he said Monday, apart from a dead-end introduction.

Uribe said he learned about the investigation that ultimately led him to plead guilty and testify against the senator in June 2022, when FBI agents turned up at his home, took his cell phone and handed him subpoenas for assorted documents and records largely related to his payments on Nadine Menendezs Mercedes.

Nadine Menendez and Uribe would meet one more time  at a Marriott hotel bar in New Jersey, the same place Uribe and two associates first hatched the plan at the offering of Wael Hana. The Egyptian American businessman  a co-defendant in this case  told them he could parlay his own friendship with Nadine Menendez into assistance from the senator. It would, Hana allegedly said, cost between $200,000 and $250,000.

During their 2022 chat, Nadine Menendez and Uribe shared notes on the federal probe. She asked him, he said, what he planned to tell the FBI about the car payments. Uribe told her he planned to say he was helping a friend and expected to be repaid.

Nadine Menendez approved of the plan, he said. The payments would be retconned as a loan. She mailed his lawyer a check for $21,000, considerably less than what he had spent on the Mercedes.

How, prosecutor Lara Pomerantz asked, did she arrive at that figure?

No idea, Uribe said.

It was the last time they spoke.

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New Jersey man arrested for attempted murder, sexual assault of a child

BERGEN COUNTY, N.Y. (PIX11)  A Ridgefield man was arrested after allegedly attacking a child in Fairview on June 10, according to Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella.

Julio Amaro-Vasquez, 33, allegedly strangled the child until they were unconscious before trying to assault them sexually, police said.

More Local News

Amaro-Vazquez faces attempted murder, attempted aggravated sexual assault, aggravated assault, attempted sexual assault by contact, and endangering the welfare of a child charges.

He has been remanded to the Bergen County Jail pending a court appearance in Hackensack.

Ben Mitchell is a digital content producer from Vermont who has covered both local and international news since 2021. He joined PIX11 in 2024. See more of his work here.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
JetBlue to serve NY airport; direct flights to Florida on sale at $49

NEW YORK (PIX11)  JetBlue is expanding its footprint by serving Long Island MacArthur Airport for the first time and offering direct flights to Florida, the company announced on Tuesday.

Only three other airlines serve Long Islandss airport, according to its website. To celebrate the expansion, JetBlue is offering a $49 one-way fare, available exclusively through its website.

More Local News

Its no secret that Long Island loves JetBlue. For years, residents have asked, and weve been listening, said Islip Town Supervisor Angie Carpenter. Our airport is one of our regions greatest economic assets, and JetBlues success at ISP will certainly enrich our community and beyond. Long Island cannot wait to open its doors to the visitors that will come to New York by way of ISP  Long Islands hometown airport.

JetBlue already offers service at JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark airports.

Beginning Oct. 10, the airline will serve Long Island with direct flights to Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, and Palm Beach, Fla.

The New flight schedule is below:

Flight available from Long Island Flights available Orlando one flight daily West Palm Beach 4 times weekly Fort Lauderdale 4 times weekly

Officials said the expansion of JetBlues footprint is also expected to create new jobs. Complete information on JetBlues expansion can be found here.

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.
It would be devastating for any parent to see a child convicted of a crime. To experience it as president before the eyes of the world, during one of the most contentious reelection campaigns in history, would be unfathomable.

But that is the ordeal now confronting President Joe Biden after his only surviving son Hunter was found guilty on all counts in a trial in Delaware over his possession of a gun while being addicted to drugs.

The jury delivered its verdict Tuesday less than two weeks after presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump learned he had been convicted of all 34 counts in a hush money trial in New York.

The double convictions represent a remarkable departure from traditional presidential campaigns. Never has a former president and presumptive major party nominee been convicted of a crime. Nor has the child of a sitting president. Both Hunter Biden and Trump pleaded not guilty.

Bidens statement at the start of the trial  that I am the president, but I am also a dad  encapsulated the tension of his role as the titular head of the nations justice system and the pain he would naturally endure from seeing a cherished son, who has dealt with addiction and worked hard to recover, go on trial in the middle of a media storm.

Biden repeated that poignant line in a statement issued immediately after the verdict. And unlike former president Trump after his verdict, Biden accepted the jurys judgment and the integrity of the legal system.

Jill and I love our son, and we are so proud of the man he is today. So many families who have had loved ones battle addiction understand the feeling of pride seeing someone you love come out the other side and be so strong and resilient in recovery, Biden said.

As I also said last week, I will accept the outcome of this case and will continue to respect the judicial process as Hunter considers an appeal. Jill and I will always be there for Hunter and the rest of our family with our love and support. Nothing will ever change that.

The Hunter Biden conviction is the latest cruel twist in the story of a family that has endured more tragedies than most could bear. The story of how the future president lost his first wife and infant daughter as a newly elected senator in the early 1970s and brought up his sons with his second wife, the current first lady, has become part of Bidens personal political mythology. Nearly a decade ago, Biden suffered the loss of his elder son Beau, who had brain cancer. The presidents grief remains raw and often comes to the surface during public events.

The trial of Hunter Biden is also occurring at a moment when the president is already under extreme pressure, amid an intensifying reelection campaign in which he is facing an opponent who he warns is bent on destroying American democracy. Bidens personal burden is, meanwhile, being exacerbated by the fact that at 81, hes the oldest president in history and opponents highlight every slip or senior moment to charge hes unfit for office. He just returned from Europe on Sunday, but heads back Wednesday for the G7 summit. And his critical first debate with Trump, on CNN on June 27, will provide the kind of test of his mental faculties and emotional fortitude to match anything any modern president seeking reelection has faced.

Two vastly different cases thrust into the same political maelstrom

The Hunter Biden and Trump cases are vastly different, as is the way the former and current first families have responded to the trials. For instance, there have been no daily rants by the presidents son about a corrupt and biased judge. Trumps conviction for falsifying financial records to cover up a payment to an adult film star, by contrast, prompted the ex-president to warn of retribution. Hes also absurdly claimed hes a persecuted political dissident who compares to South African anti-apartheid hero Nelson Mandela. In the latest stage of his legal morass, Trump sat through an online pre-sentencing meeting Monday that came two days after he used his Truth Social network to launch a fresh assault on the probity of the verdict he has vowed to appeal. These are not legitimate trials; they are merely part of an illegal POLITICAL WITCH HUNT the likes of which our Country has never seen before! Trump wrote.

The former presidents sentencing has been set for July 11, just a few days before the opening of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. Hunter Bidens sentencing is not expected to occur until October.

Joe Biden, who has said he is trying to restore faith in the justice system after the Trump presidency, said in a solemn ABC News interview that he wont pardon his son. This is especially significant since Hunter Biden could face up to 25 years in prison if convicted, although a sentence for a first-time offender is unlikely to be that severe.

First families in the spotlight

While cameras were barred from the courtroom in both trials, each unfolded against a backdrop of taut political drama and the glare of publicity surrounding the former and current first families.

The ex-presidents adult sons Eric and Donald Jr. sometimes attended court in New York. And crowds of GOP lawmakers  including House Speaker Mike Johnson  were eager to embroider the presumptive GOP nominees claims that he was a victim of politicized justice in what amounts to an attack on the rule of law by a major American political party. Former first lady Melania Trump did not attend. Biden has stayed away from his sons trial in Wilmington, but first lady Jill Biden has led a gathering of the clan at the courthouse for the last week. She crossed the Atlantic four times last week, balancing her official role alongside her husband at D-Day 80th anniversary commemorations and in a state visit to France with her desire to be with her son in his hour of greatest need.

In one striking moment in the trials closing arguments Monday, prosecutor Leo Wise told jurors drawn from a state where many families have a story about interacting with the Bidens that they should draw no inference from the first familys rock-solid bond and presence at the trial. People sitting in the gallery are not evidence. You may recognize them from the news  but respectfully, none of that matters. Wise added: Your decision can only be made on evidence.

The infringements on the Biden familys dignity and privacy cut deep during the trial, which saw discomforting testimony about Hunter Bidens former cocaine addiction. Beau Bidens widow, Hallie, who had a relationship with Hunter as they grieved, testified about their joint cocaine use that she said now embarrasses and shames her. In a heart-rending scene, the accuseds daughter, Naomi, was brought to the stand by the defense, then came under a rigorous cross-examination from prosecutors. The way addiction ravages loved ones as well as the user was laid bare when a text from Naomi to her father reading, Im really sorry dad, I cant take this, was introduced into evidence. Media organizations, meanwhile, played an excerpt from Hunter Bidens audio book that chronicles his spiral into addiction that was used in the prosecution case.

Two politicized trials with critical differences

Given the identities of those involved and the fraught national moment in the middle of a bitterly contested general election, theres no way the Trump and Hunter Biden trials could not have become politicized.

Trump has claimed that hes the victim of a vendetta by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, a Democrat, though he was indicted by a grand jury, enjoyed the presumption of innocence like any other accused felon and was judged by a jury of his peers. When Bidens plea deal collapsed in the court of a Trump-appointed judge and when Attorney General Merrick Garland made David Weiss, the prosecutor investigating Biden, a special counsel, some Democrats asked whether Republican pressure designed to damage the president had weighed on the renewed push for a trial.

But both trials have been conducted according to the rules of evidence and provided expansive protections for the accused. And the same bedrock American principle that was cited by prosecutors in the Trump hush money trial was used by Wise in his summation on Monday. No one is above the law, he said, urging jurors not to treat this case differently because of who the defendant is.

There is a critical difference between the two trials that debunks much of the political noise around them. Hunter Biden, unlike Trump, did not serve as president and has no chance of sitting in the Oval Office as commander in chief on January 20. While Biden is facing serious charges and will go on trial again in September in a separate tax case, his alleged offenses have nothing to do with the Constitution or threats to democracy. Trumps charges, however, focus on alleged mishandling of national security documents that he hoarded at Mar-a-Lago after leaving office. He has also been charged in two separate cases  one federal and one in Georgia  with the ultimate crime in a democracy: seeking to overturn the will of voters. The former president is waiting for a US Supreme Court ruling on his sweeping claims of immunity arising from the federal election interference case that, if the court rules his way and he wins a second term, could augur a presidency of almost no constraints that could verge on autocracy.

The second distinction lies in the fact that Joe Bidens behavior is not an issue in the criminal cases against his son. And House Republicans have so far failed to find that the president benefited from Hunter Bidens business deals in nations like Ukraine and China while his father was vice president  even if the younger Bidens activity raises serious ethical questions.

This story has been updated with additional information.

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Hunter Biden, President Joe Biden's sole surviving son, was found guilty on all three felony charges stemming from his 2018 firearm purchase. Allegations suggested he provided false information and illegally possessed the firearm due to his alleged drug use at the time.

Following Hunter Biden's guilty verdict, President Joe Biden has broken his silence.

Hunter Biden Found Guilty On All Three Counts

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On Tuesday, June 11, the jury deliberated for one hour Monday evening, went home, and reconvened Tuesday morning before finding Hunter Biden guilty on all three counts.

The trial was related to Hunter's 2018 purchase of a firearm, where the required form asked: "Are you an unlawful user of, or addicted to, marijuana or any depressant, stimulant, narcotic drug, or any other controlled substance?" and Hunter answered, "No." However, he was accused of lying on the federal form.

Two counts carry a maximum sentence of 10 years, and one carries a maximum sentence of 5 years. However, as he is a first-time offender and does not have a criminal record, it is unlikely that he will receive the maximum sentence.

Probation is also a possibility. Hunter is expected to appeal. As per NBC News, the sentencing date will be scheduled at a later time.

Joe Biden Releases Statement On Son Hunter Biden's Guilty Verdict

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Moments after the guilty verdict was read, President Joe Biden broke his silence.

As I said last week, I am the President, but I am also a Dad. Jill and I love our son, and we are so proud of the man he is today. So many families who have had loved ones battle addiction understand the feeling of pride seeing someone you love come out the other side and be so strong and resilient in recovery, the President said, per CNN.

As I also said last week, I will accept the outcome of this case and will continue to respect the judicial process as Hunter considers an appeal. Jill and I will always be there for Hunter and the rest of our family with our love and support. Nothing will ever change that," he added.

The President previously released a statement: 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 added, "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.

Joe Biden also previously affirmed that he would not pardon his son if found guilty.

America Reacts To Hunter Biden's Guilty Verdict

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Many Americans took to social media after the news broke, reacting to Hunter Biden's guilty verdict.

"No one is above the law!" one X user wrote.

"Hunter Biden has been convicted on all three federal felony gun charges," another wrote. "I know one thing for sure: President Biden isn't going to pardon him or commute his sentence. Because President Biden believes no one is above the law, not even a president or a president's son."

This is something President Joe Biden has previously confirmed.

Hunter Biden Has 'No Visible Reaction'

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NBC reports that Hunter had "no visible reaction as the verdict was read." Because the verdict came so quickly, many of Hunter's family were not in the courtroom at the time.

First Lady Jill Biden entered a holding room after the verdict was read. Some family members were in the elevator when they met with reporters and learned the guilty verdict had already been handed down.

While Hunter seemingly had "no visible reaction," ABC News Chief Washington Correspondent Jon Karl spoke to a "close friend" of his, giving the one-word response of Hunter Bidens is stunned.'

The Associated Press reported that the President's son left the courthouse hand-in-hand with First Lady Jill Biden and his wife. No one spoke to reporters, and they left immediately in SUVs.

Hunter Biden Will Face Trial Again In September

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Hunter will once again face trial in September for nine federal tax charges, to which he has pleaded not guilty. References to these tax charges were inadmissible in the recent gun trial in Delaware.

It remains to be seen if he will now plead guilty to those charges to avoid another conviction.
Joe Biden Expresses Continued Love for Son Hunter After Guilty Verdict: 'We Are So Proud of the Man He Is Today'

Hunter Biden, 54, was convicted of three felony charges related to the illegal purchase and possession of a firearm while battling a drug addiction six years ago

Andrew Harnik/Getty; Anna Moneymaker/Getty Joe Biden and Hunter Bidem

President Joe Biden has spoken out following his son Hunter Bidens felony conviction on Tuesday, June 11.

Hunter, 54, was found guilty of three federal charges in Wilmington, Del., following a weeklong trial centered around his illegal obtainment and brief possession of a firearm while addicted to a controlled substance. His sentencing is expected in mid-October.

Related: Hunter Bidens Guilty Verdict Live: There Was One Holdout on the Jury

The president, 81, quickly responded to the verdict in a statement: "As I said last week, I am the President, but I am also a Dad. Jill and I love our son, and we are so proud of the man he is today. So many families who have had loved ones battle addiction understand the feeling of pride seeing someone you love come out the other side and be so strong and resilient in recovery."



As I also said last week," President Biden continued, "I will accept the outcome of this case and will continue to respect the judicial process as Hunter considers an appeal. Jill and I will always be there for Hunter and the rest of our family with our love and support. Nothing will ever change that.

Related: Hunter Biden Opens Up About Joe Biden Intervening During Drug Addiction: 'He Just Cried'

RYAN COLLERD/AFP via Getty Images Hunter Biden arrives for the first day of his federal gun trial on June 3, accompanied by wife Melissa Cohen Biden

Hunter was hit with a three-count indictment in September and pleaded not guilty the following month.

The first two counts accused him of lying to a gun seller and answering dishonestly on forms while obtaining a revolver in October 2018. The third count accused him of illegally possessing the gun for 11 days while he was an active drug user.

Hunter has been candid about his struggles with addiction in the past, and details his sobriety journey in his 2021 memoir, Beautiful Things.

Related: Hunter Biden Wrote Memoir to 'Humanize' Addiction Sufferers After Living with Homeless Crack Addict

Hunters trial began on Monday, June 3. Throughout the courtroom proceedings, several family members sat in the room in support, including first lady Jill Biden and Hunter's younger half-sister, Ashley Biden.

Hunter's eldest daughter, Naomi Biden, also appeared on the witness stand on Friday, June 7, to give an emotional testimony in her father's defense.

Related: Jill Biden and Daughter Ashley Attend Start of Hunter's Federal Trial, Which Falls on First Lady's Birthday

DANIEL COLE/POOL/AFP via Getty Joe Biden in 2024

As the trial began, President Biden  who did not attend hearings  shared a rare statement about the case, where he expressed "boundless love" for his only surviving son.

"I am the President, but I am also a Dad. Jill and I love our son, and we are so proud of the man he is today," he said. "Hunter's resilience in the face of adversity and the strength he has brought to his recovery are inspiring to us. A lot of families have loved ones who have overcome addiction and know what we mean."

"As the President, I don't and won't comment on pending federal cases, but as a Dad, I have boundless love for my son, confidence in him, and respect for his strength. 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," he continued.

Related: Joe Biden Spent Weekend with Son Hunter Before Start of Federal Gun Trial, Riding Bikes and Attending Church

Hunter faces up to 25 years in prison as a result of the conviction, though he is likely to receive a lesser sentence as a first-time offender, and could avoid jail time altogether. He also faces up to $750,000 in fines.

Hunter will soon answer to nine additional federal charges related to alleged tax evasion, which could result in a 17-year prison sentence if he's convicted. A trial for the tax case is scheduled to begin in Los Angeles in September.

President Biden has vowed to respect the outcome of his son's trial, and said he will not consider using his executive powers to pardon his son.



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Read the original article on People.
TOPEKA (KSNT)  The multinational pharmaceutical company Johnson & Johnson has reached a $700 million settlement with multiple state attorneys general Tuesday with Kansas set to receive a piece of the payout.

Attorney General for the District of Columbia Brian Schwalb made the announcement in a press release on June 11. More than 40 state attorneys general reached the settlement with Johnson & Johnson, resolving allegations of deceptive marketing practices for baby powder and body powder containing talc.

District residents and customers nationwide deserve the truth about products theyre purchasing, especially products geared towards children, Schwalb said. With this bipartisan, multistate settlement, were holding Johnson & Johnson financially accountable for decades of harm inflicted on consumers through deceptive marketing tactics, and were ensuring that products that have been linked to serious health problems are no longer on the market.

Related video: Class action lawsuits  what are they, and should you join one?

Johnson & Johnson is required to stop the manufacture and sale of its baby powder and body powder products containing talc as part of the lawsuit, according to the Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia. These products were sold by the company for more than a century with domestic and global sales ceasing after the coalition of state attorneys general began an investigation into them.

How many Kansas license plate designs are available in 2024?

The investigation found the presence of asbestos in the talc, according to the Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia. It also found the company failed to disclose that asbestos in the talc is harmful as it can lead to cancer. Other lawsuits have been filed against Johnson & Johnson in class actions over allegations that talc leads to serious health complications such as mesothelioma and ovarian cancer.

The state of Kansas will receive part of the $700 million settlement in four separate payments on July 30 each year from 2024-2027. In total, Johnson & Johnson will pay the Sunflower State around $11.4 million, according to court documents.

For more Kansas news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News.
Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond was one of 42 state attorneys general to reach a settlement agreement on Tuesday with Johnson & Johnson to resolve a lawsuit over the company's talcum powder products. (Photo by Janelle Stecklein/Oklahoma Voice)

OKLAHOMA CITY  A lawsuit settlement with Johnson & Johnson will net Oklahoma $9.8 million as well as a pledge from the company to stop producing talc-based products.

The amount the pharmaceutical corporation will pay to Oklahoma is part of a $700 million multi-state agreement reached Tuesday to resolve a lawsuit over Johnson & Johnsons products containing talcum powder, such as baby powder, body powder and cosmetics.

The company has faced thousands of lawsuits throughout the country, including in Oklahoma County, from states and individual plaintiffs who allege the talcum powder was contaminated with cancer-causing asbestos.

Attorneys general from Texas, Florida and North Carolina led the lawsuit that included Oklahoma, along with 41 other states and the District of Columbia.

Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond will use the $9.8 million to further his duties and activities under the consumer protection act, his office said.

This landmark settlement signifies a tremendous step forward in consumer protection for Oklahomans and all Americans, Drummond said in a statement. With research underscoring the connection between these products and ovarian cancer, this settlement is a responsible course of action.

The suing states contend Johnson & Johnson knew at least by the 1950s of the potential presence of asbestos in the companys talc products.

Despite knowing of the contamination risk, Johnson & Johnson continued promoting these powders as safe for consumers to use, the lawsuit alleges.

The company has stood by the safety of its talc products and said any talc-related claims are meritless.

But it agreed in the multi-state settlement to stop manufacturing, selling and promoting any products containing talcum powder.

Johnson & Johnson will pay Oklahomas share of the agreement in four annual installments of about $2.45 million through 2027.

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The post Johnson & Johnson to pay Oklahoma millions in talc lawsuit settlement appeared first on Oklahoma Voice.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev sent a congratulatory letter to Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos, President of the Republic of the Philippines, Azernews reports.

The letter reads:

"Dear Mr. President,

On my own behalf and on behalf of the people of Azerbaijan, I extend my sincerest congratulations to you and through you, your entire people on the occasion of the national day of the Republic of the Philippines  the Independence Day.

I believe that we will continue to make joint efforts towards the development of Azerbaijan-Philippines relations and the expansion of our mutually beneficial cooperation on both bilateral and multilateral levels in line with the interests of our peoples.

On such a remarkable day, I wish you robust health, happiness, and the friendly people of the Philippines peace and prosperity.

Sincerely,

Ilham Aliyev

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

Baku, 10 June 2024"
Rajwa Al Hussein, Princess of Jordan and wife of Prince Hussein bin Abdullah, made her first public appearance as an expectant mother. The 30-year-old royal attended the 77th Independence Day of Jordan in the company of her husband, father-in-law, King Abdullah II and Queen Rania.

ADVERTISIMENT

Princess Rajwa wore a bright red dress and a long cape to go with it, custom-made by Saudi designer Honayda Serafi and embroidered by Jordanian craftsmen. As the fashion designer writes on Instagram, she is pleased that she was allowed to create for the royal person.

"As a designer, I feel proud and happy to have created the look of Her Royal Highness Princess Rajwa Al Hussein. We have always immersed ourselves in the cool world of heritage and culture through HONAYDA designs, and we are proud of the way our designs reflect the past, present and future," she said.

ADVERTISIMENT

There are many symbols in the dress. First of all, they relate to the king's reign of 25 years, i.e. the Silver Jubilee. That is why certain elements of embroidery were created with silver threads.

Only the shades of the Jordanian flag were used in the color scheme: white, green, and black. The dress itself was the fourth color of the flag, red. As reported on Princess Rajwa's news page, this tone "symbolizes the Hashemite dynasty, strength and passion to reflect royalty and love of the land."

"The two-piece look incorporates Jordanian heritage through embroidery and traditional patterns created by Jordanian artisans who spent 120 hours decorating the collar and cape border. The design featured intricate cross-stitch motifs and symbolic elements that combined traditional techniques with the brand's signature 3D embroidery. This technique, using silver and silk threads, created a relief, textured effect and required 950 hours of work," the explanation reads.

ADVERTISIMENT

In particular, to show the beauty of the embroidered dress, the princess gathered her hair in a bun and let the strands fall down near her face. The only accessories she wore were gemstone earrings.

This was Her Highness's first public appearance since it was reported of the princess's pregnancy. It is known that the heir will be born in the summer, but the sex of the baby is still a mystery. It was only on April 10 this year, shortly before the princess's 30th birthday, that the royal family announced the upcoming addition to the family.

ADVERTISIMENT

Only verified information is available on OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Johnson & Johnson has agreed to pay $700 million in a nationwide settlement resolving allegations that it misled customers about the safety of its talcum-based powder products in its marketing.

"Consumers rely on accurate information when making decisions about which products to purchase for their families," Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, one of 43 attorneys general involved in the lawsuit, said in a statement Tuesday. "Any company  no matter how large  must be held accountable when laws protecting consumers are broken and their trust is violated."

As part of the settlement, which is still pending judicial approval, the health products giant will permanently stop the manufacturing, promotion and sale of all of its baby powder and other body and cosmetic products that contain talcum powder. That includes Johnson's Baby Powder and Johnson & Johnson's Shower to Shower. The company decided to pull talc-based powders off the market in North America in 2020.

J&J will make four settlement payments, starting at the end of July, to 42 states and Washington, D.C., according to the settlement.

In a statement, J&J's worldwide vice president of litigation, Erik Hass, said the company "continues to pursue several paths to achieve a comprehensive and final resolution of the talc litigation. That progress includes the finalization of a previously announced agreement that the Company reached with a consortium of 43 State Attorneys Generals to resolve their talc claims. We will continue to address the claims of those who do not want to participate in our contemplated consensual bankruptcy resolution through litigation or settlement."

The $700 million settlement is the latest development in decade-long legal battles and investigations into links between cancer and the talc used in one of its best-known products. More than 50,000 claims have been filed against the company, mostly on behalf of women who developed ovarian cancer.

Earlier this month, a jury in Oregon awarded $260 million to a local woman who claimed that the company's baby powder products were "directly responsible" for her cancer diagnosis in 2003. In April, a jury awarded $45 million to the family of an Illinois woman who died in 2020 from mesothelioma after being exposed to asbestos in J&J powder.

Last month, J&J offered to pay $6.5 billion to settle the talc-powder lawsuits.

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Jon Stewart is done with "hollow corporate pandering."

He criticized corporate America, arguing companies exploit Pride Month for financial gain.

Companies like Target and Bud Light have backed down from their pro-LGBTQ stances after facing criticism.

Jon Stewart wants corporations to stop their "hollow corporate pandering" and just admit that all they care about is their bottom line.

The comedian and late night host railed against corporate America on Monday night's "The Daily Show," arguing that corporations' Pride Month celebrations really just "financially exploit the decades-long struggle of gay people for acceptance and equality."

In a segment on the show, Stewart said big-name companies want to appear LGBTQ-friendly only as long as it makes them money, but when they receive backlash, they reverse course.

Target, for example, came under fire from conservative groups last summer over its Pride-themed merchandise that included "tuck-friendly" bathing suits for adults and t-shirts with the phrase "Trans people will always exist!"

In response to the backlash and threats lodged at employees, Target removed the merchandise from a number of stores across the country, which a spokesperson previously told BI was done to protect workers' "sense of safety and wellbeing."

Company shareholders even filed a lawsuit last year arguing that the company's diversity initiatives were detrimental to shareholder value.

And this year, Target slashed its Pride collection even more, reducing the number of items from more than 2,600 down to just a few dozen.

Target isn't the only company to backtrack after receiving negative feedback for promoting LGBTQ perspectives.

Conservatives boycotted Bud Light last summer after the beer maker partnered with trans influencer Dylan Mulvaney for a social media promotion. The boycott even fueled a drop in sales as right-wing beer drinkers around the country abandoned the "woke" product.

And Bud Light waffled in response. Mulvaney said Bud Light never reached out to her after the backlash, criticizing the company for not standing by her. Meanwhile, Bud Light sought to win some of its customers back by offering free beer promotions.

The US CEO of Bud Light's owner, Anheuser-Busch, also followed up with a statement outlining steps the company was taking to alleviate the fallout, acknowledging that conversations about the company had "moved away from beer," and telling fans "We hear you."

Jon Stewart said that these controversies are just a few examples in a "long line of hollow corporate pandering meant to convince you that not only are corporations people, they're good people, decent people who care about the systemic ills of this great nation."

"Let's stop pretending that a corporation can even be woke or un-woke, patriotic or unpatriotic," Stewart continued. "Because corporations have but one value: shareholder value."

Read the original article on Business Insider
JOPLIN, Mo.  The Joplin Police Department and Joplin Schools summer program have joined forces to put on the Joplin Police Department Kids Academy this week.

This is the first year the two have put on the program.

On Monday, the soon to be sixth-graders toured the Police Department, training center and will get to tour Fire Station 1 and the courthouse later in the week.

Students saw K-9 units attack officers in simulations and witnessed their drug-sniffing abilities in field tests. They even got to see police drone equipment and whats inside their cruisers. Later in the week they will get to see demonstrations of SWAT equipment and traffic stops. Students will also have a certificate presentation on Friday.

The department wants to show kids the working day of a police officer and to deepen their existing relationship with the students.

Kids make a difference at Joplin nonprofit, How to volunteer

(Were) letting kids get an idea of why police officers do what we do, show them some of the tricks that we have, and just continue to enhance their knowledge with police but also the relationship that we have already started building, said Captain Austin Wolf, Joplin Police Department.

Summer school teacher, Tracy Horton, hopes this will foster a positive relationship with between students and the police department. She and her principal worry that some students might have only had negative interactions with law enforcement. Whether they are interested in pursuing a career in law enforcement or not, Horton also hopes it will generate the students curiosity.

Ive already seen a huge difference from yesterday to today, where these guys (officers) some of them are fathers or dads or they (students) see them, and they become real people to them and not just a title or a position or someone or something to be feared, said Horton. Its creating this beautiful strong bond and a lot of respect which is really cool.

The academy serves as additional education in the Rise Above program created by the department and the school district. The program involves officers teaching students about the importance of character and roadblocks to their future. All of the students in the Academy have graduated from the program according to Capt. Wolf.

Were extending that police interaction with the kids and taking them a little bit deeper into the operational world of being a police officer, said Capt. Wolf.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com.
Jordan, Egypt say Israel must abide by UN Security Council resolution on Gaza

"Call for Action: Urgent Humanitarian Response for Gaza" conference, at the Dead Sea

CAIRO (Reuters) - Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and his Jordanian counterpart Ayman Safadi urged Israel to abide by the United Nations Security Council resolution for a plan to end the war in Gaza.

Speaking at a joint press conference in Jordan on Tuesday, Safadi said the credibility of international law was at stake if Israel refused to abide by the resolution.

"As long as Israel continues its aggression, it will become more of a pariah state," Safadi added.

Shoukry also stated that the Security Council's resolution was "obligatory and should be respected".

The United Nations Security Council on Monday backed a proposal outlined by U.S. President Joe Biden for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

The resolution was welcomed by both Hamas and its rival Palestinian Authority of President Mahmoud Abbas. But Qatari and Egyptian mediators have not received formal replies from Hamas or Israel to the U.N.-backed truce proposal, an official close to the talks told Reuters.

During the same news conference, U.N. aid chief Martin Griffith said the situation in Gaza's city of Rafah had turned into a "worse nightmare than was predicted".

Griffith added that if allegations that the United States' Gaza pier was used in Israel's Rafah military operation were true, "they are very concerning".

The joint press conference took place shortly after an international conference discussing humanitarian response to Gaza concluded in Jordan.

The Jordanian foreign minister said the conference urged opening border crossings in Gaza, saying that obstacles put by Israel were in "violation of international law".

(Reporting by Suleiman Al-Khalidi and Jaidaa Taha; Editing by Gareth Jones and Josie Kao)
Joro spiders: What you need to know

GHENT, WV (WVNS)  Theyre big, theyre bright, but you dont need to worry about their bite!

Glenwood Recreational Park sets their sights on fish reduction method to save their lake

Joro spiders have been in the news a lot recently with sightings reported all over the southern United States.

This orb weaver is a gentle giant, however.

Rarely aggressive and with venom thats not dangerous to humans, the Joro spider has actually been in the states for around a decade.

Jakob Goldner, Conservation Entomologist with the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, said they are not confirmed in West Virginia as of yet.

As far as the sightings in West Virginia, they are not officially confirmed. I believe people have posted them on things like iNaturalist, and so its not really confirmed if they, by confirmed, we mean, were not sure if they were brought here on accident like on a vehicle or something, or if that means that they are breeding here now, if theyre spending the winter here, reproducing, said Goldner.

Goldner said confirmation of breeding populations should come out by the end of this year or next though.

He said there will be some ecosystem upheaval if Joro spiders begin to populate, but theres no way to tell how much.

Goldner encourages people to report all of their Joro spider sightings to the DNR and to take a moment to observe just how interesting these East Asian transplants are.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WVNS.
Joseph Steineger, former KCK mayor known as peacemaker and lifelong farmer, dies at 90

Joseph E. Steineger Jr., a lifelong farmer who earned a reputation as a peacemaker during his two terms as mayor of Kansas City, Kansas, died Saturday morning. He was 90.

Once a force in the local politics of his hometown, Steineger served in KCK government until shortly before the elected body dissolved to combine with Wyandotte Countys. After a political scandal influenced a bruising defeat at the polls in 1995, the former mayor returned to the full-time job of growing crops each year for harvest.

Outside of a final year in assisted living, Steineger stayed in the home he built nearly 70 years ago on seven acres along North 63rd Street.

He had a wonderful life and it was time, Joseph Little Joe E. Steineger III, the eldest of his four children, told The Star by phone Monday evening.

Like any dirt farmer, he had pretty strong faith in our good Lord. And he was ready. So, that makes it a little bit easier for the rest of the family to accept the loss.

Born March 7, 1934, the elder Steineger grew up in Wyandotte County and graduated from Washington High School. Two years later he married his wife Gloria, spending 45 years with her until she died in 1999.

In his political life, which spanned 40 years, Steineger worked on volunteer and elected boards. After 31 years on the Turner school board, the exodus of high school graduates in a time of steep population decline in Wyandotte County inspired him to run for mayor.

Kansas City, Kansans elected Steineger to his first term in 1987. Over eight years at the helm, the mayor witnessed triumphs in his community that included the building of the new General Motors Co. plant, the opening of the The Woodlands racetracks and receipt of the All-America City Award in 1992.

Cindy Cash, a past president of the Kansas City, Kansas Chamber of Commerce, remembered Steineger as a leader who encouraged Wyandotte County residents to band together.

She credits him with laying the groundwork for a new Unified Government of KCK and Wyandotte County by easing frictions between leaders in Edwardsville, Bonner Springs and the county commissioners.

The three cities didnt work together. The county didnt work together, Cash said. And it was all a part of Mayor Joe just realizing: People needed to get together and find a way to work together.

Joseph Steineger

In a statement Monday, Mayor Tyrone Garner said Wyandotte County lost a true Dotte and statesman.

Both personally, and professionally, he touched countless lives through dedicated community and public service, Garner said.

Chester Owens, a Wyandotte County historian and civil rights leader who began his two-term tenure as a city councilman in 1983, served alongside Steineger.

He was just a magnificent man, Owens said, calling Steineger an honest person who did the best he could to move Kansas City forward.

Being in KCKs top elected spot was not always picturesque for Steineger.

During his second term, his reputation was tarnished by scandal. The then-mayor was charged under federal indictment with bribery and obstruction of justice, accused of accepting $4,000 from the owner of a topless bar and instructing him to lie to a grand jury about the alleged payoff.

In 1994, a jury acquitted Steineger. His son Steineger III recalled the trial as a period of turmoil for the family  one from which his fathers political career never recovered.

In all, the elder Steineger spent about $100,000 in legal fees to defend himself.

I told dad several times, Im proud of you as your oldest son for many, many things Ive witnessed. But I may be the proudest because of the honesty you brought to that mayors office. And that you may be the only mayor that came out poorer than you went in, his son Steineger III told The Star.

Despite his wounded public image, the elder Steineger campaigned for a third term in 1994  in part to clear his name. He suffered a serious loss, gathering only 29% of the vote.

Former KCK Mayor Carol Marinovich, who bested Steineger that season, remembered that he promised her a very clean campaign  and stayed true to his word.

And when one member of his staff didnt take that to heart, that member of the staff ended up being fired, Marinovich recalled.

In an interview with The Star one year after his defeat, Steineger asked The Star to tell readers that old Joe is doing fine.

I feel excellent, Steineger said in 1996. I guess working for a living is a little different than talking on the telephone and making speeches.

He kept on farming after his retirement from public life. In fact, Steineger III told The Star, his soybean crop is growing on a piece of land near the GM plant in Fairfax.

The younger Steineger said his wife, Jenny, asked his dad whether he wanted to risk putting the crop in beforehand.

He looked her in the eye and he said, You know me, Jenny. Ive gotta do it. Im a farmer, Steineger III said with a laugh. It was no doubt. The risk didnt matter to him and it never did.

Its funny how some things never change in a mans life even in 90 years. And hes so thrilled to have that crop in the ground. I think one interesting thing about dad is, he never gave it up. And I think he felt in his own heart, he couldnt give it up. Thats who he was.

The younger Steineger says his father kept a sharp mind in old age. And he lived by the campaign slogan he first ran on: Together we can.

He also stayed up to date on Wyandotte County politics, his son said, and offered to help every KCK mayor who succeeded him. Several former elected officials are expected to pay their respects this week.

I look forward to shaking their hands and listening to what they have to say about my dad. Because Im sure it will be sweet music in my ears, the younger Steineger said.

An honorary motorcade procession led by the Wyandotte County Sheriffs Office, Kansas City, Kansas police and Kansas City, Kansas Fire Department was to take place during Steinegers funeral services. Members of the public were invited to his visitation and funeral.

Visitation is to be held from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Maple Hill Funeral Home, 3300 Shawnee Drive, Kansas City, Kansas. Funeral services begin 11 a.m. Wednesday at St. Paul Episcopal Church, 1300 N. 18th St., Kansas City, Kansas.
MSNBC

The journalist who secretly recorded Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito and his wife, Martha-Ann, making candid comments at a function earlier this month explained on Monday how easy it was to do so, and described the jurists increased grievance over his comments to her last year.

Lauren Windsor, who is also a documentary filmmaker, appeared on MSNBCs The ReidOut where she told anchor Joy Reid how she attended the Supreme Court Historical Societys annual dinner last Monday.

She earlier told Rolling Stone that she approached Alito as though she were a religious conservative, but added to The ReidOut, I was a due-paying member. I bought a ticket, she said succinctly.

Windsor then contrasted Alitos comments at last years functionwhich she had also recordedwith his remarks from last week, saying she felt that in the latter instance, he came off as more aggrieved.

When the first interaction happened, I was like, OK, well, its very hard to get a judge, a justice, even lower-level judges to talk about politicsanything that might imply politicsto give any sort of hint or signal as to what their own opinions may be, she said. And so after that first interaction, I didnt publish it because it wasnt very newsworthy.

Alito had said then that he blames the media for polarization in the country and distrust of the Supreme Court because they do nothing but criticize us.

Samuel Alito Gets Remarkably Candid in Secret Audio Recording

Windsor continued: But I felt like in the course of the last yearbecause that was before the spotlight was on him with ProPublicaso I felt like that grievance was more peaked over the past year, with his own experience. And so, I wanted to see if he had a different reaction.

Windsor was alluding to an investigative report detailing Alitos luxury fishing trip with a GOP billionaire who later had cases before the Supreme Court. Alito failed to report the trip, despite its significance. Alito also wrote a pre-buttal to the story in The Wall Street Journal, in effect drawing more attention to it.

The controversy over Jan. 6-linked flags at two of Alitos homes has put him further under the microscope. He responded by placing responsibility for the flags on his wife and refusing to recuse himself from any cases related to Jan. 6 or Donald Trump.

As for Martha-Ann Alito, Windsor described her aggression when discussing how she would like to get even, for instance by creating her own flag.

Samuel Alitos Wife, Martha-Ann, Goes Full MAGA in Secret Recording

Throughout these sort of rants, there was a lot of, you know, just aggression against the media, getting even. It felt like another instance of getting even [was] Shame, shame, she said, referencing Alitos imaginary flag with that word written in Italian.

And at one point she talked about being German, and I really had more of the impression that she was Italian, by the way that she was talking about it.

In her comments to Windsor, Alito explained her desire to get even.

Im German, from Germany. My heritage is German, she said. You come after me, Im going to give it back to you.

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MSNBC host Joy Reid slammed Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito as a clear conservative in a takedown on Monday, as the justice faces multiple ethics controversies over potential bias and political affiliation.

We know Alito is essentially a Fox host on the court, Reid said of the justice, adding that he is barely attempting to hide his political ideology.

He doesnt care who knows that he wants to make the country into a Christian nationalist, you know, ethnostate or whatever it is he thinks he would create under this Handmaids Tale vision, she continued.

In a secret recording released Monday, Alito told a woman he believed to be a Catholic conservative that he agreed with her perception that there is no way to negotiate with liberals and that the court must be used for winning conservative ideals.

On one side or the other  one side or the other is going to win. I dont know. I mean, there can be a way of working  a way of living together peacefully, but its difficult, you know, because there are differences on fundamental things that really cant be compromised. They really cant be compromised. So its not like you are going to split the difference.

The remarks were recorded by progressive filmmaker Lauren Windsor at the Supreme Court Historical Societys annual dinner on June 3, who attended the event as a member of the society under her real name, though posed as a conservative to elicit answers from the judges. The recordings were published by Rolling Stone and Windsors activist site The Undercurrent.

The recordings come days after additional scrutiny was laid on gifts Alito and other justices have received while members of the court. Data published Thursday found that Alito has taken about $140,000 in gifts since 2004, the third-most of any current or former justice in that period.

Justice Clarence Thomas accepted over $4 million in gifts over the same period, more than all other justices combined multiple times over.

Alito also found himself in controversy last month when it was discovered an Appeal to Heaven flag and an upside-down American flag were flown at his home. The symbols have been associated with far-right politics, Christian nationalism, and those who participated in the Jan. 6 Capitol riots.

Alito said the flags were not political statements, but merely personal attacks from his wife against neighbors, though the neighbor has publicly doubted the justices story. The controversy has sparked widespread criticism from Democrats in Congress, including multiple high-profile members demanding he recuse himself from Jan. 6-related cases.

His wife, Martha-Ann Alito, told the same undercover liberal activist at the Historical Society event that she wants to get back at those who have criticized her and the justice over flying the flags.

You come after me, Im gonna give it back to you, she said in the recording also published Monday by MSNBC. There will be a way, it doesnt have to be now, but there will be a way they know, she added.

In the recording, Martha-Ann Alito also committed that she will fly a Sacred Heart of Jesus flag at her home this month out of protest that a LGBTQ Pride flag is on display nearby. The Sacred Heart of Jesus flag is a symbol associated with the Christian right-wing, specifically used to protest Pride.

Justice Alito has repeatedly defended himself from allegations that he is ethically compromised, and Chief Justice John Roberts has declined to hold a meeting on the claims.

Reid also predicted Monday that Alito and the current Supreme Court could next take on the landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision, following the Alito-penned ruling that overturned the Roe v. Wade abortion rights decision in 2022.

Just in reading through the litany of things that Alito has said in the past, hes criticized the Warren court, Reid said, thats the court that gave us all of the civil rights and women, people of color, immigrants, everything, the disabled, all of that came in the 20th century.

Youve now had Clarence Thomas question whether Brown v. Board went too far, she added, referring to commentary Thomas wrote as part of a separate ruling. This just tells me theyre gonna take a case to overturn Brown v. Board.

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Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza prepares to speak to his supporters at an election night watch party at Hotel Vegas in Austin on March 5.

The judge presiding over the case to remove Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza from office said Tuesday that the court requires more evidence before he will sign an order to dismiss the case.

After prosecuting attorney Jim Nichols filed a motion to dismiss Friday, the effort to remove Garza from office over allegations of official misconduct appeared to be largely over. However, a notice filed Tuesday by Comal County state District Judge Dib Waldrip, who is presiding over the case, clarifies that evidence  in the form of sworn testimony or admissible proof  must be presented before the dismissal can be approved.

Garzas office did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday.

The lawsuit against Garza claims that, in his capacity as district attorney, he presented every use-of-force police case to a grand jury, assembled a do not call to testify list of police officers and instructed his office not to prosecute classes of crimes such as drug possession and abortion cases. Memos previously obtained by the Statesman suggest that the latter policy was abandoned last August.

The petition against Garza was brought under Texas House Bill 17, which went into effect last year. The bill expanded previous state procedures for the removal of a district attorney, allowing for such a removal if proof of official misconduct is found. Many have labeled HB 17 a legislative effort to curb attempts at reform by progressive district attorneys.

Nichols, the Republican Bell County attorney who was appointed to review evidence in the case, wrote in the Friday filing that he had found the Travis County district attorney's office had no policies of not prosecuting certain crimes.

In his notice, Waldrip outlined two possible recourses for dismissal. The first involves the plaintiff in the case, Mary Dupuis, filing a notice of non-suit  a legal document relieving Garza of liability. Dupuis previously posted on the social platform X that she chose to file the petition after the Travis County district attorneys office failed to adequately address her sexual assault case.

Alternatively, a motion to dismiss could be signed if the prosecuting attorney presents sworn evidence from someone with firsthand knowledge of the matters outlined in the petition within the next 30 days. The motion to dismiss was only substantiated by a synthesis of the evidence, according to Tuesday's notice.

Waldrip wrote that the court may likely set this matter for a status hearing if neither a non-suit nor a request to hear sworn testimony is filed in the next 30 days.

Staff associate investigative editor Tony Plohetski contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: More evidence needed to dismiss Travis DA removal suit, judge says
Traitor Hennadiy Matssehora, who was the mayor of Kupiansk in Kharkiv region at the time of the occupation and was one of the first to volunteer to work for the occupiers, has died. Shortly before the liberation of the city, he fled to Russia and surrounded himself with heavy security, but this did not help the traitor: On June 7, unknown persons attempted to assassinate him.

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Russian doctors fought for the collaborator's life for several days, but in vain. The network reported that he died on June 10 in a medical facility. A day later, this was confirmed by popular propaganda Telegram channels of the aggressor country, citing a message from the traitor's mother.

Thus, a screenshot of a post on the VK social network, which is blocked in Ukraine, was posted by a user named Lyudmyla Matsegora. Obviously, this is the mother of the liquidated traitor.

"Gennady is gone... A beloved husband, son and father... Gena lived all his life for people, rarely thought about himself... I don't know how to live with this, my heart is bleeding," reads the message, allegedly written by Lyudmila Matsyegora.

As a reminder, the attempted assassination of the Russian accomplice was reported by the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. At the time, the agency claimed that he was hospitalized in an extremely serious condition.

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The military intelligence informed about the attempted assassination of Matseha, who was shot at by unknown persons near his home in Staryi Oskol, on June 8, the day after the attempt.

"Matsehora voluntarily cooperated fully with the Russian invaders. In particular, in June 2022, he signed the so-called protocol on the creation of the occupation Kharkiv administration and publicly announced it... Currently, Moscow doctors have been trying to prevent Matsehora from attending Kobzon's concert for two days in a row. The condition of the traitor to the Ukrainian people is critical," the intelligence noted at the time.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber . Do not fall for fakes!
Judge Aileen Cannon has once again helped Donald Trump in his classified documents trial, this time by removing an entire paragraph from the indictment.



The paragraph in question alleged that Trump showed a classified map of a foreign country related to a military operation to a representative of his political action committee, who did not have security clearance. Trumps defense team said the paragraph was prejudicial and included information that was not essential to the underlying charges.

Trumps team had requested that multiple charges in the indictment be dismissed, but Cannon denied that request. However, while delivering that news, she chided special counsel Jack Smiths team for including language in the charging documents that she called legally unnecessary to serve the function of an indictment and that she said created arguable confusion in the allegations.

Trumps defense team has made numerous pretrial requests and motions, which Cannons handling of the case has allowed to pile up. She has postponed the case indefinitely to examine each motion, even if they seem outrageous or frivolous. For example, she has scheduled a hearing for later this month to determine whether Smiths appointment and funding by the Justice Department was even legal.



Cannon has also agreed to hear Trumps arguments that the FBI plotted to assassinate hima completely made-up conspiracy theory. Two weeks ago, she blocked a gag order request from special counsel Jack Smith because it was wholly lacking in substance and professional courtesy. And one of Trumps former lawyers, Ty Cobb, thinks that Cannon is doing a terrible job with the case.

The frequently delayed case has not reflected well on Cannon, a former federal prosecutor and University of Michigan law school graduate. One hearing with a Trump co-defendant devolved into a shouting match, and Cannon seems to misunderstand basic legal proceedings and principles in court, forcing legal counsel to explain them to her as the trial proceeds.



All of this has given fodder to allegations that she is deliberately slowing down the case against the convicted felon and Republican presidential nominee, or seeking to ultimately dismiss the case entirely. But, it all could be used by Smith in a motion to try and have her removed from the case. Regardless of whether Cannons odd handling of Trumps case is due to inexperience or a deliberate attempt to help Trump, he certainly seems to appreciate it.


Judge orders Young Thugs attorney to serve jail time after being held in contempt of court

Young Thugs attorney, Brian Steel, has been ordered to serve jail time after he was taken into custody and charged with contempt of court.

On Monday, Judge Ural Glanville ordered Steel to spend the next 10 weekends at the Fulton County Jail.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Thats a total of 20 days.

This comes after Steel was taken into custody after he refused the judges request to answer how he heard about a secret meeting between prosecutors, the judge, and a key witness in the YSL trial, Kenneth Copeland, Monday morning.

Judge Glanville gave Steel five minutes to disclose the source of information about the meeting.

He did not budge.

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Steel asked if he could serve those days in Cobb County with his client Young Thug.

Glanville said he was OK with that and will work on getting that approved.

Steel is required to report to jail this Friday.

According to the court order, Steel is to report to the Fulton County Jail at 7:00 p.m. on Fridays and will be released at 7:00 p.m. on Sundays.

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The district judge overseeing Donald Trump's classified documents case on Monday rejected the former president's attempt to dismiss some of the charges. File Photo via U.S. Department of Justice/UPI

June 10 (UPI) -- A federal judge on Monday rejected former President Donald Trump's attempt to have several charges dismissed in his classified documents case while permitting the removal of a single paragraph from the indictment for including allegations relating to an uncharged offense.

District Judge Aileen Cannon issued her order Monday.

Trump is facing 41 counts related to the retention of classified documents and efforts to obstruct the federal investigation. Prosecutors accuse the former president of illegally retaining the documents after leaving the White House and then failing to hand them over, resulting in the FBI raiding his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.

Walt Nauta, Trump's former valet, and former Mar-a-Lago maintenance worker Carlos De Oliveira are co-defendants in the case.

Trump's legal team had asked the court to dismiss counts 33 through 41, which are obstruction and false-statement offenses, over issues including duplicity, which Cannon denied saying even if there are deficiencies they are permitted by law.

She added that there isn't any issue with the counts as long as the jury was "instructed appropriately and presented with adequate verdict forms as to each defendant's alleged conduct."

In a small win for the Trump, Cannon agreed to strike a single paragraph from the 60-page indictment. The former president's defense had argued it was prejudicial as it concerned allegations he was not charged for in the indictment.

The paragraph in question details how in August or September 2021, when Trump was no longer president, he met with a representative of his political action committee at his Bedminster, N.J., club office.

During the meeting, Trump allegedly told the person that an ongoing military operation in an unknown country was not going well and then showed them a classified map of the country.

Trump allegedly said he should not be showing it to them and that they should not get too close to it. The PAC official did not have security clearance to known about the operation.

"This is not appropriate," Cannon wrote in her ruling concerning the paragraph. "Pre-trial notice must be given with supporting reasons justifying a permissible non-propensity use for the allegations."

The ruling has little bearing on charges brought against Trump and is more of a criticism directed at special counsel Jack Smith who filed them.

In her ruling Monday, Cannon, a Trump appointee, criticized the federal prosecutors for using a so-called speaking indictment that includes nonessential allegations to create a narrative of its case.

Cannon said that much of the language used in the indictment "is legally unnecessary," stating there are "risks that can flow from a prosecutor's decision to include in a charging document an extensive narrative account of his or her view of the facts, especially in cases of significant public interest."
Parts of a Florida law banning gender-affirming healthcare for minors have been ruled unconstitutional by a federal judge.

U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkles wrote in an order released Tuesday that gender identity is real and invalidated much of a 2023 law that prohibited children from accessing puberty blockers and hormones.

The state of Florida can regulate as needed but cannot flatly deny transgender individuals safe and effective medical treatment  treatment with medications routinely provided to others with the states full approval so long as the purpose is not to support the patients transgender identity, Judge Hinkle wrote in his 105-page decision.

The measure was signed into law by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis. It prevented minors from accessing transition-related medications and required that transition-seeking adult patients meet with a doctor in person and not via telemedicine. Hinkle struck down both rules.

The plaintiffs in the case were three families whose attorneys argued the law restricted their rights as parents to make medical decisions for their transgender children and that the law was enacted out of discrimination and animus, Forbes reported.

Hinkle agreed.

Transgender opponents are of course free to hold their beliefs. But they are not free to discriminate against transgender individuals just for being transgender, he wrote.

DeSantis has signed a number of other laws restricting trans rights, including bathroom usage bans and limits on which pronouns can be used in schools.

The Tampa Bay Times reported its likely the state will appeal Hinkles ruling.
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SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  On Monday, a judge signed the warrant of execution for Taberon Dave Honie, declaring he is to be executed by lethal injection on August 8.

The execution warrant was filed with the Fifth Judicial District Court in Iron County, and was signed on Monday by Senior Judge Jeffrey C. Wilcox.

Honie was convicted of aggravated murder in May 1999 and sentenced to death that same month. Earlier this year, the state of Utah filed a warrant to move forward with his execution after he had attempted to appeal his case.

PREVIOUS STORY: Drugs identified for possible lethal injection of death row inmate Taberon Honie

The execution warrant said, in part, no legal reason exists against execution of the judgment of death, after acknowledging that Honies previous appeals had been denied.

In June 2024, the Utah Department of Corrections made arrangements to secure the drugs needed to carry out the execution of Honie. The drugs expected to be used for Honies lethal injection are ketamine, fentanyl, and potassium chloride.

The drugs were recommended by medical professionals, and each would serve a different purpose. The potassium chloride is the drug that would stop Honies heart, while the fentanyl would serve to relieve the pain and the ketamine would be used as an anesthetic.

Court documents said Honie was charged with the murder of Claudia Benn in the 1990s, while attempting to commit other crimes including object rape, forcible sodomy, aggravated sexual assault, burglary, aggravated burglary, and aggravated child sex abuse.

Honie was found guilty of the first five of those additional charges by the jury in the case. The jury was unable to reach unanimity on the aggravated child sex abuse.

When Honie was arrested, he was covered in blood after cutting Benns throat and slashing her with a kitchen knife. Benn was also bitten and sexually assaulted, and Honie used a rock to smash through a glass patio door.

Honie waived the right to a jury for the penalty phase of the court proceedings before being sentenced to death on May 24, 1999.

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A Florida law banning gender-affirming health care for transgender minors and restricting access to care for certain adults is unconstitutional, a federal judge ruled Tuesday.

The decision by U.S. District Court Judge Robert Hinkle permanently blocks a law championed by Republican state lawmakers and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), as well as rules adopted by the states medical boards in 2022 that prevent minors from accessing treatments like puberty blockers and hormones.

The law, signed by DeSantis in May 2023, barred health care providers from administering gender-affirming care to minors and set up significant barriers for transgender adults seeking care. Gender-affirming health care for transgender adults and minors is considered medically necessary by every major medical organization, though not every trans person chooses to medically transition or has access to care.

Florida has adopted a statute and rules that ban gender-affirming care for minors even when medically appropriate, Hinkle wrote Tuesday in a 105-page decision. The ban is unconstitutional.

Hinkle, who temporarily blocked enforcement of the law last June, added that the law was motivated by state lawmakers anti-transgender animus and a deeply flawed, bias-driven report from Floridas Agency for Health Care Administration that determined gender-affirming care for minors is experimental and should be excluded from Medicaid coverage.

Floridas medical boards, for their part, imposed requirements that have no medical justification and were plainly intended to prevent or impede patients from receiving gender-affirming care, Hinkle wrote.

Transgender opponents are of course free to hold their beliefs. But they are not free to discriminate against transgender individuals just for being transgender, Hinkle wrote in Tuesdays ruling. In time, discrimination against transgender individuals will diminish, just as racism and misogyny have diminished. To paraphrase a civil-rights advocate from an earlier time, the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.

In the meantime, the federal courts have a role to play in upholding the Constitution and laws, Hinkle wrote. The State of Florida can regulate as needed but cannot flatly deny transgender individuals safe and effective medical treatmenttreatment with medications routinely provided to others with the states full approval so long as the purpose is not to support the patients transgender identity.

Floridas Health Department did not immediately return a request for comment. A spokesperson for DeSantis said the state will appeal Hinkles ruling.

Through their elected representatives, the people of Florida acted to protect children in this state, and the Court was wrong to override their wishes, they said in an emailed statement. We disagree with the Courts erroneous rulings on the law, on the facts, and on the science. As weve seen here in Florida, the United Kingdom, and across Europe, there is no quality evidence to support the chemical and physical mutilation of children. These procedures do permanent, life-altering damage to children, and history will look back on this fad in horror.

The state is also appealing a separate decision by Hinkle to strike down Floridas Medicaid policy excluding coverage for gender-affirming health care.

Hinkle in Tuesdays ruling disputed claims frequently made by opponents of transgender health care that European countries have banned gender-affirming care for minors.

The assertion is false. And no matter how many times the defendants say it, it will still be false, he wrote. No country in Europeor so far as shown by this record, anywhere in the worldentirely bans these treatments.

Transgender advocates celebrated Tuesdays ruling as a win for LGBTQ rights.

The federal court saw Floridas transgender minor healthcare ban and adult restrictions for what they arediscriminatory measures that cannot survive constitutional review, Simone Criss, director of the Southern Legal Counsels transgender rights initiative, said in a statement.

This ruling means I wont have to watch my daughter needlessly suffer because I cant get her the care she needs, said Jane Doe, the mother of plaintiff Susan Doe, a 12-year-old transgender girl. Seeing Susans fear about this ban has been one of the hardest experiences weve endured as parents. All weve wanted is to take that fear away and help her continue to be the happy, confident child she is now.

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FILE - Former Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes leaves federal court in San Jose, Calif., March 17, 2023. A panel of appeals court judges will preside over oral arguments on Tuesday, June 11, 2024, in an attempt to overturn the 2022 fraud conviction of Holmes in the high-profile case that exposed the greed and hubris infecting Silicon Valley. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File)

SAN FRANCISCO (AP)  A panel of federal judges spent two hours on Tuesday wrestling with a series of legal issues raised in an attempt to overturn a fraud conviction that sent Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes to prison after a meteoric rise to Silicon Valley stardom.

The hearing held in the San Francisco appeals court came nearly 2 1/2 years after a jury convicted Holmes for orchestrating a blood-testing scam that became a parable about greed and hubris in Silicon Valley. Holmes' instrument of deception was Theranos, a Palo Alto, California, startup that she founded shortly after dropping out of Stanford University in 2003 with her sights set on revolutionizing the health care industry.

Holmes, who did not attend the hearing, is currently serving an 11-year sentence in a Bryan, Texas prison.

But Holmes' parents and her partner Billy Evans  the father of her two young children  sat in the front row of the courtroom listening intently to the oral arguments. All three federal prosecutors who presented the U.S. Justice Department's case during the original four-month trial were sitting in the courtroom audience, including two attorneys  Jeffrey Schenk and John Bostic  who have since gone to work for private law firms.

Three appeals court judges  Jacqueline Nguyen, Ryan Nelson and Mary Schroeder  gave few clues into whether they leaned toward upholding or overturning Holmes' conviction. However, they periodically made it clear that it would take compelling evidence for them to throw out the jury's verdict.

Nelson seemed the most torn of the three judges, showing some sympathy when Holmes attorney Amy Saharia said the outcome of her trial deserved close scrutiny because the jury also acquitted her on four other counts of fraud and conspiracy and was unable to reach a verdict on three other counts.

Before adjourning the hearing, Nguyen said a ruling would be issued in due course without providing a specific timeline. Appeals courts can take anywhere from a few weeks to more than a year before ruling on appeals involving criminal convictions.

Holmes will remain in prison, with a currently scheduled release date of August 2032  earlier than her full sentence because of her good behavior so far.

A decade ago, Theranos had become such a hot health care commodity that it was called an exemplar of U.S. ingenuity by several prominent people, including then-Vice President Joe Biden. Holmes had emerged as a media sensation with a fortune worth $4.5 billion.

The excitement stemmed from Holmes' claim that Theranos-designed devices could scan a few drops of human blood for hundreds of potential diseases. But the devices produced unreliable results that both Holmes and her former business partner and lover at the time, Ramesh Sunny Balwani, attempted to hide.

Once the glaring flaws of its technology were exposed, Theranos collapsed in a scandal that led to criminal charges being filed against both Holmes and Balwani. Prosecutors hoped to break a "fake-it-till-you-make-it'' mentality that had been adopted by Silicon Valley entrepreneurs hoping to strike it rich with still-buggy products.

Besides hearing from Holmes' lawyers Tuesday, the panel of appeals judges also listened to arguments from another flank of attorneys representing Balwani, who is trying to overturn the 13-year prison sentence he received after his July 2022 conviction for fraud and conspiracy in a separate trial.

Balwani, 58, contends federal prosecutors distorted evidence to bias the jury against him while weaving a different narrative than the story they presented during Holmes' trial, which was completed shortly before Balwani's trial began in March 2022. Unlike Holmes, Balwani was convicted on all 12 felony counts of fraud and conspiracy facing him, a factor that contributed to his lengthier prison sentence. He is currently scheduled to be released from a Southern California federal prison in November 2033.
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  A celebration was held on the White House Front Lawn to honor Juneteenth, the newest federal holiday.

The featured musicians and artists include Gladys Knight, Patti LaBelle, Raheem DeVaughn, Kirk Franklin, Doug E. Fresh, Anthony Hamilton, Patina Miller, Brittney Spencer, Trombone Shorty, Charlie Wilson and Roy Wood Jr.

Vice President Kamala Harris recounted the origins of Juneteenth in her speech.

For more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed, Harris said, hundreds of thousands of Americans in Texas were still enslaved. Then Union troops arrived in Galveston, and on June 19th, 1865, the enslaved people of Texas learned they were free. On that day, they claimed their freedom.

While enumerating the policies that the administration put in place, like student debt relief and insulin price caps, Harris also added that the White House will attempt to prevent medical debt from affecting credit reports.

The White House Lawn has never seen anything like this before, President Joe Biden said of the event.

In 2021, the Biden administration officially made Juneteenth a national holiday.

Black history is American history, Biden said. He then referenced his speech to Normandy last week to commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day.

One of those soldiers of the Red Ball Express who fought, fought for freedom on distant shores, was a civil rights lawyer who fought for freedom here at home, Biden said.

He continued, 61 years ago this week, he was gunned down at home in Mississippi, in the poison of white supremacy. But all these years later, his spirit endures. You all know his name was Medgar Evers.

President Biden posthumously awarded Medgar Evers the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor, on May 3rd this year.

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Six years after Miami residents approved a plan to build an eco-adventures resort on the site of the theme park known as Jungle Island, a new proposal to redevelop a portion of the city-owned land could go before voters in the fall.

Terra, a Coconut Grove-based real estate developer, and ESJ Capital Partners, an Aventura investment firm, have proposed building a condo tower and public park that would replace the 18-acre Jungle Island that exists today. That plan is slated to go before the City Commission in July, according to a city spokesperson. If the commission approves the proposal, it would then go before Miami voters on the November ballot. The project must go to referendum because of the location on Watson Island, which is city-owned, waterfront land.

READ MORE: Condo development could replace a chunk of Jungle Island theme park in Miami

In addition to the condominium tower, which would take up five acres, the developers plans for the site include a 13-acre waterfront public park and a boardwalk connecting the north side of Watson Island to the south side, home to Miami Childrens Museum, according to a statement provided last week by Terra and ESJ Capital Partners. ESJ Capital Partners acquired the lease and rights to Jungle Island in 2017 and brought on Terra as a partner for the residential plans.

The new proposal is a departure from a previous redevelopment plan approved by voters in 2018 that received final City Commission approval in 2021. That project, an eco-adventures resort that included a 300-room hotel, zip line course and water slides, was also led by ESJ Capital Partners, which said that plans changed because the market is different than it was six years ago.

The world changed through Covid, and Miamis urban core grew and evolved exponentially, Arnaud Sitbon, president and CEO of ESJ Capital Partners, said in an email. These changes in the community, coupled with ESJs focus to help ensure the best use of this property, prompted us to pivot from the hotel model to a residential model.

READ MORE: A Miami theme park may see major change. Take a look at the attraction through the years

Sitbon said Jungle Island will continue to operate in its current capacity until the referendum and subsequent process is complete. He said his team is exploring potentially relocating the theme parks animals elsewhere but did not provide further details.

Sitbon added that, under the new plan, the city would receive a boost in property taxes and public space.

The previous hotel plan was approved by 59% of voters in a 2018 referendum. To be viable, the condo proposal would need more than 50% approval on the November ballot.
The Group of Seven (G7) countries have agreed to set up a fund to support Ukraine, which will receive proceeds from frozen Russian assets. There will be no need to return the funds.

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According to Nikkei, the fund will be created under the auspices of an international organization, such as the World Bank. The United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, Germany, Canada, France, and Italy will make contributions in the form of loans.

At the same time, Ukraine will not return the money received, as it will be provided in the form of donations. The fund's loans will be repaid with funds received from the profits from the investment of frozen assets. The decision of the Group of Seven is to be officially announced in a joint statement by the leaders of the G7 member states following the summit, which will begin in Italy on June 13.

First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Tax Committee Yaroslav Zhelezniak (Holos) called it good news for Ukraine. He especially emphasized that the allocation of funds through the World Bank provides for compliance with the conditions in the form of reforms.

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"This is exactly what we need. We are talking about the U.S. plan to give us $50 billion at once, not as the EU wanted $3 billion a year, and that is not a fact. Well, this is good news. I also like the fact that if it goes through the World Bank, there will be requirements for reforms," Zhelezniak wrote on his Telegram channel.

One of the requirements is likely to be the fight against corruption, as German Justice Minister Marco Buschmann had previously expressed the G7's concerns about this. This problem has three negative consequences:

instead of funding the Armed Forces, it weakens Ukraine in the fight against Russian aggression;

it weakens Ukraine in the fight against Russian aggression; fighting corruption is a necessary step for Ukraine on its way to European integration ;

; corruption can harm the post-war future of Ukraine.

As OBOZ.UA previously reported, the G7 countries are no longer discussing the full confiscation of frozen Russian assets  despite Ukraine's insistence on this. Instead, they are exploring alternative ways to obtain funding from frozen funds

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Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
A jury in Delaware declared Hunter Biden guilty on three felony counts Tuesday, finding that the president's son falsely claimed to have overcome drug addiction when he purchased a gun.

Prosecutors had charged the businessman with lying on his federal gun application when he stated that that he wasnt a drug user at the time he purchased the firearm. In doing so he lied to a licensed gun dealer, they said. Biden was also charged with possessing the gun for 11 days while he was still battling his cocaine addiction, CBS News reported.

Biden faces up to 25 years in prison and fines of up to $75,000.

In trying to build their case, the prosecution presented the jury with pictures of the presidents son bare-chested in a bubble bath with drug paraphernalia. Testimonies from exes, such as ex-wife Kathleen Buhle, ex-girlfriend Zoe Kestan, and his brother Beau Bidens widow, Hallie Biden, were used to show how his drug use affected his relationships. Gordon Cleveland, the man who allegedly sold Hunter the gun, also testified, CBS News reported.

"On October 12, 2018, when the defendant filled out that form, he knew he was a drug addict," prosecutor Derek Hines said during opening statements last week. "The law does not require us to prove that he was using drugs on that very day. Just that he knew he was a drug user or a drug addict."

Bidens attorneys argued that there was no evidence Biden was using drugs the day that he bought the gun. The form uses the word "are" to refer to the use of drugs, his attorney Abbe Lowell said in opening statements.

Biden had pleaded not guilty to the charges, claiming hes been sober since 2019. He accused the Department of Justice to succumbing to political pressure from Republicans and former President Donald Trump, AP News reported.

President Biden has said that he will not pardon his son. In a statement on Tuesday, he emphasized that he intends to respect the verdict.

"As I said last week, I am the President, but I am also a Dad," Biden said. "Jill and I love our son, and we are so proud of the man he is today. So many families who have had loved ones battle addiction understand the feeling of pride seeing someone you love come out the other side and be so strong and resilient in recovery."

Biden added that he "will continue to respect the judicial process as Hunter considers an appeal."
LEBANON, Tenn. (WKRN)  Community. Its a word that some use during the darkest times. For those in Lebanon, it especially rang true on Monday.

Just two weeks after a crash in Wilson County, those who knew Brooke Smith, 38, and her 12-year-old daughter, August Brashier, gathered inside the Winfree Bryant Middle School to honor both of their lives.

The stage was often considered to be home for Brashier, and her mother watched her daughters passion grow from the seats. Which is why, naturally, their vigil was held in the auditorium and filled with the same love.

PREVIOUS | Woman, girl killed in Wilson County crash, authorities say

According to the Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP), a 2021 Hyundai Palisade was traveling westbound in the 4000 block of East Division Street, while a 2021 TERX FD4 commercial vehicle was traveling eastbound. At approximately 8:53 a.m., the Hyundai driver lost control slightly and ran off the right side of the road, but then the driver reportedly overcorrected, crossed the center line, and collided with the other vehicle head-on in the eastbound lane.

Authorities said the Hyundais driver and passenger  confirmed to be Smith and Brashier  were killed in the crash.

While prayers for healing continue at the Middle School, just five minutes down the street, the company SouthEast Impressions helped in the best way they know how.

Brooke Smith and August Brashier (Source: WKRN)

Tragedy always brings out community, said Ben Spurlock with SouthEast Impressions. The one thing we know how to do is make t-shirts, so its so easy for us to put a t-shirt out there.

When news of the crash spread, the company immediately sprung into action. Spurlock explained that there was never a question of if they were going to do something to help the family. They created a shirt in Brashiers memory, showing how even thought she isnt here, she is still shining brightly.

I mean first thing you think is a tragedy, anybody losing a life, more or less a child losing their life, it just hits home, Spurlock said.

It hit especially home for one of his employees, who was one of Brashiers dance teachers.

She taught the little girl at Platinum Dance, and its really hit her hard, and shes tried to push the fundraiser as much as she could to raise all we could for the family, said Spurlock.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

To donate or purchase the shirt made in Augusts honor, you can click here or read the description below.

While this is uncharted territory for us, we want to do everything and anything we can to show this family love and compassion during this difficult time. As a studio and dance community and with the permission of the family, we will honor them in various ways, with the first being collecting donations. Brooke leaves behind 2 sons, Ezra and Jack who now have to navigate life without their mom and sister. We are grateful our friends at SEI who have set up a merch link online store. If you feel led to purchase and/or share the link that would be greatly appreciated, but most of all, we ask that you please pray for the family, and everyone affected by this huge loss. If you should have any questions about your order please contact invoice@southeastimpressions.com. Please allow 2-5 weeks after the store closes for fulfillment. SouthEast Impressions

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Justice Alito, in secretly recorded audio, apparently agrees nation needs to return to place of 'godliness'

Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito and Chief Justice John Roberts had no comment Tuesday after a woman posing as a conservative Catholic allegedly secretly recorded them at a black-tie event last week.

Lauren Windsor -- seeking out the justices at the Supreme Court Historical Society's annual gala -- apparently attempted to engage them in the nation's culture wars.

At one point, the liberal filmmaker started a conversation with Justice Alito, a well-known staunch conservative on the court.

She posted what appears to be edited audio of that exchange on X, detailed in an account first published by Rolling Stone.

ABC News has not authenticated the audio.

PHOTO: In this March 7, 2019 file photo, U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Samuel Alito testifies about the court's budget during a hearing of the House Appropriations Committee's Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee in Washington. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images, FILE)

MORE: Photo of upside-down flag at Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito's house raises concerns: Report

In one exchange, Windsor poses a leading question to Alito, suggesting that there can be no compromise between the right and the left.

Alito appears to agree, saying there are fundamental differences that are difficult to resolve.

In the edited recording, Windsor keeps pushing Alito, saying, "people in this country who believe in God have got to keep fighting for that, to return our country to a place of godliness."

Alito responds, saying, "I agree with you, I agree with you."

Windsor also posted an exchange with Chief Justice Roberts, a moderate conservative, at the same event, in which she suggests to him that America is a Christian nation.

Roberts pushes back, saying, "Yeah. I don't know that we live in a Christian nation. I know a lot of Jewish and Muslim friends who would say, maybe not. And it's not our job to do that. It's our job to decide the cases as best we can."

PHOTO: John Roberts, Jr., Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court arrives on the House floor before President Joe Biden's State of the Union address to the joint session of Congress in the U.S. Capitol, March 7, 2024, in Washington. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

MORE: Roberts rejects Democrats' call to discuss Alito's refusal to recuse over flags flap

The Supreme Court Historical Society on Tuesday condemned the surreptitious recording of Roberts and Alito at the private gala, where Windsor said tickets cost $500 each.

"The Annual Dinner of the Supreme Court Historical Society is an occasion to recognize and support the educational and historical work of the Society over the last year. Society members are allowed to purchase two tickets, one for themselves and one for a guest," James C. Defer, the society's executive director, said in a statement.

"Our policy is to ensure that all attendees, including the Justices, are treated with respect. We condemn the surreptitious recording of Justices at the event, which is inconsistent with the entire spirit of the evening. Attendees are advised that discussion of current cases, cases decided by this Court, or a Justice's jurisprudence is strictly prohibited and may result in forfeiture of membership in the Society," he said.

ABC News has reached out to the chambers of the chief justice, Justice Alito and the court itself and received no response.

The secret recording controversy comes as the court prepares to release more than a dozen major decisions in the next three weeks and remains under close public scrutiny for its ethical practices and transparency.

Martha-Ann Alito also secretly recorded after flag controversies

Windsor also apparently sought out Alito's wife, Martha-Ann, at the event.

Their conversation appeared focused on the flag controversies that have engulfed the couple in recent weeks. The incidents, first reported by the New York Times, included an upside-down American flag outside their Virginia home in 2021 and an "Appeal to Heaven" flag at their beach house in 2023 -- both symbols carried by some rioters who attacked the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.

Alito, in a letter to Democratic lawmakers rejecting their request he recuse himself from certain cases, said he was not involved in the incidents and asked his wife to take down the upside-down flag at their Virginia home but she refused. Alito also contended his wife wasn't conscious of the "Appeal to Heaven" flag's connections to Jan. 6 or the "Stop the Steal" movement.

In the edited clips that were posted to X, Windsor approached Martha-Ann Alito at the event and seemingly expressed sympathy for "everything that you're going through" and that it "was "not okay."

"It's okay because if they come back to me, I'll get them," Martha-Ann Alito said, referring to the news media. "I'm gonna be liberated, and I'm gonna get them."

Martha-Ann Alito then went on to criticize media coverage of herself, saying she was "denigrated early on."

PHOTO: Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito Jr., and his wife Martha-Ann Alito, pay their respects at the casket of Reverend Billy Graham at the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, Feb. 28, 2018. (Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP)

MORE: Roberts rejects Democrats' call to discuss Alito's refusal to recuse over flags flap

Windsor then turned the conversation to the stir caused by the "Appeal to Heaven" flag, to which Martha-Ann Alito said the "feminazis believe that [Justice Alito] should control me."

"So, they'll go to hell, he never controls me," she added.

Later in the conversation, Martha-Ann Alito signaled she was deferring to her husband by not flying a flag to counter a LGBTQ Pride flag she said was flying -- apparently near their vacation home in New Jersey.

"I want a Sacred Heart of Jesus flag because I have to look across the lagoon at the Pride flag for the next month," Martha-Ann Alito told Windsor.

"And he's like, 'Oh, please don't put up a flag.' I said, I won't do it because I'm deferring to you," she is heard saying. "But when you are free of this nonsense, I'm putting it up and I'm gonna send them a message every day, maybe every week. I'll be changing the flags. They'll be all kinds."

Martha-Ann Alito also has declined to comment on the controversial recordings.

Justice Alito, in secretly recorded audio, apparently agrees nation needs to return to place of 'godliness' originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
The wife of Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito said she wants to get back at people who raised a controversy after she and the justice were criticized last month for flying politically affiliated flags at their homes.

You come after me, Im gonna give it back to you, Martha-Ann Alito said in the recording of a private conversation at the Supreme Court Historical Societys annual dinner June 3.

There will be a way. It doesnt have to be now, but there will be a way. They know, she added. Dont worry about it.

The remarks were recorded by progressive filmmaker Lauren Windsor, who attended the event as a member of the society under her real name, though she posed as a conservative to elicit answers from Alito and others.

The recordings were published by MSNBC and Windsors activist site The Undercurrent  the second set released Monday, after she earlier provided recordings of Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Alito to Rolling Stone.

Alitos flag controversy began last month when it was discovered that an Appeal to Heaven flag and an upside-down American flag were flown at the couples homes. The symbols have been associated with far-right politics, Christian nationalism and those who participated in the Jan. 6 Capitol riots.

Alito said the flags were not political statements but merely responses from his wife to personal attacks made by a neighbor, though the neighbor has publicly disputed key aspects of the justices story. The controversy has sparked widespread criticism from Democrats in Congress, including multiple high-profile members demanding he recuse himself from Jan. 6-related cases.

In the recording, Martha-Ann Alito also committed to flying a Sacred Heart of Jesus flag at her homes this month to protest the display of an LGBTQ pride flag nearby. The Sacred Heart of Jesus flag has been used by some opponents of gay rights to protest Pride and LGBTQ rights in general.

She said her husband, the justice, has asked her not to put up flags at their properties.

I wont do that because Im deferring to you, Alito said she told her husband. But when you are free of this nonsense, Im putting it up, and Im gonna send them a message every day, maybe every week. Ill be changing the flags.

Alito added that she has designed her own flag in her head, which she wants to have made and flown. It features the Italian word vergogna, which means shame.

Shame, shame, shame on you, you know? Alito said, apparently referring to the flying of the pride flag.

Windsors conversation with Justice Alito included him agreeing with her assertion that the U.S. should strive to be a Christian nation and his admission that much of the courts business comes down to political ideology. Roberts, by contrast, fought against her ideas in the pairs own recorded conversation.

Windsor told The Hill she felt justified to record those at the meeting surreptitiously because the court is shrouded in secrecy, and theyre refusing to submit to any accountability in the face of overwhelming evidence of serious ethics breaches.

This story was updated at 1:18 p.m.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito voiced support of returning the U.S. to a place of godliness and said, there are differences on fundamental things that really cant be compromised, according to a secretly recorded interview that made headlines this week.

At a pricey June 3 gala at the Supreme Court, liberal documentary filmmaker Lauren Windsor took on a conservative persona to wheedle controversial comments out of the judge, who has recently come under fire for flying flags associated with Trump supporters at his homes.

As a Catholic and as someone who, like, really cherishes my faith, I just dont, I dont know that we can negotiate with the left in the way that needs to happen for the polarization to end, Windsor told Alito at the annual Supreme Court Historical Society dinner. I think that its a matter of like, winning.

I think youre probably right, Alito replied. On one side or the other, one side or the other is going to win.

The exchange was first reported in Rolling Stone.

It wasnt clear what specific issues the two were talking about, since Windsor only vaguely alluded to the left in American politics and was asking Alito how to mend the polarization that seems rampant.

There can be a way of working, a way of living together peacefully, the jurist opined. But its difficult, you know, because there are differences on fundamental things that really cant be compromised. So its not like youre going to split the difference.

Alito wrote the Supreme Court ruling that overturned the Roe v. Wade decision guaranteeing a constitutional right to abortion in 2022.

Later in his conversation with Windsor, he called polarization in the U.S. very dangerous and said Americans must work together to heal the divide.

When Windsor said those who believe in God have got to fight to return our country to a place of godliness, Alito replied, I agree with you. I agree with you.

Rolling Stone published an article on the recording after revelations of gifts and free travel being lavished on various justices by wealthy cronies. Alito is already under fire for flying flags at two residences that appear to support the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection and refusing to recuse himself from cases dealing with the violent attempt to overturn the 2020 election results. While critics contend the flags evidence his lack of impartiality, Alito has blamed his wife for the displays.

They are shrouded in secrecy, and we have seen them be willing to overturn long-standing precedent in ways that are really extraordinary, Windsor told The Washington Post of the Supreme Court. Americans are really at this crossroads of, do we continue with a secular democracy, or do we let a conservative majority take us down a path of Christian theocracy?

At the June gala, Windsor also spoke with Chief Justice John Roberts Jr., whose responses were markedly different from those of Alito.

I believe that the founders were godly, like were Christians, and I think that we live in a Christian nation and that our Supreme Court should be guiding us in that path, Windsor told Roberts.

I dont know if thats true, he replied.

Neither justice commented on the recordings Monday.

Supreme Court Historical Society President James Duff decried Windsors methods.

We condemn the surreptitious recording of justices at the event, which is inconsistent with the entire spirit of the evening, Duff told the New York Daily News in a statement. Attendees are advised that discussion of current cases, cases decided by this Court, or a justices jurisprudence is strictly prohibited and may result in forfeiture of membership in the Society.

_____
Juveniles broke into about a dozen cars overnight in this Pierce County city, police say

The Sumner Police Department received numerous reports of vehicle break-ins in residential areas throughout the city early Monday, according to the citys website.

Police had identified about a dozen victims as of 10 a.m.

One of the victims was an off-duty Pierce County sheriffs deputy, according to the citys website. His patrol vehicle was parked in the driveway of his home.

Police say the suspects are four to six nondescript juveniles in two different vehicles: a small dark-colored SUV and a medium-sized silver sedan, according to the website. The break-ins may have occurred between 3:30 a.m. and 4 a.m.

The investigation is still in its early stages, according to the website. Investigators think there is a chance that the break-ins are related to incidents that happened in Puyallup and Renton.

When asked about the related incidents, city spokesperson Carmen Palmer told The News Tribune she cannot share that information because the investigation is ongoing.

Those with information or security camera footage can contact Sumner Police at 253-299-5678.

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Jeanna Repass, of Overland Park, is seeking the Democratic Party's nomination for secretary of state. She asserted Secretary of State Scott Schwab and former Secretary of State Kris Kobach politicized the office. (Kansas Reflector screen capture from Repass campaign photograph)

Jeanna Repass, the first Black woman to run the Kansas Democratic Party, recounted an racist phone call she received during her campaign. As the 2024 election cycle gears up, Repass is warning against similar treatment for diverse candidates. (Kansas Reflector screen capture from Repass campaign photograph)

TOPEKA  As the first Black woman to run the Kansas Democratic Party, Jeanna Repass knows what its like to be told to step down for a white male politician. Her message: Its got to stop.

The competition over Topekas District 19 Senate seat has reignited conversation about the treatment of women of color running for seats at the state and local level.

In Senate District 19, House Minority Leader Vic Miller is involved in a five-candidate race for an open seat. Cynthia Smith and Tyler Wible are running in the Republican primary, while ShaMecha King Simms and Patrick Schmidt are running against him in the Democratic side. The district stretches east from Topeka to Lawrence, including Tecumseh and Lecompton.

During a May 11 Democratic candidate primary forum, Miller said he expected a record number of Democratic women candidates on the ticket and that the legislature needed more women.

Then he addressed Simms.

ShaMecha, thats not an endorsement of you, Miller said. Your times another day, another place.

Miller later said he meant his comment as a compliment. Others have called it part of a disturbing pattern in state politics.

Ive been in politics long enough to know that people take things out of context, Miller said in a Kansas Reflector interview. It would be silly for me to say that it was her time to beat me. Im in the race, and I dont know whats in her future. But as far as the immediate future, I think Im the best candidate, or I wouldnt be running myself.  Im not in this race to lose or to endorse somebody running against me. That was the context. It was actually meant as a compliment, not as a slight.

Repass put the incident another way: Everyone supports women running until a woman wants to run against them. Everyone supports candidates of color until candidates of color want to run against them.

She added: Those punches land. Theyre meant to land, and they do. They land, and they hurt.

Repass emphasized that as party chair, she is not endorsing or opposing any candidates in the race, but she felt the need to share her own perspective. During her run for the party seat, Repass competitor was Lynn Rogers, a former lieutenant governor and state treasurer.

After announcing her intent to run, Repass received a phone call from someone she didnt want to identify but characterized as a white male who has been formidable in Kansas politics. Her phone was on speaker, so her son also heard everything.

She says that he told her:  You blacks. When you speak well, you can talk people into anything.  Jeanna, you can be a preacher. You can be anything you want, but you cant be the chair. Its Lynns turn. Its his time.

When she watched the video of the May candidate forum, Repass remembered that call. She said she felt shocked and disturbed.

It was very disappointing to me that I am leading a party where anyone is going to tell anyone else, in an open democratic process, that you should not be running for something, Repass said. Theres room for all of us to add our voices. But in particular, when it is white men telling black women when our time and when our place is to run, it is beyond disappointing. It is disturbing. And I will tell you I find it unacceptable and its got to stop.

Millers statement was the catalyst for the Its Our Time Kansas!  A Celebration of Women of Color Candidates, campaign event held by the Topeka chapter of The Links, Incorporated. The Links is an international nonprofit including more than 17,000 women of African descent committed to sustaining and ensuring the culture and economic survival for women of color.

The event supported Simms and fellow women of color state legislative candidates, including Stacey Knoell, Brooklynne Mosley and Jessica Porter. Knoell is running for the Senate District 23 seat. Mosley is running for the Kansas House of Representatives District 46 seat, and Porter is running for the Kansas House of Representatives District 50 seat.

Simms said the incident allowed for a larger conversation about values, unspoken biases and legislative mentalities.

I think what were really up against now, were trying to birth a new way of relating to one another, and the old ways dont work for that, Simms said. Theyre stuck in a cycle that doesnt allow for growth. It doesnt allow for reflection, and without reflection and growth, we cant move the ball forward. And thats really just kind of where I stand on that. I want to see growth.

The post Kansas legislative forum sparks debate over treatment of Black female candidates appeared first on Kansas Reflector.
Kansas man pleads guilty in connection to 2023 pursuit with deputies

Dustin Clay mugshot, May 19, 2023  Courtesy: Crawford County Sheriffs Office.

CRAWFORD COUNTY, Kan.  A Crawford County man pleads guilty in connection to a pursuit with law enforcement last year.

Late Monday afternoon, Dustin Clay, 34, pleaded guilty to attempted aggravated robbery. The prosecutor dropped six other charges against him, including kidnapping and aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer.

Hes scheduled to be sentenced on August 12.

The charges were filed after Crawford County deputies responded to a report of a suspicious vehicle and then got into a pursuit back in December.

Deputies said when that pursuit ended in Pittsburg, Clay ran into the home of someone they knew. They said they heard gunshots and a woman called 911, saying she and her kids were locked in the basement for safety. Clay later surrendered.

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A newly released analysis from the Lugar Center and the McCourt School of Public Policy at Georgetown University ranks members of Congress on bipartisanship

Two former U.S. House members from Kansas endorsed 2nd District Republian candidate Jeff Kahrs in the five-person primary campaign to replace departing U.S. Rep. Jake LaTurner of Topeka. (Jennifer Shutt/States Newsroom)

TOPEKA  Two former Republican congressman from Kansas endorsed Jeff Kahrs in the five-candidate GOP primary for the 2nd District vacancy created by the decision of U.S. Rep. Jake LaTurner not to seek reelection.

Former Congressman Jim Ryun, who served a decade in Washington before falling to defeat in 2006, and former Congressman Todd Tiahrt, who was in the House from 1995 to 2011 and lost a 2010 campaign for U.S. Senate, said in a statement they supported Kahrs bid in the eastern Kansas district. At one point, Kahrs was a Tiahrt staff member in Washington.

When Jeff Kahrs was my chief of staff and top adviser, I counted on him to effectively lead, to be the conservative backbone of my team and to fight for our conservative legislation to win, Tiahrt said.

Ryun, who was known for track skills that took him to the Olympics, said he supported Kahrs because he would strive to prevent a transgender ideology from taking over the United States.

His Christian faith, determination to protect our republics constitution, her borders and commitment to rooting out the cultural rot of transgender ideology that is attempting to transform our country will serve Kansas and our nation well, Ryun said.

Kahrs, of Topeka, was previously endorsed by former Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback. A former Brownback staff member is serving as Kahrs campaign treasurer.

Other Republican candidates in the U.S. House race are former Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt of Independence, Michael Ogle of Topeka, Shawn Tiffany of Delvan and Chad Young of Lawrence.

The two Democrats in the August primary are Matt Kleinmann of Kansas City, Kansas, and former U.S. Rep. Nancy Boyda, who defeated incumbent Ryun in 2006.

In May, former Congressman Kevin Yoder, a Republican who served part of the current 2nd District, endorsed Schmidt.

As attorney general, Derek stood tall for Kansans, defending conservative values, pushing back against big government and open border policies and he stood undefeated at the U.S. Supreme Court, said Yoder, who lost his seat in Congress to Democrat Sharice Davids in 2018. Kansans need Derek continuing the fight for us in Congress, and Im proud to endorse him.

Schmidts campaign also received an endorsement by the Kansas State Fraternal Order Of Police. The organization has 4,300 members.

Dereks commitment to public safety, support for law enforcement and dedication to the well-being of our community make him an outstanding candidate, said Amanda Wood, the Kansas FOP president. His legislative initiatives and policies align with the core values of our organization, and we believe his leadership will greatly benefit the people of Kansas.

The post Kansas Republicans pick up 2nd District primary endorsements from former congressmen appeared first on Kansas Reflector.
Karen Read is accused of murdering her boyfriend John OKeefe in 2022, but she contends she's the victim of a massive police coverup

John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe/Getty; Boston Police Department Karen Read, John O'Keefe

With its bombshell revelations and myriad twists, the Karen Read murder trial has been a wild ride for anyone keeping tabs on the sensational Boston-area case.

Read, 44, of Mansfield, Mass., is accused of backing her Lexus SUV into her boyfriend, Boston police officer John OKeefe, 46, in the early morning hours of Jan. 29, 2022, while intoxicated, and leaving him to die in the snow, prosecutors allege.

Read and her lawyers claim something else happened at the house party in Canton, Mass., where she dropped OKeefe that night: that O'Keefe was allegedly beaten up by someone there with whom he had a longstanding dispute. Read's defense argues she's the victim of a massive coverup among the local and state law enforcement community.

Karen Read was framed, said defense attorney David Yannetti during opening statements in April. She did not cause his death, and that means somebody else did.

David Yannetti John O'Keefe and Karen Read

Related: A Mass. Woman Is Accused of Fatally Running Over Cop Boyfriend  Her Lawyers Say She Was Framed in a Cover-Up

For months, diehard supporters on both sides have gathered each day at Norfolk County Superior Court in Dedham holding signs. Those who support Read hold signs saying, Framed, with detractors yelling, Cop killer! at her.

Jessica Rinaldi/The Boston Globe via Getty A supporter of Karen Read

A circus has ensued, OKeefes friend, Sean Hickey, tells PEOPLE. People scream Free Karen Read, at his parents, who are senior citizens. It's a disgrace. Everyone has forgotten that a person lost his life, never mind the good person that he was.

For more on the Karen Read trial, subscribe now to PEOPLE, or pick up this week's issue, on newsstands Friday.

For her part, Read, a financial analyst who worked as an adjunct professor at Bentley University, says she loved OKeefe and did not kill him. I have never harmed a hair on John O'Keefe's head. she told ABC News in Aug. 2023.

Greg Derr/The Patriot Ledger/USA TODAY NETWORK John O'Keefe's funeral

The prosecution begs to differ, arguing in court that she allegedly confessed when she was heard saying, I hit him, at the scene. She and her lawyers contend that she didn't know whether she'd hit him, and that she actually said, Did I hit him?

O'Keefe's injuries weren't consistent with being hit by a car  especially his two black eyes and deep claw-like marks found on his right arm, her lawyers allege. Yannetti believes that OKeefe may have been attacked by a dog at the home of retired Boston police officer Brian Albert, who hosted a gathering that night that O'Keefe may or may not have attended, a key point of contention in the case. (The dog has since been rehomed.)

Further fueling the theory of a police cover-up, Reads lawyers claim, are a series of alleged butt dials that Albert and ATF agent Brian Higgins, who was there that night, made to each other and that Alberts sister-in-law, Jennifer McCabe, made to OKeefe before he was found unresponsive and bleeding in the yard.

Craig F. Walker/The Boston Globe/Getty The Canton home of Brian Albert

Read's lawyers cite a group text between people who attended the party as further evidence of a coverup.

Tell them the guy never went into the house, one message from a partygoer reads.

To that, Albert allegedly replies, "Exactly," according to Read's lawyers.

They also point to a Google search McCabe allegedly made at 2:27 a.m. to find out how long it takes to die in the cold.



Read's longtime friend Jon Silveira hopes Read is found innocent. Calling her "very honest, very generous and a great friend," he tells PEOPLE, "I'm honored to know her and honored to defend her with this whole mess that she's dealing with."



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Energy is one of Russia's main targets in Ukraine. That is why it shells Ukrainian energy facilities. And so far, half of the country's energy generation has been destroyed by shelling.

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This was announced by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy during the opening ceremony of the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2024 in Berlin. He noted that

9 GW of power has already been destroyed by Russian missiles and drones;

has already been destroyed by Russian missiles and drones; the peak energy consumption in Ukraine last winter was 18 GW.

"One of Putin's main targets in Ukraine is energy. ... Ukraine is now suffering from the most destructive form of Russia's vision of energy as a weapon. ... Half of the (energy) sector does not exist anymore. ... 80% of thermal generation in Ukraine, one third of hydro generation have been simply destroyed by Putin. And this is not the limit of his terror, unfortunately," he said.

He emphasized that Russian leader Vladimir Putin uses energy resources, energy generation and energy consumption as a weapon not only against Ukraine. "Europe has repeatedly faced this," Zelenskyy reminded.

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Putin is 'practicing' in Ukraine

At the same time, he noted, by striking Ukraine, Putin is "trying to hone the practice of destroying energy facilities" of various types: from conventional thermal power plants and dams to gas storage facilities and interconnectors, "which connect our energy system with the European one."

Thus, the President emphasized, Europe has to help Ukraine restore and protect its energy sector. After all, these facilities "will serve Ukraine and Europe as the energy foundation for the next decades".

"We have to start energy recovery. ... We must do everything possible and impossible to preserve the existing generation and restore what we have lost," Zelenskyy said.

At the same time, he clarified that Ukraine will not be able to restore the energy sector without investments from European partners. However, according to him, it is not about non-refundable grants, but about:

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investments for EU companies;

loan programs.

These investments, according to Zelenskyy, will allow Europeans themselves to get a large market for their energy equipment. They will also create tens of thousands of jobs.

Russia has destroyed Ukraine's energy sector for tens of billions of dollars

At the same time, according to the Kyiv School of Economics (KSE), the damage and losses to Ukraine's energy sector as a result of Russia's full-scale invasion exceeded $56.2 billion:

direct losses - more than $16.1 billion;

indirect losses - $40.1 billion.

At the same time, the restoration of the destroyed infrastructure "much better than it was" requires $50.5 billion.

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Only verified information is available on OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Karen Read on trial for death of boyfriend John O'Keefe as defense claims police cover up

Karen Read, 44, is accused of manslaughter in the death of her boyfriend, John O'Keefe, a Boston police officer.

Karen Read is on trial for the death of her boyfriend John O'Keefe, a Boston police officer, in a case that continues to draw a furor of questions, speculation, and protest.

Read, 44, stands accused of hitting O'Keefe, 46, with her car on a snowy night in January of 2022 after the couple were out with friends in Canton, Massachusetts, around 20 miles south of Boston. She has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder and vehicular manslaughter charges.

But defense attorneys say Read was framed in a cover up they say involves Brian Albert, a retired Boston police officer and friend of the couple who owns the house where O'Keefe's body was found. They say investigating officers are in on the scheme to frame Read.

The trial began in April and has lasted for weeks, according to NBC Boston. The trial continues in a Dedham, Massachusetts, courthouse on Wednesday. It has attracted groups of protesters supporting Read, some wearing pink, her favorite color. The demonstrations prompted Norfolk County Judge Beverly Cannone to impose a buffer around the courthouse.

Here's what to know about the case.

Testimony from forensics experts focused on a broken tail light on Read's SUV.

How did O'Keefe die?

The night before O'Keefe's death, he and Read joined a gathering of friends at a local restaurant, according to court documents. Read told police she later dropped off her boyfriend at the home of Albert and his family, Massachusetts State Police Sgt. Yuri Bukhenik testified, according to local news reports.

But those at Albert's house later testified that O'Keefe never arrived.

By nearly 5 a.m., as a thick snow blanketed the ground, a hysterical Read called two of the couple's friends and told them that O'Keefe hadn't returned home, the two testified. One friend, Jennifer McCabe, said she heard scream, "John didn't come home. We had a fight."

"Something must have happened to him... what if he's dead," she told one friend, according to court documents. She said she couldn't remember the events of the night after drinking "so much"  a forensic toxicologist later estimated her blood alcohol level at well over the legal limit to drive at the time, according to local news.

Read and the two friends drove to Albert's house to search for O'Keefe, according to their testimony. They found his body covered in snow in the front yard.

More: Missouri man set to be executed for ex-lover's murder says he didn't do it

What do prosecutors allege?

Prosecutors say Read hit O'Keefe with her car and left him for dead. In court documents, they point to statements a hysterical Read allegedly made the night of his death  she asked, "Did I hit him?" and later, when O'Keefe's body was found, "I hit him"  as confessions.

Police evidence also suggested a rocky relationship between Read and O'Keefe. Read told police the couple had a fight shortly before O'Keefe's death, court documents show. In voicemail messages she left him the morning he died, she swore at him and accused him of infidelity, police say.

Investigators also zeroed in on a broken taillight on Read's SUV  police found broken pieces of red plastic on O'Keefe's clothing that a forensic investigator testified were "consistent" with the taillight, local news reported. A broken cocktail glass was also found outside.

What do Read's attorneys say?

Read's attorneys say she was framed, and that law enforcement helped to cover up and plant evidence. They say O'Keefe was beaten inside Albert's home, bitten by a dog, and then left outside in the snow, court documents show.

The Boston Police Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding the allegations made by the defense.

Defense attorneys leveled harsh lines of cross-examination at the Albert family. Brian Albert testified that O'Keefe never entered his home that night, but he and Read would have been welcomed "with open arms," NBC reported.

On Monday, Massachusetts State Police Trooper Michael Proctor testified about "unprofessional and regrettable" text messages he sent about Read, CBS reported. Read's attorneys said the texts compromised the investigation and accused him of planting evidence to cover up for the Alberts.

In the texts, sent to Proctor's friends and wife, he calls Read a "whackjob" and other derogatory terms. Proctor, who was tasked with going through Read's phone, also texted his bosses, "No nudes so far."

Proctor said he used "poor language," but that he was confident that the evidence implicated Read.

"Based on the day's investigation, it was clear that Ms. Read had struck Mr. O'Keefe with her vehicle," Proctor added, according to CBS News.

The Massachusetts State Police declined to comment citing the criminal trial and an ongoing internal affairs investigation involving Proctor.

Read's attorneys pointed to evidence tampering. A forensic scientist called by the defense said some glass fragments and a hair found on Read's car suspiciously stayed put, even though the car was towed around 50 miles through a snowstorm, the Associated Press reported.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Karen Read trial: Defense claims cover up in death of John O'Keefe
Disclaimer: The article contains mentions of murder. Reader discretion is advised.

On January 29, 2022, authorities discovered the lifeless body of former police officer John OKeefe outside his friends house in the Boston suburb of Canton. Reports suggested that OKeefes girlfriend, Karen Read, told the emergency responder that she hit him. Police then sent his body for an autopsy and initiated an investigation. However, authorities later arrested Read for manslaughter and other charges. Although she pleaded not guilty, Read is currently going on trial for the murder of John OKeefe.

According to The Sun, Karen Read worked in the financial sector in Massachusetts and was also a lecturer at Bentley University. ABC News mentioned that Karen Read and John OKeefe began dating in their 20s. The publication stated that they reconnected on social media almost a decade later, and she became a significant part of his family. However, the couples relationship became strained, and they had a lot of arguments. Before his death, Read dropped OKeefe at his friends house and waited outside. When he didnt call her for 10 minutes, Read drove back to OKeefes house and tried calling him. However, he didnt pick up her calls.

Although Karen Read fell asleep, she woke up to find out that her boyfriend wasnt home yet. She, along with her two friends, went to check on him. The trio then discovered John OKeefes body outside his friends house and called 911, following which authorities sent his body for an autopsy. NBC News noted that OKeefe died because of blunt impact injuries to the head and hypothermia. Soon after, police arrested Karen Read and charged her with second-degree murder, among other charges. The trial began in April 2024, and Reads attorneys stated that their client was being framed.

What did Trooper Michael Proctor say during Karen Reads trial?

During the Karen Read trial, the cases lead investigator and Massachusetts State Police Trooper Michael Proctor took the stand and testified in court. Per CBS News, the defense presented a series of text messages that Proctor sent to several people while investigating Karen Reads case. In one of the messages, Proctor called Read a whackjob and told his wife that he couldnt wait to lock whackjob up.

While replying to the questions posed by the defense, Proctor admitted that these messages were unprofessional. However, he stated that he sent those messages after finding strong evidence against Karen Read. Citing his statement, CBS News reported, Based on the days investigation, it was clear that Ms. Read had struck Mr. OKeefe with her vehicle. Subsequently, one of the messages stated that he didnt find any nudes while searching Reads phone.

The day concluded with Trooper Michael Proctor denying that he picked the suspect and investigating the case to support his choice. Karen Read still denies her role in the murder and pleaded not guilty to all charges.

The post Karen Read Trial: Who Is the Defendant and What Did She Do? appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More.


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Kate Middleton just hit a huge milestone in her cancer treatment.

On September 9, the Princess of Wales announced that she has completed her chemotherapy treatment. She'll also be completing a "few more public engagements in the coming months, when I can."

"As the summer comes to an end, I cannot tell you what a relief it is to have finally completed my chemotherapy treatment," she wrote in a message accompanying a video with her family. "The cancer journey is complex, scary and unpredictable for everyone, especially those closest to you."

Kate said that she's focused on remaining "cancer-free," adding that "my path to healing and full recovery is long and I must continue to take each day as it comes."

"I am however looking forward to being back at work and undertaking a few more public engagements in the coming months when I can," she continued.

The royal finished the message by thanking the public for their support and shouting out those who are also on a cancer journey. "I remain with you, side by side, hand in hand," she said. "Out of darkness, can come light so let that light shine bright."

In June, the princess made her first public appearance since Christmas, joining her family on the balcony of Buckingham Palace for the Trouping the Colour celebration. A month later, she stepped out at Wimbledon to present the winner's trophy to Carlos Alcaraz.

Kate has been going through chemotherapy, and made it clear in a recent Instagram post that shes still in the thick of treatment. But the 42-year-old was smiling and seemed happy to be out with her family at the celebration.

A lot has happened since Kates last public appearance and there have been a lot of questions about her health. She announced that shes been diagnosed with cancerbut did not reveal the specific typein a video message posted to Instagram and X on March 22.

A lot of details of her cancer diagnosis are still unknown. However, the Princess of Wales has shared some new information about what shes been going through. Heres everything to know so far.

Meet the Expert: Jack Jacoub, M.D., a board certified medical oncologist and hematologist and medical director of MemorialCare Cancer Institute at Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, California.

What type of cancer does Kate have?

Kate did not specify the type of cancer that doctors discovered in her March video address.

Tests after the operation found cancer had been present," she said. "My medical team therefore advised that I should undergo a course of preventative chemotherapy.

In the video, she called the diagnosis "a huge shock."

"William and I have been doing everything we can to process and manage this privately for the sake of our young family," she said. "It has taken me time to recover from major surgery in order to start my treatment. But, most importantly, it has taken us time to explain everything to George, Charlotte and Louis in a way that is appropriate for them, and to reassure them that I am going to be ok."

How is Kate Middleton doing?

Kate hasnt made an official public appearance since December, but shes reportedly been spotted running errands.

Prince William recently said yes when asked in early June if his wife is getting better while he met with World War II veterans in Portsmouth, England, according to ABC News. She would've loved to be here today, he added.

January 16, 2024: Kate had major abdominal surgery.

On January 17, Kensington Palace shared an official statement on the Prince and Princess of Wales Instagram account that said, Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales was admitted to hospital yesterday for planned abdominal surgery. The surgery was successful.

Kate revealed in her video that she had major abdominal surgery in London in January. At the time, it was thought that my condition was non-cancerous," she said. "The surgery was successful.

Kate received abdominal surgery at The London Clinic, the largest independent, private hospital in the U.K., according to PEOPLE .

At the time, Kensington Palace shared an official statement on the Prince and Princess of Wales Instagram account that said she would "remain in hospital for 10 to 14 days, before returning home to continue her recovery."

Late January 2024: Kate was released from the hospital a few weeks later.

Kate wasnt seen entering or leaving the hospital. However, Kensingtons Palaces statement said that she would "remain in hospital for 10 to 14 days, before returning home to continue her recovery."

Based on the current medical advice, she is unlikely to return to public duties until after Easter, the statement said.

Late February 2024: Kate starts chemotherapy.

Kate said in her video that shes in the early stages of chemotherapy. A palace spokesperson told People that Kate began treatment in late February.

Chemotherapy is a drug treatment that uses powerful chemicals to kill fast-growing cells, per the Mayo Clinic. It's often used to treat cancer, since cancer cells grow and multiply much more quickly than most cells in the body.

Jack Jacoub, M.D., a board certified medical oncologist and hematologist and medical director of MemorialCare Cancer Institute at Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, California, says that chemotherapy can help to prevent a recurrence of cancer. After surgery, he says, "we assume there are cancer cells we didn't remove, and those cancer cells might come back.

March 11, 2024: Kate apologizes for a Mothers Day Photoshop fail.

After the internet began speculating about Kate's whereabouts, Kensington Palace released an Instagram photo of the princess and her three children, which was taken the week prior at Windsor, per People. This post thanked people for their "kind wishes and continued support over the last two months."

"Wishing everyone a Happy Mothers Day," she added. Kate's husband, Prince William, is listed as the photographer on the image.

But plenty of people pointed out Photoshop issues, and agencies like the Associated Press and Reuters removed it from their websites.

Kate later apologized in a statement. Like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing, she said on X. I wanted to express my apologies for any confusion the family photograph we shared yesterday caused. I hope everyone celebrating had a very happy Mother's Day.

Like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing. I wanted to express my apologies for any confusion the family photograph we shared yesterday caused. I hope everyone celebrating had a very happy Mothers Day. C  The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) March 11, 2024

March 22, 2024: Kate announces her her cancer diagnosis.

Kate Middleton announced that shes been diagnosed with cancer, but did not reveal the specific type, in a video message posted to Instagram and X on March 22.

Speculation about Kate Middleton's health reached a fever pitch in recent weeks after her "planned abdominal surgery in January.

In the address, she thanked people for their support, before opening up about her diagnosis.



A message from Catherine, The Princess of Wales pic.twitter.com/5LQT1qGarK  The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) March 22, 2024

The video was shot at Windsor, according to ABC 7 Chicago. In it, Kate can be seen wearing a striped sweater and jeans while sitting on a bench.

Having William by my side is a great source of comfort and reassurance," Kate said in her video address. "As is the love, support and kindness that has been shown by so many of you. It means so much to us both."

The Prince and Princess of Wales has been very careful about how they're talking about the diagnosis with their young children: As I have said to them; I am well and getting stronger every day by focusing on the things that will help me heal; in my mind, body and spirits."

Kate asked for privacy as she continues treatment. We hope that you will understand that, as a family, we now need some time, space and privacy while I complete my treatment."

In her video address, Kate did not clarify an exact return to work date.

"My work has always brought me a deep sense of joy, and I look forward to being back when I am ablebut for now, I must focus on making a full recovery."

She ended on this note: At this time, I am also thinking of all those whose lives have been affected by cancer. For everyone facing this disease, in whatever form, please do not lose faith or hope. You are not alone.

March 23, 2024: Will and Kate released a joint statement.

A day after Kates cancer announcement, she and William released a joint statement.

The Prince and Princess are both enormously touched by the kind messages from people here in the U.K., across the Commonwealth and around the world in response to Her Royal Highness message, the statement said, per BBC. They are extremely moved by the publics warmth and support and are grateful for the understanding of their request for privacy at this time.

June 2024: Kate apologizes for missing a Trooping the Colour parade rehearsal.

There was speculation that Kate might come to a rehearsal for the British Army's Irish Guards regiment in June, which she is Colonel of. However, Kate wrote an apology letter for missing the event.

"I wanted to write and let you know how proud I am of the entire Regiment ahead of the Colonel's Review and Trooping the Colour," the letter, which was shared on the Irish Guards' X page, said. "I appreciate everyone trooping this year has been practicing for months, and dedicating many hours to ensuring their uniforms and drill are immaculate."

"Being your Colonel remains a great honour, and I am very sorry that I'm unable to take the salute at this year's Colonel's Review, the letter continued. Please pass my apologies to the whole Regiment, however I do hope that I am able to represent you all once again very soon. Please send my very best wishes and good luck to all involved." It was signed Colonel Catherine.

June 14, 2024: Kate says she's making 'good progress' on chemotherapy treatments but isn't 'out of the woods yet.'

In June, Kate addressed the public for the first time since she revealed her cancer diagnosis in March. In an emotional Instagram post, she told royal fans she's been "blown away by all the kind messages of support and encouragement over the last couple of months."

"I am making good progress, but as anyone going through chemotherapy will know, there are good days and bad days," she wrote in her caption. "On those bad days you feel weak, tired and you have to give in to your body resting. But on the good days, when you feel stronger, you want to make the most of feeling well."

Kate said her treatment is "ongoing and will be for a few more months." On days when she feels well, the 42-year-old says she spends time "on the things that give me energy and positivity," including working from home.

And while the royal said she would be attending King Charles' birthday parade that weekend and hoped "to join a few public engagements over the summer," she knows she's "not out of the woods yet."

"I am learning how to be patient, especially with uncertainty," she continued. "Taking each day as it comes, listening to my body, and allowing myself to take this much needed time to heal."

Kate finished her message by thanking her followers for their "continued understanding" and well wishes.

June 15, 2024: Kate makes her first public appearance since cancer diagnosis at Trooping the Colour.

As promised, Kate made her first public appearance in half a year at the Trooping the Colour celebration, which is a British holiday designed to mark the kings birthday. Kate took part in a procession for the event by riding in a horse-drawn carriage through London with her childrenPrince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis.

Kate wore a white dress by Jenny Packham, which was topped by a hat made by Philip Treacy, according to People. Her look coordinated with those of her childrenthey were all in shades of navy and white. Kate and her kids watched the presentation from a window, and later appeared on the balcony of Buckingham Palace to watch the Royal Air Force do a flyover.

While Kate didnt address the public during the appearance, she looked happy and radiant. Worth noting: King Charles is also undergoing cancer treatment and celebrated the holiday with Kate and her family.

June 16, 2024: Kate Middleton celebrates Fathers Day with Prince William and her kids.

To honor Prince William on Fathers Day, the official Instagram and X accounts of the Prince and Princess of Wales shared a sweet photo Kate took of Will and their children. In the photo, the Prince of Wales can be seen standing on a beach, looking at the water with his arms around his kids.

We love you, Papa. Happy Fathers Day, the post says in the caption, signed by  G, C & L.

July 14: Kate Middleton attends Wimbledon.

On July 14, Kate made another public appearance at the Wimbledon tennis tournament. There, she watched the men's singles finals with daughter Charlotte and presented the winner's trophy to Spain's Carlos Alcaraz.

Kate, who is the patron of the All England Club, watched the match from the Royal Box for about two hours and 40 minutes.

Karwai Tang - Getty Images

September 9: Kate Middleton announces she's completed chemotherapy.

On September 9, the Princess of Wales announced that she has completed her chemotherapy treatment. She'll also be completing a "few more public engagements in the coming months, when I can."

"As the summer comes to an end, I cannot tell you what a relief it is to have finally completed my chemotherapy treatment," she wrote in a message accompanying a video with her family. "The cancer journey is complex, scary and unpredictable for everyone, especially those closest to you."

Kate said that she's focused on remaining "cancer-free," adding that "my path to healing and full recovery is long and I must continue to take each day as it comes."

"I am however looking forward to being back at work and undertaking a few more public engagements in the coming months when I can," she continued.

The royal finished the message by thanking the public for their support and shouting out those who are also on a cancer journey. "I remain with you, side by side, hand in hand," she said. "Out of darkness, can come light so let that light shine bright."

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Salvage crews last week removed the last large steel truss of the Francis Scott Key Bridge from the shipping channel in the Patapsco River, which was closed March 26 when a container ship struck the bridge, destroying the center span and killing six workers. Photo by Bobby Petty/U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

The full 700-foot-wide, 50-foot-deep Fort McHenry shipping channel into the Port of Baltimore is finally reopened to ship traffic, more than two months after the crash that destroyed the Francis Scott Key Bridge and closed the Patapsco River channel.

The announcement Monday by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers comes less than three weeks after crews had opened a 400-foot-wide channel after removing the container ship Dali, which had been pinned under wreckage in the channel since its March 26 collision with the bridge. That allowed deep-draft ships to reach the port, but reopening of the full channel will allow two-way traffic and let officials lift safety restrictions that had been in place for operation of the narrower channel.

Gov. Wes Moore (D) praised the reopening, what he called the result of a remarkably complex operation, spanning thousands of people, hundreds of assets, and multiple objectives.

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With the channel now fully open, we can get more Marylanders back to work at the Port of Baltimore, increase the flow of commerce through the city, and accelerate our economic recovery, Moore said in a statement released by his office. But our work is not over until we rebuild the Francis Scott Key Bridge.

Unlike the reopening of the channel, replacing the bridge is expected to take years and could cost billions of dollars. Before it collapsed in the Dali crash, the bridge carried more than 30,000 vehicles a day and provided a critical way for trucks to get around the Harbor and Fort McHenry tunnels, which prohibit hazardous materials.

Maryland officials are moving ahead with an aggressive effort to replace the bridge, even as questions remain about costs and who will pay. The state issued a request in late May for proposals to build a bridge that exceeds the 75-year initial life expectancy and has the fewest supports possible in the Patapsco, to reduce the potential of future ship collisions. Those bids are due by the end of this month.

Crews had to remove about 50,000 tons of debris from the Patapsco River to reopen the channel this week. The Unified Command, the six-agency organization that led the clean-up, said it coordinated efforts of as many as 56 federal, state, and local agencies, represented by 1,587 individual responders. It said another 500 specialists were involved along with a fleet of 18 barges, 22 tugboats, 13 floating cranes, 10 excavators, and four survey boats.

The channel was surveyed Monday after wreckage had been removed to the 50-foot mud-line at the bottom of the channel, and it was reopened after the survey determined the riverbed safe for transit. Officials said surveying and removal of steel at and below the 50-foot mud-line will continue to ensure future dredging operations are not impacted. Wreckage will continue to be taken to Sparrows Point for processing, but work in the channel from this point on is part of routine maintenance, ensuring future dredging operations will not be impacted.

The Army Corps of Engineers will maintain this critical waterway as we have for the last 107 years, said Col. Estee Pinchasin, Baltimore District commander for the Corps.

The post Key Bridge debris finally cleared, shipping channel into Baltimore fully reopened appeared first on Maryland Matters.
A jury on Tuesday found Hunter Biden guilty on three felony charges related to his efforts to obtain a firearm in October 2018.

The president's son had been charged with two counts related to false statements in purchasing the firearm and a third count of illegally obtaining a firearm while addicted to drugs.

Over the past week, a jury of 12 Delawareans heard vivid and personal details about President Joe Biden's family.

Hunter Biden could face up to 25 years in prison, though legal experts believe he would not serve time as a first-time and nonviolent offender.

President Joe Biden previously told ABC News he would not pardon his son. In a statement Tuesday, he vowed to respect the jury's decision.

"I am more grateful today for the love and support I experienced this last week from [wife Melissa Cohen Biden], my family, my friends, and my community than I am disappointed by the outcome," Hunter Biden said in a statement after the verdict.

His attorney Abbe Lowell said they "will continue to vigorously pursue all the legal challenges available to Hunter."

By the numbers

Hunter Biden's trial saw 13 witnesses on the stand and at least 70 exhibits entered into evidence  including more than 290 text messages the government used to make its case against the president's son.

The testimony heard by jury stretched over five days, from last Tuesday through Friday, and then this past Monday morning.

MORE: What's next for Hunter Biden following conviction on federal gun charges

Thirteen different witnesses testified  10 called by the government and three by the defense. Five of those government witnesses were law enforcement or expert witnesses.

Surveillance video was also played in court.

Key prosecution witnesses

Last week, prosecutors summoned his ex-wife and two of his exes to the stand in an effort to chip away at the defense's argument that the president's son wasn't addicted to drugs when he filled out a form to purchase a firearm in 2018.

Hallie Biden

Hallie Biden, the widow of President Joe Biden's late son Beau Biden, testified as a key government witness, recounting in excruciating detail the "terrible experience" of Hunter Biden's drug addiction in the months leading up to her discovery of a firearm in his vehicle.

PHOTO: Hallie Biden arrives to the J. Caleb Boggs Federal Building for the trial of Hunter Biden on June 6, 2024 in Wilmington, Del. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

Prosecutors used the testimony of Hallie Biden, who was Hunter Biden's romantic partner at the time, to attest to Hunter Biden's drug use in October 2018, when prosecutors say Hunter Biden lied on an ATF form when he said he wasn't using drugs at the time he purchased the firearm.

In dramatic testimony, Hallie Biden said that on the morning of Oct. 23, 2018, she went to go "clean out" Hunter's car in hopes of helping him "deal with stuff" and possibly "get sober if she wasn't"-- but she ultimately found both a gun, remnants of drugs, and drug paraphernalia.

MORE: Timeline: Hunter Biden under legal, political scrutiny

"What did you find, in addition to trash and clothes?" prosecutor Leo Wise asked her.

"Remnants of crack cocaine and some paraphernalia," Hallie recounted. "Oh and the gun, obviously."

"I panicked, I wanted to get rid of them," she told the jury.

Asked why she panicked, Hallie said " didn't want him to hurt himself," referring to Hunter. She said she also worried about her kids finding the gun, saying she considered "hiding" it somewhere but was worried they would find it.

Surveillance video

During Hallie Biden's testimony, jurors were shown surveillance video from the grocery store that shows Hallie Biden throwing the gun into the trash.

Ex-wife, another girlfriend

Ex-girlfriend Zoe Kestan, who met Hunter Biden as a private dancer at a New York gentlemen's club when she was 24 and he was 48, said she observed him smoking crack cocaine in late September 2018, just weeks before he walked into a Delaware gun shop and purchased a Colt Cobra revolver from Gordon Cleveland, another witness who testified on Wednesday.

PHOTO: Zoe Kestan departs from federal court, June 5, 2024, in Wilmington, Del. (Matt Rourke/AP)

Hunter Biden's ex-wife Kathleen Buhle testified about Hunter Biden's alcohol and drug abuse during their 25-year marriage, describing how their relationship deteriorated as her husband's drug abuse increased.

When Hunter Biden was on crack, Buhle testified, "He was not himself."

"He was angry, short-tempered, acting in ways he wouldn't when he was sober," she said.

PHOTO: Hunter Biden's former wife, Kathleen Buhle departs the federal courthouse after taking the stand during the trial of Hunter Biden, son of President Joe Biden, on criminal gun charges in Wilmington, Del., June 5, 2024. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)

Buhle said she would find drug "remnants in little bags" and drug paraphernalia like "a broken crack pipe" -- often enough that she would search his car before allowing her daughters to use it.

She said that despite his manner when he was on crack, he nonetheless managed to "function" normally as an addict -- possibly undermining the defense's claim that "there is no such thing as a high-functioning crack addict."

Buhle admitted during cross-examination that she never personally saw Hunter Biden use drugs.

Gun store clerk

Cleveland, the employee at the gun store who sold Hunter Biden the firearm in question, also testified, saying he watched from "about two feet" away as Hunter Biden filled out the form that asked applicants whether they were active drug users.

Cleveland testified that he watched as Hunter Biden answered several questions before he approached the drug-related question then marked the box with an "X."

Former Delaware State Police officer

Former Delaware State Police lieutenant Millard Greer described tracking down the gun after Hallie Biden had thrown it in the trash outside the supermarket.

Greer said he reviewed surveillance footage, interviewed witnesses, and ultimately retrieved the weapon from local resident Edward Banner, who was known to "rummage through trash."

Greer said Banner had placed the firearm in a sock along with a leather pouch containing the gun.

Banner, called as the government's last witness of the day, corroborated much of Greer's account, testifying he'd found the gun in a trash can outside the grocery store, stored it on a top shelf at home, and ultimately turned it over to Greer.

Key defense witnesses

Hunter's daughter

Naomi Biden, the 30-year-old daughter of Hunter Biden, testified that she twice saw her father during the timeframe in 2018 when Hunter Biden's attorneys said he was not actively using drugs, and each time, she testified, he "seemed great."

PHOTO: Naomi Biden arrives to federal court, June 7, 2024, in Wilmington, Del. (Matt Slocum/AP)

"He seemed like the clearest that I had seen him since my uncle died, and he just seemed really great," she said of an August 2018 visit to Los Angeles to see her father.

The next time she saw him, in New York, just days after he had purchased the firearm, "He seemed great, he seemed hopeful," she said.

It was important testimony for the defense, which was attempting to convince jurors that, despite his on-again-off-again addiction in the months prior to and after his gun purchase, Hunter Biden was not actively using drugs in October 2018.

But Naomi Biden's testimony later provided some favorable moments for the government's case, particularly when prosecutor Leo Wise read aloud from text messages that seemed to run contrary to her claim that Hunter Biden was doing "great."

In mid-October 2018, both Naomi and her father were in New York, attempting to exchange cars. Naomi Biden had used her father's vehicle -- the one in which, days later, Hallie Biden would find the Colt Cobra firearm -- to move from Washington, D.C., to New York.

In messages he sent in the early hours of the morning of Oct. 18, 2018, Hunter Biden suggested he and Naomi Biden's then-boyfriend meet to exchange cars at the Manhattan intersection of Fifth Avenue and West 57th Street -- the intersection where, coincidentally, Trump Tower sits.

PHOTO: Hunter Biden, son of President Joe Biden, and his wife Melissa Cohen Biden walk outside the federal court as his trial on criminal gun charges continues, in Wilmington, Del., June 11, 2024. (Hannah Beier/Reuters)

"Do you know what your father was doing at 2 o'clock in the morning and why he was asking you for the car then?" Wise asked.

"No," she replied.

Those messages clearly upset her at the time, according to her responses, which prosecutors read aloud to jurors.

"I'm sorry daddy, I can't take this," she wrote. "I just miss you and want to hang out with you."

What specific conduct precipitated charges?

On Oct. 12, 2018, Hunter Biden purchased a Colt Cobra 38SPL revolver, a "speedloader" firearm accessory, and 25 rounds of ammunition from Wilmington, Delaware, gun store StarQuest Shooters & Survival Supply, according to prosecutors. In the course of doing so, he filled out a federal form and checked a box signaling that he was not abusing drugs  the document at the heart of the government's case  despite allegedly knowing it to be untrue.

Hunter Biden allegedly possessed the firearm for less than two weeks. On Oct. 23, his then-romantic partner Hallie Biden discovered the weapon and discarded it in a dumpster outside of Janssen's Market, a Wilmington grocery store, prosecutors allege.

He later acknowledged in his 2021 memoir "Beautiful Things" that he was addicted to crack cocaine around that time.

What the key witnesses in Hunter Biden's trial, including Hallie Biden, testified originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Khortytsia Group of Forces states Russians have not captured Ivanivske near Chasiv Yar

Lieutenant Colonel Nazar Voloshyn, spokesman for the Khortytsia Operational Strategic Group of Forces, has said that the Russians have not captured the village of Ivanivske near Chasiv Yar in Donetsk Oblast.

Source: Voloshyn in a commentary to Interfax-Ukraine

Quote: "As for Ivanivske, I can say the following: the settlement belongs to Ukraine, the defence forces are controlling the situation on that front."

Details: Voloshyn added that the Russians keep trying to storm and bombard the settlement with all types of weapons.

Background: The analytical resource DeepState wrote that the Russians had captured Ivanivske.

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Netflix has released one of the most original films in recent years, "Hit Man", which is partly based on real events. The plot tells the story of a psychology teacher Gary Johnson, who started pretending to be a hit man to help the police catch potential killers who hire him.

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The film instantly found itself at the very top of the rankings and has already won a place among the best films of 2024. According to USA Today, not all the moments in the movie are authentic, but the idea was written off from the life of a real person.

What the movie is about

Gary Johnson, played by Glenn Powell, is a lonely professor who lives with cats, loves to read and tries to live according to his conscience. His cooperation with the police has spontaneously turned into an important task  to help catch potential murderers who want to get rid of their relatives, enemies, colleagues, etc.

The protagonist suddenly becomes a killer and, after signing a verbal contract and handing over the money, waits for the police to apprehend the criminals.

Everything goes well until Gary meets a client whose life is being ruined by a tyrant husband. Instead of the classic scheme of handing the woman over to law enforcement, he takes her side and starts an affair with the victim of violence. However, her living ex-boyfriend does not give the couple peace of mind.

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Which of these was real

The story of an undercover cop pretending to be a murderer appeared in the press in 2001. Gary Johnson was real and helped the police apprehend criminals, but he never had an affair with his client.

As the journalists found out, the three-time divorced man was interested in philosophy, lived with cats, and adored other animals. He never killed people and never questioned his good intentions. The director of the film managed to talk to the prototype of the protagonist before filming.

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Unfortunately, he was unable to be present on the set because he died in 2022. Before the credits, you can see the inscription that Johnson was a Buddhist, a Vietnam War veteran, and "the calmest dude you could ever imagine." He lived for 75 years.

Reaction to the film

Critics, reviewers, media, and fans almost unanimously praised the creators of Hit Man for its original plot, incredibly talented acting, and a good balance between thriller, drama, comedy, and romance.

The main characters are said to have chemistry, and Glenn Powell was able to perfectly convey the character's character.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!

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King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands Co-Pilots Plane on Work Trip to the U.S. with Queen Maxima

The King of the Netherlands flexed his aerial skills upon arrival in Atlanta

Patrick van Katwijk/Getty King Willem-Alexander of The Netherlands arrives at the airport in Atlanta, Georgia on June 9, 2024.

King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands is taking his latest international travel into his own hands!

The King of the Netherlands, 57, was photographed on June 9 in the cockpit of a Dutch government plane as it arrived in Atlanta for his working visit to the U.S. with Queen Maxima. King Willem-Alexander appeared to co-pilot at least part of the transatlantic trip, keeping his flying skills up to speed.

Though he served with the Royal Netherlands Navy on his road to the throne, King Willem-Alexander is "extremely interested in flying" and worked to earn several pilot licenses through the years, advancing to achieve a Military Pilots Licence and Airline Transport Pilot Licence. To stay up to date, he moonlights as a guest pilot for KLM Cityhopper, a subsidiary of the national carrier of the Netherlands, his royal bio outlines.

King Willem-Alexander once told Dutch outlet De Telegraaf, via The Guardian, "You have an aircraft, passengers and crew. You have responsibility for them. You cant take your problems from the ground into the skies. You can completely disengage and concentrate on something else. That, for me, is the most relaxing part of flying."

And while he's surprised people peering into the cockpit, the King rarely gets recognized during the announcements.

"Most people dont listen anyway, he said.

Patrick van Katwijk/Getty King Willem-Alexander of The Netherlands arrives at the airport in Atlanta, Georgia on June 9, 2024.

Related: King Willem-Alexander Recalls Meet-Cute with Wife Queen Maxima in Seville During Spain State Banquet

King Willem-Alexander is hardly the only modern royal to pursue an interest in the high skies. King Charles, Prince William and Prince Harry are all trained pilots.

The Dutch monarch looked comfortable in the cockpit on June 9 before disembarking with his wife, Queen Maxima. The royal couple are in the U.S. for a working visit from June 10 to June 14, kicking off with visits to Atlanta and Savannah in Georgia before traveling north to Albany and New York City.

King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima, 53, made the trip to emphasize the ties between the Netherlands and the U.S., highlighting their country's economic relationships with Georgia and New York.

Related: Dutch Princess Speaks About Finding 'Freedom' in Spain After Threats Forced Her to Secretly Move Abroad

"The United States is the most important non-European partner for the Netherlands in terms of economic ties and security. Close transatlantic relations are essential for maintaining Dutch prosperity," the Royal House of the Netherlands said in a statement.

The court also noted how Atlanta is a particularly important logistics hub for its operations with the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

The busy itinerary began on June 10 when the royals were welcomed to the Georgia State Capitol by Gov. Brian Kemp and his wife, First Lady of Georgia Marty Kemp. Engagements on the first day included a discussion with the governor and executives from Dutch companies, a visit to the Martin Luther King Jr. Center, where the royals laid a wreath at his grave, a tour of the BeltLine network of parks with Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens and a stop at the iconic Patchwerk Recording Studios.

Nykieria Chaney/Getty (From left) Georgia First Lady Marty Kemp, Governor Brian Kemp, King Willem-Alexander of The Netherlands and Queen Maxima of The Netherlands at Georgia State Capitol on June 10, 2024.

Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!

The recording space is renowned for its significance in the hip-hop scene and has welcomed Beyonce, Madonna, Tupac Shakur, OutKast and more through the years, and the Dutch royals tried their DJ skills while playing with the mixing panels.

The couple's time in Georgia continued on June 11 with stops in Savannah, and they're due to step out in Albany on June 12 before visiting New York City  where Maxima once worked as a banker!  the next day.



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What to know about Milwaukee's Hillside neighborhood

Milwaukee's Hillside neighborhood sits at the center of the city's vibrant and historic African-American community called Bronzeville.

Today, Hillside is a residential island surrounded by industry and freeways. But as much as the area has been shaped by racially discriminatory and segregation policies, it has also been forged by residents resilience and fierce commitment to each other.

There are more than 75 distinct neighborhoods throughout the city of Milwaukee. If you're new to the area, planning a visit or simply curious, here's what to know about Hillside:

More: How many neighborhoods are there in Milwaukee? Here's why there's no 'right' answer.

Where is Hillside?

Hillside is bordered by Interstate 43 to the north and west, by State 145 to the south and by North Sixth Street to the east.

It's part of what's considered the Bronzeville community  a predominantly Black area with thriving businesses and entertainment.

In more recent years, the City of Milwaukee has reimagined Bronzeville as distinct neighborhoods, including Haymarket, Hillside, Halyard Park and Triangle North.

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History emerged from Hillside while residents faced hostility and racist policies

In the oral history of Bronzeville, conducted by anthropologists at Urban Anthropology Inc., many former residents recalled the strength of this community  the scores of businesses, the sense of friendship and solidarity, and the way residents looked out for each other.

The community commitment in Hillside gave rise to Vel R. Phillips, a Hillside resident who has been described by many as a trailblazer, a culture shifter and a woman who made history again and again. Phillips was the first Black woman to graduate from the University of Wisconsin law school, the first woman  and first African-American  elected to the Milwaukee Common Council, the first woman judge in Milwaukee County and the first Black person elected to statewide office, as secretary of state.

Throughout her career, Phillips work throughout the state aimed to address womens rights, barriers to housing and racial inequality  issues that plagued the community she grew up in.

Hillside was one of Milwaukees first neighborhoods to have substantial numbers of Black people, as worsening racism in the South, higher wages in the North and the wartime decline in European immigrants fueled the early 20th-century Great Migration.

The population of African Americans in Milwaukee grew over 100-fold over the next half-century, but discriminatory racial ideas created barriers for Hillside residents.

Local and federal policies often worked to segregate Black communities in most instances and to break them up in others. Milwaukee zoned industrial areas surrounding Black neighborhoods to contain them and passed restrictive covenants excluding Black people from buying property. Financial institutions also largely refused to approve mortgage loans for Black people and prevented them from entering the private housing market.

Between 1948 and 1956, the citys recently established housing authorities cleared several blocks and built over 600 public housing units. These housing projects included the home NBA basketball player Freddie Brown grew up in and the Hillside Terrace Housing Project  one of the few residential areas that would survive what was about to happen to Bronzeville overall.

The Hillside Terrace housing project (upper right) in Milwaukee's Hillside Terrace neighborhood is part of the Bronzeville community.

In the 1950s and 60s, nationwide urban renewal and highway construction efforts led Milwaukee to put its eyes on many blocks in Bronzeville for revitalization. Around the same time, Interstate 43 was being built through the Hillside neighborhood.

Residents on these blocks were forced to move to other parts of the city at a time when many suburban neighborhoods still had racial covenants that banned Black residents from owning houses.

Community organizing has strong legacy in Hillside

Hillside has also been home to Milwaukee groups engaged in organizing and empowering many whod been left behind by city leaders, including the Organization of Organizations.

Sometimes referred to as Triple O, the group was formed in the mid-1960s from a proposal of the Northcott Neighborhood House near the Hillside Terrace Housing Project.

Its purpose was to help low-income Milwaukeeans organize for their social and economic interests, which included involvement in civil rights activism in Milwaukee. The group organized 200 consecutive days of marches to support then-Alderwoman Vel Phillips call for fair housing and promoted Black involvement in local government, public school systems.

Though Triple O no longer exists, its achievements left permanent imprints across Milwaukees social justice landscape.

Hillside was a destination for European immigrants, including a future Israeli prime minister

Before there was Bronzeville, there were other communities in todays Hillside area.

During the early 1800s, what's now Hillside was used extensively by various indigenous groups such as the Ho-Chunk, Menominee and Potawatomi for their fur trade.

Developing during the latter half of the 19th century, Hillside's first white settlers were almost entirely German immigrants, like many other neighborhoods in Milwaukee at the time.

One such family, the Uihleins, owned the Schlitz Brewery on Third Street and were so prominent in the area, the neighborhood picked up the nickname Uihlein Hill.

By 1900, many of these families had moved north and west of Hillside, and new populations were arriving, including African-American and Eastern European immigrants, especially Jewish ones.

Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir visited Milwaukee in October 1969. Here she chats with students at the Fourth Street School -- her old grade school, which has since been renamed in her honor.

Among this wave of newcomers was Golda Meir, a future prime minister of Israel who was 8 years old when she and her parents moved into an apartment on Sixth and Walnut. She attended Fourth Street School, which was renamed to honor her in 1979.

Hillside neighborhood today

Today, Hillsides history is still palpable, evident in its freeway borders and continued calls for investment into the community.

During the 1990s, the federal Hope VI program revitalized the Hillside Terrace Housing Project, adding green space and larger porches, and remodeled interiors. Community centers and amenities were built in the area, including a day care center, the Hillside Boys & Girls Club and the Hillside Terrace Family Resource Center.

Yet today, about two-thirds of the population remains low-income, with annual household incomes of $25,000 or less. Eight in 10 residents are Black.

With the availability of public housing in the neighborhood, homeownership is very low compared to Milwaukee overall. Over 90% of the property units in Hillside are likely to be rented. But rents are a bargain, with the majority of rental units costing under $500 a month.

New to the neighborhood? Here's what you need to know

Former Negro League baseball player James W. Beckum founded the Beckum-Stapleton Little League in 1964. The team settled in the original Carver Park. The portion of Carver Park north of Brown Street is now known as James W. Beckum Park. The ceremony to dedicate the park in his name was held in 2013.

Carver Park is bordered on the north by Brown Street, on the east by Eighth Street, on the south by Walnut Street and on the west by Interstate 43.

The Pieper-Hillside Boys & Girls Club, at 1558 N. Sixth St., offers a multifaceted itinerary of programs for young people and families.

The Hillside Terrace Family Resource Center, at 1452 N. Seventh St., is a community center offering a wide variety of health, family, youth and day care programs.

Hillside is in Aldermanic District 6. You can contact your local alderperson for more information about the neighborhood at https://city.milwaukee.gov/CommonCouncil/CouncilMembers/District6.

Hilllside is in Milwaukee Police Districts 3 and 5. The districts can be contacted at https://city.milwaukee.gov/police/districts/District-5.

You can find your garbage and recycling schedule at city.milwaukee.gov/sanitation/GarbageRecyclingSchedules.

Learn how to register to vote and find your polling place at city.milwaukee.gov/election/Voter-Info.

To get email updates about police activity, new developments in your neighborhood, sign up for the city's e-notify system at city.milwaukee.gov/News-Events/enotify.

Tell us about your Milwaukee neighborhood

Tell us about what makes your Milwaukee neighborhood special to you. Share more at bit.ly/MKE_Neighborhoods.

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Need more help with housing questions? The Milwaukee Resource Guide is here to help. Have something you want answered? Submit a question.

Sources: Encyclopedia of Milwaukee, Milwaukee Neighborhoods, Urban Anthropology Inc.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee's Hillside neighborhood guide
What to know about Trooping the Colour amid Kate Middleton appearance

Trooping the Colour, the annual military parade marking the reigning British monarch's official birthday, is one of the biggest and most highly anticipated events of the year for Britain's royal family.

This year's parade, to be held on Saturday, June 15, will mark an even bigger milestone, with both King Charles III and Kate, the Princess of Wales, attending.

Since January, both Charles and Kate, his daughter-in-law, have been diagnosed with cancer and have had to take time away from public duties.

Charles has since returned to a modified schedule of public duties while Kate has not been seen publicly since March, when she revealed her cancer diagnosis in a video message.

Kate's last public appearance with members of the royal family was on Christmas Day.

Here are your questions answered about who will attend this year's Trooping the Colour and what to expect.

1. Will Charles take part in all of Trooping the Colour?

Yes, Charles will attend this year's Trooping the Colour, according to Buckingham Palace.

The king will slightly modify his role in the annual event by riding in a horse-drawn carriage alongside his wife Queen Camilla instead of on horseback, according to the palace.

PHOTO: King Charles III and Queen Camilla attend the UK Ministry of Defense and the Royal British Legions commemorative event at the British Normandy Memorial to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day on June 06, 2024, in Ver-Sur-Mer, France. (Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

This year's Trooping the Colour marks the second for Charles as king. His coronation was held on May 6, 2023.

Charles' cancer diagnosis was announced in February. The palace has not specified the type of cancer he has, the stage of cancer or the type of treatment.

2. Will Kate join the royal family at Trooping the Colour?

Yes, Kate will also attend this year's celebration.

Kate said in a written message released Friday that she is "looking forward" to attending what will be her first public appearance with members of the royal family since her cancer diagnosis.

"I'm looking forward to attending The King's Birthday Parade this weekend with my family and hope to join a few public engagements over the summer, but equally knowing I am not out of the woods yet," she said, adding that she continues to undergo chemotherapy treatments. "I am learning how to be patient, especially with uncertainty. Taking each day as it comes, listening to my body, and allowing myself to take this much needed time to heal."

As in years past, Kate is expected to take part in the parade and watch the military flyover from the balcony of Buckingham Palace alongside her husband Prince William and their three children.

Prince William and Kate's 3 kids: What to know about George, Charlotte and Louis

Kate's last in-person royal public appearance was in December, when she joined members of the royal family at a Christmas Day church service in Sandringham.

PHOTO: Catherine, Princess of Wales and Prince William, Prince of Wales with Prince Louis, Prince George and Princess Charlotte attend the Christmas Day service at St Mary Magdalene Church, Dec. 25, 2023, in Sandringham, Norfolk. (Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty Images)

When Kate announced her cancer diagnosis in March, which she said came following "major abdominal surgery" in January, the palace said she had begun a course of preventative chemotherapy. No further details have been shared about her treatment or what type of cancer Kate was diagnosed with.

The palace said at the time that Kate would return to official duties when she's cleared by her medical team to do so.

3. Why did Kate issue an apology about Trooping the Colour?

After Kensington Palace confirmed that Kate would miss this year's Colonel's Review, a final rehearsal held one week before Trooping the Colour, the princess issued a written apology to the Irish Guards.

Kate holds the title of honorary Colonel of the Irish Guards.

"I wanted to write and let you know how proud I am of the entire regiment ahead of the Colonel's Review and Trooping of the Colour," she wrote in the letter, posted on X by the regiment. "I appreciate everyone trooping this year has been practicing for months and dedicating many hours to ensuring their uniforms and drill are immaculate."

Kate continued, "Being your colonel remains a great honor, and I am very sorry that I'm unable to take the salute at this year's Colonel's 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. Please send my very best wishes and good luck to all involved."

4. Will the public see William and Kate's kids at Trooping the Colour?

Yes. William and Kate's children, Princes George and Louis and Princess Charlotte, will appear at Trooping the Colour. ABC News understands Kate and her children will travel together in a state carriage down the Mall.

Last year, the Wales children joined Kate and Camilla in a carriage along the parade route, and then joined other members of the royal family on the balcony of Buckingham Palace to watch a flyover.

PHOTO: King Charles III and Queen Camilla wave alongside Prince William, Catherine, Princess of Wales, Prince George, Prince Louis, and Princess Charlotte on the Buckingham Palace balcony during Trooping the Color, June 17, 2023, in London. (Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

5. Will Prince Harry and Meghan join the royals this year?

No, Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, are not expected to attend the king's birthday parade.

PHOTO: Emmanuel Osodi/Anadolu via Getty Images (Emmanuel Osodi/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Harry, Charles' younger son, and Meghan live in California with their two young children and are no longer senior working royals.

Harry and Meghan's last public appearance with the royal family at Trooping the Colour was in 2019, shortly after Meghan gave birth to the couple's eldest child Archie.

The Sussexes also attended the late Queen Elizabeth II's Trooping the Colour in 2022, on the occasion of her Platinum Jubilee. Harry and Meghan did not join other royal family members on the balcony of Buckingham Palace though because they are no longer working royals.

6. What happens during Trooping the Colour?

The parade, which will begin around 5 a.m. ET on Saturday, travels from Buckingham Palace, down the Mall and to the Horse Guards Parade before returning to Buckingham Palace.

Over 1,400 soldiers and military officers take part in the parade, which also includes 200 horses and over 400 musicians from 10 military bands, according to the U.K.'s Household Division.

Prince William gives update on Kate Middleton's health amid cancer treatment

On arrival at Horse Guards Parade, the royal party goes to a viewing position on a balcony overlooking the parade ground while the king, having inspected the troops, watches from a special platform, or dais, on the parade ground as the soldiers parade past.

After the parade, the royal party returns along the Mall in their carriages.

The king will then take a final salute before joining the rest of the royal family on the balcony at Buckingham Palace for the Royal Air Force flypast to mark his birthday.

What to know about Trooping the Colour amid Kate Middleton appearance originally appeared on goodmorningamerica.com
Paul Flores, the man convicted of murdering Cal Poly student Kristin Smart, has been transferred to a new prison after he was attacked by inmates twice in the span of about eight months.

On two separate occasions since August, Flores was stabbed while incarcerated at Pleasant Valley State Prison in Coalinga, where he was serving a sentence of 25 years to life after he was convicted of first-degree murder for the death of Smart, who was last seen alive with Flores on Memorial Day weekend 1996.

Weeks after he arrived in Coalinga on Aug. 23, Flores was stabbed and transported to the hospital with serious injuries to his neck. The suspect in that case is Jason Budrow, an inmate serving two life sentences for the murder of his girlfriend and the prison murder of the I-5 strangler.

Then, on April 10, another inmate stabbed Flores. That suspects name has not been released by California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, but two inmate-manufactured weapons were found at the scene.

According to records from CDCR, Flores is now serving his sentence at California State Prison Corcoran in Kings County. Corcoran is near Tulare, about halfway between Fresno and Bakersfield.

Harold Mesick, Flores attorney, told The Tribune his client was moved on June 6. He said he is unsure if Flores is in protective custody and hasnt had a chance to speak with Flores since the move.

Alia Cruz, spokesperson for CDCR, previously told The Tribune that Flores was being reviewed for placement in a protective housing unit.

California prison regulations define protective housing units as housing for inmates whose safety would be endangered by general population inmates and provides secure housing and care for inmates with safety concerns of such magnitude, that no other viable housing options are available.
Billy Ngo came closer to a James Beard Award in 2024 than any Sacramento chef in history, but wasnt selected as the Golden States top chef at Monday nights ceremony in Chicago.

The chef/partner at Kru Contemporary Japanese Cuisine, Ngo was among five finalists for the James Beard Awards Best Chef: California honor but watched it instead go to Lord Maynard Llera of Kuya Lord in Los Angeles.

Still, Ngos run broke new ground for the Sacramento region in the Oscars of Food, as the awards are frequently called. He became the areas first finalist for that category on April 3; only a pair of local chefs, Chris Barnum-Dann of Localis and Craig Takehara of Binchoyaki, had even made it to the semifinalist stage in years past.

Other 2024 finalists for Best Chef: California award included Geoff Davis of Burdell (Oakland), Rogelio Garcia of Auro (Calistoga), and Tara Monsod of Animae (San Diego).

Born in a Hong Kong refugee camp and raised in south Sacramento, Ngo worked at local sushi and fine dining restaurants and graduated from the California Culinary Academy in San Francisco before launching Kru at just 23 years old in 2005. He moved the restaurant in 2016 from midtown to a larger space at 3135 Folsom Blvd., where it sits today.

Kru is best known for its nigiri, exquisite cuts sourced from around the world, and kitchen dishes such as soy-braised beef tongue yakitori or duck-mushroom dumplings. Ask the chef, though, and hell tell you the Ngo Burger (six ounces of chuck and A5 wagyu beef, Lolla Rossa lettuce, tomatoes, onions, American cheese, pickles and a secret sauce on a Hokkaido-style milk bun) is a must-order.

Ngo co-owns Kodaiko Ramen & Bar and Fish Face Poke Bar in addition to Kru, and plans to open a modern Asian concept called Chu Mai at 1829 17th St. in the ARY Building later this summer. A tribute to Ngos late mother Mai Chu, the restaurant will riff on Chinese and Vietnamese flavors, with items such as a bo kho Bolognese sauce or mushroom congee pot pie.
L.A. Police move in on pro-Palestinian demonstrators at UCLA

Police moved in on a group of pro-Palestinian protesters at the University of California, Los Angeles on Monday night arresting more than a dozen in the process.

According to reporting from UCLAs Daily Bruin, erected tents and barricades in Dickson Plaza a little after 3 p.m.

Earlier in the day, protesters marched to Murphy Hall carrying fake bloody mummies and body parts while listing the names of Palestinians who have died in the Israel-Hamas war, chanting, We will honor all our martyrs, the student outlet reported.

The days protests marked the third pro-Palestinian encampment.

L.A. police in riot gear armed with non-lethal weapons move in on pro-Palestinian demonstrators at UCLA on June 10, 2024. (KTLA)

Pro-Palestinian demonstrators seen on the campus of UCLA on June 10, 2024. (KTLA)

Pro-Palestinian demonstrators seen on the campus of UCLA on June 10, 2024. (KTLA)

L.A. police in riot gear armed with non-lethal weapons move in on pro-Palestinian demonstrators at UCLA on June 10, 2024. (KTLA)

Authorities dismantled the first encampment on May 2 after a weeklong occupation in Dickson Plaza, a little more than a day after violence broke out between demonstrators and counter-protestors.

Police in riot gear moved in on a second encampment on the campus on May 23 and quickly dismantled it after declaring the demonstration an unlawful assembly.

In both demonstrations, protesters were demanding UCLA divest from interests in Israel to protest the Jewish states bloody military offensive in Gaza after the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israeli civilians.

Dozens of arrests were made at both demonstrations.

At around 7:30 p.m. this evening, police in riot gear armed with less-than-lethal weapons moved in to block the courtyard behind Dodd Hall, the Daily Bruin posted to X, formerly Twitter.

University campus police and officers with the California Highway Patrol were also helping L.A. police with demonstrators.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Emily Juarez no longer feels safe letting her two older children ride public transportation or walk to their LA Unified school after an increase in reports of violence near district campuses.

I stopped maybe a couple of weeks ago, Juarez said last month. I see the stuff thats happening. I do see the news and I see what happens on the bus and then around here as well. So I dont feel its safe for them to go by themselves, walking or on the bus.

Before the increasing reports of violence and drug abuse on LAUSD campuses, she would allow her two older children in 9th and 10th grade to regularly ride the bus to and from the 32nd Street School near University Park in East Los Angeles.

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Juarezs concerns were not out of the ordinary. In February, three separate shootings occurred overnight near a LA school campus, resulting in the deaths of two teenagers. Last month two teenagers were arrested for bringing guns to school.

An LA Unified spokesperson declined to be interviewed, instead referring a reporter to recordings from the recent school board meeting where the issue was discussed during the Safe School Task Force annual update.

The presentation, delivered by Andres Chait, LAUSD Chief of School Operations, outlined 14 recommendations, including installing vape and weapons detection systems, developing and implementing peer counseling, and installing gates and security cameras in all schools.

The increasing violence around the district has made some parents question whether LA Unified schools are safe  and if the school board made the right decision to cut the School police budgets by 35% after the murder of George Floyd.

They cut it without really thinking through who it was going to impact and without inclusion of the parent voice, said Evelyn Aleman, Founder of Our Voice a parents group. They had activists, because activists are able to mobilize and come to the school board meetings and ways that Latino and indigenous immigrant parents cannotthats a significant voice, which is 74% of the student population was left out of that conversation.

The funding was reallocated towards programs in schools with the highest number of Black students, including the hiring of more social workers, and counselors, targeting schools with high rates of suspension, chronic absenteeism and low academic student achievement. The 74 previously did a story on the impact of the programs.

Related

Defunding Police: LA Schools Redirected Money to Hiring Mental Health Staff

Pedro Noguera, Dean of the USC Rossier School of Educations said while police presence can deter some incidents, more cops are not a long term solution.

Campus Police are most effective at deterring individuals who dont belong on campus from coming on campus. If thats an issue, they should consider deploying police to schools, said Noguera. But if the issue is preventing fights, they need trusted adults who kids will talk to you just have to be really careful because once you bring the police into the picture you significantly increase the likelihood of arrest.

LAUSD school police carry guns and handcuffs and have the authority to make arrests, a district spokesman said.

LAUSD district 7 board member Tanya Ortiz Franklin, an advocate for restorative measures, believes the best way to keep students safe starts by teaching young children social-emotional skills to navigate conflict and de-escalating potentially violent situations.

I know that (there is a) sort of myth or misconception that we swing from punitive to permissive. Franklin said. Im not going to let kids run all over the placewe still have to keep our hands to ourselves, we still have to be safe and use our words. But Im going to show you how to do that, teach you and give you a second chance.

For Aleman and other parents the progress is too slow. According to an LAUSD report published in September 2023, incidents of fighting and physical aggression increased by over 40% between the 2021-22 and 2022-23 school years. More than 600 fights and other physical aggression incidents were reported just 30 days into the 2023-24 school year.

I think its wishful thinking, and it doesnt address the urgency of the situation, which is safety, Aleman said in response to the districts restorative plan to ensure safe schools. This requires an immediate response, and its not just the school policeBut from LAUSD, everybody has to step up. This is unacceptable. Children should not be dying outside the school. That shouldnt be happening.
Labour Party activists might have been caught unawares by their leaders attack on the Conservative manifesto, launched this morning. It was, said Keir Starmer, a Jeremy Corbyn-style document that loads everything into the wheelbarrow without any proper explanation of how its going to be funded.

Its either a sign of supreme confidence or disastrous hubris that Starmer so casually uses his predecessors election offer as a comparison to Rishi Sunaks. Perhaps Starmer has calculated that his 20-point led in the polls means he neednt be fearful of either.

Still, his aides will be eagerly analysing each of todays policy announcements, just in case any of them proves attractive to the voters that Labour is hoping to win over on July 4. In doing so, they have cause for at least a degree of anxiety.

Unlike Labour, Sunak is promising tax cuts, and on a defined timescale. National Insurance would be cut by another two per cent by April 2027 and the main rate of NI would be scrapped altogether by the end of the next parliament. Labours response  that this is a wheelbarrow promise with no obvious source of funding  might convince some. But if the regular criticism of this government is that it taxes too much, this is a pledge that could yet gain some traction among hard-pressed workers.

Similarly, the promise to cut stamp duty for first-time buyers could resonate with younger voters who have all but given up on the prospect of their ever owning a home. Unfunded? Probably. Attractive? Undoubtedly.

Starmers decision to dismiss the Conservative manifesto as something that Jeremy Corbyn would have published risks inviting some on the Left to look at it in a more favourable light. For those who voted against the (other) self-proclaimed socialist in 2019, Starmers negative invocation is a reminder that he once campaigned as a member of the shadow cabinet to bring the man pushing the wheelbarrow into No.10.

A feature of this election campaign has been Rishi Sunaks desperate insistence that voters shouldnt look to the past (i.e., his own record in government) but to the future. Starmer should also follow this example, given that he wont benefit from too close an analysis of his own not-too-distant political record.

In last nights interview with the BBCs Nick Robinson, Sunak surprised many  and challenged fact-checkers in the audience  by asserting that average workers in Britain today are paying lower levels of personal taxation than in 50 years. Thats the kind of statistic that should make Labour nervous, because it detracts entirely from the more comfortable slogan of the Tories facilitating the highest tax burden in 70 years.

Part of the Conservative failure in recent years has been their reliance on tax rises and the apparent betrayal of the Thatcher doctrine, coupled with a failure to explain that higher taxes are an inevitable consequence of paying the workforce to stay at home for nearly two years during a pandemic. Its probably too late now, but in more normal circumstances, a narrative that focuses on slashing taxes may have won over more sceptical voters.

We can at least expect questions now to be asked of Labour as to what it will do for first-time buyers and workers who yearn to pay less. A general improvement in the funding of national and local services is all very well, but what about individual pay packets?

Given the general tenor of the campaign so far, even a single day when Sunak is not on the defensive  indeed, a day in which he can lob grenades over the fence at his over-confident opponents  will be a good one.

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There is a persistent myth about the allegedly extremely high quality of education in the USSR. However, if you dig deeper, you will find that its essence was the standardized upbringing of children, not the development of their abilities and individual talents.

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This conclusion was reached by Belarusian blogger Maksim Mirovich, who studies and analyzes the Soviet experience. He has collected seven prohibitions that were in effect in the schools of the Union. Now they seem like real savagery.

Bright hair, makeup, piercings

Modern schoolchildren feel free to express themselves through their appearance, even in schools where they wear uniforms. Children in the USSR were forbidden to do so. They had to conform to the image of Soviet schoolchildren. The ban on piercings even made its way into the movie ACCA. In the movie, the main character named Bananan is taken to prison and put in a "pressure hut" with a criminal just because he had an earring in his ear and refused to take it off. These prejudices were abandoned only at the beginning of perestroika.

Long hair for boys

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Boys with long hair caused a separate, sharply negative attitude among teachers and school administrators. Even a Beatles haircut was considered a violation. At best, such a teenager faced a friendly trial, and at worst, he could be forcibly cut.

Ballpoint pens

Even in the early post-Soviet years, one could encounter this absurd ban in schools. It is still not clear where it came from. Some teachers said that ballpoint pens prevented the development of beautiful handwriting, while others claimed that writing with them distorted posture. Some say that they were frowned upon for the same reason as jeans and chewing gum  they were considered a sign of the Western lifestyle.

Short skirts

Although the mini-skirt fashion was all the rage in the seventies, schools fought against such skirts. It got to the point where in some schools, headmasters would meet girls with a ruler in the morning and measure their skirt length. If the distance from the knee to the edge of the skirt seemed too long to the head teacher, the girl was sent home to change. They were not convinced even by the argument that children grew up over the years and the uniforms simply became too small for them.

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Sneakers

Nowadays, it's hard to find a student who would wear anything but sneakers to class. But in the USSR, such shoes outside the gym were called a sign of an "empty hip life" and even "stylist". You could even get kicked out of class for wearing sneakers, especially those with Velcro, which were fashionable in the eighties. However, there were exceptions to these rules. Soviet-made sneakers could be allowed.

Chewing gum

Chewing gum as a phenomenon was banned in the USSR until 1976. People who loved it were ridiculed, caricatures were drawn of them, and propaganda videos were made. Nevertheless, young people were delighted with this product  they were ready to pay huge sums of money for a decent chewing gum. In the last years of the Soviet Union's existence, this ban was eased, and Soviet factories even began to produce their gum. But it remained banned at school until the very end.

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Karate and bodybuilding classes

There are many versions of why martial arts sections and gyms were banned in the USSR. But the police were always searching for such underground groups and arresting their members and coaches. Naturally, teenagers were doubly interested in the forbidden sports. They learned to train on their own and reproduced the movements of actors from martial arts movies during yard games.

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Lake Ontario has received a new designation and with it added protections and emphasis on its historic and cultural resources.

The Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary was announced June 5 during the National Marine Sanctuary Foundations Capitol Hill Ocean Week. Its the 16th such designation overall and the third in the Great Lakes.

The protected area, which encompasses 1,722 square miles of eastern Lake Ontario, will border Wayne, Cayuga, Oswego and Jefferson counties. The sanctuary encompasses 41 known shipwrecks and one aircraft, though historical records indicate an additional 19 shipwrecks, three aircraft and several underwater archaeological sites could be found there, too. It will be co-managed by NOAA and New York state.

What is a marine sanctuary?

A map of the newly designated Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary in New York.

The National Marine Sanctuaries Act was passed into law in 1972, with the intention of protecting areas of national significance for conservation, recreational, ecological, historical, scientific, cultural, archeological, education or esthetic qualities.

The credit for the sanctuary designation goes to the intrepid and forward-thinking area residents who realized this part of the lake needed protection, said Joel Johnson, president and CEO of the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation. Cayuga, Jefferson, Oswego and Wayne counties and the city of Oswego submitted the nomination in January 2017.

Becoming a national sanctuary is part of a strategy, if you will, to protect those incredible underwater relics and also to be able to bring the story to the surface so that it could become a public education resource, Johnson said.

More: Sodus Bay breakwater to undergo $20 million reconstruction with federal funds

Lake Ontario management plan

With the sanctuary designation comes a management plan to maintain and interpret the sanctuary, as well as regulations to prohibit activities that could negatively impact those underwater cultural and historical resources. The plan includes research and monitoring, education and outreach, tourism and economic development and resource protection aspects.

The management plan will guide the way in which the resources of the sanctuary are used and, ultimately, it will drive the interests of the area as well as the nation, Johnson said.

Divers explore the wreck of the St. Peter beneath the waves of Lake Ontario in 2019.

More specifically, residents can expect there to be cutting edge scientific research on climate change and the Great Lakes, how acidification impacts historical maritime resources like shipwrecks, and national attention from divers, Johnson said. The educational component will include telling the story of the original inhabitants of Lake Ontarios shores, the Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca and Oneida nations.

The sanctuary creates a platform to tell the history of the area and how the maritime industry of our nation impacted those earliest communities, he said.

More: Local man ordered to pay $15K after sinking boat in Lake Ontario

Officials respond to sanctuary designation

The sanctuary designation, announced in Washington, D.C., caught the attention of several dignitaries from New Yorks congressional delegation and local leaders in a statement from the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation.

This designation will preserve Lake Ontarios historic shipwrecks, boost tourism and protect our beautiful waterways for generations to come, said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.

The new marine sanctuary is contained within the boundaries of Congresswoman Claudia Tenneys district, who called the designation important for safeguarding the historical sites.

The community is eager to have the necessary resources to protect these sites and continue educating future generations about our regions rich maritime history, Tenney said.

The sanctuary represents exciting and unprecedented opportunities for Lake Ontario communities, said Steve Lynch, Cayuga County manager.

Cayuga County joins our partner counties in celebrating the unique intersection of histories, cultures and people that will be showcased in this newest National Marine Sanctuary, Lynch said.

Steve Howe covers weather, climate and lake issues for the Democrat and Chronicle. An RIT graduate, he returned to Rochester after working around the state and in Utah. Share with him at showe@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary protects underwater relics
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  A Lake Oswego man pleaded guilty on Monday months after being accused of drugging three young girls at a sleepover.

Michael Meyden agreed to three felony charges of causing another person to ingest a controlled substance, while lesser charges of applying a controlled substance to the body of a minor and delivery of a controlled substance to a minor were dropped.

VIDEO: Beaverton man arrested after eluding police at 110+ MPH chase before home burglary

Meyden was sentenced to two years in prison, according to The Oregonian/OregonLive.

Meyden put drugs in smoothies that were given to 12-year-old girls having a sleepover with his daughter in August 2023, according to court documents.

The children noticed something was off and told their parents, who took them to Randall Childrens Hospital before calling police, authorities said.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
Lane College President to step down in July

MEMPHIS, Tenn.  The Lane College Board of Trustees and Dr. Logan Hampton announced on Monday Dr. Hamptons plans to step down as College President effective July 31, 2024.

In a press release from Lane College, Dr. Hampton reflected on his decade of service and issued the following statement:

I celebrate the accomplishments and achievements of Lane Colleges students, faculty and staff. I am grateful for 10 years of support from the Lane College board and for the love the entire Jackson, Tennessee community has shown me and my family. Dr. Logan Hampton

The press release adds that during Dr. Hamptons tenure, Lane College increased fundraising outcomes, experienced a significant increase in net assets and reduced long-term debt.

They also successfully received reaffirmation of its accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).

We thank Dr. Hampton for his part in advancing Lane (College) over the past 10 years and for his stewardship of this beloved institution, Board Chair, Bishop Marvin Frank Thomas Sr. said.

An announcement of the Interim President of Lane College will be forthcoming from the Board of Trustees.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Chicago-based Beitler Real Estate Services LLC has proposed building a hotel across the street from the State Capitol at the site where Lansing City Hall currently stands.

LANSING  The city is moving forward with plans to sell city hall to a developer who plans to convert it into a hotel.

The deal - which would sell the 10-story building on Capitol Avenue with a birds-eye view of the state Capitol to Chicago-area firm Beitler Real Estate Services for $2.78 million - is far from final.

Council members will need to vote for the project to proceed but a resolution was introduced during Monday's meeting. Members are expected to hear a presentation by Beitler Real Estate Services at the next city council meeting on June 24, said Scott Bean, a spokesperson for Mayor Andy Schor's office.

The public will have a chance to weigh in during a July 8 public hearing.

The city is planning to build a new city hall building at the corner of S. Grand Ave. and E. Lenawee St., across from the Capital Area Transportation Authority, using $40 million in state money.

Once that is ready, the current city hall would be converted into a hotel by Beitler, a plan that has lingered since 2017.

Schor has previously said that the city hall building is in poor shape but is one of the best pieces of real estate in the city, directly across from the state capitol.

Beitler did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday.

The hotel construction is expected to take about 14 months and start once the city finishes its new city hall. While the city has not given a firm date for that, a redevelopment agreement submitted by Beitler anticipates the hotel conversion construction starting in March 2026 with the project finishing before summer 2027.

The hotel is expected to feature:

183 guest rooms

129,000 square feet

Parking spaces underground

A restaurant/bar in the seventh floor

Almost 3,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space

Those features are based on a 2022 developer's response, and echoed in the redevelopment agreements filed Monday. Both of those are based on a proposal that was selected by the city from four applications in November 2017.

Schor had been elected by that point but then-Mayor Virg Bernero remained in office until a January 2018 transition.

Bernero, at the time, said developer J. Paul Beitler has the "financial wherewithal, experience and vision to repurpose City Hall for a new life, while preserving the essential historic character of the building."

Beitler, a 1967 Michigan State University alum, is the company's president. A State Journal review of campaign finance records in 2017 found Beitler was the only developer among the four submitting proposals who had not contributed to Bernero's political campaigns.

The redevelopment agreements filed Monday say the city and Beitler would close on a deal no later than 60 days after the city gets authorization to move into the new city hall. Beitler is expected to finish the project in 18 months, "subject to unavoidable delays," but there are no penalties in the agreement if the development takes longer.

The hotel would be placed on the city tax rolls for at least 20 years, according to the redevelopment agreement.

A public hearing is set for 7 p.m. on July 8 at the City Council Chambers, on the 10th floor of city hall, 124 W. Michigan Ave.

Contact Mike Ellis at mellis@lsj.com or 517-267-0415

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Lansing plans to redevelop city hall into a hotel. What to know
Primary election polls close at the City of Las Cruces City Hall Tuesday evening, June 4, 2024. (Photo byv Leah Romero / Source NM)

From low voter turnout to a majority of primary candidates running unopposed, Dona Ana County primary elections were lacking in participants.

Polls in Las Cruces were mostly quiet on June 4 with only a few lines of voters forming in the morning hours and stragglers rushing to turn in their ballots before 7 p.m. Presiding judges at several locations said traffic was steady throughout the day, but not busy.

Based on unofficial voting numbers released by the New Mexico Secretary of States Office, turnout was at the lowest its been for a primary election since 2020. Data show only 14,770 Dona Ana County voters mailed in their ballots, voted early or voted in person on Tuesday, a nearly 5% decrease from 2022 turnout.

There were 36 primary races this election, outside of the presidential election. Only six were competitive and only the race for Third Judicial District Attorney had more than two candidates.

The lack of options among candidates impacted voting decisions for some, including Las Cruces voter Francisco Lemus.

If I see just one individual running for one particular office I just leave it blank, Lemus said. I steer clear of those individuals.

Lemus said he prefers to see at least two or three candidates in a race. He said he has lived in New Mexico for about a decade and has noticed that he often sees uncompetitive races.

On the other hand, Penny Payne said the lack of candidate options had no effect on her approach to voting Tuesday.

I think that we have less candidates, less qualified people, because politicians are put through the wringer so much, Payne said. So people are like, yeah, I can make more money doing something else. Why go through that? But I just respect it when people do.

She said she typically votes for people she knows about in races to which shes paying attention. Otherwise, she votes for whichever candidate is a woman.

She said she used to only vote for candidates of one party, but party lines are a bit blurred for me at the moment.

Dan Soltero said he was concerned about the split between an unopposed Republican candidate for DA and Democrats having to fight all the way, all the way to the end.

I was concerned that the (Democratic) party is not consolidated, Soltero said.

Four candidates ran in the Democratic district attorney race in Dona Ana County, with Fernando Macias coming out victorious. He will appear opposite Las Cruces attorney Michael Cain in the November general election.

Results

County Clerk

Dona Ana County Clerk Amanda Lopez Askin solidified her position as Democratic nominee for the county office in the November general election. She earned over 8,000 votes in the primary race compared to her opponent, Andrew Ostic, who received about 1,300 votes.

Lopez Askin will face Republican candidate Cheryl De Young in November.

County Commissioner for District 2

Democrat Gloria Gameros ousted incumbent Diana Murillo from the Dona Ana County Commissioner seat for District 2. She won the race by only 67 votes. Gameros will face Republican candidate Lorraine McCullough in the general election.

Murillo continues to serve as mayor of Anthony, New Mexico.

House District 32

State Rep. Jennifer Jones (R-Deming) will face Democratic opponent Linda Alvarez in the November general election. Jones ran unopposed, however, Alvarez beat fellow Democratic opponent Andrew Hernandez III. Alvarez beat Hernandez by one vote, or 52% to 48%.

The district represents parts of Dona Ana, Hidalgo and Luna counties.

House District 35

Rep. Angelica Rubio (D-Las Cruces) came out of the primary election victorious. She beat fellow Democratic opponent Gabriel Duran Jr. with 61% of the vote. No republican candidate ran in the primary election, meaning Rubio will represent House District 35 for her fifth consecutive term.

Rubios district represents parts of central Las Cruces and north toward the Village of Dona Ana.

House District 53

Democratic candidate Jon Hill ousted incumbent Rep. Willie Madrid in the Democratic race for House District 53. Hill won 60% of the vote. Madrid has represented the district, encompassing parts of Dona Ana and Otero counties, since 2019.

Hill will face Republican candidate Elizabeth Winterrowd in November.

The post What Las Cruces voters thought of the 2024 primary election appeared first on Source New Mexico.
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  Las Palmas Medical Center has named Alejandro Alex Romero as its new chief executive officer, succeeding Don Karl, who recently retired after nine years as the hospitals CEO and nearly two decades as the hospitals chief operating officer.

Romero assumed his new role on June 3, the hospital announced in a news release sent out on Tuesday, June 11.

Prior to joining Las Palmas Medical Center, Romero served as chief operating officer at Del Sol Medical Center, where he started his career in 2008 as the director of outpatient services. Romero returned to his hometown of El Paso last year after serving as the chief executive officer at HCA Florida Poinciana Hospital in Kissimmee.

Alejandros knowledge of the El Paso community, as well as his extensive experience with HCA Healthcare, makes him an ideal candidate for this role, David Huffstutler, CEO of Las Palmas Del Sol Healthcare, said. We look forward to the contributions he will make to Las Palmas Medical Center, and we are confident that his leadership will help us continue to provide quality care to the greater El Paso community.

During his time in Florida, Romero led a $30-million expansion of a 94-bed acute care hospital to include additional critical care beds and a new freestanding emergency department. He also worked to create a post-operative bariatric unit and achieved a Top 5% Unit of Distinction in perioperative and emergency services from HCA Healthcare, according to the news release.

Prior to this role, Romero served as the chief operating officer and ethics and compliance officer of Methodist Hospital Metropolitan in San Antonio, where he launched a heartburn and reflux program, created a 12-bed dedicated bariatric unit, led a $6-million cath lab renovation and secured $2.3 million for neurology equipment for the operating room, according to the news release.

I am deeply honored to lead Las Palmas Medical Center and to continue to serve my hometown community, Romero said. I look forward to working alongside this talented team as we continue to provide the highest level of care to the community I love so dearly.

Romero earned his masters degree in business administration from the University of Texas at El Paso and has a bachelors degree in business marketing from the University of Phoenix. He is also a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Westchester County Executive George Latimer holds a 17-point lead over Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.) in a tense Democratic New York House primary, according to a new poll.

A survey by Emerson College Polling/PIX11/The Hill released Tuesday found Latimer leading Bowman in the primary for New Yorks 16th Congressional District with 48 percent support to 31 percent, with 21 percent of respondents undecided.

The poll found that 51 percent of respondents have a favorable view of Bowman, compared to 43 percent who have an unfavorable view of the House Democrat. In comparison, 65 percent said they have a favorable view of Latimer, while 23 percent had an unfavorable view of the county executive.

Voters under 40 break for Bowman: 44% to 35%, while voters over 40 break for Latimer, Spencer Kimball, executive director of Emerson College Polling, explained in a press release.

Democratic primary voters ages 40-59 break for Latimer 53% to 31%, while voters in their 60s break for Latimer 46% to 29%, and voters over 70 break for Latimer 53% to 22%.

The numbers underscore the challenge the two-term incumbent faces ahead of the June 25 primary as he fights for reelection. Bowman was dogged by unflattering headlines last year after the House censured him for pulling a fire alarm during a key vote on government funding. He was also charged with a misdemeanor following the incident, though the House Democrat has argued that it was a mistake.

The Democratic primary between Latimer and Bowman has divided Democrats and key groups. The pro-Israel American Israel Public Affairs Committee has backed Latimer in the primary, and former Rep. Mondaire Jones (D-N.Y.), whos also fighting for a congressional seat this cycle, ruffled feathers when he backed Bowmans opponent.

Meanwhile, progressive members such as Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and Cori Bush (D-Mo.), and other high-profile groups like the powerful United Auto Workers, have thrown their weight behind Bowman.

The seat is reliably blue, meaning whoever wins the Democratic primary later this month is the heavy favorite to win in November.

The Emerson College Polling/PIX11/The Hill survey was conducted June 6-8 with 425 likely Democratic primary voters in the New York 16th Congressional District. The margin of error is plus or minus 4.7 percentage points.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The Snake River Plain in southern Idaho represents the greatest wind resource potential in Idaho, according to Idahos Office of Energy and Mineral Resources 2024 Energy Landscape Report. Idahos wind production grew 1,184% from 2008 to 2021, and wind makes up 17% of Idaho's electricity. Wind energy in Idaho is provided by nearly 550 turbines, including the ones on this wind farm in Power County. (Courtesy of the U.S. Department of Energy)

The Lava Ridge Wind Project is moving forward under a new plan that shrinks the project to nearly half of its originally proposed size.

The Bureau of Land Management on June 6 issued its final environmental review, which selected an alternative model for the project after taking into consideration input from landowners, ranchers, Native American tribes and public officials. The finalization for the preferred alternative would take place later this summer, Magic Valley Energy spokesperson Amy Schutte told the Sun.

Magic Valley Energy, an affiliate of LS Power, seeks to build the wind development about 25 miles northeast of Twin Falls. The original proposal for the wind project would have sat on 197,000 acres of land, and consisted of 400 turbines up to 740 feet in height. The bureaus preferred alternative shrinks the project to sit on 104,000 acres of land, consisting of 241 turbines with a maximum height of 660 feet.

According to the BLM, the preferred alternative reduces potential impacts to sage grouse, large wildlife migration routes, cultural resources, Jerome County Airport and agricultural aviation uses, public land ranchers, and private landowners.

The alternative also addresses concerns from Friends of Minidoka, a nonprofit organization based in Jerome that preserves the Minidoka National Historic Site, a site of a former concentration camp for Japanese Americans during World War II.

The organization opposed the wind development, arguing it would cast an imposing view on their site, the Idaho Statesman reported. Under the original proposal, it would have been as close as two miles away from the site. In the alternative, the closest wind turbine would be nine miles away from the historical site.

Luke Papez, senior director of project development for LS Power, said in a news release the preferred alternative is a balance between protecting environmental resources and the demand for domestic energy production.

Our goal is to meet rising energy demand while forging strong relationships and partnerships within the local community, Papez said in the release. This goal is crucial to ensure sustainable and beneficial development for the Magic Valley region of Idaho.

Idaho officials oppose Lava Ridge Wind Project

Since the early stages of the projects development, the wind project has sparked controversy. Idaho lawmakers in 2023 passed a resolution expressing concerns about the project.

Thursdays BLM decision sparked renewed opposition from Idaho public officials.

The same day the decision was issued, Idaho Gov. Brad Little, Lt. Gov. Scott Bedke, U.S. Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch and Congressman Mike Simpson all issued statements in a news release opposing the Bureau of Land Managements decision.

The Biden administration has a goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, or when the amount of greenhouse gas emissions produced in the country equals the amount of greenhouse gasses removed from the atmosphere.

Little said he does not agree with the bureaus decision, calling it the latest example of the Biden administrations unsound energy agenda.

It may not matter in Washington, D.C., but it matters to those of us who live here, Little said.

Bedke said he is concerned that the project would benefit Californians, rather than Idahoans.

Our public lands have long been utilized for multiple uses that meet the needs and fulfill the benefits of Idahoans, Bedke said in the release. Ranching, farming, and recreation are a major part of the Magic Valleys heritage. While domestic energy production is an emerging part of a necessary conversation, the BLM disregarded Idahoans input on a project that is in our backyard and, instead, favored Californians energy needs.

Simpson, Risch and Crapo all said they would continue to fight against the wind project.

On Friday, Idaho Attorney General Raul Labrador announced an administrative appeal with the Federal Aviation Administration, asking the agency to reconsider its determinations that the Lava Ridge project poses no hazard to aviation in the area.

The people of Idaho have overwhelmingly demanded action and deserve better than to be ignored by federal bureaucracies, Labrador said in a news release. Yesterdays appeal is my offices first of many steps in fighting this ill-conceived project that threatens Idahos agriculture, wildlife, and waterways.

Energy independence, jobs and taxes

Despite opposition from elected officials, Idaho environmental advocates say the wind project has a lot to offer Idaho.

Peter Richardson, the chair of Idaho Energy Freedom, told the Idaho Capital Sun that rather than benefitting people out of state, the Lava Ridge Wind Project would help Idaho become more energy independent.

Thats because Idahoans consume about 61% more electricity than is generated, resulting in the need to import energy from other states, according to FindEnergy, a nationwide energy data tracker. While 40% of the states electricity comes from Idaho utilities, nearly 40% more comes from out of state electricity providers, according to Idahos Office of Energy and Mineral Resources Energy Landscape Report.

Idaho is in the business of exporting a lot of things, from potato chips to computer chips, Richardson said. If electricity is one of those things that we export, that is a good thing.

For more information and to review documents related to the Lava Ridge Wind Project, visit the BLMs National NEPA Register.

Idaho Conservation League Climate Program Manager Adrian Gallo told the Sun the project would help provide more electricity options for utilities that rely on hydroelectric power.

We dont produce enough electricity statewide, he said. While weve historically relied on hydropower for most of our electricity production, because of droughts, things are getting worse. Hydropower production is decreasing, and we can no longer rely on the old way that we produce electricity.

Gallo said that in addition to more Idaho-produced energy, the Lava Ridge Wind Project would strengthen the regions economy over the next 30 years.

The BLM estimates construction of the project would generate $21.9 million in annual tax revenue and contribute $138.9 million in total economic output to local and regional economies.

Millions of acres of BLM-administered land across the country are already surrendered to coal, oil and gas development, Gallo said. Thats going to keep harming those communities that are nearby, and we have an opportunity to bring clean energy to the state while bringing in tax revenue and increasing our resiliency on the grid.

Conservation Voters for Idaho Program Director Ryan McGoldrick told the Sun that clean energy resources are needed in Idaho as one of the fastest growing states in the country.

For these projects to be successful though, we need community buy-in, McGoldrick said. Unfortunately, its clear that Magic Valley residents have not felt heard during the development of Lava Ridge. Regardless of the final decision, I hope the shortcomings of this project dont turn Idahoans against beneficial projects elsewhere.

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The post Lava Ridge Wind Project moves forward, shrinking to half the size of original proposal appeared first on Idaho Capital Sun.
Once more, Sacramento District Attorney Thien Ho has filed a meritless complaint against the City of Sacramento concerning homelessness. It is highly unusual for a district attorney to bring a civil suit, and, as far as Im aware, it is unprecedented for a district attorney to civilly sue a city. But despite an adverse ruling by Superior Court Judge Jill Talley in May, Ho filed a new complaint against the city on June 5 that is remarkably like the earlier ones.

In September of 2023, Ho sued the City of Sacramento for creating an alleged nuisance by not adequately enforcing laws against homeless. In December, he filed an amended complaint alleging that the city violated the states Fish and Game Code by allowing debris and trash to end up in area waterways.

Opinion

In May, the California Superior Court correctly dismissed Hos nuisance claims against the city as violating principles of separation of powers. California law makes the city completely immune from liability for its failure to adopt adequate policies. Government Code Section 818.2 states: A public entity is not liable for an injury caused by adopting or failing to adopt an enactment or by failing to enforce any law. Furthermore, Section 820.2 states: Except as otherwise provided by statute, a public entity is not liable for an injury resulting from his act or omission where the act or omission was the result of the exercise of the discretion vested in him, whether or not such discretion be abused.

These provisions are clear that courts cannot oversee a citys exercise of its discretion, such as in how to deal with a serious problem like homelessness.

The Superior Court did not rule on the claim under the Fish and Game Code and allowed Ho to file an amended complaint. But the new complaint filed on June 5 is not substantially different from the earlier ones. After a lengthy description of the problem of homeless in Sacramento, it still has the same three claims, with two based on nuisance and one based on the Fish and Game Code.

The primary change in the new complaint is its discussion of the federal Americans with Disabilities Act. Ho has added allegations that unhoused individuals blocking a sidewalk obstruct its use by a person with disabilities. This is a serious concern, but it is baffling how it fits into this lawsuit. The new complaint does not sue the City of Sacramento for violating the Americans with Disabilities Act, and it is highly doubtful that Ho, as district attorney, would have standing to bring such a claim under the federal statute on behalf of those who claim their use of sidewalks is obstructed.

The new complaint makes the concerns with the Americans with Disabilities Act a part of its discussion of nuisance. But nuisance claims against the city for failing to enforce any law are barred by state law. Judge Talley was explicit that they are precluded by concerns of separation of powers, and adding the discussion of the Americans with Disabilities Act does not change that one iota.

The central problem with Hos lawsuit is that it is beyond the courts competence to fashion a solution to the problem of the unhoused in Sacramento. The city lacks adequate shelter beds for all who need them. The citys approximately 1,300 shelter beds are usually full, with a wait list of more than 2,500.

The new complaint asks the court to order the City of Sacramento to maintain city sidewalks, parks, roadways and all city property to ensure it is free from obstruction and may be used in the ordinary and customary manner by residents, including residents with disabilities. But no court is equipped to fashion a remedy and then enforce it and has no basis for sayinig that the city has acted unreasonably.

Inevitably, to give a remedy, the court would have to order the city to adopt new laws and programs. That would be a significant overstepping of the judicial role and an unconstitutional intrusion of the discretion of the city and its officials.

Hos new complaint, like his earlier ones, describes the problems posed by the unhoused in Sacramento in detail. But Ho offers no suggestion of a solution to the problem of homelessness. Clearing all the encampments he identifies will not end homelessness. Those without housing have to sleep someplace.

Hos lawsuit does nothing to help the homeless and nothing to help those who are inconvenienced by them. It seems little more than a misguided effort to use the courts to advance Hos political agenda.

Erwin Chemerinsky is dean and professor of law at the UC Berkeley School of Law.
A thriller called A Nearly Normal Family has taken over Netflix as fans continue to rave about it. The miniseries was released in November 2023.

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Based on the novel by M.T. Edvardsson, A Nearly Normal Family tells the story of the Sandell family: lawyer couple Ulrika and priest Adam, as well as their teenage daughter Stella, Metro writes. Their lives are turned upside down when the daughter is accused of murdering her boyfriend, who is 15 years older.

In the six-part series, everything falls into place as the family's secrets are revealed, while the characters struggle to maintain their idyll and protect their daughter. Meanwhile, the audience tries to find out if Stella is really a murderer or if she has been unjustly accused.

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The series' rating on IMDb is 7/10. Rotten Tomatoes has a stunning 76%. Viewers note that it is impossible to pause the series because the plot keeps the intrigue until the very end of the show.

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"Great story, acting and good pacing. I have to say this is one of the best miniseries I've seen to date and I hope there are more on this level in the future. Do yourself a favor and watch this one. You won't be disappointed," one review reads. "Great acting, well produced and directed. Fascinating depth of the soundtrack," another user said.

Only verified information is available on OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM)  Proponents of Mondays passage of House Bill 2370 called it a historic moment for public education, while opponents called it a massive burden on taxpayers with no accountability.

The bill overhauls the Commonwealths funding formula for public schools, replacing one which was ruled unconstitutional last year. It passed 107-94, with all Democrats and five Republicans voting in favor.

READ MORE > Pennsylvania House passes school funding bill

This bill reflects a historic moment for public education in Pennsylvania. The state representatives who have crafted it are true leaders in the fight to fix our unconstitutionally broken public school funding system, Aaron Chapin, president of the Pennsylvania State Education Association, said. We are very grateful for their leadership and their commitment to adequate and equitable public education funding.

Chapin is a middle school teacher at Stroudsburg Area.

The PSEA says the bill creates adequacy targets and plans to close adequacy gaps over a seven year period.

We are constitutionally required to enact a thorough and efficient system of public education and in this historic moment we are finally realizing fair, equitable and adequate funding for all schools, Rep. Mary Isaacson (R-Philadelphia) said. As a member of the Basic Education Funding Commission, I talked with students, faculty and staff across the state to help devise our recommendations which are reflected in this bill today. This is a big win for the School District of Philadelphia and underfunded rural, urban and suburban schools across Pennsylvania. Students will no longer have their educational opportunities determined by their ZIP code.

The School District of Lancaster was among the plaintiffs in the fair funding lawsuit, and Superintendent Dr. Keith Miles said the districts future depends on the bills passage.

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This long-term plan will fill school funding gaps that have grown for decades in communities like Lancaster, where students who need more support often get less because of insufficient local wealth, Miles said. Now, this bill must become law.

House Republican Leader Bryan Cutler (R-Lancaster) decried the bills passage, saying it does nothing but double down on a failing education system that represents the inability of state and local leaders to prioritize outcomes-based learning and bring the needed transformational change to deliver on classroom success.

While putting a massive burden on taxpayers, this legislation provides no accountability and no meaningful measures of success in a system that has taken increased funding year after year, but continually produced declining test scores and students unprepared to further their education or begin careers, Cutler said.

The bill moves to the Republican-controlled Senate, where it will likely be revised.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Katie Christensen, left, and Ishauna Jacobberger are observing elections in Fargo and West Fargo on July 11, 2024. (Photos provided)

A group of volunteers with the League of Women Voters of North Dakota is keeping a watchful eye on the states polling sites this election season.

The goal of the program, dubbed the election observers, is to make sure that North Dakota polling sites are functioning properly  and when problems are spotted, to make recommendations to election regulators on how to address them.



Do voters seem to receive clear instructions from election workers, for example? Are there legible signs instructing them where to go? Does voting seem to be going smoothly, or are there long wait times? Is anyone being turned away? If so, how come?

We arent necessarily there to fix those problems, but we are there to observe and document them and hopefully find ways to resolve them in the future, said Mary Tintes, who serves as vice president of the League of Women Voters of North Dakota.

More election news

For more coverage of the June 11 primary, visit our North Dakota Election 2024 page.

There are observers signed up for shifts at voting locations in Fargo, West Fargo, Grand Forks, Bismarck, Mandan, Dickinson, Jamestown, Wahpeton and Devils Lake, Tintes said.

I would imagine weve got anywhere from 30 to 50 volunteers across the state, she said.

Each volunteer has to complete an online training before participating. They also receive an information packet in the mail, Tintes said.

All participants are instructed to introduce themselves to election workers and explain why theyre there. They also are given name tags that identify them as election observers.

The shifts last about three to four hours. Volunteers can work as many shifts as they want  Tintes, for example, said shell be visiting several polling sites.

The election observers program started in 2022 following complaints that new Americans were being turned away from polling sites in Cass County because they couldnt provide proof of their citizenship, Tintes said. An attorney generals opinion ultimately found this practice in violation of the states voting laws.

The Legislature has since changed the law to require voters to provide identification that reflects their citizenship status. Secretary of State Michael Howe did outreach at naturalization ceremonies to educate new citizens about the requirement to vote.

Voters who fail to bring the right documentation to the polls can still fill out a ballot. However, theyll have to visit their county auditors office with proper ID within 13 days of the election. In the meantime, their ballot will be set aside in a sealed envelope.

The election observers will be paying attention to how the new law is implemented, Tintes said.

The League of Women Voters will announce its findings after the election, she said.

The post League of Women Voters serves as election observers appeared first on North Dakota Monitor.
At least 49 killed as boat carrying migrants sinks off Yemen, U.N. says

A boat carrying 260 migrants sank off Yemen's coast on Monday, killing at least 49 people and leaving 140 others missing, the United Nations' international migration agency said Tuesday.

Seventy-one people had survived the sinking, according to a news release from the International Organisation for Migration. Most required minor care while eight were transferred to a hospital for medical treatment, the group said. Six children were among the survivors rescued, while another six children and 31 women were among the dead. Search and rescue missions were ongoing, but the IOM noted that a shortage of patrol boats, made worse by current conflict, posed challenges to their operations.

The boat was carrying 115 Somali nationals and 145 Ethiopians, according to the IOM.

Each year many tens of thousands of migrants from the Horn of Africa set off across the Red Sea in a bid to reach the oil-rich Gulf, escaping conflict, natural disasters or poor economic prospects.

/ Credit: Getty/iStockphoto

In April, two boats sank off the coast of Djibouti just two weeks apart, leaving dozens dead.

The IOM said at the time it had recorded a total of 1,350 deaths on the migration route since 2014, not including this year. In 2023 alone, it said it documented at least 698 deaths on the route, including 105 lost at sea.

The IOM said on Tuesday it was "providing immediate aid to survivors."

Those migrants who successfully reach Yemen often encounter further threats to their safety. The Arabian Peninsula's poorest country has been mired in civil war for a decade.

A July 2019 file photo shows Ethiopian migrants walking on the shores of Ras al-Ara, Lahj, Yemen, after disembarking from a boat. A boat carrying migrants sank off Yemen's coast on June 10, 2024, according to the U.N. immigration agency, killing at least 39 people and leaving dozens more missing. / Credit: Nariman El-Mofty/AP

Many are trying to reach Saudi Arabia and other Gulf Arab countries where they can work as laborers or domestic workers.

In August, Human Rights Watch accused Saudi border guards of killing "at least hundreds" of Ethiopians trying to cross into the Gulf kingdom from Yemen between March 2022 and June 2023, using explosive weapons in some cases. Riyadh dismissed the group's findings as "unfounded and not based on reliable sources."

The IOM said last month that, despite the many dangers of the migration route, the number of migrants arriving in Yemen "tripled from 2021 to 2023, soaring from approximately 27,000 to over 90,000."

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Atlanta police said a man shot three people in the food court of Peachtree Center in downtown Atlanta Tuesday afternoon before he was shot by an APD officer.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation said Jeremy Malone of Morrow, Georgia, a 34-year-old convicted felon, got into an argument inside the food court just after 2 p.m.

Malone shot the person he was arguing with and continued shooting.

Early Friday morning, Malone was booked into the Fulton County Jail on charges including aggravated assault, cruelty to children and more.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Police said an Atlanta police officer acted decisively, placed himself in danger and shot Malone before he could hurt anyone else.

Police identified the victims as a 47-year-old man from Grayson, a 69-year-old woman from East Point and a 70-year-old woman from Atlanta.

Police said Malone has served in prison and has 11 previous arrest cycles.

Numerous police officers and firefighters descended on the building Tuesday afternoon. The building was placed on lockdown. It has since been cleared and foot traffic has resumed in the area.

Channel 2s Audrey Washington has learned that two of the victims were taken to Grady Memorial Hospital and the other two were taken to Emory Midtown.

Two of the people shot were rushed to the hospital in critical condition. They are now listed as stable.

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Channel 2s Michael Doudna talked to a witness, Kemba Walker Jr., who said he and his girlfriend had just come from the passport office when the shooting started.

I hear one shot and then Im thinking somebody dropped something, and then I hear another shot and another shot and another shot, Walker said. And then I see people scattering, running around.

Walker said he shouted for his girlfriend, who was in the bathroom at the time and pulled her into a back room.

And theres somebody laying on the ground. They were shooting back and forth, the officers and the person, Walker said.

Walker said the incident went on for 25 to 30 minutes. He said he heard about 25 gunshots.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has been called in to assist.

IN OTHER NEWS:








Rep. SuAnn Olson, R-Wilton, hands out flags May 10, 2024, during the Band Night parade in Bismarck. (Amy Dalrymple/North Dakota Monitor)

Todays primary election includes many races with conservative Republicans trying to unseat lawmakers they view as too moderate.

But in District 8, stretching from north of Bismarck to South Dakota, Reps. Brandon Prichard and SuAnn Olson are being challenged by more moderates.

Prichard and Olson were endorsed at their district conventions. Prichard, in particular, has gained notoriety for his conservative Christian views, anti-LGBTQ social media comments and ads targeting incumbent lawmakers.

State Rep. Brandon Prichard, R-Bismarck (Photo provided by the North Dakota Legislative Assembly)

Prichard also is the subject of a Federal Elections Commission complaint alleging some of his fundraising efforts were misleading and the political action committee he leads improperly coordinated with candidates.

Because Im running against establishment Republicans, I have now landed myself a review from the FEC, Prichard said in a video posted on May 30.

The challengers for the District 8 House seats are Mike Berg and Ken Rensch. Berg was House candidate in 2022, when Olson and Prichard were first elected. Olson was the top vote-getter at 30%, then Prichard at 28%, Berg at nearly 23% and Scott McCarthy at nearly 19%.

The newcomer is Rensch, who owns ambulance service companies.

I will refrain from imposing my personal beliefs on constituents, Rensch said on his campaign website.

With the North Dakota Legislature dominated by Republicans, here are some Republican primary races to watch:

District 30

Supporters of District 30-endorsed Republicans who are challenging legislative incumbents participate in the Band Night parade on May 10, 2024, in Bismarck. (Amy Dalrymple/North Dakota Monitor)

The Bismarck district has been a prime example of more moderate Republican incumbents facing challengers that are further to the right. Sen. Diane Larson is being challenged by Adam Rose and Reps. Glenn Bosch and Mike Nathe face Justis Amundson and David Charles. The incumbents didnt seek the nomination or even attend their local district convention, instead gathering signatures to get a spot on the primary ballot.

District 14

To the east of Bismarck in Steele, incumbent Republicans Sen. Jerry Klein, Rep. Jon Nelson and Rep. Robin Weisz attended District 14s endorsing convention, but did not seek the endorsement. Instead District 14 Senate candidate Karisa Grothe and House candidates Larry Danduran and Jason Steidl pitched themselves as more conservative than the incumbents and were unanimously endorsed. The large central North Dakota district covers an area between U.S. Highway 2 and Interstate 94.

District 38

Lisa Olson of Minot was stripped of her membership in the Republican Party because of a 2020 Facebook post but is still running as a Republican for a House seat. She is on the ballot with incumbent Rep. Dan Ruby and Christina Wolff.

District 42

Republican Rep. Claire Cory is looking to move from the House to the Senate but the Republican endorsement went to Dustin McNalley. Cory was arrested last month, accused of driving under the influence. Her court date has been pushed to July, the Grand Forks Herald reported. Cory and McNalley are seeking to replace Curt Kreun in the Grand Forks district. Kreun is among the legislators who decided not to seek reelection. There are three Republican candidates for the two House seats, including incumbent Emily OBrien.

More election news

For more coverage of the June 11 primary, visit our North Dakota Election 2024 page.

District 2

Two Republicans, Mark Enget and longtime North Dakota GOP figure Robert Harms, are vying for a spot on the ballot for an open Senate seat in the northwest, where the conservative Sons of Liberty group was founded. In the House, incumbent Republicans, Bert Anderson and Donald Longmuir face in-party challenges from Alexa Althoff and Charles Ringwall.

District 6

Republican Rep. Paul Thomas is looking to switch to the Senate but faces competition in the primary from Zach Lessig. In the House, Thomas chairs the Agriculture Commission and helped push through changes to North Dakotas anti-corporate farming law. Four Republicans are running for House, incumbent Dick Anderson, Pat Bachmeier, Kolette Kramer and Dan Vollmer.

Other districts with competition for House seats are 26, 32 and 34.

No Democrats are facing primary challenges for legislative races.

The post Legislative primary races to watch appeared first on North Dakota Monitor.
Letters to the Editor: What Katie Britt and Ted Cruz don't understand about in vitro fertilization

Sens. Katie Britt (left) and Ted Cruz, seen standing next to each other at a news conference last month, have introduced a bill on in vitro fertilization. (J. Scott Applewhite / Associated Press)

To the editor: As columnist Michael Hiltzik notes, the so-called IVF Protection Act authored by Republican Sens. Katie Britt (Ala.) and Ted Cruz (Texas) does nothing to assure that in vitro fertilization patients have control over the fate of their embryos.

Unlike a fetus in utero, a frozen embryo has no prospect for life without a complex protocol of hormonal preparation and embryo thawing for a delicate transfer into a properly prepared uterus. In custody disputes and embryo damage and loss suits, frozen embryos have been treated by courts as property, not live or even potential human beings.

Now as an extension of the abortion debate, attempts are being made to limit access to contraception. What's next, creating protections for eggs and sperm? Welcome to Gilead.

Arthur L. Wisot, M.D., Boynton Beach, Fla.

The writer is co-founder of a fertility practice in Southern California.

..

To the editor: My wife and I have three teenage sons. I thought about adding "wonderful," but they're teenagers, so we will leave it at that.

The older two are twins conceived with the help of IVF. We were very fortunate in this process, as my wife got pregnant on the first try. With twins no less.

Let me take you back to the process:

After harvesting eggs and sperm, the lab did its magic and showed us a magnified slide with about 12 cell clusters. Two were large and round, two were pretty big and mostly round, and eight were decreasingly small and not round at all. The doctors told me the first two were the most viable, the second pair would be our fall-backs, and the rest were "not viable" and would be, I guess, discarded.

After our twins, we "maintained" the fall-backs for several years before we were contacted about donating the frozen embryos either to another couple or for scientific research, or destroying them. This was after the birth of our third son.

My wife and I debated how we felt about other people possibly carrying on our DNA and whether those cell clusters were even good anymore. It was our choice and we live with it. It is really nobody else's business.

Niels Goerrissen, Harbor City

..

To the editor: If frozen embryos are to be considered as people, does that mean that we Californians could increase our congressional representation by including them in our census count?

Sounds to me like a good way to increase our electoral college impact.

Rich Lewis, Studio City

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
SIR  The Tory manifesto is pathetic (report, telegraph.co.uk, June 11)  yet another indication that Rishi Sunaks Conservatives are devoid of political intelligence. Being the true heirs to Margaret Thatcher and Nigel Lawson should mean significantly reducing the burden of personal taxation, not increasing it by stealth.

Failing to seize the opportunities of Brexit, breaking every promise to reduce net immigration, running down the Armed Forces and threatening our energy security (as well as our prosperity) with crippling net-zero targets: this appalling record cannot be erased now with a few half-truths about cutting taxes.

John Hicks

Manchester

SIR  Any opinion poll would confirm that voters see inheritance tax as unjust. This is because it affects a whole pyramid of potential beneficiaries, not just the deceased.

Had the Tories promised to scrap it, my vote would have gone their way. As it is I shall vote for Reform UK.

Allan Crossley

Stafford

SIR  Tax cuts, reductions in National Insurance, more NHS child dental appointments, increases in defence spending, cuts in waiting lists, national service, tight immigration controls, house building, social care  it seems that every political party is going to solve every problem.

With all this on offer, I cant understand why the electorate is so unenthusiastic.

John Stewart

Terrick, Buckinghamshire

SIR  Sir Keir Starmer has insisted that there will be no tax surprises in the forthcoming Labour manifesto (report, June 9).

Hes correct: taxes will rise, and no one will be surprised.

Adrian Mugridge

Ellesmere Port, Cheshire

SIR  Kamal Ahmed (Comment, June 10) trots out the mantra that elections are won only from the centre.

Theres another political term that has much more resonance: clear blue water. Who would argue that, with the current size of the state, taxation at a 70-year high, open borders, net-zero self-harm, ineffectual police and gender nonsense taught in primary schools, the current Conservative Government has put any clear blue water between itself and Labour?

Nigel Farage, the enterprising opportunist, has noticed this and may well garner a level of support that will be truly consequential. Some of that support may come from the fruitcakes, loonies and closet racists once derided by David Cameron, but the great majority will be those who have always thought of themselves as centre-Right. The remnants of the Conservative Party in July should ignore Mr Ahmeds advice.

Alasdair Ogilvy

Stedham, West Sussex

Honest food

SIR  Last month a ban on animal exports for slaughter became one of the final Bills to pass through Parliament before the calling of the general election. This means that live animals, including cattle, sheep and pigs, will no longer be sent abroad from Britain for fattening and slaughter. The move represents a monumental victory for animal welfare campaigners, whose tireless work has resulted in Britain becoming the first European country to introduce such a ban.

But Westminster still has an awful lot to do when it comes to how animals are treated in Britain  especially when it comes to the provenance of the food we eat. The lack of mandatory food labelling means that horrific farming practices continue with impunity. These include chick maceration  a grim system whereby newly hatched male chicks are separated from female chicks and are ground up alive. British consumers currently have no idea and no information on whether the eggs they consume are a by-product of this barbaric practice.

Thats why Im calling for urgent action in the new parliament to legislate for mandatory labelling on all food products sold in Britain. Until we are told the truth about where our food comes from, the market will fail to incentivise behaviour patterns that will confine animal cruelty, obesity and environmental degradation to the annals of history. Our political classes cannot afford to miss this opportunity to set the record straight on food.

Peter Hall

Former director, Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation

London SW3

Doctors wisdom

SIR  Reading about Michael Mosley (Letters, June 11), one thing that stands out to me is the way he advocated saying Yes to new experiences.

This is excellent advice. A few years ago, on receiving a cancer diagnosis, I promised myself that, for as long as I was physically capable, I would accept all invitations and opportunities. It was one of my best decisions.

In addition to the health benefits, it brought me new friends. It is a good policy, however old or fit one is, and may be recommended for pretty much everyone.

Roger Tagg

Newark, Nottinghamshire

Avian interlopers

SIR  I couldnt agree more with Jane Shilling (Comment, June 10): the raucous shrieking of ring-necked parakeets drowns out the birdsong of native species.

These bullying braggarts also steal food left out for the other birds, many of which are already threatened. They are gaudy interlopers, and it is time to stop romanticising them.

My dislike of parakeets specifically has nothing to do with being nicknamed Polly throughout my school days.

Tony Parrack

London SW20

Fruits of the sea

SIR  On a holiday with friends on the Isle of Man, one of my group ordered kippers for breakfast (Letters, June 11). A single kipper arrived.

My friend argued that the menu advertised kippers, plural, and in any case kippers should be in pairs. The following morning he ordered from the foreign waiter: Kippers, a pair. When the dish arrived there was a single kipper accompanied by a beautifully peeled pear.

David Widdows

Duffield, Derbyshire

Farages goal

SIR  Nigel Farage (Letters, June 11), having severely damaged the country by engineering Brexit, now seeks to demolish the Conservative Party in the general election.

A supporter of Donald Trump and an apologist for Vladimir Putin, he is the most destructive force in politics today. I hope voters do not fall for his false promises this time round.

Sir Christopher Gent

Newbury, Berkshire

SIR  I was horrified to hear about Nigel Farage having things thrown at him while on the Reform UK battle bus (telegraph.co.uk, June 11). It comes after he was splashed by a milkshake last week in Clacton.

We cannot tolerate this shocking behaviour, almost always carried out by far-Left activists. Are we to be a democracy at the mercy of the mob?

Nathan Hobbs

Brentwood, Essex

Green-belt planning

SIR  I am struck by the vacuousness of Labours pledge to build data centres on green-belt land (report, June 10). Data centres can be built just about anywhere, and adjusting their location by 50 miles here or there will make virtually no difference to the time it takes to communicate with them.

If we are going to break planning taboos and force decisions on local authorities, surely the focus should be on housing. It would be possible to make a real difference to the distances workers have to travel, and the amount of time it takes them to get to work.

In the event that a future government did greenlight the building of dozens of new green-belt data centres  or housing developments for that matter  it would still take a decade or more to provide them with the electricity supply they would require to operate.

Mark Lichfield

London SW10

Passing the book

SIR  Back in the early 1960s it was still possible to deposit parcels and luggage underneath the stairs on Southampton Corporation buses while one travelled.

Friends and I used to parcel up old books (Letters, June 11) and address the parcels to a teacher we didnt particularly like. We then left them under the stairs of various buses. We never heard if he was called to collect them but it gave us some satisfaction and relieved us of unwanted books.

Howard Wallace-Sims

Sandwich, Kent

Where to go to find oranges in abundance

An orange tree in the city of Vila Vicosa in the Alentejo region of Portugal - Alamy

SIR  You report (June 10) that supplies of orange juice may be under threat as a consequence of drought, disease and extreme weather.

In Portugal, however, there is an overproduction of oranges. Some groves have been taken down but now there are many more being set.

Orange trees are unusual in that they bear fruit and blossom together.

Michael Pile

Bedford

A threat to Britains entire education system

SIR  Under the Value Added Tax Act 1994, private schools have been exempt from having to add VAT to the fees they charge parents for the education of their children. This is in line with the widely accepted principle that education and learning should not be taxed. The principle is a good one and should be upheld.

Now, in an example of the politics of envy, Labour is set to place a significant burden on hard-pressed parents by removing the existing statutory exemption (Letters, June 11). The inevitable consequence  which is already happening  is that parents will remove their children from private education on the basis that they cannot afford the increased fees, and private schools will close as they can no longer be run on a financially secure basis.

This is not something that will happen at the margins. It will give rise to an across-the-board reassessment of the future of private education in this country. The socialising of education, with the end of private education, is no doubt precisely what the Labour Party wants to achieve. The policy is not only pernicious but also ill-conceived, given that, as things currently stand, the state sector is in no position to take on a vast mass of children formerly educated in private schools.

Richard Symington

London SW17

SIR  I wonder if Sir Keir Starmer is aware of the number of children in this country who have special educational needs and attend private schools because the state is incapable of giving them the support to which they are legally entitled.

I know of a wonderful school where, alongside the children whose parents pay fees, there are large numbers of children supported by local authorities, who may be sent there in taxis because there is nothing close to where they live. If parents cannot persuade their local authority to pay, many will stretch themselves to cover the fees.

Can Labour really intend for some of these pupils to move to state schools that may not be able to support them adequately? These are the most disadvantaged children in our educational system.

Diane Alder

Godalming, Surrey

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A Lexington man at the center of a shooting investigation on University Avenue that left 11 University of Kentucky students injured has accepted a plea deal related to the incident.

Jason Almanza-Arroyo, 20, was charged with 10 counts of second degree assault and other offenses after he allegedly fired a shot that injured 11 people in September 2022. One person was wounded by the bullet and 10 others were hit by shrapnel and debris from the shot, according to court records.

Other charges included wanton endangerment, public intoxication, disorderly conduct, assault on a police officer and felon in possession of a handgun.

Almanza-Arroyo waived further proceedings and entered a guilty plea on Monday, according to court documents.

The plea deal will dismiss 15 of his 30 original charges and amend seven of the charges to a misdemeanor offense.

He faces six years in prison for a count of second-degree assault, two years for two counts of wanton endangerment and one year for the seven amended misdemeanor charges of second-degree wanton endangerment.

His sentencing is July 26.

What happened the night of the shooting

On Sept. 7, 2022, police responded to the 200 block of University Avenue for a report of a shooting with a victim, according to Officer Greg George with the Lexington Police Department, who testified previously.

Police said one shot was fired in the homes basement.

UK officials previously said the victim who was shot was a female student. The 10 others who were hurt were also students.

None of the injuries were life threatening.

The party was thrown by the Theta Chi fraternity, according to a UK spokesperson.

A second defendant, Juan Guerrero-Zendejas, was also arrested in the case. He was charged with tampering with physical evidence, criminal possession of a forged instrument, resisting arrest, fleeing police and public intoxication.

Guerrero-Zendejas has pleaded not guilty, according to court documents. His case remains ongoing.

UK officials previously said the suspects arrested were not students, and they werent invited to the party.
Ukraine has fulfilled all the recommendations of the European Commission. Therefore, the European Union can now start negotiations on our country's accession to this association.

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This may happen by the end of June this year. This was stated by President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen at the opening ceremony of the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2024 in Berlin on June 11.

"Ukraine has fulfilled all the steps we have prescribed and formulated. That is why we believe that the European Union should start accession negotiations by the end of this month... Kharkiv is Europe, Ukraine is Europe and our union is your home. Glory to Ukraine and long live Europe!" she said.

The President of the European Commission added that Ukraine has implemented reforms and democratic transformations, including strengthening the rule of law and fighting corruption in the face of the Russian invasion. Von der Leyen called Ukraine's achievements in this regard "impressive".

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As reported earlier, Ukraine Recovery Conference kicked off in Berlin on June 11. The event was attended by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Federal Chancellor of Germany Olaf Scholz.

In his speech, the latter called on the world leaders present to fully support the initiative to increase Ukraine's air defense capabilities "with everything you can" because "the best reconstruction is the one that is prevented."

"We will rebuild Ukraine," he assured.

Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber . Do not fall for fakes!
Life will never be the same: Family of boy who drowned in Provo River speaks out

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  A 12-year-old boy died on Saturday after being swept into the Provo River, and his family spoke out about the situation on Monday.

In a shared social media post with Provo Fire and Rescue, the boys parents wrote a statement in which they shared heartbreaking news that no mother should ever have to share.

My sweet, tender, tenacious, crazy, handsome, and caring Finnley left us, his family on this earth behind, to go on a new and heavenly adventure, Lyndsay Udall wrote on Monday.

PREVIOUS STORY: Boy, 12, dies after being swept into Provo River on trip to Utah

On Saturday, the boy was swept into the Provo River and was pulled out by officials after traveling four miles and being in the water for more than 30 minutes.

Once I heard someone say a child was in the water, I immediately knew it was him, Udall said.

Udall said her sons fall was not witnessed by the family as they were hiking to Bridal Veil Falls in Provo Canyon.

Were not quite sure what the circumstances were, but the child ended up falling into the water, Sergeant Garrett Dutson of the Utah County Sheriffs Office told ABC4.com on Saturday.

The UCSO posted on social media on Saturday evening  just hours after the boy had been rescued from the river  to say that he had died.

Finnley took up a lot of space wherever he went, Udall said. And that space will be hard to live with because it will never be filled.

Udall wrote that several people responded when she asked for help, by calling 911 and helping the family try to locate her son. She continued to thank the first responders, bystanders and other officials who helped her family during the situation.

During this incredibly difficult time, many strangers became our personal angels, offering their help and support along the river, Udall said. I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone who was there for us. Your assistance, compassion, and kindness meant the world to my family.

The Udalls also expressed their gratitude that no one was seriously injured while helping to find their son, and shared several photos along with the statement.

He died how he lived his life, just skating on the edge of danger and loving every minute of it, the statement concluded.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
FILE - In this Oct. 20, 2012, file photo activist Noam Chomsky stands during a press conference to support the Gaza-bound flotilla in the port of Gaza City. Chomsky is hospitalized in his wife's native country of Brazil after suffering a massive stroke, she confirmed Tuesday, June 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Hatem Moussa, File)

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP)  Linguist, activist and social critic Noam Chomsky is hospitalized in his wife's native country of Brazil recovering from a massive stroke he had a year ago, she confirmed Tuesday.

Valeria Chomsky said via email that her 95-year-old husband is in a Sao Paulo hospital, where she took him on an ambulance jet with two nurses once he could more easily travel from the United States following the June 2023 stroke. The couple has had a residence there since 2015.

She confirmed the details of a Monday report in the Brazilian newspaper Folha de S.Paulo, which said her husband has difficulty speaking and the right side of his body is affected. He is visited daily by a neurologist, speech therapist and lung specialist.

Valeria Chomsky told the newspaper that her husband follows the news and when he sees images of the war in Gaza, he raises his left arm in a gesture of lament and anger.

Noam Chomsky, seen by many around the world as a symbol of protest and independence, is an influential activist and critic who has frequently challenged U.S. policy on everything from the Middle East to Central America, as well as what he considers a compliant media. His books and essays are read and discussed by millions.

Chomsky was a longtime faculty member at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In 2017 he joined the College of Social & Behavioral Sciences at the University of Arizona in Tucson, where he is currently listed as Laureate Professor of Linguistics, Agnese Helms Haury Chair.

He transformed the study of linguistics with his landmark 1957 book, Syntactic Structures, in which he wrote that humans do not simply learn language but are born with an innate ability that explains how they can formulate and understand sentences never seen or heard before.

Valeria Chomsky also told Folha de S.Paulo that she is thinking about moving to an apartment near the beach in Rio de Janeiro after reading that living in a sunny place can help stroke patients.
Hunter Biden and his wife, Melissa Cohen Biden, arrive to hear the verdict in federal court in Wilmington, Del., on Tuesday. (Matt Rourke / Associated Press)

You cant fault the jury that found Hunter Biden guilty Tuesday of falsely claiming that he was not a drug user on a federal firearm purchase form. Notwithstanding defense arguments that the government failed to pinpoint Bidens drug use as occurring precisely when he bought the gun, the jurors had ample basis to conclude that he was in the throes of a crack cocaine addiction before, during and after the transaction.

The case's substantial flaws lay not in the evidence but rather in special counsel David Weiss' decision to bring it in the first place, in effect throwing the book at President Biden's son. That was an abuse of prosecutorial discretion.

The fact is that it hasn't been Justice Department practice to prosecute anyone for lying on the federal firearms form unless a gun is used in a crime or, in rare cases, another extenuating factor exists  known involvement in a criminal gang, for example. Hunter Biden, by contrast, possessed his gun for all of 11 days and never used it.

Read more: Litman: Hunter Biden was indicted on gun charges. Here's the real reason he's in trouble

Weiss, a former U.S. attorney held over from the Trump administration to avoid any appearance of political interference with the Biden investigation, initially handled the case in a way that was consistent with those facts. After a five-year investigation, the Justice Department proposed to dispose of the case with a diversion agreement, which would have allowed Biden to avoid punishment on the gun charge if he stayed out of trouble for two years. Biden agreed.

The plea agreement was all but signed, sealed and delivered when it was presented in a Delaware federal court in July 2023, whereupon it stood to be swiftly consummated 999 times out of 1,000. But it was Biden's terrible luck that the agreement was poorly written to suggest that U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika would make the final determination as to whether the terms were satisfied. The judge understandably balked at this unorthodox provision, and the agreement unraveled in court.

By then the deal had become deeply embroiled in politics. Republicans on Capitol Hill, who were openly trying to leverage Hunter Biden's misconduct into an impeachment of the president, alleged that the plea agreement was a sweetheart deal. The month after it fell apart, Atty. Gen. Merrick Garland made Weiss a special counsel, giving him free rein to continue investigating Biden.

Read more: Litman: Does it matter that Donald Trump just became a convicted criminal? Of course it does

Bidens lawyers, led by Abbe Lowell, bitterly accused the Justice Department of reneging on the plea deal, attempting to persuade the court that the diversion agreement was still valid. Weiss' lengthy, biting response made it clear that the parties were at loggerheads and that Biden was in very hot water.

Weiss soon brought the indictment on which Biden was just convicted. He faces 15 to 21 months in prison under federal sentencing guidelines, though its likely that the court will impose a lighter sentence.

Lowell was aggressive in trying to get the indictment dismissed, arguing that Biden was a target of selective prosecution and that abandoning the agreement was unlawful. But the legal channels for making such claims are extraordinarily narrow for generally sensible reasons. The system assumes that prosecutors will make charging decisions in good faith and that juries will determine guilt based on the facts.

For the same reason, Bidens defense could not make normally extraneous legal arguments at trial about the prosecutor's decision to bring the case. The jurors had to stick to determining the credibility of the evidence, and their prompt verdict shows that they did not hesitate in concluding that Biden knew he was a drug user when he denied it on the form.

This isn't to quibble with the notion that Biden lied on the form or that he engaged in other culpable conduct during a dark period of his life. But the tortuous course of this case illustrates a flaw in the special counsel regulations, at least in our current hyperpartisan atmosphere.

Most federal prosecutors work within a supervisory structure that seeks to ensure horizontal equity  that is, like treatment of like offenses  and sensible use of federal charges against the most serious offenders. Had a rank-and-file prosecutor drafted the Biden indictment and sent it up the chain of command for approval, the question would have been whether there were aggravating factors to justify the case. And there werent.

But because Garland had made Weiss a special counsel and resolved to be completely hands-off, the prosecutor was able to bring the case anyway.

The parties exchanged heated arguments after the indictment was brought. Biden claimed that he was singled out for selective prosecution for illegitimate reasons  in effect, his last name. Weiss disparaged that as fiction designed for a Hollywood script.

The inference that Weiss caved to pressure from congressional Republicans in charging the presidents son is hard to avoid. But its not necessary to unequivocally reach that conclusion to find basic fault with the case.

Hunter Biden was singled out for harsher treatment than any other comparable defendant would have been in the normal run of federal prosecutions. Thats injustice enough.

Harry Litman is the host of the Talking Feds podcast and the Talking San Diego speaker series. @harrylitman

If its in the news right now, the L.A. Times Opinion section covers it. Sign up for our weekly opinion newsletter.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Burleigh County residents fill out ballots during the first day of early voting for the North Dakota primary at the Bismarck Event Center on June 5, 2024. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)

North Dakota voters will vote on high-profile primary races today, including selecting the Republican to compete for governor and the states sole U.S. House seat.

Its been a busy time in North Dakota politics since Gov. Doug Burgum announced in January he would not seek a third term. The next day, U.S. Rep. Kelly Armstrong, who had intended to seek reelection, switched gears and announced plans to run for governor.

Lt. Gov. Tammy Miller also joined the race for governor. The winner will go on to face Democrat Merrill Piepkorn in November.

The U.S. House race has five Republican candidates, though one has not been actively campaigning. Public Service Commissioner Julie Fedorchak, conservative former state lawmaker Rick Becker, attorney and former Miss America Cara Mund and retired veteran Alex Balazs have had fiery debates in the race for the nomination. Williston woman Sharlet Mohr also is on the ballot. The winner will compete against either Democrat Trygve Hammer or Roland Riemers.

Several Republican incumbents are facing legislative challenges. Voters also will decide on a ballot measure to establish age limits for North Dakota members of Congress. In addition, voters will weigh in on local city, county and school board races.

North Dakota Monitor staff will update this feed with the latest election news. Please keep checking back for updates or stay with us as results become available.

Key Events

The post Live coverage: North Dakota 2024 primary election appeared first on North Dakota Monitor.
The boycott of Loblaw-affiliated stores was started by a group on Reddit who wanted to pressure the chain during the month of May. It's still going for some shoppers

What started out as a May-long boycott of Loblaw and its affiliated stores across the country is still going strong for many Canadian shoppers who are vowing to shun the grocery giant and its chains indefinitely.

"Loblaws Is Out of Control," the Reddit group that organized and launched the initial boycott, is now encouraging Canadians who are able to take part to continue the boycott of the giant's stores, like the flagship Loblaws, Shoppers Drug Mart, Real Canadian Superstore, No Frills and Zehrs, among others.

The Reddit forum was launched in November by Emily Johnson of Milton, Ont., and now boasts nearly 90,000 members. The organizers of the boycott chose to target Loblaw and its affiliates, rather than other grocery chains like Sobeys or Metro, because of its tremendous reach. By the giant's own data, more than 90 per cent of Canadians live within 10 kilometres of at least one of Loblaw's 2,400 stores.

Yahoo Canada spoke to several people who are members of the Reddit group "Loblaws Is Out of Control" who said they are continuing their boycott past the month of May, into June, and indefinitely. Six Canadians spoke to us about why they're doing it and how they're managing to avoid the grocery and drug store empire long term.

I'm amazed at how this boycott has succeeded and brought together so many Canadians who probably otherwise disagree on many issues.

The following testimonials were shared with Yahoo Canada by Canadian shoppers across the country who are members of the "Loblaws Is Out of Control" Reddit forum. Some entries have been edited for length and clarity.

Grace Wong is a 58-year-old who lives in Edmonton, Alta., with her partner and 19-year-old son. She owns a computer repair shop. A recent post of hers on the "Loblaws Is Out of Control" subreddit garnered lots of attention when she announced she'd used up all her PC Optimum points and would be closing her account.

Suzanne is a 63-year-old who lives alone in London, Ont. She is a retired lawyer.

Melanie is a 61-year-old who lives alone in Winnipeg, Man. She is retired.

PJ is a 65-year-old who lives alone in Victoria, B.C. She is a customer service associate.

Erin is a 46-year-old who lives alone in Campbell River, B.C. She is a social worker.

Rick is a 69-year-old who lives in St. Johns, Nfld., with his wife and adult son.

Real Canadian Superstore in Edmonton. On Thursday, May 12, 2022, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Canadians shoppers learned of Loblaws boycott from Reddit

Grace: I learned about the boycott pretty much how everyone else did  on social media. I joined the subreddit, and I thought they made a lot of good points.

Suzanne: There's a widening gap between rich and poor in this country. I feel that corporations like Loblaw are deliberately and directly contributing to that. In one month, the Reddit community has done more to raise awareness and fight back than any level of government has. I refuse to set foot [in the stores of] any Weston-owned company. They have lied to Canadians and scammed us for decades.

Melanie: I joined the boycott because it was obvious to me that things had gotten out of hand. I was not aware of how crazy they'd gotten until I started learning from my fellow boycotters.

PJ: I'm amazed at how this boycott has succeeded and brought together so many Canadians who probably otherwise disagree on many issues. I've been part of boycotts in the past but never one so successful and impactful.

Erin: I remember on one of the Reddit groups, someone posted a picture of Christmas ornaments that were $80. I remember looking at that and thinking, If thats $80, how much is Christmas dinner? Then the whole "Loblaws Is Out of Control" started and I learned about all the things like shrinkflation, and the bread price fixing, and I was finally annoyed enough ... And its been really cool to watch it sort of taking off.

It was obvious to me that they'd gotten out of hand. I was not aware of how crazy they'd gotten until I started learning from my fellow boycotters.

Longueuil,Quebec,Canada-July 5th 2011:Loblaws supermarket from parking lot

The straw that broke the camel's back: Why Canadian shoppers have had enough of Loblaws

Grace: My grocery bill every month, even though its just three people, is absolutely horrific.

Suzanne: It makes no financial sense to pay for the privilege of shopping at a chain that treats customers as if they were criminals. I despise the self checkouts and refuse to use them for two reasons; Widespread automation obviates the need for a human employee, costing someone a job. And second, I don't work there, so why would I do this myself?

Melanie: It was actually back near the end of last year that I blew off Superstore. I did up a cart and thought Geez that's rather high.' I did a matching cart at Walmart and Walmart won. I did it once more after the new year and same thing. I haven't given them anything since.

PJ: As a senior, I'm incensed at price gouging. When I started seeing people in that subreddit posting photos of prices at Loblaws I couldn't believe how badly they treat their customers. Every grocery chain dances that fine line between not losing customers, and making the biggest profit they can. But Loblaws does it with such contempt for its customers.

Erin: I just did a big grocery shop because I just movedif I had gone to Superstore, it would have been close to $1,000, but at Walmart it was $400. I was shocked. I dont think Ill ever go back.

When I started seeing people in that subreddit posting photos of prices at Loblaws I couldn't believe how badly they treat their customers.

Toronto, Canada - August 26, 2021: A Costco delivery truck on the street in Toronto, Canada. Costco is an American corporation which operates a chain of membership-only big-box retail stores.

Life 'has gotten easier' since the boycott, with 'plethora' of choice

Grace: The nice thing about living in a large metro area, theres lots of options. I shop at Sobeys, organic markets, HMart, which carries all the same stuff as T&T, and Costco.

Suzanne: I have been impacted by the boycott positively only. I have saved in excess of $400 this month alone and will continue to shop at the London food co-op. London has a few independent markets, and I go to a butcher shop run by one guy who learned the business in his country of origin, Hungary. He sells beautiful bacon. For $8.99/lb, you get actual fresh, thick cut bacon. At Loblaws and its affiliates, you'd pay $14 for a package of whisper thin fat with very little meat on it. I spend much less there for better quality food and I'm supporting a small business. For produce, I use a delivery service where a $40 box will feed two households  mine and my neighbour's  for roughly a week.

Melanie: Canadian families are just trying to eat. I'm lucky that I can afford to shop where ever I want, really. Groceries are cheaper everywhere that isn't Loblaws, Sobeys, Safeway and Save On. It's not that far out of anyone's way here  especially with cheap delivery ... My shopping habits are limited to who will deliver. I now have three deliveries every week: Giant Tiger, Dollarama and Walmart.

PJ: There's a plethora of choices here, I'm really lucky. Victoria also has a Chinatown with lots of affordable fresh produce. I can't drive due to a vision issue and I've become a ninja shopper, scouring the flyers every week, planning my food buying around loss-leader items, planning my bus trips, and calculating how much I can carry. It's very satisfying to score great deals. And if I can do that, anyone with a car can do it much more easily.

Erin: Loblaws is at least $6 for pickup, and at least $10 plus tip for delivery. At Walmart its free to pick up, which means now I dont have to plan my grocery shopping. I can literally put an order in while I'm sitting at work and pick it up after work, it doesnt cost me anything. Life has gotten easier because of this boycott.

Rick: I've been using local markets, butchers, bakers, farmers markets, Walmart and Costco. I moved my prescriptions to Costco and found big savings.

I spend much less there for better quality food and I'm supporting a small business.

Loblaws CEO Per Bank is photographed at a Suppliers Summit in Toronto, Thursday, May 16, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

Loblaw grievances pile up for Canadian shoppers

Grace: For me, it was sort of a game to see how many [PC Optimum] points I could get. But if Im spending thousands of dollars to get $100 in points, is that worth it? Maybe not. Now that Ive used all the points Im cancelling my PC Optimum membership.

Suzanne: I am going out of my way to avoid [Loblaw-affliated stores]. I'm terminally ill and have a substantial amount of expensive prescriptions - those were transferred to [a local] pharmacy that offers free delivery and substantially lower dispensing fees. I think they have lost this chunk of customers forever. There's no way to win me back. I also cancelled my PC credit card. [They employ] practices that are emblematic of the arrogance and contempt with which they view their own customers ... like selling underweight and expired food, to cutting the discount on expiring food from 50 per cent off to 30 per cent off.

Melanie: I got a lovely steak yesterday that I wouldn't dare get from Superstore. The attitude of [Loblaw Chair Galen] Weston and [CEO Per] Bank are over the top and they are so dismissive and condescending.

PJ: People have realized that Loblaws stores charge on average 25 to 30 per cent higher prices for the same items ... assuming that [customers] will just suck it up and pay too much.

Erin: I remember when Superstore first came to where I lived, they were the cheapest. You could save money shopping there. I dont know when it changed, but it changed.

Rick: It's simple economics ... You can get one deodorant for $9.99 at Shoppers Drug Mart, or five of the same at Costco for $14.99!

I think they have lost this chunk of customers forever. There's no way to win me back. I also cancelled my PC credit card.

These Canadians say they will boycott Loblaw forever

Suzanne: I will keep boycotting them forever. I have a responsibility to do my bit for my son's generation and those that follow to at least give them a fighting chance to have a comfortable life.

Melanie: When I think of all the money that Loblaws has literally stolen from Canadian families on food of all things it makes me sick. Like many, I won't give them my money ever again.

PJ: Im choosing to keep boycotting for purely selfish reasons: More money in my bank account at the end of the month. I don't see this as anything but a permanent boycott. Once you've altered your routine and learned a new store layout, once you've brought home produce that costs 30 per cent less and it lasts a week in the fridge, why would anyone go back? Only a masochist would.

Erin: Canadians can really make change. The boycott is working. The more people that join, the faster and more efficient it will work.

Grace: Im boycotting permanently because Im getting sick and tired of paying so much for what seems like not an awful lot, and finding out after the fact that you go shop elsewhere and you can get it for a hell of a lot cheaper than Loblaws.

Rick: I'm not going back because I'm saving too much money and meeting local businesses.

When I think of all the money that Loblaws has literally stolen from Canadian families on food of all things it makes me sick.
SOUTH CAROLINA (AP)  Federal and state lawmakers in South Carolina will go before voters on Tuesday in primary elections, where the latest skirmish in an ongoing feud involving a former Republican U.S. House Speaker will play out.

Voters will decide nearly 90 contested primaries for the House of Representatives and both chambers of the state legislature. Republicans grip on those offices is likely not at risk this fall, but one contest may further exacerbate a high-profile rift within the party.

QUICK NAVIGATION

Polls open at 7 a.m. Tuesday

SC U.S. House | SC State Senate | SC Solicitor

York County | Chester County | Chesterfield County | Lancaster County

Heres a look at what to expect on Tuesday:

PRIMARY DAY

The South Carolina state primary will be held Tuesday. Polls close at 7 p.m. ET.

WHATS ON THE BALLOT

The Associated Press will provide vote results and declare winners in 88 races, including nine contested primaries for the U.S. House, 23 for the state Senate, and 56 for the state House.

Queen City News will have statewide election results, in addition to local SC races.

WHO GETS TO VOTE

South Carolina has an open primary system, which means any registered voter may participate in any partys primary.

DECISION NOTES

In South Carolina, primaries with three or more candidates are subject to a runoff if no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote. If the leading candidate in a contest hovers near the 50% mark, the race might not be called until additional votes are counted.

The AP will either call winners in races in which a candidate has clearly received more than 50% of the vote or, if no candidate has received a majority, declare that each of the top two vote-getters has advanced to a runoff.

The AP does not make projections and will declare a winner only when its determined there is no scenario that would allow the trailing candidates to close the gap. If a race has not been called, the AP will continue to cover any newsworthy developments, such as candidate concessions or declarations of victory. In doing so, the AP will make clear that it has not yet declared a winner and explain why.

In South Carolina, recounts are automatic if the margin between the winning and losing candidates (or between the second-place runoff-qualifying candidate and a candidate who does not qualify for the runoff) is not more than 1% of the total vote. The AP may declare a winner in a race that is eligible for a recount if it can determine the lead is too large for a recount or legal challenge to change the outcome.

WHAT DO TURNOUT AND ADVANCE VOTE LOOK LIKE?

As of June 5, there were nearly 3.3 million registered voters in South Carolina.

In the 2022 primaries for governor, turnout was 5% of registered voters in the Democratic primary and 10% in the Republican primary. About 29% of Democratic primary voters and 17% of Republican primary voters cast their ballots before primary day.

As of June 5, a total of 82,724 voters had cast ballots before primary day, most of it in the form of early in-person voting. About 15,000 votes were cast by mail, about 48% for the Democratic primaries and about 52% in the Republican primaries.

HOW LONG DOES VOTE COUNTING USUALLY TAKE?

In the 2022 primaries, the AP first reported results at 7:21 p.m. ET, or 21 minutes after polls closed. The election night tabulation ended at 1:14 a.m. ET with more than 99% of total votes counted.

ARE WE THERE YET?

As of Tuesday, there will be 147 days until the November general election.

SOUTH CAROLINA RACES

Statewide and local races for Tuesday, June 11, below:

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
Five people, including OceanGate's CEO Stockton Rush, were onboard the vessel when it imploded in the Atlantic Ocean in June 2023

Ocean Gate / Handout/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images The Titan submersible from OceanGate that imploded in June 2023

A purported log of the Titan submersible crew's final words has reportedly been deemed fake.

A federal team of investigators found no evidence that the five people onboard the Titan sub on June 18, 2023 were aware of the pending implosion, according to The New York Times.

The transcript, which began circulating online just days after the submersible went missing in the Atlantic Ocean, offered a detailed timeline of the supposed events and conversations leading up to the implosion.

Im confident its a false transcript, said Captain Jason Neubauer, a retired member of the U.S. Coast Guard who serves as chairman of the Marine Board of Investigation. It was made up.

Related: New 'Titan' Sub Documentary Highlights Audio of Rhythmic Knocking Heard During Search

EyePress News/Shutterstock The Titan submersible that imploded in the Atlantic Ocean in June 2023

The transcript that circulated the internet after the Titans disappearance suggested the submersibles passengers warned their mothership of alarms going off inside the vessel shortly before the implosion.

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.

However, federal investigators obtained records of the real communications between the submersible and the Polar Prince, which apparently disprove the viral transcripts accuracy.

Somebody did it well enough to make it look plausible, Neubauer said.

The Coast Guard did not immediately respond to PEOPLEs request for comment.

HANDOUT/OceanGate Expeditions/AFP via Getty The Titan submersible, which imploded while exploring the Atlantic Ocean in June 2023

The Titan sub was venturing to the bottom of the ocean to view the Titanic wreckage when it lost contact with Canadian expedition vessel Polar Prince about an hour and 45 minutes into its dive.

Crews began searching for the submersible a short time later. It took four days to locate the wreckage at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean.

All five people onboard the submersible  OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush, billionaire Shahzada Dawood and his son Suleman Dawood, billionaire Hamish Harding and Titanic expert Paul-Henri Nargeolet  died.

Related: Loved Ones of 5 'Titan' Submersible Victims Pay Tribute: 'We Are United in Grief'

Neubauer said the investigation into the Titans implosion was one of the most complicated he has experienced through decades of work, according to the Times.

Some parts of the investigation have been complicated by several factors, including the involvement of multiple international agencies, he added.

A full report on the implosion could take two to three years to complete.



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Read the original article on People.
The Republican National Convention kicks off in Milwaukee 34 days from now and, its fair to say, it doesnt much matter.

There should be no drama about the nomination, with all but one of Donald Trumps intra-party rivals having acquiesced, with degrees of enthusiasm ranging from ecstasy to begrudgement.

Some of the ecstatics, like North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, are in the hunt to be Trumps running mate, the identity of whom will be the only major point of interest around the convention.

For decades, the major parties have worked hard to drain their conventions of drama, recasting what had been raucous affairs into slickly produced, four-day infomercials for their campaigns. When COVID came along, it made the job that much easier. The Republicans, who didnt even bother writing a policy platform, opted to abuse the advantages of incumbency by turning public buildings and historic sites into campaign venues. Democrats, meanwhile, turned an event hall in Milwaukee into a sound stage for their show, the QVC DNC.

Democrats liked the no-contact option for nominations so much that theyre doing it again this time. Citing a since-withdrawn threat from Ohio Republicans to keep Biden off the Buckeye State ballot because the convention fell after Ohios deadline for nomination certification, Democrats announced they would do another Zoom call nomination before the convention. Tellingly, the party did not change plans after the threat was lifted.

Given the intensity of the anti-Biden protests from anti-Israel groups, including some Democratic superdelegates, event organizers are no doubt glad to have one less thing indeed, the most important thingto worry about. Plus, for those of you still wondering whether Democrats might be looking for a nominee switcheroo, this highly irregular departure from normal procedure could open up yet new vistas for speculation.

It wouldnt be that the scripted, carefully selected virtual delegates would stun the world with a different pick than Biden, but that any tweaks to the rules could create new space on the calendar and in procedures for picking an alternate nominee. Interesting, but not likely. As with most of this presidential election, the nominations will almost certainly slog forward with the same kind of relentless certainty of a Marvel script or a colonoscopy.

Even so, when Democrats gather in Chicago 69 days hence, there will be great interest, but not about anything happening inside McCormick Place or the United Center. The show will be in the streets, where both sides are preparing for the mother of all anti-Israel protests. The Secret Service will be better at this than the Chicago Police goon squad that brawled with Yippies in 1968, but the incentive for the pro-Palestinian contingent to make matters as awful as possible will be very great indeed.

For the Democrats, the story will be about what happens outside the convention. For the Republicans, it will be about what happens before the convention, namely Trumps selection of a running mate.

The pundit class will tell you that nobody votes for vice president, which is, in a narrow sense, true. But running mate picks are most certainly consequential. The traditional role for a vice presidential nominee is to unite the party, in theory freeing the candidate at the top of the ticket to reach out to persuadable independents.

Sometimessee Palin, Sarahthe move works internally but, rather than freeing the presidential nominee to reach out, actually does substantial damage with voters in the middle. Other times, the choice is palatable to the general electorate but disappoints the party faithful, like Sen. Tim Kaine with already underwhelmed Democrats in 2016.

Trump has a great opportunity in this way, since what would work to unite his party is exactly the same energy that would help Trump allay the concerns of skeptical moderates. If he picks a traditional conservative in the mold of, if not the person of, Nikki Haley, Trump will be telling Reaganite Republicans that he still cares and letting the persuadables know that there will be an adult in the room.

It worked with Mike Pence in 2016, but given Pences searing indictment of Trumps misconduct in trying to steal a second term, finding a citizen quite that solid to be Trumps wingman again may be harder. Sen. Tim Scott, Haleys home state senator and a longtime favorite of traditional conservatives, seems like the most Pencian choice, but Trump may be leery of anyone prone to sudden attacks of conscience. Trump may prefer an attack dog or a member of the same populist wing as himself. Or, given Trumps penchant for plot twists, it could be someone not currently auditioning for the job.

The first of two scheduled debates between the presidential candidates takes place in 16 days, with the second one set for 75 days after that, on September 10. In between will be the two pseudo-conventions, one criminal sentencing, and an unknown number of gaffes, attacks, pivots, and walkbacks.

Thats the shape of the summer of 2024, and maybe the longest three months in American political history.

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Longtime firefighter pleads guilty to theft in office, tampering with records

A longtime firefighter will have his certification as a peace officer terminated following his guilty plea to two felony charges.

Matthew Wells, 52, of Galion, pleaded guilty Monday in Richland County Common Pleas Court to tampering with records, a third-degree felony; and an amended charge of theft in office, a third-degree felony.

In exchange for his plea, the state dismissed a second count of theft in office, nine counts of tampering with records and one count of telecommunications fraud.

Under terms of the agreement, Wells will make more than $26,000 in restitution.

He most recently has been the Crestline fire chief.

Wells previously was employed by the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, the Springfield Township Fire Department in Richland County and the Pleasant Township Fire Department in Marion.

Matthew Wells listens in court last week during a hearing to discuss a motion to dismiss his theft in office case. He pleaded guilty Monday to two felony charges. (JASON J. MOLYET/MANSFIELD NEWS JOURNAL)

The Ohio Auditor's Office is handling the case for the state. Special Prosecutor Matt Anger reviewed the details of the case for Judge Phil Naumoff.

Anger said Wells was employed by the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce from 2015-2023.

Wells began working for fire departments while an employee of Ohio Department of Education and Workforce

"In October or November of 2016, Mr. Wells began working as a floater for the Springfield Township Fire Department and also worked at the Pleasant Township Fire Department," Anger said. "Mr. Wells began working at Springfield and Pleasant during the hours he was supposed to be working for ODE."

At times, Wells either claimed work hours for two agencies or used paid leave, including sick leave, from one while working for another.

"His time cards showed he worked at ODE when he was working for the fire departments," Anger said. "The records were false."

Wells was ordered to make $13,181.96 in restitution to ODE and an equal amount to the state auditor's office.

The veteran firefighter was scheduled to go to trial Tuesday after Naumoff denied a defense motion to dismiss the case last week.

With his plea, Wells agreed to his decertification as a peace officer. He will be sentenced July 15.

Anger said after the hearing that he will defer to the judge on sentencing. Wells could receive three years in prison for tampering with records and 18 months for theft in office.

The state initiated an investigation Jan. 20, 2022. The original date ranges for the allegations were between Oct. 25, 2016, and July 30, 2021.

In October, Wells was indicted on charges of theft in office, two counts of grand theft and a misdemeanor count of representation by a public official or employee.

In April, he was re-indicted on the current charges, and the previous case was dismissed.

"The major change in charges is the inclusion of new tampering charges and one telecommunications fraud charge," Anger previously wrote in his response to the motion to dismiss.

Wells will undergo a presentence investigation. He is free on bond.

mcaudill@gannett.com

419-521-7219

X: @MarkCau32059251

This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Crestline fire chief pleads guilty to offenses in Richland County
The West must "do more" and hit the Russian Federation's most sensitive spots with sanctions in response to the Russian shelling of Ukraine's energy system. The tools of economic pressure that Kremlin dictator Vladimir Putin fears should be used.

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This opinion was expressed by British Foreign Secretary David Cameron. On Wednesday, June 11, he spoke at the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2024 in Berlin, Germany.

Cameron believes that partners have "largely stopped the flow of Russian oil". "But it's time to make sure that we completely cut off Russian gas in Europe. We need to do more," he said.

The British Foreign Secretary also advocates the use of frozen assets of the aggressor state.

"We need to ask ourselves: what is Putin afraid of? He is afraid that we will give up hydrocarbons. He is afraid that we will take up the frozen state assets of Russia. And I hope that at the G7 summit this week, we will at least agree to use the interest from the frozen assets to raise a huge loan for Ukraine. And the money will start coming in long before the November elections in America," Cameron said.

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He also drew attention to the shadow fleet of the Russian Federation - ships without insurance, which are dangerous for the environment.

"I want to know that every time they enter a neutral port, they are checked, arrested and prevented from transporting Russian oil and selling it around the world. As I said, we have all the cards: the strongest economy, the best alliances, experience, knowledge, and we must use all of it," the politician said.

He assured that "Britain is playing its role" and will help Ukraine in various areas, including insurance, technology, investment, reconstruction and others.

"The question for us is whether we have the courage to play all these cards and whether we have the patience to make sure that Ukraine wins in the long run," the British Foreign Secretary said.

As reported by OBOZ.UA:

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- A two-day Conference on the Restoration of Ukraine started in Berlin on June 10. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, opening the event, called for all possible support for Ukrainian air defense, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for a blackout of Russian terror, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen assured that Russia would be made to pay for its aggression by confiscating assets.

- Zelenskyy also noted that not all the needs of the Armed Forces are met, and that the occupiers' greatest strategic advantage is air superiority.

Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
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Child abuse survivors may have more time as adults to file lawsuits against their perpetrators under a new law. Its a measure meant to strengthen efforts to hold organizations such as the Catholic Church accountable for decades of mistreatment.

Louisianas original lookback window for civil suits over older child abuse allegations was set to expire Friday, but the Louisiana Legislature approved Senate Bill 246 to extend the period another three years, until June 14, 2027. Lawmakers approved the new deadline without any objections, though Gov. Jeff Landry did not sign the bill before it became law last week.

The proposal is the latest attempt to get relief for adults who were abused as children but are no longer able to pursue criminal charges because the perpetrator is deceased or the applicable statute of limitations has lapsed.

People who only come to terms with their mistreatment later in life often miss the opportunity to seek justice because the time to do so has run out. Legislators opted to give them a limited period of time, initially three years, to bring civil lawsuits. The extension, authored by Sen. Jay Luneau, D-Alexandria, adds another three years.



I have every intention of filing lookback window cases all the way up to the new deadline of 2027, said Kristi Schubert, a New Orleans attorney who represents adult child abuse survivors around the state.

The Louisiana Supreme Court has waffled over that lookback window, however.

In March, justices threw out the lookback period in a ruling that favored the Catholic Diocese of Lafayette and sparked public outrage.



A few weeks later, the justices announced they would reconsider their initial decision. It left hope that the lookback window could stay in place.



Compared with the justices, state legislators have been far more direct about where they stand on the matter of child sex abuse and civil litigation.



They overwhelmingly passed the first version of the lookback law in 2021. The lawmakers then circled back and clarified the statute in 2022 after the Catholic Diocese of Lafayette suggested in a lawsuit the legislators did not mean to open up civil lawsuits to every survivor, no matter how old the allegation.

This year, in addition to passing the new version of the law, the Legislature also voted in favor of a resolution supporting the lookback window that was sent to every Louisiana Supreme Court justice.

Anybody against the legislation should accept defeat, said Morgan Lamandre, head of Sexual Trauma Awareness and Response (STAR), an advocacy group for victims of sexual abuse.

While legal dispute over the lookback window continues, older survivors of sexual abuse who could benefit from the law are dying, said Richard Windmann, an outspoken advocate for sexual abuse victims. Victims of Catholic Church sexual abuse, for example, have been waiting for years for compensation, he said.



Finally, the victims and survivors, they have partners and allies in the Legislature and the judicial system. Finally, he said.



A second piece of the legislation, House Bill 803 by Rep. Nick Muscarello, R-Hammond, needs to become law for the extended lookback period to go into effect immediately at the end of the week, when the original one ends. Otherwise, the lookback window might not pick back up again until Aug. 1, when most approved bills are scheduled to become law.

The governors office declined to comment for this report.

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Investigators are looking for a driver who ran away from the scene of a crash that left a 35-year-old Los Angeles woman dead near El Mirage late Sunday, officials said.

Marisa Franco died in the 10:30 p.m. collision along a dirt road near Avenue J and 255th Street East, in an unincorporated county area south of El Mirage, according to California Highway Patrol officials and Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner records.

She was a passenger in a 1997 Toyota Corolla that was headed south along a dirt road, just east of 255th Street East, prior to the crash, the CHP said in a written statement.

California Highway Patrol Antelope Valley Office logo.

"For reasons still under investigation," a 2016 Hyundai Tuscon SUV traveling east on another dirt road collided with the Toyota, according to the statement.

The driver of the Hyundai ran from the wreck and was not found. No suspect description was available.

Paramedics pronounced Franco dead at the scene, according to CHP and coroner's officials. She had not been wearing a seat belt.

The driver of the Toyota, described as a 33-year-old Los Angeles man, was treated for minor injuries, CHP officials said. He had been wearing a seat belt.

Officers noted that the ignition of the Hyndai appeared to have been tampered with, prompting suspicion that the SUV may have been recently stolen, but not yet reported to law enforcement, according to CHP logs.

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More: Phelan man killed in ATV crash along Highway 138 identified

Any witnesses, or anyone with information, can reach the CHP's Antelope Valley Office at (661) 948-8541, or the CHP's Los Angeles Traffic Management Center at (323) 259-3200.

This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Woman killed in hit-and-run near El Mirage, driver sought
(KRON)  The Campbell Police Department has arrested two individuals after locating numerous identification cards and credit cards, a pocketknife, and a firearm in a vehicle.

At 5:25 a.m. on Friday, Campbell police officers spotted a red Hyundai Elantra with multiple California vehicle code violations, including using a printed piece of paper as a license plate and nonfunctional brake lights. Police said they witnessed the driver swerving into the bike lane.

Photo: Campbell Police Department

Officers noticed drug paraphernalia in plain sight inside the sedan while conducting a traffic stop, according to Campbell PD.

Suspect in fatal Lake Berryessa shooting arrested, charged with murder

The driver was identified as 47-year-old Campbell resident Rene De La Cruz. The passenger was identified as 46-year-old Campbell resident Mindy Bernal.

According to police, officers located a loaded illegal Louis Vuitton-inspired print firearm on Bernal. While searching De La Cruz, officers found a butter knife modified into a master postal key, identification cards, social security cards, credit cards, a pocketknife, scissors with altered blades, and over $700 in cash.

Photo: Campbell Police Department

Photo: Campbell Police Department

The search of the Elantra yielded additional personally identifiable information, burglary tools and sellable amounts of drugs. According to Campbell PD, officers found methamphetamine, fentanyl and ecstasy pills.

Bernal was arrested for being a felon in possession of a firearm, possession of personally identifiable information and various drug charges. De La Cruz was arrested for various drug charges, possession of burglary tools and personally identifiable information.

According to Campbell PD, both suspects have a decades-long criminal history.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4.
A group of U.S. military veterans gathers at the Louisiana State Capitol on May 20, 2024, for an awards ceremony and to oppose a bill by Sen. Stewart Cathey that lawmakers passed. (Wes Muller/Louisiana Illuminator)

An attorney has filed a federal lawsuit against the state over the Louisiana Legislatures recent passage of a law that lets unregulated consultants profit off disabled veterans.

The plaintiff is John B. Wells, a retired Naval officer turned lawyer who now represents military veterans trying to obtain benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

Wells, who practices out of Slidell, filed the suit in the U.S. Middle District of Louisiana last week after Gov. Jeff Landry allowed Senate Bill 159, dubbed the PLUS Act, to go into law.

The new law, proposed by Sen. Stewart Cathey, R-Monroe, deals with what can be a confusing process for military veterans to file disability benefits. Loopholes in federal law have created an unregulated industry that is making lucrative profits from VA claims consulting, a practice thats illegal under federal law but difficult to enforce.

When members of the armed forces leave the military, they might be entitled to a monthly cash benefit from the VA for any service-connected disabilities. To receive them, they have to fill out forms and submit medical records and other related information to support their claim.

The VA offers accreditation to people who assist disabled veterans with filing their benefit claims. They include private claims agents, lawyers and members of federally chartered veteran service organizations such as the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars, among others.

Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone without VA accreditation to provide claims assistance to a veteran, and it is illegal to charge veterans for such assistance unless a claim is initially denied and enters the appeals process.

The PLUS Act attempts to legalize both of those things at the state level. It authorizes non-accredited claims consultants and allows them to charge fees for filing initial VA claims, with a $12,500 cap per claim.

Catheys proposal was derived from a bill U.S. Sen. John Kennedy, R-Louisiana, sponsored in Congress. It stalled under partisan gridlock, prompting supporters to take versions of it to state legislatures. So far, Louisiana is the only state to have approved one.

Even if other states follow suit, the practice would still be at odds with federal statutes and VA regulations.

Catheys law applies to unaccredited consultants and anyone who works on VA claims, including the accredited agents and lawyers who are bound by federal law and other rules.

In his lawsuit, Wells argues that Louisianas PLUS Act violates the supremacy and contracts clauses of the U.S. Constitution. Both prevent states from taking action that contradicts federal law.

Should the Louisiana Legislature wish to adopt a scheme governing only state benefits, they are free to do so but cannot adopt legislation that encroaches on the federal system and actually conflicts with the federal regulations, Wells wrote in his lawsuit.

His petition also targets the $12,500 cap in Catheys law and a number of other provisions regarding contract disclosures, payment plans and other aspects that could conflict with the Louisiana Supreme Courts regulation and discipline of attorneys.

Wells argues the $12,500 cap would be grossly insufficient for some complex cases that end up in the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims and its superior courts, often requiring several hundred hours of legal work.

SB 159 will lead to many attorneys being unable to accept paid representation of veterans at any level in the administrative or judicial system, he wrote.   The cap will discourage attorneys from practicing veterans law, resulting in a denigration of benefits.

Wells points out that all attorney fee agreements and claims agent contracts are reviewed by the VAs Office of General Counsel to ensure the contract is reasonable for the amount of work involved on a particular claim.

Among his pleadings, Wells is asking the federal court to declare Senate Bill 159 unconstitutional and prevent Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill from enforcing it.

Murrills office has not responded to a request for comment.

The first hearing in the case is scheduled for June 18.

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The post Louisiana sued for allowing consultants to profit off disabled veterans appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
Louisville moves toward cleaning up Gully of the Drums after more than four decades

Sam Satterly investigated a hazardous waste dump known as the Gully of the Drums in Jefferson Memorial Forest, a Louisville public park, while she was a graduate student at the University of Louisville. (Photo courtesy of Sam Satterly)

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.

LOUISVILLE  City officials are taking their first public step toward cleaning up hazardous waste in a popular park after a local graduate student last year called out a 45-year comedy of errors by federal, state and local agencies that allowed the dumped drums and chemicals to escape remediation.

Louisville parks officials have a $68,000 plan to dig trenches and take soil samples in an area dubbed Gully of the Drums. The site sits about 700 feet from the notorious Valley of the Drums, where some 17,000 hazardous waste drums were discovered in the late 1970s on farmland 17 miles south of downtown Louisville, which were removed in one of the first major federal Superfund cleanups in the United States.

The EPA didnt clean up the much smaller Gully of the Drums at the time. At least twice since then  after the Environmental Protection Agency had declared the Valley of the Drums cleanup a success  Kentucky environmental regulators and EPA officials found pollutants lingering in the soil above health and safety levels that would normally spur remediation.

But at the site, which is in a public forest preserved as a tribute to area veterans, as many as 40 to 45 barrels remain in the woods, leeching whats left of their toxic contents into the soil. The new study, if approved by the Louisville Metro Council, will involve taking soil samples near the visible drums as well as digging trenches to see whether unseen barrels or containers of toxic waste were also buried, and then testing the soil to see if that area has hazardous waste.

The Louisville Metro Council Thursday night received the proposed site assessment plan and referred it to its parks committee for review next week. That action alone signals that the city government is starting to take responsibility for a situation that most recently was brought to light by Sam Satterley, an Iraq War veteran and former graduate student at the University of Louisville.

In December, Satterley completed research on both dump sites as part of a graduate degree she earned in sustainability. Her thesis revealed previously untold stories about the origins of the Gully of the Drums  and how it shares a connection to the Valley of the Drums.

When I saw it (the site assessment plan) on the council agenda, I was completely overwhelmed, said Satterly, who has detailed decades of missed opportunities to clean up the Gully of the Drums.

She noted that the company poised to get the contract, Shield Environmental, did a similar site evaluation over a decade ago, wrapping it up in 2011, and found contamination that exceeded what would normally trigger a cleanup.

The Gully of the Drums in Jefferson Memorial Forest. (Courtesy of Sam Satterly)

But at that time, state environmental regulators, who had commissioned that study, dropped the ball and did not require a cleanup.

I want to make sure this doesnt fall through the cracks again, Satterley said Friday.

Officials with the parks department and in the office of Mayor Craig Greenberg did not respond to several requests for comment on Friday.

But in their request for the funding, city officials said Shields services are critical to the environment and a remediation plan or cleanup of hazardous materials will be the likely outcome.

For Louisville Metro Councilman Dan Seum Jr., whose district includes the memorial forest, cleaning up the hazardous waste is important for helping visitors feel safe at a time when he and other officials are making the park a regional destination.

I believe we will get a good investigation and advice from Shield, Seum said Friday. I want to make sure (the forest) is environmentally safe.

Seum said he also wants to make sure the environmental investigation is transparent, with results made public.

He said language in the companys proposal about needing a non-disclosure agreement or confidentiality agreement to ensure that any information discovered related to on-site waste materials is not shared beyond the projects parties is confusing. Im going to look into that. We want it to be open.

Greenberg, the Louisville mayor, has been previously criticized for his administrations use of non-disclosure agreements.

Images of Valley of the Drums, along with the frightening revelation of chemical plant dumping in Love Canal, near Niagara Falls, led Congress in 1980 to pass the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, commonly known as Superfund. The law taxed chemical and petroleum industries to pay for the program and EPA got the authority to directly respond to toxic dumps that threatened the public or environment, and then assess cleanup costs on the responsible parties.

Despite the Valley of the Drums cleanup, the dumping in what would become Jefferson Memorial Forest was never cleaned up.

Across the country, there are likely many such smaller dump sites such as the one in Jefferson Memorial Forest that fell off the charts and went into oblivion as EPA and states were inundated with reports of toxic dumps to investigate in the 1980s, said Louisville environmental attorney Tom FitzGerald, who has looked into legal issues related to the site.

In its 2011 report, Shield noted drums and other containers scattered along 300 feet of the forest floor. By then, the liquid wastes were gone, but testing of the soil near the drums found pesticides, PCBs and a mix of heavy metals at levels over what would normally require agency action.

As recently as 2016, state environmental regulators had described Gully of the Drums as an imminent threat to human health and the environment.

One of Satterleys professors, Lauren Heberle, chair of sociology and an expert on Superfund cleanups, said shes very encouraged that Louisville is poised to complete the original Shield environmental assessment from almost 15 years ago.

But she said the plan, which doesnt call for new testing of groundwater or a nearby creek, seems like a missed opportunity. She also questioned why the projects scope also does not include looking for the presence of PFAS or other toxic substances that they might not have been asked to test for before.

The proposal said that the previous study did not find contamination in groundwater or the creek at levels that warranted action. The new proposal assumes nothing has changed dramatically since 2011, Heberle said.

Heberle credited Satterleys research and public presentation for spurring action. Im glad to see Louisville Metro government take responsibility for completing the assessment and hope they will also follow up on remediation in a way that cleans the site of any remaining toxic or hazardous materials.

The post Louisville moves toward cleaning up Gully of the Drums after more than four decades appeared first on Kentucky Lantern.
A Lynnfield man is facing charges in connection with a shooting on Boston Common that left another man wounded on Monday night, authorities announced Tuesday.

Dana Loder, 30, is slated to be arraigned in Boston Municipal Court on charges including carrying a loaded firearm without a license (2nd offense), carrying a firearm without a license (2nd offense), possession of ammunition without an FID card, and possession of crack cocaine, according to the Boston Police Department.

Officers patrolling the area of Winter and Tremont streets responded to the sound of gunshots inside the Common shortly after 10 p.m. and observed multiple people running in different directions in the area of the Brewer Water Fountain, including a suspicious person running away while clutching the front of his waistband with both hands, police said.

The suspect, later identified as Loder, allegedly threw a firearm on the ground as he led officers on a foot chase. He was eventually apprehended in the area of 131 Tremont Street.

A gunshot victim was later found suffering from what police initially described as life-threatening injuries inside the Common. In an update on Tuesday afternoon, police said his injuries were non-life-threatening and that hes expected to survive.

Police shut down the area near the foundation for hours after the shooting and roped off the area with yellow crime tape as crews gathered evidence.

The facts and circumstances surrounding what led up to the shooting werent immediately clear.

The Boston Police Homicide Unit has since returned this investigation to district detectives.

Anyone with information on the shooting is urged to contact detectives at 617-343-4470.

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MACEDONIA, Ohio (WJW)  After Macedonias Summerfest was tarnished by gunfire over the weekend, city officials have decided to pause all seasonal fests.

Police said one person fired off several gunshots toward the end of the citys annual festival the night of Saturday, June 8, which was in the parking lot of the Macedonia Recreation Center.

No injuries were reported. The suspect was arrested at the scene that night.

Julian Woods suspected killer claims shes killed before

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Normally at this time, I would be writing to you to celebrate a wonderful Summerfest event and how much fun was had by all, Mayor Nick Molnar wrote in a Tuesday statement posted to the citys Facebook page. Unfortunately, this year, a few people have tarnished a tradition that Macedonia has held dear for decades. We are, however, extremely fortunate that no one was physically injured as a result of the stupidity that took place, which appears to have included individual(s) shooting a firearm into the air.

Family, community calling for change after boy goes missing in Lake Erie

Molnar said Summerfest will never be the same. All future fests are now paused as safety officials re-evaluate them, according to the letter. Molnar said city officials will share their conclusions on keeping the programs safe and family-friendly.

Thank you to all that attended, and I am sorry that bad decisions were made by a few individuals, Molnar wrote. I hope you have a wonderful summer and enjoy our wonderful community.

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NATO and its allies will continue to assist Ukraine in its defense against Russian invasion. However, they will do so in a way that does not involve them in the conflict.

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This was stated by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg before the summit of NATO's Eastern Flank on June 11. In his opinion, the bloc should also play a key role in supporting and training Ukrainian soldiers.

"NATO and its allies have made it clear from the very beginning that we stand by Ukraine, and NATO allies have provided unprecedented support to Ukraine. But NATO Allies have also made it clear that we will not be a party to the conflict," Stoltenberg said.

According to the NATO Secretary General, the bloc is helping Ukraine with ammunition and military training. And Stoltenberg is convinced that the allies should maintain and strengthen their support for Ukraine. However, he denies sending NATO troops to Ukraine.

"We are not involved in the conflict. You have to remember what it is. This is an aggressive war. Russia attacked another country, attacked Ukraine. And Ukraine, according to international law, has the right to defend itself. And we have the right to help Ukraine defend its right to self-defense, and we will do so in a way that does not involve NATO allies in the conflict," Stoltenberg emphasized.

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During the NATO summit in Washington on July 9-11, the Secretary General said, the leaders of member states will discuss the strengthening of the Alliance's role in supporting Ukraine and the security challenges posed by China.

"We have important decisions to make on deterrence and defense in the context of supporting Ukraine, as well as how to strengthen cooperation with our Indo-Pacific partners to meet the security challenges posed by China," the NATO Secretary General said during a briefing with Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics.

Stoltenberg believes that Ukraine should be supported "as long as it takes". In addition, he expressed hope that during the summit, NATO member states would agree that the political-military bloc should play a key role in supporting and training Ukrainian soldiers and agree to long-term financial commitments to Kyiv.

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"NATO members already provide 99% of military support to Ukraine, so I think it makes sense for NATO to play a stronger coordination role. In addition, to prevent the gaps and delays that were observed in the winter," the Alliance Secretary General said.

Earlier, Stoltenberg said that NATO has made progress on three issues regarding Ukraine. These are better coordination of the Alliance in terms of arms supplies and training; determining long-term financial assistance; and Euro-Atlantic integration.

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Pedestrians killed in crashes more often in Macon than elsewhere in GA. Whats being done?

Macon has a problem with pedestrian deaths.

The city outpaces the state in its rate of pedestrian fatalities, with 7% of Macon crashes in recent years killing pedestrians compared to the statewide average of 5%. In 2023, 15 pedestrians and a cyclist died on Macon roads.

In a Monday meeting for the Pedestrian Safety Review Board, officials laid out what progress Macon has made towards protecting pedestrians, and provided an outline for future plans.

Pedestrian deaths have been less common this year, as two have been reported in Macon in 2024. But the board emphasized its goal of eventually stopping pedestrian deaths completely.

New projects, more money for Macon safety

Macon has made major investments in recent years towards improving pedestrian safety, and the citys proposed 2024 budget seeks to take that a step further.

The proposed city budget designates $500,000 for pedestrian safety initiatives. This keeps pace with the amount of money allocated in the 2023 and 2024 budgets. The county allocated $100,00 for pedestrian safety in 2022, and no money the year before.

Macon also applied for about $6 million in grants from the U.S. Department of Transportation in May to go towards local initiatives improving pedestrian safety. The county would use the funding to work on East Macon and Gray Highway, which is ranked among the deadliest roads for pedestrians in Georgia.

The Pedestrian Safety Review Board and city officials have already planned several new roundabouts, and are working on adding pedestrian islands on large roadways to help people trying to cross the street.

Weston Stroud, transportation safety manager for Macon-Bibb County, said the improvements will be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act to make streets safer for everyone.

Macon city officials are also taking action to improve pedestrian safety around schools. The review board has already been working with Bibb County Schools to teach students bike safety and monitor students walking to and from school.

Policy aimed at eliminating pedestrian deaths in Macon

Rachel Hollar-Umana, executive director of Bike Walk Macon and vice chair of the review board, said a big driver of improving pedestrian infrastructure in Macon is the citys Complete Streets policy.

Complete Streets refers to streets that accommodate all forms of transportation, including walking, biking and driving. Macon passed the ordinance in 2022, following the lead of the Georgia Department of Transportation, which passed Complete Streets legislation in 2012.

Having the legislation at the state and local levels is essential because it allows both governments to work on roads with similar goals in mind, Hollar-Umana said.

The Complete Streets ordinance complements the Vision Zero Action Plan, a plan the county adopted at the end of 2020 to eliminate traffic fatalities.

The plan allocated funding for the county to hire its first-ever transportation safety manager, who is responsible for coordinating with state and federal agencies and analyzing data to identify and address dangerous roads.

In a further effort to work with the state in improving pedestrian safety, District 3 Commissioner Elaine Lucas said the review board and Macon-Bibb County have been working on their relationship with GDOT. Lucas is also part of the review board.

GDOT controls some of Macons most problematic roads, including Gray and Emery highways. Macon-Bibb County cant make changes to state and federal highways on its own.

Report ranks Macon among Americas worst for deadly car crashes. Whats the cause?
(Bloomberg) -- Emmanuel Macron said his position as Frances president wont be affected by the result of legislative elections as a report he is considering quitting triggered a selloff in French government bonds.

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Macron, 46, was asked in an interview with Figaro Magazine what he will do if Marine Le Pens far-right National Rally wins the vote  due over two rounds concluding July 7  and then calls for his resignation.

It is not the National Rally that writes the constitution, nor the spirit of it, Macron said. The institutions are clear, and so is the place of the president, whatever the result. Its inviolable for me.

Investors have been unnerved by the presidents shock decision to dissolve parliament on the back of his partys crushing defeat in Sundays European Parliament elections.

Further uncertainty was injected Tuesday by Eric Ciotti, the head of the center-right Republicains, who said that his party should ally with Le Pens National Rally, with its candidates, with all those who identify with ideas of the right, with the values of the right.

Still, other senior members of the party were quick to reject Ciottis call, suggesting the Republicains, which has been divided on how closely to co-operate with the far right, could disintegrate in the run-up to the election.

European fallout

The national vote confronts Frances European partners with the risk of Le Pens party taking control of the legislature for the first time. That would threaten to upend Macrons response to the war in Ukraine, while reverberating across Europes relations with China and the US in the face of the potential return of Donald Trump to the White House.

Macron had been due to hold a press conference to set out his campaign agenda on Tuesday afternoon but that was pushed back until Wednesday.

The yield on 10-year French bonds, known as OATs, jumped as much as 10 basis points Tuesday, and widened the spread over equivalent German bonds to the highest level since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic in March 2020 on a closing basis. Italian securities, considered among the regions riskiest given the governments debt pile, were swept up in the rout for a second day, with the spread over bunds jumping to 150 basis points.

In another sign of the political maneuvering under way, Marion Marechal, vice president of the hard-right Reconquete party whose leader Eric Zemmour has expounded on the great replacement conspiracy theory, announced that Le Pens party had abruptly ended talks to join forces ahead of the snap vote.

The decision doesnt align with the hope it triggered in the French people, Marechal, who is Le Pens niece and a former member of her party until she distanced herself politically, said on X. Describing it as a big disappointment for France, she added: I hope with all my heart that this refusal to organize a real coalition will not lead to a new victory for the coalition of Emmanuel Macron.

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Budget holes

An outright victory for Le Pen is still not the most likely outcome, but even if Macron manages to contain his losses, hes probably going to be left managing a divided parliament with little or no power to push through his plans to address the flaws holding back Frances economy.

A poll published Monday of first-round voting intentions put the National Rally at 34%, with Macrons group trailing at 19%.

In particular, plugging holes in the budget will become even more challenging if Macron loses control over parliament and the government. S&P Global Ratings last month downgraded the nations credit score, saying the deficit will remain above 3% of gross domestic product through 2027. Frances fiscal watchdog says the governments deficit strategy lacks coherence and credibility.

Potential political instability is a credit risk given the challenging fiscal picture the next government will inherit, Moodys analysts said, noting that the snap vote increases the risks to Frances efforts to reduce the budget deficit, which slipped off course at the start of this year.

Government struggling

Macrons government was already struggling with fiscal consolidation, and the concern is now that any National Rally government will follow a Trump-esque approach to fiscal consolidation  i.e. trying to grow its way out of the problem, said Chris Turner, INGs global head of markets.

He flagged that the European Commission is likely to focus attention on Macrons struggles to stabilize Frances public finances when finance ministers meet on June 19. Thats the date when the commission could decide to launch its Excessive Deficit Procedure against France, an action designed to force member states to get poor public finances in line with EU rules.

Macron has been fiercely pro-European since he came to power in 2017 and criticism from Brussels would likely boost Le Pens campaign. The 55-year-old nationalist has been skeptical about the European Union throughout her career and in the past has argued that France should leave the bloc to have more freedom to set policy.

A new election is a high-risk strategy in times of heightened geopolitical risk in the first place, said Kaspar Hense, senior portfolio manager at RBC BlueBay Asset Management.

As the campaign gets under way, Macron is set to exit the domestic stage as he travels to the Group of Seven summit in Italy this week.

Hes just one of a series of leaders who are also struggling and facing elections. But his political future and that of France will be a dominant topic in Apulia, both among his colleagues and for markets.

The size of the moves are unusual for French bonds, among the most liquid in the European market and traditionally viewed as substitutes for bunds, the regions safest asset. The volatility shows a change of risk perception on OATs, said Societe Generale SA strategist Adam Kurpiel.

The French equity benchmark CAC 40 was down 1.2%, hitting its lowest level in nearly four months. Banks took the biggest hit, with Credit Agricole SA down 3.8% and Societe Generale SA tumbling 3.2%. The index has retreated 2.6% so far this week, set for its biggest two-day drop in nearly a year.

--With assistance from Samy Adghirni, William Horobin and Constantine Courcoulas.

(Updates with Marion Marechal comment, Moodys from 10th paragraph.)

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Mafia-style violence is on the rise in the same Italian region where G7 leaders are set to meet

The groups were showing worrying signs of trouble, according to the Italian Interior Ministrys half-yearly report released in January 2024.

Around the same time Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced that the G7 leaders meeting would be held in the southern Italian region of Puglia as part of her countrys presidency of the economic organization, local anti-mafia investigators were homing in on three mafia-style criminal groups alleged to be behind an uptick of violence there.

The prevalence of criminality recorded reflects the dynamism of criminal balances and structures marked not only by conflicts between opposing clans but also by inter-clan friction, the report said.

The groups are offshoots of the Sacra Corona criminal syndicate, centered around the city of Foggia and made up of crime families who group together in clans.

Unlike the better-known Cosa Nostra in Sicily, the Camorra in Naples and the Ndrangheta in Calabria, which have a large international footprint, the Puglia groups work largely within Italy and the Balkans, according to DIGOS (Divisione Investigazioni Generali e Operazioni Speciali), Italys top anti-terrorism and anti-mafia unit.

Based in and around the coastal cities of Bari and Brindisi  essentially exactly where worlds most powerful leaders will be meeting between June 13 and 15  the groups had been knocking off foes in brazen daylight attacks and carrying out armed car-jackings at an alarming rate.

The town of Fasano and surrounding countryside, near the luxury resort of Borgo Egnazia, the venue of the G7 summit, on June 4, 2024. - Francesca Volpi/Bloomberg/Getty Images

There have been several high-profile vendetta murders among the clans in recent months, according to local media reports, and several maimings, including knee-cappings.

Thats not all. A briefcase was found abandoned at a train station near Bari connected to bottles of liquid and a cellphone in March. Since then, almost daily bomb threats have been received.

There have also been armed raids by criminal gangs on villas close to the summit venue  an exclusive resort between Bari and Brindisi  and blatant gangland violence between the three clans, local police chief Vittorio Pisani told CNN.

The Interior Ministry suggested deploying the military to wrestle back control of the region for the good of the country. The report led to an investigation of several local town councils, three of which were dissolved by the regional governor because of mafia infiltration and the use of extortion to keep control of the territory by the criminal groups.

Italian mafia groups are notorious for infiltrating legitimate projects, including construction projects, of which there have been many to prepare the venues for the upcoming summit. Roadworks, the construction of helicopter pads for the leaders to safely move around, and even the media center have been investigated, according to DIGOS. A full report is expected after the summit ends, a spokesperson for DIGOS told CNN.

Days before the G7 starts, local authorities face a delicate challenge as they seek to balance the security of world leaders with maintaining local public order, according to the prefect for Brindisi, Luigi Carnevale.

No one could have predicted that leading up to the G7, scheduled from 13 to 15 June, Puglia, where the meetings between the worlds powerful leaders will be held, would be affected by criminal events which, although not connected to each other, make the management of security even more complex, he said at a televised news conference.

A view of Borgo Egnazia, in Puglia, where the G7 summit will be held from June 13 to 15, taken on May 26, 2014 in Savelletri, Brindisi, Italy. - Donato Fasano/Getty Images

Puglia, at the heel of Italys boot, is known for its ancient olive trees, white conical trullo houses, and pristine beaches. The summit will be held in the luxury resort of Borgo Egnazia, a tourist haven of 30 private villas with private swimming pools and amenities like a Michelin-starred restaurant catering to the elite.

From David and Victoria Beckham to Madonna and Ivanka Trump, celebrities have been coming for years, thanks to the guarantee of discretion provided by the resort head Aldo Melpignano, who told CNN that the location was ideal for the G7.

Hosting the 2024 G7 in Puglia represents an extraordinary recognition for our territory, and is the result of profitable collaboration between the public and private sectors, he said.

The security machine that will protect the worlds leaders of the worlds most advanced economies is well established, and headed by DIGOS. Preventive clean- up work has been underway for almost a year, with particular attention paid to deterring the establishment of possible Islamic sleeper cells by monitoring arrivals by at airports and seaports, the Interior Ministry report said.

Workers at the attendee accreditation point for the G7 summit in Fasano, Italy, on Wednesday June 5, 2024. - Francesca Volpi/Bloomberg/Getty Images

A 10-kilometer (six-mile) red zone has been created around Borgo Egnazia, and a further 30-kilometer yellow zone will be strictly patrolled to protect the estimated 130 working groups and 21 ministerial meetings, not to mention ensuring the safety of special guests like Pope Francis, who will attend a special summit on artificial intelligence. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Saudi Arabias King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud are also expected to join the leaders of the G7 nations - the United States, Germany, Britain, France, Italy, Canada and Japan.

More than 5,000 specially trained soldiers have been deployed to the region, massive cruise ships are moored offshore to help keep delegations safe, and a US aircraft carrier was expected to arrive by the weekend and anchor off the Puglia coast.

The Schengen open border policy that allows people to enter Italy from other Schengen Area nations has been suspended between June 5 and 18 to allow border control agents to check passports. In addition to the local crime gangs, authorities are also concerned about the hordes of protesters who show up at every G7 summit, and have called for large-scale protests to be held as close to the summit venue as possible. When Italy hosted what was then the G8 summit in 2001, a protester was killed by police during violent clashes.

A general view of Borgo Egnazi on July 22, 2020 in Savelletri, Italy. - Donato Fasano/Getty Images

Specialized military police working with the anti-mafia law enforcement unit are keeping a close watch on known criminal groups. Nearly 60 people were arrested last month in connection with a drug investigation, taking some of the alleged clan leaders out of circulation, at least in the short term.

It is clear that none of these events will in the slightest put at risk the worlds greats, who will be super protected and unapproachable in those three days, said Pisani, the Puglia police chief.

But it is necessary to ensure the same tranquility to the approximately 10,000 people who will move between Bari and Brindisi that week (delegations, journalists, observers) and who will not enjoy the protection of bodyguards and security services.

At the same time, police must ensure they protect areas elsewhere in the province where crime could creep in while attention is focused on Bari, he added.

It will not be an easy task because the worlds spotlight will be on Puglia, Pisani said. And we cannot afford to convey the image of a region in which the mafia, terrorism and common crime have taken over.

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Hunter Biden is now officially the first son of a sitting president to be convicted of a crime. And while the landmark verdict during an election year might seem like a surefire way to excite Donald Trump supporters, the MAGA nation is still steaming mad about it online.

Because, of course, they are.

This trial has been nothing more than a distraction from the real crimes of the Biden Crime Family, which has raked in tens of millions of dollars from China, Russia and Ukraine, the Trump campaign said a statement to CNN on Tuesday. Crooked Joe Bidens reign over the Biden Family Criminal Empire is all coming to an end on November 5th, and never again will a Biden sell government access for personal profit.

(In an initial statement to CNN, the campaign also included well wishes to Hunter Biden in his recovery and legal affairs, but removed the sentence when it was sent to other outlets an hour later.)

Biden, 54, was found guilty of all three charges in connection with an October 2018 federal firearms application. Prosecutors say that while buying a $5,000 gun, Biden lied on the form when he was asked about whether he was addicted to drugs.

The verdict, which the jury deliberated on for about three hours, came after a weeklong trial that exposed Bidens love life and harrowing drug habits over the last decade. Three of Bidens exes and his 30-year-old daughter were among the key witnesses in the trial, all detailing intimate moments with the presidents son and his struggles with addiction.

Despite the slam-dunk case for the prosecution, Trumpworld immediately took to X to complain that the presidents son wont spend a day in prison and that he was convicted of the wrong crimes. The maximum sentence for the charges is 25 years in prison, though experts believe he will be sentenced to far less. Biden also faces a federal trial in September for allegedly not paying his taxes.

Liable to more than 20 years in prison. Wont serve a day, former Trump White House adviser and current talk radio host Sebastian Gorka wrote on X.

BREAKING



Hunter Biden found GUILTY on all 3 counts:



- False statement on federal firearms background check



- False statement on firearms transaction record



- Possession of a firearm by a drug user.



Liable to more than 20 years in prison.



Wont serve a day.  Sebastian Gorka DrG (@SebGorka) June 11, 2024

Another presidential child, Donald Trump Jr., also weighed in, retweeting a post that called the conviction the ultimate red herring of red herrings because the Department of Justice had not pursued other possible cases.

This is exactly right!!!! Trump Jr. added.

Meanwhile, Sean Davis, co-founder of the conservative outlet The Federalist, fumed that Hunter wasnt being prosecuted for a grab-bag of wildly speculative allegations like money laundering, tax evasion for his Burisma bribes, illegal influence peddling, and operating as an unregistered foreign agent of corrupt foreign governments.

Stephen Miller, a top Trump adviser, took to X to blame Bidens Justice Department.

DOJ is running election interference for Joe Bidenthats why DOJ did NOT charge Hunter with being an unregistered foreign agent (FARA) or any crime connected with foreign corruption. Why? Because all the evidence would lead back to JOE, he wrote on X, seemingly trying to link the president and his sons finances.

DOJ is Joes election protection racket, he added.

Kash Patel, who served in Trumps Department of Defense and was a National Security Council adviser, praised the justice system for Bidens verdictand then immediately rebuked it to support Trump.

Hunter Biden's guilty verdict is a rare example of constitutional justice, one not where individuals receive biased treatment based on their last name, Patel wrote in a statement. The jury was able to consider the prosecution and defense evidence in full, in accordance with due processa right that was single-handedly bastardized against President Trump by the judge, jury and prosecutors in New York.

Some Republicans, however, believed the verdict was a direct hit to MAGA complaints about the weaponization of the justice system. Republican donor Dan Eberhart told NBC that Biden's conviction definitely weakens the argument and shows that the system is working.

Todays verdict is a step towards ensuring equal application of the law, regardless of ones last name, Rep. Jason Smith (R-MO) wrote on X.

Still, at least one super Trumpkin was not impressed.

The Hunter Biden gun conviction is kinda dumb tbh, Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) wrote on X.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Thousands of Donald Trump supporters storm the United States Capitol building following a "Stop the Steal" rally on January 6, 2021 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

Timidity wont cut it in 2024. Neither will playing it safe. When the inmates have taken over the asylum the response cannot be measured and meek. The MAGA Republicans who have made a dysfunctional mess out of state government in Ohio, with petty power grabs and industry-written policies, steamroller through opposition that is measured and meek.

Their federal counterparts, who have surrendered all agency to a twice-impeached felon, fraudster, adjudicated rapist and criminally-indicted defendant in three jurisdictions, pulverize dissent that is tame. The few times somebody  anybody  calls BS on the crazy that passes as governance in Columbus or Washington, people remember why truth, in no uncertain terms, matters.

Recall the Michigan lawmaker whose robust floor speech reverberated throughout the political world a couple years ago. Democratic state Sen. Mallory McMorrow had been targeted by a colleague with an outrageous, baseless accusation in a fundraising email. She fired back against the disgusting Republican smear and called out the GOPs efforts to deflect from the fact that they are not doing anything to fix the real issues.

America paid attention.

The blistering rebuke of a straight, white, Christian, married, suburban mom against those who would cruelly scapegoat people who are different was a national shot in the arm to many who felt the same way but couldnt articulate what McMorrow did. Her speech went viral, racking up millions of views across then-Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Impassioned reason had broken through the madness. Finally.

The first-term legislator was unafraid to confront slanderous hurt and hateful attacks head on. I know that hate will only win if people like me stand by and let it happen, she said. Truer words were never spoken. If only more Democrats, independents and Republicans untethered to the cult of Trump took heed. But they hesitate. Too often.

They cede ground to a militant vocal minority bulldozing through norms and shared values instead of fighting fire with fire. In Republican statehouses across the country, including Ohio, the pushback against exponentially escalating attacks against LGBTQ+ people has been mainly limp to nonexistent. The one-off objections from some seems almost obligatory, less a forceful call to action in defense of human autonomy and dignity and more a resigned surrender to inevitability.

Last week Ohio House Republicans proposed two bills that do nothing to help Ohioans crushed by a lack of affordable housing and rent hikes going through the roof. Nothing to fix the economic distress of millions with mounting bills unable to break even on multiple minimum wage jobs or afford quality day care, reduce food insecurity or feel safe from rampant gun violence.

The right wing legislative specials serve no expansive constituency but do get a rise out of the MAGA base. Which is the point. Not productivity. The art of legislating  enacting smart policy solutions to produce tangible public outcomes  is all but dead in Ohio. Under gerrymandered Republican supermajorities, fixing real problems has been replaced with fanning MAGA grievances and fueling controversies invented on Fox News.

Culture war idiocy and special interest giveaways top the GOP agenda. Evidence of the former is House legislation to defund financially-strapped public libraries over subjective content restrictions (i.e., material harmful to young people??) and another equally broad (and probably unconstitutional) measure to criminalize public drag performances to protect our vulnerable youth.

Weak or unsustained resistance to the flood of preposterous in state and national politics emboldens corrosive extremism to go even further, to normalize cruelty, to ban more freedoms in the pursuit of happiness that dont comport with a dystopic theocracy, to purge and disenfranchise voters whenever and for whatever, to work with Big Energy, Big Pharma, Big Oil and Gas and around the will of the people on abortion, legalized weed and gerrymandering.

Passive opposition allows corrupt operators to ignore laws or court orders they dislike, delegitimize jury verdicts they dont accept, gaslight for jailed insurrectionists  who beat the hell out of police at the U.S. Capital to storm and defile it  as political prisoners and denounce the American criminal justice system for rendering due process to a prominent felon MAGA Republicans will nominate for president after downplaying his coup-plotting schemes and pilfering of classified documents (while obstructing their return) as old news.

Ohio Republican U.S. Senate candidate Bernie Moreno predictably came out swinging for his felonious fuhrer. He released a digital ad that savaged his Democratic opponent, Sen. Sherrod Brown, for standing by [President] Biden even as he turns the judicial system into a weapon to interfere in the presidential election. Moreno blasted the incumbent senator for refusing to condemn Bidens politically motivated witch hunt.

The Brown campaign had no comment on the ad. The flagrant lies about a New York state case brought against Trump after the U.S. Justice Department declined to pursue it went unrefuted. Reality demanded a forceful rebuttal. The candidate hesitated.

Im not a lawyer or a judge, Brown remarked later about Trumps felony conviction, but Ive said from the beginning that no one is above the law. Ultimately, this is up to the legal system to sort out and for the American people to decide in November. Thats not fighting fire with fire. Tyranny must be met head-on with the truth in no uncertain terms. The stakes in 2024 are simply too high for timid.

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By Fatime Letifova

In the period after 2020, many political and economic changes are noticeable in the South Caucasus. The most important event of the region is undoubtedly the liberation of Azerbaijani lands, which were under Armenian occupation for nearly 30 years. The long-standing tension between Azerbaijan and Armenia is finally coming to an end recently. Thus, Armenia's agreement to return 4 villages of the Gazakh region to Azerbaijan, Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan's leaning toward peace, and the meeting of the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia in Almaty in May, give promising predictions about the signing of a peace treaty between the two states soon.

However, there are still some obstacles on the way to the normalisation of relations between Baku and Yerevan. Thus, although not directly, the Armenian constitution makes territorial claims against both Azerbaijan and Turkiye in the Declaration of Independence it refers to. Therefore, President Ilham Aliyev said that it is impossible to conclude a peace agreement if the current constitution of Armenia remains unchanged at the meeting with the parliament chairmen of TURKPA member countries. Even the Prime Minister of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan, made statements about the necessity of adopting a new constitution many times in his speech in the Armenian Parliament.

But the question is: why is Armenia so reluctant about changing its constitution?

It should be noted as a clear example that changing the constitution after long wars is a sound policy implemented by many countries in the world.

Recall that in 1947, the Japanese government adopted a new constitution with significant changes, including renouncing war and guaranteeing fundamental human rights. With this, the Japanese once again determined the establishment of democratic and non-militaristic foundations in the country.

Also, Germany took responsibility for the disasters in the second world war and adopted a new constitution in 1949. By adopting a new constitution, the Germans once and for all said "no" to their embarrassing past in WWII.

In addition, Great Britain also passed the Northern Ireland Act in 1998. According to that law, articles providing for territorial claims to Northern Ireland were removed from the Constitution of the Republic of Ireland. Even Italy, South Korea, France, and South Africa are among the countries that have changed their constitutions for similar reasons.

But there are still allegations against the territories of Azerbaijan and Turkiye in the constitution of Armenia. This reality is the biggest threat to achieving lasting peace. Therefore, Baku constantly calls Armenia to change the existing constitution for final peace.

It is true that rallies and protests organized by the church and revanchists are continuing in Armenia. But willingly or unwillingly, the Yerevan government should make this decision.

What claims against Azerbaijan and Turkiye are reflected in the constitution of Armenia?

In the preamble of Armenia's declaration of independence, it was clearly stated that Azerbaijan's "Nagorno-Karabakh" territory should be annexed to Armenia.

In the second part of the declaration, citing the so-called Armenian Genocide, it was reflected that the border areas of Turkiye called "Western Armenia" should be returned to Armenia. This is putting forward territorial claims against the Republic of Turkiye.

It should be noted that Azerbaijan also proposed to Armenia the cancellation of the Minsk Group of the OSCE.

Because there is no need for the Minsk group, it is not functioning anymore, and as a matter of fact, it never functioned properly. However, Armenia has not yet taken a step towards the dissolution of the Minsk Group and the removal of territorial claims from the constitution. This is considered a direct obstacle to peace.

Undoubtedly, the Armenian side has been taking effective steps for peace for some time. It is desirable and expected that the unrest in the country will end and that Yerevan will sign a change in the constitution.

As for the OSCE Minsk group, there is no longer any need for their continuation in the Garabagh issue, even in the Caucasus region. The OSCE co-chairs know very well that Azerbaijan resolved the most crucial problem in 44 days that they could not solve in three consecutive decades.
When the novelist John Barth died last April, The New York Times published an obituary signed by two journalists, Dwight Garner, a renowned literary critic, and Michael T. Kaufman, who, as clarified in a note, had died in 2010  in other words, 14 years before Barth himself. Kaufman had written what is known in Times journalism parlance as an advance obituary. Garners mission was to finish off what Kaufman had prepared. The best profile ever written about an obituary writer is probably Mr. Bad News, published in Esquire magazine in 1966 by Gay Talese. In Mr. Bad News, Talese says that the newspapers morgue  as he calls the obituary section  contains some 2,000 advance obituaries on file, all of them duly written and updated, just waiting for the protagonist of the obituary in question to pass away so that the circumstances of their death could be added. Mr. Bad News was Alden Whitman, author of half a thousand obituaries on some of the most famous people of his time. Whitman died suddenly in 1990 at the age of 76 at the Paris Hotel in Monte Carlo, where he had gone with his wife, Joan, to celebrate the 70th birthday of a Times colleague, who was a culinary specialist.

The obituary headline highlighted that Whitmans greatest merit was having elevated the humble genre of obituaries to the category of art. Whats most striking about the bold technique developed by Whitman was the practice of interviewing the subject of the obituary while they were alive: he requested an interview by letter and, surprisingly, more than one agreed to it. The idea, as Whitman explained in the prefaces to his two collections of obituaries, was to get to the depths of the characters personality, something that is only possible in a conversation.

Whitman wrote the obituaries of T. S. Eliot, Le Corbusier, Albert Schweitzer, Jean Arp, Robert Oppenheimer, Alice B. Toklas, Dorothy Parker, Ilya Ehrenburg, Andre Maurois, Helen Keller, John Steinbeck, Boris Karloff, Mies van der Rohe, Ho Chi Minh, Bertrand Russell, Alexander Kerenski, Pablo Picasso and Charles Lindbergh, among others. One in 10, according to Whitman, agreed to be interviewed. This list included former U.S. president Harry S. Truman, who initially resisted and finally gave in. With others, such as Lindbergh, he formed a solid friendship.

The author of Whitmans obituary, Sidney Zion, died in 2009, and Zions obituary was written by another great specialist of the genre, Robert McFadden, winner of the Pulitzer Prize, among other awards. In the note in which he explains to his Times readers what his work entails, McFadden, 87, points out that throughout his life he has written a total of 750 advance obituaries. Of course, the work doesnt stop with him. The New York Times morgue evoked by Talese in his masterful profile has never stopped growing and being updated. Without the slightest doubt, the advance obituary of the 92-year-old author is there, as are  it is chilling to think about  those of Don DeLillo or Thomas Pynchon, as was until recently that of Paul Auster.

What is not known is who they will ask to write Taleses advance obituary, or if the journalist in charge will ask to interview him. Youd have to ask them.

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A titanic battle over adding resiliency to the regions electric grid pits homeowners on the Mahopac-Somers line against a company controlled by the government of Norway, the king of Scandinavian fossil fuels.

The Norwegian company, Equinor, 67% of which is owned by the government, wants to build what would be New Yorks largest battery energy storage system on a 93-acre parcel with woods and wetlands. The location is sandwiched between a mixed commercial/residential neighborhood in Mahopac and a high-end neighborhood with a cul-de-sac in Somers.

Such facilities strengthen the electric grid by storing energy that can be released during service interruptions or during days of peak usage, cutting down on the use of dirty fossil-fuel plants during summertime heat waves.

The Norwegians are looking to go big in Mahopac.

At 116 megawatts of storage, the Union Energy Center project would be almost six times larger than New Yorks biggest battery energy storage complex, said Deanna Cohen, spokesperson for New York State Energy Research and Development Authority.

A group of neighbors opposed to a 93-acre battery storage facility planned for a site bordering their properties, meet at Guy and Dawn Baker's home on Lounsbury Drive in Somers June 6, 2024.

Opposition has arisen on both sides of the county line. Many concerned residents are expected at a June 19 public hearing of the Carmel Town Board, which is considering a six-month moratorium on energy storage facilities while it studies the issue.

Resident Frank Ciano said he was aware that the Norwegian company, one of Europe's biggest energy companies through its huge deposits of oil and natural gas in the North Sea, has deep pockets. Equinor had net income of $12 billion in 2023, on revenues of $36 billion. The company already has federal and state approval for the massive Empire Wind 1 offshore wind-turbine project 15 miles from Jones Beach, which aims to start delivering power to New York in 2026.

East Point Energy, a 100% owned subsidiary of Equinor, has proposed the project at the Mahopac-Somers line. Equinor purchased East Point Energy in 2022.

Why would they want to fight a little town like ours? Ciano said. I fear they will crush us. They are going to destroy this little town.

Mahopac resident Frank Ciano, speaking at the Carmel Town Board meeting on June 5, said he opposes the plan for a battery energy storage facility in Baldwin Place.

Somers residents push officials to act

In Somers, homeowners have banded together to pressure town and state officials to stop the storage facility, which they maintain presents a serious fire risk near their homes. They fear what's called a "thermal runway" in a lithium-ion battery, which causes temperatures to rise, with combustible gases vented and possible ignition of the battery itself.

They also fear the fumes from fires at energy storage facilities, like the one that broke out for days last summer at a commercial lithium-ion battery storage facility on land owned by the Warwick Valley school district land in Orange County.

Its like David and Goliath  its horrible, said Somers resident Guy Baker, whose property on Lounsbury Drive in Somers backs up to the storage facility land. Weve got to keep at it. We know they are just going to keep throwing money at it if we stop it in Carmel. It will be one lawsuit after another.

More: Mike Lawler brings $2M to Mahopac, gets thank you sign on town land in election year

Emails seeking comment from the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Washington, D.C. were not returned.

The dispute has bloomed into a regional issue, with a scent of politics. On Wednesday, Assemblyman Matt Slater, R-Yorktown, and seven Republican town supervisors from Westchester and Putnam counties sent a letter to Gov. Kathy Hochul, seeking her intervention to address concerns that incidents at large-scale battery farms could pollute the regions groundwater.

They want changes in state law to require these facilities to be located further from nearby homes.

"Local residents have repeatedly expressed their concern with the siting large-scale battery storage projects near their houses because of inherent risk of fires," the letter stated.

New York Assemblyman Matt Slater offers comments on Gov. Hochul's housing and infrastructure during a press conference outside the North Castle town hall in Armonk, on Tuesday, March 7, 2023.

State Sen. Pete Harckham, D-Lewisboro, whose district includes Carmel and Somers, proposed a bill earlier this year that would give the state of New York increased authority over siting energy storage systems. But Harckham, who chairs the Senate Environment Committee, withdrew the bill, citing language in the state budget that exempted battery facilities from state control that was extended to solar and wind farms.

Harckham subsequently declared his support for the proposed six-month moratorium in Carmel.

The reality is that the Carmel Town Board retains home rule with regards to energy storage systems," said Harckham spokesman Tom Staudter. "Its the current town code that is at issue with the East Point Energy application. That's why Sen. Harckham supports the proposal for a temporary moratorium while the Board does the deliberation it needs to do to regulate energy storage intelligently."

Hochul, meanwhile, stands by state reports that indicate lithium-ion battery storage facility fires do not pose a threat to public health.

East Point said it will continue to engage with the community, noting appearances before the Carmel Planning Board, Environmental Conservation Board and engagements with the Putnam County Industrial Development Agency, Putnam County Legislature, Mahopac Volunteer Fire Department and the Putnam County Firearm Owners Association.

Fires at battery facilities

East Point Project Developer Will Frost told Tax Watch that energy storage facilities are well-regulated, with oversight by federal, state and local authorities. He said fires at such storage facilities are extremely rare occurrences and remain isolated.

Frost said that even those that do break out, as they've done across the state, aren't so bad, when you compare the residue from those conflagrations to burning an old mattress or having a fire at your business place.

"On a per-kilogram basis, a smoldering lithium-ion battery can be treated with the same precautions as something like a sofa or a mattress or office fire in terms of toxicity," Frost said.

For now, the Norwegian company is working with Carmel on an updated site plan with key engineering updates that he said would be unveiled at the appropriate time.

We look forward to continuing to work with all stakeholders to develop the Union Energy project, while increasing local tax revenue and improving electric reliability in the region for decades to come, Frost said.

Roland Ciofrone near his Somers home, next to a proposed 93-acre battery storage facility in bordering Mahopac June 6, 2024.

Frost said fires at lithium-ion battery facilities are no worse for the environment than if a your neighbor's house burned down up the street.

There has been no evidence uncovered to show that a fire at an energy storage facility is of any more concern to air and environmental quality than a house fire, Frost said.

But residents disagree. They cite a study that says lithium-ion fires emit toxic hydrogen flouride that can cause skin lesions and respiratory problems at high-enough concentrations. Others fear groundwater contamination if firefighters use water to douse the flames.

The volume of water used to contain such fires is too great to contain the water to protect groundwater, said Somers resident Christine Panos.

Industry standard is to let a chemical fire burn out

Municipalities across New York have used different approaches to extinguish fires at battery energy storage sites.

It took 30 hours for a battery farm's sprinkler system to douse a battery energy storage fire in East Hampton in May 2023, according to a report by the New York state Fire Safety Working Group. The water poured onto the smoldering battery ran off to a nearby dirt road, where state tests found no discernable difference in the concentration of metals in the soil.

More: Carmel police chief cashes in $224k retirement pay, moonlights and runs for supervisor

Two months later, it took firefighters using fire hoses five days to extinguish a blaze at a 22 megawatt battery storage facility in the village Chaumont near Lake Ontario. Nearby residents feared groundwater contamination, but state tests of 11 wells a week later found no evidence of contamination.

In Mahopac, East Point plans to follow what it calls the industry standard, which is to to let a chemical fire burn out on its own.

The plan: ensure that project area is unoccupied, let the fire burn out on its own and monitor the situation on-site, Frost said.

That was the plan used to address the battery storage fire at a facility located on property owned by the Warwick Valley school district. There, fires caused heavy smoke, leading to evacuation of the district office and three nearby schools.

First responders in Orange County let battery storage fires burn out on their own, which meant there was no run-off from the incident. Air sampling found no elevated levels of toxic contaminants.

Nicole Stern, Kevin Dwyer would lease land

The project in Mahopac would sit on property off Miller Road in Baldwin Place, by a substation of NYSEG, the utility that delivers electricity to homes in Carmel and Somers. The limited liability corporation that owns the property would lease it to East Point for 25 years.

Two members of the LLC are prominent in the town of Carmel business world: Kevin Dwyer, owner of Dwyer Insurance Agency, and commercial real estate owner Nicole Barile Stern. Shes the daughter of former Carmel Town Board member Mike Barile, who was fined $105,000 and pled guilty in 2021 for stealing sewer service from the town at his Lake Mahopac restaurant.

Dwyer referred questions to East Point. Stern did not return phone messages.

The outburst of opposition this spring came five years after East Point began talks with town officials. In 2020, Michael Carnazza, Carmels chief of code enforcement, found that the project was compatible in the towns commercial/business park zoning district.

The matter is now before the towns Planning Board, which has yet to set a date for a public hearing on the matter. Also needed is approval for a wetlands permit from the state Department of Environmental Conservation and a storm-water permit from New York City's Department of Environmental Protection.

New York wants 3,000 megawatts of storage by 2030

The development of these facilities are part of the states goals under the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, which calls for 3,000 megawatts of storage capacity by 2030. The state currently has just five storage projects with more than 5 megawatts. The Mahopac proposal is one of 138 proposed projects that are larger than 100 megawatts, said NYSERDA spokeswoman Cohen.

The Mahopac plant would have enough electricity on tap to provide power to 100,000 homes for 4 hours.

The project would enhance reliability by incorporating an additional grid resource in the region, further bolstering the electric grid during extreme weather events, such as extreme heat waves or cold snaps, said Frost.

Noelle and Scott Maoriello near their Somers home, next to a proposed 93-acre battery storage facility in bordering Mahopac June 6, 2024.

But Scott Moariello said New York needs to create tighter standards before any more such facilities as big as the one proposed in Carmel are allowed to operate by residential neighborhoods.

Its irresponsible, its just too big, said Moariello, whose Somers backyard abuts the Miller Road property. Theres not enough research done into the safety of these things. They are just not safe from what weve seen.

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David McKay Wilson writes about tax issues and government accountability. Follow him on Twitter @davidmckay415 or email him at dwilson3@lohud.com.

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Mahopac, Somers NY residents fear battery energy farm sought by Norway
(Peter Dazeley/Getty Images)

Attorneys general from Maine and 42 other states reached a $700 million nationwide settlement with Johnson & Johnson for allegations of deceptive marketing of baby powder and body powder products.

While this lawsuit brought forth by a coalition of states targeted the deceptive marketing of talc powder products, there were others filed by private plaintiffs alleging that talc causes serious health issues such as cancer and mesothelioma. The judgment in the lawsuit from the attorneys general addresses allegations that the company misled consumers in advertisements about the safety and purity of the products, according to a news release from the Office of the Maine Attorney General on Tuesday.

While deceiving consumers about the safety of a product is deplorable, it is particularly egregious that the unsafe product at issue was primarily marketed for babies, said Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey.

As part of the settlement, Maine will receive more than $4.8 million; however, the agreement is pending judicial approval, the release says.

As part of the lawsuit, Johnson & Johnson has agreed to stop the manufacture and sale of its baby and body powder products that contain talc in the United States.

Those products had been sold for a century, the release says, but the company stopped distributing and selling them domestically and globally after the coalition of state AGs began investigating.

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(Bloomberg) -- Malawis government said a search is continuing for an aircraft carrying Vice President Saulos Chilima and nine other passengers that went missing on Monday.

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The Malawi Defense Force aircraft left Lilongwe, the capital, shortly after 9 a.m. local time and failed to arrive at its destination in the north of the southern African nation, Malawis presidency said in a statement on the governments Facebook page.

All efforts by aviation authorities to make contact with the aircraft have failed thus far, Secretary to the President Colleen Zamba said in the statement.

Search efforts are being hampered by bad weather in Chikangawa Forest, where the plane carrying the vice president went missing, Malawi Defence Force General Valentino Phiri told reporters Tuesday.

President Lazarus Chakwera has asked for assistance from neighboring countries along with the US, UK, Norwegian and Israeli governments to help search for the plane, the government said in a separate statement.

Chilima, 51, is popular among Malawis youth and is seen as a potential power broker in elections scheduled to take place next year, which neither the ruling Malawi Congress Party nor the rival Democratic Progressive Party is expected to win outright. While Chilima has been expected to run for the presidency, hes made no public declaration of that intent.

An economist and businessman who had a successful career in telecommunications, he entered politics in 2014 and became the countrys youngest Vice President that year after the countrys former President Peter Mutharika picked him as his running mate.

(Updates with comment by defence force chief in fourth paragraph.)

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Johannesburg  Malawi's Vice President Dr. Saulos Chilima and 9 other people were killed when the plane they were travelling in crashed in the Chikangawa mountain range, the government said Tuesday. President Lazarus Chakwera declared Tuesday a national day of mourning. It later became unclear whether Chilima's wife Mary had also been on the plane when it crashed, as initially stated by the government.

"Unfortunately, all on board have perished in the crash," the Office of the President and Cabinet said in a Tuesday morning statement. The confirmation came after more than a day-long search effort in a forested area in the mountains of northern Malawi. The military plane crashed Monday morning after it took off from the country's capital Lilongwe.

Chilima, 51, and the other passengers had been headed to attend the funeral of the country's former attorney general when their plane dropped off radar. Air traffic officials said the plane had been unable to land at Mzuzu airport, about 200 miles north of the capital, due to poor visibility, and the pilot had been advised to return to Lilongwe when the flight disappeared.

Malawi Vice President Saulos Chilima and his wife Mary disembark from a plane upon their return from South Korea, in Lillongwe, Malawi, in a June 9, 2024 file photo. A military plane carrying the Chilima and 9 others crashed on June 10, 2024, killing everyone on board, Malawi's government said. / Credit: AP Photo

Addressing the nation on Tuesday, Chakwera said Chilima, along with seven military officers and two other passengers, were in a a small military plane, said by the Associated Press to have been a Dornier 228-type twin propeller plane delivered to the Malawian army in 1988. The AP ascertained that information by cross-referencing the aircraft's tail number, provided by Chakwera, with data provided by the ch-aviation website.

Some Malawian sources told CBS News later Tuesday that Chilima's wife had not been on the plane, but the government did not immediately clarify her whereabouts or condition.

Chilima, 51, had been seen in Malawi as a possible contender for next year's presidential election.

A somewhat controversial figure, he'd been arrested in 2022 on graft allegations, amid reports that he'd received kickbacks from a businessman for government contracts.

Chilima consistently denied the charges, right up until last month, when they were dropped by the national prosecutor, who filed a notice for the discontinuation of the case.

In a televised national address Monday night, Chawera told the nation that the search and rescue operation would continue until Chilima's plane was found.

"I know this is a heart breaking situation," he said, "and we are all frightened and concerned."

Several countries including the United States provided technological support in the search operation.

In a statement posted Tuesday morning on social media, the U.S. Embassy in Lilongwe said it was "deeply concerned by the news of the crash" and added an offer of "all available assistance including a Defense C-12 aircraft."

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Hunter Biden faces possible prison time after guilty verdict in Delaware

Hunter Biden faces 25 years in prison. Will he be incarcerated?
SC man accused of burning his 3-year-old wanted after skipping trial, authorities say

A father accused of maliciously and repeatedly abusing his daughter by severely burning her failed to appear in court and is now wanted, according to the 5th Circuit Solicitors Office.

Nathan Ginter, who was arrested and charged in 2022 with unlawful neglect of a child, did not appear when his trial was set to begin Monday, the solicitors office said. A bench warrant for Ginters arrest was subsequently issued, but the trial remains underway even without without Ginters presence, according to a spokesperson from the 5th Circuit Solicitors Office.

Before making a $1 million bond, Ginter was housed at the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center.

Columbia police arrested Ginter after the mother of their daughter brought her to Lexington Medical Center with significant burns to her lower body, the department said.

The burns caused severe scarring and disfigurement and are consistent with the use of an electrical control device, which police accused GInter of using.

Lexington police were called in to investigate and turned the case over to Columbia Police Department after finding out Ginters house was on Cleveland Street in Columbia.

After investigating, police said there was substantial evidence that Ginter also performed water torture on his daughter.
Man accused of threatening to blow up Boston Primark arraigned on assault charges

A Wakefield man is facing several charges for allegedly attacking a security guard and police officer after threatening both employees and customers at a store in Downtown Boston.

24-year-old Williams Rodriguez-Juarez was charged with unarmed robbery, making a bomb or hijack threat, assault and battery on a police officer, strangulation or suffocation, trespassing, resisting arrest, and three counts of assault with a dangerous weapon (shod foot).

According to the Suffolk County District Attorneys Office, on June 8, Rodriguez-Juarez entered the Primark on Summer Street around 4:42 p.m. while intoxicated and began yelling at employees inside the store when they asked him to leave the loading dock area.

Rodriguez-Juarez allegedly made inappropriate sexual statements to employees and customers and became aggressive. Officials say he tried leaving the store with merchandise while yelling he would blow this place up.

Arriving officers found Rodriguez-Juarez attacking a security guard yelling, putting his hand behind his back and yelling, You need to arrest him, according to authorities.

Officers stepped in to help the security guard and Rodriguez-Juarez then allegedly pushed, kicked, and even bit a Boston officer, drawing blood.

EMS evaluated the officer who was bit.

This type of conduct goes far above and beyond mere shoplifting, District Attorney Kevin Hayden said. All employees and shoppers have the right to a safe store environment, and all security guards and police officers should be able to carry out their duties without resistance.

Judge Joseph Griffin set Rodriguez-Juarezs bail at $500 and ordered him to stay away from Downtown Crossing. Rodriguez-Juarez is due back in court on August 12 for a probable cause hearing.

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SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  A man was taken into custody Tuesday morning after an hours-long, overnight standoff with police at a home in North Park.

Officers first responded to the home in the 3700 block of Alabama Street around 10:30 p.m. Monday. According to San Diego police, authorities were brought out to the scene after receiving a call about a possible domestic violence incident.

It remains unclear what led to the call and whether the suspect barricaded himself in the home with any weapon. However, the suspect, whose identity has not been disclosed, was safely taken into custody just before 6 a.m.

No other details were immediately available about the incident. An investigation remains ongoing.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. (DC News Now)  Police said they arrested a man responsible for four burglaries in the Dunn Loring area shortly after one of the crimes took place.

The Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD) said William Westray, 58, of Maryland broke the basement window of a home in the 7900 block of Tire Swing Rd. around 10:25 a.m. on May 24. People who live there said they heard and saw the break-in as it took place. Police said the people who were in the home challenged Westray who was gone by the time officers got to the home.

FCPD said officers found and arrested Westray as he tried to board the train at the Dunn Loring Metro Station, which is a short distance from the home where the break-in happened.

Geese cause backup on 395 in Northern Virginia

Police took Westray to the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center the day of the break-in on Tire Swing Road. Although he initially was held without bond, he has been released on bond since that time.

In addition to the incident on Tire Swing Road, police said they connected Westray to three others:

8200 block of Bucknell Dr. May 20 2900 block of Beau Ln. May 22 2700 block of Elsmore St. May 23

The Fairfax County Police Department asked anyone with information about any of the cases to contact detectives at (703) 556-7750. People also have the option to submit tips anonymously through Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS (866-411-8477), online, or by using the P3 Tips app.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan, Ethiopia, Afghanistan, Syria, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Colombia... and so on. There are up to 56 active conflicts in the world, the highest number since World War II. Moreover, these carry an increasingly international component, with 92 countries involved in wars outside their borders. These are data from the latest Global Peace Index produced annually by the Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP), a think tank that analyzes everything from military investment and the cost of violence to military laws and deaths in combat in 163 states and territories. Getting the information is a challenge, but it allows us to compare dynamics. And what we see is a deterioration of peace over the last decade, especially in the last five years, says Michael Collins, executive director of IEP.

At the socioeconomic level, the world is improving, people are living longer and better; however, we see an increase in the gaps between countries, both economically and in terms of peace, the expert explained by video call last Friday. Thus, 97 countries worsened their peace levels in 2023, more than in any other year since the creation of the index in 2008. This means that, mainly, there has been a deterioration in their militarization indicators because there are more arms exports and imports, more military investment, when in previous years it had been decreasing, says Collins.

The risk of low-intensity hostilities erupting into open conflict has also increased. Moreover, Collins warns, this year is a high-risk year because half of humanity is voting and the world is increasingly polarized. We see risk of conflict spillover. We see sparks that can start a fire, he adds. There are a lot of unresolved but dormant conflicts. At any time, the report warns, these can flare up and become major wars. This has happened, the authors cite, with cases such as Sudan or Gaza, which in last years edition of the study were on the list of unstable territories with low-intensity hostilities and have since escalated to the category of wars.

In addition to the little attention these tensions receive, Collins recalls that the world is also distracted from conflicts such as those in Sudan or Ethiopia, in which many people die, but it goes unreported.

It is imperative that governments and businesses around the world step up their efforts to resolve the many minor conflicts before they become major crises, said Steve Killelea, founder and CEO of IEP.

Valentina Chernaya, 90, mourns the damage her house suffered from a bombing raid on Rozivka, Donetsk region, Ukraine, on June 3, 2024. Alexander Ermochenko (REUTERS)

Violence has a price, both personal and economic. In terms of human losses, the increase in conflicts resulted in 162,000 deaths in 2023, the second-highest number in the last 30 years, the studys authors note. And 2024 is likely to be a record high, Collins says, on the basis of data they have collected in the first four months of the year, in which 47,000 deaths have been recorded, most of them in Gaza. In addition, 95 million people are refugees or internally displaced due to violent clashes; 16 countries each host more than half a million refugees, representing a human and economic cost for both their communities and the host communities.

In terms of economic impact, the IEP highlights that the global cost of violence (from military confrontations, gang warfare, or low-intensity hostilities, for example) amounted to 17.5 trillion ($18.8 trillion) in 2023, 13.5% of global GDP. Exposure to conflict poses a significant risk to the supply chain of governments and businesses, the authors write. When lives are lost due to the context of violence or conflict, productivity is lost, Collins adds. Likewise, the more peaceful a country is, the fewer resources it requires to allocate to maintaining peace and the more it can invest in other areas such as education or health, the expert adds.

The most peaceful countries spend 3% of GDP on containing violence, while the most violent countries spend 30%. If they reduced that violence, they would free up that budget. War does not lead to economic growth at all, the IEP director states. There will always be a need to invest in security, but devoting more and more to military or security technologies means that there is more violence to contain, a lack of peace. Thus, higher spending on these items subtracts points in the ranking of the most peaceful countries, which is headed by Iceland, Ireland, and Austria, in that order.

Europe is the most peaceful region in the world, according to the study. And even with the conflict between Ukraine and Russia, Eurasia is the region that has most increased its levels of peace thanks to the improvement of the situation in the rest of the countries in the area. All other regions are experiencing a deterioration in their peace levels, especially Sub-Saharan Africa, with 36 out of 46 countries involved in conflicts outside their borders, and jihadist terrorism on the rise in the Sahel. Only Mauritius is not involved in any internal or external conflict. North America is, however, the worst performer in the index due to an increase in violent crime and fear of violence.

Worldwide, countries such as Mauritius are an exception, laments Collins. However, some nations are improving their indicators. This is the case in Afghanistan which, despite registering the worst levels of peace (occupying last position in the index), has improved its score compared to the previous study. Spain has climbed seven positions to number 23 in the ranking, preceded by Mauritius. Despite allegations of human rights abuses and the highest rate of imprisonment in the world, the report considers that El Salvador has improved by 21 places (to 107th in the ranking) by reducing homicides.

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Man is detained for trying to open gay club in Osama Bin Ladens compound town in Pakistan

A 75-year-old man who tried to open a gay bar in a conservative Pakistani city has been detained in a mental health hospital since last month by local authorities, the Telegraph reported.

Earlier this year, Preetum Giani applied to open the Lorenzo Gay Club in Abbottabad in northern Pakistan, local 24 News HD reported last month. The city is best known as the location of the compound where terrorist Osama Bin Laden spent his final days before he was killed by U.S. forces in 2016.

The envisaged gay club, tentatively to be called Lorenzo Gay Club, would basically be just a venue where gay people could freely meet, converse with, and share light refreshments with other gay people, the application read in part.

The application stressed the Lorenzo Gay Club would permit no form of gay or straight sex, but would tolerate kissing. Instead, Giani envisioned a safe space for the LGBTQ+ community to exercise the basic human right of free association, enshrined in the countrys constitution in the application.

Giani also promised to display a clearly visible notice on the wall warning patrons NO SEX ON PREMISES.

The application generated a backlash on social media and amongst local residents. The request was quickly rejected by the local Deputy Commissioner Abbas Afridi who characterized the application as impractical on religious, constitutional, and legal grounds to 24 News HD.

Naseer Khan Nazir of the Right-wing Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PATY), promised very severe consequences if the application was passed, the Telegraph reported. Another politician reportedly promised to pour gas on the bar and set it ablaze if it opened.

When reporters from the Telegraph attempted to visit Giani in his home on May 9, they learned he had been sent to the Sarhad Hospital for Psychiatric Disease in Peshawar.

His friends said authorities have rebuffed their attempts to learn of Gianis current condition. They also said they are fearful for his safety as well as their own.

Everyone is afraid that talking about it will put them in danger, one unidentified friend revealed.

Same-sex sexual relations are illegal in Pakistan and punishable by up to two years in prison. Marriage equality is also not recognized in the deeply conservative country that recognizes a strict view of Islam.

In 2020, the government announced a crackdown on apps like Grindr, Tinder, Tagged, Skout, and SayHi for violating the countrys moral code.

Despite the conservative hostility to the LGBTQ+ community in the region, the Transgender Persons Act was expanded in 2018 to recognize an individuals right to self-identify as male, female, or genderqueer, and to have their true gender reflected on all documents, including passports, drivers licenses, and educational certificates. Also that year, 13 transgender candidates filed to run for public office
A 61-year-old man found dead in his cell earlier this year at the privately-run federal immigration detention center in Tacoma died of natural causes, the Pierce County medical examiner announced Monday.

Charles Leo Daniel, a citizen of Trinidad and Tobago, died March 7 of hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, according to the medical examiners office. Staff at the Northwest ICE Processing Center found him slumped off his bed that morning and moved him to a hallway to perform medical aid. Tacoma Fire Department personnel tried to resuscitate him when they arrived, but he was pronounced dead at the facility.

Daniel, who came to the NWIPC in April 2020 after serving an 18-year prison sentence for a 2003 murder conviction in King County Superior Court, was held in solitary confinement at the time of his death. Researchers from the University of Washingtons Center for Human Rights found that Daniel had spent 1,244 days in solitary confinement in two periods separated by two days.

Officials from the GEO Group, the multibillion-dollar company that runs the facility, have said that Daniel requested to be housed alone and away from the general population when he was transferred to the NWIPC. To ensure the decision to house him in solitary confinement was safe, spokesperson Christopher Ferreira said, Daniels mental health was evaluated by the ICE Health Services Corps.

The death prompted immigrant rights groups La Resistencia and Tsuru for Solidarity to call for an independent investigation into the circumstances. Members set up an encampment outside the facility at 1623 E. J St. for weeks, monitoring incidents such as a fire and reported suicide attempts inside while also engaging in hunger strikes to protest conditions for detained immigrants.

A vigil for Charles Leo Daniel sits on display outside the Northwest ICE Processing Center on Tuesday, March 19, 2024, in Tacoma, Wash. Daniel died inside the facility in early March.

In April, a dozen U.S. senators sent a letter to top immigration and homeland security leaders calling for an end to the misuse of solitary confinement. Democratic Sen. Patty Murrays office said the letter came amid serious concerns about the use of solitary confinement after Daniels death.

On Monday, Maru Mora Villalpando, a founder of La Resistencia, told KNKX that the medical examiners report on Daniels death was lacking in details, and she said ICE and GEO are responsible for the health of those in their custody.

Two other deaths have been reported at the facility since it opened in 2004, according to ICE records. In 2006, a 42-year-old man died of coronary artery disease. In 2018, a 40-year-old man held in solitary confinement died by suicide.

In a report on Daniels death, ICE stated that the registered nurse who did Daniels intake screening in April 2020 documented a medical history of kidney stones and mild hypertension. Daniel had normal vital signs except for slightly elevated blood pressure. He reported having previously been hospitalized for his mental health and was taking an antidepressant.

Four days after the intake screening, an advanced-practice provider diagnosed Daniel with stage two hypertension without diabetes. According to ICE, Daniel agreed to start medication but refused medical consent for it after one week.

Over the next three years, ICE said medical staff monitored Daniels blood pressure when he consented and ordered medication for treatment as well as lab testing, and they told him of the risks of untreated hypertension, but he repeatedly refused medical services and medication. ICE said he completed more than 60 medical consent refusal forms. When he did consent to blood pressure tests, results ranged from 120/80 mmHg to 209/116 mmHg.

A psychiatrist evaluated Daniel about 20 days after he was detained at the NWIPC and documented that he had a history of delusional disorder and was treated with an antipsychotic for a short period of time, but Daniel also reportedly refused that medication. His antidepressant was decreased from daily to three times a week in accordance with a prior medication order from the Washington State Penitentiary in Walla Walla.

Daniel continued to be evaluated monthly until September 2021, when future appointments were canceled due to his repeated medication refusals. ICE said Daniels delusions persisted throughout his detainment, but he didnt agree with the psychiatrists diagnosis.

In August 2023, a behavioral health provider added a significant mental illness alert in Daniels medical record. Its unclear what led to the alert being documented. Because of the alert and his placement in solitary confinement, behavioral health providers began doing daily evaluations of Daniel instead of weekly. Daniel continued to deny suicidal ideations.

On the day of Daniels death, a registered nurse saw him at 5:30 a.m. for the segregation medical round and documented he was sitting in his room and answered questions appropriately.

At about 10:05 a.m., a behavioral health provider conducted Daniels daily evaluation and noted he presented as smiling, pleasant and non-distressed. He denied any suicidal ideations. At 10:34 a.m., a staff member announced via radio, Man down, in Daniels housing unit. Health staff arrived about three minutes later and began chest compressions.
A would-be bank robber had a change of heart last week, according to Olympia police.

About 4:50 p.m. Monday, June 3, a man entered the Washington Federal branch in the 1500 block of Cooper Point Road Southwest. The man was wearing a hat, gloves and a mask, Police Lt. Paul Lower said.

After he entered the branch, an employee approached him and asked him to remove the mask. He replied with give me the money, give me the money, then changed his mind, Lower said.

The man suddenly said that he must be in the wrong place, apologized and turned around and left, Lower said.

So, was it a crime?

No weapon was shown and no overt threat was made, so police will categorize it as a suspicious circumstance, Lower said. As a result, police will share the information with other law enforcement agencies to see if they are looking for a bank robbery suspect, he said.
Man flown to hospital with burns after explosion, fire at Burke County home

A man in Burke County was flown to the hospital with life-threatening injuries after a fire destroyed much of his home near Glen Alpine. Neighbors describe hearing several explosions and then seeing the man on fire in the yard.

The home is on Lytle Drive near the town of Glen Alpine. Investigators told Channel 9s Dave Faherty the fire started out back when the man who lived there tried to fill a gas can.

ALSO READ: Shock: 77-year old officer in Burke County on leave for crashing into home

Now, a grandfather is being called a hero because he ran over and knocked the man to the ground to extinguish the flames that were burning him. Johnnie Rutherford showed Faherty where he knocked his neighbor to the ground, rolled him over, and ripped his burning shirt off.

Rutherford spotted him running through the yard seconds after the explosion behind his home.

Youre not really thinking, Rutherford said. You see someone burning like that, its something to see. Just natural instincts trying to save somebody. I know the guy hes like family.

A neighbor shared video of the scene overnight. The flames shot up into the air, burning the trees above the home. Neighbors described hearing the explosion and then seeing the flames come from the home.

I felt a rumble, Rosa Rutherford said. It was a rumble.

The victims girlfriend, Krista Phillips, is thankful for Johnnie Rutherfords quick thinking. She said her boyfriend was flown to the hospital with third-degree burns to 35% of his body.

ALSO READ: Troopers: Rock thrown through windshield kills Burke County woman

The victims girlfriend said they have three children who werent home when the fire started. She said they lost everything.

Our home is gone and thats everything weve built for five, six years now. We have nothing, Phillips said. They have the clothes that they had on and thats it.

Phillips said she is thankful for the people whove already donated clothing.

Fire investigators said they hope to find ways to help the family.

Johnnie Rutherford is glad he could help Monday night but doesnt believe anyone should call him a hero.

I aint a hero, he said. Im not a hero, brother. They can say that but Im just blessed to help somebody.

Three different fire departments worked to put out the fire. The fire marshals office said theyve already determined it was accidental.

(WATCH BELOW: Family has new hope in decades-old Burke County cold case)
Many residents were evacuated from an apartment fire in Miami on Monday. Photo by Miami Fire Rescue/Twitter

June 10 (UPI) -- A suspect is in custody after a three-alarm fire, the first in Miami in 25 years, destroyed a four-story apartment complex Monday near downtown as a man was found shot.

Police were called to the Temple Court Apartments complex at about 8:15 a.m. The gunshot victim, who worked at the complex, was taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital in critical condition.

Four other people required medical assistance. A Miami Fire Rescue official said three firefighters required hospitalization and one resident was treated for smoke inhalation. Two firefighters later were released from the hospital.

More than 40 elderly residents were rescued from the fire.

As we continue to work on the multi-unit fire located at 431 NW 3rd Street, we ask residents to stay indoors if they suffer respiratory illnesses. @RedCross is working with residents to assist with their needs. pic.twitter.com/h64XDQ8Pm1 Miami Fire Rescue (@CityofMiamiFire) June 10, 2024

Mayor Francis Suarez said officials believe all residents are accounted for, and no fatalities have been reported.

"We got several calls referencing a fire at this location," said Suarez, adding it was "escalating in intensity."

A three-alarm fire means three separate fire stations responded to the blaze.

"A level 3 fire is something we haven't seen in 25 years in the city," Suarez said in a report by WTVJ-TV. "It requires 40 units of our fire department."

Police told WFOR-TV it was too early to say if the shooting was connected to the fire.

The unnamed suspect was taken into custody at 6 p.m., Suarez said. He was believed to have shot an employee at the Temple Court apartments and then intentionally set the fire, he said.

The Miami Herald reported the suspect was a man.

A total of 61 units in two buildings were affected by the fire. There were 43 residents listed as living there.

Miami police said everyone they know of who had been in the building was accounted for, and no fatalities have been reported.

People who live in the building said they heard explosions.

The wood infrastructure fueled the blaze.

"The challenging part is you can't see anything but also you start to have compromising of the floors. We understand that probably the third-floor area was collapsing as a result, so safety is our number one priority," Miami Fire Rescue Captain Ignatius Carroll told WFOR.

The Atlantic Housing Foundation, which manages the complex, said the man shot was an employee.

"We are still determining the cause of these events, and we are checking for other injuries," the foundation said. "Police are investigating, and we will help in whatever ways we can. We are working with the Red Cross, which has brought drinks and snacks to help our displaced residents. We are also working to provide meals and a place to stay for those who have been affected. We will update as we have more information."

He was identified by family members to WTVJ as 30-year-old Feder Biotte, a maintenance technician at the building.
JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD)  A man was hospitalized following a crash north of Edwardsburg Tuesday morning, deputies say.

It happened around 7:50 a.m. on Pine Lake Road east of Dailey Road in Jefferson Township. The Cass County Sheriffs Office says a 33-year-old Niles man was headed east on Pine Lake when he lost control of his car. It left the road and hit several trees, the sheriffs office said.

The man was taken to a South Bend, Indiana, hospital. Deputies did not provide information about his condition.

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Deputies say neither drugs nor alcohol are believed to have been involved, but that the driver was not wearing a seat belt.

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(BCN)  A man was injured in a shooting in San Franciscos Potrero Hill neighborhood early Tuesday morning, according to police. The victim, who is in his 30s, was standing outside in the area of 25th and Connecticut streets around 1 a.m. when he heard a gunshot and realized he was hit, San Francisco police said.

Suspect in fatal Lake Berryessa shooting arrested, charged with murder

A friend took him to a hospital, where he was treated for injuries that arent considered life-threatening. No arrest has been made in the case and police have not released any description of the suspected shooter.

Anyone with information is asked to call SFPDs tip line at (415) 575-4444 or to send a tip by text message to TIP411 with SFPD at the start of the message.

Copyright  2024 Bay City News, Inc.

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Man injured in Russian June 10 attack on Kharkiv dies in hospital

A 77-year-old man injured in a Russian attack on the city of Kharkiv on June 10 died in the hospital, Mayor Ihor Terekhov said on June 11.

Russian troops hit Kharkiv with three glide bombs, targeting a residential area. Eight people suffered injuries, including five men and three women, according to the local authorities.

The man who died was rescued from the rubble on June 10. It took two hours to free him from the debris, Terekhov said.

The victim suffered numerous closed fractures, Governor Oleh Syniehubov said.

Russia recently intensified attacks against Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-biggest city after Kyiv, with the use of missiles, glide bombs, and drones, destroying energy infrastructure and killing civilians.

Read also: 48 hours in Kharkiv, Ukraines most-bombed major city

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW)  A 34-year-old man is being held without bond in connection with a May 28 shooting that killed a Loris woman and critically injured another person.

Rashaud Eli Faulker of Easterover, South Carolina, is charged with murder, attempted murder and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime in the shooting that killed Brandi Lilly, 34. Authorities said Lilly and another person were found shot inside a vehicle on Gurley Road near Highway 701 South near Loris.

According to arrest warrants, Faulkner shot Lilly and the other person with a handgun. Police determined through witness statements that Faulker was the last person known to be with the victims before they were shot.

Faulkner was arrested on Saturday and booked into the J. Reuben Long Detention Center.

* * *

Dennis Bright is a Digital Producer at News13. He joined the team in May 2021. Dennis is a West Virginia native and a graduate of Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. Follow Dennis on, Facebook, X, formerly Twitter, and read more of his work here.

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Man jailed without bond for pro-Palestinian graffiti near The Dome

ST. LOUIS  A man participating in a pro-Palestinian demonstration on Sunday near The Dome at Americas Center is accused of spray-painting slogans on buildings.

According to the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Departments probable cause statement, Kyle Kofron, 31, tagged the Stadium West parking garage with the phrase Save Gaza, causing approximately $1,500 in damage.

Police claim Kofron tagged four other buildings, but the owners have not supplied damage estimates.

The St. Louis Circuit Attorneys Office charged Kofron with first-degree property damage. Kofron remains jailed without bond.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2.
It is the new reality for our day-to-day life in the years to come, said Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal on June 4. This new reality is living for 10 hours a day without electricity, the daily average over the past week when electricity supply to every household in Kyiv or Dnipro was cut. In another city, Odesa, in the south, there were neighborhoods that spent 20 hours without power. For the coming week, the state energy operator Ukrenergo estimates at least six hours a day without supply throughout the country. Russian air strikes have destroyed more than half of Ukraines power generation capacity. Politicians, companies in the sector, and experts say that the situation will get worse, and is likely to become dramatic during the coming winter.

Ukraine already faced a similar situation between autumn 2022 and January 2023, when Russia launched its first offensive against the countrys energy grid, but the scale of the damage caused in the 2024 attacks is much greater. Dixi, the Ukrainian energy industrys benchmark consultancy, estimated in a report last May 28 that power generation capacity had fallen to 52%, with thermal power plants being the most-affected by the Russian shelling. Russian forces are also occupying the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, the largest in Europe, which provided half of Ukraines nuclear power generation before the war. Ukrainian government representatives confirmed to the Financial Times that the country had gone from generating 55 gigawatts before the invasion to a current rate of 20. Dixi lowers that figure to 18.3 gigawatts. This spring alone, Russian missiles have taken out plants producing nine gigawatts of electricity, according to Shmyhal.

The mild spring and summer weather, added to the extended hours of daylight, have allowed citizens to dodge a looming problem for the time being: a lack of electrical power in the cold months for heating systems, hot water, and lighting in homes. Being pessimistic, the situation will worsen and in autumn there will be more severe power cuts. We have to prepare even for days when we will have only four hours of electricity, Olga Kosharna, an expert at the Ukrainian Nuclear Center, explained to the Telegraf media on May 29.

Companies in the sector confirm that it will take years to repair the power plants damaged by the Russian bombardment. Serhiy Nagorniak, representative of the National Committee for Energy and Housing, explained to state news on June 6 that forecasts indicate that when temperatures drop below 50F (10C), the population should be aware that they will have to face 10 hours a day without electricity supply.

The Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant on March 29, 2023. Anadolu Agency/ Getty

Electricity tariffs have risen by 64%

Companies and communities of residents who can afford to do so are investing in diesel for generators, which are once again providing an uncomfortable sound that reverberates on every street in Ukraine. The impact on the citizens pocket goes beyond that. The electricity tariff from June has increased by 64%, from 2.64 hryvnas per kilowatt-hour (kWh) to 4.32 hryvnas (between $0.064 and $0.11). Days before the Ukrainian Cabinet met on May 30, it was leaked that the increase would be 80%. But the reaction in the media and on social networks made it clear that the measure was highly unpopular at a time when the authorities must also deal with enormous unease over the compulsory conscription process to incorporate hundreds of thousands of civilians into the army.

Dixi informs this newspaper that its estimates in 2023 indicated the average monthly consumption per household in Ukraine was 155Kwh. In this average scenario, the monthly household bill would rise from $10 to $16.6. The Ukrainian Statistics Service indicates that the average monthly salary in Ukraine was equivalent to $471 at the end of last year. The World Bank estimated that in 2022 alone, the year in which Russia launched its invasion, the poverty rate in Ukraine rose from 5.5% to 24% of the population.

There is no alternative to raising tariffs, say the government and companies in the sector. The data proves them right. The companies are facing very high costs to rebuild the power grid, and Ukraine is increasingly dependent on electricity imports from the European Union.

The energy crisis is an issue that is placing even more pressure on President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. Minister of Infrastructure Oleksandr Kubrakov was dismissed last May without official explanation and despite being one of the most respected members of the government. The Ukrainian press assumed that Kubrakov was used as a scapegoat by the president. The then-minister was subjected on April 26 in the Rada  the Ukrainian parliament, where Zelenskiys party has an absolute majority  to more than an hour of questioning by deputies who reproached him for not having better fortified the power plants, particularly the Trypilska thermal power plant, the principal plant in the Kyiv region, which was razed to the ground in an attack in April. Kubrakov replied that anti-aircraft defenses were not his responsibility.

Mustafa Nayyem, a popular pro-European activist in Ukraine, resigned Monday as head of the Office of Infrastructure Reconstruction and Development, accusing the government of not giving enough support to his department. In a harsh statement, Nayyem added that his agency has done everything possible to protect the power grid, but that essential resources are expressly blocked and he fears that his work and that of his team will in the future be discredited in public.

Ukraine has suffered this year from a growing shortage of anti-aircraft ammunition, especially U.S. Patriot missiles, which has been reflected in a lower interception rate of Russian projectiles by the Air Force and the greater ease with which Moscow can hit strategic targets such as power plants and substations. The critical situation has forced countries such as Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States to redouble the delivery of more anti-aircraft systems.

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A man is dead after a reported farming accident south of Botkins on Sunday.

Police and rescue crews were called to the 15800 block of County Road 25A on reports of a farming accident in a field, according to Botkins Police Chief Mark Jordan.

>> Semi carrying over 150 pigs overturns, closes ramp to I-70 in Montgomery County

Craig Barhorst, 38, was involved in an accident while baling hay in a field.

Barhosrt died from his injuries, Jordan confirmed.

The incident remains under investigation.
MANHATTAN, N.Y. (PIX11)  A man accused of selling guns and gun parts while in federal prison to potential buyers motivated by Neo-Nazi and white supremacist ideologies was indicted, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg announced Tuesday.

Hayden Espinosa, of Texas, was serving a 33-month sentence in federal prison while selling illegal firearm and gun parts online, according to prosecutors.

3 men shot during childs birthday party in the Bronx: witnesses

Using cell phones smuggled into prison, Espinosa advertised and sold the materials through a Telegram channel that was a hub for racially and ethnically motivated extremism, Bragg said. His YouTube channel displayed white supremacist, neo-Nazi, and anti-government extremist ideologies, according to Braggs office.

A 2022 mass shooting at a Tops Markets location in Buffalo led investigators to Espinosa. One of the Discord channels in Espinosas investigation was frequented by the accused Buffalo shooter, prosecutors said.

We see this sad and tragic combination far too often, the intersection of gun violence and gun trafficking and hate and extremism, Bragg said. It is very very disturbing.

Espinosa allegedly tried to sell the guns to an undercover NYPD officer and then shipped the materials to Manhattan, connecting the case to Braggs district, according to the district attorneys office. In 2023, Espinosa allegedly sold a 3D-printed handgun and AR-style rifle to an undercover officer, then attempted to sell another handgun to the officer. Later, Espinosa sold the undercover officer two firearm silencer, according to Bragg.

[It] was astounding when we first came across the openness with which this illegal conduct was being engaged in online, hidden by the encrypted platforms, which give folks a false sense of security, said NYPD Deputy Commissioner Rebecca Weiner.

Espinosa is expected to be extradited and arraigned in New York later in June. He faces firearm transportation and criminal firearm sale charges.

Emily Rahhal is a digital reporter from Los Angeles who has covered New York City since 2023. She joined PIX11 in 2024. See more of her work here and follow her on Twitter here.

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Man who tried to punch pregnant women in Fellinis parking lot arrested

Atlanta police have arrested a man who was seen trying to punch a pregnant woman at a popular metro Atlanta pizza restaurant on Friday.

Officers responded to a call at Fellinis Pizza off Ponce De Leon and spoke with the manager who said a man, identified as 52-year-old Willie Grace had refused to leave the property.

An employee told police that Grace swung his fist at a pregnant woman in the restaurant parking lot.

Grace then started to hit the door of the business, causing damage, according to police.

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Grace was arrested Monday and then taken to Fulton County Jail.

He has been arrested several times in Atlanta, police said.

Grace was charged with vandalism to property.

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Man used lighter to ignite 35-acre fire in eastern Sacramento County, Metro Fire says

Authorities booked a man Tuesday on suspicion of arson after a 35-acre fire broke out in a large grass field along Highway 16 near Mather the day before.

Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District firefighters were told about 7:20 p.m. Monday of a vegetation fire near Jackson Road, west of Excelsior Road, that quickly charred grassland as wind gusts spread the flames, said Battalion Chief Parker Wilbourn, an agency spokesman. There were no injuries or damage to structures.

Crews arrived to a grass fire in Sacramento County. Fire shifted multiple times with the wind, jumping through multiple property lines. The fire was attacked with engines and a bulldozer on the ground and our Helicopter from the air. The forward progress was stopped at 35 acres. pic.twitter.com/CMRaP8sfLD  Metro Fire of Sacramento (@metrofirepio) June 11, 2024

The incident began as a two-acre fire near two cemeteries  Camellia Memorial Lawn and Joseph DePonti Gravesite  during which witnesses spotted a man wearing blue jeans and a royal blue shirt walking away from the scene, according to audio dispatch calls reviewed by The Sacramento Bee.

Sacramento County deputies and fire arson investigators arrived at the scene and detained a man walking out of a property located south of the blaze, Wilbourn said.

Wilbourn said in an update Tuesday that the 37-year-old man admitted to authorities that he had used a lighter to ignite flames.

Metro Fire emphasizes the importance of community vigilance and prompt reporting of suspicious activities, Wilbourn wrote in a news release. The cooperation between community members and fire personnel is crucial in preventing and addressing incidents of arson.

The fires forward progress was stopped about an hour later at 35 acres, crews reported.

The suspect faces an arson charge and is being held in Sacramento County Main Jail on $50,000 bail. He is scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday.
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  A man and woman were injured on Monday night after a double shooting in Frayser, police say.

At 8:47 p.m., officers responded to a shooting in the 1400 block of Briercrest Lane.

One male victim was in critical condition and a female victim was in non-critical condition. Both were taken to Regional One Hospital.

Police say this is an ongoing investigation.

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NEW YORK  Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and a member of the prosecution team that secured Donald Trumps conviction for covering up a conspiracy to hide information from voters on Tuesday agreed to testify about the case before Congress next month.

It undermines the rule of law to spread dangerous misinformation, baseless claims, and conspiracy theories following the jurys return of a full-count felony conviction in People v. Trump, a spokesperson for Bragg said in a statement to the New York Daily News.

Nonetheless, we respect our government institutions and plan to appear voluntarily before the subcommittee after sentencing.

Bragg and Assistant District Attorney Matthew Colangelo, who delivered the prosecutions opening statement at the hush money trial, will voluntarily submit to questions from the GOP-led House Judiciary Committee on July 12, a day after Trumps sentencing. Both have been the subject of relentless attacks from the right alleging their involvement in a Democrat-led plot to prevent the former president from regaining power.

A jury found Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee for president, guilty of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records on May 30 following a seven-week trial in Manhattan Supreme Court, making him the first U.S president ever to be convicted of a crime. Trump has vowed to appeal and could face prison time when he returns to court. He is also accused of plotting to subvert the results of the 2020 election and hoarding and mishandling sensitive government documents in three other cases, in which hes pleaded not guilty.

The Manhattan charges stemmed from Trumps reimbursement to Michael Cohen for paying off porn star Stormy Daniels 11 days out from the 2016 election within a scheme to disguise sordid allegations about his past from the electorate that also included payoffs to former Playboy model Karen McDougal and a Trump Tower doorman.

In the latest effort of many by Trump-backing Republicans to bring into disrepute criminal accusations against their leading contender for president, Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan requested Bragg and Colangelo testify before the subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government, which he chairs, the day after Trumps conviction in May.

Trumps allies have alleged Colangelo and Braggs crossover at the New York attorney generals office and Colangelos former position at the Department of Justice is evidence of a conspiracy to take him down orchestrated by the White House. President Bidens son, Hunter Biden, was convicted of gun charges in a DOJ case carrying up to 25 years on Tuesday.

The House Judiciary Committee announced Tuesday that it would also hold a hearing this Thursday to review the DAs political prosecution of President Trump.

In a letter to the committee first reported by ABC News Tuesday, assistant Attorney General Carlos Uriarte said extraordinary steps taken to investigate claims by Trumps allies in Congress found no back channel between the DOJ and the DA.

(The) conspiracy theory that the recent jury verdict in New York state court was somehow controlled by the Department is not only false, it is irresponsible, Uriarte wrote.

Indeed, accusations of wrongdoing made without  and in fact contrary to  evidence undermine confidence in the justice system and have contributed to increased threats of violence and attacks on career law enforcement officials and prosecutors.

Uriarte categorically denied any collaboration between the state-run DAs office and the federal DOJ against Trump and said he believed that was clear to those levying allegations.

The Department has no control over the District Attorney, just as the District Attorney has no control over the Department, Uriarte wrote.

The Committee knows this.

_____
So many Palestinian deaths in Israel's hostage rescue is horrible. But Hamas is to blame.

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Our divisive political environment isn't good for much, but it is good for one thing: clarity.

We saw that firsthand over the weekend when news broke that Israel Defense Forces liberated four hostages kidnapped by Hamas on Oct. 7. This is good news. After 246 days in captivity, Noa Argamani, 25, Almog Meir Jan, 21, Andrey Kozlov, 27, and Shlomi Ziv, 40, were reunited with their families.

They were among more than 240 hostages, including several Americans, Hamas abducted in Israel eight months ago.

Unfortunately, their liberation has not been celebrated as good news everywhere.

During the rescue, at least 210 Palestinians (some reports say 270), including civilians and children, were killed. Reports indicate that the hostages were hidden among Gaza's civilian population, making the rescue difficult. The hostages also were heavily guarded by Hamas terrorists.

Major news outlets, including NBC, CNN and The Washington Post, framed their stories with the Palestinian deaths as the lead. "More than 200 Palestinians killed in Israeli hostage raid in Gaza," The Post headline read.

Prominent social media accounts condemned the rescue and the bloodshed. There has even been debate over what the world reaction would be if, hypothetically, more than 200 Israelis were killed to rescue four Palestinians.

"To celebrate an operation that kills hundreds of Palestinians to save 4 Israelis is to openly say Palestinian lives are worth less than Israeli ones," progressive policy analyst Omar Baddar posted on X.

While commentators and news outlets reframe this incredible hostage rescue as a debate over the value of human life, it's important to add clarity to such an event and to remind everyone that the IDF would not need to rescue any hostages if Hamas had not taken any hostages captive.

What about the hostages?

To be clear: I don't dismiss civilian deaths. Particularly children. I'm a mother. A child's death is horrific, no matter whether the child is Israeli or Palestinian.

Reports on the raid Saturday suggest that the rescue of Argamani went as the IDF had meticulously planned for months, but the rescue of the other three was not as smooth. The rescues were done during the day to have the element of surprise, even though the IDF was aware there would be more civilians around. When the covert mission to rescue the other three hostages was exposed, more civilians died as a result.

Aircraft struck dozens of military targets for the success of the operation, the IDF said in a statement. Hamas, in a very cruel and cynical way, is holding hostages inside civilian buildings.

But members of the IDF did not organize and execute the operation without cause. The entire reason hostages needed to be liberated is because they had been kidnapped and not returned for eight months. The reason there were hostages in the first place is because Hamas on Oct. 7 started a brutal war against Israel by murdering about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and by taking more than 200 innocent Israelis, Americans and others hostage.

US must help free Hamas hostages: For five months, we thought our son was alive. Release Hamas hostages and spare others our pain.

On that day, Hamas murdered the elderly, children and young adults at a music festival. Hamas terrorists also raped women and left a trail of suffering in their wake.

Political, religious or ethnic affiliations and loyalties seem to have gotten in the way of recalling the facts of Oct. 7, which are undisputable and horrific.

What is one life worth?

It's tragic that so many Palestinians died when the IDF liberated the four hostages. But the IDF would not have undertaken such a raid if Hamas had not started this war. It would be wise to remember that when digesting this news.

Believe the survivors: Hamas hostages in Gaza are still enduring sexual violence

The world's anger, disappointment and cynicism should be turned toward Hamas (and the Iranian government that supports Hamas). In fact, this would be a good time to call out Hamas for still holding approximately 120 other hostages.

If Hamas valued Palestinian lives as much as they claim, they would release these people, including the Americans among them. That President Joe Biden has not done and said more about the Americans held hostage is also a tragedy.

Your Photo Sign up for our Opinion newsletter on conservative values, family and religion from columnist Nicole Russell. Get it delievered to your inbox.

"Whoever saves one life saves the world entire, is an often-quoted paraphrase of the Talmud, the book of Jewish law. It is a true and wise sentiment that can offer clarity in the muddled gray of war. All human life has value, whether hostage or civilian, Jewish or Palestinian. But to frame this hostage rescue as a debate about the value of human life  and to suggest that one side doesn't value life while the other does  is to be disingenuous about the actions of Hamas toward innocent Jews.

In life, there are consequences to actions. Some far worse than others. The Palestinian deaths during the hostage rescue stemmed from Oct. 7 and the awful choices Hamas continues to make.

Nicole Russell is an opinion columnist with USA TODAY. She lives in Texas with her four kids. Sign up for her newsletter, The Right Track, and get it delivered to your inbox.

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 did Palestinians die during Israel hostage rescue? Blame Hamas
I remember when I started doubting police and prosecutors were always the good guys. It was a day in 2008 or 2009 when a police officer gunned down a golden retriever. I noticed because I had started following a young libertarian writer on Twitter named Radley Balko who was writing impassioned articles revealing how police tended to fire first and ask questions later. His reporting revealed a nationwide epidemic of puppycide.

I had always trusted that the thin blue line was protecting me from the bad guys. Anyone shot by police, I comfortably believed, had it coming. But I had grown up with golden retrievers. They are Gods love distilled into a slobbery fur-wrapped package and stripped of all common sense.

If golden retrievers were dying, we had a problem. I am not alone in my affection for critters of the canine sort. People love them so much that a single death can change the law. When a police dog was killed in Kansas last year, the Legislature rewrote the law to make killing a police dog a felony. Today, Sturgeon, Missouri, is in an uproar because a police officer shot a blind, deaf shih tzu last month. The video is all over social media and is making international headlines.

But let me suggest a radical idea: People are more important than dogs. This month, a judge scheduled Marcellus Khaliifah Williams to die in September. The judge knows Williams is innocent. Prosecutors told him that DNA evidence proves Williams couldnt be guilty of the murder for which he faces the death penalty. But the judge scheduled him to die anyway.

The prison guards know the man is innocent, yet they keep him in prison. Police, prosecutors and judges know he is innocent, yet all act helpless to just let the guy out. Thats a sign that the system is messed up.

You would think that with the machinery of the state gearing up to take this mans life, the howls for reform would be deafening. If the police were planning to execute a dog who was innocent of the crimes of which the pup had been accused, you can bet public pressure would open the kennel doors.

For a man like Williams, you cant get people to pay attention.

Im embarrassed to say that it took the deaths of dogs to make me think skeptically of the men pulling the trigger on guns more often pointed at people than puppies.

We should be embarrassed that we can change the law because an innocent police dog died, but we cant do the same for an innocent man.

Theres a lot that needs to be changed to make our criminal justice system a little more sane.

First off  innocence should get you out of prison. If courts cant do it under current law and governors wont responsibly use their pardon powers designed with exactly this kind of injustice in mind, then we need to change the law. Gov. Mike Parson clearly isnt, as he dissolved a state-appointed group of judges looking into whether Williams was innocent

Police need to be more accountable for missteps and deliberate acts that put innocents in prison. The qualified immunity that protects police from facing legal consequences should be removed. Lawmakers didnt create that misbegotten right  the Supreme Court made it up. Qualified immunity works by shielding police from civil rights lawsuits unless a court in a different case already ruled that the exact police misconduct was illegal.

Prosecutors who hide evidence of innocence or threaten witnesses to force dishonest testimony need to face consequences, too. For them, the Supreme Court created absolute immunity. It should be reformed, too.

The evidence that puts people in prison needs to be improved as well. Early this century when the National Academy of Sciences looked at the forensic evidence used to put people in jail, it found much that was sloppy or not backed by science at all. In the 15 years since then, were still finding problems. Convicts should have the right to have the evidence against them reevaluated in light of advancing science.

Marcellus Khaliifah Williams is not the only innocent man found in prison. Hundreds have been freed in recent decades after being railroaded through police and prosecutorial misconduct, mistaken or intimidated witnesses and questionable forensic evidence.

If this were happening to dogs, wed change the law. What excuse do we have not to do it for Williams?

David Mastio, a former editor and columnist for USA Today, is a regional editor for The Center Square and a regular Star Opinion correspondent. Follow him on X: @DavidMastio or email him at dmastio1@yahoo.com
(Bloomberg) -- Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. told his nations northern army unit to be ready for any eventuality amid tensions between China and Taiwan, while also warning of a more worrisome threat to his country.

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The Philippines is within Chinas area of interest due to the proximity of its northern portion to Taiwan, Marcos told soldiers Monday, according to a statement released by his communications office. He spoke at Camp Melchor Dela Cruz in the province of Isabela, one of four new sites that the US military can access under a defense deal that was expanded last year.

The Southeast Asian nation should prepare for a more pronounced external threat, the president was also quoted as saying in the statement, without specifying. Marcos also repeated his pledge not to yield any Philippine territory.

The Philippines is near two potential flashpoints in the region: Taiwan and the South China Sea. Manila and Beijing have had tense encounters in disputed waters, most recently involving a supposed attempt by China to seize supplies and blocking a medical evacuation from a Philippine military outpost there.

Manila said on Saturday that 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.

--With assistance from Cliff Venzon.

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Julud Shalaq, a displaced Gazan, holds a small child with a bandaged head and wounds on his face. He is the only one of the family that has survived, he explains. Him and his mother. The rest are gone [died], about 14. Even more than 14, because they are there among the rubble. The streets are full of corpses. It is one of the stories, collected by the Al Jazeera television network, that have come to light of the massacre that occurred in the Nuseirat refugee camp on Saturday, when the Israeli army freed four hostages in a surprise operation involving hundreds of soldiers. While Israel has celebrated the success of the rescue (the largest of the war), the Gazans have been discovering the cost of it as the hours go by. Although the death toll is not clear, it is one of the largest massacres in eight months of war.

On Sunday, the Ministry of Health of the Hamas government in Gaza raised the death toll to 274 (including 64 children and 57 women) and the number of wounded to 698. Israeli military spokesman Daniel Hagari admitted he was aware of a death toll below 100. I dont know how many of them are terrorists, he clarified. A day later, another army spokesman, Peter Lerner, refused to give figures or confirm civilians among the victims: Hamas also doesnt know how many civilians have been killed, he posted on X (formerly Twitter).

The victims were transferred to two hospitals: Al-Awda, which had to extend its facilities and reported receiving 116 bodies; and Al-Aqsa Martyrs, which depends on a single electrical generator to function, has been operating above its capacities for months, and collapsed after receiving up to 94 bodies. Total chaos, was how Karin Huster, medical coordinator for Doctors Without Borders at Al-Aqsa Martyrs, described the situation, saying the emergency room was completely packed with patients on the floor coming from the bombings in Nuseirat. In a short time, up to hundreds of wounded people were in the hospital, including children and women, with the gamut of war wounds, she said in an audio recording released by the NGO. The Gaza Ministry of Health asked people to come and donate blood and lamented that the ambulances could not respond to all requests for help.

The images broadcast by television channels with a presence on the ground (Israel has banned the international press from entering Gaza) and by witnesses on social media show intense aerial bombardments causing columns of smoke, as well as buildings in ruins and dead and injured people on the floor. Artillery and automatic rifle fire can also be heard in the background, while dozens of civilians run for cover, scream in fear, or try to record the scene with their cell phones.

The bombing and gunshots came from all directions. I didnt even know where they were coming from. I am 32 years old, and I never thought I would live a moment like this, recalled Mohamed Al Tahrani, one of the residents of the refugee camp. Three unidentified children cry uncontrollably on camera in nearby Deir al-Balah as they explain that they come from the Al-Dawa mosque area, which is in Nuseirat, an hours walk away. We went to buy bread, and they did this to us, explains one, referring to the bombings. They dont know where their parents are.

Another resident of Nuseirat, Nidal Abdo, who was shopping at the market, estimated that around 150 rockets fell in less than 10 minutes. While we were running away more fell on the market, he told CNN. In a video, a boy is seen crying as he explains that he saw his friend die in front of him: We saw him die with our own eyes. He was at the Abu Sarar roundabout [one of the bombed areas of Nuseirat], they bombed it, and he died on the bicycle. There is an image of a dead child in the middle of the road, still on the bicycle.

The armed wing of Hamas, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, has claimed that the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) killed three hostages (of the 120 remaining in Gaza) in the bombings to free the four captives, and that one also has U.S. nationality. Shortly after, it released a video of psychological warfare showing three bodies, but the footage is unclear and their identities and cause of death cannot be determined. The Israeli army has categorically denied this.

The IDF has admitted that they opened fire on land, sea and air, as various militiamen tried to prevent the rescue with intense fire from all directions. One border police officer was killed. The undercover Israeli troops were discovered and word spread. In the images, Palestinians are seen fleeing the bombed area while shouting to others to stay away because there are violent explosions and special forces.

These special forces were mistaaravim, the unit of soldiers who learn to blend in with the Arabs to infiltrate Palestinian territory, portrayed in the well-known television series Fauda. They carried mattresses in the vehicle to pose as one of the hundreds of thousands of displaced people from the Rafah area (where Israel began an offensive last month) who were looking to rent an apartment in Nuseirat. Others were disguised as Hamas militiamen.

Israeli television, witnesses and images have provided details of the rescue operation, which lasted about two hours from the first bombings. The soldiers were in two vehicles, a small Nissan brand; and a big truck, according to what a witness told television. Israel has denied it was a truck used to bring in humanitarian aid. In the images captured in the area, it appears to be a commercial one.

00:53 Footage of the rescue released by the Israeli army 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, in Ramat Gan, Israel June 8, 2024.

Forces from an operational unit of the intelligence services and an elite unit of the border police then got out of the vehicles and moved quickly between tents, while aircraft continued bombing the area as support. I made sure that there would be a rain of fire at a relatively high rate to ensure that no one approached the vehicle, the commander of the air mission, a captain identified only by the call sign Alef, told the military correspondent of Israeli television Channel 12, Nir Dvori. A drone killed a militiaman with a grenade launcher who was preparing to shoot at the truck.

The troops made a hole in a wall to access one of the two buildings. They entered the two apartments simultaneously to prevent anyone from notifying the other captors. In one building was Noa Argamani; in the other, about 200 meters away, the three men: Almog Meir Jan, Andrey Kozlov and Shlomi Ziv. The four had been taken hostage in the Hamas October 7 attacks on an open-air festival near Gaza.

The evacuation vehicle had a technical problem and could not move off the street. To prevent it from being surrounded by militiamen, the IDF mobilized several tanks that were stationed nearby for emergency situations. The air force continued to bombard the entire area extensively, according to the captain. Fifteen minutes later, they towed the vehicle to the coast, where helicopters took the hostages out of Gaza. The United States has denied that the helicopters left from the temporary pier it has installed for the entry of humanitarian aid.

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Adilah Patton often went to hospitals to seek shelter, only to be turned away and, if she didn't leave, arrested. When she was released from jail, she'd often head back to hospitals  frequently landing back behind bars and accumulating more than 30 arrests for trespassing.

It's a cycle the Indianapolis woman dealing with a serious mental illness and has no permanent home struggled to break for several years.

After her most recent trespassing arrest in 2022, jailers in the Marion County Adult Detention Center held Patton down while a nurse injected her with an antipsychotic drug. A federal lawsuit filed Monday alleges the sheriff's office and its healthcare contractor violated the 28-year-old woman's constitutional rights by injecting her with drugs on multiple occasions against her will and without permission from her court-appointed guardian.

Adilah Patton received forced injections of antipsychotic drugs while she was in the Marion County Adult Detention Center. The Center for At-Risk Elders or CARE, Patton's court-appointed guardian, said the forced medications violated the 28-year-old Indianapolis woman's constitutional rights because they were given against her will and without her guardian's consent. CARE has filed a federal lawsuit against the Marion County Sheriff Kerry Forestal; Wellpath, a nonprofit healthcare company that contracts with jails and prisons; and one of the company's registered nurses.

During one of the incidents, Patton's hand was injured after a "cell extraction response team" held her down while a nurse injected her, the lawsuit says. Court records describe Patton as 5'4" and 110 pounds.

"Under the current system, the onus is placed upon the inmate to request for their own healthcare," said Mollie Golden, legal director for the Center for At-Risk Elders or CARE, a nonprofit advocacy center and Patton's court-appointed guardian.

"But what happens if that person doesn't understand or cannot make that request for themselves? That's what happened in this case."

The lawsuit alleges the sheriff's office and its healthcare contractor knew or should have known that Patton had a guardian authorized to consent to any medical care on her behalf. But, the lawsuit alleges, no one checked the guardian registry before injecting Patton with drugs.

The death of Joshua McLemore: Mentally ill man isolated in jail cell for 20 days without care before he died, suit says

The case was filed by CARE against Marion County Sheriff Kerry Forestal; Wellpath LLC., a Tennessee-based for-profit healthcare provider that contracts with jails and prisons; and Theresa Wischmeyer, a registered nurse employed by Wellpath at the Marion County facility.

Wellpath did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Marion County Sheriff's Office declined to comment on the case, citing pending litigation.

"However," the agency said, "the public is reminded that there are two sides to every story, and that ultimately it will be a judge and jury that will likely resolve the litigation. The Marion County Sheriffs Office believes that no proper public purpose can be served by attempts to litigate the lawsuit in the media."

Forestal filed a court petition seeking a legal guardian for Patton after she was arrested in 2021. On March 9, 2022, the court found her to be unable to make health care decisions for herself. The same day, CARE was appointed to serve as her permanent guardian.

Marion County Sheriff Kerry Forestal and the agency's healthcare contractor, Wellpath, are named defendants in a lawsuit accusing them of constitutional violations following the allegedly forced injections of drugs on a mentally ill woman.

Patton, who had been diagnosed with schizophrenia, was jailed again on May 13, 2022, on a trespassing charge. It was at least her 32nd trespassing arrest since 2015. Three days later, Wischmeyer injected her with Invega Sustenna, an antipsychotic drug used to treat schizophrenia, without her or CARE's consent, the lawsuit says.

While at the jail, the lawsuit says it was unclear to CARE if Patton was receiving medical care. On June 3, the guardian filed a request to transfer her to a diagnostic and treatment center because of concerns about healthcare provided at the detention center.

A second request to transfer Patton to Eskenazi was filed on June 16 and approved by the court the following day.That night, Patton was given another unauthorized injection of the antipsychotic drug. The lawsuit says a team of jailers held her down during the injection, dislocating her thumb.

The following day, Patton was transferred to Ezkenazi, where the lawsuit says her hand was treated in the emergency room and she was found to have "no acute intervenable psychiatric condition." She was sent back to the detention center the same day.

Mollie Golden, legal director of the Center for At-Risk Elders or CARE, speaks to reporters about a federal lawsuit the nonprofit organization filed on behalf of a mentally ill woman who allegedly received forced injections of antipsychotic drugs while detained in the Marion County Adult Detention Center. CARE filed the lawsuit against the Marion County Sheriff Kerry Forestal; Wellpath, a nonprofit healthcare company that contracts with jails and prisons; and one of the company's registered nurses. The suit alleges the forced medications violated Adilah Patton's constitutional rights because they were given against her will and without the consent of CARE, her court-appointed guardian.

CARE first became aware that Patton had been given forced medications after she was taken to Eskenazi, said Golden, the nonprofit's legal director. Golden said she learned from a nurse that Patton had been injected with drugs on the eve of her Eskenazi visit and found out after requesting records that it had happened multiple times.

Patton was given another unauthorized injection on June 24. This time, she was injected with Depo-Medrol, an anti-inflammatory drug.

The medications were provided with no assessments if the injections were in her medical interest, according to the lawsuit, and no prescription from an overseeing physician, no panel review of the care, and no chance for her or the guardian to argue the injections were not needed.

"Everyone in this country has a right to informed consent in their healthcare, and a guardian is one of the tools that is used to ensure that right once a person has been deemed legally incapacitated," Golden said. "Incarceration does not mean that a guardian's job is done. There are many healthcare needs for detainees that become the responsibility of the sheriff's office to manage, and as a guardian, it's our job to advocate for those under our protection."

Debate on compassionate release: The ethics and economics of keeping nonviolent elderly and gravely ill in prison

Jails are not equipped to house those with mental health issues, Golden said, but they've often become the repository of people who need real care.

"This is absolutely a part of a greater problem," Golden said. "There is very little housing outside of the jail or a nursing home for anybody with mental health issues. And if you don't meet the standards needed to be able to be in a nursing home, you're left to be homeless essentially."

Patton, who was 26 when she was last arrested, is too young to be placed in a nursing home. Golden said she has family members, but none who are providing her with any support. Over the years, she cycled through the jail and healthcare facilities, often turning up at Eskenazi or other hospitals to seek shelter only to be turned away and arrested for trespassing, Golden said.

"She was going there as a safe place but continued to pick up these trespasses because of her inability to communicate her needs," Golden said.

Adilah Patton received forced injections of antipsychotic drugs while she was in the Marion County Adult Detention Center. The Center for At-Risk Elders or CARE, Patton's court-appointed guardian, said the forced medications violated the 28-year-old Indianapolis woman's constitutional rights because they were given against her will and without her guardian's consent. CARE has filed a federal lawsuit against the Marion County Sheriff Kerry Forestal; Wellpath, a nonprofit healthcare company that contracts with jails and prisons; and one of the company's registered nurses.

Two years ago, Patton gave birth to a baby boy  the result of a rape while living in the streets, Golden said. The boy has been placed with relatives.

Golden said it's "safe to say" that the three known forced medications of Patton are not an isolated incident, and Patton is likely not alone.

The lawsuit claims violation of federal due process to refuse treatment or for informed consent, as well as state law violations of negligence, assault, battery, use of excessive force and medical malpractice.

Pattons guardian is seeking a jury trial and compensatory damages including pain and suffering, punitive damages under 14th Amendment claims, and attorney fees.

Patton is now at a state hospital, Golden said, although the goal is to ultimately find a permanent housing for her.

Contact IndyStar reporter Kristine Phillips at (317) 444-3026 or at kphillips@indystar.com.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Marion County sheriff, Wellpath accused of forced injections on inmate
As former President Donald Trump rallied voters in Las Vegas over the weekend, the presumptive GOP nominee has some guests in attendance  Georgia U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene.

As she spoke during the rally, she went after Democrats again for saying that Republicans worship a convicted felon.

The Democrats and the fake news media want to constantly talk about Oh, President Trump is a convicted felon. 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 said.

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Marjorie Taylor Greene in Vegas compares Trump to Jesus pic.twitter.com/R8l3fGUO0B  Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) June 9, 2024

Greene has been an ardent supporter of Trump and has been joining the chorus of Republicans who said that President Joe Biden and other Democrats have weaponized the Justice Department following Trumps conviction on 34 counts for falsifying records in New York over hush money payments he made to porn star Stormy Daniels in the days leading up to the 2016 election.

With the conviction of Bidens son, Hunter Biden, on three felony charges related to the purchase of a revolver in 2018, its hard to tell if Republicans will continue with that line of rhetoric.

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ABCs Jon Carl said during the networks special report on Hunter Bidens conviction that the ruling could take some of the wind out of that argument.

You hear over and over again from the Trump campaign, from Donald Trump himself, from Republicans that the system is rigged, that the system is rigged in such a way to go after Donald Trump. Well, here you have  federal prosecution of the presidents son and a pretty extraordinary one at that, Carl said.

After the jurys decision was announced, President Joe Biden said he would accept the outcome of the case and will continue to respect the judicial process as Hunter considers an appeal.

Jill and I will always be there for Hunter and the rest of our family with our love and support. Nothing will ever change that, the president said in a statement.

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Jurors found Hunter Biden guilty of lying to a federally licensed gun dealer, making a false claim on the application by saying he was not a drug user and illegally having the gun for 11 days.

He faces up to 25 years in prison when he is sentenced by Judge Maryellen Noreika, though first-time offenders do not get anywhere near the maximum, and its unclear whether she would give him time behind bars. The judge did not set a sentencing date.

Over the weekend, Greene posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, that the DOJ was only going after Hunter Biden to create sympathy for Joe Biden.

The DOJ is prosecuting Hunter Biden on gun charges and trying to create sympathy for Joe Biden.



The DOJ should be prosecuting Hunter for not registering under FARA while he & his family made tens of millions from foreign countries since Joe was VP!



And Joe was in on it!  Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (@RepMTG) June 9, 2024

In a statement from the Trump campaign, it said:

This trial has been nothing more than a distraction from the real crimes of the Biden Crime Family, which has raked in tens of millions of dollars from China, Russia and Ukraine. Crooked Joe Bidens reign over the Biden Family Criminal Empire is all coming to an end on November 5th, and never again will a Biden sell government access for personal profit.

The Associated Press contributed to this article.

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Martha-Ann Alito, wife of Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito, is incensed about seeing rainbow Pride flags during Pride Month, according to a new recording obtained by Rolling Stone. If it were up to her, she would be flying a Sacred Heart of Jesus flag in response. Or she might design her own flag, one sporting the Italian word for shame.

In recent weeks, Martha-Ann Alito has been at the center of a national firestorm over two flags seen flying at their residences that have been associated with right-wing movements that question the legitimacy of the results of the 2020 election. Justice Alito has blamed his wife for flying those flags  and rebuffed calls from Democratic lawmakers to recuse himself from upcoming decisions in cases related to the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.

Like her husband, Mrs. Alito is unbowed by the criticism and controversy  as she makes clear in comments recorded by liberal documentary filmmaker Lauren Windsor. Windsor, posing as a Christian conservative, spoke at length with Mrs. Alito at a dinner reception hosted by the Supreme Court Historical Society last week. Windsor attended the dinner as a dues-paying member and bought a ticket; a colleague joined her.

Rolling Stone first reported on Windsors conversation with Justice Alito on Monday. While several outlets have recently relayed stories of Martha-Anns tense interactions with neighbors  apparently in response to a sign opposing Donald Trump  Windsors recording presents the justices wife in her own words. The audio, provided exclusively to Rolling Stone, paints a picture of a right-wing ideologue that matches with the private reputation that Mrs. Alito has developed in the Republican Party and judicial social circuits in the D.C. area and beyond.

In the most jarring moment in the recording, Windsor attempts to pose the same prompt that she presented to Justice Alito, about how, in order to take America back to a godly place, conservatives need to win. She doesnt complete the thought before Mrs. Alito starts complaining about having to see rainbow Pride flags in June, which is Pride Month.

You know what I want? Mrs. Alito says. I want a Sacred Heart of Jesus flag, because I have to look across the lagoon at the Pride flag for the next month.

Referencing her husband, Mrs. Alito says, Hes like, Oh, please dont put up a flag. I said, I wont do it because I am deferring to you. But when you are free of this nonsense, Im putting it up and Im gonna send them a message every day, maybe every week, Ill be changing the flags. Theyll be all kinds. I made a flag in my head. This is how I satisfy myself. I made a flag. Its white and has yellow and orange flames around it. And in the middle is the word vergogna. Vergogna in Italian means shame  vergogna. V-E-R-G-O-G-N-A. Vergogna.

Shame, shame, shame on you, she adds. (Last year, the Supreme Courts conservative supermajority ruled that businesses can discriminate against LGBTQ+ customers.)

In other points of the conversation with Windsor, Martha-Ann Alito agrees there is no negotiating with the radical left. She claims the Femnazis believe that [Justice Alito] should control me, adding, So theyll go to hell. He never controls me.

EXCLUSIVE UNDERCOVER AUDIO:

Martha-Ann Alito Unfurled



"I want a Sacred Heart of Jesus flag because I have to look across the lagoon at the Pride flag for the next month." pic.twitter.com/okNsW7SPlu  Lauren Windsor (@lawindsor) June 10, 2024

Mrs. Alito indicates she is spoiling to get even by suing the media. When Windsor expresses her sympathies about the recent media coverage about her family, Mrs. Alito responds, Its OK. Its OK, because if they come back to me, Ill get them. Im gonna be liberated, and Im gonna get them. She adds, Theres a five-year defamation statute of limitations. (Most states have a one- or two-year statute of limitations.)

Mrs. Alito has a long memory: She complains at length about a Washington Post style section item from two decades ago that critiqued her attire.

When Windsor tells Mrs. Alito she is being persecuted and depicted as a convenient stand-in for anybody whos religious, the justices wife gets quieter, and her tone turns more serious: Look at me, look at me. Im German. Im from Germany. My heritage is German. You come after me, Im gonna give it back to you. And there will be a way  it doesnt have to be now  but there will be a way they will know. Dont worry about it. God  you read the Bible. Psalm 27 is my psalm. Mine. Psalm 27, the Lord is my God and my rock. Of whom shall I be afraid? Nobody.

I dont consider Martha-Ann a private figure, given that shes married to a Supreme Court justice, and shes a window into his thinking, Windsor tells Rolling Stone. Windsor buys Justice Alitos claims that it was Mrs. Alitos decision to fly the controversial flags at their residences.

Shes very, very enthusiastic about her flag waving, says Windsor, who has been working on a documentary, Gonzo for Democracy, which will chronicle the growth of Trumpism, election denial, and religious extremism.

One longtime Republican operative  a fellow partygoer among the conservative elite  tells Rolling Stone that they were personally aware of Mrs. Alito privately cheering on Trumps public pledge during the 2016 presidential campaign to open up U.S. libel laws, so that were going to have people sue you [media outlets] like youve never got sued before. During his term in office, Trump did not follow through on this particular campaign promise, though he is eyeing a possibly broader media crackdown for a potential second administration.

Mrs. Alito has for years harbored a disdain and bitterness toward others in the D.C. elite, whom she has bashed for supposedly excluding or shunning her and her husband, and for being too mean about them and their unabashedly conservative beliefs. Sources add that Mrs. Alito also has a longstanding reputation in influential GOP circles for ranting about politics, the culture wars, the left, and the burning grudges shes nursed since at least the George W. Bush era.

Commenting on the Alito familys dynamic, a well-connected GOP lawyer says that Justice Alito is like if you turned National Review into a single person. Martha-Ann Alito, the lawyer says, talks like if Breitbart assumed a human vessel  Theyre the Washington couple of Donald Trumps dreams.

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FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. (DC News Now)  The Fairfax County Police Department said it has arrested a man connected to four burglaries in the Dunn Loring area.

Police said that on May 24 at about 10:30 a.m., they responded to the 7900 block of Tire Swing Rd. for a burglary.

Officers said that while the victims were inside, they heard and saw the suspect breaking the basement window.

Geese cause backup on 395 in Northern Virginia

The victims challenged the suspect and then the suspect left the scene before police arrived.

Officers said they quickly found and arrested 58-year-old William Westray of Maryland as he tried to get on the Metro.

Westray was taken to the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center and was charged with Burglary, two counts of Burglary with the Intent to Commit a Misdemeanor, three counts of Destruction of Property, and two additional warrants from another jurisdiction.

He was held on bond but has been released since then.

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NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY)  A Maryland man was sentenced on Friday to eight years and four months in prison after relentlessly cyberstalking several victims, including five victims from the Eastern District of Virginia, over the course of a year and a half.

Court documents reveal that 27-year-old Joseph Bourabah harassed and stalked several people from Sept. 2021 through Feb. 2023, even going as far to harass the victims family, tenants and former employees.

In September of 2021, Bourabah used a fake account on Facebook to share pornographic content and spread false accusations of a victim. Shortly afterwards in October and November, Bourabah sent pornographic videos of the victim to the victims family and friends.

During this time, Bourabah also emailed the victim on various occasions, including an email with a link to a website where Bourabah had posted videos of the victim, along with the victims name and former employers, according to court documents.

Bourabah also harassed the victims mother, having posted pornographic videos on her social media feeds on multiple occasions.

On Feb. 23, 2022, Bourabah created a fake Craigslist post, advertising the mothers pet ducks for free, resulting in them being taken. Shortly after this, Bourabah also posted a fake Craigslist post advertising her trampoline for free.

According to court documents, Bourabah also advertised another victims car as available for free and even attempted to have the car towed.

In January of 2023, Bourabah used a picture of the victim with the victims home address to advertise a party titled [victims name] Pedo Kink Party. Bourabah told the victim in an email from Dec. 26, 2021, Im never going to stop. Ill be trolling your childrens babysitter 10 years from now.

Court documents state that Bourabah also harassed this victims mother, posting fake ads on Craigslist for a Halloween costume party, a New Years Eve Party and an open house event. He was also found to have ordered unsolicited services to the mothers house, including tree cutting, carpet cleaning, junk removal and towing.

An investigation showed that Bourabah harassed approximately 31 victims, with at least five victims living within the Eastern District of Virginia. Court documents reveal that over 1,000 harassment indictments occurred across the 31 victims.

Continue to check WAVY.com for updates.

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MARYLAND (DC News Now)  The Maryland Public Service Commission (PSC) denied more than half of Pepcos rate increase request, it said in a statement released Monday.

In May of 2023, Pepco  which provides electricity to customers in Montgomery and Prince Georges counties  submitted a multi-year rate plan (MYP). It requested $116.2 million for the first year, and under the plan, the increase would reach a total of $213.6 million by the end of 2027.

The Commission authorized a rate increase of only $44.6 million for one year only. PSC said that this means an increase of $5.72 each month for average residential customers electric bills  or just over 3.5%.

Maryland State Police: Sen. John Fetterman involved in car accident in Washington County

Maryland PSC said that Baltimore Gas and Electric (BGE) has the states pilot MYP, and the Commission is still waiting for a final evaluation from that program.

Todays decision approves just and reasonable rates for Pepco, while the Commission awaits an evaluation of BGEs pilot MYP through the lessons-learned proceedings, as well as the lessons learned from subsequent BGE and Pepco MYPs, Maryland PSC said in Mondays release.

Maryland PSC also reviewed a controversial battery storage project on Livingston Road, Pepcos climate solutions program and street lighting  after a formal complaint filed against Pepco cited billing errors in 10 municipalities.

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Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) denounced Hunter Bidens conviction on charges that he illegally purchased a gun Tuesday.

Hunter might deserve to be in jail for something, but purchasing a gun is not it, Massie wrote on the social media platform X. There are millions of marijuana users who own guns in this country, and none of them should be in jail for purchasing or possessing a firearm against current laws.

Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) asks questions about the National Instant Criminal Background Check System in the veterans affairs appropriations bill during a House Rules Committee business meeting on Monday, June 3, 2024.

Massie, a libertarian-minded conservative and staunch advocate of gun rights, made clear that he wasnt defending the presidents son generally, but merely his ability to purchase firearms.

And he wasnt alone among Republicans in criticizing the trial.

The Hunter Biden gun conviction is kinda dumb tbh, wrote Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) after the verdict.

Biden was convicted Tuesday of three felony counts of illegally purchasing and possessing a firearm, with prosecutors claiming Biden lied on paperwork when he purchased a handgun in 2018.

His weeklong trial often focused on his addiction to crack cocaine, and featured testimony from his family, friends and ex-partners.

The charges have put some Republicans in a politically awkward position, given their support for broad protections for gun rights and gun owners.

Hunter Biden faces a maximum of 25 years in prison and $750,000 in fines, although first-time offenders are rarely given the maximum penalty. The president said recently he would not pardon his son if convicted.

In California, Hunter Biden faces separate charges for allegedly failing to pay $1.4 million in taxes and filing false returns, which could go to trial as soon as September.

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Severe weather on Tuesday ramped up across the country as a dayslong stretch of storms began battering southern Florida, triple-digit temperatures threatened the Southwest and a half foot of rain soaked parts of Texas.

Storms expected to dump 10 inches of rain across part of South Florida began lashing the state on Tuesday, bringing torrential downpours to a part of the state that's experienced drought conditions and record breaking temperatures in recent weeks. In the morning, a large, slow-moving system began dumping heavy rain and strong winds over parts of southern Florida, leading to flight delays at airports across half the peninsula.

Officials grounded flights at Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport around 8:50 a.m. and at Tampa International Airport around 1 p.m., according to the Federal Aviation Administration. Meanwhile, flights departing Miami International Airport were delayed by nearly two hours, and flights at Orlando International Airport were delayed by an average of 30 minutes, the FAA said.

By noon, between 2 and 3 inches of rain had fallen in parts of Lee and Collier counties on the southwest coast and an additional 2 to 4 inches was expected by the end of the day, triggering flood warnings for Naples, Fort Myers and other neighboring communities.

Increasing tropical moisture will interact with a stationary front over Florida beginning Tuesday resulting in slow moving thunderstorms with high rainfall rates. Heavy to excessive rainfall, possibly exceeding 10 inches in south Florida, may lead to instances of flooding, pic.twitter.com/dZObMjdIoJ  National Weather Service (@NWS) June 10, 2024

In northern Texas, the weather service issued warnings urging residents to stay updated on forecasts and to avoid driving through floodwaters. By 11 a.m., between 6 and 8 inches of rain had fallen in parts of Baylor, Foard and Knox counties, rural parts of the state over 100 miles northwest of Dallas.

Further south, more than than half an inch of rain had fallen in Abilene, a small city about 150 miles west of Fort Worth, and more than another inch is possible, the weather service said. The threats for Jones and Taylor counties, which encompass Abilene, includes "Life threatening flash flooding of creeks and streams, urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses," the weather service said.

As storms dump heavy rain across Florida and Texas, a heat wave over the Southwest is expected to intensify through the afternoon, bringing scorching temperatures from California to Texas.

Visibility along Skyline Blvd. was diminished Tuesday, June 11, 2024 as traffic made its way through large rain puddles.

Southwest braces for more triple digit temperatures

Heat advisories spanning from California's Central Valley through Nevada and Arizona were set to begin around 11 a.m. and expire later in the week as the heat wave expands into the central and eastern U.S., bringing 90-degree weather to the Northeast by the weekend, according to the National Weather Service.

The weather service in Phoenix said afternoon temperatures between 105 and 113 were expected, warning, "Overexposure can cause heat cramps and heat exhaustion to develop and, without intervention, can lead to heat stroke."

In Las Vegas, temperatures could climb to 112 degrees on Tuesday and Wednesday, the weather service said. Last week, the city saw heat records broken on Thursday and Friday when the afternoon highs reached 111 and 110, respectively.

More: Earth marks 12 straight months of record heat, a bewildering climate change milestone

Homeless man Milton John Scott III pours a jug of water on his head to escape the heat and wash up about his shelter along North A Street as Vegas Stronger's Street Team is out offering services including a list of cooling stations on Wednesday, June 5, 2024, in Las Vegas.

The weather service office in Flagstaff, Arizona, said temperatures ranging from 104 to 112 were expected around the north rim of the Grand Canyon, warning hikers not to descend more than a mile and a half from the upper trailheads.

Meanwhile, dangerously high temperatures were forecast throughout much of California's interior. In the northern region of the state, the Sacramento Valley was under heat advisories, with afternoon highs expected to climb to 97 and 106 degrees. The weather service in Bakersfield, a city north of Los Angeles, said temperatures could reach 105 degrees.

"Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors," the weather service warned. "Do not leave young children and pets in unattended vehicles. Car interiors will reach lethal temperatures in a matter of minutes."

Many of the cities currently under heat advisories broke records last week. On Thursday, Phoenix reached 112 degrees, surpassing the previous daily record set in 2016. The high temperatures led 11 people at a Donald Trump rally to require medical attention from heat-related incidents. Record temperatures also were recorded across California, Texas and central Florida.

South, central Florida faces intense deluge this week, forecasters say

The weather service placed much of South Florida under flood watch, warning that multiple rounds of heavy rain could quickly lead to flooded roads and waterways above their flood table.

In the Florida Keys, rainfall totals could reach 2 to 3 inches by Wednesday evening, the weather service said. In the same time frame, 6 to 9 inches of rain is expected to fall across Southwest Florida and the Lake Okeechobee region, with 2 to 5 inches of rain forecast for Miami.

Water sits on roads in Marco Island and in Goodland June 11, 2024.

Later in the week, the heavy rain will reach Central Florida, bringing flood threats to cities including Orlando and Tampa Bay.

The rain comes as a relief to some, as central and southern Florida have been scorched by record-breaking heat in recent weeks. Triple digit temperatures set new daily temperature records in cities just outside Orlando, while Miami and Hollywood surpassed previous records in May.

National weather radar

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Severe storms, relentless heat wave trigger advisories across the US
Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) called Hunter Bidens conviction on federal gun charges kinda dumb in a post on the social platform X, minutes after the verdict was announced.

Hunter Biden  the second-oldest son of President Biden  was convicted Tuesday afternoon on three federal gun charges. The felony charges alleged President Bidens son lied about his sobriety when obtaining a gun in 2018, and illegally possessed the gun for 11 days.

Hunter Bidens verdict comes just two weeks after former President Trump was found guilty on all 34 felony counts in his New York hush money trial. Gaetz called the former presidents conviction the corrupt result of a corrupt trial, a corrupt judge, and a corrupt DA, in a statement issued immediately following the verdict.

Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., questions Attorney General Merrick Garland during a House Judiciary Committee hearing on the Department of Justice, Tuesday, June 4, 2024, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Gaetzs comment comes as Trumps campaign dismissed the conviction as a distraction from more serious allegations.

The trial has been nothing more than a distraction from the real crimes of the Biden Crime Family, which has raked in tens of millions of dollars from China, Russia and Ukraine, Karoline Leavitt, national press secretary for the Trump campaign, said in a campaign email sent Tuesday.

President Biden told ABC News on Thursday he would not pardon his son if convicted. He stood by his son, but maintained he would respect the judicial process in a statement to the public issued within an hour of Hunter Bidens guilty verdict.

I am the President, but I am also a Dad, President Biden wrote. I will accept the outcome of this case and will continue to respect the judicial process as Hunter considers an appeal.

Hunter Biden faces a maximum of 25 years in prison and $750,000 in fines.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Hunter Biden was found guilty Tuesday on three charges in his federal gun trial. He could face up to 25 years in prison for lying on a federal form about his drug use, lying to a gun dealer, and possessing a gun.

But as Republicans sprang into a frenzy, someone very unexpected downplayed the first sons conviction: Florida Representative Matt Gaetz.

The Hunter Biden gun conviction is kinda dumb tbh, Gaetz wrote on X moments after the ruling was released.

Gaetz wasnt the only Republican rushing to retroactively claim that the gun possession conviction was pointless. Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk also chimed into the conversation, revealing a deeper reason why conservatives might not want to jump on the bandwagon against Bidens sonall in a thinly veiled effort to aid another convicted felon, Donald Trump.

Hunter Biden guilty. Yawn, Kirk wrote. The true crimes of the Biden Crime Family remain untouched. This is a fake trial trying to make the Justice system appear balanced. Dont fall for it.

President Joe Biden, meanwhile, has already indicated that he wont be pardoning his son. In an interview with ABC News last week, Biden said that he would accept the outcome of his sons trial and that a pardon wasnt on the table. Conversely, Biden said that Donald Trump was trying to undermine the legal system by claiming that he had been unjustly targeted by the legal system.

Biden repeated his acceptance Tuesday, saying that above all else, he would keep supporting his son.

I will accept the outcome of this case and will continue to respect the judicial process as Hunter considers an appeal, he said in a statement. Jill and I will always be there for Hunter and the rest of our family with our love and support. Nothing will ever change that.

Hunter has become a favorite target of Republicans over the last couple of years. Besides the gun trialwhich dredged up emotional testimony from the 54-year-olds ex-wife and sister-in-law about his drug useconservatives have dogged Hunter with alleged tax evasion charges in California and with a sham inquiry remarkably devoid of evidence at the Congressional level, claiming that the president had netted millions off of his sons connection to Ukrainian oil company Burisma.

But that effort completely blew up in their face when their star informant Alexander Smirnov was indicted by the Department of Justice for lying to the FBI. Smirnov then reportedly admitted to law enforcement that top Russian intelligence officials were involved in the smear campaign against the sitting president. And all of the other witnesses that Republicans called on in their year-long probe instead debunked every single accusation against the Biden family.
The formal partner of a U.S. citizen can become a U.S. citizen with an Immigrant Visa for a Spouse of a U.S. Citizen (IR1 or CR1), which can be applied for with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

The CR1 (Conditional Resident) Visa is given to persons who have been married to a U.S. citizen for less than two years. These are granted on a conditional basis and, after two years of entering the country, both the beneficiary and his or her spouse must apply to remove the conditions and subsequently receive a permanent resident card with a 10-year duration.

The IR1 (Immediate Relative) Visa is given to those who have been married for more than two years since their Green Card was approved and will have 10 years before having to renew their permanent resident card.

The process to obtain either visa is similar, however, the first one is valid for two years and you get a conditional marriage Green Card, and the second one for 10 years, with a permanent marriage Green Card.

How to apply for the CR1 or IR1 Visa?

The petition for a foreign-born relative, Form I-130, must first be filed with the USCIS in order for the spouse to immigrate to the country. The form is for the U.S. citizen or legal resident to demonstrate a relationship with an eligible relative who wishes to immigrate or remain permanently in the country, and obtain a Green Card.

The Form can be filed online through the USCIS platform with a user account, which can be created with the U.S. citizens personal information.

The process to file the petition must be done from within the United States. However, USCIS notes that in certain circumstances, a U.S. citizen living abroad may file a visa petition outside the country.

For the process, some fees must be paid and a list of documents must be submitted to create a dossier. Once completed, the National Visa Center (NVC) will schedule the applicants interview appointment.

The applicant must also read the Rights and Protections pamphlet, which informs them of their rights in the U.S. regarding domestic violence, sexual abuse, child abuse and the protections they have from the state.

What are the requirements?

The U.S. sponsor (the petitioner) must be at least 18 years of age and have U.S. residency, which is required in order to file the Affidavit of Economic Sponsorship.

In terms of documentation, the immigrants passport, which must be valid for 60 days after the expiration date on his or her visa, the sponsors Affidavit of Economic Sponsorship, Form DS-260 in English, two photographs, civil documents for the applicant, and medical examination forms are required.

CR1 or IR1 Visa Fee

For the process, the applicant must pay to file Form I-130, and process Form DS-260 (immigrant visa application). There are also costs for medical examinations and possible vaccinations required to enter the country. All current fees are available on the U.S. Department of State website.

There may also be other costs involved in the process, including fees for documents such as passports or birth certificates, which are required for the immigrant visa application, as well as possible travel expenses to the U.S. embassy or consulate for the interview.

How long does it take?

According to the Department of State, the time varies on a case-by-case basis, and can often be delayed due to the applicant not following the processing instructions or not meeting the requirements. Also, some applications require additional administrative processing, which may take longer.

Protection for undocumented spouses

In June 2024, President Joe Bidens administration announced that it would ban asylum for migrants crossing into the United States as part of its strategy to address the border crisis. However, according to reports, a policy is being contemplated to protect undocumented spouses of U.S. citizens from being denied work permits and from being deported. This policy which would affect about 1.1 million undocumented spouses would be called parole in place and is intended to make it easier for these immigrants to acquire a Green Card and thus eventually obtain citizenship.

No further details have been announced at this time.

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NEW YORK  Mayor Eric Adams joined relatives of victims of Hamas Oct. 7 terror attack Tuesday to decry what he described as a despicable pro-Palestine protest held a day earlier in Manhattan, where a flag with the groups emblem was displayed as well as a sign lauding the massacre.

Mondays protest started in Union Square, where footage posted to social media showed a small group of demonstrators holding up a flag saying, Long live October 7th.

Protesters then flooded into the subway and rode down to Wall Street, where they staged a larger action outside the Nova Exhibition, a memorial created to honor the victims of Hamas attack, in which terrorists killed some 1,200 Israelis and took hundreds hostage.

At the Wall Street protest, footage showed a protester waving a flag with Hamas logo on it and another with the emblem of Hezbollah, a Lebanese militant group labeled a terrorist organization by the U.S., while someone else was seen holding a sign saying Zionists are not human.

What we saw yesterday was despicable, Adams said in a Tuesday afternoon appearance at the Nova exhibit. Hamas is a terrorist organization. Hezbollah is a terrorist organization  Is this what New York represents? I say no.

With the mayor at the exhibit to condemn the protest were Menashe and Segal Manzuri, the parents of Roya Manzuri, 22, and Norelle Manzuri, 25, who were among the Israelis killed in the Oct. 7 massacre.

Menashe Manzuri, who was at the exhibit when the protest erupted outside Monday, told reporters he entered a state of shock upon seeing the commotion outside.

I cannot find the right word how I felt when somebody shouting and supporting the people who murdered your daughters, said Menashe Manzuri, who was clasping a photograph of his daughters. I cannot describe what I felt. It was like they killed me again and again and again.

According to the NYPD, one protester was arrested during the demonstration on Wall Street and charged with resisting arrest and disorderly conduct.

Many other protesters at Mondays action were flying Palestinian flags and chanting free, free Palestine! and other slogans that have become more common at demonstrations across the city since Israel launched its attack on Gaza in the aftermath of Hamas Oct. 7 assault. Nearly 40,000 Palestinians, including thousands of children, have been killed in the Israeli onslaught.

Progressive Democrats in the city, many of whom have otherwise been supportive of pro-Palestinian protests and calls for a ceasefire in Gaza, agreed with the more-moderate mayor that Mondays event devolved into antisemitism.

The callousness, dehumanization, and targeting of Jews on display at last nights protest outside  was atrocious antisemitism  plain and simple, New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez wrote on X. Antisemitism has no place in our city nor any broader movement that centers human dignity and liberation.

Since Oct. 7, hate crimes against both Jews and Muslims have been on the rise in the city.

As of April 14, police statistics show there had been 96 reported antisemitic hate crimes this year, a 45% increase compared with the same time frame in 2023. Also as of April 14, there had been nine reported Islamophobic hate crimes, compared with just one in the same span in 2023, according to NYPD data.

Before leaving the Nova exhibit Tuesday, the mayor said he supports New Yorkers right to protest against Israels military campaign in Gaza.

I get angry when I look at some of the things that are said and portrayed, it really angers me to see that we will wave the flag of Hamas in this city, but the laws are the laws and we cant break the law to enforce the law, he said.

Im asking all those who feel the anger that I feel to turn your pain into purpose.

_____
Travaris McCurdys bid for a seat on the City Council is getting a late-hour lift.

Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer threw his political might behind McCurdy Tuesday morning, and soon after, suspended commissioner Regina Hill did as well in a Facebook post and later confirmed her endorsement in a text message.

McCurdy is facing off against Shaniqua Shan Rose in the runoff election  with the winner serving as the interim District 5 commissioner through the end of the term in 2025. However, Hill, who was suspended from the seat by Gov. Ron DeSantis in April, could return to the post before then if felony charges filed against her are resolved in her favor.

Dyer doesnt usually endorse in Democratic primaries nor in City Council races that dont feature an incumbent. He said in a statement McCurdys work in the Legislature was a factor in his decision.

Travaris McCurdy has a track record of supporting District 5 residents and partnering with the City of Orlando, Dyer said in a statement distributed by the campaign. He has demonstrated a strong commitment to advocating for his constituents and supporting important programs like Parramore Kidz Zone.

I am confident he will be an excellent representative for District 5 and look forward to working with him.

Hill, whom McCurdy worked for at one point as an aide, shared Dyers endorsement on Facebook, commenting Its Go Time!!! Elect Travaris as your Interim District 5 Commissioner until my return 

Rose received the most ballots in a seven-way race last month, with 24.8% or 527 votes. McCurdy received 23.3%, or 495 ballots.

Early voting is taking place at the Supervisor of Elections Office at 119 W. Kaley St. from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Friday. Over the weekend, it takes place at the office from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.

On Election Day, June 18, polls are open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The race has kicked into high gear in recent weeks with both candidates stacking up key endorsements  amid further scrutiny of McCurdys past arrests and Roses firing as a city employee.

Rose, now the executive director of Eatonvilles Community Redevelopment Agency, announced this week the backing of the Orlando Regional Realtors Association and the Greater Orlando Builders Association.

What this means to the residents and voters of Orlando District 5 is that I have the relationships and connections needed from day one to tackle housing needs, both ownership and rental, she said in announcing the backing of the Realtors.

She also has the endorsement of the SEIU and LIUNA labor unions that represent city workers, as well as the Orlando Sentinels Editorial Board.

McCurdy, a former state representative who works in small business outreach at the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority, is endorsed by the Orange County Classroom Teachers Association, the Orlando Professional Firefighters union and the grassroots group Florida Rising.

rygillespie@orlandosentinel.com
Mayors London Breed and Karen Bass take different approaches to homelessness and drug use in their cities

San Francisco Mayor London Breed, left, and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass are the first Black women to lead their cities. (Josh Edelson / For The Times)

Karen Bass and London Breed each made history when they were elected, shattering glass ceilings in their respective cities as the first female mayor of Los Angeles and first Black woman to lead San Francisco.

They share many other similarities as powerful Democrats leading California's marquee cities: a promise to reduce homelessness; plans to mitigate an opioid overdose crisis; an electorate concerned about crime.

But the ways the two mayors are attacking those urban problems reveal some surprising differences between them.

Breed, 49, has backed a tough-on-crime statewide ballot initiative that Bass, 70, does not support. The San Francisco mayor has also worked to toughen criminal penalties for fentanyl dealers and require drug screening and treatment for certain welfare recipients  issues the Los Angeles mayor has not weighed in on with financial assistance overseen by the county.

Read more: San Francisco ties welfare to drug-screening, boosts police powers in stunning tough-on-crime shift

And they are split over a high-profile Supreme Court case that could make it easier for cities to clear homeless encampments: Breed has welcomed the high court's review while Bass warned against a ruling that "could embolden those who wish to criminalize unhoused Angelenos."

"Homelessness is the reason I ran," Bass said during a discussion Monday at the civic engagement cafe Manny's in San Francisco. "The main thing is getting people off the street ASAP because people are dying. But the problem in L.A. is the massive numbers."

It was the first time the two mayors came together publicly for a one-on-one conversation. They discussed the challenges they face leading California's most famous and influential cities.

"Homelessness is the reason I ran," Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said. (Josh Edelson / For The Times)

About 46,000 people are homeless in Los Angeles, where the population is about 3.8 million. An estimated 8,323 people are homeless in San Francisco, a city of about 808,000.

Breed said the problem in San Francisco is "a little bit different."

Though the city has increased shelter capacity and helped 15,000 people exit homelessness, Breed said, the city faces a conundrum: The number of people who refuse housing or shelter is growing.

"The biggest problem is fentanyl, is drugs," she said. "That has been the biggest challenge we've had to get people off the streets."

Political differences in L.A. and S.F.

Breed and Bass are at different points in their mayorships, which may explain some of their divergence on policy. After six years leading San Francisco, Breed is up for reelection this year in a tough race against four serious challengers.

In contrast, Bass, who referred to herself as a "rookie" Monday, is still in a honeymoon phase after winning the election in November 2022.

There seems to be this kind of doomy narrative in San Francisco that I don't feel is quite as front of mind for Angelenos, said Jason Ward, an economist at Rand Corp. in Santa Monica.

Mayor London Breed has supported some tough-on-crime strategies to address street homelessness and open-air drug use in San Francisco. (Josh Edelson / For The Times)

As Breed's political challenges have mounted in the last two years, she has turned to tough-on-crime strategies to crack down on street homelessness, open-air drug use and other public safety issues she once described in a speech as the bull that destroyed our city.

Bass has sought a compassionate approach to homelessness without losing the support of the business community, a strategy that's drawn praise and criticism. She has not given an endorsement in the heated L.A. district attorney race, which pits a so-called law and order candidate against the progressive incumbent.

In some instances, the two politicians are bringing the same blueprint to solving their cities' problems.

Breed declared a state of emergency in December 2021 for the drug-infested Tenderloin district, with Bass following suit a year later with her own emergency declaration on homelessness. Both efforts aimed to make it easier to get people off the streets and increase access to resources.

Both mayors have rejected calls to roll back funding for police, even adding money for law enforcement in their city budgets, despite objections from some left-leaning voters. And they've each focused much of the last year on addressing homelessness via temporary shelter beds, while also putting money toward addiction and mental health services.

But it's their policy differences that illustrate the varied ways civic leaders are trying to solve some of California's thorniest problems.

Read more: California leaders, beleaguered by homelessness crisis, want more power to clear camps

"This is the nice thing about more and more women getting into elected life," said Elizabeth Ashford, a Democratic strategist and board member of California Women Lead, an organization that works to elect more women. "People are going to have to rise and fall based on their own merits as leaders."

As Black women, both mayors said their identities shape their experiences as politicians.

Bass said L.A.'s Black population is "quite small" at about 8%, and because of that she believes people misjudge her.

"I dont mind being underestimated," she said. "They wont see it coming!

San Francisco Mayor London Breed and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass discuss their cities' challenges at Manny's cafe in San Francisco. (Josh Edelson / For The Times)

Breed echoed those same hurdles leading San Francisco, where the Black population is less than 5%.

"Ive had to have some really hard conversations with a lot of very privileged people in this city who feel comfortable talking to me as if Im beneath them," Breed said.

"As African American women leading major cities, it's different. Everybody wants the mayor to do a good job, but sometimes the challenges we face are different."

Different approaches to fighting crime

Breed earlier this year endorsed a GOP-backed measure proposed for the November ballot that aims to roll back part of Proposition 47, a 2014 voter-approved initiative that reduced certain theft and drug felonies to misdemeanors. The measure would increase penalties for fentanyl dealers and organized retail theft rings, and provide mandatory treatment for drug users.

Bass said she doesn't support efforts to repeal Proposition 47.

She said in a statement to The Times that the law "has its strengths and weaknesses and it should be evaluated in the same way that the impacts of any policy should be examined," though her office didn't make clear how she thinks the policy should be analyzed.

The mayors' approaches "couldn't be more different," said Anne Irwin, director of Smart Justice California, a group that advocates for progressive changes to the criminal justice system.

Bass has "taken the lessons from the tough-on-crime era and accepted the hard truth that it didnt work," Irwin said. Breed, she said, has reverted to a "familiar political rhetoric" that appeases voters in the short term but fails public safety in the long haul.

Read more: Mayor London Breed is taking on San Franciscos far left. Can she prevail?

"Thats why I call it an easy, expedient response," Irwin said. "But that's not leadership."

While Irwin acknowledged that many San Franciscans want to see a tougher approach on public safety issues, she attributed waning voter support for Breed to what she described as an inconsistent and chaotic approach to solving those problems.

"San Franciscans are watching Mayor Breed over these past several years lurch from one approach to another based on the loudest headlines that week," Irwin said.

People outside the event protest budget cuts Mayor London Breed has proposed in San Francisco, including funds for child-care programs and food banks. (Josh Edelson / For The Times)

To Breed's supporters, she is making tough decisions for a city she loves.

Breed grew up in the Western Addition, raised by her grandmother in a tough childhood defined by poverty, gang violence and street crime. She has shared the story of losing a sister to a drug overdose nearly 20 years ago, and her brother has served more than two decades in prison for armed robbery and other charges.

"London Breed has a ton of experience being exposed to that kind of a life, and I would think that she has reacted in the way she should for the safety of her citizens," said former Mayor Willie Brown, who made history himself as the first Black mayor of San Francisco and, before that, as speaker of the state Assembly. "And that's what would be expected of a mayor."

Bass has spent much of her time in office so far as she promised on the campaign trail  almost exclusively focused on homelessness. Under Bass' Inside Safe program, which places homeless people in hotels, motels and other forms of shelter, 2,720 people have been moved from street encampments, according to officials.

Read more: Bass, one year in: Progress on homelessness but still a steep climb

She also issued an order that has dramatically sped up the citys approval of residential projects deemed 100% affordable. In April, she said that more than 16,000 affordable housing units had entered the citys pipeline.

Bass was raised in the Venice-Fairfax area of Los Angeles, and was volunteering for Sen. Robert Kennedy's presidential campaign by age 14.

She founded Community Coalition, a nonprofit focused on tackling the structural racism that led to neglect in South L.A. A former emergency room physician assistant, she served more than a decade in Congress before being elected mayor.

She has sought to walk a fine line between helping people get into shelters and housing and responding to complaints from businesses and neighbors about tents and drug use.

She has mostly stayed out of the debate over a policy that gives council members the option to bar homeless encampments within 500 feet of schools and parks. The law is attacked by the most left-leaning members of the City Council, who decry it as a waste of police resources.

Bass, in interviews, has suggested that the law simply shuffles homeless encampments around, but said she wont seek to repeal it.

The way the two mayors are responding reflects the frustrations in their respective cities, said Sam Tsemberis, chief executive of the Pathways Housing First Institute in Santa Monica.

It comes down to personal attitudes and values," Tsemberis said. "And also for the politicians, what will play well in terms of the likelihood of their reelection.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
The Group of Seven (G7) will create a fund to support Ukraine using the income generated from frozen Russian assets, Nikkei Asia reported on June 11.

The fund will reportedly be created under an international organization such as the World Bank, with contributions in the form of Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration (ERA) loans. G7 leaders plan to announce the initiative in a joint summit in Italy, which starts on June 13.

The U.S. has indicated it will provide $50 billion, while the U.K., Canada, and Japan are also considering contributions, Nikkei Asia reported. Japan may channel its support through the Japan International Cooperation Agency, focusing on nonmilitary assistance.

The Kyiv Independent could not independently confirm Nikkei Asia's report.

While Western countries have frozen $300 billion in Russian assets, they can only access the income generated by these funds, approximately $3.2 billion annually. By setting up a fund with loans to be repaid using this income, countries can offer immediate support to Ukraine beyond this amount.

The U.S. proposed seizing Russian assets outright in accordance with its recently passed REPO act, but the European Union has been more hesitant, fearing legal and fiscal pitfalls of confiscation.

Instead, Brussels seeks to use windfall profits generated by the frozen assets and funnel them to Kyiv.

Two-thirds of the frozen assets are located within the European Union, much of it held by the Belgian clearinghouse Euroclear. The EU has already established a framework for sending investment income from these assets to Ukraine, and European G7 members do not plan to participate in the new program for now.

Read also: Russias Su-57  hype vs. reality

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Members of an honor guard move the casket of Minneapolis police Officer Jamal Mitchell into Maple Grove Senior High School for his public memorial service, Tuesday, June 11, 2024, in Maple Grove, Minn. Mitchell was shot and killed while responding to a shooting on May 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr, Pool)

MINNEAPOLIS (AP)  A Minneapolis police officer who was killed by a man he was trying to help at the site of a shooting was memorialized Tuesday as a hero who exemplified the type of public servant the city's police force has been trying to recruit amid years of tumult.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey told those gathered at a service for Officer Jamal Mitchell, 36, that he will be remembered as a hero in the city forever. Frey, Police Chief Brian OHara, family members, friends and fellow officers described a man whose high ethical standards led to him to Minneapolis, and perhaps even to his death at the hands of a person he was trying to save.

Its notable that he chose the profession of policing post-2020, Frey said. Its even more notable that he affirmatively chose Minneapolis. Of all the places in the world, of all the professions in the world, of all the cities in the world, he chose us. Officer Jamal Mitchell was here for a reason.

Investigators are calling the May 30 shooting of Mitchell an ambush. They said he was responding to a call about a double shooting when he tried to help a man he believed was injured. That man shot Mitchell multiple times. Three other people, including the gunman, were killed.

Mitchell had been with the Minneapolis Police Department for about 18 months. His killing stunned a department that has struggled to fill its ranks since the murder of George Floyd and the ensuing turmoil. Officers from across the state and nation attended the service at a high school in the suburb of Maple Grove.

Tori Myslajek, Mitchells long-term partner and fiance, said Mitchells greatest joys were his four children.

Our family is completely devastated by our recent loss. Jamal was our whole world," Myslajek said in a statement. Jamal and I created a beautiful life in Minnesota, and he was deeply passionate about helping and serving the community of Minneapolis.

A procession of law enforcement officers escorted Mitchells American flag-draped casket into the high school gym and paced it beside a portrait of Mitchell. Above his casket, a photo slideshow showed him enjoying ski trips, football games and evenings at home with family and friends.

Mitchell's body will be transported back to Connecticut, where he is from, said Minneapolis police spokesperson Brian Feintech. He was the first Minneapolis police officer to die by gunfire since 2002. In 2009, another officer was hit by a drunken driver and later died. Mitchell was killed three months after two officers and a firefighter-paramedic in the Minneapolis suburb of Burnsville were fatally shot while responding to a domestic violence call.

Ive said this since the day he died, and I will say this every day for as long as I live: Minneapolis Police Officer Jamal Mitchell represented all that is good about the men and women of the Minneapolis Police Department and about police officers around this state and around this country," O'Hara told those gathered at the service for Mitchell.

In the May attack, officers responded to a call of a double shooting at an apartment complex in the south Minneapolis neighborhood of Whittier. Mitchell was the first to respond and approached 35-year-old Mustafa Mohamed outside. When the officer asked if Mohamed was injured, Mohamed pulled a gun and shot Mitchell several times.

Another officer arrived and exchanged gunfire with Mohamed, who died of his injuries, Minneapolis Assistant Police Chief Katie Blackwell said. The second officer sustained non-life-threatening wounds. Another person, believed to be a bystander, was critically wounded. A responding firefighter had minor injuries.

Authorities said two people were shot inside the apartment and died: Osman Said Jimale, 32, and Mohamed Aden, 36.

Few details about the initial shooting have been released, and investigators have not speculated on Mohamed's motives. According to the Minneapolis Star Tribune, he had been convicted of federal gun charges and was released from prison in 2020. He was arrested with a handgun about two years later. Warrants were issued after he failed to appear at a hearing.

Mitchell was born on Feb. 12, 1988, in New Haven, Connecticut, according to an obituary handed out at his funeral. He enjoyed sharing his love of basketball with his children. His pickup basketball teammates called him the glue that held it all together.

Mitchell was previously lauded by the Minneapolis Police Department for rescuing an elderly couple from a house fire on his third day on the job. He was posthumously awarded the department's two highest honors, a Medal of Honor and a Purple Heart.

Denise Raper, Mitchell's aunt, said her nephew always strove to protect those in need.

This was Jamals purpose, to reach down and pick you up, Raper said. She added: This was Jamals assignment. This was Jamals mission. And through our tears and heavy hearts, we collectively say: Mission accomplished.
Jose Uribe arrives at Federal Court, for his bribery trial in connection with U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), in New York City

By Luc Cohen

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A New Jersey businessman testified this week at U.S. Senator Bob Menendez's corruption trial that the lawmaker claimed to have "saved" the insurance broker, who bought Menendez's wife a $60,000 Mercedes-Benz, from criminal probes.

Star prosecution witness Jose Uribe told jurors he bribed Menendez by buying a car for the senator's then-girlfriend Nadine in 2019. Uribe said Nadine Menendez, who married Bob Menendez in 2020, had previously assured him she would relay Uribe's concerns about two insurance fraud probes to the senator.

During dinner the following year at a New Jersey restaurant called Segovia, Uribe said Menendez told him he found the "right people to speak to" - without specifying who.

"He said, 'I saved your ass twice - not once, but twice'," Uribe testified on Monday.

Menendez, 70, a three-term Democratic Senator running for re-election this year as an independent, has pleaded not guilty to 16 criminal charges including bribery, fraud, acting as a foreign agent and obstruction.

The car purchase was among hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes - which also included cash, mortgage payments and gold bars - that federal prosecutors in Manhattan say Menendez and his wife accepted in exchange for political favors and aiding the governments of Egypt and Qatar.

Uribe pleaded guilty this year to fraud and bribery charges and is cooperating with prosecutors. He testified that he gave Nadine Menendez $15,000 in cash for her car down payment during a meeting in a restaurant parking lot in March 2019, and made monthly payments for the vehicle until the FBI asked him about them in 2022.

Earlier in the trial, Menendez's lawyers blamed his wife for concealing her financial dealings from him.

In a potential boost for his defense, Uribe testified that he never discussed the car payments directly with Menendez.

"I did not talk to Mr. Menendez about a bribe," Uribe said on Tuesday during cross-examination.

But under questioning from prosecutor Lara Pomerantz, Uribe said Nadine Menendez never asked him to keep the payments a secret from the senator, and said he had no reason to believe Bob Menendez did not know about them.

Uribe testified that he told Menendez the names of the people and companies close to him being investigated during a meeting in the senator's backyard on Sept. 5, 2019. He said Menendez wrote down the names on a sheet of paper brought to him by Nadine, whom he had summoned by ringing a bell and yelling, "mon amour" - French for "my love."

Nadine Menendez has pleaded not guilty. Her trial was postponed to July because she is being treated for breast cancer. Her husband's trial could last through June.

(Reporting by Luc Cohen in New York; Editing by Noeleen Walder and Daniel Wallis)
Attorney General Merrick Garland and the Department of Justice are pushing back on Republicans who have falsely accused the department of masterminding the recent prosecution of former president Donald Trump in a New York State court.

Garland took to pages of the Washington Post on Tuesday with an op-ed in which he slammed what he described as an escalation of attacks that go far beyond public scrutiny, criticism, and legitimate and necessary oversight from Republicans. He called those attacks baseless, personal and dangerous and noted that theyve directly inspired threats of violence against his departments personnel.

The AG also decried threats from Republicans in Congress who want to defund the departments work investigating Trump. He said that attacks in the form of conspiracy theories crafted and spread for the purpose of undermining public trust in the judicial process itself.

That includes false claims about the prosecution of Trump by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, whose work resulted in the ex-president being convicted of 24 felony counts by a jury of his peers earlier this month.

Other threats, Garland said, have come against his department in the form of dangerous falsehoods about the FBIs law enforcement operations that increase the risks faced by our agents. Garland referred to similarly false claims by Trump and his allies regarding the FBIs execution of a search warrant at the former presidents Florida home in August 2022. He added that false claims that the department is politicizing its work to somehow influence the outcome of an election are also harmful, adding that the department will not be intimidated by these attacks.

Garlands op-ed came on the same day that Assistant Attorney General Carlos Uriarte dispatched a letter to House Judiciary Committee chair Jim Jordan, in which he directly refuted Republican allegations that Braggs prosecution of Trump in New York was somehow directed or controlled by federal officials.

Uriarte noted that the Department of Justice does not generally make extensive efforts to rebut conspiratorial speculation because doing so lends credibility to such talk, but cited Garlands commitment to transparency while explaining that DOJ had taken extraordinary steps to make clear that theres no basis for the Republican claims of collusion between the department and Bragg or his office.

The Assistant Attorney General informed Jordan that a comprehensive search of all emails sent or received between January 21, 2021  the date President Joe Biden took office and the day Trump was found guilty of 34 felonies found no communications whatsoever between any officials in Department leadership, including all political appointees in those offices, and the District Attorneys office regarding any investigation or prosecution of the former President.

This is unsurprising. The District Attorneys office is a separate entity from the Department. The Department does not supervise the work of the District Attorneys office, does not approve its charging decisions, and does not try its cases. The Department has no control over the District Attorney, just as the District Attorney has no control over the Department, he said.

Uriarte also told Jordan that the department had searched the former email account of Mathew Colangelo, an ex-DOJ attorney who left a job as acting head of the departments civil division to work as a prosecutor in Braggs office. He said there had been no communications found between Colangelo and the New York District Attorney or his staff during Colangelos tenure at DOJ.

He further noted that such a finding was also unsurprising because Colangelos responsibilities at the justice department was to oversee the civil litigation components that report to the Associates Office, including the Civil Division, Antitrust Division, Civil Rights Division, and the Environment and Natural Resources Division rather than any role relating to criminal prosections.

He added that despite Republicans claims to the contrary, Colangelo had not been dispatched to Braggs office.

Accusations of wrongdoing made without  and in fact contrary to  evidence undermine confidence in the justice system and have contributed to increased threats of violence and attacks on career law enforcement officials and prosecutors, he said.

Our extraordinary efforts to respond to your speculation should put it to rest.
Its been nearly four years since Tina Peters, the elections administrator of Mesa County, Colorado, went rogue, allegedly breaching her offices own equipment in a bid to investigate Donald Trumps lies about the 2020 election. She was indicted on state charges in 2022.

Now, as the 2024 election approaches, the county election office she once oversaw is still reeling from her legacy, while dealing with the ideas her allies continue to spread.

We continue to fight disinformation and misinformation, mainly spread by Tina Peters as she tries to defend herself, Sheila Reiner, a former Mesa County county clerk and recorder and the current county treasurer, told TPM. It was heartbreaking and very frustrating to watch her time and time again simply lie about the process.

Peters alleged misdeeds not only shook voter confidence, they also gave the county a reputation for being a hotbed of conspiracy theorizing that extended into the voting infrastructure itself.

Peters, who has now become the de facto face of the Stop the Steal movement in Colorado, allegedly gave an unauthorized individual access to the countys voting machines; data from those machines was then leaked online. She went on to become a cause celebre among those who baselessly insist the 2020 election was stolen and a close ally of Mike Lindell. She is currently awaiting trial, which is set for later this summer.

The work for Mesa County election officials in advance of the upcoming presidential election is threefold: implementing practical security measures to prevent future internal threats, like Peters; working to regain publics trust that another Peters-like insider wont interfere in the countys election; and instituting measures to increase transparency to keep conspiracy theories from spiraling out of control.

I had been in Mesa County elections for over 20 years at that point, and it was just like watching someone destroy our reputation, Reiner, the former clerk, said. And even though what she did only happened to some equipment, the entire process is now tainted.

In August 2021, Reiner was appointed by the Secretary of States office to oversee the county elections while Peters was under investigation, so like Gross, Reiner too was directly responsible for repairing the damage done by Peters.

Now, the county is focused on implementing new security policies and measures to prevent another Peters from ever breaching the countys election system. Since Peters left office, the county has improved its security camera system. Access to the countys vote-counting facility (which includes any room where votes are tabulated) is now only possible via badge, and team members can only enter the pre-processing room and the tabulation room  rooms which both house counted ballots, in teams of two.

Reiner, who said that watching the Peters episode play out took an emotional toll on her, expressed optimism that the majority of the countys voters understand that their elections are safe and secure. But, she said, she is still concerned about those constituents who are open to conspiracy theories, like those Peters allies continue to spread, going into 2024.

That smaller percentage  I just really worry about them. It doesnt feel good to not trust, she said. The more we can do to help, the better.

Reiner estimates that that smaller percentage is probably a few hundred people, which, although small compared to the countys population of close to 160,000 people, is still concerning, especially because the county has now seen the outsized influence of a single bad actor.

As part of an effort to tamp down on conspiratorial thinking, the county has even made the security footage available to the public. If somebody wants to watch hours of footage at the ballot box, they can, said Bobbie Gross, the Mesa County clerk and recorder who was elected to replace Peters in 2022.

Multiple times a year, Mesa County holds open houses, where voters can see the voting equipment, ask questions, and learn about certain election processes like signature verification.

We understand that the best way to create trust in our election system is to make them as transparent as possible, said Gross, a Republican.

Matt Crane, executive director of the Colorado County Clerks Association, who described Gross as a breath of fresh air, said that Grosss challenge is really about rebuilding trust, not just amongst voters, but also in an office that under Peters was a poisonous environment.

He described Peters and what he calls, more generally, the Tina debacle as a shock to the system, leading county clerks statewide to adopt a zero-trust security posture, noting that they had probably been naive in thinking that someone in a position like the one Peters was in would both understand the job and do it well.

So, now, he said, the work is not only about transparency to help voters, but also about creating a culture where workers report concerns when they see them.

What you have Bobbie getting back to was just, okay, rebuilding culture and rebuilding faith just by doing what youre supposed to do on a day-to-day basis and being extremely competent in doing so, he said.

And, although Mesa County election officials have implemented new security measures to guard post-Peters, dangerous election misinformation remains as much a concern as it was four years ago in Colorado  as it is for election offices across the country.

We still have the same bad actors spreading the same garbage that they always have, Crane said. But these bad actors  I call it the traveling clown show  theyre still going around, especially in these smaller communities, trying to scare people out of using our voting system.
A jury in Wilmington (Delaware) has declared Hunter Biden, son of U.S. President Joe Biden, guilty of the three felony counts that he had been charged with in connection with the purchase and possession of a firearm. The jurors reached a verdict after three hours of deliberation in the first trial ever held against the son of a sitting president. Hunter Biden faces up to 25 years in prison, and the judge will set the sentence at a later date. The verdict is a blow to the Democratic president less than five months before the presidential election.

The verdict comes weeks after another jury, this time in New York, declared former president Donald Trump guilty of 34 crimes for falsifying invoices, checks and accounting records in connection with hush-money payments to the porn star Stormy Daniels in order to sway the 2016 presidential elections.

Hunter Biden bought a Colt Cobra revolver on October 12, 2018 at the StarQuest Shooters & Survival Supply, a firearms store off Highway 202, north of Wilmington. He filled out a form in which he denied being an illegal user or addict of any stimulant, narcotic drug or any other controlled substance. The prosecutor went to great lengths at trial to try to prove that he was.

The presidents son was tried for three crimes: lying to a federally licensed gun dealer, making a false claim on the federal firearms application, and possession of an illegally obtained firearm. The maximum penalties that apply are up to 10 years for the first offense, five for the second and another 10 for the third, along with fines of up to $250,000 for each of them and up to three years of supervised release. For someone with no criminal record, who has undergone rehab and did not use their weapons to commit a violent crime, prison sentences are not common.

Hunter Biden initially admitted the illegal purchase and possession of the weapon as part of a plea deal with prosecutors to be sentenced with lesser penalties for two tax crimes that were already regularized and to shelve the gun case. Prosecutors initially were ready to waive pursuing the gun purchase in exchange for him staying away from drugs for two years and giving up having a firearm in the future. The agreement, however, was derailed just as it was going to be endorsed.

Judge Maryellen Noreika, a Trump appointee, rejected it due to the different interpretation of the agreement between the prosecution and the defense and pressure from Republicans. Afterwards, he pleaded not guilty. Meanwhile, Hunter Biden has been charged with nine alleged tax crimes before California courts. Bidens son has since made his pending payments and the case was going to be closed in accordance with the plea deal that finally derailed. That second trial is scheduled for September.

In Mondays closing arguments in the gun case, the prosecutor told jurors to focus on the overwhelming evidence against Hunter Biden and not to pay attention to members of the presidents family sitting in the courtroom, including the First Lady, Jill Biden, according to the Associated Press. All of this is not evidence, lead prosecutor Leo J. Wise said, extending his hand and motioning for the jury to look around the room. The people sitting in the room are not evidence.

Defense attorney Abbe Lowell argued that prosecutors had failed to prove their allegations. He told jurors that the fact that his client has a famous last name does not change the fact that he is presumed innocent  like any other defendant  until proven guilty. With my last breath in this case, I ask for the only verdict that will hold the prosecutors to what the law requires of them: a verdict of not guilty, Lowell said.

Lowell said there are no witnesses to Hunter Bidens drug use in the 11 days he had the gun. And he suggested his client was lying about where he was in text messages to his brother Beaus widow. The prosecutor suggested that these texts show drug use and drug deals in the days after the gun was purchased.

Jill Biden, the presidents brother, James, and other family members sat in the front row of the courtroom at the final hearing. Joe Biden said last week that he would accept the jurys verdict and ruled out a presidential pardon for his son.

Both the gun case and the tax case concern only Hunter Biden. Republicans have spent years unsuccessfully trying to find links showing that Joe Biden benefited from his sons business dealings, commissions and other irregularities. Their harassment of the president through requests and interrogations of supposed witnesses, and the opening of an investigation for a possible impeachment, has reached a dead end after no evidence was found against President Biden. Much of the accusations centered on the testimony of an FBI informant, who said that Joe Biden had collected a $5 million commission from Ukraine. It was later proven that it was all a fabrication by a person with ties to Russian intelligence.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE)  A New Mexico man is facing federal charges after an auto theft investigation turned into a violent police chase through an Albuquerque hotel. Four months ago, Bernalillo County Sheriffs Office deputies tried to stop 39-year-old Lupe Vargas for an ineligible temporary tag. Vargas crashed his car into a pillar at the Ramada Hotel in northeast Albuquerque, shot at deputies, and then ran into the hotel.

Woman sentenced for her role in 2023 Albuquerque murder

During the pursuit, BCSO said Vargas changed out of his white tank top into a red shirt and then walked out of the hotel acting like nothing happened. A K9 deputy did not take the bait and led police to Vargas.

According to court documents, Vargas has a long criminal history starting when he was just 11 years old. Vargas is now being federally charged for being a felon in possession of a firearm and attempted carjacking.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
(Bloomberg) -- Mexicos peso sank after President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum said a proposed reform of the nations judicial system would be among the first to be discussed in congress, spooking investors who worry it will erode checks on the ruling party.

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A constitutional reform to the judiciary system will be part of a group of legislative projects left over from President Andres Manuel Lopez Obradors administration that she supports moving forward during the political transition, Sheinbaum said following a meeting with the outgoing president. She added that she would propose for the programs to be debated widely, not just by Congress but also by academics and civil society groups.

There should be a wide discussion in the months before the new congress begins, Sheinbaum said during a news conference late on Monday, adding that she wanted the controversial judicial reform to be discussed by bar associations, the law schools, the judges, and the workers of the judiciary.

The currency fell as much as 1.8% to 18.58 per dollar in early Asia trading following her comments. It was 0.7% weaker at 9:50 a.m. in New York.

The peso has slumped more than 8% after the ruling coalition had a stronger-than-expected performance in congressional elections, ratcheting up investor fears lawmakers could pass a series of controversial constitutional changes. The judicial reform would put judges elected by popular vote on the nations Supreme Court and other lower courts, potentially changing the balance of power in Mexico.

The peso has overreacted to the election result, JPMorgan Chase & Co said in a research note, recommending investors to stick to long positions.

Other reforms to be included in a first wave of legislation to address include a reform to the ISSSTEs pension plan for public workers and a ban on reelection to public office, Sheinbaum said. Lopez Obrador agreed with the proposal for a discussion process that involved a broad swath of the Mexican public, she added.

The market was hoping that she would distance herself from President Lopez Obrador because there is a possibility that her mandate could be seen as an extension of his six-year term, said Gabriela Siller, an economist at Mexicos Banco Base. The peso could go to 20 per dollar on expectations reforms would disrupt the business climate in the country, she added.

Instead of trimming down the number of reforms, Sheinbaum added new ones  a womens assistance program and one to support schoolchildren  and insisted that they would be among the first priorities. Other reforms that had raised concern among investors, such as one that would eliminate some independent regulatory bodies, would be discussed at a later time, Sheinbaum said.

Sheinbaum spoke from the podium at the National Palace in Mexico City in which Lopez Obrador typically holds his hours-long daily press conferences. The outgoing president didnt participate in the press conference, and the incoming leader did not confirm whether she would carry on his tradition of morning pressers once she enters office.

She added that she will name her cabinet next week. She also said she plans to receive a US delegation on Tuesday at her campaign headquarters, and that shes not currently planning a trip to Mexicos northern neighbor.

Priority Reforms

Another point of tension among investors has been whether the new Congress, which begins its legislative period on Sept. 1, would rush through reforms before Sheinbaum transitions into her role as president on Oct. 1. She said the goal was for the set of priority reforms to start being discussed in September, without clarifying when they might be voted on.

Asked whether authorities are concerned about the volatility in the currency, Sheinbaum said that she didnt expect the discussion process for the reforms would lead to additional volatility.

Sheinbaum added that she would soon discuss the plan for 2025 with Finance Minister Rogelio Ramirez de la O, who will remain in his post at the start of her term.

Earlier on Monday, in an bid to allay investor concerns, Senate Majority Leader Ricardo Monreal said that the ruling party will keep markets in mind as it moves to discuss constitutional reforms.

Most likely, in the short term, if this rhetoric continues, the peso will remain volatile, said Miguel Iturribarria, a strategist at BBVA Mexico. We could see an increase in the risk premium, not only for the peso but also for other local assets.

--With assistance from Matthew Burgess.

(Updates with peso decline in fourth paragraph, adds JPMorgans recommendation in sixth.)

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Mich. Woman Accused of Lighting Exs House on Fire, Which Killed His Partially Paralyzed Mom

Cinamon Charmaine Rigmaiden is charged with one count of murder, two counts of assault with intent to murder and four arson-related charges

Detroit Police Department Cinamon Charmaine Rigmaiden

The Michigan couple had recently broken up, when, prosecutors allege, Cinamon Charmaine Rigmaiden went to her exs home late on the night of Monday, June 3 and doused the front porch with an accelerant.

Allegedly setting fire to the Detroit home, the 31-year-old fled the scene, per prosecutors.

Rigmaidens ex was not at home, but three others  including his mother, Tina Dorrough, and a 57-year-old man and a 65-year-old woman  were inside.

Dorrough, 53, died in the fire. The other two people, whose names have not been released, were rushed to the hospital for treatment, according to Wayne County prosecutors.

Since when is the solution in the breakup of a relationship setting fire to an occupied house? Prosecutor Kym Worthy said in a statement. The alleged actions of the defendant in this case are beyond reprehensible.

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.



Dorrough was paralyzed on one side of her body, Maria Miller of the prosecutors office tells PEOPLE, hindering Dorroughs ability to get out of the home once it became engulfed in flames.

The following day, Livonia police arrested Rigmaiden, charging her with one count of felony murder, two counts of assault with intent to murder, three counts of first-degree arson and one count of third-degree arson.

Rigmaiden was arraigned Friday, June 7 and remanded to jail. She has pleaded not guilty, according to the prosecutor's office.

In court last week her defense lawyer claimed that Rigmaiden had only intended to damage property and did not want to hurt anyone, Click on Detroit reported.

Rigmaiden is slated to return to court for a probable cause conference June 14.



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Dr. Anil Kumar | Courtesy photo

Anil Kumar, a Democrat and member of the Wayne State Board of Governors, had his appeal rejected over the Michigan Board of State Canvassers disqualifying him from appealing as a congressional candidate on the August primary ballot.

In a decision released Tuesday morning, the Michigan Court of Appeals nixed Kumars motion to overturn the May 31 decision by state canvassers that he did not submit enough valid signatures to make the ballot for the Democratic nomination to the 10th Congressional District.

At root, plaintiffs request for mandamus is founded on his factual contention that the Board discounted elector signatures that should instead have been deemed valid, stated the order. But in its answer, defendant Board explicitly disputes plaintiffs factual allegations in that regard and offers contrary evidence. Given the existence of such material factual disputes, we conclude that it would be inappropriate to grant plaintiff any of his requested relief here.

At issue were at least 47 of Kumars petition sheets that Bureau of Elections staff determined had clear indications of fraud. Kumar unsuccessfully argued that canvassers incorrectly disqualified at least 94 valid signatures, and that his campaign had the sufficient number of signatures needed to make the ballot. The board similarly invalidated petitions filed by Rhonda Powell, who was also seeking the Democratic nomination in the 10th Congressional District.

The district seat is currently held by U.S. Rep. John James (R-Shelby Twp.), who is running unopposed in the Republican primary. The remaining Democrats looking to unseat James are Emily Busch, former Judge Carl Marlinga, Tiffany Tilley and Diane Young.

The appeals panel similarly rejected an appeal last week by U.S. Senate candidate Nasser Beydoun that his petitions were invalidated because he failed to list a residential address as required by state law, and instead used a post office box.

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The post Michigan Court of Appeals rejects Kumars attempt to get back on the congressional ballot appeared first on Michigan Advance.
A Michigan man who went viral for appearing behind the wheel during his virtual court hearing on a driving infraction has, at long last, obtained his learners permit, according to his lawyer.

Dionne Webster-Cox told People that her infamous client, Corey Harris, took a step in the right direction last Friday, when he went to the Michigan Secretary of States office, which handles motor vehicle regulation, and passed a theory test.

Harris was filmed by Webster-Cox going into the office, taking the test, and dancing outside afterward. An edited and sped-up compilation of the clips was posted to Instagram by the lawyer on Monday. Congratulations! Yay! she appears to say, laughing.

To People, she added, One day does not make the rest of your life, it can change in a day.

Harris, 44, went unwittingly viral after footage of his May 15 hearing was circulated online. In the video, Harris sighs as he pulls into a parking lot, much to the amazement of the Michigan state judge overseeing the proceeding.

Mr Harris, Judge J. Cedric Simpson said. Are you driving?

The judge ordered Harris, who had supposedly been cited for driving with a suspended license the previous October, to turn himself in to police that evening. Weeks after the motorist spent two nights in jail over the infraction, however, the story took a strange twist, with a local ABC affiliate reporting that an apparent clerical error meant that Harris was supposed to have had his suspension lifted back in 2022.

Looking at Saginaw County court records, WXYZ laid out the case that Harris had never been informed of a $125 fee he was supposed to have paid to kickstart the final stage of the process to wipe his record clean. Harris told the station that his 15 minutes of fame, which he described as humiliating, could have easily been avoided if not for bureaucratic incompetence.

Always double-check behind these workers because they will say that they will do something and they dont do it, he said.

Viral Zoom Court Driver NEVER Had a Valid License, Judge Says

But Simpson threw a spanner into the works shortly after. At a hearing last week, The Daily Beast reported at the time, he informed the court that Harris had never had a drivers licenseonly a state IDand in fact had had his driving privileges suspended last year.

And quite frankly, I just wish he would have said that at the beginning, and all of this hoopla could have been just put all aside, the judge remarked dryly.

Webster-Cox, who took over Harris case after the May 15 hearing, promised Simpson that her client was taking steps to make the matter right. She said that Harris had an appointment to take his learners permit test later that week.

With that permit in hand, a copy of which was obtained by People, Harris can take his road test to get fully licensed as soon as July 7. He is scheduled to go before Simpson once again a month later, at which point his misdemeanor charge could be downgraded to a civil infraction, according to Webster-Cox.

This is going to be a feel-good story, she told the magazine.

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To Gretchen Whitmer, Pride isn't just a celebration  it's also a reminder.

The governor of Michigan, who is a Democrat, has made several strides towards ensuring LGBTQ+ equality during her six years in office, from outlawing conversion therapy on minors, to amending the state's civil rights act to include gender and sexual orientation. Before attending Detroit's annual Motor City Pride festival over the weekend, Whitmer reflected on just how far her state has come.



"I always love going to Pride events. They are some of the happiest, most inclusive, and most fun events there are, and I'm really proud that we've come a long way in Michigan," Whitmer told The Advocate. "There's always more good work to do, but we've made great strides. ... That's why it's always important to show up, to show my support, and to work together to make sure we continue to make Michigan a good place for all people."

Michigan became the last state to decriminalize paid surrogacy in April when Whitmer signed into law a package of bills, which also expanded protections for in vitro fertilization (IVF). The family planning services, widely used by LGBTQ+ couples, have recently faced threats across the country as Republican legislators seek to limit or outright ban the options.

To Whitmer, the recent proposals to prohibit IVF are no different from restrictions on abortion, gender-affirming care, or marriage equality. It's one message she wishes to emphasize as Americans celebrate Pride across the country: Never take these rights for granted.



"We know that any right that is conferred by substantive due process  which includes the right to marry whoever you want, the right to make your own decisions about your body, the right to grow your family in any means that you choose  is all very much at risk here," she said. "That's why I thought it was important for us in Michigan to really show the world that these are rights that we are going to fight like hell to protect."

Whitmer also wants voters to take that message to heart as the November presidential election approaches, especially those who may be feeling frustration with the current administration. She said that "while perhaps there are differences around policy and some areas with regard to [President Joe Biden], it is also worth knowing that we are a lot closer to realizing the things that we all share, the things that we all value, with a second Biden-Harris presidency."



"There's never a party that perfectly aligns with every individual's needs, but the Democratic Party is the party that has enshrined women's reproductive rights in the state, our ability to access healthcare, and to grow families in any way that we choose," she continued. "We have protected our voting rights, the rights of the LGBTQ community, and fundamental civil rights. All of this is very much at risk."

Conversely, former president Donald Trump has "eroded some of these fundamental rights," particularly through his Supreme Court appointees, Whitmer said, adding that "a second term would be devastating to the things that we hold dear."

"People have got to get out and vote. So much is at risk," she emphasized.

With two years left in her second gubernatorial term, Whitmer said that she doesn't know what the future has in store for her career. For now, she'll be celebrating at the state's largest Pride festival, and will "stay focused on delivering for the people of Michigan every minute I'm governor."



"We've done an incredible amount just in the last 18 months," she said. "I'm excited at the prospect of what we can continue to do while I'm governor, and my goal is to hand over the state of Michigan to whomever succeeds me in a strong position as I can be in."


It seems that nothing, not even a guilty verdict for Hunter Biden, can convince right-wing conspiracy theorists like House Speaker Mike Johnson that the Department of Justice is not under the direct control of the Democratic president.

CNNs Manu Raju spoke to Johnson shortly after the ruling on Tuesday, and asked him whether he felt Bidens guilty verdict undermined the GOP narrative that Democrats have implemented a two-tiered justice system to target Donald Trump.

It doesnt, every case is different, and clearly the evidence is overwhelming here, Johnson said. I dont think thats the case in the Trump trial, and all the charges that have been brought against him have been obviously brought for political purposes. Hunter Biden is a separate instance.

Just asked Speaker Mike Johnson if Hunter Bidens conviction undercuts the GOP narrative that there's a two-tiered justice system designed to hurt Republicans.



It doesnt, he said. Every case is different. And clearly the evidence was overwhelming here. I dont think thats pic.twitter.com/oyzCwSC6JL  Manu Raju (@mkraju) June 11, 2024

Ever since Trump was found guilty of 34 felony counts in his hush-money trial, the former presidents allies in the far-right GOP have claimed louder than ever that the Department of Justice is a politically motivated weapon of the Biden administration. One might think this notion would be challenged by Hunter Bidens guilty verdict, but that person would also have to imagine that these Republicans operate on a baseline of logic or reason. No such luck.



The Republican response to Bidens conviction is unsurprising, since the cast of disgruntled lawmakers hasnt been convinced by any other evidence that challenges their worldview. Last month, the Department of Justice released an indictment against Texas Representative Henry Cuellar and his wife, charging them with bribery and money laundering. On Monday, a witness in the case against Bob Menendez testified that the New Jersey senator agreed to intervene in two criminal investigations, in exchange for a Mercedes. Both Democrats. Both pursued by the Justice Department.

The reality that Johnson would have the public ignore is that the evidence was overwhelming in Trumps case too. Thats precisely how a unanimous jury found him guilty of all charges.

In terms of Bidens case not being politically motivated, its worth noting that the case brought against him is considered relatively rare among gun prosecutions, with even Fox News commentator Trey Gowdy suggesting he might be subject to political persecution. None of this can penetrate the victim complex of the Republican front-runner, however, or his cronies like Johnson.
Chief of Staff of the International Legion of DIU, with the alias Chief. Screenshot: documentary film Legions of Light

The conditions of military service for foreigners in Ukraine include a provision for the termination of the contract they sign with the Ministry of Defence at their request.

Source: Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU); Chief of Staff of the International Legion of DIU, with the alias Chief, in the documentary film Legions of Light

Quote: "It's a nice bonus that they sign a contract, but they are not obliged to stay here for a year, two, three or five years. They stay for a few months and see whats going on. Maybe they need time to stop, reassess and understand why they are not ready and what skills and knowledge they need to acquire. Or they are ready to acquire all of that here, in combat."

Details: Amendments to the law on mobilisation, which came into force on 18 May, stipulate that foreigners can terminate their contract only after six months of continuous service.

Chief said that to enter the ranks of military intelligence, foreigners must first register on the website, fill out a questionnaire, and report their experience and skills: "Some of them fought in Syria, some in Iraq, some in Afghanistan, and so on. We all have our experience... We strive for the best: for NATO, for those units that use the right methods of management and warfare. However, in any case, Ukrainians with good foreign language skills and combat experience should be at the top of the chain of command."

Next, the recruitment department reviews the information provided by the foreigners and submits their applications to the combat unit.

After that, the recruitment department contacts the foreigner and the person comes to Ukraine: "They are escorted, sign a contract and join the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine."

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Juan Rosa in a file image. CORTESIA

Juan Rosa, 39, has a clear objective for the next five months: educate Latino voters about the risk posed by artificial intelligence (AI) in the face of the first U.S. presidential elections in the era of this technology. He will do so from his role as national director of civic engagement for the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) Educational Fund. Its no easy task: 36 million Latinos will be able to vote on November 5, a record number. It is an electorate that has historically been the target of election disinformation campaigns and that now faces AI-generated fake news, which is easy to produce and spread, but difficult to distinguish, track, and combat.

Rosa is aware that the challenges posed by AI are even greater for Latinos because it is a community that uses the internet for everything. The vast majority get their information through social networks such as Facebook and communicate through encrypted messaging applications such as WhatsApp, where content moderation in Spanish is practically non-existent. To face this reality, the expert says that Latino voters need to develop a healthy skepticism about the content with which they interact and learn how to counteract the information they have received. To this end, NALEO launched a campaign called Defiende la Verdad (Defend the Truth) in 2022. This year, it has focused on the rise of AI in disinformation.

Question. Are Latinos especially vulnerable to misinformation?

Answer. I wouldnt use the word vulnerable. I will say this: Latinos are well-positioned to be affected by fake information.

Q. Why?

A. Because a battery of studies have shown that the Latino community uses the internet for everything. For example, theres a sizable portion of the community that relies on YouTube or Facebook for their news. And another big issue impacting Latinos in the United States is the use of encrypted technology for communication and networking. A lot of Latinos use WhatsApp or Telegram, which are encrypted tools that dont allow for monitoring and removal of content. People share whatever they want, and it also allows for a lot of transnational sharing of information. So your tia [aunt] in the Dominican Republic or your tia in Colombia can send you information without vetting and without the capacity for it to be removed. So one of the things that makes Latinos especially well-positioned to the spread of misinformation is the fact that theyre so prevalent online.

Q. Is it easy to distinguish fake content from real content?

A. The Digital Democracy Institute of the Americas has done studies in which they actually show that Latinos actually understand when something is fake versus what is not. So the issue becomes: if Latinos are able to discern that something is false versus not, do they have the source to get the right information?

Q. In other words, it is not that the Latino community is naive, but that theyre participating in the channels where misinformation lives.

A. Right, particularly these encrypted networks, which are especially dangerous because they dont allow for the monitoring or flagging of content.

Q. Are Spanish-speaking Latinos more susceptible than English-speakers?

A. Yes! One of our campaign strategies for Defiende la Verdad is social media monitoring. We get together at least twice a month, we gather volunteers, and we go online to search for keywords. And we do that because there has been a well-documented gap in social media companies ability to monitor for and remove content that is in languages other than English, including Spanish. That is a reality.

Q. How can the U.S. media, specifically Spanish-speaking media, play a bigger role in combating this issue?

A. One thing that we know, based on our research in 2019-2020, is that for Spanish-dominant Latinos, Spanish-speaking media is a trusted source of information. So we know that there is a promise there, we can have Spanish-speaking media become well-equipped to counter misinformation.

Q. We are less than five months away from the first U.S. elections in the year of artificial intelligence. How will this technology affect Latino voters?

A. Its hard to know, we can only speculate. For example, one of the things that makes us concerned are things like what happened during the New Hampshire primary, where there were robocalls, automated calls, made to voters with the voice of Joe Biden urging folks not to go vote. Latinos have had that before in our history. Not robocalls, but throughout history, Latino neighborhoods have been flyered up with posters saying the wrong election day. Or saying that immigration authorities will be at the ballot box. Those things have already happened to Latinos, but now we have a technology that makes it so easy to produce and share misinformation and at the same time its very hard to track.

Q. How can it be combated?

A. There has been state-level legislation, in Florida for example, that mandates that political content made with AI needs to have a watermark. We applaud those efforts, but we dont know how Latinos will learn about that. Who will tell Latinos about that watermark? Like you said, this is the year of AI, but we see it more as a feature of elections going forward, and its just one more thing were going to have to work around. Previously, our work was focused on educating people on their options: vote early, vote by mail, vote in person the day of the election... Now, well also need to educate them on the type of content they receive, whether its real or not. What is a watermark? How will it show up?

Q. What will these educational campaigns look like?

A. In the immediate future, its going to be about helping them develop a healthy skepticism about the content and pointing them to the right source of information. The science is going to continue to evolve, so what we can do is use the tools that we do have, which is community education and partnerships with media companies.

Q. Precisely, AI is a technology that is advancing constantly. What we see now will look very different in 2028, when the next election rolls around.

A. Its not even about 2028. Were thinking as early as 2025, when New York City will elect a new mayor. Hundreds of thousands of Latinos will vote in the city. And then theres the midterm elections in 2026. So the runway is short for us to wrap our head around how to include education on provenance, teaching people how to discern if something is fake or not and showing them where they can go to get the correct information.

Q. Thinking of this years and future elections, we know the Latino vote will be decisive as the Latino community grows in the United States. Will that make them more of a target?

A. Of course. As a community becomes more decisive, they become more of a target for bad actors that want to either get that vote through nefarious ways, or suppress it. That ongoing growth of the Latino vote will come with risks, such as people attempting to dissuade them from voting or confusing the community.

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Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison is leading a bipartisan group of 32 attorneys general asking the U.S. Supreme Court to review a case that could otherwise limit state regulation of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs).

These companies are hired by health insurers to manage drug benefits within heath plans, which includes everything from setting co-pays for medications to creating pharmacy networks where patients can fill prescriptions.

Minnesota, Oklahoma and other states say PBM practices, in some cases, have enriched insurance companies, hurt independent pharmacies and made it harder for patients to afford and access their medicines.

In August 2023, an appellate court sided with the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association, a trade group for PBMs, in a legal challenge to certain regulations for how companies can manage pharmacy networks in Oklahoma.

"Review by this court is therefore necessary to ensure that states continue to be able to enforce needed consumer protections and prevent the blatant abuses that PBMs would otherwise engage in," the attorneys general said in an amicus brief filed Monday with the Supreme Court.

The Pharmaceutical Care Management Association said it would continue to defend the appelate court's decision.

"The Oklahoma law is designed to regulate how employers and unions structure their prescription drug benefits," Greg Lopes, a spokesman for the trade group, said in a statement to the Star Tribune. "Requiring plan sponsors to include unsafe or inefficient pharmacies in their provider networks, and forbidding health plans from using common cost-containment tools like preferred networks, will increase prescription drug costs for plans and patients."

Minnesota is home to two of the nation's largest PBMs.

OptumRx, which is a division of Minnetonka-based UnitedHealth Group, handles pharmacy benefits for UnitedHealthcare and other health insurers. Prime Therapeutics, which is based in Eagan, works with a number of Blue Crosss and Blue Shield health plans across the country.

In 2019, the Minnesota Legislature passed a law to regulate PBMs, which also negotiate prices that health plans pay drug manufacturers and pharmacies. These payments come through a complex system of rebates and/or administrative fees that has been criticized for lacking transparency.

The state Commerce Department last year levied a $500,000 fine against Rhode Island-based CVS Caremark, alleging the company used strategies not allowed under Minnesota law for steering consumers to its own pharmacies. CVS Caremark denied the allegations and did not admit liability.

The Oklahoma case dealt with self-insured employer health plans, which are primarily regulated by the federal government. The appellate court ruled that federal law preempted state rules that effectively pushed PBMs to create broader networks of pharmacy providers.

Oklahoma has asked for the U.S. Supreme Court to review the case. The brief filed Monday by Ellison and the other attorneys general supported the state's request.

Last year's ruling in the Oklahoma case conflicts with an earlier ruling where the court found "PBMs cannot evade state consumer-protection regulations under the cloak of ERISA preemption," the Minnesota Attorney General's Office said in a news release. ERISA is the federal law that governs self-insured health plans, where employers take the financial risk for the cost of medical claims.

"The result [with last year's ruling] is nationwide uncertainty for regulators, a corresponding increase in consumer harms and a substantial likelihood of continued litigation on the topic in light of the deep circuit split," the attorneys general wrote in their brief filed Monday.

Ellison's office said the Department of Commerce has reached settlements or issued cease and desist orders in 12 cases since Minnesota passed its law for PBM regulation.
Insights from NBC News, The Associated Press, and Federal News Network

The News

A Minnesota jury convicted five of seven defendants on Friday in the first trial to stem from one of the largest pandemic-related fraud cases in the country. Two defendants were acquitted.

The group were the first of 70 people alleged by federal prosecutors to have participated in a scheme that cost taxpayers $250 million.

The trial was fraught with drama: in its sixth week, a juror was dismissed during deliberations after a bag containing $120,000 was dropped off at their home and an offer of more money if they voted to acquit.

During the pandemic, fraudsters are believed to have stolen more than $280 billion in COVID-19 relief funds, an Associated Press investigation found.

SIGNALS

Semafor Signals: Global insights on today's biggest stories.

Republicans criticized pandemic-era relief oversight

Sources: The Associated Press, NBC News

Some Republican lawmakers have long argued that the pandemic-era aid programs were prescription for waste, fraud and abuse, and cases like Minnesotas are used as evidence to that point. Kentucky Congressman James Comer, chairman of a committee investigating alleged oversight failures by the Biden administration, and called COVID relief abuse the greatest theft of American taxpayer dollars in history. Democrats have pushed back, noting that while the programs werent perfect, they nonetheless saved lives, businesses, and jobs.

Foreign crime groups cashed out on COVID programs

Source: NBC News

A perfect storm of weak identity-verification requirements and a breakneck payout pace enabled criminals to win big by fleecing the COVID relief funds, law enforcement officials have said  and at least half of the stolen money went to foreign crime groups, they believe. Its definitely an economic attack on the United States, said FBI Deputy Assistant Director Jay Greenberg. Some cybersecurity experts said foreign actors targeting of government money mark an escalation in foreign cybercrime. The CEO of ID.me, a service that verifies identities, likened the rampant theft to letting people just walk right into Fort Knox and take the gold, and nobody even asked any questions.

Governments turn to AI to help detect scams

Sources: NextGov, Federal News Network

As the US and other governments work to uncover COVID-related scams, they can now use more advanced technologies such as AI to identify signs of fraud that could otherwise fly under the radar, Nextgov/FCWs Chris Westphal argued. Many agencies are already using AI for this purpose, Westphal said, but its vital that these agencies go beyond current measures to use the tech to its fullest potential. At the same time, AI is already helping people use more sophisticated ways to scam the government  and federal investigators are scrambling to get ahead of it.
Opinion editor's note: Editorials represent the opinions of the Star Tribune Editorial Board, which operates independently from the newsroom.



The Mexican election and President Joe Biden's executive order on asylum were big news last week. And rightly so: The ascension of Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum to president set precedents on many levels: the first woman, the first person of Jewish descent and the first climate scientist to lead her country, important in its own right given the global environmental crisis.

But for all the firsts, Sheinbaum is expected to second the priorities of outgoing President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, her political mentor. This includes many of his left-of-center economic initiatives, as well as less-progressive policies, including some so-called reforms that may actually weaken Mexico's democratic institutions.

Mexican presidents are limited to one six-year term, and Sheinbaum will work with whoever wins America's November election. And while there are striking differences among the U.S. presidential candidates on issues pertaining to U.S.-Mexico relations, especially in tone  Biden would never suggest that immigrants are "poisoning the blood" of the country, as former President Donald Trump has said  there now also is a striking similarity, following Biden's executive order on asylum that many critics claim is indistinct from Trump-era policies Biden and most Democrats criticized.

Immigration issues will loom large in the U.S. election and in bilateral relations beyond that. So will scourges like the fentanyl drug trade, which has led to death on both sides of the border, often from overdoses in the U.S. and from cartel violence in Mexico.

But one subject that can unite is bilateral trade, which in particular is increasing between Minnesota and Mexico.

In fact, according to Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development data released last week, sales of Minnesota goods to Mexico were up 20% in the first quarter of 2024, continuing a welcome trend in expanding economic activity between America's southern neighbor and the North Star State. The first-quarter surge was 10 times the 2% growth in exports since the first quarter of 2023  better than the U.S. total, which was unchanged from a year ago.

There is a "critically important relationship between the state of Minnesota and Mexico," Laurence Reszetar, the Minnesota Trade Office's director of international business strategy, told an editorial writer. "Regardless of year, of geopolitical challenges, of currency fluctuations, Mexico is in the top three markets for us. We often run a surplus with Mexico. So we understand from an economic perspective the importance of this market."

In fact, last year Minnesota ran a $52 million trade surplus with Mexico. Among product categories with the strongest gains were cereals (up 290% to $340 million), oil seeds and miscellaneous grains (up 136% to $135 million) and vehicles (up 30% to $562 million).

Most profoundly, the exports mean jobs  on both sides of the border. That's key to addressing the vexing migration issue, Carlisle Ford Runge, a professor in the University of Minnesota's Department of Applied Economics, told an editorial writer. Runge, who was directly involved in negotiations for the North American Free Trade Agreement (which was replaced by the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement in 2020), said that "nothing is accomplished by gratuitous criticism of Mexico on the immigration side. Because the most effective policy for keeping Mexican workers in Mexico is for their economy to continue to grow. And the way that is best accomplished is by continuing trade interdependence."

That interdependence is likely to increase due to geopolitical concerns, including diversifying the global supply chain and responding to China's rise with "nearshoring." Given these and other dynamics, "I don't see any way that Mexico becomes less important" in economic matters, said Reszetar.

That's specially true when so many Minnesotans are of Mexican descent: 208,000 Minnesotans report Mexican ancestry, with over 50,000 born in Mexico.

Trade, despite being demagogued, even demonized by some, is essential to this state's future. "The vitality of Minnesota is not dependent on selling to ourselves or just selling to the rest of the United States," said Reszetar. "It's selling to the rest of the world, and importantly Canada and Mexico, because we have solutions that they need and goods they need and services they need." Along with Canada, having "these two well-developed, smart, advanced markets accessible for Minnesota companies helps the vitality of Minnesota."

That's something candidates should remember during and after the campaign. Because whether it's the current or former U.S. president working with the new president of Mexico, too much is at stake in Minnesota and beyond to not rationally and responsibly address the immigration issues central to each country's economic vitality.
A nurse treats a patient with coronavirus in the intensive care unit at a hospital on May 1, 2020 in Leonardtown, Maryland. Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images.

Just 60% of the more than 1 million people who received $487.45 for working frontline jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic in Minnesota clearly deserved the bonuses, according to a state audit released on Tuesday.

The Office of the Legislative Auditor estimates 9% of recipients were not eligible for the payments, while for the rest, the auditors couldnt independently verify they were eligible nurses, first responders, prison guards, sales clerks, janitors and other workers who couldnt stay home during the pandemic.

The auditor analyzed just a fraction of recipients from the Minnesota Frontline Worker Pay Program and found payouts to suspicious applicants, including people who used the same identification numbers, people who listed home and work addresses outside of the state, and people who used high-risk bank routing numbers.

The auditors also identified payouts to 290 people who died before they received a bonus, including 15 people who died prior to the application date opening. A spokesman for the Department of Labor and Industry, which oversaw the program, said eligible workers who died before receiving checks were still deserving of the bonuses and that it should go to their estates.

The report faults DLI for not adequately investigating clearly fraudulent applications, nor ensuring the contractors they hired retained enough data to evaluate the payouts. The Department of Revenue also did not verify the income of all applicants to ensure they were eligible.

Roughly 85% of those who applied for a bonus received one, according to the report.

Remember, this program was set-up as a zero-sum game with a fixed amount of state funding  $500 million  to be divided equally among all eligible applicants, Legislative Auditor Judy Randall told the Legislative Audit Commission on Tuesday. The more applicants who were approved, the less each applicant received.

Indeed, when lawmakers passed the funding with near unanimity, they believed workers would receive $750.

Fraud and waste have come to define pandemic relief programs, from the Paycheck Protection Program to the Federal Child Nutrition Program, as government agencies were directed to quickly pay out billions of dollars.

Randall said her office has reported its finding to the FBI, the Attorney Generals office and the Ramsey County attorney, while the report recommends the state Department of Revenue try to recoup erroneous payments.

DLI pushed back strongly on the findings of the report. A spokesman noted that the OLA identified just 140 applications with fraud indicators out of the more than 1 million recipients.

In the seven months the program was in operation, DLIs fraud prevention protocols prevented payment to over 28,000 applications determined to be fraudulent based on the presence of fraud indicators. DLIs identity verification processes prevented an additional 52,000 applications from being inappropriately paid. Those efforts resulted in over $36 million in estimated fraud prevention, DLI Commissioner Nicole Blissenbach said in an email.



Blissenbach also noted in her departments response that the auditor revised its report after the agency showed some flagged applicants were indeed eligible for the benefit and said they might have been able to prove eligibility for others if given more time.

The Office of the Legislative Auditor is part of the legislative branch and typically focuses its critiques on state agencies under the executive branch. But their report on the frontline worker pay program offered a diplomatic rebuke to state lawmakers for how the law was written.

A divided Legislature didnt agree to the funding until 2022  more than two years into the pandemic  and lawmakers wanted to get the money into workers bank accounts as quickly as possible.

Lawmakers included requirements for the program that couldnt easily be verified, like if people worked in-person and in close proximity to others, so the Department of Labor and Industry had to essentially take applicants at their word.

The overarching theme of the findings is that the issue is with the program itself, not how it was implemented, DLI Commissioner Nicole Blissenbach told the Legislative Audit Commission on Tuesday.

The auditors reached out to the employers of a small sample of recipients to verify if workers did work in person and in close proximity to others for at least 120 hours between March 2020 and June 2021, but in many cases the employers either didnt respond or said dont know.

The reports first recommendation is that the Legislature consider the amount of risk the state is willing to accept when establishing programs quickly.

Sen. Ann Rest, DFL-New Hope, agreed that lawmakers shouldered some of the blame, and thanked the auditors for not taking an apologist view either for the state agencies or the Legislature.

Where did the carelessness happen? It happened in the Legislature, Rest said.

But Randall said even a flawed law doesnt absolve state agencies.

The law does not say, definitely stop fraud, but I would expect we all think we should try to stop fraud, Randall said.

*This story has been updated with additional comment from DLI.

The post Minnesota sent frontline worker bonuses to 290 dead people, audit finds appeared first on Minnesota Reformer.
Police say a missing woman and a 4-year-old boy were found dead in a sunken car in Alabama near the Georgia border over the weekend.

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Eufaula police said they had been searching for two young women and a child who vanished on June 1.

Eufaula is just over the Georgia border on the Walter F. George Reservoir, which is south of Columbus.

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On Sunday, police got a tip about where the missing people might be and began searching the water around Old Creek Town Park, which is on the reservoir. Investigators found a sunken car in about 12 feet of water.

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Divers hooked up the vehicle and pulled it out of the water. A woman and young child were found dead inside. Officers are still searching for the third woman.

The victims have not been identified. The deaths are being investigated by the Criminal Investigations Division. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Criminal Investigations Division at 334-687-1200 or the Anonymous tip line at 334-687-7100.
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  The State of Missouri is preparing for its second execution of the year Tuesday for a man convicted of killing his ex-lover and her husband 15 years ago.

David Hosier, 69, is scheduled to be put to death by lethal injection at 6 p.m. at Eastern Reception, Diagnostic and Correctional Center in Bonne Terre, Missouri. He was found guilty of shooting and killing a married Jefferson City couple, Angela and Rodney Gilpin, in September 2009.

View the latest headlines from Kansas City, Missouri, and Kansas at fox4kc.com

According to court records, Hosier admitted to having an affair with Angela while she and her husband were separated. However, Angela called off her relationship with Hosier and reconciled with Rodney in August 2009.

A month later, Hosier shot and killed Angela and Rodney in her apartment, and then fled to Oklahoma where he was taken into custody by law enforcement, court documents said.

After Angela and Rodney were killed, detectives found a restraining order against Hosier in her purse, according to court records. It listed Angelas worries and concerns about Hosiers prior criminal record and ownership of several guns. She also said she was afraid that Hosier would shoot her and her husband in a separate document.

While being taken into custody in Oklahoma, police found 15 guns, several types of ammunition, a bulletproof vest, a crowbar, latex gloves, a homemade police baton and a knife in Hosiers car. Court documents said all of the guns were loaded except for a STEN submachine gun, which was later revealed to be the murder weapon.

Also in the car, police found an incriminating note that said, If you are going with someone do not lie to them Be honest with them if there is something wrong. If you do not this could happen to you, as well as a written description of Angelas car and license plate.

Hosier also called a woman several times who knew both him and Angela. He left her several voicemails threatening Angela saying, Im gonna finish it. You dont believe me. Im tired of the s ***.

Hosier was found guilty of first-degree murder, armed criminal action, first-degree burglary and unlawful possession of a firearm in a Missouri court. Then, in 2019, the Missouri Supreme Court upheld his separate 15-year and seven-year sentences, as well as his death sentence conviction.

On Monday, in a final attempt to be relieved of his death penalty sentence, Hosier requested a clemency bid from Gov. Mike Parson. However, Gov. Parson rejected the plea.

Now, at 69 years old and after more than a decade in prison, Hosier still claims he is innocent as he awaits death by lethal injection Tuesday night.

Several Missourians see Hosiers case as the inherent problem with the death penalty system. According to the Missourians to Abolish the Death Penalty (MADP) organization, Despite the absence of direct evidence, David was convicted based on circumstantial evidence, and his appeals raised significant concerns about ineffective counsel.

Missouri news: Headlines from St. Louis, Jefferson City and across the Show-Me State

The organization continued, The death penalty disproportionately affects those who cannot afford effective legal representation and fails to enhance public safety, instead perpetuating cycles of violence and trauma.

The MADP said it will be on watch Tuesday at many locations around the state, including Jefferson City, St. Louis, Kansas City, Columbia and outside the correctional center in Bonne Terre.

This is the second time a person was executed on death row in the State of Missouri this year.

Brian Dorsey, a 52-year-old New Bloomfield man, also formerly from Jefferson City, was convicted of killing his cousin and her husband, Sarah and Ben Bonnie, in 2006. He was pronounced dead at 6:11 p.m. after facing a lethal injection on Tuesday, April 9.

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Missouri carried out its second execution this year on Tuesday after Gov. Mike Parson denied a request for clemency filed by inmate David Hosier.

Hosier was pronounced dead at 6:11 p.m. local time at the Eastern Reception, Diagnostic and Correctional Center in Bonne Terre, Missouri, a corrections spokesperson said in a statement.

Hosier, 69, has maintained his innocence in the double murder for which he was sentenced to death. He submitted a clemency petition in the wake of multiple prior appeals, including one that the Missouri Supreme Court rejected five years ago when it unanimously upheld the state's decision to execute him. But the authority to commute Hosier's sentence or halt his execution  or not  ultimately rests with the governor, and some lawmakers have in recent days called on Parson to spare his life.

Hosier was placed on Missouri's death row in 2013 after being convicted of capital murder in the 2009 deaths of Angela Gilpin and Rodney Gilpin at their home in Jefferson City. The governor, who has overseen 10 executions since beginning his term in office, said Hosier killed the couple "in a jealous rage," echoing the prosecution's argument during his criminal trial.

Hosier was convicted of fatally shooting the Gilpins during an armed burglary, after previously having a romantic relationship with Angela Gilpin. She and her husband were murdered around one month after Angela Gilpin ended the affair with Hosier, according to court documents.

"Ms. Angela Gilpin had her life stolen by David Hosier because he could not accept it when she ended their romantic involvement. He displays no remorse for his senseless violence," Parson said in a statement Monday, announcing that Hosier's clemency petition was denied. "For these heinous acts, Hosier earned maximum punishment under the law. I cannot imagine the pain experienced by Angela's and Rodney's loved ones but hope that carrying out Hosier's sentence according to the Court's order brings closure."

David Hosier on Friday, June 7, 2024, at Potosi Correctional Center in Potosi, Missouri. / Credit: Missourians to Abolish the Death Penalty via AP

Hosier already had a criminal record and owned firearms when the Gilpins were killed, and in the aftermath of the murders, Angela Gilpin's purse was found to contain an application for a protective order against him as well as a statement saying she feared Hosier may shoot her and Rodney, documents show.

Parson's office said Tuesday that "Hosier, with a decades-long history of violence against women, would not let Angela reconcile with Rodney, stalking and harassing her for weeks before murdering her and her husband."

Before the Gilpins' case, Hosier was convicted and sentenced to prison for assaulting and seriously injuring another woman.

Hosier's defense attorneys have over the years tried to appeal the death sentence on the grounds that no physical evidence linked Hosier to the murders. "No confession, no eyewitnesses, no fingerprints, and none of David's DNA or other personal effects were found at the crime scene," they wrote in his 2019 appeal. Attorneys also argued that Hosier's prior conviction for assault should not have been admissible evidence in the Gilpin trial because it unfairly prejudiced the jury.

His recent clemency petition focused mainly on Hosier's personal life. Much of the petition centered on a stroke Hosier suffered in 2007 that attorneys said left him with lasting brain damage, as well as the 1971 murder of his father, an Indiana State Police sergeant, which his defense characterized as a traumatic event that drove his mental health struggles in adulthood. Hosier went on to serve in the United States Navy and as an emergency medical technician and firefighter in Jefferson County. His health has declined in the last several months, with the petition citing heart issues that intensified in early May.

U.S. Reps. Cori Bush and Emmanuel Cleaver, both of Missouri, urged Parson to grant Hosier's clemency petition in a letter to the governor last week. They referenced the inmate's medical issues and mental illness and suggested that his former attorneys' choice to omit "vital medical information" during the criminal trial could amount to "a potential violation of Mr. Hosier's Sixth Amendment rights."

"Mr. Hosier's debilitating condition further emphasizes the need for clemency in this case. He does not pose a threat to those around him and deserves humane treatment as he suffers from heart failure," Bush and Cleaver wrote in that letter.

Hosier told The Associated Press he was unhappy with his current defense team's approach to the clemency request, which he thought should have focused more on the lack of forensic evidence tying him to the Gilpins' deaths and less on his childhood.

"They did exactly the opposite of what I wanted them to do," Hosier said of the clemency petition, according to the AP. "I told them I didn't want the 'boo-hoo, woe is me.' All that stuff happened 53 years ago, OK? It has nothing to do with why I'm sitting here right now."

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David Hosier was executed Tuesday night by lethal injection at a Missouri state prison for the murders of his neighbors in 2009. Photo courtesy of the Missouri Department of Corrections

June 11 (UPI) -- Missouri corrections officials executed a 69-year-old man Tuesday for the murders of his neighbors in September 2009.

David Hosier was declared dead at 6:11 p.m. CDT after receiving an injection of 5 grams of pentobarbital at the Bonne Terre correctional facility, the Missouri Department of Corrections announced.

He was convicted of murdering his former lover, Angela Gilpin and her husband Rodney Gilpin on Oct. 23, 2013, and sentenced to death on Nov. 26, 2013.

Hosier received a final meal at about 11 a.m. that included a New York strip steak, baked potato with butter and sour cream, Texas toast, a Dutch apple pie, orange juice and milk.

Missouri Gov. Mike Parson on Monday denied Hosier's request to stay his execution by lethal injection despite Democratic lawmakers supporting Hosier's effort to obtain clemency in his conviction in the slayings.

Parson denied Hosier's clemency application despite Missouri representatives Cori Bush and Emanuel Cleaver writing on Hosier's behalf to support his request.

"Angela Gilpin had her life stolen by David Hosier because he could not accept it when she ended their romantic involvement," Parson said in a press release Monday.

Hosier only was convicted of Angela Gilpin's murder, but the jury agreed he also murdered Rodney Gilpin, Parson said.

Hosier and the Gilpins lived near each other in the same apartment complex in Jefferson City and initially met at a local bar.

The Gilpins separated, which led to a romantic relationship between Hosier and Angela, officials said.

Angela decided to return to her husband and ended the affair with Hosier, who broke into their apartment and killed them both about a month later, according to court documents.

"He displays no remorse for his senseless violence" and "earned maximum punishment under the law," Parson said.

Hosier has a "decades-long history of violence against women" and stalked and harassed Angela Gilpin for several weeks before he murdered her and Rodney Gilpin, Parson said.

Hosier had a criminal record and owned several firearms when he shot and killed the Gilpins after breaking into their home during the night of Sept. 27-28, 2009.

A neighbor found their bodies early in the morning of Sept. 28.

Responding police found an application for a protective order that Angela had prepared against Hosier. Her application said Hosier was stalking and harassing her every day.

Hosier, who is a military veteran, fled but was arrested in Oklahoma following a police pursuit.

Court documents say Oklahoma police found him with 15 firearms, including a submachine gun, and 400 rounds of ammunition after law enforcement tracked his cell phone.

Hosier allegedly told the arresting officers to: "Shoot me and get it over with."

Police also said they found a note that said: "If you are going with someone, do not lie to them, do not play games with them, do not f*** them over by telling other things that are not true."

The handwritten note also said to "Be honest with them and tell them if there is something wrong. If you do not, this could happen to you."

Hosier served four years in the U.S. Navy and later became an EMT and firefighter in Jefferson City.
WASHINGTON  Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) will attend a meeting with former President Donald Trump this week  their first in-person sit-down since shortly before the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, for which McConnell once said Trump was practically and morally responsible.

McConnell told reporters on Tuesday that he would join other GOP senators Thursday at the National Republican Senatorial Committee offices on Capitol Hill with Trump to discuss the 2024 election and the GOP agenda next year. Republicans are hoping to pass another round of tax cuts if they take back the Senate and the White House in November.

After condemning Trumps role in the Jan. 6 attack in a fiery speech on the Senate floor, McConnell said in February 2021 that he would nevertheless support the former president if he once again became the GOP presidential nominee.

The two men have had no contact since then, however, maintaining a frosty relationship punctuated by Trumps dozens of attacks against McConnell and his wife, Elaine Chao (including some racist ones). In March, McConnell formally announced he would be supporting Trump in the 2024 contest.

I dont think theyve had any natural reason to get together, Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) told HuffPost when asked about McConnells relationship with Trump. You know, Mitch is all about the institution of the Senate. I dont think its anything more than Mitch showing respect for our presidential nominee and showing up for the rest of us as a conference.

McConnell has been loath to mention Trump by name, and regularly refuses to answer questions about him during weekly press conferences on Capitol Hill. But circumstances in the Senate GOP conference are clearly favoring stronger bonds with Trump, now a convicted felon who sought to stay in power despite losing the 2020 presidential election, and who whipped up a frenzy of supporters to prevent Joe Biden from becoming president.

McConnells decision to step down as GOP leader in the Senate after the November election has also marked a shift in the conference, with would-be successors already jockeying for influence with Trump and his allies in the Capitol.

At a rally in Las Vegas over the weekend, Trump praised Jan. 6 rioters as warriors and falsely claimed that the attack was a setup by police officers.

Republicans have largely overlooked such attempts to whitewash the attack, rallying behind Trump even as he faces felony charges in Washington relating to election subversion and in Florida over his handling of classified documents.

People want to know what are you going to do for me going forward, not relive the past, so I would encourage him to talk about the future, Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) said when asked about Trumps latest Jan. 6 comments.

Related...
By Shunichi Takishima, KYODO NEWS - Jun 11, 2024 - 11:20 | Feature, All, Japan

From the piercing cry of sirens, physician Akihiko Yamamoto immediately knew something was very wrong when he arrived on the train platform at Tokyo's JR Akihabara Station on June 8, 2008.

Yamamoto, 52, who is now the critical care center director of Oita Prefectural Hospital, just happened to be in Akihabara that day. He later rushed to try to save the lives of two of the people who died from their wounds in one of Japan's worst mass murders in recent memory.

A total of seven people were killed and 11 injured, including the 25-year-old assailant Tomohiro Kato, in the knife-stabbing spree that took place in the Akihabara shopping quarters 16 years ago. Due to Japan being regarded as a society usually safe from violent crime, the incident shocked the nation and drew headlines across the world.

"What should we do if this happens again?" said Yamamoto, who feels regret as a doctor who was unable to save the lives of those he found injured following the tragic incident, causing him to question the state of emergency medical care in Japan.

On that Sunday afternoon, Kato drove a rented 2-ton truck into a crowd in the closed-off Chuo-dori pedestrian zone, initially killing three people and injuring two. He then climbed out of the truck while screaming and proceeded to stab 12 people with a dagger, killing four more and wounding eight.

Yamamoto, who at the time was the Oita hospital's emergency department head in southwestern Japan, had come to Tokyo for a conference. As he came through the turnstile, he saw more than a dozen ambulances, fire trucks and other emergency vehicles stopped at the scene.

He ran over to the nearby Tokyo Fire Department command post and handed over his business card. "I asked if there was anything I could do to help," Yamamoto told Kyodo News. After receiving instructions, Yamamoto first went to the aid of Mai Muto, then 21, a senior at Tokyo University of the Arts.

She was already barely conscious and breathing heavily. In the confusion, Yamamoto's request to paramedics to administer intravenous fluid to the woman went ignored, and Muto was placed in an ambulance with another physician before she died.

Takahiro Kawaguchi, then 19 and a sophomore at the Tokyo University of Information Sciences, was also in critical condition.

"We wanted to do what we could for him until the very end," said Yamamoto, who teamed up with the Tokyo Disaster Medical Assistance Team, or Tokyo DMAT, dispatched by the Tokyo metropolitan government, to administer an IV and intubation tube. Yamamoto volunteered to accompany Kawaguchi to the hospital, but he also did not survive.

Yamamoto was only at the scene for 30 to 40 minutes. He had no idea what had taken place beforehand and only learned the full story after watching the news later on TV.

Several months later, Yamamoto received a letter from Kawaguchi's grief-stricken family thanking him for intervening. "It really hurts that I was unable to save him," said Yamamoto, who still keeps the letter dear to his heart.

"I have never witnessed anything before or since as bad as that day," said Yamamoto, who said he now keenly understands the importance of quickly getting to the injured in cases of emergency. He sometimes talks about his experience of being at the Akihabara scene with the doctors he knows to impart the lessons he has learned.

However, in recent years, Yamamoto has been worried about the fact that some of the younger physicians seem to be unaware of the incident, suggesting it is becoming a fading memory to many.

Kato was sentenced to death by the Tokyo District Court in 2011. The sentence was upheld on appeal in 2015, and he was executed on July 26, 2022, when he was 39 years old. The incident prompted the enforcement in 2009 of the revised Firearms Control Law, which prohibits the possession of double-edged knives with a blade length of 5.5 cm or more.

As a physician involved in emergency care, Yamamoto is forever concerned about dealing with a similar incident, should it ever occur. He continues to pray for all of the victims of the mass killing and hopes that "the suffering of their bereaved families will be alleviated in some capacity."

Related coverage:

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Iranian lawmaker MASOUD PEZESHKIAN speaks during a press conference after registering his candidacy on the third day of registration for the Iranian presidential election at the Interior Ministry in Tehran. Rouzbeh Fouladi/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

The moderate Iranian presidential candidate Masoud Pezeshkian has expressed cautious criticism of the repressive measures used to enforce Iran's headscarf laws.

Today, women are penalized because their clothing does not comply with the regulations, the former health minister said in an interview published on Tuesday in the newspaper Hammihan.

"Were we to blame for not educating them properly, or are they to blame? We are to blame and must solve the problem ourselves."

More and more Iranian women are now deliberately ignoring the strict dress code, something that religious hardliners are trying to combat.

A new law providing for draconian punishments has been passed by parliament, but has not yet come into force. The police stepped up their crackdown on offences in April.

Pezeshkian said that you could not ignore people's rights and expect them to stay quiet. "When people's rights are disregarded, they protest. If we understand this and implement it in society, we can solve the problems."

Iran's Guardian Council, a powerful supervisory body, approved the list of presidential candidates on Sunday. Six politicians are now allowed to run in the election on June 28.

Among the conservatives, parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Saeed Jalili, a former chief negotiator in the nuclear talks, are considered the leading candidates.

The election follows the death of President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash on May 19.

Many people in Iran are disillusioned in the face of political repression, an economic crisis and the failed attempts at reform in recent decades.

In the autumn of 2022, the death of the young Kurdish woman, Mahsa Amini sparked nationwide protests against the strict Islamic system of rule. Voter turnout in this year's parliamentary elections reached a record low of around 40%.
Modestos firefighters are getting raises totaling 21% over the next four years, as well as other increases to their pay in a labor agreement unanimously approved by the City Council last week.

The raises and other increases also apply to the Fire Departments sworn managers, who are not represented by the Modesto City Fire Fighters Association. The agreement does not apply to the departments civilian employees.

The total cost of the raises and other increases is nearly $28.5 million over the four years and largely will come from Modestos general fund. But some of the cost will be paid by the agencies that contract with Modesto for fire protection, according to a city report. Those agencies include Ceres, Turlock and Salida.

Modesto fire responds to a house fire in April of 2022.

Besides the four annual raises, the labor agreement includes 4% additional pay for bilingual firefighters, additional pay incentives for having certain certifications and changes to the longevity incentives.

For instance, a firefighter will receive a 2.5% longevity incentive after six years of service compared to 2% after 10 years under the previous labor agreement. The new agreement calls for longevity pay to top out at 8% after 24 years of service.

The city report and staff presentation at the June 4 City Council meeting did not list what firefighters earn. But the California State Controllers government compensation website provides some detail for 2022, the sites most recent year.

It shows the pay ranges were $77,110 to $93,737 for firefighters, $85,118 to $103,463 for fire engineers and $98,717 to $119,974 for fire captains, but the actual pay often was significantly higher because of overtime, incentives and other forms of pay.

For instance, a little more than 100 firefighters, engineers and-or captains earned more than $150,000 in 2022 in total pay, with about three dozen of them earning more than $200,000, according to the website. This does not include the cost of their benefits.

The Fire Department is allocated 216 sworn firefighters, but that includes the fire chief, deputy chiefs, battalion chiefs and other managers.

Modesto Fire Department firefighters check a vehicle involved in a rollover accident on Bowen Avenue in Modesto, Calif., Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2022.

Several council members lauded firefighters for their service to the community and one also thanked them for their support of Measure H, the 1% sales tax increase that voters approved in November 2022.

I just want to thank the men and women of the Modesto firefighting team because on a daily basis they put themselves in harms way for the protection of structures and lives ..., Councilwoman Rosa Escutia-Braaton said. ... In addition to that, when we needed them for Measure H, they were there.

Measure H is expected to bring in $42.8 million to the citys roughly $223 million general fund during the citys 2024-25 budget year, which starts July 1.

Modesto officials have said the tax increase has allowed the city to make improvements in its parks, urban forest, public safety and other essential services. Measure H also has allowed Modesto to increase employee pay under what city officials say is the need to provide competitive compensation to attract and keep good employees.

The City Council a year ago approved labor agreements for its other employees that will cost the city $92.3 million over four years, with about $51 million of that coming from the general fund.

The agreements call for the citys civilian employees to receive pay increases totaling 13% over the four years, along with other enhancements. The citys police officers will receive pay increases totaling 17%, as well as other enhancements over the four years.

The pay increases and other incentives also apply to employees not represented by the unions. So City Manager Joe Lopez and his department directors and Police Chief Brandon Gillespie and his captains also are receiving the increases.

Modesto forestry division trims a Modesto Ash on 16th Street in Modesto, Calif., Thursday, March 14, 2024.
Moldovan President Sandu approves changes to treason law despite concerns from opposition, Amnesty International

Moldovan President Maia Sandu approved changes to the country's treason laws on June 10, overriding concerns from opposition parties and Amnesty International.

The changes, which were approved by the parliament the previous week, apply some wartime treason laws to peacetime, extend punishments, and create a new category of laws for assisting a foreign state.

The legislative changes follow earlier reporting in June that the former chief of the General Staff of Moldova's army had allegedly been an informant for Russia's military intelligence agency.

Pro-Russian opposition parties condemned Sandu's decision, claiming that the changes to the criminal code limited freedom of speech and the ability of opposition journalists to work unimpeded.

The concerns were also echoed in a report published in May by Amnesty International, which said that "the broadened definition of high treason is vague and open to abuse."

Chisinau has been supportive of Ukraine throughout the full-scale war and cracked down on Russian subversive operations at home, expelling dozens of diplomats and embassy staff in July 2023 after revelations of espionage activities.

Elected on a pro-EU platform in 2020, Sandu has continued to make Moldova's EU accession one of her top priorities, drawing the ire of pro-Russian political parties.

The European Council agreed to open accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova in December 2023. Moldova's parliament then announced in May that it would be holding a referendum on joining the bloc in October, which will coincide with the presidential election, in which Sandu is seeking another term.

While recent polls have found that a majority (63%) of Moldovans support joining the EU, a significant minority, often linked to pro-Russian sentiment, remain opposed.

Read also: US official: US deepening cooperation with Moldova amid potential threats from Russia

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
By Alexander Tanas

CHISINAU (Reuters) - Moldova's pro-European president signed into law on Monday changes to the criminal code expanding provisions on treason denounced by her opponents and Amnesty International.

The amendments were approved last week by parliament, dominated by President Maia Sandu's Party of Action and Solidarity, with the aim of fighting organised crime groups authorities say are bent on destabilising the ex-Soviet state.

Opponents say they could undermine freedom of speech and the work of journalists ahead of an October presidential election and a referendum on joining the European Union.

"This means if you make any objection, you are off to prison," said Alexei Lungu of the pro-Russian "Victory" opposition bloc, which campaigns on the slogan "No to the EU."

Vlad Battincea of the Moscow-friendly Socialist Party, said the law amounted to "creating a new form of fight against people, parties and politicians who have a different point of view. This is an attack on pluralism."

The changes extend to peacetime treason provisions previously limited to a state of war, extend prison terms and remove a requirement that actions must directly harm the state. They also create a new category of crime for assisting a foreign state.

Amnesty International, in a statement issued last month by its executive director in Moldova, Veaceslav Tofan, urged Sandu not to sign the legislation.

"The broadened definition of high treason is vague and open to abuse, posing a particular threat to the right to freedom of expression," Tofan said.

"This new definition of high treason could be used to target political dissent and critical voices under the guise of countering malevolent foreign influence."

Sandu has made securing European Union membership the cornerstone of her policies and denounced Russia and corruption as the biggest threats facing the country lying between Ukraine and EU member Romania.

Moldova's authorities have tried to curb the activities of politicians linked to fugitive business magnate Ilan Shor, the driving force between the Victory electoral bloc.

Shor was sentenced in absentia last year to 15 years in prison for his part in a 2014 $1 billion bank fraud. A party bearing his name was outlawed by the Constitutional Court, and his associates were barred from running in local elections.

Opposition parties accuse Sandu of exploiting the EU referendum to win re-election in the October presidential poll.

(Reporting by Alexander Tanas; Editing by Ron Popeski and Richard Chang)
(NewsNation)  A single mother in North Carolina has filed charges against Airbnb guests who she says overstayed their welcome and claimed the rental home for their own.

Farzana Rahman, of Durham, originally agreed to let several Airbnb guests rent her condo from Oct. 25 to May 24.

When that rental period ended and a housekeeper showed up to clear the unit, the cleaner was met with resistance. The guests were still there and refused to leave, the New York Post reported.

I had no control: Squatting victim calls for legislation change

The guests allegedly hung a sign on the door that read: We will vacate the property when you filed the proper paperwork with the civil magistrate for an eviction, for we are legal residents of this home.

Squatters rights, also known as adverse possession, is a legal principle that protects a persons right to live somewhere unless evicted through legal process.

Establishing squatters rights varies state by state, but many allow squatters to claim residence after 30 days of living at the address.

Airbnbs website warns long-term hosts about the potential of squatters rights claims.

In most states and localities in the United States, guests who stay in a home or apartment for one month or longer  the exact number of days depends on jurisdiction  may establish rights as a tenant. Generally, this means that local tenancy laws could protect them, and you may not be able to remove them from your property without proceeding through required eviction processes in court, the guidelines read.

You can book an Airbnb stay at the Up house  and it floats

Losing the Airbnbs profit is a devastating blow for Rahman.

This is my place, and I mean, Im counting on this income, Rahman told ABC. My son is in college. Im a single parent.

Rahman told multiple outlets that Airbnb has been of little help during the process, despite Airbnbs host guidelines reading: These (squatting) situations are incredibly rare, but if they happen, well work with you to try and help resolve the problem with your guest.

According to the Daily Mail, Rahmans home was available to rent for a minimum of 28 days for a total price of $2,684.

Now, she has to wait for any legal proceedings to finish before she has a chance at renting it again.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Momnibus bills in Pa. would expand access to doulas, provide essentials to new parents

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HARRISBURG  Pennsylvanias public health insurance program would cover doula services and new parents would receive kits that include diapers and nursing pads under legislative proposals that could be absorbed into this years budget.

The measures are part of a Momnibus package championed by state House Democrats Black Maternal Health Caucus. It formed in 2023 in response to growing concerns around high maternal mortality rates, which are worse for Black mothers.

Gov. Josh Shapiro has separately pitched an increased investment in maternal health as part of his $48.5 billion spending plan.

The Democrat also wants lawmakers to set aside $3 million in this years budget to give public school students free access to tampons and pads, an idea popular with his party that has been met with skepticism by Republican leaders.

Democrats, including those who control the state House, argue new spending on health care initiatives is warranted given the states $14 billion surplus. The still-growing reserves were built up through strong tax returns and savings from pandemic-era federal relief. But the Republicans who control the state Senate have mostly rejected calls for new programs this year and instead pitched tax cuts.

Legislative leaders are working to craft a budget deal ahead of the June 30 deadline, and its possible some of these initiatives could end up in the final product amid fluid negotiations.

Since May, the state House has passed bills that would expand access to maternal blood pressure monitoring and postpartum depression care. Another bill would enact into statute a state Department of Human Services policy that gives doulas  or nonmedical workers who provide support to pregnant people  a path to seek Medicaid reimbursement.

Some portions of the Momnibus package have been controversial. Private insurers raised concerns about a bill that would reimburse patients for postpartum blood pressure monitors, while a Republican lawmaker said she was approached by medical providers who opposed a bill that would require postpartum depression screening.

State House lawmakers voted unanimously to strip the screening language from the latter bill and made optional a requirement to distribute information about postpartum depression. Other portions of the package, however, have found broad bipartisan support.

The chamber recently voted 123-79 to establish a program that would send new parents baby care items like diapers and onesies, and postpartum essentials including pads and ice packs.

You shouldnt have to be lucky to be able to have the things that you need on the first day of your childs life, state Rep. LaTasha Mayes, D-Allegheny, the bills sponsor, said at a March news conference.

The federal government started a similar pilot program in 2023 and distributed 3,000 kits in three states with high levels of maternal mortality, infant mortality, and postpartum depression through local hospitals and community groups. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is still researching the findings, but survey results from recipients were positive.

Mayes bill was opposed by some Republicans, who argued it should be limited to low-income parents and could provide items that an insurer already pays for during hospitalization.

Each postpartum kit would cost the state $75 and each newborn kit would cost $195, according to state Department of Health estimates.

The department says Pennsylvania averaged just under 133,000 births a year from 2018 to 2022. Providing one of each kit per baby at the estimated prices would cost the state just under $36 million annually.

We will be paying for some of these items twice, state Rep. Kate Klunk, R-York, argued on the House floor, adding, This bill does not target the moms who need it the most.

The state House also took recent action on a priority for Shapiro: putting free period products in public schools. Girls deserve to have peace of mind so they can focus on learning, the governor said in his February budget address.

Karla Coffman, a certified school nurse at York Suburban High School, told Spotlight PA that every day she sees students who lack period products or attempt to use something else in their place.

While toilet paper or paper towels may be more accessible, they are unhygienic, Coffman said, and can lead to embarrassment at best or infection at worst.

You need to calm them down and get them back to learning, she added.

Thats why she buys a couple of boxes of period products each year to keep on hand. However, the school district considers the expense nonessential, and some community partners  such as a church next door that runs a food pantry for the schools low-income students  wont pay for tampons.

The state House voted 117-85 in favor of a bill that would appropriate $3 million for a free period product program.

Periods are not a dirty thing to talk about. Its very natural, state House Speaker Joanna McClinton, D-Philadelphia, told Spotlight PA. And its something that not only we should talk about, but most importantly, we should meet the need because were able to do so.

Most Republican representatives voted against the bill, including state Rep. Stephanie Borowicz, R-Clinton, who said the proposal is another step by the governor and Democrats to provide everything to you, which leads to communism.

Immediately after Shapiros address, state Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward, R-Westmoreland, told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that the governors proposal was straight-on, full-fledged, spend, spend, spend, citing his pitch to put sanitary napkins in schools as an example.

Pressed a week later in a TV interview, Ward struck a more conciliatory tone, saying that she wasnt criticizing the pitch and that it was inexpensive.

If theres a need, well do it, she said, but I have never, ever had a school come to me and say its a need.

The bills are now in the hands of the Republican-controlled state Senate, which must consent to any new spending and has frequently criticized Democrats spending proposals.

With higher-than-expected state revenues, though, some new spending could be on the table.

Divided government invariably requires a degree of give and take, state Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman, R- Indiana, told Spotlight PA last week.

BEFORE YOU GO If you learned something from this article, pay it forward and contribute to Spotlight PA at spotlightpa.org/donate. Spotlight PA is funded by foundations and readers like you who are committed to accountability journalism that gets results.
Dr. Candace Lew, a practicing OB-GYN for 40 years and the chair of the Arizona for Abortion Access Campaign, speaks to the media during a June 10, 2024 press conference in Phoenix. Photo by Gloria Rebecca Gomez | Arizona Mirror

Hundreds of medical professionals are backing the Arizona Abortion Access Act, in a final push for public support before the initiatives signature gathering ends this month.

The deadline for the campaign behind the ballot measure to turn in its notarized signature sheets is July 3. To merit a spot on the November ballot, the Arizona Abortion Access Act, which seeks to enshrine abortion as a right in the state constitution, must have earned the support of at least 383,923 voters. In April, the campaign announced it had gathered nearly double that number, and vowed to continue collecting signatures to build a buffer against those that will eventually be thrown out during the verification process.

On Monday, the campaign released a letter signed by more than 550 health care providers, across a wide range of medical professions, including nurses, pediatricians, OB-GYNs, and family medicine doctors, declaring support for the ballot measure.

No matter how one personally feels about abortion, every person should be able to make their own decisions with their doctor and those they love and trust, reads the letter. The Arizona Abortion Access Act guarantees personal decisions regarding a patients reproductive health will be left to the patient, their family, and their doctor, not politicians.

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The initiative guarantees a womans right to an abortion up to the point of fetal viability, which is generally regarded to be around 24 weeks of gestation. An exception allows abortions beyond that point if a health care provider determines it is necessary to preserve a patients life, physical or mental health. It also forbids the state from adopting or enforcing any policy that restricts access to abortion unless its intent is to safeguard the patients life or health  potentially upending decades of anti-abortion laws passed to encumber and deter women from seeking abortions.

Dr. Andrew Carroll, a family doctor who has provided care to Valley residents for more than 20 years, said that he added his name to the list of medical professionals advocating for the initiative because enacting barriers to abortion can have dangerous consequences.

During a Monday morning news conference hosted by the Arizona for Abortion Access campaign, Carroll shared how he nearly lost his wife after she suffered from severe hemorrhaging due to a miscarriage. She lost consciousness from blood loss, but was stabilized after doctors performed a dilation and curettage  a procedure in which tissue is removed from the uterus to reduce heavy bleeding. The procedure is also used in some abortions, and reproductive rights advocates have warned that abortion bans risk endangering women who experience miscarriages and require immediate help. In some states with restrictive laws on the books, doctors have proven unwilling to provide care for miscarriage complications until they can be certain the fetus has died, for fear of criminalization, forcing women to face potentially life-threatening outcomes.

Any kind of delay in being able to receive this care would have deprived me of the woman I adore, and our son of his loving mother, Carroll said.

He added that the abortion initiative would prevent further legal whiplash for both doctors and Arizonans amid constant attacks from both the state and federal levels.

With Supreme Court case after Supreme Court case, and with abortion ban after abortion ban around this country, its abundantly clear that attacks on abortion care and reproductive freedom wont stop, Carroll said. So its on us to stop this dangerous interference. Its on us to vote Yes on the Arizona Abortion Access Act to ensure that medical decisions are made by patients, their loved ones, and their trusted health care providers.

After the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the constitutional right to an abortion in 2022, the Grand Canyon State was thrown into uncertainty as Republican state officials and the courts vied over whether to enforce a 15-week gestational ban or a near-total prohibition from 1864 that carried with it prison time for doctors. In April, the Arizona Supreme Court sided with the Civil War-era law, prompting weeks of turmoil at the GOP-controlled legislature until Democrats were able to peel away enough support to repeal the law. And at the federal level, the high court is set to issue opinions in two cases that could erect new roadblocks to abortion access across the country, by rolling back the certification of the most-widely used abortion pill and eliminating federal protections for emergency room abortions.

Robin Williams volunteers collecting signatures and talking to Arizonans to put the abortion rights initiative on the ballot. The East Valley resident had an abortion of her own as a high school student, and lived through a time before the protections of Roe existed. She knew about some women, including friends and family members, who, with no other recourse, underwent dangerous back alley abortions that ended in hemorrhaging, ingested bleach or used hangers or knitting needles to end unwanted pregnancies. Williams said shes determined to continue advocating for abortion access and said shes frustrated that the state is moving backwards.

Im so mad that in 2024 once more we are having to fight for womens basic right to health care, she said.

Hurdles ahead: voters on the fence, pro-life advocates & GOP lawmakers

While backers of the abortion rights initiative are confident it has gathered more than enough signatures to go before voters in November, earning Arizonans support at the ballot box might prove more difficult. Reproductive rights advocates are hoping the Arizona initiative will echo the success of other efforts that won overwhelming support from voters in other states, including Republican strongholds like Kansas and Kentucky.

But a new poll shows that voters in the Grand Canyon State are evenly split on enshrining abortion rights in the state constitution. The Noble Predictive Insights poll, conducted in May, found that 41% of voters support the idea of a constitutional amendment to protect abortion until fetal viability and 41% oppose the idea. As much as 18% of voters were undecided on the issue, signaling a group with the power to sway the result in either direction. Other public opinion polls, however, found overwhelming support for the ballot measure: A CBS News and YouGov poll conducted in the same month estimated that as much as 65% of respondents, across party lines, would vote for the Arizona Abortion Access Act.

Along with courting voter approval, the campaign spearheading the abortion rights ballot measure faces opposition from GOP lawmakers and pro-life organizations. The It Goes Too Far campaign, a coalition of pro-life groups including the Center for Arizona Policy, which is behind many of the states restrictive abortion laws, was formed in January to turn voters away from the abortion initiative, and has sought to paint it as too extreme. And in April, shortly after Democrats first pushed to repeal the 1864 abortion ban, a Republican plan to foil the abortion initiative with competing ballot measures was leaked.

So far, GOP lawmakers havent followed through on the plan, but they have until July 1 to send a referral to the November ballot.

Spokeswoman Dawn Penich said the Arizona Abortion Access campaign is ready to launch a voter education effort to clear up any lies being advanced by opponents or clarify which ballot measure actually preserves access to the procedure. Voters, she added, arent fooled by efforts to confuse them.

We have a lot of confidence that Arizonans can see the truth of what this amendment will do for them, which is restore the access that we had prior to Roe v. Wade being dismantled, she said.

One key criticism from the It Goes Too Far campaign is that the initiative makes reference to a health care provider in its provision detailing who can decide whether an abortion is merited. Critics say that opens the door to any health care professional performing an abortion, including acupuncturists and massage therapists. But Dr. Candace Lew, a practicing OB-GYN for 40 years and the chair of the Arizona for Abortion Access Campaign, denounced that as misinformation. The ballot measure doesnt seek to change who can perform an abortion, she said, and simply because it doesnt clarify how it affects every other law that came before it doesnt mean it automatically nullifies them.

It doesnt change the status quo as far as who is able to perform an abortion, Lew said, during Mondays news conference. It doesnt say anything about that, and by not saying anything it means that it doesnt change those things. We cant be specific about everything that doesnt change.

The same provision in the ballot measure that states no law or policy which denies or restricts a persons right to an abortion can be enforced or created also adds an exception for laws and policies that are justified by a compelling state interest. A compelling state interest is defined as a policy or regulation that doesnt infringe on a persons autonomous decision making, and also seeks to improve or maintain the patients health, in line with accepted clinical standards and evidence-based medicine.

Another point of contention for the It Goes Too Far Campaign is the exception in the amendment for abortions performed beyond 24 weeks, if a health care provider deems its necessary to preserve the patients life, physical or mental health. The mental health part of the exception has been denounced by critics as a catch-all for any woman who is unwilling to go through a pregnancy, no matter its viability. Penich said that voters are cognizant that not every pregnancy is the same and not every woman reacts to unexpected pregnancies the same, and options are needed.

Abortions later in pregnancy are health care, and this restores the right to access that if you need it and if you dont, then you live your life the way you do any other time, she said.

Some Republicans are counting on the current 15-week gestational ban to dampen support for the Arizona Abortion Access Act. The state supreme courts ruling reinstating a near-total ban from 1864 prompted a handful of Republican lawmakers, fearful that voters living under virtually no access to abortions would support the abortion initiative, to join Democrats in repealing the law. But Penich said the hope that voters will be content with the 15-week law and convinced to stay home on Election Day is unfounded.

Voters are smart, they are paying attention and one thing they definitely dont like is this flip flopping and constant changing of the status (of abortion access), she said. And they understand that a constitutional amendment would be the thing that puts that to a stop.

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People in 34 countries around the world have more confidence in President Joe Biden than his challenger in November's election, former President Donald Trump, even as there is increased skepticism that United States democracy provides a good model for the rest of the world to follow, according to a poll from the Pew Research Center released Tuesday.

The poll found a median of 43% in the surveyed countries say they trust Biden to do the right thing in world affairs compared to 28% for Trump. People had a more positive assessment of Biden than Trump in 24 countries, while Trump led in Hungary and Tunisia and the two men were effectively tied in eight other countries.

The greater confidence in Biden comes as faith in U.S. democracy is waning. While a median of 54% in the 34 countries polled have positive views of the U.S., a median of 4 in 10 across the surveyed nations told the pollsters that its democracy used to be a good example for other countries to follow but no longer is.

A median of 21% said U.S. democracy remains a good example for other nations, while an almost identical share, 22%, said it never has been. Since the spring of 2021, the only other time Pew asked the question, the share of those who believe U.S. democracy is a good example has fallen in eight countries, mostly in Europe.

People just don't see the U.S. political system as functioning very well, said Richard Wike, director of global attitudes research for Pew. People see the U.S. as really divided along partisan lines.

There is far less of a global divide between Trump and Biden. Confidence in the current president to do the right thing in world affairs has dropped since his first year in office but remains well above that of his rival, who had relatively low global ratings during his own presidency. Biden's lowest confidence ratings were over his handling of the Israel-Hamas war, with a median of 57% saying they had no confidence in it.

A median of 39% in the surveyed countries said they approved of Biden's handling of the war in Ukraine, with his highest ratings in European nations. And a median of about four in 10 were confident in his handling of China.

Of the five leaders rated in the survey, French President Emmanuel Macron registered the highest level of confidence, just ahead of Biden, while Russian President Vladimir Putin received the lowest.

While confidence in Biden has dwindled in countries ranging from South Africa to Israel to the U.K., it remains steadily higher than that in Trump. The former president received his poorest assessments in Europe  where those expressing no confidence in him included more than eight in 10 adults in France, Germany and Sweden  and Latin America.

Africa, which Wike said tends to have positive views of U.S. presidents, registered some of Trump's best numbers. Even in the two countries where more confidence was expressed in Trump than Biden, they were down on the former president. In Tunisia, for example, only 17% expressed confidence in him.

Hungary is the other country where adults report higher confidence in Trump than Biden, but even there it's far from a ringing endorsement. Trump has embraced Hungary and its autocratic prime minister, Viktor Orban, but only 37% in Hungary say they're confident in him, compared to 24% for Biden.

The median level of confidence in Trump's ability to do the right thing in world affairs was only slightly higher across the 34 countries than it was for Chinese President Xi Jinping.
A man has been arrested after hurling objects at hard-right U.K. politician Nigel Farage at a campaign stop in northern England, police have said.

On Tuesday, Farage, who successfully led the push for the United Kingdom to exit the European Union in 2016, was at an event in Barnsley overlooking a crowd from atop an open-topped bus when someone threw an object up at him.

In a clip Farage posted on social media, the former European Parliament member can be seen flinching as the object speeds towards him. Then a man in the crowd appears to grab a second object from a nearby construction site and flings it, before running away from police.

South Yorkshire Police later said a 28-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of public order offenses after the attack.

Its the second time in a matter of days that Farage, the divisive champion of Brexit and an ally of Donald Trump, has been targeted. Last week, Farage was hit by a milkshake after a campaign appearance, echoing a similar milkshake incident ahead of the last general election in 2019.

Reform U.K. leader Nigel Farage reacts after something is thrown towards him on a campaign bus in Barnsley, England. Danny Lawson via AP

I will not be bullied or cowed by a violent left-wing mob who hate our country, Farage wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Farage, who announced two weeks ago he would run for Parliament as the leader of the Reform U.K. party, has been rallying support for his anti-immigration platform.

Polling published by YouGov on Tuesday showed Reform U.K is in third place, trailing the center-left Labour Party and and just one point behind the Conservative Party, which is led by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. Surveys have consistently put the Labour Party is a full 20 points ahead of Sunaks Tories, paving the way for leader Keir Starmer to take over as the new prime minister.

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An Aedes aegypti mosquito sucks blood from a person in La Plata, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina, on March 26, 2024. Credit - Luis RobayoAFP/Getty Images

Some people may want to put their summer vacation plans to the Las Vegas area on hold, after health officials reported that Southern Nevada is experiencing the highest level of mosquito activity in known history, with more than 3,000 mosquitoes testing positive for West Nile virus.

Southern Nevada Health District said in a press release Monday that as of June 6, 91 pools, comprising 3,081 mosquitoes from 16 ZIP codes, have tested positive for the virus. Two pools, comprising 46 mosquitoes from two ZIP codes, have also tested positive for the virus that causes St. Louis encephalitis.

The health districts Mosquito Surveillance Program has received an increased number of complaints from residents about mosquito activity, according to the press release. Health officials attributed the rise in reports partly to the increased presence of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes in the areathese mosquitoes are aggressive biters during the day and tend to bite people rather than birds. Aedes aegypti have tested positive for West Nile virus for the first time in Clark County, the press release said.

For the past four years, Southern Nevada has had minimal West Nile virus activity, health officials said. Only two human cases of the virus were reported in 2023. In 2019, officials reported 43 confirmed human cases.

Read More: Mosquito-Borne West Nile Virus Soared in 2018, According to CDC Data

Humans can become infected with West Nile virus if they are bitten by a mosquito that is infected with the virus. About one in five people who are infected with West Nile virus will develop symptoms, such as fever, headache, body aches, vomiting, diarrhea, or rash, according to the press release. In some casesabout one in 150 peoplethose who are infected with West Nile virus can develop a more serious, or even fatal, illness.

The last time mosquitoes in Clark County tested positive for St. Louis encephalitis virus was in 2019, and there has not been a human case since 2016, according to the press release. Like West Nile virus, St. Louis encephalitis virus is spread to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito, and although most people who are infected will not develop symptoms, some could develop fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, and fatigue. Some people could develop a neuroinvasive form of the disease that causes either encephalitis, which is inflammation of the brain, or meningitis, which is inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord, according to the press release.

Health officials encouraged the public to take preventive steps to protect themselves from mosquito-borne illnesses, including getting rid of standing water, which can be a breeding source for mosquitoes, as well as using insect repellent to prevent mosquito bites.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
KYODO NEWS - Jun 11, 2024 - 08:09 | All, Japan

The Japanese government will strengthen efforts to ensure foreign residents are enrolled in the country's public pension program by accessing relevant information during the migration process, sources close to the matter said Monday.

All foreign residents in Japan are required to enroll in the pension service either through self-registration by submitting an application or employer registration. However, some cases still slip through the system.

Starting around October, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare plans to upgrade the Japan Pension Service system to obtain data once a foreigner moves to Japan, the sources said.

If a foreign resident has not yet enrolled in the system, the ministry will first send a letter requesting them to sign up, and if no action is taken, it will have the authority to enroll the person, according to the sources.

The move is aimed at ensuring all foreign residents in Japan pay insurance premiums and are entitled to social security benefits.

All persons aged 20 to 59 years with an address in Japan must be enrolled in the country's pension system, regardless of nationality. Upon enrollment, they will be eligible to receive pension payments from age 65.

For fiscal 2024 starting in April, the contribution amount for the national pension was 16,980 yen ($108) a month.

Related coverage:

Volunteers in Japan draw on sports to help foreign laborers integrate

Japan's tax revenue from international travelers likely triples in FY 2023

Some 40% of skilled foreign workers choose to remain in Japan: OECD
SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage)  A 17-year-old San Angelo man accused of assaulting a guard and breaking out of the Tom Green County Juvenile Justice Center with two other escapees in January has been indicted.

According to Tom Green Countys May 2024 indictment report, TJon Walker has been indicted on three charges: one charge of unlawful restraint of a public servant, one charge of assault of a public servant and one charge of an escape that caused bodily injury.

RELATED: TGSO captures final juvenile center escapee

The search for the three escapees began on January 8 after law enforcement responded to the detention facility in regards to three individuals assaulting a guard and fleeing the premises.

According to records filed in Tom Green County, surveillance footage showed one of the three escapees locking a staff member in an office. The trio then began to assault a separate female guard, backing her into a corner before continuing their assault and leaving her with a cut lip and laceration to her left temple. They would then take the guards keys and flee the facility.

The resultant manhunt led to the Tom Green County Sheriffs Office releasing their identities to the public and warning San Angelo residents living in the area surrounding the detention center to stay inside and secure their homes. Two of the escapees, 15-year-olds Julian Martinez and Trevon Wyatt, were apprehended the day after the breakout.

Walker would not be found so quickly, however. He would be placed on the Tom Green County Sheriffs Offices Most Wanted list on January 9, where he stayed for approximately 1 1/2 months until his capture on March 4 following the execution of two search and arrest warrants.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ConchoValleyHomepage.com.
The death of a woman found hanging at a Texas marina is being investigated as a possible homicide after authorities became suspicious of the bodys positioning, police said Tuesday.

The woman, who was seen hanging by a rope off a League City dock May 31, was identified as 30-year-old Giselle Salazar, a mother of four, according to local news station KPRC.

The League City Police Department told HuffPost that when Salazars body was discovered, one of her arms was in an upright position with nothing holding it up. Detectives believe that she died in another location and that her arm stiffened due to rigor mortis before she was then positioned at the dock.

Giselle Salazar is shown in a photo from GoFundMe. GoFundMe

Detectives are awaiting results from a medical examiners office to determine her cause of death. Authorities have identified two people of interest in the investigation, but no arrests have been made.

Salazars sister, Esperanza Alegria, told ABC station KTRK that her family is demanding justice.

I just want everyone to know my sister didnt do this to herself. She didnt commit suicide, Alegria told the outlet. We want whoever is responsible, who did this to my sister, we want them to get charged for what they did to her.

According to KTRK, Salazar had been living with her boyfriend on his boat, which had been docked at the Wharf Marina since March. He told the outlet that he was repeatedly interviewed by police following Salazars death, but he denied killing her.

I would never hurt Giselle, he told KTRK.

The boyfriend said that he last saw Salazar leaving the boat to use the bathroom in the hours before she was found dead. He said that when he couldnt locate her in the bathrooms, he assumed she had gone for a few days.

He said that he didnt learn about Salazars death until police recovered her body. He added that his surveillance cameras failed before Salazar was discovered  one camera had disappeared, and the other had been turned away by hand.

But as part of their investigation, police said that detectives have been reviewing close to 2,000 security video clips ranging from a few seconds long to several minutes long.

Nathan Paz, Salazars brother, told KPRC that she was the most charismatic person youd ever meet.

This is a heartbreaking time for my mother. Shes trying to keep everything together, he said.

Paz said that Salazar had previously lived in Colorado but left the state due to an abusive relationship.

She was trying to change her life, Paz said.

The family is now raising money for her funeral and to support her children.

Need help? In the U.S., call 1-866-331-9474 or text loveis to 22522 for the National Dating Abuse Helpline. Call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) for the National Domestic Violence Hotline.

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The mother of one of the teen girls injured in Friday's shark attacks is sharing her story and detailing the first steps of her daughter's road to recovery.

Lulu Gribbin was one of three people injured Friday in a pair of shark attacks that occurred within a 4-mile stretch of Walton County beaches. Her incident was reported to first responders about 2:56 p.m., less than 90 minutes after the first attack was reported.

Lulu's mother, Ann Blair Gribbin, said they left Birmingham, Alabama, on June 5 for their first mother-daughter beach trip with Lulu's twin sister, Ellie, and some friends. At the time of the attack, Ann Blair Gribbin was walking back from a restaurant where they had previously had lunch, according to an account she wrote on the CaringBridge website.

South Walton Fire District has re-opened the beaches after two shark attacks injured three women on Friday

At that same time, Lulu and some friends were in waist-deep waters looking for sand dollars. That is when a shark bit LuLu's hand and leg. This incident was first noticed by a man and a boy. They pulled Lulu out of the water and carried her to shore.

Gribbin wrote that as she was walking back from lunch, she saw everyone on the beach looking into the water. She then had her friend call her daughters to check in, but unfortunately she received no answer.

Gribbin said this made her feel uneasy. She panicked and ran toward the beach. After arriving on the scene, she began screaming as she saw her daughter's wounds.

'I made it': Teen wakes up in Pensacola's Sacred Heart after Walton County shark attack

"She was lifeless, her eyes closed, mouth white and pale," Gribbin wrote in her account. "The wound on her leg, or all that was left of her leg, was something out of a movie."

While Lulu was taken by helicopter to Ascension Sacred Heart in Pensacola, the Gribbin family then made the hour-and-20-minute drive to the hospital. They prayed for Lulu the entire drive.

When the family arrived, Lulu already was in surgery. Doctors informed the family that she was alive and that her vital signs were good. Medical personnel also told the family that they had to amputate Lulu's right leg halfway up, from the knee to her hip, and that she had lost two-thirds of her blood supply. She also lost a hand.

Doctors told Gribbin that Lulu would have to remain on a ventilator for the next week and at least five more surgeries would be needed to finalize her amputations. As Saturday arrived, Lulu's condition improved so much that a ventilator was no longer needed.

As she woke up, Lulu spoke her first words to the family post-attack.

"I made it," she said, according to her mom's account.

As the written account came to a close, Gribbin said that not only was she "eternally grateful" for the medical staff at Ascension Sacred Heart in Pensacola, but also thankful for those who attended to her daughter at the beach, which she says were crucial in those fateful moments.

Gribbin also noted the "outpouring" of support from friends and those on social media, which she says "have lifted us all up." As the recovery process continues, the family continues to ask for prayers for her daughter as they adapt to a new normal.

Related story: Florida beaches open after shark attacks injure 3 and take a woman's hand.

The original story: Three people injured in two shark attacks; beaches closed in Walton County

"At this point, we will have multiple surgeries in the days to come, and our lives will be forever changed. Lulu is strong, beautiful, brave and so many more things I can't count. God has a plan for her, and we will be there to support her every way we can," wrote Gribbin.

"Pray for her to have strength to get through whatever is coming her way. Pray for her healing to be fast and pain to be as minimal as possible," added Gribbin. "She is worried about not fitting in and people making fun of her. I need prayers for everyone to be understanding and to show her grace. I also need prayers for Lulu to know that her hand and her leg do not define who she is.

"I know this was a terrible accident, but God was there and had the people there who helped save her life. Lulu said she felt God in the back of the beach truck. She is truly a miracle. We have a long road ahead, and our journey is just beginning."

This article originally appeared on Northwest Florida Daily News: Florida shark attack: Mother shares teen daughter's survival story
I moved from the US to Barcelona. Here are 11 things that surprised me most.

I moved from the US to Barcelona. Here are 11 things that surprised me most.

I traveled to Europe frequently while living in LA, so I decided to move abroad and settle in Spain.

Barcelona is beautiful, and I was surprised by some of the holiday traditions the city partakes in.

I also wasn't expecting some eating customs, like sandwiches for breakfast and 9 p.m. dinners.

After years of visiting Europe from LA, I took the plunge and relocated to Barcelona in 2020.

Spain is experiencing some of its highest tourism numbers in years, and after living here, I can see why it's so popular. But when I first moved, there were definitely a few experiences and cultural norms that took some getting used to.

Here's what surprised me the most when I moved from the US to Spain.

I knew Barcelona was in Spain, but the Catalonia region has its own language and culture.

The Catalonian flag. Jordan Mautner

Barcelona is the capital of Catalonia, a northeastern region of Spain. When I first moved, I assumed Spanish would be the go-to language, but I was quite mistaken.

When you walk into any store or restaurant, the menus and signs are in Catalan. And although everyone speaks Spanish, it's still good to know a few Catalan words and phrases to be polite and respect the culture.

A few of my favorites are "adeu" ("goodbye"), "si us plau" ("please"), "molt be" ("very well"), and "merci" ("thank you").

There are a few unique holiday traditions I had to learn when I moved.

The Caga Tio (left) and caganers figurines (right). Jordan Mautner

There's no Valentine's Day here, but in late April, they have Sant Jordi  a celebration of love during which women are supposed to give a man a book in exchange for a rose.

Many people also celebrate La Mona on the Monday after Easter. Traditionally, godparents give their godchildren an egg-shaped cake for the whole family to enjoy.

But my all-time favorite Catalonian traditions come at Christmas.

For the whole month of December, children leave food and water out for Caga Tio, which translates to pooping log. Then they hit the log with a stick on Christmas Eve, and Caga Tio "poops out" presents.

People take this tradition very seriously, the streets of Barcelona are decorated with this pooping log, and every store has one in its window.

In the same vein, caganers are another fascinating Christmas tradition in Catalonia. The little pooping figurine is placed in nativity scenes to represent fertilization and hope for the new year.

But now, there are caganer shops all over Barcelona year-round for tourists. Nearly every celebrity has been transformed into a caganer, from Freddy Mercury to SpongeBob SquarePants to President Joe Biden.

Tapas are genuinely a way of life here.

It's common to share tapas with the whole table. Jordan Mautner

Tapas, small, shareable plates, are prevalent in restaurants across Barcelona.

I love this way of dining because you get a little taste of everything. I typically order between three and six tapas to share with a friend or two.

Some of the most popular tapas are the croquetas, like a breaded meatball; patatas bravas, cubed potatoes served with mayo and a tomato sauce; pimientos del pardon, small fried green peppers; and tortilla espannola, a Spanish omelet prepared with egg and potato.

I learned all about calcots and the traditional way to eat them.

Calcots are in season in winter and spring. Jordan Mautner

Calcots season typically runs from late winter into early spring, and it's quite the experience.

Eating calcots and experiencing the tradition behind them was a first for me. They're part of the onion family, similar to scallions, and they're grilled and served with a romesco sauce made from pureed tomato, garlic, and almonds.

Traditionally, you're given a bib and gloves to dive into the onion dish. The bib is simply to keep you from making a mess of yourself, and the gloves allow you to remove the outer layer of the onion before indulging.

Then you dip your calcot in the sauce, tilt your head back, and eat it in one big gulp.

Sandwiches for breakfast are the norm.

A cup of coffee and a bocadillo in Spain. Jordan Mautner

A typical Spanish breakfast is a bocadillo, a sandwich served on baguette-style bread.

The bread is first rubbed with fresh tomatoes, referred to as "pan con tomate," to get the perfect amount of flavor and texture. Then it's traditionally filled with ham, but sometimes there's also cheese or a potato omelet inside.

The affordable dish is usually served alongside a coffee in the morning.

I've found it surprisingly easy to have a balanced lifestyle here.

There are so many outdoor activities to do near Barcelona. Jordan Mautner

Barcelona is known for its nightlife, from great cocktail bars to decadent nightclubs that stay open until the wee hours of the morning. But it also offers more relaxed activities.

Because of the great weather nearly year-round, there are countless outdoor fitness and yoga classes in the parks and on the beaches. I've also seen plenty of volleyball and paddleboarding.

After a wild night of drinking and dancing, I can always balance it out with a long stroll on the beach and an afternoon yoga class.

There are mountains and beaches surrounding the city, and you could visit both in a single day.

There are plenty of mountain trails and beaches. Jordan Mautner

The Collserola mountains cradle Barcelona from the west, and it only takes about 30 minutes to reach the foothills by public transportation.

From there, you can hike up to Tibidabo (a famous amusement park) or simply stroll through the trails.

After working up a sweat, you can easily cruise down to the sea and go for an afternoon swim.

Weekend trips are easily accessible and breathtaking.

The Costa Brava region in Spain. Jordan Mautner

Costa Brava, accessible primarily by car or bus, is a short ride from Barcelona.

The coast runs between Spain and France, and it's simply magical. I can't help but be hypnotized by the clear turquoise waters and sandy beaches.

In the summer, the beaches are lined with xiringuito, pop-up restaurants that serve tapas and sangria.

The coastline is also jam-packed with history. In the town of Tossa de Mar, you have to crawl through an old castle door to get to one of the beaches, and near Cadaques you can visit the house where Salvador Dali lived.

Although Costa Brava can be expensive, there are ways to do it on a budget. Many campgrounds offer cheap cabins, and there are some affordable hotels.

The afternoon siesta is a real thing, and you have to plan accordingly.

Lots of people take a break at midday. Jordan Mautner

Siestas, Spanish for naps, are truly a way of life here. If you're trying to run errands in Spain, be prepared to plan around afternoon and weekend closures.

Although larger retailers like Zara, H&M, and big supermarkets stay open during regular working hours, the smaller mom-and-pop shops close from about 2 to 4 p.m. every day.

This is time for employees to go home and rest, have lunch, or simply take a nap.

And everything, including the big shops, is closed on Sundays.

I've never eaten dinner so late.

Dinner is served closer to 9 p.m. Jordan Mautner

In the US, I ate dinner around 7 p.m. every night  maybe 8 or 8:30 p.m. if I was working late.

But in Spain, I had to get used to a whole new dining schedule. Dinner is typically served around 9 or 10 p.m.

People really take their time to eat and socialize with whoever they're dining with, so by the time you've finished dessert, it could easily be midnight.

Gaudi architecture is everywhere, and it's beautiful.

La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona. Jordan Mautner

Barcelona is full of history and beautiful architecture. Antoni Gaudi was a Catalan architect whose incredible and intricate designs can be seen all around the city.

I genuinely find myself walking in amazement on a daily basis  I can't believe I get to take in these incredible sights on my morning commute.

The Sagrada Familia church is arguably his most famous work.

Although Gaudi died in 1926, the project has yet to be finished. People are still working away, hoping to reach its scheduled completion date in 2026.

This story was originally published in May of 2022 and most recently updated on June 11, 2024.

Read the original article on Business Insider
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  A woman has been charged with second-degree murder after police say she stabbed her boyfriend to death.

On June 7 at 9:05 a.m., Memphis Police responded to a stabbing at the Azure Place apartment complex.

When they arrived, they found a male victim, Keithon Ford, unresponsive with a defect to his torso. MFD came to the scene and Ford was pronounced deceased.

Rideshare driver shot in attempted carjacking at Memphis Airport, officials say

The girlfriend of Ford, Zeori Harper, called the police and was on the scene when they arrived.

She told officers that she stabbed Ford.

Harper, 21, was taken to 170 N. Main where she waived her Miranda rights and told investigators that she and Ford were arguing and he would not allow her to leave for work.

She said that Ford allegedly pushed her and she grabbed two brand-new knives that were still inside the plastic packaging.

Harper told officers that she removed the knives from the packaging and held both knives in one hand while trying to leave through another door in the apartment.

She said that Ford allegedly pushed her into a wall, got on top of her and started hitting her in the face with an open hand.

MPD: Couple arrested, police say man pointed gun at woman and baby

Harper says she turned and somehow stabbed Ford in the torso.

Investigators obtained a search warrant for the apartment and per the police report, saw no other signs of struggle other than the stabbing.

Harper admitted to investigators that shed stabbed Ford in the past.

Investigators located a police report that said that Harper allegedly attacked Ford with a knife on August 24, 2023.

Harper is being held on $75,000 bond.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
MS Coast man accused in carjacking of Uber driver sentenced to prison in drug trafficking case

A Mississippi Coast man is headed to prison for 35 years after his conviction for trafficking drugs in South Mississippi, according to District Attorney Crosby Parker.

Judge Randi Mueller on Monday sentenced Regio Darrell Lavant, 37, of Moss Point, after a jury convicted him of aggravated trafficking of the controlled substance, methamphetamine. Lavant was caught with nearly a kilo of meth in his backpack.

A jury convicted Lavont of the crime in March.

I certainly know from being in this courtroom that meth destroys families, friendships, communities (and) economies, Mueller said. It contributes to homelessness and neglected children in our communities. I cant count how many times I have heard a defendant tell me that their addiction to meth or some other drug, but mostly meth, contributed to their decision to commit other crimes.

Methamphetamine undoubtedly destroys lives, Muller said.

Harrison County sheriffs deputies made the arrest after stopping a vehicle for careless driving on Oct. 27, 2019, on Interstate 10 in Pass Christian. Lavant was a passenger in the car.

After a deputy smelled marijuana in the car, deputies searched the vehicle and found nearly a kilo of methamphetamine in Lavants backpack in the car.

During the trial, witnesses said Lavant had gone to Houston, Texas, to pick up the drugs and was headed back to the Mississippi Coast to sell them at the time of his arrest.

Assistant district attorneys Katherine Gargiulo and Jasmine Magee prosecuted the case.

I want to thank our Harrison County Sheriffs Office for their vigilance and for being proactive in keeping our community safe, Harrison County District Attorney Crosby Parker said. Methamphetamine is one of the most addictive drugs plaguing our communities. The sentence handed down by Judge Mueller reflects that seriousness. 

Lavant will serve the 35-year sentence without the possibility of early release or parole.

Prior to his conviction, Lavont had been arrested in a serious of other alleged crimes, including a carjacking in November of an Uber driver.
MTA vows it isnt giving up on hated congestion pricing plan after Hochuls sudden about-face

Congestion pricing isnt dead yet, according to the head of the transit agency.

Janno Lieber, the MTAs chair and CEO, broke days of silence Monday on Gov. Kathy Hochul indefinitely pausing the controversial $15 toll program.

The MTA will be ready to forward with congestion pricing if and when the program gets the green light, Lieber said.

We at the MTA arent giving up on congestion pricing, not at all, he told reporters from MTA headquarters in lower Manhattan Monday afternoon.

Janno Lieber, the MTAs chair and CEO, said the agency will be ready to go forward with congestion pricing if and when it gets the green light. Matthew McDermott

But Lieber made clear that Hochuls last-minute decision to stop Manhattan tolls  which would have raised $1 billion a year for the MTA  pulled the rug out on a host of major projects and service upgrades that transit officials had hoped to fund through congestion pricing.

Transit officials will scramble to conduct a review to reprioritize and shrink projects in the agencys current capital plan, Lieber said.

Were going to fight like hell to make sure we dont have to reduce service, he said.

It may feel right now like things are a little crazy, even that theres a crisis. But we need to stay focused so that we can maximize the situation for our riders.

Liebers portrait of an MTA conducting triage contrasted wildly with Hochuls own assessment just a few hours earlier.

Hochul spiked the plan last week in a sudden change-of-heart. rfaraino

Hochul promised any funding problems for projects would be resolved, but did not provide details.

To assume that the only funding source had to be congestion pricing shows a lack of imagination about understanding other opportunities to fund these projects, she said.

But Liebers outlook was more grim.

Major projects that transit officials need to make sure can continue include the Second Avenue Subway extension, which recently received a $3.4 billion injection from the federal government, he said.

Millions were spent adding congestion pricing toll cameras across the city. Christopher Sadowski

Weve got a tall order and were behind the eight ball right now, he said. Thats why were taking these, frankly, very serious steps to carve up the capital program and make sure we dont let the system fall into disrepair.

But congestion pricing opponents pushed back on Liebers dour assessment.

The sky isnt falling. The world and the MTA keeps spinning. The MTA has all the money it needs to run a superior mass transit system, said former councilwoman and retired judge Kathryn Freed, co-founder of New Yorkers Against Congestion Pricing Tax.

Many New Yorkers criticized Gov. Kathy Hochuls decision to scrap congestion pricing without a funding Plan B. AP

Hochul promised any funding problems for projects would be resolved, but did not provide details. Christopher Sadowski

Whats needed is an audit, a new administration, innovation and a backbone to stop fare beaters.

Many New Yorkers, including some opposed to the congestion plan, have criticized Hochul for scrapping congestion pricing without a funding Plan B for the MTA  a situation shown in stark relief last week when lawmakers didnt even vote on two funding proposals, including a tax increase, floated by the governor.

Hochuls decision to suspend congestion pricing without an alternative revenue in place is gubernatorial malpractice, said TWU International President John Samuelsen, a non-voting member on the MTA board.

The focus now must be on basic state of good repair and maintenance, not expansion programs, said Samuelsen, who represents workers who do those jobs.

Its like the difference between medically necessary surgery and elective surgery, he said.

 Additional reporting by Dorian Geiger.
Visitors to Oregon's Gearhart Beach were shocked to find a massive fish lying on the shore last week. Some were confused as to what kind of fish it was, and a local aquarium made an interesting discovery upon further investigation.

The Seaside Aquarium shared its findings in a Facebook post, pointing out that the oddity became a popular attraction for residents.

"Initially this large, strange looking fish was creating quite a stir on social media and though it was stormy folks were flocking to the beach to see this unusual fish," the aquarium explained. "It wasnt long before news of this fish reached Marianne Nyegaard, a researcher based in New Zealand. The photographs she saw indicated that this might not be a run-of-the-mill ocean sunfish (mola mola) but a different species that she was very familiar with, the hoodwinker sunfish (mola tecta)."

Nyegaard is an expert in the hoodwinker sunfish specifically.

"It was through her research that she discovered and described this new species of sunfish, which she published in 2017," the aquarium said. "Dubbed a new species hiding in plain sight, it was genetic sampling and eventual observation that contributed to its finding."

"Originally thought to only occupy the temperate waters of the southern hemisphere, that theory would be challenged as a few have recently washed ashore in California and one as far north as Alaska. This fish, hiding in plain sight, has most likely been seen/washed ashore in the Pacific Northwest before but was mistaken for the more common mola mola," the post continued. "Marianne Nyegaard reached out to the Seaside Aquarium to see if they would be willing to take samples for genetics. Staff quickly responded, took more photographs, measurements, and tissue samples. Through photographs, Marianne confirmed that it was a hoodwinker and that this may be the largest specimen ever sampled."

The researchers didn't remove the sunfish from the site for their testing. Instead, they left it on the sand undisturbed for curious locals to see for themselves.

"This fish is still on Gearhart Beach and will probably remain for a few more days, maybe weeks, as their tough skin makes it hard for scavengers to puncture," they said.

You won't end up being a sunfish's dinner if you come across one in the wild, but they're certainly unsettling to look at.
Sonic booms are rattling the Southland coast, and more are coming: 'My dog freaks out'

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with a payload of Starlink satellites streaks through the sky in March, as viewed from Huntington Beach. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

The house jolts and rumbles, and then theres the unmistakable boom that Mikayla Shocks has been hearing more and more frequently from her Camarillo home.

One time, I thought a car hit my house, the mother of four said. Its felt by everyone. We hear the boom. My dog freaks out.

It took a few such incidents and a bit of internet sleuthing before Shocks found the source: sonic booms from rockets launching from Vandenberg Space Force Base.

Space Force officials previously said that such incidents were rare, and that sonic booms from rocket launches and landings had little effect on the coast.

But the Air Force now admits what thousands of residents, from Lompoc to Camarillo, have known for months  sonic booms from Vandenberg Space Force Base regularly rattle a large swath of Southern California, startling residents and wildlife across more than 100 miles of coastline.

The reach of the sonic booms across three Southern California counties was revealed in a new report from the Air Force to theCalifornia Coastal Commission, which is reviewing the militarys plan to significantly increase the number of rocket launches from the base.

U.S. Space Force officials say rockets from the base recently have been flying a different path, changing the area affected by the sonic booms generated.

Recent changes in flight trajectories have made sonic booms audible to individuals living in southern Santa Barbara, Ventura, or northern L.A. counties along the coast, Col. Mark Shoemaker, Space Launch Delta 30 commander, said in an email to The Times.

Previous models, environmental studies and reports from the Space Force suggested that sonic booms would be generated out at sea and over the Channel Islands, leaving the coast and most residents living far from the base unaffected.

That is not the case now.

As launches have become safer and more reliable, Shoemaker said, the Federal Aviation Administration and Space Force have allowed a wider range of headings that do not pose risks to public safety but inadvertently resulted in sonic booms over land.

For some residents, the sonic booms and the increasing number of rocket blasts have had an effect on their lives. Once rare, they are occurring regularly.

The intensity varies with each launch and landing, but Camarillo resident Shocks said the force of the sonic booms that reach her home often have neighbors texting one another the same question: Is that an earthquake or a launch?

The new report acknowledging the reach of sonic booms comes after officials at the base also disclosed plans to significantly ramp up the number of rocket launches, tripling blast-offs from about 40 in 2023 to more than 120 launches in 2026.

Four companies launch rockets from the base, including SpaceX, Firefly, United Launch Alliance and Phantom Space, but according to launch estimates from military officials, only SpaceX plans to drastically increase the number of its launches in the next two years.

By 2026, the aerospace company owned by billionaire Elon Musk is looking to blast at least 90 rockets into space each year from Vandenberg. For now, the company and the Space Force are asking the commission to approve 36 launches this year.

Those plans have the California Coastal Commission, tasked with protecting the states coastal resources, taking a second look at the rocket launches. The commission is asking the Space Force how the plans to multiply the number of SpaceX rocket launches could affect neighborhoods and wildlife along the coast  particularly in light of the wider area of coastline affected by sonic booms.

'We get the vibration, then the boom'

Sitting on the coast in Santa Barbara County, Vandenberg Space Force Base is located at the heart of Californias Central Coast, about 155 miles north of Los Angeles. There, military officials said, weather conditions can affect how far a sonic boom might travel.

The marine layer results in a temperature inversion, which can cause sound waves to refract, or bend the sound waves back, the report states, citing the Air Force. Conditions such as cloud cover, fog, and rain attenuate sound waves as it passes through.

Although the blast of the rockets might be audible only in neighborhoods close to Vandenberg, sonic booms can have a wider reach. A boom occurs when an object travels faster than the speed of sound, releasing a burst of energy that sounds similar to an explosion and can shake and rattle objects in its path.

Just a few weeks ago, military officials said they were unaware of sonic booms reaching residents along the coast.

Col. Bryan Titus, operations vice commander at Vandenberg, told commissioners in April that sonic booms from the base came not that often.

The sonic booms, Titus said at the time, occurred when SpaceX rockets landed at Vandenberg, which he said happened about four or five times a year. More often, he said, the rockets return to a landing pad closer to Mexico. Titus, however, assured commissioners, Youre not going to hear that sonic boom.

That hasnt been the experience of Patricia Jacobs, who has felt the sonic booms in recent months from her home in Moorpark. The rattling comes so often, she said, that she now monitors SpaceX alerts on social media, hoping she wont be caught off guard by the blasts.

We get the vibration, then the boom, she said.

The sensation, she said, is like a large truck driving by her house.

At first she wasnt sure where the booms were coming from, she said, until she began to notice the contrails left by SpaceX rockets in the sky. At times, the rocket is still visible, headed out to space.

Then she searched Google Maps to see how far the base was, surprised she would experience the effects nearly 120 miles away.

I wouldnt say its a nuisance, but if theyre going to up it to so many a year, then its a valid question: Is this going to be a problem? Jacobs said. Its relentless  Boom! Boom! Boom!

Others, such as 61-year-old Rebecca Stebbings of Carpinteria, said they felt like they had to keep track of the launches because they can be unnerving and startling.

I keep close track of the launch schedule, she said, and at times have changed my work schedule in order to be with my dogs so they are not alone in the house when there is a sonic boom.

Shes been woken up by the booms, which she said she had felt physically, reverberating in her chest.

Concerns about wildlife

The effects of the sonic booms on wildlife are still undetermined, Coastal Commission staff said in a recent report .

The report said military officials had not provided enough information about the sonic booms and the increasing number of launches. The staff also found that previous environmental studies and assurances from the Space Force that wildlife was not negatively affected were now outdated or incomplete, given the wider swath of coastline affected.

But base officials maintain that there still is no change to how wildlife  including protected species  is impacted by the booms.

Space Force officials, in previous reports, have asserted that although some of the wildlife, including sea otters, bats, western snowy plovers, California least terns and red-legged frogs, might startle and flee from their homes and nests after the booms, the overall population has not been affected.

The Department of Air Force has been monitoring special-status plant and wildlife species for several decades with launch-specific monitoring occurring since the early 1980s, Shoemaker said, adding that animals tend to hunker down, or they flee the area and then return soon afterward. These impacts are the same within the larger areas that are impacted by sonic booms.

California Coastal Commission officials are asking for more information to back those claims.

The commission staff report also noted a launch on April 2, 2023, after which dead harbor seal pups were found. They may have been trampled by other seals fleeing the area after the launch.

Space Force officials said they planned to continue working with the commission and would provide more information. The agency also has updated the Air Force Connect app, on which users can get push notifications about upcoming launches.

Commission officials declined to be interviewed for this story and referred a Times reporter to the staff report and previous public meetings.

Are all SpaceX rocket launches federal activity?

Now the Space Force, which is organized under the Air Force, is seeking an agreement with the commission to increase the number of rocket launches.

As a federal agency, the Space Force doesnt have to seek a permit from the state commission, but the federal and state agencies work toward an agreement to mitigate or avoid negative impacts to the coast and wildlife.

Because SpaceX is a government contractor, the Space Force also has argued that all launch operations by the company should be considered federal activities.

Shoemaker said the issue is key to Space Force strategy as we prepare for strategic competition with great powers and shape the global security environment. He also stressed the importance of commercial satellites  which SpaceX launches for its satellite internet company, Starlink  saying they support U.S. government and military needs, including weather, communication and observation.

Its a determination that could have far-reaching consequences, placing the state commission and the Department of Defense at odds while private companies, and countries, vie for a technological advantage in space.

Coastal development and other activity that might affect the coast require private entities to obtain a permit from the commission. Federal agencies, on the other hand, are tasked with reaching a consistency determination  sort of an agreement with the commission.

If an agreement is not reached, however, federal agencies such as the Space Force could still move forward with the launches, prompting what could be a legal fight in courts or mediation efforts between the two bodies.

Members of the California Coastal Commission are now questioning, with the increased rocket activity, whether SpaceX should be required to obtain a permit instead of bypassing the process if the launches are considered federal activity.

Of the last 71 SpaceX rockets that have been launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base from 2018 to this month, only nine to 14 have carried a government payload, according to a report from commission staff. That means 13% to 20% of launches have involved Department of Defense activity.

The vast majority of SpaceX launches from the military base have carried Starlink satellites and other private payloads, profiting SpaceX and Starlink, which are both owned by Musk.

SpaceX, in an email to The Times, said the question of whether all of the companys launches should be considered federal activity, including those not carrying government payloads, fundamentally misunderstands the relationship between the U.S. government and U.S. commercial space launch operators.

The company contends that all launches occurring out of the military base are federal activities and that all launches benefit the U.S. government, including private satellites, which SpaceX says benefit communications capabilities of different branches of the Department of Defense.

According to Shoemaker, Starlink satellite communication services extend to the Air Force, Navy, Coast Guard and allied forces.

The ability to use commercial launch architecture from a myriad of commercial partners provides the U.S. invaluable access to space and a competitive edge during a time of Great Power Competition, he said.

The California Coastal Commission was set to discuss SpaceX launches Wednesday, but the item was removed at the last minute at the request of Space Force officials, a commission spokesperson said. The request was made to provide commissioners more detail regarding the rocket launches and sonic booms.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
One person was hospitalized, and 8 others were evaluated by paramedics after a chemical spill at a commercial facility in Los Angeles San Fernando Valley on Monday.

Fire crews responded to the business in the 20700 block of W. Marilla Street at about 1 p.m. on reports of an unknown vapor coming from behind the building, according to the L.A. Fire Department.

The business, Firan Technology Group, produces aerospace and defense electronics.

L.A. Fire Department respond to the 20700 block of W. Marilla Street in Chatsworth for a chemical spill on June 10, 2024. (KTLA)

L.A. Fire Department respond to the 20700 block of W. Marilla Street in Chatsworth for a chemical spill on June 10, 2024. (KTLA)

According to Sky5 reporter Gil Leyvas, 31 people were evacuated from the facility, and employees of neighboring businesses were being kept inside.

Officials said one patient, a 50-year-old man, was transported to a hospital with minor medical complaints. Seven other people declined hospitalization, according to LAFD.

The source of the substance was still under investigation as of 3 p.m.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
KYODO NEWS - Jun 11, 2024 - 08:40 | All, Japan

The transport ministry said Monday a helicopter operated by a private company made an emergency landing in a schoolyard in Aioi, Hyogo Prefecture, western Japan, without any injuries occurring.

The incident came nearly a month after a helicopter tourism flight by the company, Takumi Enterprise, ended with an emergency landing in Kumamoto Prefecture, leaving the pilot and two passengers injured.

According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, a Robinson R44 helicopter operated by the Okayama-based company landed in the schoolyard around 4 p.m. Monday after declaring an emergency due to an engine problem.

The ministry said it designated the unscheduled maneuvering as a serious incident under the Civil Aeronautics Act.

With two people aboard, the chopper was headed for an airport in Okayama, western Japan, after taking off from an airport in Toyoyama, central Japan.

In the earlier incident, which took place on May 13, a Takumi Enterprise-operated helicopter landed in a vacant lot in a mountainous area in Aso, southwestern Japan, after taking off from the animal theme park Aso Cuddly Dominion and flying over volcanic craters nearby.

The company apologized over the accident that caused injuries to three people and pledged to ensure nothing similar would happen again in a statement issued on May 22.
(The Hill)  The Virginia chapter of the NAACP and a group of five students plan to file a lawsuit against the Shenandoah County School Board after it approved a proposal to rename two public schools after Confederate military leaders.

The lawsuit, first reported by NBC News, is the latest development in an ongoing battle over Mountain View High and Honey Run Elementary, originally named Stonewall Jackson High School and Ashby Lee Elementary School.

My belief is the Shenandoah County School Board reaffirmed their commitment to White supremacy and the celebration of a race-based rebellion against the United States of America with their vote to name public schools after military leaders of the Confederate States of America, Rev. Cozy Bailey, president of the chapter, said in a statement.

When students walk through the halls of renamed Stonewall Jackson High School and Ashby Lee Elementary School, they will do so with inescapable reminders of Confederate legacies that enslaved and discriminated against African-descended people. This community deserves better, he added.

A worker attaches a rope as they prepare to remove the statue of Confederate General Stonewall Jackson from its pedestal on July 1, 2020, in Richmond, Va. Shenandoah County, Virginias school board voted 5-1 early Friday, May 10, 2024, to rename Mountain View High School as Stonewall Jackson High School and Honey Run Elementary as Ashby Lee Elementary four years after the names had been removed. AP Photo/Steve Helber, File)

The two schools were renamed in 2020 after racial justice advocates around the nation urged institutions to change building names and remove statues that honored Confederate figures.

But critics of the schools name changes argued the renaming was hasty and undemocratic. Attempts to restore the schools Confederate names have persisted since.

In April, the conservative local group Coalition for Better Schools brought the issue to the community once again. In a letter, the organization argued that the legacies of the two generals are complex but important to the community.

In an early morning vote on May 10, the six-person board decided to reinstate the names.

Now, the NAACP and students argue that the board created an unlawful and discriminatory educational environment for Black students.

More than 5,600 students attend Shenandoah County Public Schools, according to the states Department of Education. About 75 percent of those students are white, 18 percent are Hispanic and 3 percent are Black.

The lawsuit alleges that in restoring the Confederate names, the board violated the First and Fourteenth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Equal Education Opportunities Act.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Authorities seized two semisubmersible vessels loaded with nearly 5 tons of cocaine last weekend off the Pacific coast of Colombia, the nation's navy announced. The "narco subs" were intercepted during a joint operation by the country's navy and coast guard, officials said in a statement Sunday.

Authorities said the two vessels carrying 4.9 tons of cocaine toward Central America were intercepted in the South Pacific. Six suspects were arrested.

Officials released four images from the operation, including one that showed stacked packages of the alleged drugs laid out on the ground and another that appeared to show suspects surrendering on a semisubmersible.

Authorities said they seized two semisubmersible vessels loaded with nearly 5 tons of cocaine off the Pacific coast of Colombia. / Credit: Colombia navy

In a statement, the Colombian navy said it would continue working "on coasts, rivers, seas and island areas" to fight drug trafficking.

Colombian authorities said that officers have now seized a total of 13 "narco subs" so far this year. The Colombian navy said it intercepted 20 semisubmersibles in all of 2023, leading to the seizure of 30 tons of cocaine and more than 5 tons of marijuana.

Semisubmersibles lie very low on the ocean's surface but cannot go fully underwater. They are popular among international drug traffickers because they can often elude detection by authorities. The vessels are sometimes seized in Colombian waters while heading to the United States, Central America and Europe.

In February, Colombian authorities on a search-and-rescue mission for two missing fishermen found a "narco sub" loaded with more than 4 tons of cocaine. A few weeks before that, the Colombian navy intercepted a semisubmersible loaded with more than 1,000 pounds of cocaine in the Pacific Ocean.

Last month, Italian police seized a small remote-controlled submarine they said was likely intended to transport drugs internationally.

Authorities around the globe have made other major drug busts in international waters recently. Just a few days ago, the U.S. Coast Guard said it offloaded $63 million worth of cocaine at a port in Florida after a high-speed shootout that sank a suspected drug smuggling boat and its crew in the Caribbean Sea. Last month, the French navy said it confiscated 2.4 tons of cocaine from a fishing boat in the Atlantic Ocean.

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Technicians at a Thales Alenia Space industrial plant in Turin, Italy, guide Gateways HALO module to its stress testing location. Image courtesy of Thales Alenia Space

June 10 (UPI) -- NASA's Gateway space station is moving closer to a launch after welding recently was completed on a module in Turin, Italy, the agency said Monday.

The Habitation and Logistics Outpost, or HALO, is one of four modules in which astronauts will live, conduct science and prepare for lunar surface missions.

The launch of Gateway is scheduled no earlier than 2025. In 2021, NASA awarded SpaceX a $331.8 million contract to launch the first two pieces of the outpost aboard the company's powerful Falcon Heavy rocket from Florida to the moon.

In a highly elliptical orbit, the space station will come to within approximately 1,865 miles of the lunar surface during its closest approach and then travel out to a distance of 43,500 miles before heading back in, according to the European Space Agency. A full orbit should take about a week.

Gateway is about one-sixth the size of the International Space Station.

An illustration shows NASA's planned lunar Gateway space station with the moon in the background. Image courtesy of NASA

Thales Alenia teams guided HALO to a new location in the company's facility for stress tests to ensure the module's safety. The company is a joint venture between the French technology corporation Thales Group and Italian defense conglomerate Leonardo.

HALO next will travel to Gilbert, Ariz., where Northrop Grumman will complete final outfitting ahead of launch to lunar orbit with Gateway's Power and Propulsion Element.

An illustration shows NASA's planned lunar Gateway space station with the moon and Earth in the background. Image courtesy of NASA

Northrop received a $935 million fixed-price contract from NASA in 2021

The project partners are the Canadian Space Agency, European Space Agency, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Center in United Arab Emirites.

In March, Dr. Jon B. Olansen replaced retiring Dan Hartman as director of the space station. Olansen has been with the program since its inception in 2019.

Humans are scheduled to be launched aboard Artemis to the moon no sooner than 2026.
A messy area of showers and thunderstorms in the eastern Gulf of Mexico is adding to the soggy fracas over Florida and was given a meager shot Tuesday of becoming the seasons first named tropical system.

Designated Invest 90-L by the National Hurricane Center, the trough of low pressure was given a 10% chance of development over 48 hours and a 20% chance over seven days days with its luck increasing once it crosses Florida and enters the Atlantic Ocean off the southeast coast later this week.

If a tropical cyclone forms, it would earn the name Alberto.

Regardless of what becomes of the sloppy blob, heavy rainfall is expected throughout South Florida through at least Friday with the National Weather Service forecasting as much as eight inches of rain through Thursday night in Palm Beach County and up to a foot of rain along the southwest coast.

The National Hurricane Center is giving low chances of development to an area of low pressure in the eastern Gulf of Mexico with conditions generally unfavorable for a tropical system to form.

Flood watch in effect for all of South Florida

A flood watch, which is in effect for all of South Florida through Wednesday night, may be extended if the ground becomes saturated, leaving it more prone to flooding.

Shawn Bhatti, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Miami, said there are a lot of moving parts coming together to cause the heavy rains including a stalled boundary over the Panhandle and a firehose of Caribbean moisture flowing in from the south.

Hurricane season 2024: What to do with your boat in Florida if a storm approaches

Its going to be wet. Certainly flash flooding is not out of the question, Bhatti said. We can expect rain pretty much somewhere every day for the next five days with the heaviest period being through Friday.

What Colorado State University says about the hurricane seasonal forecast

People are reflected in puddles of rain as they walk as they cross the railroad tracks on Clematis Street on June 11, 2024, West Palm Beach, Florida.

The rainy weather and potential Alberto coincided with the updated seasonal hurricane forecast by Colorado State University, which was released Tuesday.

CSU did not deviate from its spring forecast of 23 named storms, including 11 hurricanes. Of those 11 hurricanes, CSU says five will be major hurricanes of Category 3 strength or higher.

Up to eight inches of rain is possible into early Friday morning in Palm Beach County.

An average hurricane season has 14 named storms, seven hurricanes and three major hurricanes.

The forecast for above normal activity is being mostly driven by the expectation for La Nina to form this summer or early fall and sizzling ocean temperatures.

We just really didnt see any reason to change the numbers, given things have pretty much transpired the way we expected, said Phil Klotzbach, CSU senior research scientist and lead author of the hurricane forecast.

Klotzbach said they would have likely increased the number of storms if any early-season spin ups had occurred.

Colorado State University's updated June hurricane season forecast maintains the same number of storms as its first prediction made in April.

There have been no named storms in the Western Hemisphere this hurricane season, which begins May 15 in the Pacific and June 1 in the Atlantic. Klotzbach said in a social media post that the last time the Western Hemisphere hand no named storms through June 11 was 2009.

There were just nine named storms in the 2009 season including three hurricanes. Hurricanes Bill and Fred from 2009 were major hurricanes.

CSU's forecast issued in June 2009 was for 11 named storms including five hurricanes, of which 2 would become major hurricanes. The averages that year based on 1950 to 2000 were for 10 named storms, six hurricanes and 2 major hurricanes.

Regardless of whether 90-L becomes Alberto, the most immediate worry this week is the persistent rainfall.

We are concerned about a wall of rain inundating Florida this week, said AccuWeather lead long-range forecaster Paul Pastelok. While we cant rule out an organized tropical depression or storm, the impact will be similar due to the rounds of tropical downpours.

Kimberly Miller is a journalist for The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA Today Network of Florida. She covers real estate and how growth affects South Florida's environment. Subscribe to The Dirt for a weekly real estate roundup. If you have news tips, please send them to kmiller@pbpost.com. Help support our local journalism, subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Hurricane Center watching system in Gulf of Mexico could be Alberto
More than three dozen fighter pilots from nine NATO countries convened last week at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, to face off against each other in a first-of-its-kind, U.S.-led exercise to sharpen air-to-air combat skills and coordination between allies.

Ramstein 1v1 pitted pilots from the U.S., United Kingdom, Norway, Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France and Germany, against each other in a daylong competition of basic fighter maneuvers, or dogfighting, in which rapid decisions and sharp response to an adversary can mean life or death. It featured a mishmash of aircraft, including F-35A Lightning IIs, F-16 Fighting Falcons, Eurofighter Typhoons, French Rafales, F/A-18 Hornets and A-4 Skyhawks.

Air Force revives air-to-air battle competition, with a Pacific twist

The exercise was a first for U.S. Air Forces in Europe, and turned Ramstein, a military airlift hub, into a fighter base for a day.

Basic fighter maneuvering  is a foundational skill set for fighter pilots, Lt. Col. Michael Loringer, USAFEs chief of weapons and tactics, said in a statement. It tests a pilots reaction time, physical stamina and situational awareness.  There is no better way to build trust in a pilots aircraft or a pilots skills than to engage one-on-one.

The event comes as Russia gains ground in Ukraine in the third year of the war on NATOs doorstep. The U.S. military and its allies have turned their attention to bolstering aerial combat skills as they prepare for the possibility that tensions with Russia and China might spill into armed conflict, pitting advanced air forces against each other for the first time in decades.

As part of that prep work, the Air Force last September brought back its famed William Tell aerial shooter competition after sidelining it for nearly two decades because of high operations tempo in the Middle East. Air Combat Command told Air Force Times Tuesday that a 2025 William Tell competition is tentatively in the works, though a date has not yet been set.

USAFE Commander Gen. James Hecker said last year that NATO pilots will also put freshly honed offensive and defensive maneuvers to the test at a major new training exercise, Ramstein Flag, in Greece at the end of 2024.

We dont want to go to war with Russia, and I dont think they want to go to war with us either, he told Air Force Times last July. But we need to make sure that we have the forces capable of deterring them, so that nothing bad will happen.

During last weeks exercise, U.S. airmen from RAF Lakenheath, England, pitched in to service the Royal Norwegian Air Forces F-35s. The 86th Airlift Wing at Ramstein handled installation support and flight line operations.

The exercise focused on readiness and building trust, with some friendly competition built in. After a day of flying, a piano was burned in memory of fighter pilots killed in action  a World War II tradition that lives on.

We are not just NATO allies, but a community bound by genuine friendship and respect, Loringer said. I emphasize this point because successful military operations require exceptional teamwork, often critical to survival. And as a pilot, it boils down to trust. Its crucial to trust your wingman.
A sailor assigned to the attack submarine Helena died late last month after being electrocuted aboard the boat, officials have confirmed.

Sonar Technician Submarine 3rd Class Timothy Sanders, 22, was found deceased while the ship was at the pier aboard Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, on May 24, according to Naval Submarine Force Atlantic officials.

The Naval Criminal Investigative Service is investigating Sanders death, and the Navy has declined to provide further details, citing ongoing investigations.

We deeply mourn the loss of our shipmate, and our thoughts and prayers are with the sailors family, friends and coworkers during this difficult time, Navy spokesman Cmdr. Jason Fischer said in a statement. Grief counseling services and support are being provided through the chain of command and local chaplain resources.

Known to his family as Timmy, Sanders obituary describes him as the favorite uncle among his niece and nephews. The obituary also says he had an infectious smile, and that his presence brightened every occasion.

Timmy loved his service to the Navy, loved being a sailor and loved his ship mates like family, his obituary states. He had recently reenlisted, his dream was to one day be master chief.

Timmy was always filled with honor and had a moral code that had no gray area, the obituary adds. We were not surprised when he chose the Navy.

Sanders is survived by his fiance, his parents, four sisters, six nephews and one niece, as well as many cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents.

His absence will leave our family forever incomplete, the obituary states.
In 2010, I knew a lot of future teachers. I had returned to UNC Greensboro to get my teaching certification and become a band director, and I was surrounded by young, idealistic music education majors who couldnt wait to get into the classroom. My younger brother was preparing to teach and coach high school football. Future teachers were all around me.

Mike Schietzelt

I never became a classroom teacher. With salaries frozen, I joined the military instead. Most of my classmates and friends became teachers. My brother became a teacher. But almost 15 years later, many of these friends  and my brother  are now former teachers.

Its not hard to see why.

For as long as I can remember, advocates have called for increasing teacher pay, and they arent wrong. North Carolinas average teacher pay is comparable to some of our neighboring states, but our starting pay lags behind. The low salaries make it difficult for teachers to start families and purchase homes.

But cries to throw more money into the pot oversimplify the problem. Its not just teacher pay  the teaching profession needs an overhaul.

For one, the teaching profession isnt built for ambitious young people. Set aside the low starting pay  where are the opportunities for promotion or advancement? How do we reward teachers who excel in the classroom? For most teachers, the job duties in year one look the same as the job duties in year 30.

And how do we incentivize excellence? In other professions, one can put in extra hours, increase their output and obtain promotions within a job field based on the results they achieve. But not teachers. If our educators want to boost their pay, they have few options. They can leave the classroom to go into administration, or go to other states or other professions. They can get board-certified. Or, they can wait.

None of these are great options if we want to keep highly-qualified teachers in the classroom. And we should want to keep them in the classroom. Research suggests that teacher quality is the most important in-school factor for student success. If our goal is to improve student outcomes, that means we can find no better investment than recruiting and retaining quality educators.

Some school systems, including in North Carolina, have adopted Advanced Teaching Roles, or ATRs, as one important tool in the toolbox. ATRs provide opportunities for increased teacher pay while improving the professional experience for educators. They offer schools the flexibility to place highly qualified teachers into leadership roles where they teach more students, lead groups of teachers and provide professional support, and formally mentor young teachers.

ATRs arent a new idea. North Carolina launched a state ATR program in 2016. Theyre now in about 450 schools statewide, and for good reasons.: theyve brought measurable success for students and theyre popular among educators. According to a 2020 report issued by North Carolina State Universitys Friday Institute for Educational Innovation, ATRs sharpen the learning curve for young teachers, they provide financial incentives and opportunities for advancement for highly-qualified teachers, and they lessen the burden on school administrators. These outcomes benefit teachers and students.

The General Assembly should continue to expand ATRs statewide. That doesnt mean theyll be a panacea for public education in North Carolina. The challenges with our public schools run wide and deep. Moreover, education is a long-term investment. We wont reap the full benefit of todays investment until our students graduate and enter the workforce.

But eating the proverbial elephant starts with a single bite. We should target that bite for maximum impact to do right by our children and give the taxpayers the most bang for their buck. Weve already started down this road with some success. By continuing to reform the outdated organizational structures that hinder education, we can improve public schools for everyone  from students to administrators. That would be a huge win for our kids and for the state.

Mike Schietzelt is an attorney and Republican candidate for N.C. House District 35, encompassing northern Wake County. Hes also a proud product of N.C. public schools.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  Insurance is getting more expensive across North Carolina, but not as much as insurance companies were hoping for.

The North Carolina Department of Insurance recently settled on an 8% average rate increase for dwelling insurance policies starting Nov. 1.

The Rate Bureau, which represents insurance providers, filed its proposal increase last summer and was asking for a 50.6% increase.

Most of the time that we have negotiated settlements, they have been very favorable for consumers and thats a win-win situation, North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey said.

As a result of the settlement, the upcoming hearing on the dispute has been canceled.

A public hearing, like the one canceled, operates similarly to a court case. The Rate Bureau has to prove with evidence why a rate should be increased for it to make a reasonable profit.

In Causeys seven-year run as commissioner, he hasnt held one.

So, when he skips those hearings time and time again and instead says I negotiated in private for a new rate, we never get to know what they talked about. We dont get to know anything about why there should be a rate hike at all, Sen. Natasha Marcus (D-Mecklenburg) said.

Marcus is running against Causey for the commissioner seat in the upcoming state election. She says his failure to transparently fight for North Carolina property owners is one of her main reasons for running.

He has essentially told the public, Trust me. Ill make you a good deal. You dont need to know the details. Just trust me. Marcus said.

She also finds an issue with Causey receiving campaign donations from insurance groups that represent companies he negotiates with.

According to state election finance reports, last year Causeys campaign received a $6,000 donation from the Allstate Insurance Company Pac.



Do you feel a pressure to please the insurance industry because they are helping fund your campaign? Queen City News asked Causey.



No. You have to have a balance. There is pressure to make sure you are taking care of consumers, Causey said. But at the same time, there is pressure to make sure that these companies stay in North Carolina.

The last time the N.C. Department of Insurance held a public hearing was back in 2011, five years before Causey took office.

Causey said he and his staff estimate that hearing cost upwards of $500,000.

You know, if you can settle, at a number thats very favorable to consumers, that saves taxpayer money, Causey said.

An upcoming hearing for the homeowners rate request has been set for Oct. 7.

Causey told Queen City News that he does not plan on canceling it.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
NC House sends changes to masking and campaign finance laws to Gov. Cooper

Restrictions on masks, in a bill revised by legislative Republicans last week to include an unrelated, controversial campaign finance provision, is headed to the desk of Gov. Roy Cooper after a final vote Tuesday.

The bill, which was unveiled Thursday as a compromise between House and Senate Republicans, rewrites a provision in state law that allows people to wear masks in public for health and safety reasons, limiting it to only permit medical and surgical grade masks, and only for the purpose of preventing the spread of contagious disease.

In addition to other provisions that target people who wear masks to hide their identity while committing crimes, and protests that block traffic or emergency vehicles, the bill was changed last week to include a slew of campaign finance changes that Democrats and election law experts say will allow more large-sum contributions from wealthy donors that are difficult to trace.

Ahead of Tuesdays floor vote in the House, lawmakers debated whether the changes to mask laws would allow people with health concerns to continue wearing masks to protect themselves, and why the campaign finance provisions were being passed through a bill concerning masks and protests.

Several Democrats, including House Minority Leader Robert Reives, questioned why the provisions regarding money from federal political committees flowing to state political committees and candidates couldnt be debated as its own bill.

The House approved the bill 69-43, sending it to the Democratic governor, who is widely expected to veto it, setting up likely veto override votes in both Republican-controlled chambers.

Shruti Parikh, center, head of Education and Political Engagement of North Carolina Asian Americans Together and others listen during a press conference against House Bill 237, the anti-mask and campaign finance bill, outside the Legislative Building in Raleigh, N.C., Tuesday, June 11, 2024.

Debate continues over proposed changes to masking laws

Several provisions of the bill have come under scrutiny since the masking law changes were first proposed last month.

One change the bill would make covers when police officers can ask people wearing masks for their health to take them off. Current law states that people have to take their masks off if asked by law enforcement officers only if its during a traffic stop or at a checkpoint or roadblock, or if the officer had reasonable suspicion or probable cause during a criminal investigation.

The bill removes those conditions, changing the language to state instead that anyone masking in public to prevent the spread of contagious disease remove the mask upon request by a law enforcement officer.

Rep. Marcia Morey, a Durham Democrat, said that such a provision would likely be found to violate peoples constitutional rights.

Democratic Rep. Pricey Harrison, meanwhile, told lawmakers on the House floor that she would personally be affected by the changes the bill would make, having recently been diagnosed with severe asthma.

Harrison, who often wears a mask at the Legislative Building and was wearing one on the House floor Tuesday, said her pulmonologist told her to wear a mask whenever theres bad air quality, and said that now that the health exception has been narrowed to only cover preventing the spread of contagious disease, she wouldnt be covered under that.

During a meeting of the House Rules Committee earlier on Tuesday, Democrats and Republicans went back and forth over the potential effects of the bill, and whether it had the support of the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services.

Rep. John Torbett, a Stanley Republican, told The News & Observer that DHHS told him on Monday that the department wanted to see the exception as currently written stay in place, but drafted three versions of alternative language to improve the bill, one of which GOP lawmakers ultimately settled on last week.

Campaign finance additions

The compromise mask bill was modified last Thursday to include a slew of campaign finance changes. According to the State Board of Elections and campaign finance experts and advocates who spoke with The N&O, the bill cuts state oversight of federal committees and organizations.

Democrats have said its a way to benefit the Republican candidate for governor, Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson. Theyve also said itll allow more dark money donations, where the source of the funding is not disclosed.

Meanwhile, Senate leader Phil Berger argued it would level the playing field in terms of money coming into the state from partisan political groups.

During the floor debate, Rep. Grey Mills said the bill resets campaign finance laws to the way they were before.

Mills, an Iredell County Republican, was referencing a 2020 advisory opinion provided by the State Board of Elections to the Democratic Governors Association. This advisory said that federal Super PACs cant give money to state political-party committees because that would go around the ban on corporations giving directly in North Carolina.

The bill would eliminate the requirements under this opinion, according to a State Board of Elections analysis of the bill.

The bill does not open the door to dark money, because of how accounts must be kept separate, Mills said. It just clarifies what is expected is equal and balanced to both parties, he said.

The bill allows federal entities that receive corporate funds and that can raise unlimited funds  through a separate account from the one receiving corporate donations  to funnel unlimited contributions to political parties and affiliated party committees.

And while it does not change the prohibition on corporations being able to donate to state parties or candidates, it opens the door for them to gain further influence in elections, experts said.

The bill would allow these federal entities to shift money they receive around for different uses, according to Bob Hall, a longtime elections watchdog. The bill also helps donors shroud their identity, said Hall.

House Democratic Leader Robert Reives said on Tuesday this bill is a seismic change in how campaign finance works in North Carolina.

Somebody who maybe doesnt want to be identified with somebodys Council of State folks. Well, now they can give all kinds of money and youre right, eventually that money can be tracked, said Reives.

We should be aiming for more transparency when it comes to finances because people are buying our elections, not buying you, he said.

Under the Dome

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NC man arrested after being accused of sending inappropriate photos to Lauderdale County child

LAUDERDALE COUNTY, Ala. (WHNT)  The Lauderdale County Sheriffs Office (LCSO) says that a cyber tip received on February 14 from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) led to a mans arrest.

According to LCSO, the incident involved child exploitation of a victim in Lauderdale County. Upon further investigation, it was determined that Dylan Smith, of Wilson County, North Carolina was the suspect.

An interview with the victim confirmed Dylan Smith as the suspect who had been sending inappropriate photos and videos to the child.

Six arrested after Lauderdale County drug bust

Based on evidence recovered during the investigation, warrants for Smith were

issued for eleven counts of transmitting obscene material to a child and one count of online solicitation of a child.

Smith was taken into custody by the Wilson County Sheriffs Office in North Carolina and extradited back to Lauderdale County. He is currently being held in the Lauderdale County Detention Center.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHNT.com.
"Article 2

Being a part of the Irish nation is a common right and a birthright of every person born on the island of Ireland, which covers its islands and seas. It is also the right of all people who are otherwise legally entitled to be Irish citizens. In addition, the Irish nation values its special ties of kinship with people of Irish descent living abroad, who share its cultural identity and heritage.





Article 3



The Irish nation firmly intends, on the basis of harmony and friendship, to unite the entire population living on the island of Ireland, with all the diversity of its identity and traditions, while recognizing that the unification of Ireland will take place only by peaceful means with the consent of the majority of the population, expressed in a democratic form within both jurisdictions of the island. Before this happens, laws passed by the Parliament established in accordance with the Constitution shall operate within the same territory and scope of application as laws passed by Parliament that were in force immediately before the entry into force of this Constitution."

So there is no need to talk about the absence of precedents in world practice. There are precedents. The amendments introduced by referendum to the Constitution of Ireland can be considered as a precedent for the situation around the Armenian Constitution. This was not a concession on anyone's part.





Such an adjustment of legislation is a prerequisite for the health of interstate relations. We would have looked at the Armenians if the Constitution of Azerbaijan had written by analogy that the Azerbaijani people, fulfilling the sacred covenant of their freedom-loving ancestors and based on the fundamental principles of Azerbaijani statehood and national goals, recognize Zangezur, Basarchecher and Daralagez as an integral part of Azerbaijan.
MOSCOW, June 11 (Xinhua) -- Russia's Ministry of Agriculture said Tuesday that the country's grain exporters will shift their focus to key markets in the Middle East and North Africa, and strengthen relationships with India and China.

During a meeting led by Russian Agriculture Minister Oksana Lut with grain exporters, it was unanimously agreed that Turkey's import refusal would not affect Russia's export capabilities, the ministry said. The consensus was that for the upcoming season, starting on July 1, Russia plans to reduce its grain supply to the global market to 60 million tons.

"In the current conditions, domestic exporters will focus on the key markets of the Middle East and North Africa, as well as on the development of relations with India and China, where there is progress in the supply of grain legumes and broad prospects for grain crops are opening up," the ministry said.

The ministry also said that considering last year's high yield, Russia aims to deliver up to 70 million tons of grains to the global markets, including 53 million tons of wheat, in the ongoing season, which concludes on June 30. Currently, one in every four wheat shipments on the global market originates from Russia.

The Turkish Ministry of Agriculture is suspending wheat imports from June 21 to Oct. 15 to support local producers as grain prices are expected to fall. 
Republican U.S. Senate candidate Nella Domenici visited Ranchers Steak and Seafood of Ruidoso Monday, June 10, to talk with locals about the issues concerning New Mexico, particularly the rural parts of the state.

Her foe in November will be incumbent Democrat Martin Heinrich, who has held the Senate seat since 2013.

During her talk, not surprisingly, she evoked her father, Pete, who served as a U.S. Senator representing New Mexico for 36 years, from 1973-2009.

U.S. Senate candidate Nella Domenici meets with voters June 10, 2024 at Ranchers Steak and Seafood in Ruidoso.

Ideals and examples her father showed her, that she said she hopes to emulate, include:

Be the voice for the people who dont have a voice.

If you want to impact change at the grassroots level, do it in a bipartisan way.

Have courage even when things seem impossible.

Those are some of the values my father instilled in me, Nella Domenici said.

As to why shes running for Senate, Domenici again said shes following her fathers example of service.

As to why shes running for Senate now, in 2024, Domenici was more specific.

New Mexicans are so angry, and things are so bad, people will go out and vote for new leadership, she said.

She said New Mexico is No. 1 in the country in crime, and No. 52 in the country in education (below Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia) and we have so many problems between those two extremes, she said.

She laid much of the problems of New Mexico at the feet of what she termed the seven top-level elected officials in the state, all Democrats: Gov. Michell Lujan Grisham; U.S. Sen. Heinrich; U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Lujan; U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury; U. S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez; U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez; and Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller.

Domenici talked about several key issues for New Mexicans and some of her thoughts on addressing them.

 Crime. Crime is not just local in New Mexico, she said. She said Albuquerque has lots of cartels, and Heinrich has missed an opportunity to get federal law enforcement involved. The FBI is supposed to be hearing from your senator.

 Cost of Living. Domenici said her business experience, her ability to understand budgets and read profit-and-loss statements can help her address economic issues.

 The Border. Because of New Mexicos unique situation with the border, Domenici believes the issue is best approached by breaking it into small parts. In New Mexico we have a need for seasonal immigrants, and that can be done in an isolated way. We need to secure the border and we can finish our wall. Our border position has a lot of advantages but it has just gotten thrown in with this amalgam of border problems.

 Education. Domenici said the state can learn from the charter schools she and her husband created, schools that consistently score better than others in the state. Charter schools are public schools, but they are all about optionality.

 Mental Health. Clearly an important and personal issue with Domenici and her family, she opened her talk with a story of how her father shared with she and her siblings the news of their sisters schizophrenia diagnosis. He told us, Your job is to be open and talk to people about this. By being open, people can change the lives of millions of families.

 Natural resources. Domenici said resources can be used in a balanced way, giving the private sector a chance to run their businesses.

Later in the day, Domenici visited with Ruidoso-area Realtors, then attended the New Mexico Cattle Growers banquet in the evening.

This article originally appeared on Carlsbad Current-Argus: Nella Domenici talks U.S. Senate bid during campaign stop in Ruidoso
NESQUEHONING, CARBON COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU)  The United States Postal Service is kicking off its National Dog Bite Awareness Campaign. Last year, Pennsylvania had more than 300 attacks, the fourth highest in the nation.

One attack is too many. 28/22 News spoke to a mail carrier in the Poconos who experienced this first-hand.

I walk about ten miles a day, said Tara Snyder a USPS mail carrier.

Snyder is a familiar face in Nesquehoning. Shes been a USPS mail carrier for the last seven years.

Theres a lot of animals that we come in contact with. Were in the middle of the woods basically here, theres snakes, bears, skunks, weve seen it all, says Snyder.

When delivering a certified letter to a home in April that needed a signature, she had a horrific encounter with a large dog.

Scranton Giant welcomes customers after fire

I went in the gate, went up to the porch, went to knock on their door, and the dog came, pushed out the screen door, and came at me. I grabbed my bag because that was the first thing I could think of to use as a weapon, and I turned, and when I turned he got my hand and my bag at the same time and ripped it open, explained Snyder.

Snyder needed 16 stitches on her hand from the bite and was off from work for about a month, but shes back doing her passion.

It is a stereotype that no dogs like the mailman, but most of them do, we all love animals or we wouldnt be doing this, stated Snyder.

Snyder shares this message with dog owners.

Even though your dog could be friendly 364 days of the year, theres always that one bad day that they have, and if it has teeth it could bite so you always want to be extra cautious with your dog, continued Snyder.

Nationwide 5,822 mail carriers were attacked last year.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PAhomepage.com.
Netanyahu's top rival left Israel's war Cabinet. How does that affect the prime minister and Gaza?

FILE - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Cabinet Minister Benny Gantz attends a news conference in the Kirya military base in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Oct. 28, 2023. The departure of Gantz after eight months spent in Israel's war cabinet does not immediately appear to challenge government but does put pressure on Netanyahu. His resignation will likely embolden and empower Israel's radical ultranationalist cabinet ministers who have fiercely opposed all cease-fire deals. (Abir Sultan/Pool Photo via AP)

JERUSALEM (AP)  The resignation of a senior member of Israel's war Cabinet was a dramatic show of distrust in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his strategy for the eight-month-old war with Hamas.

But the departure of Benny Gantz does not immediately appear to threaten Netanyahu, who still controls a majority coalition in parliament.

For now, the Israeli leader becomes more heavily reliant on far-right allies who oppose the latest U.S.-backed cease-fire proposal and want to press ahead with the war.

Heres a look at what Gantzs decision means for Israeli politics and for the war.

Why did Gantz resign and what was his war plan?

Gantz, a centrist who is seen as Netanyahu's main political opponent, resigned after months of mounting tensions within the war Cabinet over Israel's strategy in Gaza.

On Oct. 7, Hamas militants killed some 1,200 people across southern Israel and took about 250 hostages back to Gaza. Since then, Netanyahu has pledged twin goals: defeating Hamas and bringing back the hostages.

But as the war has stretched on, many Israelis  including Gantz  have grown frustrated with the lack of progress to bring home the captives and to secure a cease-fire deal. They say Netanyahu has placed his own political survival ahead of the countrys interests, prolonging the war to avoid new elections and his own corruption trial.

Gantz, whose popularity has grown since the start of the war, gave Netanyahu an ultimatum last month.

He threatened to leave the government on June 8 if Netanyahu did not endorse a plan to return hostages, end Hamas rule, demilitarize the Gaza Strip, establish an international administration of civilian affairs in Gaza, normalize relations with Saudi Arabia and widen military service to all Israelis.

When Netanyahu did not express support for the plan, Gantz announced his resignation. He said that fateful strategic decisions in the cabinet were being met with hesitancy and procrastination due to political considerations.

Gantzs departure from the war Cabinet returns him to his pre-war role of opposition leader in Israels parliament.

What does Gantzs resignation mean for Israels government?

The move does not immediately pose a threat to Netanyahu, who controls a coalition with 64 of the 120 seats in parliament.

But Gantz, a longtime rival of Netanyahu, called for Israel to hold elections in the fall during his resignation speech. He also encouraged the third member of the war Cabinet, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, to do the right thing and resign.

The resignation strips a moderate voice from Israel's far-right coalition. Gantzs National Unity party joined the emergency government in the days after Hamas attack in a show of unity.

The departure of Gantz, a former defense minister who is widely respected in Washington, will likely embolden and empower Israels ultranationalist ministers who have fiercely opposed all cease-fire deals.

Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, two of the most extreme ministers within Israels unruly government, have called for Palestinians to be removed from Gaza and then for Israeli settlements to be re-established there. Its a policy the war Cabinet has so far ruled out.

Netanyahu pleaded with Gantz on Sunday not to resign: This is the time for unity, not for division, the Prime Minister said in a post on X.

What does the resignation mean for the war?

The U.S. publicized a cease-fire proposal in early June that Biden said Israel supported. But with Gantz's resignation, Netanyahu may now be tempted to disregard the proposal so he can preserve his government and stay in power.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken called on Hamas on Tuesday to accept the proposal, saying that the U.N. Security Councils vote made it as clear as it possibly could be that the world supports the plan.

The U.S.-backed cease-fire proposal includes a phased release of hostages in Gaza in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, a surge of humanitarian aid into Gaza, a withdrawal of Israeli forces from the territory and a reconstruction effort.

The far-right members of Netanyahu's coalition have threatened to leave the government if Israel does not press forward militarily in Gaza. Their departure would fracture the government and lead to new elections in which Netanyahu would likely face a stiff challenge from Gantz.
Kajsa Ollongren, the Dutch Defence Minister, announced during a recent visit to Kyiv that 60 million euros would be assigned to "develop the potential of offensive drones for Ukraine".

Source: Dutch Ministry of Defence, cited by European Pravda

Details: Out of the 60 million euros allocated by the Netherlands, a third  20 million euros  will be used to purchase FPV drones through a drone coalition, which was established earlier this year as part of the Contact Group on Ukraine's defence.

Another 17.5 million euros are allocated for the purchase of marine drones and their production in Ukraine.

The remaining funds will be used for bilateral supplies of various types of drones and will be allocated for purchases from the Dutch industry.

Background:

The UK, together with Latvia, leads an international drone coalition formed within the framework of the Contact Group on Ukraine's Defence.

Last week, they announced a tender for the supply of FPV drones to Ukraine worth 352,000.

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Republican Rep. Thomas Massie expressed little interest in running for U.S. Senate in Kentucky when its anticipated a seat will open in 2026 due to Minority Leader Mitch McConnells likely retirement.

Ive never said Im running for the Senate, Massie said. Im pretty much disinterested in it, personally and publicly.

The Northern Kentucky congressman made the comments to Tucker Carlson during a podcast interview than ran more than two hours and published late last week.

His answer emanated from an exchange over the targeting of Massie by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, whose super PAC deployed a statewide advertising blitz against him for a string of votes viewed as unfavorable to Israel.

In an interview with the Herald-Leader last month, Massie left his options open for a future statewide campaign but said it was foolish to allocate any resources toward such an endeavor right now.

Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., leaves the chamber after Rep. John Rose, R-Tenn., a freshman from Cookeville, Tenn., blocked a unanimous consent vote during a scheduled pro forma session of the House on a long-awaited $19 billion disaster aid bill in the chamber, Thursday, May 30, 2019. Massie and Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, have both blocked passage of the measure in the past week. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

While Massie complimented McConnell as shrewd and quick during his wide-ranging conversation with Carlson, he added that it was obviously way past time for new leadership in the Senate.

Massie noted that his own private polling showed McConnell has a lower favorability rating among Republicans in the 4th congressional district than Gov. Andy Beshear, a Democrat.

Whereas Beshears favorability sits around 40%, McConnells tracks at 30%, Massie told Carlson, the former Fox News host who now runs his own podcast, The Tucker Carlson Show.

To that revelation, Carlson quipped, Well-deserved. Im glad to hear that.

The Ukraine split

Massies widest disagreement with McConnell stems over American military intervention abroad.

While McConnell has been a steadfast supporter of aiding Ukraines fight against Russia, Massie has joined a minority of members in the House opposing continual funding for the foreign war.

When Massie asked government officials for their estimation of Ukrainian casualties in the war, officials from the Defense and State Departments said theyd get back to him. He told Carlson hes still waiting for an answer.

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They said they would get back to me and theyve never gotten back to me, Massie said. Congress is being fed propaganda by our State Department and our Secretary of Defense and our intelligence agencies.

Last August, U.S. officials told The New York Times that the total number of Ukrainian and Russian troops killed or wounded since the war began was around 500,000.

But there hasnt been a precise number of Ukrainian casualties provided by government officials as the war approaches two and a half years.

Trump antibodies

Carlson also asked Massie about his relationship with former President Donald Trump, who Massie has tangled with on several occasions during and after his presidency.

In 2020, Massie locked horns with Trump over his coronavirus relief package and the congressmans demand that House members return to Washington to debate the emergency funding at the start of the pandemic.

At the time, the former president blasted Massie as a third-rate grandstander, and told him his defiance would cost him his seat.

Massie comfortably won a sixth term, telling Carlson, I think [Trump] respects people that stand up.

Carlson agreed with Massies assessment, but its unclear if Trump has forgiven Massie for endorsing Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis presidential bid last year.

Having just easily won his primary race and on his way to a seventh term representing northern Kentucky, Massie appears unworried about any future political consequences if Trump returns to the White House.

I have Trump antibodies at this point, Massie said. They may wear off at some point.
Ill have to quit being an NHS doctor and work in Lidl under Labours private school tax raid

Would your family be affected by Labours VAT raid on private schools? Email money@telegraph.co.uk

Sarah* is fed up.

The 41-year-old mother of two has spent her life dedicated to sick children as a paediatric consultant in the South West. But now she feels she has no choice but to give up her career as an NHS doctor because of Labours planned VAT raid on private schools.

And, Sarah explains, shes not the only woman being forced out: many of her female colleagues have voiced similar concerns because they take on the burden of childcare.

The problem is that many working parents rely on wraparound care private schools provide. She can currently drop off her sons at their prep school as early as 7.50am and pick them at 6pm allowing her to fit in her NHS shifts.

As the main breadwinner, she earns around 90,000 per year, almost a third of which is lost to income tax and National Insurance.

Her sons school fees are approximately 30,000 per year, meaning a 20pc rise will push their family finances to breaking point.

This will force them to consider the nearest state schools up to 20 miles away.

She says: If by some miracle we get into the nearest state school, there is no breakfast club, after-school club finishes at ten to four.

How do you work? How do you work when your childs bus stop is two miles away from your house? Its not feasible.

The truth is its women who will take a hit on their careers to facilitate childcare. It sounds awful to say that. It sounds regressive, but it will be.

I know lots of NHS consultants who are women, who are saying, we cant do this, we cannot afford this and if we have to go state, we cant do our jobs.

She adds: If you are a private consultant you can afford that extra 20pc, but were in the NHS and it doesnt work like that. It sounds like you are on great money but once you account for taxes and your pension, you are not living the high life.

Despite school closures, the threat of union action and a petition signed by almost 150,000 parents, Labour has repeatedly defended its controversial policy, arguing it will raise 1.7bn which will fund 6,500 new state school teachers.

However, Sarah laughs off these suggestions with anger. She argues if she can somehow find a way to afford the 20pc rise in fees, it will just limit her spending elsewhere, meaning the Treasury wont actually collect more tax revenue from her.

If I have to pay 20pc more on school fees, I dont magically keep spending that same amount of money. My shopping bill will have to come down, Id say wed go on fewer holidays but we dont go on holidays already. We dont have that kind of life.

Labours costings are based on a report by the Institute of Fiscal Studies (IFS) which suggests as few as 3pc of parents will pull their children out of private school because of the tax raid.

The figure is considerably lower than every other study published.

The IFS report is laughable, Sarah says. Our son is in year six. Normally in a year six group going up to year seven, you might lose one or two in a year going up to the senior school; this year they are down 20pc.

Its a huge drop in revenue for the school but its also a huge drop of children that then need to be state educated and funded, the 3pc is absolute nonsense. Nonsense. It makes me so cross. The figures are just so insanely wrong.

Like many parents, Sarah is at a crossroads. I dont know whats best to do. Do we rip off the plaster and go or do we hang in there and bankrupt ourselves? I just dont know what to do.

She feels a deep sense of injustice. My husband and I have both always overpaid our pensions so we are not a burden to our children or the state, its something we have really considered and feel passionate about.

We have worked and saved, worked and saved, looked after our children, worked and saved but if this happens and we cant afford it, I might just go and work in Lidl  and thats not a joke.

At this point, the stress begins to overwhelm her.

With a lump in her throat, she says: You cant have anything youve worked for anymore. I pay my taxes and I dont take a state school place, but youve got to give it all up. Thats what it feels likeWhy all the hard work?

*Name has been changed.

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Gail Lauder, who worked at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee, was labelled an "anti-vaxxer" by bosses

An NHS medic who was labelled an anti-vaxxer by bosses for refusing to get a Covid vaccine and wear a face mask has won a discrimination case.

Gail Lauder, an ultrasound specialist, refused to get the vaccine because she had suffered allergic reactions in the past and was very cautious about what medication she took.

She successfully sued the Tayside Health Board in Scotland for disability discrimination and harassment and will receive compensation.

An employment tribunal found that Ms Lauders colleagues reacted negatively to her stance on the Covid vaccine, especially when she discussed it with patients.

The panel found the sonographer, who worked at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee, had been treated unfavourably because she declined the vaccine, could not wear the medical grade masks required during the pandemic, and discussed it openly.

Stereotypical view

Judge Sandy Meiklejohn, who chaired the employment tribunal, said: It drew on a stereotypical view that someone who was not vaccinated against Covid must be an anti-vaxxer.

We found that this was self-evidently unwanted conduct. It was connected with [her] perceived behaviours.

We accepted [Ms Lauders evidence] that her decision not to be vaccinated was a personal one based on her medical history. She was not against vaccination generally.

Ms Lauder had worked for the NHS in Dundee since 2003, initially as a radiographer before later qualifying as a sonographer.

She was a clinical specialist sonographer during the pandemic until she was told she could no longer work with patients.

The tribunal agreed that Ms Lauders allergies amounted to a disability and heard how she had an awareness of substances and products, both specifically and generically, which provoke such a reaction.

She is very cautious about what drugs and medicines she uses, the panel was told.

In October 2020 she complained that the surgical face mask she was asked to wear at work was causing her to suffer coughing and irritation in her nose, mouth, throat and eyes.

Ms Lauder chose to wear a cloth mask instead but was removed from clinical duties with patients in January 2021 by hospital bosses.

Reacted negatively

In a subsequent meeting with Margaret Taylor, lead sonographer, the issue of how Ms Lauder was being treated by colleagues was raised.

[She] had decided not to get vaccinated, the tribunal was told. Her colleagues were aware of this and reacted negatively. Mrs Taylor discouraged [Ms Lauder] from discussing the matter with her colleagues.

The hearing was told that later that month Ms Lauder started working from home after the hospital was unable to find a suitable face mask for her.

In her annual appraisal in February 2021, Mrs Taylor said she had received reports that some assistants were concerned Gail was telling patients she was choosing not to have the vaccine.

I suggested that although Gail clearly feels this is a fairly benign statement it may not be helpful to say such things to patients as it sounds a little counter to public health vaccination programme drive, Mrs Taylor added.

Gail felt she should be allowed to have a voice and I agreed but she is contracted to work for the NHS and her views are not in line with NHS and public health.

Ms Lauder went on sickness leave in June 2021 due to stress and was hospitalised in November with a severe case of Covid.

At her next appraisal in February 2022 her stance on vaccines was raised again.

Ms Lauder said: I employ various personal strategies to ensure my respect and appreciation for the differences of others, that I do not feel is always reciprocated.

While I fully understand that being in a minority can provoke intolerance in others, I certainly do not agree that silence is the preferred course of action for minorities generally, she said.

However, going forward, I intend to consciously depersonalise my work in an effort to safeguard any disquiet.

I look forward to seeing how this topic of tolerance, respect and kindness will be addressed within the team as a whole.

Mrs Taylor said: It is important that as a team we have tolerance and respect for each other, accepting differing values and beliefs.

This has caused an undercurrent of disquiet within the team as a whole and we must all try to be more aware of this as a team going forward.

Created disquiet

The tribunal found there was a degree of tension between Mrs Taylor and Ms Lauder.

[Ms Lauder] was asserting her right to speak out while Mrs Taylor was implying that, in doing so, she had created or at least contributed to the disquiet, the panel said.

Mrs Taylor told us that [Ms Lauder] had a very binary view. Her view was not the issue, but how she put forward that view was unhelpful.

In October 2022, following a series of disputes with bosses around her vaccination status, sick pay and possible return to work, Ms Lauder launched a grievance over her treatment.

The tribunal heard that as part of the investigation into her complaint, Michael Conroy, imaging manager, gave evidence in which he called Ms Lauder an anti-vaxxer.

[Ms Lauder] has different views on Covid and is an anti-vaxxer, on occasion telling patients they didnt need to wear masks which caused colleagues distress, he said.

The ultrasound specialist resigned in November 2022 before the outcome of the grievance, claiming she was the victim of bullying.

She took the health board to the tribunal claiming constructive unfair dismissal, which the panel rejected, but will be awarded compensation for disability discrimination and harassment.

Although he claimed it was unconnected, the tribunal found that Mr Conroys anti-vaxxer comment was related to Ms Lauders inability to wear a mask and was therefore discriminatory.

Her compensation will be decided at a later date.

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Insights from Crisis Group, Council on Foreign Relations, and The Guardian Nigeria







The News

Amnesty International has accused the Nigerian army of unlawfully detaining and abusing women and girls who escaped Boko Haram captivity in northeast Nigeria, raising new concerns about the countrys response to the long-running insurgency.

The human rights group said troops held survivors for a period of days to years between 2015 and 2023, typically due to their real or perceived association with the Islamist militia. At least 2 million people have been displaced and more than 35,000 killed since Boko Haram launched an insurgency against the Nigerian government in 2014 with the aim of creating an Islamic caliphate in West Africa.







SIGNALS

Semafor Signals: Global insights on today's biggest stories.

Abusive reintegrative efforts may reduce the likelihood of male insurgents surrendering

Source: Crisis Group, Amnesty International

The abusive reintegration of women who escape Boko Haram could exacerbate the conflict by deterring male insurgents who have been eyeing the possibility of their own surrender, according to a report by Crisis Group in 2019. Although the stigma of being a Boko Haram wife has improved in recent years, many of the women and girls interviewed by Amnesty International said they were insulted and feared by community members upon returning.

The militarys alleged abuses may be part of a broader epidemic of lawlessness

Source: Council on Foreign Relations, The Guardian Nigeria, Human Rights Watch

The surge in incidents of vigilante justice in Nigeria reflects a society that is fundamentally ill at ease with the rule of law, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations argued. And its not just civilians taking matters into their own hands: Police officers and soldiers have also been known to shoot people simply for rubbing them up the wrong way. Nigerias state-funded National Human Rights Commission is comatose in the face of alleged extrajudicial killings and illegal arrests, while the US looks the other way, a former commissioner warned in The Guardian Nigeria. Transparency and accountability appear to be sorely lacking: More than 300 people have been killed in erroneous airstrikes since 2017, but the army has failed to disclose much about its investigations into these incidents, Human Rights Watch said.

A weakened ECOWAS could be bad news for regional security cooperation

Source: Foreign Policy, Crisis Group

The West Africa regional bloc ECOWAS acted decisively by imposing sanctions and demanding electoral timetables following recent military coups in Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, and Guinea, but it has been largely impotent in the face of constitutional ones, a research consultant argued in Foreign Policy. The two may be linked: The blocs woeful inaction regarding politicians violations of democratic norms in previous decades meant people lost faith in the ability of such institutions to protect them from autocrats, leading them to believe military rule, rather than democracy, was the way to achieve change. An ECOWAS further weakened by the withdrawal of three Sahel member states in January could hurt bilateral efforts to counter Islamist insurgencies, a Crisis Group expert warned.
No charges for California teacher accused of teaching while drunk. DA says its not illegal

A Northern California teacher who made national headlines last year after being accused of teaching her second-grade class while drunk will not face criminal charges in connection to the incident following a monthslong investigation, prosecutors said Monday.

Sutter County deputies were called Oct. 2 to Nuestro Elementary School in Live Oak after a caller reported a Yuba City woman drove under the influence to school and began teaching students. She had a blood alcohol level of about 0.20% more than two hours after her arrest, said Sutter County District Attorney Jennifer Dupre in an email. Californias legal limit is 0.08%.

The 57-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and child endangerment, The Sacramento Bee reported at the time.

But a subsequent investigation could not substantiate that the 57-year-old woman drove to school while drunk; she may have started drinking only after arriving there, Sutter County prosecutors said Monday in a news release.

There was also not enough evidence to prove the child endangerment charge because there was no specific information indicating that the children in (the teachers) class were placed in a position where their persons or health were endangered, Dupre wrote in the news release.

The mere potential that a situation could arise is insufficient to meet the requirements under the law, Dupre continued.

While the District Attorneys Office agrees that it is highly inappropriate to teach while intoxicated, it is, unfortunately, not illegal.

It was unclear whether the woman is still employed by Nuestro Elementary School. Campus officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

School administrators at the time of the arrest said they were limited in the information they could disclose regarding a personnel matter. But Bal Dhillon, the schools principal, said in a letter to parents that a long-term substitute would be teaching the students.

The teachers name was no longer listed on Nuestro Elementary Schools online staff directory as of Monday.
BEIJING, June 11 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Tuesday sent a congratulatory message to Narendra Modi on his new term as prime minister of the Republic of India.

Li said that the sound and steady development of China-India relations is not only conducive to the well-being of the two peoples but also injects stability and positive energy into the region and the world.

He said that China is willing to work with India to push forward bilateral relations in the right direction. 
TOPEKA (KSNT)  The Kansas Secretary of States Office has sent an election crime complaint to the Kansas Attorney Generals Office, accusing a GOP operative of misrepresenting himself as Chair of third-party group No Labels.

A spokeswoman confirmed in an email to Nexstars Kansas Capitol Bureau on Monday.

This morning, we referred this to the Attorney Generals office for further review, said Communications Director, Whitney Tempel.

The Secretary of States Office invalidated nominations handed in by GOP strategist, Kris Van Meteren, last week. State election officials claim that the rightful chair of the party is Glenda Reynolds, who is reportedly in hospice.

A letter sent to the Secretary of States Office shows that Reynolds, along with three other members, created the party which was officially recognized in January.

Van Meteren told Nexstars Kansas Capitol Bureau that he took the necessary steps to take over as party chair  going as far as filing business records and holding a nominating convention on his behalf.

However, national party officials for No Labels and the Secretary of States Office argue that Van Meteren has fraudulently passed himself off as a party official.

For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News.
As a newbie to Charlotte, my sister, and brother-in-law, Zachary Titus, were happy to help me move  if for no other reason, then they could help me build my Restaurants I must try in Charlotte list.

And Zachary knew exactly where to start me on my culinary adventures in my new city: with Mongolian barbecue. After they helped me settle into my new place, he suggested we hit up Genghis Grill for dinner.

And while Genghis Grill is a chain, the Mongolian-style stir fry restaurant is popular  with both locals and people willing to drive, say, 170 miles for the food (looking at you, Zachary). We headed out for a well-earned meal after a day of moving.

Yet, when we arrived on Friday, June 7, we found the location on Community House Road was permanently closed  with the sign already taken down.

It was one of my favorite establishments in Charlotte, Zachary said. When I found out it was closed, my heart dropped. Its safe to say that he didnt have an appetite for anything else. My sister even chimed in, saying Genghis Grill was one of the main reasons she looked forward to visiting Charlotte. Hey, what about me?

So, I did some digging  and the Ballantyne-area location wasnt the Dallas-based chains only casualty.

The airport location was listed online as permanently closed. Our team scoped out the Independence Boulevard location a few days later only to find it also closed, emptied out, and with doors locked.

Genghis Grill has closed its locations in Charlotte, including the Independence Boulevard location, shown here.

I wasnt the only person missing the place: Charlotteans had recently turned to Reddit to express their thoughts about the local closings. One user, Matthew James, told me he was quite surprised considering the Ballantyne location always seemed to be busy.

I heard they struggled to staff the place, Matthew said. However, it always took forever to get your food, and thats probably due to being short-staffed all the time.

Genghis Grill ownership changes

In April 2023, Franchise Times reported that Craveworthy Brands bought Genghis Grill as part of the 80-unit Mongolian Concepts, which includes BDs Mongolian Grill, Flat Top Grill, and Genghis Grill.

The CEO of Craveworthy Brands, Gregg Majewski, told Franchise Times at the time that Genghis Grill was a diamond in this deal, stating that customers loved their customized stir-fry bowls. He went on to say that when he took ownership, There were a lot of issues with Genghis, but we worked through those.

Charlottes culinary scene took a significant hit, as the loss of all three Genghis Grill establishments is leaving the city bereft of Mongolian barbecue. More than simply another franchise, the menu offers a unique dining experience where patrons can build their own stir-fry bowls with a variety of meats, veggies, and sauces that sizzle off a large circular grill.

The process is as much a feast for the eyes as it is for the palate.

What about other Genghis Grill locations?

The only Genghis Grill location left in North Carolina is in Winston-Salem, according to The Genghis Grill website.

Yet, when I called the Winston-Salem location on Monday around lunchtime, a server said they werent exactly sure why the Charlotte locations were permanently closed.

Shortly after, the phone call was disconnected, and our team hasnt been able to contact the restaurant again. I called neighboring businesses, and representatives at an eye doctor next door and an eyeglasses shop in the same building both told me they didnt think the Winston-Salem location was currently open.

When we reached out to the corporate PR team via email, we received a response saying that the email address was no longer available for use.

My brother-in-law isnt the only person who is emotionally affected by the closure of this fan-favorite chain. Many Genghis Grill locations have closed permanently, starting in 2023:

In August, Genghis Khan Mongolian Grill, located in Missouri, wrote in a Facebook post that it would be closing immediately due to a staffing shortage. Riley Valentine commented, I have been coming here since I was a baby, major heartbreak but lots of love and all of the best. Thank you for everything.

In September, The Telegraph reported that its North Macon, Georgia, location had closed.

In October, KSAT News reported that Genghis Grill in Texas was evicted for being behind on rent.

In December, Central Illinois News reported that The Genghis Grill, located at an outdoor mall in Peoria, Illinois, was closed for good.

Location: 11324 N Community House Rd #10, Charlotte, NC 28277 (permanently closed)

Location: 9727 E Independence Blvd, Matthews, NC 28105 (permanently closed)

Location: 5501 Josh Birmingham Pkwy, Charlotte, NC 28208 (permanently closed)
No one is above the law. Dems, show the GOP how to accept your guy is guilty | Opinion

After Donald Trump was found guilty on 34 felony counts in Manhattan, Republicans got a consolation prize TUESDAY with the conviction of President Joe Bidens son on federal gun violation.

Republicans described Trumps guilty verdict as a political hit job. Ironically, some of them on Tuesday were quick to praise justice being served and celebrated accountability for the presidents son and that not even the president son is above the law. Other Republicans were less enthusiastic: Florida U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz tweeted Hunter Bidens conviction is kinda dumb and the Trump campaign said in a statement This trial has been nothing more than a distraction from the real crimes of the Biden Crime Family.

Just like in Trumps case, a jury in a Democratic-leaning state delivered the guilty verdict for Hunter Biden in Delaware on three felony charges that he made false statements on forms to purchase a weapon and that he unlawfully carried that gun. He claimed he was not addicted to drugs or using illicit drugs despite his well-documented drug addiction. Key evidence came from ex wives and girlfriends.

Regardless of their details, the outcomes of both trials must be accepted by both sides.

Thats the basic premise of our judicial system, juts like accepting the results of an election is what keeps our democracy strong.

In an election year, the convictions of both Trump and Hunter Biden will be used as political weapons, with Republicans likely claiming that the presidents sons transgressions go beyond his conviction and represent the Biden familys history of corruption, which they have yet to prove. Democrats will continue to use Trumps many legal issues to say hes unfit to lead, though Americans have known for years who Trump is and many are still likely to vote for him.

Trump and his allies have tried to undermine the American publics faith in our justice system by even attacking the judge that presided over his case. They tried to convince voters that Bidens Justice Department is behind the charges even though this was not a federal case; it was filed by a Manhattan district attorney.

Meanwhile, President Biden previously said he wouldnt pardon his son if he was found guilty and, on Tuesday, released a statement that read, in part: I will accept the outcome of this case and will continue to respect the judicial process as Hunter considers an appeal.

Thats how it should be. This is why the American legal system is set up this way: a jury decides the fate of defendants and they have the recourse of an appeal, which is where issues related to a trial should be litigated, not by bashing judges and prosecutors in the court of public opinion.

Both Republicans and Democrats should abide by those principles. Republicans shouldnt threaten chaos because their leader was found guilty. There are three other criminal cases pending against Trump. Democrats must accept Hunter Bidens guilty verdict without using the Republican strategy of spreading conspiracy theories, or other obvious excuses.

Above all, Democrats must understand that there is a possibility that, if Trumps appeal in his case is successful, he could have his conviction overturned. Way after the Nov. 5 presidential elections, this country will need its democratic institutions.

It is the responsibility of both parties to think beyond their own political fortunes and put country first.

Click here to send the letter.
Trump is supposedly trying not to seem extreme on abortion. So when news broke last week that he would be speaking to a group that demands abortion be eradicated entirely, this somewhat complicated the narrative: Why would Trump, who is trying to stick to a simple leave it to the states script, seek the support of a group that considers abortion child sacrifice? And, conversely, why would the Danbury Institutea new group with ties to the more conservative factions of the Southern Baptist Conventionaccept the leadership of a man just convicted of 34 felony crimes in connection with covering up sex with a porn performer? In truth, none of this is very surprising.

Trumps prerecorded video, played toward the close of an hours-long luncheon organized by the Danbury Institute, defied what has become the narrative on Trump and abortion: that Trump must maintain careful distance from committing to any particular stance on abortion, lest he risk losing Republican voters who feel that anti-abortion laws have gone too far since the end of Roe. His remarks Monday were very brief, and included a pledge to defend life. That may seem vague, except if you recall that hes saying it to a group that defines defending life as abolishing abortion.

Evoking notions of spiritual warfare, the Danbury Institute in its mission statement calls on supporters to act as honorable patriots and heavenly citizens. The group lists numerous opponents, from transgender women to socialism. It laments that 63 million babies have died on our nations altar to womens rights. The group was launched earlier this year but draws leadership from Christian-right stalwarts like Richard Land and has garnered the support of the James Dobson Family Institute. Its event featuring Trump was held alongside the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention in Indianapolis and was co-sponsored by some more familiar names: Liberty University, the Family Research Council, Students for Life America, and the Promise Keepers (seemingly back from the 1990s). Guests were told the event would feature opportunities to advance their project of asserting Judeo-Christian values that they claim the United States was built on. There was no subtlety at the event: Speakers likened abortion to the Holocaust, said it must be brought to an end, and said that the people in the room will end it.

Ahead of the event, multiple outlets suggested there was some tension here with Trumps allegedly more moderate stance. Trumps position stands in stark contrast from the group hosting Mondays event, USA Today reported. Politico went further, saying that Trump and the Danbury Institute held contradictory stances on abortion, reporting last week, Donald Trump is courting a Christian advocacy organization that wants to ban all abortions and calls the procedure child sacrifice, a stringent position that contradicts his own less restrictive approach and stated intention to let states decide the issue. Many noted Trumps seeming resistance to taking a stand on abortion at all. For over a year until he announced his position this spring, Trump had backed away from endorsing any specific national limit on abortion, the AP reported ahead of Trumps remarks. Trumps campaign helped cement the narrative by repeating on Monday the claim that Trump wants to leave abortion up to the states. Its a statement well undermined by the fact that there is a plan for Trump, authored by former Trump administration officials: Project 2025, which makes the highly contested argument that a national abortion ban is already on the books and all Trump needs to do is enforce it.

Trumps remarks were provided to some news organizations before the luncheon attendees saw the video hed recorded. We cant afford to have anyone sit on the sidelinesnow is the time for us all to pull together and stand up for our values and our freedoms, the provided remarks read. We have to defend religious liberty, free speech, innocent life, and the heritage and traditions that built America into the greatest nation in the history of the world. In the video, Trump seemingly riffedYou just cant vote Democrat, theyre against religion, theyre against your religion in particularbefore getting back on script. I know that each of you is protecting those values every dayand I hope well be defending them side by side for the next four years. Its a mess, but it sounds the right notes: religious liberty and innocent life, the two pillars of the Danbury Institutes event and core concerns of the Christian right.

Maybe you think that, alone, wouldnt be enough to recommend Trump to the kind of Christian that imagines this nation can only be restored to its divine origins once these particular Christians assume leadership over all. Project 2025, for examplethe Heritage Foundationled effort to guide Trumpputs Restore the family as the centerpiece of American life and protect our children at the top of its list of concerns.

But the Christian right has been inclined to offer Trump broad latitude so long as its in service to its goals. Many Americans, including large swaths of White Christian nationalists, seem to accept that the figure who is asked to protect the purity of the national family may overstep the bounds of purity himself to do so, the professor of religious studies and former Christian nationalist Bradley Onishi writes in his 2023 book tracing and critiquing that movement. This transgression is viewed not as an unforgivable sin but as a sign of virility and power. In Trump, they have found their latest perfectly impure leader. Like a good strongman, he is seen as the head and protector of the American family, Onishi writes. His transgressions are not only forgivable; they are signs that he is up for the job. Even family values Christians may follow such a leadernot because they have no other choice, but because he fits the part.

Trump, in his way, nodded to this relationship in the rambling prophecy at the end of his remarks. He promised his audience that their power would return, with him: These are gonna be your years, because youre gonna make a comeback like just about no other group  and Ill be with you, side by side.


Nebraska's 2024 primary elections took place in May. (Getty Images)

OMAHA  When the clock struck 5 on Monday, the Douglas County Board candidate who sought a ballot recount at his own cost  after soundly losing his May primary  failed to follow through by putting money behind his accusations.

Ken Anderson of Omaha did not pay the $2,200 cost required by the close of business Monday to have the Douglas County Election Commission recount his race.

In order for a recount to be done, he would have had to pay for it. Thats because he lost his May 14 GOP primary to Sean Kelly, 65%-35%, a margin far wider than the close races that trigger taxpayer-funded recounts under state law.

Anderson wanted to pay to make point

Anderson said he never received an expected payment from others who said they supported his efforts.

It wouldve taken a pledge that ended up not coming, he said Monday.

Political observers had questioned whether Anderson would secure the funds unless he was nationally supported. The former Omaha Public Schools board member raised $900 for his race.

He said last week he never planned to win but wanted to be in position to request the new count after campaigning on getting machines out of the vote-counting business.

He is among populist conservatives who echo former President Donald Trump pushing for hand-counting of paper ballots instead of machine counting, together with audits for verifying accuracy.

Officials: Machines can be more accurate

Post-election audits funded by conservative and liberal groups alike have found machine counts faster and typically more accurate than counts conducted by hand.

Nebraska, which formally accepted its primary election results on Monday during a meeting of the Board of State Canvassers, randomly checked the results of 40 precincts, or 3% of precincts statewide.

The board used paper ballots to check the machine counts in one federal race, one state race and one local race on each of 7,898 ballots. Deputy Secretary of State for Elections Wayne Bena told the board Monday that there were zero discrepancies between the hand tallies and the counting machines.

Variances between machine and hand counts are typically small.

The boards participants are Gov. Jim Pillen, Secretary of State Bob Evnen, Attorney General Mike Hilgers, State Treasurer Tom Briese and Auditor of Public Accounts Mike Foley.

I think that Nebraskans have good reason to take pride in the quality of the elections that are run across our state, Evnen said Monday afternoon.

Anderson, who said he works in software development, has said he knows that some people would view him as an election conspiracy theorist. But he said he knows his facts.

His email address is an accusation against Omaha-based Election Systems and Software, one of the largest companies producing the machines. ES&S has defended its software and machines as secure.

Anderson said he joins a weekly conference call on election integrity that includes My Pillow CEO Mike Lindell. Lindell is being sued for defamation by two voting machine companies.

Nebraska Examiner reporter Zach Wendling contributed to this report.

Odds and ends from the canvassing board meeting:

No automatic recounts were triggered this year in statewide races, though one problem was reported in rural Harlan County, where all voting is conducted by mail. Election officials realized shortly after sending out 1,301 ballots that they were not initialed or signed by the county clerk, as required by state law. Voters were sent a replacement ballot with an explanation and instructions. Still, 184 voters returned the original, invalid ballots, which were not counted. However, 137 of the 184 worked with county election officials in time to vote using a valid ballot. The other 47 votes were not counted, but officials said they would not have changed a single federal or state result.

This year was the first time Nebraska has broken out registered nonpartisan voters by which partys federal ballot they chose, if any. Such voters need to ask for a particular partys ballot. The largest group, 16,199 nonpartisan voters, did not request a certain partys federal ballot. The second-largest group, 8,635 voters, selected a Republican ballot. Another 6,386 voters selected a Democratic ballot. Some 794 voters selected a Legal Marijuana NOW ballot. And 417 voters chose a Libertarian ballot.

Voter turnout landed at 28.1%, higher than in other recent presidential primary years with the exception of 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, when turnout jumped to 40.5% fueled in part by wider use of early voting.

A higher percentage of registered Republicans turned out for the primary, with 36.1%. Democrats were next at 28.4%. As expected in a party primary, nonpartisan turnout was lower, at 12%. About 8.4% of Libertarians voted and 6.3% in Legal Marijuana NOW.

Evnen said Nebraskans owe a great debt of gratitude to county election officials, clerks and commissioners who are deeply committed and work hard to ensure the security, accuracy and fairness of Nebraska elections, including in a historic year when photo ID was launched.

Pillen said that the proofs in the pudding from the first statewide election since he was elected governor and that Nebraskans can be 100% confident in the elections security and accuracy.

 By Nebraska Examiner reporter Zach Wendling

The post No payment means no recount of blowout Douglas County Board race appeared first on Nebraska Examiner.
COLLEGE PARK, Md. (DC News Now)  Maryland National Capital Park Police said it was investigating after someone found a noose in a wooded area next to Paint Branch Trail on June 2.

When officers went to the location near the College Park Community Center in the Lakeland neighborhood, they found a yellow rope with a noose knot. Officers processed the scene, remvoed the rope, and submitted it as evidence.

District Heights market reopens after triple shooting, man killed identified

Maryland National Capital Park Police said in a news release that there were no additional indicators of a hate crime.

MNCPP, Prince Georges County Division asked that anyone with information about the situation to contact it through PGPPCrimeTips@mncppc.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 DC News Now | Washington, DC.
State ep. John Torbett, a Gaston County Republican, outlines the changes made to a North Carolina bill that previously removed a public masking health exemption on the state House floor at the North Carolina Legislative Building in Raleigh, N.C., on Tuesday, June 11, 2024. Torbett is a sponsor of the bill, which underwent modifications during negotiations by Senate and House Republicans. (AP Photo/Makiya Seminera)

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP)  A new, reworked version of a bill that originally caught flak for removing a pandemic-era health exemption for wearing a mask in public was approved by North Carolina lawmakers on Tuesday.

The amended bill still increases punishments for people wearing masks while committing a crime. It was brought forth in part as a response to campus protests on the war in Gaza. The previous version of the bill would have also barred masking in public for health reasons.

Following extended debate from Democrats, the General Assembly passed the measure in a 69-43 vote. The state Senate passed the compromise bill last week. It now heads to Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper's desk.

The legislation  which previously removed a 2020 exemption for wearing a mask in public for health purposes  moved swiftly through the Senate last month. But it halted in the House after Rep. Erin Pare, Wake Countys lone Republican General Assembly member, said she wouldnt approve it because of the health exemption removal. Republicans have a narrow supermajority in the legislature that requires all party members to remain in lockstep to approve bills and override vetoes.

The House then sent the bill back to a committee of GOP lawmakers to negotiate changes. They reached a deal on the bill last week.

The measure added language that allows people to wear medical or surgical grade masks" to prevent spreading illnesses. It also allows law enforcement and property owners to ask someone to temporarily remove their mask for identification.

Basically, you can wear a mask for health and safety if you're not planning on breaking the law, said Gaston County Republican Rep. John Torbett, one of the bill's sponsors.

Another new component could make it easier for wealthy donors to attempt to influence this falls elections without facing more direct scrutiny.

The bill would allow 527s  a special kind of political organization named after its location within the IRS code  and other federal committees to donate money to state political party committees that come from accounts through which the 527s and federal committees can receive unlimited contributions from individuals.

State Republican lawmakers contend a 2020 State Board of Elections advisory opinion that affirmed campaign giving limits had hamstrung groups like the Republican Governors Association from helping the state GOP. Iredell County Republican Rep. Grey Mills said on the House floor that it would make the process of making political contributions equal and balanced for both parties.

But the crux of the original legislation still remains, focusing on increasing punishments for people who wear masks while committing crimes or blocking traffic while protesting. It makes sentencing for an offense one class higher than it would have been if the person didn't wear a mask.

The bill's GOP supporters cited a need for the legislation last month as a partial response to nationwide use of masks during a wave of campus protests, including at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, against Israel's war in Gaza.

The bill is a retaliatory attack on pro-Palestinian demonstrators who deserve a right to privacy, Shruti Parikh, political engagement head at the North Carolina Asian Americans Together, said at a Tuesday morning news conference by a coalition of social advocacy groups.

It is imperative on the people that we are able to exercise our right to peacefully protest, said Dawn Blagrove, executive director of criminal justice organization Emancipate NC.

The campaign finance provision did not get as much attention at the news conference as it did from Democrats on the House floor who repeatedly blasted the change for being rushed and creating a further lack of transparency.

It is insane that a country as wealthy as we are, a country that prides itself on being a democracy has let money make a sham of what we purport is a democracy,  House Democratic Leader Rep. Robert Reives said during debate.

Cooper also opposes the provision, his spokesperson Jordan Monaghan said in a statement, but the governor's office did not confirm if Cooper plans to veto.



Associated Press writer Gary D. Robertson in Raleigh contributed to this report.
North Carolina man accused of fondling, giving alcohol to boy at Ocean Lakes Campground, report says

HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW)  A North Carolina man is accused of fondling an intoxicated juvenile in 2023 at Ocean Lakes Campground in Horry County, according to documents obtained by News13.

Maxwell Fletcher, 30, of Lincolnton, North Carolina, was arrested Monday and charged with first-degree assault and battery. He was booked into the J. Rueben Long Detention Center and released on a $7,500 bond, according to online booking records.

Horry County police learned about the alleged assault on May 23, according to a police report. An arrest warrant shows the incident happened sometime between the evening hours of April 10, 2023, and the next morning.

Fletcher allegedly gave the juvenile excessive amounts of alcohol before the assault, which left the victim in a state where he was unable to stop his advances, the warrant states. No additional information was immediately available.

Queen City News, our Nexstar affiliate station reported that Fletcher was also charged with felony sexual assault for an incident that occurred in Lincoln County.

On May 15, deputies were dispatched to a call concerning the sexual assault of a minor. Following the investigation, Fletcher was arrested in Gaffney, South Carolina, on May 17.

At the time of his arrest, Lincoln County officials said Fletcher held positions as both a teacher and coach at W.C. Friday Middle School in Dallas, which is part of the Gaston County School system. He also previously served as a coach within the Lincoln County Schools system, Queen City News said.

After waiving his extradition from South Carolina in May, Fletcher was held in Lincoln County Jail under no bond. He was reportedly served with outstanding warrants from Catawba County for second-degree kidnapping and indecent liberties, among other charges.

Fletcher worked as an assistant coach for the mens soccer team at East Lincoln High School in the fall of 2023. He is no longer associated with ELHS or Lincoln County Schools, according to Queen City News.

Th investigation into this matter is ongoing and includes multiple jurisdictions in North and South Carolina. Count on News13 for updates.

* * *

Taylor Ford is a digital journalist for News13. She joined the News13 team in January 2023. Taylor is a Florence native and covers the Pee Dee out of News13s Florence Bureau. Read more of Taylors work here.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW.
Dawn Blagrove, Executive Director of Emancipate NC, says HB 237 actually weakens democracy. (Photo: Ahmed Jallow)

Advocates from various organizations held a press conference Tuesday morning outside the North Carolina Legislative Building to oppose a bill that would regulate mask wearing, impact protest rights, and change the states campaign finance laws.

Last month, the North Carolina House rejected controversial Senate amendments to the bill that would have, among other things, banned wearing masks in public, even for health reasons.

The new language unveiled last Thursday allows people to wear only a medical or surgical grade mask to prevent the spread of contagious disease. This exemption is narrower than the current, broad COVID-era exemption in state law.

The proposal also allows law enforcement officers to request people to remove their masks for identification purposes. Property owners can also request that people temporarily remove their masks for identification.

Democracy N.C. Co-Executive Director Cheryl Carter

Democracy N.C. Co-Executive Director Cheryl Carter said she is worried that anyone can ask for a person to remove their mask.

Carter said she has asthma and experiences frequent upper respiratory infections throughout the year. She also has chronic bronchitis and because of her medical history, she must wear masks whenever she is outside.

Any amount of time without a mask puts me at risk, Carter explained.

The authority of law enforcement or private individuals to determine what constitutes a medical-grade mask is also problematic, Carter said.

Why are we giving that power [to law enforcement] and asking law enforcement officers to yet do one more thing in their job? Why are we saying that a manager in Walmart can look at me and say, I dont recognize you, I feel threatened and need you to drop your mask?

Carter suggested the measure would put her life at risk.

Anti-Protest

The controversial bill, which would also increase criminal penalties for those who commit crimes while wearing a mask in public, comes in the wake of protests that have erupted on college campuses across the country in response to the Israel-Hamas conflict. It would create a new offense for blocking traffic, a tactic used in some recent protests.

Sen. Buck Newton (R-Greene, Wayne and Wilson), who sponsored the committee substitute last month said it aims to reinstate a law that existed before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Were really just resetting the law to what it was pre-COVID, said Newton in a Senate Judiciary Committee meeting last month. Thats really what the purpose is now, is to deal with organizations and individuals who are intent on breaking the law and hiding their identity, and using the hiding of their identity as a way to intimidate other people  to get away with it.

House Bill 237 is a blatant attempt to retaliate against protesters who are exercising their right to protest at the expense of historically marginalized communities, said Shruti Parikh with North Carolina Asian Americans Together.

The timing of this bill is no coincidence. Its a clear retaliation against protesters on our college campuses who spoke up against the genocide in Gaza, Parikh said.

Under the bill, willfully obstructing traffic during a protest on a street or highway would become a Class A1 misdemeanor, punishable by up to 150 days in jail and a fine.

Protesters who impede traffic during a protest while wearing masks could also face felony charges.

We have a constitutional right to protest. However, our General assembly and a few men here have decided that we should no longer be able to protest if we are not protesting for the things that uphold and support white supremacy,said Dawn Blagrove, Executive Director of Emancipate NC. That is an imprisonment on everyones democracy.

Campaign Finance Law

Speakers also voiced their opposition to changes made to the campaign finance law, which were quietly inserted at the last minute into House Bill 237.

Last week, in an unexpected move that surprised Democrats, Republican lawmakers inserted significant changes to state campaign finance laws.

The move led 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.

By hiding this campaign finance policy behind the already concerning mask bill, GOP lawmakers have made it clear that their goal is to subvert the voices of the people and instead open up our elections to more outside money behind the backs of their constituents, Parikh said.

The post North Carolinians push back against anti-protest, campaign finance legislation appeared first on NC Newsline.
The North Korea flag flutters next to concertina wire at the North Korean embassy in Kuala Lumpur

SEOUL (Reuters) - A group of North Korean officials in charge of public security was set to visit Russia, state news agency KCNA said on Tuesday, amid signs of growing diplomatic and security exchanges between the neighbours.

The delegation, led by North Korean Public Security Vice Minister Ri Song Chol, left for Russia by air on Monday, KCNA said, without elaborating.

Pyongyang and Moscow have been increasingly expanding diplomatic and security ties, hosting each other's government, parliamentary and other delegations in recent months.

Officials in Washington and Seoul have accused North Korea of shipping weapons to Russia to support the war against Ukraine in exchange for technological aid with its own nuclear and missile programmes.

On Monday, Russia's Vedomosti newspaper said President Vladimir Putin would visit North Korea and Vietnam in the coming weeks. An official in Vietnam told Reuters the Vietnam trip was planned for June 19 and 20, but has not yet been confirmed.

The Kremlin has said Russia wants to build a partnership with North Korea "in all areas" but has not confirmed the date of the visit.

Asked about the news on Tuesday, South Korea's foreign ministry spokesman Lim Soo-suk said Seoul was maintaining close communication with Moscow and monitoring developments, but declined to give details.

"Our government's position is that any exchanges and co-operation between Russia and North Korea must be conducted in a way that contributes to peace and stability on the Korean peninsula while complying with relevant Security Council resolutions," Lim told a press briefing.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un travelled to Russia's Far East last September, touring the Vostochny Cosmodrome space launch centre where Putin promised to help him build satellites.

(Reporting by Hyonhee Shin; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)
A software developer works at a gaming software company in the technopark of the Middle East Technical University (METU) in Ankara, Turkiye, on June 10, 2024. From gaming to fintech innovators, Turkiye's startups thrived in recent years in a fast-developing investment ecosystem, bolstering the nation's ambition to become a hub of entrepreneurship. (Mustafa Kaya/Handout via Xinhua)

ANKARA, June 11 (Xinhua) -- From gaming to fintech innovators, Turkiye's startups thrived in recent years in a fast-developing investment ecosystem, bolstering the nation's ambition to become a hub of entrepreneurship.

Based inside the technopark of the Middle East Technical University (METU) in the capital city of Ankara, founders of two gaming software companies expressed optimism about the future of Turkish startups, citing state incentives as a driving force.

"Turkiye has a dynamic young population and many startups are created by them. A sole computer is sufficient to create a company," Firat Ercis, CEO of Software Kingdom, told Xinhua, emphasizing that Turkish software producers are eager to find more funding and market on the global stage.

Since the start of 2024, the Turkish government has started a financing mechanism to maximize the impact of public investments on the startup ecosystem.

Turkish Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacir recently said his country is trying to step up its self-dependence on technology in the face of monopolization by global conglomerates.

Kacir noted that from 2020 to 2023, local tech startups received 4 billion U.S. dollars in investments, which accelerated the course of the emergence of Turkish unicorns, referring to startup companies with a value of more than 1 billion dollars, the semi-official Anadolu Agency reported.

"We will make sure that 100,000 technology startups are born in Turkiye and 100 of them will exceed 1 billion in value to become unicorns by 2030," Kacir said. As of today, Turkiye counts seven unicorns.

Ercis said the startup companies welcomed the government's push in the area, adding that the governmental financial aid, largely focused on research and development, helps ensure that companies do not falter at inception, Ercis stressed.

Umut Efiloglu, co-founder of Gamegine, another startup in the tech park, emphasized the importance of skilled programmers and designers in achieving global success.

"Turkish software designers are on a world standard. The presence of highly skilled programmers and designers is essential for a company that wants to enter the global market, and that is why so many (Turkish) unicorns appeared in recent years," he said.

However, Ercis from the Software Kingdom, expressed concern about the possible "brain drain" as the ailing economy in Turkiye will force many young IT engineers to seek jobs abroad.

Serkan Unsal, an Istanbul-based tech writer, said that while Turkiye ranks 15th in the world and 7th in Europe in fintech investments in the first five months of 2024, the country can move up on the list if given the right impetus.

"If we see another mega investment, there is a high probability that we will finish 2024 in 4th place in Europe," he pointed out. 

Software developers work at a gaming software company in the technopark of the Middle East Technical University (METU) in Ankara, Turkiye, on June 10, 2024. From gaming to fintech innovators, Turkiye's startups thrived in recent years in a fast-developing investment ecosystem, bolstering the nation's ambition to become a hub of entrepreneurship. (Mustafa Kaya/Handout via Xinhua)

A software developer works at a gaming software company in the technopark of the Middle East Technical University (METU) in Ankara, Turkiye, on June 10, 2024. From gaming to fintech innovators, Turkiye's startups thrived in recent years in a fast-developing investment ecosystem, bolstering the nation's ambition to become a hub of entrepreneurship. (Mustafa Kaya/Handout via Xinhua)

A software developer works at a gaming software company in the technopark of the Middle East Technical University (METU) in Ankara, Turkiye, on June 10, 2024. From gaming to fintech innovators, Turkiye's startups thrived in recent years in a fast-developing investment ecosystem, bolstering the nation's ambition to become a hub of entrepreneurship. (Mustafa Kaya/Handout via Xinhua)

A software developer works at a gaming software company in the technopark of the Middle East Technical University (METU) in Ankara, Turkiye, on June 10, 2024. From gaming to fintech innovators, Turkiye's startups thrived in recent years in a fast-developing investment ecosystem, bolstering the nation's ambition to become a hub of entrepreneurship. (Mustafa Kaya/Handout via Xinhua)

Software developers work at a gaming software company in the technopark of the Middle East Technical University (METU) in Ankara, Turkiye, on June 10, 2024. From gaming to fintech innovators, Turkiye's startups thrived in recent years in a fast-developing investment ecosystem, bolstering the nation's ambition to become a hub of entrepreneurship. (Mustafa Kaya/Handout via Xinhua)
Woman shot after she threatened North Richland Hills officer with knife, police say

A woman who authorities say threatened an officer with a knife was hospitalized after she was shot by North Richland Hills police outside her apartment.

At around 11:40 a.m. Tuesday, police received a call about a person in crisis who the caller reported as out of control, police said in a news release.

When officers arrived at the Haven NRH Apartments on Rufe Snow Drive, they found a woman who was breaking items in the parking lot before going back into her apartment, according to police.

The officers tried to contact the woman by knocking on her apartment door, which is when she came out and threatened an officer with a knife and advanced toward him, according to the release. The officer fired his gun, shooting the woman.

Officers provided medical attention until paramedics arrived and the woman was transported to a local hospital.

She is listed in stable condition, and no officers were injured, police say.

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[Get our breaking news alerts.]

As is routine procedure, a criminal investigation will be conducted by the North Richland Hills Police Department Criminal Investigations Division to review the incident and determine if any criminal offenses were committed. A second investigation will be conducted by the departments Professional Standards Office to determine whether the involved officer followed departmental policies and procedures.

The involved officer has been placed on paid administrative leave pending the investigations.
I think it can be a problem anywhere, North Seattle business hit with bullets during shooting

Seattle Police are still looking for the person who shot a 21-year-old man 4 times while he was driving on Aurora Avenue Sunday evening. SPD says this shooting caused a 3-vehicle collision at the intersection of Aurora Avenue and North 130 Street.

One of the businesses in the area was hit several times by the gunfire. Sean Curry, who works in the area, heard the gunfire and saw the crash that ensued.

Closing up for the evening, getting in the car and heard what sounded like automatic gunfire. Then I saw a car accident and I really didnt connect the two that it was a shooting, Curry said.

Curry tells KIRO 7 he didnt realize the gravity of the situation until he was called by police on what went down. He came back to his work to see the damage left behind from it all. We saw several bullet holes both inside and outside the building.

Thats when it really sank for me, right? We saw the holes in the glass. We saw some stuff on the concrete outside, but when we saw it in the building, thats when it really became real for me, Curry said.

Seattle Police say the 21-year-olds car was also heavily damaged by bullets and the vehicle has been collected as evidence. Investigators say it is still not clear what prompted the shooting.

The suspect fled the scene after the shooting and it is unknown who they are and they have not been located yet, Public Information Officer Eric Munoz said.

Despite the damage to his work, Curry says he is thankful that no one was inside and that anyone else got hurt.

If this had been one day earlier or one day later, we wouldve been open. And we have a lot of guys and a lot of clients here. So, I was really happy to see that everyone. didnt have to have the conversation with families on what couldve happened, Curry said.

Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to call the SPD Violent Crime Tip Line at (206) 233-5000, or Crime Stoppers: 1-800-222-TIPS.
North Texas man who set neighbors porch on fire sentenced to 35 years for arson

A Tarrant County jury has convicted a Grapevine man in a 2022 arson case, the district attorneys office announced this week.

According to prosecutors, 44-year old David Alferez lit his neighbors porch on fire after a disagreement about loud music.

Alferez was listening to music in his trailer in December 2022 when a neighbor approached him and asked him to lower the volume, the district attorneys office said.

Prosecutors said Alferez was caught on camera pouring a flammable liquid on the neighbors porch and lighting it on fire.

The fire eventually burned out.

 More top stories from our newsroom:

 Fort Worth wont consolidate these 7 middle schools. What happens now?

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 Anthony Johnson Jr.s death in Tarrant jail ruled a homicide

[Get our breaking news alerts.]

At the trial, jurors sentenced Alferez to 35 years in prison after finding him guilty of arson.

Thanks to the Grapevine Police Department, the Grapevine Fire Department, and the Tarrant County Sheriffs Office for their work on this case and for their commitment to keeping our community safe, District Attorney Phil Sorrells said on social media.
A Dallas pastor has been sentenced to 35 years in prison after he was convicted of stealing property from three churches by filing fraudulent deeds.

A jury found Whitney Foster, 56, guilty of theft of property valued at $300,000 or more, Dallas County Criminal District Attorney John Creuzot said in a news release. The actual combined value of the stolen properties exceeded $800,000, authorities said.

Stealing real estate is an incredibly serious and damaging crime, Creuzot said. Its worse than the theft of someones vehicle or other possessions. When someone steals property, we must hold them accountable because they are hurting people.

Foster was the pastor of a small congregation that did not have a physical place to gather. He stole church buildings and land by filing fraudulent deeds that listed fake leadership for the victim churches as the grantors and naming his church as the grantee, according to the district attorneys office.

The churches from which Foster stole were First Christian Church of Lancaster and two in Dallas  Canada Drive Christian Church and Church at Nineveh, authorities said.

Two of properties are still listed under the defendants name or his churchs name, and his congregation has been gathering at one of them, Creuzot said. The third church property remains embroiled in legal complications caused by Fosters actions, according to the news release.

 More top stories from our newsroom:

 Fort Worth wont consolidate these 7 middle schools. What happens now?

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Prosecutors also presented the jury with evidence of seven additional fraudulent deeds.

Homeowners in many Texas counties can register their property for a deed fraud alert service, which will send an alert via email whenever a document is filed on your property. In Dallas County, visit https://dallas.tx.publicsearch.us/property-alert to register your property. In other counties, check the county clerks website to see if this service is offered.
U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon decided Monday to throw out a paragraph from the federal indictment of former President Donald Trump detailing his haphazard handling of classified information, claiming it is not relevant because it is not explicitly connected to a specific crime he is accused of committing.

The paragraph in question describes an instance where Trump showed a classified military document to a representative of his political action committee without security clearance while at his private club in Bedminster, New Jersey.

The ruling comes after Trumps legal team requested the charges against him be dismissed for not clearly stating the distinct violations of federal law."

Judge Cannon denied the defense request in a 14-page ruling, stating the language of the indictment is permissible," but did agree to strike paragraph 36.

The 60-page indictment against Trump was filed by special prosecutor Jack Smith and accuses the former president of illegally retaining classified documents and keeping them at his home in Palm Beach, Florida. Trump has pleaded not guilty to each of the 40 charges.

In the ruling, Cannon criticized Smith for including using legally unnecessary allegations and language to describe the charges.

A trial was supposed to begin in May but has been pushed back as Cannon deals with a host of pretrial motions and hearings. The exclusion of paragraph 36 will have little impact on the case, The Washington Post reported, noting that prosecutors can introduce the same evidence at trial.
Nursing homes are left in the dark as more utilities cut power to prevent wildfires

When powerful wind gusts created threatening wildfire conditions one day near Boulder, Colorado, the states largest utility cut power to 52,000 homes and businesses  including Frasier, an assisted living and skilled nursing facility.

It was the first time Xcel Energy preemptively switched off electricity in Colorado as a wildfire prevention tool, according to a company official. The practice, also known as public safety power shut-offs, has taken root in California and is spreading elsewhere as a way to keep downed and damaged power lines from sparking blazes and fueling the Wests more frequent and intense wildfires.

In Boulder, Frasier staff and residents heard about the planned outage from news reports. A Frasier official called the utility to confirm and was initially told the homes power would not be affected. The utility then called back to say the homes power would be cut, after all, said Tomas Mendez, Frasiers vice president of operations. The home had just 75 minutes before Xcel Energy shut off the lights on April 6.

Staff rushed to prepare the 20-acre campus home to nearly 500 residents. Generators kept running the oxygen machines, most refrigerators and freezers, hallway lights, and Wi-Fi for phones and computers. But the heating system and some lights stayed off as the overnight temperature dipped into the 30s.

Power was restored to Frasier after 28 hours. During the shut-off, staff tended to nursing home and assisted living residents, many with dementia, Mendez said.

These are the folks that depend on us for everything: meals, care, and medications, he said.

Not knowing when power would be restored, even 24 hours into the crisis, was stressful and expensive, including the next-day cost of refilling fuel for two generators, Mendez said.

Were lucky we didnt have any injuries or anything major, but it is likely these could happen when there are power outages  expected or unexpected. And that puts everyone at risk, Mendez said.

As preemptive power cuts become more widespread, nursing homes are being forced to evaluate their preparedness. But it shouldnt be up to the facilities alone, according to industry officials and academics: Better communication between utilities and nursing homes, and including the facilities in regional disaster preparedness plans, is critical to keep residents safe.

We need to prioritize these folks so that when the power does go out, they get to the front of the line to restore their power accordingly, said David Dosa, chief of geriatrics and professor of medicine at UMass Chan Medical School in Worcester, Massachusetts, of nursing home residents.

Restoring power to hospitals and nursing homes was a priority throughout the windstorm, wrote Xcel Energy spokesperson Tyler Bryant in an email. But, he acknowledged, public safety power shut-offs can improve, and the utility will work with community partners and the Colorado Public Utilities Commission to help health facilities prepare for extended power outages in the future.

When the forecast called for wind gusts of up to 100 mph on April 6, Xcel Energy implemented a public safety power shut-off. Nearly 275,000 customers were without power from the windstorm.

Officials had adapted after the Marshall Fire killed two people and destroyed or damaged more than 1,000 homes in Boulder and the neighboring communities of Louisville and Superior two and a half years ago. Two fires converged to form that blaze, and electricity from an Xcel Energy power line that detached from its pole in hurricane-force winds was the most probable cause of one of them.

A preemptive shutdown is scary because you dont really have an end in mind. They dont tell you the duration, said Jenny Albertson, director of quality and regulatory affairs for the Colorado Health Care Association and Center for Assisted Living.

More than half of nursing homes in the West are within 3.1 miles of an area with elevated wildfire risk, according to a study published last year. Yet, nursing homes with the greatest risk of fire danger in the Mountain West and Pacific Northwest had poorer compliance with federal emergency preparedness standards than their lower-risk counterparts.

Under federal guidelines, nursing homes must have disaster response plans that include emergency power or building evacuation. Those plans dont necessarily include contingencies for public safety power shut-offs, which have increased in the past five years but are still relatively new. And nursing homes in the West are rushing to catch up.

In California, a more stringent law to bring emergency power in nursing homes up to code is expected by the California Association of Health Facilities to cost over $1 billion. But the state has not allocated any funding for these facilities to comply, said Corey Egel, the associations director of public affairs. The association is asking state officials to delay implementation of the law for five years, to Jan. 1, 2029.

Most nursing homes operate on a razors edge in terms of federal reimbursement, Dosa said, and its incredibly expensive to retrofit an old building to keep up with new regulations.

Frasiers three buildings for its 300 residents in independent living apartments each have their own generators, in addition to two generators for assisted living and skilled nursing, but none is hooked up to emergency air conditioning or heat because those systems require too much energy.

Keeping residents warm during a minus-10-degree night or cool during two 90-degree days in Boulder are the kinds of things we need to think about as we consider a future with preemptive power outages, Mendez said.

Federal audits of emergency preparedness at nursing homes in California and Colorado found facilities lacking. In Colorado, eight of 20 nursing homes had deficiencies related to emergency supplies and power, according to the report. These included three nursing homes without plans for alternate energy sources like generators and four nursing homes without documentation showing generators had been properly tested, maintained, and inspected.

For Debra Saliba, director of UCLAs Anna and Harry Borun Center for Gerontological Research, making sure nursing homes are part of emergency response plans could help them respond effectively to any kind of power outage. Her study of nursing homes after a magnitude 6.7 earthquake that shook the Los Angeles area in 1994 motivated LA County to integrate nursing homes into community disaster plans and drills.

Too often, nursing homes are forgotten during emergencies because they are not seen by government agencies or utilities as health care facilities, like hospitals or dialysis centers, Saliba added.

Albertson said she is working with hospitals and community emergency response coalitions in Colorado on disaster preparedness plans that include nursing homes. But understanding Xcel Energys prioritization plan for power restoration would also help her prepare, she said.

Bryant said Xcel Energys prioritization plan for health facilities specifies not whether their electricity will be turned off during a public safety power shut-off  but how quickly it will be restored.

Julie Soltis, Frasiers director of communications, said the home had plenty of blankets, flashlights, and batteries during the outage. But Frasier plans to invest in headlamps for caregivers, and during a town hall meeting, independent living residents were encouraged to purchase their own backup power for mobile phones and other electronics, she said.

Soltis hopes her facility is spared during the next public safety power shut-off or at least given more time to respond.

With weather and climate change, this is definitely not the last time this will happen, she said.

KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF  the independent source for health policy research, polling, and journalism.

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Oakland crime down 33 percent, according to Gov. Newsom

(KRON)  Crime in Oakland has dropped 33%, according to California Gov. Gavin Newsom. The governor, posting on X, cited statistics indicating:

Overall burglaries down 53%

Car break ins down 60%

Commercial property break ins down 43%

Homicides down 20%

Since February, Gov. Newsom said 887 stolen vehicles had been recovered, 440 suspects arrested, and 47 crime-linked firearms had been seized with help from the California Highway Patrol.

Suspect in fatal Lake Berryessa shooting arrested, charged with murder

Crime is down 33% in Oakland, Gov. Newsom wrote on X, this includes crimes like homicide, assault, robbery, burglary, car theft, larceny, and arson.

Earlier this year, Gov. Newsom deployed an additional 120 CHP officers to Oakland as part of a targeted surge operation to crack down on crime in the city.

Well continue these partnerships to keep the Bay Area, and all of California safe, Newsom added.

Despite the governor citing a drop in homicides, three teenagers were killed in fatal shootings in Oakland Monday, marking the citys 38th, 39th, and 40th homicides of the year. In 2023, Oakland lost 126 people to homicide.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
JUBA, June 11 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations humanitarian agency said on Tuesday that it has released 20 million U.S. dollars from the South Sudan Humanitarian Fund (SSHF) to provide life-saving assistance to 290,000 of South Sudan's most vulnerable people.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said the funds will help the vulnerable people in Aweil East in Northern Bahr el Ghazal, Nasir in Upper Nile, Rubkona in Unity, and Pibor in the Greater Pibor Administrative Area.

UN Humanitarian Coordinator for South Sudan Anita Kiki Gbeho said people in these areas are facing some of the most extreme conditions in the country and need support.

"This allocation will help address their most urgent food security needs and strengthen the resilience of host communities and people who have returned home fleeing the conflict in Sudan," Gbeho said in a statement issued in Juba, the capital of South Sudan.

She said this first standard allocation of the year comes at a critical time to avert a further deterioration of living conditions for the people benefitting from the support.

The OCHA said the funding is particularly critical from August onward when the effects of the lean season (April to July) are expected to manifest in increased malnutrition rates and food insecurity.

"This allocation emphasizes the participation of affected communities to ensure that the chosen activities reflect their priorities and respond to urgent life-saving needs and improve resilience through livelihood support," the OCHA said.

It said the allocation is also intended to increase direct funding to national non-governmental organizations to promote localization and empower grassroots organizations.

"We are very grateful for continued donor contributions, which means we can help people facing acute needs. We request a further injection of funding to continue saving lives and to support recovery and resilience activities of communities," Gbeho said.

The UN agency said the 20-million-dollar allocation will build on and complement earlier funding allocations, including the 16 million dollars released from the Central Emergency Response Fund in September 2023 for famine prevention and the 17 million dollars allocated from the SSHF the same year for famine prevention in Rubkona County, Unity State. 
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) said Monday that the progressive movement is undermined by the antisemitism that is on the rise in the U.S.

Ocasio-Cortez hosted a discussion with Jewish Council for Public Affairs CEO Amy Spitalnick and Stacy Burdett, a former staffer at the Anti-Defamation League, on Monday to discuss antisemitism and the fight for democracy.

In her opening remarks, Ocasio-Cortez condemned antisemitism as dangerous and explained why it threatens numerous communities.

Antisemitism is an assault on our values as Americans, and especially as progressives, she said. Antisemitism is also a threat to a community that is a vital partner in our struggles against injustice. So when the Jewish community is threatened, the progressive movement is undermined.

Ocasio-Cortez has been critical of Israels actions in war-torn Gaza, where millions of Palestinians have been displaced and many are at risk of starvation. She emphasized on Monday that criticism of the Israeli government is not inherently antisemitic, and criticism of Zionism is not automatically antisemitism.

That being true, does not mean that we should not recognize when criticism and when that criticism crosses a line into real harms against our Jewish community, Ocasio-Cortez added.

She noted that antisemitism is on the rise in the U.S., saying that more people should be equipped with the necessary resources to recognize when antisemitism is clear and present. She also said that there are sometimes false accusations of antisemitism, especially against people of color.

At the same time, it is also true that accusations and false accusations of antisemitism are wielded against people of color and women of color by bad faith political actors, she said.

And weaponizing antisemitism is used to divide us and create a false choice between the fight for Jewish safety and the cause for Palestinian self determination. Defending and standing for the rights of Palestinians is not antisemitic, 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.
ODOT employee Marty Crane died Friday after being struck by grader on Ohio 60

JACKSONTOWN  An Ohio Department of Transportation employee died Friday, after being struck by a 2020 Caterpillar 120 Motor Grader in a work zone on Ohio 60 near mile marker 5 in Muskingum County, according to Sgt. Bridget Matt, spokesperson for the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

The Muskingum County Sheriffs Office received a 911 call at 5:29 p.m. Friday that Marvin Marty Crane had been struck by a construction vehicle. Crane was transported to Genesis Hospital and later pronounced dead, according to Matt.

Marty Crane

ODOT Spokesperson Matt Bruning said its the 163rd death in the organizations history since it was formed in 1906. The last incident was on March 15, 2018, when 54-year-old ODOT worker John Pasko was struck after an SUV drifted into a work zone on the right side of the road, hitting Pasko. He was clearing brush along I-680 in Mahoning County.

But according to Bruning, the Ohio 60 work zone just south of Zanesville was closed to the public while ODOT was rebuilding the roadway.

There is no traffic moving through there. Theres no safety message to motorists in this case, said Bruning, who added this type of incident is exceedingly rare.

This crash was inside the construction zone involving construction workers, confirmed Matt. It did not involve other drivers on the road.

Officers have 10 days to complete the report, she added.

Upon completion, the report will be submitted to the Muskingum County Prosecutors Office for their review and see what, or if, charges will be filed, she said.

ODOT Director Jack Marchbanks said in an ODOT news release that Cranes death was tragic.

His death leaves a void among us and reminds us of the fragility and preciousness of life, Marchbanks said.

Memorials are already being placed outside the ODOT facility in Perry County where Crane was hired by ODOT as a highway technician in 2009. His passion for construction led him to being promoted last August to ODOTs construction office where he worked as a project inspector, according to the release.

Memorial display at the ODOT Perry County garage following the death of Marty Crane.

Marty embodied excellence every day, said ODOT District 5 Deputy Director Jason Sturgeon in the release. His passion for his work was evident in everything he did, and his dedication and positive attitude inspired everyone around him. He truly loved his job and approached each task with enthusiasm and integrity.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensations Public Employment Risk Reduction Program are also investigating since the incident took place on an active work site.

This article originally appeared on Zanesville Times Recorder: ODOT employee Marty Crane died after being struck by grader
The suspect allegedly claimed he was doing "overwatch" in the parking lot after noticing an increase in crime, according to charging documents

Getty The Big 5 Sporting Goods Store

A 51-year-old man is facing murder charges after police in Washington allege he fatally shot a 17-year-old boy in a Big 5 Sporting Goods parking lot on Wednesday, June 5, as the boy was attempting to return an airsoft gun with two friends.

According to a press release from the Renton Police Department, the incident occurred around 7:30 p.m. in Renton, Wash.. The suspect, identified as Aaron Brown Myers allegedly approached the three teenagers in the parking lot and a physical altercation ensued, charging document filed on June 10 and reviewed by PEOPLE state.

The three teenagers were walking towards the store to return an airsoft gun  previously reported as a BB gun  when the suspect approached them with a firearm, the charging document state.

Myers, an off-duty cop, then allegedly shot the 17-year-old victim multiple times, police say.

Deputies from the King County Sheriffs Office responded to the incident immediately and began "life-saving measures," but the victim died at the scene, according to the release.

Myers has been charged with second-degree murder with a firearm enhancement and second-degree assault with a firearm enhancement. He is currently being held in the King County Jail on a $2 million bail.

According to the charging document, Myers claimed he was in the area to do "overwatch" after noticing an increase of crimes in the parking lot. He allegedly believed the group of teens were going to "commit a violent robbery."

Investigators obtained surveillance footage from the sporting goods store as well as a nearby martial arts studio, which they say showed one of the teenagers removing the airsoft gun from his pocket and laying it on the ground after Myers approached them with a gun.

As the altercation continued, the suspect pushed the teenager to the ground and straddled him while aiming his gun at the victim, who had "his fingers extended" to show that his hands were empty, the charging document states. As the victim "briefly" lowered his arm to his waist while backing away from Myers, the suspect shot the victim multiple times, according to the charging document.

The two surviving teenagers claimed that they repeatedly told Myers that "it was not a real gun, it was a BB gun," per the charging document.

On Friday, June 7, the Kent Reporter identified the victim as local high school student Hazrat Ali Rohani after the schools principal confirmed his death in an email to families.

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"Our thoughts are with his friends and family during this sensitive time," the principal wrote.

The charging document states that an autopsy by the King County Medical Examiner's Office determined Rohani's cause of death to be multiple gunshot wounds. The teenager sustained at least seven gunshot wounds with six of them entering through his back.

It is unclear if Myers has retained an attorney to speak on his behalf.

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Read the original article on People.
A toddler being murdered in cold blood is bad enough. But the person who is allegedly responsible showing that she feels no remorse may be even worse.

On Monday, as the judge read the indictment for Bionca Ellis, a 32-year-old Black woman accused of randomly killing a 3-year-old toddler, she could be seen smiling before she pleaded not guilty to the charges, which include one count of aggravated murder, two counts of murder, two counts of attempted murder, two counts of felonious assault, one count of endangering children, one count of tampering with evidence and one count of misdemeanor theft.

Ellis bond was set at $5 million, according to WKYC.

Below is the chilling video of Ellis smirking while in court:

JUST IN: Woman who is accused of killing a 3-year-old boy in a grocery store parking lot in Cleveland smirks in court.



32-year-old Bionca Ellis was seen stalking 3-year-old Julian Wood and his mother before killing the boy with a knife.



When the arraignment hearing began, Ellis pic.twitter.com/JT0u6kKhga  Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) June 10, 2024

The incident involving Ellis allegedly occurred late afternoon on Monday, June 3, as Margot Wood and her son, Julian, were at a grocery store west of Cleveland, per the Associated Press.

Margot put her son in a shopping cart as they were headed to the parking lot of the grocery store before Ellis appeared out of nowhere, armed with two kitchen knives she stole from a nearby thrift store.

Ellis then suddenly stabbed the 3-year-old boy twice as he sat in the shopping cart before attacking his mother as she attempted to lift him out of the seat before running away. Later, police found Ellis a short distance away from the crime scene with a bloodied knife in her hand.

Local police confirmed that Julain was transferred to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The attack has been described as a random act of violence by local authorities.

During the bond hearing on Monday, the father of the 3-year-old addressed the court. That day, one week ago, she took everything from us. Theres nothing that could ever replace my son or anything that my wife and I, even our other kids, are going through, he said. Its horrendous. I really wish no bail. Period. Or extend it to the maximum limit possible that you can, at the very least. Just do whatever you can to keep this monster behind bars.

It was also announced in court that the prosecuting attorneys are seeking the death penalty, according to WANE 15.

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Ohio EPA to remove hundreds of scrap tires involved in large fire

A contractor with the Ohio EPA will be removing hundreds of scrap tires after a large fire broke out in a Dayton neighborhood last month.

>>PHOTOS: Smoke visible for miles after fire in Dayton

On May 21, Dayton firefighters battled a garage fire in the 1400 block of Leonhard Street.

According to a previous News Center 7 report, the garage fire started in the backyard of a property full of tires.

A spokesperson from the Ohio EPA said the agency estimates there are 300 to 400 tires on the property.

Dayton Fire Department District Chief Matt McClain told News Center 7 that eight properties were damaged in the fire.

McClain said since rubber was involved, the fire got extremely hot and grew quickly.

>>RELATED: Too little, too late; Neighborhood asks city to take action after large tire fire

The Ohio EPA is contracting Rumpke to clean up the tires on June 12, the spokesperson said.

The agencys Scrap Tire Programs no-fault option will remove the tires and the Ohio Scrap Tire Cleanup Fund will support the efforts.

Every year, the Ohio EPA removes scrap tires from approximately 200 sites around the state.

From July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024, the agency removed more than 150,000 scrap tires from 195 sites.

According to a previous News Center 7 report, no one was injured in this fire.

>>RELATED: 8 properties damaged after large fire in Dayton

We will continue to follow this story.

The tires are being removed from the site through Ohio EPAs

Ohios Scrap Tire Fund will support the clean-up.




Ohio Secretary of State Frank Larose mingles before the 2024 State of the State address in the Ohio House chambers at the Ohio Statehouse. (Pool photo by Barbara J. Perenic, Columbus Dispatch.)

Ohios Republican leadership last month refused to put Joe Biden on the presidential ballot unless the legislature adopted another measure that they claimed would protect against foreign money playing a role in the process by which citizens can initiate laws.

But while some surely were concerned about malign foreigners improperly influencing state policy, some of them seemed to be playing on the same trumped-up fear of foreigners that they do in other contexts.

When earlier problems arose with putting presidential candidates of both parties on the ballot, the legislature passed a clean bill fixing the problem as a routine matter.

Moreover, with this latest law, Ohio lawmakers did nothing to bring transparency to dark money, which is flooding the state and can come from any source. It can be from foreigners, organized crime or interested parties  all unbeknownst to the electorate whose laws are being impacted. Such dark money played an indispensable role in the largest bribery scandal in Ohio  a scandal in which many of those same Ohio leaders played a part.

In addition, critics said the move was really intended to make it more difficult for citizens to impose popular measures that the states gerrymandered supermajority opposes, such as protecting abortion rights and ending gerrymandering. As part of that, they said, it gives the state attorney general  who since 2011 has been a Republican  greatly enhanced powers to harass citizen-led attempts to change the law.

Xenophobia

Advocates for immigrants and others say that in pushing their ban on foreign money, some Republican leaders are playing on the anti-foreigner, anti-immigrant paranoia that Donald Trump has relentlessly whipped up since announcing his candidacy to be president in 2015.

The new legislation not only bans contributions from foreign nationals, it also bans them from lawful permanent residents, or green card holders. Thats despite the fact that federal law allows such people to make contributions, and Bill Seitz, an attorney and a Republican member of the Ohio House, warned his colleagues that the prohibition could sink the entire measure in court.

To an immigrant advocate, the dog whistle was easily audible.

They know what theyre doing, the people who are sponsoring these amendments, said Lynn Tramonte, director of the Ohio Immigrant Alliance. Theyre making this about people who were born in other countries and adding on new categories of immigrants to be banned from donating money. The legislator who introduced that amendment knows that that makes it open to legal challenge. That was very clear. Both sides  Republicans and Democrats  expect that law to be challenged in court. So it was clearly not about the policy. It was about getting those headlines.

Some of the amendments staunchest supporters havent been shy about using such tactics.

Secretary of State Frank LaRose was the first to flag the fact that the Democratic National Convention was too late to get Biden on the ballot under Ohio law. But instead of calling for a clean bill that would only fix that as the legislature had done in the past, LaRose had other demands.

Ohioans deserve confidence in the integrity of our elections, knowing that they arent being bought by foreign bullies or billionaires, LaRose said in a May press release. I hope the House does the right thing and takes action soon to close this loophole before its exploited again.

Other motives

LaRose was referring to a Swiss billionaire who had made big contributions to the Tides Foundation, a U.S. group that helped finance Ohio voter efforts last year.

One trounced an August attempt by LaRose and his allies to make it nearly impossible for citizens to initiate amendments to the Ohio Constitution. Then, in November, voters passed an amendment protecting abortion rights by a 14-point margin. LaRose had earlier told an audience of partisans that the August effort was 100% about stopping the abortion-rights measure in November.

Its not the only time LaRose, the states top elections official, has pressed a fear of foreigners into the service of what appear to be ulterior motives.

For example, hes conducted frequent voter purges, supposedly in the service of election integrity. Last year, he tried to make a splash by announcing that he had referred 641 cases of possible voter fraud to authorities.

Sounds like a lot, but thats only 0.0044% of the total votes cast. And when the Capital Journal did a follow-up investigation, less than 3% of those resulted in charges.

In other words, just 0.000132% of the total number of votes cast since LaRose took office in 2019 might end in convictions. Yet LaRose last month announced yet another voter purge, claiming the threat of foreigners casting illegal ballots was why it was needed.

Ohioans overwhelmingly passed an amendment to our state Constitution which makes it clear that only U.S. citizens can vote in our elections, LaRose said in a May 14 press release. It is my duty under the law to uphold the Constitution, and the legislature has explicitly tasked me with ensuring that only eligible citizens can register and vote.

Spreading fear

Elizabeth Neumann was deputy chief of staff of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security during the Trump administration.

During a virtual press conference sponsored by the National Immigration Forum last week, she described how the great replacement theory  the idea that theres a plot to replace white people, especially in positions of power  has led to numerous racist massacres. She said that whipping up fears of illegal voting is a softer version of the same theory that shooters invoked as they massacred people in Christchurch, New Zealand, a Walmart in El Paso, a Pittsburgh synagogue, and a Buffalo grocery store.

Theres a lot of conversation about how migrants are actually voting and this goes into that softer great-replacement theory and we anticipate that will continue to be a challenge this election year, said Neumann, who is now chief strategy officer for Moonshot, which works to end online harms such as violent extremism and child trafficking.

Tramonte, of the immigrant alliance, said the real aim of claims of illegal voting and purges and prosecutions is to scare marginal populations away from the polls. She said she helped conduct a focus group before last Novembers election.

I heard from people who were citizens who said they were afraid to vote because they were afraid of being attacked, she said. They had a plan to go early in the morning and make sure they could get their vote cast because they wanted to make sure their voices were heard, but they were afraid.

In addition to not effectively addressing the problem of mystery money in our politics and making it harder and more frightening to participate in the process, there could be a darker consequence of the rhetoric around the bill Republicans demanded in exchange for putting a sitting president on the Ohio ballot.

In an interview, Moonshot analyst Yuri Neves said that political leaders are invoking conspiracy theories when they insinuate that green card holders have a diabolical agenda or that masses of undocumented immigrants are voting illegally.

It suggests some coordinated plan by nefarious actors, he said. Depending on who you talk to, its globalists, Jews, etc. When we say its a conspiracy theory, its not just demographic changes happening as there always are. Its that its some malevolent actors behind it. And thats where it gets quite dangerous.

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Getty Images.

Nurses around Ohio complain their profession is in crisis as hospitals struggle to fill vacant positions and the increased workload pushes more people to leave the field. Those staffing challenges are compounded, they argue, by a spike in violent encounters between health providers and patients.

Nurses biggest ask is legally mandated staffing ratios, a change hospitals vehemently oppose. But theyre also urging lawmakers to pass a bipartisan measure aimed at better protecting health care workers from violence on the job.

Nurses across Ohio are being hit, kicked, scratched and verbally assaulted while trying to do their jobs, Ohio Nurses Association Executive Director Rick Lucas explained last week.

Ohio House Bill 452, sponsored by Reps. Andrea White, R-Kettering, and Rachel Baker, D-Cincinnati, requires hospitals around the state to develop workplace security plans and a system for reporting violent incidents. The measure also requires hospitals to post notices that aggressive behavior wont be tolerated.

Last Wednesday, proponents of the bill argued those changes were a necessary first step, but that lawmakers should tack on additional protections as well.

Yes, and

Speaking on behalf of the ONA, Lucas praised the bills requirement that hospitals develop security plans for ensuring hospital workers can have a say in how to keep everyone safe. Still, he argued the committees tasked with developing those plans should have strong representation from bedside workers. At least half of the members should be direct care providers, Lucas argued, and seats should be reserved for patients rights advocates as well.

Lucas asked for simple security upgrades, like allowing workers to request ID badges with only their first name. He argued as well for regular de-escalation training and a minimum number of trained workers based on a units bed count and relative risk.

But the biggest ask was also  and theres really no way around it  pretty gross.

Im here to tell you that having someone use blood, saliva, urine, feces, semen, sputum, or vomit as a weapon against a health care provider is not part of the job, Lucas insisted. This is assault and should be criminally charged as a felony in the fifth degree. These actions are not just violent, they pose severe health risks including the transmission of infectious diseases.

He noted the same penalties already exist for using bodily fluid as a weapon against law enforcement officers.

Rep. Brian Stewart, R-Ashville, voiced support for holding people who assault health care workers accountable  making it a big boy, big girl penalty that you go to court for. But he worried some of the other provisions put forward demand a murky level of accountability from hospital administrators without necessarily making workers any safer.

Lucas, however, defended the importance of deescalation training as a first step.

Now, that doesnt always work, he explained. And thats why we need the criminal penalties when when folks escalate.

Rep. Beth Liston, D-Dublin, who works as a physician, worried about unintended consequences. While she acknowledged there are circumstances where heightened penalties are warranted, in most cases shes familiar with, patients arent in control of their faculties.

I really struggle with saying an elderly, demented or delirious person whos critically ill should be charged with a felony for lashing out when strapped down, she said As well as the  I dont think it would do any deterrent impact, right? Because these arent people that are thinking clearly.

Jacinta Tucker, a nurse speaking on behalf of the ONA, said its often not the patients themselves who are kicking, cussing, fighting.

Its when family members come in, she said, and they want everything done for that patient, and youre in that room, and then all of a sudden, the patients family is the one kicking, cussing, pushing, shoving.

Liston expressed skepticism, and Lucas pointed to willfulness as the distinction. He argued nurses are unlikely to pursue charges against a person with dementia who is not willfully harming them.

But folks that are that are perpetrating willful acts against health professionals should absolutely face criminal liability, he said.

Doctors weigh in

Next up, Drs. Nicole Veitinger and RJ Sontag from the Ohio chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians attempted to contextualize the scope of the problem. Veitinger shared the results of a 2024 poll her organization conducted among its members. In all, 91% of respondents reported they or a colleague were a victim of violence in the previous year.

The survey showed that patients committed nearly all assaults against physicians at 98%, she continued, And the most common types of assaults per this poll, were verbal assault with threats of violence at 64%, being hit or slapped at 40%, being spit on at 31% kicked 26%, and punched 25%.

She argued the impact of violence in health care settings is understated because many workers decline to report assault or are even encouraged not to do so.

Im one of the 91% of emergency physicians who was assaulted in the last year, Sontag volunteered.

I was physically assaulted by a patient, he went on, and I was shocked to find out the hospital that I was serving in had no security in the emergency department, and had no system in place to even make a report.

While he acknowledged doctors arent usually seeing patients on their best day, and not all incidents will rise the to the level of pressing criminal charges, its still vital for hospitals to have a reporting system in place.

Physical violence, intimidation and threats are not accepted in any other workplace, Veitinger said, and they should not be allowed or tolerated in a health care setting.

Follow OCJ Reporter Nick Evans on Twitter.

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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  New details have emerged on the impending layoffs that will impact hundreds of workers at Oregon Health and Science University.

The institution issued the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification, or WARN Notice, on Friday. The Higher Education Coordinating Commission made the notice public on Monday morning.

City of Portland auctioning streetcar with one caveat

In a letter, OHSU Executive Vice President and Interim Chief People Officer Connie Seeley revealed the hospital will not renew the contracts of 142 employees at the Downtown Portland Marquam Hill Campus  the health systems largest location. The workers will be permanently laid off on or after Friday, Aug. 9.

The WARN Act requires larger companies to inform staff of job cuts at least 60 days beforehand. Seeley said the recent layoffs arent enough to trigger a notice alone, but OHSU expects more over the next three months.

Hospital executives previously told workers that about 500 employees could lose their jobs amid Strategic Alignment Work.

Inaugural Portland Book Week brings discounts, events to 50 local stores

Those affected by the layoffs will continue receiving payment and benefits for at least another 60 days, which is required by the state.

Some of these affected positions not being renewed are represented by a union, AFSCME Council 75, that is actively in bargaining, but there are no company or contractual provisions for transfer, bumping, or reassignment which apply to these positions, Seeley wrote in the letter.

Nearly two weeks ago, the health system signed a definitive agreement to absorb fellow Portland-area hospital chain Legacy Health.

The university has committed to investing approximately $1 billion into the merged health system within the next decade. According to executives, the funding will mostly stem from bonds.

Oregons minimum wage set to increase in July 2024

These capital dollars cannot be used to close gaps in our fiscal year 2025 OHSU budget or to pay our members, OHSU President Danny Jacobs, and other executives, wrote to staff. The OHSU Strategic Alignment and budgetary work would be necessary with or without the Legacy Health integration.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Calls for Oklahoma County Commissioner Myles Davidson's resignation have heightened as county commissioners voted Monday to buy land for a proposed new jail site.

The Board of Oklahoma County Commissioners voted 2-to-1 to buy 71 acres of property at 1901 E Grand Blvd., a heavily industrial area in Oklahoma City near Crooked Oak Public Schools and just blocks away from the Oklahoma City/Del City border. Board Chairman and District 2 County Commissioner Brian Maughan said the move was an effort to utilize a $50 million allocation of federal American Rescue Plan Act funds earmarked for a behavioral health facility.

We just went ahead and purchased the property outright today without a contingency like we had previously offered, and that means that we dont need to have the landowner currently go forward and get any kind of request from (Oklahoma City) approved, Maughan said. This allows us to move forward, we believe, to build the mental health facility and save the ARPA money.

A rendering shows the public entrance to the planned behavioral care center that is proposed to be built.

Whether the county goes forward with other purposes for the land  like building the actual new detention facility  would be determined at a future meeting, Maughan said.

Maughan and District 3 Oklahoma County Commissioner Myles Davidson voted yes to support the purchase. Board Vice-Chair Carrie Blumert, District 1 County Commissioner, was not present Monday, but her first deputy Cody Compton voted no on her behalf.

For District 1, we have been a no on this pretty consistently, Compton said. Commissioner Blumert would like to still consider other sites.

The county commissioner majority moved forward with purchasing the Grand Boulevard site despite overwhelming opposition from Oklahoma City Council members in late May to rezoning the property. Residents from the adjacent Del City community have frequently voiced their opposition to building a new jail near the city's boundary, arguing it would negatively affect Del City's economy and property values.

Maughan said the county could declare sovereignty over the Grand Boulevard site to build the jail without city council approval. Del City leaders are exploring legal action against the county in an attempt to stop the project, but Maughan said a lawsuit was likely regardless of where the county decided to build the jail.

I think thats why its important to establish whether or not we have sovereignty, Maughan said. Thered probably have to be a court case to determine that. We have the plans already designed for this site, and that would have to be completely redone if we go somewhere else, so that takes a step back.

The current 13-story jail has operated since the 1990s at 201 N Shartel Ave. Some thought that transferring authority over the facility from the county sheriff's office to a jail trust would improve conditions and lessen the number of deaths, but a yearlong investigation by The Oklahoman found the facility to still be one of the deadliest jails in the United States.

In 2022, local voters approved a $260 million bond to fund construction of a new jail, but pricing estimates earlier this year revealed the facility would actually cost between $610 million to $677 million.

Oklahoma County District 2 Commissioner Brian Maughan, left, and District 3 County Commissioner Myles Davidson speak to media on Monday.

Residents call for resignation of county commissioner over alleged conflicts of interest

Several residents of Del City and Midwest City, along with Oklahoma City-based activist groups, called for Commissioner Davidson to recuse himself Monday and to resign. Calls for his removal follow allegations of collusion after Davidson accepted donations from the Garrett family co-owning the Grand Boulevard property during his election campaign.

Mid-Del Public Schools board member Gina Standridge requested text messages, communications and emails involving Davidson, the Oklahoma County Citizens Bond Oversight Advisory Board and Crooked Oak Public Schools about a proposed deal to swap properties as part of the countys jail plans.

Text messages between Davidson and his oversight committee appointee Xavier Neira were later obtained and shared with The Oklahoman. In conversations ranging from February to May, Davidson discussed Neiras request with the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce to aggregate as much land as possible for the old jail location so we may do a larger tif (sic), or tax increment financing district.

Davidson also expressed frustration with the Chamber over the 2022 bond election for put(ting) the cart before the horse in asking for money on a project we had no idea how much it would cost. Other text messages exchanged between Neira and Davidson in February described Maughan as "a moron" and "cowardly," while additional messages in March indicated a plan "to file for sovereignty as soon as re-zoning is filed" and were further critical of both Maughan and former District 3 County Commissioner Kevin Calvey for "screw(ing) the county."

Most of the direct criticism came from the appointee, with Davidson at one point saying "Clearly." Some of these text messages also indicated Maughan had "changed his tune" and was now willing to move forward on the Grand Boulevard plans.

Standridge openly called for Davidsons recusal Monday, arguing that your donors are profiting off of your votes and that he had failed to follow ethics reporting guidelines.

As far as the sovereignty  that is just crazy, Standridge said. That is normally reserved for unincorporated lands or Native American lands. Or kings and queens, which we dont have any of here in the United States.

When asked about calls for him to recuse himself, Davidson was dismissive, saying, "If we had to recuse ourselves on every vote that we make, the legislature would never make a vote." He also said he speaks with his appointees regularly to remain updated on proceedings and that he had "no idea" why he was being accused of doing backdoor dealings.

I am but one vote on a commission of three, Davidson said. I cannot make any deal for anybody. Its only the body politic that can act. These are ideas that I present not only to my board appointee, but to the board (of commissioners) as well, and theyre able to tell me to take a flying leap and say no.

But Ive always said that that facility, that spot down there, was 1,238 feet away from a stadium, and I voted against it originally because of that fact, Davidson added. And when I went and sat down and spoke with Crooked Oak and they said that theyd be willing to move, I started putting a plan together to make that happen, so we can protect the kids at that spot.

Del City Mayor Floyd Eason addresses the Oklahoma County Board of County Commissioners on Monday.

But Del City Mayor Floyd Eason expressed concern that county commissioners were not listening to their constituents and that a potential TIF development district was being prioritized over the concerns of the residents.

You seem to listen to your contributors more than you do your constituents, Eason told the commissioner board. We have heard all along how unprofitable it is to rebuild or restore the jail downtown. Now we find theres already a TIF program being worked on to renovate the existing jail position. It looks to me that somebodys trying to make money by moving the jail out of downtown and renovating that area. And I think that, if thats the case, then youre putting money interests and developers ahead of the citizens concerns. Youre selling off their security and their rights for profit downtown.

Land the county was considering as a jail site is shown in January at 1901 E Grand.

Others oppose the mental health facility construction at the 71-acre Grand Boulevard site because of the likelihood the jail will still be built at the location. Commissioners said last week the county's intention all along was to build a behavioral health facility separate from the jail, but residents weren't buying that explanation.

Your plan is to build a mental health facility, and I dont know how many acres that will take, said Del City Ward 4 Councilman Scott Tatom. Lets say five  lets say six. What do you plan on doing with the other 65 acres? Are you going to build a park? Are you going to build a playground? What are you going to do? We all know what its going to be. Theres no skirting around this issue. I mean, its plain as day.

Mark Faulk, an organizer with the People's Council for Justice Reform, described the effort to move forward on a mental health facility at the site as "a con job" and that the ARPA funds could be put to better use.

"We believe that you should take that money and either build one out in the community somewhere separate so that we don't criminalize mental health," Faulk said. "Or you should split that money up between some of the communities and let them build their own mental health facilities, or use existing buildings and have it run by the community."

Text messages between Davidson and Neira in late April also show a discussion about why the narrative on scope change works and getting the county pregnant with the property purchase to build the mental health facility will force them a bit.

An artist rendering shows a layout of the proposed Oklahoma County Jail at 1901 E Grand Blvd. site in Oklahoma City.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma County commissioners buy land for new jail amid controversy
Villagers fetch water from a water supply facility built by Chinese experts in Belle Cite village, near the central city of Parakou, Benin, May 25, 2024.

Parakou is a vital hub for cotton production in Donatien Benin, with cotton cultivation serving as the primary income source for locals like Ezin. Since 2013, the Chinese Support Mission for Cotton Production in Benin has been assisting local farmers to improve agricultural techniques.(Xinhua/Li Yahui)

COTONOU, June 11 (Xinhua) -- As the June rainy season descends upon Benin, Donatien Ezin and his eight-year-old son work together in the fields behind their home in Belle Cite village, near the central city of Parakou.

The 37-year-old cotton farmer expressed confidence in planting cotton in time for this month. "Thanks to the Chinese agricultural machinery, my cotton field can be planted quickly, saving a lot of labor for me and my family," Ezin said.

Parakou is a vital hub for cotton production in Benin, with cotton cultivation serving as the primary income source for locals like Ezin. Since 2013, the Chinese Support Mission for Cotton Production in Benin has been assisting local farmers to improve agricultural techniques.

Tailored to local conditions, Chinese experts undertook tasks such as seed selection, demonstration of planting techniques, and guidance on agricultural machinery.

Shen Zhiwan, a Chinese agronomist, said Belle Cite's cotton farmers have achieved "tangible progress," noting that as their incomes increased, they replaced their once-scattered adobe dwellings with sturdy brick houses.

Ezin, currently living in a brick bungalow with his family, explains the success of the cooperation project in detail. By mastering scientific planting techniques and utilizing machinery, Ezin and his brother witnessed crop yields surge from 1.2 tonnes to 2 tonnes per hectare.

Shou Xiaoyong, the head of the Chinese expert team, said that they have conducted 22 training sessions over the past three years, which covered topics such as agricultural machinery and cotton planting techniques, benefiting nearly 1,000 local trainees.

Their efforts have introduced new tools and technologies, resulting in improved cotton production and quality in Benin, he added.

Yves Koba, mayor of Belle Cite, expressed gratitude for the experts' assistance in helping local farmers increase their incomes, enabling them to build houses and purchase motorcycles and even cars.

The mechanization of cotton production has transformed work processes and elevated both cotton production and living standards, Koba said, highlighting a significant increase in cotton farming participation since the project's initiation, with more than 300 families now actively engaged in cotton-related activities in Belle Cite, up from 100 households. 

Villagers fetch water from a water supply facility built by Chinese experts in Belle Cite village, near the central city of Parakou, Benin, May 25, 2024.

Parakou is a vital hub for cotton production in Donatien Benin, with cotton cultivation serving as the primary income source for locals like Ezin. Since 2013, the Chinese Support Mission for Cotton Production in Benin has been assisting local farmers to improve agricultural techniques.(Xinhua/Li Yahui)

Locals pose for a photo in a cotton field in Belle Cite village, near the central city of Parakou, Benin, Nov. 26, 2023.

Parakou is a vital hub for cotton production in Donatien Benin, with cotton cultivation serving as the primary income source for locals like Ezin. Since 2013, the Chinese Support Mission for Cotton Production in Benin has been assisting local farmers to improve agricultural techniques.(Chinese Support Mission for Cotton Production in Benin/Handout via Xinhua)

Shou Xiaoyong, the head of the Chinese expert team of the Chinese Support Mission for Cotton Production in Benin, speaks during an interview with Xinhua in Belle Cite village, near the central city of Parakou, Benin, May 25, 2024.

Parakou is a vital hub for cotton production in Donatien Benin, with cotton cultivation serving as the primary income source for locals like Ezin. Since 2013, the Chinese Support Mission for Cotton Production in Benin has been assisting local farmers to improve agricultural techniques.(Xinhua/Li Yahui)

Shou Xiaoyong, the head of the Chinese expert team of the Chinese Support Mission for Cotton Production in Benin, explains cotton cultivation methods to local farmers in Belle Cite village, near the central city of Parakou, Benin, June 24, 2023.

Parakou is a vital hub for cotton production in Donatien Benin, with cotton cultivation serving as the primary income source for locals like Ezin. Since 2013, the Chinese Support Mission for Cotton Production in Benin has been assisting local farmers to improve agricultural techniques.(Chinese Support Mission for Cotton Production in Benin/Handout via Xinhua)

Locals pose for a photo in a cotton field in Belle Cite village, near the central city of Parakou, Benin, Nov. 26, 2023.

Parakou is a vital hub for cotton production in Donatien Benin, with cotton cultivation serving as the primary income source for locals like Ezin. Since 2013, the Chinese Support Mission for Cotton Production in Benin has been assisting local farmers to improve agricultural techniques.(Chinese Support Mission for Cotton Production in Benin/Handout via Xinhua)

A Chinese expert explains cotton cultivation methods to local farmers in Belle Cite village, near the central city of Parakou, Benin, Aug. 31, 2022.

Parakou is a vital hub for cotton production in Donatien Benin, with cotton cultivation serving as the primary income source for locals like Ezin. Since 2013, the Chinese Support Mission for Cotton Production in Benin has been assisting local farmers to improve agricultural techniques.(Chinese Support Mission for Cotton Production in Benin/Handout via Xinhua)

This photo taken on March 25, 2022 shows agricultural machinery of the Chinese Support Mission for Cotton Production in Benin, in Belle Cite village, near the central city of Parakou, Benin.

Parakou is a vital hub for cotton production in Donatien Benin, with cotton cultivation serving as the primary income source for locals like Ezin. Since 2013, the Chinese Support Mission for Cotton Production in Benin has been assisting local farmers to improve agricultural techniques.(Chinese Support Mission for Cotton Production in Benin/Handout via Xinhua)

Donatien Ezin (3rd L) and his family pose for a photo in front of their house in Belle Cite village, near the central city of Parakou, Benin, May 25, 2024.

Parakou is a vital hub for cotton production in Donatien Benin, with cotton cultivation serving as the primary income source for locals like Ezin. Since 2013, the Chinese Support Mission for Cotton Production in Benin has been assisting local farmers to improve agricultural techniques.(Xinhua/Li Yahui)

Donatien Ezin works in the field in Belle Cite village, near the central city of Parakou, Benin, May 25, 2024.

Parakou is a vital hub for cotton production in Donatien Benin, with cotton cultivation serving as the primary income source for locals like Ezin. Since 2013, the Chinese Support Mission for Cotton Production in Benin has been assisting local farmers to improve agricultural techniques.(Xinhua/Li Yahui)

Akilou Atesse, a cotton production supervisor trained by the Chinese Support Mission for Cotton Production in Benin, speaks during an interview with Xinhua in Belle Cite village, near the central city of Parakou, Benin, May 25, 2024.

Parakou is a vital hub for cotton production in Donatien Benin, with cotton cultivation serving as the primary income source for locals like Ezin. Since 2013, the Chinese Support Mission for Cotton Production in Benin has been assisting local farmers to improve agricultural techniques.(Xinhua/Li Yahui)

Farmers pose for a photo in a cotton field in Belle Cite village, near the central city of Parakou, Benin, Nov. 27, 2023.

Parakou is a vital hub for cotton production in Donatien Benin, with cotton cultivation serving as the primary income source for locals like Ezin. Since 2013, the Chinese Support Mission for Cotton Production in Benin has been assisting local farmers to improve agricultural techniques.(Chinese Support Mission for Cotton Production in Benin/Handout via Xinhua)
Early voting for Oklahoma's primary election begins Thursday. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images) (This image cannot be republished without a Getty subscription.)

OKLAHOMA CITY  Oklahomas primary election early voting begins Thursday.

On the ballot will be races for the U.S. House of Representatives, the state Senate and the state House. The Corporation Commissioner race, also on the ballot, will be the only state-wide election.

In the U.S. House elections, three of the five races will see challengers to incumbents. One of the more wholy contested is District 4, where U.S. Rep. Tom Cole is campaigning for re-election against Paul Bondar, who has made headlines over questions about his residency. Both are Republicans. Other Republicans in the race are Andrew Hayes, Nick Hankins and Rick Whitebear Harris.

Of the 26 races for the state Senate, 10 incumbents face primary challengers. Incumbents in 23 House races face primary challengers.

Several races in the state House and Senate have open seats because their current officeholders are terming out. Lawmakers are limited to 12 years.

Several candidates face no challenger in the primary, but will have an opponent in the Nov. 5 general election.

State Election Board Secretary Paul Ziriax said he doesnt have a prediction for what this years early voting turnout will look like.

In-person absentee voting, aka early voting, for the primary election starts Thursday, so we dont know what that will be like yet, Ziriax said in a statement.

However, Ziriax pointed to the March presidential preferential primary as a point of comparison.

Republicans had an increase of about 25% in the presidential preferential primary from 2020 to 2024 for in-person absentee voting. Democrats had a decrease of about 72% from 2020 to 2024. Libertarians had 17 votes cast in 2024 after not having a race in 2020.

Oklahoma is a closed-party state, meaning voters may only cast a ballot for their registered party. The Democratic party, however, is allowing independents to vote in its primary.

Early voting is open Thursday and Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. On Election Day  June 18  polls will be open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The primary runoff election will be held Aug. 27.

Identity must be shown with photo identification, a county election board voter identification card or an affidavit with provisional ballot.

Voters can cast ballots at their designated early voting locations.

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ADAIR COUNTY, Okla. (KNWA/KFTA)  An Oklahoma man was sentenced to life in prison for sexually abusing a child, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorneys Office Eastern District of Oklahoma.

Jerry Wayne Asbill, 42, from Adair County was sentenced to two terms of life in prison for two counts of aggravated sexual abuse in Indian Country. The release said the two terms will be served concurrently.

Oklahoma man found guilty of abusing, neglecting newborn

Asbill was convicted on May 10, 2023, by a federal grand jury.

The Government presented evidence during the trial that in November 2018, Asbill sexually assaulted a child under the age of 12, according to the release.

The despicable crimes perpetrated upon this child warrant the life sentences imposed by the Court, United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson said in the release. Violent crime in Indian country remains a priority of the United States Attorneys Office, and through continued cooperative efforts of our local, state, Tribal, and federal law enforcement partners, we are committed to seeking justice for victims and holding offenders like Asbill accountable.

Asbill will remain in custody of the U.S. Marshals pending transportation to a United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence, according to the release.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KNWA FOX24.
From the Boiling Frogs on The Dispatch

Debate is usually pretty lively on The Dispatch Podcast. But not always.

On the latest episode, the panelists found themselves in heated agreement that Republicans have foolishly overstated the extent of Joe Bidens infirmity.

The conversation was inspired by last weeks splashy Wall Street Journal piece documenting bad moments that the president has had during private meetings with members of Congress. Of course he has bad moments, Jonah Goldberg noted. Hes 81! Biden is a very old man whos slowed down considerably. But nothing in the Journal story supports the GOP narrative that hes non compos mentis.

Mike Warren concurred, noting that Bidens deficiencies on foreign policy likely have less to do with senility than with the fact that hes, er, always been bad on foreign policy. So did Sarah Isgur, a former campaign operative, who saw political malpractice in Republicans attempts to convince the public that the president cant string a sentence together. Instead of promoting the Journal story, she argued, right-wingers should resent it for having lowered public expectations of Bidens mental acuity so soon before the first presidential debate. Stupidly, the GOP continues to do everything possible to lower those expectations itself.

Listening to that discussion unfold, however, it struck me as a very 2015 way of thinking about political messaging.

Which was embarrassing, since Ive made the same points in the virtual pages of this newsletter that Jonah, Mike, and Sarah did.

Last month, when the first presidential debate was announced, I described the GOPs manic efforts to convince Americans that Biden is semi-catatonic as strategic insanity. The more voters are led to believe that the president can no longer function, I argued, the harder itll hit them when they turn on the debate and find that he discusses policy more cogently than Trump does. Theres no way for Democrats to effectively message the subject of Bidens agebut, by setting up Americans to be pleasantly surprised by his mental acuity, Republicans might be doing it for them.

The logic is elementary and irresistible: If retail politics is a contest to shape public opinion, a party should take care not to shape it in a way that will make it easier for their opponent to impress undecided voters. Yet thats what Republicans have done, supposedly.

Thats political malpracticein 2015. Is it still political malpractice in 2024?

If over-the-top Republican attacks on Bidens fitness for office are making it easier for him to impress Americans, its strange that the polling about his fitness for office is so dismal, no?

The Biden is senile stuff didnt start recently, after all. It began in 2020, before he was president, when pundits on the right paid significant attention to his basement campaign and the early lid that was frequently called on his daily schedule. Theyve kept at it so doggedly that its now a political tradition for Republicans to wonder before the annual State of the Union whether hell remain coherent for the duration and then, when he does, to accuse him afterward of having been on drugs.

And while the president isnt in front of television cameras as often as his predecessors were, voters have of course had many opportunities to see him in action over the last three and a half years. Hes slowed down, yes, and he definitely has his bad momentsbut Weekend at Bernies this isnt, no matter how vehemently Republicans insist otherwise.

Since 2021, the GOP has set public expectations of Bidens cognitive ability on the floor and hes regularly cleared that bar in public appearances. Per the DisPod convo, one might therefore assume that the public has come away feeling relatively impressed by what theyve seen from him.

One would be wrong.

A Pew Research Center poll conducted in April found only 37 percent are at least somewhat confident that Biden is mentally fit to do the job. (For Trump, the number was 52 percent.) An identical share said the same in an Associated Press survey taken in February, with no fewer than 80 percent(!) of independents admitting theyre not very or not at all confident in Bidens mental capability.

When CBS News asked voters last week which candidate has the mental and cognitive health to serve as president, a mere 27 percent said only Biden while another 8 percent said both. ABC News got a similar result on a question about which candidate demonstrates the mental sharpness needed for the presidency: 42 percent said that applies more to Trump versus 23 percent who said it applies more to Biden.

Imagine being pitted in comparative polling on mental fitness against a guy who says stuff like thisand routinely losing:

Trump: It must be because of my relationship with M.I.T., very smart, I say, what would happen if the boat sank, and you have this tremendously powerful battery, and the battery is now underwater. Do I get electrocuted or do I jump over by the shark? pic.twitter.com/zAUkDoOBD3  Acyn (@Acyn) June 9, 2024

I suppose its possible that the publics assessment of Bidens cognitive ability would be even worse if Republicans werent constantly lowering expectations by calling him a vegetable, but Im skeptical. In a hyperpartisan age, 37 percent realistically feels about the lowest a major-party candidate could score.

Its more plausible that Republican attacks on the presidents fitness simply havent mattered either way and that the public has lost faith in him for more organic reasons. Theyve seen some of his bad moments on TV or online, they know hes not getting any younger, and so their faith in his ability to do the job for another five years has plummeted accordingly.

But we should consider the possibility thatcontra Jonah, Mike, and Sarahthe right has successfully wounded Biden by falsely yet constantly accusing him of senility. Instead of lowering expectations for him to easily surpass, I think theyve set expectations for him that may be effectively impossible for him to exceed.

In the pre-Trump glory days of 2015, the strategic argument against lowering expectations for ones opponent made sense. The art of political messaging was about taking what reality gave you and putting the most advantageous spin on it for your side.

You wouldnt run around before a presidential debate insisting that your opponent was senile if he wasntnot because you were above such things, but because you feared that undecided voters would grade that opponent on a favorable curve if you did. Better to accuse him of having a mind like a steel trap so that, if and when he suffered a bad moment, that curve would bend the other way.

In 2024, on the right at least, the art of political messaging is about creating your own reality.

Or, more specifically, its about creating a reality for those who are already disposed to accept it and creating doubt for those who arent.

The supreme example in the Trump era is the rigged election lie of 2020, a stupendously successful messaging operation given the magnitude of the claim relative to the dearth of evidence to support it. As of December 2023, despite numerous failed court challenges and swing-state audits that revealed no meaningful electoral chicanery, barely more than six in 10 Americans believed Biden won the presidency legitimately. Less than a third of Republicans agreed that he had; only two-thirds of independents did the same.

And, amazingly, across all partisan groups the number who thought the president was legitimately elected shrank since 2021. That shouldnt have happened according to the logic of expectations: Because Trump and his cronies hyped election fraud so relentlessly, the subsequent lack of proof should have turned Americans against the idea. As with Bidens alleged dementia, when you create a dark expectation about the other party that isnt borne out, public esteem for the other party should grow.

But Americans faith that Biden was legitimately elected didnt grow after 2021. It diminished. Republicans created an alternate reality and, through sheer persistence, steered voters across the political spectrum in their direction. Why would we doubt their ability to do the same with respect to the presidents mental fitness for office?

Right-wing retail politics in 2024 is a machine designed to engineer consensus around any claim Trump might make to serve his political needs, credible or not. We saw it operate with ruthless efficiency after he was convicted in Manhattan, when Senate hopeful Larry Hogan of Maryland urged respect for the verdict and was immediately excommunicated from the party by the co-chair of the RNC and Trumps top campaign adviser.

Trumps entire political project can be understood as building and refining that machine to produce Republican consensus on demand. Practically all political disputes are presented in apocalyptic terms as a conflict between real Americans and variations of human scum, and information is strictly gate-kept by friendly populist media outlets toward that end. If any information unflattering to Trump creeps in, a loyalty litmus test is imposed to pressure right-wing voters into disregarding that information. If anyone fails that litmus test, an example is made of him to show other doubters the price theyll pay for stepping out of line.

Its a consensus machine. And so if the machine tells you, as a right-winger, that Joe Biden is senile, then Joe Biden is senile no matter how he performs at the debate two weeks from now. A good two hours can always be explained away as needed as a product of amphetamines or sleeping all day before the event or some deep state magic potion given to induce temporary lucidity in Alzheimers patients that the rest of us arent privy to.

That being so, its impossible in 2024 for Republican leaders to set expectations of Bidens mental fitness too low among right-wing voters, as most of those voters have been trained to accept whatever reality the party has created for them. The president could have the debate of his life on June 27 and Trump will call him a disasterand the right will agree and will believe it.

But what about undecided voters, who arent part of the right and who could go either way in November? Surely the GOPs lowering of expectations about Bidens mental health has set them up to be impressed by his debate performance, no?

Im skeptical.

Its comforting to believe that Trumps propaganda machine works only on right-wingers, people who are inclined to support him anyway. But I dont think its true. It works on people outside his coalition, toojust in a different way.

That machine cant create consensus among independents, perhaps, but it can create doubt. And doubt is hugely valuable to Trump and his movement.

When he says with utter assurance that the 2020 election was rigged, over and over and over again, an undecided voter who doesnt follow politics closely will hear it and  wonder. Given how insistent Trump is about it and the passion with which Republicans believe it, the average Joe might reasonably conclude that there must be something to it.

No one would lie so brazenly for so long about something so important, right?

Through sheer will and shamelessness, Trump and his machine can influence even unaligned voters to consider that what they assumed was realityBiden won fair and squaremight not be. Its basic human psychology to doubt your own perception when a large enough group is telling you that youre wrong.

Thats what Republicans calling Biden a vegetable is about, I think. Left to his own devices, an undecided voter might agree with Jonah that the president has slowed down and is prone to some cringy bad moments 

 but would be hesitant to assume full-blown senility absent more evidence. When, on the other hand, an entire political party has assured that same voter that Bidens bad moments are evidence of severe mental incapacity, hell inevitably find himself scrutinizing them more closely and wondering if he might be overlooking something.

And with those doubts having been planted in his mind, the next time theres a bad moment hell be more prone to interpret it as evidence of incapacity than as an 81-year-old maybe having not gotten enough sleep the night before. Has the president gotten a lot worse lately? It seems like hes gotten a lot worse lately.

Calling Biden demented is less a matter of Republicans foolishly priming undecideds to be impressed when the president seems sharp, then, than shrewdly priming them when he isnt to consider that theres more to his aging condition than meets the eye. That doubt could cause those undecideds to lend more weight to a bad moment Biden has at the debate than to his performance overall if he does well otherwise, which would neutralize his attempt to reassure them that hes still up to the job. And that would be of enormous political benefit to Trump.

Especially right now, as more casual voters are beginning to pay attention to the campaign.

Its received wisdom in some hopeful Never Trump circles that the race is tight at the moment because undecideds who dont follow the news still havent reckoned yet with the fact that Trump might be president again. Once that hits them, theyll tilt Democratic. But that logic works both ways: If those voters are only now starting to pay attention to the race, Trumps chances at victory depend on convincing them that hes actually the less unfit of the two options before them.

Biden is senile is the obvious play. Republicans dont need to prove it; doubt is enough.

Planting doubt is frankly Donald Trumps one neat trick as a politician. Sometimes he does it through surrogates, such as by seeding smears about enemies in tabloids, and sometimes he does the dirty work himself on camera or via social media. But hell always greet a personal or political setback by raising doubt about the character of the person responsible for it. To cross him is invariably to be impugned as politically biased, financially corrupt, or mental.

In 2024, its a good one neat trick to have. In a world where every adversarys fitness is placed in doubt, his own glaring unfitness doesnt seem as disqualifying.

Read more at The Dispatch

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Two years ago, I outlined eight lessons from Russia's war against Ukraine. And though I warned that it was too early to be confident about any predictions, they have held up reasonably well.

When Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, he envisaged a quick seizure of the capital, Kyiv, and a change of government  much like what the Soviets did in Hungary in 1956 and Czechoslovakia in 1968. But the war is still raging, and no one knows when or how it will end.

If one sees the conflict as Ukraines war of independence, rather than focusing too much on borders, the Ukrainians are already victorious. Putin had denied that Ukraine was a separate nation, but his behavior has only strengthened Ukrainian national identity.

What else have we learned? First, old and new weapons complement each other. Despite the early success of anti-tank weapons in the defense of Kyiv, I warned  correctly  that proclamations about the end of the tank era might prove premature as the battle moved from the northern suburbs to Ukraines eastern plains. However, I did not anticipate the effectiveness of drones as anti-tank and anti-ship weapons, nor did I expect that Ukraine could drive the Russian navy from the western half of the Black Sea. (Artillery and mines also have played a major role as the conflict has settled into World War I-style trench warfare.)

Read also: Opinion: NATO states should send non-combat troops to Ukraine

Second, nuclear deterrence works, but it depends on relative stakes more than capabilities. The West has been deterred, but only up to a point. Putins nuclear threat has kept NATO governments from sending troops (though not equipment) to Ukraine. But the reason is not that Russia has superior nuclear capabilities; rather, it is that Putin has designated Ukraine a vital national interest for Russia, whereas Western governments have not. Meanwhile, Putins nuclear saber rattling has not prevented the West from extending the range of the weapons it provides to Ukraine; and the West, so far, has deterred Putin from attacking any NATO countries.

Third, economic interdependence does not prevent war. Some German policymakers assumed that cutting trade ties with Russia would be so costly that neither party would allow for open hostilities. But while economic interdependence can raise the costs of war, it does not necessarily prevent it. More to the point, an uneven economic interdependence can be weaponized by the less dependent party.

Fourth, sanctions can raise costs, but they do not determine outcomes in the short term. Recall that CIA Director William Burns met with Putin in November 2021 and warned, to no avail, of impending sanctions should Russia invade. Putin probably doubted that the West could maintain global unity on sanctions, and he was right. Oil is a fungible commodity, and many countries  not least India  are more than happy to import discounted Russian oil transported by an irregular fleet of tankers.

Ukrainian soldiers with the 42nd Mechanized Brigade's aerial reconnaissance unit receives a batch of FPV drones near the front line in Lyptsi, Kharkiv Oblast, on May 19, 2024. (Yan Dobronosov/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images)

Nonetheless, as I anticipated two years ago, Chinas concerns about getting entangled in secondary sanctions do seem to have set some limits on its support for Russia. While China has provided important dual-use technology (suitable for either military or civilian purposes), it has abstained from sending weapons. Given this mixed picture, it will be some time before we can fully judge the long-term effect of sanctions on Russia.

Fifth, information warfare makes a difference. Modern wars are not only about whose army wins; they are also about whose story wins. The careful disclosure by the United States of intelligence revealing Russias invasion plans proved effective in debunking the narrative that Putin wanted Europeans to believe, and it contributed greatly to Western solidarity when the invasion occurred as predicted. Equally, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has done an extraordinary job of promoting his countrys story in the West.

Sixth, both hard and soft power matter. While hard, coercive power trumps the soft power of attraction in the near term, soft power still counts for a lot. Putin failed the soft-power test early on. The sheer barbarism of Russian forces in Ukraine led Germany finally to cancel the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline  an outcome that years of U.S. pressure had failed to bring about. Zelensky, by contrast, has been relying on soft power from the start. Using his skills as an actor to present an attractive portrait of Ukraine, he not only won Western sympathy, but also secured deliveries of the military equipment that underwrites hard power.

Read also: Opinion: No quiet for Europe on the Eastern Front

Seventh, cyber capability is not a silver bullet. Russia had used cyber weapons to meddle with Ukraines power grid since at least 2015, and many analysts predicted that a cyber blitz against Ukraines infrastructure and government would make any invasion a fait accompli. But while there have been many (reported) cyberattacks during the war, none has proved decisive. When the Ukrainians Viasat network was hacked, they started communicating through Starlinks many small satellites. With training and battlefield experience, Ukrainian cyber defense and offense has only improved.

Another lesson, then, is that once a war has begun, kinetic weapons provide greater timeliness, precision, and damage assessment for commanders than cyber weapons do. That said, electronic warfare can still interfere with the linkages that are essential to the use of drones.

Finally, war is unpredictable. The most important lesson from the Ukraine war remains one of the oldest. Two years ago, many expected a quick Russian victory; and just one year ago, there were great expectations of a triumphant Ukrainian summer offensive. But as Shakespeare wrote more than four centuries ago, it is dangerous for a leader to cry Havoc! and let slip the dogs of war.

The promise of a short war is seductive. Putin certainly never expected to be bogged down indefinitely. He has managed to sell his war of attrition to the Russian people as a great patriotic struggle against the West. But the dogs he has unleashed could still turn around and bite him.

Editors Note: The opinions expressed in the op-ed section are those of the authors and do not purport to reflect the views of the Kyiv Independent.

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Editors Note:Paul Hockenos is a Berlin-based writer focusing on renewable energy in Europe. He is the author of five books on European issues, most recently Berlin Calling: A Story of Anarchy, Music, the Wall and the Birth of the New Berlin. The opinions in this article are his own. Read more CNN Opinion.

The last time the European Union voted, five years ago, teenagers across the continent were taking to the streets en masse: demonstrating for serious climate protection policies. They had no say, they inveighed, on decisions that would define their lives for years to come. Well go to school if you keep the climate cool, they taunted with verve, justifying their audacious skipping of class to protest.

Paul Hockenos - Hayyan Al-Yousouf

Surveys show that young people (usually the 18 to 24-year-old bracket) in democracies on both sides of the Atlantic tend to cast their ballots for more reform-minded, left-of-center parties, rather than those on the right. This was why European conservatives had long opposed giving 16 and 17 year-olds the vote  even though older teenagers are legally permitted to work, drive vehicles and pay federal income taxes.

And, indeed, in the 2019 European Parliamentary elections, the youngest voters turned out in droves, expressing their concerns about global warming in what observers called a Green wave. A third of Germanys young people voted for the Greens.

Fast forward five years, and its a very different story.

This European Parliamentary election, which wrapped up on Sunday, was the first in which Germans as young as 16 were eligible to votesince the age was lowered from 18.

And in Austria, Belgium, Malta and Greece, 16 or 17-year-olds had the right to cast their ballot. These minors finally had a say on those issues that will affect them for years, if not decades, to come.

What a shock then  and coming days after the 80th anniversary of D-Day  that many German first-timers threw their votes disproportionally behind the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. In this election, 16% of 16 to 24-year-olds voted AfD  up 11 percentage points from five years ago. (To be sure, the majority of teens didnt vote for the far right. But the increase in the number who did is nonetheless alarming.)

The AfD, whose members repeat banned Nazi slogans and tout barely veiled racism and Islamophobia, claimed almost as much of the youth vote as the victorious Christian Democratic Union-Christian Social Union (CDU/CSU) alliance, and far more than the Greens.

Exit polls show that the topic of migration swung many voters  of all ages  to the right. A full 95% of German AfD voters said Germany should limit the flow of foreigners and refugees into Germany. Nearly as many said they dont care if the AfD is an extreme right-wing party, as long as it addresses the most important topics.

The latter assertion is the more unnerving as the AfD has made no secret of its extremist credentials. Just before the election, on May 20, the partys lead candidate, Maximilian Krah, announced that members of the Nazis notorious paramilitary troops, the SS, werent automatically criminals. (Hitlers elite forces were integral to carrying out the Holocaust, in which six million Jews were murdered, as well as brutally stifling domestic opposition to the dictatorship.)

The AfD responded by pulling Krah from the campaign trail but leaving him atop the slate. On Monday, as other scandals around him mounted, it decided to remove him from their new list of EU parliamentarians.

The remark was so offensive  and in general the AfDs politics so much more radical than those of its far-right peers in Europe  that the European Parliaments Identity and Democracy group, an alliance of populist right-wing parties that includes Marine Le Pens French National Rally, expelled the AfD from its ranks.

High school students demonstrate against global warming on March 1, 2019 in Hamburg, Germany. - Adam Berry/Getty Images/File

This year, the AfDs menagerie of scandals seemed to grow longer by the week. The party is under surveillance from Germanys intelligence service for the threat it poses to democracy. The agency could recommend that it be banned completely from politics. And then a recent German investigation found that 28 AfD members serving in German legislatures had been convicted of violence-related crimes, including verbal violence and incitement to hatred.

Not exactly the credentials of a party you would think would appeal to the next generation of German voters.

But this about-face of Germanys youngsters doesnt come out of the blue. German surveys show a general unhappiness with the post-pandemic economic and political conditions. It seems as if the coronavirus pandemic left [young people] irritated about our ability to cope with the future, which is reflected in deep insecurity, concluded the authors of Jugend in Deutschland 2024. The issues most responsible: personal finances, professional opportunities, the health sector, housing and social recognition.

The AfD addresses none of these issues directly but rather posits the termination of migration, and less EU control, as a cure-all for all of them.

And its not restricted to Germany either: in recent elections in Portugal, Italy, Sweden, the Netherlands, and France, the youngest voters threw their support behind extreme nationalist and eurosceptic parties in greater numbers.

Certainly, say experts, the pandemic and social media play a key role in this, above all TikTok, a medium that the far-right has exploited to its advantage.

This shift in attitude among Europes young people  and especially Germans, who are confronted with the crimes of the Nazi dictatorship in history class  is extremely worrying. But its still too early to conclude, as the BBC does, that the image of the radical-right voter  typically white, male, non-graduate and, above all, old has changed long term.

Young people can be especially impulsive, emotional, and are on a steep learning curve. Their dissatisfaction with the sluggish economic recovery, a pandemic that unfairly punished them (for nothing), and the worlds confluence of other crises is understandable.

But they must vent this pique constructively, as the extreme right has no answers to these problems (which, oddly, Ive heard hard right voters say they recognize.) This rightist rebellion is a temper tantrum that impedes democracy from addressing its own shortcomings.

Casting a protest vote for a dangerous party can have profound consequences  among them a future that is even less propitious than the one these young people seem to fear so much.

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Editors Note: Julian Zelizer, a CNN political analyst, is a professor of history and public affairs at Princeton University. He is the author and editor of 25 books, including the forthcoming book, Our Nation at Risk: Election Integrity as a National Security Issue. Follow him on Twitter @julianzelizer. The views expressed in this commentary are his own. View more opinion on CNN.

President Joe Biden delivered a previously scheduled speech Tuesday about what his administration has done on gun control on the very same day that his son Hunter Biden was found guilty on gun-related charges.

The president spoke at Everytown for Gun Safety Action Funds Gun Sense University, where he blasted former President Donald Trumps record on gun control: After a school shooting in Iowa that killed a student and a teacher my predecessor was asked about it  do you remember what he said?  He said you have to get over it. Hell no, we dont have to get over it, we have to stop it  stop it, and stop it now. My predecessor told the NRA convention recently, hes proud of that quote, I did nothing on guns when I was president, and by doing nothing he made the situation considerably worse.

Talk about awkward timing. Sometimes real-world politics works in mysterious ways. But the fact that Hunter Bidens story is now intertwined with a push for gun control creates some unusual cross-pressures not only for Biden but also for both Democrats and Republicans as they navigate the difficult terrain of the 2024 election.

For Republicans, there is a danger of saying too much. After all, the GOP has moved over the years into a staunch position against almost any stringent gun regulation. Should they double down on the actual charges that have resulted in Bidens conviction, they would end up helping to bolster the very kinds of gun-restriction laws that the party has been eager to avoid.

The convergence of these two core GOP issues  the presidents son and guns  could dampen some of the initial Republican response to the verdict. Trumps party may prefer to press their case that Hunter Bidens work for overseas companies deserves investigation as a sign of the Biden family selling influence.

Last week, the House committees conducting an impeachment inquiry into Joe Biden made criminal referrals to the Justice Department against Hunter and the presidents brother James, seeking their prosecution for allegedly making false statements to Congress. James Bidens lawyer said this baseless partisan action is a transparent and cynical attempt to distract from and retaliate for Donald Trumps recent criminal conviction.

Hunter Biden, accompanied by first lady Jill Biden, left, and his wife, Melissa Cohen Biden, right, walks out of federal court after hearing the verdict, Tuesday, June 11, in Wilmington, Delaware. - Matt Rourke/AP

Rather than talk about gun laws, Republicans would be more comfortable discussing President Biden  or at least, the forthcoming trial Hunter Biden faces for allegedly failing to pay taxes. Overall, however, some of the rhetoric might be more tamped down than expected.

For Democrats, there are incentives to avoid attacking the legitimacy of the gun charges against Hunter Biden. As President Biden made clear in his speech, many Democrats have worked hard to elevate the issue of gun control following after many years of mass shootings that have shocked the nation.

With his speech, President Biden had an opportunity to show voters as the election heats up that he and his party are serious about continuing to pursue gun control despite the fierce opposition Republicans have put up each time the issue reaches Capitol Hill.

Even when the matter touches the people he loves most in the world, the president demonstrated that he will not desist in trying to make the nations schools and streets safer from the gun violence that has plagued the US.

Theres a deeper issue here as well. This conviction of the presidents son by his own administrations Justice Department gives the lie to the Republican claim that Biden has weaponized federal prosecutors to punish his political enemies, especially Trump, and protect Democrats. The Justice Department has indicted Trump in two cases but Biden has insisted that those decisions were left under the purview of Attorney General Merrick Garland. The other two prosecutions of the former president were brought by local prosecutors in New York and Georgia, where Biden had absolutely no involvement.

President Biden has made clear that  unlike Trump  he will respect the decisions of the courts and not use his power to pardon Hunter Biden even if the outcome is devastating for his son. This gives room for Democrats to avoid saying too much about Tuesdays news, keeping the focus on Trump and avoiding any questions about the laws that are at the heart of the case.

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Hunter Biden can and will only blame himself for his conviction for lying about drug addiction on a form to purchase a gun and then possessing the gun after lying to buy it. He is the one who abused crack cocaine, and he is the one who chose to purchase a gun.

But we have Attorney General Merrick Garland to thank for the fact the case was brought, and that it was tried in the politically explosive time of a presidential campaign, only a month before the start of the Republican convention and two months before the Democratic one.

Political scientist Norm Ornstein and journalist Dahlia Lithwick wrote in Slate that while all Americans tend to have a normalcy bias, [l]awyers have an almost terrifying normalcy bias. It leads them to assume that so long as they are winning good cases it means the justice system is a pathway to winning the larger political debate.

Hunter Biden Juror Reveals How Divided the Jury Was

There is no better example of this than Merrick Garland, whose obsession with cleansing the partisan poop smeared on the Justice Department walls by Trump officials, like former Attorney General Bill Barr, has led him on a slow death march right into ever-deeper piles of poop.

Garland has been described as a kind of radical institutionalist, and like any other radical agenda, his has led himperhaps unwittinglyto favor extreme change. That extreme change is in the political stability of our democracy.

The AGs delay in pursuing Donald Trump and his inner circle in the Jan. 6 casesand allowing Special Counsel Robert Hur to make partisan slurs against President Joe Bidens mental alertness under cover of clearing the president of wrongdoingall may be well-intentioned efforts to appear that he is being non-partisan and independent of the White House. But all of those decisions have contributed to the robust comeback of former President Trump and his supporters.

The Hunter Biden prosecutions are yet another example of the consequences of Garlands approach to leading the DOJ.

Justice Alitos Jan. 6 Flags Are a Desperate Wake-Up Call for the DOJ

David Weiss, the former Trump-appointed U.S. Attorney, investigated Hunter Biden for the better part of a decadebefore Weiss tried to dispose of potential charges through a plea bargain. In that plea deal, the gun charges for which Hunter Biden was just convicted would have been dismissed without any conviction, as part of Biden being placed in a diversion program. Such a result would have been unremarkable given that there is near universal agreement from legal experts and former prosecutors that a person like Hunter Bidenwho did not use the gun in any other crimeis almost never prosecuted for making false statements on the form about substance abuse.

But that plea bargainwhich included Biden pleading guilty to tax chargesdisintegrated due to Weiss team insisting that crimes besides tax fraud and the gun charge might not be encompassed by the plea bargain. Weiss then was elevated to the status of special counsel by Garland and indicted Biden on both the tax and gun charges.

At trial, the prosecution presented evidence and testimony galore that was deeply embarrassing in an effort to convince the jury that Hunter Biden had been such a flagrant drug abuser that he could not possibly have believed he was not a drug addict when he filled out the gun form. There may be some issues on appeal about the sheer volume of embarrassing evidence admitted, because the legal standard must be that it was not more prejudicial than probative.

The prosecutors closing argument also made a highly unusualand possibly legally inappropriatereference to the friends and family, including First Lady Jill Biden, being in the courtroom, by telling the jury that those people were not evidence and that no one is above the law. While such a remark was likely an effort to counteract any jury nullification through sympathy, the flip side of that strategy is that it may also be viewed by an appellate court as introducing matters not in evidence to the jury.

But whether or not Hunter Biden succeeds in overturning his conviction on appeal, the political and personal damage is already done.

AG Merrick Garland Needs to Get Out of the Business of Defending Trump

There is little question that he would not have been charged but for his last name, and also little question that Garland believes this particular prosecution shows his DOJ brings cases without fear or favorone of his favorite phrases.

But such a politically charged prosecutionthe first-ever conviction of the son of a sitting presidentsmacks of both fear and favor on the part of Garland. It reeks of his fear over accusations of partisanship, which has resulted in little visible benefit to DOJ, while also being constantly attacked and denigrated.

The prosecution also has resulted in favor to President Bidens opponents. Allowing the prosecution to stumble forward for yearswell into the presidential election seasonmeans it is political ammunition for Republicans and Trump. And Garlands not done yet! The tax case against Hunter Biden is set for trial in September.

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WASHINGTON, June 11 (Xinhua) -- A jury panel of 12 members in the U.S. state of Delaware on Tuesday found Hunter Biden, son of U.S. President Joe Biden, guilty of three federal gun charges, marking the first time a sitting president's child has been criminally convicted. 
A 39-year-old Orange County man is facing 20 years in federal prison after reportedly firing at an Orange County Sheriffs Department helicopter as his birthday party ended poorly, officials announced Monday.

According to a news release from the United States Attorneys Central District of California Office, Laguna Niguel resident Justin Derek Jennings and his family were celebrating his birthday on March 9 when the incident occurred.

Jennings allegedly had been drinking and became enraged. As his outburst escalated, family members in attendance left the home, the release stated. After most of his family left, Jennings allegedly removed a rifle from his gun safe and fired an entire magazine worth of ammunition inside the home. The rest of Jennings family fled and reported the incident to law enforcement.

Deputies with OCSD responded to the home and flew a department helicopter over the location.

Thats when prosecutors allege the 39-year-old intermittently fired at the chopper from the second story of his home as it circled the residence, adding that the sporadic gunfire lasted about 20 minutes.

Jennings eventually exited the residence and surrendered to authorities.

During a search of Jennings residence, law enforcement seized two revolvers, two handguns, and two rifles along with multiple rounds of ammunition, prosecutors say. Bullet casings were scattered throughout the floor and law enforcement also seized two magazines and a box of ammunition that was on a couch beneath the window from where Jennings allegedly fired.

Pack of coyotes stalking people, pets in Southern California neighborhood

The Laguna Niguel resident has been charged with one count of attempting to damage, destroy or disable an aircraft.

Jennings, who is being held without bond, is scheduled to go to trial in August.

If convicted as charged, he could face a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison, authorities said.

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Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum announced an agreement with Johnson & Johnson to settle a lawsuit about its marketing tactics. (Courtesy of Ellen Rosenblum)

Oregon will receive $15 million from Johnson & Johnson to settle allegations that the pharmaceutical and medical company marketed unsafe baby powder products to consumers.

The settlement is part of a national $700 million agreement that 43 attorneys general made with the New Jersey-based company. Its tied to allegations that Johnson & Johnson sold baby powder and body powder products with talc, which plaintiffs alleged is linked to serious health problems that include ovarian cancer and mesothelioma, a cancer tied to asbestos exposure.

As part of the settlement, Johnson & Johnson admitted no wrongdoing, court documents show. But Johnson & Johnson stopped distributing and selling the baby powder products, sold for more than a century, when states started investigating.

For decades, Johnson & Johnson misled consumers about the potential harms of its talc powder products, Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum said in a statement . Worse, they doubled down on the safety of those products, attacked credible scientific studies, refused to include warning labels on their products, and, at every turn, put profits ahead of lives. These decisions overwhelmingly harmed women.

As part of the agreement, Johnson & Johnson agreed to stop manufacturing and selling its baby powder and other products that contain talc in the U.S.. The lawsuit also alleged the company targeted African American and Hispanic women in its marketing efforts to reverse declining sales.

Four organizations will receive $4.7 million of the settlements proceeds for womens health programs.

Planned Parenthood will receive $4 million, with $2 million for Planned Parenthood Columbia Willamette in Portland and $2 million for Planned Parenthood Southwestern Oregon in Eugene.

The two groups will use the money for outreach and access to health care, with an eye on eliminating disparities among marginalized communities.

Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center, which provides care for nearly 52,000 patients in Yamhill and Washington counties, will receive about $350,000 to increase access to ultrasounds for ovarian cancer screenings and offer more Hepatitis B vaccines.

The Oregon Health & Science University Foundation will receive $275,000 for outreach and cancer screenings for tribal communities.

And finally, the Ovarian Cancer Alliance of Oregon and Southwest Washington will get $55,750 to aid patients with ovarian cancer.

The remaining $10.3 million will go to an Oregon Department of Justice fund that the agency has discretion to use in different ways for its work, court records show. The departments fund helps pay for various investigative, consumer protection and consumer education efforts.

The post Oregon to receive $15 million in settlement over baby powder lawsuit appeared first on Oregon Capital Chronicle.
Flags on a desk in the House chambers at the Oregon State Capitol on Monday, Sept. 20, 2021. (Amanda Loman/Oregon Capital Chronicle)

Oregonians across the political spectrum largely agree on the value of compromise in politics, respecting individual choices around abortion and marriage and the ability of individuals to succeed despite outside forces, a lengthy study from the Oregon Values and Beliefs Center found.

The nonprofit, nonpartisan center based in Portland regularly surveys Oregonians to learn more about their opinions on matters of public interest. Its latest two-month study sought to uncover areas of common ground and identify different clusters of Oregonians who hold similar beliefs about key issues.

The study, an online survey of more than 3,400 residents that ran during September and October of 2023, divided respondents into eight distinct classification types based on their responses to a series of questions.

Oregons strength lies in its people, said Amaury Vogel, the centers associate executive director. Through typology, we gain a deeper understanding of one another and how we can shape our states future together.

Eight types of Oregonians

The first and largest, Party-Aligned Progressives, makes up 23% of the survey respondents. They tend to be older, are overwhelmingly registered with the Democratic Party and are the most likely of the groups to vote.

Dispassionate Liberals, who make up 16% of the respondents, are similarly old, liberal, and highly educated, but theyre less fervent in their views than the Party-Aligned Progressives.

The 9% of respondents in the Alienated Young Left are the youngest group. Theyre not likely to vote or affiliate with a political party, have strong negative views around government efficiency and effectiveness and favor addressing climate change, acknowledging white supremacy and lowering consumption.

The fourth group, Green Rural Independents, also fall on the young end and make up about 9% of respondents. They tend to be underemployed, less wealthy and less educated than the average, identify as conservative without affiliating with either party and show strong support for environmental protections and gun rights and moderate support for abortion rights.

The fifth cluster, Diverse and Devout, represents about 14% of respondents. Theyre largely people of color, religious and disengaged with politics and news, and the group most likely to have children in the house. The majority of this group is between the ages of 18 and 44.

Disengaged Traditional Conservatives make up 11% of respondents. Theyre religious, and theyre less likely to vote than more fervent liberals or conservatives.

The Free-Market Libertarians, who make up 9% of respondents and were disproportionately male, favor gun rights, minimal government regulation and think personal choices, not outside forces, determine success. Theyre less religious than other conservative-leaning groups, support abortion rights and respect same-sex relationships.

The most conservative group, the Modern Conservative Loyalists, make up 9% of the respondents. Theyre strong supporters of former President Donald Trump, highly likely to vote and strongly support restrictive immigration policies and gun rights while opposing environmental protection efforts and business regulation.

Common interest and disagreements

Respondents across all groups agreed that laws should be passed to regulate unlimited money in political campaigns. Lawmakers took a step toward that this year, passing a law that will take effect in 2027 and create new caps on how much individuals, corporations, unions and other political committees can give to candidates.

All groups but the Modern Conservative Loyalists indicated support for abortion rights, less driving and simpler living to address climate change and said that society is well off if people have priorities other than marriage and children. The Modern Conservative Loyalists and the Alienated Young Left were opposed to political compromise as selling out on core beliefs, while other groups generally viewed it as necessary to get things done for the greater good.

The three most conservative groups and the Green Rural Independents were skeptical of claims that white people benefit from societal advantages that Black people dont have, though 79% of respondents statewide agreed with that claim. The Modern Conservative Loyalists and Disengaged Traditional Conservatives were least supportive of same-sex relationships, which enjoy support from more than three-quarters of all respondents.

There was much less agreement on issues of government and guns. The Party-Aligned Progressives, Dispassionate Liberals and Diverse and Devout groups were inclined to say that the government does a better job than people give it credit for, though their support was tepid. Other groups, particularly the Alienated Young Left and Modern Conservative Loyalists, were adamant that government is almost always wasteful and inefficient.

Three groups  the Modern Conservative Loyalists, Free-Market Libertarians and Green Rural Independents  strongly opposed efforts to ban combat-style firearms. Its the most conservative stance taken by the Green Rural Independents, who tended to be more moderate in their answers to most questions.

And the most contentious question was about whether the country needs to do more to ensure Black people have equal rights with white people. The three most liberal groups and the moderate Diverse and Devout group favored it, with the Green Rural Independents and three most conservative groups strongly opposed.

The subject matter and the pronounced disparity in responses highlights a societal fracture and significant cause for concern, researchers wrote.

The post Oregonians have more common ground than disagreements, survey finds appeared first on Oregon Capital Chronicle.
Organizers in need of more support for Austins Juneteenth celebration

AUSTIN (KXAN)  Organizers with an east Austin Juneteenth celebration say they need more help to maintain the event this year.

The legacy celebration hosted by the Greater East Austin Youth Association (GEAYA) gets support from the City of Austin, but its group leaders said its still been difficult for them as demographics change with fewer Black people living in Austin.

Harriet Tubman sculpture to be on display in Bastrop to honor Juneteenth

With more people moving out of Austin to surrounding cities, there are now more smaller Juneteenth celebrations happening in those communities.

In Rosewood Park, the Juneteenth celebration is like a big family reunion in east Austin, with a parade, live music and food where most of the citys Black population used to live, organizers said.

This is where it started, longtime Austinite Lee Dawson said.

For generations, Dawson said he and his family have been celebrating Juneteenth. Its now a federally recognized holiday commemorating the day Texas slaves learned about emancipation in America.

A lot has changed since GEAYA started hosting the Juneteenth Parade and Festival more than 20 years ago. The City of Austin is an in-kind sponsor doing a number of things to make hosting the event more affordable, like waiving event, parking and safety personnel fees. As time passes, maintaining the Juneteenth parade and celebration is getting more difficult to coordinate.

As people who look like me move to surrounding cities, that spreads out our attendance of this event to cities where those folks live, Shanisa Johnson, GEAYA public relations coordinator, said.

Round Rock and Buda have their own, smaller Juneteenth celebrations now.

Its not a competition, but I would underscore the importance and significance of keeping the Juneteenth celebration alive, where we have the deepest roots in this city, Johnson said.

According to Johnson, GEAYA has nine sponsors for the $75,000 event. Johnson said they had 10 last year. She hopes that number doesnt continue to decline.

GEAYA is still set for this years celebration, with help from the community.



We know that gentrification has pushed a lot of people out of east Austinif you want to see some of the things thats happening here and in east Austin, its time to come back and see, Dawson said.



The celebration will start with a parade from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, June 15. Afterward, there will a festival in Rosewood Park from noon to 9 p.m.

GEAYA is accepting sponsors and donors for the event on its website.

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New Orleans police search for person accused of vandalizing Jesus statue at church

Disclaimer: All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

NEW ORLEANS (WGNO)  Officers with the New Orleans Police Department are looking to locate and identify a person who allegedly broke the hands off of a Jesus statue at a church on May 28.

The NOPD reported a person climbed over the fence of a church in the 1200 block of South Carrollton Avenue around 11 p.m. and broke the hands off a statue and the front window of a car before leaving on a bike.

Troop NOLA traffic stop leads to chase, crash in 7th Ward

On June 4, Mater Dolorosa Catholic Church shared security camera footage with WGNO that shows the vandal jumping a fence to remove a statue of Padre Pio before placing it at the front door of the church. After, the person knocked the hands off the statue of Jesus.

Anyone with information about the criminal damage can call NOPD Second District detectives at 504-658-6020 or Crimestoppers at 504-822-1111.

Stay up to date with the latest news, weather and sports by downloading the WGNO app on the Apple or Google Play stores and by subscribing to the WGNO newsletter.

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BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)  Up to 14 churches in the City of Buffalo that have been recommended to be closed by the Buffalo Diocese in recent days could be put up for local landmark status.

Preservation Buffalo Niagara announced Tuesday the launch of the Save Our Sacred Sites project, which is aimed at securing funding and submitting landmark status applications for churches deemed at risk.

In recent days, the diocese has announced over 30 churches across Western New York will be closed or merged as the organization trims from 160 to 106 parishes amidst a financial crisis due to declining numbers, as well as payouts to settle child sexual abuse cases. 15 of the 33 announced so far are within city limits.

As you can tell, the diocese, we can see logically that they made a real estate decision and not a decision based on actual people and participation in churches, Fillmore District Buffalo Common Council member Mitch Nowakowski said at a news conference at Our Lady of Perpetual Help on OConnell Street on Tuesday. We have enough folks behind me that live around here that walk to church every single week  Church is meant for actual people. A church has social responsibility to the neighborhood around it.

Buffalo Diocese to merge one-third of parishes in push to rightsize and reshape

Around 50 people who go to mass at Our Lady of Perpetual Help were in attendance on Tuesday. The church has been a part of the community for decades. In 2014, parishioners raised over $200,000 for renovations to be put into the church. More recently, $30,000 was raised to replace a window.

Photo: Aidan Joly/WIVB

Its not just a church, said Kathleen Byrns, who has attended mass there for decades. This is whats keeping the community together. If this church goes, this community, which is up-and-coming, a lot of good things are happening around here the last 10, 15 years that you never saw coming. You have all this newness, all this freshness. You have this up-and-coming, and you want to pull the heart out of it. Doesnt make sense.

Multiple parishioners pointed out that the church is not in debt to the diocese and has money in the bank.

Its almost like a death in the family, parishioner Erin Davison said. This is a church where a lot of us grew up, our grandparents belonged, relatives. My children are the sixth or seventh generation.

My great-grandparents came from Ireland. They settled here, Patricia Campbell said. Im in my 70s, I was baptized here, Ive lived down here my entire life.

Preservation Buffalo Niagara Executive Director Bernice Radle said that the hope is to turn the buildings, if closed by the diocese, into community centers or apartments. They would not be allowed to be turned into restaurants or bars. If approved for local landmark status, any significant changes to the buildings would have to be approved by a local preservation board.

The application can put churches in a position for future owners to use historic tax incentives for redevelopment projects, which has been done for several buildings with historic status in Buffalo.

Still, churchgoers are hopeful that Our Lady of Perpetual Help will be able to remain a church.

Theres roots all in this community, especially when you meet the people who are part of the roots of this church, Michelle Barrett, who has been going to Our Lady of Perpetual Help since 2022, said. You cant help but want to fight with them and for them.

Explore News 4 Investigates three-part series on the Buffalo Diocese

Latest Local News

Aidan Joly joined the News 4 staff in 2022. He is a graduate of Canisius College. You can see more of his work here.

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FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE)  Fresno Police Chief Paco Balderrama has sent a message to Fresno Police Officers, addressing his inappropriate off-duty relationship and asking his team for forgiveness.

In the message, he says he met with command staff and professional staff managers Thursday before the City of Fresno sent a press release regarding this incident on Friday to provide some basic information and ask for their forgiveness and support.

In the message, he addresses his off-duty relationship, saying he will pay for those mistakes and asking for forgiveness from his staff.

It is so very true that there are two sides to every story, but I do not intend to justify or defend myself regardless of any unknown circumstances. My actions did not meet the standards of who I am as a man of faith, husband, or father. I own my mistakes, they are mine and mine alone to bear, and I will pay for those mistakes for the rest of my life. I humbly come to you and ask for your forgiveness as your leader, who clearly has flaws and imperfections. I realize many of you may be upset and disappointed. I understand those feelings and I dont fault you for it. My family has been deeply affected by this and I humbly ask for your grace, discretion, and understanding during this difficult time. Chief Balderrama.

In a letter to its members, the Fresno Police Officers Association (FPOA) President Brandon Wiemiller says the unions members feel betrayed, and trust has been lost between them and Chief Balderrama.

The City of Fresno says Chief Balderrama will remain in his position and continue to serve as the Chief of the Fresno Police Department while the investigation is ongoing.

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Oxford University has agreed to return a 500-year-old bronze sculpture of a Hindu poet and saint to India, the university's Ashmolean Museum said.

The Indian High Commission in the UK made a claim four years ago for the bronze figure of Tirumankai Alvar that was allegedly looted from a temple.

Vijay Kumar, co-founder of India Pride Project, which seeks to reclaim stolen religious artifacts, said worshippers have something to cheer.

We saw COVID delays and procedural drama between British and Indian authorities on what should have been an open and shut case, Kumar told the Times of India. But we have been voicing our opinions on social media and we are almost there."

The planned repatriation comes amid a push by foreign governments, including Nigeria, Egypt and Greece, as well as Indigenous peoples from North America to Australia, seeking to reclaim precious antiquities looted or acquired by questionable means during the heyday of the British Empire.

Oxford agreed two years ago to return nearly 100 Benin bronzes to the Nigerian government that were looted in 1897 when British soldiers attacked and occupied Benin City as Britain expanded its political and commercial influence in West Africa.

The return of those items has been held up by the Charity Commission, a regulatory body in England and Wales that decides if returning art undermines an organization's charitable mission. The Indian bronze will also need the commission's approval.

The Ashmolean said it reached out to the Indian High Commission in 2019 after research from photo archives showed the bronze in a temple in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu in 1957.

The museum issued a statement saying the university council supported the return of the item in March. The museum said it bought the statue at Sotheby's in 1967. It said it didn't know how collector Dr. J.R. Belmont had acquired it.
P-22 lived an epic and tragic life in Griffith Park. Would a new mountain lion fare any better?

A sleek mountain lion filmed from behind the wheel of a Tesla on the edge of Griffith Park last month triggered a collective double take in Los Angeles.

Not long ago, the park's long-reigning king  the cougar known as P-22  stalked the same hills.

While P-22's stint in Hollywood brought him fame and devotion  landing him on T-shirts and culminating in a sold-out memorial  it also came with deadly trappings inherent to his urban-adjacent environment. Rat poison and car collisions battered him from the inside out. He was captured and euthanized in late 2022, deemed too sick to return to the wild because of injuries and infection.

A mountain lion living in Griffith Park today would likely suffer a similar fate.

"Has anything changed, in some respects, in Griffith Park? No," said Beth Pratt of the National Wildlife Federation, a vocal booster for Southern California mountain lions, P-22 in particular. "As much as people are really excited about this cat, a lot, including myself, are worried about him."

Cars still whiz along freeways that isolate small populations of lions and perilously limit genetic diversity. Some types of rat poison, which travels up the food chain to an apex predator like a puma, can still be bought at the hardware store.

But P-22's high-profile plight highlighted the challenges and helped inspire efforts to make the region a safer place to be a mountain lion  even if change hasnt caught up to the heartbreaking reality.

Whats billed as the largest wildlife crossing in the world  with a staggering price tag to match  is taking shape over a stretch of the 101 Freeway in Agoura Hills. A pair of bills that recently cleared the California Assembly would expand a ban on certain rodenticides and require cities to consider wildlife connectivity in planning documents.

P-22 "did spur us to action," Pratt said.

Very little is known about the lion spotted in mid-May in a parking lot east of Barham Boulevard on the edge of roughly 4,200-acre Griffith Park.

Vladimir Polumiskov captured video of the majestic creature on his phone after he and his wife and young son returned to their Hollywood Hills apartment after a weeknight dinner out. Headlights from Polumiskovs car illuminate the cats sand-colored fur as he perches on a tree.

Researchers who have seen the video believe its a young-leaning male lion. Hes not wearing a collar and therefore not part of the National Park Services 22-year study of mountain lions in and around the Santa Monica Mountains, of which Griffith Park marks the easternmost end.

Scientists involved with the study are trying to find him  scouting primarily via remote cameras  so they can add him, said Seth Riley, a wildlife ecologist with NPS. If hes captured and collared, scientists will be able to track his movements and analyze his DNA to see if hes related to other lions in their database.

Typically, young male mountain lions disperse, often traveling long distances to search for mates and a suitable home to call their own. Thats probably what P-22 was after  though he ended up in an abnormally small area for his species, and one believed to be lacking in lady lions. Experts didnt expect him to stay long, but he hunkered down for 10 years.

Read more: California mountain lion population is thousands fewer than previously estimated

Griffith Park, surrounded on all sides by perilous freeways and roads, isnt an easy place for a lion to get to  or leave.

Pratt said the recently sighted lion probably hails from the Santa Monica Mountains and took the same harrowing trek as P-22, who presumably traversed the 405 and 101 freeways. But it remains speculation in the absence of a genetic workup.

Theres no telling whether he'll stick around.

There are some upsides to the park. Namely, plenty of deer and no other adult male mountain lions, which chase and sometimes even fight young lions to the death.

"He might not be in Griffith Park anymore," said Pratt, California regional executive director for the NWF. "Or he could be settling in and claiming this for his new home.

A wildlife crossing over the 101 Freeway in Agoura Hills, pictured in an artist's rendering, is expected to open in 2026. (RCD of the Santa Monica Mountains / Associated Press)

Last month, Pratt scrawled For P-22 onto the final girder placed onto the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing, a construction milestone that completed the bridges foundation. Numerous others honored P-22 in their own signatures, she said.

Those who want to see Southland lions succeed point to the $92-million crossing as holding perhaps the biggest promise. If the crossing had been built when P-22 was looking to settle down, he might have been able to cross it and go north to mountain lion paradise," Los Padres National Forest, Pratt surmised.

The 101 Freeway functions as an impenetrable wall, Pratt said. Lions to the south cant get out and lions to the north cant get in, forcing isolation and inbreeding. Birth defects, including kinked tails and deformed testicles, have already shown up in the small population sequestered in the Santa Monica Mountains. Next is likely sterility, Pratt said. A recent study found they could face extirpation within 50 years without intervention.

Read more: You're early: Cougar leaps into backyard near future site of Annenberg Wildlife Crossing

Based on what researchers have learned, "this crossing will really be helpful for animals to leave the Santa Monicas, but also it's kind of even more important, from a genetic point of view, that animals are able to come into the Santa Monicas, said Riley, who is the branch chief for wildlife at the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area and an adjunct professor at UCLA.

Because we've documented low genetic diversity in the Santa Monicas, and we've documented a bunch of cases of close inbreeding, where fathers are mating with daughters and close relatives are breeding."

The crossing is slated to open in 2026. And theres a lot of work to be done before that to get it ready for animals on the move.

Pratt said theyre currently working on the structure looming over a 10-lane stretch of freeway. Soon theyll lay down two big slabs of concrete, and by the end of the year soil and plants will be added. Next spring, they expect to begin working on the portion over Agoura Road.

Beth Pratt, pictured in 2021, said she and others are worried for the mountain lion recently spotted at the edge of Griffith Park. It's not the most hospitable place for a big cat. (Gary Kazanjian / For The Times)

Meanwhile, two bills that advanced out of the state Assembly last month aim to tackle mountain lions top challenges: cars, connectivity and rat poison. The bills, both introduced by Assemblymember Laura Friedman (D-Glendale), need to pass the Senate by Aug. 31 to land on the governor's desk for final approval.

Vehicle strikes are the top killers of mountain lions studied by the National Park Service. Rodenticides are tied for second with fights with other animals.

P-22 was struck by a car toward the end of his life a few blocks south of Griffith Park and a subsequent exam revealed an old injury that may have been caused by another collision. He was also exposed to rat poison and developed mange.

Assembly Bill 1889, called the Room to Roam Act, would require local governments to consider and implement measures to protect wildlife connectivity as part of their general plan.

That could entail installing wildlife-friendly fencing or lighting or identifying and protecting a corridor known to be used by animals. (It does not require crossings to be built or land to be set aside.)

The bill directs cities and counties to plan development in ways that dont unnecessarily impact the movement of wildlife, said J.P. Rose, urban wildlands policy director at the Center for Biological Diversity, which sponsored the bill.

Connectivity isnt often considered until a specific development reaches the proposal stage, Rose said, which misses a key opportunity to take a regional look at the issue of wildlife connectivity. And because it is a regional issue, the best place to look at it is in these kind of longer-term, broader plans.

The bill arrives about two years after the passage of a law that directed the California Department of Transportation to explore wildlife connectivity when it builds or expands roadways. The Room to Roam bill addresses the other side of the coin, Rose said.

Though previous laws have limited the use of certain rat poisons, others remain widely available. Assembly Bill 2552 would place restrictions on additional types, including removing them for over-the-counter purchase and limiting their use in wildlife areas.

This bill is an attempt to get some of those off the shelves so that people aren't going to Home Depot and buying these super toxic rodenticides and unknowingly poisoning wildlife, said Rose of the bill, also sponsored by the center.

The poisons being targeted  chlorophacinone and warfarin  are known as first-generation anticoagulant rodenticides. They stop a rats blood from coagulating and stay in the animals system after it dies. When an unsuspecting mountain lion or owl gobbles a dead or sick rat  or another animal that ate a tainted rat  the toxic substance is passed on.

Read more: Patt Morrison: California used to pay people to hunt mountain lions. Now we spend millions to protect them

Rose called the impacts really heartbreaking. He said poisoned predators dont always die right away; sometimes they slowly bleed to death from the inside. The poisons can cause skin diseases and lead to organ failure and a depressed immune system, which might prevent animals from being able to find food or shelter in their sickened state  another pathway to death, he said.

Riley, of the National Park Service, said researchers are "still continuing to get exposure in basically every animal we test."

His team believes its likely that the mountain lions they study are ingesting the poison when they eat carnivores  particularly coyotes, their second-most commonly consumed prey after deer. Often cougars go straight for their nutrient-rich organs, including the liver, where the compounds are stored.

Theres general consensus that these efforts are part of a long game. No single crossing or law will be enough to make Southern California a safe place for mountain lions (or other wildlife). The goal is to continue building out connectivity while detoxifying the landscape  and make environmental and development decisions with the cats in mind going forward.

Big cat supporters are already scheming about where to place future crossings.

National Park Service researchers are conducting a connectivity study along a portion of the 101 Freeway at the western end of the Santa Monica Mountains known as the Conejo Grade. Its an area with undeveloped land on both sides, Riley said. Recently, there were renewed calls for crossings north of San Diego County , where the 15 Freeway strands another population of genetically isolated lions. There have also been informal talks about where crossings could be installed in or near Griffith Park, according to Pratt. The Cahuenga Pass, where P-22 is believed to have crossed, is on their radar.

If all goes well, P-22 might be the last of his kind.

If, in the long run, all of these areas were better connected, then animals, hopefully, in the future, wont end up stuck in Griffith Park like P-22," Riley said.

Is the new mountain lion in Griffith Park? And for how long? (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times )

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
NIZHNY NOVGOROD, Russia, June 10 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Monday met with Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira in the Russian city of Nizhny Novgorod.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, noted that this year marks the 50th anniversary of China-Brazil diplomatic relations, a significant year for the development of bilateral relations.

Both sides should grasp the strategic importance of the China-Brazil relationship, enhance its mutually beneficial nature, and highlight its comprehensiveness, Wang said.

He added that both sides should work together towards building a China-Brazil community with a shared future, promote the further alignment of the development strategies of both countries and send a positive expectation for the healthy and stable development of China-Brazil relations.

China has always prioritized Brazil in its diplomacy and is willing to work with Brazil to systematically summarize the successful experiences of the past half-century and elevate the comprehensive strategic partnership to a new level, Wang said, adding that this conforms to the wishes of both peoples and the expectations of the international community, and contributes to global peace and development.

China values Brazil's significant influence in the Latin American region and is willing to jointly promote cooperation between China, the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), and the Southern Common Market, Wang said.

He added that as the China-Latin America Forum approaches its 10th anniversary, showing a trend of comprehensive advancement, both sides can work together to start an even more fruitful decade for the forum.

Wang noted that China and Brazil, as major developing countries, need to make just, balanced, and constructive voices on international hot issues. Recently, the two countries jointly issued six common understandings on the political settlement of the Ukraine issue, which has gained understanding and recognition from more and more countries.

Noting that this year marks the inaugural year of the "greater BRICS cooperation," Wang said China is willing to work with Brazil to actively promote BRICS cooperation, enabling the BRICS mechanism to play a greater role in global governance and in safeguarding the interests of developing countries.

Vieira noted Brazilian Vice President Geraldo Alckmin's recent successful visit to China and the seventh meeting of the Brazil-China High-Level Coordination and Cooperation Committee, stressing that Brazil highly values its relationship with China, is ready to closely engage in high-level exchanges with China, strengthen cooperation in various fields including trade and economy, and define a new positioning for bilateral relations to open new prospects for the next 50 years.

Brazil appreciates China's active role in promoting BRICS cooperation, values China's influence in international affairs, and supports the major initiatives proposed by China, Vieira said.

He added that Brazil and China share similar stances on many issues, and the joint statement on the six common understandings on the political settlement of the Ukraine issue is of significant importance.

Brazil is willing to continue strengthening cooperation with China on multilateral platforms such as the United Nations, G20, and BRICS, he said.

Noting that Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva firmly believes that dialogue and cooperation between China and CELAC are of great significance, Vieira said the China-Latin America Forum is a beneficial platform, and Brazil is willing to work with China to arrange forum activities and promote its new development.

The two sides also exchanged views on the Gaza situation and other issues of common concern. 
Gov. Josh Shapiro during a campaign event for President Joe Biden at Montgomery County Community College January 5, 2024 in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Gov. Josh Shapiro admonished former President Donald Trump to quit whining during a TV appearance Monday night, and said it was crucial not to give the former president the opportunity to appoint more justices to the U.S. Supreme Court.

All they hear from Donald Trump is a whole bunch of whining about this country, and I think Donald Trumps got to quit whining, got to quit trying to divide us, Shapiro said during a spot on Inside with Jen Psaki on MSNBC, describing how he viewed Pennsylvanians attitudes toward Trump.

More people went to work this morning in America than at any other time in our nations history, he added. So I got a message to Donald Trump and all his negativity and his whining, stop st talking America. This is the greatest country on Earth, and its time that we all start acting like it.

Asked if he thought Trumps conviction on 34 felony counts would influence Pennsylvania voters who are undecided, Shapiro added that he didnt know how the conviction will play out.

Shapiro noted that Trumps victory in 2016 led to enough justices serving on the court to overturn Roe v. Wade  Trump appointed three justices during his term  and said other rights could be at risk if he retakes the presidency.

You really want to give Donald Trump the ability to appoint more Samuel Alitos to the court, more Clarence Thomases to the court, Shapiro said. You really want to give him the ability to put more people on the court who are going to take away our fundamental freedoms?

I really fear that this was just the beginning, and if Donald Trump is given the ability to lead this nation again to put more of those kinds of justices on the court, it will not only set us back for four years, it will set us back for 40 years, he added.

As of June 10, President Joe Biden and Trump are slated to be on the Pennsylvania ballot for Novembers election, although multiple third-party candidates like Jill Stein and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. are making a push to appear on the ballot as well.

But Shapiro called the presidential election a binary choice.

Dont let anybody tell you theres other people on the ballot, Shapiro said. Bunch of randos on the ballot with no chance of winning, this is a binary choice between Donald Trump and Joe Biden.

A Pennsylvania poll from Mainstreet Research, PolCom Lab and Florida Atlantic University released June 4 shows Trump leading Biden by 2 points in a head-to-head matchup, however, when Kennedy is added as a choice, he pulls 8% of the vote and provides Biden with a 2 point advantage over Trump.

Following the 2020 election, Trump sued several battleground states, including Pennsylvania, over the outcome of the race. Shapiro was the states attorney general at the time and noted Trumps attempts to overturn the election were unsuccessful.

He complains, he bemoans the fact that he lost, and he makes up excuses and tries to pivot away from personal responsibility, Shapiro said. He added that if Trump wins, hed attempt to exact revenge on enemies via the justice system, adding that should scare all Americans.

The Republican National Committee replied to a request for response to Shapiros comments late Monday without mentioning the governor by name, instead focusing on Biden.

Joe Bidens approval rating is underwater in Pennsylvania and Democrats know it, RNC spokesperson Rachel Lee said in an email to the Capital-Star . Despite their best attempts to gaslight voters, the Keystone State knows that failed Joe Biden is to blame for soaring costs, a spiraling border crisis, and staggering crime rates across the country.

The post Pa. Gov. Shapiro says Trump should quit whining appeared first on Pennsylvania Capital-Star.
(Getty Images)

The Pennsylvania Senate on Monday advanced key components of Republicans plan to make higher education more affordable and accessible in Pennsylvania. Their plan, which theyve dubbed Grow PA conflicts with Gov. Josh Shapiro and Democratic lawmakers own proposal to address the issue of college affordability.

Broadly speaking, the Senate Republicans plan would target scholarships towards students in and out of Pennsylvania seeking to enter in-demand areas of the workforce by offering funding and scholarships to students studying in those fields. The terms of the program would require the students to remain and work in the state for a period post-graduation.

Two bills aiming to do just that were amended in a session of the full Senate and will likely advance in the coming days.

Another bill that would expand eligibility for the existing Ready-to-Succeed Scholarship program aimed at lower- and middle-income Pennsylvanians studying to enter in-demand areas of the workforce passed with all but three Senators voting in favor of it.

The bill would raise the eligible household income limit from $126,000 to $175,000 and lower GPA requirements from 3.25 to 2.5.

According to the bills sponsor, Sen. Devlin Robinson (R-Allegheny), the bill would make an additional 24,000 students eligible for the scholarship.

These small but important adjustments will make more students eligible for assistance, Robinson said.

Opposing the bill, Sen. Art Haywood (D-Montgomery), said the new $175,000 limit would not focus the funds enough towards students from lower-income families. He also opposed lowering GPA requirements to 2.5.

This creates a change in the prioritization of students that we will support, Haywood said.

These bills directly conflict with Democrats plan to address higher education affordability. That plan, laid out by Shapiro earlier this year, is largely targeted at limiting tuition costs to $1,000 across the board for Pennsylvanians attending state schools and community colleges and combining those schools governance.

Not all of the bills that advanced Monday were partisan or controversial.

One bill, that would offer scholarships to out-of-state students either in foster care or adopted as older teenagers, passed the Senate unanimously.

Im always happy to make our state more welcoming to students who have been in foster care, wherever theyre from, said Sen. Lindsey Williams (D-Allegheny).

The Senate also voted to advance bills that are part of the broader Grow PA package aimed at, respectively, commissioning a study to move the states higher education funding model to a performance-based one, and creating a broader higher education task force.

Both bills were advanced largely on partisan lines.

The post Pa. Senate advances key parts of Republican plan to make state colleges more affordable appeared first on Pennsylvania Capital-Star.
Pamela Smart, 56, has been incarcerated since 1990

Jon Pierre Lasseigne/AP Pamela Smart

Pamela Smart, a former high school employee serving a life sentence for recruiting a teenage boy with whom she was having a sexual relationship to kill her husband, has accepted responsibility for his murder in a videotaped statement that was released Tuesday.

The statement came during her latest attempt to have her sentence reduced, CBS News reported.

Smart, now 56, has been appealing her conviction for decades.

In the video, Smart, who has been incarcerated since 1990 after being convicted of conspiracy to commit murder, said she started to dig deeper into her role in her husbands slaying while in a writing group.

For me that was really hard, because going into those places, in those spaces is where I found myself responsible for something I desperately didnt want to be responsible for, my husbands murder, she said, per the Associated Press. I had to acknowledge for the first time in my own mind and my own heart how responsible I was, because I had deflected blame all the time, I think, almost as if it was a coping mechanism, because the truth of being so responsible was very difficult for me.

Courtesy of HBO Pamela Smart

"Now that I am older and able to look back on things, I can see so many errors that I made, and see how skewed my judgement was, and how immature I was, she said, per CBS News. Looking backward, you know, I'm such a different person than I was ... back then," she said. "I mean, 34 years is a very long time, and during that time I've done a lot of work on myself."

At the end of the video statement, Smart, who is housed at Bedford Hills Correctional Facility in New York State, asked to meet or have a video conference with New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu and the New Hampshire Executive Council.

Related: Pamela Smart Claims a Plastic Knife Infraction Could Be Keeping Her from Getting Prison Sentence Reduced

Smart's case was one of the highest-profile crime stories of the early 1990s.

Gregg Smart was found dead in his New Hampshire condo on May 1, 1990. The 24-year-old insurance agent had been shot in the head.

As police investigated the crime, they began to focus on his wife, Pamela, a 22-year-old media coordinator at a nearby school. Investigators soon learned that Pamela had been having an affair with an underage student, William "Billy" Flynn.

Flynn admitted that he was the gunman, but maintained that he did it at the direction of Smart  an allegation that Smart denied.

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.

After Flynn pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, he testified against Smart.

The case quickly became international news, and even helped inspire the 1996 Nicole Kidman movie To Die For. The question at the center of the case: Was the pretty young widow responsible for her husband's murder? A jury thought so, and she was convicted on March 22, 1991. She has remained in prison ever since.

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Read the original article on People.
Part of Miami Valley to receive over $4 million in state funding for water projects

Part of the Miami Valley will receive at least $4 million in state funding for water projects.

>>Semi carrying over 150 pigs overturns, closes ramp to I-70 in Montgomery Cty.

Clark and Greene counties are receiving these funds as part of the Ohio BUILDS Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Grant program, according to State Senator Bob Hackett.

It is important to keep our water systems safe, updated, and maintained so our neighborhoods stay a great place to live and work, he said. These funds are going to have a positive impact.

Greene County will get $2.5 million in gap funding to complete, improve, and expand the available water supply by developing a 57-acre property on Hilltop Road into a groundwater-producing wellfield.

The Village of Yellow Springs will get at least $450,000 in funding to replace ductile iron water main copper service lines.

The Village of North Hampton was awarded more than $1.3 million in state funds to replace the villages water tower.

Ohio BUILDS has provided nearly $620 million in state funding support water projects across the state since 2021.
Aiming to direct students attention toward learning, the Pasco and Pinellas county school boards on Tuesday adopted more limits on when cellphones may be used during the school day.

In Pasco, students across all grade levels must keep their phones silenced and stowed away during classes, unless a teacher gives permission to use them for lessons. The off-and-out-of-sight rule will remain in place throughout the day, including during before- and after-school activities, at elementary and middle schools.

Officials had intended to have the same strict requirement in place for high schools, too. But after hearing pushback from students, staff and parents, the administration decided to allow high school students to use their phones during their lunch periods.

In Pinellas, elementary and middle school students are expected to keep their phones off throughout the school day, except as allowed by teachers, special education plans or emergency situations. Smart watches will be allowed to remain on, but only in the silent mode.

Pinellas high school students will be permitted to keep their phones on in the silent mode. They may use the phones during passing periods and lunch, but not during classes except with teacher approval, special education need or emergencies.

The Hillsborough County School Board is scheduled to take up new cellphone rules when it meets July 23.

Districts across Florida are revising these policies in concert with state law giving teachers more authority to control their classrooms. They also have cited problems with increased mental health struggles and lost instructional time.

Gov. Ron DeSantis highlighted the issue during a news conference on Monday, saying the districts that have throttled back cellphones have seen improvements in performance and behavior.

The students even admit its better, DeSantis said, calling the approach huge for education. That was something thats really, really significant, and Im glad we did it.

Pasco board members said they wanted to ensure that, as the district gets tougher in its student code of conduct, teachers and administrators are not overburdened with enforcement.

I believe our administrators should be focused on being the instructional leaders at the schools, board member Colleen Beaudoin said, calling for a balance between the concerns about phone abuse and the time needed to implement the rules.

Superintendent Kurt Browning, who initially recommended a complete ban on phone use in schools, said he did not anticipate many problems. He noted the district made some other limitations on phones a year ago, and faced almost no negative response to the changes.

He added that the district will have more discipline aides in middle and high schools, and they can help handle any issues that arise.

Students who violate Pascos policy could face disciplinary action that could include suspension, but not expulsion or alternative placement. Browning said he did not expect students to have their phones confiscated as part of the plan, amid concerns about liability if something happens to a phone while in the districts custody.

Pinellas School Board chairperson Laura Hine noted her districts policy was devised after months of research into other district practices, as well as conversations with local students, parents and staff. She said it will allow for clear and consistent implementation across all schools.

Superintendent Kevin Hendrick said that initiative will begin with district and school administrators discussing details over the summer, in advance of a campaign to inform families about digital citizenship expectations before children resume classes in August.

That effort also will include lessons on how students can use their phones and other devices in a meaningful way, Hendrick said.

Its one thing to tell them to put their phones away, Hine added. It is another to teach appropriate use.

She said officials from several county agencies are collaborating to combat youth mental health struggles tied to technology. If Pinellas County wants to move the needle, Hine said, the effort has to be broader than the schools.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  A one-car crash on Friday afternoon left one woman dead and one man seriously injured, according to Oregon State Police.

Police responded to the crash off Hwy 2214 near milepost 16 in Clackamas County around 2:45 p.m. They say Portland man Jose Tamayo, 51, was driving a Chevy 1500 pickup that left the road and struck a telephone pole on the north side of the highway.

Party Bus, the jumping bull at Sisters Rodeo, athletic, dangerous

The passenger, Portland woman Rosa Perez, 49, was found dead at the scene, while Tamayo was taken to an area hospital, police said.

According to OSP, the crash investigation is ongoing, but impairment is the suspected cause of the crash.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Paterson mayor gets new ally in legal battle to stop state takeover of police

PATERSON  Mayor Andre Sayeghs legal fight to stop the state attorney generals takeover of the Paterson Police Department has gained support from the group that represents the states local governments.

The League of Municipalities essentially agreed with Sayeghs position that the AGs Office lacked any basis in New Jersey law to justify taking control of the Paterson police, in a legal brief filed on June 7 in the lawsuit pending in appellate court.

The organization said the mayor has exclusive responsibility for picking the chief of police and that the chief has sole responsibility for the day-to-day operation of the department.

Story continues below photo gallery

While the powers granted to the AG are broad, they are not unlimited, said the municipalities group in its court brief. Indeed, it would take an act of the legislature to authorize the broad action impermissibly exercised by the AG in the City of Paterson.

Other plaintiffs in the mayors lawsuit are Engelbert Ribeiro, the Sayegh appointee ousted as Patersons police chief as part of the state takeover, and Mark Bulur, the confidential assistant to the public safety director.

Ribeiro had taken the oath of office as Patersons chief on March 3, 2023  24 days before the AGs intervention. The state reassigned him to a training commission job in Trenton.

More: Paterson Police Department's deputy chief positions are still vacant. Here's why

Eight months have passed since Sayegh, Ribeiro, and Bulur initiated the lawsuit, and the state takeover has almost been in place for 15 months. Attorney General Matthew Platkin has taken an as long as it takes stand on the duration of the state intervention.

Isa Abbassi, the man Platkin appointed to run the Paterson police department, issued a two-year plan to improve city law enforcement last September.

The AGs Office, in its own brief filed on May 29, said public safety has improved in Paterson since the state took control of the police department, an assertion supported by many city community leaders, elected officials, and rank-and-file police department members who note that the $10 million infusion of funding from Trenton has played a big role in the improvements.

The AGs court brief cited the Criminal Justice Act of 1970 as the basis for its intervention and argued that Sayegh, Ribeiro and Bulur waited too long to contest the takeover, asserting that should have been done within 45 days.

Deputy Chief Englebert Ribeiro takes the oath of office for his new rank as deputy chief during a promotional ceremony for the Paterson Police Department at City Hall on August 2, 2021. Mayor Andre Sayegh, not pictured, delivers the oath of office.

We are disappointed that the League has joined Patersons arguments, which will only undermine the incredible progress we have made in Paterson over the past 15 months and take the city backwards, said an AG spokesman. Were confident the courts will see through these arguments and ultimately reject this challenge.

Sayegh on Tuesday issued a statement celebrating the support from the local government association.

The League of Municipalities joining us in the lawsuit sends a powerful message to Attorney General Matt Platkin that every city and town in New Jersey stands united in the belief that his actions are illegal and exceed the authority of his office, the mayor said.

Platkins unlawful takeover was never about forging a partnership with a city that duly-elected its mayor twice, rather it was to further his own political ambitions, Sayegh said.

Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh gives his 2023 Paterson State of the City Address at the historic Hinchliffe Stadium on Thursday Sept. 28, 2023.

Paterson Press asked if Platkin had any response to Sayeghs criticism. His office said a statement that Platkin issued in March still applies: It is regrettable that some public officials can only view bold actions through the lens of ambition. Here, we took bold action simply because it was the right thing to do.

In February, the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police also filed a brief backing Sayegh, Ribeiro, and Bulur in the litigation.

The chiefs groups primary argument was what they described as the lack of rules and standards for when the AGs Office could intervene and take control of a local police department.

If the Attorney General has ultimate authority to supecede a local law enforcement agency subject to nothing more than his own personal opinion or whim, then his determination never can be anything other than arbitrary or capricious, the chiefs group argued. In essence, he is correct as long as he believes he is correct.

It remains unclear when the court battle over control of the police department will be resolved.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Paterson NJ mayor gets ally in bid to stop NJ takeover of police
Automated blood sample testing in laboratory for healthcare screening. (Tek Image/Science Photo Library/Getty Images)

An early leader in Rhode Islands nascent life sciences industry and driving force behind the creation of the Rhode Island Life Science Hub will take on a new role as the agencys interim president under a contract unanimously approved by the board of directors Tuesday.

Patrice Milos will start her temporary job as the quasi-public state agencys administrative leader July 1, while the 15-member volunteer board continues its national search for a permanent president. Milos will be paid $25,000 a month for the job, with an initial three-month contract that will extend for 30-day periods as needed until the permanent president role is filled, Neil Steinberg, board chairman, said during the board of directors meeting Tuesday.

Patrice Milos is the perfect choice to lead the Hub at this early stage of its development and has the confidence of our board, Neil Steinberg, board chairman, said in a statement. Her vision, energy and experience are exactly what we need to maintain the Hubs initial momentum and continue to establish a path forward to realize its enormous potential here in Rhode Island.

Milos, a Cranston resident, brings over 30 years of relevant research, business and advocacy experience to the new state agency, including as founding member of RI Bio, a regional trade group. RI Bio is credited for helping persuade lawmakers to create the state life science agency based on its role in a 2019 state-commissioned report that recommended ways to make the Ocean State competitive with more established life science hubs in Cambridge and Worcester, Massachusetts.

Patrice Milos will serve as interim president of the Rhode Island Life Science Hub under a contract approved by its board of directors on Tuesday. (Courtesy Rhode Island Life Science Hub)

Milos was one of seven board members appointed by Gov. Dan McKee to the new agency created as part of the states fiscal 2024 budget. The other eight board members were chosen based on statutory requirements for representation from various private, public and education sectors.

Milos will continue to serve as a member of the hubs board of directors upon assuming the interim president title, but will relinquish the boards secretary duties. She will also give up her title as co-chair of RI Bio  though she will remain on the board itself  and take a leave of absence from the board of directors for nonprofit seed funding group, Slater Technology Fund.

As interim president for the Life Science Hub, Milos will oversee the agencys daily operations, including oversight of a $250,000 grant fund that opened to applicants last week, offering $10,000 apiece for projects and programs that support the life science industry.

Its an exciting time to be taking the interim helm of the Hub and Im thrilled to be in this position, setting the organization up for future success, Milos said in a statement. Rhode Island possesses all the elements for success in the life sciences  a commitment from our states leaders and academia, early-stage investors and industry experts with energy, vision and innovative ideas.

Meanwhile, the board of directors will continue its nationwide search for a permanent president with the help of hired consultant, Korn Ferry.

Steinberg had hoped to find a permanent president before the 2024 legislation session ended  since the boards pick requires review and approval by the Rhode Island Senate  but the process took longer than anticipated due to scheduling delays and review of applicants submission information, Steinberg told Rhode Island Current previously.

Hiring an interim president allows the agency to ramp up operations without lawmakers stamp of approval; the plan now is to find and submit a permanent president for Senate review next year.

Given how important it is to select the right person to be CEO of the Hub, the board is taking great care to make certain that whoever is chosen is the best fit for the job, Steinberg said in a statement. We will continue to seek someone with the tools to collaborate with academia, the private sector and government to realize a vision for the Hub that maximizes the tremendous potential of Rhode Island in the life sciences.

Milos will not be considered for the permanent president role, according to an agency statement.

Milos earned her masters and doctoral degree in biology from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York, before serving as a postdoctoral fellow at Harvard and Brown universities. She spent the first 14 years of her career at Pfizer Inc., advanced to executive director of molecular medicine and returned later to head the companys Centers for Therapeutic Innovation in Boston.

She co-founded Rhode Island-based startup Medley Genomics in 2016, a company focused on data analytics for diseases, including cancer. She has held several other senior roles in biotechnology and investment, including as former executive director of Providence-based Cherrystone Angel Group, and CEO of Claritas Genomics, spun out of Boston Childrens Hospital.

The post Patrice Milos picked as interim president for R.I. life science agency appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
BEIJING, June 11 (Xinhua) -- With surging trips and tourism spending, China's just finished Dragon Boat Festival holiday reflected a robust consumer market and steady economic recovery. Here are some notable facts and figures about the three-day holiday ending Monday.

Some 110 million domestic tourist trips were made during the period, up 6.3 percent year on year. The related consumption totaled 40.35 billion yuan (about 5.67 billion U.S. dollars), up 8.1 percent, according to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

Data from the Ministry of Transport showed nearly 637.62 million inter-regional passenger traffic were seen during the holiday, 9.4 percent higher than that of last year and 16.6 percent higher than pre-pandemic 2019. Among them, 583.11 million trips were made on road, making the largest contribution to the total passenger traffic.

Tourists gravitated toward festive events. Cities known for dragon boat races, including south China's Foshan City and central China's Yueyang City, saw surging car rental orders and travel orders due to visitor inflows, said Ctrip, an online travel agency.

Cultural attractions found favor in more tourists during the past holiday. Travel orders were up significantly in Xianyang City, the capital city of the ancient Qin Dynasty, Deyang City, which boasts the Sanxingdui Ruins, a relics site dating back to 4,500 years to 3,000 years ago, and Jingdezhen City, deemed China's "porcelain capital," according to Ctrip.

The traditional festival also lured overseas tourists. The number of inbound trips ordered on the Ctrip platform soared 115 percent from a year ago, with most tourists from the United States, followed by Britain and Australia.

The National Immigration Administration said foreign nationals made 507,000 entry and exit trips in China in the period, up 57 percent year on year.

Moreover, the holiday witnessed stronger consumer sentiment as the domestic potential continued to be unleashed.

Data from Meituan, a leading e-commerce platform, showed daily online service deals, such as food delivery and meal coupon purchases, jumped 69 percent during the holiday from the same period in 2019. Meituan users in south China's Guangdong Province made the most orders in value, followed by Jiangsu and Zhejiang.

The Dragon Boat Festival, also called Duanwu Festival, is celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese lunar calendar, which fell on Monday this year.

It commemorates Chinese renowned patriotic poet Qu Yuan, who was also a minister of the State of Chu during the Warring States Period (475 B.C.-221 B.C.). The dragon boat race is one of many traditions of this festival and it has been developed into a sport. 
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) on Monday offered some all-too-blunt advice to Donald Trump.

I got a message to Donald Trump and all his negativity and his whining, he told MSNBCs Jen Psaki. Stop shit-talking America. This is the greatest country on Earth, and its time that we all start acting like it.

Trump has repeatedly slammed America, earlier this year saying in many ways were living in hell right now.

He also wrote on Truth Social: WE ARE A NATION IN DECLINE, A FAILING NATION!

But Shapiro said thats not the reality of life in America today  and voters in his swing state know it.

I think they want to be led by someone who is honest and decent  someone whos actually on their side, like Joe Biden, he said. And all they hear from Donald Trump is a whole bunch of whining about this country. I think Donald Trumps gotta quit whining.

Shapiro also warned that Trump is out for revenge as he seeks a return to the White House.

The idea that he would be put in charge of the justice system and have people surrounding him that were out just trying to get his perceived enemies should scare all Americans, he said. Its another example of the kind of chaos that he would inflict on our country if hes given the opportunity to lead this nation again.

Check out the full interview below:

Related...
Pennsylvania schools would get billions more under Democratic plan passed by the state House

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP)  A Democratic-sponsored proposal to boost public school funding by billions in the coming years and impose stricter rules on cyber-charter schools passed the Pennsylvania House on Monday in a test of political will as lawmakers haggle over the state budget.

The bill responds to a report issued in January that said Pennsylvania underfunds public school districts by more than $5 billion annually and recommended phasing in increases over several years. The proposed legislation would set up a new formula to distribute state education aid but does not include an appropriation of the money to fund it.

Five Republican lawmakers voted with all Democrats to approve the measure, which passed 107-94 and was sent to the state Senate.

Majority Leader Matt Bradford, D-Montgomery, said the states current system of doling out support has failed, calling it unconstitutional. Phased in over seven years, the measure would eventually increase state support by about $7 billion annually.

What were doing is what the court has told us to do, to give every child in this commonwealth an equitable and fair public education, Bradford said during floor debate. This isnt politics, this is a constitutional requirement, one that this body has failed for too long.

The measure also would impose a range of new regulations on cyber-charter schools, including public disclosure requirements for budgets, taxes and reports to the state Education Department. Public schools payments per student to cyber-charter schools would be capped at $8,000 a year for those not in special education, a change projected to save public school districts hundreds of millions of dollars a year. Cyber-charter schools are independent public schools that offer classes through electronic means, typically over the internet.

Rep. Bryan Cutler, the Republican floor leader from Lancaster County, called the bill a massive shift in educational priorities that would hurt school choice options.

Until we fix some of the systemic problems, more money alone will do little for students stuck in schools in crisis, Cutler said.

Its unclear whether these policies, drawn from the Basic Education Funding Commissions report, will survive budget negotiations with the Republican-controlled state Senate. The commission report in January was approved 8-7, with all Republicans and one Democrat opposed.

Republican legislative leaders have called for districts to instead focus on making instructional changes that could boost student achievement.

More money and a lot of it over the last decade or more has not enhanced student outcomes, said Rep. Joe DOrsie, R-York.

Supporters of a major boost in K-12 spending are hoping the time is right, thanks to a projected $14 billion state surplus available and the recent memory of a major court decision last year that found Pennsylvanias system of funding public schools violates the constitutional rights of students in poorer districts. The state budget is due in three weeks.

School districts considered to be underfunded in Pennsylvania are often faster growing, disproportionately poor or with a student body that has a significant number of minority students. The result can be larger class sizes, underqualified teachers and outdated buildings, textbooks, technology and curriculum.

Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro in the annual budget address in February backed a $1.1 billion increase in public school operations and instruction, a 14% increase, with much of it concentrated among the largest and poorer districts  including many with significant numbers of minority students.

The states school funding system currently places much of the funding burden on local taxpayers in the form of property taxes.

When we do not fully fund schools here, your local government is forced to raise taxes, said Appropriations Chairman Jordan Harris, D-Philadelphia.

A state judge early last year ruled that Pennsylvanias system of funding public schools is inadequate and violates students constitutional rights. Commonwealth Court Judge Renee Cohn Jubelirers 800-page ruling found the state has been violating students rights of a comprehensive, effective, and contemporary education.

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BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD)  The Pentagon Barracks in downtown Baton Rouge is a historic site that was once used as a military post.

The National Register for Historic Places Nomination Form describes the buildings as two stories and made out of brick with open space on the fifth side. U.S. Army engineer Capt. James Gadsden designed the military post expansion in 1819-23.

When the plans for the post-expansion were drawn up there was the threat of invasion by Spanish troops from Texas, as well as the everpresent possibility of a slave insurrection, according to documents.

A treaty with Spain was signed around the time construction started.

In its 300-year history, according to the nomination form, Baton Rouge has been under the control of the Spanish, French, British, Republic of West Florida, the State of Louisiana, the Confederacy and the United States.

1832: Military barracks at Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by MPI/Getty Images)

For military purposes, a fort was built by the British where the Louisiana State Capitol now lives in the summer of 1779 before its capture by Gov. Bernardo de Galvez, who led a Spanish expedition. Documents said records showed that West Florida cities revolted and captured the fort and created the Republic of West Florida before the area was turned over to the United States months later in December 1810.

Tunnel under Baton Rouge hotel used by Huey P. Long is now a Prohibition-themed bar

In its next era, the fort was used as an assembly point for troops headed to the Creek War and the Battle of New Orleans between 1813 and 1815.

The nomination form said barracks were built with an arsenal depot in 1819-23 on land bought by the federal government for a total of $13,500.

In 1861, the same year the Civil War started, the State of Louisiana seized the military post and turned it over to the Confederacy, according to documents. In the following year, U.S. troops seized it and formed a strong point for federal forces in the Battle of Baton Rouge.

The military post was named Fort Williams in honor the the commander who was killed in the battle.

The nomination form references garrison records showing the names of famous people who visited the Pentagon Barracks in the 1800s. Some names include President of the Confederate States of America Jefferson Davis, Ulysses S. Grant before he became president, former U.S. president Abraham Lincoln and a young Robert E. Lee.

Years later in 1886, the Pentagon Barracks entered a new era housing Louisiana State University cadets. By 1927, it transformed into dorms for coeds after a $50,000 remodeling project.

Renovations drawn up in 1965 created state offices and apartments for $911,000.

Latest News

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Last summer, in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard College, the Supreme Courts conservative supermajority struck down race-conscious admission programs adopted by Harvard College and the University of North Carolina as violations of the 14th Amendments equal protection clause. In doing so, the courts conservative supermajority both ignored that the Framers of the 14th Amendment were the originators of affirmative action and turned a blind eye to entrenched racial inequalities that make a mockery of the constitutional promise of equal citizenship. Now, Edward Blum, who was behind the attack on affirmative action in the SFFA case, and other conservative litigants intent on blocking racial justice efforts have a new strategy: remake the nations oldest federal civil rights law, the Civil Rights Act of 1866, into a weapon to challenge private efforts to ameliorate systemic racial discrimination and to redress the racial wealth gap.

Last week, in American Alliance for Equal Rights v. Fearless Fund Management, a divided panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit became the first federal court of appeals to place its imprimatur on Blums new tactic. In a 21 ruling, the court of appeals held that Fearless Funds grant program to provide capital funding to small businesses run by Black women violated a key federal civil rights statute that dates back to the Civil Rights Act of 1866. Known as Section 1981, this law guarantees the equal right to make and enforce contracts.

The courts opinion, written by Judge Kevin Newsom and joined by Judge Robert Luck, both Donald Trump appointees, held that Fearless Funds privately financed effort to rectify the near-total exclusion of Black women from venture capital and ensure that women of color have access to the resources they need to enjoy economic freedom and succeed in business was an unlawful form of racial discrimination. Adopting a strict colorblind reading of Section 1981, Newsom insisted that permitting a grant program open only to Black women would be anathema to the principles that underlie all antidiscrimination provisions and preliminarily enjoined its operation.

Newsoms majority opinion works hard to portray the result as compelled by settled legal principles, but make no mistake, Fearless Fund is a big deal: It perverts a landmark civil rights statute aimed at guaranteeing basic rights of economic citizenship to Black Americans and redressing the long shadow of enslavement, and it creates new barriers to efforts to ensure racial inclusion. Never mind that eradicating racial subordination and guaranteeing economic justice lie at the very core of Section 1981. The two Trump-appointed jurists in the majority effectively read these fundamental precepts out of the statute, holding that Black-owned companies cannot put their own private money into the work of redressing the racial wealth gap and helping to ensure the success of Black-owned companies. According to the court of appeals, Fearless Funds grant program must be available to white-owned businesses as well.

The colorblind reading of Section 1981 advanced by Newsons majority opinion is profoundly antitextual. The Civil Rights Act of 1866 was intentionally written in a race-conscious manner. The act declares that citizens of every race and color  shall have the same right  to make and enforce contracts, to sue, be parties, and give evidence, to inherit, purchase, lease, sell, hold, and convey real and personal property, and to full and equal benefit of all laws and proceedings for the security of person and property, as is enjoyed by white citizens. Recognizing that enslaved Black Americans never had rights to contract and propertyrights essential to equal citizenshipCongress used sweeping language to ensure that persons of every race and color would enjoy the same economic freedoms as white citizens. The statute is not aimed at the use or consideration of race at all; instead, it uses the rights of white citizens as a baseline to guarantee to Black Americans rights of economic citizenship that white citizens have long taken for granted. Newsom quotes the relevant statutory language, but pays the text lip service.

Congress chose this text for good reason: The Reconstruction-era Civil Rights Act was critical to enforcing the 13th Amendment, eradicating badges of slavery and ensuring that Black Americans freed from bondage were entitled to basic economic rights and enjoyment of the fruits of their labor. It came in direct response to former enslavers seeking to impose new forms of servitude and reduce Black Americans to serfdom. With these new race-conscious protections, the Reconstruction-era Civil Rights Acts Framers insisted, all features of slavery which are oppressive in their character, which extinguish the rights of free citizens, and which unlawfully control their liberty shall be abolished and destroyed forever. The Fearless Fund ruling perverts the statutes roots in securing economic justice, even as it forbids Black-led businesses from using their own money to ameliorate systemic patterns of economic exclusion and inequality.

The Congress that enacted the Civil Rights Act of 1866 knew that private efforts were crucial to racial and economic uplift. One of the singular successes of Reconstruction was the creation of the nations first schools and colleges for Black Americans in the South, spurred by charitable giving by abolitionists and others who devoted significant resources to education in recognition that knowledge is power. In throwing up new roadblocks to the use of private money to redress racial and economic inequality, the Fearless Fund ruling is both deeply antitextual and antihistorical.

Fearless Fund will be far from the last word on the meaning of Section 1981. As other courts consider Ed Blums conservative effort to rewrite that critical act, they should remember that the Civil Rights Act of 1866 sought to redress continuing badges of enslavement and to make economic justice a reality. Reconstructions great constitutional transformations were race-conscious to the core. In passing statutes like the Civil Rights Act of 1866, Congress understood the need for far-reaching remedies to rectify centuries of racial enslavement, oppression, and violence and to ensure some measure of economic justice to Black Americans. Getting this history right is essential to exposing the glaring flaws in conservative rulings, like Fearless Fund, and to addressing the next wave of coming cases seeking to roll back racial justice efforts.
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  A person was found dead two weeks ago near the U.S.-Mexico border, authorities said.

The U.S. Border Patrol-San Diego Sector reported making the discovery on Monday, May 27 around 4:30 p.m. close to the immediate border west of the San Ysidro Port of Entry, U.S. Customs and Border Protection confirmed to FOX 5/KUSI in an email on Monday.

Border Patrol memo shows immigrant processing still happening, except for migrants from these countries

Multiple agencies, including the U.S. Customs and Border Protections Office of Professional Responsibility, the San Diego Police Department and the San Diego County Medical Examiners Office, responded to the scene to investigate.

No details have been released at this moment about the persons cause of death.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
OPELIKA, Ala (WRBL)  The SBI is investigating a deadly officer involved shooting Tuesday afternoon along interstate 85 after a crash.

According to Opelika Police on June 11, 2024, at approximately 2:35 p.m., an incident began on Interstate-85 involving an 18-wheeler and a passenger car crash. The Opelika Police Department received an emergency call reporting the crash, which they were told required an immediate response from officers.

Upon arrival at the scene, officers report they were confronted by a subject allegedly armed with a knife. The situation rapidly escalated, culminating in an officer-involved shooting. The subject was pronounced deceased at the scene.

In adherence to protocol, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agencys State Bureau of Investigations (SBI) has been called in to conduct a comprehensive investigation.

The Opelika Police Department tells WRBL all available evidence, including video footage, will be handed over to the SBI to ensure a thorough and impartial review of the events.

Upon completion of their investigation, the findings will be forwarded to the Lee County District Attorneys Office. The District Attorneys Office will present the case to a Lee County Grand Jury for review.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WRBL.
The Phoenix Zoo is one of the largest in the US. See what it looked like when it opened

Nestled within the dusty buttes of Papago Park, the Phoenix Zoo offers visitors a glimpse into a colorful menagerie.

The Phoenix Zoo opened in November 1962. The zoo was originally called the Maytag Zoo after Robert E. Maytag, who first had the idea to bring a zoo to Phoenix, according to the zoo's website.

Over the years, millions of Arizonans and tourists have trouped through the zoo's gates to learn more about the animals of the world.

Peek back in time at what the zoo looked like more than 60 years ago and the many unique creatures who have called the Phoenix Zoo home.

Up close with the residents at the Phoenix Zoo in 1968.

How many animals are at the Phoenix Zoo?

The Phoenix Zoo has more than 3,000 animals on exhibit, including some newborn lion cubs, according to the zoo's website.

Among the nearly 400 species at the zoo, visitors can see:

Asian elephants

Rhinoceros

Giraffes

Zebras

Big cats like lions, cheetahs, jaguars.

Monkeys, including howler monkeys, orangutans, tamarins and mandrills.

Birds like bald eagles, owls, condors, flamingos and more.

Species native to Arizona, including wolves, ringtail cat and coyotes.

The Phoenix Zoo opened a new Predator Passage exhibit in 2023, giving visitors a glimpse of African lions, hyenas, meerkats, leopards, Ruppells Griffon vultures and Red River hogs.

Is the Phoenix Zoo one of the biggest in the United States?

The Phoenix Zoo is among the largest nonprofit zoos in the United States, covering approximately 125 acres, the zoo states.

When planning your visit, the Phoenix Zoo notes that it takes about three hours to see everything in the zoo. Along the 2.5 miles of walking paths, visitors can explore the creatures in the zoo's Arizona, Africa, tropics and childrens sections while pausing to observe animals in exhibits that replicate the creatures' natural habitats.

More: Here's how zoo animals in Phoenix are managing extreme heat

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix Zoo: See photos from past 60 years
NANJING/MOSCOW, June 11 (Xinhua) -- It might be hard to imagine that every year, 40 percent of the world's violins are produced in Huangqiao, a rural township in east China once famous for its sesame bread rather than music.

A stroll through the streets of Huangqiao reveals a striking transformation. A violin-shaped lake graces the town square, statues of violinists are scattered around, and over 30,000 people work in the violin industry, producing 700,000 string instruments annually. Almost every child in the town plays the instrument.

Huangqiao-made violins have gained a stellar international reputation. In Moscow, Daniyar Abdrakhimov sells these violins in his musical instruments shop. "Not expensive, fine production, excellent quality and good sound. Even beginners can play them very well," he said.

Located in Zhejiang Province, Huangqiao has earned the nickname "Cremona of the East," a nod to the Italian city where the violin was born.

How did all this happen?

The story began in the 1960s, when violin workshops began to sprout in major Chinese cities like Beijing and Shanghai. Several natives of Huangqiao, who had mastered the craft in Shanghai, returned home and opened a fitting factory.

One of its apprentices, Li Shu, crafted Huangqiao's first violin in the early 1970s.

Today, Li is the chairman of Jiangsu Fengling Musical Instrument Group, a company that exports violins to nearly 90 countries and regions, including the United States, Italy, and Russia.

"It's no easy thing to have Chinese-made 'Western musical instruments' enter the overseas market," Li said, emphasizing that innovative techniques have made Huangqiao violins globally competitive.

Traditionally, violin wood must be dried for over 50 years to ensure a good sound and prevent cracking, as this process reduces water, sugar, and resin. Li's company developed a microbiological technology using enzymes found in wine to remove large amounts of impurities, thus shortening the drying time by over 20 years.

After China joined the World Trade Organization, the violin industry in Huangqiao rapidly expanded, leveraging high quality and low prices to swiftly enter the international market, Li added.

Similarly, Xu Xiaofeng, a veteran luthier in Huangqiao, believes that a commitment to high quality has made Huangqiao violins "a regular guest at international musical instrument exhibitions."

Though Huangqiao has embraced mass production, Xu champions the art of handcrafting, which he believes distinguishes a violin from those made on assembly lines. The process involves configuring the board, making the head, tuning the acoustics, and shaping the deck, all of which affect the timbre.

It takes about 200 steps to make a violin, and Xu saws each board and drills every hole by hand.

Xu still remembers the reaction of a foreign customer upon playing one of his earliest products.

"I asked him how he rates this violin, and he was like, 'It is unimaginable. You made such a product by hand!'" Xu recalled.

Xu also established a violin-making workshop in Huangqiao, where he has trained hundreds of violin makers. Today, the town boasts over 200 violin manufacturing and supporting enterprises.

The violin industry has not only created jobs for Huangqiao residents but has also enriched their lives outside of work. The local government promotes music education, and students from first to fifth grade can learn to play the violin. Many babies in Huangqiao even play with violins as toys.

"They can not only learn about their hometown's industry but also develop their hobbies and artistic taste through learning music," said Qian Hui, a violin teacher in Huangqiao.

Many students have pursued professional music careers, continuing their studies at prestigious music academies both at home and abroad, Qian added.

Since 2017, Huangqiao has been a permanent venue for the International Musical Instrument Performance Day in China. Thousands of musicians, orchestras, and music lovers worldwide have gathered in China's "violin capital" annually, bound by their pure love for music.

What began as a modest effort by a few returning craftsmen has blossomed into a global symphony, echoing far beyond the town's borders. 
Pierce County deputies searching for suspect wanted for firing gun at cannabis shop employees

Have you seen this man?

Detectives with the Pierce County Sheriffs Department are asking the public for help to identify a man wanted for firing a gun at employees of a cannabis shop in Tacoma.

At about 10:58 a.m. on May 17, the man in the photo fired three shots at Zips employees while they were on a break at Zips Cannabis at 10707 Pacific Avenue South.

A 27-year-old employee was hit by gunfire.

The man drove off in the black Cadillac Escalade.

The man is described as white with dark hair and is in his mid-30s.

If you have information about this incident, contact the Pierce County Sheriffs Department, tpcrimestoppers.com, or call 1-800-222-TIPS.
As the climate crisis worsens, many in aviation and tourism have pinned their hopes on sustainable aviation fuel keeping their industries thriving. However production levels of this alternative fuel source are still tiny. Christoph Schmidt/dpa

Global production of so-called sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is forecast to expand three-fold this year, but will fall far short of even 1% of what airlines need to keep flying.

Thats according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), which warned of "a long way to go" to help the industry go green by mid-century and ditch fossil fuel-derived kerosene.

"SAF will provide about 65% of the mitigation needed for airlines to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050," said Willie Walsh, the IATA director general and former chief of carriers such as British Airways and Aer Lingus, who described the projected tripling for 2024 was "encouraging," despite it accounting for only 0.53% of the industrys needs for the year.

The IATA, a Geneva-based organisation representing around 300 carriers that transport 8 out of 10 of the worlds passengers each year, said that governments and the aviation industry need to diversify the materials used to produce SAF, which is largely made from animal fats and used cooking oil.

"Incentives to build more renewable energy facilities, strengthen the feedstock supply chain, and to allocate a greater portion of renewable fuel output to aviation would help decarbonizing aviation," said Walsh.

Airlines have warned that flying will become more expensive for consumers as the costs associated with producing SAF and switching to compatible aircraft are passed on. A recent IATA survey found 8 in 10 passengers willing to pay extra to fly on SAF-powered aircraft.
Pittsburgh Technical College is closing its doors.

>> Pittsburgh Technical College placed on probation, in jeopardy of losing accreditation

Last week, Channel 11 reported the college was in imminent danger of closing as its accreditation status was in limbo.

>> AGs office investigating complaints against local technical college, sources say

The current quarter, which will be the last one for students, ends on June 27. PTC will officially close on Aug. 9.

PTCs board of trustees sent a statement to students on Monday evening saying in part, its with a heavy heart they announce the closure of PTC.

Bryce Bladen is supposed to graduate from PTC in September. He relies on campus housing and doesnt know what will happen in a couple of weeks when the quarter ends and so do classes for good at PTC.

We have no information, no teach-out plan, we dont know if we can stay on campus until were done, we know nothing, literally nothing, Bryce Bladen tells Channel 11.

But just this past Friday, the colleges accreditor, Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), rejected PTCs teach-out plan, which they say was incomplete and insufficient. MSCHE added that it was possible students would be harmed and that retaliation against complainants would not be tolerated.

PTCs President and CEO Dr. Alicia Harvey-Smith has blamed declining enrollment and targeted attacks for the colleges downfall. She has also continued to maintain that there were no plans for the school to close, which some students and staff now feel was dishonest and deceptive.

Every student we talked to since the news of the closure was made public says they want to see where all the money has gone, leading to hundreds of students and faculty/staff without a place to learn or a job to go to.

Students were never the top priority at the school, it was always her lining her pockets, Bladen added. That was the priority

Hanna Tourney is supposed to graduate next year with a web development degree. Shes also an RA who will likely lose her housing.

Its really, really disappointing, Tourney said. Unfortunately, Im going to have to move home, I dont really have another option.

Sources tell 11 Investigates that there is still an active state Attorney Generals office investigation into PTCs top leadership.

Students fear that without a teach-out plan thats been approved by the colleges accreditor, their courses could drag on months longer than they anticipated and cost thousands of dollars more.

The full statement from the Board of Trustees is below:

It is with a heavy heart that we must announce the difficult decision reached by the Board of Trustees: Pittsburgh Technical College will be closing its doors at the end of this quarter. Despite extensive efforts by our dedicated President, Dr. Alicia 8. Harvey-Smiths to manage our situation and secure necessary funding, we have faced persistent challenges of declining enrollment and financial difficulties, leaving us with no viable path forward.

We took every possible measure to address these issues, including extensive fundraising efforts, cost-cutting measures, and strategic partnerships. Unfortunately, these efforts have not been sufficient to reverse the situation. Dr. Harvey-Smith, who was appointed in April 2019, accepted the challenge to lead our institution and has made significant advances during her tenure. Her leadership brought about the establishment of the Pittsburgh Technical College Foundation, Corporate College, Health, Wellness and Fitness Center, and the acquisition of multiple grants totaling more than twenty-five million dollars. We commend her for her courageous and committed leadership.

We understand the profound impact this decision will have on our students, faculty; staff, and the entire community. Our immediate priority is to support our students in completing their education and transitioning to other institutions. We are committed to providing resources and assistance to ensure this process is as smooth as possible. We also extend our deepest gratitude to our faculty and staff for their unwavering dedication and commitment to our students and the college. Your contributions have been invaluable, and we will work closely with you to support your transition during this difficult time.

The legacy of Pittsburgh Technical College will live on through the achievements and successes of our alumni who have made significant contributions to their communities and professions. We take pride in the impact our institution has had over the years and the lasting relationships that have been formed here. This is a time of great sadness for all of us, but it is also a time to reflect on the rich history and the many lives that have been positively impacted by PTC. We will be communicating further details in the coming weeks regarding the process and support available to our community during this transition.

Thank you for your understanding and continued support during this incredibly challenging time.

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Indiana Co. man wanted by state police for unlawfully entering apartment, approaching woman in bed 3 people from Butler County killed in single-vehicle crash in northwestern Pennsylvania Chicora community holds vigil to remember 3 Butler County men killed in crash VIDEO: WATCH: Channel 11 obtains video of moments leading up to deadly shooting in Uptown Pittsburgh DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts
Plaintiffs in case over absentee voting law respond to states motion to dismiss

A "Vote Here sign," with black lettering on a white background, stands in front of a build. A man in a blue shirt in the background enters.

People enter a voting precinct to vote in the Michigan primary election at Trombly School Aug. 7, 2018 in Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan. (Bill Pugliano/Getty Images)

The plaintiffs in a case against Alabamas absentee ballot application law filed a response Monday to the defendants motion to have the case dismissed.

In the 52-page filing in the Northern District of Alabama, the plaintiffs responded to claims by the Alabama Attorney Generals offices motion to dismiss that alleged the law was not a burden on freedom of speech and that it was a shotgun pleading.

Defendants voluminous efforts to manufacture any cognizable deficiencies in Plaintiffs claims fall short, attorneys for the plaintiffs wrote.

Messages were left with representatives for the plaintiffs and the Attorney Generals office.

SB 1, sponsored by Sen. Garlan Gudger, R-Cullman, makes it a Class C felony, punishable by up to ten years in prison, for a person to receive a payment or gift for distributing, ordering, requesting, collecting, completing, prefilling, obtaining or delivering an application and a Class B felony, punishable by up to 20 years in prison, for a person to knowingly pay or provide a gift for a third party to distribute, order, request, collect, prefill, complete, obtain or deliver.

Gov. Kay Ivey signed the bill in March.

Civil rights groups, including the ACLU of Alabama and the Alabama State Conference of the NAACP, filed a lawsuit against the law, which included the states history of voter suppression. In May, the Attorney Generals office filed a request to dismiss the lawsuit.

It is easy for a voter who is eligible to vote absentee to request an application, and the recent reforms ensure that the process is driven by voters, not unduly influenced by interested parties, the attorneys in the request for the dismissal argued.

In Mondays filing, the attorneys for the plaintiffs wrote that claims that the argument was a shotgun pleading was baseless.

As an initial matter  and setting aside the tenor of Defendants characterization  Defendants shotgun pleading theory necessarily fails since their own briefing demonstrates that they understand Plaintiffs claims, they wrote.

The attorneys also wrote that the defendants claim that Secretary of State Wes Allen is a proper defendant because he is the chief election official of the state. The Attorney Generals attorneys had argued that Allen lacked enforcement authority and the plaintiffs lacked standing to sue him.

The plaintiffs attorneys also wrote that their complaint plausibly alleges burdens to speech and association. They wrote the First Amendment protects absentee ballot activity because it is communication about voting; it is expressive conduct for a message about voting; and providing assistance is the plaintiffs chosen association.

Because it criminalizes First Amendment protected activity, SB 1 is subject to strict scrutiny, they wrote.

They also wrote that, if the plaintiffs allegations are true, it would fail strict scrutiny.

Applying strict scrutiny, Defendants bear the burden of establishing that SB 1 is necessary to serve a compelling and narrowly tailored government interest, they wrote. Defendants cannot meet their burden.

The plaintiffs also countered claims by the Attorney Generals office that the rules were not vague, writing that a law is unconstitutionally vague if it fails to provide a person of ordinary intelligence with fair notice of what is prohibited, or if it authorizes or encourages seriously discriminatory enforcement.

They wrote that the law would fail on both counts, including that third party is a limitless term that could encompass anyone at all, from a grandmother giving her grandchild gas money, to the federally mandated assistance organization, to prison or nursing home staff.

They also wrote that they sufficiently stated their claims under the First Amendment for overbreadth; section 208 of the Voting Rights Act; and the Help America Vote Act.



This story was updated to correct a misspelling in the headline.

The post Plaintiffs in case over absentee voting law respond to states motion to dismiss appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey (photo submitted).

Planned Parenthood is asking a Missouri judge to dismiss a lawsuit filed by the states attorney general alleging the clinic is transporting minors out of state for abortions.

The lawsuit was filed based on an undercover video filmed by a man affiliated with a right-wing group pretending to be the uncle of a 13-year-old in need of an abortion whose parents couldnt know.

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey wrote on social media Monday that the lawsuit filed in February is the latest step in a years-long attempt to drive Planned Parenthood out of Missouri.

It is time to eradicate Planned Parenthood once and for all to end this pattern of abhorrent, unethical, and illegal behavior, he wrote.

Planned Parenthood continues to argue it has not broken the law, pointing to the fictitious nature of the video.

Judge Brouck Jacobs presided over the hearing Monday afternoon in Boone County. The lawsuit was brought against Planned Parenthood Great Plains, which has Missouri clinics in the Kansas City region and Columbia.

There is no allegation that any child, any minor has been taken across state lines; theres no allegation that any parent has complained, John Andrew Hirth argued on behalf of Planned Parenthood. Theres no allegation that any abortion has been performed either in Missouri or outside of Missouri, with or without parental consent here. The whole conversation is hypothetical.

Jacobs asked Kathryn Monroe, representing the attorney generals office, if she agreed.

Monroe said while there was no 13-year-old girl in the video, and the mans questions were hypothetical, the employee at Planned Parenthood thought the situation was real.

There was admitted conduct about what they would do in this actual situation, she said.

The video, captured in December at a Planned Parenthood clinic in the Kansas City area, was later posted on social media by Project Veritas, a self-proclaimed conservative news organization founded in 2010 that often conducts undercover stings that are ultimately disproven. Its now-ousted founder, James OKeefe, is currently under investigation by New York authorities, and the organization has a long history of spreading claims that are later discredited.

In 2015, Project Veritas released a video purporting to show Planned Parenthood selling fetal tissues from abortions in violation of federal law. That led to an investigation by Missouri lawmakers that was unable to substantiate any such sales by Missouri-based Planned Parenthood affiliates.

In the video from Kansas City, the made-up girls parents couldnt know about the abortion, the man secretly taping the interaction for Project Veritas told the Planned Parenthood employees. Staff then directed him to their affiliate clinics in Kansas where they said he could bypass parental consent.

When the man asked how often girls go out of state for abortions, the Planned Parenthood employee said it happens every day.

Monroe pointed to this quote, saying it shows Planned Parenthood could realistically be helping real minors access abortion now and in the future.

The attorney generals office pointed to Missouri law which states: No one shall intentionally cause aid or assist a minor to obtain an abortion.

That law was written before the states trigger law went into place in June 2022, effectively making all abortions  with the expectation of cases where the mothers life is at risk  illegal.

Missouri doesnt have explicit laws requiring parental consent for minors getting abortions in other states, nor does it prohibit minors from going to other states to get abortions.

A spokesperson for Planned Parenthood Great Plains said in February that they do not provide any form of transportation directly to any patients, regardless of age or where they live. They also described the video, taken without staffs knowledge, as heavily doctored and edited.

Kansas law requires physicians to either obtain parental consent or to go through the judicial bypass process where a judge can authorize a minor to get an abortion without parental consent.

Hirth pointed to a 2007 case, Planned Parenthood v. Nixon, in which he said the court found that information or counseling given by Planned Parenthood  such as laying out a patients options in another state  would be considered free speech and would not be classified as aiding or assisting in abortions.

But the attorney generals office argued that the Missouri clinic still aided in a hypothetical abortion, pointing to a point in the video where the employee says we can cut off our letterhead so it doesnt even say where she was, in reference to a doctors note in order to miss school. The employee also says that Planned Parenthood often sets up hotels for those who need to travel out of state.

Its not clear if we implies that specific clinic or Planned Parenthood in Kansas.

Monroe argued these offers represented an active attempt to conceal where a minor was.

If you call and let them know whats going on, theyll do whatever they can to help you, the employee said, referring to the Kansas clinic locations.

The video does not show the employee physically setting up any doctors notes or calling to set up a hotel.

The issue here is about conduct that happened in Kansas or is alleged to have happened in Kansas, Hirth said. Or it was alleged to happen in Kansas, hypothetically in the future.

Hirth added that medical offices are not supposed to reveal what medical procedure a student misses school for regardless of the reason.

The hearing lasted about 40 minutes, at which point Jacobs said he took the issue under advisement.

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The Project Veritas video has been widely shared by Missouri Republican lawmakers, and was referenced on the House and Senate floors during debates over a bill seeking to end Medicaid reimbursements to Planned Parenthood clinics in Missouri, which do not perform abortions but do provide services like cancer screenings, STI testing and contraceptives.

That bill eventually passed despite Democrats attempts to kill it by filibustering. Gov. Mike Parson signed it into law this spring.

Hanna Sumpter, a spokesperson for Planned Parenthood Great Plains, said in a statement Monday that while the lawsuit is based on hypotheticals, she believes the harms of such a court filing are real.

Ultimately, these attacks from anti-abortion groups and politicians hurt real patients  she wrote. Shaming and stigmatizing the safe and effective healthcare providers and services they need.

The post Planned Parenthood asks Missouri judge to throw out AG suit based on Project Veritas video appeared first on Missouri Independent.
Plans proceeding for new Milwaukee state office building. It would boost the near west side

A new state office building is planned for a vacant site at 2701 W. Wisconsin Ave., on Milwaukee's near west side.

Plans are proceeding for a new state office building on Milwaukee's near west side  a project city officials say would provide a boost for that neighborhood.

The Wisconsin Department of Administration has issued a request for information from prospective developers for a 55,000- to 65,000-square-foot office building on 2.6 acres of state-owned property at 2701 W. Wisconsin Ave.

The request calls for private developers to buy the land, construct the building and lease the space to the department for seven state agencies. The lease would be for five years with two five-year renewal options.

"The developer may also solicit additional tenants for the building and further develop the site," it said.

The project must provide 200 parking stalls for state agency tenants and visitors.

Responses are due July 1.

Both Democrat Gov. Tony Evers and his predecessor, Republican Gov. Scott Walker, have called for the project to replace an outdated nine-story state office building, in downtown Milwaukee at 819 N. Sixth St. It was constructed in 1963.

Size of new state office building considerably reduced

The plans outlined in the new proposal call for a much smaller building than initially envisioned.

The state's 2019-'21 construction budget included $4 million to buy and prepare the development site. That plan called for a $98.5 million, 200,000-square-foot building  which wasn't funded.

Also, the Republican-controlled Legislature rejected Evers' proposal to spend $163.6 million to construct a 283,000-square-foot building, with a 1,000-stall parking structure, during the 2021-'23 budget period.

Evers' 2023-'25 capital budget proposal didn't include funding for the building. But the Department of Administration outlined plans to evaluate the state workforce and workplaces, and use existing funding sources for the Milwaukee building.

The buildings planned size is smaller in part because of the relocation of Department of Health Services offices to 6055 N. 64th St., and "the growth of telework opportunities," said Derek Spellman, DOA communications specialist.

The new proposal lists the proposed building's tenants: the Department of Revenue, Department of Administration's hearing and appeals operation, Department of Administration's Capitol Police, Department of Transportation, Department of Workforce Development, Office of the Governor, and Department of Military Affairs.

DOA says relocating operations to the near west side and other sites would eliminate the need for $95.7 million in renovations at the downtown building.

The revitalization of North 27th Street between Michigan and State streets is considered a catalytic project within the city's near west side area plan.

"The (office building) site is part of a redevelopment effort by the city of Milwaukee," according to the state's request for information.

That area got a boost with privately developed state office building constructed in 2013 at the southeast corner of West Wisconsin Avenue and North 27th Street. It houses the Bureau of Milwaukee Child Welfare.

Meanwhile, developer Rick Wiegand has stalled plans to convert a former school, 2708 W. Wisconsin Ave., into a 23-room extended-stay hotel because of delays in replacing the blighted state-owned site with a new office building.

Tom Daykin can be emailed at tdaykin@jrn.com and followed on Instagram, X and Facebook.

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: State of Wisconsin plans big new office building for Milwaukee
Visitors board a shuttle at Zion National Park on Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2020. A report cited by CNN indicates that more than a million water bottles across the globe are sold every minute, and global sales could double by 2030. | Ravell Call, Deseret News

It was nearly 15 years ago that Grand Canyon National Park banned the use of plastic water bottles, which, at the time, made up a a third of the waste generated by visitors.

The park made major investments in water filling stations and reduced its waste by 20%.

Soon after, 23 other national parks made the same move.

All told, the 23 plastic-free, bottle-free parks prevented the disposal of 2 million plastic bottles per year, said Colleen Teubner, a litigation and policy attorney for Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, or PEER.

By 2017, however, the ban was removed and subsequently, plastic pollution ramped up.

In a webinar this week hosted by PEER, Beyond Plastics and Oceana, experts discussed the ramifications of a throwaway society when it comes to plastic and the harm it can cause to public health and the environment.

Making up ground?

Interior Secretary Deb Haaland last year implemented an order that is part of the larger Biden administration goal for all agencies, to the extent feasible, to ban the procurement of single-use plastics by 2032.

Teubner said the policy looks good on paper, but is too laborious with a timeline that drags on.

Once the plan is implemented, the National Park Service will then conduct outreach and education to shift public behavior. Finally, the National Park Service will measure data and report on its findings. While these steps may seem sufficient on paper on further examination, the plan devotes the next two years to policy development, with no significant implementation set to begin until five years out, Teubner said. It also allows individual parks to continue executing new multi year concessions contracts for sales of disposable plastic water bottles to visitors.

She added that the plan would limit individual parks from moving faster, since any parks specific plastic use reductions would require Washington office approval.

While these broader policy goals are admirable, it is ultimately up to the individual park superintendents to implement them on the ground. Because of the power superintendents possess throughout the process, we must ensure that superintendents support the effort to eliminate plastics and be held accountable for goal implementation.

She said PEER has filed Freedom of Information requests with regional headquarters within the national park system to determine sustainability practices, the approach to waste management and policies on the distribution of single-use plastics.

While the information continues to trickle in, Teubner said there are examples of success stories  pointing to Muir Woods National Monument in California.

At Muir Woods, water may only be sold in reusable or recyclable aluminum bottles. Plastic bottles are prohibited. Specialty beverages may only be sold in aluminum cans or compostable cardboard containers and the concessionaire provides a water bottle filling station, she said.

Water bottles and waste

A report cited by CNN indicates that more than a million water bottles across the globe are sold every minute, and global sales could double by 2030.

The University of Southern California noted that in the United States alone, less than 8% of all discarded plastics are recycled. It said its own campuswide ban implemented in 2022 has saved over 3 million plastic bottles from ending up in landfills. Scientists estimate it takes about 450 years for a plastic bottle to decompose.

Zion National Park, Utahs most popular national park, pulled in more than 4.6 million tourists in 2023, according to numbers in a National Park Service database.

The park does not offer single-use water bottles for sale within its boundaries, but rather a reusable bottle is offered at multiple locations, as well as free water filling stations.

Teubner said reducing plastic bottle waste is a matter of public education and more outreach to consumers, who can take simple steps to reduce their own footprint in this arena.

The group also stressed it also amounts to getting back to old customs and traditions used by our parents and grandparents  where containers were washed and reused, such as milk bottles or glass bottles of soda pop.
'Please Check My Husband': Texas Wife Wrote Chilling Message Before She Was Killed, Stuffed into Freezer

Curtis Allen Holliday was arrested for violating his wifes no contact order. Then investigators found her body

KHOU Curtis Allen Holliday.

In January 2020, Curtis Allen Holliday was arrested and charged with continuous assault of his wife. He was ordered to have no contact with her.

Months later, his wifes body was found stuffed in a freezer, her body frozen with frost on the skin, per her autopsy report cited in court documents reviewed by PEOPLE.

Then Texas investigators found something else: a letter typed by Chi Thi Lien Le before her death: If suddenly nobody can find me, or find me dead, she wrote. Please check my husband.

In the letter, transcribed into an appellate opinion filed in 2021, the Houston woman said that her husband had threatened many times that he will murder me.

The 29-year-old said she especially feared for her life because they were in the process of getting a divorce.

Harris County Sheriff Curtis Allen Holliday

On Monday, June 10, Holliday, now 62, pleaded guilty to his wifes murder in exchange for a 10-year prison sentence, ABC13, KHOU11 and Click2Houston report. (Holliday already served two of those years, per ABC13.)

Hollidays lawyer, Dick DeGuerin, told ABC13 that they took the plea deal to avoid a potential life sentence but that they consider it guilty with an asterisk and that his client maintains his innocence.

"We believe this was actually suicide, but he panicked after he found her, DeGuerin told the outlet. Instead of calling police, he put her in a freezer and that's bizarre. And I don't know if a jury would have liked that too much.

Holliday was charged with assault for twice assaulting Le  once around the Thanksgiving holiday and again on Christmas Day 2019, per court documents obtained by ABC13.

Le went missing sometime in April. She was last seen April 3, a witness told investigators, per the outlet, but family members reported her missing in late April after being unable to contact her for several days.

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Prosecutors theorize that Holliday, who had violated his no contact order with Le, choked his wife to death, then stuffed her body in the freezer, per court documents reviewed by PEOPLE. But by the time his bond was revoked in the family violence case, his wife was already dead.

While at Harris County Jail on the bond violation, he was interviewed about his missing wife, per Click2Houston.

Le was found that same month, per ABC13, wrapped in plastic and stuffed in a commercial freezer at Hollidays business.

Investigators tracked down an invoice for a freezer alleged to be the freezer in which Les body was discovered, along with two photographs allegedly showing [Holliday] buying the freezer, according to the court documents reviewed by PEOPLE.

The medical examiners office ruled her death a homicide, per ABC13, and Holliday was subsequently arrested for her murder.

The couple had a daughter together.

"He'll be out in time to continue to raise his daughter, DeGuerin, told ABC13.

Holliday is slated for formal sentencing on July 19, per Click2Houston.



If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.



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Read the original article on People.
Some Plum residents being told to boil water over potential contamination

Some Plum residents are being told to boil their water as the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection warns it could be contaminated.

Channel 11 has learned that E. coli was discovered in the water supply on Saturday.

The boil water advisory impacts people in the Regency Park neighborhood.

So far, there havent been any reports of illness.

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Indiana Co. man wanted by state police for unlawfully entering apartment, approaching woman in bed 3 people from Butler County killed in single-vehicle crash in northwestern Pennsylvania Chicora community holds vigil to remember 3 Butler County men killed in crash VIDEO: WATCH: Channel 11 obtains video of moments leading up to deadly shooting in Uptown Pittsburgh DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts
BEIJING, June 11 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese defense spokesperson on Tuesday made remarks on the provocation of a Dutch navy shipborne helicopter.

Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense, made the comment in response to a media query about a recent claim by the Dutch side that Chinese military aircraft unsafely approached its helicopter over the East China Sea.

What the Dutch side has said confuses black and white, and exposes its attempts to cover up its provocation, the spokesperson said.

A Dutch navy frigate shipborne helicopter flew over east of Shanghai and acted provocatively on Friday, said Zhang. The Chinese military issued warnings and dispatched military aircraft to expel the Dutch helicopter.

"The response was legitimate and justified, as well as professional and standardized throughout the whole process," said Zhang.

The Dutch side falsely claimed to be carrying out a UN mission, flexed its muscles in the sea and airspace under the other country's jurisdiction, created tensions and undermined bilateral relations, said Zhang.

China is strongly dissatisfied with the Dutch side's words and deeds, which are of a vile nature, and has lodged stern representations with the Dutch side, said Zhang.

The spokesperson urged the Netherlands to restrain the moves of its naval and air forces, saying that any infringement and provocation will be met with resolute countermeasures from the Chinese side.

"The Chinese military has always been on high alert and is resolute to safeguard national sovereignty, security, and maritime rights and interests," said Zhang. 
Point Park University has established a teach-out program for students at Pittsburgh Technical College.

PTC announced Monday it would be closing its doors after the current semester ends on June 27.

>> AGs office investigating complaints against local technical college, sources say

The Downtown Pittsburgh university said in a release that it will honor PTC tuition rates, accept PTC-earned credits and develop transfer guides for business management, business administration and applied computer science programs.

>> Current quarter will be the last for Pittsburgh Technical College students

Dr. Chris W. Brussalis, President of Point Park, said the Universitys desire to help and support PTC students is part of its core mission.

>> Pittsburgh Technical College placed on probation, in jeopardy of losing accreditation

We exist as a University to support, educate and advance our region, Brussalis said. Losing a school like Pittsburgh Technical College is sad and very disruptive to the community, and it is important that we do what we can to assist those impacted by its closing.

Point Park University recently announced they would also be offering automatic acceptance to students at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, which also announced its closure this month.

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Mount Lebanon community mourning after girl, 10, found dead in car with her mom Man shot, killed by police in Whitehall after firing at officers serving warrant Current quarter will be the last for Pittsburgh Technical College students VIDEO: Car dealership employees recall moment they realized distant yelling was a woman in need of help DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts
Police: Gun malfunction in College Park shooting may have saved victims life

Two men suspected of carrying out a series of car burglaries and a shooting early Sunday morning will remain in jail while their cases play out.

One day after their arrests, a judge denied James Houston and Kenny Mason bond Monday.

Police said the pair walked down Ivanhoe Road in College Park and broke into approximately 10 cars.

Investigators said the men stole bank cards from many of those cars, but also found a loaded handgun in one unlocked vehicle.

READ: I will find you: Sheriff says stranger beat, sexually battered woman, 91, at Marion County home

According to an arrest affidavit, Houston then decided to steal a mans car at the end of the street.

The report described how when the victim ran from his SUV toward his home, Houston fired two shots.

Police said the victim was shot in his forearm and abdomen.

Investigators said as Houston chased the man, he attempted to fire the gun again, but it malfunctioned, possibly saving the victims life.

Police said the carjacking was unsuccessful, and the men left on foot.

READ: Woman accused of child abuse after toddler found unconscious in bathtub

About 30 minutes later, officers said they located Houston and Mason in the area of North Westmoreland Drive and Seville Place.

Police said the men eventually turned on each other and confessed.

In the police report, Mason said no one was supposed to get hurt, while Houston claimed Mason urged him to carry out the carjacking.

Both men are facing multiple charges, including carjacking. Houston has also been charged with attempted first degree murder with a firearm.

The victim remained in the hospital in good condition Monday, officers said.

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Authorities are investigating an alleged sexual assault of an unhoused woman early Tuesday morning.

According to Cambridge Police, an adult female victim reported that they were conversing with three individuals around 12:20 a.m. on the 200 block of Franklin Street and that they dont recall what happened next.

The victim reported waking up in a Central Square parking lot having been assaulted. The victim was transported to an area hospital.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the Cambridge Police Criminal Investigations Unit at 617-349-9151.

A description of the suspect or suspects involved was not immediately available.

Cambridge, MA  The Cambridge Police Department is investigating a reported sexual assault that occurred on June 11, 2024. Full story here: https://t.co/dpLTP6EtnR pic.twitter.com/7CDmWYhM26  Cambridge Police Department (@CambridgePolice) June 11, 2024

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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The update comes after the police conducted preliminary inquiries into allegations of abuse at Maidwell in the 1970s

David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Charles Spencer at an event in London on Feb. 5, 2020.

Authorities have launched a criminal investigation into Maidwell Hall, the elite British boarding school where Charles Spencer recently claimed that he was abused as a pupil.

On June 10, the Northamptonshire Police announced that an investigation was launched into allegations of non-recent sexual abuse at the school. The update came after the police "conducted preliminary inquiries into allegations of abuse that are said to have taken place in the 1970s at Maidwell Hall School earlier in the year."

"We are in the early stages of investigating a number of non-recent allegations of sexual abuse at Maidwell Hall School," a spokesperson for the force said in a statement. "Northamptonshire Police takes all allegations of abuse very seriously and where reports are made to us, we will pursue all available lines of inquiry to help bring perpetrators to justice."

Anyone who has suffered abuse within the county, at any time, is encouraged to contact the authorities.

Maidwell Hall declined to comment when reached by PEOPLE, citing the ongoing police investigation.

Getty Images An aerial view of Maidewell Hall in Northampton, England, in March 2018.

Related: Charles Spencer Hires Divorce Lawyer Used by King Charles in Split with Sister Princess Diana: Report

Princess Diana's younger brother enrolled at Maidwell Hall at age 8 and detailed his harrowing five years there in his memoir, A Very Private School, published in March. The 9th Earl Spencer claimed that he was a victim of physical, verbal and sexual abuse at the all-boys school in the English countryside not far from Althorp House, the Spencer family's ancestral home where he and Diana grew up.

It was a difficult book to write, plunging Charles into a painful past.

"I had always felt that I had dealt with this chapter of my life and had put it to bed," Earl Spencer, 60, told PEOPLE in an exclusive interview. "But talking to classmates and hearing their experiences was very triggering for me. I'd be very struck by the horror of what they had shared. And that was the hardest bit."

"A Very Private School: A Memoir" by Charles Spencer.

Related: Charles Spencer on Whether He Told Sister Princess Diana About His Boarding School Abuse (Exclusive)

After A Very Private School was published, Maidwell Hall released a statement saying they "immediately made a referral to the LADO (Local Authority Designated Officer) to ensure that any disclosures are handled sensitively, expediently and professionally" after learning of the allegations and encouraged anyone with similar experiences to contact the school or the police.

Their statement said in part: "It has been very sobering to read about the experiences the young Charles Spencer, and some of his contemporaries, had at the School, and we are sorry that this was their experience. It is difficult to read about practices which were, sadly, sometimes believed to be normal and acceptable at that time."

Adding that "almost every facet of school life has evolved significantly since the 1970s," the school said, "At the heart of these changes is the strict safeguarding of children  protecting them from abuse and maltreatment  and the promotion of their welfare."

Chris Jackson/Getty

The Northamptonshire Police probe into Maidwell Hall comes amid the news that the 9th Earl Spencer and his wife, Karen Spencer, are getting divorced after almost 13 years of marriage. Charles announced the split to The Mail on Sunday on June 8.

"It is immensely sad," he told the outlet. "I just want to devote myself to all my children and to my grandchildren, and I wish Karen every happiness in the future."

According to the outlet, Charles' relationship with the Countess of Spencer, 52, came to an end amid the writing of his memoir. The former couple announced their split to the staff at Althorp in April.

Charles and Karen married at Althorp on June 18, 2011, and share a 12-year-old daughter Charlotte Diana, whose middle name honors her late aunt. Both were previously married and are parents to older children from their previous unions.

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On June 9, The Times reported that Charles hired the same lawyer King Charles tapped for his divorce from Princess Diana in 1996. Earl Spencer reportedly retained power barrister Fiona Shackleton, who has also represented Prince Andrew, Paul McCartney and Princess Haya bint al-Hussein of Jordan in their splits from former spouses.

If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor.



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Man hospitalized with injuries after being shot on Boston Common, police say

Police shut down the area near the Brewer Water Fountain on Boston Common after they say a man was shot on Monday night.

Officers responding to the Common for a report of a shooting shortly after 10 p.m. found a man suffering from at least one gunshot wound to his back, according to the Boston Police Department.

The victim, whose name hasnt been released, was taken to an area hospital. Police described his injuries as not life-threatening.

Homicide detectives were called to the scene to investigate as well as Boston Police Crime Scene services.

Inside the crime scene, Boston 25 cameras captured what appeared to be men with bicycles who were talking or being interviewed by investigators.

An individual seen fleeing the area was later arrested after police said they discarded a firearm that was recovered by officers.

No further information was immediately available.

An investigation is ongoing.

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A Sacramento County man suspected of kidnapping his girlfriend was arrested Sunday at the Westfield Galleria mall in Roseville.

Roseville officers responded to a report of a woman screaming for help around Main Street near downtown Roseville as she was being pulled into a black BMW, the Roseville Police Department said Tuesday.

Others nearby tried to help her as someone pulled her into the vehicle, but the car sped off with her inside. An ID card left behind was found at the scene, which later turned out to belong to the woman.

Officers spoke with the victim over the phone, but she denied anything had happened and told officers she just wanted to go to sleep. Roseville officers later drove to her residence in Folsom to conduct a welfare check with Folsom authorities, but there was no answer at the door after repeated attempts, police said.

Later that day, the Folsom Police Department received a call from the woman, who told officers that she had been a victim of domestic violence and was forced into the vehicle the night before by the suspect, whom she identified as her boyfriend.

Officers located the boyfriends vehicle Sunday afternoon at the Galleria and found the suspect inside the mall. He was arrested without incident, police said.

He was identified as Roderick Mondale Lee Tinsley, 49, of Sacramento.

The man was booked into Placer County Jail by Roseville police on suspicion of domestic violence and kidnapping, as well as a citizens arrest for felony criminal threats.

Tinsley was arraigned Tuesday afternoon in Placer Superior Court. He remains held without bail, according to jail logs.
A pedestrian was killed after being hit by a car in Lexington overnight Monday, according to the Lexington Police Department.

The collision happened around 11:58 p.m. at Newtown Pike and Sugar Maple Lane. Lexington police Lt. Joe Anderson said the pedestrian was hit by a car and declared dead on scene.

The Fayette County Coroners Office identified the victim as Jacob Payne, 27. Payne was declared dead from blunt force injuries at 12:51 a.m.

The driver involved in the crash was not arrested at the scene and charges are not pending at this point, according to Anderson. The coroners office labeled Paynes death as an accident.

The Collision Reconstruction Unit is investigating the collision.

Inbound Newtown Pike was closed for a period of time while investigators analyzed the scene, Anderson said. The road has since been reopened.

This is the 10th fatal collision in Lexington this year, according to Kentucky State Police data. This is also the third fatal pedestrian collision in 2024 after there were 20 fatal pedestrian collisions in 2023.
Police searching for groups of men after shooting in Northwest DC injured 2

WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  Police said that two people were injured after two groups of men shot at each other in Northwest D.C. Tuesday evening.

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) said the shooting happened in the 1300 block of Colorado Ave. There, officers found a man and a woman who had both been shot.

Both of them were still conscious, according to MPD.

Virginia health officials: 20 cases of GI illness reported among recent Lake Anna visitors, swimmers

At least two cars in the area had windows that appeared to have been shot out.

(Mariel Carbone/DC News Now)

(Mariel Carbone/DC News Now)

MPD said to look out for two groups of three men who were shooting at each other. They were last seen southbound on Georgia Ave. in Northwest.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET)  Police are asking for the publics help in identifying a suspect who allegedly burglarized a business in south Bakersfield.

The Bakersfield Police Department released images and a description of the suspected burglar Monday. Officials say the burglary happened in the 2800 block of South Chester Avenue on Friday, May 3.

Nude stabbing, carjacking suspect said he used PCP: docs





Investigators described the suspect as a man in his late 20s who stands between 5 feet, 8 inches to 5 feet, 9 inches tall with a medium build. He was last seen wearing a grey hooded sweatshirt, jeans and a brown and black hat.

Anyone with information on the suspects whereabouts or identity is asked to call BPD at 661-327-7111.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17.
By Alimat Aliyeva

Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan have signed a trilateral intergovernmental agreement on the preparation for the implementation of the Kambaratinsk HPP-1 construction and operation project, Azernews reports.

The document was signed by the energy ministers of the three countries within the framework of the international energy investment Forum of Kyrgyzstan held in Vienna on June 10-11.

The capacity of the HPP will be 1,860 MW. The plant will produce an average of 5.6 billion kWh of electricity annually. According to preliminary estimates, the construction of this energy facility will require more than 4 billion US dollars.

According to the Ministry of Energy of Kazakhstan, this HPP should become the largest power plant in Kyrgyzstan and will provide electric energy to the countries of Central Asia, as well as stabilize the water supply of the region.

The forum, organized by the Government of Kyrgyzstan and the World Bank, ended with the creation of a Coordinating Donor Committee for the construction of the Kambarata HPP-1. It includes: the World Bank, the OPEC Fund, the Asian Development Bank, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, the Islamic Development Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, etc.
LOS ANGELES, June 10 (Xinhua) -- Pro-Palestinian protesters clashed with police on Monday at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in the United States, after establishing the third campus encampment lately.

The protesters set up tents and barricades on the western end of the university's Dickson Plaza Wednesday afternoon, reported Daily Bruin, the university's student newspaper.

Protesters marched on campus carrying fake bloody mummies and body parts while listing the names of Palestinians who have died in the current Palestinian-Israeli conflict, chanting, "We will honor all our martyrs," said the report.

"To bear witness to over 46,000 Palestinians who have been martyred or buried under the rubble," said the Students for Justice in Palestine at UCLA, the organizer of the demonstration, in a post on Instagram, calling on people to join the protest.

"Palestinians under occupation continue to remind us that funerals are places of protest. The Palestinian people continually remind us that grief and rage are actionable," said the post.

Campus police and security responded to the area before the Los Angeles Police Department declared a tactical alert, reported local KABC television station.

Orders were issued multiple times for the protesters to disperse and several clashes erupted between officers and protesters, it added.

After nightfall, hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters stood in front of at least 50 police officers from multiple law enforcement agencies outside Dodd Hall, a historic academic building, according to a Daily Bruin post on X, formerly Twitter.

Protesters outside Dodd Hall chanted, "By the thousands, by the millions, we are all Palestinians," Daily Bruin said in another post.

"Police have led more than 15 detainees into Dodd Hall," the student newspaper stated.

Over 200 pro-Palestinian protesters were arrested on May 2 as police moved to dismantle an encampment at UCLA. On May 23, a group of protesters once briefly established a second encampment on campus before police moved in to disband the efforts. 
Two-thirds of South Dakotans support an initiated measure that would prohibit the state from collecting sales tax on "anything sold for human consumption, except alcoholic beverages and prepared food, according to a scientific poll co-sponsored by News Watch.

The statewide survey of 500 registered voters, also sponsored by the Chiesman Center for Democracy at the University of South Dakota, showed that 66% of respondents are for the 2024 ballot measure, with 26% opposed and 7% undecided.

That means public support for Initiated Measure 28, which would eliminate the state's 4.2% sales tax on groceries, has increased since a November 2023 poll that showed 61% of registered voters in favor of it.

Supporters call the measure a long-overdue effort to take the tax burden off low-income families and individuals. South Dakota is one of just two states, along with Mississippi, that fully taxes food without offering credits or rebates.

Opponents criticize the wording of the measure as broader than just groceries. They said it could cause a budget crunch by preventing the state from collecting sales tax on consumable items such as tobacco, toothpaste and toilet paper.

This is not a food tax repeal  its a consumables tax repeal, said Nathan Sanderson, executive director of the South Dakota Retailers Association, which publicly opposes the measure.

Rick Weiland of Dakotans for Health announces on May 1, 2024, in Sioux Falls that the group is turning in petition signatures to put abortion rights on the ballot.

'Should have been done 20 years ago'

Rick Weiland of Dakotans for Health, the petition group that sponsored IM 28, noted that Gov. Kristi Noem pushed for repealing the grocery tax during her 2022 re-election effort. In announcing the campaign pledge, Noem said the tax cut would "put hundreds of dollars in the pockets of the average South Dakota family.

This affects people of modest means who are just trying to put food on the table, Weiland told News Watch. It should have been done 20 years ago, which is why youre seeing a super-majority of South Dakota voters in support of it.

Mason-Dixon Polling and Strategy conducted the poll May 10-13. Those interviewed were selected randomly from a telephone-matched state voter registration list that included both landline and cellphone numbers. Quotas were assigned to reflect voter registration by county. The margin of error is plus or minus 4.5 percentage points.

Concerns about budgetary impact are more pronounced since state legislators voted to lower the general sales tax rate from 4.5% to 4.2% during the 2024 legislative session. It sunsets, or expires, in 2027.

Sanderson echoed concerns raised by Attorney General Marty Jackley in his ballot explanation that IM 28, by interrupting collection of sales tax for certain items, could affect the states obligations under the tobacco master settlement agreement and the streamlined sales tax agreement.

Governor Kristi Noem helps Renee Simonsen check out customers groceries at Sunshine Foods before meeting with members of the press on Wednesday, October 12, 2022, in Sioux Falls.

Opponent: Plan will trigger income tax

Not taxing consumables and losing those revenue streams could result in an annual state budget downturn of at least $176 million, according to Sanderson, on top of the $104 million estimated annual revenue loss from the general sales tax cut.

Sales taxes are the largest source of state government revenue in South Dakota, one of seven states without a state income tax.

I believe this measure was drafted the way it was for one of two reasons, said Sanderson, who served as a policy adviser to former Gov. Dennis Daugaard. Either it was designed to force South Dakota to implement a state income tax to replace the lost revenue or it was drafted incorrectly. Either way, its highly problematic.

Weiland pushed back strongly on those assertions, calling them "fear tactics and misinformation" and noting that the Legislative Research Council played a role in changing the measure's language.

As for the notion that Dakotans for Health is surreptitiously trying to trigger a state income tax, Weiland called the theory "ridiculous."

"Mr. Sanderson needs to do his homework before he makes such wild allegations about our secret intentions," said Weiland, a former South Dakota Democratic Party candidate for U.S. House and U.S. Senate. "With 94 Republican and 11 Democratic legislators in Pierre, (Republicans) can do anything they want. I dont think passing a state income tax will ever be part of their legislative agenda."

Products lined at Mogadishu Grocery Store during an Augustana University Halal market shopping trip Saturday, March 9, 2024, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Debate over municipal food tax rates

Its been an eventful petition process for Dakotans for Health, which had to re-submit language for the measure in November 2022 after then-Attorney General Mark Vargo issued a ballot explanation saying the measure would impact the ability of municipalities, and not just the state, to collect sales tax on groceries.

That interpretation differed from that of then-Legislative Research Council director Reed Holwegner, who noted in a 2022 fiscal summary that municipalities could continue to tax anything sold for eating or drinking.

Most municipalities collect 2% on groceries on top of the state tax rate. Weilands group added specific language to the measure after Vargo's explanation to maintain that they could continue to do so.

But opponents cite a state law that states cities and towns can charge a sales tax if the tax "conforms in all respects to the state tax ... with the exception of the rate," which would not be the case if the state food tax is repealed.

Cities and towns can only tax the same items as the state, said Sanderson. So despite the language in IM 28, if the state cannot charge a tax on anything for human consumption, neither can a municipality.

Jackleys current ballot explanation notes that judicial or legislative clarification of the measure will be necessary. Since its an initiative measure and not a constitutional amendment, its reasonable to assume that state legislators will address it during the 2025 legislative session if it passes.

Language of measure under scrutiny

Beyond disagreements about municipalities, there were early discussions between Dakotans for Health and the LRC about how to best characterize which items were included in the repeal.

Hollweger, who resigned as LRC director during a meeting of the Legislatures executive board in October 2023, addressed the potential for differing interpretations of anything sold for human consumption in an updated fiscal summary in January 2023.

For purposes of this fiscal note, he wrote, the LRC assumes the phrase only includes food items because of the modifying language 'except alcoholic beverages and prepared food' and does not include personal tangible property and services, both of which can also be sold for human consumption. Other assumptions as to the meaning of this phrase may be just as reasonable, if not more so.

With that qualification, the fiscal note said that the state could see a reduction in sales tax revenue of $123.9 million annually, much lower than Sanderson's estimate. It also reiterated that municipalities "could continue to tax anything sold for human consumption."

In his ballot explanation, Jackley asserted that human consumption "is not defined by state law, but its common definition includes more than just food and drinks.

'Simply the right thing to do'

Weiland points out that IM 28's original draft, which used the phrase "anything sold for eating or drinking by humans," was flagged by the LRC as being too imprecise.

In a letter to Dakotans for Heath in December 2022, Holwegner said that the wording "may be overly vague, inviting various interpretations in determining its meaning."

Holwegner added that "the statutory definition of food uses the terms 'ingestion,' 'chewing' and 'consumed.' These terms seem to be more precise than 'eating or drinking,' as they may better capture the various elements of food and beverage consumption."

Following that guidance, Dakotans for Health re-submitted the language as "anything sold for human consumption" and collected signatures for both a constitutional amendment and initiated measure.

Weiland and his team ended up prioritizing the IM effort, and it was certified for the 2024 ballot on May 13 by the Secretary of State's office with 22,315 valid signatures.

In an interview with News Watch, Weiland expressed frustration that concerns about inexact wording and unintended consequences seem to persist regardless of the language put forth in the measure.

"We worked closely with various state offices on the grocery tax repeal measure as we do with all the ballot measures we get involved with," Weiland said. "Repealing this tax is simply the right thing to do."

Noem's grocery tax plan 'changed things'

South Dakotas grocery tax has been a target of legislative reform for decades, mostly by Democrats.

In 2004, the South Dakota Democratic Party gathered enough signatures to put a state food tax repeal on the ballot after legislative attempts to eliminate the tax fell short.

Opponents of the effort, including then-Gov. Mike Rounds, warned that passing the repeal would likely reduce the amount of state aid available for schools and health care.

Voters responded to that message and rejected the measure by a margin of 68% to 32%. Later attempts by state legislators to lower the tax on food or exempt groceries from the general sales tax rate also failed.

Noem shifted the dynamic in September 2022, six weeks before being reelected with 62% of the vote and mindful of Weiland's plans for a petition drive.

At an event in Rapid City, she unveiled her plan to repeal the grocery tax for the largest tax cut in South Dakota history. She vouched for its affordability because of double-digit increases in sales tax revenue in 2021 and 2022, a budget surplus in 2022 of $115 million and $423 million in reserves.

That changed things, Weiland told News Watch.

The Republicans big argument has always been, Oh, we dont have the money to repeal the food tax. It will come on the backs of firefighters and teachers, or well have to do a state income tax  all this crap they kept contending so the issue never got any legs in the Legislature or on the ballot. Well, the governor took all those arguments and threw them in the trash. They dont exist.

Noem supports tax repeal, but not IM 28

But Jim Terwilliger, the governors budget chief, stressed that the basis of Initiated Measure 28 differs from the bill that Noem and her team brought unsuccessfully during the 2023 legislative session.

Noems bill, which was killed in committee, would have reduced the states sales tax on groceries to zero percent rather than eliminating it entirely. The reason was to avoid disrupting South Dakota's participation in the Streamlined Sales Tax Project, a cooperative effort of states, local governments and the business community that standardizes collection of sales tax.

As drafted, the ballot measure would bring us out of compliance with the agreement, Terwilliger told News Watch in May 2023.

Terwilliger also said that the measure would prevent the state from taxing tobacco or medical marijuana, a concern also noted by Jackley in his ballot explanation. Not taxing tobacco could impact revenue the state receives from a master settlement agreement reached in 1998 between 46 states and major cigarette manufacturers as part of litigation for health-care costs and deceptive trade practices.

Jackley said South Dakota receives about $20 million annually from the settlement, which Sanderson factored into his estimated annual loss of state revenue of $176 million.

Grocery tax repeal has bipartisan support

Weiland disputes those legal interpretations, which could end up being debated during the 2025 legislative session or resolved in a court of law.

He also notes that the South Dakota tax system is rife with sales tax exemptions totaling more than $1 billion a year that primarily benefit the states largest industries such as agriculture, medical care and insurance, as previously reported by News Watch.

Theres a whole list of things that these companies are allowed exemptions for to maintain their business in South Dakota, said Weiland. But were not going to get rid of a regressive tax on food, something people need to survive? What does that say about our priorities?

The News Watch/Chiesman poll showed that repealing the grocery tax has bipartisan appeal, with 78% of Independents, 74% of Democrats and 56% of Republicans saying that they support the initiated measure.

Young voters were the most supportive, with 73% of respondents ages 18-34 saying they are for the measure, compared to 21% against.

This story was produced by South Dakota News Watch, a nonpartisan, nonprofit news organization. Read more in-depth stories at sdnewswatch.org and sign up for an email every few days to get stories as soon as they're published. Contact Stu Whitney at stu.whitney@sdnewswatch.org.

This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: South Dakota poll shows support for grocery tax repeal
A slew of adult-content website operators and a California-based free-speech trade group are suing Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita over Indiana's impending age-verification law, which authorizes Rokita to sue porn websites if they fail to adequately screen out children from viewing their content.

Pornhub and other operators are seeking to block the law, which they argue impinges on adults' free speech and other constitutional rights. Lawmakers had nearly unanimously passed Senate Bill 17 in March, and it's set to go into effect on July 1, unless a judge grants this injunction.

More: Indiana bill requiring porn websites to verify visitor ages heads to Gov. Eric Holcomb

The plaintiffs  which include the Free Speech Coalition, the California nonprofit trade association representing adult filmmakers, distributors and retailers; and multiple operators of popular pornography sites such as Pornhub  argues that the "incurably vague" law requires the "least effective and most restrictive" means of age verification, which both acts as a barrier to adults' access to free speech and poses excessive cost and privacy concerns to the websites and their visitors.

"Any claimed benefit of age verification imposed by the Act doesn't justify the burdens imposed on adults  the vast majority of whom value their online privacy and do not wish to expose exploitable personal data simply to view constitutionally-protected material they have every right to view," their complaint, filed Monday, reads. "The high risk of data breaches and leaks resulting from compliance with the Act serve as an unavoidable barrier preventing adults from divulging their information over the internet."

On X, Rokita called the law "common sense."

"Children shouldn't be able to easily access explicit material that can cause them harm," he wrote. "It's commonsense. We need to protect and shield them from the psychological and emotional consequences associated with viewing porn."

Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita attends a memorial service for Sen. Jack Sandlin on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023 at the Indiana Statehouse in Indianapolis.

What does SB 17 do

Senate Bill 17, carried by Sen. Mike Bohacek, R-Michiana Shores, targets "adult oriented websites" where at least a third of content would be considered "material harmful to minors," defined in state law as representations of nudity, sexual conduct and sado-masochistic abuse.

It requires those website operators to, beginning July 1, have a "reasonable age verification method" to prevent minors from viewing their site. Acceptable methods include using a mobile identification credential issued by the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, an independent third-party age verification service, or "any commercially reasonable method that relies on public or private transactional data."

The bill also authorizes the attorney general or the parent of a child who has gotten past age verification to sue these providers. It virtually sailed through both chambers of the General Assembly with bipartisan support.

What the porn websites argue

The plaintiffs argue this law is a violation of the First amendment because they say it restricts free speech unnecessarily.

For example, they argue there are more effective options out there to address the same end without introducing a barrier to adults' access, such as content filtering at the browser or device level. With the method outlined in this law, children can easily get around age verification through virtual private networks and the dark web, and adults' speech is chilled because they are required to hand over personal information, they said.

"But such far more effective and far less restrictive means dont really matter to Indiana, whose true aim is not to protect minors but to squelch constitutionally protected free speech that the State disfavors," the plaintiffs write.

They claim the law violates numerous other constitutional amendments, such as the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment, because the law targets porn sites but excludes internet browsers and social media sites; and the Excessive Fines clause of the 8th Amendment, citing the cost of a reputable third-party age verification service as roughly $40,000 per 100,000 verifications.

They also claim a violation of the federal Communications Decency Act, which says website operators are not to be considered publishers liable for content on their sites created by third parties.

The ACLU of Indiana is also opposed to the law, making similar First-Amendment arguments.

In the history of the Internet, weve never been required to present an official ID to merely visit a website," executive director Chris Daley wrote in a statement in January. "This may block some people  for example, those who lack government identification or whose age is mis-identified by the relevant technology  from accessing the sites altogether. We can, and should, make the Internet safer for minors. But we can do this without sacrificing our privacy and Constitutional rights.

Sen. Mike Bohacek speaks Thursday, July 28, 2022, as the Senate Chamber hears proposed amendments to SB 2.

When the bill was sent to Gov. Eric Holcomb, Bohacek wrote in a statement that the state has an "obligation to protect children from harmful content on the internet."

"Indiana has the opportunity to set an example for other states to protect children all over the country, and I am pleased to have championed this bill as it moved through the legislature," he said.

Contact IndyStar state government and politics reporter Kayla Dwyer at kdwyer@indystar.com or follow her on Twitter @kayla_dwyer17.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Porn websites sue Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita to block new law
The Chesapeake 1000 floating crane equipped with Gus the hydraulic grabber, wrestle a 90-ton piece of residual wreckage on Friday from the Fort McHenry Federal Channel. Photo by Bobby Petty/U.S. Army

June 10 (UPI) -- The Port of Baltimore's shipping channel, one of the busiest ports in the United States, is fully reopen, more than two months after a massive cargo ship crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge.

On Monday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said the Fort McHenry Federal Channel was restored to its original operational dimensions for commercial maritime transit through the Port of Baltimore.

"We've cleared the Fort McHenry Federal Channel for safe transit," Baltimore District Commander Col. Estee Pinchasin of the Army Corps of Engineers said in a statement. "Although the overarching goal to restore full operational capacity to the federal channel was successful, each day we thought of those who lost their lives, their families and the workers impacted by this tragic event."

"Not a day went by that we didn't think about all of them, and that kept us going," Pinchasin added.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers worked with the U.S. Navy Supervisor of Salvage and Diving to clear the wreckage. Other main agencies involved in the work included the U.S. Coast Guard, Maryland Department of the Environment, Maryland Transportation Authority, Witt O'Brien's representing Synergy Mariner and Maryland State Police.

Salvage work continues on the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge as it lies on the container ship Dali on April 22 in Baltimore. File photo by Julia Nikhinson/UPI

Last week, crews cleared the final large steel truss that had been blocking the full channel, according to the Unified Command. They used concrete breakers, underwater surveys and using clamshell dredges to remove debris with clamshell dredges.

The Unified Command safely moved the M/V Dali on May 20.

Salvors with the Unified Command continue wreckage removal from the M/V DALI and surrounding area in Baltimore Harbor on May 7. Photo by Christopher Rosario/U.S. Army Corps of Engineers/UPI

The Dali struck the Key Bridge on March 26, triggering a collapse that killed six workers and affected entry into the port.

Workers removed 50,000 tons of bridge wreckage along with the 984-foot-long and 158-foot-wide container ship from the crash site.

The Unified Command led the response among about 56 federal, state and local agencies, represented by 1,587 responders. Also, about 500 specialists from around the world operated a fleet of 18 barges, 22 tugboats, 13 floating cranes, 10 excavators and four survey boats.

The National Transportation Safety Board said last month in a preliminary report the Dali experienced two power blackouts while docked, 10 hours before the collision.

After leaving the port in the early morning hours of March 26, it experienced two more blackouts close to 1:28 a.m., according to the NTSB.

Federal investigators are now focusing their probe on the ship's electrical system.

Vehicle traffic remains cut off likely until 2028.

The bridge's reconstruction is expected to cost between $1.7 billion and $1.9 billion.

President Joe Biden has pledged federal support for the project.
The Wichita school board heard a plan Monday for a $450 million bond issue proposal that would support the complete rebuilding of eight schools over the next five to six years.

The district would reduce its overall footprint by 11 buildings, consolidating programs into new and existing facilities and closing four elementary schools, five special schools and two administrative buildings.

The draft proposal, presented by Ohio-based consultant Woolpert, comes three months after the school board voted to permanently close six schools as a cost-saving measure.

The board took no binding action Monday night, but intends to revisit the facilities master plan proposal on June 27 after community feedback on the recommendations has been collected. The board will also hold a workshop on the master plan before voting on it.

Officials say the new bond proposal would not raise property taxes. Instead, it would maintain the existing elevated tax rate associated with the 2008 bond issue for however long it takes to pay off $450 million in new debt.

Four elementaries in north central Wichita  LOuverture Magnet, OK, Pleasant Valley and Woodland  would be closed under the plan, although district officials say many of the students and teachers would be transferred together to new buildings.

Proposed Wichita school bond issue was pitched as zero tax increase. Is that accurate?

Not something we can promise every kid and every community, but that would be the intention, Superintendent Kelly Bielefeld said at a news briefing before the board meeting. This is much more of a merging of schools than what we did in March, which was to close schools and then those kids kind of got spread all over the place.

The plan calls for eight new buildings to replace existing schools of the same name. Coleman Magnet and Truesdell middle schools would be rebuilt, as would Black Magnet, McLean Magnet, Adams, Caldwell, and Irving elementaries, and the Little Early Childhood Center, which houses pre-K and kindergarten programs.

Bielefeld said most schools would be rebuilt on the property they currently occupy, although thats not true in all cases. The new Little Early Childhood Center would be rebuilt on the site of the adjacent Chester Lewis Academic Learning Center, which would have its current programs shifted elsewhere.

Theres a lot of dominoes in the plan, Bielefeld said. Theres a rebuild this and then shuffle this, and then put other things here, so it will take a few years for us to actualize all this.

An expansion would be built onto Cessna elementary to turn it into a K-8 school and Isely Magnet elementary, which was originally built to house a K-8 program, would also take on middle school students.

The existing Coleman Magnet middle school would be repurposed to house consolidated alternative programs, and Jardine Magnet, one of the recently closed middle schools, would be renovated to take on new students from the special schools that are being consolidated.

Those alternative programs that would be consolidated includue Dunlap, a life skills program for 18-21-year-olds; Gateway, an alternative school for middle and high school students; and Bryant, Wells and Sowers, special day schools. Two administrative buildings, the Dunbar and Joyce Focht support centers, would also be closed.

The plan calls for rebuilding a building on East Highs campus that currently houses WSU Tech programs. The rebuilt facility would serve as the districts third future-ready center, which would prepare students for careers in HVAC/plumbing/electrical and other skilled labor.

Additionally, just over a third of the $450 million supported by the bond issue would be dedicated to addressing deferred maintenance needs across the district.

Rendering of what a new Wichita middle school might look like if voters approve a bond issue to support the districts proposed facilities master plan.

Bond issue

USD 259s local option budget property tax is maxed out at 33% of the general fund budget, meaning any major project to renovate existing schools or build new ones would have to be funded through a bond issue. The last Wichita school bond issue was approved in 2008, when a narrow 2% margin of voters favored the $370 million renovation and expansion package.

Most districts around us, whether theyre suburban or rural, have passed multiple bond issues since 2008, Bielefeld said.

The proposal calls for a $450 million zero tax increase bond. Because the 2008 bonds are almost paid off, the $450 million could be borrowed off of those same bonds without raising property taxes for residents within Wichita Public Schools boundaries. However, if a bond issue was denied, property taxes would go down once the original 2008 bonds are paid off.

Bielefeld wouldnt say if he expects a bond proposal to be added to the November ballot. The deadline for getting a question on the ballot in Sedgwick County is Sept. 2.

I think were getting a little bit ahead of ourselves to talk about community support for a bond because really, that comes next once the plan is finalized, Bielefeld said.

He said the draft recommendations are clearly aligned with data, and that the scope was determined by feedback consultants collected during a round of public meetings and a survey in April.

What our consultants have is essentially a heat map of the districts footprint and areas where there are the most students and the most projected students. And that is where we are building the new schools, Bielefeld said.

On Tuesday, the district will send out another survey to collect public input on the draft recommendations through June 20. Bielefeld said it will largely be up to the board to determine how much that feedback shapes the final plan.

I hope that this is a process where peoples voice and agency comes into play, and there also may be a chance that the plan doesnt change at all based on the feedback, Bielefeld said. If the plan doesnt change, that doesnt mean we didnt listen to the feedback. It could just mean we got a lot of support for the plan.

What I hope we hear from the community is both what they like and what they dont like.

During the board meeting, vice president Diane Albert questioned how the district should move forward if voters say theyre unwilling to support another round of bonds.

Weve talked about passing a bond, and thats really up to voters. What happens if a bond does not pass? she asked.

To be truthful, you try your damndest to pass the next one, responded David Sturtz, a consultant with Woolpert.

He said the districts more than $1 billion in deferred maintenance needs will only grow more unmanageable with time if no bond issue is passed.

You are not going to exit that in a meaningful way without capital investment.
The U.N. human rights office has expressed concern about possible war crimes committed by both Israeli forces and Palestinian armed groups during a Saturday raid into Gazas Nuseirat refugee camp that rescued four Israeli hostages and killed hundreds of Palestinians.

It was catastrophic, the way that this was carried out in that civiliansagainwere caught smack bang in the middle of this, Jeremy Laurence, a spokesperson for the U.N., told the Associated Press.

Laurence said that Israeli forces may have violated the laws of proportionality, distinction, and precaution after at least 274 Palestinians were killed in the raid, according to Palestinian health officials.

Laurence also said that Palestinian armed groups holding Israeli civilians hostage in densely populated areas are creating added risks to both Palestinian civilians and the hostages. All these actions by both parties may amount to war crimes, Laurence said.

The U.N. spokesman called for the release of all remaining hostages, return of the remains of deceased hostages, and the exchange of Palestinian prisoners.

This is not the first time concerns about war crimes have been raised amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. Last month, the International Criminal Courts prosecutor Karim Khan requested arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, as well as Hamas leaders Yahya Sinwar, Mohammed Deif, and Ismail Haniyeh for war crimes and crimes against humanity. A panel of judges is currently reviewing the request.

Read More: What ICC Arrest Warrants Would Mean for Israel and Hamas Leaders

Israel began its military campaign in Gaza following the Oct. 7 Hamas attack that killed 1,200 people, most of them civilians. The militant group also abducted approximately 250 people.

At least 36,000 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed since October, according to the Hamas-led Gaza Ministry of Health, figures the U.S. and U.N. consider credible.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
Possum on a plane: Flight delayed in China after pet breaks loose on board

Sometimes its the smallest things that ruin your day. For the passengers of a flight between the eastern Chinese cities of Shanghai and Jinan, it was a miniature pet possum.

The tiny sugar glider  a nocturnal animal resembling a flying squirrel  broke loose on a China Eastern Airlines flight on Monday, scurrying away from its owner, hiding in the cabin and eventually forcing passengers to temporarily disembark the plane.

On a flight from Shanghai to Jinan on June 10, 2024, a passenger surnamed Guo (female, 34 years old) violated the regulations and took a pet sugar glider on board the plane, Shanghai Police International Airport Branch said in a statement on its Weibo social media account.

The pet escaped in the cabin and was captured by others.

Chinese local media said the incident took place on flight MU5599 from Shanghais Hongqiao International Airport. Videos posted on social media appear to show a flight attendant kneeling on the ground and looking for the furry fugitive.

Passengers eventually had to disembark the airplane while the possum was tracked down. - Chinese State Media

It was reported that all the passengers were eventually made to disembark the plane and wait in the terminal building until the creature was captured. Social videos reposted by local media show passengers gathered in front of a counter at the airport negotiating with airline staff.

In one video, a female passenger suggests: (Lets) call the police. A male passenger agrees and says: Get her out and (make her) apologize to everyone! The female passenger shouts again toward airline staff: You, the airport should call the police too. How did she get on board (with a possum)?

Police said the flight had been delayed due to safety issues and that the miniature possums owner had been taken into custody.

Some on board were seen on social media videos complaining about the incident. - Chinese State Media

Currently, Guo has been placed under administrative detention by the police in accordance with the law for her illegal behavior of disrupting order on public transportation, the police statement said.

The flight eventually departed just over an hour after its scheduled time, arriving at Jinans Yaoqiang Airport shortly before midnight, 62 minutes after it had originally been due to land.

According to local media, the airline has not yet offered compensation or issued an apology to passengers.

China Eastern Airline has yet to make any statement regarding the incident.

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(WJW)  Check those tickets!

Someone is holding a Powerball jackpot ticket worth an estimated $221 million!

The lucky ticket that matched all five numbers, plus the Powerball, in the Monday, June 10 drawing was sold in New Jersey, according to lottery officials. It wasnt immediately clear where in New Jersey the winning ticket was purchased.

Canton man wins $2M from scratch-off ticket

According to the Powerball website, the big win marks three months in a row that someone has won the Powerball jackpot. Beating odds of 1 in 292,201,338!

In May, a jackpot ticket worth $214 million was purchased at a Publix in Miami Shores, Florida. At last check, that prize has not yet been claimed.

In April, a jackpot worth $1.3 billion was won in Portland, Oregon by a man battling cancer. The winnings were split among him, his wife, and a friend.

Before that, the jackpot had not been hit since Jan. 1.

Missing mom found dead inside 16-foot python

In Ohio, the largest winnings in the June 10 drawing will go to two tickets worth $200, according to Ohio Lottery officials.

The numbers in the June 10 drawings were 3-10-33-58-59+9. CLICK HERE to check your ticket.

The next Powerball drawing is Wednesday, June 12. The jackpot resets to $20 million.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
Praise for the rare conservative with an open mind on climate, immigration | Letters

A buoy barrier in the Rio Grande and razor wire protect the U.S. border in Eagle Pass onJanuary 8, 2024. (Credit: Jay Janner/American-Statesman/File)

Re: May 12 commentary, 'No, evangelical Christians do not believe immigrants are garbage' and June 9 commentary, 'The conservative case for clean energy and climate security action'

Occasionally one will run across conservative/Republican religious faithful who don't characterize immigrants as undesirables, drug dealers, criminals, murderers and rapists and/or who don't believe in trashing our God-given planet.

Praise to them, but their numbers are so few as to be virtually meaningless. And undoubtably, most of their fellow conservatives would label them as RINOs, and if they were politicians of note, the Republican Party of Texas would likely censure them.

Nevertheless, and sadly, come November 5, one wonders how many socially- and climate-conscious conservatives will dutifully cast votes for Ted Cruz and Donald Trump.

Stephen Shackelford, Austin

Trump invoking his Putin ties recalls

his bravado on the U.S.-Mexico wall

Regarding the item "Ex-official: Trump "killed" hostage talks" in the June 9 publication, in his standard bravado speech, Trump states that "Biden likes to pay massive numbers. We will be paying nothing." This is in response to the hostage talks with Russia regarding prisoner Evan Gershkovich which Trump appears to have undermined during his last run for office.

Would this projection of his alliance with Putin be anything like the border wall between Mexico and Texas, where Trump promised Mexico would pay for the construction?

I think we can all see through this.

Jeri Porter, Fischer

How to submit a letter to the editor

Send letters of no more than 150 words by using our online form at https://bit.ly/3Crmkcf or send an email to letters@statesman.com.

We welcome your letters on all topics. Include your name and city of residence; we do not publish anonymous letters.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Praise for the conservative with an open mind on climate, immigration
MOSCOW, June 11 (Xinhua) -- A detachment of Russian warships will arrive in Cuba on Wednesday for tasks within the framework of cooperation between the two countries, said the Russian navy Tuesday.

The group of Russian warships is part of the Northern Fleet, including a nuclear-powered submarine and a frigate with modern weapons on board, said Admiral Alexander Moiseyev, acting commander-in-chief of the Russian navy, cited by Russia's RIA news agency.

According to Moiseyev, visiting Cuba will only be one of the tasks set for the voyage.

The Cuban Foreign Ministry announced earlier that Russian warships would visit the port of Havana from Wednesday to Monday, involving Russian frigate Admiral Gorshkov, the nuclear-powered submarine Kazan, as well as the fleet oil tanker Pashin and the rescue tug Nikolai Chiker.

The visit is within the framework of "historically friendly relations between Cuba and Russia," the ministry said. 
The preferred route has been selected for a planned $79 million highway to provide Santa Teresa, New Mexico, a border logistics hub, another major link to the greater El Paso metro area.

The Border Highway Connector will be a 7.5-mile, four-lane highway going from Pete Domenici Highway, or NM136, in Santa Teresa to Anapra Road in Sunland Park, New Mexico, near Doniphan Drive in West El Paso, according to New Mexico Department of Transportation, or NMDOT, information.

Its designed to ease growing traffic from freight trucks and commuter vehicles on Pete Domenici, which connects Santa Teresas international port of entry and nearby industrial parks to Artcraft Road and Interstate 10 in El Paso.

It will be a quicker route from Santa Teresa to neighboring Sunland Park and El Paso and provide another way in and out of the Santa Teresa industrial area if an emergency closes Pete Domenici. (McNutt Road, NM273, also provides a connection from Airport Road in Santa Teresa, south through Sunland Park.)

A truck crosses into Santa Teresa, New Mexico on Pete Domenici Highway on April 24, 2024.

Final decision due by July

The preferred route, labeled Alternative 3, was selected after a study, which began in 2022, and two public meetings, by NMDOT officials and Bohannan Huston, the Albuquerque engineering firm hired by the New Mexico Border Authority to study and engineer the project.

The final decision won't be made until after the June 13 deadline for public comments on the project, Ami Evans, a NMDOT spokesperson, said in an email. Those comments will be used by NMDOT officials to make the final selection in late June or early July, she said.

Terry McLachlan, a major landowner and developer in Santa Teresa, is urging NMDOT officials and the project design team to pick a different route closer to his planned, huge Alta Mesa Estates housing community.

Jerry Pacheco, president of the Border Industrial Association, aimed at attracting companies to Santa Teresa, said whatever route is selected will be good for the area because it will help Santa Teresa's four industrial parks and its port of entry by providing a second route for trucks in and out of Santa Teresa.

It will be a quicker route for trucks to head east, while Pete Domenici is best for traffic heading north, Pacheco said.

Alternative 3 gets highest rating

The Alternative 3 route received the highest rating among a final list of six route choices. It also received the most support at a May 23 public meeting.

The blue line is the preferred Alternative 3 route for the Border Highway Connector, from Pete Domenici Highway, left, in Santa Teresa, to Anapra Road, right, in Sunland Park. The purple East C-3 line is the last part of the route. Other proposed routes are shown.

The Alternative 3 route would begin at Pete Domenici, at a new intersection about two miles north of the Santa Teresa port of entry. It would traverse roughly 5.5 miles of privately owned, vacant desert land in Santa Teresa before crossing active Union Pacific Railroad tracks over a new bridge into Sunland Park.

It would then parallel Union Pacific tracks for about two miles through Sunland Park before connecting to Anapra Road, which Sunland Park city officials have committed to upgrade to handle more traffic, Evans said. From Anapra, vehicles can easily access Sunland Park Drive, which connects to Interstate 10 and Highway Loop 375 in El Paso.

Developer prefers NM9 extension

McLachlan, who plans to develop the 1,180-acre Alta Mesa Estates, which eventually is to have more than 4,400 homes and apartments, near the industrial parks in Santa Teresa, wants the Alternative 5 route to be the final choice.

A truck heads toward the Santa Teresa international port of entry on April 24, 2024. The planned Border Highway Connector would provide a second link for trucks from the port of entry to Sunland Park, New Mexico and El Paso.

Alternative 5 would extend NM Highway 9, known as the Columbus Highway, from Pete Domenici, where the paved highway currently ends, to McNutt Road at Camino Real Drive. A variation of this route, Alternative 5a, would skip the McNutt Road connection and continue to Anapra Road.

This route would benefit Alta Mesa, which borders the dirt road portion of NM 9 for 1.7 miles, McLachlan said. Its also closer to the Santa Teresa industrial parks, he said.

More: Heat wave: El Paso Border Patrol reports 4 migrant heat deaths over weekend

The Alternative 5 route would save New Mexico money and speed up the project because public property records indicate New Mexico already owns the right-of-way needed for the route, McLachlan said. Also, money wouldnt have to be spent later to upgrade NM9 to connect to Sunland Park, he said.

However, Evans, the agency spokesperson, said the state owns only the three-mile dirt road extending east from NM9 at Pete Domenici. The remaining right-of-way to Anapra is abandoned railroad tracks owned by Union Pacific Railroad and private land owners, she said.

McLachlan said, "We're certainly not going to get in the way of any decision. We benefit either way."

NM Highway 9, in green, ends at Pete Domenici Highway, NM136, left, in blue. Possible future NM9 extension is shown by dotted green line in this Sunland Park, New Mexico 2040 Comprehensive Plan map. The planned Border Highway Connector Alternative 3 route, not shown, would go between Cattlemans Drive and St. Francis Road, bottom. Dotted lines show possible road extensions.

NMDOT to buy private land for highway

The roughly 5.5 acres of Santa Teresa land where Alternative 3 would be built needs to be acquired from private property owners, who are aware that NMDOT may need to purchase the land, Evans said. The same goes for the other alternative routes.

Most of the vacant land where any of the alternative highway routes would be built in Santa Teresa is owned by Santa Teresa Land LLC, operated by Chris Lyons, an El Paso-area real estate investor, a map provided by NMDOT through an El Paso Times open records request shows.

Lyons did not respond to an emailed request for comments about the new highway project.

Santa Teresa Land LLC., a company operated by real estate investor Chris Lyons, owns most of the vacant land (green on map) in Santa Teresa, New Mexico where part of the Border Highway Connector (blue, purple, gray lines) is planned to be built, shows this NMDOT map.

More: Final environmental report brings planned Borderland Expressway closer to reality

The project's website has a small image of the ownership map in a project slide and video, but the individual owner information is difficult to read.

The project is being funded with a $45 million federal grant and $34 million from New Mexico. The construction contract is expected to be awarded in fall 2025, with construction projected to begin in early 2026, Evans said. Construction is expected to take about two years.

Public comments, info

Public comments on the project can be emailed to the design team by June 13: (BorderHighwayConnector@bhinc.com).

More information is on the project website: bhi.mysocialpinpoint.com/border-highway-connector

Vic Kolenc may be reached at 915-546-6421; vkolenc@elpasotimes.com; @vickolenc on Twitter, now known as X.

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Preferred route picked for $79M Santa Teresa to Sunland Park highway
Violent crime in the U.S. dropped by a significant amount in the first quarter of 2024 compared to the previous year, according to the FBI's Quarterly Uniform Crime Report.

The FBI data, which is collected from participating police departments across the country, shows that overall violent crime decreased by 15 percent nationally compared to the first quarter of 2023. "Murder decreased by 26.4 percent, rape decreased by 25.7 percent, robbery decreased by 17.8 percent, and aggravated assault decreased by 12.5 percent," the FBI reported. "Reported property crime also decreased by 15.1 percent."

There are major caveats with the data: It is preliminary and unaudited; police departments will likely report more incidents before it is finalized; and it only quantifies crimes that were reported, leaving out unreported incidents. Bureau of Justice Statistics surveys of crime victims show that fewer than half of violent crimes (excluding murder) and property crimes are reported to the police.

But it tracks with other early data from 2024. The Major Cities Chiefs Association released first-quarter data in May, based on a survey of 68 major metropolitan police departments, showing a 17 percent drop in murder.

Jeff Asher, a crime analyst, wrote in his Substack yesterday that the FBI's quarterly crime report "is almost certainly overstating that decline" but that the general trend would likely hold.

"Overall, my impression is that the trend direction shown in the FBI data through the first quarter is likely correct but that the overall percent changes are almost certainly overstated by a good bit," Asher wrote. "Violent and property crime are probably not down 15 percent nationally (which would be far and away the largest one year decline ever recorded in both categories), but they are likely down a healthy amount. Murder is down a ton, probably historically so at this point in the year, but probably not 25 percent nationally."

The decline of violent crime is politically significant for the criminal justice reform movement and its opponents. Although crime has been dropping since it spiked in 2020, public perception has gone the opposite direction; in a Gallup poll conducted late last year, 63 percent of respondents described the crime problem in the U.S. as either extremely or very serious, the highest percentage since the polling firm began asking the question in 2000.

Several Republican-dominated states like Louisiana and Kentucky have passed sweeping bills to roll back bipartisan criminal justice reforms, citing out-of-control crime, while politicians in blue states like Oregon and California are embracing tough-on-crime rhetoric in response to public fears.

The White House, meanwhile, is trying to convince voters that things are getting better.

"This progress we're seeing is no accident," President Joe Biden said in a White House press release. "My administration is putting more cops on the beat, holding violent criminals accountable, and getting illegal guns off the streetand we are doing it in partnership with communities. As a result, Americans are safer today than when I took office."

Of course, national crime trends do not bend to White House policies or how many times a president says "law and order," as former President Donald Trump found out.

But for whatever reason crime is dropping, it's good news for Americans. As Reason's Billy Binion wrote in May, "The situation could certainly take a turn for the worse. But should the data continue on the current trajectory, then the number of homicides seen in the U.S. will indeed be back to, or under, pre-COVID levels."

The post Preliminary FBI Data: Crime Steeply Declined in Early 2024 appeared first on Reason.com.
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  On the same day President Joe Bidens son Hunter Biden was found guilty on gun-related charges, the president delivered remarks on reducing gun violence at a conference hosted by Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund.

President Biden walked on stage to chants of four more years! from the crowd filled with mothers who lost children to gun violence, along with volunteers and gun safety advocates.

Weve proven we can do more than just thoughts and prayers, Biden said on Tuesday. No single action can solve the entirety of the gun violence epidemic, but together our efforts, your efforts are saving lives.

The Biden campaign believes gun control is an important issue for key voters like suburban college-educated women. During his remarks, Biden emphasized that more needs to be done to curb gun violence.

Its time once again to do what I did when I was a senator, ban assault weapons, Biden said. Its time we establish universal background checks.

In 2022, President Biden signed the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act into law, which expanded background checks and provided billions of dollars to programs to help curb gun violence.

Its the most significant gun legislation in nearly 30 years, Biden said. It was designed to reduce gun violence and save lives and Im so proud of the tremendous progress weve made since then.

Bidens messaging on gun control comes in stark contrast to former president Donald Trumps. Trump won the endorsement of the National Rifle Association in May.

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 DC News Now | Washington, DC.
Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald speaks at a news conference announcing a commission's gun violence prevention findings on June 11, 2024. (Photo: Anna Liz Nichols)

The tragedy of the Oxford High School shooting in Michigan in 2021 left a mark on the local Oakland County community that can never be erased, Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald said at a news conference announcing the findings from a commissions pursuit to find gun violence prevention solutions.

November 30 2021 is a day I will never forget and I know many of the people in this room will never forget, McDonald said, acknowledging the families of the Oxford High School students that were killed by their 15-year-old classmate: Tate Myre, 16; Hana St. Juliana, 14; Justin Shilling, 17, and Madisyn Baldwin, 17.

We can solve this, but its not going to be just one thing. And it takes all of us, she said.

Not having an answer to the question parents were posing after the shooting; How do I keep my kids safe?, was frustrating, McDonald said. Oakland County has lost 11 children to gun violence since January of 2021 and not having an answer for how to prevent more deaths wasnt going to work, so McDonald sought out the answer for herself.

In September of 2022, McDonald announced she was putting together a commission of gun safety experts, law enforcement officials, medical professionals, education professionals and parents of the Oxford shooting victims to research together the root causes of gun violence inside and outside of schools and how to prevent deaths.

These protocols to action address the gun violence as a public health crisis. Just as we addressed automobile accidents that caused the death of children, which used to be the number one cause of death until 2021, we address it as a public health crisis, McDonald said. In the first 24 hours after Oxford, I learned there were several signs that the shooter displayed that were ignored and if taken action on, we could have prevented that tragedythe number one cause of death for kids is gun violence.

While some of the early interventions involve protocols for identifying signs of crisis in schools, McDonald emphasized that though schools can be instrumental in identifying the behaviors that can indicate the possibility of someone harming others or themselves, the majority of gun violence takes place outside of schools so parents and community members need to get on board with being vigilant.

The solutions outlined in the commissions findings start with preventing a crisis before it happens, providing support before a person is in crisis, which the commission found is almost always the cause of gun violence. Threat assessment is the next step. After remaining vigilant, its important to have predetermined protocols and evaluations to determine the risk of violence.

The commission recommends points of intervention when someone is at risk of perpetrating violence against themselves or others, from a person to personal level to community solutions. The last part of the commissions findings deals with the aftershocks of violence, not just acknowledging those who have lost their lives, but also those who continue to live, but who have lost their lives as they knew them.

While four students died in the Oxford High School shooting, two other students were injured and told the court during the shooters sentencing about how their injuries have changed their lives. One teacher was also shot, Molly Darnell. She shared at the news conference the impact of the shooting on her life.

On November 30, of 2021, I woke up as a wife, mother, educator, friend and colleague, and by the time I came home that evening, three unrecognizable labels had given to me: Victim, wounded and survivor, Darnell said. The person that I was what I left for work that morning was taken, the life I had, the life I knew was stolen.

Darnell recounted the prosecution of the shooters parents, who juries determined earlier this year were responsible for their sons actions, after the prosecution asserted the parents failed to properly secure the firearm, identify clear signs of mental distress in their son and act upon them.

Im angry at their selfish decisions. Im angry for what they did not do and Im angry for their disregard for our community. What transformed in me as a result of that day was so life-altering that I cannot even remember who I was before November 30 of 2021. But this tragedy, like many others, could have been prevented, Darnell said.

We need to start acknowledging pain, McDonald said. Looking for the signs of pain in others helps prevent violence and listening to the devastating stories of those who survive and lose loved ones to gun violence informs changes that can be made to prevent tragedy repeating.

Michigan owes it to victims and survivors to move towards peace, Deleah Sharp, Founder and executive Director of Identify Your Dream said.

At the age of 17, Sharp said the loss of her brother to gun violence less than a block away from her home in Pontiac was overwhelming and in order to find a way to heal and process her emotions she created Identify Your Dream to help kids heal from gun violence.

Preventing gun violence at community level requires a multifaceted approach. It starts with awareness and education, Sharp said. We must educate our communities about the impact of gun violence and the importance of early intervention. Schools, community centers and local organizations need to provide resources and programs that promote conflict resolution, emotional regulation and mental health support.

In addition to the commissions findings, McDonald announced the creation of the All of Us Foundation, to create and distribute gun violence prevention materials to individuals, businesses and communities.

Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald speaks at a news conference announcing a commission's gun violence prevention findings on June 11, 2024. (Photo: Anna Liz Nichols)

Deleah Sharp, Founder and executive Director of Identify Your Dream speaks at a news conference announcing a commission's gun violence prevention findings on June 11, 2024. (Photo: Anna Liz Nichols)

Molly Darnell, the Oxford High school teacher who was shot in the November 30 2021 shooting at the school speaks at a news conference announcing a commission's gun violence prevention findings on June 11, 2024. (Photo: Anna Liz Nichols)

Molly Darnell, the Oxford High school teacher who was shot in the November 30 2021 shooting at the school speaks at a news conference announcing a commission's gun violence prevention findings on June 11, 2024. (Photo: Anna Liz Nichols)

Steve St. Juliana (left) father of Hana St. Julianna who was killed in the Oxford High School shooting on Nov. 30, 2021 sits next to Rep. Kelly Breen (D-Novi) (right) at a news conference announcing a commission's gun violence prevention findings on June 11, 2024. (Photo: Anna Liz Nichols)

Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald speaks at a news conference announcing a commission's gun violence prevention findings on June 11, 2024. (Photo: Anna Liz Nichols)

Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald speaks at a news conference announcing a commission's gun violence prevention findings on June 11, 2024. (Photo: Anna Liz Nichols)

Steve St. Juliana (right) father of Hana St. Julianna and Nicole Beausoleil (left) mother of Madisyn Baldwin sit together at a news conference on June 11, 2024. Both parents lost their children to a gunman in the Oxford High School shooting on Nov. 30, 2021 and are listening to a commission's findings on how to prevent gun violence. (Photo: Anna Liz Nichols)

Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald speaks at a news conference announcing a commission's gun violence prevention findings on June 11, 2024. (Photo: Anna Liz Nichols)

The post How to prevent a shooting: Oxford prosecutor makes a guidebook to prevent tragedy appeared first on Michigan Advance.
For the fourth year in a row, the colorful Pride flags that hang along Harrison Boulevard have been stolen or damaged in June.

The Boise Police Department is investigating multiple reports of stolen Pride flags in the North End neighborhood, spokesperson Haley Williams told the Idaho Statesman in a text message. Williams said reports indicated that more than 20 flags were either vandalized or taken.

Williams said that as part of the investigation, anyone with information, pictures or videos is asked to call Ada County Dispatch at 208-377-6790.

The flags that hang along Harrison Boulevard are owned by the Pride Foundation and hung in coordination with the North End Neighborhood Association every June to celebrate Pride Month.

Last year, there were two separate reports of stolen flags, with a total of 23 flags stolen and two that were torn up and left on the ground, the Idaho Statesman previously reported.

In 2022, 35 flags went missing less than two weeks into Pride Month, Boise police said in a news release at the time. A year before that, an 18-year-old was arrested and sentenced to 10 days in jail for stealing flags, the Statesman previously reported.

Last years thefts came within days of Oregon resident Matthew Lehigh entering a plea deal at Boises federal courthouse and admitting to several hate crimes against the LGBTQ+ community, including two vehicle assaults, according to Statesman reporting.
By Jen Christensen, CNN

(CNN)  As the LGBTQ+ community gears up for Pride celebrations this month, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention hopes people will get more than just their rainbow gear and sunscreen ready. The agency is urging more people  particularly some gay and bisexual men  to get the mpox vaccine.

The US Department of Health and Human Services plans to be at dozens of Pride and community events across the country to remind people that mpox is still a problem in the United States, but with vaccination, it doesnt have to be.

Anyone can get sick with mpox, the painful and sometimes deadly disease formerly known as monkeypox. But in the global outbreak that started in 2022, certain members of the LGBTQ+ community are considered especially vulnerable. According to recent case reports, 90% of those who got mpox in the US during this outbreak who reported their sexual orientation were men who identified as gay or bisexual. And nearly all of those who got sick were unvaccinated.

For folks who have not yet gotten two doses of the Jynneos vaccine, its really important for protecting them from this disease, said Alex Tuttle, an epidemiologist with the Poxvirus and Rabies Branch of the CDC. About a quarter of the population that we believe is at risk is currently vaccinated, so we really want to push that up, especially as were going into these summer months where risk might be heightened a little bit.

Mpox is a viral disease that can spread easily between people and from infected animals. It can spread through close contact such as touching, kissing or sex, as well as through contaminated materials like sheets, clothing and needles, according to the World Health Organization. Symptoms include a fever, a painful rash, headache, muscle and back pain, low energy and enlarged lymph nodes.

For decades, the disease had largely been found in Central and West Africa, but in the 2022 outbreak, cases also began spreading in Europe and North America.

Case numbers in the US remain stable and are nowhere near as high as in 2022, when WHO declared the outbreak in North America and Europe a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. But there were about 59 new cases a week reported in the US as of the end of April, according to a report published in May, which Tuttle co-authored. By comparison, at the height of the outbreak in 2022, there were about 3,000 new cases reported per week in the US.

Another report published by the CDC Thursday looked at the kinds of patients who were seeking care at their local emergency room for mpox between June and December of last year. Of the 196 patients with rashes that doctors suspected could be mpox, three actually were infected. All three were gay or bisexual men who who engaged in sex with one or more partners that they initially met through dating apps. None had been vaccinated.

Other studies have shown that the vaccine, which is now commercially available, can help keep people safe. A recent report confirmed that two doses of the Jynneos vaccine made by Bavarian Nordic are highly effective in preventing many mpox cases. If someone who was vaccinated did get sick, the vaccine can reduce the severity of symptoms.

There have been scattered reports of infections among vaccinated people, including one cluster in May 2023 in Chicago, but these cases are rare, occurring in less than 1% of cases, the CDC said.

Mpox isnt just an uncomfortable inconvenience. About 10% of people who got sick with mpox in the US in the latest outbreak were hospitalized, and five have died since October. People with compromised immune systems, particularly those with advanced HIV, have more severe infections, the CDC says.

Another reason to get the vaccine is the threat of a deadlier version of the virus known as clade I, which carries a case fatality rate of up to 10%, compared with 0.1% to 3.6% for clade II, the version currently in circulation in the US. This version of the disease, the CDC said, is also more transmissible. It hasnt made its way to the US yet, but it is at the heart of an outbreak that the CDC is monitoring in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Tuttle said the Jynneos vaccine should protect against clade I as well as clade II.

The measures that we have right now, both the vaccine and any of the antivirals, are expected to work on both clade I and clade II of the virus, should it come here, Tuttle said.

Brian Hujdich, executive director of the National Coalition for LGBT Health, said his organization and others will continue to work hard to encourage mpox vaccination.

With all the Pride events over the summer and just being summertime, theres going to be more interaction. And weve seen already that there has been an increase in Virginia and in New York City and in some other locations, he added. So it might not be in numbers that get a lot of attention, but even a small increase can be a preamble to an outbreak.

The CDC is working with the HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary of Health, local organizations and community health partners on what it calls the Summer of Pride initiative, which includes a campaign to remind people that although mpox case numbers have declined significantly, the threat has not disappeared.

I do think some people are surprised that it is still a problem, said Adrianna Boulin, director of racial equity, social justice and community engagement at Fenway Health, an organization that advocates for and delivers equitable care focused on the LGBTQ+ community. Last year, we had such a robust program of getting education and information out to people, and we saw mpox rates decline initially, so everyone is surprised, like wow, this is still an issue. Its important for everyone to know about it, because it can impact all of us.

Boulin, who is also president of Boston Pride of the People, the group that puts on that citys Pride parade and celebrations on June 8, said there is a health corner at the festival where a number of organizations will talk about the programs and services they offer, including information about the mpox vaccine.

Fenway had been running mpox vaccination clinics when the outbreak started, but as the number of cases declined, fewer people were showing up, so it now offers the vaccine by appointment only.

Across the country, doses have become much more readily available than early in the outbreak, when people had to stand in long lines at special clinics. Now, pharmacies and many regular medical providers have the vaccine.

In addition to the big Pride festival, Fenway Health plans to be at several other LGBTQ events, Boulin said, and at each, workers will talk about mpox.

People are excited that theyre outside at these events and theyre motivated, theyre open, theyre listening, and so those are all recipes for really getting information out to folks that they need to help their health, Boulin said.

Key West Pride, which is one of the first of the year and runs from from June 5 to 9, said it will also have a visible health organization presence that will offer educational materials at its Street Fair/Dance Party about mpox and the benefits of the mpox vaccine.

The local department of health also provides resources on mpox and vaccination, he said.

Hujdich said an important message that health organizations will want to emphasize is that mpox vaccines provide not only protection but real peace of mind.

You dont have to be worried about being in contact with people if youve been vaccinated, Hujdich said, So it gives you the freedom to enjoy and be proud during Pride.

The-CNN-Wire

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HANOI, June 11 (Xinhua) -- Many areas in Vietnam's northeastern region reported record rainfall in May and June, local media Kinh Te & Do Thi (Economic and Urban Affairs) newspaper reported Tuesday, citing the National Center for Hydro-Meteorology Forecasting.

Nguyen Duc Hoa, deputy head of the center's weather forecast division, said some areas in Quang Ninh province reported record rainfall in 21 to 33 years, ranging from 307 to 367 mm.

Phu Lien, Hai Phong city received 228 mm of rainfall on Sunday, the highest in 45 years.

From May 11 to Monday, the total rainfall in Vietnam was 20 to 60 percent higher than the same period last year, said Hoa.

Typhoons and tropical depressions are forecast to intensify in early July. Torrential rain, thunderstorms, hails and strong winds might significantly affect local livelihoods, said the center. 
Its primary day in Maine. Heres what you need to know.

Entrance to the polling station in Portland's Merrill Auditorium. (Jim Neuger/Maine Morning Star)

Today is primary day and voters across Maine will be weighing in on which candidates for the Maine Legislature and U.S. Congress they want to see on the November ballot. There are also local contests for school board seats, sheriff, and county commissioner in some communities.

Early voting has been underway for weeks. According to the Office of the Secretary of State, almost 34,000 ballots were requested and, as of Monday afternoon, more than 26,000 have been returned.

To find what is on your specific ballot, you can enter your address on the Vote 411 website.

Heres a closer look at what to know about the races and how to find your polling place.

Who can vote in the primary?

As the first primary held under the states new semi-open primary law, voters enrolled in the Democratic, Republican and Green Independent parties, as well as those who are unenrolled, may vote. Unenrolled voters will select either the Democratic, Republican or Green Independent ballot.

Those voters enrolled in any other party may not participate in the primary.

The deadline to withdraw or change ones enrollment and still be eligible to vote in this primary was May 24. Voters must be in a party for three months before changing to another.

Find your polling place

The Maine.gov website offers a voter information lookup feature to find polling places and a sample ballot.

Enter your home address to search for your unique information. Polls open between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. You can find specific hours for your location on the Upcoming Elections page on the Secretary of State website.

Congressional primaries

There are Republican primary races for both of Maines congressional districts for the U.S. House of Representatives.

Andrew Piantidosi and Ron Russell are on the ballot for the 1st District, which covers the southern portion of the state. The winner of that race will face incumbent Chellie Pingree, a Democrat who has held the seat since 2009.

Republicans Austin Theriault and Mike Soboleski are on Tuesdays ballot for the 2nd District in the northern portion of the state. The two freshmen legislators are vying for the chance to face incumbent Jared Golden, a Democrat.

Legislative races

Across the state, there are 17 primary races for seats in the Maine Senate and House of Representatives.

Maine Morning Star asked the Republican and Democratic candidates for each contested race about their priorities and top issues.

The contested primary races include:

Senate District 10  Penobscot County (Republican)

Senate District 16  Kennebec County (Republican)

Senate District 19  Oxford County (Republican)

Senate District 24  Sagadahoc County (Democrat)

Senate District 27  Cumberland County (Democrat)

House District 13  Ellsworth (Republican)

House District 24  Bangor (Democrat)

House District 52  Bowdoinham (Republican)

House District 64  Waterville (Democrat)

House District 65  Waterville (Democrat)

House District 78  Rumford (Republican)

House District 96  Lewiston (Republican)

House District 98  Durham (Republican)

House District 109  Gorham (Democrat)

House District 118  Portland (Democrat)

House District 122  South Portland (Republican)

House District 123  Cape Elizabeth (Democrat)

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The post Its primary day in Maine. Heres what you need to know. appeared first on Maine Morning Star.
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. (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 Wisconsin Examiner.
NEW YORK (PIX11)  A new program gives people who receive SNAP benefits better access to locally grown food from New York farmers.

Organizations around New York can now apply to the FreshConnect CSA, state officials announced Monday. CSA, or Community Supported Agriculture, is a system that allows people to pay in advance for a share of a farms harvest and then receive produce on a weekly basis, according to the Northeast Organic Farming Association of New York.

More Local News

The goal of the program is to give SNAP recipients the opportunity to access locally grown food while still supporting farmers and producers, according to state officials.

The FreshConnect CSA partially contributes to the cost of a weekly share purchase, helping SNAP recipients afford access to locally grown food. The price of food will be lower for the consumer, but farmers will still be paid the full price for the produce they sell, according to state officials.

The FreshConnect CSA could pay for up to 50% of the cost of a weekly share purchase sold to a SNAP recipient.

NYC Section 8 housing voucher applications close: Whats next?

Applications for the program must be submitted by Aug. 27 at 3 p.m. A webinar to explain how the FreshConnect CSA program works will be held on June 18.

Erin Pflaumer is a digital content producer from Long Island who has covered both local and national news since 2018. She joined PIX11 in 2023. See more of her work here.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
Project to unearth history of enslaved people turns up more than 4,000 records in Macon

When she was a child, Nicka Sewell-Smiths house had an Encyclopedia Britannica set.

My grandma spent all this money on them, they were nice and red, said Sewell-Smith.

But those encyclopedias didnt fully capture Black history in America  when Sewell-Smith needed to go to the library for a school project, her mom questioned why she didnt just use the encyclopedias at home.

I said Mom, Martin Luther King Jr. is not in those encyclopedias, Sewell-Smith said, which her mom laughed at.

Tuesday, Sewell-Smith saw a project come to fruition that she thinks will unearth the true history of more than 183,000 enslaved people. The project, Articles of Enslavement, analyzed about 38,000 newspaper articles using cutting-edge technology to find the names, ages, physical descriptions and other crucial details about enslaved people. Its information that could help their ancestors find out who they were. The project found information on 4,360 names from the Georgia Journal and Messenger, a previous name of The Macon Telegraph. More records were found from Georgia than any other state.

Sewell-Smith, a professional genealogist and senior story producer at Ancestry, hopes its a project that will leave people more informed of the history of enslaved people in Georgia and beyond.

We dont want to be like my mom with the encyclopedias, she said.

What was found from Macons history?

The articles fill in gaps where local courthouse and community records were destroyed or lost, and they provide a fuller picture of history from 1788 to 1867. The collection contains information on a national scale, allowing the public to trace enslaved people back in time, from location to location. Additionally, the records key in on the people implicated in slavery, including previous slave owners, courthouses and newspapers.

Youre really getting a birds eye view into a community, said Sewell-Smith.

By providing information to fill in gaps, this collection does what Dr. Chester Fontenot Jr., professor emeritus of English and Africana studies, calls offering a correction to history.

Fontenot worked with Bibb County Superior Court Clerk Erica Woodford and Assistant Bibb County Superior Court Clerk Stephanie Woods Miller in the Enslaved People Project, an initiative separate from Ancestrys new project.

He said for years, Macons Black residents were told that Macon didnt have much to do with slavery in the past. This group was able to correct that when they found the records of 1,000 slave transactions, with each one containing up to 230 slaves.

Fontenot said this collection from Ancestry will add to that significantly.

Now we have the resources to correct the misrepresentation of the history of this community, said Fontenot.

That history includes an advertisement published in the Georgia Journal and Messenger, advertising the sale of Charles, Lucy and Lucys five children in March 1865, and a sale at Bibb Countys courthouse.

For many, Ancestry says going through these articles may be distressing.

At some point, its going to dawn on a person, that these arent just documents, these arent just words on a page, these are actual people, said Fontenot, When that realization hits  there was a tremendous amount of sadness that overwhelmed me.

For this reason, Ancestry has provided strategies for critically reading and navigating these heavy materials to prioritize mental and emotional well-being.

While it may be upsetting Fontenot says documents like these show how far the community has come. The world is characterized differently than it was when she was doing her middle school project, said Sewell-Smith.

Were just better as people, she said.

Materials like the Articles of Enslavement allow for an even fuller understanding of history, one that brings forward the voices of people who were silenced.

This is one effort to try to just give their personhood back, and not make them a footnote, said Sewell-Smith.
A proposed new symphony hall is among two Columbus projects that stand to be big winners in a new state budget proposal.

The Columbus Symphony Orchestra's planned $275-million music hall along the Scioto River near COSI was awarded $18.5 million in a proposal by the Ohio House and Senate as part of the state's "super duper fund."

An external rendering view from the Main Street Bridge shows conceptual plans by the Columbus Symphony Orchestra for a new $275-million music hall on city of Columbus-owned land near COSI.

In addition, Columbus State Community College would receive $20 million for a new Downtown technology center that will house its growing engineering offerings.

While both projects are in their infancy, their chances of becoming reality could receive a major boost from the state contributions.

Ohio has $700 million in surplus money that lawmakers earmarked for "transformative" community projects. During the COVID-19 pandemic, federal stimulus money flowed into the state, causing a one-time increase in tax revenues for Ohio.

The House and Senate decided each chamber would decide how to spend $350 million of one-time cash. Officially dubbed the "One-Time Strategic Community Investment Fund," but some lawmakers called it "the super duper fund."

While the House approved its spending winners earlier, the Senate this week added its preferences. The final bill must still be approved and signed.

A new symphony hall?

The Columbus Symphony project proposes a 1,600-seat main performance hall, and nine other multi-use performance and special event spaces comprising 205,000 square feet. The Dispatch reported in February that the city of Columbus had given the symphony a series of hurdles it must cross, including fundraising goals and a business plan, to receive a long-term lease on a city-owned, 6.6-acre triangular grass field south of COSI for rent of $1 per year.

The symphony project received $10 million from the House and $8.5 million in the prosed Senate bill.

Proposed C-State center

The Columbus State project would combine under a single roof the college's semiconductor, biotechnology, advanced manufacturing, electrical and mechanical engineering and other such programs, said Brent Wilder, director of strategic communications for the community college.

"The time is just right to try to find one single home for all of them," Wilder said. "They're just too important to our future economy."

Columbus State Community College's Downtown campus, with Mitchell Hall at right

It is "pretty much envisioned as academic space," he said, but the exact location on the Downtown campus, the total cost, square feet, and number of stories hasn't been determined. It would be on existing property already owned by Columbus State, Wilder said.

Columbus State could tap into its 24-year, .65-mil bond issue approved by voters in 2020, raising $300 million for capital improvements, and is seeking a federal contribution, Wilder said. Much of the levy money is already marked for other needs, he said.

Other winners

The Ohio House alone earmarked $10 million for a new Downtown project called the "Columbus Capital Line." The project envisions a 2-mile lane exclusive to pedestrian and bike traffic that would be dotted with public art and other experiences. The pathway would run along Gay, Rich and 4th streets before crossing the river and closing the loop on Belle Street in Franklinton.

Ranging from about 12 feet up to potentially 30 feet wide including landscaping, the pathway would replace what is now street space, including parking lanes. City officials estimated it may cost $100 million to build.

Added to the Senate bill was $7.5 million in improvements to John Glenn International Airport.

Other potential winners include: $1.23 million for a "Historic Dublin Riverfront Revitalization;" funding for a Norwich Township Fire Station ($1 million); Westland Mall renovations ($1 million); Hilliard First Responders Park ($800,500); Green Lawn Cemetery Chapel ($750,000) and 14 other Franklin County projects.

Outside Franklin County, money was earmarked for Little Brown Jug Grandstand renovations in Delaware ($2.5 million); the Violet Township Event Center in Fairfield County (2.1 million); and Buckeye Lake North Shore Park and Pier in Licking County ($11 million).

House Speaker Jason Stephens, R-Kitts Hill, said negotiations between the House and Senate are going well and he expects the capital appropriations to pass both chambers and head to the governor's desk by the end of the month.

wbush@gannett.com

@ReporterBush

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus symphony, Columbus State in line for Covid-19 surplus money
TUSCUMBIA, Ala (WHNT)  The prosecution in the murder case of Brian Lansing Martin is asking for a status hearing after eight months of silence in the case.

Martin is charged with killing Sheffield Police Sergeant Nick Risner and wounding another police officer during a 2021 crime spree. He also is charged with killing William Mealback in Muscle Shoals on the same day. Martin does not currently have a trial date set.

Former North Alabama doctor and wife plead guilty to healthcare fraud charges

The Colbert County District Attorneys Office is asking for a status hearing in the case. The filing argues they have not heard anything from the Alabama Department of Mental Health (ADMH) since last November on the progress of a mental evaluation ordered for Martin.

In a separate filing filed shortly after the DAs request Monday afternoon, ADMH filed a status report in the case. The agency said that Martin is currently number 92 in line for a mental health evaluation with the department.

ADMH said that once it can admit Martin for an evaluation it will file a motion to transport Martin with the court.

The crime spree Martin is accused of ended in Muscle Shoals after Risner and other officers used their patrol cars to stop the truck Martin was driving. During that encounter, Risner was shot and later died while another officer and Martin himself were injured.

Alabama state mental health officials informed the court in November that Martin was incompetent to stand trial. But a few days later, the Alabama Department of Mental Health revised that opinion, saying their findings were inconclusive on whether Martin was competent to stand trial.

Another evaluation was ordered but the case had since stalled, leading to the prosecutors motion Monday.

Now a Colbert County judge will consider whether or not to grant the motion for a hearing.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHNT.com.
Assistant Franklin County Prosecutor Cory Helffrich makes his opening statement Tuesday to the county Common Pleas Court jury who will determine whether Timothy Kendrick is guilty of murder and other charges in connection with the July 17, 2021, death of 30-year-old Drew Mendelbaum.

Franklin County Assistant Prosecutor Cory Helffrich did not mince words when he spoke to a jury Tuesday morning.

He told them how 35-year-old Timothy Kendrick treated 30-year-old Drew Mendelbaum in July 2021 inside a hotel room at an extended stay hotel on the city's Northwest Side.

Kendrick, who had struck up conversation with Mendelbaum and did not know him before July 16, 2021, spent several hours with Mendelbaum in the room.

"(Kendrick) tortures, mutilates, brutalizes, dehumanizes, demonizes him," Helffrich said of Mendelbaum, whose burned body, wrapped in a shower curtain and doused with an ignitable liquid of some kind, was found on July 17, 2021, outside an office park off of Sawmill Road.

"This case has nothing to do with self-defense or with intoxication," Helffrich said. "It has everything to do with what one human being can do to another."

Jeffrey Blosser, Kendrick's attorney, spoke only a few sentences in what he said was likely his shortest opening statement ever. Blosser asked jurors to keep an open mind and remember Kendrick is presumed innocent unless prosecutors prove him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Kendrick, 35, is charged with aggravated murder, murder, tampering with evidence, kidnapping and abuse of a corpse.

Jurors began hearing evidence Tuesday morning, including from the woman who found Mendelbaum's body while cleaning an office building and the Columbus fire lieutenant who responded to the scene.

Lt. Jared Wadsworth said his fire engine crew initially received a call about a person who was in cardiac arrest, but in arriving at the office park on the 4600 block of Sawmill Road, it was clear there was nothing they could do.

"I was looking for a person and I saw this black thing," Wadsworth said. "I didn't recognize it as a person."

Wadsworth said the body, ultimately identified as Mendelbaum, was "burnt almost beyond recognition," and firefighters could see the person's throat had been cut. It was unclear to the first responders whether the body was that of a male or female, Wadsworth said.

Mendelbaum's autopsy report showed he had more than 40 knife wounds on his body and that his throat was cut.

Jurors are expected to view videos during the trial that Kendrick recorded and posted on Snapchat of his interactions with Mendelbaum prior to Mendelbaum's death.

Kendrick's trial is expected to last several days.

bbruner@gannett.com

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Prosecutor: Ohio man 'mutilated,' 'dehumanized' 2021 homicide victim in Snapchat videos
Providence operates eight hospitals in Oregon, including Providence St. Vincent Medical Center in southwest Portland. (Providence Health & Services)

In a week, thousands of nurses at six Providence hospitals in Oregon will go on a three-day strike that could be the largest in the states history.

The Oregon Nurses Association, which represents more than 3,000 nurses at the six hospitals, has delivered a 10-day notice to the management at the nonprofit Providence Health & Services, Oregons largest hospital group. The group intends for the strike to start at 6 a.m. on Tuesday, June 18.

Its unclear how the strike might affect patients. Providence officials plan to bring in substitute nurses during the three days and say theyll continue to provide comprehensive services.

The strike plans follow simmering tensions between Providence, the largest Portland-area employer and the nurses tied to Oregons Safe Staffing Law. The Legislature passed the bill and Gov. Tina Kotek signed it into law in 2023. House Bill 2697 sets a minimum for nurse-to-patient ratios and establishes a process for hospital employees and management to agree upon staffing levels and plans.

Other issues include competitive compensation and affordable health care plans, the nurses union said. The strike is set to unfold at hospitals that stretch from southern Oregon to the Portland region. The six hospitals are: Providence St. Vincent in southwest Portland, Providence Newberg, Providence Willamette Falls in Oregon City, Providence Medford, Providence Hood River and Providence Milwaukie. Nurses at Providence Portland Medical Center in northeast Portland did not join the strike notice.

Providence officials say they have dealt fairly with the nurses. Nurses and leaders with the nurses association said the planned strike is necessary after a four-day mediation last week demonstrated hospital managers arent interested in making serious proposals.

At Providence Medford, we are facing a staffing crisis, and our nurses are overworked, offered low quality health care, and paid less than the current market for nurses in Medford, Caroline Allison, a registered nurse at Providence Medford, said in a release. Adding insult to injury, it has now become clear that Providence appears to be systematically trying to undermine Oregons Safe Staffing Law. The Safe Staffing Law was intended to solve the nurse workforce shortage crisis and allow us to greatly enhance patient care. Instead, Providence has again made the decision to focus on its bottom lines instead of their workforce, their communities and their patients.

Providence prepares for strike

Providence officials started planning for a potential strike months ago. Jennifer Burrows, a registered nurse and the chief executive of Providence Oregon, said the companys priority is to provide top patient care during the strike.

Weve been preparing for months, and we have replacement workers coming in to help us care for patients and meet our commitments to our communities, Burrows said in a statement.  We expect to continue providing our comprehensive services during ONAs work stoppage.

Each of the six hospitals negotiates a separate contract and different salaries. Last fall, those negotiations started, Burrows said.

During that process, Providence offered substantial wage increases and the addition of language to contracts about the new nurse staffing law, Burrows said.

Across the six hospitals, Providence offered about 10% in salary increases in the first year of the contract, Burrows said. In her statement, she said the typical full-time nurse makes more than $100,000 a year.

Burrows said Providence will not meet with the unions bargaining team until after the strike ends.

I look forward to the conclusion of this walkout so Providences bargaining teams can get back to work negotiating agreements that will benefit our caregivers and their families, and ultimately, our patients and the community, Burrows said.

Nurse staffing law complaints filed

Separately from the labor dispute, the Oregon Nurses Association has raised concerns with the Oregon Health Authority that some hospitals, including those in the Providence system, are not following the staffing law.

The nurses association filed a complaint with the authority on June 4 alleging Providence violated the law by submitting plans that hospital staffing committees did not agree upon with management. In its complaint, the union says this action violates the law.

Providence Health and Services  Oregon, has begun a systematic and concerted mass violation of the Oregon Nurse staffing law through unilateral adoption of staffing plans and adoption of plans that are not nurse staffing plans, the complaint says. Providences efforts appear to be designed to increase nurse patient loads in violation of existing staffing plans which themselves were already compliant with the safety standards.

The complaint seeks enforcement of existing state law.

Gary Walker, a spokesman for Providence, said the organization intends to follow the law and believes the nurse unions positions are inconsistent with the laws requirements.

For example, the staffing law plainly states that if the nurse staffing committees for certain units cannot agree on a staffing plan, they default to the nurse-to-patient staffing ratios in the statute, Walker said. ONA is insisting that instead of applying the statutory ratio as the law requires, the parties instead apply the old staffing plans, which are expired and parts of which no longer align with the required ratios in the new staffing law.

The Oregon Health Authority had no immediate comment on the complaint.

The Oregon Nurses Association represents 20,000 nurses and other health care workers statewide.

The post Providence hospital nurses prepare to strike across Oregon appeared first on Oregon Capital Chronicle.
SINGAPORE, June 11 (Xinhua) -- Singapore Airlines (SIA) has offered 10,000 U.S. dollars to passengers who suffered minor injuries on board of the turbulence-hit flight SQ321 in May, the company said Tuesday.

SIA would invite passengers who sustained serious injuries to discuss a compensation offer to meet their specific circumstances.

The airline would also provide a full refund of the airfare to all passengers and offer delayed compensation according to relevant regulations.

Flight SQ321 carried 211 passengers and 18 crew from London to Singapore on May 20 and diverted to Thailand after encountering severe turbulence. The incident killed one passenger and injured dozens. 
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  As the debate into the future of the Keller Auditorium continues, KOIN 6 News will hold a special to discuss the options for the iconic venue.

The Keller Decision is set for Wednesday, June 26.

Three competing proposals would either renovate or relocated the Keller Auditorium. One would renovate the existing facility, while the other two plans would be to build a new facility either on the campus of Portland State University or at the Lloyd Center.

The century-old venue requires major upgrades, including seismic upgrades and accessible seating.

Portland City Council will consider all three plans and explore feedback starting on Aug 14.

The public can provide feedback to the City Council on which plan they think would be best through on online survey.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Fighter jets roar overhead, artillery booms, a crowd cries out.

Not scenes in Ukraine, for once, but Normandy, where President Biden  surrounded by white crosses  chose to connect the conflict in Ukraine with the sacrifice his countrymen made 80 years before.

Ukraine has been invaded by a tyrant bent on domination, he said at the D-Day anniversary last week. To surrender to bullies, to bow down to dictators is simply unthinkable. Were we to do that, it means wed be forgetting what happened here on these hallowed beaches.

While perhaps lacking the poetry of Lincolns address over the Gettysburg battlefield, that sentiment  that Kyiv now shoulders the burden, the cross, of Western values  when considered in light of the Russian offensive on Ukraines second city Kharkiv, has led to major shifts in Washingtons position on the war in recent weeks. This is now having a significant impact on the front lines.

Taken together, these shifts suggest a startling truth: that Putin may have missed his opportunity to score a decisive military victory before the American presidential election in November. In recent days alone, the White Houses decision in May to permit President Zelenskys armies to use Washingtons advanced missiles to hit certain military targets inside Russia has paid huge dividends.

On Sunday, a Ukrainian fighter jet struck across the Russian border for the first time, reportedly destroying a command node in Belgorod. Also over the weekend, Ukrainian drones attacked Russian ships in the port of Taganrog, not far from the Ukrainian city of Mariupol, which Moscow controls after some of the most brutal fighting seen on European soil since the Second World War. That, too, marks a first: the first time since the full-scale invasion that Kyivs drones have hit a Russian target in the Sea of Azov.

But Ukraines most symbolic triumph was a successful strike on one of the Kremlins most sophisticated and expensive aircraft: a Su-57 stealth fighter jet stationed at the Akhtubinsk airfield in southern Russia.

Taken in isolation, none of these Ukrainian attacks is a strategic game-changer, but together with frequent strikes on Russian energy depots  one last week is estimated to have destroyed $540 million worth of oil  there is evidence that, logistically, Ukraine has now reached a turning point where it can no longer be overwhelmed by Moscows forces.

Further to Washingtons green-lighting of specific strikes on Russian soil, the other key factor is that weapons deliveries from the vital $60 billion aid package passed by Congress in April are now trickling through to the front lines. The situation is still severe, especially in light of low levels of ammunition, but while Ukrainian soldiers were once desperate, it seems that this is slowly changing. A Czech plan to deliver 1.5 million shells from across Europe is also progressing at pace.

In short, the critical window of opportunity where Moscow outmanned and outgunned Kyiv has now almost certainly passed, coming at a heavy price for Vladimir Putin politically as we approach November. His aim was to make substantive inroads into Ukraine before America went to the polls, embarrassing Biden and obliging whoever won the White House to force Kyiv into peace talks.

Instead, he faces frozen front lines, emboldening the West. Furthermore, in his speech in Normandy, Biden said that 350,000 Russian troops have now been killed or wounded since the invasion. For context, the Soviet Union lost 50,000 troops in its 10 years in Afghanistan, a scale of loss that contributed to its collapse.

It is time, therefore, to reassess the period following Ukraines failed counteroffensive last year. Rather than Russia making incremental gains, it should be seen as a highly effective Ukrainian defence and potentially decisive military victory.

That is very different, of course, from saying that the war is won. The F-35 jets that flew over my head in Normandy, the advanced artillery that fired blanks over Omaha Beach  neither have been donated to Kyiv, and in many ways Ukraine remains hamstrung by the half-hearted nature of Western support.

But it has survived. While its losses already far outnumber the almost 10,000 white crosses in Normandys American Battlefield Cemetery  likely passing 10 times that  it has held on, like those American soldiers who gained a precious foothold in France that fateful June morning, and who ultimately prevailed.

Francis Dearnley is Assistant Comment Editor at The Telegraph and one of the presenters of our daily podcast Ukraine: The Latest. With over 85 million downloads, it is considered the most trusted daily source of war news on both sides of the Atlantic.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
TOPEKA (KSNT)  Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach is suing the Biden administration over a rule that allows temporary farm workers on H-2A visas to unionize, according to the Office of the Attorney General.

Once again, Joe Biden is putting America last. Hes giving political benefits to foreign workers while American workers struggle in Bidens horrible economy. I stand with American workers, Kobach said.

Kobach argues that the rule change would allow thousands of foreign-migrant farmworkers to unionize while American farmers cannot.

The U.S. Department of Labor argues the H-2A program rule change will expand and clarify the protected activities that workers must be allowed to perform without fear of intimidation, threats, and other forms of retaliation.

Kobach is leading a coalition of 17 states against the rule. The complaint argues that the new rule is a rewrite of the National Labor Relations Act. The coalition of attorneys general argues that the statute doesnt give the department the authority to grant H-2A visa workers better working conditions than their American counterparts are statutorily allowed to have.

The final rule goes above and beyond to provide rights to H-2A workers. These are rights American farmworkers explicitly do not have under federal law, the complaint reads. The final rule is simply a backdoor so that the agency can achieve a policy goal that requires legislation that it cannot convince Congress to pass.

Labor Secretary Julie Su told the Associated Press the rule aims to breathe life into existing worker protections.

Over 650 Kansas cattle sent to landfill or buried in 2023

Our rule is meant to give H2-A workers more ability to advocate for themselves, to speak up when they experience labor law abuses, Su said at a vineyard in Santa Rosa, north of San Francisco.

Labor advocates strongly applauded the rule.

Agricultural guest workers are some of the most vulnerable workers in America, but this rule will empower H-2A workers to stand up to some of the biggest challenges they face, the Congressional Labor Caucus, made up of about 100 pro-union members of Congress, said Friday.

Kobach is attorneys general from Georgia, South Carolina, Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia in the lawsuit. Two private agricultural organizations are included in the lawsuit.

The final rule will be effective June 28, 2024.

For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News.
Questions surround a police shooting involving an Abilene man who is expected to go to trial.

Robert Guevara Jr., 38, is accused of aiming a gun at officers, including one who then shot him on Jan. 22, 2023. He is behind bars awaiting a reset of his trial date at the Taylor County Courthouse. Guevara suffered a gunshot wound to the torso.

The questions stem from discrepancies in Abilene Police Department accounts of the shooting. Also, the APD filed a legally required report over one year late with the Texas Attorney General's Office.

A large Abilene Police Department badge hangs on the wall in the lobby of the department's Law Enforcement Center.

Accounts of the incident that led to charges against Guevara differ between an APD press release from the day it happened and court documents filed by an APD officer one day later.

In addition, law enforcement agencies are legally bound to file a report with the AG's Office on any officer-involved shooting that causes death or injury within 30 days of the incident.

Repeated online searches beginning last week of a public database maintained by the AG's Office of such reports did not turn up a report on the Guevara incident. It showed up in the database Monday, the day it was both received from APD and uploaded by the AG's Office.

Notably, the missing report appeared in the AG's database after The Reporter-News requested information on it.

Rick Tomlin, public information coordinator for Abilene police, did not respond to requests for information emailed on Thursday.

In any case, Guevara faces four charges in connection with the incident: a first-degree felony count of aggravated assault against a public servant, one count of felony possession of methamphetamine, one count of endangering a child and a fourth count of theft of a firearm.

He was being held Tuesday in the Taylor County Jail on $4 million in total bonds, according to online jail records.

Anyone charged with a crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.

The previously missing report

While the press release about the incident and the criminal complaint offer two different storylines, it begs the question as to why APD's report on the police shooting was filed approximately a year and a half late with the AG's Office.

Law-enforcement agencies must file a report if a peace officer "discharges a firearm causing injury or death to another," according to Texas law.

The incident with Guevara, however, did not appear in the AG's database until Monday while two other recent Abilene police shootings that left two civilians dead in 2024 appeared within 30 days after those incidents.

'Retrieved a handgun'

The report filed with the AG is straightforward.

It alleged that the person injured in the officer-involved shooting had "carried, exhibited, or used a deadly weapon."

Why then did the press release differ from the court documents?

According to the police press release dated Jan. 22, 2023, concerned neighbors called police dispatch close to 6:30 p.m. after they noticed there was a broken window on a home in the 3500 block of North Ninth Street.

When officers arrived at the scene, they observed an empty vehicle in the driveway.

They noted "what appeared to be illegal narcotics in the vehicle," according to allegations in the press release. As officers began to formulate a plan and walk away from the vehicle, they observed a man approach the drivers side of the car.

One of the officers "made verbal contact with the individual, identifying himself as a police officer," according to the press release. The officer then ordered the man to show his hands.

Rick Tomlin, public information officer for the Abilene Police Department, talks to the media on June 14, 2021.

The man, instead, according to allegations in the release, "reached towards the back of his waistline and retrieved a handgun." The officer subsequently fired at the man, striking him at least once in the torso area.

"Officers determined that a child was in the vehicle during this incident," according to the press release.

The unharmed child was "quickly removed from the area and reunited with family."

Officers on scene began to provide medical aid to the man, who was transported to a hospital to treat the gunshot wound.

The man was later identified through court records as Guevara, who was 36 at the time of his arrest in February 2023.

What discrepancies?

The original APD press release contained a series of events that led up to the shooting of Guevara by Abilene police officer Kyle Lassetter. The court documents differ here, however.

The complaint filed one day later on Jan. 23, 2023, states that Guevara not only retrieved a handgun, but he also "displayed it in the direction of the officer."

Additionally, the complaint states that the officers saw that Guevara "was carrying a small child" and had placed that child in the backseat before the shots were fired.

Why did the storyline differ one day later? When did the officers observe the small child, and did Guevara actually point a handgun at officers as alleged?

The Reporter-News filed an open records request June 4 with the city of Abilene to obtain the body-worn camera and police-vehicle footage from the incident. The city has 10 days to respond to the request and had not responded by Tuesday morning.

According to inmate correspondence filed Nov. 15, 2023, Guevara said "I know I'm innocent...I am not a criminal."

What did local law enforcement officials say?

The Reporter-News reached out to Tomlin at APD for a comment as to why there were discrepancies between accounts in the department's media release and the complaint.

He replied with the following statement: "Commenting on any court proceeding without proper documents to rely on would be disingenuous. The Department will let the judicial system/process proceed before making any comment."

The Reporter-News followed up to ask why a report on the shooting had apparently not been filed with the AG's Office as of last week. APD did not respond. Instead, they filed the report approximately a year and a half late.

More on the trial delay Trial reset for man who allegedly pulled gun on APD and got shot by a cop

The second officer involved shooting Troubled past: Details emerge on man killed in Abilene's second police shooting

First officer involved shooting of 2024 UPDATED: New details emerge, police release name of woman killed by APD in standoff

This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: Discrepancies & late report in APD's 2023 officer-involved shooting
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  As Utah families head out the door this summer to enjoy everything the Beehive State has to offer, the Department of Wildlife Resources is warning the public about running into wildlife.

Specifically, DWR officials are offering tips on how to avoid conflicts with some of the free-roaming bison at Antelope Island State Park.

Bison defending its space gores woman, 83, in Yellowstone, park officials say

Antelope Island State Park is one of the more popular destinations in northern Utah. It offers everything from hiking, camping, birdwatching and boating on the Great Salt Lake. Its also the home to several wildlife species including one of the nations largest and oldest public bison herds.

Over 500 bison are living on the island, which balloons to over 700 once the female bison have their calves in the spring. Over the last few years, DWR said it has seen several instances when Antelope Island visitors were charged or injured by a bison.

Any time there is a dangerous interaction with wildlife, its usually because the person got too close, said Antelope Island State Park Manager Wendy Wilson. People often try to get closer for pictures, and it never ends well. Please give these animals plenty of space.

DWR Once-in-a-lifetime Species Coordinator Rusty Robinson explained that there is a common misconception about the dangers of big-game animals like bison and moose. He said people believe that because the two are not predators, it means they are not dangerous.

Right place, right time: 2 Moab men save family of 3 from drowning

In reality, both of these species can be quite aggressive if you get too close, said Robinson.

DWR said there are a few tips to avoid the aggressive side of bison when visiting Antelope Island State Park, most of which involve keeping your distance.

If a bison stops and starts paying attention to you, youre too close and should slowly back away.

If a bison is in the middle of the road, wait for it to pass. Do not get out of your vehicle.

If a bison is on the side of the road, slowly drive by and stay in your vehicle.

If there is a bison in the distance, do not get closer to it. Take photos from a safe distance.

If youre hiking and a bison is close or on the trail, slowly back away and return the way you came.

DWR said its OK to leave a trail and give bison a wide berth if your safety is at risk.

Weve got trail restrictions on Antelope Island in the backcountry, but safety trumps those rules, said Wilson. If you are in the backcountry hiking and you come across any wildlife thats in your path, we urge you to travel around it.

Wilson said whatever distance you think you should be to be safe, double it and continue to back away.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Anduril Industries, Inc. was awarded $5.4 million in state tax incentives to open a new, submarine manufacturing plant in Quonset Business Park. (Courtesy Anduril Industries Inc.)

A national defense contractor will receive up to $5.4 million in redeemable state tax credits in exchange for opening a manufacturing plant, with up to 133 new jobs, in Quonset Business Park.

Rhode Island Commerce Corp.s board of directors authorized the jobs and development tax incentives for Anduril Industries, Inc. in a unanimous vote at its meeting Monday, according to Matt Touchette, a Commerce spokesperson.

The new Quonset facility marks a significant expansion of Andurils autonomous submarine division, based out of Quincy, Massachusetts. The Quincy facility produces up to 200 of the 19-foot-long, 6,000-pound Dive-LD submarines each year, according to a company spokesperson. Quonset was chosen due to its proximity to the Quincy manufacturing site, along with relevant in-state companies like General Dynamics Electric Boat.

We are thrilled to build a state-of-the-art production manufacturing facility for our LD family of vehicles in Quonset Point, Shane Arnott, senior vice president at Anduril, said in a statement on Tuesday. Affordable, distributed mass is a central tenet of undersea deterrence, and we look forward to supporting large-scale, cost-effective AUV deployments with our new facility

The 100,000-to-150,000-square-foot Quonset facility is expected to open in September 2025, at an estimated cost of $8.4 million. A $2.5 million award through Commerces Rebuild Rhode Island Tax Credit program will help defray some of the development cost, providing the company honors its 12-year-lease agreement with Quonset Development Corp., according to Touchette.

A separate $2.9 million in tax credits through Commerces Qualified Jobs Incentive tax program applies to the 133 new, full-time jobs, with a $95,000 in average annual salary, the company has committed to bringing to Rhode Island over the next decade.

Both state incentive programs require that recipients build, and hire, as promised to receive the redeemable tax credits.

State leaders have pushed to position Rhode Island at the forefront of the blue economy sector, securing its foothold in the nascent offshore wind industry through workforce training programs and incentives to lure industry power players to set up shop in the Ocean State.

Anduril joins an esteemed list of the nations leading defense contractors with operations in Rhode Island, like General Dynamics Electric Boat, Raytheon, and Textron, among others, Gov. Dan McKee said in a statement. Their addition further demonstrates Quonset as a hub of good-paying, quality jobs for Rhode Islanders that will help our state in raising incomes for all.

The post R.I. Commerce awards $5.4M in tax incentives for new, submarine manufacturing plant in Quonset appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
UPDATED: Raleigh County Commission may appoint Daniel Hall as new commissioner, Duckworth to serve as president

UPDATED: Raleigh County Commission may appoint Daniel Hall as new commissioner, Duckworth to serve as president

BECKLEY, WV (WVNS)  Raleigh County Commissioner Greg Duckworth is expected to be appointed president of Raleigh County Commission during a special meeting on Tuesday, June 11, 2024, Raleigh County Commissioner Linda K. Epling said on Monday, June 10, 2024.

Duckworths appointment comes after the June 3, 2024, death of Raleigh County Commission President Dave Tolliver.

Commissioner Epling said on Monday within the next 30 days, she and Commissioner Duckworth would appoint a candidate to temporarily take Tollivers position on the commission.

Sentencing for corrections officer who pleaded guilty in Quantez Burks death is postponed

The Republican and Democratic executive committees will then each select a candidate to run in November, said Epling.

Commissioner Epling said her preference was to appoint the Republican candidate to serve until the election, when the voters would make the decision.

If they could do that within the next 30 days, thats who I would appoint to be the next commissioner, to take Daves place, because Dave was a Republican, added Commissioner Epling. That would be my choice.

Republican Executive Committee President Julie Kominsky said on Monday night that the group held a special meeting and selected Daniel Hall as the Republican nominee on Monday evening.



She said that Hall and Commissioner Duckworth, who are both members of the committee, abstained from voting.



New allegations emerge on Quantez Burks death at Southern Regional Jail

Kominsky said her group had reached out to the West Virginia Secretary of States Office to ensure they were following proper procedure.

Tolliver, who had served consecutive terms on the commission since 2010, defeated Hall, Lucy Lester and Robert Mooney in the May 2022 primary election.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WVNS.
Police are searching for a group of people responsible for assaulting a Ralphs employee in the Encino neighborhood of Los Angeles Monday.

KTLA obtained videos from a store employee of the attack inside the store located at 17840 Ventura Blvd. around 4:45 p.m.

The first video shows three suspects, one woman and two men, walking into the store and confronting an unidentified male store employee standing near a female employee.

ralphs attack

Within seconds, one of the suspects throws a punch at the male employee before the scuffle briefly moves out of the cameras view.

The fight comes back into view, showing the victim being attacked by multiple suspects.

The employee who provided the video said that at one point, a suspect shoved a shopping cart into the victim.

Another angle of the incident shows the store employee trying to run from the suspects after the first punch is thrown.

According to the employee who provided the video, the incident began earlier in the day when that same employee stopped the young woman from stealing bags full of merchandise.

The employee told KTLA that a few hours later, the same woman returned with the men seen in the video.

A spokesperson for Ralphs issued the following statement in response to the incident:

We are deeply saddened by a senseless act of violence that took place at our store at our Ralphs in Encino, yesterday. Safety remains one of our core values and is top priority. We are working in full cooperation with local law enforcement to support their ongoing investigation and identifying the suspect(s), the statement read.

Rebecca Grossman gets 15 years to life for crash that killed 2 boys

A spokesperson from the Los Angeles Police Department said that officers responded to the store about the incident but have not confirmed any details.

There was no mention of any injuries resulting from the altercation, police said.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
BEIJING, June 11 (Xinhua) -- Two majestic bronze sculptures of the great Chinese philosophers Confucius and Lao Tzu have recently been unveiled at Batlle Park in Montevideo, capital of Uruguay.

The artwork, titled "In Search of Wisdom -- Confucius Asking Lao Tzu about the Tao," consists of two figures standing at 7.8 meters tall and weighing 6.6 tons. It is a masterpiece of renowned sculptor Wu Weishan, who is also the curator of the National Art Museum of China.

"The sculptures stand as the tallest and farthest-traveled pieces among my works abroad," Wu said, emphasizing that the great sages of Chinese history transcend national boundaries, belonging not only to China but also to the world. "I want to let the world see more Chinese figures standing tall."

SEEKING AND SHARING WISDOM

The base of the artwork is adorned with inscriptions narrating the story behind the sculptures in both Chinese and Spanish: the philosopher Confucius asking another philosopher, Lao Tzu, about the Tao, a central idea in Taoism. Both lived more than two millennia ago.

The concept of Tao represents the fundamental nature and source of the universe, encompassing the underlying order and flow of all life.

During her visit to China in 2018, Lucia Topolansky, then vice president of Uruguay, made a special trip to Wu's studio. Immediately captivated by the artwork, she "extended an invitation" to the two Chinese eminent thinkers and philosophers to Uruguay in the hope of future generations being able to hear their dialogue.

Six years later, the two sculptures crossed the ocean and were placed among the trees in Batlle Park. When the sculptures were slowly lowered from a giant crane and finally touched the ground, Wu, who was watching the video remotely, was "extremely excited."

"These two sages have left their homeland, but they are not alone. They have 'kindred spirits' all over the world who love to hear them speak about benevolence, the Tao, and virtue," he said.

For over 2,000 years, Confucianism, centered on the teachings of Confucius, has spread to East Asia, Europe, and the Americas, leaving its mark the world over.

As early as the 16th century, Italian missionary Matteo Ricci translated Confucian classics, the "Four Books," into Latin, and brought them to Europe, sparking a wave of "Confucianism fever" and providing important intellectual support for the subsequent European Enlightenment.

"Tao Te Ching" by Lao Tzu is one of the most widely translated Chinese classics globally. According to American sinologist Misha Tadd, the book has been translated into 97 languages, with a total of 2,052 versions.

"The artwork tells the story of Confucius and Lao Tzu seeking and sharing wisdom. In reality, this is also the relationship between China and the world," Wu said.

First, China "seeks wisdom" from the world, the Chinese sculptor explained, noting that he aspired to demonstrate Chinese people's modesty and curiousness through his works.

"At the same time, I hope to make Chinese culture known to the rest of the world, helping it go out and integrate with other cultures. This process itself is also 'sharing wisdom'," said Wu.

Montevideo Mayor Mauricio Zunino said this work showcases the profound heritage of Chinese culture, embodying great wisdom and values.

The two Chinese sages from 2,500 years ago have become a new landscape in the 300-year-old Montevideo, bringing new cultural experiences to residents and tourists, he said. Moreover, it will further strengthen cultural exchanges between China and Uruguay, making the two countries intimate friends, he added.

CHINESE FIGURES STANDING TALL

Back in the 1990s, Wu, touring museums and antique markets in Western countries, noticed that the depictions of Chinese people in artworks were outdated, rigid, and even deliberately caricatured. These stereotypes "deeply saddened" him.

Since then, he has been determined to create sculptures depicting outstanding figures from Chinese history, and to bring these images to a global audience, showing the indomitable spirit and enterprising energy of the Chinese people.

To date, Wu has created over 600 sculptures of prominent figures in the fields of art, culture and science, more than 60 of them having been installed in over 30 countries and regions worldwide.

His works include ancient sages like Confucius, Lao Tzu, and Li Bai, as well as pioneers of cultural exchange such as Master Jianzhen and Zen Master Yinyuan Longqi.

"There should be dignified Chinese figures standing tall in the world," said Wu. "These sculptures do not speak, but their images serve as a silent language and are symbols of Chinese culture."

In July 2022, Wu's bronze statue of Master Jianzhen, also known as Ganjin in Japan, was unveiled at the Shinobazu Pond in Ueno Park, Tokyo. The sculpture depicts the monk who made six journeys to Japan to spread Buddhist teachings and Tang Dynasty culture, and lost his sight during stormy voyages.

The sculpture powerfully conveys the spirit of the blind monk, whose "heart sees clearly," Japanese seal carver Myohseki Shimura told Xinhua. "It deeply moves everyone who sees it."

Wu voiced confidence that works depicting the inner virtues of Chinese culture will be appreciated by all humanity. "Seeing more of my dignified Chinese figures overseas fills me with joy. It's not only a recognition of my work but also a testament to China's greatness."

DIFFERENT FACES, ONE HUMANITY

Nikos Kazantzakis, a giant of modern Greek literature who had visited China twice, commented that "Confucius and Socrates were two masks that covered the same face of human logic."

More than 2,000 years ago, the golden age of ancient Greece witnessed the emergence of many philosophical and literary giants. Among them was Socrates, who often came to the Ancient Agora of Athens, then a marketplace at the foot of the Acropolis, debating with thinkers, writers and politicians and communicating his ideas.

Roughly at the same time in China, far on the other side of the Eurasian continent, the period of ideological flourishing among the Hundred Schools of Thought, most notably Confucianism, was unfolding.

Today, at the Agora, Wu's sculpture "Divine Encounter -- Dialogue between Confucius and Socrates" has brought Confucius to Socrates' hometown.

The statues of the two great philosophers from the East and the West stand side by side as if they have crossed the boundaries of geography and time and are having a moment of exchange of ideas.

"Their spiritual worlds are connected. One emphasized 'the world of great harmony' and advocated 'within the four seas all men are brothers,' while the other discussed the ideal form of state and sought to establish a just and orderly society," Wu said.

"The 'dialogue' between them symbolizes a new stage and a new model of cultural exchanges and integration between the East and the West," he said.

Apart from "dialogue" between philosophers from different cultures, there is also "dialogue" between artists.

Another sculpture work by Wu, featuring Leonardo Da Vinci having a dialogue with Chinese painter Qi Baishi, is permanently exhibited in Vinci, a town in the Italian province of Florence widely known as the Renaissance master's hometown.

"These two bronze sculptures are very heavy, but I was afraid that they might move at any moment," Italian artist Andrea Nicita shared his thoughts after seeing the sculpture.

He imagined a scene of the two great artists conversing: "Leonardo points to the sky, saying to Qi, 'Look, we are here on earth to unite everyone to make people live better.' And Qi, leaning on his cane, replies, 'Yes, dear Leonardo.'"

Nicita opined that it is important that "the world gets closer and people get closer to each other," and in this regard, art, as a "language" for dialogue among civilizations, enables people from diverse cultural backgrounds across the world to influence and integrate with each other.

This echoes Wu's opinions. "Mutual understanding among humans comes from the dialogue of ideas," he said, adding that through dialogue among human civilizations, different countries and ethnic groups can communicate their thoughts, blend their emotions, enhance understanding, and seek common development. 
In rare defense investment, Ireland will spend around $13 million to replenish EU arms stocks

Ireland will invest 12 million euros ($12.9 million) to help replenish depleted EU arms stocks, the Irish Times reported on June 11, citing the country's defense department.

The investment will be spread across two years, the defense department said.

Ireland is not a member of NATO, and has one of the lowest rates of defense spending across the EU, at around 0.2% of its GDP.

Ireland has taken in a significant number of Ukrainian refugees since the beginning of the full-scale war, estimated to be just shy of 100,000, around 73,000 of whom were living in state-provided housing at the end of 2023. The cost of such a program is thought to be around 1.5 billion euros a year ($1.6 billion). Ireland has since implemented sharp cuts in the benefits offered to Ukrainian refugees.

At the same time, the government has remained committed to not providing lethal military aid.

When asked by the Irish Times if the news constituted a change in government policy, the defense department said that Irish "direct military assistance to Ukraine continues to consist of non-lethal military support only."

According to the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, which tracks international aid for Ukraine, Irish direct financial support totaled 135 million euros ($144.9 million) as of April 2024.

As a percentage of its GDP, Irish aid for Ukraine is ranked among the lowest of all EU member states, at 0.029%only higher than Malta and Cyprus.

Hungary, which is widely thought to be one of the most Ukraine-skeptic EU states, is ranked higher, at 0.032% of its GDP.

An op-ed published in Politico in May criticized Ireland's defense policy, saying that despite its strategic location and possession of crucial territorial waters, it has "abdicated responsibility for protecting Europe's northwestern borders."

Ireland has committed to military neutrality and effectively "outsourced its security" to the U.K., the op-ed said.

The dearth in defense spending coincides with a massive growth in Ireland's economy over the past few decades. According to Eurostat, the EU's statistics agency, Ireland had the second highest GDP per capita in the EU in 2022, coming in behind Luxembourg in first place.

Beyond policy, two of Ireland's members of the European Parliament, Clare Daly and Mick Wallace, are among the most outspoken opponents of aid for Ukraine within the legislative body.

Read also: European elections: Far-right gains, center holds, Ukraine-skeptics flounder

Shortly after the investment in the EU arms initiative was announced, Daly said it was a "massive threat to our security and an attack on (our) neutrality."

In a post on June 11 that did not directly reference Ireland's funding for the arms replenishment, Wallace said that "Europe has been hijacked by warmongers who only serve the interests of the elite."

Both Daly and Wallace ran to retain their seats in the parliamentary election that concluded on June 9. While both are currently trailing as the votes are being counted, they may be able to still eke out a victory.

Read also: Ireland set to introduce significant reduction in benefits for Ukrainian refugees

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
HAMPTON BEACH  2024 has proven, so far, to be full of unusual events, beginning with our strange weather and extensive flooding this past winter to some unusual animals showing up in the Gulf of Maine. I really hope that it isnt a harbinger of what is to come!

Last weekend, I sent Catriel to the tidepools to see what she could find. Cat is a rising junior at the University of New England and works as an intern biologist at the Oceanarium at Hampton Beach. She was approached by someone who gave her a strange-looking crab he had found in the tidepools. He wanted to know what it was. She wasnt positive but knew it wasnt a common resident of the Gulf of Maine.

It looked like a lady crab, but I would key it out to be sure. And yes, this is not a native of the Gulf of Maine. What is going on here?

Lady crabs are commonly found in the intertidal areas with sandy beaches along the estuaries from Virginia to Cape Cod.

Interestingly many of the keys online report that they are native inhabitants from Virginia to Canada. (It just goes to show that you cant always trust even Wikipedia!) This seemed odd to me, as I have never seen a live lady crab in New Hampshire. I began digging further.

According to a paper written in 2006 by J.C.A. Burchsted and Fred Burchsted, printed in the Canadian Field Naturalist, lady crabs (Ovalipes ocellatus) were last found in any abundance in the Gulf of Maine from 1951 to about 1954 during our last extremely warm water regime. According to the paper, lady crabs occur naturally from Cape Cod south and out to Georges Bank, and there is also a population in the Gulf of St Lawrence, Canada. The Gulf of Maine is usually just too cold for these species. According to the Burchsteds, lady crabs occur in the Gulf of Maine during summers when the temperature reaches 68 degrees Fahrenheit. They also state they believe these crabs may be expanding their range into the Gulf of Maine.

Anyone who has gone swimming at Hampton Beach in the summer and turned blue in a few minutes knows that the water reaches over 60 degrees for only a few days each summer.

Coddock? Sea sleuths work to uncover mystery of new cod-haddock-like fish

Earlier in May, while collecting animals from the commercial fishing boats for the tanks at the Oceanarium, the fishing vessel Midnight Sun gave me a blue crab. He caught it while fishing for haddock in federal waters (around 7 miles offshore). According to some old-time lobstermen, the last time blue crabs occurred in the Gulf of Maine was between 1951 and 1954, during that last cyclic warm water regime.

We have all read recently the Gulf of Maine is warming faster than any other body of water in the world. That is true if you measure the surface water temperature.

Something else is occurring as I type this article. The Canadian government and the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have been measuring the bottom water temperature and have found an interesting turn of events.

Scientists Lindsay Beazley and Dave Hebert, of the Canadian Maritimes Region Atlantic Zone Monitoring Program, have noted for a decade that temperatures on the Scotian Shelf have been warming, but temperatures have been cooling for the past two years. In some places, the temperatures have been below normal. It is obviously too soon to determine if this is long-term or not. They did note that the Labrador Current has changed its path to a more normal flow. For the past several years, the Labrador Current has been further away from the coast. This has allowed the Gulf Stream to push closer to shore, bringing warm water into the Gulf of Maine and causing an ecosystem change.

According to Dr. George Maynard in his weekly update for fishermen who have joined NOAA in collecting data using water temperature, scientists at SMAST, WHOI and the North East Fisheries Science Center report fewer weaker warm-core rings spinning off the Gulf Stream than in recent years and some of the coldest bottom temps in the Gulf of Maine observed since 2009.

Catriel, a rising junior at the University of New England who works as an intern biologist at the Hampton Beach Oceanarium, recently came across a rare lady crab.

This is a very interesting phenomenon and bears close attention. It will be interesting to see what the bottom water temperatures do for the next several years.

Now, back to our lady crab. These crabs are commonly found in the intertidal areas with sandy beaches along the estuaries from Virginia to Cape Cod. They bury themselves in the sand, and sometimes, only their eyes are above the sand.

Lady crabs have been described as vicious, probably because they are fast and have extremely sharp, strong-elongated claws. They can also be spotted swimming in the shallow areas. Their last pair of legs end in a thin paddle that they use to stay afloat and skim the surface. They have a beautiful leopard-like spotted carapace with disruptive coloration that hides their true eyes from predators. As with all crabs, they are omnivores and will feed on just about anything, from seaweed to live or dead organisms. They have been observed feeding on Atlantic surf clams.

It would seem to me that Hampton Beach would be a perfect habitat for these crabs. Not only do we have a beautiful sandy barrier beach, but we have an extensive population of Atlantic surf clams along the shore. The only barrier, I see, to them extending their range is our cold, cold water. Time will tell if they stay or not. If they do, it will be interesting to see the reaction of the native lobsters and crabs. Who knows, maybe this will be the answer to running the invasive green crabs out of town!

Ellen Goethel is a marine biologist and the owner of Explore the Ocean World at 367 Ocean Blvd. at Hampton Beach.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Hampton Beach: Rare lady crab spotted: Why is it here?
An Asian elephant in Thailand has given birth to a rare set of elephant twins, non-profit conservation group Elephantstay announced.

A 36-year-old elephant, Jamjuree, on Friday evening gave birth to a male calf at Thailand's' Ayutthaya Elephant Palace and Royal Kraal in the north of Thailand's capital, Bangkok.

About 18 minutes later, keepers were caught by surprise when a female calf emerged.

PHOTO: Newborn elephant twins, a female (R) and a male (C), stand in front of their mother Jamjuree at the Ayutthaya Elephant Palace and Royal Kraal in Ayutthaya on June 10, 2024. (Manan Vatsyayana/AFP via Getty Images)

"Miracle of nature," wrote Elephantstay in one of several social media posts. "Too cute and thrilling!"

Caught by surprise at her double delivery, Jamjuree attacked her newborn during the frantic delivery, and a keeper who attempted to prevent the attack suffering a blow to his ankle, fracturing it, the group said.

"The mother attacked the baby because she had never had twins before -- it's very rare," said Michelle Reedy, Director of Elephantstay. "The mahouts who are the carers of the elephants jumped in there trying to get the baby away so that she didn't kill it."

The young calves weigh 80 kilograms (about 176 pounds) and 60 kilograms (about 132 pounds) respectively. They are set to be named within seven days.

PHOTO: Newborn elephant twins, a female (R) and a male (L), stand next to their mother Jamjuree at the Ayutthaya Elephant Palace and Royal Kraal in Ayutthaya on June 10, 2024. (Manan Vatsyayana/AFP via Getty Images)

MORE: Study explores elephant greetings and how they change based on social relationships

Twins are rarely encountered in elephant populations, making up only 1% of births, according to Save the Elephants. Male-Female elephant twins are even rarer. Elephantstay described them as "beautiful miracle twins."

In an update Tuesday on the twin's health, Elephantstay said the twins are getting "a little bit stronger every day," adding, "Because the little girl is so small she can't reach mums milk, so we have been expressing milk and syringe feeding."

"The boy wasn't feeding directly from mum also, but because of his size he should have been doing that already," the group said. "The mahouts have been working with him everyday teaching him how to feed by himself and he has finally got the hang of it and is doing it on his own."

PHOTO: Newborn elephant twins, a female (R) and a male (C), stand in front of their mother Jamjuree at the Ayutthaya Elephant Palace and Royal Kraal in Ayutthaya on June 10, 2024. (Manan Vatsyayana/AFP via Getty Images)

Elephantstay said the Royal Elephant Kraal Team has created steps and ramps to assist with feeding, and the babies are receiving "'round the clock" care and supervision for the next couple weeks.

The twins are the newest additions to Thailand's Asian elephant population, the species listed as endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN's) Red List of Threatened Species.

"It takes a village and the dedication of everyone here was definitely rewarded with the twins being born," said Elephantstay in an Instagram post. "An exciting time for Thailand and elephants!"

Rare 'miracle' elephant twins born in Thailand originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Donald Trump is utterly and totally predictable. He is aggressive, violent, hostile, antisocial, and impulsive with an unquenchable thirst for power in all its forms. His prime directive is to always attack. Donald Trump was taught this by his infamous mentor, the political fixer and attorney Roy Cohn. Trumps personality and Cohns teachings were a perfect fit for each another.

It has served him remarkably well in politics. He won the presidency, took over the Republican Party, survived two impeachments, and is now tied with President Biden in the early 2024 polls despite attempting a coup and being convicted of a criminal felony. The latter "distinction" may actually help his popularity with his MAGA followers and other supporters.

When cornered or confronted, Donald Trump responds by lying, obfuscating, evading, and then becoming even more aggressive. To wit: After being convicted in his New York hush-money election interference trial, Donald Trump was not cowed or humbled. He instead escalated his threats of revenge and retribution against his perceived enemies. Trumps revenge and retribution, per his repeated public statements and promises to be the country's first dictator, will almost certainly include imprisonment and executions for treason.

Trump will be sentenced in July for his crimes of paying hush-money payments as part of his election interference scheme. On Monday, Trump met with his probation officer for a pre-sentencing interview that will help to determine if Judge Merchan (who presided over his trial in New York) will put him in prison. Trumps prime directive of ruthless aggression may backfire here, with him being sentenced to prison for his crimes and continued refusal to show any type of contrition.

Like Donald Trump, the American mainstream news media is also almost totally and utterly predictable. Even after eight years of experience with Trump and his assaults on democracy and norms, they continue to normalize him and the MAGA movement. This is functionally the same as surrender.

As a class, Americas elites have been trained by Trumps constant attacks as well. They are now positioning themselves for maximum profit and opportunism (and survival) with the assumption that Donald Trump is going to defeat President Biden and become the countrys first dictator.

David Cay Johnston is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporter and bestselling author who teaches at Syracuse University College of Law, although he is not a lawyer. He has written three books about Donald Trump, who Johnston has covered for 36 years. In this conversation, he reflects on the hush-money election interference trial and what it feels like to finally see Donald Trump held somewhat accountable for his decades-long crime spree. Johnston also puts Trumps guilty verdict in a much larger context as reflecting the moral rot of todays Republican Party and larger conservative movement  and American society more broadly.

Johnston also shares his thoughts about what Trumps conviction will mean (or not) for the 2024 election and how the American mainstream news media remains most ill-equipped and negligent in how it is covering the corrupt ex-president and the existential threat to democracy embodied by his MAGA movement and the other neofascist forces.

This interview has been lightly edited for clarity and length:

You have been reporting about Donald Trump for many years. How does it feel to finally see him convicted of a felony?

Im not giddy or elated. This is a very sad day for America. And it's sadder because tens of millions of Americans think that Trump is their savior, their leader, their hero. I do feel some sense of relief. I wrote a piece at DCReport, the lede of which was, "Donald Trump is a felon. I've waited 36 years to write that." But I was surprised at the feeling I had when the verdicts came in, which was kind of flat.

This isn't over yet. We're a long way from it being over.

On Saturday, it was raining here in Chicago, and I felt compelled to walk down to Trump Tower. I sat outside of the building and just pondered how we arrived at such a point with him being tied with President Biden in the early polls and now being convicted of a felony.

Here's where we went wrong. There is not one word in our Constitution about wealth and riches. Our Constitution is about freedom and limits on power. The preamble makes it clear that the purpose of our Constitution is to see how far the human spirit can go if we set people free in a system of ordered liberty. But ever since Ronald Reagan came along and persuaded people to kill the New Deal, and tricked people into thinking that if their boss pays less in taxes, they'll get a pay raise and be better off, we have seen a moral collapse at the top in this country, led by the big accounting firms, the big law firms and big businesses controlled not by the owners, but by hired help. And at the same time, there's a growing lack of appreciation for this for two reasons. One is that very few Americans receive a moral education as they grow up and we no longer teach civics in a serious way. The second is that only about 10% of Americans are old enough to remember the last years of the New Deal.

The Age of Trump is much more than "just" a political crisis. It is a moral crisis. How do we locate Trump's conviction in this first criminal trial relative to the country's democracy crisis?

First of all, don't pay a lot of attention to the polls. The polls have systematic errors with the methodology, questions and how people even understand the questions they are being asked by the pollsters.

As Mitt Romney has pointed out, there are a lot of Republicans who have no interest in democracy. They don't care. That tells me that they haven't thought through what happens when you don't have a democracy. Let's get right to the end point of that. If we fall into a dictatorship starting with Trump, down that road, inevitably, are firing squads. Whether they come soon or they come later is not the point. The firing squads will come. That is the very nature of dictatorships.

A fundamental moral education is essential to stopping a Trump dictatorship. There are a large number of people who call themselves Christians, but who do not believe in turning the other cheek and don't believe in sacrificing for the stranger. Instead, they preach hate and wish death upon people they don't like. The fake Christians also want to take away women's rights. The influence of the Christian right and these faux Christians is extraordinary in terms of its connection to how the moneyed classes are operating with near impunity in this country. Let's not forget that greed is one of the seven deadly sins.

What does the Republican Party's collective response to Trump's conviction further reveal about their moral character?

It indicates that they have no interest in the rule of law. Such a person has the childish wish that things be the way they want them to be no matter what. I will scream and cry and kick if I don't get what I want. Donald Trump was convicted by a jury that included a person who said that he essentially gets all his news from Trumps Truth Social. Anyone who paid close attention to the hush-money trial  thats very few people  knew that the prosecution proved every element of its case. Michael Cohen went to prison for the same facts in this caseand Cohen was prosecuted by Donald Trump's Justice Department. So it's kind of hard to argue that there's no case here as Trump, his Republican propagandists and other agents are doing so loudly.

What grade would you give the American mainstream news media for its coverage of Trump's hush-money election interference trial?

I will give two grades. For technical accuracy, Ill give them an absolute "A." The grade for context, however, is C or C+.

Donald Trump is a master at exploiting the conventions of journalism. What is journalism? Overwhelmingly, it is an accurate recitation of what the official sourcessuch as the government, whether it's the president or the mayor, a company, or nonprofitssay. The news media is not nearly so good at putting things in context and presenting them correctly. Consider how long it took The New York Times to use the word "lie" in relation to Donald Trump. Now the successor word is "false claims" or "falsity." The hush-money trial and verdict are going to continue to be covered. But too much of the coverage is simply allowing Trump supporters, with little or no challenge, to make their wildly untrue claims.

The conventions of journalism are not designed to deal with con artists. They're designed to deal with people who have sincere political views, regardless of whether you like or dislike their views. But when you're dealing with a con artist, now you're dealing with someone whose every action and word is fraud. The small segment of journalists like me who do investigative reporting, we know how to deal with con artists. But the system within the newsroom doesn't really understand it. Every serious investigative reporter who's written pieces that sent people to prison will tell you that they had to struggle, even with the very best and editors who had experience with con artist stories, because they run high legal risks, and the risk that people will accuse you and your publication of pushing some agenda when you are just telling hidden facts.

Here is an obvious mainstream media failure: Trump's speech, which was more like an unhinged rant, the day after his conviction in New York. At the Washington Post, Jennifer Rubin correctly called out the news media's failure to consistently warn and report about Trump's apparent, and at this point rather obvious, challenges with emotional and mental stability. Donald Trump's mind and personality are extremely dangerous. That needs to be discussed much more.

That was not a press conference but a performance. Trump does not sit down with journalists who are going to ask tough questions. Jen Rubin [a conservative columnist] is exactly right: There is this fundamental failing that amounts to malpractice. But the reason for it is news organizations, especially the big successful newspapers such as The New York Times, Washington Post, LA Times, and The Wall Street Journal, are very stodgy, rigid, Institutionally conservative organizations. The newspapers are really stuck in the conventions of journalism, which work very well when covering a normal politician, even if they're espousing the most outrageous views.

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A few news media critics have proposed some fixes. The biggest one I'm in favor of is instead of quoting Trump, and then showing why it's not true, which is the convention, report that the story is about to quote Trump and we will show you that what he said is false. Having focused the reader to expect a lie, you then quote him, and then you dissect the lie. That gives the reader or listener or viewer a totally different lens to grasp what Trump says. That is an application of George Lakoff's "truth sandwich" model.

Donald Trump is a coup plotter, a sexual assaulter as confirmed by a court of law, and now a convicted felon. How come that factual description is not consistently used by the news media when they discuss and write about Donald Trump?

You won't get that in any of the mainstream news organizations, except in commentary television. As good as the evening shows are at CNN and MSNBC, they are not news programs, but primarily commentary programs. The conventions of journalism don't allow you to take the approach that they do. The New York Times or The Washington Post or The Philadelphia Inquirer or The Boston Globe would probably allow language such as "convicted felon." But even then, there is going to be resistance. The old conventions deem that you do not want to make it appear that you are biased, even when you are just reporting facts. Facts are facts. If you're balanced about them, for example, if you say that "Donald Trump, a convicted felon, who insists that he has done nothing wrong" you have met all the rules. But you're not going to get that line in the newspaper or elsewhere very often, because it will be seen as tendentious  and if there's anything that scares editors and producers it's accusations not so much of being left or right but that a news story is tendentious.

Those are obsolete habits that are not suited for the existential challenge that this country  and the news media as an institution  is facing from aspiring dictator Trump and the larger neofascist movement. Will the news media ever change? They are rapidly running out of time.

I'm not hopeful about that. When there is a new development in the world, the institutions always lag behind.

Does Donald Trump want to go to jail? He is continuing to attack and bait Judge Merchan in such a way that it seems like he is daring him. Is Trump's bluster just a mask for his terror?

Donald Trump is terrified. He does not have the internal character to endure a jail sentence the way Nelson Mandela, whom he compared himself to the other day, did. Donald Trump is a bully. He is a hollow vessel. He is a miserable human being. Be very glad that you are not Donald Trump. He is a man who has never known joy, has never known contentment. He cannot laugh at himself. Trump believes that he can use the aura of power he has built around him  at least as seen by his acolytes and his cultist  into intimidating the system. Donald Trump is counting on the American people being afraid of him. Donald Trump only cares about money. Donald Trump is his money. That's why he can never fill the empty vessel he is because there's nothing there.

Will Trump be able to contain himself during his pre-sentencing interview? He needs to appear contrite and apologetic if he wants to avoid prison.

Donald Trump can bring his lawyers and they can certainly try to moderate what he says in the pre-sentencing interview. But the pre-sentencing report prepared by a probation officer will likely not contain anything new in terms of who Donald is or anything the judge doesn't know. What it will provide the probation officers with is opportunity to judge whether he can even fake contrition, and that's where Trump has an irresolvable problem. Roy Cohn taught him that if law enforcement comes after you then you attack them. They are corrupt. They are dishonest. You are as pure as the fresh fallen snow. Never, ever give an inch. You are perfect. Well, that's not going to work with the probation officer and Judge Merchan. But that approach will work with Trump cult followers and too many other members of the public.

I think the meeting with the pre-sentencing probation officer is an opportunity for Trump to manipulate, but it's also a high risk that he will just dig himself further. At the sentencing hearing, if the judge calls on Trump to speak, I think there'll be a real crisis for him. He will know that he can't apologize. Trump cannot say "I was wrong." All he can do is attack the judge, and that's an invitation to a longer sentence. That's how the system is supposed to work. If you refuse to acknowledge and take responsibility for wrongdoing, you're sure to get a longer tougher sentence than somebody who says, "Yeah, I screwed up, and I recognize that now."

I will be surprised if Judge Merchan does not give Trump some time behind bars. That could be the absolute minimum of 30 days. More likely, it may be much longer up to the four-year maximum.

What of the concerns  and I am undecided here  that putting Donald Trump in prison will only make him more popular among his MAGA people, and perhaps even some independents and undecided voters as well?

Putting Donald Trump in jail will not make him more powerful, it will further diminish him. I'm not surprised that there was a brief surge in donations from people. I also believe that surge of money came from people who don't really understand what is really happening with Trump and his conviction. They are angry about things they don't understand. The polling data I have examined shows two things. Will you vote for Trump if he's convicted of a felony? Something on the order of one in six Republicans indicate they probably will not. Even larger numbers of independents say that. Trump cannot get back to the White House without independents and 90% or more of Republican support. Now keep in mind that if Donald Trump were to win the Electoral College, and he's in a New York state prison, he can be President of the United States. Let me reiterate: Donald Trump can be president from a jail cell. It's an absurdity. And hopefully at that point, enough members of the Senate would wake up to convict him upon impeachment by the House.

What I worry about are all of these Republicanssenators, congresspeople, many of them who are lawyers that know better. They are attacking the criminal justice system and encouraging violence. Supporting Donald Trump and his lies is an abomination. I hope that voters turn out en masse and they get rid of these Republicans. If you are unwilling to risk your reelection to show your fealty to this lifelong, immoral, criminal con artist then you don't deserve to hold a public office. If you're unwilling to stand up and say the truth that Donald Trump got a more than fair trial, and was convicted based on the evidence, then you don't belong in public life. What is going to be very revealing about the character of the American people is how many of these Republicans are voted out of office.

As an expert in the law, how do you assess Trump and his allies' attempts to get the Supreme Court to throw out the New York hush-money election interference conviction?

Trump would have to appeal to the New York Intermediary Court of Appeals, and then the state appeals court to get to the Supreme Court, he then has to show that there's some constitutional violation. I have a hard time seeing Chief Justice Roberts and Justice Gorsuch, whose jurisprudence I don't like but who appear to be basically principled, going along with this. Alito and Thomas, they'll do anything.

They don't care. The Supreme Court should not even hear an argument from Trump on this matter. But it's possible the Supreme Court will issue a temporary restraining order preventing him from being imprisoned, if that's what Judge Merchan orders, until after the election. An imprisonment order would send a very strong signal and I think you would begin to see Trump's support slip away, not grow.

Here's the long-term thing to worry about. There are plenty of people right now today who will tell you that Adolf Hitler was right. A hundred years from now, we don't want any Americans, except absolute nutcases, a fraction of 1% of people, saying Trump was right. That's the real horrible danger here for American democracy and society. Trumpism can lead to the long-term corruption of this country and its values and principles.

If you called Donald Trump and he picked up the phone, what would you say to him?

Donald, if you are sentenced to prison, have you thought about what you're going to do? And if so, how are you going to spend your time in prison?
Doubt has been cast on the possibility of a lake of liquid water buried beneath Mars' southern ice cap by new computer simulations, which suggest that closely compacted layers of ice could produce the same radar reflections that liquid water would.

In 2018, the European Space Agency's Mars Express orbiter used its MARSIS (Mars Advanced Radar for Subsurface and Ionosphere Sounding) instrument to identify what appeared to be a 20-kilometer-wide (12.4 miles) lake of liquid water buried deep beneath 1.5 km (0.93 miles) of ice in a region called Planum Australe, in the southern polar plain on Mars. Similar evidence subsequently came to light for potentially dozens of lakes , but some are so close to the surface that it seemed impossible for water to be a liquid there.

That's because the surface of Mars is too cold and the atmospheric pressure too low to allow liquid water to persist too close to the surface. However, at the base of the south polar ice cap, the temperature and pressure conditions, with the help of a little natural antifreeze, could allow briny lakes to exist.

Related: Water on Mars: Exploration & evidence

spacecraft photo showing closeup of ice sheets near mars' south pole

This antifreeze could come in the form of calcium and magnesium perchlorate, which is a chemical compound that was found on the surface of Mars by NASA's Phoenix mission in 2008. Magnesium and calcium perchlorate, when dissolved in water, would lower its freezing point to a minimum of minus 68 degrees and minus 75 degrees Celsius (minus 92 and minus 103 degrees Fahrenheit) respectively  very close to the predicted temperature of minus 68 degrees C (minus 90 degrees F) at the base of the ice cap. Consequently, it's not too much of a stretch to imagine localized conditions of temperature, pressure and the concentration of perchlorate that conspire to permit large pools of liquid water on Mars.

Further evidence for such lakes came from measuring the undulations of the surface ice; liquid water lowers the amount of friction between an ice sheet and the bedrock beneath it, allowing the ice sheet to flow faster over the bedrock. This increase in flow rate results in troughs and peaks in the surface ice, which is exactly what is seen in Planum Australe.

Despite all this evidence, however, many in the planetary science community have been skeptical; the presence of liquid water on Mars would be an extraordinary find, and require extraordinary evidence. Now, a team of scientists from Cornell University have fed the flames of this skepticism with new findings that provide an alternative explanation for the radar echoes.

"I can't say it's impossible that there's liquid water down there, but we're showing that there are much simpler ways to get the same observations without having to stretch that far, using mechanisms and materials that we already know exist there," said Cornell's Daniel Lalich in a statement . Lalich is the lead author of new research that suggests compacted ice layers could return a strong radar signal that looks just like the radar echo from a layer of liquid.

A large body of water is able to reflect radar back to its source because of how flat a lake is, and on Earth bright radar reflections of the type detected by MARSIS would almost certainly mean liquid water, similar to pockets of water beneath Antarctica such as Lake Vostok . However, planetary scientists have to be wary of assuming that what is true for Earth is true for other planets, where conditions are not the same.

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Lalich's group ran thousands of simulations to test whether multiple closely compacted layers of ice could mimic the radar signal of a lake. Each simulation varied both the thickness of the ice layers and their composition (meaning, how dirty they were). They found that, in multiple instances, tightly packed layers of ice deposited long ago and crushed under the weight of the ice sheet can produce bright radar reflections just like those detected by MARSIS.

The trick is "constructive interference" of the radar waves. The spatial resolution on MARSIS is limited, and if ice layers are too thin, the radar instrument cannot distinguish them. Each layer would reflect back some of the radar beam, and because the layers are crushed so tightly together, the radar echoes overlap and combine, amplifying their strength and making them seem brighter.

"This is the first time we have a hypothesis that explains the entire population of observations below the ice cap without having to introduce anything unique or odd," said Lalich. "This result where we get bright reflections scattered all over the place is exactly what you would expect from thin-layer interference in the radar."

For now, the question of whether there is a briny lake beneath the south polar cap remains unanswered, but Lalich argues that the simulations at least provide a much simpler and, in his eyes, more probable explanation than a lake.

"The idea that there would be liquid water even somewhat near the surface would have been really exciting," said Lalich. "I just don't think it's there."

The findings of Lalich's team were published on June 7 in the journal Science Advances .
The Continental Congress, the legislative body for the newly declared United States, adopted an official flag on June 14, 1777. The delegates resolved that the flag of the United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white: that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation.

In the early years of the nation, though, this flag rarely appeared except in government and military displays.

That changed with the Civil War. As historian and author Marc Leepson writes in his book about the U.S. flag, Northerners began displaying it in homes and businesses to show support for the Union. After the war, the flag became a symbol of the reunified nation.

In 1885, schoolteacher Bernard Cigrand commemorated for the first time the anniversary of the adoption of the U.S. flag with his students at the Stony Hill School in Wisconsin. He subsequently launched a campaign to establish June 14 as Flag Day. In 1949, the U.S. Congress passed a resolution designating June 14 of each year as Flag Day.

The American flag. Library of Congress

One of the more popular patriotic rituals honoring the U.S. flag is the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance. For generations, schoolchildren have recited the pledge daily. It opens legislative sessions of the United States Senate and countless other government, public and private gatherings.

As a historian of religions in America, I view this ubiquitous ritual through the lens of American civil religion  the patriotic beliefs, ceremonies and symbols that are sacred to Americans.

Civil religion

The concept of civil religion originated in European Enlightenment philosophy. Philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau wrote in his 1762 treatise Social Contract that a State has never been founded without religion serving as its base.

American sociologist Robert Bellah used Rousseaus concept of civil religion in his 1967 analysis of U.S. civic culture. Bellah claimed that an American civil religion persists alongside other religious traditions. American Christians, Jews and followers of other conventional religious traditions are also patriotic devotees of the national faith.

Bellahs argument has inspired considerable debate. Numerous scholars have found the idea of civil religion useful. Bellahs original essay noted references to God in presidential addresses and the sacred character of the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution. Other scholars have used civil religion to explain judicial interpretations of the U.S. Constitutions religion clauses and in characterizing nationally significant places such as the Lincoln, Washington and Jefferson monuments in Washington, D.C., as sacred spaces.

Critics dispute Bellahs assumptions. Historian of religion John F. Wilson, for instance, claimed that Bellahs view of civil religion distorts the complex political, cultural and civic cultures of the United States. Wilson argues that Bellahs concept reduces complex national cultures, including the religious elements, to a one-dimensional religion of the nation.

Additionally, historian Charles H. Lippy observes that Bellahs interpretation of civil religion refers only to a particular segment of the U.S. population as the prerogative of white males of economic privilege.

In my book on American religious history, I use the concept of civil religion to understand patriotic ceremonies and commemorations. In particular, civil religion provides insight into historical controversies surrounding the U.S. Pledge of Allegiance.

Conflicts of faith

The Pledge of Allegiance began as a promotion in a childrens magazine. In his book about the pledge, author Richard Ellis describes an upsurge of devotion to the flag after the Civil War.

It included a movement to place the sacred banner in every school. A popular childrens magazine, The Youths Companion, joined the effort in 1892. It designated the 400th anniversary of Columbus discovery of America as the date for a national flag ceremony.

The magazine urged every school in the nation to observe a ritual flag salute. The ceremony was to include a Pledge of Allegiance composed by Francis Bellamy, a former Baptist minister. His original pledge read, I pledge allegiance to my Flag and to the Republic for which it stands  one Nation indivisible  with Liberty and Justice for all.

The flag salute caught on, and by World War I several versions were in use. An official flag code adopted in the 1920s included a revised version of Bellamys Pledge of Allegiance. It added the flag of the United States of America because of anti-immigrant sentiments; the original my Flag, many thought, could refer to immigrants native country. The flag code also stipulated a salute, with the right hand over the heart to be extended palm upward, toward the Flag upon saying the words to the Flag.

Schoolchildren reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. John Moore/Getty Images

Not all Americans were enthusiastic about the pledge. The most common complaints were religious. For instance, followers of traditions with strong pacifist commitments opposed reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. They objected to the implication that defending the flag would mean resorting to violence in violation of their religious beliefs. Others regarded the Pledge of Allegiance as a form of idol worship.

In 1935, the Jehovahs Witnesses condemned the requirement for schoolchildren to recite the Pledge of Allegiance. They regarded the prescribed salute to the U.S. flag as similar to the German Nazi salute. The salutes used nearly identical hand motions. For the Jehovahs Witnesses, the two salutes demonstrated unfaithfulness to God.

Reverence for the American flag

The Jehovahs Witnesses challenged the multiple state laws requiring children to recite the pledge. Their case went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. The Court, however, rejected their religious argument in favor of national unity.

Public opinions, though, shifted with American involvement in World War II. The comparison to the Nazi salute made more Americans uncomfortable with the U.S. flag salute. In a subsequent case brought by Jehovahs Witnesses, the Supreme Court reversed its previous ruling. On Flag Day in 1943, the court ruled that the government cannot prescribe what shall be orthodox in politics, nationalism, religion, or other matters of opinion.

The Cold War context after World War II brought an additional change to the Pledge of Allegiance. National leaders often emphasized the religious roots of the American nation in their condemnation of the official atheism of the USSR. They commonly used the term under God to characterize the United States in contrast to the godless Soviets.

Consequently, President Dwight Eisenhower signed a congressional resolution on Flag Day 1954. It added the phrase under God to the Pledge of Allegiance.

Celebration of Flag Day began in 1885, and the Pledge of Allegiance was first recited on Columbus Day in 1892. Although neither carries the weight of law today, resolutions of the U.S. Congress have recognized both.

Despite past controversies, reverence for the flag continues today for many U.S. citizens. Along with the Pledge of Allegiance, Flag Day celebrations, I believe, show an ongoing patriotic devotion in the civil religion of the people of the United States.

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: Thomas S. Bremer, Rhodes College

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Thomas S. Bremer 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.
In the past few years, the period in American history known as Reconstruction has become increasingly prominent in the public consciousness. The dominant academic narrative is now mainstream: Immediately after the Civil War, the victorious Republican Party passed three major constitutional amendments that not only emancipated the nations four million enslaved people but also gave Black Americans citizenship and Black men the right to vote. While historians continue to argue over Reconstructions limitations, most scholars, and increasingly the public, understand Reconstruction to have been a bold experiment in interracial democracy that, after 12 short years, was violently overthrown by embittered white Southerners committed to white supremacy.

The reason for Reconstructions sudden popularity is obvious. The birth of the Black Lives Matter movement has demanded new assessments of the nations past, reckoning not only with slavery but with what came in its wake. In the 1960s, Black civil rights activists sometimes called their movement the Second Reconstruction, leading some racial justice activists today to liken their movement to a Third Reconstruction. While some recent popular depictions of Reconstruction have focused on the loophole in the Thirteenth Amendment, the initial Reconstruction amendment that ended slavery but allowed Southern whites to effectively re-enslave Black prison laborers, most have echoed W.E.B. DuBoiss more sanguine interpretation of the period: The slave went free; stood for a brief moment in the sun; and then moved back again toward slavery.

Despite the growing number of popular histories of Reconstruction, many by leading scholars, few have asked us to rethink the period as boldly, provocatively, and often brilliantly as Manisha Sinhas The Rise and Fall of the Second American Republic. Sinha, herself a leading historian of the Civil War era, asks us to take a far more expansive view of Reconstruction. The period should be understood not simply as the fight for Black rights in the postwar South but as intimately linked to the fight for womens suffrage, Indigenous sovereignty, immigrant rights, and labor protections at home, and the struggle against imperialism abroad. Focusing on the most radical abolitionists and their political allies in the Republican Party, she argues that any major shortfalls of the period were no fault of their own. They were instead the product of reactionary political elites who fought ruthlessly against abolitionists progressive vision.

Sinha attempts to pull these disparate movements together by covering a wider range of time and space than most histories of Reconstruction do. Rather than focus solely on Black rights in the South, she also includes the American West and Americas overseas colonies in the Pacific and Caribbean. She ends Reconstruction in 1920, when women gained the right to vote, rather than at the traditional end date of 1877, when federal forces pulled out of the South and allowed white Southerners to impose the system of racial apartheid known as Jim Crow.

Sinha asks us to take a far more expansive view of Reconstruction: The period should be understood as intimately linked to the fight for womens suffrage, Indigenous sovereignty, immigrant rights, and labor.

It is, to say the least, an ambitious undertaking, and one meant to speak directly to our political moment. The nation still lives with the competing legacies of democracy and authoritarianism bequeathed by the rise and fall of the Second American Republic, she writesher name for the progressive social democracy created during the initial years of Reconstruction. The question is whether the division she paints between radical activists and reactionary conservativesa clear nod to the presentholds up to a past in which activists often took positions many today would find insufficiently radical, if not counterproductive to their own purposes.





Rather than start Reconstruction with the end of the Civil War, as historians often do, Sinha argues that it ought to begin with the wars outbreak. Lincoln and most of the Republican Party may not have had immediate emancipation, arming slaves, and full Black citizenship on their minds when the Civil War began in 1861. But Black and white abolitionists long envisioned these goals, she writes, and the enslaved would bring [them] to life. Enslaved people escaped to Union lines well before Lincoln or his generals announced any emancipation decrees, and abolitionists and their radical Republican allies in Congress relentlessly pressured Lincoln to free and arm them. With the prodding of enslaved people and abolitionists, to say nothing of the dogged refusal of slaveholders to accept defeat, Lincoln and the Republicans began to build the Second American Republic on the ashes of the first.

The first people to aid freedpeople who escaped to Union lines during the war were private philanthropic groups. Many freedpeople, they discovered, demanded not just freedom but education and land, and it was only the federal government, Sinha argues, not private philanthropy, that had the capacity to fulfill those desires. Sinha relies extensively on the papers of the Freedmens Bureau, the federal agency created by Congress to protect enslaved people in the last days of the war, and through the voices of freedpeople found in them, she argues that the roots of the modern liberal state begin with their advocacy.

Though the Freedmens Bureau was initially set up as a temporary relief agencyproviding food, clothing, and health care to freedpeople, as well as some education and labor contract counselingfreed Black Southerners pressed the agency to greatly expand its ambitions. By the end of 1865, the Freedmens Bureau was operating 740 schools with 90,589 students and 1,314 teachersmany in states where, for decades, it had been illegal for enslaved people to learn to read. It operated over 60 hospitals in the immediate postwar South, providing federally funded health care to Black and white Americans for the first time in the nations history.

Having effectively turned the Freedmens Bureau into a ministate, Sinha writes, freedpeoples demands propelled their radical allies in Congress to propose legislation that would permanently secure the bureaus temporary gains. Charles Sumner, a radical Republican, proposed a permanent Department of Education in 1867, which was subsumed into the Department of the Interior. Local Black leaders like Richard H. Cain, a pastor at the AME Church in Charleston, and hundreds more freedpeople, called on the Freedmens Bureau to buy abandoned slaveholder land and sell it to freedpeople on easy terms. Though more conservative voices in Congress rejected the boldest plans for land redistribution, freedpeoples grassroots activism, Sinha argues, pushed radical Republicans in Congress to fight far harder for land redistribution than historians generally realize.

By the end of 1865, the Freedmens Bureau was operating 740 schools with 90,589 students and 1,314 teachers, and over 60 hospitals in the postwar South.

When historians note the limits of Reconstruction, they invariably point to failure of abolitionists and radical Republicans to secure womens suffrage. The Fifteenth Amendment (1870), the last major Reconstruction amendment, prohibited states from barring citizens from voting based on race but infamously allowed prohibitions on gender to continue. Yet that compromise, Sinha contends, had little to do with the desires of antislavery radicalsmany of them women, Black and white, who favored womens suffragebut instead with conservative reactionaries who were dead set on the overthrow of Reconstruction.

To make this argument, Sinha focuses on what she calls the abolitionist feminism of Black women like Frances Ellen Watkins Harper, who, she contends, fused Black rights with womens rights. Their vision is positioned against the feminism pure and simple approachfocusing on womens suffrage at the expense of Black rightsthat came to define the more popular suffrage movement led by the white activists Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony. While acknowledging Stantons and Anthonys role in the antebellum abolitionist movement, Sinha underscores their fickle commitment to it.

After congressional Republicans struck out language from the Fifteenth Amendment that would have allowed women to vote, Stanton and Anthony actively campaigned against it. Worse, they allied with Democrats and began to couch their critiques in nakedly elitist, nativist, and racist language. Stanton argued that white women should not stomach Patrick and Sambo and Hans and Yung Tungreferencing Irish, Black, German, and Chinese menhaving access to the vote before educated white women like herself did.

By contrast, Harper and other Black suffragists insisted that women should support the Fifteenth Amendment, however compromised, then immediately fight for a new amendment guaranteeing women the right to vote. The racist strategy Stanton and Anthony pioneered reemerged when the next generation of suffragists took up their cause at the turn of the twentieth century. But Sinha argues that Harper and her Black suffragist successors, like Ida B. Wells and Mary Church Terrell, better capture the intersectional abolitionist feminism pioneered in the early days of Reconstruction.





Sinha sees similar dynamics at play when she shifts her attention to the postwar West. Historians increasingly argue that the forceful removal of Indigenous nations from the West was part of the same centralizing, state-building project that characterized Reconstruction in the South. In both regions, the Republican Party used the power of the federal government to suppress two armed rebellions at once: one among Southern slaveholders and another among Western Indigenous nations who refused to be colonized. Their goal, in this view, was to create an industrial-capitalist state based on wage, not slave, labor and on par with liberal empires in Europe.

Sinha forcefully rejects this view. Instead, she sees the wars against Indian nations, the rise of corporate capitalism, and the anti-Chinese nativism that defined the postwar West as the product of radical Republicans waning influence. After the financial panic of 1873, and amid an onslaught of white supremacist terrorism in the South, radical Republicans increasingly lost power in Congress, and Republicans quickly became the party of big business and conservativism. With the radicals marginalized, the Republican Party shifted the states financial and military resources away from enforcing interracial democracy in the South and toward suppressing Indigenous nations in the West.

Meanwhile, Republicans and Democrats worked together to empower private corporations, especially after Southern Democrats disenfranchised Black voters and clawed back political power. The Gilded Age emerged, and both parties, at the state and federal level, routinely sided with corporate interests at the expense of workers. President Rutherford B. Hayes, the conservative Republican who pulled federal troops of out the South, ordered the U.S. Army to suppress the 1877 General Railroad Strike that had spread across the country. Ten years later, when Black workers struck for higher wages at a Louisiana sugar plantation, 60 of them were massacred by the state militia called in by plantation owners. In 1886, the conservative Supreme Court, in Santa Clara County vs. the Southern Pacific Railroad, applied the second Reconstruction amendmentthe Fourteenth, which made Black Americans citizensto argue that corporations had the same rights as individuals.

The wars against Indians in the West proved to be the springboard for larger imperial ambitions, Sinha writes, and by the end of the century the United States entered its period of formal empire. Propelled by corporate and military interests, the U.S. violently seized overseas colonies in the Pacific and Caribbean. Hawaii, annexed by the U.S. in 1898, provided coaling stations for naval ships making their way to Asiaa crucial market for American industrialists. By annexing or diplomatically controlling Puerto Rico and Cuba, the U.S. began to exert its economic and political power over Latin America. Many of the same U.S. troops sent to suppress Indigenous nations in the West were redeployed to conquer these overseas territories. And much of it was overseen by Republican administrationsthe original champions of interracial democracy and opponents of slaveholders imperial ambitions.

Sinha insists, however, that just because federal power was used by Republicans to suppress the rights of workers, Chinese immigrants, and Indigenous nations and to acquire overseas colonies, it should not be seen as the fault of abolitionists, freedpeople, or radical Republicans who originally built the modern nation-state. After all, their intent was to use federal power to protect, not pervert, democratic rights.

Indeed, she offers many compelling examples of aging abolitionists, or their children, fighting against Indigenous dispossession, corporate power, empire, and Chinese exclusion. In 1870, the 65-year-old abolitionist stalwart William Lloyd Garrison railed against the U.S. Army for massacring 200 Piegan Blackfeet Indians in Montana, writing that the same contempt is generally felt at the west for the Indians as was felt at the south for the negroes. In 1902, his son William Lloyd Garrison Jr. denounced both the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act, for striking at human beings because of their race, and corporations, for suppressing laboring men because they are laborers.

The final heartbeat of the Second American Republic, Sinha concludes, was the ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment in 1920. But when America became a formal overseas empire at the turn of the century, Reconstruction was effectively dead.





To her credit, Sinha judiciously notes the many ways her activist heroes and their congressional allies came up short. But after a certain point, the growing number of contradictory positions begins to raise larger questions about the soundness of some of her arguments. Were these radicals as progressive and intersectional, in the contemporary senses in which she uses these terms, as she claims? And was the overthrow of Reconstruction purely the fault of racist Southern reactionaries, or did Republican policiesoften more liberal than radicalcontribute to their general programs defeat?

By pitting the intersectionalism of Black suffragists like Harper against the sometimes racist approach of white suffragists like Anthony, Sinha gives readers little sense of the more significant obstacle: male abolitionists, Black and white. While some male abolitionists supported womens suffrage, nearly all of them willingly sacrificed womens rights if they came at the expense of Black men getting the vote. Nor can it be said that this choice was dictated by the need to compromise with conservative reactionaries: The Fifteenth Amendment was ratified in 1870, when the Republican Partythe most liberal it had ever beenwas at the peak of its power.

Black women, moreover, could be just as damning of abolitionists who privileged Black men over women. In 1867, Sojourner Truth, once enslaved and a prominent abolitionist and suffragist, conceded that it was better to allow the gender-compromised Reconstruction amendments to go forward. But it was hardly a full-throated endorsement: There is a great stir about colored men getting their rights, but not a word about the colored women; and if colored men get their rights, and not colored women theirs, you see the colored men will be masters over the women, and it will be just as bad as it was before.

Sinhas treatment of Reconstruction policies toward Native Americans in the West also ignores the fact that Republican-dominated governments were often the ones that most violently repressed Indigenous nations.

Sinhas treatment of Reconstruction policies toward Native Americans in the West also ignores the fact that Republican-dominated governmentsnot reactionary conservative Democratswere often the ones that most violently repressed Indigenous nations. The wars against Western Native Americans did not begin after radical Republicans lost power but when they were near or at their peak. In 1862, for instance, funding the abolitionists war on slavery came at the cost of providing treaty-guaranteed food to the Dakotas in Minnesota. Facing starvation, the Dakotas launched an attack on Northern white settlers, forcing the U.S. military to pull forces from the South to suppress the Dakota rebellion in the Northwest. Though Lincoln commuted hundreds of sentences, the U.S. military still executed 38 convicted Dakotasthe largest execution in U.S. historyand the Republican-dominated Congress expelled the remaining Dakota bands from Minnesota.

The point is not that radical abolitionists or their Republican allies were always in favor of these policies, be they against womens rights or Indigenous sovereignty. Its that many of the most radical aspects of Reconstruction, whether emancipation or Black citizenship, invariably entailed compromises and unintended consequences that had little to do with a conservative backlash.

In a narrative so starkly divided between progressive and reactionary forces, readers might not understand how antislavery activists and their Republican allies actually succeeded. Abolitionist ideas prevailed not so much because of their radicalism but because of their ecumenicalismas the movement grew, it invariably attracted people with more varied, and decidedly un-progressive, views. Many abolitionists were hostile to womens rights, and most held paternalistic attitudes toward freed Black Americans and Native Americans. Abolitionists political alliesRepublicanswere, by comparison, even more conservative. The hard truth about emancipation and Reconstruction is that, had abolitionists and radical Republicans not compromised with the more moderate mainstream of the Republican Party, none of Reconstructions achievements might have occurred at all.

Nor were abolitionists and radical Republicans views on capital and empire quite as straightforward as Sinha suggests. When it came to expanding Americas overseas territories, abolitionists often endorsed colonial expansion in the hopes that American capital would bring economic development to poorer, Black, and mixed-race Caribbean nations, and perhaps prevent them from being conquered and re-enslaved. In 1871again, when radical Reconstruction was at its peakFrederick Douglass accepted a federal commission to investigate annexing Santo Domingo, today the Dominican Republic. He came out fully in favor, despite vociferous objections from the Haitian government and his longtime radical Republican ally in Congress, Charles Sumner.

Douglasss position was not a minority view within the Black community. While some Black leaders opposed annexation, many others endorsed it. Hiram Revels and John Rainey, recently elected Southern Black Republicans in Congress, supported annexation, as did the National Conventions of Colored Men, which Sinha rightly calls the missing link between the Black activism of the antebellum abolitionist movement and the rise of the NAACP in the early twentieth century.

While Sinha is at pains to place Reconstruction in a more global context, one obvious linkage is missing: British antislavery. For much of the nineteenth century, the British had used the abolition of the slave trade and slavery as a pretext for invading, colonizing, or controlling various regions throughout the world. They gave imperialism a liberal face. With that parallel in mind, the post-emancipation vision of American abolitionists, Black and white, might look less like what she calls abolition-democracy, borrowing DuBoiss term for Reconstruction, and more like Britains abolition-empire.

But perhaps what most doomed Reconstruction in the South was the economic policy Republicans implemented in the Civil Wars immediate aftermath. Sinha is right to celebrate the ways Reconstruction governmentsthough mostly at the state level, not federal levelcreated the first public schools, poverty assistance programs, and public hospitals in the postwar South, for Blacks and whites. But these programs all needed funding. Southern state Reconstruction governments imposed the first income taxes Southerners had ever paid. They also enticed Northern capital to the South under the belief it would bring economic prosperity for all, lessening anti-Black racial antagonisms.

Yet the prosperity did not materialize. Reconstruction governments thought that if more small Southern farmerspoor whites as well as recently freed Black peoplehad access to markets, they would grow cotton and enjoy some of the wealth that former slaveholding oligarchs once experienced. To realize that goal, they enticed Northern railroad barons to build track lines throughout the South, paid for with increased tax revenue, and they invited Northern bankers to extend credit to rural merchants so small farmers could purchase the right farming equipment. But the short-term result was that more and more white yeoman farmerswho had long practiced subsistence, not commercial, farmingbecame tethered to the global cotton market and saddled with debt. Freed Black people, who were never given land after slavery, saw their own quest for landownership recede further out of reach.

Worse, Republicans in Congress refused to lift the wartime tax on cotton exports that was originally meant to punish Southern slaveholders. By 1880, one-third of poor white landholders in cotton states lost their land and became tenant-farmers, just like the overwhelming majority of freed Black Southerners. Republican policy had intended to tamp down racism by promoting private enterprise, yet the outcome was an economy that left many in the South impoverished and created the underlying economic conditions that allowed long-standing anti-Black racism to thrive.

Sinha has produced a remarkable book that deserves to be widely read, but also to be argued with. This is not least because she knows how much the history of Reconstruction and its overthrow can teach us about the present. But one wonders whether the lessons imparted by The Rise and Fall of the Second American Republic are the ones we most urgently need. Reconstruction was a bold experiment in interracial democracy, but in order to understand why it ultimately failed, we need to understand not only the opposition to it but also the missteps of those who were trying to advance it.
Refloating efforts of the Aurora underway in the California Delta

(FOX40.COM)  Efforts are underway to attempt to refloat the Aurora, a nearly 300 foot cruise ship that sunk in the California Delta near Stockton in May, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

A unified command has formed with the Office of Spill Prevention and Recovery to continue installing dewatering pumps on the ship.

Hamburg to Stockton in 50 years: The story of the Aurora

The refloat work that began over the weekend will continue throughout the week along with ongoing efforts to remove any remaining fuel, according to CDFW.

Aurora began sinking on May 22 while it was docked in Little Potato Slough along the San Joaquin River.

Questions arise over ownership of sinking cruise ship in California Delta

Efforts began immediately to contain and remove and contaminants that may have entered the waterway from the sinking vessel.

The Aurora was built in 1955 and was first christened the Wappen Von Hamburg and would be West Germanys first large-scale ship building project following WWII.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Central Maine Power workers repair lines after a storm. (Evan Houk/Maine Morning Star)

Utility regulators on Tuesday approved a settlement that will reduce the amount Central Maine Power can recover from ratepayers for the cost of major storms in 2022.

The Public Utilities Commission (PUC) greenlit the deal between CMP  Maines largest utility company  and the Office of the Public Advocate, which represents customers in utility matters. The agreement, which was approved unanimously by the PUCs three commissioners, reduces the amount CMP will recoup from ratepayers for 2022 storm costs by $850,000. The companys shareholders will now cover that cost.

Investor-owned utilities like CMP are allowed to recoup incremental costs for storms from ratepayers if the spending aligns with the utilitys emergency response plan and is found by the PUC to be prudently incurred.

When it comes to the 2022 storms, Maines public advocate argued that CMPs spending to restore electrical service was not entirely prudent. Specifically, the office said CMP paid too much for external contractors, didnt put forward enough evidence to support some of the costs incurred and didnt provide contracts for most of its storm contractors.

The approved settlement represents an important acknowledgement that some of the costs were both excessive and poorly documented, Maine Public Advocate William Harwood said in a statement.

According to a description in the settlement, in June 2023, the PUC approved a filing allowing CMP to recover about $117 million in incremental storm costs over a two-year period starting in July of that year (subject to an ongoing process to determine whether those expenditures were prudently incurred).

In testimony filed in September, the Office of the Public Advocate recommended the disallowance of about $53.5 million of CMPs 2022 storm costs. The two sides continued to adjudicate the case and eventually arrived at the $850,000 figure, which will be reflected in a Jan. 1, 2025, price change.

Along with reducing the cost to ratepayers for the 2022 storm, the Office of the Public Advocate said the settlement requires CMP to work with them over the next few months to reduce the number of outages from future storms.

Its OPAs belief that CMP should shift a substantial amount of its spending from restoration to prevention, Harwood said. Currently, CMP is spending too much cleaning up after the storm and too little before the storm.

During deliberations on the matter Tuesday, PUC chairman Philip Bartlett added that the deal also requires CMP to file a revised emergency response plan within 30 days, make certain improvements in its use of external contractors during storm restoration and seek approval from the commission for the use of affiliated company storm crews, among other stipulations.

Bartlett said the agreement is a reasonable resolution of outstanding issues and is in the public interest, as it reduces the overall cost to ratepayers by $850,000 and incorporates process improvements going forward.

CMP did not respond to a request for comment about the settlement.

At Tuesdays meeting, Bartlett noted that given the escalating nature of storm costs in recent years, the PUC will soon start actively exploring how best to prepare for such events.

The post Regulators approve deal to reduce CMP storm charges to ratepayers by $850,000 appeared first on Maine Morning Star.
CAIRO, June 11 (Xinhua) -- Egypt welcomed on Tuesday a resolution adopted by the UN Security Council on Monday, which aimed at reaching a comprehensive ceasefire deal to end the war in Gaza.

In a statement, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said that Egypt renews its call for Israel to comply with its obligations under international law, and "to stop the war it is waging against the Gaza Strip."

Egypt also calls on both Israel and Hamas to take serious steps towards concluding a ceasefire deal as soon as possible and to begin implementing its provisions without delay or conditions, it added.

The statement underscored the importance of serious action by international players to push for implementing the two-state solution, which is "the sole guarantee" for ending the crisis.

On Monday night, Secretary-General of the League of Arab States (AL) Ahmed Aboul-Gheit welcomed the adoption of the resolution by the Security Council in a post on the social media platform X.

"The Israeli aggression must be stopped immediately," the AL chief added.

The UN Security Council on Monday adopted a resolution aimed at reaching a comprehensive ceasefire deal in three phases to end the war in Gaza.

Adopted by a large majority with 14 votes in favor and Russia abstaining, the resolution also urges both parties to the conflict to fully implement the terms of the proposal "without delay and without condition." 
Religion is everywhere in American legal discourse, but only one side is really comfortable talking about it. Religion is why Dobbs talks about the unborn human being, and its why religious website designers have now been given a singular opt-out from providing services to their paying customers. Its why Justice Samuel Alito went to Rome shortly after Dobbs was decided, to fret publicly that religious liberty is under attack in many places because it is dangerous to those who want to hold complete power. Religion is why Federalist Society chairman Leonard Leo flies an Appeal to Heaven flag. Its why Speaker Mike Johnson also flies an Appeal to Heaven flag. Oh, and its also why Martha-Ann Alito flies an Appeal to Heaven flag.

And its clear that extreme religionists are very, very comfortable talking about extreme religion amongst themselves, even if the rest of us have been slow to recognize and name that pattern in political conversation. Just think about how Mark Meadows and his Stop the Steal pen pal, Ginni Thomas, were happily writing about how Evil always looks like the victor until the King of Kings triumphs, and how the former president screens a video called God Made Trump at his rallies, and how Project 2025 is teeming with theological ideas.

One side is still scrambling to find the language to talk about how religious fundamentalism is playing out in the courts at a time when the separation of church and state is a persistent target of legal assault, and the consequences of one subset of religious beliefs have been imposed on many millions of women in the country. On this weeks Amicus podcast, Dahlia Lithwick spoke with Rachel Laser, the president and CEO at Americans United for Separation of Church and Statea nonprofit education and advocacy organization that works in courts, legislatures, and the public square to protect religious freedomand Katherine Stewart, an author and journalist whos been covering religious nationalism and the assault on American democracy for over 15 years.

Stewart is the author of The Power Worshippers: Inside The Dangerous Rise of Religious Nationalism. Her forthcoming book, Money, Lies and God: Inside the Movement to Destroy American Democracy, will be published by Bloomsbury next February.

Their conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity.

To listen to the full episode of Amicus, join Slate Plus.

Dahlia Lithwick: So Katherine, I think were going to start with you, and were going to talk about this movement. I would love to define it, because we put a lot under this rubric of white Christian nationalism.

Katherine Stewart: Lets talk about what Christian nationalism is and what it isnt. Christian nationalism is not a religionits not Christianity. I think of it as a mindset, and also a machine. The mindset is this ideology, the idea of America as essentially a Christian theocracy or a Christian nation whose laws should be based on the Bible, and a very reactionary reading of the Bible. Its also a political movement that exploits religion in this organized quest for power. As a political movement, it is leadership-driven and its organization-driven. It has this deeply networked organizational infrastructure that is really the key to its power. There has been five decades of investment in this infrastructure, and its the leaders of this network who are really calling the shots.

We can group their organizations into categories. Ill throw out a few names, but this is by no means comprehensive. There are these right-wing groups like the Family Research Council. You have networking organizations like the Council for National Policy, which gets much of the movements leadership cadre on the same page, and brings them together with these very deep-pocketed funders. There are think tanks such as the Heritage Foundation. And theres a vast right-wing legal advocacy ecosystem that includes groups like the Alliance Defending Freedom, with its $100-plus-million-per-year budget; also, the Becket Fund, Liberty Counsel, First Liberty Institute, Pacific Justice Instituteand they align with the aims of the Federalist Society and related organizations that mobilize enormous sums of money to shape the courts.

Another feature of this movement that is often overlooked is the pastor networks like Watchmen on the Wall and Church United, or groups like Faith Wins, that draw together and then mobilize tens of thousands of conservative or conservative-leaning pastors as movement leaders. If you can get the pastors, you can get their congregations. Often pastors are the most trusted voices in their congregations. So they reach out to these pastors, draw them into networks, and give them tools to turn out their congregations to vote for the far-right candidates that they want.

And then, of course, theres this information sphereor propaganda sphereof the type that the Alitos, with their Appeal to Heaven flag, are clearly tied into. Its a kind of messaging sphere that outsiders often simply dont know about, but its incredibly self-contained and repeats over and over again a certain core set of messages.

Rachel, I think we know about the ways in which these movements and groups have targeted Congress and targeted the executive branch. We have seen the laying on of hands of the clergy when Donald Trump assumed office. We know a lot about Mike Johnson, we know a lot about Marjorie Taylor Greene, and the ways in which these religious ideas have embedded themselves in the other two branches of government.

But its harder and murkier to understand how it intersects with the courts. I would love for you to explain when this movement really turns its attention to the courts, and how this movement manages to bring this sprawling network to making change at the federal judiciary.

Rachel Laser: I think we have to start with the Federalist Society, which was founded in 1982. That was around the time when all of the religious-right groups were getting active. They were intentionally shifting their focus from school segregation to abortion. In the late 80s and early 90s, we saw this shadow network of legal groups forming. That accompanied what the Federalist Society was doing with the judiciary. The Alliance Defending Freedom was founded in the early 90s, the Becket Fund in the early 90s, First Liberty in 1997, Jay Sekulows American Center for Law and Justice back in 1990, Liberty Counsel in 1989. So when we were seeing the moral majority, and this sort of burgeoning religious extremist movement in the country, they got really smart and decided to focus on the courts, and, boy, are we seeing the rewards of that today.

Stewart: And the movement is extremely strategic. Very patient. I think the key to their success is that long-range thinking and their strategy.

From the very beginning, they set about picking the right cases to bring to the right courts and they created these novel legal building blocks that would sideline, and in some cases obliterate, the establishment clause. Theyve turned civil rights law on its head, and expanded the privileges of religious organizations substantially, including the right to taxpayer money.

Katherine, you wrote a piece in 2022 describing how the movement gets supercharged. You flagged three things that happened after Dobbs: First, the rhetoric of violence among movement leaders appears to have increased significantly from the already alarming levels I had observed in previous years. Second, the theology of dominionthat is the belief that right-thinking Christians have a biblically derived mandate to take control of all aspects of government and societyis now explicitly embraced. And third, the movements key strategists were giddy about the legal arsenal that the Supreme Court had laid at their feet as they anticipated the overturning of Roe v. Wade.

Can you talk about how those three themes are playing out now? I mean, we live in that world. Thats mifepristone, thats EMTALA, thats the in vitro fertilization decision out of the Alabama Supreme Court.

Stewart: By acknowledging the legitimacy of a state interest in zygotes and blastocysts and fetuses, they really provide a legal system with a set of purely religiously grounded rights that can be used to strip women of all kinds of rights and basically turn our bodies and lives over to federal and state authorities.

But Dobbs is really just the inevitable consequence of this movements power. Theyre not stopping here. The movement leaders are determined to end all abortion access everywhere. When they say abortion, they also mean some of the most effective and popular forms of birth control, as well as miscarriage care thats necessary to save womens lives and health. Were seeing the consequences of this all over the country, where women are suffering devastating health consequences when they cant get the miscarriage care that they need.

Ive been attending right-wing conferences and strategy gatherings for 15 years for my research, and they tell us over and over again what they intend to do, and then they do it, and then they boast about what theyve done. Theyre really not hiding, and their aims are not hard to discern if youre paying attention.

In the last 15 years, the rhetoric of violence has become more extreme. Fifteen years ago, the religious right sometimes wanted to portray itself as just wanting a seat at the table in the noisy forum of American democracy, saying, We just want to have our voices heard and be counted. But the calls for dominion, the calls for total domination, have become louder and more explicit. And part of that is a consequence of the rise of a spirit-warrior style of religion, embodied in movements like the New Apostolic Reformation, which is a sort of charismatic Christian evangelical movement. Its a relational network, rather than a formal denomination, and its grown enormously in recent years. It has deep roots in Christian Reconstructionism and Calvinism, but it didnt really get going until Loren Cunningham and Bill Bright, these two Christian-right leaders, both said they had a dream.

They both seemed to have the same dream that God told them that they needed to take over the seven mountains, or spheres, of culture, which they identified as things like government, education, business, media, and the like. They shared these ideas with some figures like Lance Wallnau and Peter Wagner. Wagner was a key figure in the church planting movementa movement of establishing or planting new churches. Wagner ran with the idea of taking over the seven mountains as taking back dominion from Satan.

That notion of Seven Mountains dominionism has spread very quicklynot just among networks like the New Apostolic Reformation and other charismatic networks, but the language and style of Seven Mountains Dominion and this sort of spirit-warrior religion has spread to other sectors of the movement that are not remotely identified with the NAR or charismatic Christianity.

So you have people like Mike Flynn or Roger Stone, who identify as Catholic, talking about demonic portals and spiritual warfare, or talking about the seven mountains of culture, using the terminology and imagery of charismatic Christianity.

NAR churches often cite the Watchman Decree, a very theocratic prayer, which references the seven mountains. They often fly the Appeal to Heaven flag. Now you have people like Mike Johnson, whos affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention, displaying an Appeal to Heaven flag outside his office and appearing on podcasts run by very overt Seven Mountains dominionists, and you have a lot of white-power and militia groups that were not particularly religious beforethey were more focused on racebut now theyre adopting the language and style of Seven Mountains dominionism. So when you see Mike Johnsons Appeal to Heaven flag, when you see the Alitos flying the Appeal to Heaven flag, it doesnt mean that they are necessarily affiliated with the New Apostolic Reformation, or that theyre members of these militias at all, but it really tells us who theyve been talking to.

Most people in the mainstream, at the center right, really dont know anything about this flag. They wouldnt think to fly it. Its like a relic of the revolutionary period. And its been revived now, and its being promoted by people on the extreme far right. So when they fly it, theyve reinterpreted it as taking a stand for the idea of America as a Christian theocratic nation rather than a pluralistic democracy. They see it as a call for profound, and even violent, revolution. Its really astonishing to see it flying over the Alitos beach house. Again, it doesnt mean that theyre paid-up members of militia groups or charismatic Christian groups. It just means they spend their time in the same information and propaganda bubbles where this flag stands for God and country and armed insurrection.

Laser: If you believe that rights are God-given, instead of given by the people, then you can see how you can jump quickly to and I can use violence to protect those rights. Thats what has shown up in the polls.

PRRI [Public Religion Research Institute] did a poll on Christian nationalists, and they found Christian nationalists are about twice as likely as the rest of us to believe in political violence. Thats what we saw on Jan. 6 with the parading Appeal to Heaven flags that were at the insurrection. I think another important point to make here is the authoritarian nature of this Christian nationalist movement. This movement is rooted in the belief that America is a country given to European Christians, and that our laws and policies must reflect the same. If you believe that, you are antidemocratic, because democracy is rooted in equality. So the end goal of this Christian nationalist movement has to be the toppling of democracy to achieve their goal. And thats why we saw so many of them fueling the insurrection.

The antidote to Christian nationalism is the separation of church and state, because it refuses to let Christian privilege into the law, it refuses to let conservative Christianity be the guiding principle in America. It insists that America keep to its promises that are embedded in our Constitution, of religious freedom as a basic human right. And thats why Christian nationalists have gone after the separation of church and state, and thats why their allies at the Supreme Court are on a crusade to eradicate churchstate separationbecause they are in lockstep with a movement that must get rid of churchstate separation in order to accomplish its goals.
Renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma views this week as a homecoming.

Returning to Ann Arbor always feels like coming home, said Ma. It is a particular pleasure to be doing so with my dear friends Kayhan Kalhor and Carlos Miguel Prieto, to make music with wonderful young musicians from across the continent."

On Tuesday, June 11, The University of Michigans University Musical Society (UMS) will present a performance by Ma, kamancheh (spiked fiddle) virtuoso Kayhan Kalhor, conductor Carlos Miguel Prieto and The Orchestra of the Americas at U-Ms Hill Auditorium.

"I am grateful to UMS for continuing its long tradition of serving as an extraordinary cultural host, devoted not only to community and creativity, but also to fostering the next generation of cultural citizens, the cellist said.

The Orchestra of Americas is composed of university-level musicians who are fellows from the OAcademy Music Conservatory; a group of students from the U-M School of Music, Theatre & Dance (SMTD); and Mexicos Escuela Superior de Musica y Danza Monterrey. Tuesdays concert is the culmination of a weeklong residency in which they will debut Kalhors new Double Concerto for Cello and Kamancheh, as well as Respighis Roman Festivals and Pines of Rome, and Gabriela Ortizs Teenek.

Hill (Auditorium) is one of the sacred venues for classical music in the U.S., said conductor Prieto, a place that combines history, beauty and education.

UMS President Matthew VanBesien is enthusiastic about bringing all the elements together in the name of learning and creative exploration.

This is a great opportunity for UMS to work differently with a group of extraordinary artists, a group of young talented people from far and wide, and to be able to host them here in Ann Arbor on the University of Michigan campus for a very special and life-affirming experience, VanBesien said.

Carlos Miguel Prieto conducts Orquesta Sinfonica de Mineria at the University of Michigans Hill Auditorium in October 2023.

SMTD Director of Percussion Doug Perkins shared in VanBesiens excitement about bringing together young musicians from myriad countries and backgrounds to make music in their community.

The project is even more amazing, he said, because SMTD students will be performing in the orchestra. This (has been) a week of incredible growth and aspiration for everyone involved and will have reverberations for years to come in Ann Arbor and all over the world. The musical connections made here in this residency will have lasting impacts far beyond the last note of the concert.

One of the students involved in the residency is Laika P. Choi, a fifth-year percussion performance major in SMTD. Choi said shes excited about gaining first-hand experience playing with some of the worlds finest musicians and learning from each individual, regardless of their instrument.

Tuesdays concert begins at 7:30 p.m. For tickets and information, visit ums.org.

Contact Free Press arts and culture reporter Duante Beddingfield at dbeddingfield@freepress.com.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma returns to Ann Arbor to preview new piece
U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert participates in the first Republican primary debate for Colorados 4th Congressional district in Fort Lupton on Jan. 25, 2024. (Sara Wilson/Colorado Newsline)

A lawsuit against U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert of Windsor can move forward on some of its claims, a federal magistrate judge in Colorado recommended Sunday.

The lawsuit comes from political activist David Wheeler of North Carolina and the super PAC American Muckrakers, of which he is president. Filed a year ago in U.S. District Court of Colorado, it alleges that Boebert made maliciously false statements about Wheeler and American Muckrakers on multiple occasions in 2022, when Boebert was running for reelection and Wheeler, citing sources close to Boebert, published unflattering information about her.

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Boebert sought to have the case dismissed under Colorados anti-SLAPP law, which protects Coloradans who exercise free speech rights from meritless lawsuits.

In a recommendation that dealt with Boeberts motion to dismiss the case, as well as a motion from Wheeler to amend his original complaint, U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathryn A. Starnella said that Boebert potentially could be found liable for threatening to sue American Muckrakers donors. But Starnella found that Wheelers claim that Boebert defamed him was not likely to succeed.

As Wheeler published negative material about Boebert in 2022, Boebert appeared in various media outlets to rebut his allegations. In a statement to Fox News in June of that year, for example, Boebert said, Muckrakers sloppy, reckless, and wildly irresponsible actions have created substantial legal liability for Muckrakers, David Wheeler in his personal capacity, and each donor to the organization who chose to fund the effort knowing it would result in defamation, with Boeberts lawyer adding, This will be a costly miscalculation for Muckrakers, Wheeler, and Muckrakers donors.

Boebert never followed through by filing a lawsuit against Wheeler or donors, but Wheeler told the court that his organization saw a 92% drop in donations due to Boeberts remarks.

Defendants threats to sue Plaintiffs sponsors and donors are unprotected because they were neither made in good faith nor in serious contemplation of litigation, Starnella wrote. While Defendant has an interest in protecting her reputation, even through litigation, Plaintiffs donors and sponsors have a weightier interest in exercising their First Amendment right to engage in political speech (in the form of financial donations to political action committees) without fear of retaliation.

Starnella added, The Court finds no social value in allowing elected officials to silence speech they dislike by threatening gadfly journalists donors, who have not themselves engaged in any unlawful or tortious activity.

She said that Wheeler is reasonably likely to prevail in court on his claim that Boebert improperly interfered with American Muckrakers ability to work with previous and future donors and supporters.

Starnella also said that other portions of Wheelers original complaint, including defamation allegations, should not move forward. She wrote that both parties have two weeks to ask a U.S. district judge assigned to the case to reconsider her recommendation. Federal magistrate judges are appointed by district judges to oversee certain judicial proceedings.

Reached by email a spokesperson for Boebert did not immediately comment.

Wheeler declined to comment.

Boebert represents Colorados 3rd Congressional District, which covers the western part of the state, but this year she moved to Windsor to run in the 4th District, which covers the eastern part of the state.

She is competing in the June 25 Republican primary election against five other candidates.

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Rep. Victoria Spartz (R-IN) is being investigated by the House Ethics Committee over alleged mistreatment of staff, according to a Politico report. (Getty Images)

Maya Angelou gave the best advice with absolutely the best words when she said, When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time. I have found that people are really good at showing who they are, even when thats exactly what they are trying to avoid. Angelou reminds us of the obvious, to believe what we see, but importantly to not waste precious time reaching the often inevitable conclusion.

Last week, Adam Wren and Daniel Lippman reported for Politico that the House Ethics Committee is making a preliminary inquiry into the behavior of Rep. Victoria Spartz, of Indianas 5th District. The reasons stem from complaints made by current and former staffers of the second term congresswomans unstable and abusive behavior toward them.

While the reports were troubling, and I will share some highlights, I would be surprised if anyone who has been paying attention to Spartz over the years was surprised by the news.

Heres an example of the behavior detailed by a current staffer, as reported by Politico: The common thing is for her to call someone up or to their face, cuss them up, say the F-word about a million times, call them effing retards, effing children, effing whatever  Thats a weekly thing. Its not rare. All my interactions with her have been filled with complete and total rage.

That came from a current staffer, quoted in last weeks story. Since January, the resignations have piled up so fast, it would seem that former staffers are easier to find than those remaining on her damaged team.

Politico also reported that last Tuesday, her chief of staff, Patrick Slowinski, resigned after being in the job for less than a month, according to a person familiar with the matter. He declined to comment. Michael Stevens, who has been communications director for Spartz since January, also resigned Tuesday night, according to the same person.

Spartz is showing Hoosiers, and everyone else, exactly who she is. For anyone who might want to take the position that she is simply being tough, save it. This unpredictable and unproductive behind-closed-doors behavior is consistent with the brand she displays publicly. I have been baffled by her election and reelection because of it, and now, the Angelou quote rings truer than ever in the Spartz example.

Exhibit 2 was her announced retirement. In February 2023, one month into her second term, NBC News reported on her announcement that she would retire from politics after 2024. At the time, Spartz said, I won a lot of tough battles for the people and will work hard to win a few more in the next two years  However, being a working mom is tough and I need to spend more time with my two high school girls back home, so I will not run for any office in 2024.

I dont know what battles she won, but again, those of us paying attention were never confident she was serious about retirement. Turns out, we were right. In the least surprising reversal in a career filled with reversals, a year later, she filed for reelection, telling Politico, The country is too much in trouble.

Exhibit 3 was displayed during the election of now former U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. That month was a highlight reel for Spartz. NBC also reported that she went from yes to present and back to yes on his initial election as speaker in a weeklong series of votes. During that same timeframe, she initially came out against her partys push to remove Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-MN, from the House Foreign Affairs Committee, calling it a charade  before flipping to yes.

All of these things are showing us who Victoria Spartz truly is. These behaviors of quickly flipping on votes, and her lack of commitment to any particular decision, defines her as a member of congress. It defined her career in the Indiana Senate, too. Again, for those paying attention, the pattern is clear.

The preliminary inquiry by the Ethics Committee is in response to the complaints by her current and former staff. But the complainants were told the committee would not launch a formal investigation before (the May primary) given the potential appearance of meddling in the election.

Let this be my reminder that the election is actually in November, but I understand what they meant.

Her primary battle was not an easy one. She was challenged energetically by State Rep. Chuck Goodrich (R-Noblesville) and others, and many Indiana Republicans have commented that the party let a better option slip away last month. Maybe.

One certainty though is that Spartz is unquestionably unreliable. Maya Angelou likely would have said that voters should have known that long ago.

The post Rep. Victoria Spartz is simply unreliable, and thats the kindest description available appeared first on Indiana Capital Chronicle.
Senate President Kathleen Passidomo joins House Speaker Paul Renner after the 'Live Local Act' bill passed on March 24, 2023 (photo credit: Mitch Perry)

Quality Journalism for Critical Times

Last month, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill (SB 328) revising 2023s Live Local Act, the $711 million package that offered developers tax breaks and bypasses around local zoning restrictions to create more affordable and workforce housing in the Sunshine State.

Now data accumulated by LandTech, which provides site sourcing technology for developers, suggest that new amendments to the Live Local Act will mean a 22% reduction in sites available to affordable housing developers from what was originally proposed for the states five biggest metropolitan statistical areas (MSA)  Jacksonville, South Florida, Sarasota/Bradenton, Orlando-Kissimmee, and the Tampa Bay Area.

The report says that with passage of the new legislation, there now 6.6 billion fewer square feet of land available for this kind of development. Some 30.2 billion square feet of potential affordable housing development in the states five biggest MSAs would have been available under the original legislation.

LandTech staff say they used a blend of public and private data to reach that conclusion, including tax assessor and zoning data from each metro area.

Of course, this is only across Floridas top five MSAs, PJ Appleton, a spokesperson for LandTech, told the Phoenix. Its also impossible to know how many waterfront or commercial/industrial assets affordable housing developments would have been interested in. But it does give a sense of the impact of Live Local legislation vs. the original concept.

The original Live Local Act gave tax breaks to developers who create multifamily and mixed-use residential properties with at least 70 units in any area zoned for commercial, industrial, or mixed-use. At least 40% of those units would be set aside as affordable for people making up to 120% of the local area median income (AMI). Their commitments to affordable housing would be enforceable for up to 30 years.

(The top AMIs for each county in the state vary: In Miami-Dade County, 120% of AMI for a family of four is $136,200.In Madison County, its $78,240. In Alacuha County, its $114,360. In Santa Rosa County, its $107,880).

But pushback from some local communities and developers compelled lawmakers to amend that law in 2024.

The changes

Among those changes, according to a legislative analysis, are clarification of developers ability to build taller buildings, more housing units, or more floor space than normally allowed in exchange for providing more affordable housing units. The new law trims the ability to build taller buildings next door to single-family homes; eases restrictions on parking for developments close to transit facilities; and clarifies that affordable units be available for rent, not purchase.

Land-use attorneys who follow the Live Local Act told the Phoenix there is no way to verify how accurate LandTechs numbers are. But they do have ambivalent thoughts about some of the amendments placed in this years glitch bill to address problems that stemmed from the 2023 bill.

For example, take another new provision that prohibits construction of a proposed development within a quarter mile of either side of an existing or planned airport runway extending 10,000 feet. That change has single-handedly killed several proposed affordable housing developments, according to Jake Cremer, a partner with Stearns Weaver Miller, a law firm with offices throughout Florida.

Weve had at least half a dozen affordable housing projects just die on the vine because of these new restrictions of using it, I would say, in the vicinity of airports, says Cremer.

Future of housing

An example of that, said Nicole Neugebauer MacInnes, another Stearns Weaver Miller attorney, is Peter O. Knight Airport, a small facility on Tampas Davis Islands, just minutes from downtown.

When you extend that runway out, youre taking a chunk of downtown Tampa, McInnes said. Which takes those properties out of being eligible for Live Local. And were seeing that all over the state because of the way that [the law] is written as it applies to airports. It doesnt say, large, commercial, Tampa International-style airports, or these little, small-planes ones. It just says airports.

A separate tax bill (HB 7073) recently signed by DeSantis also bears implications for the future of housing, at least in certain corridors. The measure allows counties to opt out of giving property tax exemptions to developers if the number of available affordable units in a metro area is greater than the number of renter households that meet the income criteria for the 80% to 120% AMI.

Pasco County Commissioners voted last month to opt out of that exemption for the 2025 tax year. And they have a wish list for lawmakers of additional reforms for Live Local when they meet next year in Tallahassee.

Pasco County would like lawmakers to address the land use/zoning preemption in the Live Local Act, said Pasco Chief Assistant County Attorney David Goldstein in an email.

Specifically, Pasco County would like lawmakers to either (a) exempt jobs poor counties like Pasco from the preemption, (b) limit the preemption to housing below 80% of AMI, and/or (c) implement a multi-family zoning credit allowing counties to get credit for subjecting vacant or underutilized multifamily zoned sites to the Live Local Act in exchange for being able to remove their highest priority commercial and industrial sites from the Live Local preemption.

Pasco County isnt the only local government that doesnt like the fact that Live Local still allows developers to get tax breaks to build housing in areas previously zoned as industrial. In Doral, located just a mile away from Miami International Airport, Mayor Christi Fraga says industrial zones are an important economic driver for all of Miami-Dade County.

The fact that we could still see one of these buildings go up in an industrial area where we normally wouldnt allow residential is definitely concerning, Fraga said. The fact that the local authorities have zero say over that? I think that is a concern.

Incompatible

Fraga does appreciate that the new law modifies the height preemption provisions where a qualifying development is adjacent to single family uses. It comes a year too late, however, to stop a project a developer introduced last year immediately after the Live Local Act went into effect, consisting of more than 600 apartments in five towers that originally would have been between 10 and 12 stories high.

Fraga said that was completely incompatible with the citys zoning code.

After threatening to file a lawsuit, the developer and the city came to a settlement agreement last year permitting three towers, with the tallest now being eight stories, according to the South Florida Business Journal.

Fraga doesnt believe that theres enough oversight of developers when it comes to their tax breaks over the 30-year duration of a project.

The onus on the auditing on whether 40% of the units are actually being rented to workforce housing is basically just an affidavit, she said. I dont think that theres enough oversight or enforcement on that aspect, and really all of that responsibility is being put on the city.

Former St. Petersburg Republican state Sen. Jeff Brandes, whose Florida Policy Project think tank hosted an all-day conference on Floridas housing crisis last month, has never been a big fan of the Live Local Act.

Florida lacks a clear housing strategy built on best practices, he said this week. We offer a patchwork of regulations and continue to implement policies without understanding the consequences. Live Local should be retitled Live in Apartments. Until the state finds the courage to address local zoning and lot size issues, we will never fix the housing challenges of Florida.

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The post Report: Revision to Live Local Act reduces stock of affordable/workforce housing in FL appeared first on Florida Phoenix.
A rare white buffalo calf, reportedly born in Yellowstone National Park's Lamar Valley, is shown on June 4, 2024, in Wyo. The birth fulfills a Lakota prophecy that portends better times, according to members of the American Indian tribe who cautioned that its also a warning more must be done to protect the earth and its animals. (Erin Braaten/Dancing Aspens Photography via AP)

HELENA, Mont. (AP)  The reported birth of a rare white buffalo in Yellowstone National Park fulfills a Lakota prophecy that portends better times, according to members of the American Indian tribe who cautioned that its also a signal that more must be done to protect the earth and its animals.

The birth of this calf is both a blessing and warning. We must do more, said Chief Arvol Looking Horse, the spiritual leader of the Lakota, Dakota and the Nakota Oyate in South Dakota, and the 19th keeper of the sacred White Buffalo Calf Woman Pipe and Bundle.

The birth of the sacred calf comes as after a severe winter in 2023 drove thousands of Yellowstone buffalo, also known as bison, to lower elevations. More than 1,500 were killed, sent to slaughter or transferred to tribes seeking to reclaim stewardship over an animal their ancestors lived alongside for millennia.

Erin Braaten of Kalispell took several photos of the calf shortly after it was born on June 4 in the Lamar Valley in the northeastern corner of the park.

Her family was visiting the park when she spotted something really white among a herd of bison across the Lamar River.

Traffic ended up stopping while bison crossed the road, so Braaten stuck her camera out the window to take a closer look with her telephoto lens.

I look and it's this white bison calf. And I was just totally, totally floored, she said.

After the bison cleared the roadway, the Braatens turned their vehicle around and found a spot to park. They watched the calf and its mother for 30 to 45 minutes.

And then she kind of led it through the willows there, Braaten said. Although Braaten came back each of the next two days, she didn't see the white calf again.

For the Lakota, the birth of a white buffalo calf with a black nose, eyes and hooves is akin to the second coming of Jesus Christ, Looking Horse said.

Lakota legend says about 2,000 years ago  when nothing was good, food was running out and bison were disappearing  White Buffalo Calf Woman appeared, presented a bowl pipe and a bundle to a tribal member, taught them how to pray and said that the pipe could be used to bring buffalo to the area for food. As she left, she turned into a white buffalo calf.

And some day when the times are hard again, Looking Horse said in relating the legend, I shall return and stand upon the earth as a white buffalo calf, black nose, black eyes, black hooves.

A similar white buffalo calf was born in Wisconsin in 1994 and was named Miracle, he said.

Troy Heinert, the executive director of the South Dakota-based InterTribal Buffalo Council, said the calf in Braaten's photos looks like a true white buffalo because it has a black nose, black hooves and dark eyes.

From the pictures I've seen, that calf seems to have those traits, said Heinert, who is Lakota. An albino buffalo would have pink eyes.

A naming ceremony has been held for the Yellowstone calf, Looking Horse said, though he declined to reveal the name. A ceremony celebrating the calf's birth is set for June 26 at the Buffalo Field Campaign headquarters in West Yellowstone.

Other tribes also revere white buffalo.

Many tribes have their own story of why the white buffalo is so important, Heinert said. All stories go back to them being very sacred.

Heinert and several members of the Buffalo Field Campaign say they've never heard of a white buffalo being born in Yellowstone, which has wild herds. Park officials had not seen the buffalo yet and could not confirm its birth in the park, and they have no record of a white buffalo being born in the park previously.

Jim Matheson, executive director of the National Bison Association, could not quantify how rare the calf is.

To my knowledge, no ones ever tracked the occurrence of white buffalo being born throughout history. So Im not sure how we can make a determination how often it occurs.

Besides herds of the animals on public lands or overseen by conservation groups, about 80 tribes across the U.S. have more than 20,000 bison, a figure thats been growing in recent years.

In Yellowstone and the surrounding area, the killing or removal of large numbers of bison happens almost every winter, under an agreement between federal and Montana agencies that has limited the size of the parks herds to about 5,000 animals. Yellowstone officials last week proposed a slightly larger population of up to 6,000 bison, with a final decision expected next month.

But ranchers in Montana have long opposed increasing the Yellowstone herds or transferring the animals to tribes. Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte has said he would not support any management plan with a population target greater than 3,000 Yellowstone bison.

Heinert sees the calf's birth as a reminder that we need to live in a good way and treat others with respect.

I hope that calf is safe and gonna live its best life in Yellowstone National Park, exactly where it was designed to be, Heinert said.

___

Associated Press reporter Matthew Brown contributed to this story from Billings, Mont.
Republican Staten Island excluded from getting more judges under Dem NY bill: Blatantly disproportionate

The Democratic-led state Legislature passed a bill to add 12 new Civil Court judgeships throughout New York City to address backlogs in cases -- but excluded Staten Island, the most Republican borough.

The Democratic-led state Legislature passed a bill to add 12 new Civil Court judgeships throughout New York City to address backlogs in cases  but excluded Staten Island, the most Republican borough.

Three judgeships each would be added to Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens and The Bronx under the bill passed by the Assembly and Senate in the final hours of the legislative session last week.

Staten Island was excluded despite a massive backlog of cases, the boroughs GOP lawmakers said.

State Assemblyman Michael Reilly said Staten Island voters should have the right to elect their own judges that represent their values, not get jurists assigned from other boroughs. Paul Martinka

The allocation is blatantly disproportionate and does not adequately reflect the growing needs of our community, state Assemblyman Michael Reilly (R-SI) said.

All four of the elected Civil Court judges on Staten Island are Republican, and its likely that with former President Donald Trump, the GOPs presumptive 2024 presidential nominee, faring well at the top of the ticket, any new judges elected will be Republicans, too.

Additional slots of family court judges will go to Cayuga, Chenango, Cortland, Erie, Jefferson, Nassau, Rensselaer, Rockland, Suffolk and Westchester counties.

One GOP lawmaker said freezing the most conservative borough from additional judgeship reeks of partisanship.

Its peculiar that Staten Island, the only borough that consistently votes Republican, was excluded, said Assemblyman Michael Tannousis, also Staten Islands Republican Party chairman.

Reilly sent a letter to Gov. Kathy Hochul Monday urging not to sign the bill into law unless the Legislature adds three judgeships for Staten Island as an amendment.

He noted that Staten Island, with an estimated population of 475,000, accounts for 6% of the citys population but only get 3% of the judges.

Gov. Kathy Hochul received a letter from Reilly urging not to sign the bill into law unless the Legislature adds three judgeships for Staten Island as an amendment. Michael Nagle

State Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal (D-Manhattan), the Judiciary Committee chairman, defended the allocation of positions and emphasized that judges can be reassigned from other boroughs to Staten Island.

Im not naive to suggest that politics doesnt play a role, he said. But I like to think that the judgeships we created are for non-partisan purposes.

Im grateful Albany passed our legislation this session to respond to the enormous backlog of cases by creating 28 judgeships across the state to be dedicated to family courts across the state, Hoylman-Sigal said.

He said many of the city judges will handle family court cases, noting the backlog of such cases is most severe in Brooklyn, with approximately 25,000 cases and the Bronx, with 21,000 cases, followed by Queens with 17,000 and Manhattan with 9,300 cases.

Its peculiar that Staten Island, the only borough that consistently votes Republican, was excluded, said Assemblyman Michael Tannousis, also Staten Islands Republican Party chairman. Hans Pennink

Staten Island currently has 3,400 cases on backlog, but its fully expected that any of the 16 new judges we created for New York City will be moved to Staten Island family court to address the backlog there if it is not expeditiously cleared. These judges can in fact be assigned to any borough, which is the expectation, Hoylman-Sigal said.

But Reilly said Staten Island voters should have the right to elect their own judges that represent their values, not get jurists assigned from other boroughs.

Were not giving the people of Staten Island the ability to elect the judges they deem fit to sit in the borough, said Reilly.

Staten Island has only one Democratic boroughwide elected official  District Attorney Michael McMahon.

Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis and Borough President Vito Fossella are Republicans, as are a majority of city council members and state legislators.
The Scene

POWHATAN, Va.  Steve Bannon had a mission: Convince Republican voters, just this once, not to listen to Donald Trump.

It was Friday evening, one day after a federal judge ordered Bannon  Trumps former White House adviser turned MAGA podcast mogul  to prison for defying subpoenas from the Jan. 6 committee. He was spending it in Virginias 5th Congressional District, rallying with Rep. Bob Good, the chair of the hardline House Freedom Caucus who had thrilled Bannon and other anti-establishment Republicans by helping to bring down Kevin McCarthys speakership.

But Good had made the grave political miscalculation of supporting Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for president, a stab in the back that convinced Trump to endorse his primary opponent, state Sen. John McGuire. The incumbent had planned to run as an America First establishment-smasher; he and Bannon had to explain why Trump, who they called the greatest president of their lifetime, wasnt with him this time.

We have unconditional support for President Trump, said Bannon. President Trump needs backup. Were here today because these heroes fought McCarthy and the cartel and the establishment to a standstill.

Davids view

For the better part of eight years, Trump loyalty has been a shortcut to Republican victory, and disloyalty has been enough to sink an incumbent whod otherwise be safe. Goods race is a high-profile and multi-million dollar test of whether any amount of MAGA-credibility can overcome the black mark of committing a transgression against the former president.

Its also one of several upcoming primaries set for the coming weeks where, in a role reversal, more establishment-friendly candidates are leveraging Trumps approval to their advantage. McGuire has received help from McCarthy himself, who, working through a set of PACs, has been working on what Bannon and Good call a revenge tour.

Trump, meanwhile, has backed several more mainstream choices over Freedom Caucus-style conservatives, aligning himself with likely winners over candidates who promise to kill the federal Leviathan. Last week, Trump-endorsed Montana state Auditor Troy Downing beat the candidate supported by Good, and will sail into a safe seat. In North Dakota, the former president endorsed state public service commissioner Julie Fedorchak over Rick Becker, a conservative who aligns with the Freedom Caucus; the Club for Growth quickly ended its support for Becker.

On Monday, Trump endorsed South Carolina Rep. William Timmons for re-election over Adam Morgan, a leader of the state legislatures Freedom Caucus whod run to Timmons right and promised to defend the ex-president from a weaponized legal system.

In Virginia, McGuire has portrayed Goods willingness to block compromise bills  which put him at odds with McCarthy, but won him the adoration of commentators like Bannon  as a potential threat to the Trump restoration.

In 2016, Trump had the House and the Senate, but he had a few disloyal Republicans that kept rolling marbles under his feet, and trying to stop or slow down his agenda, McGuire told Virginia radio talker John Fredericks after he scored the Trump endorsement. We cant have this. We need to get it right. Trump is our last hope.

Trump hasnt entirely thrown his weight behind the establishment. In South Carolina today, Rep. Nancy Mace is counting on her hard-won Trump endorsement to hold off a McCarthy-backed challenger, for instance.

If Good had his way, a House Freedom Caucus co-founder would be en route to the presidency. But DeSantis never won a single primary. Instead of a fellow traveler who would fight with them on everything, Good and his colleagues got a nominee who wants to win, and is comfortable tossing ideologues overboard if they hurt him. And they now face an electorate that may care more about fealty to Trump than old conservative litmus tests on issues.

Know More

That fact has been magnified in the current crop of primaries, which have been dominated by the reaction to Trumps felony conviction, with candidates jockeying over who would do more to protect the former president.

Every Republican issues a statement of how bad it is, and then they dont do anything, Morgan, the South Carolina candidate Trump chose not to endorse, told Charlie Kirk on his podcast last week. They dont actually shut down the border. They dont actually go at the budgets of these agencies that are undermining our constitutional republic.

Good himself reacted to the indictment with all the requisite outrage. This is a bogus charge, this is a bogus court, this is a corrupt judge, he told supporters at another rally last week, with Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul. This is Soviet-style: Show me the man, Ill show you the crime. This is going after your opponents like a third world country, like a banana republic. Bannons rally put an exclamation point on that, as the host warned that Trumps enemies were either going to imprison or bankrupt all of us.

Goods opponents have nonetheless savaged him as a weak defender of the president. Last week, when McGuire campaigned with Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene  who was pushed out of the Freedom Caucus  she mangled the history behind the DeSantis endorsement, claiming that Good backed Trumps challenger the very day that Alvin Bragg, that scumbag in New York, indicted President Trump. Bragg indicted Trump on April 4, 2023; Good endorsed DeSantis 35 days later. Details, details; her point was that a Republican ready to pick his ideology over Trump was dangerous.

We will never forget when Jeff Sessions recused himself, said Greene. We will never forget the Mueller investigation that carried on, and Republicans stepped back and allowed it to happen. We will never forget how they impeached President Trump wrongfully.

Pro-McGuire forces had delivered this warning for months. Any criticism of Trump by Good was a warning that he might undermine a second term. In late January, as the DeSantis campaign wound down, a semi-anonymous YouTube channel started uploading video of Good explaining himself, in public and private comments.

I was concerned about the legal persecution, the abuse of power towards our president and how that would hurt him, potentially, in a general election, Good told constituents in a town hall meeting. In another clip, recorded without Goods awareness, he explained that DeSantis had a better record than Trump on guns (Trump did red flag laws when he was president) and abortion (Trump is saying were gonna need to back off).

McGuires allies stapled those quotes to Goods forehead. It doesnt matter if a critique of Trump is right; what matters is that the congressman was disloyal. Bob Good wont be electable when we get done with him, Trump campaign strategist Chris LaCivita said in January. The day after the Manhattan conviction, Trumps campaign issued a cease-and-desist order to stop Good from displaying lawn signs that link the men together.

Goods campaign hadnt played along. On Friday, Powhatans courthouse lawn was surrounded by campaign signs that looked, until further examination, like endorsements: Republican TRUMP/ BOB GOOD/ Keeping America Great! (A couple walking past me and the rally speculated that Trump had chosen a running mate named Bob Good.)

At the microphone, Good told stories about the Freedom Caucus fight to stop spending and oust McCarthy. Navigating pro-Trump media, he needed to explain that the president made a mistake by opposing him  without ever saying those words.

Are you back in good standing with the boss? former Trump advisor Sebastian Gorka asked Good on his radio show earlier that day.

Im doing everything I can to help the president win, said the congressman. Hes the best president of my lifetime.

Notable

In the American Conservative, Bradley Delvin asks why Good really became a Trump target: the more moderate factions of the party are trying to minimize conservatives electoral success.

In The New York Times, Richard Fausset covers a primary where one Republican apologized for his actions on Jan. 6, a move that has gone out of fashion. His website recently noted his prosecution as proof that he has always stood for the conservative movement.

For NBC News, Bridget Bowman and Ben Kamisar run down all the Trump endorsement tests in todays primaries, which can further demonstrate his influence among the GOP base and shape the future of the party.
Several prominent Republicans said they were not impressed by the guilty verdict against President Joe Bidens son on Tuesday, complaining that the government should have busted him for worse crimes.

A Delaware jury found Hunter Biden, 54, guilty on three counts related to a gun purchase in 2018 when he was addicted to crack cocaine. Hunter Bidens crimes carry a prison sentence of up to 25 years.

This trial has been nothing more than a distraction from the real crimes of the Biden Crime Family, which has raked in tens of millions of dollars from China, Russia and Ukraine, Karoline Leavitt, a spokesperson for Donald Trumps Republican presidential campaign, said in reaction to the verdict.

Republicans spoke out against the verdict because the high-profile case against Hunter Biden undermines their constant claims that the U.S. Department of Justice has been weaponized against Trump and his supporters. If President Biden were masterminding a conspiracy to persecute Republicans, after all, why would he skewer his own son?

Republicans still found a way to make that argument by suggesting the gun charges were actually a cover-up.

Stephen Miller, a former adviser in Trumps White House, promoted the conspiracy theory that Joe Biden is pulling strings at the Justice Department and had orchestrated charges that didnt implicate the president himself in any wrongdoing.

The gun charges are a giant misdirection. An easy op for DOJ to sell to a pliant media that is all too willing to be duped, Miller posted on the X social media platform. Dont be gaslit. This is all about protecting Joe Biden and only Joe Biden.

House Oversight Committee chair James Comer (R-Ky.) echoed Miller, saying that until the Department of Justice investigates everyone involved in the Bidens corrupt influence-peddling schemes that generated over $18 million in foreign payments to the Biden family, it will be clear department officials continue to cover for the Big Guy, Joe Biden.

Hunter Biden, accompanied by his wife, Melissa Cohen Biden, arrives at federal court before the verdict is announced Tuesday in Wilmington, Delaware. Matt Rourke/Associated Press

Comer has led an impeachment inquiry against Biden that has sifted through thousands of pages of bank statements, phone records and wire transfers, and conducted hours of depositions with people involved in Hunter Bidens overseas business ventures. Theyve also interviewed several officials involved in the governments case against Hunter Biden, which includes the gun charges as well as tax charges that are scheduled to go to trial in the fall.

As the impeachment inquiry faltered earlier this year, Comer said his committee would still make criminal referrals. But when Republicans finally referred Hunter Biden for prosecution last week, the only violation they alleged was that he had lied to Congress in his February testimony about his past business deals as part of the impeachment inquiry.

The Justice Department has been investigating Hunter Biden since 2018, with President Biden leaving U.S. Attorney David Weiss in Delaware in his post to finish the case. Republicans complained the department was protecting the younger Biden before he was charged, and when he reached a plea agreement with Weisss team, Republicans called it a sweetheart deal.

The prosecution only moved forward on these gun charges after a judge rejected the sweetheart deal, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), one of Trumps allies in the Senate, said Tuesday on social media.

The House Judiciary Committee, led by Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), on Tuesday highlighted complaints from Internal Revenue Service agents whove claimed the Justice Department stymied their investigation into Hunter Bidens alleged tax crimes. (Other officials involved in the Biden case have disputed their claims.) Weiss and Hunter Bidens legal team reached the plea deal shortly before the IRS agents complaints became public; the plea deal collapsed in court amid disagreement over whether Hunter Biden would be protected from future charges.

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) told reporters the Hunter Biden verdict doesnt undercut the Republicans weaponization claims because the evidence against Bidens son was overwhelming while the material prosecutors are presenting against Donald Trump isnt.

Graham and some other Republicans have said theyre uncomfortable with the gun charges against Biden, since it interferes with his Second Amendment rights. Bidens legal team raised a similar defense, and a federal appeals court has even said the restriction on gun ownership for drug users is unconstitutional, but the judge in Hunter Bidens case rejected that argument.

Most people in Delaware would have faced federal legal repercussions for tax evasion and would not have been prosecuted on the gun charges, Graham said.

Hunter might deserve to be in jail for something, but purchasing a gun is not it, said Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.). There are millions of marijuana users who own guns in this country, and none of them should be in jail for purchasing or possessing a firearm against current laws.

Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), meanwhile, called Bidens conviction kinda dumb tbh but didnt elaborate.

Related...
NIZHNY NOVGOROD, Russia, June 10 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Monday met with Ethiopian Foreign Minister Taye Atske Selassie in the Russian city of Nizhny Novgorod.

Noting that Ethiopia is an influential African nation and the seat of the African Union headquarters, Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said Ethiopia's peace and stability are of great significance to the region.

Over the past two years, Ethiopia's domestic peace process has progressed orderly, and its economic and social development achievements have been remarkable, Wang said, adding he believes that the Ethiopian government and people will achieve even greater success on the path of peace, development, and prosperity.

China-Ethiopia relations have maintained a good momentum of development, with President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed maintaining strategic communication and reaching a series of important consensuses, particularly the decision to elevate bilateral relations to an all-weather strategic partnership, opening broad prospects for future cooperation, Wang said.

Guided by the important consensuses of the leaders, China is willing to deepen the all-weather friendship, expand cooperation in various fields, and promote more achievements in bilateral relations, benefiting the people of both nations.

Noting Ethiopia's deep friendship with China, Atske Selassie said the elevation of bilateral relations to an all-weather strategic partnership is warmly welcomed by the Ethiopian government and people.

China is Ethiopia's largest source of foreign investment and export destination, and bilateral cooperation has strongly promoted Ethiopia's economic and social development, he said.

Ethiopia is willing to learn from China's development experience and, together with other African countries, promote greater development in China-Africa cooperation, he added.

Atske Selassie said Ethiopia appreciates and supports the three global initiatives proposed by China, recognizing their milestone significance and expressing willingness to actively participate in relevant cooperation to promote their implementation.

Both sides agreed to continue firmly supporting each other in safeguarding sovereignty and development interests, enhancing pragmatic cooperation and upgrading their quality, strengthening coordination in international and regional affairs, and making objective, balanced, and constructive voices on hotspot issues. 
Voters wait in line at a Mesa polling location on Nov. 8, 2022. (Photo by Jerod MacDonald-Evoy / Arizona Mirror)

The leaders of the Arizona Republican Party and a conservative dark money group have filed a lawsuit alleging the state has not kept an accurate count of registered voters and asking a court to force elections officials to purge 500,000 Arizonans from the voter rolls.

The federal lawsuit claims that the states list of registered voters contains up to 1.27 million voters who have either died or moved out of state, violating the National Voter Registration Act.

Four counties in Arizona have more registered voters than total voting-age citizens, the groups suit says  Apache, La Paz, Navajo and Santa Cruz. The suit uses 2022 voter registration figures and data from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The suit was filed by Scot Mussi, president of the Arizona Free Enterprise Club; Arizona GOP chair Gina Swoboda; and Steve Gaynor, who unsuccessfully ran for the Republican nomination for Arizona secretary of state in 2018.

Election integrity is a serious issue in our nation, said Mussi in a written statement announcing the lawsuit. Ensuring that Arizonans can have faith in the integrity of our election system and representative government starts with clean voter rolls that leave no doubts about who is able to cast a ballot.

In the suit, Mussi and the others claim that Secretary of State Adrian Fontes has failed to develop a maintenance program to remove ineligible voters, and that he has admitted to that failure, describing the program as in development.

The Arizona Free Enterprise Club, a 501(c)(4) nonprofit that advocates for conservative policies and spends to help Republican candidates win election, has filed multiple other lawsuits against Fontes. One from October 2023 attempted to block the use of ballot boxes in the state, while another filed in February sought to defend ballot box monitoring.

Arizona Secretary of State spokesperson JP Martin said that the states voter registration monitoring is up to date and compliant with federal and state laws.

Martin said that Fontes office would not comment on an ongoing legal case, but voters have no reason for concern and that the lawsuit is based on speculation rather than evidence.

A trial date for the suit has not been set.

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The post Republicans sue to purge at least 500,000 people from Arizonas voter rolls appeared first on Source New Mexico.
Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene has pushed Republican leadership to their wits end.



After she remained loyal to Representative Kevin McCarthy during his nine-month tenure as speaker of the House, her disruptive, attention-seeking actions and outbursts under Speaker Mike Johnson have led to some of her Republican colleagues calling for her to face consequences, according to a new CNN report.



This is supposed to be a collaborative body, at least within your own conference, and she doesnt play nice in the sandbox, Republican Representative Carlos Gimenez told CNN.



She is not part of any group, another unnamed Republican lawmaker said. Shes kind of an island unto herself.



(McCarthy) kept her in Bubble Wrap, said yet another anonymous Republican lawmaker.



In the past two weeks, Greene has continued to push for a long-shot impeachment vote against President Joe Biden and has also called for Johnson to push for a government shutdown instead of funding the Department of Justice, both of which are opposed by much of the Republican caucus. Prior to that, Greene led a failed effort to oust Johnson over aid for Ukraine in its fight against a Russian invasion.



Greene derailed the House Oversight Committee in May, when she insulted Democratic Representative Jasmine Crocketts appearance in a hearing about holding Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt of Congress, which many Republicans were pushing for. When Democrats asked her to apologize, she adamantly refused.



Theres no f**king way Im doing that. I wont apologize. And Im not leaving, Greene said to committee Chair James Comer, a fellow Republican, she told CNN. I dont care what happens in this committee roomI will not leave.

Greene has already been kicked out of the far-right House Freedom Caucus for feuding with other members and is campaigning against its head, Representative Bob Good. She has a long-standing beef with fellow far-right Representative Lauren Boebert and recently called the Republican Party feckless and useless, saying its members have their head up their ass.

Still, House Republicans fear the Georgia representative, according to CNN.



They are over her, but they still fear her, because she has an incredible audience and fundraising mechanism and could turn that against you, one GOP lawmaker said.


Turn on a television or social media stream these days and chances are you'll see a Republican member of Congress warning that America's elections are rife with fraud that must be eradicated for the good of the country.

These claims are always long on suspicion and short on evidence. But let's say for a moment we believe the Republicans who insist our elections need more safeguarding.

Try to square that with what Republicans on the House Committee on Appropriations plan to do Thursday  slashing from the federal budget grants for election security and administration.

Doesn't add up, right? If our elections are at risk, why reject funding to protect them?

I had questions for the Republicans making these moves. I guess they didn't have answers, because they didn't want to explain these cuts to me.

Trump threatens violence: Trump ramps up violent rhetoric after guilty verdict  and GOP just keep ignoring it

GOP plan to secure elections? Slash the security budget.

President Joe Biden, in budget negotiations for the fiscal year that starts Oct. 1, proposed $96 million in election security grants administered by the U.S. Election Assistance Commission. That commission's budget was also proposed to increase overall from $27.7 million in the current fiscal year to $134 million.

Former President Donald Trump, a convicted felon and the presumptive Republican nominee, still spews lies at every campaign stop about the 2020 election being "rigged" for Biden's victory while predicting more of the same in November. He's often joined on stage by Republicans who hold public office and echo Trump's lies.

So what do the Republicans, who control the House, propose for election security and administration? The House subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government last week voted to cut the $96 million in election security grants, and to cut the proposed funding for the Election Assistance Commission from $134 million to just $20 million, which is $7.7 million less than the current fiscal year.

Old Republican slogan: "The election is rigged!" Revised slogan: "The election is rigged ... and we won't pay to secure it!"

Election threats may be coming from inside Republican Party

Rep. David Joyce, the Ohio Republican who chairs the subcommittee that slashed the election grants, didn't address any of that in his remarks after last week's vote. I asked Joyce's staff for a rationale. They had nothing for me.

Those cuts now go to the full House Committee on Appropriations for a hearing Thursday morning.

Rep. Tom Cole, the Oklahoma Republican who chairs that committee, in a list of takeaways about the proposed budget last week described cutting the $96 million for election security grants as a way to focus the Biden administration "on its core responsibilities."

Rep. Tom Cole speaks during a hearing on Capitol Hill on March 29, 2017.

Cole, who on the same day as the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection voted against certifying the 2020 election results, justified that this way in a news release at the time: "The voters I represent are not concerned about the fairness of elections in Oklahoma. However, they are concerned about fairness and transparency in other states."

Why now slash election grants as his party screams about threats to elections? Cole didn't respond to my questions.

Talk is cheap but election security costs money

Derek Tisler, an attorney for the nonpartisan Brennan Center for Justice's Elections and Government Program, said congressionally approved funding has been decreasing for election security grants, down from $75 million in fiscal years 2022 and 2023 and then $55 million this fiscal year. In the three years leading up to the 2020 election, that spending was nearly $800 million in total, he said.

"It really shows the emptiness of a lot of these allegations that our elections are not secure or are not trustworthy," Tisler told me. "If you care about security, if you care about transparency, if you care about efficiency  those things cost money."

Trump as the messiah? Marjorie Taylor Greene compares Trump to Jesus. Which Bible is she reading?

As federal funding has been dropping for election grants, state legislatures, often driven by bogus claims of election fraud, have spent the years since the 2020 election passing laws to ban or restrict the use of private grants to help pay for election security and administration.

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, 28 states  including the swing states of Arizona, Georgia, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin  now have such laws.

'Prioritization problems' abound

Keara Mendez, director of advocacy at the Center for Tech and Civic Life, called the lack of federal funding a nonpartisan "prioritization problem."

We know that election security is the No. 1 issue for voters on both sides of the aisle," Mendez told me. "We know that there's widespread support from voters and also from members that we speak to in Congress."

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.

Funding election administration and security at the state and local level, she said, creates more public trust in the outcome of our elections.

"And so if anyone right now is thinking, we have this crisis in trust in our democracy, the answer is fully funding our elections," Mendez said.

Congress should put up or shut up on elections security

What if  now hear me out here  all those congressional Republicans wailing about election integrity are really just spouting obligatory partisan rhetoric because that's what Trump wants? What if they don't really buy any of that?

It would certainly explain why they won't pay to stop alleged problems they can't substantiate with evidence.

Elections have grown more complicated since 2020, with more states offering early voting and mail ballots. This creates new expenses for state and local governments, for printing of ballots, storage, new machines to count them, more transparency in the process like livestreaming to boost security and public confidence.

Voters should carefully consider the cognitive dissonance of baseless Republican claims of voter fraud and their refusal to fund efficient elections. It's long past time for Congress to put up or shut up when it comes to elections.

Follow USA TODAY elections columnist Chris Brennan on X, formerly known as Twitter: @ByChrisBrennan

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: GOP crows about voter fraud. Their answer? Cut election security funds
SOCORRO, N.M. (KRQE)  A job assistance company has agreed to pay $125,000 to settle a federal employee discrimination lawsuit. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) brought the lawsuit against the facility in Socorro.

EEOC claims Res-Care/Equus failed to provide accommodations for an employee with a high-risk pregnancy and related disabilities. Res-Care/Equus also fired the individual, allegedly for attending a medical appointment, EEOC says.

Is New Mexico on track to meet its environmental goals?

Facing those claims in a federal lawsuit, the workforce company agreed to give $125,000 in back pay and compensation. Res-Care/Equus will also have to undergo training to boost recognition of their employees needs, according to EEOC.

A companys strict enforcement of its leave policies may violate federal legal protections for pregnant workers and workers with disabilities, EEOC Regional Attorney Mary Jo ONeill of the Phoenix District Office, said in a press release. Employers have a legal obligation to provide reasonable accommodations, such as additional leave or modification to existing company leave policies, to make it possible for workers with high-risk pregnancies to continue to work. While this case was brought under Title VII, which has been protecting pregnant workers for decades, it highlights the need for more education of employers as to the broader protections now afforded under the new Pregnant Workers Fairness Act.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Rescued kite surfer used rocks to spell 'HELP' on Northern California beach

Firefighters rescued a stranded kite surfer in northern California after the adventurer pulled a trick right out of Hollywood.

The surfer used rocks to spell out "HELP" on Davenport Landing Beach, northwest of Santa Cruz, Cal Fire's San Mateo-Santa Cruz Unit posted on Facebook about the Sunday rescue.

A private helicopter spotted the man and his message and called 911, the agency said.

Man was airlifted from beach

Rescuers respond to a stranded kite surfer who spelled "HELP" on Davenport Landing beach on Sunday, June 9, 2024.

The man was in a physically good condition but needed to be airlifted to get off the beach.

"That was a different type of 911 call than we usually get," California Department of Forestry Fire Captain Skylar Merritt told the Los Angeles Times. "At the very least, the helicopter that spotted him made it much quicker, where he didnt have to worry about hypothermia or dehydration."

Merritt told the paper that the rescued man was an experienced windsurfer but that conditions in the area became exceptionally challenging.

There were three fatal incidents in a 3-mile area that included Davenport Landing in 2021, prompting Cal Fire officials at the time to put a safety warning on social media.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: California kite surfer rescued after spelling 'HELP' with rocks
The Rev. James Lawson in 2004 at the office of Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice in Los Angeles. (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

James M. Lawson Jr., a Methodist minister who became the teacher of the civil rights movement, training hundreds of youthful protesters in nonviolent tactics that made the Nashville lunch counter sit-ins a model for fighting racial inequality in the 1960s, has died. He was 95.

Lawson, who for decades worked as a pastor, labor movement organizer and university professor, died Sunday of cardiac arrest en route to a Los Angeles hospital, his son J. Morris Lawson III told the Washington Post.

Recruited by the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., Lawson organized and led weekly workshops on nonviolent action in Nashville and other hot spots of the movement. The workshops trained many future leaders of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, including Rep. John Lewis.

I truly felt  that he was God-sent, Lewis once wrote of Lawson. There was something of a mystic about him, something holy, so gathered, about his manner. The man was a born teacher, in the truest sense of the word.

Called the leading nonviolence theorist by King, Lawson had studied Gandhis philosophy in India before joining the struggle in the South. He led seminars throughout the region and became a roving troubleshooter for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.

In 1968, he invited King to speak to striking sanitation workers in Memphis, where the charismatic preacher, who had anticipated his own death, was assassinated.

Lawson worked with various civil rights groups in the South until 1974, when he moved to L.A. to become pastor of Holman United Methodist Church. He led the church for 25 years. He retired in 1999 but remained an activist for peace and social justice.

Read more: Opinion: Sixty years after partnering with MLK, James Lawson still sees racism everywhere. Yet his optimism remains

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, in a statement Monday, said, Reverend James Lawson Jr.'s life and legacy reverberates in the continuing movement to advance social and economic justice in Los Angeles and beyond. He dedicated his life to equality and justice and helped train a generation of national leaders. ... These teachings changed the course of history.

Here in Los Angeles, Reverend Lawson taught many activists and organizers and helped shape the civil rights and labor movement locally just as he did nationally. ... Reverend Lawson was also an invaluable mentor to me  I continued seeking his counsel throughout my time as an organizer, an activist and as an elected official. He was there for me as I know he was there for countless civic and faith leaders here in Los Angeles who were guided and influenced by his teachings."

James M. Lawson Jr., the son of a proud Black preacher, did not always practice nonviolence. As a young boy in Ohio in the 1930s, he smacked a white child for shouting a racial slur at him.

Luckily for Lawson, there were no repercussions  until he got home.

Jimmy, his mother said when he told her what he had done, what good did that do? There must be a better way.

Busy in the kitchen, she did not look at him when she delivered her reprimand, but her words resonated. Lawson felt his world just sort of stopped, he later recalled. And somewhere way in the deep of me I heard myself saying, I will find that better way.

His search led him to India, where he studied Mohandas K. Gandhis ideas about nonviolent resistance. After returning to the United States, he applied what he had learned to the civil rights movement, blending Gandhis principles with biblical insights to forge his philosophy of nonviolence.

Lawson was a pivotal figure in some of the most important campaigns of the movement, including the Nashville lunch counter sit-ins, the first Freedom Ride and the social justice battles he led as pastor of Holman United Methodist Church in L.A.

The Montgomery bus boycott King launched in 1955 had proved the potency of nonviolent protest. But it was Lawson who brought disciplined instruction to the youthful protesters who would take the civil rights movement to the next stage. He taught them not only the lofty principles of passive resistance but also fundamental tactics, including how to withstand taunts and physical attacks, avoid breaking loitering laws, even how to dress for a sit-in, historian Taylor Branch wrote, which meant stockings and heels for the women, coats and ties for the fellows.

His nonviolence workshops nurtured many of the leaders who would propel the movement in the 1960s, including Lewis, who was one of the organizers of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, known as SNCC.

I couldnt have found a better teacher than Jim Lawson, Lewis wrote in his 1999 memoir. It is not hard to find forgiveness. And this, Jim Lawson taught us, is at the essence of the nonviolent way of life.

Read more: John Lewis, civil rights icon and longtime congressman, dies

Born Sept. 22, 1928, in Uniontown, Pa., Lawson grew up in Massillon, Ohio, the son of a Jamaican-born seamstress and an itinerant Methodist minister who packed a gun when he traveled in the South. His father believed that I should fight to defend myself, Lawson, the sixth of nine children, recalled in a 2000 interview with National Public Radio.

He was in high school in the 1940s when he staged his first sit-in, targeting a Massillon restaurant that refused to serve Black people. The owner served him but told him never to come back.

After high school, he attended Baldwin-Wallace College, a Methodist college in Berea, Ohio, and joined the pacifist Fellowship of Reconciliation. When he was called to military duty during the Korean War, he refused the draft and was sent to prison for 14 months.

In 1953, Lawson joined a Methodist mission to India and devoted himself to studying Gandhian nonviolence. He was still in India in late 1955 when he read a newspaper story about the Montgomery bus boycott. I saw that as an answer to a prayer, Lawson, in a 1984 Times interview, said of the protest that was led by King. My reaction was to start shouting for joy.

He returned to the U.S. in 1956 and enrolled in the Graduate School of Theology at Oberlin College, where he met King in 1957. King, who had come to Oberlin to speak, urged Lawson to join the movement.

In 1958, Lawson moved to Nashville and enrolled in Vanderbilt Universitys divinity program. He also joined the Nashville Christian Leadership Council and began holding workshops on nonviolence.

Lawson relied heavily on role-playing, and often asked students to taunt others with racial insults to help them learn self-restraint. He showed the students how to run an orderly sit-in by filling lunch counter seats in shifts. He also showed them ways to minimize injuries by maintaining eye contact with their assailants and using their bodies to help distribute the blows that were sure to come.

In November 1959, Lawsons students staged three practice sit-ins. We just did it quietly, without press coverage, he told The Times in 2014. We called them part of our discovery process.

He cut short the training period after students in Greensboro, N.C., received national media attention with a series of impromptu sit-ins that began on Feb. 1, 1960. A few weeks later, the Nashville students  a nonviolent army about 500 strong, drawn from Fisk University and other local colleges  leaped into action, occupying three downtown Nashville lunch counters. Over the next three months, more establishments were targeted, including bus terminals and major department stores.

It was clear we had a very disciplined movement  with students as our primary energy, Lawson said.

Read more: Opinion: Sixty years after partnering with MLK, James Lawson still sees racism everywhere. Yet his optimism remains

When 81 students were attacked by a group of whites and subsequently arrested, Lawson was expelled from Vanderbilt. Faculty members resigned in protest, generating headlines across the country.

The turning point came when the home of an attorney for the jailed protesters was bombed, triggering a mass march to Nashville City Hall and a boycott of white-owned businesses. In May 1960, three weeks after the mayor appealed to white citizens to end discrimination, Nashville lunch counters began to serve Black people and sit-in campaigns soon spread to dozens of other Southern cities.

Lawson believed that sit-ins were more effective than lawsuits, which he criticized in a 1960 speech at Shaw University in North Carolina as middle-class conventional, halfway efforts to deal with grave social injustice.

Longtime activist Julian Bond recalled in Voices of Freedom, an oral history of the movement, that Lawson sounded like the bad younger brother pushing King to do more, to be more militant and had a much more ambitious idea of what nonviolence could do.

The day following Lawsons speech, the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee was founded with a statement of purpose drafted by Lawson. Initially led by Marion Barry, the future mayor of Washington, SNCC helped drive major civil rights campaigns, including voter registration projects and the 1961 Freedom Rides.

When the first Freedom Ride was derailed by mob violence, a small group of Nashville students trained by Lawson completed the dangerous bus trip from Montgomery, Ala., to Jackson, Miss. Lawson accompanied them and was arrested along with other Freedom Riders in Mississippi after some of the protesters entered the whites-only restrooms at the Jackson terminal. At Lawsons urging, they refused bail, which impelled hundreds of other students to join the crusade against segregated interstate travel.

In 1962, Lawson became pastor of Centenary United Methodist Church in Memphis. He left for L.A. in 1974 when he was hired to lead Holman United Methodist Church.

Over the next 25 years, until his retirement in 1999, he remained a prominent activist. He was co-chair of the Gathering, a group of 200 South Los Angeles clergymen who protested the Los Angeles police shooting of Eula Love in 1979, and headed the Los Angeles chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. He was arrested several times at protests, including a rally against U.S. military aid to El Salvador in the late 1980s. In 2000 he risked a church trial for blessing a lesbian wedding.

After Lewis died in 2020, Lawson, at the age of 91, paid tribute to the congressman alongside three former U.S. presidents at a memorial service at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta. In an eloquent eulogy bookended by the poetry of Czeslaw Milosz and Langston Hughes, he exhorted Americans to practice the politics of the preamble to the Constitution as the only way to honor Lewis life.

He said he had no regrets about the fateful invitation he extended to King to address striking sanitation workers in Memphis in 1968. King was assassinated there a day after giving his famous Mountaintop" speech, in which he spoke of his dream of equality and added, I may not get there with you.

Martin expected his death, Lawson told The Times in 2004. I don't know if he specifically expected it on that day, but he had known since Montgomery that he could be shot down ... any time.

Wondering what kind of person would commit such a crime, Lawson began visiting the convicted killer, James Earl Ray, in prison. He came to believe, as did members of the King family, that Ray was innocent and pushed unsuccessfully for a new trial. When Ray decided to marry a sketch artist who had covered his arraignment, he asked Lawson to conduct the prison ceremony.

It was not just that I doubted his guilt; it went far beyond that, Lawson told historian John Egerton years later. I knew that if Martin were alive and in my position, he would have married them even if he knew Ray was guilty. As one of my sons said to me, If you believe all that stuff youve been preaching, youll do it.

He was right, of course.

Lawson is survived by his wife, Dorothy Wood, and two sons, J. Morris Lawson III and John Lawson; a brother, Phillip; and three grandchildren. His son C. Seth Lawson died in 2019.

Woo is a former Times staff writer.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  The Rev. James Lawson, a storied civil rights leader, died on Monday at age 95 in Los Angeles.

Lawson is widely known as the pioneer of nonviolence during the Civil Rights Movement, which aimed to use peaceful strategies to achieve equality and justice for all. That legacy is being carried forward in Nashville through educational institutions and programs created in his honor.

Metropolitan Historical Commission working on project to preserve Nashvilles Civil Rights Movement

In the late 1950s, Lawson began leading workshops on nonviolent action in Nashville church basements. At the time, the city was home to four historically Black colleges: Fisk University, Tennessee State College, American Baptist Theological Seminary, and Meharry Medical College.

Diane Nash, John Lewis, Bernard Lafayette and Marion Barry were among the many students he taught. Lawsons teachings played a major role in Nashville becoming the first major city in the South to desegregate its downtown in 1960.

Rev. James Lawson Jr. leading workshops on the principles of nonviolent resistance. Courtesy: Vanderbilt University Special Collections

Lawson was enrolled as a student at Vanderbilt Universitys Divinity School before he was expelled for his activism in 1960.

Courtesy: Vanderbilt University Special Collections

Courtesy: Vanderbilt University Special Collections

Courtesy: Vanderbilt University Special Collections

Bearing no ill will towards any member of the Vanderbilt community, I can only wish that University well in the months and years ahead, Lawson typed in a letter responding to his expulsion.

In 2006, Lawson became a Distinguished Professor at Vanderbilt University where he taught for three years.

American Rescue Plan Act awards $80,000 to Jefferson Street Sound Museum

Then, in 2022, the James Lawson Institute for the Research and Study of Nonviolent Movement was launched at Vanderbilt University.

The institute has been designed to carry on so that it does not die with him, but in fact, it lives on in an even more robust way, said Emilie Townes, former dean of Vanderbilt Universitys Divinity School. What always amazed me about Rev. Lawson, was how precise he was in his analysis of what was going on in the world and his unwavering belief that the only way genuine change comes is through nonviolent means, so I tried to incorporate that in the way I administered the school.

Portrait of the Rev. James Lawson by Simmie Knox. Courtesy: Vanderbilt University Special Collections

The institute was a collaborative effort between the Divinity School and the College of Arts and Science. Dr. Phillis Isabella Sheppard, executive director of the James Lawson Institute at Vanderbilt University, said it serves as a way to keep Lawsons visions and ideals alive.

It helps students grapple with the complex history of the South, particularly in Nashville, in a way that inspires them, Sheppard said. Its important to have these important places to be physical reminders, and also places where we can come together to talk about the history that has divided us, but also the histories of the places where true action, conversation and dialogue are brought about.

Loved ones remember a veteran Nashville EMT

In 2023, James Lawson High School opened in Nashvilles Bellevue neighborhood, replacing the 64-year-old Hillwood High School.

One of the issues at Hillwood is the disconnect between the local community and the students that are coming, so what better than the teacher, the architect of the Civil Rights Movement, to bring people together than the name The Rev. James Lawson, said Eli Foster, an educator for Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS).

Photo: WKRN

The districts newest school serves 1,600 students at a 300,000-square-foot facility.

Foster said he worked hard behind the scenes to make this tribute to Lawson a reality.

Its not just a name, but its for a person who has committed his entire life to the ethic of nonviolent, active resistance against injustice, Foster said. I wanted this school, where my children are zoned, to be a school that stands for love and bringing people together.

L to R: Eli Foster, Rev. James Lawson, Jr. and Dr. Carmen Reese Foster

Courtesy: Eli Foster

Lawson is survived by his wife, Dorothy Wood Lawson, and two sons, Morris and John.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

The following statements were released to News 2 in response to Lawsons passing:

Rev. James Lawson embodied the best of interfaith and ecumenical justice. As an advocate for nonviolence and an activist for human rights, his passing is a deep loss to our school, the nation, and the world. He was one of the most important prophetic voices of the past 100 years, consistently speaking truth to power in his teaching, preaching, and trainings. At Vanderbilt Divinity School, we will continue to honor Rev. Lawsons legacy by upholding our shared commitments to justice and interfaith dialogue. We hold his family and community in prayer as they mourn this great loss. Yolanda Pierce, Dean of the Vanderbilt Divinity School

Reverend Lawson was an American hero. Without his spiritual guidance, moral example and deep understanding of the principles and practices of non-violent protest, the civil rights movement as we know it might not have existed. For most of his life, he was a passionate advocate for justice and a more perfect union. He entreated us to engage with one another with love, not hate. And in a time of deep polarization, he showed us how to cherish our common humanity. The courage he demonstrated, and the grace he showed to Vanderbilt and others, show us the way forward still. Daniel Diermeier, Chancellor of Vanderbilt University

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
Rev. James Lawson's impact on Nashville's civil rights history will never be forgotten

It is with deep sadness that we at American Baptist College acknowledge the passing of Rev. James Morris Lawson Jr. He was a towering figure in the pursuit of justice and a staunch advocate of nonviolent civil disobedience.

The family of Reverend Lawson announced that he passed away at the age of 95 from cardiac arrest. The legacy of James Lawson has had a profound impact on the history of this nation and worldwide and will continue to inspire future generations.

Reverend Lawson had a significant impact on American Baptist College and the wider Nashville community. In 1957, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. urged Lawson to move to Nashville and start teaching nonviolent civil disobedience techniques to students at historically Black colleges, including American Baptist College.

The Rev. James Lawson, a Civil Rights legend, speaks at Langford Auditorium on the Vanderbilt University campus Jan. 18, 2016.

His teachings played a crucial role in the 1960 student protests of segregation at lunch counters. These protests were successful in the desegregation of Nashville  the first city in the South to do so  and contributed to significant progress in the social justice movement in America.

Reverend Lawson was dedicated to justice and equality throughout his remarkable life. His early commitment to nonviolence led him to refuse military service, resulting in a two-year prison sentence, of which he served 13 months. He also studied Mahatma Gandhis principles of nonviolent resistance in India.

Reverend Lawson participated in the 1961 Freedom Rides, challenging segregation on interstate buses, and played a pivotal role in the 1968 Memphis sanitation workers strike alongside Dr. King. His contributions to the nonviolent movement for justice in America have left an indelible mark.

American Baptist College honors Reverend Lawsons legacy and his unwavering commitment to nonviolence and justice. His teachings and example will continue to inspire our students to fight for equality and human rights.

May Rev. James Lawson rest in power and may his profound legacy of love and nonviolence continue to light our path forward.

Forrest Harris

Dr. Forrest Harris is president of American Baptist College, one of four historically Black colleges and universities in Nashville, Tennessee.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Civil rights: Rev. James Lawson left an indelible mark on Nashville
The Rheinmetall AG logo can be seen on the facade of the company headquarters. Henning Kaiser/dpa

German arms manufacturer Rheinmetall has opened a repair and production facility for armoured vehicles in Ukraine, the Ukrainian Ministry of Strategic Industries announced on Monday.

The service centre, a joint venture between Rheinmetall and a Ukrainian partner company, will facilitate the rapid repair and maintenance of German equipment in Ukraine, the Ministry said.

"The establishment of a joint production facility with Rheinmetall is not only a step towards Ukraine's victory, but also a significant milestone in the development of the arsenal of the free world," Minister Oleksandr Kamyshin said in a statement.

The German manufacturer has been supplying Ukraine with arms for the war against Russia, which began in February 2022. Its products include Marder infantry fighting vehicles and Leopard battle tanks.

Ukrainian specialists will be employed at the facility, with representatives of the German company overseeing technical supervision, according to the press release.

A photo published by the ministry showed Armin Papperger, the chief executive of Rheinmetall, in a bulletproof vest.

"It is very important for us to support Ukraine efficiently and reliably," Papperger said in the Ukrainian statement, noting that spare parts need to be delivered promptly.

Rheinmetall announced last year that the joint venture would be active in the fields of service and maintenance as well as assembly, production and development of military vehicles.

With the backing of Western defence companies, Ukraine aims to position itself as one of the world's top arms producers in the future.
LILONGWE, June 11 (Xinhua) -- Malawian President Lazarus Chakwera has appealed to the international community for help in the search and rescue efforts after the plane with Vice President Saulos Chilima on board went missing Monday morning.

In a televised address to the nation late Monday evening, Chakwera said that he has sought assistance from neighboring countries and other countries including the United States, Britain, Norway and Israel. The international community has committed to supporting the country's security agencies with high-tech search and rescue technology until the plane is found, he said.

Meanwhile, Chakwera said he has ordered continued search and rescue operations as the country awaits international support.

The Malawi Defense Force plane failed to land at its intended destination at Mzuzu Airport in northern Malawi due to adverse weather conditions, and the pilot was advised to return to Kamuzu International Airport in Lilongwe before the aircraft went off the radar around 10 a.m. local time (0800 GMT) Monday, according to Chakwera.

The president appealed to all Malawians to pray for the lives of those on board and their families, saying that he is "holding on to every fiber of hope that there could be survivors."

The search and rescue operation is concentrated in the country's man-made forest, Chikangawa, on the outskirts of Mzuzu City. According to the president, this is where the plane's tracking has indicated its location.

Meanwhile, Chakwera has directed the Malawi Defense Force to keep the public informed of the ongoing developments as the operation continues.

The vice president was traveling to a funeral of the country's former Attorney General and Minister of Justice Ralph Kasambara, who was found dead in a room at a lodge in Lilongwe on Friday. 
Watch the Digital Desk segment with Hospital President Stacey Johnson.

HAMPTON, Va. (WAVY)  In the fall of 2023, Riverside Health System opened the states first stand-alone psychiatric emergency department.

They began seeing patients November 1, 2023. Since then, theyve seen over 3,100 patients. The psychiatric emergency department is part of the Riverside Mental Health & Recovery Center.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Riverside cuts ribbon on states first psychiatric emergency department

Hospital President Stacey Johnson joined the Digital Desk to discuss the department and impact since its doors opened. Watch the segment in the video player on this page.

Our psychiatric emergency department is the first-of-its-kind in Virginia, so were excited to be able to offer this, Johnson said. And, really its a place for individuals to come that have an urgent mental health or recovery need.

The psychiatric emergency department treats patients with psychiatric or substance use concerns. It is open for patients ages five and older. The department is staffed with mental health professionals that really support individuals through the crisis.

Weve had folks coming to our facilities seeking urgent treatment for a long time, which was one of the premises in really driving this and looking up opening up a service like this, Johnson said.

Separate from a traditional emergency room, it is specifically designed to care for these types of cases. The space includes treatment areas, open community areas, sensory rooms, secure outdoors areas, on-site lab services and more.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Riverside announces first psychiatric emergency department in the region

Everyone comes in and they get a medical screening exam, a crisis evaluation, see whats going on and really see how we can help, Johnson said.

The building is set up in both system and design to create an environment to calm and de-escalate their patients. It is a very different experience to a typical emergency room department, said Johnson, where it can be very stimulating in the noise, lights and people in the space.

The emergency department area is about 16,000 square feet and fits a side for both pediatric and adult care.

Really to be able to interact with individuals within the same age range can also go a long way in terms of starting that healing process, Johnson said.

The CDC says over 1 in 5 youth, ages 13-18, either currently or in their life will have had a seriously debilitating mental illness. And, the CDCs recent report Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Data Summary & Trends Report: 2011-2021 outlines students feeling persistently sad, hopeless, experiencing poor mental health.

Its amazing to be able to talk to parents of their children who are just not sure what to do and to have a place where they can come that is destigmatizing, that understands the uniqueness of the individual diagnosis or what might be happening, Johnson said.

Helping people before crisis, local family sheds light on mental health awareness

The work does not stop with the visit to the emergency psychiatric department. The team works to set individuals up with services to continue the healing. They offer partial hospitalization programs for recovery and mental health, they connect with community resources and more, depending on the patients needs.

Going forward, Johnson said the center is working on furthering certain programs, like the general mental health outpatient clinic.

If we all can be part of the change and de-stigmatization and be comfortable talking about, I think thats going to really help our community and nationally, Johnson said.

Click here to find out more about the mental health services offered at Riverside.

The Riverside Mental Health & Recovery Center offers services to individuals experiencing mental health issues 24/7. Call 757-827-3119 to hear more about services. Walk in-services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

For information on programs, events, presentations and support groups the National Alliance on Mental Illness offers, click here.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, call the Suicide Prevention Line at 1-800-273-TALK.

Watch the full Digital Desk segment to learn more about the Psychiatric Emergency Department.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  A Riverview man will spend over a year in federal prison for fraudulently obtaining funds from a COVID-19 relief program.

Alexander Alli, 39, and a co-conspirator applied to the Small Business Administrations Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) in 2020, claiming to have a business that suffered due to the pandemic.

In reality, Allis business was defunct, but he still received $82,500 in EIDL funds.

A jury found Alli guilty in March on charges of conspiracy and wire fraud. He was sentenced to 13 months in prison and five years of supervised release on Monday. He was also ordered to forfeit $82,400.

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MARQUETTE, MI. (WFXR)  A Roanoke man has been charged with child sex crimes after an investigation in Marquette, Michigan.

On June 7, the U.S. Attorney of the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten announced that a grand jury charged 49-year-old Erich Zeeb, of Roanoke, with three counts of sexual exploitation of a child.

On Friday, the indictment was unsealed and detailed several occasions where Zeeb allegedly employed, used, persuaded, induced, enticed, and coerced a teenage girl to engage in sexually explicit conduct to produce visual depictions.

LPD charges man after allegedly violating protective order, attacking woman with knife

The investigation revealed that Zeeb lived in Houston, Texas, and Colorado Springs, Colorado. Authorities believe he may have used social media including Instagram and Facebook and dating apps; such as WhosHere, Plenty of Fish, and Tinder. Zeeb may have used the following emails:

The Department of Justice says each count of sexual exploitation of a child carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum sentence of 30 years.

Zeeb remains under investigation by the U.S. Attorneys Office and Homeland Security Investigations.

Were prepared to make our case as part of our ongoing mission to protect children and teenagers from sexual exploitation, said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten. As part of our work to ensure justice and protect victims, I strongly encourage anyone with information about this matter or related criminal acts committed by Erich Zeeb to contact our office.

Protecting children from crimes of exploitation is a top priority for HSI in Michigan, around the country, and across the world, said HSI Detroit acting Special Agent in Charge Jared Murphey. I encourage anyone with information to reach out to law enforcement.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFXRtv.
The Rock Island National Cemetery is hosting a ceremony honoring the soldiers of the 108th United States Colored Troops (USCT) on Wednesday, June 19 at 10 a.m. Honoring the 108th USCT is organizing and coordinating the event. The groups members are local descendants of men from the USCT regiment and other community members committed to honoring the soldiers by sharing their stories. The ceremony will be held at the National Cemetery, building 18 on Rodman Avenue. Signs will direct visotors to the ceremony. Attendees are asked to bring their own lawn chairs.

Command Sgt. Maj. James E. Brown, command sergeant major, U.S. Army Garrison Rock Island Arsenal will be the keynote speaker. Shellie Moore Guy, a descendant of one of the 108th USCT buried in the Rock Island National Cemetery, will also speak. Poetry by Johnnie Woods and a vocal performance by Shawn Bolton will also be presented.

The 108th USCT is one of 170 Civil War regiments made up of formerly enslaved and free Black men who served during the American Civil War. The regiment was organized on June 20, 1864 in Louisville, KY. After serving garrison and guard duty at various sites in Kentucky, the regiment was transferred to Rock Island Prison Barracks at Rock Island, now the site of Rock Island Arsenal. The 108th arrived on the post on September 24, 1864 and served as guards at the prison that held Confederate prisoners of war.

On May 30, 1865, the 108th left the Rock Island Prison Barracks and transferred to Vicksburg, Miss. While at Rock Island, 50 men from the regiment died from various illnesses or infections and were buried at Rock Island National Cemetery. The regiment lost more than 200 men during their time of service.

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SPRING VALLEY - Rockland residents turned in 67 firearms to police during the latest voluntary collection.

The county's cost for removing the weapons from the streets and potentially saving some lives stood at $7,800, said Sheriff's Office Chief Theodore Brovarski.

Rockland County Sheriff Louis Falco (Credit: John Meore/The Journal News)

Those residents who turned in firearms during the community gun buyback received pre-paid gift cards. The event was held on June 6 at St. Josephs Church on Main Street.

The Sheriff's Office reported the breakdown: 4 assault rifles; 29 handguns; 32 rifles and shotguns; and two antique or non-working guns.

People also turned in several swords and other edged weapons for destruction, the Sheriff's Office said in a news release.

People who gave up the weapons remained anonymous. Payments for surrendered guns: $250 for assault rifles; $150 for handguns, $75 for rifles or shotguns; and $25 for non-working or antique guns.

Prior coverage: Rockland law enforcement looking to buy firearms from residents to make streets safer

Sheriff Louis Falco said removing illegally owned guns and other firearms from the streets makes the public safer.

"Gun violence continues to create a threat to public safety for the residents of Rockland County and our state," Falco said. Last evening, working with our partners in Spring Valley and the State Police, along with the DAs Office, we removed 67 firearms from our streets, guns that could have potentially been used in criminal and other violent acts."

The collection came during National Gun Violence Awareness Month.

Steve Lieberman covers government, breaking news, courts, police, and investigations. Reach him at slieberm@lohud.com Twitter: @lohudlegal

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This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Rockland NY police collect 67 firearms during gun giveback day
Patti Davis, the daughter of President Reagan, pointed to Hunter Bidens ongoing trial as a symptom of all-too-common systemic drug addiction, looking less at its political impacts and more about what it says about the pressure of scrutiny and danger of illegal drugs.

Hunter Bidens legal case is, at its root, a story about the toxic, careless choices made by a drug addict, she wrote in a New York Times op-ed Monday. Its about the fact that addicts weave tragedy into their own lives and into the lives of those around them. Addicts dont think about other people; they think about themselves. And they lie  thats how they supply their addiction.

Biden, the presidents son, is on trial for gun charges, accused of illegally purchasing a handgun while addicted to drugs. The jury began deliberations late Monday, and the trial has seen a whirlwind of testimony and evidence recalling his drug addiction in salacious detail.

Davis recounted that she struggled with drug addiction in her youth. She appeared sympathetic to Biden, saying she understood what its like to live under a glaring, unforgiving spotlight that never dims.

She encouraged the country to show him the same sympathy, seeing him not as a political figure but as a victim of drug addiction ravaged by past mistakes.

There are a lot of Hunter Bidens in this world, people who fell in way over their heads, who long for someone to believe they can recover and construct their lives differently, she wrote. You just dont hear about them on the evening news.

Davis described Bidens situation as one of tragedy, where a man of every advantage and opportunity still fell victim to drug addiction.

How even though he has worked hard on getting and staying clean, his past mistakes and sins follow him, collide with him and demand to be addressed, she wrote.

President Biden has supported his son throughout the trial, and first lady Jill Biden has repeatedly attended court in person, though the president has made clear that he will not interfere in the case in any way. When asked if he would ever consider pardoning his son last week, he said no.

In the president, Davis saw a man torn between protecting his child and running a country. In Hunter Biden, she saw a man who should be allowed to move on from his past.

Addicts, like everyone else, have to be held accountable for their lies. But being held accountable under the judgmental eyes of the world means youre defined by your sins, not by the person youre trying to become, she wrote. Moving on is a grace bestowed on others, not you.

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Residents of rural area eastern Wilson County near Interstate 40 are bracing for a potentially huge industrial park now that requests to amend the land use plan and a formal property rezoning have now been submitted.

Conceptual plans connected to Texas-based Hillwood, a company tied to the Ross Perot family, have been submitted and show 10.35 million square feet of industrial style office, warehousing and light manufacturing space if the rezone and land use plan amendments are ultimately approved, Wilson County Planning Director Tom Brashear said.

A retail mix at the northwest corner of the grounds is also proposed with remaining areas to include maintaining agricultural uses or a conservation easement on the proposed master plan.

The total site adds up to a little more than 1,380 acres. One rendering includes the name Legacy Park, though it's not clear if that is being used for the development plan.

A rending of Legacy Park proposed in Wilson County.

Many area residents and landowners have opposed the development plan after Hillwood representatives met with the community about several months ago at Crossroads Fellowship Church to answer questions.

Efforts to reach a Hillwood representative for comment were unsuccessful.

The portion of land listed as Area A included one building at 1.2 million square feet, six buildings at 1 million square feet, one at 900,000 square feet and one at 800,000 thousand square feet. There was also a 550,000-square-foot building and three 300,000-square-foot buildings, according to the plans.

About 475 signatures were gained by lobbying against the industrial park development's rezone and plan as of several weeks ago, said Wendy Miller, the owner of Crossroads Salon. She's handling the petition.

It's an undefiled area, Miller said of the land. My customers are farmers, and it would affect them greatly.

Area resident Jack Pratt, Jr. said the topic had been discussed often among community members.

I would say 90-95% are a solid no, he said of the public consensus.

Area residents recently held another community meeting for informational purposes.

A rendering of a plan that would include a large-scale industrial park proposed in Wilson County.

Were preparing to fight it, landowner Perry Neal said after the rezoning and land use plan amendment requests had been submitted. We dont feel its appropriate for this community and could be very detrimental. We feel like once you start this, it sets a precedent. There are still a lot of larger farms out here that are still not developed. In 10 years we may have something like (Interstate) 840."

The site encompasses two commission districts  one represented by Commissioner Chris Dowell and the other by Commissioner Terry Scruggs, officials have said.

People in Tuckers Crossroads do not want an industrial park, Dowell said of the feedback he'd gotten so far from his constituents.

Efforts to reach Scruggs were unsuccessful.

The land use plan amendment and rezone requests are scheduled to be heard by the Wilson County Planning Commission at 10 a.m. on June 21.

The planning commission will make a recommendation. If commissioners recommend approval, the requests will then proceed to the Wilson County Commission for final approval.

If the planning commission recommends denial, the applicants can determine whether they will still move forward and seek approval from the county commission while adhering to certain protocols, according to procedures outlined in the Wilson County planning process.

Reach Andy Humbles at ahumbles@tennessean.com or 615-726-5939 and on X, formerly known as Twitter @ AndyHumbles.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Perot family company proceeds with 1,300-acre Tennessee industrial park
He cant keep a straight face.

Rudy Giuliani was all smiles in a mug shot released by Arizona authorities on Monday after he was processed in connection with allegations he conspired to overturn the 2020 election.

The former New York mayor and onetime personal attorney to Donald Trump pleaded not guilty to nine felony charges stemming from his role in the plot.

The mug shot was released around 2 p.m. local time by the Maricopa County Sheriffs Office. Giuliani was released after posting a $10,000 bond in cash. (It was not immediately clear where Giuliani, who filed for bankruptcy earlier this year, obtained the money.)

Rudy Giuliani Forced to Learn Accounting After Bankruptcy Beancounter Bails

In a broadcast of his live show recorded from Phoenix later on Monday, Giuliani said that hed made a little visit to the sheriff.

Its hard to believe after all my years in law enforcement and serving the government and all the cases Ive prosecuted successfully, Ive actually had to report as a defendant in a criminal case, post my $10,000 bond, get fingerprintedtheyre all clean nowand photographed, he said, holding his hands up to the camera.

Of all the Trump allies indicted in the Arizona case, Giuliani was the only one ordered to show up in person and post bond within 30 days of his May 21 arraignment. The conditions were imposed on him after Arizona prosecutors ran into trouble tracking him down to serve him notice of his indictment. He was finally served at his 80th birthday party in Florida last month.

The agents by no means disrupted his event. They waited to serve him outside as he left, a spokesman for Kris Mayes, Arizonas attorney general, told The New York Times at the time.

Rudy Giuliani poses for a Maricopa County Sheriff's Office booking photograph. Maricopa County Sheriff's Office

The other 10 defendants who have been arraigned thus far have all also pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy, fraud, and forgery. More are expected to be arraigned in the coming weeks.

The indictment alleges that Americas Mayor was among a group that schemed to get a slate of so-called alternate electors to falsely declare Trump had defeated President Joe Biden at the Arizona ballot box.

Mayor Rudy Giulianithe most effective federal prosecutor in U.S. historywill be fully vindicated, his spokesperson, Ted Goodman, said in a statement. This is yet another example of partisan actors weaponizing the criminal justice system to interfere with the 2024 presidential election through outlandish charges against President Trump and anyone willing to take on the permanent Washington political class.

Rudy Is Now Broke, but Hes Been Morally Bankrupt for Years

Trump has not been charged in the Arizona case, but is identified as an unindicted co-conspirator in the indictment. The former president has, however, been indicted for election interference in Fulton County, Georgia, where Giuliani also faces charges alongside 18 other people. Both Giuliani and Trump have pleaded not guilty in that case.

The embattled attorneys legal woes dont end there. He is also on the hook for nearly $150 million owed to two former Georgia election workers who successfully argued he defamed them, and is currently being sued for defamation by two voting technology firms.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Rudy Giulianis mug shot was published Monday after the former New York City mayor was processed in Arizona on criminal charges that he attempted to overturn the 2020 election results in the state.

Giuliani paid a $10,000 bond to be released Monday, according to court records.

The former Trump attorney faces nine felony charges related to the fake elector scheme in Arizona, charged alongside 17 other people including fellow Trump attorneys John Eastman, Christina Bobb and Jenna Ellis as well as former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows. All defendants pleaded not guilty.

This photo released by the Maricopa County, Ariz., Sheriffs Office on Monday, June 10, 2024, shows former New York City mayor and Donald Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani. Giuliani was processed Monday in the criminal case over the effort to overturn Trumps Arizona election loss to Joe Biden. (Maricopa County Sheriffs Office via AP)

The indictment alleges Meadows worked with other Trump campaign members to submit names of fake electors from Arizona and other states to Congress in a bid to keep Trump in office despite his November 2020 defeat.

Giuliani spokesperson Ted Goodman told The Associated Press that the charges against the former mayor are politically motivated.

Mayor Rudy Giuliani  the most effective federal prosecutor in U.S. history  will be fully vindicated, Goodman said. This is yet another example of partisan actors weaponizing the criminal justice system to interfere with the 2024 presidential election through outlandish charges against President Trump and anyone willing to take on the permanent Washington political class.

Arizona officials had struggled to track Giuliani for weeks after the charges were filed to serve him the summons to appear, but he was eventually served last month following his 80th birthday celebration.

Arizona is the fourth state where charges have been brought in relation to efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election.

Trump has not been charged in Arizona but was referenced as an unindicted co-conspirator in the indictment.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
ZAGREB, June 11 (Xinhua) -- Newly established Croatian Council of Sinologists (CCS) will help promote the Chinese language and culture in the country, said Croatian sinologist Ivica Bakota in a recent interview with Xinhua.

It will also provide a platform for cooperation with China, the expert said.

The CCS was established in March through a video conference, and is the first such organization in Croatia.

Ivica Bakota, who is an assistant professor of history at the Capital Normal University in Beijing, was a founding member of the CCS.

Bakota underlined that sinology in Croatia has a long history dating back to the 1970s. In 2000, the subject was introduced as a non-degree minor at the University of Zagreb. However, on March 27 this year, the University elevated the minor in sinology to a major. It therefore became the first institution of higher education in Croatia to confer degrees in sinology, Bakota noted.

The CCS cooperates with the World Council of Sinologists, and is a member of this organization, Bakota said. Academic research cooperation, the organization of academic conferences, seminars, round tables, staff and student exchanges will be enhanced with the Chinese side, he added.

There was a consensus during the launch ceremony of the CCS that cooperation between Croatia and China should be boosted. For example, the Sinology Department at the University of Zagreb is set to organize an academic conference, and invite members from the World Sinology Center and the World Council of Sinologists, Bakota said. 
PHOENIX  Rudy Giuliani, a former New York City mayor and Donald Trump attorney, was processed Monday in the criminal case over the effort to overturn Trumps Arizona election loss to Joe Biden, the Maricopa County Sheriffs Office said.

The sheriffs office provided a mug shot but no other details. The office of the Clerk of the Superior Court for Maricopa County said Giuliani posted bond of $10,000 in cash.

A Giuliani spokesperson did not immediately respond to an emailed request for additional information.

Giuliani pleaded not guilty in May to nine felony charges stemming from his alleged role in the fake electors effort. He is among 18 people indicted in the Arizona case, including Trump attorneys John Eastman, Christina Bobb and Jenna Ellis.

Former Trump presidential chief of staff Mark Meadows and Trump 2020 Election Day operations director Michael Roman pleaded not guilty Friday in Phoenix to nine felony charges for their alleged roles in the scheme.



The indictment alleges Meadows worked with other Trump campaign members to submit names of fake electors from Arizona and other states to Congress in a bid to keep Trump in office despite his November 2020 defeat.

Other states where criminal charges have been filed related to the fake electors scheme are Michigan, Nevada and Georgia.
For some rural communities, a stripped-down hospital is better than none at all

Martin County General Hospital in Williamston, N.C., sits abandoned in April 2024 after being closed in August 2023. Hospital leaders are consulting with state and federal officials about the possibility of reopening it as a rural emergency hospital. It would be the first hospital in the country to shut down and then reopen under the rural emergency hospital designation. Karl B DeBlaker/The Associated Press

On many days, some small hospitals in rural Mississippi admit just one patient  or none at all.

The hospitals are drowning in debt. The small, tight-knit communities theyve anchored for decades can do little but watch as the hospitals shed services and staff just to stay afloat.

The federal government recently offered a lifeline: a new Medicare program designed to save dying rural hospitals that will pay them millions to stop offering inpatient services and instead focus on emergency care.

More than two dozen hospitals across the country, including five in Mississippi, have taken the offer.

Community reaction has been mixed, said Chad Netterville, director of the Mississippi Hospital Associations Rural Health Alliance.

Some of the community feedback is, Youre giving up. Youre not a hospital any longer, said Netterville, himself a former administrator at a small rural hospital in south Mississippi. In reality, the local hospital is giving up a service thats no longer viable anyway.

Under the new federal program, rural hospitals with fewer than 50 beds can become a rural emergency hospital to unlock additional government funding  about $3.3 million extra per year plus a 5% increase in Medicare reimbursements.

But theres a catch: Participating hospitals must stop all inpatient services. No labor and delivery, no inpatient surgeries, no inpatient psychiatric units.

Instead, they must become 24-hour emergency departments that offer some outpatient services but, on average, keep patients for 24 hours or less. They can only stabilize patients who need more acute care and transfer them out of the community to larger hospitals.

George Pink

Its not a panacea for rural health, said George Pink, deputy director of the North Carolina Rural Health Research Program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Its targeted at a small subgroup of rural hospitals, those that have typically been losing money for a long period of time and are at risk of closing.

Nearly one-third of rural hospitals around the country are at risk of closing, according to a new report from the Center for Healthcare Quality & Payment Reform, a national health policy research group. Research suggests rural hospital closures increase community death rates, harm local economies and force patients to travel farther for care.

In 2020, Congress established the Rural Emergency Hospital program, which the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services put into effect in January 2023. The goal is to preserve emergency care and at least some health services in communities that can no longer support a full-fledged hospital. More than 150 rural hospitals have closed or converted to other types of facilities in the past 15 years, primarily due to financial distress.

That distress has many causes. Rural communities have shrinking populations, leading to fewer patients filling hospital beds. Rural residents tend to be older and sicker than people in cities, requiring more expensive care. They are also more likely to be uninsured or underinsured, forcing hospitals to pick up the tab. And reimbursement rates by public and private insurers havent kept pace with the cost of care.

In the past two years, at least 17 states have amended or enacted laws to allow hospitals to scale back their services under the new program. Other states, such as Mississippi, have existing state regulations they can modify to allow their hospitals to qualify.

Since January 2023, 27 hospitals have joined the program, out of 1,700 that researchers estimate are eligible, according to the Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Pink and other experts say its too soon to know how well the program will work. Some community hospitals are embracing the new model. Meanwhile, some for-profit health care companies are testing whether a rural emergency hospital could be profitable.

In the middle of it all, rural communities are waiting to see what this better-than-nothing approach to health care will mean for them.

Community pushback

Mississippi is currently home to the most rural emergency hospitals in the nation, with five.

Its also home to a hospital management company, Progressive Health Group, that is focused on converting struggling rural hospitals to the new model. Progressive Healths CEO, Mississippi attorney Quentin Whitwell, said conversion might make sense for many hospitals  even some that arent at deaths door.

His company has converted a handful of hospitals in Mississippi, Arkansas and Georgia, with more in the works.

We analyze hospitals that are either brought to us or that we identify, to see if we believe we can recruit the necessary providers, provide the necessary services, and be a benefit to the community, Whitwell said. Rather than trying to keep rural hospitals with empty beds and few patients open, he said, the new federal designation can provide the funding needed for a successful, leaner facility focused on select essential outpatient services, such as emergency care.

We have contracts, letters of intent and expressions of interest in place, and are looking at hospitals from the West Coast to the East Coast, he said. We dont necessarily have a target number of hospitals; we just want to be effective where we are.

But hospitals looking to make the switch can face pushback from their communities  and from physicians. An obstetrician in rural Alabama recently warned the states health department that conversions could undermine maternal care by removing even more labor and delivery services from rural communities.

When asked about that possibility, Netterville, of the Mississippi Hospital Association, said many of Mississippis small rural hospitals gave up their labor and delivery services long ago.

In some rural communities, converting a hospital wont result in a meaningful loss of services, said Brock Slabach, chief operations officer with the National Rural Health Association. Most of the rural hospitals that might consider converting have few patients using those services in the first place, he said.

Of the rural emergency hospitals listed in federal hospital enrollment data, nine are owned by private health care systems, while a few more are owned by hospital management companies such as Progressive Health.

It could make financial sense for larger health systems to convert smaller, less-profitable rural hospitals to rural emergency hospitals, said Pink. They would in turn funnel sicker patients from their outlying communities to the systems larger flagship hospitals.

But, he said, It would be a source of concern if systems are converting to this new model for the sole purpose of saving the system money, because Im not sure that would be serving the care and access concerns of the rural community.

Changes ahead

What do I have to give up? is usually one of the first questions that rural hospital leaders have about the conversion program, Netterville said.

One of their biggest concerns is that converting means a hospital cant participate in some federal programs already designed to offset their costs. The 340B Drug Pricing Program, for example, allows them to purchase outpatient drugs at discount prices, while the Medicare swing bed program gives small, rural hospitals more flexibility in providing and billing for different types of care. Neither is available to rural emergency hospitals.

The National Rural Health Association supports some changes to the federal program, including allowing participating hospitals to be part of the 340B and swing bed programs.

But operators such as Whitwell also have been working on changes at the state level. Whitwell said his organization advocated for a bill in Mississippi that would have allowed rural emergency hospitals to license inpatient geriatric psychiatry beds on their campuses, creating another source of revenue. The bill died in committee this year, but Whitwell hopes a similar one will be filed in the next legislative session.

If a rural emergency hospital cant have a geriatric psychiatry unit under federal law, but a state authorizes the hospitals owners to separately license a unit, that would be essentially a workaround, he said.

Stops and starts

Last May, Alliance Health Care System in Holly Springs, Mississippi, became the first hospital in the state to convert to a rural emergency hospital. Whitwell is the hospitals chief operating officer and legal counsel.

Less than a year later, the federal Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services rescinded its new status, saying the hospital is too close to Memphis, Tennessee, to meet its definition of rural.

Its a not just a different kind of hospital. Its a whole new way of doing things.

 George Pink, deputy director of the North Carolina Rural Health Research Program at UNC-Chapel Hill

Hospital leadership had just laid off staff and shuttered its inpatient services to complete its transition to a rural emergency hospital. Now the North Mississippi community of fewer than 7,000 is without an emergency department.

Leaders assumed the hospital would be allowed to quickly return to an acute care facility, Whitwell said. But they have forced us to relicense completely. Therefore, the hospital is essentially open without the ability to bill and collect for services.

While changes are proposed at the state and federal levels, Pink said its still too soon to know how rural emergency hospitals will affect local communities.

Its a not just a different kind of hospital, he said. Its a whole new way of doing things.

This report was first published by Stateline, which like NC Newsline, is part of the national States Newsroom network.

The post For some rural communities, a stripped-down hospital is better than none at all appeared first on NC Newsline.
For some rural communities, a stripped-down hospital is better than none at all

Martin County General Hospital in Williamston, North Carolina, sits abandoned in April 2024 after being closed in August 2023. Hospital leaders are consulting with state and federal officials about the possibility of reopening it as a rural emergency hospital. It would be the first hospital in the country to shut down and then reopen under the rural emergency hospital designation. (Karl B DeBlaker/The Associated Press)

On many days, some small hospitals in rural Mississippi admit just one patient  or none at all.

The hospitals are drowning in debt. The small, tight-knit communities theyve anchored for decades can do little but watch as the hospitals shed services and staff just to stay afloat.

The federal government recently offered a lifeline: a new Medicare program designed to save dying rural hospitals that will pay them millions to stop offering inpatient services and instead focus on emergency care.

More than two dozen hospitals across the country, including five in Mississippi, have taken the offer.

Community reaction has been mixed, said Chad Netterville, director of the Mississippi Hospital Associations Rural Health Alliance.

Some of the community feedback is, Youre giving up. Youre not a hospital any longer, said Netterville, himself a former administrator at a small rural hospital in south Mississippi. In reality, the local hospital is giving up a service thats no longer viable anyway.

Under the new federal program, rural hospitals with fewer than 50 beds can become a rural emergency hospital to unlock additional government funding  about $3.3 million extra per year plus a 5% increase in Medicare reimbursements.

But theres a catch: Participating hospitals must stop all inpatient services. No labor and delivery, no inpatient surgeries, no inpatient psychiatric units.

Instead, they must become 24-hour emergency departments that offer some outpatient services but, on average, keep patients for 24 hours or less. They can only stabilize patients who need more acute care and transfer them out of the community to larger hospitals.

Its not a panacea for rural health, said George Pink, deputy director of the North Carolina Rural Health Research Program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Its targeted at a small subgroup of rural hospitals, those that have typically been losing money for a long period of time and are at risk of closing.

Nearly one-third of rural hospitals around the country are at risk of closing, according to a new report from the Center for Healthcare Quality & Payment Reform, a national health policy research group. Research suggests rural hospital closures increase community death rates, harm local economies and force patients to travel farther for care.

In 2020, Congress established the Rural Emergency Hospital program, which the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services put into effect in January 2023. The goal is to preserve emergency care and at least some health services in communities that can no longer support a full-fledged hospital. More than 150 rural hospitals have closed or converted to other types of facilities in the past 15 years, primarily due to financial distress.

That distress has many causes. Rural communities have shrinking populations, leading to fewer patients filling hospital beds. Rural residents tend to be older and sicker than people in cities, requiring more expensive care. They are also more likely to be uninsured or underinsured, forcing hospitals to pick up the tab. And reimbursement rates by public and private insurers havent kept pace with the cost of care.

In the past two years, at least 17 states have amended or enacted laws to allow hospitals to scale back their services under the new program. Other states, such as Mississippi, have existing state regulations they can modify to allow their hospitals to qualify.

Since January 2023, 27 hospitals have joined the program, out of 1,700 that researchers estimate are eligible, according to the Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Pink and other experts say its too soon to know how well the program will work. Some community hospitals are embracing the new model. Meanwhile, some for-profit health care companies are testing whether a rural emergency hospital could be profitable.

In the middle of it all, rural communities are waiting to see what this better-than-nothing approach to health care will mean for them.

Community pushback

Mississippi is currently home to the most rural emergency hospitals in the nation, with five.

Its also home to a hospital management company, Progressive Health Group, that is focused on converting struggling rural hospitals to the new model. Progressive Healths CEO, Mississippi attorney Quentin Whitwell, said conversion might make sense for many hospitals  even some that arent at deaths door.

His company has converted a handful of hospitals in Mississippi, Arkansas and Georgia, with more in the works.

We analyze hospitals that are either brought to us or that we identify, to see if we believe we can recruit the necessary providers, provide the necessary services, and be a benefit to the community, Whitwell said. Rather than trying to keep rural hospitals with empty beds and few patients open, he said, the new federal designation can provide the funding needed for a successful, leaner facility focused on select essential outpatient services, such as emergency care.

We have contracts, letters of intent and expressions of interest in place, and are looking at hospitals from the West Coast to the East Coast, he said. We dont necessarily have a target number of hospitals; we just want to be effective where we are.

But hospitals looking to make the switch can face pushback from their communities  and from physicians. An obstetrician in rural Alabama recently warned the states health department that conversions could undermine maternal care by removing even more labor and delivery services from rural communities.

When asked about that possibility, Netterville, of the Mississippi Hospital Association, said many of Mississippis small rural hospitals gave up their labor and delivery services long ago.

In some rural communities, converting a hospital wont result in a meaningful loss of services, said Brock Slabach, chief operations officer with the National Rural Health Association. Most of the rural hospitals that might consider converting have few patients using those services in the first place, he said.

Of the rural emergency hospitals listed in federal hospital enrollment data, nine are owned by private health care systems, while a few more are owned by hospital management companies such as Progressive Health.

It could make financial sense for larger health systems to convert smaller, less-profitable rural hospitals to rural emergency hospitals, said Pink. They would in turn funnel sicker patients from their outlying communities to the systems larger flagship hospitals.

But, he said, It would be a source of concern if systems are converting to this new model for the sole purpose of saving the system money, because Im not sure that would be serving the care and access concerns of the rural community.

Changes ahead

What do I have to give up? is usually one of the first questions that rural hospital leaders have about the conversion program, Netterville said.

One of their biggest concerns is that converting means a hospital cant participate in some federal programs already designed to offset their costs. The 340B Drug Pricing Program, for example, allows them to purchase outpatient drugs at discount prices, while the Medicare swing bed program gives small, rural hospitals more flexibility in providing and billing for different types of care. Neither is available to rural emergency hospitals.

The National Rural Health Association supports some changes to the federal program, including allowing participating hospitals to be part of the 340B and swing bed programs.

But operators such as Whitwell also have been working on changes at the state level. Whitwell said his organization advocated for a bill in Mississippi that would have allowed rural emergency hospitals to license inpatient geriatric psychiatry beds on their campuses, creating another source of revenue. The bill died in committee this year, but Whitwell hopes a similar one will be filed in the next legislative session.

If a rural emergency hospital cant have a geriatric psychiatry unit under federal law, but a state authorizes the hospitals owners to separately license a unit, that would be essentially a workaround, he said.

Stops and starts

Last May, Alliance Health Care System in Holly Springs, Mississippi, became the first hospital in the state to convert to a rural emergency hospital. Whitwell is the hospitals chief operating officer and legal counsel.

Less than a year later, the federal Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services rescinded its new status, saying the hospital is too close to Memphis, Tennessee, to meet its definition of rural.

Its a not just a different kind of hospital. Its a whole new way of doing things.

 George Pink, North Carolina Rural Health Research Program

Hospital leadership had just laid off staff and shuttered its inpatient services to complete its transition to a rural emergency hospital. Now the North Mississippi community of fewer than 7,000 is without an emergency department.

Leaders assumed the hospital would be allowed to quickly return to an acute care facility, Whitwell said. But they have forced us to relicense completely. Therefore, the hospital is essentially open without the ability to bill and collect for services.

While changes are proposed at the state and federal levels, Pink said its still too soon to know how rural emergency hospitals will affect local communities.

Its a not just a different kind of hospital, he said. Its a whole new way of doing things.

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This report was first published by Stateline, part of the States Newsroom nonprofit news network. Its supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Stateline maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Scott S. Greenberger for questions: info@stateline.org. Follow Stateline on Facebook and Twitter.

The post For some rural communities, a stripped-down hospital is better than none at all appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
FRANKLIN COUNTY, Ill.  A rural Illinois man killed a family members dog following a dispute and is facing charges, according to local authorities.

Franklin County Sheriff Kyle Bacon said deputies received a domestic violence call on June 8 at a home in Mulkeytown. Dispatchers said the confrontation was between a juvenile female and an adult family member.

Deputies arrived at the home and spoke with Frederick M. Edwards, 36, and others at the residence.

Unlicensed daycare owner charged with death of 4-month-old

Bacon claims deputies determined Edwards was the aforementioned adult family member. Following the confrontation with the juvenile, Edwards retrieved the dog from his yard, brought the dog inside, and then hung the dog from a ceiling rafter with a chain. Edwards allegedly brandished a knife during the ordeal.

Deputies took Edwards into custody.

The Franklin County States Attorneys Office charged Edwards with aggravated cruelty to animals and aggravated assault. Edwards remains jailed without bond pending a status hearing.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2.
LEBANON, Va. (WJHL)  To thunderous applause from around 200 citizens, Russell Countys board of supervisors (BOS) unanimously terminated negotiations with a private company that wanted to build a landfill at an abandoned coal preparation plant Monday night.

PREVIOUS: Dozens of residents speak out against Russell County landfill proposal

It seems like the people came together on this one, Castlewood resident Chad Terry told News Channel 11 after the vote. Everybody, it didnt matter what side of the aisle youre on, everybody came to the middle and its a win for the people for sure.

Lebanon resident Tammy Garrett said something similar earlier in the evening while the BOS met in closed session.

This county has come together, there are no political sides on this issue, Gardner said. I havent spoken to one single person that wants this landfill.

Russell County residents cheer as the resolution terminating landfill negotiations with Nova LLC is read at the Board of Supervisors meeting June 10, 2024 in Lebanon, Va. (Photo: WJHL)

The BOS met in closed session for roughly 30 minutes before returning to a packed room at the Russell County Government Center. Supervisors wasted little time after returning to seats draped with t-shirts declaring Overcome Evil With Good and the word Landfill crossed out.

They passed a resolution that said after exchanging multiple drafts of a host agreement, which would have compensated the county for hosting the landfill and provided other protections, Russell County has determined that negotiation of the proposed host agreement will not succeed.

The most recent versions of a host agreement provided by Nova LLC, the company proposing the landfill about a mile from the Clinch River, proposed new additional terms adverse to the interests of Russell County, Virginia, and did not include provisions addressing fundamental terms of a host agreement, including how the amount of the host fee would be structured or determined.

The decision ends more than two years of discussions, environmental studies, draft host agreements with Nova LLC and other back and forth between the BOS and the landowners. The landfill was proposed for the former Moss 3 Coal Preparation Plant off of Gravel Lick Road.

A pro forma had shown a landfill that would take around 2 million tons of trash a year for up to 41 years  more than any Virginia landfill accepted in 2022 according to the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality. That pro forma also showed the county earning $205 million over that time for its host fees.

Anti-landfill group in Russell County presses case

A large and well-organized opposition group, We Say No To Moss 3 Landfill, had pressed supervisors to abandon the deal that would have buried trash in deep pits created by removal of coal refuse before building the land up another 600 feet in elevation over the life of the landfill. At about 2,600 feet at the end of its life, the landfill peak would have been among the highest points in the surrounding area.

Tammy Garrett, a Lebanon resident and retired social worker, acknowledged before the vote that the prospect of millions in revenue would have drawn anyones attention.

Tammy Garrett of Lebanon has been among those leading the fight against the proposed landfill. (Photo: WJHL)

The county is not awash in money, the county is getting by, Garrett said. But if this landfill proposal proceeds there is going to come a time when the risks that this landfill imposes on us is going to far, far outweigh any monetary benefits that we could get.

Since learning about the proposal last fall, Garrett said she had filed freedom of information act requests and researched the environmental risks landfills can pose.

EPA has stated that they havent found a landfill that doesnt leak, she said. Leachate systems are in place for landfills, but it doesnt always contain all the leachate (liquid produced with waste products in it).

With this particular site there are a lot of concerns about the stability of the site, whats underneath it and just if it will even be able to hold up under the stress of 10,000 tons of trash a day.

Garrett spent part of the evening collecting signatures for a recall petition to remove Lebanons BOS representative, chairman Steve Breeding. She said Breeding was the most involved in negotiating with Nova in what she called a far from transparent process.

Hes not made an effort to hire any outside people (to conduct an environmental study), hes only listening to the landfill owners, she said. Theyre not having input from anyone else. Were trying to give them input but theyre not very accepting of it.

DOJ: Settlement reached with Hawkins County Schools in racial harassment investigation

Terry agreed, and even after the vote, he said he believes Breeding should be recalled. Such a process would be rigorous under Virginia law.

Terry said he believes Russell County is special  and has an economic future  because of its natural beauty.

Castlewood resident Chad Terry said opposition to the landfill crossed political lines. (Photo: WJHL)

Seeing people move here from other places like Maine, the folks Im sitting in there with, theyre explaining how this is like the jewel of the United States and theyre coming to live here, he said.

And just to having a bunch of trash from everybody else wasnt going to help anything. It would have decimated it.

The decision pulls the plug on the current effort but does not specifically prevent the landowners from approaching the county later with an alternate proposal. Terry, though, thinks the landowners would think long and hard before any follow up effort.

I believe that their oversight has already set itself in motion, he said. They (the anti-landfill group) formed a non-profit strictly for the oversight of these folks and I think theyre going to toe the line, theyre going to mind their manners.

Garrett, who first came to a BOS meeting in October 2023 after hearing about the landfill discussions, said while the BOS operated with this proposal under a cloak of secrecy, that wont happen as easily again.

We are definitely always going to be on guard from this point on, she said. We will never just take things for granted again. I think we will always want to know what our local government is doing from now on.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Russian troops carried out an airstrike on the town of Kostiantynivka in Donetsk Oblast overnight on June 10, injuring at least six people, Donbas Realii news outlet reported on June 11, citing the police.

Kostiantynivka comes under regular strikes by Russian forces. Russia dropped a KAB-500 aerial bomb on the town's residential area at around 11 p.m. local time, causing a fire in a five-story building, according to Ukraine's State Emergency Service.

Initially, authorities wrote about five injured people. Rescuers reportedly saved three more residents and extinguished fires.

The attack damaged 16 high-rise buildings, two administrative buildings, and two infrastructure facilities, the State Emergency Service said.

Moscow's troops attacked settlements in Donetsk Oblast 15 times over the past day, Governor Vadym Filashkin said. Two people were also reportedly injured in the town of Pokrovsk.

Read also: With all eyes on Kharkiv, Russian troops take one Donbas village after another

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Russia and Belarus have begun the second stage of tactical weapons nuclear drills, the Kremlin's Defense Ministry said on June 11 amid escalating tensions between Moscow and the West.

"The situation on the European continent is quite tense, which is provoked every day by new decisions and actions of European capitals hostile to Russia, and above all by Washington," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in comments reported by Reuters.

Last month Russia said the exercises were a response to what it described as "provocative statements and threats by certain Western officials against the Russian Federation."

Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly made nuclear threats against Ukraine and the West since the beginning of the full-scale invasion in February 2022. The threats have failed to materialize, and Russia continues to wage its all-out war without using its nuclear arsenal.

In May, Putin visited Belarus and met Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko to discuss the potential participation of the Belarusian military in Russia's non-strategic nuclear drills.

The latest drills will see Russian and Belarusian forces working on training "for the combat use of non-strategic nuclear weapons," the Russian Defense Ministry said.

Both leaders have dismissed foreign concerns over the nuclear drills. Lukashenko claimed that this was the third drill since the alleged deployment of Russian tactical nuclear warheads in Belarus in 2023.

Putin said that Russias training in the use of nuclear weapons was a routine procedure.

The only difference is that after the deployment of part of the non-strategic nuclear capabilities in Belarus, we are conducting them together with our Belarusian allies, Putin said.

Belarus has been a key ally to Moscow and supported Russian aggression against Ukraine, though it has not committed its own forces directly to hostilities. The country is also reportedly hosting Russian tactical nuclear arms on its territory.

The first stage of the exercises, which were ordered by Putin on May 6, involved missile units in Russia's Southern Military District, including the occupied territories of Ukraine.

Lukashenko ordered a sudden inspection of the country's tactical nuclear weapons launchers the following day.

The nuclear weapons allegedly located in Belarus cannot be used without Moscow's authorization.

The United States may have to increase its deployment of strategic nuclear weapons amid growing threats from China, Russia, and other adversaries, a White House official said on June 7.

Read also: Russias Su-57  hype vs. reality

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Russia has launched the second stage of exercises involving the use of non-strategic nuclear forces, during which Russian and Belarusian military personnel will practise preparing for the combat use of such weapons.

Source: Russian Ministry of Defence on Telegram

Quote: "The second stage of the training of non-strategic nuclear forces has begun. The exercise will focus on joint training of units of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus for the combat use of non-strategic nuclear weapons.

The exercises are aimed at maintaining the readiness of personnel and equipment of the units for the combat use of non-strategic nuclear weapons of Russia and Belarus in order to unconditionally ensure the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Union State." [The Union State, or Union State of Russia and Belarus, is a supranational union consisting of Belarus and Russia, with the stated aim of deepening the relationship between the two states through integration in economic and defence policy - ed.]

Details: It is reported that during the first stage of the exercises, which took place in late May, the personnel of the missile units of the Southern Military District practised "the task of obtaining special training ammunition for the Iskander tactical missile system, equipping them with launch vehicles and secretly moving to the designated position area to prepare for missile launches".

Personnel from Russian Aerospace Forces aviation units practised equipping aircraft weapons, in particular Kinzhal hypersonic air-launched ballistic missiles, and flying to the designated patrol areas.

Background:

On 6 May, the Ministry of Defence of Russia announced that it would "soon" conduct exercises involving the use of non-strategic nuclear weapons on the orders of Russian ruler Vladimir Putin.

Russian military personnel claim that the exercises are supposedly necessary to respond to "provocative statements and threats from certain Western officials directed at the Russian Federation".

On 10 June, Belarusian Defence Minister Viktor Khrenin stated that his country had participated in the second stage of Russian military drills on the use of non-strategic nuclear weapons.

Earlier, Belarus approved a new military doctrine that, for the first time, provides for the use of nuclear weapons. Russia's tactical nuclear weapons are known to be deployed on Belarusian territory under an agreement between Minsk and Moscow.

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Russia had a golden opportunity to open a new front in Ukraine but is squandering it, military experts say

Russia had a golden opportunity to open a new front in Ukraine but is squandering it, military experts say

Russia opened up a new front in the northern Ukrainian region of Kharkiv last month.

At the time, things were bleak for Ukraine. Even so, Russia's attack appears to have stalled.

The attack, while not over, produced a major strategic misfire, experts told Business Insider.

Russia is fumbling a golden opportunity in Ukraine as its latest offensive stalls, experts told Business Insider.

A month ago, an estimated 30,000 Russian troops began pouring over Ukraine's northern border into the Kharkiv region, opening up a new front for Ukraine's already-stretched defenses.

Ukraine was in a particularly weak spot. Yet four weeks later, Russian forces have stalled, and White House National Security Communications Adviser John Kirby declared the offensive "all but over."

Looking back, what's remarkable is "how little so far Russia has actually achieved," Patrick Bury, a military analyst at the UK's University of Bath, told BI.

Not only that, the offensive has backfired strategically, prompting the US to allow Ukraine to strike targets on Russian soil using its weapons.

A dangerous moment

Rewind one month, things were looking grim for Ukraine.

The seeds had been sown much earlier. The monthslong Republican delay over a new tranche of US military aid had left Ukrainian forces desperately short of ammo and equipment.

Months of back-and-forth by Ukrainian parliamentarians over the terms of conscription had resulted in a backlog of fresh soldiers reaching the battlefield.

And in Russia, President Vladimir Putin was changing up his military leadership, readying to promote a technocrat to Minister of Defence, in a sign that he was getting serious about the needs of a long war, as Business Insider's Jake Epstein reported.

Russia had also begun pressuring Chasiv Yar, a strategic town in the eastern Donbas region, probing for a breach in an exhausted front line, while Ukraine was scrambling to build defensive fortifications, leaving its soldiers dangerously exposed.

When Putin's forces spilled over the border into the Kharkiv region on May 10, the defenses were so poor that one soldier told the BBC that they "just walked in."

Ukrainian soldiers also found that their Starlink-powered communications were jammed, The Washington Post reported.

Twenty miles away was Ukraine's second-largest city: Kharkiv.

A smattering of villages quickly fell, and soon Russian forces were claiming they had reached the strategic town of Vovchansk, which straddles a key highway. They didn't get much further.

Russia wouldn't reach it

Putin likely never had the means to capture Kharkiv city, RAND geopolitical strategist Ann Marie Dailey told BI, and the Russian leader himself soon claimed he had no plans to do so.

The goal of the offensive, Putin said, was to create a buffer zone on Ukrainian territory to shield the border region of Belgorod from Ukrainian attacks.

But it's likely Putin had other goals  and he may have succeeded in some of them, Bury told BI.

"It had a whole dynamic of panic, a new front close to Kharkiv. Could it rattle the Ukrainians?" he said.

The approach might have been one of "suck it and see," he added. "If there is some sort of collapse, if there is a success, we'll reinforce it," he said, describing the likely thinking.

Putin also likely wanted to draw off Ukrainian forces from elsewhere.

Ukraine had to move badly needed units from Chasiv Yar to repel the attack, Foreign Policy Research Institute Senior Fellow Rob Lee told the Chain Reaction podcast soon after the offensive was launched.

"They have to use their most elite units to plug holes," he said.

Even so, it looks like Russian forces were quickly overextended and poorly protected, The Telegraph reported.

Nick Reynolds, a land warfare research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, told BI that if Russia had waited until it was able to bring better-trained units to the fore, its forces might have been able to at least begin to encircle Kharkiv and control key highways.

But the Institute for the Study of War said that Putin may have rushed the offensive in an attempt to get ahead of incoming Western aid  fielding "an understrength force" in the process.

A strategic misstep

By mid-May, renewed Western aid appeared to be filtering through to Ukraine  with an influx of Howitzer shells starting to ease desperate ammunition shortages, the Kyiv Post reported.

On May 25, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that his forces were killing eight Russians for every Ukrainian lost in Kharkiv  a figure that both Bury and Dailey told BI was plausible given the advantages of defensive action, as well as Russia's notoriously cavalier attitude to its own soldiers.

As for Putin's stated goal of creating a buffer zone protecting Belgorod from Ukraine  in effect, he achieved the exact opposite.

Belgorod has long been vulnerable to cross-border attacks and had seen an increase in drone and rocket attacks throughout the spring, which Russia blamed Ukraine for.

But in gaining a small amount of cover for Belgorod, Putin has opened up a far more significant set of possibilities for Ukraine.

"The problem was strategically, it helped increase the Western understanding of how perilous the situation was getting," Bury said.

On May 30, Politico reported that President Joe Biden  prompted by the alarming news of the Kharkiv offensive  had quietly shifted on one of his long-held red lines.

The White House was now open to allowing Ukraine to strike inside Russian territory using US-made weapons, according to unnamed sources.

While Politico said this is only allowed to protect Kharkiv, Dailey said that as far as US red lines go, it's one of the most significant ones crossed so far.

Reynolds believes that ultimately, this step was coming anyway. "All the conditions were set for this," he said.

But as it stands, the primary goal of Russia's Kharkiv offensive has backfired, Bury added. "The US response has now put Belgorod under fire of better artillery."

The attack is far from over

While Russia is not banking on a dramatic breakthrough, it still has the initiative, Bury said  especially with its tendency to simply "grind it out" until something gives.

"That window of opportunity will not close for a while," he added.

Ukraine is likely to remain vulnerable for some time, as further military aid slowly arrives.

"I think that there's a broader offensive effort that you'll see from Russia later in this summer," Dailey told BI. "And so it is very possible that this was a probing attack  theater-setting operations for a larger push later in the year."

On Sunday, Russia's forces attacked border towns in Ukraine's northern Sumy region, some 100 miles west of Kharkiv, the Kyiv Post reported, in a sign that more attacks are to come.

"The Kharkiv offensive, even if it wasn't what the Russians have hoped for, ultimately in many ways it served its purpose," said Reynolds. "It placed increasing pressure on Ukrainians."

He added: "The Ukrainian situation is very worrying."

Read the original article on Business Insider
A press conference is held by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) at the National Results Operations Center in Midrand, South Africa, on June 2, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhang Yudong)

South Africa's National Assembly will hold its first sitting Friday to elect the speaker, deputy speaker and the president of the country for the next five years, Chief Justice Raymond Zondo said Monday.

JOHANNESBURG, June 11 (Xinhua) -- South Africa's National Assembly will hold its first sitting Friday to elect the speaker, deputy speaker and the president of the country for the next five years, Chief Justice Raymond Zondo said Monday.

This follows the country's 2024 general elections on May 29 where members of the National Assembly and provincial legislatures were elected. The law requires the first sitting of the National Assembly to take place within 14 days after the announcement of the election results.

An electronic screen shows the final results of seat allocation in the National Assembly in South Africa's 2024 general elections in Midrand, South Africa, June 2, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhang Yudong)

"Chief Justice Zondo has determined that the first sitting of the National Assembly shall be on Friday," said a statement issued by the Office of Chief Justice. "During the first sitting of parliament, the chief justice will administer the prescribed oath or affirmation, as the case may be, to members of the National Assembly."

According to the statement, after legislators are sworn in, Zondo will preside over the election of the speaker of the National Assembly, who will then preside over the election of the deputy speaker.

"After the deputy speaker is elected, the chief justice will then take over again and preside over the election of the president," said the statement.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa delivers a speech during a press conference announcing the election result at the National Results Operations Center in Midrand, South Africa, on June 2, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhang Yudong)

As far as the National Council of Provinces (NCOP), or the upper house of the parliament, is concerned, the chief justice has determined that its first sitting will be held Saturday.

"The chief justice will swear in, and administer the prescribed affirmation to members of the NCOP and thereafter preside over the election of the chairperson of the NCOP. Thereafter, the chairperson of the NCOP will preside over the election of the deputy chairperson of the NCOP," the statement said.

Zondo has also designated judges-president in the provinces of the country to determine the first sittings of the provincial legislatures in their respective provinces.

On June 2, the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) announced the final results of the 2024 national and provincial elections. The IEC then handed over the lists of the members of parliament and members of provincial legislatures to Zondo who, in turn, handed them to the secretary of parliament in preparation for the first sitting of the National Assembly. 
Russia might be storing up to 100 nuclear warheads in Kaliningrad Oblast, located approximately 260 km (160 miles) from Warsaw, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski claimed on June 11, during the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Berlin.

This statement coincides with Russia's commencement of the second phase of exercises simulating the launch of tactical nuclear weapons on the same day, with Belarus announcing its participation a day earlier.

Kaliningrad Oblast borders two NATO members: Poland to the south and Lithuania to the north and east. Sikorski highlighted Poland's proximity to Belarus, a key Moscow ally that reportedly hosts Russian tactical nuclear arms.

"This means that an attack on the European Union is quite likely," Sikorsky said.

Since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin has frequently issued nuclear threats against Ukraine and the West. Although these threats have not been realized, Russia continues to conduct public exercises simulating the use of tactical nuclear weapons.

A White House official indicated on June 7 that the United States might need to increase its deployment of strategic nuclear weapons in response to growing threats from China, Russia, and other adversaries.

Read also: Opinion: Much ado about Russias nuclear rumblings?

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Russia has seized almost $24 million in Ukrainian assets from occupied Crimea since 2022, proxy leader says

Russia has allegedly received more than 2.1 billion rubles ($23.5 million) from the sale of nationalized assets seized from "Ukrainian oligarchs" in occupied Crimea since 2022, said Russian proxy leader Vladimir Konstantinov in an interview with the state-run media outlet RIA Novosti published on June 11.

Proxy leaders in the occupied peninsula have issued a series of decrees since the beginning of Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine enabling the seizure of property and assets in Crimea owned by individuals deemed to be supportive of Kyiv.

Konstantinov said in December 2023 that Russia had "nationalized" properties belonging to 77 individuals and companies in occupied Crimea because of the purported "anti-Russian activities" of their owners.

Sergei Aksyonov, the head of the Russian occupation authority in Crimea, claimed that the proceeds of the sales would go toward Russian soldiers fighting in Ukraine.

RFE/RL's Crimean service reported in October 2023 that Russian proxies in occupied Crimea had seized and subsequently auctioned off an apartment in the city of Yalta belonging to the family of President Volodymyr Zelensky.

A Russian woman from Moscow reportedly bought the apartment for more than 44 million rubles ($477,000).

Read also: Medvedev threatens Russia may seize private US assets if Washington seizes frozen Russian reserves

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Female convicts are joining Russia's war efforts against Ukraine, per The New York Times.

Inmates were promised pardons and a monthly salary of $2,000 during recruitment.

But this is the first time they are being sent to the battlefield after signing on last year.

Russia's military is starting to tap into another source of manpower  female convicts.

A group of female convicts were released from a prison near St. Petersburg last month to fight in Ukraine, The New York Times reported on Monday, citing two former inmates it had spoken to.

According to The Times, roughly 10% of the prison's 400 inmates signed on with the military last year.

Military recruiters had offered the inmates one-year contracts as combat medics, frontline radio operators, and snipers, per The Times.

In addition to pardons, recruits would also receive a monthly salary of $2,000, The Times reported.

This is the first time enlisted female convicts are reported to have been sent to join the fighting in Ukraine. The female inmates had remained in prison even after signing on last year, per The Times' interviews with former and current inmates.

It's unclear if this release of female convicts is the start of a larger, nationwide program. Russia's defense ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment from BI sent outside regular business hours.

The Russian military's reliance on attrition warfare has seen it turn to unorthodox and controversial recruitment measures to fuel its war effort.

Prison inmates have long been a staple in the Russian Armed Forces. Back in December 2022, the US Department of Defense estimated that the Russian mercenary organization, the Wagner Group, had around 40,000 prisoners serving on the front lines.

Russia has recruited so many inmates that its prison population has plummeted significantly. Russia's Deputy Justice Minister Vsevolod Vukolov said in October that the country's prison population had plunged from 420,000 before the war to 266,000, a historic low, per The Washington Post.

Earlier in March, a local official told lawmakers that some prisons had to be closed because of "a one-time large reduction in the number of convicts," per the Russian newspaper Kommersant.

And it's not just inmates.

Russian officials have begun setting their sights on the country's African migrants. African migrant workers and students have been threatened with deportation if they do not agree to fight in Ukraine, Bloomberg reported on Sunday.

But funnelling its population into the military risks exacerbating Russia's already precarious labor market.

In December, the Russian Academy of Science's Institute of Economics said that Russia's economy had a shortage of around 5 million workers.

"Unemployment is 3%, and in some regions, it is even lower. This means there are practically no workers left in the economy," Russian Central Bank Gov. Elvira Nabiullina said in November.

Read the original article on Business Insider
In an interesting twist on its use of captured Ukrainian armor, video shows Russian forces experimenting with what's been attributed as a salvaged T-72AMT main battle tank modified with remote controls. How Russia might look to employ the concept remains unclear, but there is a historical precedent for using remote controlled tanks in mine-clearing operations, or it could even be used as a crude 'first-person view' (FPV) tank.

Footage of the modified T-72AMT has recently been circulating on social media. When and where the video was filmed precisely cannot be independently identified by The War Zone.

According to the open-source tracking group Oryx, six Ukrainian T-72AMTs have visually been confirmed as captured by Russian forces, but the true total could be higher. The T-72AMT constitutes an upgraded variant of the T-72A. The first example was handed over to the Ukrainian armed forces in 2017.

The video begins by showing a forward-facing view from inside the tank's crew compartment. The camera then zooms out, revealing that said view is in fact being transmitted to a headset display. Alongside the headset, we see a Russian soldier holding a remote controller while standing on the edge of a field. It looks as if the turret either has first-person view (FPV) controls, or that the tank as a whole has an FPV control option.

Unknown author via X

Unknown author via X

From there, one of the Russian soldiers operates the tank using the handheld remote control system while sitting on the side of the field, which can be seen in the feature image of the article.

A separate frame subsequently shows a soldier maneuvering the tank's top turret using said remote control system.

Unknown author via X

Additionally, the video also depicts two individuals operating the tank using headsets and remote controls from a distance; one presumably driving the tank and the other likely controlling its main turret. It is unclear from the footage if any weapons on the tank can be fired remotely.

Unknown author via X

Unknown author via X

Of course, Russia is no stranger to re-deploying captured Ukrainian armor for its own purposes on the battlefield. Why it has chosen to add remote control capability to the tank depicted isn't clear exactly, but as mentioned at the top of this article, there is a historical precedent adding remote controls to tanks for conducting mine-clear operations.

During the war in Ukraine, both Russian and Ukrainian forces have looked to various sorts of crewed equipment to help clear the dense mine fields built up across the country. Most recently, Russia has deployed various ' turtle tanks ' in order to clear pathways for other armored vehicles on the battlefield. The first turtle tank example we saw back in April featured a mine plow for this reason, while a more recent variant boasted a KMT-series mine roller.

However, turtle tanks, even those with increased levels of armored protection making them harder to disable or destroy, have proved vulnerable to highly-maneuverable FPV drones . These munitions, which The War Zone has written about extensively , can be used in both attack and reconnaissance roles and, like the remote controlled tank seen in the video above, are operated via a user wearing a headset.

Due to the increasing frequency with which Ukrainian FPV drones have been targeting, and successfully destroying, Russian turtle tanks, there is clearly a need to perform mine-clearing operations with minimal human involvement. We have seen, for example, FPV drones maneuver their way into the driver's hatches of turtle tanks. Removing the crew entirely from those vehicles would represent a logical next step beyond adding additional armor to them in helping to save lives.

Fitting tanks with remote controls, specifically for mine clearing, is something the U.S. military has done in the past . U.S. Army M60A3 Panther and M1 Panther II Mine Detection & Clearing Vehicles (MDCV), which saw action in Bosnia, Kosovo, and Iraq, could be operated either by an on-board crew or remotely via remote controls, for example, in order to preserve the lives of personnel in highly dangerous locations.

The Operators Control Unit (OCU) is used by the Operator to control the Panther in a training scenario, date unknown. Tankograd Publishing, Ralph Zwilling.

Another possibility is that it could be deployed as an FPV tank of sorts, where it might be used for basic but extremely dangerous tasks. This could include charging front lines. It could also be equipped with large quantities of explosives that could detonate on command. Line-of-sight connectivity between the remote operator and tank would be an issue unless the controllers are in close proximity to it, but a drone that follows the uncrewed tank and acts as a airborne relay could solve that problem.

Finding new and improved ways to reduce risk to armored vehicles and their crews is clearly important to Russia, given the massive loss of armor and personnel it has suffered since the start of the conflict. Although the country has been able to replenish some of its armor inventory, often relying on using ancient tanks and armored vehicles to fill in supply gaps, any opportunity to re-mobilize captured vehicles has been jumped on by the country.

And if this sort of conversion proves successful, it's possible that it could be adapted to older tank types and armored vehicles in the future.

If nothing else, the addition of remote control capabilities to tanks likely points to the extent to which Russian forces have had to adapt to the changing nature of warfare in Ukraine, especially with regard to drones and mines.

Contact the author: oliver@thewarzone.com
Moscow is threatening to make changes to its nuclear doctrine in response to what the Kremlin views as escalatory actions by the U.S. and NATO.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov dropped the warning on Tuesday in comments to reporters, saying that mounting challenges created by the U.S. and its allies without a doubt, put before us in all its magnitude the question of how the basic documents in the field of nuclear deterrence can be brought more into line with current needs.

He said Russian authorities would not give advance notice of what exact changes would be made to the doctrine, which lays out the conditions under which the Russian president would consider using a nuclear weapon.

Ryabkovs comments come less than a week after Vladimir Putin floated the idea of making changes to the nuclear doctrine at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, calling it a living tool subject to change and warning that we are carefully watching what is happening in the world around us and do not exclude making some changes to this doctrine.

At that time, Putin said there was no basis for Moscow to use nuclear weapons against Ukraine but that Russia wouldnt hesitate to use them if the very existence of the country is threatened.

He also suggested that the U.S. would not come to the rescue of European countries if they were targeted in nuclear strikes.

If it comes to it, God forbid Europeans must think about whether the Americans will get involved in a nuclear exchange at the strategic weapons level if those with whom we exchange strikes do not exist. I really doubt it, he said, according to Interfax.

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A Russian woman was arrested in Denmark and charged with helping a foreign intelligence service operate in the country, the Danish national broadcaster DR reported on June 11, citing the Danish Police Intelligence Service (PET).

The case, which relates to a Russian state fund, is still being investigated. PET reportedly expects to release the Russian national after questioning.

The case is related to a story in several European media about a Russian state fund and is not related to the recent elections to the European Parliament, PET reportedly said, providing no further details.

The arrested woman has for several years received money from the Russian state fund Pravfond, which allegedly finances Russian disinformation campaigns abroad, DR reported, citing documents obtained from a Western intelligence service.

Russian Ambassador to Denmark Vladimir Barbin condemned the arrest as a "brazen and unapologetic provocation by the Danish security services" and said the Russian diplomatic mission would demand the woman's immediate release, according to the Russian state-run media outlet TASS.

In recent months, several other suspects have been arrested in Germany, Austria, Poland, and Estonia for allegedly spying for Russia or collaborating with Russian intelligence.

U.S. and allied intelligence officials have observed an increase in low-level sabotage operations in Europe, which appear to be part of Russia's strategy to undermine support for Ukraine, as reported by the New York Times in late May.

Read also: FT: Russia plotting violent sabotage across Europe, intelligence agencies warn

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(Bloomberg) -- Russias four-week average crude exports ticked up in the period to June 9, ending a run of declines.

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Exports had fallen in each of the previous four weeks on that measure, producing a cumulative cut of 390,000 barrels a day, or 11%. That was the biggest such reversal since November. The gain of 70,000 barrels a day in the latest number was driven by a jump in weekly shipments to a five-week high.

Overseas crude flows have been tracking below year-earlier levels since late April, with the gap widening to as much as half a million barrels a day before the latest uptick. This may be due to Russia more diligently adhering to an output target thats part of an effort by the OPEC+ producers to support the market, or it could reflect pressure from international sanctions.

Moscow has pledged to compensate for exceeding its April output target, which it blamed on the technicalities of achieving significant cuts. But, though it made the deepest reductions in more than a year, Russia still pumped above its promised level last month.Despite the increase in weekly export volumes, a sharp week-on-week drop in oil prices that followed the announcement of a gradual easing of some OPEC+ output restrictions from October limited the increase in the gross value of Russias shipments to just 4% in the seven days to June 9.

The Kremlin continues to test US-led restrictions on its oil shipments.

A third sanctioned Russian tanker loaded crude at Novorossiysk in the week to June 9. The Belgorod, until recently named the NS Bravo, took on about 1 million barrels of Urals crude on June 7 and is now in the East Mediterranean, headed for the Suez Canal. The first sanctioned vessel to load, the SCF Primorye, made a hidden transfer of its cargo onto another vessel east of Singapore. The second, the Bratsk, is in the Indian Ocean, heading toward Singapore.

If the cargoes ultimately end up being delivered to oil refineries, it could pave the way for more of the sanctioned tankers owned by state-controlled Sovcomflot PJSC to return to work. The company has now renamed at least 11 of its 21 ships that were listed by the US Treasury Department for breaching a G7-led price cap on Russian oil. All 21 now fly the Russian flag.

Crude Shipments

A total of 32 tankers loaded 24.72 million barrels of Russian crude in the week to June 9, vessel-tracking data and port agent reports show. That was up from 22.53 million barrels the previous week.

Russias seaborne crude flows in the week to June 9 rose by 10% to 3.53 million barrels a day. The less volatile four-week average was also up, increasing by about 70,000 barrels a day to 3.34 million, the first increase in five weeks.

A week-on-week increase in shipments from the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk and the Pacific ports of Kozmino and De Kastri was partly offset by fewer departures from the Baltic Sea, Arctic terminals at Murmansk and the Sakhalin Island terminal of Prigorodnoye.

Two shuttle tankers used to haul crude from Russias Sakhalin-2 project have failed to move cargoes since April, putting the entire burden of shipments on a single vessel. Unless at least one of them is brought back into service soon, the Sakhalin-2 project will struggle to keep delivering at its normal rate of three to four cargoes a month.

Crude shipments so far this year are running about 10,000 barrels a day above the average for 2023.

Russia terminated its export targets at the end of May, opting instead to restrict production, in line with its partners in the OPEC+ oil producers group. The countrys output target is set at 8.978 million barrels a day until the end of September, after which it is set to rise at a rate of 39,000 barrels a day each month until September 2025, as long as market conditions allow.

One cargo of Kazakhstans KEBCO was loaded at Ust-Luga during the week.

Flows by Destination

Observed shipments to Russias Asian customers, including those showing no final destination, rebounded to 3 million barrels a day in the four weeks to June 9, from 2.93 million in the four-week period to June 2.

About 1.24 million barrels a day of crude was loaded onto tankers heading to China. The Asian nations seaborne imports are boosted by about 800,000 barrels a day of crude delivered from Russia by pipeline, either directly, or via Kazakhstan.

Flows on ships signaling destinations in India averaged about 1.43 million barrels a day, compared with a revised 1.63 million barrels a day in the period to June 2.

Both the Chinese and Indian figures are likely to rise as the discharge ports become clear for vessels that are not currently showing final destinations.

The equivalent of about 285,000 barrels a day was on vessels signaling Port Said or Suez in Egypt. Those voyages typically end at ports in India or China and show up as Unknown Asia until a final destination becomes apparent.

The Other Unknown volumes, running at about 50,000 barrels a day in the four weeks to June 9, are those on tankers showing no clear destination. Most originate from Russias western ports and go on to transit the Suez Canal, but some could end up in Turkey. Others may be moved from one vessel to another, with most such transfers now taking place in the Mediterranean, or more recently off Morocco.

Russias oil flows continue to be complicated by the Greek navy carrying out exercises in an area thats become synonymous with the transfer of the nations crude. The activities, which ran until June 3, have now been extended to July 15.

Russias seaborne crude exports to European countries have ceased, with flows to Bulgaria halted at the end of last year. Moscow also lost about 500,000 barrels a day of pipeline exports to Poland and Germany at the start of 2023, when those countries stopped purchases.

Turkey is now the only short-haul market for shipments from Russias western ports, with flows in the 28 days to June 9 stable at about 340,000 barrels a day.

Export Value

The gross value of Russias crude exports rose to a five-week high of $1.63 billion in the seven days to June 9 from about $1.56 billion in the period to June 2, despite a sharp drop in prices. Export values at Baltic and Black Sea ports were down week-on-week by almost $4.50 a barrel, while key Pacific grade ESPO dropped by about $3.70 a barrel. Delivered prices in India also fell, down by about $4.60 a barrel, all according to numbers from Argus Media.

In contrast, four-week average income was little changed, inching higher by about $8 million to $1.6 billion a week, just off its 15-week low. The four-week average peak of $2.17 billion a week was reached in the period to June 19, 2022.

During the first four weeks after the Group of Seven nations price cap on Russian crude exports came into effect in early December 2022, the value of seaborne flows fell to a low of $930 million a week, but soon recovered.

NOTES

This story forms part of a weekly series tracking shipments of crude from Russian export terminals and the gross value of those flows. The next update will be on Tuesday, June 18.

All figures exclude cargoes identified as Kazakhstans KEBCO grade. Those are shipments made by KazTransoil JSC that transit Russia for export through Novorossiysk and Ust-Luga and are not subject to European Union sanctions or a price cap. The Kazakh barrels are blended with crude of Russian origin to create a uniform export stream. Since Russias invasion of Ukraine, Kazakhstan has rebranded its cargoes to distinguish them from those shipped by Russian companies.

Vessel-tracking data are cross-checked against port agent reports as well as flows and ship movements reported by other information providers including Kpler and Vortexa Ltd.

If you are reading this story on the Bloomberg terminal, click here for a link to a PDF file of four-week average flows from Russia to key destinations.

--With assistance from Sherry Su.

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2024 Bloomberg L.P.
An aerial drone photo shows contestants participating in a dragon boat race at a fishing port in Lianjiang County, southeast China's Fujian Province, June 11, 2024. The dragon boat race at sea has a long history in Lianjiang. The eight-day event from the first day of the fifth month of the Chinese lunar calendar has become a well-known cultural activity to celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival, also called Duanwu Festival. (Xinhua/Jiang Kehong)

Contestants participate in a dragon boat race at a fishing port in Lianjiang County, southeast China's Fujian Province, June 11, 2024. The dragon boat race at sea has a long history in Lianjiang. The eight-day event from the first day of the fifth month of the Chinese lunar calendar has become a well-known cultural activity to celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival, also called Duanwu Festival. (Xinhua/Jiang Kehong)

Contestants gather to participate in a dragon boat race at a fishing port in Lianjiang County, southeast China's Fujian Province, June 11, 2024. The dragon boat race at sea has a long history in Lianjiang. The eight-day event from the first day of the fifth month of the Chinese lunar calendar has become a well-known cultural activity to celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival, also called Duanwu Festival. (Xinhua/Jiang Kehong)

An aerial drone photo shows contestants participating in a dragon boat race at a fishing port in Lianjiang County, southeast China's Fujian Province, June 11, 2024. The dragon boat race at sea has a long history in Lianjiang. The eight-day event from the first day of the fifth month of the Chinese lunar calendar has become a well-known cultural activity to celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival, also called Duanwu Festival. (Xinhua/Jiang Kehong)

An aerial drone photo shows contestants participating in a dragon boat race at a fishing port in Lianjiang County, southeast China's Fujian Province, June 11, 2024. The dragon boat race at sea has a long history in Lianjiang. The eight-day event from the first day of the fifth month of the Chinese lunar calendar has become a well-known cultural activity to celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival, also called Duanwu Festival. (Xinhua/Jiang Kehong)

Contestants gather to participate in a dragon boat race at a fishing port in Lianjiang County, southeast China's Fujian Province, June 11, 2024. The dragon boat race at sea has a long history in Lianjiang. The eight-day event from the first day of the fifth month of the Chinese lunar calendar has become a well-known cultural activity to celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival, also called Duanwu Festival. (Xinhua/Jiang Kehong)

Contestants gather to participate in a dragon boat race at a fishing port in Lianjiang County, southeast China's Fujian Province, June 11, 2024. The dragon boat race at sea has a long history in Lianjiang. The eight-day event from the first day of the fifth month of the Chinese lunar calendar has become a well-known cultural activity to celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival, also called Duanwu Festival. (Xinhua/Jiang Kehong)

Contestants participate in a dragon boat race at a fishing port in Lianjiang County, southeast China's Fujian Province, June 11, 2024. The dragon boat race at sea has a long history in Lianjiang. The eight-day event from the first day of the fifth month of the Chinese lunar calendar has become a well-known cultural activity to celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival, also called Duanwu Festival. (Xinhua/Jiang Kehong)

An aerial drone photo shows contestants participating in a dragon boat race at a fishing port in Lianjiang County, southeast China's Fujian Province, June 11, 2024. The dragon boat race at sea has a long history in Lianjiang. The eight-day event from the first day of the fifth month of the Chinese lunar calendar has become a well-known cultural activity to celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival, also called Duanwu Festival. (Xinhua/Jiang Kehong)

Contestants gather to participate in a dragon boat race at a fishing port in Lianjiang County, southeast China's Fujian Province, June 11, 2024. The dragon boat race at sea has a long history in Lianjiang. The eight-day event from the first day of the fifth month of the Chinese lunar calendar has become a well-known cultural activity to celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival, also called Duanwu Festival. (Xinhua/Jiang Kehong)

An aerial drone photo shows contestants participating in a dragon boat race at a fishing port in Lianjiang County, southeast China's Fujian Province, June 11, 2024. The dragon boat race at sea has a long history in Lianjiang. The eight-day event from the first day of the fifth month of the Chinese lunar calendar has become a well-known cultural activity to celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival, also called Duanwu Festival. (Xinhua/Jiang Kehong)

An aerial drone photo shows contestants participating in a dragon boat race at a fishing port in Lianjiang County, southeast China's Fujian Province, June 11, 2024. The dragon boat race at sea has a long history in Lianjiang. The eight-day event from the first day of the fifth month of the Chinese lunar calendar has become a well-known cultural activity to celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival, also called Duanwu Festival. (Xinhua/Jiang Kehong)

An aerial drone photo shows contestants participating in a dragon boat race at a fishing port in Lianjiang County, southeast China's Fujian Province, June 11, 2024. The dragon boat race at sea has a long history in Lianjiang. The eight-day event from the first day of the fifth month of the Chinese lunar calendar has become a well-known cultural activity to celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival, also called Duanwu Festival. (Xinhua/Jiang Kehong)

An aerial drone photo shows contestants participating in a dragon boat race at a fishing port in Lianjiang County, southeast China's Fujian Province, June 11, 2024. The dragon boat race at sea has a long history in Lianjiang. The eight-day event from the first day of the fifth month of the Chinese lunar calendar has become a well-known cultural activity to celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival, also called Duanwu Festival. (Xinhua/Jiang Kehong)

Contestants gather to participate in a dragon boat race at a fishing port in Lianjiang County, southeast China's Fujian Province, June 11, 2024. The dragon boat race at sea has a long history in Lianjiang. The eight-day event from the first day of the fifth month of the Chinese lunar calendar has become a well-known cultural activity to celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival, also called Duanwu Festival. (Xinhua/Jiang Kehong)
An Su-34 of the type which came down in North Ossetia - Oleg V Belyakov/Wikimedia Commons

A Russian air force fighter-bomber has crashed during a training flight in North Ossetia, killing both pilots, the defence ministry said on Tuesday.

The Sukhoi Su-34 jet came down in a mountainous zone and there was no damage on the ground, the ministry said, adding that a technical problem appeared to have caused the crash.

The plane crashed in a deserted area. There is no destruction on the ground. The crew was killed, the ministry said.

One Russian channel on the messaging app Telegram reported that residents near the village of Gorny Dzuarikau in North Ossetia heard an explosion in the night.

The Sukhoi Su-34 is a Russian all-weather supersonic fighter-bomber which has been used extensively during operations against Ukraine.

Among the most advanced aircraft in service with the Russian air force, the jets have recently found a new role on the battlefield, attacking Ukrainian positions and cities with devastating glide bombs during Moscows summer offensive.

An increase in accidents

The crash comes amid an increase in aircraft accidents in Russia that experts attribute in part to a shortage of necessary spare parts caused by sanctions imposed by the international community.

Analysts have also said that the high number of crashes reported may be due to restricted training time, a lack of experienced pilots, and dropping safety standards.

Other recent accidents have included the technical malfunction of an Su-34 in Sept 2023, and a Su-30 crashing during a training flight in Aug 2023, killing both crew members.

North Ossetia, which borders ex-Soviet Georgia, is about 500 miles from the front line in Ukraine.

On June 8, regional authorities said Ukraine targeted a military airfield near the town of Mozdok with drones  but three were shot down. It was the first such attack in North Ossetia since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

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On June 10, a Russian warplane violated Finnish airspace for the first time since Finland joined NATO last year.

The plane entered Finland's airspace for approximately two minutes on Monday morning, according to a statement from the country's defense ministry. The incident took place in the eastern Gulf of Finland, with the aircraft flying 2.5 kilometers into Finnish territory.

"We take the suspected territorial violation seriously and the investigation has been started immediately," Finnish Defense Minister Antti Hakkanen said.

The last similar incident occurred in August 2022, when two Russian fighter jets entered Finlands airspace.

Finland, which guards a 1,300-kilometer border with Russia, is now part of NATO's eastern flank.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said in December 2023 that Finland is "now going to have problems" because it joined NATO.

In an interview with state-run television, Putin promised that Russia would create a "Leningrad military district" on the border with Finland and concentrate forces there.

Recently, NATO fighter jets have increasingly intercepted Russian aircraft near the alliance's airspace over the Baltic Sea.

Read also: Ukraine confirms attack on Novoshakhtinsk oil refinery, claims damage totalling $540 million

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(Bloomberg) -- Finlands Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said his nation is preparing steps to address the potential security risks from Russian property holding near critical infrastructure.

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Finland for years allowed Russians to buy up land and real estate without security reviews. But after its neighbor launched a full-scale war against Ukraine in 2022, the Nordic nation has woken up to the risk that such assets could be used against it.

Since then, Finland has carried out a full mapping of holdings by Russians, Orpo said in an interview at his seaside residence in Helsinki on Monday.

We see it as a potential security threat that we have Russian and other foreign property owners, land owners in the vicinity of critical infrastructure, he said. Common sense dictates that if we observe a genuine risk to national security, then we ought to be able to act.

After pushing through legislation that allows the state to intervene in real estate transactions before they happen, Finland is currently drafting a full ban on property purchases. It would apply to citizens of states whose homeland has been found to have violated the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of another state and could threaten Finlands security, according to a preliminary text published last month.

No decisions have yet been taken on any such measures, and its too early to say whether we can retroactively reinforce them or if we can expropriate properties, Orpo said. This is a very difficult legal question and thats why we need to carefully review how to proceed.

The first time Finland blocked the purchase of a property was in late 2022, when the Defense Ministry vetoed the sale of a former nursing home in the west of the country near an army site. Its since made a handful of other similar decisions.

Still, local newspapers have over the years reported on a swathe of suspicious assets, including heavily fortified sites with helipads, near-empty loss-making hotels kept afloat by owners with links to Russia and locations near key rail interchanges and communications links.

The risk is that such properties could be used for some acts of damage or possibly as a bridgehead in connection with some larger operation, Orpo said.

Finland is now more alert to various forms of influence operations and hybrid warfare after facing acts such as cyber attacks, having asylum seekers pushed to its 1,300-kilometer (800-mile) border by Russia, and having to divert aircraft that could not land due to the jamming of the global positioning system.

On Monday, a Russian military aircraft ventured into Finnish airspace for 2 minutes, flying to the depth of 2.5 kilometers over the Baltic Sea. The authorities launched an investigation. While multiple similar incursions have been reported over the years, the most recent incident was the first since Finland acceded to NATO just over a year ago.

Russias neighbor entered the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in April 2023 in reaction to the start of the full-scale war in Ukraine, betting that collective security guarantees would help deter any attack. Always suspicious of its eastern neighbor, Finland had kept its defense forces in shape, with more artillery than France and Germany combined and upholding compulsory military service through the years.

What Russia has caused is that Finland and Sweden joined NATO, the European Union has been completely united in supporting Ukraine whilst opposing Russia, and now Europe has finally woken up to increasing its own defense capabilities, Orpo said. All of these have been practically poison for Russia.

--With assistance from Rob Dawson.

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(Reuters) - Russia's Human Rights Commissioner said on Tuesday she had issued a fresh appeal to senior U.N. and other officials to take action to secure the release of Russian nationals still held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

Tatyana Moskalkova, writing on the Telegram messaging app, said she had launched the appeal after meeting in Moscow with relatives of those still being held.

"In one conversation, one of the mothers told me details of the situation of those being held," she wrote.

News reports have put at eight the number of hostages holding Russian passports, including three who were released.

Moskalkova said she had appealed to the U.N. High Commissioner For Human Rights, Volker Turk, the head of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Mirjana Spoljaric, and other officials "for the rapid return home of our compatriots".

Gunmen took around 250 hostages back to Gaza after a mass attack on Israel last Oct. 7 and more than 100 were released in exchange for about 240 Palestinians held in Israeli jails in November.

There are 116 hostages left in Gaza, according to Israeli tallies, including at least 40 whom Israeli authorities have declared dead in absentia.

Russia has sought to speak to both sides in the conflict in Gaza and a Hamas delegation visited Moscow last year. But President Vladimir Putin has said the violence in the region exposed the failure of U.S. policy, particularly in considering the needs of the Palestinians.

(Reporting by Reuters; Editing by Matthew Lewis)
A Russian Su-34 military aircraft crashed in the mountainous region of North Ossetia, killing the crew, the Russian Defense Ministry reported on June 11.

The plane was conducting a scheduled training flight, according to the defense ministry. The ministry claimed preliminary data indicates the crash was caused by a technical malfunction.

The Russian Telegram channel Mash reported that residents heard an explosion near the village of Gorny Dzuarikau in North Ossetia at night.

The Russian Su-34 is a Soviet-era medium-range fighter-bomber. The Ukrainian military reported shooting down multiple Su-34 jets in the spring of 2024.

The Russian domestic airline industry has seen a significant uptick in accidents and emergency landings since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of war and subsequent imposition of Western sanctions.

Read also: Military Intelligence: Russia has about 200 Su-34, Su-35 fighter jets, 7 A-50 planes

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Russian warships headed to Caribbean for drills as tensions rise over Ukraine, US officials say

WASHINGTON (AP)  The U.S. has been tracking Russian warships and aircraft that are expected to arrive in the Caribbean for a military exercise in the coming weeks, in a Russian show of force as tensions rise over Western military support for Ukraine, U.S. officials said Wednesday.

The ships also are expected to make port calls in Venezuela and Cuba, as Russia establishes a Western Hemisphere military presence that the senior Biden administration officials said was notable but not concerning. The exercise, which will be monitored by the U.S. military, will involve a handful of Russian ships and support vessels, the two officials said.

Its not the first time Russia has sent its ships to the Caribbean. This exercise, however, is taking place as Russian President Vladimir Putin has suggested that Moscow could take asymmetrical steps elsewhere in the world in response to President Joe Bidens decision to allow Ukraine to use U.S.-provided weapons to strike inside Russia to protect Kharkiv, Ukraines second-largest city.

The officials, who spoke to reporters on the condition of anonymity to provide details that had not been announced publicly, said the exercise is certainly part of a broader Russian response to the U.S. support for Ukraine, but it also is an effort by Putin to show his navy is still capable of global power projection after losing several ships to Ukrainian strikes.

Over 650 Kansas cattle sent to landfill or buried in 2023

Ukrainian military officials said in March that Russia had lost one-third of its Black Sea fleet to Ukrainian strikes during the past two years of war.

Russia did not notify the U.S. of the pending exercise, but the ships movements have been tracked by the U.S. Navy, the officials said.

Despite Russia not notifying the U.S.  which countries often do to avoid miscalculation  the officials said militaries all over the globe have the right to conduct exercises in international waters and do so regularly. For example, on Friday about 20 NATO countries including the U.S. will begin BALTOPS 24, a major naval and air exercise in the Baltic region near Russia.

The officials said they expect the Russian ships will remain in the region through the summer and will likely conduct similar, follow-up exercises in the Caribbean after this one concludes.

The officials said Congress was notified of the upcoming Russian exercises on Wednesday.

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Russian frigate Admiral Gorshkov ahead of scheduled naval exercises with South African and Chinese navies in Richards Bay

MOSCOW (Reuters) -A Russian naval frigate and a nuclear-powered submarine conducted missile drills in the Atlantic Ocean while en route to Cuba, the Russian defence ministry said on Tuesday.

The drills by the submarine Kazan and the warship Admiral Gorshkov involved firing high-precision missiles at mock enemy targets from a distance of more than 600 km (370 miles), it said in a statement.

The Admiral Gorshkov also conducted training in recent days to repel an air attack, the ministry said.

The vessels are among a group of four Russian warships that is due to arrive in Cuba on Wednesday. Cuba said last week that such visits were standard practice by naval units from countries friendly to Havana, and that the ships carried no nuclear weapons and did not present a threat to the region.

The trip will nevertheless be closely watched by the United States at a time of acute tension with Russia over the war in Ukraine.

The United States does not see the move as threatening, but the U.S. Navy will monitor the exercises, a U.S. official told reporters last week.

"This is about Russia showing that it's still capable of some level of global power projection," the official said.

The Admiral Gorshkov has been used by Russia to test and deploy its Zircon hypersonic cruise missiles, and took part in joint exercises with the Chinese and South African navies in 2023.

(Reporting by Reuters; writing by Mark Trevelyan; editing by Rod Nickel)
The Russians are currently attacking on the Kharkiv front near Vovchansk, with almost 40 combat clashes having taken place on the frontline since the beginning of the day on 11 June.

Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook, information as of 10:00 on 11 June

Quote: "On the Kharkiv front, a Russian attack towards Vovchansk is currently underway. The situation is under control.

Over the past day, the invaders lost 79 soldiers, 26 of them killed, on the Kharkiv front. A tank, 3 armoured combat vehicles, 9 vehicles and 6 units of special equipment were destroyed. Two tanks, one armoured personnel carrier and three artillery systems were damaged. Twenty-two enemy personnel dugouts and one ammunition storage point were destroyed."

Details: Since the beginning of the day on 11 June, 37 combat clashes have already taken place along the entire front line. The Russians carried out two missile attacks using two missiles and four airstrikes with ten guided bombs, used 40 kamikaze drones and fired about 500 times on the positions of Ukrainian troops and populated areas.

In particular, on the Kupiansk front, Ukrainian defenders are repelling two attacks by Russian troops near Berestove.

On the Lyman front, Ukrainian defenders repelled eight Russian attempts to improve their tactical position. The Russians are concentrating their efforts near Terny. One attack was repelled there, and three combat clashes are ongoing. Fighting is also continuing near Druzheliubivka, Nevske and Hryhorivka.

On the Siversk front, four Russians attempts to advance near Verkhnokamianske and Vyimka were successfully repelled. One combat engagement is still ongoing near the latter settlement.

On the Kramatorsk front, three Russian assaults have taken place since the beginning of the day. One of them, near Chasiv Yar, was repelled. Fighting is continuing near Klishchiivka and Andriivka.

On the Pokrovsk front, Ukrainian defenders are taking measures to prevent the advance of Russian troops deep into Ukrainian territory. The Russians are continuing their attempts to break through near Novooleksandrivka, Sokil, Novoselivka Persha and Yasnobrodivka. At the moment, there are seven combat clashes.

Updated information indicates that on the Pokrovsk front, the Russians lost 259 soldiers killed and wounded, a tank, two armoured combat vehicles, six vehicles and one Su-25 aircraft yesterday. Two Russian tanks and four armoured combat vehicles were damaged.

On the Kurakhove front, the Russians launched assaults twice. The attack was successfully repelled near Paraskoviivka. The battle continues near Krasnohorivka. On 10 June, the Russians lost 76 people killed and wounded and lost four tanks, four armoured personnel carriers and four vehicles.

On the Huliaipole front, the Russians became more active near Charivne, with three combat clashes taking place.

On the Orikhiv front, the Russians made four attempts to improve the tactical situation near Mala Tokmachka and Shcherbaky.

In total, the Russians carried out 62 airstrikes (including using 95 guided bombs) on Ukrainian positions and populated areas over the last day, firing over 4,000 times, 149 of them from multiple-launch rocket systems.

Ukraine's Air Force and Rocket Forces and Artillery struck 13 areas where Russian personnel and military equipment were concentrated, seven air defence systems, two missile units and artillery systems, and a Russian radar station.

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The Russians attacked Nikopol on the evening of 10 June and the morning of 11 June. They damaged an infrastructure facility and residential buildings, and one woman was injured.

Source: Serhii Lysak, Head of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Military Administration; Mykola Lukashuk, Head of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Council; Yevhen Yevtushenko, Head of Nikopol District Military Administration

Quote from Lysak: "The enemy attacked Nikopol and Manhanets hromada with kamikaze drones and artillery in the evening. They attacked the district centre again in the morning. An infrastructure facility, three houses and an outbuilding were damaged. There are no casualties reported." [A hromada is an administrative unit designating a town, village or several villages and their adjacent territories  ed.]

Details: Lukashuk specified that the Russians had launched six kamikaze drones towards Nikopol on the morning of 11 June.

"An infrastructure facility was damaged, but the aftermath of the attack is still being ascertained," he said.

Aftermath of a Russian attack on Nikopol

Photo: Mykola Lukashuk on Telegram

Update: Lysak later reported that the Russians had injured an 87-year-old woman in their attack on Nikopol. She sustained multiple shrapnel wounds and was taken to hospital in a moderate condition.

Aftermath of a Russian attack on Nikopol

Photo: Mykola Lukashuk on Telegram

Several houses, outbuildings, greenhouses and a power transmission line were damaged.

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The Russians have dropped a 500-kilogramme guided bomb on a residential area of the city of Kostiantynivka in Donetsk Oblast, injuring five people.

Source: Donetsk Oblast Prosecutor's Office

Details: The Russians conducted an airstrike on the city of Kostiantynivka at 23:20 on 10 June. Early reports indicate that the Russians dropped a 500-kilogramme guided bomb with a universal planning and correction module.

Fire

Photo: Prosecutors Office

The bomb hit a residential area where five local residents sustained physical injuries due to shattered glass and a powerful blast wave. A man, 65, as well as two women, aged 63 and 88, were taken to hospital.

They were diagnosed with traumatic brain injuries and multiple lacerations. All received qualified medical assistance.

At least 13 high-rise residential buildings were damaged: windows and glass panes were shattered.

A destroyed building

Photo: Prosecutors Office

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CANBERRA, June 11 (Xinhua) -- A shortage of scientists specialized in plant breeding could threaten global food security, an international research led by Australia's national science agency has warned.

According to a joint study published on Tuesday by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Canada's McGill University and Lincoln University in New Zealand, a lack of skilled plant breeders could have dire implications for food security around the world.

Plant breeding is the science of changing the traits of plants to improve their genetic potential. It is used to improve the quality of nutrition in produce and underpins the global production of food for animals and humans as well as fuel and fiber.

The new research found that skills shortages in plant breeding have been growing for some time and must urgently be addressed to maintain current levels of agricultural, fiber and feed production.

"What we're seeing is a whole generation of highly-skilled plant breeding specialists who are now reaching retirement age, with a gap left as university graduates opt to focus on other areas of plant science including molecular biology," Lucy Egan, lead author of the study from the CSIRO, said in a media release.

"The implications of this shortage could be dire, including affecting global food security and the economies of different countries around the world, including Australia."

The study calls for the establishment of dedicated plant breeding training facilities around the world to address the shortage and for increased private sector involvement in the sector. 
In the latest blow to Russia's military prestige, Ukraine this week claimed to have for the first time struck at least one  and possibly two  of Moscow's cutting-edge, fifth-generation fighter jets, the Su-57.

The aircraft were reportedly damaged after a strike on the Akhtubinsk airfield in the Astrakhan region in southern Russia, 589 kilometers from the front line.

The plane is Russias most modern fighter jet with only a few units in service in the Russian Air Force.

What does Russia say about the Su-57?

In an article last year, Russian propaganda media outlet Sputnik gushed about the plane in a piece claiming that the Su-57 "edges out" the U.S.-made fifth-generation fighter F-35.

"Russia's cutting-edge Su-57 fighter has taken the lead in aerospace technology, and is set for accelerated deployment," it wrote.

"This sets the stage for a clash of titans, pitting the Su-57's unparalleled agility against the F-35's capabilities, and highlights the Russian aircrafts combat prowess during its deployment in the current Ukraine conflict."

In 2019, Russian President Vladimir Putin told a meeting of top Kremlin military officials and defense industry leaders that the Su-57, as well as Russia's Su-35, were "considered the best in the world."

But a closer examination suggests this might be quite far from the truth, and not only does the Su-57 fail to live up to the hype of the U.S.-made F-35, it doesn't even live up to that of the older F-22.

What is a 'fifth-generation' jet?

There is no official definition of the fifth-generation fighter offered by the U.S. military or NATO.

But it is generally accepted by experts that to qualify as a fifth-generation fighter, a jet must meet certain technological criteria, including:

Capable of supersonic flight without using afterburners

Stealthy design to avoid detection

Ultra-high manoeuvrability

Advanced avionics

Multirole capabilities.

The first major inkling that all was not right with the Su-57 came in 2018 when India withdrew from the project to co-develop and produce the aircraft with Russia.

Among several concerns, one of the major reasons cited was that Russia had not developed a fifth-generation engine to power its "fifth-generation jet."

"The aircraft is positioned as a fifth-generation fighter, but until new engines are received, it does not meet one of the fifth-generation criteria  the ability to perform supersonic cruise flight without switching on afterburners," Andrii Kharuk, a military historian and weapons expert, told the Kyiv Independent.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan inspect a Su-57 fighter jet at the MAKS International Aviation and Space Salon at Zhukovsky International Airport in Moscow, Russia, on Aug. 27, 2019. (Andrey Rudakov/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Current models of Su-57 are powered by versions of the same engine as Russia's fourth-generation fighters, the Su-34 and Su-35, though Russian media reported in February that the new engine would be ready for the Su-57 this year.

There were also concerns about just how stealthy the aircraft was  a true fifth-generation fighter, like the U.S.-made F-22 Raptor, has, among other features, specially designed square exhaust nozzles to help keep the aircraft as undetectable as possible.

The Su-57's nozzles are round, just like they are on the Su-34 and Su-35, with Russian engineers reportedly unable to develop their own square ones either due to lack of funds and/or expertise.

"Overall it's pretty good, but only generation 4+," Viktor Kevliuk, a retired Ukrainian military officer and defense expert, told the Kyiv Independent.

"According to the concept of the fifth-generation aircraft, the engine must be protected from the radiation of radio-electronic equipment, and hide thermal radiation as much as possible, which was not implemented in the Su-57."

"The main criterion  inconspicuousness  could not be achieved."



So how advanced is the Su-57?

The Su-57 was meant to rival the fifth-generation fighter jets of other countries, particularly the U.S.

"The Su-57 came as a response to the F-22 Raptor, but the U.S. Air Force is already retiring the oldest F-22s, and production of the Su-57 is just beginning," Kharuk says.

The F-22 Raptor was introduced into the U.S. Air Force (USAF) in 2005. Its production run ended in 2011 and the USAF operates 186 of them. It is still considered one of the best fifth-generation fighter jets in the world.

Nine years after the U.S. stopped making the F-22 Raptor, the first Russian Su-57 entered service, though with some compromises in true fifth-generation technology.

The first non-prototype version crashed during a test flight in December 2019. It has been dubbed the "worst of the worlds stealth fighters."

The first fully operational regiment of Su-57s consisting of just 24 aircraft is not expected to be up and running until next year.

In December of 2022, pilots were still only just undergoing theoretical training.

"Apparently, only about 20 such aircraft have been produced so far," Kharuk says.

Russian Sukhoi Su-57 fighter aircraft fly over Red Square and the Kremlin during a rehearsal for the World War II Victory Parade in Moscow, Russia, on June 20, 2020. (Dimitar Dilkoff / AFP via Getty Images)

How does Russia use Su-57 against Ukraine?

According to former Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu in 2022, the Su-57 has "shown itself brilliantly" in attacks against Ukraine.

"The aircraft has a very high degree of protection against various air defense systems, has protection against missiles  Most importantly, it has very powerful weapons. We also tried and tested these weapons, they work brilliantly," he added.

In reality, it's done nothing that Russia's older jets couldn't do.

"So far, the Su-57 has not demonstrated any exceptional characteristics  it is used only as a platform for launching cruise missiles, without entering the [Ukrainian] air defense zone," Kharuk says.

The Su-57 can carry Kh-59 and Kh-69 cruise missiles that regularly attack Ukraine's cities.

The Kh-69 has been particularly devastating in recent months, responsible for the attack that destroyed the Trypillia Thermal Power Plant in Kyiv Oblast on April 11.

But it is not publicly known which type of aircraft launched the missiles  the Kh-69 can also reportedly be launched from Su-34 and Su-35, all from the safety of Russian air space.

"In Russia, voices are already being heard about the 'uselessness' of the Su-57  they say that the same tasks can be performed by much cheaper aircraft," Kharuk says.

The true cost of Russia's fighter jets is not publicly known, but the Su-57 as well as the Su-34 and Su-35 cost tens of millions of dollars each.

The Ukrainian drones that were used to strike the Su-57s cost a fraction of this.

If Russia's boasts about the capabilities of the Su-57 were true, then it hasn't been backing them up by putting them into action to test them.

"Given the problems, the enemy uses the Su-57 from distances outside the airspace of Ukraine," Kevliuk says.

Kevliuk added the Su-57 was more useful for showing off at arms fairs "than for its combat use."

An assessment from the British Defense Ministry in January 2023 update said Russia's risk-averse approach to using the Su-57 was "symptomatic" of the military's wider approach to the war.

"Russia is highly likely prioritizing avoiding the reputational damage, reduced export prospects, and the compromise of sensitive technology which would come from any loss of (a Su-57) over Ukraine," it said.

Kharuk points out that the story of the Su-57 in Ukraine echoes that of another much-vaunted but barely used Kremlin weapon  the Armata tank.

"This is symptomatic of Russias continued risk-averse approach to employing its air force in the war," the U.K. Defense Ministry said.

Read also: Russias move on Kharkiv has bogged down. But was it a failure?

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Andrew Gore was looking forward to a treat on his 47th birthday: flying with his wife Victoria and 10 other people for a weeks holiday on Spains Costa Brava.

But after an extraordinary mix-up at Bristol airport, the couple from Mountain Ash in South Wales were put on the wrong Ryanair plane  away from their family and friends.

Despite having boarding passes showing their destination as Barcelona, they were flown to Kaunus in Lithuania.

To reach their intended destination, they then had to endure a 150-mile Uber ride across an international frontier to Riga in Latvia, and a 1,400-mile flight to Spain.

I was distraught, and scared. I didnt stop crying, said Ms Gore. It was my worst nightmare.

Made it: Andrew and Victoria Gore after their arrival in Lloret de Mar, a day late (Victoria Gore)

Andrew and Victoria Gore, also 47, had done everything right. They had booked a package holiday with Sunshine.co.uk, costing over 1,500 for the week. The deal included flights from Bristol to Barcelona on Ryanair.

As Andrew is an amputee and Victoria is autistic, they booked special assistance at Bristol airport and arrived in good time for the 8.15am flight on Saturday 25 May.

Ms Gore said: We have been away lots of times and always had special assistance, so this was nothing new to us.

The minibus took us to the Ryanair plane and they checked our boarding pass and let us on the plane.

The couple had been assigned separate seats on their original flight. Ms Gore, believing she was on the aircraft shortly departing to Barcelona, said: I asked the air hostess if we could sit together as Im scared of flying.

She checked our boarding pass again and put us in the second row.

They were on the wrong plane, while their family  who did not have special assistance  boarded the right aircraft.

We didnt see our family getting on, so asked if they were on board, and were assured they were, said Ms Gore.

The Boeing 737 took off for the 1,400-mile trip to Kaunus. We had a couple of drinks, then went to sleep as we had been up early, said Ms Gore.

As we landed, it was very clear we were in Lithuania.

They alerted the crew, and according to Ms Gore the captain was furious when he learnt what had happened. He instructed staff to provide care and onward transportation for them.

With no direct flights from Kaunus to Barcelona, ground staff booked them on the following days flight from Riga, 150 miles north across the Latvian frontier. They were also assigned a hotel, and an Uber to take them there.

They flew as normal to Barcelona next day and were taken to their hotel on the Costa Brava.

But they had no baggage: it had been removed from the Bristol-Barcelona flight when, through no fault of their own, they did not board the plane.

It finally arrived two days later.

Andrew and Victoria Gore have now returned to South Wales. Ive heard of suitcases going to the wrong place but not people. In this day and age, there are so many checks. How could it happen?

They looked at our boarding passes so many times. Its unbelievable.

The Independent contacted Ryanair, who blamed the incident on ABM, who provide special assistance at the airport.

These passengers booked special assistance for this flight from Bristol to Barcelona (25 May), but the ABM agents boarded them onto the wrong flight to Kaunas despite gate signage clearly displaying the flights destination, a spokesperson said.

Upon arriving at Kaunas Airport, these passengers notified the crew that they were on the wrong flight and Ryanair immediately arranged for both passengers to be reaccommodated on the next available flight to Barcelona, which was scheduled to depart Riga Airport the next morning (26 May).

As these passengers did not board their flight to Barcelona, their bags were removed from the aircraft in line with standard safety procedures. When it was realised that these passengers had been misrouted and were rerouted to Barcelona, their bags were rushed from Bristol Airport to Barcelona.

We sincerely apologise to these passengers for any inconvenience caused as a result of ABMs error, and have assured that they will be fully compensated by Bristol Airport.

A spokesperson for Bristol Airport said:

Weve worked with our business partners to investigate this incident. All customers have their travel documentation checked by the airline or their ground handling agent before boarding an aircraft. Since being informed of the issue, Bristol Airport has worked with our airline handling agent and special assistance provider to investigate the circumstances and to introduce improvements for the future.

We will contact the customer with information to direct their complaint to the correct business partner for resolution.
Sacramento already overpaid for $18.5M building on K Street. Heres why that cost might tick up

Sacramento taxpayers could ultimately be on the hook for $300,000 annually to pay for the management of the three-story K Street building that the city overpaid for in 2023.

The Sacramento City Council has included this as part of its consent calendar, a group of bundled items typically approved unanimously without debate, for Tuesdays session beginning at 5 p.m. It will also will also address the budget and the citys $66 million deficit.

The consent item includes the details of the agreement related to 827 K St., also known as the Hale building, which was the subject of a Sacramento Bee investigation in March that found the city overpaid for it. The $18.5 million purchase last year of the nearly 150-year-old building was a key element in settling a 2016 lawsuit over a proposed 16-pump gas station. Developer Paul Petrovich wanted to place the gas station in his Crocker Village development in Curtis Park, but the council had denied him.

City Councilwoman Katie Valenzuela, who represents downtown, said that she was not asking that the building management agreement be pulled off the consent calendar but said she is troubled because the item is presented opaquely, kind of like this whole thing has been.

She said she is asking the city manager or his staff to explain the citys strategy. In response, Swanson said, The City Manager is responsive to the City Council and the direction they provide. Swanson added, If this is a topic that the City Council would like to engage in more imminently, it can direct the City Manager to develop and provide a report on the process for Council to discuss.

The staff report accompanying the agreement states that the city has paid $58,362 to the Housing Authority of the City of Sacramento to manage the building since it took possession in December. The city estimates an annual cost to the city of $57,000, above and beyond the revenue the building generates. Total annual building expenses are estimated to be $401,000.

The management agreement is one of 22 on the consent calendar and is labeled Administrative Services Agreement with Housing Authority of the City of Sacramento for Property Management Service.

We have lots of agreements with the housing authority, Valenzuela said. But then I noticed the address, and I realized, Oh, its that building.

Multiple real estate experts said that building was overvalued by as much as $9 million.

One broker with knowledge of downtown, who asked not to be named because they do business with the city, said the price was out of line.

The price the city paid was a joke, relative to value. the broker said. The city clearly felt they were in hot soup, and had to compensate Petrovich, and was looking for ways to bury millions of dollars. They easily paid 50% over market.

City spokesperson Tim Swanson said, the consent item on the June 11 agenda involves the day-to-day management of 827 K St., not an overall plan for the building. The City continues to explore its options for best uses of the property to support City goals and objectives.

The initial agreement for building management services is until Jan. 31, 2025. The agreement also states that the agreement can be extended by mutual agreement of the parties.

The city says in its request to approve the management contract that it is projected that the Hale building is running $57,000 in the red. The cost to taxpayers could skyrocket by at least $300,000 per year, without further council approval. That could happen if the one remaining major tenant in the building vacates, which it has the option to do in June of next year, or if building upgrades are required and the city approves them.

At the time the city managers office asked the council to approve the settlement with Petrovich in July 2023, a staff report claimed rent revenue from the tenants of the building was $1.74 million. Commercial real estate values are largely derived from expected revenue.

But by the time the city took over the property, $1.4 million in revenue had evaporated. Petrovich was one of the tenants and was paying himself $664,232 through two different corporations, a common and legal practice for commercial real estate owners. Another tenant, Skyslope, negotiated a rent cut by nearly half, further reducing revenue.

Things are tough enough downtown that Anthem Properties, which manages a new luxury apartment building downtown, is giving away up to 10 ground-floor retail spaces for free for a year. The companys apartments at 1010 11th St., about two blocks from the Hale, are 70% occupied  but leasing the ground-floor retail space was going nowhere, so we got creative, company representative Elisha McCallum told The Bee.

McCallum said Anthem is teaming up with a Downtown Partnership of Sacramento program called Calling All Dreamers, which offers entrepreneurs start-up funding, and is also in talks with other entrepreneurs.

So will the remaining tenants at the Hale stay? The city says the current revenue for the building is $344,000 with expected expenses to maintain and manage the building of $401,000.

But if Skyslope takes advantage of a clause that allows them to exit the lease without penalty on June 30, 2025, the city would lose over $300,000 in revenue, causing the cost to taxpayers to soar.
If they said I did it, I did it: Utah man arrested for alleged child sex abuse

FARMINGTON, Utah (ABC4)  A 75-year-old man from Payson, Utah, has been taken into custody for alleged child sex abuse spanning more than a decade.

According to the Davis County Sheriffs Office, Alan Brower Bassett had been accused of abusing several victims between 1977 and 1989. Investigators said several victims, whose ages at the time ranged between 5 and 10 years old, were sexually abused while Bassett lived in Fruit Heights.

The abuse only stopped when Bassett moved away from the neighborhood, according to court documents.

Quite aggressive: DWR warns to avoid bison on Antelope Island State Park

It has been 40 years that some of these victims have sought justice and were happy to tell these victims that Alan Bassett is off the streets, said Chief Deputy Taylor West. Detectives with our office put in hundreds of hours in identifying, locating, and interviewing victims. We appreciate their work and the trust these victims had in sharing their stories. We remain committed to seeking justice for all victims, regardless of the time that has passed.

According to court documents, Bassett moved into his Fruit Heights home with his family and spent many years at the residence. Many of the victims reported spending a large amount of time at Bassetts home.

Victims described in detail times of going on hikes, sitting on Bassetts lap, and taking off their clothes around Bassett, many of which involved being inappropriately touched by Bassett.

When Bassett was questioned about the allegations, he reportedly told investigators, If they said I did it, I did it. Why would they lie?

Bassett allegedly admitted to sexually abusing the children during his time in Fruit Heights but was unable to give investigators a total number of all the victims he reportedly abused.

Bassett was booked into Davis County Jail on Monday, June 10, on eight second-degree felony charges of sex abuse of a child. He has been ordered to be held without bail. An initial court date has not yet been scheduled.

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.
SALEM, Va. (WFXR)  Salem City Council voted 3-2 to approve rezoning for the HopeTree property on June 10. It was the first reading of the ordinance; a second reading will follow.

The project in the north side of Salem became controversial because of residents concerns about traffic and community impact. Mondays meeting was filled with a crowd arguing against the site being rezoned as a PUD, aka a Planned Unit Development. It would allow developers to build retail spaces, restaurants, office space, a hotel, and more. Plans also include a greenspace with walking paths open to the community.

Person holding a sign at the Salem City Council meeting on June 10. (Rhian Lowndes/ WFXR News)

Donna Crotts was one resident who got up to speak against the rezoning, citing worries about increased traffic and changes to property values.

MVP requests Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to approve project for service

If you have even a sliver of reasonable doubt as to whether the HopeTree project is right for Salem and your constituents, I ask you to vote no, she said.

The rezoning was approved with Vice Mayor Jim Wallace and Councilman Hunter Holliday voting against it.

Mayor Renee Turk argues the project will help Salem bring in revenue, housing, and population.

Theres going to be change regardless, she said. Its either going to be residential single family or PUD because keeping it the same isnt an option. The property is going to be developed.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
(COLORADO SPRINGS)  The Colorado Springs Salvation Army has put a call out to the community for donations to help sustain meals for children of in-need families this summer.

According to the Salvation Army, its 2024 Red Shield Summer Day Camp is underway and at full capacity, with 35 families in El Paso County taking part and a record, 67 children enrolled.

The nine-week, faith-based summer day camp began on June 3 and goes through Aug. 2 and offers a safe, fun-filled environment for kids Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

During the week, the Salvation Armys Colorado Cafe provides the children with breakfast, lunch, and snacks at no additional cost to families. Our price is the best in the county for affordability, said Red Shield Manager, Cassie Hansen. We give our kids opportunities to travel and experience the state of Colorado for children that might not otherwise be afforded that.

The summer day camp is for children ages five to 15 years old and because the Salvation Army is seeing a record number of children this summer, the organization needs your help more than ever.

The Salvation Army faces increased food demand and extra costs throughout the summer when donations typically slow, according to a press release sent on Tuesday, June 11.

We need the communitys help. Just $50 feeds a child for an entire week!

To donate visit HelpColoradoSprings.com.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado.
Who is Sam Brown, the Trump-endorsed candidate running for Nevada's U.S. Senate seat?

Former President Donald Trump endorsed U.S. Army veteran Sam Brown, a candidate in the states crowded U.S. Senate primary, just hours after his rally in Nevada over the weekend.

Sam Brown is a FEARLESS AMERICAN PATRIOT, a Purple Heart Recipient, who has proven he has the PURE GRIT and COURAGE to take on our Enemies, both Foreign and Domestic, Trump wrote in the post. Sam Brown has my Complete and Total Endorsement - HE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN.

Republican presidential candidate, former U.S. President Donald Trump greets supporters upon arrival for his campaign rally at Sunset Park on June 09, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada

The military veteran is seen as a frontrunner among the many candidates running for the Republican nomination in the states primary on Tuesday. According to the Reno Gazette-Journal, he has the backing of the National Republican Senatorial Committee and Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo.

Though the Silver State hasnt voted for a Republican presidential candidate in two decades, Nevada is seen as a key battleground state in this election, and a GOP victory could help overhaul the Democrats 51-49 seat majority.

Many werent sure whether Brown would snag Trumps endorsement after he was late to endorse the former presidents second term, but he quickly accepted the accolades.

I am honored to have President Trumps endorsement of our grassroots Duty First movement for U.S. Senate, Brown said in a press release.

Together, we will work towards delivering a better future for every Nevadan! I look forward to helping President Trump pass the America First agenda in the U.S. Senate after we both win in November, he added.

Who is Sam Brown?

Before he started campaigning for the U.S. Senate in Nevada, Brown was a U.S. Army captain who was severely burned while serving in Afghanistan in 2008 when a bomb went off under his vehicle, resulting in him undergoing more than 30 surgeries over three years.

He went on to manage an Amazon fulfillment center and eventually started a small business that provides emergency pharmaceutical support to veterans.

Before moving to Nevada, Brown lived in Texas, where he ran in the 2014 Republican primary for the State House. In 2022, he unsuccessfully ran in Nevadas Republican primary for the U.S. Senate.

While Brown is seen as the one to beat for the Republican nomination, the field includes Dr. Jeff Gunter (a former ambassador to Iceland under Trump) and former Nevada Assemblyman Jim Marchant.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Who is Sam Brown? Meet Trump's pick for Senate in Nevada
Martha-Ann Alito, the wife of Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito, complained about the Pride flag, ranted about feminazis, and explained a flag design that she has been creating in her head in anticipation of when her husband is free of this nonsense, according to undercover audio released by a journalist and documentary filmmaker Monday on X.

I want a Sacred Heart of Jesus flag, because I have to look across the lagoon at the Pride flag for the next month, Alito griped at one point.

Alitos comments were recorded undercover June 3 at the Supreme Court Historical Societys annual dinner by Lauren Windsor, who was playing the role of a conservative activist.

Just hours earlier on Monday, Windsor posted another secretly recorded conversation she had had at the dinner with Alitos husband. That audio was obtained and published by Rolling Stone. In his comments, the embattled jurist described fundamental differences between the left and right-wing that cant be compromised, and expressed a desire to return our country to a place of godliness.

Samuel Alito Gets Remarkably Candid in Secret Audio Recording

Shortly after the tape of Samuel Alito was posted, Windsor promised, We arent done breaking news just yet That vow was fulfilled Monday night, with Windsor posting audio of Martha-Ann unfurled. According to the tape, Alito addressed the controversy over Jan. 6-linked flags spotted at her and her husbands homes in Virginia and New Jersey, for which Samuel Alito said his wife was responsible.

The feminazis believe that he should control me, Alito said. So theyll go to hell. He never controls me.

Toward the end of the six-minute recording, Alito circled back to the subject.

After stating her need for a Sacred Heart of Jesus flag, Alito described her husbands reaction.

Hes like, Oh please dont put up a flag. I said, I wont do it because Im deferring to you. But when you are free of this nonsense, Im putting it up and Im going to send them a message every day. Maybe every week, Ill be changing the flags.

EXCLUSIVE UNDERCOVER AUDIO:

Martha-Ann Alito Unfurled



"I want a Sacred Heart of Jesus flag because I have to look across the lagoon at the Pride flag for the next month." pic.twitter.com/okNsW7SPlu  Lauren Windsor (@lawindsor) June 10, 2024

Alito then divulged to Windsor that shes actually been spending her time creating flag designs in her head.

Theyll be all kinds. I made a flag in my head. This is how I satisfy myself, she continued. Its white and it has yellow and orange flames around it, and in the middle in the word Vergogna.

That Italian word, she explained, means shame.

After Windsor, who said in character that she was upset by the attention that the media has devoted to the significance of the flags and whether Samuel Alito ought to recuse himself from Jan. 6-related cases, Alito gave her some advice.

Dont get angry, she said. Get even.

Justice Alitos Neighbor Calls Out His Flag Story in First TV Appearance

A bit later, when Windsor lamented how theyre persecuting you, and youre like a convenient stand-in for anybody who is religious, Alito reiterated her aforementioned mantra.

Look at me. Im German, from Germany. My heritage is German. You come after me, Im going to give it back to you. And there will be a wayit doesnt have to be nowbut there will be a way they will know. Dont worry about it, she said, before quoting the Bible.

Psalm 27 is my psalm, she told Windsor. The Lord is my God and my rock. Of whom shall I be afraid? Nobody.

Alito, when Windsor recalled the conversation she had just had with her husband, emphatically agreed with the statement that there is no negotiating with the radical left.

They feel, she said. They dont think.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Martha-Ann Alito is sick of seeing the LGBTQ+ Pride flag, so she's going to replace it with a "shame" flag instead.

The wife of Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito was secretly recorded ranting against the rainbow banner last week at a Supreme Court Historical Society reception. Documentary filmmaker Lauren Windsor attended the event, posing as a conservative Christian donor, and poised a question to Alito about how to return the country to a "godly place."

Alito went on an unprompted rant about flags, saying in the recording, You know what I want? I want a Sacred Heart of Jesus flag, because I have to look across the lagoon at the Pride flag for the next month.

 (@)

twitter.com

Alito and her husband recently sparked controversy by displaying an upside-down American flag outside of their home  a symbol of the January 6, 2020 insurrection, which was led by right-wing extremists on the false notion that President Joe Biden's victory in the presidential election was not legitimate.

The couple drew ire again when they displayed the Appeal to Heaven flag at their vacation home in New Jersey. The banner, which features a green pine tree and the words An Appeal to Heaven," has roots dating back to the Revolutionary War, but has recently been used by far-right groups to promote Christian nationalism.

Alito continued her rant by revealing that her husband has been asking her not to raise political flags at their homes, which she has agreed to do only until he is "free" from his position as a judge on the nation's highest court.



Hes like, Oh, please dont put up a flag. I said, I wont do it because I am deferring to you. But when you are free of this nonsense, Im putting it up and Im gonna send them a message every day, maybe every week, Ill be changing the flags. Theyll be all kinds," Alito said. "I made a flag in my head. This is how I satisfy myself. I made a flag. Its white and has yellow and orange flames around it. And in the middle is the word vergogna. Vergogna in Italian means shame  vergogna. V-E-R-G-O-G-N-A. Vergogna. Shame, shame, shame on you."

Windsor, who bought a ticket and legitimately attended the dinner, told Rolling Stone that she wanted to explore Alito's beliefs because she can provide "a window into" her husband's thinking. Of Alito, Windsor only said: Shes very, very enthusiastic about her flag waving."


MEXICO CITY, June 10 (Xinhua) -- Four women and two children, including one three-month-old, were killed by an armed group on Sunday night in the central Mexican state of Guanajuato, the state governor Diego Sinhue Rodriguez Vallejo told reporters on Monday.

Expressing his sorrow over the killings, the governor called for an investigation into the possible involvement of the National Guard in the incident inside a home in an industrial neighborhood in Leon city.

This request came after neighbors reported that they had seen members of this public security institution on the roof of the place minutes before the attack. These members allegedly took some belongings.

"It is unacceptable that they may be entering homes without a search warrant, if that is the case, and second, we need to review their relationship with what happens minutes after they leave," the governor said.

The Guanajuato Prosecutor's Office has implemented a search perimeter into the killing, and "there are some suspects," he said.

Jorge Guillen, Leon's public security secretary, confirmed the presence of National Guard members at the scene prior to the attack.

"Yes, it is mentioned that the National Guard arrived a few minutes before the event; then the attackers arrived ... Everything is in the hands of the Prosecutor's Office," Guillen told the press. 
Six survivors of the 2012 Sandy Hook shooting are seen in a segment on "Good Morning America." YouTube screenshot

Six Sandy Hook survivors, who were first graders in 2012 when a gunman killed 20 children and six adults at their school in Newtown, Connecticut, reflected on the attack during Tuesdays episode of Good Morning America as they prepare to graduate from high school.

We dont want Im sorrys and This is so terrible it happened to you, Henry Terifay said in a segment on the morning show.

Its past that. Its happened too many times. Your prayers honestly dont mean anything. It doesnt help me. Ive had to deal with this for 10 years. Itll never get easier no matter how many times I talk about it, and honestly its just time for it to change. No more sorrys.

Emma Ehrens described the gunman entering her classroom at Sandy Hook Elementary School and standing right next to her. She said she watched her friends drop before she and others began to run away.

On the way, we saw bodies in the hallways and doors blown off the hinges, Ehrens said. We just ran and ran and ran out of the school.

She said that when she sees other school shootings, like the 2022 attack in Uvalde, Texas, that killed 19 children and two teachers, she knows that the victims families need more than expressions of sympathy.

They just want change, Ehrens said. This should never have happened to us; this should never have happened to them. I just think people in power, or people that have the power to make change, should do it instead of the 17-, 18-year-olds trying to do their work for them.

Some of the survivors said they plan to advocate against gun violence in their future careers in therapy, law and politics.

Lilly Wasilnak said she worries about sending her kids to school one day.

As unfortunate as it is, its going to happen to someone else and its going to keep happening to someone else until people like us have to make the change, she said.

Terifay added, I really thought Sandy Hook would shock people and wake everybody up, but it just keeps happening over and over and over again.

Families of some Sandy Hook victims recently won nearly $1.5 billion in legal judgments against Infowars owner Alex Jones after the conspiracy theorist called the school shooting a hoax.

Alex Jones apologies are worthless, Neil Heslin, whose child Jesse Lewis died in the shooting at age 6, testified in 2022. At this stage, any apology would not be sincere. Its gone too late. ... I dont know if Alex is even capable of a sincere apology.

Related...
Twelve years ago, the lives of students in the first-grade classrooms of Sandy Hook Elementary School were forever changed when a gunman opened fire, killing 20 of their classmates and six of their teachers and administrators.

This week, the young students who survived the mass shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, -- one of the deadliest school shootings in American history -- will graduate from high school. "Good Morning America" co-anchor George Stephanopoulos spoke with six of the students.

Henry Terifay was 7 years old when he fled his classroom after hearing gunshots.

PHOTO: Good Morning America' co-anchor George Stephanopoulos speaks with six survivors of the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School as they prepare to graduate from high school. (ABC News)

When he walks onstage to receive his high school diploma, he'll have with him a constant reminder of what happened in his classroom on Dec. 14, 2012.

"I have my friend's name tattooed on my shoulder so he stays with me every day," Terifay, now 18, told Stephanopoulos, adding of all his classmates who were killed, "I just try and remember them every day."

Emma Ehrens, now 17, was 6 years old and reading a book with her classmates when the shooter, a 20-year-old who went onto kill himself, entered her classroom.

"I remember being at the front of the classroom, and he came in and stood right next to me. And I watched all my friends drop," Ehrens said. "One of the victims [who] did not make it, he told me and a couple other people to run, and we did. We ran out of the classroom, out of the school, and on the way we saw bodies in the hallways and doors blown off the hinges. And we just ran and ran and ran, out of the school, out of the parking lot."

For another graduating senior, Matt Holden, his memory of Dec. 14, as a 6-year-old centers on seeing his mom cry in a way she never has before or since.

"Once we finally got out of the school, I remember we were walking to the firehouse and my mom ran up to me crying, and I didn't know what happened at the time," he said. "I didn't understand the gravity of the whole thing, but I knew if my mom was crying, my mom was so, so scared that, you know, something horrible had happened. I'd never seen her like that before and I never have since. I hope I never do."

'Dear Future Survivor': School shooting survivors pen letters to future survivors

Ella Seaver, who was 7 at the time of the shooting, said that even as she prepares to graduate high school and begin a new chapter, it remains hard to talk about what happened in her first-grade classroom all those years ago.

"It's still, even over 10 years later, just so difficult to try and dig up those memories because of how traumatic and painful it is," Seaver said, adding that it does provide comfort to share memories with fellow survivors. "For me personally, when I get to talk to these five other people, it's comforting in a way, because you have this connection that's never gonna go away."

Seaver said her experience as a Sandy Hook survivor helped her decide the career she plans to pursue after college.

"I've basically known that I wanted to be a therapist since I was eight, which was really only a year after the shooting," Seaver said. "I have been in and out of therapy almost my whole life, especially after the shooting, and it's really just helped me cope and helped me learn about myself, so I want to try and pay that forward and help people who have gone through gun violence, or even people who haven't, who are just struggling in their daily life."

Others said they plan to pursue careers in politics and law.

Since the 2012 shooting at Sandy Hook, more than 1,600 school shootings have taken place in the United States, according to the K-12 School Shooting Database, an independent, nonpartisan research project.

"I really thought Sandy Hook would, you know, shock people and wake everybody up," said Terifay, adding that he is tired of hearing "I'm sorry" from people without any action. "But it just keeps happening over and over and over again."

PHOTO: Photos of Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre victims sits at a small memorial near the school on Jan. 14, 2013 in Newtown, Conn. (John Moore/Getty Images, FILE)

Holden said that over one decade after a school shooting devastated his elementary school, things can feel "hopeless" as the number of school shootings continues to grow.

"The tragedy never ends," said Holden. "The friends, family who were lost that day, the smiling faces that should be filling the seats in your classroom, the parents who should be able to watch their kids graduate, get married, the kids will never be able to hug their parents again. It's never over."

Lilly Wasilnak, who was 6 at the time of the shooting, said the increase in school shootings since Sandy Hook make her worried for the safety of her own future kids.

"As unfortunate as it is, it's going to happen to someone else, and it's going to keep happening to someone else until people like us have to make the change," said Wasilnak, now 17. "We worry about one day when we'll have kids, and I don't want to send my kids to school in the way our world is."

School shooting survivors share their stories, from Columbine to Oxford High

On June 7, Wasilnak joined five of her fellow Sandy Hook survivors in traveling to Washington, D.C., to meet with Vice President Kamala Harris for National Gun Violence Prevention Day.

Just months earlier, in December, Wasilnak, Ehrens and a fellow classmate, Grace Fischer, had also been in D.C., to meet with legislators and attend the 10th Annual National Vigil for All Victims of Gun Violence.

"When I went there it was very eye-opening to me," Fischer said. "We sat down with senators, representatives and their staffers, and that opportunity of me being able to go to Congress and speak to these people in such high positions of power ... made me really want to fight for something that I wish to change."

PHOTO: A memorial to the victims of the Sandy Hook School shooting stands near the center of Sandy Hook on Gun Violence Awareness Day on June 7, 2024 in Sandy Hook, Conn. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

The last major action from Congress on gun laws, the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, came in June 2022, nearly one month after the Robb Elementary School massacre in Uvalde, Texas, that killed 19 students and two teachers.

Seaver said if she could see one change on gun reform it would be to establish "regulations on AR-style assault weapons."

"I think one of the hardest things is getting people to see eye-to-eye on it," Seaver said. "And I think that stops a lot of regulations and legislation, which unfortunately is costing more and more lives every day."

Sandy Hook survivors share memories, plans for the future ahead of high school graduation originally appeared on goodmorningamerica.com
Lauren Windsor is not apologizing for recording her undercover conversations with Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito, his wife Martha-Ann Alito and Chief Justice John Roberts.

In an interview with POLITICO Magazine, the progressive activist and documentarian discussed how and why she posed as a sympathetic anti-abortion activist to secure candid  and pugnacious  comments from Alito and his wife, including on the controversy surrounding the Alitos decision to fly politically-coded flags at their properties.

She said it was shocking to hear Martha-Ann Alito say she fantasized about designing a flag featuring the word vergogna  the Italian word for shame  to fly in response to LGBTQ+ pride flags. I definitely did not see that coming, she said.

Alito, meanwhile, raised eyebrows for his response to Windors question about the polarized state of American politics. One side or the other is going to win, Alito said on the recording. There are differences on fundamental things that really cant be compromised.

Windsor also dismissed criticism from media ethicists who argue that she should have identified herself as a journalist and shouldnt have secretly recorded the justices in 2023 and 2024.

The Supreme Court is shrouded in secrecy, and theyve really been dodging any accountability to the American public, Windsor said. Is it a bigger ethics problem for me to pretend like Im a fangirl, or is it a bigger ethics problem for them to accept millions of dollars of undisclosed gifts from GOP donors?

This conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

Were you surprised by Justice Alitos response to your question about our polarized politics?

I was surprised that it was a departure from his response he gave to me in 2023. He was more forthcoming. Particularly at the Supreme Court level, judges exercise a very high degree of discretion, so I suspected that it would be very difficult to be able to get him to say anything newsworthy. I was really just trying to delve into whether he might give a different answer or if his thinking had evolved on it, given the level of media scrutiny hes been under.

Why do you think he was more candid now? What could account for that change, in your mind?

It could very well be that he had the same belief when I talked to him in 2023 but he was just more guarded about it. Thats one option. It could be that hes more aggrieved or has a bigger sense of grievance with the media, given everything over the past year. Maybe he felt like theres a little bit greater trust since he had talked to me that one time before. Its hard for me to say  I cant see inside his mind.

Were you planning on going back to him to talk before the flag episode, or did you decide to do it after all the attention on the flags?

I had planned on going back regardless of the flag, but it certainly made it more interesting when the flags incident happened.

What are the logistics of these interviews? How do you get into the events, and then how do you actually get the recordings? Are you wearing a wire or something?

Im not going to discuss methodology on any of this, but you buy a ticket. I registered, and I was a dues-paying member.

I think many of Alitos critics have suspected for a while that his political biases are influencing his work on the court. Do you think your conversation with him revealed something about his thinking that his critics didnt already suspect?

I think [some] people dismiss the story as, Well, we already thought that this was happening  we already thought that his religious or political beliefs were influencing his decision, and this just confirmed that.

It is something new, though, because it is a verbal confirmation of his lack of impartiality when deciding these cases. If you say theres fundamental things that cant be compromised, what are those things?

What did you make of that comment, as well as his comment that one side is going to win? Its a little bit ambiguous what hes saying, so I wonder how you understood it.

The reason that I chose to ask about polarization is that judges are very discreet, and if I had approached him asking about Democrats and Republicans, he probably would have shut down pretty quickly, right? But talking about polarization is really shorthand for political polarization, and thats really bound up in the political conversation about religion. I feel like its kind of hard to separate out the religious from the political when talking about achieving godliness or godly ends.

He said at one point, There are differences on fundamental things that cant be compromised. Do you agree with him that there are genuinely irreconciled views in the country, or do you think there is a path toward pluralism and peaceful coexistence at this point?

I believe in secular democracy. I dont think that we should be legislating morality, and in order for that to happen, there has to be a separation of church and state. I think that is a fundamental value that we should not compromise. Thats a value that is bedrock to the founding of our nation.

Do you think that the type of reporting you do strengthens that barrier? Is it putting us on a path toward some sort of reconciliation, or is it just highlighting the contradictions that are already inherent in our political system?

I fear here that we are at a crossroads in this country of whether or not we want to remain a secular democracy or whether or not we want to become a Christian theocracy. And my reporting and my role is to expose public servants who will lead us down that path so that Americans are armed with the information they need to know to make decisions to hold those folks accountable.

Your conversation with Martha-Ann Alito was the most unusual of all your conversations. At one point in the conversation, Alito repeatedly meows at a woman named Cat. Were you expecting what you got from her?

In the audio, you can hear that I bring up my conversation with her husband, and I was definitely trying to get further evidence of bias in [his] decision making. Was this really her flag?

Lets be honest here: He clearly knows that she has this affinity for these flags, and he let it go and let her do it anyway, even though its important to have an appearance of impartiality. Im not going to let him off the hook as, Oh, well, those are my wifes flags. I had nothing to do with it. He was clearly enabling that.

I didnt expect a lot of the other color at all. I didnt expect the story about Robin Givhan at the Washington Post [in which Alito tangled with the Pulitzer-winning fashion critic]. I didnt expect her to meow several times.

The thing that was most shocking was probably the thing about the vergogna flag and how she said that fantasizing about making flags satisfies her. I definitely did not see that coming.

What did you make of that? What do you think she is trying to signal by saying she fantasizes about flying a flag that says shame?

I dont understand what is so abhorrent to her  I mean, I do understand whats abhorrent to her about the pride flag, but its other people expressing who they are, and its their First Amendment right. But it clearly deeply affects her, because she spends a lot of time thinking about it.

Justice Roberts pushed back against some of your provocations. Were you heartened by his response?

I was heartened by his response because I was like, OK, you know, this is great  this is someone who is an old-school, rational jurist. But as the chief justice and someone whos widely regarded as an institutionalist, hes going to have much more discretion. So given that he says these things but then he allows Justices Alito and [Clarence] Thomas to act in a more brazen manner without really enforcing the appearances of propriety on the court  hes enabling that behavior, so I have to question his sincerity.

You also brought up the leak of the Dobbs decision with Justice Alito. Why did you want to ask him about that in particular?

Its widely suspected that hes the person who leaked the opinion, so I was trying to gauge his reaction. And he seemed uncomfortable. That could be for any variety of reasons, but Im not sure exactly what he was going to tell me. It was more of trying to gauge his reaction.

He looked uncomfortable? What gave you that sense?

You can tell when someones not comfortable talking about a subject. You know  a little fidgety and kind of looking the other way. That was over a year ago, so its not crystal clear, but my impression was that he wasnt comfortable with it. But that may have also been an aggressive line of questioning. I dont want to impute things on him that I dont have evidence for, but it was my impression was that he was not comfortable.

In the recordings, you kept swearing and dropping F-bombs and then apologizing profusely for them. Was that a tactic?

I was only doing that with Martha-Ann. Obviously it would have been very inappropriate with the justices, and it was borderline inappropriate with her, but it was a way to show that I really care about this and am very passionate about it and Im just so angry about what theyre doing to [her]. I felt it was a way to commiserate with her that would be a little bit more believable.

I mean, it seemed to work.

You did get some meowing out of her.

Youve got to realize, too, that its at the end of a dinner, and weve had a couple glasses of wine.

That gets the conversation flowing.

You know

Youve gotten some pushback for conducting these interviews undercover, without identifying yourself as a journalist. Why do you think its justified to take that approach?

The Supreme Court is shrouded in secrecy, and theyve really been dodging any accountability to the American public. Theyre not going to go out and talk about what theyre doing or why, so we cant get the answers to anything.

Is it a bigger ethics problem for me to pretend like Im a fangirl, or is it a bigger ethics problem for them to accept millions of dollars of undisclosed gifts from GOP donors? Obviously this is what I believe, but maybe the media and others  instead of pearl-clutching  should be trying to get more answers from the court and more accountability.

Is it sort of an eye-for-an-eye equivalency in your mind? Like if theyre lying to us, its OK for us to deceive them?

I am not a fan of an eye-for-an-eye on things. I am a fan of accountability. I think that people who are in positions of power  if theyre going to refuse to be held accountable, then it warrants taking measures that you might not otherwise take.

Do you worry that the justices will become even more reclusive and more unwilling to answer any sort of questions now that something like this has happened? Or do you think were past the point where those considerations matter?

I dont know what the marginal difference there is. Theyre already not answering anything.

Was it all worth it in your mind?

Yeah. I think we have got to force a conversation about whats at stake on the Supreme Court. We have a court that is now made up of five religious extremists and jurists, and I dont think the average American is quite aware of the impact thats having on the courts decisions and how that trickles down into their everyday lives. But theyre becoming more and more aware of it as rights are being stripped away and as women are losing reproductive rights. And its not just abortion. Is birth control on the table?

There are many, many ways in which the Supreme Courts decisions impact Americans lives, and I think the more that journalists can expose the decision-making process that goes into that, the better.

What kind of political response would you like to see?

The appropriate political response is holding congressional investigations. Lets get the evidence, and lets hear what they have to say about these various breaches, and then take appropriate remedies as need be. Im not going to say that so-and-so will be impeached, but there have to be consequences. I dont think the founders ever intended for us to just have a rogue court thats not accountable to the American public.

Do you think your reporting will persuade anyone whos on the fence about the courts impartiality? Or have people just made up their minds, and this just confirms one sides view and entrenches the other?

The country is polarized, but people can change their mind with new information. I feel like I do my part when I give people more information. Thats really all I can do, is make sure that the information gets out in the world and then people can do what they want with it. But beyond that, I can only do what I can do.


Satellite images show the aftermath of a Ukrainian strike on Russian military targets in the city of Dzhankoi in occupied Crimea, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's investigative project Schemes reported on June 10, citing images from the Planet Labs satellite.

Ukrainian forces attacked Russian S-400 and S-300 anti-aircraft missile systems in several areas in occupied Crimea overnight on June 10. The General Staff reported that an S-400 missile unit was hit near Dzhankoi.

Schemes journalists obtained satellite images, recorded by the Earth imaging company Planet Labs, that depict the consequences of a large fire near the Dzhankoi railway.

The image quality is not high enough to identify the precise equipment located in the area. The recorded data shows that an object appeared in the location in May 2024, and that fortifications were built nearby.

Military expert Anatoliy Khrapchynsky told Schemes that the Russian radar system Podlet, used with S-300 and S-400 missiles, could have been located in the area pictured.

The Ukrainian military reported that the Russian radar systems stopped working "immediately" after the attacks.

Schemes investigators did not find images verifying the Ukrainian military's claims of strikes on S-300 missile units in occupied Chornomorske and Yevpatoria.

Read also: Ukraine war latest: Ukraine strikes Russian S-400, S-300 systems in occupied Crimea, General Staff says

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
INDIANAPOLIS  One of the largest yearly gatherings of evangelical Christians globally is often filled with drama over internal policies and external attitudes about pressing political issues.

Welcome to the Southern Baptist Convention's annual two-day meeting, which officially gets underway Tuesday.

Delegates who participate in the Nashville-based denominations legislative summit, who are known as messengers, are expected on Tuesday to take up a contentious resolution opposing in vitro fertilization, or IVF, elect a new president, and consider reports on abuse reform and cooperation. The latter item touches on a key theme of this years convention due to conflict surrounding a proposed measure to enshrine a ban on women pastors.

Catch up with Monday's SBC news: SBC live updates: Seminary leader condemns Trump verdict, voices opposition to IVF

The constitutional ban on women pastors  commonly called the Law Amendment after its original submitter, Virginia pastor Mike Law  may come up for a vote Tuesday or on Wednesday.

SBC President Bart Barber, a Texas pastor whos concluding his second and final term as the conventions highest-elected position, will preside over the business of the annual meeting throughout the next two days. Many important legislative sessions are scheduled for tight windows, requiring brief yet passionate speeches for and against certain legislative proposals.

Follow along for live updates.

SBC presidential results set for Wednesday

The Southern Baptist Convention will announce on Wednesday the results of its presidential election. Six candidates were running to lead the nation's largest Protestant denomination and the top three  Clint Pressley, David Allen, Dan Spencer  moved on to a runoff.

Vote on IVF resolution delayed

As business moved into the evening, the Southern Baptist Convention delayed until Wednesday a debate and vote on a resolution condemning the use of in vitro fertilization.

The resolution criticizes IVF and calls on Southern Baptists to only support reproductive technologies that affirm the "unconditional value and right to life of every human being, including those in an embryonic stage."

The resolution was authored by Al Mohler, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and Southern seminary professor Andrew Walker. It comes in the wake of an Alabama Supreme Court ruling in February. The court said frozen embryos are legally considered children and are protected under the states Wrongful Death of a Minor Act, a ruling that sparked national debate.

Presidential election heads to runoff between top three

A pool of six candidates was cut Tuesday evening in half with the top three vote-getters in the group headed to a runoff for SBC president.

Candidates Clint Pressley, David Allen and Dan Spencer received the most votes in the initial round of voting, sending them onto the next round.

SBC ousts Virginia church over stance on women in ministry

The Southern Baptist Convention on Tuesday overwhelmingly approved the ouster of First Baptist Church Alexandria in Virginia for its egalitarian stance on women in ministry.

A debate over the church's ouster on Tuesday echoed that of last year when the messengers voted overwhelmingly to uphold the ouster of Saddleback Church and Fern Creek Baptist Church from the denomination, which SBC leaders disfellowshipped for having women pastors.

An expected debate ahead of this weeks annual meeting, FBC Alexandria published information from an SBC committee review into the churchs stances on women in ministry. That committee, called the SBC Credentials Committee, formally recommended the churchs ouster during the Tuesday afternoon business session.

We take no joy in this recommendation, said Jonathan Sams, chair of the SBC Credentials Committee. Sams explained the recommendations is primarily based on the committees findings that FBC Alexandria holds to an egalitarian view of women in church leadership instead of a complementarian one, which the SBCs doctrinal statement holds to. Complementarianism refers to a belief that men and women have certain assigned roles.

Heather Deal, left, and Nikki Hardeman, with the Baptist Women in Ministry, protest for the right for women to be clergy, while standing outside the Southern Baptist Convention, Tuesday, June 11, 2024.

FBC Alexandria senior pastor Robert Stephens didnt deny the egalitarianism charge but said it shouldnt get in the way of a nearly 180-year relationship between the church and the denomination.

First Baptist Alexandria stands before you as a testament that we can maintain a fruitful partnership with churches that take a different stance on women in ministry, said Stephens on the floor of the convention. Stephens said FBC Alexandria has ordained three women since 1980.

Messengers voted to disfellowship FBC Alexandria with 91% of voting messengers in favor of the ouster, or 6,700-plus votes.

Related: What state-level ousters of SBC churches say about the national debate about women pastors

Abuse reform group calls out obstacles on way out

In its final report to the convention after two years of work, leaders of a temporary abuse reform task force called out fellow Southern Baptists for creating obstacles that hindered the task forces success.

Our report basically reflects the fact we took this work as far as we were allowed, said North Carolina pastor Josh Wester, chair of the SBC Abuse Reform Implementation Task Force, from the platform on Tuesday. The reality of our system is that any task force is going to be relatively at the mercy of the various apparatus that makes up the SBC.

Wester was responding to a question from Keith Meyer, a messenger from Maryland, who asked a question from the floor about the obstacles the abuse reform task force faced. To be honest, what you have given us today is not the completion of everything we have asked us for, Meyer said.

Meyers sentiment is shared by many, including among abuse survivors and advocates for reform who attended the SBC annual meeting this year, that the abuse reform task forces completed work fell far short of the groups original mandate from the 2022 SBC annual meeting.

The abuse reform task force was a temporary group that the convention renewed last year but expired after presenting its report on Tuesday afternoon. Wester said during the task forces presentation the group is on the brink of officially launching a database of abusive ministers with the first 100 names of those convicted in a criminal trial or found liable in a civil case.

The database, called Ministry Check, was expected to be online already and far more extensive, just one example of many of the task forces shortcomings. As a testament to the myriad challenges, former and current members of the task force incorporated a nonprofit to manage the database because the SBCs insurance liability left no other way, Wester said Tuesday.

Wester also noted challenges with the task forces ability to receive funding from Send Relief, a collective funding initiative in the SBC that took on the responsibility of funding for abuse reform work two years ago. But Wester said it was far more troublesome to securing those funds.

The problem that we faced is grappling with the fact that the Southern Baptist Conventionhad no meaningful plan to help its churches prevent or respond to sexual abuse, Wester said in his presentation to the full convention. The convention adopted the abuse reform task forces recommendations, forwarding on most long-term abuse needs to other SBC channels.

Pence addresses abortion, but avoids Christian nationalism and Trump conviction

Before a room of 400-plus Southern Baptists, former Vice President Mike Pence backed policy ideas that appeal to many religious conservatives but stopped short of explicitly denouncing a far-right religious movement rising amid former President Donald Trumps candidacy for president in November.

"Theres also a very healthy debate within my party about whether were going to stay on the coursetraditional moral values, a right to life, an affirmation of religious liberty or whether were going to start to move in a different direction," Pence said during a luncheon organized by the SBCs public policy arm, the Nashville-based Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission.

Pence warned against a "different direction" and spoke to the importance of the GOP emphasizing certain traditional policy positions such as fiscal conservatism and defense spending. Many in the room nodded and murmured in agreement with Pence's analysis.

Mike Pence speaks at the Serving in the Public Square lunch during the Southern Baptist Convention, Tuesday, June 11, 2024 at the Indianapolis Marriott Downtown. Brent Leatherwood, right, lead The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) event.

During a panel moderated by Brent Leatherwood, the commission's president, Pence focused on victories for the anti-abortion movement and condemning President Joe Biden.

But he avoided commenting on Trumps candidacy or the former presidents recent guilty verdict in a Manhattan hush money trial, which other leading Southern Baptist voices have criticized.

On Monday, Al Mohler, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, doubled down on his criticism of Trumps conviction in an address to a crowd of 750-plus mostly Southern Baptists during an event organized by the Danbury Institute.

The institute is led those in an opposition conservative faction that have sought to pull the SBC further to the right. The same event on Monday featured a prerecorded video message from Trump.

Mondays event reflected a rising sentiment among conservative Christians that America was founded as a Christian nation, an idea often associated with the Christian nationalism movement.

In fact, Pences remarks about his time serving in the Trump administration were mostly noncombatant.

For example, he highlighted the administrations appointment of three U.S. Supreme Court Justices who helped send Roe v. Wade to the ash heap of history, Pence said during Tuesdays luncheon.

SBC President Bart Barber emphasizes generosity in final address

For his last word of encouragement to Southern Baptists, SBC President Bart Barber admonished the convention to embrace a spirit of generosity.

If our experience of the local church is growing the right kind of heart in our chest, its going to be second nature for us to do the right thing here, Barber, a Texas pastor, said in his address to the convention early into its annual meeting. Your church and my church would be healthier when we can get the people to see their mission as building people up and growing people.

SBC President Bart Barber drops the gavel to start during the Southern Baptist Convention, Tuesday, June 11, 2024 at the Indiana Convention Center.

Division within the SBC has harmed the denominations reputation before the secular world, Barber said. People we push out the door and shut it behind them will no longer be influenced by us at all.

Barber concludes his second and final term as the denominations highest-ranking elected official at the end of the Indianapolis gathering, the business of which he presides over.

Originally elected at the 2022 SBC annual meeting, Barber has earned the fondness of many Southern Baptists for his folksy charm and his stature as a pastor of a small church. In the past couple years, Barber has led the convention during a time of deep conflict and confusion over abuse reform and the debate over the status of women pastors.

Barber was featured in a "60 Minutes" segment and was the first SBC president to attend the largest gathering of Christian Native Americans following the conventions adoption of a resolution on the history of federal Indian boarding schools.

Barber spoke to the more than 10,600 registered messengers and nearly 3,000 registered guests about the conventions health and longevity.

We can face all these challenges together if our churches are healthy, Barber said. Take the baton. You, the Southern Baptist Convention keeps on going.

Barbers message sought to combat a broader narrative of the great dechurching and anxiety over declining church membership. He also emphasized the importance of cooperation, a major theme of this years annual meeting due to the Law Amendment. Barber appointed the 20-member SBC Cooperation Group, which studied the denominations standards for affiliating with churches and is scheduled to present a report later Tuesday.

Six candidates are vying to be the next SBC president, the election for which is scheduled on Tuesday evening. At least one runoff is all but guaranteed.

Barber profile: Bart Barber defied the Conservative Resurgence. How it is now shaping his SBC leadership.

Solidarity for women in ministry ahead of vote on constitution

If the Southern Baptist Convention enshrines a ban on women pastors, it will be one many Southern Baptists will celebrate. But on Monday night, it was a source of mournfulness during a virtual prayer vigil.

Theres a lot to grieve, theres a lot to be angry about, speaker Jule Tai said in opening the vigil. Its a call to protest and its a call to demonstration.

Organized by Baptist Women in Ministry, a nonprofit with partners across various Baptist denominations, the event aimed to acknowledge the current strife in the SBC and past division. Baptist Women in Ministry staff are also planning a demonstration outside the Indianapolis Convention Center as an act of solidarity with Southern Baptist women in ministry.

Related: How the Southern Baptist Convention turned 180 degrees on women in leadership in six years

The present battle in the SBC over women pastors echoes a conflict in the 1980s, which is depicted in a new documentary produced by Baptist Women in Ministry called Midwives of a Movement. Some of the women featured in the documentary, which released publicly on Monday, attended the vigil.

We swallowed our grief when we were told we werent ready to lead, said Angie Hong, co-founder of Kinship Commons, a liturgy company that helped organize the worship for the prayer vigil. We swallowed our grief when we were told we were too emotional, we were too angry, we were too provocative, we were too much.

These untruths and these lies have hurt us, Hong said. These lies have wounded us, made us question ourselves and worse, made us question the God who created us in Gods image.

In the past couple years, the SBC has disfellowshipped six churches in which women serve as pastors. A couple of those churches  such as Fern Creek Baptist Church in Louisville and Immanuel Baptist Church in Paducah, Kentucky  long cooperated with the SBC and held to beliefs that aligned with most Southern Baptists' conservative ideals.

Another church might be facing a similar battle this week. First Baptist Church of Alexandria announced it will be the target of an ouster attempt from the floor of the SBC annual meeting because the church employs a woman pastor for children and women.

Liam Adams covers religion for The Tennessean. Reach him at ladams@tennessean.com or on social media @liamsadams.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: SBC updates: Vote on IVF resolution delayed until Wednesday
SC man charged in missing Chester womans murder. She was dead for days, coroner says

South Carolina deputies arrested a 70-year-old man for murder Tuesday after finding the body of a woman missing since May, officials said.

Thomas W. Glenn, 70, is in the Chester County jail without bail, the Chester County Sheriffs Office said in a statement and a news conference.

Early Tuesday, officials found the body of Donna Lynn Coley, 56, of Chester, in an abandoned mobile home off Cradle Street, said Chester County Coroner Terry Tinker. Officials did not say how Coley died.

Tinker said the coroners office believes Coley was dead for several days before being found.

Coley was last seen May 30 and reported missing to law enforcement the next day, deputies said.

Her body was found near where U.S. 321 and S.C. 9 intersect in Chester.

Deputies and State Law Enforcement Division agents are still investigating.
SC has a surplus in teacher loan repayments as more exit the field

Melanie Barton, the governor's senior education advisor, during an Education Oversight Committee on Monday, June 10, 2024. (Screenshot of SCETV Education Oversight Committee livestream)

COLUMBIA  More of South Carolinas once-aspiring teachers are opting to pay back state loans they could otherwise wipe out by staying in a K-12 classroom as few as three years.

During the 2022-23 school year, South Carolinians in the Teacher Loan Program repaid nearly $21 million after their loans no longer qualified for forgiveness. Thats up from $8.7 million five years earlier, according to a report presented Monday to the state Education Oversight Committee.

The loan program was created 40 years ago to incentivize would-be teachers to work in rural areas with high turnover or hard-to-staff subjects after they graduate. They can get their student loans completely wiped out by teaching in a critical geographic area or critical subject area for five years (20% annually forgiven for every year in the classroom).

Or, if their job meets both descriptions, their loan can be fully forgiven in three years. In the early years of the program, that essentially required teaching math or science in a poor, rural school district.

But the states teaching shortage has gotten so bad, nearly all subjects are now considered critical, allowing teachers of all grade levels to get their loans repaid no matter where they work. The critical list, updated yearly based on teacher vacancies statewide, has expanded to include all certifications for early childhood, elementary and middle school grades, special education, gifted and talented, English, social studies, librarians and physical education  even drivers ed.

The hike in loan repayments suggests more teachers are exiting the field before they can get their loans forgiven or not going into teaching at all.

Its unclear how many loan borrowers actually become teachers. The Student Loan Corporation does not track that, according to the report.

But of all 2,081 students who graduated with education degrees from a public or private college in South Carolina during the 2022-23 school year, 67% (1,390) went on to teach in the state, according to the Center for Educator Recruitment, Retention and Advancement based at Winthrop University.

Its the centers annual Supply and Demand report that determines whats considered a critical subject.

As of its mid-year update in February, there were 1,315 vacancies in K-12 public schools statewide.

Why would-be teachers in the states three teacher loan programs arent completing their commitment is unclear. Reasons probably align with whats driving teachers to abandon the profession generally, such as burnout, low pay and a lack of flexibility, said Matthew Ferguson, deputy superintendent for the Department of Education.

Legislators have agreed to raise the floor for first-year teachers salaries to $47,000 this coming school year. Thats a $4,500 increase to state required minimums from this school year and $12,000 above the minimum pay five years ago.

There are hikes in the upcoming state budget across the salary schedule. The minimum salary for teachers with 12 years of experience and a masters degree, considered the average, rises to $57,250. Legislators also agreed to extend yearly salary boosts for experience to 28 years in the classroom, instead of stopping the state-paid steps at 23 years.

As for future teachers, a new law signed last month increased how much scholarship money education majors can receive.

But its not just pay keeping people from becoming teachers, Ferguson said.

Members of the Legislatures education oversight panel say the $21 million surplus should be spent on other ways to attract and retain teachers.

I think thats an opportunity for the General Assembly and Department of Education to look at ways to incentivize people to go into teaching, said Melanie Barton, the governors senior education advisor and former director of the independent oversight agency.

Sen. Dwight Loftis, a member of the committee, suggested using the money to somehow attract better principals and superintendents. Teachers often cite poor leadership and lack of support for wanting to leave their classroom  either to jump to another district out of frustration or to leave the field altogether.

I dont have a solution for that, but have we looked at that? the Greenville Republican said. Are those problems we can address?

Other suggestions included using the repaid loans to fill teaching gaps. For instance, the money could pay to shuttle certified teachers between schools in a district so that two schools have a qualified teacher for half the day instead of one school settling for a long-term substitute in that position, Barton said.

Or, the money could help pay for borrowers summer courses or help expand South Carolinas Call Me MISTER program, which helps pay tuition for Black men studying to become teachers, the report suggested.

I think its time to think outside the box on a lot of this, Barton said.

Another possible route could be to reinvest the money into advertising the forgivable loan program so people interested in teaching know the options exist, Barton said.

The states Student Loan Corporation is responsible for administering the loans but doesnt advertise them.

The biggest problem with this program has always been, no one markets it, Barton said. No one is responsible for the success of this program, and thats been the problem the whole time.

In the end, it will be up to legislators to decide how to spend the money, Barton said.

It will become part of the Legislatures budget discussions after they return in January for the 2025-26 school year.

How much can SCs future teachers borrow in forgivable debt?

The Teacher Loan Program consists of three types of loans. They are funded by the Education Improvement Act penny, the one-cent-on-the-dollar added to the state sales tax in 1984. By law, that sales tax money can be spent only on education programs:

 College students in traditional education programs can borrow up to $2,500 each for their freshman and sophomore years and up to $7,500 annually each subsequent year, for a maximum of $27,500 total toward a bachelors and/or masters degree.

 Those in the Career Changers program can borrow up to $15,000 a year for a maximum of $60,000.

 Loans of $750 a year, for a maximum of $5,000, are available for people in the alternative certification path titled Program for Alternative Certification for Educators, known as PACE.

The post SC has a surplus in teacher loan repayments as more exit the field appeared first on SC Daily Gazette.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz speaks at a joint press conference with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky, during the International Ukraine Reconstruction conference in Berlin. Britta Pedersen/dpa

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has expressed cautious optimism about a peace conference for Ukraine being held in Switzerland later this month.

"We will discuss principles for a just and lasting peace there," Scholz said on Tuesday at a joint press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Berlin.

"These are not yet negotiations about an end to the war, because for that [Russian President Vladimir] Putin would have to show that he is prepared to end his brutal campaign and withdraw troops," Scholz said.

"But perhaps a way can be found to start a process during which Russia will one day also take a seat at the table," Scholz added.

The German chancellor stressed that only Ukraine will decide when to engage with Russia and would not be forced into huge concessions by its supporters. Germany will remain firmly on the side of the Ukrainians, he said.

As long as Putin continues to pursue his war aims, "our message will therefore be that we will not let up in our support for Ukraine," Scholz said.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks at a joint press conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, during the International Ukraine Reconstruction conference in Berlin. Kay Nietfeld/dpa

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky (L) and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz shake hands at the end of their joint press conference during the International Ukraine Reconstruction conference in Berlin. Kay Nietfeld/dpa
Scholz promises delivery of air defence systems and ammunition in coming "weeks and months"

Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Olaf Scholz. Photo: Office of the President of Ukraine

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has announced that Ukraine will receive new air defence systems, including one Patriot air defence system, as well as missiles and ammunition in the coming "weeks and months".

Source: Scholz at the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Berlin on Tuesday, 11 June, as reported by European Pravda

Details: The chancellor noted that a strong and free European Ukraine would "defeat Russian imperialism" and announced the planned arms supplies.

Quote: "The most common need of the Ukrainian army now is ammunition and weapons, especially air defence systems. Therefore, in the coming weeks and months, we will supply Ukraine with the third Patriot air defence system, IRIS-T, Gepards, missiles and ammunition, Scholz said.

He called on the states present at the conference to support the German initiative to boost Ukraine's air defence capabilities "with everything they can".

Background:

In May, Germany announced the start of training for Ukrainian crews on the third Patriot air defence system, which is to be delivered to Kyiv.

It has also headed an initiative to find air defence equipment for Ukraine around the world.

Some states, including the United States and Romania, are considering providing Ukraine with one Patriot battery each, and Italy intends to send a SAMP/T system after the Group of Seven summit in June.

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by Denis Simon

Chinese President Xi Jinping's reply to a letter from Lamont Repollet, president of Kean University in New Jersey, could not have occurred at a more opportune time.

The letter was written against the backdrop of the 50,000-student initiative announced by President Xi at a welcome dinner by friendly organizations in the United States in November 2023.

That initiative, which involves an offer by the Chinese government to host 50,000 American students over the course of five years, represents an attempt to rebuild some of the bridges that have been torn asunder by a combination of the COVID pandemic and the souring of U.S.-China relations since the end of the Obama administration.

We can never forget the fact that education exchanges and academic cooperation between the United States and China has been one of the foundational elements in the bilateral relationship. Student and scholar exchanges along with research collaboration between universities have yielded many positive results for both countries.

Today, unlike the situation in the past, there is increasing parity between China and the United States in the fields of higher education and science and technology. As a result, we have finally reached a point where the concept of "mutual benefit" actually has some substantial meaning. A growing number of Chinese universities are now ranked among the top universities in the world; these academic institutions have a world-class faculty and a state-of-the-art infrastructure for learning and teaching as well as research.

China's progress, while viewed as a type of threat to the United States by a number of observers, actually provides a unique opportunity for broader collaboration in an effort to address some of the world's most pressing and seemingly intractable problems. In fact, it is safe to say that without close Sino-U.S. cooperation among universities, think tanks, and government labs, it is less likely that we will be able to address in any meaningful way the broad array of key global challenges like climate change, clean energy, food security, and global health.

It is rather interesting that President Xi chose to make a major statement about the role of cooperation in higher education to the leader of an American university that is involved in a joint venture campus in Wenzhou, China. There are four official U.S.-China joint venture universities -- Duke Kunshan, NYU Shanghai, Tianjin Julliard, and Wenzhou-Kean.

In addition, there are dozens of other types of Sino-U.S. cooperation projects. The cooperation between Johns Hopkins University and Nanjing University that formed the Hopkins-Nanjing Center has proven to be a truly amazing project insofar as many diplomats and international business leaders from both countries actually received their formal graduate training at that Center on the campus of Nanjing University. The University of Michigan and Shanghai Jiao Tong University along with the University of Pittsburgh and Sichuan University respectively have formed joint degree programs in engineering that continue to produce a steady stream of highly qualified graduates.

Of course, the four actual joint venture universities are quite distinctive in many respects. Duke Kunshan and NYU Shanghai were both forged along the idea that a greater awareness of liberal arts education could help contribute to the long-term development of Chinese universities. Within the curriculum in these universities, students from China, the United States, and many other countries live and learn together both inside and outside the classroom.

They develop a strong degree of cross-cultural sensitivity and tolerance. One major aspect that is emphasized is global awareness -- that students, wherever they are from, should not only know the history and culture of their own country, but also become more knowledgeable and aware of the history and culture of countries that are different from their own. Students also are taught skills in critical thinking and problem-solving as well as ethics so that they can better debate issues and hold discussions with their peers without ending in conflict or a major dispute. It is hoped that the experiences they have within the environment of the joint venture campuses will provide opportunities for a more harmonious future by building great trust derived from more in-depth appreciation of different cultural norms and values.

President Xi is right to emphasize the importance of increased student and scholar mobility between the U.S. and China. Of course, there are some in the U.S. who see the rise of China as an excuse to de-link and disengage. Frankly, that would be a major mistake with negative ramifications for both countries. If there are any lessons to be drawn from the recent period of tense relations, it is that people-to-people diplomacy is the best way to build trust and understanding.

Improvements in Sino-U.S. relations may necessarily have to occur from the bottom up rather than from the top down. Young people as well as university faculty and high school teachers need to have more chances to interact with one another so that they can exchange ideas and information in a positive sum fashion. With more than 290,000 Chinese students in the United States and around 1,200 American students in China, there remains a great imbalance. That is why it is so important for Americans to respond in a positive way to the 50,000-student initiative.

On the Chinese side, the China Education Association for International Exchange has been assigned responsibility for coordinating the host institutions, but unfortunately, no counterpart organization has emerged in the U.S. As a result, while some modest progress has been made in mobilizing more U.S. students to visit China, it is clear a lot more could be done if there was an accountable U.S. private or government agency involved to facilitate the flow of information to American colleges and universities. A failure to mobilize effectively on the U.S. side certainly will result in a serious lost opportunity.

So, this is why President Xi's letter is so important right now. While the two governments continue to try to resolve their numerous differences and another trade war already is in the making, there needs to be a new, revitalization of the bilateral education relationship, including more university-to-university collaboration to offset the difficulties and perhaps soften the tensions in political and military relations.

A vibrant U.S.-China relationship is not just something nice to have, but it promises to be an element of vital strategic interest to both countries. The U.S. State Department needs to remove China from the "Level Three: Reconsider Travel" advisory, so that student mobility can grow without the current constraints that surround bilateral visits.

Chinese and American students with legitimate visas and educational purposes should not be impeded from pursuing their studies. Both governments must guarantee the personal safety and security of those participating in exchange programs and cooperative research projects. And most important, both governments must introduce greater clarity about the treatment of data and information so that students and scholars do not become caught up within the foreign policy and national security gamesmanship that is currently being played out.

While there will continue to be disagreements between Washington and Beijing, there is no good reason why student and scholarly exchanges cannot proceed ahead unimpeded so that we can chart a more peaceful, less antagonistic bilateral relationship in the coming years.

Editor's note: Denis Simon is a distinguished fellow at the Institute for China-America Studies in Washington D.C., the former executive vice chancellor of Duke Kunshan University (2015-2020) and former senior adviser for China affairs to the president of Duke University.

The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of Xinhua News Agency.
Today, we bring you the latest military updates from the front lines, discuss the Ukraine Recovery Conference ongoing in Berlin, and reflect on last weeks commemorations for D-Day 80 in Normandy.

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German Chancellor Olaf Scholz speaks at a joint press conference with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky, during the International Ukraine Reconstruction conference in Berlin. Britta Pedersen/dpa

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Tuesday that growing support for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) will not be an obstacle for providing further support for Ukraine.

The AfD has opposed military aid for Ukraine, and a number of AfD politicians have maintained ties with Russia. The party placed second in recent European Parliament elections with 15.9%, the AfD's best nationwide result to date and ahead of Scholz's Social Democrats (SPD).

"An overwhelming majority of citizens support parties that also agree that Ukraine must be supported," Scholz said on Tuesday at a joint press conference in Berlin with visiting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

"That applies to Germany, but it also applies when we look at the European Parliament as a whole," he added.

"Of course I am concerned for many reasons about the growth of right-wing populist and far-right parties in many European countries, here in Germany and sometimes even more so in other countries," Scholz said. "[It is] our task never to resign ourselves," he said.

He said there needs to be a broad consensus among political parties about supporting Germany's democratic institutions, social welfare state and market economy. Confidence is needed for the future, and Scholz said the war in Ukraine is understandably unsettling voters.

"In this respect, a smart, level-headed policy is also to provide the level of support for Ukraine that we are doing today," Scholz said.

Zelensky, meanwhile, warned of the danger of "pro-Russian populist slogans" from far-right politicians across the EU.

"This is not so much dangerous for Ukraine, because we are already in the most dangerous situation of all - we are at war. Pro-Russian radical slogans are dangerous for your country," Zelensky said.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (R) and Volodymyr Zelensky, President of Ukraine, shake hands at the International Conference on the Reconstruction of Ukraine in Berlin. The International Reconstruction Conference for Ukraine takes place in Berlin on June 11 and 12. Kay Nietfeld/dpa

At an international reconstruction conference for Ukraine, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has called for a further strengthening of the country's air defence against Russian attacks.

He called on allies to support a German initiative to bolster Ukraine's air defences "with everything possible."

"Because the best reconstruction is the one that doesn't have to happen in the first place," Scholz said at the start of the conference, which is being held in the German capital of Berlin.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is also attending.

Scholz held out the prospect of far-reaching and long-term commitments for reconstruction in the country, which has been severely scarred by more than two years of costly all-out war and years of simmering conflict before that.

Scholz said he will push for those kinds of commitments at an upcoming summit of the G7 group of wealthy democratic countries, which begins in Italy on Thursday.

The chancellor pointed out that the World Bank estimates that $500 billion in reconstruction aid will be needed over the next decade.

He also called on private companies to participate with investments: "In view of the scale we are talking about here, private capital must be added."

Hundreds of German companies continue to do active business in Ukraine, with automotive firms alone employing about 35,000 people in Ukraine, Scholz emphasized.

Despite the war, there was no reduction in German investment in Ukraine, Scholz said, and the volume of trade had increased significantly since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.

"All of this shows me that the business sector understands the potential Ukraine has," Scholz said.
Survivors of two of the nations most infamous mass school shootings are facing an emotional week as some graduate high school while others will watch the building where their tragedy took place be demolished.

Sandy Hook Elementary survivors are walking across the stage Wednesday 12 years after the massacre in Newtown, Conn., that killed 20 students and six educators, while Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School will be demolished in Parkland, Fla., on Thursday six years after 17 students and educators were killed there.

Certainly, if youve had issues associated with posttraumatic stress disorder, depression or any kind of major mental illness issue, then these will be a challenge. This is just a natural normal thing with survivors of traumatic events, said Charles Figley, a professor who specializes in disaster mental health at Tulane University.

At Newtown High School in Connecticut on Wednesday, 60 out of the 330 students crossing the stage survived the deadliest elementary school shooting in U.S. history on Dec. 14, 2012.

I think were all super excited for the day, Lilly Wasilnak, a graduating senior who was in a classroom down the hall from where other students were killed, told The Associated Press. But I think we cant forget  that there is a whole chunk of our class missing. And so going into graduation, we all have very mixed emotions  trying to be excited for ourselves and this accomplishment that weve worked so hard for, but also those who arent able to share it with us, who should have been able to.

The memories of the peers who wont be able to cross the stage with them because of that day has left a lasting impact on many of the graduating seniors.

Theres gonna be a lot of students that have emotional reactions thinking about these particular events. Even just all of them being together, there will be tension without a doubt. But my sense is that if any group of students have thought about this particular day, or this particular graduation week, its these kids, and I guess Im optimistic that they will all come through it, learning as they do, as they experienced this, said Figley

These kids I know had practiced thinking about and trying to imagine what its like to not have that heavy cloud over their head all these years, but I guess Id put my bet on the students coming through this pretty well, he added.

Emma Ehrens, who was 6 years old at the time, recounted the Sandy Hook events on Good Morning America on Tuesday.

I remember being at the front of the classroom, and he came in and stood right next to me. And I watched all my friends drop, Ehrens said. One of the victims [who] did not make it, he told me and a couple other people to run, and we did. We ran out of the classroom, out of the school, and on the way we saw bodies in the hallways and doors blown off the hinges. And we just ran and ran and ran, out of the school, out of the parking lot.

Alison Holman, a professor in the department of psychological science at the University of California, said the weeks event could easily prompt depressive episodes or wishful what if thinking among survivors.

It is definitely something that can trigger somebody, said Holman, with possible reactions including flashbacks or putting a person into a state of anxiety.

Holman emphasized you shouldnt assume that is going to happen for everybody. It happens to some people, it may not happen to others.

Meanwhile, family members and dignitaries have been permitted to watch the Thursday destruction of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, six years after the shooting there left 17 dead.

The mechanical demolition involves dismantling the structure by pieces (not an implosion), beginning with the top floor. In preparation, crews cleaned and cleared the building, adhering to state and the Environmental Protection Agencys landfill disposal regulations, and electronics were removed for proper handling. Additionally, survivors of the tragedy, families of victims, as well as teachers and staff had any items they desired returned to them, Broward School District said in a statement to BocaNewsNow.com.

The school district announced last September the building would be taken down during the summer of 2024 after they spoke with health and safety experts. The officials said the decision was also made out of concern for the well-being of students and staff on campus.

Its always a good idea to provide counseling service, Holman said when asked how students should be supported in such moments.

Its really important for healing for people to feel like theyre connected to others, Holman said. And oftentimes, people when they experience a really horrible traumatic event, theyll want to experience that. The healing comes in part when they feel like they can connect with others who have been for the same thing, and so the people who had lived through that event  maybe helping to build that sense of community among the survivors is something that people in official positions could do to support the survivors.

Leading students through an emotional time such as these is not an easy task, but one Andy Fetchik, former principal of Chardon High School in Ohio, went through after a student walked in with three of his classmates in February 2012. Three others were wounded, and one will forever be in a wheelchair due to the injuries.

Fetchik told The Hill the key to helping students during tough moments after the event was making sure they took student input into account.

The graduation after the shooting occurred in 2012, and we reached out to the seniors, How do we help guide them? What do we want to do with graduation? How do we want to recognize or do we want to recognize what happened on February 27? Fetchik said. A year later, we had an anniversary. I learned very quickly from the students they didnt want to call it an anniversary. They wanted to call it a day of remembrance.

Before the first day of remembrance occurred for Chardon High School, the Sandy Hook school shooting happened, reopening a still-fresh wound for his kids.

The students decided they would write letters to those at Sandy Hook to show their support.

And we were able to do things based on [our students] and we were able to guide the student voice, so the students had input. They were able to actively own how they wanted to recognize and do different things, Fetchik said.

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Secretary of State Scott Schwab joined with representatives of Gov. Laura Kelly and Attorney General Derek Schmidt to reject the appeal of Overland Park resident Gerry Coleman to be included as an independent candidate for U.S. Senate on November ballots. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)

Secretary of State Scott Schwab requested that Attorney General Kris Kobach investigate whether possible election crimes by Kris Van Meteren, a political marketing consultant who was thwarted by Schwab in an effort to take control of the No Labels Kansas political party. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)

TOPEKA  Secretary of State Scott Schwab forwarded evidence to the state attorney general asserting a prominent Kansas campaign consultant may have falsely impersonated a political party officer while attempting to take control of the No Labels Kansas party.

The unusual sequence of events shared by Schwab on Monday with Attorney General Kris Kobach involved attempts by Kris Van Meteren, owner of the Singularis Group marketing firm and spouse to a Republican Senate candidate, to single-handedly seize operational authority of the state-recognized No Labels Kansas party. It was formed as an unincorporated association and wasnt required to file business reports typical of a company.

Kris Van Meteren, who frequently works with GOP candidates, sought last week to place himself in charge of the third-party apparatus. He claimed No Labels Kansas, at his direction, nominated two candidates. One of those was his wife, Republican Echo Van Meteren, who could end up being a general election opponent of Democratic Sen. Jeff Pittman of Leavenworth. The other nominee by Kris Van Meteren was Democratic Sen. Marci Francisco of Lawrence.

His strategy was to engage in cross-party nominations and help Republican candidates by undermining the reelection campaigns of Pittman and Francisco. Neither Pittman nor Francisco, who are seeking Democratic Party nominations in the August primary, welcomed being linked to wrangling over management of No Labels. They raised the possibility Kris Van Meteren engaged in unethical or illegal conduct with the extraordinary candidate filings.

Pittman sent a letter to the attorney general asking whether Kris Van Meteren complied with the Kansas Constitution, election laws and party bylaws.

While there have been some opinions offered, someone in your official role could help with providing transparency and clarification for the voters in my district, Pittman said. This in turn helps ensure public trust in the accountability of the electoral process.

In Schwabs view of the push-and-pull drama regarding control of No Labels, Kris Van Meteren may have violated state law. He pointed to KSA 25-2424, a misdemeanor criminal statute on false impersonation of a party officer.

The No Labels Kansas party was affirmed by the secretary of states office in January based on petition signatures, but the party chose not to proceed to nomination of candidates in Kansas during this election cycle.

Kris Van Meteren attempted to take over that nomination role by forming at 4:51 a.m. June 3 a not-for-profit corporation called No Labels Kansas Inc. Hours later, Kris Van Meteren, conducting himself as chairman of the party, submitted documents nominating his wife and Francisco.

Kris Van Meteren asserted leaders of No Labels Kansas didnt complete paperwork required by the state after submitting sufficient petition signatures to gain political party status in Kansas. So, he said, he filed incorporation documents with the secretary of states office that he believed put him in charge of the party.

I issued a call to convention, called that convention Monday morning, elected myself as chairman, and nominated two candidates for the Kansas Senate: Marci Francisco and Echo, Kris Van Meteren said. Following Kansas law, I then drove to Topeka, certificates of nomination in hand, and filed those nominations with the Kansas secretary of state.

On June 5, the No Labels national political organization contacted Schwabs office and alleged the pair of Senate nominations were fraudulent.

Schwab responded by declaring Kris Van Meteren wasnt the authentic party chairman and had no formal connection to No Labels Kansas. The secretary of state invalidated the third-party nominations of Echo Van Meteren and Francisco that were offered by Kris Van Meteren.

Kris Van Meteren decided June 6 to form a second corporation, which was called No Labels Kansas Party Inc. This, too, was ruled out of order by Schwab.

The proper method of challenging the secretarys nomination rejection is to file a written objection requesting review by the State Objections Board, according to the Schwab memorandum summarizing the flurry of No Labels intrigue.

That state board responsible for sorting out complaints about ballot candidates is comprised of Schwab, Kobach and Gov. Laura Kelly, or their designated representatives.

In a statement, Kris Van Meteren accused Schwab of engaging in real election interference by derailing his bid for control of No Labels and his attempt to influence outcome of the Senate campaigns.

Its coming from the creatures of the fever swamp and the secretary of state himself, who has simply set aside Kansas law because he and those who apparently steer him by certain sensitive body parts dont like the political implications of my filings, Kris Van Meteren said.

(This story has been updated to clarify that Kris Van Meteren nominated his wife, Echo, and Sen. Marci Francisco of Lawrence on a No Labels ticket.)

The post Schwab refers No Labels nomination fiasco to Kansas attorney general for criminal inquiry appeared first on Kansas Reflector.
A team of researchers has found microplastics in all 40 semen samples they examined from healthy men, highlighting the urgent need to study how these tiny particles could affect human reproduction.

In a paper published in the journal Science of the Total Environment, researchers from a number of Chinese institutions identified eight different polymers in the samples, with polystyrene being the most prevalent.

As The Guardian reports, it's only the latest in a string of studies that have equally found microplastics in semen.

While their effect on reproduction and human health still isn't entirely understood, researchers have also been documenting a global decline in sperm count and other issues plaguing male fertility, linking them to a number of environmental and lifestyle factors.

Other studies have found that microplastics can reduce sperm count in mice and disrupt the human endocrine system.

It's also yet another stark reminder of how ubiquitous microplastics have become in the world. They've been found clogging human arteries, in bottled water, inside clouds, and even in a cave that was sealed off from all humans.

Given the latest research, these tiny pollutants could even have troubling consequences for our ability to reproduce.

"As emerging research increasingly implicates microplastic exposure as a potential factor impacting human health, understanding the extent of human contamination and its relation to reproductive outcomes is imperative," the researchers wrote in their paper.

Studies involving mice "demonstrate a significant decrease in viable sperm count and an uptick in sperm deformities, indicating that microplastic exposure may pose a chronic, cumulative risk to male reproductive health," they added.

A different study published in the journal Toxicological Sciences last month found microplastics in all samples of 47 canine and 23 human testicles.

"At the beginning, I doubted whether microplastics could penetrate the reproductive system," coauthor and University of New Mexico professor Xiaozhong Yu told The Guardian at the time. "When I first received the results for dogs I was surprised. I was even more surprised when I received the results for humans."

Worse yet, the samples dated back to 2016, suggesting that the "impact on the younger generation might be more concerning," given the particles' growing prevalence, Yu added.

As a result, experts are calling for action to reduce the amount of plastic being produced worldwide, much of which will end up polluting the environment and our bodies.

"In particular, there is a need for action to avoid additional permanent damage to the planet and the human body," University of Rome's Luigi Montano, who coauthored a separate study that found microplastics in human semen, told The Guardian.

"If microplastic pollution impacts the critical reproductive process, as evidenced in particular by the decline in seminal quality recorded in recent decades globally, it may prove to be [even worse] for our species in the not too distant future," he added.

More on microplastics: Whoever Figures Out How to Remove Microplastics From the Human Body Is Going to Make a Fortune
But there's a catch.

Food & Wine / Getty Images

Late Stone Age jugs tell us that a form of beer, loosely defined as represented by residues of fermentation, has been with us for 10,000 years. And the earliest evidence of wine production is 6,000 years old  so weve had a little time to grapple with alcohol and its bodily effects.

More precisely, weve had several thousand years in which alcohol in its many fine forms has always gotten the better of us. Humans are, by definition, really, really good at getting drunk.

Understanding the chemistry of that metabolic transaction  the immediate absorption of the alcohol from the gastrointestinal tract directly into the bloodstream  led scientists from the Eidgenossische Technische Hochschule Zurich, or the Swiss Federal Technical University in Zurich, to explore methods for diverting or at least mitigating the metabolization process from the bloodstream and the liver, which is the path that alcohol blazes through our bodies as we drink.

Related: Why It's Illegal to Get Drunk in an English Pub

In short, they created an edible gel by cooking whey protein for a few hours  whey being familiar to athletes as the protein powder out of which they make breakfast shakes  and lacing those long fibrous strands of the cooked protein with iron and gold molecules. Sounds delicious, right?

The question for serious drinkers of alcohol might be, How is this newfangled gel different from just going to Salt Baes overpriced restaurant in Dubai and eating a couple of his thousand-dollar 24-carat gold-wrapped steaks? His prices may be criminally high, but Salt Bae does purvey gold, protein, and iron in his own way, no?

Turns out the gel is a lot different from that. Its useful to recall that ETH Zurich is, annually, high among the top ten universities in the world, producing Nobel laureates literally by the dozen  some 32 Nobel winners have either taught or studied there. One of its better-known alumni is the modest Swiss mathematics and natural sciences graduate, who attended ETH between 1896 and 1900 and who later taught physics there between 1912-1914, Albert Einstein. Just to say, when ETH professors and students do something, it usually has staying power.

It gets better: The ETHs Laboratory for Food and Soft Materials, whose professors and student scientists are the authors of the recently published study, had the brilliant idea with their highly nano-engineered gel to relocate the bodys metabolization of alcohol from the liver to the digestive tract. Put simply, if consumed, the gel would jump-start the alcohols metabolization in the gut, before it even got to the bloodstream and started to wreak its age-old havoc inside us. In a sense, the gel can be understood as the Copernican revolution

Related: Couples Who Drink Together Live Longer, Study Suggests

To test their hypothesis, they got a bunch of mice drunk and fed them the gel. Going in, it was clear that the introduction of the gel (to the mices digestive tracts) had to happen rather quickly, while the alcohol was still held there, because the gel cant get into the bloodstream and retroactively arrest the alcohol as it is en route to processing by the body. By then its too late.

But in the GI tract, the magic did work.

Introduced in time alongside the alcohol, the mice in the test group exhibited radically-lowered alcohol levels  40% to 50% lower than the control group, whose livers were tasked with the job of metabolizing the poison. The test group also demonstrated less body damage generally.

Human trials remain on the horizon, but, significantly, and boding for much more fun down the road, the ETH team has applied for a patent on the gel. Could it be the silver bullet to alcohol consumption?

Related: How to Navigate the Brunch Drink Menu Like a Pro

Though the numbers are impressive, the truth is: All good things take time. As we know, getting drunk is a process. You have to ingest the gel as or before you drink, not after you drink. And, it doesnt work in an instant.

Which is to say: Those hard-drinking miscreants looking for a magic get-out-of-jail-free card are at the wrong address with this ETH research. The gel definitely will not save anybody in the event, meaning at their next traffic stop as their friendly neighborhood policeman whips out his Breathalyzer kit.

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Body of missing adult swimmer recovered in Colorado River in Bastrop

Body of missing adult swimmer recovered in Colorado River in Bastrop

BASTROP, Texas (KXAN)  Emergency crews in Bastrop County found the body of a man in his 30s Tuesday morning.

The swimmer went missing in the Colorado River in Bastrop on Monday evening, according to Bastrop County Emergency Services District No. 2 Battalion Chief Kyle Swarts.

A call came in around 7:45 p.m. as a water rescue/missing swimmer in the 400 block of East Riverside Drive in Bastrop.

A witness stated that the swimmer appeared to be struggling and went under and didnt resurface.

We, along with our partners at Bastrop City Fire, Bastrop County Sheriffs Office and then later the Game Wardens and LCRA Rangers, put boats in the water and conducted shoreline searches in attempt to locate the individual. Battalion Chief Kyle Swarts, Bastrop County ESD No. 2

Swarts said they had to pull their boats Monday night because of limited lights and river conditions.

When they went out on Tuesday morning, they found the body.

Once daylight hit and they were able to locate the individual fairly quickly this morning, Swarts said.

This embedded content is not available in your region.

For frequent river visitor, Charlie Munson, this was a stark reminder of the potential dangers.

I feel very confident in the water and I can think of several incidences where Ive had kind of hairy situations. Charlie Munson

Swarts stresses the importance of life jackets regardless of your age.

Water doesnt care how old you are, Swarts said. It can happen to anybody at any time when you least expect it.

River rescue efforts

Bastrop County ESD 2 said search efforts are affected by rapidly changing water conditions and sandbars in the area.

Swarts said not all bodies of water are built the same.

Lake Travis, Lake Austin are more static bodies of water, Swarts said. So people are not necessarily going to move.

In the case of the Colorado River, Swarts said the water flows faster.

If they go down in one place, they may not necessarily stay there, Swarts said. They may end up quite a bit downstream.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
NIZHNY NOVGOROD, Russia, June 11 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Monday met with his South African counterpart Naledi Pandor in the Russian city of Nizhny Novgorod.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, congratulated South Africa on its smooth general election and commended the African National Congress (ANC) for continuing to play a leading role in South African politics as the largest party.

He expressed the belief that the ANC will stay true to its original aspiration, hold firm to its belief, and continue to lead the South African people towards greater achievements in building a unified, stable, and prosperous nation.

Wang noted that China and South Africa are comprehensive strategic partners and bilateral relations are flourishing under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, heralding a "golden era."

Last year, Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit to South Africa and his participation in the BRICS Summit resulted in important consensus with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, ushering in a new era for building a high-level China-South Africa community with a shared future, said Wang, adding that the historic expansion of the BRICS mechanism announced in South Africa has further inspired solidarity among the Global South.

Wang said that the two sides should enhance high-level exchanges, consolidate political mutual trust, plan for the next phase of institutional bilateral exchanges, and continue to firmly support each other on issues concerning each other's core interests.

China and South Africa enjoy extensive, broad and high-level cooperation, which brings tangible benefits to their people, Wang said.

China is ready to synergize the development strategies of the two countries and improve the top-level design for their future cooperation, he said, stressing that China values South Africa's role as a major developing country, and is willing to strengthen multilateral coordination and provide objective, balanced, and constructive perspectives on hot-button issues, such as the Ukraine crisis, to contribute to world peace and stability.

For her part, Pandor thanked China for its support in South Africa's successful hosting of the BRICS Summit, saying that her country was honored to receive President Xi's visit last year.

She said South Africa and China maintain strong bilateral relations, with Chinese companies continuing to play a significant role in South Africa's continued economic growth, bilateral cultural exchanges remaining close, and cooperation in various fields progressing smoothly.

South Africa prizes not only its relations with China, but also Africa's cooperation with China, valuing the role of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, she said.

Cooperation with China is a vital component of Africa's international cooperation, she said, adding that South Africa looks forward to enhancing collaboration with China in infrastructure, digital economy, renewable energy, and human resources development to boost Africa's stable growth.

Pandor noted that South Africa highly appreciates China's efforts in seeking a political solution to the Ukraine crisis and in promoting a ceasefire in Gaza, and is ready to strengthen coordination with China on multilateral platforms such as BRICS and the G20 to ensure the smooth development of related mechanisms. 
CINCINNATI, Ohio (WCMH)  A second Ohio man has been charged with creating and distributing videos of depicting acts of extreme violence and sexual abuse against monkeys.

According to the office of United States Attorney Kenneth Parker, Southern District of Ohio, Nicholas Dryden was charged with conspiracy to create and distribute animal crush videos.

Dryden, of Cincinnati, was also charged with the creation of the videos, as well as with production and receipt of a visual depiction of the sexual abuse of children, because a minor was paid to abuse the monkeys.

According to court documents, in March and April 2023, Dryden and his co-defendant, Giancarlo Morelli, of New Jersey, allegedly conspired to create and distribute videos depicting acts of sadistic violence against baby, adolescent and adult monkeys. The suspects allegedly funneled money through Dryden, who then paid a minor in Indonesia to commit the requested acts on camera.

Man wielding edged weapon killed by police after west Columbus pursuit

Animal crushing is defined under federal criminal law as actual conduct in which one or more living non-human mammals, birds, reptiles or amphibians is purposely crushed, burned, drowned, suffocated, impaled or otherwise subjected to serious bodily injury.

Dryden is the second man from Ohio charged for crimes related to the torturing of monkeys. Ronald Bedra, of Etna, Ohio, just south of Pataskala, pleaded guilty to conspiring to create and distribute animal crush videos.

Bedra, a former career technology teacher at Linden McKinley STEM Academy, used encrypted chat apps to direct money to individuals in Indonesia willing to commit the requested acts of torture on camera. Bedra also mailed a thumb drive containing 64 videos of monkey torture to a co-conspirator in Wisconsin.

He resigned from his Columbus City Schools position on March 22.

The charges against Dryden carry a maximum penalty of five years in prison for conspiracy, seven years for charges related to the creation and distribution of animal crush videos, and up to 20 years for charges of producing and distributing depictions of the sexual abuse of children.

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Secret recordings of Justice Alito and wife Martha-Ann come on heels of flag controversy. A look at the recent Supreme Court issues.

Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito and his wife, Martha-Ann Alito, at the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington on Feb. 28, 2018. (Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP)

Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito is facing renewed scrutiny after a secret recording captured him speaking candidly about how compromise between the political left and right might be impossible. Alito was also heard agreeing with the woman who surreptitiously recorded him that America should return to a place of godliness.

In another secret recording, Alitos wife, Martha-Ann, can be heard complaining about having to look at a Pride flag being flown in her neighborhood. Its the latest bout of controversy surrounding the Alitos after they came under fire recently for flying flags associated with efforts to overturn the 2020 election at their homes.

The secret recordings of the Alitos are the latest in a series of recent incidents involving Supreme Court justices and their families.

Heres what happened with the recordings and why it matters:

 The secret recordings

The secretly taped audio of the Alitos released on Monday was recorded by an advocacy filmmaker, Lauren Windsor, who said she posed as a religious conservative ally when speaking with them at the Supreme Court Historical Societys annual dinner last week. (The Alitos were unaware they were being recorded, though Windsor was legally allowed to do so in Washington, D.C., as long as one party consented to the recording.)

EXCLUSIVE UNDERCOVER AUDIO:

Sam Alito x John Roberts x The Undercurrent 



1/ Justice Alito admits lack of impartiality with the Left, says: One side or the other is going to win. pic.twitter.com/b5nmxToZ9z  Lauren Windsor (@lawindsor) June 10, 2024

Windsor asked Alito his thoughts on whether the polarization of the left and right will end, or if it boils down to one side winning. Alito can be heard saying to Windsor, One side or the other is going to win. [...] There can be a way of working, a way of living together peacefully, but its difficult, you know, because there are differences on fundamental things that really cant be compromised.

Windsor then spoke to Alito about matters of morality, saying, I think that the solution really is like winning the moral argument. Like, people in this country who believe in God have got to keep fighting for that, to return our country to a place of godliness.

I agree with you, Alito responded.

In another secret recording released by Windsor on Tuesday evening, Alito was heard lashing out against ProPublicas investigative reporting of the Supreme Court.

Windsor asked Alito why he thinks the high court is being targeted by the media to which he replied, I think its a simple reason. They dont like our decisions and they dont like how they anticipate we may decide some cases that are coming up. Alito added that he believed these publications were being spearheaded by certain groups.

Windsor asked Alito to elaborate specifically on which groups, to which he replied ProPublica, adding that he thought they spent a fortune investigating Clarence Thomas, for example.

ProPublica is a nonprofit newsroom that has published investigative reports into multiple justices regarding undisclosed gifts and questionable activities outside the high court.

 Another Alito flag controversy

Windsor also posed as a conservative supporter when she secretly recorded Alitos wife at the same event.

You know what I want? Martha-Ann can be heard asking Windsor. I want a Sacred Heart of Jesus flag because I have to look across the lagoon at the Pride flag for the next month. Martha-Ann then described her husbands reaction: Hes like: Oh, please, dont put up a flag.

EXCLUSIVE UNDERCOVER AUDIO:

Martha-Ann Alito Unfurled



"I want a Sacred Heart of Jesus flag because I have to look across the lagoon at the Pride flag for the next month." pic.twitter.com/okNsW7SPlu  Lauren Windsor (@lawindsor) June 10, 2024

Martha-Ann agreed that she wouldnt put up the flag for now, but vowed that when her husband was free of this nonsense that she would put it up to send them a message every day, maybe every week. Ill be changing the flags.

Martha-Anns secretly recorded comments to Windsor come after two different reports that controversial flags were flown at two of the Alitos homes in recent years.

One instance was in the weeks following the 2020 presidential election when an upside-down American flag was flown outside their Virginia home. The upside-down flag is a longtime symbol used in dire distress and was adopted by supporters of former President Donald Trump when he challenged President Bidens victory in 2020.

Another instance was last summer, when an Appeal to Heaven flag appeared outside the Alitos New Jersey summer home, another flag that has become associated with Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 election results.

Alito insisted he was not familiar with the flag connotations, saying in a May 2024 letter to Congress, My wife is fond of flying flags. I am not. Alito added that he didnt have anything to do with either of the flag incidents and said Martha-Ann makes her own decisions, and I have always respected her right to do so."

 Other recent SCOTUS controversies

The incident marked the latest public controversy involving a Supreme Court justice or family member. Some other recent events include:

Last week Justice Clarence Thomas disclosed free luxury trips he had not previously reported; an advocacy group estimates he has received nearly $4.2 million in gifts over the course of 20 years.

Alito also faced scrutiny in 2023 for accepting gifts, including a fishing trip with a person who later had business before the Supreme Court, according to ProPublica.

Thomass wife, Ginni Thomas, sent texts to Donald Trumps White House chief of staff Mark Meadows as Trump contested the 2020 election. It came as her husband was also hearing SCOTUS cases related to the 2020 election.

 Why it matters

The Supreme Court justices determine some of the most consequential cases that affect the laws and policies of the entire nation. Under the Supreme Courts non-enforceable 2023 code of conduct: A Justice should not allow family, social, political, financial, or other relationships to influence official conduct or judgment. It also says: A justice should perform the duties of office fairly, impartially, and diligently and refrain from political activity.

The Supreme Court justices arent held accountable by any methods, other than impeachment, and they can decide which cases to recuse themselves from.

The secret recordings of Alito matter because Democrats have previously questioned the justices political impartiality, calling on him to recuse himself from two high-profile SCOTUS cases related to Jan. 6: One that will affect former President Trumps Jan. 6 criminal case, and one regarding charges against Jan. 6 defendants. Despite the controversies coming to light, Alito has declined to recuse himself from both of these cases.
GEARY COUNTY (KSNT)  A fire destroyed a semi-trucks trailer Tuesday morning on I-70 in Geary County.

The Geary County Sheriffs Office announced in a social media post that deputies were called around 1:30 a.m. on June 11 to mile marker 290 on I-70 in regards to a vehicle on fire. First responders arriving at the scene found a semi-truck engulfed in flames.

The driver of the semi-truck was heading east on the highway when he noticed his truck locking up in the rear. He then saw his rear tires were on fire before pulling off the road.

(Photo Courtesy/Geary County Rural Fire Department)

(Photo Courtesy/Geary County Rural Fire Department)

The Geary County Rural Fire Department put out the fire. A firefighter with the department told 27 News the trailer contained frozen foods.

How many Kansas license plate designs are available in 2024?

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MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG)  A Semmes man is accused in a shooting that injured two people over the weekend, according to the Mobile Police Department.

Suspect in Wilmer go-kart shooting arrested: Court documents

Gerald Cornell Williams Jr., 20, was located Monday, arrested, and taken to Metro Jail, News 5 has learned.

Gerald Cornell Williams Jr. (Photo courtesy of the Mobile County Sheriffs Office).

Officers responded to a reported shooting in the area of Schillinger Road S. and Fordham Road around 4:50 p.m. Saturday, June 8.

Upon arrival, officers learned two males were shot and had non-life-threatening injuries.

Experts explain reasons for increase in shark sightings along the Gulf Coast following recent attacks

Investigation showed the two were driving south on Schillinger Road when the driver of another vehicle, whom they knew, began shooting in their direction and hit them.

Williams now faces two first-degree assault charges and shooting into an occupied vehicle, according to police.

He is scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday for a bond hearing.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRG News 5.
Sen. John Fetterman speaks to the media after several military confirmation votes at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on November 2, 2023. File photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI

June 10 (UPI) -- Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman and his wife, Giselle, were briefly hospitalized after a two-car crash in Maryland.

The Fettermans were taken to War Memorial Hospital in West Virginia out of an abundance of caution Sunday with the senator treated for a bruised shoulder, according to a statement to USA Today by the Democrat's office. His wife's injuries were not disclosed.

They were discharged later in the day.

The driver of the other car also was hospitalized.

On Monday, Fetterman wrote about the crash on Twitter, noting it was "not the best way to spend our 16th wedding anniversary."

You might have heard G and I were in a car accident yesterday. Thank you all for the well wishes. Not the best way to spend our 16th wedding anniversary but we're doing well and happy to be back home in Braddock with the family. pic.twitter.com/OKFmbUXtNF Senator John Fetterman (@SenFettermanPA) June 10, 2024

Fetterman was driving a Chevrolet Traverse and struck the back of a Chevrolet Impala on Interstate-70 in Hancock, according to a Maryland State Police spokesperson. Hancock is near the Pennsylvania and West Virginia borders.

No citations were issued and an investigation is ongoing, according to the agency.

Last year, Fetterman was briefly hospitalized after checking into an inpatient facility while suffering from depression.

In 2022, he suffered a stroke during his senatorial campaign but he has said it didn't cause any physical limitations or issues with memory or language comprehension.
Sen. Justine Wadsack gets hit by a devastating (and hilarious) ad campaign

Somethings weird about Justine Wadsack.

So starts the opening salvo in what promises to be a bruiser of a Republican primary in southern Arizona  one that could well determine whether Democrats have a shot at seizing control of the Arizona Senate.

Wadsack is one of the Legislatures fiercest culture warriors, a member of the hard-right Arizona Freedom Caucus who came to the Capitol to wage war on drag queens, teachers, the LGBTQ+ community and, generally, anyone who offends her.

She moved out of her familys central Tucson home in 2022, renting a room in a safe Republican district where she proceeded to knock off Republican Sen. Vince Leach.

Of course, it didnt hurt that she was blessed with a three-way contest that pitted her against two traditional conservatives in a newly drawn legislative district.

Leach's attack ads are devastatingly true

Then state Sen. Vince leach sits in the Senate chambers on June 23, 2022.

Now Leach is back, and if alarm bells arent ringing wildly on the Good Ship Wadsack, they should be.

Because Leach is coming for her in the July 30 primary and this time, its one-on-one. No third candidate to split the establishment vote.

This week, Leach unleashed the first two of what promise to be a series of ads, entitled Something is weird about Justine Wadsack.

One of the ads features Wadsacks belief that 9/11 was an inside job.

The 15-second ad is devastatingly simple  and true.

(I made the decision to NOT trust my government THAT day! Wadsack wrote in September, replying to a social media poster who suggested the government was involved in the deadliest terrorist attack ever on U.S. soil. It never added up. Still doesnt, and now look at the state of thing.)

The other ad highlights Wadsacks belief that the May 2022 massacre of 19 children and two adults at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, was a false flag operation.

Also devastatingly simple and also true. (I believe it has everything to do with instilling Red Flag laws and gun regulations that move America toward losing our 2nd Amendment, she wrote on Facebook.)

Wadsack has done plenty to fuel more ads

Sen. Justine Wadsack in a hearing on Feb. 1, 2024.

That ought to go over well in district that boasts some of the most affluent and best educated voters in the state.

No doubt, the somethings weird ads will continue, as there is an embarrassing amount of material:

Theres that time Wadsack posted a picture of herself and her running mate, Rep. Rachel Jones, posing in front of the state Capitol with their trusty AR-15-style rifles  in high heels, no less.

Or that time she tweeted out the Q-Anon slogan.

Theres the time when, in her zeal to protect kids from drag queens, she introduced a bill that would have made it a crime to let your kids watch Mulan.

Or that time she put her personality on full display as she ran a bill to eviscerate the State Bar of Arizona, weaving a fanciful tale of the bars threats to immediately disbar any attorney who dared to represent a COVID-19 denier.

Her accusations were only slightly more astonishing than her response when politely asked by Democratic Rep. Analise Ortiz if she could provide evidence to back up her claim:

Rep. Ortiz, I dont owe you anything in the way of proof, Wadsack snipped. The fact that I am an elected state senator, I come before you after having spoken with hundreds of people that went through this.

Democrats are rooting for Wadsack to win

Then there was that time  just two years ago  when she barely clawed out a win in the general election, drawing just 51.2% of the vote in a district where Republicans enjoy a nearly 10-point advantage.

Dont think Democrats havent made note of that this year, as they seek to flip the Republicans one-vote majority in the Senate. Their entry into this race is John McLean, a retired Tucson businessman making his first run for office.

Legislative District 17 could be ripe for the picking if Wadsacks the Republican nominee.

These GOP lawmakers: Could have easily lost their jobs

Democrats Mark Kelly, Katie Hobbs and Adrian Fontes all defeated their America First opponents here in 2022.

Should Leach, a business-oriented conservative, win the primary, the Republicans are a lock to hold the seat.

Still, its advantage Wadsack as shes the incumbent and now at least rents an apartment in the district.

The rule since (20)16 is the more MAGA candidate always wins, longtime Republican consultant Chuck Coughlin told me, referring to Republican primaries in Arizona. Rules are rules for a reason, and over 50% of Republican primary voters are election deniers.

She could be the key to flipping the Senate

Yet at some point, surely Republicans are going to get tired of losing.

Its worth noting that two years ago, 59% of Republican primary voters in this district voted for a traditional conservative.

Because there were two of them, Wadsack won with 41% of the vote.

Keep your eye on this race as Wadsack could be the Democrats best hope of stealing a Republican seat and with it, control of the the Senate.

Theres definitely something weird about that.

Reach Roberts at laurie.roberts@arizonarepublic.com. Follow her on X (formerly Twitter) at @LaurieRobertsaz.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Justine Wadsack could win and make Arizona Republicans lose the Senate
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, announced Tuesday he will hold a vote on issuing a subpoena for a top Novo Nordisk executive to testify on the high cost of Ozempic and Wegovy in the U.S.

The vote to subpoena Doug Langa, executive vice president of North America Operations for the multinational firm, will be held on June 18, according to Sanders. The senator said in his announcement Tuesday that we look forward to their presence at a hearing on July 10th.

Sanders, who caucuses with Democrats, turned his eye to a class of medications used for treating diabetes and obesity called GLP-1 agonists earlier this year after carrying out pressure campaigns that seemed to influence industry moves to lower the costs of insulin and asthma medications.

He launched an investigation in April into the outrageously high prices of Novo Nordisks semaglutide products Ozempic and Wegovy. The main issue at hand is Sanderss questions over why Novo Nordisk charges patients in the U.S. up to 10 to 15 times more for those products than their counterparts in other western countries like Canada and Germany.

The American people  Democrats, Republicans, and Independents  are sick and tired of paying, by far, the highest prices in the world for prescription drugs. It is not acceptable to me or the American people that we continue to be ripped off by giant pharmaceutical companies who make huge profits every year while charging us outrageous prices, said Sanders.

The HELP chair claimed that Novo Nordisk has repeatedly denied requests by the committee to attend a hearing. The company pushed back at these accusations.

Every time the Chairman has made a request to Novo Nordisk we have responded and cooperated, a Novo Nordisk spokesperson said in a statement.

On multiple occasions, we have communicated our CEOS willingness to testify and offered several dates for a hearing, they added. Based on our continued cooperation, we feel that issuing a subpoena is unnecessary. We are committed to a hearing that aligns with the Chairmans established committee practices and to developing meaningful solutions to enhance patient access and affordability.

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The bill would require Treasury officials to test how New Jersey's budget would respond to economic shocks to better prepare for emergencies. (Illustration by Alex Cochran for New Jersey Monitor)

A Senate panel unanimously advanced a bill Monday that would require Treasury officials to stress test the states budget after the pandemic injected uncertainty into New Jerseys tax collections.

The bill would require the Treasury to project revenue performance and economic conditions in the near and long-termonce every three years in a publicly posted report that must also include analysis of state spending and how its likely to change.

A critical lesson we must learn after facing this pandemic is to implement cautionary measures for unprecedented and unpredictable circumstances, said bill sponsor Sen. Shirley Turner (D-Mercer). This legislation will provide that the economic condition of the state remains well-prepared for any unforeseen crises or economic downturns.

New Jersey faced a series of uncertain budgetary years as work and markets realigned during the pandemic. Early in the crisis, forecasters predicted revenue would tumble amid shutdown orders that appeared would strike at the states income, business, and sales taxes  its most major revenue sources.

Fearing the worst, Trenton Democrats moved to borrow $4 billion to plug the budget hole. Only that budget hole never materialized. Instead, revenue surged as residents received stimulus checks, vaccines were deployed, and stock markets soared.

In June 2021, Treasurer Liz Muoio described the trends as a year-long revenue forecasting roller coaster ride of deep drops and rapid reversals, and the good times continued until they didnt.

The stock market tumbled at the tail end of 2022, driving the erasure of more than $2 billion in expected revenue, according to the Treasurys May 2023 forecasts. And though officials presented lawmakers with more stable predictions this year, New Jerseys spending outstrips its tax collections.

Anything we do to shed more light on our budget process, more light on our spending and revenue situations, I think, is good for all taxpayers and good for you as legislators to give you more information and ammunition as you go through the process so you can best serve your constituents, Chris Emigholz, vice president of government affairs for the New Jersey Business and Industry Association, told the Senate Economic Growth Committee.

The bill would also require Treasury officials to present methods to defray the impact of recessions in the triennial report. Those methods could include spending cuts or potential revenue raisers, and the forethought is likely to aid policymakers in times of crisis.

Its great that they have the options in there because one of the things that occurred during COVID was the Murphy administration had to think of options on the fly, said Mark Magyar, director of Rowan Universitys Steve Sweeney Center for Public Policy.

Magyar added that after the housing crash of 2008, then-Gov. Jon Corzine had to think about things on the fly.

Magyar was Senate Democrats deputy executive director until early 2022.

The report must also include information about how the states major revenue sources perform in economies of varying health. This information might, for example, prevent lawmakers from raising the sales tax amid drops in consumer spending because such hikes might generate less revenue than expected or further depress consumer spending.

The bill is a step toward multi-year budgeting, a budgeting best practice observers have called on New Jersey to adopt as it faced revenue shocks over recent years. It sees officials forecast revenues and expenses out across multiple fiscal years to better understand how decisions made in the current budgetary year will affect state finances in out-years.

If you think about it, the requirement in the NJ Transit reform legislation that they do multi-year budgeting is one of the reasons everyone was so focused in advance on addressing NJ Transits upcoming shortfall when the federal aid runs out, said Magyar, whose center issues some multi-year forecasts.

Though the bill advanced with resounding support among lawmakers and those who testified, some said the stress tests should happen annually instead of once every three years.

If we were going to take a projection from 2021 and try to see if that stress test was applicable today, I think wed say that economic conditions have changed really substantially, so narrowing that timeframe is something that makes sense, Peter Chen, a senior policy analyst at New Jersey Policy Perspective, which supported the bill, told the panel.

The bill has not advanced in the lower chamber.

The post Senate panel approves budget stress testing so state is well-prepared for crises appeared first on New Jersey Monitor.
Senate Education Committee Chairperson Scott Martin, R-Lancaster, leads a hearing held at the Pennsylvania Capitol on May 24, 2022 in Harrisburg, Pa. (Photo by Amanda Berg, for the Capital-Star).

Senate Education Committee Chairperson Scott Martin, R-Lancaster, leads a hearing held at the Pennsylvania Capitol on May 24, 2022 in Harrisburg, Pa. (Photo by Amanda Berg for the Capital-Star).

The Pennsylvania Senate passed the last of a series of Republican-authored bills aimed largely at making higher education more affordable for Pennsylvanians.

Two of those bills would create new scholarships or grants. One grant would be for Pennsylvania students studying to enter in-demand career fields at in-state schools. Another would be a merit scholarship for out-of-state students. Both would require students to live and work in the state following graduation.

We have worked towards the end goal of addressing the significant economic and demographic challenges that Pennsylvania is facing, said Sen. Scott Martin (R-Lancaster), one of the architects of the higher education-funding package.

More and more young people are simultaneously choosing to relocate to other states, and better educational and job opportunities. The best way to address this crisis is to encourage the best and the brightest students, both here in PA and throughout the country, to earn degrees here, get jobs here, and put down their roots here.

The bill targeting in-state students received a unanimous vote in the Senate. A single Democrat, Sen. Art Haywood (D-Montgomery), voted against the bill creating a merit scholarship for out-of-state students.

Generally speaking, [the bills] are a step in the right direction, said Sen. Lindsey Williams (D-Allegheny), a progressive Democrat who is generally at odds with Republicans. But Pennsylvanias problems in higher education funding cant be fixed with a grant here and a scholarship there. We cannot dig our way out of this hole by awarding individual scholarships. This is a broader problem of how we fund, or rather dont fund, higher education in Pennsylvania.

The bills will have to be agreed to by the Democrat-controlled House.

The other parts of the education package that passed were voted on along partisan lines.

One of those bills would create a council to come up with a performance-based funding model for state colleges and universities. The other would create a higher education task force within the Department of Education that would make recommendations about how state school operation, such as eliminating inefficiencies or making community college credits more easily transferable.

Williams cautioned against taking up a performance-based funding higher education model, noting that many states that tried to implement them ended up reversing-course. She cited a recent oped written by members of the Westchester University faculty warning that such a model could put a greater premium on graduation rates than the quality of education.

In higher education, it may be easy to count the number of graduates, but the process of creating a college graduate is anything but simple, Williams said.

Sen. Ryan Aument (R-Lancaster), supporting the bill, said We can not continue to invest more in a system without any respect to the outcomes that system is producing.

The post Senate sends Republican-led higher education package to House appeared first on Pennsylvania Capital-Star.
People stay under a canopy to shield themselves from the sun at Chaoyang Park in Beijing, capital of China, June 9, 2024. (Xinhua/Chen Zhonghao)

BEIJING, June 11 (Xinhua) -- While northern China bakes under a scorching heat wave with record-breaking daily maximum temperatures, rainstorms are forecasted to sweep along many provincial-level regions in the south, raising multiple alerts across the country.

At 6 a.m. Tuesday, the National Meteorological Center (NMC) issued an orange high-temperature alert, the second highest level in the country's warning system, forecasting daytime high temperatures in regions including Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Henan, Shangdong and Xinjiang, among others. Temperatures in parts of Hebei and Xinjiang may surpass 40 degrees Celsius.

In north China's Hebei Province, the provincial meteorological observatory renewed the red alert for high temperatures on Tuesday, at 5 a.m., saying that many meteorological stations in an area stretching from the southern parts of Baoding City to the cities of Xingtai and Handan may see their hottest weather with temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius.

The agricultural and rural affairs department of Hebei is closely monitoring the adverse effects of high temperatures on crop growth and harvesting, and providing guidance to farmers on summer harvesting and planting as well as heatstroke prevention measures.

"From Tuesday to Thursday, high temperatures in the central and southern parts of Hebei Province will continue to intensify. But there will be a province-wide precipitation starting on Thursday, which will ease the heat," said Jin Xiaoqing, chief forecaster of the observatory.

Beijing, the Chinese capital, is also enduring a 3-day heat wave starting Tuesday.

The Beijing Municipal Education Commission suggested that kindergartens, primary and secondary schools and vocational middle schools should reduce outdoor physical education classes and outdoor activities.

"As the heat goes up, so does the threat of outdoor electrical equipment fires," said a property manager surnamed Zheng at a residential compound in Beijing's Fengtai District. "We keep a close eye on the equipment susceptible to heat and have deployed a team of engineers to inspect electric vehicle charging piles and outdoor air conditioning units."

According to a forecast published by NMC, high temperatures are expected to develop in northern China. Central and southern parts of north China, most of the Huanghuai area, southern Shanxi, and the Guanzhong area in Shaanxi are expected to experience 6 to 8 days of temperatures exceeding 35 degrees Celsius. Some areas in Henan may see 9 to 10 days of such high temperatures.

During this period, the daily maximum temperatures in some areas of Hebei, Henan, Shanxi and Shandong may reach or exceed historical records for the same period, said NMC.

From 8 a.m. Monday to 6 a.m. Tuesday, 27 national meteorological stations in Tianjin and provinces of Shandong, Hebei and Jiangsu have already logged daily maximum temperatures breaking the historical records for early June.

"Recently, many parts of the world have experienced high temperatures. The primary cause is global warming, which has led to different regions being controlled by various types of high-pressure systems, resulting in prolonged periods of heat," said Zheng Zhihai, chief forecaster of the National Climate Center.

Highlighting that the heat of this summer comes a little sooner than usual, Zheng stated that global warming, along with the influence of the western Pacific subtropical high and continental high-pressure systems, contributes to China's high-temperature weather.

Down south, however, rainstorms have become another issue.

China's national observatory published a blue alert for rainstorms at 6 a.m. Tuesday, expecting heavy rainfall to batter some of the country's southern parts.

From 8 a.m. Tuesday to 8 a.m. Wednesday, heavy to torrential rains are expected to affect parts of southern Zhejiang, northern Fujian, central and northern Jiangxi and southern Hunan, among other regions, said NMC.

In the last 24 hours, Taihe County in east China's Jiangxi Province has been battered by rainstorms, receiving 190 mm of rainfall, said local weather authority at 8 a.m. Tuesday.

On Monday afternoon, the Jiangxi provincial meteorological bureau initiated a Level IV emergency response to significant meteorological disasters.

To cope with the weather, Jiangxi has ramped up emergency efforts to protect the lives and property of its people. Measures include enhancing precise monitoring of hazardous weather conditions, optimizing alert systems, and strengthening communication and coordination among departments such as housing and construction, transportation, culture and tourism and energy.

"The risk of disasters such as flooding and urban waterlogging is high due to the extended duration of this rainfall and its overlap with previous precipitation areas," said Xiao An, chief forecaster of Jiangxi provincial meteorological observatory. "Proactive measures are being implemented in advance to mitigate the impact of the severe weather." 

A delivery man works in Beijing, capital of China, June 11, 2024. (Xinhua/Ren Chao)

A person walks under the sun in Beijing, capital of China, June 9, 2024. (Xinhua/Chen Zhonghao)

A child plays at Chaoyang Park in Beijing, capital of China, June 9, 2024. (Xinhua/Chen Zhonghao)

People cool themselves near a fountain in Beijing, capital of China, June 9, 2024. (Xinhua/Chen Zhonghao)

People use umbrellas to shield themselves from the sun in Beijing, capital of China, June 9, 2024. (Xinhua/Chen Zhonghao)
John Fetterman was speeding and at fault for car crash that saw he and wife hospitalized, says police report

John Fetterman was speeding and at fault for car crash that saw he and wife hospitalized, says police report

Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman was speeding and at fault for a Maryland car crash that saw him and his wife Giselle hospitalized, a police report has revealed.

Fetterman, a Democrat, was driving a Chevrolet Traverse at a high rate of speed, well over the posted speed limit when he struck the rear of a Chevrolet Impala on I-70 on Sunday, Maryland State Police said.

The speed limit on the road was 70 miles per hour, according to the report obtained by USA TODAY.

Fetterman and the other driver, a 62-year-old woman, were not tested for alcohol or substance use, the report stated. No citations have been issued and an investigation is ongoing, according to Maryland State Police.

This was an unfortunate accident and Im relieved and grateful that there were no serious injuries. I need to do better and do it slower  and I will, Fetterman said in a statement.

Fetterman suffered a bruised shoulder in the incident and both he and his wife were discharged on Sunday afternoon. No details were given on any injuries suffered by Giselle Barreto Fetterman.

Officials say that a passenger in Fettermans vehicle, as well as the driver of the Impala, were both taken by ambulance to War Memorial Hospital in West Virginia for medical evaluation.

On Sunday morning, John and Gisele were involved in a car accident with another driver. Out of an abundance of caution, they were evaluated at a local hospital. John was treated for a bruised shoulder and they were discharged that afternoon. They are doing well and happy to be back in Braddock, a spokesperson for Fettermans office told The Independent.

Both vehicles were traveling west on I-70 when the wreck happened around 8am.

An investigation into the crash is ongoing and no citations have been issued, police said.
SAN FRANCISCO (KRON)  Californias two United States Senators introduced a bill Tuesday to rename a San Francisco federal building after the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein. The bill, introduced by Senators Alex Padilla and Laphonza Butler (both D-Calif.), proposes that SFs 50 United Nations Plaza Federal Building be renamed the Senator Dianne Feinstein Federal Building.

The building, a six-story, 350,000-square-foot structure, was constructed in 1936 and renovated in 2013. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is home to the US General Services Administrations (GSA) regional headquarters for the Pacific Rim Region.

7-bedroom house in San Jose hits market for less than $700K

Senator Feinstein was a relentless advocate for the people of California, dedicating her career to serving the Golden State and her beloved hometown of San Francisco, said Sen. Padilla. Renaming a federal building at the heart of the San Francisco Civic Center in her honor  just steps away from where she served as the first female mayor of San Francisco  commemorates her legacy of leading with strength and shattering barriers, a legacy that will inspire generations of Californians to come.

Senator Feinstein worked tirelessly for the people of California. Renaming the 50 United Nations Plaza Federal Building in her name honors the extraordinary legacy she left behind, said Sen. Butler.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox speaks during the annual Fire Sense news conference at This is the Place Heritage Park in Salt Lake City, where officials warned summer 2024 could bring large wildfires to Utah, on Monday, June 10, 2024. (Kyle Dunphey/Utah News Dispatch).

It might seem counterintuitive, but back-to-back winters with above-average snowfall has officials worried that this summer could bring large and dangerous wildfires to Utah.

Thats because a healthy snowpack leads to more vegetation  now, with what has been an abnormally hot and dry spring, that vegetation is drying out, making it prime kindling for a wildfire.

Chris Delainey, Utahs fire management officer for the Bureau of Land Management, said the fire conditions heading into the summer are similar to years like 2020 or 2012, when the state was subjected to devastating blazes.

Weve got more grass and more fuel than weve seen in quite some time. Were seeing temperatures that are setting records early in June. Im imploring folks to take this seriously, he said. Were seeing conditions that line up with seasons where weve lost homes, weve seen people killed  conditions are aligning that have fire managers and fire chiefs very concerned.

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox called it the perfect recipe for wildfire season.

You can look around here and youll see the fuel growth is much higher than it was two years ago, Cox said, speaking from This Is The Place Heritage Park in Salt Lake City on a hot Monday afternoon. You can feel it. We are having above-average temperatures, a lot of heat in June. Its much hotter than it should be this time of year.

Cox spoke during the annual Fire Sense news conference, where officials from the Bureau of Land Management, Utah Office of Tourism and Salt Lake City Fire Department urged Utahns to be smart when recreating on the states public lands this summer. Roughly half of all wildfires in the state are human caused  in 2020, 4 out of 5 wildfires were triggered by people, burning over 100,000 acres in Utah.

We desperately need people to step up, Cox said. Lets be smart about what were doing and lets keep Utah safe this summer.

A helicopter carries a water bucket to fight a wildfire near Richfield, Utah. (Photo by harpazo_hope via Getty Images)

For Utahns, that includes adhering to the state and Forest Services guidelines for campfires, ensuring heavy machinery is up to code, preventing chains and other metal objects from dragging behind trailers and vehicles, and following proper protocol when target shooting, like shooting into a backstop and not using banned ammunition.

Chris Milne, assistant chief for the Salt Lake City Fire Department, said homeowners should create buffer zones heading into the summer, which is essentially the space between a home and the vegetation that can burn. Embers from a wildfire can travel over one mile, and Milne said a buffer zone can prevent new fires from starting.

It buys you time in order to protect your home from catching on fire and being able to evacuate, if you need to, Milne said, adding that it allows firefighters to be more effective.

Basil Newmerzhycky, lead meteorologist with the Great Basin Coordination Center, an interagency group that includes the Bureau of Land Management, Forest Service and state agencies, said the fire season is already picking up. Though its now 100% contained, the Rockville Fire in Washington County burned about 73 acres over the weekend.

The size of the Rockville Fire could spell trouble for Utah  Newmerzhycky said fires this time of the year are usually around 10 acres in size, not 50 to 100 acres. As the state continues to dry out, conditions will worsen.

Were expecting fire conditions to really pick up as we get into July, especially the latter half of July, he said.

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Ukraine officially presented its Unmanned Systems Forces on June 11, four months after President Volodymyr Zelensky issued a decree ordering the creation of a separate branch of the armed forces tasked with improving drone operations.

The announcement comes a day after Defense Minister Rustem Umerov appointed Colonel Vadym Sukharevskyi, the deputy chief of Ukraines Armed Forces, as the Unmanned Systems Forces commander.

Ukraine set a precedent that has not been seen since the creation of airplanes and air forces, Sukharevskyi, who was responsible for drone systems and their development as deputy commander-in-chief, said at the presentation in Kyiv.

Colonel Vadym Sukharevskyi, the newly-appointed commander of Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Force, speaks during the military branch's presentation in Kyiv, Ukraine, on June 11, 2024. The military demonstrated various types of remotely-operated unmanned robotic systems that their members use. (Andrew Kravchenko/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Throughout Russias full-scale invasion, Ukraine and Russia have heavily invested in drone technology, revolutionizing warfare. For outnumbered Ukrainian forces, drones have been one of the key weapons to strike Russian warships, naval bases, oil refineries, and airfields inside occupied territories and deep behind enemy lines.

According to the military, the new branch of the armed forces will become the first in the world to use air, naval surface/underwater, and ground-based unmanned and robotic systems in its combat missions.

"Someone smart said that generals always prepare for the previous wars. The creation of the Unmanned Systems Forces means we have stopped preparing (for the previous wars). We have started dictating the rules, Sukharevskyi said, referring to the famous quote by Winston Churchill, It is a joke in Britain to say that the War Office is always preparing for the last war.

The AI-generated swallow-like robot has been chosen as the symbol of Ukraines drone forces. According to the command, the swallow is one of the most revered symbols in Ukrainian culture, associated with the news about victory.

Deputy Defense Minister Lieutenant General Ivan Havryliuk said at the event that the creation of the new branch would allow Ukraine to strike targets as far as in Russias Ural region, some 1,000 miles away from Ukraine.

Amidst battlefield challenges, Ukraine has been employing long-range drones to strike deep into Russian territory, targeting military infrastructure such as airfields, as well as oil refineries. Strikes on oil infrastructure are aimed at disrupting fuel supplies to the Russian military and diminishing Moscow's export revenues, crucial for funding Russia's war machine.

"We have a good prospect of winning the war against Russia. We can achieve this victory thanks to your intelligence, your perseverance, and thanks to what you are doing to protect the lives and health of our servicemen by increasingly involving robots and unmanned systems in combat missions in the air, on the ground, and at sea, Havryliuk said.

Ukraine is also working to scale up domestic production, aiming to manufacture at least 1 million drones in 2024. The nation's prowess in mass-producing these affordable yet potent weapons has spawned over 200 homegrown drone enterprises.

Strategic Industries Deputy Minister Hanna Hvozdiar said on air on March 5 that Ukraine can produce 150,000 drones every month and may be able to make 2 million drones by the end of 2024.

She also said Ukraine is already past 1 million drones produced, the goal Zelensky announced in late December 2023.

Read also: Russias Su-57  hype vs. reality

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Sheriff: Two kayakers in Wisconsin hang onto tree after overturning near dam, rescued

(WFRV)  Authorities in northwestern Wisconsin helped rescue two kayakers who were hanging onto a tree after their kayak reportedly overturned.

According to the Barron County Sheriffs Office, on June 9 around 12:30 p.m., a 911 call came in from two kayakers that overturned in the current near the Mikana Dam and needed rescuing. Multiple agencies responded to the scene.

When authorities got to the location, the two kayakers were found hanging onto a tree in a heavy current from the Mikana Dam. Rescue ropes were reportedly used to bring both kayakers to shore.

Officials say that the two were treated and released at the scene. A boat was reportedly used to find the missing kayaks downstream.

Trial begins for Oshkosh man charged in 2022 Fox River boat crash

The two kayakers were wearing lifejackets which is the reason they were able to stay afloat and hang onto a tree, according to the release. The Barron County Sheriffs Office wanted to remind people they are required to have a lifejacket on any vessel in a waterway.

It is a good reminder you are required to have a lifejacket on any vessel in a waterway, including kayak, canoes etc., and it is highly recommended that they be worn at all times while on the water. Barron County Sheriffs Office on Facebook

No additional information was provided.

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A child runs past an opening in the flood wall protecting downtown Hannibal, Mo., Wednesday, May 22, 2024. The wall protected downtown Hannibal during the flood of 1993 not long after it was completed keeping business open and tourists coming while some homes outside were swamped. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

WEST ALTON, Mo. (AP)  Devastating flooding, driven in part by climate change, is taking an especially damaging toll on communities that once thrived along the banks of America's most storied river.

Flooding has pushed people out of their homes near the Mississippi River at a roughly 30% higher rate than the U.S. as a whole, according to data provided exclusively to The Associated Press by the risk analysis firm First Street. In regions growing slower than many other parts of the country, where towns are struggling with job loss and fewer resources, flooding is accelerating the exodus.

Consider West Alton, Missouri, on a bend of the Mississippi near its meeting with the Missouri River. It had 3,900 people in 1970, Mayor Willie Richter said. That number nosedived to about 570 after big floods in 1973 and 1993. Now, after the 2019 flood, about 360 people remain. All three churches closed. Many of the remaining homes have been raised to keep safe from floodwaters.

The toll weighs on people. When officials this year arrived at a blaze consuming a small home abandoned after the 2019 flood, the suspect said he burned the house down because he got tired of looking at it," according to a police report.

Vacant properties invite arson, said Richter, who said four or five abandoned homes have burned since that last big flood.

People just walk away from them, Richter said. The houses are condemned, they either got to be torn down or elevated. This much time has passed, theres a lot of damage.

The data from First Street show that while West Alton is an extreme example of floodings effect, its emblematic of challenges faced by smaller communities in the Midwest and South. Many struggle to keep young people and jobs from leaving. Industries and economic forces that once spread wealth along the river have consolidated and shifted away.

In a peer-reviewed paper published in December, First Street found that flooding drove millions of people in the U.S. from their homes, using modeling that relied on analysis of block-level Census data, flood risk information and other factors. For this story, First Street provided additional data on communities within roughly 100 miles of the Mississippi River from 2000 to 2020. The AP analyzed the data and mapped it to find and report on hard-hit communities.

First Streets work showed people tend to move to a safer place nearby. But some people leave communities entirely. Older residents are most likely to stay behind. Even in some growing communities, high flood risk constrained that growth.

Many Mississippi River towns formed in the 19th century. Pulp and paper mills, chemical plants, coal operations and the metals industry grew up along the massive river that provided a cheap and easy way to move heavy things, said Colin Wellenkamp, executive director of the Mississippi River Cities and Towns Initiative.

But technology, automation and consolidation changed those industries. Coal consumption dropped. Fewer pulp and paper sites were needed. The national highway system made it easier to bypass towns.

Flooding worsens the fortunes of places already struggling, and some towns thriving a century ago now are barely standing, said Patrick Nunnally, a retired lecturer at the University of Minnesota and a Mississippi River expert.

It sort of chips away at the river culture as people pick up and leave, said Dean Klinkenberg, who travels the Mississippi River writing guidebooks and histories of the communities.

Jeremy Porter, head of climate implications at First Street, said two types of flooding events tend to drive people to move: Frequent low-level flooding, and shocking events like the floods of 1993 and 2019 that devastate communities.

Climate change is adding to the problem. A warmer atmosphere means big storms can dump more rain and overwhelm sewer systems. And severe river flooding is becoming more common: six of the 10 highest floods on record at St. Louis have come over roughly the last three decades.

And when big rain events hit the Midwest, they can overwhelm small rivers and creeks.

The creek vexing Twain's birthplace

Bear Creek runs into the Mississippi near downtown Hannibal, Missouri. The city's historic downtown draws hundreds of thousands of visitors each year, but its population has slowly declined  from 17,757 in 2000 to 17,107 in 2020. Flooding from Bear Creek hasnt helped.

After years of dealing with floods that crept into downtown and even threatened the small home where young Samuel Clemens, later known to the world as Mark Twain, grew up, the city finally built an $8 million, 34-foot levee in 1992.

The timing was fortunate. In spring 1993, the Mississippi rose fast, and torrential summer rains sent it higher than even the monumental flood of 1973. But downtown stayed dry and open to tourists.

Homes outside the protected area got swamped, though. Much of the flooding was from Bear Creek as the Mississippi backed up into it.

Over the years, silt from the river has worked its way into the creek, clogging storm drains and worsening flash flooding, Mayor Barry Louderman said.

Louderman estimated at least a half-dozen companies that employed a combined 300 to 400 people are just gone, were never replaced, due to persistent flooding. First Street's models show Hannibal would have likely grown over the last two decades if not for flooding.

Steve Dungan has lived on Ely Street near Bear Creek all of his 54 years. As a child, he fished from the porch when the creek rose.

One summer night in 1993, Dungan was at a hospital in nearby Quincy, Illinois, where his wife was about to give birth to their daughter. He got a call that the water was coming up fast, and relatives and friends were scurrying to salvage what they could from his home by boat.

We lost the waterbed, stove, refrigerator  stuff they couldnt pack out," he said.

With family anchoring him to the area, he chose to stay.

Ray Allen, another longtime Ely Street resident who also operated an auto repair and welding shop there, did not. He recalled being awakened by a noise during that 1993 flooding.

Jumped up out of bed and was standing in water knee-deep beside the bed, Allen, now 80, recalled. Thats a rude awakening, Ill tell you that.

The government bought out nearly all of the homes on Ely Street and in many other neighborhoods vulnerable to Bear Creek. People scattered. Some, like Allen and his wife of 63 years, Rachel, left town, though they moved back about 12 years ago and now live high on a hill.

He misses his old friends and neighbors on Ely Street.

All of the people that were good friends down there kind of got busted apart," he said.

Cultural loss

West Alton is a two-hour drive downriver from Hannibal. In 1993, Sugar Vanburen watched as most of her mobile home floated down the river. Only what was bolted down remained  the floor, a toilet and furnace.

Her sister left, but not Sugar. Its where she grew up. She likes the quiet community. Her grandchildren go to a good school. Residents learn how to empty mud from the basement and get neighbors to help clean up.

After the 1993 flood, the Federal Emergency Management Agency offered buyouts to some facing severe flood risk. Recently, letters for a new round of voluntary buyouts went out.

Sugar threw hers away. But Robert Myers, St. Charles County's planning and zoning division director, said the goal is to buy out as many as 100 homes across the county.

Mayor Richter recalls the West Alton of decades ago: three churches, an ice cream shop, four taverns where people hung out.

Now we dont have any churches. We have one tavern thats open and it just got reopened not too long ago, he said. A lot of that community stuff is gone.

Tom Silk lives next to a vacant lot that was once home to the church he attended and where he married.

Silk likes the town. It's rural, peaceful. But it takes work to stay. His front door still bears the water stain right at the handle marking the 2019 flood  second-highest on record.

That year, he packed up a U-Haul and left for about two months. It took a year and a half to repair his house  he did the work after finishing shifts loading trucks at a FedEx warehouse  but he wanted to stay.

Its quiet, it is the country life, but ... you are still by the city if you need to do anything or go anywhere, he said.

Richter said flooding is so frequent that he probably wouldnt live in town if he didnt grow up locally, farm and have strong community connections. The town has organized July 4 celebrations and a flea market family fun day in the fall. People come back. But theres a sense of loss.

Vanburen misses neighbors who moved away.

Everybodys gone," she said. "This is a ghost town.

Diverging fortunes

Cairo, Illinois, is surrounded by a levee at the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. Its endured a lot.

First rising as a hub for steamboats in the 19th century, Cairo peaked around 1920 with about 15,000 people, including a sizeable Black population. It had attractive retail shops, several rail lines and a healthy manufacturing sector. It was also strictly segregated, and protests in the 1960s met violence that spiraled for years. The city has hemorrhaged people during a downward economic trend that's never stopped, according to local historian Klinkenberg.

Its population today is about 10% of peak. Retail and manufacturing are gone. For a long time, it didnt have a grocery store. Most of the place is abandoned, with brick buildings cracked by growing trees.

Economic factors and racial discrimination caused Cairos decline; flooding made things harder. Most of its population loss since 2000 was due to flooding, First Street says.

In 2011, residents were told to evacuate as bad flooding threatened. Andrea Drea Vinson swore she wasn't leaving. Then she went up to the river wall for a look at the rising water.

Aint no way," she recalled. "I lived downtown back then. No, thats headed straight for my house.

She evacuated.

Long before 2011, plans had been set to avert a flooding catastrophe in Cairo by flooding farmland instead. But officials waited a long time to blow a levee.

Steve Tarver, who runs a community development nonprofit, said the delay reflected how little officials seemed to value the largely Black community. That didnt encourage people to return.

That kills a lot of the value of our town, he said.

Vinson likes living in Cairo and returned. She raised kids here, its inexpensive, she knows its people. But some who evacuated in 2011 never came back.

Hope remains

Recent decades have brought new benefits to some riverside towns. The Clean Water Act of 1972 improved rivers and streams around the country that had carried tons of waste. Parks sprouted from cleaned-up industrial areas, attracting tourists and businesses.

One example is Grafton, Illinois, a community of roughly 730 people about an hour north of St. Louis. To cope with bad flooding officials didn't build a floodwall or levee. Instead, many residents simply vacated risky land to move uphill. Parks on low-lying land can absorb flooding. And the city worked to develop tourist attractions  a winery, a zip line and a marina. The population has edged up in recent years.

Then there are the great river rats as Klinkenberg calls them  people up and down the river who will never leave.

In Hannibal, the old Dungan family home is long gone, but Steve Dungan still lives nearby. So do his relatives. On a recent day, Dungan biked to his mothers tidy white frame home near the creek.

Dad passed away in this house, he said. Mom lives here. Ive got an older brother in this room, and hes handicapped. So, no.

___

The Associated Press receives support from the Walton Family Foundation for coverage of water and environmental policy. The AP is solely responsible for all content. For all of APs environmental coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/climate-and-environment
Singapore Airlines has offered compensation to passengers who suffered injuries during a flight that hit major turbulence last month.

A 73-year-old man died of a suspected heart attack and more than 50 others were injured in severe turbulence during a Singapore Airlines flight from London to Singapore on May 20.

The Boeing 777-300ER plane carrying 211 passengers and 18 crew members plummeted almost 1,800 metres over the west coast of Myanmar and had to be diverted to Bangkok for an emergency landing.

"Singapore Airlines (SIA) deeply apologises to all passengers for the traumatic experience on board flight SQ321 on 20 May 2024," the airline said in a statement published on Facebook on Tuesday.

The airline confirmed that compensation will be offered to passengers.

"For passengers who sustained minor injuries from the incident, we have offered US$10,000 in compensation," the carrier wrote.

"For those who sustained more serious injuries from the incident, we have invited them to discuss a compensation offer to meet each of their specific circumstances when they feel well and ready to do so."

The airline will offer an advance payment of $25,000 to passengers who have been medically assessed and determined to have sustained serious injuries requiring long-term medical care and are requesting financial assistance to address their immediate needs.

Additionally, the airline said it offered a full refund of the air fare to all passenger who were on flight SQ321, including those who did not suffer injuries and that all passengers were provided $1,000 to cover their immediate expenses in Bangkok.

"All passengers will also receive delay compensation in accordance with the relevant European Union or United Kingdom regulations."

The airline said it has also covered the medical expenses of injured passengers and arranged for their family members and loved ones to fly to Bangkok upon request.
FILE - The Boeing 777-300ER aircraft of Singapore Airlines, front, is parked after the SQ321 London-Singapore flight, that encountered severe turbulence, at Suvarnabhumi International Airport, near Bangkok, Thailand, on May 22, 2024. Singapore Airlines said Tuesday, June 11, it has offered compensation to passengers on board a flight that hit extreme turbulence last month, in a rare case that killed one passenger and injured dozens. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit, File)

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP)  Singapore Airlines said Tuesday it has offered compensation to passengers of a flight that hit extreme turbulence last month, in a rare case that killed one passenger and injured dozens.

The Being 777 jet, carrying 211 passengers and 18 crew from London to Singapore, ran into sudden turbulence over the Irrawaddy basin on May 20, hurling people and items around the cabin. The plane diverted to Thailand.

A 73-year-old British man died of a suspected heart attack and dozens were hospitalized including those with spinal, brain and bone or organ damages. Nineteen people remained hospitalized in Bangkok.

Singapore Airlines said it has offered $10,000 in compensation for passengers with minor injuries.

For those who sustained more serious injuries from the incident, we have invited them to discuss a compensation offer to meet each of their specific circumstances when they feel well and ready to do so, it said in a statement.

Those medically assessed to have sustained serious injuries, requiring long-term medical care and requesting financial assistance will receive an advance payment of $25,000 for their immediate needs, it said. This will be part of the final compensation that these passengers will receive, it said.

The airline said it will also provide full air fare refunds to all passengers on the flight, including those without any injuries. All passengers will also receive delay compensation in accordance with European Union or U.K. regulations, it said.

The airline added that it had already given all passengers 1,000 Singapore dollars ($739) each for their immediate needs, covered medical expenses of injured passengers, and arranged for their family members and loved ones to fly up to Bangkok where requested.

A preliminary investigation by Singapore's Transport Ministry said the plane went through huge swings in g-force in less than five seconds, likely causing the injuries to people who werent buckled into their seats. It said the jet dropped 178 feet (54 meters) in less than one second, which likely resulted in the occupants who were not belted up to become airborne before falling back down.

Officials said the turbulence was believed to have struck when meals were being served and many people were not using seat belts. Passengers have described the  sheer terror  of the aircraft shuddering, loose items flying and injured people lying paralyzed on the floor of the plane.

It was unclear what caused the turbulence. Most people associate turbulence with heavy storms, but the most dangerous type is so-called clear air turbulence. Such turbulence can occur in wispy cirrus clouds or even in clear air near thunderstorms, as differences in temperature and pressure create powerful currents of fast-moving air.

According to a 2021 report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board, turbulence accounted for 37.6% of all accidents on larger commercial airlines between 2009 and 2018. The Federal Aviation Administration has said there were 146 serious injuries from turbulence from 2009 to 2021.
Singapore Airlines aircraft for flight SQ321 is parked on the tarmac after an emergency landing at Suvarnabhumi International Airport

(Reuters) -Singapore Airlines has sent compensation offers to passengers on a flight last month from London to Singapore that ran into severe turbulence, causing dozens of injuries and a death, the carrier said on Tuesday.

Passengers with minor injuries have been offered $10,000, while those with serious injuries can discuss offers to meet specific needs, it added.

"Passengers medically assessed as having sustained serious injuries, requiring long-term medical care, and requesting financial assistance are offered an advance payment of $25,000 to address their immediate needs," that will form part of any final settlement, the airline said.

Three weeks after the May 20 flight, 11 passengers are still receiving medical care in hospitals in Bangkok, according to the airline.

A 73-year-old passenger died of a suspected heart attack and dozens were injured after flight SQ321 encountered what the airline described as sudden, extreme turbulence while flying over Myanmar. It diverted to Bangkok, the Thai capital.

Passengers said crew and those not strapped in left the floor or their seats and slammed into the cabin ceiling, cracking it in places. A Bangkok hospital treating passengers said there were spinal cord, brain and skull injuries.

Singapore Airlines said it would refund passengers' airfares and compensate them for the delay in line with European Union or British regulations covering their tickets.

An international agreement, the Montreal Convention, makes airlines liable for physical injuries from accidents on international flights, which can include turbulence, regardless of whether they were negligent.

If passengers file a lawsuit, the airline cannot contest damages up to about $175,000, but if greater damages are sought, Singapore Airlines can try to limit liability by proving it took all necessary measures to avoid the turbulence, lawyers say.

Allianz is the lead insurer for the aircraft, sources speaking on condition of anonymity have told Reuters.

Individuals' travel insurance policies will probably cover injuries from aircraft turbulence, but policies may vary, the Association of British Insurers said after the incident.

Travel claims lawyer Peter Carter said his Australia-based firm, Carter Capner Law, which represents some passengers, is paying close attention to what accident reports may say about the type of turbulence and whether pilots could have avoided it.

Shares in Singapore Airlines fell 0.4% on Tuesday. The stock remains little changed since the May 20 incident.

CAUSE OF TURBULENCE

In a preliminary report, Singapore's Transport Ministry said a rapid change in gravitational force and a drop in altitude of 54 m (177 ft) probably caused passengers and crew to become airborne.

The plane was probably flying over an area of "developing convective activity", it said, using a term referring to developing bad weather.

The most common cause of turbulence is the unstable weather patterns that trigger storms, which can be detected by weather radar, allowing pilots to fly around potential patches.

Another type, clear air turbulence, is a sudden and severe swirl even where there are no clouds. Such invisible pockets of air are hard to predict.

There were 211 passengers, including many Australians, British and Singaporeans, and 18 crew members on the flight.

The incident put seatbelt practices in the spotlight, with airlines typically allowing passengers to undo belts during normal cruise conditions, while recommending they keep them on.

Singapore Airlines, which is widely recognised as one of the world's leading airlines and a benchmark for much of the industry, has not had major incidents in recent years.

An analyst at Singapore-based DBS bank, Jason Sum, said the turbulence incident had not altered the bank's view on the carrier.

"We anticipate limited negative impact as public perception of the airlines safety standards and consumer sentiment remains intact," he told Reuters on Tuesday, adding its crisis management had been "exemplary".

(Reporting by Lisa Barrington in Seoul, Xinghui Kok in Singapore; Editing by Jamie Freed and Clarence Fernandez)
BAGHDAD, June 11 (Xinhua) -- The Iraqi National Security Service (INSS) said Tuesday that its forces killed a senior Islamic State (IS) militant in an operation inside the Syrian territories.

Acting on intelligence reports and coordination with the international coalition, the INSS forces clashed with a militant nicknamed Abu Zainab and killed him after having surrounded him in the past days in the Syrian al-Raqqa province, the INSS said in a statement.

Abu Zainab worked in various areas, especially in the desert areas near the towns of al-Seneia in Salahudin province and al-Baaj in Nineveh province, the statement said.

He also participated in many attacks on the Iraqi security forces and was responsible for smuggling weapons and fighters between Iraq and Syria, according to the statement.

The security situation in Iraq has improved since the defeat of the IS in 2017. However, IS remnants have sneaked into urban centers, deserts, and rugged areas, carrying out frequent guerilla attacks against security forces and civilians. 
The Sioux Falls school board moved forward with an option to raze Whittier Middle School and rebuild a new one by 2030 during Monday nights meeting.

During the last year, the board and district have held multiple meetings, work sessions and community listening sessions to discuss three options it foresaw for the future of Whittier. On Monday night, the board chose the third of those options.

The district owns 9.4 acres at the site, but this third option will require the purchase of 6.1 more acres, which currently house 29 homes and one church, to move forward with construction. Several of those lots have already been purchased by the district.

More: Sioux Falls school board weighs options to rebuild Whittier Middle again ahead of June vote

This plan will put a new Whittier Middle School across two large blocks of land, where the schools current track and football field exists, and the block with East Fourth Street to the north, North Fairfax Avenue to the east, East Fifth Street to the south and North Indiana Avenue to the west, where 21 homes and a church currently stand. The plan will also put more parking spaces to the north of the current parking lot along North Fairfax Avenue, where eight homes currently stand.

Option 3 for Whittier Middle School's reconstruction, as presented to the Sioux Falls School District Board of Education during an April 3, 2024 work session.

With this plan, the current Whittier Middle School will be demolished, and a track and field put in its place.

This third plan was last discussed in May and was preferred by the district since it had the least amount of impact on the community, while other options wouldve required purchasing 39 or 48 parcels.

During public comment time, parent Zach DeBoer asked the board to consider an option that wouldnt remove the existing, more than 100-year-old school, and instead find a way to reuse the space.

More: Sioux Falls school board weighs 3 options to rebuild Whittier Middle School in 2028

He suggested the district get creative and use Whittier as another school building or sell it to be used in another way to benefit the community, such as apartments or something similar to how Dakotabilities has used the former Longfellow Elementary School for several years now.

For over 100 years, that building has stood there, and its such a vital part of the fabric and history not only of the neighborhood, but of the city itself, DeBoer said. It would just be a shame to see that piece of history be demolished when there are other options on the table.

DeBoer said schools like Whittier are the setting of many peoples lives, and tearing them down severs part of their life story.

Thats so many stories erased and gone, he said. When you think about all the buildings weve lost in Sioux Falls we dont have an unlimited supply. There are buildings like Lincoln Elementary or Mark Twain Elementary that are iconic pieces of the neighborhood because of their unique architecture, (but) those places are gone now.

More: Sioux Falls' longest-serving teacher reflects back on 44 years in special education

Superintendent Jane Stavem noted its been the plan to build a new Whittier Middle School for a number of years, since part of the $190 million bond that passed in 2018 was focused on purchasing lots to the north of the current school. Another bond will be needed in 2027 to actually construct a new Whittier Middle School.

Stavem said DeBoers comments were well-taken, and said the district realizes the historical significance of the building in the neighborhood, but that when a building outdoes its life cycle, there are other factors like safety and HVAC systems that might not be feasible to replace.

The districts plan is to replace the school in a manner that also respects the history and enhances that building plan, when we get the specifications for a new Whittier to look like a building that maybe has been there for longer than what some of our brand new buildings look like, Stavem said.

Option 3 for Whittier Middle School's reconstruction, as presented to the Sioux Falls School District Board of Education during an April 3, 2024 work session.

School board president Carly Reiter said she appreciated how the district was thoughtful by trying to preserve as many affordable homes as possible, and that this plan takes up less square footage in the area. She said shed like to see the school build up with multiple floors.

Things have changed in 100 years, she added.

School board vice president Marc Murren said he was excited for the new plan.

I think its time, Murren said. They deserve a modern building, modern facilities.

The board also moved forward with new boundaries for the new Marcella LeBeau Elementary School to be built near George McGovern Middle School and open by 2025. The boundaries will see students living in the area of the city north of 12th Street, west of La Mesa Street, north of Madison Street, west of Interstate 29, south of Tickman Street and south of 34th Street attend the new school.

Board members also acknowledged that two-way Spanish immersion students will see programming options expand to Edison, Ben Reifel and George McGovern Middle Schools by 2025.

This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: School board OKs district plans to raze, rebuild Whittier Middle School
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division is continuing its search for Jaquan Duvall Barnes, a convicted violent sex offender who escaped from the Jasper County Detention Center and remains at large. He had been in custody at that county jail since his arrest for another sex crime in early March.

Barnes is a 5-foot-2, 28-year-old Black male with brown hair and brown eyes. He weighs 150 pounds and has a home address listed as 1793 Old Shell Road in Port Royal, according to a flyer provided by Jasper County investigators. His profile in the state sex offender registry says Barnes also goes by Quay or X and has a chest tattoo reading SONJA.

It was unclear when and how Barnes escaped the jail, which is located at 12008 North Jacob Smart Blvd in Ridgeland, part of the same building as the countys law enforcement center. The facility employs 32 detention officers and a handful of administrative staff, its website says.

Constructed in 2004, the 32,000-square-foot detention center has about 184 beds throughout its six housing units and six holding cells, according to rosters sent by personnel in mid-May. Typically, the jail houses between 50 and 100 inmates on any given day.

Chief Jeff Crosby, a spokesperson for the Jasper County Sheriffs Office, said on Tuesday afternoon that deputies were no longer actively searching for the fugitive as SLED took full control of the manhunt. Representatives from SLED and the Jasper County Detention Center could not be reached via phone on Tuesday.

A flyer provided by Jasper County police provides identifying information about Jaquan Duvall Barnes, who escaped the county detention center sometime before Monday afternoon.

Barnes was arrested March 5 for sex trafficking of a minor after he ran from Hardeeville police during a traffic stop. Inside the car, officers found an underage girl who was acquainted with the suspect and had been reported missing from Beaufort County.

That incident was far from Barnes first sex crime charge: In 2015, he pleaded guilty in Beaufort County court to two counts of third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor, an offense for the possession of child sexual abuse material, more commonly known as child pornography.

For years, the Jasper County Detention Center has struggled with understaffing and noncompliance with state regulations. A County Council agenda item from March 2024 lists a number of violations discovered during a routine inspection by the South Carolina Department of Corrections: inmate overcrowding, inadequate staff coverage at posts throughout the building, insufficient staff training, inoperable intercom stations with missing parts and exposed wires, unclean facilities and a lack of space needed to properly separate portions of the female inmate population. Inspectors also noted the jail had been keeping inmates in a multipurpose room that was not approved for inmate housing.

Responding to the SCDC report, Detention Center Director Arthur S. Benjamin and other jail staff said a number of the issues had been solved or improved, but conceded that many of the largest violations were due to a lack of available space in the current floor plan. Recent capital improvement plans show the county plans to spend about $30 million in additions and renovations to the building, which would relocate existing sheriffs office facilities to a separate location.

Benjamin said on Monday that SLED would investigate the circumstances of Barnes escape. The Beaufort County Sheriffs Office was not assisting in the search for the inmate as of Tuesday morning but remained in contact with Jasper County agencies in case help was needed, according to department spokesperson Master Sgt. Danny Allen.

Pictured is the Jasper County Law Enforcement Center, located at 12008 North Jacob Smart Blvd in Ridgeland. The facility is home to both the Jasper County Sheriffs Office and the county detention center.

Escapee has history of sex crimes, gun violence

In Fulton County, GA, Barnes had previously been charged with pimping a minor and trafficking a person for sexual servitude. Both counts stem from a May 2018 incident in Sandy Springs, a city north of Atlanta: While conducting surveillance for a prostitution investigation in the area, police reportedly saw Barnes bring an underage female into a Marriott Hotel.

As officers approached Barnes outside the hotel, he attempted to drive away, crashing into two patrol cars in the process. Two policemen opened fire, with one round striking Barnes in the hand. He faced a flurry of felonies after being released from the hospital  but he failed to appear at a court proceeding in September, leaving the charges pending in Fulton County court.

Barnes also reportedly shot a man twice in Conway, S.C. during a January 2018 drug deal, while he was already wanted by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation for aggravated assault charges. While his charges of attempted murder and illegal weapons possession were dropped, he pleaded guilty in 2019 to armed robbery and received a prison sentence of about three years.

Judicial records from 2013 to 2015 show Barnes has nearly a dozen additional convictions in Beaufort County, primarily for theft: two counts of felony larceny, five counts of larceny from a vehicle, one for tampering with a vehicle, possession of cocaine and two burglaries, one violent and one non-violent.

A spokesperson for the Bluffton Police Department said the agency had three active warrants for Barnes related to fraudulent checks. He had not been extradited to Beaufort County following his arrest in March.
A statewide paid family leave program can help small businesses stay competitive and grow. (Getty image)

What a difference a decade makes. In 2013, Rhode Island led the country by instituting one of the first state-managed paid family leave programs. It meant workers didnt have to choose between keeping their job and caring for an ill family member. Small businesses gained a much-needed resource to avoid high cost losses due to staff turnover and the ability to offer a highly attractive employee benefit at zero additional cost.

But over the years, the program has not kept pace with the needs of small businesses and their employees. Its hard to run a business without a reliable workforce, and its hard to create competitive jobs without the resources to offer benefits. This lack of support depresses the economic development of small businesses, minority-owned businesses especially. Its one of the reasons why Rhode Islands BIPOC business ownership rate is less than half of the national average (9.3% vs 20.4%). The Rhode Island Black Business Association is one of the states largest associations of microenterprises and sole proprietors. We urge state leaders to finally approve basic updates to the paid family leave program, bringing it at last up to standard with best practices and small business needs.

Proposed legislation (H7171/S2121) expands paid family leave in three critical ways.

First, it expands the number of weeks a worker can take leave to 12 weeks, a policy standard and best practice. Currently, the limit is six weeks, the shortest in the country.

Second, the bill expands the definition of caregiver, recognizing that family is not only your parents, grandparents, or child. As proposed, the definition can also include siblings and persons who stand in loco parentis, a Latin phrase meaning they hold all the responsibilities of a caregiver, but may not have a biological or legal relationship. This inclusive language change would allow members of the immigrant, LGBTQ+, and foster care communities to designate a caretaker and use this critical benefit

Third, the bill would raise the wage replacement by the cost of a cup of coffee, thus helping low and modest-income workers be able to meet their basic needs while out on leave caring for a loved one.

Data shows that an effective statewide paid family leave program helps small businesses grow. A national outcomes analysis found that when states provide an effective paid family leave program, small businesses experienced on average 5% greater revenue and 7% greater profit per full-time employee. Compare that to the 50% to 150% loss experienced when a full time employee leaves permanently.

Some claim that improving our paid family leave program burdens business owners. But this view privileges large businesses at the expense of Rhode Islands locally owned mom and pop shops. Unlike a small enterprise, a big business can mitigate and prevent losses resulting from staff turnover since they have the resources to provide their own paid family leave program. Large companies also have an advantage over small businesses when it comes to recruiting and retaining talented workers. Working Rhode Islanders are looking for jobs that not only pay a living wage but offer good benefits.

Our neighbors understand the importance of an effective paid family leave program. Connecticut and Massachusetts provide 12 weeks; Maine recently approved its program at 12 weeks. New York and New Jersey also set leave at 12 weeks. Why cant Rhode Islands small business owners and entrepreneurs enjoy the same resources and supports as their counterparts just across the border? That economic development and resulting prosperity should happen here in Rhode Island.

A healthy workforce makes running a successful business possible. Paid family leave provides the resources to retain but also recruit talented workers, without any additional cost to the business owner. The proposed expansions to our paid family leave program will help Rhode Island small businesses not only grow but thrive. The Rhode Island Senate already acted in support of the small business community by passing S2121 in March. The Rhode Island Black Business Association and our members are urging the House to follow suit before its too late this year. Our small businesses cant wait any longer  expand paid family leave now.

The post This small state has a big problem keeping pace with its neighbors on paid family leave. appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
Within minutes of hearing the news that Hunter Biden was found guilty on Tuesday of illegally owning a gun in 2018, people took to social media to discuss the verdict.

And, of course, many folks couldnt help but compare and contrast the legal issues of President Joe Bidens son with those of former President Donald Trump.

BREAKING: Hunter Biden GUILTY on 31 fewer counts than Trump.  Mueller, She Wrote (@MuellerSheWrote) June 11, 2024

BREAKING: Hunter Biden guilty in criminal gun trial. Look forward to Trump and GOP saying this was a "Rigged" trial brought by a Trump appointed prosecutor. (Spoiler: they won't despite the prosecutor being PERSONALLY appointed by Donald Trump)  (((DeanObeidallah))) (@DeanObeidallah) June 11, 2024

Hunter Biden is now a convicted felon and Im sorry but people should not ever support him either for president.  George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) June 11, 2024

Trump is already claiming he has more felony convictions than the Biden family, no one does felony convictions like him apparently  Richard Fenton (@RichFenton) June 11, 2024

New Talking Point just dropped:



Are you voting for a convicted felon or the father of a convicted felon?  Jenna Ellis (@JennaEllisEsq) June 11, 2024

Whatever the verdict in the Hunter Biden trial, I can assure you that President Biden and the leaders in his party will not attack the judge, the jury, and the judicial system just for prosecuting the presidents son.pic.twitter.com/LBN0Nv1GFH  Keith Boykin (@keithboykin) June 11, 2024

The jury convicted Hunter Biden in accordance w/the evidence. But what was really outrageous was how the judge & his staff were threatened throughout the trial, how the prosecutors were doxxed, how the witnesses were hounded, how the jurors were endangered . . .



Oh wait . . .  Glenn Kirschner (@glennkirschner2) June 11, 2024

Other people discussed whether the case was really, truly a sign of the Justice Department being weaponized.

Stunned and chagrined by the unanimous guilty verdicts in the Hunter Biden gun purchase and possession case. The evidence against the presidents son was overwhelming. Still, I thought the familys show of support and the hometown jurys shared experiences would command  Geraldo Rivera (@GeraldoRivera) June 11, 2024

Joe Biden has weaponized the Justice Department to punish his enemies and



*touches earpiece*



go to commercial, go to commercial  Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) June 11, 2024

The irony of the MAGAts cheering the Hunter Biden guilty verdict when they're the same ones who say don't come for mah guns is rich. They're just vindictive vultures. Guess what MAGAts, Hunter Biden still isn't running for president, but your convicted felon&adjudicated rapist is  Lesley Abravanel  (@lesleyabravanel) June 11, 2024

Many people debated whether the case should have been brought to trial in the first place.

Hunter Biden is guilty on three gun charges. Yes, he did it. Also, half the country has done this crime - saying that you haven't done any drugs on a gun form (including pot). Are you going to go to jail for this? No, because you'd never be charged with this rinky-dink bullshit.  Cenk Uygur (@cenkuygur) June 11, 2024

JUST ANNOUNCED!



Republicans in Congress are OUTRAGED that the jury found Hunter Biden guilty of firearms possession.



His second amendment rights SHALL NOT BE INFRINGED!



Just kidding, they only defend mass shooters and spree killer Kyle Rittenhouse. https://t.co/mlfO54rtdO  Helis Bor (@helisbor) June 11, 2024

Wow sorry to see this. Guilty of being an addict and making a bad choice to buy a gun. He is no longer an addict. He wrote a Self-help book to help other addicts and they used it to charge him. How sad. #HunterBidenhttps://t.co/c56hfMYSLx  Sophia A. Nelson (@IAmSophiaNelson) June 11, 2024

Need help with substance use disorder or mental health issues? In the U.S., call 800-662-HELP (4357) for the SAMHSA National Helpline.

Related...
A California socialite was sentenced Monday to 15 years to life in prison for killing two children as she sped through a crosswalk in 2020.

Rebecca Grossman, the wife of a well-known Los Angeles burn doctor, was convicted in February over the hit-and-run deaths of Mark Iskander, 11, and his 8-year-old brother, Jacob. Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Joseph Brandolino said during the sentencing hearing that Grossman had been reckless and unquestionably negligent.

LA Socialite Accused of Trying to Tamper With Jury

The philanthropist had been convicted of two counts of second-degree murder, two counts of gross vehicular manslaughter, and a felony count of hit-and-run driving resulting in death. Brandolino sentenced her to two concurrent 15-to-life sentences along with another concurrent three-year sentence for fleeing the scene of the crash, according to the Los Angeles Times.

I never saw anyone, Grossman said at the sentencing, referring to the fatal collision. She added that she would have driven into a brick wall and did not know why God did not take my life. Grossman added that shed gone into a state of denial following the crash.

She also tearfully told the victims mother, Nancy Iskander: My pain is a fraction of your pain. Nancy Iskander described Grossman as a coward during the hearing, according to the Times.

During the legal proceedings, prosecutors accused Grossman of refusing to take responsibility for killing the boys and also trying to influence the case in an effort to get a new trial following her conviction.

At trial, prosecutors presented evidence that Grossman had been speeding as fast as 81 mph before hitting the children at a crosswalk. She slowed to 73 mph less than two seconds before the impact, data showed, and continued to drive for another half-mile after the fatal impact.

Nancy Iskander testified that her youngest son was at her side while her two older children were slightly behind them as they entered the crosswalk. She said she grabbed her 5-year-old boy and dived to safety when she saw and heard two vehicles speeding toward them.

The mother recalled in court how she had placed her youngest son on the curb and then tried to find her other boys, according to KABC-TV. She said she first came across Jacob, who was unconscious but still had a pulsegiving her hope he would survivebut knew immediately when she found Mark that he was dead.

Grossman had been drinking with her then-boyfriend Scott Erickson, the former Dodgers pitcher, earlier in the day, prosecutors said, and she was driving behind him at the time of the crash.

Her defense attorneys had claimed Ericksons SUV hit the children first, but Deputy District Attorney Ryan Gould told jurors there was not a shred of evidence supporting that ridiculous theory, according to KCAL-TV.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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We sold 8 houses in Michigan to cram our family of 6 into a small apartment in California. We have no regrets.

Evelyn Pech-Vazquez became worried about Michigan's lack of diversity and how it would impact her four children.

She and her husband decided to sell their Michigan house  along with seven rental homes  for a profit of $177,000.

In California, they can only afford a two-bedroom apartment but say the benefits outweigh the higher cost of living.

We were on vacation in Florida, having breakfast in the hotel, when my 5-year-old son made an observation that left me speechless: "Mama, no somos los unicos hablando Espanol."

It was true. That morning we were surrounded by a lot of other people also speaking Spanish  a mix of Mexican, Cuban, and Puerto Rican accents could be heard in the background. Three other guests had even joined our large table, as no other seats were available. My son was surprised to see them bow their heads when we said grace, as salsa music played in the background.

My son's reaction reminded me of the importance of diversity and had me questioning the sense of community back home in Lansing, Michigan. After returning home, he continued to ask why no one spoke Spanish in our neighborhood, and I felt sad, explaining that Orlando had more people from different countries.

The lack of diversity prompted us to leave Michigan

We never intended to stay in Michigan as long as we did. We also didn't realize that the lack of diversity would have a noticeable impact on our children. It took my son's comment to realize we needed to leave.

My husband is from Yucatan, Mexico; my father is from Cameroon, and I grew up in Cleveland, where my mother was born.

I saw that my four children were the only bilingual kids in the neighborhood. As they got older, it got harder for them to appreciate speaking two languages and they constantly fought our efforts.

In addition to not having other bilingual friends, I began to see something else very disconcerting. My children, who had spent their entire lives in the same town, were becoming close-minded. There was a common belief in our area that one had all they'd need in their own community, and few had any interest in discovering the outside world.

It was scary to think that all my efforts to diversify them  traveling, living briefly in Mexico, and speaking multiple languages  would be wasted simply because of the surrounding culture. It took five more years for us to leave, but when the pandemic shook the world and presented an unexpected opportunity, my husband and I seized it.

Seeing her four kids proud to be bilingual makes the author feel proud. Evelyn Pech-Vazquez

After selling our house and rental properties, we made the move

We sold seven rental homes and our main residence with the goal of buying a house in California and broadening our children's horizons.

In April 2021, we moved 3,000 miles west to a small town in Southern California. The increase in diversity was apparent from the start. In my daughter's first year of kindergarten, she made several bilingual friends. I was surprised by how many kids spoke Spanish, not to mention the long list of other languages.

In our new home in Simi Valley, 40 miles from Downtown Los Angeles, the demographic for Hispanic or Latino residents is 26.2%, nearly double that of Michigan's state capital, per the United States Census Bureau.

I'll never forget the first day my oldest, now 20, came home excitedly from his job at McDonald's and said he was helping train a new employee who only spoke Spanish. This was coming from the boy who had complained about being forced to speak Spanish for years.

For the first time, he looked proud to be bilingual. All three of the younger kids have had similar experiences, whether it was helping translate for a new immigrant in class or speaking Spanish for fun with bilingual friends.

Housing prices made it hard, but we have no regrets

Three years in, we are still paying $2,600 for a two-bedroom, one-bath apartment, evidence of the biggest challenge we've faced: housing. With the profits of eight Midwestern houses, adding up to $177,000, we still don't have enough to buy a home. Zillow listed the average home value in Simi Valley as $846,159. Many of these houses are half the size of our place back in Michigan.

One pleasant surprise was that our high-school graduates might qualify for two years of free community college through the California Promise Program, which waives first-time students' enrollment fees and, in some cases, tuition, as well. This was great news for our big family.

Overall, the sacrifices we made to move to Southern California were worth the benefits of living in a melting pot. We would do it all over again.

Got a personal essay about culture shock or relocating a family that you want to share? Get in touch with the editor: akarplus@businessinsider.com .

Read the original article on Business Insider
Sole Survivor and 4th Victim in Metal Pipe Attack Dies, Suspect Charged with Another Count of Murder

One of the "possible motives" behind the attack "was the possibility of the crime being made into a movie," said the Linn County Sheriff's Office

linn county sheriffs department Luke Truesdell

The lone survivor of a metal pipe attack from a man in Iowa that left three others dead at the scene has died.

According to a press release from the Linn County Sheriff's Office, Brent Anthony Brown, 34, who was flown to an area hospital with life-threatening injuries, was pronounced dead by the Johnson County Medical Examiner on Friday, June 7.

His body will be transported to the state medical examiner's office for an autopsy as an investigation into the attacks continues, per the release.

Luke Truesdell, 34, has been charged with a fourth count of first-degree murder after the June 5 incident at a property in rural Marion, Iowa.

Getty Stock image of police siren

Related: Husband of N.Y.C. Daycare Owner Pleads Guilty After 1-Year-Old Boy Dies of Fentanyl Poisoning

He is being held on a $4 million bond, according to online jail records reviewed by PEOPLE.

Truesdell's other alleged victims were Romondus Lamar Cooper, 44, of Cedar Rapids; Keonna Victoria Ryan, 26, of Cedar Rapids; and Amanda Sue Parker, 33, of Vinton.

linn county sheriffs department Luke Truesdell

Related: Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta Star Tommie Lee Arrested for Battery in Miami Beach

The Linn County Sheriff's Office shared in a previous press release that its investigation "has revealed that the victims appeared to have received their injuries as the result of blunt force trauma to the head, delivered by a metal pipe."

Police said one of the "possible motives" behind the attack "was the possibility of the crime being made into a movie."

Linn County Attorney Nick Maybanks also shared in an interview with KWWL that "the individuals did know each other."

Getty Stock image of yellow crime scene tape

"The extent of that relationship is still under investigation. We're still trying to get to the bottom of exactly what precipitated this," he said, adding that they "definitely were associates at minimum."

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.

According to KGAN, the crime is the largest mass murder in eastern Iowa since March 2008 when Steve Sueppel, an Iowa City banker facing federal embezzlement charges, killed his wife and four adopted children before taking his own life.

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Read the original article on People.
An Oregon man who accidentally drove off an embankment and spent the night at the bottom of a steep ravine was saved after one of his dogs ran 4 miles for help.

Brandon Garrett was driving with his four dogs along Hells Canyon Scenic Byway, a two-land paved road that winds through the Wallowa Mountains, when he failed to negotiate a curve last week. That caused Garrett's car to plummet off the embankment on June 2, according to a news release from the Baker County Sheriffs Office.

One of Garrett's dogs, named Blue, ran 4 miles to a campsite where Garrett and his brother had been staying. Blue arrived to alert the rest of the party that something was wrong, the sheriff's office said.

Garrett spent the night in the woods, setting up camp about 100 yards away from his car.

Garrett's family members were able to find Garrett's car the next morning but couldn't reach him because of the extreme terrain. That's when they called authorities.

Heres what we know.

Brandon Garrett's dog helped save his life, running four miles after they drove off an Oregon encampment on Sunday, June 2.

Authorities share detail of dramatic rescue

Garretts brother reached out to the Baker County Sheriffs Office the morning on June 3, telling them that Garrett did not make it to camp.

He told them that they had found Garretts car but were unable to make contact. A number of agencies, including the sheriffs office, made their way to the crash site. Baker County Sheriff Travis Ash soon found Garrett and his three other dogs alive at the crash site.

Ash administered first aid as volunteers began to carve a path to Garrett with chainsaws.

Then, members of the search and rescue team began the difficult task of reaching Garrett, using a highline rope system to load and secure him into a rescue basket before being pulled across the ravine, the sheriff's office said.

Garrett was airlifted to a regional hospital. Baker County sheriff's spokesperson Ashley McClay told USA TODAY on Monday that Garrett was out of the hospital and is at home recovering.

Rescuers recover Brandon Garrett the day after his car went down an embankment and one of his dogs alerted his family that Garrett needed help.

Blue praised in the comment section, many call dog a 'hero'

It didn't take long for Garrett's rescue to gain some traction, with many giving Blue high praise in the comment section of the sheriff's post detailing the rescue.

"Amazing," Farrah Huff Chastain said. "Somebody get that dog a bone, he saved his person."

Sharon Foster Bessey called Blue's actions "unbelievable."

"That dog deserves a medal for that!!!!" she said. "And then to find everyone alive and rescued, that is a wonderful ending to the story!"

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Oregon man's dog runs 4 miles to get help after car crash
Oregon's media landscape continues to change, and not for the better. (Getty Images)

Two big slices of news about Oregon newspapers fell shortly after Memorial Day, sending shock waves across the state.

One was the sale of one of the largest Oregon newspaper groups, Portland-based Pamplin Media, and the other was the announcement of major cutbacks in another, EO Media Group, which owns the Bend Bulletin and other newspapers. Both show the immediate urgency for finding a way to rescue community news in Oregon  sooner, not later. Among other things, the Oregon Legislature urgently needs to take up the subject in its next session.

Consider where Oregon newspapers were just 12 years ago, when Steve Bagwell of the McMinnville News-Register and I co-wrote a book, called New Editions, about the recent history and prospects for newspapers in the Northwest. We counted 82 paid-subscription, general circulation newspapers, 16 of them dailies, in Portland, Eugene, Salem, Bend, Medford, Albany, Corvallis, Pendleton, Astoria, Ashland, Ontario, Coos Bay, The Dalles, La Grande, Roseburg and Baker City.

Since then an economic hurricane, a perfect storm, swept through the ranks of those newspapers. Many of the dailies which published six or seven days a week now publish three or four days a week if theyre not gone completely. The large business office buildings they occupied nearly all have been sold, along with nearly all newspaper presses, and increasing numbers of newspapers now consist of one or two reporters working out of their homes, with no office support at all. Some Oregon newspapers have been sold to investor groups, and where the papers still are actual print papers, theyre far smaller.

That has largely been the case with Pamplin Media Group, which owned 22 newspapers from Prineville to Forest Grove and Madras to Portland, more than any other owner in the state. Their operations and staff have diminished, But they have continued to publish on regular weekly schedules with reports about their communities.

On June 1, all of those papers were sold to Carpenter Media Group of Natchez, Mississippi, which, until recently, mainly had focused on southern-state newspapers. Pamplin is not its only major recent purchase, even in the Northwest, however. Last year, with backing from two Canadian investment companies, it bought 150 newspapers and other media from Black Press Media of Surrey in British Columbia, and included dozens of Washington state newspapers. Carpenter is now by far the largest newspaper owner in the Northwest.

It appears to be operated by former executives of Boone Newsmedia, which owns dozens of papers in the southern U.S. But other than reports about Carpenters many purchases theres little public information about it  or where the money for all these massive buys is coming from. Carpenter has been buying large papers as well as small, including the dailies in Honolulu, Hawaii and Everett, Washington. What that means for Oregons largest collection of newspapers is far from clear.

The development with EO Media Group didnt involve change of ownership, but it did mark a drastic change of operations.

EO Media Group, named for one of its papers, the East Oregonian of Pendleton, publishes a dozen newspapers in the state, most east of the Cascades. Operated by the Forrester family of Astoria, it has been a rescuer in recent years of community newspapers. In 2019, it bought The (Bend) Bulletin out of bankruptcy and kept it running. When the daily Mail Tribune of Medford shut down, EO started a new paper there, Rogue Valley Times.

EO said on June 3 that it will cut its 185 employees by 28, end print editions at the papers in La Grande, Hermiston, Baker City, John Day and Enterprise, and reduce the number of editions per week at Medford, Bend and Pendleton.

The areas in Oregon that are news deserts  or at least extremely arid regions  are expanding rapidly. And considering the scope of these recent large developments, the collapse of Oregons newspapers seems to be picking up speed rather than slowing.

Oregonians need news reports to decide how to vote and participate in their communities, and the businesses that have made that possible are dissolving rapidly. This amounts to a real, immediate crisis for the government and society in Oregon, as it does in many other places.

The answers are far from clear.

The Oregon Legislature did devote some attention to the problem last year with House Bill 2605. The proposal would have prompted a study of the situation but it never had a floor vote. Still, that was a good start. Next year, it ought to mark out serious time and attention to figuring out how to help Oregon citizens keep up with the news around them, so the system of self-governance we have had for generations can continue to function.

Corrections: An earlier version of this article misidentified Boone Newsmedia Inc. and misspelled EO Media Group. It also misstated when the Oregon Legislature considered grants for local media.

The post Something for lawmakers to consider: state of Oregon local journalism appeared first on Oregon Capital Chronicle.
JERUSALEM, June 11 (Xinhua) -- Four Israeli soldiers were killed and six others injured in a blast in a booby-trapped building in Gaza's Rafah city, Israel's military announced on Tuesday.

The troops, including three soldiers and their commanding officer, were "killed in fighting in southern Gaza" on Monday, the military said in a press release, without elaborating further details.

Israel's Army Radio reported that the soldiers were hit by explosive devices that detonated when they entered a building in the Shabura neighborhood.

In a statement, the Islamic Resistance Movement claimed responsibility for the killing, saying the soldiers were killed in an attack by its fighters.

The latest deaths brought the military's overall death toll to 298 since its ground offensive in Gaza began last October, according to military figures. 
(Bloomberg) -- South African business confidence fell to a 10-month low amid uncertainty ahead of the countrys May 29 election, a top business lobby group said.

Most Read from Bloomberg

A measure of sentiment compiled by the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry slipped to 107.8 in May from 108.9 in April and 114.7 in March. The average level of the index for the first five months of 2024 was 111.7.

It said politicians should now take an economy first approach as they negotiate forming a new government.

The election cost the African National Congress its parliamentary majority for the first time since taking power in 1994, forcing it to negotiate with rivals to form a broad alliance, known as a government of national unity. Parliament will reconvene Friday to elect the president.

This adjustment could have unwarranted and unintended consequences for the economy and the well-being of South African citizens, Sacci said. An economy first approach should reduce high levels of unemployment and build a meritocracy with sustainable and inclusive economic growth.

Among the parties that have expressed an interest in joining the new government is the centrist Democratic Alliance. The ANC has also said it was reaching out to all parties, including the leftist Economic Freedom Fighters and former President Jacob Zumas uMkhonto weSizwe Party. Both have pledged to nationalize land and the central bank.

(Updates to insert chart)

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East Bank developer Dave Matthews stands in his stocked grocery store, East Race Market, on Monday, Jan. 8, 2024. The store, at 350 E. LaSalle Ave. in downtown South Bend, opened in January despite an ongoing lawsuit from the city.

SOUTH BEND  South Bend officials on Monday voted to allow developer David Matthews two more weeks to make his case that the city should alter a plan for tax breaks on his high-rise apartment complex because, he argues, the COVID-19 pandemic delayed construction.

Matthews wants the South Bend Common Council to amend its 2017 agreement that waived almost all taxes on the 300 E. LaSalle Ave. property for 10 years  an estimated $5.8 million tax abatement that was to begin in 2021  so that the abatement period instead would begin a year later, in 2022, and last until 2032. The change is necessary, Matthews said, to account for delays due to supply chain difficulties and labor shortages wrought by pandemic shutdowns.

Matthews said a St. Joseph County tax assessment in 2021 found the building was about a third finished, thereby lowering the amount of taxes to be waived over the entire 10-year period. He said the tax abatement must reflect the finished building's assessed value, as of 2022, or else the project will fail.

"Nobody in 2017 could anticipate a global pandemic in 2020, a global pandemic that shut down the entire country," Lyle Hardman, Matthews' attorney, said to councilors Monday.

But the administration of South Bend Mayor James Mueller and several councilors strongly oppose the bill, citing the city's ongoing lawsuit against Matthews for his alleged failure to open a full grocery store, along with other promises, such as a 500-space parking garage, by a 2022 deadline.

The Mueller administration also says that Matthews owes $512,000 in unpaid property taxes  which Matthews claims would be wiped out if the proposal passes  and more than $15,000 in utility payments on the 300 E. LaSalle building.

"As a council, we have to set a minimum bar for providing any incentive to a developer," said 4th District councilor Troy Warner, whose district encompasses the property. "That bar at least should be your water bill is paid, your code enforcement fines are paid and your property taxes are paid. I have a really hard time supporting this based on just that."

Councilors Oliver Davis Jr. and Sherry Bolden-Simpson, who introduced the amendment on behalf of Matthews, argue the plan would stay unchanged beyond the one-year extension of his construction deadline.

The pandemic should be reason enough to grant the extension, they argue. They say the 144 luxury apartments, a new grocery store on the ground floor and a pharmacy in the adjacent Commerce Center, all finished within the last two years, are a boon for the neighborhood.

After more than two hours of public comment and debate among councilors Monday night, the proposal was tabled to be heard at the council's June 24 meeting. The Mueller administration indicated on Monday that if a similar bill were to reach his desk, he would likely veto it.

The supporters and detractors who spoke Monday generally held two competing visions of Matthews' work in the East Bank neighborhood over the past decade.

Some see the high-rise apartments and grocery store as emblematic of an infusion of life Matthews has brought to downtown South Bend, naming other projects such as the East Bank Townhomes, the Emporium building and the Commerce Center, which provides an inexpensive home for places like Merriman's Playhouse and the Cat Lady Cafe.

"He provided to us an opportunity to provide a service for our community," said Michael Bush, the marketing director of Healthy U Rx pharmacy, which moved into the Commerce Center at 401 E. Colfax Ave. "We are the only pharmacy downtown. I believe Mr. Matthews has the city of South Bend on his heart."

But others note a legacy of failed or unfinished projects that taint the neighborhood east of the St. Joseph River. They say Matthews' reputation is exemplified by the city's lawsuit attempting to take back $5 million  in addition to a $2.5 million penalty  given to Matthews in 2017 for the high-rise apartments, a grocery store and a pharmacy.

"Mr. Matthews does not complete projects in a timely manner, not only in South Bend but in other communities in Indiana," said Matthew Barrett, a professor emeritus of the Notre Dame Law School who spoke on behalf of several opponents. "He does not take care of his properties. I have numerous violations  weed and grass, litter and housing violations."

Matthews says the 144 units at 300 E. LaSalle are 90% occupied. And while the East Race Market, his grocery store on the bottom floor, is stocked with affordable foods and fresh produce, it's losing money. He expects it to close if the council doesn't amend its 2017 tax abatement.

Contact South Bend Tribune city reporter Jordan Smith at JTsmith@gannett.com. Follow him on X: @jordantsmith09

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: South Bend hears from developer David Matthews on property taxes
Police lights

SOUTH BEND  One person was taken to the hospital after an incident in which a South Bend police officer discharged his firearm.

South Bend Police reported they were dispatched to a call near the intersection of Niles and Colfax avenues on June 11 around 6:40 a.m.

No officers were injured, police said.

Police have not released any more information about the case, including whether the hospitalized person was shot by the officer, what condition that person is in, or what the incident police were investigating was.

Due to an interlocal agreement, St. Joseph County Police and Mishawaka Police are handling the investigation. This is an ongoing and more information will be released when available.

Email Tribune staff writer Camille Sarabia at csarabia@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: South Bend officer fires gun, someone hurt; police release few details
South Dakota to receive $3.6 million in nationwide baby powder settlement with roots in the state

South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley talks about charges filed against 11 prison inmates on April 23, 2024, at the Law Enforcement Center in Sioux Falls. (John Hult/South Dakota Searchlight)

South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley talks about charges filed against 11 prison inmates on April 23, 2024, at the Law Enforcement Center in Sioux Falls. (John Hult/South Dakota Searchlight)

South Dakota will collect $3.6 million from Johnson & Johnson to settle allegations that the company marketed unsafe talc-based baby powder products to consumers.

The settlement is part of a $700 million agreement with 43 attorneys general over claims that Johnson & Johnsons talc-based products increase the risk of ovarian cancer and mesothelioma.

South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley, one of the 43, announced the news in a press release Tuesday.

This lawsuit is about safety and protecting babies and children, Jackley said in a statement.

South Dakotas share of the money, set to be paid in four installments, will go to help fund the operations of the Attorney Generals Consumer Protection Division. That division, which handles consumer complaints for state residents, has five and a half investigators, according to Jackley spokesman Tony Mangan. The division has launched 15 formal investigations since last July, he said, and fielded about 1,700 complaints in 2023.

The settlement, as well as the yearslong move away from talc as a baby powder ingredient, has its roots in South Dakota.

In 2013, a federal jury in Sioux Falls found that resident Deane Bergs multi-decade use of Johnson & Johnson products that contained talcum contributed to her ovarian cancer in 2006. She sued in 2009. Bergs case was the first in the U.S. to establish a link between talc and cancer in a jury trial, but the jury did not award her damages.

Berg said she learned of the possible link from a Sanford USD Medical Center brochure.

A scan of Bergs cancer tissue, conducted years later as part of the evidence gathering for the lawsuit, showed talcum powder in her left ovary. The company contended that Berg never proved a link, arguing the tissue sample was probably contaminated at the hospital.

Studies dating as far back as 1971 have found an association between talc and cancer risk.

In 2016, a Missouri jury sided with the family of a woman who died from ovarian cancer alleging that Johnson & Johnsons talc-based body powders caused the illness. The jury awarded the family $72 million, the first monetary award in a case involving the already long-suspected link between talc and ovarian cancer.

As part of the settlement announced Tuesday, Johnson & Johnson will cease manufacturing and selling its talc-based products in the U.S. In addition to the cancer risk allegations, the lawsuit claimed the company targeted African American and Hispanic women in its marketing to counter declining sales.

The company admitted no wrongdoing but stopped selling the products as investigations began.

States Newsrooms Oregon Capital Chronicle contributed to this reporting.

The post South Dakota to receive $3.6 million in nationwide baby powder settlement with roots in the state appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
South Korean soldiers fired warning shots after North Korean troops violated the border earlier this week, according to media reports.

Yonhap news agency reported on Tuesday that North Korean soldiers briefly crossed the heavily fortified border before retreating back to their territory on Sunday.

Seouls military said South Korean soldiers fired warning shots at the time.

Some North Korean soldiers working within the DMZ on the central front briefly crossed the Military Demarcation Line. After our military issued warning broadcasts and warning shots, they retreated northward, Seouls Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said.

The North Korean soldiers did not appear to have intentionally crossed the border because the site is a wooded area and MDL signs there were not clearly visible, Joint Chiefs of Staff spokesperson Lee Sung Joon told reporters.

The incident comes amid rising tensions over North Koreas recent launches of balloons filled with rubbish.

North Korea began sending balloons carrying waste and animal faeces south across the border last month in response to propaganda sent north by South Korean activists.

South Korea resumed loudspeaker broadcasts on Sunday, blaring K-pop music and world news toward the northern side.

Kim Jong-uns sister warned on Sunday that South Koreans will be constantly picking up lavatory paper if Seoul continues to wage psychological warfare against North Korea.

Kim Yo-jong threatened further retaliation against South Korea, saying it will undoubtedly witness the new counteraction of the DPRK [Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea] if provocations continue.

The mine-strewn land border is the worlds most heavily armed border, with hundreds of thousands of combat troops facing each other.

It is a legacy of the 1950-53 Korean War, which ended with an armistice, not a peace treaty.

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South Korean forces fired warning shots on Sunday after North Korean troops accidentally crossed their shared border, Seouls military said, as tensions simmer on the Korean Peninsula following a series of tit-for-tat exchanges between the two sides.

In a news briefing Tuesday, the South Korean military appeared to downplay the significance of the gunfire, saying the North Korean soldiers quickly retreated and did not appear to have the intention of invading the southern side, based on information that cannot be made public.

There were no unusual movements other than the North Korean army immediately moving north after our warning shots, said Col. Lee Sung-jun, spokesperson for South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff. The South Korean military is closely monitoring the movements of the North Korean military and taking necessary measures.

The report of the incident comes amid heightened tensions after hundreds of trash-filled balloons launched from the North landed in the South and the government in Seoul resumed loudspeaker propaganda broadcasts across the border.

Kim Yo Jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, late Sunday warned the resumption of loudspeaker broadcasts was a prelude to a very dangerous situation and that South Korea would be subject to an unspecified new counteraction from the North if it continued with the action.

The 160-mile demilitarized zone (DMZ) dividing North and South Korea is one of the worlds most heavily armed borders. Lined by high fences and filled with landmines, it is largely empty of human activity.

The incident Sunday marked the first instance of gunfire within the DMZ since 2020, when there was an accidental exchange of shots between the two Koreas, said Lee, the Joint Chiefs spokesperson.

Lee said the North Korean troops headed back across the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) that runs down the center of the DMZ after the warnings. The shots did not cross over the MDL to the North Korean side of the DMZ, he added.

Lee noted that the DMZ area has overgrown forests, and MDL markers are not visible without distinctive paths.

The South Korean military said about 20 North Korean troops were involved but could not determine how many actually crossed the MDL. They did not disclose the number of warning shots fired.

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(Bloomberg) -- South Koreas military said it fired warning shots after several North Korean soldiers briefly crossed into its territory and retreated Sunday, in a move that could stoke tensions along one of the worlds most heavily militarized borders.

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Several of the North Korean soldiers were armed but many had equipment for maintenance work, South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a news briefing Tuesday. The JCS did not say how many shots were fired or how many soldiers breached the divide.

Tensions between the rivals have been on the rise since late last month when North Korea began sending hundreds of balloons carrying trash over the border after complaining about South Korea conducting surveillance flights. The move also appeared to be in response to South Korean activists earlier in May sending balloons into North Korea that contained anti-Pyongyang messages.

Our assessment is that they did not have an intention for intrusion given that they immediately moved back north after our warning broadcast and warning shots, JCS spokesperson, Lee Sung-jun, said.

More than 20 soldiers crossed the line for a short period of time, entering a few dozen yards into South Korean territory, Yonhap News said, citing a JCS official who was not identified.

Sundays incident took place shortly before North Korean official media quoted the sister of leader Kim Jong Un as saying Pyongyang planned reprisals against South Korea after it resumed loudspeaker broadcasts over the weekend for the first time in years.

South Korea suspended a 2018 agreement with North Korea aimed at reducing military tensions due to the balloons. The accord, once seen as a landmark in reconciliation, resulted in both sides destroying 10 front-line guard posts, enforcing bans on military exercises in the area and imposing a no-fly zone.

The two Koreas position hundreds of thousands of troops and the bulk of their firepower near the border. The recent tit-for-tat reprisals raise the risks for a small incident to escalate quickly, and involve the some 28,500 US military personnel stationed in South Korea.

South Koreas Defense Ministry declined to comment on when North Korean troops last crossed the border. In 2020, North and South Korea exchanged fire after North Korean troops fired at South Korean military posts, which Seoul described as an accident  not an intended military action.

The actual border between the two Koreas known as the Military Demarcation Line sits between the 4-kilometer (2.5-mile) wide Demilitarized Zone buffer that divides the peninsula. While the DMZ is easy to spot with its rows of razor-wire fencing, the MDL is more difficult to identify, as it is mostly marked with chest-high signs that can often be set far apart.

--With assistance from Seyoon Kim.

(Updates with comments from South Koreas military, details.)

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The South Korean military fired warning shots after about 20 North Korean soldiers crossed their shared border, escalating tensions sparked by an intensifying balloon war.

South Koreas Joint Chief of Staff said the North Korean soldiers crossed the Military Demarcation Line at 12.30pm local time on Sunday but returned after warning shots were fired.

The troops crossed the land border to carry out an unspecified task within the Demilitarized Zone, which refers to the buffer 2.5 miles-wide zone between two Koreas, military spokesperson Col Lee Sung-jun was quoted as saying by the Yonhap news agency.

However, they do not appear to have crossed the border intentionally, Col Lee said, pointing out that it was a wooded area and demarcation signs werent clearly visible.

The incursion came on the heels of Pyongyang warning of a new counteraction after South Korea resumed loudspeaker broadcasts and activists floated propaganda leaflets across the border into North Korea.

The neighbours have been engaged in psychological warfare since the Korean war in the 1950s, flying balloons filled with propaganda material and using radio broadcasts and loudspeakers to influence each others citizens, promoting their ideologies and social systems and encouraging soldiers to defect.

Matters came to a head last month when North Korea floated 200 balloons filled with trash in a tit-for-tat response to activists in South Korea sending balloons carrying propaganda material about democracy and memory devices with K-pop music videos and dramas.

Seoul then suspended a 2018 deal to reduce hostility and resumed loudspeaker broadcasts of propaganda songs for soldiers on the other side  a move that Pyongyang denounced as a prelude to a very dangerous situation.

"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, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, said in a statement carried by the state news agency KCNA on Sunday.

The next day, South Korea completed a review with its chief ally, the US, of joint guidelines for responding to North Korea in the event of a nuclear attack.

Vipin Narang, US assistant secretary of defence for space policy, described the review as perhaps our most significant progress in the first year of the NCG, referring to the Nuclear Consultative Group, which met for the third time in April under the leadership of US president Joe Biden and his South Korean counterpart Yoon Suk-yeol.

Specifically, the guidelines cover the principles and procedures for consultations particularly in a DPRK nuclear crisis.
Barricades are placed near the Unification Bridge, which leads to the Panmunjom in the Demilitarized Zone in Paju, South Korea, Tuesday, June 11, 2024. South Korean soldiers fired warning shots after North Korean troops briefly violated the tense border earlier this week, South Korea's military said Tuesday, as the rivals are embroiled in Cold War-style campaigns like balloon launches and propaganda broadcasts. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  South Korean soldiers fired warning shots after North Korean troops briefly violated the tense border earlier this week, South Korea's military said Tuesday, as the rivals are embroiled in Cold War-style campaigns like balloon launches and propaganda broadcasts.

Bloodshed and violent confrontations have occasionally occurred at the Koreas' heavily fortified border, called the Demilitarized Zone. While Sunday's incident happened amid simmering tensions between the two Koreas, observers say it won't likely develop into another source of animosity as South Korea believes the North Koreans didn't deliberately commit the border intrusion and North Korea also didn't return fire.

At 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, some North Korean soldiers who were engaged in unspecified work on the northern side of the border crossed the military demarcation line that bisects the two countries, South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff said.

Those North Korean soldiers carrying construction tools  some of them armed  immediately returned to their territory after South Koreas military fired warning shots and issued warning broadcasts, the Joint Chiefs of Staff said. It said North Korea had not conducted any other suspicious activities.

South Koreas military has assessed that the North Korean soldiers didnt appear to have intentionally crossed the border because the site is a wooded area and MDL signs there werent clearly visible, Joint Chiefs of Staff spokesperson Lee Sung Joon told reporters.

Lee gave no further details. But South Korean media reports said that about 20-30 North Korean soldiers had entered South Korean territory about 50 meters (165 feet) after they likely lost their way. The reports said most of the North Korean soldiers were carrying pickaxes and other construction tools.

The 248-kilometer (155-mile) -long, 4-kilometer (2.5-mile) -wide DMZ is the worlds most heavily armed border. An estimated 2 million mines are peppered inside and near the border, which is also guarded by barbed wire fences, tank traps and combat troops on both sides. Its a legacy of the 1950-53 Korean War, which ended with an armistice, not a peace treaty.

On Sunday, South Korea resumed anti-Pyongyang propaganda broadcasts from its border loudspeakers in response to the Norths recent launches of balloons carrying manure and rubbish across the border. South Korea said North Korea has installed its own border loudspeakers in response but hasnt turned them on yet.

North Korea has said its balloon campaign was in response to South Korean activists' launches of their own balloons to drop propaganda leaflets critical of leader Kim Jong Un's authoritarian rule, USB sticks with K-pop songs and South Korean drama shows, and other items in North Korea.

North Korea is extremely sensitive to any outside criticism of its political system as most of its 26 million people have no official access to foreign news. On Sunday night, Kim's sister and senior official, Kim Yo Jong, warned of a new response if South Korea continued its loudspeaker broadcasts and refused to stop civilian leafletting campaigns.

The tit-for-tat over speakers and balloons  both Cold War-style psychological warfare  have deepened tensions between the Koreas as talks over the Norths nuclear ambitions have remained stalled for years.
AMMAN, June 11 (Xinhua) -- King Abdullah II of Jordan on Tuesday said humanitarian access to Gaza cannot wait for a ceasefire and cannot be subject to the political agendas of any party.

King Abdullah made the remarks at the opening of an emergency humanitarian conference held in Jordan, where he stressed that Gazans are facing death and devastation that has far surpassed any conflict in over twenty years.

The king said a famine looms large and trauma is ever-present, the effects of which will remain for generations.

Calling for intensified international efforts in this regard, the king said the international humanitarian response in Gaza has been severely lacking, with the delivery of aid facing obstacles at every level.

"Humanitarian access cannot wait for a ceasefire and cannot be subject to the political agendas of any party," he told the attendees at the conference including UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

"The people of Gaza are not looking to us for platitudes and speeches. They want action. And they need that now," he added.

The Jordanian king called for a robust mechanism for coordination that engages all parties on the ground, stressing that effective and comprehensive de-confliction is key to ensuring that aid agencies can perform their duties safely, sufficiently and sustainably.

The conference, co-organized by Jordan, Egypt, and the United Nations, aims at identifying the steps needed to ensure an active response in Gaza, as well as outlining operational and logistical needs, and committing to a unified humanitarian response. 
South Milwaukee to explore funding options for the operation of the city's public library

While quelling rumors of an immediate library closure, the South Milwaukee Common Council approved spending up to $14,500 on a study to explore funding options for the South Milwaukee Public Library as the city struggles to find finances to maintain appropriate service levels.

Although council members said the library currently is not in danger of closing, library supporters filled the council chambers June 4 and lined the back wall to view and voice opinions on the funding study.

Yellow public comment cards were distributed among the citizens and stakeholders in the room and were quickly filled out and turned in.

In the end, the council approved funding the study by a 7-1 vote.

What options will the library study analyze?

The study will be conducted through the Wisconsin Policy Forum, a nonpartisan, independent statewide policy research organization, which has conducted previous studies for the city of South Milwaukee.

According to the project proposal sent by South Milwaukee City Administrator/Economic Development Director Patrick Brever, the study will analyze the following possibilities:

Covering needed capital improvements with grant funding and attempting to function with the operating budget allocated by the city

Renting out part of the library building but continuing to operate there

Downsizing the library's footprint and moving to senior center space at city hall

Holding an operational referendum that asks citizens to allow the city to exceed state-imposed property tax levy limits to appropriately fund SMPL

Closing the SMPL and pursuing a consolidated library with one or more other South Shore communities

Closing the SMPL entirely and paying an annual fee to the Milwaukee County Federated Library System to ensure access to other municipal libraries in Milwaukee County for South Milwaukee citizens

South Milwaukee Common Council members listen to city administrator and economic development director Patrick Brever at the council's June 4 meeting.

The council's comments

There were rumors in the community that the council would vote on closing the library at the June 4 meeting, but both council members and citizens emphasized that the vote was not going to be on the closure of SMPL but on whether to fund the study.

Alderwoman Peggy Clark said she was "really disturbed that the rumor got started that we were closing the library."

Alderman Tim Backes said the study should be viewed as part of the city's investment in the library.

"To me, approving a study, when we talk about investing in the future of the library and continuing services for years to come, this is the start of that investment," Backes said. "If there was no threat at all of library closure, we wouldn't be having this conversation right now."

Only Alderwoman Lisa Pieper opposed the motion to approve the study.

"All of these studies are just one thing at the end of the day: somebody else's opinion," said Pieper. "It seems like we keep throwing money out to figure out how we can save money."

Before the votes and council comments, numerous citizens made public comments, all in support of investing in a funding study.

The citizen comments

Interim director of SMPL Suzanna Schroeder took the podium to advocate for the many services the library offers, including the summer reading program that prevents the "summer slide" in students' reading skills.

"Literacy means more than reading," Schroeder said.

However, Schroeder said that she'd argue that the library doesn't need a previously discussed $180,000 for a new elevator in the building.

Milwaukee County Federated Library System Director Steve Heser also addressed the council, saying that at a system level, MCFLS is supportive of the study.

MCFLS manages CountyCat, the shared library automation system, and makes the resources of the 15 member libraries easily available to Milwaukee County residents, according to its website. The system administers a wide area network, offers PC and help desk support and provides delivery services so that materials may be exchanged between member libraries.

Resident Terrence Talley and his young daughter, Cecelia, spoke about their family's enjoyment of the library. Talley told the council and audience about how his 1 1/2-year-old daughter, not Cecelia, knows exactly where the children's section of the library is and runs there when they arrive. According to Talley, she showed her love of the library in her limited vocabulary saying, "Library mine."

For her part, Cecelia Talley said South Milwaukee should keep its library. "Lots of people like the library, because it helps us get out more," she said.

The study also had the backing of South Milwaukee School Board member Patrick Hintz, a former SMPL summer reading program participant, who told council members they're "going to be smart enough to vote for and pass this study."

The results of the study are anticipated in early 2025, according to the South Milwaukee Common Council.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: South Milwaukee officials approve study to explore funding for library
Southern Baptists are poised to ban churches with women pastors. Some are urging them to reconsider

(AP)  From its towering white steeple and red-brick facade to its Sunday services filled with rousing gospel hymns and evangelistic sermons, First Baptist Church of Alexandria, Virginia, bears many of the classic hallmarks of a Southern Baptist church.

On a recent Sunday, its pastor for women and children, Kim Eskridge, urged members to invite friends and neighbors to an upcoming vacation Bible school  a perennial Baptist activity  to help reach families in the community with the gospel.

But because that pastor is a woman, First Baptists days in the Southern Baptist Convention may be numbered.

At the SBCs annual meeting June 11-12 in Indianapolis, representatives will vote on whether to amend the denominations constitution to essentially ban churches with any women pastors  and not just in the top job. That measure received overwhelming approval in a preliminary vote last year.

Leaders of First Baptist  which has given millions to Southern Baptist causes and has been involved with the convention since its 19th century founding  are bracing for a possible expulsion.

We are grieved at the direction the SBC has taken, the church said in a statement.

And its not alone.

By some estimates, the proposed ban could affect hundreds of congregations and have a disproportionate impact on predominantly Black churches.

The vote is partly the culmination of events set in motion two years ago.

Thats when a Virginia pastor contacted SBC officials to contend that First Baptist and four nearby churches were out of step with denominational doctrine that says only men can be pastors. The SBC Credentials Committee launched a formal inquiry in April.

Southern Baptists disagree on which ministry jobs this doctrine refers to. Some say its just the senior pastor, others that a pastor is anyone who preaches and exercises spiritual authority.

And in a Baptist tradition that prizes local church autonomy, critics say the convention shouldnt enshrine a constitutional rule based on one interpretation of its non-binding doctrinal statement.

By some estimates, women are working in pastoral roles in hundreds of SBC-linked churches, a fraction of the nearly 47,000 across the denomination.

But critics say the amendment would amount to a further narrowing in numbers and mindset for the nations largest Protestant denomination, which has moved steadily rightward in recent decades.

They also wonder if the SBC has better things to do.

It has struggled to respond to sexual abuse cases in its churches. A former professor at a Southern Baptist seminary in Texas was indicted in May on a charge of falsifying a record about alleged sexual abuse by a student in order to obstruct a federal investigation into sexual misconduct in the convention.

SBC membership has dipped below 13 million, nearly a half-century low. Baptismal rates are in long-term decline.

The amendment, if passed, wouldnt prompt an immediate purge. But it could keep the denominations leaders busy for years, investigating and ousting churches.

From women pastors to sexual abuse to Trump, Southern Baptists have a busy few days ahead of them

Many predominantly Black churches have men as lead pastors but assign pastor titles to women in other areas, such as worship and childrens ministries.

To disfellowship like-minded churches  based on a local-church governance decision dishonors the spirit of cooperation and the guiding tenets of our denomination, wrote Pastor Gregory Perkins, president of the SBCs National African American Fellowship, to denominational officials.

The controversy complicates the already-choppy efforts by the mostly white denomination to diversify and overcome its legacy of slavery and segregation.

Amendment proponents say the convention needs to reinforce its doctrinal statement, the Baptist Faith and Message, which says the office of pastor is limited to men as qualified by Scripture.

If we wont stand on this issue and be unapologetically biblical, then we wont stand on anything, said amendment proponent Mike Law, pastor of Arlington Baptist Church in Virginia.

Since Baptist churches are independent, the convention cant tell them what to do or whom to appoint as a pastor.

But the convention can decide which churches are in and which are out. And even without a formal amendment, its Executive Committee has begun telling churches with women pastors that theyre out. That included one of its largest, Saddleback Church of California.

When Saddleback and a small Kentucky church appealed to the annual meeting in 2023, delegates overwhelmingly refused to take them back.

The amendment would give such enforcement actions more teeth.

Some churches with women pastors quit on their own in the past year. They range from Elevation Church, a North Carolina megachurch, to First Baptist of Richmond, Virginia, which had close SBC ties from the conventions founding.

Law contended the issue has been a canary in the coalmine for liberal denominations, several of which began ordaining women and later LGBTQ+ people.

Southern Baptists are facing a decisive moment, he said in a video on a pro-amendment website. Heres the trajectory of doing nothing: Soon Southern Baptist churches will start openly supporting homosexual clergy, same-sex marriage and eventually transgenderism.

Others point out that Pentecostal and other denominations have had women pastors for generations and remain theologically conservative.

Some SBC churches with women pastors are heavily involved with the convention, while others have minimal connections and identify more closely with historically Black or other progressive denominations.

Also, some SBC churches interpret the 2000 faith statement as only applying to senior pastors. As long as a the church leader is male, women can serve other pastoral roles, they say.

Such churches may leave if SBC leaders interfere with congregations following their conscience, biblical convictions, and values by recognizing women can receive a pastoral gift from God in partnership with male leadership, said Dwight McKissic, a pastor from Arlington, Texas, on the social media platform X.

Other churches say women can be in any role, including senior pastor, and churches can agree to disagree if they embrace most of the SBC faith statement.

That category includes First Baptist of Alexandria. Though its current senior pastor is male, it recognizes Gods calling to ordain any qualified individual, male or female, for pastoral ministry, the church said in a statement.

First Baptist leaders declined interview requests, but it has posted extensively about the issue on its website.

It said while it plans to send representatives to the SBC annual meeting, it was warned to expect a motion to deny them voting privileges.

I do believe we need to be heard and represented, Senior Pastor Robert Stephens told members in a video-recorded meeting.

The SBCs top administrative body opposes the amendment. Investigating churches compliance would consume an unsustainable amount of time and energy over something that shouldnt be a litmus test for fellowship, wrote Jeff Iorg, president of the SBC Executive Committee, in a Baptist Press commentary.

Baptist Women in Ministry, which began within the SBC in the 1980s but now works in multiple Baptist denominations, has taken note. The Rev. Meredith Stone, its executive director, said some women pastors within the SBC have reached out for support.

The group plans to release a documentary, Midwives of a Movement, about 20th century trailblazers for women in Baptist ministry, on the eve of the SBC meeting.

As they are saying women have less value to God than men in the church, we want to make sure that women know they do have equal value and that there are no limits to how they follow Christ in the work of the church, Stone said.

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A 58-year-old man from Riverside County has been arrested and booked for murder in connection with the fatal shooting of a woman earlier this week.

Authorities with the Riverside County Sheriffs Department responded to the 25000 block of Highway 74 on June 8 around10 p.m. to an unincorporated area of the county known as Good Hope on reports of a victim suffering from a gunshot wound, according to a RCSD news release.

Deputies located a 56-year-old female victim, later identified as Kimberly Dunlap, a resident of Good Hope, who despite lifesaving measures was pronounced dead at the scene.

Detectives from RCSDs Central Homicide Unit assumed the investigation and, a day later, identified and arrested a male suspect and resident of Good Hope named William Dunlap.

SoCal man, 58, arrested in fatal shooting of woman

Investigators have not released a motive in the deadly shooting, nor have they provided any information on the nature of the victims and the suspects relationship.

Pack of coyotes stalking people, pets in Southern California neighborhood

William Dunlap was booked at the Cois Byrd Detention Center where he remains in custody, authorities said.

An investigation into this incident is ongoing and officials encourage anyone with additional information on the case to contact Riverside County Sheriffs Departments Investigator Manjarrez with the Central Homicide Unit at 951-955-2777 or Investigator Barbee at RCSDs Perris Station at 951-210-1000.

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(KRON)  A San Jose woman yelled, You spit on my sister! before she allegedly attacked a sleeping man and stabbed him to death in downtown San Jose, according to documents filed in Santa Clara County court.

Prosecutors charged 28-year-old Sylvia Aurora Ortega with first-degree murder on Friday. Police said the victim was bleeding and not breathing when officers found him June 2 on North 17th Street and East Santa Clara Street, near Roosevelt Park.

Ortega lives in a house on 13th Street just a few blocks away from the homicide scene, court documents state. Her lengthy criminal record stretches back to when she was a juvenile.

Sylvia Ortega is seen in a June 2024 mugshot released by the San Jose Police Department.

The June 2 knife attack happened in broad daylight. One witness told police that she and the victim had been sleeping inside a car parked on North 17th Street for several hours. Around 11 a.m., Ortega allegedly appeared and began yelling outside the car.

After the woman yelled, you spit on my sister! she opened the cars passenger door and attacked the victim, the witness told police.

The female suspect and the victim were fighting on top of Witness 1. When the suspect

backed away from the victim and the vehicle, Witness 1 noticed that the victim was bleeding.

Witness 1 attempted to use her phone to call 911, but the female suspect grabbed her phone, and threw it on to the ground, San Jose Police Department Detective Christina Jize wrote in court documents.

The killer fled the scene before officers arrived, SJPD said. Three days later, Ortega was arrested and booked into jail. Police have not released a motive behind the slaying.

A second witness told police that he heard voices of three women yelling, including one voice that he recognized as a woman who went by the name China. The second witness said China always carried a knife and had a reputation for stabbing people around the neighborhood.

Investigators said Chinas physical description matched Ortega.

Napa County Lake Berryessa murder suspect arrested, charged

As a juvenile teenager, Ortega was convicted of assaulting a victim with a knife. As an adult, she was convicted of felony and misdemeanor crimes in 2024, 2022, 2021, 2020, and 2019, court records show.

At the time of the June 2 homicide, she was on active parole for a previous stabbing conviction.

Ortega poses a serious danger to society, the District Attorneys Office wrote. Ortegas prior convictions as an adult (and) sustained petitions in juvenile delinquency proceedings are numerous.

As of Tuesday afternoon, Ortega remained behind bars in a Santa Clara County womens jail without bail, according to inmate records.

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TechCrunch

Startup Battlefield 200 is a major highlight at every Disrupt, and were thrilled to find out which of the thousands of startup applicants will get the chance to pitch to top-tier VCs at TechCrunch Disrupt 2024. Join us at Moscone West in San Francisco from October 2830 to witness the epic showdown where every contender is set to make a significant impact. Get an insiders view of what the judges look for in a viable company as they provide detailed feedback on their evaluation criteria.
Womens Veterans Day, celebrated annually on June 12, marks the anniversary of the signing of the Womens Armed Services Integration Act, by then-President Harry S. Truman.

Proposed to the U. S. Congress by Margaret Chase Smith, who served in both houses of the U.S. Congress, the law enabled women to serve as members of the U.S. Armed Forces. Prior to the law, women were only allowed to serve as nurses.

The St. Augustine Record sat down with Lynn Geiser, founder and CEO of Hope4Veterans, a female veterans nonprofit organization established in 2018 to Honor, Empower and Recognize Military Women.

The St. Augustine Record: Thank you for your service. Can you tell us about yourself?

Geiser: I served in the U.S. Army National Guard for seven years before transitioning to four years of active duty managing transportation for military schools. Having experienced misuse by authority figures and a traumatic sexual assault, I left the military in 2004. I found myself homeless, unemployed and resourceless. For 15 years, despite my internal demons, I persevered. I earned a masters degree in marriage and family therapy. I used my skill for art, play therapy, and counseling to support my next chapter which included organizing last weeks event Narrative of Women in Military.

Hosted by St. Augustines St. Johns Cultural Council, the event, which was as a huge success, allowed female veterans to share their stories and shed light on the challenges faced by military women.

The St. Augustine Record: Can you describe some of those challenges?

Geiser: Women from diverse backgrounds serve with honor and distinction in every branch of the armed forces. Women hold positions of authority and make daily significant impacts. Yet, once outside of the military, many military women feel isolated, unworthy of recognition, and disconnected from the world.

The St. Augustine Record: Tell us about your journey for establishing Hope4Veterans.

Geiser: Hope4Veterans is a community of veterans helping veterans. Our time in the service may be over, but our mission is not. We are veterans from every community supporting one another. If you can offer help to any brother or sister in need, if you've ever felt a higher calling to extend a helping hand, this is your community. If youve ever needed help, this your community.

The St. Augustine Record: What kind of programs does Hope4Veterans offer?

Geiser: Our programs include financial assistance with grocery, gas, and utilities, laptops, baby supplies and household goods. We also have a Peer2Peer Sister Mentorship Program and offer assistance to women needing help to obtain their benefits.

These programs allow Women Veterans to reach out, connect and get involved within their comfort zone. We begin with goal setting, financial and emotional support, and allow sisters to bond so we can provide tools and resources necessary for women veterans to achieve their long-term goals.

The St. Augustine Record: How is Hope4Veterans different from other assistance programs?

Geiser: Our goal is to prevent isolation, suicide, and homelessness. We do this by connecting sisters with similar interests through meet and greets, family events, and art projects. Sisters establish a strong support system and feel safe to talk about their underlining challenges.

The St. Augustine Record: Who does Hope4Veterans assist?

Geiser: Active-duty female veterans and their families; women in the National Guard; and female veterans with all types of discharge including Dishonorable.

The St. Augustine Record: What volunteer opportunities are available?

Geiser: Peer2 Peer Sister mentorship programs; meet and greets; speaking events; military family day; vendor events; community projects that collaborate with other community volunteers; galas; and fundraisers.

The St. Augustine Record: What are your future goals?

Geiser: To expand our outreach and speaker engagements throughout Florida; collaborate with new partners; increase outreach funding for our programs along with emergency funding and housing opportunities for families.

Information for Hope4Veterans can be found here.

As we celebrate Womens Veterans Recognition Week, The St. Augustine Record extends a heartfelt, Thank you for your service, to our female veterans.

This article originally appeared on St. Augustine Record: Lynn Geiser, CEO of Hope4Veterans, shares resources on Women's Veterans Day
Stage four cancer sufferer who died from sepsis on cruise was determined to go on holiday

Lucille Thorne died of sepsis during a cruise in the Indian Ocean - Solent News & Photo Agency

A stage four cancer sufferer died from sepsis on a cruise ship after being determined to go on holiday, an inquest has heard.

Lucille Madge Thorne, 68, embarked on the trip of a lifetime with Anne Thomas, her childhood friend, which began with a flight to Male in the Maldives.

From there, the pair flew to Dubai and began the cruise part of their holiday aboard the Azamara Quest Ship.

However, a fall sustained on her first full day in the Maldives resulted in her contracting sepsis and dying less than a fortnight later.

Mrs Thorne, from Hayling Island, Hampshire, had been diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer before she boarded a flight from Gatwick airport on November 18, 2022.

Giving evidence at Portsmouth Coroners Court on Tuesday, Mrs Thomas said: She really wanted to go on holiday and she had done all the research.

Lucille Thorne's childhood friend Anne Thomas outside Portsmouth Coroners Court, Hampshire - Andrew Croft/Solent News & Photo Agency

And one family member said that when they raised concerns about her going away while fighting cancer, Mrs Thorne had said: Nothing is going to stop me going on holiday.

However on November 20, the friends first full day in the Maldives, Mrs Thorne fell.

We had been out sunning and we went in to make some coffee and it was when we were doing that, Lucy slipped on the floor, Mrs Thomas said.

Her feet went out from underneath her, it was her right side that she had fallen on.

She didnt want me to phone reception and get the doctor but because of her situation I thought it was best to.

The inquest heard how a nurse and doctor had attended to Mrs Thorne and prescribed her antibiotics.

However, the holidaymakers knee began to look very red and raw before blisters began to form down to the ankle, according to Mrs Thomas.

After bursting the blisters, the nurse prescribed Mrs Thorne antiseptic cream to rub on her knee.

The pair flew to Dubai days later and stayed in a hotel for a night before boarding the Azamara Quest Ship.

The two friends set sail aboard Azamara Quest Ship - Azamara Cruises

On its website, Azamara Cruises promises everything modern voyagers are looking for.

Customers can pay up to 6,000 to enjoy a holiday with the cruise company.

Mrs Thomas said: She had been on an Azamara cruise before so  from what I gather  she enjoyed that so I think the cruise was probably something she was looking forward to.

However, while they were on the cruise, Mrs Thorne started to walk slower.

Mrs Thomas said: Every day we were away I was worried about her.

I knew what I was taking on but I was worried.

Firstly, it was in relation to the knee with the blisters then really, how much she slowed down when we got to the ship.

Pretty amazing person

She added: She never complained. When I say she was courageous... I would say Are you okay?, and she would say Yes, yes, I am fine.

She never complained about anything to do with her health at all. [She was] very, very stoic, a courageous lady.

The inquest heard how the friends spent the next four days reading, listening to music and sunbathing on the liners deck.

Yet on the morning of December 3, when the vessel was off the coast of India, Mrs Thomas woke up to find Mrs Thorne unresponsive.

I got up to go to the toilet and I touched her and she was cold and I went straight to the phone and rang 911, she said.

After emergency services attended, Mrs Thorne was pronounced dead at around 4:30am.

The Maldives where the two friends went away

The cruise ship had been heading towards Singapore at the time of her death, but pulled into Colombo, Sri Lanka, after the holiday maker died.

Assistant coroner for Hampshire, Portsmouth and Southampton Henry Charles, ruled the death accidental and brought on by the fall which caused sepsis.

He told the inquest, which was attended by her family and friends, that Mrs Thorne was not a frail lady but had suffered from poor health.

However, the assistant coroner said there was a clear level of deterioration after Mrs Thorne fell on November 20.

Mr Charles described Mrs Thorne as a pretty amazing person who was determined to go out and enjoy the holiday with her friend.

He noted how the two women boarded the ship while Mrs Thornes knee was still weeping and the pair were able to spend a relaxing four days outside on the sun deck.

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GASTON COUNTY, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  A father in Stanley who hit big on a scratch-off ticket plans on helping out his family with the proceeds, North Carolina Lottery officials announced on Tuesday.

Stanley resident Melvin Brooks bought the $5 scratch-off from the Circle A Food Store on North Main Street in Mount Holly. Its not every day that you win $400,000, Brooks said.

Brooks claimed his prize on Monday and took home $286,001 after taxes. I was with my cousin when I scratched the ticket in the parking lot, he said.

Brooks said he plans on using the winnings on a mortgage and to help out his wife and daughters.

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State employee accused of lying about acquired land, projects now on hold

The Georgia Department of Transportation is investigating allegations of fraud that allowed major road projects to move ahead without the state actually owning the land.

A state employee filed all the paperwork showing GDOT had legally acquired the land along SR 9 to begin widening and improving the road.

But GDOT now says that the employee lied and filed false paperwork. So all the land GDOT thought it owned, it really doesnt.

The work along SR 9 from Windward Parkway to the Forsyth County line is on hold as the GDOT tries to sort out the mess they say was created by one of their own now-former employees.

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As soon as we discovered this, we had taken swift action in an investigation working throughout policy and procedures to make sure this cannot happen again, GDOT spokesperson Natalie Dale said.

Dale said their investigation into right-of-way acquisition specialist Felicia Pennyman started two weeks ago after they got complaints by people living along state route nine.

She said that investigation showed Pennyman committed massive fraud by filing fake paperwork showing she had acquired the land for the state when in fact, she hadnt.

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They say theyre still not sure why she did it but it doesnt appear she did it for financial gain.

Channel 2s Richard Elliot went by her DeKalb County home on Tuesday hoping to get some answers but no one came to the door.

Milton Mayor Peyton Jamison is upset by the revelation and says hell push GDOT to put the road back the way it was.

Shocked and stunned. Thats all I can say. You know, we have a lot of questions and were hoping to get some answers, Jamison told Elliot.

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Dale said the investigation shows Pennyman also failed to acquire the land at four other projects around metro Atlanta, which also must now stop.

She said these revelations have shocked her agency.

It takes one person -- we have thousands of employees -- it takes one person to break the trust. It takes all of us to put it back together, Dale said.

Pennyman is not facing criminal charges for now, but this case is now also being investigated by the Georgia Attorney Generals Office and the Office of the Inspector General, so there could be more fallout to come.

IN OTHER NEWS:
KABUL, June 11 (Xinhua) -- Afghanistan's counter-narcotics police have wiped out over 30,000 acres of poppy farms in northern Badakhshan province over the past three months, a local official said Tuesday.

"Afghan counter-narcotic police during a three-month campaign against illicit corps succeeded in smashing over 30,000 acres of poppy farms in the vicinities of 11 districts of the province," said Ehsanullah Kamgar, spokesman for the provincial police.

The poppy lands were cultivated last year, said Kamgar, adding that the new round of operations aimed to eradicate poppy farms across the province.

Most of the poppy farms have been destroyed in Jurm, Argo, and Darayem districts of Badakhshan, Kamgar said.

Poppy cultivation in the war-ravaged country had fallen by 95 percent, according to figures released by the United Nations in 2023.

The Afghan caretaker government banned the cultivation of opium poppy and the trade of opium in Afghanistan in April 2022. 
State lawmakers propose innovative bill to reintroduce missing predator species back into the wild: 'I'm not really in favor of waiting another 50 years'

When thinking about California, most people don't imagine wolverines. But for centuries, this elusive predator was abundant in the Golden State  and now, one politician is trying to bring them back.

California Assemblymember Laura Friedman introduced a bill, AB 2722, to "assess the feasibility of a population reintroduction or supplementation program with the goal of restoring a viable population of wolverines to the state."

"Our mountains used to be rich with wildlife that is now rare or functionally extinct in our state. Among the endemic species that are now but memories in our wilderness is the wolverine," Friedman said, per KTLA. "I have introduced AB 2722 with the goal of seeing wolverines returned to our mountain passes."

David Garcelon, the president of the Institute for Wildlife Studies, had previously spent a decade planning how to reintroduce wolverines to California. Sadly, he was unable to secure the needed permits, and his efforts remained unrealized.

After learning of Friedman's bill, he told the Los Angeles Times: "I really want to give the wolverines a chance. I'm not really in favor of waiting another 50 years to see if they can do it on their own."

Repopulation efforts such as this one have been tremendously successful around the world, from tortoises in the Galapagos Islands to bald eagles in the Channel Islands.

And generally, the reintroduction of a keystone or apex species  including the wolverine  sends out ripples of positive change, often extremely quickly.

For example, reintroduced wildebeest on the Serengeti helped graze down overgrown prairie grass, which had died and turned into risky wildfire kindling.

In Yellowstone, reintroduced gray wolves curbed the population of deer, allowing plants to flourish and, in turn, drawing back many other species.

"Healthier ecosystems, with richer biodiversity, yield greater benefits such as more fertile soils, bigger yields of timber and fish, and larger stores of greenhouse gasses," the United Nations' Decade on Ecosystem Restoration reported. "The economic benefits of such interventions exceed nine times the cost of investment, whereas inaction is at least three times more costly than ecosystem restoration."

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Stefanik promotes plan for more women as GOP candidates

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  One by one, Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) introduced voters to six women running for Congress.

Shes helping finance their campaigns through an action committee she started in 2018.

E-PAC candidates are once again the tip of the spear in our fight to protect and expand our House Republican majority, Stefanik said.

E-PACs goal is to increase the number of conservative women serving in Congress.

We dont just endorse candidates because theyre women. We endorse the best candidates in these races who are women leaders, Stefanik said.

Candidates like Alison Esposito from New York and Caroleene Dobson from Alabama say this kind of support means so much, especially coming from Stefanik.

The guidance and the mentoring that she has shown us, its been there arent really words. Shes been, shes been fantastic. And its very much appreciated, Esposito said,

Tripled the number of Republican women in such a short amount of time. So, Im so honored to be included in this slate of candidates, Dobson said.

While the Republicans praised the gains theyve made, the Democratic National Committee wants to stunt that growth.

The Republican party has really shown that theyre not the party for women, Hannah Muldavin, DNC Spokesperson, said.

Muldavin argues a majority of women in Congress are Democrats and Democrats care about issues that impact women.

What we need to do is make sure that we focus on the policies that do support women, that do support jobs and the economy. And thats something that Democrats have that Republicans just dont, Muldavin said.

Republicans hold a slim majority in the House, so each race could be the one to swing the balance.

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Kentucky Republicans offered a wide range of reactions to Hunter Bidens guilty verdict for lying about drug use when he purchased a handgun six years ago.

Rep. James Comer, the chairman of the House Oversight Committee who has doggedly pursued an investigation of President Joe Biden and his son, heralded the outcome as a step toward accountability.

But Rep. Thomas Massie, the Northern Kentucky contrarian libertarian who often parts with Republican orthodoxy, declared the punishment of the presidents son unworthy of the crime.

Hunter might deserve to be in jail for something, but purchasing a gun is not it, Massie posted on social media. There are millions of marijuana users who own guns in this country, and none of them should be in jail for purchasing or possessing a firearm against current laws.

Then there was Lexington Rep. Andy Barr, who simply expressed bemusement at the timing of the verdict, while avoiding a substantive judgment on it one way or the other.

It is truly ironic that Joe Biden is talking gun control right after his sons federal conviction for ... gun charges, Barr posted on X. Americans deserve better!

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A jury in Delaware found that when Biden bought a revolver in October 2018 he lied on a federal form by checking a box to say he was drug free.

Hunter Biden has long battled addiction and prosecutors presented evidence that he purchased drugs around the time he bought the weapon from a gun shot.

Even as Comer nodded toward the accountability of the justice system, he said the Justice Department should still pursue an investigation of the Biden familys influence peddling overseas.

Thus far, Comer and Republican investigators have failed to provide any concrete evidence that the president broke any laws.

Hunter Bidens guilty verdict comes just 12 days following Trumps guilty verdict on 34 counts of falsifying business records in a New York City hush money case.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg talks to journalists on his arrival for the Bucharest Nine Summit (B9 Summit). High-ranking representatives of several Eastern European NATO states meet in Latvia in preparation for the NATO summit in Washington in July. Alexander Welscher/dpa

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has again promised the states on NATO's eastern flank the alliance's full support in case of an attack against them, against the backdrop of Russia's war on Ukraine.

"NATO has the forces, resources, capabilities and political will to defend every ally," he said on Tuesday after a meeting with Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics in Riga.

Stoltenberg was taking part in a one-day meeting of the so-called Bucharest Nine Group in Riga.

The group includes Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and the three Baltic States of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania - in other words, the states constituting NATO's eastern flank.

The summit, at which Stoltenberg was joined by Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and Finnish President Alexander Stubb as guests, was held in preparation for the NATO summit in Washington in July.

"The B9 summit is both a symbolic and a very practical platform for coordinating our positions on further strengthening the Alliance, regional security and our support for Ukraine," said host Rinkevics.

The nine countries in Central and Eastern Europe are concerned about their security in the face of Russia's war on Ukraine and - with the exception of Hungary - are among the staunchest supporters of Ukraine.

Hungary, which maintains close ties with Moscow, was only represented at the meeting in Riga by its ambassador - as was Slovakia.

Poland's President Andrzej Duda considered the absence of a top representative from Hungary to be "not dangerous."

"We are united in NATO, and I am absolutely certain that we are also united when it comes to security here in Eastern Europe," he said on his arrival at the summit.

Other participating heads of state made similar comments about Hungary, which, according to a report in the Financial Times, may be threatened with exclusion from the B9 format.

The group was founded following the Russian annexation of the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea in 2014 on the initiative of Poland and Romania.

The next regular NATO summit is due to take place in Washington from July 9 to 11. The alliance is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year. NATO was founded in the US capital in 1949 by the United States, France, Britain and nine other Western states.

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg (L) and Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics hold a joint press conference. Alexander Welscher/dpa

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg (L) holds the Latvian three-star medal awarded to him by Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics. Alexander Welscher/dpa
City law firms have been urged to stop hosting work socials at the pub over fears they exclude Muslim staff.

A report by Rare, a UK graduate recruitment company specialising in diversity, said the legal professions big drinking culture is unfair to those who abstain from alcohol.

It suggested that law firms introduce more cooking, painting or pottery classes to boost team bonding, rather than hosting events centred on booze.

As part of its research, Rare interviewed 10 aspiring lawyers of Pakistani and Bangladeshi origin, many of whom had worked for law firms as interns.

One Muslim interviewee, named Rabia, said she felt forced to drink alcohol at legal networking events to fit in.

She said: If you say youre not drinking, the [response is] always: No, have one. No never seems to be like a finite answer. There is a lot of pressure [to drink] even if you didnt want to.

Some complained that they werent seen as fun among their colleagues if they did not drink, and were not invited to socialise as a result.

They also recalled feeling uncomfortable at formal social events held in pubs or bars, with many choosing to miss out because of their religious beliefs.

In particular, Muslim women wearing hijabs were found to be at greater risk of family and community disapproval if seen at bars or pubs.

One interviewee named Hamza said: It feels dishonourable in terms of religious beliefs going into a pub because thats a place that we dont really like to associate ourselves with.

It basically creates a disconnect between us and our colleagues because they collectively will go to the pub and drink for a very long period of time and really get to know each other.

The interns claimed alcohol-fuelled events stopped them from building the relationships needed to secure coveted training contracts, many of which come with the promise of six-figure salaries upon completion.

The report called on law firms to review their approach to organising work socials, although recognised it would be unrealistic for all events to be completely alcohol-free.

The report also found some Muslims would be more comfortable attending social gatherings held at the office rather than pubs and bars.

Naomi Kellman, head of research at Rare and author of the report, said it is crucial for employers to open up the conversation around religious practice at work.

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Nacala McDaniels, a 2023 graduate who took AP African American Studies, speaks during a news conference at the Statehouse on Tuesday, June 11, 2024. (Skylar Laird/SC Daily Gazette)

COLUMBIA  Nacala McDaniels was excited when her high school in Richland County started offering Advanced Placement African American Studies in her senior year.

It seemed as though the school system that was there to support all their students was taking a step in the right direction, the 2023 graduate said during a news conference Tuesday.

In 2022-23, McDaniels high school, Ridge View in Columbia, was the only school in South Carolina picked by the College Board to participate in a national pilot of its new course  among 60 nationwide  ahead of the curriculums public release. The pilot was expanded in 2023-24 to 700 schools in 40 states, though its unclear how many of those were in South Carolina.

The College Board tweaked the framework in December ahead of its official launch in the coming school year, following accusations from Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis of a woke curriculum.

But the South Carolina Department of Education opted not to include the new course among its roster of AP classes for 2024-25.

School districts can still choose to offer it on their own as an honors-level course. And students can still take the College Boards end-of-course AP test to potentially earn college credit. (College credit was not available in the pilot course.)

But the state only covers the cost of the test for AP classes on its list, according to College Board. That means the district or student would need to pay for the test, which costs up to $98 per student.

Deputy Superintendent Matthew Ferguson announced the decision in a June 4 memo to school officials across the state.

In the years since this pilot began, there has been significant controversy surrounding the course concerning issues directly addressed by South Carolinas General Assembly, Ferguson wrote as one reason not to add it to the state list of AP courses.

Hes referring to existing state law that prohibits racist concepts from being taught in K-12 schools and pending legislation Republican leaders contend is supposed to clean up that law and clarify that they dont want to stifle instruction on the ugly parts of history.

A panel of legislators recently reached a compromise on the chambers differing versions of the bill. But the compromise requires supermajority approval in the House and Senate in an upcoming special session to advance to Gov. Henry McMasters desk. Otherwise, the effort dies for the year.

Concepts banned from K-12 classrooms since 2021 include any race being superior to another, anyone being responsible for past atrocities because of their race, and that traits such as hard work are oppressive and racist. The bill purposefully left out a line in current law banning lessons that make a student feel discomfort, guilt, anguish, or any other form of psychological distress on account of his race or sex.

Besides the ongoing debate, Ferguson said, all of South Carolinas social studies standards are coming up for their normal review.

As a result, the (department) has not approved any new statewide social studies courses, instead focusing efforts to ensure future course offerings are aligned both with the soon-to-be-updated standards and state law, Ferguson wrote.

South Carolina is also not putting AP Pre-Calculus on its AP roster for 2024-25. But it was the decision on AP African American Studies that raised alarms for advocates who saw removing it as a way of erasing Black history from public schools.

To no longer offer this course is not only insulting to the Black community but also to the students who have a passion for learning, said McDaniels, an elementary education major at Clemson University.

Advocates say the course does not violate existing law or the pending legislation. Instead, it covers a history of African cultures, slavery, the Civil Rights movement and notable African American figures throughout history.

Deciding not to add the class implies that the study of African Americans is politically biased and inherently a form of indoctrination, said Clementine Jordan, a rising sophomore at the University of South Carolina who also took the course at Ridge View High.

However, Fergusons memo reads, there is nothing preventing districts from continuing to offer AP African American Studies as a locally-approved honors course should they choose to do so, in addition to continuing to offer other approved African American courses as districts have already done for a number of years.

But thats not enough, said Jennifer Bartell Boykin, a teacher at Spring Valley High School.

Advanced Placement classes allow students to earn college credit while still in high school, if they pass the end-of-course test with a high enough score, which can save them time and money in pursuing their degree, Bartell Boykin said.

That is unacceptable, since it degrades the class from its original purpose of offering students the college-level instruction that AP courses provide, Bartell Boykin said.

Last year, the scores on about two-thirds of AP exams taken by students in South Carolina were high enough to earn college credit.

AP courses also help boost grade point averages for students competing for class rankings.

While honors classes are weighted more heavily than other classes in calculating a students GPA, AP courses are weighted on an even higher scale. High-achieving students might opt to take another AP class instead of a lower-level African American history course to maintain their GPA lead, said Biana Woodard, who teaches history at Midland Valley High School.

The education agency maintains its unwavering commitment to teaching the factual historical experience of African Americans to our students. We will continue to proactively seek ways to highlight the innumerable contributions black South Carolinians have made to our state, our nation, and the world, Ferguson said in the memo, which pointed to programs such as an essay contest focused on Martin Luther King, Jr.s I Have a Dream speech.

Programs like that cannot replace what students learned in the AP African American Studies class, advocates said. The class goes deeper on topics not covered in typical U.S. History classes but are important for people of all races to know, said Rep. Jermaine Johnson.

We must teach the truth, because if they remove this from one class, they are effectively whitewashing history, the Hopkins Democrat said.

Editors Note: This article has been corrected to reflect that South Carolina students will still be able to take the College Boards AP African American Studies end-of-course test for college credit.

The post Students, teachers call on SC education agency to add AP African American Studies to state list appeared first on SC Daily Gazette.
A Russian Su-34 fighter jet has crashed in mountainous terrain in North Ossetia, killing its crew.

Source: Kremlin-aligned Russian news agencies RIA Novosti, RBC and TASS with reference to the Russian Defence Ministry

Details: The jet reportedly crashed during a routine training flight.

Early reports indicate that technical malfunction was the cause of the accident.

The Mash Telegram channel wrote that the tragedy occurred near the village of Gorny Dzuarikau, where an explosion was heard at night.

TASS reported that a Su-34 had crashed in an uninhabited area, with no ground damage reported. The aircraft was carrying two pilots.

An investigation commission from the Russian Aerospace Forces has flown to the crash site.

Why this is important: After sanctions were imposed against Russia for its ongoing war against Ukraine, there has been an increase in aircraft accidents in Russia. This has been attributed to a shortage of necessary parts which Russia used to import from Western countries.

Background:

A drone attack on Russias North Ossetia was recorded for the first time on Saturday, 8 June. Aircraft used for attacking Ukraine take off from an air base there.

On 5 February, a Mi-8 transport helicopter crashed in Prionezhsky District in the Republic of Karelia in Russia.

On 12 March, an Ilyushin Il-76 transport aircraft crashed near Severny air base in Ivanovo Oblast, Russia. There were eight crew members and seven passengers on board.

On 14 March, a Mi-8 helicopter carrying 20 people crashed in Russia's Magadan Oblast, killing at least two people according to some reports, while others indicated one fatality.

On 19 April, a Tu-22M3 long-range strategic bomber crashed in Russia's Stavropol Krai. The Russians had been using aircraft of this type to land strikes on Ukraine. The Russians claimed that the crash was due to a technical malfunction. However, Lieutenant General Mykola Oleshchuk, Commander of Ukraine's Air Force, reported that the aircraft had been downed by anti-aircraft missile units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in cooperation with Defence Intelligence of Ukraine.

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A new federal lawsuit says police and sheriff's deputies shocked and beat a Fletcher man, ultimately killing him with an improper restraint that involved up to five officers on top of him before he lost consciousness handcuffed and facedown in his apartment complex parking lot.

"Christopher Hensley, a 35-year-old father of two, was tased, kicked, punched and ultimately killed on June 15, 2022, by defendants ... when he was suffocated for at least four minutes while in police custody," said the suit brought almost exactly two years later by Hensley's mother, Catherine Hensley of Miami, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina in Asheville. The suit was filed June 11 by Catherine Hensley's attorney, Catharine Edwards, of Raleigh.

As defendants the suit named the Town of Fletcher, Henderson County and seven officers from those law enforcement agencies. It is seeking currently unspecified monetary damages for alleged violations including gross negligence, assault and battery, pain and suffering and wrongful death.

Fletcher Police Chief Dan Terry told the Citizen Times June 11 department had not yet been officially served with the suit.

"Once received we will appropriately follow and adhere to the judicial process. We, being the police department, will not be making any additional statements related to the case," Terry said.

Henderson County Sheriff Lowell Griffin said deputies  who arrived to help Fletcher police after Hensley's wife made a domestic disturbance call  acted correctly and that "in todays litigious society" such legal actions are "to be expected whenever unfortunate circumstances occur."

"The District Attorney found no criminal liability on the part of our officers, and we stand behind our officers actions," Griffin said, adding his office would not comment further because of the pending suit.

More than a year after Hensley's death, following what District Attorney Andrew Murray called an "extremely voluminous" criminal probe by the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, Murray declined to bring charges against officers. Murray did not release all or parts of the SBI report, which by state law is not public record.

Murray said Hensley died of a heart attack caused by "multiple contributing factors" and that "two or three factors were within his power to prevent," including the ingestion of cocaine and methamphetamine before officers arrived and after they arrived the "length and degree of physical exertion he was enduring."

A pathologist with the N.C. Medical Examiner's Office classified Hensley's death as a homicide, attributing physical restraint "in the setting of cocaine and methamphetamine toxicity."

The lawsuit, though, says the family requested an independent autopsy. In addition to an autopsy, private pathologist, Dr. Daniel L. Schultz of Tampa, Florida, reviewed bystander video footage, the autopsy said. Schultz wrote that while "chronic cocaine abuse with acute cocaine and methamphetamine toxicity" were contributory factors, "but for the restraint procedures, my impression is that he would not have succumbed to the respiratory/cardiac events as they unfolded," the suit says.

More: Judge: no release of police video of Fletcher man homicide; higher court upends process

A year after this WNC man's in-custody death, a town makes its biggest purchase for police

This story will be updated.

Joel Burgess has lived in WNC for more than 20 years, covering politics, government and other news. He's written award-winning stories on topics ranging from gerrymandering to police use of force. Got a tip? Contact Burgess at jburgess@citizentimes.com, 828-713-1095 or on Twitter @AVLreporter. Please help support this type of journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Suit alleges police restraint killed man; Western NC federal court
Correction appended June 11

A philanthropic initiative launched in 2022 to get students back on track from COVID learning loss is returning promising results, a new study suggests: just four weeks spent in the Summer Boost program last year helped students regain nearly one-fourth of their reading skills and one-third of math skills, compared to students who didnt participate in the program.

The initiative, underwritten by Bloomberg Philanthropies and other funders, serves charter school students about to enter grades 1 through 9.

Researchers at Arizona State University examined over 35,000 Summer Boost students in eight cities, finding that in just 22 days of programming, on average, students saw about three to four weeks of reading progress and about four to five weeks in math. In reading, that works out to making up about 22% of COVID learning losses; in math, its about 31%.

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While students across all demographic groups got a boost, English Language Learners saw the strongest growth, achieving about seven to eight weeks worth of learning in just over four weeks. Researchers said students moving into grades 4-8 saw particularly accelerated growth.

The fact that these outcomes are seen pretty consistently across thousands of kids and multiple cities, I think that lends even more power to these results. Geoffrey Borman, Arizona State University

Students took part in the study in Baltimore, Birmingham, Indianapolis, Memphis, Nashville, New York City, San Antonio and Washington, D.C.

Schools participating in Summer Boost are free to use either a provided curriculum or a high-quality one of their choice, but researchers found that about a third of schools used a balanced kind of curricular approach that reserved time for both academics and engaging enrichment activities, said ASUs Geoffrey Borman, who led the research.

Schools that struck that balance, he said, had the most positive impacts for kids.

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In summer school more broadly, Borman noted, the biggest challenges are getting kids to show up and stay engaged across the summer  and attracting high-quality teachers at a time when both teachers and kids would probably rather be on summer break.

To that end, schools in the program are encouraged to use as much of their budget as possible to pay teachers, said Sunny Larson, K-12 Education Program Lead at Bloomberg. The incentive, she added, really got those veteran educators back into the classroom.

Many prioritized hiring teachers who had already worked with these students during the school year. That allowed a continuity that I also think was beneficial, said Borman.

Previous research suggests that pandemic recovery has essentially stalled for most students, with many needing the equivalent of about four more months in school to catch up to pre-pandemic levels. Ninth-graders need a full year of extra school to catch up, according to 2023 findings from the assessment provider NWEA.

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Morgan Polikoff, a professor of education at the University of Southern California, said the findings were promising, but that hed like to know whether the effects persist throughout the school year.

While I think many have the perception that summer school is rarely effective, these results show that well designed summer programs can indeed be a helpful tool to help catch children up or accelerate their growth, he said. The results suggest the impact of Summer Boost is very promising  on par with regular school-year learning rates.

Effective guardrails in place

The program includes at least 90 minutes each of English Language Arts and math instruction daily with a 25:1 student-teacher ratio. Summer programs must maintain an average daily attendance rate of 70% to get full funding  effective guardrails that ensure high quality, Borman said.

While they have flexibility in how they recruit, theyre encouraged to seek out students who can most benefit.

Summer Boost originated in 2022, when Michael Bloomberg, the former New York City mayor and a 2020 Democratic presidential candidate, likened stalled academic progress from the pandemic to the educational equivalent of long COVID.

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Summer is the most underused  and unequal  time of year educationally, said Harvard University researcher Thomas Kane, who served as an adviser to the research. With so many students far behind, I hope this study inspires more school districts to expand their summer learning options.

Summer is the most underused  and unequal  time of year educationally. I hope this study inspires more school districts to expand their summer learning options. Tom Kane, Harvard University

Kane noted that Texas program to expand the school year beyond 180 days incentivizes districts to replace what students lost during the pandemic, which was instructional time.

Kristen Huff, vice president of assessment and research at Curriculum Associates, whose i-Ready tests helped gauge the programs effectiveness, said she was glad to see its positive impact.

There is real urgency to use summer programs to provide specific, personalized support for struggling students so that they can return to school ready for grade-level work, she said. Assessing students relative to grade level standards is the most accurate way to understand where they are and what support they need.

Huff noted that Curriculum Associates will soon release research showing student academic growth still has a way to go to recover to pre-pandemic levels, especially for the youngest students. The Summer Boost program results underscore this, and show that when given the right supports, students can accelerate their learning.

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Study: Kids Receive Up to Two Years More School Depending on Where They Live

In the new ASU study, researchers noted a few caveats. For instance, they admitted that the findings are based on only one year of data and cant provide evidence of impact over time. Its possible, they said, that the findings may change as more years of data are added and the sample size increases.

They also noted that many student records in the sample were incomplete, missing either math or reading pre- or post-test scores.

Also missing: key student demographic data, meaning that researchers couldnt analyze all of the students scores in relation to indicators such as race, gender and socioeconomic status. And the data dont include how students ended up in the program, limiting researchers ability to compare it to other types of summer learning programs that may have different enrollment requirements.

But Borman noted that research on such large groups rarely yields such strong results, And the fact that these outcomes are seen pretty consistently across thousands of kids and multiple cities, I think that lends even more power to these results.

Correction: An earlier version of this story misidentified Michael Bloombergs party affiliation when he ran for president in 2020.
PHNOM PENH, June 11 (Xinhua) -- About two dozen villagers in the Cambodian capital's northwestern suburb painted their faces and bodies as well as donned grass skirts on Tuesday as they held an annual traditional ceremony to pray to a "guardian spirit" for good fortune and rain.

Organized at Boeung village in Prek Pnov district about 25 km from central Phnom Penh, the Pring Ka-ek guardian spirit festival was also aimed at driving off evil spirits.

At the event, the participants painted and decorated themselves like jungle people, deities, wise old men, giants, demons, and ghosts, among others.

Sim Pum, 35, who performed as a wise old man at the event, said since he was a child, he has witnessed the villagers celebrating this ritual every year in order to ask the guardian spirit for happiness, good fortune and rain for rice planting.

"This is the centuries-old tradition of the villagers here," he told reporters at the event.

Painted and decorated himself like a giant in a Cambodian legend, Sok Rath, 27, said he had joined the ceremony every year since 2018.

"This is a tradition inherited from our ancestors since ancient times, so we try to preserve it for younger generations," he told Xinhua. "When we hold this ritual, our villagers have happiness, good luck and fortune, and there is rain enough for rice farming."

At the ceremony, body-painted and costumed participants paraded from the village towards a nearby Pring Ka-ek guardian spirit shrine, where they prayed for good luck and sufficient rain in the coming rainy season.

The ceremonial procession attracted hundreds of onlookers, who used their smartphones to film or take photographs of the scene.

Belief in spirits is dominant in Cambodia, where some 95 percent of the 17-million population are Buddhists. 
The Wisconsin school district superintendent who was rushed at by an irate father at a high school graduation last month says the incident made him concerned for his safety and the safety of everyone else at the ceremony, and that he spent the rest of the night looking over (his) shoulder.

The tense moment between School District of Baraboo Superintendent Rainey Briggs and the parentidentified by authorities as Matthew Eddyoccurred at Baraboo High Schools graduation ceremony on May 31, when Eddy stormed the stage and grabbed Briggs by his arm. Eddy pushed Briggs away before the administrator could shake the hand of Eddys daughter, who had been crossing the stage to accept her diploma and was in the process of shaking hands with school district officials. Video footage of the incident went viral in the days following the ceremony and sparked outrage online, with many people calling Eddys actions racist, since Eddy is white and Briggs is Black.

Briggs tells TIME that initially, he did not understand what was happening on the stage. He did not recognize Eddy, and did not know why Eddy would interrupt the ceremony. After Eddy grabbed him and said Youre not touching my f-cking daughters hand, Briggs recalls, he started worrying that Eddy may try to attack him.

Am I safe right now? he says he asked himself at that moment. Are all the other people in this space safe?

I didnt know what he was going to do, Briggs continues. I cant believe that this is happening. The space isnt safe, but yet and still, I had to carry on with the event.

From that point on, for the rest of that night, Im kind of looking over my shoulder.

Read More: Superintendent Files Restraining Order Against Dad Who Stormed Stage at Graduation

Eddy has since been issued a criminal citation for disorderly conduct. Briggs was granted a temporary restraining order against Eddy, according to local court records. Briggs also says that the district sent Eddy a letter informing him that he is no longer welcome on any School District of Baraboo properties.

Eddy has not returned TIMEs multiple requests for comment, but a Baraboo Police Department report obtained by TIME reveals a little more information about the possible motive behind Eddys actions.

According to the report, Eddy and his daughter had past issues with Briggswho was named superintendent in July 2021and dislike him. Eddy told the school resource officer who responded to the incident that he stormed the stage because he wanted to prevent the superintendent from having the satisfaction of shaking his daughters hand. (Officials redacted the name of Eddys daughter from the police report because she is a minor.)

Briggs tells TIME that he does not know Eddy and has never spoken to him. Three years ago, he and other administrators had an encounter with Eddy regarding his daughter, which he believes is the past issues that Eddy referred to in his interview with police. Briggs declines to share further details about that encounter, citing student confidentiality. According to the police report, though, Briggs told the investigating officer that Eddys daughter had been expelled at one point from Baraboo High School, but added that he does not directly interact with parents when it comes to expulsions.

I dont know what the issue is, Briggs tells TIME. Matthew Eddy has never indicated to me that there was an issue, nor the student.

When asked if he believes Eddys actions were motivated by racism, Briggs says that he cannot say, but that the optics dont look good. He says that he has not interacted with Eddy personally since the graduation ceremony, and he still does not know why Eddy feels such anger towards him specifically or why Eddy chose that moment to express it.

Matthew Eddy is the only person that can truly say what his motivations were, Briggs says. I dont want to speak for Matthew Eddy.

According to the police report, the investigating officer told Eddy after the incident that his actions were not acceptable and could have been handled in a much more appropriate way that did not disrupt the ceremony for everyone else, including his daughter. When the officer asked Eddy if he was sorry for his actions, Eddy said he was, but only for the sake of his daughter.

The officer said in the report that he believes this was something Eddy had pre-planned.

Briggs says the incident with Eddy has caused him to be a little bit more cognizant of his surroundings and of his safety. Immediately after the ceremony, Briggs left the school to drive home and called his wife to tell her what happened, who was shocked by the news.

The incident has not only affected him and his family, Briggs says, but also the district community. He says students who should have been celebrating their graduation had this important moment interrupted by Eddys actions.

It created more attention in the community at an event that should have been celebratory of 250 students, even his daughter, Briggs says. My heart goes out to his daughter, my heart goes out to the other 250 students.

If I could speak to Mr. Eddy, I guess the one question that I would have for him is: Why then? Why not talk to me three years ago? Briggs continues. How do you see yourself restoring the situation based on the harm thats caused to the community?

Briggs says he wants to emphasize that this incident with Eddy is not representative of the Baraboo community.

I dont want this one situation  to have this lasting impact on this community in a way that causes people to not want to be here, that causes people to think that this is the worst community in the country, because it isnt, Briggs says. Its a very strong community.  Theres a lot of people who care.

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Contact us at letters@time.com.
The Biden administration has been asked by the Supreme Court to weigh in on Big Oils request to review the Hawaii Supreme Courts ruling that allowed Honolulus pivotal lawsuit against the companies to go to trial.

In 2020, Honolulu sued major oil and gas companies, accusing them of knowing for decades that burning fossil fuels would damage the climate  and violating laws requiring them to warn the public about the harms caused by their products.

The litigation aims to force oil companies to cover the bill for damages to property and infrastructure. If it were to succeed, the lawsuit and others like it could ultimately force fossil fuel companies to pay billions of dollars. The companies argue the federal Clean Air Act should preempt state laws, and thus shut down the litigation.

The Courts order to the U.S. Solicitor General to file a brief expressing the views of the United States will delay Honolulus case from going to trial  a temporary win that will allow Big Oil to delay the suit.

Big Oil companies are fighting desperately to avoid trial in lawsuits like Honolulus, which would expose the evidence of the fossil fuel industrys climate lies for the entire world to see, said Richard Wiles, president of the Center for Climate Integrity, in a statement. Communities everywhere are paying dearly for the massive damages caused by Big Oils decades-long climate deception. The people of Honolulu and other communities across the country deserve their day in court to hold these companies accountable.

Last week, Rolling Stone reported that the dark money network led by conservative activist Leonard Leo, known as the architect of the Supreme Court, has been leading a PR campaign pressuring the Supreme Court to take up the case, shield oil fossil fuel companies from Honolulus lawsuit, and use it to set a new precedent quashing state and local climate litigation.

The major fossil fuel corporations raked in more than $100 billion in profits combined last year, Lisa Graves, the executive director at the watchdog group True North Research, told Rolling Stone. And now their efforts to evade legal accountability are being aided by  the very same groups that helped the majority of justices on the U.S. Supreme Court get their seats on the bench.

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WASHINGTON  Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito and his wife were captured in secret recordings that featured the justice discussing the countrys left-right divide, while Martha-Ann Alito implied she would take revenge on media outlets that reported on controversial flags flown at Alito family homes.

Look at me, look at me, Martha-Ann Alito said. Im German, from Germany. My heritage is German. You come after me, Im going to give it back to you.

The recordings were made at a June 3 gala for the Supreme Court Historical Society by liberal activist Lauren Windsor and released Monday night.

One side or the other is going to win, Justice Alito said in one recording after Windsor, posing as a Catholic conservative, asked him leading questions about political polarization in America. There can be a way of working, a way of living together peacefully, but its difficult, you know, because there are differences on fundamental things that really cant be compromised.

More: Chief Justice Roberts says he'll stay clear of Alito's Trump recusal refusal

Windsor also recorded Chief Justice John Roberts, who declined to take her bait.

Would you want me to be in charge of putting the nation on a more moral path? Roberts asked her at the $500-a-head gala. Thats for people we elect. Thats not for lawyers.

When Windsor replied that she believed we live in a Christian nation and that our Supreme Court should be guiding us in that path, Roberts quickly shot her down, saying, I dont know if thats true.

I dont know that we live in a Christian nation, the chief justice said. I know a lot of Jewish and Muslim friends who would say maybe not, and its not our job to do that.

WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 05: A flag is waved an event at the Supreme Court of the United States with MoveOn and progressive organizations whose members are demanding an investigation into Justice Alito on June 05, 2024 in Washington, DC.

Windsor defended secretly taping the justices.

"You know, the Supreme Court has been shrouded in secrecy, and they've dodged any accountability for what are  any reasonable person would consider  serious ethics violations or serious ethics problems, and I think that the American people deserve to have more information about that, she told USA TODAY.

Justice Alito is very ideological and that influences his opinions, right?" Windsor said. "But it takes on a different  you have a different understanding of things when you hear it from someone's own mouth that there's fundamental things that they can't compromise."

More: Amid blowback over Clarence Thomas travel, Supreme Court says it will adopt first-ever code of conduct

Windsor released the recordings at a fraught moment for the high court, after Alito and his wife were criticized for flying flags from their homes in Virginia and New Jersey that experts say are closely linked to the Stop the Steal election denial movement and the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.

Critics including Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, called on Alito to recuse himself from Supreme Court cases involving former President Donald Trumps broad claims of immunity in his federal election interference indictment and separate case over a law used to charge Trump and scores of Jan. 6 defendants.

Alito refused and said in a letter to the committee that his wife had raised the flags without his knowledge.

More: Mike Pence was a Jan. 6 target. He says criticizing Alito's flag is 'absurd'

Approaching Martha-Ann Alito at the June 3 benefit, Windsor expressed sympathy for the criticism she and her husband had been experiencing. Martha-Ann Alito broke in: Its OK! Its OK!

Its OK because if they come back to me, Ill get them ... The media.

Last month it was reported that an upside-down American flag had flown outside the Alitos' Virginia home after Trump's defeat in the 2020 election. The inverted flag has become a symbol for some Trump supporters who, like the former president, continue to claim the election was stolen.

Last summer, an "Appeal to Heaven" flag was raised outside the couple's New Jersey beach house. The Revolutionary War-era flag has become a potent symbol for "Stop the Steal" activists and Christian identity movement.

You know what I want? Martha-Ann Alito told Windsor. I want a Sacred Heart of Jesus flag because I have to look across the lagoon at the Pride flag for the next month.

A spokesperson for the court didn't immediately return a call for comment.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Alito, wife caught talking about political compromise on secret audio
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  State Superintendent Ryan Walters announced a new teacher signing bonus on Monday in an effort to recruit math and science teachers to rural schools, despite previous bonus program controversy.

I am thrilled to continue to bring in highly qualified teachers to Oklahoma classrooms, said Walters in a news release on Monday. Oklahoma is a great place to live and work, and we are making it easier than ever for teachers to come to our great state and have and enormous impact on our young people. We recruited more than 500 teachers to Oklahoma classrooms last school year and this program builds on that innovative model.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Teachers were approved for nearly $300,000 by OSDE  then told to pay up

The eligibility criteria for the recently announced program can be read below:

Teachers who sign a contract to teach as secondary math or science teachers in a rural public school for the 2024-2025 school year will be rewarded financially. Eligible teachers are those who did not teach in an Oklahoma public school during the 2023-2024 school year. Teachers will be eligible to receive signing bonuses between $15,000 and $25,000 based on these criteria: Eligibility Eligible teachers are those who did not teach in an Oklahoma public school during the 2023-2024 school year. Eligible teachers must meet these criteria: OSDE Comprehensive Teacher Pay Reform page

This announcement comes after controversy involving discrepancies in signing bonus information reported by OSDE, and a lawsuit filed against the department by teachers who were told to repay their signing bonuses.

A former OSDE employee also filed a lawsuit against the department last year, claiming he was wrongfully terminated after voicing his concerns over teacher bonuses.

In Mondays news release, Walters also says the program is building off the most successful teacher recruitment effort in state history.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Discrepancies found in OK teacher signing bonus information provided by OSDE

However, according to a study by education research firm and scholarship website engine, Scholaroo, there has been minimal change in Oklahomas student-to-teacher ratio from 2022 to 2023.

News 4 previously reported on Scholaroos 2023 teacher shortage study, which showed Oklahoma ranked 13th in the country for highest teacher shortage in the country, with an average of 60.9 teachers for every 1,000 enrolled students.

Scholaroos 2024 study shows not much has changed over the past year, with an average of 60.07 teachers for every 1,000 students. In this study, Oklahoma ranked 13th again for highest teacher shortage.

More information about the signing bonus program can be found at sde.ok.gov.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
Suspect in custody following armed carjacking in Excelsior Springs

EXCELSIOR SPRINGS, Mo.  A suspect is in custody following an armed carjacking Monday evening in Excelsior Springs.

Excelsior Springs police officers responded to the Heartland Dodge dealership off W. Jesse James Road around 5 p.m. on a reported Dodge Charger being stolen by a man armed with a handgun.

Family speaks out after man killed in shooting near Power and Light District

Police said the suspect left in the stolen vehicle and struck another vehicle.

Clay County Sheriff deputies were briefly involved in a vehicle chase with the suspect before ending it for public safety concerns.

The male suspect was taken into custody around 8:30 p.m. Police said the vehicle was returned to the owner.

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The suspect, identified as Javon T. Baker, was charged in Clay County with first-degree robbery, armed criminal action and resisting arrest.

The investigation is ongoing at this time.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
SLED police dog killed, suspect shot in Midlands as officers tried to serve warrant

A State Law Enforcement Division K9 police dog was shot to death during an incident in Newberry County Tuesday when an armed suspect was also shot.

SLED later Tuesday confirmed the death of SLED K9 Coba, a Belgian Malinois mix who joined SLED in 2021.

SLED announced the dogs death in a news release that said in part, K9 Coba was killed in action today during the apprehension of an armed subject in Newberry County. During an encounter with SLED, the Newberry County Sheriffs Office, and the subject, the subject shot SLED K9 Coba. The subject was shot and transported to the hospital for treatment.

Koba was the second SLED police dog to die in the line of duty in the past year.

Last September, a SLED K9, Rico, a 3-year-old Belgian Malinois mix, was shot and killed by a suspect fleeing from officers on Johns Island. The suspect, Ernest Robert Burbage III , was then shot and killed by police. Burbage had shot and wounded two people, police said.

Rico had been with the agency for just over a year and served on the SLED SWAT team and K9 tracking team.

In March, in Columbias Rosewood neighborhood, a 17-year-old allegedly stealing from cars shot and wounded a police dog with the Richland County Sheriffs Department.

Newberry County Sheriffs Office deputies and South Carolina Law Enforcement Division agents went to serve a felony fugitive warrant near Gravel Road in the Prosperity area on Tuesday, the sheriffs office said in a post on social media.

The suspect reportedly was found hiding inside the home of a relative, the sheriffs office said. A law enforcement dog confronted the suspect inside the home. The suspect had a gun and fired at officers, striking the dog, according to the sheriffs office. Officers returned fire at the suspect, eliminating the threat, the sheriffs office said.

The suspect was taken to an area trauma center, while the K9 was taken to an emergency veterinarian clinic. Updates on the condition of the suspect and the dog were not available as of early Tuesday afternoon.

The suspect was not named in the sheriffs office statement. Lexington County Sheriffs Department has been asked to assist in the investigation.
A stretch of dangerous, record-breaking heat is hitting the Southwest. Phoenix will experience temperatures over 100 degrees for the next two weeks straight, with highs above 104 degrees. It's the third-hottest June on record since 1895.

At Arizona State University, there's a team welcoming summer's surging temperatures. Researchers are using a sweating test dummy called ANDI to study how heat impacts the human body.

"We wanted to understand how these realistic conditions impact the human body," said professor Konrad Rykaczewski, an ASU senior global futures scientist.

The sweating test dummy costs more than $600,000 and is filled with sensors to monitor heat. ANDI is only one of two such mannequins in the world built to leave the lab and venture outside into the day's heat.

"We really see that from day to day, as the heatwave continues, your core temperature starts off half a degree higher every day," said Rykaczewski. "And then you are so much closer to a heat illness."

Researchers are using a sweating test dummy called Andi to study how heat impacts the human body. / Credit: CBS News

Last summer, Phoenix saw a record 54 days at or above 110 degrees, including all 31 days in July. Maricopa County alone reported 645 heat-related deaths, marking a 52% increase. On average last July, 13 heat-related deaths occurred per day in the county.

Meanwhile, the Phoenix Fire Department is using social media to urge people to be heat smart and to avoid hiking during peak temperatures.

Arizona now has the nation's only chief heat officer. Dr. Eugene Livar will oversee the rollout of a new extreme heat preparedness plan.

"I think what keeps me up is just, 'is there anything else we can do?'" Livar said. "'Is there more that we can do?"'

Beyond Phoenix, 20 million people in the Southwest U.S. were under extreme heat alerts Monday. According to the NWS Weather Prediction Center, there are excessive heat warnings, watches and heat advisories over parts of California, the Southwest and western Texas on Tuesday.

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Animal rights activists vandalize portrait of King Charles III

Hunter Biden faces possible prison time after guilty verdict in Delaware
In the lead-up to the global summit on Ukraine's peace formula, Switzerland has experienced a rise in cyberattacks and disinformation, Swiss government representatives reported on June 10.



The summit will take place in Burgenstock from June 15-16. Ukraine hopes the event will address several key areas, such as energy security, the exchange of captives, the return of kidnapped children, and global food security.



Amidst the increase in cyberattacks, Swiss President Viola Amherd was asked how the government has responded.



"We haven't summoned the ambassador," she said. "That's how I wanted it, because the disinformation campaign is so extreme that one can see that little of it reflects reality."

Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis acknowledged a definite interest in disrupting the talks, but did not specify who he thought was responsible for the attacks when questioned about Russia's involvement.

On May 24, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said that Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to derail the peace summit, stating that Putin has no desire to end the full-scale invasion.

Participants of the summit will formulate a common negotiating position on the outcome of the war and submit it to Russia, according to presidential spokesperson Sergii Nykyforov.

Read also: Putin will soon visit North Korea, Russias ambassador says

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
By Ben Blanchard

TAIPEI (Reuters) - A Chinese man arrested after his speedboat illegally entered a Taipei harbour is a former navy captain who could have been probing the island's defences, senior Taiwanese officials said on Tuesday.

Taiwan's coast guard arrested the man on Sunday at the coastal neighbourhood of Tamsui after his boat entered a river that leads into Taipei, an incident that happened amid ongoing tensions between Taiwan and China.

China views the democratically governed island as its own territory, a claim Taipei rejects.

Kuan Bi-ling, head of Taiwan's Ocean Affairs Council, which runs the coast guard, told reporters at parliament that the man was "quite refined and well presented" and had previously served as a Chinese navy captain.

Over the past year or so there have been 18 similar cases, mostly involving Taiwan controlled islands that sit next to the Chinese coast, Kuan said.

"Looking at the accumulated cases in the past, we can't rule out that this is a test," she said, referring to Taiwan's abilities to spot such vessels.

Neither China's Taiwan Affairs Office nor its defence ministry immediately responded to requests for comment.

Taiwan Defence Minister Wellington Koo, also speaking to reporters at parliament, said the boat incident could be another example of China's "grey zone" tactics against the island.

Taiwan has complained in recent years that China has been using so-called grey zone warfare designed to exhaust a foe by irregular tactics without resorting to open combat, such as floating surveillance balloons over the island.

"These grey zone tactics have always existed," Koo said. "We must always maintain our vigilance and cannot rule out the possibility of taking countermeasures."

In March, two Taiwanese fishermen strayed into Chinese waters near the Taiwan-controlled Kinmen islands, which sit next to China's coast. One, a Taiwanese military officer, remains in detention in China, while the other was released soon after.

(Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Additional reporting by Roger Tung and Jeanny Kao; editing by Miral Fahmy)
A vacant lot where, until recently, residences stood as a levee stands and Mississippi River flows past in the distance Thursday, May 23, 2024, in Cairo, Ill. Devastating flooding, driven in part by climate change, is taking an especially damaging toll on communities that once thrived along the banks of the river. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

WEST ALTON, Mo. (AP)  Commerce along the Mississippi River has evolved over the past century at the expense of many once-thriving river towns. But persistent and sometimes devastating flooding has added to the woes of some of those towns.

An examination of data provided to The Associated Press found that flooding pushed people out of their homes along the river at a roughly 30% higher rate than the U.S. as a whole.

The data came from First Street, a risk analysis firm that used modeling that relied on analysis of block-level Census data, flood risk information and other factors. AP further analyzed and mapped the data to find and report on some hard-hit communities.

Here's what to know from AP's report:

A changing river valley

Persistent flooding isn't the only issue that many Mississippi River towns must contend with. Most of them trace their roots to the 19th century, when the mighty river was a convenient way to move heavy goods. Many industries  coal, pulp and paper mills, chemical and metals plants  chose to build alongside the river to take advantage of that.

But technology, automation and consolidation remade all of those. The national highway system gave industries an alternative to river shipping. These things added up to economic headwinds for everyone along the river.

Flooding just makes it all worse. First Street was able to isolate floodings effects from other factors that can prod people to move, such as economic decline.

Their data showed that people tend to move to a safer place nearby. But some people leave communities entirely. Older residents are most likely to stay behind. Even in some growing communities, high flood risk constrained that growth.

Dean Klinkenberg, who writes guidebooks and histories of the communities, said it chips away at the river culture as people move away.

What it looks like in one town

West Alton, Missouri, sits on the Mississippi near its meeting with the Missouri River. It had almost 4,000 people in 1970, but major floods in 1973, 1993 and 2019 have left it with fewer than 400.

All three of its churches are gone, and many of the homes still there had to be elevated to stay above future floods.

Mayor Willie Richter said some people just walk away from their homes. He said he probably would have left if he didn't have such strong community connections.

Sugar Vanburen lost her home in the '93 flood. She refused to leave, citing the quiet community, good school for her grandchildren and help from neighbors.

But she misses many who have left, and calls West Alton a ghost town.

Adapting  and refusing to quit

Recent decades have brought new benefits to some riverside towns, and they've taken advantage. The Clean Water Act of 1972 improved rivers and streams around the country that had carried tons of waste. Parks sprouted from cleaned-up industrial areas, attracting tourists and businesses.

One example is Grafton, Illinois, a community of roughly 730 people about an hour north of St. Louis. To cope with bad flooding officials didnt build a floodwall or levee. Instead, many residents simply vacated risky land to move uphill. Parks on low-lying land can absorb flooding. And the city worked to develop tourist attractions  a winery, a zip line and a marina. The population has edged up in recent years.

And some people love the river so much they won't leave.

Steve Dungan lives in Hannibal, Missouri  best known as Mark Twain's hometown. He and his wife lost most of their stuff when their home was hit by the big flood of 1993. But Dungan came back after that flood, anchored by family and memories.

On a recent day, Dungan biked to his mothers tidy white frame home near the creek.

Dad passed away in this house, he said. Mom lives here. Ive got an older brother in this room, and hes handicapped. So, no.

___

The Associated Press receives support from the Walton Family Foundation for coverage of water and environmental policy. The AP is solely responsible for all content. For all of APs environmental coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/climate-and-environment
TEHRAN, June 11 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Caretaker Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani and Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud on Tuesday reaffirmed their countries' commitment to improving bilateral relations and cooperation.

In a meeting on the sidelines of the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, the two sides also highlighted the necessity to ensure sustainable stability and security in the region, according to a statement released by the Iranian Foreign Ministry.

Bagheri Kani said bilateral ties were reflecting a progressing trend, expressing confidence that Iran and Saudi Arabia were determined to strengthen all-out relations with each other.

He stressed that the two countries' determination to develop bilateral ties had impacted all areas of their relations.

Bagheri Kani said greater interaction and solidarity between Iran and Saudi Arabia would be in the two countries' interests and help ensure sustainable stability and security in the region.

The Iranian diplomat also condemned the intensification of Israeli attacks in Gaza, especially in Rafah, calling for "coordinated and consensus-based" actions by Muslim states to show their vigilance and sensitivity in that regard and about Gaza.

The Saudi foreign minister, for his part, said the two countries managed to resume ties and reach a stage of strong bilateral cooperation and interaction during the tenure of the late Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi.

He added his country remained committed to continuing talks and cooperation with Iran, pledging more efforts to strengthen the bilateral ties, which are inducive to regional security and stability, according to the Iranian foreign ministry.

In April 2023, Iran and Saudi Arabia declared the resumption of diplomatic relations in Beijing after years of estrangement. 
The jury in Hunter Bidens federal gun trial began deliberations on Monday after the defendant declined to testify in his own defense and both sides presented closing arguments in the historic case against the presidents son.

Special counsel David Weiss prosecutors urged the jury to bring back three guilty verdicts because, even though the evidence was personal and ugly, it was also overwhelming that Biden bought and possessed a firearm while abusing drugs.

Later, Bidens defense attorney argued that the prosecutors case was similar to a magicians trick, and accused Weiss team of trying to inflate the evidence and win convictions based on suspicion and conjecture alone.

If convicted, Biden could face up to 25 years in prison and a fine of up to $750,000, though first-time offenders like him rarely receive the maximum penalty. He pleaded not guilty to all three charges.

Here are takeaways from Day 6 of the historic trial.

No one is above the law, prosecutors say

In the first seconds of Leo Wises closing arguments, he referenced the VIPs from the Biden family that have been filling the front row of the courtroom pews each day, often including first lady Jill Biden, who was in attendance on Monday.

The people sitting in the gallery are not evidence, Wise said. You may recognize some of them from the news or from the community  but respectfully, none of that matters.

The first three rows of court were completely filled with Hunter Bidens friends and family, and a Secret Service agent could barely fit at the end of the front-row bench, with so many people trying to squeeze in. Jill Biden sat flanked by her sons wife on one side, and the first ladys daughter Ashley Biden on the other.

As Wise continued, he returned to a theme that his colleague raised in opening statements: that no one is above the law. Jurors, he said, shouldnt treat this case differently because of who the defendant is.

Evidence was ugly but overwhelming, prosecutors say

Wise went on to explain to the jury  which includes many people whose loved ones are struggling with addiction  why the prosecution went into so many excruciating details about the defendants spiral into crack cocaine abuse.

The evidence was personal, it was ugly, and it was overwhelming. It was also absolutely necessary, Wise said. There is no other way to prove the use of drugs or addiction to drugs than through the kind of evidence that you saw.

He noted, accurately, that the judges instructions dont require the Justice Department to prove that Biden used drugs on a specific day, but only that he was actively engaged in drugs around that time.

Recalling key testimony from earlier witnesses, Wise highlighted Bidens ex-girlfriend who testified that she saw him smoking crack in September 2018, less than two weeks before he bought the gun.

Furthermore, he pointed out that Bidens rehab stints shortly before and after buying the firearm speaks to his pattern of drug use around that time.

You could convict on those facts alone, he said.

Its time to end this case, defense says

During his nearly 90-minute closing argument, defense attorney Abbe Lowell forcefully made the case that prosecutors hadnt met the high burden to prove Bidens guilt, pointing to the issue of whether he knowingly violated the law.

Lowell repeatedly said that prosecutors showed no direct evidence that Biden was using illegal drugs during October 2018, when he bought the firearm, comparing their case to a slight-of-hand deception.

Have you ever seen the magicians trick of having you look at this hand, while in the other hand is where the trick is being done? Look at this  and then see that in the hand that matters, there is nothing there, Lowell said, invoking a motif that he raised several times during closing arguments.

In order to reach a guilty verdict, prosecutors need to prove that Biden was conscious and aware of the law and how he was violating it, Lowell argued.

With this very high burden, its time to end this case, Lowell said.

Poking holes in key witness testimony

The defense attorney also said there were serious flaws with the testimony from three of Bidens exes who testified in the case.

Lowell noted that Hallie Biden couldnt remember key details from the day she found Bidens firearm in his truck. Lowell also questioned the veracity of claims from Zoe Kestan  who met Biden at a gentlemans club where she worked  noting the immunity deal she reached with prosecutors beforehand.

Lowell said Kestan met with prosecutors many times to rehearse her testimony  instantly drawing an objection from the special counsels team. Lowell also pointed out that Kestan took many pictures of Biden with drugs when they were together, but none from the critical month when he bought the gun.

Lowell also attacked the prosecutors case as based on suspicion and conjecture, phrases that he repeated many times, perhaps hoping to sow some doubt among the jurors.

There was no actual witness to the drug use in this period of time, Lowell asserted.

Clash over Naomi Bidens testimony

The two sides clashed over the testimony of Naomi Biden, who was called as a defense witness on Friday.

In his closing arguments, Lowell said prosecutors were extraordinarily cruel to Bidens daughter by asking her during their cross-examination if she ever used cocaine. They posed that question while trying to establish that, because she doesnt do drugs, it was likely her father who left crack remnants in their shared truck.

Lowell glared directly at prosecutors as he criticized the prosecutors, raising his voice and banging his fist on the lectern. But after he was done, prosecutors quickly shot back, telling the jury that they believed Naomi Bidens testimony actually hurt her fathers defense.

Who called the defendants daughter as a witness in this case? Not us, prosecutor Derek Hines said during his rebuttal.  And you saw up there on the stand how uncomfortable she was. The anguish sitting there knowing she was testifying as a defense witness, but she had to tell the truth.

He argued that she couldnt vouch for the defendants sobriety throughout that month of October 2018 when he bought the gun because she swore to tell the truth and could be prosecuted if she lied.

Hunter Biden doesnt testify

As last weeks proceedings wrapped up on Friday, Lowell told the judge the defense team was still making the decision over whether their client would testify in his own defense.

That wouldve been an extremely risky move that could have opened the presidents son up to intense and potentially expansive questioning from the special counsel prosecutors.

Ultimately, however, Lowell said Monday that Biden would not testify and instructions to the jury were adjusted to make it clear they arent allowed to hold that decision against him in their deliberations.

The jury will continue its deliberations Tuesday morning.

CNNs Hannah Rabinowitz, Macayla Cook, Paula Reid and Casey Gannon contributed to this report.

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The first meeting of the Preserving Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program Task Force drew a sizable crowd to the Virginia War Memorial. (Graham Moomaw/Virginia Mercury)

Kristen Fenty of Virginia Beach says her daughter Lauren only got one moment of physical proximity to the father she never got a chance to know. It happened when she was a baby, still small enough to be lifted onto her fathers casket.

As a room full of government officials listened Monday, Fenty told the group that her daughter  who was 28 days old in 2006 when her dad, Lt. Col. Joe Fenty, was killed in a helicopter crash  is now 18, preparing to go to college and hoping to eventually go to medical school.

But a tuition waiver program Fenty assumed would help pay for her daughters education, the Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program, has been thrown into limbo due to state leaders controversial efforts to cut the programs growing costs.

Societies that do not share the cost of war topple, Fenty said, adding that she hopes the Virginia General Assembly will right this wrong.

At the first meeting of a bipartisan task force Gov. Glenn Youngkin convened to study the VMSDEP program and its growing financial impact on Virginias public higher education system, Youngkin administration officials and General Assembly members said they were committed to listening to military families and see their well-being as a top policy priority. Fenty was one of several military spouses and veterans selected to serve on the task force, which she called both an honor and an agony.

Over the course of several hours Monday afternoon at the Virginia War Memorial building in Richmond, public officials mostly took a rhetorical beating from military veterans and Gold Star spouses who said they felt betrayed by an insular, out-of-touch political class.

These past two months have shown me the ugly side of Virginias government, said task force member Donna Lewis, a mother of three whose husband was killed in combat in Iraq. Countless senators and delegates we met with said they were told the impact on our families would be minimal.

Lewis said she hoped the task force would be productive, but was skeptical after watching what she called institutional betrayal in its highest form.

General Assembly leaders have pointed to data showing the VMSDEP program, which provides tuition waivers to spouses and children of military members killed or permanently disabled as a result of their service, has grown exponentially over the last five years. With VMSDEP beneficiaries essentially given the opportunity to go to college for free, some Virginia universities have raised concerns that they cant continue absorbing the costs of enrolling a growing number of VMSDEP beneficiaries that dont pay tuition. Those added costs, some policymakers have argued, will ultimately be felt by taxpayers at large or by tuition-paying students who might have less ability to pay than families receiving military benefits.

According to data presented by state officials, VMSDEP participation has grown by nearly 350% over the last five years, jumping from 1,400 students in 2019 to 6,400 in 2023.

The revised program imposes a stricter Virginia residency requirement, prevents the waivers from being used for advanced degrees or a second undergraduate degree and requires participants to first pursue other forms of financial aid and only use VMSDEP for remaining costs.

The attempted trimming of the program enraged military veterans and their families, who have bristled at the idea theyre becoming a burden on public universities that they say dont seem particularly hard up for cash. Supporters of the VMSDEP program also contend its a benefit earned through the sacrifices of adults and children alike and shouldnt be tied to a familys ability to pay like other forms of financial aid. Policymakers attempts to shield current VMSDEP beneficiaries from the changes fell short, the critics argue, by being unclear and leaving many families uncertain about their status.

The General Assembly is already planning to reconvene later this month to undo the changes to the VMSDEP program and take a closer look at its eligibility rules and how they could be reformed. The task force, made up of General Assembly members, cabinet officials, higher education officials, veteran services officials and military families themselves, is supposed to be studying VMSDEP and issuing recommendations for the 2025 legislative session.

You have made numbers come alive, Youngkin Secretary of Education Aimee Guidera told the crowd at the conclusion of Mondays meeting. And thats what matters. And its emotional.

House of Delegates leaders have specified their chamber will return on June 28 and intend to fully reverse the VMSDEP changes. Speaking with reporters after Mondays meeting, House Appropriations Chairman Luke Torian, D-Prince William, said he and others who supported the VMSDEP changes had sincere concerns about the programs growth and were trying to look out for the states best interests.

Obviously, from what were hearing, it went sideways, Torian said. Were going to move forward. Were going to address the concerns.

The plan for the state Senate is less clear, but Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell, D-Fairfax, said the Senate expects to announce more detail later this week.

Senate Finance and Appropriations Chair Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, attended Mondays task force meeting virtually and gave only brief introductory remarks.

There is no stronger supporter of our military families than I am, said Lucas.

The task force was part of Youngkins response to a furor that erupted when the VMSDEP changes were included in a bipartisan budget deal approved on May 13. Though changes to VMSDEP were on the table in the General Assemblys regular session, the final budget deal was mostly crafted behind closed doors and approved quickly.

At the time, both parties were eager to get the overdue budget done and avert the prospect of a government shutdown come July 1. But Youngkin, who signed the budget, and the General Assembly, which passed it by a wide margin, are now under pressure to come back before July 1 to reverse the VMSDEP changes and restore the program to its former state.

The task forces first meeting mostly focused on introductions and taking public comment, almost all of which was infused with indignation at the officials listening from the other side of the table.

Jason Redman, a former U.S. Navy Seal and Old Dominion University graduate who was badly wounded in Iraq, said people signing up for military service are given assurances that, if the worst happens, their loved ones will be taken care of.

Youre saying that it is too hard to sustain this program to families that have buried a loved one for your freedom, Redman said. To warriors who have endured loss of limb, eyesight, function, disfigurement and permanent disability.  This is appalling.

Brian Smith, a military veteran who said he now works as an eighth grade civics teacher, said that during his service he could never make promises to his daughter that he would be there for any particular holiday or birthday. Expecting VMSDEP to cover college costs, he said, was a promise he thought could be kept.

What lesson am I taking back to my eighth graders about government?, he said. Can you help me out with that?

The post At task force meeting, military families rip ugly side of Virginias government appeared first on Virginia Mercury.
Iowa students and supporters rallied at the Iowa State Capitol in Des Moines Jan. 8, 2024, calling for lawmakers to pass gun regulations in the wake of the Perry High School shooting the week before. (Photo by Robin Opsahl/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

Iowa Writers 'Collaborative. Linking Iowa readers and writers.

It has been just over five months since a 17-year-old Perry High School student walked out of a school bathroom and began shooting toward students who were having breakfast before heading to their classes on the morning of Jan. 4, 2024.

The first details about the tragedy had barely started trickling out when the first questions began. And months later, most of those questions remain.

Where did Dylan Butler get the guns he used that day?

Who owned the guns?

Did his parents know he had access to the weapons?

Were there any signs before that morning Butler might be thinking about violence?

Had he been the target of bullying by other students?

These questions, and many others, have been asked and asked again and again by people in and around Perry. That includes parents, grandparents, teachers, other school employees, and countless residents who all are horrified by what occurred in their community.

The Iowa Freedom of Information Council has received phone calls from journalists who have been wrapped up in the shootings since they learned of the events within minutes of the first 911 calls. I have heard concerns of community members  and from a Perry High School teacher who called my office last week.

He was at the school that awful day. He knew the young people and the adults who were shot. He is hungering for information about the findings gathered by detectives from six months of interviews, analysis of social media postings and mobile phone data. And he is exasperated by the refusal of state and local law enforcement officials to share the facts they have gathered and the conclusions they have reached.

Most of all, he wants to know what the investigation has found to ensure everyone learns from this tragedy.

This was the worst mass killings at an Iowa school since 1991. A sixth-grade student and Perry High School Principal Dan Marburger were fatally wounded by Butler. Four other students and two other school employees were wounded in the barrage of bullets.

Butler had taken his own life by the time law officers located him inside the school.

Before that January morning, Iowas worst school shooting occurred in 1991 when Gang Lu, an angry University of Iowa physics student, killed three physics department faculty members, a physics graduate student, an associate vice president of the university and a student working outside the officials office.

School shootings were much less common in the United States in 1991, and scores of questions were asked of university officials and law enforcement investigators by the public and journalists from around the globe.

It should not be surprising, therefore, that parents, teachers, and lots of other Iowans want to know what investigators have learned since Jan. 4 about the events leading to the Perry High School shootings. People want to know what takeaways school administrators and law enforcements officials have gleaned from the investigation, knowledge that might help reduce the likelihood of future tragedies.

Understandably, parents and grandparents, aunts, uncles and neighbors, want to know the details that will help them analyze the events that unfolded at a place occupying such a central role in the community.

Without officials sharing their findings with the public, it is difficult, if not impossible, for people to judge how effectively prepared law enforcement and school officials are to protect students during this era of nearly unfettered access to firearms. Without access to authoritative, accurate information from investigators, people do not know whether the rumors that naturally surface after a tragedy of this magnitude deserve credibility.

Without accurate, authoritative information, people do not know whether officials missed signals that Butler was a danger to himself or his school. People do not know whether he needed closer attention from school officials and law enforcement than he received. And the public also does not know whether reports are accurate that Butler had been the victim of bullying by fellow students.

All of this is important not for purposes of pointing fingers. It is important so communities know when and how they might be able to prevent similar tragedies in their schools.

The Perry High School teacher who called me last week was looking for guidance after the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation turned down his request for information from its investigation. His questions were greeted with a, Sorry, I cant tell you that response. The DCI official told him sharing the findings could inform future potential shooters how they might circumvent safety protocols in place to protect students and school employees.

Often, details about what a criminal investigation found are kept from the public to protect the accused shooters right to a fair trial. It is at trial that many questions about a crime get answered publicly for the first time.

But because Butler took his own life, there will be no criminal charges and no trial. There will be no opportunity for the public to get answers to their questions in that forum.

DCI officials have declined to provide updates on their investigation. The Perry teacher said the DCI official was noncommittal on whether even a summary of the agencys investigation will be shared with the public.

No one wants to jeopardize the future safety of students and school employees. No one wants to provide a blueprint for a future school shooting to someone who might be contemplating such horrific action.

But there must be some middle ground between releasing every detail from an investigation and releasing no information. That is not how government should treat the public and worried parents and relatives of Iowa school kids.

Randy Evans is a member of the Iowa Writers Collaborative and his columns may be found on his blog, Stray Thoughts.

Editors note: Please consider subscribing to the collaborative and the authors blogs to support their work.

The post Teachers, parents, the public still want answers about the Perry school shooting appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
Teen accused of breaking into employee cars at fire station

MEMPHIS, Tenn.  A teenager was taken into custody for allegedly breaking into cars at a Memphis Fire station in North Memphis.

Jordan Freeman, 18, is charged with two counts of Burglary of a Motor Vehicle, four counts of Attempted Burglary of a Motor Vehicle and Aggravated Robbery. His bond was set at $50,000.

On June 10, Memphis Police responded to a burglary in the 2200 block of Chelsea Avenue, Memphis Fire Station #19.

Reports state that two suspects, including Jordan Freeman, used a ladder to jump the fence and enter the parking lot.

South Memphis intersection targeted by crime operation

Officers saw two males inside vehicles belonging to Memphis Fire employees  a 2015 Chevy Silverado and a 2017 Chevy Silverado. They also tried to enter four other cars but were unsuccessful.

The suspects fled the scene on foot and were taken into custody while on Peres Avenue.

Once in custody, Freeman stated he did the crime while being armed with a gun stolen during a robbery that had taken place on June 4.

Freeman and another man allegedly walked up to the victim and took his weapon on North Watkins Street.

TN Lawmaker wants special prosecutor after Shelby County DA agrees to stop prosecuting aggravated prostitution

Jordan Freeman is set to appear in court 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 WREG.com.
Teen Daughter of Tennessee Cop Found Safe After Walking Out of Hospital, Biological Mom Arrested

Police announced on Tuesday, June 11, that Abigail Kate Velez had been found safe

Pensacola Police Abigail Kate Velez

A Tennessee teen who went missing in Florida last week has been found safe, according to the Pensacola Police Department.

Abigail Kate Velez, the 16-year-old daughter of a Tennessee police officer, disappeared after she left a Florida hospital voluntarily last week, authorities previously said.

Velez was reported missing on Thursday, June 6, the Pensacola Police Department shared in a post on X (formerly known as Twitter).

Velez left on her own accord from the Baptist Hospital, Mike Wood, public information officer for the Pensacola Police Department, tells PEOPLE. According to Wood, she was not believed to be in any danger.

Related: Police Can't Verify Woman's Claims to Be Missing Cherrie Mahan, Say Fingerprints Arent a Match

The teen was taken to the hospital by her father for an unknown reason, ABC affiliate WATE reported.

A local non-profit foundation for law enforcement and their families said in a post on Facebook that the dad is a state police officer and that they were on vacation in Pensacola.

Wood noted that authorities are continuing to look for her across the state.

Related: Missing Student Riley Strain Seen Stumbling on Surveillance Video Night He Went Missing

Before the teen was found, Nancy Barger, Velez's aunt, shared a message, begging her niece to come home, WATE reported.

Abby, honey, if you see this we are all looking for you and we love you dearly and your mom and dad are worried to death and so are your brothers, so just try to reach out to anyone of us if you can, Barger said.

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.



On Tuesday, June 11, police announced that Velez had been located and was safe.

In a subsequent update, police announced that Crystal D. Hornsby, the teen's biological mom, had been arrested on accusations of "interference with child custody."

"Hornsby was charged based on a warrant taken out by Pensacola Police Investigators, who determined Hornsby assisted Velez as she traveled from Pensacola to St. Petersburg," according to police.

She is currently being held in Pinellas County Jail, according to jail records. Additional information was not immediately available.

The Pinellas County Jail tells PEOPLE that Hornsby does not have a public defender yet.



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The first state chapter of Chamber of Mothers aims to keep support for children and families on the political agenda. Affordable child care and paid family leave are two priorities for the group. (Annmarie Timmins | New Hampshire Bulletin)

Two years ago, the House speaker appointed a special committee to solve or at least mitigate the child care crisis in New Hampshire. Theres disagreement among lawmakers and child care advocates about its success.

Committee members have sent a few bills to the governor seeking to tweak staffing ratios to allow workers to take additional children. Others would ease zoning requirements for in-home providers and allow a child to remain in child care for more than 13 hours a day in some situations. One would provide supplemental scholarship funding for children experiencing developmental delays.

Teeny tiny steps was how Rep. Mary Jane Wallner, a Concord Democrat on the committee, described the legislative efforts. Some of those steps concern her, she said. Wallner, who ran a day care for many years, worries expanding ratios are a step backward if they mean each child will get less care.

Thats not to say there hasnt been significant attention or other investments in addressing the child care crisis since the pandemic put the shortage of affordable quality care on lawmakers radar.

The state has invested nearly $160 million in pandemic assistance, most of it federal dollars, to keep child care providers afloat. Last year, in what advocates called one of the Legislatures biggest investments, the Senate put $15 million in the budget to vastly increase income thresholds for the states child care scholarship to make more families eligible. This year, lawmakers supported a bill that would spend $1 million to increase child care workers eligibility for the same scholarship.

Meanwhile, as advocates and lawmakers await the governors action on pending bills, they are looking ahead to the fall elections and next years budget process with hopes of achieving much more next year.

Heres what to know about the child care landscape in New Hampshire.

Child care remains incredibly expensive and hard to find.

Last year, the average annual cost of center-based child care for an infant and 4-year-old was $31,868, a 12.5 percent increase from the prior year, according to New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institutes recent report, The Fragile Economics of the Child Care Sector.

For married couples earning the median income, $145,289, that would have reflected 20 percent of their annual household income, the report said. Using the same census data, the institute determined that would have equaled 41 percent of annual income for a single man and 61 percent for a single woman.

Thats far above the 7 percent of annual income the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services deems affordable.

Add the states high housing costs, and many young Granite State families may effectively have to choose between buying a home or having a child, the NHFPI report said.

Meanwhile, the pre-pandemic shortage of child care slots continues.

The analysis found that between 2018 and 2022, New Hampshire saw an average annual shortage of about 8,400 slots.

Ratio changes are controversial.

Ross Berry of Weare, a Republican who until recently served in the House and chaired that chambers Special Committee on Childcare, believed tweaking ratios would have an immediate and significant effect.

Lawmakers passed two bills doing that.

One would allow in-home providers to care for four children in addition to their own kids; the current limit is three. The other would slightly increase the number of infants and toddlers allowed in a child care classroom based on staffing.

Berry, who runs a child care center in Epsom with his wife, describes it as a math solution.

If there are 330 licensed providers (in the state) and we can now take two kids in a demographic that need it most, we just created 660 new slots throughout the state without spending a single dollar in taxpayer money, he said. Wed see immediate results.

Berry acknowledged the results would likely be more modest because not all child care centers would have the space or staff to qualify. And based on the feedback lawmakers got, many providers wouldnt participate.

Michele Merritt, president of the advocacy group New Futures, was among those who urged the committee to defeat the bill, saying providers opposed it.

The opinion of these individuals could not have been more clear  addressing staffing ratios is not the solution, she wrote. It would burden already burnt-out staff, create unsafe environments for children, and is simply irresponsible.

Rebecca Woitkowski, the child and family policy director for the organization, said last week child care advocates will be watching to see how the bill is implemented if the governor signs it. Like Wallner, Woitkowski sees both bills as small changes that wont solve the child care crisis.

I dont think there will be a ton of centers that get a waiver (to expand class size), she said. We have to do a lot more in the state overall to strengthen our child care system.

More people are eligible for more generous assistance.

The most significant child care legislation came last year, not this year, said Jackie Cowell, executive director of the advocacy group Early Learning NH.

Lawmakers included $15 million in the budget to significantly expand the states child care scholarship program. Cowell called it transformational. Shes worried, however, that many parents who earned too much to qualify in prior years dont know they might be eligible now.

Until the eligibility changes took effect in January, a family of three could earn no more than $65,000 a year to be eligible. That limit now is $89,100. And families who receive a child care scholarship will pay no more than 7 percent of their gross income on child care.

People, honestly, before the change, could easily spend 20 to 30 percent of their gross income on child care, Cowell said. Sometimes more than half of take-home pay was for child care.

Parents must submit an application through the states general assistance portal, NH Easy, though it is difficult to find information about the program on the site. Parents can also complete a paper application or apply at their local Department of Health and Human Services office.

Advocates want child care on the ballot.

Until her friends began having children, Tara Ryan, of Durham, thought all parents got three months of paid parental leave because its common in the technology field she and her husband were working in.

Now a mother herself, Ryan has discovered how untrue that is  and how hard it is to find affordable child care. She launched the states first chapter of Chamber of Mothers in Portsmouth last month determined to change that. Ryans message was written on their T-shirt: Vote like a mother.

The group is still determining whether it will take up paid family leave, affordable child care, or material health supports first. The goal is to make parents and children a key part of the narrative and legislative agenda.

We are just moms. We dont have the political connections, Ryan said. My story is not the only one to tell. There are so many stories.

Her effort wont be the only one.

Save the Children Action Network, based in Washington, D.C., recently hosted forums with the four gubernatorial candidates focused on the child care crisis. New Futures and Early Learning NH plan to continue their advocacy, too. Wallner hopes to continue her work on the House Special Committee on Childcare, too.

I was happy to see this year that we were able to demystify that access to child care is not just a mothers issue, said Woitkowski, of New Futures. That its something the state should invest in because its a common good and its important for child health and development, and really important to the economy of the state.

Cowell, of Early Learning NH, intends to make that a statewide conversation.

One of the priorities for the future is to really work together with the Legislature, business community, policy makers, moms and dads  to find another funding source or sources to really raise the compensation for the child care field, she said. It cant just be on the back of the families that need them.

The post After a year of teeny tiny steps, advocates aim for bigger child care fixes appeared first on New Hampshire Bulletin.
The David and Nicole Tepper Foundation is giving $3 million to Nourish Up, a nonprofit that fights food insecurity across Mecklenburg County.

The donation is the largest in Nourish Ups history and will go toward its newest facility, known as the Hunger Hub. The 90,000-square-foot space holds a packing center for volunteers, a food pantry and five coolers and freezers for storing perishable items.

Nicole Tepper described the building and project as the future for food banks.

Its so innovative, Tepper said in an interview Tuesday at the site, located at 901 Carrier Drive. I really hope that other places come and people come and see what (Nourish Up) has done here, and how this building is going to operate and what its going to do for the community.

Nourish Up, formerly Loaves & Fishes/Friendship Trays, moved into the Hunger Hub in April with the hope of expanding its nutritional programs and increasing advocacy across the county. The organization began fundraising in 2022 to meet its $22.8 million goal for the project.

With the donation from the foundation, Nourish Up is $3 million away from reaching it.

Volunteers pack bags of groceries at the new Nourish Up warehouse in Charlotte on Tuesday, June 11, 2024. The Tepper Foundation is donating $3 million to Nourish Up.

David and Nicole Tepper own the Carolina Panthers; he is chairman and she is chief administrative officer.

Nourish Up CEO Tina Postel said she was surprised and overjoyed when seeing the amount from the foundation. For her, the opening of the Hunger Hub has been a lump in the throat moment.

Postel said the space will also allow Nourish Ups partners to come to the facility and store food.

Every day that I come to work, I know that theres going to be hundreds of families that get to sit around a dining room table tonight and break bread with one another because we continue to do the work that we do, Postel said.

The Hunger Hub will host cooking classes in its kitchens and will be the site for Nourish Ups Meals on Wheels kitchen, which brings meals to those who are unable to prepare them due to an illness or a mobility limitation.

Meals on Wheels feeds hundreds of people every week, but the Hunger Hub has allowed the organization to expand its working space and reach. Postel said they are expecting to feed 2,500 families a week when the program becomes fully operational on site.

Some of the people Nourish Up feeds are employed families that dont make enough money to afford more than their rent, Postel said. And 68% of the people served have one or more chronic diseases.

This hub can dramatically move the needle in our overall communitys health, Postel said. We want to make sure that everyone, regardless of their ability to pay, has access to fresh, healthy food because food is medicine.

About 4,000 volunteers contribute to Nourish Ups programs every year, Postel said. She hopes the new building brings forward a whole new wave of people interested in serving their community.

Tina Postel, CEO of Nourish Up, right, gives Nicole Tepper a tour of the new Nourish Up warehouse in Charlotte on Tuesday, June 11, 2024. The Tepper Foundation is donating $3 million to Nourish Up.

For Nicole Tepper, the opportunity is one of growth. Shes confident the new facility will help build relationships, while fulfilling Nourish Ups mission.

You always hope to see that we dont need to feed so many people  thats the goal  to see people not be hungry. But thats not realistic, Tepper said. If the insecurities dont go away, were able to provide.

For more information on volunteer opportunities or food programs, visit Nourishs Ups website.
As part of the settlement, Johnson & Johnson agreed to stop producing and selling baby powder products containing talc in the U.S.

Texas will receive $61.5 million as part of a $700 million nationwide settlement against Johnson & Johnson over baby powder safety claims, Attorney General Ken Paxton announced Tuesday.

The settlement resolves allegations from Paxton and 42 other attorneys general that the pharmaceutical industry giant intentionally misled customers about the safety and purity of baby powder and baby powder products containing talc. As part of the lawsuit settlement, Johnson & Johnson has also agreed to stop producing and selling these products in the U.S.

The company sold talc products for more than 100 years but ceased to do so in the U.S. and globally in 2023, after the coalition of 42 states and Washington, D.C., began its investigation. The coalition found that the company failed to disclose that the talc contained asbestos and that asbestos is harmful and can lead to cancer.

More: Johnson & Johnson marketed baby powder to Black women amid cancer concerns, lawsuit says

Johnson & Johnson baby powder is now largely made from corn starch rather than talc. The company did not admit guilt as part of the settlement.

Attorneys general for Texas, Florida and North Carolina led the multistate litigation, in which judicial approval of the settlement deal is still pending. The settlement was announced in January.

We have reached a landmark settlement with Johnson & Johnson ensuring that the company will abide by the law and take effective steps to protect consumers from potentially hazardous ingredients, Paxton said in a statement Tuesday afternoon. Im proud to lead this coalition of 43 attorneys general to stand up for consumers health and truth in marketing.

The talcum powder lawsuit was joined by Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

"This is a major advancement for consumer product safety," Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody wrote in a statement Tuesday.

Johnson & Johnson still faces tens of thousands of individual lawsuits alleging that talc-containing products led consumers to develop ovarian cancer, mesothelioma and other severe health issues, according to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

A class action suit that accuses the company of having hidden the dangers of talc products from shareholders is also pending.

Johnson & Johnson has made several attempts to resolve the cases by placing a subsidiary that it created to contain its talc-related liabilities into bankruptcy, Reuters reported, with as much as $11 billion of company money earmarked for potential payments, but courts have not approved these efforts.

"The Company continues to pursue several paths to achieve a comprehensive and final resolution of the talc litigation," Erik Haas, Johnson & Johnson worldwide vice president of litigation, wrote in an email statement Tuesday. "We will continue to address the claims of those who do not want to participate in our contemplated consensual bankruptcy resolution through litigation or settlement.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas to get $61.5 million in baby powder lawsuit settlement
Texas and Montana are suing the Biden administration over a new rule that would prohibit state Medicaid programs from banning gender-affirming care.

The lawsuit from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) and Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen (R), filed Monday, asks a federal court to vacate a sweeping final rule aimed at bolstering health care protections against discrimination for gay and transgender people.

Through a sweeping new rule promulgated under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), those who do not conform to the Biden Administrations gender-ideology regime stand to lose all federal healthcare funds, including Medicaid and Medicare dollars, the lawsuit states.

The lawsuit argues the rule is an unconstitutional attempt to override state law, and that the ACA never authorized the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) or any government agency to compel institutions to perform or pay for gender-affirming treatment.

The complaint centers on Section 1557 of the ACA, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age and disability in certain health programs and activities.

Section 1557 has been subject to a wave of litigation in the past decade, as advocacy groups and lawmakers have fought over how the policy should be interpreted.

The Obama-era rule interpreted sex nondiscrimination protections to include gender identity and sex stereotyping (among other identities) but not sexual orientation. The Trump administration removed those protections, but the Biden administration then moved to reinstate and expand them by adding sexual orientation.

The Biden administrations final rule, which was released at the end of April, said organizations receiving federal health funding and health insurers that do business through government plans cannot refuse to provide gender-affirming care services that would be provided to an individual for other purposes.

In addition, the rule categorically prohibited exclusions of gender-affirming care.

For example, if a covered entity would perform a hysterectomy for the purpose of treating uterine cancer, it must also be willing to remove a healthy uterus for the purpose of facilitating a gender transition.

The Biden administration made it clear in the rule that federal protections for religious freedom and conscience still apply. Those protections say health providers are not engaging in discrimination if they decline to provide abortion or any other care if it conflicts with a sincerely-held belief.

But the rule makes clear that Section 1557 preempts state laws that prohibit access to gender-affirming care.

The rule will wreak financial havoc on Montanas medical system as the state receives around two-billion dollars in federal financial aid administered by HHS every year. This new rule places unlawful strings on that aid, penalizing Montana for attempting to protect its citizens from harmful medical procedures and for declining to insure those procedures in its health plans, Knudsen 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 The Hill.
AUSTIN (Nexstar)  The Texas Senates Committee on Border Security heard testimony from state and local officials regarding their border enforcement efforts Tuesday morning, part of the upper chambers work to monitor the implementation of new laws before the next legislative session begins in January.

Among key questions on current priorities and the efficacy of recent laws, senators probed the sustainability of Operation Lone Star  Texas unilateral efforts to patrol the border, fortify barriers, and station state troops in what they describe as negligence from the Biden administration. The operation has cost more than $11 billion.

If we maintain current funding and the administration in Washington does not change, Director, how long can we do this, State Sen. Brian Birdwell, the chair of the Senate Border Security Committee, asked DPS Director Steve McCraw.

Well do it as long as were instructed to do, plain and simple, McCraw responded.

Director McCraw told Nexstar after his testimony that his department will need to hire more troopers in order to keep up with the combined demand of Operation Lone Star and typical public safety needs elsewhere in the state.

The bottom line is, everywhere you put a trooper, its safer. And everywhere you take a trooper from is going to be less safe its Law Enforcement Physics 101, he said. With an ever-growing state 287,000 miles of area to cover and 313,000 miles of roadway, we need more troopers. We need more special agents and we need more Texas Rangers.

A lot of it has to do with money, Sen. Birdwell said. He alluded to the possibility of a reduction in the state budget, at which point the legislature will have some very difficult decisions as it relates to Operation Lone Star. The implication: inevitably, lawmakers will either need to scale back the operation or find the money from other areas.

Jessie Fuentes, an Eagle Pass native who sued Gov. Abbott last year over the states buoy barriers in the Rio Grande, testified against the states actions.

Its a failed policy. And at what cost? We dont have access to our park. Now, theres an 80 acre military base there, Fuentes told Nexstar. Theres millions of dollars being invested, but Id rather have it spent on infrastructure. Id rather spend on health care, on education, on learning institutions, instead of housing soldiers.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick tasked the committee of three Republicans and two Democrats with three broad interim charges:

Securing the Texas-Mexico Border: Reviewing state and local agencies participation in border security, examining the impact of organized crime, and making recommendations to combat criminal enterprises.

Support for Border Security Personnel: Examining how Operation Lone Star has impacted the wellbeing of DPS troopers and National Guard members stationed on the border.

Monitor specific legislation passed in the 88th legislature last year, including the establishment of a border operations training program for local police and an initiative to compensate property owners for damage caused by criminal activity relating to the border.

The committee will meet again to review the implementation of more legislation and consider recommendations for next session, which will begin in January.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
LILONGWE, June 11 (Xinhua) -- Vice President of Malawi Saulos Chilima, along with nine other individuals who were on board a military aircraft, have been confirmed deceased after the aircraft went missing on Monday morning, President Lazarus Chakwera announced on Tuesday.

Chilima was traveling to a funeral of the country's former Attorney General and Minister of Justice Ralph Kasambara, who was found dead in a room at a lodge in Lilongwe, the capital of Malawi, Friday, and his body was buried Monday at his home village in Nkhata Bay, a few kilometers from Mzuzu Airport.

The plane failed to make its scheduled landing at Mzuzu Airport at 10:02 a.m. (0802 GMT) on Monday, according to the country's Secretary to the President and Cabinet Colleen Zamba. 
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks during the Texas GOP Convention in San Antonio on Thursday, May 23, 2024. Credit: Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribune

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has sued the Biden administration over a new federal rule that he says would require states to pay for gender care procedures for transgender people through their Medicaid programs and require health care providers to perform them.

This is yet another example of Joe Biden trying to sidestep the Constitution and use agency rulemaking to advance unpopular, unlawful, and destructive policies, Paxton wrote in a press release.

At issue is a new Biden administration rule regarding a section of the Affordable Care Act that pertains to nondiscrimination. The section particularly bans discrimination based on gender.

In 2016, the Obama Administration interpreted it to protect against gender identity and sex stereotyping but not sexual orientation. Four years later, the Trump administration didnt change the section but suggested it would interpret sex to mean only sex assigned at birth.

But the Biden administration in March issued rules that said the protections apply to gender identity and sexual orientation.The administration, through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, included specific protections for transgender people, including saying that providers cant deny transition care that would be provided to other people for other purposes. It does, however, allow for some providers to make religious freedom claims.

Paxtons office argued in a press release that the rule is a plainly unconstitutional attempt to override state law." He claims the health care law also doesnt authorizeand has never authorizedthe federal government to compel anyone to perform or pay for these procedures.

Paxton has asked the federal court for injunctive relief, which would pause the rule from being implemented.

The state of Montana is also suing the Biden administration over this rule.

The lawsuit drew immediate outrage from one LGBTQ rights group, Equality Texas, which said that transgender people have traditionally been denied care by Medicaid for care related to gender dysphoria. The Biden administration rule, the group estimated, would help tens of thousands of Texans.

Health care for transgender adults remains legal in the state of Texas," said Ricardo Martinez, CEO of the group. "And while Ken Paxton seems to have little regard for medical freedom, its essential that trans adults who use Medicaid have access to vital care."

Just in: Former U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyoming; U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pennsylvania; and Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt will take the stage at The Texas Tribune Festival, Sept. 57 in downtown Austin. Buy tickets today!
Texas Tech President Lawrence Schovanec remained hospitalized Tuesday but had good prospects to make a full recovery after he was hospitalized following a medical emergency Monday, according to the university.

In a statement released about 7 p.m. Monday by the Texas Tech University System, Chancellor Dr. Tedd Mitchell announced that Schovanec was taken to a Lubbock hospital for evaluation and treatment and was in good spirits as of Monday evening. The nature of the medical emergency was not immediately clear.

Texas Tech president Lawrence Schovanec speaks during the Red Raider Club kickoff luncheon, Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023, at the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center.

Our entire Texas Tech University System is keeping President Schovanec and his family in our thoughts and prayers," read Mitchell's statement. "I am working closely with University leadership and will continue to provide updates as they become available.

On Tuesday afternoon, Mitchell released another statement to the TTU community stating that Schovanec "continues to be in stable condition, and the prospect of a full recovery looks promising."

The chancellor further stated that they system's administration is working with the Office of the Presidents' staff to ensure Schovanec focuses on his health for the remainder of the week.

"We are thankful for those who helped respond and for the exceptional care he continues to receive," reads Mitchell's statement. "We appreciate the outpouring of support and look forward to sharing more updates on his positive progress."

Who is President Lawrence Schovanec?

Prior to becoming president, Schovanec was a professor in the math department at Tech starting in 1982. He advanced through the ranks at Tech, being named chair of the math department in 1998 and serving as interim dean for two years at the College of Arts & Sciences starting in 2008.

Thereafter, Schovanec served as the provost, the universitys most senior academic officer, in 2013 and served as interim president from 2012 to 2013. He was ultimately appointed to serve as the universitys 17th president in 2016.

During his tenure, Schovanec led the university to receive its designation as a Hispanic-Serving Institute by the U.S. Department of Education and established the state's first school of veterinary medicine in over a century in 2019.

In 2020, Schovenec guided the university through a pandemic while overseeing enrollment for the university exceeding 40,000 students. Most recently, Schovanec has overseen the increase of federal research expenditures at the university, reaffirming the institution's Very High Research Activity status with the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.

Dig Deeper: Texas Tech president provides updates on state of the university

Schovanec helped make history by working with the Texas State Legislature to establish the new Texas University Fund, a nearly $4 billion permanent endowment through the state to help fund research opportunities at several universities throughout Texas. Texas Tech was a founding member of the TUF, receiving about $44 million in its first year.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Texas Tech President Schovanec hospitalized after medical emergency
THCa looks, smells and smokes like THC. Texas might close the loophole that makes it legal

Cannabis consumption across the country is on the rise, and so too is the number of states that have legalized the substance to varying degrees. From Colorado to Florida, marijuana is accessible in at least some ways. However, in Texas, it is still banned outside of a very limited compassionate use program that permits low-THC cannabis to treat certain medical conditions.

That hasnt stopped retailers who are looking to capitalize on the market from finding loopholes in legislation, such as selling hemp-derived THCa products.

Now the Texas Legislature is moving to close some of these loopholes, which could alter the cannabis industry in the state dramatically. With a decision yet to come down, here is everything you need to know about the status of legalization and popular loopholes such as THCa:

More: Marijuana laws in Texas are confusing. Here's a guide to know what is and isn't legal

Employee Aleida Hernandez talks about delta-9 gummies for sale at Austinite Cannabis Co. in April. Legal products that are marketed as delta-9 in Texas are hemp-derived cannabinoids with less than 0.3 percent THC.

What is THCa?

THCa, or tetrahydrocannabinolic acid, is in many ways similar to the more commonly known THC products that are illegal in Texas.

THCa has a marginal difference in its chemical structure from regular THC, or delta-9, which is commonly known as marijuana, cannabis or weed. (Legal products that are marketed as delta-9 in Texas are hemp-derived cannabinoids with less than 0.3 percent THC.)

The only difference between THCa and delta-9 is the location of a double bond on the eighth carbon versus the ninth.

Because of the stark similarities between the two products it is possible to obtain a high from THCa. Once exposed to heat, THCa can transform into THC.

CBD gummies are on display at Austinite Cannabis Co. Edibles are a popular alternative to smoking.

Is THCa legal in Texas?

Despite its similarities to THC and ability to transform into THC, the THCa flower is legal in its natural form because it is not psychoactive in that form.

However, smoking THCa is a massive gray area within the Texas Farm Bill because, technically, once it is turned into THC, it should be illegal. Currently, there are no stipulations accounting for the modification of THCa into THC in the bill. Because of this, it is undetermined whether smoking THCa is truly illegal.

Within this gray area, sales of THCa have skyrocketed. According to a recent report from cannabis analytics firm Brightfield Group, the market for delta-8 THC and other hemp-derived cannabinoids has increased nearly 1,300% from $200.5 million in sales in 2020 to nearly $2.8 billion in 2023.

What is the Texas Legislature discussing?

Renewed interest in amending the ever-changing Texas Farm Bill came after attorneys general across the U.S. sent a letter to congressional agriculture committees, urging them to more specifically define hemp products in the next federal farm bill.

More: House excludes hemp from 2024 Farm Bill draft. What does this mean for delta-8 in Texas?

As Congress prepares to embark on a new five-year reauthorization of the Farm Bill, we strongly urge your committees to address the glaring vagueness created in the 2018 Farm Bill that has led to the proliferation of intoxicating hemp products across the nation and challenges to the ability for states and localities to respond to the resulting health and safety crisis," the letter states.

At home in Texas, state officials are exploring ways to tighten restrictions on intoxicating hemp products. While all hemp-derived products, including delta-8 and delta-9 edibles, are up for discussion, the position of THCa products designed to be smoked seems particularly precarious.

In a recent session, state Sen. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock, expressed his frustration with the previous Texas Farm Bill and the budding use of the back doors it created.

"When I passed that, I said, 'If you guys screw this up by being cute and getting people high from it, there will be consequences,' and we've tried for several sessions to come up with the magic formula," Perry said. "I'm disappointed, but I'm not surprised that we are here today."

Aleida Hernandez shows THCa joints for sale at Austinite Cannabis Co. The position of THCa products designed to be smoked seems particularly precarious.

What would a ban on THCa mean in Texas?

Because of this loophole, many Texas businesses have opened with a THCa-driven focus, marketing themselves as smoke shops. According to The Texas Tribune, the total number of registered retailers of hemp-derived products jumped from 1,948 in 2020 to more than 7,700 active ones as of last month.

Experts in the field have been blunt about what regulation could mean. Many of these new businesses, which have high hopes for the product, would be dramatically altered by a ban on THCa because it has a large number of sales.

Estella Castro, a cannabis industry veteran and co-founder of Austinite Cannabis Co., said many new businesses in the industry might lack the ability to adapt to these changes because of how much they have committed to THCa.

"We have been doing this for years and have learned to adapt to all kinds of changes," she said. "I'm worried about the businesses that don't know what that is like and have gone all in on THCa  a change like this could really hurt them.

Beck Andrew Salgado covers trending topics in the Austin business ecosystem for the American-Statesman. To share additional tips or insights with Salgado, email Bsalgado@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Weed is illegal in Texas, but THCa isn't  thanks to legal loopholes
Theranos Founder Elizabeth Holmes Appealing Her Fraud Conviction in Federal Court Bid For New Trial

Elizabeth Holmes is currently serving an 11-year sentence

Justin Sullivan/Getty Elizabeth Holmes

Convicted fraudster Elizabeth Holmes is appealing her conviction in federal court, hoping to win a new trial.

Holmes, who is currently serving a prison sentence in Texas, was convicted in 2022 of defrauding investors in Theranos, a blood-testing company she founded in 2003.

Attorneys for Holmes were expected to appear in court in San Francisco on Tuesday, June 11, according to reports from CNN, ABC News and NBC Bay Area.

Her lawyers previously suggested that prosecutors did not prove that Holmes had misled investors.

Substantial evidence showed that Holmes and Theranos scientists believed in good faith that Theranos had developed technology that could accurately run virtually any blood test, attorneys for Holmes said in a November filing reviewed by PEOPLE. And this is what Holmes told investors.

Related: Elizabeth Holmes Is Seen for the First Time Since Beginning Her 11 Year Prison Sentence

The filing claimed there were several potential issues with the trial, including a judges ruling that Holmes could not use the testimony of Sunny Balwani, her former boyfriend and business partner who was also convicted of fraud, in her own defense.

Following her 2022 conviction, Holmes was sentenced to over 11 years in prison, and began serving her time last year. She was convicted of three counts of wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Elizabeth Holmes

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She is serving her sentence at Federal Prison Camp Bryan, a minimum-security facility in Bryan, Texas.

Holmes appeal is being heard by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Balwani, who was convicted on 12 total counts is also appealing, NBC reported.

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Read the original article on People.
EDEN, Wis. (WFRV)  Authorities in Fond du Lac County were able to apprehend four suspects who allegedly broke into multiple vehicles in a mobile home community.

According to the Fond du Lac County Sheriffs Office, on June 11 around 1:15 a.m., a report came in of people entering vehicles in the Manor Hill Manufacture Home Community. A description of one suspect was given to officials.

Deputies searched the area, and while at the scene a second report from another resident stated that people were entering vehicles. When authorities checked the area, they reportedly heard and saw multiple people running away.

25-year-old Wisconsin man tells deputy he didnt want to get his vehicle towed, arrested for 5th OWI & drug charges

A small unmanned aerial system team used a drone with thermal capabilities to search the area. Four suspects were found using thermal imaging concealed in tall grass.

Deputies were directed to the subjects and they were detained without incident. The release says that evidence was recovered from the subjects that were consistent with vehicle entries and thefts.

Additionally, a vehicle was found nearby and it was determined that it was associated with the suspects and it was stolen from Fond du Lac.

The four suspects, identified as men from Fond du Lac were booked into the Fond du Lac County Jail on multiple counts.

Police update number of people injured in Wisconsin rooftop shooting to 12

Anyone with information or video surveillance related to the incident is asked to call 920-906-4664 extension 9084.

No additional details were released.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton.
Thieves may have used bucket truck to reach overhead cable as copper wire thefts spike

A lift or bucket truck may have been the way creative thieves were able to reach an overhead cable to steal the copper wire inside.

Officials with Lumen Technologies and CenturyLink say the damage is part of a recent spike in copper wire thefts in the Eugene, Ore., area. In the last two weeks, theres been more than 30 copper wire thefts there.

Such thefts can damage 911 systems, keeping people from reaching emergency services.

Officials say tactics used by the thieves have become more imaginative as the price of copper went up dramatically in the last few years. Some crooks have even climbed poles to steal the wire.

The damage from the thefts costs hundreds of thousands of dollars to repair each year.

Over the years and recently, Western Washington has also had many such thefts.

In May, we spoke with a homeowner in Maple Valley who has a CenturyLink line on his property. Thieves have struck there twice.

The damage caused some customers ability to communicate to be cut off because their cell service is either poor or non-existent.

In Sumner earlier this year, cables on newly-installed electric vehicle charging stations were clipped two times within a month for the valuable copper wire inside.
Think you heard a panther in MS? Spoiler alert: It was probably something else

So, you think you heard a panther screaming in the night. Well, you're not alone. If you spend much time scrolling through social media posts centered around wildlife in Mississippi, you'll find others making the same claim.

However, it's unlikely those screams were made by panthers. Instead, it could be any number of other animals.

According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission, Florida panthers once roamed Mississippi. In fact, they once ranged as far north as South Carolina and as far west as Arkansas.

According to the Mississippi Encyclopedia, the Choctaw language suggests panthers were once here. Copiah County takes its name from a Choctaw word meaning "calling panther."

It's a different story these days.

There are many claims of hearing panthers in Mississippi, but those sounds were most likely something else.

No real evidence of panthers in Mississippi

Panther sightings have been confirmed in neighboring Arkansas, Louisiana and Tennessee, but not in Mississippi. That lack of evidence comes despite thousands of trail cameras in the outdoors and wild hog hunters using thermal and night vision optics at night.

"There should be a preponderance of evidence that panthers are on the landscape," said Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks' Nuisance Species Program biologist Martin Coker. "There's no conclusive evidence at this time."

Coker said there's always a chance a panther could make its way into Mississippi, but the lack of evidence suggests otherwise at this time. So, what was that blood-curdling sound you heard or heard about?

Mississippi venomous snakes: How to identify them and what to do, and not do, if bitten

Plenty of animals make sounds in the night

"There's 20 to 30 animals that are related to nocturnal vocalizations," Coker said. "There's a lot of different explanations besides it being an actual panther."

Some examples could be foxes, barn owls or bobcats, all of which can startle with their calls. Coker said it could also be an animal in distress such as a rabbit being attacked by a predator such as a coyote.

"It's a novel experience," Coker said. "Most people have never heard a rabbit die because of predation."

So, what was that sound that made your skin crawl? Here are a few examples including the sound of a panther, also known as puma, cougar and mountain lion.

More: Is there a prehistoric, 60-foot whale at Barnett Reservoir? Yes, some of it is.

What a fox sounds like

What a barn owl sounds like

What a bobcat sounds like

What a rabbit in distress sounds like

This is not an actual rabbit in distress. It's a call used to mimic the sound and attract predators for hunting purposes.

What a panther sounds like

Do you have a story idea? Contact Brian Broom at 601-961-7225 or bbroom@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Panther screams in Mississippi are likely something else
Crista Eggers, left, the campaign coordinator for Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana, accepts petitions from a volunteer, Samantha Chavez of Omaha, in June 2022. If the group is successful in its bid, Nebraska will join Florida and South Dakota in asking voters this fall whether to legalize some marijuana use. Paul Hammel/Nebraska Examiner

Nebraskan Crista Eggers is running up against a July 3 deadline. If she can get at least 87,000 names onto each of two petitions before then, she can put an initiative on the states November ballot that would legalize pot for medicinal purposes.

The petition effort is personal. Her 9-year-old son, Colton, has epilepsy and severe seizures, and medicinal cannabis can be prescribed to treat such conditions.

Im a caregiver to a child that needs medical cannabis access. Ninety-five percent of our people collecting [signatures] are Nebraskans who know someone who needs access and needs this issue on the ballot, said Eggers, an Omaha resident and the campaign manager for Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana.

If the group is successful, Nebraska will join Florida and South Dakota in asking voters this fall whether to legalize some marijuana use. In Florida and South Dakota, where medical marijuana is already allowed, voters will be asked to legalize adult recreational use.

Thirty-eight states and the District of Columbia allow the medical use of cannabis products, and 24 plus the District of Columbia allow adults to use it recreationally, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Cannabis is still illegal under federal law, but 74% of Americans now live in a state where marijuana is legal for either recreational or medical use according to the Pew Research Center, and 54% live in a place where it is legal for recreational use.

Many states, especially left-leaning ones, have legalized marijuana through legislation, but there are some states where the state legislators still dont want to touch this issue of cannabis legislation, particularly in more conservative parts of the country, said Beau Kilmer, co-director of the RAND Drug Policy Research Center.

Thats why its not a surprise when cannabis issues go through the ballot initiative process, Kilmer said.

In Kansas, where legislative efforts to legalize marijuana have repeatedly foundered since 2021, conservative legislators again this session blocked a measure to legalize medicinal use, with one Republican lawmaker, state Sen. Mike Thompson, saying the substance could cause more suicides and human misery, according to the Kansas City Star.

Kansas is one of the 24 states that dont allow citizen-initiated ballot measures.

But the destigmatizing of marijuana use has advanced so far that even some conservative states have legalized it through legislative action: Since 2020, four of the five states to legalize cannabis for medicinal purposes  Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi and Virginia  have done so through the legislature.

Making it to the ballot

Nebraska is one of only three states  Idaho and Kansas are the others  where marijuana and all cannabis products, including CBD products, are illegal.

Nebraska legislators have shown little interest in changing course, Eggers said.

To circumvent that legislative opposition, she needs signatures from 7% of the states 1.2 million voters to put the question on the ballot. She also needs signatures from 5% of registered voters from at least 38 of Nebraskas 93 counties. Along with Eggers, some 25 paid staff and 200 volunteers are helping with the effort.

Eggers and her group came close to getting a cannabis measure on the ballot in 2020, after collecting 200,000 signatures. However, the states Supreme Court invalidated the measure, saying that the petition violated the states single-subject rule for ballot initiatives.

The Supreme Court ruled that the petition would have required changes in several state laws, including those regarding possession, public use and insurance coverage.

A second attempt in 2022 was gathering steam when a major donor died in a plane crash that year.

A lot of money goes into collecting signatures, from filling up peoples gas so they can go county to county, printing petitions and the amount of manpower that goes into gathering signatures, Eggers said. The issue isnt support. We have the support. It has truly come down to not having funding to hire people to help towards signature collection.

Recreational cannabis

Last year, three states legalized pot recreationally. Voters in Ohio, a red state, approved a ballot measure, while lawmakers in the blue states of Delaware and Minnesota passed legislation.

In all, 13 states plus the District of Columbia have legalized marijuana legislatively.

The ballot initiative in Florida, which requires a supermajority of 60% to pass, is being backed by John Morgan, a lawyer and Democratic fundraiser who supported the successful 2016 effort to legalize medical marijuana with more than $8 million of his own money.

Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis opposes the measure. So do some in the states medical marijuana industry. Nick Garulay, CEO of My Florida Green, said he worries that legalizing recreational marijuana could bring more competition, and could make it hard to separate those who want to use it recreationally from those who are sick and rely on cannabis for medication.

Rob Mikos, a professor at Vanderbilt University Law School and an expert on drug law, agreed that in some cases, the passage of recreational cannabis can lead to a decline in medical cannabis patients.

But there isnt enough data to definitively say how adult-use recreational cannabis has affected the medical market in the places that have legalized both medical and recreational cannabis, he said.

For Eggers, the month of June is crucial. As of June 10, she had about 65,000 signatures on each petition, about 30,000 short of the total she expects to need for each.

We know this can get done, but theres definitely an urgency over the next few weeks, she said.

I call our campaign horrifically beautiful, Eggers said. Its horrific weve been at this for such a long time for suffering Nebraskans. But beautiful because weve found support in almost all corners of the state.

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Three Pee Dee men among six sentenced in federal robbery, firearms case

FLORENCE, S.C. (WBTW)  Three Pee Dee men will spend years in federal prison after pleading guilty to their roles in a 2022 shooting at a Florence apartment complex.

Dorian Javon Godbolt, 24, of Darlington, was sentenced on Tuesday to more than five years in prison after pleading guilty to aiding and abetting robbery; Harkeem Dewayne Siequan Kennedy, 26, of Florence, was sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison after pleading guilty to discharging a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; and Fanotti Nacier Neal, 21, of Effingham, was sentenced to two years in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to deal in firearms without a license.

Three other men from New York were also given prison sentences of between 2 1/2 and 10 years for their role in the incident, the U.S. Attorneys Office said in a news release.

The charges all stem from a midnight attack on March 29, 2022. Investigators said Godbolt arranged for Kennedy to sell marijuana to a pair of men from Rochester, N.Y., knowing they planned to rob Kennedy.

As Kennedy approached a car, one of the men pulled a gun from his hoodie and demanded everything he had, leading to an exchange of gunfire.

Authorities then learned the robbers came from a specific unit at the apartment complex and seized numerous firearms, magazines, ammunition and a receipt for the purchase of another firearm.

That led investigators to unravel a scheme involving the sale of unlicensed guns that involved Neal.

Guns were purchased in South Carolina and displayed on social media to attract buyers, prosecutors said.

The investigation included members of the Florence Police Department and U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms as part of Project Safe Neighborhood.

Law enforcement partnerships, as evidenced here, are a key element in the fight against violent crime, Florence Police Chief Allen Heidler said in a news release.

* * *

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.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW.
BEIJING, June 11 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang will pay official visits to New Zealand, Australia and Malaysia from June 13 to 20, foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian announced on Tuesday.

Li's tour is at the invitation of Prime Minister Christopher Luxon of New Zealand, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of Australia and Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim of Malaysia.

During his visit to Australia, Premier Li will co-chair the ninth China-Australia Annual Leaders' Meeting with Prime Minister Albanese, Lin added.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of President Xi Jinping's successful state visits to New Zealand and Australia, and the 10th anniversary of the establishment of China-New Zealand and China-Australia comprehensive strategic partnerships, Lin said at a regular press briefing when answering a relevant query.

He added that this year is also the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Malaysia, as well as the China-Malaysia friendship year.

Lin said that China and New Zealand are each other's important cooperative partners. Since the establishment of diplomatic ties, bilateral relations have maintained sound and steady development, creating many "firsts," and cooperation in various fields has brought huge benefits to the two countries and two peoples.

During his visit to New Zealand, Premier Li will meet and hold talks with New Zealand Governor-General Cindy Kiro, Prime Minister Luxon and other officials to exchange in-depth views on China-New Zealand relations and international and regional issues of common concern, the spokesperson said.

Through this visit, China hopes to strengthen communication, enhance mutual trust, deepen cooperation, consolidate friendship, push forward the sound and steady development of China-New Zealand relations and bring more benefits to the two peoples, Lin added.

Lin said that China and Australia are both important countries in the Asia-Pacific region with highly complementary economies and broad prospects for cooperation. It is the common aspiration of the two peoples to consolidate and maintain the momentum of China-Australia relations.

Lin added that during his visit to Australia, Premier Li will co-chair the ninth China-Australia Annual Leaders' Meeting with Prime Minister Albanese, and have extensive contact with people from all walks of life in Australia to exchange views on China-Australia relations and international and regional issues of common concern.

The two leaders will also jointly attend a China-Australia CEO Roundtable meeting, Lin said.

He said that China is willing to take this visit as an opportunity to work with Australia to strengthen high-level exchanges, enhance understanding and mutual trust, deepen practical cooperation, and jointly build a more mature, stable and fruitful China-Australia comprehensive strategic partnership.

Lin said that China and Malaysia are traditional friendly neighbors facing each other across the sea. Since the establishment of diplomatic ties half a century ago, China-Malaysia relations have maintained a sound momentum of development, with ever-deepening strategic mutual trust, fruitful high-quality cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative and ever-closer people-to-people exchanges.

China and Malaysia are both developing countries and emerging economies in Asia, and have actively advocated the Asian values of peace, cooperation, inclusiveness and integration and made important contributions to regional peace, prosperity and stability, Lin said.

During his visit to Malaysia, Premier Li will meet and hold talks with Malaysia's King Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar and Prime Minister Anwar, and attend the celebration of the 50th anniversary of China-Malaysia diplomatic ties with Prime Minister Anwar, the spokesperson said.

China looks forward to taking this visit as an opportunity to carry forward the traditional friendship with Malaysia, deepen and expand cooperation in various fields, push forward the building of a China-Malaysia community with a shared future, and work together to usher in an even more brilliant next 50 years of China-Malaysia relations, he added. 
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  An incoming ninth grader from Tierrasanta was San Diegos Mayor for a Day.

Uma Onwuchekwa won the mayor contest because of an essay he wrote on his dedication to addressing housing affordability and homelessness, Mayor Todd Gloria said in his newsletter.

In his essay, he addressed the urgent issue of homelessness and had a few other thoughtful solutions, including making food more affordable and enhancing educational curriculums to be more engaging and accessible, Gloria said.

Summer concerts in San Diego: A guide to outdoor shows

Onwuchekwa was given the opportunity to speak to the city council, spent time with the citys communications department, participated in the groundbreaking ceremony of the San Diego Airpark Project at Brown Field and visited the San Diego Police and Fire-Rescue departments.

There were also three runners-up in this years Mayor of the Day contest: Zamir Rose from Lincoln High School, Malia Wilke from Mt. Everest Academy and Milo Bergeron from Bird Rock Elementary.

Ironically, Gloria said when he was 10 years old, he was a runner-up in a Mayor for a Day contest at the City of San Diego.

So for Onwuchekwa and the other runners-up, the sky is the limit.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
It's time for allies to give Ukraine all arms needed to defeat Russia, Zelensky says

The time has come for Kyiv's partners to provide all the weapons necessary to push Russia out of Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky said during the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Berlin on June 11.

"If you're asking me whether the time has come for the partners to give us all the arms needed to throw Russia out, then yes, the time has come," Zelensky said in a response to a journalist's question.

The world's government and business leaders, as well as representatives of international organizations and civil society, have gathered in the German capital for a two-day Ukraine Recovery Conference.

Speaking at a joint press conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz after bilateral talks, Zelensky thanked Berlin for all the support it has provided to Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression.

Germany is the second-largest military donor to Ukraine after the U.S. and has launched an allied initiative to supply Kyiv with the much-needed anti-aircraft systems.

Responding to a journalist's question, Scholz said that Berlin currently has no plans to back the proposal by French President Emmanuel Macron's proposal to send military instructors to Ukraine.

Scholz added that Germany continues to train Ukrainian soldiers on German territory, and "nothing changes there."

Zelensky also touched upon the subject of Kyiv's prospective membership in the EU, saying that the country fulfilled all the necessary steps to start accession talks.

Ukraine received EU membership candidate status in June 2022. In November 2023, the European Commission recommended accession talks with Kyiv, and the European Council supported the launch of the negotiations a month later.

The European Commission said last week that Ukraine is ready to begin the process. At the conference, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that the negotiations should begin by the end of June.

A unanimous agreement by all members is required for this step, and Hungary is reportedly obstructing consensus. EU and Ukrainian officials are reportedly pushing to start the talks by the end of the month before Hungary takes up the rotating presidency of the EU Council in July.

Read also: Ukraine wants to restore energy facilities damaged by Russia by winter with allied help, Zelensky says at Berlin conference

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  Tennessee Senator Brent Taylor has asked the state to appoint a special prosecutor after Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy said his office will no longer prosecute aggravated prostitution.

Sen. Taylor sent a letter to the Tennessee Attorney General asking if the Shelby County DAs agreement with the United States Department of Justice Office to stop enforcing the state law is even legal.

Tennessees aggravated rape statute states a person commits aggravated prostitution when knowing that such person is infected with HIV, the person engages in sexual activity at a business or is an inmate in a house of prosecution, or loiters in a public place to be hired to engage in sexual activity.

In October, the ACLU filed a federal lawsuit challenging the statute, saying it violated the Americans With Disabilities Act because it targeted people living with HIV and forced them to register as violent sex offenders.

Mulroy said the DOJ said the aggravated prostitution state statute violated federal law, and they agreed to stop using it. However, he said, the action does not mean they will stop prosecuting prostitution.

The normal prostitution statute remains at our disposal. As does the separate statute making it a Class C Felony to knowingly expose another person to HIV, including by sexual contact, Mulroy said. We have agreed to stop setting aside HIV-positive prostitution for harsher treatment, even if that person is fully medicated, has a suppressed viral load, and is thus at no risk of infecting anyone. To do otherwise would entail fighting DOJ in federal court for the right to discriminate when this office had not initiated such a case in recent years, and we have other means to go after prostitution.

Sen. Taylor said this marks the second time DA Mulroy has been a party to an action that resulted in different enforcement of laws in Shelby County compared to the rest of the state and said this comes as the Shelby County Health Department reports an alarming increase in STDs and HIV in Shelby County.

According to the Shelby County Health Department, since 2018, HIV rates increased 40 percent among those 15-to-19 years old and increased 36 percent among the entire population. We have an HIV problem, and District Attorney Steve Mulroy refuses to enforce the law that will help address the issue, Sen. Taylor said.

Mulroy said the statute specifically discriminates against the LGBTQ community, and he did not want to take precious time and resources away from fighting violent crime in order to pick a fight with the DOJ.

Im not gonna fight with the right to discriminate against the LGBTQ community or the HIV community, Mulroy said.

Taylor said despite the General Assembly and the public demanding an increase in prosecutions, Mulroy had taken it upon himself to willfully ignore an entire category of crimes.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.
I think its important for us as teachers to create a space so that our students can dare to reimagine new futures, and they can dare connect and they can dare to dissent, Texas history teacher Daniel Santos said as he accepted the Toni Morrison Award for Courage at The New Republics Right to Read celebration in Miami Saturday night. Santos, executive vice president of the Houston Federation of Teachers and one of five recipients of the award, told the story of a graduating former student from Guatemala who returned to tell him how much a novel hed assigned about Japanese internment had stayed with him. He connected with that book, and to this day, he says he continues to read that book because it was valuable and it was important, he said.

Santos criticized policymakers in his home state, who have enacted some of the countrys most restrictive book banning legislation. So did fellow award-winner Allison Grubbs, Broward County Library director. Over 40 percent of book bans have occurred in Florida, prompting Grubbs to create book sanctuaries in all 36 branches of the Broward County Library system. Grubbs pledged that her commitment to the freedom to read will remain unwavering, even in the face of the harassment and threats shes faced by right-wingers. When we lose the unchallenged right to read, think, speak freely, we have lost not only our social liberty, but our humanity, Grubbs said. The history of totalitarianism in every age and culture has demonstrated that censorship of citizens and their press is a preliminary mechanism by which the descent begins.

Two award recipients, Texas booksellers Valerie Koehler and Charley Rejsek, are taking on that mechanism directly. They are lead plaintiffs in a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of House Bill 900, the Texas law requiring booksellers to rate books being sold to schools for their sexual content. The case, currently in the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals after the state unsuccessfully appealed the ruling blocking the laws enforcement, reminded Rejsek of a line from Fahrenheit 451, the once-banned Ray Bradbury novel from which her store draws its name. Technology, mass exploitation, and minority pressure carried the trick when it came to censorship. And I feel like were in that moment right now, she said.

Four-time Newbery Awardwinner and MacArthur grant recipient Jacqueline Woodson, who sat on a panel during the Right to Read celebration before accepting her award, drew from another celebrated American writer. You think your pain is unprecedented in the history of the world, and then you read, she said, paraphrasing James Baldwin. Woodsons memoir of the Civil Rights Movement, Brown Girl Dreaming, which won the National Book Award and Newbery Honor award, was challenged in Florida and Texas during the 2021 critical race theory panic.



Woodson recalled reading Morrisons The Bluest Eye, one of the countrys most banned books, as a fifth grader, reflecting on how it informed her own work. We have seen mirrors of ourselves in literature, she said. We have seen windows into worlds that we would never have experienced or understood, or grown to have empathy for. We have seen the other and come to love the other, and we want the other to be OK because sometimes the other is us.




EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  A Tornillo woman was arrested and charged with possessing two bundles of cocaine that were hidden where three children were sitting in her vehicle, according to the El Paso County Constables Office Precinct 6.

Genoveva Carrillo Esparza, 27, was stopped by a deputy constable for a traffic stop at around 8 a.m. on Monday, June 10 along the 19300 block Cobb in Fabens, according to the Constables Office.

Carrillo Esparzas SUV was stopped because it was showing an expired Texas buyer tag, the Constables Office said.

Inside Carrillo Esparzas vehicle was another woman and three children, ranging from ages 5 to 12 years old.

The deputy constable observed the driver acting nervously and then proceeded to question the two women, whose stories conflicted, the Constables Office said.

The deputy constable then obtained verbal permission to search Carrillo Esparzas vehicle and found two bundles containing a white substance under the seat of the children, according to the Constables Office. The white substance tested positive for cocaine, the Constables Office said.

Carrillo Esparza was placed under arrest and is facing a charge of manufacture or delivery of a controlled substance in penalty group 1 of over 400 grams. The total weight of both bundles totaled 5.93 pounds, according to the Constables Office.

Carrillo Esparza was booked into the El Paso County Detention Facility under a $100,000 bond, according to the Constables Office.

If convicted, Carrillo Esparza faces from five to 99 years in prison and a fine not to exceed $10,000, the Constables Office said.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.


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It was love at first sight for Joe Biden. The University of Delaware junior had taken a spring break trip to the Bahamas and sneaked into an exclusive beach resort, where he came upon Syracuse University senior Neilia Hunter sunbathing by a pool.

When she turned toward me, I could see she had a beautiful smile and gorgeous green eyes, he wrote in his memoir Promises to Keep. She was lit by the unforgiving journey of a full afternoon sun, and I couldnt see a single flaw.

Joe found Neilia to be warm, bright, and refreshingly down to earth, unbothered by his modest upbringing in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and Wilmington, Delaware. And as their relationship progressed, her well-to-do parents overcame any misgivings about his politicshes a Democrat, they were Republicanand religious faithhes Catholic, they were Presbyterian.

As such, the August 1966 wedding between Joe and Neilia appeared to be just an early milestone in their storybook romance, no one knowing their union would end in tragedy less than six-and-a-half years later.

Neilia served a crucial role in Joes 1972 Senate campaign

As their shared journey took them to Syracuse and then to Wilmington, the couple mapped out the goals that included Joe becoming a trial lawyer and then running for public office. We agreed on almost everything, he wrote, save for Neilias hope that her husband set his sights on the U.S. Supreme Court.

Neilia held down the fort as their life accelerated, giving birth to Joseph Beau Biden III in February 1969, Robert Hunter Biden in February 1970, and Naomi Amy Biden in November 1971. Meanwhile, Joes first attempt at politics proved successful with his election to the New Castle County Council in 1970.

Love at First Sight

Photo credit: Getty Images

Neilia and Joe Biden met as Syracuse University students and got married in August 1966.

Joe and Neilias Growing Brood

Photo credit: Getty Images

Joe cuts his 30th birthday cake at a party in Wilmington, Delaware, on November 20, 1972, with his family nearby. He and his first wife, Neilia had two sons, Hunter and Beau, and a daughter named Amy.

A New Love

Photo credit: Getty Images

Joe met his second wife, Jill Biden, about three years after Neilia and Amy died. Jill was by her husbands side when he announced his bid for president in June 1987.

A Family Campaign

Photo credit: Getty Images

Joe and Jill hit the campaign trail in 1987 with their children Hunter, Ashley, and Beau.

Father-Daughter Time

Photo credit: Getty Images

In 1981, Joe and Jill welcomed a daughter named Ashley. The senator and his 7-year-old daughter enjoy a moment together in September 1988.

Grand Days at the U.S. Capitol

Photo credit: Getty Images

Joe Biden shares a moment with his granddaughter Naomi during a Take our Daughters and Sons to Work Day event on Capitol Hill in April 2004. Naomi is Joes oldest grandchild, born to Hunter and his first wife, Kathleen.

Making Mom Proud

Photo credit: Getty Images

Joe Biden with his mother, Jean, attend an election night event in Chicagos Grant Park on November 4, 2008. That night, Biden was elected vice president as Barack Obama won the presidency.

Celebrating with Dad

Photo credit: Getty Images

Hunter, Joe, and Beau Biden walk in the inaugural parade on January 20, 2009, in Washington, D.C. Joe served as vice president for two terms.

My Son, the Soldier

Photo credit: Getty Images

Both of Joe Bidens sons served in the military. In July 2009, Joe visited Beau, a U.S. Army captain, at Camp Victory near Baghdad.

Nights on the Campaign Trail

Photo credit: Getty Images

Ashley Biden watches an October 2012 presidential debate with her dad, Joe, from a hotel room in Toledo, Ohio.

Mr. Vice President

Photo credit: Getty Images

Joe Biden is sworn in as vice president during the public ceremony by Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor during the presidential inauguration on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on January 21, 2013

Mr. President

Photo credit: Getty Images

Ashley, Hunter, and Jill celebrate Joe Bidens inauguration as U.S. president on January 20, 2021.

Two years later, Neilia assumed a leading role in Joes campaign against Republican J. Caleb Boggs for the U.S. Senate, serving as what her husband called the brains of the operation. When the Election Day dust cleared, the not-yet-30-year-old challenger had become the second-youngest person ever elected to the Senate, leaving the Bidens to wonder what could possibly come next in their rapid rise in politics.

The Bidens car was hit by a truck the week before Christmas

The answer came on December 18, a Monday that began with Joe heading to his temporary office in Washington, D.C., while Neilia remained at their new home in northeastern Delaware with the intention of tackling some Christmas shopping.

At approximately 2:30 p.m., Neilia was driving westbound on rural Valley Road in Hockessin, the three children accompanying her in the family station wagon. She pulled the car past a stop sign and directly into the path of a tractor-trailer, headed full-steam along Route 7 to Pennsylvania.

Getty Images

According to reports, the impact sent the station wagon hurling some 150 feet into an embankment, leaving Biden for Senator campaign literature scattered in its wake.

The family was pulled from the wreckage of the car and rushed to Wilmington General Hospital, but it was too late for Neilia and 13-month-old Amy, who were pronounced dead on arrival. The two boys were luckier, though Beau sustained a broken leg and Hunter, a fractured skull.

Joe immediately knew something terrible happened

As Joe recalled in Promises to Keep, he knew something terrible had happened after watching his sister answer the phone at his office that afternoon. A tangible feeling of Neilias loss heightened when Valerie suggested they return home because of a slight accident.

Shes dead, isnt she? he responded.

A rushed flight back to Wilmington confirmed the worst of his suspicions, but Joe didnt have the opportunity to fully process his grief with his young sons still in uncertain condition. At that point, he wrote, he understood how suicide seemed a tempting option, though he knew he could never abandon Beau and Hunter with their mother and sister also gone.

Joe took little solace in the investigation that cleared the truck driver of responsibility for the crash (it was later revealed that Neilia had either accelerated or drifted through the intersection, possibly distracted by the children in the back seat). And while he was heartened by the boys improving conditions, the widower found himself consumed by anger, at times roaming the streets at night with the hope that someone would pick a fight with him.

He recovered by focusing on the well-being of his surviving sons

Getty Images

Joe ultimately climbed back with help from his Senate colleagues and support of his sister, though it was his focus on the well-being of Beau and Hunter that enabled all three of them to move on with their lives.

It helped that another woman came into his life when his brother set him up with fellow University of Delaware student Jill Jacobs in 1975. And when it became clear that Jill was an indispensable part of their tight-knit clan, it was the boys who pushed their old man to pop the question once again.

Shortly before their 1977 wedding, Joe asked his fiancee how she could commit herself to marriage knowing his feelings for his first wife. Anybody who can love that deeply once can do it again, she replied.

Thats when I realized exactly what Jills love had done for me, Joe wrote, it had given me permission to be me again.

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Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky (L) and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz shake hands at the end of their joint press conference during the International Ukraine Reconstruction conference in Berlin. Kay Nietfeld/dpa

A group of international partners, including Germany, announced the launch of a worker training programme for Ukraine aimed at preparing young people with skills to help rebuild the country.

The initiative plans to train 180,000 people in skills needed for Ukraine's reconstruction, according to German Development Minister Svenja Schulze, who announced the initiative on Tuesday at an international conference on Ukrainian recovery in Berlin.

Germany will be joined by a number of other countries as well as international organizations and business groups in the effort, which will be backed by 700 million ($750 million) in funding, Schulze said.

"In this way, we are providing Ukraine with important support in times of war and during reconstruction. No matter how often Russia destroys power lines, hospitals or buildings, the Ukrainians will have the knowledge and skills to rebuild them," Schulze said on Tuesday.

The programme is expected to run for three years and is primarily aimed at young people, the internally displaced and women.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky, arrive for a joint press conference during the International Ukraine Reconstruction conference in Berlin. Britta Pedersen/dpa

Volodymyr Zelensky, President of Ukraine, speaks at a press conference at the Ukraine Conference. The international reconstruction conference for Ukraine will take place in Berlin on June 11 and 12. Britta Pedersen/dpa
LOS ANGELES, June 11 (Xinhua) -- Pro-Palestinian protesters clashed with police on Monday at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in the United States, after establishing a third campus encampment lately.

The protesters set up tents and barricades on the western end of the university's Dickson Plaza Wednesday afternoon, reported Daily Bruin, the university's student newspaper.

Protesters marched on campus carrying fake bloody mummies and body parts while listing the names of Palestinians who have died in the current Palestinian-Israeli conflict, chanting: "We will honor all our martyrs," said the report.

Local television pictures showed that protesters dyed the water in a campus fountain red.

The demonstration was organized by the Students for Justice in Palestine at UCLA. The organization called on people to join the protest "to bear witness to over 46,000 Palestinians who have been martyred or buried under the rubble" in a post on Instagram.

"Palestinians under occupation continue to remind us that funerals are places of protest. The Palestinian people continually remind us that grief and rage are actionable," said the post, adding that "our grief is not one that debilitates us, but rather it is our driving force."

Campus police and security responded to the area, and the Los Angeles Police Department later declared a tactical alert, according to local KABC television station.

Orders were issued multiple times for the protesters to disperse, and several clashes between officers and protesters broke out, reported the news outlet.

After nightfall, hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters stood in front of at least 50 police officers from multiple law enforcement agencies outside Dodd Hall, a historic academic building, according to a Daily Bruin post on social media X.

Protesters outside Dodd Hall chanted, "By the thousands, by the millions, we are all Palestinians," Daily Bruin said in another post.

"Police have led more than 15 detainees into Dodd Hall," the student newspaper stated.

Over 200 pro-Palestinian protesters were arrested on May 2 as police moved to dismantle an encampment at UCLA. On May 23, a group of protesters once briefly established a second encampment on campus before police moved in to disband the efforts.

Hundreds of UC faculty and staff have been calling on Gene Block, chancellor of UCLA, to resign over the university's response to pro-Palestinian protests on campus.

UC's controversial response to pro-Palestinian protests had led to a rolling strike as academic workers at six of UC's 10 system-wide campuses walked off the job.

The strike by United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 4811, which represents 48,000 academic workers across the UC system, was ordered to pause by a judge on Friday after UC filed a lawsuit and requested injunctive relief earlier last week against UAW for breach of contract. UAW Local 4811 vowed in a statement that the union is prepared to keep defending its rights in a "long fight." 
MIAMI, Okla.  Ottawa County District Attorney Doug Pewitt filed an application to accelerate a deferred judgment against Diahann Wiford, who is currently under investigation by the Oklahoma Attorney Generals office for allegedly defrauding consumers.

Wiford, 51, of Miami, appeared in Ottawa County Court on Monday where she received a court-appointed attorney. The motion to accelerate the deferred judgment is in connection with two felony cases for writing hot checks in Oklahoma.

Decades of financial trouble haunt Oklahoma travel agency, leaving consumers wary

In both of those felony cases, Wiford who went by the name of Diahann Rae Cott-Brumley, pleaded guilty in July 2017 in Ottawa County District Court to obtaining cash or merchandise by bogus check or false pretenses, a felony. She received a 10-year deferred sentence in both cases.

The bail for violating her deferred judgments is $10,000 on each motion, court records show.

Miami travel agency owner jailed on outstanding Missouri warrant

Court records show Wiford has legally used the last names of Cott, Click, Brumley, Minson and Riefle.

She remains in the Ottawa County jail on a Taney County outstanding warrant.

She allegedly violated her probation after failing to appear in Taney County, Missouri on four bogus check charges in Jan. 2018, according to the application to accelerate the deferred sentence.

Court records show from November 6, 2010, to November 22, 2010, Wiford, using the name Diahann Cott, passed 18 checks totaling $2,043.33, but was charged in Taney County for passing three bad checks for $73.64, $103.09 and $64.41, all drawn upon a nonexistent bank account with Regions Bank.

Another Oklahoma probation violation against Wiford is for not paying $3,241.60 for fines and costs, the motion states.

Wiford is already in hot water with the Oklahoma Attorney Generals office.

Wiford and her husband, Kenny, are owners of the Miami-based Wiford Tour and Travel. The agency is the subject of a Miami Police Department investigation where customers purchased trips and vacations through the travel agency and allegedly never received their tickets. Other business names used were Wiford Travel and KenDi Wiford.

Previous attempts to reach Wiford were unsuccessful, but on a social media post under the name Wiford Bus Tours, Wiford denied any wrongdoing saying that at no point did we act with malice or intent to harm anyone.

Her business, Wiford Tour and Travel has been registered with the Oklahoma Secretary of State since Nov. 2023 and Wiford Travel since April 2024. She has also operated businesses under the names of Cheap Branson Fun, Christian Travel, and Galaxy Christian Ministry.

We are delivering almost 700 complaints to the AGs office today, said Miami Police Chief Thomas Anderson.

This is not the first time, Wiford has had financial troubles.

Wiford was on federal probation for finding a way around a Buffalo Run Casinos card system defrauding the casino out of $193,000 worth of free gambling cards.

In 2015, North Dakota Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem issued a cease-and-desist order against Wiford for violating North Dakotas home solicitations sales law, consumer fraud laws and Do Not Call laws. She would make telephone calls offering cheap vacations if the consumer would attend a timeshare seminar and pay a $99 attendance fee, according to the nine-page order.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com.
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET)  The trial of two men charged with murder in the shooting death of 5-year-old Kason Guyton was postponed Tuesday to late July because their lawyers are in trial on other cases.

The next hearing for Jonathan Knight, 35, and Jeremy King, 31, was set for July 23. At that time, attorneys will meet and discuss scheduling.

Man convicted of paralyzing teen in 2021 shooting

Jeremy King, file image

On Feb. 23, 2017, Kason and his brother were in a car driven by their mothers boyfriend as they headed home from Maya Cinemas. A dark sedan followed.

Never miss a story: Make KGET.com your homepage

As the car the boys were in turned west onto California Avenue from S Street, a passenger in the sedan leaned out the front window and opened fire, police said. Kason was killed, and his then-7-year-old brother wounded.

The boyfriend, Dayvon Vercher, a member of the East Side Crips gang, is believed to have been the intended target, police 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 KGET 17.
Trump accused of demanding special treatment for his New York probation interview

Questions are being asked over whether Donald Trump received preferential treatment during his pretrial probation interview.

Trump attended an interview with his New York probation officer on Monday after being found guilty last month of 34 federal counts of falsifying business records to cover up hush money payments to women he allegedly had affairs with.

The probation officer will prepare a sentencing recommendation for the judge ahead of Trumps sentencing, scheduled for July 11.

Although this step is required and routine, how Trump went about it was not. He called in virtually, reportedly from his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida and had his attorney, Todd Blanche, join him on the call.

The interview was less than a half-hour of routine and uneventful questions and answers, a source told the Associated Press. Trump reportedly answered questions about his personal history and current physical and mental health.

Blanche had written a letter to trial Judge Juan Merchan requesting to be present during the interview. In response, Judge Merchan ordered on June 7 that Blanche was permitted to attend the interview, an atypical move. But Manhattan prosecutors didnt object to it.

Donald Trump speaks during a news conference at Trump Tower on May 31 a day after a New York jury found himpguilty of 34 felony charges (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

A coalition of public defense organizations criticized a system that allowed the former president preferential treatment over other convicted felons.

All people convicted of crimes should be allowed counsel in their probation interview, not just billionaires, wrote The Legal Aid Society, The Bronx Defenders, and Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem in a joint statement on Monday.

Pre-sentencing interviews with probation officers influence sentencing, and public defenders are deprived of joining their clients for these meetings.

The groups called on the Department of Probation to ensure that all New Yorkers, regardless of income, status, or class, receive the same pre-sentencing opportunities.

The Independent has contacted the probation department for comment.

However a spokesperson for New York mayor Eric Adams told Business Insider that no exceptions are being made because its President Trump.

But others said that Trumps treatment was different to what other felons received.

Former department of corrections and probation commissioner Martin Horn told NBC News that allowing the call to be conducted virtually was highly unusual. However he also noted that an in-person sit-down interview with Trump would likely be very disruptive, due to the Secret Service and press in tow.

Legal Aid attorney Sam Roberts told Business Insider that he had never been present at a probation interview with any of his 3,000 clients.
US senator Marco Rubio said he felt a 'duty of friendship' to warn Britain about the risks of allowing Shein to list in London - REUTERS/Joe Skipper

A US senator in the race to be Donald Trumps presidential running mate has urged Jeremy Hunt to investigate claims Shein uses slave labour and sweatshops.

Marco Rubio, who has been named as a potential Republican vice presidential candidate, sent a letter to the Chancellor this week calling for an investigation ahead of Sheins potential 50bn London stock market listing.

In a letter sent to Mr Hunt this week, seen by The Telegraph, Mr Rubio said he felt a duty of friendship to warn Britain over the risks associated with allowing Shein to join the London Stock Exchange.

Mr Rubio highlighted concerns about unethical and irresponsible business practices, adding: Slave [sic] labor, sweatshops, and trade tricks are the dirty secrets behind Sheins success.

The letter, which was also sent to Nikhil Rathi, chief executive of the Financial Conduct Authority, comes amid mounting pressure on ministers and officials to increase scrutiny of Shein.

Nigel Farage, the Reform UK leader, told The Telegraph last weekend that allowing Shein to list on the London stock market would be a very bad idea.

He said encouraging the Chinese fast-fashion company to choose London would be a mistake that wont change the IPO crisis in the City.

Shein is currently preparing to file paperwork for a listing in London, although this does not guarantee it would choose the UK market.

The company has switched its focus away from a New York listing in response to fierce political opposition in the US. Mr Rubio was one of the most vocal critics of the company, writing to the US Securities and Exchange Commission to block a New York listing unless Shein was more transparent over its operations.

Concerns centre around Sheins Chinese supplier-base. Most Chinese cotton comes from Xinjiang, where there is alleged forced labour of Uyghurs.

Mr Rubio, a former Republican presidential candidate, said in April that there was a high probability these companies have facilitated the importation of goods made with forced [sic] labor.

In his letter to Mr Hunt, Mr Rubio said: The United Kingdom has a storied tradition of abolitionism, from Wilberforce and Cowper to the Modern Slavery Act in our day.

I trust you will treat these allegations against Shein with the utmost seriousness, investigate them fully, and take appropriate action to protect investors.

Mr Hunt held talks with Shein executive chairman Donald Tang in January, which was seen as a bid to convince the fast fashion retailer to choose the London Stock Market.

Labour recently suggested it would also be supportive of Shein choosing London. MPs from the party have also met the retailer, saying afterwards that raising investment, productivity and growth is one of Labours missions for government.

Story continues

Shein, which was founded in China but is now headquartered in Singapore, has repeatedly denied claims of forced labour in its supply chain.

The company said it has a zero-tolerance policy for forced [sic] labor and is committed to providing a safe and fair work environment to all our suppliers employers.

It said its success is a result of its on-demand business model and flexible supply chain.

Mr Rubio is among the front-runners to be picked by Donald Trump as his running mate in the upcoming US elections.

ABC News reported last week that he was one of a handful of people asked for vetting paperwork as the vice presidential candidate field narrows.

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Donald Trumps lawyer Alina Habba is defending her supposedly hardscrabble background as her detractors on social media question whether she is concocting a false rags-to-riches story.

Habba appeared on Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirks show on the right-wing channel Real Americas Voice on Monday and defended remarks she had made over the weekend at a summit held by Kirks group. Before hundreds of attendees at TPUSAs Young Women's Leadership Summit, Habba claimed that her father used to take the money that he could have and got a Coke and a pack of peanuts every day so that we could survive.

On Monday, she told Kirk: "I know that there were comments that were just beyond comprehension, trying to break down, fact-check me. I really can't be fact-checked on my life. I'm happy to break it down further for everybody and all the nastiness.

A fair portion of Habbas background is public knowledge, and provides a complicated answer to the question of whether Habba has upsold the plight she and her family faced during her childhood. With a background as Chaldean Catholics from Iraq, Habbas family arrived in the US in the 1980s, fleeing religious persecution perpetuated by Saddam Husseins government. Chaldean Catholics fled Iraq to the US in significant numbers throughout the 80s and into the early 1990s; more faced persecution and were uprooted from their homes during the rise of Isis in the 2010s.

But its also clear that Habbas family had come upon some measure of success and financial stability by the time she was in high school. Her father, Dr Saad Habba, is a renowned gastroenterologist who can be found published in American medical journals as early as 2000, when Habba was 16. Two years later, she graduated from a prestigious New Jersey private school, The Kent Place School. Tuition at the private academy runs past $53,000 a year for high schoolers.

As Trumps attorney, Habba has represented him through several of his legal defeats, including the civil case brought against him by writer E Jean Carroll which ended in a historic $83 million judgement against her client.

Alina Habba speaks to reporters outside of the Manhattan courtroom where Donald Trump was convicted on 34 felonies (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

She was not directly involved in representing Trump during his recent Manhattan criminal trial on 34 felony counts related to an illegal effort to hide a hush money scheme, which prosecutors said was aimed at protecting his presidential campaign. The former president was found guilty on all 34 counts, and is due to be sentenced next month (pending an appeal, which he will file). Habba does continue to serve as an informal legal advisor to the president and did attend court with her boss as he was convicted on his criminal charges.

Despite not being a member of Trumps political staff, she has also regularly appeared on cable news to defend her client on matters of personal dignity and appearance beyond simply serving in her role as an attorney. In one instance in mid-April, she appeared on Fox News to defend her client sleeping in the Manhattan courtroom during proceedings, even though she herself had not attended court that day.

Hes been sitting there, as he is forced to, at the threat of going to jail if hes not sitting there, she said. If anything, hes probably brutally bored. I mean, its painful they make him sit there through jury selection but no, you know, Ive heard that report; its unlikely [he fell asleep], I know him; I sat through trial after trial with him. That never happens.
Joe Biden will respect verdict as son Hunter found guilty of all gun charges

Joe Biden said he would respect his sons conviction after he was found guilty on all three counts in his federal gun case.

The US presidents only surviving son, Hunter, 54 was found by a jury in his hometown of Wilmington to have lied about his drug addiction to buy a handgun that he owned for 11 days in 2018.

The charges carry a maximum sentence of up to 25 years in prison and $750,000 in fines, although a custodial sentence is considered unlikely for a first-time offender.

Mr Biden, 81, said: I am the president, but I am also a dad, describing his love for his son and pride in his recovery.

However, Mr Biden has ruled out issuing a presidential pardon for his son.

I will accept the outcome of this case and will continue to respect the judicial process as Hunter considers an appeal, he said.

Democrats have presented the response as a dividing line between the president and his Republican opponent, Donald Trump, in the 2024 campaign.

Trump, 77, who was himself convicted earlier this month, has dismissed his own prosecution for falsifying business records as a political hit job intended to impede his return to the White House.

Tuesdays verdict in Delaware undercuts those claims, Biden allies argued.

Hunter Biden is the first child of a sitting US president to be prosecuted by the government, on charges rarely prosecuted as standalone crimes.

Donald Trump Jr was quick to dismiss the verdict as a red herring designed to distract from more serious tax charges and allegations of shadowy foreign business dealings.

Hunter Biden, accompanied by his wife, Melissa Cohen Biden, arrives to federal court for the verdict in his gun trial - AP Photo/Matt Slocum

Hunter faces a second trial in California in September on charges alleging he failed to pay at least $1.4 million (1.1 million) in taxes over four years.

The 2024 Trump campaign argued the prosecution was still proof of an unfair judicial system.

This trial has been nothing more than a distraction from the real crimes of the Biden crime family, said Karoline Leavitt, the Trump campaign press secretary.

Jurors took just over three hours to reach their unanimous verdict, after hearing several Biden family members commit deeply embarrassing details of their private lives to the public record.

They heard the presidents scandal-plagued son in his own words describing his superpower ability to track down crack cocaine, as prosecutors played his narration of his 2021 autobiography, Beautiful Things.

Prosecutors then called some of his former lovers to testify.

His ex-wife, Kathleen Buhle, revealed she was first confronted with his drug use when she found a crack pipe in an ashtray in their Washington DC home in 2015.

He would become angry and short-tempered while using, she said and ignored her pleas to seek treatment.

I was definitely worried, scared, she said. She told the court she would search her husbands car before their three daughters used it, so they wouldnt drive with drugs.

The couple divorced in 2017 after Ms Buhle discovered her husbands infidelity, she told the court.

Zoe Kestan, 30, told the court she met the presidents son at a New York strip club in December 2017. She gave him a private dance while he smoked crack, she said.

She described him as charming, despite his need to take drugs every 20 minutes from waking during their hotel hook-ups. Everybody loved him, she said.

Hunter Biden in a picture posted after his conviction - REUTERS/Tom Hals

But it was Hallie Biden, the widow of Hunters military veteran older brother, Beau, who appeared as the star witness for the prosecution.

Following Beaus death from brain cancer in 2015, Ms Biden began dating Hunter, a contentious episode in the Biden family drama.

She told the court Hunter introduced her to crack cocaine during their romance.

Im embarrassed and ashamed, and I regret that period of my life, she said, facing him across the court. He bowed his head at the defence table as she spoke.

Ms Biden was a key witness to her ex-boyfriends drug use around the period he purchased a Colt Cobra .38 revolver in a Delaware gun shop.

The Colt Cobra 38SPL revolver that led to the charges

He said he was not an unlawful user of drugs, or addicted to them, on a background check he filled out to buy it on Oct 6, 2018.

Ms Biden told the court that, on Oct 23, she discovered drug paraphernalia and the Colt revolver in an unlocked box in Hunters car.

She decided to dispose of the firearm in a bin outside a high-end supermarket near her home.

I didnt want him to hurt himself or my kids to find it and hurt themselves, she told the court.

She later returned to retrieve the gun, but it was gone. She called the police to report the incident, setting in train the sequence of events that led to his conviction.

Abbe Lowell, Hunters defence lawyer, had argued that Hunter was not using drugs when he purchased the gun and did not consider himself an addict at the time.

Hunter sought treatment for spells before and after purchasing the gun, and has been sober since 2019, he told the court.

Mr Lowell argued prosecutors took Hunters descriptions of his battle with drugs out of context and noted that they had also failed to produce anyone who witnessed him taking drugs in the period when he purchased and possessed the gun.

The jury spent just over three hours deliberating to find Hunter guilty of two charges of lying on background check forms and one charge of illegally possessing a firearm.

Watching from the public gallery throughout the proceedings were Jill Biden, her daughter Ashley, and Melissa Cohen, Hunters second wife.

They were forced to relive painful chapters in their family history as prosecutors read deeply private text exchanges, and showed photos of a topless Hunter surrounded by drug paraphernalia in hotel rooms and baths.

The evidence prosecutors presented was, in their own telling, personal, ugly and overwhelming.

In summing up their case, prosecutor Leo Wise told the jury to ignore the famous faces sitting in the gallery.

You may recognise them from the news, he said, but respectfully, none of that matters.

Hunter left the federal court, where a portrait of his father hangs in the atrium, holding hands with his stepmother and his wife.

I am more grateful today for the love and support I experienced this last week from Melissa, my family, my friends, and my community than I am disappointed by the outcome, he said.

Recovery is possible by the grace of God, and I am blessed to experience that gift one day at a time.

08:24 PM BST

Thats all for today

Thanks for following our live coverage of Hunter Bidens gun trial, in which he was convicted on all counts. This live blog is now closed.

08:03 PM BST

Pictured: Guilty verdict flashes up in White House briefing room

A television screen shows the verdict in the Hunter Biden trial in the Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House - SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images

07:52 PM BST

Speaker: Evidence against Hunter Biden was overwhelming

Mike Johnson, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, has denied that Hunter Bidens conviction undermines claims of a two-tiered justice system.

He told CNN: Every case is different. And clearly the evidence was overwhelming here. I dont think thats the case in the Trump trials.

And all the charges that have been brought against him have been obviously brought for political purposes. Hunter Biden is a separate incident.

07:40 PM BST

Biden speaks at gun safety event after sons conviction

Joe Biden is currently speaking at a gun safety event in Washington, DC - just hours after his son was convicted of gun crimes in a federal court in Delaware.

David Weiss, who led Hunter Bidens prosecution, criticised the 54-year-olds dangerous decision to buy and possess a gun while addicted to crack cocaine earlier today.

07:19 PM BST

Why Hunter Bidens gun conviction could benefit the Democrats

Hunter Bidens conviction on federal gun charges is not surprising. The evidence against the presidents son was overwhelming.

It included his own memoir, embarrassing texts with his relatives, and a string of unflattering photos all illustrating the depths of his drug addiction.

But even some Republican critics of Joe Biden have argued the trial was an unnecessary exercise in public humiliation for the US presidents family.

Read the full analysis from Rozina Sabur here.

07:03 PM BST

The justice system is working

Hunter Bidens conviction definitely weakens the argument that Donald Trump is the victim of political persecution, a major Republican donor has said.

Dan Eberhart, a supporter of the former presidents campaign, told NBC News: To me, the justice system is working.

Trump was convicted of 34 counts of falsifying business records in a New York court last month. His lawyers have signalled he intends to appeal the verdict.

06:49 PM BST

Jury evenly split when deliberations began

When the jury began its deliberations in Hunter Bidens gun trial yesterday afternoon, it was split down the middle, according to reports.

Six were in favour of convicting the 54-year-old, son of US President Joe Biden, while six inclined towards a not guilty verdict, a juror told CNN.

When they returned on Tuesday morning, 11 people believed the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.

The jury eventually rendered a unanimous verdict to convict Hunter Biden on all three gun charges.

06:45 PM BST

Biden to leave White House for Wilmington

Joe Biden will head to Wilmington, Delaware - where his son was found guilty in his gun trial earlier today - and is expected to arrive at 8:50pm BST (3:50pm).

06:22 PM BST

Weiss thanks attorney general for safeguarding independence

David Weiss concluded by thanking Merrick Garland, the attorney general, for providing the support necessary to fulfil our mission, ensuring that we have the independence to appropriately pursue our investigations and prosecutions.

He added: As you know, we have additional trials and investigative work to be done. So I will not entertain questions at this time.

06:20 PM BST

No one is above the law

David Weiss continued: No one in this country is above the law. Everyone must be accountable for their actions - even this defendant.

06:19 PM BST

Special counsel: Hunter Bidens actions were dangerous

David Weiss, the special counsel who led the team that secured Hunter Bidens conviction, said the trial was not just about addiction.

He said: This case was about the illegal choices defendant made while in the throes of addiction, his choice to lie on a government form when he bought a gun and the choice to then possess that gun.

It was these choices and the combination of guns and drugs that made his conduct dangerous.

06:16 PM BST

Joe Biden respects the judicial process after sons conviction

Joe Biden has said he respects the judicial process after his son, Hunter Biden, was found guilty on all counts in his gun trial.

The US President has previously ruled out a pardon for his 54-year-old son, who was convicted on charges related to his purchase of a gun in Oct 2018 while addicted to cocaine.

Jill and I love our son, and we are so proud of the man he is today, Mr Biden said in a statement.

So many families who have had loved ones battle addiction understand the feeling of pride seeing someone you love come out the other side and be so strong and resilient in recovery.

I will accept the outcome of this case and will continue to respect the judicial process as Hunter considers an appeal.

Hunter Biden now faces up to 25 years in prison, though as a first-time offender it is likely he will not serve a custodial sentence. The judge did not set a date for his sentencing, but noted such hearings usually take place within 120 days of the verdict.

His defence team had attempted to paint him as a victim of Washington politics - an approach that put him at odds with the White House, which has refuted similar claims by Donald Trump.

05:52 PM BST

Trump downplays trial as distraction

Donald Trumps campaign has claimed that Hunter Bidens trial is a distraction from the real crimes of the Biden family.

Trump, who has launched public attacks on Joe Bidens son since 2020, has been noticeably refrained from commenting on the trial since it began last week.

05:50 PM BST

Defence tean pledges to pursue all legal challenges available

Abbe Lowell, the lawyer who acted for Hunter Biden during his gun trial, said the defence team was naturally disappointed.

We respect the jury process, and as we have done throughout this case, we will continue to vigorously pursue all the legal challenges available to Hunter, he said.

Through all he has been through in his recovery, including this trial, Hunter has felt grateful for and blessed by the love and support of his family.

05:47 PM BST

It doesnt matter who you are or what your name is

Hunter Bidens description of his superpower of finding crack cocaine was used against him by prosecutors in the opening of the federal gun trial against the US presidents son.

Mr Biden Jr, 54, pleaded not guilty to two charges of lying about his crack cocaine addiction on forms to buy a Colt Cobra .38 handgun, and one charge of possessing a firearm while using drugs.

No one is above the law, it doesnt matter who you are or what your name is, prosecutor Derek Hines said as he opened the governments case on Tuesday.

Read the full article from Rozina Sabur here.

05:46 PM BST

Prosecutors to speak to media soon

David Weiss and his team of prosecutors, who secured a guilty verdict against Hunter Biden, are expected to hold a press conference at 6pm BST (1pm ET).

05:41 PM BST

Hunter Biden breaks silence after guilty verdict

Hunter Biden said in a statement: I am more grateful today for the love and support I experienced this last week from Melissa [Cohen Biden, his wife], my family, my friends, and my community than I am disappointed by the outcome.

Recovery is possible by the grace of God, and I am blessed to experience that gift one day at a time.

05:39 PM BST

Conviction slows Donald Trumps momentum

Hunter Bidens conviction undermines Donald Trumps claims that he is the victim of a weaponised justice system, a Republican strategist has said.

The individual told NBC News: It at a minimum slows the momentum and the clear-cut argument that the Trump campaign previously had about Bidens weaponisation of the justice system.

Its less of a bumper-sticker than it was before.

Trump has repeatedly claimed that his New York hush money trial was rigged by the White House. He was found guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records last month.

05:31 PM BST

What did Hunter Biden do?

Hunter Biden was found guilty on three charges related to his purchase of a gun in Oct 2018 while addicted to crack cocaine.

Two of those charges stem from the fact that he stated he was not addicted to illegal drugs when he purchased the Colt Cobra revolver from a shop in Wilmington, Delaware.

He has also been convicted of owning the gun for 11 days while addicted to illegal drugs.

The first two counts carry maximum prison sentences of 10 years, while the third has a maximum of five years. He is expected to be sentenced within 120 days.

05:25 PM BST

Pictured: Hunter Biden leaves court with First Lady and wife

First lady Jill Biden, Hunter Biden and his wife, Melissa Cohen Biden, leave court in Delaware - Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

05:22 PM BST

Hunter Biden found guilty on all charges in gun trial

Hunter Biden has been found guilty in a federal gun trial which laid bare humiliating details of the US presidents family drama.

The presidents son was convicted by a jury in Delaware on all three of the counts relating to buying a revolver in 2018, which the prosecution said he did while addicted to crack cocaine.

Jurors deliberated for three hours after leaving the courtroom in Wilmington on Monday afternoon.

Mr Biden kissed his wife, Melissa Cohen Biden, when the verdict was announced. He walked out of court hand-in-hand with the 38-year-old and his step-mother, First Lady Jill Biden.

He did not speak to the press but is expected to issue a written statement.

Maryellen Noreika, the judge overseeing Mr Bidens trial, did not set a date for his sentencing but said she would do so in due course. She noted that such hearings typically take place within 120 days of the verdict.

05:18 PM BST

Hunter Biden smoked crack every 20 minutes in hotels with stripper

Hunter Biden would smoke crack every 20 minutes during hotel hook-ups, his ex-girlfriend told his federal gun trial on Wednesday.

Zoe Kestan, 30, said she met the charming US presidents son when she performed a dance for him at a New York strip club in 2017.

He pulled out a pipe and began smoking crack cocaine within minutes, she told a court in Wilmington, Delaware.

She was one of three former partners of Mr Biden called by prosecutors to air embarrassing and sordid details about the Biden family at his federal trial.

Read the full story from Rozina Sabur here.

05:06 PM BST

How Hunter Bidens book returned to haunt him

Years before his trial, Hunter Biden has spoken openly in a memoir about his struggle with a crack cocaine addiction before getting clean more than five years ago.

His own words came back to haunt him, when lurid excerpts of his autobiography were played for the jury.

During the trial Mr Bidens ex-wife and two former girlfriends testified for prosecutors about his habitual drug use and their failed efforts to help him get clean.

Mr Biden now faces a second federal trial in September on charges alleging he failed to pay at least $1.4 million (1.1 million) in taxes over four years.

05:01 PM BST

Hunter Bidens defence tried to paint him as victim of Washington

Hunter Bidens criminal cases have at times pitted his lawyers against the White House.

Hunters team has argued that his case was the result of prosecutors caving into pressure from Republicans, who claimed a tentative plea agreement for him was a sweetheart deal.

The plea bargain ultimately fell apart when it was scrutinised by the presiding judge in the gun trial, Maryellen Noreika, and it emerged prosecutors were unwilling to rule out bringing further charges.

Hunters team have attempted to paint him as the victim of Washington politics, an unhelpful argument for the White House which has refuted similar claims from Donald Trump and his allies.

White House aides have privately voiced frustration over Hunters claims, suggesting they have fuelled the media spotlight on a case that has been painfully personal for the president.

04:57 PM BST

The humiliating details from Hunter Bidens gun trial

Hunter Biden and the rest of the Biden family listened to humiliating details from the 54-year-olds turbulent life over the course of his week-long trial.

The US Presidents son stared down at the floor as excerpts were played out from an audiobook of his memoir, in which he detailed his superpower - finding crack cocaine.

Ashley Biden constantly wiped her eyes as the court heard graphic details about her half-brothers drug use, leaving the court in tears last week.

Some details were kept out of the book. At one point, Hallie Biden - the widow of Hunter Bidens brother, Beau - told the court that the businessman had introduced her to crack cocaine.

It was a terrible experience that I went through, and Im embarrassed and ashamed, and I regret that period of my life, she said.

Kathleen Buhle, Mr Bidens ex-wife, revealed she searched her husbands car for drugs before their three daughters drove it. His addiction made him angry-short-tempered, she said.

Zoe Kestan, a stripper and yet another ex-partner to testify against Mr Biden, said he smoked crack cocaine every 20 minutes as they met in hotel rooms.

04:45 PM BST

Pictured: Hunter Biden smiles as he leaves court

Hunter Biden, accompanied by his wife, Melissa Cohen Biden, leaves court - AP Photo/Matt Rourke

04:40 PM BST

Biden aides: Impact on president is personal, not political

Joe Bidens aides have described the inner turmoil the president has faced during the trial of his only surviving son.



They have argued that for Mr Biden, 81, this has been personal rather than political. The president and his wife, Jill, were said to be deeply concerned about the toll of the proceedings on Hunter.

But there is no doubt that this verdict will reverberate throughout the 2024 presidential campaign.

Republicans have made frequent reference to the presidents scandal-plagued son, and the testimony over the last week has only given them fresh ammunition.

Mr Bidens allies, however, can argue that the conviction undercuts Donald Trumps claims that Democrats have weaponised the justice system.

04:37 PM BST

Hunter Biden leaves court

Hunter Biden has left the courthouse in Wilmington, walking to a vehicle holding the hand of his wife, Melissa Cohen Biden, and step-mother, First Lady Jill Biden.

He is expected to issue a written statement following his guilty verdict, US media reports.

04:34 PM BST

Hunter Biden introduced brothers widow to crack cocaine, court heard

Hunter Biden introduced the widow of his military veteran brother to crack cocaine, she told his gun trial in Wilmington, Delaware.

Hallie Biden, 50, was married to Joe Bidens eldest son, Beau, until his death from brain cancer in 2015. She later dated Hunter, 54.

On Thursday, she was called to the stand as the star witness for the governments trial against him.

Read the full story from Rozina Sabur here.

04:32 PM BST

No sentencing date yet

Maryellen Noreika, the judge overseeing Hunter Bidens trial, did not set a sentencing date before court adjourned for the day. She said she will set it at a later point, noting that the hearing typically takes place within 120 days of the verdict.

04:30 PM BST

Jill Biden not present for verdict

Jill Biden, the first lady, was not in the court as her stepson was found guilty on all three counts. She arrived soon after the verdict was read out, US media reports.

04:28 PM BST

Trial was a traumatic experience for the Biden family

This has been a traumatic experience for the Biden family, who have packed the courtroom in their hometown of Wilmington each day.

They have been forced to relive a painful chapter in the familys history in a very public forum.

Texts Hunter sent about meeting a drug dealer named Mookie, topless photos of the First Son and images of drugs have all been shown in court.

At one point, Hunters sister, Ashley, wiped away tears as she listened to prosecutors combing through text messages between Hunter and his loved ones.

She did not return when the court returned from a break.

Hunters daughter, Naomi, had a bruising experience on the stand as she attempted to bolster her fathers case.

Prosecutors used texts, including one which she sent saying: Im really sorry dad I cant take this, to undercut her testimony.

Hunter looked down, head in his hands, during the testimony.

04:27 PM BST

Pictures: Hunter Biden arrives at court with wife for verdict

Hunter Biden, son of U.S. President Joe Biden, and his wife Melissa Cohen Biden arrive for the reading of the verdict - REUTERS/Hannah Beier

04:24 PM BST

Hunter Biden found guilty

Hunter Biden, son of US President Joe Biden, has been found guilty on all three charges stemming from his purchase of a gun in 2018 while addicted to cocaine.

04:17 PM BST

Jurors in Biden gun trial reach verdict

Jurors in Hunter Bidens federal gun trial have reached a verdict.

Hunter Biden pleaded not guilty and has accused the Justice Department of bending to political pressure from former President Donald Trump and other Republicans to bring the case.

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.
Republicans are scrambling to prevent Hunter Bidens conviction on felony gun charges from undermining their argument that the judicial system is being weaponized against Donald Trump.

They just cant agree on how.

Trumps campaign cast the conviction of his rivals son on Tuesday as a distraction from the real crimes of the Biden Crime Family, while some hard-line supporters dismissed the proceedings as fake.

House Speaker Mike Johnson argued that Hunter Bidens conviction doesnt undercut Republicans claims of a two-tiered justice system because the evidence against him was overwhelming.

And still other Hill Republicans went so far as to describe the verdict as a step towards ensuring equal application of the law.

Republicans divergent responses to the verdict on Tuesday afternoon offered a real-time glimpse into the partys struggle to reconcile what should have been a political win  the criminal conviction of the presidents son  with the guilty verdict rendered against their own standard bearer.

It throws a bit of sand in the gears of people suggesting the Biden Department of Justice has been engineered to go after Trump, said Jason Roe, a GOP strategist and former chair of the Michigan Republican Party.

But, Roe conceded, one feature of the modern Republican Party is ignoring facts that dont support the argument and sometimes embracing the conspiracy theories that do.

Trumps team made no mention of either Hunter Biden or the former presidents own legal troubles in its response to the Delaware jurys decision.

This trial has been nothing more than a distraction from the real crimes of the Biden Crime Family, which has raked in tens of millions of dollars from China, Russia and Ukraine, Trump campaign spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said in a prepared statement. Crooked Joe Bidens reign over the Biden Family Criminal Empire is all coming to an end on November 5th, and never again will a Biden sell government access for personal profit.

The statement appears to be a modified version of one initially provided to CNN, which included well wishes for Hunter Biden in his recovery and legal affairs.

Trump and his allies have long accused the president of profiting off his sons business dealings, even as they have struggled to substantiate the charges. A GOP impeachment inquiry in the House has stalled. House Oversight Chair James Comer (R-Ky.), who has been leading investigations into Biden, called the verdict a step toward accountability but blamed the Department of Justice for not investigating his business dealings and providing the president cover.

The rendering of a guilty verdict against the presidents son less than two weeks after a jury convicted Trump of 34 counts of falsifying business records in a Manhattan criminal trial appeared to mollify other Hill Republicans  at least a little.

Todays verdict is a step towards ensuring equal application of the law, regardless of one's last name, Rep. Jason Smith (R-Mo.) posted on X.

Rep. Josh Brecheen (R-Okla.) wrote on X that he is glad to see that justice has been served. Nobody is above the law, including the Presidents son.

But others were conspiratorial, suggesting without evidence that the Department of Justice did not proceed with other cases against Hunter Biden that could potentially tie back to the president. Hunter Biden is facing a separate trial in California on federal tax charges. That case isnt expected to go to trial until the fall.

The gun charges are a giant misdirection, former Trump senior adviser Stephen Miller argued in a post on X. DOJ is Joes election protection racket.

Never forget DOJ tried to avoid this trial & verdict by giving Hunter a sweetheart plea deal. Until the judge exposed them, Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) posted on X. Last summer, a plea deal with federal prosecutors that would have spared him from an election year trial fell apart.

And Charlie Kirk, a Trump ally and conservative commentator, warned his millions of followers on X not to fall for a fake trial trying to make the Justice system appear balanced.

Others tried to have it both ways. Kash Patel, a former national security adviser to Trump, said the verdict demonstrates a fleeting moment of justice for all  while also arguing that the trials of the former president and his rivals son expose the inequities in our legal system based on its weaponization.

And then there was Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), who said: The Hunter Biden gun conviction is kinda dumb tbh.

Biden said in a statement Tuesday that he will accept the outcome of this case and will continue to respect the judicial process as Hunter considers an appeal. He previously told ABC News that he would not pardon his son.
Trump campaign, Republicans seize on Hunter Biden verdict to ramp up attacks on father

Donald Trump's 2024 campaign, and many of the former president's Republican allies, are seizing on Hunter Biden's conviction to escalate attacks on President Joe Biden.

The Trump team, shortly after the guilty verdict was handed down in the younger Biden's federal gun trial, sought to shift focus, without evidence, to claims about the family's alleged foreign business dealings.

"This trial has been nothing more than a distraction from the real crimes of the Biden Crime Family, which has raked in tens of millions of dollars from China, Russia and Ukraine," Karoline Leavitt, the Trump campaign's national press secretary, said in a statement. "Crooked Joe Bidens reign over the Biden Family Criminal Empire is all coming to an end on November 5th, and never again will a Biden sell government access for personal profit."

MORE: What's next for Hunter Biden following conviction on federal gun charges

House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, who is leading the GOP's stalled impeachment inquiry into President Biden, offered similar unfounded claims.

"Today's verdict is a step toward accountability but until the Department of Justice investigates everyone involved in the Bidens' corrupt influence peddling schemes that generated over $18 million in foreign payments to the Biden family, it will be clear department officials continue to cover for the Big Guy, Joe Biden," Comer said.

PHOTO: Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally, June 6, 2024, in Phoenix. (Rick Scuteri/AP, FILE)

Republicans have long alleged wrongdoing in Hunter Biden and James Biden's overseas business affairs, and that President Biden was involved, but have yet to yield any concrete evidence against the president.

Rep. Elise Stefanik, the No. 3 House Republican, said the verdict against Hunter Biden was "step one" and that the party "will continue" to investigate the family.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, asked about the verdict, told reporters it was "appropriate" as there was "overwhelming" evidence against Hunter Biden.

Though when asked if the outcome undercut his claims of a two-tiered justice system -- assertions echoed by many Republicans amid Trump's legal woes -- Johnson said no.

All the charges that have been brought against him [Trump] have been obviously brought for political purposes," Johnson said. "Hunter Biden is a separate instance.

PHOTO: Speaker of the House Mike Johnson meets with reporters to condemn former President Donald Trump's guilty conviction in a New York court last week, at the Capitol, June 4, 2024. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP)

Hunter Biden was indicted in September by special counsel David Weiss on two counts related to false statements in purchasing the firearm and a third count of illegally obtaining a firearm while addicted to drugs. The indictment came after a plea deal with the federal government fell apart.

The failed plea agreement was highly criticized by Republicans, who on Tuesday to continue to call it a "sweetheart deal."

"They want you to forget DOJ was giving Hunter Biden a sweetheart deal with FULL immunity for ALL crimes against the United States until the Judge asked questions," said Sen. Eric Schmitt, a Missouri Republican.

After a weeklong trial, a jury found the younger Biden guilty on all three counts after deliberating for just three hours.

MORE: Biden shows support for son Hunter after conviction, says he will respect verdict

In a statement, his attorney Abbe Lowell said they will continue to pursue legal avenues available to challenge the outcome.

President Biden, in his first comment on the conviction, expressed love for his son and said he respected the verdict and judicial process.

"Jill and I will always be there for Hunter and the rest of our family with our love and support," President Biden said. "Nothing will ever change that."

ABC News' Soorin Kim, Arthur Jones and Allison Pecorin contributed to this report.

Trump campaign, Republicans seize on Hunter Biden verdict to ramp up attacks on father originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Trump Campaign Has Thoughts On Hunter Biden Verdict

Shortly after Hunter Bidensguilty verdict was announced, Donald Trumps campaign issued a statement about the conviction.

Although President Joe Bidens son potentially faces up to 25 years in prison for illegally owning a gun, the former president  who was recently convicted of 34 felonies  thought the jury didnt go far enough.

In a statement to reporters, the Trump campaign called the trial a distraction from the real crimes of the Biden Crime Family, which has raked in tens of millions of dollars from China, Russia and Ukraine.

The statement continued, Crooked Joe Bidens reign over the Biden Family Criminal Empire is all coming to an end on November 5th, and never again will a Biden sell government access for personal profit.

Trumps firstborn son, Donald Trump Jr., posted the statement on social media.

NEW: Statement from the Trump campaign on the conviction of Hunter Biden pic.twitter.com/op7DI204oS  Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) June 11, 2024

People had strong opinions about the statement.

Now that Hunter is a convicted felon, he can work for you.  Lynda hates GOP thugs (@IvanasStairCam) June 11, 2024

Accuse those of what you have done and will continue to do if back in office. So much evidence on Biden, yet no impeachment or criminal referrals. Oh but there will be a report in two weeks.     A to the Z  (@A_tothe_Z_Amber) June 11, 2024

Your dad bragged about making millions in foreign money while in the White House.  Jo (@JoJoFromJerz) June 11, 2024

Donald Trump - 34 felony convictions.



MAGA: The system is rigged.



Hunter Biden - 3 felony convictions.



MAGA: This is nothing more than a distraction.   (@ChidiNwatu) June 11, 2024

But others preferred a parody statement from a Trump impersonator who said, Dont worry Joe, I will save your son after I get elected (for the third time).

Tbh I think this one is better  pic.twitter.com/3DevSnj2za  Jamie   (@LibertyJamison) June 11, 2024

Joe Biden also issued a statement about the verdict against his son, emphasizing that he will accept the outcome of this case and will continue to respect the judicial process as Hunter considers an appeal.

Related...
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Jerusalem, on June 10, 2024. (Amos Ben-Gershom/GPO/Handout via Xinhua)

JERUSALEM, June 11 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Tuesday that Hamas' welcoming of a United Nations resolution that backs a proposal for a ceasefire in the Gaza conflict was a "hopeful sign."

Blinken, currently on a visit to the Middle East to sell the ceasefire deal, made the remarks after Sami Abu Zuhri, a senior Hamas spokesman, said Tuesday the movement accepted the ceasefire proposal, according to a report by Israel's state-owned Kan TV news.

A day earlier, Hamas announced in a statement sent via Telegram that it "welcomes" the UN Security Council resolution supporting a ceasefire in Gaza, a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces, and a swap of Palestinian prisoners for hostages held in Gaza.

Yet Blinken expressed his anticipation for Hamas leaders in Gaza to provide a clear confirmation of their stance on the proposal. "That's what counts, and that's what we still lack," he said.

He met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday night and said that the prime minister had "reaffirmed his commitment" to the ceasefire proposal.

Blinken met with Israeli officials on Monday and Tuesday after talks with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi in Cairo on Monday, as the Israeli hostage rescue operation, which killed more than 200 Palestinians, clouded the prospects for the ceasefire agreement. 
Former President Trump completed his mandatory pre-sentencing interview with a New York City probation officer Monday, following his conviction late last month in the hush-money trial, according to a person familiar with the proceedings.

The routine interview, required by law, will aid Judge Juan Merchan, who presided over Trumps first criminal case, in deciding what type of punishment the former president will face when he is sentenced. The sentencing hearing is currently set for July 11, just four days before the 2024 Republican National Convention, where Trump is expected to be named the official GOP presidential nominee.

The virtual interview was uneventful and lasted less than thirty minutes, the source said. The former president completed it from his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Fla.

The President and his team will continue to fight the lawless Manhattan DA Witch Hunt, along with the other Crooked Joe Biden-directed Hoaxes, the source added.

New York City Department of Probation Commissioner Juanita Holmes was present in the video conference meeting, along with the departments counsel and officer designated to the former presidents case. Todd Blanche, Trumps lead attorney in the Manhattan criminal case, was also present, according to CNN.

During these meetings, defendants are normally asked about their convictions and some of their background information  but they do not have to cooperate. However, not participating could be taken negatively by Merchan, who is able to sentence the presumptive GOP nominee for up to four years per felony count.

Both prosecutors and the defense team can submit letters with recommendations for how Trump should be sentenced.

Trump became the first former president convicted on felony charges late last month. A New York jury found him guilty on all 34 counts for falsifying business records related to a payment made to adult film star Stormy Daniels during the 2016 election to conceal an alleged past affair, which he denies.

His legal team has vowed to consider all options when it comes to appealing the conviction.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
*Video above is previous coverage of the meeting.

(The Hill)  Former President Donald Trump completed his mandatory pre-sentencing interview with a New York City probation officer Monday following his conviction late last month in the hush-money trial, according to a person familiar with the proceedings.

The routine interview, required by law, will aid Judge Juan Merchan, who presided over Trumps first criminal case, in deciding what type of punishment the former president will face when he is sentenced. The sentencing hearing is set for July 11, just four days before the 2024 Republican National Convention, where Trump is expected to be named the official GOP presidential nominee.

The virtual interview was uneventful and lasted less than thirty minutes, the source said. The former president completed it from his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida.

The President and his team will continue to fight the lawless Manhattan DA Witch Hunt, along with the other Crooked Joe Biden-directed Hoaxes, the source added.

Trump delay tactics freeze legal battles post-conviction

New York City Department of Probation Commissioner Juanita Holmes was present in the video conference meeting, along with the departments counsel and officer designated to the former presidents case. Todd Blanche, Trumps lead attorney in the Manhattan criminal case, was also present, according to CNN.

During these meetings, defendants are normally asked about their convictions and some of their background information, but they do not have to cooperate. However, not participating could be taken negatively by Merchan, who can sentence the presumptive GOP nominee for up to four years per felony count.

Both prosecutors and the defense team can submit letters recommending how Trump should be sentenced.

Trump became the first former president convicted on felony charges late last month. A New York jury found him guilty on all 34 counts for falsifying business records related to a payment made to adult film star Stormy Daniels during the 2016 election to conceal an alleged past affair, which he denies.

His legal team has vowed to consider all options when it comes to appealing the conviction.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
A server delivers beverages at Dover Downs Casino on June 5, 2018 in Dover, Delaware. Former President Donald Trump said in a campaign rally in Las Vegas on June 9, 2024 he would seek to end taxes for tips if elected again in November. (Photo by Mark Makela/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  Economists across the ideological spectrum raised doubts about the cost and workability of former President Donald Trumps proposal over the weekend to exempt tips from federal taxes if he wins in November.

During a campaign rally Sunday in Las Vegas, where hundreds of thousands work in the hospitality industry, Trump promised service workers that they would no longer have to pay federal taxes on tipped income if the presumptive Republican nominee wins a second term.

The roughly 6 million tipped workers in the U.S., as of the latest data available from 2018, make up a small fraction of the countrys 150 million taxpayers, but campaigning on tax cuts for certain demographics is increasingly a top issue leading up to Novembers presidential election.

This is the first time Ive said this, and for those who work at hotels and people that get tips, youre gonna be very happy because when I get to office we are going to not charge taxes on tips, on people making tips, Trump said to cheers at the rally.

Trump said he will do that right away, first thing in office, though changing the tax code would require an act of Congress.

Tax code due for update

Large portions of the sweeping 2017 tax law that Congress passed along party lines during the Trump administration are set to expire at the end of 2025, and lawmakers and advocates are already trotting out their priorities.

Tipped workers made an average $6,000 on top of their base wages in 2018, and together they paid about $38 billion in taxes on tips, according to the latest Internal Revenue Service figures. In 2018, the IRS collected about $7 trillion in overall taxes.

In terms of the macroeconomic impact, its pretty small, said Erica York, senior economist and research director at the right-leaning Tax Foundation.

If you think of it in terms of what Congress is going to be debating next year, one of the big challenges that lawmakers are going to face is the revenue impact. Every dollar of tax revenue for one type of tax cut is $1 less for another type of tax cut. So its going to be a real exercise in prioritizing trade-offs across different policies, York said.

Trump has vowed to extend all tax cuts enacted under his watch, but the cost of extending them over the next decade would reach $4.6 trillion, according to estimates from the Joint Committee on Taxation and nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.

Trumps proposal to tipped workers smells more of campaign politics than a really well thought out and principled tax policy proposal, York added. And I think the elephant in the room for both candidates is that they havent fully addressed what are you going to do about these huge expirations that are scheduled to happen next year?

The Trump campaign did not respond to requests for further detail.

Incentivizing tipped work

Andrew Lautz, associate director for the Bipartisan Policy Center, said while tipped workers are a small slice of the tax base, youre talking about a potentially large chunk of revenue that youre giving up on an annual basis, depending on how the policy would be rolled out.

Our current tax system is certainly not designed to treat all income equally, but this proposal, if it were enacted into law, would sort of add a new category of income that is not subject to tax, Lautz said. And you know what economic theory would say is that, all else equal, making that change would incentivize people to have tips which are not taxed under this proposal versus regular wage income.

There is also the potential for misuse, he added.

If Donald Trump is president again next year, and even if hes not, but this proposal sort of catches interest from policymakers in Congress, its very well possible that this could be on the table, Lautz added.

Janet Holtzblatt, senior fellow at the left-leaning Tax Policy Center run by the Urban Institute and Brookings Institution, said Trumps proposal to eliminate taxes on tips is unusual.

Because tips are a substitute for the wages and salaries that the rest of us get, and if you dont tax tips, youre basically not taxing tip workers (on) their wages, making it a tax advantage on their earnings. Those of us who dont work in industries where tips are paid, we would not get the same tax advantage, Holtzblatt said.

Minimum wage

Several localities wage laws allow employers to pay service workers hourly rates well below the federal minimum wage.

Holtzblatt said the solution is for localities to raise the minimum wage for service workers for multiple reasons.

Tips are not always a predictable form of income, she said. And theres a great deal of variation, the tips that the server gets at the top-notch restaurant are going to be very different than the tips the person in the diner gets.

President Joe Bidens reelection campaign responded to Trumps wild campaign promise by saying that Biden supports increasing the minimum wage and eliminating the tipped minimum wage, a much bigger deal than Trumps proposal, a campaign spokesman wrote in a Monday email to States Newsroom.

Ted Pappageorge, secretary-treasurer for Culinary Workers Union Local 226, which has 60,000 members in Las Vegas and Reno, Nevada, said the organization has for decades fought for tipped workers rights and against unfair taxation.

Relief is definitely needed for tip earners, Pappageorge said in a statement over the weekend. But Nevada workers are smart enough to know the difference between real solutions and wild campaign promises from a convicted felon.

The post Trump floats plan to end taxes on tips, though experts raise doubts appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
A server delivers beverages at Dover Downs Casino on June 5, 2018 in Dover, Delaware. Former President Donald Trump said in a campaign rally in Las Vegas on June 9, 2024 he would seek to end taxes for tips if elected again in November. (Mark Makela | Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  Economists across the ideological spectrum raised doubts about the cost and workability of former President Donald Trumps proposal over the weekend to exempt tips from federal taxes if he wins in November.

During a campaign rally Sunday in Las Vegas, where hundreds of thousands work in the hospitality industry, Trump promised service workers that they would no longer have to pay federal taxes on tipped income if the presumptive Republican nominee wins a second term.

The roughly 6 million tipped workers in the U.S., as of the latest data available from 2018, make up a small fraction of the countrys 150 million taxpayers, but campaigning on tax cuts for certain demographics is increasingly a top issue leading up to Novembers presidential election.

This is the first time Ive said this, and for those who work at hotels and people that get tips, youre gonna be very happy because when I get to office we are going to not charge taxes on tips, on people making tips, Trump said to cheers at the rally.

Trump said he will do that right away, first thing in office, though changing the tax code would require an act of Congress.

Tax code due for update

Large portions of the sweeping 2017 tax law that Congress passed along party lines during the Trump administration are set to expire at the end of 2025, and lawmakers and advocates are already trotting out their priorities.

Tipped workers made an average $6,000 on top of their base wages in 2018, and together they paid about $38 billion in taxes on tips, according to the latest Internal Revenue Service figures. In 2018, the IRS collected about $7 trillion in overall taxes.

In terms of the macroeconomic impact, its pretty small, said Erica York, senior economist and research director at the right-leaning Tax Foundation.

If you think of it in terms of what Congress is going to be debating next year, one of the big challenges that lawmakers are going to face is the revenue impact. Every dollar of tax revenue for one type of tax cut is $1 less for another type of tax cut. So its going to be a real exercise in prioritizing trade-offs across different policies, York said.

Trump has vowed to extend all tax cuts enacted under his watch, but the cost of extending them over the next decade would reach $4.6 trillion, according to estimates from the Joint Committee on Taxation and nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.

Trumps proposal to tipped workers smells more of campaign politics than a really well thought out and principled tax policy proposal, York added. And I think the elephant in the room for both candidates is that they havent fully addressed what are you going to do about these huge expirations that are scheduled to happen next year?

The Trump campaign did not respond to requests for further detail.

Incentivizing tipped work

Andrew Lautz, associate director for the Bipartisan Policy Center, said while tipped workers are a small slice of the tax base, youre talking about a potentially large chunk of revenue that youre giving up on an annual basis, depending on how the policy would be rolled out.

Our current tax system is certainly not designed to treat all income equally, but this proposal, if it were enacted into law, would sort of add a new category of income that is not subject to tax, Lautz said. And you know what economic theory would say is that, all else equal, making that change would incentivize people to have tips which are not taxed under this proposal versus regular wage income.

There is also the potential for misuse, he added.

If Donald Trump is president again next year, and even if hes not, but this proposal sort of catches interest from policymakers in Congress, its very well possible that this could be on the table, Lautz added.

Janet Holtzblatt, senior fellow at the left-leaning Tax Policy Center run by the Urban Institute and Brookings Institution, said Trumps proposal to eliminate taxes on tips is unusual.

Because tips are a substitute for the wages and salaries that the rest of us get, and if you dont tax tips, youre basically not taxing tip workers [on] their wages, making it a tax advantage on their earnings. Those of us who dont work in industries where tips are paid, we would not get the same tax advantage, Holtzblatt said.

Minimum wage

Several localities wage laws allow employers to pay service workers hourly rates well below the federal minimum wage.

Holtzblatt said the solution is for localities to raise the minimum wage for service workers for multiple reasons.

Tips are not always a predictable form of income, she said. And theres a great deal of variation, the tips that the server gets at the top-notch restaurant are going to be very different than the tips the person in the diner gets.

President Joe Bidens reelection campaign responded to Trumps wild campaign promise by saying that Biden supports increasing the minimum wage and eliminating the tipped minimum wage, a much bigger deal than Trumps proposal, a campaign spokesman wrote in a Monday email to States Newsroom.

Ted Pappageorge, secretary-treasurer for Culinary Workers Union Local 226, which has 60,000 members in Las Vegas and Reno, Nevada, said the organization has for decades fought for tipped workers rights and against unfair taxation.

Relief is definitely needed for tip earners, Pappageorge said in a statement over the weekend. But Nevada workers are smart enough to know the difference between real solutions and wild campaign promises from a convicted felon.

The post Trump floats plan to end taxes on tips, though experts raise doubts appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
A server delivers beverages at Dover Downs Casino on June 5, 2018 in Dover, Delaware. Former President Donald Trump said in a campaign rally in Las Vegas on June 9, 2024 he would seek to end taxes for tips if elected again in November. (Photo by Mark Makela/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  Economists across the ideological spectrum raised doubts about the cost and workability of former President Donald Trumps proposal over the weekend to exempt tips from federal taxes if he wins in November.

During a campaign rally Sunday in Las Vegas, where hundreds of thousands work in the hospitality industry, Trump promised service workers that they would no longer have to pay federal taxes on tipped income if the presumptive Republican nominee wins a second term.

The roughly 6 million tipped workers in the U.S., as of the latest data available from 2018, make up a small fraction of the countrys 150 million taxpayers, but campaigning on tax cuts for certain demographics is increasingly a top issue leading up to Novembers presidential election.

This is the first time Ive said this, and for those who work at hotels and people that get tips, youre gonna be very happy because when I get to office we are going to not charge taxes on tips, on people making tips, Trump said to cheers at the rally.

Trump said he will do that right away, first thing in office, though changing the tax code would require an act of Congress.

Tax code due for update

Large portions of the sweeping 2017 tax law that Congress passed along party lines during the Trump administration are set to expire at the end of 2025, and lawmakers and advocates are already trotting out their priorities.

Tipped workers made an average $6,000 on top of their base wages in 2018, and together they paid about $38 billion in taxes on tips, according to the latest Internal Revenue Service figures. In 2018, the IRS collected about $7 trillion in overall taxes.

In terms of the macroeconomic impact, its pretty small, said Erica York, senior economist and research director at the right-leaning Tax Foundation.

If you think of it in terms of what Congress is going to be debating next year, one of the big challenges that lawmakers are going to face is the revenue impact. Every dollar of tax revenue for one type of tax cut is $1 less for another type of tax cut. So its going to be a real exercise in prioritizing trade-offs across different policies, York said.

Trump has vowed to extend all tax cuts enacted under his watch, but the cost of extending them over the next decade would reach $4.6 trillion, according to estimates from the Joint Committee on Taxation and nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.

Trumps proposal to tipped workers smells more of campaign politics than a really well thought out and principled tax policy proposal, York added. And I think the elephant in the room for both candidates is that they havent fully addressed what are you going to do about these huge expirations that are scheduled to happen next year?

The Trump campaign did not respond to requests for further detail.

Incentivizing tipped work

Andrew Lautz, associate director for the Bipartisan Policy Center, said while tipped workers are a small slice of the tax base, youre talking about a potentially large chunk of revenue that youre giving up on an annual basis, depending on how the policy would be rolled out.

Our current tax system is certainly not designed to treat all income equally, but this proposal, if it were enacted into law, would sort of add a new category of income that is not subject to tax, Lautz said. And you know what economic theory would say is that, all else equal, making that change would incentivize people to have tips which are not taxed under this proposal versus regular wage income.

There is also the potential for misuse, he added.

If Donald Trump is president again next year, and even if hes not, but this proposal sort of catches interest from policymakers in Congress, its very well possible that this could be on the table, Lautz added.

Janet Holtzblatt, senior fellow at the left-leaning Tax Policy Center run by the Urban Institute and Brookings Institution, said Trumps proposal to eliminate taxes on tips is unusual.

Because tips are a substitute for the wages and salaries that the rest of us get, and if you dont tax tips, youre basically not taxing tip workers (on) their wages, making it a tax advantage on their earnings. Those of us who dont work in industries where tips are paid, we would not get the same tax advantage, Holtzblatt said.

Minimum wage

Several localities wage laws allow employers to pay service workers hourly rates well below the federal minimum wage.

Holtzblatt said the solution is for localities to raise the minimum wage for service workers for multiple reasons.

Tips are not always a predictable form of income, she said. And theres a great deal of variation, the tips that the server gets at the top-notch restaurant are going to be very different than the tips the person in the diner gets.

President Joe Bidens reelection campaign responded to Trumps wild campaign promise by saying that Biden supports increasing the minimum wage and eliminating the tipped minimum wage, a much bigger deal than Trumps proposal, a campaign spokesman wrote in a Monday email to States Newsroom.

Ted Pappageorge, secretary-treasurer for Culinary Workers Union Local 226, which has 60,000 members in Las Vegas and Reno, Nevada, said the organization has for decades fought for tipped workers rights and against unfair taxation.

Relief is definitely needed for tip earners, Pappageorge said in a statement over the weekend. But Nevada workers are smart enough to know the difference between real solutions and wild campaign promises from a convicted felon.

The post Trump floats plan to end taxes on tips, though experts raise doubts appeared first on Kentucky Lantern.
A server delivers beverages at Dover Downs Casino on June 5, 2018 in Dover, Delaware. Former President Donald Trump said in a campaign rally in Las Vegas on June 9, 2024 he would seek to end taxes for tips if elected again in November. (File/Mark Makela/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  Economists across the ideological spectrum raised doubts about the cost and workability of former President Donald Trumps proposal over the weekend to exempt tips from federal taxes if he wins in November.

During a campaign rally Sunday in Las Vegas, where hundreds of thousands work in the hospitality industry, Trump promised service workers that they would no longer have to pay federal taxes on tipped income if the presumptive Republican nominee wins a second term.

The roughly 6 million tipped workers in the U.S., as of the latest data available from 2018, make up a small fraction of the countrys 150 million taxpayers, but campaigning on tax cuts for certain demographics is increasingly a top issue leading up to Novembers presidential election.

This is the first time Ive said this, and for those who work at hotels and people that get tips, youre gonna be very happy because when I get to office we are going to not charge taxes on tips, on people making tips, Trump said to cheers at the rally.

Trump said he will do that right away, first thing in office, though changing the tax code would require an act of Congress.

Tax code due for update

Large portions of the sweeping 2017 tax law that Congress passed along party lines during the Trump administration are set to expire at the end of 2025, and lawmakers and advocates are already trotting out their priorities.

Tipped workers made an average $6,000 on top of their base wages in 2018, and together they paid about $38 billion in taxes on tips, according to the latest Internal Revenue Service figures. In 2018, the IRS collected about $7 trillion in overall taxes.

In terms of the macroeconomic impact, its pretty small, said Erica York, senior economist and research director at the right-leaning Tax Foundation.

If you think of it in terms of what Congress is going to be debating next year, one of the big challenges that lawmakers are going to face is the revenue impact. Every dollar of tax revenue for one type of tax cut is $1 less for another type of tax cut. So its going to be a real exercise in prioritizing trade-offs across different policies, York said.

Trump has vowed to extend all tax cuts enacted under his watch, but the cost of extending them over the next decade would reach $4.6 trillion, according to estimates from the Joint Committee on Taxation and nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.

Trumps proposal to tipped workers smells more of campaign politics than a really well thought out and principled tax policy proposal, York added. And I think the elephant in the room for both candidates is that they havent fully addressed what are you going to do about these huge expirations that are scheduled to happen next year?

The Trump campaign did not respond to requests for further detail.

Incentivizing tipped work

Andrew Lautz, associate director for the Bipartisan Policy Center, said while tipped workers are a small slice of the tax base, youre talking about a potentially large chunk of revenue that youre giving up on an annual basis, depending on how the policy would be rolled out.

Our current tax system is certainly not designed to treat all income equally, but this proposal, if it were enacted into law, would sort of add a new category of income that is not subject to tax, Lautz said. And you know what economic theory would say is that, all else equal, making that change would incentivize people to have tips which are not taxed under this proposal versus regular wage income.

There is also the potential for misuse, he added.

If Donald Trump is president again next year, and even if hes not, but this proposal sort of catches interest from policymakers in Congress, its very well possible that this could be on the table, Lautz added.

Janet Holtzblatt, senior fellow at the left-leaning Tax Policy Center run by the Urban Institute and Brookings Institution, said Trumps proposal to eliminate taxes on tips is unusual.

Because tips are a substitute for the wages and salaries that the rest of us get, and if you dont tax tips, youre basically not taxing tip workers (on) their wages, making it a tax advantage on their earnings. Those of us who dont work in industries where tips are paid, we would not get the same tax advantage, Holtzblatt said.

Minimum wage

Several localities wage laws allow employers to pay service workers hourly rates well below the federal minimum wage.

Holtzblatt said the solution is for localities to raise the minimum wage for service workers for multiple reasons.

Tips are not always a predictable form of income, she said. And theres a great deal of variation, the tips that the server gets at the top-notch restaurant are going to be very different than the tips the person in the diner gets.

President Joe Bidens reelection campaign responded to Trumps wild campaign promise by saying that Biden supports increasing the minimum wage and eliminating the tipped minimum wage, a much bigger deal than Trumps proposal, a campaign spokesman wrote in a Monday email to States Newsroom.

Ted Pappageorge, secretary-treasurer for Culinary Workers Union Local 226, which has 60,000 members in Las Vegas and Reno, Nevada, said the organization has for decades fought for tipped workers rights and against unfair taxation.

Relief is definitely needed for tip earners, Pappageorge said in a statement over the weekend. But Nevada workers are smart enough to know the difference between real solutions and wild campaign promises from a convicted felon.

The post Trump floats plan to end taxes on tips, though experts raise doubts appeared first on SC Daily Gazette.
A server delivers beverages at Dover Downs Casino on June 5, 2018 in Dover, Delaware. Former President Donald Trump said in a campaign rally in Las Vegas on June 9, 2024 he would seek to end taxes for tips if elected again in November. (Photo by Mark Makela/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  Economists across the ideological spectrum raised doubts about the cost and workability of former President Donald Trumps proposal over the weekend to exempt tips from federal taxes if he wins in November.

During a campaign rally Sunday in Las Vegas, where hundreds of thousands work in the hospitality industry, Trump promised service workers that they would no longer have to pay federal taxes on tipped income if the presumptive Republican nominee wins a second term.

The roughly 6 million tipped workers in the U.S., as of the latest data available from 2018, make up a small fraction of the countrys 150 million taxpayers, but campaigning on tax cuts for certain demographics is increasingly a top issue leading up to Novembers presidential election.

This is the first time Ive said this, and for those who work at hotels and people that get tips, youre gonna be very happy because when I get to office we are going to not charge taxes on tips, on people making tips, Trump said to cheers at the rally.

Trump said he will do that right away, first thing in office, though changing the tax code would require an act of Congress.

Tax code due for update

Large portions of the sweeping 2017 tax law that Congress passed along party lines during the Trump administration are set to expire at the end of 2025, and lawmakers and advocates are already trotting out their priorities.

Tipped workers made an average $6,000 on top of their base wages in 2018, and together they paid about $38 billion in taxes on tips, according to the latest Internal Revenue Service figures. In 2018, the IRS collected about $7 trillion in overall taxes.

In terms of the macroeconomic impact, its pretty small, said Erica York, senior economist and research director at the right-leaning Tax Foundation.

If you think of it in terms of what Congress is going to be debating next year, one of the big challenges that lawmakers are going to face is the revenue impact. Every dollar of tax revenue for one type of tax cut is $1 less for another type of tax cut. So its going to be a real exercise in prioritizing trade-offs across different policies, York said.

Trump has vowed to extend all tax cuts enacted under his watch, but the cost of extending them over the next decade would reach $4.6 trillion, according to estimates from the Joint Committee on Taxation and nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.

Trumps proposal to tipped workers smells more of campaign politics than a really well thought out and principled tax policy proposal, York added. And I think the elephant in the room for both candidates is that they havent fully addressed what are you going to do about these huge expirations that are scheduled to happen next year?

The Trump campaign did not respond to requests for further detail.

Incentivizing tipped work

Andrew Lautz, associate director for the Bipartisan Policy Center, said while tipped workers are a small slice of the tax base, youre talking about a potentially large chunk of revenue that youre giving up on an annual basis, depending on how the policy would be rolled out.

Our current tax system is certainly not designed to treat all income equally, but this proposal, if it were enacted into law, would sort of add a new category of income that is not subject to tax, Lautz said. And you know what economic theory would say is that, all else equal, making that change would incentivize people to have tips which are not taxed under this proposal versus regular wage income.

There is also the potential for misuse, he added.

If Donald Trump is president again next year, and even if hes not, but this proposal sort of catches interest from policymakers in Congress, its very well possible that this could be on the table, Lautz added.

Janet Holtzblatt, senior fellow at the left-leaning Tax Policy Center run by the Urban Institute and Brookings Institution, said Trumps proposal to eliminate taxes on tips is unusual.

Because tips are a substitute for the wages and salaries that the rest of us get, and if you dont tax tips, youre basically not taxing tip workers (on) their wages, making it a tax advantage on their earnings. Those of us who dont work in industries where tips are paid, we would not get the same tax advantage, Holtzblatt said.

Minimum wage

Several localities wage laws allow employers to pay service workers hourly rates well below the federal minimum wage.

Holtzblatt said the solution is for localities to raise the minimum wage for service workers for multiple reasons.

Tips are not always a predictable form of income, she said. And theres a great deal of variation, the tips that the server gets at the top-notch restaurant are going to be very different than the tips the person in the diner gets.

President Joe Bidens reelection campaign responded to Trumps wild campaign promise by saying that Biden supports increasing the minimum wage and eliminating the tipped minimum wage, a much bigger deal than Trumps proposal, a campaign spokesman wrote in a Monday email to States Newsroom.

Ted Pappageorge, secretary-treasurer for Culinary Workers Union Local 226, which has 60,000 members in Las Vegas and Reno, Nevada, said the organization has for decades fought for tipped workers rights and against unfair taxation.

Relief is definitely needed for tip earners, Pappageorge said in a statement over the weekend. But Nevada workers are smart enough to know the difference between real solutions and wild campaign promises from a convicted felon.

The post Trump floats plan to end taxes on tips, though experts raise doubts appeared first on New Jersey Monitor.
A server delivers beverages at Dover Downs Casino on June 5, 2018 in Dover, Delaware. Former President Donald Trump said in a campaign rally in Las Vegas on June 9, 2024 he would seek to end taxes for tips if elected again in November. (Photo by Mark Makela/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  Economists across the ideological spectrum raised doubts about the cost and workability of former President Donald Trumps proposal over the weekend to exempt tips from federal taxes if he wins in November.

During a campaign rally Sunday in Las Vegas, where hundreds of thousands work in the hospitality industry, Trump promised service workers that they would no longer have to pay federal taxes on tipped income if the presumptive Republican nominee wins a second term.

The roughly 6 million tipped workers in the U.S., as of the latest data available from 2018, make up a small fraction of the countrys 150 million taxpayers, but campaigning on tax cuts for certain demographics is increasingly a top issue leading up to Novembers presidential election.

This is the first time Ive said this, and for those who work at hotels and people that get tips, youre gonna be very happy because when I get to office we are going to not charge taxes on tips, on people making tips, Trump said to cheers at the rally.

Trump said he will do that right away, first thing in office, though changing the tax code would require an act of Congress.

Tax code due for update

Large portions of the sweeping 2017 tax law that Congress passed along party lines during the Trump administration are set to expire at the end of 2025, and lawmakers and advocates are already trotting out their priorities.

Tipped workers made an average $6,000 on top of their base wages in 2018, and together they paid about $38 billion in taxes on tips, according to the latest Internal Revenue Service figures. In 2018, the IRS collected about $7 trillion in overall taxes.

In terms of the macroeconomic impact, its pretty small, said Erica York, senior economist and research director at the right-leaning Tax Foundation.

If you think of it in terms of what Congress is going to be debating next year, one of the big challenges that lawmakers are going to face is the revenue impact. Every dollar of tax revenue for one type of tax cut is $1 less for another type of tax cut. So its going to be a real exercise in prioritizing trade-offs across different policies, York said.

Trump has vowed to extend all tax cuts enacted under his watch, but the cost of extending them over the next decade would reach $4.6 trillion, according to estimates from the Joint Committee on Taxation and nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.

Trumps proposal to tipped workers smells more of campaign politics than a really well thought out and principled tax policy proposal, York added. And I think the elephant in the room for both candidates is that they havent fully addressed what are you going to do about these huge expirations that are scheduled to happen next year?

The Trump campaign did not respond to requests for further detail.

Incentivizing tipped work

Andrew Lautz, associate director for the Bipartisan Policy Center, said while tipped workers are a small slice of the tax base, youre talking about a potentially large chunk of revenue that youre giving up on an annual basis, depending on how the policy would be rolled out.

Our current tax system is certainly not designed to treat all income equally, but this proposal, if it were enacted into law, would sort of add a new category of income that is not subject to tax, Lautz said. And you know what economic theory would say is that, all else equal, making that change would incentivize people to have tips which are not taxed under this proposal versus regular wage income.

There is also the potential for misuse, he added.

If Donald Trump is president again next year, and even if hes not, but this proposal sort of catches interest from policymakers in Congress, its very well possible that this could be on the table, Lautz added.

Janet Holtzblatt, senior fellow at the left-leaning Tax Policy Center run by the Urban Institute and Brookings Institution, said Trumps proposal to eliminate taxes on tips is unusual.

Because tips are a substitute for the wages and salaries that the rest of us get, and if you dont tax tips, youre basically not taxing tip workers (on) their wages, making it a tax advantage on their earnings. Those of us who dont work in industries where tips are paid, we would not get the same tax advantage, Holtzblatt said.

Minimum wage

Several localities wage laws allow employers to pay service workers hourly rates well below the federal minimum wage.

Holtzblatt said the solution is for localities to raise the minimum wage for service workers for multiple reasons.

Tips are not always a predictable form of income, she said. And theres a great deal of variation, the tips that the server gets at the top-notch restaurant are going to be very different than the tips the person in the diner gets.

President Joe Bidens reelection campaign responded to Trumps wild campaign promise by saying that Biden supports increasing the minimum wage and eliminating the tipped minimum wage, a much bigger deal than Trumps proposal, a campaign spokesman wrote in a Monday email to States Newsroom.

Ted Pappageorge, secretary-treasurer for Culinary Workers Union Local 226, which has 60,000 members in Las Vegas and Reno, Nevada, said the organization has for decades fought for tipped workers rights and against unfair taxation.

Relief is definitely needed for tip earners, Pappageorge said in a statement over the weekend. But Nevada workers are smart enough to know the difference between real solutions and wild campaign promises from a convicted felon.

The post Trump floats plan to end taxes on tips, though experts raise doubts appeared first on Utah News Dispatch.
A server delivers beverages at Dover Downs Casino on June 5, 2018 in Dover, Delaware. Former President Donald Trump said in a campaign rally in Las Vegas on June 9, 2024 he would seek to end taxes for tips if elected again in November. (Mark Makela/Getty Images)

Economists across the ideological spectrum raised doubts about the cost and workability of former President Donald Trumps proposal over the weekend to exempt tips from federal taxes if he wins in November.

During a campaign rally Sunday in Las Vegas, where hundreds of thousands work in the hospitality industry, Trump promised service workers that they would no longer have to pay federal taxes on tipped income if the presumptive Republican nominee wins a second term.

The roughly 6 million tipped workers in the U.S., as of the latest data available from 2018, make up a small fraction of the countrys 150 million taxpayers, but campaigning on tax cuts for certain demographics is increasingly a top issue leading up to Novembers presidential election.

This is the first time Ive said this, and for those who work at hotels and people that get tips, youre gonna be very happy because when I get to office we are going to not charge taxes on tips, on people making tips, Trump said to cheers at the rally.

Trump said he will do that right away, first thing in office, though changing the tax code would require an act of Congress.

Tax code due for update

Large portions of the sweeping 2017 tax law that Congress passed along party lines during the Trump administration are set to expire at the end of 2025, and lawmakers and advocates are already trotting out their priorities.

Tipped workers made an average $6,000 on top of their base wages in 2018, and together they paid about $38 billion in taxes on tips, according to the latest Internal Revenue Service figures. In 2018, the IRS collected about $7 trillion in overall taxes.

In terms of the macroeconomic impact, its pretty small, said Erica York, senior economist and research director at the right-leaning Tax Foundation.

If you think of it in terms of what Congress is going to be debating next year, one of the big challenges that lawmakers are going to face is the revenue impact. Every dollar of tax revenue for one type of tax cut is $1 less for another type of tax cut. So its going to be a real exercise in prioritizing trade-offs across different policies, York said.

Trump has vowed to extend all tax cuts enacted under his watch, but the cost of extending them over the next decade would reach $4.6 trillion, according to estimates from the Joint Committee on Taxation and nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.

Trumps proposal to tipped workers smells more of campaign politics than a really well thought out and principled tax policy proposal, York added. And I think the elephant in the room for both candidates is that they havent fully addressed what are you going to do about these huge expirations that are scheduled to happen next year?

The Trump campaign did not respond to requests for further detail.

Incentivizing tipped work

Andrew Lautz, associate director for the Bipartisan Policy Center, said while tipped workers are a small slice of the tax base, youre talking about a potentially large chunk of revenue that youre giving up on an annual basis, depending on how the policy would be rolled out.

Our current tax system is certainly not designed to treat all income equally, but this proposal, if it were enacted into law, would sort of add a new category of income that is not subject to tax, Lautz said. And you know what economic theory would say is that, all else equal, making that change would incentivize people to have tips which are not taxed under this proposal versus regular wage income.

There is also the potential for misuse, he added.

If Donald Trump is president again next year, and even if hes not, but this proposal sort of catches interest from policymakers in Congress, its very well possible that this could be on the table, Lautz added.

Janet Holtzblatt, senior fellow at the left-leaning Tax Policy Center run by the Urban Institute and Brookings Institution, said Trumps proposal to eliminate taxes on tips is unusual.

Because tips are a substitute for the wages and salaries that the rest of us get, and if you dont tax tips, youre basically not taxing tip workers (on) their wages, making it a tax advantage on their earnings. Those of us who dont work in industries where tips are paid, we would not get the same tax advantage, Holtzblatt said.

Minimum wage

Several localities wage laws allow employers to pay service workers hourly rates well below the federal minimum wage.

Holtzblatt said the solution is for localities to raise the minimum wage for service workers for multiple reasons.

Tips are not always a predictable form of income, she said. And theres a great deal of variation, the tips that the server gets at the top-notch restaurant are going to be very different than the tips the person in the diner gets.

President Joe Bidens reelection campaign responded to Trumps wild campaign promise by saying that Biden supports increasing the minimum wage and eliminating the tipped minimum wage, a much bigger deal than Trumps proposal, a campaign spokesman wrote in a Monday email to States Newsroom.

Ted Pappageorge, secretary-treasurer for Culinary Workers Union Local 226, which has 60,000 members in Las Vegas and Reno, Nevada, said the organization has for decades fought for tipped workers rights and against unfair taxation.

Relief is definitely needed for tip earners, Pappageorge said in a statement over the weekend. But Nevada workers are smart enough to know the difference between real solutions and wild campaign promises from a convicted felon.

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The post Trump floats plan to end taxes on tips, though experts raise doubts appeared first on Maine Morning Star.
CHANTHABURI, Thailand, June 11 (Xinhua) -- At a durian orchard in Thailand's Chanthaburi province, a Thai orchard owner and a Chinese social media influencer were promoting durians to Chinese netizens through the livestreaming e-commerce platform Tmall.

Chanthaburi province, about 250 km away from the capital Bangkok, is an important durian planting area in eastern Thailand.

Kosai, a 32-year-old orchard owner, took over the durian orchard from his parents five years ago and now his durian orchard has more than 400 durian trees.

"This is Thailand's Monthong durian with soft flesh and sweet flavor. Chinese netizens, you must buy some and have a taste," said Kosai.

What makes Kosai proud is that his orchard is a smart orchard which was jointly built by the Commercial Association for Sustainability of Agriculture (CASA) in Thailand and the Foreign Economic Cooperation Center (FECC) of China's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.

The Internet of Things (IoT) installed by the Chinese side in Kosai's orchard, such as meteorological, water level and soil moisture monitoring, could provide data support for the scientific cultivation of durian and the improvement of fruit quality.

"These intelligent agricultural IoT devices could provide refined meteorological services for us and we could decide the spraying and maintenance time based on the data. At the same time, we can also monitor soil moisture content to see whether it is suitable for durian growth, which greatly improves the scientific management of the orchard," said Kosai.

Kosai added that through monitoring, they knew this year's weather was hot and the soil was dry, which could not only help them grasp the watering situation of the orchard, but also help them calculate the amount of water required for the durians' entire growth cycle.

In 2023, the FECC launched the Smart Farm Integrated Development Pilot Program in Thailand and established a pilot smart orchard in Thailand.

"We selected durians as the pilot product due to its high potential and large exports to China, in order to promote the digital development of orchard cultivation, industrial chain and marketing, improve the quality of agricultural products and output benefits, as well as boost agricultural product trade cooperation between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations," said Zhang Bin, deputy director of the FECC of China's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.

In order to explore the Chinese market, the FECC has also teamed up with China's e-commerce platform to develop online sales channels and hold livestreaming activities.

It could cut out middleman and save costs by livestreaming and the durians could be sold to Chinese consumers more convenient, said Kosai, adding that conducting livestreaming in Thai orchards and displaying durians on-site can make customers more assured of the quality of durians.

Thailand is one of the world's major durian producers and exporters, with a large amount of durians being exported to China every year.

"Durian is one of the most popular fruits in China. China's consumer demand is strong and the market potential is huge," said Klos Hirunburana, chairman of CASA in Thailand, adding that their association has more than 400 members and in collaboration with the Chinese partners, it could improve digital application in orchards, realize monitoring and tracking of the entire process from orchard planting to selling, so as to ensure the durian quality from the source.

"With China being our most important export market, we can improve the quality of our durians through digital empowerment and cooperation. Hope Chinese consumers will continue to like Thai durians," said Klos. 
A server delivers beverages at Dover Downs Casino on June 5, 2018, in Dover, Delaware. Former President Donald Trump said in a campaign rally in Las Vegas on June 9, 2024 he would seek to end taxes for tips if elected again in November. (Mark Makela | Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  Economists across the ideological spectrum raised doubts about the cost and workability of former President Donald Trumps proposal over the weekend to exempt tips from federal taxes if he wins in November.

During a campaign rally Sunday in Las Vegas, where hundreds of thousands work in the hospitality industry, Trump promised service workers that they would no longer have to pay federal taxes on tipped income if the presumptive Republican nominee wins a second term.

The roughly 6 million tipped workers in the U.S., as of the latest data available from 2018, make up a small fraction of the countrys 150 million taxpayers, but campaigning on tax cuts for certain demographics is increasingly a top issue leading up to Novembers presidential election.

This is the first time Ive said this, and for those who work at hotels and people that get tips, youre gonna be very happy because when I get to office we are going to not charge taxes on tips, on people making tips, Trump said to cheers at the rally.

Trump said he will do that right away, first thing in office, though changing the tax code would require an act of Congress.

Tax code due for update

Large portions of the sweeping 2017 tax law that Congress passed along party lines during the Trump administration are set to expire at the end of 2025, and lawmakers and advocates are already trotting out their priorities.

Tipped workers made an average $6,000 on top of their base wages in 2018, and together they paid about $38 billion in taxes on tips, according to the latest Internal Revenue Service figures. In 2018, the IRS collected about $7 trillion in overall taxes.

In terms of the macroeconomic impact, its pretty small, said Erica York, senior economist and research director at the right-leaning Tax Foundation.

If you think of it in terms of what Congress is going to be debating next year, one of the big challenges that lawmakers are going to face is the revenue impact. Every dollar of tax revenue for one type of tax cut is $1 less for another type of tax cut. So its going to be a real exercise in prioritizing trade-offs across different policies, York said.

Trump has vowed to extend all tax cuts enacted under his watch, but the cost of extending them over the next decade would reach $4.6 trillion, according to estimates from the Joint Committee on Taxation and nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.

Trumps proposal to tipped workers smells more of campaign politics than a really well thought out and principled tax policy proposal, York added. And I think the elephant in the room for both candidates is that they havent fully addressed what are you going to do about these huge expirations that are scheduled to happen next year?

The Trump campaign did not respond to requests for further detail.

Incentivizing tipped work

Andrew Lautz, associate director for the Bipartisan Policy Center, said while tipped workers are a small slice of the tax base, youre talking about a potentially large chunk of revenue that youre giving up on an annual basis, depending on how the policy would be rolled out.

Our current tax system is certainly not designed to treat all income equally, but this proposal, if it were enacted into law, would sort of add a new category of income that is not subject to tax, Lautz said. And you know what economic theory would say is that, all else equal, making that change would incentivize people to have tips which are not taxed under this proposal versus regular wage income.

There is also the potential for misuse, he added.

If Donald Trump is president again next year, and even if hes not, but this proposal sort of catches interest from policymakers in Congress, its very well possible that this could be on the table, Lautz added.

Janet Holtzblatt, senior fellow at the left-leaning Tax Policy Center run by the Urban Institute and Brookings Institution, said Trumps proposal to eliminate taxes on tips is unusual.

Because tips are a substitute for the wages and salaries that the rest of us get, and if you dont tax tips, youre basically not taxing tip workers (on) their wages, making it a tax advantage on their earnings. Those of us who dont work in industries where tips are paid, we would not get the same tax advantage, Holtzblatt said.

Minimum wage

Several localities wage laws allow employers to pay service workers hourly rates well below the federal minimum wage.

Holtzblatt said the solution is for localities to raise the minimum wage for service workers for multiple reasons.

Tips are not always a predictable form of income, she said. And theres a great deal of variation, the tips that the server gets at the top-notch restaurant are going to be very different than the tips the person in the diner gets.

President Joe Bidens reelection campaign responded to Trumps wild campaign promise by saying that Biden supports increasing the minimum wage and eliminating the tipped minimum wage, a much bigger deal than Trumps proposal, a campaign spokesman wrote in a Monday email to States Newsroom.

Ted Pappageorge, secretary-treasurer for Culinary Workers Union Local 226, which has 60,000 members in Las Vegas and Reno, Nevada, said the organization has for decades fought for tipped workers rights and against unfair taxation.

Relief is definitely needed for tip earners, Pappageorge said in a statement over the weekend. But Nevada workers are smart enough to know the difference between real solutions and wild campaign promises from a convicted felon.

The post Trump floats plan to end taxes on tips, though experts raise doubts appeared first on Wisconsin Examiner.
A server delivers beverages at Dover Downs Casino on June 5, 2018 in Dover, Delaware. Former President Donald Trump said in a campaign rally in Las Vegas on June 9, 2024 he would seek to end taxes for tips if elected again in November. (Photo by Mark Makela/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  Economists across the ideological spectrum raised doubts about the cost and workability of former President Donald Trumps proposal over the weekend to exempt tips from federal taxes if he wins in November.

During a campaign rally Sunday in Las Vegas, where hundreds of thousands work in the hospitality industry, Trump promised service workers that they would no longer have to pay federal taxes on tipped income if the presumptive Republican nominee wins a second term.

The roughly 6 million tipped workers in the U.S., as of the latest data available from 2018, make up a small fraction of the countrys 150 million taxpayers, but campaigning on tax cuts for certain demographics is increasingly a top issue leading up to Novembers presidential election.

This is the first time Ive said this, and for those who work at hotels and people that get tips, youre gonna be very happy because when I get to office we are going to not charge taxes on tips, on people making tips, Trump said to cheers at the rally.

Trump said he will do that right away, first thing in office, though changing the tax code would require an act of Congress.

Tax code due for update

Large portions of the sweeping 2017 tax law that Congress passed along party lines during the Trump administration are set to expire at the end of 2025, and lawmakers and advocates are already trotting out their priorities.

Tipped workers made an average $6,000 on top of their base wages in 2018, and together they paid about $38 billion in taxes on tips, according to the latest Internal Revenue Service figures. In 2018, the IRS collected about $7 trillion in overall taxes.

In terms of the macroeconomic impact, its pretty small, said Erica York, senior economist and research director at the right-leaning Tax Foundation.

If you think of it in terms of what Congress is going to be debating next year, one of the big challenges that lawmakers are going to face is the revenue impact. Every dollar of tax revenue for one type of tax cut is $1 less for another type of tax cut. So its going to be a real exercise in prioritizing trade-offs across different policies, York said.

Trump has vowed to extend all tax cuts enacted under his watch, but the cost of extending them over the next decade would reach $4.6 trillion, according to estimates from the Joint Committee on Taxation and nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.

Trumps proposal to tipped workers smells more of campaign politics than a really well thought out and principled tax policy proposal, York added. And I think the elephant in the room for both candidates is that they havent fully addressed what are you going to do about these huge expirations that are scheduled to happen next year?

The Trump campaign did not respond to requests for further detail.

Incentivizing tipped work

Andrew Lautz, associate director for the Bipartisan Policy Center, said while tipped workers are a small slice of the tax base, youre talking about a potentially large chunk of revenue that youre giving up on an annual basis, depending on how the policy would be rolled out.

Our current tax system is certainly not designed to treat all income equally, but this proposal, if it were enacted into law, would sort of add a new category of income that is not subject to tax, Lautz said. And you know what economic theory would say is that, all else equal, making that change would incentivize people to have tips which are not taxed under this proposal versus regular wage income.

There is also the potential for misuse, he added.

If Donald Trump is president again next year, and even if hes not, but this proposal sort of catches interest from policymakers in Congress, its very well possible that this could be on the table, Lautz added.

Janet Holtzblatt, senior fellow at the left-leaning Tax Policy Center run by the Urban Institute and Brookings Institution, said Trumps proposal to eliminate taxes on tips is unusual.

Because tips are a substitute for the wages and salaries that the rest of us get, and if you dont tax tips, youre basically not taxing tip workers (on) their wages, making it a tax advantage on their earnings. Those of us who dont work in industries where tips are paid, we would not get the same tax advantage, Holtzblatt said.

Minimum wage

Several localities wage laws allow employers to pay service workers hourly rates well below the federal minimum wage.

Holtzblatt said the solution is for localities to raise the minimum wage for service workers for multiple reasons.

Tips are not always a predictable form of income, she said. And theres a great deal of variation, the tips that the server gets at the top-notch restaurant are going to be very different than the tips the person in the diner gets.

President Joe Bidens reelection campaign responded to Trumps wild campaign promise by saying that Biden supports increasing the minimum wage and eliminating the tipped minimum wage, a much bigger deal than Trumps proposal, a campaign spokesman wrote in a Monday email to States Newsroom.

Ted Pappageorge, secretary-treasurer for Culinary Workers Union Local 226, which has 60,000 members in Las Vegas and Reno, Nevada, said the organization has for decades fought for tipped workers rights and against unfair taxation.

Relief is definitely needed for tip earners, Pappageorge said in a statement over the weekend. But Nevada workers are smart enough to know the difference between real solutions and wild campaign promises from a convicted felon.

The post Trump floats plan to end taxes on tips, though experts raise doubts appeared first on Michigan Advance.
A server delivers beverages at Dover Downs Casino on June 5, 2018 in Dover, Delaware. Former President Donald Trump said in a campaign rally in Las Vegas on June 9, 2024 he would seek to end taxes for tips if elected again in November. (Photo by Mark Makela/Getty Images)

A server delivers beverages at Dover Downs Casino on June 5, 2018 in Dover, Delaware. Former President Donald Trump said in a campaign rally in Las Vegas on June 9, 2024 he would seek to end taxes for tips if elected again in November. (Photo by Mark Makela/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  Economists across the ideological spectrum raised doubts about the cost and workability of former President Donald Trumps proposal over the weekend to exempt tips from federal taxes if he wins in November.

During a campaign rally Sunday in Las Vegas, where hundreds of thousands work in the hospitality industry, Trump promised service workers that they would no longer have to pay federal taxes on tipped income if the presumptive Republican nominee wins a second term.

The roughly 6 million tipped workers in the U.S., as of the latest data available from 2018, make up a small fraction of the countrys 150 million taxpayers, but campaigning on tax cuts for certain demographics is increasingly a top issue leading up to Novembers presidential election.

This is the first time Ive said this, and for those who work at hotels and people that get tips, youre gonna be very happy because when I get to office we are going to not charge taxes on tips, on people making tips, Trump said to cheers at the rally.

Trump said he will do that right away, first thing in office, though changing the tax code would require an act of Congress.

Tax code due for update

Large portions of the sweeping 2017 tax law that Congress passed along party lines during the Trump administration are set to expire at the end of 2025, and lawmakers and advocates are already trotting out their priorities.

Tipped workers made an average $6,000 on top of their base wages in 2018, and together they paid about $38 billion in taxes on tips, according to the latest Internal Revenue Service figures. In 2018, the IRS collected about $7 trillion in overall taxes.

Former President Donald Trump proposed to end federal taxes on tips during a rally in Las Vegas but economists have raised doubts about the cost and workability. (Photo: Brandon Bell/Getty Images.

In terms of the macroeconomic impact, its pretty small, said Erica York, senior economist and research director at the right-leaning Tax Foundation.

If you think of it in terms of what Congress is going to be debating next year, one of the big challenges that lawmakers are going to face is the revenue impact. Every dollar of tax revenue for one type of tax cut is $1 less for another type of tax cut. So its going to be a real exercise in prioritizing trade-offs across different policies, York said.

Trump has vowed to extend all tax cuts enacted under his watch, but the cost of extending them over the next decade would reach $4.6 trillion, according to estimates from the Joint Committee on Taxation and nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.

Trumps proposal to tipped workers smells more of campaign politics than a really well thought out and principled tax policy proposal, York added. And I think the elephant in the room for both candidates is that they havent fully addressed what are you going to do about these huge expirations that are scheduled to happen next year?

The Trump campaign did not respond to requests for further detail.

Incentivizing tipped work

Andrew Lautz, associate director for the Bipartisan Policy Center, said while tipped workers are a small slice of the tax base, youre talking about a potentially large chunk of revenue that youre giving up on an annual basis, depending on how the policy would be rolled out.

Our current tax system is certainly not designed to treat all income equally, but this proposal, if it were enacted into law, would sort of add a new category of income that is not subject to tax, Lautz said. And you know what economic theory would say is that, all else equal, making that change would incentivize people to have tips which are not taxed under this proposal versus regular wage income.

There is also the potential for misuse, he added.

If Donald Trump is president again next year, and even if hes not, but this proposal sort of catches interest from policymakers in Congress, its very well possible that this could be on the table, Lautz added.

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.

 Ted Pappageorge, Culinary Workers Union Local 226

Janet Holtzblatt, senior fellow at the left-leaning Tax Policy Center run by the Urban Institute and Brookings Institution, said Trumps proposal to eliminate taxes on tips is unusual.

Because tips are a substitute for the wages and salaries that the rest of us get, and if you dont tax tips, youre basically not taxing tip workers (on) their wages, making it a tax advantage on their earnings. Those of us who dont work in industries where tips are paid, we would not get the same tax advantage, Holtzblatt said.

Minimum wage

Several localities wage laws allow employers to pay service workers hourly rates well below the federal minimum wage.

Holtzblatt said the solution is for localities to raise the minimum wage for service workers for multiple reasons.

Tips are not always a predictable form of income, she said. And theres a great deal of variation, the tips that the server gets at the top-notch restaurant are going to be very different than the tips the person in the diner gets.

President Joe Bidens reelection campaign responded to Trumps wild campaign promise by saying that Biden supports increasing the minimum wage and eliminating the tipped minimum wage, a much bigger deal than Trumps proposal, a campaign spokesman wrote in a Monday email to States Newsroom.

Ted Pappageorge, secretary-treasurer for Culinary Workers Union Local 226, which has 60,000 members in Las Vegas and Reno, Nevada, said the organization has for decades fought for tipped workers rights and against unfair taxation.

Relief is definitely needed for tip earners, Pappageorge said in a statement over the weekend. But Nevada workers are smart enough to know the difference between real solutions and wild campaign promises from a convicted felon.

The post Trump floats plan to end taxes on tips, though experts raise doubts appeared first on Tennessee Lookout.
A server delivers beverages at Dover Downs Casino on June 5, 2018 in Dover, Delaware. Former President Donald Trump said in a campaign rally in Las Vegas on June 9, 2024 he would seek to end taxes for tips if elected again in November. (Mark Makela/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  Economists across the ideological spectrum raised doubts about the cost and workability of former President Donald Trumps proposal over the weekend to exempt tips from federal taxes if he wins in November.

During a campaign rally Sunday in Las Vegas, where hundreds of thousands work in the hospitality industry, Trump promised service workers that they would no longer have to pay federal taxes on tipped income if the presumptive Republican nominee wins a second term.

The roughly 6 million tipped workers in the U.S., as of the latest data available from 2018, make up a small fraction of the countrys 150 million taxpayers, but campaigning on tax cuts for certain demographics is increasingly a top issue leading up to Novembers presidential election.

This is the first time Ive said this, and for those who work at hotels and people that get tips, youre gonna be very happy because when I get to office we are going to not charge taxes on tips, on people making tips, Trump said to cheers at the rally.

Trump said he will do that right away, first thing in office, though changing the tax code would require an act of Congress.

Tax code due for update

Large portions of the sweeping 2017 tax law that Congress passed along party lines during the Trump administration are set to expire at the end of 2025, and lawmakers and advocates are already trotting out their priorities.

Tipped workers made an average $6,000 on top of their base wages in 2018, and together they paid about $38 billion in taxes on tips, according to the latest Internal Revenue Service figures. In 2018, the IRS collected about $7 trillion in overall taxes.

In terms of the macroeconomic impact, its pretty small, said Erica York, senior economist and research director at the right-leaning Tax Foundation.

If you think of it in terms of what Congress is going to be debating next year, one of the big challenges that lawmakers are going to face is the revenue impact. Every dollar of tax revenue for one type of tax cut is $1 less for another type of tax cut. So its going to be a real exercise in prioritizing trade-offs across different policies, York said.

Trump has vowed to extend all tax cuts enacted under his watch, but the cost of extending them over the next decade would reach $4.6 trillion, according to estimates from the Joint Committee on Taxation and nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.

Trumps proposal to tipped workers smells more of campaign politics than a really well thought out and principled tax policy proposal, York added. And I think the elephant in the room for both candidates is that they havent fully addressed what are you going to do about these huge expirations that are scheduled to happen next year?

The Trump campaign did not respond to requests for further detail.

Incentivizing tipped work

Andrew Lautz, associate director for the Bipartisan Policy Center, said while tipped workers are a small slice of the tax base, youre talking about a potentially large chunk of revenue that youre giving up on an annual basis, depending on how the policy would be rolled out.

Our current tax system is certainly not designed to treat all income equally, but this proposal, if it were enacted into law, would sort of add a new category of income that is not subject to tax, Lautz said. And you know what economic theory would say is that, all else equal, making that change would incentivize people to have tips which are not taxed under this proposal versus regular wage income.

There is also the potential for misuse, he added.

If Donald Trump is president again next year, and even if hes not, but this proposal sort of catches interest from policymakers in Congress, its very well possible that this could be on the table, Lautz added.

Janet Holtzblatt, senior fellow at the left-leaning Tax Policy Center run by the Urban Institute and Brookings Institution, said Trumps proposal to eliminate taxes on tips is unusual.

Because tips are a substitute for the wages and salaries that the rest of us get, and if you dont tax tips, youre basically not taxing tip workers (on) their wages, making it a tax advantage on their earnings. Those of us who dont work in industries where tips are paid, we would not get the same tax advantage, Holtzblatt said.

Minimum wage

Several localities wage laws allow employers to pay service workers hourly rates well below the federal minimum wage.

Holtzblatt said the solution is for localities to raise the minimum wage for service workers for multiple reasons.

Tips are not always a predictable form of income, she said. And theres a great deal of variation, the tips that the server gets at the top-notch restaurant are going to be very different than the tips the person in the diner gets.

President Joe Bidens reelection campaign responded to Trumps wild campaign promise by saying that Biden supports increasing the minimum wage and eliminating the tipped minimum wage, a much bigger deal than Trumps proposal, a campaign spokesman wrote in a Monday email to States Newsroom.

Ted Pappageorge, secretary-treasurer for Culinary Workers Union Local 226, which has 60,000 members in Las Vegas and Reno, Nevada, said the organization has for decades fought for tipped workers rights and against unfair taxation.

Relief is definitely needed for tip earners, Pappageorge said in a statement over the weekend. But Nevada workers are smart enough to know the difference between real solutions and wild campaign promises from a convicted felon.

The post Trump floats plan to end taxes on tips, though experts raise doubts appeared first on Missouri Independent.
A server delivers beverages at Dover Downs Casino on June 5, 2018 in Dover, Delaware. Former President Donald Trump said in a campaign rally in Las Vegas on June 9, 2024 he would seek to end taxes for tips if elected again in November. (Mark Makela/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  Economists across the ideological spectrum raised doubts about the cost and workability of former President Donald Trumps proposal over the weekend to exempt tips from federal taxes if he wins in November.

During a campaign rally Sunday in Las Vegas, where hundreds of thousands work in the hospitality industry, Trump promised service workers that they would no longer have to pay federal taxes on tipped income if the presumptive Republican nominee wins a second term.

The roughly 6 million tipped workers in the U.S., as of the latest data available from 2018, make up a small fraction of the countrys 150 million taxpayers, but campaigning on tax cuts for certain demographics is increasingly a top issue leading up to Novembers presidential election.

This is the first time Ive said this, and for those who work at hotels and people that get tips, youre gonna be very happy because when I get to office we are going to not charge taxes on tips, on people making tips, Trump said to cheers at the rally.

Trump said he will do that right away, first thing in office, though changing the tax code would require an act of Congress.

Tax code due for update

Large portions of the sweeping 2017 tax law that Congress passed along party lines during the Trump administration are set to expire at the end of 2025, and lawmakers and advocates are already trotting out their priorities.

Tipped workers made an average $6,000 on top of their base wages in 2018, and together they paid about $38 billion in taxes on tips, according to the latest Internal Revenue Service figures. In 2018, the IRS collected about $7 trillion in overall taxes.

In terms of the macroeconomic impact, its pretty small, said Erica York, senior economist and research director at the right-leaning Tax Foundation.

If you think of it in terms of what Congress is going to be debating next year, one of the big challenges that lawmakers are going to face is the revenue impact. Every dollar of tax revenue for one type of tax cut is $1 less for another type of tax cut. So its going to be a real exercise in prioritizing trade-offs across different policies, York said.

Trump has vowed to extend all tax cuts enacted under his watch, but the cost of extending them over the next decade would reach $4.6 trillion, according to estimates from the Joint Committee on Taxation and nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.

Trumps proposal to tipped workers smells more of campaign politics than a really well thought out and principled tax policy proposal, York added. And I think the elephant in the room for both candidates is that they havent fully addressed what are you going to do about these huge expirations that are scheduled to happen next year?

The Trump campaign did not respond to requests for further detail.

Incentivizing tipped work

Andrew Lautz, associate director for the Bipartisan Policy Center, said while tipped workers are a small slice of the tax base, youre talking about a potentially large chunk of revenue that youre giving up on an annual basis, depending on how the policy would be rolled out.

Our current tax system is certainly not designed to treat all income equally, but this proposal, if it were enacted into law, would sort of add a new category of income that is not subject to tax, Lautz said. And you know what economic theory would say is that, all else equal, making that change would incentivize people to have tips which are not taxed under this proposal versus regular wage income.

There is also the potential for misuse, he added.

If Donald Trump is president again next year, and even if hes not, but this proposal sort of catches interest from policymakers in Congress, its very well possible that this could be on the table, Lautz added.

Janet Holtzblatt, senior fellow at the left-leaning Tax Policy Center run by the Urban Institute and Brookings Institution, said Trumps proposal to eliminate taxes on tips is unusual.

Because tips are a substitute for the wages and salaries that the rest of us get, and if you dont tax tips, youre basically not taxing tip workers (on) their wages, making it a tax advantage on their earnings. Those of us who dont work in industries where tips are paid, we would not get the same tax advantage, Holtzblatt said.

Minimum wage

Several localities wage laws allow employers to pay service workers hourly rates well below the federal minimum wage.

Holtzblatt said the solution is for localities to raise the minimum wage for service workers for multiple reasons.

Tips are not always a predictable form of income, she said. And theres a great deal of variation, the tips that the server gets at the top-notch restaurant are going to be very different than the tips the person in the diner gets.

President Joe Bidens reelection campaign responded to Trumps wild campaign promise by saying that Biden supports increasing the minimum wage and eliminating the tipped minimum wage, a much bigger deal than Trumps proposal, a campaign spokesman wrote in a Monday email to States Newsroom.

Ted Pappageorge, secretary-treasurer for Culinary Workers Union Local 226, which has 60,000 members in Las Vegas and Reno, Nevada, said the organization has for decades fought for tipped workers rights and against unfair taxation.

Relief is definitely needed for tip earners, Pappageorge said in a statement over the weekend. But Nevada workers are smart enough to know the difference between real solutions and wild campaign promises from a convicted felon.

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The post Trump floats plan to end taxes on tips, though experts raise doubts appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
A server delivers beverages at Dover Downs Casino on June 5, 2018, in Dover, Delaware. Former President Donald Trump said in a campaign rally in Las Vegas on June 9, 2024, he would seek to end taxes for tips if elected again in November. (Mark Makela/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  Economists across the ideological spectrum raised doubts about the cost and workability of former President Donald Trumps proposal over the weekend to exempt tips from federal taxes if he wins in November.

During a campaign rally Sunday in Las Vegas, where hundreds of thousands work in the hospitality industry, Trump promised service workers that they would no longer have to pay federal taxes on tipped income if the presumptive Republican nominee wins a second term.

The roughly 6 million tipped workers in the United States, as of the latest data available from 2018, make up a small fraction of the countrys 150 million taxpayers, but campaigning on tax cuts for certain demographics is increasingly a top issue leading up to Novembers presidential election.

This is the first time Ive said this, and for those who work at hotels and people that get tips, youre gonna be very happy because when I get to office we are going to not charge taxes on tips, on people making tips, Trump said to cheers at the rally.

Trump said he will do that right away, first thing in office, though changing the tax code would require an act of Congress.

Tax code due for update

Large portions of the sweeping 2017 tax law that Congress passed along party lines during the Trump administration are set to expire at the end of 2025, and lawmakers and advocates are already trotting out their priorities.

Tipped workers made an average $6,000 on top of their base wages in 2018, and together they paid about $38 billion in taxes on tips, according to the latest Internal Revenue Service figures. In 2018, the IRS collected about $7 trillion in overall taxes.

In terms of the macroeconomic impact, its pretty small, said Erica York, senior economist and research director at the right-leaning Tax Foundation.

If you think of it in terms of what Congress is going to be debating next year, one of the big challenges that lawmakers are going to face is the revenue impact. Every dollar of tax revenue for one type of tax cut is $1 less for another type of tax cut. So its going to be a real exercise in prioritizing trade-offs across different policies, York said.

Trump has vowed to extend all tax cuts enacted under his watch, but the cost of extending them over the next decade would reach $4.6 trillion, according to estimates from the Joint Committee on Taxation and nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.

Trumps proposal to tipped workers smells more of campaign politics than a really well thought out and principled tax policy proposal, York added. And I think the elephant in the room for both candidates is that they havent fully addressed what are you going to do about these huge expirations that are scheduled to happen next year?

The Trump campaign did not respond to requests for further detail.

Incentivizing tipped work

Andrew Lautz, associate director for the Bipartisan Policy Center, said while tipped workers are a small slice of the tax base, youre talking about a potentially large chunk of revenue that youre giving up on an annual basis, depending on how the policy would be rolled out.

Our current tax system is certainly not designed to treat all income equally, but this proposal, if it were enacted into law, would sort of add a new category of income that is not subject to tax, Lautz said. And you know what economic theory would say is that, all else equal, making that change would incentivize people to have tips which are not taxed under this proposal versus regular wage income.

There is also the potential for misuse, he added.

If Donald Trump is president again next year, and even if hes not, but this proposal sort of catches interest from policymakers in Congress, its very well possible that this could be on the table, Lautz added.

Janet Holtzblatt, senior fellow at the left-leaning Tax Policy Center run by the Urban Institute and Brookings Institution, said Trumps proposal to eliminate taxes on tips is unusual.

Because tips are a substitute for the wages and salaries that the rest of us get, and if you dont tax tips, youre basically not taxing tip workers (on) their wages, making it a tax advantage on their earnings. Those of us who dont work in industries where tips are paid, we would not get the same tax advantage, Holtzblatt said.

Minimum wage

Several localities wage laws allow employers to pay service workers hourly rates well below the federal minimum wage.

Holtzblatt said the solution is for localities to raise the minimum wage for service workers for multiple reasons.

Tips are not always a predictable form of income, she said. And theres a great deal of variation. The tips that the server gets at the top-notch restaurant are going to be very different than the tips the person in the diner gets.

President Joe Bidens reelection campaign responded to Trumps wild campaign promise by saying that Biden supports increasing the minimum wage and eliminating the tipped minimum wage, a much bigger deal than Trumps proposal, a campaign spokesman wrote in a Monday email to States Newsroom.

Ted Pappageorge, secretary-treasurer for Culinary Workers Union Local 226, which has 60,000 members in Las Vegas and Reno, Nevada, said the organization has for decades fought for tipped workers rights and against unfair taxation.

Relief is definitely needed for tip earners, Pappageorge said in a statement over the weekend. But Nevada workers are smart enough to know the difference between real solutions and wild campaign promises from a convicted felon.

The post Trump floats plan to end taxes on tips, though experts raise doubts appeared first on Nebraska Examiner.
Theyre at it again. And its not even original: The trickle-down economics that two dozen Republican governors and Donald Trump are reviving as you read these words has a long history.

Trickle-down, of course, was the theory advanced by Ronald Reagan that if America only made rich people massively richer, they would use all that extra free money to build new factories and hire people, and the abundance would trickle down to the average worker.

It was a lie, but it wasnt the first time the GOP had tried that lie. They knew exactly what they were doing, and what outcome it would produce. Instead of raising the pay of their workers, the rich people on the receiving end of Ronald Reagans, George W. Bushs, and Trumps tax cuts simply added the cash to their money bins and investments, bought new yachts or trophy wives, and blasted themselves into outer space on fancy rockets.

Nonetheless, Republican politicians think we havent noticed, and theyre trying to pull it off again at both the state and federal level. A bill with 102 GOP co-sponsors, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Permanency Act, is in motion in the House of Representatives right now to double down on Trumps tax cuts.

How did we get here, and why are they still pushing something thats so discredited its become a punchline for late-night comedians?

The GOP was captured by the morbidly rich in the 1880s and has been dancing to their tune ever since, regularly throwing bones to bigots, religious zealots, woman haters, and gun nuts to get enough votes to hold power.

Ever since that era, their main focus has been to increase the wealth of the morbidly rich while keeping down wages and saddling average people with as much debt as possible. Conservatives believe this crushing of the middle class is the best way to ensure social stability and thus save America.

The first Democratic president to call Republicans out for that eras version of trickle-down economics (which back then, before income taxes, had to do with suppressing wages, fighting the early union movement, and letting industrial oligarchs wipe out small competitors) was Grover Cleveland, in his 1888 State of the Union speech: As we view the achievements of aggregated capital, we discover the existence of trusts, combinations, and monopolies, while the citizen is struggling far in the rear or is trampled to death beneath an iron heel. Corporations, which should be the carefully restrained creatures of the law and the servants of the people, are fast becoming the peoples masters.

But the first tax on wealthy Americans went into place way before that, in 1839, shepherded through Congress by Representative Abraham Lincoln. It was a tax on luxury items and expensive land exclusively owned by rich people. As Lincoln wrote to his friend William Wait on March 2, 1839: I believe it can be sustained, because it does not increase the tax upon the many poor but upon the wealthy few by taxing [luxuries and land], as is well known, that belong, not to the poor, but to the wealthy citizen.

Lincoln followed up as president with the nations first income tax in 1861, put into place to fund the Civil War. It was also a progressive tax; it only hit people who made above $800 ($32,000 today).

Following Grover Clevelands calling out of the morbidly rich of his day, late nineteenth-century advocates for that class came up with the horse and sparrow theory of taxation. This was back in the day when everybody used horses for transportation and people were used to seeing small birds pecking undigested grain from the horses droppings that filled Americas streets.

The sales pitch was that if you fed horses extra oats, more than they could normally digest, theyd pass through all that undigested oat into their manure for the sparrows to pick at; rich peoples excesses, in other words, would spill over to the average sparrow working person. It was embraced by Republicans in Congress and not only didnt it work; it was blamed, in part, for the Panic of 1896.

Republican Warren Harding revived Horse & Sparrow economics in 1920 (many people still owned horses) when he campaigned on dropping the then91 percent top income tax bracket down to 25 percent. He was elected and kept his promise, the result being the Roaring 20s, when the rich got fabulously richer while working people saw their wages actually drop (leading to an explosion of unionization efforts by pissed-off workers that were violently suppressed by employers and police).

It all came to a startling and final end in October 1929 with the Great Crash that set off what was then called the Republican Great Depression (the Republican part of that label largely wore off after the election of Republican President Dwight Eisenhower in 1952).

Republicans stopped talking about horses and sparrows around that time, but the theory never really died; Reagan simply reinvented it in 1980 as supply-side economics, a.k.a. trickle-down.

Today, Republican politiciansheavily supported by right-wing billionaires since five Republicans on the Supreme Court legalized political briberyare trying their best to revive their nonsensical horse-and-sparrow, trickle-down rationale so the rest of us can pay to make the rich far richer. Trump promises to renew his expiring tax cuts for billionaires if hes elected, which the Congressional Budget Office, or CBO, says will add another $4.6 trillion to the $7 trillion deficit he gave us during his four years in office.

In Kansas, Republican legislators keep pushing through new tax cuts for the rich (one would reportedly cut Charles Kochs tax bill this year by almost a half-million dollars), and Democratic Governor Laura Kelly keeps vetoing them. Republican legislatures in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania just passed tax cuts for the wealthy totaling $2 billion and $3 billion respectively, although both states have Democratic governors who will veto such legislation.

In Mississippi, however, Republican Governor Tate Reeves and his GOP colleagues in that states legislature have radically and repeatedly cut taxes, threatening to eliminate the income tax (which produces one-third of the states revenue) altogether. Rich Mississippians will be fine; the necessary cuts will fall on the poor and the states educational and physical infrastructure, which are not much used by the very wealthy who fund Reeves anyway; they send their kids to private schools and fly private jets.

Other Republican-controlled states are seeing similar actions to raise taxes and fees on working-class people while cutting taxes on the morbidly rich. Altogether, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities notes, just between 2021 and 2023:

Twenty-six states cut their personal income tax rates and/or corporate income tax rates, 13 of them multiple times. Combined, the cuts will cost those 26 states an estimated $124 billion by 2028, including $13 billion that they have already lost (20222023) and $111 billion over the next five years (20242028). This 3.6 percent share is equivalent to more than a third of states general fund spending on higher education and more than half of what goes to state correctional systems.

Thankfully, the Biden administration and this generation of Democratic politicians have rejected Reagans neoliberalism and low-tax ideology in favor of what centuries of history show us works: for the wealthy to again pay their fair share of taxes to sustain the commons.

As President Biden told an audience just last week: Weve gone from trickle-down economics to the point where were in a situation where we build from the middle class out and the bottom up. And that way the wealthy still do very well. No one wealthy is hurting at all. Were in good shape. So we have to keep it going that way.

Republicans have been hustling this scam for over 150 years, and in the states they control, educational outcomes are plummeting, child and infant mortality is skyrocketing (along with homicides), and infrastructure threatens to disintegrate as funding cuts come online.

Nonetheless, it finally seems Americans are catching on and increasingly rejecting horses, sparrows, and politicians who try to sell them on more trickle-down tax cuts for the rich.
Trump grilled on his mental and physical health by probation officer ahead of hush money sentencing

Trump grilled on his mental and physical health by probation officer ahead of hush money sentencing

Donald Trump completed his pre-sentencing interview with a New York City probation officer on Monday, a mandatory requirement before he is sentenced on July 11 by New York judge Juan Merchan after being found guilty on all 34 counts at his hush money trial last month.

The Republican presidential candidate and now convicted felon sat for the session virtually and was finished after less than a half-hour of routine and uneventful questions and answers, a source told the Associated Press.

Trumps lead attorney Todd Blanche was allowed to be on the call to advise his client, which is not standard practice but was permitted since Judge Merchan did not object.

Former New York City Department of Corrections and Probation commissioner Martin Horn told NBC News in advance of Mondays interview that conducting the session by video call was highly unusual but acknowledged that hauling Trump into a probation office would be very disruptive and require additional security considerations.

Trumps answers to the interview questions, which concerned his personal history and current physical and mental wellbeing, will be used to compile a report that will be submitted to Judge Merchan as he weighs the defendants punishment.

It follows his May 30 conviction on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to conceal a $130,000 payment to porn star Stormy Daniels in October 2016, just prior to that years election, to ensure her silence over an alleged affair.

The former presidents defense team is expected to enter its own sentencing recommendation on June 13, with the prosecution following on June 27, but the justice will announce his final ruling next month.

Trumps sentencing will come just four days before he will be formally invited to accept the Republican presidential nomination for 2024 at its national convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, an honor he could theoretically have to answer from inside a jail cell.

Donald Trump addresses the press from Trump Tower in New York in the aftermath of his hush money trial verdict (AP)

Judge Merchan has the power to impose a wide range of punishments on the former president, ranging from probation and community service to up to four years in prison.

Trump was found guilty by a unanimous jury after six weeks of often-explosive testimony from the likes of Daniels, ex-tabloid publisher David Pecker and the Republicans own estranged former fixer Michael Cohen.

He denied any wrongdoing and insisted before the trial even began and throughout its duration that the whole affair was a scam with a rigged outcome that had been cooked up by Joe Biden and his countless political enemies to discredit him, a ploy to keep him away from the campaign trail as he pursues a belated second stint in the White House.

Trump has continued to make that argument to his supporters and his allies in conservative media since the verdict was announced, threatening revenge should he return to the Oval Office.
NEW YORK  Newly convicted felon Donald Trump met with his probation officer on Monday, a source familiar confirmed to the New York Daily News  only unlike most every other New York City defendant required to attend the sit-down in person, he did so from the comfort of his Florida home.

The interview was uneventful and lasted less than 30 minutes, the source said.

In another unusual arrangement, Justice Juan Merchan ruled Friday that Trump could be accompanied by his lawyer, Todd Blanche.

Barring a judges permission to bring their legal representation, Manhattan defendants typically meet with probation officials alone at 100 Centre St., where Trump just went on trial. But as first reported by The Associated Press, Trump met his assigned officer virtually from his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida.

Public defender groups issued a joint call for the probation department to grant all defendants the same benefits afforded to the former president  regardless of income, status, or class.

All people convicted of crimes should be allowed counsel in their probation interview, not just billionaires. This is just another example of our two-tiered system of justice, read a statement issued by The Legal Aid Society, The Bronx Defenders, New York County Defender Services, and the Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem.

Presentencing interviews with probation officers influence sentencing, and public defenders are deprived of joining their clients for these meetings. The option of joining these interviews virtually is typically not extended to the people we represent either.

The former president, who turns 78 on Friday, became the first president in U.S. history to be convicted of a crime when a jury found him guilty on May 30 of falsifying New York business records to cover up a conspiracy to hide damaging information about his past from voters in 2016.

The 34 counts he was convicted of each carry up to four years in prison, with the maximum possible sentence being 20 years, or could result in a term of probation and fines. He has vowed to appeal the conviction.

He has until Thursday to submit his presentence report, which could include letters of recommendation from his friends and family, and prosecutors have until June 27 to file theirs, with the question still hanging in the air as to whether theyll seek to imprison Trump.

President Trump has established a commanding polling lead in the battleground and Crooked Joe Biden is on the ropes, his campaign spokesman Steven Cheung said when reached for comment Monday. President Trump and his legal team are already taking necessary steps to challenge and defeat the lawless Manhattan DA case.

Details of the meeting were not disclosed, but Trumps probation officer may have questioned him about several personal aspects of his life, including his relationships with his relatives, his professional and educational resume, and his mental and physical health. They may also require him to sign papers permitting probation to examine his credit score and finances.

Richard Serafini, a former state and federal prosecutor now in private practice, said the purpose of meeting with a probation officer is to cull as much information as possible to give the judge a complete picture of a persons life as they consider appropriate punishment.

Whats usually really important is that the person shows some regret for having committed the crime, that they accept responsibility, and indicate that theyre sorry, Serafini said.

Jurors found Trump guilty after spending around 12 hours across two days in the jury room after hearing from 20 prosecution witnesses, including four days of testimony from American Media exec David Pecker, who described hatching a plan with Trump and his ex-fixer Michael Cohen in August 2015 to boost his candidacy with flattering coverage about him and tarnish his opponents by publishing hit jobs.

Pecker said he backed out of a plan to silence Stormy Daniels at the last minute, leading to the porn star being paid off in the waning days of the 2016 race by Cohen, who also spent several days on the stand and went to federal prison for the notorious payout. The charges related to Trumps reimbursement to Cohen.

_____
A central puzzle of American politics is how Donald Trump can command a working-class majority in the polls when his past policies on everything from taxation to workplace safety to labor rights run counter to working-class interestseven as Trumps opponent, President Joe Biden, authentically champions the working class. Trump achieves this by identifying government as the class enemy. Trumps new promise not to tax workers tips is a case in point.

Campaigning in Las Vegas on Sunday, Trump said: For those hotel workers and people that get tips, youre going to be very happy, because when I get to office, we are going to not charge taxes on tips. The crowd cheered.

The main purpose of this announcement was to divert attention from Trumps earlier promise that, if elected, hell extend the tax cuts he enacted in the first year of his presidency, which are due to expire at the end of 2025. These were a gift to the rich. According to the nonprofit Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, the 2017 tax cuts delivered three times as much, as a share of after-tax income, to people in the top 5 percent of the income distribution as they did to people in the bottom 60 percent. Biden has pledged to maintain the Trump tax cuts for anybody earning $400,000 or less but to eliminate them for anybody earning more than that (i.e., the top 5 percent).

If you want the top 5 percent to pay more in taxes, vote for Biden. If you want the top 5 percent to pay less in taxes, vote for Trump.

Trump wouldnt likely stop at preserving existing tax giveaways to the rich. The Washington Posts Jacob Bogage reported Sunday that congressional Republicans want to lower the maximum corporate tax ratewhich Trump reduced in 2017 from 35 percent to 21 percenteven further, to 15 percent or so. Biden wants to increase the top corporate tax rate to 28 percent. Mandate for Leadership, the Heritage Foundation policy text thats widely judged a proxy for Trumps policy agenda (since his campaign doesnt have one), proposes lowering the top marginal capital gains rate from the current 23.8 percent to 15 percent. Biden would raise it to 39.6 percent, same as his proposed top marginal income tax rate, based on the sound theory that capital and labor should be taxed the same. Thats how it used to be under those famously Bolshevik Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush.

If you want taxes on corporations and on investments to be higher, vote for Biden. If you want them to be lower, vote for Trump.

Trumps tax policies wont play well with working-class voters if they ever get around to comparing them to Bidens. Hence Trumps promise to eliminate taxes on tips. If youre inclined, as many working-class voters are, to regard the federal government with contempt, eliminating the taxation of tips might sound pretty good. But the idea doesnt hold up to scrutiny.

If were talking about cash tipsgranted, a small player these days in the tip economy (by one calculation, only 5 percent), but still the principal source of big tipslets get real. With the exception of very low-wage employees, nobody pays taxes on cash tips. The Internal Revenue Service says you have to report any tip over $20, but the IRS has no way to track cash tips, and everybody knows that. For any service worker not earning a poverty wage, Trump promising not to tax cash tips is like Trump promising to make the sun rise every morning in the east.

Its different for the lowest-paid service workers because they are paid something called the tipped minimum wage. The federal hourly minimum wage, unchanged for 15 years, is $7.25, which is measly enough, but employers may pay tipped workers an even measlier $2.13 provided tips bring their income up to the hourly minimum. When cash tips predominated, these workers were perhaps tempted to underreport tips to the boss, thereby compelling him to make up the difference. But these days (especially in fast-food restaurants, which is where most restaurant servers work), electronic tip screens predominate, allowing your boss and the IRS to keep careful track of tips.

Lets say youre a restaurant server being paid the federal subminimum wage of $2.25 per hour. If you work full-time, you pull down $4,680 per year in wages and (assuming your tips really do bring you up to the federal minimum) $10,400 in tips, for a total income of $15,080. Under Trumps plan, you will no longer have to pay income tax on two-thirds of that income. Sounds pretty good, right?

Except youre barely paying income tax now. If youre single and your income is below $12,950, the IRS doesnt require you to file. If youre single and a head of household and your income is below $19,400, the IRS doesnt require you to file. You do have to pay payroll tax, but Trump didnt say anything about eliminating payroll taxes on tipped income. That would be much more complicated and difficult.

Earning $10,400 in reported tips, incidentally, would appear to be pretty unusual. The average tipped worker reported only $6,249 in tips as of 2018, the last year for which data are available. Maybe its because tipped workers experience considerable difficulty finding full-time work. Maybe employers are cheating tipped workers. Maybe tipped workers are underreporting tips to the IRS. Maybe its some combination of all three. Whatever the reason, the benefit of Trumps tax holiday is even smaller than I calculated in the previous paragraph.

Employers love the tipped minimum because it allows them to shift their labor costs onto customers (who are getting pretty fed up with the burgeoning tipping economy). By making employees livelihood dependent on tips, the subminimum wage compels service workers to bow and scrape merely to get paid what federal law requires. A better solution would be to eliminate the tipped minimum wage entirely. Thats what Biden has imposed on federal contractors (for whom the federal minimum is $15 per hour). This solution was also part of the Democrats failed effort in 2021 to raise the hourly federal minimum (again, to $15).

Service workers in Nevada who cheered Trumps proposal to eliminate taxes on tips should remember that Trump at one point in 2016 proposed not raising the federal hourly wage minimum, but eliminating it altogether. He later came out for a $10 minimum, but only to mollify angry voters; as president he never lifted a finger to raise the minimum wage. Its telling that when Trump finally gets around to proposing a tax policy that might have some appeal for working-class voters, he does so not by requiring employers to pay workers a living wage but rather by requiring the federal government to take up the slack. God forbid that a Republican candidate should ever ask American business to pay for anything.
NIZHNY NOVGOROD, Russia, June 11 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Monday met with Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith in the Russian city of Nizhny Novgorod.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that under the strategic guidance of General Secretary Xi Jinping and General Secretary Thongloun Sisoulith, the building of the China-Laos community with a shared future has been solidly advancing.

Since the start of this year, practical cooperation between the two countries has gained strong momentum, with bilateral trade continuously rising and the China-Laos Railway setting new records in passenger and freight transport volumes, Wang said, adding that the railway has become a symbol in the building of the China-Laos community with a shared future, and injected new vitality into the high-quality Belt and Road cooperation and regional interconnected development.

He noted that facing complex international situations and domestic development tasks, China and Laos, as friendly neighbors with a shared future, should unite more closely to meet challenges, ward off external disturbances, oppose bloc confrontation, and safeguard regional peace and stability.

China firmly supports Laos as the rotating chair of ASEAN and intends to work jointly to build an even closer China-ASEAN community with a shared future, Wang said.

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, he said, stressing that China is ready to work with countries in the region, including Laos, to continuously carry forward the glorious tradition of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, advance with the times, and march towards a brighter future of building a community with a shared future for mankind.

Saleumxay, for his part, said the Lao ruling party, government, and people place great importance on the relations with China. Cooperation between the two countries has developed rapidly, with both sides having signed the second action plan for the building of a community with a shared future, which laid a solid foundation for future cooperation, he added.

He noted that as socialist countries with similar ideals and systems, both Laos and China steadfastly adhere to the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, and are committed to upholding international justice and global peace.

Given the current complex international and regional situations, the importance of Laos-China cooperation is unprecedented, and Laos appreciates China's constructive leadership role in global and regional affairs, he said, adding that Laos, as this year's ASEAN Chair, will endeavor to enhance ASEAN-China cooperation and ensure the correct direction of East Asian cooperation. 
Judge Aileen Cannon is definitely lending Donald Trump a helping hand in his classified documents caseat least, thats according to the former presidents legal team.

Cannon on Tuesday* granted a request by Trumps team to delay the trial until July 8, allowing the defense more time to find expert witnesses to bolster their case. But four words included near the bottom of the motion revealed exactly what legal experts have been fearing.

We respectfully submit that no prejudice would result to the Special Counsels Office from granting the requested adjournment, the team wrote in the Monday night filing, adding that President Trump is disclosing to the Office tonight the topics of expert testimony that he will seek to present at trial should there be one.

Cannon has added so many delays to the criminal trial that it has seemingly no start date in sight. Legal experts have warned that the Trump-appointed judges actions and apparent aversion to expedite the federal obstruction case could delay the trial until after November.

It could even be Cannons way of not-so-surreptitiously dismissing the trial altogetherand now, Trump has spelled it out.

In May, Cannon ordered a stay on the GOP presidential nominees legal requirement to give the government advance notice of which classified materials will be discussedbut offered no expiration date for the theoretically temporary reprieve. She also slapped down a gag order request for Trump on the basis that his defense did not have enough time to mull over its details.

Cannon has even scheduled an unusual hearing on June 21, making time for amicus briefs from non-parties to make oral arguments on whether special counsel Jack Smiths appointment to the case is constitutional.

Former Trump White House attorney Ty Cobb has accused Cannon of incompetence, insisting that the case could have easily gone to trial before Election Day with the amount of evidence available.

Only her incompetence and perceived bias has prevented that, Cobb told CNN last month.

Trump faces 42 felony charges in the case related to willful retention of national security information, corruptly concealing documents, and conspiracy to obstruct justice. But the judge actually overseeing the former presidents classified documents case seems to have no motivation to move forward with the trial.

*This story has been updated with Cannons response.
Former President Donald Trump on Monday, June 10, 2024, in a pre-recorded message told The Danbury Institute, a group opposed to abortion, that he hopes to protect innocent life if elected in November. In this photo, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference at the Gaylord National Resort Hotel And Convention Center on Feb. 24, 2024, in National Harbor, Maryland. (Anna Moneymaker | Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  Former President Donald Trump said Monday that if reelected he plans to work side by side with a newly formed religious organization that says abortion is the greatest atrocity facing the United States and should be eradicated entirely.

During two-minute recorded remarks played at The Danbury Institutes inaugural Life & Liberty Forum in Indianapolis, Trump avoided using the word abortion, but said he hopes to protect innocent life if reelected in November.

We have to defend religious liberty, free speech, innocent life, and the heritage and tradition that built America into the greatest nation in the history of the world, Trump said. But now we are, as you know, a declining nation.

Trump, the Republican Partys presumptive presidential nominee, said that he hopes to work alongside the institute to defend those values.

These are going to be your years because youre going to make a comeback like just about no other group, Trump said. I know whats happening. I know where youre coming from and where youre going. And Ill be with you side by side.

Trump also called on The Danbury Institute and church members to vote for him during the November presidential election, saying that President Joe Biden and Democrats are against religion.

Biden-Harris 2024 spokesperson Sarafina Chitika said in a written statement released before Trumps message was played that a second term for him is sure to bring more extreme abortion bans with no exceptions, women punished for seeking the care they need, and doctors criminalized for providing care.

Women can and will stop him by reelecting President Biden and Vice President Harris this November, Chitika wrote.

Abortion position

The Danbury Institute writes on its website that it opposes abortion from the moment of conception, meaning that each pre-born baby would be treated with the same protection under the law as born people.

The intentional, pre-meditated killing of a pre-born child should be addressed with laws already in place concerning homicide, its website states. We also support bolstering the foster care system and encouraging Christian adoption and are working with churches around the country to help them become equipped to care for children in need of loving families.

Another section of the Danbury Institutes website states the organization believes, the greatest atrocity facing our generation today is the practice of abortionchild sacrifice on the altar of self.

Abortion must be ended, the website states. We will not rest until it is eradicated entirely.

The website doesnt mention if the organization supports exceptions in cases of rape, incest or the womans life, nor does it say if women who receive abortions should be protected from criminal prosecution. The institute did not return a request from States Newsroom seeking to clarify if it supports any or all of those three exceptions.

The institute writes on its website that it does not endorse any candidate for public office nor participate in political campaign activities. Contributions to The Danbury Institute are not used for political campaigning and are conducted in accordance with IRS regulations for nonprofit organizations.

Florida minister takes issue with abortion letter

Tom Ascol, president of Founders Ministries in Florida, spoke on a panel discussion about the Sanctity of Life at Mondays event, during which he said abortion is the greatest evil of this nation in our day.

Ascol also appeared frustrated with a public letter released by dozens of anti-abortion organizations in May 2022, arguing that no laws should criminalize women who have abortions. He took particular exception to the acting president of the Southern Baptist Conventions Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission signing his name to the document.

It grieves me that when there was legislation before the Louisiana legislature that had a real opportunity to be passed, because there were lawmakers that were willing to go forward  that 75 pro-life organizations penned an open letter, including the leader of our Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission Brent Leatherwood, who attached his name to that letter, saying, We do not think that any legislature should criminalize abortion to the degree that those who offer their bodies up to be given over to abortion would be held liable, Ascol said during the conference.

That letter was released the same day in 2022 that state lawmakers in Louisiana were debating House Bill 813, which had been on track to criminalize women who receive abortions in addition to the doctors who provide them. Prosecutors would have been able to charge the women with murder.

Louisiana lawmakers instead opted to rework the language of the original bill to replace it with another anti-abortion measure that didnt include criminal penalties for women who receive abortions.

Ascol said he believed the Southern Baptist Conventions Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission must say publicly if the goal (is) the abolition of abortion. And if it is and theyre sincere, then okay, lets work together.

If we can do that, I think we can have some opportunity for coalition building, Ascol said. If we get more of these open letters by so-called pro-life organizations helping to spike legitimate legislation, then I think were going to continue to see the fragmentation and understandably so.

National Right to Life, Susan B. Anthony List and Americans United for Life were among the organizations that signed the May 2022 letter.

Trump and abortion, contraception

Trumps comments to The Danbury Institute on Monday didnt clear up the confusion stemming from his comments to news organizations during the past few months.

Trump said during an interview with TIME Magazine published in April that his campaign would be releasing a policy in the weeks that followed on access to medication abortion, a two-drug regimen approved for up to 10 weeks gestation.

Well, I have an opinion on that, but Im not going to explain, Trump said, according to the transcript of the interview. Im not gonna say it yet. But I have pretty strong views on that. And Ill be releasing it probably over the next week.

That policy had not been released as of Monday.

Medication abortion, which include mifepristone and misoprostol, makes up about 63% of pregnancy terminations within the United States, according to data from the Guttmacher Institute.

U.S. Supreme Court justices heard oral arguments in a case about mifepristones use in late March and are expected to publish their ruling before the Fourth of July.

During an interview with a Pittsburgh TV news station in May, Trump hinted that he might be open to states limiting or banning access to contraception, though he walked back his remarks the same day in a social media post.

Were looking at that and Im going to have a policy on that very shortly and I think its something that youll find interesting, Trump said on KDKA after being asked if he could support any restrictions on a persons right to contraception. Its another issue thats very interesting. But you will find it very smart. I think its a smart decision, but well be releasing it very soon.

Trump later posted on social media that he never had and never would ADVOCATE IMPOSING RESTRICTIONS ON BIRTH CONTROL, or other contraceptives.

Trumps campaign had not released a policy on contraception as of Monday.

U.S. Senate vote on IVF set this week

Access to reproductive health care, including contraception and IVF, has become a recurring issue in the U.S. Senate ahead of Novembers elections, with Democrats seeking to put GOP members on the record.

The Senate tried to pass legislation last week that would have provided protections for access to contraception, but the vast majority of the chambers Republicans voted against advancing that bill.

Access to contraception is currently protected by two U.S. Supreme Court cases  Griswold v. Connecticut and Eisenstadt v. Baird  where the justices ruled that Americans privacy rights allow them to make those decisions for themselves.

Democrats and reproductive rights advocates are concerned that the justices could eventually overturn those two cases the same way the court overturned Roe v. Wade.

The Senate is set to vote this week on legislation guaranteeing access to in vitro fertilization, though GOP senators are expected to block that bill as well.

The post Trump says hell work side by side with group that wants abortion eradicated appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) at the Gaylord National Resort Hotel And Convention Center on Feb. 24, 2024 in National Harbor, Maryland. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  Former President Donald Trump said Monday that if reelected he plans to work side by side with a newly formed religious organization that says abortion is the greatest atrocity facing the United States and should be eradicated entirely.

During two-minute recorded remarks played at The Danbury Institutes inaugural Life & Liberty Forum in Indianapolis, Trump avoided using the word abortion, but said he hopes to protect innocent life if reelected in November.

We have to defend religious liberty, free speech, innocent life, and the heritage and tradition that built America into the greatest nation in the history of the world, Trump said. But now we are, as you know, a declining nation.

Trump, the Republican Partys presumptive presidential nominee, said that he hopes to work alongside the institute to defend those values.

These are going to be your years because youre going to make a comeback like just about no other group, Trump said. I know whats happening. I know where youre coming from and where youre going. And Ill be with you side by side.

Trump also called on The Danbury Institute and church members to vote for him during the November presidential election, saying that President Joe Biden and Democrats are against religion.

Biden-Harris 2024 spokesperson Sarafina Chitika said in a written statement released before Trumps message was played that a second term for him is sure to bring more extreme abortion bans with no exceptions, women punished for seeking the care they need, and doctors criminalized for providing care.

Women can and will stop him by reelecting President Biden and Vice President Harris this November, Chitika wrote.

Abortion position

The Danbury Institute writes on its website that it opposes abortion from the moment of conception, meaning that each pre-born baby would be treated with the same protection under the law as born people.

The intentional, pre-meditated killing of a pre-born child should be addressed with laws already in place concerning homicide, its website states. We also support bolstering the foster care system and encouraging Christian adoption and are working with churches around the country to help them become equipped to care for children in need of loving families.

Another section of the Danbury Institutes website states the organization believes, the greatest atrocity facing our generation today is the practice of abortionchild sacrifice on the altar of self.

Abortion must be ended, the website states. We will not rest until it is eradicated entirely.

The website doesnt mention if the organization supports exceptions in cases of rape, incest or the womans life, nor does it say if women who receive abortions should be protected from criminal prosecution. The institute did not return a request from States Newsroom seeking to clarify if it supports any or all of those three exceptions.

The institute writes on its website that it does not endorse any candidate for public office nor participate in political campaign activities. Contributions to The Danbury Institute are not used for political campaigning and are conducted in accordance with IRS regulations for nonprofit organizations.

Florida minister takes issue with abortion letter

Tom Ascol, president of Founders Ministries in Florida, spoke on a panel discussion about the Sanctity of Life at Mondays event, during which he said abortion is the greatest evil of this nation in our day.

Ascol also appeared frustrated with a public letter released by dozens of anti-abortion organizations in May 2022, arguing that no laws should criminalize women who have abortions. He took particular exception to the acting president of the Southern Baptist Conventions Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission signing his name to the document.

It grieves me that when there was legislation before the Louisiana legislature that had a real opportunity to be passed, because there were lawmakers that were willing to go forward  that 75 pro-life organizations penned an open letter, including the leader of our Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission Brent Leatherwood, who attached his name to that letter, saying, We do not think that any legislature should criminalize abortion to the degree that those who offer their bodies up to be given over to abortion would be held liable, Ascol said during the conference.

That letter was released the same day in 2022 that state lawmakers in Louisiana were debating House Bill 813, which had been on track to criminalize women who receive abortions in addition to the doctors who provide them. Prosecutors would have been able to charge the women with murder.

Louisiana lawmakers instead opted to rework the language of the original bill to replace it with another anti-abortion measure that didnt include criminal penalties for women who receive abortions.

Ascol said he believed the Southern Baptist Conventions Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission must say publicly if the goal (is) the abolition of abortion. And if it is and theyre sincere, then okay, lets work together.

If we can do that, I think we can have some opportunity for coalition building, Ascol said. If we get more of these open letters by so-called pro-life organizations helping to spike legitimate legislation, then I think were going to continue to see the fragmentation and understandably so.

National Right to Life, Susan B. Anthony List and Americans United for Life were among the organizations that signed the May 2022 letter.

Trump and abortion, contraception

Trumps comments to The Danbury Institute on Monday didnt clear up the confusion stemming from his comments to news organizations during the past few months.

Trump said during an interview with TIME Magazine published in April that his campaign would be releasing a policy in the weeks that followed on access to medication abortion, a two-drug regimen approved for up to 10 weeks gestation.

Well, I have an opinion on that, but Im not going to explain, Trump said, according to the transcript of the interview. Im not gonna say it yet. But I have pretty strong views on that. And Ill be releasing it probably over the next week.

That policy had not been released as of Monday.

Medication abortion, which include mifepristone and misoprostol, makes up about 63% of pregnancy terminations within the United States, according to data from the Guttmacher Institute.

U.S. Supreme Court justices heard oral arguments in a case about mifepristones use in late March and are expected to publish their ruling before the Fourth of July.

During an interview with a Pittsburgh TV news station in May, Trump hinted that he might be open to states limiting or banning access to contraception, though he walked back his remarks the same day in a social media post.

Were looking at that and Im going to have a policy on that very shortly and I think its something that youll find interesting, Trump said on KDKA after being asked if he could support any restrictions on a persons right to contraception. Its another issue thats very interesting. But you will find it very smart. I think its a smart decision, but well be releasing it very soon.

Trump later posted on social media that he never had and never would ADVOCATE IMPOSING RESTRICTIONS ON BIRTH CONTROL, or other contraceptives.

Trumps campaign had not released a policy on contraception as of Monday.

U.S. Senate vote on IVF set this week

Access to reproductive health care, including contraception and IVF, has become a recurring issue in the U.S. Senate ahead of Novembers elections, with Democrats seeking to put GOP members on the record.

The Senate tried to pass legislation last week that would have provided protections for access to contraception, but the vast majority of the chambers Republicans voted against advancing that bill.

Access to contraception is currently protected by two U.S. Supreme Court cases  Griswold v. Connecticut and Eisenstadt v. Baird  where the justices ruled that Americans privacy rights allow them to make those decisions for themselves.

Democrats and reproductive rights advocates are concerned that the justices could eventually overturn those two cases the same way the court overturned Roe v. Wade.

The Senate is set to vote this week on legislation guaranteeing access to in vitro fertilization, though GOP senators are expected to block that bill as well.

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The post Trump says hell work side by side with group that wants abortion eradicated appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
Former President Donald Trump on Monday, June 10, 2024, in a pre-recorded message told The Danbury Institute, a group opposed to abortion, that he hopes to protect innocent life if elected in November. In this photo, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference at the Gaylord National Resort Hotel And Convention Center on Feb. 24, 2024, in National Harbor, Maryland. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  Former President Donald Trump said Monday that if reelected he plans to work side by side with a newly formed religious organization that says abortion is the greatest atrocity facing the United States and should be eradicated entirely.

During two-minute recorded remarks played at The Danbury Institutes inaugural Life & Liberty Forum in Indianapolis, Trump avoided using the word abortion, but said he hopes to protect innocent life if reelected in November.

We have to defend religious liberty, free speech, innocent life, and the heritage and tradition that built America into the greatest nation in the history of the world, Trump said. But now we are, as you know, a declining nation.

Trump, the Republican Partys presumptive presidential nominee, said that he hopes to work alongside the institute to defend those values.

These are going to be your years because youre going to make a comeback like just about no other group, Trump said. I know whats happening. I know where youre coming from and where youre going. And Ill be with you side by side.

Trump also called on The Danbury Institute and church members to vote for him during the November presidential election, saying that President Joe Biden and Democrats are against religion.

Biden-Harris 2024 spokesperson Sarafina Chitika said in a written statement released before Trumps message was played that a second term for him is sure to bring more extreme abortion bans with no exceptions, women punished for seeking the care they need, and doctors criminalized for providing care.

Women can and will stop him by reelecting President Biden and Vice President Harris this November, Chitika wrote.

Abortion position

The Danbury Institute writes on its website that it opposes abortion from the moment of conception, meaning that each pre-born baby would be treated with the same protection under the law as born people.

The intentional, pre-meditated killing of a pre-born child should be addressed with laws already in place concerning homicide, its website states. We also support bolstering the foster care system and encouraging Christian adoption and are working with churches around the country to help them become equipped to care for children in need of loving families.

Another section of the Danbury Institutes website states the organization believes, the greatest atrocity facing our generation today is the practice of abortionchild sacrifice on the altar of self.

Abortion must be ended, the website states. We will not rest until it is eradicated entirely.

The website doesnt mention if the organization supports exceptions in cases of rape, incest or the womans life, nor does it say if women who receive abortions should be protected from criminal prosecution. The institute did not return a request from States Newsroom seeking to clarify if it supports any or all of those three exceptions.

The institute writes on its website that it does not endorse any candidate for public office nor participate in political campaign activities. Contributions to The Danbury Institute are not used for political campaigning and are conducted in accordance with IRS regulations for nonprofit organizations.

Florida minister takes issue with abortion letter

Tom Ascol, president of Founders Ministries in Florida, spoke on a panel discussion about the Sanctity of Life at Mondays event, during which he said abortion is the greatest evil of this nation in our day.

Ascol also appeared frustrated with a public letter released by dozens of anti-abortion organizations in May 2022, arguing that no laws should criminalize women who have abortions. He took particular exception to the acting president of the Southern Baptist Conventions Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission signing his name to the document.

It grieves me that when there was legislation before the Louisiana legislature that had a real opportunity to be passed, because there were lawmakers that were willing to go forward  that 75 pro-life organizations penned an open letter, including the leader of our Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission Brent Leatherwood, who attached his name to that letter, saying, We do not think that any legislature should criminalize abortion to the degree that those who offer their bodies up to be given over to abortion would be held liable, Ascol said during the conference.

That letter was released the same day in 2022 that state lawmakers in Louisiana were debating House Bill 813, which had been on track to criminalize women who receive abortions in addition to the doctors who provide them. Prosecutors would have been able to charge the women with murder.

Louisiana lawmakers instead opted to rework the language of the original bill to replace it with another anti-abortion measure that didnt include criminal penalties for women who receive abortions.

Ascol said he believed the Southern Baptist Conventions Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission must say publicly if the goal (is) the abolition of abortion. And if it is and theyre sincere, then okay, lets work together.

If we can do that, I think we can have some opportunity for coalition building, Ascol said. If we get more of these open letters by so-called pro-life organizations helping to spike legitimate legislation, then I think were going to continue to see the fragmentation and understandably so.

National Right to Life, Susan B. Anthony List and Americans United for Life were among the organizations that signed the May 2022 letter.

Trump and abortion, contraception

Trumps comments to The Danbury Institute on Monday didnt clear up the confusion stemming from his comments to news organizations during the past few months.

Trump said during an interview with TIME Magazine published in April that his campaign would be releasing a policy in the weeks that followed on access to medication abortion, a two-drug regimen approved for up to 10 weeks gestation.

Well, I have an opinion on that, but Im not going to explain, Trump said, according to the transcript of the interview. Im not gonna say it yet. But I have pretty strong views on that. And Ill be releasing it probably over the next week.

That policy had not been released as of Monday.

Medication abortion, which include mifepristone and misoprostol, makes up about 63% of pregnancy terminations within the United States, according to data from the Guttmacher Institute.

U.S. Supreme Court justices heard oral arguments in a case about mifepristones use in late March and are expected to publish their ruling before the Fourth of July.

During an interview with a Pittsburgh TV news station in May, Trump hinted that he might be open to states limiting or banning access to contraception, though he walked back his remarks the same day in a social media post.

Were looking at that and Im going to have a policy on that very shortly and I think its something that youll find interesting, Trump said on KDKA after being asked if he could support any restrictions on a persons right to contraception. Its another issue thats very interesting. But you will find it very smart. I think its a smart decision, but well be releasing it very soon.

Trump later posted on social media that he never had and never would ADVOCATE IMPOSING RESTRICTIONS ON BIRTH CONTROL, or other contraceptives.

Trumps campaign had not released a policy on contraception as of Monday.

U.S. Senate vote on IVF set this week

Access to reproductive health care, including contraception and IVF, has become a recurring issue in the U.S. Senate ahead of Novembers elections, with Democrats seeking to put GOP members on the record.

The Senate tried to pass legislation last week that would have provided protections for access to contraception, but the vast majority of the chambers Republicans voted against advancing that bill.

Access to contraception is currently protected by two U.S. Supreme Court cases  Griswold v. Connecticut and Eisenstadt v. Baird  where the justices ruled that Americans privacy rights allow them to make those decisions for themselves.

Democrats and reproductive rights advocates are concerned that the justices could eventually overturn those two cases the same way the court overturned Roe v. Wade.

The Senate is set to vote this week on legislation guaranteeing access to in vitro fertilization, though GOP senators are expected to block that bill as well.

The post Trump says hell work side by side with group that wants abortion eradicated appeared first on Michigan Advance.
Former President Donald Trump on Monday, June 10, 2024, in a pre-recorded message told The Danbury Institute, a group opposed to abortion, that he hopes to protect innocent life if elected in November. In this photo, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference at the Gaylord National Resort Hotel And Convention Center on Feb. 24, 2024, in National Harbor, Maryland. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  Former President Donald Trump said Monday that if reelected he plans to work side by side with a newly formed religious organization that says abortion is the greatest atrocity facing the United States and should be eradicated entirely.

During two-minute recorded remarks played at The Danbury Institutes inaugural Life & Liberty Forum in Indianapolis, Trump avoided using the word abortion, but said he hopes to protect innocent life if reelected in November.

We have to defend religious liberty, free speech, innocent life, and the heritage and tradition that built America into the greatest nation in the history of the world, Trump said. But now we are, as you know, a declining nation.

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Trump, the Republican Partys presumptive presidential nominee, said that he hopes to work alongside the institute to defend those values.

These are going to be your years because youre going to make a comeback like just about no other group, Trump said. I know whats happening. I know where youre coming from and where youre going. And Ill be with you side by side.

Trump also called on The Danbury Institute and church members to vote for him during the November presidential election, saying that President Joe Biden and Democrats are against religion.

Biden-Harris 2024 spokesperson Sarafina Chitika said in a written statement released before Trumps message was played that a second term for him is sure to bring more extreme abortion bans with no exceptions, women punished for seeking the care they need, and doctors criminalized for providing care.

Women can and will stop him by reelecting President Biden and Vice President Harris this November, Chitika wrote.

Abortion position

The Danbury Institute writes on its website that it opposes abortion from the moment of conception, meaning that each pre-born baby would be treated with the same protection under the law as born people.

The intentional, pre-meditated killing of a pre-born child should be addressed with laws already in place concerning homicide, its website states. We also support bolstering the foster care system and encouraging Christian adoption and are working with churches around the country to help them become equipped to care for children in need of loving families.

Another section of the Danbury Institutes website states the organization believes, the greatest atrocity facing our generation today is the practice of abortionchild sacrifice on the altar of self.

Abortion must be ended, the website states. We will not rest until it is eradicated entirely.

The website doesnt mention if the organization supports exceptions in cases of rape, incest or the womans life, nor does it say if women who receive abortions should be protected from criminal prosecution. The institute did not return a request from States Newsroom seeking to clarify if it supports any or all of those three exceptions.

The institute writes on its website that it does not endorse any candidate for public office nor participate in political campaign activities. Contributions to The Danbury Institute are not used for political campaigning and are conducted in accordance with IRS regulations for nonprofit organizations.

Florida minister takes issue with abortion letter

Tom Ascol, president of Founders Ministries in Florida, spoke on a panel discussion about the Sanctity of Life at Mondays event, during which he said abortion is the greatest evil of this nation in our day.

Ascol also appeared frustrated with a public letter released by dozens of anti-abortion organizations in May 2022, arguing that no laws should criminalize women who have abortions. He took particular exception to the acting president of the Southern Baptist Conventions Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission signing his name to the document.

It grieves me that when there was legislation before the Louisiana legislature that had a real opportunity to be passed, because there were lawmakers that were willing to go forward  that 75 pro-life organizations penned an open letter, including the leader of our Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission Brent Leatherwood, who attached his name to that letter, saying, We do not think that any legislature should criminalize abortion to the degree that those who offer their bodies up to be given over to abortion would be held liable, Ascol said during the conference.

SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE

That letter was released the same day in 2022 that state lawmakers in Louisiana were debating House Bill 813, which had been on track to criminalize women who receive abortions in addition to the doctors who provide them. Prosecutors would have been able to charge the women with murder.

Louisiana lawmakers instead opted to rework the language of the original bill to replace it with another anti-abortion measure that didnt include criminal penalties for women who receive abortions.

Ascol said he believed the Southern Baptist Conventions Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission must say publicly if the goal (is) the abolition of abortion. And if it is and theyre sincere, then okay, lets work together.

If we can do that, I think we can have some opportunity for coalition building, Ascol said. If we get more of these open letters by so-called pro-life organizations helping to spike legitimate legislation, then I think were going to continue to see the fragmentation and understandably so.

National Right to Life, Susan B. Anthony List and Americans United for Life were among the organizations that signed the May 2022 letter.

Trump and abortion, contraception

Trumps comments to The Danbury Institute on Monday didnt clear up the confusion stemming from his comments to news organizations during the past few months.

Trump said during an interview with TIME Magazine published in April that his campaign would be releasing a policy in the weeks that followed on access to medication abortion, a two-drug regimen approved for up to 10 weeks gestation.

Well, I have an opinion on that, but Im not going to explain, Trump said, according to the transcript of the interview. Im not gonna say it yet. But I have pretty strong views on that. And Ill be releasing it probably over the next week.

That policy had not been released as of Monday.

Medication abortion, which include mifepristone and misoprostol, makes up about 63% of pregnancy terminations within the United States, according to data from the Guttmacher Institute.

U.S. Supreme Court justices heard oral arguments in a case about mifepristones use in late March and are expected to publish their ruling before the Fourth of July.

During an interview with a Pittsburgh TV news station in May, Trump hinted that he might be open to states limiting or banning access to contraception, though he walked back his remarks the same day in a social media post.

Were looking at that and Im going to have a policy on that very shortly and I think its something that youll find interesting, Trump said on KDKA after being asked if he could support any restrictions on a persons right to contraception. Its another issue thats very interesting. But you will find it very smart. I think its a smart decision, but well be releasing it very soon.

Trump later posted on social media that he never had and never would ADVOCATE IMPOSING RESTRICTIONS ON BIRTH CONTROL, or other contraceptives.

Trumps campaign had not released a policy on contraception as of Monday.

U.S. Senate vote on IVF set this week

Access to reproductive health care, including contraception and IVF, has become a recurring issue in the U.S. Senate ahead of Novembers elections, with Democrats seeking to put GOP members on the record.

The Senate tried to pass legislation last week that would have provided protections for access to contraception, but the vast majority of the chambers Republicans voted against advancing that bill.

Access to contraception is currently protected by two U.S. Supreme Court cases  Griswold v. Connecticut and Eisenstadt v. Baird  where the justices ruled that Americans privacy rights allow them to make those decisions for themselves.

Democrats and reproductive rights advocates are concerned that the justices could eventually overturn those two cases the same way the court overturned Roe v. Wade.

The Senate is set to vote this week on legislation guaranteeing access to in vitro fertilization, though GOP senators are expected to block that bill as well.

The post Trump says hell work side by side with group that wants abortion eradicated appeared first on Indiana Capital Chronicle.
Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference, or CPAC, at the Gaylord National Resort Hotel And Convention Center on Feb. 24, 2024 in National Harbor, Maryland. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker / Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  Former President Donald Trump said Monday that if reelected he plans to work side by side with a newly formed religious organization that says abortion is the greatest atrocity facing the United States and should be eradicated entirely.

During two-minute recorded remarks played at The Danbury Institutes inaugural Life & Liberty Forum in Indianapolis, Trump avoided using the word abortion, but said he hopes to protect innocent life if reelected in November.

We have to defend religious liberty, free speech, innocent life, and the heritage and tradition that built America into the greatest nation in the history of the world, Trump said. But now we are, as you know, a declining nation.

Trump, the Republican Partys presumptive presidential nominee, said that he hopes to work alongside the institute to defend those values.

These are going to be your years because youre going to make a comeback like just about no other group, Trump said. I know whats happening. I know where youre coming from and where youre going. And Ill be with you side by side.

Trump also called on The Danbury Institute and church members to vote for him during the November presidential election, saying that President Joe Biden and Democrats are against religion.

Biden-Harris 2024 spokesperson Sarafina Chitika said in a written statement released before Trumps message was played that a second term for him is sure to bring more extreme abortion bans with no exceptions, women punished for seeking the care they need, and doctors criminalized for providing care.

Women can and will stop him by reelecting President Biden and Vice President Harris this November, Chitika wrote.

Abortion position

The Danbury Institute writes on its website that it opposes abortion from the moment of conception, meaning that each pre-born baby would be treated with the same protection under the law as born people.

The intentional, pre-meditated killing of a pre-born child should be addressed with laws already in place concerning homicide, its website states. We also support bolstering the foster care system and encouraging Christian adoption and are working with churches around the country to help them become equipped to care for children in need of loving families.

Another section of the Danbury Institutes website states the organization believes, the greatest atrocity facing our generation today is the practice of abortionchild sacrifice on the altar of self.

Abortion must be ended, the website states. We will not rest until it is eradicated entirely.

The website doesnt mention if the organization supports exceptions in cases of rape, incest or the womans life, nor does it say if women who receive abortions should be protected from criminal prosecution. The institute did not return a request from States Newsroom seeking to clarify if it supports any or all of those three exceptions.

The institute writes on its website that it does not endorse any candidate for public office nor participate in political campaign activities. Contributions to The Danbury Institute are not used for political campaigning and are conducted in accordance with IRS regulations for nonprofit organizations.

Florida minister takes issue with abortion letter

Tom Ascol, president of Founders Ministries in Florida, spoke on a panel discussion about the Sanctity of Life at Mondays event, during which he said abortion is the greatest evil of this nation in our day.

Ascol also appeared frustrated with a public letter released by dozens of anti-abortion organizations in May 2022, arguing that no laws should criminalize women who have abortions. He took particular exception to the acting president of the Southern Baptist Conventions Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission signing his name to the document.

It grieves me that when there was legislation before the Louisiana legislature that had a real opportunity to be passed, because there were lawmakers that were willing to go forward  that 75 pro-life organizations penned an open letter, including the leader of our Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission Brent Leatherwood, who attached his name to that letter, saying, We do not think that any legislature should criminalize abortion to the degree that those who offer their bodies up to be given over to abortion would be held liable, Ascol said during the conference.

That letter was released the same day in 2022 that state lawmakers in Louisiana were debating House Bill 813, which had been on track to criminalize women who receive abortions in addition to the doctors who provide them. Prosecutors would have been able to charge the women with murder.

Louisiana lawmakers instead opted to rework the language of the original bill to replace it with another anti-abortion measure that didnt include criminal penalties for women who receive abortions.

Ascol said he believed the Southern Baptist Conventions Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission must say publicly if the goal (is) the abolition of abortion. And if it is and theyre sincere, then okay, lets work together.

If we can do that, I think we can have some opportunity for coalition building, Ascol said. If we get more of these open letters by so-called pro-life organizations helping to spike legitimate legislation, then I think were going to continue to see the fragmentation and understandably so.

National Right to Life, Susan B. Anthony List and Americans United for Life were among the organizations that signed the May 2022 letter.

Trump and abortion, contraception

Trumps comments to The Danbury Institute on Monday didnt clear up the confusion stemming from his comments to news organizations during the past few months.

Trump said during an interview with TIME Magazine published in April that his campaign would be releasing a policy in the weeks that followed on access to medication abortion, a two-drug regimen approved for up to 10 weeks gestation.

Well, I have an opinion on that, but Im not going to explain, Trump said, according to the transcript of the interview. Im not gonna say it yet. But I have pretty strong views on that. And Ill be releasing it probably over the next week.

That policy had not been released as of Monday.

Medication abortion, which include mifepristone and misoprostol, makes up about 63% of pregnancy terminations within the United States, according to data from the Guttmacher Institute.

U.S. Supreme Court justices heard oral arguments in a case about mifepristones use in late March and are expected to publish their ruling before the Fourth of July.

During an interview with a Pittsburgh TV news station in May, Trump hinted that he might be open to states limiting or banning access to contraception, though he walked back his remarks the same day in a social media post.

Were looking at that and Im going to have a policy on that very shortly and I think its something that youll find interesting, Trump said on KDKA after being asked if he could support any restrictions on a persons right to contraception. Its another issue thats very interesting. But you will find it very smart. I think its a smart decision, but well be releasing it very soon.

Trump later posted on social media that he never had and never would ADVOCATE IMPOSING RESTRICTIONS ON BIRTH CONTROL, or other contraceptives.

Trumps campaign had not released a policy on contraception as of Monday.

U.S. Senate vote on IVF set this week

Access to reproductive health care, including contraception and IVF, has become a recurring issue in the U.S. Senate ahead of Novembers elections, with Democrats seeking to put GOP members on the record.

The Senate tried to pass legislation last week that would have provided protections for access to contraception, but the vast majority of the chambers Republicans voted against advancing that bill.

Access to contraception is currently protected by two U.S. Supreme Court cases  Griswold v. Connecticut and Eisenstadt v. Baird  where the justices ruled that Americans privacy rights allow them to make those decisions for themselves.

Democrats and reproductive rights advocates are concerned that the justices could eventually overturn those two cases the same way the court overturned Roe v. Wade.

The Senate is set to vote this week on legislation guaranteeing access to in vitro fertilization, though GOP senators are expected to block that bill as well.

SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE

The post Trump says hell work side by side with group that wants abortion eradicated appeared first on Source New Mexico.
Former President Donald Trump on Monday in a pre-recorded message told The Danbury Institute, a group opposed to abortion, that he hopes to protect innocent life if elected in November. In this photo, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference at the Gaylord National Resort Hotel And Convention Center on Feb. 24, 2024, in National Harbor, Maryland (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images).

WASHINGTON  Former President Donald Trump said Monday that if reelected he plans to work side by side with a newly formed religious organization that says abortion is the greatest atrocity facing the United States and should be eradicated entirely.

During two-minute recorded remarks played at The Danbury Institutes inaugural Life & Liberty Forum in Indianapolis, Trump avoided using the word abortion, but said he hopes to protect innocent life if reelected in November.

We have to defend religious liberty, free speech, innocent life, and the heritage and tradition that built America into the greatest nation in the history of the world, Trump said. But now we are, as you know, a declining nation.

Trump, the Republican Partys presumptive presidential nominee, said that he hopes to work alongside the institute to defend those values.

These are going to be your years because youre going to make a comeback like just about no other group, Trump said. I know whats happening. I know where youre coming from and where youre going. And Ill be with you side by side.

Trump also called on The Danbury Institute and church members to vote for him during the November presidential election, saying that President Joe Biden and Democrats are against religion.

Biden-Harris 2024 spokesperson Sarafina Chitika said in a written statement released before Trumps message was played that a second term for him is sure to bring more extreme abortion bans with no exceptions, women punished for seeking the care they need, and doctors criminalized for providing care.

Women can and will stop him by reelecting President Biden and Vice President Harris this November, Chitika wrote.

Abortion position

The Danbury Institute writes on its website that it opposes abortion from the moment of conception, meaning that each pre-born baby would be treated with the same protection under the law as born people.

The intentional, pre-meditated killing of a pre-born child should be addressed with laws already in place concerning homicide, its website states. We also support bolstering the foster care system and encouraging Christian adoption and are working with churches around the country to help them become equipped to care for children in need of loving families.

Another section of the Danbury Institutes website states the organization believes, the greatest atrocity facing our generation today is the practice of abortionchild sacrifice on the altar of self.

Abortion must be ended, the website states. We will not rest until it is eradicated entirely.

The website doesnt mention if the organization supports exceptions in cases of rape, incest or the womans life, nor does it say if women who receive abortions should be protected from criminal prosecution. The institute did not return a request from States Newsroom seeking to clarify if it supports any or all of those three exceptions.

The institute writes on its website that it does not endorse any candidate for public office nor participate in political campaign activities. Contributions to The Danbury Institute are not used for political campaigning and are conducted in accordance with IRS regulations for nonprofit organizations.

Florida minister takes issue with abortion letter

Tom Ascol, president of Founders Ministries in Florida, spoke on a panel discussion about the Sanctity of Life at Mondays event, during which he said abortion is the greatest evil of this nation in our day.

Ascol also appeared frustrated with a public letter released by dozens of anti-abortion organizations in May 2022, arguing that no laws should criminalize women who have abortions. He took particular exception to the acting president of the Southern Baptist Conventions Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission signing his name to the document.

It grieves me that when there was legislation before the Louisiana legislature that had a real opportunity to be passed, because there were lawmakers that were willing to go forward  that 75 pro-life organizations penned an open letter, including the leader of our Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission Brent Leatherwood, who attached his name to that letter, saying, We do not think that any legislature should criminalize abortion to the degree that those who offer their bodies up to be given over to abortion would be held liable, Ascol said during the conference.

That letter was released the same day in 2022 that state lawmakers in Louisiana were debating House Bill 813, which had been on track to criminalize women who receive abortions in addition to the doctors who provide them. Prosecutors would have been able to charge the women with murder.

Louisiana lawmakers instead opted to rework the language of the original bill to replace it with another anti-abortion measure that didnt include criminal penalties for women who receive abortions.

Ascol said he believed the Southern Baptist Conventions Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission must say publicly if the goal (is) the abolition of abortion. And if it is and theyre sincere, then okay, lets work together.

If we can do that, I think we can have some opportunity for coalition building, Ascol said. If we get more of these open letters by so-called pro-life organizations helping to spike legitimate legislation, then I think were going to continue to see the fragmentation and understandably so.

National Right to Life, Susan B. Anthony List and Americans United for Life were among the organizations that signed the May 2022 letter.

Trump and abortion, contraception

Trumps comments to The Danbury Institute on Monday didnt clear up the confusion stemming from his comments to news organizations during the past few months.

Trump said during an interview with TIME Magazine published in April that his campaign would be releasing a policy in the weeks that followed on access to medication abortion, a two-drug regimen approved for up to 10 weeks gestation.

Well, I have an opinion on that, but Im not going to explain, Trump said, according to the transcript of the interview. Im not gonna say it yet. But I have pretty strong views on that. And Ill be releasing it probably over the next week.

That policy had not been released as of Monday.

Medication abortion, which include mifepristone and misoprostol, makes up about 63% of pregnancy terminations within the United States, according to data from the Guttmacher Institute.

U.S. Supreme Court justices heard oral arguments in a case about mifepristones use in late March and are expected to publish their ruling before the Fourth of July.

During an interview with a Pittsburgh TV news station in May, Trump hinted that he might be open to states limiting or banning access to contraception, though he walked back his remarks the same day in a social media post.

Were looking at that and Im going to have a policy on that very shortly and I think its something that youll find interesting, Trump said on KDKA after being asked if he could support any restrictions on a persons right to contraception. Its another issue thats very interesting. But you will find it very smart. I think its a smart decision, but well be releasing it very soon.

Trump later posted on social media that he never had and never would ADVOCATE IMPOSING RESTRICTIONS ON BIRTH CONTROL, or other contraceptives.

Trumps campaign had not released a policy on contraception as of Monday.

U.S. Senate vote on IVF set this week

Access to reproductive health care, including contraception and IVF, has become a recurring issue in the U.S. Senate ahead of Novembers elections, with Democrats seeking to put GOP members on the record.

The Senate tried to pass legislation last week that would have provided protections for access to contraception, but the vast majority of the chambers Republicans voted against advancing that bill.

Access to contraception is currently protected by two U.S. Supreme Court cases  Griswold v. Connecticut and Eisenstadt v. Baird  where the justices ruled that Americans privacy rights allow them to make those decisions for themselves.

Democrats and reproductive rights advocates are concerned that the justices could eventually overturn those two cases the same way the court overturned Roe v. Wade.

The Senate is set to vote this week on legislation guaranteeing access to in vitro fertilization, though GOP senators are expected to block that bill as well.

The post Trump says hell work side by side with group that wants abortion eradicated appeared first on Missouri Independent.
Former President Donald Trump on Monday, June 10, 2024, in a pre-recorded message told The Danbury Institute, a group opposed to abortion, that he hopes to protect innocent life if elected in November. In this photo, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference at the Gaylord National Resort Hotel And Convention Center on Feb. 24, in National Harbor, Maryland. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) (This image cannot be republished unless you have a Getty subscription.)

WASHINGTON  Former President Donald Trump said Monday that if reelected he plans to work side by side with a newly formed religious organization that says abortion is the greatest atrocity facing the United States and should be eradicated entirely.

During two-minute recorded remarks played at The Danbury Institutes inaugural Life & Liberty Forum in Indianapolis, Trump avoided using the word abortion, but said he hopes to protect innocent life if reelected in November.

We have to defend religious liberty, free speech, innocent life, and the heritage and tradition that built America into the greatest nation in the history of the world, Trump said. But now we are, as you know, a declining nation.

Trump, the Republican Partys presumptive presidential nominee, said that he hopes to work alongside the institute to defend those values.

These are going to be your years because youre going to make a comeback like just about no other group, Trump said. I know whats happening. I know where youre coming from and where youre going. And Ill be with you side by side.

Trump also called on The Danbury Institute and church members to vote for him during the November presidential election, saying that President Joe Biden and Democrats are against religion.

Biden-Harris 2024 spokesperson Sarafina Chitika said in a written statement released before Trumps message was played that a second term for him is sure to bring more extreme abortion bans with no exceptions, women punished for seeking the care they need, and doctors criminalized for providing care.

Women can and will stop him by reelecting President Biden and Vice President Harris this November, Chitika wrote.

Abortion position

The Danbury Institute writes on its website that it opposes abortion from the moment of conception, meaning that each pre-born baby would be treated with the same protection under the law as born people.

The intentional, pre-meditated killing of a pre-born child should be addressed with laws already in place concerning homicide, its website states. We also support bolstering the foster care system and encouraging Christian adoption and are working with churches around the country to help them become equipped to care for children in need of loving families.

Another section of the Danbury Institutes website states the organization believes, the greatest atrocity facing our generation today is the practice of abortionchild sacrifice on the altar of self.

Abortion must be ended, the website states. We will not rest until it is eradicated entirely.

The website doesnt mention if the organization supports exceptions in cases of rape, incest or the womans life, nor does it say if women who receive abortions should be protected from criminal prosecution. The institute did not return a request from States Newsroom seeking to clarify if it supports any or all of those three exceptions.

The institute writes on its website that it does not endorse any candidate for public office nor participate in political campaign activities. Contributions to The Danbury Institute are not used for political campaigning and are conducted in accordance with IRS regulations for nonprofit organizations.

Florida minister takes issue with abortion letter

Tom Ascol, president of Founders Ministries in Florida, spoke on a panel discussion about the Sanctity of Life at Mondays event, during which he said abortion is the greatest evil of this nation in our day.

Ascol also appeared frustrated with a public letter released by dozens of anti-abortion organizations in May 2022, arguing that no laws should criminalize women who have abortions. He took particular exception to the acting president of the Southern Baptist Conventions Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission signing his name to the document.

It grieves me that when there was legislation before the Louisiana legislature that had a real opportunity to be passed, because there were lawmakers that were willing to go forward  that 75 pro-life organizations penned an open letter, including the leader of our Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission Brent Leatherwood, who attached his name to that letter, saying, We do not think that any legislature should criminalize abortion to the degree that those who offer their bodies up to be given over to abortion would be held liable, Ascol said during the conference.

That letter was released the same day in 2022 that state lawmakers in Louisiana were debating House Bill 813, which had been on track to criminalize women who receive abortions in addition to the doctors who provide them. Prosecutors would have been able to charge the women with murder.

Louisiana lawmakers instead opted to rework the language of the original bill to replace it with another anti-abortion measure that didnt include criminal penalties for women who receive abortions.

Ascol said he believed the Southern Baptist Conventions Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission must say publicly if the goal (is) the abolition of abortion. And if it is and theyre sincere, then okay, lets work together.

If we can do that, I think we can have some opportunity for coalition building, Ascol said. If we get more of these open letters by so-called pro-life organizations helping to spike legitimate legislation, then I think were going to continue to see the fragmentation and understandably so.

National Right to Life, Susan B. Anthony List and Americans United for Life were among the organizations that signed the May 2022 letter.

Trump and abortion, contraception

Trumps comments to The Danbury Institute on Monday didnt clear up the confusion stemming from his comments to news organizations during the past few months.

Trump said during an interview with TIME Magazine published in April that his campaign would be releasing a policy in the weeks that followed on access to medication abortion, a two-drug regimen approved for up to 10 weeks gestation.

Well, I have an opinion on that, but Im not going to explain, Trump said, according to the transcript of the interview. Im not gonna say it yet. But I have pretty strong views on that. And Ill be releasing it probably over the next week.

That policy had not been released as of Monday.

Medication abortion, which include mifepristone and misoprostol, makes up about 63% of pregnancy terminations within the United States, according to data from the Guttmacher Institute.

U.S. Supreme Court justices heard oral arguments in a case about mifepristones use in late March and are expected to publish their ruling before the Fourth of July.

During an interview with a Pittsburgh TV news station in May, Trump hinted that he might be open to states limiting or banning access to contraception, though he walked back his remarks the same day in a social media post.

Were looking at that and Im going to have a policy on that very shortly and I think its something that youll find interesting, Trump said on KDKA after being asked if he could support any restrictions on a persons right to contraception. Its another issue thats very interesting. But you will find it very smart. I think its a smart decision, but well be releasing it very soon.

Trump later posted on social media that he never had and never would ADVOCATE IMPOSING RESTRICTIONS ON BIRTH CONTROL, or other contraceptives.

Trumps campaign had not released a policy on contraception as of Monday.

U.S. Senate vote on IVF set this week

Access to reproductive health care, including contraception and IVF, has become a recurring issue in the U.S. Senate ahead of Novembers elections, with Democrats seeking to put GOP members on the record.

The Senate tried to pass legislation last week that would have provided protections for access to contraception, but the vast majority of the chambers Republicans voted against advancing that bill.

Access to contraception is currently protected by two U.S. Supreme Court cases  Griswold v. Connecticut and Eisenstadt v. Baird  where the justices ruled that Americans privacy rights allow them to make those decisions for themselves.

Democrats and reproductive rights advocates are concerned that the justices could eventually overturn those two cases the same way the court overturned Roe v. Wade.

The Senate is set to vote this week on legislation guaranteeing access to in vitro fertilization, though GOP senators are expected to block that bill as well.

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The post Trump says hell work side by side with group that wants abortion eradicated appeared first on Oklahoma Voice.
Former President Donald Trump on Monday, June 10, 2024, in a pre-recorded message told The Danbury Institute, a group opposed to abortion, that he hopes to protect innocent life if elected in November. In this photo, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference at the Gaylord National Resort Hotel And Convention Center on Feb. 24, 2024, in National Harbor, Maryland. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  Former President Donald Trump said Monday that if reelected he plans to work side by side with a newly formed religious organization that says abortion is the greatest atrocity facing the United States and should be eradicated entirely.

During two-minute recorded remarks played at The Danbury Institutes inaugural Life & Liberty Forum in Indianapolis, Trump avoided using the word abortion, but said he hopes to protect innocent life if reelected in November.

We have to defend religious liberty, free speech, innocent life, and the heritage and tradition that built America into the greatest nation in the history of the world, Trump said. But now we are, as you know, a declining nation.

Trump, the Republican Partys presumptive presidential nominee, said that he hopes to work alongside the institute to defend those values.

These are going to be your years because youre going to make a comeback like just about no other group, Trump said. I know whats happening. I know where youre coming from and where youre going. And Ill be with you side by side.

Trump also called on The Danbury Institute and church members to vote for him during the November presidential election, saying that President Joe Biden and Democrats are against religion.

Biden-Harris 2024 spokesperson Sarafina Chitika said in a written statement released before Trumps message was played that a second term for him is sure to bring more extreme abortion bans with no exceptions, women punished for seeking the care they need, and doctors criminalized for providing care.

Women can and will stop him by reelecting President Biden and Vice President Harris this November, Chitika wrote.

Abortion position

The Danbury Institute writes on its website that it opposes abortion from the moment of conception, meaning that each pre-born baby would be treated with the same protection under the law as born people.

The intentional, pre-meditated killing of a pre-born child should be addressed with laws already in place concerning homicide, its website states. We also support bolstering the foster care system and encouraging Christian adoption and are working with churches around the country to help them become equipped to care for children in need of loving families.

Another section of the Danbury Institutes website states the organization believes, the greatest atrocity facing our generation today is the practice of abortionchild sacrifice on the altar of self.

Abortion must be ended, the website states. We will not rest until it is eradicated entirely.

The website doesnt mention if the organization supports exceptions in cases of rape, incest or the womans life, nor does it say if women who receive abortions should be protected from criminal prosecution. The institute did not return a request from States Newsroom seeking to clarify if it supports any or all of those three exceptions.

The institute writes on its website that it does not endorse any candidate for public office nor participate in political campaign activities. Contributions to The Danbury Institute are not used for political campaigning and are conducted in accordance with IRS regulations for nonprofit organizations.

Florida minister takes issue with abortion letter

Tom Ascol, president of Founders Ministries in Florida, spoke on a panel discussion about the Sanctity of Life at Mondays event, during which he said abortion is the greatest evil of this nation in our day.

Ascol also appeared frustrated with a public letter released by dozens of anti-abortion organizations in May 2022, arguing that no laws should criminalize women who have abortions. He took particular exception to the acting president of the Southern Baptist Conventions Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission signing his name to the document.

It grieves me that when there was legislation before the Louisiana legislature that had a real opportunity to be passed, because there were lawmakers that were willing to go forward  that 75 pro-life organizations penned an open letter, including the leader of our Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission Brent Leatherwood, who attached his name to that letter, saying, We do not think that any legislature should criminalize abortion to the degree that those who offer their bodies up to be given over to abortion would be held liable, Ascol said during the conference.

That letter was released the same day in 2022 that state lawmakers in Louisiana were debating House Bill 813, which had been on track to criminalize women who receive abortions in addition to the doctors who provide them. Prosecutors would have been able to charge the women with murder.

Louisiana lawmakers instead opted to rework the language of the original bill to replace it with another anti-abortion measure that didnt include criminal penalties for women who receive abortions.

Ascol said he believed the Southern Baptist Conventions Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission must say publicly if the goal (is) the abolition of abortion. And if it is and theyre sincere, then okay, lets work together.

If we can do that, I think we can have some opportunity for coalition building, Ascol said. If we get more of these open letters by so-called pro-life organizations helping to spike legitimate legislation, then I think were going to continue to see the fragmentation and understandably so.

National Right to Life, Susan B. Anthony List and Americans United for Life were among the organizations that signed the May 2022 letter.

Trump and abortion, contraception

Trumps comments to The Danbury Institute on Monday didnt clear up the confusion stemming from his comments to news organizations during the past few months.

Trump said during an interview with TIME Magazine published in April that his campaign would be releasing a policy in the weeks that followed on access to medication abortion, a two-drug regimen approved for up to 10 weeks gestation.

Well, I have an opinion on that, but Im not going to explain, Trump said, according to the transcript of the interview. Im not gonna say it yet. But I have pretty strong views on that. And Ill be releasing it probably over the next week.

That policy had not been released as of Monday.

Medication abortion, which include mifepristone and misoprostol, makes up about 63% of pregnancy terminations within the United States, according to data from the Guttmacher Institute.

U.S. Supreme Court justices heard oral arguments in a case about mifepristones use in late March and are expected to publish their ruling before the Fourth of July.

During an interview with a Pittsburgh TV news station in May, Trump hinted that he might be open to states limiting or banning access to contraception, though he walked back his remarks the same day in a social media post.

Were looking at that and Im going to have a policy on that very shortly and I think its something that youll find interesting, Trump said on KDKA after being asked if he could support any restrictions on a persons right to contraception. Its another issue thats very interesting. But you will find it very smart. I think its a smart decision, but well be releasing it very soon.

Trump later posted on social media that he never had and never would ADVOCATE IMPOSING RESTRICTIONS ON BIRTH CONTROL, or other contraceptives.

Trumps campaign had not released a policy on contraception as of Monday.

U.S. Senate vote on IVF set this week

Access to reproductive health care, including contraception and IVF, has become a recurring issue in the U.S. Senate ahead of Novembers elections, with Democrats seeking to put GOP members on the record.

The Senate tried to pass legislation last week that would have provided protections for access to contraception, but the vast majority of the chambers Republicans voted against advancing that bill.

Access to contraception is currently protected by two U.S. Supreme Court cases  Griswold v. Connecticut and Eisenstadt v. Baird  where the justices ruled that Americans privacy rights allow them to make those decisions for themselves.

Democrats and reproductive rights advocates are concerned that the justices could eventually overturn those two cases the same way the court overturned Roe v. Wade.

The Senate is set to vote this week on legislation guaranteeing access to in vitro fertilization, though GOP senators are expected to block that bill as well.

The post Trump says hell work side by side with group that wants abortion eradicated appeared first on Pennsylvania Capital-Star.
KIEV, June 11 (Xinhua) -- The European Union (EU) is mulling extending the temporary protection for another year for people fleeing from Ukraine due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the Ukrayinska Pravda media outlet reported Tuesday.

According to the report, the European Commission has proposed to prolong the special regime from March 5, 2025, to March 4, 2026.

The EU Justice and Home Affairs Council is set to consider the proposal on June 13, it added.

Currently, almost 4.2 million people, who fled Ukraine as a consequence of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, got temporary shelter in EU member states. The special regime gives them residency rights, as well as access to the labor market, medical and other assistance.

Temporary protection is an emergency measure by the EU for non-EU citizens in the event of mass displacement due to extreme circumstances.

In March 2022, the EU introduced the temporary protection of Ukrainians fleeing the war, and in September 2023, it was extended until March 2025. 
Former President Donald Trump proposed to end federal taxes on tips during a rally in Las Vegas but economists have raised doubts about the cost and workability. (Photo: Brandon Bell/Getty Images.

Former President Donald Trump proposed to end federal taxes on tips during a rally in Las Vegas but economists have raised doubts about the cost and workability. (Photo: Brandon Bell/Getty Images.

WASHINGTON  Former President Donald Trump said Monday that if reelected he plans to work side by side with a newly formed religious organization that says abortion is the greatest atrocity facing the United States and should be eradicated entirely.

During two-minute recorded remarks played at The Danbury Institutes inaugural Life & Liberty Forum in Indianapolis, Trump avoided using the word abortion, but said he hopes to protect innocent life if reelected in November.

We have to defend religious liberty, free speech, innocent life, and the heritage and tradition that built America into the greatest nation in the history of the world, Trump said. But now we are, as you know, a declining nation.

Trump, the Republican Partys presumptive presidential nominee, said that he hopes to work alongside the institute to defend those values.

These are going to be your years because youre going to make a comeback like just about no other group, Trump said. I know whats happening. I know where youre coming from and where youre going. And Ill be with you side by side.

Trump also called on The Danbury Institute and church members to vote for him during the November presidential election, saying that President Joe Biden and Democrats are against religion.

In a speech to a newly formed religious group, former President Donald Trump called the U.S. a declining nation and pledged to work with the group to eradicate abortion.

Biden-Harris 2024 spokesperson Sarafina Chitika said in a written statement released before Trumps message was played that a second term for him is sure to bring more extreme abortion bans with no exceptions, women punished for seeking the care they need, and doctors criminalized for providing care.

Women can and will stop him by reelecting President Biden and Vice President Harris this November, Chitika wrote.

Abortion position

The Danbury Institute writes on its website that it opposes abortion from the moment of conception, meaning that each pre-born baby would be treated with the same protection under the law as born people.

The intentional, pre-meditated killing of a pre-born child should be addressed with laws already in place concerning homicide, its website states. We also support bolstering the foster care system and encouraging Christian adoption and are working with churches around the country to help them become equipped to care for children in need of loving families.

Another section of the Danbury Institutes website states the organization believes, the greatest atrocity facing our generation today is the practice of abortionchild sacrifice on the altar of self.

Abortion must be ended, the website states. We will not rest until it is eradicated entirely.

The website doesnt mention if the organization supports exceptions in cases of rape, incest or the womans life, nor does it say if women who receive abortions should be protected from criminal prosecution. The institute did not return a request from States Newsroom seeking to clarify if it supports any or all of those three exceptions.

The intentional, pre-meditated killing of a pre-born child should be addressed with laws already in place concerning homicide, the Danbury Institute website states, adding the greatest atrocity facing our generation today is the practice of abortionchild sacrifice on the altar of self.

The institute writes on its website that it does not endorse any candidate for public office nor participate in political campaign activities. Contributions to The Danbury Institute are not used for political campaigning and are conducted in accordance with IRS regulations for nonprofit organizations.

Florida minister takes issue with abortion letter

Tom Ascol, president of Founders Ministries in Florida, spoke on a panel discussion about the Sanctity of Life at Mondays event, during which he said abortion is the greatest evil of this nation in our day.

Ascol also appeared frustrated with a public letter released by dozens of anti-abortion organizations in May 2022, arguing that no laws should criminalize women who have abortions. He took particular exception to the acting president of the Southern Baptist Conventions Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission signing his name to the document.

It grieves me that when there was legislation before the Louisiana legislature that had a real opportunity to be passed, because there were lawmakers that were willing to go forward  that 75 pro-life organizations penned an open letter, including the leader of our Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission Brent Leatherwood, who attached his name to that letter, saying, We do not think that any legislature should criminalize abortion to the degree that those who offer their bodies up to be given over to abortion would be held liable, Ascol said during the conference.

That letter was released the same day in 2022 that state lawmakers in Louisiana were debating House Bill 813, which had been on track to criminalize women who receive abortions in addition to the doctors who provide them. Prosecutors would have been able to charge the women with murder.

Louisiana lawmakers instead opted to rework the language of the original bill to replace it with another anti-abortion measure that didnt include criminal penalties for women who receive abortions.

Ascol said he believed the Southern Baptist Conventions Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission must say publicly if the goal (is) the abolition of abortion. And if it is and theyre sincere, then okay, lets work together.

If we can do that, I think we can have some opportunity for coalition building, Ascol said. If we get more of these open letters by so-called pro-life organizations helping to spike legitimate legislation, then I think were going to continue to see the fragmentation and understandably so.

National Right to Life, Susan B. Anthony List and Americans United for Life were among the organizations that signed the May 2022 letter.

Trump and abortion, contraception

Trumps comments to The Danbury Institute on Monday didnt clear up the confusion stemming from his comments to news organizations during the past few months.

Trump said during an interview with TIME Magazine published in April that his campaign would be releasing a policy in the weeks that followed on access to medication abortion, a two-drug regimen approved for up to 10 weeks gestation.

Well, I have an opinion on that, but Im not going to explain, Trump said, according to the transcript of the interview. Im not gonna say it yet. But I have pretty strong views on that. And Ill be releasing it probably over the next week.

That policy had not been released as of Monday.

Medication abortion, which include mifepristone and misoprostol, makes up about 63% of pregnancy terminations within the United States, according to data from the Guttmacher Institute.

U.S. Supreme Court justices heard oral arguments in a case about mifepristones use in late March and are expected to publish their ruling before the Fourth of July.

During an interview with a Pittsburgh TV news station in May, Trump hinted that he might be open to states limiting or banning access to contraception, though he walked back his remarks the same day in a social media post.

Were looking at that and Im going to have a policy on that very shortly and I think its something that youll find interesting, Trump said on KDKA after being asked if he could support any restrictions on a persons right to contraception. Its another issue thats very interesting. But you will find it very smart. I think its a smart decision, but well be releasing it very soon.

Trump later posted on social media that he never had and never would ADVOCATE IMPOSING RESTRICTIONS ON BIRTH CONTROL, or other contraceptives.

Trumps campaign had not released a policy on contraception as of Monday.

U.S. Senate vote on IVF set this week

Access to reproductive health care, including contraception and IVF, has become a recurring issue in the U.S. Senate ahead of Novembers elections, with Democrats seeking to put GOP members on the record.

The Senate tried to pass legislation last week that would have provided protections for access to contraception, but the vast majority of the chambers Republicans voted against advancing that bill.

Access to contraception is currently protected by two U.S. Supreme Court cases  Griswold v. Connecticut and Eisenstadt v. Baird  where the justices ruled that Americans privacy rights allow them to make those decisions for themselves.

Democrats and reproductive rights advocates are concerned that the justices could eventually overturn those two cases the same way the court overturned Roe v. Wade.

The Senate is set to vote this week on legislation guaranteeing access to in vitro fertilization, though GOP senators are expected to block that bill as well.

The post Trump says hell work side by side with group that wants abortion eradicated appeared first on Tennessee Lookout.
Republican North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum has emerged as a top contender to be former President Donald Trumps running mate. But the two are at odds in one contentious and expensive race on Tuesday.

Burgum, who unsuccessfully ran for president, chose not to run for a third term this year, kicking off a competitive primary between Lt. Gov. Tammy Miller and Rep. Kelly Armstrong. Burgum and Trump are on opposite sides: Burgum is backing Miller, while the former president is supporting Armstrong.

That is just one dynamic to watch in Tuesdays busy set of state and congressional primaries.

Today will also be stop No. 1 on former Speaker Kevin McCarthys revenge tour, as South Carolina Rep. Nancy Mace  one of the eight Republicans who voted to oust him  is the first to face a primary competitor. Also in South Carolina, yet another Republican is facing a primary challenge from the right in a safe GOP seat, the latest example of the intraparty divisions that have been playing out all cycle.

Matchups will also be set in battleground congressional races in Nevada and Maine, and a new member of Congress will be chosen in a special election for a safe Republican Ohio House seat.



Here are the races to watch:

 Maine: State Reps. Austin Theriault, a former NASCAR driver, and Mike Soboleski are competing for the GOP nod to challenge Democratic Rep. Jared Golden  one of a handful of Democrats representing a district that Trump won in 2020  in the battleground 2nd District. Theriault benefits from major national support, including Trump, Speaker Mike Johnson and the leadership-aligned Congressional Leadership Fund, as well as a substantial fundraising advantage over Soboleski. But Conservative Outsider PAC, a super PAC with ties to the Club for Growth, has spent around $100,000 in recent days in support of Soboleski.

Independent Sen. Angus King is up for reelection this year, although he wont appear on the primary ballot due to his party affiliation. Republican Demi Kouzounas, the former state GOP chair, and Democrat David Costello, who has worked in energy and climate policy, are both uncontested.

Polls close at 8 p.m. EST.

 Nevada: Establishment Republicans strength is again being put to the test in the crowded GOP primary to take on Democratic Sen. Jacky Rosen, one of this years most vulnerable Democratic incumbents. (Rosen faces two primary opponents, although she has vastly outraised them.)

The National Republican Senatorial Committee is banking on Sam Brown, an Army veteran who unsuccessfully ran for the seat in 2022. Brown also received an eleventh-hour endorsement from Trump  a blow to Jeff Gunter, the former U.S. ambassador to Iceland under Trump who has emerged as Browns biggest competitor. Gunter is largely self-funding his bid, and has claimed the anti-establishment lane.

Republicans are also jockeying for the chance to unseat three vulnerable House Democrats: Reps. Dina Titus, Susie Lee and Steven Horsford.

The GOP race for Lees 3rd District has been the most eventful: Last year, national Republicans were counting on state Assemblymember Heidi Kasama, who earned the backing of then-Speaker McCarthy and Gov. Joe Lombardo. But earlier this year, Kasama dropped her bid to run for reelection to the state legislature. Lombardo has since thrown his backing behind Marty ODonnell, a composer whos best known for his work on the Halo video games. ODonnell is facing a busy field, including former state Treasurer Dan Schwartz, who has boosted himself with close to a $1 million personal loan, as well as policy analyst Drew Johnson and former state Sen. Elizabeth Helgelien.

In the 1st District, held by Titus, restaurant chain owner Flemming Larsen has a financial advantage over the rest of the field  including 2022 GOP nominee Mark Robertson, who lost to Titus by around 6 points  thanks to a hefty personal loan. And in the 4th District, former North Las Vegas Mayor John Lee snagged the Trump endorsement to take on Horsford. He faces Air Force veteran David Flippo, who has a slight lead over him in fundraising, and businessperson Bruce Frazey.

Polls close at 10 p.m. EST.

 North Dakota: Trump and Burgum may not be on the same page when it comes to their gubernatorial endorsements, but they have both backed Public Service Commissioner Julie Fedorchak for the states open at-large House seat. Fedorchaks most prominent opponent is former state Rep. Rick Becker, who has the backing of the Club for Growth and the House Freedom Fund, the House Freedom Caucus political arm. Conservatives for American Excellence, a super PAC that has poured millions into safe-seat GOP House races this cycle to block rabble-rousers from joining the conference, has spent six figures in an attempt to block Becker.

In the gubernatorial race, Armstrong and Miller have spent more than $5 million combined on advertisements, per AdImpact, many of which hurl attacks at each other. In addition to Trump, Armstrong earned the endorsement of the state Republican Party. He also benefits from the name recognition for running statewide campaigns as the at-large House member, while Miller was appointed lieutenant governor less than two years ago.

The victors of the Republican primaries are favored to win in the fall.

Most polls close at 8 p.m. EST, and at 9 p.m. EST in the rest of the state.

 South Carolina: Two incumbents are at risk of being unseated in the Palmetto State  and McCarthy is looming over both of them.

Republican Rep. Nancy Mace, who represents the Charleston-based 1st District, is the first of the eight who voted to oust the former speaker to face a primary challenge this year. Her biggest threat is Catherine Templeton, the former head of the state health and environment department who unsuccessfully ran for governor in 2018. A third candidate, Bill Young, is also running. If no one clears a 50 percent hurdle, the race will go to a runoff in two weeks.



Outside groups  including some affiliated with McCarthy  have spent more than $4 million on advertisements in an attempt to oust Mace, according AdImpact. But she has the support of Trump, along with the deep-pocketed Club for Growth.

In the 4th District, Republican Rep. William Timmons faces a challenge from his right from state Rep. Adam Morgan, chair of the states Freedom Caucus. When Morgan launched his bid last November, he hit Timmons for not bucking McCarthy. Some establishment forces have come to Timmons aid, and he also has Trumps backing. (Timmons alleged extramarital affair could also prove to be an issue among some voters.)

Republicans are also parsing through a crowded field in the 3rd District, a safe red seat that is open because Republican Rep. Jeff Duncan is retiring. Air National Guard lieutenant colonel Sheri Biggs has the backing of Gov. Henry McMaster, while pastor Mark Burns has Trumps endorsement. With more than half a dozen candidates on the ballot, its likely the race goes to a runoff.

Polls close at 7 p.m. EST.

 Ohio: Voters in Ohios 6th District will choose their next representative. Republican state Sen. Michael Rulli is the favorite to succeed former Republican Rep. Bill Johnson, who left Congress earlier this year to serve as a university president, in this safe GOP eastern Ohio seat. Democrat Michael Kripchak, a businessperson, is also vying for the seat. The two will face off again in the November general election for a full term.

Polls close at 7:30 p.m. EST.

Jessica Piper contributed to this report.

A version of this story first appeared in POLITICO Pros Morning Score newsletter. Sign up for POLITICO Pro.
Potential VP pick says he was vetted on questions that would disqualify Trump

JD Vance, a rightwing senator vying to be Donald Trumps running mate, has inadvertently revealed that as part of his vetting for the role, he was asked questions that might disqualify Trump himself.

Talking to Fox & Friends, the Republican senator for Ohio told co-host Steve Doocy that his team had been asked for a number of things as part of a traditional background check for the vice-president role, adding that a number of people have been asked to submit this and that.

Related: Who will Trump pick as his 2024 running mate? A VP shortlist

Doocy interjected: Like your taxes or something? before raising the ante: Your criminal background?

Vance replied: I dont know everything theyve been asked, yeah, but certainly like: Have you ever committed a crime? Have you ever lied about this?

The exchange elicited an immediate response on social media. Jen Psaki, the former Biden White House spokesperson  and now an anchor on MSNBC, posted that Trump could not pass his own vetting materials for Vice President. Others suggested that committing a crime or lying may be a requirement for a place on the ticket.

So is committing a crime, because a convicted felon, a requirement to be running mate? https://t.co/BAeNfKTltX  Timothy McBride (@mcbridetd) June 11, 2024

Are those disqualifications? Or requisites?  Robert Taylor (@unrealbobtaylor) June 10, 2024

Trump himself was given a criminal record last month after he was convicted on 34 counts of document falsification relating to hush money paid to an adult film actor in an effort to win the 2016 presidential election.

He has also bucked a long-standing convention that presidential candidates release their tax returns, and earlier this year was ordered to pay a $464m penalty for fraudulently inflating property values.
FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE)  The union representing Fresnos police officers says the trust has been lost between their members and Police Chief Paco Balderrama.

The statement follows the investigation into Fresno Police Chief Paco Balderrama for what was described as an inappropriate off-duty relationship.

In a letter to its members, the Fresno Police Officers Association (FPOA) President Brandon Wiemiller says the association is aware of the press release sent by the city on Friday regarding the ongoing investigation into Chief Balderrama having an inappropriate off-duty relationship. Wiemiller says the unions members feel betrayed, and trust has been lost between them and Chief Balderrama.

Hold your thoughts on investigation into Fresno Police Chief Paco Balderrama

Wiemiller says the FPOA was able to confirm beyond what was released in the public statement.

Likely, all of you are now aware of a press release put out by the City regarding an investigation into Chief Balderrama having an inappropriate off-duty relationship he was involved in with a non-city employee and the subsequent media stories released as a result. While the statement is true, it omits the most critical component of the investigation, and that is the nature of the relationship itself. The FPOA has confirmed information beyond what has been released in this public statement, but are not at liberty to divulge that information at this time. Fresno Police Officers Association.

As of Monday, the investigation is under review. However, the FPOA points to a narrative surrounding the situation saying there have not been any policy violations -which they say is not true.

There has also been a prevalent narrative surrounding this situation that no policy violations have been established. This is an incredible offense to every sworn member of the agency, who is held to account for policy violations surrounding discretion and conduct unbecoming every day, both on and off duty. Additionally, the Law Enforcement Code of Ethics that our officers are expected to uphold every day has been violated. Fresno Police Officers Association

Wiemiller says they have been receiving multiple notices from members at all ranks and areas expressing their betrayal and loss of trust in the association, questioning their willingness to serve under a chain of command in which all trust has been compromised including accusations of the association not doing anything to address this.

For that reason, the President of the FPOA says he will hold an emergency meeting with the FPOA Executive Board and FPOA counsel to discuss the situation. However, the meeting will not be open to regular members  but members are welcome to voice their feelings and opinions during their regular monthly meeting.

The City of Fresno says Chief Balderrama will remain in his position and continue to serve as the Chief of the Fresno Police Department while the investigation is ongoing.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to YourCentralValley.com | KSEE24 and CBS47.


Twin real estate heirs Oren and Alon Alexander allegedly sexually assaulted two women  including one they took turns raping in a Hamptons castle dubbed the Playboy Mansion of the East Coast, two new lawsuits say.

The multimillionaire brothers, allegedly simmering with hatred toward women, committed heinous acts that were extreme and outrageous to such an extent that the action was atrocious and intolerable in a civilized society, the explosive Manhattan suits claim.

Oren, a prominent figure in the Side-backed brokerage firm Official, and Alon, a private security firm executive, are accused in court papers of brutally raping one woman at the infamous party palace Sir Ivans Castle in Water Mill, Long Island, in 2012.

On many occasions, Alon would sometimes pretend to be his twin brother Oren, trying to help his brother and call or text Plaintiff on Orens behalf when she wouldnt agree to go out with him, the filing says.

The twins allegedly attacked the other woman in 2010 when she was just 18, drugging her at a Meatpacking District hot spot and taking her home to assault her, according to court documents.

High-powered twins Oren and Alon Alexander attend NASCAR legend Jeff Gordons retirement party in Miami in 2015. Aaron Davidson

A lawyer for the powerhouse businessmen quickly dismissed the allegations to The Post on Monday, saying they are nothing more than a multimillion-dollar shakedown attempt.

The two civil lawsuits were filed in March, after New Yorks law allowing alleged survivors to sue for old sexual assaults was extended.

They paint a chilling alleged picture of Alon and Oren, the latter of whom helms the high-flying Alexander Team along with a third sibling. The venture has overseen more than $7 billion in real estate deals across New York, south Florida and beyond since Oren left his longtime firm Douglas Elliman in 2022 to start the business.

The suits allege harrowing instances of violence by the twins  including them taking turns raping the plaintiffs, leaving the victims with lasting trauma.

The twins get in the patriotic spirit at Sir Ivans Castle in the Hamptons on July 3, 2011. Steven Henry

In both cases, the plaintiffs allege in the filings that the twins were fueled by their animus toward women.

Defendants committed crimes of violence against Plaintiff because she is a female and, at least in part, because they had an animus toward women, the lawsuits allege.

Defendants gender-motivated animus towards women is evinced by, among other things, their humiliating and degrading sexual assault and repeated raping of Plaintiff.

The Alexanders lawyer, Jim Ferraro of the Ferraro Law Firm, vehemently denied the accusations.

This suit was brought public after [the Alexanders] chose not to give in to a demand in the tens of millions of dollars, Ferarro said in a statement to The Post. We are confident this matter will be resolved in [their] favor given an extensive collection of powerful evidence including, phone records, text messages, emails and other documents whose content clearly debunks these claims.

The New York Adult Survivors Act  which took effect Nov. 24, 2022, and was supposed to end Nov. 24, 2023  allowed alleged survivors of sexual assault to seek justice regardless of when the assaults occurred. The window for filing lawsuits was then extended to March 2025, enabling the lawsuits against the Alexanders.

The filings indicate that the women did not file police reports at the time of the alleged assaults.

The lawyers representing the women, from New York-based Torgan Cooper & Aaron, did not respond to a Post request for comment.

Sir Ivan Wilzig performs at his flamboyant birthday party at his equally extravagant Long Island home in 2016. Jerritt Clark

Rebecca Mandels complaint recounts her alleged nightmare encounter with the twins.

The then-18-year-old says in her suit that she met Oren and Alon at the now-defunct Meatpacking District club SL in 2009 and that in 2010, Alon spiked her drink. The brothers later raped her in their apartment after luring her there under false pretenses, her lawsuit says.

The twins assured her they would just hang out for a little bit, her complaint states.

As defendants and Plaintiff entered the building and made their way to the apartment door, Plaintiff sensed something was wrong, the complaint said. The hallway was silent. There was no music, no voices, nothing that would indicate that a party was being held at this location.

At this moment, Plaintiff realized that she had been deceived. She had been taken to the defendants apartment.

Once inside, Mandel claims in her suit, the twins pinned her down and raped her.

Moments after entering the apartment, [Mandel] was sexually abused, assaulted, pinned, groped, harassed, battered, and fondled by defendants, the complaint reads. Alon held Plaintiff down, while Oren vaginally penetrated her. Defendants would then switch positions, repeatedly raping [Mandel].

Kate Whiteman alleges she was assaulted by the Alexander brothers in 2012 at Sir Ivans Castle. Jerritt Clark

In another lawsuit filed the same day in March, Kate Whiteman alleges a 2012 assault at Sir Ivans Castle in Water Mill, a home owned by flamboyan banking heir-turned-recording artist Ivan Wilzig, who is also named in the suit for reputed negligence.

The cape-wearing Wilzig has been dubbed the Hugh Hefner of the Hamptons by The Post, while his lavish home  complete with dungeon  is referred to as the Playboy Mansion of the East Coast and known for its annual sexy, over-the-top summer blowouts.

Wilzig did not respond to a Post request for comment.

Whitemans lawsuit recounts her allegedly being dragged by Alon into a black SUV where Oren waited, taken to the campy massive castle and assaulted by the brothers despite her attempts to escape.

According to the complaint, Whiteman met Oren in 2008 in New York and repeatedly declined his requests to go out with him  prompting his twin to pretend he was Oren and reach out to her to try to coax her.

Oren Alexander celebrates the return of The Raleigh, a Rosewood Hotel and Residences, at The Carlyle in Manhattan on May 8, 2024. Darian DiCianno/BFA.com/Shutterstock

At the Hamptons castle, Whiteman claimed in her suit that the brothers dragged her through the garage of the home into a large bedroom, where she was sexually assaulted, abused, raped, pinned, groped, harassed, battered, and fondled by defendants Alon and Oren.



Once Plaintiff and the twins were inside the garage door, the door closed and locked immediately right behind them. Plaintiff was then told that she must change into a sarong, the filing says. Plaintiff then proceeded to make a dash for the stairs that led up to the house, while fully dressed. As Plaintiff bolted for the stairs, there was a [worker] who grabbed her arm and dragged her back into the garage.



The complaint says the worker was Wilzigs employee.



Plaintiff was ultimately forced to strip and change into a sarong. Her phone and other belongings were placed into a locker that was immediately locked by Oren, who then put the key around his wrist. The twins then led Plaintiff upstairs to what appeared to be a large bedroom and attacked her, the complaint says.

Ferraro told the website the Real Deal, which first reported the lawsuits, that the case is totally made up and predicted it will crumble after Whitmans deposition.

Ferraro also labeled Mandels lawsuit very bizarre, expressing his longstanding trust in the Alexanders, having used Oren as his real estate agent for years.

Lawyers for Wilzig have moved to transfer Whitemans case against him to Suffolk County, where his home is located.

The Alexander twins, who now live in Miami Beach, hail from a real estate dynasty led by their father, Shlomy Alexander. Their brother Tal, another top broker, remains uninvolved in these allegations, focusing on their projects such as the Rosewood-branded condo at the Raleigh in Miami Beach and the Dolce & Gabbana-branded condo in Brickell.

The twins have until Aug. 19 to respond to the lawsuit.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  Two people are hospitalized after a drive-by shooting on the south side of Columbus Monday night.

Columbus police said the shooting happened on the 2500 block of Bulen Avenue at approximately 11 p.m. when multiple gunshots were reported being fired in the Marion Franklin neighborhood.

This embedded content is not available in your region.

Offices arrived at the scene and found two adult victims with gunshot wounds. One of the victims was taken to an hospital in critical condition while the second was listed in a stable condition.

Police said the incident was a drive-by shooting. This incident is still under investigation and anyone with information is asked to contact the Felony Assault Unit at (614) 645-4141 or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at (614) 461-TIPS (8477).

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
Independent Drs. Elisa Cuellar Alvarado and Robert D. Siew have had privileges to see patients at Huntington Hospital in Pasadena. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Two Pasadena doctors are facing allegations from the California Medical Board that they negligently prescribed painkillers and other potentially dangerous narcotics to patients.

Officials are seeking to revoke or suspend the medical licenses of Dr. Elisa Cuellar Alvarado and Dr. Robert D. Siew, according to two separate accusations filed this year. Both doctors practice internal medicine and are permitted to see patients at Huntington Hospital, according to their bios.

Alvarado and Siew did not respond to phone calls seeking comment Monday. Dorey Huston, a spokesperson for Huntington Health, said the physicians are not employed by the hospital.

"They are private, independent doctors, who have privileges at our hospital," Huston said in an email to The Times. "Due to privacy laws, we are unable to comment about matters before the California Medical Board other than to say that we respect the boards process."

Read more: California Medical Board and troubled doctors: What you need to know

The allegations against Alvarado, who has been licensed since 2006, stem from two patients she treated in the last seven years. The Medical Board accused her of gross negligence, repeated negligent acts and failing to maintain adequate and accurate medical records, according to a petition the board filed in April.

For a 71-year-old male patient suffering from restless leg syndrome, the board alleged, Alvarado prescribed Tylenol with codeine and roughly 400 milligrams of tramadol per day. The board alleged that this amount is "above the daily maximum dose recommended by the FDA."

The initial therapies for restless leg syndrome include gabapentinoids, which treat neuropathic pain, and medications that increase dopamine activity in the brain. Medical records did not indicate why she prescribed different medications, according to the allegation.

The board also accused Alvarado of prescribing opiates for years to a middle-aged woman without a plan to manage the continued use of the addictive medication, while also prescribing other powerful drugs without documenting alternative treatment options.

The Medical Board accused Siew of gross negligence related to the care of six patients, repeated negligent acts, excessive prescribing, failing to to maintain adequate and accurate medical records, and failing to review patients' controlled substance history using a state database before writing them prescriptions, according to a petition filed in January.

The allegations against Siew, who has been licensed since 1988, stemmed from patients he treated between 2013 and 2022. In one instance, an 88-year-old woman who Siew had prescribed various controlled substances, including hydrocodone, fentanyl, Xanax and Ativan, between 2015 and 2019 had been getting narcotic prescriptions from at least 14 doctors, according to the board's accusation.

Officials allege Siew did not catch this because there were no records indicating he searched the patient in the Controlled Substance Utilization Review and Evaluation System. The database, known as CURES, is maintained by the state Department of Justice and tracks certain controlled substances dispensed to patients in California. Beginning in October 2018, medical providers were mandated to check the system before prescribing a controlled substance to a patient.

During an interview, Siew told investigators that "he did not think CURES was mandatory (in 2018 or 2019) and that he was not aware that there were multiple prescribers of narcotics to this patient," according to the board's allegation.

Read more: Editorial: How to help stop opioid abusers from 'doctor shopping' for prescription drugs

Siew has been affiliated with Huntington Hospital since 1995, and Alvarado has been linked to the hospital since 2008, according to bios posted to the hospital's website. The doctors also provide consulting services to the Californian, a skilled nursing facility in Pasadena, according to Brandon Bales, the facility's administrator.

Siew has been the medical director of the nursing home for more than a decade, and Alvarado joined the quality assurance committee in April, Bales said. He added that the Medical Board's accusations "do not involve any of our patients."

Investigators with the California Department of Public Health launched an investigation into the nursing home in response to four complaints involving patients falling and a failure by nursing staff to respond to call lights that show requests for help from patients' rooms. The probe was first reported by the Southern California News Group.

"We fully cooperated with the inquiry," Bales said. The state "concluded its review of the complaints last month and determined that there was no harm to any of our residents."

However, investigators reported that during a May 7 inspection of the facility, nursing staff did not properly respond to a patient's call light. They also found that staff had failed to "update care plans" after two patients fell and required treatment at a hospital, according to a copy of the report obtained by The Times.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
One man dead, another seriously injured in Brockton double stabbing, police say

A double stabbing in Brockton on Monday night left one man dead and another seriously injured, authorities said.

Police say around 6:48 p.m., officers received a report of two people stabbed in the area of 23 Melrose Avenue.

Both victims were transported to an area hospital with severe injuries. The Plymouth County District Attorneys Office later said one of the victims had died.

The identity of the deceased man is not being released at this time.

Investigators are still searching for the suspect involved and say this incident is not random.

The incident remains under investigation by Brockton Police and State Police Detectives assigned to the Plymouth County District Attorneys Office.

No further information was immediately available.

Today at 7:40 pm, @MassStatePolice were notified of a double stabbing at 23 Melrose Ave. The 2 male victims were transported to area hospitals. One male victim was pronounced dead. The investigation is ongoing. Preliminarily, this does not appear to be a random act of violence.  DA Tim Cruz (@PlymouthCtyDAO) June 11, 2024

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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Two US men jailed for conspiracy to sell Iranian oil to China

By Kanishka Singh

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Two Texas men convicted by a U.S. jury in November of trying to sell Iranian petroleum in violation of sanctions imposed by Washington and of conspiracy to commit money laundering were sentenced on Tuesday to 45 months in prison, the Justice Department said.

Zhenyu Wang, 43, a Chinese citizen, and Daniel Ray Lane, 42, of McKinney, Texas, schemed with co-conspirators to evade U.S. economic sanctions against Iran from July 2019 to February 2020 by facilitating the purchase of sanctioned oil from Iran, masking its origins and then selling it to a refinery in China, the department said in a statement.

Lane was president of privately held Stack Royalties, a Texas-based company that sells oil and gas mineral rights to investment funds and private equity groups.

Lane's attorney, Paul Hetznecker, told Reuters late last year that the case was based on undercover government agents who offered Lane "millions of dollars in profits" if he took part in the scheme, after initially rebuffing their approaches. The attorney had called the case "an outrageous example of government overreach."

The pair were charged, along with three others, in 2020 in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. At least two co-conspirators have since pleaded guilty, court records showed.

China is the world's only major importer of Iranian oil despite sanctions that former U.S. President Donald Trump unilaterally reimposed on Tehran's petroleum exports in 2018 after withdrawing the United States from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal between Tehran and six world powers.

(Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Leslie Adler)
TEHRAN, June 11 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanaani on Tuesday condemned a court ruling in the United States that ordered the cessation of the pro-Palestinian protests and strikes by American students and university staff.

He made the remarks in a post on social media platform X, after an Orange County Superior Court judge on Friday issued a temporary restraining ruling, ordering thousands of University of California (UC) academic workers, who were on strike at six campuses in protest of administrators' response to pro-Palestinian protests, to return to their jobs on Monday until June 27 while final exams are taken.

Kanaani described the court order as being "in violation of the rights to freedom of expression and opinion," saying it was indicative of the difference between the "slogans and actions" about the two rights in the United States.

He added officials of the UC student association maintained that the ruling to forcefully stop the strike by the university's students and staff in support of Palestinians failed to have "judicial validity."

Unionized academic researchers, graduate teaching assistants and post-doctoral scholars walked off the job over what they called "unfair labor practices" in the university's handling of pro-Palestinian demonstrations in recent weeks.

The court ruling was issued after the UC filed a lawsuit and requested injunctive relief on June 4 against the United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 4811, which had organized the strikes, for breach of contract.

The first UC campus that stood up and withheld labor was UC Santa Cruz, where academic workers walked off the job on May 20. The walkout spread to UC Los Angeles and UC Davis on May 28, and further expanded to three more campuses, UC San Diego, UC Santa Barbara and UC Irvine, later.

Pro-Palestinian demonstrations have been spreading at colleges and universities across the United States amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Hundreds were arrested in crackdowns on pro-Palestinian protests and encampments on UC campuses across the state last month. 
From the Boiling Frogs on The Dispatch

Theres nothing amusing about a pro-Hamas rally, or so one might assume.

But idiocy is often amusing even when its malevolent. Good luck suppressing a giggle at the sight of American progressives waving FS 4 HAMAS signs in solidarity with an outfit that treats homosexuality as a capital offense.

The most amusing thing about Saturdays celebration of terrorism in Washington, D.C., was a quirk of fate related to the timing. Organizers of the rally couldnt have known when they set the date that they would end up marching just as news was breaking of the biggest morale-booster for Israels cause in many months.

Here was the scene in D.C. as footage of overjoyed Israeli captives being reunited with their families was playing on American televisions:

The mob is outside the White House with banners calling for jihad and martyrdom. pic.twitter.com/vNtNiSJN7z  Aviva Klompas (@AvivaKlompas) June 8, 2024

Repulsivebut kind of funny given that at that moment the free world was being reminded in vivid emotional terms which side started the conflict and how long the hostages taken last October have suffered because of it. The jihadist cause, always unsympathetic, had somehow bumbled into maximizing its disadvantage.

This is also repulsive but not so funny, considering its par for the course now whenever angry leftists gather near monuments:

Lafayette Square monuments next to the White House pic.twitter.com/YvPeBnbVxa  Jon Hartley (@Jon_Hartley_) June 9, 2024

When a U.S. Park Police officer intervened to try to stop the crowd from defacing the statues any further, they threw bottles at him and called him a fascist.

What grabbed my attention about that scene was the location: Lafayette Square, across from the White House. Site of the most sinister photo op of Donald Trumps presidency until January 6.

In June 2020, amid the George Floyd demonstrations, federal officers forcibly cleared the area of protesters; Trump seized the opportunity to stride across the now-empty park, his aides in tow, and famously held up a Bible outside St. Johns Church. It was such a grotesque symbolic fusion of religion with state power against political enemies that Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Mark Milley, who had accompanied Trump while wearing his combat uniform, publicly expressed his remorse for participating afterward.

All things considered, it was actually pretty restrained. Mark Esper, the defense secretary, later claimed Trump had reacted to protests in Washington around that time by asking, Cant you just shoot them? Just shoot them in the legs or something?

Many Americans view the choice before them this fall as a choice between the two episodes in Lafayette Square. They can have a lowbrow authoritarian swinging a cross of gold at his enemies like a truncheon or they can have anomic left-wing miscreants spray-painting FS 4 HAMAS on portraits of George Washington with impunity.

Is that the choice before us?

As I write this on Monday, the number of arrests resulting from Saturdays vandalism is zero.

Its worse than that, actually. According to NBC, Police said they attempted to arrest one person who climbed a statue, but members of the crowd intervened. The suspect fled after being freed by the mob and no one in the mob has suffered any consequences for it.

In fact, the protesters appear to have chased the police at various points rather than vice versa.

Perhaps theres some logic about crowd control or deescalation that explains the cops quiescence. If they had begun hauling people in, the mob might have grown restive; if the mob had grown restive, more police would have been needed; the odds of a violent confrontation would have skyrocketed over nothing worse than some graffiti thats already in the process of being washed away.

But that amounts to saying that so long as a group is large and hostile enough, its free to commit minor crimes in full view of the police, and that lesson extracts a price in public respect for law and order. If no one is above the law, as Democrats have intoned regularly since Trumps conviction in Manhattan, its strange that this very left-wing horde agitating for a very left-wing cause in a very left-wing city was effectively above the law on Saturday afternoon.

I dont think that the Democratic Party has even started to grapple with how badly this stuff hurts them, Charles Cooke wrote on Sunday about D.C.s disinterest in prosecuting those who vandalized the Lafayette Square monuments. The average joe might understandably suspect that the protesters received special treatment for political reasons, either because the local Democratic authorities sympathized with their agenda or because those authorities feared that punishing them would incite a political backlash among progressives.

Its the same reason videos of shoplifting rings clearing out convenience stores routinely go viral on social media. The impunity with which the thieves operatein broad daylight, on video, with store employees and sometimes security guards feet awayis so galling that it simply must be a political choice by elected officials to let it happen, one concludes. And the fact that it tends to happen in indigo-blue cities, where a bleeding heart seems to be a prerequisite for public office, makes the nature of that political choice clear.

Not only does this hurt Democrats, as Cooke says, it might plausibly lead them to defeat in November against Donald Trump. What else explains Joe Bidens malfeasance at the border over the past three and a half years, after all, except terror that progressives would abandon him if he replicated an iota of Trumps immigration policies? The president has concluded that a certain amount of disorder is necessary to hold the Democratic coalition together. What an advertisement for left-wing politics.

And how much more potent it is when the advertisement plays out in Washington, D.C. Its one thing for a group of teenagers to raid a CVS. Its another for degenerates in Hamas headbands chanting We dont want no two state, were taking back 48 to desecrate monuments to Founding-era heroes in the seat of government. Impunity under those circumstances feeds suspicions that Democrats arent just soft on crime but anti-American, especially when protesters who break the law in more virtuous causes dont receive the same degree of mercy.

Disorder is a choice. Biden has chosen it on immigration and D.C. authorities chose it on Saturday in Lafayette Square. Many undecided voters will worry that supporting Democrats on lesser-of-two-evils grounds in November will validate those choices and incentivize liberals to keep on choosing disorder over the next four years. Would that truly be less evil than reelecting a strongman whos willing to club the forces of disorder over the head with a Bible?

Answer: Yes, it would be. The lesser evil is still evil, of course, but Democratic passivity toward certain forms of disorder is preferable to populist Republicans actively fomenting disorder for their own ends.

Typically when populists complain about leftists getting off easy for mayhem theyve caused, they compare law enforcements reaction to January 6 with its reaction to riots during the George Floyd protests in 2020. Why is it that hundreds of right-wing rioters went to prison while left-wing rioters got off scot-free? Thats another example of the disgraceful double-standard on basic questions of law and order, in Cookes words, that Democrats routinely practice, no?

Well, no. Left-wing rioters didnt get off scot-free. Many criminal charges were filed against them in 2020. Thousands were arrested, and in larger numbers in Washington, D.C., in particular than were arrested on January 6. Black activists even alleged that protesters were disproportionately targeted with federal charges when state charges, which carry lighter penalties, would have been more appropriate.

The persistent Republican delusion that the George Floyd rioters enjoyed total impunity is a function of how much more harshly critical the media has been of January 6 than of the riots of 2020, I think. Because the arrests of Floyd protesters werent covered nearly as much, many Americans mistakenly concluded that they didnt happen. And I do think its true, as Cooke says, that left-leaning institutions like the press find right-wing rioters more menacing and newsworthy than left-wing ones, all other things being equal.

The thing is, in this case all other things arent equal. There are good reasons law enforcement and the media treated the insurrection as a graver offense than the riots of 2020.

January 6 wasnt just a riot, let alone the spray-painting of a few statues. It was the last chapter in a coup plot backed by various influential figures in one of the two major parties. Of course the Justice Department was going to regard a violent attempt to overthrow the incoming president more seriously than it would an urban riot.

The insurrection also nearly led to the vice president and members of Congress being murdered. You can lament if you like that the law takes threats to public officials more seriously than it does threats to statues or businesses, but theres logic to doing so. Morally, Mike Pences life isnt worth more than a park rangers, but in terms of its importance to the country its night and day.

The rioters at the Capitol also very foolishly documented their assault extensively, treating it as half-putsch and half-Instagram-livestream. When thousands of photos and videos of perpetrators committing crimes are taken by the perpetrators themselves and uploaded with pride to their own social media feeds, its no surprise that an unusually large number of successful prosecutions will result.

Theres an especially significant political difference between January 6 and the sort of left-wing deviancy we saw in 2020 and on Saturday in Lafayette Square, though. Only one group of criminals enjoys the support of their sides candidate for president.

Following the vandalism of the statues by Hamasniks, a White House spokesman issued this statement: President Biden has always been clear that every American has the right to peacefully express their views. But he has also always been clear that anti-Semitism, violent rhetoric, and endorsing murderous terrorist organizations like Hamas is repugnant, dangerous, and against everything we stand for as a country.

Compare that to what Trump said at a rally in Las Vegas a day later, when he heralded the January 6 insurrectionists as warriors.

Trump: Those J6 warriors. They were warriors but they were really more than anything else theyre victims of what happened. The police say go in. What a setup that was. You know what, that blows two ways pic.twitter.com/w72Aqg29wb  Acyn (@Acyn) June 9, 2024

The Hamas fan club in Lafayette Square on Saturday hated Joe Biden so much that at one point a rubber mask of the presidents face was displayed with red paint on it, a sort of mock beheading. Many of the January 6 rioters worship Trump by contrast, enough so to have recorded a hymn to the insurrection with him.

Which is more troubling from the law and order perspective, the leader whos too passive in confronting the criminal elements of his coalition or the leader whos actively in league with them?

Trump has inspired the development of a paramilitary wing to his movement. He has goaded their aggressive impulses and rewarded their loyalty, Jonathan Chait wrote of the warrior comment this weekend. In a second Trump term, they would be unleashed to commit violence on his behalf, understanding they would enjoy the benefit of his legal protection. This was the idea he was promising in broad daylight.

Hes already pledged to pardon many of the January 6 rioters. The goons on his side will take encouragement from that and treat it as license to intimidate his enemies during his second term, confident that they too will be held harmless should law enforcement try to hold them accountable.

So, yes, when theres criminal activity by a right-wing entity in 2024 it does feel more menacing than criminal activity by a left-wing entity for the simple reason that theres a greater chance it will be expressly condoned by the leadership of a major political party. And I dont just mean Trump, either: It wasnt he who recently pardoned a convicted murderer for no better reason than that said murderer killed a political undesirable.

To paraphrase Cooke, I dont think that the Republican Party has even started to grapple with how badly this stuff hurts them. Maybe they would if we treated it as a somewhat more urgent threat to law and order than leftist freaks defacing monuments.

Or maybe they havent grappled with how badly its hurting them because  it isnt hurting them. At least, not enough to have cost Trump the lead hes held in national polling for many months.

The tireless MAGA propaganda campaign around January 6 has paid dividends with Republican voters. As of New Years Day this year, just 55 percent of the party said that the sentences the Capitol rioters have received were either fair or not harsh enough. That was down from 64 percent a year ago. By November, it may well be a minority position. Slowly but surely, even the normies in the party are being conditioned to believe that law enforcement overreacted to the insurrection.

And we all know why. Faith among Republicans that the rioters were treated justly is declining for the same reason that the number of Republicans who are okay with being governed by a criminal is soaring. Trumps momentary political needs dictate the opinions of his supporters; he cant get reelected if Americans believe that felons are unfit for the presidency or that January 6 was a travesty so members of his party are simply choosing not to believe those things and encouraging others not to believe them either.

Just as Democrats will tolerate impunity for illegal migrants and for the occasional statue-defacer as the price of holding power and imposing law and order on the right, Republicans will tolerate impunity for Trump and the insurrectionists as the price of winning power and imposing law and order on the left.

That being so, what a political trick itll be if Donald Trump manages to win reelection by successfully framing the race with Biden as a matter of order versus disorder. It was Trump, the so-called candidate of law and order, who presided over the civic disorder of 2020; it was Trump who sought electoral advantage by letting disorder prevail at the border in 2024; its Trump who seeks constitutional immunity for any disorder he might unleash as president in a second term; its Trump who aims to shield his partys radicals from criminal jeopardy for the disorder theyll cause on his behalf; and of course its Trump whos been convicted of numerous felonies and stands accused of dozens more.

The authoritarian vision of law and order isnt one where police clear Lafayette Square of riffraff so that Bible-clutching Americans can admire the pristine statuary. Its one where the riffraff are the police and statues are all in the image of the man they answer to. No thanks.

Read more at The Dispatch

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The Beriev A-50U 'Mainstay' airborne warning and control system (AWACS) aircraft based on the Ilyushin Il-76 transport aircraft belonging to Russian Air Force in the air. 'U' designation stands for extended range and advanced digital radio systems. This aircraft was named after Sergey Atayants - Beriev's chief designer. (Photo by: aviation-images.com/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

A U.S.-made Patriot air defense system was responsible for shooting down a Russian A-50 Mainstay airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft over the Sea of Azov on January 14 , according to a U.S. Army officer. The high-value aircraft, one of only a handful immediately available to Russia, was the first of two brought down in the space of five weeks. Previously, a Ukrainian official confirmed to TWZ that the second A-50 was brought down by a Soviet-era S-200 (SA-5 Gammon) long-range surface-to-air missile.

Speaking on a panel at the United States Field Artillery Associations Fires Symposium 2024 last week , Col. Rosanna Clemente, Assistant Chief of Staff at the 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command, confirmed that the first A-50 fell to a German-provided Patriot system, in what she described as a SAMbush, or surface-to-air missile ambush.

https://www.twitter.com/AirPowerNEW1/status/1799830592902795371

They have probably about a battalion of Patriots operating in Ukraine right now, Col. Clemente explained. Some of its being used to protect static sites and critical national infrastructure. Others are being moved around and doing some really, really historic things that Ive havent seen in 22 years of being an air defender, and one of them is a SAMbush  theyre doing that with extremely mobile Patriot systems that were donated by the Germans, because the systems are all mounted on the trucks. So theyre moving around and theyre using these types of systems, bringing them close to the plot  and stretching the very, very edges of the kinematic capabilities of that system to engage the first A-50 C2 [command and control] system back in January.

Fifteen crew members were reportedly killed aboard the A-50.

Col. Clemente also provided some other interesting details of how the Ukrainians worked up their capabilities with these particular systems, which included a period of validation training involving the U.S. Army in Poland in April 2023.

Elements of a German Patriot air defense system stand on a snow-covered field in Miaczyn, southeastern Poland, in April 2023. Photo by Sebastian Kahnert/picture alliance via Getty Images

According to Col. Clemente, the German soldiers tasked with training the Ukrainians on the mobile Patriot systems woke up the Ukrainian battery in the middle of the night, marched them to a location where they fought a simulated air battle, and then made them march again. I was like, Huh, wonder why they did that? And it was a month later, they conducted some of their first ambushes where theyre shooting down Russian Su-27s along the Russian border.

As we reported at the time , the use of Patriot to engage the radar plane over the Sea of Azov seemed likely, especially as it followed the pattern of an anti-access counter-air campaign that Ukraine was already waging against Russian military aircraft using the same air defense system.

Accordingly, in May 2023, Ukraine began pushing forward Patriot batteries to reach deep into Russian-controlled airspace. Most dramatically, a string of Russian aircraft was downed over Russian territory that borders northeastern Ukraine. Among them may have been the Su-27s (or perhaps another Flanker-variant aircraft) that Col. Clemente mentioned.

A screen capture from a Ukrainian Air Force video shows images of three Russian helicopters and two Russian fighters painted on the side of a Patriot air defense system. The three helicopter and two jet images bear the date May 13, 2023. Defense Industry of Ukraine

While the use of German-supplied weapons within Russian territory previously led to friction between Berlin and Kyiv, German officials more recently approved the use of Patriot to target aircraft in Russian airspace.

In December 2023, similar tactics were used against tactical jets flying over the northwestern Black Sea .

These kinds of highly mobile operations were then further proven with the destruction of the first A-50, on the night of January 14.

A Russian Il-22M radio-relay aircraft was also apparently engaged by Ukrainian air defenses the same night, confirmed by photo evidence of the aircraft after it had made it back to a Russian air base. Its not clear whether the Patriot system was also responsible for inflicting damage on this aircraft, but its certainly a probable explanation.

A photo of the Il-22M which purportedly made an emergency landing in Anapa, in the Krasnodar region of western Russia. via X

Both incidents appear to have taken place in the western part of the Azov Sea and, as we discussed at the time , the distances involved suggested that, if Patriot was used, it was likely at the very limits of its engagement envelope.

Based on Col. Clementes account, it seems likely that the Patriot system in question was not only being pushed to the limits of its capabilities but was likely being deployed very far forward in an especially bold tactical move.

As we wrote at the time: Considering risking a Patriot system or even a remote launcher right at the front is unlikely, and these airborne assets were likely orbiting at least some ways out over the water, this shot was more likely to have been around 100 miles, give or take a couple dozen miles.

Of course, all this also depends on exactly where the targeted aircraft were at the time of the engagement.

A map showing the Sea of Azov as well as Robotyne, which is really the closest Ukraine regularly operates to that body of water, a distance of roughly 55 miles. Google Earth

Once again, the A-50 shootdown may be the most important single victory achieved so far by Ukrainian-operated Patriot systems, but it was part of a highly targeted campaign waged against the Russian Aerospace Forces which has seemingly included multiple long-range downings of tactical aircraft.

The Ukrainian tactics first found success in pushing back Russian airpower and degrading its ability to launch direct attacks and even those using standoff glide bombs , which have wreaked havoc on Ukrainian towns .

The same anti-access tactics extended to Russias small yet vital AEW&C fleet have arguably had an even greater effect. After all, these aircraft offer a unique look-down air picture that extends deep into Ukrainian-controlled territory. As well as spotting incoming cruise missile and drone attacks, and low-flying fighter sorties, they provide command and control and situational awareness for Russian fighters and air defense batteries. According to Ukrainian officials, the radar planes are also used to direct Russian cruise missile and drone strikes.

A-50 Mainstay

The importance of these force-multipliers has seen earlier efforts to disable them, with A-50s in Belarus having been targeted by forces allied with Ukraine .

The recent appearance of a photo showing a Ukrainian S-300PS (SA-10 Grumble) air defense system marked with an A-50 symbol also indicates that previous attempts were made to bring these aircraft down using this Soviet-era surface-to-air missile, too.

https://www.twitter.com/magictouch190/status/1800259370992726351

With all this in mind, its not surprising that Ukraines highly valued, long-reaching Patriot air defense system was tasked against the A-50.

In demonstrating the vulnerability of Russian aircraft patrolling over the Sea of Azov, the January 15 shootdown might have been expected to push these assets back. That may have happened, but another example was then shot down at an even greater distance from the front line, on February 23. The fact that the second A-50 came down over the Krasnodar region fueled speculation that it may have been a friendly fire incident.

However, Lt. Gen. Kyrylo Budanov, the head of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defenses Main Directorate of Intelligence (GUR), subsequently confirmed to TWZ that the second A-50  as well as a Tu-22M3 Backfire bomber, in a separate incident  were brought down by the Soviet-era S-200 long-range surface-to-air missile system.

Undoubtedly, there are more details still to emerge about the shootdowns of the two A-50s, not to mention other engagements that the Ukrainian Patriot has been involved in.

However, Col. Rosanna Clementes comments confirm that the Ukrainian Air Force is using these critical systems in a sometimes-daring manner, using limited numbers of assets not only to protect key static infrastructure but also to maraud closer to the front lines and bring down high-profile Russian aerial targets. Not only does this force Russia to adapt its airpower tactics for its own survival, reducing its effectiveness, but it also provides another means for Ukraine to fight back against numerical odds that are stacked against it.

Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com
The bipartisan Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act -- signed Dec. 2021 by U.S. President Joe Biden -- bans the import of goods from the region over alleged human rights abuses against the Muslim Uyghur population, unless the importer proves goods are not made with forced labor. It also imposes sanctions on foreign individuals who make use of forced labor. File Photo By Stephen Shaver/UPI

June 11 (UPI) -- The Biden administration Tuesday banned imports from three more Chinese companies in a continued crack down on the use of forced labor of Asia's minority populations in America's supply chain.

The Department of Homeland Security "will not tolerate forced labor in U.S. supply chains and will enforce our laws across all industries and sectors," Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said Tuesday in a statement.

The three companies in China named by the Department of Homeland Security produce seafood, aluminum and footwear goods. DHS said those three industries play an important role in Xinjiang's economy.

"We will continue to investigate companies that use or facilitate forced labor and will hold those entities responsible," Mayorkas said while urging stakeholders across industry, civil society and international partners "to work with us to eliminate the scourge of forced labor."

The call was made by the Forced Labor Enforcement Task Force, chaired by DHS, which is comprised of the federal departments of commerce, justice, labor, state and treasury. The office of the U.S. Trade Representative also sits on the task force.

The Department of Homeland Security will not tolerate forced labor in U.S. supply chains and will enforce our laws across all industries and sectors, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said Tuesday in a statement. Photo by Al Drago/UPI

They now join 68 other Chinese companies put on the Uygur Forced Labor Prevention Act Entity List. U.S. Customs and Border Protection will stop their goods from entering the United States over allegations of using or facilitating forced labor of members of the Uyghur population, including the Kazakh and Kyrgyz people, from the Xinjiang region in northwestern China.

The United States, which has already taken similar actions, has accused China of committing genocide against its Uyghur Muslim population in the northwestern Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, where Beijing is estimated to have interned about a million of them in concentration camps since 2017.

A group of Uyghur demonstrators gather outside the White House in July 2023 to commemorate the anniversary of massacres in Urumqui, China, which took place on July 5, 2009 between the Uyghur and Han Chinese. An independent British tribunal concluded in 2021 that Beijing subjected the Uyghur people to "unconscionable cruelty" and crimes against humanity in actions that amounted to genocide. File Photo By Bonnie Cash/UPI

Shandong Meijia Group Co., Ltd., also known as Rizhao Meijia Group, is based in Shandong Province. They process, sell and export frozen seafood products, vegetables and other quick-frozen convenience food.

Shrimp supply chains have shown "a disturbing pattern of profiting off of the globe's most vulnerable populations," according to John Williams, the Florida-based Southern Shrimp Alliance's executive director.

Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla, a co-sponsor of the bill, described the law signed by Biden at the time as the "most important and impactful action taken thus far by the United States to hold the Chinese Communist Party accountable for their use of slave labor." File Photo By Joe Marino/UPI

In a news release, the Southern Shrimp Alliance called Tuesday's move a "groundbreaking announcement."

As an example, Argentinian red shrimp packed by Uyghurs in Chinese seafood processing plants "should not be competing with wholesome products in American grocery stores," Williams said.

U.S. President Joe Biden, who signed legislation in 2021 establishing Juneteenth as the nation's newest Federal holiday, speaks Monday during a Juneteenth concert on the White House' South Lawn in Washington, DC. Photo by Ting Shen/UPI

The United States claims the seafood company took part in a Chinese government-sponsored labor transfer program to move and deliver Uyghur people, and individuals from other persecuted minority groups, out of the Xinjiang region for labor at its factory in Shandong.

Williams said the task force's effort to counter forced labor in seafood supply chains "sends a strong message" to U.S. seafood importers "that chasing lower costs and higher margins cannot replace ethical and legal obligations."

Dongguan Oasis Shoes Co., Ltd., also doing business as three other "Dongguan" styled companies, is headquartered in Guangdong Province and manufactures shoe and shoe material goods.

It is alleged Dongguan cooperated with the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps to recruit, transfer and receive people of persecuted minority groups, including Uyghurs, out of the Xinjiang region to a Guangdong factory near China's southeastern coast.

Xinjiang Shenhuo Coal and Electricity Co., Ltd. is a Xinjiang-based company that produces electrolytic aluminum, graphite carbon and prebaked anodes.

It was alleged the company likewise took part in a Chinese government-lead labor transfer program to similarly recruit, move and deliver minority citizens groups out of the region for forced labor.

An independent British tribunal said in 2021 in a 63-page report that Beijing subjected the Uyghur people to "unconscionable cruelty" and crimes against humanity in actions that amounted to genocide, it concluded.

The bipartisan Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act -- signed December 2021 by President Joe Biden -- bans the import of goods from the region over alleged human rights abuses against the Muslim Uyghur population, unless the importer proves goods are not made with forced labor. It also imposes sanctions on foreign individuals who make use of forced labor.

Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla, a co-sponsor of the bill, described the law signed by Biden at the time as the "most important and impactful action taken thus far by the United States to hold the Chinese Communist Party accountable for their use of slave labor."

According to the Uyghur Human Rights Project, a Washington-based research and advocacy group, 1 in 26 Uyghurs and non-Han people in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in northwest China were incarcerated in 2022 representing roughly 449,000 people.

While the Uyghur and non-Han population in Xinjiang made up only 1% of China's overall population, the ethnic minority in the Uyghur Region account for 34% of China's estimated prison population, according to the report.
A U.S. Coast Guard Academy official resigned ahead of a congressional hearing for Coast Guard leaders this week, alleging that she was instructed to lie to past victims of sexual assault at the academy to prevent Congress from learning about their experiences.

The Coast Guard deceived me into violating a basic principle of my profession, which is to never lie to victims, Shannon Norenberg, who served as the sexual assault response coordinator at the Coast Guard Academy since 2013, wrote in a blog post announcing her resignation Sunday.

Norenberg said she hoped to right a wrong and publicly apologize to the victims she says she misled after she was called in 2018 to assist the Coast Guards Operation Fouled Anchor investigation, which secretly examined and documented years of harassment and assault allegations within the military branch.

The United States Coast Guard Academy is seen in New London, Connecticut. via Associated Press

The whole thing was a cruel coverup at the expense of the victims, with the entire purpose being to preserve the image of the Coast Guard and avoid scandal, Norenberg wrote. And the Coast Guard used me as part of their plan.

The final Fouled Anchor report reached a similar conclusion, stating that the Coast Guards leadership placed more importance on protecting the Academys reputation than on the welfare of the victims. Most of the perpetrators were found not to have been criminally investigated for dozens of cases of alleged sexual assault or harassment at the Coast Guard Academy in Connecticut over nearly two decades.

The commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, Adm. Linda Fagan, took questions before Congress on Tuesday about Norenberg and Operation Fouled Anchor, which was first exposed to the public last summer by CNN.

Fagan, who started leading the Coast Guard in June 2022, said she had not read Norenbergs statements, but said they will be included in an investigation by the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General. Fagan also praised Norenberg as making an incredible difference with her work at the academy.

U.S. Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Linda Fagan (left) and Coast Guard Master Chief Petty Officer Heath Jones (right) took questions in Congress on Tuesday regarding Operation Fouled Anchor. Andrew Harnik via Getty Images

A representative for the Coast Guard Academy confirmed Norenbergs resignation to HuffPost, which they said was given verbally on May 20. They declined further comment.

In her blog post, Norenberg, who became the academys first full-time sexual assault response coordinator when she was hired, said she was called to aid the investigation under what she now believes were false pretenses.

She was told that she would be helping past sexual violence victims whose cases had been potentially mishandled by the Command, and that shed be working toward strengthening the academys handling of future sexual violence allegations.

My job was to assure the victims that we were doing things differently now, and that some good had come out of what they had endured during the investigation, she wrote.

Norenberg said she was instructed to offer to meet with past victims face-to-face, as part of a kind of apology tour, and to enter their case information into the Defense Sexual Assault Incident Database, a military-wide sexual assault case management system. She would also provide the victims with an official form, called a CG-6095, to report sexual assault.

Coast Guard leaders deliberately withheld VA military sexual trauma benefits and services from the survivors we were sent around to meet with. Worse, we offered them absolutely nothing to replace those lost benefits and services.Shannon Norenberg, former Coast Guard Academy sexual assault response coordinator

Completing this form, she said, would create proof that the assault was reported to the Coast Guard, and would make it easier for survivors of military sexual trauma, or MST, to obtain services from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to help them recover.

If the forms were signed and given back to her, she said shed be legally obligated to enter the cases into DSAID for 2019, the year the victims were interviewed. This is why she believes she was ultimately told not to share the forms, as an influx of cases would likely have caught the attention of Congress and led to the discovery of Operation Fouled Anchor.

To prevent Operation Fouled Anchor from being discovered by Congress, Coast Guard leaders deliberately withheld VA military sexual trauma benefits and services from the survivors we were sent around to meet with, she wrote. Worse, we offered them absolutely nothing to replace those lost benefits and services. We just left the victims to fend for themselves.

Norenberg also said she was given printed instructions to falsely tell the victims that the Coast Guard had briefed the Department of Homeland Security and Congress about their investigation, and that they expected the findings would become public.

A Coast Guard spokesperson told HuffPost that those instructions do not accurately depict how the victim interviews were to be conducted, and that another former Coast Guard member, who was present at all of the meetings, has said that the issue of congressional notification was never brought up.

Furthermore, the Coast Guard is not aware of anyone telling members of that team to lie regarding any aspect of Operation Fouled Anchor, the spokesperson said in an email.

Norenberg told CNN that although she cant recall all of the details about her instructions, or her exact conversations with the victims she met with, she would have notified lawmakers immediately if shed learned that Congress was not aware of what was happening.

Why would anyone trust anything the Coast Guard has to say about Operation Fouled Anchor at this point? she said.

Need help? Visit RAINNs National Sexual Assault Online Hotline or the National Sexual Violence Resource Centers website.

Related...
U.S. deploys warships as Russian fleet makes close pass to Florida in approach to Cuba

The U.S. Navy has deployed warships and aircraft to track a Russian naval flotilla after the Russian vessels sailed less than 30 miles off South Floridas coast on Tuesday, U.S. officials told McClatchy and the Miami Herald.

Last week, Moscow sent three ships and a nuclear-powered submarine to the Caribbean for what U.S. officials say will be a set of extensive military air and naval exercises  the first of their kind in at least five years.

The drills began on Tuesday in the Atlantic, the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement, with its hypersonic-capable frigate and nuclear-capable submarine simulating a strike on a group of enemy ships. It is unclear whether the frigate is armed with hypersonic missiles, but the U.S. intelligence community has assessed that none of the Russian vessels are carrying nuclear weapons.

NORFOLK (May 25, 2023) The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Truxtun (DDG 103) returns to Naval Station Norfolk following a nine-month deployment with Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 10.

While the Biden administration has said it is not concerned by the Russian activity, it has nevertheless authorized the deployment of three powerful destroyers and a submarine reconnaissance aircraft to the region, a U.S. Northern Command official told McClatchy and the Herald on Tuesday.

In accordance with standard procedures, weve been actively monitoring the Russian ships as they transit the Atlantic Ocean within international waters, the NORTHCOM official said. Air and maritime assets under U.S. Northern Command have conducted operations to ensure the defense of the United States and Canada. Russias deployments are part of routine naval activity which pose no direct threat or concern to the United States.

 Buques militares rusos llegan a Cuba



Tres buques y un submarino de propulsion nuclear de la Armada de Rusia han llegado este miercoles en visita oficial al puerto de La Habana, donde permaneceran hasta el 17 de junio. pic.twitter.com/q0yLi4Sq7h  RT en Espanol (@ActualidadRT) June 12, 2024

The U.S. deployment includes three guided-missile destroyers  the USS Truxtun, USS Donald Cook and USS Delbert D. Black  as well as a Coast Guard cutter, the Stone, and a Boeing P-8 maritime patrol aircraft.

Last week, confirming Russias deployment plans, a senior administration official said the U.S. Navy would adopt whatever the necessary posture is to track and to monitor their activity as the exercises unfold.

The Russian frigate Admiral Gorshkov is on its way to Cuba. Russian Defence Ministry Press Office/TASS/Sipa USA

An additional port call by the Russian ships is possible in Venezuela, multiple officials said. The Biden administration anticipates the exercises will culminate in worldwide naval exercises by Russia that will include deployments from the Caribbean to the South Pacific.

The Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces said last week that the Russian missile frigate Admiral Gorshkov, the nuclear submarine Kazan, the oil tanker Pashin and the salvage tug Nikolai Chiker will arrive on June 12 and stay for a week.

Guided-missile destroyer USS Donald Cook. Credit: United States Navy

Users of the website marinetraffic.com have been tracking the position of the U.S. and Russian ships in recent days. According to the website, the Russian sea rescue tug Nikolay Chiker was positioned 26 nautical miles from Key Largo on Tuesday morning.

U.S. officials acknowledged the close call of the Russian ships, while emphasizing they have remained in international waters.

We have been monitoring the ships paths closely, a U.S. official said Tuesday. At no point have the ships or submarine posed a direct threat to the United States.

Global deployments

The Port of Havana will be particularly crowded this week.

On top of the Russian warships and the nuclear-powered submarine expected to arrive on Wednesday, HMCS Margaret Brooke, a patrol vessel for the Royal Canadian Navy, will arrive Friday and stay until the 17, when the Russian ships are expected to leave.

The Communist Party newspaper Granma said the ships visit highlights the 50th anniversary of cooperation ties with Canada and the bilateral collaboration for the maintenance of peace in our region. It did not mention the simultaneous presence of Russian navy assets at the port.

A Venezuelan training ship, the AB Simon Bolivar, will also visit Santiago de Cuba, the islands second largest city, between June 15 and 19.

U.S. Coast Guard cutter Stone. Credit: United States Coast Guard
U.S. deploys warships as Russian fleet makes close pass to Florida in approach to Cuba

The U.S. Navy has deployed warships and aircraft to track a Russian naval flotilla after the Russian vessels sailed less than 30 miles off South Floridas coast on Tuesday, U.S. officials told McClatchy and the Miami Herald.

Last week, Moscow sent three ships and a nuclear-powered submarine to the Caribbean for what U.S. officials say will be a set of extensive military air and naval exercises  the first of their kind in at least five years.

While the Biden administration has said it is not concerned by the Russian activity, it has nevertheless authorized the deployment of three powerful destroyers and a submarine reconnaissance aircraft to the region, a U.S. Northern Command official told McClatchy and the Herald on Tuesday.

In accordance with standard procedures, weve been actively monitoring the Russian ships as they transit the Atlantic Ocean within international waters, the NORTHCOM official said. Air and maritime assets under U.S. Northern Command have conducted operations to ensure the defense of the United States and Canada. Russias deployments are part of routine naval activity which pose no direct threat or concern to the United States.

NORFOLK (May 25, 2023) The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Truxtun (DDG 103) returns to Naval Station Norfolk following a nine-month deployment with Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 10.

The U.S. deployment includes three guided-missile destroyers  the USS Truxtun, USS Donald Cook and USS Delbert D. Black  as well as a Coast Guard cutter, the Stone, and a Boeing P-8 maritime patrol aircraft.

Last week, confirming Russias deployment plans, a senior administration official said the U.S. Navy would adopt whatever the necessary posture is to track and to monitor their activity as the exercises unfold.

An additional port call by the Russian ships is possible in Venezuela, multiple officials said. The Biden administration anticipates the exercises will culminate in worldwide naval exercises by Russia that will include deployments from the Caribbean to the South Pacific.

The U.S. intelligence community has assessed that none of the Russian vessels are carrying nuclear weapons.

The Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces said last week that the Russian missile frigate Admiral Gorshkov, the nuclear submarine Kazan, the oil tanker Pashin and the salvage tug Nikolai Chiker will arrive on June 12 and stay for a week.

Guided-missile destroyer USS Donald Cook. Credit: United States Navy

Users of the website marinetraffic.com have been tracking the position of the U.S. and Russian ships in recent days. According to the website, the Russian sea rescue tug Nikolay Chiker was positioned 26 nautical miles from Key Largo on Tuesday morning.

U.S. officials acknowledged the close call of the Russian ships, while emphasizing they have remained in international waters.

We have been monitoring the ships paths closely, a U.S. official said Tuesday. At no point have the ships or submarine posed a direct threat to the United States.

Global deployments

The Port of Havana will be particularly crowded this week.

On top of the Russian warships and the nuclear-powered submarine expected to arrive on Wednesday, HMCS Margaret Brooke, a patrol vessel for the Royal Canadian Navy, will arrive Friday and stay until the 17, when the Russian ships are expected to leave.

The Communist Party newspaper Granma said the ships visit highlights the 50th anniversary of cooperation ties with Canada and the bilateral collaboration for the maintenance of peace in our region. It did not mention the simultaneous presence of Russian navy assets at the port.

A Venezuelan training ship, the AB Simon Bolivar, will also visit Santiago de Cuba, the islands second largest city, between June 15 and 19.

U.S. Coast Guard cutter Stone. Credit: United States Coast Guard
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 three-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.

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.

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 this 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.

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.

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.

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The post On the U.S.-Mexico border, hopes and fears after Bidens order limiting asylum appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
Razor wire along the Rio Grande on the Texas side of the U.S.-Mexico border. (Ariana Figueroa | States Newsroom)

EL PASO, Texas  Seventeen-year-old Karina Parababire gently rocked her three-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.

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 this 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.

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.

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.

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 West Virginia Watch.
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  A plan to end the fighting in Gaza and get more hostages freed now has major support from the United Nations Security Council.

Hamas has signaled it is moving closing to the negotiating table.

Qatar and Egypt issued a statement saying they received a response from Hamas, although Hamas didnt agree to the deal, they said they will negotiate with Israel and the U.S. until an agreement is reached.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken greeted relatives of hostages outside of a hotel in Tel Aviv Tuesday.

Its hard for any of us to put ourselves in their shoes, said Blinken.

Some in the crowd included family members of Americans who are still being held in Gaza.

We are determined to bring them home, he added.

The secretary is in the Middle East pushing the proposal President Biden revealed to end the eight months of fighting and secure the hostages release.

Everyone has said yes, except for Hamas, said Blinken.

On Monday, the plan got the backing of the U.N. Security Council. It approved a resolution endorsing the phased proposal.

We do not want to see the continuation of fighting, said Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian ambassador to the U.N.

Hamas issued a statement in support of the security council measure. Blinken views that as a positive sign.

While in the region he announced more than $400 million in additional humanitarian aid for Palestinian civilians.

In addition to the more than $1.8 billion in development, economic and humanitarian aid that the United States has provided, Blinken said.

Blinken says he is worried the longer the war goes on it could escalate into a spillover war.

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The United Nations Security Council on Monday passed a resolution drafted by the United States calling for a cease-fire and the immediate release of all hostages. Photo by Eskinder Debebe/United Nations

June 10 (UPI) -- The United Nations Security Council on Monday passed a resolution drafted by the United States calling for a cease-fire and the immediate release of all hostages.

The move was made in an attempt to end fighting between Israel and Hamas in Gaza that has gone on since October.

Of the 15 members, none opposed the measure and the only abstention was by Russia, which is among five permanent members of the Security Council that can veto matters. Those other permanent members are United States, France, Britain and China.

Russia said there was a lack of clarity over what exactly Israel had signed up to in the resolution.

In March, China and Russia vetoed a Gaza cease-fire resolution. And before that, the United States vetoed three draft resolutions, two of which would have demanded an immediate cease-fire.

U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said that every day the war between Hamas and Israel goes on "needless suffering continues." File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI

The Security Council "rejects any attempt at demographic or territorial change in the Gaza Strip, including any actions that reduce the territory of the enclave," according to the resolution.

The council also gives "unwavering commitment" to the vision of the two-state solution in which Israel and Palestine live side by side in peace.

Before the vote Monday, U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said that every day the war goes on, "needless suffering continues."

"Colleagues, after eight months of devastation and pain and trauma, what is needed now more than ever is for the fighting to end in a sustainable way," she said. "The United States and every single country in this chamber wants to see an immediate cease-fire with the release of hostages. We've heard those calls time and time again since Oct. 7. Now the opportunity is here. We must seize it."

President Joe Biden said last month that Israel had degraded Hamas' capabilities and it was "time for this war to end" and the "day after to begin."

Secretary of State Antony Blinken is in the Middle East to push toward the cease-fire and hostage agreement.

"My message to governments throughout the region, to people throughout the region: If you want a cease-fire, press Hamas to say yes," Blinken told reporters. "If you want to alleviate the terrible suffering of Palestinians in Gaza, press Hamas to say yes.

"If you want to get all the hostages home, press Hamas to say yes. If you want to put present Palestinians and Israelis alike on the path to more durable peace and security, if you want to prevent this conflict from spreading, press Hamas to say yes."

After the vote, Hamas released a statement that it "welcomes what was included in and confirmed by the Security Council resolution regarding a permanent ceasefire in Gaza."

On Thursday, the United States and 16 other nations urged Hamas and Israel to reach an agreement on a deal to reach a cease-fire in Gaza and release hostages.

More than 36,000 Palestinian have been killed by Israeli forces, according to Gaza health authorities.

Israel said that more than 1,200 people were killed and more than 250 taken hostage by Hamas on Oct. 7.

On Saturday, Israel rescued four hostages from Gaza. More than 100 hostages are believed to remain captive in Gaza.

Last week, Biden outlined a three-part peace plan, the first lasting six weeks and consisting of a cease-fire, withdrawal of Israeli forces from populated areas of Gaza, the release of a number of hostages and the release of Palestinian prisoners.

The second phase would bring about a "cessation of hostilities permanently," Biden said, should Hamas abide by the commitments in the agreement, as well as the release of all remaining living hostages.

The last phase: reconstruction of Gaza and the return of remains of hostages to their families.
ADDIS ABABA, June 11 (Xinhua) -- African Union (AU) Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat on Tuesday extended condolences over the deaths of Malawi's vice president and nine others.

Malawian Vice President Saulos Chilima and nine other individuals, who were on board a military aircraft, have been confirmed deceased after the plane went missing Monday morning, the country's President Lazarus Chakwera said Tuesday.

The AU Commission chairperson "was deeply saddened" to learn that the search and rescue mission for the missing aircraft carrying Saulos and nine other occupants found no survivors, according to an AU statement.

Faki extended his "most sincere condolences to the bereaved families, and the government and the people of Malawi over this great national loss." He reiterated the AU's strong solidarity with Chakwera, the government and the people of Malawi during this difficult time, the statement said.

The vice president was traveling to the funeral of the country's former Attorney General and Minister of Justice Ralph Kasambara, who was found dead at a lodge in Lilongwe, the capital of Malawi, Friday.

The aircraft, a Donier 228 belonging to the Malawi Defense Force, failed to make its scheduled landing at Mzuzu Airport Monday in northern Malawi, according to the country's Secretary to the President and Cabinet Colleen Zamba.

The aircraft returned due to bad weather, heading to Kamuzu International Airport in Lilongwe before it went off the radar. A search and rescue operation was launched by security agencies in the afternoon around the Chikangawa Forest where it was believed to have been lost. 
A Palestinian man retrieves a ladder used in Saturday's hostage rescue mission by Israeli Special Forces in the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza. The U.N. Human Rights Office warned Tuesday that the operation in such a densely packed area may have been indiscriminate, disproportionate and negligent, potentially constituting a war crime. Photo by Hatem Al-Rawag/UPI

June 11 (UPI) -- The U.N. Human Rights Office said Tuesday that Israel's hostage rescue operation in Gaza may have been indiscriminate, disproportionate and negligent in a such densely populated area, potentially constituting a war crime.

Expressing profound shock at the reported deaths and wounding of hundreds of Palestinians in Saturday's operation in Nuseirat to extract four Israelis being held by Hamas, OHCHR spokesman Jeremy Laurence said the mission "calls into question whether the principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution -- as set out under the laws of war -- were respected by the Israeli forces."

However, the OHCHR stressed that the actions of Palestinian armed groups may also constitute war crimes, calling their ongoing holding of hostages, most of them civilians in contravention of international humanitarian law, "deeply distressing."

"Furthermore, by holding hostages in such densely populated areas, the armed groups doing so are putting the lives of Palestinian civilians as well as the hostages themselves, at added risk from the hostilities," Laurence said.

"All these actions, by both parties, may amount to war crimes," he added.

The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry said Sunday said that at least 274 people had been killed and 698 injured in what it said was a massacre in the Nuseirat refugee camp.

At least 64 children, 57 women and 37 people considered elderly were among those killed.

Shlomi Ziv, 40; Almong Meir Jan, 21; Andrey Kozlov, 27; and Noa Argamani, 25; were freed by Israeli special forces eight months after being abducted from the Nova Music Festival in southern Israel during the Oct. 7 attacks.

The three men and the woman, Noa Argamani, were pronounced by Israeli doctors who examined them after arriving back on Israeli soil to be in good condition, medically, but malnourished.

Their rescue brings to seven the number of hostages freed in special operations but around 120 continue to be held by Hamas and other armed groups.

The warning to both sides followed U.N. Security Council backing of a U.S.-drafted cease-fire resolution Monday that also called for the immediate release of all hostages including the remains of those deceased, and the exchange of Palestinian prisoners.

Welcoming the international community's unified call for a "full and complete ceasefire," Human Rights High Commissioner Volker Turk said ensuring "the full and unfettered flow of humanitarian aid to the desperate population of Gaza," had to be an immediate priority.

"The High Commissioner calls on all parties as well as third States, in particular those with influence over the parties to the conflict, to also maximize efforts to work towards the goal whereby Israelis and Palestinians can fully enjoy all human rights and live side by side, in peace," said the release.

The developments came as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken began his eighth visit to the region as part of efforts by Washington to get Israel and Hamas to agree to a deal leading to a cessation of hostilities and the release of hostages.

Blinken will visit Egypt, Israel, Jordan and Qatar to push for an agreement around a 3-stage plan to end the war laid out by U.S. President Joe Biden on May 31, according to State Department spokesman Matthew Miller.

The proposal is currently in the hands of Hamas leaders, delivered via Qatari mediators, but the group which is designated as a terrorist organization by the United States and many other nations has yet to respond.
The Uber logo can be seen at the headquarters of the ride service provider. Andrej Sokolow/dpa

The transport service provider Uber is opening its app to all taxi companies throughout Germany, whereas until now, it was only possible to book journeys with Uber in 16 German cities.

Taxi drivers and car-hire companies will now be able to use Uber nationwide. This would allow companies to tap into additional sources of revenue without monthly membership fees or long-term contracts and significantly increase their capacity utilization and turnover, the company explained.

Uber already changed its global strategy months ago. Originally, Uber primarily brokered the services of competitors to taxis. The company is now also trying to attract taxi drivers to its platform. In cities such as Berlin and Munich, taxis can already be booked via the US-founded company's app.

According to Uber, around 20% of all taxis in the capital are already working with the platform. Across Germany, there are more than 4,000 taxi drivers.

Christoph Weigler, head of Uber Germany, said that by opening the app to all taxi drivers across Germany, Uber was emphasizing its interest in being a partner to the taxi industry in Germany.

"Taxis can also benefit from digitalization, active advertising for customers and the high demand on our platform," the company said. The digital booking of services has become the standard. "With the Uber app, we offer the technological solution and provide taxi drivers with additional orders simply and transparently."

The German Taxi and Rental Car Association is sceptical about working with Uber. Cooperation can only be considered between serious business partners and "there are considerable doubts about Uber," Michael Oppermann, managing director of the association, said in an interview with broadcaster RTL/ntv.

Oppermann referred to incidents in Berlin, where around a third of Uber partner companies were shut down by the city's administration due to illegal structures and organized crime. "And Uber has to clean up its act first," he said.

Oppermann emphasized that individual companies would certainly enter into cooperation, but Uber is still miles away from the kind of nationwide coverage offered by the taxi industry. The association is watching with interest how Uber is trying to "embrace" the taxi, he said.

However: "Our hearts haven't quite warmed to this service yet," Oppermann added.

With its new nationwide service, Uber is competing with traditional taxi call centres that arrange tours for taxi drivers. But the Uber service also competes with platforms such as Bolt, which primarily broker the services of car-hire companies.

The traditional taxi industry, such as the Berlin Taxi Guild, accuses these hire-car companies of not complying with legal regulations and in some cases committing social fraud. However, Uber also competes with the Freenow platform, which has primarily organized taxi rides since it was founded in 2009.

Uber stressed that it only cooperates with local, licensed taxi and hire-car companies that provide the transport service.

"Without exception, the drivers of the partner companies have a passenger transport licence and meet all the requirements for commercial passenger transport. All journeys are therefore fully insured," Uber said.
UK E. coli outbreak: What are the symptoms and how does it spread?

'Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria is commonly found in the gut of people and animals and is excreted from the body in faeces', writes Craig - Getty

Stomach bugs are always unpleasant, leading to days of tummy problems that can leave you housebound. While the cause is rarely clear, thousands of cases in the UK every year are a result of eating food that has been contaminated with E. coli.

Its impossible to completely eliminate the risk of coming into contact with harmful strains of the bacteria, but you can arm yourself with the knowledge of which symptoms to be wary of and tips on how to reduce your chance of becoming infected. Read on for the best way to protect yourself.

What is E. coli?

Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria is commonly found in the gut of people and animals and is excreted from the body in faeces.

Most E. coli strains are harmless and the majority of those living in our gut are even beneficial, as they aid digestion, says Dr Alex McCarthy, a senior lecturer in the Department of Infectious Disease at Imperial College London. However, some E. coli can cause illness.

The vast majority of intestinal E. coli infections in the UK are caused by Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) O157, says Alan McNally, a professor of microbial evolutionary genomics at the University of Birmingham.

An outbreak in the UK this month was caused by the STEC O145 strain. Its a bit of a new kid on the block, says McNally. O145 is not particularly common, which is what allowed the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) to identify that it was probably an outbreak.

STEC strains are a health concern because they produce toxins called Shiga that can damage cells in the intestine, which stops it from working as it should, says McCarthy.

Symptoms of an E. coli infection and how long it lasts

Stomach cramps

Diarrhoea, which is often bloody

Nausea and vomiting

Typical symptoms of a STEC infection are diarrhoea, stomach cramps and vomiting, which usually occur within three to four days of being exposed to the bacteria.

Within a short space of time, you will start to see blood in the diarrhoea  thats usually a pretty good indicator that youve got a STEC infection, says McNally.

Can E. coli kill you?

In severe cases, a STEC infection can lead to blood clots that can be fatal. This happens when blood vessels in the intestine that have been damaged by Shiga toxins form blood clots that travel through the body, says McCarthy.

If the toxins reach the kidney, it can lead to a condition called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) and kidney failure, which can be fatal, he explains.

The vast majority of people that get [STEC] will not suffer that severity of infection, but it can happen, notes McNally.

Young children, the elderly and immunocompromised are most at risk. In these cases, their health would deteriorate quickly and they may complain of:

Back pain

Have blood in their urine

Have a severe fever

At that stage, dont mess around  call 999 or go straight to A&E, says McNally.

McNally says tens of thousands of foods vulnerable to E. coli contamination are distributed across the country every week and only a handful of people become unwell - Alamy

Where is E. coli found?

Food which comes into contact with manure

Petting farms

Contaminated water

STEC is regularly found in the lower intestine of animals, especially cows, but also sheep and goats, and doesnt cause them any problems, says McNally.

However, if manure from these animals infiltrates food, it can cause infections in people.

This contamination can occur due to food, such as meat or dairy products, coming into direct contact with animal faeces during the slaughter process. If this meat is then raw or undercooked when people eat it, they are likely to become unwell, says McCarthy.

Alternatively, if manure gets into the water supplies for farms, which is then used to water leafy greens and vegetables, people can become infected, he explains.

When STEC O157 was identified in the late 1990s at a butchers shop in Wishaw, Scotland  in one of the worlds worst outbreaks to date  it was associated with poor hygiene from handling raw food, says McNally.

Then we got a lot of cases from petting farms, which is why they are now quite strict with hygiene measures there, he says.

Now what were seeing more and more is outbreaks associated with pre-packed salads and processed foods  basically anything where the food isnt cooked but is pre-packed, processed and nationally distributed.

For example, an outbreak in Germany in 2011, that infected thousands and killed dozens, was traced back to bean sprouts. Outbreaks tend to be big because its very difficult to identify the foodstuff thats been contaminated, says McNally.

Drinking contaminated water from lakes, rivers or taps can also cause a STEC infection, says McCarthy. Swimming in pools or the sea can also pose an infection risk but this is less common, he says. To minimise the risk, it is important that you do not swim in dirty water or swallow the water, he adds.

Is E. coli contagious? How does it spread?

When it comes to transmission, people shouldnt fear that theyre going to get this from the person sitting next to them  its not like Covid, thats not how they spread, says McNally.

However, it can spread between people through the faecal-oral route of transmission. This occurs if an infected person does not correctly wash their hands after using the lavatory and handles another persons food.

The UKHSA warns that the bacteria can spread within families and in nurseries, schools, care homes and hospitals.

How can you prevent it?

Regularly wash your hands with warm water and soap (alcohol gels do not kill all bugs)

Wash fruit and vegetables and cook food properly

Do not prepare food for others if suffering from diarrhoea and vomiting

Dont return to work, school or nursery until 48 hours after symptoms have stopped

Use disinfectants to clean surfaces

Tens of thousands of foods vulnerable to E. coli contamination are distributed across the country every week and only a handful of people become unwell, so a person would be unlucky to become infected, says McNally.

However, there are some steps people can take to reduce their risk of consuming the bacteria.

In our house, we always wash every bit of fruit and veg before its consumed, says McNally. If youre buying a pre-packed salad from a shop, theres a benefit to washing it.

He also recommends being very cautious about consuming unpasteurised dairy products and raw milk (which havent been treated to kill harmful bacteria). There is always the possibility of some faecal contamination of those dairy products as theyre made.

How can you treat it?

If you see blood in your stool, then you should be contacting the doctor because its important that as many cases as possible are notified to the UKHSA, says McNally.

However, while diarrhoea is unpleasant, it is self-limiting, so should pass on its own without treatment, he says.

There is no specific treatment for a STEC infection but its important to drink plenty of fluids as diarrhoea can lead to dehydration, says the UKHSA. The NHS advises drinking small sips of water often and eating solid foods as soon as you feel able to, while pharmacists may also recommend using rehydration powders.

If a STEC infection lasts for more than a week, then go back to the doctor. Treatment options are tricky because STEC produces toxins when they come under stress, such as when exposed to antibiotics, McNally says.

As a result, doctors dont typically prescribe antibiotics and would favour letting the illness run its course, unless it is a very serious case.

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(Bloomberg) -- A prominent UK judge who resigned from Hong Kongs top court has warned of grave danger to the finance hubs coveted legal system, in a scathing critique of Chinas crackdown on dissent in the city.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Jonathan Sumption, who served as an overseas judge at the citys Court of Final Appeal, claimed the former British colony is slowly becoming a totalitarian state in an opinion piece published in the Financial Times on Monday. His comments come as a wave of foreign judges quit the citys highest court, potentially undermining confidence in one of its main attractions for global businesses.

Hong Kong, once a vibrant and politically diverse community is slowly becoming a totalitarian state, Sumption wrote. The rule of law is profoundly compromised in any area about which the government feels strongly.

Hong Kongs leader hit back at Sumption on Tuesday, and questioned his qualification for making political comments.

A judge can like a political system or dislike it. He may also like a particular law or not. But his professional duty is to interpret and apply that particular piece of law in accordance with legal principles and evidence, Chief Executive John Lee said at a regular press briefing.

Previously, Lees government issued a detailed rebuttal to Sumptions article, saying any suggestion that courts are pressured by Beijing would be utterly wrong.

Eight overseas justices have resigned or ended their terms on the citys highest court since Beijing imposed a national security law to silence political opposition in 2020, with at least five citing political reasons. Lawrence Collins, who also quit last week, cited the citys political situation after he tendered his resignation.

Beverley McLachlin, who was the Supreme Court of Canadas longest-serving chief justice, announced Monday that she planned to retire from Hong Kongs Court of Final Appeal when her term ends July 29. Unlike the two British judges, she did not cite political reasons for her decision.

Their exits will leave the city with the fewest foreign judges since 1999, a low that comes as Hong Kong seeks to repair a global image damaged by pandemic self-isolation and years of political unrest. Two foreign judges, both from Australia, have been appointed to the court since the China-drafted law passed.

Hong Kong has touted its appointment of prominent overseas judges to its top court as a testament to the citys independent judiciary since returning to Chinese rule in 1997. Critics have accused foreign judges of helping Beijing silence the citys once-vocal political opposition, despite the fact they havent ruled on sensitive national security cases.

McLachlin, who joined the Hong Kong court in 2018, had faced calls in Canada to step down amid criticism her presence was lending credibility to a legal system President Xi Jinpings government is using to wipe out dissent.

In a brief statement, McLachlin said she continued to have confidence in the members of the court and their independence. The Hong Kong government thanked McLachlin for her objective appraisal of rule of law in the once-freewheeling Chinese territory.

Her departure in July will leave seven overseas judges on Hong Kongs Court of Final Appeal, compared to 15 who served on the court in 2019  the year that mass street protests swept the city opposing greater Communist Party control in the once free-wheeling hub.

The latest resignations come months after Hong Kong passed its own security law, known as Article 23, which the US, European Union and UK warned could further muzzle open discussion in the global finance hub.

The Hong Kong government said the citys national security laws and the citys de facto constitution, the Basic Law, protect human rights and freedoms in its Tuesday statement.

But Sumption criticized the 2020 Beijing-imposed national security law as illiberal legislation that severely limits judges freedom of action.

There are guarantees of freedom of speech and assembly in both the Basic Law and the national security law, but only lip-service is ever paid to them. The least sign of dissent is treated as a call for revolution, he said.

Ronny Tong, a member of the Executive Council and a former chairman of the Hong Kong Bar Association, criticized the UK government for allegedly pressuring its judges to resign from Hong Kongs top court and questioned the need for foreign judges at all.

The insinuation that the independence of the courts depends on the presence of one or two British judges would be quite offensive to the judges still sitting on our courts, Tong wrote in the South China Morning Post in an article published Tuesday.

Few other places on Earth allow foreign judges to sit on their final appeal court, he wrote. Should we continue this tradition, for want of a better word, forever?

--With assistance from Laura Dhillon Kane.

(Updates with comments from John Lee and Ronny Tong, and more details)

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Kyiv controls the situation in Ivanivske near Chasiv Yar, and Ukrainian forces continue to repel Russian troops in Staromaiorske in Donetsk Oblast, Lieutenant Colonel Nazar Voloshyn, the spokesperson of the Khortytsia group of forces, told the Kyiv Independent on June 11.

The statement comes after the Russian Defense Ministry claimed on June 10 that its forces had captured Staromaiorske, a front-line village in southwestern Donetsk Oblast.

The crowd-sourced monitoring channel DeepState then claimed the same day that Russian forces also captured Ivanivske, a village on the eastern outskirts of the embattled Chasiv Yar, and advanced near Staromaiorske and Novopokrovske.

Voloshyn dismissed the claims about the capture of the two villages.

"Regarding Ivanivske, I can say this: the settlements belongs to Ukraine, the (Ukrainian) defense forces control this sector," Voloshyn told the Kyiv Independent, adding that Russia continues to launch strikes and ground assaults in the area.

"As of this morning, 350 strikes were recorded in the Chasiv Yar area, including 254 during the past day."

The majority of the attacks  222  targeted Ivanivske. Over the past week, 1,233 strikes were recorded in the village, Voloshyn said.

Ukraine's General Staff said on June 11 that over the past 24 hours, Ukrainian forces repelled seven Russian attempts at a breakthrough in the area of Ivanivske, Klischchiivka, Andriivka, and Novyi.

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Russian forces have ramped up their offensive in Donetsk Oblast, focusing their efforts on Chasiv Yar. By attacking Ivanivske, Moscow is attempting to encircle Chasiv Yar, whose capture would allow further advances into the region.

Soldiers and commanders on the ground previously told the Kyiv Independent that Russian forces entered Ivanivske in February and are trying to push out Ukrainian forces in a fierce house-to-house fighting.

In a comment for the Kyiv Independent, Voloshyn said at the time that Russia "doesn't have any success" despite intensified efforts in the area and denied that the village is about to fall.

Speaking about Staromaiorske, the spokesperson told the Kyiv Independent on June 11 that the battles are ongoing there and the "situation is very dynamic."

"Using their numerical advantage, Russian troops are increasing their efforts but the defense forces not only manage to hold their positions but also attack with artillery and mortars, destroying and repelling the enemy."

According to the spokersperson, "all attempts by the Russian occupiers to advance are met with fierce resistance by Ukrainian defenders."

The General Staff said in its evening report on June 10 that Ukrainian forces thwarted Russia's attempts to advance near Staromaiorske.

Read also: Battle of Chasiv Yar begins: On the ground with Ukrainian forces defending city key to Russias plans

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Ukraine will receive 1.5 billion from Russian frozen assets revenues in July  European Commission

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that in July, the first 1.5 billion of revenue from frozen Russian assets will be transferred to Ukraine.

Source: Ursula von der Leyen at the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Berlin on Tuesday; Interfax-Ukraine

Quote: "About EUR 1.5 billion of windfall revenue will be available as early as July  10% will go to reconstruction and restoration, a large percentage to defence," Ursula von der Leyen said.

The president of the European Commission also said that the participants of this weeks G7 summit will discuss how Ukraine will be able to get benefits from frozen Russian assets even faster.

At the same time, Ursula von der Leyen stated that the EU made it possible to use unpredictable revenues from frozen Russian assets under international law.

Background:

Ukraines Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal says that Ukraine requires from US$10 billion to US$30 billion of annual investment over the next ten years.

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Ukraine to receive 1.9 billion under Ukraine Facility plan by end of June

Ukraine will receive 1.9 billion under the Ukraine Facility plan by the end of June.

Source: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at the opening of the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2024

Quote: "Today I can say that we will deliver an additional 1.9 billion from the Ukraine Facility to Ukraine by the end of this month due to the reforms and investment strategies that Ukraine has adopted," she said.

In addition, the president of the European Commission noted that 200 million had already been mobilised for urgent repairs to the energy system.

"Next, we will invest in energy generation, and thousands of solar panels will be delivered to Ukraine. Our goal is to decentralise energy production, which increases the resilience of the Ukrainian grid," she added.

Background:

The European Parliament approved the regulations of the Ukraine Facility programme in February 2024. According to the approved regulations, the EU support programme for Ukraine in the amount of 50 billion will be valid from 2024 to 2027.

In April, the European Commission supported the Ukraine Plan reform proposed by the government of Ukraine within the framework of the Ukraine Facility mechanism, which defines the conditions for receiving 50 billion of macro-financial assistance during 2024-2027.

Ambassadors of EU member states supported the plan for the Ukraine Facility, agreeing with the positive assessment of the document proposed by the European Commission.

The Council of the European Union finally adopted Ukraines plan necessary for the implementation of the Ukraine Facility programme in the amount of 50 billion. This year, the government expects to raise 16 billion.

First Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine and Minister of Economy Yuliia Svyrydenko and EU Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Oliver Varhelyi signed a Framework Agreement on EU funding under the Ukraine Facility.

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DOHA, June 11 (Xinhua) -- Qatar and Egypt have received a response from Hamas regarding the proposal for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, according to a statement by the Qatari Foreign Ministry on Tuesday.

Hamas and other Palestinian factions responded Tuesday to "the most recent proposal for a ceasefire deal and the exchange of prisoners and detainees," it said.

The two countries confirmed that they are mediating alongside the United States until an agreement is reached, but did not disclose details, according to the statement.

The mediators "will examine the response and coordinate with the parties concerned regarding the next steps," it added.

Meanwhile, a Hamas source confirmed to Xinhua that the Gaza-ruling Palestinian faction has delivered its response regarding the ceasefire proposal to Egyptian and Qatari mediators. 
Berlin will send an additional 68 Patriot missiles to Ukraine, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said during a joint press conference with President Volodymyr Zelensky in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany, on June 11.

While 32 missiles have already been sent over the past two days, an additional 68 will be delivered in the coming weeks.

The decision comes as Ukraine faces increased Russian attacks on its population centers and infrastructure.

Pistorius emphasized the urgency of strengthening Ukraine's air defenses, referencing his recent visit to Odesa, where he observed the devastating effects of Russian missile strikes. He also unveiled an aid package valued at 500 million euros ($542 million).

"After I saw how critical Ukraine's air defense is for its survival, today (June 11) I have the pleasure to announce the delivery of a significant number of Patriot interceptors  one hundred," Pistorius said.

The Patriot missiles will be provided in collaboration with Denmark, the Netherlands, and Norway as part of a German-led initiative launched in April to bolster Ukraine's air defense capabilities. This initiative has garnered support from several countries, including Belgium, Denmark, Canada, the Netherlands, and Norway.

Berlin launched the initiative in April amid Kyiv's increasingly dire need for air defenses, facing heavy Russian aerial attacks against population centers and the energy grid.

A number of countries have already backed the initiative since then, including Belgium, Denmark, Canada, the Netherlands, Norway, and others.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz earlier in the day announced that Berlin will transfer its third Patriot air defense system, as well as IRIS-T and Gepard anti-aircraft systems, missiles, and ammunition, to Ukraine "in the coming weeks and months."

Read also: Ukraine, Germany sign declaration to boost cooperation in business sector

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Germany and its partners agreed to transfer 100 Patriot air defence interceptor missiles to Ukraine, some of which have already arrived in Kyiv.

Source: German Defence Minister Pistorius at a joint press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on 11 June in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Pistorius recalled that a few weeks ago he was in Odessa, where he personally saw the consequences of Russian missile strikes, and announced another package of assistance.

Quote: "And, especially after seeing how vital Ukraine's air defence is to survival, today I am glad to announce the delivery of a considerable number of interceptors for Patriot  one hundred," he added.

Pistorius stated that the interceptors are offered as part of Germany's initiative to bolster Ukrainian air defence, which also includes Denmark, the Netherlands, and Norway.

"32 of these interceptors have already been transferred in the last two days, and the remaining 68 will be provided in the coming weeks," the German minister added, assuring that the missiles would help "protect infrastructure and save lives in Ukraine."

In May, Germany announced the start of training for Ukrainian crews on the third Patriot air defence system, which is to be delivered to Kyiv.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced that Ukraine would receive new air defence systems, including one Patriot air defence system, as well as missiles and ammunition in the coming "weeks and months".

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Ukrainian forces shot down a Russian Su-25 fighter jet in the Pokrovsk sector on June 10, Ukraine's General Staff reported.

Russia is carrying out intense attacks in multiple sections of the eastern front, which covers much of Donetsk Oblast, after it captured the city of Avdiivka in February. The Pokrovsk direction is the hottest spot on the battlefield, the military said.

The Soviet-designed Su-25, nicknamed "Frogfoot" by NATO, is a heavily armored ground-attack aircraft that provides close air support for Russian ground troops.

Several Russian Su-25s were reportedly shot down last month, including two on May 23.

Russia's total losses during the all-out war amount to about 685 aircraft  359 planes and 326 helicopters, according to Ukraine's General Staff.

The General Staff's figure could not be independently verified.

Read also: Russian Su-34 warplane crashes in North Ossetia

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Russia has begun the second phase of its exercise practicing the use of tactical nuclear weapons, maneuvers that were announced last month as a response to what Moscow claims are provocative threats from the West. The drills also follow earlier Kremlin warnings of an increased risk of nuclear confrontation as Western allies continue their military support of Ukraine. New stuff from RU MoD on the 2nd stage of the NSNW exercise.Union State joint-ness emphasised.12 Main Directorate caravan, Iskander-M loaders and launchers, Kinzhal, Backfire.Assorted blurring.Nothing new so far. pic.twitter.com/U6MDvNfLCU Dmitry Stefanovich (@KomissarWhipla) June 11, 2024 The Russian Ministry of Defense announced today on Telegram that Russian and Belarusian troops have started the second stage of the exercise, which is being carried out in Russias Southern Military District and involves the joint training of Russian and Belarusian units for the combat use of non-strategic nuclear weapons. Here is higher resolution version of the map made by Josiah Durfee, one of our summer undergraduate fellows. https://t.co/WsceiZzOpj pic.twitter.com/HYEGbxKg0X Dr. Jeffrey Lewis (@ArmsControlWonk) June 11, 2024 The exercise is aimed at maintaining the readiness of the personnel and equipment of units for the combat use of non-strategic nuclear weapons of Russia and Belarus in order to unconditionally ensure the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Union State, the ministry said. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov today said that the Russian tactical nuclear drills were made necessary by wider tensions in Europe and the hostile actions of the United States and European powers. At the same time, Peskov told a briefing that drills of this kind were normal practice. In case someone forgot about the ongoing NSNW exercise, @MOD_BY provided an update. pic.twitter.com/83OILYAxDL Dmitry Stefanovich (@KomissarWhipla) June 10, 2024 So far, videos released by the Russian Ministry of Defense show troops practicing the use of Iskander-M short-range ballistic missiles as well as Kinzhal air-launched ballistic missiles and their associated MiG-31K carrier aircraft. Videos also show Tu-22M3 long-range bombers armed with Kh-22 or Kh-32 supersonic standoff missiles, which can also be nuclear armed. At least some of the footage is taken from the first phase of the same exercise. 2/2Video link:https://t.co/1musNVx4qN pic.twitter.com/R6RBKWXQXO Guy Plopsky (@GuyPlopsky) June 11, 2024 Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko, a close Kremlin ally, said in April that several dozen Russian tactical nuclear weapons had been deployed in Belarus under an agreement announced last year by himself and Russian President Vladimir Putin. I wish I could do geolocation like @kromark Note that Akhtubinsk is pretty far (300 km) from the closest storage site in Morozovsk. Also note that he agrees (down the thread) that the Iskander footage seems recycled from 21 May. https://t.co/YViKVpxTIs Pavel Podvig (@russianforces) June 11, 2024 Before diving into more developments from the conflict in Ukraine, The War Zone readers can review our previous coverage here. The Latest On the battlefield, there are claims from Russia today that its forces have captured two more villages in Ukraine, one in the Kharkiv region in northeast Ukraine, and the other in the eastern Luhansk region. The two villages are Tymkivka and Miasozharivka, respectively, and the Russian Ministry of Defense says that both are now under the control of its forces, according to a report from Russias state-run TASS news agency. Russian forces said they took control of Tymkivka in the Kharkiv region and Miasozharivka in the partially occupied Luhansk region.https://t.co/hPrgUZLT5G The Moscow Times (@MoscowTimes) June 11, 2024 A day earlier, the Russian Ministry of Defense claimed that the Russian military had taken control of the village of Staromaiorske in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine. Russian troops continued to advance into the depths of the enemys defense and liberated the settlement of Staromaiorske, located southwest of the Russian-held city of Donetsk, the Russian Ministry of Defense said. The loss of the frontline village would be a significant symbolic blow to Kyiv since it is one of the few that Ukrainian forces managed to recapture in last years counteroffensive. Updated map from @Deepstate_UA showing Russian gains over the past few days in Staromaiorske, on the Avdiivka-Pokrovsk front, towards Chasiv Yar, and the capture of Ivanivske.https://t.co/tZFHtVwrOjhttps://t.co/DQdiZofnsp pic.twitter.com/BexdLe8bSq Rob Lee (@RALee85) June 10, 2024 Lt. Col. Nazar Voloshyn, the spokesperson for the Khortytsia Group of Forces, part of the Ukrainian Ground Forces, refuted the Russian claim, telling the Kyiv Independent that Ukrainian forces continue to repel Russian troops in Staromaiorske. Elsewhere in the Donetsk region, there are reports that Russian forces are making progress in their efforts to capture the strategic Ukrainian town of Chasiv Yar. This objective is located on high ground around 12 miles to the west of Bakhmut, a town Russian forces seized a year ago after extensive and bloody fighting. Its anticipated that Russia aims to use Chasiv Yar as a staging point to launch new advances in the direction of Kramatorsk and Sloviansk. Lt. Col. Voloshyn meanwhile says that Ukrainian forces remain in control of the small town of Ivanivske on the eastern outskirts of Chasiv Yar, contrary to rumors that this has fallen to the Russians. Updated map from @Deepstate_UA showing Russian gains over the past few days in Staromaiorske, on the Avdiivka-Pokrovsk front, towards Chasiv Yar, and the capture of Ivanivske.https://t.co/tZFHtVwrOjhttps://t.co/DQdiZofnsp pic.twitter.com/BexdLe8bSq Rob Lee (@RALee85) June 10, 2024 Russian forces continued ground attacks in the Siversk direction on June 10 but did not make any confirmed advances in this area.Russian forces are reportedly advancing in eastern Chasiv Yar. https://t.co/WSEXaYwrG4 pic.twitter.com/QCNYUwIHuo Institute for the Study of War (@TheStudyofWar) June 11, 2024 Regarding Ivanivske, I can say this: the settlement belongs to Ukraine, and the [Ukrainian] Defense Forces control this sector, Voloshyn said, adding that Russia continues to launch strikes and ground assaults in the area. As of this morning, 350 strikes were recorded in the Chasiv Yar area, including 254 during the past day. The majority of the attacks  222  targeted Ivanivske. Over the past week, 1,233 strikes were recorded in the village, Voloshyn said. The claims of each side have not yet been independently verified. Ukraine is reportedly seeing more benefits of the policy change that allows it to use Western-supplied long-range weapons to strike targets within Russian borders. In particular, the beleaguered city of Kharkiv, in the northeast of Ukraine, is said to be having some respite after long being a strategic target for the Russians. According to Kharkivs mayor, Ihor Terekhov, the ability to use undisclosed long-range weapons to hit back at Russian missile and drone launch positions across the border has already led to a reduction in strikes on Ukraines second city. Although Russia continues missile and drone strikes against Kharkiv, Terekhobv said that the new development had helped bring relative calm to the city. Ukrainian strikes on Russia have helped reduce attacks on Kharkiv, mayor says.Ukrainian forces have struck missile launch positions in Russia, helping to reduce the number of Russian attacks on the embattled city of Kharkiv, Reuters reported, Mayor Ihor Terekhov. The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) June 11, 2024 This has helped, Terekhov said. That is why maybe Kharkiv has  this period of  calm the last couple of weeks  that there were no great strikes as it was, for example, in May, he added. However, he again called for additional Western-supplied air defenses to help protect his city. It is very important to have the weapons on time. It is very important to have these weapons, especially the multi-layered air defense system, Terekhov told Reuters. Yesterday, local officials said that Russia launched three guided bombs against Kharkiv, damaging at least two houses. Heavier bombardment continues elsewhere in the wider Kharkiv region, which has so far led to around 11,500 people arriving in Kharkiv city from areas that are receiving more intense bombardment. In related news, there have been recent reports of a Ukrainian Air Force strike against a target in Belgorod, western Russia. While apparently not the first time that Ukrainian aircraft have attacked targets within Russian borders, this would be the first instance of such an operation since the United States and other Western allies lifted their ban on long-range weapons they supplied being used on Russian soil. Its not known what type of weapon was used, but a Ukrainian military source has told Sky News that the target was a Russian command node, close to the border with northeastern Ukraine, that was struck last Sunday. "Speaking on condition of anonymity, the military source told Sky News: 'A Ukrainian Air Force (UAF) mission has struck a Russian command node in Belgorod. Whilst damage assessment is still occurring, it is confirmed as a direct hit.'" https://t.co/ypz8AoafFx Guy Plopsky (@GuyPlopsky) June 9, 2024 Finland, which became a NATO member last year, prompted by Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine, has launched an investigation after a Russian military aircraft was suspected of violating Finnish airspace in the Gulf of Finland yesterday morning. The Russian aircraft  the type has not been disclosed  is suspected of making a territorial violation in the eastern Gulf of Finland, off Loviisa. The aircraft flew in Finnish airspace for around two minutes, the Finnish Ministry of Defense says, penetrating as far as 2.5 kilometers (1.6 miles) within the border. We take the suspected territorial violation seriously and the investigation has been started immediately, Finnish Minister of Defense Antti Hakkanen said. https://www.twitter.com/IuliiaMendel/status/1800455692400095259 The last confirmed territorial violation of Finnish airspace by a Russian aircraft happened in August 2022, when two Russian fighters entered Finnish airspace in the Gulf of Finland. A Russian Aerospace Forces Su-34 Fullback strike aircraft  one of the mainstays of the Russian air offensive directed against Ukraine  crashed today in the Caucasus mountains, killing both pilots. Citing the Russian Ministry of Defense, Russian news agencies reported that the aircraft was on a routine training flight when it likely suffered a technical malfunction. The aircraft crashed in a deserted area. There is no destruction on the ground, the defense ministry was quoted as saying. Russia: Su-34 VKS fighter bomber crashed in the Caucasus Mountains in North Ossetia. Both pilots dead. Government reports technical problem as the cause for the crash of the $40 million aircraft. pic.twitter.com/YpeHCmOORb Igor Sushko (@igorsushko) June 11, 2024 The Biden administration will lift its ban on allowing the controversial Ukrainian Azov Brigade to use U.S.-supplied weapons, The Washington Post reports. For decades, the Azov Brigade  which has far-right and ultra-nationalist roots  was prohibited from receiving training or weapons from the United States. Now, a new analysis has found no evidence of human rights violations by the unit, the newspaper states. After a thorough review, Ukraines 12th Special Forces Azov Brigade passed Leahy vetting as carried out by the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. State Department said in a statement obtained by the newspaper. The Leahy Law bars U.S. military assistance to foreign units found to have committed such violations. The USA lifted the ban on the use of American weapons by Azov fighters,  WP with reference to the State Department.It was introduced about 10 years ago, because some of the founders were suspected of having racist and ultra-nationalist views. The US State Department pic.twitter.com/8RMaRkzBMK Ukrainian Front (@front_ukrainian) June 11, 2024 There are claims  unconfirmed so far  that Russian ground-based air defense units may be poised to leave the occupied Crimean peninsula, either in part or en masse, as these critical assets come under concerted pressure from Ukrainian attacks. Russian air defense soldiers have been ordered to evacuate their families from Crimea to the Russian Southern Military District  Atesh military movement reports. According to their information, air defense systems are also moved from Crimea to Belgorod region of Russia. https://t.co/NdjCDYGXI4 pic.twitter.com/2SsdouBMfL Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) June 10, 2024 The claims follow statements from the Ukrainian military claiming that it damaged another three long-range surface-to-air missile systems in Crimea over Monday night. According to Ukraines General Staff, its forces successfully struck an S-400 system in Dzhankoi and two S-300 systems near Yevpatoriya and Chornomorske, resulting in significant losses for Russian air defenses. Ukrainian Defense Forces hit Russian anti-aircraft missile systems in temporarily occupied Crimea  General Staff of the Armed Forces of UkraineLast night, the Ukrainian Defense Forces successfully struck one S-400 anti-aircraft missile system near Dzhankoi, as well as two Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) June 10, 2024 Around 20,000 fighters from the notorious Wagner Group private military company were killed during the Russian assault on Bakhmut, the city in eastern Ukraine that was finally captured by the Russians in May 2023, after 10 months of fighting. An investigation by BBC Russian and the Mediazona news outlet draws upon personal data from Wagner fighters, which also reveal that statements from the late Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin about losses in the capture of the city were heavily whitewashed. Furthermore, claims from Prigozhin that half of the Wagner fighters were convicts were also heavily downplayed. Instead, the BBC and Mediazona found that, of the 19,547 dead Wagner fighters for which they obtained personal data, 17,175 had been prisoners  equivalent to 88 percent. More of those convicts were sent to the front from prison camps and pre-trial detention centers. According to a BBC and Mediazona investigation, Wagner sustained 19,547 KIA during the battle of Bakhmut, 88% of whom were convicts. They also determined that Wagner sustained its heaviest losses during the battle in January 2023. @oivshina @Olya_Prosvirova pic.twitter.com/kvSByCwD7P Rob Lee (@RALee85) June 10, 2024 After Ukraine attacked ferries used to transport military supplies between the Russian mainland and the occupied Crimea peninsula late last month, the Kremlin has apparently now stepped up its use of the Kerch Bridge. A recent video published by a civilian shows a train with fuel tanks moving along the railroad line on the bridge. Previously, the Russian government had prohibited the transportation of petroleum products and ammunition across the bridge, due to the risk of accidents or Ukrainian attacks, which could put the bridge out of action. Instead, oil products and explosive cargoes were transported by sea via ferry or by large landing craft from the Russian mainland. On May 30, Ukraine carried out a strike on Russian ferries in Kerch using the U.S.-supplied Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS). One result of this attack appears to be Russia switching back to using the bridge. Either the risk is now considered acceptable, or more likely, the shortage of ferries means this is the only way to transport these supplies for the time being. Russia has put a U.S.-supplied M1A1 Abrams tank on display in Moscow, where it joins other examples of captured Western-supplied hardware. The Abrams appears to be part of the line-up at the Victory Park in Moscow, where the exhibition also includes examples of the U.S.-supplied M2 Bradley and German-supplied Marder infantry fighting vehicles, as well as at least one Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle. Noteworthy is the fact that the main gun on the Abrams has been installed upside-down. 1st abrams damaged/abandoned on oryx list at a display in moscow. With two more bradleys back there (Someone tell me they removed the explosive elements from these ERAs please) pic.twitter.com/Ywa48mSkNC 2S7 pion (trost) (@Trotes936897) June 8, 2024 The Abrams may have had mixed fortunes on the battlefield so far, but the ever-resourceful Ukrainians are apparently still getting good use out of the M830A1 high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) ammunition that its main gun fires. The following video shows a Ukrainian soldier removing the discarding sabot from the round, which has both anti-armor and anti-personnel capabilities so that it can be repurposed as the warhead for a drone. A Ukrainian soldier removes the discarding sabot of a M830A1 HEAT shell for the 120mm gun of the M1 Abrams tank.The white piece cut first was the obturator, that seals the bore during firing. This is probably the first step in making an improvised bomb for a heavy drone. 1/2 pic.twitter.com/ZtNieK54os Roy (@GrandpaRoy2) June 8, 2024 The Dutch government is heading up a new initiative that plans to jointly deliver an additional Patriot air defense system to Ukraine. The Dutch are now calling upon other European countries to join the effort, which aims to rapidly bring together a Patriot system, including core components and parts from the Netherlands, with additional components coming from other European countries. We are engaged in talks with partners to compile a Patriot system, including training for Ukrainian crews, said Dutch Minister of Defense Kajsa Ollongren. With our offer, and consulting with partner countries providing several key parts and munitions, we can provide Ukraine with at least one fully operational system in a short timeframe. The Netherlands and Germany will build a joint European production line for PATRIOT missiles, per a report by Dutch public broadcaster NOS. The line will reportedly be set up in Germany, and the project has received the go-ahead from the US. pic.twitter.com/nnV85jmrWR OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) June 9, 2024 As part of its ongoing efforts to develop new and expanded drone capabilities, Ukraine has announced the appointment of Vadym Sukharevskyi as the commander of its drone forces. Sukharevskyi moves to the newly created position from his previous job as deputy commander of the armed forces with responsibility for drones. In February this year, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called for the establishment of a separate branch of the armed forces dedicated to drones. This presidential order was signed off by the government last week. Col. Vadym Sukharevskyi, 39, was appointed commander of Ukraine's new Unmanned Systems Forces. He's a decorated combat veteran who in February was appointed deputy commander-in-chief responsible for unmanned systems.https://t.co/wCvneJfLJ2https://t.co/qH2pHjxp0B pic.twitter.com/eKMgiZc9GM John Hardie (@JohnH105) June 10, 2024 Russia is continuing its attacks against airfields across Ukraine, with the latest target being Dolgintsevo Air Base, near Kryvyi Rih, in central Ukraine. A video published by Russias state-run RIA news agency shows an apparent strike by a Lancet one-way attack drone on a Ukrainian Su-25 Frogfoot attack aircraft at Dolgintsevo. The Lancet struck its target despite an anti-drone net being stretched over the parking area. Russian Lancet kamikaze UAV strike on Ukrainian Su-25 aircraft at Dolgintsevo Air Base.An anti-drone net was stretched over the parking lot, but it couldn't protect the aircraft from the attack.Su-25 was destroyed. pic.twitter.com/xx5oZe8bNp Clash Report (@clashreport) June 11, 2024 More drone warfare in the next video, which provides a rare look at the war from the perspective of a Ukrainian first-person-view (FPV) drone operator. According to the report, the 20-year-old individual has already killed hundreds of Russian soldiers. What is it like being a FPV drone pilot?This is one of Ukraine's top drone pilots carrying out a successful mission from This 20 year old alone has killed hundreds of Russian soldier. pic.twitter.com/XH87xFEJ5a Clash Report (@clashreport) June 11, 2024 One aspect of the drone war were now increasingly seeing is drone-versus-drone combat, in this case, Russian drones dropping munitions on Ukrainian quadcopters. More drone-on-drone combat: video of Russian drones dropping munitions on Ukrainian quadcopters. https://t.co/AQ1cUSeJK2 pic.twitter.com/L8VhZ9fP78 Samuel Bendett (@sambendett) June 9, 2024 Drone hunting of another kind in the next video, and the latest appearance of a Ukrainian light aircraft adapted as an anti-drone platform. In the past, we reported on a series of videos showing the use of a propeller-driven Soviet-era Yak-52 training aircraft to attack a Russian Orlan-10 drone. The next video shows a different Yak-52, or at least a different color scheme, with the gunner apparently once again seated in the rear cockpit, training their weapon on a Russian drone, which in turn records the unusual aerial engagement. It seems the target was another reconnaissance drone, intercepted somewhere over southern Ukraine. Ukrainian Yak-52 which is used to hunt down Russian reconnaissance UAVs over the southern Ukraine. Video from a Russian drone. https://t.co/5Ba0xy7cWM pic.twitter.com/99havoXGSf Special Kherson Cat (@bayraktar_1love) June 8, 2024 Russia, meanwhile, has been making extensive use of helicopters to help hunt for maritime drones in the Black Sea, especially around Crimea. This video shows a Russian Navy Ka-29 assault helicopter flying along the coast near Sevastopol. For the counter-drone mission, this helicopter is fitted with a pair of UPK-23-250 gun pods, each of which contains a 23mm twin-barrel cannon. #War The low pass of the Ka-29 Helix-B helicopter over the coast near Sevastopol. pic.twitter.com/C8KO5KD4h5 Capt(N) (@Capt_Navy) June 10, 2024 Theres hardly a shortage of remarkable footage showing FPV drones in action, but the next compilation of footage is well worth a closer look. The video clips purportedly all originate from units of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), the main internal security agency of the Ukrainian government. SBU special forces eliminating russiass pic.twitter.com/XdK7rKMCn0 Slava (@Heroiam_Slava) June 8, 2024 Among the less commonly seen drones in the war in Ukraine is the Penguin C, a long-endurance, long-range uncrewed aircraft system from the Edge Autonomoy company in Latvia. The manufacturer says it has an endurance of up to 25 hours (depending on payload) and a line-of-sight range of 112 miles. This example was captured by Russian forces and the resulting photos provide a good look at key details of the drone. The Russians recovered a Penguin-C long range reconnaissance drone that was developed in Latvia. Because this complex, high-quality looking machine is commercial grade, not military, it is only $ 20,000!So it is well suited for Ukraine, especially with its 20hr flight time. pic.twitter.com/u5nTJBjTFH Roy (@GrandpaRoy2) June 7, 2024 Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com

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Ukraine wants to restore energy facilities damaged by Russia by winter with allied help, Zelensky says at Berlin conference

Where possible, Ukraine could restore energy facilities damaged by Russia before winter with the help of its allies, President Volodymyr Zelensky said at the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Berlin on June 11.

Speaking at the event, Zelensky stressed the need for air defenses to protect the country from Russian strikes and restore the power system.

The president called air superiority Russia's "greatest strategic advantage" in its ongoing full-scale war, reiterating the appeal to provide Ukraine with at least seven Patriot defense systems.

Berlin will send its third Patriot air defense system, as well as IRIS-T and Gepard anti-aircraft systems, missiles, and ammunition, to Ukraine in the coming weeks and months, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said at the conference.

Russian missile and drone attacks have reportedly destroyed 9 gigawatts (GW) of Ukraine's capacity.

The peak energy consumption last winter was 18 GW, and "half of that is gone now," Zelensky noted.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky at the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Berlin on June 11, 2024. (Presidential Office)

"Eighty percent of thermal generation in Ukraine, and one-third of hydroelectric generation, have been destroyed by (Russian President Vladimir) Putin. And this is not the limit of his terror," Zelensky said.

Russia is trying "to hone its skills" in destroying energy facilities, including gas storage facilities that connect Ukraine's energy system with the European one, the president added. He called on allies to help preserve Ukraine's energy generation and restore what was destroyed.

"We must also implement a quick and inexpensive restoration of all energy facilities that can be restored before winter... We know how to ensure this," Zelensky said.

"We are asking you for equipment from your decommissioned power plants and direct financial support. This will allow us to respond to the situation here and now. To preserve normal life."

According to Zelensky, Kyiv plans to sign hundreds of agreements worth billions of euros with partners in the defense and energy sectors.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also announced at the conference that Kyiv will receive 1.5 billion euros ($1.6 billion) in Russian frozen assets revenue in July and 1.9 billion euros ($2 billion) under the Ukraine Facility already this month.

Read also: Zelensky meets German president in Berlin to discuss energy situation, peace summit

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Key developments on June 11:

New assistance announced for Ukraine at Ukraine Recovery Conference

Ukraine controls Ivanivske near Chasiv Yar, battles ongoing in Staromaiorske, military says

Ukraine shot down Russian Su-25 aircraft, military says

Media: G7 to create Ukraine aid fund using income from frozen Russian assets

It's time for allies to give Ukraine all arms needed to defeat Russia, Zelensky says

The Ukraine Recovery Conference, hosted in Berlin from June 11-12, has already yielded efforts from states and international organizations toward addressing Ukraine's reconstruction needs.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen revealed that Ukraine will receive 1.5 billion euros ($1.6 billion) from Russian frozen assets in July, along with 1.9 billion euros ($2 billion) from the Ukraine Facility this month.

"We have always said that Russia must be held accountable for its crimes, and now we make Russia pay," von der Leyen said at the conference.

Germany announced additional military aid, including a third Patriot air defense system, IRIS-T and Gepard anti-aircraft systems, missiles, and ammunition, according to German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius later added that Ukraine would receive 68 more Patriot missiles in the coming weeks, in addition to the 32 delivered in the past two days, bringing the total to 100.

The United States pledged $824 million to support Ukraine's energy infrastructure, as stated by U.S. Special Representative for Economic Recovery in Ukraine Penny Pritzker.

Italy also committed 140 million euros ($150 million) for infrastructure recovery and an additional military aid package, primarily consisting of air defense systems. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani announced the aid at the conference and mentioned that Italy and Ukraine would sign a cooperation memorandum on June 11.

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) pledged 1 billion euros ($1.07 billion) for repairing Ukraine's energy infrastructure and nearly 25 million euros ($26.8 million) for restoring the water supply in Mykolaiv.

EBRD President Odile Renaud-Basso noted that the 1-billion-euro agreement would be signed during the conference. Following Russia's full-scale invasion, the EBRD invested 3.8 billion euros ($4 billion) in 2022-2023, reaching 4 billion euros ($4.29 billion) by February 2024.

Read also: Opinion: Will the renewed US support for Ukraine be enough?

Media: G7 to create Ukraine aid fund using income from frozen Russian assets

The Group of Seven (G7) will create a fund to support Ukraine using the income generated from frozen Russian assets, Nikkei Asia reported on June 11.

The fund will reportedly be created under an international organization such as the World Bank, with contributions in the form of "Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration" (ERA) loans. G7 leaders plan to announce the initiative in a joint summit in Italy, which starts on June 13.

The U.S. has indicated it will provide $50 billion, while the U.K., Canada, and Japan are also considering contributions, Nikkei Asia reported. Japan may channel its support through the Japan International Cooperation Agency, focusing on nonmilitary assistance.

The Kyiv Independent could not independently confirm Nikkei Asia's report.

While Western countries have frozen $300 billion in Russian assets, they can only access the income generated by these funds, approximately $3.2 billion annually. By setting up a fund with loans to be repaid using this income, countries can offer immediate support to Ukraine beyond this amount.

The U.S. proposed seizing Russian assets outright in accordance with its recently passed REPO act, but the European Union has been more hesitant, fearing legal and fiscal pitfalls of confiscation.

Instead, Brussels seeks to use windfall profits generated by the frozen assets and funnel them to Kyiv.

Two-thirds of the frozen assets are located within the European Union, much of it held by the Belgian clearinghouse Euroclear. The EU has already established a framework for sending investment income from these assets to Ukraine, and European G7 members do not plan to participate in the new program for now.

Ukraine controls Ivanivske near Chasiv Yar, battles ongoing in Staromaiorske, military says

Kyiv controls the situation in Ivanivske near Chasiv Yar, and Ukrainian forces continue to repel Russian troops in Staromaiorske in Donetsk Oblast, Lieutenant Colonel Nazar Voloshyn, the spokesperson of the Khortytsia group of forces, told the Kyiv Independent on June 11.

The statement comes after the Russian Defense Ministry claimed on June 10 that its forces had captured Staromaiorske, a front-line village in southwestern Donetsk Oblast.

The crowd-sourced monitoring channel DeepState then claimed the same day that Russian forces also captured Ivanivske, a village on the eastern outskirts of the embattled Chasiv Yar, and advanced near Staromaiorske and Novopokrovske.

Voloshyn dismissed the claims about the capture of the two villages.

"Regarding Ivanivske, I can say this: the settlements belongs to Ukraine, the (Ukrainian) defense forces control this sector," Voloshyn told the Kyiv Independent, adding that Russia continues to launch strikes and ground assaults in the area.

"As of this morning, 350 strikes were recorded in the Chasiv Yar area, including 254 during the past day."

The majority of the attacks  222  targeted Ivanivske. Over the past week, 1,233 strikes were recorded in the village, Voloshyn said.

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Ukraine's General Staff said on June 11 that over the past 24 hours, Ukrainian forces repelled seven Russian attempts at a breakthrough in the area of Ivanivske, Klischchiivka, Andriivka, and Novyi.

Russian forces have ramped up their offensive in Donetsk Oblast, focusing their efforts on Chasiv Yar. By attacking Ivanivske, Moscow is attempting to encircle Chasiv Yar, whose capture would allow further advances into the region.

Soldiers and commanders on the ground previously told the Kyiv Independent that Russian forces entered Ivanivske in February and are trying to push out Ukrainian forces in a fierce house-to-house fighting.

In a comment for the Kyiv Independent, Voloshyn said at the time that Russia "doesn't have any success" despite intensified efforts in the area and denied that the village is about to fall.

Speaking about Staromaiorske, the spokesperson told the Kyiv Independent on June 11 that the battles are ongoing there and the "situation is very dynamic."

"Using their numerical advantage, Russian troops are increasing their efforts but the defense forces not only manage to hold their positions but also attack with artillery and mortars, destroying and repelling the enemy."

According to the spokersperson, "all attempts by the Russian occupiers to advance are met with fierce resistance by Ukrainian defenders."

The General Staff said in its evening report on June 10 that Ukrainian forces thwarted Russia's attempts to advance near Staromaiorske.

Read also: With all eyes on Kharkiv, Russian troops take one Donbas village after another

Ukraine shot down Russian Su-25 aircraft, military says

Ukrainian forces shot down a Russian Su-25 fighter jet in the Pokrovsk sector on June 10, Ukraine's General Staff reported.

Russia is carrying out intense attacks in multiple sections of the eastern front, which covers much of Donetsk Oblast, after it captured the city of Avdiivka in February. The Pokrovsk direction is the hottest spot on the battlefield, the military said.

The Soviet-designed Su-25, nicknamed "Frogfoot" by NATO, is a heavily armored ground-attack aircraft that provides close air support for Russian ground troops.

Several Russian Su-25s were reportedly shot down last month, including two on May 23.

Russia's total losses during the all-out war amount to about 685 aircraft  359 planes and 326 helicopters, according to Ukraine's General Staff.

The General Staff's figure could not be independently verified.

Read also: Russias Su-57  hype vs. reality

It's time for allies to give Ukraine all arms needed to defeat Russia, Zelensky says

The time has come for Kyiv's partners to provide all the weapons necessary to push Russia out of Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky said during the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Berlin on June 11.

"If you're asking me whether the time has come for the partners to give us all the arms needed to throw Russia out, then yes, the time has come," Zelensky said in a response to a journalist's question.

The world's government and business leaders, as well as representatives of international organizations and civil society, have gathered in the German capital for a two-day Ukraine Recovery Conference.

Speaking at a joint press conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz after bilateral talks, Zelensky thanked Berlin for all the support it has provided to Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression.

Germany is the second-largest military donor to Ukraine after the U.S. and has launched an allied initiative to supply Kyiv with the much-needed anti-aircraft systems.

Responding to a journalist's question, Scholz said that Berlin currently has no plans to back the proposal by French President Emmanuel Macron's proposal to send military instructors to Ukraine.

Scholz added that Germany continues to train Ukrainian soldiers on German territory, and "nothing changes there."

Zelensky also touched upon the subject of Kyiv's prospective membership in the EU, saying that the country fulfilled all the necessary steps to start accession talks.

Ukraine received EU membership candidate status in June 2022. In November 2023, the European Commission recommended accession talks with Kyiv, and the European Council supported the launch of the negotiations a month later.

The European Commission said last week that Ukraine is ready to begin the process. At the conference, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that the negotiations should begin by the end of June.

A unanimous agreement by all members is required for this step, and Hungary is reportedly obstructing consensus. EU and Ukrainian officials are reportedly pushing to start the talks by the end of the month before Hungary takes up the rotating presidency of the EU Council in July.

Read also: Opinion: 8 lessons from Russias war in Ukraine

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
The Ukrainian National Energy Company Ukrenergo has signed a grant agreement for the amount of 15 million with the German state bank of development KfW.

Source: Volodymyr Kudrytskyi, the head of Ukrenergo, on Facebook

Quote: "These are the funds of the EU transferred to us through KfW. They will be spent on the procurement of critical equipment and the restoration of high-voltage substations after Russian terrorist attacks."

Kudrytskyi added that over the last two days Ukrenergo had received 45.4 million of international support for rebuilding the power system after Russian attacks and strengthening its resistibility.

Background:

On 11 June the Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC2024) started in Berlin.

Earlier Ukrenergo signed a loan agreement with a German state bank KfW for the amount of 30.4 million.

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UK's glum Conservatives try to shift the mood with a promise of tax cuts as polling day nears

Britain's Prime Minister and Conservative Party leader, Rishi Sunak, delivers a speech to launch the Conservatives' general election manifesto in Silverstone, England, on Tuesday June 11, 2024, in the build-up to the UK general election on July 4. (Benjamin Cremel, Pool Photo via AP)

LONDON (AP)  Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Tuesday implored British voters, and his own party, to throw him a lifeline in the U.K.'s election, pledging to cut taxes and reduce immigration if his Conservative Party is reelected on July 4.

With the Conservatives trailing the left-of-center Labour Party in opinion polls, Sunak acknowledged that people are frustrated with our party and frustrated with me. But he argued that the Conservatives are the only party with the big ideas to make this country a better place to live.

Opponents said Sunak was making unrealistic and unaffordable promises in a desperate bid to stave off defeat.

Tuesday's launch of the Tories manifesto, its main package of pledges, came a day after Sunak was forced to deny rumors he could quit even before polling day as the Conservatives are alarmed over his lackluster campaign.

Sunak insisted he had not considered resigning and said he was not going to stop fighting for peoples votes.

On July 4, British voters will elect lawmakers to fill all 650 seats in the House of Commons, and the leader of the party that can command a majority  either alone or in coalition  will become prime minister.

Sunak held the manifesto launch at Silverstone motor racing circuit in central England, home of the British Grand Prix, and it could be one of his last big chances to get his spluttering campaign back on track.

His central pitch was the claim that a government led by Labours Keir Starmer would raise taxes, while a Conservative one would lower them.

In its manifesto the party pledged 17 billion pounds ($22 billion) in tax cuts by 2030, to be paid for largely by slashing welfare costs. The main tax cut is a 2 percentage point reduction in National Insurance, a tax employees pay to qualify for a state pension. The Conservative government has already cut it twice, from 12% to the current 8%.

Sunak said the Conservatives would pay for lower taxes by controlling the unsustainable rise in working-age welfare that has taken off since the pandemic.

The Labour Party argues that the tax burden has risen to its highest level in decades during 14 years of Tory rule. Labour campaign chairman Pat McFadden called the Conservative manifesto the most expensive panic attack in history.

Paul Johnson, director of independent think tank the Institute for Fiscal Studies, said he had a degree of skepticism about the math behind the Conservative promises.

Those are definite giveaways paid for by uncertain, unspecific and apparently victimless savings," he said.

Sunaks surprise decision to call a summer election, several months earlier than most people expected, was intended partly to catch the opposition unprepared.

But its the Conservatives who have seemed off-balance from the moment Sunak stood outside 10 Downing St. in the rain on May 22 to announce the start of the campaign.

The Conservatives were already on the defensive after jettisoning two prime ministers without an election in quick succession in 2022: first Boris Johnson, felled by scandals, then Liz Truss, who rocked the economy with drastic tax-slashing plans and lasted just seven weeks in office.

The partys prospects worsened last week when populist firebrand Nigel Farage announced that he would run for Parliament at the helm of the right-wing party Reform U.K., vowing to be a bloody nuisance to the established parties.

Farage has been traversing the country seeking to rally support with his anti-establishment and anti-immigration rhetoric. On Tuesday a 28-year-old man was arrested after Farage was pelted with objects from a construction site as he rode in an open-topped bus in Barnsley, northern England.

Last week Farage was doused with a milkshake after a campaign appearance.

Sunak stumbled again last week when he flew home early from commemorations in France of the 80th anniversary of D-Day so he could resume campaigning. The photos of centenarian World War II veterans and an array of world leaders including U.S. President Joe Biden attending the solemn ceremony on Omaha Beach without him were a publicity nightmare.

Sunak quickly realized his error and apologized.

Paul Goodman, a former Conservative lawmaker who is now a member of the House of Lords, said the irony is that apart from the D-Day gaffe, the Conservatives have run a perfectly decent, conventional campaign, but have little to show for it.

Theyve launched lots of policies, theyve had some hits on Labour, he said. Rishi Sunak actually did pretty well in the debate (against Starmer) last week.  All of this appears to have made no difference at all.

Sunak said the Conservatives would halve net immigration from its current level of about 700,000 people a year and would push on with a controversial plan to send some asylum-seekers who reach Britain by boat across the English Channel on a one-way trip to Rwanda.

Sunak said that if he won the election there would be a relentless continual process of permanently removing illegal migrants to Rwanda with the first flights taking off in July.

Rwanda deportation flights have been repeatedly blocked by U.K. courts and could still be grounded by the European Court of Human Rights. Sunak said he would choose our security over court orders, but did not make an explicit pledge to leave the jurisdiction of the European court, as Conservative hard-liners have demanded.

Labour, eyeing a return to power, is running a cautious campaign centered on the single word change. Starmers core message  which dismays some in his left-of-center party  is that he has transformed Labour from its high-taxing, big-spending days into a party of the stable center.

While opinion polls giving Labour a double-digit lead may change, University of Strathclyde polling expert John Curtice said Sunak was facing a steep mountain to climb even before he called the election.

Arguably the Tories days were numbered the moment that Liz Truss fouled up, he said. Because no government that has presided over a market crisis has survived at the ballot box.
KHARTOUM, June 11 (Xinhua) -- A United Nations (UN) agency warned on Tuesday that the ongoing clashes in and around El Fasher, the capital city of North Darfur State in western Sudan, "are taking a grim toll on humanitarian workers and operations."

An aid worker for the non-governmental organization Relief International died on Monday in Darfur after being shot during clashes on June 1, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said in a statement.

"He was the sixth aid worker killed in Sudan in the past six weeks," it said, underscoring that "humanitarians must be protected" during conflicts not only in Sudan but everywhere else in the world, since "they continue to deliver life-saving assistance to people in need despite dangers."

The OCHA noted that humanitarian works are currently underfunded in Sudan, which is facing severe humanitarian crisis including famine and displacement.

This year's humanitarian appeal for Sudan is just 16 percent funded, with less than 441 million U.S. dollars received of the 2.7 billion dollars required, the UN agency said.

Since May 10, fierce clashes have been raging in El Fasher between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), killing a total of 288 civilians and injuring 1,300 others so far, according to official statistics.

El Fasher's clashes constitute the latest escalation of the broader conflict between the SAF and the RSF across the country since April 15, 2023, which has so far claimed 15,550 lives and displaced over 8.8 million people nationwide, according to OCHA's latest estimates. 
It Was the 'Ultimate Maximum Security Prison.' So How Did 3 Inmates Escape 62 Years Ago?

In 1962, prisoners Frank Lee Morris, John Anglin and Clarence Anglin used paint and tape to escape "The Rock" - one of the most high-security prisons

Bettmann/Getty Clarence Anglin (left), John William Anglin, and Frank Lee

It had earned its reputation as a forbidding place," complete with the grandeur and build of a fort, isolated by the cold Pacific Ocean, made with tough iron bars and frequent checks by security guards.

Built across the 22-acre island in the bay of San Francisco, the Alcatraz prison housed the most notorious criminals between 1934 and 1963, per the FBI.

However, in the end, all it took for Alcatrazs legacy as The Rock to unravel was a set of plaster and paint used by three prisoners who made dummies to evade security - pulling off the most successful escape in the prison's history.

U.S. Marshals An image from Clarence Anglin's cell shows how the dummy heads were arranged to fool the guards into thinking the inmates were still asleep.

On the morning of June 12, 1962, when prison security was doing their daily check on inmates, one guard came across what he initially thought was a decapitated head in the cell of Frank Lee Morris.

The guard reportedly fell back screaming when he reached through the bars to nudge the inmate's head and the likeness fell to the floor, according to a 1991 Associated Press report from the FBIs archive obtained by PEOPLE.

It was soon discovered that Morris had escaped alongside John Anglin and his brother Clarence Anglin  all three convicted bank robbers.

U.S. Marshals Profile of the dummy head found in Morris' cell. The broken nose happened when the head rolled off the bed and hit the floor after a guard reached through the bars and pushed it, according to the U.S. Marshal's website.

The three had planned their escape by utilizing a homemade raft which they crafted over about a year, according to a December 1962 government memorandum reviewed by PEOPLE.

Clarence was serving 15 years in prison, Morris was serving 14 years in prison and John was serving 10 years in prison at the time of their escape.

The FBI determined Morris to be superior intelligence with an I.Q. of 133, and alleged he was the mastermind behind the plan.

Related: Mysterious Letter Raises Possibility Trio of Alcatraz Prisoners Survived 1962 Escape, Swam to Land

Alcatraz, which has since become a tourist attraction in San Francisco, was built to host not just the most dangerous criminals but especially those who had a history of escapes.

Even though the Anglin brothers and Morris escape gained the most notoriety, they were not the only ones to attempt an escape. While most were caught, some did not survive the attempt.

Against the background of that record, the trio's escape - and the subsequent failure of law enforcement to catch them - has made it one of the most infamous cases of prison break. Over the years, there have been leads that led nowhere.

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

In 2018, local news channel KPIX 5 obtained a letter, in which the writer claimed to be John and said they "made it that night."

"I'm 83 years old and in bad shape. I have cancer," read a part of the letter, which was exclusively obtained by the outlet. "Yes we all made it that night but barely!"

The U.S. Marshals Service reportedly sent the letter to the FBI for an investigation but the results were inconclusive, per the outlet.

In June 2022, the Marshal Service released age-progressed photos of the three escapees, who would be in their 90s by now. But so far, it appears to be yet another lead that has not answered any questions about the fate of the three men.



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People attend the funeral prayer for Palestinians, who were killed in the Israeli airstrikes ahead of the funeral ceremony at Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir Al-Balah. Omar Ashtawy/APA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

The UN Human Rights Office has said that war crimes may have been committed in connection with the Israeli hostage rescue in the Gaza Strip on the weekend, partly because of the high number of casualties on the Palestinian side.

"We are profoundly shocked at the impact on civilians of the Israeli forces operation in An Nuseirat at the weekend to secure the release of four hostages," the office in Geneva said, questioning whether the principles of international humanitarian law were observed.

The way the mission was carried out was "catastrophic ... because civilians were caught in the middle of it, said the office's spokesman, Jeremy Laurence.

War crimes may also have been committed on the Palestinian side, he said. These include the detention of hostages in a densely populated area, which in a conflict puts both the hostages and Palestinian civilians' lives in danger.

According to the health authority controlled by the Islamist Hamas, more than 270 people were killed in the Nuseirat refugee camp on Saturday during the operation to free four Israeli hostages.

The hostages were abducted from Israel during the terrorist attack on October 7.
Insights from The Washington Post, Reuters, and Haaretz

The News

US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said the world was waiting for Hamas leader to respond after the United Nations Security Council voted for a resolution tabled by Washington backing a ceasefire plan for the war in Gaza.

The first resolution endorsing a ceasefire plan calls for Israel and Hamas to accept the three-stage deal that was presented by US President Joe Biden last month. Blinkens comments came as the UN Human Rights Council said that possible war crimes had been committed by both Israeli and Palestinian combatants in relation to Israels operation to rescue four hostages from Gaza over the weekend.

SIGNALS

Semafor Signals: Global insights on today's biggest stories.

Israel has agreed in principle to deal

Sources: The Washington Post, Reuters

The US says the onus is on Hamas to accept the deal, since Israel has already agreed to the ceasefires terms. On Tuesday Reuters reported that a senior Hamas official had accepted the plan but Washington is still waiting for word from the militant groups leadership. While Israel has agreed in principle, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly opposed certain aspects of the plan, including the staging of a withdrawal of forces from Gaza and recognition of a formal Palestinian state. Israel will not engage in meaningless and endless negotiations, which can be exploited by Hamas as a means to stall for time, an Israeli representative told The Washington Post.

Netanyahu likely wants to end the war

Source: Haaretz

Despite his public objections, Netanyahu is likely considering his options to end the war, Haaretz journalist Anshel Pfeffer wrote. Its unlikely that the US-backed plan will be agreed to anytime soon, he noted, but it is still significant: Publicly, Netanyahu has said that Israel is not considering ending the war until Hamas military and governing capabilities are destroyed, Pfeffer wrote. But that doesnt change the fact that the war cabinet he chairs proposed a plan that envisions just that. The prime minister is recalculating his positions, Pfeffer added, and is trying to keep as many options available to him as possible.
The UN Security Council has supported a multi-stage plan presented by US President Joe Biden for a ceasefire in the Gaza war after adopting a corresponding resolution in New York on Monday.

Fourteen member states voted in favour of the draft, while Russia, one of the veto powers, abstained.

US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said afterwards that the UN's most powerful body had voted for peace.

The paper supports a plan presented by Biden that envisages an end to the fighting in the Gaza Strip in three phases.

According to the US, only the Palestinian Islamist Hamas movement has not yet agreed to the plan. However, the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not yet given its clear and public approval to the plan either.

The Security Council resolution, which is binding under international law, declares that Israel has accepted the plan and calls on Hamas to do the same and urges all parties involved to implement the plan without delay and without conditions.

It was the 11th time since the beginning of the war in Gaza that the UN Security Council has voted on a resolution on the conflict. Only four proposed resolutions were adopted.

Hamas welcomed the Security Council resolution, it said in a statement.

"Hamas welcomes what is included in the Security Council resolution that affirmed the permanent ceasefire in Gaza, the complete withdrawal, the prisoners' exchange, the reconstruction, the return of the displaced to their areas of residence, the rejection of any demographic change or reduction in the area of the Gaza Strip, and the delivery of needed aid to our people in the Strip."

Hamas was willing to engage in indirect negotiations over implementing the principles "that are consistent with the demands of our people and resistance," the statement added.

The ambitious draft deal presented by Biden at the end of May initially provides for a complete and unrestricted ceasefire of six weeks. During this period, a certain group of hostages would be released. In return, Palestinians imprisoned in Israel would be released.

In the next phase, the fighting would then cease permanently and the remaining hostages would be released.

According to the draft, the final phase would see the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip begin.

Deaths in the West Bank

Two people were killed in Israeli army raids in the West Bank on Monday, according to Palestinian reports.

Hamas said that a member of its military arm had been killed in Tulkarem.

According to the Ministry of Health in Ramallah, a 15-year-old boy was shot dead in a separate incident in Fara, south of Tubas. Five other people were said injured by gunfire.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spoke of "counterterrorism activity in the area" of Fara.

"Thus far, the forces apprehended three wanted suspects and dismantled explosive devices," the IDF said in a statement.

"Furthermore, exchanges of fire are currently taking place with armed terrorists, during which a terrorist was eliminated and hits to additional terrorists were identified. The counterterrorism activity is ongoing."

"Moreover, in the towns of Faqqua, Rumana, and Dhinnaba, the security forces apprehended four suspects and eliminated an armed terrorist," the IDF statement said.

The situation in the occupied West Bank has worsened considerably since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip on October 7.

Since then, 512 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli military operations, confrontations or attacks of their own, according to the local health ministry.

The Israeli army said on Monday that around 4,150 wanted Palestinians had been arrested in the West Bank since the start of the war. Around 1,750 of them belonged to Hamas, it said.
Gloria Gellot, 79, takes a careful seat in a kitchen chair in front of her only air-conditioning unit, massaging her knees. Shes hung a sheet in the doorway to keep the cool air in the kitchen, and drawn shades to keep the sun  already blazing in May  out of her second-floor New Orleans apartment. Her home was badly damaged by Hurricane Ida in 2021, and heat radiates from the gutted walls.

All the heats up here, she says. I dont have to go out in the sun. I get a suntan inside.

Gellots sweltering apartment is not just uncomfortable; its dangerous. Extreme heat was linked to some 11,000 deaths and 120,000 emergency room visits last year. Heat injuries dont just happen in sun-soaked fields  older adults like Gellot who live alone and cannot escape stifling, poorly insulated units are among the most at risk.

Conventional wisdom and public policy have long operated on the assumption that, no matter how bad the heat gets, air conditioning will be enough to keep people safe. But the last few years of record-breaking temperatures are shattering that myth.

The home environment can actually be a substantial risk in and of itself, said Jaime Madrigano, a public health researcher with Johns Hopkins University. We find, during extreme heat events, that more people die in their homes than in other types of places. Theyre not making it to the hospital.

Storm-battered homes like Gellots lack proper insulation. Power grids stumble and fail during periods of high demand. And many cooling systems are simply not powerful enough to contend with the worsening heat. Some experts have begun to warn of the looming threat of a Heat Katrina  a mass-casualty heat event. A study published last year that modeled heatwave-related blackouts in different cities showed that a two-day blackout in Phoenix could lead to the deaths of more than 12,000 people.

Last summer, Madrigano led a team of researchers who put temperature sensors in the bedrooms of 70 volunteers in Gellots lower-income, mostly Black Ninth Ward neighborhood. Amid New Orleans hottest-ever summer, about a quarter of our [average] measurements exceed 80F (27C), she said. About half of the homes exceeded 80F at some point in the day.

There is no single standard for safe indoor temperatures. With each degree of temperature rise, however, participants reported more symptoms of heat illness: dizziness, headaches, nausea, weakness and fatigue.

Its almost hotter inside than outside, reported one participant, who said she still got an $800 energy bill. Another participant described being just overwhelmed and taking showers to stay cool. I can see how its going to be in years to come, he added.

Most participants, like Gellot, had air conditioning, Madrigano said. At first look, that sounds great, she said, but what that reveals is that air conditioning is simply no longer enough in ever-hotter cities.

Cooling systems cant keep up

The types of [cooling] systems that we sold 10 years ago are not able to keep up with the weather we have, said Simi Hoque, an architectural engineer at Drexel University who studies how building design contributes to indoor heat.

As temperatures climb, air conditioners  which work by sucking in indoor air, heating it via compressor and then dumping that heat outside  must work exponentially harder. According to Texas A&M climate scientist Andrew Dessler, keeping a home steady at 75F requires about 30% more power when outside temperatures creep from 95F to 98F.

Some older AC units simply cannot keep up with those demands. Even if they can, many residents cant afford higher energy bills. Sharp rises in energy demand stress electrical grids: in 2021, a heatwave in the Pacific north-west triggered rolling blackouts, which led to at least 600 deaths.

Many buildings  particularly those in cooler, northern US cities  are simply not designed or weatherized for the new heat, said Hoque. She became interested in indoor heat while working on an air-quality study in Philadelphia, where she lives.

When we talked to household members, [heat was] the thing that kept coming up, she said. Participants told her: We cant be in our upstairs bedrooms during the summer unless we have the window unit on, and we only have one window unit, and so everybody sleeps in the same room, Hoque recalled.

Hoque said that there are a lot of gaps in indoor heat research and that she uses wet bulb measurements, which take into account humidity as well as temperature, when assessing indoor conditions.

Extreme heat and redlining

Extreme heat disproportionately affects communities of color.

Black and Hispanic communities, in particular, are more likely to live in urban heat islands, where asphalt traps more heat than greener, typically wealthier neighborhoods. The disparity is a legacy of decades of redlining and other racist housing policies. People at higher risk of indoor heat also tend to have fewer resources to be able to pay for things like air conditioning or fans, said Hoque, and these factors have serious public health implications: in New York City, according to state data about last years record heat, Black residents are twice as likely to die of heat than their white counterparts.

Even when heat isnt deadly, its damaging. Heat triggers respiratory distress, acute cardiovascular events, disrupted sleep and impaired cognition  in other words, heat makes it hard to breathe, hard to sleep, hard to think.

Its unbearable, said Dee Dee Green, who lives in New Orleans Hollygrove neighborhood, a lower-income, primarily Black neighborhood bordered by highways. Green said her AC has broken the last three summers in a row. She suspects it is due to the unit overworking.

Raymond Sweet, an organizer who lives near Green, said hotter indoors lead to compounding costs for lower-income households: You used to put out a banana for a week. Now stuff gets spoiled in two or three days. That in turn requires more trips to the grocery store, and more money spent on groceries that spoil in hot kitchens, he said.

Surrounding trees keep Sweets home cool, but elsewhere, the neighborhood gets too hot to even walk around, he said. Hes teamed up with neighbors to plant trees and press the city to build bioswales, which have the added benefit of reducing flooding.

Many lower-income Americans are eligible for federal energy-assistance funds to help cover the costs of air conditioning. And after deadly heat last summer, New Orleans policymakers enacted an ordinance requiring landlords to provide enough AC to keep bedrooms at or below 80F. But the program has not been assigned any funding, giving program administrators limited means of enforcement.

Hoque worries about what itll take for policymakers to take the risk of indoor heat seriously enough. Changes are made only when something dire has happened, she said. For people like Gellot and her neighbors, the dire thing has already been happening.
As the campaign trail heats up this summer, the nonprofit We the Veterans group has launched its own full-court press to convince former troops and family members to sign up as poll workers on Election Day.

The group's Vet the Vote campaign, which kicked off in February, aims to recruit 100,000 poll workers across the nation on Nov. 5. With the primaries wrapping up, local election boards are turning their focus to the presidential election, and the "next few months are critical" for rallying volunteers, according to Daniel Vallone, an Army veteran and director of Vet the Vote.

"The need increases dramatically for the general election," Vallone said during a press conference June 6. "Our big push and most intensive cycle starts in June and continues really into mid-September."

Read Next: Watch 'Band of Brothers' Cast Members Jump into Normandy for D-Day's 80th Anniversary

We the Veterans was established to focus on civics education and to build faith in American democracy by encouraging veterans and military families to remain engaged and active in their communities after leaving the service.

The Vet the Vote initiative, backed by a coalition of veterans organizations and overseen by We the Veterans, aims to address skepticism and reduce mistrust in the election system by recruiting a trusted source of volunteers -- veterans -- to man polling sites and serve on local election boards.

In 2022, the campaign recruited 63,500 poll workers. This year, the group believes it can exceed 100,000, according to Ellen Gustafson, the executive director of We the Veterans.

"A little over a million across the country is [what] the national presidential election needs in general, so we know we're going to be at 10% and we think we can be higher than that," Gustafson said during the press conference.

As part of its recruiting effort, the group has partnered with states including West Virginia, Nevada, Arizona, Texas and South Carolina to understand their needs for fully manning their polls while also hosting events to educate residents about the election process.

We the Veterans is planning a broader event on the eve of Flag Day at George Washington's Mount Vernon in Alexandria, Virginia, that aims to bring together veterans groups to discuss the important role of veterans in civic engagement -- building trust in American institutions by continuing to serve in some capacity and demonstrating unity instead of discord.

The event, which will be livestreamed Thursday, aims to educate veterans and their families on how they can help overcome divisions within the U.S. and help others do the same.

"So many -- especially post-9/11 veteran organizations and military family groups -- are really focused on continuing the service and what else they can do for the country, not so much looking inward and what we need for ourselves," Gustafson said.

With heightened concerns about mis- and disinformation from nation states such as Russia and China and domestic efforts to undermine the integrity of the election process, the need for veterans to step up and work the polls is greater than ever, according to Gustafson.

"We have a lot to teach the rest of the country about this concept of patriotic participation and what it means to be an active patriot, to be an active citizen, not just sit behind Facebook and talk about what you believe," she said.

Gustafson said former service members are uniquely qualified to be poll workers, since they already have a sense of civic duty and were required to be apolitical -- also a requirement of being a poll worker -- while wearing the uniform.

"Some people assume that the military is all right-leaning, maybe even far-right leaning, and then you get the other people who say the military is woke. The fact that both these perspectives live quite loudly in the public discourse suggests to me that neither can possibly be true," Gustafson said. "[The military community has] always been very pluralistic."

More information on Vet the Vote can be found on the initiative's website.

Related: Coalition Launches Effort to Get Veterans to the Polls -- As Workers
Good morning!  Heres what you need to know about North Carolina politics today.





GOP lawmakers unveiled a compromise on mask legislation late last week that contained a controversial, unrelated campaign finance provision that would allow federal political fundraising groups to give to state parties, without having to fulfill certain reporting requirements.

The Senate passed the conference report for House Bill 237 within hours of it being released on the General Assemblys website, and the House is expected to vote on it today, after the House Rules Committee takes up the bill at 2 p.m.

Before that, a wide-ranging coalition of advocacy groups including Common Cause NC, Democracy NC, and the N.C. NAACP will speak out against the bills mask and campaign finance provisions, during a 9:15 a.m. press conference in front of the Legislative Building.

 Avi Bajpai

Read on for more from our team and correspondent Stephanie Loder.

WILL JUDGES RULING DECREASE SCHOOL CALENDAR LAW RESISTANCE?

When it comes to following the North Carolina school calendar law, more than a quarter of the school districts in the state refuse to comply with the rules.

Last week, Superior Court Judge William D. Wolfe issued an order voiding the 2024-2025 school calendar adopted in December by Carteret County which would have let classes begin Aug. 13  two weeks earlier than allowed by state law.

Wolfe sided with business owners who filed a lawsuit claiming the new start date would harm them and saying they rely on the state calendar law to staff their businesses.

A State Board of Education report shows 29 of North Carolinas 115 school districts  including Carteret County whose 2024-25 school calendar Wolfe declared as illegal  still plan to start classes in early to mid-August.

Its too early to tell whether Wolfes ruling will stop defiance of the state school calendar law.

Get the full story from T. Keung Hui here.

MEDICARE PREMIUMS: WHAT SOME RETIRED NC EMPLOYEES CAN EXPECT

Some retired state employees and their dependents will see premiums increase next year under the State Health Plans Medicare Advantage plans.

The plans board of trustees increased premiums for 2025 in a vote last week citing financial challenges faced by the plan  such as an unexpected increase in Medicare Advantage payments.

State Treasurer Dale Folwell said, This is not the place that we thought we would be when we signed this contract several years ago with Humana, the contract holder for the Medicare Advantage plans.

All board members who voted on Thursday approved the change in premiums. Melanie Bush, the deputy Medicaid director for the state Department of Health and Human Services, abstained from the vote.

Get the full story from Luciana Perez Uribe Guinassi here.

ROCKINGHAM COMMISSIONERS ASK NC SHERIFF FOR TRANSPARENCY

Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page and his office have been dropped by their insurer, The Travelers Companies, after 11 deaths in the county jail, a lawsuit and criminal charges against an employee.

After a discussion with Page at their annual budget meeting Friday, the Rockingham County Board of Commissioners decided to add the words transparency and communication to the public safety divisions mission statement.

Commissioners said adding the words to the mission statement will ensure that Page creates a goal of being more transparent.

Chris Elliott, the countys safety and risk manager, told the commissioners that he is in the process of finding a new insurer for Pages office.

Get the full story from Danielle Battaglia here.

Thats all for today. Check your inbox tomorrow for more #ncpol news.

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Dr. Scott F. Jones, an assistant professor of biology at the University of North Florida, has played a crucial role in discovering mangrove trees in southern Georgia, marking the northernmost occurrence of these tropical plants ever recorded.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

The discovery was made in January when a journalist from Scientific American contacted William Ches Vervaeke, a coastal ecologist with the National Park Services Southeast Coast Inventory and Monitoring Network, for a story on the northernmost mangroves and the scientists studying them. Vervaeke, who had been studying mangroves along with Ilka Candy Feller from the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, reached out to Jones due to his prior research on mangroves.

Jones, Vervaeke, and the journalist embarked on a boat trip near the south side of Amelia Island, where they initially believed the northernmost mangroves to be located. They found the area abundant with mangroves and continued their exploration further north.

Eventually, they identified a new northernmost point for mangroves, discovering a small group of both red and black mangroves in the marsh near Cumberland Island, just north of the Florida border.

This discovery is significant as it places black mangroves 20 kilometers farther north and red mangroves more than 80 kilometers farther north than previously documented.

Mangroves, which are tropical plants that typically do not survive below-freezing temperatures, have generally been confined to coastal wetlands south of Daytona Beach. However, their range has been extending northward in recent years due to a lack of lethal freeze events.

Climate change is a big driver of the expansion, but there are a lot of other factors involved, including the timing of storm events that bring mangroves up the coast, Jones explained. In the long term, mangroves are going to keep moving up. With a warmer planet, and provided the plants can get to an area, that will happen.

Jones is now focused on studying the mangroves in both Georgia and Florida, aiming to understand how these tropical plants will affect the resilience of the regions coastal wetlands.

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SPANISH FORK, Utah (ABC4)  The Spanish Fork teenager who was hit by a car while crossing the road last month has died after three weeks on life support, according to family members.

Reagan and her friend Olivia were crossing an intersection at 2300 East Canyon Road on Saturday, May 18, when they were struck by an oncoming Kia. Both girls were hospitalized at Primary Childrens Hospital in critical condition, and Olivia was later released.

I want to thank everyone in this amazing community for all the love and support you have showed me and my family at this unimaginably devastating time. Unfortunately my daughter was not able to live from this accident, Juliet Teasdale wrote in a social media post.

She said she knows Reagan was greeted by her dad who had passed away when she was a baby.

Reagan donated most of her organs to help save others lives, which Juliet Teasdale said is the only thing that gives [her] comfort at this time. Her husband, David Teasdale, added that they had 90 minutes after removing her from life support to donate her organs, and she passed away on minute 88.

To know that other suffering children will be able to live, to see, to walk is the only joy in any of this, David Teasdale wrote in the GoFundMe.

Since the crash, Spanish Fork residents have rallied and raised concerns over the intersection where the girls were hit. Spanish Fork Mayor Mike Mendenhall said the city has been working with UDOT to install a traffic light since the fall of 2022 and anticipates it will be completed in the next several months.

I dont think I can ever drive by that intersection that took my daughters life, Juliet Teasdale wrote. But the love Ive been shown from this community, our friends, neighbors, and ward members will never be forgotten! Thank you and god bless you all!

A GoFundMe for Reagan can be found here and the fundraiser for Olivia 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 ABC4 Utah.
University of La Verne president steps down after less than year at the private college

La Verne President Pardis Mahdavi, shown at a literature festival in February, cited "personal reasons" for her sudden departure. (Vishal Bhatnagar / Associated Press)

University of La Verne President Pardis Mahdavi, the second woman in history to hold the schools top job, stepped down this month after less than a year at the private college.

In an email to the campus on Friday, Mahdavi cited personal reasons for her sudden departure. Mahdavi was selected as president after a months-long national search that began in late 2022 to replace Devorah Lieberman, a prolific fundraiser who led the university for more than a decade before announcing her retirement.

It has been an honor to serve this outstanding community, and I want to thank each one of you for your support, Mahdavi wrote in the email. Please know that I will always be cheering you on from the sidelines.

Mahdavis resignation came as a surprise to many faculty members who had high hopes for her leadership. The university, which serves roughly 6,000 students, has faced a series of challenges in recent years, including enrollment declines after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, faculty turnover and a series of leadership changes that have been detailed in reports from the Western Assn. of Schools and Colleges, an accrediting organization.

Nearly half of the students at the private university are the first in their families to attend college, and a large portion of the student body receives financial aid .

Read more: These small, little-known colleges may be more affordable than you think

Paul Alvarez, a kinesiology professor and the faculty senate president, said Mahdavis resignation sent a very clear message that we have some issues we need to deal with.

Alvarez said Lieberman, the former president, was given a one-year contract to advise Mahdavi, which made some faculty feel like Mahdavi wasnt being given the rein to do what she needed.

Theres not a faculty member that Ive talked to that got to know her in any capacity that isnt disappointed in the sense that we let somebody who could have made some big changes get away, Alvarez said.

Before arriving at the university, Mahdavi, an author and anthropologist, served as provost and executive vice president at the University of Montana. She has also served as a dean at Arizona State University, the University of Denver and Pomona College.

In her bio, her research interests are listed as gendered labor, human trafficking, migration, human rights and public health in the context of changing global and political structures.

Read more: Stanford names Jonathan Levin, business school dean, new president after leadership crisis

Mahdavi could not be reached for comment on Tuesday.

Tony Revier, chair of La Vernes board of trustees, expressed gratitude for Mahdavis leadership in a statement Tuesday, saying the panel deeply appreciates her work as president of the university and her many contributions to the future of La Verne.

Trustee Mark Hicks will lead the college as acting president while officials search for a longer-term interim president.

I know that the news of Dr. Mahdavis departure likely caught many of you by surprise and, undoubtedly, raised questions regarding the future of university leadership, Hicks wrote in an email to staff.

He added that his goal is to continue to support the collaborative efforts undertaken by Dr. Mahdavi with faculty and staff leaders and to continue to ensure forward momentum in strengthening our university climate.

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.
BEIRUT, June 11 (Xinhua) -- Lebanese Environment Minister Nasser Yassin on Tuesday said the Israeli attacks on southern Lebanon have destroyed 1,250 hectares of agricultural land and killed 340,000 heads of livestock, leaving around 70 percent of farmers in the south jobless.

Israeli attacks forced many residents to flee from their farming communities and plunged the local economy into stagnation, Yassin said during an international conference held in Jordan on the urgent response to the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.

Yassin added that the Israeli attacks expanded gradually from south to north along the Litani River, prompting around 96,000 residents of border towns and villages to flee, while 60,000 others remained in unsafe and underserved areas with limited mobility.

The minister said that the attacks exacerbated the already challenging situation in Lebanon, putting further pressure on its public sector's ability to provide support and social, health, and educational services, especially to vulnerable groups.

Yassin said the government is working closely with the United Nations on the humanitarian response mechanism at the national and district levels, adding that humanitarian actors need approximately 72.4 million U.S. dollars to sustain and expand the response to conflict-related needs for the coming three months.

Tensions along the Lebanon-Israel border escalated on Oct. 8, 2023, following a barrage of rockets launched by the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah toward Israel in solidarity with Hamas' attack on Israel the day before. Israel then retaliated by firing heavy artillery toward southeastern Lebanon. 
The University of Minnesota paused the hiring of a professor who wrote that Israels military operation against Hamas in Gaza after Oct. 7 was a textbook case of genocide to head the schools Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies (CHGS), Jewish Insider has learned.



The pause, which has not yet been publicly announced by the university, came on Monday evening after two members of the centers advisory board resigned in protest on Friday.



The assault on Gaza can also be understood in other terms: as a textbook case of genocide unfolding in front of our eyes, Raz Segal, an Israeli associate professor of Holocaust and Genocide Studies at Stockton University in New Jersey, wrote in the Jewish Currents on Oct. 13. I say this as a scholar of genocide, who has spent many years writing about Israeli mass violence against Palestinians, he wrote.



A spokesperson for the University of Minnesota told JI that the director selection process was put on hold to allow an opportunity to determine next steps.



Members of the university community have come forward to express their interest in providing perspective on the hiring of the position of Director of the Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies, the spokesperson said. Because of the community-facing and leadership role the director holds, it is important that these voices are heard.



Segal, who was selected as the centers new director by Ann Waltner, the interim dean of the College of Liberal Arts at University of Minnesota, also co-authored an Al-Jazeera article in January, in which he called Israel a settler-colonial power. Last month, Segal downplayed the illegal anti-Israel encampments that have engulfed campuses nationwide many of which have turned violent (nine people were arrested at University of Minnesotas encampment)  telling NJ Spotlight News that claims of antisemitism were baseless.



In 2022, he wrote about the reality of the system of Israeli apartheid, stating that just as the Israeli apartheid system denies Palestinians past, it also seeks to deny their future through an assault against Palestinian children.



The selection of Segal which also includes a faculty position in the history department prompted University of Minnesota professors Karen Painter and Bruno Chaouat to resign from the centers advisory board.



In a letter to Waltner, Provost Rachel Croson and Interim President Jeff Ettinger, a copy of which was obtained by Jewish Insider, Chaouat wrote, My understanding is that the core mission of the center is to educate locally and internationally on the specific history of the Holocaust and of genocides in order to raise awareness and prevent further dehumanization and violence. Professor Segal, by justifying Hamas atrocities five days after they occurred (via a perverse allegation that Israel was committing a genocide), cannot fulfill the mission of the center.



Chaouat, a professor of French and Jewish studies who previously served as interim director of the center, continued in his letter, [Segal] has failed to recognize the genocidal intent of Hamas. He does not understand that a movement like Hamas is inherently fascist and represents precisely what CHGS stands againstWhile I have nothing to say about appointing Professor Segal as a colleague in the History department, my experience as interim director and collaborator of the center for many years, as well as my experience as a scholar of the Holocaust and antisemitism, give me some authority to assertively deem him unfit for that position.



Segal did not immediately respond to a request for comment from JI.



Mark Rotenberg, vice president and general counsel of Hillel International who was general counsel and a faculty member at University of Minnesota for 20 years before coming to Hillel, said that the announced appointment of Segal severely degraded the academic integrity of the department.



He continued, Its terribly distressing to see the Department of Holocaust and Genocide Studes led by an anti-Israel propaganist rather than a top scholar in the history of the eradication of European Jewry.



Rotenberg said that the announced appointment could cause long term damage to the relationship between University of Minnesota and the Minnesota Jewish community. The Jewish community there has profoundly benefited from, and enhanced, the quality of the university over many decades, he said. I fear that the relationship is under deep strain right now.



Amid rising antisemitism on University of Minnesotas campus most recently the vandalism of the schools Hillel building on Friday morning Chaouat told JI that it is particularly concerning for the head of a Holocaust and genocide center to downplay antisemitism and accuse the Jewish state of genocide.



We are witnessing a tokenization of Jews and now Israelis, he said. Imagine a center for the study of racism appointing a marginal voice in the African American community who opposes Black Lives Matter and who considers that the Minneapolis police not guilty of the murder of George Floyd.





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CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  Nearly eight years ago, 20-year-old Darius Walton was waiting for a ride outside a Clarksville apartment with a friend when, all of the sudden, gun fire rang out.

His friend was later found in front of the apartments bleeding, and Walton was found on the side of the building. But by the time police arrived, Walton was already dead.

To this day, his killer remains unknown. The cold case unfolded on June 12, 2016, on Jack Miller Boulevard in Clarksville. Other friends inside the apartment said they heard the shots and called 911.

Shot 10 times: Clarksville mother seeks answers in sons 2016 murder

(Photo: WKRN)

In a 2021 interview with News 2, Clarksville Police Department Homicide Detective Keenan Carlton said they think there may have been two shooters based on the fact that two different calibers of ammunition were found at the scene.

Investigators dont believe Walton or his friend had a gun or ever fired any shots back. They both were shot several times, but Waltons friend survived.

Some other factors uncovered through the investigation have pointed to the shooting possibly being targeted.

According to Carlton, police suspect that the shooting was the result of some words being shared between two different groups of people on social media.

Darius Walton (Courtesy: Clarksville-Montgomery County Crime Stoppers)

UNSOLVED TENNESSEE: Find more of the states cold cases, missing persons, and other mysteries 

However, authorities are still trying to bring the people responsible to justice.

In January 2024, the Clarksville-Montgomery County Crime Stoppers Board voted unanimously to increase the cash reward for several cold case homicides from up to $5,000 to up to $10,000. Waltons murder was one of the cases that qualified.

In order to receive the reward, the information provided must lead to the arrest or conviction of the persons responsible.

Anyone who has information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 931-645-TIPS, or go to www.p3tips.com, and leave a tip online. All tipsters remain anonymous.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU) lead candidate for the European elections and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen speaks during a press conference after the CDU Federal Executive Committee meeting in the Konrad Adenauer House. The CDU was the strongest party in the 2024 European elections. Sebastian Christoph Gollnow/dpa

Ursula von der Leyen has the backing of some of the top representatives of the European Parliament in her fight for a second term as president of the European Commission, according to information obtained by dpa on Tuesday.

In talks with European Parliament President Roberta Metsola, incumbent leaders of the parliamentary groups gave her a mandate by a large majority to campaign for von der Leyen's reappointment.

The parliamentary groups want Metsola to back von der Leyen in the forthcoming talks among EU leaders planned for next Monday in line with the Spitzenkandidaten principle, or "lead candidate" process.

This refers to when the pan-European groups of political parties put forward their top picks for commission president.

In this instance, von der Leyen, who campaigned on behalf of the centre-right European People's Party (EPP), would have their backing. Metsola is also an EPP member.

The liberal Renew group in particular spoke out against Metsola's mandate at the meeting, dpa learned, however, it has long been critical of the Spitzenkandidaten process.

French President Emmanuel Macron's liberal party is part of Renew. Macron in 2019 overturned the Spitzenkandidaten process to back von der Leyen for the job over EPP lead candidate Manfred Weber.

The European Parliament president met with the group leaders as they hustled to organize themselves after the fallout of the European Parliament election results.

Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU) lead candidate for the European elections and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen speaks during a press conference after the CDU Federal Executive Committee meeting in the Konrad Adenauer House. The CDU was the strongest party in the 2024 European elections. Sebastian Christoph Gollnow/dpa
Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU) lead candidate for the European elections and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen speaks during a press conference after the CDU Federal Executive Committee meeting in the Konrad Adenauer House. The CDU was the strongest party in the 2024 European elections. Sebastian Christoph Gollnow/dpa

Ursula von der Leyen has the backing of some of the top representatives of the European Parliament in her fight for a second term as president of the European Commission, according to information obtained by dpa on Tuesday.

In talks with European Parliament President Roberta Metsola, incumbent leaders of the parliamentary groups gave her a mandate by a large majority to campaign for von der Leyen's reappointment.

The parliamentary groups want Metsola to back von der Leyen in the forthcoming talks among EU leaders planned for next Monday in line with the Spitzenkandidaten principle, or "lead candidate" process.

This refers to when the pan-European groups of political parties put forward their top picks for commission president.

In this instance, von der Leyen, who campaigned on behalf of the centre-right European People's Party (EPP), would have their backing. Metsola is also an EPP member.

The liberal Renew group in particular spoke out against Metsola's mandate at the meeting, dpa learned, however, it has long been critical of the Spitzenkandidaten process.

French President Emmanuel Macron's liberal party is part of Renew. Macron in 2019 overturned the Spitzenkandidaten process to back von der Leyen for the job over EPP lead candidate Manfred Weber.

The European Parliament president met with the group leaders as they hustled to organize themselves after the fallout of the European Parliament election results.

Existing multinational groups like the EPP and the centre-left Socialists and Democrats (S&D) are aiming to recruit newly elected non-affiliated parties to their groups for the next five years.

The future parliamentary allegiance for the Alternative for Germany (AfD) for example is in the spotlight after their expulsion from the far-right Identity and Democracy (ID) group over scandals involving their European election candidate Maximillian Krah.

Elsewhere, the far-right groups, split among non-affiliated, ID and the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR), could potentially form a new group in the EU legislature.

All eyes are on Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's Brothers of Italy (Fdl), which came out on top in the EU-wide vote at home, and whether they decide to form or join a new group at the invitation of National Rally's Marine Le Pen in the ID group.

The first sitting of the new EU legislature is pencilled in for July 16.
Pentagon spokesperson Patrick Ryder has stated that the US aid supply has made it possible to slow the advance of the Russians in Kharkiv Oblast.

Source: Ryder at a briefing on Monday, as reported by the Pentagons website

Details: Answering the question whether the arrival of US aid is having an impact on the situation at the front, Ryder noted: "I would say they are."

Quote: "And I think the fact that you've seen essentially the Russians really slow down in terms of the progress that they were making near Kharkiv demonstrates that, A, the Ukrainians can continue to hold the line and B, that that assistance is getting to them.

So again, we recognise there's a lot more to do in terms of getting much needed aid to them but we're going to keep after it."

Background: On 9 June, Jake Sullivan, National Security Adviser to US President Joe Biden, said that the Ukrainians had used permission to strike Russian territory near the border with US-supplied weapons and that the momentum of the Russian military operation in Kharkiv Oblast had stalled.

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US to announce new Russia sanctions at G7 summit

The U.S. is set to announce new sanctions against Russia during this week's G7 summit in Italy, White House spokesman John Kirby said on June 11.

In comments reported by Reuters, Kirby also said Washington will be imposing further export controls that would be "impactful" and target entities and networks helping Russia to fight its war in Ukraine.

"We're going to continue to drive up costs for the Russian war machine," Kirby said.

Western countries have imposed extensive economic restrictions against Moscow over its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, seeking to curb its state revenue and prevent it from obtaining key technologies needed for the war effort.

Russia has sought to dodge these sanctions via various third-party entities in China, Central Asia, Turkey, or the United Arab Emirates.

The Russian central bank's SPFS system, established in 2014, became an important tool for these transactions after Russia was disconnected from SWIFT in 2022.

Kyiv's partners have recently focused their efforts on banks suspected of facilitating these transactions, which led to several lenders to tighten curbs and subsequently to a drop in Russian imports.

U.S. Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo recently visited Kyiv to hold talks with top Ukrainian officials on forthcoming plans to strengthen sanctions against Russia.

Read also: Russias Su-57  hype vs. reality

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said on Monday that unruly airline passenger incidents remain high, and the agency vowed to maintain a zero-tolerance policy.

There were 915 cases of unruly passengers reported in 2024 through June 9, including 106 cases of passenger disturbances due to intoxication, the FAA said. The number of unruly passengers spiked in 2021 to nearly 6,000 during the COVID-19 pandemic with the introduction of mask mandates -- including 4,290 mask-related incidents -- but still remain about twice that of 2020 or earlier levels.

Unruly passenger incidents fell last year by 15% to 2,075 as the FAA levied $7.5 million in fines, compared with 2,455 cases and $8.4 million in fines in 2022.

Growing concerns about unruly passengers come as airlines and the FAA are gearing up for a record summer of travel. Last month, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) said it screened 2.95 million airline passengers on May 24, the start of the long Memorial Day weekend, the highest number ever on a single day

The FAA said last year that it referred 39 unruly passengers in 2023 to the FBI, bringing the total of such referrals for violent and threatening behavior on planes to more than 270 since late 2021.

U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland directed the FBI to prioritize investigations of airline passengers committing assaults following a 500% spike in incidents in 2021.

In March, William Allen Liebisch, 43, of Cincinnati, Ohio, was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison after pleading guilty for interfering with a flight crew, the Justice Department said.

Liebisch carried a box cutter on a Tampa-bound flight and told a fellow Frontier Airlines passenger that he wanted to stab someone on board, prompting the pilot to make an emergency landing in Atlanta.

The FAA imposed the "zero tolerance policy" in January 2021 and said it would enforce it at least as long as the face mask order remained in effect. The agency opted to extend it indefinitely in April 2022.

(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Sandra Maler and Leslie Adler)
US intelligence has learned of discussions between Houthis in Yemen to provide weapons to the Somali militant group al-Shabaab, in what three American officials described to CNN as a worrying development that threatens to further destabilize an already violent region.

Officials are now searching for evidence that Houthi weapons have been delivered to Somalia, and are trying to work out whether Iran, which provides some military and financial support to the Houthis, is involved in the agreement.

The US has been warning countries in the region about this possible cooperation in recent weeks, according to a senior administration official, and African countries have also begun to proactively bring it up with the US to raise their concerns and get more information.

This is a pretty active area of conversation that were having with countries on both sides of the Red Sea, this person said. And its being viewed with a considerable seriousness.

Its not a natural alliance for the two groups, which are divided by sectarianismand are not known to have had a relationship in the past. The Houthis are Zaydi Shiites, and al-Shabaab traditionally has been deeply ideologically opposed to Shiism. But they are separated by only a single body of water  the strategically significant Gulf of Aden  and they both count the United States as a top enemy.

The intelligence raises the alarming possibility that a marriage of convenience could make things worse both in Somalia and in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, where the Houthis have launched regular attacks on commercial shipping and US military assets since the war in Gaza began.

A potential deal could offer a new stream of financing for the Houthis, at a time when US officials say there are signs that the groups primary patron, Iran, has some concerns about the groups attack strategy. Being able to sell some weapons would bring them much needed income, the senior administration official said.

For al-Shabaab, it could provide access to a new source of weapons  including potentially drones  that are far more sophisticated than their current arsenal and could offer the group the ability to strike US targets.

There has been some routine smuggling of both small arms and commercial material between different groups in Yemen and Somalia for years. But a weapons agreement between al-Shabaab and the Houthis would be something new, according to US officials.

It would be the clearest sign that two organizations that are, ideologically, diametrically opposed to one another  that they prioritized something they have in common, which is hostility towards [the United States], said Christopher Anzalone, a professor at the Marine Corps Universitys Middle East Studies department. It would be very significant because it shows there is a level of pragmatism in both organizations.

Any form of military cooperation between the Houthis and al-Shabaab could also undermine an informal, and fragile, ceasefire between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia that has held since 2022, the senior administration official said. And it would definitely go against the spirit of a proposed UN roadmap for a more lasting peace, the official said.

We still have a strong interest in supporting the roadmap process in Yemen, the official added, but this sort of trafficking between the Houthis and al-Shabaab would certainly complicate and undermine that effort.

Officials say at this point, they arent sure what kinds of weapons the Houthis might provide to al-Shabaab. Right now, the Somali group generally only has access to rockets, mortars and homemade IEDs that it has used in its fight against the Somali government  deadly, but relatively smaller arms. The Houthis, by comparison, have weaponized drones, including underwater drones. They also have short-range ballistic missiles. There is a sense that the deal would cover bigger kit than just rockets and mortars, said one US official, but beyond that, the intelligence is murky.

No matter what the Houthis provide, theres likely limited opportunity for al-Shabaab to fire directly at US assets in the region. Even if the Houthis were to provide them with some of the smaller missiles the group has used to target US MQ-9 drones, Anzalone said, al-Shabaab would likely have to fire them from the north of the country. Pockets of that region of the country are controlled by an increasingly powerful branch of ISIS. Al-Shabaab is often fighting to contest territory there, and as a result, has a much more limited presence and freedom to maneuver.

They would love to do that, Anzalone said, referring to striking directly at US assets. Al-Shabaab views the internationally recognized government of Somalia as a puppet of the United States. But, he said, I think they would find it hard to do. This is where the intra-jihadist fighting between Shabaab and ISIS is the heaviest.

The US has about 480 US troops in Somalia, according to a US official. The US has continued to carry out counterterrorism strikes against both al-Shabaab and ISIS targets in Somalia throughout the Biden administration.

One major question for US intelligence officials is the degree of involvement Iran might have in the arrangement. There is no direct evidence yet, officials said, but the US is still looking. It fits the pattern of broader Iranian efforts to widen the front against the US and the west by directly or indirectly providing arms to proxy groups.

Thats something we definitely have our eyes on, the senior administration official said.

But the Houthis are also one of the most independent-minded of the different Iran-aligned groups and are the one over which Tehran exercises arguably the least amount of control. Iran broadly has sought to tightly manage any potential escalation arising from the war in Gaza, calibrating its response to extract costs from the US and Israel without allowing it to spiral into direct conflict.

And so some US officials are skeptical Iran is involved.

Dont think Iran is actually part of this, said one military official. Houthis be a Houthi-ing on their own.

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BEIRUT, June 11 (Xinhua) -- Four people were killed and 10 others injured late Tuesday in an Israeli airstrike on the town of Jouaiya in the southeastern Lebanese city of Tyre, Lebanese media reported.

The airstrike hit a house with three missiles in Jouaiya, killing Abu Talib, a senior military leader of the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah, and three of his companions, according to the official National News Agency and Lebanese TV channel al-Jadeed.

Hezbollah has not yet issued any comments regarding the incident.

According to local medical sources, teams from the civil defense and Islamic Health Authority continued to remove the rubble of the house, and the Lebanese Red Cross continued its efforts to transport casualties to hospitals in the city. Meanwhile, search was underway to locate missing persons.

In response to the airstrike, Hezbollah announced that it had launched attacks on Israeli military sites using drones and missiles.

Lebanese military sources said they had monitored "the crossing of 12 drones and about 80 surface-to-surface missiles from the Lebanese side to northern Israel," while the Israeli Iron Dome aerial defense system intercepted some of them.

Tensions along the Lebanon-Israel border escalated on Oct. 8, 2023, following a barrage of rockets launched by Hezbollah toward Israel in solidarity with Hamas's attack on Israel the day before. Israel then retaliated by firing heavy artillery toward southeastern Lebanon. 
US President Joe Biden's administration has lifted the ban on supplying weapons to the 12th Special Purpose Brigade Azov of the Ukrainian National Guard.

Source: The Washington Post with reference to the US Department of State

Quote from US Department of State: "After thorough review, Ukraines 12th Special Forces Azov Brigade passed Leahy vetting as carried out by the US Department of State."

Details: The State Department was referring to the Leahy Law, which prohibits providing US military assistance to foreign units that have committed serious human rights violations based on credible information. This law is named after former Senator Patrick Leahy, who authored it.

A statement said the State Department found "no evidence" of such violations.

A spokesperson declined to specify when the ban was lifted or whether US-supplied weapons have already been delivered to Azov.

The Azov Brigade, which was a volunteer force and integrated into the National Guard of Ukraine in 2015, will now have access to the same US military assistance as any other unit.

The Washington Post noted that Azov was banned from using US-supplied weapons about ten years ago because US officials believed some of its founders allegedly held racist, xenophobic and ultranationalist views. In addition, UN human rights officials accused the brigade of violating humanitarian law.

Read also the opinion column by Azov Brigade Commander Denys Prokopenko: Why does Azov still not receive Western weapons?

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US-made Abrams tanks are fighting a dangerous new kind of war, but Ukrainians are building unusual armor to help them survive it

Small drones packed with explosives have proven to be a major threat to armored vehicles in Ukraine.

Both sides of the conflict have built cages around their tanks to give them added protection.

One Ukrainian operation is making protective screens for Kyiv's arsenal of US-made M1 Abrams tanks.

American-made M1 Abrams tanks were built to fight the Russians, but on the battlefield in Ukraine, they are fighting an unfamiliar kind of war as they go up against Moscow's arsenal of deadly exploding drones  something the Soviets never had and something the Abrams hasn't seen in its other wars.

There are concerns the heavy armor on an Abrams may not be enough on its own to protect its crew from this dangerous and evolving threat. However, one Ukrainian company is building steel screens that can offer the tanks an extra layer of protection.

"I think the future of war is the war of drones," Oleksandr Myronenko, the operational director of the Metinvest Group, told Business Insider in a recent interview, so it's very important to protect armored vehicles against the rise of unmanned systems.

Metinvest is a steel and mining conglomerate that's headquartered in the southern Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia. For more than a year and a half, the company has been making protective steel screens for Kyiv's aging T-64 and T-72 tanks.

Just a few weeks ago, this operation expanded to the Abrams tanks, US-made armor designed and developed during the Cold War to fight the Soviet tank threat.

A US M1A1 Abrams tank in Germany on May 12, 2023. US Army photo by Spc. Christian Carrillo

Thirty-one US-provided M1A1 Abrams main battle tanks arrived in Ukraine last fall. By late-April, though, Kyiv had already lost five in combat, at least some to drones.

At the start of the conflict in Ukraine, as in past wars, tanks and other armored vehicles primarily had to worry about enemy threats like anti-tank missiles, artillery shells, and mines. But now, on both sides of the war, these vehicles also face small, cheap hobby-style drones packed with explosives that a remote operator can easily fly right into a target and detonate.

These things are ubiquitous in Ukraine, and the right hit could permanently damage or destroy a tank  and even kill its crew, trained personnel not easily replaced.

Both Ukrainian and Russian forces have sought to protect their vehicles by outfitting them with net-like cages as a last-ditch defense against inbound munitions, especially first-person view (FPV) drones that have taken the battlefield by storm.

This improvised armor, sometimes described as a "cope cage," vary in appearance and effectiveness. Some look jury-rigged and crudely built, while others are more hardened and structured. Their presence does not render a tank invincible, far from it actually, but they clearly add some extra protection that might keep the crew alive.

A Ukrainian T-72 tank with protective screens in December 2023. Courtesy of Rinat Ahkmetov's Steel Front

A Ukrainian T-72 tank with protective screens in December 2023. Courtesy of Rinat Ahkmetov's Steel Front

The increasing employment of cage armor underscores the significant role that drones have played in Ukraine and presents new considerations for modern militaries as they look into better ways to protect their forces from unmanned systems in future conflicts. There are lessons for the US and others.

Metinvest began making its protective steel screens for Ukrainian tanks as Russia began using different types of drones on the battlefield, leaving tanks needing added protection against these threats, Myronenko said.

When the Abrams eventually arrived, it ran into the same problem as the Soviet tanks, and the military asked Metinvest for help.

The Abrams tanks are notably larger than Ukraine's Soviet systems, so it can take up to a week to build a protective screen for the American armor and 12 hours to install. Each of the screens weighs hundreds of pounds and can cost up to $20,000 to make.

Though that figure is significantly more expensive than an FPV drone carrying a bomb, which might only be worth a fraction of that, it is much cheaper than losing a tank like the Abrams, which costs upwards of $10 million. That said, Metinvest says the screens are given to the military for free, and so far, the company has produced 25 screens total  seven of which have been for the Abrams.

An M1 Abrams tank with protective screens in May. Courtesy of Rinat Ahkmetov's Steel Front

An M1 Abrams tank with protective screens in May. Courtesy of Rinat Ahkmetov's Steel Front

Before the screens are permanently fitted on the tanks, a prototype is made, at an undisclosed location in Ukraine, and tested on the armor to ensure a good fit. Then, it either goes right into production, or improvements are made. In that case, it's sent back to the military for additional testing.

On the Abrams, the protective screen wraps around the top and sides of the turret, allowing it to move freely. Some of the other cages spotted during the war are more restrictive  like Russia's infamous "Turtle Tank"  and don't allow for such mobility.

"It helps save [the] tank from huge damages" and greatly increases the survivability of the crew, Myronenko said of the armor.

Ukraine's Soviet tanks have already seen their screens tested in battle. Sometimes they may take some damage but can still continue in combat, but other times, the damage is greater, forcing them to pull back. The jury is still out for the Abrams tanks, as they were only recently given the added protection. Myronenko said that his company is patiently waiting to see how they perform.

The screens are mainly designed to protect against drones, he said. If an unmanned system hits the screen, it will not necessarily damage the tank. However, artillery shells and larger-caliber weapons are way more threatening and may tear through this shielding.

A Ukrainian T-64 tank with protective armor that was damaged in combat in April 2024. Courtesy of Rinat Ahkmetov's Steel Front

The Abrams isn't the only American armored asset that Metinvest will work with. This month, this operation will begin making protective screens for the US-provided Bradley Fighting Vehicle, which has proven to be a workhorse for Ukrainian front-line forces.

Whether these add-on protective screens extend to other armored combat vehicles remains to be seen, but the ever-present threat of exploding drones is growing.

"Anti-drone steel screens help not only to protect expensive equipment from damage by the enemy, but also protect the lives of Ukrainian servicemen," Myronenko said in a late-May statement.

Read the original article on Business Insider
US permission for strikes on Russia reduced attacks on Kharkiv  Kharkiv Mayor

Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov said that the destruction of Russian strike positions near the Russian-Ukrainian border by the Ukrainian military helped reduce the intensity of Russian attacks on the city.

Source: Terekhov in an interview with Reuters

Details: Asked whether Kharkiv has in any way benefited from the US granting limited permission for US weapons to strike targets in Russia, Terekhov says the attacks have become less intense than in May.

Quote: "This has helped. That, perhaps, is why Kharkiv enjoys this period of calm for the last couple of weeks [] the strikes were less intense than, for example, in May".

Details: He added that about 11,500 people have arrived in Kharkiv from other heavily bombarded areas. In addition, the mayor stressed the significant need for Western air defence systems to protect the city.

Background:

After giving Ukraine limited permission to deploy American weapons to hit Russian territory, US President Joe Biden expressed resistance to potential US military strikes deep into Russian territory.

The White House clarified that the permission to strike with American weapons applies to the border not only in Kharkiv but also in Sumy Oblast. At the same time, the authorisation does not apply to long-range ATACMS missiles.

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Hunter Biden, son of USA's President Joe Biden, and his wife Melissa Cohen Biden arrive at the J. Caleb Boggs Federal Building in Wilmington, Delaware for the seventh day of the trial. Saquan Stimpson/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

A jury has found US President Joe Biden's son Hunter Biden guilty on all three charges in a federal gun trial, several media outlets reported on Tuesday, citing journalists in the courtroom.

The sentence will be announced by the judge in charge, Maryellen Noreika, at a later date.

The 12 jurors retired to deliberate on Monday afternoon after the prosecution and defence finished presenting their evidence.

In the trial in the city of Wilmington in the state of Delaware, Hunter Biden was accused of making false statements when buying a gun in October 2018 and concealing his drug addiction at the time.

He could face up to 25 years in prison. However, it is unclear how severe a sentence the judge responsible would hand down, as Hunter Biden has no criminal record.

Hunter Biden has been making headlines for years. In addition to alcoholism and drug addiction, he has also been involved in dubious business deals and legal disputes with a former stripper over child support for an illegitimate child.

He has also been indicted in the state of California for allegedly failing to pay federal taxes properly for several years.

The president did not appear in the courtroom, but various other family members showed solidarity, including Hunter's stepmother, First Lady Jill Biden.

The US president previously said that he would not pardon his son in the event of a conviction.

Hunter Biden, son of USA's President Joe Biden, and his wife Melissa Cohen Biden leave the J. Caleb Boggs Federal Building in Wilmington, Delaware for the seventh day of the trial. Saquan Stimpson/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

Hunter Biden, son of USA's President Joe Biden, and his wife Melissa Cohen Biden leave the J. Caleb Boggs Federal Building in Wilmington, Delaware for the seventh day of the trial. Saquan Stimpson/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
US promises $404m in new aid for Palestinians at conference in Jordan

Jordan's King Abdullah II (C) meets with United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken on the sidelines of the "Call for Action: Urgent Humanitarian Response for Gaza" Conference. The conference is organized by Jordan, Egypt and the UN. It aims to find ways in which the international community can respond more effectively to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Chris Setian/Royal Hashemite Court RHC/dpa

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced $404 million dollars in new assistance to the Palestinians, while taking part in a humanitarian aid conference for the Gaza Strip in Jordan.

"Today, I am announcing an additional $404 million dollars in new aid to Palestinians, in addition to the more than [$1.8 billion] in development, economic and humanitarian aid the US has provided since 2021," Blinken said.

"Let's work together to ensure that more aid gets into Gaza and once it is in Gaza reaches the people who need it the most, by land, by air, by sea."

He urged all countries taking part to give more aid as "only one third of the current UN appeal is funded."

UN emergency relief coordinator Martin Griffiths said that the UN estimates that $2.5 billion is needed to provide aid for people in the Gaza Strip between April and the end of the year.

Blinken said that in recent months, Israel has taken steps to address obstacles to aid delivery into Gaza, but that "it can and must do more."

Blinken called on Israel to speed up the inspection of aid trucks, shorten the list of prohibited goods, increase the deliveries of life-saving medicine, repair water and sanitation systems as well as reduce civilian casualties.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sissi said on Tuesday at the same conference that Israel is directly responsible "for Gaza's unprecedented humanitarian crisis" and that "it is a deliberate result of a destructive war of revenge against the [Gaza] Strip."

Israel must stop using hunger as a weapon and allow flow of aid into the Strip, he said.

The conference, dubbed "Call for Action: Urgent Humanitarian Response for Gaza," was organized by Jordan, Egypt and the UN.

The meeting was attended by the leaders, foreign ministers and officials of 75 countries as well as representatives of international organizations including the International Committee of the Red Cross, according to the conference website.

"The war in Gaza is now in its eighth month, with massive loss of life among civilians and suffering for the entire population of over 2.3 million Palestinians across the Strip," the organizers said.

"Famine is imminent in many parts of Gaza; trauma is widespread; every part of Gaza is in ruins. No place is safe in the Strip, and access to food, water, shelter, or medicine is practically non-existent."

In order to ease the suffering of the civilian population in the sealed-off Palestinian territory, the conference aimed to "seek commitments for a collective, coordinated response to address the humanitarian situation in Gaza," among other things.

The Gaza war was triggered by the unprecedented attacks by the Palestinian Islamist organization Hamas on October 7, which saw militants killing some 1,200 people across southern Israeli communities and taking another 250 hostage to Gaza, in what was the worst massacre in the country's history.

Israel responded with massive airstrikes and launched a ground offensive into Gaza at the end of October.

More than 36,500 Palestinians are said to have been killed in the ongoing fighting, and much of the coastal strip has been rendered uninhabitable for those who remain.

Speaking at the same conference, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has urged all parties involved in the war in Gaza to reach a ceasefire agreement.

"The horror must stop, it's high time for a ceasefire along with unconditional release of hostages," he said.

"I urge all parties to seize this opportunity and come to an agreement," Guterres added.

"The speed and scale of carnage and killing in Gaza is beyond anything in my years as Secretary General," he said. "Nowhere is safe, conditions are deplorable."
US will send Ukraine another Patriot missile system after Kyiv's desperate calls for air defenses

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stands in front of a Patriot air defense missile system during a visit to a military training area in the German state of Western Pomerania, Tuesday, June 11, 20242, to learn about the training of Ukrainian soldiers on the "Patriot" air defence missile system. (Jens Buettner/dpa via AP)

WASHINGTON (AP)  The United States will send Ukraine another Patriot missile system, two U.S. officials said Tuesday, answering Kyiv's desperate calls for more air defenses as it battles an intense Russian assault on the northeastern Kharkiv region.

The officials said President Joe Biden has approved the move. It would be the second Patriot system that the U.S. has given to Ukraine, although the Pentagon has routinely provided an undisclosed number of missiles for the system. Other allies, including Germany, also have provided air defense systems as well as munitions for them.

The two U.S. officials spoke on condition of anonymity because the decision has not been publicly announced. The decision was first reported by The New York Times.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy late last month pleaded for additional U.S.-made Patriot systems, arguing that they will help his forces fight the close to 3,000 bombs that he said Russia launches into the country every month.

Speaking in Madrid, Zelenskyy said Ukraine still urgently needs another seven of the systems to fend off Russian strikes against the power grid and civilian areas, as well as military targets, with devastating glide bombs that wreak wide destruction.

He said Ukraine needs two of the systems to protect Kharkiv, where Russia launched a cross-border offensive on May 10 that still has Ukrainian troops reeling.

If we had these modern Patriot systems, (Russian) airplanes wouldnt be able to fly close enough to drop the (glide) bombs on the civilian population and the military, Zelenskyy told a news conference in the Spanish capital.

The decision comes as defense leaders from the U.S., Europe and other nations prepare for their monthly meeting on Ukraine's security needs. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will host the meeting in Brussels on Thursday.

The U.S. has routinely pressed for allies to provide air defense systems to Ukraine, but many are reluctant to give up the high-tech systems  particularly countries in eastern Europe that also feel threatened by Russia.

The U.S. also is wary of giving too many away, since they are used all over the world to protect U.S. forces and allies.

Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder told reporters on Monday that Ukraine's need for air defense will be a topic at the meeting.
Whenever the U.S. military launched a satellite over the last six years, the rocket carrying that payload bore the logo of SpaceX or the United Launch Alliance  the only companies eligible to fly National Security Space Launch missions.

Rocket Lab CEO Peter Beck has watched those launches while smaller and emerging providers like his own company lacked a clear pathway to compete for the missions.

He and other launch executives have encouraged the Space Force to create entry points for firms building new rockets. And now they may have a way forward.

The Space Force announced last year that the next phase of its strategy for procuring launches would set aside missions for new providers. It was welcome news for Beck, who believes his companys Neutron rocket, still in development, will be a top contender.

That was the right approach, Beck told C4ISRNET in an interview. We really wanted that approach to occur, and we were very vocal that thats the way it should be.

The strategy for Phase 3 of the Space Forces National Security Space Launch program, or NSSL, includes two lanes in which companies can compete to launch military satellites.

Lane 1, which will include 30 launches from 2025 through 2034, is for new providers. Missions in this category have less stringent requirements, and companies will have a chance to join annually as they prove their rockets are ready.

The service plans to select initial, eligible Lane 1 companies this spring but wont award the first round of contracts until next year. While launch vehicles dont need to move through the traditional certification process, firms must fly their rockets by Dec. 15, 2024, to receive an initial contract.

The remaining 49 launches will carry heavier Space Force payloads and are reserved for companies able to meet a more stringent set of security and performance requirements. Contracts for Lane 2 are expected this summer.

Most of those missions will go to two firms  likely incumbents SpaceX and ULA  but the service has the option to choose a third provider if a company presents a sound plan to certify its rocket for Lane 2 launches by 2026.

If the government selects a third firm, it will likely be Blue Origin, whose New Glenn vehicle  designed to fly large payloads  is slated to fly this year.

New Glenns first and second stages undergo work at Blue Origins orbital launch vehicle factory at Cape Canaveral, Fla., on June 12, 2023. (Blue Origin)

Smaller companies have long-term ambitions to compete for more lucrative contracts, like those in Lane 2, but are targeting the more accessible missions in Lane 1 in the near term. As the deadline approaches for the Space Forces first round of selections, none of those newcomers expect to have their rockets off the ground in time to qualify.

Rocket Labs Neutron was closest, according to its internal projections, but the firm announced May 6 it is now targeting mid-2025 for the vehicles debut.

Other companies developing medium-lift launch vehicles  which can carry 4,400-44,100 pounds into orbit  to compete for Lane 1 contracts include ABL Space Systems, which is targeting next year for the first launch of its RS1 rocket; Firefly Aerospace and Northrop Grumman, who are working together to develop the Medium Launch Vehicle and also aiming for a 2025 flight; and Relativity Space, which expects to fly its Terran R rocket in 2026.

Those timelines mean that  despite the Space Force creating opportunities for emerging launch vehicles to compete  initial contracts for those missions could end up going to NSSL program incumbents and potentially Blue Origin in Lane 2.

Development delays

Launch executives and outside experts arent surprised by the rockets that remain ineligible to receive contracts next year, despite the Space Forces strategy.

While the initially slow on-ramp to competition may present a symbolic blow to the services approach and raise eyebrows in Congress, the reality is that developing launch systems is challenging and schedules tend to slip  as evidenced by Rocket Labs latest setback.

Getting Neutron to the pad this year was an ambitious greenlight schedule that we had  a path to closing if every single aspect went according to plan, Beck said in the companys May 6 earnings call. As weve always said, this is a rocket development program and this is always filled with gremlins, some in our control and some not.

Gen. Chance Saltzman, chief of space operations for the Space Force, cautioned against downplaying the significance of the on-ramp opportunities that the service is providing in its strategy.

The on ramps and off ramps  we shouldnt just cast those aside because there are companies at different stages of development, he told reporters April 10 at the Space Symposium in Colorado. Weve tried to account for that in our acquisition strategy so that as they develop, as they mature, theres pathways into contractual arrangements.

The bigger question, experts said, is how many of these companies can, in the coming years, make a place for themselves within a multibillion-dollar national security launch market dominated by a single player  SpaceX.

The answer to that question will depend on several variables, including commercial launch demand and the continued pursuit of proliferated satellite constellations from both government and private sector customers, according to Joshua Huminski, senior vice president for national security and intelligence programs at the U.S.-based Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress. The organization partly focuses on how leaders can address national challenges.

The demand from the commercial market  which is really going to keep a lot of these companies afloat and in operation  is going to be almost a driver, and its a question of: Can the national security space enterprise keep up? he told C4ISRNET.

Another factor is whether the Space Force can keep its launch procurement strategy agile enough to adapt to that dynamic market. Todd Harrison, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute think tank, said the Space Force should focus on creating an environment that fosters competition rather than try to choose winners and losers through a more restrictive approach.

I think what we should do is try to create the conditions so that the next SpaceX can emerge, he told C4ISRNET.

SpaceX dominance

That next SpaceX, of course, would be competing with the actual SpaceX, which is owned by billionaire Elon Musk and has a tight hold on the U.S. launch market. The companys Falcon 9 rocket flew 207 of the 256 domestic launches conducted between 2020 and 2023, according to data compiled by Harrison.

The firms dominance in the military market traces back to 2014, following Russias annexation of the Ukrainian territory of Crimea. At the time, ULA  a joint venture of defense giants Lockheed Martin and Boeing  was the sole-source provider of military launches for the U.S. government.

The Russian-made RD-180 engine powered ULAs workhorse rocket, the Atlas V. Concerned that the U.S. was too reliant on the Russian propulsion system, Congress called for the Pentagon to end its use of the engine and ensure the military is not dependent on a single company to carry national security payloads.

Energomash employees stand near RD-180 engines prepared for shipment to the United States from Russia in 2002. (Maxim Marmur/AP)

The Defense Department responded in two ways. It developed a process for certifying more rockets to fly these missions. And it provided seed funding to three firms so they could mature their designs for domestically produced rockets: ULAs Vulcan, Blue Origins New Glenn and Northrop Grummans OmegA.

Ultimately, SpaceX  which received no DOD development funding but did get money from NASA for its Falcon 9 rocket  was the first new company to successfully onboard an American-made launch vehicle through the Space Forces certification process. In 2018, SpaceX launched its first national security payload. And in 2020, along with ULA, it won a five-year contract to fly military missions.

Meanwhile, ULA began phasing out its Atlas V rocket and shifted its focus to a new U.S.-sourced launch vehicle, the Vulcan Centaur. The rocket, initially slated to fly in 2019, took its maiden flight in January 2024, after repeated development delays. It must fly one more non-DOD mission before it is certified for NSSL launches.

Surging demand

These events ultimately positioned SpaceX as one of the U.S. militarys primary source of launch services and have helped support its rise in the commercial market.

Following Moscows full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Western militaries followed the Pentagons earlier course of action and divested Russian-made components from their supply chains. That included Russias Soyuz rocket, which at the time held about half of the global launch market share.

Bonnie Triezenberg, a senior engineer at the think tank Rand, described the Soyuz rocket, prior to the 2022 invasion, as the only counterweight to the Falcon 9.

When the Ukraine invasion happened was really when Soyuz was taken off the market, she told C4ISRNET. All of that backlog that was on the Soyuz, a couple of them went to India, but the bulk of it all went onto the Falcon 9.

The exit of Soyuz from the global market came amid a surge in demand for launch services that analysts expect to continue for some time. Quilty Space, a Florida-based consulting firm, estimated in a 2023 report that 20,000 new satellites will be sent to orbit by 2030.

That demand and the state of the Soyuz  combined with recent retirements of many medium and heavy rockets  created a gap in the number of launch vehicles available to meet that demand, Triezenberg said. That gap has drawn companies like Rocket Lab and Firefly, who have a foot in the small launch market, to branch out to medium-lift systems.

Caleb Henry, the director of research at Quilty, said theres room for more firms to compete in the medium-lift market, but that questions remain about demand, which could shape how much capacity is needed in the long term.

I do think theres a role, certainly, for one or more companies to fill that gap, he told C4ISRNET. But I dont have a good guess on how many medium launch vehicles the market will support.

Triezenberg echoed that sentiment, noting shes surprised at how many rocket providers started developing medium-lift rockets in recent years. Its only a matter of time, she said, before the competition starts to thin.

Things have gotten pretty frothy in the last few years. Everybodys throwing their hat in the ring, she added. Youre going to see some of that froth come out.

Building a backlog

The lack of affordable launch capacity in the medium and heavy lift markets is what is driving Relativity Spaces development of its Terran R rocket, according to Chief Revenue Officer Josh Brost.

The company has described its approach as customer-centric, focused on containing costs by 3D printing major parts and designing others to be reusable. And while the 270-foot-tall Terran R is optimized for launches to low Earth orbit  about 1,200 miles above the planets surface  Brost said the vision is for it to fly more stressing missions to higher orbits.

An artist's rendering shows the Terran R vehicle. (Relativity Space)

One of the most important parts of Relativitys strategy, according to Brost, is early spending on manufacturing capacity, which the company hopes will allow it to quickly scale Terran R production.

Even if youre reliable and provide great economics, if you can only launch a handful of times a year, you dont actually move the needle on the market, Brost said. The supply-demand imbalance is strong enough now that to be compelling, you need to be coming into the market with lots of capacity.

Like many of the other emerging rocket companies, Relativity has secured a strong backlog of business for Terran R, despite it never having flown. The company has already signed commercial launch contracts cumulatively worth about $2 billion.

We have people signing deals today for 2027, 2028, despite the fact that were still evolving, because they see the need for the capability were developing, he said. The commercial market is becoming the first buyer of capability, and then the defense market can benefit from that commercial marketplace.

The Space Force may not be the biggest customer for Relativity and other growing rocket firms, but its launch needs are still a significant part of its business case. Military launch will likely account for about 30% to 50% of the addressable market for these companies, according to Rands Triezenberg.

U.S. Space Force Col. Phillip Verroco explains the layout of the Combined Space Operations Center's operations floor to French officers on April 15, 2022, at Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif. (Tech. Sgt Luke Kitterman/U.S. Space Force)

Although its not the Defense Departments goal to choose which rockets will succeed in the broader market, Triezenberg said the backlog many of these companies have secured indicates that the services Phase 3 strategy, and ultimately its procurement decisions, will play a role in how these companies fare.

I think what the government is trying to do here with the Phase 3 Lane 1 contracts is sort of [build] up the backlog for these emerging providers, Triezenberg said. Thats going to help these firms when they go to the capital markets and try to raise money.

Launch is a very capital-intensive business, she added. Those backlogs are important.

Conditions for competition

While the Space Forces launch procurement strategy offers the opportunity for new launch providers to compete, some experts and members of Congress have questioned whether theres more the Pentagon can do to lower barriers for these companies.

Rep. Dale Strong, R-Ala., said May 1 during a House Armed Services Committee hearing that while he applauds the Space Forces Phase 3 approach, hes worried established players like SpaceX and ULA will encroach on Lane 1, underbidding on those missions in order to edge out smaller firms.

I do have concerns about Lane 1, he said. I would personally like to see something a bit more concrete to protect them.

Beck, Rocket Labs CEO, told C4ISRNET hed like to see rules addressing which missions Lane 2 companies can and cannot compete for.

The real risk you run is competitors in Lane 2 not wanting new entrants to come in and going in there and very aggressively bidding that work or doing other things to make it very difficult for new providers, he said. If the whole goal is to on-ramp new providers and utilize the commercial-industrial base, I think there is risk there that it gets stifled by some poor behavior of the incumbents.

Another way to better foster competition, according to AEIs Harrison, would be to allow companies to join Lane 1 as soon as theyve flown their rockets. As the strategy stands, firms must wait until the annual on-ramp period opens.

Commercial innovation moves faster than a 12-month cycle sometimes, Harrison said. Lets say the on-ramp is in May and a company isnt ready to bid until that June; they have to wait until the next May to on-ramp again  an 11-month, 12-month delay. That could be the end of that company.

For smaller firms, building the infrastructure required to support new rockets is also a barrier. Bill Weber, CEO of Firefly Aerospace, said he has talked with the Space Force about pursuing more public-private partnerships to alleviate some costs.

Thats a $100 million launch complex for a medium launch vehicle, he told C4ISRNET. These launch complexes that are required in order to support these national security missions  theyre exorbitantly expensive, and the utility of it is used by the government customer. So there has to be some public-private partnerships.
Weeks after dozens of pro-Palestinian protesters were arrested on campus, multiple students have received letters initiating disciplinary proceedings, according to four students interviewed by the American-Statesman.

The students, who were arrested during the April protest and received disciplinary letters, also said they cannot access their transcripts or registration due to a nonfinancial hold from the dean of students office on their accounts. They first noticed the hold several weeks ago.

The disciplinary proceedings are for alleged rules violations at the protests.

The University has made clear that we enforce institutional rules, and the conduct notices sent to students who violated our rules during protests on April 24th and 29th reflect that commitment," the university said in a statement sent after publication. "The actions and stated intentions of those participating in these protests stand in stark contrast to no fewer than 13 previous pro-Palestinian free speech events on our campus since October, which took place largely without incident.

"The University of Texas will continue to support the Constitutional rights to free speech of all individuals on our campus and will also enforce our rules, while providing due process and holding students accountable."

More: Can Texas public universities remove protesters from campus? First Amendment experts explain

Not all students who participated in the protests, which called for a cease-fire in Gaza and demanded that UT divest from weapons manufacturers supplying arms to Israel, received a letter Friday. The university would not confirm to the Statesman how many students were issued letters.

More: 'Our university will not be occupied': UT president says pro-Palestinian protest was prohibited

The university has said 60 students were arrested in total during the April 24 and April 29 protests.

Stanley Davis, a UT senior who was arrested April 24, said he received an 11-page letter from the Student Conduct and Academic Integrity Office about 4 p.m. Friday detailing disciplinary procedures.

Its clear that whatever theyre doing now is a scare tactic, Davis said. Were still going to stand" up.

The letter alleges that the student participated in an event that disrupted/interfered with operations. The violations listed were failure to comply and disruptive conduct, and the student is instructed to send a written statement by June 18 addressing the allegations and attached questions about their conduct.

More: What happened at pro-Palestinian protest at UT-Austin? Here's the timeline of events

Davis was able to register for classes before the hold was placed on his account, he said, but there is a hold on him receiving his transcript.

Another UT student who was arrested April 24, and spoke on condition anonymity for fear of retaliation, said they also received a disciplinary letter and cannot register for classes.

Very much were in limbo, the student said, adding that students are angry but leaning on one another for support.

Why were the holds placed?

UT policy states the the dean of students can withhold grades, transcripts or degrees pending a hearing or administrative disposition when a broken rule would reasonably allow the imposition of such sanction and when it is in the best interests of the university and university system.

More: Seventy-nine pro-Palestine protesters arrested during encampment UT-Austin

Aryel Mejia, who graduated from UT in the spring, found a hold on her account May 20, prohibiting her from accessing her diploma or transcripts, she told the Statesman.

I went to the physical office, called them, left my name and number, and emailed them asking for clarification on why I had a dean of students hold with zero response, Mejia said, adding that she was surprised when she got the letter.

A university spokesperson said holds are used to ensure compliance with the process. Their use varies from case to case and is determined by the dean of students office.

It is a common practice to utilize holds with seniors or graduating students as the primary mechanism to ensure engagement in the process, the spokesperson said.

What else was in UT's disciplinary letter?

Evidence in the letters for students included arrest affidavits, a screenshot of an Instagram post about their protest and pictures from their protest. All criminal trespassing charges from April 24 were dropped, but the ones issued for those arrested April 29 are still pending.

Police pepper spray protesters that are blocking police vehicles from leaving the University of Texas at Austin on Monday, April 29, 2024. Protesters created an encampment on the UT Tower south lawn meant to call attention to the war in Gaza and to condemn the University of Texas at Austins relationship with defense companies. Protesters were given notices to vacate and were then removed by Austin Police, University police, and Texas State Troopers.

The 12 questions in the letter ask students why they did not disperse, and if it is appropriate to them to create encampments, break university policy and exclude students; though students deny anyone was excluded. It also asked if students would do anything different, if they would agree it was disruptive, and what they would say to someone impacted by your conduct.

More: Pro-Palestinian protests have happened at UT before. How are the new ones different?

Mejia said the questions seem like they want to coerce an admission of guilt. According to the universitys rules, after the university investigation, shell either receive a no finding letter or an administrative disposition, which could be followed by a hearing.

The letters also in some cases included a case supplemental report detailing the circumstances behind the student's arrest. Davis said his document showed there was a warrant against him for resisting arrest from UT police after officers reviewed body camera footage, though his initial charge was dropped. UT police did not respond Monday to a Statesman question about whether it has issued warrants for other protesters.

Why were UT students protesting?

Students and community members at UT joined others across the nation in protesting to call on their universities to divest from weapons manufacturers contributing to Israels bombardment of Gaza. Israel declared war after Hamas, the militant governing body of Gaza, attacked the Jewish state on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 civilians and taking about 200 people hostage. Since Israels onslaught on Gaza, more than 34,000 Palestinians have reportedly been killed.

Other universities across the national have threatened students with expulsion or suspension for activism they deem to be extreme. An executive order from Gov. Greg Abbott in March calling for higher education institutions to reduce antisemitism on campuses told administrators to alter and enforce their free speech policies to fit an expanded definition of antisemitism.

The order instructed universities to enforce policies against students up to expulsion and named the Palestine Solidarity Committee and Students for Justice in Palestine specifically.

More: Why UT president dismissed TAs grievances over work reassignments after pro-Palestinian note

I hope that people understand or are open to the fact that we are just a bunch of people who care about this thing, said Ari, a student arrested at the April 29 protest who received a letter. Its for Palestine; its for Gaza.

The UT System and Abbott have said divestment is not on the table for UT. Students have said their activism will continue regardless.

Mejia said she was arrested April 24 by three officers who grabbed me to the point where bruises were left on my arms.

I stood on the south lawn, zip-tied and crying, humiliated by my own university, Mejia said. Despite all this, I finished my classes, walked the graduation stage and shook hands with my dean. I earned my degree rightfully so, and share it with the people of Gaza where no universities stand.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: UT Austin student pro-Palestine protesters receive disciplinary letter
UT to break ground on new McCombs Business building in fall. Here's what it will look like

At 17 stories high and 373,000 square feet, the new business building is expected to be a home for students, faculty members, alumni and prospective students alike.

After more than 10 years of planning, new design details have emerged for the University of Texas undergraduate business building, Miriam and James J. Mulva Hall, which is set for groundbreaking this fall and opening in the summer of 2028.

The UT System Board of Regents moved the project forward last November, approving the $425 million total cost, its share of funding and the first phase of design development. The board will vote on the next round of approvals this November.

Taking the place of the Dobie parking garage, which is set to be demolished this summer, the businss building will be the first academic building on University Avenue. It is also the most significant philanthropic-driven project for a university building  including a $40 million gift from the building's namesakes, Miriam and James Mulva, and $1 million or more apiece from 50 other donors.

The 17-story building will complete the southwest corner of campus  creating a neighborhood with the AT&T Conference Center and Rowling Hall, which houses UTs business graduate programming.

We're the highest-ranked business school with the most dated facilities relative to how prestigious the education and thought leadership is here," Lillian Mills, dean of the McCombs School of Business, told the American-Statesman in an interview. Mulva Hall will be a modern building fitting McCombs being one of the countrys top business schools.

According to the McCombs School, 25% of UT students are expected to take classes in the new building. The school is nationally ranked for its graduate and undergraduate programs.

The new business building will be named after Miriam and James Mulva, who gave $40 million for the project.

The school is just shy of its $150 million fundraising goal with about $25 million left to raise.

That southwest business neighborhood of campus ought to be one of the most exciting places on the UT-Austin campus, Mills added.

What will the business school look like?

The 373,000-square-foot building will have a glass exterior. In addition to indoor spaces, it will have multiple shaded terraces staggered along the floors for community and study space with views of the UT Tower, the Forty Acres and the city of Austin. The building will sit on a plaza.

Brad Bailey, the project manager and head of the design team for Perkins&Will, the architecture firm for the building, said students, faculty members and alumni were consulted about the design. He said the building was designed to be flexible and forward-looking.

The opportunities that this project presented us is that idea of being both aspirational and inspirational, said Ty Henderson, associate dean for undergraduate programming and co-project advocate. It's really an opportunity for that moment to reflect and think about what McCombs is but also what McCombs wants to become.

The first six floors will be devoted to students, with 29 classrooms, a career center, academic advising and common spaces. There will also be specialty labs for research, including data analytics and visualization.

We're trying to create a space that really highlights the intimacy of our program but also amplifies the community of our program, Caitlin Mullaney, associate dean for business affairs and co-project advocate, told the Statesman. What we know is most important about business is people, and I think that's something that we really want to focus on with this building.

The dean and senior leaders will be housed on the seventh floor, Mills said, to be close to students.

The remaining floors will consist of faculty departments. The floors will have the capacity to house entire departments within McCombs; they are currently spread out across different buildings. This includes researchers, lecturers, faculty members and doctoral students, Mills said.

Another building priority is to open the doors wider to the community, said Vandana Nayak, who is also from Perkins&Will. Integrated into the design are formal and informal gathering spaces  including an opening meeting place on the first floor called the Exchange.

'A unique building'

The first six floors will be devoted to students, with classrooms, a career center, academic advising and common spaces. There will also be specialty labs for research.

The Mulvas gave the gift in 2014 to transform the business building to meet the changing needs of the growing program, along with a $20 million building gift to the engineering school. After evaluation, it was later decided to construct a new business building instead of renovating.

We would not be where we are without some really visionary donors, Mullaney said.

The hope is for the building to help McCombs best attract and unite its entire community. In the summer of 2028, the vision will be realized.

"The school is highly selective, the school is highly regarded, and to get the best students, the best faculty ... the best staff, to be a place where you can recruit the best but to reflect the context of Austin and to reflect the context of McCombs," Nayak said. "It's a unique building that reflects all of those things."

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Design details emerge for UT-Austin's Mulva Hall business building
UT says it will discipline students who violated campus rules during pro-Palestinian protests

AUSTIN (KXAN)  The University of Texas at Austin issued a statement Tuesday morning stating that it will carry out disciplinary action against students who violated campus rules during pro-Palestinian protests on April 24 and 29.

The University has made clear that we enforce institutional rules, and the conduct notices sent to students who violated our rules during protests on April 24th and 29th reflect that commitment. The actions and stated intentions of those participating in these protests stand in stark contrast to no fewer than 13 previous pro-Palestinian free speech events on our campus since October, which took place largely without incident. The University of Texas will continue to support the Constitutional rights to free speech of all individuals on our campus and will also enforce our rules, while providing due process and holding students accountable. University of Texas statement

The university said it is prohibited by federal law from commenting on specific student conduct cases. It did not specify how many students are facing disciplinary action, but it did provide the following background information:

Student conduct notices are issued for University rules violations and may be accompanied by Non-Financial Holds (conduct holds) or Financial Holds, which must be resolved before a student can register for classes or order transcripts or diplomas.

Non-Financial Holds (conduct holds) acknowledge a $0.00 financial hold balance, to indicate no funds are owed.

Any student conduct notices the University issues include 1) the reason for the notice (citations of specific rules violations or funds owed), and 2) instructions for how to resolve financial or non-financial holds.

The University does not arrest people for protesting.

The arrests that took place on April 24 and 29 were for rules violations.

Information about prohibited conduct and the disciplinary process can be found in Chapter 11 of Institutional Rules.

The Student Conduct administrative process is separate from the criminal justice system and is not dependent on whether a criminal charge is filed related to an arrest.

Background

The April 24 protest was organized by the Palestine Solidarity Committee of Austin and began just before noon with a walkout of class and a march to occupy the South Lawn, according to a social media post. It said it planned to demand the administration divest, or withdraw its investments, from Israel.

57 people arrested during pro-Palestinian protests on UT campus April 24

The University sent protest organizers a letter the day before, telling them to cancel the protest because it violated university rules and disrupted campus operations.

Fifty-seven people were booked into the Travis County Jail following that protest. The Travis County Attorneys office said it reviewed the cases and determined they would not proceed because they did not have sufficient probable cause.

On April 29, a total of 79 people were arrested after a group of pro-Palestinian protesters again gathered on the South Mall in the afternoon and set up several tents in the area. The university issued a dispersal order, and law enforcement responded shortly after.

79 arrested on UT campus during Monday protest, sheriffs office says

According to a UT source, 46 of the 79 people arrested during that protest were not UT students. The cases involving that protest were not dismissed, according to Travis County Attorney Delia Garza, because the office did not find the same deficiencies, and the office believed they met the standard for probable cause.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
UNITED NATIONS, June 11 (Xinhua) -- Nearly 400 million children under 5 globally, or 60 percent within that age group, regularly endure psychological aggression or physical punishment at home, according to new estimates released by the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) on Tuesday.

Of them, around 330 million are punished by physical means, said UNICEF, which released the data on the first-ever International Day of Play.

The findings emphasize the crucial role of play in children's development, said UNICEF.

"When children are subjected to physical or verbal abuse at home, or when they are deprived of social and emotional care from their loved ones, it can undermine their sense of self-worth and development," said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell in a press release. "Nurturing and playful parenting can bring joy and also help children feel safe, learn, build skills, and navigate the world around them."

Globally, harmful social norms that underpin violent childrearing methods persist, with slightly more than 1 in 4 mothers and primary caregivers indicating that physical punishment is necessary to raise and educate children properly, according to the findings.

To ensure every child grows up feeling safe and loved, UNICEF calls on governments to strengthen efforts and investment in protection by strengthening legal and policy frameworks that prohibit and end all forms of violence against children in the home; in parenting support by scaling up evidence-based parenting programs that promote positive, playful approaches, and prevent family violence; and in payful learning by expanding access to learning and play spaces for children. 
The Capitol in Salt Lake City is pictured on Monday, May 6, 2024. (Photo by Spenser Heaps for Utah News Dispatch)

Despite attempts from lawmakers to amend Utahs novel social media restrictions aimed at curbing teen use, the state is still facing legal challenges arguing the laws are unconstitutional.

Last week, the free speech group FIRE  short for the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression  submitted an amended complaint in its lawsuit filed in federal court in January, arguing that the changes made during the legislative session are equally, and in some respects, more problematic.

And in early May, the group NetChoice, which represents a number of big tech companies including Meta, Google and Amazon, submitted a similar amended complaint to its lawsuit filed in federal court in December.

In its new complaint, NetChoice claims the restrictions violate the First and 14th amendments  FIREs new complaint makes a similar argument, taking it a step further in claiming the laws violate the Commerce Clause.

The social media regulations are based on the erroneous premise that the state has free-floating power to restrict the ideas to which children may be exposed  a concept the Supreme Court has flatly rejected, the FIRE complaint argues.

By imposing a state regulation over a global medium; forcing companies to redesign their services; limiting information and resources that users can access; imposing preconditions on accessing protected speech; restricting adults access to protected speech; forcing users to sacrifice anonymity to exercise their First Amendment rights; and creating vague and overbroad restrictions, the state has run afoul of the First and 14th amendments, FIRE argues.

It also violates the Commerce Clause, FIRE alleges, because it places an unreasonable burden on channels of interstate commerce  basically, the complaint claims Utah is impeding the flow of information and online services across state lines.

A state cannot block internet content from its own citizens without affecting citizens of other states, the lawsuit argues.

Utah Sen. Mike McKell, R-Spanish Fork, is not surprised that the state is still facing a legal challenge. McKell sponsored SB194, the law in question, and on Friday told Utah News Dispatch that the arguments in the complaints are disingenuous.

Kids can still get on social media. But what were doing in the legislation is getting rid of the addictive features. And those addictive features are not necessary for a good experience on social media, he said. Does it surprise me that theyre litigating? Not at all. I think its disingenuous to do that and cite the constitution and the First Amendment. This is about money entirely, and its a problem theyre aware of and a problem they can fix.

In 2023, the Utah Legislature, with strong support from Gov. Spencer Cox, passed some of the countrys first and most restrictive laws regulating how minors interact with social media. Those regulations were challenged in court by FIRE and NetChoice and ultimately scrapped during the 2024 legislative session, with lawmakers replacing them with new laws intended to pass constitutional muster.

We always expected a revision of the legislation, McKell said.

SB194 places restrictions on minors using social media while allowing parents or guardians to engage with their childrens accounts.

Under the law, which is set to take effect Oct. 1, social media companies are required to verify the age of all users. Unless parents or guardians say otherwise, the following restrictions are imposed on accounts belonging to minors:

Features where tech companies collect and store data to facilitate quicker search results are disabled.

Default privacy settings that would only allow direct messaging, visibility and sharing features for the users friends (a parent or guardian can override these settings).

Features that contribute to excessive use like autoplay, push notifications and perpetual scrolling are disabled.

Companies are prevented from collecting and selling data.

If youre going to collect minors data, youve got to have parental consent. I think thats very reasonable, said McKell.

A key difference between the 2023 law and the 2024 law are the legislative findings about the mental health impacts of social media, which argue the state has a compelling interest to act.

Let us know what you think...

But in the new complaint, FIRE takes issue with just about every aspect of the bill, including the age verification requirement, content and messaging restrictions and parental consent.

Like its predecessor, the Act purports to aid parental authority, but substitutes that

authority with what the State thinks parents ought to want, reads the complaint, accusing Utah of imposing a vague and overbroad content-based speech restriction, none of which survives constitutional scrutiny.

FIREs lawsuit lists several plaintiffs  Hannah Zoulek, a queer-identifying high school student; Val Snow, an LGBTQ YouTuber who makes videos about cooking and mental health; Lu Ann Cooper and Jessica Christensen, online activists who escaped a polygamous community and now provide resources to people in similar situations; Coopers teenage daughter; and Utah Youth Environmental Solutions, a youth-led environmental advocacy program.

All the plaintiffs argue the law will chill free speech and their ability to reach their digital communities. According to the complaint, they know how minors access to social networks can be literally lifesaving and are concerned that the Legislature chose to throw out the baby with the bathwater.

FIREs complaint echoes the arguments made by NetChoice, which claims the new social media law suffers from many of the same constitutional flaws as the prior law by restricting access to protected speech.

Plus, it introduces new flaws, the complaint reads, such as regulating who minors can speak with absent parental consent. All of these requirements are backed by large, speech-chilling penalties. As a result, the replacement Act, like its predecessor, joins a long list of unconstitutional state attempts to regulate speech to prevent perceived social harms to minors.

Both groups are asking the court to rule that Utahs social media laws are unlawful and void.

The way McKell sees it, those arguments are so disingenuous that he would advise against lawmakers in other states working with companies like Meta or TikTok, who he says gives money to trade organizations that then fight the restrictions in court.

I dont know why lawmakers still need to engage with tech companies in good faith because to be clear, the tech companies are not engaging in good faith, he said. Lawmakers ask me, should I work with Meta? No. Because Meta is going to sue you after you felt like you were working on the issue in good faith.

McKell said the law is still slated to take effect in October, although he acknowledged a judge could issue a stay, effectively pausing the law while the process plays out in the court.

A spokesperson for the Utah Attorney Generals Office declined to comment on pending litigation.

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The post Utah changed its social media laws to avoid constitutional issues, but legal challenges persist appeared first on Utah News Dispatch.
VALLEY, Ala. (WRBL)  Valley police are releasing the names of two victims who were hit and killed by a vehicle this week while cutting grass with a work crew along Interstate 85, as well as the name of a third victim recovering at the hospital.

On Monday, June 10th, at 6:19 PM, officers responded to the deadly crash on I-85 northbound between the 74 and 75-mile markers. The collision involved a vehicle which veered off the roadway and struck several members of a grass-cutting crew working in the median. Tragically, Pablo Gutierrez Cruz, 44, and Reuben Lopez Perez were pronounced dead at the scene. Rumaldo Lopez Perez was airlifted to Columbus for emergency treatment. His current condition remains undisclosed.

Police released the drivers name, 44-year-old Randall Shane Lankford of Valley. Lankford told police he was traveling north in the left lane when a semi-truck in the adjacent lane attempted to merge into his lane. Lankford says he veered off the roadway to avoid a collision, subsequently losing control of his vehicle and striking the workers.

Troopers with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) and the Lee County Coroners office are collaborating in the ongoing investigation.

Witnesses of the crash are encouraged to contact the Valley Police Department at 334-756-5200. Alternatively, tips can be submitted to Valley Area Crime Stoppers at 334-215-STOP, 1-833-AL1-STOP, or via email at www.215stop.com.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WRBL.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  A Vancouver man accused of stabbing his estranged wife to death in 2021 as part of a religious prophecy has been found not guilty by reason of insanity, according to court documents.

In a decision filed June 6, Clark County Superior Court Judge Suzan Clark found Michael Murrah suffered a mental disease or defect at the time of the stabbing death of Monica Murrah  also known as Star Murrah which constituted first-degree murder and domestic violence while armed with a deadly weapon, court documents said.

That decision was reached after three medical experts, who were cited in court documents, found he suffered a mental disease after evaluating him, although the experts did not agree on the underlying cause of Michael Murrahs psychosis.

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The court furthered that Murrah is a substantial danger and should be kept in the state mental hospital.

In a statement to KOIN 6 News, prosecutor Lauren Boyd said Judge Clark was forced to make a difficult decision in a tragic case. But our office agrees that Judge Clark made the correct decision given the opinions of both the States and the defenses experts. We are incredibly sad for Star Murrah and her family.

During the 2021 incident, officers responded to Monicas home on F Street just after 10:30 a.m. where they found Michael Murrah had a red substance on his hands they believed to be blood, according to probable cause documents.

Man with aggressive German shepherd killed by Vancouver police

The person who found Monica Murrah called 9-1-1 and performed first aid until other officers and paramedics came to the scene, according to the affidavit.

Officers who treated Monica at the scene noticed she had numerous injuries to her person, including her neck, according to the affidavit. She later died at a local hospital from her injuries.

Authorities said the couples 8-year-old son was also in the home when the deadly attack happened. The child was not physically injured.

According to the statement of the officer who advised Michael Murrah of his Miranda Rights, which the affidavit said were waived, Murrah admitted he stabbed someone who he identified as starbeast.

The affidavit went on to say Murrah killed starbeast to fulfill a prophecy.

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Murrah also told the arresting officer He was filling a commandment and prophecy from the lord and savior Jesus Christ. Jesus told him to make a sacrifice for the good of all, according to court documents.

Judge Clarks June 6 filing said Murrahs mental disease or defect is supported by previous mental health records, including multiple diagnoses by mental health professionals, prescriptions for psychotropic medications, and reports from the first responding officers and jail medical records.

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According to court documents, Murrah sought therapy between August 2020 and November 2021. During that period, he consistently reported hallucinations, hearing voices, psychosis, and religious delusions, court documents stated.

Court documents show Monica filed for a restraining order against her husband in July 2020 amid their ongoing divorce.

In the court filing for the restraining order, she wrote Michael has threatened suicide during arguments. One time he even grabbed a large knife and sat outside our bedroom threatening to kill himself. Im terrified if he does, what if he kills me and our son also.

In the petition, she also claimed there were other instances of emotional and physical abuse to her and her son. However, Commissioner Carin Schienberg ruled there wasnt enough evidence of domestic violence and denied the protection order.

KOIN 6 News reached out to Shon Bogar, an attorney representing Murrah. This story will be updated if we receive a response.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
Vatican employee accused of stealing priceless Bernini manuscript from archives and trying to sell it for $130k

A former employee for the organization that maintains St Peters Basilica, pictured, was arrested after police say he stole a seventeenth-century manuscript (AFP via Getty Images)

A former Vatican employee has been arrested after police say he stole a 391-year-old manuscript from an archive, then tried to sell it.

The man, identified by Italian media as Alfio Maria Daniele Pergolizzi, is accused of stealing a 17th-century manuscript by Gian Lorenzo Bernini that includes plans for the decorative gilded features of St. Peters Basilica.

Alessandro Diddi, promoter of justice for the Vatican, will decide this week if the man will be formally indicted, Reuters reports.

Pergolizzi previously worked as the head of communications at the Fabric of St. Peter, which conserves and maintains the Basilica, The Art Newspaper reports.

The man was arrested in a sting operation last month when Mauro Gambietti, head of administration at the Basilica, teamed up with Vatican investigators and met with the former employee.

A former employee for the organization that maintains St Peters Basilica, pictured, was arrested after police say he stole a seventeenth-century manuscript (AFP via Getty Images)

The former Fabric employee then sold Gambietti the manuscript for $130,000  but Vatican police swept in to arrest him after he left the meeting, according to The Art Newspaper.

While authorities say he stole the manuscript, Pergolizzi says he was given the manuscript by the late Monsignor Vittorino Canciani, a former canon of St Peters Basilica.

The manuscript is now back with the Vatican, Reuters reports.

Gian Lorenzo Bernini, whose manuscript authorities say was stolen from the Vatican, crafted the statues pictured above displayed in St Peters Square (Getty Images)

This is not the first time a reported theft has rocked the Vatican.

In 2017, Italian journalist Emiliano Fittipaldi published a document that authorities claimed was stolen from a locked cabinet in the Vatican.

The document, Fittipaldi claimed, pertained to Emanuela Orlandi, a 15-year-old who went missing in Rome in 1983. He said the document was written by a cardinal and listed expenses for Emanuelas accommodations in London between 1983 and 1997.

The same journalist was also prosecuted and cleared by an Italian court for publishing financial documents stolen from the Vatican, a scandal known as Vatileaks.
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY)  The Rev. Rob Cole of St. John the Apostle Church has until Wednesday to decide if he wants to resign as pastor or take leave while he challenges his removal. This decision comes in the wake of an investigation by The Diocese of Richmond into claims made against a now-deceased parent at the parish school.

The Diocese put Rev. Cole on temporary leave last month after a parish parent went public with allegations of sexual abuse against another parishioner involving her daughter.

Richmond Diocese investigating sexual abuse allegations involving Virginia Beach students

Meredith Hatchell, the mother of a St. John student, told WAVY she had notified school officials in early May that a parent, whom she later identified as Vincent Jakawich, had allegedly molested her daughter. Hatchell also informed the school that she had reported the allegation to the Virginia Beach Police Department (VBPD).

She told WAVY that on May 8, her 12-year-old daughter told her that a neighbor allegedly had sexually abused her when she was seven. Her daughter identified the man as 45-year-old Jakawich.

Hatchell also told WAVY there were indications that Jakawich took his own life in Currituck County, North Carolina, shortly after these allegations emerged.

WAVY 10 reached out to VBPD, asking if they were continuing to investigate the allegations brought forth by Hatchell.

VBPD responded, stating the report was exceptionally cleared due to the death of the accused. They said they also provided Hatchell with support resources.

The diocese said in a May statement that during its investigation, Cole had been placed on temporary leave, and that St. John the Apostle Principal Mariam Cotton had decided to retire.

Following a meeting on June 7 between Cole and Bishop of Richmond Barry Knestout, the SJA mens rosary group Sword of Truth described in a letter to members the options from which Cole must choose.

He could step down and be given a new assignment role in the diocese, although the letter said the bishop has not decided what this new assignment would be, or he could choose to fight the case under church law, which means he must leave the parish and have no financial support.

That option would require him to hire a canon lawyer  an expert in the legal systems that govern the Catholic Church  for what is typically a lengthy process.

The diocese did not respond immediately to questions from WAVY about why Cole is facing sanctions.

Hatchell distributed notes to parents that identified Jakawich and advised parents to talk with their kids if theyve ever spent time at the Jakawich home.

Parishioners who have spoken with WAVY have been supportive of Cole, who has led the parish for about 15 years.

My sons were baptized here. They had their first communion and confirmation here, Jerry Donnelly said Monday afternoon while expressing surprise the development. But I also was lucky I saw father Rob at One Life Fitness a lot. So outside the church, very down to earth, well-spoken, friendly, always going out his way to talk to members.

To say the members of this parish are devastated would be an understatement, parishioner Paul Kenney wrote in an email to WAVY over the weekend.

Continue to check WAVY.com for updates.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com.
VBPD: Man arrested in connection with May 19 shooting

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY)  A man was arrested on Monday in connection with a May 19 shooting on Hampshire Lane.

Mario Feather (Courtesy: VBPD)

Officers with the Virginia Beach Police Department (VBPD) responded to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital on May 19 just after 1:10 a.m. for reports of an adult male with a gunshot wound.

Officers arrived to the hospital, where the victim informed detectives that the incident occurred in the 5700 block of Hampshire Lane around midnight.

Following an investigation, felony warrants were obtained on 58-year-old Mario Feather for aggravated malicious wounding, use of a firearm in commission of a felony, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and discharge of a firearm in a public space.

According to officials, Feather was apprehended on June 10.

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.
Vegan activists have vandalised a portrait of the King that was unveiled last month.

Footage shows two Animal Rising protesters appearing to deface the painting, by Jonathan Yeo, with Wallace and Gromit stickers.

The men use rollers to plaster a picture of Wallace, from the film series Wallace and Gromit, alongside a quote which states: No cheese, Gromit. Look at all this cruelty on RSPCA farms.

A statement from the activist group said they had chosen to redecorate the portrait of the King, in Philip Mould Gallery in Pall Mall, to bring attention to animal cruelty.

The portrait was defaced with a picture of Wallace, from Wallace and Gromit, with a quote which states: 'No cheese, Gromit. Look at all this cruelty on RSPCA farms'

The group said the action was intended to raise awareness of Animal Risings investigation of 45 RSPCA Assured farms, described as indefensible by Chris Packham and effectively fraud by Crown Court Judge Ayesha Smart.

The activists claimed they were making reference to the Kings status as royal patron of the RSPCA, as well as his apparent love of Wallace and Gromit. In 2012 the former Duchess of Cornwall said her husband enjoyed watching the Aardman characters.

Daniel Juniper, a former early years practitioner and one of those involved said: With King Charles being such a big fan of Wallace and Gromit, we couldnt think of a better way to draw his attention to the horrific scenes on RSPCA Assured farms! Even though we hope this is amusing to His Majesty, we also call on him to seriously reconsider if he wants to be associated with the awful suffering across farms being endorsed by the RSPCA.

Charles has made it clear he is sensitive to the suffering of animals in UK farms; now is the perfect time for him to step up and call on the RSPCA to drop the Assured Scheme and tell the truth about animal farming.

The Animal Rising report contains investigations from 45 farms across the UK  including chickens, pigs, salmon, and trout. It alleges 280 legal breaches and 94 breaches of Defra regulations.

The portrait  the first official one of the King since the Coronation  will be on public display at the gallery until June 21.

The portrait of the King is on public display at the Philip Mould Gallery - Anadolu via Getty Images

Yeo began work on it in 2021 with sittings at Highgrove and Clarence House. The final of four sittings took place in November 2023, with the artist aiming to capture His Majestys life experiences and how his role in our public life has transformed.

The portrait was unveiled by the King, in front of the Queen, the artist and his family, at Buckingham Palace.

The King unveils the portrait at Buckingham Palace - AARON CHOWN/AFP

No damage to painting

Philip Mould told The Telegraph he was delighted to say there was absolutely no damage to the painting.

It is understood there were four perpetrators responsible for the stunt, two of whom were filming.

They entered the gallery wearing rucksacks and as members of the public.

Mr Juniper, the activist, also claimed onlookers loved the spectacle, saying: We put up the posters nice and smoothly and as soon as we did people started chuckling behind us.

There was a buzz around the gallery, people came and talked to us, took photos of us and then we were politely asked to leave. People came up and said they loved it.

The protesters placed Wallace and Gromit stickers on the portrait

He added: The staff member asked us what we were doing and why and let us talk about what we wanted to talk about.

He wasnt negative. He was concerned for the painting and we then took the speech bubble off and they took the (face) down later.

Staff later unpeeled the two Wallace and Gromit themed stickers and asked the protesters to leave.

We are shocked by this vandalism

An RSPCA spokesman said: We are shocked by this vandalism of His Majesty (the) King, our patrons, portrait.

We welcome scrutiny of our work, but we cannot condone illegal activity of any kind. Our staff and volunteers work extremely hard rescuing, caring for, and speaking up for animals.

Animal Risings sustained activity is distracting from our focus on the work that really matters - helping thousands of animals every day.

We remain confident that our RSPCA Assured scheme is the best way to help farmed animals right now, while campaigning to change their lives in the future.

They added that any concerns about welfare on RSPCA Assured certified farms were taken extremely seriously and an investigation had already been launched.

The gallery has reported the incident to the police. The Metropolitan Police was contacted for comment. Buckingham Palace declined to comment.

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Vicious beating. Former Kentucky prison guard going behind bars in assault of inmate

A former Kentucky prison supervisor who did not stop guards from beating a prisoner and then lied to investigators has been sentenced to seven years in federal prison.

Eric Nantell, 48, was a sergeant at the Eastern Kentucky Correctional Complex in Morgan County in July 2018 when three guards punched and kicked a prisoner in a shower, according to court documents.

The man had swallowed drugs before the incident to keep guards from confiscating them.

He was handcuffed and in leg shackles during the attack and was not fighting with officers, according to the court record.

Nantell did not take part in the assault but was standing nearby. He watched the assault, did nothing to stop it and then walked away while the other officers continued to hit the victim, federal authorities charged.

A jury convicted Nantell of one count of depriving the inmate of the right to be free from excessive force; two charges of misleading investigators from the prison system and Kentucky State Police; and one count of lying to an FBI agent.

Nantells attorney, Eldred E. Bud Adams Jr., argued for a lower sentence for Nantell, writing in a sentencing memorandum that Nantell had a good record as an officer and had been punished by being convicted and losing his livelihood.

Adams said it was unrealistic that Nantell could have broken up the assault and that trying to do so could have placed him in danger.

Three to one odds are not very good, Adams wrote, referring to the fact that there were three guards hitting the man.

But the prosecutor, Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary D. Dembo, said in a sentencing memo that Nantell was the highest-ranking officer at the scene and that other officers looked to him for guidance.

One officer who took part in the assault testified that if Nantell had said anything at all indicating he felt the assault was unacceptable, the beating would have stopped immediately, Dembo wrote.

While the evidence shows that the defendant did not personally harm the victim, he is responsible for every blow that occurred after he recognized that a vicious prison beating was happening right in front of him and chose not to stop it, the prosecutor said.

Corrections officers like Nantell who allow abuse of incarcerated people create distrust in the justice system that makes the job more difficult and dangerous for officers who follow the rules, Dembo said.

The prosecutor also said Nantell had several opportunities to tell investigators the truth, but urged other prison staffers to stick with the story theyd come up with to cover up the assault, and called one who told the truth a rat.

U.S. District Judge David Bunning sentenced Nantell Monday in federal court in Ashland.

Adams said Nantell is considering whether to appeal his conviction.

Nantell was one of seven one-time employees at the prison charged in the case. The six others pleaded guilty without going to trial.

The three officers who took part in the assault were Randall Dennis, James Benish and Jeffery Havens.

Bunning sentenced Dennis to five years in prison; Benish to 27 months; and Havens to 15 months.

Randy Nickell, Nathan Cantrell and Derek Mays were in the hallway outside the shower and were charged in covering up the crime.

Bunning sentenced each of them to one month behind bars, along with five months on home incarceration for Nickell and Cantrell.
AKRON, Ohio (WJW)  Officials have released the identity of a man who was shot and killed in Akron over the weekend.

The shooting took place Saturday, June 8 at about 3:30 p.m. Officers were called to the corner of Raymond and Bartges Streets. Upon arrival, they found a man who had been shot in the back. Officials said he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Giant Eagle stabbing: Julian Woods suspected killer claims shes killed before

This embedded content is not available in your region.

The Summit County Medical Examiner has now identified the victim as Antwan James Edwards, 20, of Akron. The cause of death was determined to be a gunshot wound to the torso, according to a Tuesday press release.

According to police, multiple male subjects were in the area at the time of the shooting and were seen dispersing quickly. No arrests were immediately made.

Family, community calling for change after boy goes missing in Lake Erie

Those with information are asked to reach out to Akron detectives at 330-375-2490. Anonymous tips can also be made to Summit County Crimestoppers at 330-434-COPS.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
JERUSALEM, June 11 (Xinhua) -- An Israeli official said on Tuesday that Israel had received Hamas's response to the U.S.-drafted proposal for a ceasefire-hostage release deal and the movement had rejected it, Israel's state-owned Kan TV news reported.

Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad said in a joint statement earlier in the day that they had delivered their response to the proposal to Qatari and Egyptian mediators, expressing a "willingness to deal positively in order to reach an agreement." They emphasized their priority of stopping the war in the Gaza Strip and ensuring the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from the territory.

Israel has yet to formally announce its position, although both U.S. President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had endorsed the proposal.

White House spokesman John Kirby said the U.S. had received Hamas's response and was evaluating it. 
(Illustration by States Newsroom)

An outgoing member of the State Air Pollution Control Board  whose repeated attempts to raise awareness about environmental justice concerns helped halt the construction of a Mountain Valley Pipeline compressor station in Pittsylvania County  called for her successor, who will be appointed by Gov. Glenn Youngkin, to maintain a keen focus on how energy projects can disproportionately impact communities in Virginia.

Once an incoming board member begins in their new role, the air board will consist of a full slate of appointees selected by Youngkin, whose administrations handling of environmental justice policy has been scrutinized by advocates and lawmakers.

Hope Cupit said at the air board meeting last Wednesday she felt a need to express a profound concern that I hope will resonate with all of you.

Environmental justice is not merely a catch phrase, Cupit continued. It is a fundamental principle that will guide us in ensuring communities, especially those historically marginalized, have a voice in decisions that affect their health and well-being.

Abbreviated as EJ, environmental justice is defined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as the just treatment and meaningful involvement of all people, regardless of income, race, color, national origin, Tribal affiliation, or disability, in agency decision-making and other Federal activities that affect human health and the environment. The Virginia Environmental Justice Act, passed in 2020, seeks to promote environmental justice and ensure that it is carried out throughout the commonwealth.

Environmental justice became more of a focal point of Virginia regulations after a controversial permit for the Chickahominy Power Station in Charles City County was approved by the air board, leading to strong community opposition and the creation of a public engagement committee in 2019. The power station was canceled in the wake of the outcry; the public engagement committee, which the Virginia Manufacturers Association previously said led to costly delays for project approvals, discontinued activity in 2022 under the direction of air board chairman James Patrick Guy, a Youngkin appointee who still chairs the board. The air board is tasked with reviewing regulation requests for everything from carbon markets and vehicle emission standards, to permits for power plants, in order to monitor and control emissions that pollute the environment.

In several parts of the state, other projects have faced setbacks and scrutiny for how they could disproportionately impact the environment and quality of life in communities of color.

In January 2020, the Richmond-based U.S. Court of Appeals 4th Circuit overturned an air permit for the now-canceled natural gas Atlantic Coast Pipelines pollution-emitting compressor station, which would have been sited in the predominantly Black community of Union Hill in Buckingham County, citing a lack of environmental justice consideration.

In 2021, Mountain Valley Pipeline developers couldnt obtain an air permit from the Department of Environmental Quality for a planned compressor station in Pittsylvania Countys Lambert, after the air board pointed out DEQ considered Lambert an environmental justice community which could be disproportionately impacted by the compressor.

Cupit, as well as board member Lornel Tompkins, whose term will also expire June 30, advocated for more state consideration of the people who lived nearest the proposed compressor. They referenced DEQs analysis that found 32% of those living within one mile of the compressor station would be Black  although Black people comprise just 20% of the states population. The same report said 31% of residents within five miles of the site were low-income.

Following that decision, a 2022 law moved approval of air permits to the DEQ agency level, which provides greater administrative control over requests than the more public, citizen-compromised air board, unless they are deemed controversial.

The presence of an environmental justice advocate on this board has been crucial in bringing these issues to the forefront, Cupit said Wednesday. My role is to amplify the voices of those who are often ignored.

Board chair Guy said Cupit and Tompkins have given stellar service, while being very attentive with a great deal of integrity. He thanked the women for their service to the state and also said its safe to assume Cupits replacement would be seated by the next board meeting.

A DEQ spokesperson said the next air board meeting hasnt been scheduled yet, but they are typically held quarterly.

Democratic legislators and environmental groups have criticized Youngkins commitment to environmental justice after he announced his appointments to the Virginia Council on Environmental Justice, which was created by the Environmental Justice Act. The governors appointments came after long-running vacancies on the council, which members said stymied their work, and after he vetoed a bill by Del. Mike Jones, D-Richmond, that would have required him to fill the vacancies by August. Youngkins board picks were affiliated with the waste, labor, infrastructure, fossil fuel and electric industries.

Theyre not terrible people; its just, where are they going to be as it relates to environmental justice? Jones said about Youngkins appointees in a previous interview with the Mercury. We have to get people who understand the challenges faced by communities that for such a long time [have] been negatively impacted by a lot of the decisions that have been made by the energy community.

In response to Jones concerns, Youngkin spokesperson Christian Martinez previously said the Governors appointments reflect a variety of communities and stakeholders across Virginia who are committed to furthering Governor Youngkins efforts to protect our natural resources and vulnerable communities throughout the Commonwealth.

Lee Francis, deputy director for the League of Conservation Voters, said Youngkins administration hasnt shown that it takes environmental justice seriously at all.

Im not holding my breath  that [a Youngkin appointee] doesnt represent an industry theyre supposed to regulate, because that has been the trend.

The post Virginia air board member wants continued environmental justice focus appeared first on Virginia Mercury.
Kristen Fenty of Virginia Beach says her daughter Lauren only got one moment of physical proximity to the father she never got a chance to know. It happened when she was a baby, still small enough to be lifted onto her fathers casket.

As a room full of government officials listened Monday, Fenty told the group that her daughter  who was 28 days old in 2006 when her dad, Lt. Col. Joe Fenty, was killed in a helicopter crash  is now 18, preparing to go to college and hoping to eventually go to medical school.

But a tuition waiver program Fenty assumed would help pay for her daughters education, the Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program, has been thrown into limbo due to state leaders controversial efforts to cut the programs growing costs.

Societies that do not share the cost of war topple, Fenty said, adding that she hopes the Virginia General Assembly will right this wrong.

At the first meeting of a bipartisan task force Gov. Glenn Youngkin convened to study the VMSDEP program and its growing financial impact on Virginias public higher education system, Youngkin administration officials and General Assembly members said they were committed to listening to military families and see their well-being as a top policy priority. Fenty was one of several military spouses and veterans selected to serve on the task force, which she called both an honor and an agony.

Over the course of several hours Monday afternoon at the Virginia War Memorial building in Richmond, public officials mostly took a rhetorical beating from military veterans and Gold Star spouses who said they felt betrayed by an insular, out-of-touch political class.

These past two months have shown me the ugly side of Virginias government, said task force member Donna Lewis, a mother of three whose husband was killed in combat in Iraq. Countless senators and delegates we met with said they were told the impact on our families would be minimal.

Lewis said she hoped the task force would be productive, but was skeptical after watching what she called institutional betrayal in its highest form.

The Virginia War Memorial in Richmond. (Graham Moomaw/Virginia Mercury)

General Assembly leaders have pointed to data showing the VMSDEP program, which provides tuition waivers to spouses and children of military members killed or permanently disabled as a result of their service, has grown exponentially over the last five years. With VMSDEP beneficiaries essentially given the opportunity to go to college for free, some Virginia universities have raised concerns that they cant continue absorbing the costs of enrolling a growing number of VMSDEP beneficiaries that dont pay tuition. Those added costs, some policymakers have argued, will ultimately be felt by taxpayers at large or by tuition-paying students who might have less ability to pay than families receiving military benefits.

According to data presented by state officials, VMSDEP participation has grown by nearly 350% over the last five years, jumping from 1,400 students in 2019 to 6,400 in 2023.

The revised program imposes a stricter Virginia residency requirement, prevents the waivers from being used for advanced degrees or a second undergraduate degree and requires participants to first pursue other forms of financial aid and only use VMSDEP for remaining costs.

The attempted trimming of the program enraged military veterans and their families, who have bristled at the idea theyre becoming a burden on public universities that they say dont seem particularly hard up for cash. Supporters of the VMSDEP program also contend its a benefit earned through the sacrifices of adults and children alike and shouldnt be tied to a familys ability to pay like other forms of financial aid. Policymakers attempts to shield current VMSDEP beneficiaries from the changes fell short, the critics argue, by being unclear and leaving many families uncertain about their status.

The General Assembly is already planning to reconvene later this month to undo the changes to the VMSDEP program and take a closer look at its eligibility rules and how they could be reformed. The task force, made up of General Assembly members, cabinet officials, higher education officials, veteran services officials and military families themselves, is supposed to be studying VMSDEP and issuing recommendations for the 2025 legislative session.

You have made numbers come alive, Youngkin Secretary of Education Aimee Guidera told the crowd at the conclusion of Mondays meeting. And thats what matters. And its emotional.

House of Delegates leaders have specified their chamber will return on June 28 and intend to fully reverse the VMSDEP changes. Speaking with reporters after Mondays meeting, House Appropriations Chairman Luke Torian, D-Prince William, said he and others who supported the VMSDEP changes had sincere concerns about the programs growth and were trying to look out for the states best interests.

Obviously, from what were hearing, it went sideways, Torian said. Were going to move forward. Were going to address the concerns.

The plan for the state Senate is less clear, but Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell, D-Fairfax, said the Senate expects to announce more detail later this week.

Senate Finance and Appropriations Chair Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, attended Mondays task force meeting virtually and gave only brief introductory remarks.

There is no stronger supporter of our military families than I am, said Lucas.

The task force was part of Youngkins response to a furor that erupted when the VMSDEP changes were included in a bipartisan budget deal approved on May 13. Though changes to VMSDEP were on the table in the General Assemblys regular session, the final budget deal was mostly crafted behind closed doors and approved quickly.

At the time, both parties were eager to get the overdue budget done and avert the prospect of a government shutdown come July 1. But Youngkin, who signed the budget, and the General Assembly, which passed it by a wide margin, are now under pressure to come back before July 1 to reverse the VMSDEP changes and restore the program to its former state.

The task forces first meeting mostly focused on introductions and taking public comment, almost all of which was infused with indignation at the officials listening from the other side of the table.

ormer U.S. Navy Seal Jason Redman, who was wounded in Iraq, criticized Virginia officials for what he described as backtracking on commitments to military veterans and their families. (Graham Moomaw/Virginia Mercury)

Jason Redman, a former U.S. Navy Seal and Old Dominion University graduate who was badly wounded in Iraq, said people signing up for military service are given assurances that, if the worst happens, their loved ones will be taken care of.

Youre saying that it is too hard to sustain this program to families that have buried a loved one for your freedom, Redman said. To warriors who have endured loss of limb, eyesight, function, disfigurement and permanent disability.  This is appalling.

Brian Smith, a military veteran who said he now works as an eighth grade civics teacher, said that during his service he could never make promises to his daughter that he would be there for any particular holiday or birthday. Expecting VMSDEP to cover college costs, he said, was a promise he thought could be kept.

What lesson am I taking back to my eighth graders about government?, he said. Can you help me out with that?

Virginia Mercury is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Virginia Mercury maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Samantha Willis for questions: info@virginiamercury.com. Follow Virginia Mercury on Facebook and Twitter.

This article originally published on Virginia Mercury as At task force meeting, military families rip ugly side of Virginias government. Military Times has edited the headline.
RICHMOND, Va. (WAVY)  Attorney General Jason Miyares announced Tuesday that Virginia is part of a $700 million nationwide settlement against Johnson & Johnson related to the companys products that contained talc.

The popular baby powder and body powder products were sold for more than 100 years. As part of the lawsuit, J&J agreed to stop selling these products.

While this lawsuit targeted the deceptive marketing of the products, there are additional class actions alleging that talc causes serious health issues, including mesothelioma and ovarian cancer.

J&J subsidiary proposes paying about $6.48B over 25 years to settle talc ovarian cancer lawsuits

Deceptive or false marketing of any kind of product will not be tolerated in the Commonwealth, but especially when those products could negatively impact a consumers health, said Attorney General Miyares. This settlement reflects the severity of the conduct, and our commitment to keeping consumer products safe for Virginians.

Virginia will receive $21.1 million as part of the settlement. A total of 43 state attorneys general were part of the lawsuit. The settlement is pending judicial approval in the Richmond City Circuit Court.

Click here to read the 23-page settlement.

Despite this lawsuit and other allegations, J&J has continued to stand by the safety of its products.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Ukraine will receive 1.5 billion euros ($1.6 billion) in Russian frozen assets revenue in July and 1.9 billion euros ($2 billion) under the Ukraine Facility already this month, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on June 11.

"We have always said that Russia must be held accountable for its crimes, and now we make Russia pay," von der Leyen said at the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Berlin.

The EU Council agreed on May 21 to use profits from the frozen Russian sovereign assets to aid Ukraine. 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.

EU officials previously said that Ukraine could receive the first tranche already this summer. Ukraine's Western partners and other allies froze around $300 billion in Russian assets at the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022.

The EU also agreed earlier this year to allocate 33 billion euros ($36 billion) in loans and 17 billion euros ($18 billion) in grants to Ukraine under the four-year Ukraine Facility program.

Kyiv already received two pre-financing "bridge" tranches under the assistance plan: 4.5 billion euros ($4.8 billion) in March and 1.5 billion euros ($1.6 billion) in April.

According to Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, Kyiv should receive 16 billion euros ($17.4 billion) through the program in 2024.

Speaking at the conference, von der Leyen said that the matter of how to best funnel proceeds from Russian assets to Ukraine will be discussed also at the Group of Seven conference in Italy later this week.

Read also: Biden, Macron reach agreement on using profits from frozen Russian assets for Ukraine

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Want to work with kids in a creative, outdoor setting? Here are 8 seasonal jobs in Tacoma

Are you looking for a temporary or seasonal job that involves working with kids this summer?

Seasonal jobs are good options for people to gain experience and learn new skills. Whether youre a college student looking to make some extra cash this summer or if youre looking try something new, there could be a job waiting for you.

Here are eight seasonal job openings in Tacoma and Pierce County listed on Indeed and on the Government Jobs website with wages ranging from over $17 to $50 per hour.

Seasonal jobs in Pierce County

Parks camp counselor - Deep Roots Day Camp

Salary: $17.63, hourly

Description: Lead, supervise and engage with campers throughout the day camp while maintaining a clean and safe environment. Counselors will also assist with other duties including check-in and check-outs as well as setting up and breaking down camp activities.

Requirements: Must be at least 18-years-old with a high school diploma or GED, have some experience working with children and must be able to work in a high-energy environment and lift 25 pounds.

Summer camp STEM instructor - Snapology

Salary: $25, hourly

Description: Instruct, monitor and lead groups of students through curriculum-guided activities while maintaining a fun, but organized environment.

Requirements: A minimum of two years working with children, a current background check and the ability to communicate and establish a cooperative work environment with others. An education degree or teaching experience is recommended, but not required.

Summer teen director - YMCA of Pierce and Kitsap Counties

Salary: $24-$26, hourly

Description: Develop and plan curriculum and programs that incorporate teen activity trends in conjunction with other staff curriculum. Teen director must also assist with family events and work with the outreach team to develop a marketing plan that reaches teens.

Requirements: A Bachelors degree in social work, physical education, education or a related field or equivalent experience. Must complete an online child abuse prevention training on the first day of employment and any other training.

Summer camp stage/costume design instructor - Tacoma Urban Performing Arts Center

Salary: $25-$50, hourly

Description: Develop, teach and guide campers on stage and costume design for the production of Disneys The Lion King. The instructor is also tasked with coordinating with the production team to ensure the ideas for the stage and costumes designs align with the overall vision and showcase the campers designs at the final showcase.

Requirements: Previous experience in costume or stage design as well as experience working with children in an educational or camp setting.

Summer camp choreographer/sr. counselor - Tacoma Urban Performing Arts Center

Salary: $25-$39, hourly

Description: Design, teach and lead choreography rehearsals that reflect the theme for the production of Disneys The Lion King while assisting the camp director with planning and organization of daily camp activities.

Requirements: Must be at least 18-years-old with previous experience as a choreographer or dance instructor and strong communication and leadership abilities.

Summer Teen Late Night recreational leader II - Metro Parks Tacoma

Salary: $27.18- $28.85, hourly

Description: Teach, supervise and facilitate activities to kids between the ages of 11 and 18 during the late-night program that will help grow their social skills.

Requirements: Demonstrate knowledge of safety guidelines and skills in overseeing others while maintaining effective working relationships with others on staff.

Summer camp musical director - Tacoma Urban Performing Arts Center

Salary: $25-$50, hourly

Description: Collaborate with other creative team members to develop a musical plan for the production of Disneys The Lion King, lead and direct rehearsals with campers and adapt the music to be suitable for the campers.

Requirements: At least three years studying music, vocal or instrumental and strong communication and leadership skills.

Camp counselor - Parks Specialized Recreation

Salary: $17.63, hourly

Description: Supervise and assist campers while participating in staff meetings and performing duties assigned by the camp director.

Requirements: Must be at least 18-years-old with a high school diploma or GED with previous participation in recreation programming. Will be required to obtain CPR/First Aid certification within 30 days of employment.
'We want this town to succeed': Kim Reynolds tours tornado-hit towns of Minden, Greenfield

MINDEN  Gov. Kim Reynolds watched Tuesday as trucks trundled through town carrying loads of debris as crews worked to clear away buildings irreparably damaged by the tornado that tore through the community in April.

The visit to Minden was part of a tour of four western Iowa communities damaged by storms in a spring marked by an unusually high number of tornadoes. In each town, Reynolds heard from local officials who shared concerns about the assistance they need from the state and federal government as they rebuild.

More: Years-long recovery ahead for Minden: 'Hard to believe' what tornado destroyed, what's intact

"We want this town to succeed. We want people to stay. We want to get them up and going," she said in Minden. "And that means business, that means housing, that means the water treatment plant and just making sure that were making all of the available resources available to them so they can make decisions."

Reynolds visited Harlan on Tuesday morning, ahead of her stop in Minden. Later in the day, the governor was set to visit Corning and Greenfield, where an EF4 tornado on May 21 killed five people. In Greenfield alone, the tornado injured 35 people and damaged or destroyed about 150 homes.

Gov. Reynolds visits Minden after EF3 tornado

Remaining debris from tornado damage can be seen from businesses in downtown Minden on Tuesday, June 11, 2024.

Minden, a small town in Pottawattamie County, was hit by an EF3 tornado that killed one person and injured three others during a series of storms that tore through Iowa on April 26. Approximately 40% of homes in the 600-person town were damaged, and 48 homes were destroyed.

Mayor Kevin Zimmerman said homeowners and businesses are waiting on insurance companies to tell them what they'll cover, but the process has been slower than he'd like. He said the companies are "kind of dicking them around a little bit."

"Its been a month and a half," Zimmerman said. "If the building is on the ground, its a total loss, I would think. But I guess they need a structural engineer to tell them that. So it makes no sense to me. But they need to just get off the fence and give them some answers so they can go to the next step."

The mayor has been fighting his own battle with his insurance company at a rental house he owns in town.

"The house got lifted and set back down on the foundation. The foundations cracked all the way around," the frustrated mayor said. "Theyre not paying me a dime for the foundation, and theyre saying the house can be fixed."

More: Digging into Iowa's historic 2024 tornado season: How rare was Greenfield's EF-4 tornado?

Reynolds said she's hearing similar concerns about insurance in all the towns she's visited, including Greenfield.

"We need to understand what insurance is going to cover and then what theyre not going to cover and then that kicks in some of the other options," she said.

State and federal disaster declarations have been issued for a swath of counties including those surrounding Minden and Greenfield, giving residents access to a range of financial assistance and other resources.

One of Minden's biggest needs is a new water treatment plant to replace the one the tornado destroyed. The town is paying $350,000 for temporary water service, and it's working to get approval to build a new plant down the road so the temporary plant can keep operating in the meantime.

Reynolds called the water treatment plant "a top priority" and said the state recently submitted some information to the Federal Emergency Management Agency to review.

"We'll hopefully get some good news on that," she said.

Zimmerman told reporters Tuesday there are about 11 homes and nine businesses that still need to be torn down and cleared.

These are some of the homes damaged in an April tornado in Minden as recovery efforts continue on Tuesday, June 11, 2024.

Many of the town's residents want to rebuild, the mayor said, especially older residents. About a dozen don't know if they'll be able to afford to rebuild without financial help.

Zimmerman said assistance from Pottawattamie County, the state and other local communities has been "awesome."

"The states been here," he said. "Ive been able to call Kim and ask her something and ask her something and within a couple hours that question was answered."

Gov. Kim Reynolds talks with local officials during a visit to Minden, IA, to see recovery efforts after a tornado hit the small town in April.

Minden has always been an attractive community to live in for people in the surrounding area, Zimmerman said. The city is planning to build a new housing development to the north of town, but that will likely be delayed after the storm.

The community has a grocery store, a doctor's office and a drugstore, although some were damaged or destroyed by the tornado. He's hoping most of those businesses will come back.

"Thats why people wanted to live here," he said. "So weve just got to work hard at it."

More: 'Somehow I'm here': Neighbors say four people died in powerful Greenfield tornado

Reynolds tours Greenfield, sees recovery three weeks after tornado

Gov. Reynolds' last stop on a day of visiting communities struck by tornadoes in recent weeks was in Greenfield.

Three weeks after being hit by an EF4 tornado, recovery is well underway.

"I am just blown away by the amount of progress they've made," Reynolds said. "To come back now and just see the progress  it's incredible."

According to Reynolds and Iowa Emergency Management, ongoing efforts include continuing to clean up debris and figuring out short- and long-term housing solutions for those who lost their homes in the storm.

"There's still a lot of work to do," Reynolds said. "Recovery is the hard part. We're so focused on cleaning and getting the debris out of the way and getting ready to move on to the next phase."

According to Jeremy Cooper of Adair County Emergency Management, about 30 homes still need to be demolished and even more require repairs.

"I definitely didn't anticipate seeing it as cleaned up as it is today," Cooper said. "It's already been three weeks, and... I mean... it's unimaginable."

Tuesday afternoon, it was announced that the town will still serve as the day 3 meeting town for RAGBRAI on July 23.

"It's exciting that RAGBRAI is going to go ahead and come through, and they want to help support the community," Reynolds said.

Before RAGBRAI comes through town, there is still a lot of cleanup to do, but it won't stop there.

"We want those who are impacted to know we're not walking away," Reynolds said. "We're going to work to be innovative and thoughtful in how we can meet the needs and continue to help."

"We're not just going to recover," she continued. "We're going to figure out how we can make this community even more sustainable, more vibrant, a place where people want to stay and move and really help them recover in an even better way."

Kyle Werner is a reporter for the Register. Reach him at kwerner@dmreg.com.

Stephen Gruber-Miller covers the Iowa Statehouse and politics for the Register. He can be reached by email at sgrubermil@registermedia.com or by phone at 515-284-8169. Follow him on Twitter at @sgrubermiller.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Kim Reynolds surveys tornado damage in Greenfield, Minden, Iowa
PALESTINE, Texas (KETK)  The Palestine Police Department arrested a wanted man who reportedly hid drugs inside a washing machine at a laundromat.

Smith County seeking info after offered ride leads to carjacking

According to a release, police were patrolling the area of North Queen Street and West Spring Street on May 31 where they saw Cordero Smith driving a vehicle and recognized him due to numerous outstanding warrants for his arrest. Police reportedly observed Smith enter the County Rub laundromat with another person.

Mugshot of Cordero Smith, courtesy of the Anderson County

When police attempted to arrest Smith after he left the laundromat, he allegedly attempted to evade them. Officers at the scene used their taser and took Smith into custody.

Derrick Jamison fatal shooting in Marshall result of family argument; HCSO investigators

During a search of Smiths vehicle, police reportedly found a firearm and drugs. Officers later spoke with witnesses inside the business and searched a washing machine where Smith had entered and officials said they located suspected methamphetamine that weighed at 22.45 grams concealed under clothing.

Smith was then also charged with possession of a controlled substance and unlawful carry weapon, resisting arrest and evading arrest. He is being held at the Anderson County Jail on a $50,322 bond.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KETK.com | FOX51.com.
Warsaw estimates Russia can store up to 100 tactical nuclear warheads in Kaliningrad

Warsaw estimates that Russia can store approximately 100 tactical nuclear warheads in Kaliningrad Oblast.

Source: Radosaw Sikorski, Polish Foreign Minister, at the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Berlin, as reported by European Pravda

Details: At the conference, Sikorski outlined for fellow Europeans what the Russian danger looks like from Warsaws point of view, emphasising that it is closer than one might think.

Quote: "250 kilometres north of Warsaw is Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave with a storage facility for approximately 100 tactical nuclear warheads. 250 kilometres to the east is Belarus, where Russians and Belarusians organised an attack on the EU border, the border of the Schengen zone," Sikorski said.

In the spring of 2022, Russia's neighbours claimed that Moscow already holds nuclear weapons in the Baltics.

Sikorski also mentioned that Russian missiles that target Ukraine occasionally fly into Poland and sometimes fall within it. "One such missile landed 10 kilometres from my home in Western Poland, 250 kilometres from here... So the threat is closer than everyone realises," he warned.

In April, Sikorski stated there was no cause to be concerned about Russia using nuclear weapons in Ukraine.

The New York Times report made assumptions about where Russian nuclear weapons could be located in Belarus.

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DOHA/CAIRO, June 11 (Xinhua) -- Qatar and Egypt have received a response from Hamas regarding the proposal for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, according to a statement by the Qatari Foreign Ministry on Tuesday.

Hamas and other Palestinian factions responded Tuesday to "the most recent proposal for a ceasefire deal and the exchange of prisoners and detainees," it said.

The two countries confirmed that they are mediating alongside the United States until an agreement is reached, but did not disclose details, according to the statement.

The mediators "will examine the response and coordinate with the parties concerned regarding the next steps," it added.

The Egyptian Foreign Ministry also announced on Tuesday that it had received a response of Hamas and the Palestinian factions to the latest ceasefire proposal and prisoners-detainees swap deal.

In a joint statement sent to Xinhua, the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) and Islamic Jihad said that a delegation from the two movements delivered the Palestinian factions' response on Tuesday to Qatar during a meeting with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, and the response was also delivered to the Egyptian side.

The statement added that the response prioritizes the interests of the Palestinian people and emphasizes the necessity of completely stopping the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip.

It noted that the delegation expressed its readiness to engage positively to reach an agreement that would end this war against the Palestinian people.

The submission of the response follows the adoption by the UN Security Council on Monday of an American draft resolution aiming to reach a comprehensive agreement for a three-phase ceasefire to end the war in Gaza.

The resolution was adopted with 14 votes in favor and Russia abstaining. According to the resolution, the first phase includes an "immediate and complete ceasefire with the release of hostages and the exchange of Palestinian prisoners."

The second phase will see a permanent cessation of hostilities "in exchange for the release of all other hostages still in Gaza and the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza."

In the third phase, a "major multi-year reconstruction plan for Gaza" will begin, and the remains of any hostages who were killed and are still in Gaza will be returned to Israel.

The resolution stated that Israel has "accepted" the agreement and "calls on" Hamas to do the same.

Israel launched a large-scale offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip to retaliate against a Hamas rampage through the southern Israeli border on Oct. 7, 2023, during which about 1,200 people were killed and more than 250 were taken hostage. 
Those texts saying you owe money for driving through tolls might be a scam.

MassDOT says people have been getting texts from a group claiming to be EZ Drive MA.

The texts ask for payment and send you a link to pay. So, how do you protect yourself?

Delete the text, officials say.

MassDOT says they will never ask for payments by text.

Check your account using the toll services website. Call customer service.

You can also file a complaint with the Internet Crime Complaint Center by visiting this government website.

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
June 11 (UPI) -- Police in India said an animal spotted in the live broadcast of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's swearing-in ceremony was not a leopard, despite rumors on social media.

Viewers of the live broadcast Monday noticed a large feline walking in the background while Modi was sworn in for his third term at Rashtrapati Bhavan, the prime minister's Delhi residence, and some social media users said it appeared that a leopard had found its way into the building.

The rumors ended up being reported on by news media, leading Delhi Police to respond on social media.

"Some media channels and social media handles are showing an animal image captured during the live telecast of oath taking ceremony held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan yesterday, claiming it to be a wild animal," police wrote. "These facts are not true, the animal captured on camera is a common house cat. Please don't adhere to such frivolous rumors."
Local television news broadcasters are airing suspiciously similar attacks on Joe Bidens mental acuity and how it will affect the coming electionand it appears to be part of a coordinated effort.



The Sinclair Broadcast Group owns or operates 185 local television stations across the country, and dozens of their stations aired a segment from national correspondent Matthew Galka citing a Wall Street Journal article that makes dubious attacks on Bidens age and mental awareness. The stations that aired the segment introduced it using startlingly similar, if not identical language, the Popular Information and Public Notice newsletters reported.

New in PN: Sinclair injects deceptive attacks on Biden's age into dozens of local broadcasts (a special collaboration with @JuddLegum) https://t.co/pYcwGUDrUS



Check out this video showing local Sinclair anchors reading from the same script  pic.twitter.com/a9kVJK4Ncr  Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) June 11, 2024

Its not the first time Sinclair, owned by right-wing businessman David D. Smith, has appeared to be running a conservative propaganda campaign. Infamously in 2018, dozens of the companys TV stations were caught airing an identical editorial about the dangers of biased and false news. This time around, the Rupert Murdoch-owned Wall Street Journal, as well as Murdochs cable news stations Fox News and Fox Business, have gotten in on the act.

Smith himself has long been a donor to Republican causes through his family foundation, which counts right-wing nonprofits Young Americans for Liberty, Project Veritas, Turning Point USA, and Moms for Liberty among its recipients. In 2016, the Donald Trump campaign cut a deal with Sinclair that exchanged extensive access to Trump in return for positive coverage without fact-checking. That same year, Smith met with Trump and reportedly told him, We are here to deliver your message.



Earlier this year, Smith purchased The Baltimore Sun, insulting its staff and laying out a vision to steer it in the conservative direction of his TV stations. Its quite obvious that Smith, Murdoch, and other conservative millionaires and billionaires are taking over as many media outlets as possible to push right-wing political propaganda, with the Biden age article and subsequent TV segments as examples of the end product they want. Theyre finding vast opportunities in Americas declining news deserts, as well as the skeletal newspapers gutted by hedge funds and profit-seeking corporations. It doesnt just bode well for the next election, but also portends a scary future for American democracy for decades to come.

After publication, a Sinclair spokesperson reached out to The New Republic to clarify that using a preproduced script for a package that has been provided by another media outlet is a common practice across the industry.

This article has been updated.


Nigel Farage has said he is having to think twice about what he does after he was attacked for the second time in a week on the campaign trail.

The Reform party leader said that attacks on him during the election campaign were an extension of cancel culture as he warned he could have been put in hospital by the latest incident.

Police arrested a man in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, on Tuesday after he allegedly threw objects at Mr Farage while he was campaigning in the town.

Mr Farage was waving at a crowd of supporters in Barnsley town centre from the top of the Reform battlebus when a man appeared to throw something towards him.

The Reform UK leader, 60, could be heard shouting Oh before a loud thud as the object hit the vehicle.

A man wearing a red hoodie and backpack was seen reaching into a bin before launching another object towards Mr Farage.

Speaking to reporters in Kirkby, Ashfield, the constituency of Tory defector Lee Anderson, Mr Farage said he was worried about Tuesdays incident and another last week when he was doused with a milkshake in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex.

Im having to think twice about what I do, he said. Now, Ive been doing this forever and there have been incidents over the years that have happened. They were isolated incidents, they were horrible.

If I give in to these people, who else is going to stand up? You know, Im sometimes brave to the point of total stupidity. Im genuinely very, very thoughtful now. Im not going to stop but my modus operandi may have to change.

It is thought the suspect was on his own but Mr Farage said that he had been warned about a Left-wing mob in Barnsley.

A cup is photographed being thrown towards Mr Farage - Fred Dimbleby

He said it was too early to tell whether the incident would affect others in his party on the campaign trail. But he said it was worrying after people had written off what happened in Clacton last week as being a one-off.

He said: The whole point of democracy is we can have very, very vigorous disagreements, but there has to be a line as to whats acceptable.

Im not scared off, Im going to continue but of course Im worried about it. That was bloody cement that bloke chucked and stones were chucked at the bus.

Its very difficult to talk to people who dont want to listen. Very few of them, by the way, came from Barnsley, mostly from Surrey and Cheshire with names like Jocasta and Sebastian.

Thats the problem. I worry that were producing people in university who dont know what critical thinking is. They just believe in one particular set of views and anyone that disagrees is evil. Honestly I would have been completely happy if they sent a representative to debate with me in public in the square. Id have loved to have done it but they werent in the mood to listen.

Mr Farage ducked as the objects were thrown - Danny Lawson

Asked if he believed shutting down his campaign was effectively cancel culture, he said: Yes, I really do. It is an attempt to stop me campaigning in a general election. I wont have it. Ill find different ways of doing it.

Posting the video of the incident on X Mr Farage, who is standing as an MP in Clacton, wrote: My huge thanks to South Yorkshire Police today.

I will not be bullied or cowed by a violent Left-wing mob who hate our country.

Mr Farage having his nails painted earlier in the day at On The Lash beauty salon in South Yorkshire - Danny Lawson

Mr Farage out campaigning with Lee Anderson in Ashfield, Nottinghamshire - Dominic Lipinski

Speaking later on Tuesday in Barnsley, he said: Had I got off that bus Id probably be in a hospital. Thank God for the local police. I was on an open-top double-decker and I was going to get off and walk through the main square in Barnsley.

The police did tip us off very early that would not be a very good idea.

Asked if people who throw things at politicians should go to jail, he said: Yes, absolutely.

South Yorkshire Police confirmed that a 28-year-old man had been arrested on suspicion of public order offences.

Second time Farage targeted

It is the second time Mr Farage has been targeted while campaigning for the general election. Last week he was hit by a milkshake.

Victoria Thomas Bowen, 25, was charged with assault by beating and criminal damage when a milkshake was thrown over Mr Farage as he left the Moon and Starfish Wetherspoon pub in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex last week on Tuesday June 4.

Mr Farage was seen with the yellow drink splattered across his dark blue suit as he boarded his campaign bus.

During a campaign walkabout in Newcastle in 2019 he had a 5.25 Five Guys banana and salted caramel milkshake thrown at him.

It is not known if Mr Farage has requested extra security from the Home Office. However, should he ask for assistance, the department can provide private security to candidates in some circumstances.

The Government has provided an additional 31 million to strengthen protective security measures to elected representatives and candidates, alongside the new defending democracy policing protocol.

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The delegation from Watkinsville that traveled to Denver, Colorado, posed for photos after winning an All-American City award.

The city of Watkinsville was recognized recently as a 2024 All-America City by the National Civic League during a convention held in Denver, Colorado.

Watkinsville was one of 10 cities chosen from numerous cities who applied for the award, according to the Civic League.

The award honors cities that actively engage residents in strengthening democracy.

During the first week in June, the cities who were named as finalists sent representatives to Denver, where they presented facts supporting their applications before a jury made of civic leaders. This jury selected the 10 winners.

Thomas Farm: Watkinsville signs $4.5 million contract to purchase 100-acre property for greenspace park

Among those from Watkinsville traveling to Denver were Mayor Brian Brodrick, Mayor Pro Tem Christine Tucker, and Extra Special People director Laura Whitaker and participants of ESP, which is headquartered in Watkinsville.

Also represented were Watkinsville Police Chief Courtney Gale, representatives of the Oconee County Little League and Marvin Nunnally, Rev. J.L. Nunnally and Jennifer Richardson, all representing Bethel Baptist Church.

The award comes with civic pride, according to Brodrick.

ESP Snacks: Eat Athens: ESP's Snack Stand offers community concessions for a good cause

First and foremost, its recognition for our city being willing to embrace big ideas with a limited budget and limited resources, he said.

I hope it creates a sense of pride, the mayor said, explaining many large cities such as New Orleans, Louisiana, and Oakland, California, did not make the final cut.

According to a news release from the All-American City Award organization, Watkinsville is seeking to rebuild civic bonds by investing in strategies that connect residents to one another and to the city.

The delegation from Watkinsville reacts with joy after it was announced they won the All-American City Award in Denver, Colorado.

ESPs Miracle League Ball Field and Playground, located adjacent to City Hall, was used as an example of a project where children of all abilities can play in a safe environment.

Other community projects included the redevelopment of Rocket Field, an historic playing field in the downtown area of Watkinsville, and the Thomas Farm Preserve, a 100-acre site off Simonton Bridge Road, which was purchased by the city for use as a nature park.

The other nine cities receiving the award were Danville, Virginia; Edinburg, Texas; High Point, North Carolina; LaMarque, Texas; Lexington, Kentucky; Monrovia, California; Newport News, Virginia; Roanoke, Virginia; and, Seattle, Washington.

This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Watkinsville earns All-American City status by national civic leaders
WCSO: Man arrested after firing gun in Gray while drinking and driving

WASHINGTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WJHL)  A man was arrested on several charges early Tuesday after deputies reported hearing gunshots in Gray.

According to a news release from the Washington County Tennessee Sheriffs Office (WCSO), deputies were on patrol near the Gray Community Center shortly when they heard gunshots. Deputies spotted a white truck heading down Gray Station Road and reportedly heard more gunshots.

DOJ: Settlement reached with Hawkins County Schools in racial harassment investigation

The truck was stopped by deputies at a fast-food restaurant down the street.

The WCSO reports five people got out of the vehicle. The driver, later identified as Rodrigo Martinez, 29, of Lenoir City, reportedly told deputies there was a gun in the truck.

Rodrigo also admitted to firing the gun in the air while driving and drinking alcohol, the release states.

According to the WCSO, after receiving consent to search the truck, investigators found a gun that matched the shell casings in the road. More guns were also found in the truck bed.

Martinez was arrested shortly after midnight and charged with possession of a handgun while under the influence, reckless endangerment and driving under the influence.

Martinez was transported to the Washington County Detention Center and placed on a $7,000 bond. He is set to appear in court Wednesday.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
How west county is growing: Palms West Hospital to build 5-story tower for robotics surgery

ROYAL PALM BEACH  HCA Palms West Hospital will build a five-story tower along Southern Boulevard in the hope of becoming an international destination for robotics-assisted surgery.

The investment will allow the hospital to specialize even further in the emerging technology, which allows for smaller incisions and faster recoveries, said Jason Kimbrell, the hospital's CEO.

"This is our next chapter," Kimbrell said. "In the long-term, we want patients to come from around the county and the world to undergo robotic-assisted surgery here."

The modern building will be one of the tallest in the Wellington-Royal Palm Beach area and the first building on Palms West's campus, whose footprint will touch Southern Boulevard.

It also will honor the legacy of Mike Pugh, Palms West's first CEO, who championed the opening of the hospital's OB-GYN unit in 1989. Palms West today is home to the only full-service women's and children's center in the western communities.

From EMT to CEO: Jason Kimbrell followed unusual path to Palms West Hospital's top job

Robotics surgery's benefits: Less blood, scarring, infections, and faster recoveries

HCA Palms West already is a leader in robotics surgery in South Florida. Over 1,200 of these procedures are performed every year at HCA Palms West, an average of three or four each day. The hospital has had over 20,000 robotic surgeries since 2010.

In 2022, HCA Palms West became the first hospital in Palm Beach County to be accredited by the nonprofit group Surgical Review Corp. as a center of excellence in robotic surgery.

The center employs 22 robotics-assisted surgeons who operate Da Vinci machines, a robotics system with four interactive arms and a high-resolution 3D camera. The surgeons share six consoles at which they perform minimally invasive procedures involving less blood, less scaring, a reduced risk of infection and faster patient recovery.

Surgeons sit in front of the consoles and fit their fingers into sensors that translate their movements to the arms holding miniaturized instruments that move inside the patient with more precision than the human hand.

HCA Palms West uses robotics-assisted for general, thoracic and orthopedic, gynecologic and urologic procedures that include:

Urologic: Prostate cancer, Bladder and kidney cancer, Vesicoureteral reflux.

Gynecologic: Cancers of the cervix, ovaries and uterus, Endometriosis, Ovarian masses and Uterine fibroids.

Cholecystectomy, Colorectal surgery and Hernia repair.

Where preemies, ailing babies find hope: Five things about Palms West Hospital's new $6M NICU

Tower will honor Mike Pugh, HCA Palms West's founding CEO

Rendering by HCA Palms West Hospital of the $80 million, five-floor tower it will open in 2027 for robotics-assisted surgeries.

The five-story, budgeted at $80 million and scheduled to open in 2027, will include 36 beds for patient recovery. It will also feature a separate entrance, a gift shop, a community education space, classroom, a coffee shop and a cafeteria.

It's a far cry from the scene Pugh saw in March 1984, when he drove his son Eric, then 14, to the middle of a densely forested lot just outside Wellington. Back then, the area had dirt roads flanked by cow pastures and was "a wild, natural Florida habitat," Eric said.

Mike drove past the trees, deep into the middle of the woods, parked the car and turned to his son.

"In a couple of years, there is going to be a hospital here," Eric recalls. "I was like, 'Wow. I can't believe that.' "

Mike, who served 20 years in the Army, was working in Huntsville, Alabama, when he got an offer to oversee the opening of the first hospital in western Palm Beach County.

He relocated with his wife and two sons to Wellington and began assembling the hospital's medical personnel and staff from an on-site shed where engineers discussed blueprints. In 1986, Mike opened Palms West Hospital. Over the next 10 years, he saw a boom of residents and businesses transform the sleepy, rural area into busy suburbs.

"In the early years, there was such little population that if he had 20 beds filled it was a good day," Eric said. "The population growth over the years made the hospital a success because it eventually had more business."

In 1989, Mike launched the OB-GYN department, making Palms West the first hospital in the western communities where women could deliver their babies.

Archives describe Mike as an energetic leader, who always went out of his way to make conversation or share a joke. Growing up in Wellington, Eric says people always stopped him to offer anecdotes about his dad. When Mike retired in 1997, over 300 people from doctors, nurses, and staff showed up to his farewell party.

"He was like Elvis Presley in that hospital," Eric says between laughs. "It was a huge celebration and a testament to how widely loved my dad was among all the people."

How Westlake is growing: National chains are discovering Palm Beach County's newest city

HCA Palms West expands as Palm Beach County's western suburbs grow

HCA Palms West CEO Jason Kimbrell and Mike Pugh, the hospital's first CEO, met last month to unveil plans for a new $80 million robotics tower.

Over the last five years, HCA Palms West has invested millions to expand hospital departments to meet the demand of the growing population of Palm Beach County's western communities.

"When you look where the growth is happening, it's going west," said Kimbrell.

Kimbrell said the hospital had narrowed its focus on pediatrics, women's health, and specialized surgeries with robotic assistance.

Last year, HCA Palms West unveiled a $6 million 18-bed, Level-3 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, a $16 million pediatric and adult emergency room expansion, and a $22 million operating center.

Kimbrell and Mike met last month for the first time. Kimbrell walked him outside to the middle of Palms West's packed parking lot, stopped between two cars and turned to Mike.

"In a couple of years, right over here, we will have a five-floor tower for the hospital," Kimbrell said. "And, none of it would've been possible without your legacy."

"Five floors?" Mike asked with a laugh. "Wow. I can't believe that."

Valentina Palm covers Royal Palm Beach, Wellington, Greenacres, Palm Springs and other western communities in Palm Beach County for The Palm Beach Post. Email her at vpalm@pbpost.com and follow her on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, at @ValenPalmB. Support local journalism: Subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: HCA Palms West Hospital to build five-story robotics surgery tower
The West Midlands has become the knife crime capital of the UK with rates as much as a fifth higher than London.

The region overtook the capital in 2020/21, when the rate of knife crime was 18.3 per cent higher at 167 offences per 100,000 of the population to Londons rate of 137 per 100,000.

It has since risen to 180 offences per 100,000 of the population compared with Londons 165 per 100,000, making it 8.3 per cent higher than the capital.

The disclosure comes after the conviction of two 12-year-old boys for the murder of Shawn Seesahai, 19, in a Wolverhampton park in November last year.

They are thought to be the youngest killers convicted since the murder of the toddler James Bulger in Merseyside in 1993 by 10-year-old boys Robert Thompson and Jon Venables. The killers of Seesahai, who were not known to him, cannot be named because of their age.

Wolverhampton is the sixth-worst for knife possession out of 292 community safety partnership areas with a rate of 27.4 offences per 10,000 people. Birmingham is third behind Crawley in West Sussex and Blackpool.

It comes as knife crime nationally has risen by 7.2 per cent to nearly 50,000 offences, close to the past record high of 51,200, according to the Office for National Statistics.

One in four police forces, including the West Midlands and the Metropolitan Police, recorded their highest-ever knife crime rates in 2023. The West Midlands had an 8 per cent increase in its rate from 167 to 180 offences per 100,000.

Homicides involving children aged 17 and under have remained high, with 32 murdered in the year ending March 2023. This was down from 37 in previous year, but still the second highest on record.

Research shows one in 20 children aged 12 or over says they have carried a knife outside their home amid fears that they could be victims of violence.

The research into nearly 10,000 young people by the Ben Kinsella Trust found 4.83 per cent of the children had carried a knife, equivalent to more than 250,000 if scaled up nationwide. Nearly 10 times as many (41 per cent) said they knew someone who had carried a weapon.

Even among younger children, nearly one in 100 of those aged 10 and 11 also admitted they had carried knives, equivalent to about 12,000 primary school children if translated nationwide.

One in six of the primary-age children said they knew someone who had left their home armed with a knife and 18 per cent of 10-year-olds and 20 per cent of 11-year-olds said they had thought about carrying a blade amid fears over their personal safety.

The research was focused on London, which accounts for more than a third of all knife crime in England and Wales and reached a record high of more than 14,500 offences last year.

More than a third (36 per cent) of all children and young people said they no longer felt safe in their own neighbourhoods, and two thirds (64 per cent) said they felt anxious about knife crime in their area.

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If your loved ones were taken hostage by jihadis, whether in Iran, Iraq or Gaza, how would you want your government to react? On Saturday, we saw how the Israelis roll.

Operation Arnon, which successfully recovered Noa Argamani and three other captives, was the most complex, risky and resourceful hostage rescue since Entebbe. Helmet cam footage of the commandos going in, released yesterday, is heart-stopping. To paraphrase President Kennedy, the message to Israelis was clear: this is what your country will do for you.

Yet it isnt only Israeli nationals who are being held by Hamas. Two Britons remain hostages in Gaza as Lord Cameron confirmed in January, as well as five living Americans and the remains of a further three. In the past eight months, these people have been almost entirely forgotten.

Do you know their names? Would you recognise their pictures if they appeared on hostage posters in London? Do we not want our countrymen back with as much passion as the Israelis want theirs?

After months of silence, yesterday NBC reported that US officials were poised to negotiate a unilateral deal with Hamas to release their people, both living and dead, over the heads of the Israelis. This was striking for a number of reasons. Firstly, is Britain engaged in similar talks? Secondly, what will the Americans offer Hamas in return, will these sweeteners cut across the Israeli war effort? Finally, was negotiation with terrorists really the only option on the table?

Israel is hardly the only country that has enacted spectacular release missions in the past. In 1980, the CIA, with Canadian support, smuggled six diplomats out of Tehran while posing as a film crew researching a science fiction production. That same year, when gunmen took 26 hostages at the Iranian embassy in South Kensington, the SAS abseiled from the roof and enacted a daring rescue.

By contrast, recent decades have instead seen an increasing reliance on diplomatic jaw-jaw, often accompanied by hefty ransoms. Last year, the White House released 4.8 billion into Iranian coffers to secure the freedom of five Americans, raising the future incentive to 940 million per hostage. Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was set free in 2022 after Downing Street had paid the Iranians 400 million, supposedly a debt that had been owed since the Seventies. You could hear the chuckles in Tehran.

It is true that the Israelis have often paid a heavy price in return for the release of captives: there was the deal in November to free 150 Palestinian convicts in return for 50 hostages. In 2011, 1,027 prisoners  among them a certain Yahya Sinwar, the future architect of October 7  were controversially released in exchange for one kidnapped soldier, Gilad Shalit.

Israeli citizens are constantly asked what they can do for their country; this is what the state pledges in return. But Israelis also know that if the opportunity for direct rescue arises, the best commandos in the world will be standing by, no matter the risks.

Why have British and American forces not directly joined the IDF, either in supporting roles, as we did against Islamic State, or in the air or sea, or to participate in special forces operations? That would have sent a powerful message to our jihadi enemy that the West stands resolute, shoulder-to-shoulder in defence of our hostages and our people.

The RAF and American airforce magnificently helped thwart the Iranian missile assault in April. But what about British and American captives? What about destroying Hamas? When he announced the building of an American humanitarian pier, President Biden was at pains to point out that no US boots will be on the ground. Why? Victory over Hamas is squarely in our national interest. True collaboration could facilitate a swifter end to the conflict.

From the point of view of Hamas, a deal with the Biden administration would further strain US-Israeli relations. It would pile pressure on Benjamin Netanyahu, who has been accused of neglecting a hostage agreement. Terrorists know that the sowing of discord between allies is a powerful weapon. That Hamas places such a premium on doing so holds a lesson that we should urgently learn.

The hostages are international. Our enemy is the same. If jihadism is to be defeated, Western unity  and strength  is vital.

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A worker attaches a suction device to a cows udder at the Faria Dairy Farm June 2, 2009 in Escalon, California. As West Virginia's raw milk law has expanded sales to the public, some farmers are sticking to the herdshare program. (Justin Sullivan | Getty Images)

Ripley farmer Michael Overholt grew up on a dairy farm drinking raw milk. Now, as a homesteader with 10 cows, he has provided raw milk to customers through a herd share program since 2018.

The choice for us was a very natural choice, Overholt said of unpasteurized milk. A lot of it simply had to do with the fact that Ive learned, or it seems to me that as we alter nature, usually sometimes, somewhere theres a price to pay.

In exchange for getting one gallon of raw milk per week, herd share members pay a one-time fee that allows them a legal share in Overholts herd and an additional $35 monthly boarding fee for the cows.

The herd share program has been the legal way for West Virginians to consume unpasteurized milk since 2016. As of June 7, when House Bill 4911 went into effect, Overholt and the states other dairy producers may legally sell raw milk to customers outright without the herd share program. At least for now, Overholt said he does not plan to change the way he does business.

What Im doing is working, Overholt said. We plan to stick with that. Now, with time we may change over to selling milk outright, but as of now Im going to continue to herd share and kind of wait and see how it all shakes out.

As of earlier this year, there were 12 raw milk herd share sellers in West Virginia providing raw milk to 168 individuals through herd share agreements, according to the Department of Agriculture. Agriculture commissioner Kent Leonhardt said even with the new law in effect, the state will continue to recognize the herd share program.

Walker Thompson, of Kenna, said hes been a customer of Overholts herd share program since it opened. He gets a gallon each week.

I grew up on raw milk, he said. So I was familiar with it. And once it became available, then we were very much interested in starting to purchase it.

Thompson said hasnt made up his mind yet about whether he would buy raw milk off a store shelf, but he does plan to continue getting it from Overholts herds.

Raw milk has the potential to cause serious health risks, especially for vulnerable people.

An avian flu outbreak continues in dairy cows, affecting 83 herds in nine states so far, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The risk of human infection of bird flu through consumption of raw milk is unknown.

While West Virginia so far has not been affected by the bird flu outbreak, a dairy scientist told West Virginia Watch that avian flu is one more reason not to consume raw milk.

Even before the bird flu outbreak, the CDC and the Federal Food and Drug Administration have advised people not to consume raw milk to avoid foodborne illnesses.

Farmers participating in the herd share program may be somewhat protected from liability compared with farmers who may choose to sell it outright, Leonhardt said.

The person drinking the raw milk is drinking it from their own cow, which has always been legal, Leonhardt said. Youre not going to sue yourself.

The Department of Agriculture recommends dairy farmers interested in selling raw milk find insurance, which can be a challenge. Leonhardt said recently he has not found any insurance company that will cover farms that sell raw milk. One farmer told him he found one, but that farmer is not yet insured.

I personally wouldnt risk my farm selling raw milk without having insurance, Leonhardt said. I mean I just wouldnt do it. So my recommendation to the farmers is to make sure you have insurance before you sell.

Overholt said members of the herd share program sign a contract agreeing not to hold him liable for illness and disease that may be transmitted in the milk. Beyond that, Overholt said hes relying on his faith for protection from potential problems.

As a farmer, a farm, we actually do not even carry insurance, he said. Now that is considered not wise by many. However, we simply chose  for us its an expression of our trust in God and his ability to direct us. So we chose to not pursue farm insurance.

Greenbrier Dairy LLC in Rainelle produces pasteurized, value-added milk products like cheese, butter and yogurt. Owner and founder Trey Yates said raw milk is one of the most frequent requests he has from people, but the difficulty finding insurance is a big factor in his decision so far not to offer it.

The amount of messages we get just wanting to know if we sell raw milk, the answer is always no right now, Yates said. So we know theres a demand for it. Its just, even though it is a state law now, we cant be hung out there liable for everything with no coverage.

While the bill had wide support from Republicans during the regular legislative session earlier this year, a few lawmakers on both sides of the aisle argued against a prior version of the bill that included language that would have made raw milk immune to lawsuit and liability for claims related to personal injury for actual or alleged act, error or omission that occurred as long as the act was not intentional. The bill ultimately became law without that language.

Earlier this year, a spokeswoman for the Department of Agriculture said that thus far, no foodborne illnesses associated with raw milk herd shares had been reported by citizens, herd share participants, public health entities or private physicians.

According to the state Department of Health, over the past 10 years West Virginia has averaged 3.9 foodborne illnesses per year among people who reported raw milk as an exposure. Since 2016, the state has investigated a single suspected outbreak involving raw milk.

Del. Michael Hornby, R-Berkeley, the lead sponsor of the bill, said he was OK with the liability exemption language being taken out of the final version of the bill.

There is no real precedent for having that original language as strong as it was in that bill, Hornby said. For most farmers that Ive talked to, it hasnt been an issue because most people who are buying raw milk directly from a farm understand theyre buying raw milk, and theres not a lot of people that get sick off of it anyway.

The post A new West Virginia law expanded raw milk sales. Finding farm insurance might be a hurdle. appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
NIZHNY NOVGOROD, Russia, June 11 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Tuesday met with Thai Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa in the Russian city of Nizhny Novgorod.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, congratulated Sangiampongsa on his assumption of office, saying that China and Thailand are good neighbors, good friends, and are as close as one family.

The two countries, which share a traditional friendship, see their cooperation continuously deepened, and the building of the China-Thailand community with a shared future has maintained a sound momentum, he noted.

China is full of confidence in the prospect of China-Thailand relations and is willing to strengthen high-level exchanges with Thailand, enhance cooperation in various fields, accelerate the construction of the China-Thailand railway and other major projects, and realize the development vision of China-Laos-Thailand connectivity at an early date, said Wang.

The Chinese side appreciates Thailand's consistent support for China's just position on the Taiwan question, and supports the Thai government's efforts to achieve political stability, economic development, and the improvement of people's livelihood, and believes that the two sides will continue to firmly support each other, he said.

China is willing to maintain communication and coordination with Thailand on international and regional affairs, and hopes that Thailand will make more positive contributions to the development of China-ASEAN relations, said Wang, adding that China firmly supports an effective regional cooperation architecture with ASEAN centrality, and stands ready to work with regional countries to eliminate external interference, oppose bloc confrontation and safeguard regional peace and stability.

Sangiampongsa, for his part, said that Thailand and China enjoy close and friendly relations and Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin attaches great importance to developing relations with China.

As foreign minister, he promises to make every effort to push for greater development of Thailand-China relations, adding that Thailand hopes to learn from China's successful experience in economic development, strengthen practical cooperation in various fields, and better achieve economic and social development.

Thailand stands ready to work with China to jointly plan the celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Thailand and China next year to highlight the close friendship between the two peoples, he said.

Thailand is also willing to join the BRICS mechanism as soon as possible, play a more active role in South-South cooperation, and strengthen coordination and cooperation with China on multilateral platforms, Sangiampongsa added. 
Westfield policy would allow patrons to carry drinks out of downtown bars

Downtown Westfield could get an economic and vibrancy boost as the city considers allowing patrons to carry alcoholic beverages out of certain restaurants and bars.

It'll have a huge impact on revitalizing downtown, said Mayor Scott Willis.

Nine Westfield bars and restaurants are already lined up to opt in if plans move forward, including Chiba, Something Splendid, Greeks Pizzeria of Westfield, The Italian House, Nylas, Four Finger Distillery, Westfield Wine Vault, Jans Village Pizza and Field Brewing.

More: New Noblesville policy will let bar patrons explore downtown with drink in hand

Patrons would be allowed to exit participating businesses with up to two eligible open containers. The drinks would only be allowed within the boundaries of the Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area, and outside alcohol would not be allowed in.

We are big fans of a fun, social atmosphere, said Curt Whitesell, a manager at Greeks Pizzeria of Westfield. Anytime you can create a more modern atmosphere for customers then it's a win for everyone.

Westfield is proposing a Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area. An ordinance establishing the DORA district will be up for adoption at a city council meeting on June 24, 2024.

If the Westfield City Council approves its ordinance, the city will have to send its plans to the Indiana Alcohol and Tobacco Commission for final approval. Noblesville recently finalized its plans for their own downtown Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area and sent an application to the state.

Noblesville lobbied for the bill creating the DORA in the Indiana General Assembly beginning in 2021 until it passed in 2023. Thirteen other Indiana municipalities have already been approved for DORAs, including Fort Wayne, Jasper and Shelbyville.

Westfield city councilors were presented the DORA ordinance Monday and will consider adopting it at the June 24 City Council meeting.

How would Westfields Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area operate?

Westfield is proposing a Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area. An ordinance establishing the DORA district will be up for adoption at a city council meeting on June 24, 2024.

Westfields DORA would stretch from Penn Street on the north end to south of Roosevelt Street and include Grand Junction Plaza. It would operate Monday through Thursday from noon to 10 p.m. and Friday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.

The map of the district was drawn with current and potential development in mind.

Customers would be served their drinks in plastic cups with a designated logo. Each participating business would have uniform signage welcoming customers. Businesses in the district could also opt out and not participate.

Patrons with the carry-out drinks would not be able to enter the other restaurants or bars with them and would have to dispose of the containers before entering. Patrons can enter retail stores, art galleries or other types of businesses that opt into the program with their drinks.

If approved, the citys ordinance would cap the beverage sizes at:

16 ounces of beer or flavored malt beverage

12 ounces of wine, cider or hard seltzer

10 ounces of a mixed drink with no more than 2 ounces of liquor

The Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area would stimulate economic activity by encouraging residents and visitors to spend more time and money in the designated areas, according to a presentation from the citys communications director Kayla Arnold.

The district would also lead to higher foot traffic and sales for local businesses and more community engagement in outdoor settings, Arnold told city councilors.

Contact Jake Allen at jake.allen@indystar.com. Follow him on Twitter @Jake_Allen19.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Westfield considers DORA to let patrons carry out drinks from bars
Last week at Yellowstone National Park, a sacred and rare event took place as a white buffalo calf was born. The occurrence holds deep significance for various Native American tribes, who revere the white buffalo as a powerful symbol of spirituality and hope.

Wildlife photographer Erin Braaten of Dancing Aspens Photo was there to capture the moment, although she just missed witnessing the birth, Braaten captured the photos of a lifetime.

In an interview with Cowboy State Daily, Braaten recounted her initial confusion and later realization of the extraordinary scene unfolding before her.

We were just driving along, and there were some bison crossing the road, Braaten told Cowboy State Daily. I was looking back, and I saw what I thought maybe was a coyote.

Upon closer inspection, she discovered it was a white bison calf. Remarkably, it had clearly just been born.

The afterbirth, the placenta was still there, and the calf was just standing up, Braaten said.

White bison are exceedingly rare and are often considered a sacred symbol among various Native American tribes. The white coloration may result from a genetic mutation known as leucism, which causes patches of white coloration on the skin or fur.

Unlike albinism, which is characterized by a complete lack of melanin, leucistic animals have reduced pigmentation, resulting in white or patchily colored fur while retaining normal eye color.

According to the National Bison Association, there are approximately 500,000 bison in North America, and only about one in every ten million bison born is white.

Among the Lakota people, the white bison holds a special place in their spirituality and traditions. The legend of the White Buffalo Calf Woman is central to their beliefs.

According to the legend, a white buffalo calf appeared to the Lakota many generations ago and transformed into a beautiful woman who taught them sacred ceremonies and imparted important spiritual knowledge. The White Buffalo Calf Woman promised to return again, signaling a time of peace and harmony.

Other tribes, such as the Cherokee, Sioux, and Mandan, also revere the white bison. For these tribes, the white bison symbolizes purity, spirituality, and the promise of prosperity. It is believed to be a powerful omen and a message from the Creator.

Yellowstone National Park plays a crucial role in the conservation of American bison. Once nearly driven to extinction, bison populations have rebounded due to concerted conservation efforts. The park's bison herd is one of the few remaining that has not been interbred with cattle, preserving their genetic purity.

About the Author: "Kaili Berg (Aleut) is a member of the Alutiiq\/Sugpiaq Nation, and a shareholder of Koniag, Inc. She is a staff reporter for Native News Online and Tribal Business News. Berg, who is based in Wisconsin, previously reported for the Ho-Chunk Nation newspaper, Hocak Worak. She went to school originally for nursing, but changed her major after finding her passion in communications at Western Technical College in Lacrosse, Wisconsin. "

Contact: kberg@indiancountrymedia.com
White House officially announces meeting of US and Ukraine presidents at G7 summit

The White House has officially announced a meeting between Presidents Joe Biden and Volodymyr Zelenskyy on 13 June on the sidelines of the Group of Seven summit in Italy.

Source: White House National Communications Security Adviser John Kirby during an online briefing, Ukrinform news agency reports

Details: The advisor said that President Biden and President Zelenskyy would meet on Thursday to discuss the USs strong support for Ukraine, both now and in the future. After this meeting, both leaders will take part in a press conference.

He emphasised that the United States would demonstrate a clear commitment to support Ukraine during the G7 summit.

Kirby also stressed that new steps will be announced at the summit on the issue of frozen Russian sovereign assets and their transfer to Ukraine.

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The White House on Tuesday released a statement taking aim at several measures in the Houses fiscal 2025 defense policy bill ahead of votes scheduled for later this week.

While the statement praised the House Armed Services Committee for its strong, bipartisan work on the $884 billion bill, it raised objections to some of its provisions on shipbuilding, the creation of an Army drone corps, missile defense and pricing transparency for defense contractors.

The White House also said it strongly urges Congress to create an Indo-Pacific Security Assistance Initiative, which the bill does not include despite a Pentagon request. The Pentagons proposal would mirror a similar program used to arm Ukraine.

The administration looks forward to continuing to work with Congress to set appropriate and responsible levels of defense and non-defense spending to support the security of the nation, according to the statement from the White Houses Office of Management and Budget. The administration looks forward to working with Congress to address our concerns.

Despite its specific objections, the White House did not issue a veto threat on the bill. That could change if the House adopts some of the socially conservative policy riders introduced by the right-flank of the Republican caucus during amendment votes later this week.

Republicans opted for this approach last year with a bill that only narrowly passed the House after they voted to add amendments from the right-wing Freedom caucus that turned the usually bipartisan bill into a partisan endeavor. Lawmakers dropped those provisions during conference negotiations with the Senate before passing a bipartisan compromise bill for FY24 in December.

The Senate Armed Services Committee is set to mark up its version of the FY25 defense policy bill later this week.

House Armed Services Chairman Mike Rogers, R-Ala., and Rep. Adam Smith of Washington, the committees top Democrat, both asked the Rules Committee on Tuesday to focus on non-divisive provisions as they decide which of the 1,386 proposed amendments to put on the floor for votes.

The bill we are presenting today is truly bipartisan, said Rogers, noting his committee advanced it 57-1 last month. As you consider which amendments to make in order, I would respectfully request that you focus on amendments that advance the security of our nation and the needs of our servicemembers.

And Smith said that any effort to go after reproductive healthcare, any effort to go after the rights of the LGBTQ community, are going be problems, as is any effort to block the efforts of DoD to have a truly inclusive military.

Shipbuilding loggerheads

In addition to possible partisan divides over social issues, the Armed Services Committee has found itself at loggerheads with defense appropriators over their draft spending bill that overrides numerous provisions in the defense policy bill.

For instance, the draft FY25 defense spending bill  which the Appropriations Committee is set to mark up on Thursday  does not fund the policy bills $1 billion authorization in incremental funding for a second Virginia-class attack submarine.

In doing so, defense appropriators have sided with the White House and Navy in their decision to fund the procurement of just one Virginia-class submarine for FY25 due to production delays instead of the usual two vessels.

The authorization of incremental funding for a second [Virginia-class submarine] would result in a significant unplanned bill in FY26, competing for funding with additional [submarine industrial base investments] and Columbia-class submarines, noted the White House statement. This will force the Navy to make reductions in other priorities to accommodate the balance of funds for the second FY25 submarine.

Instead, the Biden administration encourages Congress to fully support the near-term submarine industrial base investments proposed in the presidents FY25 budget request.

Authorizers on the Armed Services Committee argue the decision to drop a second Virginia-class vessel in FY25 will set back companies further down the submarine supply chain. At the same time, the defense policy bill cuts $1.17 billion in procurement of a frigate for FY25  drawing further objections from the White House.

Additionally, the White House took aim at a provision that would block the retirement of guided-missile cruisers.

Divesting ships on a case-by-case basis allows the Navy to prioritize investments, noted the statement. The USS Shiloh and USS Lake Erie are currently in a condition that renders modernization and restoration to full operational capability cost-prohibitive.

Army and missile defense

The White House also said it strongly opposes a provision in the defense policy bill creating a drone corps within the Army, arguing it would create an unwarranted degree of specialization and limit flexibility to employ evolving capabilities.

Additionally, it strongly opposes another provision requiring the establishment of a third continental missile interceptor site on the east coast by 2030.

There is no operational need for such a site to protect the homeland against potential ballistic missiles originating from Iran or North Korea, noted the statement.

Instead, the White House notes that the Defense Department will field 20 Next-Generation Interceptors in silos in Alaska by 2028 to defend all 50 states.

Defense contractor pricing data

Another provision the White House strongly opposes raises the cap at which prime defense contractors must obtain certified cost or pricing data from a subcontractor to $5 million, up from the current $2 million.

This would reduce the incentive for sole-source prime contractors to negotiate contracts with their subcontractors, such as for spare parts, to keep costs under control, creating unnecessary risk for taxpayers, notes the White House statement.

The Project on Government Oversight, a watchdog group, is also lobbying against this provision.

Dylan Hedtler-Gaudette, the groups senior government affairs manager, said the provision would allow prime contractors to provide the Pentagon with historical data, which is old data, and wouldnt justify the current price hike.

That makes the contracting officers jobs even harder when theyre trying to figure out if the price is reasonable and fair  and they already have a hard time trying to figure that out under the current system, Hedtler-Gaudette told Defense News.
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

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. (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 last week.

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 a 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.

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The post White nationalist, anti-LGBTQ activity on the rise, annual hate report shows appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
Despite an outcry of criticism and fervor from folks online who didnt understand why Jay-Z and his company Roc Nation would lend their support behind a controversial Pennsylvania bill/school program that seeks to acquire $300 million for low-income students to attend private schools instead of the public school systemJay and Roc are holding steadfast on their position.

In a statement sent to The Root, Roc Nation explained why they felt they needed to get behind this program citing their belief that its the only option theyve come across that actually puts the needs of the children first and that the support isnt politically motivated.

While opposition dissects the future of public and private schools and debates our support of the Pennsylvania Award for Student Success (PASS), they are missing the most critical component of this entire equation  the children. Not once are the children mentioned. Not once are the dire proficiency levels of the children in Pennsylvaniaacknowledged, the statement read in part. At the end of the day, Roc Nations advocacy is centered around children and their right to seek the best options for quality education. If PASS scholarship legislation is approved, the initiative would empower parents and caretakers to evaluate multiple school programs and make informed scholastic decisions for the well-being of their children. Otherwise, parents are simply at the mercy of the system, where their kids academic futures are predetermined based on economic status and the location of their homes. The reality is the current system is fundamentally flawed and failing our youth.

It continued:

Look at the facts of William Penn School District et al. v. Pennsylvania Department of Education et al, a case filed in 2014 by six Pennsylvania school districts, the Pennsylvania Association of Rural and Small Schools, the NAACP-PA State Conference, and a group of public-school parents. Nearly a decade after the original lawsuit, the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania ruled in 2023 that the states education system had been so underfunded that it violated students constitutional rights. During the course of this lengthy trial, students were denied a fair chance of receiving a basic education. Its unacceptable, heartbreaking and appalling. Based on the conclusions of this trial we must all agree that this issue, and the future of our children, can no longer be ignored. Fortunately, due to the Commonwealth Courts ruling, there is a bill passed in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives that would potentially bring $5.1 billion to school districts across the state and help close the disparity between the wealthiest and the poorest schools. Although its a positive development, it begs multiple questions  how will this change take effect? Whats the plan to deploy those funds? When will the schools be properly resourced? There is no tactical solution in place from the state and children are being forced to wait for answers. With every year that goes by, more and more children  particularly from poor districts  are missing out on learning opportunities and failing to maximize the full scope of their academic potential. The PASS scholarship programs being proposed all have clear and targeted criteria to ensure those in need  specifically households earning 250% below the federal poverty line  are eligible to receive financial aid. Not to mention that PASS scholarships would be funded by a separate tax funded state account, not assigned to public education. Roc Nations passion for the PASS legislation is solely predicated on educational concerns for the children of the poorest zip codes in Pennsylvania. Anyone claiming our interest is political is political. If anyone would like to propose a more immediate solution, then we are all ears and would love nothing more than an opportunity to discuss. Until then, voting against PASS scholarships is the equivalent of telling Pennsylvanias most vulnerable students that they must remain captive to a system that is not working for them. We simply want to provide caregivers with knowledge around bills that would propose a strategic, near-term solution to support their children. Parents should be free to evaluate the best academic options possible for their kids without becoming political pawns for public pundits.

See original story below.

Over the weekend, news dropped that Jay-Z and his label Roc Nation would be spearheading an educational campaign in Philadelphia to help K-12 students from low-income households secure $300 million in scholarships to attend the citys private schools.

On Monday, Roc Nation reportedly hosted the first in the Dine & Learn series will which take place over the next two weeks, according to Pennsylvania Capital-Star.

However, that big scholarship number is not all it appears to be on the surface.

What Jay-Z/Roc Nation will be doing is providing their influence and power to host a handful of events in the city to inform residents about the Pennsylvania Award for Student Success (PASS)a Republican-backed bill and school voucher program that seeks to obtain $300 million in taxpayer dollars in order to fund private and charter schools.

And where the water gets murkier is that the proposal is also backed by billionaire conservative, Trump-backer and Philly native Jeff Yass, who has notoriously pushed his school choice and his anti-public school agenda for a while.

With Yass involvement and other Republicans backing this voucher program under Senate Bill 757  which many critics have been calling out for its implicit goal to take resources away from public schools and instead divert them and deplete an already underdeveloped statewide school system  it lead many online to wonder why someone like Jay-Z would want to get involved.



Roc Nation is not backing any particular bill or any political party. What we are backing is education. said Roc Nation CEO Desiree Perez in an interview with Huffpost. Were not forcing people to sign anything. Were just educating them, which I would think everyone wants people to make informed decisions. We care about our people. We care about the children. And the only thing that I dont see anywhere is anyone talking about the kids. People are talking about the public school system and how important it is, which I agree. I hear all about the budget, government, parties and bills, but no ones talking about the children.

The kids in these zip codes are suffering right now, she later added. If you have a better solution, aside from making [students] wait until the public school system can get it together with the funding they are receiving, I am all ears.

Perez has a point: As of February 2023, the Pennsylvanias Commonwealth Court ruled that the states school funding system was unconstitutional and that it must be reformed. However, residents and other critics of Senate Bill 757 dont think a this school voucher program is the way to go about it.



I really wish rich, out-of-touch folks who nothing about education would just stop. 1) Read the fine print. THIS IS A GOVT VOUCHER PROGRAM. Voucher programs have not been shown to improve results for poor Black children because most cannot get into high-quality private schools. https://t.co/EAvAGFuYo1  Ida Bae Wells (@nhannahjones) June 7, 2024

1) Read the fine print. THIS IS A GOVT VOUCHER PROGRAM. Voucher programs have not been shown to improve results for poor Black children because most cannot get into high-quality private schools, wrote acclaimed writer Nikole Hannah Jones on X/Twitter once the news broke. She continued:

2) Read the fine print. All of the money is coming from taxpayers, ie. the government. Roc Nation is not funding this, it is just launching an educational campaign that maybe it is being paid to do. Im researching. But certainly, its involvement is to convince poor Black parents to leave the public schools. 3) What do you think that $300 million could do for improving those low-performing public schools? 4) It is a lie that these programs do not take from public-school funding. Fewer kids in the classroom means fewer dollars to the school. 5) This is a windfall to the citys private schools at the expense of the public ones that most kids attend.

Music veteran and award-winning film director Karlie Hustle echoed similar sentiments: The low-performing public schools that they are pulling kids from to send to private schools could use these resources. But let me not scream into the void. The rich have divested from the concept of a fair and equitable education for all.

Hustle added in a follow-up tweet, Whether Jay-Z or the upper middle-class family on the block: if you have resources and dont allocate them to local public schools, you are making a moral and political choice. Taking children out of public schools in favor of private IS PRECISELY what hurts the most vulnerable.

1. This is not good, its public school money to charter schools 2. Jay-Z isnt donating $300 million; hes the face of an event to lobby the state to spend it 3. Jeff Yass is coordinating this 4. THE SCHOLARSHIPS DONT EXIST, wrote another user.

Not Jay-Z funding the Abbott children to move to Legendary Charter Schools instead of funding Abbott, said another user, in reference to the fictional, beloved popular public school series Abbott Elementary and its rival school Legendary Schools.

However, there were some that still thought Jay and Roc Nations involvement was a step in the right direction.

This is weird to me, 300 million wouldnt fix Philly wouldnt public school system. And that should be on the elected officials job to fix public schools not Jay-Z. Jay-Z is trying to even the playing field for low income homes and yall still complain, wrote one user.

Outrage w/o context. Philly pub school funding increased by $86M. Jay-Z didnt create private school scholarship legislation. Historically these scholarships have subsidized students who dont actually need the funds, so the campaign should help ensure funds land where they should, wrote another.

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Why Will Killer Nurse Lucy Letby Go Back to Court Tomorrow for Another Trial?

Lucy Letby was found guilty in 2023 of killing seven infants and attempting to kill six others in 2015 and 2016.

EyePress News/Shutterstock Lucy Letby

Lucy Letby, the British neonatal nurse found guilty of killing seven infants and attempting to kill six others in 2015 and 2016, is back in court.

Letby, 34, is going on trial this week for the alleged attempted murder of a baby girl known only as Child K. Letby was on shift in the neonatal unit at the Countess of Chester Hospital in Chester, England, when the alleged Feb. 2016 incident happened, the Manchester Evening News reported.

At court Tuesday, Judge Mr Justice Goss told the jury that their task was "to determine on all the evidence placed before you, and on nothing else, whether [Letby] attempted to murder another baby called (Child K) during the period when she was found to have murdered or attempted to murder other babies, he said, per the Chester Standard.

Goss added: You will try this case, I repeat, on the evidence that is placed before you. You are the sole judges of fact. You will decide what is and what is not truthful from the evidence and the conclusions and assessment you draw from the evidence.

Anyone accused of a crime is innocent until proven guilty. It is for the prosecution to prove guilt by making you sure of the accuseds guilt.

Cheshire Constabulary Lucy Letby

Related: Nurse Lucy Letby Found Guilty of Murdering 7 Infants in British Hospital

Letby was removed from the neonatal ward at the Countess of Chester Hospital in 2016, after senior hospital staff grew suspicious following a year of mysterious deaths and near-deaths of infants.

She was arrested in July of 2018.

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During her 10-month trial in Manchester Crown Court, prosecutors accused her of force-feeding infants milk, poisoning some with insulin and injecting others with air.

Jacob King/PA Images via Getty The Countess of Chester Hospital

In total, five boys and two girls were killed while under Letbys care.

She was convicted in Aug. 2023 of 14 of a possible 22 counts. She was sentenced to life in prison.

At her sentencing, the judge said Letby showed no remorse for her crimes and had waged a cruel, calculated and cynical campaign of child murder involving the smallest and most vulnerable of children."

Letby has denied she had anything to do with the deaths.



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Why London, New York and Shanghai should be worried about Antarcticas doomsday glacier

The colossal Thwaites glacier rivals the state of Florida in size and holds enough water to raise the ocean by 65 centimetres - NASA/ZUMA Wire/Shutterstock

On the shores of Kiribati seawater laps at homes on stilts, washing away crops and fresh groundwater.

No part of this island state rises more than two metres above the Pacific Ocean. Two atolls have already disappeared under the waves and scientists predict the area could be uninhabitable within the next few decades, displacing hundreds of thousands of people.

It is a picture threatened worldwide  from Venice to the Netherlands, the Maldives to London  and now scientists fear the accelerated melting of Antarcticas doomsday glacier could bring it on more rapidly.

For the first time, evidence has emerged that warm sea water is getting beneath the colossal Thwaites Glacier, driving increases in sea levels globally.

The worry is that we are underestimating the speed that the glacier is changing, which would be devastating for coastal communities around the world, said Dr Christine Dow, a professor in the Faculty of Environment at the University of Waterloo and co-author of the study. Thwaites is the most unstable place in the Antarctic.

As climate change pushes global temperatures higher and higher, glaciers and ice sheets in mountainous regions and polar ice caps are melting. The eroding ice flows straight into the worlds oceans, pushing up sea levels.

Global sea levels have climbed by around nine inches since 1880. Any sudden increase could be catastrophic for coastal cities, like London, New York and Shanghai.

The Thwaites glacier rivals the state of Florida in size and holds enough water to raise the ocean by 65 centimetres, or just over 2 feet. The icy mass already accounts for 4 per cent of the planets sea level rise and loses 50 billion tons of ice annually.

Thwaites, which measures about 120 kilometres wide by 1.2 kilometres deep, has been melting slowly for decades. Now a team of international researchers have discovered evidence of more vigorous melting.

The Pacific Ocean nation of Kiribati could be uninhabitable within the next few decades due to rising sea levels - Jonas Gratzer/LightRocket via Getty Images

Satellite observations show water running beneath its base, exposing it to far more warm water than previously believed.

In the glacier, there are these bullseye features, which show that water is getting in and filling a pond underneath the ice at that point, filling and emptying, explained Dr Rob Larter of the British Antarctic Survey who has studied the Thwaites Glacier extensively.

The water will be travelling along a sort of subglacial channel, where its in contact with the ice because that water has two or three degrees above the temperature at which the ice would melt.

We probably have reached the point of no return

The creeping water caused by the push and pull of tides sneaks under Thwaites shelf to weaken its anchor to the sea bed.

Although the same team noted this phenomenon at Petermann Glacier in Greenland, it had not been recorded in Antarctica

Thwaites is also considerably bigger than Petermann, with around eight times the amount of ice in contact with the ocean.

The studys authors hoped that it would take hundreds of years for Thwaites to lose its ice, but now fear it could be a matter of decades.

Dr Larter said the study represents a missing link in explaining what is happening beneath many hundreds of metres of ice.

The team used the high-resolution satellite images and hydrological data to pinpoint high-pressure pockets where the glaciers surface had risen.

Evidence shows that warm sea water is getting beneath the Thwaites glacier - U.S. National Science Foundation

Dr Larter said examining polar ice to predict rising sea levels is an arduous task.

Usually, scientists drill deep holes or use submersible technology to go deep into the ocean and far under the ice to monitor change.

Its very difficult work because this is one of the most inaccessible environments on the planet. Youre talking about trying to work out whats going on beneath many hundreds of metres of ice, he said.

Scientists believe vulnerable nations should invest in protecting themselves from the rising sea levels, as London has done with the Thames Barrier.

Longer term, they says the best way forward is to limit carbon emissions.

But for the doomsday glacier it may already be too late.

Its probably too late to stop the retreat of overall arctic ice, said Dr Larter. We probably have reached the point of no return.

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A Palestinian inspects a damaged car after an Israeli army raid in the village of Kafr Dan, northwest of Jenin in the northern West Bank, June 12, 2024. Six Palestinians were killed on Tuesday by Israeli army in the village of Kafr Dan, northwest of Jenin in the northern West Bank, the Palestinian Ministry of Health said. (Photo by Nidal Eshtayeh/Xinhua)

RAMALLAH, June 11 (Xinhua) -- Six Palestinians were killed on Tuesday by Israeli army in the village of Kafr Dan, northwest of Jenin in the northern West Bank, the Palestinian Ministry of Health said.

Israeli special forces sneaked into the village and cordoned off a house, as army reinforcements were deployed in the village, sparking confrontations, the Palestinian official news agency WAFA reported.

The soldiers asked a young man inside the house through loudspeakers to turn himself in and fired shoulder-fired missiles towards the house, WAFA added.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement on Tuesday that it eliminated four armed "terrorists" and located four guns that belonged to the "terrorists" in the area of Jenin.

"During the counterterror activity, the soldiers encircled a structure used by terrorists in the area. During exchanges of fire with the terrorists, the soldiers eliminated four terrorists and injured additional ones. Simultaneously, an IAF (the Israel Security Agency) helicopter struck the area of the structure used by the terrorists," the IDF said. 

A Palestinian inspects a damaged car after an Israeli army raid in the village of Kafr Dan, northwest of Jenin in the northern West Bank, June 12, 2024. Six Palestinians were killed on Tuesday by Israeli army in the village of Kafr Dan, northwest of Jenin in the northern West Bank, the Palestinian Ministry of Health said. (Photo by Nidal Eshtayeh/Xinhua)

A Palestinian inspects a destroyed building after an Israeli army raid in the village of Kafr Dan, northwest of Jenin in the northern West Bank, June 12, 2024. Six Palestinians were killed on Tuesday by Israeli army in the village of Kafr Dan, northwest of Jenin in the northern West Bank, the Palestinian Ministry of Health said. (Photo by Nidal Eshtayeh/Xinhua)

A Palestinian inspects a destroyed building after an Israeli army raid in the village of Kafr Dan, northwest of Jenin in the northern West Bank, June 12, 2024. Six Palestinians were killed on Tuesday by Israeli army in the village of Kafr Dan, northwest of Jenin in the northern West Bank, the Palestinian Ministry of Health said. (Photo by Nidal Eshtayeh/Xinhua)
Why are there poles in the middle of a road near FM 973?

AUSTIN (KXAN)  No, your eyes dont deceive you: Drivers traveling along FM 973 in Travis County likely noticed the unusual sight of utility poles in the middle of a roadway right next door. A spokesperson with the Texas Department of Transportation said thats part of a planned widening project underway.

TxDOT is currently widening a portion of FM 973 and confirmed to KXAN the state agency is coordinating with Austin Energy on relocating a host of electric poles. For now, those poles are being hosted in the middle of new lanes being paved.

The poles are located outside of existing lanes, the TxDOT spokesperson said. Once paving along FM 973 wraps, the spokesperson added the area currently housing the utility poles will be open to traffic, without the poles in the middle of the road.

[Drivers] are seeing a paved area but that is not open to traffic yet, the spokesperson added.

TxDOTs project tracker database notes there are two separation construction portions underway on FM 973, both north of State Highway 71s toll road.

The first portion, near Elara Drive, is described as an overlay project and received a notice to proceed with construction in March. That work is expected to complete in March 2025.

The second area, north of Thyone Drive, is a safety improvement project that began construction last October and is projected to wrap in January 2026.

This story came from a ReportIt story tip. Send your own story ideas to Reportit@kxan.com or through KXANs contact page.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
Wins at the ballot box for abortion rights still mean court battles for access

Michigan was one of the first states where voters weighed in on abortion rights after the Dobbs decision. They approved by 13 percentage points an amendment to add abortion rights to the state constitution.

Before Ohio voters amended their constitution last year to protect abortion rights, the states attorney general, an anti-abortion Republican, said that doing so would upend at least 10 state laws limiting abortions.

But those laws remain a hurdle, and straightforward access to abortions has yet to resume, said Bethany Lewis, executive director of the Preterm abortion clinic in Cleveland.

"Legally, what actually happened in practice was not much," she said.

Today, most of those laws limiting abortions  including a 24-hour waiting period and a 20-week abortion ban  continue to govern Ohio health providers, despite the constitutional amendments passage with nearly 57% of the vote. For abortion rights advocates, it will take time and money to challenge the laws in the courts.

Voters in as many as 13 states could also weigh in this year on abortion ballot initiatives. But the seven states that have voted on abortion-related measures since the Supreme Court overturned federal abortion protections two years ago in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization show that an election can be just the beginning.

The state-by-state patchwork of constitutional amendments, laws and regulations that determine where and how abortions are available across the country could take years to crystallize as old rules are reconciled with new ones in legislatures and courtrooms. And although a ballot measure result might seem clear-cut, the residual web of older laws often still needs to be untangled. Left untouched, the statutes could pop up decades later, as an Arizona law from 1864 did this year.

Michigan was one of the first states where voters weighed in on abortion rights after the Dobbs decision in June 2022. That November, voters approved by 13 percentage points an amendment to add abortion rights to the state constitution. It took 15 more months before the first lawsuit was filed to unwind the states abortion restrictions, sometimes called "targeted regulation of abortion providers" laws. Michigans include a 24-hour waiting period.

The delay had a purpose, according to Elisabeth Smith, state policy and advocacy director at the Center for Reproductive Rights, which filed the lawsuit: Its preferable to change laws through the Legislature than through litigation because the courts can only strike down a law, not replace one.

"It felt really important to allow the legislative process to go forward, and then to consider litigation if there were still statutes that were on the books the Legislature hadnt repealed," Smith said.

Renee Chelian, executive director and founder of the Northland Family Planning Centers, wears a shirt with a nod to Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court decision that affirmed U.S. women's right to abortion.

Michigans Democratic-led Legislature passed an abortion rights package last year that the states Democratic governor signed into law in December. But the package left some regulations intact, including the mandatory waiting period, mandatory counseling and a ban on abortions by nondoctor clinicians, such as nurse practitioners and midwives.

Smiths group filed the lawsuit in February on behalf of Northland Family Planning Centers and Medical Students for Choice. Smith said its unclear how long the litigation will take, but she hopes for a decision this year.

Abortion opponents such as Katie Daniel, state policy director for Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, are critical of the lawsuit and such policy unwinding efforts. She said abortion rights advocates used "deceptive campaigns" that claimed they wanted to restore the status quo in place before the Dobbs decision left abortion regulation up to the states.

"The litigation proves these amendments go farther than they will ever admit in a 30-second commercial," Daniel said. "Removing the waiting period, counseling, and the requirement that abortions be done by doctors endangers women and limits their ability to know about resources and support available to them."

A lawsuit to unwind most of the abortion restrictions in Ohio came from Preterm and other abortion providers four months after that states ballot measure passed. A legislative fix was unlikely because Republicans control the General Assembly and governors office. Preterms Lewis said she suspected the litigation will take "quite some time."

Dave Yost, the Ohio attorney general, is one of the defendants named in the suit. In a motion to dismiss the case, Yost argued that the abortion providers  several clinics and a physician, Catherine Romanos  lacked standing to sue.

He argued that Romanos failed to show she was harmed by the laws, explaining that "under any standard, Dr. Romanos, having always complied with these laws as a licensed physician in Ohio, is not harmed by them."

Jessie Hill, an attorney representing Romanos and three of the clinics in the case, called the argument "just very wrong." If Romanos cant challenge the constitutionality of the old laws because she is complying with them, Hill said, then she would have to violate those laws and risk felonies to honor the new amendment.

Bill Scheible of Erie County closes his eyes for prayer at a gathering on the Ohio Statehouse lawn before the second annual Ohio March for Life in Columbus in October.

"So then shes got to go get arrested and show up in court and then defend herself based on this new constitutional amendment?" Hill said. "For obvious reasons, that is not a system that we want to have."

This year, Missouri is among the states poised to vote on a measure to write protections for abortion into the state constitution. Abortions in Missouri have been banned in nearly every circumstance since 2022, but they were largely halted years earlier by a series of laws seeking to make abortions scarce.

Over more than three decades, Missouri lawmakers instituted a 72-hour waiting period, imposed minimum dimensions for procedure rooms and hallways in abortion clinics, and mandated that abortion providers have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals, among other regulations.

Emily Wales, president and chief executive of Planned Parenthood Great Plains, said trying to comply with those laws visibly changed her organizations facility in Columbia, Mo.: widened doorways, additional staff lockers and even the distance between recovery chairs and door frames.

Even so, by 2018 the organization had to halt abortion services at that location, she said, with recovery chairs left in position for a final inspection that never happened. That left just one abortion clinic operating in the state, a separate Planned Parenthood affiliate in St. Louis. In 2019, that organization opened a large facility about 20 miles away in Illinois, where lawmakers were preserving abortion access rather than restricting it.

The Planned Parenthood clinic in St. Louis was the only abortion facility still operating in Missouri by 2018.

By 2021, the last full year before the Dobbs decision opened the door for Missouris ban, the number of recorded abortions in the state had dwindled to 150, down from 5,772 in 2011.

"At that point, Missourians were generally better served by leaving the state," Wales said.

Both of Missouris Planned Parenthood affiliates have vowed to restore abortion services in the state as swiftly as possible if voters approve the proposed measure. But the laws that diminished abortion access in the state would still be on the books and probably wouldnt be overturned legislatively under a Republican-controlled General Assembly and governors office. The laws would surely face challenges in court, yet that could take awhile.

"They will be unconstitutional under the language thats in the amendment," Wales said. "But its a process."

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Wins at the ballot box for abortion rights still mean court battles for access
Woman Allegedly Zipped Boyfriend into Suitcase, Recorded His Cries for Help and Left Him to Die: Prosecutors

Sarah Boone will stand trial in October after allegedly killing Jorge Torres, Jr. in February 2020

Good Life Funeral Home, Orange County Florida Jail Jorge Torres, left, and Sarah Boone

Content Warning: This story contains details readers may find graphic

A Florida woman has been ordered to stand trial in October after allegedly killing her boyfriend by zipping him into a suitcase.

Jorge Torres, Jr., 42, was killed in February 2020 in Winter County, Fla., leading to the arrest of his girlfriend Sarah Boone, who was charged with second-degree murder, the Orange County Sheriff's Office said at the time.

Torres died after Boone zipped him into a suitcase and didnt return for hours, the sheriffs office alleged. Boone's trial date has been set for Oct. 7, WESH, FOX 35 Orlando and the Orlando Sentinel reported on Friday.

Investigators reviewed videos on Boones phone that they say shows Torres trying to free himself from the suitcase while Boone laughs behind the camera, accuses him of cheating and taunts him, according to footage obtained by FOX 35 Orlando. The video shows a medium-sized blue suitcase on the ground, moving from the inside.

The woman recording the video and heard speaking was identified as Boone in the arrest affidavit, which was cited by FOX 35 Orlando, WESH and the Orlando Sentinel.



For everything youve done to me. [Expletive] you. Stupid, Boone allegedly says from behind the camera, while a voice coming from inside of the suitcase continuosly calls her name. According to the affidavit, the man inside the suitcase, identified by authorities as Torres, is heard pleading with Boone to be released, calling her name calmly and saying he cant breathe.

Yeah, thats what you do when you choke me," Boone says.

"Sarah, Sarah," he says, while Boone laughs. "Sarah, I can't breathe, babe."

Thats on you, she allegedly responds in the video.

Thats what I feel like when you cheat on me," she allegedly says later in the video, while Torres keeps calling her name.

"Please Sarah," Torres says.

"Shhh!" Boone appears to respond.

In another clip, the suitcase is seen a few feet away from where it was in the previous scene. Torres is heard pleading with her and calmly calling her name as his voice grows more desperate with each call.

During the investigation, Boone allegedly told authorities that Torres died as a result of a hide-and-seek game gone wrong, per WESH, the Orlando Sentinel and FOX 35 Orlando.

She claimed she fell asleep when Torres was inside the suitcase and woke up to find him dead, according to investigators, FOX 35 Orlando and WESH reported.

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Boone has cycled through seven different lawyers in connection with this case over the last four years, according to WESH, FOX 35 Orlando and the Orlando Sentinel.

Boone has been held without bond since 2020 and has pleaded not guilty to the charge, per the Orlando Sentinel.



If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.

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A Jackson County woman is suing the Ray County Sheriffs Office over a series of searches she alleges were improper, including a body cavity search and another search in which she was required to squat naked in front of sheriffs personnel.

The lawsuit, filed last month in U.S. District Court, said the body searches were conducted as sheriffs officers were attempting to determine if she was concealing drugs following her arrest for possession of methamphetamines after a traffic stop.

The woman alleges the sheriffs office pursued a series of illegal searches following the traffic stop initiated by Matthew Cowan, who the lawsuit identifies as a Ray County deputy, along Highway 210 in September 2022.

The Star is not not naming the woman because court documents identify her as a prior victim of sexual abuse. The forced body cavity search was extremely traumatic for her, and she was crying and emotional at the hospital where it took place, the lawsuit said. The lawsuit alleges that Cowan did not comply with how state law designates such searches can occur.

In April, the lawsuit said, all charges against the woman were dismissed by the state of Missouri.

Randall Rhodes, a Leawood attorney representing the woman, declined to comment for this story.

The lawsuit names Ray County, the Ray County Sheriffs Office, former Ray County Sheriff Scott Childers, Cowan and another law enforcement officer as defendants.

The sheriffs office is now overseen by acting Sheriff Bart Willim, who is also the Ray County coroner, after Childers was removed from office earlier this year following a preliminary ruling by a judge in a legal proceeding pursued by Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey. Childers is currently campaigning to be re-elected to the office in the August primary, just before the case brought by Baileys office is set to go to trial in Ray County Circuit Court in September.

In response to a message seeking comment about the lawsuit, Childers wrote that he didnt know the plaintiff or have any knowledge of the alleged incident.

Willim declined to comment, noting the incident occurred prior to his time with the department.

An employee who answered the phone at the Ray County Sheriffs Office Thursday said Cowan, who they said was last a corporal in the department, was no longer employed by the office. They said he hadnt been with the department for nearly a year.

Cowan currently has a valid peace officer license and is currently commissioned by the Morgan County Sheriffs Office, said Mike OConnell, a spokesman for the Missouri Department of Public Safety.

Attempts to reach Cowan for this story were unsuccessful.

The lawsuit names 12 counts, including false arrest, unlawful strip search, assault, battery and other charges.

Series of searches

According to the lawsuit, Cowan allegedly pulled over an Acura vehicle owned by the woman, who was a passenger. The suit states Cowan claimed he pulled the Acura over for expired plates and the fact that the plates purportedly belonged to a different vehicle.

The lawsuit alleges Cowan had no probable cause for the traffic stop.

During the stop, Cowan requested permission to search the vehicle, but did not have probable cause for a search of the vehicle and did not have a search warrant, the lawsuit alleges. Cowan said he was given permission to search the vehicle, though the lawsuit says he could not recall who gave him consent.

Cowan reportedly found a black bag with what he described as multiple items related to the use of narcotics. The lawsuit contends those items were lighters and empty bags, which had no residue or other indication of illegal drugs.

Cowan further requested permission to search the locked glove box of the car, and the woman declined. A police dog was brought to the car, and Cowan claimed the dog alerted near the vehicles front passenger door, the lawsuit said.

Despite lacking a proper warrant or consent from plaintiff, Cowan forced open the glove box, the lawsuit said. He claims he found a small, black zippered pouch. Lacking a proper warrant or consent from plaintiff, Cowan opened the zippered pouch. He claims he found bags containing methamphetamines, the lawsuit stated.

The woman was arrested for possession of methamphetamines and taken to the Ray County Jail. There, she was required to squat naked in front of sheriffs personnel so they could see if she was concealing drugs. No drugs were found, court documents said.

Not satisfied, Cowan took plaintiff to the Ray County Memorial Hospital, where she was forced to undergo a complete strip search and an invasive body cavity search, the lawsuit said. Plaintiff was handcuffed and in Cowans custody the entire time.

Court documents said the woman was not aware she could have objected to the body cavity search, for which there was no probable cause in the first place, the lawsuit asserted.

The lawsuit said the woman suffered significant physical, mental and emotional damages and injuries as a result, and is seeking damages.
Woman rescued from roof of burning home in central Ohio

A woman was rescued from the roof of a burning home in Columbus Tuesday morning.

The woman and another person were taken to the hospital after the rescue, our news partners at WBNS-10 TV reported.

The Columbus Division of Fire was called to the home in the 1400 block of Republic Ave just after 4:30 a.m.

A woman was seen on the roof of the home when Columbus firefighters arrived.

>> Man arrested for arson hours after trying to set Ohio business on fire

Columbus Division of Police officers climbed up cars to reach and rescue her from the back of the roof, officials said.

The woman and another person were taken to The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.

The womans condition was described as stable. The other persons condition is unknown at this time.

The fire remains under investigation at this time.
From women pastors to sexual abuse to Trump, Southern Baptists have a busy few days ahead of them

(AP)  Thousands will gather in Indianapolis June 11-12 for the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention.

The meeting comes at a fraught time in the nations largest Protestant denomination. Messengers  as voting delegates are known  will vote on whether to establish a constitutional ban on churches with women pastors. Theyll hear a report  and get outside criticism  of their handling of sexual abuse among their clergy.

With membership in steady decline, theyll hear a report on how an earlier effort to reverse that trend fell short. And theyll vote for a new president from among six candidates.

Speaking of presidential candidates, an outside group is inviting attendees to a virtual speech by former President Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee, at an off-site event. Proposed resolutions deal with topics ranging from Gaza to abortion and in vitro fertilization.

Heres some of whats facing the SBC:

WHATS THE LATEST WITH THE SEXUAL ABUSE CRISIS?

The convention has struggled to respond to sexual abuse in its churches since a 2019 report by the Houston Chronicle and San Antonio Express-News, saying that roughly 380 Southern Baptist church leaders and volunteers faced allegations of sexual misconduct in the previous two decades. A subsequent consultants report said past leaders on the conventions Executive Committee intimidated and mistreated survivors who sought help.

But survivors and advocates say the denominations actions dont match its promises of reform.

An Abuse Reform Implementation Task Force recently concluded its work. While it has provided a curriculum for training churches on preventing and responding to abuse, it has not achieved the mandate of previous annual meetings to establish a database of offenders, which could help churches avoid hiring them.

In a recent YouTube interview with a fellow pastor, the chairman of the SBCs Executive Committee, Philip Robertson, sought to downplay reports that there was a systemic problem of abuse in the denomination, which he contended were not true. This has been a talking point for some outside critics of SBC efforts to respond to the crisis, now voiced by at least one person in SBC leadership. Robertson also said insurers warned they wouldnt cover the denomination if it had the database due to liability risks.

In response, the reform task force proposed having a separate nonprofit handle the list, but that has yet to materialize.

Robertsons remarks provide a window onto what has always been true, said Christa Brown, a longtime advocate for fellow survivors of abuse within Southern Baptist churches, in an email. SBC officials resistance to a database has always been about trying to minimize liability risks to the institution.  And SBC officials are trying to operate this multi-billion dollar organization without taking on the inherent responsibilities that go along with it.

In May, federal prosecutors charged Matt Queen, a former professor and administrator at an SBC-affiliated seminary in Texas with providing federal investigators with a false document. The U.S. Attorneys Office for the Southern District of New York asserted this document, involving an alleged case of sexual abuse by a seminary student, was provided with the intent to impede their investigation into sexual abuse within the convention.

The Executive Committee says it was told the federal investigation into its own actions has been completed.

WHY WOULD THE SBC BAN CHURCHES WITH WOMEN PASTORS?

In 2000, Southern Baptists amended the Baptist Faith and Message, their statement of doctrine, to say the office of pastor is limited to men, citing Bible verses such as one forbidding a woman to teach or to have authority over a man. This came amid a larger rightward push in the late 20th century SBC.

The doctrinal statement is nonbinding, and the denomination cant tell its independent churches whom to call as pastor. Some churches with women pastors left, while others stayed but kept a low profile. Still others later appointed women pastors or allowed women to serve under male leaders in associate pastoral roles, citing biblical examples of women in ministry.

Southern Baptists are poised to ban churches with women pastors. Some are urging them to reconsider

At this years meeting, messengers will vote on whether to give final approval to amending their constitution to ban churches  by deeming them not in friendly cooperation  with women pastors in lead or associate roles. The denomination preliminarily approved the amendment last year. Thats when it also began expelling congregations with women pastors, such as Saddleback Church, a California megachurch, on the grounds that they dont closely identify with the Baptist Faith and Message. The amendment would codify an explicit ban on such churches, putting them in the same category as churches that endorse homosexual behavior, discriminate based on ethnicity or fail to address sexual abuse.

WHY MIGHT THIS AFFECT NON-WHITE CHURCHES MORE?

The National African American Fellowship, a caucus of predominantly Black congregations within the SBC, says an amendment barring churches with women pastors could disproportionately impact its members, many with women working in assistant pastor roles. Chinese and Hispanic Baptist fellowship leaders also say their churches could be impacted because of language differences in how pastors are described.

WHO ARE SOUTHERN BAPTISTS, ANYWAY?

The Southern Baptist Convention is the nations largest Protestant denomination. Members are overwhelmingly evangelical and conservative both in religion and politics, the continuation of a rightward shift that began in the 1980s. The denomination was founded in 1845 in defense of slavery in a schism with northern Baptists. In 1995, the mostly white denomination formally repented of its support for slavery and other racism, and it made some strides to diversify racially. It has lost some Black churches and pastors in recent years due to alleged racial insensitivity within its overwhelmingly white leadership.

HOWS IT DOING?

Southern Baptist membership has steadily declined since 2006 and is now below 13 million, its lowest since 1976. There are also long-term declines in baptisms  the prime metric of spiritual vitality.

Alarmed by such trends, Southern Baptists in 2010 approved a seven-point plan to reenergize evangelistic efforts. A task force, evaluating how that went, reported this year that only two of the goals were met, and some were quickly forgotten.

The task force reported: Regarding the simple question of whether or not the implementation (of the 2010 plan) reversed the decline of baptisms in the SBC, the answer is a clear and decisive, No.

The report noted a clear erosion of trust, transparency and truth from within our convention which has ravaged our cooperative work.

WHO WANTS TO LEAD THE DENOMINATION?

Six men are being nominated to succeed Bart Barber, a folksy cattle farmer and small-church pastor, as president.

The candidates include five pastors and a seminary dean. As in recent years, the contest will be among candidates with varying degrees of conservativism.

WILL THERE BE POLITICS?

Trump will speak virtually at a nearby event on Monday, the day before the annual meeting. That program includes some Southern Baptist leaders. Its sponsored by an independent group but listed on the SBC calendar of events.

Former Vice President Mike Pence will speak Tuesday at a luncheon hosted by the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, but not in the main hall, as he did in 2018.

Messengers are expected to vote on resolutions supporting Israel and blaming Hamas amid the Gaza war; recommitting to the abolition of abortion; and urging parents diagnosed with infertility to carefully consider ethical options.

___

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the APs collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJBF.
Ukrainians could face up to 20 hours of blackouts a day under a worst-case scenario if the country cannot repair and properly defend its energy infrastructure from Russian attacks, Executive Director of Ukraines largest privately-owned energy company DTEK Dmytro Sakharuk told the Kyiv Independent in an interview on June 9.

The company has assessed various scenarios, with the worst being based on a continuation of the status quo  a dearth of air defenses to protect critical infrastructure and the financing to make repairs.

Even if the country makes repairs, without missiles for air defense systems, Russia can easily keep targeting the energy system as it wants.

Under what it considers the worst-case scenario, DTEK itself would continue to run with around 10% of pre-war levels of thermal power generation, and deficits would be around 2-4 gigawatts (GW) a day. The deficit across the whole system will be around 25%, undoubtedly leading to long blackouts.

A Russian attack on April 11 destroyed state-owned Centrenergos Trypillia Thermal Power Plant in Kyiv Oblast, leading to the destruction of 100% the company's generation capacity. Russia earlier destroyed the company's Zmiiv Thermal Power Plant during a March 22 strike on Kharkiv Oblast and another plant has been under occupation since 2022.

Workers clean debris in a turbine hall full of scorched equipment at a power plant of energy provider DTEK, destroyed after an attack in an undisclosed location in Ukraine on April 19, 2024, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (Genya Savilov/AFP via Getty Images)

Top DTEK executives check the damage caused by the recent Russian missile attack on one of the Ukrainian thermal power plants together with other in an undisclosed location in Ukraine on April 2, 2024. This thermal power plant was hit on March 22 during one of the biggest Russian attacks on the country's energy infrastructure since the beginning of the full-scale invasion. (Oksana Parafeniuk/For The Washington Post via Getty Images)

In this scenario, large plants could start feeling the absence of electricity in November, defense enterprises could feel the squeeze in December, and crucial infrastructure like water and sewage systems in January 2025, the company has assessed.

This is very close to realistic right now. Regarding what will happen this winter, we are heading very quickly to this (scenario), Sakharuk said.

Russia has stepped up its attacks against Ukraines energy facilities since March, completely destroying thermal power plants around the country. Companies have had to schedule blackouts, leaving consumers without power for several hours a day at times.

Read also: Zelensky meets German president in Berlin to discuss energy situation, peace summit

The attacks came just as Ukraine was running out of air defense missiles and further aid from the U.S. was held up in Congress.

Speaking at the Ukraine recovery conference on June 11, President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Russian and drone attacks have destroyed 9 gigawatts (GW) of Ukraine's capacity total energy capacity.

The peak energy consumption last winter was 18 GW  "half of that is gone now," Zelensky noted.

Ukrainian oil and gas giant Naftogaz CEO Oleksiy Chernyshov said at the conference that it will be impossible to get another 9 GW by winter" even if the country will be able to repair some infrastructure before then.

A worker walks through a burned out control room at a power plant of energy provider DTEK, destroyed after an attack, in an undisclosed location in Ukraine on April 19, 2024, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (Genya Savilov/AFP via Getty Images)

DTEK alone has suffered a 90% loss in thermal power generation capacity after Russia targeted its assets  including its thermal power generation, hydropower facilities, and solar panels  six times in its latest series of attacks.

Even the best-case scenario DTEK has determined  one in which there are no new attacks, air defense can properly defend critical assets, imports increase, and both DTEK and state-owned energy company Centrenergo can make repairs  would still come with pains.

Big enterprises, like metallurgical and defense production facilities, would have the power to work, but there would still be a deficit of up to 12% in the energy system. Blackouts would likely still be anywhere up to 10 hours a day, although they could be shorter depending on the severity of the attacks.

People need to know these things. It's not a reason for panic. It's a reason to move quickly, he said.

The country has between 120 and 150 days before the next heating season, depending on whether it starts on the usual Oct. 1 or Nov. 1 as it did last year.

To ready the country in the upcoming months, the country needs to defend, repair, increase the volume of imports, and install as much generation as possible, which Sakharuk believes is realistic.

Podil, Historical part of Kyiv during a blackout after a Russian missile attack on Ukrainian power infrastructure in Kyiv, Ukraine, Nov. 11, 2022 (Maxym Marusenko/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

He noted, however, that the importance of small generation is minimal. I know about three gas turbines that are being installed right now. Their capacity is 75 megawatts (MW). Its incomparable (to what weve lost).

Renewables are on the table, but will only become crucially important in two to three years, he said, as renewable energy sources require time to build and financing. But nobody will give money to these projects right now because they're not protected.

Much of the outcome of next winter hinges on Ukraines energy companies being able to make repairs, which will require donor financing.

Read also: Energy security and EU accession: What this years Ukraine recovery conference is all about (INTERVIEW)

DTEK needs roughly $350-400 million to repair its damaged thermal power plants. Last season the company spent $126 million to rebuild units destroyed in Russian attacks. All of them have been damaged again since.

The quickest way, according to Sakharuk, is by taking equipment from old plants around central and eastern Europe.

The company has already started visiting plants in these countries and has already brought back some equipment to do repairs with. The parts arent ideally suited to the companys equipment, but given the crisis, theyve made it work, even if the units are Frankensteins as Sakharuk called them.

DTEK has also received approval for funds from USAID which has committed $46 million for the agency to procure critically required equipment for DTEK.

The Energy Ministry has approved another $26 million from the Energy Community Fund for the procurement of critically required equipment.

Workers weld at a thermal power plant, extensively damaged after a Russian missile strike, at an undisclosed location, in Ukraine, on Friday, April 12, 2024. (Andrew Kravchenko/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

One big elephant in the room holding DTEK back from attracting financing is its owner  Ukrainian oligarch Rinat Akhmetov.

International financial institutions, like the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the International Finance Corporation (IFC), and the DFC, have it as a policy not to finance DTEK over its ownership.

The EBRD has invested 4 billion euros in Ukraine since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of the country in February 2022. Just recently, the bank announced 300 million euros toward Ukraines energy security, pledging funds to state-owned energy companies, including Ukrenergo, Ukrhydroenergo, and Ukrnafta.

The banks President Odile Renaud-Basso earlier told the Kyiv Independent that it is very selective with whom it works in Ukraine and that it does not work with oligarchs.

On EBRDs unwillingness to invest in DTEK, Sakharuk said the gravity of the situation outweighs any political reasons for staying away from the company.

This is an emergency. There is no other way to go through the coming winter if we don't repair the thermal generation and hydro generation that was damaged.

If they are committed to helping Ukraine, they must help. This is a moral obligation, but it is also not a time to continue playing games.

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
West Virginia is among 42 states settling with Johnson & Johnson over the company's marketing of talc powder. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

West Virginia is one of 42 states that have reached a $700 million settlement agreement with Johnson & Johnson over allegations about the companys marketing of baby powder and body powder products that contained talc, which allegedly causes cancer.

West Virginia will get nearly $6 million if a judge approves the proposed agreement.

This is a prime example that businesses should be up-front and honest about their products information, especially when the safety and wellbeing of consumers rely upon the accuracy and truthfulness of that information, Attorney General Morrisey said in a news release announcing the settlement agreement. Let this be a warning to those who are promoting their products in a deceitful manner to mislead consumers: We will investigate and you will be held accountable to the full extent of the law.

The lawsuit alleges that Johnson & Johnson marketed their talc products for women to use on and in their genitals, despite being aware of studies and other information demonstrating that the products were sometimes tainted with carcinogenic asbestos and women who used the products in the genital area had an increase risk of ovarian cancer.

As part of the lawsuit, Johnson & Johnson agreed to stop manufacturing and selling its baby powder and body powder products that contain talc in the United States.

According to the proposed order filed Tuesday, despite the agreement the company does not admit or concede any violation of law, rule, or regulation, or of any other matter of fact or law, or of any liability or wrongdoing, all of which Defendant expressly denies.

According to the proposed settlement, the company would pay the $700 million in four yearly installments of $175 million, with the first to be paid this summer.

The agreement stipulates that West Virginias portion of the settlement may be used for the administrative, investigative, compliance, enforcement, or litigation costs and services incurred for consumer protection purposes; to be held for appropriation by the Legislature; and/or distribution to taxpayers and/or consumers.

The state Attorney Generals Office did not return a message seeking specific information about how the money would be spent.

The lawsuit was led by Texas, Florida, and North Carolina. In addition to West Virginia, plaintiffs included Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin.

Johnson & Johnson did not return an email seeking comment.

The post WV among 42 states settling with pharmaceutical company over talc powder marketing appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
An elementary school classroom with multicolor reading charts on the blue wall on the left side, with activity books laying on a long table below it.

The Kids Count data released on Monday showed that 35% of West Virginia children were chronically absent from school during the 2021-22 school year, worse than the national average of 30% of children. (Lexi Browning | West Virginia Watch)

One quarter of children in West Virginia live in poverty, and new data shows the number has increased since the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Kids Count Data Book ranked West Virginia 47th out of 50 states for childrens economic well-being. The data, released Monday by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, sought to analyze how kids are fairing post-pandemic.

The study linked poverty to poor education outcomes, and West Virginia ranked 48th out of 50 for education.

Fred Albert, president of American Federation of Teachers-West Virginia, said teachers are spending classroom time helping the states 6,000 kids in foster care, thousands of homeless students and the growing number of children in need of mental health support.

Our educators are telling us that theyre spending an inordinate amount of time helping with kids who are hungry and who are sleeping in class because they are not getting a good nights sleep wherever theyre staying the night before, Albert said. You cannot concentrate on getting an education, and you cant think properly if youre hungry or youre not sure where youre going to sleep.

According to the data, 85% of eighth graders were not proficient in math and 78% of fourth graders were not proficient in reading in 2022, the most recent data available.

A score is just a snapshot in time, Albert explained. It doesnt tell the real story of whats actually happening in the classroom. We cant just put emphasis on the test scores  weve got to meet the whole needs of the child.

Students standardized test results from 2023 also showed poor outcomes in math and reading. The scores still lag behind where West Virginia students were before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Additionally, Albert said worsening absenteeism played a part in low academic performance.

The Kids Count data showed that 35% of West Virginia children were chronically absent from school during the 2021-22 school year, worse than the national average of 30% of children.

In an effort to address the problem, state lawmakers passed Senate Bill 568, which requires communication with parents about students who have missed school. Additionally, schools will be required to determine the reason for the students absence and offer support.

Kelly Allen, executive director of the West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy, said support services were key in addressing chronic absenteeism.

Staff specifically dedicated to checking in with parents, she explained. Not asking teachers to do more, but making sure the school support staff is really robust and they have the resources they need.

Not every school in West Virginia has a full-time counselor or social worker.

Allen said that the Republican-heavy state Legislature has focused on school choice, which typically only helps a certain subset of families who are typically not living in poverty.

I hope they take these [Kids Count] results seriously and recognize that over 90% of kids receive their education in the public school system and will continue to do so, she said. I hope theyll revisit public education as a priority.

Albert added, Our recent legislative sessions have not been focused on the issues so critical to a good education  Weve been focused on these cultural wars  the things that are not what our teachers are asking for help with like attendance and getting children out of foster care or [homelessness].

Nearly half of West Virginia kids face Adverse Childhood Experiences

West Virginia ranked 44th in overall child well-being, and 45% of children face one or more Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) compared with 40% of children nationwide.

Children with ACE scores are almost four times more likely to have been suspended or expelled.

During the 2023 legislative session, teachers said a top issue was addressing widespread discipline issues that interfered with classroom instruction time.

A bill that would have bolstered elementary teachers ability to remove students from their classrooms failed to get across the finish line on the final night of session in March. The legislation, crafted by a senator who is a public school teacher, faced pushback for its lack of emotional support for students and possible involvement of law enforcement with young kids.

Our teachers and school personnel have said, We need people to listen to us. We are on the front lines, Albert said.

Additionally, the KIDS COUNT data noted that the majority of West Virginia kids have health insurance.

The data show the importance of policy in improving child health, with just 3% of West Virginia children lacking health insurance in 2022, amid pandemic-era continuous coverage Medicaid and CHIP rules and the most recent year of data available, said the WVCBP in a news release.

The post WV ranks near bottom of country for education outcomes as childhood poverty increases, data shows appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Dignity Health announced Monday that it has reached a new contract agreement with Partnership HealthPlan of California, restoring access to doctors for nearly 32,000 Medi-Cal enrollees in Nevada, Shasta, Siskiyou, Tehama and Yolo counties.

A prior agreement between the two companies expired Mar. 31, forcing thousands of Northern California residents to establish a relationship with new providers at other companies that contracted with Partnership.

Jonathan Raven, the chair of the Yolo County Local Mental Health Board, has been closely watching the negotiations because Partnership manages Medi-Cal benefits for some of the states most vulnerable residents. He sent his appreciation to the Yolo County board of supervisors who vigorously urged both sides to seek a mediator from the state if they could not resolve their issues.

No other board of supervisors in other impacted counties did what Yolo did, he said in a statement to The Sacramento Bee. And the public ensured that their voice was heard, too. Lastly, and most importantly, a huge thank you to Dignity and Partnership. You didnt give up. I know the issues in these types of negotiations can challenging and complex.

Dignity, a unit of Chicago-based CommonSpirit Health, operates St. Elizabeth Community Hospital, Woodland Memorial Hospital and a number of medical centers under its Mercy brand. Julie J. Sprengel, the California president of CommonSpirit Health, said the new agreement provides reimbursements that will help the company to provide the care that patients deserve.

As our communities expand, so do their health care needs, Sprengel said. By investing in our hospitals, medical staff and health programs, we ensure that our patients continue to have access to quality care from Dignity Healths trusted providers. Our patients, and Partnership members, expect and deserve nothing less.

Sonja Bjork, chief executive officer of Partnership HealthPlan, said that Dignity has long been an important part of Partnerships network of health care providers serving our vulnerable population.

The renewed agreement with Dignity Health, a member of CommonSpirit, reflects our shared goal of prioritizing patient care and marks a significant step forward to ensure our members receive the essential medical services they deserve without interruption, Bjork said.

Fewer than 5% of Partnership Healths 900,000-plus members were affected by the prior contracts termination, Bjork told The Bee in an April interview.

These are the numbers affected and where they live, she said: 16,154 in Yolo County, 921 in Nevada County, 3,959 in Shasta County, 1,766 in Siskiyou County and 8,827 in Tehama County.

Many other members were able to keep their doctors because they had illnesses that qualified for state-mandated continuity of care for at least a year.

Partnership members can now access Medi-Cal primary, specialty, and hospital care services from Dignity Health providers and facilities in Nevada, Shasta, Siskiyou, Tehama, and Yolo counties. If members have questions about how to be reassigned to a Dignity provider, they can call (800) 863-4155.
JOHANNESBURG, June 11 (Xinhua) -- Naledi Pandor, minister of International Relations and Cooperation of South Africa, on Tuesday reiterated her country's call for a two-state solution to end the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict.

"South Africa will continue to do everything within its power to preserve the existence of the Palestinian people as a group, to end all acts of apartheid and genocide against the Palestinian people," she stated.

Speaking at the expanded BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) dialogue hosted in Russia Tuesday, Pandor said that the bloc must work hard to make its voice heard and address the concerns of those in need. As the South African government has been relentless in ensuring Israel acts within the law regarding the Palestinians, she said the battle would continue.

"South Africa welcomes the order by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) of May 24, 2024, that Israel should halt military action in Rafah, and we see the provisional measures ordered by the Court thus far as a signal of (a) decisive victory for the international rule of law and a significant milestone in the search for justice for the Palestinian people," she noted.

The minister further stated that the "injury" to international human rights law inflicted by Israel was significant and called on the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to act to ensure accountability for those committing war crimes.

"South Africa believes that finding and agreeing on a realistic two-state solution would bring lasting peace and would address the root causes of the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict," Pandor noted. "A solution is long overdue, and an agreement must urgently be negotiated. The agreement must result in the establishment of an independent and viable Palestinian State, based on 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital that exists side by side, in peace and security with Israel."

She also stressed South Africa's firm support for the full membership of Palestine as a member state of the United Nations. 
YORK TOWNSHIP, Pa. (WHTM)  Police in York County are at the scene of multiple crashes, one involving a rescue unit.

York Police and Fire Departments are responding to a single-vehicular crash into a pole with wires down on Indian Rock Dam Rd. between Imperial Dr. and Monument Rd.

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According to York County Regional Police, another crash has occurred in the same area involving another vehicle and a rescue unit. The area will be closed from Imperial Dr. to Days Mill Rd. indefinitely.

Police are asking drivers to take alternate routes and avoid the area as much as possible.

This is a developing story. Stay with abc27 News as more information becomes available

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27.
YORK COUNTY, Va. (WAVY)  York County has prohibited any future business ties with a right-wing school board organization after the group threatened a school board member ahead of a major recent vote, according to a letter obtained by WAVY News 10.

The letter, which is posted online, is addressed to School Board Member Alliance (SBMA) Chairwoman Sherri Story. York County Purchasing Agent Jan Dudley wrote the letter. In it, she said the SBMA demonstrated a lack of moral and business integrity when the leadership of the SBMA pressed now Board Chair Kimberly Goodwin to vote to keep former Chair Lynda Fairman in that position.

Mrs. Goodwin relayed to me that the SBMA told her if she did not vote the way that the SBMA wanted her to, and support Mrs. Fairman, that Mrs. Goodwin would no longer receive support from the SBMA, Dudley wrote. In order to continue receiving support from the SBMA, Mrs.

Goodwin would need to have a no vote with regards to the unseating of the at-that-time chairperson, Mrs. Lynda Fairman.

The letter can be read in full below:

SBMA-letter-06-05-2024-signedDownload

Previous coverage: York County School Board wont get policy services from right wing group

Previous coverage: York County School Board removes controversial right-wing board chair

Previous: Petition calls for resignation of 3 York County School Board members

Dudley said Goodwin told her that the conversation with the SBMA was held via Zoom a couple of days before the school board voted 3-2 to remove Fairman from the board chair position on Tuesday, May 28. Goodwin was also appointed chair that Tuesday in a 4-1 vote.

As a result of the discussion that occurred between myself, Mrs. Kim Goodwin, and Mrs. Melanie Berry [school board attorney], I have determined that the SBMA did not act with the moral and business integrity and reliability that will assure good faith performance, and is therefore a nonresponsible organization, Dudley said.  Due to the determination of nonresponsibility of the SBMA, the County of York, VA, nor the County School Board of York County, Virginia/York County School Division shall be allowed to contract with the

SBMA.

WAVY reached out to Story about what was allegedly said on the Zoom call, but she declined to comment, and repeatedly said she had not read or received the letter addressed June 5, 2024.

WAVY also reached out to others named in the letter, including School Board Attorney Melanie Berry. Berry said she had no first-hand knowledge and deferred to Goodwin.

Goodwin said she had no additional information beyond what was shared in the letter, but released this statement:

As Chair, my primary focus is on moving forward and fostering collaborative relationships among board members and with division staff. We have a lot of hard work ahead of us and I remain committed to conducting that work in an ethical and transparent manner. My hope is that members of the community will stop casting blame, stirring divisiveness and shifting the focus from where it belongs  our students and staff. Kimberly Goodwin, chair of York County School Board

Meanwhile, WAVY reached out to York County Commonwealths Attorney Krystyn Reid to ask if this could be considered a criminal matter. She said she had not received any information about the incident, but if she did, she couldnt comment on pending matters.

Though Alan Kennedy, a William & Mary professor whos done pro bono work for those who petitioned for the resignation of Goodwin, Fairman and Pajevic, said he believes the SBMAs alleged actions are serious.

SBMAs threats against Goodwin are not only unethical but also illegal. They should lose their non-profit status and barred from receiving public funds from any school in Virginia.

Previous: Trainwreck: New school board leadership in York County accused of militia ties, could face legal issues

Previous: Alleged militia actions in York County may lead to democratic erosion, expert says

Previous: Teachers are fearful: York County teacher accused of harassment by school board member speaks out

Dozens speak out over concerns with new York County School Board leadership

The letter states that SBMA has 10 days to appeal the decision. If it stands, York County would officially cut off any funds toward the controversial right-wing organization. The York County School Board voted back in April to decline policy writing services from the SBMA, and also recently voted under Goodwins leadership to cancel a planned board retreat for Friday, May 31 that would have heavily featured the group.

However, board members could be reimbursed for things such as individual membership dues and training from the SBMA by the school division.

Goodwin, Fairman and board member Zoran Pajevic all have received an individual membership and training from the organization.

This all comes as other school districts in Virginia have voted recently to leave the nonpartisan Virginia School Boards Association to join the School Board Member Alliance. Rockingham Countys school board voted Monday night to do so and Orange Countys did the same earlier this month.

This article is breaking and will be updated.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Late last week, seemingly out of the blue, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced her intention to indefinitely delay congestion pricing in New York, the thoroughly studied, meticulously designed, and long since signed-sealed-delivered policy that the state Legislature passed into law in 2019. The policy, which would charge up to $15 to each car entering Manhattan below 60th Street from the outer boroughs and out of state, was slated to go into effect on June 30 before Hochul put it on hold.

There are many accurate ways to describe the lawclimate policy, quality-of-life improver, tax on the wealthybut primarily it was an absolutely essential way to fund the citys beleaguered public transit system, to the tune of $15 billion of bond financing, backed by $1 billion in annual revenue, that is not turning up elsewhere.

Why (why, why, why) would Hochul do that? She has largely hidden from the press and public appearances as the blowback rises to mighty proportions; her best explanation has been some combination of a strange claim about cost-of-living increases and a dubious story that someone in a diner told her to do it. (There is an even less flattering interpretation of Hochuls head-scratching move: She was, until Monday, scheduled to attend a fundraiser where the states car dealers showered her with cash and celebrated her decision.)

But Hochul, whose political instincts are already notorious not even three years on the job, didnt go it alone on this. She made the decision to scotch her partys flagship revenue-raising climate policy after conversations with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries about some all-important House races that Democrats should never have lost in the first place but now appear in jeopardy of losing again. It seems that this is yet another costly consequence of New York Dems storied ineptitude.

According to Politico, Hochuls decision came after conversations with Jeffries, a fellow New Yorker and the top-ranking Democrat in the House, who stands to gain the most from the partys securing majority control in Novembers elections. It came down to electioneering: National Democrats are hoping to win pesky but necessary swing districts in the Hudson Valley and Long Island where people own cars, and they feared the repercussions from those voters. So they leaned on Hochul to shelve the policy. Its hard to say if congestion pricing will change many or any votes in either direction, though it seems unlikely; there are a lot of other issues at stake this November, after all.

Jeffries hasnt taken a bullet for Hochul as the backlash has mounted, but he has publicly stood by the move. His office put out a statement saying he supported a temporary pause to contemplate the impact on working-class New Yorkers, a result that has already been studied exhaustively and conclusively; the wealthy would be far more affected.

Jeffries, who reps central Brooklyn, a district that would benefit overwhelmingly from the policy, did not call Hochul on behalf of his constituents, few of whom are working-class people who drive into lower Manhattan. Hes fretting about those House races. But he shouldnt be. National Democrats have already allocated a huge sum of money to campaigning there to quell those concerns, $45 million for ads and staffers for just three or four eminently winnable districts that went for Biden in 2020. Add that expenditure to what Hochul is now asking the state to come up with: $1 billion to plug the immediate public-transit funding hole caused by the congestion pricing delay. That makes $1.045 billion, plus a sacrificed long-sought climate policy, for a few districts they should win pretty easily.

But Jeffries wouldnt need to be worrying about angry suburban diner-lovers at all if the Democratic candidates in those top New York district races were running quality, disciplined campaigns. Unfortunately, they are not.

Look no further than New Yorks hotly contested 17th District. There, Mondaire Jones, who won and held the seat as an avowed progressive in 2020, is running again, this time against incumbent Republican Mike Lawler. Its as close to a must-win for Democrats as there is on their path to a majority.

Rather than shoring up cross-coalition Democratic support, Jones is burning bridges like its the siege of Rome and warring with the local press. In a surprise move, he endorsed George Latimer, the moderate primary challenger to his old neighbor and colleague Jamaal Bowman in this years race. Bowman and Jones once repped adjacent districts, were in both the House progressive caucus and the Black caucus together, and arrived in Congress in the same freshman class. Jones even endorsed Bowman in 2022.

But Jones didnt stop at endorsing Latimer this cycle; he went on to antagonize nearly all his former allies. In a rare rebuke, the Congressional Progressive Caucus withdrew its endorsement of Jones, who then retaliated on CNN by calling those fellow members of his own partythe CPC is the largest caucus for House Democratsextremists.

Not long after, an unflattering story appeared in City & State reporting that fellow Democrat Sean Patrick Maloney had offered to bow out of the 17th District primary in 2022, ceding the district to Jones, who was the incumbent. Jones, the piece reported, turned down the offer, preferring to campaign in another district. Initially, per City & State, he wanted to run against Bowman, but treacherous polling steered him instead into the 10th District, where he got third place in the Democratic primary, splitting the progressive vote and helping hand the seat to the more conservative Dem in the race, Dan Goldman.

Jones claimed that the article was untrue, trashing the local news publication. But then a senior staffer from Maloneys camp confirmed it, capping an all-around dreadful news cycle for Jones. This is the candidate running in one of the very most must-win swing districts, where Democrats expect to invest heavily.

And yet: Still, none of this would have mattered if the states Democrats had simply drawn better congressional maps. As you may recall, after the 2020 census New York Dems resolutely botched the redistricting process, a mishap that resulted in the creation of a number of Republican-friendly districts ahead of the 2022 midterms. That map led to a one-state wipeout during a national election in which Democrats otherwise overperformed expectations. Their losses in four New York congressional races accounted for nearly the entire Republican House majority.

Then, miraculously, the state party got a do-over earlier this year, after New Yorks highest court agreed to throw out the lines from 2022. (Hochul nearly kept this from happening too, but thats another story.) What did state Democrats do with that shot at redemption? They turned in a nearly identical map, which was signed into law with Hochuls and Jeffries blessings.

The bad new district maps, Jones terrible behavior, and Hochuls panicked congestion pricing delay are all the result of New York Democrats steadfast refusal to engage in any measure of accountability after the 2022 debacle. The enervated party apparatus remained basically intact; despite calls for party Chair Jay Jacobs to resign, he has defiantly maintained his role. Jacobs, no surprise, has also weighed in in favor of Hochuls decision to deep-six congestion pricing. To be fair, that means there are at least three New Yorkers, plus whomever Hochul talked to at the Pershing Square diner she name-checked (which happens to sit beside the colossal transit hub Grand Central Station), who support this decision.

Hochul may ultimately lose this battle; its not clear if its even legal for her to do this. She has shown a penchant for uniting disparate and often fractious coalitions within the Democratic bloc against her decisionmaking, and the group opposed to this move is formidable.

But the laws delay is another painful reminder of the shortsightedness and dysfunction that still plague the New York Democratic Party. Those deficiencies show no signs of abating. The Jeffries era in the House is still young, but his unwillingness to confront this fact is already bogging down Democrats locally and nationally. That problem wont go away, just like downtown Manhattans terrible traffic congestion or its creaky, behind-schedule trains.
Young Thugs attorney, Brian Steel, has been arrested and held in contempt of court for refusing to disclose a source related to his clients RICO case.

According to The Washington Post, Judge Ural Glanville took Thugs attorney into custody after declining to explain where and how he heard about an alleged secret meeting held between Judge Glanville, Kenneth Copelanda key witness in the YSL case, and several prosecutors.

Glanville asserted that the information, regardless of how or where Steel received it, violated the court rules and that he would be hit with contempt if he didnt explain how the information was gathered. Im going to give you five minutes. If you dont tell me who it is, Im going to put you in contempt, the judge told Steel.

The judge then gave Thugs attorney one more chance to answer where he heard about a supposed under-the-table conversation, to which Brian refused yet again. Mr. Steel, Im going to ask you again. I need you to tell me how you got this information. This is so sacrosanct, to have a conversation in my chambers parroted to you, the judge insisted. During this exchange, Steel motioned for a mistrial, but his motion was quickly denied as he was taken into custody.

Law & Crime reporter Cathy Russon then reported that, after an hour break, Judge Glanville sentenced Brian Steel to serve 20 days in the Fulton County Jail to serve every weekend for criminal contempt. Instead of fighting the sentence, Steel asked if he could spend his prison time with Thugger to continue preparing for his case, opting to share a cell with the Atlanta rapper.

Steel has been instructed to serve his 20 days across the next ten weekends. He will report to 901 Rice Street NW, Atlanta, Georgia, 30318 at 7 PM on Fridays and then be released at 7 PM on Sundays. Steels jail sentence will begin Friday, June 14, and is set to end Sunday, Aug. 18.

Steel asked the judge to allow him to serve that time at the Cobb County Jail, where Young Thug is being held, and not at the Fulton County Jail, which Glanville said he would consider, The Post added.

Young Thugs RICO troubles have been looming over the rapper for two years now. In May 2022, Thugga was arrested on a multitude of charges tied to murder, assault, theft, gun possession, and more. The trial itself has been ongoing for 17 months, making it one of the longest trials in Georgias state history.

Thugs lawyer has been sentenced to 10 weekends in jail (20 days).



He asks that (if the appeal doesnt get him a bond) he is allowed to spend those weekends in jail with Young Thug, and the Judge agrees.  THUGGERDAILY  (@ThuggerDaily) June 10, 2024

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Brian Steel, an attorney representing Young Thug in his Georgia RICO trial, was taken into custody and sentenced to 20 days in jail after refusing to disclose how he learned about a private meeting between the judge, prosecutors, and one of the states witnesses, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Judge Ural Glanville, who is presiding over the trial, held Steel in contempt after the lawyer repeatedly refused to share how he learned of the meeting. Steel was subsequently sentenced to 20 days in Cobb County Jail, which he will serve out over the next 10 weekends. Steel asked that he share a cell with Young Thug so that they could work together on the case, a request that Judge Glanville approved.

The witness, Kenneth Copeland, had earlier spent the weekend in jail after refusing to testify despite receiving an immunity deal that was contingent on his testimony. On Monday, Copeland agreed to take the stand after meeting with the judge and prosecutors behind closed doors.

After learning of the meeting, Steel confronted Judge Glanville, alleging that Copeland had been coerced and threatened with additional jail time during the meeting, and called for a mistrial. What I want to know is why wasnt I there, Steel asked the judge.

Judge Glanville called the disclosure of the meeting such a violation of the sacrosanctness of the judges chambers.

Young Thug was arrested and charged in May 2022 as part of a sprawling 56-count criminal indictment related to gang activity, and has remained in custody since then. His trial officially got underway in November 2023 and is expected to run through early 2025, as the prosecution intends to call over 200 witnesses.

Young Thugs Lawyer Sentenced to 20 Days in Jail

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Electric car in charging. (Getty Images)

Gov. Glenn Youngkin has taken the extraordinary  and illegal  step of announcing his administration will ignore Virginia law and withdraw from the vehicle emissions standards known commonly as the Clean Cars program, which would reverse the states most significant action to date to curb climate pollution. This attempt to circumvent the law comes after repeated failed attempts to convince the General Assembly to repeal the Clean Cars statute.

Unfortunately, weve seen such shocking executive overreach from Youngkin before. He similarly sought to unlawfully remove Virginia from participating in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, contrary to another state statute aimed at cutting climate pollution that also funds energy efficiency and flood resilience. Now the target is Clean Cars, never mind the facts and the law.

Clean Cars is the law

As part of the misinformation provided to justify scrapping Clean Cars, the Governor and his allies have repeatedly stated or implied that Virginia should set its own vehicle emission standards. The truth is, we cant.

Under the federal Clean Air Act, Virginia has two options to adopt to control vehicle emissions:: federal standards developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or the more environmentally protective state standards California is federally authorized to set. Virginia did not abdicate state authority over tailpipe emissions standards to unelected leaders in California, as Youngkin claims. Virginia lawmakers  our publicly-elected representatives  asserted state authority in 2021 by choosing to adopt and maintain consistency with standards that do more to protect our health and our environment. The regulations carrying out this directive went into effect in January 2024.

The benefits of Clean Cars

Virginia is one of 17 states that have adopted the more protective vehicle emissions standards. And for good reason: The Clean Cars standards will substantially cut transportation pollution, the source of almost half of carbon emissions in Virginia that are fueling the climate crisis. Gas-powered vehicles are also a significant source of other harmful pollution like nitrogen oxides and particulate matter that cause serious health impacts across Virginia, including premature death, and disproportionately impact communities of color and low-income communities.

The standards require automakers to deliver an increasing number of both cleaner gas-powered vehicles and zero-emission vehicles for sale in the commonwealth. Contrary to misinformation being spread by opponents, the Clean Cars standards do not ban gas-powered vehicles. They only apply to new vehicles. And under the law, zero-emission vehicles include both fully electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) that still have gas-powered engines.

Since automakers prioritize sending clean vehicles to states with the Clean Cars standards, adopting the standards increases the number of new vehicle models available and helps our economy, since at least one-third of registered EVs were purchased out of state before the standards took effect. Cleaner vehicles will also save Virginians money. In 2021, Virginians spent almost $11 million on imported gas. But EV drivers typically spend the equivalent of approximately $1 per gallon for a full charge, and the typical EV can be driven 150 to 400 miles before it needs to be recharged.

We cant afford to lose the benefits of Clean Cars.

A convenient flip-flop

Attorney General Miyares office previously  and correctly  concluded that Virginia law requires adoption of the Clean Cars standards and updates, and Miyares called upon the General Assembly to repeal the legislation. Throughout the implementation process, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality  again, correctly  also noted that the standards were required by law. And they concluded that the regulations would automatically update to maintain consistency with any future changes to the Clean Cars Program.

Now, Miyares has flip-flopped and instead asserts that the governor can unilaterally override a law passed by the General Assembly. It is striking that this new interpretation arrives over halfway through his term, and Youngkins, and only after the legislature has, for three years, rejected every proposed bill to repeal the Clean Cars law. How convenient.

Moving forward

The Governor is not above the law. Virginia must continue to implement the Clean Cars standards until the General Assembly chooses otherwise, ensuring that all Virginians enjoy the health, economic, and environmental benefits of the most substantial step the state has ever taken to cut tailpipe pollution.





The post Youngkins illegal attempt to kill Clean Cars emissions standards appeared first on Virginia Mercury.
Acting Detective Inspector Andrew Saunders gives a media update on the search for Tom Phillips and his children, including the introduction of a NZ$80,000 (US$49,000) reward in Hamilton, New Zealand, Tuesday, June 11, 2024. New Zealand authorities offered a reward and immunity from prosecution Tuesday to anyone who can help their search for three children who have been missing since their father vanished with them from a remote rural community more than two years ago. (Mike Scott/New Zealand Herald via AP)

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP)  New Zealand authorities offered a reward and immunity from prosecution Tuesday to anyone who can help their search for three children who have been missing since their father vanished with them from a remote rural community more than two years ago.

The December 2021 disappearance of Tom Phillips and his children  now aged 8, 9 and 10  has confounded investigators. They are not believed to ever have travelled far from the remote rural settlement where they lived, but there have been no credible sightings of the family for months.

Police officers converged on the township, Marokopa, population 69, to seek fresh leads in a case that has fascinated the country of 5 million people.

Phillips is accused of committing an armed bank robbery while on the run in May 2023. He allegedly shot at a member of the public and fled on a motorbike with a passenger who investigators believe was one of his children. Phillips no longer has legal custody rights for his children, Acting Detective Inspector Andrew Saunders said at a news conference in the city of Hamilton, south of Auckland, on Tuesday.

These are not the actions of a good father, said Saunders. The children have not had access to formal education or healthcare since they went missing, he added, and police have concerns for the welfare of the children who have been living in isolation for the past two and a half years, with no connection to others."

Saunders said that a reward of 80,000 New Zealand dollars ($49,000)  large by New Zealand standards  and an offer of immunity from prosecution is targeted at people who already know the familys whereabouts. The authorities have long said they believe that Phillips has had help concealing his family.

The reward, approved by New Zealand's Commissioner of Police, expires in two weeks, Saunders said.

We dont want them waiting months and months to decide, he said. Come forward and tell us where the children are.

It is not the first time Phillips prompted national news headlines after disappearing with his children. The family went missing in September 2021, provoking a 3-week land and sea search after Phillips truck was found abandoned on a wild beach near where he lived. Authorities eventually ended the search, concluding the family might have died, before Phillips and the children emerged from dense forest where he said they had been camping.

He was charged with wasting police resources and was due to appear in court in January 2022, but weeks before the scheduled date, he and the children vanished again. The police did not immediately launch a search because Phillips, who is experienced in the outdoors, had told family he was taking the children on another trip. He never returned.

Less than a year later, with the trail cold, the authorities said Phillips and the children might have moved elsewhere in New Zealand and changed their names. But the search began again after several sightings of Phillips in 2023 in the same region where he had vanished, including in the alleged bank robbery.

The childrens mother was happy the reward had been offered, Saunders said. A spokesperson for the family could not be contacted for comment.
Zelensky arrives in Germany for recovery conference, talks with Scholz

President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Germany June 11 to take part in the Ukraine Recovery Conference and meet with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Zelensky announced.

The Ukraine Recovery Conference 2024, hosted in Berlin, will convene government officials, companies, and organizations to address Ukraine's ongoing reconstruction needs, focusing primarily on energy infrastructure.

"In the face of Russia's air terror, urgent solutions for Ukraine's energy sector will be our top priority," Zelensky said.

Zelensky and Scholz will discuss military assistance for Ukraine, expanding air defense capacity, and joint arms production, the president said. Zelensky will also meet with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Bundestag President Barbel Bas.

During his stay to Germany, Zelensky also plans to visit a military base where Ukrainian servicemembers are training.

Zelensky's visit to Germany comes shortly after Berlin issued a major policy reversal, allowing Ukraine to use German weapons to strike targets within Russian territory.

Read also: Energy security and EU accession: What this years Ukraine recovery conference is all about (INTERVIEW)

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
This file photo taken on May 27, 2024 shows late Malawian Vice President Saulos Chilima in his office during a meeting in Lilongwe, Malawi.

Vice President of Malawi Saulos Chilima and nine other individuals who were on board a military aircraft have been confirmed deceased after the aircraft went missing Monday morning, President Lazarus Chakwera said Tuesday. (Photo by Kondwani Magombo/Xinhua)

LILONGWE, June 11 (Xinhua) -- Vice President of Malawi Saulos Chilima and nine other individuals who were on board a military aircraft have been confirmed deceased after the aircraft went missing Monday morning, President Lazarus Chakwera said Tuesday.

"I am deeply saddened and sorry to inform you all that it has turned out to be a terrible tragedy. The search and rescue team found the aircraft near a hill in the Chikangawa Forest. They found it completely destroyed, with no survivors, as all passengers on board were killed on impact," Chakwera said in a televised address.

Chilima was "a good man, a devoted father and husband, a patriotic citizen who served his country with distinction," he added.

The vice president was traveling to the funeral of the country's former Attorney General and Minister of Justice Ralph Kasambara, who was found dead at a lodge in Lilongwe, the capital of Malawi, Friday. His body was buried Monday at his home village in Nkhata Bay, a few kilometers from Mzuzu Airport.

The aircraft, a Donier 228 belonging to the Malawi Defense Force, failed to make its scheduled landing at Mzuzu Airport at 10:02 a.m. (0802 GMT) Monday in northern Malawi, according to the country's Secretary to the President and Cabinet Colleen Zamba.

The aircraft returned due to bad weather, heading to Kamuzu International Airport in Lilongwe before it went off the radar. A search and rescue operation was launched by security agencies in the afternoon around the Chikangawa Forest where it was believed to have been lost. 

This file photo taken Nov. 14, 2023 shows Malawian President Lazarus Chakwera (R) shaking hands with late Vice President Saulos Chilima at Kamuzu International Airport in Lilongwe, Malawi.

Vice President of Malawi Saulos Chilima and nine other individuals who were on board a military aircraft have been confirmed deceased after the aircraft went missing Monday morning, President Lazarus Chakwera said Tuesday. (Photo by Kondwani Magombo/Xinhua)
Volodymyr Zelensky, President of Ukraine, speaks at the International Conference on the Reconstruction of Ukraine in Berlin. The International Reconstruction Conference for Ukraine will take place in Berlin on June 11 and 12. Kay Nietfeld/dpa

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky again made an urgent plea for more air defence systems and aid to rebuild his country's ravaged energy infrastructure in a speech to a Ukraine Recovery Conference in Berlin on Tuesday.

Zelensky said that his country needs at least seven more Patriot air defence missile systems soon in order to protect major cities from frequent Russian airstrikes.

Those Russian attacks have focused on electricity infrastracture, among other targets, causing major damage.

Zelensky's remarks to the conference in Berlin were frequently interrupted by applause from the gathered leaders and officials from businesses and international organizations.

He thanked the German government, which is hosting the conference, for their efforts to supply more air defence and other aid, including two Patriot systems and promises of a third.

But despite aid received so far, Russian forces still hold a strategic advantage in the air, Zelensky said, with glide bombs, missiles and drones inflicting severe damage.

Zelensky said that the only way to get Russian President Vladimir Putin to negotiate for peace is to deny him the chance to make gains by force in Ukraine.

Ukraine has been asking its allies for more powerful weapons to stop the Russian attacks. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, also attending the conference, has continued to refuse some Ukrainian requests, including for long-range Taurus cruise missiles.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to to attend an international conference in Berlin on Tuesday to discuss the reconstruction of his country.

Zelensky, who arrived in the German capital on Monday evening, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz plan to open the conference on Tuesday morning.

About 2,000 politicians, political leaders and officials from international organizations are expected to attend the gathering.

The Berlin conference is aimed at bringing together people from around the world involved in development and reconstruction efforts in Ukraine. It is not expected to be a donor conference aimed at raising money.

"In the face of Russia's air terror, urgent solutions for Ukraine's energy sector will be our top priority," Zelensky wrote on X after arriving in Germany on Monday evening.

Talks with Scholz on "further defence assistance, the expansion of Ukraine's air defence system, and joint arms production" are also planned, he said.

In the afternoon, Zelensky is scheduled to give a speech to Germany's parliament, the Bundestag. The trip will be Zelensky's third visit to Berlin since Russia launched the full-scale invasion of his country in February 2022.

Zelensky previously spoke to Germany's parliament via a remote video connection on March 17, 2022, just three weeks after Russian troops launched the full-scale attack. At the time, Zelensky implored German lawmakers for more military support.

The German government was initially hesitant to provide Ukraine with heavy weapons and other armaments, but has since become a significant supplier of the Ukrainian military. Germany ranks behind the United States as Ukraine's second-largest supporter in terms of military and financial aid.

However, Scholz has continued to refuse some Ukrainian requests, including for advanced long-range Taurus cruise missiles. And unlike French President Emmanuel Macron, Scholz has strictly ruled out the possibility of deploying NATO troops to Ukraine.

Last week, Macron announced his intention to send military trainers to Ukraine together with other countries.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to to attend an international conference in Berlin on Tuesday to discuss the reconstruction of his country.

Zelensky, who arrived in the German capital on Monday evening, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz plan to open the conference on Tuesday morning.

About 2,000 politicians, political leaders and officials from international organizations are expected to attend the gathering.

The Berlin conference is aimed at bringing together people from around the world involved in development and reconstruction efforts in Ukraine. It is not expected to be a donor conference aimed at raising money.

"In the face of Russia's air terror, urgent solutions for Ukraine's energy sector will be our top priority," Zelensky wrote on X after arriving in Germany on Monday evening.

Talks with Scholz on "further defence assistance, the expansion of Ukraine's air defence system, and joint arms production" are also planned, he said.

In the afternoon, Zelensky is scheduled to give a speech to Germany's parliament, the Bundestag. The trip will be Zelensky's third visit to Berlin since Russia launched the full-scale invasion of his country in February 2022.

Zelensky previously spoke to Germany's parliament via a remote video connection on March 17, 2022, just three weeks after Russian troops launched the full-scale attack. At the time, Zelensky implored German lawmakers for more military support.

The German government was initially hesitant to provide Ukraine with heavy weapons and other armaments, but has since become a significant supplier of the Ukrainian military. Germany ranks behind the United States as Ukraine's second-largest supporter in terms of military and financial aid.
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks at a joint press conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, during the International Ukraine Reconstruction conference in Berlin. Kay Nietfeld/dpa

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said he expects Ukrainian refugees to return to the country but only after the fighting has ended.

It doesn't make sense to try to motivate Ukrainians to return now with slogans or campaigns, Zelensky said. "There is no doubt that general reconstruction will only take place after the war," he said.

The Ukrainian leader said there will be a great deal of enthusiasm among Ukrainians who fled abroad to come back and rebuild the country once there is peace.

There will be plenty of jobs once that happens, Zelensky said, noting that there is already robust demand in Ukraine for skilled workers.

Zelensky's comments came during a joint press conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin on Tuesday, where he is visiting for the opening of an international conference on the reconstruction of Ukraine.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky (L) and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz shake hands at the end of their joint press conference during the International Ukraine Reconstruction conference in Berlin. Kay Nietfeld/dpa
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky delivers a speech at the German Parliament (Bundestag). Zelensky is in Berlin for the International Ukraine Reconstruction conference in Berlin. Bernd von Jutrczenka/dpa

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called on his country's supporters to work together to successfully end the Russian war against his country in a speech to Germany's parliament in Berlin on Tuesday.

Russia must not be allowed to continue its march through Europe, Zelensky told German lawmakers in an emotional speech on Tuesday. He said Putin has become used to subjugating others but must be broken of that habit.

"It is in our common interest that Putin personally lose this war," Zelensky said.

The war must be ended in such a way that there is no doubt who has won, said Zelensky, whose speech was repeatedly interrupted by applause. Three large flower arrangements in the Ukrainian colours blue and yellow lay in front of the lectern.

At the end, he was hailed with a standing ovation that lasted several minutes.

Russia must take full responsibility for unleashing the war and by forced to "pay for all the damage caused by this aggression," Zelensky said.

The Ukrainian President was greeted with prolonged applause from members of Germany's parliament, the Bundestag. He entered the packed plenary chamber alongside German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz and ministers from his coalition government also attended the speech.

The Ukrainian president thanked Germany for supporting his country, particularly acknowledging Germany's supply of Patriot air defence systems, which he credited with saving "thousands" of lives.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky delivers a speech at the German Parliament (Bundestag). Zelensky is in Berlin for the International Ukraine Reconstruction conference in Berlin. Bernd von Jutrczenka/dpa

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky waves after delivering a speech at the German Parliament (Bundestag). Zelensky is in Berlin for the International Ukraine Reconstruction conference in Berlin. Bernd von Jutrczenka/dpa
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky met his German counterpart, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, during the former's visit to Berlin on June 11.

Zelensky arrived in Germany's capital to attend this year's Ukraine Recovery Conference and hold meetings with Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

During the meeting, the two presidents discussed "the security situation in Ukraine and the current needs amid Russian attacks against the Ukrainian energy infrastructure and military operations along the front."

Russia recently intensified its attacks against Ukraine's energy grid, damaging or destroying multiple power plants and forcing the authorities to implement rolling blackouts.

Zelensky and Steinmeier also discussed "Ukraine's expectations from the results of the inaugural peace summit," which will take place in Switzerland on June 15-16.

The Presidential Office said that over 100 countries and organizations had confirmed their participation, while Russia was not invited.

Germany supported the summit, but Scholz downplayed its possible impact, saying: "There will be no peace talks there. We are still far from that as long as Russia believes it can achieve its goals on the battlefield."

Zelensky also delivered an address at the Ukraine Recovery Conference, where he called on partners to supply Ukraine with additional air defenses and energy assistance to protect the country against Russian aerial attacks.

Read also: Zelensky arrives in Germany for recovery conference, talks with Scholz

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Ukrainain President Volodymyr Zelensky drew parallels between the violent occupation of his country by Russian troops with Germany's painful Cold War history of division in a speech in Berlin on Tuesday.

Zelensky cited those divisions to underscore the need for Ukraine and the country's European supporters to continue fighting against the ongoing Russian invasion.

"Divided Europe was never peaceful. And a divided Germany was never happy," Zelensky said in a speech to Germany's parliament.

"And that's why you can understand us, the Ukrainians. You can understand why we are fighting so hard against Russia's attempts to divide us and to divide Ukraine. Why we are doing everything, simply everything, not to allow a wall between the parts of our country. No country should be condemned to have barbed wire tearing its body apart for decades. "

Zelensky also addressed an upcoming Ukraine peace conference in Switzerland in his remarks on Tuesday, saying that he hoped there would be progress toward an eventual deal to end the conflict.

"We want to give diplomacy a chance," Zelensky said. "Ukraine has never relied solely on the strength of its weapons."

Russia was not invited to participate in the gathering in Switzerland and the Kremlin has dismissed the talks as meaningless.

Earlier on Tuesday, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said he hoped the conference could lay groundwork for eventual talks that might include Russia.
German Minister of Defense Boris Pistorius and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky hold a joint press conference during their visit to a military training area to learn about the training of Ukrainian soldiers on the "Patriot" anti-aircraft missile system. Jens Buttner/dpa

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius have been to see Ukrainian troops being trained to use the Patriot air defence system.

The two visited a military training area in northern Germany on Tuesday afternoon. The exact location was not disclosed for security reasons.

Zelensky arrived from Berlin on Tuesday, where he took part in an international reconstruction conference for his country and then gave a speech in the Bundestag.

He emphasized that at least seven more Patriot systems are needed to protect Ukrainian cities and metropolitan areas. "Air defence is the answer to everything," he said, referring to the Russian attacks with glide bombs, cruise missiles and drones.

Germany has so far supplied Ukraine with two Patriot systems and associated missiles. A third unit, on which Ukrainian soldiers are currently being trained, has been promised to Ukraine and is to be delivered soon.

According to the Bundeswehr, nine systems will remain in Germany. Eight new systems are currently being ordered.

The Patriot air defence missile system can be used to combat enemy aircraft, ballistic missiles and cruise missiles. The defence missiles can hit targets at a distance of around 100 kilometres at altitudes of up to 30 kilometres.

German Minister of Defense Boris Pistorius (C) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Manuela Schwesig (L), Minister President of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, welcome German and Ukrainian soldiers during their visit to a military training area to learn about the training of Ukrainian soldiers on the "Patriot" air defence missile system. Jens Buttner/dpa

German Minister of Defense Boris Pistorius and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky soldiers in front of "Patriot" anti-aircraft missile systems during their visit to a military training area. Jens Buttner/dpa
Volodymyr Zelensky (L), President of Ukraine, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz give a press conference at the Ukraine Conference. The international reconstruction conference for Ukraine takes place in Berlin on June 11 and 12. Britta Pedersen/dpa

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz both made urgent appeals to supply Ukraine with more air defence systems at the start of an international Ukraine reconstruction conference in Berlin on Tuesday.

Scholz called on allies to support a German initiative to bolster Ukraine's air defences "with everything possible."

"Because the best reconstruction is the one that doesn't have to happen in the first place," Scholz said.

Zelensky said that his country needs at least seven more Patriot air defence missile systems soon in order to protect major cities from frequent Russian airstrikes.

He also said that his country needs more help to rebuild energy infrastructure that has been ravaged by frequent Russian attacks.

Zelensky's remarks to the conference in Berlin were frequently interrupted by applause from the gathered leaders and officials from businesses and international organizations.

The Berlin conference is aimed at bringing together about 2,000 people from around the world involved in development and reconstruction efforts in Ukraine. It is not expected to be a donor conference aimed at raising money.

Zelensky is also expected to give a speech to Germany's parliament, the Bundestag, on Tuesday afternoon while in Berlin. The trip is his third visit to Berlin since the start of Russia's all-out invasion in February 2022.

In a post to X on Monday, Zelensky said that talks with Scholz on "further defence assistance, the expansion of Ukraine's air defence system, and joint arms production" are also planned for his visit to Berlin.

In his speech to the conference, Zelensky thanked the German government for their efforts to supply more air defence and other aid, including two Patriot systems and promises of a third, which Ukrainian soldiers are currently being trained on.

Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani announced at the conference on Tuesday that Italy was prepared to send a new military package with air defence equipment.

But despite aid received so far, Russian forces still hold a strategic advantage in the air, Zelensky said, with glide bombs, missiles and drones inflicting severe damage.

Zelensky said that the only way to get Russian President Vladimir Putin to negotiate for peace is to deny him the chance to make gains by force in Ukraine.

Zelensky accused Putin of using Ukraine's electricity supplies as a weapon against the people, with Russian airstrikes having knocked out about nine gigawatts of power generation capacity.

Last winter, Ukraine's energy consumption peaked at about 18 gigawatts, and the country now faces severe potential shortfalls, Zelensky said.

He said that around 80% of heat generation and a third of hydropower have been destroyed by Russian attacks, which are also targeting gas storage facilities.

Without international investments and loans, Zelensky warned that Ukraine probably would not succeed in rebuilding its energy system.

In his remarks, Scholz held out the prospect of far-reaching and long-term commitments for reconstruction in the country, which has been severely scarred by more than two years of costly all-out war and years of simmering conflict before that.

Scholz said he will push for those kinds of commitments at an upcoming summit of the G7 group of wealthy democratic countries, which begins in Italy on Thursday.

The chancellor pointed out that the World Bank estimates that $500 billion in reconstruction aid will be needed over the next decade.

He also called on private companies to participate with investments: "In view of the scale we are talking about here, private capital must be added."

Hundreds of German companies continue to do active business in Ukraine, with automotive firms alone employing about 35,000 people in Ukraine, Scholz emphasized.

Despite the war, there was no reduction in German investment in Ukraine, Scholz said, and the volume of trade had increased significantly since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.

"All of this shows me that the business sector understands the potential Ukraine has," Scholz said.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also spoke on Tuesday, voicing her support for opening EU accession negotiations with Ukraine from the end of June.

Ukraine has fulfilled all agreed reform steps, she said.

Ukraine currently has the status of an EU accession candidate. An EU summit in December last year decided to start accession negotiations, but no date for the start of talks has yet been agreed. Hungary said it still has additional demands.

Von der Leyen announced that the country would receive an additional 1.9 billion ($2 billion) from the new Ukraine support programme by the end of June, with much additional funding potentially to follow.

She said that the funding is also in recognition of the comprehensive reforms in the country and that the EU is supporting Ukraine in its economic recovery, reconstruction and modernization.
Zhang Jing, an expert from the 11th Chinese Agricultural Technical Assistance Mission (MATAC) in Cote d'Ivoire, guides a local farmer in his work in the rice fields in Guiguidou area, Divo Province in southern Cote d'Ivoire, May 31, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhang Jian)

After nearly 30 years of unremitting efforts by Chinese agricultural experts, the rice varieties in the Guiguidou area in Cote d'Ivoire have been optimized with ever-increasing quality and harvests of rice.

ABIDJAN, June 10 (Xinhua) -- On May 31, farmers in the Guiguidou area, Divo Province in southern Cote d'Ivoire, gathered around several brand-new agricultural machines, chatting with one another about how to use them against a backdrop of newly planted rice seedlings swaying in the wind.

"This time, we provided a batch of agricultural machinery to Cote d'Ivoire, including rice selectors, combine harvesters, rice milling machines, and 10 tons of rice seeds," said Guo Changyou, chief of the 11th Chinese Agricultural Technical Assistance Mission (MATAC) in Cote d'Ivoire, at the handover ceremony of agricultural equipment and rice seeds.

"We must take care of this gift because we produce millions of tons per year during the 2 cycles. With this donation, we will be able to improve our performance," said Alain Beugre, president of the Guiguidou Rice Farmers Cooperative.

In 1997, the Guiguidou area welcomed the first MATAC which supported local farmers in rice cultivation, repaired and maintained water conservancy facilities, and trained talents in the rice industry.

After nearly 30 years of unremitting efforts by Chinese agricultural experts, the rice varieties in the Guiguidou area have been optimized with ever-increasing quality and harvests of rice.

As stated by Zhang Jing, an expert from the 11th MATAC, four high-yield and high-quality rice varieties have been cultivated and approved by the Ivorian government and greatly improved in yield, quality, and taste compared with local traditional varieties. Among them, variety C26 can produce about 7 tons per hectare and has been widely promoted throughout this West African country.

"The certification of another new variety C10, is also nearing completion. This high-quality variety will also be widely promoted in Cote d'Ivoire, benefiting the rice industry of the entire country," Zhang added.

Nowadays, Cote d'Ivoire is working on achieving self-sufficiency in rice by 2025 and increasing its polished rice production to more than 2.6 million tons, said Yacouba Dembele, general director of the Agency for the Development of the Rice Sector in Cote d'Ivoire.

Kobenan Kouassi Adjoumani, minister of agriculture and rural development of Cote d'Ivoire, said recently that support from partners is critical for Cote d'Ivoire to increase rice production and achieve rice self-sufficiency.

Li Chengyao, economic and commercial counselor at the Chinese Embassy in Cote d'Ivoire, said the agricultural sectors of China and Cote d'Ivoire, a major agricultural country in West Africa, are highly complementary and the bilateral agricultural cooperation has broad prospects.

"China is willing to support Cote d'Ivoire in achieving self-sufficiency in rice, improving its rice product processing capacity, and becoming a major grain (producing) country," he said. 
Ukraine has a plan to build up to 1 gigawatt of manoeuvrable gas generation capacity this year and another 4 gigawatts in the coming years.

Source: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Berlin on Tuesday, reported by European Pravda

Details: In his speech, Zelenskyy outlined the consequences of Russian air attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure.

"As a result of Russian missile and drone strikes, 9 gigawatts of power have already been destroyed, despite the fact that the peak energy consumption in Ukraine last winter was 18 gigawatts. So, half of it doesn't exist anymore.

What are 9 gigawatts? Berlin has about 2 gigawatts of demand. Munich has about 3 gigawatts. We have already lost many times more generation than the energy consumption of large cities. 80% of thermal generation in Ukraine and a third of hydro generation were simply destroyed by Putin. And this is not the limit of his terror, unfortunately," Zelenskyy said.

He called on Ukraines partners to help with the energy recovery and to do "everything possible and impossible to preserve the existing generation and restore what was lost to the maximum extent possible".

"In the shorter term, we must also implement a quick and inexpensive restoration of all power facilities that can be restored by winter. This is so important  by winter, over the next three to four months. We know how to ensure this. We are asking you to provide equipment from your shutdown power plants, as well as direct financial support. This will allow us to respond to the situation here and now," he added.

Zelenskyy said another element was highly efficient decentralised manoeuvrable gas generation, which would solve the energy shortage today.

"It is in this area that European and, in particular, German companies are technological leaders, it is in this area that we have a clear plan to build up to 1 gigawatt of capacity this year... and another 4 gigawatts in the coming years," Zelenskyy said.

"It is in this area that we are signing the first contracts within the framework of our conference. This is why we need your maximum leadership, first of all for export credit financing of projects, as well as your expertise and real-life experience," Zelenskyy said.

Background:

Zelenskyy also thanked Germany for the assistance already provided to strengthen air defence, but reiterated that Ukraine needs seven more Patriot systems.

Earlier, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced that Ukraine would receive new air defence equipment, including one Patriot air defence system, as well as missiles and ammunition in the coming "weeks and months".

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Zelenskyy thanks Germany for air defence and says Ukraine still needs seven more Patriots

At the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Berlin, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has separately thanked Germany for the assistance already provided to strengthen air defence but reiterated that Ukraine needs seven more Patriot systems.

Source: European Pravda

Details: Zelenskyy stated that at this time, Russia has the greatest advantage over Ukraine in the sky, and air attacks remain a serious problem for both the frontline and rear cities.

Quote: "Air defence is the answer. Thank you, Olaf, for the air defence," the president said.

He thanked Germany and the German defence industry for transferring IRIS-T, Patriot and other assets, noting that they are really crucial for Ukraine.

Quote: "We managed to provide partial protection from Russian airstrikes. We have done and can do more. We need at least seven additional Patriot systems to cover the major settlements soon. This will be a driver for preserving the norms of life in Ukraine, providing direct assistance to defence, and guaranteeing that the country's economic life will not be destroyed," Zelenskyy said.

He also thanked other partners, including the Netherlands and the United States, for their efforts to strengthen Ukrainian air defence.

Quote: "We already see how and when we will be able to deliver new systems to Ukraine. When they start working to protect our people, it will be a significant restoration of confidence," Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

Before that, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced that in the coming "weeks and months," Ukraine would receive new air defence systems, particularly one Patriot air defence system, as well as missiles and ammunition.

Background: In May, Germany announced the start of training for Ukrainian crews on the third Patriot air defence system, which is to be delivered to Kyiv.

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With zero ballots cast, three Miami-Dade commissioners get four more years in office

Three Miami-Dade County commissioners won reelection to new four-year terms on Tuesday after a filing deadline passed with nobody signing up to challenge them.

Automatically reelected at noon were: Oliver Gilbert, the boards current chair and the District 1 commissioner; Eileen Higgins, the District 5 commissioner; and Kionne McGhee, the District 9 commissioner.

Gilbert, 51, and McGhee, 46, were both elected in 2020 when the countys two-term limit kicked in and forced the first wave of exits from the 13-seat board. Gilbert represents a district in northern Miami-Dade that includes Miami Gardens. McGhee represents an area in South Miami-Dade that includes parts of Homestead and the neighborhoods of Goulds and Perrine.

Higgins, 59, first won her seat in a special election in 2018 after the prior District 5 commissioner, Bruno Barreiro, resigned to run for Congress. She was reelected in 2020 and is the senior member of the board. Her district spans Biscayne Bay, covering parts of Miami and Miami Beach.

Miami-Dades term limit rules make this the final commission election for the three reelected incumbents before theyre required to leave office in 2028.

Though three commissioners were reelected on Tuesday, four others face elections on Aug. 20. The contests are nonpartisan and will end in August if one candidate gets more than 50% of the vote. If not, the top two finishers will compete in a November runoff on Election Day.

The 2024 Miami-Dade commission races are:

Audrey Edmonson challenges Keon Hardemon for her old District 3 seat

Miami-Dades county charter requires commissioners to leave office after two consecutive four-year terms, but theres no rule against running in future elections.

Miami-Dade Commissioner Keon Hardemon is running for reelection for the District 3 seat this year.

Audrey Edmonson, 71, a former District 3 commissioner who left office in 2020, is the first to take advantage of that rule after voter-approved term limits kicked in that year. Shes challenging Commissioner Keon Hardemon, 40, who won the election for the open District 3 seat in 2020 after seven years on the Miami City Commission.

Audrey Edmonson, a former Miami-Dade commissioner, is running for her old District 3 seat this year.

District 3 covers the northern areas of Miami and its adjoining suburbs, including parts of the citys downtown and the neighborhoods of Liberty City and Brownsville.

Edmonson, a former El Portal mayor, held the District 3 seat for 14 years before voters in 2012 changed the charter to require commissioners to vacate their offices after two consecutive terms.

Marion Brown is a candidate for the District 3 seat on the Miami-Dade County Commission this year.

The current and former commissioners are also competing against Marion Brown, 59, an owner of a construction firm.

Raquel Regalado gets a rematch with Cindy Lerner in District 7

Commissioner Raquel Regalado, 49, barely won her District 7 seat in 2020, and the second-place finisher in that race is back to try again.

Raquel Regalado speaks during the final Miami-Dade budget hearing before a vote on Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2022, at the Stephen P. Clark Center in Downtown Miami.

Cindy Lerner, 71, who has served as Pinecrest mayor and as a Democratic member of the Florida House, lost to Regalado by 1,301 votes when the seat covering southern Miami and its adjoining suburbs was vacated by a term-limited Xavier Suarez.

Cindy Lerner, a former Pinecrest mayor, is a candidate for District 7 on the Miami-Dade County Commission this year.

Regalado, a former school board member, is also being challenged by Richard Praschnik, 28, a police officer with the county school system who also holds an elected seat on the Kendall Community Council zoning board.

Richard Praschnik is a candidate for the District 7 seat on the Miami-Dade County Commission.

Roberto Gonzalez gets two District 11 challengers in his first election for the County Commission

Commissioner Roberto Gonzalez, 37, is the incumbent in the District 11 race, but this will be his first election for the seat representing a suburban area that includes West Kendall.

Miami-Dade Commissioner Roberto Gonzalez is running for a full four-year term as the District 11 commissioner this year.

In November 2022, Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed Gonzalez, a lawyer and former Republican candidate for the Florida House, to fill the vacant District 11 seat. It had been open for two months after DeSantis suspended the prior commissioner, Joe Martinez, after Martinezs arrest on corruption charges. Martinez, whose two-term limit expires in November, is a Republican candidate for sheriff while he awaits trial.

Bryan Paz-Hernandez is a candidate for the District 11 seat on the Miami-Dade County Commission currently held by Roberto Gonzalez.

Gonzalez had two challengers file for the District 11 race: Bryan Paz-Hernandez, 28, a high school teacher; and Claudia Rainville, 42, an elementary school teacher.

Claudia Rainville is a candidate for the District 11 seat on the Miami-Dade County Commission.

Rene Garcia gets a challenger who said he ran for president as a joke

Commissioner Rene Garcia, 49, won his District 13 seat in 2020, and four years later he faces a challenger seeking his first elected office.

Miami-Dade Commissioner Rene Garcia is running for reelection for the District 13 seat this year.

Ian Anthony Medina, 30, said hes pursuing a masters in business while seeking a seat on the commission. A Federal Election Commission database shows in March he registered a committee to run as a nonpartisan candidate for U.S. president in 2024, but Medina said Tuesday that was just a joke.

Ian Anthony Medina is a candidate for the District 13 seat on the Miami-Dade County Commission this year.

Medina was in the news in 2022 during a failed run for the Miami Lakes town council when he was arrested on charges of practicing law without a license. Court records show the case was closed under a diversion program that allows defendants to avoid convictions. Medina said he was required to complete courses on legal ethics and volunteer for community service. He was the final commission candidate to make the Aug. 20 ballot, with the Elections Department posting his status as qualified shortly before 6 p.m.
(Bloomberg) -- Former South African President Jacob Zumas party petitioned the Constitutional Court to stop parliament from convening, just days before legislators are scheduled to elect the president.

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Lawmakers are set to meet on Friday for their first sitting after last months election. Theyre also scheduled to appoint a speaker and deputy speaker of the National Assembly. The uMkhonto weSizwe Party, or MKP, initiated the court action after parliament rejected its demand to postpone the sitting.

The MKP submitted an application seeking a temporary suspension of the first sitting of the legislature until such time that it will be properly constituted, according to court documents dated June 10. The party, which won 58 of the 400 seats in the assembly, had previously threatened to boycott the meeting pending a legal challenge the party has said it plans to file challenging the election outcome.

South Africas parliament sees no legal impediments to the National Assembly convening on Friday, the chamber said in a statement on Monday.

Zuma and the MKP campaigned in the election against President Cyril Ramaphosas African National Congress, which lost its parliamentary majority for the first time since it came to power three decades ago. While the ANC has invited opposition parties to help form the next administration in a broad coalition known as a government of national unity, Zumas MKP has ruled out a tie-up while Ramaphosa remains at the partys helm.

Ramaphosa succeeded Zuma as ANC leader in December 2017 and as the nations president two months later, when the latter was forced to resign after almost nine years in power. Zuma has faced allegations that he tacitly consented to large-scale corruption and the looting of billions of dollars of government funds by his allies  accusations he denies and for which he hasnt been indicted.

The MKP and at least a dozen other smaller parties alleged soon after the election that the vote was rigged, though theyve yet to submit any substantiating evidence. The Electoral Commission of South Africa has denied the allegation.

Among the parties that have expressed an interest in joining the new government is the centrist Democratic Alliance, which won the second-highest number of votes in the election after the ANC.

The DAs federal council  its main governing and policy-making body  on Tuesday unanimously endorsed a resolution affirming the mandate of party leader John Steenhuisen and its negotiating team to continue with the process toward the formation of governments at national and provincial levels with hung legislatures, according to a statement.

The partys federal executive will make the final decision relating to coalitions and the formation of governments, the party said.

--With assistance from Monique Vanek and Ana Monteiro.

(Updates with DA statement in penultimate paragraph.)

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Executive Director of Girls Code Savannah Lesli Ott poses with attendees of Girls Code Savannah, a STEMbased educational coding program providing free camps and classes for fifth to ninth graders in Savannah, with an emphasis on young girls.

Families in Savannah with middle-school-aged students have a free camp option to consider this summer. Girls Code Savannah is offering a free camp at the Georgia Southern University Armstrong Campus, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily, July 22  26.

According to its website, Girls Code Savannah is a "STEMbased educational coding program providing free coding camps and classes for fifth through ninth grade girls in Savannah-Chatham County Public Schools. However, we welcome all genders to attend our girl-focused camps and classes."

The organization's Executive Director Lesli Ott said, Our registration is filling up quickly, but we still have some spots left. She foresees the openings going quickly given the rising popularity of the camp. "Our winter camp had about a 15 student waitlist, which is why I increased the number of computer labs for this year's summer camp."

Only started about 10 months ago, Girls Code Savannah had roughly 33 students in its first summer camp. In the spring and fall, the organization offered classes over four consecutive Saturdays at Live Oak Public Libraries. By the time its winter camp rolled around, the organization had about 60 students, one of whom was its first boy. For this year's summer camp, about 70 students had already registered as of June 4 with just over a 100 slots available.

Students will learn HMTL and CSS coding skills at the camp in an effort to design their own website, which are on display at Girls Code Savannah's website. Ott said that there is an entrepreneurial focus to the classes as many students, some of whom will be returning at different skill levels, are prepping websites to "advertise their babysitting services, their pet sitting services." Others use their websites to express a personal message or support a cause or provide tips on how to have the best sleepover party.

"I encourage them to create the website that they want to create," said Ott. The program is about understanding how uniform code can be artistic expression, allowing students to make design choices for colors, images and animations in a creative way.

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Girls Code Savannah attendees work on web design projects as part of the STEMbased educational coding program providing free camps and classes for fifth to ninth graders in Savannah.

'Lonely time for a young girl coder'

Back in 1986, Ott was one of a few people she knew and one of the few girls in her hometown of Mobile, Alabama, who was interested in computers. "I taught myself how to code when I was 12 years old...on a Tandy CoCo 3 that I saved all my money for a little over a year to purchase from Radio Shack."

She noted that her formative experience "was a lonely time for a young girl coder." She eventually spent most of her adult life away from the South to pursue opportunities in the Midwest and on the East Coast where data technology and mathematics jobs were more readily available. She has worked as a health economist and held positions such as a lead statistician for Yale University School of Medicine and a senior economic analyst for the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, among others. In 2020, she founded Menther, an organization focused on empowering women professionals through mentorship.

She then moved back to the South to Savannah about two and a half years ago during the COVID-19 pandemic. Then she started Girls Code Savannah as a "way to give back to the community and..., quite frankly, to finally have the opportunity to code with other 12-year-old girls."

Ott has noticed that many of the students come to the camps introverted and reserved but then start to become "curious, talkative, some would even say slightly extroverted" in a community based around their interest in coding, technology and STEM. The change in their confidence is evident to Ott in the way "they walk out with their shoulders back and five inches taller."

Public summer camps: Savannah area youth have options to avoid brain drain and stay active this summer

Girls Code Savannah attendees pose for a group photo during a camp this past winter. The STEMbased educational coding program aims to increases young girls' interest in tech careers through free coding training.

Attempting to reverse a downward trend

While the mission of Girls Code Savannah may be personal for Ott, the challenge its program seeks to address is far-reaching.

According to the national nonprofit Girls Who Code, "In 1995, 37% of computer scientists were women. Today, its only 24%." The organization, partnering with Accenture, released the Cracking the Gender Code report, highlighting this issue. The report recommends a "fresh approach that could increase the number of women in computing to 3.9 million by 2025. That would lift their share from 24% to 39% of the computing workforce and generate $299 billion in additional cumulative earnings."

Ott was strategic in choosing to start with rising fifth graders up through rising ninth graders. Girls Who Code cites that the biggest drop off of girls in computer science occurs between the ages of 13 and 17. Ott does plan to expand the grade level offerings up through 12th so that students can return to further enhance their skills.

To meet those expansion goals, Ott is seeking more partnerships in the community. While the winter and summer camps require no technology components from the attendees because of the resources provided at Georgia Southern University's computer labs, students who attend the spring and fall Saturday courses are encouraged to bring their own laptops if they have them. A good bit of the students do not have their own. Ott tries to provide as many as she can through donations but needs more and welcomes individuals and businesses to donate if they are updating their technology. She can wipe the computers clean and then install a web browser and code editors for student use.

She is also in the process of launching an online platform that will allow past attendees access to continue coding "weekly instead of only four times a year." As far as the summer camps go, Ott says, "I often tell parents, drop off your child and we'll return to you a computer genius for free."

More details about the summer camp registration and additional coding programs can be found at girlscodesavannah.org.

Joseph Schwartzburt is the education and workforce development reporter for the Savannah Morning News. You can reach him at JSchwartzburt@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Girls Code Savannah empowers youth to learn coding
A high-ranking Huawei executive has reportedly made a rare admission that Chinas ambitious semiconductor efforts may have peaked. On June 9, during the Mobile Computility Network Conference in Suzhou, China, Huaweis Cloud Services CEO Zhang Pingan voiced concerns about Chinas inability to source 3.5nm chips because of U.S. sanctions.

Zhang pointed out that TSMC, based in Taiwan and therefore not subject to the U.S. sanctions, continues to increase its supply of 3.5nm semiconductors. However, under U.S. sanctions, China has no way to secure these products, he said.

The comments were reportedly a surprise to many in the industry since China has consistently reported confidence in the strength of its semiconductor growth. In May, the Chinese government announced a 65.6 trillion won ($47.5 billion) third fund to reinforce investment in the countrys semiconductor industry.

Huawei recently succeeded in mass-producing 7nm chips without using extreme ultraviolet (EUV) technology. This surprised the global semiconductor market and led to speculation that the chipmaker could soon mass-produce 5nm chips as well.

The restrictions the U.S. placed on sending manufacturing equipment and technology to China have prevented Chinese semiconductor tech from further advancement, though. Zhang noted that producing 3.5nm chips would require EUV technology, which China does not yet possess.

The nation is trying to develop the required technology on its own, but this is generally considered highly challenging because engineers need to circumvent U.S. and Dutch patents to succeed.

Given the difficulties China is facing from U.S. sanctions, Zhang believes Huawei and other manufacturers should make more effective use of the technology that is available. He said, "The reality is that we can't introduce advanced manufacturing equipment due to U.S. sanctions, and we need to find ways to effectively utilize the 7nm semiconductors."

The counterpoint to this is that some manufacturers are finding clever ways to work around the restrictions. Chinese DRAM maker CXMT circumvented U.S. sanctions on sub-18nm DRAM equipment by preparing to mass-produce 18.5nm DRAM. Mention has also been made of a gray market that allows Chinese firms to acquire U.S. equipment parts through unofficial procurement channels.

If China remains unable to produce more advanced semiconductors, it will likely try to continue growing its share of the legacy semiconductor market. Research firm Trend Force predicts that its share will increase from 29% in 2023 to 33% by 2027.
Immersive phone calls are the future of communication, Nokia says. But what are they?

(NEXSTAR)  The CEO of Nokia, the Finland-based telecommunications giant, claims to have just participated in the worlds first immersive voice and audio call  a milestone the company is calling the biggest leap forward in the live voice calling experience since the introduction of monophonic telephony.

The call  made between Nokia CEO Pekka Lundmark and Stefan Lindstrom, Finlands Ambassador for Digitalization and New Technologies  reportedly featured what Nokia and Lindstrom are calling a three-dimensional sound experience marked by real-time spatial audio, rather than audio that sounds to be coming from just one place (e.g., a single speaker).

Both Lundmark and Lindstrom remarked on the enhanced calling experience, with Lundmark saying it takes you to the callers environment and Lindstrom adding that their communication felt more lifelike and engaging, per a Nokia news release.

Why is the sparkle emoji often used to represent AI?

In addition to enhanced voice calls, Nokia claims the new technology will have applications for the metaverse and other extended reality services. An executive cited by Reuters said the tech can also be useful during conference calls, allowing the listener to determine which participant is speaking based on the direction of their voice.

We have demonstrated the future of voice calls, Lundmark said, per the Nokia press release.

The Nokia Corporation logo is being displayed in pink on their pavilion at the Mobile World Congress 2024 in Barcelona, Spain, on February 28, 2024. (Photo by Joan Cros/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

The call, announced Monday, was made possible using Immersive Voice and Audio Services (IVAS) technology, Nokia said. Nokia did not develop the technology on its own, but rather via a public collaboration with a dozen other companies.

Nokia, however, said it had been a major contributor to the development of the IVAS codec standard, specifically. The company added that the call also utilized a proprietary Nokia technology in order to be transmitted across a public 5G network, rather than a test mobile network.

Utah hiker found dead after phone showed her being swept into river

In moving away from monophonic sound, the new IVAS technology appears to be following in the evolutionary footsteps already treaded by other audio industries. Mono sound, for example, was the precursor to stereophonic technology and stereophonic sound systems, which have increasingly provided listeners with equipment that sounds as if theyre being bombarded with audio from different angles, rather than a single, compressed source.

Techies looking forward to similar features in their smartphones will likely have to wait a while, though: The IVAS consortiums immersive technology is being developed as part of new 5G Advanced Standard network, which wont be in standard usage for a few years, Reuters reported.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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TUNIS, June 11 (Xinhua) -- UN Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix on Monday praised Tunisia's contribution to the different UN missions it participates in, said a statement released by Tunisian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Lacroix made the remarks during his meeting with Tunisian Minister of Foreign Affairs Nabil Ammar in the capital Tunis.

On the occasion, the UN official extended his department's appreciation for the proactivity and flexibility of the Tunisian authorities in peacekeeping.

Lacroix also praised the discipline, professionalism and initiative that Tunisian forces displayed in the five UN peace missions in Africa, while requesting a greater and more diverse presence of Tunisian staff in leadership positions.

For his part, the Tunisian foreign minister stressed the importance that Tunisia attaches to its participation in peacekeeping operations as part of its commitment to the objectives and principles of the UN for maintaining international peace and security.

Ammar also underlined the need for the international community to assume its responsibility in putting an immediate end to the occupying entity's brutal aggression against innocent civilians in Gaza in violation of all international instruments, mainly the Charter of the UN and its principles and objectives. 
Researchers develop long-lasting battery that could revolutionize clean energy in developing countries: 'An extremely cheap battery compared to lithium-ion'

A newly developed battery could keep the lights on in low-income countries with minimal cost, helping the world meet pollution reduction goals without sacrificing modern comfort.

Tech Xplore reported that researchers at Sweden's Linkoping University created a modest but effective battery that can be used more than 8,000 times without dipping below 80% of its performance capabilities.

To do this, they used zinc and lignin. The combination resulted in a battery with a similar energy density to lead-acid products without the harmful toxins. Unlike other zinc-based batteries, which lose their charge in just hours, the zinc-lignin product can last for around one week.

Linkoping University professor of organic electronics Reverant Crispin believes the technology could be a crucial tool as developing countries invest in their infrastructure, ensuring clean energy is reliably available.

"Solar panels have become relatively inexpensive, and many people in low-income countries have adopted them," Crispin said. "However, near the equator, the sun sets at around 6 p.m., leaving households and businesses without electricity. The hope is that this battery technology  will eventually offer a solution for these situations."

One benefit to using zinc and lignin is their affordable price.

"Both zinc and lignin are super cheap, and the battery is easily recyclable. And if you calculate the cost per usage cycle, it becomes an extremely cheap battery compared to lithium-ion batteries," said Ziyauddin Khan, who works as a researcher at the university's Laboratory of Organic Electronics.

Lithium-ion batteries are currently used to power most electric vehicles, a more planet- and lung-friendly mode of transportation because of the lack of tailpipe pollution. They are also used for renewable energy storage, something that is crucial as the world phases out dirty fuels.

However, as detailed by the U.S. Department of Energy, these batteries are generally more expensive, and there's the risk of very rare but serious fires. Khan also pointed to human rights concerns surrounding the extraction of cobalt, a metal used in most lithium-ion batteries and primarily mined in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

"Therefore, our sustainable battery offers a promising alternative where energy density is not critical," Khan explained to Tech Xplore.

A variety of zinc-based batteries have been around for some time, but researchers are still working to unleash their full potential.

For example, zinc-air batteries have been around for more than 100 years, and researchers in Japan just recently discovered a way to improve their stability and durability. This potentially creates a path to more environmentally friendly EV batteries, though mining for the materials in lithium-ion batteries is already less polluting than harvesting dirty fuels.

As Tech Xplore noted, most zinc-based batteries are not rechargeable, and they have "poor durability" because of the way the zinc reacts with water in traditional electrolyte solutions.

To solve this, the team at Linkoping used a substance called "potassium polyacrylate-based water-in-polymer salt electrolyte"  meant to limit reactions.

In the future, researchers believe they can build zinc-lignin batteries that are similar in size to car batteries currently on the market, though manufacturing them for wide-scale use would require a new company partnership.

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By Brendan Pierson

(Reuters) - Lawyers for Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes and company President Ramesh "Sunny" Balwani on Tuesday urged a federal appeals court to overturn their convictions for defrauding investors in the failed blood testing startup, which was once valued at $9 billion.

Amy Saharia, Holmes' lawyer, told a three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco that Holmes believed she was telling the truth when she told investors that Theranos's miniature blood testing device could accurately run a broad array of medical diagnostic tests on a small amount of blood.

Holmes, who started Theranos as a college student and became its public face, was indicted alongside Balwani, her former romantic partner, in 2018. The two were tried separately in 2022, and sentenced later that year to 11 years and three months, and 12 years and 11 months, respectively.

Saharia said the trial judge improperly allowed former Theranos employee Kingshuk Das to testify as a scientific expert about Theranos's product without making him face cross-examination about his qualifications.

She also said the judge should have allowed Holmes to introduce more evidence attacking another key prosecution witness, Theranos's former laboratory director Adam Rosendorff, including details of a government investigation of his work after leaving Theranos that she said called his competence into question.

Those mistakes could have made the difference in the "close" case, in which jurors were not able to reach a verdict on most counts against Holmes after seven days of deliberations.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly Volkar, arguing for the government, disputed that Das had improperly testified as an expert, saying he was called to talk about his personal experience at Theranos. She also said that "it was not really contested that the device did not work."

The judges had skeptical questions for both sides, and did not clearly indicate how they would rule. Circuit Judge Ryan Nelson said that, even without the disputed testimony, "there was, it seemed to me, pretty overwhelming evidence."

Circuit Judges Jacqueline Nguyen and Mary Schroeder said that much of Das' testimony concerned what he observed at the company, not his scientific opinions, as Saharia argued.

Nguyen and Nelson, however, also both told Volkar that they had concerns about what opinions Das was allowed to give during the trial.

Jeffrey Coopersmith, Balwani's lawyer, argued that prosecutors had gone beyond what was in the indictment against his client by introducing evidence that the commercial testing technology Theranos secretly used was not reliable.

The judges appeared more skeptical of that argument, though again did not clearly signal how they would rule.

(Reporting By Brendan Pierson in New York, Editing by Alexia Garamfalvi and Bill Berkrot)
You are the owner of this article.
Becky Tallent was a journalism faculty member at the University of Idaho for 13 years before her retirement in 2019. She is of Cherokee descent and is a member of both the Indigenous Journalists Association and the Society of Professional Journalists. She also writes for Faith and Values News (spokanefavs.com).
KUALA LUMPUR, June 11 (Xinhua) -- Malaysia's natural rubber production decreased by 20.9 percent in April to 21,325 tons as compared to 26,966 tons in March, official data showed Tuesday.

Year-on-year comparison showed that the production of natural rubber fell 9.1 percent from 23,460 tons a year ago, the Department of Statistics Malaysia said in a statement.

Total stocks of natural rubber in April declined 5.1 percent to 211,119 tons as compared to 222,455 tons in March.

Exports of Malaysia's natural rubber amounted to 47,796 tons in April 2024, down 18.9 percent as against 58,965 tons in March.

China remained the main destination for natural rubber exports, which accounted for 44.8 percent of total exports in April. This was followed by India (11.4 percent), Germany (8 percent), the United Arab Emirates (4.3 percent), and Pakistan (3.9 percent).

The export performance was contributed by natural rubber-based products such as gloves, tires, tubes, and rubber thread. 
SYDNEY, June 11 (Xinhua) -- Australian police reported that a man has been shot on Tuesday during a home invasion in Sydney's southwest.

As per New South Wales Police Force, at about 12:45 a.m. local time, emergency services responded to reports of a man being shot inside a house on Mary Wade Place in Carnes Hill.

A 25-year-old man was found sustaining a gunshot wound to his right leg. Paramedics treated him at the scene before he was taken to Liverpool Hospital in a serious but stable condition.

Officers were told that eight men wearing face coverings forced entry into the premises, while they were confronted by the 25-year-old resident before he was shot twice.

Petrol was then poured through the home, but not ignited, before the men fled the scene in two separate vehicles.

Shotgun damage was also identified on a vehicle parked in the driveway of the home.

"A crime scene has been established as investigations commence. The incident is believed to be targeted," said the police.

Located about 35 km southwest of Sydney's central business district, the suburb of Carnes Hill has an estimated population of over 3,300. 
NEW DELHI, June 11 (Xinhua) -- Three people, including a 15-year-old girl, were killed and two others injured on Tuesday due to the inhalation of toxic gases in India's southeastern city of Puducherry, officials said.

Two women and a girl were killed by poisonous gas that had accumulated in their home toilets in the Pudhu Nagar area. Two persons were also admitted to hospital in serious condition, a police official said.

Officials said the house toilet pipelines in the area are linked with centralized underground drainage and sewage systems. A sewage water treatment unit is also located in the nearby area.

Police suspect that poisonous gas from the sewage treatment plant might have leaked and been released through the washrooms of houses in the locality. 
A 49 billion forint surplus (EUR 120m) for May brought Hungarys cash flow-based general government deficit to 2,548.5 billion forints at the end of the month, the finance ministry said in a preliminary release of data.

The central budget had a deficit of 2,559.7 billion forints at the end of May and the social security funds were 104.3 billion forints in the red, but separate state funds were 115.5 billion forints in the black.



Interest expenditures, which included large payments on retail government securities, came to 1,760.6 billion forints in January-May, up 659.4 billion forints from the same period a year earlier, the ministry said.



Expenditures for European Union-funded programmes reached 801.9 billion forints, while transfers from Brussels came to 546.2 billion forints, the ministry said.



The ministry said revenue from taxes and contributions was up by 9.9% from the base period.



The ministry affirmed the governments commitment to reducing the deficit and state debt, noting an earlier decision to postpone 675 billion forints in state investments to achieve the 4.5%-of-GDP deficit target, while moving ahead with projects worth several billion forints this year.



The budget continues to ensure the resources necessary to protect pensions and family subsidies as well as to keep the system of regulated household utilities in place, the ministry said.



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Balazs Hanko, the state secretary for innovation and higher education, said on Monday that it is an honour as well as a responsibility to be asked by the prime minister to fill the post of minister of culture of innovation, adding that Ive been assigned not a post, but a task.

In an interview to MTI, Hanko thanked Janos Csak, the outgoing minister, for all I have learned from him about leadership and diplomacy.



Speaking about his professional background, he said he had helped the work of the government since 2010 first as an advisor on health care, later as ministerial commissioner for the development of medical universities and afterwards as deputy state secretary for higher education.



Hanko said he had taken up the post of deputy state secretary for higher education in the summer of 2022 and was appointed to oversee the areas of higher education, vocational and adult training, and innovation in December that year.



Hanko highlighted the importance of family, saying that as minister, I view it as my primary future task to maintain Hungarys fundamental goal to support families and those who plan to start one.



In the area of higher education, the incoming minister highlighted the importance of boosting the competitiveness of Hungarian universities and further boosting vocational training.

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Though the two countries disagree on several issues, successful economic cooperation between Hungary and Ireland provides a good foundation for political dialogue, Peter Szijjarto, the minister of foreign affairs and trade, said in Dublin.

Szijjarto said he had discussed Hungarys preparations for its upcoming European Union presidency along with Europes security and economic situation with the Irish foreign minister, Micheal Martin.



Szijjarto noted that there are 15,000-20,000 Hungarians living in Ireland, and Hungary will soon open a consular mission in Cork.



Trade turnover between Hungary and Ireland reached a record 2 billion euros last year, he said.



The two countries concluded agreements on six major Irish business investments in Hungary over the past decade, and recently Hungarian pharmaceutical company Gedeon Richter has carved itself a substantial market share selling gynaecology products in the country, he added.



So there are success stories, but there are obviously also disagreements on political issues, Szijjarto said.



We will be assuming the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union at a very dangerous time, since Europe faces numerous security and economic challenges.



To address these issues, Szijjarto said Hungary would do everything during its presidency to advance the EU accession of the Western Balkan countries.



He said if the EU failed to advance the accession process over the coming months, it would raise questions over the credibility of the blocs enlargement policy.



Hungary will also continue the fight against illegal migration, he said, emphasising that the country would not give up its right to decide whom it wants to live together with. Neither would Hungary accept any redistribution quotas or a penalty for refusing to take in migrants, he added.



Also, he said, Hungary insists that taxation must remain a national competence, explaining that having the lowest payroll taxes in the EU, the flat-rate taxes, including the personal income tax, and the only single-digit corporate tax rate gave Hungary a huge competitive advantage.



Meanwhile, Szijjarto said there was an overlap between Hungarys and Irelands positions on certain matters related to sovereignty which we will possibly cooperate on with the Irish colleagues during the six months of the EU presidency.



Szijjarto said he was later scheduled to hold talks with representatives of Eaton Corporation, which employs more than 1,000 people in Hungary.



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You probably have noticed more and more storefronts across Nebraska advertising the sale of vaping products. These products, which contain the addictive chemical nicotine, have risen in popularity in lieu of traditional tobacco products like cigarettes. The regulation of these products and the science examining the safety of them has not kept pace with the rapid increase in use of vaping products. To date, the federal Food and Drug Administration has not approved any vaping product for purposes of smoking cessation. Further, the FDA has at best, mishandled the regulation of the thousands of vaping products on the market. Congress has not provided FDA with adequate resources to regulate, much less enforce any regulation on vaping products.

Another legislative success this session was the passage of LB1296. I introduced LB1296 to regulate the vaping industry for the first time in Nebraska. Vaping products have been marketed toward and sold to our youth by some nefarious actors in the industry. Most recently JUUL Labs, the maker of the once popular JUUL line of vaping products, was forced into a more than $400 million settlement with 33 states and territories, including Nebraska, which brought suit alleging that JUUL Labs had marketed its products to minors. Today, the most popular vaping products, which now comprise more than half the entire market, are made and sold by foreign corporations that have largely skirted federal regulations. Interestingly enough, China, which manufactures vaping products, has banned the sale of all flavored vapes within their borders. China instituted this policy in an attempt to reduce vaping by young people. They, of course, are happy to sell these products here in Nebraska and let our children become addicted to them.

LB1296 was developed in conjunction with the Attorney General Mike Hilgers and his team, vaping manufacturers, and reputable vaping retailers here in Nebraska. We share the common goal of preventing bad-faith actors from selling these products to children whether from their storefronts or online.

LB1296 eliminates the direct sale of vaping products to consumers online in Nebraska; prevents products from being marketed to minors; makes so-called stealth vaping* products illegal  these are products designed to disguise the fact they are vaping products; and bans products that do not go through the new registration process. LB1296 will not only protect minors but it will also protect legal adult consumers from purchasing unregulated products of questionable origin and quality.

LB1296 is a first of its kind regulation. Other states have attempted regulation by adopting the FDA list of vaping products that are awaiting approval. The FDA registry has been found by the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals to be an arbitrary list. Additionally, the FDA registry has been proven to have no enforcement mechanism for products not included on its list, but are continuing to be sold here anyway.

The bottom line is that adults should be able to use legal products and have some confidence that what they are purchasing has some modicum of oversight, especially because they are inhaling nicotine and other chemicals. Parents should not have to worry about these products being directly marketed to their children and schools should not have to spend thousands of dollars to install vaping detectors (or in the case of Lincoln Public Schools  $200,000!) to deter students from using these products inside school buildings.

Since the passage of LB1296, our neighbors in Iowa and Kansas are now looking at this legislation as a model for their efforts to regulate the growing vaping industry in their respective states.

*A prime example of a stealth-vaping product was one confiscated from a fourth-grader at an elementary school in our District. This vaping device looked exactly like a refillable plastic water cup and could have easily passed as a sippy-cup! No adult would ever use such a device to vape. This was clearly intended for use by minors. LB1296 makes these products illegal in Nebraska.

As always, if I can be of assistance to you in any way, please do not hesitate to contact my office. My staff members  Matt and Katie  are available to assist you with your needs and they pass along messages, so if youd like a call back, please let them know! Email: jhughes@leg.ne.gov; Phone: 402-471-2756; Facebook: Senator Jana Hughes
This week, I traveled to France with a delegation of my congressional colleagues, led by House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA), to honor the 80th anniversary of the Allied invasion on D-Day on the battlefields where 150,000 young men from the United States and our allies commenced the largest invasion by sea in the history of the world. We participated in commemorative events alongside veterans of the Second World War and their family members, current U.S. servicemembers, leaders from Allied nations, and local civilians from Normandy.

I was particularly moved by our visit to a military cemetery located near Omaha Beach which contains the gravesites of more than 9,000 Americans, including Nebraskans, killed in action on D-Day and in subsequent combat in Normandy. The young men who, against the odds and concerns for their own safety, stormed the beaches and jumped from military transport planes eight decades ago were in the earliest years of adulthood. Yet through their courage, they achieved a monumental victory for the free world. We owe an unpayable debt to their heroism.

The historical significance of D-Day is far from lost on the French people. Knowing both the meaning of liberation from Nazi occupation and the cost paid by Allied forces, they continue to have a profound gratitude and maintain a commitment to preserving the memory of the American soldiers who risked everything on June 6, 1944, to change the course of history.

In his message to the troops on the eve of the battle, Supreme Allied Commander General Dwight Eisenhower credited support provided by the American people in strengthening their hopes to turn the tide of the war. He noted, Our Home Fronts have given us an overwhelming superiority in weapons and munitions of war, and placed at our disposal great reserves of trained fighting men.

The North Platte Canteen was one of the largest volunteer efforts during the war, providing more than 6 million servicemen and women who passed through North Platte by rail with meals, baked goods, and Good Life hospitality. To pay tribute to the individuals and communities who donated time, food, and other items to serve the troops at the Canteen, Senator Fischer and I have introduced legislation with our colleagues in the Nebraska delegation to award the Congressional Gold Medal to Canteen volunteers and benefactors.

In total, more than 16 million Americans answered the call of duty during World War II, and it is because of their brave and heroic service we remember them as the Greatest Generation. The need to preserve and share the memory of their patriotic devotion is a sacred responsibility for us all. My grandfathers service as a Navy Seabee in the Second World War inspired me to public service, and this trip to the beaches of Normandy has deepened my belief young Americans are capable of great things.

With each passing year, the number of World War II veterans who remain with us grows fewer. If we are faithful to tell the powerful stories of their bravery and Europes liberation, the hearts of coming generations cannot help but be strengthened with the resolve to preserve freedom and live for what truly matters.
JAKARTA, June 11 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Tuesday that while the adoption of a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution for a proposed three-phase ceasefire is overdue, it is a crucial step toward ending Israel's ongoing actions against the Palestinian people.

"The adoption of UNSC Resolution 2735 (2024) on the three-phase ceasefire proposal is a long overdue yet an important step to stop the ongoing atrocities against the people of Palestine and towards achieving an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza," said the ministry on its official X account.

Indonesia urges all parties to quickly reach a resolution to ensure a permanent end to hostilities and provide immediate aid to the Palestinian people.

Furthermore, Indonesia calls on all sides to pave the way for the establishment of a two-state solution. 
Vehicle Sales In May 2024: Automakers delivered over 347,000 passenger vehicles to dealerships in the domestic market in May, achieving an year-on-year growth of 4% compared to the same month last year, the industry body SIAM said on Tuesday. Total passenger vehicle (PV) dispatches from manufacturers to dealers reached 347,492 units last month, up from 334,537 units in May 2023. This marked the highest dispatch volume ever recorded for the month of May, propelled by strong demand for utility vehicles.

According to SIAM, Maruti Suzuki sold 1,44,002 units last month, as against 1,43,708 units in May 2023. Hyundai Motor India dispatched 49,151 units in May, as compared to 48,601 units in May 2023. Mahindra & Mahindra sold 43,218 units last month, as against 32,886 units in the year-ago period. Kia Motors sold 19,500 units last month, as against 18,766 units in May 2023.

All the segments, including passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles, two-wheelers, and three-wheelers have witnessed growth in May, compared to May 2023, the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) President Vinod Aggarwal said in a statement.

"Passenger vehicles have only witnessed a moderate growth, primarily owing to a high base effect of the previous year," he noted. Two-wheeler sales rose 10% to 16,20,084 units last month, compared to 14,71,550 units in the year-ago period. Three-wheeler dispatches rose 15% to 55,763 units in May, as against 48,610 units in May 2023.

SIAM Director General Rajesh Menon said, "PV dispatches last month were the highest ever in May so far. Two-wheelers saw a growth of 10% last month but still remain lower than 2017-18 levels of May." Domestic sales of three-wheelers in May 2024 grew by 14.7% compared to May 2023, posting the highest-ever sales in May, Menon said.

(Inputs- PTI)
Mumbai: Indira Krishna, Ranbir Kapoor's co-star in the upcoming film 'Ramayana', shared an adorable picture from the film's set to express her gratitude towards the actor for his love and care. 'Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii,' actress on Monday took to her Instagram to drop a cute picture with Ranbir.

In the picture, Ranbir can be seen sporting a clean-shaven look as he wraps his arms around the veteran actress, both smiling warmly for the camera against the backdrop of a vanity van. Accompanying the post was a sweet caption: "Animaling... Thank you for your care, love, kindness, and your wonderful gestures, Ranbir... co-star."

Soon after the picture was shared, fans flooded the comment section with their reactions. One fan wrote, "ma'am, it's a lovely pic, when can we expect Ramayana announcement?"

Another fan commented, "Ma'am Ranbir is my forever favourite... thankyou for adorable pic." "Both are looking so adorable," penned a third user.

'Ramayana' also stars Sai Pallavi and Lara Dutta. However, an official announcement regarding the film is still awaited. Ranbir will be seen essaying the role of Lord Ram in the film.

Recently, a few photos of Ranbir with his archery instructor were shared on social media by Ranbir's fans, hinting that the actor is taking archery lessons.

Ranbir was last seen on screen in Sandeep Reddy Vanga's 'Animal', receiving wholesome praise for his performance as Ranvijay Singh. He will play Aziz in the sequel to Animal, called 'Animal Park', which is yet to go on floors.

In the coming months, Ranbir will also be seen in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's 'Love & War'. The film also stars his wife Alia Bhatt and actor Vicky Kaushal in the lead roles.
West Bengal celebrates the important Hindu festival of Jamai Sasthi. The Hindu calendar places the celebration on the sixth day of the month of Jyestha. It's going to be observed on Wednesday, June 12 this year.

The lunar month's sixth day is referred to as Sasthi, and the name Jamai denotes a son-in-law. Jamai Sasthi is a joyful and celebratory occasion that holds special significance for the Bengali culture. Every year, families gather to commemorate the occasion.

Jamai Sasthi Significance

According to mythology, there once was a woman who insisted that her cat was eating all the food in her house. Goddess Sasthi, who is supposed to ride the cat, was enraged by this. One of the woman's children vanished after she gave birth. In order to appease Goddess Sasthi, she performed rites. The goddess gave her child back, but the woman's in-laws were not happy and wouldn't let her see them. The parents celebrated Sasthi Puja by inviting their son-in-law and daughter home, a custom known as Jamai Sasthi that symbolizes joy and homecoming.

The mother-in-law asks Goddess Sasthi for her blessings at Sasthi Puja so that her sons-in-law and daughters-in-law can flourish. The mother-in-law prepares a lavish feast that includes both vegetarian and non-vegetarian meals, and she extends a hearty greeting to the son-in-law. The gift-giving ceremony captures the essence of the occasion, which is to celebrate the happiness of sharing meals with family.

Jamai Sasthi 2024 Rituals

In West Bengal, Jamai Sasthi is a significant holiday, particularly for the Bengali community. The customs connected to Jamai Sasthi are as follows:

Invitation and Welcome

The mother-in-law invites her son-in-law and daughter to visit her house during Jamai Sashti. When they arrive, they are greeted with extreme warmth and hospitality.

1. Morning Rituals

The mother-in-law performs a puja and bathes in the early morning hours in honor of Devi Sashti. A lavish variety of traditional Bengali food is cooked at home.

2. Offerings to Devi Sashti

A dish with rice, durbo (grass), and five different kinds of fruits is part of the ceremonial offering made to Devi Sashti.

3. Blessings

In addition to giving blessings and wishing her son-in-law health and prosperity, the mother-in-law showered her son-in-law with grains and durbo grass.
After achieving tremendous success in the Lok Sabha elections, Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav has now decided to turn towards central politics. With this move, the party is deliberating on who will take his place as the Leader of the Opposition. According to political analysts, his uncle, Shivpal Yadav, is the frontrunner for the position. It is believed that after the success of the PDA (Backward, Dalit, and Minority) strategy in the Lok Sabha elections, the SP President might strengthen the PDA strategy further, keeping the 2027 Assembly elections in mind.

Akhilesh Yadav Central Politics: A New Chapter

The Largest Party in the State

In this election, the Samajwadi Party won 37 seats on the strength of the PDA strategy, becoming the largest party in the state and the third-largest party in the country. With Akhilesh Yadav turning towards the center, the deliberations have begun on who will assume the position of Leader of the Opposition in the UP Assembly. Shivpal Singh Yadav is currently leading this race.

Major Responsibility for Shivpal Yadav

After Akhilesh Yadav resigns as a member of the Legislative Assembly, he will also step down as Leader of the Opposition. If Akhilesh moves to Delhi, Samajwadi Party leader Shivpal Yadav may be given the significant responsibility of the Leader of the Opposition in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly. According to sources, Shivpal Yadav could be appointed as the Leader of the Opposition, although this has not been confirmed yet. Shivpal Yadav has been an MLA from Jaswant Nagar six times and served as Leader of the Opposition from 2009 to 2012, bringing valuable experience to the role.

Three Names in the Race

Apart from Shivpal Yadav, SP General Secretary Ram Achal Rajbhar and Indrajeet Saroj are also in the running for the position of Leader of the Opposition. Sources indicate that Akhilesh Yadav might assign this important responsibility to one of these three leaders. The SP President believes that the Leader of the Opposition should be someone who can effectively communicate the PDA's message to the general public. Ram Achal Rajbhar, an MLA from Akbarpur, comes from the extremely backward caste and has a strong influence among the backward communities. Indrajeet Singh Saroj, an MLA from Manjhanpur in Kaushambi, is also considered a trusted leader by the SP President.

Strategic Shifts in Samajwadi Party

The transition of Akhilesh Yadav to central politics marks a strategic shift in the Samajwadi Party's approach. By focusing on the national stage, Akhilesh aims to leverage his experience and success in regional politics to make a significant impact at the center. This move not only signifies his growing ambition but also reflects the party's intent to play a crucial role in national politics.

Strengthening the PDA Strategy

The PDA strategy, which focuses on the backward, Dalit, and minority communities, has been a cornerstone of the Samajwadi Party's recent success. Akhilesh Yadav's decision to strengthen this strategy is seen as a calculated move to consolidate the party's base and ensure continued support from these key demographics. By doing so, the SP aims to maintain its relevance and influence in the political landscape of Uttar Pradesh and beyond.

The Role of Shivpal Yadav

Shivpal Yadav's potential appointment as the Leader of the Opposition is a testament to his experience and political acumen. With his extensive background in state politics and a proven track record, Shivpal is well-positioned to take on this significant responsibility. His leadership could provide the stability and direction needed for the Samajwadi Party to navigate the challenges of the opposition role.

Impact on Uttar Pradesh Politics

The shift in leadership within the Samajwadi Party is expected to have a profound impact on the political dynamics of Uttar Pradesh. With Shivpal Yadav at the helm as the Leader of the Opposition, the party could adopt a more assertive and strategic approach in the state assembly. This change is likely to influence the political discourse and could shape the future of Uttar Pradesh politics in the lead-up to the 2027 Assembly elections.

FAQs

Who is Akhilesh Yadav and what is his new political move?

Akhilesh Yadav is the President of the Samajwadi Party and a prominent political figure in Uttar Pradesh. Recently, he has decided to turn towards central politics, aiming to leverage his experience in regional politics to make a significant impact at the national level.

What is the PDA strategy in Samajwadi Party politics?

The PDA strategy focuses on garnering support from backward, Dalit, and minority communities. It has been a cornerstone of the Samajwadi Party's recent electoral success, helping the party secure a significant number of seats in the Lok Sabha elections.

Why is Shivpal Yadav considered the frontrunner for the Leader of the Opposition?

Shivpal Yadav, with his extensive experience in state politics and a proven track record, is considered a strong candidate for the Leader of the Opposition. His leadership could provide the stability and direction needed for the Samajwadi Party to navigate the challenges of this role.

What impact will Akhilesh Yadav's move to central politics have on Uttar Pradesh?

Akhilesh Yadav's move to central politics is expected to create a strategic shift within the Samajwadi Party, potentially leading to a more assertive and strategic approach in the Uttar Pradesh assembly. This change could significantly influence the political dynamics of the state.

Who are the other contenders for the Leader of the Opposition in Uttar Pradesh?

Apart from Shivpal Yadav, other contenders include SP General Secretary Ram Achal Rajbhar and Indrajeet Saroj. Both are considered trusted leaders within the party and have a strong influence among the backward and minority communities.

What are the goals of the Samajwadi Party under the new leadership?

Under the new leadership, the Samajwadi Party aims to strengthen its PDA strategy, consolidate its base among backward, Dalit, and minority communities, and maintain its relevance and influence in both state and national politics.


New Delhi: BJP leader Amit Shah has taken an oath and reassigned again as Home Minister in Modi 3.0 cabinet. Shah expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for reassigning him as a Minister of Home Affairs and Minister of Cooperation in the newly formed NDA government.

Shah shared a post on the microblogging site x and said, "Gratitude to PM Shri @narendramodiJi for reposing trust and reassigning me the roles of Minister of Home Affairs and Minister of Cooperation."

He further added that the MHA will continue to strengthen security initiatives and introduce new strategies to form PM Modi's vision of a secure Bharat.

"In Modi 3.0, the MHA will continue to accelerate and strengthen security initiatives and introduce new approaches to realize PM Modi's vision of a secure Bharat," the post read.

Gratitude to PM Shri @narendramodi Ji for reposing trust and reassigning me the roles of Minister of Home Affairs and Minister of Cooperation.



In Modi 3.0, the MHA will continue to accelerate and strengthen security initiatives and introduce new approaches to realize PM Modi's  Amit Shah (Modi Ka Parivar) (@AmitShah) June 10, 2024

Shah also addressed the empowerment of farmers and villages through the Ministry of Cooperation, he said, "Under the astute leadership of Modi Ji, the Ministry of Cooperation will remain committed to empowering farmers and villages with the vision of 'Sahakaar Se Samriddhi'."

Shah is a senior BJP leader and one of the key ministers from the previous Modi government. He also served as Union Home Minister in the second term Modi government.

He contested the election from Gujarat's Gandhinagar constituency and won by a huge margin of approx 7.44 lakh votes against Congress leader Sonal Patel.

Other than AMit Shah their other ministers including S jaisf=hanar, NIrmala Sitaran, Ratnath Singh and others have also joined in Modi's new government formation.
New Delhi: A jewellery shop in Jaipur duped a US tourist into buying fake jewellery worth 300 rupees for a staggering Rs 6 crore. US national Cherish was charged Rs 6 crore for the purchase of silver jewellery with gold polish from a store in Jaipur, Rajasthan's Johri Bazaar. The jewellery was discovered to be fake when it was on display at an exhibition in the US in April of this year.

Confrontation At The Shop

When Cherish discovered that her jewelry was fake, she flew to India to confront the shop owner. However, the accused jeweler started a fight and rejected her claims. Following the altercation, Gaurav also filed a case against the foreign woman. Naturally, the US Embassy intervened, and the Jaipur Police launched a robe to catch the swindlers who are on run.

According to what the woman told the police, in 2022, she connected with Gaurav Soni on Instagram. According to officials, she spent  6 crore on artificial ornaments in the past two years.

Police Investigation

Following the embassy's complaint, the Jaipur Police found that fake jewellery was being sold fraudulently. Nand Kishore, a person who issued the fake certificate has been taken into custody, but the father and son have not yet been apprehended. According to investigations, the accused charged Rs 6 crore to the foreigner for the sale of silver jewellery with gold polish, valued at Rs 300. They gave her a certificate of authenticity as well. Police also disclosed that the accused had recently bought a three-crore flat in Jaipur's C Scheme neighbourhood. Special teams have been formed to find and arrest the absconding accused.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has retained his core team and their portfolios while allocating departments to the new cabinet. Amit Shah has again got the crucial Ministry of Home Affairs. Shah has performed exceptionally well in the Modi 2.0 by delivering on key issues and legislations including the abrogation of Article 370, the Citizenship Amendments Act, revocation of the FCRA license of NGO working as the anti-India lobby, ending of the FMR along the Myanmar border among other issues.

However, in the Modi 3.0, Shah will face new challenges which include a rise in terror incidents in Jammu and Kashmir and the holding of the assembly elections in the Union Territory. The Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh was made two separate Union Territories after the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019. Since then, the assembly polls has not been held in the UT. In the recent months, there has been a rise in terror incident and targetted killings in Jammu and Kashmir. This has sparked concerns among people while opposition questioned the claim of normalcy in the UT.

Shah's primary task is to implement three new criminal laws: the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, and the Bharatiya Sakshya Act. The Centre announced in February, through gazette notifications, that these laws will take effect from July 1.

Additionally, the government must address several other critical issues, including decisions on the National Population Register (NPR), the Census, the restoration of statehood in Jammu and Kashmir, and resolving the ethnic conflict in Manipur.

The NPR update was halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused the postponement of all field activities.
New Delhi: The security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama recovered IEDs packed in a plastic container along with the explosives, which weighed around six kg from the over-ground workers (OGWs) of slain LeT commanders Reyaz Dar and his associate Rayees Dar.

The recovery followed after a joint cordon and search operation launched by the Pulwama police, Army and CRPF, the police said in a press release.

During the search operation, the two terrorists, namely Reyaz Ahmed Dar, a resident of Sether Gund and Rayees Ahmed Dar, a resident of Larve in the Nihama village, fired upon the security forces, which led to the start of an operation.

In the said operation, which took place on the intervening night of June 2 and 3, LeT commander Reyaz Dar and Rayees Dar, both category A, were neutralized by the security forces.

The investigation further exposed the network of over-ground workers (OGWs), revealing that the terrorists were given harbour, shelter and logistics by the OGWs namely Bilal Ahmed Lone, Sajjad Ganie, and Shakir Bashir, all the residents of Nihama. Subsequently, all three persons were arrested.

The investigation also revealed that the two slain terrorists had prepared IEDs, which were recovered from the possession of Shakir Bashir who hid them in the orchards. The said IEDs were packed in a plastic container along with the explosives, and active circuit trigger mechanism which weighed around six kg, and were later destroyed in situ by Pulwama police and army, the press release said.

During the investigation, a huge quantity of arms and ammunition were recovered including AK-47 rifles, AK-47 rounds, pistols, etc, and other incriminating materials. In this regard, a case under section 307 IPC, 7/27 Arms Act, 16,18,19,20,38 UAPA was registered in Police Station Kakapora, the press release by Pulwama police said.
New Delhi: A massive fire broke out at a diaper manufacturing factory in Maharashtra's Thane. On Tuesday early morning the fire Blaze and dense smoke visible from Kilomiters.

The fire tenders rushed to the spot as soon after receiving information about the incident. The efforts to douse the flames are underway and no casualties have been reported in the incident so far.

#WATCH | Thane, Maharashtra: Fire broke out at a factory in Saravali MIDC in Bhiwandi taluka. Fire tenders have reached the spot. Efforts to douse the fire underway. More details awaited pic.twitter.com/nfS4M3VrUs  ANI (@ANI) June 11, 2024

In visuals from the area, massive flames are seen billowing from a large factory building.

The reason behind the incident is yet to be ascertained.
New Delhi: The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government announced the portfolios of cabinet ministers on Monday which shows that continuity is the cornerstone of the newly formed Modi 3.0 ministry. The new Union Council of Ministers headed by PM Narendra Modi carries very minimum changes.

The Saffron party has made no changes to the top Ministries like Finance, External Affairs, Defence and Home, and these portfolios were given to the same leaders. The party has reassigned Rajnath Singh as Defence Minister, Amit Shah as Home Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman as Finance Minister and S Jaishankar as External Affairs Minister. This also means that there are no changes in the composition of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), a crucial body chaired by the PM. It's responsible for appointing members to national security bodies and making decisions on matters related to national security and defence expenditure.

Some of the key changes included party chief JP Nadda bagging the portfolio of health and family welfare in addition to chemicals and fertilisers. Nadda was the health minister in 2014 as well. Former chief minister of Madhya Pradesh Shivraj Singh Chouhan got agriculture and rural development while Manohar Lal Khattar, Haryana's ex chief minister got power and housing and urban affairs. Both were replaced as CMs in their respective states. Apart from this, former Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia who won from Guna seat of Madhya Pradesh, has now been given charge of telecommunications and development of the North East Region, while Bhupender Yadav retained his portfolio as environment minister in the third Narendra Modi government.

However, the party has also made a few significant changes in cabinet formation. Two names in the former cabinet who were dropped from Modi 3.0 cabinet includes Smriti Irani and Anurag Thakur. Smriti Irani contested the Lok Sabha election from Uttar Pradesh's Amethi, but she was defeated by a margin of over 1.6 lakh votes by Congress' Kishori Lal Sharma. Anurag Thakur secured a victory in the general election from Hamirpur in Himachal Pradesh, but he has also not been included in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's latest Union Cabinet.
Italian Prime Minister and President of Brothers of Italy (FdI) Giorgia Meloni gestures at the closing event of the electoral campaign for the European Parliament elections, at Piazza del Popolo, in Rome, Italy, June 1, 2024. (Photo by Alberto Lingria/Xinhua)

An Italian political scientist said the big parties grew their share after the elections, "separating themselves from the other parties."

ROME, June 10 (Xinhua) -- Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's far-right party has strengthened its hand with a strong showing in the European Parliament elections ending Sunday night. However, Italy's main opposition party also gained ground.

Meloni's Brothers of Italy gained 28.8 percent of votes, earning 24 of Italy's 76 seats in the legislative body. This represents a dramatic increase from the 6.4 percent share of votes won by the party in the last European Parliament vote in 2019 and an increase from the 26 percent it earned in the 2022 national election.

However, like the Brothers of Italy, the country's center-left Democratic Party, the main opposition party, also won a larger share of the vote, with 24.1 percent and 20 seats. This represents a stronger showing than the 22.7 percent of votes the party won in 2019.

"The main takeaway is that the big parties grew their share, separating themselves from the other parties," Vincenzo Emanuele, a political scientist and vice-director of the Italian Center for Electoral Studies at Rome's LUISS University, told Xinhua on Monday.

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)

Although the vote results are for Italy's representatives in the European Parliament and do not directly impact the Italian Parliament or the makeup of Meloni's government, they are considered a gauge of support rates for the country's political factions.

Meloni said after the vote that the results strengthen Italy's influence within the European Union (EU) and internationally.

"We have the strongest government in the G7," Meloni said, referring to the Group of Seven (G7) nations. Italy is at the helm of the G7 this year. Meanwhile, the other European countries in the organization, France and Germany, saw their ruling coalitions lose support in the European Parliament vote.

In Italy, the losers in this vote were the country's second-tier parties.

Anti-migrant party The League won 9.0 percent of the vote, a large drop from 34.3 percent in 2019. Five years ago, the party was the biggest winner; this time, it dropped to the fifth. The anti-establishment Five-Star Movement, headed by former Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, earned 10.0 percent of the vote, a decline from 17.1 percent in the last European Parliament elections.

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)

According to Emanuele, the low voter turnout featured this year's elections in Italy: just 49.7 percent of those eligible to vote actually did. It is the first time that fewer than half of eligible voters have turned out in a European Parliament election. In 2019, the turnout was 54.5 percent.

The results were front-page news across Italian media, with Le Repubblica calling the vote both "historic" and "predictable." Italian state broadcaster RAI put the results in an EU context, saying "Europe is moving to the right."

With 76 of 720 seats, Italy will have the third-largest contingent in the European Parliament, behind Germany and France, both of which saw their tilt toward right-wing nationalist parties in the latest vote. 
NEET UG Exam Result 2024: The Supreme Court issued a notice on Tuesday to the National Testing Agency (NTA) and refused to stop the counselling of colleges for NEET UG students. The court has also said that the sanctity of the examination has been affected so notice has been issued to NTA and seeks its response. The next hearing will be held on July 8, the court said.

A petition has been filed in the court regarding the NEET UG exam 2024 result and it seeks the cancellation of the exam but the court stated that the medical entrance exam will not be cancelled.

The petitioners have also said that the face 67 candidates from one examination centre have got full 720 marks. In the new petition filed in the Supreme Court, widespread complaints of paper leak of the NEET UG examination held on May 5 have also been cited. Even before this, two petitions demanding cancellation of the examination based on paper leak have been filed in the Court.

The NEET exam registration was held from 9 February to 10 April 2024. Approx 24 lakh candidates have registered for the NEET exam while approx 23 lakh candidates appeared in the examination which was held on May 5, 2024, and approx 1216268 candidates have passed the examination.
The Chief Minister-designate of Andhra Pradesh N Chandrababu Naidu has announced that the state will now have only one capital - Amravati. With this, Naidu has reversed his predecessor Jagan Mohan Reddy's decision to allocate three capitals to the state. Naidu will take oath tomorrow as the CM of the state. The TDP chief said that Amaravati will be the capital of the Andhra Pradesh.

In our government, there will be no games under the guise of three capitals. Our capital is Amaravati and only Amaravati while Visakhapatnam will be our financial capital and a modern city, said Chandrababu Naidu.

At a meeting of National Democratic Alliance (NDA) legislators in Vijayawada, Jana Sena Party chief Pawan Kalyan proposed the nomination of Naidu, which was seconded by BJP state president and MP D Purandeswari.

"Chandrababu Naidu has endured a lot. I've seen him in jail. I assured him and Bhuvaneshwari garu (his wife) that better days were ahead, and now they have arrived," Kalyan said.

Naidu recounted his vow to enter the Assembly only as Chief Minister after facing personal attacks on his wife. He stated that the people had honoured his oath and promised to transform the Assembly from a 'Kaurava sabha' into a 'Gaurava sabha'.

"We will function democratically and secularly, ensuring no one's self-respect is harmed," he said, pledging that while there would be no revenge, wrongdoers would be punished.

Naidu also promised to develop Kurnool and Vizag impartially. He added, "I have requested support from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and they have assured us of all possible assistance."
In his first overseas trip since taking office for a third consecutive term, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attends the annual summit of the G7 advanced economies in Italy this week. The ongoing conflict in Gaza and the raging war in Ukraine are expected to dominate the G7 summit, which is scheduled to take place from June 13 to 15, in the opulent resort town of Borgo Egnazia in the Apulia region of Italy.

The top leaders in attendance at the summit include US President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Another appointment is for a discussion on the Russian invasion of Ukraine with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Modi is scheduled to depart for Italy on June 13 and return late on June 14, according to people with knowledge of his itinerary. This will be his first overseas trip since taking office as prime minister for a third term in a row. Modi's trip to Italy has not yet been formally announced.

According to the sources, Modi will be accompanied by a high-level delegation that is expected to include NSA Ajit Doval, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra, and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. Among the bilateral meetings the prime minister has scheduled is one with Giorgia Meloni, the prime minister of Italy.

Modi was in Hiroshima in May of last year for the previous G7 summit.On the eve of the summit, he met with Zelenskyy and several other world leaders. The G7 nations include the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Germany, Canada, and Japan. Italy currently holds the presidency of the G7 (Group of Seven) and will host the summit in that capacity.

The Italian presidency has emphasised the importance of defending the rules-based international system. According to Italy, Russia's aggression against Ukraine has undermined its principles and triggered increasing instability, with multiple crises unfolding around the world. According to the statement, the G7 will give equal importance to the Middle East conflict, which has global implications.

Between 1997 and 2013, the bloc was expanded into the G8, which now included Russia. However, Russia's participation was halted in 2014 after it annexed Crimea. The host nation that holds the chair invites representatives from a number of countries and international organisations to the summit, as is customary.

In addition to India, Italy has invited leaders from 11 developing countries in Africa, South America, and the Indo-Pacific region to attend the summit. The European Union, despite not being a member of the G7, attends the annual summit.
New Delhi: The Lok Sabha poll results have come as a reality check for "overconfident" BJP workers and many of its leaders as they were happy in their "bubble" and enjoying the glow of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's aura but not listening to the voices on the streets, an RSS affiliated magazine has said.

An article in the latest issue of "Organiser" magazine also noted that though the RSS is not a "field force" of the BJP, the party leaders and workers did not reach out to its 'swayamsevaks' (volunteers) seeking their cooperation in electoral work.

Neglect of older dedicated workers who worked without the urge for recognition by the new age social media-aided selfie powered activists was also evident in the poll results, it said.

"Results of 2024 general elections have come as a reality check for overconfident BJP karyakartas and many leaders. They did not realise that Prime Minister Narendra Modiji's call of 400 plus (seats) was a target for them and a dare to the Opposition," Ratan Sharda, a life-long member of the RSS, noted in the article.

The BJP with 240 seats fell short of a majority but the NDA secured the mandate with 293 seats in the Lok Sabha polls. The Congress bagged 99 seats while the INDIA bloc got 234 seats. Following the polls, two Independents who won have also pledged support to the Congress, taking the INDIA bloc tally to 236.

Sharda said targets are achieved by hard work on the field, not sharing posters and selfies on social media.

"Since they were happy in their bubble, enjoying the glow reflected from Modiji's aura, they were not listening to the voices on the streets," he added.

The RSS ideologue also flagged "unnecessary politicking" as one of the many reasons behind the BJP's underperformance in the Lok Sabha polls.

"Maharashtra is a prime example of unnecessary politicking and avoidable manipulations. NCP faction led by Ajit Pawar joined BJP though BJP and split SS (Shiv Sena) had a comfortable majority. Sharad Pawar would have faded away in two-three years as NCP would have lost energy with infighting between cousins," he said.

"Why was this ill-advised step taken? BJP supporters were hurt because they had fought against this Congress ideology for years and were persecuted. In a single stroke, BJP reduced its brand value. After years of struggle to become numero uno in Maharashtra, it became just another political party without any difference," he added.

The BJP fared poorly in Maharashtra as it could win only nine seats compared to the 2019 tally of 23 constituencies out of the total 48. Shiv Sena led by Shinde faction bagged seven seats and Ajit Pawar-led NCP just one.

Without naming any leader, Sharda said the induction of Congressmen into the BJP, who had "actively promoted" the bogey of saffron terror and persecuted Hindus and also called 26/11 'RSS ki sazish' and branded RSS as a terrorist organisation, showed the BJP "in poor light" and also hurt the RSS sympathisers "immensely".

On the question of whether the RSS worked for the BJP in this election or not, Sharda said, "Let me say bluntly, RSS is not a field force of BJP. In fact, BJP, the biggest party in the world, has its own karyakartas".

He said routine electoral work of reaching out to voters, explaining the party's agenda, distributing literature and voter cards are the responsibility of the party.

"RSS has been raising awareness among the people about issues that impact them and the nation. Except during the 1973-1977 period, RSS has not taken part directly in politics," he said.

"This time, too, it was officially decided that RSS workers will organise small local, mohalla, building, office level meetings of 10-15 to request people to go out and vote as a duty. It also addressed issues of nation building, national integration and support to nationalist forces," he said.

In Delhi alone, 1.20 lakh such meetings were held, he added.

"Beyond this, to seek (RSS) swayamsevaks' cooperation in electoral work, BJP workers, local leaders need to reach out to their ideological allies. Did they? My experience and interaction tells me, they did not," Sharda said.

"Was it lethargy, overconfidence, sense of comfort that 'Ayega to Modi hi, Abki bar 400 plus'? I do not know," he said.

"Showing off is more important by posting selfies with a multiplier effect is the new norm," he said, adding, "If BJP volunteers don't reach out to RSS, they have to answer why they thought it was not required?"
New Delhi: New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday declined to quash criminal charges framed by a special court against Karnataka MLA Vinay Rajashekarappa Kulkarni in the murder case of former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) worker Yogesh Gowda.

The Bench of Justices named Sanjay Kumar and Augustine George Masih denied interfering with the Karnataka High Court order and said that the former ministers case was suitable for quashing.

"This is not a case for quashing, said the bench, ANI reported.

The apex court rejected the special leave petition submitted by Congress leader Kulkarni against the April 8 High Court order, which upheld the charges imposed against him and 20 others by the special court

Senior advocate Siddhartha Dave, representing Kulkarni, told the top court that the MLA named is mentioned only in the second charge sheet filed by the CBI and that the statement of the deceased's widow doesn't mention his name

Reacting to this, Justice Kumar said, "You also write a letter to the Chief Secretary seeking transfer of the public prosecutor because she was vigorously conducting the trial, uninfluenced by you Minister."

Dave replied, "Even when I was the minister, the trial took place, but not a whisper by the wife of the deceased".

"You obviously bought over the widow... Sorry, SLP dismissed, Justice Kumar said

Dave requested permission from the apex court to withdraw the petition but the bench refused it

"This has to stop. This trying your luck at the Supreme Court, then back out, this court has become a gambling court or what?" the apex court said.

Gowda (26) a BJP zila panchayat member from Hebballi constituency, was murdered on June 15, 2016, at Dharwad.
One Terrorist was killed by security forces on Tuesday night in the Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir after ultras attacked a village close to the International Border (IB), according to police. A massive operation is underway to apprehend the remaining terrorists. The incident in Jammu comes just days after terrorists attacked a bus transporting pilgrims from the Shiv Khori temple to Katra, causing it to veer off the road and fall into a deep gorge, killing nine people and injuring 41 others.

The operation was still going on when the last reports were received. As part of his Udhampur parliamentary constituency, Union Minister Jitendra Singh said he is in constact communication with high ranking police and civil servants in the district as well as a local villager whose home was attacked by terrorists.

According to earlier reports, at around 7:45 p.m., three people appeared suspiciously moving, prompting the dispatch of police and other security personnel to the village. A few gunshots were reported, which were allegedly fired by the alleged terrorists in response to a call for help. A massive search operation is underway to to neutralise the terrorists.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) said on Monday that it would be in the best interests of the Constitution and democracy if the ruling NDA's allies, the TDP and JD(U), made sure the Speaker of the Lok Sabha comes from one of the two parties. Rajya Sabha MP for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Sanjay Singh, stated at a press conference that if the Telugu Desham Party (TDP) nominates a candidate for the Lok Sabha Speaker position without the backing of the BJP, the opposition INDIA bloc will be of great importance.



According to Singh, the BJP retained all of the key ministries for itself and awarded its National Democratic Alliance (NDA) allies "jhunjhuna," (less significant ministries). "I will encourage parties such as the Janta Dal (United) and the TDP to at least have a Speaker from your party. "This will be beneficial to your party, the Constitution, and democracy," he added. The INDIA bloc should consider the possibility of the TDP fielding a candidate for Lok Sabha Speaker, Singh said.



"If the TDP fields its candidate, the role of INDIA constituents, including the Congress, will be very crucial," he added.

When the 18th Lok Sabha meets for the first time, the Protem Speaker will administer the oath to the new MPs, followed by the election of the new Speaker. Lets understand why the position of the Lok Sabha Speaker is so important, what powers the Speaker holds, and why this position is crucial for both the ruling party and the opposition.

Position Of Lok Sabha Speaker In The Constitution

India follows a parliamentary democracy, and the Constitution provides for the positions of Speaker and Deputy Speaker. According to Article 93, both positions should be filled as soon as may be after the Houses first meeting. The Speaker of the Lok Sabha is elected by a simple majority. The term of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker ends with the term of the Lok Sabha. They can also be removed before their term ends through impeachment, as provided in Article 94 of the Constitution.

Like any other member of the Lok Sabha, the Speaker can also be disqualified. There are no specific qualifications required to become the Lok Sabha Speaker, meaning any MP can be elected to this position.

Role And Powers Of The Lok Sabha Speaker

The position of the Lok Sabha Speaker is distinct from other members. The Speakers chair is unique, and the responsibility of ensuring the smooth functioning of the House lies with the Speaker. The Speakers opinion is crucial in matters of disqualification of members. If there is a tie in votes on any bill, the Speakers vote becomes decisive.

Salary Of The Lok Sabha Speaker

The salary of the Lok Sabha Speaker is drawn from the Consolidated Fund of India, while the salaries of other MPs are based on laws passed by the House.

Powers Of The Lok Sabha Speaker

House Proceedings: From the Speakers chair, the entire House is visible. The Speaker, in consultation with the Leader of the House, decides the schedule of the House. Permission from the Speaker is mandatory before raising any question or issue in the Lok Sabha. Although there are rules for the proceedings of the House, it is the Speakers responsibility to ensure their adherence. Thus, the Speakers impartial role is crucial for democracy.

The Speaker decides which questions will be asked in the Lok Sabha. The Speaker also determines how the records of the House proceedings will be kept and what should be removed from them. The Speaker can declare any statement or part of it as unparliamentary and remove it from the proceedings. When the ruling party has fewer seats, the Speaker can ignore requests for a division of votes and pass bills by voice vote.

No-Confidence Motion: The Speakers impartiality is tested when a no-confidence motion is brought against the government. In 2018, when YSRCP and TDP gave notice for a no-confidence motion, then-Speaker Sumitra Mahajan adjourned the House several times before accepting the motion and putting it to vote.

Casting Vote: The Speaker has the power to cast a decisive vote. According to Article 100, the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha or the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, or any person acting in that capacity, shall not vote in the first instance, but shall have and exercise a casting vote in the case of an equality of votes. Generally, the Speaker votes in favor of the government.

Powers Related To Disqualification Of Members

Under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution, the Speaker has significant powers. The Tenth Schedule, or the anti-defection law, introduced through the 50th (Amendment) Act, 1985, gives the Speaker the power to disqualify legislators who defect from their party. In a landmark case in 1992, the Supreme Court upheld the Speakers power and stated that only the final order of the Speaker would be subject to judicial review.

Defection can change the numbers game in the House and potentially topple the government. If the Speaker acts promptly and disqualifies such members, the new government may not have a majority. However, delays in deciding disqualification petitions can affect the Tenth Schedule.

In 2023, the Supreme Court directed Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar to expedite the disqualification proceedings against the MLAs of the Uddhav Thackeray and Eknath Shinde factions of the Shiv Sena. At that time, the petitions had been pending for over a year and a half, leading to the fall of the Uddhav-led government. In 2020, the Supreme Court ruled that Speakers of Assemblies and the Lok Sabha should decide on disqualification petitions within three months, except in extraordinary circumstances.
New Delhi: At the World Wide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2024, Apple released the much anticipated iOS 18 combining a host of customisation options. iOS 18 also introduces Apple Intelligence, the personal intelligence system for iPhone, iPad, and Mac.

What's New In The iOS 18? Explained In 10 Points

1. Customisation

iPhone users have new ways to customise the Home Screen, Lock Screen, and Control Center. Now you can arrange apps and widgets in any open space on the Home Screen

2. Unified View For Photos

A simplified, single view displays a familiar grid, and new collections help users browse by themes without having to organise content into albums. Plus, collections can be pinned to keep favourites easily accessible

3. iMessage receives all-new text effects

Users can better express tone by adding formatting like bold, underline, italics, and strikethrough.

4. Messages via satellite

iOS 18 introduces Messages via satellite for the times when cellular and Wi-Fi connections arent available.

5. Enhancements to Mail

Mail also features a new digest view that pulls together all of the relevant emails from a business, allowing users to quickly scan for whats important in the moment. Apple said, later this year, Mail will introduce new ways for users to manage their inbox and stay up to date.

6. Major Updates to Safari

Safari can surface key information about a webpage. Users. for example can review a summary to get the gist of an article; quickly see the location of a restaurant, hotel, or landmark; or listen to an artists track right from an article about the song or album.

7. Passwords App

Passwords app makes it easy for users to access their passwords, passkeys, Wi-Fi passwords, and verification codes.

8. New Privacy Features

iOS 18 gives users even more control with tools to manage who can see their apps, how contacts are shared, and how their iPhone connects to accessories. iOS 18 puts users in control by letting them choose to share only specific contacts with an app.

9. Apple Intelligence

With brand-new systemwide Writing Tools built into iOS 18, users can rewrite, proofread, and summarise text nearly everywhere they write, including Mail, Notes, Pages, and third-party apps.

10. ChatGPT Integrated Into Siri

Access to ChatGPT is integrated into Siri and systemwide Writing Tools across Apples platforms, allowing users to access its expertise  as well as its image- and document-understanding capabilities  without needing to jump between tools.



The developer beta of iOS 18 is available through the Apple Developer Program at developer.apple.com now. Public beta will be available through the Apple Beta Software Program next month at beta.apple.com. iOS 18 will be available this fall as a free software update for iPhone Xs and later.
New Delhi: Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has threatened to ban iPhones from all his companies over the integration of ChatGPT into iPhones and other Apple devices.

If Apple integrates OpenAI at the OS level, then Apple devices will be banned at my companies. That is an unacceptable security violation, Musk posted on X.

In a series of tweets, Musk explains the reason behind banning iPhones in his company for the usage of OpenAI

If Apple integrates OpenAI at the OS level, then Apple devices will be banned at my companies. That is an unacceptable security violation.  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 10, 2024

And visitors will have to check their Apple devices at the door, where they will be stored in a Faraday cage June 10, 2024

Its patently absurd that Apple isnt smart enough to make their own AI, yet is somehow capable of ensuring that OpenAI will protect your security & privacy!



Apple has no clue whats actually going on once they hand your data over to OpenAI. Theyre selling you down the river.  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 10, 2024

Musk also shared a hillarious Indian meme on how the 'Apple Intelligence Works'

At its World Wide Developers Conference (WWDC 2024), Apple announced that it is going to integrate ChatGPT with Siri. Apple said that it is integrating ChatGPT access into experiences within iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia, allowing users to access its expertise  as well as its image- and document-understanding capabilities  without needing to jump between tools.

"Siri can tap into ChatGPTs expertise when helpful. Users are asked before any questions are sent to ChatGPT, along with any documents or photos, and Siri then presents the answer directly," the company said.

Also, ChatGPT will be available in Apples systemwide Writing Tools, which help users generate content for anything they are writing about.
The Bharatiya Mazdoor Union (BMU) announced the formation of its new state committee in West Bengal on June 6, 2024, injecting fresh energy into the fight for the rights of organized and unorganized workers in the state. Following the fervor of the Lok Sabha elections, BMU has committed to being a beacon of hope for workers' welfare.

The announcement held special significance with the presence of BMU's All-India President and renowned social activist, Honorable Baban Ghosh. The All-India General Secretary, Honorable Sanath Sardar, formally announced the new West Bengal State Committee. Also in attendance were National Vice-President Prosenjit Dey and National Treasurer Rabi Shankar Das.

Newly elected State President, Amal Kumar Bhunia, expressed his gratitude, stating, "I am thankful and proud to take on this responsibility. Various sections of the state's unions are now under our organization, and I am committed to freeing workers from exploitation while adhering to all BMU regulations."

BMU also unveiled its future plans, prioritizing the improvement of workers' wages, working conditions, and social security. The organization aims to advocate for policy reforms from the state and central governments to enhance workers' living standards.

BMU's State Secretary Abdul Gofur Mohd Shoil and President of Basirhat Sub-Divisional Rural Health Awareness Association Rafiul Islam emphasized their commitment to pressuring the central government for rightful recognition and validation. They expressed confidence that their demands would soon be met with BMU's support.

The other members of the State Committee include Sitanshu Shekhar Das, Dr. Bikash Chandra Mondal, Partha Aich, Dr. Prakash Chandra Das, Soumyadeep Talukdar, Himanshu Sardar, Sanjay Singh, Nayantara Khatun Bibi, Gouranga Tarafdar, Ruksana Parveen Bibi, Masood Ali, Anup Mandal, Buddheshwar Majhi, and Adhir Chandra Baidya.

With this new leadership, BMU is poised to take strong and positive steps towards improving the future for workers in West Bengal, fostering a prosperous and just society for the labor community.
Hunter Biden is pictured at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on May 20, 2024. A jury of 12 members in the U.S. state of Delaware on Tuesday found Hunter Biden, son of U.S. President Joe Biden, guilty of three federal gun charges, marking the first time a sitting president's child has been criminally convicted. (Photo by Aaron Schwartz/Xinhua)

WASHINGTON, June 11 (Xinhua) -- A jury of 12 members in the U.S. state of Delaware on Tuesday found Hunter Biden, son of U.S. President Joe Biden, guilty of three federal gun charges, marking the first time a sitting president's child has been criminally convicted.

The felony charges accused the 54-year-old Hunter Biden of lying about his drug use when acquiring a firearm in 2018 and subsequently unlawfully possessing the weapon for 11 days. He checked "no" on a federal firearm purchase form regarding his illegal drug use or addiction to narcotics.

In their closing arguments on Monday, prosecutors argued that the president's son had been using drugs for years prior to purchasing the gun and that this drug use continued "for months afterward," according to a report by CNN.

Hunter Biden's legal team, meanwhile, stressed that there were no witnesses to actual drug usage during the month when he purchased the firearm.

Hunter Biden could potentially receive up to 25 years in prison and be fined up to 750,000 U.S. dollars, although it's uncommon for first-time offenders to receive the maximum punishment.

President Biden said in a recent interview that he would not pardon his son Hunter if he's found guilty of criminal gun charges.

The conviction and potential imprisonment of Hunter Biden further heighten the political risks for the president in the months leading up to the elections in November. Hunter Biden's broader legal challenges have provided Republicans with an opportunity to depict the Biden family as corrupt, despite their inability to establish any wrongdoing on the part of the president.

Adding insult to injury, Hunter Biden is set to confront another trial regarding tax allegations in Los Angeles, California, in September, which could further expose uncomfortable details about the president's family.

Hunter Biden's trial unfolded only weeks prior to President Biden's first debate against former President Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee, which is scheduled for June 27.

In May, a Manhattan jury convicted Trump of 34 felonies related to falsifying records to conceal payments made to a porn star, making him the first former president in U.S. history to be criminally convicted. 

Hunter Biden is pictured at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on May 20, 2024. A jury of 12 members in the U.S. state of Delaware on Tuesday found Hunter Biden, son of U.S. President Joe Biden, guilty of three federal gun charges, marking the first time a sitting president's child has been criminally convicted. (Photo by Aaron Schwartz/Xinhua)

Hunter Biden (L) is pictured at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on May 20, 2024. A jury of 12 members in the U.S. state of Delaware on Tuesday found Hunter Biden, son of U.S. President Joe Biden, guilty of three federal gun charges, marking the first time a sitting president's child has been criminally convicted. (Photo by Aaron Schwartz/Xinhua)

Hunter Biden is pictured at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on May 20, 2024. A jury of 12 members in the U.S. state of Delaware on Tuesday found Hunter Biden, son of U.S. President Joe Biden, guilty of three federal gun charges, marking the first time a sitting president's child has been criminally convicted. (Photo by Aaron Schwartz/Xinhua)

Hunter Biden is pictured at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on May 20, 2024. A jury of 12 members in the U.S. state of Delaware on Tuesday found Hunter Biden, son of U.S. President Joe Biden, guilty of three federal gun charges, marking the first time a sitting president's child has been criminally convicted. (Photo by Aaron Schwartz/Xinhua)
Eurobank Cyprus, the countrys third largest bank by assets, has gone live on Temenos. This completes a full IT refresh of its core and digital banking systems. According to the bank, the move strengthens its customer services and competitive position as the primary bank of choice across affluent, international, corporate and wealth management segments.

The successful transformation program gives Eurobank Cyprus an agile, future-ready banking platform. Moreover, it forms a group wide IT blueprint for other subsidiaries in Eurobank Group.

Project scope: replacing 85% of Eurobank Cyprus IT landscape

The project incorporated Temenos Core and Digital (formerly Infinity) together with Wealth Management, Financial Crime Mitigation (FCM), Analytics and Payments.

Through this programme, Eurobank Cyprus modernised completely its front-to-back operations. It centralised operations such as payments and wealth management back office and moved several transactional activities to digital channels for client self-service.

The scope of the change impacts the entire banks customer base. This includes individual and business customers served by its Corporate, Affluent, International and Private Banking divisions.

Major milestone: transforming the bank at a high level

Michalis Louis, CEO, Eurobank Cyprus, said: The go-live with Temenos is a major milestone. It allows us to transform the bank at a high level. This was a complex and challenging project, but expertly delivered by our internal teams and Temenos working closely together. The new Temenos platform gives us business agility to achieve our goals. It opens the roadmap for further expansion, enhancements and growing the banks position as a market leader through the latest technology. We look forward to building on this success for customers in Cyprus and across the Eurobank Group.

Mark Yamin-Ali, MD, Europe, Temenos, added: I wish to congratulate Eurobank Cyprus for its vision and execution in transforming the bank for the modern digital age. Eurobank has always been a pioneer. The move to Temenos including a full breadth of banking capabilities from digital and core banking to payments on an agile, open platform. It enables the bank to continue to drive innovation, deliver an outstanding customer experience across all segments and grow sustainably. Temenos has enjoyed a long and successful partnership with Eurobank Group. We are delighted to support the bank and its future success in Cyprus..

"Eurobank Cyprus goes live on Temenos for digital and core banking" was originally created and published by Retail Banker International, a GlobalData owned brand.

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The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
Veteran Abbie Smith (Abbie Smith)

Marine Corps Veteran, entrepreneur and furniture maker, Abbie Smith, served as an airframe mechanic on the C-130T model aircraft. She was stationed in Europe on the beautiful island of Sicily and frequented the historical environment. Little did she know she would become an artisan of fine furniture shortly after completing her military tour, her medium changing from metal to wood. The beautiful architecture of the local area and Rome inspired her and changed her perspective on art.

Smith while in the Marine Corps (Abbie Smith)

Smith says, I think when you see the architecture of these old places and realize that artists spent their whole life making one magnificent palace, your reference of what can be accomplished shifts, and you reach higher with your own work.

While serving as an airframe mechanic, Smith became dexterous and mechanically inclined. She gained an ability to work on things with her hands which, before being in the military, she didnt know she could be good at. In addition to the trade skills gained, the military helped her build skills in leadership, persistence, and giving it her all in everything she did.

I embody and live the traits the military honed in me every single day. I think that leading by example is what helps those around us the most  Smith.

Smith while in the Marine Corps (Abbie Smith)

One year after completing her military tour, a co-worker of Smiths was attending the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship in Rockport, Maine. This co-workers passion for furniture made Smith consider it.

The GI Bill allowed Smith to pursue this artistic passion and she went to trade school where she earned a journeymans license in furniture making. Before joining the military, Smith didnt like seeing peoples reactions to the 2D art she used to create.

She says, Finding who I was while serving in the military helped me feel substantial enough to accept both criticism and praise.

Smith at furniture craftsmanship school (Abbie Smith)

This newfound confidence gave her the drive and courage she needed to both create furniture, something she had never done before, and to open her own business selling it.

Now, Smith is a fine furniture craftsman and creates custom, high-quality furniture that is functional and enjoyable but also a piece of art. She takes the time to create a relationship with each of her clients to establish what their needs and aesthetic preferences are and then makes them furniture that is their own. Her furniture crafting skills range from Shaker to Colonial, Chippendale, Queen Anne and Windsor, but she works mostly in the Chippendale and Queen Anne styles which incorporate relief carvings and the generous curves she enjoys.

Today, Smith lives in Maine with her husband and child and is a dedicated mother, wife, furniture maker and entrepreneur.

You can find Abbie Smiths furniture on Facebook at SmithCraft Custom and on Instagram @Smith.teddy.smith
VinFast Auto (NASDAQ: VFS) disappointed many investors after its public debut last August. The Vietnamese automaker set some ambitious delivery targets before it went public by merging with a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC), but its stock plummeted after it broadly missed its own estimates. Rising interest rates also highlighted its persistent losses and compressed its valuations.

I recently took a closer look at VinFast and said it was still too early to tell if it could overcome its growing pains, scale up its business, and stand out in the electric vehicle (EV) market. However, I also noticed five red flags about VinFast that can't be ignored.

Image source: VinFast.

1. VinFast sold most of its cars to its affiliate company

VinFast originally claimed it could sell 50,000 EVs in 2023. However, it only delivered 34,855 EVs and 72,468 electric scooters. That shortfall was disappointing, but an SEC filing revealed that about 70% of its EV deliveries actually went to its own affiliate, Green SM (GSM), a taxi operator and leasing provider that was backed by VinFast's CEO Pham Nhat Vuong.

Pham Nhat Vuong is also the founder and chairman of Vingroup, the massive Vietnamese conglomerate that owns VinFast, GSM, and a wide range of other companies. Vuong only took over as VinFast's CEO this January after its previous CEO, Le Thi Thu Thuy, stepped down after leading the company for less than two years.

VinFast claims it can deliver over 100,000 EVs this year, but investors should see where those shipments are actually going. If it's only selling its vehicles to Vingroup's other affiliates, it could be struggling to gain ground with mainstream consumers.

2. VinFast's North Carolina plant faces major delays

VinFast's plan to sell 100,000 EVs this year hinges on the growth of its U.S. business, but it sold fewer than 1,000 EVs in North America last year. To accelerate that expansion over the next few years, VinFast broke ground on a new $4 billion plant in North Carolina with a planned annual production capacity of 150,000 vehicles last year.

It planned to open the plant in July 2024, but it subsequently postponed its opening to early 2025. However, a recent Reuters report claimed VinFast could push that date back even further as it struggles with slower-than-expected sales.

3. VinFast was sued for unpaid rent on a vehicle showroom

Last month, the real estate services firm SPG Center sued VinFast over 12 months of unpaid rent for its vehicle showroom in Palo Alto, California. The lawsuit alleges that VinFast stopped paying its rent last May and owes SPG Center $356,000.

VinFast calls SPG Center's claims "inaccurate" and says that it only suspended its rent payments this April amid "ongoing negotiations with the landlord to amend the lease agreement." Nevertheless, the fact that VinFast is trying to negotiate lower rent payments on a single showroom suggests it's scrambling to cut costs to stabilize its annual net losses -- which widened from $2.1 billion in 2022 to $2.4 billion in 2023.

4. It's being sued by its investors

Two law firms also filed class action lawsuits against VinFast this April for allegedly making unrealistic delivery forecasts prior to its public debut. Several other law firms are still asking investors to join their similar class action lawsuits.

Many other SPAC-backed EV makers, including Lucid and Nikola, were hit by similar class-action lawsuits in the past. VinFast might be able to weather those headwinds, but they could exacerbate its cash-flow problems with high legal expenses and drive more investors to scrutinize its business practices.

5. VinFast is being probed by federal safety regulators

Last but not least, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recently launched an investigation into the fatal crash of a VinFast VF8 SUV in California. The accident, which killed a family of four, occurred when the vehicle veered off the road, crashed into a pole and a tree, and caught on fire. The SUV was being driven by one of the owners coworkers with the coworkers family when the fatal crash occurred, according to the complaint.

Prior to the accident, the SUV's owner -- who was not in the vehicle at the time -- had complained about problems with the vehicle's automated steering system. If this ongoing investigation sparks a total recall of VinFast's vehicles in the U.S., it could tarnish its brand and severely hinder its overseas expansion.

Are these growing pains or red flags?

On the bright side, VinFast is still delivering a lot more vehicles than Lucid, Nikola, and many other SPAC-backed EV makers, its gross margins are gradually improving, and its stock doesn't look expensive, trading at 4 times this year's sales. Therefore, the bulls might believe all these setbacks are simply growing pains that VinFast can eventually overcome.

But I'm not as optimistic. I simply can't trust a company that broadly missed its own delivery forecasts, sells most of its cars to its own affiliate, and faces so many legal and regulatory challenges in its biggest target market. So for now, I'd avoid VinFast's stock until it demonstrates that it can resolve these pressing issues and scale up its business.

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5 Red Flags for VinFast Auto's Future was originally published by The Motley Fool
We recently published a list of 9 Best Stocks to Buy in 2024 According to Billionaire George Soros. Since Aramark (NYSE:ARMK) ranks 6th in the list, it deserves a deeper look.

Billionaire George Soros has been one of the most active and divisive figures in the Wall Street. Often a right-wing target, the billionaire handed over the control of his $25 billion empire to his son Alexander Soros last year. The 93 year-old Hungarian American is known as the philosopher investor in the Wall Street, mainly due to his contributions to philosophy and his deep desire to leave his mark in the world of philosophy, which many believe he fulfilled thanks to his General Theory of Reflexivity for capital markets.

George Soros founded Soros Fund Management in 1970. Since its inception through 2010, the fund posted on average a 20% annual rate of return. A Wall Street Journal report earlier this year said that Soros Fund Management has posted a compound annual return of 13.5% over the past three years through June 30, 2023.

READ NEXT: Billionaire Paul Tudor Jones Top Dividend Picks and Analysts Are Upgrading These AI Stocks

George Soros in his book The New Paradigm of Financial Markets wrote a chapter titled Autobiography of a Failed Philosopher in which he talked in detail about how many, including his son and his biographer, started accepting the idea that Soros was a failed philosopher. Soros talks in detail about his childhood, his relationship with his father who at one point, according to Soros, lost all ambition in life and did not amass any wealth. A Jew by birth, Soros decided to come to the UK after the Nazi occupation of Hungary. Soros first interactions with philosophy started when he was impressed by the works of Karl Popper. But Soros dreams of creating a career in philosophy could not realize for several reasons, some of which he talks about in his book:

I would have preferred to stay within the safe walls of academeI even had a teaching assistant job prospect at the University of Michigan in Kalamazoo, but my grades were not good enough, and I was forced to go out into the real world. After several false starts, I ended up working as an arbitrage trader, first in London and then in New York.* At first I had to forget everything I had learned as a student in order to hold down my job, but eventually my college education came in very useful. In particular, I could apply my theory of reflexivity to establish a disequilibrium scenario or boom-bust pattern for financial markets. The rewarding part came when markets entered what I called far-from-equilibrium territory because that is when the generally accepted equilibrium models broke down.

For this article we scanned Billionaire Soross Soros Fund Managements Q1 portfolio and chose its top 9 stock picks. Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletters strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points (see more details here).

Is Aramark (NYSE:ARMK) Billionaire George Soros's Best Stock Pick in 2024?

George Soros of Soros Fund Management

Aramark (NYSE:ARMK)

Billionaire George Soross Q12024 Stake Value: $66,958,680

Billionaire George Soross fund increased its stake in food service and facilities services provider Aramark (NYSE:ARMK) by 298% in the first quarter of 2024, ending the period with a $67 million stake in Aramark (NYSE:ARMK).

Last month the company posted fiscal Q2 results. Adjusted EPS in the period came in at $0.29, beating estimates by $0.02. Revenue in the quarter jumped 7.4% year over year to $4.2 billion, missing estimates by $40 million. For full year the company is expecting revenue growth of 9% and adjusted EPS growth of 30% to 35%. Aramark (NYSE:ARMK) is also a dividend-paying stock, with a 1.14% dividend yield. The company has been consistently increasing its dividend each year since 2014. As of the end of March the stocks dividend payout ratio is just 0.33, attractive when company to peers where the industry average payout ratio is 0.59. The stock is trading at 17x its 2025 EPS estimate, which is not much higher than the industry median of 16.1. Given the companys EPS growth estimates and Wall Streets expectations of earnings growth of 24% for the company in 2025, the stock looks attractively valued. Aramark is one of the best stocks to buy in 2024 according to Soross fund.

Artisan Select Equity Fund made the following comment about Aramark (NYSE:ARMK) in its Q3 2023 investor letter:

Aramark (NYSE:ARMK) was our weakest performer this quarter. The company reported strong Q2 results. Revenue grew 15%, and operating margins expanded. Both the contract catering and uniforms divisions showed good progress, and the company raised its guidance for the year. We suspect the share price performed poorly for a couple of reasons. First, the company has a fair bit of debt, and interest expense will increase if the debt is refinanced at todays higher rates rather than paid down. However, the company is focused on debt reduction and does not pay a large dividend, giving it ample resources to pay down its debt. Second, the company spun off its uniform business to shareholders at the end of the quarter. This business is more cyclical than the catering business, and it came to market with a high degree of financial leverage. With fears around a recession, we believe investors steered clear of Aramark for lack of interest in the uniform business. We immediately sold our shares in the uniform business, Vestis, given its cyclicality and leverage. As of this writing, Vestis shares were down more than 20%.

Overall, Aramark (NYSE:ARMK) ranks 6th in Insider Monkeys list of 9 Best Stocks to Buy in 2024 According to Billionaire George Soros. You can visit 9 Best Stocks to Buy in 2024 According to Billionaire George Soros to see other stock picks of Billionaire George Soros. While we acknowledge the potential of Aramark (NYSE: ARMK), our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter timeframe. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than Aramark (NYSE:ARMK) 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 at Insider Monkey.
Key Insights

Using the 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity, ASML Holding fair value estimate is 738

ASML Holding's 963 share price signals that it might be 31% overvalued

The 1,003 analyst price target for ASML is 36% more than our estimate of fair value

Does the June share price for ASML Holding N.V. (AMS:ASML) reflect what it's really worth? Today, we will estimate the stock's intrinsic value by taking the expected future cash flows and discounting them to today's value. Our analysis will employ the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. Believe it or not, it's not too difficult to follow, as you'll see from our example!

Remember though, that there are many ways to estimate a company's value, and a DCF is just one method. If you want to learn more about discounted cash flow, the rationale behind this calculation can be read in detail in the Simply Wall St analysis model.

View our latest analysis for ASML Holding

The Method

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. 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) 5.38b 9.31b 11.9b 14.9b 17.0b 18.5b 19.7b 20.6b 21.4b 21.9b Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x14 Analyst x13 Analyst x9 Analyst x2 Analyst x2 Est @ 8.77% Est @ 6.40% Est @ 4.75% Est @ 3.59% Est @ 2.77% Present Value (, Millions) Discounted @ 7.0% 5.0k 8.1k 9.8k 11.4k 12.1k 12.3k 12.3k 12.0k 11.6k 11.2k

("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)

Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = 106b

After calculating the present value of future cash flows in the initial 10-year period, we need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all future cash flows beyond the first stage. For a number of reasons a very conservative growth rate is used that cannot exceed that of a country's GDP growth. In this case we have used the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield (0.9%) 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 7.0%.

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Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2033  (1 + g)  (r  g) = 22b (1 + 0.9%)  (7.0% 0.9%) = 362b

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= 362b ( 1 + 7.0%)10= 184b

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 290b. To get the intrinsic value per share, we divide this by the total number of shares outstanding. Relative to the current share price of 963, the company appears potentially overvalued at the time of writing. Valuations are imprecise instruments though, rather like a telescope - move a few degrees and end up in a different galaxy. Do keep this in mind.

dcf

The Assumptions

Now the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate, and of course, the actual cash flows. Part of investing is coming up with your own evaluation of a company's future performance, so try the calculation yourself and check your own assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at ASML Holding 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 7.0%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.329. 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 ASML Holding

Strength

Debt is not viewed as a risk.

Weakness

Earnings growth over the past year underperformed the Semiconductor industry.

Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Semiconductor market.

Opportunity

Annual earnings are forecast to grow faster than the Dutch market.

Good value based on P/E ratio compared to estimated Fair P/E ratio.

Threat

Revenue is forecast to grow slower than 20% per year.

Next Steps:

Although the valuation of a company is important, it ideally won't be the sole piece of analysis you scrutinize for a company. DCF models are not the be-all and end-all of investment valuation. Preferably you'd apply different cases and assumptions and see how they would impact the company's valuation. For instance, if the terminal value growth rate is adjusted slightly, it can dramatically alter the overall result. What is the reason for the share price exceeding the intrinsic value? For ASML Holding, we've put together three pertinent aspects you should explore:

Risks: To that end, you should be aware of the 1 warning sign we've spotted with ASML Holding . Future Earnings: How does ASML'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 ENXTAM 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.
(Bloomberg) -- Atos SE chose a bailout proposal from a group led by David Layanis Onepoint, its top shareholder, beating out a rival bid from Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky for the troubled French IT company.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Onepoints rescue plan for the troubled French IT company, which includes new equity and reduced debt, has the support of the board and the company will now seek to reach a final agreement with its creditors by July, Atos said in a statement on Tuesday. The Onepoint-led bid was also backed by Paris-based investment firm Butler Industries and digital transformation specialist Econocom Group SE.

Onepoints so-called One Atos plan will massively dilute existing shareholders, but should help the company avoid a breakup and remain under French ownership. Founder Layani, 45, will take over as chief executive officer. Kretinskys bid had targeted a more radical debt reduction and suggested selling off the companys digital business.

Atos, loaded with close to 5 billion in debt, has been under a formal restructuring process  known as conciliation  since April with creditors and banks to try to avoid bankruptcy. The choice of the Onepoint-led bid marks the culmination of months of negotiations involving the deeply distressed firms banks, creditors, shareholders, and the French government.

Atos shares were down 15% in Paris on Tuesday. Bonds issued by Atos, which are trading at deeply distressed levels, gained after the announcement. The 350 million ($376 million) in notes due November 2028 quoted 4.6 cents on the euro higher at 31.5 cents, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Thats the biggest increase since April.

The Onepoint consortium offered 250 million of new money equity, 1.5 billion of new money debt and aims to convert 2.9 billion of Atoss debt into shares to save the company.

The offer has the support of a large number of Atoss financial creditors, and aligns with its corporate interests, the company said in the statement.

What Bloomberg Intelligence Says:

Onepoints restructuring proposal for Atos  which its board has accepted over a competing offer by Czech investor Daniel Kretinsky  will result in massive dilution, all but putting an end to Atoss equity narrative. The deal calls for converting 2.9 billion of Atos debt into shares, resulting in at least 2.5 billion new shares vs. the 112 million outstanding. Atos has close to 5 billion of debt, and will still need to reach an agreement with creditors.

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 Tamlin Bason, BI TMT litigation and industry analyst

Founded in 2002, Onepoint is a much smaller IT group than its target, with around 500 million of revenue last year compared with 10.7 billion for Atos. Onepoint became Atoss top shareholder last year, following months of setbacks for the bigger firm, including failed deals, management turnover and a dramatic plunge in its valuation.

Rival bidder EPEI made its fortune in the energy sector, but has sought to diversify in recent years, targeting mostly entities in financial distress. Kretinskys privately owned conglomerate completed the takeover of troubled French grocery chain Casino Guichard Perrachon SA in March and is in the process of buying the Royal Mail in the UK. It has been circling Atos for almost a year, at first seeking to buy its legacy IT division before making a rescue bid for the whole company.

Atos was once one of Frances premier tech companies, setting its sights on taking market share from Accenture Plc and Capgemini SE, before accounting scandals and huge debts left it on the verge of insolvency. Even though Atos has lost 90% of its value in the last year, it remains a key IT services provider in its home country, with strategic contracts linking it to the defense and nuclear industry, as well as the Olympic Games.

The unraveling of Atos has been a new test for Frances restructuring regime, following the downfall of care-home operator Orpea and Casino. It also forced the government to contribute 50 million in interim funding and make a separate offer for its most sensitive supercomputing unit.

Atos separately said late Tuesday that it has entered into exclusive negotiations with the French IT and engineering firm Alten SA for the sale of its smart energy business, Worldgrid, in a deal valued at 270 million. The transaction is expected to close before the end of 2024 and is subject to regulatory approvals, the company said in a statement.

French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire had said last month that the unit, including systems used to control French nuclear plants, should remain under the control of the French state, adding at the time that public energy giant Electricite de France SA could be a candidate.

--With assistance from Vlad Savov and Libby Cherry.

(Updates with exclusive talks with Alten in penultimate paragraph)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
By Roushni Nair and Aaditya GovindRao

(Reuters) -Private equity firm Bain Capital has offered to buy Australia's Bapcor in a A$1.83 billion ($1.21 billion) deal, which analysts said could draw attention of more suitors to the struggling auto parts retailer.

Bapcor said on Tuesday its shareholders would receive A$5.4 in cash per share under the terms of the non-binding indicative proposal, representing a premium of 23.9% to the stock's last close of A$4.36 on June 7.

Shares of Bapcor, which had fallen 21% this year by Friday's close, advanced as much as 14.9% to A$5.010 as of 0209 GMT. The stock was the top gainer on the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index, which was down 1.4%.

"The automotive aftermarket is becoming increasingly global. In our view, Bapcor would offer potential suitors a strong position in the Asia Pacific region," Ord Minnett analysts said in a note.

"As such, it is possible the bid from private equity may draw attention to Bapcor from other major industry players from offshore markets."

Bain Capital declined to comment.

Analysts at Citi said the offer "comes at an opportunistic time where governance and management has been suboptimal".

"We are not surprised by Bain's bid given we see Bapcor as a good business, operating in a favourable industry," they said in a note.

Bapcor in May flagged challenging trading conditions for retail performance and concerns around competitive pricing resulting in volume and margin pressures amid higher costs.

The company then warned that profits in the second half of 2024 would be lower than the first half. In late April, Bapcor said Paul Dumbrell would not join the company as its chief executive.

($1 = 1.5135 Australian dollars)

(Reporting by Roushni Nair and Aaditya Govind Rao in Bengaluru, Additional reporting by Rajasik Mukherjee; Editing by Vijay Kishore and Subhranshu Sahu)
Insights into the Dividend Performance and Sustainability of Beijing Enterprises Holdings Ltd (BJINF)

Beijing Enterprises Holdings Ltd (BJINF) recently announced a dividend of $0.67 per share, payable on 2024-08-09, with the ex-dividend date set for 2024-06-11. As investors look forward to this upcoming payment, the spotlight also shines on the company's dividend history, yield, and growth rates. Using the data from GuruFocus, let's look into Beijing Enterprises Holdings Ltd's dividend performance and assess its sustainability.

What Does Beijing Enterprises Holdings Ltd Do?

Warning! GuruFocus has detected 8 Warning Signs with BJINF.

High Yield Dividend Stocks in Gurus' Portfolio

This Powerful Chart Made Peter Lynch 29% A Year For 13 Years

How to calculate the intrinsic value of a stock?

Beijing Enterprises Holdings was founded in 1997 and it is the listed flagship of the Beijing municipal government. It has a diversified business portfolio with focus on public utilities, including gas distribution and transmission, sewage and water treatment, and waste-to-energy business. It also invests in an upstream Russia oil and gas company, and owns 80% of Yanjing Brewery, one of the leading domestic brewers. The business mix is approximately 62% in gas operation, with the rest in water, waste treatment, and beer businesses in 2023.

Beijing Enterprises Holdings Ltd's Dividend Analysis

A Glimpse at Beijing Enterprises Holdings Ltd's Dividend History

Beijing Enterprises Holdings Ltd has maintained a consistent dividend payment record since 2018. Dividends are currently distributed on a bi-annually basis. Below is a chart showing annual Dividends Per Share for tracking historical trends.

Beijing Enterprises Holdings Ltd's Dividend Analysis

Breaking Down Beijing Enterprises Holdings Ltd's Dividend Yield and Growth

As of today, Beijing Enterprises Holdings Ltd currently has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 7.29% and a 12-month forward dividend yield of 5.75%. This suggests an expectation of decreased dividend payments over the next 12 months.

Over the past three years, Beijing Enterprises Holdings Ltd's annual dividend growth rate was 21.20%. Extended to a five-year horizon, this rate decreased to 12.30% per year. And over the past decade, Beijing Enterprises Holdings Ltd's annual dividends per share growth rate stands at 7.40%.

Based on Beijing Enterprises Holdings Ltd's dividend yield and five-year growth rate, the 5-year yield on cost of Beijing Enterprises Holdings Ltd stock as of today is approximately 13.02%.

Beijing Enterprises Holdings Ltd's Dividend Analysis

The Sustainability Question: Payout Ratio and Profitability

To assess the sustainability of the dividend, one needs to evaluate the company's payout ratio. The dividend payout ratio provides insights into the portion of earnings the company distributes as dividends. A lower ratio suggests that the company retains a significant part of its earnings, thereby ensuring the availability of funds for future growth and unexpected downturns. As of 2023-12-31, Beijing Enterprises Holdings Ltd's dividend payout ratio is 0.43.

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Beijing Enterprises Holdings Ltd's profitability rank, offers an understanding of the company's earnings prowess relative to its peers. GuruFocus ranks Beijing Enterprises Holdings Ltd's profitability 7 out of 10 as of 2023-12-31, suggesting good profitability prospects. The company has reported positive net income for each year over the past decade, further solidifying its high profitability.

Growth Metrics: The Future Outlook

To ensure the sustainability of dividends, a company must have robust growth metrics. Beijing Enterprises Holdings Ltd's growth rank of 7 out of 10 suggests that the company's growth trajectory is good relative to its competitors.

Revenue is the lifeblood of any company, and Beijing Enterprises Holdings Ltd's revenue per share, combined with the 3-year revenue growth rate, indicates a strong revenue model. Beijing Enterprises Holdings Ltd's revenue has increased by approximately 9.90% per year on average, a rate that outperforms approximately 54.49% of global competitors.

The company's 3-year EPS growth rate showcases its capability to grow its earnings, a critical component for sustaining dividends in the long run. During the past three years, Beijing Enterprises Holdings Ltd's earnings increased by approximately 5.60% per year on average, a rate that outperforms approximately 35.98% of global competitors.

Lastly, the company's 5-year EBITDA growth rate of -0.90%, which outperforms approximately 24.12% of global competitors.

Conclusion

Considering Beijing Enterprises Holdings Ltd's consistent dividend payments, robust dividend growth rate, sustainable payout ratio, and solid profitability and growth metrics, the company presents a compelling case for dividend investors. For those seeking to explore further, GuruFocus Premium users can screen for high-dividend yield stocks using the High Dividend Yield Screener.

This article, generated by GuruFocus, is designed to provide general insights and is not tailored financial advice. Our commentary is rooted in historical data and analyst projections, utilizing an impartial methodology, and is not intended to serve as specific investment guidance. It does not formulate a recommendation to purchase or divest any stock and does not consider individual investment objectives or financial circumstances. Our objective is to deliver long-term, fundamental data-driven analysis. Be aware that our analysis might not incorporate the most recent, price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative information. GuruFocus holds no position in the stocks mentioned herein.

This article first appeared on GuruFocus.


Benderson Development has bought a 51.5-acre site at the corner of East Venice Avenue and North River Road, where the company plans to develop a mixed-use project, according to a news release from the Manatee County headquartered company.

Property records show Stephen and Michelle Hazeltine sold nine parcels and parts of three others at that intersection to CCB Associates 30 LLC  a limited liability company controlled by Benderson Development  for $12 million in May.

This preliminary master plan for North River Marketplace shows the location of potential commercial and residential sites on the 51.5-acre parcel. About 13.4 acres in the southwest portion of the site is the location where as many as 285 market rate multi-family homes would be built. This site plan was shown in 2023 when the project sought approval from the Sarasota County Commission.

The property had been marketed by Tampa-based Barclay Group, but a company official said Barclay Group's plans had not come to fruition and he had no knowledge of current plans for the property.

Julie Fanning, director of marketing for Benderson Development, said the company's plans were still in development with no tenants confirmed at this time.

Previous coverage: Neighborhood workshop to address final piece of North River Market Place plan

The Sarasota County Commission changed the future land use designation for the property last year in a move that caused some opposition from nearby property owners upset about intense development near the Myakka River, which is less than a half-mile away.

According to Herald-Tribune archives, the County Commission changed the property's future land use from moderate density residential to Village II Commercial Center, which will allow for 110,000 square feet of commercial development and 285-units of multifamily housing on the more than 50-acre property.

Ray Westbrook, founder of a Facebook Group called Save the Myakka River  Stop Commercial Development Near the Myakka that has about 200 members, called the county's approval "irresponsible" and worries about the impact "over development" will have on "environmentally sensitive" land near the Myakka.

Reached on Monday, Westbrook said he plans to continue advocating for less intense development around the Myakka and would bring up the issue when he has an opportunity to speak on the matter with county officials.

Benderson Development also owns several properties in the general area, including the Jacaranda Plaza on U.S. 41 and the Cocoplum Village Shops. The Jacaranda Plaza had previously been a K-Mart, but was "completely transformed into a vibrant center" after Benderson bought the property, according to a news release.

Benderson has grown its portfolio over the last few years with acquisitions that total more than $2 billion, adding more than 10 million square feet to its commercial real estate holdings. That has included recent purchases of a 3,400-acre industrial development site in Wildwood; Linton Commons in Delray Beach; the Publix Super Market at Olde Village in Englewood; a free-standing Publix Super Market in Pompano Beach and two Trader Joe's in South Carolina and North Carolina, according to a news release from the company.

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The company also recently purchased the Glengary Shoppes and Bee Ridge Square in Sarasota.

Benderson Development is one of the largest privately held real estate companies in the nation. The company owns more than 1,000 properties totaling more than 55 million square feet of commercial space across 41 states, according to the company's news release.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Benderson development buys 51.5 acres for $12 million in Sarasota Co.
UN Security Council adopts resolution calling for immediate ceasefire in Gaza

Xinhua) 08:22, June 11, 2024

Representatives vote on a draft resolution during a UN Security Council meeting at the UN headquarters in New York, on June 10, 2024. The UN Security Council on Monday adopted a resolution aimed at reaching a comprehensive ceasefire deal in three phases to end the war in Gaza. (Eskinder Debebe/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua)

UNITED NATIONS, June 10 (Xinhua) -- The UN Security Council on Monday adopted a resolution aimed at reaching a comprehensive ceasefire deal in three phases to end the war in Gaza.

Adopted by a large majority with 14 votes in favor and Russia abstaining, Resolution 2735 also urges both parties to the conflict to fully implement the terms of the proposal "without delay and without condition."

According to the resolution, phase one includes an "immediate, full, and complete ceasefire with the release of hostages including women, the elderly and the wounded, the return of the remains of some hostages who have been killed, and the exchange of Palestinian prisoners."

It calls for the withdrawal of Israeli forces from "populated areas" of Gaza, the return of Palestinians to their homes and neighbourhoods throughout the enclave, including in the north, as well as the safe and effective distribution of humanitarian assistance at scale.

Phase two would see a permanent end to hostilities "in exchange for the release of all other hostages still in Gaza, and a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza."

In phase three, "a major multi-year reconstruction plan for Gaza" would begin and the remains of any deceased hostages still in Gaza would be returned to Israel.

The council also underlined the proposal's provision that if negotiations take longer than six weeks for phase one, the ceasefire will continue as long as negotiations continue.

The resolution says that Israel has "accepted" the deal and "calls upon" Hamas to do the same.

It also notes that the Security Council rejects any attempt at demographic or territorial change in the Gaza Strip, including any actions that reduce the territory of the enclave.

The text also reiterates the council's "unwavering commitment" to the vision of the two-state solution where two democratic states, Israel and Palestine, live side by side in peace within secure and recognized borders consistent with international law and relevant UN resolutions.

"In this regard stresses the importance of unifying the Gaza Strip with the West Bank under the Palestinian Authority," according to the resolution.

The Algerian permanent representative to the United Nations, Amar Bendjama, said after the vote that Algeria voted in favor of the draft because it represents a step towards an immediate and lasting ceasefire. "This text is not perfect, but it offers a glimmer of hope to the Palestinians as the alternative is continued killing and suffering ... We voted for this text to give diplomacy a chance," he added.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
If you're a dividend investor, you've probably considered buying some tobacco stocks if you don't already own them.

The tobacco sector has long been ripe terrain for income investors. These stocks tend to generate wide profit margins, have recession-proof business models, and require relatively little spending on capital expenditures or research and development, so they return most of their profits to investors.

Two of the world's largest, best-known tobacco stocks are Philip Morris International (NYSE: PM) and British American Tobacco (NYSE: BTI). There's a good case for including both in any dividend stock portfolio, especially one focused on high-yield stocks. But if you had to choose between the two, which is the better buy today?

Let's take a look at how these two tobacco titans stack up now.

Image source: Getty Images.

Business model: Philip Morris International vs. British American Tobacco

As tobacco stocks, both companies have similar business models, but there's more to the tobacco industry these days than just cigarettes. The industry is moving beyond combustibles to products like vapes and oral nicotine pouches that claim to be less harmful, and both Philip Morris and British American Tobacco (BAT) have established themselves as leaders in this transition.

Philip Morris is known for selling Marlboro and other cigarette brands in international markets, while its heat-not-burn product, IQOS, leads its smoke-free efforts. IQOS uses real tobacco rather than the liquid common in e-cigarettes. In 2023, smoke-free products brought in 36.5% of the company's revenue and a greater percentage of its gross profits.

Historically, Philip Morris has operated outside the U.S. only as part of the company's split from Altria in 2007. However, it just bought the rights to sell IQOS in the U.S. from Altria for $2.7 billion, indicating the company is bullish about the product. It's also seen strong growth from Zyn, a branded oral nicotine pouch it gained in its acquisition of Swedish Match.

British American Tobacco, which sells its products globally, is known for cigarette brands like Camel, Newport, and Lucky Strike, some of which it acquired in its merger nearly a decade ago with RJ Reynolds. The company recently took a $31 billion write-down on the value of its U.S. cigarette business, showing that it likely overpaid for that acquisition and that it's focused on transitioning to smoke-free products.

In 2023, organic revenue rose 21%, driven by the growth of the Vuse vape brand and Velo oral nicotine pouch, and achieved profitability two years ahead of BAT's original target. New categories made up 12% of its revenue, and that share should continue to grow, given its 21% revenue growth rate in 2023.

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Financials: Philip Morris International vs. British American Tobacco

Philip delivered strong growth in the first quarter, with organic revenue up 11% to $8.8 billion and overall shipment volume growth of 3.6% to 180.5 billion units. Cigarette shipments declined just 0.4% to 143.2 million, and the company posted strong growth in smoke-free products. Heated tobacco units rose 20.9% to 33.1 billion, and oral smoke-free products increased 35.8% to 4.2 billion.

On the bottom line, the company's margin expanded, with organic gross profit increasing 13.7% to $5.6 billion, while organic operating income jumped 22.2% to $2 billion.

As a British company, British American Tobacco doesn't report results quarterly, but we can make comparisons with its 2023 performance.

On an adjusted organic basis, BAT's revenue rose 3.1% to 27.3 British pounds ($34.02), and adjusted operating profit rose 3.9% to 12.5 million pounds ($15.5 million), reaching an operating margin of 45.7%. Organic revenue from new categories rose 21% to 3.34 British pounds ($4.16). About half of that business comes from vapor, with the remainder from heated products and oral nicotine pouches.

Here, the edge goes to Philip Morris because it's growing faster, driving margin expansion, and has made more progress on next-gen products.

Dividend and valuation: Philip Morris International vs. British American Tobacco

On metrics like dividend yield and valuation, British American Tobacco gets the edge. BAT trades at a yield of 9.5% and has a price-to-earnings valuation of just 6.7. Philip Morris, on the other hand, offers a dividend yield of 5% and currently trades at a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.9.

British American Tobacco is clearly much cheaper than Philip Morris and offers a dividend yield that's nearly double that of Philip Morris.

Past performance: Philip Morris International vs. British American Tobacco

Finally, it's worth considering how both stocks have performed in the recent past, as rising stocks tend to continue rising, and falling stocks can have trouble rebounding.

As you can see from the chart below, Philip Morris has the clear edge on both price appreciation and total return.



PM data by YCharts.

What's the better buy?

Dividend investors may prefer to buy shares of British American Tobacco due to its strong yield and cheaper valuation, but overall, Philip Morris looks like the better stock to own. It's executing across its business, outgrowing the competition, and is well ahead of its peers in transitioning to smoke-free products.

Philip Morris looks like a good bet to outperform BAT, even with the gap in dividends.

Should you invest $1,000 in Philip Morris International right now?

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Jeremy Bowman has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends British American Tobacco P.l.c. and Philip Morris International and recommends the following options: long January 2026 $40 calls on British American Tobacco and short January 2026 $40 puts on British American Tobacco. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Best Stock to Buy Right Now: Philip Morris International vs. British American Tobacco was originally published by The Motley Fool
Bitcoin is a digital currency  or cryptocurrency  that is not backed by any government or central bank.

The University of Austin, a new school opening later this year, has launched what it said is the first long-term endowment held in bitcoin, a unique involvement of cryptocurrency in higher education financing.

The endowment is being held in partnership with Unchained, an Austin-based bitcoin financial service whose founder and CEO, Joseph Kelly, donated the first two bitcoins to launch the campaign, equivalent to $138,000.

After securing its initial approval to launch from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board in November, the university plans to open this fall in the Scarborough Building downtown with 100 students. The private institution first announced plans to open in November 2021, pitching itself as a school against cancel culture and censorship and an innovative alternative to a national higher education model it said is broken.

The university seeks to challenge higher education norms, including by setting up the endowment in bitcoin, a form of digital currency that can be sold and exchanged without a bank. The decentralized model requires that the majority of the bitcoin network approve transactions, and the transactions are stored on a digital record called a blockchain.

Chad Thevenot, the senior vice president for advancement and communications at the University of Austin, said the new school is growing its endowment resources and that this endowment will be part of a diversified portfolio with other stocks and assets to support the university's future.

The new endowment will go toward the university's general funding but will be kept in bitcoin for at least five years, he said.

The idea came when he and Kelly, whose office is across the street from the university's headquarters, met for coffee chats and lunch. When Thevenot heard Kelly's pitch about the endowment, he thought it was a great way to engage the bitcoin community.

"Bitcoin as an idea, as a phenomenon, captures the imagination of people at university; it captures the imagination of our students," he said. "In that sense, there's a natural lineup."

The spirit of the University of Austin captivated Kelly, specifically how the university wants to help students become entrepreneurs. The partnership, he said, can "build a bridge between the communities."

"The more I heard about what they're trying to do in terms of really holding up the light to areas of censorship or issues (in the) higher educational system, a lot of people in the bitcoin community that we serve would also really benefit from hearing that message or benefit from knowing that UATX exists," he said. "And then, like me, might get excited (and) contribute."

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Is cryptocurrency reliable?

Universities have been accepting cryptocurrency for years but typically liquidate it to avoid volatility in its value. But by keeping the endowment in bitcoin, the university will demonstrate that it believes in its value as an asset, Thevenot said.

"We're not worried," he said about potential fluctuation in market value. "Every bitcoin that we get is more than $0. Because the alternative is zero bitcoin."

David DeMatthews, a University of Texas associate professor in the College of Education specializing in education policy, said the use of bitcoin as an endowment asset is new to him but isn't surprising, as endowment portfolios typically consist of a number of different kinds of assets.

The $5 million is "not a substantial amount, considering what it might cost to open a university, but could be viewed as a way of marketing bitcoin and other types of cryptocurrencies," DeMatthews said.

Cesare Fracassi, a UT associate professor of finance who researches and teaches about cryptocurrency, said the endowment held in bitcoin offers the benefit of attracting donors interested in cryptocurrency, but could face fluctuations in value over time similar to other tech stocks.

"Investing in bitcoin is as volatile as investing in Tesla," Fracassi said. But he added that donating bitcoin has a tax advantage for donors over cash, similar to giving stocks and bonds to universities.

Though bitcoin's value has dropped significantly in the past, it has also risen significantly, said Shimon Lazarov, the chief marketing officer at Unchained.

"Bitcoin has volatility, but it also has tremendous upside," Lazarov said. "I think $5 million in five years can definitely easily 10x or 20x, if you look at the past of bitcoin."

What's the future of bitcoin in Texas?

Carla Reyes, a Southern Methodist University associate professor of law specializing in blockchain technology and the past chair of the Texas Work Group on Blockchain Matters, which sent an 84-page report of recommendations to the Legislature in 2022, said Texas is considered a top state in the industry largely due to tech hubs such as Austin.

Reyes said the university's announcement is "very cool" and rare because the endowment will be held in bitcoin.

"Universities are very risk averse and very wary of accepting donations or even grant money in cryptocurrencies very broadly, and so I think it is probably exceptional for them to accept it and make a commitment to hold it for five years," Reyes said, adding that Unchained's management of the endowment should keep the payments safe, which she thinks is often a concern among universities.

Reyes expects that Texas will continue to innovate in technology and blockchain currencies because both the state and the industry share "an entrepreneurial, innovative spirit," and Texas lawmakers, industry professionals and researchers are interested in seeing it progress. She hopes the announcement encourages other universities to form similar partnerships.

"Tokens and cryptocurrencies get a bad rap, one they don't deserve," Reyes said. "And I think if the universities don't look past that to the real value of the technology and do the diligence to figure out partnerships ... they'll (miss opportunities for) grant money."

With bitcoin, Thevenot said, "we want to take this kind of risk and be integrated with those kinds of communities in Austin."

"It's not just an asset," he added. "It's an ethos."

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: University of Austin launches first long-term bitcoin endowment
The Boeing Company and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University announced Tuesday a partnership that will bring a research arm of the multinational aerospace manufacturing giant to Daytona Beach as soon as this fall.

By the end of 2026, Boeing officials say they intend to bring 400 high-paying jobs to the soon-to-open Cici and Hyatt Brown Center for Aerospace Technology at ERAU's booming research park along Clyde Morris Boulevard, just south of the university campus. The building's construction was set in motion by a $25 million gift from the Browns and a $25 million match in last year's state budget.

Steve Nordlund, Boeing VP and General Manager of Air Dominance and Embry-Riddle Trustee, speaks to the crowd during the announcement of the Boeing partnership with ERAU and UCF on hypersonic research, Tuesday June 11, 2024 in the ERAU student union.

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University officials hailed the Boeing news as a watershed moment for Daytona Beach and Volusia County.

Mori Hosseini, chairman of the Embry-Riddle Board of Trustees, said the announcement is the culmination of something the university has been working toward for many years: Diversifying the Volusia County workforce and complementing the space and defense businesses that help shape Cape Canaveral and Orlando.

"Embry-Riddle is at the tip of Floridas Space Triangle, and Boeing selecting ERAU and Volusia County will redefine our university and our community," Hosseini said. "With 400 new, high-paying jobs right here in our backyard, the future has never been brighter in Central Florida and Volusia County."

Some 400 people are expected to be employed at this building in the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Research Park which Boeing Co. will lease and occupy later this fall. The structure was funded with a $25 million donation by Cici and Hyatt Brown and a $25 million match by Florida taxpayers in the 2023-24 budget.

Hosseini said Boeing's presence in Daytona Beach will drive economic development, attracting other companies, and serves as "a major milestone" for the research park, which first opened in 2017.

Who will Boeing be hiring in Daytona Beach?

Boeing Air Dominance Vice President and General Manager Steve Nordlund said the venture will primarily involve engineers working to improve and develop products under the Defense, Space & Security division. They may also include supply-chain managers, human-resources personnel and business analysts.

"Typically when we open up a facility, we're going to concentrate on, you know, what we need to deliver to our customers and that's usually around, you know, development of our products and support of our products going forward," Nordlund said.

The decision to expand into Daytona Beach was not triggered by anything, he said.

"Were not divesting out of anywhere else. This is a growth opportunity for us," Nordlund said.

"We are very optimistic about what our future business is," he said, adding that President Joe Biden's budget includes funding for the E-7 Wedgetail, an airborne warning and control system aircraft.

"Broadly, you know, we we feel good about our business and the growth aspects across the entire portfolio," Nordlund said.

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The company's air dominance section involves design, manufacture and sales of fighter jets, such as the F/A 18 Super Hornets (used by the U.S. Navy's Blue Angels) the Air Force's F-15EX, large-scale MQ-25 autonomous drones and the T-7A, the next U.S. Air Force trainer.

Boeing manufactures the F/A-18 Super Hornets seen at the Vero Beach Regional Airport in May ahead of an air show. The Boeing Defense, Space & Security division will be opening an office at the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University research park later this year.

Nordlund said the initial plan for Daytona Beach does not involve development of spacecraft.

Not initially, but ... we will take our engineering resources and apply them to all kinds of hard problems," he said. "So if there's talent that's sitting here in Daytona Beach and we got a problem in the world that we've got to go solve and they're the right resources, we apply them to the problem."

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis joins Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Board Chair Mori Hosseini in announcing Boeing's plan to create 400 jobs at the school's research park in Daytona Beach.

Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks at event

Gov. Ron DeSantis, speaking at an announcement lunch in the ERAU student center Tuesday, thanked the Browns for their $25 million gift and said Hosseini and Embry-Riddle made a compelling case for the $25 million in the 2023-24 Florida budget by noting the impact the Boeing project will have on not just the university and Volusia County, but the Central Florida region.

Florida has state universities to fund, including the University of Florida, Florida State University and the University of Central Florida. DeSantis said a priority of his and the Republican-controlled Legislature in recent years has been to keep state spending lean, saying he vetoed more than $3 billion in the state budget of 2022.

While I wish the private universities well, typically thats just not our focus because we have a state university system. So to get us to support something private like this, at that level, we would only do that if clearly theres benefits for the state of Florida and this was the best interests to use taxpayer dollars to do it.

DeSantis also announced he will not veto another $26 million in this years budget thats pegged for a different project  related to hypersonics  at the Embry-Riddle research park.

What this means for Embry-Riddle

Embry-Riddle President Barry Butler said his university recruits faculty and students, many of whom have dreamed of working in the aviation and aerospace industry since they were small children attending air shows or watching rocket launches.

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University President P. Barry Butler speaks during the announcement of the Boeing partnership with ERAU and UCF on hypersonic research, Tuesday June 11, 2024 in the ERAU student union.

"They aspire to work for places, particularly Boeing, and quite a few of them end up going there," Butler said. "So to have a (Boeing) facility right here on campus is really what an institution like ours is all about," Butler said. "We bring students, we attract them who have an interest in the field, we educate them, we give them internship experiences, and at the end of the day, when they leave, they're ready to work for the best aerospace companies in the world and having one sitting 100 yards from where you took your classes is a pretty, pretty nice opportunity for them."

Butler said he also hopes to tap into Boeing's talent for guest lectures and other ways to engage students.

Long dance between Boeing, ERAU

Embry-Riddle trustees and presidents have long cultivated relationships with industry partners such as Boeing.

"It's it's not like it happened overnight, and things evolved with time," he said.

Butler pointed to the appointment of Nordlund to Embry-Riddle's board in 2019 as one example of the ties between the university and company.

Nordlund, a 1990 ERAU graduate, worked at the university as chief information officer until 1998, and has been with Boeing since 2009. He delivered a commencement address to graduates last month.

"From my lens, the relationship has really accelerated for I'd say the past seven or eight years," Nordlund said.

"We started, you know, really increasing our focus on hiring and this is one of the elite schools within the Boeing portfolio that we target full-time employees, as well as make sure that we carve out a significant number of internships every year," Nordlund said.

Boeing also endowed a two-year scholarship worth up to $15,000 for students with diverse backgrounds.

Watershed moment for growing research park

Hosseini said Boeing had not yet committed to expanding to Daytona Beach when the university announced the $25 million donation by the Browns two years ago. At some point later, the company asked Embry-Riddle about what space might be available to lease at the research park and the Brown Center had already gone under construction, fulfilling Daytona Beach insurance magnate Hyatt Brown's vision as he expressed it in 2022.

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University trustees gather around Cici & Hyatt Brown as the Browns are presented with a model of the Cici & Hyatt Brown Center for Aerospace Technology during the announcement of the Boeing partnership with ERAU and UCF on hypersonic research, Tuesday June 11, 2024 in the ERAU student union.

Our focused mission, now and in the future, is economic enhancement of entities in VolusiaCounty that positively affect the quality of life for all our citizens, Hyatt Brown said then. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and other fine academic institutions are economic growth engines that augment and embellish local median family incomes and prepare citizens for productive, sustainable and visionary careers for generations to come.

Rodney Cruise, ERAU's senior vice president and chief operating officer, said the research park will soon have, in seven years, grown from a single 50,000 square foot facility to 250,000 square feet of business activity, giving rise to the need to expand the park to the east.

"As Research Park East is developed, that's an additional 700,000 or 800,000 square feet of flex lease space. And we see Boeing coming into the research park as an inflection point in the growth of that," Cruise said. "So you're taking something that's moving along quickly in the great big scheme of things to five times the size ... and then you get the rock stars of the the aviation aerospace industry to come and set up shop here. We think it's going to spur the growth of the research park really differently."

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Boeing bringing 400 high-paying jobs to ERAU research park in Daytona
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JPMorgan upgraded Walmart to 'Overweight' from 'Neutral' and raised its price target to $81.

The bank highlighted Walmart's ability to grow during uncertain economic times.

"The stock adds a strong balance of defense and offense on both the top and bottom lines in a soft consumer backdrop," JPMorgan said.

Walmart stock is trading at record highs, but JPMorgan thinks it's still a great buy for investors.

The bank upgraded the retail giant to "Overweight" from "Neutral" in a note on Monday and increased its price target to $81 from $66. That represents potential upside of 21% from current levels.

According to the bank, Walmart can play both offense and defense when it comes to growing its business during uncertain times. That's important as the US consumer shows signs of slowing down heading into the second half of 2024, according to the bank.

"We believe the stock adds a strong balance of defense and offense on both the top and bottom lines in a soft (to softening) consumer backdrop with a highly uncertain 2H24 ahead," JPMorgan analyst Christopher Horvers said.

Horvers said Walmart is in a good position to beat Wall Street estimates on revenue and profits going forward as it benefits from market share gains thanks to a consumer that is "highly value oriented."

Walmart's value proposition is showcased in its grocery business, which has helped the company significantly increase its market share.

The company's strength in groceries, combined with leverage over its supply chain, should help grow profit margins going forward.

"On the broader supply chain front, its multi-year efficiency program could add up to 100 bps of cost efficiency for WMT to partially reinvest in price as it drives share," Horvers said.

But perhaps most important to Walmart is its growing profits from "alternative profit pools," which include its third-party fulfillment business, Walmart+ subscription, and growing advertising business.

"As WMT US improves/expands its advertising and fulfillment services offerings, it sets the stage to grow the number of sellers on its marketplace, as well as the breadth/depth of existing sellers' assortments, both of which help drive general merchandise penetration. Said another way, a flywheel is forming between its topline, operational, and alternate profit pool strategies," Horver said.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Chinese, Kyrgyz, and Uzbek officials signed an agreement on the CKU railway project on 6 June according to Chinese state media.

Spokesperson for Beijings Ministry of Transport Mao Ning confirmed the signing and said the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway project demonstrated the common aspiration for cooperation and development shared by the three countries.

The Central Asian rail link has been discussed for almost 30 years, but after several false starts it was given renewed hope in April, as Railway Technology reported, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov met with China Railways deputy director general Wang Tunjun and sparked hope the project might soon break ground.

Although details of the new agreement remain sparse, it was reportedly signed by Kyrgyzstans Minister of Transport and Communications, Tilek Tekebaev; Chinas Chairman of the State Committee for Development and Reform, Zheng Shanjie; and Uzbekistans Minister of Transport, Ilkhom Makhkamov.

Japarov said the feasibility study had been completed, and the new treaty showed: The governments of the three countries are ready to support the implementation of the project.

He said the state railway operators had agreed the mechanism of project implementation by creating a joint venture. It remains unclear if that joint venture vehicle has yet been officially registered.

Although other transport and infrastructure links from China to the rest of the word have taken precedence in recent years, but Mao said the line would become a popular part of the extensive Belt and Road Initiative.

"It is another testament to the importance of the Belt and Road Initiative and demonstrated the popularity of the vision for a community with a shared future for mankind in Central Asia," she said.

"China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway agreed at Beijing trilateral meeting" was originally created and published by Railway Technology, a GlobalData owned brand.







The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
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If you think Nevada is all about casinos and flashy vacation spots  think again. The Silver State offers some financial perks that may be just what your family is looking for in the next move. According to Dave Ramsey, the state offers attractive options for parents and kids, retirees and techies.

Check Out: 9 Major US Cities Where Buying a Home Is Surprisingly Cheap

Read Next: 4 Genius Things All Wealthy People Do With Their Money

Speaking of casinos, regular gaming taxes in Nevada help keep personal property taxes fairly low in many areas. Youll also find no state income tax and no tax on food. Combine that with the average cost of living being just above the national average, youll likely find affordable options.

Now that youre ready to consider Nevada, here are some spots Ramsey said are among the best in the state.

Wealthy people know the best money secrets. Learn how to copy them.

Carson City

Ramsey put Carson City on the top of the list. Its the state capital, located about 30 minutes from Lake Tahoe, and has a more relaxed pace of life than many other centers of state government.

According to U.S. News & World Report, Carson City offers a higher value of living compared to similarly sized metro areas. The median home price here is about $552,000 and the median monthly rent is $1,950.

Learn More: Is Barbara Corcoran Right About the Housing Market?

Elko

Check out Elko if youre looking for a good-sized place thats centered around hard work and unique community. This might be a more affordable option for you compared to Carson City. The median home price is about $390,000 and the median monthly rent in Elko is $1,200.

Gardnerville

It may be tough to find a community more welcoming than Gardnerville. Its one of the oldest communities in the state  and Nevadas first hub for agriculture and mining. Gardnerville offers city and rural living options. The median home price here is $791,000 and the median monthly rent is around $2,300. However, youll likely be able to find a deal if you look hard enough.

Las Vegas

You might be surprised to see Vegas on this list. Sure, theres the casino and gambling side of Las Vegas, but a suburban side also exists. Dont forget, Las Vegas is a college and military town. In addition, along with the many tech companies here, Vegas boasts large health science and manufacturing sectors.

Las Vegas Suburbs

Speaking of the economy, check out some of the suburbs of Las Vegas in order to gain access to the citys growing economy. Options like Boulder City, Henderson, Mesquite and North Las Vegas offer a good quality of life without the neon lights of the casinos and hotels.

Story continues

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Dave Ramsey: There Are Financial Perks To Living in Nevada  5 Spots To Consider
Degree lead

At one point in time a university degree was the golden ticket to a high salary, but whether that is still the case is becoming increasingly unclear.

Department for Education figures show that graduates earn, on average, 38,500 five years after obtaining a degree  11,500 more than those who did not attend university. But not all degrees are created equal, and new analysis shows that some once gold-plated degrees are losing their shine.

A graduate with a business and management degree from Oxford, for example, would have earned 66,600 in 2016, according to the Office for National Statistics, making it the most lucrative degree of its time. But in 2022, the most recent year for which figures are available, that same graduate could expect to earn 63,900 five years after graduation.

Our analysis found several examples of degrees that have slipped down the rankings. In 2016, an economics degree from the University of St Andrews was the third most lucrative degree, with graduates earning an average of 61,100 five years after graduating. It has since fallen to 19th place, with a typical graduate expected to earn 58,400.

The degree thats seen the biggest post-graduation pay fall is in engineering from University of the Highlands and Islands, dropping from 38,100 to 27,400, a 28.08pc reduction. This is closely followed by graduate earnings for The University of Dundees medical sciences degree which have fallen by 26.37pc, and the nursing and midwifery degree at The University of Portsmouth where graduate earnings are down 25.23pc.

Though graduates still generally benefit from a salary premium, there is some evidence employers are turning away from degrees as an indicator of talent. The Institute of Student Employers found the share of members requiring a 2:1 degree had fallen from three quarters in 2014 to less than half in 2022. On LinkedIn, job postings not requiring a degree soared by 90pc between 2021 and 2022.

However, students can still leverage their degrees to higher salaries  if they study at the right place.

Looking at degrees that lead to the highest salaries, the top 10 was dominated by courses in computing, economics and law, especially when studied at high-ranking Russell Group universities such as Oxford and Cambridge, Durham, Warwick, as well as some of the University of London institutions.

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Some degrees now lead to better salaries than they did five years ago. Of these, graduates who studied computing courses saw the biggest increase in average pay between 2016 and 2022  up 10,000 from 29,700 to 39,700.

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Cambridges computing course emerged as the most lucrative individual degree in 2022, with graduates earning an average of 99,600 five years after leaving university. It was followed by Imperial Colleges equivalent course, which led to an average salary of 86,100 five years after graduation.

More broadly, medicine and dentistry graduates have remained the most consistently well-paid, earning 52,217 five years after finishing their studies. However, in percentage increase terms these salaries have actually increased the least of all degrees, rising by just 10.6pc relative to a 19.4pc average between 2015 and 2022.

Economics graduates are the next-best paid (average salaries of 43,902), followed by engineering (37,921) and pharmacology (37,578).

This comes after the Conservatives announced plans for a crackdown on so-called Mickey Mickey degrees, named for their perceived worthlessness and the low pay to which they typically lead.

In May, the previous government vowed to close down such degrees, believed to be studied by one in eight students in Britain.

We will outlaw rip-off degrees so that no more students are lured on to courses that dont deliver the outcomes people deserve, Gillian Keegan, the then-Education Secretary wrote in the Telegraph. Many graduates would be better served doing an apprenticeship. Rather than being saddled with debt, apprentices gain real-world experience and earn while they learn.

Liz Emerson, of the Intergenerational Foundation think tank, warned against using expected salaries to measure the value of a degree. She said: Higher education should be a public good whatever the level of graduate premium that comes from it. We profoundly disagree with the idea of discouraging any young person from going into higher education.

But the graduate premium alone should not be used to put any young person off seeking a higher education qualification. It says more about the state of our society that a librarian is valued less than a banker.

Nevertheless, going to university remains a momentous financial decision, one which could leave young people saddled with debt for their entire working lives. Under the plan five student loans that kicked in last autumn, graduates will start repaying once they earn 25,000, meaning many will be repaying more and for longer.

Due to the soaring cost of living and tuition fees running to 9,250 a year, the average balance outstanding in England is now 45,000.

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.
Inequalities in Wealth Distribution Within Imperial Assyrian Graves

It is often said, in many colloquial variations, that the only certainties in life are death and taxes. If monumental depictions are to be believed, then death (via the war machine) and taxes (along with the extraction of other resources) appear to be mainly what the Assyrian Empire (c. 1350--600 BC) dealt in. Efforts by scholars to characterise the impact of such violence and exploitation have led to mixed results. Some emphasise a perceived depletion of resources (in both materials and labour) as the Assyrian Empire's characteristic cruelty and obsession with short-term gain came at the expense of long-term stability (Faust 2011). Others refer to a pax Assyriaca of the eighth and seventh centuries BC, arguing that the empire was concerned with sustaining local economies and peace in conquered provinces while also supplying the heartland with labour and resources (Fales, Cohen and Westbrook2008), emphasising an Assyrian concern with the longevity of the empire. Others strive to make sense of both paradigms, arguing that Assyria's cruelty in war and concern with establishing long-lasting systems to sustain the needs of the empire were not mutually exclusive enterprises--what Lawson Younger (Lawson Younger2015: 191) terms his "carrot and stick" model of Assyrian treatment.

While the material remains, such as architecture and artefacts, recovered in domestic contexts can reveal much about how the imperial lower classes lived, the evidence from mortuary contexts can serve as a contained indicator of imperial impacts and resource extraction (Quinn and Beck2016). Mortuary culture is historically conservative; it is one of the most enduring forms of traditional practice and tends to change little in the face of external factors (Parker-Pearson1999; Brandt et al. Brandt, Prusac and Roland 2015). Yet when mortuary data are assessed over the longue duree, it is possible to identify shifts in the practice among certain groups which could indicate external factors strong enough to impact those traditions around death so resistant to change. Here, I argue that by examining the relative wealth of graves from the Assyrian Empire across time (seven centuries of hegemony) and space (imperial core and centrally located provinces), we can trace the impact of the empire's resource-extraction practices on the wealth and development of the lower classes.

Background

Resource extraction formed the core of Assyrian imperial concerns; perpetual expansion and maintenance of the empire fostered an ever-increasing reliance on both resources for sustenance (agriculture and pastoralism) and resources for exchange (precious goods and specialised services). In other comparable empires, mechanisms of extraction broadly led to an intensification in extraction via labour, land-use and wealth. In the Inca Empire of South America, for example, such strategies included taxation through corvee (forced) labour, the storage of agricultural surplus, control over craft production and a new emphasis on the tribute of humans as well as food and material goods to the central government and religious institutions (La Lone and Brumfiel 1994).

The Assyrian Empire exerted its power through similar means. Multiple, flexible strategies were carried over from the second millennium, even when the empire reached its largest extent (During 2020). Exacting tribute was often the first step in administration; within the land of Assur (from Egypt to Iran at its furthest extent), provincial governors oversaw collecting the taxes of their region, which came in the form of foodstuffs, such as grain and livestock. Postgate (Postgate 1992) put forward the 'land of Assur' and the 'yoke of Assur' as two forms of Assyrian governance, which resulted in the collection of 'gifts' (de facto taxes) from the 'land of Assur'--including the regions discussed in this study--and tribute from the 'yoke of Assur', which were areas under Assyrian hegemony located further afield. Increasing standardisation of weights and measures in the eighth century BC, along with growing centralised administration, emphasises a concern with control and 'legibility' of these collection structures, which Scott (Scott 1998) argued is key for top-down extraction. The empire used this extraction of wealth as a means of both subjugation and sustenance (Postgate 1974, 1992). The degree to which certain communities were impacted by imperial taxation and extraction, however, remains largely speculative.

A comparison of regions of the Assyrian Empire expected to pay tribute and regions expected to provide 'gifts' to the imperial core (figure by author; provincial borders after Oded Reference Oded 1979).

Method

To investigate questions of imperial impact over time, 1184 graves from nine sites in the Assyrian core and provinces were included in this study. As in any research involving excavation records from multiple sites, project datasets differ in terms of methodology, records and publication quality. This is especially true of mortuary data, where often only basic attributes were recorded from graves and their contents, especially in excavations during the early twentieth century. To mitigate discrepancies, graves were not considered in this study if they failed to record any of the following categories: 1) type of grave; 2) location and positioning of grave; 3) number of individuals interred; 4) number and types of grave goods. While biological sex was rarely recorded for the skeletons (only 49 individuals), estimated age (at the levels of infant, child and adult) usually was. The recording or grave characteristics for this study generally followed the guidelines laid out by O'Shea (O'Shea 1984). Graves were divided among three general periods: Late Bronze Age (c. 1450--1200 BC); Transitional (c. 1200--900 BC); and Iron Age (c. 900--600 BC). See online supplementary material (OSM) Table S1 for examples.

A map of northern Mesopotamia showing the locations of the sites discussed in this article (figure by author; basemap courtesy of ESRI).

The graves included in this study were excavated at nine sites in northern Syria and Iraq: Qalat Sher'qat (Assur); Tell Billa (Sibaniba); Tell Halaf (Guzana); Tell Mohammed Diyab; Tell Ta'ban (Tabetu); Tell Fekheriye (Sikani?); Tell al-Hamidiya (Taite); Tell Sabi Abyad; and Tell Barri (Kahat). These sites met several common criteria: they were under Assyrian hegemony for at least part of the Late Bronze Age and Iron Age; yielded at least five graves from non-elite/non-royal contexts; and graves excavated from the site were either published (Assur, Tell al-Hamidiya, Tell Sabi Abyad, Tell Mohammed Diyab, Tell Halaf, Tell Ta'ban and Tell Barri) or accessible (Tell Billa and Tell Fekheriye). Most sites included in this study were urban centres, with the exception of Sabi Abyad which was a fortified agricultural estate. Some excavations, such as those at Assur, Tell Billa, Tell Barri and Tell Ta'ban, concentrated on domestic and 'public' areas (temples, palaces, open squares and platforms) alike, others favoured one or the other. In total, 67 per cent of the graves from domestic contexts and just seven per cent came from contexts reliably identified as 'public' or 'state', reflecting the focus of this study on non-elite graves and the Assyrian practice of burial under homes. Twenty-six per cent of graves were excavated from contexts without a reliable 'type' (in many cases, not enough area was exposed to identify occupation patterns). At each site, it was possible to date graves to within the three periods, verified by associated ceramic chronologies from relevant strata. Overall, this sample represents the non-royal society of the Assyrian Empire over a geographically and politically broad range, enabling us to draw conclusions based on mortuary wealth without relying on graves from only one site or context.

Summary of eras and graves for sites discussed in this article.

The relative proportion of graves included in this study that are from domestic, 'public' or other contexts in the Assyrian provinces and imperial core (figure by author).

The wealth--value index

Inherent value attached to objects is a problematic concept of grave-good interpretation. Simplistic assignments of certain items as 'high status' ignore very real aspects of the human equation, such as access to material, production effort and craftsmanship. While similarities between assemblages show formal, structured behaviours, variation in such assemblages can indicate individual agency (Richards & Thomas When working with mortuary datasets, several well-known issues arise. Mortuary ritual is a stage of performance; ostentatious displays of wealth are the norm in many instances (Brandt, Prusac and Roland 2015). Added layers of tradition, such as variations in ritual and practice across ethnic groups, further obscures an 'absolute' value for grave assemblages. Without such knowledge, it is impossible to assess completely the wealth expended on the entire mortuary deposition process. While specific groups of graves were supplied in varying ways (an increase in animal remains, for example, in north-eastern Syria, which might indicate particular rituals for certain groups), an emphasis on providing adornment items and other objects of wealth persists throughout all regions, grave types and periods under consideration. (For a discussion of the varying ethnic identities present in the region during these periods, see Novak ; Tenu 2009)--grave assemblages are comparable in number and value of objects with other contemporary practices (Creamer 2021). In this dataset, assemblages accompanying males and females included similar sets of objects, with no distinct differences in richness. Infants had (on average) fewer objects than other age groups, but the ratio of infants, children and adults was comparable between the core and provinces in all periods, therefore the overall results comparing changes in the mortuary wealth of the general population were unaffected. Considering the belief in the need to supply the dead with sustenance and comfort in the afterlife, which was maintained for millennia in ancient Mesopotamia (Creamer 2020), we can assume that the inclusion of grave goods was a priority in the periods under discussion. Average wealth values of different age groups. Example assemblages related to wealth--value index (see Table S2 for more examples). This study sets out to examine mortuary wealth with the intent to compare such assemblages across periods, not to reconstruct the absolute wealth of individuals or families. Taking the number, type, quality and material of the goods within each grave into account, each grave was assigned a number between 0 and 10 to designate a general 'wealth' value. This scale allowed for recording important distinctions noted between grave assemblages that may have been too slight to have otherwise been recorded if using a less-stepped system. Specifically, the difference between no objects, one object (usually a single vessel) and three objects (usually two vessels, specifically a jar and a bowl, and some type of personal adornment such as a ring or bracelet) would have been subsumed into a single ranking if using a system with fewer values. However, the practical distinctions between these groups are important, considering they reveal a differing set of priorities (different food and drink offerings, a concern with personal display etc.) while not necessarily exhibiting a large difference in resources. Examples of objects from graves at Tell Billa (objects from the Penn Museum collections); a) various stone and paste beads 33-4-184; b) ceramic lamp 33-4-7; c) ceramic jar 33-4-155; d) seal 33-4-25; e) bronze bracelet 33-4-113; f) iron fibula 32-20-276 (photographs by author). Although largely subjective, simplifying the vastly varying grave assemblages in this manner allows for a general comparison of the wealth of each grave. The process involved totalling all goods included in each grave, identifying the quantity of certain 'types' (ceramic vessels and adornment items, for example) and noting the materials used (metals, especially gold and silver, were common enough to be useful in measuring differences but rare enough to still denote wealth differences). The steps were:

Total the number of artefacts and divide into relevant categories, assigning 'base values' from category numbers alone. Of these categories, rings, bracelets, pins and seals were initially considered higher value (though this had the potential to change in step 2).

Note particular sub-materials (gold/bronze/iron under bracelets or rings; glazed/plain ceramics) and increase value accordingly. Gold was known to be highly valued in Assyria, and the inclusion of a gold artefact increased the base value to 4, for example. A string of frit beads would be roughly equivalent to a bronze ring, but precious stone beads could be equivalent to gold objects. Higher numbers of precious materials could further raise the value.

Identify any unusual form or craftsmanship which may alter value (an intricately carved seal or pendant, for example, might increase the value of the assemblage by a whole point).

Number of graves containing certain types of objects.

To check for consistency, assigned wealth values of grave-good assemblages were regularly compared during the assignment process. Additionally, upon assigning all graves a wealth value, a blind test was conducted in which 100 assemblages were extracted from the database without their identifying information and again assigned a wealth value. Comparing these new wealth values to the original ones, 94 out of 100 examples correlated exactly, demonstrating that there was internal consistency in these assignments. Alongside wealth values, grave types were considered. It should come as no surprise that pit burials often contained poor furnishings, while vaulted brick tombs were typically the richest. Ratios of grave types are presented in tandem to account for this variation in labour and resources devoted to encasing the dead. In cases where tombs held more than one instance of burial (such as internal sarcophagi or distinct walled areas), these were considered as separate graves with their own mortuary assemblages.

There are several drawbacks to employing this system. First, while based on a combination of qualitative and quantitative characteristics of assemblages, the ranking system itself is not proportional. This is by design; mortuary wealth varies so dramatically in Assyrian contexts (from many graves with no objects to several with more than 100, including many of precious materials) that ranking grave assemblages proportionally would, for example, effectively erase any distinction between graves of rank 1 and rank 3. The consequences of being exponentially ranked instead of proportionally mainly revolve around difficulties in employing typical statistical tests for comparison, such as the popular Gini coefficients and others like Atkinson's inequality measure and the Theil index (Peterson, Drennan, Kohler and Smith 2018; Fochesato, Bogaard and Bowles 2019). However, Gini tests on mortuary assemblages in other regions have reflected on difficulties in synthesising values between assemblages (Windler, Thiele and Miller 2013). Additionally, Gini coefficients are most useful when analysing a complete set of contained data. Others have attempted to use grave sizes (Yu, Chen and Fang 2019), yet this approach would present little in the way of variance with Mesopotamian graves.

While the 1184 graves in this study form a huge subset of Assyrian mortuary culture, we reach a stumbling block when encountering meaningful comparisons with royal graves--the majority of which were looted or desecrated, and therefore have an indeterminable wealth value. Non-elite graves were occasionally the subject of looting as well, though much less often and restricted to reaccessible tombs. All instances of looted mortuary contexts recorded by the excavators (38/1184) were removed from consideration in this study. Restrictions on mortuary practices between classes, such as sumptuary laws, could also affect the assessment. However, no textual or archaeological evidence for Assyrian sumptuary laws restricting burial/funerary practices exists (the one example of such a law deals with which classes of women were allowed to 'veil' (Jastrow 1921) and we may therefore proceed with caution.

Without including graves from the highest ranks of society, it is impossible to comprehensively calculate for absolute indices of inequality within the dataset. Instead, the most meaningful results are produced from comparison between periods: assessing the overall trends in mortuary wealth between graves from comparable socioeconomic groups. The benefits of approaching this dataset via wealth values outweigh the drawbacks because, mainly, they: a) produce a simplified metric to assess general grave content wealth; b) encourage reproducibility of results and application of the system to other mortuary datasets; c) use an adjustable system to account for different emic views of value.

Results

The Assyrian core

The Assyrian centre of Assur was located on the west bank of the Tigris River, serving as the focus of imperial culture. Though it lost its original status as imperial capital in the ninth century BC, the cultural and religious importance of Assur continued unmatched in the Assyrian psyche, and it remained an important city until the fall of the empire in 612 BC. During excavations carried out in the early twentieth century, 968 graves from the Late Bronze Age to the Iron Age were uncovered and recorded, forming the largest set of mortuary material from any Assyrian site (Haller 1954; Pedde 2015). Of these, 934 showed no evidence of looting or postmortem disturbance and were included in this study. As is typical of Mesopotamia, graves were often found under houses (68% of graves were from domestic contexts; Miglus 1996; Hauser 2012), others came from public areas or contexts with unknown use. Vaulted tombs were built to be reaccessed, allowing for both the postmortem care of the deceased and the subsequent addition of bodies, while others were placed in standard graves of various types.

Overall, the graves from Assur reveal an average general wealth value of 2.3, with 209 graves of 934 (22.4%) containing no objects (and therefore, a wealth value of 0). The next most popular wealth value was 1 (175)--usually consisting of one or two ceramic vessels and possibly a string of beads. Graves with a wealth value of 1, 2 and 3 are present in almost equal numbers. Ceramics are the most common grave goods, while beads and metal rings (bronze or copper) are also popular. Graves with a wealth value of 4 are also common (116 out of 934) and from here the frequency of corresponding graves decreases as wealth values increase: 56 graves have a wealth value of 5, 26 have a value of 6, 21 have a value of 7, 10 have a value of 8, seven have a value of 9, and only one example (Tomb 45 from the Late Bronze Age; Feldman 2006) has a wealth value of 10--the richest grave within the scope of this research.

In the Late Bronze Age, 33 of 225 graves (15%) contained gold objects, while 18 contained silver (8%). In the Iron Age, 60 of 709 (9%) graves contained gold while 90 (13%) contained silver. This increase in silver grave goods from the Late Bronze Age to the Iron Age is notable. One possibility is that this new use of silver was due to a new availability of the material once the Assyrian Empire conquered silver-mining regions. Objects typically made from copper, bronze or gold (for example, rings) were increasingly made from silver: likely reflecting a shift in day-to-day objects/jewellery as well as in burial practices.

Plotting wealth values against the number of graves reveals differences between the mortuary assemblages of the three phases at Assur. The Late Bronze Age seems fairly egalitarian, with a two-hump model emerging around values 0 and 3. In the Transition phase a sharper decrease is noted between values 3 and 4, and 4 and 5, which is carried further in the Iron Age--showing a higher number of lower value burials in the Iron Age and a sharper disparity in wealth between these and the richest graves. The Transition phase shows a gradual upwards trend from the Late Bronze Age in wealth and the number of objects, but also points to a growing wealth disparity which is strengthened further in the Iron Age. Notably, 46 per cent of Late Bronze Age graves have a wealth value between 0 and 2, compared to 60 per cent of Iron Age graves. This shows a significant change between the two periods and signals one of two possibilities: a growing wealth disparity between classes or shifting mortuary practices placing less emphasis on grave goods.

Wealth values of graves and distribution of grave types at Assur. Note the sharp decline of richer graves in the Iron Age (IA), as opposed to the more equal distributions of the Late Bronze Age (LBA) and Transition period (figure by author).

The Assyrian provinces

To further explore this trend, it is necessary to expand beyond the imperial heartland. Inhabited in both the Late Bronze Age and Iron Age, the Assyrian holdings in north-eastern Syria (within the Upper Khabur and Balikh river valleys) and their lands adjacent to the imperial core in northern Iraq, show a gradual adoption of more 'Assyrian' grave characteristics, showcasing the effects of imperial Assyrian hegemony (Creamer 2021). North-eastern Syria was first conquered and ruled by the Assyrians in the thirteenth century BC; the nature of Assyrian control was flexible but waned in the aftermath of the Late Bronze Age Collapse (Machinist 1982; Miller 2009). Textual evidence from Tell Bderi and Tell Ta'ban reveals that Assyrians were still present in some capacity within this area after the collapse, mentioning the local governor Assur-ketti-leser c. 1100 BC (Ohnuma and Numoto 2001). By the end of the tenth century, Iron Age rulers began to re-establish themselves in the Khabur, successfully campaigning against polities to the west (Kuhne and Liverani 1995; Parpola, Denver and Gitin 2003). Enemy territories in this area were first reduced to tributary status, supervised by Assyrian control points located at main settlements, before becoming provinces (Postgate 1992; Llop 2011).

Of the 216 graves from provincial sites, four were potentially looted in antiquity and were removed from the study. There is a clear shift in mortuary wealth between the Late Bronze Age and Iron Age. In the provinces, several trends in grave goods become evident. Late Bronze Age graves ranged from 0--9 in wealth, with some graves containing over 50 objects. The average wealth value of this period was 2.4. Iron Age assemblages are markedly poor by comparison; the richest grave from this period ranks at 6, and the average wealth value among Iron Age graves was 1.7. Twenty per cent of graves contained no objects at all, and no gold objects were found in Iron Age mortuary contexts. Instead, the single highest-value piece from this period was a silver pendant, found at Tell al-Hamidiya in Grave G4 (Wafler 2004: 83). In contrast, 12 Late Bronze Age graves contained gold objects. Furthermore, all vaulted tombs from this dataset (the grave type requiring the most resources and labour) were from the Late Bronze Age--showcasing the wealth of some families. Localised wealth is also absent in the Iron Age.

Wealth values of graves and distribution of grave types in provincial contexts. LBA: Late Bronze Age; IA: Iron Age (figure by author).

Discussion

From the mortuary evidence presented here, we encounter a seemingly ubiquitous model of unequal wealth distribution, present both in the Assyrian imperial core and in the provinces. With historical evidence for growing bureaucracy in the Iron Age and sequential administrative reforms put into place by the Sargonid dynasty during that period, this appears to go hand-in-hand with increasing power within the Assyrian royal family (Zaia 2018). Galil 2007: 288) argues for a widening gap between the classes of Assur in the seventh century specifically, citing smaller family sizes of the lower strata (average of three people) while higher-status families remained large (average of five or six). To what extent does a shifting wealth distribution in mortuary contexts reflect this potential widening divide between classes? What was the cause for this decrease in wealth in mortuary contexts?

There are no easy answers to these questions, as the relationship between mortuary rituals and the means of the living is not a straightforward one. In the Late Bronze Age, it is evident that higher-status families--at Assur and elsewhere--prepared richer, more elaborate graves, including evidence for feasting and postmortem care, seemingly regardless of ethnic identity or familial group (Feldman 2006; MacDougal 2014). The deceased in northern Mesopotamia were buried with as elaborate furnishings as possible. This tradition holds true across many of the ethnic groups known from contemporary records (Creamer 2021), therefore a significant absence of wealth in mortuary culture cannot be explained away by differing mortuary practices between groups. The wealth of graves seems dependent upon the resources to which the living community had access, thereby confirming mortuary wealth as a tentative reflection of living wealth. The expansion of the lower class and the decrease of overall wealth, then, may have been a result of intensive resource extraction from provinces.

It is important to consider that this disparity, rather than being due to a single factor, is instead likely a combination of many. Increased numbers of resettled deportees in the Khabur and heartland, while provided with land and resources to an extent, essentially had to 'start over' in their new environment, where much of their production would be seized by the crown as tax. While leaving enough for the families to survive on, this gave little opportunity for deported communities to build up wealth. Increased demands by the crown for corvee labour and increased taxes weakened the lower classes over time while strengthening the upper classes, culminating in the stark divide seen in the mortuary wealth of the Iron Age. Finally, an increased dependence upon imported labour may have diminished the importance (and demand) of local craftsmen and tradesmen, as illustrated in Radner's (Radner and Frahm 2017: 221--23) exploration of a well-to-do Assyrian scribal family, left in the lurch with debt accrued and no job prospects. Even workers in once-secure 'middle-class' positions found their livelihoods drying up as the empire expanded its reach. While it is questionable whether the 'rich got richer' in this case, it is apparent that the poor did indeed get poorer. Historical documents considered in tandem with this evidence could connect an influx of deportees and other foreign workers into the heartland to provide labour and resources to the crown with an expanding lower class, while the upper class remained static.

Conclusions

The evidence presented here points to a growing wealth disparity in mortuary contexts within heartland and core provinces of the Assyrian Empire. This mortuary wealth seems to reflect the situation in living communities, showing a widening gap between the lower and upper classes in the Iron Age where Assyrian subjects were significantly poorer than they were in the Late Bronze Age. Parallel evidence from inequality studies conducted using other metrics, such as household sizes, generally find a similar increase in inequality between the Late Bronze Age and Iron Age (Stone, Kohler and Smith 2018; Basri and Lawrence 2020; Squitieri and Altaweel 2022). Comparing the wealth in mortuary contexts between the two periods has shown that not only was less wealth available to non-elites in the Iron Age, but also that this was true for inhabitants both in the capital and in provincial centres, meaning that strategies of extraction were not limited to those beyond the Assyrian core. Instead, imperial governance brought with it an ever-expanding practice of extraction from its subjects.

Overall, this study has shown the utility of a system focused on the mortuary wealth of the deceased, emphasising exponential scaling based on assigning simple numerical values to assemblages. The wealth--value index is replicable, but exact scaling must be fitted over a dataset using its own grave-good assemblages as the referential range. The scale itself can be changed, and the ranking exemplified in this study (with example assemblages and blind re-ranking) allows for internal consistency. Furthermore, there needs to be some assurance that grave goods are not exclusively tied to ethnic or group markers--a difficult task without accompanying textual sources. The ability to simplify large, complex datasets is critical to fostering comparison between temporally and geographically distinct mortuary contexts. Such comparisons allow for broader conclusions on wealth consistency, resource access and extraction practices under state and empire that otherwise, in many cases, remain inaccessible.

Petra M. Creamer, Department of Middle Eastern and South Asian Studies, Emory University, Atlanta, USA.

See original article here

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After months of high drama and boardroom tension, Paramount Global's proposed sale to David Ellison's Skydance Media collapsed Tuesday after failing to win approval from its onetime biggest supporter, controlling shareholder Shari Redstone.

The Redstone family investment vehicle, National Amusements Inc., announced it had failed to reach "mutually acceptable terms" with Skydance for the clan's controlling shares in the entertainment company that owns CBS, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon and the Melrose Avenue movie studio Paramount Pictures.

"NAI is grateful to Skydance for their months of work in pursuing this potential transaction and looks forward to the ongoing, successful production collaboration between Paramount and Skydance," the family said in the statement. Skydance co-produces many of the Paramount studio's major franchises, including "Mission: Impossible" and "Top Gun."

For now, Redstone seems determined to hold on to the media company her family has controlled since 1987  despite its financial challenges and turbulence in the entertainment industry as consumers shift to streaming services and away from traditional TV channels.

A deal with Skydance was within reach, but the heirs of the late media tycoon Sumner Redstone (Shari's father) had wrestled with parting with Paramount, which has long been considered a crown jewel, even when its stock was trading at such lows. The company has lost about two-thirds of its value from five years ago.

Read more: Shari Redstone was poised to make Paramount a Hollywood comeback story. What happened?

National Amusements said it supports Paramount's recently installed triumvirate of executives serving in an "office of the CEO": division heads George Cheeks, Chris McCarthy and Brian Robbins. It also backed their business plan, which includes cost-cutting, and the board's efforts "to explore opportunities to drive value creation for all Paramount shareholders."

Paramount shares fell 8% to $11.04 on Tuesday.

Redstone's decision came just as Paramount Global's independent directors were scheduled to vote on Ellison's proposed $8-billion takeover of the media company. David Ellison is the son of billionaire tech mogul Larry Ellison, the co-founder of software company Oracle Corp.

There had long been divisions among Paramount's board members. Some opposed the two-phase transaction, believing it would have given the Redstone family a premium for their shares at the expense of regular investors. Nonetheless, the committee of independent board directors had reached an informal agreement with Skydance about 10 days ago.

The committee had not made a formal recommendation on the deal to Paramount's full board.

National Amusements had asked the committee to make its recommendation before the company's annual shareholders meeting last week, but that deadline came and went. The holding company had wanted a larger Paramount board to consider the transaction, but the investor meeting marked the end of the terms of four directors. That left just six board members to consider the monumental transaction.

Read more: Skydance talks for Paramount near finish line, but Redstone family decision looms

Just before the committee vote, National Amusements alerted the group that it would not approve the deal. National Amusements controls 77% of Paramount's voting shares.

The stunning reversal came after Skydance and its backers RedBird Capital Partners and private equity giant KKR had reached agreement late last week with National Amusements representatives on the financial terms of the deal, according to people familiar with the matter who were not authorized to comment.

That breakthrough came after Skydance worked to sweeten the deal and give nonvoting shareholders the ability to exit the company at a slight premium.

But that move reduced the amount of cash offered to the Redstones  upsetting the family matriarch, according to people close to the transaction.

Additionally, Redstone had requested that other shareholders, including nonvoting stock owners, be allowed to weigh in on the proposed sale. The Skydance group refused, the knowledgeable people said.

In recent weeks, Redstone received overtures from potential buyers for National Amusements and its controlling Paramount shares. Both offers were higher than the amount that National Amusements would have received as part of the Skydance bid.

Former top Seagram and Warner Music executive Edgar Bronfman Jr., as well as Hollywood producer Steven Paul (Ghost in the Shell, Baby Geniuses), have separately expressed their desire to buy National Amusements, two of the people close to the matter said.

But any deal with Bronfman, who is backed by Bain Capital, would be contingent on him performing due diligence. The former entertainment executive and liquor scion  who pushed his family to acquire Universal Studios Inc. before selling it to Frances Vivendi more than two decades ago  has suggested paying more than $2 billion for the Redstone firm.

Redstone is leaving her options open, the knowledgeable people said.

Read more: David Ellison's journey from trust fund kid to media mogul vying to buy Paramount

Despite early momentum for the Skydance deal, it recently became clear that it was on shaky ground. Two sources confirmed earlier Tuesday that the lead independent director, Charles Phillips, was long opposed to the Skydance deal and was expected to vote against it.

Phillips, a former president of Oracle, had made his views known to Redstone, a second knowledgeable person said.

Redstone had believed the Ellison proposal was the best viable option to preserve the media company. The family didn't want to see Paramount broken apart, which would have been the strategy of another suitor: Apollo Global Management and Sony Pictures Entertainment. That group's proposed $26-billion bid lost steam as the Skydance deal appeared to have the inside track.





Tensions over the deal have plagued the board throughout the year. In April, Paramount Chief Executive Bob Bakish, who opposed the Ellison deal, was ousted.

Corporate governance experts had said the controversial transaction would invite shareholder lawsuits because of the Redstones' influence in the company.

Read more: Paramount Global unveils business plan and job cuts as sale looms

The Wall Street Journal first reported the deal's collapse. Puck's Matt Belloni first reported news of the meeting and Phillips' opposition.

Sign up for our Wide Shot newsletter to get the latest entertainment business news, analysis and insights.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
During the New Horizons trade mission in Morocco (photo: AETOSWire)

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, June 11, 2024--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dubai International Chamber, one of the three chambers operating under the umbrella of Dubai Chambers, has successfully concluded its trade mission to Senegal and Morocco as part of the New Horizons initiative to support the expansion of Dubai-based companies into Africa.

The chamber signed four MoUs in Morocco and arranged more than 300 bilateral business meetings in Casablanca. A total of 18 companies from Dubai participated in the mission to explore opportunities for business development and economic partnerships with companies from Morocco.

Dubai Chambers signed MoUs with the Moroccan Agency for Investment and Export Development, the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises, the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Services of Casablanca-Settat, and the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Services of Rabat-Sale-Kenitra.

As part of the mission, the chamber organised a business forum titled Doing Business with Morocco that attracted 420 participants including senior officials, business leaders, and local companies interested in exploring partnership opportunities with the chambers delegation.

Speaking at the forum, His Excellency Mohammad Ali Rashed Lootah, President and CEO of Dubai Chambers, commented: "The economy of the Kingdom of Morocco has made significant strides that enhance its attractiveness among private sector companies from Dubai. Our mission creates an impactful platform to strengthen trade and investment relations between the business communities in Dubai and Morocco, build fruitful partnerships that serve our mutual goals and interests, and unlock new opportunities for growth and prosperity."

During the first leg of its trade mission in Senegal, Dubai International Chamber organised 150 bilateral business meetings between companies from Dubai and the Senegalese capital, Dakar. The Doing Business with Senegal forum was attended by 247 participants.

During the forum, Dubai Chambers signed a MoU with the Dakar Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture. The agreement is aimed at strengthening cooperation in organising events, trade missions, exhibitions and conferences, as well as exchanging knowledge and experience and promoting mutual investments between the business communities in Dubai and Senegal.

About Dubai Chambers:

Dubai Chambers is a non-profit public entity that supports Dubais vision as a global player by empowering businesses, providing innovative value-added services, and unlocking access to influential networks.

Story continues

Source: AETOSWire

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240611153248/en/

Contacts

Mohamad Mouzehem

PR & Corporate Communications

Tel: 0097142028537

Email: Mohamad.mouzehem@dubaichamber.com
(Reuters) -Billionaire Elon Musk said on Monday he would ban Apple devices at his companies if the iPhone maker integrates OpenAI at the operating system level.

"That is an unacceptable security violation," Musk, who is the CEO of electric-vehicle maker Tesla and rocket maker SpaceX and owner of social media company X, said in a post on X.

"And visitors will have to check their Apple devices at the door, where they will be stored in a Faraday cage," he said.

Apple and OpenAI did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment.

Earlier in the day, Apple announced a slew of AI features across its apps and operating platforms and a partnership with OpenAI to bring the ChatGPT technology to its devices.

Apple said it had built AI with privacy "at the core" and it would use a combination of on-device processing and cloud computing to power those features.

"It's patently absurd that Apple isn't smart enough to make their own AI, yet is somehow capable of ensuring that OpenAI will protect your security & privacy!" Musk said on X.

It was unlikely that anyone would follow Musk's lead, Ben Bajarin, CEO of consulting firm Creative Strategies, said, adding that Apple was trying to educate people that private cloud was as secure as keeping data on a device.

"What (Apple) is trying to now add to the narrative is when (data) leaves and goes to the secure private cloud, it's similarly taking that same user data anonymization and firewalling of that information to you. Apple really never sees that," he said.

Musk had sued OpenAI, which he co-founded in 2015, and its CEO Sam Altman at the beginning of March, saying they abandoned the startup's original mission to develop AI for the benefit of humanity and not for profit.

He has also founded his own startup, xAI, in a bid to challenge OpenAI and build an alternative to the viral chatbot ChatGPT.

xAI was valued at $24 billion in its last funding round, where it raised $6 billion in series B funding.

(Reporting by Zaheer Kachwala in Bengaluru; Additional reporting by Max Cherney in Cupertino; Editing by Shilpi Majumdar)
Key Insights

Using the 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity, High Peak Royalties fair value estimate is AU$0.083

Current share price of AU$0.07 suggests High Peak Royalties is potentially trading close to its fair value

High Peak Royalties' peers seem to be trading at a higher discount to fair value based onthe industry average of 43%

How far off is High Peak Royalties Limited (ASX:HPR) from its intrinsic value? Using the most recent financial data, we'll take a look at whether the stock is fairly priced by taking the forecast future cash flows of the company and discounting them back to today's value. One way to achieve this is by employing the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. 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. If you want to learn more about discounted cash flow, the rationale behind this calculation can be read in detail in the Simply Wall St analysis model.

See our latest analysis for High Peak Royalties

Crunching The Numbers

We're using the 2-stage growth model, which simply means we take in account two stages of company's growth. In the initial period the company may have a higher growth rate and the second stage is usually assumed to have a stable growth rate. In the first stage we need to estimate the cash flows to the business over the next ten years. Seeing as no analyst estimates of free cash flow are available to us, we have extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the company's last reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years.

Generally we assume that a dollar today is more valuable than a dollar in the future, and so the sum of these future cash flows is then discounted to today's value:

10-year free cash flow (FCF) estimate

2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 Levered FCF (A$, Millions) AU$560.4k AU$672.4k AU$771.0k AU$855.3k AU$926.6k AU$987.0k AU$1.04m AU$1.08m AU$1.12m AU$1.16m Growth Rate Estimate Source Est @ 27.57% Est @ 19.98% Est @ 14.66% Est @ 10.94% Est @ 8.34% Est @ 6.51% Est @ 5.24% Est @ 4.34% Est @ 3.72% Est @ 3.28% Present Value (A$, Millions) Discounted @ 7.4% AU$0.5 AU$0.6 AU$0.6 AU$0.6 AU$0.6 AU$0.6 AU$0.6 AU$0.6 AU$0.6 AU$0.6

("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)

Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = AU$6.1m

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 (2.3%) 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 7.4%.

Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2033  (1 + g)  (r  g) = AU$1.2m (1 + 2.3%)  (7.4% 2.3%) = AU$23m

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= AU$23m ( 1 + 7.4%)10= AU$11m

The total value, or equity value, is then the sum of the present value of the future cash flows, which in this case is AU$17m. To get the intrinsic value per share, we divide this by the total number of shares outstanding. Relative to the current share price of AU$0.07, the company appears about fair value at a 15% discount to where the stock price trades currently. 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

The calculation above is very dependent on two assumptions. The first is the discount rate and the other is the cash flows. Part of investing is coming up with your own evaluation of a company's future performance, so try the calculation yourself and check your own assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at High Peak Royalties 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 7.4%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.127. 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.

Looking Ahead:

Valuation is only one side of the coin in terms of building your investment thesis, and it shouldn't be the only metric you look at when researching a company. The DCF model is not a perfect stock valuation tool. Instead the best use for a DCF model is to test certain assumptions and theories to see if they would lead to the company being undervalued or overvalued. For example, changes in the company's cost of equity or the risk free rate can significantly impact the valuation. For High Peak Royalties, we've compiled three fundamental items you should further research:

Risks: For instance, we've identified 3 warning signs for High Peak Royalties that you should be aware of. Other Solid Businesses: Low debt, high returns on equity and good past performance are fundamental to a strong business. Why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals to see if there are other companies you may not have considered! Other Environmentally-Friendly Companies: Concerned about the environment and think consumers will buy eco-friendly products more and more? Browse through our interactive list of companies that are thinking about a greener future to discover some stocks you may not have thought of!

PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every Australian stock every day, so if you want to find the intrinsic value of any other stock just search here.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Key Insights

2invest's estimated fair value is 10.82 based on 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity

2invest's 9.05 share price indicates it is trading at similar levels as its fair value estimate

When compared to theindustry average discount to fair value of 8.7%, 2invest's competitors seem to be trading at a lesser discount

Today we'll do a simple run through of a valuation method used to estimate the attractiveness of 2invest AG (ETR:2INV) as an investment opportunity 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. Believe it or not, it's not too difficult to follow, as you'll see from our example!

Companies can be valued in a lot of ways, so we would point out that a DCF is not perfect for every situation. If you want to learn more about discounted cash flow, the rationale behind this calculation can be read in detail in the Simply Wall St analysis model.

Check out our latest analysis for 2invest

What's The Estimated Valuation?

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. In the first stage we need to estimate the cash flows to the business over the next ten years. Seeing as no analyst estimates of free cash flow are available to us, we have extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the company's last reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years.

Generally we assume that a dollar today is more valuable than a dollar in the future, and so the sum of these future cash flows is then discounted to today's value:

10-year free cash flow (FCF) forecast

2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 Levered FCF (, Millions) 5.41m 4.00m 3.27m 2.87m 2.62m 2.47m 2.38m 2.32m 2.28m 2.26m Growth Rate Estimate Source Est @ -37.59% Est @ -26.11% Est @ -18.07% Est @ -12.45% Est @ -8.51% Est @ -5.75% Est @ -3.82% Est @ -2.47% Est @ -1.53% Est @ -0.86% Present Value (, Millions) Discounted @ 4.5% 5.2 3.7 2.9 2.4 2.1 1.9 1.7 1.6 1.5 1.5

("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)

Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = 24m

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 (0.7%) to estimate future growth. In the same way as with the 10-year 'growth' period, we discount future cash flows to today's value, using a cost of equity of 4.5%.

Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2033  (1 + g)  (r  g) = 2.3m (1 + 0.7%)  (4.5% 0.7%) = 59m

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= 59m ( 1 + 4.5%)10= 38m

The total value, or equity value, is then the sum of the present value of the future cash flows, which in this case is 62m. To get the intrinsic value per share, we divide this by the total number of shares outstanding. Compared to the current share price of 9.1, the company appears about fair value at a 16% discount to where the stock price trades currently. 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

We would point out that the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate and of course the actual cash flows. If you don't agree with these result, have a go at the calculation yourself and play with the assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at 2invest 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 4.5%, which is based on a levered beta of 0.841. Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility, compared to the market as a whole. We get our beta from the industry average beta of globally comparable companies, with an imposed limit between 0.8 and 2.0, which is a reasonable range for a stable business.

Next Steps:

Whilst important, the DCF calculation ideally won't be the sole piece of analysis you scrutinize for a company. DCF models are not the be-all and end-all of investment valuation. Preferably you'd apply different cases and assumptions and see how they would impact the company's valuation. For example, changes in the company's cost of equity or the risk free rate can significantly impact the valuation. For 2invest, we've compiled three fundamental items you should further research:

Risks: Every company has them, and we've spotted 2 warning signs for 2invest you should know about. Other High Quality Alternatives: Do you like a good all-rounder? Explore our interactive list of high quality stocks to get an idea of what else is out there you may be missing! Other Environmentally-Friendly Companies: Concerned about the environment and think consumers will buy eco-friendly products more and more? Browse through our interactive list of companies that are thinking about a greener future to discover some stocks you may not have thought of!

PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every German 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.
The Spanish Minister of Economy Nadia Calvino comes to the Informal Meeting of the Ministers of Economy and Finance. Hannibal Hanschke/REUTERS/POOL/dpa

Ukraine is to receive guarantees for loans and grants worth 1.4 billion ($1.5 billion) from the European Union to support Ukrainian companies and reconstruct the country's critical infrastructure after the Russian invasion.

"The resilience of the Ukrainian people is inspiring," European Investment Bank President Nadia Calvino said in a statement on Tuesday to announce the financing for rebuilding hospitals, roads and power lines

Finances worth 1.4 billion breaks down into 1 billion of loan guarantees and 400 million of grants.

The EU loan guarantees will enable Ukrainian banks to grant loans worth more than 1 billion to small and medium-sized enterprises in Ukraine.

The European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Commission signed agreements for the funding support at an international conference in Berlin.

Another 100 million is to restore basic public services in Ukrainian cities such as a clean water supply and social housing.

The EU has pledged to help Ukraine rebuild after the full-scale Russian invasion in 2022. Since the beginning of the war, the EIB has disbursed 2 billion euros.
Amid fluctuating global markets and mixed economic signals, the Netherlands continues to present intriguing investment opportunities. This article highlights three growth companies on the Euronext Amsterdam with substantial insider ownership, a factor that can signal strong confidence in a company's future prospects from those who know it best.

Top 5 Growth Companies With High Insider Ownership In The Netherlands

Name Insider Ownership Earnings Growth BenevolentAI (ENXTAM:BAI) 27.8% 62.8% Envipco Holding (ENXTAM:ENVI) 15.1% 68.9% Ebusco Holding (ENXTAM:EBUS) 31.4% 115.2% MotorK (ENXTAM:MTRK) 35.9% 105.8% Basic-Fit (ENXTAM:BFIT) 12% 66.1% PostNL (ENXTAM:PNL) 30.8% 24.6%

Click here to see the full list of 6 stocks from our Fast Growing Euronext Amsterdam Companies With High Insider Ownership screener.

Below we spotlight a couple of our favorites from our exclusive screener.

Simply Wall St Growth Rating: 

Overview: Envipco Holding N.V. specializes in designing, developing, manufacturing, and selling or leasing reverse vending machines for recycling used beverage containers, operating mainly in the Netherlands, North America, and Europe with a market capitalization of approximately 337.49 million.

Operations: The company generates revenue primarily through the design, development, manufacture, and sale or lease of reverse vending machines in key markets including the Netherlands, North America, and Europe.

Insider Ownership: 15.1%

Envipco Holding N.V. has shown a significant turnaround, becoming profitable this year with a first-quarter sales jump to 27.44 million from 10.41 million the previous year and shifting from a net loss to a profit of 0.147 million. Despite recent shareholder dilution and high share price volatility, ENVI is poised for robust growth, with earnings expected to increase by 68.9% annually over the next three years, outpacing the Dutch market significantly. Revenue growth forecasts also exceed market expectations at 33.6% per year.

ENXTAM:ENVI Ownership Breakdown as at Jun 2024

Simply Wall St Growth Rating: 

Overview: MotorK plc operates as a software-as-a-service provider for the automotive retail industry across Italy, Spain, France, Germany, and the Benelux Union, with a market capitalization of approximately 272.94 million.

Operations: The company generates its revenue primarily through its software and programming segment, which achieved 42.94 million in sales.

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Insider Ownership: 35.9%

MotorK, despite a slight decline in quarterly revenue to 11.25 million from 11.43 million year-over-year, is poised for substantial growth with earnings forecasted to increase by 105.85% annually. The company's revenue growth rate of 24% per year outstrips the Dutch market's 9.5%, reflecting strong potential despite recent executive changes and shareholder dilution over the past year. MotorK is expected to achieve profitability within three years, aligning with above-market expectations for profit growth.

ENXTAM:MTRK Ownership Breakdown as at Jun 2024

Simply Wall St Growth Rating: 

Overview: PostNL N.V. offers postal and logistics services across the Netherlands, Europe, and globally, with a market capitalization of approximately 0.65 billion.

Operations: The company's revenue is generated primarily from its Packages and Mail in The Netherlands segments, which contributed 2.25 billion and 1.35 billion respectively.

Insider Ownership: 30.8%

PostNL, despite experiencing a net loss of 20 million in Q1 2024 and a slight decrease in sales from the previous year, is projected to see significant earnings growth at 24.6% annually, outpacing the Dutch market's 16.2%. However, it operates with high debt levels and has faced shareholder dilution over the past year. The company's stock trades at 45.7% below its estimated fair value, suggesting potential undervaluation. Its revenue growth forecast of 3.4% yearly lags behind the broader market expectation of 9.5%.

ENXTAM:PNL Earnings and Revenue Growth as at Jun 2024

Summing It All Up

Dive into all 6 of the Fast Growing Euronext Amsterdam Companies With High Insider Ownership we have identified here.

Have a stake in these businesses? Integrate your holdings into Simply Wall St's portfolio for notifications and detailed stock reports.

Elevate your portfolio with Simply Wall St, the ultimate app for investors seeking global market coverage.

Interested In Other Possibilities?

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.The analysis only considers stock directly held by insiders. It does not include indirectly owned stock through other vehicles such as corporate and/or trust entities. All forecast revenue and earnings growth rates quoted are in terms of annualised (per annum) growth rates over 1-3 years.

Companies discussed in this article include ENXTAM:ENVI ENXTAM:MTRK and ENXTAM:PNL.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com
The Indian market has shown robust performance, gaining 2.7% recently and climbing 44% over the last year, with earnings forecasted to grow by 16% annually. In such a thriving environment, stocks with high insider ownership can be particularly appealing as they often indicate strong confidence from those who know the company best.

Top 10 Growth Companies With High Insider Ownership In India

Name Insider Ownership Earnings Growth Archean Chemical Industries (NSEI:ACI) 22.9% 28.1% Pitti Engineering (BSE:513519) 33.6% 28.0% Rajratan Global Wire (BSE:517522) 19.8% 33.5% Dixon Technologies (India) (NSEI:DIXON) 24.9% 28.6% Happiest Minds Technologies (NSEI:HAPPSTMNDS) 38% 22.9% Jupiter Wagons (NSEI:JWL) 11.1% 27.2% Paisalo Digital (BSE:532900) 16.3% 23.8% Kirloskar Pneumatic (BSE:505283) 30.6% 27.7% Apollo Hospitals Enterprise (NSEI:APOLLOHOSP) 10.4% 33.1% Aether Industries (NSEI:AETHER) 31.1% 39.8%

Click here to see the full list of 81 stocks from our Fast Growing Indian Companies With High Insider Ownership screener.

Let's uncover some gems from our specialized screener.

Simply Wall St Growth Rating: 

Overview: Happiest Minds Technologies Limited is an IT solutions and services provider operating across multiple regions including India, the US, Canada, the UK, Australia, and more, with a market cap of approximately 129.61 billion.

Operations: The company's revenue is primarily generated from three segments: Digital Business Service (4.76 billion), Product Engineering Services (8.51 billion), and Infrastructure Management & Security Services (2.97 billion).

Insider Ownership: 38%

Earnings Growth Forecast: 22.9% p.a.

Happiest Minds Technologies, a company with substantial insider ownership, is poised for robust growth with earnings forecasted to increase by 22.85% annually. Over the past five years, its earnings have surged by 26.4% annually. Recently, Happiest Minds announced a strategic partnership with Solvio to enhance Salesforce implementations globally, potentially boosting operational efficiencies and business growth. However, shareholders experienced some dilution last year and the company's dividend track record remains unstable.

NSEI:HAPPSTMNDS Earnings and Revenue Growth as at Jun 2024

Simply Wall St Growth Rating: 

Overview: Honasa Consumer Limited is a digital-first beauty and personal care company based in India with a market capitalization of 142.18 billion.

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Operations: The company generates 19.20 billion in revenue from the trading of a variety of beauty and personal care products and related services.

Insider Ownership: 36.5%

Earnings Growth Forecast: 35.1% p.a.

Honasa Consumer Limited, characterized by high insider ownership, has demonstrated a significant turnaround with its latest earnings report showing a transition from a substantial loss to a profit. The company's revenue and net income for Q4 2024 have shown impressive growth. Despite recent legal challenges in Dubai and minor regulatory issues in India, these are not expected to impact the financials materially. Honasa's strategic initiatives, including new product launches and international collaborations, align with its growth trajectory in the competitive Indian market.

NSEI:HONASA Ownership Breakdown as at Jun 2024

Simply Wall St Growth Rating: 

Overview: Quess Corp Limited is a business services provider operating in India, South East Asia, the Middle East, and North America with a market capitalization of approximately 87.03 billion.

Operations: The company generates revenue through three main segments: Workforce Management (134.42 billion), Operating Asset Management (28.01 billion), and Global Technology Solutions excluding Product Led Business (23.40 billion).

Insider Ownership: 15.9%

Earnings Growth Forecast: 27.6% p.a.

Quess Corp Limited, with notable insider activity, reported a substantial increase in both quarterly and annual earnings for the fiscal year ending March 2024. The company's revenue and net income have grown significantly, with recent acquisitions poised to further enhance its market position. Despite this growth, Quess faces challenges such as a volatile dividend track record and a forecasted low return on equity in three years. However, insider buying trends and robust earnings growth highlight its potential as a growth-oriented firm with high insider ownership in India.

NSEI:QUESS Earnings and Revenue Growth as at Jun 2024

Where To Now?

Take a closer look at our Fast Growing Indian Companies With High Insider Ownership list of 81 companies by clicking here.

Are you invested in these stocks already? Keep abreast of every twist and turn by setting up a portfolio with Simply Wall St, where we make it simple for investors like you to stay informed and proactive.

Elevate your portfolio with Simply Wall St, the ultimate app for investors seeking global market coverage.

Seeking Other Investments?

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.The analysis only considers stock directly held by insiders. It does not include indirectly owned stock through other vehicles such as corporate and/or trust entities. All forecast revenue and earnings growth rates quoted are in terms of annualised (per annum) growth rates over 1-3 years.

Companies discussed in this article include NSEI:HAPPSTMNDS NSEI:HONASA and NSEI:QUESS.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com
As global markets navigate through mixed economic signals and shifting investor sentiment, the Hong Kong market has shown resilience, with the Hang Seng Index recently experiencing a notable rise. In this context, exploring growth companies in Hong Kong with high insider ownership can offer valuable insights into firms that potentially have aligned interests between management and shareholders, fostering robust corporate governance which is crucial during uncertain market conditions.

Top 10 Growth Companies With High Insider Ownership In Hong Kong

Name Insider Ownership Earnings Growth iDreamSky Technology Holdings (SEHK:1119) 20.1% 104.1% New Horizon Health (SEHK:6606) 16.6% 62.3% Fenbi (SEHK:2469) 32.2% 43% DPC Dash (SEHK:1405) 38.2% 89.7% Zylox-Tonbridge Medical Technology (SEHK:2190) 18.5% 79.3% Adicon Holdings (SEHK:9860) 22.3% 29.6% Tian Tu Capital (SEHK:1973) 34% 70.5% Biocytogen Pharmaceuticals (Beijing) (SEHK:2315) 13.9% 100.1% Zhejiang Leapmotor Technology (SEHK:9863) 15% 73.8% Beijing Airdoc Technology (SEHK:2251) 27.8% 83.9%

Click here to see the full list of 53 stocks from our Fast Growing SEHK Companies With High Insider Ownership screener.

Let's take a closer look at a couple of our picks from the screened companies.

Simply Wall St Growth Rating: 

Overview: Alibaba Health Information Technology Limited operates in Mainland China and Hong Kong, focusing on pharmaceutical direct sales, e-commerce platforms, and healthcare digital services with a market cap of approximately HK$62.07 billion.

Operations: The company generates revenue primarily through its distribution and development of pharmaceutical and healthcare business, totaling CN27.03 billion.

Insider Ownership: 24.2%

Earnings Growth Forecast: 23.1% p.a.

Alibaba Health Information Technology, a growth-oriented company in Hong Kong, reported a significant increase in net income and sales for the fiscal year ending March 2024, with net income rising to CNY 883.48 million from CNY 535.65 million the previous year. Despite substantial earnings growth of 65.6% last year and a forecasted annual earnings increase of 23.1%, concerns include shareholder dilution and below-market forecast return on equity at just 13.5%. The company's revenue is expected to grow at 11.2% annually, outpacing the Hong Kong market's average but falling short of high-growth benchmarks.

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SEHK:241 Ownership Breakdown as at Jun 2024

Simply Wall St Growth Rating: 

Overview: Meituan is a technology retail company based in the Peoples Republic of China, with a market capitalization of approximately HK$683.48 billion.

Operations: The firm generates its revenue through technology retail operations in China.

Insider Ownership: 12.2%

Earnings Growth Forecast: 31.6% p.a.

Meituan, a company with substantial insider ownership, has demonstrated robust financial growth. In Q1 2024, Meituan's sales rose to CNY 73.28 billion from CNY 58.62 billion year-over-year, and net income increased to CNY 5.37 billion from CNY 3.36 billion. The firm is trading at a significant discount relative to its estimated fair value and is expected to see earnings grow by an impressive rate annually over the next three years, outpacing the Hong Kong market average significantly in both revenue and profit growth forecasts.

SEHK:3690 Ownership Breakdown as at Jun 2024

Simply Wall St Growth Rating: 

Overview: Techtronic Industries Company Limited, with a market cap of HK$177.93 billion, specializes in designing, manufacturing, and marketing power tools, outdoor power equipment, and floorcare and cleaning products globally.

Operations: The company's revenue is primarily generated from its power equipment segment, which contributed $12.79 billion, and its floorcare and cleaning products segment, which added $0.97 billion.

Insider Ownership: 25.3%

Earnings Growth Forecast: 15.9% p.a.

Techtronic Industries, a key growth company in Hong Kong with high insider ownership, is anticipated to outperform the local market with its revenue and earnings growth rates of 8.4% and 15.9% respectively per year. Notably, insiders have been net buyers over the recent quarter, underscoring their confidence in the firm's trajectory. Additionally, a significant share buyback program initiated on May 21 enhances shareholder value by potentially boosting per-share financial metrics. However, recent executive changes could introduce some uncertainty regarding future leadership impact.

SEHK:669 Earnings and Revenue Growth as at Jun 2024

Turning Ideas Into Actions

Click this link to deep-dive into the 53 companies within our Fast Growing SEHK Companies With High Insider Ownership screener.

Already own these companies? Bring clarity to your investment decisions by linking up your portfolio with Simply Wall St, where you can monitor all the vital signs of your stocks effortlessly.

Simply Wall St is your key to unlocking global market trends, a free user-friendly app for forward-thinking investors.

Want To Explore Some Alternatives?

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.The analysis only considers stock directly held by insiders. It does not include indirectly owned stock through other vehicles such as corporate and/or trust entities. All forecast revenue and earnings growth rates quoted are in terms of annualised (per annum) growth rates over 1-3 years.

Companies discussed in this article include SEHK:241 SEHK:3690 and SEHK:669.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com
As the Canadian market experiences a phase of stabilization and potential recovery, influenced by rate cuts from the Bank of Canada, investors are closely monitoring opportunities within the TSX. In this context, dividend stocks emerge as particularly noteworthy, offering potential for steady income in a landscape where economic and employment conditions are normalizing.

Top 10 Dividend Stocks In Canada

Name Dividend Yield Dividend Rating Canadian Natural Resources (TSX:CNQ) 8.61%  Bank of Nova Scotia (TSX:BNS) 6.64%  Whitecap Resources (TSX:WCP) 7.02%  Enghouse Systems (TSX:ENGH) 3.56%  Secure Energy Services (TSX:SES) 3.37%  Boston Pizza Royalties Income Fund (TSX:BPF.UN) 8.46%  Canadian Western Bank (TSX:CWB) 5.56%  Royal Bank of Canada (TSX:RY) 3.88%  Russel Metals (TSX:RUS) 4.38%  Firm Capital Mortgage Investment (TSX:FC) 9.15% 

Click here to see the full list of 32 stocks from our Top TSX Dividend Stocks screener.

Let's review some notable picks from our screened stocks.

Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: 

Overview: Aecon Group Inc. operates as a construction and infrastructure development company serving private and public sector clients in Canada, the U.S., and internationally, with a market cap of approximately CA$1.04 billion.

Operations: Aecon Group Inc. generates revenue primarily through its Concessions and Construction segments, with CA$59.50 million from Concessions and CA$4.33 billion from Construction.

Dividend Yield: 4.6%

Aecon Group recently affirmed a quarterly dividend of C$0.19 per share, payable on July 3, 2024. Despite a challenging financial period with Q1 sales dropping to C$846.59 million from C$1.11 billion year-over-year and a net loss of C$6.12 million, Aecon maintains its dividend commitment. The company's payout ratio stands at 27.9%, suggesting dividends are well-covered by earnings, although cash flow coverage is weak with a high cash payout ratio of 4232.8%. Recent board changes introduce experienced leaders potentially stabilizing governance amidst financial uncertainties and forecasted earnings decline averaging -21.5% annually over the next three years.

TSX:ARE Dividend History as at Jun 2024

Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: 

Overview: Power Corporation of Canada, an international management and holding company, operates in financial services across North America, Europe, and Asia with a market capitalization of approximately CA$26.07 billion.

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Operations: Power Corporation of Canada generates CA$23.51 billion from Lifeco, CA$3.67 billion from Power Financial - IGM, and CA$1.59 billion from its Alternative Asset Investment Platforms.

Dividend Yield: 5.6%

Power Corporation of Canada offers a stable dividend history, maintaining consistent payouts over the last decade with a current yield of 5.6%. The dividends are well-supported, evidenced by a payout ratio of 49.9% and cash flow coverage at 28.4%. Despite trading below its estimated fair value by 36.6%, its dividend yield is lower than the top quartile in the Canadian market, which averages 6.4%. Recent financials show robust earnings growth, with net income rising to CAD 722 million in Q1 2024 from CAD 326 million year-over-year, supporting continued dividend reliability and potential future increases.

TSX:POW Dividend History as at Jun 2024

Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: 

Overview: Suncor Energy Inc. is an integrated energy company with operations across Canada, the United States, and internationally, boasting a market capitalization of approximately CA$67.52 billion.

Operations: Suncor Energy's revenue is primarily derived from its Oil Sands segment, which generated CA$23.76 billion, and its Refining and Marketing segment, contributing CA$31.51 billion, along with a smaller contribution of CA$2.17 billion from Exploration and Production.

Dividend Yield: 4.2%

Suncor Energy's recent performance and strategic financial actions reflect a mixed outlook for dividend investors. In Q1 2024, the company reported increased production and refinery throughput, alongside a net income of CAD 1.61 billion, down from CAD 2.05 billion year-over-year. Despite this decrease, Suncor maintained its quarterly dividend at CAD 0.545 per share and continued its share repurchase program, signaling confidence in its financial health. However, the rejection of shareholder proposals related to climate commitments suggests potential future governance challenges that could impact investor sentiment.

TSX:SU Dividend History as at Jun 2024

Where To Now?

Delve into our full catalog of 32 Top TSX Dividend Stocks here.

Shareholder in one or more of these companies? Ensure you're never caught off-guard by adding your portfolio in Simply Wall St for timely alerts on significant stock developments.

Take control of your financial future using Simply Wall St, offering free, in-depth knowledge of international markets to every investor.

Want To Explore Some Alternatives?

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Companies discussed in this article include TSX:ARETSX:POW and TSX:SU

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com
Buying and holding solid companies with stock trading at attractive valuations for a long time is one of the best ways to make money in the stock market. Adopting this strategy allows investors to capitalize on secular growth trends and disruptive technologies. This is part of why buying shares of Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) right now could turn out to be a smart long-term move.

The company is sitting on huge addressable markets and, but some measures, appears undervalued. Of course, the stock has also more than tripled in value over the past year. That has some wondering if Nvidia stock is overvalued right now. A closer look at Nvidia's pace of growth suggests it is more undervalued overall. Investors might regret not buying this semiconductor giant before it soars higher. Let me explain.

Here's why Nvidia stock is undervalued

Nvidia's trailing price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 70 is admittedly rich and may indicate that it is overvalued, especially when compared to the U.S. tech sector's average P/E ratio of 44.5. But with a forward-earnings multiple of 46, there are strong indications of a big jump coming in its bottom line. That forward P/E is almost in line with the U.S. tech sector's average.

When looking beyond the next year, Nvidia's forward P/E falls even lower.

Nvidia is also quite cheap when you analyze its price-to-earnings-to-growth (PEG) ratio, a valuation metric that takes a company's potential growth into account.

NVDA PEG Ratio Chart

The PEG ratio is calculated by dividing a company's trailing P/E by the expected growth that it could deliver in the future. This is a forward-looking valuation metric that gives investors a better idea about how Wall Street is valuing a stock based on its future earnings growth. Investors should note that a PEG ratio of less than 1 means that a stock is undervalued. So, based on the chart above, Nvidia's PEG ratio of just 0.09 makes it incredibly undervalued.

Buying Nvidia at this valuation looks like a no-brainer as the company sees a $1 trillion potential revenue opportunity across various markets.

The chip giant's phenomenal growth shows no signs of slowing

Nvidia generated just under $80 billion in revenue in the trailing 12 months. Lately, the company has started growing at a phenomenal rate thanks to the terrific demand for its artificial intelligence (AI) chips.

In the first quarter of fiscal 2025, for instance, Nvidia's revenue jumped 262% year over year to $26 billion. This solid surge was driven by a year-over-year increase of 427% in its data center revenue to $22.6 billion. Back in 2022, Nvidia pegged its revenue opportunity in the hyperscale data center and AI chip market at $300 billion.

The company generated $47.5 billion in data center revenue in the previous fiscal year. The segment's revenue in Q1 of fiscal 2025 is evidence that it is on track to witness a big jump in this segment once again.

So, Nvidia is making solid progress on the $300 billion data center opportunity, and it won't be surprising to see it grab a major share of this market in the future. That's because Nvidia dominates the market for hyperscale and AI graphics cards with a share of more than 90%, which is the reason why its data center revenue is expected to grow at a stunning pace in the coming years.

Markets such as digital twins and automotive are other components of Nvidia's potential $1 trillion revenue opportunity. For instance, Nvidia sees a $300 billion revenue opportunity in automotive chips. The good part is that the company is gaining traction in automotive, and its revenue from this segment grew 17% year over year in the previous quarter to $329 million.

There is no doubt that the automotive business is currently a small portion of Nvidia's overall business, but a solid ecosystem of automotive customers and component suppliers could help accelerate the company's growth in this segment.

Meanwhile, Nvidia's Omniverse software solutions are also gaining terrific traction due to the growing adoption of digital twins, driving a 45% year-over-year jump in the company's professional visualization-segment revenue last quarter to $427 million. Investors should not forget that Nvidia also has a massive growth opportunity available in the gaming market where it stands to gain from the growing adoption of AI-enabled personal computers (PCs).

In all, it won't be surprising to see Nvidia becoming a much bigger company a few years from now thanks to the multitude of catalysts it is sitting on and the dominant position it enjoys in key markets such as those for AI chips. The company finished the previous fiscal year with $12.96 per share in earnings, and you can see in the following chart that its bottom line is set to surge over the next three years.

NVDA EPS Estimates for Current Fiscal Year Chart

As such, there are ample reasons for investors looking to buy a growth stock to add Nvidia to their portfolios. And now that you've seen how attractively valued Nvidia is right now in light of the potential growth that it is expected to deliver, buying it looks like a no-brainer as it could keep delivering healthy gains for a long time to come.

Should you invest $1,000 in Nvidia right now?

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SANTA FE, N.M. (AP)  A New Mexico judge cleared the way Monday for a landmark lawsuit to proceed that alleges the state has failed to meet its constitutional obligations for protecting against oil and gas pollution.

Environmental groups and Native Americans who live near oil wells in the No. 2 producing state in the U.S. initially filed the case in 2023. They are seeking compliance with a pollution control clause in the New Mexico Constitution.

Judge Matthew Wilson denied a motion by the state to dismiss the case, saying there needs to be more scrutiny of New Mexico's responsibilities under the constitution and that granting the state's request would short-circuit that examination.

Attorneys for the plaintiffs celebrated the judge's ruling, saying it will allow residents of New Mexico who have been living with the consequences of more oil and gas development in opposite corners of the state to have their day in court.

The case can go forward on the undisputed facts about the extent of the pollution and the extent of the state's failure to control that pollution, said Gail Evans, an attorney with the Center for Biological Diversity.

She said plaintiffs have cleared a critical hurdle in the judicial process to bring forward evidence of constitutional violations.

"Im confident the court will definitively enforce the constitutional protection of our states beautiful and healthful environment on behalf of the plaintiffs and every resident of New Mexico, Evans said.

Lujan Grisham's administration has in recent years adopted rule changes aimed at limiting emissions from the oil and gas industry. However, environmental groups have raised concerns that enforcement isn't keeping pace despite fines being levied against out-of-state energy companies and major settlements being inked to address air pollution.

A spokesman for Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said Monday evening that the administration was still reviewing the judge's decision.

We will continue to vigorously defend these claims, said Michael Coleman, communications director to the governor.

Attorneys for the Legislature did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Two major business associations  the New Mexico Chamber of Commerce and the Independent Petroleum Producers Association of New Mexico  have formally intervened in court proceedings, unsuccessfully urging dismissal of the lawsuit.

The administration and lawmakers also are facing a backlash over their push to develop rules that would regulate the treatment and reuse of oil industry fracking water.

Story continues

Environmental advocates including the group New Energy Economy on Monday documented what it said were undisclosed financial ties between a member of the state's Water Quality Control Commission and a privately oil and natural gas production company based in Farmington, New Mexico. Advocates urged the official's disqualification from rulemaking proceedings on the treatment and reuse of fracking water. A complaint also was filed with the State Ethics Commission.

According to the lawsuit, oil production in New Mexicos portion of the Permian Basin  one of the largest oilfields in the world  has increased nearly tenfold since 2010, leading to a surge in pollution. In northwestern New Mexico, lead plaintiff Mario Atencio, who is Navajo, said his family's lands are at risk from spills at well and processing sites within the San Juan Basin.
Outstanding deals on destination flights out of Nashville are getting harder and harder to find, according to monthly data from online travel agency Hopper. Luckily for travelers everywhere, Southwest Airlines is offering its annual birthday sale from now through June 13 in celebration of the 53rd anniversary of its first flight.

Customers can get up to 50% off base fares on select flights departing from Aug. 6 to Dec. 18. All you have to do is use the code BDAY before checking out, and the discount code will be applied before taxes and fees.

Here are a few of the Southwest birthday deals out of the Nashville International Airport this year:

Southwest Airlines flights taxi at Nashville International Airport in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, April 23, 2024.

To New York City

With the discount code, Southwest flights into LaGuardia Airport in New York are as low as $40 in August, at 37.5% off $64. In September and October, they drop as low as $35, and in November and December the cheapest eligible flights are $58.

NYC, Florida, Texas and more: Nashville flights for $100 or less round trip in June 2024

Return flights to Nashville get a little pricier later into fall. The airline doesn't list any flights into other New York area airports like JFK or Newark.

To Charlotte, N.C.

One nonstop flight from Nashville to Charlotte on a Saturday in August goes from $115 to $66 with the BDAY code. This flight, like many others that are eligible for the discount, is in Southwest's least expensive Wanna Get Away category and is nonrefundable.

A nonstop return flight the following Tuesday morning is also eligible for the discount and costs another $66. These are the cheapest Charlotte flights available on Southwest that month

To New Orleans, La.

The lowest-cost Southwest flights to New Orleans with the anniversary deal are $86, cut from an initial $155. There are a few options for eligible departing flights at this price throughout August, September, October, November and December.

Return flights to Nashville are available at the same price during all five months too.

To Miami, Fla.

The most affordable flights to Miami eligible for the sale code sit around $38 in August and early September. The price rises to $94 in October, November and December.

Return flight deals hover around those same prices.

To Chicago, Ill.

In August, travelers flying out of Nashville to Chicago, Ill., can get departing tickets as low as $49 into either of the city's airports  Midway or O'Hare. Return flights, however, are notably cheaper out of O'Hare.

A few eligible flight prices drop to $33 and $39 in September. In the later fall months, the cheapest prices creep back up to $57 in October and $72 in November and December.

Story continues

More options

For a full picture of the eligible flights for the birthday sale and flights to other cities, visit Southwest's Low Fare Calendar, and make sure you apply the code BDAY before you enter your search.

Hadley Hitson covers trending business, dining and health care for The Tennessean. She can be reached at hhitson@gannett.com. To support her work, subscribe to The Tennessean.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Flight deals out of Nashville: Up to 50% off select Southwest routes
After 10 months, the founder of one of the largest cell-tower real estate companies in the country has sold his Wrightsville Beach home for $9.2 million.

Richard Byrne, who founded Raleighs TowerCo, sold the house on Lumina Drive for $9.25 million, according to New Hanover County deed records. He initially listed the home for $11.4 million back in August. Byrnes team took the house off the market late last year to list it back in March for $10.4 million.

ALSO READ: Couple says builder was supposed to finish house in two years, still wasnt done in three

I am happy we did that, and I am happy it finally got sold, Byrne said. I think the new owners will be very happy with the house.

Read more here.

VIDEO: Couple says builder was supposed to finish house in two years, still wasnt done in three
Frito-Lay, Inc. is laying off nearly a third of the workforce at its Middletown manufacturing plant by the end of the summer, according to documents the corporation filed with the New York state Department of Labor.

According to the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification filed May 29, 88 of the Middletown plants 305 on-site workers will be laid off during a two-week period starting Friday, Aug. 30.

The workers are not represented by a union, according to the filing.

Frito-Lay, Inc. manufacturing plant at 79 Industrial Way, Middletown.

New York state requires all privately owned companies to file public notice of planned layoffs involving 25 or more full-time employees who make up at least 33% of the workforce, or at least 250 employees regardless of total workforce size; and plant closures affecting at least 50 employees in a 30-day period.

WARN filings do not require many specifics from the company about the reason for layoffs or closures, but Frito-Lay classified its most recent round of layoffs as economic in nature.

More: Community, history and remembrance: Juneteenth events throughout the Hudson Valley

Frito-Lay, a subsidiary of PepsiCo, maintains more than 30 snack food manufacturing sites in the U.S. Its portfolio includes Lays, Cheetos, Fritos and Doritos.

Pepsi-Cola of the Hudson Valley maintains a soft drink manufacturing plant in Newburgh.

Middletown Mayor Joseph M. DeStefano and Orange County Workforce Development did not return requests for comment Tuesday.

This article originally appeared on Times Herald-Record: 88 layoffs announced for Middletown Frito-Lay plant
MADRID, June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Fruit Attraction, organized by IFEMA MADRID and FEPEX, will be held from October 8 to 10 at the Madrid venue. With over 90% of the exhibition space already occupied four months ahead of the event, expectations for this year's edition are high.

IFEMA MADRID

So far, 65,000 m2 of exhibition space has been allocated, an increase of 39% compared to the same time last year. The event anticipates participation from over 2,000 companies from 55 countries, showcasing 70,000 m2 of produce, and expects more than 100,000 professionals from 145 countries.

The trade fair has confirmed participation from nearly all production areas and Autonomous Communities of Spain, as well as international participation from 45 countries, including new markets such as Saudi Arabia and Hong Kong. This demonstrates the sector's strong commitment to this new edition of the fair.

For the first time, Fruit Attraction 2024 will occupy ten pavilions (1-10) at the IFEMA MADRID exhibition, turning the city into a global epicenter for fresh produce marketing. Innovation, quality, and diversity are key attributes of this major business center, recognized by operators and retailers worldwide as essential for planning their campaigns in the crucial month of October.

Specific areas

Under the theme "Discover the Essence of the Sector," this leading trade event for the fruit and vegetable sector will be organised around four exhibition areas. The most widely represented will once again be Fresh Produce, showcasing a wide variety of horticultural products, in addition to Auxiliary Industry, which brings together the entire value chain of the industry, and Fresh Food Logistics, the space for logistics, transport and cold chain management for foodstuffs. A new feature this edition is Innova&Tech, the new area that will bring together the Biotech Attraction and Smart Agro sectors, providing a space for companies focused on innovation, research and technological development in plant genomics.

Special focus

Avocado will be the star product this year, featuring several initiatives around this superfood, whose success has grown significantly in Spain in recent years, both in terms of cultivation and exports. In addition to the "Avocado from Spain" Congress, the trade fair will be hosting other activities, such as a league in which students from Spanish hotel and catering schools will compete in a show cooking session led by Daniel del Toro, as well as different workshops and demonstrations.

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In its upcoming edition, the fair will continue to implement initiatives aimed at boosting sales, promotion, development, and growth of exhibiting companies. The powerful International Buyers Programme will be joined again by the Guest Importing Countries initiative with China and Saudi Arabia as the main focus. This will promote trade relations between the countries of the European Union and these non-EU markets, backed by a full programme of round tables, guided tours of the fair and B2B sessions.

Once again, The Innovation Hub and Fruit Next will be the areas dedicated to innovation and new business developments in the industry. In this context, Fruit Attraction will once again host the Innovation Hub Awards, which have become a fundamental event for supporting the business entrepreneurial commitment in the industry.

As a new feature, Fruit Attraction will present the Best Stand Awards; recognising the exhibition spaces that stand out for their creativity and design in one of the three categories: Autonomous Communities and Institutions, countries and regions, and companies.

The fair will also become a centre of knowledge with the Forums, offering a complete programme of technical sessions characterised by a wide variety of content, as well as the high level of the participants and speakers. Among others, Fruit Attraction will be hosting the congresses Grape Attraction, Biofruit Congress and Fresh Food Logistics The Summit.

Fruit Attraction includes several initiatives to facilitate the professional participation, such as the premium card or exclusive catering areas for exhibitors. Furthermore, Fruit Attraction is committed to using the Madrid Metro as a recommended means of transport.

Fruit Attraction Logo

SOURCE Fruit Attraction
By Saqib Iqbal Ahmed

NEW YORK (Reuters) -The clock is ticking for Keith Gill, the stock influencer known on YouTube as "Roaring Kitty," to lock in gains on his options position in GameStop as the companys share price swings wildly and the expiration date for the contracts draws closer.

Gill helped launch the meme-stock phenomenon in 2021. The value of his sizeable GameStop options holdings briefly slipped into the red on Tuesday when the stock tumbled by as much as 8%. Their value rose later in the day as GameStop surged to finish the session up 23% at $30.49.

The stock has lost about 36% since Friday's high of $48, when Gills first livestream in three years failed to lift the shares after the company announced a surprise stock offering. On Tuesday, GameStop said it has completed an "at-the-market" equity offering of its shares to raise roughly $2.14 billion.

GameStop CEO Ryan Cohen held an 8.6% stake in the company as of Monday, down from his prior stake of 10.5% in May, a securities filing showed on Tuesday.

The sharp price moves in the shares have led to big fluctuations in the value of a large options position that Gill disclosed earlier this month. A screen shot posted on June 2 showed Gill held 120,000 GameStop June 21 call options at a strike price of $20, bought at $5.6754 per contract or $68.1 million in all. The screen shot also showed he owned 5 million GameStop shares worth $115.7 million on June 2.

The price of the options contracts soared as high as $28.41 on Friday - putting their value at $340.9 million - before Gill conducted the livestream during which he reiterated his rationale for being bullish on GameStop.

On Tuesday, the options contracts traded for as little as $5.05, putting the value of Gill's position at about $60.6 million, down about $7.5 million from their purchase price, according to Trade Alert data. The contracts last traded at $11.25 apiece, valuing Gill's options position at about $135 million.

Gill has said he is a long-term investor in GameStop and that he is confident in the companys CEO, billionaire Ryan Cohen.

But the nature of short-dated options contracts may mean Gill would have to make moves in the short term to capture gains.

The calls expire on June 21, and lose value at an accelerated pace as that date approaches in a process known as time decay.

Gill can also exercise his options and take delivery of the stock, meaning he would have to put up $240 million for 12 million GameStop shares.

"The guy is in a race against time decay," said Henry Schwartz, global head of client engagement at Cboe Global Markets.

Story continues

So far, nothing in the listed options market indicates that Gill has been able to take profit or set up an offsetting position, Schwartz said.

"I think everybody's watching those contracts like a hawk," he said.

MARKET MAKERS

Another factor that could influence GameStops near-term share price is how market makers - typically big financial institutions that facilitate options trading but seek to remain market-neutral - will react if the shares continue sliding.

Market makers who sold Gill his call contracts would have likely squared the risk on their books by buying GameStop shares.

If the stock price slips below the contracts strike price, market makers would have less need to remain hedged and could be in a position to sell shares, potentially exacerbating weakness in the stock.

"Traders will be anticipating this potential for the stock to accelerate towards $20 if it starts to move that way," Cboe's Schwartz said, noting market positioning ahead of such a move would inject more volatility into the stock.

(Reporting by Saqib Iqbal Ahmed in New York; Editing by Ira Iosebashvili and Matthew Lewis)
Over two-thirds of workers between the ages of 50-64 are working fully on-site. Thomas M. Barwick/Getty Images

Workers aged 50-64 are most likely to be fully on-site or work from home full time, new data shows.

Workers in that age group are least likely to work hybrid, compared to nearly a third of workers aged 20-29.

Supercommuting has increased by 32% post-pandemic, with older workers divided on work preferences.

America's older workers aren't the type to spend some days at home in pajamas  they're more likely to go all in on the in-office hustle.

New data from the Survey of Working Arrangements and Attitudes, a monthly survey that has been running since May 2020, found that workers aged 50-64, which spans older Gen X and younger boomers, are fully on-site the most  and are also the most likely to work from home full time. The survey examined where workers of different ages clocked in from February through May 2024.

This contrasts with Gen Zers and younger millennials, who are the least likely to be fully on-site and most likely to be hybrid.

According to the data, which measured over 13,200 workers, those aged 50-64 were fully on-site more than two-thirds of the time, over 11 percentage points more than those 20-29. Meanwhile, those 20-29 were most likely of any age demographic to work hybrid at nearly a third, almost double the rate of those 50-64.

Still, those 50-64 were most likely to work fully remotely, while those 20-29 were least likely. The authors defined a full workday as six or more hours.

Overall, about 27% of all paid days in May 2024 were worked remotely, down slightly from earlier this year. Among employees able to work from home, nearly 38% have zero work-from-home days, while those in the finance and information sectors are likelier to have two to three remote days. Employees able to work from home predict that a year from now, their employer plans for them to work 2.2 days each week from home.

This data comes as supercommuting  workers traveling over 75 miles to their jobs  is on the rise, according to research by Stanford University economists Nick Bloom and Alex Finan. Supercommuting increased by 32% post-pandemic, while the share of commuters over 40 miles across the country's 10 largest cities also saw a large uptick.

Jose Maria Barrero, one of the survey's lead researchers and an assistant professor of finance at Instituto Tecnologico Autonomo de Mexico (ITAM) Business School, told BI that he believes two effects are driving the "polarization" among older workers.

"On one hand, those older workers need less mentoring and networking than younger ones. That means they can afford to be fully remote and might feel really comfortable doing things on their own," Barrero said. "On the other hand, these folks have decades of experience and habit coming into the office. So that muscle memory might push them to come in more often than younger workers who embrace hybrid."

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Indeed, many older workers BI has spoken to are divided on whether they want to be in-office or at home  but they're willing to leave roles that don't cater to their preferences. Dennis C., a 65-year-old, quit a six-figure job when his managers wanted him to return to the office three days a week.

"When they said that I was going to have to come back, I sent them an email saying I'm retiring," he previously told BI. He took a slight pay cut to move into a fully remote role.

Conversely, 62-year-old Charles Bond decided to retire early rather than work remotely. He said he didn't want to bring his work home with him, and he liked being around others on his team; they're still friends.

"I need to be around people. I enjoyed my team. I worked there 27 years," Bond previously told BI. "There were people there that had worked there just as long as me, if not longer. They were like a family. They were like my second family."

Do you strongly prefer in-office or remote work? Contact these reporters at jkaplan@businessinsider.com and nsheidlower@businessinsider.com.

Read the original article on Business Insider
ATLANTA (AP)  Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp is traveling to South Korea in his sixth overseas trip as governor.

The Republican left late Monday for a roughly 10-day trip to the Asian nation, arriving on Wednesday in South Korea. He plans to return in the middle of next week.

Kemp is visiting with South Korean businesses that currently do business in Georgia, as well as those who might open locations there, state officials said. The roughly 15-person delegation, which includes lawmakers and state economic recruiters, will host a reception in conjunction with Hyundai Motor Group but doesnt plan to meet with political or cultural leaders.

Jessica Atwell, a spokesperson for the Georgia Department of Economic Development, said the reception will be an opportunity to bring many partners together in one place to honor the partnerships we have cultivated over nearly four decades.

Kemp will also hold meetings with LG Group, SK Group, Hanwha Qcells and CJ Foodville.

LG Group is building an electric vehicle battery plant at the $7.6 billion automotive assembly complex that Hyundai is constructing near Savannah. SK Group owns a battery plant in Commerce and is building a plant to make semiconductor materials in Covington. Hanwha Qcells owns solar panel plants in Dalton and Cartersville. CJ Foodville is building a bakery in Gainesville.

The cost to taxpayers for the trip is not immediately available.

When in South Korea in 2019, Kemp met with then-Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon and Hyundai Motor Group officials before the conglomerate announced its Ellabell facility. Kemp went to Germany in 2020, visited Israel in May 2023 and the nation of Georgia and France in June 2023. He also attended the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, in January 2023 and 2024.
If we want to find a stock that could multiply over the long term, what are the underlying trends we should look for? Amongst other things, we'll want to see two things; firstly, a growing return on capital employed (ROCE) and secondly, an expansion in the company's amount of capital employed. Basically this means that a company has profitable initiatives that it can continue to reinvest in, which is a trait of a compounding machine. However, after investigating Venture (SGX:V03), we don't think it's current trends fit the mold of a multi-bagger.

What Is Return On Capital Employed (ROCE)?

For those that aren't sure what ROCE is, it measures the amount of pre-tax profits a company can generate from the capital employed in its business. Analysts use this formula to calculate it for Venture:

Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT)  (Total Assets - Current Liabilities)

0.10 = S$296m  (S$3.6b - S$697m) (Based on the trailing twelve months to December 2023).

So, Venture has an ROCE of 10%. That's a relatively normal return on capital, and it's around the 11% generated by the Electronic industry.

Check out our latest analysis for Venture

roce

Above you can see how the current ROCE for Venture compares to its prior returns on capital, but there's only so much you can tell from the past. If you'd like to see what analysts are forecasting going forward, you should check out our free analyst report for Venture .

The Trend Of ROCE

In terms of Venture's historical ROCE movements, the trend isn't fantastic. Around five years ago the returns on capital were 18%, but since then they've fallen to 10%. And considering revenue has dropped while employing more capital, we'd be cautious. If this were to continue, you might be looking at a company that is trying to reinvest for growth but is actually losing market share since sales haven't increased.

Our Take On Venture's ROCE

We're a bit apprehensive about Venture because despite more capital being deployed in the business, returns on that capital and sales have both fallen. Investors must expect better things on the horizon though because the stock has risen 4.7% in the last five years. Regardless, we don't like the trends as they are and if they persist, we think you might find better investments elsewhere.

Like most companies, Venture does come with some risks, and we've found 1 warning sign that you should be aware of.

While Venture isn't earning the highest return, check out this free list of companies that are earning high returns on equity with solid balance sheets.

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.
As of June 2024, Japan's stock markets have shown mixed performance, with the Nikkei 225 experiencing modest gains amidst a strengthening yen and robust services sector growth. This backdrop provides an intriguing context for examining growth companies with high insider ownership on the Japanese exchange, as these firms often benefit from aligned interests between shareholders and management, potentially enhancing stability and confidence in their strategic directions during such fluctuating market conditions.

Top 10 Growth Companies With High Insider Ownership In Japan

Name Insider Ownership Earnings Growth SHIFT (TSE:3697) 35.4% 27% Kanamic NetworkLTD (TSE:3939) 25% 28.9% Hottolink (TSE:3680) 27% 57.3% Medley (TSE:4480) 34% 28.7% Micronics Japan (TSE:6871) 15.3% 39.7% Kasumigaseki CapitalLtd (TSE:3498) 34.8% 44.6% ExaWizards (TSE:4259) 24.8% 80.2% Money Forward (TSE:3994) 21.4% 63.6% Soiken Holdings (TSE:2385) 19.8% 118.4% Soracom (TSE:147A) 17.2% 54.1%

Click here to see the full list of 104 stocks from our Fast Growing Japanese Companies With High Insider Ownership screener.

Here we highlight a subset of our preferred stocks from the screener.

Simply Wall St Growth Rating: 

Overview: PARK24 Co., Ltd. specializes in operating and managing parking facilities both in Japan and internationally, with a market capitalization of approximately 281.27 billion.

Operations: The company generates revenue primarily from the operation and management of parking facilities across domestic and international markets.

Insider Ownership: 10.5%

Earnings Growth Forecast: 11.2% p.a.

PARK24, a company in Japan, showcases substantial growth with earnings that increased by 278.1% last year and are expected to rise by 11.23% annually. Despite high debt levels, the firm is trading at 15.8% below its estimated fair value and anticipates revenue growth of 5.8% per yearoutpacing the Japanese market average of 4.1%. However, it lacks significant insider buying or selling activity over the past three months, suggesting a stable but cautious investment perspective from those closest to the company.

TSE:4666 Earnings and Revenue Growth as at Jun 2024

Simply Wall St Growth Rating: 

Overview: JAPAN MATERIAL Co., Ltd. specializes in the electronics and graphics sectors within Japan, with a market capitalization of approximately 198.90 billion.

Operations: The company's revenue is primarily generated from the electronics segment, contributing 46.92 billion, followed by smaller contributions from the graphics solutions and solar power generation segments at 1.46 billion and 0.21 billion respectively.

Story continues

Insider Ownership: 34%

Earnings Growth Forecast: 23.5% p.a.

JAPAN MATERIAL, poised for robust growth, expects its earnings to surge by 23.55% annually over the next three years, outperforming the Japanese market's 8.7% forecast. Despite a dip in profit margins from 17% to 11.7%, revenue growth is anticipated at 13% per year, also above the market average of 4.1%. Recent guidance confirms strong projections with expected full-year net sales of JPY 50 billion and an operating profit of JPY 10 billion, alongside a slight dividend increase to JPY 22.00 per share for FY2025.

TSE:6055 Earnings and Revenue Growth as at Jun 2024

Simply Wall St Growth Rating: 

Overview: Saizeriya Co., Ltd. operates a chain of Italian-themed restaurants across Japan, Australia, and Asia, with a market capitalization of approximately 266.31 billion.

Operations: The company generates its revenue primarily from its Italian-themed restaurant operations across Japan, Australia, and Asia.

Insider Ownership: 30.2%

Earnings Growth Forecast: 23.6% p.a.

Saizeriya Ltd, despite a highly volatile share price recently, has shown impressive growth with earnings up by 481.1% last year and forecasts suggesting a 23.64% annual increase over the next three years, outpacing the Japanese market's 8.7%. Revenue is also expected to grow at 6.8% annually, again faster than the market's 4.1%. However, its Return on Equity is projected to be low at 10.7%, indicating potential concerns about future profitability efficiency.

TSE:7581 Earnings and Revenue Growth as at Jun 2024

Seize The Opportunity

Discover the full array of 104 Fast Growing Japanese Companies With High Insider Ownership right here.

Already own these companies? Link your portfolio to Simply Wall St and get alerts on any new warning signs to your stocks.

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This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.The analysis only considers stock directly held by insiders. It does not include indirectly owned stock through other vehicles such as corporate and/or trust entities. All forecast revenue and earnings growth rates quoted are in terms of annualised (per annum) growth rates over 1-3 years.

Companies discussed in this article include TSE:4666 TSE:6055 and TSE:7581.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com
As the Canadian market experiences a phase of stabilization and potential recovery, bolstered by recent rate cuts from the Bank of Canada, investors are turning their attention to growth companies with high insider ownership on the TSX. In current conditions where economic and market normalization is underway, stocks with significant insider stakes can be particularly compelling, as they often signal confidence from those most familiar with the company's prospects and challenges.

Top 10 Growth Companies With High Insider Ownership In Canada

Name Insider Ownership Earnings Growth Payfare (TSX:PAY) 15% 57.7% goeasy (TSX:GSY) 21.7% 15.9% Vox Royalty (TSX:VOXR) 12.4% 77.3% Allied Gold (TSX:AAUC) 22.5% 68.2% Aritzia (TSX:ATZ) 19% 51.2% ROK Resources (TSXV:ROK) 16.6% 159.6% Aya Gold & Silver (TSX:AYA) 10.2% 51.6% Ivanhoe Mines (TSX:IVN) 13.1% 65.3% Artemis Gold (TSXV:ARTG) 31.8% 48.8% Almonty Industries (TSX:AII) 12.3% 105%

Click here to see the full list of 30 stocks from our Fast Growing TSX Companies With High Insider Ownership screener.

Let's review some notable picks from our screened stocks.

Simply Wall St Growth Rating: 

Overview: Aritzia Inc. is a company that designs, develops, and sells women's apparel and accessories in the United States and Canada, with a market capitalization of approximately CA$4.17 billion.

Operations: The company generates CA$2.33 billion in revenue from its apparel and accessories segments.

Insider Ownership: 19%

Aritzia, a Canadian retailer, has demonstrated a robust financial trajectory with significant anticipated growth. Despite a recent dip in net income and profit marginsCAD 78.78 million and 3.4% respectively from higher figures last yearthe company is poised for recovery. Fiscal 2025 guidance suggests revenue growth between CAD 2.52 billion to CAD 2.62 billion, an approximate increase of up to 14%. Insider ownership remains static with no new purchases reported, aligning with cautious but optimistic corporate forecasts for substantial earnings expansion over the next three years.

TSX:ATZ Ownership Breakdown as at Jun 2024

Simply Wall St Growth Rating: 

Overview: Ivanhoe Mines Ltd. is a mining company focused on the development and exploration of minerals and precious metals, primarily in Africa, with a market capitalization of approximately CA$23.26 billion.

Operations: The company primarily generates its revenue from the mining, development, and exploration of minerals and precious metals in Africa.

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Insider Ownership: 13.1%

Ivanhoe Mines, a growth-focused mining company with high insider ownership, recently celebrated the early and on-budget completion of its Phase 3 concentrator at the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex. This expansion is set to significantly increase copper production, enhancing Ivanhoe's position as one of the worlds largest copper producers. Despite a recent net loss of US$65.55 million in Q1 2024, revenue and earnings are expected to grow substantially due to increased operational efficiency and strategic mergers and acquisitions pursuits.

TSX:IVN Ownership Breakdown as at Jun 2024

Simply Wall St Growth Rating: 

Overview: Savaria Corporation specializes in accessibility solutions for the elderly and physically challenged, operating across Canada, the United States, Europe, and internationally, with a market cap of approximately CA$1.28 billion.

Operations: The company generates revenue primarily from its Patient Care segment, which accounted for CA$183.82 million.

Insider Ownership: 19.6%

Savaria Corporation, with significant insider buying recently, demonstrates robust growth potential. Earnings have increased at a rate of 13.1% annually over the past five years and are expected to rise by 24.87% annually going forward. Despite some shareholder dilution last year, the company's revenue growth is anticipated to outpace the Canadian market average. Additionally, Savaria has appointed Pernilla Linden to its Board, enhancing governance with her extensive financial expertise.

TSX:SIS Earnings and Revenue Growth as at Jun 2024

Next Steps

Get an in-depth perspective on all 30 Fast Growing TSX Companies With High Insider Ownership by using our screener here.

Already own these companies? Bring clarity to your investment decisions by linking up your portfolio with Simply Wall St, where you can monitor all the vital signs of your stocks effortlessly.

Simply Wall St is your key to unlocking global market trends, a free user-friendly app for forward-thinking investors.

Curious About Other Options?

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.The analysis only considers stock directly held by insiders. It does not include indirectly owned stock through other vehicles such as corporate and/or trust entities. All forecast revenue and earnings growth rates quoted are in terms of annualised (per annum) growth rates over 1-3 years.

Companies discussed in this article include TSX:ATZ TSX:IVN and TSX:SIS.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com
Illinois Tool Works Inc. (NYSE:ITW) received a lot of attention from a substantial price movement on the NYSE over the last few months, increasing to US$270 at one point, and dropping to the lows of US$235. Some share price movements can give investors a better opportunity to enter into the stock, and potentially buy at a lower price. A question to answer is whether Illinois Tool Works' current trading price of US$239 reflective of the actual value of the large-cap? Or is it currently undervalued, providing us with the opportunity to buy? Lets take a look at Illinois Tool Workss outlook and value based on the most recent financial data to see if there are any catalysts for a price change.

See our latest analysis for Illinois Tool Works

What Is Illinois Tool Works Worth?

According to our valuation model, Illinois Tool Works seems to be fairly priced at around 16% below our intrinsic value, which means if you buy Illinois Tool Works today, youd be paying a fair price for it. And if you believe the companys true value is $284.52, then there isnt much room for the share price grow beyond what its currently trading. So, is there another chance to buy low in the future? Given that Illinois Tool Workss share is fairly volatile (i.e. its price movements are magnified relative to the rest of the market) this could mean the price can sink lower, giving us an opportunity to buy later on. This is based on its high beta, which is a good indicator for share price volatility.

Can we expect growth from Illinois Tool Works?

Investors looking for growth in their portfolio may want to consider the prospects of a company before buying its shares. Although value investors would argue that its the intrinsic value relative to the price that matter the most, a more compelling investment thesis would be high growth potential at a cheap price. With profit expected to grow by a double-digit 15% over the next couple of years, the outlook is positive for Illinois Tool Works. It looks like higher cash flow is on the cards for the stock, which should feed into a higher share valuation.

What This Means For You

Are you a shareholder? It seems like the market has already priced in ITWs positive outlook, with shares trading around its fair value. However, there are also other important factors which we havent considered today, such as the financial strength of the company. Have these factors changed since the last time you looked at the stock? Will you have enough conviction to buy should the price fluctuates below the true value?

Are you a potential investor? If youve been keeping tabs on ITW, now may not be the most advantageous time to buy, given it is trading around its fair value. However, the optimistic prospect is encouraging for the company, which means its worth diving deeper into other factors such as the strength of its balance sheet, in order to take advantage of the next price drop.

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With this in mind, we wouldn't consider investing in a stock unless we had a thorough understanding of the risks. At Simply Wall St, we found 1 warning sign for Illinois Tool Works and we think they deserve your attention.

If you are no longer interested in Illinois Tool Works, you can use our free platform to see our list of over 50 other stocks with a high growth potential.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite continue to reach all-time highs, thanks to strong performances from top growth stocks. But Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) has been noticeably absent from the rally. In fact, it's one of the 10 worst-performing S&P 500 components so far this year.

Instead of buying the dip on Tesla, investors may be better off considering PTC (NASDAQ: PTC), Archer Aviation (NYSE: ACHR), and Toyota (NYSE: TM). Here's what makes these three growth stocks worth buying now.

Image source: Getty Images.

An industrial software stock whose best days are ahead of it

Lee Samaha (PTC): The industrial software company's management recently downgraded its guidance for growth in its key metric. While that's never great news, it must be put into perspective. Here's a business expecting to grow its annual run rate (ARR) of active subscription software, cloud, SaaS, and support contracts at a double-digit rate, rather than the mid-teens growth previously expected.

That's not bad for a company in what management describes as a "sluggish" sales environment. It's also a testimony to how powerful the underlying secular trend toward digitalization in manufacturing is. PTC's software solutions products can be digitally designed using computer-aided design (CAD). Meanwhile, its product lifecycle management (PLM) software assists in creating a digital thread for the product, enabling continuous analysis of digital data to enhance outcomes.

For example, if the service lifecycle management (SLM) software indicates that a product can be better serviced by a change in design (using CAD) or by being manufactured differently (PLM), then these changes can be collaborated upon and carried out digitally and physically.

The benefits of digital continuous improvement processes are significant. They can help reduce a product's time to market, improve quality control, and increase production efficiency.

The benefits are numerous, and that's why PTC's ARR growth is likely to continue growing at an impressive clip, with the growth rate increasing in a better economic environment. Wall Street analysts expect PTC's free cash flow (FCF) to hit $1 billion in 2026, putting the company at 21 times its 2026 FCF. That's an excellent valuation for a growth stock.

Growth investors will want to land Archer Aviation in their portfolios

Scott Levine (Archer Aviation): If Archer Aviation hits the mark, passengers won't be relying solely on car services to get them to airports. The company is attempting to disrupt the urban transportation landscape, allowing passengers to hitch a ride on its electric vertical take off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft to shuttle them to the airport, making this an ideal consideration for growth investors.

This air taxi service (as the company calls it) may seem unlikely to appear soon, but the company is full throttle ahead with its mission -- and Archer's air taxis may be seen in the wild blue yonder sooner rather than later. While the company expects to start operations over the next few years, it plans on growing operations to scale in 2029.

Offering a novel transportation service doesn't happen overnight. One of the reasons why is the extensive FAA certification process that the company must complete for its aircraft, Midnight. In late May, Archer announced that the FAA has issued the final airworthiness criteria for Archer's Midnight aircraft for public inspection. This is an important milestone for the company, taking it a significant step closer to receiving FAA certification.

Another noteworthy item for the company is its progress in developing a manufacturing facility in Georgia, where it is partnering with Stellantis to produce the Midnight aircraft. When operational, Archer expects the facility to produce 650 aircraft annually. Archer expects construction of the facility to be completed by the end of the year.

Besides industry leaders like Stellantis, the company has also received support from leaders like United Airlines, which plans on purchasing up to $1.5 billion worth of aircraft -- an important validation of the company's vision of reimagining air travel. United plans on providing air taxi service to customers in Chicago using Archer aircraft starting in 2025.

Take advantage of the sell-off in this top automaker

Daniel Foelber (Toyota): Toyota is down 14.5% in the last three months, but that's just a minor cooldown after it soared 84% from the beginning of 2023 to the end of March 2024.

Like other value-oriented automakers, Toyota has long traded to the S&P 500 at a discount. Its price-to-earnings ratio is just 8.2, compared to a 10-year median of 10. Since Toyota hasn't enjoyed a valuation expansion, its earnings are what has driven the stock to new heights. For example, earnings have more than doubled over the last five years, while the stock is up 74%. An inexpensive valuation paired with earnings growth is a recipe for success, and there's reason to believe Toyota can continue taking market share in the years to come.

Toyota isn't a growth stock in the traditional sense. But it generated all-time-high sales and earnings in fiscal 2023. The results, paired with its runway, indicate Toyota is shifting into a new gear that is disrupting the industry.

Instead of entering the EV market full throttle, Toyota has leaned into hybrid vehicles. This strategy has been a resounding success, as Toyota has achieved growth without dismantling its proven business model.

In late May, Toyota, Subaru, and Mazda announced a lineup of new combustion engines compatible with alternative fuels. Available in hybrid form in conjunction with a battery or a stand-alone option, the development combines these companies' internal combustion engine prowess with the need to produce more environmentally friendly options to comply with increasingly strict regulations and carbon reduction goals.

It would be a game changer if Toyota could produce a low-cost, clean vehicle that utilizes existing infrastructure, embraces low-carbon fuels, and saves the company the untold cost of abandoning internal combustion engines and shifting to electric motors.

Toyota's innovation, paired with its dirt cheap valuation and 1.9% dividend yield, make it a solid buy-the-dip candidate.

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Daniel Foelber has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Lee Samaha has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Scott Levine has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Tesla. The Motley Fool recommends PTC and Stellantis. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Instead of Buying the Dip on Tesla, Consider These 3 Growth Stocks was originally published by The Motley Fool
John Deere employs around 70,000 people worldwide, but the year 2024 has brought recurring announcements regarding workforce reductions  in fact, so many that keeping up can be a challenge.

The latest cuts are in Moline, Illinois, where the company has informed workers in its Seeding and Cylinder operations that 120 employees would be placed on indefinite layoff effective June 28th.



Most Read on IEN:

According to Deere, each of its factories balances the size of its production workforce with the needs of the individual factory to optimize the workforce at each facility. Makes sense in theory, but there might be more to it when it comes to Deeres strategic plan.

In a statement a Deere representative referred to as unrelated the company also said last week that it will be shifting some production from its Dubuque Works facility in Iowa to a new facility it is building in Ramos, Mexico.

Deere says that when the facility is operational in 2026, production of mid-frame skid steer loaders and compact track loaders will be relocated from Dubuque Works to Ramos.

And while the Dubuque facility will continue to manufacture other loaders, backhoes and dozers, the number of related layoffs at the plant depends on production levels, attrition and Deeres ability to reassign certain workers for other roles by 2026  meaning there is a big question mark hovering over the workforce in Dubuque.

Deere told us the announcement at Dubuque Works reflects the companys commitment to evolving its business model, products, and processes to address rising manufacturing costs and improve operational efficiencies.

Other regional reports have highlighted additional job cuts in Iowa, including 243 layoffs last week that involved plants in Ankeny, Urbandale and Waterloo.

Click here to subscribe to our daily newsletter featuring breaking manufacturing industry news.
A student works for LOC Credit Union at Voyager Elementary School in Howell, while another makes a transaction.

LIVINGSTON COUNTY  Did you know students at Howell Public Schools and Hartland Community Schools have access to a student-run credit union?

The program, managed by LOC Credit Union, was established in the early 1990s for Farmington Public Schools and later expanded. Today, there are locations in Livingston County at five elementary schools in Howell (Challenger, Voyager, Three Fires, Hutchings and Northwest) and Lakes Elementary and Hartland Farms Intermediate in Hartland.

Interested students apply to work at the credit union each September. Those accepted into the program can serve as a branch manager, teller, marketing professional or member service guide  working one-hour segments a couple of times per month, according to LOC Community Impact Manager Stephanie Hamlin. The credit unions are held at each school in a temporary location.

Students can deposit money or make other transactions during a half-hour period a couple times a month, Hamlin said. She takes all paper and pencil transactions handled by the student employees, confirms the details, and ensures they're entered into the credit unions system. Funds can be accessed by students with help from their parents online or at any LOC branch. Parents receive a digital receipt of the transaction by email.

From left: Karleigh, Stella, Madelyn and Jason  fifth grade students at Challenger Elementary  work for LOC Credit Union.

These are real bank accounts and real transactions," Hamlin said.

Hamlin also organizes about 150 financial literacy presentations each year at schools around Livingston County.

Subscribe: Get unlimited access to our local coverage

The Michigan Department of Educations Revised School Code requires students entering eighth grade to complete a one-half credit course in personal finance by high school. While the LOC program doesn't replace the need for the state-mandated class, Hamlin believes the topic of financial literacy is one all students should explore by the time their high school careers are over.

The biggest thing we see is (students need to learn) not to spend it unless they have it, Hamlin said. Theres also an overdependence on (adults or parents) to help them with their money. Many students have no fear of debt, so they need to understand that you have to pay off what you owe, plus interest.

 M. Alan Scott is a freelance writer for The Livingston Daily. Contact the newsroom at newsroom@livingstondaily.com.

This article originally appeared on Livingston Daily: Livingston youngsters get real world experience from LOC Credit Union
A look at the day ahead in European and global markets from Wayne Cole.

Asian markets have been cautiously gauging the fallout from the success of right-wing parties in the European Union and what it might mean for the cohesion of the bloc.

EUROSTOXX 50 futures did edge up 0.2%, steadying after Monday's retreat, while FTSE futures were all but flat. The euro also held at $1.0766 and above the one-month low of $1.0733.

French President Emmanuel Macron was reportedly trying to line up left-wing and centrist parties against the right, but so far with little success.

The first opinion poll suggested the far-right National Rally party could win the snap election, but fall short of an absolute majority.

Markets are mixed across Asia, with Japan, South Korea and Taiwan all up, while China slipped as it caught up with post-payrolls pressure after a holiday on Monday.

Beijing also set the yuan at a seven-month low to reflect gains for the U.S. dollar as investors trim wagers on Federal Reserve rate cuts. The Fed meets on Wednesday and many analysts now assume its dot plot projection will no longer show three rate cuts for this year but two, or even just a single move.

Then again, fewer cuts this year might mean the easing is back loaded into 2025 and those plots shift to four cuts from three.

Note the Bank of Japan holds its meeting on Friday amid much talk it will taper monthly bond buying by a trillion yen to 5 trillion, as a step toward a hike of 10 basis points in July.

Elsewhere, markets gave a muted reaction to Apple's long-awaited AI strategy, which integrates "Apple Intelligence" technology across a suite of apps. The iPhone maker's shares were down 0.3% in after hours trade.

Optimists noted the software requires at least an iPhone 15 Pro or Pro Max and could drive customers to upgrade their hardware as a result.

Key developments that could influence markets on Tuesday:

- UK May Claimant count, April wages and unemployment data

- Various ECB officials speak, including chief economist Philip Lane and French central bank chief Francois Villeroy de Galhau

- Bank of Finland press conference on the outlook for the Finnish economy

- U.S. NFIB Small Business Optimism Survey

(By Wayne Cole; Editing by Sam Holmes)
Most of the investor owned single family homes in Fort Worth are outside the center of the city.

That was one of the findings from a city of Fort Worth analysis of data from the appraisal districts in Tarrant, Denton, Parker, and Wise counties.

The city analysis defined investor owned as being owned by one of 23 national level firms that are usually backed by private equity and are known to rent own single family homes.

While these firms often use a variety corporate names that can obscure ownership, the city tracked them down by finding common addresses, Assistant Neighborhood Services director Amy Connolly said during a City Council committee briefing Tuesday.

Homes owned by institutional investors make up around 9.6% of Fort Worths homes, but most were outside Loop 820, according to the citys data.

Arizona-based Progress Residential, which is among the largest owners of single family homes in the United States, took the top spot in Fort Worth with 1,879 homes. That company faced criticism in 2022 for not maintaining 600 rental properties in Minnesota.

The company agreed to pay $2.2 million in a settlement with the state attorney general, which included forgiving up to $1.9 million in rent.

This latest analysis also revised down a previous report that said 26% of homes in Fort Worth were owned by companies. Additional data from Denton, Parker and Wise counties showed the number was closer to 23.3%, said Fort Worth Lab director Christianne Simmons.

More than half of the homes that are not owner-occupied are owned by small local landlords, Simmons said. The city defined small landlords as owning less than 10 rental properties.

This is just the beginning of the citys analysis, Simmons said. There are still more questions the city would like to answer, such as the growth of investor ownership over time, she said.
In 2016, jeweler Olivia Young of Ouroboros sold a red spinel ring for 6,000 ($7,700). Last year, the clients insurance company paid out 30,000 ($38,400) to replace it. Experts say that this previously overlooked gemstone is rocketing in desirability and value, as collectors look beyond the so-called Big Four (diamonds, emeralds, rubies and sapphires) for more affordable, niche gemstones that may just be a shrewd investment.

Found in Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and some African countries, spinels come in a range of colors, from vivid blue, pink and red to dusky grey, green and purple. Until they were properly identified in the 18th century, red spinels were called rubies; the 170-carat Black Princes Ruby at the front of the Imperial State Crown, part of the British Crown Jewels, is in fact a spinel. In 2015, the auction house Bonhams sold the 50.13-carat Hope Spinel for a world-record 962,500 ($1.22m)  over six times its estimate  helping to catapult the stone into public consciousness.

Ouroboros' "Lobsters for Life" ring in 18-carat gold set with a bi-chrome cushion cut Afghan tourmaline and cushion cut Burmese peridots (price on application). - Ouroboros

Historically, spinels have been regarded as less important and therefore more affordable, but they are becoming increasingly desirable, said Jennifer Tonkin, Bonhams co-head of jewelry, over email. She noted that fire-engine red and hot-pink spinels from Burma, as well as rose-pink examples from Tajikistan, are most sought after by connoisseurs. Rahul Kadakia, international head of jewelry at Christies, agreed that pink and purple spinels should continue to see market appreciation, and shared that fine examples sell for up to $25,000 per carat. The escalating prices of the big four gems have compelled buyers to explore unconventional alternatives, he said in an email, but explained that appreciation of spinels rich colors is no new phenomenon. They were, after all, one of the favorite gems of Mughal rulers.

A matter of ethics

London-based jeweler Lily Gabriella features spinels in myriad shades in her one-off collectors edition designs. She has seen a notable increase in their price, reflecting both their aesthetic appeal and their rarity she said via email, adding that spinels are often sourced from small-scale operations, presenting fewer ethical concerns compared to other stones.

Charles Abouchar, director of Abouchar SA, a Geneva-based dealer who exhibits at the trade show Gem Geneve, said that rising demand for colored gemstones has led to a shortage of quality specimens, driving up prices. As rubies, sapphires, and emeralds have become very expensive and scarce, people have begun buying other gemstones that were previously more affordable, causing prices to rise significantly, he said over email. Spinels and Paraiba tourmalines have seen a steady increase in demand over the last decade.

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Boghossian's paraiba and diamond set features paraibas and fancy yellow diamonds. The central piece of the bracelet is composed of one oval-shaped paraiba and the ring of one cushion-shaped paraiba. - Boghossian

Originally discovered in the 1980s in a now-exhausted mine in the Brazilian state of Paraiba, this once-niche variety of tourmaline is distinctive for its electric turquoise color, the result of traces of copper. Experts posit that only one Paraiba tourmaline is mined for every 10,000 diamonds  and while similar hues are found in Madagascar, the scarcity of Brazilian stones has seen prices soar. At Bonhams, Tonkin said prices for top-quality Paraiba tourmalines reached $75,000 per carat in 2022, compared with $4,800 per carat in 2009.

Roberto Boghossian, Managing Partner of the jewelry house Boghossian, added that the price of Paraiba tourmalines has doubled in the last three to five years, which he attributes to their rarity, beauty and enduring appeal, describing their neon glow as a refreshing alternative to more traditional gemstones. Moti Ferder, founder of Lugano Diamonds, began working with Paraiba tourmalines over 20 years ago. There is an undeniable attraction to them  they are very rare and absolutely mesmerizing, he said in an email. Ferder foresees continued growth in value as demand increases and supply diminishes, making it one of the markets most coveted and prized gemstones.

So, what if youre already priced out of the market for a Paraiba? Olivia Young is buying as much tourmaline from Afghanistan as she can, because these newer deposits offer incredibly beautiful bi-chrome material thats blue-green in one direction and grass-green at 90 degrees, describing them as the most exquisite and vibrant gemstones I have ever seen.

Lily Gabriella's "Memphis Deco Pin," is crafted in 18-carat rose gold and platinum and features a 7.34 carat grey spinel cushion, princess cut pink sapphires and custom cut lapis lazuli (price on application). - Lily Gabriella

Likewise, gemmologist and founder of Minka Jewels Lucy Crowther counts blue-green tourmalines as the connoisseurs choice, having personally discovered them in India 15 years ago. These incredibly vibrant, clean gemstones really stirred something in me, she explained in an email. Now, she sources top-quality examples for unconventional engagement rings and colorful cocktail rings. With lab-grown diamonds becoming increasingly popular, colored stones are a great choice for those wanting to stand out and have something natural that is also unique.

Crowther and Young are both determined to educate clients that theres more to life than the Big Four. I believe across the board, that tourmalines of top-quality material and significant sizes will sky-rocket, said Young. There is a finite amount of the incredible material and it is exceptionally beautiful, so I can only see its popularity exploding.

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Over the last year, a good number of insiders have significantly increased their holdings in Nickel Industries Limited (ASX:NIC). This is encouraging because it indicates that insiders are more optimistic about the company's prospects.

While insider transactions are not the most important thing when it comes to long-term investing, we do think it is perfectly logical to keep tabs on what insiders are doing.

See our latest analysis for Nickel Industries

The Last 12 Months Of Insider Transactions At Nickel Industries

The insider Mark Lochtenberg made the biggest insider purchase in the last 12 months. That single transaction was for AU$2.0m worth of shares at a price of AU$1.02 each. So it's clear an insider wanted to buy, even at a higher price than the current share price (being AU$0.94). It's very possible they regret the purchase, but it's more likely they are bullish about the company. To us, it's very important to consider the price insiders pay for shares. Generally speaking, it catches our eye when insiders have purchased shares at above current prices, as it suggests they believed the shares were worth buying, even at a higher price.

While Nickel Industries insiders bought shares during the last year, they didn't sell. You can see a visual depiction of insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last 12 months, below. By clicking on the graph below, you can see the precise details of each insider transaction!

Nickel Industries is not the only stock that insiders are buying. For those who like to find small cap companies at attractive valuations, this free list of growing companies with recent insider purchasing, could be just the ticket.

Insider Ownership

Many investors like to check how much of a company is owned by insiders. A high insider ownership often makes company leadership more mindful of shareholder interests. Nickel Industries insiders own 8.1% of the company, currently worth about AU$329m based on the recent share price. This kind of significant ownership by insiders does generally increase the chance that the company is run in the interest of all shareholders.

So What Do The Nickel Industries Insider Transactions Indicate?

There haven't been any insider transactions in the last three months -- that doesn't mean much. On a brighter note, the transactions over the last year are encouraging. With high insider ownership and encouraging transactions, it seems like Nickel Industries insiders think the business has merit. 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. To assist with this, we've discovered 3 warning signs that you should run your eye over to get a better picture of Nickel Industries.

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If you would prefer to check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss this free list of interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity and low debt.

For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions of direct interests only, but not derivative transactions or indirect interests.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
We recently published a list of Top Dividend Stocks to Buy in 2024 According to Billionaire Paul Tudor Jones. Since Occidental Petroleum Corp (NYSE:OXY) ranks 7th in the list, it deserves a deeper look.

Billionaire Paul Tudor Jones recently made headlines after he participated in the Robin Hood foundations fundraising event dressed as Neo from the movie The Matrix. The event raised $68.5 million. The billionaire, who founded Tudor Investment Corporation in 1980, couldnt help himself but talk about investing during the event, and highlighted the importance of Warren Buffett-style compounding.

Somewhere, somehow the multiplicative power of compound put you in this seat, Tudor Jones said.

During an interview last year, the billionaire had predicted that a recession was expected to start in the first quarter of 2024. He said at the time that the US was in its weakest position since World War II. However, the market rally fueled by AI proved the prediction wrong. Earlier this year, Jones said in another interview that the financial markets represent peoples ideas and what they make of the economic situation. Paul Tudor Jones said that theres a chance the stock market would be here or lower in the next five to ten years. However, the billionaire also said its possible that the markets would go higher from here if the next President of the US devises a better policy response next year.

READ NEXT: Billionaire Coopermans Top Dividend Picks and Analysts Are Upgrading These AI Stocks

Hes been vocal about AI lately and sharing his thoughts about the impact of technology on our society. He thinks AI could be the knight on the horse that rides and saves us.

But AI-related threats worry Paul Tudor Jones. In an interview in January he referred to a survey where close to 3,000 AI experts were asked whether they believe AI would end humanity. According to Jones, a whopping 58% of the experts said yes. The billionaire said US policymakers will have to decide how to tackle this problem. Jones believes AI is growing at an unbridled pace since theres so much money to be made in the domain but the biggest problem for policymakers would be to balance the benefits and threats of AI to make it sustainable.

For this article we scanned billionaire Paul Tudor Jones Q1 portfolio and chose his top dividend stock picks. Why are we interested in 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).

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Is Occidental Petroleum Corp (NYSE:OXY) the Top Dividend Stock to Buy in 2024 According to Billionaire Paul Tudor Jones?

Occidental Petroleum Corp (NYSE:OXY)

Billionaire Paul Tudor Jones Q12024 Stake: $45,974,706

Occidental Petroleum Corp (NYSE:OXY) has a dividend yield of about 1.4% as of June 3, and Occidental Petroleum Corp (NYSE:OXY) has maintained a consistent dividend payment record since 1985. Last month, Morgan Stanley published a list of stocks it believes are suitable for investors to survive the current economic volatility. The firm recommended Occidental Petroleum Corp (NYSE:OXY) as a high-quality growth stock. In December 2023 Occidental Petroleum Corp (NYSE:OXY) made headlines after announcing it would buy CrownRock for a whopping $12 billion. The deal would add 170 thousand barrels/day in production for Occidental Petroleum Corp (NYSE:OXY).

Warren Buffett having over $16.1 billion worth of stake in Occidental Petroleum Corp (NYSE:OXY) would be a huge confidence booster for both current and prospective investors for Occidental Petroleum Corp (NYSE:OXY). But Wall Street has many other reasons to call this stock a buy. Occidental Petroleum Corp (NYSE:OXY) expects to increase its FCF by $1 billion by the second half of 2026. Analysts also believe the CrownRock deal would add about 170 mboed of high-margin, lower-decline unconventional production from the Midland Basin. Based on Wall Streets average price target of $71 for OXY, the stock has an upside potential of about 15% from its current levels.

Overall, Occidental Petroleum Corp (NYSE:OXY) ranks 7th in Insider Monkeys list of Top Dividend Stocks to Buy in 2024 According to Billionaire Paul Tudor Jones. You can visit Top Dividend Stocks to Buy in 2024 According to Billionaire Paul Tudor Jones to see other stock picks of Billionaire Paul Tudor Jones. While we acknowledge the potential of Occidental Petroleum Corp (NYSE:OXY), our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter timeframe. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than Occidental Petroleum Corp (NYSE:OXY) 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 at Insider Monkey.
Sorry, Gen Z grads: Ritzy college degrees just arent the golden ticket to big paychecks that they perhaps used to be. New data shows that even those studying at Ivy League schools arent guaranteed a six-figure salary.

The Department of Educations College Scorecard tracked the median earnings, average annual cost, and median debt for former Ivy League students who received federal financial aid.

According to the research, only two of the eight Ivy League schools landed students with jobs paying more than $100,000 a whole decade after studying there: the University of Pennsylvania and Princeton University.

Those who studied at the University of Pennsylvania (and had financial aid) had the highest salary 10 years after tossing their graduation caps in the air at $112,761. Meanwhile, at $87,811, Brown University students had the lowest median earnings 10 years after graduating.

Despite being world-renowned, Harvard came in second to last when ranking the wages of former Ivy League students who received federal financial aid.

Median salaries of former Ivy League students 10 years later

1. The University of Pennsylvania: $112,761

2. Princeton University: $110,433

3. Cornell University: $98,321

4. Columbia University: $97,540

5. Yale University: $95,961

6. Dartmouth College: $95,540

7. Harvard University: $95,114

8. Brown University: $87,811

Nearly half of masters degree programs leave students financially worse off

Of course, not everyone gets financial aid to help with the eye-wateringly high costs associated with going to college. In reality, the Ivy League is known for enrolling students from wealthy families who are likely to secure lucrative careers no matter where they go to college.

However, separate studies have also shown that despite being previously seen as prestigious qualifications, degrees generally have lost their charm.

Across the board, 23% of bachelors programs yield a negative financial return on investment according to the Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity; this nearly doubles to 43% for masters degrees.

Even the MBA, one of Americas most popular masters degrees, frequently has a low or negative payoff, the report warned.

It comes as college fees keep skyrocketing. Many major employers have dropped their long-held degree requirements, and recruiters globally are significantly more likely to search for new hires by skills over higher education.

Even LinkedIn has concluded that the hottest skills to land a job right now cant be learned in a textbook and that in 90% of cases grads could have gotten a job without the once-lauded qualification.

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If you want proof, look no further than the fastest-growing job in the U.S. right nowwind turbine service technicianwhich pays up to $103,000 a year and doesnt require a college degree.

People are starting to smell a rat

A massive survey of Gen Z workers found that 40% of people ages 16 to 26 did not believe they needed a university degree to have a successful career.

It perhaps explains why the youngest generation of workers are shunning college (and with it, the prospect of a corporate career) to take up traditional trades like welding, plumbing, and carpentry.

Enrollment in vocational-focused community colleges rose 16% last year to its highest level since the National Student Clearinghouse began tracking such data in 2018. Meanwhile, the same data shows a 23% surge in students studying construction trades in 2023 compared to the year before.

People are starting to smell a rat, Mike Rowe, the CEO of MikeRoweWorks Foundation, commented on the shift, adding that blue-collar jobs are a straight path to a six-figure job without the burden of debt.

Take Chase Gallagher, for example: The 23-year-old started his lawn mowing side hustle as a teenager, and its now generating more than $1 million in revenue.

I just didnt see the ROI in going to university, the Gen Zer told Fortune. You can still be a 1% income earner here in America and be a trades business owner.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
The proposed Cheboygan Commons project would occupy a 14-acre site along Main Street, including the area that now houses the shuttered Tissue Depot paper mill and an adjacent site across the street from the mill.

CHEBOYGAN  A local real estate developer is behind a proposed multi-million dollar redevelopment project that could reshape the entrance to downtown Cheboygan and provide a significant boost to the area's housing, retail and tourism sectors.

Bob Pulte is working with Sharen Lange, Cheboygan County's economic development coordinator, to develop Cheboygan Commons, a more than $50 million project that would occupy a 14-acre site along Main Street. The area now houses the shuttered Tissue Depot paper mill and an adjacent site across the street from the mill that contained a warehouse connected by an overpass.

That warehouse was destroyed in a fire last Sept. 13, leading to the closure of the mill, which at one time employed nearly 300 workers when it was owned by Proctor & Gamble Co. Since then it has fallen on hard times and had less than 50 workers when the fire occurred.

More: Paper company, developer are taking a look at Tissue Depot site

The Tissue Depot paper mill in Cheboygan has been closed since a Sept. 13, 2023 fire.

Pulte hopes his project will inspire other developers to consider the area "and give them the sense that you can get something done."

"I hope it triggers a lot more development in the City of Cheboygan and in the county," he said. "Like everyone else, I understand what is going on with the lack of housing in Northern Michigan. When I saw the remnants of the fire on that site, I thought 'Why not.' That's a beautiful site for some housing and other things."

Thomas Homco of Hom Thermo Warehouse XIII, LLC owns the property and he is pleased that Pulte and his group will redevelop what he called a "key site in the Cheboygan community."

"I know the players that are involved can definitely get it done and I am excited to help them in any way that I can. Converting this from an industrial site that has had an off and on tendency over the years would move the needle into how this community is perceived. This is such a visible site in the heart of downtown and with a quality development like this, it could really improve the image," Homco said.

More: Mullett Lake, Cheboygan River may see fluctuation in water levels, DNR warns

The project calls for the full demolition of the mill, located at 502 S. Main St., which has Cheboygan River frontage. Lange said a hydroelectric generation facility that provided power to the mill will remain on the site and become fully functional after updates. It hasn't been operating since the fire, resulting in significant water level concerns along the Inland Waterway.

"We have engaged a hydroelectric specialist team that has been on the site conducting a detailed analysis," Lange said.

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On the site that contained the warehouse, the planned "neighborhood" development will include housing such as duplexes and apartment-style rental units, sidewalks and grass lawns, according to Lange.

For the site that now has the mill, the project calls for upscale housing with both on- and off-water condominiums, a riverfront restaurant, a boutique style hotel, commercial space for retail or offices and a small special events center.

Lange said it is estimated the project will cost over $50 million when completed. She added they envision a groundbreaking next spring with construction scheduled for completion by 2029.

The project will create or support an undetermined number of jobs during the building phase and will probably also provide opportunities for local firms to do subcontracting work.

Lange has been busy seeking support for the development from political and governmental leaders.

"I have been in contact with the community affairs unit in the governor's office and representatives from MEDC (Michigan Economic Development Corp.)," she said.

Lange has also been in contact with the office of Democratic U.S. Sen. Gary Peters along with U.S. Rep. Jack Bergman (R-Watersmeet), state Rep. Cam Cavitt, (R-Cheboygan) and state Sen. John Damoose, (R-Harbor Springs). All have indicated their initial support for the project, she said.

Piles of debris and building material are still visible at the site of the former Tissue Depot in Cheboygan on Friday, June 7, 2024.

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Pulte, who resides in the area, comes from a family that has a deep history in Detroit and Michigan. His father, the late William J. Pulte, started building houses in metro Detroit in the 1950s. Pulte Homes expanded to markets beyond Michigan and went public in 1969. The Fortune 500 company continued to grow through expansion and acquisitions, becoming the largest homebuilder in the country by the mid-1990s.

About two years ago, Bob Pulte wanted to develop a parcel of land located across from the Cheboygan County Fairgrounds into housing. However, that project never got off the ground due to a lack of utilities at the site.

So far, Lange said her role in the project has not posed a conflict with her duties as the county economic development coordinator.

"At this point the county does not feel that this is a conflict of interest with my consultancy contract with them. Of course if something pops up where I have to defer to make an adjustment, I will," she said.

 Contact Paul Welitzkin at pwelitzkin@gaylordheraldtimes.com.

This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Proposed $50 million development could transform Cheboygan downtown, add more housing
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  Red Lobster is rejecting the lease for a shuttered Columbus-area location, among nine Ohio restaurants that court documents say are closing after the company filed for bankruptcy last month.

The Orlando, Florida-based seafood chains restaurant at 1691 Dublin-Granville Road has been closed for several months, with the building now home to graffiti and code violation notices posted near the front door. Still, the Columbus-area eatery is listed in recent court filings as one location that is permanently closing after Red Lobster rejected the eaterys lease, along with the following eight Ohio restaurants:

3655 Orange Place, Beachwood

6500 Miller Lane, Dayton

2340 Tiffin Ave., Findlay

1422 Reynolds Road, Maumee

255 Graff Road SE, New Philadelphia

7607 Day Drive, Parma

17227 South Park Center, Strongsville

4990 Monroe Street, Toledo

Guy Fieris canceled Columbus Flavortown Festival still will happen

Red Lobster did not respond to NBC4s request for comment to clarify when exactly the Dublin-Granville Road location closed or if the shuttering was tied to the companys May bankruptcy filing. In a previous statement, the companys CEO Jonathan Tibus said restructuring is the best path forward for Red Lobster.

It allows us to address several financial and operational challenges and emerge stronger and re-focused on our growth, said Tibus. The support weve received from our lenders and vendors will help ensure that we can complete the sale process quickly and efficiently.

The seafood chains restaurant at 1691 Dublin-Granville Road will close. (Franklin County Auditors Office)

The seafood chains restaurant at 1691 Dublin-Granville Road will close. (Franklin County Auditors Office)

The seafood chains restaurant at 1691 Dublin-Granville Road will close. (Franklin County Auditors Office)

Red Lobster announced on May 19 that the company had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and has since listed around 100 stores online as closed. The closures span more than 25 states including California, Florida, Indiana, Michigan, New York and South Carolina, with kitchen equipment from more than 50 of those locations up for auction.

Ohio is one tornado away from breaking all-time record in 2024

The companys website still lists 31 other Ohio locations as open, including the following Columbus-area restaurants:

1520 Georgesville Road, Columbus

2147 S. Hamilton Road, Columbus

1270 Polaris Parkway, Columbus

6091 Sawmill Road, Dublin

1515 River Valley Circle North, Lancaster

909 Hebron Road, Heath

In the bankruptcy filing, Red Lobster said it has less than $30 million in cash and currently holds an estimated $1 billion to $10 billion in liabilities to more than 100,000 creditors. As part of the filing, Red Lobster entered into a stalking horse agreement, meaning it plans to sell its business to another company formed and controlled by its lenders.

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Subtracting those set for closure, Red Lobster operates more than 540 restaurants across the U.S. Texas is home to the most locations, with 45 currently open and nine closing. Florida is in second with 41 open restaurants and 17 closing, while Pennsylvania is fourth with 32. Rounding out the top five, Ohio is tied with California with 31 open.

Red Lobster has spent $190.5 million so far this year operating all of these locations, including more than $64 million dedicated to underperforming locations, the filing said. The seafood chain also noted its annual guest count has decreased 30% since 2019, with net sales showing material decline through the past year, including a $76 million loss in 2023.

See which two Columbus parks will benefit from an over $1.6 million project

A key turning point was the chains endless shrimp deal last year, which allowed patrons to pay $20 for unlimited shrimp and was meant to only be a limited-time promotion. A decision to add the special as a permanent menu item ended up costing the company $11 million.

Founded in 1968, the chain has also expanded to nearly 30 locations in Canada and 27 other international restaurants. As of May, the companys U.S. workforce consists of 34,000 employees.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
The clock is officially ticking on the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), and uncertainty about the trade preference programs future is already eroding U.S. imports from sub-Saharan African (SSA) nations.

Office of Textiles and Apparel (OTEXA) data from April revealed a concerning trend: imports from AGOA beneficiary countries decreased by more than 23 percent in value and nearly 22 percent in quantity compared to the same period last year. Just 1.7 percent of all U.S. global apparel imports came from AGOA members in the first four months of this year, down from 2 percent during the first four months of 2023.

More from Sourcing Journal

By contrast, with U.S. imports from China cooling off, 2023 saw Asian suppliers gobbling up market share. Vietnam, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia and Cambodia are picking up Chinas slack; collectively, the five countries accounted for 43 percent of U.S. apparel imports last year.

With those stats as a backdrop, Dr. Sheng Lu, professor and director of graduate studies in the Department of Fashion and Apparel Studies at the University of Delaware, said Africas opportunity for growth into a leading apparel sourcing hub hinges on the swift and long-term renewal of AGOA.

In a study released this week, Lu analyzed the regions capabilities and capacity to take on more apparel sourcing from Asia as China continues to shed market share. The SSA region was often regarded as one of the most popular alternative sourcing destinations thanks to its large population, relatively low labor costs, and shorter shipping distance to U.S. ports compared to most Asian [sourcing hubs], he wrote.

But despite the U.S. governments aim to boost trade with Africa through the creation of AGOA 24 years ago, growth has been slow-going. The trade deal, which allows a multitude of products from nearly three dozen sub-Saharan African countries to enter the U.S. duty free, creates substantial financial incentives to source from members, but empirical trade data shows that U.S. apparel imports from SSA members have stagnated over the past decades without evident growth, the report said.

The reasoning for that is multifaceted. The academic examined 10,000 apparel SKUshalf from SSA countries, and half from Asian suppliersand noted stark differences in the characteristics of the products available.

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According to Lu, the results showed that U.S. fashion companies tend to source simple and basic apparel categories containing African cultural elements and targeting the luxury and premium market segment from Africa, like knitwear, T-shirts and slacks. More established apparel sourcing countries in Asia, by comparison, are able to produce everything from low-cost mass-market clothing to luxury goods, outerwear, swimwear and activewear.

Additionally, U.S. apparel imports from SSA countries were mostly made with cotton and polyester, while Asian imports were much more diverse, containing fiber types ranging from nylon to rayon, viscose, wool and recycled textiles.

Theoretically [SSA suppliers] should have no problem with textile raw materials, because the AGOA rules of origin are very liberal; developing countries there can use the third-country fabric rule, which means they can really import materials from anywhere in the world, Lu told Sourcing Journal Monday.

But in practice, liberal rules of origin havent solved the fabric access problem for African nations looking to produce apparel. If you cannot make them locally, you have to rely on importing all these raw materialsits not practical in the end, and it can be extremely costly, both in terms of production costs and time, he added.

Complex products like outerwear incorporate highly technical fabrics and components, and importing all those parts and pieces is a near impossibility for many African producers. Advanced materials can also require different machinery and assembly techniques than SSA producers are equipped to provide. Unlike Asia or even compared to Central America, the labor force in Africa needs more training and more skill sets to engage in making more sophisticated products.

According to Lu, liberal rules of origin simply cant, and wont, supersede the need for AGOA members to develop their own textile manufacturing capabilities. Without a robust local textile manufacturing sector, SSA countries would encounter significant challenges in diversifying their product offerings to include more complex and versatile clothing categories, he believes. The research also suggests that building a more verticalized supply chain in SSA could be a boon to business, helping African nations become more nimble and cost-competitive.

Thats where AGOA reenters the chat. When were talking about AGOA, its not just about offering the duty free benefits, its about giving an assured business environment that can drive more investment to be made into the region, Lu said. These investments can be in building new production capabilities, sourcing capabilities, or the commitment of sourcing orders from the region.

U.S. companies are unlikely to continue to invest in building out the SSA supply chainor commit to purchasing from AGOA members for their forthcoming collectionsif theyre not sure whether the preference program will exist in 15 months, he believes.

AGOA may not be a perfect programthere have been rumblings about the need for revisions to social and environmental standards, for examplebut without it, the region is sure to falter in its mission to become an apparel sourcing hub for the Western world, Lu said. He would like to see the trade law renewed for a longer periodsay 20 years. The more we can create a stable and foreseeable market outlook, the more likely we can drive more needed investment to the region, he added.

Those that are skeptical of AGOAs efficacy need look no further than Ethiopia. The country, which saw its AGOA eligibility rescinded in 2022, has seen its exports to the U.S. market drop precipitously since then. American apparel imports from Ethiopia took a nosedive in 2024, dropping 40 percent from last year.

At U.S. Senate Committee on Finance hearing last week, lawmakers discussed the revitalization and renewal of trade preference programs like AGOA, with witnesses making the case for its swift renewal.

Melissa Nelson, general counsel and corporate secretary for Washington-based SanMar Corporation, told Senate leaders that more than 10,000 U.S. and SSA jobs tied to the companys products rely on the programs continuation. Last year, SanMar imported more than 58 million pieces from AGOA countries to be finished in the U.S.

If you look inside the label of one of our shirts theres a good chance that would say made in Ghana or made in Madagascar, but the vast majority of the value of that shirt is created in the United Statesand it all depends on having access to AGOA.

Nelson said building a supply chain in SSA has taken much time and investment from SanMar, underscoring the need for a long renewal period. The product development cycle when sourcing from even an established factory in these countries is close to 18 months, and with the program set to expire next September, we are already within that window and making business decisions with the expiration date in mind, she said.

There is so much potential in vertical integration, but companies are hesitant to invest when the benefits of AGOA could expire before a return on investment, she added. The region has phenomenal potential, but businesses need the stability of a long term renewal to create a sustainable manufacturing base.
As the Singapore market continues to adapt and evolve, major initiatives like Santander's recent collaboration with Apple in Germany highlight the dynamic nature of global financial strategies. This underscores the importance of stability and consistent returns, qualities that make dividend stocks particularly appealing in fluctuating markets.

Top 10 Dividend Stocks In Singapore

Name Dividend Yield Dividend Rating Civmec (SGX:P9D) 5.98%  Singapore Exchange (SGX:S68) 3.54%  UOB-Kay Hian Holdings (SGX:U10) 6.97%  China Sunsine Chemical Holdings (SGX:QES) 6.27%  UOL Group (SGX:U14) 3.73%  BRC Asia (SGX:BEC) 7.58%  Bumitama Agri (SGX:P8Z) 6.99%  Singapore Airlines (SGX:C6L) 7.07%  YHI International (SGX:BPF) 6.63%  Sing Investments & Finance (SGX:S35) 5.88% 

Click here to see the full list of 19 stocks from our Top SGX Dividend Stocks screener.

Let's uncover some gems from our specialized screener.

Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: 

Overview: The Hour Glass Limited operates as an investment holding company that retails and distributes watches, jewelry, and other luxury products across Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam with a market capitalization of SGD 1.01 billion.

Operations: The Hour Glass Limited generates SGD 1.13 billion primarily from the retail and distribution of watches, jewelry, and luxury products.

Dividend Yield: 5.2%

Hour Glass, with a P/E ratio of 6.4x, offers value below the Singapore market average. Despite its dividend yield of 5.19% not reaching the top quartile in Singapore, its dividends are sustainably covered by both earnings and cash flows, with payout ratios at 33.5% and 46.3%, respectively. However, dividend reliability may concern investors due to historical volatility over the past decade. Recently affirmed dividends and stable sales figures suggest a cautious optimism for maintaining payouts.

SGX:AGS Dividend History as at Jun 2024

Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: 

Overview: Singapore Airlines Limited operates passenger and cargo air transportation under the Singapore Airlines and Scoot brands across various regions including East Asia, the Americas, Europe, Southwest Pacific, West Asia, and Africa, with a market capitalization of SGD 24.24 billion.

Operations: Singapore Airlines Limited generates revenue primarily through its Full Service Carrier (FSC) segment, which brought in SGD 16.18 billion, and its Low-Cost Carrier (LCC) operations, contributing SGD 2.45 billion, along with Engineering Services at SGD 1.09 billion.

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Dividend Yield: 7.1%

Singapore Airlines reported a robust increase in annual sales to SGD 19.01 billion and net income to SGD 2.67 billion, reflecting solid operational performance with higher passenger volumes and load factors. Despite this, the dividend track record remains unstable, characterized by significant fluctuations over the past decade. The payout ratio stands at 75.9%, suggesting dividends are well-covered by earnings, yet cash flow coverage is lower at 45.9%, indicating potential pressure on sustaining dividends if operational cash flows vary.

SGX:C6L Dividend History as at Jun 2024

Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: 

Overview: Delfi Limited is an investment holding company that specializes in manufacturing, marketing, distributing, and selling chocolate and related consumer products across Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, and other international markets with a market cap of SGD 534.76 million.

Operations: Delfi Limited generates revenue primarily from its operations in Indonesia, contributing SGD 370.41 million, and its regional markets, adding another SGD 185.07 million.

Dividend Yield: 6.6%

Delfi Limited, with a dividend yield of 6.64%, ranks in the top 25% of Singaporean dividend stocks but faces challenges with sustainability. Its high cash payout ratio at 17.77 times suggests dividends are not well-supported by cash flows, and historical data reveal inconsistent dividend payments over the past decade. Despite a forecasted earnings growth of 3.07% per year and trading at a significant discount to fair value, analysts anticipate a potential stock price increase of 26.4%. Recent board changes could impact governance and strategic direction.

SGX:P34 Dividend History as at Jun 2024

Summing It All Up

Take a closer look at our Top SGX Dividend Stocks list of 19 companies by clicking here.

Invested in any of these stocks? Simplify your portfolio management with Simply Wall St and stay ahead with our alerts for any critical updates on your stocks.

Maximize your investment potential with Simply Wall St, the comprehensive app that offers global market insights for free.

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This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Companies discussed in this article include SGX:AGS SGX:C6L and SGX:P34.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com
A Boeing 737 Max 8. Tomas Del Coro/Wikimedia Commons Tomas Del Coro / Wikimedia Commons

Southwest Airlines is doubling down on its strategy after Elliott Investment Management, an activist fund, took a $2 billion stake in the company.

We are confident that Southwest Airlines has the right strategy, the right plan and the right team in place to drive long-term value for our Shareholders, Southwest said in a statement.

Elliotts stake in Southwest makes it one of the airlines largest investors. The firm is pushing for major leadership changes, including replacements to CEO Bob Jordan and Chairman Gary Kelly. Southwest said the board and its executive team are currently reviewing Elliotts proposal.

Southwest also said it was taking steps to restore its profitability. Those steps include new technology investments, cutting underperforming routes, implementing a new revenue management system, and improving its onboard experience.

The carrier underperformed in the first quarter, with executives citing delivery delays for the Boeing 737 Max 7, and sustained demand for premium and international products.

Elliott also expressed concerns over what it considers a complacent board of directors; Southwest said its brought on seven independent board members in the past three years.

This also isnt Elliotts first time making an activist push in the travel industry. Previously, the firm has invested in Dean Hotels and and Travelport. Beyond travel, Elliott has also taken activist stakes in companies like SoftBank, Texas Instruments and Johnson Controls. Elliotts activist pushes have also led to the ouster of CEOs at telecommunications giant Crown Castle and energy company NRG.

Its unclear if Elliotts activist push in Southwest will end in Jordan or Kelly stepping down. Wall Street welcomed the news of Elliotts activist stake in Southwest as the carriers shares rose by around 7% Monday morning.

Airlines Sector Stock Index Performance Year-to-Date

What am I looking at? The performance of airline sector stocks within the ST200. The index includes companies publicly traded across global markets including network carriers, low-cost carriers, and other related companies.

The Skift Travel 200 (ST200) combines the financial performance of nearly 200 travel companies worth more than a trillion dollars into a single number. See more airlines sector financial performance.

Read the full methodology behind the Skift Travel 200.

Get breaking travel news and exclusive hotel, airline, and tourism research and insights at Skift.com.
The New Expanded Partnership Will Aim to Support the Dismantling of Systemic Barriers to Equity and Help Strengthen the Health Workforce in Massachusetts

The Existing Global Partnership Has Provided Screening and Diagnostic Services to Over 8 Million People in Community Settings

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., June 11, 2024--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Takeda (TSE:4502/NYSE:TAK) announced that it has expanded its partnership with Partners In Health (PIH), an international nonprofit organization, to support a new initiative with PIH that aims to address social determinants of health and improve access to care within communities across Massachusetts. This builds on Takedas existing global partnership with PIH that has been in place since 2017.

Takedas work with PIH has focused on strengthening the capacity of communities globally to identify and address health inequities sustainably, leading to improved care at every stage of the patient journey. Takeda has supported PIH in expanding and strengthening its diagnostic and clinical care services to over 8 million people in community settings since the global partnership was initiated.

In this new partnership, Takeda and PIH will focus on achieving the following objectives:

Establishing additional Health Equity Communities of Practice that will convene leaders to target systemic barriers to equity at the policy level

Expanding the capacity of local health departments and communities to plan for and deliver programs with a focus on health equity and community inclusion

Expanding opportunities for community health workers to strengthen the health workforce and bring more community members into the health system

"Our collaboration with Takeda will help advance more equitable community health systems in Massachusetts," said Kristina St. Cyr Kimani, Massachusetts director of Partners In Health United States. "By centering community-driven approaches and supporting local health departments, we aim to dismantle systemic barriers to health and wellbeing and reimagine health and social support services to better meet the needs of diverse communities in Massachusetts."

In Massachusetts, there are significant gaps in health outcomes based on ones race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status and other factors. A report by the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation and the Health Equity Compact revealed that communities of color in Massachusetts face an economic burden of 1.5 billion in avoidable health care spending due to poorer health.1 The study estimates that the growing burden will exceed $11 billion annually by 2050.1

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"Expanding our collaboration with PIH will help improve health outcomes in communities disproportionately affected by health care disparities," said Dr. Chris Reddick, vice president and head of U.S. Health Equity, CSR and Philanthropy at Takeda. "This partnership takes a holistic look at a multitude of factors that affect ones health and leverages community health improvement plans to ensure community members are connected to the health care resources they need most. Through this approach, additional communities across Massachusetts will be served, including those that surround our global hub in Cambridge."

To alleviate the growing burden of health care disparities, Takeda is committed to collaborating with community partners to support sustainable health equity solutions that target the root cause of health inequities with the ultimate goal of improving health and creating a brighter future for all.

Learn more about how Takeda is working alongside community partners in the Caring for Tomorrow: 2023 U.S. Community Impact Report: Takeda_CSR_Report_2023.pdf

About Takeda

Takeda is focused on creating better health for people and a brighter future for the world. We aim to discover and deliver life-transforming treatments in our core therapeutic and business areas, including gastrointestinal and inflammation, rare diseases, plasma-derived therapies, oncology, neuroscience and vaccines. Together with our partners, we aim to improve the patient experience and advance a new frontier of treatment options through our dynamic and diverse pipeline. As a leading values-based, R&D-driven biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Japan, we are guided by our commitment to patients, our people and the planet. Our employees in approximately 80 countries and regions are driven by our purpose and are grounded in the values that have defined us for more than two centuries. For more information, visit www.takeda.com.

Important Notice

For the purposes of this notice, "press release" means this document, any oral presentation, any question and answer session and any written or oral material discussed or distributed by Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited ("Takeda") regarding this release. This press release (including any oral briefing and any question-and-answer in connection with it) is not intended to, and does not constitute, represent or form part of any offer, invitation or solicitation of any offer to purchase, otherwise acquire, subscribe for, exchange, sell or otherwise dispose of, any securities or the solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction. No shares or other securities are being offered to the public by means of this press release. No offering of securities shall be made in the United States except pursuant to registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or an exemption therefrom. This press release is being given (together with any further information which may be provided to the recipient) on the condition that it is for use by the recipient for information purposes only (and not for the evaluation of any investment, acquisition, disposal or any other transaction). Any failure to comply with these restrictions may constitute a violation of applicable securities laws.

The companies in which Takeda directly and indirectly owns investments are separate entities. In this press release, "Takeda" is sometimes used for convenience where references are made to Takeda and its subsidiaries in general. Likewise, the words "we", "us" and "our" are also used to refer to subsidiaries in general or to those who work for them. These expressions are also used where no useful purpose is served by identifying the particular company or companies.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release and any materials distributed in connection with this press release may contain forward-looking statements, beliefs or opinions regarding Takedas future business, future position and results of operations, including estimates, forecasts, targets and plans for Takeda. Without limitation, forward-looking statements often include words such as "targets", "plans", "believes", "hopes", "continues", "expects", "aims", "intends", "ensures", "will", "may", "should", "would", "could", "anticipates", "estimates", "projects" or similar expressions or the negative thereof. These forward-looking statements are based on assumptions about many important factors, including the following, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements: the economic circumstances surrounding Takedas global business, including general economic conditions in Japan and the United States; competitive pressures and developments; changes to applicable laws and regulations, including global health care reforms; challenges inherent in new product development, including uncertainty of clinical success and decisions of regulatory authorities and the timing thereof; uncertainty of commercial success for new and existing products; manufacturing difficulties or delays; fluctuations in interest and currency exchange rates; claims or concerns regarding the safety or efficacy of marketed products or product candidates; the impact of health crises, like the novel coronavirus pandemic, on Takeda and its customers and suppliers, including foreign governments in countries in which Takeda operates, or on other facets of its business; the timing and impact of post-merger integration efforts with acquired companies; the ability to divest assets that are not core to Takedas operations and the timing of any such divestment(s); and other factors identified in Takedas most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F and Takedas other reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, available on Takedas website at: https://www.takeda.com/investors/sec-filings-and-security-reports/ or at www.sec.gov. Takeda does not undertake to update any of the forward-looking statements contained in this press release or any other forward-looking statements it may make, except as required by law or stock exchange rule. Past performance is not an indicator of future results and the results or statements of Takeda in this press release may not be indicative of, and are not an estimate, forecast, guarantee or projection of Takedas future results.

References:

1J. Gaskin, D., A. LaVeist, T., Turner, A., & Obbin, S. (2023). The Time is Now: The $5.9 Billion Case for Massachusetts Health Equity Reform. The Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation. https://www.bluecrossmafoundation.org/sites/g/files/csphws2101/files/2023-06/Econ_Cost_Inequities_Full%20report_FINAL_0.pdf

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240611689645/en/

Contacts

U.S. and International Media

Megan Ostrower

megan.ostrower@takeda.com

+1 772-559-4924
Texas-based Whataburger is suing several North Carolina restaurants of nearly identical names for trademark infringement.

The lawsuit was filed in federal court on Tuesday. The North Carolina What-A-Burger #13 restaurants are controlled by Zeb Bost and are based at addresses on W. Franklin Street in Mount Pleasant, Trinity Road in Raleigh, and Randalls Ferry Road in Norwood.

The plaintiff cited the impact the Texas chain has had on the country, including the anticipation that builds whenever a new location is announced.

The Texas chain is filing the lawsuit after it confirmed news of its arrival in North Carolina. It alleges the defendants sell goods and services that are identical to Whataburgers offerings, and identical or highly related to the goods and services covered by Whataburgers federal registrations.

RELATED: Charlotte is a step closer to getting Whataburger

Whataburger alleges its trademarks exclude others from using the same or confusingly similar marks subsequent to the issuance of Whataburgers first registration in 1957.

According to the lawsuit, the defendants claim to have started using What-A-Burger #13 around 1969, more than 10 years after Whataburgers first copyright registration.

(Photos: Yelps Best Burgers in America ranked 100 of the best burger joints according to Yelp reviews)

No.1 : Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q, Atlanta, Georgia

No. 2: Minetta Tavern, New York

No. 3: Slutty Vegan, Atlanta, Georgia

No. 4: Gordon Ramsay Burger, Las Vegas, Nevada

No. 5: Father's Office, Los Angeles https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/fathers-office-los-angeles?select=PlJ7OVL3jM2XgkSc3XFs1A

No. 6: Cowfish, Charlotte, North Carolina The Cowfish Burgushi, courtesy of Denny Deaton

No. 7: Sister Liu's Kitchen, Durham, North Carolina https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/sister-lius-kitchen-durham-2?select=bG0cDu9BCgY_PbIne2rPTg

No. 8: Facing East, Bellevue, Washington

No. 9: Kumas Corner, Chicago, Illinois

No. 10: KoJa Kitchen, Berkeley, California

Whataburger said it contacted the defendants on Oct. 13, 2022 in anticipation of coming to the Tar Heel State. The parties signed a confidential coexistence agreement that allowed limited use of What-A-Burger #13. That agreement was effective May 19, 2023.

One of the conditions was that the North Carolina restaurants could use the name with certain conditions for existing brick-and-mortar locations and an existing food truck. But the lawsuit alleges the Norwood entity formed days before the agreement was signed and wasnt disclosed to Whataburger. They also allege the food truck has used the trademark in ways not permitted by the agreement.

READ MORE: Texas-based Whataburger eyeing east Charlotte location

Whataburger said it reached out to the defendants multiple times, but they continued to violate the agreement. As previously decided, when the terms of the agreement were violated, the agreement ended, meaning the defendants were no longer allowed to use the trademarks.

Defendants continued and ongoing use of the What-A-Burger #13 [trademark] is without authorization, either under the Agreement or otherwise, the suit reads.

Whataburger is suing for federal trademark infringement, federal and common law unfair competition, breach of contract, and unfair and deceptive trade practices.

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Theyre asking the North Carolina companies to be permanently restrained from using the What-A-Burger #13 trademark and anything else confusingly similar to Whataburger.

Channel 9 is reaching out to What-A-Burger #13 for comment.

(WATCH BELOW: Texas-based Whataburger eyeing east Charlotte location)
Diamond Hill Capital, an investment management company, released its Select Strategy first-quarter 2024 investor letter. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. The portfolio appreciated double digits in Q1 outperforming the Russell 3000 Index. The strategy returned 12.66% gross of fees and 12.43% net of fees vs 10.02% for the index. The relative performance of the portfolio concentrated on discretionary, financials, and consumer staples holdings however industrials and healthcare holdings, while positive on an absolute basis, trailed benchmark peers, posing a relative headwind in Q1. Relative performance was also negatively impacted by lack of exposure to the communication services sector. In addition, you can check the top 5 holdings of the fund to know its best picks in 2024.

Diamond Hill Select Strategy highlighted stocks like Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE), in the first quarter 2024 investor letter. Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) is a biopharmaceutical company. The one-month return of Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) was -1.09%, and its shares lost 30.31% of their value over the last 52 weeks. On June 10, 2024, Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) stock closed at $28.07 per share with a market capitalization of $159.061 billion.

Diamond Hill Select Strategy stated the following regarding Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) in its first quarter 2024 investor letter:

"Though valuations have increased, we continue identifying high-quality companies we believe the market is overlooking. Thus, we initiated new positions in Q1: Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE). Biopharmaceutical company Pfizer is a leading global pharmaceuticals company that benefited during the pandemic from COVID vaccine and treatment sales, which provided significant excess earnings above the companys normalized earnings power. Although the resulting influx of incremental cash allowed Pfizer to complete several acquisitions, the company has struggled to return to its pre-pandemic profitability as COVID-related sales have declined. In late 2023, Pfizer started focusing on cost-cutting and aiming to increase its operating margin significantly over the next few years. The base (non-COVID-related) business continues performing well, and given the outlook from here, we took advantage of what we consider an attractive, depressed valuation to initiate a position during the quarter."

A medical technician wearing protective gloves and a mask mixing a biopharmaceutical solution.

Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) is not on our list of 31 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. As per our database, 77 hedge fund portfolios held Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) at the end of the first quarter which was 79 in the previous quarter. Pfizer Inc.'s (NYSE:PFE) total revenue for the quarter was $14.9 billion, 19% operational decline from the same period last year. While we acknowledge the potential of Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter timeframe. If you are looking for an AI stock that is as promising as NVIDIA but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.

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In another article, we discussed Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) and shared the list of best gene therapy stocks to buy. In addition, please check out our hedge fund investor letters Q1 2024 page for more investor letters from hedge funds and other leading investors.

READ NEXT: Michael Burry Is Selling These Stocks and A New Dawn Is Coming to US Stocks.

Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.
For long-term investors, dividends are a critical piece of the performance puzzle. Here's an almost unbelievable statistic from Harford Funds: Since 1960, 85% of the S&P 500's cumulative total return was tied to reinvesting dividends.

However, not all dividend stocks are created equal. High yields can sometimes come with high risks, so investors should focus on high-quality companies capable of sustaining and growing their dividend payments over time. Two of the best bets right now are British American Tobacco (NYSE: BTI) and Tanger (NYSE: SKT).

British American Tobacco

Consumption of cigarettes and other combustible products is in decline, particularly in the U.S. British American Tobacco expects global tobacco industry volume to be down around 3% this year, and the company has seen a 9% decline in the U.S. year to date.

While British American Tobacco's core business is in decline, the company is having success growing its so-called "new categories." These include vaping products under the Vuse brand, tobacco heating products under the glo brand, and modern oral products under the Velo brand.

The Vuse brand of vaping products currently has a global value share of 41.1% in the company's key markets and a 51.5% share in the U.S. The glo brand of tobacco heating products enjoys a 16.8% volume share in key markets, and the Velo brand of modern oral products has a 27% volume share in key markets. The company expects volumes and revenue to accelerate across these businesses in the second half of the year.

Despite weakness in traditional tobacco products, British American Tobacco expects organic revenue to grow by a low-single-digit percentage this year at constant currency, with similar growth for adjusted operating profit.

This profit growth will help support the dividend, which currently yields about 9.4% based on the most recently announced quarterly dividend payment. British American Tobacco has also started buying back its stock, which is funded by the monetization of its stake in ITC.

The company plans to spend 700 million pounds (about $889 million) on buybacks this year and 900 million pounds (about $1.1 billion) in 2025, all while working to bring its net debt to adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) ratio down to a range of 2.0 to 2.5 by the end of this year.

The main risk for British American Tobacco shareholders is that revenue and profit from new categories may not grow fast enough to offset declines in cigarette consumption. But with the stock trading for less than 7 times forward earnings, there's a significant margin of safety for investors willing to take that risk.

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Tanger Factory Outlets

Tanger operates 40 open-air outlet centers near tourist destinations and within suburbs of fast-growing cities in the U.S. and Canada. The company's tenant base is diversified, with retail partners outside the top 10 accounting for about two-thirds of the annualized base rent.

Tanger's business suffered during the pandemic, but things are now mostly back to normal. Occupancy has rebounded to 96.5%, not too far off from historical levels, and rent renewals and retenanting have been yielding double-digit percentage increases in rents.

Tanger has multiple ways to grow. Beyond improving metrics at its existing outlet centers, the company can open or acquire additional outlet centers and monetize adjacent properties. While Tanger's results will be somewhat sensitive to economic conditions, the value proposition of name-brand merchandise at discounted prices should hold up in any economy.

Tanger expects to grow same-center net operating income by between 2.25% and 4.25% this year, which will lead to adjusted funds from operations between $2.03 and $2.11 per share. Based on the current stock price, the price-to-FFO ratio sits at about 13.

Tanger's dividend isn't quite as generous as British American Tobacco's, but the stock still offers an attractive yield and the potential for dividend growth. Based on the latest quarterly dividend payment of $0.275, Tanger stock currently yields just over 4%. The dividend has grown significantly over the past few years after a brief pandemic-driven pause in 2020.

Tanger isn't the bargain it was coming out of the pandemic when pessimism was running high, but it's still an attractive dividend stock for long-term investors.

Should you invest $1,000 in British American Tobacco right now?

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Timothy Green has positions in British American Tobacco and Tanger. The Motley Fool recommends British American Tobacco P.l.c. and Tanger and recommends the following options: long January 2026 $40 calls on British American Tobacco and short January 2026 $40 puts on British American Tobacco. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Here Are My Top 2 High-Yield Dividend Stocks to Buy Now was originally published by The Motley Fool
Toyota's Certification Crisis Extends Beyond Japan, Could Impact EU Operations

Toyota Motor Corp. (NYSE:TM) has been found to have discrepancies in its vehicle certifications that also conflict with United Nations standards, a key set of regulations adhered to by 62 countries and regions, including the European Union.

The implications of these findings could potentially extend beyond Japan, affecting Toyotas operations globally as regulatory bodies in other jurisdictions may consider taking similar action against the automaker, reported Bloomberg.

Earlier this month, Japan's transport ministry took a drastic step by halting the sales and deliveries of six models, three of which are Toyota's, including the Corolla Fielder, the Corolla Axio, and the Yaris Cross.

The action followed an internal investigation that uncovered falsified safety data during pedestrian-safety tests and the use of non-standard vehicles in collision tests for several other models.

Akio Toyoda, Toyotas Chairman, responded to the crisis by stating that the tests were conducted under more stringent conditions than those required by Japanese regulations, ensuring that the vehicles are safe to drive.

Also Read: Toyota, Subaru, Mazda Aim For Carbon-Neutral Future In Engine Development: Details

However, he admitted to significant lapses in the certification process and apologized for the oversight.

"We neglected the certification process and mass-produced our cars without taking the necessary precautionary steps," Toyoda remarked during a press conference on June 3.

Toyota, which is the largest automaker globally by volume, announced that this issue would affect two of its production lines, which collectively produce about 130,000 vehicles annually.

This comes at a critical time as the company prepares for its annual shareholder meeting next week. In 2023, Toyota manufactured and sold over 11 million passenger vehicles worldwide.

Toyota stock has gained 36% in the last 12 months. Investors can gain exposure to the stock via Amplify CWP International Enhanced Dividend Income ETF (NYSE:IDVO) and Altrius Global Dividend ETF (NASDQ:DIVD).

Price Action: TM shares closed higher by 0.80% at $208.02 on Monday.

Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Read Next: Japanese Mega Banks Plan $8.5B Toyota Stake Sale: Report

Photo via Shutterstock

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This article Toyota's Certification Crisis Extends Beyond Japan, Could Impact EU Operations originally appeared on Benzinga.com

 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
We recently published a list of Top Dividend Stocks to Buy in 2024 According to Billionaire Paul Tudor Jones. Since UnitedHealth Group Inc (NYSE:UNH) ranks 1st in the list, it deserves a deeper look.

Billionaire Paul Tudor Jones recently made headlines after he participated in the Robin Hood foundations fundraising event dressed as Neo from the movie The Matrix. The event raised $68.5 million. The billionaire, who founded Tudor Investment Corporation in 1980, couldnt help himself but talk about investing during the event, and highlighted the importance of Warren Buffett-style compounding.

Somewhere, somehow the multiplicative power of compound put you in this seat, Tudor Jones said.

Paul Tudor Jones Recession Prediction

During an interview last year, the billionaire had predicted that a recession was expected to start in the first quarter of 2024. He said at the time that the US was in its weakest position since World War II. However, the market rally fueled by AI proved the prediction wrong. Earlier this year, Jones said in another interview that the financial markets represent peoples ideas and what they make of the economic situation. Paul Tudor Jones said that theres a chance the stock market would be here or lower in the next five to ten years. However, the billionaire also said its possible that the markets would go higher from here if the next President of the US devises a better policy response next year.

READ NEXT: Billionaire Coopermans Top Dividend Picks and Analysts Are Upgrading These AI Stocks

Hes been vocal about AI lately and sharing his thoughts about the impact of technology on our society. He thinks AI could be the knight on the horse that rides and saves us.

But AI-related threats worry Paul Tudor Jones. In an interview in January he referred to a survey where close to 3,000 AI experts were asked whether they believe AI would end humanity. According to Jones, a whopping 58% of the experts said yes. The billionaire said US policymakers will have to decide how to tackle this problem. Jones believes AI is growing at an unbridled pace since theres so much money to be made in the domain but the biggest problem for policymakers would be to balance the benefits and threats of AI to make it sustainable.

For this article we scanned billionaire Paul Tudor Jones Q1 portfolio and chose his top dividend stock picks. Why are we interested in 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).

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Is UnitedHealth Group Inc (NYSE:UNH) the Top Dividend Stock to Buy in 2024 According to Billionaire Paul Tudor Jones?

UnitedHealth Group Inc (NYSE:UNH)

Billionaire Paul Tudor Jones Q12024 Stake: $67,706,126

UnitedHealth Group Inc (NYSE:UNH) is one of the most famous dividend stocks in the market right now, as the health insurance giant has increased its payout every year since 1990. Billionaire Paul Tudor Jones increased his hold in Unitedhealth Group Inc (NYSE:UNH) by 167% in the March quarter, ending the period with a $68 million stake in Unitedhealth Group Inc (NYSE:UNH). Analysts expect Unitedhealth Group Incs (NYSE:UNH) EPS to expand by about 10.5% to $27.75 by the end of 2024. The global health insurance industry is set to grow at a CAGR of 6.2% from 2024 through 2032. This growth would bode well for industry leaders like UNH.

Last month Bank of America Securities analyst Kevin Fischbeck reiterated a Buy rating on UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) with a price target of $675.00. The analyst highlighted UnitedHealths efforts to grow its long-term EPS to 13-16%, strong value-based care model, and adaptable business strategy.

UnitedHealth revenue in the first quarter increased by 8.6% year-over-year to $99.8 billion. Its net loss per share of $1.53 was due to the $7.1 billion charge from the sale of its Brazil operations. In 2025, the companys adjusted EPS is expected to jump 12.3% and by 13.2% in 2026.The companys forward P/E of 17 is still lower than its 10-year average P/E of 20.2.

Baron Health Care Fund stated the following regarding UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) in its first quarter 2024 investor letter:

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) is a leading health insurance company that operates across four segments: United Healthcare, Optum Health, OptumInsight, and OptumRX. Shares fell alongside other managed care organizations (MCOs) due to patient utilization of Medicare Advantage (MA) that was higher than consensus forecasts, raising concerns that MCOs had mispriced 2024 bids and could suffer margin compression as a result. In addition, the industry is facing headwinds from MA reimbursement cuts and Star Rating changes. While management said higher cost trends are mostly transitory and reflected in its bidding, and 2024 guidance was roughly in line with consensus, investors took a more cautious wait-and-see approach. We believe UnitedHealth should remain a core portfolio holding, as it is a way to play positive demographic, population health, and value-based reimbursement trends. Despite its size, we think the company should be able to grow earnings consistent with its 13% to 16% long-term EPS annual target, the fastest among major MCOs.

Overall, UnitedHealth Group Inc (NYSE:UNH) ranks 1st in Insider Monkeys list of Top Dividend Stocks to Buy in 2024 According to Billionaire Paul Tudor Jones. You can visit Top Dividend Stocks to Buy in 2024 According to Billionaire Paul Tudor Jones to see other stock picks of Billionaire Paul Tudor Jones. While we acknowledge the potential of UnitedHealth Group Inc (NYSE:UNH), our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter timeframe. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than UnitedHealth Group Inc (NYSE:UNH) 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 at Insider Monkey.
Olive Branch development The Bridges of Camp Creek has seen extensive development in recent years, and there's no sign of it letting up.

The Bridges of Camp Creek is spearheaded by Ryan Commercial Properties. When completed, it will hold 12 total commercial buildings for restaurants, retail stores and other businesses.

Here's a closer look at what The Bridges of Camp Creek has to offer  businesses already open, those in progress, and what the future may bring.

A Discount Tire is under construction in The Bridges of Camp Creek on Friday, May 24, 2024 at 8231 McGregor Crossing in Olive Branch.

What is The Bridges of Camp Creek?

The majority of development is a small strip of land wedged between Goodman Road / Mississippi 302 and Camp Creek (the river, not the area). The area is only accessible from the two bridges that cross over Camp Creek, hence the name. Gil Ryan, president of Ryan Commercial Properties, said the area's huge potential for expansion is what initially caught his attention.

What drove us to this site, other than its three-quarter mile exposure to 302," Ryan said, "is that the Olive Branch marketplace has a lot of upside from a land use prospective within all commercial and residential disciplines.

The project has been in development for a long time. Planning began in 2016, and it wasn't until February 2020 that Ryan closed on the land. Weeks later COVID-19 hit, and it wouldn't be until October 2021 that construction finally started.

OLIVE BRANCH NEWS: Olive Branch nixes rezoning request after residents voice concerns about increased traffic

A pandemic wasn't the only hurdle to jump to get the site built. Prior to closing on the site, 100% of the land was either in the floodway or floodplain of Camp Creek. Ryan Commercial Properties had to raise the finished grade (or surface elevation) of the site by an average of 5 feet.

"We had to prove mathematically of a zero rise in the Camp Creek itself," Ryan said. "That was an 18-month process just to get that piece of the puzzle together, to even see if the site was developable.

Recent openings at The Bridges of Camp Creek

Guthries opened a location in Olive Branch on Oct. 3, 2023 Located at 8277 McGregor Crossing in The Bridges of Camp Creek development, its the second Guthries in Mississippi and the fifth Guthries location for the Memphis-based Burroughs Restaurant Group.

The highlight of that strip so far has been Huey's Olive Branch, the newest location of the iconic Memphis burger chain. The 10th Huey's location opened in November 2022.

Multiple other businesses call Camp Creek home now too, including Aspen Dental, Guthrie's Chicken and most recently, Chipotle. Ryan said all four businesses are currently exceeding their sales expectations.

A healthy mix of options for customers is a critical design goal for Ryan.

Our vision for the project is to take advantage of what once was unusable land... and transform it into a development benefitting the Olive Branch community," Ryan said. "Once the consumer crosses either of the two bridges leading into the development, they will be met with a variety of 'best in class' restaurants, hotels, and retailers, creating a 'sense of place' within The Bridges of Camp Creek.

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The shopping and dining strips nearby Camp Creek are already filled with options, such as the Shops at Camp Creek, which holds businesses like Edible Arrangements, Mexican restaurant Mi Pueblo and an escape room, among others. There are also standalone Abbay's, Chick-fil-A, Wendy's, Freddy's and Buffalo Wild Wings close by.

What's next for The Bridges of Camp Creek?

Huey's, Guthrie's and Chipotle are open in The Bridges of Camp Creek development in Olive Branch.

A new Discount Tire is under construction at 8231 McGregor Crossing, just off Camp Creek Boulevard. The repair shop will be located next to Huey's Olive Branch, and will be only the second location in DeSoto County. Discount Tire will open June 14.

Discount Tire's services solely revolve (pun intended) around wheels and tires. The company offers tire pressure checks, flat repairs, tire rotations and general inspections. Select locations also offer rim repair and refinishing, wheel alignment and road force balancing. And, of course, Discount Tire sells a wide selection of wheels and tires, alongside windshield wipers.

Additionally, Ryan said a dual-branded hotel is planned for the easternmost plot. The 175-room hotel will consist of Tru by Hilton and a second brand, which is nearing approval. Construction is targeted to begin near the end of 2024.

DESOTO COUNTY POPULATION: Which DeSoto County cities have seen the biggest population changes? Here's how they rank

This marks the last of new businesses in the area for a bit. Ryan said that while he is currently in talks with buyers interested in the remaining plots, he can't reveal any names until they have fully committed to the project. Regardless, Ryan is highly optimistic about the future of the project.

"The city of Olive Branch from the inception of the project has been excellent to work with, and the entire development team has been very creative throughout the entitlement process," he said. "We remain very excited to continue our development efforts in DeSoto County. Due to the unique nature of the site and the development itself, we're confident in the sustainability, strength and success of the project.

Jacob Wilt is a reporter for The Commercial Appeal. You can reach him at jacob.wilt@commercialappeal.com.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Bridges of Camp Creek in Olive Branch: What's open and what's planned
By Douglas Gillison and Chris Prentice

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The White House is close to naming derivatives regulator Christy Goldsmith Romero to replace Martin Gruenberg to head the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday, citing people familiar with the matter.

Gruenberg, a Democrat, said in May he would step down once a successor was confirmed by the Senate, succumbing to pressure from lawmakers who said the bank regulator needed fresh leadership after an investigation found widespread sexual harassment and other misconduct at the agency.

Goldsmith Romero, 53, has a background in enforcement and has led major actions against Wall Street banks and other financial firms during her career. She joined the Commodity Futures Trading Commission in March 2022 after a decade investigating financial crime and fraud as the watchdog of a key 2009 financial crisis bailout program.

White House officials have also discussed two other women for the job, but Goldsmith Romero has emerged as the front-runner, the newspaper said. A formal announcement could come later this week, according to the report, though it said that President Joe Biden had not yet made a final decision.

The White House declined to comment on the report. Goldsmith Romero also declined to comment. The FDIC did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

During her tenure as special inspector general for the Troubled Asset Relief Program from 2012 to 2022, Goldsmith Romero's office brought cases and cooperated in federal enforcement actions against major corporations, including Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley and General Motors.

Goldsmith Romero also received awards from the U.S. attorney general and Department of Justice's Criminal Division after her office uncovered a multibillion-dollar fraud, leading to jail terms for former executives at the former mortgage lender Taylor, Bean & Whitaker and the failed Colonial Bank.

In progressive circles, she is seen as a strong fit for the FDIC role and as having the management experience and skill set necessary to help fix the agency's "toxic" environment, as the investigation described the FDIC, and address other challenges.

As a CFTC commissioner, Goldsmith Romero has advocated for stronger policing of U.S. markets and stiffer penalties for misconduct.

Most notably, she has pushed for the agency to secure more admissions of wrongdoing from companies when settling enforcement actions, particularly from repeat offenders.

She has also led the agency's efforts to better understand the potential impact of artificial intelligence on financial markets.

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Prior to being appointed as the watchdog for the Troubled Asset Relief Program, Goldsmith Romero was counsel to then U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission chairs Mary Schapiro and Christopher Cox and had investigated securities law violations.

She started her career as a law clerk at the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Nevada after graduating from Brigham Young University Law School in 1995.

The FDIC is also grappling with the fallout of last year's bank failures, which exposed supervisory weaknesses at the regulator, and is trying to finalize a handful of contentious new rules for Wall Street banks, including major capital hikes.

(Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington and Shivani Tanna in Bengaluru; additional reporting by Michelle Price and Pete Schroeder; Editing by Sandra Maler, Dan Whitcomb and Leslie Adler)
It doesn't matter your age or experience: taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals for all investors.

Many investors also have a go-to methodology that helps guide their buy and sell decisions. One way to find winning stocks based on your preferred way of investing is to use the Zacks Style Scores, which are indicators that rate stocks based on three widely-followed investing types: value, growth, and momentum.

Is This 1 Momentum Stock a Screaming Buy Right Now?

Different than value or growth investors, momentum-oriented investors live by the saying "the trend is your friend." This investing style is all about taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook. Employing factors like one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates, the Momentum Style Score can indicate favorable times to build a position in high-momentum stocks.

T. Rowe Price (TROW)

Founded in 1937 and headquartered in Baltimore, T. Rowe Price Group, Inc. is a global investment management organization that provides a broad array of mutual funds, sub-advisory services and separate account management for individual and institutional investors, retirement plans and financial intermediaries. Through its subsidiaries, the company manages separate client-focused equity, fixed income and balanced portfolios along with mutual funds. Its client base includes individual investors, defined contribution retirement plans, institutional investors and third-party distributors, among others. The company operates worldwide from the United States, England, Luxembourg, Australia, Hong Kong, Japan and Singapore.

TROW is a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock, with a Momentum Style Score of B and VGM Score of B. Shares are down 1.5% over the past one week and up 2.1% over the past four weeks. TROW has gained 4% in the last one-year period as well. Looking at trading volume, an average of 1,031,610 shares exchanged hands over the last 20 trading days.

A company's earnings performance is important for momentum investors as well. For fiscal 2024, eight analysts revised their earnings estimate higher in the last 60 days for TROW, while the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.67 to $8.80 per share. TROW also boasts an average earnings surprise of 16.8%.

TROW should be on investors' short list because of its impressive earnings fundamentals, a good Zacks Rank, and strong Momentum and VGM Style Scores.

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When Spotsylvania detectives arrived at the scene of a triple homicide last week, they were only aware of one victim.

They soon found out the carnage was even worse than expected.

The bodies of Robert John McGuire, 77, Carol Anne Reese, 65, and Gregory Scott Powell, 60, were all shot and killed June 4 in a home they shared in the 10500 block of White Street Court in Spotsylvania. Another housemate, 23-year-old Alyssa Jane Venable, is charged with three counts of second-degree murder and using a firearm in the commission of a felony.

Venable was apprehended in upstate New York a couple of days after the slaying and will be extradited back to Virginia as soon as today. Sheriffs Capt. Liz Scott said she had an extradition hearing Monday, and transport units have already gone to New York to pick her up.

According to the affidavit, another housemate entered the home about 10 p.m. and found his roommate on a couch with a pillow over his bleeding head. The roommate immediately left the home and called the Sheriffs Office. After responding to the call, police found the other two victims elsewhere in the home, also dead from gunshot wounds.

During that same time frame, an acquaintance of Venables showed up at the Sheriffs Office with two envelopes they had retrieved from a mailbox. The envelopes contained money, instructions, passcodes and what appeared to be a possible suicide note.

The friend, who had gotten the envelopes from her mothers mailbox, informed police that Venable had a handgun that had been given to her by her grandfather. The affidavit does not specify what instructions were given in the writings.

Venable is expected to be arraigned shortly after arriving back to Spotsylvania, following which a lawyer will be named and a preliminary hearing date will be set.
A fleeing suspect evaded capture Sunday in Stafford after a pursuit during which he backed into a deputys cruiser, police said.

According to Sheriffs spokesman Ryan Wilbur, Deputy C.D. Quebedeaux went to Briar Patch Park about 5:18 p.m. to assist an Aquia Harbour police officer. The officer reported that he was attempting to pull over a black Honda with no license plate when the driver sped away. The driver was described only as a Hispanic man wearing a black shirt.

Quebedeaux spotted the Honda on Aquia Drive and also tried to stop it. During the ensuing pursuit, the driver crossed into oncoming traffic multiple times and reached speeds of more than 70 mph in the subdivision.

The vehicle pursuit ended on Beacon Cove, a dead-end road, where the trapped driver backed into the deputys vehicle, Wilbur said. The suspect then drove into a residents backyard and took off on foot. No one was injured during the incident.

Deputies surrounded the area, and a police dog and the drone team were brought in to assist in a lengthy search. The suspect was not found, but the dog found a bag with 22 sets of keys that police believe belonged to the suspect.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Sheriffs Office at 540-658-4400.
When the Colorado Supreme Court decided in late 2020 that defendants charged with felony drunk driving offenses were being tried and convicted contrary to the law's design, it resulted in the reversal of many DUI convictions on appeal.
County Republican parties join move to oust Dave Williams; Jared Polis signs cybersecurity bill; court makes it harder for DUI defendants to challenge convictions | WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Other states look to Colorado as the pot pioneer. If properly informed, they will run from proposals to replicate this mess. They will discard
The Colorado Springs City Council is scheduled on Tuesday to hold its first vote on a potential change in the citys emergency medical services.

The Colorado Springs Fire Department wants to end the citys existing contract with American Medical Response and run ambulances themselves. Colorado Springs is currently one of the few U.S. metropolitan areas that contracts with a private company for ambulance services.

The AMR contract is set to expire in a year, and many in the city believe CSFDs EMS crews are better trained and equipped to handle emergency medical response for the city.

CSFD says putting would-be profits into services would save more lives, lower ambulance bills, improve patient experiences and pay employees better.

But American Medical Response has argued the Fire Department is over-projecting revenue and says it wont provide enough ambulances to get to emergencies as fast as does AMR.

Tuesdays vote is the first by City Council, with the final vote expected June 25.

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City officials, including CSFD Fire Chief Randy Royal and Colorado Springs Mayor Yemi Mobolade, pitched the change to City Council last month, saying it would reduce response times and medical costs for residents.

Councilmembers have been split on the issue, with some saying the move could improve public safety and others questioning whether the proposed enterprise would be financially viable.

The Fire Department said AMR has not been meeting the expectations for response times laid out in its contract with the city. In the past three years, AMR responded late to more than 33,000 calls and paid the city more than $5 million in damages, largely for delayed response times.

Manitou Springs, the Falcon Fire Protection District and South Metro Fire Rescue that serves parts of Arapahoe, Douglas and Jefferson counties near Denver have all ended contracts with private ambulance providers to bring services in-house.
Local Pride festivities recognizing all things LGBTQ+ came last weekend and went for another year, but Diversus Health in Colorado Springs is continuing to offer free individual counseling, peer support and a support group for survivors of the mass shooting at Club Q on Nov. 19, 2022, as well as the queer community in general.

The services have been popular, said Tammy Laborde, clinical program supervisor for the Club Q Impact Team of Diversus, a nonprofit mental and behavioral health provider.

When Club Q happened, people dispersed to different therapists, and were here to pick it up, she said. Diversus has done a lot of work in order to meet people where their needs are at this time.

Over the past year, more than 900 LGBTQ+ people have accessed the services, which focus on healing clients from trauma and restoring trust.

The biggest thing is that free is always good, and if there is somebody out there that is part of the queer community and that is struggling and needs our help to function because of the tragedy  even if they werent at Club Q that night  we are here to help treat that, Laborde said.

Long waits for psychiatric appointments have been common in the Pikes Peak region, which she said has not served the population well.

Were hoping to reduce that with our team, she said. If someone from the queer population were to walk in, you would go through immediate access  we complete the assessment that day and youre seen by a therapist that day.

In addition to Laborde working as the clinical supervisor, the team includes a therapist and four peer specialists, who have experience with grief or trauma and walk side-by-side with you, helping you to meet your wellness goals, so you can get back to some type of the level of functioning you had before the tragedy occurred.

A federal grant awarded to the state and funneled to Diversus is covering the cost of the services. The grant expires at the end of March 2025.

Though June is recognized nationwide as Pride Month, pride of self-identity and expression is year-round, Laborde said.

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Were trying to teach people about advocacy to sustain the momentum and how is it we can petition certain things at the Capitol to keep the queer community healing, she said.

Developing safe spaces has been a concern for the queer population since the shooting at the nightclub that regulars said felt more like a home than a business. The bar has been shut down since, and a memorial for the five lives lost during the shooting that was determined to be a hate crime is planned for the site.

Colorado Springs only other gay bar, Icons, has been closed since Dec. 4, when a neighboring business caught fire, taking the row of downtown merchants off the market for repairs. Icons announced in May its plans for a new downtown location on Kiowa Street.

In March, two former Club Q employees opened a bar and lounge, The Q, in a different part of town, inside the Satellite Hotel.

The Prism Community Collective, a new counseling, resource and hangout center with various offerings for survivors and the queer population, opened this month.

Diversus is providing therapeutic services as part of the collective and also offers trainings in the community about trauma and interacting with the LGBTQ+ population.

Were helping facilitate change and building more allies for the queer population, Laborde said. Were trying to offer different spaces, especially non-alcoholic spaces; a lot of people connect the queer community with drinking or drugs, and were looking what is it we can do in this situation to make it a little better.

For more information on free treatment, go to https://diversushealth.org/get-mental-health-help/club-q-impact-services-programs.

Contact the writer: 719-476-1656

Editor's note: This story has been updated to correct the date of the attack at Club Q.
Two people were injured Monday after an alleged kidnapping at gunpoint in Colorado Springs, according to police.

Shortly before 3 a.m. Monday, officers received reports of an alleged kidnapping and went to a local hospital to meet with the victim.

Police said in an online blotter entry that an injured man had escaped from an apartment in the 2500 block of Hancock Expressway in the southeast part of the city after being taken there at gunpoint.

The man told police there was a second, female victim who he believed to still be inside the apartment.

Police said the female was later found at the apartment and confirmed details of the man's story. Investigators determined both the man and woman had been taken to the apartment at gunpoint, were assaulted and held captive, according to the blotter entry. The male and female were treated for their injuries at a local hospital, but no information on their conditions is available.

Police arrested Linda Guest and Joseary Arizmendi, who are facing a series of charges including kidnapping.
Atlas Preparatory schools approach to instruction is built upon three pillars: education, character and community. For more than 10 years now, the charter schools guiding pillars, through its students, have been exemplified through its food pantry program.

The pantry, located at the Atlas Middle School in southeastern Colorado Springs, is open every Friday to community members and features locally sourced food, both fresh and non-perishable, that is stocked by student volunteers the day prior after school.

Serving an Atlas Prep School student population where 94% qualify for free and reduced lunches, the program officially started a few years after the school opened. It began recording and documenting foot traffic and other metrics in 2014, according to Atlas family engagement manager David Turner.

This work is directly related to serving the community, he said.

Pantry volunteer and 11th grader Miguel Torres has worked with the pantry for two years and first heard about the program through family members. He ultimately wants to pursue a career as a social worker following graduation and saw this as an opportunity to meaningfully give back to his community.

I do want to continue work that makes a difference in our communities and this has been a great way for me to get started doing that, he said.

The program started off in one of the schools spare storage rooms. It has grown and sustained itself over the years through various grant funding and food donations from local nonprofits Food to Power, Care and Share and the Colorado Blueprint to End Hunger.

The pantry also receive regular food donations both through their own food drives and the local Mexican restaurant and market CarnicerIa Leonela.

The pantry has added refrigeration and different food items over the years that are both healthy and representative of local cultures. Community members shop in its increased space.

Another 11th grade volunteer, Angelique Pino said the community they serve is not only located mostly in a food desert, but also one with a predominately Hispanic population. Through surveys and speaking directly with those who access the pantry, she said the program has served as a way to learn more about the various people and backgrounds in their community.

With some groceries being so expensive and a lot of food insecurity in this area, I think that this is a great way to provide people with the food thats not only good for you, but that reflects their culture as well, she said.

In addition to serving the public, the work also gives students the opportunity to learn food service skills outside of the classroom like sanitation, proper food storage and customer service.

Volunteers meet at the middle school every Thursday at 3:45 p.m. to sort and arrange the assortment of donations dropped off that morning. The pantry itself is open Fridays, 3-4 p.m.

Because the program has been refined over the years, Erick Ortiz explained that workflow is often seamless across the students.

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We dont really have it planned out (ahead of time), he said. We mostly all get here and figure out what were all doing that day and get to work.

The program has also provided students opportunities to innovate.

The program experienced its single greatest growth in community interest during the COVID-19 pandemic, where community members accessing the pantry grew from 15 to 50 every week. Students adapted to the barriers and restrictions in place at the time by delivering food to individual homes and cars in the parking lot.

Following COVID, a QR code sign-in system was implemented to better control flow and crowding. Turner explained that developments like these over the years were born from the students ideas rather than any school staff.

This work is very hard, but its so rewarding, he said. And what I think is most encouraging is that I get new kids every two or three years and they come in with the same amount of care for their community.

For their work with the program, both Torres and Pino were selected as speakers at the 2023 Colorado Food Summit where stakeholders statewide discuss challenges and opportunities throughout food and agriculture systems. Pino said their volunteerism provided the framework to conduct research for an industry-wide problem.

One thing we learned about that we ended up presenting (on) was the amount of food waste there is in the world just because of all the food that still gets wasted here, Pino said.

With the program as popular as ever, it plans to remain open following the end of the school year through at least the month of June, depending on student availability.

Turner said finding willing students this time of year hasn't been an issue in the past.

I wouldnt blame these kids if they didnt want to come in on Thursdays and Fridays during their breaks, he said. But we have had quite a few continue to come in throughout the summer.

In 2024, the pantry has averaged about 80 households utilizing it per month, with the school recording other demographics such as the number of children, adults, seniors and household sizes. The school does not record any additional information or paperwork from those accessing the pantry other than their name and whether its their first visit or not.

Upon the completion of the new Atlas Middle School building in 2026, there are plans for the pantry to move into a larger room for greater space and additional utilities like sinks.

Obviously Im a little biased, but I think this has been the best investment that this school has made, Turner said.
The Colorado Springs City Council voted down a new city-run ambulance service Tuesday after months of debate about whether to take over services provided by a private company.

The council voted 5-4 not to create an ambulance service that would have been funded through fees for service, not city taxes. The vote leaves the contract with American Medical Response in place.

Colorado Springs Fire Department Chief Randy Royal recapped the pitch for bringing the ambulance service in-house during the meeting, saying it would be self-sustaining, the city could bill patients less and it would allow the department to continue adding innovative services for low-level and behavioral health calls. The department has been recognized for unique services. For example, crews in SUVs respond to 911 calls for low-level injuries such as sprained ankles that free up others to respond to critical emergencies.

Councilwoman Lynette Crow-Iverson was among the council members that opposed the project and pointed to an audit report that came out Thursday as proof the Fire Department was over-estimating its revenues from commercial insurance. As a city enterprise the service would have to pay for itself through Medicaid, Medicare and commercial insurance payments. Private insurance brings in the highest amount of revenue for ambulance services.

The audit found on average comparable cities bring in about 14% of revenues from commercial insurance companies, while the Fire Department estimated about 23% of revenues could come from commercial insurance.

"Their estimations were over significantly," Crow-Iverson said. She opposed the project along with councilmembers Dave Donelson, Mike O'Malley, Brian Risley and Michelle Talarico.

As an enterprise fund, the city could not backfill any revenue shortfall with tax revenue.

Crow-Iverson said the city did not have the start-up funding for the service in hand and did not provide the council with the letters of intent from donors. It was a point that Royal disputed, saying the city had monetary commitments. But officials thought it would be premature to collect the money from donors before the council voted on the issue, he said.

The audit also found a cash-flow risk with the proposal.

"Given start-up costs, the uncertain actual payor mix, and the lag from time of service until cash is received, the EMS enterprise would rely upon available start-up cash during initial operations," the audit said.

Crow-Iverson also noted that when AMR did not meet the city's time limit requirements for responding to 911 calls it was by two or three minutes and that will be solved as the agency hires additional people. The company faced a shortage of employees following the pandemic.

"The free market will get back up to speed," she said.

Councilmembers in favor of the project said they were willing to accept some risk in favor of allowing the Fire Department to innovate and potentially provide faster services

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"Peoples lives matter and responding to their critical moments should be and should always be our top concern," said Councilmember David Leinweber.

AMR has struggled to meet the city's required response to emergencies.

Data show the company paid the city more than $5.7 million in fines  largely for delayed response times  between April 2020 and January 2024.

The city was expecting to start up its new EMS service April 1, 2025. Now, the city could put out a call for companies to apply to provide services, known as a request for proposal. AMR could be among the companies to apply and could renegotiate its contract at that time.

Mayor Yemi Mobolade, Council President Randy Helms and Royal all said they were disappointed in the council's decision in a news conference on the steps of City Hall.

"This does set us backwards, we are not advancing," Mobolade said. "... We have got to innovate. We got to be better. We can't just do things the same way."

Royal said by relying on a private company to provide services the community has left $35 million in Medicaid payments on the table that could bolster emergency response.

AMR does not qualify those payments as a private company.

The Fire Department argued earlier in the year it could put would-be profits into services that could improve patient experiences and pay employees better. The department expected that if it had taken over the service it would have hired mostly AMR employees.

After nine years, the department expected to have $42 million in the bank.

"This has been the most scrutinized project I have ever been involved with," Royal said during the meeting.

The move to in-house services also had support from the local firefighter and police associations and Dr. Robin Johnson, the medical director for El Paso County Public Health.

Curt Crumb, president of Colorado Springs Professional Firefighters union Local 5, said the current for-profit ambulance model holds the community back from world-class care.

"If we continue in the current fashion, we will always have a competing interest," he said.
The Colorado Springs man who shot and killed a woman after a minor traffic accident was sentenced to 40 years in prison on Monday.

Elijah Adolpho, 20, faced first-degree murder and other charges after he was arrested in June 2023 for shooting and killing 35-year-old Jeanette Wince near the Citadel Mall.

Adolpho appeared at court on Monday for a sentencing hearing, where prosecutor Kelson Castain described in more detail the incident that led to Wince's death.

Castain stated that Adolpho was attempting to flee a minor traffic accident he had caused with Wince, and that Wince drove after Adolpho to attempt to obtain his insurance information. When Wince eventually caught up with Adolpho, he shot at Wince's car several times, killing her. A child was also in the car with Wince at the time of the incident, but was unharmed, Castain stated.

"This started when (Adolpho) made the decision to leave the scene of that accident," Castain said to the court. "Who knows what would have happened if he had made a better decision."

According to court records, Adolpho pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and felony menacing in May and appeared in court Monday with a pre-agreed upon sentence of 40 years in the Department of Corrections.

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Only one family member for both Adolpho and Wince spoke directly to the court on Monday, but attorneys mentioned during the hearing that a majority of each family opted to submit letters to the court instead.

Adolpho himself did speak to the court prior to Judge Erin Sokol accepting the terms of the plea agreement. Adolpho acknowledged the responsibility he needed to take for his actions and apologized to Wince's family for his actions.

After accepting the terms of the plea agreement, Sokol sentenced Adolpho to 40 years in the Department of Corrections on second-degree murder and three years to run concurrently on the felony menacing charge. Adolpho was also given 366 days of credit for time served.
An investigator and an attorney who left the 11th Judicial Districts prosecution team that tried to prosecute the Barry Morphew case said they grew frustrated with a case that was floating along without leadership, even up to the final days before a scheduled murder trial that never happened.

It was pretty darn bad, said former investigator Alex Walker.

Who was in charge of the trial? asked Office of Attorney Regulation Counsel panel member Byron Large.

I have no idea, responded Walker.

The exchange happened on Monday, part of a disciplinary hearing, in which 11th Judicial District Attorney Linda Stanley could get disbarred, publicly censured, or acquitted. She is accused of ethical violations associated with the Morphew case. Complaints filed against her claim she had continual discovery violations and was a poor leader.

The states Office of Attorney Regulation Counsel had brought the charges against Stanley after it discovered enough evidence to possibly support ethical violations. Complaints were made by a former judge and Morphews defense attorney.

Stanleys hearing is expected to last two weeks. Among the witnesses scheduled to testify are Stanley herself, former judge Ramsey Lama, former Boulder district attorney Stan Garnett, her secretary, and a few members of the prosecution team who worked on the Morphew case.

Walker  who was the lead investigator for the 11th Judicial District when Suzanne Morphew went missing and wrote Barry Morphews 120 page arrest affidavit  said Stanleys habit of talking to the media, specifically YouTube channels, was the primary reason the case was moved to Fremont County in January 2022.

Ive worked for DAs, and chief deputy DAs, and Ive never seen a district attorney talk to the media while a case was pending or being investigated, Walker testified during Stanleys disciplinary hearing.

When the case was moved, 11th Judicial District Judge Ramsey Lama oversaw the case until he granted a prosecutions motion to dismiss it without prejudice nine days before it was scheduled to begin. Barry Morphew walked out of the courthouse a free man on April 19, 2022.

Dismissed without prejudice means that a case is dismissed, but can be refiled at some point.

Walker left Stanleys office out of frustration and still works on the unsolved case as a commander with the Chaffee County Sheriffs Office.

It was hard to find Ms. Stanley in the office sometimes, testified the first witness, Jeff Lindsey, who ran the case for Stanley before he left the district  also in frustration. Lindsey said that when he went to deliver his resignation letter, he had to put it on Stanleys chair because he couldnt find her.

She just wasnt around that much to bounce ideas off of, Lindsey said.

With Stanley not seeking re-election, and Lindsey being the only candidate, it appears he will be the next 11th Judicial District Attorney in November. Lindsey was Stanleys deputy district attorney.

Suzanne Morphew was a Maysville, Colorado wife and mother who vanished on Mothers Day weekend, 2020. Her husband, Barry Morphew, was arrested a year later but his case was dismissed without prejudice in April 2022.

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The case has been in the national spotlight in the four years since her disappearance, this time for alleged mishandling by Stanley.

During opening statements, Stanleys attorney, former prosecutor Steve Jensen, pointed out that the district had few resources and was expected to serve a four-county area.

The 11th Judicial District includes Chaffee, Fremont, Custer and Park counties.

Stanley has had at least four complaints filed against her, including one from defense attorney Iris Eytan, another from Fremont County Sheriff Allen Cooper and from former 11th Judicial District Judge Ramsey Lama, who oversaw the Morphew case in the last several months before he dismissed it without prejudice.

Since the scheduled trial, Lama, who is now in private practice, had accused Stanley of investigating him while the case was ongoing. Stanley and two of the people on her prosecution team suspected that Lama was biased because he struck a domestic violence witness.

It was Alex Walker whom Stanley and her part-time deputy district attorney called to ask him to interview Lamas ex-wife. Stanley suspected that Lama may have had personal domestic violence problems, which may have been the reason that he struck the prosecutions domestic violence expert.

Walker testified that he was shocked I was even asked. I explained I could not speak for the sheriff but I would not do that.

Stanley and her team eventually hired a district attorney investigator to interview Iris Lama, who denied that there was domestic abuse during her marriage to Lama. The matter was dropped.

In all, Lama struck 13 of 16 witnesses on the eve of trial.

The Morphew case has now been transferred to the 12th Judicial District, which is where Suzanne Morphews remains were found in September. Last month, her autopsy report revealed chemicals that are used to sedate wildlife in the bone marrow of her femur.

Butorphanol, azaperone and medetomidine are the same substances that Suzannes husband, Barry Morphew, told investigators he routinely used to immobilize deer before he removed their antlers.

Its been a quarter of a century since the Colorado Supreme Court censured prosecutors in a high profile case. The murder investigation of Ft. Collins woman Peggy Hetrick, who was sexually assaulted and left in a field, resulted in the incarceration of the teenager who found her. Tim Masters spent a decade in jail until DNA evidence proved that he was wrongfully convicted.

While Masters was serving prison time, Terence Gilmore and Jolene Blair eventually were appointed as judges in Colorado.

Once Masters was found to be innocent, they were reprimanded by the Supreme Court for failing to disclose exculpatory evidence to Masters defense attorneys that could have pointed to his innocence. They acknowledged that they didnt disclose the information.

Gilmore and Blair lost those 8th Judicial District seats as judges in Larimer County when they were not retained in the November 2010 election.

Although there were alternate suspects in the case, Hetricks murder has never been solved.
The Sachs Foundation, a Colorado Springs-based organization dedicated to helping Black Coloradans further their education, announced on Monday that it has awarded more than $1.7 million in scholarships and financial aid over the past year.

Established in 1931 by Pikes Peak-area philanthropist Henry Sachs, the foundation has awarded more than $45 million to more than 3,200 Black scholars, according to officials at the nonprofit.

"The success of this incredible group of scholars demonstrates the importance of investing in Black talent and excellence," said Sachs Foundation CEO Ben Ralston.

The announcement comes nearly one year after a Supreme Court decision prohibiting race as a factor in college admissions. The ruling sends the message that Affirmative Action and other racial educational equity programs have outlived their usefulness, Ralston said.

This foundation was established, with its racial equity mission, in 1931, he said. We existed while schools were still segregated, we existed through the civil rights era, and, through all that, there was never a time when a government entity was trying to put a stop to the work that were doing. Until now.

As colleges pull back on racial equity programs, the role of organizations like the Sachs Foundation is more vital than ever, Ralston said.

As universities have to start pulling back, it means we, as a private foundation, kind of carry that mission for those who want to support racial equity, he said. Its even more important that were out there advocating for our scholars and funding our scholars.

Over the past year, the foundation has awarded scholarships and grants to 50 Black Coloradans, including Abdimalik Hussein, a recent Palmer High School graduate who was born in Somalia.

Abdi is an incredible kid, Ralston said.

Hussein, a Gazette Best and Brightest award recipient, plans to attend the University of Pennsylvania in the fall with an eye toward eventually becoming a neurosurgeon. But he realizes that his path could have been a lot different if not for the Sachs Foundation.

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Education equity and access in rural Africa is practically nonexistent, said Hussein, 18. I could very well have ended up in a very different place.

To help children in Somalia get an education that would give them more opportunities, Hussein and his parents launched Give2Dev in 2021 to raise enough money to hire a teacher for children in the northern Somali village of Bali Golis.

The small Colorado Springs-based charity started small, with one teacher educating 15-20 students for a full day five days a week, and has since built a school, as the number of students has more than doubled.

The teacher started out meeting with students under a tree, said Hussein, 18. But we have been able to hire a second teacher. Now, students there are learning and thriving.

Hussein, who speaks Somali and Arabic in addition to English, began receiving mentorship through the Sachs Foundations Elevated program while he was enrolled at North Middle School.

Theyve been supporting me since eighth grade, he said. Its been a long journey, and being here at the end, at the culmination of this experience  its just lovely.

In addition to being gifted scholars, many Sachs graduates have made a positive impact on their communities through volunteer activities, social justice work and other endeavors, according to Ralston.

Our scholars are incredibly connected to their communities, he said. The amount that they give back to their families, their schools, and their communities is astounding.

Husseins passion for educating himself and others supports Ralstons belief that the Foundations role, in 2024, is more vital than ever.

The laws governing racial equity programs may be changing, he said. But our mission has not.
The Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region soon will have a new leader, as President and CEO Duane Adams is leaving the post after nearly four years in the role.

Adams was not available for an interview, according to the organizations public relations manager, but in a video, Adams said after working in animal welfare for 42 years, hes decided its time to move on.

Leading the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region has been an incredible journey, and Im immensely proud of the work weve accomplished together, he said in the video, going on to laud employees and donors for their support.

The board will begin a nationwide search as soon as members hire a firm to help with the process, Chair Taryn Simental said in an email.

Kelley Likes, vice president of philanthropy, has been named interim CEO and is taking over this week. She has worked for the organization for seven years, backed with credentials that include certified fund raising executive and certified animal welfare administrator as well as a masters of business administration.

During his tenure, Adams oversaw a remodeling of the animal law enforcement building, which Simental said provides a better space for a call center with dispatch response and offices.

Adams also expanded the veterinary clinic in Colorado Springs with more medical services for the homeless, sick and injured animals the shelter receives.

Last year, 25,811 animals were surrendered or entered the shelters in Colorado Springs and Pueblo as strays, transfers, returns or through court order, Simental said. Of those, 13,282 animals were adopted, and the humane society had a live release rate of 89.1%.

Humane euthanasia is performed when an animal is deemed a public safety risk or is suffering and beyond medical intervention, Simental said, adding that the organization does not euthanize animals for time or space reasons.

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Adams also set up a partnership with PetSmart Charities to open a wellness clinic in Pueblo for preventive wellness exams and vaccinations. Spay and neuter services for cats and small dogs also were added at the clinic under Adams leadership.

And he set the course for a new three-year strategic plan for the organization, which is the largest nonprofit animal shelter in southern Colorado.

In addition to adoption, the independent shelter investigates suspicions of animal cruelty, provides subsidized spay and neuter surgeries, operates a trap, neuter and return program for feral cats, microchips pets, has vet services and tracks animal bites.

The organizations major fundraiser, the Fur Ball, raised $681,000 in May, Likes said in the same video announcing Adams departure. The event drew a record number of 500 attendees and supporters, she said.

The organization is preparing for its annual Pawtoberfest on Sept. 14 at Printers Hill, at 101 S. Union Blvd., east of Memorial Park. Attendees can bring their dogs to the craft brew and spirit tasting for romping and activities.

Happy Tails Happy Hours are scheduled throughout the summer. The next event is 5-7 p.m. Wednesday at Peaks N Pines Brewing Co., 212 W. Illinois Ave., in Fountain. One dollar from every beer sold will be donated to the humane society.

Events are listed online at https://www.hsppr.org/events.

Contact the writer: 719-476-1656.
On Tuesday, the FBI Safe Streets Unit, in partnership with detectives from the El Paso County Sheriffs Department and the Colorado Springs Police Departments Violent Offender Fugitive Task Force, successfully located and arrested 24-year-old Jahlique Dorsey.

Dorsey was identified as a suspect in an armed robbery and was considered to be armed and dangerous.

Dorsey has two previous criminal convictions in the state of Colorado. He was involved in a 2022 robbery and menacing case in El Paso County, which is still open. Dorsey was scheduled to receive a sentence as part of a plea in February but failed to appear. He is set for a review hearing on Friday.

The other case is from 2019 and involved a theft in Jefferson County. Dorsey pleaded down to a misdemeanor theft charge estimated between $750-$2,000 and was sentenced to 18 months of probation.

Detectives were able to track Dorsey to a residence located in the 200 block of Vehr Drive on the eastern side of Colorado Springs. From there Detective Johnson requested assistance from the Tactical Enforcement Unit tactical teams, Unmanned Aerial Unit officers and Colorado Springs police K-9 officers in performing an arrest.

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At 11 a.m., Detective Johnson directed units to the area to make contact. Dorsey fled into the surrounding neighborhood when he saw law enforcement approach.

He was located while attempting to flee by Officer Bryce who then tracked his moments and reported Dorsey jumping over several privacy fences and eventually attempting to seek cover in the heavy foliage.

Police K-9 Milo was deployed by Officer Comstock who led detectives and officers to Dorsey, who had attempted to hide between two fences within the bushes.

Springs police reported that once Dorsey realized he had been located by Milo, he called out to the officers and expressed his intention to surrender. He was taken into custody without incident and was handed over to detectives.
Travel surge continues as festival spurs demand

08:37, June 11, 2024 By Cheng Si ( China Daily

An aerial drone photo taken on June 9 shows a nighttime dragon boat race held to celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival in Sanxi village of Changle district, Fuzhou, capital of Southeast China's Fujian province. [Photo/Xinhua]

Dragon Boat Festival, which in 2009 became the first Chinese holiday inscribed on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list, concluded with traditional festivities that added vibrancy to popular tourist destinations.

Figures from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism showed a 6.3-percent year-on-year increase in domestic tourism during the three-day holiday period, which started on Saturday. Over 110 million tourist visits were recorded, generating about 40.4 billion yuan ($5.57 billion) in tourism revenue, an 8.1-percent rise compared with last year.

Travel agencies noted a slight decrease in overall crowds this year due to the scheduling overlap with China's crucial college entrance examination, or gaokao, which was held from Friday to Monday.

However, destinations known for their traditional Dragon Boat Festival celebrations, particularly dragon boat races, remained popular.

"Guangdong province, renowned for its long history of dragon boat racing, saw a doubling of online searches for tour packages during the holiday," reported travel portal Qunar.

Beyond the thrilling races, the festival is celebrated through various customs and activities, including preparing zongzi (glutinous rice dumplings), hanging mugwort for good health, and consuming medicinal liquor for blessings.

Shi Yuanyuan, a 28-year-old resident of Shenzhen, Guangdong, shared her experience.

"We brought our 3-year-old son to witness the dragon boat races in Foshan, another city in Guangdong. He was mesmerized by the boats. While he may not grasp the historical significance yet, experiencing the festive spirit and team energy is valuable," she said.

According to the travel platform Tuniu, the most popular domestic destinations during the holiday were Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou in Guangdong, Nanjing in Jiangsu province, and Chongqing.

Shorter travel times due to the merely three-day holiday also enticed Chinese tourists to explore short-distance overseas options. "Japan, Thailand, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and South Korea were top choices due to their flight times," reported Fliggy, an online travel agency. Cross-border cruises also experienced a surge in popularity, with bookings jumping 14-fold year-on-year.

Qunar highlighted the cost-effectiveness of traveling abroad during the Dragon Boat Festival, compared with the upcoming peak summer season.

"International flight prices dropped 20 percent year-on-year, and overseas hotel rates remained around 70 percent of what they typically are in July and August," it said, adding that sales for international flights departing during the holiday increased more than 60 percent compared with last year.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
Colorado Republican Party Chairman Dave Williams addresses delegates to the state GOP assembly on April 6 in Pueblo. Williams is facing calls to resign and a move by county GOP leaders to remove him after he blasted out an email attacking the LGBTQ+ community's Pride Month and called for the burning of Pride flags.
When the chair of the Colorado Republican Party Dave Williams posted a social media post excoriating the LGBTQ+ community and June as National Pride Month, the reaction was swift.

Among the posts signed by the chair: Burn all the #Pride Flags this June, and God Hates Pride, while labeling the community as demonic.

Teller County Commissioner Dan Williams, a Republican, responded publicly, asking for the removal of Dave Williams from his state post in a letter that was endorsed by several other elected officials in the county.

I need to get this off my conscience; I was a soldier for 30 years and swore an oath to protect this Constitution, he said, speaking at the commissioners meeting June 6. We have something called the First Amendment and the right to assemble.

Dan Williams, the commissioner, highlighted assemblies of the past weekend, law enforcement as well as a Gay Pride assembly in Memorial Park in Woodland Park.

The Pride event was the first in our history and it was well-attended, Dan Williams said. As Americans, we have the right of assembly and free speech; the right to free speech is in the Constitution.

To a message from the GOP chair asking all Republicans to burn Pride flags, Dan Williams balked.

He is not my chair; he is a rogue, he said. We will not burn flags in Teller County; thats not who we are.

The commissioners meeting happened to be on the 80th anniversary of D-Day. What if the soldiers who fought for freedom on D-Day heard about the message of the GOP, Dan Williams said. They would turn over in their graves, he said. The reason I had to get this off my conscience is because Dave Williams does not speak for Dan Williams. (The two are not related.)

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In reference to D-Day, Dan Williams held up a jar of sand he collected on a visit to Omaha Beach in Normandy in 1998. At the time, he had been promoted from captain to major. In his 30-year career, Williams was an Apache Pilot with combat deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait and Albania.

We had some bad days in the military; a lot of people died, and you think it cant get any worse, he said. I think its important that we commemorate and understand what happened 80 years ago. Because the world is on fire right now; the war in the Middle East is not getting any better, war in Europe and potential war in the Pacific.

Dan Williams letter calling for Dave Williams resignation was endorsed by Bob Campbell, county commission chair; Erik Stone, county commissioner; Kellie Case, Woodland Park mayor; Annie Durham, Cripple Creek mayor; and Barbara Manning, Victor mayor.

Here is the text of a letter:

We were recently made aware that the Colorado Republican Party issued a call to burn all Pride Flags. As elected officials of Teller County and our incorporated cities, we represent all of our constituents and have sworn an oath to uphold the Constitution of the United States and the Colorado Constitution. These documents afford and guarantee the right to assemble and free speech to all of us and will be fully protected in Teller County.

Furthermore, property rights and personal property, including any flag flown on private property, will also be protected. We condemn any attempt to abridge the freedoms of any law-abiding group or individual in the State of Colorado and it will not be tolerated in Teller County.

This call to burn pride flags was authorized and approved by the State Party Chairman and is not reflective of the Republican Party in Colorado and does not reflect the views of the Teller County elected officials of either party.

We are calling for the immediate removal of Mr. David Williams, the Chair of the Colorado GOP, for continuing to incite hatred and further division in Colorado.
CEDAR RAPIDS  Alyssa Loefflers son, Ozias, began experiencing non-convulsive seizures when he was 9 months old. Each time, she thought he might die as she watched him stop breathing and turn blue from head to toe.

It looks like hes choking, she said.

The Cedar Rapids resident, 33, said her son would have up to 15 seizures a day and was hospitalized several times as his health care team struggled to help him.

Loeffler said doctors prescribed the widely used anti-seizure medication Keppra, increasing the dosage to the maximum for a child his age. She worried about the long-term effects of the drug, which can cause rare but serious behavioral side effects, especially as her son continued to have breakthrough seizures.

At a loss as she and her boyfriend continued to watch their son suffer, Loeffler  who was living in Texas at the time  flew her son to Cedar Rapids, where her father, former Cedar Rapids City Council member Patrick Loeffler, was taking hemp oil to control his seizures.

Her family owns Corner Store Apothecary & More in Cedar Rapids' Czech Village, which her mother opened in 2017.

Loeffler said the childrens hospital in Texas was unwilling to try full-spectrum hemp extract that contains the full range of naturally occurring cannabinoids, including small amounts of THC  the main chemical in cannabis that causes the high.

But the results from the CBD oil purchased in Cedar Rapids, Loeffler said, were almost immediate. Ozias has been seizure-free for a year.

The CBD oil has been a godsend, Loeffler said. And it allowed us to slowly wean him off the Keppra. He was a zombie when he was on Keppra.

Today, using only the low-THC oil made from the hemp plant  commonly called cannabidiol or CBD  Loeffler said Ozias is a typical 2-year old who is talking, playing and full of life.

Consumable hemp products have changed our lives for the better and led us to move back to Iowa, Loeffler said.

But she said the family now worries a new law set to take effect July 1 will rip this lifesaving treatment away from our families and make us criminals.

Whats in the new law?

Faced with the proliferation of hemp-derived THC, state lawmakers passed and Gov. Kim Reynolds last month signed into law House File 2605. The law will cap the amount of THC in consumable hemp products sold in Iowa at 4 milligrams per serving and 10 milligrams per package or container.

Many products on the shelves in stores now exceed those limits, including the 500-mg bottle of CBD oil Loeffler buys for her son from her familys Cedar Rapids store.

The state law also bans the sale and consumption of any hemp products for minors, requires hemp products to have a warning label and bans the sale of synthetic THC.

Iowas bill would make it illegal for me to provide full-spectrum CBD to Ozias, and would create packaging restrictions that would effectively remove it from shelves, eliminating access to the nonintoxicating consumable hemp products he uses for seizure control, Loeffler said.

Consumable hemp products were legalized in the 2018 federal farm bill and later the Iowa Hemp Act. The laws allow for the sale of hemp products that contain less than 0.3 percent THC by weight.

The laws were intended to address sales of non-intoxicating compounds like cannabidiol, but they also legalized the sale of hemp-derived THC products that have a similar psychoactive effect to traditional marijuana.

Iowa's majority Republican lawmakers said the bill was needed because the industry had little regulation  including no legal age limit for purchase, no cap on THC potency and no uniform standards for packaging or labeling  and did not intend to legalize intoxicating products when they passed the Iowa Hemp Act.

Reynolds reluctantly signed the bill to prevent minors from purchasing psychoactive hemp products.

I have concerns about this bill and have heard from individuals and groups on both sides of the issue, Reynolds, a Republican, said in a statement. Ultimately, I am signing it into law to protect minors from dangerous and intoxicating products. At the same time, weve taken steps to ensure that children who are resistant to medications and suffer from seizures and other medical conditions continue to have access to consumable hemp alternatives for relief.

Retailers speak out

Hemp retailers opposed the bill, saying it would cripple Iowas consumable hemp industry and eliminate access to safe, legal nonintoxicating consumable hemp products Iowans use every day.

An estimated 800,000 Iowans are regular consumable hemp consumers, spending an average of $600 a year, according to the Iowa Healthy Alternatives Association and Consumable Hemp Advocates of Iowa.

Roughly 1,100 Iowa retailers are licensed to sell consumable hemp products in the state, and generate an estimated $480 million in sales, advocates said based on state records available at Iowas Consumable Hemp page.

We will continue to advocate for the rights of Iowans to access safe and legal hemp products, said Rick Wagaman, owner of HW CBD in West Des Moines. Signing House File 2605 into law is neither financially nor politically prudent. It threatens the health, safety and well-being of Iowans, disrupts the local economy and sets the state on a collision course with federal legislation.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration announced last months plans to reclassify marijuana as a less-dangerous Schedule 3 drug, recognizing its medical uses and acknowledging it has less potential for abuse than some of the nations most dangerous drugs.

Wagaman and other advocates say the law reverses progress made by previous legislative sessions that passed laws allowing parents to bring CBD into Iowa for treating epilepsy, and established a legal framework for medical cannabis and consumable hemp.

Iowans have had access to these safe and legal products for years, and this bill unjustly strips away this access, advocates said in news release.

Medical cannabis program offers legal protections

Products are expected to continue to be readily available in other states and online. The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, which regulates consumable hemp products in the state, says it will have limited means to prohibit online sales in Iowa or stop individuals from purchasing products in other states.

Iowas medical cannabis program provides an affirmative defense for possession of all cannabis products, if those products are in a form and quantity that is allowed under the program. The legal defense applies whether the products were manufactured and dispensed in Iowa or acquired elsewhere.

Established in 2017 and launched in 2018, Iowas medical cannabis program allows individuals with certain eligible conditions to access medical cannabis at five retail dispensaries in the state. The program allows the use of tinctures, capsules, tablets, creams and gels, suppositories and vaporized forms.

Patients are eligible to purchase 4.5 grams of THC every 90 days. After participating in the program, patients also are eligible for a waiver to the purchase limit.

Many pediatric patients use a broad spectrum oral product that contains less than 4 mg of THC per serving, but may contain greater than 10 mg of THC per container.

Patients who possess these forms will have an affirmative defense (against) prosecution for possession, provided they are registered cardholders with the medical cannabis program, according to Health and Human Services Department.

Eligible conditions include cancer; chronic pain; terminal illness; Parkinsons disease; post-traumatic stress disorder; ulcerative colitis; AIDS or HIV; severe, intractable autism with self-injurious or aggressive behaviors; and seizures, including those characteristic of epilepsy.

Because of the rare nature of her sons non-convulsive seizures, Loeffler worries he would not be eligible under Iowas medical cannabis program.

When hes in the middle of a seizure, I have two options: Give him the (CBD) oil, or administer a rectal gel used to stop repeated seizure clusters that carries a risk of overdose, she said.

I have Narcan, Loeffler said, the brand-name medication used to reverse an opioid overdose if one were caused by the gel.

Its upsetting. Its scary. Its heartbreaking, she said of the possibility of no longer being able to readily provide a natural health treatment option for her child  the one thing proven to control his seizures without the worrisome side effects and risks.

I could lose my son, Loeffler said.

Should it be determined her son does qualify under Iowas medical cannabis program, Loeffler said the new law still creates unnecessary hurdles and burdens for families like hers.

Now, I have to jump through hoops to get licenses and drive to who knows where to a dispensary to get the oil, she said. Right now, I drive down the street.  I dont have to cart my family around.

And buying through the state medical cannabis program may not be an affordable option for many, she said.

How can you give us something that is saving lives just to take it away or make it more complicated for us? Loeffler said. You gave us an option for quality of life and, now, youre taking it away. Its just heartbreaking.

Reynolds office on Monday clarified as long a person is a registered cardholder with the medical cannabis program, they can legally possess CBD products they currently use, regardless of whether theyre purchased through an Iowa dispensary, online or in another state.

A big, giant step backwards

Erin Farquhar, of Dallas Center, shares Loefflers concerns.

The 47-year-old mother spent a yearslong quest successfully lobbying lawmakers, doctors and hospitals in the state to allow patients with intractable epilepsy like her son, to possess CBD.

Farquhars 11-year-old son, Abram, has a rare disorder called UBE2A Deficiency Syndrome, which can cause seizures, intellectual disability, motor delays and defects in the brain, heart or kidneys.

Hes nonverbal and exhibits self-harm and aggressive behavior, in addition to suffering from seizures.

Abram's doctors started him on an anti-epileptic drug. Initially, everything seemed OK, Farquhar said. But the seizures became worse. Her sons doctors prescribed more of the anti-epileptic drug, but Abram regressed, she said.

Unsure what to do, Abrams neurologist pulled her into an empty hospital room and told her that, though doctors could not prescribe it, patients like Abram had seen successful treatment from CBD.

Used in Iowas limited medical cannabis market, its been found in scientific studies to be useful at reducing the severity of seizures in those with complex medical conditions, like Farquhars son.

Farquhar acquired a bottle of CBD oil in 2015, when her son was 3, from Colorado  the closest state at the time where she could get it.

While her son still has abnormal activity in his brain, Abram has not had an ambulance ride or a grand mal seizure in roughly nine years, she said.

For years, she drove to Colorado to acquire her sons CBD oil, risking prosecution due to state and federal regulations that prohibit transporting the drug across state lines. Now, she faces the prospects of breaking the law again.

The new state law bars anyone under 21 from possessing or consuming CBD, as well as makes it a crime for caregivers to give it to their child.

The new law makes it a misdemeanor to sell, give, or otherwise distribute a consumable hemp product to a person under twenty-one years of age. It also mandates civil penalties and unpaid community service for people under 21 who consume or possess it.

Meaning every time Farquhar gives her 11-year-old son the only medication that seems to work best, both will be breaking the law.

Theres so much wrong with this, Farquhar said.  It seems like we took a big, giant step backwards.

Reynolds office clarified that so long as an individual is able to produce an Iowa medical cannabis card, which requires having their healthcare practitioner attest to and certify the condition for which theyre seeking treatment, they are not criminally liable.

While those with a medical cannabidiol registration card would have an affirmative defense from prosecution, Farquhar said those who take CBD for medical conditions not included under the state program could still be left in the lurch.

Kids with serious disabilities not on the list for the medical cannabis cards are left in the dust rather than allowing them to continue to have access to a safe, legal product sold at Iowa health and wellness stores, she said.

Additionally, Iowa parents able to claim an affirmative defense could still find themselves tied up in court.

I cant afford the legal fees to go to court, Farquhar said. I just dont want to be in a legal gray area.  Affirmative defense doesnt feel like a rational choice between my son being safe and getting into a potential legal battle. As a parent, this is scary.

Theres also the added cost of applying for a medical cannabis card and purchasing products from one Iowas five licensed dispensaries. The registration fee is $100 a year. Some may qualify for a reduced fee of $25.

Farquhar said a 2-ounce bottle of Haleighs Hope CBD oil from Colorado, which contains about 60 mg of THC per bottle, is $150. To purchase an equivalent amount of oil from an Iowa dispensary would set her back $520, she said.

That is a massive difference, she said. Many families cannot afford to pay to play and go to the state, get the card and pay for very pricey oil.

Farquhar said she and others from the Epilepsy Foundation met with members of Reynolds staff, trying to get an amendment to the bill to limit the sale of consumable hemp products to those under 21, but still allow children with medical complexities, like her son, to consume it. She said the group also asked the law be amended to allow a ratio of at least 15:1  compared to the 10 mg per container cap in the new law  meaning there is 15 times the amount of CBD in a dose compared to THC.

Its a scary situation to put families in, and its not right, Farquhar said.
" " Frances Willard stands behind her mother, Mary Thompson Hill Willard, seated at left, and Anna B. Gordon, who worked as a secretary and lived in the Willard household. Library of Congress/Corbis/VCG/Getty Images

As younger adults opt for "wellness" products, many are practicing alcohol abstinence. Sometimes referred to as "sober curious," this trend of often forgoing alcohol has forged public conversations on the health benefits of abstinence.

Few, however, reflect on its connections to the temperance movement, one of the major social movements of the 19th and early 20th centuries.

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Its leaders not only believed that alcohol abstinence would lead to better health, but they saw it as a way to create a just society. This movement laid a foundation for the successful campaign for an amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Enacted in 1920, the 18th Amendment barred the sale and distribution of alcoholic beverages.

Because of the difficulties of legal enforcement, and following a national campaign waged against Prohibition, the amendment was repealed in 1933. That repeal still casts aspersion on how the temperance movement is remembered today. Many Americans see it as a moralistic crusade dominated by religious zealots. However, temperance became an international movement, with many of its leaders being women.

A historical figure who sheds light on this movement is Frances Willard. In a recent biography, I discuss how Willard came to lead the temperance movement.
Jon Cryer and Andrew McCarthy did not shy away from discussing the longtime animosity that came along with the glaring spotlight of being young Brat Pack actors. And the two recently shared how they finally buried the hatchet as adults.

When we had done Pretty in Pink together, we did not get along because he was a d, Cryer said Friday at a screening for McCarthys new documentary, Brats.

Thats very true, McCarthy said during the Q&A, according to People.

The actors, who co-starred in the 1986 movie written by John Hughes, apparently spent years on each others bad side, not unlike their high-school characters Duckie and Blane, who both harbored feelings for Molly Ringwalds Andie.

Cryer, 59, who went on to win two Emmys for Two and a Half Men, said a fateful 2012 meeting in a greenroom for The View helped them make amends. McCarthy, 61, who went on to direct in TV and film, confirmed that he apologized to his former co-star, and Cryer described it as a lovely moment.

It was lovely because it was like within a moment, it was just so clear that we were teenagers and that does not, that in no way defines who we are now and it was just so lovely. It was immediately warm, Cryer said.

Cryer, McCarthy and several other members of the Brat Pack reunited Friday at the Brats world premiere in New York. The actors appear in the new documentary about what it meant to be part of that group, which got its sensational sobriquet from a 1985 profile about Emilio Estevez. The actors  billed as Hollywoods Brat Pack by writer David Blum  starred in the 1980s movies St. Elmos Fire, The Breakfast Club, Sixteen Candles and About Last Night, among others.

McCarthy managed to get Cryer  whom he described as Brat Pack adjacent  Estevez, Demi Moore, Ally Sheedy, Rob Lowe and Lea Thompson to sit for interviews for the doc, which begins streaming Wednesday on Hulu. (Other members of the famed clique include Judd Nelson, Sean Penn, Tom Cruise, Timothy Hutton, Matt Dillon and Nicolas Cage, with Matthew Broderick, Matthew Modine and Kevin Bacon on the side.) Blum is also interviewed in the film, which is based on McCarthys 2021 memoir Brat: An 80s Story.

If you were coming of age in the 1980s, McCarthy says in the Brats trailer, the Brat Pack was near the center of your cultural awareness. But for those of us experiencing it from the inside, the Brat Pack was something very different.

The Resident and Good Girls actor laments how his career and those of his cohort were branded by that 1985 New York Magazine article, leading him to hate the Brat Pack for decades.

Appearing Monday on Good Morning America, McCarthy said he used the documentary as an opportunity to re-connect with the old gang, most of whom he hadnt seen in more than 30 years, and discuss the infamous moniker and its professional ramifications. While the public embraced the group, the industry reacted to them negatively.

It was such a seminal moment in all our lives, and none of us had ever talked about it before. So I thought itd be good to go see what everybody felt about it, he said. It was such a crazy thing when it first happened to us, we all hated it, and over time its become this wonderfully iconic, affectionate term. I just wanted to see what everybodys relationship to it was, because it is like a relationship. Its followed me, every day I hear it. 

The Weekend at Bernies star said he hadnt seen several members of the pack for years, let alone hung out with them. He was surprised that his co-stars were willing to talk about the moniker, suggesting that even 10 years ago, they probably wouldnt have readily discussed it.

McCarthy, who described himself as a loner, said he last saw Lowe about 30 years ago and Estevez at the 1985 premiere of St. Elmos Fire.

Our lives just led elsewhere. Because the Brat Pack, what initially happened was we perceived it as such a negative thing, we all kind of scattered, he said. By the naming of it, it kind of ended it in a certain way, and then the public knew better and embraced it and just took it to their hearts, and it took on a life of its own.
RALEIGH  North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey on Monday announced the arrest of Mitchell Ketchen Mullen, 49, of 2262 Isaac St., Concord.

Mullen was charged with one felony conversion by a bailee, two misdemeanor charges of prohibited practices in bail bonding and one misdemeanor of failure to properly document affidavit for collection.

According to special agents with the Department of Insurances Criminal Investigations Division, Mullen fraudulently used $1,500 in bail bond funds entrusted to him as a bondsman by converting it to his own personal use. He paid a fee of $3,000 to retain an attorney for a client he bonded from jail, a violation of state law. He also accepted $6,000 in cash, 15% more than the premium, and he failed to properly document amounts collected for a client.

According to the arrest warrants, the offenses occurred on Jan. 14, 2023.

Mullen was served by the Cabarrus County Sheriffs Office and released on June 9. His first appearance will be on June 12 in Cabarrus County Court.

Our Bailbond Regulatory and Licensing Divisions work hard to ensure bondsmen and bondswomen operate properly within the law, Commissioner Causey said. I thank our agents and staff for working hard to bring this case to light.

If you suspect insurance fraud or other white-collar crimes, please report it. You may anonymously report fraud by calling the N.C. Department of Insurance Criminal Investigations Division at 919-807-6840 or toll free from anywhere in North Carolina at 888-680-7684.

Information is also available at www.ncdoi.gov.
The Chamber, Leading Business in Cabarrus recently hosted the Leadership Cabarrus graduation for the Class of 2024s 33 members. The event was sponsored by The Chambers Cornerstone Investors: Atrium Health, Charlotte Motor Speedway, Duke Energy, F&M Bank and Lilly.

Harrisburg Mayor Jennifer Teague was one of the graduates and her participation emphasizes her commitment to the Harrisburg community and dedication to continuous personal and professional development.

I am forever grateful for the opportunity to participate in the Leadership Cabarrus Class of 2024. It was an honor to be selected for such a prestigious development opportunity, said Mayor Jennifer Teague. This program has not only equipped me with invaluable tools and a deeper understanding of what makes Cabarrus County so great, but also inspired me to strive for excellence in my role serving our community.

Leadership Cabarrus, begun in 1989, is a 10-month civic leadership development program for business leaders to educate and enhance the awareness of the assets, resources and needs within the Cabarrus County region. Through a series of monthly class days from September through May, participants learn how leadership in historical, educational, economic, government and cultural segments work together to advance our community. Since its inception, over 700 people have completed the program.

The class project

Each year, the class works together on a legacy project that is designed to address a pressing need that will benefit the community in perpetuity. This years class focused on addressing food insecurity and partnered with 1Can, a Cabarrus County nonprofit. The group built two new Blessing Boxes (one at Gibson Mill and one at Weddington Hills Elementary School), raised over $16,000 in sponsorship to stock the boxes with food for a year, collected 915 pounds of nonperishable food and redesigned marketing materials for 1Can.

Each year, our class members spend a great deal of time outside of program days organizing and executing unique legacy projects that have been very beneficial to our community, said Barbi Jones, executive director, The Chamber Leading Business in Cabarrus. This years class wanted to reach as many neighbors in need as possible and quickly determined helping 1Can provide food in additional areas would be a great way to do that. We are so grateful for their work and appreciate their contributions and for those who supported their efforts through help and donations.

Leadership Cabarrus Class of 2024

The graduates of the Leadership Cabarrus, Class of 2024 are:

Jess Buchanan, The Chamber, Leading Business in Cabarrus

Sarah Burgess, Westrock Coffee

Katrina Carney, Anchor Real Estate Advisors

Garrett Carter, Charlotte Motor Speedway

Kristy DeSantis, UNC Charlotte

Methuselah Dixon, Agape Global Ministries

Meredith Dorton, Wayne Brothers, Inc.

Gerald Faulkner, City of Kannapolis

Patrick Graham, WeBuild Concord

Andrew Guenther, Vulcan Materials

Julie Henderson, Cabarrus County CVB

Kim Herrick, Mills Law

Zack Hubbard, Rowan-Cabarrus Community College

Jamie Hunter, Lilly

Bonnie Jones

Jessica Jones, City of Concord

Julie Long, City of Kannapolis

Sheila Lowry, City of Concord

Tashina Mahatha, Rowan-Cabarrus Community College

Nick Manser, CESI

Rosmery Morales, Cabarrus Rowan Community Health Center

Thomas Nunn, Cabarrus County Government

Rusty Olson, Cabarrus Brewing Company

Suzanne Philemon, The Cannon Foundation

Amy Potoczny, Cabarrus Health Alliance

Traci Rowan, Great Wolf Lodge

Adam Ryerson, Concord Fire Department

Jennifer Teague, Town of Harrisburg

Tanesha Thompson, Synergy Realty Group

Bill Tolone, UNC Charlotte

Sarah Vingoe, Cabarrus Health Alliance

Trish West, Atrium Health

Scott Zeman, Cabarrus County Sheriffs Office

Application being accepted for 2025

Applications for the Class of 2025 are open until Friday, June 28, at 5 p.m. and are available at cabarrus.biz/leadership. The cost for the program is $1,250 for Chamber members and $1,750 for nonmembers, with priority consideration given to members. For more information, contact Barbi Jones at bjones@cabarrus.biz.
COMPANY NEWS: Advent One , the reputable automation, cloud, and infrastructure specialist in Australia, proudly announces its acceptance into the Red Hat Partner Practice Accelerator Program, solidifying its position as the first partner in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region to join the program. With over 25 years of industry expertise, Advent One continues to demonstrate its commitment to delivering innovative infrastructure and automation solutions to enterprise and commercial-sized organisations across Australia.

Being part of the invite-only Red Hat Partner Practice Accelerator Program, Advent One joins an exclusive group of partners globally that have demonstrated advanced technical knowledge and proven business practices in Red Hat professional services related to automation and infrastructure development. The program positions Advent One as trusted experts, validated by Red Hat, who are able to architect, implement and successfully drive automation projects that are tailored solutions for commercial customers. With this program, Red Hat is empowering partners such as Advent One to lead the full commercial customer lifecycle while providing differentiated and impactful business outcomes using Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform and Red Hat OpenShift.

John Twine, CEO at Advent One

John Twine, CEO of Advent One, emphasised the company's dedication to providing accessible Red Hat skills to commercial organisations in Australia, stating, "Our investment in upskilling the Advent One team, and subsequent acceptance into the program, ensures that commercial and mid-sized organisations in Australia have reliable and economical access to Red Hat expertise.

"All too often, we see commercial organisations unable to implement automation across their cloud, infrastructure and security services due to a lack of skills or technical complexity, especially in legacy environments. Their risk appetite is low unless guided and advised by a highly capable team, like Advent One."

Talor Holloway, CTO at Advent One

Talor Holloway, CTO of Advent One, highlighted the strict selection process and requirements in being accepted into the program, remarking, "Acceptance into the Red Hat Partner Acceleration Program isn't just based on software sold or certifications gained. To be accepted, we had to demonstrate our ability to architect and implement impactful Red Hat Ansible and Red Hat OpenShift solutions tailored to the unique environments of commercial-sized organisations, including providing multiple case studies and reference architecture. This assessment process is powerful and hard to achieve."

However, during the assessment process, we were able to showcase our Red Hat Ansible playbooks and our strong methodology to discovery, sizing, delivery types and platform usage that ensures successful delivery of key automation initiatives that are on time and on budget.

Our expertise and strategies often rival those seen in the enterprise space and we have multiple customers demanding more of our unique frameworks once they see how automation accelerates their projects, ensures delivery resilience and helps them scale their IT services without increasing headcount.

Commenting on how a commercial organisation would start to build automation in their IT environment, Holloway advises: Start small and scale up by changing repetitive workloads, like patching, with automation. Partner with an experienced team to drive the first initiatives, and then upskill your team along the way.

Once youre underway, then you can look for tool consolidation opportunities or major events like migrations where automation can significantly streamline processes. Generally, we get our customers to this stage in about six months. From there we can start looking at integrating mission-critical applications, like ServiceNow or cloud hyperscalers, to maximise automation benefits. Its a journey, but worth it and definitely achievable with the right partner in your corner.

Garry Gray, Senior Director and Head of Ecosystems, Australia & New Zealand at Red Hat, commended Advent One's customer-centric approach, stating, "The current challenge and infinite opportunity for all of us right now lies in areas like artificial intelligence (AI), automation and edge. As the hybrid cloud landscape continues to evolve to support these, our approach requires constant evaluation, collaboration and adjustments depending on a customers unique business needs and IT footprint. Together with partners like Advent One, we will continue to help customers on whatever journey they choose and meet them where they are with the capabilities they need to succeed. As a long-term partner of Red Hat, Advent One has shown true expertise and innovation consistently and we are thrilled to welcome them into the Red Hat Partner Acceleration Program that will allow us to work more closely in driving innovation for customers."

Advent One's acceptance into the Red Hat Partner Practice Accelerator Program reinforces its position as a leader in automation and cloud services in Australia. With a strong focus on customer success and a proven track record of 25 years of delivering tailored solutions, Advent One continues to set the standard for excellence in the industry.

ABOUT ADVENT ONE

Advent One has over twenty years of expertise in providing infrastructure, cloud and security services across Australian enterprises and the mid-market sector. With deep subject matter expertise in cloud enablement and proactive security strategies, Advent One helps customers mitigate the risk of cyber-attacks by maturing their cybersecurity posture by applying best practices across security strategy, technology, and managed services. For more information, please visit www.adventone.com
COMPANY NEWS: Entrust, a global leader in delivering identity-centric security solutions for governments and enterprises worldwide, today announced the launch of its Citizen Identity Orchestration solution. Governments now can streamline the delivery of public services through secure digital identities, embedding trust in every citizen interaction.

The innovative and modular solution from Entrust launches as governments worldwide experience increasing demands for seamless, transparent, and rapid service delivery. DigitaliSing public services can help meet these expectations, but digital service channels must be more convenient and intuitive to use than existing options to be effective. And, as AI-driven identity fraud continues to grow, governments need to verify and authenticate citizens to access online services.

With this solution, citizens will benefit from reliable, transparent, and inclusive access to government services, augmented with a seamless and secure digital experience. Governments can ensure the highest standards of security and privacy for digital government-to-citizen (G2C) interactions for seamless border crossing, benefits delivery, filing taxes, access to healthcare and more.

"Once you establish the identity of an individual online and provide the right infrastructure to trust that identity, you can unlock unlimited possibilities to empower citizens and businesses by enhancing government services, making them more convenient, accessible and secure, said Entrust president of payment and identity Tony Ball. "While there is broad consensus on the need to digitalise public services, citizen adoption still lags behind expectations, barring a few exceptions like Estonia. The Entrust solution can help address this challenge by augmenting the existing infrastructure for service delivery with seamless digital experiences, empowering citizens with more choices in how they interact with their government.

Entrust Citizen Identity Orchestration solution adopts an identity-centric approach, designed to enable G2C digital transformation initiatives.

Benefits of this solution include:

Composable Architecture: Enables ease of integration with existing infrastructure and streamlines G2C workflows using microservices and low code / no code orchestration, ensuring future readiness and interoperability with legacy systems.

Enables ease of integration with existing infrastructure and streamlines G2C workflows using microservices and low code / no code orchestration, ensuring future readiness and interoperability with legacy systems. Total Experience Design: Enhances citizen adoption of digital public services with intuitive mobile or web interfaces, elevating civic engagement in government.

Enhances citizen adoption of digital public services with intuitive mobile or web interfaces, elevating civic engagement in government. Standards-based: Enables governments to meet NIST IAL 1, 2, and 3, eIDAS, GDPR, and can be easily configured to help comply with local regulatory standards, ensuring the highest security and privacy benchmarks for digitisation.

Enables governments to meet NIST IAL 1, 2, and 3, eIDAS, GDPR, and can be easily configured to help comply with local regulatory standards, ensuring the highest security and privacy benchmarks for digitisation. Chain of Trust: Embeds trust in digital interactions with AI-driven fraud detection for identity verification, robust authentication, and PKI encryption for reliable service delivery.

Key capabilities of the solution include digital onboarding with AI-powered fraud detection for identity verification, seamless issuance of digital credentials, identity lifecycle management, and self-service digital channels on the web or mobile with multi-factor authentication to access government services.

A vital use case unlocked by this solution is multimodal (land, rail, air, maritime) seamless cross-border travel. It enables biometric smart corridors that dont require expensive eGates and kiosks, allowing legitimate travelers to enter or exit a country seamlessly through simple mobile-based pre-enrolment, thus protecting borders while transforming the travel experience.

Our solution is composable, allowing public institutions worldwide to implement successful digitalization programs that continuously evolve and scale. The launch of the Entrust Citizen Identity Orchestration solution underlines our commitment to building on our legacy of over 50 years of providing secure identity solutions to governments, added Ball.

Entrust is dedicated to being a reliable partner for government digital transformation, providing identity-centric solutions that enhance security, convenience, and trust in government-to-citizen interactions worldwide.

About Entrust

Entrust keeps the world moving safely by enabling strong identities, secure payments, and protected data. We offer an unmatched breadth of solutions that are critical to the future of secure enterprises, governments, the people they serve, and the data and transactions associated with them. With our experts serving customers in more than 150 countries and a network of global partners, its no wonder the worlds most trusted organizations trust us. For more information, visit www.entrust.com.
A Chinese museum has released a digital replica of a set of wine vessels dating back 2,400 years, once deemed too complicated to replicate.

The 3D digital version of Marquis Yi of Zeng's Zun and Basin was featured in a video clip released by the Hubei Provincial Museum in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province.

The original bronze ware, dating back to the Warring States Period (475-221 BC), consists of a zun and a pan. A zun was used to contain wine, while a pan held water to either warm or cool the wine. The zun and the pan were each soldered with dozens of accessories, including hollowed-out decorations of intertwined dragons and snakes.

"It is the most complex and exquisite bronze ware of the pre-Qin period. The relic has yet to be fully reproduced as its internal structure remains a mystery," said Zhang Changping, a history professor at Wuhan University.

The latest replication project, jointly conducted by the Hubei Provincial Museum and the Palace Museum, used industrial CT scanning to reveal the invisible structures of the wine vessels.

Many archaeologists are excited about the replica, which took four years to complete, said Jiang Xudong, a researcher with the Hubei Provincial Museum. "The effort will pave the way for a true replica to be created in the future."
Staff members and supporters of Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools packed a public hearing of the Forsyth County commissioners on Monday to urge them to fully fund the school districts request for $20 million, with one teacher saying that she is resigning because she doesnt make enough money.

If I was truly valued and seen as the professional that I am, I would not have to work two jobs to make a living, Nicole Walters told commissioners. I know I am not the only here (today) that has this story. This district has so many wonderful teachers who truly care about their students, but if they cannot provide for them or their families then you will find out here soon that I will not be the only one leaving.

County Manager Dudley Watts proposed county budget that he presented to commissioners earlier in the month calls for the school district to receive an additional $6.7 million in funding over last years adopted budget.

In all, the fiscal year 2024-25 recommended budget for the school district is $175,795,420, an increase of 4% from last year.

The increase includes money for salary adjustments mandated by the state, $2 million for new computers for staff and students, $1.7 million for radio upgrades for school buses, and $500,000 to cover a 2% raise for classified employees. That raise is in addition to the 4% raise from the state.

Other school district requests were not included in the recommended budget. Those include 10 more social workers and five nurses at a cost of $1.2 million; expanding in-house custodial services for $2.7 million; funding 11 pre-kindergarten classrooms for $1.3 million; an additional $5 million for local teacher supplements; and $1 million to restore extra pay for teachers with masters degrees. The General Assembly voted to eliminate the masters degree pay in 2013.

The state contributes about 65% to the school districts budget, with 27% from the county and 8% from the federal government.

Several speakers said the commissioners must step in where state government has failed.

Ghufran Abd, who graduated from Parkland High School on Saturday, praised her teachers and staff members of the school but said that they are in dire need of better compensation. She noted some of the difficulties at Parkland this year and how teachers are having to man metal detectors as part of their job.

I place faith in the commission to release the funds our schools and our staff needs where our state government has failed, Abd said.

Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools has the seventh highest supplement in the state but is the fourth largest school district in the state, a ranking that Superintendent Tricia McManus wants to improve. The $5 million supplement included in the school districts budget request would add $1,000 to a teachers annual salary.

Before the public hearing, teachers and their supporters gathered on the lower level of Merschel Park to rally in support of the schools budget request, then marched toward the Forsyth County Government Center to attend the county boards public hearing.

More than a hundred people, many carrying signs, turned out at the park for the rally sponsored by the Forsyth County Association of Educators. Many in the crowd were teachers in the public schools, but there were also parents like Rosalyn Sloan and her three kids, who brought hand-made signs drawn on cardboard to support the schools.

We are here because if Forsyth County is going to invest in one thing, that is our future, Sloan said, pointing at her children and adding that is these guys. Elizabeth Sloan, who is 8 years old, Mariellen Sloan, who is 5 and Anthony Jones, who is 4, showed off their signs at the park.

Jenny Easter, the president of the teachers group, praised McManus for asking the county board to increase local funding for the school system by $20 million.

While it is unfair to have to lean so hard on our county commissioners to fill the ever-increasing gap that our state has caused, what will happen if we dont? she told the people attending the rally. Tonight, when we march down to talk at the budget public hearing, weve got to be pushing for them to understand that they still need to help us pay for pre-K classrooms, because we know our children need to be ready when they enter kindergarten; more nurses  we need them more than one day a week; more social workers.

As well, Easter said teachers need to push for money for a pay supplement for educators who get a masters degree.

If our county commissioners can help us fund that, think of all the people that can get paid what they deserve for the education that they went and got, she said.

Stu Egan, a teacher from West Forsyth High School, spoke and pointed out that Mo Green, a Democrat running for state superintendent of public instruction, was in the crowd. Green, who has been endorsed by the North Carolina Association of Educators, got a big cheer from the crowd for being present at the rally. Also speaking was Angela Levine with the group Red Wine and Blue, who told listeners to go to the public hearing and pour your heart out and talk about why this funding is so so important.

The Rev. Paul Robeson Ford, with the activist group Action4Equity, gave a rousing speech and led the teachers in a chant for funded schools  now!

Budget workshops will be Tuesday and Wednesday at 9 a.m.

A special meeting, where the commissioners may possibly adopt the budget, will be June 13 at 2 p.m.

PHOTOS: Forsyth County Association of Educators rallies for WS/FCS $20 million budget request
Nebraska families have yet to claim as much as $6.6 million in grocery assistance that was issued last year in a child-focused food program  and only days remain to tap the funds before they revert to the federal government.

The amount left on the table is from a federal program launched during the COVID-19 pandemic to help feed low-income youths during the time they were not in school.

Known as P-EBT, or Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer, the program is a predecessor to the similar but separate Summer EBT program that has drawn extensive attention in Nebraska because Gov. Jim Pillen declined, at first, to accept the federal food aid for kids.

Heres the status of last years funding, according to public records obtained from the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services: Nearly $17 million in federal food aid benefits were issued in September 2023 for the P-EBT program. About 140,000 eligible Nebraska youths were each to have received $120 loaded onto wallet-sized plastic electronic benefit transfer cards.

Such cards are used essentially like debit cards to pay for food at participating grocery stores.

As of the end of April, state records show that $6.6 million had yet to be accessed or spent. That equates to about 55,000 students not having used their cards.

If cards are not activated within 274 days from when they were issued, the benefits are expunged. The bulk of Nebraskas 2023 summer P-EBT cards were issued on Sept. 12 and Sept. 14, DHHS said, so the funds expire on June 14 and June 16, respectively.

A small portion of cards were issued Sept. 28, and those expire June 30.

The 274-day count restarts whenever a family makes a purchase. So if a family made a purchase this week, theyd have more time to spend the remainder of the benefits issued to the card, DHHS said.

Reasons as to why the free grocery aid has been left unclaimed can range from families lack of awareness or understanding, to cards being sent to former addresses, to families choosing not to participate, say those familiar with the program.
A vast majority of Nebraskans said their home internet is very or mostly dependable, according to the 2023 Nebraska Annual Social Indicators Survey conducted by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

The study by the Bureau of Sociological Research found 45% of the 1,450 Nebraskans surveyed believe their home internet service is very dependable, while 41% reported their online connection is mostly reliable.

But where Nebraskans live plays a large role in whether they reported their internet was reliable or fast, the survey found, while other factors such as age, education level and income also show disparities.

For example, 50% of Nebraskans living in cities or towns told UNL researchers their home internet is very dependable, while only 26% of those living on a farm or in the open country felt the same way.

Those living outside of population centers were more likely to report their internet connection being just somewhat or not dependable. Twenty-eight percent of Nebraskans who live on farms and 22% of those living in open country said their connection was not reliable, the survey found.

For Nebraskans living in and around Omaha, 9 out of 10 were most likely to say their internet connection was very or mostly dependable, while in Southeast Nebraska, including Lincoln, 87% of survey respondents said their internet was very or mostly dependable.

Other regions of the state  which have been a focus for Nebraska lawmakers who have appropriated funds to connect them with broadband internet  reported less-dependable internet, according to the survey.

In northern Nebraska, nearly 30% said their internet was not dependable, while 23% of respondents from the Panhandle also reported having somewhat or not dependable internet.

The UNL survey also found other sociological factors affect how dependable and fast respondents said their internet is.

Roughly 90% of Nebraskans aged 19 to 44 said their internet was both reliable and fast compared to about 80% of respondents 65 years and older.

More than half (53%) of Nebraskans in the younger age bracket said their internet was very dependable, while 42% described it as very fast. Just 36% of Nebraskans older than 65 said their internet was very dependable, and only 19% described it as fast.

Nebraskans with higher levels of education also reported having more dependable connections and faster internet speeds in the latest survey.

Of those with a bachelor's degree, 93% said they had very dependable or mostly dependable internet, compared to 74% of those with a high school diploma.

In terms of internet speed, 93% of those with a college degree described their internet speed as very fast or somewhat fast, while 80% of respondents who did not go to college said the same.

Nebraskans with higher incomes were also more likely to describe having reliable and fast connections in their homes.

Fewer than 20% of respondents who reported incomes less than $30,000 said their internet connection was very fast compared to 41% of those with incomes greater than $100,000, for example.

The "Nebraska Snapshot" put out by UNL's Bureau of Sociological Research last week comes as federal and state lawmakers have poured hundreds of millions of dollars into connecting unserved and underserved areas of Nebraska with high-speed internet.

Last year, Nebraska learned it would receive $405 million in federal money as part of the Broadband Equity, Access and Development program created by Congress in 2021.

That funding could help connect an estimated 50,000 households this year.

The Nebraska Public Service Commission also has made more than $150 million available to internet service providers in the form of grants to reach areas without connection speeds of 100 megabits per second.

According to Cullen Robbins, director of the Nebraska Universal Service Fund and telecommunications for the Public Service Commission, a total of $59.2 million has been allocated through the Nebraska Broadband Bridge Program.

Since its inception in 2021, the Bridge Program has connected 5,431 unserved and 11,477 underserved locations to high-speed internet throughout the state.

Another broadband infrastructure program administered by the Public Service Commission, the Capital Projects Fund, has provided $92.3 million in grants to connect 2,442 unserved and 7,520 underserved homes since it was created in 2023.

Top Journal Star photos for June 2024
With family and friends cheering, 54-year-old Weng Yanping said she felt energized while paddling a dragon boat to compete in the annual race in her hometown of Miluo, Hunan province, on Monday.

Weng and the other 21 members of the all-female team, with an average age of over 40, participated in the annual dragon boat race held on the Miluo River to commemorate Dragon Boat Festival.

Each team consisted of 22 members  20 paddlers, one drummer and one helmsman.

The women's team competed with 19 all-male teams in the 500-meter race and finished last, but Weng said she was excited and motivated by the experience.

The women's team was founded in 1988, and Weng has been a member since then and has participated in the race annually.

"For people in Miluo, boat racing during the festival is in our blood, and we are the proof that no matter your age or gender, anyone can participate in and enjoy team sports," she said.

One of the most popular stories of the festival's origins is that of Qu Yuan, an exiled poet and politician during the Warring States Period (475-221 BC). Upon hearing that his state, Chu, had fallen, he committed suicide by drowning himself in the Miluo River.

Villagers paddled out in boats to save him and, upon realizing it was too late, threw zongzi, or glutinous rice dumplings, into the river to prevent fish from eating his body. They also thrashed their paddles and beat their drums to scare them away.

Therefore, boat racing and eating sticky rice dumplings have become two of the most prevalent traditions for people to commemorate the festival and Qu.

According to a big data analysis by China Mobile, boat racing is most popular in provinces such as Guangdong, Hunan, Guizhou and Fujian.

In Guangdong, people who watched the races accounted for 15 percent of the total number of tourists from other places.

Xu Cheng, 27, took a month's leave from his job in Xi'an, Shaanxi province, to train for the boat race in his hometown of Miluo.

There is a saying in Miluo that people would rather not have a good harvest for a year than lose the annual boat race, so he believes that his decision to take a month's leave from work was totally worthwhile.

"Some things cannot be bought with money," he said. "Boat racing is a tradition. My grandfather and my father both participated in the races, so I am inheriting the tradition."

Wan Bing, 40, trained for 15 days for this year's race. It was the third year he had taken part. His team finished in seventh place, but he said he was satisfied even though achieving first place has always been his goal.

"People in Miluo learn about the spirit and patriotism of Qu Yuan since their childhood. As we grow older, we join the boat racing teams. The whole team unites together and paddles like one, overcoming fatigue and pain while practicing, until they cross the finish line."

Thousands of people gathered on the river banks to cheer on the racers.

Among them was 7-year-old Zheng Anti, who stood out because she was wearing traditional Chinese clothes.

She was cheering for her father, whose team achieved first place in the qualifying games.

"He did a great job and I am very proud of him," Zheng said.


Image Credit: Fred Schilling, Collection of the Supreme Court of the United States

There's a troubling trend by certain politicians to salt the ground at the U.S. Supreme Court before more significant firearm-related cases can be argued and decided. Politicians are disparaging the justices in an attempt to politicize the Court and delegitimize decisions even before arguments are heard. It's unfolding in the cruelest ways, and it threatens the separation of powers between the three co-equal branches of government  the Executive, Legislative and Judicial Branches.

It is also a reminder that November's presidential election carries with it added significance for the future of the Judiciary.

Just last week, Chief Justice John Roberts rejected a request by U.S. Senate Democrats to meet to talk about Supreme Court ethics and a ginned-up controversy over Justice Samuel Alito flying flags outside his homes in Alexandria, Va., and Long Island Beach, N.J. The first incident stemmed from a 2021 dispute with a neighbor who personally targeted Justice Alito's wife, Martha-Ann, seemingly as a form of protesting the violence of Jan. 6. Mrs. Alito made the sole decision to fly an inverted flag at their Virginia residence in response to a neighbor's pointed attacks. More manufactured controversy stemmed from Mrs. Alito flying an "Appeal to Heaven" flag at their New Jersey residence in 2023, despite San Francisco's City Hall flying a similar flag, only to quietly take it down last month after the media uproar.

Justice Alito responded to Senate Democrats' demands that he recuse from cases involving Jan. 6 based on these contrived controversies. .....
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
Officials broke ground today on the expansion of U.S. 30 between Alda and Grand Island.

Taking part in the groundbreaking were Vicki Kramer of the Nebraska Department of Transportation, Mayor Roger Steele, Division Engineer Wes Wahlgren of NDOT District 4 and Todd Allen of Werner Construction.

Werner will be the primary contractor on the four-lane expansion.

Steele called it a "transformative" project.

"It is a pleasure to stand before you today as we mark an important milestone for our community  the launch of the Highway 30 Grand Island west project," Steele said. "This is more than just a roadway. It represents growth, progress and a bright future for Grand Island."

The city's share of the $33 million project will be about $4 million. The investment by the city and state are "a testimony to our commitment to the future," Steele said. "This new path of Highway 30 is designed to improve capacity within our city limits and to create new opportunities for development and growth.

"As we look ahead, this project will open up our community to new businesses, residents and visitors to experience all that Grand Island has to offer," Steele said.
In commemoration of the 25th anniversary of Macao's return to China, the Wuxi Symphony Orchestra, in collaboration with the Macao Cultural Promotion Association, has unveiled a special project featuring the debut of a Chinese anthem titled Shengshi Bailian (Flourishing White Lotus).

Crafted by composer Li Shaosheng, the esteemed music director of the Wuxi Symphony Orchestra, the stirring melody is brought to life by vocalists Liu Naiqi and Liu Tong, accompanied by the harmonious orchestration of the China National Symphony Orchestra and the Macao Youth Symphony Orchestra.

The white lotus, symbolizing purity and grace, holds a significant cultural importance as the emblematic flower of the Macao Special Administrative Region, further enhancing the emotional depth and resonance of this musical tribute to Macao's historical milestone.
A 39-year-old La Crosse man is being held in the La Crosse County Jail after a homicide Tuesday.

The La Crosse County Sheriff's Office said in a press release it is investigating a homicide in the town of Shelby, but did not release the name of a suspect. Jail records show that Zachary William Fritz was arrested Monday and faces a charge of first-degree intentional homicide. He's expected to make his initial court appearance Tuesday.

The sheriff's office responded to a 911 call from a home at Redwood Court. When police arrived, they found the body of a woman. Her identity hasn't been released.

Fritz was arrested in 2009 after a violent assault in La Crosse County in which he was charged with six felonies and two misdemeanors. Three of the charges  false imprisonment, strangulation/suffocation and bail jumping  resulted in a not guilty verdict by reason of mental disease.

Felony counts of threats to injure, substantial battery and intimidation of a victim and misdemeanor counts of criminal damage to property and disorderly conduct were dismissed.

Fritz has no other criminal record in Wisconsin.
 Flash

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (2nd L), also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, attends the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, on June 10, 2024. [Photo/Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs]

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Monday attended the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting in the Russian city of Nizhny Novgorod.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, noted that over the past year, BRICS cooperation has been remarkable, rapid and strong.

Following BRICS' expansion, a new era for the Global South to gain strength through unity has come, and the appeal and attractiveness of BRICS has been continuously increasing, he said.

Noting rampant politicization and securitization of economic issues and increasing unilateral sanctions and technological barriers in today's world, Wang called on the participants to follow the trend of history, stand on the side of fairness and justice, and make the right choices.

Looking ahead, the greater BRICS must take greater responsibilities and actions, Wang said, adding that the strategic significance and political effects of the greater BRICS should be fully leveraged to make BRICS a new type of multilateral cooperation mechanism based on emerging markets and developing countries, and open and inclusive to the world.

Wang called for strengthening confidence in multilateralism to draw a new blueprint for future global development; firmly toughening the determination to maintain peace and security to offer new support for the political resolution of hotspot issues; and staying committed to the BRICS original aspiration of openness, inclusiveness, and win-win cooperation to elevate pragmatic cooperation to new heights.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (4th L), also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, attends the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, on June 10, 2024. [Photo/Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs]

The participants exchanged views in depth on BRICS cooperation and international and regional hot issues. All parties spoke highly of the important role of the BRICS mechanism and the achievements of its membership expansion. They agreed that the accession of more countries to BRICS has accelerated the process of world multi-polarization, and promoted a more just and equitable international order. They also voiced support for the establishment of partner countries.

All parties called for adherence to multilateralism, opposition to unilateralism and protectionism, promoting reform of the international financial architecture, enhancing and improving global governance, and increasing the voice and representation of developing countries.

All parties emphasized resolving disputes peacefully through dialogue and consultations, and supporting all efforts conducive to the peaceful resolution of crises.

A joint statement of BRICS foreign ministers was issued following the meeting.

During the meeting, Wang met separately with Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira, South African Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor, Ethiopian Foreign Minister Taye Atskeselassie, and Iranian Acting Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani.
Ukrainian teenager Yelisei Mamonov dreams of attending his country's top technical university one day.

For now, he is gaining valuable experience at a family-run workshop making remote-controlled stretchers. They are used to rescue wounded troops as Russia's invasion continues.

Yelisei, who is 14, works under his father Dmytro, a former factory manager. He also works alongside his 10-year-old sister, Yesenia.

Yelisei has already put dozens of devices into use.

"We need to scale it up. We want as many as possible to be at the front, so that every unit, every company has one," Yelisei said. As he spoke, a model sped down a dirt track at a training ground outside the capital Kyiv.

The Mamonovs fled the eastern city of Sloviansk shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. They set up production in central Ukraine, far from the bombs that once landed on their street.

Reporters with the Reuters news agency recently visited their workshop. The Mamonovs showed off two models. One was a lightweight, foldable stretcher. The other was a larger tracked vehicle, called a TerMIT (Tracked Modular Infantry Transporter).

Yesenia has learned how to connect electrical parts. She changed the wheels on the smaller model, which costs about $1,900 to make. The TerMIT's production cost is about $5,200.

The business, called Tank Bureau, is doing great, said wife and mother Oksana. She is also involved in the project. She takes orders for front-line troops.

She ignores criticism from family members and others that her children are missing out on a normal childhood.

"I think that, on the contrary, when they grow up they'll be thankful because they'll have more skills than others," Oksana said.

Drones and other high-tech devices are playing an increasingly important part in the war. Top Ukrainian officials have said there is a need to increase domestic production.

The Mamonovs' business has been funded by a Ukrainian government effort to increase defense technology production. But more support may be needed to reach Dmytro's vision: a battlefield where robotics are as widespread as first-aid kits.

"That means mass production, that means we need a proper plan," he said. "But in order to reach this, we need a radical leap forward."

Im Dan Novak.

Dan Novak adapted this story for VOA Learning English based on reporting by Reuters.

______________________________________________

Words in This Story

stretcher  n. a device that is made of a long piece of thick cloth stretched between two poles and that is used for carrying an injured or dead person

scale up  v. to increase the size, amount, or extent of

track  n. a pair of metal bars that a train, trolley, or subway car rides along

on the contrary  n. used to state that the opposite of what was said before is true

drone  n. a deep continuous sound

radical  adj. very new and different from what is traditional or ordinary
Scientists have found the genetic root of a disorder that causes intellectual disability. They say the disorder may affect as many as one in 20,000 young people.

Those with the disorder share a number of conditions, which also include short stature, small heads, seizures and low muscle mass, said the researchers. They published their findings in Nature Medicine.

We were struck by how common this disorder is when compared with other rare diseases linked to a single gene, said study lead investigator Ernest Turro of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City. The researcher say the findings could help doctors in identifying, the disorder.

Charles Billington is a geneticist at the University of Minnesota who works with children. He was not involved in the study. He said doctors sometimes do not correctly diagnose patients with disorders like these because the signs are hard to recognize.

So certainly this wasnt something that we necessarily had a name for, he said.

Researchers said the mutations, or changes took place in a non-coding gene. Non-coding genes do not provide directions for making proteins. Until now, all but nine of the nearly 1,500 genes known to be linked to intellectual disability are protein-coding genes.

Most large genetic studies use technology that considers only genes that direct protein production.

This study used more complete whole-genome data from about 77,000 people who took part in the British governments 100,000 Genomes Project. About 5,500 had intellectual disability.

The rare mutations researchers found in the gene, called RNU4-2, were strongly associated with the potential for having intellectual disability.

Andrew Mumford is research director of the South West England NHS Genomic Medicine Service. He helped write the study. He said the finding opens the door to diagnoses for thousands of families.

More research is needed, Mumford said. How the mutation causes the disorder remains unclear and there is no treatment.

But Billington said laboratories should be able to offer testing for this condition soon. And researchers said families should be able to find and support each other  and know they are not alone.

Im Gregory Stachel.

Laura Ungar reported this story for The Associated Press. Gregory Stachel adapted it for VOA Learning English.

_____________________________________________

Words in This Story

intellectual  adj. of or relating to the ability to think in a logical way

stature  n. a person's height

associated  v. When one thing is associated with another, they happen together or are related or connected in some way.

potential  adj. capable of becoming real

genetic code  n. the instructions contained in a gene that tell a cell how to make a specific protein
From VOA Learning English, this is the Health & Lifestyle report.

Scientists are testing next-generation vaccines to deal with the spread of bird flu in the United States. The vaccines use the same mRNA technology that led to the development of COVID-19 shots in record time.

The U.S. Agriculture Department is planning to test a vaccine, developed by University of Pennsylvania researchers, by giving it to cows in order to protect farm workers. They say this could lessen the chance for the virus to jump into people and mutate, or change, in ways that could cause human-to-human spread.

Meanwhile, officials at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services have been talking to drugmakers about possible mRNA flu vaccines for people. These mRNA vaccines would be in addition to the millions of bird flu vaccines already in government hands.

If theres a pandemic, theres going to be a huge demand for vaccine, said Richard Webby, a flu researcher at St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital in Memphis. The more vaccines, the better, he added.

Spread of bird flu virus

Since 2020, the bird flu virus has been spreading among different kinds of animals in many countries. In March, it was found in U.S. dairy cows. However, investigators think it may have been in cows since December. Recently, the USDA announced it had been found in alpacas for the first time.

At least three dairy farm workers in the U.S. have been diagnosed with bird flu. Their illnesses were not severe. But earlier versions of the same H5N1 flu virus have been deadly to humans in other parts of the world. And U.S. officials are taking steps to be prepared if the virus mutates to a deadlier version or permits it to spread more easily from person to person.

Health officials say they already have two candidate vaccines for people that appear to be well-matched to the bird flu virus in U.S. dairy cows. They say, hundreds of thousands of prepared vaccines could go out immediately. And nearly 10 million more treatments could be produced in a few months.

The drugmaker CSL Seqirus said the U.S. government hired it to fill and finish about 4.8 million shots that could be completed by late summer. But the production lines for flu vaccines are already working on this autumns seasonal shots. And drugmakers would have to stop the lines to produce the bird flu vaccine.

Looking for a faster pathway

So, the government has been looking for another, faster pathway: the mRNA technology used by drugmakers Moderna and Pfizer to produce the vaccines against COVID-19.

Vaccine makers usually add elements of an inactive or weakened virus to the shot mixture. But with mRNA vaccines, scientists instead create a genetic material to direct the human body to produce antibodies and recognize and destroy the virus.

Moderna already has a bird flu mRNA vaccine in very early testing in humans. In a statement, Moderna said they are in discussions with the U.S. government on advancing our pandemic flu candidate.

Similar work has been going on at Pfizer. Company researchers in December gave human volunteers an mRNA vaccine against a version of bird flu that is somewhat similar to the one in cows.

Since then, researchers have performed a lab experiment exposing blood samples from those volunteers to the version seen in dairy cows. Pfizer said in a statement that they saw notable increases in antibody responses.

As for cows, University of Pennsylvania researcher Scott Hensley worked with Nobel-prize winner Drew Weissman on an experimental vaccine similar to the Moderna one for people.

In first-step testing, mice and ferrets produced high levels of bird flu virus-fighting antibodies after vaccination.

In another experiment, researchers infected one group of ferrets after vaccination. Then they compared what happened to unvaccinated ferrets. All the vaccinated animals survived and the unvaccinated did not, Hensley said.

The vaccine was really successful, said Webby of St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital in Memphis. His lab did that work last year in partnership with Hensley.

The cow study will be similar to the early testing done in smaller animals. The plan is for about 10 small cows to be vaccinated, half with one shot and half with another. Then their blood will be examined to look for how much bird flu-fighting antibodies were produced.

Hensley said that if a vaccine reduces the amount of virus in the cow, then ultimately we reduce the chance that a mutant virus that spreads in humans is going to emerge.

Thats the Health & Lifestyle report.

Im Anna Matteo.

And Im Andrew Smith.

Mike Stobbe and Lauran Neergaard reported this story for the Associated Press from. Anna Matteo adapted it for VOA Learning English.

Quiz - Scientists Test mRNA Vaccines to Protect Against Bird Flu Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz

______________________________________________

Words in This Story

mutate  v. to cause to undergo changes at the genetic level (mutation)

dairy  n. milk from a cow or other domestic animal (such as a goat)

diagnose  v. to recognize (something, such as a disease) by signs and symptoms

advance  v. to bring or move forward

sample  n. a part (as a set of individuals chosen from a whole population) used for investigating the whole

response  n. a reaction of a living thing to a stimulus

ultimately  adv. in the end

emerge  v. to become known or apparent

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A Malawi Defense Force plane carrying the country's Vice President Saulos Chilima and nine others went missing Monday, the country's Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Colleen Zamba, announced in a statement.

Zamba said the plane failed to make its scheduled landing at the country's Mzuzu Airport in the north at 10:02 a.m., local time, Monday.

"All efforts by the aviation authorities to make contact with the aircraft since it went off the radar have failed thus far," wrote Zamba.

Malawian President Lazarus Chakwera has since ordered all regional and national agencies to conduct an immediate search and rescue operation to locate the whereabouts of the aircraft.

The Malawian leader has also canceled his scheduled departure for the Bahamas, where he was going to attend a meeting by Afreximbank.

The vice president was traveling to a funeral of the country's former Attorney General and Minister of Justice Ralph Kasambara, who was found dead in a room at a lodge in Lilongwe, the capital of Malawi, Friday, and his body was buried Monday at his home village in Nkhata Bay, a few kilometers from Mzuzu Airport.
He has no political experience. No high-profile endorsements. No party affiliation.

What Fidias Panayiotou does have are 2.6 million followers on YouTube and more on TikTok. And now he has won a seat in the European Parliament representing Cyprus, one of several unusual candidates who launched improbable campaigns only to snag membership in the 720-seat legislature.

I wasnt planning on voting, but since Ive been seeing you on TikTok, Ill vote for you, said a driver Panayioutou stops, interviews and posts about.

Social media played an outsized role in the victories of a few candidates, prompting chatter in the political classes about its apparent role as an equalizer for unknown hopefuls as voters in dozens of democracies go to the polls this year, including in Britain, France and the United States.

Voters in the parliaments 27 countries in recent days also elected candidates who are in prison, have been kicked out of their delegation and withdrew from the election only to win seats, anyway.

Heres a closer look at unusual candidates-turned-MEPs  members of the European Parliament, representing some 400 million eligible voters.

Cyprus

Panayiotous initial claim to fame was a hug he gave to billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, plus an assortment of humorous videos. His election, fueled only by his popularity on social media posts, shook up the island nations political class in what many saw as a snub to deep-rooted party culture.

The 24-year-old who goes only by his first name, Fidias, won almost a fifth of the votes in Sundays election, placing him third behind traditional party candidates of the center-right DISY party and the communist-rooted AKEL. Its a first in a country where the mighty political parties have long earned iron-clad loyalty by meting out favors.

AKEL Secretary-General Stefanos Stefanou lamented the outcome, which he called a new reality in which citizens opt for non-politics as a political choice to register their disenchantment with the countrys political culture.

SpainArmed with a pair of social media accounts and staunch anti-immigrant discourse, a social media influencer rocked Spains far right by snatching up three of the countrys 61 seats in the European Parliament.

The driver was a national-populist figure known by the pen name of Alvise Perez, 34, founder of the Party is Over party. The 34-year-old was completely unknown to Spaniards outside the tight internet circles of the countrys far-right until election eve.

Now hell take along two allies to fill the seats he has won in the powerful European legislature that meets in Strasbourg, France and Brussels.

Perez celebrated with some loud supporters in front of a backdrop covered with his partys unorthodox logo: a cartoon drawing of a squirrel wearing a Guy Fawkes mask popularized by the 2005 movie V for Vendetta. Fawkes is the best-known member of the foiled 1605 plot to blow up the British Parliament and has since been associated with protest movements.

The party is over because, I am sad to say, Spain has become a party for criminals. Spain has become a party for the corrupt, mercenaries, pedophiles and rapists, Alvise told the hooting crowd.

The Party Is Over won over 4% of the ballots cast in Spain and pulled in 800,000 votes. It matched the three seats won by other established parties, including the junior member of Spains leftist coalition government. Spains far-right Vox party scored six seats on Monday, doubling its 2019 share, but it would have likely done better if Alvise had not launched his rogue effort.

Germany

Maximilian Krah, the top candidate for Germanys far-right Alternative for Germany, was kicked out of his delegation for a series of campaign scandals  and was elected anyway.

The 47-year-old MEP since 2019 announced Monday on X, formerly known as Twitter, that the newly elected lawmakers from his party voted to exclude him from their group.

I think this is wrong and sends a devastating signal to our voters, especially our young voters, Krah said.

The Alternative for Germany, or AfD, finished second in Germany with 15.9% of the votes. 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 Krah and the partys other top candidate for the European Parliament, Petr Bystron.

Krah, who works at a law firm and lives in the eastern German city of Dresden, was under scrutiny after authorities in Brussels searched his offices at the European Parliament in connection with an assistant who was arrested last month on suspicion of spying for China. German media have also alleged that he, as well as Bystron, has close links to Russia.

Last month, Krah raised the ire of his party and beyond when he told an Italian newspaper that not all members of the Nazis elite SS unit, which was involved in major war crimes during World War II, were war criminals. The party said said at the time that his missteps had led to massive damage and that he would resign from its board. Krah tried to downplay the decision.

Its not the end of the world, he said.

Greece

A jailed politician won one of seven European Parliament seats earned by Greeces governing conservative New Democracy party.

Fredi Beleris, a member of Albanias ethnic Greek minority who has dual citizenship, had been elected mayor of the Albanian town of Himare last year. But he was never sworn in because he was arrested on charges and sentenced to two years beginning in March.

Beleris has denied the charges, and allies have described his detention as politically motivated.

ItalyItalian activist Ilaria Salis, 40, was elected to the European Parliament as a candidate from the Green and Left Alliance (Italian acronym AVS) from house arrest in Hungary, where she is on trial and charged with assaulting far-right demonstrators.

More than 170,000 voters wrote Salis name in on the ballot in a bid to bring her home from Hungary, where she has been detained for a year and four months.

She cant believe it. We need to complete the job, and do everything possible to bring her home as soon as possible, said Angelo Bonelli, spokesman for the European Greens and lawmaker for the AVS party.

Salis became a cause celebre in Italy after images emerged of her handcuffed and chained in a Hungarian courtroom.

Poland

Two candidates from the opposition Law and Justice party won seats despite their previous convictions on abuse of power charges.

Former Interior Minister Mariusz Kaminski, 54, and his former deputy, Maciej Wasik, 58, were briefly imprisoned earlier this year before being pardoned by President Andrzej Duda, who is aligned with the conservative party.

A third, Grzegorz Braun of the far-right, anti-Ukraine Confederation party, won a seat after extinguishing candles on a menorah that were lit for the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah in the halls of the Polish Parliament in December.

MDT/AP
The same Democrat who led the Wisconsin Elections Commission during the contested 2020 presidential election will be back at the helm in the swing state this year after being unanimously elected Monday by the bipartisan panel.

Ann Jacobs was the only commission member nominated to serve as chair, reprising the role she had from 2020 to 2022. The unanimous vote included one from a Republican commissioner who attempted to cast Wisconsins electoral votes for Donald Trump in 2020 even though he lost the state.

The six-member commission administers and enforces Wisconsin election laws, but elections are run locally by more than 1,800 clerks in towns, villages, cities and counties. State law requires that the chair of the commission alternate between a Republican and a Democrat every two years.

Jacobs, in a post on X following her election as chair, said she recognizes Wisconsins outsize role in this years presidential election and said she was confident in the work of our many clerks & Elections Comm. staff in making this our strongest election ever.

Jacobs, in her role as chair, will approve the vote canvass following elections and certify results, including the upcoming presidential election. The chair also sets the commissions agenda and influences how questions are framed, a key power on a panel divided between both parties.

The certification is normally a perfunctory ministerial function performed by the chair after local and county canvassing boards have certified the results at the local level. Following the 2022 midterm election, then-chair Republican Don Millis certified the statewide results in a matter of minutes.

However, in 2020 Republican supporters of Trump attempted to slow down the certification of President Joe Bidens victory. Republicans that year called on Jacobs to resign after she certified the results even as Trump lawsuits challenging the election were pending.

One of the members of the elections commission who voted in favor of Jacobs becoming chair was Republican Bob Spindell. He is one of 10 Republicans who attempted to cast Wisconsins electoral votes for Trump in 2020.

Spindell and the other fake electors, under the settlement of a civil lawsuit, said their actions were part of an attempt to improperly overturn the 2020 presidential election results.

Spindell has refused calls from Democrats to step down from the commission because of his role as a fake elector. He did not comment about Jacobs before casting his vote in favor of her serving as chair.

Two attorneys and a Trump aide were charged with felonies last week in Wisconsin related to their work on the fake elector scheme. None of the electors were charged, but Attorney General Josh Kaul said the investigation remains open.

While Jacobs will serve as chair of the commission, Wisconsins top elections official is Meagan Wolfe, the nonpartisan administrator of the elections agency.

Both Wolfe and the commission have been targeted with false claims of election fraud and other impropriety since the 2020 election won by Biden over Trump. Some Republican lawmakers have pushed to impeach Wolfe, but have failed.
Governor, state works to strengthen foster care, child welfare systems

Gov. Brad Little signed the Promoting Families and Protecting Children Act into action Friday.

There is no category of children more in need of protection than those in the child welfare system. Through no fault of their own, children in foster care in Idaho face enormous challenges. They need our support, and so do the foster families who step up to care for them, love them, and provide them safety, Little said.

The Promoting Families and Protecting Children Act will accelerate the improvements we know we need to address in our child welfare system in Idaho.

Little also announced the plans for his administration to continue to support foster families and protect youth in the child welfare system, an official press release stated.

As a result of the recent decision, the state department of Health and Welfare will work to increase the number of foster families, strengthen partnerships to better serve mothers and babies, and break down barriers that limit the options for foster care adoption statewide, officials say.

According to the press release, the executive order will promote early interventions for at-risk youth and families to prevent a child from entering the child welfare system, and additionally, address other areas of improvement within the department of Health and Welfare.

The department created a new policy  licensing by inclusion, the statement reads, which means that if a family was in need of a required safety feature, the department will cover the expense within its budget.

Per Littles direction, the department will also establish a Foster Parent Bill of Rights that will inform foster parents and staff about the rights they have while caring for children.

The department hopes to fully implement the Foster Parent Bill of Rights by Aug.1.

Also:

Elias Christensen, a sophomore at Minico High School, was nominated for the Congress of Future Medical Leaders. The Congress is an honors-only program for high school students who want to become physicians or go into medical research fields. The purpose of the event is to honor, inspire, motivate and direct the top students in the country interested in medical careers to stay true to their dreams and provide a resources to help them reach their career goals. During the conference, Elias will join students from across the country to hear Nobel Laureates and National Medal of Science recipients discuss leading medical research and advice on what to expect in medical school. The event will be held on June 26 to June 28 at the University of Massachusetts.

a sophomore at Minico High School, was nominated for the Congress of Future Medical Leaders. The Congress is an honors-only program for high school students who want to become physicians or go into medical research fields. The purpose of the event is to honor, inspire, motivate and direct the top students in the country interested in medical careers to stay true to their dreams and provide a resources to help them reach their career goals. During the conference, Elias will join students from across the country to hear Nobel Laureates and National Medal of Science recipients discuss leading medical research and advice on what to expect in medical school. The event will be held on June 26 to June 28 at the University of Massachusetts. The Pacific Northwest Association for College Admission Counseling awarded the College of Southern Idaho with its Program of Excellence Award during its annual conference in May. CSI earned the award, given to institutions that provide exemplary service to students, in recognition of the Instant Enrollment events that it regularly hosts on campus. Students have access to a one-stop-shop where they can complete all of the steps required to enroll in college. Students can apply, get advised about the classes they need to take, register for classes, and get help completing their Free Application for Federal Student Aid. During the event, they can also receive more information about programs and student services and win prizes that include a $250 scholarship. The next Instant Enrollment Week will be held Monday through June 14 on the main campus at CSI. To learn more, visit

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With large conversations centering around anti-immigration laws and border security concerns, the ACLU of Idaho is hosting a five-week workshop designated to help bring awareness and acceptance toward immigrant community members in the Magic Valley.

I think oftentimes, when we talk about immigration or immigrants, we think about one certain group, said Rosseli Guerrero, ACLU Idahos community organizer fellow. Many people think, Oh, its only Mexicans.

But no. Immigrants come from all over. Our immigrant community is vital here in Idaho, and they are part of our community, they are in our schools, in hospitals.

Guerrero and ACLU Idaho team members, including communication director Rebecca de Leon, equity officer Irene Ruiz and campaign strategist Ruby Mendez-Mota, will be in Twin Falls hosting SOMOS: Supporting Emerging Leaders, a five-week workshop from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Mondays starting July 15, with the location still being determined. They hope that through the workshops, it will allow them to connect with members of the Magic Valley, help them gain leadership skills and know how to address issues in the area.

They will also be hosting the five-week workshop in Caldwell.

Workshop topics will include Roots to Racism, Power & Oppression, and Storytelling as Activism. The last workshop will be a half-day weekend training where participants will craft their own message to ensure theyve understood what theyve learned.

ACLU Idaho will provide dinner at each workshop, have interpreter services as needed, a travel stipend upon request and childcare for any parents who want to participate. They will also give each participant a $320 stipend at the end of the program. All ages are able to participate.

We want to make sure that this is an accessible program, and people are able to come and learn and most of all, be in community as well with other Latino, Latine, folks, Guerrero told the Times-News. So I think this is going to be a really great opportunity to be able to connect with others and be able to continue beyond seeing and advocating for our immigrant community.

In a separate interview with Mendez-Mota, she also said it was important for them to fulfill their programs goal by coming to southern Idaho, where theres a large and growing Latino population in rural communities who lack the understanding of how to navigate certain issues.

The treatment of brown students is so different from how white students (are treated), and that is reflected in our Proud to Be Brown report, which is like specific document that talks about the experiences of students in Canyon County, Mendez-Mota told the Times-News. But that doesnt mean that its not happening here in Twin Falls so were hoping to address a wide variety of issues.

She added that the goal of this program is for this group of individuals to create pro immigrant messaging so it can be tested out to all Idahoans and start changing the narrative.

Earlier this year, House State Affairs Committee Chairman Brent Crane, R-Nampa, introduced House Bill 753, regarding stricter laws against undocumented immigrants in Idaho  a copycat of Texas Senate Bill 4.

Based on the text, if passed, HB 753 would have made illegal entry a state crime and would have required undocumented immigrants to be deported to their home country. This bill would also allow local law enforcement officers to check immigration statuses and arrest them if theyve entered Idaho without legal documentation.The bill, after passing the House, did not make it out of the Senate.Gov. Brad Little earlier this year also announced a three-week mission during his State of the State and Budget Address in January, regarding two teams of Idaho State Police troopers who headed out to help the State of Texas secure the U.S. and Mexico border.

He said that this mission was to focus on disrupting human-trafficking activities on the southern border, according to the press release. This includes his concern on the cartels in Mexico taking advantage of the open border. Both troops have since completed and returned from the mission.

Rep. Mike Simpson has also addressed border security, stating that illicit fentanyl smuggled into the United States through the southern border has killed more than 112,000 Americans. Regarding these issues and concerns that affect much of the population in southern Idaho, especially those who come solely for work in agriculture and dairy industries, Mendez-Mota commented on their statements saying they only reflect a negative perspective.Theres this false narrative that theres an invasion thats because of immigrants, that theres a high criminal rate because of immigrants, or drugs coming by, Mendez-Mota said. The governor sending resources out to the border of Texas is honestly a waste of taxpayer dollars, instead of investing that into our education system.

And on the contrary, we know that immigrants are vital part of why Idaho has been so successful, economically and business-wise. Were the largest minority. Were 14%, and so, really, the governor and lawmakers should not forget that a lot of those are voters. Right, eligible voters.

The last day to register for the five-week workshop is June 21. For more information or to register, go to

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Its a new move in Idaho, this process on the part of some local Republican county central committees to censure elected officials, who have won their partys nomination in primary elections, on grounds that they inadequately dance to the tune of party officials.

The latest to try this has been the Bonneville County Republican Central Committee. (Social note which may help describe the groups perspective: Arizona Senate candidate Kari Lake is scheduled to be their Lincoln Day speaker next month.) The Bonneville Republicans last week voted to censure two local Republican legislators, Sen. Kevin Cook and Rep. Stephanie Mickelson. Leaders in the county organization have been critical of them for a while, though this development takes things to a new level.

Two censures from a Republican committee (whether legislative district, county or state organization), under current rules, can lead to a demand that the elected official, though nominated and elected as a Republican, remove Party support and prohibit the use of Republican Party identifiers in their campaign.

That has the sound of a serious threat, since so many Idaho voters apparently look for those Republican identifiers, and not much more (such as candidate background, qualifications and well-thought-out positions), when deciding how to fill elected offices.

In an opinion piece, Mickelson noted that, When I ran for office, I needed to secure a majority of votes from over 52,000 people in my district. Now, 20 precinct committeemen on the District 32 Legislative Committee will vote on whether I can call myself a Republican. Of those 20, only nine were elected. The other 11 were appointed. Which, she asked, ought to have primacy?

Mickelson also said that if a demand actually is made to remove any kind of party support, Some have suggested theyll pursue legal action to enforce this decision. Indeed, some have suggested as much, and it would be interesting to see how that would play out in a court of law.

But theres also a larger question: Who gets to call themselves a Republican, or a Democrat, or something else, for that matter?

Idaho Democrats and other groups of voters havent made much of an issue out of it (nor have the minor parties), and the Republicans whose political dominance in the state isnt in any way immediately under threat likewise seldom did, until recently. If someone was considered far enough outside the partys mainstream (however that might be defined), the usual view was that they could be defeated in a primary election.

That approach began to change after 2011 when, after a court decision allowing political parties to limit their primaries to registered members, Idaho Republicans closed their primaries to allow party registrants only. (Other Idaho parties have not chosen that limitation.) Of course, anyone could register as a Republican, so that didnt completely solve the (perceived) problem of participation by non-true believers.

As the Idaho Republican party structure has been taken over increasingly by more extreme groups, a conflict between the party and its voters started to become almost inevitable. Now were starting to see it arrive.

Theres a key question here: Who gets to decide what a real Republican is? This isnt a one-sided question. A lot of long-time Republican former elected officials have decried the current party leadership  and some of its elected officials  as virtual invaders who have taken the party far away from its roots and meaning. Theres a real dispute about what a real Republican is or should be.

One approach since has been growing imposition of doctrine and dogma, and ever more extreme positions in party platforms and resolutions: You must support all of this, or else youre not a real Republican.

Whats worth pointing out is how different this is from the historic norm, when the decision of what was a real Republican (or Democrat) was left to the people who voted in the primaries, even if that process sometimes was a little messy. Of course, when you have a one-party state, those stakes get higher.

And when that happens, the extremes become more so.
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The Belgian Prime Minister, Alexander De Croo, submitted the collective resignation of his government to King Philippe on Monday. The sovereign accepted the resignation and asked De Croo to continue handling current affairs until a new government is formed.

King Philippe is expected to consult political figures to initiate the process of forming a federal government. The King will receive on Monday the leaders of the largest parties elected on Sunday. These leaders will visit the sovereign in descending order of the number of seats their party won in Parliament during the elections.

More than 8.35 million people in Belgium were called to polling stations on Sunday, casting votes in the federal, regional and European elections.

Official results published by the Belgian Ministry of the Interior show that the seven-party governing coalition led by De Croo maintained a narrow majority with 76 of the 150 seats in the Federal Parliament, although De Croo's party (Open VLD) suffered a loss of seats, dropping from 12 to seven.

The New Flemish Alliance (N-VA) retained its position as the largest party in the federal parliament with 24 seats. The far-right parties, Vlaams Belang, and the Reformist Movement each secured 20 seats.

Due to the fragmentation of votes and the economic, social, and administrative differences between the various regions and linguistic communities, forming a federal government in Belgium is expected to be challenging. Belgium previously experienced a record 541-day period without a government between 2010 and 2011.
An addiction psychotherapist and board member of the Singapore Anti-Narcotics Association said vaping should be legalized and regulated like cigarettes as proper regulation could prevent youth use and provide smokers with a less harmful alternative to combustible cigarettes.

Speaking about Singapore, Andrew da Roza said the current penalties are adequate, but enforcement needs improvement. No one really gets punished for vaping in Singapore, to be honest, he said. Even though the numbers are high, it is still very apparent in Singapore.

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You do not want people to be criminalized, Da Roza said in a recent interview with CNA938, Singapores top news station.

He said regulation, not prohibition, is the key to eliminating the black market for vape products. The vast majority of vapers are smokers, and theyre adults. If you regulate it, then smokers can buy vapes from reputable retailers, and the black market will shrink, da Roza said.

Da Roza said Singapore needs regulation so that we have liquids in Singapore that we know whats in them, and we know that theyre the safest liquids available at the time and in the future.

It is possible to create a liquid that is as safe as nicotine replacement therapy, and they do exist, he said. But we need to regulate that to make sure they exist here in Singapore.

We can see evidence in countries that have regulated vapes, Da Roza said. You can see the difference in the black markets. Compared to countries that have regulated and have not  black market has evidently reduced in those that have regulated. So its very, very important we regulate.

The Philippines Department of Trade and Industry announced mandatory certification of imported and locally manufactured vape products starting June 5, 2024, to ensure safety and quality.

No vape products should enter the country, especially if they do not bear product standard (PS) marks/license or ICC marks, said DTI-Consumer Protection Group Undersecretary Amanda Nograles.

The Bureau of Internal Revenue announced that effective June 1, 2024, Revenue Memorandum Circular 59-2024 mandates the use of new tax stamps to be affixed on all vape products sold in the country to curb the proliferation of unregulated vape products in the market.

Da Roza cited scientific literature showing that vaping is less harmful than smoking cigarettes. He also disputed the claim that vaping is more harmful because the vapor travels deeper into the lungs.

In fact, cigarettes have many toxins that stay in the lungs after being inhaled, while vapor does not, he said.

Studies have shown that quitting vaping is easier than quitting smoking, da Roza said. Cigarettes contain more than just nicotine  they contain other very dangerous chemicals, he said. Vaping does not have the same addictive qualities as smoking.

Da Roza said vaping could even help reduce smoke production, which benefits the environment.

In Britain, cigarette smokers are encouraged to switch to vaping to quit smoking, and vapes are even given out in hospitals in psychiatric clinics, he said.

Da Roza suggested regulating vapes similarly to alcohol and cigarettes to keep them out of the hands of children. He also said education campaigns based on scientific evidence are needed to inform youths about the risks of vaping.

Vaping is not the same as smoking tobacco leaves or cigarettes, and it is definitely not as harmful, da Roza said. A well-regulated vaping option is the way forward in Singapore.
TAIPEI  Taiwan has stepped up national security measures, its premier said Tuesday, after a Chinese man was arrested for illegally entering the self-ruled island by boat.

Taiwans coast guard arrested the man on Sunday after his vessel collided with other boats on the Tamsui River, which flows from the capital Taipei to the islands northern coast.

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The man, 60, told coast guard officers at the scene he wanted to defect, according to the semi-official Central News Agency.

The coast guard said his motive was under investigation and did not release his name or age.

The government and all national security units and teams are paying close attention, and investigations have been launched on this case, Premier Cho Jung-tai told reporters Tuesday.

National security cannot be neglected for a minute, he continued, adding that relevant units had been instructed to immediately strengthen protective measures.

China claims self-ruled democratic Taiwan as part of its territory, and it has ramped up military and political pressure on the island in recent years.

The Taiwan Strait  a 180-kilometer channel separating China from the island  is one of the worlds most heavily policed waterways.

Authorities did not say if the man had made his way from across the strait.

Taiwan is routinely on guard for spies from China.

The most recent prosecution was in April, when a father and son were both jailed for eight years for collecting confidential military information and trying to develop a spying organisation for Beijing.

In the incident on Sunday, the coast guard said it first began monitoring the boat when it was spotted around 9 am six nautical miles off the coast of Tamsui, a district in the suburbs of Taipei.

The man was arrested for further investigation into his method, channel, and purpose of coming to Taiwan, the coast guard said in a statement Monday, urging the public to report illegal activities at sea or on the shore.

In 2021, a Chinese man was arrested in central Taichung city after he managed to cross the Taiwan Strait in a rubber dinghy.

He said he had come to Taiwan to seek freedom and democracy, according to police.

He was deported to China in 2022, according to local media.
In a recent passionate plea, Senator Loren Legarda, a leading environmental advocate in the Philippines, emphasized the critical link between the health of our planet and the survival of future generations.

Highlighting the dire consequences of neglecting the environment, Legarda called for immediate and tangible actions to mitigate climate change impacts.

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We must stop just thinking about today because the quality of life of the next generations is at stake, Legarda asserted. Its time to do our small part as we are all accountable for the environment.

The senator mentioned the reduction of plastic use, water conservation measures, planting trees, and advocating for renewable energy as crucial steps toward building a more sustainable environment for everyone.

Legardas call to action comes in the wake of the recent devastating El Nino phenomenon that wreaked havoc across the country, causing billions of pesos in damage to agriculture, livelihoods, and severely affecting both human and animal life.

The extreme heats impact has also led to significant challenges in water and food security, contributing to the displacement of residents globally.

According to the most recent Global Report 2024 of the Internal Displacement Monitoring Center, disasters displaced an additional 26.4 million people in 2023 alone. This alarming statistic underscores the urgent need for concrete environmental actions.

Do we really want to see a barren, wasted land where everything from food, water, and air is scarce, and people do not know how to survive the next day? Legarda asked, stressing on the urgency of taking concrete actions versus the consequences of climate change.

Legarda also pushed for the full implementation of existing environmental laws such as the Clean Air Act, the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, and the recently signed Philippine Ecosystem and Natural Capital Accounting System (PENCAS) law.

The four-term senator lauded the recent signing of the PENCAS law, which she championed in the Senate. The law promotes a data-driven approach to policy-making that aligns with global sustainability goals and aims to preserve the nations invaluable natural resources.
The Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization Regional Center for Educational Innovation and Technology (SEAMEO INNOTECH) welcomed educators, His Excellency, Tull Traisorat, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Royal Thai Embassy in the Philippines, and members of the diplomatic corps for the inaugural event of the Symposium on Strengthening Skills Through Multilateral Cooperation: A Retrospective on the 75 Years of Diplomatic Relations Between Thailand and the Philippines on June 10, 2024.

The Philippines and Thailand have fostered a strong connection through the 75 years of diplomatic relations. Their partnership has led to collaborative endeavors in various areas, such as education, training, and economic cooperation. Education is one of the cornerstones of our friendship, H.E. Millicent Paredes shares in a message to the two nations for this celebration. Today, we thank and honor Filipino and Thai educators, students, and partners in educational development such as SEAMEO for their services and contribution to our respective nations and peoples, he added.

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INNOTECH Center Director Leonor Magtolis Briones welcomed the visiting delegates and participants of the symposium. As we reflect on these achievements, our shared journey has clearly been one of growth, learning, and mutual support. The Treaty of Friendship between Thailand and the Philippines has provided a solid foundation for SEAMEO INNOTECH to thrive and innovate, addressing the evolving educational needs of our region, Briones reflected. We envision a future where our collaborative efforts continue to lead to transformative educational experiences, where we harness the power of technology and innovation to address the challenges of tomorrow, she added.

In line with this sentiment, the inaugural event harnessed the potential of multilateral cooperation as a catalyst for skills development and capacity-building. His Excellency, Tull Traisorat, expressed his profound gratitude towards the two nations, and how INNOTECH, Colombo Plan Staff College, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), and Office of the Vocational Education Commission (OVEC) of Thailands Ministry of Education worked together to launch the event. This [event] is a reflection of the great cooperation among international organizations, government agencies, and the private sector, he stated in his speech.

TESDAs Deputy Director General, Rosanna Urdaneta, presented a keynote speech on behalf of Sec. Suharto Mangudadatu. Ms. Urdaneta looked back into the long history of the Philippines and Thailand, and shared the current programs of the organization, Today, we stand on a threshold of a new era, she stated. One that calls for innovative solutions and strengthened collaborations. By leveraging our strengths and fostering further collaboration, we can address current issues in our nations.

These objectives were achieved through different learning sessions during the event, each helmed by different prominent members of organizations in Thailand and the Philippines. Executive Director El Cid H. Castillo of TESDA led the discussions regarding the digital transformation in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), and how the continuous partnership between the two nations can lead to more technological advancement and opportunities in the future.

Furthering green technology in TVET, Mrs. Tankamol Chimme, the Director for Information Support for Teachers and Educational Personnel of Private Vocational Education Division of the OVEC shared the best practices of making TVET more environment-friendly globally.

Dr. Diosdado San Antonio of INNOTECHs Educational Research and Innovation Office tackled sustainability through educational innovations. He explored how cutting-edge educational practices and technologies can enhance learning outcomes and prepare students for the demands of a rapidly evolving job market.

Achieving access and equity in TVET through continuous multilateral cooperation is the last learning session in the event. Prof. G.L.D. Wickramasighe, the Director General of Colombo Plan Staff College, addressed and shared strategies that can lead to equal access in TVET programs.
TODAYS WORD is dumbledore. Example: The dumbledore buzzed happily among the flowers, collecting nectar.

SATURDAYS WORD was buttinsky, meaning a person who interferes in the affairs of others; meddler. Example: Her younger brother is always such a buttinsky, interfering in everyones conversations.

Barbecue

The Oak Level Ruritan Club is famous for its barbecue, and the clubs just announced a drive-through only event from 4-6 p.m. June 22.

For $10 per plate, your dinner includes barbecue, baked beans, slaw, rolls, and desert.

To pre-order, call 276-340-3041, and the club is located at 7668 Oak Level Road in Bassett. Proceeds from the sales go to community projects.

Coffee filters

When comparing alternatives, coffee filters are cheap. Not only do they filter coffee, you can use them to cover bowls or dishes when cooking in the microwave; clean windows, mirrors, and chrome; protect your china by separating the good dishes with a coffee filter between each dish; and if you break the cork in a bottle of wine, a coffee filter will filter the cork from the wine perfectly.

Brews and pavilions

Renewal Brewing in uptown Martinsville celebrated with a huge turnout on opening Thursday.

Currently on tap: Renewal Gose, Re-New England IPA, Czech Yourself Pilsner, Blind Pig IPA, A&P Pale Ale, Short Track Kolsch, Very Berry Sour, Pineapple Breeze Wheat Ale, Irish You Were Here Red Ale, Emerald Isle Iris Stout, Volstead Imperial Stout, and Renewal Seltzer.

The speak-easy tasting room at 32 Franklin St. is open Monday-Thursday from 2-10 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 12-11 p.m. and Sunday from 12-7 p.m.

Over on Starling Avenue, the Virginia Museum of Natural History reports great progress on its new Jean S. Adams Education Pavilion.

The three-season, open-air programming and visitor area is scheduled to open this summer and will mark the museums largest space addition since the facility opened in March 2007.

The pavilion, which will be located behind the museum overlooking neighboring J. Frank Wilson Park, will consist of an overhead canopy, as well as informative signage interpreting the flora and fauna in the park.

Chuckle

Two men were sitting on a park bench discussing the issues of the day.

Every summer we hear these stories about people getting bitten by sharks, said the first man. I tell you what, cows kill more people than sharks.

The second man ponders the first mans remark and says, I dont recall ever hearing about a cow killing a shark.

Quote of the day

He who avoids complaint invites happiness.  Abu Bakr

SATURDAYS TRIVIA ANSWER: The pinna is the visible portion of the outer ear. It collects sound waves and channels them into the ear canal, where the sound is amplified.

TODAYS TRIVIA QUESTION: Which U.S. states name is derived from the Spanish words for mountainous?
The ongoing infighting in Sudan has so far forced 10 million people to internal displacement as the country risks famine, the UNHCR said.

Some 2 million people have crossed the border to flee the ongoing civil war between the paramilitary RSF and the army, UNHCR told AP.

The war, which broke out in April last year, killed at least 14,000 people and pushed the population to the edge of famine, notably in the vast western region of Darfur where the risk of ethnic cleansing is also present.

Few days ago, RSF attacked the South Hospital in al-Fasher, the capital city of North Darfur province, opening fire on medical staff and patients, Doctors Without Borders said in a statement.

The escalating violence in Sudans al-Fasher is dealing a crushing blow to civilians at their most vulnerable, Martin Griffiths, UN Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs, said on Twitter.

RSF fighters include in their ranks Janjaweed members who took part, two decades ago, in atrocities that included mass killings of Darfur people under orders from former Sudanese President Omar Al Bashir.
President Lazarus Chakwera announced that soldiers are searching the mountainous forests near Mzuzu, a city in northern Malawi after a military plane carrying Vice President Saulos Chilima, former first lady Shanil Dzimbiri, and eight others went missing on Monday. The plane departed from Lilongwe, the capital of Malawi, at 9:17 a.m. and was expected to land at Mzuzu International Airport 45 minutes later. However, due to poor weather conditions and low visibility, air traffic control advised against attempting a landing and instructed the plane to turn back. Shortly after, the aircraft disappeared from radar.

Chakwera assured the nation that he was dedicating all available resources to locate the plane and expressed hope for finding survivors. The search efforts are focused on a 10-kilometer radius within a pine plantation in the Viphya mountain range, where telecommunications towers last detected the planes position. The president has ordered the search to continue throughout the night and has received offers of assistance and specialized technologies from the U.S., the U.K., Norway, and Israel.

Chilima, who has been vice president since 2020, was a candidate in the 2019 Malawian presidential election and joined forces with Chakwera in the historic 2020 election rerun, resulting in Chakweras victory. The vice president had recently faced corruption charges, which were dropped last month, leading to criticism of the governments stance against graft. Chilima has denied the allegations, and the trial has yet to commence.
Doctors at the last functioning civilian hospital in the besieged city of el-Fasher, Sudan, have been forced to close the facility after it was attacked amidst the countrys devastating civil war. El-Fasher remains the only city under army control in the Darfur region. The hospital, supported by Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), was the sole remaining facility where injured civilians could receive treatment.

Reports of shells hitting the citys South Hospital had been circulating for days, causing injuries and deaths. However, eyewitnesses claim that the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) entered the hospital on Saturday, causing chaos, looting medical supplies, stealing an ambulance, and assaulting staff. MSFs interim head of mission in Sudan confirmed the attack and the hospitals closure due to its proximity to the frontline.

The attack on the hospital is another indication of the lack of rules in the Sudanese civil war. MSFs Head of Emergencies, Michel Lacharite, condemned the attack as outrageous and emphasized the responsibility of warring parties to spare medical facilities. The hospitals closure is a significant setback for the people of el-Fasher, as it was the main referral facility for treating war-wounded individuals.

The conflict in Sudan has claimed over 15,000 lives and displaced nearly nine million people since its start in April 2023. The RSF has been accused of numerous abuses against civilians, including using rape as a weapon of war and targeting non-Arab groups in Darfur. Despite several rounds of peace talks, the war continues to devastate the country.
A recent report by a human rights organization has accused the Nigerian army of illegally detaining girls and young women who have escaped from Boko Haram captivity. The organization claims that the military believes these individuals support the Islamist insurgent group. The allegations are based on numerous interviews conducted over several years with female former captives.

According to the report, a significant number of the interviewees stated that they were unlawfully held in military barracks for varying durations, ranging from a few days to nearly four years, primarily due to their perceived association with Boko Haram. The insurgent group has been waging an armed rebellion in Nigerias Northeast, resulting in a staggering number of deaths. Boko Haram is notorious for its brutality, facing accusations of torture, rape, forced marriage, and kidnapping, with the most well-known incident being the abduction of hundreds of girls from Chibok in 2014.

The regional director for the human rights organization in West and Central Africa criticized the Nigerian government for failing to protect and adequately support these girls and young women. However, the military spokesperson denied the allegations, stating that the Nigerian military respects human rights, upholds humanitarian law, and operates within the boundaries of international law of armed conflict.

The Nigerian military has launched a counteroffensive against the Islamist group, which has also drawn criticism for its harsh tactics. A previous investigation revealed that the military secretly conducted a mass abortion program as part of its war against Boko Haram.
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:

Summary of observed differential expression in genes implicated in the globin gene switch mechanism and erythropoiesis. Credit: Nature Communications (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49289-8

With space travel becoming more frequent, a new biomarker tool has been developed by an international team of researchers to help improve the growing field of aerospace medicine and the health of astronauts.

Dr. Guy Trudel (Professor in the Faculty of Medicine), Odette Laneuville (Associate Professor, Faculty of Science, and Director of the Biomedical Sciences) and Dr. Martin Pelchat (Associate Professor in the Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology) are among the contributors to an international study led by Eliah Overbey of Weill Cornell Medicine and the University of Austin.

Published today in Nature, it introduces the Space Omics and Medical Atlas (SOMA), a database of integrated data and sample repository from a diverse range of space missions, including from SpaceX and NASA.

Space travel creates cellular, molecular, and physiological shifts in astronauts. SOMA is expected to provide a much necessary biomedical profiling that can help tease out the short and long-term health impacts of spaceflight. This will bring needed health monitoring, risk mitigation, and countermeasures baseline data for upcoming lunar, Mars, and exploration-class missions. It is meant to help keep astronauts and space travelers alive and healthy.

It may also have some intended use here on Earth.

"This represents a breakthrough in the study of human adaptation and life in space. Since many of the changes in astronauts in space resemble those of people who are immobile in bed, these studies can be clinically relevant. The data are therefore important for future space exploration while also providing a correlation to people on Earth with limited mobility or who are bedridden before their rehabilitation," says Dr. Trudel, a rehabilitation physician and researcher at The Ottawa Hospital who has focused on space travel and its effects on the human immune system.

Highlights of the study:

The Atlas includes extensive molecular and physiological profiles encompassing genomics, epigenomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and microbiome data sets, which reveal some consistent features across missions.

Samples were taken pre-flight, during, post-flight and throughout the recovery period.

Comprehensive profile of the physiological changes of the I4 crew (ages 29, 38, 42, 51) and 13 unique biospecimen sample types were collected and processed.

2,911 samples were banked with over 1,000 samples processed for sequencing, imaging, and biochemical analysis creating the first-ever aerospace medicine biobank.

The SOMA resource represents an over 10-fold increase in total publicly available human space omics data.

"The University of Ottawa's Faculty of Medicine, its Faculty of Science, and The Ottawa Hospital's Bone and Joint Research laboratory have a long history of contributions and successes in studying human adaptation to space. They also involve students from different programs, providing a unique learning experience in both bone and joint health, and in the rapidly developing field of aerospace medicine," adds Dr. Trudel.

More information: Josef Borg et al, Spatiotemporal expression and control of haemoglobin in space, Nature Communications (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49289-8 Journal information: Nature Communications , Nature
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Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Iranian Acting Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, on June 10, 2024. [Photo/Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs]

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Monday met with Iranian Acting Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani in the Russian city of Nizhny Novgorod.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, expressed condolences once again over the unfortunate deaths of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian in a helicopter accident.

Wang said that during the current period, the Iranian nation has undergone a significant test. As a comprehensive strategic partner, China supports the Iranian government and people in adhering to their established domestic and foreign policies, maintaining independence, sovereignty, stability, and development, and wishes Iran a successful presidential election.

Wang said that through joint efforts, China-Iran relations have maintained healthy and steady development, benefiting from the long-standing traditional friendship and high-level mutual political trust between the two countries.

Currently, China-Iran relations are at a crucial stage of building on the past and opening up the future, Wang noted, adding that China stands ready to work with Iran to view bilateral relations from a strategic perspective, steer the development course of bilateral relations, solidly advance pragmatic cooperation in various fields, comprehensively deepen coordination in regional and international affairs, and contribute more to regional and world peace and stability.

China will continue to support Iran and Saudi Arabia in improving their relations and achieving lasting good neighborliness and friendliness in the region, he said.

Bagheri Kani, on behalf of the Iranian government, thanked China for expressing condolences over the deaths of Raisi and Amir-Abdollahian and for sending a special representative to attend the memorial service.

Bagheri Kani said that Iran is committed to strengthening strategic relations with China, enhancing cooperation in various fields, and continuously achieving new progress of bilateral relations.

In the current international situation, developing good Iran-China relations not only benefits the people of both countries but also is conducive to regional and global peace and stability, as well as building a more fair and reasonable international order and safeguarding the legitimate rights of developing countries, he said.

Iran adheres to the one-China principle and supports China in safeguarding its sovereignty and territorial integrity, he said.

Iran appreciates China's adherence to multilateralism and its commitment to upholding fairness and justice in international affairs, he noted, adding that unilateralism has reached a dead end, and cannot solve domestic problems, let alone global issues, as is fully proved in the prolonged Gaza conflict.

Iran is willing to strengthen communication and coordination with China in international and regional affairs, jointly uphold multilateralism, and seek solutions to global issues, Bagheri Kani said.

The two sides exchanged views on BRICS cooperation, the Ukraine crisis, and the Iran nuclear issue, among other topics.

Wang welcomed Iran's participation as a full member for the first time in the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting, and expressed willingness to expand strategic coordination with Iran, give full play to the important role of the BRICS mechanism in reforming and improving global governance, further strengthen the influence and voice of the Global South, and promote the formation of a more just and reasonable world order.
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:

Crew members of the Inspiration4 mission, from left: Chris Sembroski, Sian Proctor, Jared Isaacman, and Haley Arseneaux. Credit: Inspiration4 crew

Short-term space travel causes many of the same molecular and physiologic changes as long-term space missions, but most reverse within months of returning to Earth. Yet, those changes that are longer-lasting and distinct between crew members reveal new targets for aerospace medicine and can guide new missions, according to the results of a massive international research endeavor by investigators at Weill Cornell Medicine, SpaceX, and other organizations.

Dr. Christopher Mason, the WorldQuant Professor of Genomics and Computational Biomedicine at Weill Cornell Medicine, led the Space Omics and Medical Atlas (SOMA) project with Dr. Afshin Beheshti of the Broad Institute and NASA. In total, more than 100 investigators from institutions in more than two dozen countries contributed to the project. Together, the collaborators increased the amount of human spaceflight data by 10-fold, including analyses of changes in gene expression, gene regulation, protein production, metabolism, and the microbes in the human body.

The results were published on June 11 as a 40-article collection in Nature journals and summarized in an overview paper.

The SOMA team, including co-corresponding author Dr. Cem Meydan, an assistant professor of computational biology research in medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine, also has compiled more than 75 billion genetic sequences in an interactive atlas accessible to other researchers, and Weill Cornell Medicine will host a repository for nearly 3,000 biological samples from the studies. Dr. Mason's team has already begun collecting samples from other missions and forged several new international collaborations to harmonize efforts for spaceflight research.

"This is the largest treasure trove of data from astronauts and space biology ever released," Dr. said Mason, who is also a professor of physiology and biophysics, a professor of neuroscience in the Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, member of the Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, and director of the WorldQuant Initiative for Quantitative Prediction at Weill Cornell Medicine. "We hope that sharing the data will help accelerate discoveries on the health impacts of space flight and yield fundamental discoveries on human health overall."

Commercial astronauts

When the Inspiration4 mission launched on September 16, 2021, with the first all-civilian, four-person crew for a three-day flight to low-Earth orbit, it provided an unprecedented opportunity for science. Before the mission, most data on the health impacts of space travel had been collected by government-sponsored space agencies from carefully selected and highly trained astronauts, but it was unclear if such data collected from the astronauts would apply more widely to the public; the Inspiration4 mission provided an opportunity to find out.

Dr. Mason served as the principal investigator for the Inspiration4 mission's work on clinical profiles of the crew, multi-omics research and biobanking. Crew members collected biological samples before, during, and after the flight and gave researchers full access to study and share their data. They also conducted a battery of experiments midflight, including the first-ever direct RNA sequencing and biopsied skin from astronauts. Drs. David Lyden, Richard Granstein, and Ari Melnick at Weill Cornell Medicine, and Dr. Iwijn De Vlaminck, at Cornell's Ithaca campus, also contributed to the project.

The new data was compared with that collected from previous flights, in particular, the NASA Twins Study, for which Dr. Mason was also a principal investigator. That endeavor analyzed data from astronaut Scott Kelly during and after his one-year mission on the International Space Station in 2015-2016 and found that longer space flights contribute to significant changes in gene expression in the blood, particularly in the immune system and DNA repair systems. New data from Dr. Jiwoon Park showed these differences also appeared in the skin.

The Inspiration4 data showed that many of the same changes also occurred in short-term space travelers. For example, Dr. Mason published a study with Dr. Susan Bailey showing that the telomeres, which cap the ends of chromosomes, began lengthening even during the 3-day Inspiration4 mission. They also saw similar immune system changes, with a spike in anti-inflammatory proteins called cytokines in the astronauts after their return to gravity.

Immune system alterations

The cytokine spike after reentry was one of several immune system changes documented by Weill Cornell Medicine investigators. Single-cell genetic sequencing, led by Dr. JangKeun Kim and Dr. Braden Tierney, research associates in the Mason lab, helped the scientists identify immune cells called T cells and CD16 monocytes as the cells most responsive to the stresses of spaceflight. These immune first responders undergo dramatic changes in gene expression and changes in chromatin that regulate gene expression.

"The immune system is primed for a fight, but it doesn't yet know what it is fighting," Dr. Mason said. He noted that the space travelers' exposure to low-dose radiation may trigger this immune response, as well as the telomere changes.

While some parts of the immune system ramp up, others ramp down. For example, travelers experience reduced expression of genes that encode immune system proteins called human leukocyte antigens, which help the body identify viruses and other invaders. This discovery may explain why about half of space travelers and astronauts experienced reactivation of old viral infections like the herpes simplex virus-1, a primarily benign virus that causes cold sores.

Another study, led by Nadia Houerbi and Irina Matei, a graduate student in the Mason lab and postdoctoral fellow in the Lyden lab, respectively, found evidence of brain proteins in the blood of the Inspiration4 space travelers as well as the blood of six Japanese astronauts and Scott Kelly. The discovery suggests some disruption in the blood-brain barrier, which protects the brain from invasion by immune cells. Samples from mouse studies from Xiao (Vivian) Mao at Loma Linda University confirmed that spaceflight perturbed the blood-brain barrier function.

"It is nothing worrisome, but it was surprising, and worth keeping an eye on in future missions," Dr. Mason said.

Though the Inspiration4 crew experienced many of the same changes as longer-term space travelers, they recovered quickly after the flight. Dr. Mason noted that within six months, the crew's biology had returned to its preflight state for more than 95% of the proteins, chromatin states and genes, including RNA modifications measured by Kirill Grigorev and Theodore Nelson, researchers in the Mason Lab.

'Second Space Age' and Aerospace Medicine Biobank

The findings provide much fodder for future studies. Despite having data on a small number of space travelers, the SOMA researchers detected a few differences in men and women, leveraging data from Dr. Min Yu at University of Maryland. For example, female space travelers return to their preflight states more quickly after returning to Earth, yet some cytokines stayed elevated in the women longer than men and were confirmed across 64 other astronauts. Individual physiologic responses to space travel also varied, and genes related to drug processing (called pharmacogenomics) were also distinct.

"We might have to personalize medications and other countermeasures for different crew members based on their individual responses to space flight," said lead and co-corresponding author of the SOMA study overview Dr. Eliah Overbey, a research associate in Dr. Mason's lab during the study, who is now starting her own lab on Bioastronautics at the University of Austin.

Making the atlas and biobank accessible to more scientists may help accelerate the pace of discovery on the impacts of spaceflight and its parallels with aging, chronic diseases and immune system disorders, according to Dr. Overbey. She noted that space travel mimics some of the effects of aging, such as bone and muscle loss, and may provide a way to test medications to counteract these changes.

"Opening up the data to the whole scientific community increases our ability to make connections between space-related changes and human health more generally," she said.

Dr. Overbey also suggested that the growing number of commercial spaceflights and crews may help expand the dataset and increase its power to detect smaller differences.

"We are entering a new space age," Dr. Mason said. "We have more data and more space launches than ever before, and we will need all possible biomedical data to make precision medicine for future crews a reality and to prepare for longer missions to the moon and Mars."

Participating institutions included the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA); the European Space Agency; the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA); and SpaceX, a company offering commercial spaceflight missions.

More information: Eliah G. Overbey et al, The Space Omics and Medical Atlas (SOMA) and international astronaut biobank, Nature (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07639-y Journal information: Nature
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A recent study sheds light on the factors that make some people more at risk of developing type 2 diabetes than others and the complex role body weight plays in the prevalence of the condition.

The study is published in the journal Diabetes.

Dr. Hanieh Yaghootkar, Senior Lecturer in Precision Health at the University of Lincoln, UK, led the research, which examined clusters of genetic variants associated with measurements of body fat. Some of these clusters include genes that increase body fat but reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes is a condition with many risk factors, including genetics, age, ethnicity and bodyweight. While around 90% of adults with type 2 diabetes aged under 80 are categorized as overweight or obese, just 7% of all UK adults have a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes, and yet the proportion of the adult population who are overweight or obese is much greater, at nearly two-thirds.

Dr. Yaghootkar's research aims to explore why the majority of people who are overweight and obese do not develop type 2 diabetes.

The various traits of the clusters were investigated to explore how different types of body fat can influence type 2 diabetes risk. The researchers found that having higher body fat can increase the risk of type 2 diabetes due to factors including inflammation and higher cholesterol. They also found evidence for two main ways by which higher body fat could reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes.

The first way involved having more fat stored under the skin, with lower levels of liver fat and better insulin sensitivity. The liver plays a crucial role in maintaining blood sugar levels, and to function well it should contain little or no fat. This body type was also linked with lower risks of diabetes-related complications. The second protective mechanism involved a larger body size, coupled with better muscle quality.

These insights show that not all body fat affects health in the same way, and understanding these differences has the potential to help the development of more specific advice for managing body fat and reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes.

Dr. Yaghootkar said, "Our findings underscore the complex nature of the relationship between obesity and type 2 diabetes and help explain why individuals with similar levels of body fat can have vastly different risks of developing cardiometabolic diseases like type 2 diabetes. By identifying specific mechanisms and subtypes of adiposity, it is possible to inform more effective precision medicine strategies. This might lead to more targeted approaches to managing type 2 diabetes and related conditions, which could ultimately improve patient outcomes."

As the Head of the Precision Health research group at the University of Lincoln and a Diabetes UK RD Lawrence Fellow, Dr. Yaghootkar's ultimate goal is to develop personalized prediction models and understand the underlying mechanisms of complex diseases. By identifying causal biomarkers for various diseases, the team aims to promote more personalized and precise health care.

Dr. Elizabeth Robertson, Director of Research at Diabetes UK, said, "This research takes us a step closer to understanding the genetic reasons why some people living with obesity or overweight develop type 2 diabetes and why others are naturally protected.

"Early and accurate identification of those who are at greater risk of type 2 diabetes could help improve the way we predict, prevent and treat the condition. It's important to remember that type 2 diabetes is a complex condition with many risk factors and that people with a genetic susceptibility to type 2 diabetes can still take steps to reduce their risk, including by losing weight to reduce levels of fat in their liver."

More information: Angela Abraham et al, Genetic Evidence for Distinct Biological Mechanisms That Link Adiposity to Type 2 Diabetes: Toward Precision Medicine, Diabetes (2024). DOI: 10.2337/db23-1005 Journal information: Diabetes
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After a 2020 dispute between Fresno's biggest health care system and a physicians group put in jeopardy the central San Joaquin Valley's only Level I trauma center status, the two sides have reached a settlement following a lawsuit.

Community Health System announced Monday in a press release a $1.2 million settlement with the Central California Faculty Medical Group, now called Inspire Health Medical Group. The agreement is the result of a lawsuit filed in September 2021 by CHS alleging breach of contract, breach of good faith and fair dealing, and intentional contract interference.

"While the $1.2 million settlement CCFMG will pay does not fully address the disruption caused by the unprecedented neurosurgeon walkout, it does reinforce that business disputes should never impact patient care and the health of our community," Craig Wagoner, chief operating officer of CHS, said in the release.

Community Health System (formerly Community Medical Centers) is the largest, locally owned health care system in the central San Joaquin Valley and owns downtown Fresno's Community Regional Medical Center as well as Clovis Community Medical Center.

2020 doctor walkout in Fresno

Trauma services were interrupted at the downtown hospital in September 2020 when the Central California Faculty Medical Group, a physicians group contracted by CHS, announced that a contract for six neurosurgeons expired at midnight on Sept. 2, 2020. Stalled negotiations between CCFMG and CHS led to the discontinuation of critical trauma services for several days.

The doctor walkout forced the hospital to transfer at least 21 patients out of Fresno during the COVID-19 pandemic and the Creek Fire, according to The Fresno Bee's reporting on the dispute in 2020. The trauma center at Community Regional Medical Center in downtown Fresno was put at risk by the interruption of services.

The suit was one of four separate lawsuits involving multiple different physicians groups that piled up during fall 2021.

"By putting this unfortunate dispute behind us, we hope to repair the relationship with CCFMG that Community has had for decades and focus on providing the best possible care for the Central Valley," Wagner said.

Inspire Health statement on settlement

Inspire Health Medical Group is a group of 300 doctors physicians that provides care at 20 local hospitals and health care facilities, including Community Health System, according to its website.

In an email statement to The Bee, a spokesperson for Inspire Health Medical Group stressed that its focus since its inception in 1979 has been to ensure patients have access to "the highest caliber physicians" and that medical students in Fresno have access to outstanding faculty and mentors.

"Although CCFMG believes that its actions, at all times, were appropriate, it also believes providing the highest caliber physicians and staff best serves our community at this time," the statement said. "As such, we look forward to closing this chapter in our history in order to dedicate valuable time and resources to what matters to us most, caring for our patients and the people of the Central Valley."

"At the advice of counsel, we have no other statements at this time," the statement concluded.

The suit was scheduled to go to trial July 1, court records show.

2024 The Fresno Bee. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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New study sheds light on the origin and distribution of a specific variant of the CARD9 gene in East Asia. By comparing the CARD9 variants found in a group of Korean and Japanese patients with CARD9 deficiency with those reported in Chinese patients, researchers from Japan revealed that this particular variant stems from a common ancestor that lived less than 4,000 years ago. Credit: Department of Child Health and Development, TMDU

Researchers from Japan have uncovered the genetic diversity and regional patterns of CARD9 deficiency in patients susceptible to fungal diseases.

Fungal infections pose life-threatening risks, especially when vital organs or the central nervous system are affected. Individuals harboring variants in the CARD9 gene are particularly susceptible to invasive fungal infections, given that the protein coded by this gene serves as a critical regulator of the immune system. A recent discovery by Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU) researchers suggests that a specific variant of CARD9 prevalent across northern China, Korea, and Japan may have originated from a common ancestor.

In their study published on 17 May 2024 in the Journal of Clinical Immunology, the researchers from TMDU conducted genetic analyses on Japanese and Korean patients who suffered from severe or recurring fungal infections. Their goal was to shed light on the genetic and clinical traits of individuals affected by CARD9 deficiency in East Asia.

The study included a total of five patients who were deficient for CARD9. Among them, two Japanese patients were newly identified as carriers of biallelic variants of CARD9 via DNA sequencing conducted by the research team, prompted by their medical history of fungal infections. Notably, both of these patients, along with three other patients who had previously been investigated, two Korean and one Japanese, were identified as carriers of a CARD9 variant called c.820dup.

"The global distribution of CARD9 deficiency is biased, with high incidence in North Africa, the Middle East, and China. Notably, the distribution of CARD9 variants is also biased, with the c.820dup variant being relatively common in China," explains Prof. Hirokazu Kanegane, the lead researcher of the study.

The fact that all five patients shared the same variant caught the researchers' attention. They hypothesized that this scenario could be explained by the "founder effect," where a variant becomes common in a population that originated from a small group of ancestors. To verify their hypothesis, the researchers performed haplotype analyses.

Put simply, they examined groups of genes that are inherited together from a parent (haplotypes) to determine whether these genes were identical among the five patients and matched previously sequenced haplotypes from Chinese CARD9-deficient patients.

Interestingly, they found strong evidence suggesting that all haplotypes containing the c.820dup variant were exactly the same. With further statistical genetic analyses, the researchers estimated the age of the c.820dup variant itself, which turned out to be between 2,000 and 4,000 years. Remarkably, the estimated variant's age and its distribution in Japan, Korea, and China are perfectly in line with the history of the East Asia region.

"Modern Japanese and Koreans are believed to have a genetic background originating from northern China. During the late Neolithic to the Bronze Age, the migration of people from northern China to Korea and Japan spread rice and language. The origins of the variant identified in this study are consistent with this historical period," remarks Prof. Kanegane. "We thus conclude that this variant originates from a common ancestor, estimated to have lived less than 4,000 years ago."

Additionally, although the variant observed was the same, the clinical presentation of patients from Japan and Korea differed from that of Chinese patients according to medical records. More specifically, Chinese patients often suffered from black mold infections caused by the genus Phialophora, whereas none of the five patients from Japan and Korea exhibited such infections. The researchers ascribed this discrepancy to environmental factors, possibly related to the more rural lifestyle in northern China.

Together, the findings of this interdisciplinary study make important contributions to our knowledge of anthropology, genetics, and medicine, and shed light on how genetic variants can propagate across different regions and through generations.

More information: Dan Tomomasa et al, Inherited CARD9 Deficiency Due to a Founder Effect in East Asia, Journal of Clinical Immunology (2024). DOI: 10.1007/s10875-024-01724-7
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The proportion of patient harms associated with medical procedures, treatment, and contact with health care systems rose by 59%, from 11 million to 18 million globally, between 1990 and 2019, finds a data analysis published online in the journal BMJ Quality & Safety.

They outpaced the world's population increase of 45% over the same period. And older people bore the brunt of these incidents, with the steepest rise among 6569-year-olds, the findings show.

In developed nations, over 50% of inpatient harms are deemed preventable, rising to 83% in developing nations, note the researchers. These harms undermine health and the quality of life, are costly, and erode public trust, while squandering valuable resources, the team adds.

But current estimates of the adverse effects of medical treatment rely heavily on medical record reviews and voluntary reporting systems. And the lack of a systematic, consistent global approach makes it difficult to accurately quantify the numbers and inform health policy priorities, say the researchers.

In a bid to address this, they drew on data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study for 204 countries for the period 1990-2019. The GBD includes information from a range of sources, including surveillance systems, government records, health facility reports, and surveys.

The researchers looked at the overall and age-standardized number of new incidents globally and nationally. They then looked at time trends, stratified by age and sex and the Sociodemographic Index (SDI), a composite of income, education, and fertility rate of individual countries that represents their social and economic development.

Between 1990 and 2019, the global population increased by 45%. But over the same period, reported cases of patient harm arising from medical treatment rose fasterby 59% from around 11 million to 18 million.

The overall incidence rate was 232.5 per 100,000 of the global population in 2019, representing a 10% increase since 1990. And the age standardized incidence rate was just over 233/100,000, representing an increase of 4.5%.

Regionally, the overall incidence rate for all age groups in the high SDI region increased from 515/100,000 in 1990 to almost 823/100,000 in 2019, representing an increase of 60%. And the age standardized incidence rate rose from 502 to 648/100,000, an increase of 29%.

France was the only country in the high SDI region to buck this trend for all age groups, with the steepest decline in cases among 5070-year-olds, possibly because of a string of patient safety policies and measures implemented nationwide, suggest the researchers.

The sharpest fall in overall incidence rate was observed in low SDI regions, falling by 14% from 155 to 141/100,000; the age-standardized incidence rate in these regions fell by around 10% from 147 to 139/100,000.

Globally, the incidence remained largely unchanged across age bands up to the 4549 year old age bracket. But incidence rates increased among 5094-year-olds, with the steepest increase among 6569-year-olds, at around 2% a year.

Cases among those aged under 1, 14, 59, and 1024 fell. But in 2019, cases among those aged 04 still accounted for over 17.5% of all cases.

Between 1990 and 2019, all five SDI regions closely matched the global trends, with decreasing proportions of cases among the under 24s and increases among the over 50s.

There are several possible reasons for the disparate trends between high and low SDI regions, suggest the researchers. These include the extent of health care provision, which is higher in wealthier and more developed countries. For example, the incidence of patient harm in the U.S. was about 50 times higher at all ages than it was in Indonesia.

Higher incidence in the high SDI region may also reflect better monitoring systems and greater and more equitable population access to health care, not just poor quality or overtreatment, the team suggests. And people are more likely to live longer in wealthier countries.

As to the higher rates of patient harms among older people, the researchers suggest that drugs are likely to explain most of these as a result of age-related physiological factors affecting drug metabolism and clearance, polypharmacy, co-existing health conditions, and declines in cognitive and functional capacity reducing medication adherence.

"This confluence of factors renders appropriate medication management exponentially more challenging in advanced-age populations with complex comorbidities," they write.

The researchers acknowledge various limitations to their findings, including that many lower SDI countries lacked reliable original data, for which predictive estimates had to be substituted. And the GBD study only evaluated the overall numbers of patient harms without any analysis of the types or severity of incident.

But the researchers conclude, "As population age and medical services expand with socio-economic development, addressing [adverse effects of medical treatment] incidents becomes a universal imperative to safeguard patient well-being and ensure equitable access to quality health care."

More information: Global, regional and national time trends in incidence of adverse effects of medical treatment, 19902019: an ageperiodcohort analysis from the Global Burden of Disease 2019 study, BMJ Quality & Safety (2024). DOI: 10.1136/bmjqs-2023-016971 Journal information: BMJ Quality & Safety
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This study by Pusan National University researchers addresses different impacts of heat on health between people with and without disabilities, together with differences among disability types. Credit: Dr. Whanhee Lee from Pusan National University, South Korea

Climate change has resulted in a global spike in temperatures, which, in turn, has increased the likelihood of frequent and intense heat waves. Amid these concerns, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) warns that heat waves increase in intensity, frequency, and duration with every 0.5C increase in temperature.

Previous research on the impact of these changes has revealed that extreme heat disproportionately affects vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, individuals with chronic health conditions, and those in the low-income group. Despite these observations, however, there are limited studies on the impact of high temperatures on the health of people with disabilities.

To better understand the impact of extreme heat on public health, especially on vulnerable populations like people with disabilities, a research team led by Dr. Whanhee Lee from Pusan National University, Korea, has now examined the association between heat and patient admissions in the emergency department. Their study, published in the journal The Lancet Planetary Health, reveals disparities in admissions and medical expenses for individuals with disabilities and those without disabilities.

"Ours is a nationwide study to present scientific data on the hazardous effects of heat on the health of people with disabilities," says Dr. Lee.

To this end, the researchers examined the health records of 59,527 beneficiaries with disabilities and 1,060,797 beneficiaries without disabilities from the Korean National Health Insurance ServiceNational Sample Cohort database.

They used a statistical method called conditional logistic regression to examine the link between short-term exposure to hot temperatures and admissions to the emergency department (ED) in hospitals during warm seasons (June to September) between January 1, 2002, to December 31, 2019. The study covered four types of disabilitiesphysical, brain lesion disorders, vision, and hearing impairmentsand examined hospitalizations for cardiovascular, genitourinary, mental, and respiratory diseases.

The findings revealed that exposure to heat increased the risk of hospitalizations among individuals with disabilities, especially due to the occurrence of mental and respiratory diseases. In addition, individuals with brain lesion disorders and severe physical disabilities, females, and those older than 65 years were more vulnerable to the effects of heat exposure. Overall, these results suggest that people with disabilities faced a 1.07 times higher risk, with a fourfold increase in ED admissions and seven times higher medical costs, compared to those without disabilities.

In South Korea, around 2.7 million people have disabilities, and the number is expected to rise with an increase in aging population and non-communicable diseases. In this context, the findings of this study highlight the need for well-informed public health policies to support and address the specific needs of this group.

For instance, these policies and decisions can include practical actions addressing various disability characteristics and health care training to consider the diverse comorbidity of people with disabilities and the impacts of climate change on their health. Such plans will also align with UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for equal health care access and climate action.

"As far as we know, there are still a limited number of guidelines against climate change in the context of people with disabilities. Our study sheds light on the importance of considering population with disabilities while developing guidelines against climate change," concludes Dr. Lee.

More information: Jinah Park et al, Association between heat and hospital admissions in people with disabilities in South Korea: a nationwide, case-crossover study, The Lancet Planetary Health (2024). DOI: 10.1016/S2542-5196(24)00027-5 Journal information: The Lancet Planetary Health
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Suicide prevention services targeting struggling young people have proven to be successful in reducing suicide risk and distress, and in improving overall well-being, according to new Swinburne-led research.

The study is published in the journal PLOS Mental Health.

The evaluation of a three-month Melbourne service, designed at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic for young people at risk of suicide, was carried out by the team at Swinburne University of Technology and Alfred Health.

Lead author from Swinburne's Centre for Mental Health, Professor Denny Meyer, says the findings are positive for the future of mental health care, suggesting that services of this naturewhich focus on peer and psycho-social supportcan have real benefits for young people at serious risk of suicide.

"We found that the young people using this three-month service experienced significant reductions in suicide risk and psychological distress, which were associated with significant improvements in quality of life and reductions in the use of hospital services."

Professor Meyer hopes that these promising results will prompt further services to be designed, particularly those supporting young people for more than a year.

"We hope the findings from this evaluation will be helpful for those wanting to implement other services of this nature in other locations," she said. "In particular, the principles of co-design, peer support and planning for future service provision should be incorporated in any such service, regardless of whether the service is offered using eHealth or face-to-face."

More information: Denny Meyer et al, Evaluation of a service introduced to support young people at risk of suicide using a cohort design, a mixed methods analysis and cost-benefit analysis, PLOS Mental Health (2024). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmen.0000043
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Immunofluorescence spinning disc microscopy images of organoids. Credit: Thomas Dennison/University of Cambridge

Cambridge scientists have grown 'mini-guts' in the lab to help understand Crohn's disease, showing that 'switches' that modify DNA in gut cells play an important role in the disease and how it presents in patients.

The researchers say these mini-guts could in future be used to identify the best treatment for an individual patient, allowing for more precise and personalized treatments.

Crohn's disease is a form of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). It is a life-long condition characterized by inflammation of the digestive tract that affects around one in 350 people in the UK, with one in four presenting before the age of 18. Even at its mildest, it can cause symptoms that have a major impact on quality of life including stomach pain, diarrhea, weight loss and fatigue, but it can also lead to extensive surgery, inpatient admissions, exposure to toxic drugs and have a major impact on patients and their families.

While there is some evidence that an individual is at greater risk of developing the condition if a first-degree relative has Crohn's, there has been only limited success in identifying genetic risk factors. As a result, it's estimated that only 10% of inheritance is due to variations in our DNA.

Matthias Zilbauer, Professor of Pediatric Gastroenterology at the University of Cambridge and Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (CUH), said, "The number of cases of Crohn's disease and IBD are rising dramatically worldwide, particularly among younger children, but despite decades of research, no one knows what causes it. Part of the problem is that it's been difficult to model the disease. We've had to rely mainly on studies in mice, but these are limited in what they can tell us about the disease in people."

In research published in Gut, Professor Zilbauer and colleagues used cells from inflamed guts, donated by 160 patients, mainly patients and adolescents, at CUH to grow more than 300 mini-gutsknown as organoidsin the lab to help them better understand the condition. Samples were donated by patients with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, as well as by patients unaffected by IBD.

"The organoids that we've generated are primarily from children and adolescents," said Professor Zilbauer. "They've essentially given us pieces of their bowel to help with our research. Crohn's can be a severe condition to have to deal with at any age, but without our volunteers' bravery and support, we would not be able to make such discoveries as this."

Organoids are 3D cell cultures that mimic key functions of a particular organ, in this case the epitheliumthe lining of the gut. The researchers grew them from specific cells, known as stem cells, taken from the gut. Stem cells live forever in the gut, constantly dividing and allowing the gut epithelium to regenerate.

Using these organoids, they showed that the epithelia in the guts of Crohn's disease patients have different 'epigenetic' patterns on their DNA compared to those from healthy controls. Epigenetics is where our DNA is modified by 'switches' attached to our DNA that turn genes on and offor turn their activity up or downleaving the DNA itself intact, but changing the way a cell functions.

Professor Zilbauer, a researcher at the Stem Cell Institute at the University of Cambridge, said, "What we saw was that not only were the epigenetic changes different in Crohn's disease, but there was a correlation between these changes and the severity of the disease. Every patient's disease course is different, and these changes help explain whynot every organoid had the same epigenetic changes."

The researchers say the organoids could be used to develop and test new treatments, to see how effective they are on the lining of the gut in Crohn's disease. It also opens up the possibility of tailoring treatments to individual patients.

Co-author Dr. Robert Heuschkel, Consultant Pediatric Gastroenterologist at CUH and Lead of the Pediatric IBD Service, said, "At the moment, we have no way of knowing which treatment will work best for a patient. Even those treatments we currently have only work in around half of our patients and become less effective over time. It's a huge problem.

"In future, you could imagine taking cells from a particular patient, growing their organoid, testing different drugs on the organoid, and saying, 'OK, this is the drug that works for this person.'"

The research highlighted a specific pathway implicated in Crohn's, known as major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-I. This pathway allows immune cells to recognize antigensthat is, a toxin or other foreign substance that induces an immune response in the body, and which could include molecules in our food, or our gut microbiota.

The team showed that the cells forming the inner lining of the gut in Crohn's disease patients have an increased activity of MHC-I, which can lead to inflammation in specific parts of the gut.

"This is the first time where anyone has been able to show that stable epigenetic changes can explain what is wrong in the gut epithelium in patients with Crohn's disease," said Professor Zilbauer.

The epigenetic modifications were found to be very stable, which may explain why even after treatment, when a patient appears to be healed, their inflammation can return after several monthsthe drugs are treating the symptoms, not the underlying cause.

Epigenetic changes are programmed into our cells very early on during the development of the baby in the womb. They are influenced by environmental factors, which may include exposure to infections or antibioticsor even lack of exposure to infection, the so-called 'hygiene hypothesis' that says we are not exposed to sufficient microbes for our immune systems to properly develop.

The researchers say this may offer one possible explanation for how the epigenetic changes that lead to Crohn's disease occur in the first place.

The research was largely supported by the Medical Research Council. It was also supported through collaboration with the Milner Therapeutics Institute, University of Cambridge.

Cambridge Enterprise is working with Professor Zilbauer and team and has recently filed a patent for this technology. They are seeking commercial partners to help with the development of this opportunity.

More information: Dennison, T et al. Patient-derived organoid biobank identifies epigenetic dysregulation of intestinal epithelial MHC-I as a novel mechanism in severe Crohn's disease, Gut (2024). DOI: 10.1136/gutjnl-2024-332043 Journal information: Gut
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New on-pack warning labels are needed on tobacco packaging to motivate and support smoking cessation, a study from University of Otago researchers has found.

The researchers asked 27 people who used roll-your-own tobacco and came from Dunedin and Wellington how they responded to the large graphic warnings on tobacco packs.

Their findings are published in Nicotine & Tobacco Research.

Research co-leader Professor Janet Hoek, who co-directs the ASPIRE Aotearoa Research Center at the University of Otago, Wellington, says the graphic pack warnings have been highly effective in telling people about the health risks of smoking, but a refresh is needed.

"Study participants thought the warnings had lost impact, but also admitted they actively avoided looking at them and many rationalized the harms smoking posed and had developed arguments as to why they were not likely to be personally harmed by smoking."

Lani Teddy, a Research Fellow with the ASPIRE Aotearoa Center said, "We know from other research that avoidance and counter-argument often indicate greater engagement with warnings; however, our findings suggest we could engage people who smoke more effectively. The warnings have not been refreshed since their introduction in 2018 and it is timely to think about new approaches.

"For example, many on-pack warnings feature diseased organs that participants found difficult to recognize. They felt messages that recognized them as whole people would create greater empathy and do more to encourage them to quit.

"Our participants also identified other themes that they found more motivating and relevant to their everyday lives. These included the cost of smoking, the stress of addiction, and the many harms smoking inflicts on their loved ones."

Professor Hoek says rather than persist with messages that created fear but did not offer solutions, it would be more effective to diversify the warning content and complement this information with supportive details.

She noted that some other countries use health promotional inserts to offer advice on quitting and help people who smoke feel more confident about their ability to quit.

"Given on-pack warnings can arouse fear, it's important that we show people the benefits of quitting and provide tips that might help them become smoke free."

Professor Hoek also noted that Aotearoa lagged behind policy innovations being adopted elsewhere, and that could be implemented here.

"Other countries are moving ahead with additional product design policies. Canada has introduced warnings on individual cigarettes, a move that Australia is also considering. Australia has brought in new regulations that allow for filter regulations and is banning the use of flavor capsules, which make smoking more appealing to young people."

Professor Hoek says the findings of the study should be used by the Government as a basis for new policies to reduce smoking.

"The Government has repealed legislation that would have seen Aotearoa reach its Smokefree 2025 goal of smoking prevalence falling to five percent or below among all population groups, but it has not provided a clear alternative plan.

"At the very least, the Government should maximize the impact that existing measures, such as on-pack warnings, could have and complement these with advice that will help people quit.

"The repeal of the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products (Smoked Tobacco) Amendment Act 2023 has left a policy vacuum. The Government should demonstrate its commitment to the Smokefree 2025 goal by adopting international best practice in both tobacco product and packaging measures."
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Hodgkin lymphoma, nodular lymphocyte predominant (high-power view) Credit: Gabriel Caponetti, MD./Wikipedia/CC BY-SA 3.0

Penn Medicine's patients of color are far less likely than white patients to receive a novel gene therapy pioneered there and hailed as a cure for some blood cancers, new research shows.

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania found significant racial disparities in who gets treated with chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy, known as CAR-T, a treatment that involves genetically modifying white blood cells to attack cancer.

Patients from non-white racial and ethnic groups accounted for about 16% of lymphoma patients at Penn's Abramson Cancer Center between 2018 and 2022, but just 7% of lymphoma patients who received CAR-T therapy, according to a study published in March in the New England Journal of Medicine Evidence.

The study did not explore why patients from underrepresented racial groups are less likely to receive CAR-T. But researchers suspect the problem is rooted in a mix of socio-economic and systemic barriers that contribute to much of the racial disparities in health care: cost, travel, language, health status, and doctors' racial bias.

CAR-T is considered the ultimate in personalized medicine. It involves removing the body's white blood cells and genetically modifying them to target each individual's unique cancer cells. The white blood cells are infused back into the body as a tailor-made army against blood cancers.

More than 1,600 clinical trials are exploring whether it can treat brain cancer, breast cancer, and others.

"All of this is useless, pointless, if there are barriers that don't allow us to provide this therapy" to all patients, said Marco Ruella, an assistant professor of medicine at Penn and senior author of the study.

Researchers said they hope their findings will be a first step toward improving access to a treatment with significant barriers. CAR-T can cost up to $1 million and is only available at a handful of specialized cancer centers, including at Penn.

Racial gaps in CAR-T treatment for lymphoma

Researchers studied medical records of nearly 1,500 patients treated for lymphoma at Penn between 2018 and 2022. They found that white patients were far more likely to receive CAR-T treatment than those who identified as Black, Hispanic, Latino, American Indian, Alaskan Native, Asian, or Native Hawaiian.

White patients accounted for 85% of all lymphoma patients at Penn during the study period and 94% of lymphoma patients who received CAR-T. Meanwhile, patients from minority racial and ethnic groups accounted for about 16% of lymphoma patients, and just 7% of lymphoma patients who received CAR-T therapy.

The findings were a stark reminder that the health system must work harder to improve widespread racial disparities in cancer treatment, Ruella said.

"If we really want to make an impact on our nation's overall health, we shouldn't leave people behind," he said.

Cost, access, and doctor bias contribute to disparities

Cancer death rates are declining overall, but patients from minority groups are more likely to experience treatment delays, end treatment early, and receive care at lower-quality cancer centers, according to a report published last month by the American Association for Cancer Research, a Philadelphia-based organization that represents cancer researchers.

This may reflect factors such as who can take time off work, secure child care, and afford co-pays, transportation, and hotel rooms. Patients must often travel to specialty cancer centersespecially for highly advanced treatments, such as CAR-Twhich can be difficult and costly for those who live far away.

Clinical trials testing the latest emerging cancer therapies are also less likely to enroll racial minorities, which contributes to ongoing disparities in cancer treatment, said Camille Ragin, an epidemiologist and associate director of diversity, equity, and inclusion at Fox Chase Cancer Center.

"Because clinical trials are not diverse, we have been making the assumption that the findings from these clinical trials are generalizable to all population groups, and there's already lots of evidence to suggest that may not necessarily be true," said Ragin, who helped author the AACR report.

Clinicians' bias can affect who gets access to the most advanced services and is considered for a clinical trial, said Carmen Guerra, associate director of outreach at Penn's Abramson Cancer Center.

For instance, a doctor may assume that a patient who comes to appointments alone won't have the support system needed to be part of a rigorous treatment regimen, or that a patient who doesn't speak English won't fully understand the requirements of a new trial, she said.

Penn's plan for addressing CAR-T disparities

Ruella and his colleagues aren't sure yet how best to address the disparities they identified among lymphoma patients. They are working with Guerra to better understand why the disparities exist and develop a plan.

Some barriers to advanced cancer treatment are easier to address. For instance, Guerra helped develop a training for doctors that calls for them to talk to all patients about clinical trials, so doctors will not make potentially biased judgments about which patients are good candidates.

But factors leading to disparities in CAR-T access may be challenging to unravel, Guerra said.

"The barriers are more pronounced because CAR-T is such a uniquely complicated therapy," Guerra said.

2024 The Philadelphia Inquirer, LLC. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
China's participation in dialogue seen as crucial

08:46, June 11, 2024 By Jiang Chenglong ( China Daily

The Chinese military's participation in the Shangri-La Dialogue by sending delegations led by the minister of national defense has helped the world gain a more comprehensive understanding of its positions on global issues, as well as facilitating communication and promoting understanding between the militaries of China and the United States, experts said recently.

The 21st Shangri-La Dialogue, held in Singapore from May 31 to June 2 by the International Institute for Strategic Studies, a British think tank, is one of the biggest and highest-level multilateral conferences on security in the Asia-Pacific region.

The Chinese military has participated in the security summit every year since 2007. This year, the Chinese delegation, led by Minister of National Defense Admiral Dong Jun, comprised 34 members, including 29 from the People's Liberation Army, according to the event guide provided by the organizer.

Zhou Bo, a senior fellow at Tsinghua University's Center for International Security and Strategy and a member of the delegation, said: "At present, the Chinese military has attracted much attention, but there are still some misunderstandings about it in the West. Therefore, the Shangri-La Dialogue serves as a major platform for the Chinese military to articulate its positions and showcase a positive image."

Dong delivered a keynote speech at the dialogue on China's approach to global security, stressing that China will not allow any country or force to trigger war or chaos in the Asia-Pacific region. Later during the Q&A session, Dong elaborated on China's position on the Taiwan question and the South China Sea issue.

"Dong's speech was quite comprehensive," said Zhou, who has attended 10 Shangri-La Dialogues, seven of which he was a PLA delegation member. Zhou noted that, given the current situation, the Taiwan question and the South China Sea issue are both pressing and realistic topics, making it understandable that the minister of national defense focused on these issues in the dialogue.

In 2011, China sent its minister of national defense to the dialogue for the first time, and the minister has attended every Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore since 2019.

Zhao Xiaozhuo, a military commentator who has attended 10 Shangri-La Dialogues as a member of the Chinese military delegation, said that although the dialogue is a Western-dominated forum, China's participation is crucial because the forum focuses on Asia-Pacific security issues.

"It is very important for the minister of national defense to use this opportunity every year to clarify China's positions and concepts to the international community, as well to highlight China's contributions to regional peace and stability," he said.

On May 31 at the opening of the Shangri-La Dialogue, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr spoke about the Philippines' territorial claims in the South China Sea in his keynote address. The next day, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin gave a keynote speech highlighting US leadership in the "Indo-Pacific "region.

Notably, following the speeches by the Philippine and US leaders, two members of the Chinese delegation, Major General Xu Hui and Senior Colonel Cao Yanzhong, raised questions that challenged the negative impact of the Philippines' actions on ASEAN centrality and US attempts to introduce NATO into the Asia-Pacific region.

Military commentator Zhao said that, given the Western dominance of the dialogue, there were some baseless accusations against China. "The PLA's participation and voice serve as a balance to those voices, allowing the international community to make its own judgments."

During this year's dialogue, Dong held talks with senior security and defense officials from more than 10 countries and organizations, including the US, Japan, Australia, Singapore, Cambodia, and the European Union. His meeting with Austin marked the first face-to-face meeting between Chinese and US defense chiefs in the past 18 months.

In the talks, Dong told his US counterpart that the two militaries must adhere to the bottom line of no conflict and no confrontation.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
 Flash

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Ethiopian Foreign Minister Taye Atske Selassie in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, on June 10, 2024. [Photo/Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs]

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Monday met with Ethiopian Foreign Minister Taye Atske Selassie in the Russian city of Nizhny Novgorod.

Noting that Ethiopia is an influential African nation and the seat of the African Union headquarters, Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said Ethiopia's peace and stability are of great significance to the region.

Over the past two years, Ethiopia's domestic peace process has progressed orderly, and its economic and social development achievements have been remarkable, Wang said, adding he believes that the Ethiopian government and people will achieve even greater success on the path of peace, development, and prosperity.

China-Ethiopia relations have maintained a good momentum of development, with President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed maintaining strategic communication and reaching a series of important consensuses, particularly the decision to elevate bilateral relations to an all-weather strategic partnership, opening broad prospects for future cooperation, Wang said.

Guided by the important consensuses of the leaders, China is willing to deepen the all-weather friendship, expand cooperation in various fields, and promote more achievements in bilateral relations, benefiting the people of both nations.

Noting Ethiopia's deep friendship with China, Atske Selassie said the elevation of bilateral relations to an all-weather strategic partnership is warmly welcomed by the Ethiopian government and people.

China is Ethiopia's largest source of foreign investment and export destination, and bilateral cooperation has strongly promoted Ethiopia's economic and social development, he said.

Ethiopia is willing to learn from China's development experience and, together with other African countries, promote greater development in China-Africa cooperation, he added.

Atske Selassie said Ethiopia appreciates and supports the three global initiatives proposed by China, recognizing their milestone significance and expressing willingness to actively participate in relevant cooperation to promote their implementation.

Both sides agreed to continue firmly supporting each other in safeguarding sovereignty and development interests, enhancing pragmatic cooperation and upgrading their quality, strengthening coordination in international and regional affairs, and making objective, balanced, and constructive voices on hotspot issues.
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A computer program based on data from nearly a half-million tissue images and powered by artificial intelligence can accurately diagnose cases of adenocarcinoma, the most common form of lung cancer, a new study shows.

Researchers at NYU Langone Health's Perlmutter Cancer Center and the University of Glasgow developed and tested the program. They say that because it incorporates structural features of tumors from 452 adenocarcinoma patients, who are among the more than 11,000 patients in the United States National Cancer Institute's Cancer Genome Atlas, the program offers an unbiased, detailed, and reliable second opinion for patients and oncologists about the presence of the cancer and the likelihood and timing of its return (prognosis).

The research team also points out that the program is independent and "self-taught," meaning that it determined on its own which structural features were statistically most significant to gauging the severity of disease and had the greatest impact on tumor recurrence.

Publishing in the journal Nature Communications, the study program, also called an algorithmor specifically, histomorphological phenotype learning (HPL)was found to accurately distinguish between similar lung cancers, adenocarcinoma and squamous cell cancers, 99% of the time. The HPL program was also found to be 72% accurate at predicting the likelihood and timing of cancer's return after therapy, improving upon the 64% accuracy in the predictions made by pathologists who directly examined the same patients' tumor images, researchers say.

"Our new histomorphological phenotype learning program has the potential to offer cancer specialists and their patients a quick and unbiased diagnostic tool for lung adenocarcinoma, thatonce further testing is completecan also be used to help validate and even guide their treatment decisions," said study lead investigator Nicolas Coudray, Ph.D., a bioinformatics programmer at NYU Grossman School of Medicine and Perlmutter Cancer Center.

"Patients, physicians, and researchers know they can rely on this predictive modeling because it is self-taught, provides explainable decisions, and is based only on the knowledge drawn specifically from each patient's tissue, including such features as its proportion of dying cells, tumor-fighting immune cells, and how densely packed the tumor cells are, among other features," said Coudray.

"Lung tissue samples can now be analyzed in minutes by our computer program to provide fairly accurate predictions of whether their cancer will return, predictions that are better than current standards of care for making a prognosis in lung adenocarcinoma," said study co-senior investigator Aristotelis Tsirigos, Ph.D. Tsirigos is a professor in the Departments of Pathology and Medicine at NYU Grossman School of Medicine and Perlmutter Cancer Center, where he also serves as co-director of precision medicine and director of its Applied Bioinformatics Laboratories.

Tsirigos says that thanks to such tools and other advances in lung cancer biology, pathologists will be examining tissue scans on their computer screens, and fewer and fewer on microscopes, and then using their AI program to analyze the image and produce its own image of the scan.

The new image, or "landscape," they add, will offer a detailed breakdown of the tissue's content. It might note, for example, that there is 5% necrosis and 10% tumor infiltration and what that means in terms of survival. That reading may statistically equate to an 80% chance of remaining cancer-free for two years or more, based on information from all the patient data in the program.

To develop the HPL program, the researchers first analyzed lung adenocarcinoma tissue slides from the Cancer Genome Atlas. Adenocarcinoma was chosen for the test model because the disease is known for characteristic features. As an example, they note that its tumor cells tend to group in so-called acinar, or saclike patterns and spread predictably along the surface lining of lung cells.

From their analysis of the slides, whose visual images were digitally scanned and broken into 432,231 small quadrants or tiles, researchers found 46 key characteristics, what they term histomorphological phenotype clusters, from both normal and diseased tissue, a subset of which were statistically linked to either cancer's early return or to long-term survival. The findings were then confirmed by further and separate testing on tissue images from 276 men and women who were treated for adenocarcinoma at NYU Langone from 2006 to 2021.

Researchers say their goal is to use the HPL algorithm to assign to each patient a score between 0 and 1 that reflects their statistical chance of survival and tumor recurrence for up to five years. Because the program is self-learning, they stress HPL will become increasingly more accurate as more data is added over time. To build public trust, researchers have posted their programming code online and have plans to make the new HPL tool freely available upon completion of further testing.

Characteristics linked to tumors recurring included high tile percentages of dead cancer cells and tumor-fighting immune cells called lymphocytes, and the dense clustering of tumor cells in the outer linings of the lungs. Features tied to increased likelihood for survival were high percentages of unchanged or preserved lung sac tissue, and lack of or mild presence of inflammatory cells.

Tsirigos says the team next plans to look at developing HPL-like programs for other cancers, such as breast, ovarian, and colorectal, that are similarly based on distinctive and key morphological features and additional molecular data. The team also has plans to expand and improve the accuracy of the current adenocarcinoma HPL program by including other data from hospital electronic health records about other illnesses and diseases, or even income and home ZIP code.

Besides Tsirigos and Coudray, other NYU Langone researchers involved in this study are Anna Yeaton, Bojing Liu, Hortense Le, Luis Chiriboga, Afreen Karimkhan, Navneet Natula, Christopher Park, Harvey Pass, and Andre Moreira. Study co-lead investigator Adalberto Claudio Quiros, study co-investigators Xinyu Yang and John Le Quesne, and study co-senior investigator Ke Yuan are all at the University of Glasgow, UK. Study co-investigator David Moore is at University College London, UK.

More information: Mapping the landscape of histomorphological cancer phenotypes using self-supervised learning on unlabeled, unannotated pathology slides, Nature Communications (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48666-7 Journal information: Nature Communications
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Ohio University researchers Dr. Cory Cronin, Dr. Berkeley Franz and undergraduate student Anne Mathew have coauthored a paper published in Health Affairs, exploring the alignment between hospitals and public health departments in addressing community health needs in the state of Ohio.

The paper, part of the June issue of Health Affairs focused on reimagining public health, continues the work Cronin and Franz have done over the last six years in examining how hospitals across the nation influence population health within their respective communities. This study marks the first instance that the research team is using coding protocol, developed by Franz, to analyze all the hospitals in a single state, as well as documents from public health departments.

"Multisector collaboration is critical for improving population health," Cronin, an associate professor and co-director of the Institute to Advance Health Equity (ADVANCE) in the College of Health Sciences and Professions, said. "Improving the alignment between nonprofit hospitals and local health departments is one way we can achieve health improvement and currently, a number of states are exploring policies to facilitate such collaboration, Ohio being one of the latest to implement such policies."

The impetus for the study stemmed from new policy requirements in Ohio mandating hospitals and public health departments to report on community investments and align their efforts with a statewide planning process. The findings serve as a crucial baseline for tracking alignment post-implementation of these policies and identifying areas necessitating greater collaboration, particularly in addressing social determinants of health.

The researchers compared the alignment in identified and addressed needs between nonprofit hospitals and local health departments and found low alignment between hospitals and health departments, particularly concerning the social determinants of health, despite both entities having formal responsibilities to their communities.

This misalignment underscores the importance of multisector collaboration in addressing critical public health needs.

"Alignment is critical to study because while these organizations have different missions, they both have formal responsibilities to the communities they serve," Franz, Osteopathic Heritage Foundation Ralph S. Licklider, D.O. Endowed Faculty Fellow in Population Health Science and associate professor in the Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, explained.

"Ideally, these organizations would work together to address critical public health needs, but this can only happen if they identify and address the same needs. Importantly, there was low alignment between hospitals and health departments for the social determinants of health. We know social factors are incredibly important for shaping health outcomes and encouraging multisector collaboration to address social issues should be a priority in Ohio."

Credit: Health Affairs

According to Cronin, the top identified health needs found by both hospitals and health departments include mental health, substance use and obesity.

"Alignment across organizations was high among the top needs such as mental health and substance use but varied more among less commonly identified needs," Cronin explained. "Hospitals and health departments both offer different resources and we found that health departments were more responsive to social determinants than hospitals. By understanding these key takeaways, hospitals and health departments may be able to better serve their communities and policies can be created to consider how to promote collaboration between the two to meet community needs where they are at."

Mathew, a senior Honors Tutorial College student in the neuroscience program, played a pivotal role as the primary data analyst for the study. Her meticulous work involved reading and analyzing extensive documents from both hospitals and health departments, contributing significantly to the research while providing her with critical skills and experience for her future career goals.

She coded the community health needs assessments (CHNA) and improvement strategies (IS) so they would be compiled into one document that could then be further analyzed. This involved searching and finding each hospital's CHNA and IS, reading through each document, and following the coding protocol to determine their alignment with any of the 17 common health needs. During her research, she discovered that over 90% of local health departments identified social determinants of health as a top need compared to 53% of hospitals.

"I learned that there are no small roles when it comes to research. A seemingly menial and tedious task at the time resulted in an analysis that carries significant weight, particularly in our understanding of community health in Ohio. I can now see my contribution as part of a larger effort and bigger picture," Mathew, who has been mentored by Cronin throughout her undergraduate career, added.

Cronin applauded the work of his student, noting that being published as an undergraduate is a remarkable achievement and that her involvement in the study provided invaluable insights into health policy and research.

"I am so grateful for the supportive faculty encouraging students like me to engage in meaningful research," Mathew said. "It has been an incredible honor to have worked with Dr. Cronin, Dr. Franz, and the rest of the team to get this paper published."

In conjunction with the release of the June issue, Cronin spoke during a webinar on June 5 on the findings from their study, as well as next steps in addressing community health needs. He was also featured in a podcast talking broadly on public health.

The study was also coauthored by Simone Rauscher Singh of the University of Michigan, Ashlyn Burns and Valerie A. Yeager of Indiana University, Neeraj Puro of Florida Atlantic University, and Tatiane Santos of Tulane University.

More information: Ohio Presents Opportunities For Understanding Hospital Alignment With Public Health Agencies On Community Health Assessments, Health Affairs (2024). Journal information: Health Affairs
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Few people in the UK with early stage Alzheimer's disease are likely to be suitable for the latest drugs that aim to halt progress of the condition, yet many are nevertheless likely to be referred for these treatments, finds research published online in the Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery & Psychiatry.

The disease-modifying drugs, lecanemab and donanemab, slow cognitive decline in people with early stage Alzheimer's disease. They have been granted "breakthrough therapy" status in the UK because of their ability to remove beta amyloid protein in the brain, the buildup of which is thought to have a key role in the development of the disease.

Already licensed for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease in the US in 2023, regulatory approval of these drugs for use in the UK is expected shortly. But to maximize their effectiveness, a raft of clinical staff and diagnostic and monitoring tests and scans will be required, point out the researchers.

To gauge the potential level of health care demand, the researchers retrospectively evaluated patients attending five community memory services across North and East London and a national specialist cognitive disorders service between January and June in 2022.

The team wanted to determine the proportion of patients who would likely be referred for treatment from the memory services for these new drugs as well as those from the specialist service who would potentially be suitable for treatment with them.

In all, the anonymized case files of 1,017 patients were included, 517 of whom were seen in community memory services and 500 in specialist clinics.

Just over 40% of the memory service patients were men; their average age was 79, with just 14% (72) under the age of 70. After exclusions due to incomplete data and factors, such as symptom severity, frailty, and other coexisting conditions, nearly 1 in 3 (163; 31.5%) were potentially eligible for treatment with the new drugs.

Of these,161 had undergone neuroimaging; but fluid biomarker tests were carried out in only two patients. This is equivalent to less than 1% of the memory clinic patients included in the study, "making this an urgent area of need for service development to enable identification of suitable patients," emphasize the researchers.

Based on these figures, they suggest: "With an average memory clinic caseload of 815 and 80 nationally accredited memory clinics in England and Northern Ireland, potentially over 20,000 people per year will need access to such confirmatory investigations."

More of the specialist clinic patients were men (53%) and they tended to be younger. Their average age was 66, but well over half (58%; 290) were under the age of 70. Alzheimer's disease was the most common diagnosis (177; 35.5%), followed by frontotemporal dementia (72; 14.5%).

Most of them (492) had been given diagnostic scans: computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. And fluid biomarker tests were performed in nearly two thirds (62%; 109/177) of those with Alzheimer's disease.

But after exclusions due to frailty and contraindications for treatment, etc., only 40% (70) of the Alzheimer's disease patients were potentially eligible for treatment with the new drugs, equivalent to just 14% of all the cases reviewed at the specialist cognitive clinics.

"Systems need to be set up to deal with this potential large mismatch between referral and ultimate eligibility in order to avoid overwhelming services," highlight the researchers.

They add, "A significant issue is that due to the lack of biomarker testing in community memory clinics, the clinical suspicion of [Alzheimer's disease] is likely to be incorrect in at least 30% of cases."

Accurate diagnosis would reduce the number of patients ultimately eligible for the new therapies. But that would only be possible with confirmatory fluid biomarkers or brain (PET) scans, which aren't usually available to memory services in the UK, they point out.

"While there are limitations on the accuracy of our estimates, given current barriers to early clinical presentations and referral, our study provides predicted numbers based on real-world community cohorts," they write.

Demand for diagnostic services among those with early cognitive concerns is only likely to grow once the new drugs have been licensed and formally appraised by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, "placing further demands on already overstretched services," they warn.

"While a sizable proportion of patients attending memory clinics may be referred for triaging for [disease modifying drugs for Alzheimer's disease], only a minority are likely to be suitable for these, as demonstrated in patients seen in specialist cognitive services. This will need to be considered when designing pathways for delivery [of these drugs]," they conclude.

In a linked editorial, Dr. Benjamin Underwood, of Fulbourn Hospital, Cambridge, highlights the study limitations. "It is retrospective and several 'unknowns' remain, including how many people would choose to have treatment if eligible, how many would meet criteria for 'amyloid positivity,' and whether the advent of treatment might encourage more people to present," he writes.

"Nevertheless, if these treatments are approved for use, the work presented here will help plan services. It also provides a reminder that only a minority of people will be appropriate to receive these treatments. It is essential that services retain focus on the majority of people who will need other forms of treatment and care," he concludes.

More information: Eligibility for anti amyloid treatment: preparing for disease-modifying therapies for Alzheimer's disease, Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery & Psychiatry (2024). DOI: 10.1136/jnnp-2024-333468
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Cancer survival rates are up, and death rates are downyet racial minorities still bear a disproportionate burden of cancer, according to a new report from the American Association for Cancer Research.

Fox Chase Cancer Center's Camille Ragin, who studies racial disparities in cancer, says underrepresentation in clinical trials is among the underlying causes of cancer disparities that's critical to address.

Clinical trials are the backbone of cancer research, helping scientists and doctors better understand what new treatments will be most effective in treating cancer. But clinical trials overwhelmingly enroll white patients, which means doctors often don't know whether new therapies will be as effective for patients with diverse backgrounds.

The Inquirer spoke to Ragin, an epidemiologist and associate director of diversity, equity, and inclusion at Fox Chase, about how the Philadelphia comprehensive cancer center and others can reduce disparities by improving diversity in clinical trials.

Why is diversity in clinical trials so important?

One person's cancer is not the same as another's. It's the same way when you view populationsthere are so many subgroups, different ethnic groups. When science is done, Black individuals are often all grouped into one group, as if they're one group. We have immigrants who come from other countries, African Americans who have for generations grown up and lived in the United States.

Different perspectives, different attitudesall those things can increase cancer risk. They could have different environmental exposures, which affects their risk of cancer.

How can clinical trials account for that level of diversity at a statistically significant level?

When we design out studies and want to answer a question, we need to make sure that within that study population, there is sufficient representation to come up with a finding that is generalizable. Whatever answer we get from our scientific studies, we want that answer to be applied to everyone, despite the fact that we know there is heterogeneity.

One solution to that is to make sure there's appropriate representationthen the findings will be relevant. If you don't, the findings are only relevant to the group you are studying.

How can research institutions improve clinical trial diversity?

There has been greater awareness of the importance of diversity and the importance of addressing a lack of representation. One of the things I think would truly contribute to addressing this is diversification of the biomedical workforce.

Having a diverse workforce sets you up to achieve what we all want, which is focused, innovative ways in making sure we are answering questions that will be applicable and generalizable. I do believe that will help drive toward the goal of making sure we are truly doing science that will be beneficial for all.

2024 The Philadelphia Inquirer, LLC. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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Researchers at Kyushu University have further explored the visual rabbit illusion. The three rabbits represent the actual flashes, while the dots above them show where people perceive the light points. The second dot is usually perceived near the center. Credit: Kyushu University

Researchers from Kyushu University have uncovered new variations to a traditional illusion, based on how we perceive the motion of flashing lights. Published on May 21 in i-Perception, the findings show that when three light flashes are presented in rapid succession in our side vision, our brain tends to perceive them in a straight line, with the second flash around the midpoint, no matter the actual location of the second flash. This research, which earned the journal's Early Career Best Paper Prize this year, offers new perspectives on perceptual errors and eyewitness testimony reliability.

For people without severe visual impairments, sight is the most vital sense. Yet, the information our eyes provide isn't always a faithful depiction of reality. One fascinating phenomenon that highlights this is the visual saltation illusion.

When a series of light points flicker rapidly in the peripheral vision, we may mistake their true positions, thinking the flash is jumping from its original location to another spot. It appears as if a rabbit is jumping from one spot to another, which is why it's also called the "visual rabbit illusion."

In traditional experiments, this illusion is studied using three flashes that appear in two locations: the first two flashes at the exact same location on the left and the third flash on the right. Under these conditions, an illusion is created as the second flash is perceived roughly halfway between the two points.

But is this the only condition for the illusion to occur? Researchers at Kyushu University decided to experiment by changing the location of the second flash to see if that impacted the illusion. They fixed the first and third flashes in the peripheral vision, modified the flash duration and intervals to ensure the illusion occurred, and then conducted three experiments.

In this illusion created by researchers from Kyushu University, the first flash appears to the left, and the second and third flashes are at the same spot to the right. But is this what you see when you gaze at the cross? The speed of the flashes is slightly slower than that of the illusion condition in the experiment. Credit: Kyushu University

Their findings indicate that participants misperceived the second flash, placing it near the midpoint between the first and last flash. This illusion occurred regardless of whether the second flash was at the same location as the third or even further to the right of the third flash.

"It's like a rabbit hopping back to the middle after the brain processes it," comments Sheryl Anne Manaligod de Jesus, the first author of the study and a doctoral student at Kyushu University's Graduate School of Design.

Additionally, the researchers found that the flashes do not need to be presented in a line for the illusion to happen. Even when the second flash appeared above or below the midpoint, its perceived location still tended to be near the center. This happens because when our visual system receives flashes in rapid succession, the brain processes them as a whole, leading to a perceptual reorganization of the flashes into a simpler, more coherent pattern.

One way to further investigate the visual saltation illusion's mechanisms is by providing the experimental results to artificial intelligence. Comparing human and AI responses could indicate whether our visual pathways are simpler or more complex than we imagine.

Researchers at Kyushu University conducted three experiments to study the visual rabbit illusion. Traditionally, the first two flashes are presented at the same location. In these experiments, the researchers altered the position of the second flash to see how it affected the perceived illusion. The results showed that, under all three conditions, participants perceived the second flash near the center. Credit: Hector Palomo/Kyushu University

What we "see" is not solely dependent on our vision, it is often a construction of our brain, influenced by attention and memory. This questions the reliability of eyewitness testimony.

"Our brain sometimes uses future events to interpret the past," says de Jesus, "This is called postdiction, meaning that how we perceive a past event, like the second flash, is influenced by what happens afterward. This results in the fascinating illusion of the flash appearing in a place, where it never really was."

As the study suggests, our peripheral vision, especially with fast-moving objects, is not completely reliable. Further research into visual saltation illusions is needed to help us better understand visual processing and potentially improve our peripheral vision. After studying how position changes affected the perceived "rabbit," the team's next step is to explore how attention impacts the illusion.

Where does the rabbit hop? Or do we see a rabbit or a duck? How much does our brain mislead our sense of the visual world? Despite needing more research to fully understand these illusions, their power to enrich our lives with unique and enjoyable experiences is clear.

As Professor Hiroyuki Ito, the supervisor of de Jesus and the second author from Kyushu University's Faculty of Design, remarks, "The most important thing is to enjoy the illusions."

More information: Sheryl Anne Manaligod de Jesus et al, Retracing the rabbit's path: Effects of altering the second flash position in the visual saltation illusion, i-Perception (2024). DOI: 10.1177/20416695241254016
As Missoula County's floodplain map gets updated with new data for the first time in decades, some residents are concerned that the government has overstepped its bounds.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has been working with the state and local counties to update floodplain maps, including for Missoula County, which should get a new draft map in the next year.

Most of the current maps are based on hand-measured, decades-old data.

While the new maps will be more accurate for predicting future floods, the changes will inevitably move some residents into the floodplain. That affects their insurance and home values.

A group of landowners in western Montana recently urged Missoula County to cut ties with FEMA because of a new floodplain map. County commissioners countered that doing so would deny people insurance and cost the county millions of dollars.

The residents also criticized a separate, Missoula County-specific project that created zoning restrictions within parts of the Missoula Valley floodplain in 2022.

Citizen complaints

The group, known as "Jeff Patterson and Citizens Against Regulation," told Missoula County commissioners at a May meeting that the new government regulations violate private property rights.

Jeff Patterson, the leader of the group, lives on a piece of un-zoned property near Turah. He said the recent draft floodplain map done by FEMA placed his property in the floodplain, which he said hurts his quality of life.

He said the new floodplain will require him to pay more for insurance, conform to additional regulations, and decrease the value of his home.

Patterson also criticized radar technology that FEMA uses to create the new maps, which he argues incorrectly placed his property within the floodplain.

"Why are we being added to the floodplain when it makes no sense?" Patterson said at the meeting. "If you put somebody on a floodplain and their house is mortgaged, they're forced to have FEMA flood insurance."

The group is made up of residents from Missoula and Mineral counties. While half a dozen members attended the meeting, Patterson would not say how many people are involved.

One member of the group is House District 97 State Rep. Lyn Hellegaard. When asked for her position on the issue, she told the Missoulian "I need to do my homework." Hellegaard is currently running for House District 89.

During the meeting last week with the county commissioners, Patterson said he believes the new floodplain and regulations by FEMA are an "illegal take," by the government to seize his land without due process.

"These are regulations that are not acceptable, they are excessive," Patterson said. "The Supreme Court said when regulations become excessive, they are taking, and taking is a violation of our Fifth and 14th amendment rights."

Other residents at the meeting brought concerns of the new Missoula County-specific regulations. One couple from Turah said they were unsure what the new county codes would make them do. Their land is mostly on a steep mountainside.

The county does regulate steep slopes, but only within the Missoula Valley, said Karen Hughes, the county director of Planning, Development and Sustainability. Those regulations do not extend beyond the valley, where land is largely unzoned.

Patterson and the members of his group say they want the county to sever ties with FEMA.

"You are selling out our private rights, our constitutional rights to own property, for benefits from FEMA," Patterson said, referring to the increased burden of being placed in the floodplain.

He said the last resort to the issue might be legal action against the county.

Remapping in works

The last time FEMA has updated the floodplain for the lower Clark Fork watershed was in 2015 and 2016, state information shows. That update focused on digitizing data that was collected in 1984.

Since 2020, FEMA has contracted the state Department of Natural Resources and Conservation to study of area waterways using both hand measurements and radar technology called lidar. Lidar has been used by engineers and mappers for more than 50 years.

In 2023, a final draft of the new floodplain from the DNRC circulated to residents in Mineral County. Missoula County residents saw a provisional draft late last year, and a more conclusive map is under development.

Mike Day, an engineer for the private firm WGM Group, told the Missoulian that floodplain regulations are complex and often leave people frustrated over new land restrictions. But he added updating the floodplain maps is necessary to catch up with changing river conditions and to protect people's safety.

FEMA floodplain regulations were first passed as an act of Congress in 1974, and later amended in 1988. The regulations created a system where people in the floodplain are required to be insured, Day said.

"The basis of the floodplain was that there were so many flooding-related disasters happening then," Day said. "They ended up saying 'why don't we make those people who are most affected responsible.'"

Day said Montana specifically is behind schedule on updating its floodplain maps. The reason is twofold: there are too many water bodies to constantly track, and Montana's flooding is irregular.

"It's extremely time-consuming and expensive," Day said. "Many areas are more approximate estimates. There are a lot of triggers for more studying, like a natural disaster, population growth or a lot of claims of flooding."

Commissioners respond

The commissioners pushed back against Patterson, telling the group that the county has no control over the floodplain set by FEMA, and if it did go against FEMA, the area would lose millions in federal funding.

Under federal law, FEMA oversees the floodplain and contracts with the local governments to collect data for the project. However, the local governments do not create the final results.

The county did approve separate zoning just within the Missoula Valley that is more restrictive than FEMA, which is allowed under federal law.

But cutting ties with FEMA would make the county ineligible for most federal grants and cut federally backed loans for people within the floodplain, according to the county's Chief Administrative Officer Chris Lounsbury.

For example, the county would be ineligible for a $4.8 million grant for wildfire fuels reduction, Lounsbury said. Other grants supplement the county's Office of Emergency Management and the City-County Health Department.

Becoming "noncompliant" with FEMA's rules would also increase flood insurance rates for all residents within Missoula County, Lounsbury said at the meeting. That would bar people from obtaining a federally backed home loan.

"I think it is safe to say it is a nonstarter that we would not adopt the floodplain maps," County Commissioner Dave Strohmaier said at the meeting.

Strohmaier said the appeals process for the floodplain, which is one of the final steps before the map is finalized, would be the best option for residents who worry they might be wrongly placed into the floodplain.

As for the Missoula-specific zoning, commissioners clarified that the new zoning passed by the county does not affect outlying communities within the county, like Seeley Lake, the Ninemile and Turah.

County Commissioner Josh Slotnick said at the meeting that the county process for changing regulations for landowners has been well communicated, and hundreds of public comments have been taken into consideration.

"I feel really good about it, because in the end we had people in public hearings who had long-standing opposition on ideology  they just never got along on anything," Slotnick said "They came together on this because we worked, reworked and reworked it again."

For Granite County residents, the appeals and comment process for the floodplain starts on June 20, and lasts for 90 days. A new Missoula map should be available in the coming months.

As for Missoula County's specific floodplain regulations, Hughes said anyone can request a zoning variance, or an exception to the rules.

To get more information on FEMA's floodplain plans, visit the state's website at https://dnrc.mt.gov/Water-Resources/Floodplains/Floodplain-Mapping-Updates/Missoula-Granite-Floodplain-Maps-Updates.
Maclay Bridge reopened on Tuesday after months of work to repair the road surface and other structural concerns, the county's road department announced.

Missoula County Public works completed the needed repairs to the bridge over the last two months. Crews began resurfacing the roadway with asphalt Tuesday morning, and the crossing was open by the afternoon.

The weight limit will remain at 11 tons. The Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) will complete an inspection later this month to evaluate the limit, the county said.

County Roads Engineer Erik Dickson said the total cost for the project has not been finalized, but it should be roughly $75,000 after the additional plans were made. The money came from MDT.

The county closed the bridge in January after a state inspection showed structural concerns with its road supports. Most of the concern revolved around corrosion of the steel support stringers under the bridge's surface. The bridge was built in 1953 and only has one lane.

The bridge has been used by Missoulians for decades. One study by the Montana Department of Transportation found more than 3,600 vehicles used the crossing in 2021, while state guidelines recommended just 100 cars.

Restrictions set by the state bar school buses from driving across the span. As repairs get wrapped up, one Missoula organization is pushing to increase the weight limit to allow for buses and emergency vehicles.

While some residents look to keep the bridge as a long-term option, other neighbors said they want a safer and newer structure instead.

Another bridge project nearby that would span the Bitterroot River is working through environmental impact statements. The project would be funded by the federal government and could break ground in 2026, the county said Tuesday.

In 2022, the county commissioners recommended that the Maclay Bridge should be removed once the new bridge is completed.
It seems nowadays that the Chinese Communist Party is doing everything in its power to hack, spy, and surveil the United States and its citizens.

The examples of their surveillance capacity keep piling up  from the infamous spy balloon, to the outright ban on cell phones and communications equipment manufactured by Huawei, to the enormous data collection conducted on Americans by TikTok. Underlying all of these instances is a malicious intent to manipulate and undermine our country.

Fortunately, Montana has been leading the charge against the CCP. Montana was the first state to ban the Chinese-owned app TikTok, a move finally copied by the federal government just last month. And in May 2023, Gov. Greg Gianforte signed a bill prohibiting the sale or lease of agricultural land, critical infrastructure, and homes near military installations by Montana entities to foreign adversaries, especially the CCP.

However, these moves may not be enough to protect Montanans from Chinas ever-increasing encroachment. Recently, serious red flags have been raised about the CCPs newest infiltration and data-collecting app, a retail platform called Temu.

Temu is an online retailer headquartered in China and answerable to the CCP. Alarmingly, it is already operating on over 100 million Americans phones. This platform, known for its invasive nature, harvests vast amounts of personal information from American consumers and accesses nearly everything on your phone. Its following the exact same playbook as TikTok, and presents the same dangers to Americans.

Temu and other Chinese companies that are in Beijings grasp are more than likely a coordinated effort to gather targeted data on foreign users that can be used to bolster misinformation campaigns and other state propaganda work abroad, according to The Washington Post.

It has also been revealed that Temu is required to hand over any data and information to the CCP in compliance with Chinas 2017 National Intelligence Law, which gives Beijing unfettered access to sensitive U.S. information and data. To make matters worse, in 2023, the company was involved in a malware scandal that resulted in a suspension from the Google Play Store.

While TikTok has dominated the news headlines recently, the same, if not more, attention and scrutiny should be directed towards Temu. Given Temus growing popularity and its nearly $2 billion marketing and customer acquisition budget, now is the time to take decisive action to protect Americans against this new threat.

With the support of our federal delegation, we, as Montanans, can stand up to the CCPs predatory actions and demonstrate that we mean business when it comes to protecting ourselves and our neighbors.

With Temu presenting a similar threat as we saw from TikTok, the federal government should move swiftly to address Temu.
 Flash

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, on June 10, 2024. [Photo/Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs]

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Monday met with Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira in the Russian city of Nizhny Novgorod.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, noted that this year marks the 50th anniversary of China-Brazil diplomatic relations, a significant year for the development of bilateral relations.

Both sides should grasp the strategic importance of the China-Brazil relationship, enhance its mutually beneficial nature, and highlight its comprehensiveness, Wang said.

He added that both sides should work together towards building a China-Brazil community with a shared future, promote the further alignment of the development strategies of both countries and send a positive expectation for the healthy and stable development of China-Brazil relations.

China has always prioritized Brazil in its diplomacy and is willing to work with Brazil to systematically summarize the successful experiences of the past half-century and elevate the comprehensive strategic partnership to a new level, Wang said, adding that this conforms to the wishes of both peoples and the expectations of the international community, and contributes to global peace and development.

China values Brazil's significant influence in the Latin American region and is willing to jointly promote cooperation between China, the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), and the Southern Common Market, Wang said.

He added that as the China-Latin America Forum approaches its 10th anniversary, showing a trend of comprehensive advancement, both sides can work together to start an even more fruitful decade for the forum.

Wang noted that China and Brazil, as major developing countries, need to make just, balanced, and constructive voices on international hot issues. Recently, the two countries jointly issued six common understandings on the political settlement of the Ukraine issue, which has gained understanding and recognition from more and more countries.

Noting that this year marks the inaugural year of the "greater BRICS cooperation," Wang said China is willing to work with Brazil to actively promote BRICS cooperation, enabling the BRICS mechanism to play a greater role in global governance and in safeguarding the interests of developing countries.

Vieira noted Brazilian Vice President Geraldo Alckmin's recent successful visit to China and the seventh meeting of the Brazil-China High-Level Coordination and Cooperation Committee, stressing that Brazil highly values its relationship with China, is ready to closely engage in high-level exchanges with China, strengthen cooperation in various fields including trade and economy, and define a new positioning for bilateral relations to open new prospects for the next 50 years.

Brazil appreciates China's active role in promoting BRICS cooperation, values China's influence in international affairs, and supports the major initiatives proposed by China, Vieira said.

He added that Brazil and China share similar stances on many issues, and the joint statement on the six common understandings on the political settlement of the Ukraine issue is of significant importance.

Brazil is willing to continue strengthening cooperation with China on multilateral platforms such as the United Nations, G20, and BRICS, he said.

Noting that Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva firmly believes that dialogue and cooperation between China and CELAC are of great significance, Vieira said the China-Latin America Forum is a beneficial platform, and Brazil is willing to work with China to arrange forum activities and promote its new development.

The two sides also exchanged views on the Gaza situation and other issues of common concern.
Montana legislators last week rejected three separate calls for special legislative sessions proposed for various policy ideas.

The proposals came in rapid-fire sequence in early May from Republican lawmakers  including one from Republican Speaker of the House Matt Regier  and distinctly dealt in voter registration, immigration laws, as well as marijuana tax revenues and judicial elections.

A majority of the 150-member Legislature is required to trigger a special session in any case. The closest any of the three polls came to the 76-vote threshold was 59 votes to approve, and the proponents already had thin margins to work with; the highest response any poll saw was 113 votes.

Republicans initiated all three polls, with mixed results from their caucus; each poll got more "approve" than "reject" votes, but none reached the tally needed to reconvene the Legislature.

Democrats uniformly voted against the special sessions or did not return their ballots, which were counted as "no" votes.

Reps. Jane Gillette, R-Bozeman, and Caleb Hinkle, R-Belgrade, proposed a special session to establish partisan judicial elections, a proposal that appeared in four bills during the 2023 Legislature and likewise failed to pass. The poll failed on a total 50-59 vote.

Regier, R-Kalispell, made a second pitch for a special session following the arrival of a migrant family in the Flathead Valley, urging lawmakers to consider legislation giving state law enforcement authority to make immigration arrests. His special session proposal also included a second chance at passing a widely approved marijuana tax revenue distribution plan. The poll for Regier's special session went down 59-54, well short of the 76-vote threshold.

The Montana Freedom Caucus submitted the third call for a special session, this one to enact stricter voter identification requirements, which would have largely mirrored federal law. This request fell on a 52-60 vote.

Special session calls from lawmakers have historically been hard to pull off. Only once has the Legislature voted to bring itself back to Helena for a special session, while the vast majority have been done by order of the governor.

Prior to the latest round of special session suggestions, legislators made three calls to reconvene last year as the state property tax appraisals sparked outrage across the state. None of those proposals passed, either.
Loren Escandon said that working on the film Shirley was a life-changing experience for her. First and foremost, I have to emphasize that anyone unfamiliar with the incredible story of [the first-ever Black congresswoman] Shirley Chisholm must watch this movie, the Colombian actress and filmmaker said from her Los Angeles home. Personally, I was unaware of her until the audition landed in my lap. From that moment, I knew I couldn't let this learning opportunity slip away. What truly made the experience unforgettable was the camaraderie among the cast. Sharing moments with artists like Regina King, Terrence Howard and the late Lance Reddick was both humbling and inspiring. Despite the chaos of a bustling set and the added hurdle of unpredictable weather, each actor remained deeply committed to their craft. Escandon  who may also be seen in The Baxters  shares more about her work and travels in Instagram, X and Threads (username @lorenescandon).

Q: Were there any obstacles to overcome while filming Shirley?

A: Filming on location presented unexpected challenges and opportunities. I vividly recall a rainy day in L.A.  a rare event in the city's usually sunny climate. While I can't say definitively whether our plans changed, the weather certainly had its say, reshaping the scene in unexpected ways. Witnessing director John Ridley adapt seamlessly to the rain was a masterclass in artistic flexibility. The scene we filmed was charged with emotion, featuring a large ensemble of background actors and palpable tension. Being on location amidst the elements lent an authenticity that simply can't be replicated on a soundstage. The rain added a layer of desperation and despair to both the protesters and my character, Rose. [It enriched] the scene with depth.

Q: Has your ethnicity or nationality impacted your career?

A: Initially, it felt like a constant struggle, a battle between my career aspirations and my sense of self. Whether in the United States or in my native Colombia, I often felt unseen, underrepresented and underestimated. Over time, I've come to see my ethnicity not as an obstacle, but as a source of strength. I've made a conscious effort to defy stereotypes and challenge societal biases wherever I go. It's become a personal mission of mine to dismantle both conscious and unconscious prejudices that society holds against individuals like me.

Navigating my career across different countries has heightened my awareness of the value my perspective brings to my art. My ethnicity and race inform my viewpoint in profound ways, adding depth and richness to my creative expression. Embracing my cultural identity has not only shaped my artistic journey but has also empowered me to advocate for diversity and inclusion in the creative industry.

Q: Do you have any upcoming trips planned?

A: Yes, and I'm incredibly excited about it. I'll be visiting Portugal. It's fascinating because it feels like the country is calling out to me in some inexplicable way. Despite having other destinations on my list, Portugal has been appearing in my dreams and conversations with an unusual frequency. Sometimes, I wonder if it's an ancestral calling, considering Portugal's historical role in the transatlantic slave trade. It might sound a bit hoodoo, but I can't shake off this feeling. I'm eager to immerse myself in Portuguese culture, learn a little of the language, indulge in delicious seafood and experience the soul-stirring music of Fado in a local bar while sipping on a glass of Porto wine and probably crying a little. And, of course, I can't wait to explore the beautiful landscapes during hiking adventures.

Q: What is your favorite vacation destination?

A: South Africa. Our journey took us from the vibrant capital of Johannesburg, to the immersive natural wonders of Hluhluwe, and finally to the captivating city of Cape Town, where we reached the continent's southernmost peak. My experience in South Africa was nothing short of magical when discussing identity and grappling with societal biases.

Q: What was a childhood trip that stood out?

A: It wasn't until I turned 15 that I boarded a plane for the first time. In our culture, the quinceanera is a significant tradition with elaborate gowns, escorts, lavish parties and towering cakes as the standard. But when I turned 14, I expressed to my parents that I didn't want any of that. Instead, I wanted to travel to a destination that required a plane journey. So they surprised me with a trip to the pristine island of San Andres, a Colombian territory despite its proximity to Nicaragua. The vacation was nothing short of epic.

Q: Where are your favorite weekend getaways?

A: I've been retreating to Big Bear for weekend getaways for quite some time now. What I love about it is the versatility it offers with experiences for both winter and summer. The locals are incredibly friendly and the culinary scene boasts a diverse array of options. With live music always playing somewhere, the town radiates a lively atmosphere that I adore. Another favorite of mine is Valle de Guadalupe. The region boasts fantastic restaurants, exquisite wines and the option to either relax on the nearby beaches or immerse oneself in nature through hiking.

Q: What are your five favorite cities?

A: In the U.S., New York City, Los Angeles, Portland, Anchorage, San Francisco. For the world, Cape Town, Hong Kong, Rome, Santiago de Chile, Cali (Colombia).

Q: Where would you like to go that you have never been to before?

A: So many places! Kyoto is at the top of my list, followed closely by Marrakesh, Paris, Bangkok and Cusco (Peru). Honestly, the entire world fascinates me. There's something captivating about every place.

Q: When you go away, what are some of your must-have items?

A: My vitamins are non-negotiable, along with my camera to capture every moment. I make sure to download must-visit places on my maps app for easy navigation. Comfort is key, so I always pack two pairs of comfy shoes. I'll be walking until I can't anymore and switching shoes every other day helps with the swelling. For a nice night out, a cute outfit is essential. In colder weather, a cozy jacket to keep me warm and in a good mood, while in summer a crisp linen white shirt does the trick. Other than that, I try to keep my suitcase light so I can bring back little presents for my loved ones and share a piece of the experience with them.

Q: What is your best and/or worst vacation memory?

A: Our vacations have always been amazing. Of course, like any adventure, we've encountered our fair share of challenges along the way, but I see those as part of the experience. Dealing with airlines can be particularly stressful at times. One memory that stands out is from the first time I took my husband to Colombia. It was meant to be a vacation mixed with some errands. On our last night, with an early flight home the next day, we hit a snag when we tried to check in and discovered our flight had been canceled. No delays, just straight-up canceled.

(Jae-Ha Kim is a New York Times bestselling author and travel writer. You can respond to this column by visiting her website at www.jaehakim.com. You may also follow Go Away With on Twitter at @GoAwayWithJae where Jae-Ha Kim welcomes your questions and comments.)
BEIRUT  Hamas said Tuesday that it gave mediators its reply to the U.S.-backed proposal for a cease-fire in Gaza, seeking some "amendments" on the deal.

It appeared the reply was short of an outright acceptance that the United States was pushing for but kept negotiations alive over an elusive halt to the eight-month war.

The foreign ministries of Qatar and Egypt  who are key mediators alongside the United States  confirmed that they received Hamas response and said mediators were studying it.

"We're in receipt of this reply that Hamas delivered to Qatar and to Egypt, and we are evaluating it right now," White House national security spokesman John Kirby told reporters in Washington.

Hamas spokesman Jihad Taha said the response included "amendments that confirm the cease-fire, withdrawal, reconstruction and (prisoner) exchange." Taha did not elaborate.

While supporting the broad outlines of the deal, Hamas officials have expressed wariness over whether Israel would implement its terms, particularly provisions for an eventual permanent end to fighting and full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza in return for the release of all hostages held by the militants.

The U.S. said Israel accepted the proposal, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gave conflicting signals, saying Israel will not stop until its goal of destroying Hamas is achieved.

In a separate development, the U.N. human rights office said Tuesday that Israeli forces and Palestinian militants may have committed war crimes during the deadly Israeli raid that rescued four hostages over the weekend.

Office spokesman Jeremy Laurence expressed concerns about possible violations of rules of proportionality, distinction and precaution by the Israeli forces in Saturdays raid at the urban Nuseirat refugee camp.

At least 274 Palestinians were killed in the operation, according to Gazas Health Ministry.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has been in the region this week trying to push through the cease-fire deal  his eighth visit since Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel ignited Israel's campaign in Gaza.

On Tuesday, he continued pressure on Hamas to accept the proposal, saying that the U.N. Security Council's vote in its favor made it "as clear as it possibly could be" that the world supports the plan.

Everyones vote is in, except for one vote, and thats Hamas, Blinken told reporters in Tel Aviv after meeting with Israeli officials, hours before Hamas announced its reply. He claimed Netanyahu reaffirmed his commitment to the proposal when they met late Monday.

In a joint statement announcing that they submitted their reply to Qatar and Egypt, Hamas and the smaller Islamic Jihad militant group said they were ready to "deal positively to arrive at an agreement" and that their priority is to bring a "complete stop" to the war.

A senior Hamas official, Osama Hamdan, told Lebanon's Al-Mayadeen television that the group had "submitted some remarks on the proposal to the mediators," without elaborating.

The proposal raised hopes of ending an 8-month conflict in which Israel's bombardment and ground offensives in Gaza have killed more than 37,000 Palestinians, according to Palestinian health officials, and driven some 80% of the population of 2.3 million from their homes.

Israeli restrictions and ongoing fighting hindered efforts to bring humanitarian aid to the isolated coastal enclave, fueling widespread hunger.

Israel launched its campaign, vowing to eliminate Hamas, after militants stormed into Israel on Oct. 7, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking around 250 hostage. More than 100 hostages were released during a weeklong cease-fire last year in exchange for Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.

Later Tuesday, Blinken attended a Gaza aid conference in Jordan, where he announced more than $400 million in additional aid for Palestinians in Gaza and the wider region, bringing the total U.S. assistance to more than $674 million over the past eight months.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told the gathering that the amount of aid flowing to the United Nations in Gaza for distribution has plummeted by two-thirds since Israel launched an offensive in the territory's southern city of Rafah in early May.

Guterres called for all border crossings to be opened, saying, "the speed and scale of the carnage and killing in Gaza" is beyond anything he has since he took the helm of the U.N. in 2017.

Blinken, who was in Cairo on Monday, was also expected to visit Qatar  where talks would likely focus on the next steps in the push for a deal.

On Monday, the U.N. Security Council voted overwhelmingly to approve the proposal, with 14 of the 15 members voting in favor and Russia abstaining. The resolution calls on Israel and Hamas "to fully implement its terms without delay and without condition."

The proposal, announced by President Joe Biden last month, calls for a three-phased plan that would begin with an initial six-week cease-fire and the release of some hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.

The militant group embraced a similar proposal last month that Israel rejected.

Biden presented it as an Israeli proposal, but Netanyahu publicly disputed key aspects of it, saying there were parts left out by Biden.

The conflicting signals appear to reflect Netanyahu's political dilemma. His far-right coalition allies have rejected the proposal and have threatened to bring down his government if he ends the war without destroying Hamas.
On Monday, June 10, three buses filled with priests, nuns and immigrant workers from Iowa City and Waterloo traveled to Des Moines to attend the preliminary hearing on SF2340, which is set to go into effect on July 1.

According to a press release from the multi-service organization Escucha Mi Voz Iowa, the group traveling to Des Moines views SF2340 as anti-immigrant and unconstitutional.

The hearing was scheduled for 9:30 a.m. that day at the Des Moines federal courthouse. Prior to that, the group held a prayer vigil and press conference outside the courthouse in the hopes of sharing their perspective with Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird.

Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird, stop defending this unconstitutional, anti-God law, the Rev. Nils Hernandez of Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Waterloo said.

Escucha Mi Voz Iowa is a group that combines housing and health services, legal aid, community organizing, and policy advocacy. It has more than 500 individual members and 40 congregational members.
Uasin Gishu County has renamed the West Maternity Hospital in honor of First Lady Mama Rachel Ruto. The renovated and expanded facility will now be known as Mama Rachel Ruto Maternity Hospital.

The First Lady will be in Eldoret on Tuesday to commission the hospital, following approval of the renaming through public participation by residents.

Governor Jonathan Bii stated that the renaming recognizes the First Ladys efforts to support women, girls, and children.

She has been very supportive not only in her home county of Uasin Gishu but also nationally, Governor Bii said.

Ahead of her visit, the county received a drugs consignment worth Kes.37 million.

The Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) delivered the drugs, designated for the countys 138 health facilities.

Governor Bii received and flagged off the consignment at the county headquarters, emphasizing its timely arrival and significant boost for residents.

He stated that all drugs would go directly to health facilities, bypassing the initial drug store for immediate distribution and use.

We have received assorted drugs worth Sh37 million, and they will go straight to our health facilities. This move is critical in enhancing the health of our residents, Governor Bii said.

The governor reaffirmed his administrations commitment to the well-being of its citizens.

In line with this commitment, the county plans to launch drone technology to support the health system.

This is a listening and caring administration that takes the lives of our residents with the seriousness they deserve. It is the leadership they voted for, Governor Bii added.
Health Cabinet Secretary (CS) Susan Nakhumicha has clarified the registration process for the Social Health Authority (SHA), which will oversee the management of the Primary Health Care Fund, Social Health Insurance Fund, and Emergency Chronic and Critical Illness Fund.

Speaking on Sunday, June 5, Nakhumicha explained that Kenyans will require a smartphone and internet connectivity to register with SHA.

If you have a smartphone, we will guide you through the registration process. For those with internet access, we will provide instructions on how to log in and register, the CS said.

Furthermore, the CS highlighted that community health promoters will assist individuals who are unable to navigate the registration process.

As you may recall, we have deployed over 100,000 of them. For those who require assistance, registration can be done at the nearest social health authority office, she mentioned.

Additionally, CS Nakhumicha mentioned that Kenyans can also register at the nearest Huduma Services office.

We are establishing multiple channels for registration. The only instance where a visit to your health facility may be necessary for finalization is to undergo biometric registration, Nakhumicha added.

The CS also mentioned that NHIF patients will not need to undergo a fresh registration process for the SHA.

She explained that these patients will simply need to verify their details and make any necessary changes before transitioning to the new system.

So, what has occurred is that the existing data of Kenyans already enrolled in NHIF has been uploaded onto the system. This process will essentially be a confirmation. For instance, I input my ID number. It retrieves my name, Susan Ahmed. It confirms my dependents. I can then confirm these details as I proceed through the process, Nakhumicha explained.

However, the CS noted that non-NHIF patients will need to undergo a new registration process.

She disclosed that the system has been linked with the National Registration Bureau to facilitate registrations, as it has access to a significant portion of the required data.

So, it will largely involve confirming your details with a few clicks. Additionally, if you have dependents to add, you can include them during the process, she added.

The CS stressed that SHA is compulsory, even for individuals with private insurance.

Nakhumicha reiterated that the insurance will offer equal healthcare coverage opportunities for both the affluent and the less privileged.

This is mandatory. This is social health insurance, and I want to assure Kenyans that it is nearly comprehensive. Yes. For once, we are going to ensure equal access, eliminating the distinction between first class and economy. We all have access to the same benefit package, the CS emphasized.
The government has reduced this financial years overall budget by Kes.132.46 billion, bringing it down from Kes.3.981 trillion to Kes.3.848 trillion, representing a 3.3 percent reduction.

President William Ruto announced the changes when he signed the Supplementary Appropriation Bill 2024 and the Division of Revenue Bill 2024 into law at State House, Nairobi, on Monday.

State House said the new laws are expected to unlock resources to boost economic performance and improve service delivery.

The Supplementary Appropriation Act 2024 cuts Kes.32.6 billion from various budget allocations.

By rationalising expenditures, the law authorises spending of Kes.102 billion from the Consolidated Fund for the year ending June 30, 2024.

The education budget sees an enhancement, with university education receiving Kes.4.468 billion and secondary education Kes.1.112 billion.

Development spending is redirected to priority areas and reduced by Kes.75.29 billion, while Kes.51.12 billion is allocated for emerging pressing needs.

The law regularises Kes.23.67 billion in expenditures under Article 223 of the Constitution, which allows for emergency financing pending Parliaments approval.

These expenditures include Kes.4.3 billion to the State Department for Arid and Semi-Arid Areas and Regional Development for humanitarian support to flood victims.

Additionally, Kes.3 billion goes to the Department of Internal Security for El Nino disaster management, and another Kes.3 billion for the fertiliser subsidy programme.

Following flood-related infrastructure damage, Kes.1 billion is allocated for emergency road rehabilitation.

Furthermore, Kes.11.4 billion is set aside for the Kenya Revenue Authority to enhance revenue collection efforts (Kes.4 billion) and pay pending bills worth Kes.7.4 billion.

An allocation of Kes.2 billion will cover medical insurance for the National Police Service.

The approved additional expenditures aim to address emergency interventions due to the El Nino rains and other critical needs.

These include Kes.5.3 billion for emergency relief assistance, Kes.3.3 billion for security operations, and Kes.1.1 billion for mopping up excess milk by the New KCC.

President Ruto stated that these funds will help the government fulfill its commitment to dairy farmers by ensuring prompt monthly payments and raising the price to Kes.50 per litre.

The Division of Revenue Act 2024 increases county allocations by Kes.14.69 billion, from Kes.385.4 billion this financial year to Kes.400.1 billion for the year starting July 1.

President Ruto said, We have not only met the constitutional requirement of 15 percent but also increased it to 25 percent.

This increase is expected to enhance service provision by ensuring adequate funding for county governments to perform their constitutional functions.

The law also allocates Kes.2.5 trillion to the National Government.

It further implements Article 204 of the Constitution on the Equalisation Fund, providing Kes.7.8 billion, which is equivalent to 0.5 percent of the last audited revenue accounts.
In a move that aligns with President Rutos commitment to combat climate change, the government has announced the replacement of over 13,000 fuel-powered motorcycles used by chiefs and their assistants with electric alternatives.

This initiative aims to enhance mobility and improve service delivery at both location and sub-location levels across the country.

Speaking at Harambee House during the launch of the pilot phase, Internal Security and National Administration Principal Secretary Dr. Raymond Omollo highlighted the significance of this transition.

He emphasized that it places local administrators at the forefront of grassroots climate action efforts. By adopting electric motorcycles, we not only improve our administrators efficiency but also significantly boost our climate action initiatives at the community level, Dr. Omollo stated.

The pilot project began with the distribution of the first batch of 22 electric motorcycles, benefiting administrators in Kajiado, Kiambu, Machakos, and Nairobi. Dr. Omollo noted that this initial phase would take one month before a broader rollout, eventually covering the entire nation.

This initiative, targeting twenty-two locations within the four counties, aims to enhance the efficiency of National Government Administrative Officers (NGAOs) in service delivery, addressing transport challenges, and supporting our commitment to eco-friendly and sustainable solutions, Dr. Omollo explained.

Priority for the new motorcycles will be given to vast counties and remote areas with significant security challenges to ensure ease of mobility for officers. Dr. Omollo acknowledged the current shortage of field vehicles for NGAOs and reiterated the importance of this initiative in improving their operational capabilities.

Furthermore, the Principal Secretary mentioned that the officers would receive training on the use and maintenance of the electric motorcycles before deployment. Periodic refresher training will also be conducted as needed.

This strategic move aligns with the governments broader efforts to mitigate the impacts of climate change while enhancing public service efficiency at the grassroots level.
The South Africa National Consumer Commission (NCC) has recalled a brand of neutralizing shampoo exported to Kenya and other countries.

The authority explained that the shampoo contained in Dark and Lovely Moisture Plus Kits (Regular and Super) and Dark and Lovely Anti-Breakage Kit contains bacteria.

NCC directed all consumers to discontinue the use of the product and return it to the point of sale for a full refund.

The National Consumer Commission (NCC) is urging consumers in possession of 50ml single-use neutralizing shampoo contained in Dark and Lovely Moisture Plus Kits (Regular and Super) and Dark and Lovely Anti-Breakage Kit to discontinue the use of the product and return it to the point of sale for a full refund, read part of the statement released on June 9.

The beauty product which was produced in April 2023, was distributed in South Africa, and exported to countries such as Zambia, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Kenya, Ghana, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Morocco, and Nigeria, it added.

NCCs Deputy Commissioner, Thezi Mabuza, said the manufacturer, LOreal, informed the Commission that it detected the presence of bacteria in the 50ml single-use neutralizing shampoo during regular quality controls.

While this is single-use shampoo, we urge South Africans who might still have these products in their possession to stop using them and return to the point of purchase for a full refund, he said.

Additionally, users were warned that the continued use of the product was likely to cause scalp irritations, especially among those with compromised immune systems.

Furthermore, the South African government confirmed initiating a probe into the products manufacturing and recall guidelines.

However, at the time of going to press, the Kenyan Government had not yet issued a statement on the matter.

We urge suppliers and manufacturers to always prioritize consumer safety. The Commission is monitoring the recall based on its Recall Guidelines, Mabuza said.
The Nairobi County Government will fall short of its revenue target for the Financial Year 2023/2024, which stands at Kes.19.9 billion.

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja had expressed optimism about reaching the target following changes implemented since he assumed office. However, the county is experiencing a shortfall of Kes.7 billion.

Mr. Wilson Gakuya, the County Chief Officer in charge of Revenue Administration, disclosed that despite missing the target, the county is poised to achieve its highest revenue collection since the advent of devolution. He noted that based on revenue projections, the county is on track to surpass its previous record under the leadership of Dr. Evans Kidero.

We are currently at approximately Ksh12 billion, with a few days remaining in the month. Even in the worst-case scenario, we are expected to exceed the highest target reached during Governor Kideros tenure, which was Ksh12 billion, and potentially reach Ksh13 billion, stated Mr. Gakuya in an interview.

He emphasized that while the county may not meet its target, the upward trend in performance is encouraging.

The implementation of the structures weve established will facilitate this. By the next financial year, we anticipate further improvement due to the solid structures in place, he added.

The county attributes its progress to the introduction of the Unified Business Permit, aimed at streamlining licenses, which has resulted in faster rate payments by residents.

We are making progress, although there is room for improvement. Continuous enhancements are evident, enabling us to achieve the highest revenue collection ever witnessed in Nairobi, Gakuya remarked.

He also credited the success to the controversial revenue collection system known as the Nairobi Revenue System (NRS), developed by the government and utilized since the inception of the Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS).
Pastor Dorcas Rigathis office is preparing to graduate 1,200 individuals who have completed rehabilitation programs in various parts of the country.

This cohort includes over 207 individuals who have undergone rehabilitation in Bomet County, and another group of 66 from Mombasa County. Additionally, more than 400 others are undergoing rehabilitation in facilities located in Embu and Meru counties.

Speaking at the Full Gospel Church of Kenya during a church service in Chemose, Nandi County, Pastor Dorcas praised the men who voluntarily enrolled in the rehabilitation facilities.

We will be graduating 1,200 individuals who have completed inpatient rehabilitation, including 207 from Bomet and 66 from Mombasa, among others, Pastor Dorcas stated.

She urged clergy members to open their places of worship for the rehabilitation and empowerment of individuals struggling with alcoholism, drug, and substance abuse.

Nandi County leaders, led by Deputy Governor Dr. Yulita Mitei, pledged their support to Pastor Dorcas in her efforts to uplift the boy child.

We need fathers to be present and serve as role models to our boys. This is one of the reasons why we are facing some of the challenges we encounter, stated Deputy Governor Dr. Mitei.

Tinderet MP Julius Melly also commended the efforts to support the boy child, emphasizing the importance of empowering both genders for the development of strong and stable communities.
Kenyans were recently surprised to see a police officer collecting bus fare from passengers in Nairobi while wearing his full uniform.

In a viral video, the officer is seen moving through the overcrowded matatu, collecting fares from passengers, either in cash or via M-Pesa.

A section of social media users questioned the officers professionalism while some criticized him for working as a tout while in uniform, suggesting it undermined the dignity of the police force.

How can someone in uniform work part-time? Its actually a conflict of interest. This is why the bus is overcrowded, with some passengers standing, and he cannot enforce the law, a Twitter user opined.

Others supported his actions, lauding him for his service to the Kenyan public.

Very nice. He fits the slogan utumishi kwa wote(service to all). I think with that mentality cases of sexual harassment to ladies and carrying of excess passengers would be finished completely in the matatu industry, another social media user wrote.

The officer, identified as Afande Denno, is known for engaging with the public to improve the image of the police service. He posted the video on his TikTok account on Friday, June 7, 2024, as part of his content aiming to foster peace between the police and Kenyans.

Police officers are human too. Lets end this longstanding animosity between citizens and the police, as well as between the police and all community institutions. Attacking the police is like attacking the government, he wrote.

Wakadinali and all artists, lets come together on this platform to discuss this issue and live in peace. Always, Officer Denno.

Watch Afande.Denno in action below.
Although Napa is known worldwide for its wine and Michelin-star chefs, at its heart it remains a small, charming town.

Locals often appreciate unassuming, humble dining experiences, which is one of many reasons why chef Brett Schaublin said he and business partner Jessica Kerr created Biscuits, Napa's latest barbecue restaurant.

It's the best of both worlds, said Schaublin, a Napa native.

"We will have a high-quality barbecue in a casual approachable atmosphere," he said.

On Monday Biscuits held a soft opening at its brick-and-mortar location on Pearl Street, the site of the now-shuttered Melted Restaurant, and the same spot where it first came to fruition as a pop-up last year. Its official grand opening is expected to come later this month.

Schaublin said he began his culinary career 16 years ago as a prep cook at Angele Restaurant and Bar downtown. When people would call out from work, he would fill in and learn their station and eventually work his way up the ladder.

That work ethic and drive caught the attention of Michelin-star chef Richard Reddington, known for his restaurants Red and Redd Wood in Yountville.

Schaublin said he worked at both of Reddingtons restaurants and traveled all over the country meeting and learning from other Michelin-star chefs. Schaublin also worked at Morimoto Napa, owned by celebrity chef Masaharu Morimoto.

Working with these highly trained chefs helped develop my style of cooking. My menu will not be a traditional barbecue, he said. I love being able to use old techniques with a modern twist in my cooking. Its fun to have the freedom to create.

Biscuits  which is named after his Siamese cat and incorporated into the logo  will have a rotating menu along with fixed staples like a twist on the famous Arbys cheddar cheese roast beef sandwich.

Its fun to throw in some nostalgia. Our sandwich will have tri-tip with melted cheddar and horseradish on a toasted Winstons potato bun, he said.

Another popular sandwich will be the Chicken Sando, with smoked chicken thighs, covered in a mozzarella skirt, and bacon with Alabama white sauce on a crisp hoagie. In addition to the creative menu items, there will be the traditional slow-cooked meats like baby back ribs and brisket.

Desserts at Biscuits will include the Texas Trash pie with coconut, almonds, pretzels, Heath Bar, Reeses Peanut Butter chips in a pie crust as well as a Caramelized Banana Pudding.

Smoked meats will always be a staple at Biscuits, said Kerr. She said they wanted to open a restaurant long before choosing its style.

We went with barbecue as our category, because it was what presented itself. Bretts father found an old smoker, they cleaned it up and used the smoker for the pop-ups and events we were hired to work, said Kerr.

Still, Schaublin said the food he creates is very personal.

Biscuits will be a true expression of what I love to do, he said. My artistic approach starts at the farmers market to get inspired. I love having my own space to express what I want to do.

Asked what their biggest challenges were opening their first restaurant, Schaublin said: It really has been serendipity. Not a lot of challenges.

The city of Napa has been great to work with, said Kerr.

Regardless, opening a restaurant is a daunting endeavor. The pair said they have a saying when things get tough: We need to risk it for Biscuits.
California lawmakers have revived legislation to charge online platforms for the news articles they publish, a proposal that stalled last year amid divisions within the journalism industry and intense opposition from Google and other tech companies.

New amendments published Monday to Assembly Bill 886 are meant to address concerns from small publishers and make the plan more similar to the way Canada charges platforms for distributing news content.

The bill, also known as the "California Journalism Preservation Act," requires digital advertising giants to pay news outlets a fee when they sell advertising alongside news content. Publishers would have to use 70% of those funds to pay journalists in California.

The changes call for calculating payments based on the number of journalists a news outlet employs, similar to Canada's model, rather than on how many impressions an article generates, as originally proposed. And they call for creating a fund that platforms pay into, which would distribute the money to news outlets. Google is paying $74 million annually into a fund for the news industry under the law that took effect last year in Canada.

"What we learned with the Canada version is that it's possible, and that news is of value, it's critical," said Assemblymember Buffy Wicks, D-Oakland. "And that we should be doing everything we can to ensure that our publishers are compensated for the work that they're providing."

New amendments in Wicks' bill also would give an additional boost to small publishers by making them eligible for funding beyond the per-journalist payout, and allowing them more flexibility in how they spend the money they would receive under the program by dropping the portion they must spend paying journalists to 50%.

The bill is sponsored by the California News Publishers Association, of which the Napa Valley Register is a member. Publishers argue that online search and social media platforms are harming the journalism business by gobbling up advertising revenue while publishing content they don't pay for.

The changes to the bill mark a key development since the bill was put on pause last year in the face of massive opposition from Google and other companies. Google argued the legislation would upend its business model and wrote in an April blog post that the bill "undermines news in California." The search giant flexed its muscle against the bill earlier this year by removing links to California news sites from its search results for some users.

Google did not respond to an email seeking comment on the latest changes to the bill.

But the amendments are unlikely to be the final modifications. Lawmakers often ramp up negotiations on difficult issues as they approach the end of the legislative session in August. The bill is scheduled for a hearing on June 25 in the Senate Judiciary Committee, its next big hurdle.

State Sen. Tom Umberg, an Orange Democrat who chairs that committee, said he expects further changes as negotiations continue. He said he would like to see the bill pass, but wants to make sure it strikes the right balance between what the news industry needs and what the tech platforms can pay for.

"I believe that we could screw this up so that we make it so expensive that the platforms don't carry (journalism) content," Umberg said. "That would be catastrophic. So I don't know where we hit that sweet spot."

A separate bill seeking to aid the journalism industry would impose a new tax on Amazon, Meta and Google for the data they take from users, and pump the money from this "data extraction mitigation fee" into news organizations by giving them a tax credit for employing full-time journalists.

As a tax measure, Senate Bill 1327 would require approval from two-thirds of the Legislature and presents a political challenge in an election year. Nonetheless, state Sen. Steve Glazer, D-Orinda, said his bill is compatible with Wicks' legislation, and he remains hopeful lawmakers can find a way to help the journalism industry.

"I continue to have many conversations with her and others about how we have to solve the problem," Glazer said. "There's lots of ways to try to go at it."

Photos: Napa Valley Faces and Places, June 8, 2024
Madalitso Chirwa is one of a class of African students learning agricultural practice and technology in a village in North China's Hebei Province. "We come here to China to learn at China Agriculture University and then we go to the innermost villages in China and educate the farmers on new techniques," the Malawian told People's Daily on Thursday. "We're also required after living with the farmers for a year to go back home and implement the same technologies. So basically we are bringing technologies from China back to Africa." (Produced by Wang Ruofan, Di Jingyuan and Huang Jingjing; Intern Meng Jiahui also contributed to this story.)

People's Daily App June 7th, 2024
This spring, Emory University hosted the Greater Womens Business Councils (GWBC) annual event and was recognized for fostering relationships with minority vendors.

GWBC is the regional affiliate for the Womens Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), headquartered in Washington, D.C. WBENC certifies women-owned businesses to bid and garner large procurement contracts with major corporations and governments.

The university was honored during the event with a GWBC Top Corporations Award, which recognizes outstanding dedication to excellence and commitment to fostering relationships with minority vendors.

Morey serves as Emory Universitys vice president of business operations and Emory Healthcares vice president of supply chain.

Emorys addressable spend exceeds $3 billion, allowing our procurement and support services teams to significantly impact operational efficiency.

Jacqueline Welch, executive vice president and chief of human resources for The New York Times, delivered the keynote address. She discussed the crucial role of organizational culture in driving business success.

Organizations like the GWBC serve as vital conduits for connecting with innovative entrepreneurs dedicated to enhancing our communities. More than 1,300 womens business enterprises are certified in Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina.
14:18





In an interaction with PTI editors at the news agency's headquarters in New Delhi, Gogoi also predicted that the coalition NDA government will not last a full term, saying Modi's leadership style does not inspire confidence that he can complete five years successfully.





"I do see that in the 236 MPs of the INDIA bloc, we will have a Parliament where they cannot bulldoze bills, intimidate us, suspend us. They had suspended 146 MPs (last year), will they suspend 236 this time?" the deputy leader of the Congress in the previous Lok Sabha said.





Gogoi dismissed suggestions that NDA allies TDP's Chandrababu Naidu and JD(U)'s Nitish Kumar gave in to the BJP on government formation, saying they have "extremely shrewd political minds" and should not be judged quickly as "only time will tell what their true intentions are".





Fresh from his Lok Sabha polls triumph from the BJP stronghold of Jorhat in Assam with a massive margin of over 1.44 lakh, the Congress leader said he does not expect the BJP's approach to parliamentary democracy to change till the time Modi is the prime minister.





"He simply does not have the flexibility to change his approach even within his own party... the PMO will direct the cabinet colleagues. Even now his allies will keep demanding special status, caste census, revoking Agnipath but I don't think his approach to allies will change," he said.





"Till the time Modi is there as PM, I don't think their approach to Parliament is going to change. They will still try to bulldoze, suspend, disqualify, poach. But yes, as in football, while there were three defenders (earlier), our wall (of defenders) is now bigger and much more robust," Gogoi said during the interaction.





"That is our (opposition's) role and that is what the public expects from us, that is what the public voted (elected) us for, that is what we hope to do," Gogoi said.





He said the story of this election is that the people of India have taught a "lesson in humility" to Prime Minister Modi.





Gogoi, the son of late Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi, said that with the numbers that the elections have thrown up and the prevailing circumstances, he does not think Modi has the ability to run a coalition government.





"Mr. Modi doesn't even take his cabinet into confidence. When he did demonetisation, the finance minister did not know. When he abrogated Article 370, his cabinet did not know. When he brought Agnipath, his cabinet did not know. So, someone who cannot even take his cabinet into confidence, how will he take the NDA alliance into confidence?" he said.





Gogoi said that for a coalition government to function smoothly, as it did under former prime ministers Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh, one needs to have an open mind, an inclusive approach and the ability to listen and be flexible.

The BJP's approach to parliamentary democracy will not change as long as Prime Minister Narendra Modi is at the helm but in footballing terms, the "wall of defenders" is now bigger and much more robust with over 230 INDIA bloc MPs in the Lok Sabha, says Congress' Gaurav Gogoi.
PNN Kozhikode (Kerala) [India], June 11: The Avani Institute of Design hosted the Avani Summer Workshop 2024, titled Dyuti 2.0, from May 30th to June 1st at the AVANI Design Lab in Calicut. The three-day workshop brought together young minds from across the region to ignite their creativity and hone their artistic skills. Dyuti 2.0 aimed to kindle young minds by sensitizing them to the intricacies, nuances, and aesthetics of everyday life. The workshop provided a platform for engaging in both individual and collaborative learning experiences, guided by a team of expert faculty members. The sessions encompassed a variety of artistic disciplines, from sketching and drawing to intricate paper folding and expressive body movements, offering limitless opportunities for creativity. "We are thrilled to have hosted the Avani Summer Workshop 2024 - Dyuti 2.0," said Ar. Tony Joseph, Principal and Chairman, Avani Institute of Design. "Our goal was to inspire young minds to explore the world of art and design, encouraging them to see the beauty and potential in everyday life. Through this immersive experience, we hope to nurture their inherent talents and spark a lifelong passion for artistic exploration." The workshop kicked off on May 30th with a theatre workshop led by Dr. Soumini Raja and Ar. Sebastian Joseph, which explored the interplay between the body and space. The session emphasized the fluidity of body movements and how they convey the space we inhabit through actions. Participants engaged in dynamic exercises designed to enhance understanding of physical expression and spatial awareness. On May 31st, the focus shifted to Origametria under the guidance of Artist Anto George. The morning session involved intricate folding techniques using paper to create both simple and complex three-dimensional forms. The afternoon featured a weaving workshop led by Ar. Sebastian Joseph, which transcended the technical aspects of weaving, inviting exploration of its potential as a powerful medium of expression. Participants used multimedia elements like printed and colored paper, fabric, threads, leaves, and objects to create unique tapestries that reflected personal experiences and emotions. Additionally, Dialogue 2.0 was held on May 31st at the Avani Design Lab, featuring a conversation between Ar. Hamdan Muhammed and Ar. Simi Sreedharan, Principal Architect of Common Ground, moderated by Ar. Sharan Krishnan, Assistant Professor at the Avani Institute of Design. The dialogue explored diverse worlds within architecture and uncovered the key ingredients that shape the architectural profession, providing a platform for exchanging ideas and insights. The final day of the workshop, June 1st, featured a drawing workshop led by Ar. Dhaiwat Panchal, focusing on sketching and drawing, incorporating both indoor and outdoor observations. Participants enhanced their observational skills and translated visual experiences into artistic expressions. The Avani Summer Workshop 2024 - Dyuti 2.0 aimed to shape ideas, enhance creativity, and cultivate a sense of design through engaging sessions. From the precision of lines to the fluidity of curves, the transformation of simple paper into three-dimensional shapes, and the exploration of rhythmic and chaotic body movements, Dyuti 2.0 offered young minds limitless opportunities for creativity this summer. Website: https://avani.edu.in/ (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
As per DCIL, "The maintenance dredging is crucial for ensuring the navigability of the shipping channel, thereby facilitating smooth and efficient maritime operations in the region. The Hooghly Estuary is a vital waterway for maritime trade, and maintaining its depth is essential for the safe passage of vessels to and from the Haldia Dock.

DCIL has a proven track record of executing large-scale dredging projects with precision and efficiency.

Dr Madhaiyaan Angamuthu, IAS, Chairman, DCIL said "Our team is committed to delivering high-quality dredging services that meet the stringent requirements of the project. We look forward to contributing to the continued success of the Hooghly Estuary and the Haldia Dock."

Dredging Corporation of India Limited (DCIL), Visakhapatnam is a listed dredging company in India with majority of its shares held by the consortium of four (4) major ports Authorities viz a viz, Visakhapatnam Port, Paradip Port, Jawaharlal Nehru Port and Deendayal Port.

DCI is the premier dredging organization of India catering to the dredging and allied services to Major Ports, Minor Ports, Indian Navy, Fishing Harbours and other maritime organisations. (ANI)
NewsVoir Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], June 11: Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India embarks on a new phase of development with the inauguration of his third term. Modi's extensive administrative experience, honed during his 14 years as Chief Minister of Gujarat, continues to propel the nation towards greater self-reliance and economic prosperity. The formation of a 70-member council of ministers underscores a commitment to inclusive growth and enhanced global standing for India. "This development reflects Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, work style, and foresight," said Dhananjay Datar, Chairman and Managing Director of Adil Group of Super Stores, Dubai. "Modi has extensive experience in administration, having served as the Chief Minister of Gujarat for 14 years from 2001 to 2014. He developed Gujarat in a planned manner, transforming it into a prosperous state, and now applies the same ambition to the progress of the entire country." From the first Prime Minister of the country, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, to Dr. Manmohan Singh, all previous Prime Ministers have made valuable contributions to India's development. Narendra Modi continues this tradition but with a unique approach that has accelerated development. He remains committed to his slogan of "Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas", which emphasizes inclusive growth. Modi's popularity among global leaders has also elevated India's status in the global trade arena. "With the installation of a 70-member council of ministers under the leadership of Narendra Modi as Prime Minister, the journey of Modi 3.0 has begun with high promise", added Datar. "There is confidence that the new government's approach over the next five years will drive development, increase self-reliance across various economic sectors, and enhance people's incomes and living standards. The industry and trade sectors are optimistic that the new policies will be conducive to their interests and will allow them to contribute meaningfully to India's economic progress. The experience and cooperation of members in the National Democratic Alliance and the council of ministers will add value to Modi's vision. Over the last ten years, Modi has elevated India's global standing, benefiting the Indian diaspora in their business and trade endeavors. We experience this positive impact in the United Arab Emirates and other Gulf countries. Best wishes for the new government." Adil Group of Super Stores, under the leadership of Dr Dhananjay Datar, has played a key role in bringing more than 9,000 Indian products to the UAE. The group produces over 700 items, including readymade flours, spices, pickles, jams, Namkeen, and instants, under its brand 'Peacock'. For the last 36 years, Dr. Datar and his group have been providing the Indian community in the Gulf region with authentic, hygienic, and secure Indian foodstuffs. Today, the group encompasses a chain of 50 spacious superstores across the Gulf Countries, two spice factories, two flour mills equipped with modern technology, and an import-export company. Its Indian arm, Masala King Exports (India) Pvt. Ltd., operates successfully from Mumbai. Al Adil Group has established special trade routes in the USA, Canada, Kenya, Switzerland, Italy, Eritrea, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
Cairn Oil & Gas, a subsidiary of the Vedanta Group and India's largest private oil and gas exploration and production company, has launched the country's largest commercial Alkaline Surfactant Polymer (ASP) injection in the Mangala oil field located in Barmer, Rajasthan. According to Vedanta press release, this initiative marks a significant milestone in the enhancement of oil recovery from mature fields and represents one of the largest ASP flooding projects globally. The Mangala oil field, known for its high oil viscosity, is set to benefit significantly from this pioneering ASP injection. ASP flooding is an advanced Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) technique where a combination of alkaline, surfactants, and polymers is injected into the reservoir. This method is designed to improve the displacement efficiency of oil, thereby increasing the recovery rate from the field. While traditional polymer flooding can boost recovery by up to 40 per cent, ASP flooding has the potential to enhance recovery by up to 60 per cent. This groundbreaking project is being implemented at the MWP-1 & 19 ASP Project site within the Mangala field. The initiative is expected to result in an additional 20 per cent oil recovery in the targeted area, significantly contributing to the overall output from this mature field. Cairn Oil & Gas has been a leader in technological innovation within India's oil and gas sector for over three decades. The Mangala Bhagyam Aishwariya (MBA) fields, which include the Mangala field, are among the highest-producing fields in the Barmer region. The successful execution of an earlier ASP flood pilot paved the way for this large-scale implementation. Following the pilot's success, Cairn submitted a comprehensive Field Development Plan (FDP) that received regulatory approval. Moving forward, Cairn plans to expand the use of ASP flooding technology to other fields within the Rajasthan block, underscoring its commitment to maximizing the recovery potential of mature fields. Dr Steve Moore, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Cairn Oil & Gas, Vedanta, stated, "In line with our commitment to boost India's domestic oil & gas production, we are proud to pioneer the implementation of ASP flooding technology in our flagship Mangala oil field." He added, "This innovation is a testament to our commitment to maximising recovery from mature fields, using advanced technologies. This is a big milestone for us and our JV partner, keeping Cairn at the leading edge of technology application worldwide". The successful commercial deployment of ASP flooding in the Mangala field marks an advancement in India's hydrocarbon sector. The ASP injection project is expected to play a crucial role in enhancing the country's oil production capabilities. As Cairn continues to innovate and expand its technological applications, the company aims to contribute to 50 per cent of India's oil and gas production, supporting the nation's economic growth and energy security. (ANI)
'The Act' star Joey King shared her overwhelming joy and admiration for her friend, Sabrina Carpenter's success as a pop star. In a recent interview with People magazine at the premiere of 'Despicable Me 4' in New York City, Joey King, shared that not only she is happy for Carpenter, but she is also quite obsessed with her songs. King expressed her excitement at witnessing Carpenter's performance for the first time in years at the Governors Ball music festival on June 8, as per People magazine. Overwhelmed with pride, King admitted to sobbing after the show, emphasizing how amazing Carpenter was on stage. One particular song that has captured King's attention is Carpenter's latest release, 'Please Please Please'. Produced by Jack Antonoff, a long-time collaborator of Taylor Swift, the song has become an earworm for King. She jokingly pleaded, "Get out of my head!" However, King playfully scolded Carpenter for creating such a hit, deeming it "rude". She also playfully criticized the accompanying music video, starring Carpenter's boyfriend, Barry Keoghan, for its addictiveness. King humorously recounted how she was made to watch the video six times at 2 am, when all she wanted was to go to bed, as per People magazine. The friendship between King and Carpenter goes back several years when they first met at an industry charity event. Although they weren't instant best friends, their bond has grown stronger over time. Both King and Carpenter have Disney backgrounds, and they are currently reaching new career highs. Carpenter had the opportunity to open for Taylor Swift during the recent legs of her Eras Tour, which propelled her into the spotlight. Her hit song, 'Espresso', has garnered massive success, further establishing her as a rising star in the music industry. As for King, she is not only starring in the highly anticipated 'Despicable Me 4' alongside Steve Carell and Kristen Wiig, but she is also set to appear in the upcoming Netflix rom-com, 'A Family Affair,' alongside Nicole Kidman and Zac Efron. Fans can look forward to 'Despicable Me 4' hitting theatres on July 3. (ANI)
Recently, the two met in Delhi for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's swearing-in ceremony.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C8DtqbdCiSe/

Taking to Instagram, Kher posted a video with Rajinikanth from their Delhi meet.

In the video, Kher can be seen walking beside Rajinikanth and heard saying

"The one and only, Mr. Rajini-the-kanth! The one and only! The God's gift to mankind! Waah."

Rajinikanth smiled and looked at the camera.

Sharing the clip, he wrote, "God's gift to mankind! The one and only - #Rajnikanth! Jai Ho!"

As soon as the video was shared, fans flooded the comment section.

One of the users wrote, "Yes Gods gift as you said, one of my favourite actors."

Another user commented, "You Both are Gods Gift."

Rajinikanth and Kher were in attendance at the oath ceremony of PM Modi which took place at Rashtrapati Bhavan on June 9.

On the acting front, Rajinikanth has completed the shoot of his upcoming movie Vettaiyan, directed by TJ Gnanavel. Vettaiyan also stars Amitabh Bachchan.

Vettaiyan, which is Rajinikanth's 170th film, is scheduled for a worldwide release in October this year. Earlier this month, Rajinikanth and Amitabh were seen filming a few scenes together in Mumbai.

Anupam Kher, on the other hand, has 'The Signature', 'Emergency', 'Vijay 69', and the Curse of Damyaan' and a few other films in his kitty. (ANI)
Alia took to Instagram stories and wrote, "This is heartbreaking. My heart goes out to the victims and their families. Violence against the innocent shakes the very core of our family."

Earlier today, Priyanka Chopra condemned the attack and questioned the hatred that is being witnessed across the world.

Taking to Instagram stories, she wrote, "Devastated. This heinous attack on innocent pilgrims is horrific. Why civilians and children?! It's so hard to comprehend the hatred we're witnessing around the world."

Besides Alia, Priyanka Chopra, Varun Dhawan, Mohit Raina, Parineeti Chopra, Kangana Ranaut, Riteish Deshmukh, Anupam Kher and others expressed their grief.

At least nine people died and over 30 others were injured after a bus, travelling from Shiv Khori shrine to Katra, carrying pilgrims was targeted by terrorists on Sunday evening, when it reached the Pouni area of Reasi district, bordering Rajouri district. The bus plunged into a gorge following the attack.

The Jammu and Kashmir police have said that the terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba is believed to be behind the attack. JK police have formed 11 teams to investigate the attack.

A team from the National Investigation Agency (NIA) assessed the situation in Reasi on Monday and the NIA's forensic team is working on collecting evidence. (ANI)
The highly anticipated 'Peacemaker' season 2 has added 'Picard' actor Sol Rodriguez and 'The Office' alumnus David Denman to play pivotal roles. The news was confirmed by the Hollywood Reporter. This fervently awaited addition to the DC Studios series, currently in production, promises to ignite the screen with its captivating storyline. Renowned for his exceptional directorial prowess, James Gunn, co-chief of DC Studios, is set to commandeer three episodes of 'Peacemaker' Season 2, which revolves around the enigmatic Christopher Smith, portrayed by the charismatic John Cena. This audacious anti-hero first captured the audience's imagination in the Gunn-directed 'The Suicide Squad' in 2022, leaving an indelible mark on fans and critics alike. Sol Rodriguez celebrated for her compelling portrayal of Doctor Teresa Ramirez in season two of 'Picard' and her captivating lead role in the Netflix rom-com 'Holiday in the Vineyards,' is poised to embody the iconic character Sasha Bordeaux, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Debuting in the comics in 2000's 'Detective Comics No. 751', Sasha is revered as a stalwart ally of Batman, created by the illustrious duo Greg Rucka and Shawn Martinbrough. With her diverse repertoire, including appearances in Freeform's 'Party of Five' reboot and the ABC Signature/Lifetime series 'Devious Maids,' Rodriguez brings a wealth of talent and experience to the 'Peacemaker' universe. Joining the ranks of this star-studded ensemble is actor David Denman, recognized for his memorable portrayal of Roy in NBC's 'The Office' and his involvement in the Gunn-produced feature 'Brightburn.' Following the resounding success of its inaugural season in 2022, 'Peacemaker' Season 2 is poised to further elevate the genre, infusing it with a potent blend of humour, action, and audacious storytelling. As part of a new universe crafted by Gunn and his DC Studios partner James Safran, the upcoming season will also witness the addition of Frank Grillo as Rick Flag Sr, expanding the rich tapestry of characters and narratives within the series. Amidst this whirlwind of excitement, Gunn's creative endeavours extend beyond 'Peacemaker,' with his involvement in the eagerly anticipated July 2025 'Superman' movie and the unveiling of his DC animated series 'Creature Commandoes' at the prestigious Annecy animation festival in France. (ANI)
Actor Kareena Kapoor Khan has condemned the terrorist attack on a bus carrying pilgrims in Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi district. Taking to Instagram, the 'Jab We Met' star wrote, "Heartbroken. The attack in Reasi is a reminder, that humanity suffers when violence prevails." Earlier actors Alia Bhatt and Priyanka Chopra also reacted to the shocking incident. "This is heartbreaking. My heart goes out to the victims and their families. Violence against the innocent shakes the very core of our family," Alia posted on social media. Priyanka described the incident as "heinous." "Devastated. This heinous attack on innocent pilgrims is horrific. Why civilians and children?! It's so hard to comprehend the hatred we're around the world," she wrote. Meanwhile, Reasi Deputy Commissioner Vishesh Mahajan confirmed on Sunday night that at least 10 people were killed in the terror attack and 33 others were injured. According to officials, the bus, en route from the Shiv Khori shrine to Katra, was targetted by terrorists at around 06.10 pm when it reached Pouni area of Reasi district bordering Rajouri district. "Terrorists opened fire, causing the driver to lose control and the bus to plunge into a gorge," Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Reasi, Mohita Sharma told ANI. The SSP further said that the rescue operations are complete and the injured have been taken to Naraina and Reasi District hospitals. Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha condemned the attack and assured action against those behind it. "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 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. PM has also directed that all the injured are provided the best possible medical care & assistance," the J-K LG added. Ranjit Singh, manager of the bus booking company whose bus came under attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi on Sunday evening, recounted the attack horror and said that the driver sacrificed himself for the passengers. In a conversation with ANI, Singh said, "The bus used to ply from Katra to Shiv Khori daily, booking occurred daily. But we had never thought that this could happen to our vehicle. We used to hear of things like this in Kashmir but this area was safe. We never thought that this could happen to us. As soon as the bus left in the morning, we received a call at 5 o'clock that there had been firing on our vehicle...When we did a little investigation, we came to know that it was an attack by militants...Passengers told us that the militant got into the bus and told the driver to make the passengers deboard the bus." "The driver sensed that the man was a militant. He refused to make the passengers deboard, he sped up the bus. As soon as he sped up the bus, the militant fired a bullet. The bus lost balance but the driver kept driving. When the driver didn't stop, he (militant) shot him in the head and killed him...Then the conductor took hold of the steering. As soon as he did that, the militant shot 3-4 bullets at the conductor too. He killed them both. The bus lost balance and fell into a gorge", he added. The manager further stated that had the driver not shown his presence of mind, no passenger would have survived."Had the driver not shown a presence of mind, no passenger would have survived. They might have even set the bus on fire. The driver did well and sacrificed himself for the 40 passengers", he said. (ANI)
Famous on screen jodi Diljit Dosanjh - Neeru Bajwa is back to entertain you all with 'Jatt & Juliet 3'. On Tuesday, the trailer of their comedy-drama was unveiled and it undoubtedly tickled the funny bone of the audience. In the film, Neeru and Diljit are both playing cops, where she is his boss at work. Jasmin Bajwa is also a part of the film. Sharing the trailer's link on social media, Diljit wrote, "Jatt & Juliet 3 Trailer OUT NOW On YOUTUBE... Releasing Worldwide 27th June." https://www.instagram.com/p/C8EfOomyA9o/?hl=en The franchise, known for its endearing characters and engaging storyline, has amassed a dedicated fan base over the years. With Dosanjh and Bajwa reprising their iconic roles, anticipation for the third instalment is at an all-time high. Recently, Diljit and Neeru gave a glimpse of their close bond at the Dil-luminati Tour in Vancouver, Canada. Several videos from the concert surfaced online in which Diljit could be seen calling Neeru Bajwa the "Queen" of the Punjabi industry. "My film journey started with Neeru Bajwa...she is here in the stadium. We all love you Neeru Bajwa ji. We all respect you. You are one and only queen of our Punjabi industry. Also, our film 'Jatt & Juliet 3' is coming...show us love," Diljit said in Punjabi, eliciting a loud cheer from the audience. After attending the concert of Diljit, Neeru took to Instagram and shared pictures from the gig."#diluminati #history I was blessed to witness this moment with my family one and only @diljitdosanjh only you could have done this! Thank you for making us all proud. Thank you @sonalisingh proud moment for every #punjabi ! #bcplace," she wrote. 'Jatt & Juliet 3' is directed by Jagdeep Sidhu. It will be out on June 27. (ANI)
Asserting that the situation in Manipur must be considered with "priority", Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Chief Mohan Bhagwat said that North eastern state has been awaiting "peace" for a year. The statement of Bhagwat comes after PM Modi took charge as Prime Minister of the country for the third term. Bhagwat said that it is the "duty to prioritise it and take note of it". Bhagwat was addressing the closing ceremony RSS worker's development class in Maharashtra's Nagpur. "Manipur has been looking for peace for a year now. It should be discussed on priority. The state had been peaceful for the past 10 years. It felt like the old 'gun culture' had come to a demise. It is still burning in the fire of the sudden tension that rose there or that was made to rise there. Who will pay attention to that?It is the duty to prioritise it and take note of it.", said the RSS Chief. The northeastern state has been witnessing ethnic violence since May 3 last year following clashes during a rally organised by the All Tribals Students Union (ATSU) to protest against the demand for the inclusion of the Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribe category. Meanwhile, the RSS Chief also mentioned the violation of the 'Code of Conduct' by various political parties during the Lok Sabha polls. "Elections are an essential process of democracy, there are two parties in it, hence there is competition, if there is competition then there is a task of moving one forward and pushing others backwards. Don't use it, why are people getting elected? They will go and sit in the Parliament and run the country, they will run it by building consensus, our tradition is to run by building consensus. The mind and psyche of each person are different, hence it is not possible to have similar opinions, but when people in the society decide to move together despite having different minds, then mutual consent is formed. There are two parties in Parliament so both sides are exposed, it is a bit difficult to reach a consensus among people who have come into competition, that is why we take the hope of a majority, there is competition, not mutual war," Bhagwat said. "The way we started criticizing each other, and the way our actions in the campaign would increase discord in the society, divide two groups, and create mutual suspicion, was also not taken care of, and organizations like Sangh were also drawn into this, technology falsehoods were served with props, absolute lies; gentlemen do not use this science", he added. The RSS Chief stressed that it is important to follow decorum during the elections. "There is decorum even in contesting elections, that decorum was not followed, because it is necessary to follow decorum because the challenges before our country have not ended", he said. Heaping praise on the NDA government, Bhagwat said, "The government has been formed, the NDA government has come back, a lot of good things have happened in the last 10 years, the economic situation is getting very good, the strategic situation is better than before, the prestige of the country has increased in the world, arts, sports, knowledge, science and culture. The countries of the world have started accepting that we are moving forward in the field of agriculture, but this does not mean that we are free from challenges." The RSS Chief also mentioned, "Everything will go on according to the verdict of the people. We do not get into questions like why and how. We perform our duties." Earlier on Sunday, the President of India Droupadi Murmu, meanwhile, appointed Narendra Modi as the Prime Minister of India at the magnificent swearing-in ceremony that took place on June 9 with 30 cabinet ministers, 36 MoS, 5 MoS (independent charge) from the BJP and its allies joining the party-led NDA government. Meanwhile, the allocation of portfolios in the "Modi 3.0" cabinet took place today. (ANI)
"A 5-member delegation of our Rajya Sabha MPs visited the Khanauri border and interacted with protesting farmers. The farmers, enduring months of hardship, shared their harrowing experiences and highlighted how the Kisan-Birodhi Modi Govt. at the Centre has betrayed their aspirations and resorted to brutal repression," the TMC said in a post on 'X'.

"Our women MPs stood in full solidarity with the women farmers, reaffirming our support for their cause against this oppressive regime," the TMC added.

The five-member TMC delegation included Sagarika Ghosh, Derek O'Brien, Saket Gokhale, among others.

The protesting farmers said that they will be sending their 'demand chart' to the newly-formed NDA government.

Earlier in March, the general secretary of the Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee, Sarwan Singh Pandher, said that the decision to March towards Delhi has not changed.

The farmer leader said that the groups of farmers will remain at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders till the government opens the roads to Delhi.

"The farmers from Punjab and Haryana will remain here (Khanauri and Shambhu border), we will not move forward without our tractors and trolleys. We have not changed our decision to march towards Delhi, we will wait until the government reopens the roads," Pandher said while speaking to ANI.

He said that the farmers from other states have been asked to join the protests and they will be coming by train or any other means.

"We have asked farmers from other states to march towards Delhi using railways, buses, or any other vehicle on March 6," the farmer leader said.

He further asserted that the protests will continue peacefully continue at the borders. (ANI)
A day after a passenger bus was targeted by terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi, Jammu and Kashmir National Conference vice-president Omar Abdullah on Monday pitched for dialogue between both countries (India and Pakistan) and said that the situation in Jammu and Kashmir is not normal. "Those who have been claiming normal situation here should answer this. We have always been saying that the situation here is not normal. We always said that guns did not come here due to Article 370 but the BJP people were claiming that this is due to Article 370. To silence this gun, an environment of dialogue will have to be created and for this, both countries will have to play a role," Abdullah told ANI. The terror attack took place in J-K's Reasi district on Sunday after a vehicle fell into a deep gorge after terrorists opened fire killing at least nine people and leaving over 30 injured. On losing the Baramulla Lok Sabha seat, Adullaha laughed and said, "What do you want me to say?" "I lost. Obviously, nobody fights elections expecting to lose. I was really looking forward to representing the people of North Kashmir," he said. In the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, Rashid Sheikh, popularly known as Engineer Rashid, ran as an independent candidate for the Baramulla seat and defeated Omar Abdullah. He secured victory with a margin of 204142 votes and received 47,2481 votes. Reacting to Prime Minister Narendra Modi taking an oath for the third term on Sunday, Abdullah said that it is the first time he will be working with the coalition. "Yes, he has taken the oath as the third time, but this is the first time he is with the coalition. He has been the Chief Minister of Gujarat three to four times but at that time also he was not in a coalition. Before this term, when he was prime minister for the last 10 years, he had the majority. This is the first time the Prime Minister has had to work with coalitions and allies. I was shocked that after fulfilling parties promises like Article 370 and Ram Mandir, they could still win the elections on their own," he said. President Droupadi Murmu administered the oath of office to Narendra Modi, followed by other members of his team of ministers on Sunday. PM Modi reiterated his unwavering commitment to serving the nation and steering it towards prosperity. (ANI)
Soon after his appointment as the Minister of State (MoS) in the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare under the "Modi 3.0" cabinet, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Bhagirath Choudhary on Monday affirmed that he would do everything possible for the welfare of farmers. "We will sit and explain to the farmers of this country. We will talk to them, we will listen to them. We will listen to the farmers and what they want, whatever is possible for the welfare of the farmers, we will do", Choudhary told ANI. Earlier on Sunday, he was sworn in as a minister under the newly formed National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government. The portfolios were announced on Monday in a press communique by the President's Secretariat a day after the swearing-in of the council of ministers at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. The portfolios were allocated on the advice of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Bhagirath Choudhary, a Jat leader who retained Rajasthan's Ajmer seat with a handsome margin of 3,29,991 votes, was pitted against Congress's Ramchandra Choudhary. Currently, he is serving as the BJP's Kisan Morcha president. 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. (ANI)
"Gratitude to PM Shri @narendramodiJi for reposing trust and reassigning me the roles of Minister of Home Affairs and Minister of Cooperation," Amit Shah said in a post on 'X'.

Speaking about his role in the Home Ministry, Shah said, "In Modi 3.0, the MHA will continue to accelerate and strengthen security initiatives and introduce new approaches to realize PM Modi's vision of a secure Bharat."

On empowering farmers and villages through the Ministry of Cooperation, Shah said, "Under the astute leadership of Modi Ji, the Ministry of Cooperation will remain committed to empowering farmers and villages with the vision of 'Sahakaar Se Samriddhi'."

The 59-year-old BJP leader who is the trusted confidante of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the party's key strategist served as the Union Home Minister in the previous Modi government.

Shah had won Gujarat's Gandhinagar seat by a huge margin of 7,44,716 votes. Shah gathered 10,10,972 votes beating Congress' Sonal Patel who got 2,66,256.

In the 2023 Lok Sabha elections, he won Gujarat's Gandhinagar seat by a huge margin of 7,44,716 votes. Shah gathered 10,10,972 votes beating Congress' Sonal Patel who got 2,66,256.In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Shah won with a margin of 5,57,014 votes. The seat was previously held by BJP veterans like LK Advani and Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

One of his significant achievements during his term as Union Home Minister in the previous Narendra Modi government, was the abrogation of Article 370, which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir and he played an important role in the passage of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, which aimed to grant citizenship to persecuted minorities from neighbouring countries of Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. (ANI)
Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh condemned the dastardly attacks on his security personnel after his convoy was allegedly attacked by armed miscreants in Manipur's Kotlen on Monday. "I strongly condemn the dastardly attacks on the security personnel who are carrying out their duties day and night in service of the state and the country," Singh said in a post on 'X'. The Chief Minister paid a visit to the injured security personnel at the hospital and said that the miscreants will be brought to justice. "Visited the injured security personnel who are being treated at Shija hospital. They were ambushed on the way to Jiribam by armed miscreants. The assailants will be brought to justice," he added. Two policemen, including the driver of the vehicle, were injured in the incident. The security team had gone to Jiribam to prepare for the visit of Chief Minister Biren Singh. Reacting to the incident, Biren Singh called it "highly condemnable" and said that it is considered as an attack on the "people of the state". "It is very unfortunate and highly condemnable. It is an attack directly on the Chief Minister, means directly on the people of the state. So, the state Government has to do something. So, I will take a call from all of my colleagues and we will take a decision," Biren Singh told reporters. Biren Singh was expected to visit Jiribam after reports of fresh violence in the area. According to Manipur Police, several houses belonging to both Meitei and Kuki communities were burnt by unknown miscreants in Kotlen following the murder of a person. Around 600 people from Manipur's Jiribam area are now taking shelter in Assam's Cachar district following fresh violence reported in Manipur's Jiribam area. The Cachar district police have heightened security along the bordering areas. (ANI)
Shiv Sena held a meeting of all its MLAs at Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's residence on Monday. The meeting was convened by party chief Eknath Shinde. In this meeting, MLAs from Shiv Sena's Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council were present. Three MLAs were absent from the meeting. The meeting was held to strategize for the upcoming Assembly elections in Maharashtra. They also discussed the performance of the party in the recently held Lok Sabha elections. Shinde was one of the top leaders in the country to second the proposal naming Prime Minister Narendra Modi as leader of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). The Shiv Sena is the fourth-largest party in the NDA by numerical strength. Shiv Sena's Pratap Jadhav was sworn in as the Minister of State (MoS) in the NDA government. Earlier in the day, party leader Shrikant Shinde junked the speculation of the party being upset over the same, affirming its support to the alliance. He said that the party supports the NDA "unconditionally". "We have already made it clear that we are supporting the government unconditionally. This nation has asked and needs the leadership of Prime Minister Modi ji. There's no bargaining or negotiation for power. We have extended unconditional support to an ideological coalition. We want Prime Minister Modi to carry forward the noble work of nation-building. The party, all MLAs and MPs are faithfully committed to the NDA", Shinde said while speaking to ANI. The Shiv Sena won seven seats in the Lok Sabha polls in Maharashtra. The BJP dipped to nine seats in Maharashtra against 23 in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. The BJP victory tally was much lower than its 2019 tally of 303 and the 282 seats it had won in 2014. The Congress, on the other hand, registered a strong growth, winning 99 seats compared to 52 that it had won in 2019 and 44 seats in 2014. The INDIA bloc crossed the 230 mark, posing stiff competition, and defying all predictions from exit polls. (ANI)
Congress leader Alamgir Alam, who was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in a money laundering case, tendered his resignation as a cabinet minister and the leader of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP). Notably, he submitted his resignation to the Chief Minister for the ministerial post, while he tendered his resignation to the Congress national president for the CLP leader post via the jail authorities. Three weeks ago, Alamgir Alam had been sent to a six-day remand of the Enforcement Directorate by the Special PMLA court in Ranchi in connection with a money laundering case on Thursday. Anil Kumar, Additional Solicitor General of India alleged that the entire cash was recovered from the household of his PS Sanjeev Lal. The ED had issued a summon to Alam to appear before the agency on May 14 at the Ranchi Zonal Office. Both Sanjiv Lal, PS to Alam, and his domestic help, Jahangir Alam, were arrested by the ED after the raids and subsequent recovery of Rs 35.23 crore in cash from their premises in Jharkhand's Ranchi. Steel trunks filled with recovered cash were taken away from Alamgir Alam's residence in Ranchi on Monday night. Reportedly, the duo was questioned by the ED overnight and later taken into custody. Jharkhand's Congress President, Rajesh Thakur, had expressed discontent, stating that Alam, being a person of integrity, deserved better treatment under the law. Thakur had said that Alam was not someone who would have fled and that the law should have respected him. He also emphasized that what happened to Alam was unjust. "He appeared before the ED, he was questioned yesterday, and today, suddenly, the news of the arrest came. He was arrested after PM Modi's speech, so a political angle comes into this. A person honestly appeared before the ED and he was not someone who would have run away, so the law should have respected him," the Jharkhand Pradesh Congress Committee (JPCC) chief Thakur had said. "If he wanted, he could have sought time by citing the election, but he didn't do that. In a way, what happened to him was not right. He could have been called for questioning even after a few days. People are seeing this with their naked eyes. People will reply to this," he had said. The JPCC chief had also emphasized that they will fully cooperate with the legal process, adding, "We are against corruption, but if someone takes political advantage of it, then it is not right." (ANI)
Former Union Minister and Congress leader Bhakta Charan Das has resigned from the post of Chairman of Odisha Congress Campaign Committee, taking moral responsibility for failure to get the expected number of seats both in Assembly and Parliament elections in Odisha. In a letter addressed to All India Congress Committee (AICC) President Mallikarjun Kharge, Bhakta Charan Das said, "I was appointed as chairman of Campaign Committee of Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee on March 22, 2024. I am really grateful that the party reposed faith in me. I worked hard to contribute my best but unfortunately, we failed to come up to the expectations. We really appreciate the kind support and cooperation received from the Hon'ble Congress President, Former President Rahul Gandhi and other senior leaders of AICC during the election." Taking responsibility for the party's performance in the 18th Lok Sabha elections, Das said, "I take the moral responsibility of failure to get the expected number of seats both in Assembly and Parliament election in Odisha. Therefore, I hereby resign from the post of Chairman, Campaign Committee, Odisha..." In the Lok Sabha elections, the BJP secured 20 out of 21 seats while Congress managed to secure just one seat. In the Assembly elections, the Congress secured 14 out of 147 seats while BJP emerged victorious in 78 seats. Meanwhile, the swearing-in ceremony of Odisha's new Chief Minister will take place on June 12, Odisha BJP President Manmohan Samal said on Monday. "PM Modi will reach on 12th June by 2:30 pm for the oath-taking ceremony. The swearing-in ceremony will take place at 5:00 pm. Tomorrow the BJP legislative meeting will be held. "On being asked if he is in the race for CM face he says, "BJPs parliamentary board will decide...No one is in the race (for the post of Chief Minister) in BJP...The observers will reach tomorrow." Former Union Minister and BJP MP from Balasore, Pratap Chandra Sarangi, said that the central observers will elect the next Chief Minister of Odisha tomorrow. "Union Ministers and Central Observers, Rajnath Singh and Bhupendra Yadav, to chair the first BJP legislative meeting at 4:30 pm at party headquarters in Bhubaneswar on June 11. The central observers should elect the leader of the party's legislative assembly in Odisha," he said. Earlier on Sunday, the BJP appointed Union Ministers Rajnath Singh and Bhupender Yadav as central observers for the appointment of the Chief Minister of Odisha. This decision was announced in an official release on Sunday by Arun Singh, the National General Secretary of BJP. "The Parliamentary Board of the Bharatiya Janata Party has appointed Rajnath Singh, Union Minister, Government of India, and Bhupender Yadav, Union Minister, Government of India, as central observers for the election of the leader of the party's legislative assembly in Odisha," the release read. (ANI)
Kerala BJP President K Surendran on Monday expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for appointing two ministers from Kerala to the Union Cabinet. Surendran also stressed that the BJP will now concentrate on the upcoming local body and Assembly elections, positioning itself as the main contender. Speaking with ANI, K Surendran said, "PM Modi has done a big thing for Kerala by giving two ministers in the Union Cabinet... The people of Kerala are grateful to PM Modi. This time, we could get one Parliamentary seat in Kerala. Kerala is a very tough state and we have been fighting for the past five to six decades against CPI(M)... Our workers sacrificed a lot and this is the victory of the martyrs and I attribute this victory to PM Narendra Modi." Expressing confidence in the party's victory in the upcoming local body and assembly elections, Surendran said, "We (BJP) received a 20% vote share in the Lok Sabha elections. Getting a 20% vote share is not a small thing. We are focussing on the 25 local body elections and 26 assembly elections which will be game changers. BJP will be the main contender in local body and assembly elections..." The state will witness the local body elections in 2025 while Assembly elections will be held in 2026. Notably, BJP had secured one seat out of the 20 seats in the Lok Sabha elections while Congress had emerged victorious on 14 seats. Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) secured two seats while CPI(M) won one seat. Taking to his official X handle, K Surendran said, "Narendra Modi and the BJP leadership have assigned key ministries to Suresh Gopi and Adv George Kurian, which will greatly aid Kerala's development. Kerala, with its vast potential in tourism, fisheries, dairies, and animal husbandry, can significantly enhance both our state and national economy. Thank you Modi for your care and love towards Kerala." Kerala movie star turned politician Suresh Gopi, who registered BJP's historic win from Kerala's Thrissur was made Minister of State in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas; and Minister of State in the Ministry of Tourism. In a move apparently to expand its footprint in Kerala, George Kurian has been appointed as the Minister of State in the Ministry of Minority Affairs; and Minister of State in the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying. Kurian is the BJP's General Secretary from Kerala. (ANI)
Bhupender Yadav on Tuesday took charge as the Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. He had held the same portfolio in the previous Modi government after taking it over from Prakash Javadekar in July 2021. After assuming the charge, Yadav said that he would work with full readiness to discharge the responsibilities of the important ministry. "I express my gratitude to PM Modi that he has given me the responsibility of an important ministry. I will work with full readiness to discharge this responsibility," he told reporters. "Mission LIFE was started by PM Modi in the Glasgow COP as a very big action program for the environmental crisis in the world. Today, Mission LIFE is going on all over the world with the help of sustainable development and mindful consumption. PM Modi's 'Ek ped maa ke naam' campaign should be done with utmost responsibility to keep our Earth green. Many steps have been taken by this ministry in the last 10 years under the leadership of PM Modi and we are moving ahead taking environment and development together," he added. As the Environment Minister in the second Modi government, Bhupender Yadav was known for his strong defense of India's dependence on coal at international climate talks. He has had many achievements when he held the portfolio previously. One of them was when India's climate actions were rated the fourth strongest in an annual performance index released by Germanwatch in 2023, up one place from the previous year. Reintroduction of cheetahs in India, a ban on identified single-use plastic items, and an increase in Ramsar sites in India are other achievements of the ministry under his stewardship. He was at the helm, when India made crucial amendments to forest, wildlife and environmental laws. Yadav's role as environment minister will be crucial with the country proposing to host the international climate talks (COP33) in 2028. In the 2024 Lok Sabha election, he won Rajasthan's Alwar constituency defeating Congress' Lalit Yadav with a margin of 48,282 votes. This was his first contest in a Lok Sabha election. He contested his first general election after serving as a party office-bearer for over two decades. From Rajasthan, Yadav has previously been a Rajya Sabha member representing the state since 2012, with a reelection in April 2018. (ANI)
Days after BJP's IT-cell head Amit Malviya filed a defamation suit, RSS member Santanu Sinha clarified on Tuesday that his social media post on 'sexual exploitation' of women was not intended to malign Malviya's image. Sinha also called it humiliating that the Congress party was spreading a "hate campaign" against Malviya and the BJP. He also criticised the state (West Bengal) BJP unit, saying that he was "astonished" to see that no one from the state unit tried to know the "purport of the post but played a dubious role." "I want to give a clear message that the post was not aimed to malign Malviya but as caution not to get entangled in a honey trap, which was first brought to light by Tathagata Roy, ex-president of the State unit and former governor of Tripura," Sinha said in a post on Facebook on Tuesday. "No corner in the post there is any whisper about sexual exploitation of women by Amit Malviya. Rather I have there expressed my fear if Malviya will be drawn to honey trap by the unscrupulous leaders of the party to remain clung to their post despite such debacle in the recently held election," he added. He also expressed his "heartfelt sorrow", adding that he has not written anything untoward in the post. He further said that he is not withdrawing the post. "I, a Sangha Swayam Sevak, former State Secretary of ABVP and contestant in the State Assembly election and in the Kolkata Municipal Corporation election, do not want the Bharatiya Janata Party and its office bearers get undermined in any manner by misinterpretation of my post," Sinha said. Earlier on Monday, Congress sought the removal of Malviya from his position following Sinha's alleged 'sexual exploitation' post dated June 7, 2024. Addressing a press conference on Monday, Congress leader Supriya Shrinate said, "An RSS member, Shantanu Sinha, related to BJP leader Rahul Sinha, has said that the BJP IT Cell head Amit Malviya, has indulged in nefarious activities. He indulges in the sexual exploitation of women. Not just in 5-star hotels but in BJP offices in West Bengal. The only thing that we seek from the BJP is, justice for women." Shrinate said that an independent probe into the incident is only possible if Malviya is removed from his position. "The reality is less than 24 hours after PM Modi was sworn in, serious charges of sexual exploitation have been leveled against a very prominent office bearer of the BJP, the head of its IT cell. Today we seek the immediate removal of Amit Malviya from his position. It's an extremely influential position. It's a position of power and there can be no independent inquiry. There can be no independent probe. There cannot be justice unless and until he doesn't get removed from his position," the Congress leader said. On June 8, BJP's Amit Malviya filed a defamation suit against Sinha seeking an "unconditional apology" and also warned to sue Sinha if he do not remove the post within three days of the notice. "The nature of allegations are extremely offensive in as much as, they falsely allege sexual misconduct purportedly committed by my client. The same is fatally injurious to the dignity and reputation of my client, who, by virtue of his professional profile, is a public figure. Such malevolently malicious statements have been deliberately made to tarnish his reputation," the notice read. Malviya, through the notice, alleged ulterior motives and wrongful intent to malign and tarnish his image. Sinha was asked to issue an apology and remove his post within three days from the date of notice, which ends today, June 11. Further, it mentioned that Malviya will proceed with legal action against Sinha if he fails to respond to the notice. "I, the undersigned, therefore call upon you to issue a public apology and take down/remove your defamatory statement(s) given against my client across all public platforms within three (3) days of receipt of this legal notice, failing which my client will be constrained to take appropriate legal action against you Including prosecuting you for civil and criminal defamation at your risk and cost. Further, I call upon you to pay a sum of INR 10 crore as civil damages for the mental harassment, agony and loss of reputation caused to my client that has been caused to my client via your Facebook post dated June 7, 2024," the notice read. (ANI)
Days after BJP's IT-cell head Amit Malviya filed a defamation suit, RSS member Santanu Sinha clarified his social media post on 'sexual exploitation' of women on Tuesday, saying that it was not intended to malign Malviya's image. Sinha also called it humiliating that the Congress party is spreading a 'hate campaign' against Malviya and the BJP. He also criticized the state (West Bengal) BJP unit, saying that he was astonished to see that no one from the state unit tried to know the "purport of the post but played a dubious role." "I want to give a clear message that the post was not aimed to malign Malviya but as caution not to get entangled in a honey trap, which was first brought to light by Tathagata Roy, ex-president of the State unit and former governor of Tripura with the phrase KAMINI KANCHAN," Sinha said in a post on Facebook on Tuesday. "No corner in the post there is any whisper about sexual exploitation of women by Amit Malviya. Rather I have there expressed my fear if Malviya will be drawn to honey trap by the unscrupulous leaders of the party to remain clung to their post despite such debacle in the recently held election," he added. He also expressed his 'heartfelt sorrow', adding that he has not written anything untoward in the post. He further said that he is not withdrawing the post. "I, a Sangha Swayam Sevak, former State Secretary of ABVP and contestant in the State Assembly election and in the Kolkata Municipal Corporation election, do not want the Bharatiya Janata Party and its office bearers get undermined in any manner by misinterpretation of my post," Sinha said. Earlier on Monday, Congress sought the removal of Malviya from his position following Sinha's alleged 'sexual exploitation' post dated June 7, 2024. Addressing a press conference on Monday, Congress leader Supriya Shrinate said, "An RSS member, Shantanu Sinha, related to BJP leader Rahul Sinha, has said that the BJP IT Cell head Amit Malviya, has indulged in nefarious activities. He indulges in the sexual exploitation of women. Not just in 5-star hotels but in BJP offices in West Bengal. The only thing that we seek from the BJP is, justice for women." Shrinate said that an independent probe into the incident is only possible if Malviya is removed from his position. "The reality is less than 24 hours after PM Modi was sworn in, serious charges of sexual exploitation have been leveled against a very prominent office bearer of the BJP, the head of its IT cell. Today we seek the immediate removal of Amit Malviya from his position. It's an extremely influential position. It's a position of power and there can be no independent inquiry. There can be no independent probe. There cannot be justice unless and until he doesn't get removed from his position," the Congress leader said. On June 8, BJP's Amit Malviya filed a defamation suit against Sinha seeking an "unconditional apology" and also warned to sue Sinha if he do not remove the post within three days of the notice. "The nature of allegations are extremely offensive in as much as, they falsely allege sexual misconduct purportedly committed by my client. The same is fatally injurious to the dignity and reputation of my client, who, by virtue of his professional profile, is a public figure. Such malevolently malicious statements have been deliberately made to tarnish his reputation," the notice read. Malviya, through the notice, alleged ulterior motives and wrongful intent to malign and tarnish his image. Sinha was asked to issue an apology and remove his post within three days from the date of notice, which ends today, June 11. Further, it mentioned that Malviya will proceed with legal action against Sinha if he fails to respond to the notice. "I, the undersigned, therefore call upon you to issue a public apology and take down/remove your defamatory statement(s) given against my client across all public platforms within three (3) days of receipt of this legal notice, failing which my client will be constrained to take appropriate legal action against you Including prosecuting you for civil and criminal defamation at your risk and cost. Further, I call upon you to pay a sum of INR 10 crore as civil damages for the mental harassment, agony and loss of reputation caused to my client that has been caused to my client via your Facebook post dated June 7, 2024," the notice read. (ANI)
Bharatiya Janata Party leader and Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Tuesday assumed charge as the Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas in the Modi 3.0 government. After taking charge Puri said, "...Oil production from the 98/2 well will increase to 45,000 barrels per day very soon and gas production will also start soon... We were able to cross 15 per cent of ethanol blending. As you know, the Prime Minister had set a target of 20 per cent blending by 2030...On the basis of what I have seen and the basis of the work in progress, I am reasonably confident that the 20 per cent blending target, which was brought forward from 2030 to 2025, will be completed by 2025." After taking charge Puri said, "As you know, the Prime Minister had set a target of 20 pre-blending by 2030. In the month of May only, we have crossed the mark of 15 per cent ethanol blending. The former Indian diplomat was reinstated as the Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, the same post he was holding in the previous Modi government. A 1974 batch Indian Foreign Service officer, Puri had served as the Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations from 2009 to 2013. Puri joined the Bharatiya Janata Party in January 2014 and became a Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha from Uttar Pradesh in November 2020. Earlier in May 2019, he had taken charge as the Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Housing and Urban Affairs and Civil Aviation and Minister of State for Commerce and Industry. (ANI)
Akhilesh Yadav, who won the Kannauj Lok Sabha constituency, also holds the Karhal assembly seat. He won the latter in the 2022 UP assembly elections.

"I have met the workers of Karhal and Mainpuri and told them that as I have won the elections from 2 seats, I have to leave a seat. So I will inform you about leaving the seat of Vidhan Sabha soon," Akhilesh Yadav said in a press conference on Tuesday.

Once Akhilesh resigns from the Uttar Pradesh Assembly, he will no longer be the Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly.

Being asked who would be the next LoP, Yadav said, "Decision will be taken by the party in a way that is beneficial for the party and increases the party's vote share."

Earlier, the party announced that Akhilesh Yadav will be the party's leader in the Lok Sabha.

The Samajwadi Party put up an impressive show in the Lok Sabha elections, winning 37 out of the 80 seats.

The former Chief Minister himself won the party's stronghold seat of Kannauj, defeating BJP candidate Subrat Pathak by over 1,70,922 votes.

The Samajwadi Party (SP) won 37 seats, the BJP won 33, Congress won 6, Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) won 2, and Aazad Samaj Party (Kanshi Ram) and Apna Dal (Soneylal) won 1 seat each in the Lok Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh. (ANI)
Shivraj Singh Chouhan assumed charge as Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare on Tuesday. The Ministry staff presented Chouhan with a bouquet after he took charge. Chouhan highlighted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi began his day in office by authorising the release of the 17th installment of PM Kisan Nidhi, which will benefit 9.3 crore farmers and distribute around Rs 20,000 crore. "I am happy to say that the first decision taken by the Prime Minister yesterday was in the interest of the farmers. He decided to issue Kisan Samman Nidhi. Now,the NDA government will take these works forward more rapidly under the leadership of the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister has resolved to double the income of farmers, work is going on continuously for that," Chouhan said. "We will all work together even faster on that and take every possible step for the welfare of farmers. Today itself, I am going to hand over the Sankalp Patra to officials," the Union Minister said. Shivraj Singh Chouhan performed puja ahead of taking charge. Chouhan has been allocated the Ministry of Rural Development, apart from the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. Narendra Singh Tomar, who was Agriculture Minister in the previous NDA government had resigned in December last year, coinciding with the Madhya Pradesh assembly polls. Following Tomar's resignation, the charge of the ministry was given to the then Union Tribal Affairs Minister, Arjun Munda. Chouhan has vast administrative experience and was Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh from 2005 until the 2023 state assembly elections, except for 15 months when the Congress came to power after the 2018 assembly polls. Chouhan was elected to the Lok Sabha from Vidisha in Madhya Pradesh. He is a six-time MP. (ANI)
Soon after assuming charge as the Union Minister of Rural Development in the "Modi 3.0" cabinet, BJP leader Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday said that rural development is the priority of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "Rural development is the priority of Prime Minister Modi and many schemes are already being run for it... Revolutionary work has been done for rural development in 10 years under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi... Women empowerment is the mission of our government... Many schemes are running for it... Campaigns like making 'Lakhpati Didi' will be included in our roadmap..." Chouhan told reporters. Earlier today, the former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister took charge as the Minister of Rural Development, a day after the announcement of portfolios under the "Modi 3.0" cabinet. He also assumed the charge of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare. Chouhan has been allocated the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and the Ministry of Rural Development in the distribution of portfolios announced on Monday. The two ministries have a grassroots imprint. Narendra Singh Tomar, who was Agriculture Minister in the previous NDA government had resigned in December last year coinciding with the Madhya Pradesh assembly polls. Following Tomar's resignation, the charge of the ministry was given to the then Union Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda. Chouhan has vast administrative experience and was Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh from 2005 till the 2023 state assembly elections, except for 15 months when the Congress came to power after the 2018 assembly polls. Chouhan was elected to Lok Sabha from Vidisha in Madhya Pradesh. He is a six-time MP. The distribution of portfolios was announced a day after the swearing-in of the NDA government, which scored a hat-trick victory in Lok Sabha polls. The portfolios were allocated on the advice of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (ANI)
Following the defamation suit filed by BJP's IT cell head Amit Malviya against him, RSS member Santanu Sinha on Tuesday clarified that his social media post alleging 'sexual exploitation' of women was not aimed at tarnishing the leader's image but he was just cautioning the leader against being honey-trapped. "Firstly it is unwanted. I did not mean the way it is described and explained. I think it is some misinterpretation. The Bengali post I have made is not an allegation against Amit Malviya nor there is any mission to malign him. I just wanted to make him cautious about the honey trap in which Vijayavargiya and Pradeep Joshi fell," Sinha told ANI. He also accused the Congress party of being the "most corrupt party" and said that the party misinterpreted what he said. "Nowhere in the post, there is any defamation of Amit Malviya or the party. I am also a party worker and have contested elections twice so it is not possible for me to malign my own party and my leaders. This is an absolute misinterpretation made by the ugliest, most corrupt party in the country that is Congress," he said. "Nobody understood the exact Bengali meaning of what I said in my post, there was a communication gap. I made a post today clarifying and I think it will evaporate all the whispers. In my post, there is not a single whisper against Amit Malviya or anyone else. If Amit Malviya files any complaint against me, I will contest it," Sinha added. Sinha earlier in his social media post called it humiliating that the Congress party was spreading a "hate campaign" against Malviya and the BJP. He also criticised the state (West Bengal) BJP unit, saying that he was "astonished" to see that no one from the state unit tried to know the "purport of the post but played a dubious role." "I want to give a clear message that the post was not aimed to malign Malviya but as caution not to get entangled in a honey trap, which was first brought to light by Tathagata Roy, ex-president of the State unit and former governor of Tripura," Sinha said in a post on Facebook on Tuesday. "No corner in the post there is any whisper about sexual exploitation of women by Amit Malviya. Rather I have there expressed my fear if Malviya will be drawn to honey trap by the unscrupulous leaders of the party to cling to their post despite such debacle in the recently held election," he added. Earlier on Monday, Congress sought the removal of Malviya from his position following Sinha's alleged 'sexual exploitation' post dated June 7, 2024. Addressing a press conference on Monday, Congress leader Supriya Shrinate said, "An RSS member, Shantanu Sinha, related to BJP leader Rahul Sinha, has said that the BJP IT Cell head Amit Malviya, has indulged in nefarious activities. He indulges in the sexual exploitation of women. Not just in 5-star hotels but in BJP offices in West Bengal. The only thing that we seek from the BJP is justice for women." Shrinate said that an independent probe into the incident is only possible if Malviya is removed from his position. "The reality is less than 24 hours after PM Modi was sworn in, serious charges of sexual exploitation have been leveled against a very prominent office bearer of the BJP, the head of its IT cell. Today we seek the immediate removal of Amit Malviya from his position. It's an extremely influential position. It's a position of power and there can be no independent inquiry. There can be no independent probe. There cannot be justice unless and until he doesn't get removed from his position," the Congress leader said. On June 8, BJP's Amit Malviya filed a defamation suit against Sinha seeking an "unconditional apology" and also warned to sue Sinha if he does not remove the post within three days of the notice. "The nature of allegations are extremely offensive in as much as they falsely allege sexual misconduct purportedly committed by my client. The same is fatally injurious to the dignity and reputation of my client, who, by virtue of his professional profile, is a public figure. Such malevolently malicious statements have been deliberately made to tarnish his reputation," the notice read. Malviya, through the notice, alleged ulterior motives and wrongful intent to malign and tarnish his image. Sinha was asked to issue an apology and remove his post within three days from the date of the notice, which ends today, June 11. Further, it mentioned that Malviya will proceed with legal action against Sinha if he fails to respond to the notice. "I, the undersigned, therefore call upon you to issue a public apology and take down/remove your defamatory statement(s) given against my client across all public platforms within three (3) days of receipt of this legal notice, failing which my client will be constrained to take appropriate legal action against you Including prosecuting you for civil and criminal defamation at your risk and cost. Further, I call upon you to pay a sum of INR 10 crore as civil damages for the mental harassment, agony and loss of reputation caused to my client that has been caused to my client via your Facebook post dated June 7, 2024," the notice read. (ANI)
After coming to the notice of Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, an elderly man living in Tuledi village under Lamgara block of Almora will now start getting the benefit of Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi following a gap of two years. Due to the lack of retina and thumb scans, Dharam Singh's e-KYC was not being done, so he was deprived of this scheme. On Monday, when the Prime Minister released the 17th installment of Samman Nidhi from Delhi, the local people posted the case of Dharam Singh on social media and demanded action from the Chief Minister in the matter, the CMO said. "After it came to the notice of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, an elderly man - Dharam Singh living in Tuledi village under Lamgara block of Almora will started getting the benefit of Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi after a gap of two years. Due to the absence of retina and thumb scan, Singh's e-KYC was not being done due to which he was deprived of this scheme," CMO said. The CMO further said that after direction of CM, Secretary Shailesh Bagoli gave priority to the matter and directed the officials to get the e-KYC of the elderly done with immediate effect. As soon as the order of the Secretary was received, the top officials of the administration reached the house of the elderly and his e-KYC was done. Now soon Dharam Singh will also start getting Kisan Samman Nidhi like other farmers. The elderly man has expressed their gratitude to the Chief Minister for getting KYC done and taking prompt cognizance of their case. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that our government is fully dedicated to the welfare of the elderly, women and the disabled. Our effort is to benefit every section from the public welfare schemes of the double engine government. (ANI)
Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena spoke with Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini amid the water crisis in the national capital, and the latter reiterated that the state is providing water to Delhi "as per the allocated share." LG Saxena said that CM Saini assured him of all possible help despite the state's own constraints amid the heat wave. "Spoke to Hon'ble CM, Haryana, Shri Nayab Saini ji yesterday. He reiterated that water was being provided to Delhi as per allocated share and assured of all possible help, despite the state's own constraints due to the ongoing heat wave," Saxena said in a post on X. https://x.com/LtGovDelhi/status/1800411641072467990 Earlier on Monday, Delhi Water Minister Atishi met LG Saxena to discuss the water crisis. In the meeting, Saxena assured her that he would talk to the Haryana government regarding its water supply to Delhi. Notably, the AAP is accusing the BJP government in Haryana of not releasing water in the national capital as per its due share. "Water level in the Wazirabad barrage has dropped and the Munak canal is receiving less water. We have requested LG Saxena to talk to the Haryana government concerning less water being released into the Munak canal," Atishi told ANI after meeting with Delhi LG. She asserted that seven water treatment plants in Delhi depend on the Munak canal for water. "LG has assured us that he will talk to the Haryana government. He has also assured that he will induct a single-charge officer to ensure that administrative work in the Delhi Jal Board is carried out adequately. He has assured that the lack of officers in the Delhi Jal Board will be sorted out," Atishi said. "We were supposed to receive water from Himachal Pradesh via Haryana but have not yet received it. We have received information from a Supreme Court affidavit that a water dispute is also going on between the Himachal Pradesh and Haryana governments," she added. Earlier, Delhi Water Minister Atishi wrote to Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, saying the capital was facing a major water crisis, and urged him to ensure that 1,050 cusecs of water are released in the Yamuna river through the Munak canal. Meanwhile, residents of Delhi continue to face severe water crises 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. (ANI)
Delhi Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Atishi on Tuesday wrote to newly appointed Union Power Minister Manohar Lal Khattar about the power outage in several parts of the national capital. "It is a matter of grave concern that the failure of the national grid caused a power outage of two hours in the national capital... It is extremely worrisome that the national power grid experienced such a massive failure," Atishi said in a letter to Khattar. She further sought time from the Union Minister, stating, "In light of this unprecedented concern, I wish to meet you so as to ensure that such a situation does not arise again. It is of utmost importance that flaws in the grid infrastructure be remedied at the earliest so that not just Delhi, but even other states do not face such a crisis". Earlier today, the AAP minister, while mentioning the reason behind the power outage in Delhi, said that this was due to a fire at a sub-station of PGCIL in Uttar Pradesh's Mandola, given the national capital receives 1200 MW of power from the Mandola sub-station. "There is a power outage in many parts of Delhi from 2:11 p.m. This is due to a fire at sub-station of Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL) in Mandola, UP. Delhi receives 1200 MW of power from the Mandola sub-station, and therefore many parts of Delhi have been affected. The power restoration process has begun and electricity is now gradually returning to different areas", said Atishi in a post on 'X'. "But this major failure in the national power grid is extremely worrying. I am seeking time with the Central Power Minister and the Chairman of PGCIL, to ensure that such a situation is not repeated", she added. Meanwhile, amid the scorching heat and rising temperatures, the national capital is also reeling under a water crisis. Residents of Delhi continue to face severe water crises as long lines of people around water tankers are seen in many areas of the national capital. Delhi government blamed the water crisis on the Haryana government "blocking" its share of water. Earlier today, while addressing the media, Atishi said that the AAP government will re-approach the Supreme Court to look into the matter. Earlier last week, the top court allowed the State of Himachal Pradesh to release 137 cusecs of surplus water available with it and directed the Haryana government to facilitate the flow of the surplus water from Hathnikund barrage to Wazirabad uninterruptedly to Delhi to mitigate the drinking water crisis in the national capital. Amid the water shortage in the national capital, the Delhi government approached the Supreme Court to get immediate additional water. The Himachal government had agreed to give surplus water to Delhi. (ANI)
Congress leader Harish Rawat on Tuesday criticized the NDA government for the absence of Muslim representation in its newly formed cabinet, asserting that this exclusion could tarnish the country's image on a global scale. In a veiled jibe at JD(U) Chief Nitish Kumar who came out as a kingmaker of the NDA government formation, Rawat said, "The Union cabinet has been formed and the present government has leaders who are experts in party hopping." Highlighting inconsistencies in the government's stance, Rawat added, "There are so many contradictions. On one side, PM Modi says no one will get reservation based on religion; on the other hand, Chandrababu Naidu says that in Andhra Pradesh, Muslims will get 4 percent reservation." On "no Muslim representation" in the Narendra Modi cabinet 3.0, Rawat said, "This affects the image of the country on the world level. We are known to endorse 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' and keeping a big part of the country's population out of the system, affects the respect of the country". Meanwhile, Om Prakash Rajbhar, an ally of the BJP in Uttar Pradesh, on being asked about the lack of Muslim representation in Modi cabinet 3.0 said, "Muslims are responsible for their own condition. They do not raise leaders themselves and rely on Congress and SP, who are their biggest enemies. At the time of independence, 38 percent of Muslims were in government jobs. What has happened now? It's like a cow going to the butcher for protection." A total of 71 ministers have joined the Modi 3.0 cabinet on Monday. All these ministers along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi took oath in a grand swearing-in ceremony on Sunday.The new council of ministers comprises 30 Cabinet ministers, 36 Ministers of State (MoS), and five MoS with independent charge.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. (ANI)